Home / Cyber Security • Education • Personal Development / Should we all go back to pen and paper?
Should we all go back to pen and paper?
You will be surprised to hear that I was playing golf at the weekend. As always over the duration of a round, we discussed all manner of things.
On Sunday, one of my playing partners brought up cyber security and how insecure he felt about his personal information and bank details.
He suggested going back to pen and paper and taking all his banking offline, because it's more secure.
We all agreed that this was a silly idea but in truth its not that silly unless we personally get very serious about our online security and staying up to date and ahead of the game.
In relation to our cyber security, we are all feeling insecure at the moment. But I'd like you to think about a time in your lives when you felt most secure. Go ahead and close your eyes for a moment.
Where are you? Are you a child? Are you with a parent or a trusted friend?
Remember how it felt to feel safe and content at that moment in time.
For me this was a great time, it was a safe time and it was a time when I felt secure.
And now – like when I remember seeing a storm roll in from the Atlantic Ocean back in my childhood home – we live in a time that can feel a lot less secure, don't we?
Consider the U.S. Elections and the alleged meddling by Russia and the hackers reportedly breaking into computer networks of companies operating the United States nuclear power stations, energy facilities and manufacturing plants, according to a new report by The New York Times.
It's not just companies and organizations that are vulnerable – every person, place and every online device in the world is potentially vulnerable.
I don't know about you, but back in the 90's, whenever I used to hear about hackers and viruses, I tuned out.
But now, in the news, it seems we are hearing this happening on a daily basis – we're getting bombarded about the cyber-crime reality that we live in. It can make you feel anything other than secure.
An article in Chief Security Officer Magazine, predicted that damages from cyber-crime will cost the world six trillion dollars a year. The threat of cyber-crime will more than triple the number of unfilled cyber security jobs, which is predicted to reach 3.5 million by 2021.
So that's exactly why we need to become more dedicated to getting not just IT workers, but every worker, involved with protecting and defending apps, data, devices, infrastructure and people.
Cyber-crime is a very real and very scary threat, but I also see this as an opportunity if we embrace it – to help us all feel more secure, to be committed in helping everyone with their cyber responsibilities – to become good cyber citizens and have superior processes in place before a cyber breach is threatened.
We are all imperfectly human and hackers are very skillful at tracking human beings, not computers, and taking advantage of our vulnerability, our weaknesses.
Human error is still the most likely reason for a hack.
Going back to pen and paper is definitely not an option but becoming more aware of our cyber responsibilities is.
Previous Article Lessons I learned from my first job!
Five Minute Interview with Yours Truly!


This article is about the monster. For the boss, see Mega Fatty.
The Fatty is occasionally found in The Basement. It walks slowly toward Isaac. Occasionally, if Isaac approaches one, it will stop to fart, which will push him back without dealing damage. This will also push away adjacent enemies to a lesser degree.
Pale Fatties can often be found in groups in The Depths. They behave like Fatties, but will also spit out 6 blood shots when farting. When killed, they can become Blubbers.
They are commonly found in groups of one to three, and can also be found together with Pale Fatties. Fat Sacks leap offscreen and attempt to land on Isaac, shooting 6 bullets outwards and leaving a puddle of Creep behind when it lands. Like Pale Fatties, they can turn into Blubbers when killed. These monsters behave very similarly to Leapers.
Blubbers walk aimlessly around the room, randomly spewing blood around itself. When killed, there is a chance for it to become a Half Sack.
Half Sacks walk aimlessly around the room and leave red creep behind them.
Flaming Fatties behave identically to regular Fatties, but have a chance to leave behind a damaging flame upon death.
Conjoined Fatties slowly walk towards Isaac and occasionally pause to fart out a line of damaging green creep. There is a chance that upon death, it will turn into a regular Fatty.
If killed while farting, the creep line won't grow to its full length. It will instead stop spreading the instant the Conjoined Fatty is killed.
Blue Conjoined Fatties slowly walk towards Isaac and occasionally fart out a homing purple Ipecac shot at Isaac. Unlike normal Conjoined Fatties, they won't turn into any kind of Fatty upon death.
Defeat The Lamb for the 1st time The gate is open!
Stoneys walk towards Isaac while blocking his shots. They stop and catch their breath after chasing Isaac for a few seconds. They do not deal contact damage but will often push Isaac around. They are invincible, but die when the room is cleared, similar to the Death's Head enemies. Stoney is unlocked by defeating The Lamb for the first time.
If Stonies aren't unlocked yet, Conjoined Fatties will usually spawn in their rooms instead, although Fatties are also placeholders for Stonies in some rooms.
Spectral tears and piercing tears will pierce through Stoneys.
If they are poisoned with The Virus, upon clearing the room, they have a chance to drop a black heart despite not taking damage.
Touching a Stoney can break open the Walnut.
Stoneys are immune to all Status Effects.
Stoneys can be killed with Chaos Card, Euthanasia, and Little Horn.
Stoneys were nerfed in update V1.06.0188 by making them pause in exhaustion after following the player. Prior to that, Stonies would continually chase the player.
Cross Stoneys are a new type of Stoney added in Booster Pack #5. These new enemies act like a hybridization of a Stoney and a Cross Grimace; they constantly chase the player like a Stoney but will shoot 4 shots outward vertically and diagonally like a Cross Grimace.
Cross Stoneys only appear in challenge #32 (Aprils Fool) as replacements to regular Stoneys.
Conjoined Fatties and Blue Conjoined Fatties suffer the condition of polycephaly, having more than one head.
Conjoined Fatties and Blue Conjoined Fatties make the same high-pitched growling noises as Gapers instead of the lower-pitched ones used by other Fatties.
Stoneys look very similar to Stone Grimaces with bodies.
Stoneys make the sounds of a pitched-down Gaper.
Cross Stoneys do not appear in regular runs; they only appear in the Aprils Fool challenge.
Antibirth developer Kilburn first revealed Cross Stoneys on the 1st of April for Booster Pack #5.
It was revealed on the 1st of April, and Cross Stoneys are exclusive to the Aprils Fool Challenge.
Fatty on Isaac's Last Will.
This page was last edited on 17 April 2019, at 23:30.


Copper has been used in electric wiring since the invention of the electromagnet and the telegraph in the 1820s. The invention of the telephone in 1876 created further demand for copper wire as an electrical conductor. Copper is the electrical conductor in many categories of electrical wiring. Copper wire is used in power generation, power transmission, power distribution, telecommunications, electronics circuitry, and countless types of electrical equipment.


The hosts Graciela and Osvaldo are waiting for you to share more than 20 hours of milongas with international DJs, the SOLO TANGO ORCHESTRA; unusual performances and all the joy of embracing tango in a warm and friendly community.
We offer you a beautiful opportunity to gather the passion of your milonguero embrace with the beauty of a city that represents art in each street.
The architecture of Gaudí; the museums of Pablo Piccaso and Joan Miró and all the traditional and contemporary art that make Barcelona the eternal bohemian city surrounded by beaches and mountains.
In the heart of this charming city we have selected two deliciously tango spaces with delicate floors for the caresses of your milongueras footprints and the freshness of the air conditioner that will give us the comfort and the perfect atmosphere to feel the magic of the embraces in each tanda.
"Graciela and Osvaldo invite you with a glass of Cava to toast"


Deep fried wings served with honey BBQ or lemon pepper or sweet asian chili sauce.
Order online for takeout: Chicken Wings (8 pcs) from Thai Time Thai & Sushi Restaurant. Serving the best Thai Food & Japan Food, Sushi Restaurant in Jackson, MS.


→ Deadpool (3°) #1 (01/97) Hey, It's Deadpool!
→ Deadpool (3°) #2 (02/97) Operation : That Wacky Doctor's Game!
→ Deadpool (3°) #3 (03/97) Stumped!
→ Deadpool (3°) #4 (04/97) Why Is It, To Save Me, I Must Kill You ?
→ Deadpool (3°) #5 (05/97) The Doctor Is Skinned!
→ Deadpool (3°) #10 (1) (11/97) Road-Trip Roulette!
2/ Deadpool - Que je fasse quoi ?!
→ Deadpool (3°) #17 (06/98) You Want Me To Do What ?!


Back in Tasmania and King Island Dairy for this next cheese - which has got to be one of my favourites.
King Island Stormy is a washed rind cheese, similar in style to the Pont L'Eveque from Normandy. The one most obvious characteristic you'll notice with this cheese is it's smell. Yes, it stinks but in a nice way. It's not an unpleasant aroma but I'll offer this bit of advice, do not store it in a fridge that is not your own.
It's described as having "a wild aroma", I tend to use the term earthy. It's the type of scent that you will get to used to and I do hope it doesn't put people off because I really want you to try it, just be aware.
The cheese has a thin white mould that hints to the saffron skin that lies behind. The rind is mild and perfectly edible. You'll also find, which is probably most surprising, that the cheese is creamy, sweet and mild in taste - something you wouldn't have expected based solely on it's aroma. It's a firmish cheese that slices quite well.
It also was awarded Champion Washed Rind Cheese at the 2006 Australian Grand Dairy Awards.
I really do hope that if you have the opportunity that you'll give this cheese a try and maybe you'll love as much as I do.
I saw an ad about this cheese on my Donna Hay magazine, december issue. I was curious about it.


text:
Liza Minnelli to Tour After Wedding
LONDON (AP) _ Liza Minnelli is taking a new show on a European tour, beginning April in London.
The 55-year-old performer plans a five-night run at the Royal Albert Hall, followed by dates in Denmark, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, publicist David Freed said last week.
Minnelli, winner of three Tony Awards, an Academy Award and two Golden Globes, has suffered health problems in recent years, but is "feeling fantastic, looking fantastic and sounding great," Freed said.
The tour will begin after Minnelli's March 16 wedding to producer David Gest in New York. Pop star Michael Jackson, who introduced the couple, is to be a best man. Elizabeth Taylor and Marisa Berenson, Minnelli's co-star in the film "Cabaret," will be matrons of honor.
It will be a fourth marriage for the singer and the first for Gest.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
US Army to use GD's WIN-T Increment 2 nodes in Afghanistan
23 April 2013	(Last Updated April 23rd, 2013 03:45)
The US Army has taken delivery of additional Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2 nodes from General Dynamics (GD) for use by troops in Afghanistan.
Delivered as part of a contract awarded in December 2012, the nodes are scheduled to be used by the Army's 10th Mountain Division 4th Brigade Combat Team soldiers as their on-the-move network, enabling mission command and delivering vital situational awareness during tactical operations.
The total number of WIN-T Increment 2 systems ordered by the army to date totals 532.
Commenting on the WIN-T system, 10th Mountain Division 4th Brigade Combat Team 30th Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion commander lieutenant colonel Alan Boyer said the network node would enable soldiers to save the lives of partners and civilians during combat.
General Dynamics C4 Systems Tactical Networks vice-president Sandra Wheeler said the WIN-T Increment 2 served as the secure communications backbone for company level soldiers and commanders to connect and access mission-critical situational awareness and also stay connected while mobile.
"The network also enables company commanders to communicate with higher headquarters in their vehicle, receiving their orders in real-time, which is a game-changing capability."
"The network also enables company commanders to communicate with higher headquarters in their vehicle, receiving their orders in real-time, which is a game-changing capability," Wheeler said.
Using proven commercial and government technology, the WIN-T Increment 2 brings on-the-move capability down to the company level for manoeuvre brigades, and also enables users to achieve end-to-end connectivity and dynamic networking operations.
The node connects with the army's AN/PRC-154 Rifleman and AN/PRC-154 manpack radios, part of the Capability Set 13, to establish secure on-the-go networks that connect soldiers at the squad level to commanders in their vehicles and up to the highest levels of command.
Currently conducting pre-deployment training, the 10th Mountain Division soldiers are scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan as part of the US military's Security Forces Advise and Assist Team (SFAAT) in the summer of 2013.
Image: A 10th Mountain Division 4th Brigade Combat Team soldier uses Rifleman Radio for communication during a training exercise at Fort Polk in Louisiana, US. Photo: courtesy of Claire Heininger, US Army.
Pol-Mare
Military Equipment Handling and Transportation Services
Silent Sentinel
High Performance Military Surveillance Systems
Mobile Air Traffic Control Systems
Mobile Air Traffic Control (ATC) Towers for Defence Applications


text:
Queen Esther and the 'distancing' of liberal Jews »
« Illuminating Reactions to an Unpopular Proposal
How to fix Israel's broken public diplomacy effort
Bring opinion leaders here, provide data to friends abroad, and don't put Foreign Ministry in charge.
Having long argued that bringing people to see Israel for themselves is the best way to change their view of it, I was delighted to discover that someone high up in the Foreign Ministry shares my view. Unfortunately, Gideon Meir has just retired after 45 years in the ministry – after failing utterly to secure funding even for the modest effort of bringing over 3,000 non-Jews influential on American college campuses, at a cost of $12 million (NIS 42.1 million). That's pocket change in a government budget of NIS 408.1 billion – a mere 0.01%.
In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Meir pointed out what ought to be obvious: Public diplomacy is as critical to Israel's security as fighter jets, because without it, we won't even be able to buy those jets. Or as he put it, we buy American fighters for $35 million apiece, but we're not investing a cent in ensuring that future Congresses – whose demographic make-up will likely differ substantially from today's – will approve selling us replacements when the current planes die.
An op-ed published this month by BBC journalist Lipika Pelham provides a timely reminder of what an impact seeing Israel first-hand can have. In it, the Bengal-born Pelham wrote of how her years here had changed her:
"It is impossible to explain fully the nuances of Jerusalem's ethno-religious split to my old and new London friends. I had strayed too far from our past political adherences. I am worried about sounding too pro-Israel when, at the children's school meetings, I want to share with curious parents that Jerusalem is a safer place than London for raising a family. Or while shopping at the local grocer, I cannot be bothered to check the kiwi fruit labels to check whether they came from Israel as has been de rigueur among my left-wing friends. I want to say it loud and clear that I do not care much about the boycott. Israel is not an apartheid state."
Granted, she hasn't become an outspoken champion. But for someone in her milieu, even publicly rejecting the "apartheid" canard is groundbreaking.
Yet bringing opinion leaders here isn't the only elementary task the government is failing to perform. It's neglecting something even more basic – simply providing information.
One of the gravest indictments I've ever seen of Israel's nonexistent public diplomacy was published in this paper by Labor MK Hilik Bar earlier this month. Bar, who chairs the Knesset's European Forum, reported that at a meeting with European parliamentarians belonging to the European Friends of Israel group, several complained of a basic problem: They "often lack the information necessary for them to help make the case for Israel in their own communities." Providing such information to pro-Israel parliamentarians ought to be a staple of the Foreign Ministry's work. Clearly, however, it's not.
That became evident once again during European Parliament President Martin Schulz's address to the Knesset last week. Granted, Schulz should never have thrown unverified slander into his speech: As David M. Weinberg noted, addresses to foreign parliaments are usually rigorously fact-checked; thus by inserting an accusation that he himself admitted he hadn't checked, Schulz clearly violated diplomatic protocol.
Yet the accusation in question – that Israel starves the Palestinians of water – crops up repeatedly, and various comprehensive rebuttals have therefore been published. Weinberg quoted one by a leading Israeli hydrologist, Prof. Haim Gvirtzman, that detailed the steep decline in the water usage gap over the last 40 years; the fact that Israel gives the Palestinians more water than required under the Oslo Accords; and the Palestinians' own responsibility for the remaining shortfalls, due to wasteful irrigation methods and refusal to fix leaky pipes, drill new wells, use treated sewage or cooperate with Israel on projects to alleviate the problem. I'd also mention the Europeans' own refusal to cooperate with Israel on such projects: They condition cooperation on the settlements not benefiting in any way, and since most waterways run through both Israeli and Palestinian controlled territory, that's effectively impossible.
So how is it that Schulz, who occupies a very influential position and is considered a friend of Israel, had never seen Gvirtzman's study? And why did none of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's aides know how to lay their hands on the relevant data so that he could rebut Schulz's accusation in real time? Both lapses attest to a public diplomacy system so broken as to be nonexistent.
The obvious conclusion is that public diplomacy can no longer be left to the Foreign Ministry. Even the dedicated diplomats who sincerely want to make Israel's case clearly lack the time, resources or skills to do it; otherwise, failures like those detailed above wouldn't keep recurring. Moreover, some don't even want to: As former ministry employee Dan Illouz revealed in another shocking Jerusalem Post column last month, some ministry officials actually support international boycotts aimed at forcing Israel into territorial withdrawals, and thus can hardly be trusted to conduct public diplomacy to avert such pressure.
The good news is that someone else wants to take over the job: Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz and ministry director general Yossi Kuperwasser have drafted plans for a major public diplomacy campaign and are seeking NIS 100 million to implement it. The bad news is that one of the cabinet's most influential members, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, is trying to scuttle the proposal. Moreover, it's not yet clear what the plan includes, aside from legal action against boycotts – which can be highly effective, but isn't sufficient. No plan that omits the two key elements of bringing opinion leaders to Israel and providing essential information to friends overseas will be worth much, and NIS 100 million won't go very far for one that includes both those goals plus legal action.
Ultimately, the decision will rest with Netanyahu – who forcefully advocated for more public diplomacy until becoming prime minister, but has neglected it shamefully ever since. Thus the question is whether he can be persuaded to return to his roots and authorize both the plan and the necessary funds. Anyone who cares about Israel should be urging him to do so.
Posted in Domestic Policy, Foreign Affairs and Defense
Originally Published in: The Jerusalem Post
Original Link: http://www.jpost.com/Experts/How-to-fix-Israels-broken-public-diplomacy-effort-341661?prmusr=uFLFezV%2f5eA6bC1PC6QUs8sZkoqnBLcbdwDHIOpHANuWJwCH4IEsKdyAlGXZecXk


Edlins Farm has been described in recent estate agents particulars as "Land at Mountfield Lane". See Edlins Farm for sale. Below is a history of planning applications at this site.
Not allowed as an agricultural "permitted development". Planning permission would be required for this building.
1. It has not been demonstrated …[that] the agricultural operation is … financially sound over the required minimum three year test period. Moreover the agricultural operation does not generate sufficient work to equate to the minimum number of days to support one agricultural worker.
2. The proposed dwelling will visually harm the amenity of the country lane, wider rural setting and AONB.
Allowed for 3 years from 9 Dec 2009, and only while occupied by Mr Frank Taylor, after which it must be removed.


text:
Heinrich Kipp ist der Name folgender Personen:

* Heinrich Kipp (Kupferstecher) (1826–nach 1860), deutscher Kupferstecher
 Heinrich Kipp (Jurist) (1910–1993), deutscher Richter, Ministerialbeamter und Hochschullehrer

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


How to write a weekly duty report One among management at university. Spend with regards to a day organizing your quest. Abigail Witherspoon, This Pen for Hire An overview employing a quotation Where I became born and where and how I have lived is unimportant Georgia O'Keefe told us inside the book of paintings and words published in her ninetieth year on earth. Boxing needs to be banned since it promotes cruelty. This has to begin confidently by aiming exactly what you believe the reply to absolutely suit and just how you're going to prove it through your textual analysis. In other words, is the text cohesive and unified around one theme? Today you can easily order your psychology thesis and psychology dissertation on any topic. By preparing their own foods, and consuming more fruit and veggies, people could be sure that their diets are healthier and more balanced, which might lead to enterprise obesity levels. What are eating habits study the vitality Crisis?
More from Site. 9 Weekly report templates Writing a weekly report means you are going to tell your boss or supervisor about week done successfully or not and you should get help from a weekly report template to make your report; 9 Weekly marketing report templates Composing and sending detailed weekly marketing report to its concerns helps you and your company a lot in chasing Ive seen a great deal of notebooks who promise to stand up to the sun and rain, but Rite within the Rains notebooks actually deliver.
Thinking of how to write a status report? Looking for the worlds most simple status report template? You could of course start using a simple status report tool like Weekdone, but the basics apply also for other methods; Let me share a secret: while there are tens of different uses of a weekly status report, there is one key thing in common for all of them.
Write a nursing report that is easily read and organized. so that everyone involved in the care of an individual patient can easily understand the directives and the care that has been given to date. Tip. Be objective when writing a nursing report. Be precise. Understand that doctors and lawyers are who will be looking at your reports to The Historical Past essay should reveal the historical era of the attached period.
Report writing comes in different shapes and styles, depending on your topic and your supervisors requirements. Some reports contain all of the common report writing components, while others contain only a few. An example will give you an even more accurate notion of the thought of expository writing.
Best practices for security report writing Concise, targeted security reports command the attention of the executives who need to act on them. Learn best practices for security report writing.
A military service member who fails to report for duty often faces serious charges. There are three related offenses that fall under this categoryabsence without leave or AWOL, desertion, and missing movementall carrying very serious penalties, up to and including the death penalty for desertion during war.
The limitations of a report are usually included in the methodology section of the report. However, the researcher or the one who created the report are usually the ones who decides where the limitation should be written. The Conclusion of a Report. The conclusion of the report is the part of the report where it is tricky to write.
Report Writing Format By YourDictionary Unlike an essay, which sets out and defends a writers view about a topic and does not have to feature headings, a report discusses a topic in a structured, easy-to-follow format.
Last week we addressed how to assemble a monthly Marketing Report. We spelled out what to include and how it can look. We spelled out what to include and how it can look. These reports are for those interested in marketing tactics and performance details. Our Essay FX Writing Software is just what you should help you shine with your essays completed far ahead of time!
The best way to prepare to write the lab report is to make sure that you fully understand everything you need to about the experiment. Obviously, if you dont quite know what went on during the lab, youre going to find it difficult to explain the lab satisfactorily to someone else. It provides for a thrusting force baked into the composition of literature.
Writing a business report and using it to communicate are two different things. Microsoft Word is just a tool its your job to engage. For some alternatives, check out the best online word processors The 8 Best Free Online Word Processors The 8 Best Free Online Word Processors Online word processors come in all shapes and sizes. Students don't need to spend some time around the essays any further.
A security report is a retelling of an observation or an incident based on facts, according to Chron. When writing a security report, make sure to use the first person voice. As they moved far from unfavorable ground, the lads would defend their side, stepping out only slightly in order to meet their attackers and then retreating immediately to the protection with the shape.
Samples of Reports that can be generated Drivers Daily Log Click on the Tab to see the Samples available for that area. Note: These Reports are generated by using the Print by using the Reports Module under Print command once a report has been build. As he informed me, the essays his students who'd lived vastly different lives than most mainstream applicants were writing were indistinguishable from those written by applicants in southeastern Connecticut.
to report for duty presentarse para el servicio. 8. give account a. the committee will be presenting its report this week the chief engineer made his report to the captain hed probably have written off his write a report on everything that was said and done at the Conference the education committee will today publish its report on We guarantee nonplagiarized content, short writing terms and honest prices the thing that makes us one of the most attractive writing services.
When writing job descriptions, one of the hardest sections to write is the Job ResponsibilitiesEssential FunctionsCompetencies section. The purpose of this section is to define the work that needs to be performed in the role and the things an employee in the job will be accountable for. Despite how patients and composition 2007 persuasive paper.


VAT is a tax on consumer spending. It is collected by VAT-registered traders on their supplies of goods and services within Ireland, for consideration, to their customers.
We also provide specialist services in relation to VAT on property transactions, a particularly complex VAT area. Our experienced tax professionals and legal experts can assist with various VAT on property transactions including acquisitions, disposals, leasehold arrangements and capital good scheme records and international taxation.
RCT applies to payments made by a principal contractor to a subcontractor under a relevant contract. A relevant contract is a contract to carry out, or supply labour, for the performance of relevant operations in the construction, forestry or meat processing industry. RCT applies to both resident and non-resident contractors operating in these industries.
Under the eRCT system, a principal contractor must notify Revenue of the gross payment, prior to making the payment to the subcontractor. Revenue will respond by authorising the principal to deduct tax, if any, from the payment.


As home prices continue to rise in many markets, the dream of home ownership may be out of reach for some would-be home buyers. Suburbs on the outskirts of booming cities represent a key investment opportunity for rental property. Millennials remain the strongest demographic of renters, and Gen Z, born after 1995 are now making the rental market to the rental market. Baby boomers entering their senior years are expected to create strong demand for senior housing.
Renting is more affordable than buying a home in some major population centers in the US. In fact, a whopping 64% of the nation's population lives in markets where it is more affordable to rent than to buy, according to housingwire.com. It is now more affordable to rent in the top 14 most populated counties, including Los Angeles and San Diego in California; Cook County in the Chicago metropolitan area; Harris County in the Houston metropolitan area; and Maricopa County in the Phoenix metropolitan area. And that trend is growing.
Affordable rental units continue to face solid demand from millennials, although some in that demographic are beginning to settle down and buy a home. Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2018 notes that in recent years the rental market has been focused on luxury units at the high end, resulting in increased demand for affordable rental units in markets nationwide. There are outstanding investment opportunities in mid-rise rental apartments in the core, as well as housing integrated with transit services for an easy commute.
Cap rates are leveling off and rents have recovered in many markets across multiple property types. Emerging Trends predicts that appreciation will likely be muted and investors may be better off with properties offering a steady cash flow into the midterm future. Speculation is not encouraged under the current late-cycle conditions as conservation of capital takes precedence over yield. In the value-add space, investors are encouraged to assess the need for improvements carefully.
In anticipation of demand by aging baby boomers, those born roughly between 1945 and 1964, senior housing is rebooting. Some skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes) are being repurposed into assisted living and memory care units to provide a continuum of care on campus style developments. Restaurant quality dining is a motivating factor for move-ins, and as tech savvy boomers look at independent living options, connected seniors demand an infrastructure that supports their devices. Creative options designed for affordability include roommate units with bedrooms and a common space. Senior housing investors are finding more distressed properties with attractive turnaround potential, and new operating companies led by senior living industry veterans are increasing.


text:
Q: Using pache poi 4.1.0 giving multiple error I am creating read excel file code and I am using Apache poi 4.1.0 dependency to read the file however it is giving me multiple errors:
Following are my dependencies:
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.poi</groupId>
    <artifactId>poi</artifactId>
    <version>4.1.0</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.poi</groupId>
    <artifactId>poi-ooxml</artifactId>
    <version>4.1.0</version>
</dependency>

Following are my codes:
public class Excel {
    private static final String path = "C:\\Users\\Desktop\\Excel.xlsx";
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        List studentList = getStudentListFromExcel();
    }
    private static List getStudentListFromExcel() throws IOException{
        List studentList = new ArrayList();
        FileInputStream fis = null;
        try {
            fis = new FileInputStream(path);
            // Using XSSF for xlsx format
            Workbook wb = new XSSFWorkbook(fis);
            int noSheet = wb.getNumberOfSheets();
            for(int i=0;i<noSheet; i++) {
                Sheet sh = wb.getSheetAt(i);
                Iterator rowIterator = sh.iterator();
            while(rowIterator.hasNext()) {
                Student student = new Student();
                Row row = (Row) rowIterator.next();
                Iterator cellIterator = row.cellIterator();
                while(cellIterator.hasNext()) {
                    Cell cell = (Cell) cellIterator.next();
                    if(Cell.CELL_TYPE_STRING == cell.getCellType()) { // Error <===== CELL_TYPE_STRING cannot be resolved or is not a field
                        student.setName(cell.getStringCellValue());   // Error <===== The method setName(String) is undefined for the type Student
                    }
                }
            }
            }
        } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
            // TODO Auto-generated catch block
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
        return studentList;
    }
}

A: try to use this enum:
https://poi.apache.org/apidocs/dev/org/apache/poi/ss/usermodel/CellType.html
and not the one you are using now.

A: try with this,
1.error one - CELL_TYPE_STRING cannot be resolved or is not a field
if(CellType.STRING == cell.getCellTypeEnum()){
    student.setName(cell.getStringCellValue());
}

2.error two - The method setName(String) is undefined for the type Student
make sure you're importing the correct package and recompile the Student class

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Tag: full house cast
The 2018 Full House Cast: 'The Perfectionists' is now streaming online on Hulu. Read more
The 2019 Full House cast, who all previously appeared in the HBO comedy, are among the highlights.It also sees a…
House for sale in section 8 housing
NEW YORK — A house in section eight housing in Brooklyn is selling for $5.5 million.The house is on East…
How to spot a full house cast member: Full House cast member who is not on season 6
The cast of Full House is expected to return in season 6 of Full Sail University, and the cast will…


text:
The Capitalism Story: The Whole Fucking Thing Is Coming Down
So I keep resharing this video on my facebook page.
There's a reason for that. I can't believe how close to being true this video is now.
When I wrote this song, it was back in August of 2011. There had been a successful occupation of the Wisconsin State Capitol building, but Scott Walker kicked everybody out. Paul LePage here in Maine had taken down the Labor Mural, and was pushing through anti-human legislation, such as lifting the ban on cancer-causing chemicals in toys and baby bottles, trying to make Maine a right-to-work (for less) state, cutting taxes on the wealthy, cutting services on the most needy, all in the name of being pro-business.
(hence the inspiration for this graphic)
Occupy Wall Street loomed on the horizon as an exciting protest, but I, like many, didn't think it was going to end up being much more than just a week long endeavor, and hoped that I would be able to get down there to attend before it was over, just to say I was there and did my part.
I was working in a factory between 40 and 50 hours a week as a "seasonal hire"-- just the latest of a series of jobs where I was working full time, but being compensated as a "part time seasonal employee" aka no benefits, no bonuses, nothing that isn't mandated by law. Except for maybe the occasional balsam fir scented car freshener, or corporate logo-emblazoned baseball cap. ("Cuz' here at the corporation, we're all on the corporation's team.")
The lyrics of the song were my life at the time. The refrain of the song "And the whole fucking thing is coming down" wasn't coming from optimism like it may seem to now. What it felt to me, is that eventually the working class were going to be so completely crushed, that Capitalism would finally and entirely eat itsself, plunging our country into chaos and civil war.
This had long been a feeling of mine. This sentiment inspired the following fable which I wrote in October of 2010:
They told us when they took our jobs overseas, "No hard feelings. It's just business, you know?"
They told us when they destroyed our 401ks through gambling with our money, "No hard feelings. It's just business, you know?"
They told us when we fell behind on our mortgage and foreclosed on our house, kicking us to the street, "No hard feelings. It's just business, you know?"
As more and more people were forced on welfare, the government's budget started to look grim. When they cut welfare spending entirely so that they could enjoy bigger tax cuts to "stimulate the economy," they told us, "No hard feelings. It's just business, you know?"
Then the poor had nothing left to eat, and no place to go.
So they had to kill and eat the rich.
They descended on Wall Street by the millions, stopping all traffic.
Their numbers were so large, the police couldn't do anything to stop the massive crowd of the disenfranchised. They flooded the buildings of Wall Street, the halls of DC, of the McMansions of Texas, and like a horde of zombies, they tore into the flesh of the horrified wealthy, who screamed and shat themselves, knowing that they were powerless to stop the oncoming mass of gnashing teeth and hungry mouths.
And as the poor picked the bones clean over the burning piles of money, the poor said to the bones:
"No hard feelings. It's just business, you know?"
And my youtube mentor Dennis Trainor Jr made this video in Dec 2010:
But back then, we were just pissing in the wind. Just frustrated, angry, and impotent, spewing our rage into the internet, and our message didn't really find purchase in the collective consciousness of the public.
So the refrain to my song
"The whole fucking thing is coming down, the whole fucking thing is coming down" that wasn't coming from a place of empowerment. That was coming from a place of complete and total desperation. It was coming from total hopelessness. It was coming from a place where too many people spend their ever dwindling paycheck at Wal*Mart, and too few people know how their State Budget works.
It came from a place where everything was fucked up, most were pissed, but most didn't bother trying to figure out WHY everything was fucked up, and just watched football instead.
But now... now that Occupy Wall Street has happened, and has been going for 7 months strong coming up on the 17th of this month, when you listen to the refrain of the song, "the whole fucking thing is coming down" imagine the alternative systems that will replace the systems that are around us now. Imagine the better ways we can organize our society- the better ways that those of us in the movement HAVE BEEN organizing our society.
It's been almost two years now that I've been feeling desperate and utterly hopeless; that something has got to give. And now something has given way.
Nobody knows the future anymore. Things that we once might have thought of as important aren't on our Radar-- Romney or Obama? Who gives a shit? They're both Wall Street Puppets. It doesn't matter.
With every incident of young and elderly women getting pepper sprayed, and Iraq War vets getting mortally wounded by police, the legitimacy of the plutocratic regime crumbles. It is a collapsing facade revealing behind it an ugly and terrible face, propped up only by combination of fraud and force. And when the majority of Americans see the regime for what it really is, they'll turn their backs, just like those of us in the movement already have.
The whole fucking thing REALLY IS coming down.
And it's beautiful.
This is an exciting time to be alive.
Shouted into the void by The Punk Patriot at 9:21 PM
Labels: affordable care act, bullshit, Capitalism, democratic socialism, folk music, health insurance, occupy wall street, punk patriot, Punk Rock, shit is fucked up and bullshit, socialism
Big T April 23, 2012 at 9:48 AM
YEAH! It's time to F#^king celebrate!
I like your ideas, can I subscribe to your newsletter?
The Punk Patriot Podcast
Donate once via PayPal
Fine Upstanding Citizens
THE INTERNET THAT MATTERS
Cheyanne's Campsite ...Where The Money Meets The Rubber of The Spirited Road in America Today !!
Extremism In The Ranks .....How deep are the ties between right-wing militia groups and U.S. service members? Malcolm Nance breaks it down.
A Scream Against the Madness, by Kenn Orphan
"Downfall: The Case Against Boeing": Director Rory Kennedy & Michael Stumo, Father of Crash Victim
Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox
Speaking Truth to Empire w/Dan Yaseen (January 2022 Edition)
The never-ending news
Acronym TV
Nancy Pelosi Challenger Shahid Buttar Makes His Case to Join the Squad | Dear Joe Biden #09
Punk Patriot's Tumblr
Matt Taibbi: Taibblog
Flashback: Taylor Swift Makes Her Awards Show Debut in 2007
Citizen Radio
(2018/03/20) THE CITIZEN RADIO MARATHON! AHHHH! - Part 2
Lmnopi
New Website for LMNOPI
PunkPatriot
Ghost (Retake)
Hungry Guy
What the Tea Party & GOP hide from rural Wisconsin.
GDAEman
I Love You Too Much - Ukulele Cover
The Buttonhead Blog
Republicans for Rape
Thank you, Congressman Akin
JermSix
L/A Arts calls out Mayor Labonte
The Good Idea Book Blog
Vegetarian BLT
Public Citizen: citizenvox.org
One year since Citizens United v. FEC
Vanguard Blog
OccupyWallSt News
Political Fail Blog
Blog of Rights: Official Blog of the American Civil Liberties Union
RSA Animate= The Crisis Of Capitalism
May 1st - GENERAL STRIKE
Sequestration and the Death Machine
Marina Sitrin: Imagining a New General Strike
Predictions of Fire: A History of the NSK state
Whole Food, not Whole Foods: Occupy The Farm Gill ...
McDonald's Occupy Mindfuck
Hey 99% of America. Take a day off from the Rat R...
"1st Amendment Zone" formed on steps where George ...
The Punk Patriot interviews Ayn Rand
3rd Party Presidential Debate, live now.
The Yes Men tackle Bank of America
Rev Billy: Doomsday Debt
Court to Maine Democratic Party: NO MORE BULLYING ...
The Capitalism Story: The Whole Fucking Thing Is C...
Rio Tinto: Greenwashing the Olympics
Dow Chemical: Greenwashing
BP gets the Gold in Greenwashing!
Occupy Wall Street Spring Training
OWS Forecloses on Bank of America
Leah Bolger on Thomas Hartmann Show
Leah Bolger Pleads Guilty to Telling the Truth
I answer viewer mail: Payday Loans
The Evolution of the Butterfly
Lee Camp: You are a Slave. Here's why.
Everythings Fucked Up, and Nobody Goes to Jail
Chris Hedges- The Critic, and his Critics
Mark Fiore on Drone Warfare
Mark Fiore Explains how the NRA, Trayvon Martin, a...
Running for Office- Episode 6 // F**K GROVER NORQUIST
[infographic] Billionaires lobbied for Legalized T...
Running for Office- Episode 5: Budgeting
RSS YOUR FACE


Curtiss‐Wright has developed an advanced, open system architectural approach to Vehicle Electronics, based on our vast experience in providing military electronics to many programs for ground, sea, and air platforms. This experience has provided Curtiss-Wright with a unique understanding of key architectural concepts which provide for highly successful implementation of specific Vehicle Electronics suites to meet Ground Combat System program and platform requirements. This Open-Standard and COTS based Intra-Vehicle Network Reference Architecture was previously presented the paper "Ground Combat Systems Common Vehicle Electronics Architecture and Applications" (D. Jedynak, et al., 2010) and will be summarized and described in terms of the US Army's VICTORY Architecture in this paper as a foundation for discussion. Clarification is provided for the differences between federated and distributed architectures with regard to function, and how physical and functional system implementations are decoupled. Key Metrics associated with the concepts of Interoperability, Risk Mitigation, Upgradeability / Obsolescence Mitigation, Scalability, as well as Space, Weight and Power (SWaP) optimization are presented. Advanced Concepts are presented, including Commonality, Thermal Management, Cost Optimization, and Warfighter Benefit.


text:
James Gordon Chapman
Family-Placed Obituary
CHAPMAN, James Gordon 76, of Cairo, West Virginia, passed away Saturday, May 28, 2005 at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. Born November 25, 1928 in Smithburg, WV, Jim was a graduate of West Union High School and Salem College. He also earned two Masters Degrees, one from Glennville State University and one from West Virginia University. Jim was a proud Korean War veteran who served his country well and with great honor as a member of the United States Army. He taught high school Social Studies and English in Cincinnati, Ohio for a brief period prior to accepting Civil Service employment at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio from which he retired at age 63. His major accomplishments while working for the United States Air Force include developing a price negotiation procedure adopted by the Department of Defense. He moved back to his beloved Ritchie County, West Virginia in the late 1990s after spending many years in Medway, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents Wilbert P. and Wanda Chapman, grandson John Hill, great-grandson Jakob Hill and sister Bonita Nichols. Jim was a caring father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his three daughters Aleta Chapman (husband Tom Manning), Elana Chapman, and Rosie Amstutz (husband David); grandchildren Jason, Crystal, Noah, and Nicholas; great-grandchildren Sarah, Elizabeth, Chase, and Annabelle; sisters Sandy Sandy, Gwen Friend, and Norma Hartness; brother Wilbert "Junior"; a loyal and devoted friend Ted Katzenbach, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. The family would like to recognize those people who supported our father in his final years of life including Ted Katzenbach, Sandy Sandy, Kester Nichols, Otis Reed, Glenn Willis, Sheila (Squeak) Ross, Paul Ross, Gail Britton, Martha Chapman, Raymond Simons and Patti Polaski. Private internment at West Virgina National Cemetery, Grafton, West Virginia.
Published in Dayton Daily News on June 5, 2005 – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dayton/obituary.aspx?n=james-chapman&pid=14090686#sthash.J4B4zZt6.dpuf
Thomas W Chapman
CHAPMAN, Thomas W. an accomplished local glass artist, passed away at age 66 on October 17, 2013, as a result of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig 's disease). Tom was born September 21, 1947 in Dayton, OH, son of the late Elmer and Mary Lou Chapman. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Nick (Rita) Chapman. Tom is survived by 2 brothers, Doug and Steve (Barb) Chapman; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Tom attended St. Rita's grade school and graduated from Chaminade High School, class of 1966. He attended The Ohio State University and earned a degree in Journalism from Ohio University. He served with honor and distinction in the United States Army stationed in Vietnam during the Vietnam conflict. In June 1969, Tom was awarded "Soldier of the Month" of his unit. Tom was first introduced to glass art at Ohio University, followed by years of study and work in Colorado and California glass studios. In 1989, Tom established Shiloh Hotglass, the first art glass blowing studio in Dayton, OH. He has participated in art glass workshops at the University of Illinois, Kent State University, New Orleans School of Glass, the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY and workshops in Oregon and Spruce Pine, North Carolina. Tom has also taught glass blowing and trained aspiring artists, both in an academic setting and in his studio. He usually worked unassisted, using a blend of Venetian and Western techniques to create vessels, vases, bowls, marbles, garden and yard art, lamps, ornaments and sculptures. Tom has received numerous honors and awards for his art, most recently achieving his lifelong professional goal, The Dominick Labino Award for Excellance in Glass Art in the "Best of 2013" show sponsored by The Ohio Designer Craftsmen. He has art creations in many private collections, as well as in the permanent collection at the Dayton Art Institute's Eileen Dickey Gallery of Glass. Tom has produced work for Montgomery County, the City of Dayton, the University of Dayton and the Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. His architectural and liturgical installations include St. Helen's Church, the Wright State University Chapel, Good Samaritan Hospital North, Miami Valley Hospital, the main lobby of the CareSource Building in Dayton, as well as a number of residential applications. Tom was a member of The American Craft Council, Ohio Designer Craftsmen, The Dayton Visual Arts Center and the Dayton Canoe Club. Tom had many loving and loyal friends including, Pat Beckermann, Ray Bertschy, Susan Cannon, John Castle, Tim Collins, Karen Hickey Dean, Jim DeLange, Daina Dickens, Mark, Fabienne, Riviere and Margot Duffy, Jack Fink, Jeff Flayer, David Francis, Jim Glaser, Denny Gorman, Margaret (Boots Bachey) Gottschlich, Joe Hoffman, Marty Liebold, Bob Mousaian, Steve and Debbie Pickett, Ralph Prince, LeBron Rankins, Charlie and Jenny Rose, Debbie Rotunno, Richard Skelton, John and Mitzi Stuckey, Peri Switzer, Joe Zaidain and special friend and caregiver, John (Cotty) Rose. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the following organizations and people who have cared for Tom in his final days: The Dayton and Cleveland VA Hospitals, Hospice of Dayton, The ALS Association, Jay Harbeck, Dr. Sayler, Dr. Selkirk and caregiver, Arlene Sapp. A Memorial Service will be held at 7 PM Friday, October 25, 2013 at Baker-Hazel & Snider Funeral Home & Crematory, 5555 Philadelphia Dr., Dayton, OH, Fr. James Seibert, C.PP.S., celebrant. The family will receive visitors 5-7 PM Friday, October 25, 2013 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The ALS Association Central and Southern Ohio Chapter, Hospice of Dayton or Paralyzed Veterans of America, in Tom's memory. Online memories and condolences may be left for the family at http://www.bakerhazelsnider.com
Published in Dayton Daily News on Oct. 20, 2013 – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dayton/obituary.aspx?pid=167608840#sthash.zTDqsRnh.dpuf
CHAPMAN, James (Jim) Preston A wonderful and honorable man, went to be with the Lord on August 20,2015. Among those who will miss Jim terribly are his family: wife, Anna; daughters, Judy, Selma and Rise; son, Ronnie; son-in-law, John; daughters-in-law, Joan and Linda; brothers, Edward and John Wayne; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces; as well as, Scott and many friends. He is preceded in death by son, Tony, and daughter, Linda, and son-in-law, Kenny. Jim was born in Kingsport, TN, served in the US Navy during WWII aboard the USS Pope, and lived most of his life in Dayton, OH where he raised his children and watched his family grow. He retired from Woolpert Engineering after a long career of surveying much of the land in and around Dayton. He attended Faith Christian Fellowship in Beavercreek. Like any good country boy he found great happiness in the simple things of life: fishing, growing a garden, winning at checkers, playing a prank, or just talking with a friend. In his final days, Jim was blessed to be in the loving care of Hospice of Dayton and VA Hospice – Lakeside Manor. He and his family are so appreciative of the care we all received. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 PM Sunday, August 23 and Final Goodbyes will be said at 10 AM, Monday, August 24 in the chapel of Newcomer Funeral Home, 3380 Dayton-Xenia Rd. in Dayton. Jim will be laid to rest in the earth he loved at Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery immediately following. To leave a special message of condolence, please visit http://www.NewcomerDayton.com. Until we meet again, our Precious Jimbo…
Published in Dayton Daily News on Aug. 22, 2015
– See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dayton/obituary.aspx?pid=175555718#sthash.UNePFNpG.dpuf


When you notice that your gums are bleeding or that your breath seems chronically bad, you might consider the periodontal disease that causes it to be quite a nuisance. However, the truth is that it's much more than that; periodontal disease is one of the most common chronic dental issues, and the most common cause of adult tooth loss. With over 80% of adults affected by it to some degree, controlling periodontal disease is an important aspect of many people's routine dental care.
Because periodontal disease is progressive, treating it depends on its severity. For instance, in its earliest stage (known as gingivitis), the disease can often be treated and reversed with expert periodontal cleaning. Removing the bacteria from underneath your gums will allow them to heal, alleviating the bleeding and inflammation that accompanies gingivitis.
When gingivitis is ignored long enough, it can progress into moderate gum disease that can no longer be reversed. Moderate gum disease involves more severe erosion of your periodontal tissues, caused by rampant inflammation incited by harmful oral bacteria. Treating moderate gum disease may include periodontal cleaning as well as an ongoing schedule of specialized periodontal maintenance.
Severe periodontitis results when gum disease is ignored, and can include the destruction of your jawbone structure in addition to your periodontal tissues. This destruction leaves your gums and jawbone unable to support all of your teeth, and by the time many patients seek treatment, they may need to extract one or more teeth due to inadequate support. Treatment for severe periodontitis may include periodontal cleaning and maintenance, as well as laser periodontal treatment, gum grafting, and tooth replacement.
No matter what stage it's in, controlling gum disease can be essential to maintaining your good oral and overall health. To learn more, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.


The mention of stackable chairs may conjure up memories of the school cafeteria, but the truth is that stackable chairs can have a place in more serious work settings as well – even in the office. Stackables offer a unique set of benefits that make them a compelling option for the home or office.
Stackable chairs: What are they?
Stackables are chairs that are designed to be stacked on top of one another for the sake of compactness and functionality. The benefits of stackables are significant. For one thing, when designed well, they can be very easily stacked and unstacked, allowing you to make varied and efficient use of the space available to you. They also tend to be more durable than otherwise comparable chairs, as they are designed with a certain expectation of less than gentle use in mind.
Stackables usually come in sets from about 3 to 5 chairs. These sets are also matched in style and color, so they make it easy to keep the motif of the room they're going to be used in constant.
There are a few things to look for when choosing chairs. Perhaps the most obvious thing is value. With chairs, you're not really trying to push the envelope as far as style or comfort are concerned, and these happen to be the two variables that tend to have the most significant impact on furniture prices. You shouldn't have to break the bank even when buying a solid, attractive set of stackable chairs for any purpose.
Stackables need to be able to withstand the wear and tear that comes from being stacked and unstacked repeatedly. Common frame materials for stackables include aluminum, wood, and plastic. Plastic usually isn't appropriate for an office setting, so we'll eliminate that for now. Both aluminum and wood can be viable choices, though, for various reasons. Aluminum frames tend to stand up better to even relatively careless use, and won't show obvious signs of damage, so if you expect to be repeatedly loading and unloading the chairs, aluminum may be the way to go. Wood frames, on the other hand, have a more stylish appearance – these are stackable chairs that don't really look like stackable chairs.
The main thing to stay away from when choosing chairs is armless upholstered designs. Upholstered stackable chairs look great and provide good comfort, but the armless ones can easily be damaged during the stacking or unstacking process, so we don't really recommend these.
Resin stackables are stackable chairs with seats and backs made of a resin-based material, which has an appearance and feel similar to plastic, but a bit smoother. Most resin chairs are intended for kids, but there are some grownup-sized resin chairs on the market as well. They tend to have a more informal look, so they may not be appropriate for all offices or workplaces, but they fit in well at home, on the patio, or in the doctor or dentist's office.
Stackables may be fitted with various types of padding, which serves to provide an extra dimension of comfort. This isn't an absolute must have, as stackable chairs are never really intended for prolonged use, but padded chairs can be a very good choice for office settings.


What's the meaning of touch points?
All contact points either actively or passively experienced by your customer in relation to your company or brand are termed "touchpoints" or "customer touchpoints". This includes the question of your customers brand experience at every single touchpoint – before, during and after purchase.
What are the specific touchpoints?
Ask yourself how the touchpoints between your customer and your company/brand are appearing.
The first step is all about comprehensive gathering of all touchoints – including your company's parking area or your flyer campaigns as well as your online shop appearance or purchase- and service hotlines. Which communication channels does your customer use in terms of entering into dialogues with your company? Which touchpoints are relevant and how are they experienced?
Insert all of your touchpoints into the cx/omni touchpoint board!
The cx/omni Basic Edition offers the ability to capture up to 100 customer contact points – your basis for a comprehensive touchpoint management!
Always be aware of the "small" customer touch points as well – such as e-mail templates, contact forms or the telephone or call center contacts.
Specify every single advertising media. Register every online- and offline interaction points such as forms, mails, letters, portals, press, social web.
You will notice: There are numerous touchpoints that are not (yet) actively monitored or controlled.
Initiate a task force based on the registration of all touchpoints. The task force will be reliable for the documentation of personas, customer journeys, customer experiences and service blueprints. These themes we'll present wthin the next steps to your Customer Experience Management.


text:
Although individuals become prominent in their own right, the general interest in astronomy throughout the community has resulted in the formation of many astronomical societies. Local branches of the Royal Society at Wellington, Nelson, and Dunedin have their astronomical sections. Individual societies have been formed at Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Hawera, Palmerston North, and Christchurch. In most cases observatories have been built to which the public are invited. Indeed, on the whole, the public has been given exceedingly good attention by the enthusiastic members of these societies. There are three small planetaria at Auckland, Napier, and Christchurch.
The New Zealand Astronomical Society was formed in 1920 with C. E. Adams as president, to act as a national organisation which aimed at a development a little above that of many of the local societies. In 1946 this became the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand, and its main functions have been the publication of the journal Southern Stars, and the organisation of observing groups for specialised studies where this has been found possible. The variable star section under F. M. Bateson has attained international recognition. The headquarters of the society are at present at the Carter Observatory Wellington.
No account of New Zealand astronomy would be complete without mention of expeditions organised for solar eclipse observations. Adams represented New Zealand on the Lick Observatory expedition to Australia in 1922, and he himself led an expedition to Niuafaou in 1930. C. B. Michie of Kaitaia organised an expedition to Canton Island in 1937, and I. L. Thomsen led a small expedition to Atafu, in the Tokelau Islands, in 1957. Successful corona photographs were obtained on all occasions. In addition, the following annular eclipses were observed from New Zealand itself in 1925 (Adams) and in 1936 (Michie and Thomsen). Complete accounts of observations of the total eclipse of the sun seen from New Zealand on 9 September 1885 are to be found in the reports of the Lands and Survey Department.
Next Part: Carter Observatory
How to cite this page: 'Societies', from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966.


text:
The 2019 Kim Kim River toxic pollution is a water pollution incident that occurred on 7 March 2019 caused by illegal chemical waste dumping at the Kim Kim River in Pasir Gudang of Johor in Malaysia. The illegal dumping released toxic fumes, affecting 6,000 people  and hospitalising 2,775. Most of the victims were school students—110 schools located near the river were subsequently closed.

Background of pollution
The incident started on 7 March 2019 after several students and canteen workers from two schools near the river began to fall ill and complaining of breathing difficulties. Both schools were ordered to shut down and all the victims were sent to Sultan Ismail Hospital while investigations were being carried out by state health authorities over the cause. Twenty-one people were warded at the hospital with some being admitted into the emergency unit and intensive care unit (ICU). Some of the students brought to the hospital were already fainted and with symptoms such as vomiting. Those who were not seriously affected were given outpatient treatment and allowed to return home. During recovery, some of the seriously affected victims shared their experience of suddenly being ill after inhaling unpleasant odour in their school compound. The number of victims hospitalised over the toxic fumes rose to 76 on the following day and on 9 March 2019, five police reports have been made on the issue with police began investigating the case.

Further spread of toxic fumes and water pollution
On 11 March, the second wave of air poisoning took effect with further 106–207 victims hospitalised before escalating into more than 1,000 victims with eight admitted into the ICU. The spread of the toxic fumes was aided by hot weather combined with strong winds, which made more people sick. The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department director-general Mohammad Hamdan Wahid explained that the further spread of toxic fumes could have been prevented if the illegally dumped chemicals found earlier were immediately removed. However, the authorities did not dispose the chemicals after concluding it was no longer reactive, allegedly due to the costs involved. Until 19 March, further 76 police reports have been made. On 20 June, about 3 months since the pollution first discovered, a number of students from schools in the Pasir Gudang area began complaining of nausea, dizziness and experienced vomiting which eventually led to the temporary closure of the schools in the area. The authorities later confirmed it as the third wave of air poisoning resulted from the river pollution, which were not fully cleared.

In August 2019, residents in Acheh's Well Village near the Daing and Kopok rivers (tributaries to the Kim Kim River) complained that the water in both rivers have turned black and oily with unbearable foul stench which were believed to have spread from the chemical pollution of the Kim Kim River. A resident interviewed on the issue said the rivers were once homes to various crabs, freshwater fish and shrimps with children used to swim in, but everything has been damaged since the pollution turned worse in April.

Investigation, clearance works and arrestment of perpetrators
Through investigations, it was believed that the chemical wastes were dumped from a lorry tanker into the Kim Kim River in wee hours, on the same day before the victims fell ill. Agencies dispatched for the cleaning-up operation of the polluted river collected 2.43 tonnes of chemical waste on the day the incident was reported. The cleaning works, however, worsened the chemical reaction, as the contractor engaged was not experienced in dealing with chemical wastes. A Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) team from the 12th Squadron of the Royal Army Engineers Regiment of Malaysian Armed Forces was later dispatched to assist in the chemical cleaning efforts together with a Hazmat team.

The Johor Department of Environment (DOE) arrested an owner of a chemical factory in Kulai on 10 March followed by another arrest involving shredded waste factory owner and one of its workers in Taman Pasir Puteh on the following day after a series of investigations. With the arrests, the DOE completed its investigation papers and were sent to the public prosecutor for further action, with the investigators also have identified the illegally dumped chemical as marine oil that emitted flammable methane and benzene fumes. The oil is categorised as a scheduled waste and needs proper disposal due to its hazardous nature. On 17 March, nine more people were arrested by the police in connection to the case; two arrested in Johor Bahru while seven were arrested outside the Johor Bahru area. Two key suspects, believed to be instrumental in arranging for the transportation of the toxic substances, were arrested on 19 March, bringing the total arrests to 11 with one suspect later released under bail after he is proven to be unrelated to the case. The cleaning operation of the 1.5 kilometre stretch of the affected river was completed in the same day, where a total of 900 tonnes of soil and 1,500 tonnes of polluted water were cleaned.

Several other identified toxic gases emitted (following the interaction of the chemicals concerned with water and air) include acrolein, acrylonitrile, ethylbenzene, hydrogen chloride, D-limonene, toluene and xylene, which if inhaled, can cause headache, nausea, fainting and breathing difficulty. Two main suspects (a Singaporean and a Malaysian) were charged at the Sessions Court in Johor on 25 March for illegal disposal of chemicals into the river and their company, P Tech Resources was slapped with 15 charges to which they pleaded not guilty. Both have been charged earlier in the same court for conspiring with a lorry driver to dispose the scheduled wastes into the river.

Government and health authorities response
Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Ismail urged for an immediate action against the perpetrators involved in this pollution that endangered public lives while expressing his appreciation for the medical teams which had been working tirelessly to treat the victims in hospital. The Sultan has pledged a total of RM1 million (around US$250,000) towards helping rescue agencies and authorities to gather the necessary means and equipment to resolve the matter, meanwhile expressing his view that the incident shows the need for a government hospital to be built in Pasir Gudang. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail visited victims of the pollution at the hospital in Johor Bahru on 14 March, and said that the situation was "under control" where residents are not necessary to be evacuated from the area and also that there is a need to review the country's Environmental Quality Act 1974 in light of the serious pollution. The federal government has approved an allocation of RM8 million for river purification works and has ordered various agencies including the police, military and Hazmat teams to support the situation in the affected area. They explained that there was no request for a state of emergency received from the state government of Johor.

Johor's Menteri Besar Osman Sapian were in the opinion that the situation is under control without the need to declare a state of emergency in the area with the state government has approved an emergency allocation of RM6.4 million for cleaning up the affected river. Malaysia's Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin stressed that investigation will be carried out to bring those responsible to justice and explained that the RM6.4 million is mainly used to clear the 1.5 kilometre stretch of the affected river with further cost expected to balloon to over RM10 million. The state government also dismissed claims that its agencies were slow to react over the incident. The State Health Department had also warned the public not to circulate fake news, with an ongoing one saying deaths had been resulted from the pollution. On 1 June, Malaysia's Health Ministry formed a medical team, which consists of officers from the Institute for Medical Research and Johor Health Department, to examine a total of 6,000 victims affected by the pollution . Malaysia's Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Xavier Jayakumar Arulanandam urged every state governments to take serious measures to overcome river pollution as climate change could cause the country to experience long periods of drought in the future. The ministry also drafted a Water Resources Bill to clamp down on water pollution.

Neighbouring authorities in Singapore continue to monitor the situation following the reports of more illegal waste dumping sites found in Pasir Gudang. Various Singapore agencies have been conducting regular checks with a minister explained that they were taking the matter very seriously as what happened in Malaysia can affect Singapore significantly.

Criticism of government response and lawsuits
Johor's Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Idris took the matter to Twitter to express his opinion that the government should have instead declared a state of emergency on the day it first occurred and relocated residents to a temporary place until there was a guarantee that the area was safe. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak called out the state government's slow response on the pollution and the refusal of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to allocate more funds to clear the affected river, and these actions were seen as if they prioritised money, rather than the lives and health of the people. Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Deputy President Mah Hang Soon said that the incompetent preventive measures escalated the hazard levels in the involved area. In July 2019, a boy was reported to have developed Parkinson's-like disease of myokymia after being exposed to the pollution, although this was denied by Malaysia's Deputy Health Minister Lee Boon Chye who said that the boy was born premature and had a history of fits since he was four. A group of 160 victims of the pollution then began to file a suit and taking the Johor Menteri Besar along with the state government to court to seek monetary compensation for the boy and other damages caused by the illegal dumping of toxic chemicals.

Other responses
A chemical company Lotte Chemical Titan Holdings Bhd had denied rumours that they are involved in the pollution of Kim Kim River. In a statement to Bursa Malaysia, Lotte Chemical Titan stated in detail: "The company hereby denies rumours and wishes to announce that it has no involvement with the incident". Malaysian singer Indah Ruhaila expressed concern over the incident as her parents live in the affected area where she also persuaded her parents to leave their homes, worrying of the reoccurrence of the incident.

See also
 Water pollution

Further reading

References

External links
 Illegal chemical disposal case at Kim Kim River, Pasir Gudang – Press release from the Department of Environment, Malaysia
 Pasir Gudang Municipal Council Press Release  – Recent information on the Kim Kim River pollution from the Government of Johor

2019 in Malaysia
Environmental issues in Malaysia
Water pollution in Malaysia
Health disasters in Malaysia
Man-made disasters in Malaysia
March 2019 crimes in Asia
2019 disasters in Malaysia


XLR8R recently set up an extended conversation between Martyn and Modeselektor, as both acts released new full-length albums within the past few weeks. As it turned out, the boys had so much to say that it quickly seemed impossible to significantly cut down the transcript, so we elected to run the discussion more or less in full throughout the week. After catching up on the previous chapters (part one | part two | part three), delve into the fourth segment, which finds Martyn talking production methods with Modeselektor's Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian "Charlie" Szary.
XLR8R: How have your production processes changed over the years? What's new about these latest albums as opposed to past ones?
Gernot Bronsert: Martyn, I think you finished two months before us. In spring, you told me that you were working on your album, and then just a few weeks later in the summer, you said, "Yeah, it's done." I started before you working on our album with Charlie. Actually, we started a year ago, but we couldn't work. I had a creative block and I didn't have fun and Charlie had a similar situation. But 10 weeks before the deadline, the music came, and we started working on the music. But we used the time where we were not making music. Over the last three or four years when we were on tour, we bought so much equipment. So, I bought a drum machine in San Francisco, or a synthesizer in England, and whatever, we had so much gear, like analog stuff, that we never used because we were always away. So, we took the time before we started working on the album to set up a studio, and we wired all these old machines. I think we have all the Roland drum machines.
Sebastian "Charlie" Szary: I think the 727 and the 525 are missing.
GB: We have two 808s. Addison Groove is jealous. We started using analog equipment for the new record. More than half of it, maybe 70 or 80 percent of all the sounds we used for the record, are analog recordings, and we never did that before. You need to change your whole mixing setup when you use outboard equipment and effects and instruments. That was our main difference. We recorded a lot of hooklines and melodies and drums in sessions. We just made sessions and recorded it. We didn't spend too much time thinking about numbers, for example. When we did the records before, we spent so much time calculating and EQing. We did for this record too, but in a different way. We took half the music out of the computer and used a lot of analog equipment. That was a really nice experience. It kept us fresh, for some reason.
Martyn: My story is very simple. I moved from Holland to the US a few years ago, so I used to have quite a lot of analog equipment. It wasn't very special, but it was a lot. It was all sort of cheap Roland synths and a big Mackie desk. I sold everything when I moved to America, because most of the stuff was more expensive to ship over than to sell. So when I came to the US, I only had a Mac, and that was it. So I started using software only, just Logic, to make my music. Now it's three years in, and I guess I buy some stuff here and there, but it's not a lot. It's mostly just MIDI controllers and Monotrons. I have a few outboard things, like the Eventide and a reverb and a delay and that's basically all I need. I'm very sample based. I use lots of samples from everywhere. All that Roland stuff that you have, I have all the samples. I just use the samples usually, so it's all very simple. On the new album, I have used a lot more synths than on the old one. The old one was basically 100% samples and very, very few soft synths. The new one is sort of 50-50, because I used two microKorgs and some outboard effects and things like that. The Monotron is on every single song on my album.
M: All the lazers, it's all Monotron.
GB: I need to say, your record sounds very analog. I like the sound. It's very edgy. When I was first listening to it, I thought it was too much on the edge, but I think that's the mastering, right? But it's really cool. The whole record has its own sound, and that's what I really like and appreciate. It doesn't matter what kind of music style you have on a record, but when it sounds like it was made by one guy, then it's good. You have your own sound.
M: I think a very important thing was also that I do like distortions, so a lot of my music is kind of distorted anyways, or has some kind of fucked-up sound. I think the mastering, which was done by Daddy Kev, who does all the Brainfeeder stuff like Flying Lotus' music, his style is hard.
GB: I think you changed your sound with this record, because the music you made before was sounding different. That's my opinion. I mean frequency-wise, not style-wise. The aesthetic of the sound, it sounds more rough, in a good way.
M: I use a lot of overdrive and stuff like that on a lot of the elements of the music. I use drives and distortions and that sort of stuff. All that, it's all software. It's not hardware.
The final installment of B2B: Martyn and Modeselektor will be posted tomorrow morning.


text:
August 3, 2009 | by Electrum Stardust	| in Opinion |
Tolkien of the East
Mention "Dongya Bingfu" ('Sick Man of the East'), and you'll likely get a strong response from most Chinese (not just 'nationalists'). The epithet stuck after China was utterly humiliated by Britain in the Opium War of 1840, which proved to be the beginning of a long string of defeats by various Western and Japanese powers, culminating in World War II. Twice the emperor had to flee Beijing (1860, 1900), and, more destructively, ordinary Chinese people lost confidence in their own culture. The fact that China managed to survive all these, and even show signs of a Renaissance (of sorts), is a testament to a latent Chinese spirit that strives against even the most overwhelming of odds.
For a long time, however, many Chinese people had a lot of self-doubt and pessimism. The West was rich and powerful, China poor and weak. It was little wonder that Chinese people came to admire Bruce Lee, when he finally 'made it' into Western popular culture, and more satisfyingly, defeated big and brawny Westerners on screen. This contrasts starkly with the long-standing image of Chinese men being hopelessly hooked on opium, with long, ugly hair and glazed eyes. An image far removed from the junzi ('gentleman') ideal of Confucianism, or the carefree spirit of philosophical Daoism. For a long time in China, few people seemed willing or capable to stand up for others in the name of justice.
This wasn't always the case, of course. China has always had a strong, underlying xia (俠, 'heroic chivalry') culture, which arose as a response against corrupt officials and evil, powerful men who acted with impunity. Sometimes these xias or 'chivalrous heroes' acted in the political arena (JING Ke most famously tried to assassinate the tyrannical First Emperor), but they mostly fought for oppressed commoners. Xia culture was also influenced by Mohism, a philosophical school which advocated universal love and strict pacifism. (Mohists would travel to besieged cities and help construct defensive fortifications, independent of political allegiance—they were hit hard by the purges under the Qin, and never recovered.)
Xias are widely celebrated in Chinese popular culture, most notably in the wuxia (武俠; wu refers to 'martial arts') genre of literature and drama. This is related to the 'kungfu' movies familiar to Westerners (e.g., Bruce Lee, even David Carradine), and to other martial codes such as Bushido ('bu' is a cognate of wu). However, in wuxia, the emphasis is more on xia—chilvary or righteousness.
Wuxia occupies a similar place as fantasy does in Western culture—a kind of parallel world full of action and heroes. But as is characteristic of Chinese culture as a whole, the wuxia parallel world (Jianghu, 'Rivers-and-Lakes') is more humanistic and less fantastic, set in a more or less realistic society, albeit one where exponents possess near-supernatural martial arts skills.
One name towers above all in the genre: Jin Yong. His fourteen novels, written from the 1950s to the 1970s, are wildly popular among Chinese people all over the world. By far the most successful of the so-called 'new school' wuxia writers, Jin Yong (pen name of ZHA Liangyong, or Louis CHA) was not just a fiction writer, but also a respected journalist and newspaper personality in Hong Kong. Indeed, his early successes as a writer and as a newspaper editor were inextricably linked—he first published his wuxia novels in serialised bits in the daily he co-founded, the Ming Pao, often deliberately ending in cliff-hangers. The circulation of his newspaper as well as the popularity of his stories both grew, and in time Jin Yong came to enjoy a prestigious status in the wuxia genre, just as J R R Tolkien did, and still does, in the realm of fantasy. His novels have been adapted into television and film numerous times, with a new version coming out once every few years (like Shakespeare or Dickens), in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mainland China. In Chinese popular culture worldwide, Jin Yong is the 'One Name to Rule them All'.
Like Tolkien, much of Jin Yong's literary success can be put down to the mastery of his native language (he came from a scholarly family), along with his adoption of Western literary techniques regarding plot and character development. Just as one would want to read Tolkien in English rather than in translation (if possible), it is preferable to read Jin Yong in the original Chinese (his works are still not fully translated, I believe). Just as language plays an important role in Tolkien, right down to the etymological roots of names, much of Jin Yong' charm would likely be lost in translation. For it's not just about mindless fighting—even seemingly fanciful martial arts 'superpowers' in his novels are steeped in Chinese culture, from their names to their philosophical underpinnings. The difficulty in translating Jin Yong is obvious even from the titles of his novels—his best work (in my view) Xiao'ao Jianghu is awkwardly translated as "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer". Now don't lol, please.
CHINESE TAKEAWAYS:
Bruce Lee's response to "Sick Man of the East"
Chapter 2:7
Typical wuxia exponents
← The Wong view
Stuff about the internet →


text:
import sqlite3 from 'sqlite3';

const Sqlite = sqlite3.verbose();
const mode = sqlite3.OPEN_READWRITE | sqlite3.OPEN_CREATE; // eslint-disable-line no-bitwise
const db = new Sqlite.Database('./db/db.sqlite', mode);

db.serialize(() => {
  db.run('CREATE TABLE lorem (info TEXT)');

  const stmt = db.prepare('INSERT INTO lorem VALUES (?)');
  for (let i = 0; i < 10; i += 1) {
    stmt.run(`Ipsum ${i}`);
  }
  stmt.finalize();

  db.each('SELECT rowid AS id, info FROM lorem', (err, row) => {
    console.log(`${row.id}: ${row.info}`);
  });
});

db.close();

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Zimbabwe uses lockdown to undermine rule of law
The government has granted itself extraordinary powers to eliminate threats to its control amid deepening economic crisis
24 July 2020 - 09:55 Stephen Buchanan-Clarke and Sikhululekile Mashingaidze
Zimbabwean journalist and documentary filmmaker Hopewell Chin'ono watches as police search his office at his home in Harare, July 21 2020. Picture: JEKESAI NJIKIZANA / AFP
Ten days ahead of planned mass protests against public sector corruption in Zimbabwe, award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin'ono was abducted by members of the country's security apparatus. Opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume was also arrested.
The news came as the country faces a deepening economic crisis and the majority of citizens try to deal with indefinite Covid-19 lockdown regulations that have devastated their means of making a livelihood in a largely informal economy. Far from isolated, the arrests of Chin'ono and Ngarivhume are part of a deliberate campaign by a rapacious political and military elite to target oppositional voices at all costs.
The Covid-19 pandemic called for all governments to enact regulations designed to curtail human mobility and interaction. However, in the case of Zimbabwe these were implemented through a variety of problematic legal instruments often validated retrospectively.
The pandemic and associated regulations have provided the government a smokescreen to continue a calculated and systematic effort to eliminate threats to their control by restricting citizens' fundamental freedoms of movement and assembly, expediting constitutional amendments, constraining press freedom, and weakening the opposition Movement for Democratic Change-Alliance (MDC).
Covid-19 has laid bare the false hope raised by the November 2017 coup that ousted long-standing leader Robert Mugabe, while extending a lifeline to Zanu (PF) under Emmerson Mnangagwa. In spite of Mnangagwa's promising rhetoric on the commitment to set the nation on the path to reform and recovery, the way in which Covid-19 regulation has been formed and applied in Zimbabwe has exposed the country's deep structural deficits in democratic practice.
Zimbabwe's Covid-19 response is based in securitisation — used to great effect by authoritarian governments, such as China's, to turn a health problem into a security issue. As described by scholars Dionysios Stivas and Nicholas Ross Smith, securitisation "typically involves informing and educating the public about the issue [crucial during a highly infectious disease outbreak] but also alarming them over the nature and seriousness of the threat. It can also legitimise a new form of politics that often involves the state taking on 'temporary' extraordinary powers." These "temporary powers" can quickly become the new status quo, making it increasingly challenging for citizens to demand reform. In Zimbabwe, the government granted itself extraordinary powers, weaponised the law and entrusted its enforcement to the police and army, institutions that have long lacked adequate oversight.
Arbitrary arrests
The affect has been a surge in arbitrary arrests. More than 105,000 people have been arrested since March for "violations" of Covid-19 regulations. Multiple instances of gross human rights abuses by the police and military are being reported. A case in point was the verbal and physical abuse of Nokuthula and Ntombizodwa Mpofu, who were "handcuffed, assaulted, labelled prostitutes and tribally insulted" by six police officers in Bulawayo for allegedly "flouting lockdown measures" by going out to purchase food, a permitted essential service.
Increasingly, the government has brazenly sought to push through constitutional amendments during the Covid-19 crisis, knowing that public engagement on the bills can easily be limited by the enforcement of lockdown regulations. Some of these amendments further restrict media freedom, threaten judicial independence, curtail parliamentary oversight and vest yet more much power in the person of the president.
Efforts by the government to rule by law rather than upholding the rule of law is analysed in depth by Zimbabwean scholars Sharon Hofisi and Eldered Masunungure. They show that this has been a defining characteristic of Zimbabwe's governance since the country's independence, with the founding constitution being amended whenever it was deemed a hindrance to the maintenance and exercise of power.
In a context of narrowing political space and increasingly restricted media environment, activists and citizens have been able to subvert state restrictions through the innovative use of social media platforms. From a defiance of the president's declaration of a national day of prayer, expositions of Covid-19 related corruption (Covidgate), mobilising for the July 31 march, and protesting the abduction of Chin'ono and the arrest of Ngarivhume, social media is perhaps the most potent tool against state repression in Zimbabwe today. It is one of the last remaining avenues for public dissent within the country.
Surveillance of citizens
However, the government is aware of this fact. In a desperate bid to control the digital space and increase its surveillance of citizens, it has been attempting to push through the Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill during the Covid-19 lockdown with limited citizen input.
Freedom House makes an important observation of how "the leaders of today's authoritarian systems devote full-time attention to the challenge of crippling the opposition without annihilating it, and flouting the rule of law while maintaining a plausible veneer of order, legitimacy, and prosperity". While the Zimbabwean government is battling to maintain a "plausible veneer of order, legitimacy, and prosperity", Covid-19 has no doubt provided an opportunity for Zanu (PF) leadership to further manipulate factional infighting between the opposition MDC formations to its benefit.
A well-calculated Supreme Court ruling, for instance, was designed to prop up the Thokozani Khuphe (MDC-T) led faction of the MDC while attempting to delegitimise the Nelson Chamisa led faction (MDC-A). The ruling coincided with the onset of the Covid-19 lockdowns. After a divide and rule strategy, Zanu (PF) has allowed the MDC-T to operate with impunity, flout Covid-19 restrictions and even provided the faction with state assistance in the take over of the party's much disputed offices at Harvest House.
This selective application of the law has also been evident in the targeting of MDC-A members, such as the brutal arrest, then abduction and torture of MPs Joanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.
It remains to be seen whether Zimbabwe's deteriorating economic crisis amid a global health pandemic will be a catalyst for major structural reform.
The pandemic has created a securitisation dilemma in the country whereby government's ostensible attempts to avert the pandemic have negatively affected human security, undermined the rule of law and deepened the state's autocratic grip. Rolling back the additional damage done to constitutionality in Zimbabwe in the name of Covid-19 will be difficult.
As public anger and resentment builds amid the country's bleak economic outlook, the government continues to tighten lockdown measures and stifle debate. It is therefore incumbent upon those who are in a position to support Zimbabwean citizens' rights to protest, to do so. The government must be held accountable to its citizens, failing which continued repression and exploitation will only continue.
Buchanan-Clarke is head of the human security and climate change programme, and Mashingaidze senior researcher, at Good Governance Africa.
Zimbabwe says it is on course to meet budget deficit target
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube will not seek additional funding this year
Zimbabwe farmers offered $3.5bn to settle old land dispute
It's not clear where Zimbabwe could find the sum, and the government still wants the UK to help pay
Allan Gray slashes Zimbabwe stock valuations in its African fund
Zimbabwe's mobile-money shutdown pits Mnangagwa against tycoon
World / Africa
Zimbabwean activist and journalist charged after calling for anti-graft march


text:
New Films Satiate Desire for Multifaceted Female Characters
By staff on February 8, 2015
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 came out on Nov. 21, 2014 and Lionsgate Studios announced that the final movie of the series is scheduled for release in November 2015. The Hunger Games is a worldwide phenomenon and multi-billion dollar franchise that has attracted millions of fans and has even inspired protests. However, as a BuzzFeed article recently pointed out, you may not have realized that The Hunger Games does what not a lot of young adult books or films have done before: it challenges stereotypical gender positions. Contrary to most young-adult film franchises, in which the female is a supporting role or portrayed as the trophy and/or as the helpless girlfriend, The Hunger Games trilogy reverses gender stereotypical roles by placing Katniss, the female lead character, as the "hero," and Peeta, one of Katniss's love interests, as the "damsel in distress." We at the UltraViolet believe that Hollywood is headed in the right direction: production companies are creating dimensional female characters that will have positive influences on the female and male teens that will watch their movies.
Popular blockbuster series in the past have included Twilight, Harry Potter, Transformers, James Bond, and Star Wars, among others, which often objectify the female roles and put the women in positions where they are forced to depend on the male characters. Even though Bella Swan, in Twilight, is the female main character, she almost always ends up being saved by Edward Cullen, her male counterpart. In James Bond, the male hero usually kills the villain and either wins the girl, as his "trophy," or saves her from dying.
On the other hand, in The Hunger Games, Katniss is shown as a strong character that does not depend on Peeta for survival; on the contrary, sometimes Peeta depends on Katniss. When Peeta is held hostage in the Capitol for much of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1, he is the so-called "damsel in distress" that needs saving. Buzzfeed references the "damsel in distress" example in Star Wars to compare previous female objectification to Peeta. Although "[Peeta's outfit]'s no Leia metal bikini… [Peeta]'s just as much a trophy." Another idea the BuzzFeed piece points out is that "Katniss is the hunter while Peeta is the baker — she's the skilled archer where his skills lie in camouflage. Katniss rushes into action while Peeta is better with strategy and PR." Typically, films render the woman as the calm and rational character, while the man plays the more hands-on, physically strong role. Instead, the female is the one with the weapon, and the male is the one with more sensibility, and we appreciate this new evolvement.
Now Gale, Katniss's other potential love interest, can be considered the typical male hero action figure; he is always saving Katniss and wants to do everything for her. For example, he goes into the Capitol to rescue Peeta for Katniss. However, Katniss shows viewers that she does not need a man to do everything for her – on the contrary – she does not want to solely depend on a man. She can function perfectly well, even better, when she is in charge. The fact that Katniss chooses the man who doesn't necessarily do everything for her is a great role model for young girls today.
Adolescent girls and boys will watch these movies and, considering the influence that media has upon children, expect the social dynamic of the films to be mirrored in their own lives. For the past decades, young girls may have thought it socially acceptable to only be the obedient trophy or the calm supporting role to offset the main character: the male. And they still can be in the beta role, but now there are stronger female movie characters that girls can look up to. And vice versa with boys: boys now have a male character who is not necessarily as physically strong as the typical action hero, thereby suggesting that it's okay to have a more emotional or intellectual mindset.
Movies like The Hunger Games reinforce that there is not necessarily only one type of character or specific facet that males and females are supposed to have. Furthermore, they reinforce the message that a woman's independence is important, and ultimately, a key to her success. It's great that we can finally see a manifestation, in the form of The Hunger Games trilogy, of the progress that our culture and the film industry have made about reversing gender stereotypes.
More from OpinionMore posts in Opinion »
A closer look at TikTok politics: Informative or polarizing?
A closer look at mental health in quarantine
New Mulan remake: A money grab or important symbol of representation?
Appropriation vs. appreciation: The appropriation of Asian culture within Western society
To uniform or not to uniform: A closer look Marlborough's new uniform policy


Eleanor Harder, author and composer/lyricist, has written more than 20 plays and musicals, many with her husband, Ray. Their works have been produced in all 50 states and 16 foreign countries. A graduate of UCLA in theatre and music, Harder has received numerous awards for her work, was given a grant from the state of Michigan for a new musical, was honored by the Authors and Celebrities Forum and the Los Angeles Board of Education for her plays and musicals for family audiences, and was awarded Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the UCLA Writers' Program. She is a member of The Dramatists Guild, Actors' Equity Association, AFTRA, ASCAP and PEN. Harder has written a children's novel, Darius and the Dozer Bull; music for the stage adaptation A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde; radio scripts for the Los Angeles county schools; stories for Hanna-Barbera Productions' Yogi Bear; stories for Western Publishing's Tweety and Sylvester; educational filmstrips for CBS; and scripts, stories and music for Mattei Toys. Harder was also a writer/reporter for ABC Network Radio's Weekend West. At the 2010 AATE National Theatre Conference, Harder and her husband were honored with the Orlin Corey Medallion Award from the Children's Theatre Foundation of America in recognition of their lifelong collaboration in theatre for both youth and adult audiences. They have two married children, Dan and Julie, and three grandchildren. They share their home in Los Angeles with Tary, a spaniel of sorts that wandered in and stayed.