It's unfortunate that the United States, which has led the capitalistic world for so long, is woefully uncompetitive in the area of corporate tax policy. We have the second highest corporate tax rate among all Organization for Economic and Cooperative Development (OECD) countries and many other tax policies that simply make it difficult for U.S. companies to compete with those outside the U.S. Is this important to you? You bet — studies, such as one done by William C. Randolph of the CBO in 2006, have estimated that 70% of corporate taxes are ultimately borne by the American workforce.
The reality is that our current tax system is particularly onerous for asset-intensive, industrial businesses like manufacturers and transportation companies. For example, Caterpillar, Boeing, FedEx, commercial airlines, and automakers use real assets to produce goods and services and provide jobs for millions of workers in the U.S. But to maintain or increase the number of jobs and to compete globally, these companies must be able earn an acceptable return on the massive capital expenditures they make.
How can we make American companies more competitive in the global marketplace and increase the ability of those companies to offer good jobs to American workers?
Let's permit U.S. companies to write off all of their capital expenditures when they make them, as opposed to the current system of long-term depreciation. Why? Experts Ernie Christian and Gary Robbins have said that over time, every dollar of tax cuts for expensing adds about nine dollars of GDP growth. And even without counting the benefits to the economy of new jobs, it's a relatively cheap option for the U.S. Treasury, since the only cost to the government is the time value of money.
So how does this impact American jobs? Let me use an example from FedEx. If we buy a 777 airplane from Boeing, under the current tax code, we generally write that asset off over seven years for tax purposes. But buying a $150 million airplane is a big risk because you don't know what the market's going to be like when that plane is delivered some four years after the initial order. So the best way to mitigate the risk of making that capital purchase, which provides jobs for pilots, mechanics, ground support, hub workers, and couriers, is to allow the company to get that money back quicker. It reduces risk and encourages investment more quickly in new equipment, facilities and jobs.
The U.S. also needs to lower its corporate income tax rate. At 39%, it is the second highest in the OECD, behind Japan. The corporate income tax rates of some of our major trading partners are much lower—Germany, 30%; China, 25%; the UK, 28%; and the Netherlands, 26%.
The benefits of multinational trade to the U.S. are well-known: more jobs, national wealth, consumer choice, all of which contribute to a better standard of living. Yet with our high corporate income tax rate, U.S. tax policy damages our economy in two ways. First, we are a less attractive place for foreign companies to do business—after all, we take a higher percent of their profits. Second, we make it harder for our U.S. companies to compete with foreign companies outside the U.S., thus limiting the ability of our companies to profitably grow their businesses.
Some have questioned why it is important that U.S. companies grow their global, as opposed to just U.S., businesses. FedEx is a great example because our business is truly dependent on our having a global network. The more limited our network, the more limited our growth opportunities. A customer who needs to move inventory from India to Germany won't use FedEx for any of its business if our network does not include those countries. (It does!) More robust growth in our business portends, of course, greater growth in jobs, both here and around the world. And that's exactly what has happened–our international growth has fueled our U.S. growth, and vice-versa.
But if we must pay 39 cents of every dollar of what we make in corporate income taxes while foreign competitors pay lower (often much lower) amounts, there is no question but that our competitors will have more earnings to invest in new capital projects— and jobs.
The U.S. is seriously out of touch with the rest of the world in terms of corporate income tax policy. Let's reassert our leadership. Let's take steps now to enable this country, our businesses, and our workers to compete fully. We must reduce our federal corporate income tax rate by at least 10 percentage points, and the states should follow suit. Until we do that, we will continue to fall behind the rest of the world simply because we are standing still.
With the U.S. and global economies in recession, now is the time to change the tax code.
While the political debate has centered on Wall Street and Main Street (financials and consumers) or government infrastructure initiatives, I believe expensing capital and lowering corporate tax rates would quickly stimulate significant additional economic activity and job creation. Industrial corporations would be spurred to advance new technology and productivity-enhancing investments because the risks of doing so would be substantially reduced. This would certainly be true in the case of FedEx, and I have yet to have a major corporate CEO disagree.
The beneficial impact of these changes on our economy and longer-term federal tax receipts would far outweigh the relatively small near-term increase in the deficit, particularly when compared to other actions such as consumer rebates and/or increased government spending.
The resulting improvements in national productivity and competitiveness would substantially benefit the United States economy.
Editor's Note: The following commentary is also featured in Opinion section of the Financial Times.
Fred is right again. The change must be immediate. I don't see how any the CEO of a global company like FedEx and others can keep the company based in the United States with the corporate tax structure as it is. Stockholders are global citizens. The pressure to relocated to more favorable tax countries from stockholders must be tremendous.
I think Fred Smith makes alot of good points.
Untill we are on a even playing feild with the rest of the world,we are truly don't have a competitive edge that the rest of the world has.
With the company's announcement last week of reducing salaries, etc, it was pointed out that FedEx employees should strive to reduce expenses. One suggestion for this is to eliminate personal mail (including holiday cards, birthday cards, family picutures) being sent by comail. This would include ALL FedEx employees, since surely comail cost is more than USPS stamp.Thank you for reading and considering.
While not an American citizen or US resident, I work for FedEx in Brazil as a manager, so I am sensitive to this post. The whole world is looking for alternatives to leave the crisis stronger. Financial rules will change again, no doubt about that (conditions that led to this crisis must be addressed). I think the governments must also focus their actions on strong businesses, the ones that creates jobs and wealthy through real and solid products – against the support on financial theories that create money out of money (or out of the impression of money existence). The mentioned country players are surely not aiming on raising corporate taxes or making it harder to invest on assets.
The FAIRTAX is an alternative that will accomplish all of these business goals, and ease the burden on the individual taxpayer. Also it would be a huge transfer of power from government back into the hands of the people where it belongs.
Insightful and visionary indeed! I hope the Chairman's approach will help realign the national debate on how to jumpstart job creation.
Via the accelerated expensing of capital, the allocation of resources by the corporations to the highest return items will be far more efficient and timely, than parts of the fiscal stimulus that may not go through robust planning before execution in the interest of time.
The corporate tax rate is even more uncompetitive, when compared to free trade zones all over the world, as well as entire territories such as Emirate of Dubai which does not have a corporate tax for firms outside of oil and financial sectors.
If you're really interested in a new & improved taxation method, why don't you join the fairtax.org. I'll let you logon to their site for the particulars. As a side benefit, the lobbyists in Washington would be out of a job, along with the people at the IRS. When was the last time you had something nice to say about them? Check it out. Then, call and write your representatives in D.C. Have a nice day.
The tax code brought us down; a re-engineered tax code can take us back to our place in the sun!
Fantastic article. Hope our Government will listen to this.
I am so proud to work for such a wise leader! This article was very enlightening.
I agree with most of what Mr. Smith says, but I would like to modify further the tax codes.
I believe that corporations should only be able to deduct salaries/bonus/etc. of executives up to $500k (each) executive per year maximum against earnings. The excesses we have seen of huge salaries, bonus, etc. on wall street & other industries is unfair to main street & to the individual taxpayer. Deducting those salaries against income to reduce the effective tax rate paid is not the American way to go. It is demoralizing to other Americans whose own taxes have to make up for the lost income to the gov't for necessary services.
Also – outsourcing jobs to other countries is hurting the US in many ways. We have lost so many jobs as a result of corporations trying to lower their costs. Some form of limitation in the costs that could be deducted from corporate earnings for outsourced work could make sending jobs overseas less competitive & bring these jobs back to the US.
Corporations need to be able to make money, but Americans also need decent paying jobs. Some compromise is needed to make the process a more transparent & fair process. People cannot buy services without jobs. Corporations cannot sell without buyers.
Barack Obama, in his book "Audacity of Hope" acknowledges the Keynesian concept that the best way out of a recession is increasing disposable income. In regards to the tax code, this decrease in taxes – preferably both corporate and individual – would correlate with the President Elect's written thoughts. When we refer to corporate disposable income however, we define it as additional funds to re-invest for operations and future success, which comes in the form of jobs and productivity. Even Ben Bernanke in his textbook "Principles of Economics" discusses the need for a tax policy favorable to corporate capital investment during downwards trends in economic activity.
How nice of you to pass them along to them. Would you be willing to pay 70% of all of your workforce's income taxes? Seems like a fair trade to me.
The U.S. also needs to lower its corporate income tax rate.
I've heard Ed Crane from the Cato Institute state something along the lines of "the Law of Demand states that an artificial raise in the price of something (e.g. the higher cost of doing business in the US) will cause less of it to be consumed." Arguably, less business will be done, capital investment made, jobs available, etc. due to the cost of doing business in the US being made artificially high via punitive corporate taxes.
Oddly, it seems that the same politicians (from across the spectrum) that call for a high corporate tax rate are the very same that complain when more and more jobs are being shipped overseas.
Maybe the big fortune companies band together and just buy the U.S. goverment and run the country any way they want. Oh wait, hasn't that already been tried.
Once again it seems that the bottom line worker is over looked. Mr. Smith you mention two reductions to tax's that only apply to business. Granted it is possible that it might create some new jobs. In reality if this was to take place the bottom line worker would be paying more in taxes. I believe it is time to redo the whole tax code to the Fair Tax. If ours was so good the new Iraqi Government would be using it, however they're not. As the US Government has choosen for them to use the Fair Tax system.
Smart man, but its not hard to realize that you can let corp. keep the money they make instead of printing money to bail them out. These companies have become small goverments in there own right, providing social services the goverment tries to, but does a poor job doing. So if they provide these services that our tax money pays for why should they have to pay so much in tax? If communist China can lower there tax rate(which there about to do) then hopefully capitalist American can too.
Eliminate waste. While Mr. Smith's comments are right on target, this company needs to trim the fat that is often overlooked. We have so many people in this company whos only job is to create paperwork. Our SAL produces a few reems of paper daily in reports that go directly in to the trash. Our company needs to reorganize the priorities and look at every area to eliminate costs. We need to put as much focus on our station utility costs as we do our on-road costs. It all comes out of the same pocket.
Hopefully someone in the incoming administration will be as level headed as Mr. Smith is in this article. It's really quite simple as it is just plain common sense!
This is a great article. Let's hope the US govt will consider this approach soon before the economic downturn gets more worse.
I BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE ALLOWED THE PROBLEMS TO HAPPEN AND NOW ITS TIME FOR THE BOTTOM LINE AND NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR IT . THE MONEY PROBLEM THAT IS OCCURING NOW IS JUST THE OUTCOME OF ALLOWING THE GOVERMENT TO DO WHAT IT WANTS WHEN IT WANTS. THE GOVERMENT NEEDS A ANSWER TO ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT IS GOING ON AND THAT STARTS WITH THE PEOPLE. LET'S SOLVE IT TOGETHER.
Fred Smith makes some very good point's for his case but it rings hollow when he states , "that his company pays 39 cents of every dollar earned" . I would like to know when was the last time fedex actually paid a tax rate of 39%. The fact is that on average, corporations pay about 10 cents of every dollar earned in taxes. After all of the write offs and loop holes are taken advantage of, most U.S. corporations pay some of the lowest corporate rates in the world. To grant Mr. Smith his tax cut's would only increase tax rates on the working class , who are already overtaxed and under employed ..
Great Thoughts on Tax Reforms. In this global economy, we not only need to be competitive but also be the leaders. Your article higlights the constraints, the US business leaders are facing compared to their counter parts from the rest of the world as far as tax policy is concerned. It is high time Government listens to the hands on people of the industry and remove the road blocks for them to make America succeed.
Unfortunately, sentiments like Tony's are all too common and I feel are fueled by politicians and an agenda oriented media. The facts tell a different story. According to the FedEx annual report, FedEx Corporation paid $891M in taxes on operating income of $2,075M in FY08. That is an effective rate of 43%.
The solution to creating more tax revenue for the government is not to give government a big slice of the pie. It is to make a bigger pie.
I just have to make this point from the debate last night. This is important!
McCain and Palin have mentioned the comparison of US company taxes being so much higher than taxes in Ireland. This is a TERRIFIC example of how you have to understand political economics!! McCain is absolutely right that Ireland has very low taxes for private firms. Why is that?, you might ask. Well, I'll tell you: it's because the government of Ireland absorbs the huge social costs of private industry. What does that mean? It means, unemployment is virtually nill because the government reimburses and retrains workers at huge cost to the government, unions have a huge role in government operations, private pay raises are negotiated through the government. The Irish government owns all utilities, transportation infrastructure, parcel delivery, and broadcasting. All education pre-K through college is free. Healthcare is completely government run. THAT is the context in which Ireland is able to offer very low taxation on private business; because they tax their population to pay for social services. Fascinating!
So in other words, to use John McCain's example from last night's debate, why can't we be like Ireland and have low taxes on private business? We can. But it means we would have to implement a number of so-called "socialist" measures in order to do it. So McCain's argument, if we take it through, essentially means that we need to become more socialist, way more radically than anyone has ever done in the history of America. Fascinating. I hope you're following this. It's a good example of how complex differences get reduced to ridiculous debate points with candidates just counting on the fact that we are all ignorant.
This is why it is important to know a little bit about economics and politics in addressing the current election.
So while tax reform is needed, we need to be careful what we wish for and look at the big picture from several angles.


text:
Five states account for 61% of e-way bill generation: GSTN
The electronic way or e-way bill has become mandatory for movement of goods valued over Rs 50,000 from one state to another beginning April 1.
April 11, 2018, 08:49 IST
NEW DELHI: Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala together account for 61 per cent of the inter-state e-way bill generation, GSTN said today.
"Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala have taken the lead over other states and have emerged as the top states in terms of number of E-Way bills being generated. These five states together have accounted for 61 per cent of all the E-Way Bills generated in the country till April 8," the GSTN said in a statement.
Incidentally, these are the five states which the government has chosen in the first phase of e-way bill roll out for movement of goods intra-state or within the state.
Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala will roll out intra-state eway bill beginning April 15.
"Since the nationwide rollout of the E-Way Bill system from the 1st of this month, both the number of e-way Bills as wells the number of transporters registering with the system is increasing at a steady pace," GSTN CEO Prakash Kumar said.
E-way bills are mandatory to be generated for movement of goods valued over Rs 50,000 beyond 10 kms.
Since the rollout of inter-state e-way bill movement of goods from April 1, more than 63 lakh such bills have been generated till yesterday. Karnataka is the only state which had rolled out e-way bill system for intra-state movement of goods from April 1.
The GST council, last month, had decided on a staggered rollout of the e-way bill starting with inter-state from April 1 and intra-state from April 15.
Touted as an anti-evasion measure and would help boost tax collections by clamping down on trade that happens on cash basis, the e-way bill provision of the goods and services tax (GST) was first introduced on February 1.
However, its implementation was put on hold after the system developed glitches in generating permits. With several states also starting to generate intra-state e-way bills on the portal, the system developed a snag.
Since then, the platform has been made more robust so that it can handle load of as many as 75 lakh inter-state e-way bills daily without any glitch.
Chinese regulators to push tech giants to share consumer credit data: Sources
Electronics manufacturing can contribute $1 tn to India's economy by 2025: Ravi Shankar Prasad
MeitY to implement AI mission, while Niti Aayog will help in planning
US condemns Italy, India, Turkey digital taxes, issues no tariffs
Confidential computing: Unlocking the potential of data-driven policy making

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This week I wrote a blog post about some misleading billboards that insurance companies are putting up all over the state (with more sure to come) about No-Fault "reform." I made the point that these "reform" measures would leave injured auto accident victims without critical medical care and worse, shift the costs and burdens from insurance companies to Michigan taxpayers.
No wonder the insurance industry likes the idea of No-Fault reform. Huge profits (auto insurance companies in Michigan lead the nation in profitability) are kept in place, but the payouts get capped and really expensive claims become the taxpayers' burden – instead of the insurance company that is paid to insure against the risk.
The average Joe? There has been very little public – as versus insurance industry – support for No-Fault insurance reform in Michigan. This makes sense since the previous two efforts to change No-Fault that the insurance industry pushed were soundly defeated at the voting booth by Michigan citizens. This new push, like the two previous, is all from the insurance industry, which is already raking in record breaking profits.
Given this insurance industry push to gut our most important driving protections, I thought today I would remind Michigan drivers just what our No-Fault system provides, and how important it is to all of us.
Medical expenses: Michigan No-Fault will pay for an auto accident victim's medical expenses that reasonably necessary to the victim's accident-related care, recovery or rehabilitation. Medical expenses encompass many products, services and accommodations, including, medical treatment, hospitalizations, medical procedures, rehabilitation services, in-home attendant care, home and vehicle modifications, medical equipment and reimbursement for mileage and transportation costs.
Wage loss: If a Michigan auto accident victim's injuries prevent him or her from returning to work, Michigan No-Fault will reimburse the victim for the wages the victim is losing as a result of being disabled from working.
Wage loss benefits are payable for three years following the date of the victim's accident, and they cannot exceed a certain monthly amount set by law.
Common replacement services include housekeeping, lawn and garden maintenance, auto maintenance, meal preparation, baby-sitting/child care and driving family members to school and appointments.
"Replacement services" benefits, which are also known as "household services" benefits, are payable up to $20 per day for three years from the date of the accident.
There is a fourth benefit that the most seriously injured recover. This is called attendant care.
Attendant care: Attendant care entitles injured accident victims to have nursing care while they are at home recovering from injuries. Attendant care benefits are defined as "activities of daily living," such as monitoring and supervision for safety reasons, administering medication, bathing, dressing, walking, styling/combing of hair, other grooming, help using the toilet, driving the patient, retrieving needed things for the injured person, carrying and lifting things for the patient, and wound care.
Attendant care can be performed by nurses, as well as the more typical family members and legal guardians.
My own take after nearly 20 years helping people as a No-Fault lawyer: No-Fault reform will rob Michigan drivers of their most important legal protections after an auto accident, and shift the burden from insurance companies to the taxpayers. It just puts more money in the Michigan insurance industry's pockets, but hurts those of us who need these vital insurance protections most.
– Steve Gursten is one of the nation's top No-Fault insurance attorneys. He focuses on all types of auto accident and insurance lawsuits. He is head of Michigan Auto Law and president of the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association. Steve frequently writes and speaks about Michigan No-Fault law and auto insurance, and is available for comment.
Roundup – Who pays my No-Fault benefits?
Michigan Auto Law is the largest law firm exclusively handling car accident, truck accident and motorcycle accident cases throughout the entire state. We have offices in Farmington Hills, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Sterling Heights. Call (800) 777-0028 to speak with one of our Michigan insurance attorneys.


While astronomers have some good alternatives for stacking multiple exposures to reduce noise, the apps they use are generally expensive and complicated to use. For these reasons, I tend to like using Photoshop to handle stacking my images. Other options have been limited and hard to get excited about. Over the past few years however, the quality of our options and my opinions of them have changed significantly.
Wide-field astrophotographers have looked to Adobe Photoshop to handle their stacking needs for years. It hasn't been a perfect fit but when combining 4 or so exposures to reduce noise, it's been an effective tool in reducing noise. For those people who like to stack more than 4, staying with Photoshop pushes most people past the limits of their Photoshop skills. And in looking at 3rd party alternatives, there simply haven't been good alternatives available since most of them are expensive and complicated to learn and use.
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text:
HomeNewsCaisse Populaire Alliance names new President and CEO
Caisse Populaire Alliance names new President and CEO
Friday, Dec. 8th, 2017
The person who helped oversee the merger of the Caisse Populaires in Northeastern Ontario, including those in North Bay and Sturgeon Falls, now heads the new entity. The transition board has announced Pierre Dorval as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. The amalgamation of all the offices takes effect January 1st at which time the organization will be officially known as Caisse Populaire Alliance. In advance of that, the Caisse has already started adding Alliance to its letterhead.


text:
Q: How can I add lines to document every four lines? I want to add a new line every four lines of a document.
For example:
abc
def
ghi
jkl
mno
pqr
stu
vw
xyz

should become:
abc
def
ghi
jkl

mno
pqr
stu
vw

xyz

A: sed (GNU)
sed '0~4G'

man sed explains ~ as:

first ~ step
  Match every step'th line starting with line first. For example, ``sed -n 1~2p'' will print all the odd-numbered lines in the input stream, and the address 2~5 will match every fifth line, starting with the second. first can be zero; in this case, sed operates as if it were equal to step. (This is an extension.)

sed (other)
Short (ugly for 100 lines):
sed 'n;n;n;G'

Or, Count new lines:
sed -e 'p;s/.*//;H;x;/\n\{4\}/{g;p};x;d'

Or, to be more portable, written as (remove comments for some versions of sed) :
sed -e '             # Start a sed script.
         p            # Whatever happens later, print the line.
         s/.*//       # Clean the pattern space.
         H            # Add **one** newline to hold space.
         x            # Get the hold space to examine it, now is empty.
         /\n\{4\}/{   # Test if there are 4 new lines counted.
             g        # Erase the newline count.
             p        # Print an additional new line.
           }          # End the test.
         x            # match the `x` done above.
         d            # don't print anything else. Re-start.
       '              # End sed script.

awk
Probably:
awk '1 ; NR % 4 == 0 {printf"\n"} '

A: try this command:
awk ' {print;} NR % 4 == 0 { print ""; }'

A:  sed -e 'n;n;n;G'

 perl -pe '$. % 4 or s/$/\n/'

 perl -lpe '$\ = $. % 4 ? "\n"  : "\n\n"'

Where we change the output record separator every fourth line.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Anyway, Fekkai's team styled attendees Jessica Alba, Jessica Chastain, and Kristen Stewart. We noticed a distinct pattern of glamorous, bouncy waves there, so wanted to pick his brain a bit about whether or not this is a trend that has legs, how to maintain "big night out" hair, and who he thinks got it right last night.
•Prepare the hair with a volumizer mousse at the roots. •Dry the roots. •Add a bit of wave spray (which acts like modern setting lotion). •Put in really hot rollers--control the amount of curl by using smaller sections. Voila.
My biggest question was how do you keep it looking so neat and bouncy, especially on a drizzly night like last night was? He recommended a hit of Fekkai Silky Straight Ironless serum and a healthy dose of hair spray to act like a "rain coat."
Besides the Fekkai girls, what other coifs did he love? Amy Adams, Coco Rocha, Kate Bosworth and Carey Mulligan all made his list. "Oh, and the girl [Michelle Dockery] from Downton Abbey! She looked amazing to me," he told us. "I love that show, of course." Us, too. And what about a look he'd like to see go away?
He doesn't love the messy beach-head look for a formal occasion. "I think there is an attitude now that it's quite 'cool' to not be too dressed up, to have a little bit of contrast with the dress where they leave their hair down," he said. "I think it's fine, but my opinion on this is that I'm sure people regret it when they look at the photo the next day." While he didn't name names, we can (*cough* Mary Kate *cough*) think of a few.
We agree with Fekkai's hair choices, but click through for some other ladies that we'd add to the Met Gala best tressed list.


text:
Leszek Dranicki (ur. 3 czerwca 1949 w Gdańsku) – polski wokalista i gitarzysta wykonujący muzykę z pogranicza jazzu i bluesa; kompozytor, grafik, publicysta, pedagog.

Życiorys
Z wykształcenia jest artystą plastykiem i absolwentem gdańskiej Państwowej Wyższej Szkoły Sztuk Plastycznych (dzisiejsza Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Gdańsku) oraz autorem wielu projektów i realizacji z dziedziny architektury wnętrz. W 1973 roku został laureatem konkursu Festiwalu Wokalistów Jazzowych w Zamościu.

W 1976 roku był współzałożycielem legendarnej formacji jazzowej Baszta, nagrodzonej na festiwalu Jazz Nad Odrą '77. Koncertował z nią w klubach Polski, Niemiec, Finlandii i Szwajcarii. W latach 1982–1983 współpracował z grupą Krzak, z którą nagrał album pt. Krzak'i i jeździł w trasy koncertowe. Po rozpadzie śląskiego zespołu wszedł w skład Antiquintetu (w 1983). W późniejszych latach współpracował m.in. z Tadeuszem Nalepą, Januszem Muniakiem, Grażyną Auguścik, a także z big bandem Sami Swoi i Free Blues Bandem.

W 1986 roku nagrał pierwszą autorską, solowy album zatytułowany With A Little Help..., z którego utwory posłużyły jako tło do programu telewizyjnego wyemitowanego przez TVP2. Kilka lat później powstał kolejny program telewizyjny pod nazwą Kolory. W obydwu wzięli udział m.in.: Zbigniew Jaremko, Eryk Kulm i Andrzej Cudzich. Gdański muzyk jest także autorem scenariuszy tych produkcji. W latach dziewięćdziesiątych pojawił się w awangardowym projekcie Ryszarda Miśka Teatr Instrumentalny przy Teatrze Muzycznym w Gdyni, w towarzystwie m.in. Olgi Szwajgier i Helmuta Nadolskiego.

Jako publicysta zadebiutował w tygodniku muzycznym WOW!!!, publikując na łamach tego czasopisma obszerne fragmenty własnych autobiografii Byłem klezmerem i Byłem bigbitowcem. Był także felietonistą Dziennika Bałtyckiego (Zapiskami przechodnia) i recenzentem muzycznym. W latach 1998−2000 wokalista nagrał trzy autorskie płyty: Duet, Andaluzja i Kolędy Jazzowe Na Głos, Saksofon i Gitarę (jest również autorem ich szaty graficznej). W nagraniach wzięli udział: Maciej Sikała, Piotr Wojtasik, Leszek Możdżer, Piotr Lemańczyk i Jacek Olter. Gdański muzyk jako muzyk sesyjny pojawił się na płytach: Rudiego Schubertha, Gorana Larsena, Piotra Lemańczyka i innych.

Wykłada na tzw. Małej Akademii Jazzu, jest także grafikiem i projektantem. Jako pedagog od wielu lat prowadzi pracownie rysunku i malarstwa, w Akademii Multimedialnej i w Gdańskim Archipelagu Kultury – Integracyjny Klub Winda. W 2006 roku w gdańskim Teatrze Leśnym odbył się jego benefis z okazji 30-lecia pracy artystycznej. W 2010 roku wokalista nagrał kolejną autorską płytę pt. Listy Jazzujące.

Dyskografia

Płyty autorskie
 1986 – With A Little Help... (Polskie Nagrania)
 1996 – Duet (Gowi Records)
 1998 – Andaluzja (Gowi Records)
 2010 – Listy Jazzujące (Soliton)

Inne nagrania
Z zespołem Baszta:
 2010 – Swingujące 3-miasto: Baszta (Soliton)

Z zespołem Krzak:
 1983 – Krzak'i (Tonpress)
 1987 – Ostatni koncert (Polskie Nagrania)
 2006 – Pamięci Skiby Jarocin 1983 (Metal Mind Productions)

Z zespołem Operating Conditions:
 1989 – Bielszy odcień bluesa  (Wifon) (kompilacja)

Z Leszkiem Winderem:
 1986 – Blues Forever (Polskie Nagrania)

Z zespołem Orange Trane:
 1998 – My personal Friend (Not Two Records)

Z Maciejem Sikałą:
 2000 – Kolędy Jazzowe Na Głos, Saksofon i Gitarę (Radio Plus)

Przypisy

Bibliografia
 Centrum Virtuo: Nauczyciele
 50-lecie klubu studenckiego "Żak"
 Blues Club: Leszek Dranicki

Linki zewnętrzne
 Leszek Dranicki w bazie Discogs

Absolwenci Akademii Sztuk Pięknych w Gdańsku
Polscy plastycy
Polscy wokaliści jazzowi
Polscy wokaliści bluesowi
Polscy gitarzyści jazzowi
Polscy kompozytorzy jazzowi
Polscy gitarzyści bluesowi
Muzycy związani z Gdańskiem
Polscy pedagodzy
Ludzie urodzeni w Gdańsku
Urodzeni w 1949

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Winburg Hotel, Orange Free State. Est. 1867. Think the decor could be circa then too. This bedspread looks like a cold pool of blood. Smudge kept a watchful eye, but not really. I slept here because I had to: my eyes were gritty after 11 hours on the road. I dreamt Stephen King dreams, and also that all my teeth fell out. Cheque please.
Easter Sunday. On the road between De Rust and Uniondale.
"We'll share the shelter, of my single bed".
Spare room (aka the mozzie nursery) in Hermann's house. De Rust, Klein Karoo. 21 April.
Boasting an unenviable teaspoon- sized brain and flightless plumage, this oversized and ornery fowl has long been a much-parodied beast of burden. Case in point: ostrich-back riding – hilarious to witness. And yet, at one time, ostriches were the golden goose of South Africa, and one of the reasons we arrived on the global map.
a more proletariat uniform. Ruined ostrich fortune mansions still dot the ostrich capital today, having been slowly reclaimed by the dry, hard earth.
Extract from a story I wrote on the ostrich meat industry for Food & Home Entertaining.
Glencairn. Uncle's house. Easter Sunday.


Dima Al Jundi, Syrian actress, March 8, 1979.
Full report on the life story of Dima Soldier, biographical information from Wikipedia and the latest news.
Date of birth: 8 March 1979.
Dima Al-Jundi was born on March 8, 1979. She began her artistic career in 1998. She participated in many Syrian series and also participated in a number of programs. She is a member of the Syrian Representatives' Committee. She is married to director Firas Dahni and they have a son named Tia.


Every day mature cats and dogs are dropped off at our facility because of circumstances neither they nor their families can control. They often get overlooked on the adoption floor by families looking for puppies or kittens under the misconception that adults in shelters are "damaged goods." And while the babies are pretty stinking great, ask any shelter worker who their favorite animal in the whole shelter is, and they're going to point you to a senior citizen! Here are five reasons we think adult adoptees are great, and you should too!
Number 1: What you see is what you get!
Since we rarely meet the parents of the puppies and kitties who come into our shelter, we can really only guess at what breed they may be and how big they're going to get. By adopting a dog or cat over 4 years old, you can pretty much guarantee that he or she is done growing. Their personalities are also pretty much set in stone, so it's easier to find a companion that will match your lifestyle. Looking for a hiking buddy? Or is a partner-in-naps more your speed? Do you want a constant sidekick or more of a "roommate" pet that can keep themselves entertained? While there are no guarantees in this life, adopting an adult cat or dog who has already grown into their true selves is a safer bet than adopting an infant and hoping they grow up into who you want them to be.
Number 2: With age comes wisdom!
Most adult animals have a natural instinct to keep their "den" clean and will gladly go potty in a designated area once you help them understand where it is. Younger puppies or kittens, on the other hand, have not yet learned to control that aspect of their hygiene. In fact, it's going to be easier to teach adults any tricks or habits you want them to have because you are working with a fully formed adult brain instead of a still-growing puppy brain that's still working on the basics. Additionally, many of our adult/senior pets come in with at least a basic understanding of a human's expectations, and they receive some basic training from our dog-walking volunteers as part of shelter enrichment.
Number 3: They have as little energy as you do, let's be real.
Most puppies and kittens are going to have huge amounts of energy up until about 2 years of age. After 5 years, cats are less likely to get house-crashing "zoomies" and dogs begin to need less intensive exercise. If you want a pet but don't have the time or energy for a long walk every day after work, consider a senior pet! Add in a breed disposition like a pit bull or Great Dane and you've got the perfect cuddle buddy who will NEVER judge you for spending your whole Saturday binging on Netflix.
Number 4: Don't tell me no lies, and keep your teeth to yourself!
Perhaps the most dreaded part of pet parenting the is teething – those little puppy and kitten teeth hurt, and the only thing that makes it feel better is…your dining room table. While less prominent in kittens, either species that is separated from their litter before 4 months of age is going to have to go through the frustrating and painful process of being taught that biting is not okay. If you've been paying attention, you know I have a great suggestion on how to avoid it entirely. That's right! Senior pets! They have fully developed social skills from a lifetime of interacting with humans and other pets that can save your arms AND your furniture a lot of nicks and scratches.
Number 5: C'mon… look at that face!
Are you convinced? Take a look at all the amazing senior pets available for adoption at the Atlanta Humane Society by visiting atlantahumane.org/adopt.


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This is a list of electoral results for the Electoral district of Welshpool in Western Australian colonial elections.

Members for North Coolgardie

Election results

Elections in the 1890s

References

Western Australian state electoral results by district


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Washington reaches big settlement with opioid distributors
Under the settlement, the state would have to spend $476 million of the total to address the opioid crisis, including on substance abuse treatment.
Published: 2:30 PM PDT May 3, 2022
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Months into a complex trial over their role in flooding Washington with highly addictive painkillers, the nation's three largest opioid distributors agreed Tuesday to pay the state $518 million, with the vast majority being directed toward easing the addiction epidemic.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced the deal, noting that it's worth tens of millions of dollars more than Washington would have received from the companies if it had signed onto a national settlement reached last summer involving the distributors and Johnson & Johnson.
The agreement still requires approval from a judge and from dozens of Washington cities that pursued their own cases against the distributors — McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corp.
Under the settlement, the state would have to spend $476 million of the total to address the opioid crisis, including on substance abuse treatment; expanding access to overdose-reversal drugs; and providing housing, job placement and other services for those struggling with addiction. The rest of the money would go toward litigation costs.
"We could have joined the overwhelming majority of states and settled with the the largest opioid distributors, but we chose to fight them in court instead," Ferguson said. "That decision to take them to court will result in significant additional resources for Washington to combat the opioid epidemic."
The three companies announced earlier this year that 46 states had signed onto the national settlement, under which they will pay nearly $20 billion over 18 years.
Ferguson, a Democrat, declined to join, calling what would have been the state's $418 million share from the distributors insufficient. Instead, he decided to go to trial against the three distributors and separately against Johnson & Johnson.
The case against the distributors went to trial last November in King County Superior Court in Seattle, alleging violations of consumer protection and public nuisance laws, while the lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson is scheduled to go to trial in September.
The attorney general argued that the three companies shipped such a vast amount of drugs to Washington that it was obvious they were fueling addiction: Opioid sales in the state rose more than 500% between 1997 and 2011. In 2011, more than 112 million daily doses of all prescription opioids were dispensed in the state — enough for a 16-day supply for every resident. In 2015, eight of Washington's 39 counties had more prescriptions than residents.
The companies rejected the accusations. They said they merely supplied opioids that had been prescribed by doctors, and it wasn't their role to second-guess the prescriptions or interfere in the doctor-patient relationship.
Further, the companies argued, Washington state itself played a large role in the epidemic. In the 1990s, concerned that people in chronic pain were being undertreated, lawmakers passed the Intractable Pain Act, which made it easier to prescribe opioids.
In a written statement Tuesday, the distributors said the settlement "will further the companies' goal of achieving broad resolution of governmental opioid claims while delivering meaningful relief to communities across the United States that have been impacted by the opioid epidemic."
Over the last two decades, the deaths of more than 500,000 Americans have been linked to overdoses of opioids, including both prescription pain kills and illicit drugs such as heroin and illegally produced fentanyl.
Across the U.S., many lawsuits filed by governments over the toll of the drugs have been resolved in recent years — most with settlements, and some with judgments or verdicts in trials. So far, drug makers, distributors and pharmacies have agreed to settlements totaling well over $40 billion, according to an Associated Press tally.
The new Washington state settlement stands as the largest between a single state and a company or group of companies, topping a $484 million deal announced in March between CVS and Florida.
Trials are underway in courts in West Virginia, Florida and California. A decision has not yet been issued after another trial last year in West Virginia.
Federal Way considers harsher punishment for smoking fentanyl in public
Advocates hope to reduce stigma amid surge in drug overdose deaths


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Space for making movies on Florida's Space Coast!
The Space Coast region offers one of the most bio-diverse natural landscapes in the country, with 72 miles of open beaches and weather that provides a phenomenal number of good shooting days. This area has historical downtowns and charming architecture, cooperative communities and a variety of professional support crew for hire.
Here are a few pertinent facts to consider: on average, 236 sunny days per year. The July average temperature is around 82 degrees. January's average is around 60.
Ready to say "lights, camera, action" on Florida's Space Coast? Call the Space Coast Film Commission to take the next step, (321) 863-4226. This office is a one-stop source for locating skilled crew and qualified companies to support your production. More than 2,000 location photos are available through the Film Commission by calling or emailing.
Brevard County serves Barefoot Bay, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Cocoa, Grant, Indian Harbour Beach, Malabar, Palm Bay, Melbourne Beach, Melbourne, Merritt Island, Mims, Port St. John, Rockledge, Satellite Beach, Scottsmoor, Sharpes and Titusville.
There are no permit fees. It is essential to contact the film office prior to any filming activities. The city or county will charge for particular services including fire and police, equipment etc. Fire and police costs range from $18-$25/ hour depending on the city. Download a film permit. Once completed please email the permit to Bonnie King: [email protected]
For state incentive information and application, please visit the State Film Office website at www.filminflorida.com
An extensive and informative local production guide is available through the Film Commission. Forward us an email with your name and mailing address to [email protected]. Click here to view the Space Coast Production Guide.
Film Liaison Contacts
Local Liaison – Space Coast of Florida
Bonnie King, Film Commissioner
1945 Holt Dr.
Liaison – Los Angeles
Susan Simms


What is Pre Construction Termite Treatment ?
When a construction project start the construction they have to treatment construction's areas soil to protect Termite for a long time. They need to apply termiticides in the soil before the complete of construction of Building.
There are 02 kinds of Building constructions have different time of termiticides application. For mat foundation building need apply termiticides at before the rod binding of mat casting. And the base foundation construction projects need to apply termiticdes before the plinth level flor casting.
1 Liter Chlorpyrifos 20 EC + 19 Liters Fresh Water will apply for Maximum 44 SFT floor areas. And 1 Liter Chlorpyriofos 20 EC +19 Liter Fresh Water will apply for 5.5 RFT Periphery areas. Suggested Brand # Dursban 20 EC (Auto Crop Care), Classic 20 EC (ACI), Pyrifos 20 EC etc (MacDonald Bangladesh).


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Faculty/Staff Bios
Core Faculty Publications
What Is Regenerative Medicine?
Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials
Cellular Therapies
Medical Devices and Artificial Organs
Clinical Translation
Grant of the Month
Publication of the Month
Student Interest Groups
Post-Doctoral Opportunities
Wiegand Summer Internship
2021 Scientific Retreat
Human Performance Optimization Conference
DARPA Awards $22M for 'Smart' Device that Regenerates Muscle
Current News DARPA Awards $22M for 'Smart' Device that Regenerates Muscle
By: The McGowan Institute For Regenerative Medicine | Category: Current News, Medical Devices | March 11, 2020
A multi-institution research team led by the University of Pittsburgh secured a $22 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a device combining artificial intelligence, bioelectronics and regenerative medicine to regrow muscle tissue, especially after combat injuries.
McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty members involved in this effort include:
Stephen Badylak, DVM, PhD, MD, professor of surgery at Pitt and deputy director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine (principal investigator)
Yoram Vodovotz, PhD, professor in the Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, and director of the Center for Inflammation and Regeneration Modeling at the McGowan Institute
Ruben Zamora, PhD, research professor in the Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh
Douglas Weber, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh
Bryan Brown, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh
Tzahi Cohen-Karni, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University
Adam Feinberg, PhD, professor in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, Rice University, University of Vermont, University of Wisconsin and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center also are part of this four-year initiative.
When more than 20% of a muscle is damaged, as is common for soldiers wounded in recent overseas conflicts, the tissue can't regenerate and a stiff scar forms in place of the missing muscle, which often leads to significant disability.
"With these severe injuries it's been drilled into us through all of our training that functional muscle replacement is not possible," said principal investigator Dr. Badylak. "The sort of technology we're developing offers hope where there otherwise would have been no hope."
Dr. Badylak envisions creating a device that would change the environment inside larger wounds to help them heal the way smaller wounds do naturally.
Smaller, self-healing wounds typically switch from inflammatory to anti-inflammatory conditions a couple weeks after the initial injury. Dr. Badylak imagines kicking larger wounds into anti-inflammatory mode as early as day three or four, and then again a few days later, repeating the cycle until the muscle rebuilds itself, similar to the way fetal wounds heal without forming a scar.
All of that would be accomplished by a smart device implanted inside the wound.
The device will monitor key molecular signals at each stage of healing — from the first hours after injury to the days and weeks that follow — and deliver specific molecules at specific times under the direction of artificial intelligence.
The first two years of the project will involve developing the device, then the next two years will involve close collaboration with surgeons at Walter Reed, who treat patients with major muscle loss, to refine the design so that it's suitable for the clinic.
Meanwhile, the researchers will be working with industry partners and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to identify and clear regulatory hurdles that might slow down clinical translation. For instance, it's possible to test whether the components of the device are safe to use in the human body while the overall design is evolving.
"We're developing the science and the device in mostly an academic setting," Dr. Badylak said. "If that's done without consideration of regulatory and industry requirements, patients would never see it because it would remain buried in institutions with no clear path for clinical translation."
One of the companies engaging in this process is ECM Therapeutics, which Dr. Badylak spun out of Pitt in 2018 to speed up the clinical translation of several extracellular matrix technologies developed by his lab. Dr. Badylak and Pitt both have a financial stake in the company.
Additional investigators on the grant include Paul Cohen, PhD, and Milos Hauskrecht, PhD, of Pitt; Jonathan Rivnay, PhD, of Northwestern University; Jacob Robinson, PhD, Ashok Veeraraghavan, PhD, and Omid Veiseh, PhD, of Rice University; Gary An, MD, and Robert Chase Cockrell, PhD, of the University of Vermont; Peng Jiang, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin; and Eric Elster, MD, and Seth Schobel, PhD, of Walter Reed.
Illustration: "Smart" Wound-Healing Device: The device will go onto injured muscle to deliver and measure molecules in real time, under the guidance of artificial intelligence. UPMC.
UPMC/PittHealthSciences News Release
News-Medical.net
Newswise
University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering News Release
National Defense Magazine
© Copyright 2021 McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine
A program of the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center


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Hidden illnesses haunt victims of neglect
By Adele Horin
CHILDREN in foster care suffer a high rate of undiagnosed and untreated health problems such as hearing, vision and speech difficulties, and more than half may not be fully immunised.
A screening program at the Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, found a fifth of the 80 children assessed so far failed hearing tests and a similar proportion failed vision tests.
Of those younger than five, half had delayed speech development and 70 per fell short of the usual developmental milestones. Two have been assessed with autism and another, who was not walking properly, with the serious degenerative condition Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
"There's a huge discrepancy between the health of these children and that of children in the general population," said Dr Dimitra Tzioumi, director of child protection for the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service.
Untreated health problems were found in all but four of the children assessed so far. About 90 per cent of children in the general population have their immunisation up to date but only 49 per cent of the foster care children did. Thirty per cent of the children had untreated dental cavities.
Almost 10,000 children are in foster care in NSW because of parental abuse and neglect, but only a tiny fraction have undergone systematic health screening.
Dr Dania Nathanson, who conducts the weekly screening clinic, said most of the children had pre-existing health problems stemming from an often transient life with their parents. But once in foster care their problems often were not picked up.
"Not much medical information goes with the child," she said. In one case a child's history of asthma had not been mentioned. A host of difficulties confronted foster carers, she said. For example, the state's privacy laws inhibited the flow of health information. As well, the child's "blue book" - the health record book given to parents at the birth of a child - was invariably lost, as was the child's Medicare card.
Carers could not add a foster child to their private health insurance cover. And there were too many adults involved in the children's lives - the parent, often a series of carers, the Department of Community Services case worker - but no one who took responsibility.
Dr Nathanson said some children had multiple untreated problems as a result of neglect: "A child will have bad teeth, maybe a squint and be iron-deficient, and have lots of emotional problems."
Dr Tzioumi said foster carers picked up overt problems such as fevers and colds. "But if the hearing is not right, the teeth are rotten, the development is not up to scratch … often the carers have not had the children long enough to get to know them."
The health-screening service, which opened a year ago, is being run with the co-operation of the department's Metro Central office. A smaller program for children entering care is being run in the Hunter region.
The clinic has found, as expected, more than half of the children - 53 per cent - with emotional and behavioural problems, including two boys suffering depression and two girls requiring counselling for "significant grief and loss issues".
Half of the children screened were aged under five and most of the rest were of primary school age. Dr Tzioumi said the children started school at a great disadvantage but early intervention could reverse most of the problems. "The problems aren't so huge you can't do anything."
She said the clinic referred the children to the hospital's specialists for hearing and vision problems. The Department of Community Services would be responsible for ensuring the children received the recommended help for speech, developmental and dental problems.
Anne Maree Gleeson, the department's acting executive director of operations support, said the pilot clinics would provide information about "what action might be taken to make them more broadly available".
At the same time, the department had reached a memorandum of understanding with Health NSW to give priority access to children in state care for a range of pediatric services.
Dr Tzioumi said: 'We say we've seen 80 children, and we have over 8000 to go. We've touched the tip of the iceberg."


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For Practitioner (347)
Sudley Infant School
Sudley Infant School Headteacher: Ms Ruth Thomas Please note that these service details have been provided directly from the service provider and therefore the service and its information may not be provided by a local authority. The information provided has not been checked and verified…
Notre Dame Catholic College
Notre Dame Catholic College For The Arts Please note that these service details have been provided directly from the service provider and therefore the service and its information may not be provided by a local authority. The information provided has not been checked and…
St Hilda's Church of England High School
St Hildas is a mixed Church of England secondary school situated on the edge of Sefton Park.
The Studio School
Our mission statement: 'To support all students to maximize their potential so that they can develop into hard working and successful young people in whatever career they choose'.
King David Primary School
We are a two form entry mainstream Jewish Primary school.
Mosspits Lane Primary School
0151 722 1716 Alternative telephone: 0151 233 6429 Fax: 0151 738 0309 EmailWebsiteAdd to My Shortlist
Much Woolton Catholic Primary School
St Hugh's Catholic Primary School
St Hugh's Catholic Primary School is a caring school, with a team of dedicated professionals which are here to ensure that the children can become the best possible learners they can be. Every member of staff is committed to providing the children with a happy,…
New Park Primary School (BC)
Breakfast club available no charge available from Reception class to Year 6. Wrap Around Care available for Nursery children with limited places


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This festive season, we are supporting 34 charities, grassroots organisations, local councils and community groups tackling fuel poverty through our £500,000 'Community Matters' fund.
Amongst the beneficiaries is Coventry AIMHS Limited, which will use a grant of £10,000 to provide interactive workshops and one-to-one support for people recovering from mental health issues, and who have been impacted by fuel poverty. Following a challenging two years, and with hardship affecting many, initiatives like this will be crucial to ensuring communities are able to recover from the pandemic, both financially and emotionally.
The grants represent the first tranche of activity from WPD's Community Matters Fund, which promises to deliver a shareholder-funded, annual £1m support fund for local community initiatives and good causes over the next five years. It builds on a successful £1 million Covid response fund delivered last year to support vulnerable customers through the pandemic.
Alison Sleightholm, WPD's Resources & External Affairs Director, said: "It's great to see the first of our grants being distributed to organisations and charities across the East Midlands which are offering direct help to the people who need it most this winter. Their work will make a vital difference, supporting our most vulnerable customers and making a positive impact in the communities we serve.
"Tackling fuel poverty is a crucial and immediate priority for WPD, as vulnerable customers in the region are expected to experience hardship this year. This winter's community funding from WPD is an extension of our wide-ranging fuel poverty programme, supporting customers who are struggling to pay their bills."
Also benefitting from the fund is Swansea MAD, which has been awarded £9,000. WPD's grant will allow the organisation to increase people's understanding of energy costs and gain more control over their bills. With the funding, Swansea MAD expects to help customers save around £16,500.
In the South West, Kingswear Parish Council, has been awarded a £10,000 for a ground-breaking project to support households with inefficient insulation as we head into a cold winter period. With the funds, Kingswear Parish Council will provide vital support for families in the region to make properties more energy efficient, helping them to save money on bills and heat their homes more effectively.
For more information please visit our community matters fund page. Follow the fund on social media via #WPDCommunityFund
Press office enquiries
Midlands: 01332 827172
South West: 0117 933 2005
South Wales: 01633 628108


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Minister Haji with Asst Minister Simeon Lesrima, Secretary of Provincial Administration Victor Okioma, AP Commandant Kinuthia Mbugua and Deputy Police Commissioner Francis Okonya
Haji assures of a peaceful Kenya
BERNARD MOMANYI
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 19 – Newly appointed acting Internal Security Minister Yussuf Haji says his main priority will be to ensure peace prevails in the country, particularly during this electioneering year.
Haji said he is aware of the security threats the country is facing both internally and externally from Al Shabaab and will work harmoniously with officials at the internal security ministry to secure the country.
"I am aware of the security challenges our country is facing and I am assuring Kenyans that I will work tirelessly to ensure security in the country," Haji said.
The Defense Minister made the remarks at Harambee House on Tuesday afternoon, a day after President Mwai Kibaki named him to hold brief at the internal security docket which was previously held by the late Professor George Saitoti who perished in a helicopter crash last week alongside his assistant Orwa Ojode and four police officers.
"The unfortunate event that took place last week has robbed the country of the most experienced and loyal leaders who had put the interest of the country first," he said. The head of state is yet to name the late Ojode's replacement.
He called for cooperation from key agencies like the police which is instrumental in mapping out strategies of fighting crime in the country.
"I call upon the provincial administration and the Kenya Police to uphold and comply with the dictates of the new Constitution, while at the same time maintaining law and order for the sake of peaceful coexistence among all Kenyans," the minister said.
Sources at Harambee House told Capital FM News that the police are gearing up to equip themselves ahead of the general election and are planning to acquire more vehicles and two more helicopters to facilitate security coverage in the country.
Haji said being new at the ministry, he will spend much of his initial days trying to understand how the ministry works, by interacting with officials there to get a grip on the job.
"When one is new to a place, the best thing to do is to listen, observe and ask questions; that is what I am going to do. I will work closely with officials in this ministry, and in fact many of them are people I have worked with in other government departments.
Haji was himself a long serving member of the Provincial Administration, having risen to the position of Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner before he retired and ventured into politics.
The defense minister is instrumental in the war against Al Shabaab and he worked closely with the late minister in maintaining security in the country.
"I am not new in the issue of security at all, with our engagement (with Al Shabaab) in Somalia, I am involved in security matters," the minister said.
It is Haji who led the Kenya Defense Forces to Somalia last October when the military crossed into neighbouring lawless country to push Al Shabaab militants deep inside their country.
The military has since been integrated into Amisom and is now targeting Al Shabaab's stronghold town of Kismayu, having captured most of the other towns.


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Germany and France: Art Market and Art Collecting 1900-1945
TU Berlin, 09. - 10.11.2018
Report by: Vanessa von Kolpinski, Berlin
The international conference gave 12 researchers the opportunity to present their work on topics of art publishing, economics, networks and politics on the German-French market in the first half of the 20th century.
Organisers to the first of the two-part research programme "Art Market and Art Collecting from 1900 to the Present in Germany and France" were Dorothee Wimmer and Elisabeth Furtwängler, in collaboration with Xenia Schiemann from the Centre for Art Market Studies (FOKUM) at the TU Berlin. The programme is further supported by the Centre Georges Simmel at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in collaboration with the Deutsches Forum Kunstgeschichte Paris where the second part of the programme will take place in March 2019. [1]
The first section was dedicated to art book series and their marketing influence on the art trade and featured contributions by Friederike Kitschen, Chara Kolokytha as well as Kate Kangaslahti. Art book series in Germany and France were particularly popular and mainly published by gallerists, partly to promote and canonise the artists they represented but also to defend the revolution of modern art. Kolokytha and Kangaslahti focused on the series Cahiers d'art and pointed out that whereas German museum directors were very early advocates of French modern art and made acquisitions accordingly, the vast majority of French museums were neither interested in German nor in French modernism. The influence of art book series like Cahiers d'art on an official level was thus highly limited in France. The speakers laid out that the artistic and commercial value of the illustration layout of Cahiers d'art was conceived by Christian Zervos as editor whose motivation stemmed out of the love for modern art and the need to profit financially.
Léa Saint-Raymond initiated the second panel titled "Confrontations, Networks and Economics" with a presentation on the role German buyers played at Parisian auctions. Her findings are a by-product of her PhD thesis on the introduction of new artistic markets in Paris between 1830-1939 which analyses catalogues and the respective auction protocols, elucidating the evolution of the market and its protagonists. After the turn of the century, German and French buyers were in direct competition regarding Asian and Oriental art, however the increase in prices in the sector of modern paintings was mainly due to American acquisitions. A somewhat neglected topic within the research environment, Saint-Raymond set an interesting focus on pre-Columbian and primitive artefacts, stating that German sellers in that sector were highly active in Berlin and Hamburg in the interwar period. MaryKate Cleary followed the panel with a presentation on the art dealer Paul Rosenberg, classifying him as a transnational patron-entrepreneur as a new category within the already established art dealer types. Rosenberg had extensive ties to German gallerists like Heinrich Thannhauser and Alfred Flechtheim through whom he was also able to promote French art in Germany. Further bridging the influence of art book series to art dealer networks, Yves Guignard traced a contribution to the popularisation of French modern art in Germany back to Wilhelm Uhde's network among German art collectors. David Challis finished the panel with showing the exemplary increase of American buyers of artworks by Paul Cézanne on the French art market and an explanation of the economic reasons behind it. His assertion - that through the appreciation of the Dollar against the Franc after the First World War, American art collectors made use of the favourable conditions when buying artworks in France - neatly interlaced with Saint-Raymond's analysis of the market situation.
The first day ended with the keynote lecture by Marek Claasen on the artist ranking system artfacts.net. This ranking is composed of a value system, that allocates points based on past and current exhibitions in which the individual artists were/are represented. Historically, the data used by artfacts.net goes back to 1850 but is still updated regularly on living artists as well. The results that Claasen presented for the time period of 1900-1945 regarding the ranking of the top 10 French artists were surprising, because Henri Matisse for example was at the top of the list concerning international exhibitions but only came 9th within France. Paradoxically, according to Claasen's data, the artists that exhibited the most between 1900-1945 in France performed the worst in the long run on an international level. This data was almost solely gathered via the internet and thus the question arises if it is representative considering that many historic catalogues can only be found in specialist libraries. Taking into account that the information on recent exhibitions is more readily available on the internet as a whole, the ranking system is set on a more complete basis for living artists. [2] The choice of dedicating the keynote lecture to a digital analysis tool broadened the scope of the traditional art market research presented at the conference, yet a deeper exploration of the significance of his data for the research topic in the relevant period would have been desirable.
"Politics and markets" was the title to the third section of the conference, initiated by Vérane Tasseau's presentation on the collection of Raoul La Roche and his connection to buyers at Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler's "enemy property" sequestration sales in Paris. La Roche started collecting around 1918, so when the sequestrated collection and stock of Cubist artworks from the German dealer Kahnweiler came on the market, he bought many works at decreasing prices through 'straw-men' like Amédée Ozenfant, Oscar Miestchaninoff and Le Corbusier at auction from 1921-1923. Tasseau identified the buyers at the first sequestration sales and notes that La Roche acquired the most artworks after Kahnweiler himself (who had created an association to save some of his former property).
The conference proceeded with lectures by Gitta Ho, Nathalie Neumann and Mattes Lammert, who explored the consequences on the French art market during the occupation of Paris between 1940-1944. Ho pointed out that several Jewish dealers were still active in France and furnished German officials with art works as well as sensitive information for varying reasons. Some of these dealers profited from this exchange but the trade worked vice versa too - as shown in the example of Bruno Lohse, who was deputy director of the art looting unit "Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg". Due to Lohse's affiliation with a Jewish art gallery, he could travel unencumbered to and from Switzerland, facilitating acquisitions.
After pointing out the desideratum on experts working as appraisers for the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg in Paris by Neumann, Lammert ended the conference with an appeal to the Berlin museums. He traced the provenance of more than 100 acquisitions made by the Berlin museums for the Islamic department during the occupation of Paris partly back to Parisian dealers with Armenian origins and now further endorses research into those works and the networks involved. Lammert's presentation revealed that the acquisition policies and provenance investigations in the field of Islamic art and antiquities have been a neglected topic of research, which has gained focus only very recently. [3]
In conclusion, with this valuable addition to the much-discussed field of Franco-German relations in recent years [4] and in line with their general focus, the FOKUM and the EHESS have once more successfully shed light on the art markets of the period. The individual insights on specific topics create a more complete picture and thus facilitate a better understanding of the historic Franco-German art market on a larger scale. We await the contributions in the second part of the programme which will focus on the (post-)war period until today.
[1] http://centregeorgsimmel.ehess.fr/files/2018/09/cfp-german-french-research-programm-2018-2019-final.pdf
[2] Well researched critique on databases like artfacts.net and their effects on the art market was voiced by Jürgen Tabor. Tabor, Jürgen: Zur sozialen Logik der Kunstindustrie. In: Kunstgeschichte. Texte zur Diskussion, 2009-50. www.kunstgeschichte-ejournal.net/discussion/2009/tabor/ (consulted: 14.12.2018).
[3] The latest investigations by Meike Hopp and Laura Puritani give valuable insights into the fate of antiquities. www.kuk.tu-berlin.de/menue/forschung/forschungskolloquium/ (consulted: 14.12.2018) and Puritani, Laura: Antikensammlung: Antiken aus Carinhall aus dem Eigentum der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. In: Dokumentation des Fremdbesitzes. Bd. 3. Berlin: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, 2017.
[4] Cf. e.g. the following conference in recent years (consulted: 14.12.2018) www.kulturgutverluste.de/Content/01_Stiftung/DE/Veranstaltungsnachlese/2017/Tagungsbericht.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3
https://www.arbeitskreis-provenienzforschung.org/data/uploads/formulare/communique_patrimoines_2016-06.pdf
https://ciera.hypotheses.org/801
Vanessa von Kolpinski: [Conference Report of:] Germany and France: Art Market and Art Collecting 1900-1945 (TU Berlin, 09. - 10.11.2018). In: ArtHist.net, Feb 6, 2019 (accessed Jan 21, 2020), <https://arthist.net/reviews/20120>.
Report published: Feb 6, 2019
Editor: Hans Georg Hiller von Gaertringen


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► Solitary confinement: Protecting the rights of Virginia inmates
Solitary confinement: Protecting the rights of Virginia inmates
On Behalf of Weisberg & Weisberg, P.L.L.C. | May 14, 2018 | Criminal Defense
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has challenged the treatment of inmates in Virginia prisons, particularly the "Super Max" Red Onion State Prison in Wise County, where a young inmate was found dead in January. The 20-year-old man's death was reportedly a suicide, but his family has questioned the report from the state Department of Corrections.
The ACLU of Virginia called upon the governor to ban many uses of solitary confinement, which can be psychologically damaging to vulnerable inmates with mental illness. Protecting the rights of prisoners goes hand in hand with the rights of suspects at the hands of law enforcement and the rights of the accused in criminal proceedings.
Isolation, mental illness and social functioning
According to the Daily Press, the ACLU's report highlighted a lack of transparency from the Virginia department of Corrections (DOC) with regard to its isolation of prisoners. While the DOC uses the term "restrictive housing" and defends its practices, the ACLU demanded more accountability from the agency.
In addition to requesting a governor's mandate on the use of isolation, the ACLU recommended the required provision of a written explanation to a prisoner who is being placed in restrictive housing. It also recommended an internationally recognized limit of 15 days on isolating prisoners, according to the Daily Press.
Protecting your rights or the rights of your family member
In many cases, the government oversteps its reach in how it treats the accused or the convicted. If you need assistance with a Virginia criminal matter, talk to a law firm with a depth of legal knowledge and a willingness to take an aggressive stance in protecting your rights or the rights of your loved one.


I am your host; With robbers' hands my hospitable favours You should not ruffle thus.
Hats off! Along the street there comes A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums, A flash of color beneath the sky: Hats off! The flag is passing by.
— Henry H. Bennett, The Flag Goes By.


Detailed report on the nursing home located in Trumann, Arkansas (AR).
Trumann Health & Rehabilitation Center is an average sized, for-profit, nursing home with 77 beds based at 333 Melody Drive in Trumann, AR. The facility has 66 residents indicating 86% of its beds are occupied, which is above average within this state. The provider participates in the medicare & medicaid programs and provides resident counseling services. The home is not located in a hospital or continuing care retirement community and is partially sprinklered. A total of 49 Medicare patients were given 1,945 days of non-swing bed care and services in 2006, and the provider was reimbursed $417,229 by Medicare. 12 Medicare patients were given outpatient care and services by this provider in 2006. The provider was reimbursed $12,384 by Medicare for these services.
On a state level, the number of registered nurse hours per resident per day is much lower than average. Certified nursing assistant hours per resident per day is higher than average. The number of licensed practical or vocational nurse hours per resident per day is average. Licensed staff hours per resident per day is average.
When compared to other nursing homes in the state, it is more likely for long-stay residents to be physically restrained, long-stay residents to be more depressed or anxious, low-risk long-stay residents to lose control of their bowels, long-stay residents to have catheter inserted and left, long-stay residents to have a urinary tract infection, long-stay residents to lose too much weight, and short-stay residents to have delirium at Trumann Health & Rehabilitation Center.
When compared to other nursing homes in the state, it is less likely for short-stay residents to have moderate to severe pain.
CiteHealth is not associated with Trumann Health & Rehabilitation Center or Trumann Health and Rehabilitation Center. We do not endorse, sponsor, or take financial incentives from this provider.
Located 12.04 miles away in Jonesboro at 5101 Harrisburg Road.
Located 12.42 miles away in Jonesboro at 3010 Middlefield Drive.
Located 13.01 miles away in Harrisburg at 204 Catherine Street.
Located 13.43 miles away in Marked Tree at 33904 Highway 63 E.
Located 13.44 miles away in Jonesboro at 2911 Browns Lane.
Trumann has a total population of 6,889, of which 1,848 are children under the age of 18 and 1,041 are seniors 65 and older. The median age is 35.6.
The median family income is $32,297 while the median household income is $26,533. Roughly 21.29% of the population live in poverty.


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Ken Saro-Wiwa
Brief facts on Ken Saro-Wiwa's murder, Ogoniland
byNnenna Ibeh
Ken Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues were killed in 1995 by the Abacha government.
Ken Saro-Wiwa, an Ogoni leader, writer, and activist, was born on October 10, 1941.
The Abacha junta accused Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others of killing four Ogoni chiefs who were on the opposing side of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP.
Mr. Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues were subsequently arrested, accused of the killings and tried by a special military tribunal. Though they denied the charges against them, they were imprisoned for over a year before being found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging.
They were hanged on November 10, 1995 by the Abacha regime for what many believe was largely because of Mr. Saro-Wiwa's strong stance in pursuit of the rights of the Ogoni people.
Their execution led to Nigeria's suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations, which lasted for over three years.
The Royal Dutch Shell and Brain Anderson, Head of its Nigeria Operations, were believed to have connived with the military government on Mr. Saro-Wiwa's trial and execution.
The company denied the allegations, despite testimonies stating otherwise, and it agreed a $15.5 million out-of-court settlement in favour of the families of the victims in 2009, saying however that the payment was not a concession of guilt, but a gesture for peace.
The cases were brought under the Alien Tort Statute, a 1789 statute giving non-U.S. citizens the right to file suits in U.S. courts for international human rights violations; and the Torture Victim Protection Act, which allows individuals to seek damages in the U.S. for torture or extrajudicial killing, regardless of where the violations take place.
A United Nations report titled "UNEP Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland" and submitted to the Federal Government in August last year showed how 50 years of crude oil operations in Ogoniland had caused severe environmental pollution to the Rivers State community.
Part of the observations of the UNEP scientific assessment was the presence of benzene in wells in Nisisioken Ogale area of Ogoni at a level over 900 per cent higher than the accepted World Health Organisation guidelines.
The report also made recommendations for the immediate clean-up of the community with a takeoff fund termed "Environmental Restoration Fund for Ogoniland,' with an initial sum of $1billion to be contributed by Shell Petroleum Development Company, the Nigerian Government, and other oil companies operating in Ogoniland.
WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Inside the secret Abacha memo approving execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa, others
Northern Governors sympathise with Wada, mourn ADC
Nnenna Ibeh
Governments, other ethnic groups 'working to destroy cattle rearing' – Fulani herders
Federal lawmaker's aide abducted in Cross River
Revoke licenses of marketers hoarding petrol, PENGASSAN tells Nigerian govt
Inability to access credit trapping farmers in poverty in Abuja rural communities
UPDATED: Banks must accept old naira notes after 10 February deadline — Emefiele


Other Abstract: Biological Products are materials from human, plants, or animals processed by Human Placenta biological technology process, which is one of the biological products that can be used in plenty ways, for example, biologic drugs. However, in Thailand, Human Placenta's status is the infected waste, which should be disposed. Therefore, to research in the barrier of using the biological products in Thailand, we had to find the factors, solutions from barrier, and how to proceed by studying the case study about Human Placenta. Then, we presented the prototype of using the biological products in the useful and systematic ways. In addition, the researchers gathered the related people consisting of pregnant women, hospitals, the departments that used Human Placenta and tissue, the disposal departments, and Biological Products Control departments. Moreover, the researchers gathered the information about using human cells and tissue in USA, Japan, and European Union. The research result reflected that the Human cells and tissue usage in Thailand was lack of the connecting process from the development and research process to the product development process and launching the product to the market. Because, it was lack of the standard procedure which was accepted in the international level and there was no practice guideline from the control department. The way of using Human Placenta in Thailand has to have the connecting process between the users and related departments. Also, there should be some supporting and facilitating processes for a person who would like to use Biological products. The knowledge process for the society is one of the supporting factors and the development of the monitoring systems of using the tissue. Therefore, the application of RFID technology in the technological system to monitor how to use cells and tissue is the supporting technology of Human Placenta Usage process.


== The Missing Magic == Having these components of a notional computer are all very well in theory, but they aren't quite enough for a useful computer. Computer science has come up with some ways of tying them together, one of which is straight out of horology. '''Bus''' – An information channel between the foregoing components. Implementing this in clockwork will require some ingenuity. In a silicon computer the Bus is like a copper wire linking the memory, control unit and so on, allowing electricity to travel between them. With horology we need to get information (such as the word "Escapement") from the Memory to the Output, or from the Control Unit to the Arithmetic and Logic Unit. An example (but I don't necessarily suggest feasible!) way might be to have an oscillating central bar containing whiskers that can be pushed in and out to indicate different values, where the whiskers are adjusted by levers immediately next to the levers used to read the values and each oscillation moves the location of the whiskers from the setting levers to the reading levers. I'm not covering implementation challenges in this article, but its worth reflecting that Bus speed is a vital issue for how practical this computer will be. '''Clock Signal''' – a single master beat that is used to synchronise all other activity in a computer. If we're fetching information from Memory using the Bus or a performing a calculation the Clock Signal is the only way of making sure we're not tripping over ourselves by using the wrong number, or the right number twice etc. Increasing the speed of the clock signal – assuming all the other components can keep up – is one way of speeding the entire computer up. I was fascinated to learn about the response of mechanical movement makers in the 1970s to quartz movements with 5bps and then 10bps movements, but it seems little has moved on since then. A 180,000 bph movement would be getting into very practical territory for this design, but I have not yet found any labs who have produced anything like it. '''Storage''' – Like Memory, but lasts longer and is usually bigger. A mechanical equivalent of a filing system. You put information in and can get it back out when you want it. A storage system can be punched cards, or pianola-like punched paper rolls, or small plastic cards with very fine ridges and dips after the style of a music box's data. There have been storage systems in use since early days of the industrial revolution, and I'll be surprised if there isn't at least one horological tradition of using them somehow!


Do Financial Support and Inheritance Contribute to the Racial Wealth Gap?
Large differences in wealth holdings exist between white households and their African American and Hispanic counterparts. This factsheet summarizes key findings from a study that explored the impact of private transfers on racial and ethnic wealth gaps. It found that small cash transfers had little or no effect on wealth holdings, but in the case of African American households large inheritances or gifts explained about 12 percent of the difference in wealth between them and white households.
Do Racial Disparities in Private Transfers Help Explain the Racial Wealth Gap?


The photos on this page are all selected from a photographic competition named Maple Leaf Cup 2016 "Foreign Teachers in China".
The competition recruited photographic works from 400 colleges and universities and educational institutes with qualification to employ foreign experts.
More than 1,000 pieces by 300 foreign experts from 35 countries participated in the competition. They come from the United States, South Africa, Russia, Canada and other countries.


The 1924 Bugatti type 35 by CMC in 1:18 Scale.
The Type 35 was the most successful of the Bugatti racing models. It was the first vehicle to feature the famed Bugatti arch-shaped radiator, and is regarded by many as the most-beautiful pre-war racing car.
The original model, introduced at the Grand Prix of Lyon on August 3, 1924, used an evolution of the 3-valve 2.0 L (1991 cc/121 in³) overhead cam straight-8 engine first seen on the Type 29. Bore was 66 mm and stroke was 100 mm as on many previous Bugatti models. 96 examples were produced.
This powerplant featured five main bearings with an unusual ball bearing system. This allowed the engine to rev to 6000 rpm, and 90 hp (67 kW) was reliably produced. Solid axles with leaf springs were used front and rear, and drum brakes at back, operated by cables, were specified. Alloy wheels were a novelty, as was the hollow front axle for reduced unsprung weight. A rare version was de-bored (to 52 mm) for a total displacement of 1.5 L (1494 cc/91 in).


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Fred Fleitz
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ISIS and America's Achilles Heel: A Clear And Present Danger To The Electrical Grid – And How It Can Be Prevented
September 2, 2014 Center for Security Policy
Nik Hanlon | nhanlon@securefreedom.org | 202-719-2418
ISIS AND AMERICA'S ACHILLES HEEL: A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO THE ELECTRIC GRID – AND HOW IT CAN BE PREVENTED
National Experts to Discuss 'Imminent,' Existential Threat and Need for Urgent Action
Washington, D.C.: According to Judicial Watch, the U.S. government has evidence that the jihadist Islamic State is present in Juarez, Mexico – across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas – and the Texas Department of Public Safety believes there is evidence it plans an imminent attack in this country. In light of the latest murderous attack by this organization against an American journalist, Steven Sotloff, such threats must be taken with the utmost seriousness.
To examine this danger and the possibility that the Islamic State, either directly or through proxies like the Knights Templar drug cartel, or other enemies of the United States – could inflict existential damage upon this country by attacking its vulnerable electric grid, the Secure the Grid Coalition is convening an panel of leaders in the fight to prevent such an eventuality.
Frank Gaffney,former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Acting) and President and CEO of the Center for Security Policy, Moderator
Michael Maloof, former senior security policy analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, with nearly 30 years of federal service in the U.S. Defense Department and as a specialized trainer for border guards and Special Forces, and author of A Nation Forsaken: EMP: The Escalating Threat of an American Catastrophe. Mr. Maloof will give an overview of the threats posed to the U.S. electric grid and the critical infrastructures that depend upon it.
Dr. Peter Vincent Pry, former career CIA analyst, member of the staff of the congressionally mandated Electromagnetic Pulse Threat Commission, Executive Director of the Congressional Task Force on National and Homeland Security and author of Apocalypse Unknown: The Struggle To Protect America From An Electromagnetic Pulse Catastrophe. Dr. Pry will address the particular danger posed by the Islamic State and similar jihadist groups, the risk of naturally occurring events that could take down the grid and the impediments to the needed corrective actions.
Amb. Henry F. Cooper, PhD, is a mechanical engineer who formerly served as the Director of the Strategic Defense Initiative and formerDeputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Research, Development, and Logistics. In those capacities he oversaw steps taken by the Defense Department to ensure the resiliency of critical weapon systems against EMP effects. Dr. Cooper will explain what can be done to protect the grid against all hazards and the necessity of doing so.
Kelly Carlson,an accomplished Hollywood actor who has been active on national and maritime security issues and serves as member of the Secure the Grid Coalition. Ms. Carlson will present several videos aimed at raising the awareness of the American people to the vulnerability of the electric grid and to encourage action by federal and state governments to protect the bulk power distribution system.
Murrow Room
529 14th St NW, 13th Floor
Wednesday, September 3, 2014, 2:00-3:30 pm
About the Secure the Grid Coalition
The Secure the Grid Coalition is an ad hoc group of policy, energy, and national security experts, legislators, and industry insiders who are dedicated to strengthening the resiliency of America's electrical grid. The Coalition aims to raise awareness about the national and international threat of grid vulnerability, an encourage the steps needed to neutralize it www.SecuretheGrid.com.
Mr. Cameron, It's Called Shariah
Growing Russian Aggression has U.S. Looking to History for Answers
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Top MSP Challenges in 2021Previous article
Magecart Attackers Save Stolen Credit-Card Data in .JPG FileNext article
Google Releases Spectre PoC Exploit For Chrome
Author: Lindsey O'Donnell
Google has released the side-channel exploit in hopes of motivating web-application developers to protect their sites.
Google has released proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit code, which leverages the Spectre attack against the Chrome browser to leak data from websites.
Three years after the Spectre attack was first disclosed, researchers with Google have now released a demonstration website that leverages the attack, written in JavaScript, to leak data at a speed of 1 kilobyte per second (kbps) when running on Chrome 88 on an Intel Skylake CPU.
The researchers said they hope the PoC will light a fire under web application developers to take active steps to protect their sites.
"Today, we're sharing proof-of-concept (PoC) code that confirms the practicality of Spectre exploits against JavaScript engines," said Stephen Röttger and Artur Janc, information security engineers with Google, on Friday. "We use Google Chrome to demonstrate our attack, but these issues are not specific to Chrome, and we expect that other modern browsers are similarly vulnerable to this exploitation vector."
Spectre and Speculative-Execution Attacks
The Spectre (CVE-2017-5753 and CVE-2017-5715) and Meltdown (CVE-2017-5754) flaws rocked the silicon industry when the vulnerabilities were made public in early 2018. These vulnerabilities derive from a process called speculative execution in processors. It's is used in microprocessors so that memory can read before the addresses of all prior memory writes are known; an attacker with local user access can use a side-channel analysis to gain unauthorized disclosure of information.
What originally set Spectre apart was its sheer breadth in terms of affected devices – the attack impacted many modern processors, including those made by Intel and AMD; as well as major operating systems like Android, ChromeOS, Linux, macOS and Windows. One variant, Variant 1, (CVE-2017-5753) also related to JavaScript exploitation against browsers.
At the same time, after the public disclosure of Spectre, hardware and software manufacturers, as well as browser-makers, released various mitigations against the attacks.
The Spectre PoC Exploit
At a high level, the PoC is comprised of a Spectre "gadget," or code, that triggers attacker-controlled transient execution, and a side channel that serves as a method for attackers to observe the side effects of this transient execution (and thus view various sensitive data — which could include passwords stored in a browser, personal photos, emails, instant messages and even business-critical documents). A video demo of the PoC can be viewed below.
The PoC builds on 2018 research from the team behind the V8 browser engine. The research shows that one potential mitigation of Spectre, reduced timer granularity, does not sufficiently mitigate against the attack. That's because attackers can amplify timing differences in order to increase the odds of capturing sensitive data, according to the research.
However, the technique stemmed from reading sensitive data multiple times — which Google researchers argued can reduce the effectiveness of the attack if the information leak is subject to chance variation.
Researchers with Google said they overcame this limitation with their new PoC. This new method relies on Tree-PLRU, which is a cache algorithm used to clear data in various CPUs: "By abusing the behavior of the Tree-PLRU cache eviction strategy commonly found in modern CPUs, we were able to significantly amplify the cache timing with a single read of secret data," said researchers. "This allowed us to leak data efficiently even with low precision timers."
Researchers said they don't believe the PoC can be re-used for nefarious purposes "without significant modifications" – however, they hope that the release of the PoC "provides a clear signal for web-application developers that they need to consider this risk in their security evaluations and take active steps to protect their sites."
This is especially needed as Spectre exploits continue to pop up; working Windows and Linux Spectre exploits were uploaded to VirusTotal earlier this month, for instance.
Such protections could include implementing cross-origin resource policy (CORP) and fetch metadata request headers, allowing developers to control which sites can embed their resources and preventing data from being delivered to an attacker-controlled browser.
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Ransomware Attacks are on the Rise
Lockbit is by far this summer's most prolific ransomware group, trailed by two offshoots of the Conti group.
Cybercriminals Are Selling Access to Chinese Surveillance Cameras
Tens of thousands of cameras have failed to patch a critical, 11-month-old CVE, leaving thousands of organizations exposed.
Firewall Bug Under Active Attack Triggers CISA Warning
CISA is warning that Palo Alto Networks' PAN-OS is under active attack and needs to be patched ASAP.