text:
Focus 49 – Only an Afghan-led peace process can bring peace to Afghanistan
SADF and Siegfried O. Wolf
Only an Afghan-led peace process can bring peace to Afghanistan
(revised edition published on 19 March 2020)
By analysing the US-Taliban deal and the United States-Afghan joint declaration, this SADF Focus sheds light on the current and upcoming role of the Afghan government in the intra-Afghan dialogue. It is argued that the Afghan authorities need to lead the intra-Afghan dialogue and the overall peace process. If any deal is achieved that excludes them, they will lose their remaining legitimacy, resulting in a further enhancement of the urban-rural divide. This would also give regional power sharing arrangements with local stakeholders and militant groups further momentum. Moreover, the process of institution building and public services delivery by non-governmental agents, especially the Taliban in areas under their direct control, will continue. Considering the current political crisis in Kabul, the authors highlight the need for the US to maintain an oversight role in the country, particularly a 'hands-on approach' in the negotiation between the Taliban and the Afghan authorities.
US-Taliban deal, United States-Afghan joint declaration, Intra-Afghan Dialogue, Ashraf Ghani, Abdullah Abdullah, Afghan government, Pakistan, US, US Withdrawal, Taliban, Prisoner Exchange, Afghan Women
After decades of fighting, a deal has been reached. On February 29, 2020, 'after one year of direct negotiations between the US and the Afghan Taliban, an agreement to end the fighting between two of the major combatants in the multi-actor Afghan war was signed' (Wolf in SADF Comment 171, 2020, p. 1). The agreement was signed by US Special Representative, Zalmay Khalilzad and the political head of the Taliban, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. In Doha, Qatar, the two sides spent months going over the details of the agreement (NPR, 2020).
The two key documents analysed here are the Doha agreement (US-Taliban deal) and the simultaneous bilateral United States-Afghan declaration. The latter was developed to reassure Kabul of US support because of the Taliban's refusal to hold direct talks with Afghan authorities. These two documents are supposed to be a precursor for intra-Afghan talks. However, the Taliban's declaration to 'not keep violence down after the end of the "reduction of violence" week and their continuing refusal to talk to the Afghan authorities constitutes significant obstacles for the talks to start as envisaged' (Ruttig, 2020a, p. 1). According to Thomas Ruttig, 'the Doha agreement side-lines the Afghan government and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, amounting to a Taliban diplomatic victory' (Ruttig, 2020a, p. 8).
According to SADF Comment 171 (2020), 'the fact that the US-Taliban deal completely excludes the Afghan government and its forces is a tremendous shortcoming of the US-Taliban deal' (Wolf, 2020, p. 3). Some parallels can be drawn to 1968 when 'the US held private peace talks in Paris with North Vietnamese representatives without any South Vietnamese participation' (Kaiser, 2019, para 5), thus also excluding the most important player in negotiations. Furthermore, there are four specific points in the agreements that further weakens the position of the Afghan authorities: the unclear future direct role of the Afghan government, the US withdrawal, the prisoner issue, and the lack of protection provided to the Afghan citizenry, in particular Afghan women.
Therefore, the US-Taliban agreement undermines the Afghan government. Afghan authorities need to lead the intra-Afghan dialogue and the overall peace process. If any deal is achieved that excludes them, they will lose their remaining legitimacy. The US also needs to maintain an oversight role in the country. If the US does not adapt a "hands-on approach", there is the concrete threat that the Taliban will just "sit-out" the US withdrawal and start using coercive force to pressure a weak and fragmented "non-Taliban side" with a polarised and disunified government: Ashraf Ghani versus Abdullah Abdullah and other leading Afghan politicians.
The unclear future role of the Afghan government
An agreement aimed at fostering peace and dialogue between both sides, the Doha agreement fails to mention anything about what the role of the Afghan government would look like in the post-peace process Afghanistan. In this context, it is also important to mention that the agreement only refers vaguely towards a government in Afghanistan – but not towards the current government. It only 'refers to the "Afghan sides" as non-Taliban actors and the new post-settlement Afghan Islamic government as determined by the intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations' (US Department of State, 2020a, p. 1). Also striking is the repeated mention of the name, "the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" "known as the Taliban" with the addendum that the US does not recognise it as a state. However, this caveat is rather pointless since the reappearance of the name "the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" on an official document signed by the US will be interpreted by the Taliban as an additional political and diplomatic success. Moreover, mentioning of the "Emirate" strengthens the Taliban's profile – more concretely, it suggests that their former regime is still the legitimate government in Afghanistan (which subsequently weakens the position of the Afghan authorities as the sole, justified representative of Afghanistan). This will also have ramifications for the Taliban's potential future acceptance of the country's constitution as well as all other political institutions and mechanisms, especially the electoral process.
Indeed, the Taliban remain reluctant to internalise democratic norms and values as well as to respect the post-2001 political-administrative structure of Afghanistan, and these ramifications will further materialise in political practice in areas under Taliban control and beyond. This can be interpreted as compromising the following commitment by the US (and the Afghan authorities): 'The two countries are committed to their longstanding relationship and their investments in building the Afghan institutions necessary to establish democratic norms, protect and preserve the unity of the country, and promote social and economic advancements and the rights of citizens' (US Department of State, 2020b, p. 1).
The Taliban still fail to recognise Afghan authorities as legitimate, recently insisting in an interview that 'today there is no government in Afghanistan, the elections were not held in a transparent manner, public turnout was low and only one million voted out of 36 million' (Tolo News, 2020, para 6). The Taliban has already announced that their religious leader is the only legitimate ruler in Afghanistan ("Haibatullah Akhundzada, is the country's only legal ruler").
Meanwhile, the ongoing political crisis in Kabul has left much to worry about. On 18 February 2020, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) declared incumbent Ashraf Ghani winner in a disputed presidential election, winning 50.64% of the vote, while Abdullah Abdullah won 39.52% of the vote (Sediqi and Hakimi, 2020, para 2-3). However, the result is 'too narrow and disputed, and the manner of dealing with complaints is not transparent enough to quash doubts in his victory' (Ruttig, 2020b, para 1). Shortly after, Abdullah also declared himself the winner and declared his will to form his own government (Ruttig, 2020, para 1). Kabul's political instability 'could make it harder to establish the "inclusive" negotiating team international observers want to see sitting across the table from the Taliban' (Kermani, 2020, para 10). According to Ruttig, 'if these two leaders fail to reach a mutually acceptable compromise over the government and the negotiating team, this would undermine, to a great degree, and Afghan delegation in talks with the Taliban' (Ruttig, 2020a, p.16).
The ongoing political crisis further undermines the legitimacy of the political leadership among the Afghan citizenry. The political feud between Ghani and Abdullah has also further lowered the Taliban's opinion of the political leadership. The latest developments casts additional shadows in this regard, namely the 'double-presidential announcements' by Ghani and Abdullah. Furthermore, the fact that Abdullah is starting to deploy people loyal to him at provincial posts (appointing his own, parallel government) and increasingly enlisting "hardliners" with an anti-Ghani stand, will narrow down his possibility of finding an arrangement with his rival. There is the threat that the intra-Afghan dialogue will end up in tripartite negotiations (the Taliban on one side and an Abdullah and Ghani camp on the other side).
US withdrawal from Afghanistan
According to the Doha agreement, 'the US withdrawal is to be phased and only the second and final phase is conditions-based' (Ruttig, 2020a, p. 3). However, 'the US has not said that it would complete its troop withdrawal only when there is a peace agreement finalised' (Ruttig, 2020a, p. 9). Thus, there is no clear, causal linkage between US withdrawal and the intra-Afghan dialogue. US Defence Secretary Mark Esper insisted that ' the troop withdrawal is conditional on progress of the intra-Afghan peace agreement' (Esper, 2020). However, in analysing the Doha agreement and the declaration, Ruttig states that there is no provision that says this in either document. Essentially, 'the US can leave with intra-Afghan talks and intra-Afghan conflict ongoing' (Ruttig, 2020a, p. 9).
Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker and others have expressed their worries of seeing a complete US withdrawal, an echo of 1975 Vietnam when 'the North Vietnamese and the National Liberation Front (NLF) marched triumphantly into Saigon and the last Americans, along with some South Vietnamese allies, struggled frantically to escape by helicopter' (Herring, 2019, para 1). The US's ability to intervene militarily could be hindered; humanitarian and geopolitical consequences could also follow (Herring, 2019, para 1). Former US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis highlighted that 'about 20 terrorist groups, many of them offshoots of Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, would quickly use the freedom afforded by an American troop pull out to try to launch operations against Western targets' (French, 2019, para 9).
According to French (2019), there is also the issue of enforcement. He states that, 'it is already difficult to prevent terrorist safe havens from emerging when there's an American military presence in the country, including a presence sufficient enough to provide the kind of on-the-ground intelligence to identify emerging threats' (French, 2019, para 10). However, in the event of a total withdrawal, 'the American ability to identify and destroy safe havens that emerge in violation of the agreement would be limited, and the American appetite to re-enter the struggle would be non-existent' (French, 2019, para 10). It is also important to note that 'there is no provision that commits the Taliban to hand over or expel foreign fighters. The 'term "foreign fighters" is not used at all; rather they are referred to as those posing a threat to the US and its allies' (Ruttig, 2020a, p. 4).
As such, one can state that the US-Taliban deal diminishes the responsibility to achieve a ceasefire agreement and the formation of a post-settlement government (and other important outstanding issues) towards the Afghan parties. The US-Taliban deal gives the impression that the US will withdraw anyway, with or without an agreement on peace between the Afghan actors. Furthermore, it sends a signal to Afghan authorities that they should "give up hope" that US troops will remain in the country. Furthermore, it can be (mis)interpreted by the Taliban as meaning that the US is reducing its armed support for the Afghan government and encourage them to step up their attacks against Afghan forces. Unfortunately, this is already happening and has forced the US to conduct a defensive airstrike against a Taliban position (BBC News, 2020c).
The prisoner exchange issue
Provision C of the Doha agreement states 'the US is committed to start immediately to work with all relevant sides on a plan to expeditiously release combat and political prisoners as a confidence building measure with the coordination and approval of all relevant sides' (US Department of state 2020a, p. 2). The agreement further states that 'up to five thousand prisoners of the Taliban and up to one thousand prisoners of the other side will be released by March 10, 2020' (US Department of State 2020a, p. 2). However, this was not agreed to by the Afghan authorities. On 1 March 2020 at a press conference in Kabul, President Ashraf Ghani openly stated that 'he had made no commitment to releasing 5,000 prisoners, that the release of detainees was not in the domain of the US and that only the Afghan government has that authority' (BBC News, 2020a). Ruttig (2020b) explains that 'agreeing to this would mean that the Afghan government would be giving away its one strong bargaining chip with the Taliban even before talks have started' (Ruttig, 2020b, p. 9). The prisoner issue would essentially allow for President Ghani to directly negotiate with the Taliban instead of just meeting with individuals in their private capacities as was the case in the July 2019 intra-Afghan dialogue in Doha.
However, recently there has been a change of heart on this matter. On 10 March 2020, President Ghani 'approved the release of 1,500 Taliban prisoners as part of efforts to secure a peace deal with the insurgent group' (BBC News, 2020b, para 1). Ghani emphasised that 'as part of the agreement, the Taliban must continue its reduction in violence, and bar al-Qaeda or any other extremist groups from operating in areas under their control' (BBC News, 2020b, para 7). But on 12 March 2020, just two days after Ghani 'signed an order to conditionally pardon and release Taliban prisoners to open the door for intra-Afghan talks, the Taliban rejected the government's decree' (Amiri, 2020a, para 1). According to Amiri, 'the Taliban believes that Ghani's decree about the release of the prisoners goes against the provisions of the peace deal signed between the US and the Taliban in Doha on February 29' (Amiri, 2020a, para 2).
Kabul university professor Faiz Mohammad Zaland states that 'the agreement between the US and the Taliban says that the US will facilitate the release of the Taliban prisoners. The agreement does not say anything about the preconditions that were highlighted by Dr Ashraf Ghani' (Amiri, 2020a, para 8). Specifically, Ghani requires 'the prisoners released to make a written commitment not to return to war and specifically states that the release of the 1,500 Taliban is a goodwill gesture' (Amiri, 2020a, para 11). Ghani further requires that 'with the beginning of the direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, every two weeks 500 Taliban prisoners will be released–provided that a major reduction in violence continues–until 3,500 more are released' (Amiri, 2020a, para 11). It remains to be seen how the prisoner exchange issue will either help or hinder future peace talks.[1] However, it is evident that including this in the Doha agreement without obtaining approval from Afghan authorities has caused more chaos, further undermining the Afghan government.
The lack of protection of the Afghan citizenry, in particular Afghan women
Afghan women, and the Afghan society as a whole, 'have changed significantly with the emergence of female entrepreneurs, political leaders and nightly news anchors' (Ahmadi, 2019, para 4). Afghan women have worked hard for their rights and freedoms. The Taliban, by contrast, 'have evolved little on women's issues since being pushed from power in 2002, despite persistent claims to the contrary' (Ahmadi, 2019, para 4). According to Barr (2020), 'the Taliban also continue to carry out violent attacks against girls' schools and block women and girls from exercising many of their basic rights and remain deeply opposed to gender equality' (para 5).
Both the Doha agreement and the US-Afghan declaration states that 'the US and its allies are to be protected against threats from the Taliban and al-Qaeda, however, it does not mention the Afghan population, government or security forces' (Ruttig, 2020a). Ruttig highlights, 'hope that US allies might include Afghanistan, i.e. Afghan government forces and civilians, was dashed by the Taliban's resumption of violence against Afghan forces the day after the agreement was signed' (Ruttig, 2020a, p. 3).
Since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, 'Afghan women have been promised a better life, and to be protected by the rights enshrined in the 2004 Constitution. However, Afghan women have been constantly disillusioned by empty promises from the international community, the Afghan government, and the Taliban' (Guarda and Wolf in SADF Comment 150, 2019, p. 4). Not adding a provision in both documents on the protection of Afghan women gravely undermines the Afghan population and Afghan women. The Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Dave Metcalfe, recently stated that 'the role of women in the national reconciliation process is critical and they must be given the chance to contribute to peace efforts' (Rahimi, 2020, para 1). He further highlights that 'no country can disregard half of its population in any effort of national reconciliation' (Rahimi, 2020, para 2). Beyond the negotiating table, 'women's participation is fundamental for all dimensions of building sustainable peace–women's engagements in post-conflict resolutions have tangible positive impacts on stabilisation and reconstruction of economies and social fabric' (Rahimi, 2020, para 2).
Afghan women have been more empowered than ever before to raise their voices and fight for their rights. However, it is of utmost importance for the international community to protect them against the Taliban and other extremists. The fact that the Doha agreement and the US-Afghan declaration do not include any provision on the protection of the Afghan population, particularly Afghan women, puts Afghan society in a very vulnerable position at the hands of the Taliban.
Pakistan's perspective on the Afghan peace process
Pakistan claims for itself a crucial role in the facilitation in all types of both current and upcoming negotiations in the context of the intra-Afghan dialogue. It will not accept to be pushed on the side-lines (or completely excluded) in the negotiations between the Afghan political leadership in Kabul and the Taliban. Instead it takes on an increasing proactive role in claiming its position in the negotiations[2]. It is also interesting to note that Pakistan sees itself as the most qualified actor able to create a "favourable environment" for the intra-Afghan dialogue. This belief finds its expression in the following statement by Pakistan's Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi: 'Pakistan can create a favourable environment, it cannot take (Afghanistan's) decisions' (TNI, 2020). Consequently, Pakistan not only undermines the notion of intra-Afghan talks from the beginning but also takes a strong partisan position in favour of the Taliban at the expense of the interests of the Afghan authorities. When Pakistan asks for "flexibility" from all actors involved (Siddiqui, 2020, March 3), it actually means "flexibility" from the Afghan authorities to accept the demands of the Taliban. Anything else is described as "stubbornness" by Pakistan's FM (Siddiqui, 2020, March 3). The use of such a strong term is not only insulting to the Afghan government, but also attempts to narrow down the room for Afghan politicians to manoeuvre and shows the Pakistani government's lack of respect for the Afghan authorities' decision-making process. Also relevant is the fact that in numerous statements Pakistani authorities do not refer to the role of the Afghan government in the intra-Afghan dialogue at all. Rather they point at the Afghan people as "interlocutors" (Geo News, 2020), which is a further indication that Pakistan still seems to support the Taliban policy of undermining the position of the Afghan government in any kind of upcoming talks.
In all other matters, Pakistan demands that the US stays out of Pakistan-Afghanistan affairs. In other words, Islamabad does not accept the 'Joint Declaration between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States of America for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan' (U.S. Department of State, 2020, February 29b). It does not come by surprise that FM Qureshi reacted harshly against Point 4 of Part 1 (page 2) of the document – 'The United States commits to facilitate discussions between Afghanistan and Pakistan to work out arrangements to ensure neither country's security is threatened by actions from the territory of the other side'. Qureshi clearly points out to both US and Afghan authorities that there is no need to involve the US in the resolution of bilateral issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan: 'They [Afghan authorities] should talk directly to Pakistan. The US is planning to withdraw, and we will always remain neighbours' and 'if I have an issue with Afghanistan, I will not ask Washington to play a role' (Peshimam, 2020, para 4).
If Afghan authorities fail to lead the peace process, they will lose their remaining legitimacy. As a result of this: (1) the urban-rural divide (Asey, 2019) could be further enhanced; (2) the growing emergence of regional power sharing arrangements with local stakeholders and militant groups could gain further momentum; and (3) the process of institution building and public services delivery by non-governmental agents, especially the Taliban in areas under their direct control, will continue. According to the BTI Transformation Index, 'particularly the north, northeast and west of Afghanistan witness an increasing influence of Talibanisation' (BTI, 2018, p. 6). The lack of trust will have negative ramifications in areas in which the Afghan authorities need to increase their presence as well as build confidence among the citizenry in the governmental institutions and democratic values and procedures.
For the US, the Doha agreement ensured a safe "exit-strategy", at least on paper and for the time being. However, it remains to be seen how far the safe withdrawal will materialise during the next 14 months. Furthermore, there were not many achievements in the deal besides some minor, vague guarantees by the Taliban to ensure that Afghan soil will be not used for Jihadist activities against the US and its allies. One of the major initial goals, the achievement of a ceasefire, was not achieved. The US hopes to use the Taliban: it seems that there is the idea that since the US cannot beat the Taliban, they can instrumentalise them for achieving some interests in Afghanistan, namely fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Khurasan (ISIS-K) and monitoring (containing) Iran's influence.
There are still many unanswered questions. For example, in the event of an outbreak of armed confrontations between civilian factions (and respective loyal elements within the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces/ANDSF), which role will the US take? How will the US deal with potential clashes between Ghani and Abdullah factions? Will the US try to stop further territorial gains and advancements by the Taliban now trying to benefit from the infights within the 'Afghan-political leadership'? Thus, Afghanistan needs a functioning government based on an inclusive working relationship between all major political actors, on the national level as well as between Kabul and regional actors.
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Esper, M. (2020). Defence Secretary Mark Esper: This is our chance to bring troops home from Afghanistan for good. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/29/defense-secretary-mark-esper-this-is-our-chance-bring-troops-home-afghanistan-good/
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Ruttig, T. (2020b). Afghanistan's 2019 Elections (30): Final results… and parallel governments? Afghanistan Analysts Network. Retrieved from https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/political-landscape/afghanistans-2019-elections-30-final-results-and-parallel-governments/
Ruttig, T. (2019). AAN Q&A: What came out of the Doha intra-Afghan conference? Afghanistan Analysts Network. Retrieved from https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/war-and-peace/aan-qa-what-came-out-of-the-doha-intra-afghan-conference/
Sediqi, A. Q., & Hakimi, O. (2020). Ghani named winner of disputed Afghan poll, rival also claims victory. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-election/ghani-named-winner-of-disputed-afghan-poll-rival-also-claims-victory-idUSKBN20C1PZ
Siddiqui, N. (2020). Ask US for explanation on prisoner swap clause in Taliban deal,FM Qureshi to Ghani. Dawn. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/1538082/ask-us-for-explanation-on-prisoner-swap-clause-in-taliban-deal-fm-qureshi-to-ghani
TNI. (2020). Peace deal not enough as attitudes must also be changed, says Qureshi. The News International (TNI). Retrieved from https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/623666-peace-deal-not-enough-as-attitudes-must-also-be-changed-says-qureshi
Tolo News. (2020). 'It Was a Historic Day': Taliban's Top Negotiator Says. Retrieved from https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/"it-was-historic-day"-taliban's-top-negotiator-says
U.S. Department of State. (2020a). Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not Recognised by the United States as a State and is Known as the Taliban and the United States of America. Retrieved from
https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Signed-Agreement-02292020.pdf
U.S. Department of State. (2020b). Joint Declaration between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States of America for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan. Retrieved from https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/02.29.20-US-Afghanistan-Joint-Declaration.pdf
Wolf, S. O. (2020). Does the US-Taliban deal serve Pakistan's interests in Afghanistan? SADF Comment 171. Retrieved from https://www.sadf.eu/comment-171-does-the-us-taliban-deal-serve-pakistans-interests-in-afghanistan/
The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) 'raised issues earlier about the proposed prisoner release in an open letter to the US, the Taliban and the Afghan government that raised concerns over the release of Taliban prisoners. In the letter, the human rights commission called on the US, the Taliban and the Afghan government not to undermine the demands of families of war victims for justice, nor to deny rights to the prisoners, and finally not to be irresponsible about keeping track of prisoners after they were released' (Amiri, 2020b, para 14-15). ↑
The latest public statements by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi reinforce this argument. Most noteworthy is the call for a "responsible withdrawal" of the US (Reuters, 2020), the demand that the Afghan authorities create a "favourable environment" (TNI, 2020) or the call on the Afghan political leadership to accept the "prisoner swap" – as well as Qureshi's request that the Afghan authorities ask the US for an explanation on the "prisoner swap" (Siddiqui, 2020, March 3). ↑
Siegfried O. Wolf
Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf, Director of Research at SADF (Coordinator: Democracy Research Programme); he was educated at the Institute of Political Science (IPW) and South Asia Institute (SAI), both Heidelberg University. Additionally he is member (affiliated researcher) of the SAI as well as a former research fellow at IPW and Centre de Sciences Humaines (New Delhi, India). Dr Wolf worked as a consultant to NATO-sponsored periodic strategic independent research and assessment of Afghanistan-Pakistan issues.
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COMMENT 248 – Pakistan's latest change of command – what to expect?


SAN FRANCISCO — At long last, a handful of political leaders are starting to set goals on greenhouse emissions that are consistent with the magnitude of the climate crisis.
One of the boldest strokes yet came early this week from Gov. Jerry Brown of California. He signed a bill establishing a legal target of zero emissions for the state's electricity system by 2045. Additionally, in a leap of imagination that nobody saw coming, he signed another document: an executive order setting a goal of zero emissions by 2045 for the entire California economy, not just electricity. That includes cars, trucks, agriculture and every other activity that puts emissions into the air.
It is not clear how this goal can be met, and we will come back to that in a moment. But first, we offer a challenge: China should match California's initiative with a bold new target of its own.
A zero-emissions goal by midcentury may be unrealistic for a fast-growing developing country, but China could shoot for a 50 to 60 percent reduction in emissions by then, to be followed by a goal of zero later in the century.
A commitment like that would take China far beyond any previous pledge it has made on global warming, propelling it into a world-leading role in fighting climate change. It would be good not just for China. The country has become such an important technology supplier that its commitment would bring along many other countries.
This week, Governor Brown has been hosting a big climate-action meeting in San Francisco, with thousands attending. China sent the largest delegation of any country, highlighting its efforts to modernize its power grid, push electric cars and buses, and clean up the air pollution that chokes its cities.
Both California and China have made historic progress. California already gets more than half its power from low-emission sources. The state long ago adopted one of the world's best building codes, so that every new house and office is highly efficient. Sales of electric cars are growing rapidly. California emissions have fallen below 1990 levels years earlier than expected, and the state is in the vanguard as emissions throughout the United States have begun to fall.
The Chinese emissions story is more complicated. The country started the cleanup race with a filthy, inefficient power system based largely on coal; with massive, highly polluting basic industries; and with manufacturing techniques that consumed far more energy to do a given task than those in the industrialized West.
About 15 years ago, China adopted energy-efficiency targets that cut the energy used per dollar of goods farther and faster than any nation ever has. China also invested heavily in wind and solar power, helping to drive the cost down drastically; in many places they have become the cheapest new sources of electricity. Thanks largely to that push, developing and developed nations alike are turning to clean power on a scale that was hard to imagine even a decade ago.
Now, as China pushes electric vehicles to mass adoption, Western companies are straining to keep up. Shenzhen, a city of 12 million near Hong Kong, has 17,000 electric buses on the street. The entire taxi fleet will be electric by the end of the year, and its version of Uber is close behind.
Despite all this, economic growth in China has been so strong that total greenhouse pollution is still growing, and partly because of that, so are global emissions. Globally, we have simply not made enough progress to put emissions on a downward slope. Until emissions get to zero, the climate problem will keep getting worse, so we have a long way to go.
Governor Brown's new pledge is important not just because others may follow, but because the dynamic California economy can help invent much of the necessary technology. It is true that his zero-carbon goal for the state's economy is just an executive order and could be reversed. But in California, such newly announced goals from governors tend to be followed within a few years by legislation locking the targets into law.
China's leaders have engaged in intensive dialogue with California on climate policy for more than a decade, and they consider the state's role to be more important than anything happening in Washington. That is fortunate, given the reprehensible efforts of the Trump administration to take America backward on climate.
As we mentioned, it is not yet clear how a zero-carbon goal for an economy the size of California's can be met — especially in the time set by the governor, 27 years hence. Governor Brown leaves office at the beginning of next year, so he is making promises his successors will have to keep.
What we do know is that California started setting climate goals during the administration of Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican governor, and it has tended to meet or exceed them years early. Goals serve to organize the bureaucracy; they point up gaps in achievement that may need to be filled with detailed policies; they send a powerful signal to inventors that useful technologies or business concepts will find a market. For example, it was a California mandate, copied by other states, that pushed electric cars into the American marketplace.
If China were to follow California's target in setting an ambitious low-emissions policy, the challenge would be enormous. How do you eliminate emissions from huge industries like steel making or aluminum smelting, or limit oil use in a country of 1.4 billion people pining for cars?
Industrial techniques will need to be reinvented, and this work cannot drag out for decades. But that, in a sense, is the point. We are already seeing profound damages from global warming, and the situation is likely to worsen rapidly.
The crisis is urgent; the time for half measures is past. Governor Brown has shown the world what really needs to be done. We hope other politicians will find the courage to follow in his footsteps, China's leaders above all.
Justin Gillis, a former environmental reporter for The Times, is a contributing opinion writer. Hal Harvey is the chief executive of the research firm Energy Innovation.


text:
Q: WPF удалить подсветку курсора в ListBox Работаю с WPF 4.0. Требуется просто вывести на экран список чего-либо без выбора, но с прокруткой при необходимости. Лучше всего на мой взгляд подходить ListBox. Написал следующий шаблон для ListBoxItem
    <UserControl.Resources>
    <Style x:Key="NoSelectedItemStyle" TargetType="{x:Type ListBoxItem}">
        <Style.Resources>
            <SolidColorBrush x:Key="{x:Static SystemColors.HighlightBrushKey}" Color="Transparent" />
            <SolidColorBrush x:Key="{x:Static SystemColors.ControlBrushKey}" Color="Transparent" />
            <SolidColorBrush x:Key="{x:Static SystemColors.HighlightTextBrushKey}" Color="Black" />
        </Style.Resources>
        <Setter Property="Focusable" Value="False" />
        <Style.Triggers>
            <Trigger Property="IsMouseOver" Value="True">
                <Setter Property="Background" Value="Transparent" />
            </Trigger>
        </Style.Triggers>
    </Style>
</UserControl.Resources>

Вроде все должно работать по логике, нашел много аналогичных примеров в Инете. Но при наводке курсора на Item в ListBox'е, он все равно подсвечивается голубым светом. Пробовал изменить другие свойства в триггере
 <Trigger Property="IsMouseOver" Value="True">
      <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="Red" />
      <Setter Property="Background" Value="Green" />
      <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="Black" />
      <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="3" />
 </Trigger>

Все меняется, кроме цвета "прямоугольника" подсветки, он все время остается голубым. Border в последнем случае меняет толщину, но цвет тоже остается голубым, только чуть темнее. Такое впечатление, что сверху накладывается какой-то прямоугольник голубого цвета.
Как можно избавиться от этой голубой подсветки?
Работаю в настольном приложении, но в Windows 10

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Rated 5 out of 5 by Susie from Waterproof and not too bulky I've bought these gloves before and I'm really happy with them.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Digger from Warm, Waterproof and practical gloves. Have used these gloves from Sealskinz for years and I work them hard. I'm sure I'll be back for another pair when these are worn out.
Rated 5 out of 5 by NicolaHomeFarm from Excellent - bought three pairs! We are working cattle farmers so these are great for being waterproof and warm And having the grip for lifting heavy Gates and equipment is helpful. Also they wash well— which happens regularly!
Rated 5 out of 5 by bjchef from Ultra Grip Gloves I have had these gloves for a month now and they are excellent. I especially like the fact that I don't have to remove them in the cold weather when cycling to operate the touch screen on my phone and like the extra grip they give rovide whilst cycling.
Rated 5 out of 5 by o126 from great!! I already has one from this glove and it is very good for the cold weathers while sailing.. just not easy to make it dry after it gets wet.. so I decided to buy this as a spare.. I am very satisfied with all products of Sealskinz as I am using the socks as well.. highly reccomend you to try!!!
Rated 5 out of 5 by RinN from The Truth I stumbled upon this site while searching for gloves else where. read a bit about it and became curious. I mean the price wasn't pocket friendly but I said to myself, I can always return if I don't like it. To my surprise, Love it, my hands remain dry and it was comfortable to wear. Long story short, I end up buying a hat, pair of socks, and two more pairs of gloves, one for my father-in-law and another one for me of course. Thank you Sealskinz.
Rated 5 out of 5 by noops1234 from amazing gloves I bought these so i could operate a video camera whilst keeping hands warm. So needed something tight to skin. It's tight, breathable, warm, waterproof. And really importantly, the grip allows me to handle cameras really well.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Cecilie from Good value for money. True to size. Waterproof like nothing I have tried before. Can stick the gloves into a water bucket to remove the hay, and they are still dry. Keeps me nice and warm until approximately 0 degrees.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Chrissyh from Exactly what I need for an outdoor muddy bootcamp That is what my daughter replied when I sent her a text asking her for a review on the gloves I bought her for Christmas and she added that they kept her hands warm and dry and gave her great grip. She asked for small which were what she needed according to the size guide and they are a little tight but presumes they will give. As it isn't listed in the what they are 'Used For' my daughter uses them a few times a week for bootcamp.The detals below are hers.
Rated 5 out of 5 by ag88 from Good gloves This is my second pair of gloves, having bought my first pair about 6 years ago on reccomendation from a colleague and they have lived up to their claim. The only problem with the first pair is that the grip surface has worn off and one of our puppy crew put a hole in one finger with his sharp puppy teeth.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Beachbum from Awesome Functional with comfortable warm fit, just like my old pair.
Rated 5 out of 5 by GGuk from Great gloves Works exactly as the description says. However, my hands still can get a bit cold when it's really cold out. No wind or rain coming through though.
Rated 5 out of 5 by kiki from They work! Great for winter horse and yard duties and great value!
Rated 5 out of 5 by Westman from Lovely gloves. Really pleased with my gloves, very comfortable to wear and good long cuffs. I am most happy with the way I can still use my phone when wearing them and they are excellent for when I am working my dog.
Rated 5 out of 5 by foobär from Keep their promise, keep you warm I use these gloves mainly for cycling on my daily way to work and back. I am not a slow rider and even at temperatures at +/-0°C and cold winds these gloves keep you nicely warm. Not even the slightest hint of cold or wind comes through. Perfect.
Rated 5 out of 5 by jcn1234 from so far so good I had a pair of these a long time ago and lost them, great to have waterproof gloves for soccer, I dunked these in water to test and they seemed to hold.
Rated 5 out of 5 by DaveT from Great! Excellent product, would recommend to anyone. My son uses for rugby, great for keeping hands warm and dry but great grip too.
Rated 5 out of 5 by JetAngler from Amazing gloves I use these gloves for JetSki fishing in winter in New Zealand. I put them on when I leave and take them off back at the wharf. My hands stay dry, warm and protected. I can still use my fish finder/gps touch screen with ease, tie knots and feel the bite through them. fantastic gloves!
Rated 5 out of 5 by fishing fool from Great Features I bought this a month ago and plan to use them next winter. Friend let me try his gloves out this spring in Alaska.
Rated 5 out of 5 by work gloves from Best gloves for warmth and flexability Very comfortable gloves for working with plants in cold.
Rated 5 out of 5 by MikeWhite64 from Quality Comfortable Wàterproof Gloves These are my second pair. Only because I lost one on my travels. They are superb gloves. Warm; comfy; fully waterproof and have excellent fingertip & palm grips. I cannot praise these gloves enough. Buy them - they are British made! Quality. Highly recommended.
Rated 5 out of 5 by TerryBM from Waterproof HI-Vis gloves Have bought these before so knew how good they were. I wear these when cycling and they have good grip even when wet. In the colder months I wear undergloves with these and they are nice and warm as well as dry. Great gloves which also help you to be seen in the darker days and at night.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Thunderhawk from High quality gloves Very good gloves in terms of comfort, grip and dexterity. Not the best for cold weather, but bear in mind that they are not designed for that purpose.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Shropshire Rose from Brilliant all round gloves I bought these gloves for Nordic walking and they are perfect for the job. Warm, waterproof and grip the poles really well. Only issue I've had is fingers take some pulling down; thought at first they were too short but worth the effort!


Nancy Burns is first named author on previous edition.
'The authors are not advocating that all people need to be involved in research but certainly argue the need for practioners to develop their research skills and expertise. This text removes some of the mystique of research and would certainly encourage the practioner to explore some of the areas raised in more depth. I would consider it to be an essential text for any social and health care practioner whether they are in practice or pursuing further studies. - Nurse Education Today, Volume 24, Issue 1, January 2004 Research is now a crucial function of health and social care practice. All professionals in these fields need to understand research and be able to apply it in their daily care. Making Sense of Research aims to demystify research by introducing the relevant and essential elements. The authors provide a foundation of research knowledge by explaining the role of research in health and social care, giving an overview of the research process and presenting a range of approaches both quantitative and qualitative. There is an emphasis on the development of critical skills and how to implement research findings in practice. Additionally, they cover ethical issues involved in research and the dissemination of evidence gained through research. This completely revised and updated Second Edition is an invaluable introductory text for students and qualified practitioners in the health and social care professions who have no prior training or experience in the area. It includes new material on internet research, and the examples and reading lists have been fully updated.
Pediatric Acute Care: A Guide for Interprofessional Practice is an ideal reference for practice and a resource for training health care professionals who care for pediatric patients in emergency, transport, inpatient, or critical care settings. With contributions from more than 200 practicing clinicians and experts from the US and Canada, it represents a wide-variety of disciplines including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, child life, nutrition, law, oriental medicine, education, public health, and psychology. Important Notice: The digital edition of this book is missing some of the images or content found in the physical edition.
Comprehensive and thorough in scope, The Research Process inNursing 7th edition provides everything you could want to knowabout research methods. This established textbook reflects thesignificant advances in nursing research and the importance ofevidence-based practice, and provides an invaluable resource forboth the novice and the more experienced researcher. It includes practical information and advice on: How to find and critique the evidence How to choose the right approach How to collect data How to make sense of the data How to put research into practice Special features: A clear, explicit and easy to understand text which linkstheory with practical steps in the research process. Examples provided allow the reader to apply a variety ofresearch concepts to theoretical learning and professionalpractice. Incorporates chapters, research examples, and policy from arange of international countries, including Canada, Australia, USAand Hong Kong. Provides detailed discussions around each example, whichclearly link theory with practice Easy to read for novice researchers and undergraduate nursingstudents, but at the same time provides sufficient depth and detailto be of value to experienced researchers and practitioners.


text:
Q: android passing Location method to another class // nullpointexception I am writing a custom app, and I want to separate the different functions in it like different classes, for better code maintenance.
Currently, I have the class MainActivity and the class GPSLoc; there is a button in MainActivity which should show the latitude and longitude by invoking a method from Class GPSLoc, but unfortunately, as soon as I hit the button, it throws NullPointException, here is the GPSLoc class, and I've tested the methods standalone and it works fine.
 public void onClick(View v) {
    GPSLoc Test1=new GPSLoc();
    Test1.showCoordinate();
    }
});

here is also the LogCat
07-07 19:04:24.730: E/AndroidRuntime(830): FATAL EXCEPTION: main
07-07 19:04:24.730: E/AndroidRuntime(830): java.lang.NullPointerException
07-07 19:04:24.730: E/AndroidRuntime(830):  at com.example.testnewbutton.GPSLoc.showCoordinate(GPSLoc.java:122)
07-07 19:04:24.730: E/AndroidRuntime(830):  at com.example.testnewbutton.MainActivity$1.onClick(MainActivity.java:53)
07-07 19:04:24.730: E/AndroidRuntime(830):  at android.view.View.performClick   (View.java:4204)
07-07 19:04:24.730: E/AndroidRuntime(830):  at android.view.View$PerformClick.run(View.java:17355)

here is the ShowCoordinate method
   public void showCoordinate ()

   {

    LocationManager manager = (LocationManager)mContext.getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);

       LocationListener ll=new MyLocationListener();
       manager.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER, 0, 0, ll);

       Location location=manager.getLastKnownLocation(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER);

       if (location != null) {
           String message = String.format(
                   "Current Location \n Longitude: %1$s \n Latitude: %2$s",
                   location.getLongitude(), location.getLatitude()

                   );

           {  Toast.makeText(mContext, message,Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();}

       }

   }

A: Use bellow code.
public class LocationListenerClass
{
private static LocationListenerClass instance;
private static Context context;
    private LocationManager myLocationManager;
    private LocationListener myLocationListener;
    private static Double latitude = 0d;
    private static Double longitude = 0d;
public static LocationListenerClass getInstance(Context context) {
    LocationListenerClass.context = context;
    if (null == instance) {
        instance = new LocationListenerClass();
    }
    return instance;
}

public void getCurrentLocation() {
    try {
        myLocationManager = (LocationManager) context
                .getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);
        myLocationListener = new MyLocationListener();
        myLocationManager.requestLocationUpdates(
                LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER, 30000, 100,
                myLocationListener);

        Location location;
        location = myLocationManager
                .getLastKnownLocation(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER);

        if (location == null) {
            myLocationManager.requestLocationUpdates(
                    LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER, 30000, 100,
                    myLocationListener);
            location = myLocationManager
                    .getLastKnownLocation(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER);
        }

        if (location != null) {
            try {
                latitude = location.getLatitude();
                Data.CURENT_LATITUDE = latitude;
                Log.v(ConstantLib.LOG, " latitude : "
                        + Data.CURENT_LATITUDE);
                longitude = location.getLongitude();
                Data.CURENT_LONGITUDE = longitude;
                Log.v(ConstantLib.LOG, " longitude : "
                        + Data.CURENT_LONGITUDE);

            } catch (Exception e) {
            }

        }
    } catch (Exception e) {
    }

}

public void removeLocationUpdates() {
    try {
        if (myLocationManager != null) {
            myLocationManager.removeUpdates(myLocationListener);
        }
    } catch (Exception e) {
    }
}

class MyLocationListener implements LocationListener {

    public void onLocationChanged(Location location) {

        try {
            if (location != null) {
                Data.CURENT_LATITUDE = location.getLatitude();
                Log.v(ConstantLib.LOG, "LOCATION CHANGED" + " latitude : "
                        + Data.CURENT_LATITUDE);
                longitude = location.getLongitude();
                Data.CURENT_LONGITUDE = location.getLongitude();
                Log.v(ConstantLib.LOG, "LOCATION CHANGED" + " longitude : "
                        + Data.CURENT_LONGITUDE);
            }
        } catch (Exception e) {

        }

    }

    public void onProviderDisabled(String provider) {
        // TODO Auto-generated method stub

    }

    public void onProviderEnabled(String provider) {
        // TODO Auto-generated method stub

    }

    public void onStatusChanged(String provider, int status, Bundle extras) {
        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
    }
}

}


experience our students need to become professional working artists.
Skyra Studios is Central Florida's only performing arts training center that offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for aspiring dancers, actors, filmmakers, and artists to gain real-world experience.
Prepare for a career in classical ballet, contemporary and modern dance, filmmaking, acting or art in our multi-disciplinary academy. Train in our beautiful, ultra-modern space that includes gorgeous dance studios, a recording studio, our own cafe and more. All classes are taught by master teachers, renowned working performers, choreographers and production experts.
As parents, we understand the importance of quality education. We found ourselves searching both locally and nationally for an academy that offered a well-rounded program, and we soon realized there was a void between the locally-owned dance studios and elite performing arts institutions. We decided to fill that void by founding Skyra Studios, a premier performing arts academy, offering the finest education in dance, acting, art, and filmmaking. We see the value in finding a single location that provides all the tools your child needs to become a successful artist, and we sought out the best talent for our program directors.
Our faculty's combined backgrounds in the entertainment industry will allow us to offer our students the opportunity to receive professional industry experience. Our programs will have cross-functionality with actors, artist, dancers, and filmmakers, coming together to create unique and original stories.
The experience and connections we have gained from our many years producing feature films will allow us to create original content in all genres for our performers to gain experience and exposure. We have direct relationships with studios that fund and buy creative content. The content we create over the year will not simply be sent home as nostalgic memorabilia but professionally-packaged pitch projects. At the end of the day, these projects could be picked up and produced into full feature-length films, TV series, or stage shows! By coming to our program, your child will be a working professional on actual industry stage and film projects that can be added to their resume and used on their sizzle reel. Our students will leave our program as professionals ready for whatever medium they decide to grace with their performance.


The government has announced that the first batch of 220 mining guards trained to police mining activities across the country will be deployed in April 2019.
This comes on the back of the activities of some unscrupulous small scale miners in the Western North Region.
It was obvious that despite the measures put in place to curb the menace, some recalcitrants are flouting the rules of engagement in responsible and environmentally friendly mining.
One measure government has put in place is to deploy mining guards who will augment the effort of the task force on Illegal mining Operation Vanguard.
The Mining guards have undergone training in surveillance, ethics of security services, as well as appropriate ways of effecting arrests of illegal miners.


Recently while Walking on Division St. in San Francisco with laundry and groceries by a tent city, I was approached by a young black female news reporter from one of the local mainstream news station affiliates. She was accompanied by another gentleman of African descent and a camera man of Asian descent.
She excitedly asked me as if she heard good news that I should also be excited about "Are you moving?"
To which I replied, am I moving?
I was of course offended not only that I had just been profiled by how I dressed and looked but that I should some how feel excited about this.
She of course referring to Ed Lee's recent vow to shut down local tent cities "and provide the residents of them with needed social services" For those of you who don't understand government double talk, what that really means is he intends to have DPW steal their belongings while the cops arrest, kill or beat them.
I should consider myself one of the lucky ones. I was profiled by a naïve if not over zealous news reporter who, in spite of being affiliated with some of the monsters responsible for the suffering of poor folks, was still pretty much harmless.
Ironically, she is the same reporter who educated on one of Poor Magazines actions outside of 850 Bryant street some time last year in an effort to get the DA to either bring criminal charges against or stop the eviction of elders.
About a quarter mile from where this occurred, a houseless man who was residing in a tent city on Shotwell street and who would otherwise be known as a community activist Luis Gongora was profiled to death. Shot by police, supposedly for waving a knife at police. Not only do residents of the tent city on Shotwell and 19th street dispute this, so do local building residents.
Several nights later the cops returned slashed the tents of the remaining residents kicked over a makeshift memorial for Luis and assisted the DPW in stealing their belongings.


Over the past years, the beauty industry has been proactive about representing more Muslim women. Nura Afia was named a CoverGirl. Orly created a collection of halal-certified nail products with Muslim Girl. While these are praise-worthy steps forward, one group that has been woefully underrepresented are black Muslims. Halima Aden may have starred in Fenty Beauty's launch campaign, but there is still so much work to be done.
This has been a major topic of conversation in the modest fashion and beauty blogging communities, especially following the recent Dubai Modest Fashion Week. London-based beauty influencer Manal Chinutay lamented about both the lack of women of color she saw while attending DMFW and colorism within the Muslim community.
Hodan Yusuf serves major beauty inspiration because she's unafraid to rock a blue lipstick or wear blinding highlighter.
Hodhen Liaden created the Instagram @darkskinnedhijabis to raise up fellow black Muslim women. As for her feed, you can expect reviews for all of the most buzz-worthy launches and some seriously mesmerizing close-ups of gorgeous eye makeup.
Manal Chinutay is quickly becoming one of the most in-demand beauty influencers — Lancome UK just collaborated with her on a tutorial. The Toronto-raised, London-based vlogger not only posts glamorous (but doable!) makeup, but also owns her own hijab brand, Chinutay & Co.
Yasmine Simone's feed is a mix of swoon-worthy, glowing makeup looks (both on herself and clients), her latest skincare obsessions, and endless hijab and headwrap inspiration.
Hodman is a Somali makeup artist who kills it at dramatic beauty transformations for her clients. She's also a fan of a bold lip and for that, we're fans.
Zainab is UK-based Nigerian makeup artist who will be everywhere soon enough — she's already worked with Netflix's Chewing Gum star Michaela Coel. On herself, she slays her face beat with drugstore beauty products, will try a faux lip ring look, and embraces hard-to-pull-off shadow colors (like green!).
Sira is a Gambian beauty blogger based in Atlanta. She is the absolute queen of strobing and will inspire you to take your own glow to the next level — there's no such thing as too much highlighter!
Ramie is a London-based Eritrean beauty influencer who only recently started her YouTube page but already has an impressive following on Instagram. Whether she's using Huda Beauty liquid lipstick as eye shadow, creating faux freckles with a bobby pin, or trying colored contacts, you'll always be inspired.
Sagal is a London-based Somali blogger who covers all lifestyle, from fashion to motherhood. On the beauty front, she often goes full-glam — which complements her signature African headwraps beautifully.
Sabrina is a Seattle-based beauty influencer who slays at selfies — her lashes, brows, and lips are true beauty #goals.
Zulaika is a Nigerian makeup artist with the most gorgeous skin. Like her headwraps, her taste in makeup is extremely colorful, and she'll try everything from white winged eyeliner to black lipstick.
Ahlam is a Minnesota-based beauty vlogger who also competes in beauty pageants (so she knows a thing or two about mastering stage makeup). She does a killer cut-crease look like no other.
Maryama is a Kansas City-based Somali blogger who mainly shows off her incredible sense of fashion, but she also wins in the beauty department. Expect to see her love of matte lipsticks, glowing golden skin, and major headscarf styling inspiration (hello, hijab-braid!).
Neelam is a California-based influencer whose makeup is beautifully minimalist: all about lashes and lips.
Shahd is always on top of the latest launches for her beauty vlogs, from Huda Beauty's Desert Dusk palette to the Fenty Stunna lip paints.


In the past, economic growth often seemed to depend on using up natural resources as though supplies were unlimited. The result is a 'resource crisis', with a threat of shortages and rising prices.
Today, growing numbers of citizens and economists are looking to different economic models, where wealth can be created without harming the environment.
In this section you can find out how the EU is helping citizens and governments to green their economies, through better management of resources, economic instruments that are good for the environment, support for innovation, better policies for water and waste, and efforts to boost sustainable consumption and production.


Had for couple weeks, in excellent condition.
Vapes like a champion, 25mm in s/s.
Easy to fill and does not leak.
Missing the steel drip tip but has ultem driptip with it.
Last edited by Dave L; 16-10-17 at 01:32 PM.
No takers on djv rdta??


text:
Webinar Recording: Construction Law Basics: Essential Concepts Every Contractor and Owner Should Know
RIW Construction Law Partner Kirk J. McCormick hosted the complimentary webinar entitled "Construction Law Basics: Essential Concepts Every Contractor and Owner Should Know". If you would like to review the program, a link to the webinar recording can be found here. Please feel free to reach out to Kirk if you have any questions about…
POSTED IN: Construction Law, News
Vaccinations in the Workplace: What Can Be Required of Employees
By Adam Gutbezahl on June 4, 2021
The "new normal" following the COVID-19 pandemic appears just across the horizon. The number of active COVID-19 cases continues to decline. Traffic is increasing. The sun is coming out and temperatures are rising (aside from Memorial Day weekend). This return to normalcy is helped in great part by the large number of people in the Bay…
POSTED IN: COVID-19, Employment Law
WEBINAR: Construction Law Basics: Essential Concepts Every Contractor and Owner Should Know
By RIW on June 3, 2021
RIW Construction Law and Litigation partner Kirk J. McCormick will host the complimentary webinar "Construction Law Basics: Essential Concepts Every Contractor and Owner Should Know" on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 from Noon – 1:00PM EST. This webinar will tackle some of the fundamental issues that can arise on any project, from negotiating the agreement through…
POSTED IN: Commercial Real Estate, Construction Law, News
Employment Alert: Massachusetts Enacts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave
By Dave Robinson, Esq. on June 2, 2021
On May 28, 2021, Governor Baker signed into law a temporary requirement for employers to provide employees up to 40 hours of COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave (EPSL) and created a $75 Million fund for employers to seek reimbursement. EPSL will start on June 7, 2021 and remain in effect until September 30, 2021 or…
POSTED IN: COVID-19, Employment Law, News

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


If you want to see everything Yakima has to offer, there is no better way to do so from behind the wheel of a rental car from Budget. Don't waste your time waiting for the bus or hailing taxis to go to the sights. When you have access to your own car, you can go wherever you want to go, whenever you want. Make your upcoming getaway to Washington more enjoyable with a Budget rental car.
Yakima is a perfect town when you wish a break from rat race of a big city. Many guests come to take advantage of Yakima's Pleasant winters. Of course, this city has more going on such as its a variety of entertainment options. No matter what you decide on first, you'll want to check out as much of Yakima as possible while on your road trip. If you need to mix it up from Yakima's easy-going vibes, then get in the driver's seat of your Budget car rental and see what else is out there.
We work with many of the top car rental companies in the world. With a name like Budget, you know they will try to get you the cheapest price. Open for business during Los Angeles, California around 1958, Budget always strives to provide the best prices for customers.
How do I get a Yakima Budget car rental at a great price?
CarRentals.com strives to get you the best rates, whether you reserve your car. But reserving ahead of your trip can help keep spending low. Make sure to read the mileage policy and keeping it to one driver will reduce your expense.
What should I have with me when I pick up my rental car in Yakima?
What's the minimum age to rent a car in Yakima?
Budget's minimum age to rent a car in Yakima is 21. Make sure to check Budget's policy, as there may be additional fees if you are under 25 or for higher category rentals especially.
What kind of Budget rental car should I get for my trip to Yakima?
That all depends on your needs and what activities you want to do in Yakima. Compact or economy automobiles are easier to park and ideal for short drives. If you are traveling with a bigger group, then a SUV or mid-size vehicle is going to have enough room for all of you and be a more comfortable ride on longer drives. Those looking for a touch of luxury on their Yakima trip can choose the premium category for a car like a Mercedes C-Class or Audi A4 or similar.
You are required to have insurance before you rent a car in the United States. Although many of the major card issuers, like MasterCard or Visa, offer some coverage, there are usually restrictions. For instance, you may not be covered if you book a luxury or larger vehicle. Make sure to check credit card company's policy before you decide. Otherwise, as a U.S. citizen, you can add on Collision Damage Coverage through CarRentals.com at checkout.
Budget requires a deposit when you reserve your rental car. Budget will block the deposit on your credit once you book your car for your trip to Yakima. Please be aware that the deposit can vary greatly depending on the make and model of the rental.
At CarRentals.com, we advise a full to full policy. You should receive your car with a full tank. However, if you return the rental with less than the amount that you received it with, most companies will charge a premium to top it back off. For a cheaper rate, it is best to find a filling station before you bring it back to Budget.
Yakima has lots to keep you entertained, but you may want to head to nearby cities to find out what else Washington has to offer. You can explore the rest of the region free of mileage limits after you've checked off all the activities in Yakima.
Does Budget offer one-way rentals in Yakima?
Budget offers one-way rentals in most cases. You may find it easier to drop off your rental at a different location. Be aware there is typically an additional fee when you choose one-way.
With so much to do and see in Yakima, having access to your own ride lets you explore at your own pace. When you're ready to explore more of Washington, you can leave wherever you want to, without having to coordinate a ride-share or wait for the bus.
Before you head out of town, book your Budget Yakima rental car and take off to all the must-see sights. Book with CarRentals.com and cruise the road in Yakima, Washington.


text:
Vom Staal (auch vom Stall, de Stabulo, von Staal) ist der Name einer erloschenen Familie aus Solothurn, Schweiz. Sie brachte mehrere bedeutende Politiker hervor. Der erste solothurnische Bürger der Familie war Hans vom Staal, der wahrscheinlich aus Wangen im Allgäu stammte und zwischen 1450 und 1456 eingebürgert wurde. 1787 erlosch der Solothurner Zweig der Familie und 1809 ein Zweig in Porrentruy. Die Familie wurde geadelt (Adelsbrief Heinrichs III. von 1577) und gehörte zum Patriziat der Stadt Solothurn; ihr Wappen war seit 1487 (erteilt vom römisch-deutschen König Maximilian I.) in Gold ein Greifenbein, vom oberen Rand wachsend mit Pfauenfedern, nach dem Adelsbrief von 1577 dann ein goldenes Greifenbein in Schwarz.

Wichtige Vertreter der Familie

 Hans vom Staal (1419–1499), Stadtschreiber von Solothurn
 Hans Jakob vom Staal (1463–1520), Ratsmitglied in Solothurn, Sohn des Hans
 Hans vom Staal (II), erwähnt zwischen 1518 und 1535, Sohn des Hans Jakob (1463–1520)
 Hans Jakob vom Staal (1522–1542), Goldschmied, Sohn des Hans (II)
 Hans Jakob vom Staal (der Ältere) (1539–1615), Stadtschreiber von Solothurn, Sohn des Hans Jakob (1522–1542)
 Hans Jakob vom Staal (der Jüngere) (1589–1657), solothurnischer Politiker, Ratsmitglied, 1653 bis 1657 Schultheiss, Sohn des Hans Jakob (1539–1615)
 Maria Scholastika vom Staal (Elisabeth) (1608–1659), 1643–1659 Äbtissin des Zisterzienserinnenklosters Wurmsbach, Tochter des Gedeon (1573–1655)
 Marguerite Jeanne Cordier de Launay, Baronin Staal (1693–1750), Verschwörerin gegen den Herzog von Orléans Philipp II. und Schriftstellerin, Ehefrau von Johann Jakob vom Staal (1677–1761), solothurnischer Politiker und Militär

Literatur

 Artikel Staal, vom in: Historisch-biographisches Lexikon der Schweiz. Neuenburg, 1931. Bd. 6, S. 485

 Christian Adolf Müller: Der Solothurner Johann Baptist von Staal als Obervogt der Herrschaft Pfirt 1664-1673, in: Basler Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Altertumskunde, Bd. 49 (1950), S. 98–153 (Volltext)
 Hans Sigrist: Stadtschreiber Hans vom Stall. In: Solothurnische Biographien. Dietschi, Olten 1951. S. 92–119. Im Anhang: Stammtafel vom Stall bis Ende 16. Jahrhundert.

Geschichte (Kanton Solothurn)
Schweizer Adelsgeschlecht
Schweizerisches Patriziergeschlecht

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Group text in Excel I have a table with 3 columns,

I want to group the Text rows to something like this :

Please help

A: If you have Excel365 then it would be easier to achieve your result. As per below screenshot put following formula to G2 cell.
=UNIQUE(C2:C5)

Then put below formula to E2 cell.
=TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,IF($C$2:$C$5=$G2,A$2:A$5,""))


text:
Jesse Ronson: Return of the Body Snatcher
By E. Spencer Kyte • Feb. 5, 2014
"I find pleasure in disappointing people, letting them know that the underdog can win." - Jesse Ronson
Jesse Ronson knew something was wrong the second he stepped into the Octagon.
During his time on the regional circuit, the Canadian lightweight spent the moments before the fight sketching out the beating he was about to bestow on the poor soul across the cage from him in his head, his lips moving as his bad intentions turned from thoughts to words as the ring announcer introduced he and the guy that was about to become the next man he defeated.
That wasn't the case at UFC 165.
Instead of looking across the cage and muttering things than can't be repeated in this space in the direction of Michael Prazeres, the 28-year-old from London, Ontario was gobsmacked to be standing in front of Bruce Buffer, listening to "The Voice of the Octagon" announce his name to the partisan crowd that had packed the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
"There was so much pressure on me to win my UFC fight - because everybody always wins their first UFC fight - that I had already lost before the fight even started," he says, thinking back to the night that was supposed to be one of the fondest memories of his entire life. "I was already mentally defeated. It all came together when I got to the cage - Bruce Buffer was the culmination."
He laughs about it now, but looking back on the performance still stings because the fighter Ronson sees on film doesn't look anything like the fighter that put together an eight-fight winning streak in order to get a short notice call-up to the biggest stage in the sport.
"My manager had been telling me forever that the UFC is gridlocked - they're not signing anybody - so you're going to have to keep taking fights or you can just wait it out. Taking that Shane Campbell fight was a huge risk because he's now in the K-1 finals, but I beat him and I was going to take another fight and then the UFC calls. Five weeks, you've got to lose 30 pounds, and I wasn't about to say no.
"I wanted to be in the UFC since I watched the first one," he continues, echoing a sentiment shared by most within the fight community. "Getting there, I wasn't nervous - I did a lot of work with a sports psychologist because I figured I would be nervous, but I was good up until I got to the cage, and then I kind of mentally defeated myself. I was not myself when I watched the tape, and I can do a lot better than that.
"Normally when I'm in the cage, I'm looking at my opponent, and in my head I'm threatening him. Sometimes you can even see my mouth move because I'm threatening this guy - cussing him out in my head - but when I fought Prazeres, I couldn't even look at him. When he looked at me, I actually looked away, and that's not me.
"When the bell went, I actually sat back and thought about that—like `Why can't I look at this guy?' I knew something was wrong right then and it was a snowball effect after that."
Prazeres hit four takedowns in the opening round, taking Ronson off his game from the outset. Though he battled back to win the final frame and get the nod from one of the judges, the Canadian ultimately came up short in his debut, dropping a split decision to the Brazilian.
Fortunately for the now 13-3 product of the Adrenaline Training Center, he'll get a chance to redeem himself on February 15, as Ronson will go from being "the hometown favorite" to the "foreign invader" when he travels to Jaragua do Sul, Brazil to take on Francisco Trinaldo as part of the UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi preliminary card.
Sporting an identical 13-3 record, the 35-year-old Trinaldo has gone 3-2 since emerging from the first season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, most recently being submitted by newcomer Piotr Hallman.
"This time is going to be different," Ronson says of his impending showdown with Trinaldo. "That last fight made me a mental monster. Having a full training camp to prepare, the weight cut going well, that means I'm not stressed. I'm well prepared, changed a few things, and it's going to show."
For Ronson, it all comes down to accepting what is going to happen on February 15 and embracing it. He didn't do that last time out and it cost him, but that won't be the case when he shares the Octagon with "Massaranduba" later this month.
"We're in that cage; we're going to fight. It doesn't matter what I say beforehand, we're in there, and I'm going to punch you in the face. You're going to try to punch me in the face. I don't care if I get you mad or upset you - we're in a fight. I'm going to stare you down and I'm going to rip you apart.
"There's no more fear - I'm in the business to fight and we're going to fight. We're getting in there and we're going to throw down. That's exactly (the mindset) I needed and didn't have (last time). I needed that setback to bring out the animal in me.
While his debut came with the added stress of fighting close to home, his sophomore opportunity is the exact opposite, as Ronson will step into the Octagon before a partisan Brazilian crowd chanting threats at the Canadian for thinking he can come to their country and turn back one of their own.
Ronson welcomes it, and intends to do just that.
"I love how patriotic the Brazilian crowd is and how they support their fighters. When Jeremy Stephens knocked out Rony Jason, the crowd was quiet. Everywhere else in the world - it doesn't matter if you're fighting in Japan and you knocked out a Japanese guy, or you're in America and you knocked out an American - people are going to cheer.
"The fact that the crowd went silent shows they're patriotic, and I have always thrived in the bad guy role. I love the fact that I'm going down there and they're going to boo; it just makes me want to push that much harder to beat the hometown guy. I find pleasure in disappointing people, letting them know that the underdog can win.
"(This time around) you're going to see the old Jesse Ronson. I'm going to be in this guy's face and I'm going to be pushing him because I know he quit on the stool in The Ultimate Fighter house, and I know he doesn't have a gas tank.
"I'm going to be taking his wind from him, pushing and pushing and pushing. He's going to cave. He's either going to drop and quit or I'm going to take him down and tap him out. Either way, he's going to break."
To watch seven UFC Fight Night Jaragua prelims on UFC Fight Pass on Saturday, February 15, Start your free trial today
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text:
The Charlotte Geeks
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HomeSeeMovies'KODACHROME' EXALTS THE TANGIBLE IN AN ERA OF DIGITAL DUST.
'KODACHROME' EXALTS THE TANGIBLE IN AN ERA OF DIGITAL DUST.
April 26, 2018 Douglas Davidson Movies, See
The following movie review is reprinted with permission by fellow Charlotte Geek and local movie reviewer, Douglas Davidson. To read more of his movie reviews, please visit his website Elements of Madness.
There's a common misconception that if a movie premieres on Netflix it's somehow not worthy of a theater run; as though only films shown in a cinema house are somehow the only ones worthy of an audience. If films like I Don't Want To Live In This World Anymore, Okja, and Mudbound haven't make it clear – Netflix comes to play. They recognize that cinema isn't for just one demographic, but for all peoples. As a digital service, they have the ability to reach untold audiences with a simple click. It's rather ironic then that their latest original film, the Mark Raso-directed Kodachrome, focuses heavily on man's relationship with art and the way futurist progression breaks down what makes art worth enjoying – the perception of tangibility.
Music label rep Matt Ryder (Jason Sudeikis) is having a rough day. First, his prize headlining artist dumps him, his boss threatens to fire him, and then a strange women (Elizabeth Olsen) arrives in his office with a message from Ben (Ed Harris), his decade-long estranged father – he's dying and wants Matt to accompany him on a cross-country journey to Parsons, Kansas, the home of the last photo shop using Kodachrome to develop photos. At first reluctant, Matt joins the road trip when he learns that he can stop to court another band along the way which might just save his job. With each man getting something out of the trip, the tumultuous journey from New York to Kansas begins as each race to preserve their legacy through the craft they love above all else.
L-R: Benjamin and Matt Ryder chat (Ed Harris and Jason Sudeikis).
Most films indulge some form of MacGuffin in order to move the plot along, yet Kodachrome's is far more than the standard plot device. Inspired by the Dec. 2010 New York Times article For Kodachrome Fans, Road Ends at Photo Lab in Kansas by A. G. Sulzberger, script writer Jonathan Tropper (This Is Where I Leave You) clearly recognized that the artists using Kodachrome processing in their work felt a deep loss when Kodak halted production. Though viewed by many as an outmoded process in the wake of digital technology, the palatable grief of its users correlates nicely with a tale of two men facing similar fates, infusing the real story with a fictional premise of familial discord. One, a famous photographer (Ben) facing his final days, quests to process several rolls of his earliest work for a gallery showing, while the other, his son, a progression of his own legacy, a music lover whose analog tastes can't keep up with digital trends, just wants to stay in the game. The last photo shop using Kodachrome in its processing may incite Ben to take his cross-country trip, but it's by no-means a meaningless device. Thematically, Kodachrome is as essential as the journey of these men to tell the story.
Casual viewers will be surprised to discover that Kodachrome is substantially layered in themes ranging from man's struggle to stay relevant, the undeniable process of nature to remove outdated technology, and the need to feel loved. Raso's work suggests a filmmaker far beyond his two-feature-film experience. Each shot is purposeful and heavy with meaning. In one scene, the camera lingers on Harris's face for a prolonged period, enabling the audience to take in every line, every wrinkle on the brilliant artist whose caustic disposition pushed his son away. A shot like this requires patience on the filmmaker and asks the same of the audience. Just as a photographer presents still-life in the moment, Raso wants us to take the time to absorb the man Ben's become. Later, as Matt goes through the slides produced during their visit to Dwayne's Photo in Parsons, Raso largely shies away from showing the audience the photos, selecting instead to focus on Matt's reaction to the images. Slowly, so slowly, we observe Matt's face change from stoicism to awe, overcome with the moments his father captured on these forgotten rolls of film. In these moments where Raso diligently and delicately holds the camera on his subject, Kodachrome hits you right in the gut. At one point Ben states that photographers are "preservationists" who make "human nature more tangible." Thinking in a similar way, Raso uses the camera to hold tight on the moments that matter, empowering his actors to give their all as the audience absorbs even the slightest changes in visage and demeanor.
Elizabeth Olsen as Zooey Kern standing between Matt and Ben at a concert.
If nothing else, Kodachrome should finally put to rest the versatility of Sudeikis as a leading man. He's been a monster in Colossal, ne'er-do-well in We're The Millers, and a strong comedic performer for thirteen years on Saturday Night Live, but never has he turned in a performance so deeply rich, so nuanced, and so perfectly matched for his brand of quippy snark. Matching him beat-for-beat, Harris is magnetic as Ben, a man well aware that his abrasive tendencies keep everyone that should mean something to him at arm's length. Played by any other actor, Ben's an irredeemable figure, yet Harris not only offers a glimpse of hope, but – in bouncing off Sudeikis – suggests a man whose awareness extends to a hidden shame. The entertainment derived from watching these two go barb for barb is not only a testament to the actors, but also to Tropper's script as these men slowly reveal themselves to be mirrors of one another. Holding her own between the two is Elizabeth Olsen (Avengers: Civil War) as Zooey, a character that frequently feels more like an exposition device than a proper character. Yet what we glean from her, and in the manner we glean it, makes her journey just as important as that of Matt and Ben. Even with such a small central cast, Raso and Tropper balance the narrative so that each actor is given relevance beyond a single action or decision.
Whether you catch Kodachrome on Netflix or at one of the festivals it's playing throughout the country, it is a film not to be missed. It's depth of humor and melancholy will surprise audiences in a myriad of ways. Using the backdrop of technological obsolesce as the driving force within the story, Raso and Tropper craft a grounded narrative of two men in crisis whose journey doesn't so much repair them, as offers bittersweet closure. Replete with fantastic performances from a top tier cast, Raso's enthralling direction, and Tropper's meticulous and captivating script, Kodachrome is a highlight picture of 2018.
Final Score: 4.5 out of 5.
A. G. Sulzberger
Douglas Davidson
Elements of Madness
About Douglas Davidson	4 Articles
A Renaissance Geek with a M.A. from Johns Hopkins University and an active NC Film Critics Association member, since June 2016. In addition to running Elements of Madness, I'm a Senior Contributor Film Critic for Charlotte-based arts and culture blog CLTure, contributing Film Critic for entertainment website Pretty Vacant One, contributing Film Review Member for online film community FilmFed, and co-host on The Roundtable podcast on the Poprika Podcast Network.
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text:
Stacey West (from right) and her son, Quinton Jones of Suga's Pimento Cheese, talk with a visitor at the reception for finalists in the 2019 Flavor of Georgia competition. CONTRIBUTED BY ROBERT WEST
Sunday brunches led metro Atlanta family into pimento cheese business
C. W. Cameron, For the AJC
Suga's Pimento Cheese available at local farmers markets, stores
Two years ago, Stacey West graduated from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta.
"I told my husband I wanted to open a restaurant, or have a food shop," she said. A restaurant in their Powder Springs neighborhood was closed on Sundays, and, for two months, the family used that facility to serve Sunday brunch and try being restaurateurs.
West and her son, Quinton Jones, also a chef, were in the kitchen, and her husband, Robert West, ran the front of the house. They served brunch favorites, like catfish po'boys, chicken and waffles with maple butter, and sweet potato corn muffins. And, they served pimento cheese and grits. Lots of pimento cheese and grits.
Customers loved their cooking, but it was the pimento cheese they wanted to take home. That was the start of Suga's Pimento Cheeses.
Suga is West's nickname, pronounced "shuh-gah," and dreamed up by daughter Chanty as an alternative for "Grandma."
West began selling her pimento cheese. "I came from up north, and I didn't grow up with pimento cheese," she said. "I knew I wanted to have pimento cheese on my brunch menu, so I just kept working through recipes. I kept tweaking until I came up with the right flavor."
Customers loved the original, but many asked for a spicier version. "I decided, OK, let me put jalapenos in it, but we won't use the seeds," she said.
Around that time, a customer suggested she try selling her pimento cheese at the Powder Springs Farmers Market. She signed up, and took her two varieties of pimento cheese. Success there inspired the Wests to start selling at the Marietta Square Farmers Market.
Suga's Pimento Cheeses offers a wide range of options, ranging from the original to bacon asiago with jalapeno. CONTRIBUTED BY ROBERT WEST
Photo: For the AJC
"It was phenomenal," she said. "We sold out on our first day. We looked at each other and said, 'Maybe there's something here.'"
That something turned into a business, with six varieties of pimento cheese using dairy cheese, and three vegan flavors.
"From our mildly spicy pimento cheese with jalapeno, we went on to create bacon asiago with jalapenos, then a variety with roasted poblanos that we mix with Monterey Jack, and one with serrano peppers," she said. "Then, we were inspired to make a vegan version with no soy, no dairy and no tree nuts. We use a pea plant protein, and we have three flavors — original, mildly spicy with jalapenos, and our very spicy serrano."
Not content with nine flavors, they added a 10th; their smoked gouda pimento cheese debuted at the 2018 Atlanta Cheese Fest.
The Wests continue to take their pimento cheeses to local farmers markets, and it's customer feedback that lets them know they're still on the right track. "So many times, we're at a market, and people tell us ours is the 'best pimento cheese ever,'" she said. "It's fun when our customers tell us our pimento cheese brings back memories of their childhood, of their mom or grandmom — somebody they loved — making pimento cheese for them."
That feedback keeps them going as they sell their pimento cheeses at the year-round Marietta, East Point and Peachtree City farmers markets, as well as seasonal markets in Rockmart, Acworth, Powder Springs, Chattanooga and Augusta. The cheeses also are available at the Local Exchange in Marietta, Lucy's Market in Buckhead and Floral Park Market in Home Park.
They keep up with demand through weekly production sessions in their commercial kitchen off Bell's Ferry Road in Marietta. A session might find West and Jones roasting peppers, cooking as many as 15 pounds of applewood smoked bacon, and shredding several varieties of cheese.
As they stir, they dream up new flavors, and new ways to use pimento cheese. "We'll taste something and think, 'Now, how would they go as a pimento cheese?'" West said.
They want their customers to realize pimento cheese is more than just a spread. It's an ingredient that works in lots of recipes, like the pimento cheese and grits that sparked the business.
They also offer samples of pimento cheese cookies. "We use our smoked gouda pimento cheese and top each cookie with strawberry pineapple jam," she said. "We tell people it's a delicious cookie that's both savory and sweet, and perfect for after dinner and entertaining."
This isn't just a hobby for the Wests. Both left their careers to focus on Suga's. "This is all we do," she said. "This is what sustains us. I have always had a passion for food, ever since I was a little kid. It is the gift God gave me, to be creative with food."
More made in Georgia food products
8 ways to try pimento cheese in metro Atlanta
Three ways to enjoy pimento cheese from Georgia
Read the AJC Spring Dining Guide: The Atlanta barbecue issue
Read more stories like this by liking Atlanta Restaurant Scene on Facebook, following @ATLDiningNews on Twitter and @ajcdining on Instagram.


On 2 June 2014 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its proposed performance standards to reduce CO2 emissions from existing power stations. In 2012, these stations accounted for about 38.5% of US energy-related CO2 emissions, chiefly from coal. To date, the EPA proposal is the most substantial federal policy initiative aimed at reducing CO2 emissions in the US. However, other developments will also influence CO2 emissions from the power sector. In this paper, David Robinson places the proposed EPA regulations into their wider political and sectorial context. He analyses four determinants of the demand for coal and gas in the power sector, as well as the resulting CO2 emissions: the relative price of coal and natural gas; electricity demand; renewable power; and EPA regulations.
There are four messages. First, reductions in CO2 emissions from the US power sector are likely to be modest, at least from a European perspective. Coal and natural gas will together continue to provide over 60 per cent of US electricity until at least 2030. Second, achieving EPA objectives for CO2 emissions reduction will be difficult, which partly explains why the targets are modest. There are barriers to reducing coal-based generation in the US, including the relatively low cost of coal and strong political support for coal in many states. Third, while the market share for natural gas will grow, its market in the power sector will be limited by rising natural gas prices, growth of renewables and flat or declining electricity demand. Finally, absence of bipartisan support for federal action to tackle climate change raises doubts about the successful implementation of EPA regulations and weakens US credibility in global climate negotiations.


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Development tendencies and perspectives of forensic science.
3103-6532-1-SM.pdf (137.9Kb)
Fenyvesi, Csaba
It appears that the differences between the continental and Anglo-Saxon legal systems also extend to Criminalistics, a field based mainly on natural sciences. The authors showed that criminalistics never took hold In the United Kingdom as a scientific concept. The concept of forensic science was partly identified with continental criminal technology. The literature of the field used the terms 'forensic' and 'scientific1 interchangeably. The kinds of skills used in the course of investigating and solving crimes were not considered to be a part of 'forensic science'. Until very recently British literature of the field understood the scientific examination or Investigation of crimes in terms of natural scientific methods. In the United States the use of the phrase 'forensic science has been in use for many decades. Under the heading of 'forensic science' we typically find the kinds of scientific knowledge used for the investigation, examination and assessment of physical evidence. Its main branches are criminalistics and forensic medicine. In addition to the classic fields of forensic biology, chemistry, ballistics and photography, we can add the recently-arrived fields of forensic computer technology (including, for example, the computerised examination of the human voice and intonation, and DNA testing of cells, furthermore computer-printer writing), anthropology (with emphasis on archaeological references), geology, entomology, molecular genetics and biology, analysis of evidence (includes the use of mathematics-based Bayes analysis in identification tests), forensic nursing, engineering failure, fire science and the investigation of explosions, personality profiling, safety management, all of which are the legal responsibility of the experts. Current tendencies in the fields of forensic science (criminalistics) in this century (in summarised form) 1. Primate of the criminal-technology 2. Microscopic investigations 3. Internationalism (ENFSI-FITEH, EPNAP, EAFS-EFTA, etc.) 4. Computerisation 5. Qualitative speciality of criminal stuffs 6. Privatisation.
https://www3.mruni.eu/ojs/jurisprudence/article/view/3103/2904
https://repository.mruni.eu/handle/007/13274