NTP World Forum is one of Malaysia's best competency-based corporate training providers. Our reputation was earned through many years of listening and understanding our clients' needs, and then working together with them to create a custom-made programme that addresses the strengths and weaknesses unique to each client.
With over 500 programmes under our belt, we regularly organise innovative seminars, workshops, in-house training courses and conferences. In these events, we present the latest best practices and solutions from the world's leading companies – ensuring that our client's employees would emerge with fresh ideas and motivation to better themselves in the workplace.
Among our clients include the Integration Program for National Service Department, Ministry of Defence, Graduates Training Initiative and Unemployed Training Initiative for Human Resources Development Centre (HRDC), Ministry of Human Resource. We also collaborate with Open University Malaysia (OUM) and Pittsburg University in the United States in human capital advancement.
Kuala Lumpur-based Asian World Summit (AWS) is an international business intelligence consultancy that seeks efficient ways for organisations to create and share ideas, as well as sharpen key decision-making processes.
Driven by our "Asian Based, Global Reach" philosophy, our methods are inspired from the best of Eastern and Western business ideas and practices. This creative approach enables our clients to think up innovative ideas, while maintaining a strong sense of business acumen.
AWS is set up to conceive and operate summits, conferences and workshops that are capable of changing the mindset in which business objectives are accomplished. We go the extra mile to provide clients with platforms to nurture new ideas and explore best practices that would elevate businesses to the next level.


SensorKleen Pro removes sensor dust and debris from Digital SLR camera images - automatically!
The SensorKleen Pro product allows the user to automatically erase the dust and debris in a set of Digital SLR (DSLR) camera images. These image defects are caused by artifacts on the camera sensor cover. SensorKleen Pro processes a folder or set of images, calculates the dust locations and corrects the entire set. The SensorKleen SmartBrush product (included with SensorKleen Pro) allows you to correct the dust and debris in individual images. The patent pending SensorKleen technology separates the image content from the shadow created by the dust or defect on the sensor and reveals the image content that is under the dust artifact.
SensorKleen Pro allows you, in one simple process, to correct a set of images from the same photo session. The images must be from the same camera and should consist of 20 or more images. SensorKleen Pro will find the artifacts and remove them from your images. It is the perfect 'morning after' product for your images!
SensorKleen Pro now supports camera Raw file formats! The 'Kleen' output will be saved as .DNG files. The original camera Raw files are preserved.
If you do not have enough images to process with SensorKleen Pro, then the included SmartBrush product allows you to brush over the dust and debris in a single image while separating the image content from the shadow created by the dust or debris on the sensor. SmartBrush reveals the image content that is under the dust artifact. SmartBrush is used when you have only a few images to correct.
The SensorKleen Pro product is unique in that it combines the speed of an automatic calculation of the dust size with the flexibility of a manual touch up mode using the SmartBrush technology. Using the image metadata from a DSLR camera, SensorKleen Pro and SmartBrush will both process the image and separate image content from the dust and debris shadows.
For the past several years since the introduction of Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras (DSLR), photographers recognize the problem of dust and particulates being deposited on the camera sensor cover. Whenever the lens is changed, airborne particles as dust, pollen, lint, and other particulates fall onto the sensor cover which is typically made of a thin piece of glass protecting the sensor itself. These artifacts create a shadow on the digital image that is captured by the sensor. In addition, when the camera shutter is pressed, the prism mechanism moves in the camera chamber and stirs up particulates which are deposited on the sensor glass.
The current DSLR sensor cleaning solutions only solve part of the dust and particulate problem. Professionals and advanced amateurs have their camera sensor cleaned before a shoot. This is an expensive process typically from $80 to $150 for the service by a skilled camera shop. Some camera makers are offering a vibrating sensor to 'shake' the particulates off the sensor cover. This does little to correct the problem. In fact, it can make it worse. The dust remains in the camera cavity and just relocates to somewhere else in the cavity or on the sensor cover. Also, the vibration does nothing to 'sticky' particulates such as pollen. A cleaning may still be required. Other solutions involve a static discharge over the sensor cover. This is also a poor solution. Particulates once again remain in the camera cavity and simply move around. It does nothing for 'sticky' particulates like pollen. The static discharge also does not help the camera electronics! One more solution is to 'blur' the image so that the shadow of the particulates is less noticeable. This also does not fare well with the professionals and advanced amateurs.
It is important to note that in the solutions above, the particulates moving around only creates more issues for the photographer who needs to edit the images to deliver a quality product. The dust particles are not in the same place each time!
Another emerging problem is dust on the sensor glass of 'point and shoot' cameras without changeable lenses. The dust and particulates still enter the camera chamber, but through a slightly different path. The dust is drawn in around the zoom lenses which must let air pass so that a vacuum is not created in the camera chamber. This path also draws in smaller particulates which are deposited on the sensor cover. These are less noticeable on the lower resolution sensors. But as the consumer demand for larger dpi (Megabits) continues, these particulates will become more visible.
None of the above solutions solve the problem of the images already captured with noticeable particulate defects. Both SensorKleen Pro and SensorKleen with SmartBrush technology solve this problem in different ways.
Simply choose a set of images or folders of images to begin. It is recommended that you select a least 20 images to begin. All images must be from the same camera. They should be processed by SensorKleen Pro BEFORE any editing or rotating with your image editing application. Do not mix images from different cameras as the sensor dust is very different! The file types can be camera RAW, JPG, or TIFF. Once selected, the images appear in the 'Images to Process' area. You can 'Include subfolders' in the 'Source' window. This will allow you to include all subfolders of images from the same camera. Once selected, the image file names will appear in the 'Images to Process' window. Note that you can add image files by using the 'Drag and Drop' method to place them in the white window in the 'Images to Process' group. You can add additional images or remove images by using the controls: 'Add', 'Add Folder', 'Remove', and 'Clear Inputs'.
Now that all of the images are selected from your photo shoot, select where you want to store the corrected images in the 'Destination' window.
This window allows you to specify where the corrected images will be stored. The default is to make a new subfolder named 'SensorKleen' under the original folder of source images. If you select multiple folders of source images, then multiple 'SensorKleen' folders will be created. One under each of your source folders. Note that you can change the subfolder name to anything that you choose.
When using camera Raw input, the output of SensorKleen Pro will be .DNG format. The original Raw files are preserved.
You can optionally designate a specific folder for all of your images to be written into by checking the 'Designate Folder' option. This destination folder is chosen by selecting a specific folder name. You simply select 'Choose Folder' and browse to the folder where you would like all of your corrected images to reside. Please be careful and do not write over your original source images!
The 'Messages' window provides status of the application. Once you have selected your 'Source' images, a message appears that shows the count of the source images selected. If you delete any images, this count will be updated. Once you select 'Process Images' button, additional informational messages will appear in the 'Messages' window.
The 'Processing Complete...' messages indicates all of your images have been corrected and written to the designated folder(s).
To begin processing your images, simply press and the application begins. The 'Messages' window will provide status of the progress of the correction. You will also see a progress bar above the controls.
Processing time will vary with your computer speed, memory, image characteristics (f-stop and image size), and other tasks that may be running. This could take anywhere from fifteen seconds to several minutes per image. Please be aware that the SensorKleen Pro process, for a large set of images, can take several hours of your computer time.
SensorKleen Pro is the perfect 'morning after' solution to sensor debris from your photo shoot!
The help file is opened by selecting the button in the lower left corner of the application.
The button launches an independent application to allow you to touch up individual images.
The changes to 'Pause Process' once the processing has begun. This can be used if you want to suspend image processing temporarily to allow your computer to perform other tasks. To resume processing, select the 'Resume Processing' button.
The button will allow you to 'Stop Processing' the images that were selected. It may take a few minutes to end the current process. Images that have completed the correction process step are saved in the designated folder. An image that is in the correction process will be corrected and saved and all remaining images will not be corrected and saved.
The progress bar provides a visual indicator with three colors to indicate the SensorKleen Pro processing steps. The Magenta color indicates the images are being analyzed. The Cyan color indicates the dust map is being calculated. The Yellow color indicates the image is being corrected and saved.
Clicking on the Image Trends logo of a product that has been purchased and registered will allow you to check for updates.
If you have a trial version of the product, any image saved will have a permanent watermark. To eliminate the watermark function, you must purchase and register the product. It is highly recommended that you do overwrite the original image processed using the program in trial mode.
The image is opened from the 'Control Panel' and displayed in the 'Image View' window that expands to the maximum size of the display or 100% of the image size, whichever is smaller. The 'Image View' window can be adjusted to meet the preferences of the user. Some users prefer to move the right hand edge of the 'Image View' window to align with the left edge of the 'Control Panel'. In this way, the 'Control Panel' does not overlay any of the image content. Please note, that when editing a camera Raw image, the image will appear as a gray scale image because you are viewing the Bayer array. The Bayer array has typically 50% green pixels, 25% red pixels, and 25% blue pixels. Each pixel represents the intensity of either a red, green or blue pixel. When the image is converted from raw, the pixels are interpolated to provide red, green, and blue values at every pixel location.
SensorKleen uses a proprietary user interface that appears on the right side of the display when the application is launched. At startup, the 'Open…' button is active. The user begins by pressing the 'Open…' button to select an image from the user's My Documents folder, or any folder selected by the user.
Open…' button allows the user to open the image to be processed. If the user wants to open a new image without closing down the application, they should press the 'Open…' button. When opening a new image, the user is prompted if they want to save the prior image or not. The valid input image file types are: .DNG, .JPG, or .TIF from a DSLR camera image.
Save as …' button allows the user to save the corrected image with a new name and/or in a different location.
'Touch Up Controls' allow the user adjust the settings used by the SmartBrush™ technology to remove dust from the image.
'Add Touch Up' allows the user to mark areas as defects to be removed.
'Remove Touch Up' allows the user to remove erroneous corrections from image content.
'Brush Strength' is set to remove the dust as determined by the software. If necessary, the user has the ability to adjust the strength. On transitional areas where dust and image content are similar, the strength can be used to remove the dust without removing image content. If the 'Brush Strength' is moved all the way to the left, the brush will act the same as the 'Remove Touch Up'.
'Brush Size' allows the user to adjust the size of the brush to cover more of the image area.
'Undo' allows the user to undo previous changes in succession. All previous corrections can be undone.
The 'Navigation Window' within the 'View Tools' section shows the entire image and also displays what portion of the image is being viewed in the 'Image View' window. A red box surrounds the portion of the total image displayed in the 'Image View' window. When the cursor is in the 'Navigation Window' it changes to a hand icon. When the mouse button is depressed, it allows the user to move the red box around within the 'Navigation Window' which produces a corresponding change in the 'Image View' window.
'Before/After' button inverts the before and after view of the image when the mouse is held over it and then the user will see the effect on the image in the 'Image View' window. Clicking on the button changes the definition to the opposite function: Before/After. The before and after image is easier to see with highlights turned off.
'Highlights' button inverts the highlighting when the mouse is held over it and then the user will see the effect on the image in the View screen. Clicking on the button changes the definition to the opposite function: Highlight On/Off.
(left arrow) allows the user to rotate the selected image counter clockwise 90 degrees per click.
(right arrow) allows the user to rotate the selected image clockwise 90 degrees per click.
'Zoom In' allows the user to zoom in up to 400 percent to see more image detail.
'Zoom Out' allows the user to zoom out to see more of the image on the screen. Maximum zoom out is the full image on the screen.
The help file is initiated by clicking the button on the lower left of the 'Control Panel'.
A 'Quick View' help is available by hovering the mouse on the button. It appears in the 'Image View' window on the left.
Clicking on the 'Close All' button will close all windows and exit the application. This is the same as clicking the close button on the top right corner of the 'Image View' window.
The 'Control Panel' contains the image control settings; automatic controls and manual controls. Advanced users may choose to eliminate the 'Control Panel' to view more of the image in the View Screen by performing a right click in the image and deselecting 'View Controls' in the 'Pop-Up Control Box'. The 'Pop-Up Control Box' goes away after any selection. Other functions can be selected by performing a right click in the image and selecting the desired function. The 'Pop-Up Control Box' can be removed by using the escape (Esc) key on the keyboard.
Image Trends recognizes that new digital cameras are introduced continuously. We have tested with the majority of existing Digital SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses as listed below. We will continue to validate the SensorKleen technology with additional cameras, so please check for product updates on a regular basis. If your camera is not in the list below, SensorKleen may work to your satisfaction. However we have observed differences in the quality of lenses and the variety of sensors used in camera models.
SensorKleen Pro now supports camera RAW format in addition to JPG and TIFF file types. When using camera Raw input, the output of SensorKleen Pro will be .DNG format. The original Raw files are preserved.
Please select at least 20 images for the best processing. The more images the better! SensorKleen Pro groups images by f-stop. The more images per f-stop, the more accurate the correction.
In the event that the set of images only has a few small aperture images, it may be necessary to use SensorKleen SmartBrush to correct those few images.
Occasionally. in a large set of images additional dust appears in a portion of that set; for example, caused by changing the lens during a shoot. It is suggested to run the entire series through SensorKleen Pro once and then run the subset of corrected images, with the additional dust, a second time through SensorKleen Pro.
Hovering the mouse over the 'Image Viewed' and the 'Highlight' buttons without clicking will invert the definition of the button. In this way you can quickly seen the 'Before' and 'After' image or the 'Highlight' areas.
Some user will prefer to leave the 'Highlight' control 'On' to see the areas being changed while using the brush. Hovering over the 'Highlight' button will allow you to see how the image was affected.
Advanced users may choose to eliminate the Control Panel from view which makes more of the image visible. Simply right mouse click on the image and then click on the 'View Control Panel' item in the list. This will uncheck the 'View Control Panel' function. All editing can then be performed by using the right mouse button and selecting from the Popup Control Box. To restore the Control Panel, simply right click on the image and select 'View Control Panel'. The Popup Control Box can be removed by using the Escape key on your keyboard.
Pan - the user can pan around the image by selecting 'Shift' on the Keyboard while holding the primary mouse button down and moving the mouse.
Left & Right Arrow Keys - when the mouse is clicked on any slider in the 'Control Panel' the Left and Right Arrow keys will control the slider movement.
Mouse Scroll Wheel - the Scroll Wheel can be used to control the slider movement once it is selected by the mouse button in the 'Control Panel'. When the cursor is in the 'Image View' window, the mouse Scroll Wheel will only control the 'Brush Size' slider.
Once a slider is selected in the 'Control Panel', the Tab Key can be used to move to the next slider.
When the user is working within the 'Image View' window, the tab key toggles the 'Control Panel' on and off.
Change Brush Size - the user can change the 'Brush Size' in the by using the mouse Scroll Wheel.
Ctrl' + 'Z' - is the same as 'Undo'.
'Ctrl' + '+' - is the same as 'Zoom In'.
'Ctrl' + '-' - is the same as 'Zoom Out'.
Imadio's product names and logo are trademarks of Imadio LLC.


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Astana airport terminal construction nears completion
ASTANA – The project to build a new 60.2 billion tenge (US$188.7 million) terminal for the capital's airport is being implemented. However, the terminal construction requires 20 billion tenge (US$62.7 million) more than expected.
Photo credit: kazpravda.kz
Berik Beisengaliyev, a managing director of Asset Optimisation at Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, spoke about the progress of building the new terminal, Kazakhstanskaya Pravda reported.
According to him, the construction is nearing completion and will finish in May this year. An additional loan of $62.7 million is now being registered at Development Bank of Kazakhstan to realise this project.
"The project is being implemented via Kazakhstan's Ministry of Investment and Development. The project will allow increasing a peak carrying capacity of passengers from 750 to 2,000 passengers per hour or increasing an annual carrying capacity from 3.5 million to 7 million passengers, the project is in the active stage of implementation," Beisengaliyev noted.
He also mentioned that two new airplanes are about to be purchased for the Qazaq Air airline.
"Within the first year of its operation, the airline company has transported more than 160,000 passengers with three aircrafts between the country's 12 cities. Increasing the fleet by two more aircrafts during years 2017-2018 is being planned in the nearest time and according to a business plan, achieving final cause productive capacity of 450,000 passengers per year is planned for 2019," Beisengaliyev added.
Head of Department of Civil Aviation Committee of Kazakh Ministry of Investment and Development Amantai Kokatayev informed that the new Astana airport terminal is expected to provide comfortable passenger flow for the next 10 years, Kazinform news agency reported.
The area of the new terminal will be 47,000 square metres.
Construction of the terminal began in January 2015 and will be completed in March. Almost all works on building the terminal have been completed except for equipment assembly and interior finishing.
www.astanatimes.com
Created on 24 February 2017 .
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Q: Objective C interface and C# core I am trying to port a C# window's application to ipad.  I compiled everything on monotouch and it runs well.  Now, I need to make an iPad user interface.  If I implement the UI in Objective C, how hard is it to integrate it with my C# core? I saw monotouch can call objective C library, but I am doing the opposite direction.  Any help is appreciate.

A: There's currently no support for you to execute the C# code from Objective-C. Your best bet is to just stay in MonoTouch and finish the iPad application with C#.
Working with UIKit in C# is at least as simple as it is with Obj-C, plus you get all the benefits of not having to deal with Memory allocation and the C# language and .NET framework. Developing UI code with lambda expressions and linq is a beatiful thing. Most obj-C sample code can be translated one-to-one to C# code, so almost every sample you find can be easily understood.

A: There is one possibility, you make your UI into a library, then you bind the library to C#, and then your C# code calls your Objective-C code to the UI, and this one in turn, calls back to C# for its business logic.
You are better off doing the UI directly in C# as well.

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FRANCO BELGE MONTFORT ELEGANCE (MK2) FIRE BRICK SET - 105637/105641. Replacement Full set of firebricks for the Franco Belge Montfort Elegance (MK2) stove.
Consists of 2 x Side Fire bricks & 1 x Rear firebrick. This is what we do and what we are passionate about. Thank you for visiting our listing. The item "FRANCO BELGE MONTFORT ELEGANCE (MK2) FIRE BRICK SET- 105637/105641" is in sale since Thursday, April 6, 2017. This item is in the category "Home, Furniture & DIY\Fireplaces & Accessories\Replacement Parts".
The seller is "stovesparesltd" and is located in Neyland, Pembrokeshire. This item can be shipped to United Kingdom, Antigua and barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Australia, United States, Canada, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, China, Israel, Hong Kong, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Barbados, Brunei darussalam, Cayman islands, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Grenada, French guiana, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Saint kitts and nevis, Saint lucia, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Macao, Monaco, Maldives, Montserrat, Martinique, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Paraguay, Reunion, Turks and caicos islands, Aruba, Chile.


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My list of heroines-I-wanna-be grows ever longer — Nancy Drew, Scout Finch, Elizabeth Bennet, Harriet Vane, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hermione Granger, Thursday Next. And now Mwfanwy Thomas.
Who is Myfanwy (rhymes with Tiffany) Thomas? Myfanwy herself would like to know. At the beginning of Daniel O'Malley's clever genre-bender, The Rook, "On Her Majesty's Supernatural Secret Service," a young woman wakes up in a London park with no memory of herself. A letter in her pocket, which begins "Dear You" and is signed "Sincerely, Me" tells her that she now inhabits the body of Myfanwy Alice Thomas. A second letter offers her a choice — leave London immediately and assume a new, moneyed identity far, far away, or become Myfanwy Thomas and track down the killers of the real Myfanwy's memories. The second choice is more dangerous given that the new Myfanwy is surrounded by motionless bodies wearing latex gloves and that unknown enemies are hot on her trail. Move, Myfanwy!
More letters from "Me" provide explanations and instructions as Myfanwy pretends to be her former self, a high-level operative in the Chequy, the secret government agency that guards Britain against supernatural threats. There are more of these than you might imagine, and Myfanwy gets on-the-job training almost immediately when she's called on to fight a mysterious, enveloping purple fungus. Thank goodness she has some special powers. She's going to need them as she not only contends with ghosts, ghoulies and grafters, but also a conspiracy within the shadow world of the Chequy.
This might sound a tad complicated, but O'Malley's narrative is fast-paced and funny, a la Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next novels and the BBC's Dr. Who-spinoff, Torchwood. There's some similar deft world-building as well, the villains are dastardly indeed, and there's more to appealing Mywfany than meets the eye. Fun, fun, fun. Sign me up for the sequel.
Open Book: I read a digital edition of The Rook by Daniel O'Malley (Little, Brown) provided by the publisher through NetGalley. Since it is about to expire, I'll be buying a copy to keep and reread.
Late summer 1935. On board a train barreling through the north Florida wilderness, World War I vet Arlen looks into the eyes of his fellow Conservation Corps workers and sees swirling smoke, a sure sign of impending death. But he can only convince his young friend Paul that his premonition is the real thing, and so the two, to the jeers of the others, stay behind at a remote station. The train continues to the Florida Keys – and straight into the path of the infamous Labor Day hurricane that killed thousands.
By the time Arlen and Paul hear the dreadful news, they've taken refuge at an isolated boarding house run by the beautiful and secretive Rebecca Cady. But the storm is not the only threat at Cypress House. A powerful judge and a conniving sheriff are intent on making their stay a short one with the help of a murderous swamp rat family. Neither Arlen nor Paul want to leave Rebecca alone, especially after a traveling salesman is incinerated in his car and Arlen, a coffinmaker's son, again sees skeletal hands beneath live flesh.
Michael Koryta expertly mixes backwoods Depression-era adventure and betrayal with a tinge of the supernatural in The Cypress House (Little, Brown), which is even better than last year's So Cold the River. It's as if Peter Matthiessen's Mister Watson met Stephen King in the swampy, fetid frontier of corruption and poked a nest of water moccasins. Florida noir. Intense and atmospheric, the novel has the momentum of that doomed train as its characters try to outwit fate. Smoke gets in their eyes.
Open Book: I downloaded a digital advance copy of Michael Koryta's The Cypress House (Little, Brown) through NetGalley. The digital galleys expire into the ether after a certain period of time.
The appealing punk genius hacker Lisbeth Salander (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) literally clawed her way out of a grave in the second book in Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy, The Girl Who Played with Fire. Now, Salander, under arrest as a serial killer, clings to life with a bullet in her brain in the opening pages of the final thrilling entry, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. But not to worry. Once she comes round from brain surgery and realizes her greatest enemy — her father — is two doors down in ICU, she drags her broken body out of bed and arms herself with a pencil. She may be down, but she's not out — except for vengeance.
Meanwhile, investigative reporter/magazine publisher Mikael Blomkvist is out to convince law enforcement and the world that Salander is not guilty of the so-called "Lesbian Satanist murders," and, indeed, is the victim of a complicated conspiracy involving her Soviet spy father, a maverick unit of the Swedish Security Services, a German killer with ties to outlaw bikers, and assorted psychiatrists and bureaucrats who want her either stashed back in a mental hospital or dead.
You really have to have read the first two books. Larsson, the activist Swedish journalist who died suddenly of a heart attack at age 50 in 2004, could have easily tripped over any one of the many complicated plotlines that make the series such a spider web. But he is a deft storyteller, and if Dragon dragged some and Fire was a bit frenetic, he almost perfectly paces Hornet. There is some narrative repetition as Salander's past is replayed and the villains' roles exposed. And Larsson piles on more story: Blomkvist's mistress takes over as editor of a rival newspaper and his sister takes on Salander's courtroom defense. Still, it's hard to put down as it reaches its fierce finale.
Bittersweet, though, to bid farewell to Larsson and his compelling characters. I suppose Google could tell me the Swedish for goodbye, but I'll stick to English: Thanks for the memories.
Open Book: I bought my copy of Stieg Larrson's The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Knopf) and stayed up way too late last night to finish it.
I knew the thunderstorm was on its way last night, not only because of the pillowing dark clouds in the distance but also because of the sharp smell of ozone and damp earth carried on the wind. Nancy Pickard aptly titles her atmospheric new mystery, The Scent of Rain and Lightning, as she brews a family drama on the Kansas plains.
It was on one stormy summer night in 1986, with the rain coming down in torrents, that Hugh-Jay Linder, eldest son of a prominent ranching family in small-town Rose, was shot dead in his house, and his pretty wife Laurie disappeared. The only good things to come out of that night were the survival of three-year-old Jody, out at the ranch with her grandparents, and the quick arrest and conviction of local malcontent Billy Crosby. But now, just as grown-up Jody has returned to Rose to teach high school, word comes from her three uncles that Crosby's getting out of prison and returning to Rose as well. His lawyer son Collin has convinced the governor that Billy was railroaded and should get a new trial.
Cue thunder, lightning, anger, fear. Pickard skillfully moves back and forth from that first summer to the present. If Billy Crosby is truly innocent, who shot good-hearted Hugh-Jay and made off with Laurie? Her body has never been found, only a bloodied sundress in an abandoned pick-up. As Jody searches for the truth, she (and readers) gradually become aware of several dark secrets in the Linder family's past.
Pickard creates credible. complex characters, and the plot propels the action forward. Wary readers will spot the villain of the piece (too many red herrings for my taste) but the resolution rings true. Pickard also uses one of Kansas' most striking geographic features — the towering Monument Rocks created by ice-age glaciers — to excellent effect. She calls them the Testament Rocks and moves them to a fictional but fully authentic location.
If The Scent of Rain and Lightning has the impact of a summer storm, then Gillian Flynn's Dark Places comes on like a winter blizzard, chilling to the bone. Another gripping tale of murder in Kansas, with overtones of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, it came out last year and is now available in paperback.
Narrator Libby Day was seven when she crawled out of a window of a rundown farmhouse and hid in the woods, thus becoming the sole survivor of "The Satanic Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas." Little Libby's testimony helped send her fifteen-year-old brother Ben to prison for the bloody murders of her mother and two older sisters in the mid-1980s. Now, a quarter century later, Libby's an emotionally stunted and bitter woman in her early 30s wondering how she's going to get by now that the financial kindness of strangers has finally run out.
Enter some new strangers — the very strange members of the Murder Club, who are obssessed with famous crimes. They'll pay Libby to get in touch with people from her past — her no-good father Runner, her long-estranged aunt Diane, even Ben in prison, and his supposedly devil-worshiping, dope-smoking friends from long ago if she can find them.
Flynn's compelling story shifts easily from Libby's present to the events leading up to the murders told from various family members' perspectives. But her take-no-prisoners, unflinching narrative can be as hard to read as it is to put down. Failing farms, boarded-up storefronts, seamy strip clubs, a homeless camp on a toxic waste dump, abandoned grain silos.
Flynn's first novel, Sharp Objects, featured a character scarred by cutting. She slices even deeper in Dark Places. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Open Book: I bought my copies of Nancy Pickard's The Scent of Rain and Lightning (Random House) and Gillian Flynn's Dark Places (Crown).


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Breaking Up Is Hard To Do: A Playlist
Impose Automaton
Valentine's Day has finally arrived, and while all of you are out prancing around with loved ones, shouting proposals and reading sonnets, Impose is grimmer than ever. To honor the tradition of severing ties with people we once loved, we asked some of our favorite now-broken up bands to tell us what their choices for best breakup songs are. After all, they know best.
Cassie Ramone of Vivian Girls/The Babies
The Carpenters, "Another Song": I really like the metaphors in this song comparing a breakup to the sun rising at dawn. Dawn is a very harsh time even though it's supposed to be beautiful. I also like how the intro is almost overly prissy and by the end of the song they're in a weird, kind of heavy psychedelic jam.
Moshe Rozenberg of DD/MM/YYYY
The Mothers of Invention, "How Could I Be Such A Fool?"
John Edelstein of Fiasco/Bluffing
Eskemo, "Riding": It's able to be concise without sacrificing any emotional power or getting too wordy. It's deceptively challenging to write a song so simple yet effective, in terms of both music and lyrics. Runners up would be "Ex-Factor" by Lauryn Hill or "You're Breakin' My Heart" by Harry Nilsson.
ESKEMO by ACLU Benefit
Bruce Willen of Double Dagger
Sebadoh, "…Burned (Everybody's Been Burned)": Sebadoh has so many great break up songs (Sister, Soul and Fire, Vampire) that I had trouble picking just one. But this cover of a Byrds song is perfect for soaking in one's own misery.
Doug Tuttle of MMOSS
The Byrds' "Time Between" into "Everybody's Been Burned": The most devastating pair of songs I've ever heard back to back on a record. First "Time Between", a Chris Hillman tune about a failing long distance relationship, then "Everybody's Been Burned", a Croz song about wanting to give up on love all together. Such sad songs, the rest of the record had to be about aliens and what it's like being a rock star.
RPR of Keep Shelly In Athens
Soft Cell, "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye": "…because it is such an honest and at the same time gentle way to say goodbye Just smile and say hello, Say hello then wave goodbye. Every time I listen to it, I want to break up for the sake of this wonderful song."
Jason Hendardy of Permanent Collection
The Zounds, "True Love": This song seemed like a good candidate for the opener for a favorite break up songs list because I mean "true love, what's it really all about"? Plus it's a good up beat first song.
Morrissey, "I Don't Mind If You Forget Me": What's a breakup mix without the sultan of sad? This was kind of mandatory. I like to think that one can debate that metaphorically the guitar noodling on this song is pretty resemblant of how obnoxious people can be.
Karen Dalton, "Reason to Believe": Close it all out with a stripped down song. This song can speak for itself.
Tags: bluffing, bruce willen, cassie ramone, ddmmyy, double dagger, doug tuttle, eskemo, fiasco, harry nilsson, keep shelly in athens, mmoss, permanent collection, sebadoh, soft cell, the byrds, Vivian Girls
Thee Oh Sees reunite for Valentine's Day
GUILTY: Confessions of a single woman on Valentine's Day


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Mozilla team-up with Tor to improve internet privacy. Is it real? Is it worth is?
The internet browser Mozilla is teaming up with Tor to give internet users greater security online. The new Polaris project is designed to combat internet censorship and make NSA like intrusion's a thing of the past.
Edward Snowden's revelations concerning the extent of the National Security Agency's spying on the general public, hit computer and internet enthusiasts hard. A poll conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the internet company Mozilla last month, found that three quarters of those surveyed feel that their personal information on the web is less secure than it was one year ago.
Mozilla, which is responsible for the Firefox browser, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, is looking to regain the public's trust again by enlisting the help of Tor, which is a popular software tool designed to protect online anonymity. Tor, which is an acronym for 'The Onion Router,' works by bouncing its way randomly around servers, which are manned by volunteers around the globe. This makes it significantly more difficult for surveillance companies to keep track of ones online movements.
Tor has had so much success that one top secret NSA document described it as being the, "the king of high-secure, low-latency internet anonymity," which was reported by the Guardian in October 2013. The agency admits they are at a loss at how to try and decode the identity of a user in response to a specific request.
Apart from added privacy, Mozilla will also offer a 'Forget button,' which will allow users to not have their browsing history recorded. Users can select to forget the last five minutes, or last 24 hours and leave no trace that they were ever on the internet, the technology news site VentureBeat reports.
Mozilla's new Lightbeam download allows users to track trackers
Lightbeam
How the add-on works
Whether this is true or not, or just another back door to your computer for the NSA, that's something you will have to look into yourself. Personally, it's hard to trust any of them since so many bowed to the demands of the state lately.
But any help we can get to secure our "privacy", should be a good thing...Question now is, is this real or just another facebook like façade to keep tabs on us?
Facebook was a great social media tool, we thought it was private if we wanted our pages to be so, but now we know different.
It's not just the NSA, everybody does it, any organisation or individual who wants to snoop on ya can do it by simply following you on facebook or access any other site.
True, that for every snoop there is a counter to it, but the problem is, you have to be extremely good at knowing how to do it or to access the info on those who snoop on ya.
For example, someone made the stupidest of claims against someone, the most ridiculous and even comedic, yet, instead of seeing it as such, the lawyer of that person tried to access the facebook page of the one which the accusation was made against, searching for something to get against them...claiming they had the right to do it...they only have to click follow, you say something and it could be taken out of context, for their own benefit.....
The point is, anyone can do it, one does not have to be an expert to access anyone's information, where they live, their lives and what their frigging sexual fantasies are....
Mozilla might be honest about it, but eventually, there will be a way around it...
If we want to be safe, and have a private life, don't put any info in the internet, I would go further and say...stay off the internet....
There is no other way...for now.


Africans in the Diaspora (AiD) envisions a self-reliant, socially and economically just Africa. To achieve that level of transformational change, Africans must drive the process of development in their communities. AiD work to ensure that Africans on the continent and in the diaspora play a leading role in Africa's progress by connecting their skills, resources, and ideas through our Funds, Voices, and Connections programs.
Funds mobilizes financial resources from Africans in the Diaspora to support innovative African social change organizations through its online platform. AiD fund organizations working on Education, Employment, Environment (including health), Engagement, and Equality.
Connections will provide opportunities for Africans in the Diaspora to transfer their skills, knowledge, and tools to African social change organizations in the continent through short- and long-term volunteer placements.
Voices amplifies the significant contributions of Africans in development and philanthropy through blogs, thought pieces, and community events.
Africans in the Diaspora a accompagné ce programme!


We went through two dry runs and jumped on the bus so we could watch some other bands. We got into the stadium and watched PG, Lone Peak, and West Lake. We then ran and got into our uniforms and started to get ready to perform. We were in the arc and everything was clicking. Everyone was in tune and I was hitting notes with ease. I could feel it!
We lit the fire and I don't think I've ever screamed so loudly ever in my life. I had to clear my throat a couple of times before I could talk. We did meele-packi, specified rice, and six; all the traditions. We walked over and I punched everyone on the AF that sits on our chests. We hyped and we were off.
The chills came over me again after we were done, and I could hardly breathe. Maybe that was because I had just played my heart out and left it out on the field, or because I didn't take enough breaths.
The announcer dragged the announcements out as long as he possibly could. He announced, "And second place is..." about five times, and I just wanted to know! We swept all the captions and left with the score of 928. But the feeling was the best part of the day.
The friend song was amazing. We sang our hearts out. I looked around the room and saw all these people that I loved and it choked me up like so many times before. Our season is already half over. In two months, this will all be over.
PS. Here's the video! It totally rockedddd. Favorite show by far. and I know I said that before. But this time it's forreal.


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"About JHS" on the Japanese Headache Society Homepage
The Japanese Headache Society (JHS), an Affiliate Member Society of the International Headache Society (IHS), is an academic association of headache care providers and scientists for headache research. It aims to contribute to the progress and development of basic and clinical research for headache and its related disorders and work for the headache health promotion of people in Japan and abroad.
Our major activities are as follows: (1) Implementation of the annual scientific meeting and other educational meetings (2) Publication of the Japanese Headache Society Journal and other literature on headache medicine (3) Accreditation of board-certified headache specialists (4) Cooperative activities with other related organizations in Japan and abroad (5) Miscellaneous activities required to fulfill our mission
As of July 2016, the society had 2436 members, 832 of whom are board-certified headache specialists. The President is Dr. Norihiro Suzuki, Professor and Chairman of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine. JHS publishes an official journal: Nihon Zutsu Gakkai Shi (The Japanese Headache Society Journal), which is published in Japanese with English abstracts. JHS holds an annual scientific meeting for all members together with the general assembly of delegates once a year.
The Era of "the Headache Conference (Zutsu Konwakai)" (1973-1985)
The Era of "the Headache Study Group (Zutsu Kenkyukai)" (1985-1997)
1997: The Japanese Headache Society (JHS) was founded.
2005: JHS began to implement the accreditation of board-certified headache specialists.
2005: The 12th International Headache Congress was held in Kyoto.
Regular members: Any medical doctors and dentists, whose objectives are in accordance with the purposes of the society, can join the JHS.
Non-physician members: A recommendation letter from a JHS board member is needed to join the JHS.
Supporting members: Individuals or corporations, who are willing to assist the activities of the JHS,can join the JHS with permission from the board meeting.
To apply for JHS membership, you should send the filled application form and your CV (any format is fine) to the JHS secretariat by email.
Email address: info@jhsnet.org
Application Form: MS-WORD PDF
Further information: info@jhsnet.org
Board-certified Headache Specialist
Those who wish to take the board examination for board-certified headache specialists of the JHS must:
be a member of the JHS for a minimum of 3 years.
be a member of one of the headache-related societies stated in the JHS regulations.
have a minimum of 5 years of training at a certified institution or its equivalent experience.
have past publication and presentation in the field of headache medicine.
The board examination takes place annually (usually in August).


text:
wiki:Chronicle/1991
Version 1 (modified by Lawrence Liang, 11 years ago) (diff)
'1991: Key Events
Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by suspected LTTE terrorists. A rising foreign debt and other dysfunctions inaugurate a policy of economic reform encouraging foreign investment.
The USSR disintegrates.
India conducts the last census of the century, announcing a popula- tion of 844 million.
The Doordarshan Director General, Shiv Sharma, is assassinated by suspected Punjab terrorists.
Punjab is declared a 'disturbed area', followed by Assam.
The 10th Lok Sabha elections take place with 200 million registered voters. The Congress emerges as the largest party and P.V. Narasimha Rao is sworn in as Prime Minister.
The first-ever BJP ministry takes over in U.P and acquires the disputed Ayodhya land.
Parliament passes the notorious Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) (TADA) Bill.
The Parliamentary 'Question Hour' is telecast for the first time.


How has suffering strengthened your faith? This dramatic illustration follows one woman though a season of deep pain and sorrow. In her darkest hours, God becomes her strength and guides her steps. Watch and listen as she describes what she learned about His grace and presence through suffering.
This illustration can also be found in the Perfect Love Bible study featuring Lisa Harper.
Erin, a healthy teenager, woke up one day not able to digest any food.
Herman finds salvation and leaves the temptation for girls, fame, and money.


Dharmik Vidhi & Shraads Expense Will Done By Tourist Self-Expense Only.
From Third Day Morning Tea To Eighth Day Morning Tea: Food, Breakfast, Tea Will Provide By Company.
In This Tour At All Places A/C Rooms Are Available.
Reached Allahabad. Stay At Allahabad.
Morning There Will Be Religious Ceremony And In Afternoon City Darshan Of Allahabad. Stay At Allahabad.
Allahabad - Beautiful Places: Triveni Sangam (Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati), Slept Hanuman, Akshay Wat (Fort), Bhardwaj Ashram, Anand Bhavan (Nehru Grah) & Hanuman Niketan.
Dharmik Vidhi - Triveni Net, Shaur & Sachel Mantra Snan, Chatshrad, Venidan, Saubhagya Vayandan & Setu Visarjan ( Triveni Sangam Boat Travel ).
Travel From Allahabad To Ayodhya. Ayodhya Darshan. Stay At Varanasi.
Ayodhya: Birth Place Of Lord Ram, Hanumangadi & Sharayu River.
Morning Varansi, Dharmik Vidhi & Afternoon Sight Scene. Visit Saarnath. Stay At Varanasi.
Beautiful Places: Ganga River (Ganga Snan), Kashi Vishveshwar Temple, Kalbhairav Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple & Birla Temple.
Aniwarya Dharmik Vidhi: Ganga Bhet (Kshetra Sanman), Tarpan Tirth, Shraad Or Together 12 Chatshraade.
Devkarya: Abhishek (Maharudra, Laghu Rudra), Kashi Vishweshwars Sahastrabel, Annapurna Kunkumarzan, Saubhagya Vayandhan. (1Hour Boating In Ganga). Including In This Harishchandra Ghat To Ashvamedh Ghat Atleast 25 Ghat Are Use To Shown. (Company Expense).
Saarnath: Stuph, Sihanstambshirsh (Our Country Money).
Morning Is Left For Shopping Or Rest. In Afternoon Proceed To Gaya From Varanasi By Train.
Morning Dharmik Vidhi. Afternoon Visit Budhgaya. Stay At Gaya.
Gaya (Budhgaya): Here There Is Two Division, Where There Is Vishnu Pad And Lord Vishnu Killed Gayasur. So The Place Is Called 'gaya'.
Where Lord Budh Got Knowledge That Place Is 13Km Faraway From Here, It Is Also Called Bodhigaya. This Two Place Will Be Shown.
Dharmik Vidhi: Vishnupad Chatshraad, Akshaywat Chatshraad & Vishnu Sahashratulsi Puja.
Beautiful Places: Vishnupad Temple, Phalgu River, Bodhigaya, Tibet, Japan & Switzerland Temple.
Early Morning Leave From Gaya By Train.


For this project, 2.5 MW of solar was installed overall, with 2 MW located in the community solar garden outside of Sterling, CO. An additional 500 kW was installed at the Colorado Department of Corrections (not pictured). Through the community solar program, multiple subscribers can purchase energy from a single PV facility located off-site. The project was developed by Ecoplexus, a leader in the development, design, construction, and financing of solar power projects.


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Tory donor and anti-Independence activist on care home staff testing every 30 minutes on BBC Scotland today
September 4, 2020 johnrobertson834	20 Comments
Early today and to be repeated every 30 minutes across TV and radio broadcasts:
A care home boss has told the BBC it's taking more than a week for his staff to receive the results of the regular testing for coronavirus
Robert Kilgour is not just 'a care home boss.' He is not the voice of the care home industry. He is a Conservative party donor and chair of the Scottish Business UK group which campaigns against a second independence referendum. He has also funded Think Scotland a conservative-minded website which campaigned to leave the EU.
Yet, once more we see him on BBC Scotland as the apparent voice of the care home industry in Scotland to complain about the Scottish Government's performance.
Here's a wee thought. As an affluent businessman, by his own account, why doesn't he pay privately for the tests to be done quickly, from the enormous fees he charges and which the taxpayer in the end meets?
Why is he there on our screens? Is he the editor's go-to-guy for a story, as with Prof Pennington or the GMB's Gary Smith? Does he contact them and they just roll over? Either way the outcome is bias, propaganda.
None of this is new, sadly. In 2018, Wings had this:
Too much to expect BBC to mention that Robert KIlgour who is bumping his gums about care homes is a significant Tory donor and set up a Scottish business campaign group to oppose a future independence referendum, warning that supporters of union with the UK have become too complacent about the threat of secession. The Scottish Business UK group founded by care home entrepreneur Robert Kilgour will announce this month the creation of an advisory board that includes a leading publisher and a former chairman of employers' lobby CBI Scotland. Also Think Scotland, a conservative-minded website is funded by Scottish unionist businessman Robert Kilgour. Think Scotland is owned by former Tory MSP [now Brexit MSP living in France] Brian Monteith.
https://wingsoverscotland.com/justices-torn-blindfold/#comments
BBC Scotland are not alone in this:
'Pro-independence' newspaper, the National, has also given Kilgour space to complain, about PPE orders his staff fail to make in time, apparently unaware of his background or agenda:
https://www.thenational.scot/news/18362398.scottish-care-boss-robert-kilgour-demands-better-ppe-supplies/
Previous PostStill misleading after all these years?Next PostMore on Scotland's 'cash cow' care home owners
20 thoughts on "Tory donor and anti-Independence activist on care home staff testing every 30 minutes on BBC Scotland today"
"care home entrepreneur"
Says it all about RK. Gives me the boak.
There is a story about the care home sector that the Disclosure team might examine but won't.
Robert Kilgour founded the Four Seasons Care Homes.The path of the company ("troubled" would be putting it mildly) can be seen here, on the link below. Cash cow might be a better description. It is not a path that is untypical among care homes and their operators. Note the names. They crop up in different settings.
First, how does the sector look now.
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/care-homes-coronavirus
"The rising cost of PPE and extra staffing to cover for self-isolating workers, combined with continuously falling occupancy rates, are pushing the sector into deep financial hardship….
…Besides the lack of funding, offshore owners and investors can cash out with short-term profits, which has pushed many care homes to the brink of financial collapse. A report published in November 2019 by the Centre for Health and Public Interest (CHPI), an independent think tank in London, revealed that the 26 largest providers of care home services in the UK – including HC-One, Four Seasons Health Care, Barchester Healthcare and Care UK – pocket around £1.5bn from an annual revenue of £15bn for lease agreements, dividends and debt repayments. These businesses need profit margins of at least 12 per cent to be able to repay their debt, before reinvesting in staffing and the running of their homes, which could be unrealistic in a sector that operates on thin profit margins….
….They need at least 80 per cent of beds to be full to
remain viable, and even a small drop in occupancy rates can hurt their earnings. Four Seasons Health Care, the second-largest provider in the UK, said its profits had been badly hit by a two per cent decline in occupancy rates caused by a rise in elderly deaths during the 2017 winter flu season. The provider, which cares for more than 10,000 people in 190 homes, has been struggling ever since. In April 2019, it was the last of the "big four" providers to be offered up for sale. With its £735m debt pile, Four Seasons is far from the only provider at risk of going bust without help from lenders….
….Nick Hood, a business risk adviser, says one in three care home operators could fail in the next three years. He perused the latest set of published accounts for 7,203 operators registered at Companies House and found that 777 of them were technically insolvent with a total value of £1.6bn in negative equity. And to fund their losses, the 7,203 operators have borrowed £6.4bn between them – a figure that has been rising rapidly since the sector was hit by the coronavirus pandemic."
Below is the link to the Wiki entry descibing Four Season Care Homes. It looks an unsustainable business model. Perhaps that is what is troubling Mr Kilgour though he has no connection now with Four Seasons?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Seasons_Health_Care
Interesting indeed. I wonder who will take up the slack when these care homes all start to close down. As with healthcare, care homes should not be private profit making businesses, who decided that was a good idea? It's obvious when a business starts to fail, they have to cut staff and costs, compromising quality of care, staff and vulnerable residents' safety. Disgraceful.
Looks like this situation could escalate and be a nightmare for the Scottish government, no doubt finances are already very stretched. Another Labour/Tory party legacy?
Coinneach says:
It was a legacy of the Tory drive to shrink the state in the Thatcher/Major Gov'ts. Get it off the state's books and make some chums/donors happy.
Thanks Coinneach. I remember many years ago, when I owned a radio, 😮 Radio4 had a programme about how Thatcher had set the ball rolling for the complete privatisation of the NHS. It all led back to who she'd promised it to, in the U.S. It did not go quite to plan, but it's getting there now, just taken the Tories abit longer than they wanted it to. The vultures feeding off the people, when the carcass is finished they move onto a new victim.
A Simpson says:
In many cases it will be the 3rd sector that will step in. They are often the best performing services . Kilgour really needs looked at but as he is tory he'll be left alone.
Four seasons were an absolute mess of an organisations and their services were a disgrace. I didn't realise Kilgour was involved. This guy needs investigated.
They've produced this in response to poor testing performance in England hitting the headlines.
The testing system for care workers mean that we carry out our test and that test is then logged on the system and we get an e mail to confirm this . The e – mail comes from the UK govt but Kilgour and the BBC will not say that.
That is very interesting, is that the csse in Scotland? So the email could be delayed, hopefully by accident.
It's Scotland I'm talking about. Two weeks we were asked to make sure they had our home e mail address. There had been no issues before that results were coming through within 48 hours. Last week we got a notification from the UK Govt that our tests had been logged this is done before they leave our services and then it took nearly a week for results.
Alasdair Macdonald says:
I think that his presence on the airwaves today is wrong for the reasons you have given, but I think, too, it is a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the report on the Home Farm care home in Skye, which sets out in detail how bad the performance of HC-One was. The home has been taken over by NHS Highland in a sale which awarded HC-One £900 000 for their failure.
Why are we not hearing from Mr Gary Smith about the conditions in which his members were working which led to them providing such inadequate service to the residents?
By broadcasting Mr Kilgour with such regularity takes up a fair amount of time on the schedule to have pieces on the scandal exposed by the report. Where is the 'Disclosure' team investigation?
A substantial amount time on the schedule was given to "Lord" George Robertson's attack on Mr Richard Leonard as part of the on-going minority right wing Labour coup against the elected leader. (I am not a member of the Labour Party and have not voted for any Labour candidate in any election for many years. I think Mr Leonard is an inadequate leader, but that is an issue for Labour.)
GMS this morning was a paradigm example of a broadcaster acting as a platform for a particular ideology.
Indeed this guy being 'an affluent businessman' who could easily fund the tests, is an important point. These greedy profiteers, who donate to the Tory party, given a platform on the state run TV to actually undermine the Scottish government, is very sinister. Not only do they give money to the Tories, but it seems they are therefore given free reign to say what they like, whether it's factual or not, all paid for by the license payer. It's like a wall to wall party political broadcast for the BritNat parties.
Very Orwellian.
Robert Kilgour is a Scottish property developer, investor, philanthropist and serial entrepreneur."
https://www.themarque.com/profile/robert-kilgour
"Philanthropist".
For Macmillan
That has litte bearing on his being given a voice and a major platform in the (so called) Scottish media to mislead the people of Scotland.
Lots of people are 'property developers' and all the other things you mention Sam, but they do not get to 'criticise' the Scottish gov on state run TV having given the party in power in London lots of money. What is your point though with regard to John's article? This guy has a vested interest in attempting to appoint blame onto the Scottish government, for something that is outwith their control. He could pay for tests, he has the dosh. What is his agenda? What are his real motives?
I don't care if the guy is God, it still needs to be pointed out that he has a vested interest in appointing blame to others and that he is a Brexiter and actively anti Scottish independence to say the very least.
A philanthropist for Macmillan but perhaps less so for his own business. That's the point. Sorry if somewhat opaque.
More about the effect of the pandemic on the care home sector and its financial stability.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/thousand-care-homes-could-unsustainable-18450553
"This week, the Chief Executive of Care England, the body which represents care providers in England, has warned that many care homes could be facing bankruptcy as a result of the pandemic which would see some homes close their doors for good.
Professor Martin Green OBE said the perfect storm of reduced occupancy levels and huge increases in PPE and staffing costs could see some care providers left financially "unsustainable".
Professor Green said: "Care providers are facing significant financial impact of the Covid-19 crisis.
"Not only have they seen huge increases in the costs of PPE and also staffing because of people self-isolating, but they also had to deal with reduced occupancy levels because of the tragic death of many residents.
"When you have reduced income; and hugely increased costs, then organisations become unsustainable.
Earlier this week, leaders of social services in councils across England warned the Government that the sector was facing a crisis and in need of investment.
A report by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services found that the pandemic meant that the sector was now facing an additional £6.6 billion in costs….
….Another trade body, the National Care Association, has predicted that as many as 1,000 care homes will close across the country.
The care sector employs more staff than the NHS and is estimated to be worth £31 billion to the economy."
"National Care Association, has predicted that as many as 1,000 care homes will close across the country"
More likely the private sector will sell off to the public sector per Home Farm, dumping the elderly is impractical, and a political minefield for the Tories.
With background rumblings over potential litigation, a few more may decide to cut their losses before a full inquiry into Covid concludes…
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CrowdOx - THE 7th CONTINENT – What Goes Up, Must Come Down.
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With four of eight tennis courts closed, Franklin will now reconstruct the asphalt for players at Jim Warren Park.
Franklin aldermen agreed this month to pay $779,321 for Tennessee Valley Paving Co. to make the repairs. Reopening the courts was on the city's capital projects to-do list for the park system.
Schools and community members use the courts, according to parks staff.
"In recent months, the surface of the courts has deteriorated to a point that four have been closed," the parks department staff wrote in a memo to aldermen. "At the request of the engineering department, the street department staff obtained asphalt cores at several locations on the closed tennis courts. These cores revealed that the underlying asphalt layers of the tennis courts have also deteriorated with time. It is staff's opinion that these courts should be reconstructed."
At least 75 percent of the funds will come from the parks budget, with the remaining coming from the hotel-motel fund.


text:
Hostynne  is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Werbkowice, within Hrubieszów County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland. It lies approximately  west of Werbkowice,  south-west of Hrubieszów, and  south-east of the regional capital Lublin.

From 1920 to 1935, Hostynne was the locus for aid activities by Jane Pontefract Ada Jordan, Sydney and Joyce Loch, and other British Quakers.

References

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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Maynard Webb may not have a crystal ball, but he does have three decades of experience guiding high-profile companies in Silicon Valley. The former COO of eBay is a board member at Yahoo and Salesforce, angel investor and author of Rebooting Work, a guide for workers in the age of cloud computing. In short, he has a front-row seat to the changing nature of work and talent management.
So when Webb offered a webinar on "The Future of Talent," our ears pricked up. Here are five new truths he believes everyone — from employees to CHROs — should take to heart.
As the Millennial workforce takes over, Webb stresses that the coming wave of employees needs to feel inspired and purposeful at work, and company culture plays an increasingly important role. But becoming a "cool" company is trickier than most people realize, and the HR department can't drive it alone. "The CEO is in charge of culture and needs to pay attention from day one," Webb urges.
Today's employees want to learn and grow and employers need to work hard to be the "employer of choice" for top talent, Webb says. "You have to start from the spirit of 'what can I do for them,' not 'what can they do for me'," he says. The more companies invest in training, education and other perks, the more likely employees are to stay in the long run. Webb's advice to companies with sparse resources is to make employee investments a priority, no matter what the circumstances.


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« CIDRAP: US Ebola case confirmed in traveler from Liberia | Main | Ebola in Liberia: Government condemns health workers at JFK »
Seven Liberian army officers in Ebola treatment unit
Via The New Dawn, worrying news: Ebola attacks AFL - 7 admitted at ETU. Excerpt:
As the government and international partners intensify efforts against the deadly Ebola disease, the epidemic continues to spread in every loop and corner of the Liberian society on a daily basis.
The Armed Forces of Liberia or AFL has become the latest target of the tropical disease. According to credible information received by this paper, seven uniformed officers of the U.S-trained army, have been hit by the deadly virus and reportedly transferred to the JFK Ebola Treatment Center.
The information from the Camp Binyan Edward Kesselly Barracks, formerly Camp Schefflin located on the Roberts International Airport highway, the seven officers (names withheld) are currently at the John F. Kennedy Ebola holding center undergoing medical treatment.
Last Friday, a four-door pickup truck of the AFL was seen in front of the JFK Ebola holding center being disinfected by medical practitioners following the admission of the suspected AFL Ebola patients.
According to the information, a female visitor with the disease who had gone to the Barracks to visit one of the officers without realizing that she was carrying the virus, transmitted the disease to her host, further spreading it to six additional officers who were very close friends.
Another account had it that a woman, visiting the barracks recently from Tubmanburg City, Bomi County, had fallen ill and rushed to the military clinic for treatment at Camp Kesselly, when medical practitioners contracted the disease.
As a result of the outbreak at Camp Kesselly, the nation's biggest barracks, the authorities headed by AFL Chief of Staff B/Gen. Daniel Zanigar yesterday ordered all non-military personnel out of the barracks with immediate effect or face eviction. Some parts of the Binyan Kesselly barracks were also quarantined by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for proper observation for 21 days.
"We are now living in total fear here, because we as soldiers do almost everything in common, ranging from training to lunch-sharing at times if deemed necessary by the commander," our source said.
As the result of the outbreak, officers, who had earlier left the barracks apparently to visit family members and relatives in Monrovia and other parts of the country, are reportedly hesitant to return to to the military base, as their commanders continue to make both cell phone and radio calls to them on a daily basis.
September 30, 2014 at 07:50 PM in Ebola | Permalink


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Home Surrogacy for Gay Couples: How to Select the Genetic Father
Recent medical advances have made it easier for interested couples to have their own children via gestational surrogacy. However, members of the LGBT community, especially Gay Parents planning to begin a family through surrogacy will have to choose who is going to be the genetic father of the baby. As a leading LGBT-friendly surrogacy agency in San Diego, we believe Gay Couples also need to openly discuss this important topic before selecting a Surrogate or egg donor.
Begin With Open and Honest Communication
Male same-sex couples might be surprised by how hard it can be to choose whose sperm will be used for IVF. It is crucial to communicate in an open manner and extensively discuss each other's expectations and desires.
When talking about traits or lineage, strong emotions can come up unexpectedly. These can cause stress during an otherwise strong bonding and life-changing experience. Understandably, this is an important decision that affects the future. That is the reason why it is important, to begin with, open and honest communication during the decision-making process before surrogacy.
Leaving the Decision to Fate Isn't Recommended
It might be tempting for both the Gay Couple partners to donate sperm for surrogacy. Thus, allowing fate to decide who will be the genetic father. But this hardly makes either partner feel at ease. The person who is not the dad might feel inferior or insulted. So, it is better for couples to work together and choose a genetic dad in order to have peace of mind. Moreover, this will allow the baby to know their genetic history.
Tips for Selecting the Genetic Father between the Gay parents for Surrogacy
Gay couples pursuing surrogacy can take some steps to arrive at a decision concerning the genetic father:
Speak with a counselor
Talking with a therapist in the early stages of the surrogacy process can solve any issues. It can ensure that both of you are on the same page.
Go for genetic testing
Genetic screening tests can help find out if you or your spouse has a better genetic make-up. For instance, if there's a history of cardiovascular disease or cancer in your family, and your partner doesn't have a history of any medical conditions in his family, he could be a better option.
Discuss each partner's important traits
It is good to discuss what you and your spouse have to offer. These include small attributes like stature, eye color, or hair color. However, you need to remember that the baby won't necessarily have these traits.
Consider going for twin surrogacy births
In this case of surrogacy, a donor's eggs are first fertilized with one of the Gay Dad's sperm and then with the sperm of the other Dad. This way, the egg donor is the same, but two fertilized eggs are produced. Gay Couples can choose to either freeze these eggs for later use or have them implanted into the surrogate's uterus via IVF.
You have found the "one," and now you want to grow a family. At Physician's Surrogacy, we help LGBT couples achieve their dreams of having children through our comprehensive surrogacy program.
Do you want to know more about how to choose the genetic dad? Do you have more questions regarding surrogacy for Gay parents and the LGBT community? Contact Physician's Surrogacy, California to schedule a free consultation so we can discuss what your path towards parenthood looks like. You can also visit us at www.PhysiciansSurrogacy.com for more info.
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