text:
Centre for Information Management
25th Web anniversary
Cultural Impact
IDIMC 2014
Information Behaviour
Internet behaviour
Knowledge intermediation projects
Knowledge Management Research Group
Knowledge process
mental workload
Multitasking Information Behaviour
orphan works
Personal factors in Information Behaviour
Phd experience
Quality factors
Impact of Web-scale discovery systems
Reflections from a first year PhD student
Mark Hepworth, Emeritus Professor in People's Information Behaviour - i3 Conference memorial award
CIM PhD Researcher blogs about CPCI symposium for CILIP Information Literacy Group
A Day in the Life of Honorary Research Fellow Dr Graham Walton
CIM Members Published in Top Strategy Journal
Freedom on the Net…or filtering by default?
Author: Louise Cooke Category: Internet Access
Should internet access in public libraries be filtered? It would seem that, in the UK at least, librarians and users think it should, according to findings from the MAIPLE project. This is a two year project funded by the UK Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The project is investigating the measures being used in UK public libraries to prevent access to 'undesirable' internet content.
In embarking on the project, we had anticipated strong resistance on the part of librarians to the implementation of filtering, given the strong professional espousal of the principles of freedom of expression, freedom of access to information and repudiation of censorship in any form – however, this, so far, has not proved to be the case.
Surprisingly, there is a dearth of knowledge or statistics relating to measures such as filtering in public libraries in the UK, and relatively little in the way of professional discussion or debate around this topic. Thus we aim to both garner factual knowledge relating to what measures are being taken, and to provoke greater levels of debate and transparency around the issue.
The project has used a mixed methods approach of desk research; a questionnaire survey to all UK Public Library Authorities; in-depth case studies in five Public Library Authorities; and telephone interviews with a range of commercial Wi-Fi providers in public spaces (e.g. cafés) to facilitate cross-sectoral comparisons. As of December 2013, all field work bar the last phase (the telephone interviews) has been completed, and data analysis is almost complete.
Findings thus far suggest that filtering of internet content in public libraries in the UK is a widely accepted solution. All authorities responding to our questionnaire (n=80) reported that they filter content. When probing further in our case studies, we have found that library personnel at all levels accept this state of affairs as a pragmatic solution, even if they are not entirely comfortable with it, typified in comments such as this one from a library manager : "So I suppose, pragmatically, I've realised that although I may have had ethical concerns as a librarian, the reality is, I suspect, that for the half a million users we have every year, I'm not under the impression that it's caused any particular problems". Perhaps more surprising still, is the support that library users appear to have for filtering of content, as expressed by one young, male user who agreed that the library should filter content because "You don't come to the library to look at porn and stuff like that, do you?".
However, the IFLA Code of Ethics for Librarians and Other Information Workers,following Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is unequivocal in its protection of access by all to the full range of knowledge and information, and its rejection of censorship in any form.
I propose here that filtering software acts as a form of censorship and that, according to the Code of Ethics, should not be used as a default solution for the provision of internet access in public libraries. Instead greater attention should be given to consideration of alternative approaches to protecting users from 'harmful' online content, in particular, the role of education.
Another important (but perhaps not surprising) finding, is the extent of dependence user groups have on internet access in the public library. These are not the much trumpeted middle class users, but the young unemployed, who can't afford broadband subscriptions or smartphones, and the older 'silver surfers' who don't have the skills or competences to navigate the digital minefield without some help and support.
Now that the Cabinet Office has declared that all government services and transactions should be 'digital by default' and job applications have to be made online, with job centres routinely directing clients to the public library, the role of the public library as provider of internet access is gaining greater rather than lesser importance. And yet, these users are only able to access part of the great knowledge repository that is the web (an example of the negative impact of filtering was given by the chance finding that the British Library's filter blocked access to Shakespeare's Hamlet, as it was categorised as 'violent'. We are hoping that this project will direct attention to revisit this 'blunt instrument' of a solution and will lead to the development of more innovative and user-friendly approaches.
You can find out more about the MAIPLE project on our website and follow our progress via our blog or by following us on Twitter.
Blog maintained by: S.A.Hills@lboro.ac.uk


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Stanley Cup FInals 2019: Game 7
Blues Win First Ever Stanley Cup
Photo Credit: Winslow Townson/USA Today Sports
June 13, 2019
Finally, 49 years after their last appearance in the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins in 1970, The St. Louis Blues avenged their defeat, beating the Bruins 4-1 on their home ice at TD Garden on Thursday.
The Bruins may have entered the game with all of the momentum, pummeling the Blues 5-1 in Game 6, being on their home ice, and getting off to a strong start in the first period. Jordan Binnington had other plans.
Binnington stopped 32 shots on the night with most of his best work coming in the first period. His play kept the Blues in it and even though Boston dominated the first period, the Bruins found themselves down 2-0 after the first 20 minutes. Ryan O'Reilly deflected a shot from Jay Bouwmeester with about three minutes left the captain Alex Pietrangelo scored on a brilliant backhander with 8 seconds left to put the Blues in the driver's seat.
The Bruins didn't simply roll over and give up, creating chances and outshooting the Blues 33-20, but Binnington was spectacular and slammed the door of hope shut. The Blues tallied two more goals in the third period by Brayden Schenn and Zach Sanford before Boston finally scored with 2 minutes and 10 seconds left in the game, spoiling the shutout.
Ryan O'Reilly was named the Conn Smythe Trophy for the Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, after breaking a franchise record for most points scored in a postseason (23 points), and with his goal in Game 7, he became the first player since Wayne Gretzky in 1985 to score in four straight Stanley Cup Final games.
No NHL team has waited longer than the Blues, waiting 52 years, to hoist their first Stanley Cup. Now, the Blues faithful don't have to wait any longer. The St. Louis Blues are FINALLY Stanley Cup Champions.
Check out the latest sports articles and posts from the guys below at FinalScore!
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The Bite Before Christmas
by Heidi Betts
Nice Set of PNR Holiday Novellas
Series: N/A ~ (Non-Series / Stand-Alone; Anthology)
All I Vant for Christmas
Connor Drake's deepest holiday wish is an old fashioned Christmas the likes of which he fondly remembers from his humanity, full of family and love. His reluctant and recalcitrant younger brother and sister, however, can hardly be bothered. As a favor for her good friend, vampire matchmaker Angelina Ricci sends him Jillian Parker, a young...and human...event coordinator starting to make a name for herself. Jillian understands intellectually that vampires aren't the bloodthirsty monsters of books and movies, but working for one, being in his house, makes her decidedly nervous...the fact that Connor is gorgeous, intelligent, kind, and gorgeous (it bears repeating), makes her feel something else entirely.
With Jillian, Connor may get a much happier holiday than he'd ever dreamed, but only if the young woman can become comfortable with his vampire nature.
A Vampire in Her Stocking
Vampire Vivian Harrison is heartbroken when her boss Sean Spicer tells her he's dying. She's been in love with him for years. The announcement spurs her into wild waters and before she knows it, she and Sean have shared a single desperate moment of passion. The gaping loss following their time together threatens to crush her, until one evening, an unconscious and bow-wrapped Sean Spicer shows up on her couch, sporting a couple of fang marks on his neck and a new undead status...with a card from best friend Angelina Ricci, matchmaker and meddler, wishing her a Merry Christmas.
He never knew she was a vampire; she had no doubt he didn't want to be one. He may be the best present she's ever received, but Vivian has no illusions that Sean will have any interest in decking her halls when he finds out what's happened to him.
It's a Wonderful Bite
Despite the holiday cheer and comfortable life, despite the love of her long time lover Ian, matchmaker Angelina Ricci felt a yearning for more, for the tinsel on the tree, so to speak. As friends around her have found their mates (thanks to her), she feels an odd sort of need to have Ian take their relationship to a new level. But the vampire cop isn't exactly a hearts and romance sort of guy, and he's got no use for human traditions like marriage.
Waking up on Christmas morning is a shock, though, when Angelina realizes that she's stuck in a nightmare. She's human, and so is Ian. They're partners...but not in life. They're cop partners and Ian is married with children - he's someone else's husband, someone else's father. She's his lover on the side. And from all indications, that was her own fault. When their job...and she shudders at the thought...puts Ian's life in the gravest danger at the fangs of a group of rogue vampires, Angelina has to rely on skills limited by her human shell to save them both. Hoping all the while that the horrific nightmare will soon be over.
These three heartwarming and solid novellas are loosely connected through the character of Angelina Ricci, and Heidi Betts has done a good job instilling her romances with holiday warmth and a sensual heat. Betts is deft with character definition and does reasonably well providing three complete, satisfying stories with a limiting length. None are terribly complex in plot, nor are the characters overly complicated, but they don't have to be to be lightly entertaining and romantic.
The second title, A Vampire in Her Stocking, was my least favorite of the three. I didn't like the beginning and it took me a long time to warm up to Vivian, who I found to be a bit whiney and drippy, and Sean, who I thought was a bit thoughtless in his treatment of Vivian. Still, it was the first title, All I Vant for Christmas, that I felt was the least complete within its own pages, ending rather abruptly with several questions and plot threads dangling, though there were some very pleasing resolution and wrap up provided in exposition in the final story.
I enjoyed this set of holiday PNR romances. Each story had a very unique flavor and the plots were different enough to provide genuine variety, even with the thread of loose connection through them all. Overall, I found myself impressed with Betts, who I'd not read before, and interested in what she could create within the broader scope of a full length novel. She showed off a nice talent for plot creation and pacing, smooth narrative, sensual romance, and heated sexuality that would really shine in a longer-length format.
Return from The Bite Before Christmas to Paranormal Romance Genre
Return from The Bite Before Christmas to OGBDA Book Reviews Home


Observe microflaring events from the photosphere through the chromosphere and into the corona.
ALMA offers a truly unique insight into the Sun by providing a linear thermometer into the chromosphere. These layers of the chromosphere are largely unstudied or have been muddled by line-of-sight effects common to optically thin measurements. Here we intend to use the advantages of ALMA in conjunction with Hinode in order to study one of the most readily available signatures of magnetic reconnection, microflares, in the chromosphere: the region through which the energy and plasma must flow to get into the corona. By observing the statistics of microflaring in two ALMA wavelengths and comparing to their signatures observed above and below with Hinode, we will be able to better constrain the heights and dynamics of energy transfer in the chromosphere during magnetic reconnection.
We request the highest cadence possible given telemetry (< 60s), with a small FOV. A FOV of at least 60" but larger is certainly acceptable, with an expected FOV of 256"x256" or similar for context. Thinnest filter deemed suitable for conditions (minimal contamination, good throughput). Suggest Al_mesh or Al_poly.
A context map is requested at the beginning and end of the run.
14"x60" raster at 2" steps, 44s cadence, Single filter Si IV with SJI.
TBD - depending on weather and ALMA scheduling. To be observed for 3.5 hours total on: Dec 8-28, Jan 3 - Feb 1, Mar 1- Apr 4, OR Apr 14-29.
During ALMA day time, 13 - 20 UT . Request synoptics to be shifted around observations (since they should last at most 3.5 or 4 hours).


Well, on Tuesday of this week, I decided to pay a good chunk of cash for the privilege of a few minutes airtime at the wind tunnel in Perris.
'Wind Tunnel' you say? What's so special about a wind tunnel that you have to pay for it?
Ah yes indeed, I paid to go for a simulated skydiving experience and I had a blast! It's a very unique feeling floating off the ground. I can tell you one thing – although sky diving looks extremely peaceful (almost relaxing) it certainly doesn't feel like it. You're putting real effort to make your body take on the form it needs to stay in the air. Even the _smallest_ movement makes a huge difference. For example, arching your back causes you to drop, moving your chin up/down makes a difference, the positioning of your legs and the orientation of your arms all count. It reminds me of a continual balancing act. And boy does it take it out on back muscels you never knew you had! At any rate, I _would_ be skydiving right now, but the expense of getting started is 'quite large'.


text:
Q: NHibernate and collection types
I am trying to develop my very first project with Nhibernate 3.0.
I've gone through loads of material (blogs, papers and samples) and I think I can understand the basics, pretty much.
I think I've understood the meaning of different types of collection but than when I see the examples found on the Internet I think I haven't really understood.
The documentation says that you should use a Set when you do not want duplicates and a List/Bag when you want to allow duplicates.
Most of the samples I have found are based on a typical situation where you have Orders/OrderLines.
If I have a look the mapping file of the Order I can see something like this:
<class name="OrderHeader"
        table="Orders">
    <id name="OrderId">
        <generator class="hilo"/>
    </id>
    <property name="OrderDate"/>
    <bag name="OrderItems" table="OrderDetails" cascade="all" inverse="true">
        <key column="OrderId"/>
        <one-to-many class="OrderDetail"/>
    </bag>
</class>

<class name="OrderDetail"
        table="OrderDetails">
    <id name="DetailId">
        <generator class="hilo"/>
    </id>
    <many-to-one name="ProductOrdered" column="ProductId"/>
    <many-to-one name="Order" column="OrderId" />
</class>

I had expcted to see the OrderItems mapped as a Set; an order will have unique OrderItems?
Am I right?
At the same time I would expect to find a mapping for the class Product a bag of OrderItems
...

<bag lazy="true" name="OrderItems">
  <key foreign-key="FK_OrderItems_Products">
    <column name="ProductCode" />
  </key>
  .....
</bag>

...

In this situation a product would have a list of non-unique OrderItems.
Is there anything am I missing?
Forgive me all for the silly question :-s

A: I would set it as a <list ...> as in my book two orderlines with the same characteristics are identical (.Equals should return true) - also, many consider the order(!) of orderlines to be important. :-)

A: The reason for this is that bag mapping is compatible with a .NET IList<T> mapping as Yads answered. Collections are typically mapped that way to avoid having to reference Iesi.Collections in your classes.
With NHibernate 2.1, you can use set mapping by declaring the collection as ICollection<T> and initializing it as a HashSet<T>. Using NHibernate 3 I believe you can declare the collection as ISet<T>.
I agree most real world collections should be mapped as sets.

A: The reason most people implement it as a bag is because they can use the built in List<> class or IList<> interface to represent their collection.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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NAACP President says local chapter's corruption is "inexcusable"
by Dr Boyce Watkins
But I'll confess that their mass emails are written so well, you would almost think they are writing directly to you. Also, given that I've corresponded personally with former NAACP President Ben Jealous on multiple occassions, I couldn't be entirely sure they were reaching out to me.
But that is neither here nor there. I decided to go ahead and share this correspondence with others so they can make their own decision. Here is a confessional thought that just crossed my mind: When I think about the way Donald Sterling was able to purchase the good graces of LA Chapter NAACP President Leon Jenkins, I am reminded of many other situations I've confronted that seemed to point toward corruption in both the local and national chapters of the NAACP. Some examples might include the following:
1) When the NAACP has stood in lockstep support of the Obama Administration's initiatives on gay rights and immigration without asking their members if they are in agreement. Many black preachers and their constituents have views on gay rights that are not always consistent with liberal Democrats. It's always odd to me when an organization agrees to something that most of it's members do not support.
2) Times when people have told me that they were trying to get help with a civil rights issue, but the local NAACP chapter was so closely aligned with the city's businessmen and politicians that they were afraid to help. Often, the president of the local NAACP spends a great deal of time rubbing elbows with white corporate and community leaders. This can often lead to very serious conflicts of interest when local residents have been victims of discrimination at the hands of these very same powerful entities. If you consider a small town like, say, Kennett, Missouri (where 24-year old college student Heather Ellis was on her way to prison for cutting line at a Walmart), the corruption can be absolutely gut-wrenching.
Perhaps the NAACP should ensure that there are adequate checks and balances so that their local chapters aren't used as "get rich quick" schemes for less-than-ethical leaders who see the power of the NAACP brand as an opportunity to strong arm local busineses into giving them consistent payoffs. But that's just a thought.
The letter from the NAACP president is below. Tell me what you think:
Hello Boyce,
The bigoted comments of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling that came to light last week were deeply hurtful. That the Los Angeles branch of the NAACP had been planning to give an award to a man with a history of hateful remarks is simply inexcusable.
Last night, I accepted Leon Jenkins' resignation from his position as President of the Los Angeles branch. This was the first of many steps we as an organization are taking to address this issue. The NAACP remains actively engaged in a review of the Los Angeles branch. We will determine the shortcomings that enabled Donald Sterling to receive or be considered for any awards. We will prevent this from happening again.
We recognize the need for all our units to have the resources to serve their communities, but we must not allow that need to compromise our founding principles. We must determine what Donald Sterling donated to the NAACP Los Angeles branch—in order for it to be returned.
Boyce, I know you may be angry, frustrated, and confused. We will be making changes, and I hope our commitment to addressing this issue helps us move forward, so we can remain focused on the critical issues facing so many of our communities.
Millions still face unprecedented attacks on their rights to vote. Our families too often feel the terror of gun violence. The number of children with access to a quality education is shrinking, while economic inequality and instances of racial profiling are on the rise.
The success of our mission requires vigilance on many important issues at once, even as we strive to improve our organization at every level.
I look forward to working with you on both fronts this year and beyond.
Lorraine C. Miller Interim President and CEO NAACP
P.S. We commend the NBA for banning Donald Sterling for life, and commencing the process for a forced sale of his team. Write a message of thanks to Commissioner Silver, and we'll deliver your note when we meet to discuss the issue of racism in professional sports.
Prince's Music Tops Download Lists After His Death
Legendary musician Prince passed away on Thursday at the age of 57, and fans have driven his hits back to the top of the iTunes charts, reports the Daily Mail.
Floyd Mayweather Shuns Charitable Giving, Says He Makes Money For Himself
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Rapper and Actor DMX Settles Financial Matters With Ex-Wife
It has been known for a while now that rapper and actor DMX (real name Earl Simmons) and his wife Tashera had been darkening the doors of courtrooms seeking a divorce settlement that would meet both their demands.
100 Black Men Of Chicago Are Helping Students Attain College Education For Free
The 100 Black Men of Chicago is doing a good job of mentoring young people and helping them attend college for free.
Caitlyn Isabel
$188 million dollar lottery winner bails boyfriend out again with $6 million bail
[A lot of people know the story of Marie…
lbrindley
Ladies: Find Out If He's Only After You For Your Money
The concept of the gold-digger is something that any self-made person may be afraid of thinking about.
How Does Bitcoin Stack Up To Other Investments?
If you've been following the current standings of Bitcoin, you're likely astonished...
Black Buying Power To Hit $1.5 Trillion In 2021
Many people feel that the path to Black people getting more equitable treatment across the board is to flex our financial muscle.
Black Families To Lose Big Under Republican Tax Plan
All jokes aside, Atlanta Black Star reports that among many other groups, Black families stand to be subject to disproportionate harm from the upcoming tax plan, and it's important to know if and how you are among that group.
Apple Almost A Trillion-Dollar Company—Only $23 (per share) Short
With another iPhone having recently come out, it's a happy time to be an Apple fan or investor, with the company trading at $171.40 per share.


text:
Ergo Junior Hockey World Cup Mönchengladbach 2013
Mönchengladbach, Germany - July 27 - 4, 2013
India reach semi-finals for first time in Women's Junior World Cup history
Korea defeat Canada to advance to 9-12 play-off
India are the first team to qualify for Friday's semi-finals at Women's ERGO Hockey Junior World Cup in Mönchengladbach. The young Indian team celebrated a deserved 4-2 victory over Spain in Thursday's first quarter-final.
India have thus reached the top four for the first time in Junior World Cup history. In the Pitch 2 match, Korea recorded a 3-1 win over Canada to move into the 9-12th place bracket.
Spain v India 2-4 (2-2)
Both teams entered the pitch with great intensity. Spain won an early penalty corner which resulted in a well worked goal, Patricia Marana passing the ball to Xantal Gine who smashed it into the bottom of the goal. But India replied immediately equalising through Monika. The score stood at 1-1 after ten minutes of play.
Afterwards it were India that dominated ball possession and had better scoring opportunities than Spain but failed to convert them. However, Spain took the 2-1 lead against the run of play five minutes before halftime when team-captain Berta Bonastre scored from open play. Once again, India did not take long to strike back. Navneet Kaur equalised with an outstanding reverse stick shot to level the match at 2-2 at halftime.
India started into the second half with real fire. Ponnamma Mallamada Narendra converted a penalty corner giving India their first lead in this match. They kept on pushing their opponents into their own half. Rani extended the lead 4-2 midway in the second half when she penetrated the circle on the right and scored from a reverse stick strike.
Spain's first penalty corner in the second half came in the 53rd minute but the shot was blocked. With eight minutes remaining on the clock they won another penalty corner but Marana's attempt was saved by Indian captain Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam. Afterwards another penalty corner shot from Gine went wide. Spain tried hard to come back but ended up losing 4-2.
Voices after the match:
Neil Hawgood, Indian coach: "The success has come from all the big losses as we have been beaten by the top teams in the world in World League Round 3. Now, this senior experience helps the girls here at the Junior World Cup. The girls were a bit nervous at the beginning but they showed character and continued to work for 70 minutes."
Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Indian captain: "Today's key was the scoring and the team spirit. We decided to win this match and played fast throughout the whole game. We are very excited now as we have never reached the semi-finals before. Of course we would love to qualify for the final."
Rani, 4-2 goal scorer: "This is amazing. It is a great day for Hockey in India. I knew that we will win today if we keep up the pressure."
Jorge Donoso Bailon, Spanish coach: "India is a great team. They were really fast with their dangerous counter-attacks."
Korea v Canada 3-1 (1-0)
Korea started into their first classification match strong, not leaving Canada with much space. Canada struggled to get their feet on the ground for some time. Nonetheless, Korea couldn't build up a convincing lead, scoring only a lone first half goal through their most reliable and leading scorer, Kim Hyun Ji.
Canada came back with verve from the break however and started to challenge their two time champion opponents. They were soon able to get on the scoreboard when Stephanie Norlander put a ball past second goalkeeper Han Mi Jin and proceeded to hold Korea to the draw for the biggest part of the second half.
A late double strike from Cho Hye Jin and Cha Ye Sol, who scored within less than a minute, however put the Korean team ahead for good. The clock ticked down and Canada could not come back from the blow. The match ended 3-1 for Korea, sending the Asian team into the 9-12th place bracket, while Canada will be playing for 13-16th place.
Ian Rutledge, Coach Canada: "It was an exeptional performance from both teams, and that's what international hockey is about, and that's what the Junior World Cup is about. It's an opportunity for the girls to play international hockey against different styles and think that both teams played an exceptional style. We played against a well structured Korean team, our performance was solid, but as the game was even, it could go either way, and that's what happened. The most important thing for the next game is to be the same team and keep our structure and stick to the game plan. The girls are doing pretty well. It's just a matter of keeping a good structure."
Landmark international matches for Brunei
Malawi enters new hockey era
FIH Hockey Pro League 2020 edition all set for action
The on-going process of coach education


text:
Ask Deborah: Breaking New Ground (Blog Post)
Instead of answering a question this month, I hope you don't mind if I ask you a question. Actually, make that two questions: "Who has championed you?" and "Who can you champion?"
These questions are top of mind for me since returning from last month's inspirational Catalyst Canada Honours (CCH) conference and dinner, which celebrates exceptional individuals in corporate Canada who are personally and visibly committed to the advancement of women, and who make it a priority every single day. Our CCH Championsare powerful role models—not just for women in their companies and networks, but for other corporate leaders. Through their advocacy and intentional actions, our 2015 CCH Champions—Cynthia Hansen, Senior Vice President, Operations, Enbridge Pipelines Inc.; Colleen Moorehead, Chief Client Officer, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP; and Bill Thomas, Chief Executive Officer—KPMG in Canada, Chair—KPMG's Americas Region—show what is possible when leaders hold themselves and others accountable for making sure all talented individuals in their companies have equal opportunities to succeed. They redefine for a new generation of young men and women who comes to mind when we think CEO, CFO, or Director.
Bill, Cynthia, and Colleen understand the impact that champions have had in their own lives and careers, and it's one of the reasons they pay it forward by advocating for others. During an opening session at the conference, Bill told of how early in his career his boss had put him in charge of an important and high-profile project, but a senior leader didn't think Bill was ready and wanted him off. Bill's boss refused, saying, "If you take him off, you'll have to take me off." Bill was allowed to stay on the project, and it was a success. Through his boss's courageous move, the company got to see what Bill could achieve, and Bill learned the power of having a sponsor who was willing to take a risk on him.
As we head into the holiday season, think about the champions who have made a difference for your career. How can you do the same for others? I know from my own experience that having mentors and sponsors in your corner is often the difference between a possibility and a dream realized. By championing others, you will help them reach their full potential—making what might have seemed unimaginable absolutely possible.
As inspiration, I'd like to share with you a video that I had the pleasure of introducing at the CCH dinner. It celebrates important Canadian women trailblazers: Roberta Bondar, Canada's first woman astronaut; Bev Busson, the first woman Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Judy Cameron, Air Canada's first female commercial pilot. While once little girls might have said, "I thought only boys did that," these trailblazers redefined what comes to mind when we hear astronaut, pilot, or commissioner. They showed that we're stronger when we include people of all backgrounds in our leadership—and that we can live our dreams. They've also reminded us that firsts don't happen in a vacuum. Yes, firsts require hard work, talent, and determination. But firsts also require champions who have the courage to stand up, put a stake in the ground, and offer the first big break to someone who might be considered an unlikely candidate. I'm sure that each of these trailblazers had a champion in the background, cheering them on so they could blaze a path, make history, and inspire others for years to come.
Enjoy the video! I hope it inspires you to break new ground in your own career, and help others to do so as well.
The views expressed herein are solely those of the guest blogger and do not necessarily reflect those of Catalyst. Catalyst does not endorse any political candidates. The post and the comments are presented only for the purpose of informing the public.
Deborah Gillis
Former President & Chief Executive Officer
Growing up in a tiny village in rural Nova Scotia, far from any center of power, Deborah Gillis was inspired by a group of women who successfully advocated for gender equality rights to be included in the Canadian constitution. As a result, her high school debate topic was, "Be it…
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Have patent technology, CE certificate, SGS inspection. Our Qingdao Xindacheng Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd, a high-tech join-stock enterprise, integrates scientific research development, technology transfer, production and sale. In addition, it is the unit for accomplishing key promotion projects of science and technology result in construction department.
We always considers that customers' interest is the first important. Over decades, Xindacheng's product spreads all over the country and exported to more than 40 countries and regions such as, U. S. Italy, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Czech, Turkey, Mexico, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, HK, Malaysia, and wins customers' reputations.
1. Extruder and extrusion lines for production of plastic pipe, strap, sheet, profile and pellet etc, as well as PET recycling machine.
All of them, PET project plant prodcution line and Irrigation pipe machine line are our Top brand and famous in the world. Passed CE certificate (EU standard).
Our Company board chairman and staff warmly welcome friends from all circles to visit us.


Having felt like I've made some inroads in showing off the quality of Oregon Pinot Blanc on the Featured Wines by the glass. My new goal is to promote our fine Northwest Rieslings.
To that end, two Riesling replace the two Pinot Blanc on the menu. The first wine is from the venerable Chehalem Winery in Newberg. I've chosen their 2008 Reserve Riesling to pour by the glass. Comprised of select lots from two single vineyards, this wine shows complex layers of aromas and flavors glass including lime, stone fruits (peach & nectarine), white flowers and wet stone. The wine finishes dry with around ½% residual sugar. This wine will pair nicely with shellfish.
The other Riesling is the 2008 Anam Cara Nicholas Estate Chehalem Mountains. This wine shows how good an off dry Riesling can be with slightly more residual sugar and aromas and flavors of Golden Delicious apple, ripe pear, cantaloupe melon and hints of flowers, citrus and stone fruits. This wine will pair nicely with Equatorial cuisines.
I have not forgotten about all you red wine drinkers on this menu. My limited supply of Tamarack Cabernet Franc is still holding out, the Grochau Cellars Tempranillo will pair nicely with our new mixed grill entrée. The new Cristom Mt. Jefferson Pinot Noir has been well received and this week I'm introducing the new 2008 Cubanisimo Estate Pinot Noir.
The grapes for this wine come from 8 acres of Pommard and 2 acres of Dijon vineyards planted in the Eola Hills. With only a 700 case production this wine sells out every year. The wine shows a beautiful red coloration and is crystal clear. Aromas of wild cane berries and local strawberries burst from the glass. The wine is medium bodied on the palate and finishes with good fruit intensity, silky tannins and refreshing acidity. Not exceptionally complex, just very tasty. This wine has garnered a handful of medals at local competitions and has become my favorite offering from this winery since the 2005 vintage.


How to Make Really Secure Messaging App Similar to Signal?
The question here is not how to make a secure messenger, but rather how to make it serve customers' needs. It will also be of interest for those who are concerned about chat app security.
There are way too many tools for communication we use that actually prevent communication from happening. Only according to the messenger research in January 2018, the number of most popular chat apps reaches 9 - with similar-functioning WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Viber,LINE and Skype. Most of us have a few of them installed for a certain "communication group" - turns out that older people choose Viber over the rests, whereas Snapchat and Telegram attract more juveniles.
How do chat messengers work?
1)HTTP + Push Notifications, where you are notified once you get a message, and the server responds back to you once you open an app itself.
2) Extensive Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) with Sockets-based chat. This protocol is more common-used, as here you always stay connected to the server; and when the connection is lost, you are automatically transferred to the offline mode.
There is always a purpose every already built messenger has. There are way too many goals these messangers cover, but the cybersecurity is still a great threat for all of them - encrypted messaging app is not what they are about, as even professors of computer engineering claim that "everything could be hacked". What does messaging security stand on?
How do we secure a messaging app?
There are two approaches for message encryption in chat apps: it can either be peer-to-peer encryption (P2P) or end-to-end encryption.
P2P encryption has been criticized heavily these days, so let's look at the basic working principles of the end-to-end type.
The main idea of "end-to-end" could be explained on a simple example: you send a message, it gets encoded on your device and is transferred to the server that brings it to the final recipient (e. g. your friend's device). Only on his device decoding happens, ensuring he's the only one to read your conversation.Above is a scheme that illustrates the encryption process.
WhatsApp had it installed in 2016, and from that time on there is a message on the top of every chat you open, saying that all your conversations are encrypted now. Though WhatsApp is not the most secure solution one could come up with.
There is a great article by technician Romain Aubert - there he explains which data WhatsApp collects from you; it collects you metadata.
Metadata is "data about other data" - so it's basically info about the time and duration of your calls, the recipients of your messanges and the type of content you send & get. WhatsApp will not have access to messages, but it will understand where you call and whom you text to. Now, let's not forget that WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, a tool collecting user data about anything and everything - so this "phone & messages records" could be used for different purposes.
Furthermore, Facebook's Messenger is not a safe place to have a private conversation as well - the regular messages are not encrypted at all, only if you choose "start secret conversation" option, with an ETE encryption. Though, again, your metadata is going to be stored on Facebook's servers.
Diving deeper, Google's messenger app is based on end-to-end encryption, but the privacy of its users rises many questions - Google has been heavily criticized for storing user's messanges and recorded voice calls on their servers.
The same messaging app security gap has popular Viber - despite the double ratchet protocol, all of the users' data is safely stored on their services.
Another popular messenger - Telegram, with it's fancy interface and cool stickers, is a perfect match for those looking for privacy over security. Telegram claims to have their own protocol created in secure messaging application development area - they use the MTProto mobile protocol, though nobody really knows how it works - there is no open-source access to it.
However, MTProto is implemented only in Secret Chats - default Telegram chats have zero-protection.
Though there is one messenger that really stands out of the crowd of not fully- secure mobile messaging apps - an underground and considered hipstish by many Signal app.
Speak Freely But Stay Private.
Signal developers were the first to make encrypted-messaging app back in 2013, combined out of two tools - encrypted calls app RedPhone and PGP texting program Text Secure. Later on they both were united into one singular program, offering an amount of solid benefits. In particular, Signal is handy for people concerned about the surveillance of their content - their text messages, their photo video, and audio files. Many entrepreneurs also have a fear of phone calls wiretapping, and Signal promises to keep their conversations private as well, without any additional fees on overseas roaming. More to this, Signal is a completely open-source solution, and is not monetized in any way - no ads, no subscriptions and no pricy stickers, as founders are supported by free donations & grants.
Another interesting thing about Signal's users is that even if you don't have this app installed on your device, you're still already using it - if you have WhatsApp, Facebook messenger or Google Allo. Very soon Skype users will also be in this list. You might wonder why it happens so - the trick is, they all use one protocol, originally created by Signal developers to build a really safe chat application.
According to Wiki, the Signal Protocol (formerly known as the TextSecure Protocol) is a non-federated cryptographic protocol that can be used to provide end-to-end encryption for voice calls, video calls, and instant messaging conversations.The protocol was developed by Open Whisper Systems in 2013 and was first introduced in the open source TextSecure app, which later became Signal.
The surprising thing about Signal is that it is more a non-profit startup, rather than a workable business.
As application founders claim on Signal official website, it is not monetized in any way - no ads, no affiliate marketers and no in-app purchases, and it also is not advertised in any way (except for a few guest posts).
Backend for a basic chat application has a few nuances you might need to consider when looking to create one. The language commonly used for backend development (Ruby) is hardly a perfect match for big message volumes. It could fit for a text message chat, but it would not work for audio or video calls in the app; you would need a subsidiary server like Faye to help with a stream connection. Another option for this case would also be a language transition - backend could be written on Elixir language with a Phoenix framework.
Taking the same features estimation as with iOS client app, backend development for a Signal-like app could take around 400 h, depending on the tech used and features to be implemented.
Therefore, an approximate cost for an MVP of a Signal like app would start at $20k.
As you can see, how to encrypt text messages is not the most difficult question to answer. What to do next is way harder to decide.
A rule of a thumb claims customers want their messenger to be simple, intuitive and secure. With the current market situation, there are user-friendly and fancy-looking chat apps (e. G. Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger), and there is simple - but secure - alternative - Signal app. Though as you can see there is a demand for a different combination, for a breakthrough in chat market - so why don't you satisfy it with your own product?
If you have an app idea, contact us for a free and confidential app consultation.


I created a high volume topic and a low volume topic, each with 1000 partitions and 2 replicas on 2 brokers. I populated the high volume topic with 4GB of data. Added a third broker and ran the rebalance tool with a 2MB/sec replication quota. At some point, all replicas for the low volume topic have been moved over and the new replicas are all in sync, but the high volume replicas are still catching up. Then, I started slowly producing to the low volume topic. Once I do that, I started seeing the low volume partitions' ISR constantly expanding and shrinking. The observed ISR change rate is ~ 6/sec. So, it does seem that ISR thrashing can happen.


text:
Listening to young people in leisure research: the critical application of grounded theory
Piggott, David (2010) Listening to young people in leisure research: the critical application of grounded theory. Leisure Studies, 29 (4). pp. 415-433. ISSN 0261-4367
Full content URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2010.525659
This paper discusses three related methodological problems from the point of view of a researcher interested in studying young people's leisure experiences. The first part of the paper makes a moral argument for why we should attempt to listen to young people. The second part of the paper uses an example from research with young footballers to explain how a modified grounded theory (GT) methodology can be useful in achieving this aim. Modified methods for engaging young people in discussion - e.g. mind maps and vignettes - are introduced here in the context of a developing GT study. The third and final part of the paper engages critically with some of the epistemological problems inherent in GT, notably the problem of induction. Two radical reactions to the problems of GT - essentialism and anarchism - are critically reviewed before a third way is introduced. This third position is critical rationalism and it is argued that this position may help researchers engage in GT research in a fundamentally critical and progressive fashion. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.
recreational activity, research, sport, young population
C Biological Sciences > C600 Sports Science
College of Social Science > School of Sport and Exercise Science
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...


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text:
COVID-19 and agribusiness
AgriNews
Weather condition
"KazOil 2019", Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan
BEFORE THE BEGINNING
About tne conference
UPL — the Exclusive Sponsor of KazOil 2019
APK-Inform
12:20 | Oct 25, 2019
UPL, one of the five largest agrochemical companies in the world, became the Exclusive Sponsor of the III international conference "KazOil 2019", to be held in the capital of Kazakhstan — Nur-Sultan (Rixos President Astana hotel), on November 5.
In February 2019, UPL Limited completed the acquisition of Arysta LifeScience Inc. and formed a new leader in the global agriculture. The new company became one the major agricultural businesses in the world, as well as the leader in the sphere of global food systems in development of agricultural solutions, with the revenue of nearly 5 bln USD.
The company has a footprint in 76 countries and sales in 130+ countries. The company produces its commodities at 34 plants around the world, as well as the company's portfolio includes more than 13 thsd registrations.
New UPL produces the full-cycle commodities and technologies for agricultural producers, such as seeds, crop protection products, bio- and resource-saving technologies. Having the global market access to the world's food basket and focused on high-growth regions, New UPL represents a compelling value proposition for agricultural growers, distributors, suppliers and innovation partners on the consolidating market, which allows the company's customers to increase their efficiency and competitiveness to the breakthrough level!
In pursuit of its long-terms vision to be the global leader in the global food network, UPL also launched its new purpose, called "Open Agriculture" (OpenAg). It stands for open minded partnerships and creating win-win partnerships, in order to transform agriculture by creating the open agriculture network that feeds sustainable growth for all. It will be the open agricultural network without borders and restrictions — cooperation open to everything new, as well as formation of mutually profitable partnerships, contributing to expansion of the space to create value for producers, distributors and suppliers, along with the further and wider expansion of the food production network.
Thus, New UPL is the unique company where the widest and most innovative range of solutions (in the sphere of seeds, crop protection products, biosolutions and many others), and technologies for agricultural producers, combined with the flexibility of doing business, as well as the highest efficiency and maximum customer-oriented approach.
Register to participate in the conference "KazOil 2019", and get the unique opportunity to meet with representatives of UPL, and establish the mutually beneficial cooperation.
Kazakhstan: the sown area of grains and pulses to decline modestly – APK-Inform
Kazakhstan to impose the quotas for wheat and flour exports
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text:
HRW: Democracy on Rocky Ground
The 64-page report by the Human Rights Watch details the clashes between police and protesters in Armenia's capital, Yerevan, on March 1, 2008, in the wake of the disputed February 2008 presidential polls. It also documents the ill-treatment of individuals detained in connection with the violence, and lack of comprehensive investigation and accountability for excessive use of force on March 1 and in its aftermath. The report is based on more than 80 interviews carried out over three research missions in Armenia in 2008 and 2009.
Although the report does seem somewhat biased, and the timing of its publication – days before the 1-year anniversary of the tragic events, just as the political tension in Armenia is building up again, I have to admit – it's 90% true, if not more. Here are some points with my comments from the report's summary.
"Police and protestors clashed in Armenia's capital Yerevan on March 1, 2008, bringing to a head the country's latest electoral dispute, over the results of a presidential poll in February", the report runs. " In the course of some 20 hours on March 1, in episodes at different city center locations, police variously set upon protestors without warning or resistance, negotiated, withdrew, returned to the offensive, and finally fought a pitched battle with a small group of protestors. At least ten people died-eight protestors and two police officers-and scores were injured."
An important point made in the report's summary is: "the fact that police were themselves under attack at times does not excuse those incidents where their own use of force was excessive. Neither does it excuse ill-treatment and torture of detained persons, nor the denial of due process rights such as access to lawyers of choice."
"A police pre-dawn raid on the camp on March 1, justified as a search for weapons, triggered the convening of a much larger demonstration elsewhere in the city center. By evening, with a major, violent confrontation unfolding on the streets of the capital, outgoing President Robert Kocharyan declared a 20-day state of emergency during which public gatherings and strikes were banned."
In a more or less accurate acount that follows, the report says – "In the opening episode on March 1, riot police raided, dispersed, and dismantled the protestors' camp, beating protest participants including people who were entangled inside collapsed tents. Protestors regrouped in another part of the city center and their numbers swelled in the course of the morning".
The next section caused my concern, because it totally overlooks the fact, that opposition leaders were in fact actively encouraging the people to 'erect barricades' and to stay next to Myasnikyan's statue, despite their very own negotiations with the police forces. Hence, we read: "Participants began to erect barricades and arm themselves with makeshift weapons. Police negotiated with protest leaders for relocation of the demonstration to a different venue, and withdrew to allow the protestors to move, but the large crowd stayed put."
"In the evening, riot police returned in force. Their actions to end the demonstration opened with overly aggressive measures-tracer bullet fire and teargas, and, according to witnesses, no verbal warnings to disperse-and they used excessive force against people who were not physically challenging them. " – as a witness myself, I can say this is basically true, except that people were indeed "physically challenging the military forces" + verabally abusing them as much as they could, and I'd expect that to be mentioned in this report as well.
The rest of the summary and the report I presume, along with its conclustions seems quite balanced to me. Recommendations brought forward by HRW sound so realistic that I'd sign under every single one of them. Overall, a slightly biased, but realistic report.
"Protestors who had armed themselves with metal rods, sticks, paving stones, and even petrol bombs, repulsed the police attack, and the police withdrew to a road junction a few hundred meters away. While the main demonstration continued peacefully behind the barricades, a group of protestors began attacking the police, and a number of the fatalities seem to have occurred as a result. Whereas some shootings appear to have occurred when the police were under direct attack, it appears police also shot at protestors deliberately and indiscriminately in circumstances where there is no evidence that lethal force was justified."
"In the aftermath of the violence there were more than 100 arrests. Human Rights Watch spoke to people who had been beaten in the course of being arrested, and assaulted, verbally abused, and threatened while in police custody."
"The Armenian authorities' response to the March 1 events has been one-sided. While they have investigated, prosecuted, and convicted dozens of opposition members, sometimes in flawed and politically motivated trials, for organizing the demonstration and participating in violent disorder, they have not prosecuted a single representative of the authorities for excessive use of force. The Office of the Public Prosecutor has also dismissed all allegations of ill-treatment and torture in detention as unfounded."
"Electoral politics in Armenia since independence has remained stuck in a cycle of uneven contests, fraud, and disputes that more often than not spill onto the streets. There is low public confidence in the way elections are run, and widespread cynicism about their outcome. The functioning of Armenia's multiparty system and genuine political competition are also hampered by the persistent inability of the array of political parties to stabilize and consolidate. To the extent that it exists, real political competition is volatile with a permanent risk of violence, and mutual respect between electoral competitors-especially between victors and losers-is lacking."
"Specifically in respect of the deaths and injuries occurring on March 1, the Armenian Office of the Public Prosecutor should increase its efforts to conduct an independent, impartial investigation to establish whether law enforcement officials acted within limits set in national and international law for crowd control and use of force. This investigation should also cover the allegations of ill-treatment of people detained in connection with their participation in the March 1 events, assessing whether the array of international and European standards against torture, ill-treatment and arbitrary detention, to which Armenia is party, were breached."
"More broadly, there is a need to address the deficiencies and manipulations in Armenia's electoral processes that contribute to distrust in their fairness and doubts about their outcomes. National authorities, and international partners concerned about Armenia's democratic transition, need to address both the causes and the symptoms of the pervasive public skepticism that genuine democracy can be made to work in Armenia."
Posted in Armenia Tagged Human Rights
21 Years Since The Start of Karabakh Movement
Dollar panic?


Sometimes in the day to day activities it's easy to forget to say, "I love you." This is true of the caregiver and the patient.
How many times have you been cleaning the house, making a meal, sorting through medications and thought, "I wish he or she would just say I love you or even just thank you?" Being a caregiver can sometimes be a thankless job. The day to day tasks can begin to take over the relationship, and it can begin to harden both hearts. This is true for the spouse relationship, parent/child relationship, sibling, etc.
Your loved one may be starting to find that he or she cannot do the things that once were easy, and knowing that you are needing to do so much may begin to tear away at a once open and soft heart. There are so many emotions and thoughts that your patient is dealing with: What if I cannot cook anymore? Will my family still come around? What if I can no longer walk on the beach? Will I be able to touch the sand again? Will there be a time that I can no longer drive? How will I get around? If I cannot play with the grandkids, will they remember me? If I need more and more care, will I become a burden? This is just the tip of the iceberg.
I have seen two very different scenarios in the relationship between a caregiver and the patient. I have seen a once caring relationship become increasingly harder over the years, and I have seen a good relationship become even better. I remember one caring family that was thrown into the caregiver role, but there was very little appreciation and very little loving communication. The simple words, "thank you," were never spoken, and in turn the words, "I love you" were scarce. Over time, the relationship became difficult and even bitter at times.
Then in my own situation, I have the example of a good relationship becoming even better. My mom understood the importance of saying "thank you" and "I love you." Some of my most vivid memories right now are of my mom saying thank you and making me know that she loved me. Once she told me, "I know you're supposed to love me because I'm your mother, but I really believe that you love me because you want to. You care for me because you want to, and I am forever grateful." I did not want her to go one day without me telling her that I loved her, and her expressions of love and gratitude allowed our relationship to grow even closer in the last few years.
As a caregiver, I know that it is important that the one we care for is able to communicate love and gratitude, but maybe you are in a situation that is not like this. Maybe the one that you care for has shut down emotionally because it's just too hard to feel. In that situation, you can only answer for yourself. Are you saying, "I love you"? Are you approaching things with care, or are you approaching things with bitterness? Can you look back at this situation and have very little or no regrets?
Sometimes, over time, those three simple words, "I love you" can soften a cold, hard heart. You may think that they know you love them because of all that you are doing, but sometimes the words that are left unsaid, are the ones that scream the loudest when you can no longer say them.


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Q: SQL AND after WHERE NOT EXISTS STATEMENT im trying to use an AND in a mysql statement after having used a WHERE NOT EXISTS, but its not working for me, heres where i am with it
SELECT * from ".$usertable." u where not exists (select * from ".$usermetatable." m where m.meta_key = 'course_progress' and m.user_id = u.ID ) AND m.meta_value = locationvalue";

or would i have to add that before the WHERE NOT EXIST?

A: The problem with this is:
SELECT *
from ".$usertable." u
where not exists (select * from ".$usermetatable." m where m.meta_key = 'course_progress' and m.user_id = u.ID )
AND m.meta_value = locationvalue";

You are referencing 'm', but 'm' is enclosed in brackets
It should be something more like:
SELECT *
from ".$usertable." u
where not exists (select * from ".$usermetatable." where meta_key = 'course_progress' and user_id = u.ID ) m
AND m.meta_value = locationvalue";

I wouldn't use as exists on mysql or any subquery if you're worried about performance mysql optimizer is pretty bad at that.
Something like this should work more efficiently (untested and might have a typo):
SELECT *
FROM   ".$usertable." u
LEFT OUTER JOIN (select * from ".$usermetatable." where meta_key = 'course_progress' ) m
ON  m.user_id = u.ID
AND m.meta_value = u.locationvalue
WHERE m.user_id IS NULL


text:
Home News Twitter Fact Checks President Trump and Trump Responds By Signing Executive Order...
Twitter Fact Checks President Trump and Trump Responds By Signing Executive Order Preventing Online Censorship
Cassius Olsen
Early last week Twitter fact-checked a tweet President Trump made which was, "There is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent. Mailboxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged & even illegally printed out & fraudulently signed. The Governor of California is sending Ballots to millions of people, anyone living in the state, no matter who they are or how they got there, will get one. That will be followed up with professionals telling all of these people, many of whom have never even thought of voting before, how, and for whom, to vote. This will be a Rigged Election. No way"!
Twitter responded to the Tweet by adding a fact check and stated,"We added a label to two @realDonaldTrump Tweets about California's vote-by-mail plans as part of our efforts to enforce our civic integrity policy. We believe those Tweets could confuse voters about what they need to do to receive a ballot and participate in the election process. We also wanted to provide additional context and conversation with regard to voter fraud and mail-in ballots. We have a range of remediations, and in some caWses, we add labels that link to more context".
CEO of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey responded to the fact-checking his company did by stating,"Per our Civic Integrity policy (https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/election-integrity-policy…), the tweets yesterday(05/26/2020) may mislead people into thinking they don't need to register to get a ballot (only registered voters receive ballots). We're updating the link on @realDonaldTrump's tweet to make this more clear".
President Trump responded to Twitter's fact-checking by stating, "@Twitter is now interfering in the 2020 Presidential Election. They are saying my statement on Mail-In Ballots, which will lead to massive corruption and fraud, is incorrect, based on fact-checking by Fake News CNN and the Amazon Washington Post….Twitter is completely stifling FREE SPEECH, and I, as President, will not allow it to happen"!
Two days after the back and forth between President Trump and Twitter, President Trump signed an executive order called, "Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship". The order starts with,"
"Free speech is the bedrock of American democracy. Our Founding Fathers protected this sacred right with the First Amendment to the Constitution. The freedom to express and debate ideas is the foundation for all of our rights as a free people."
"Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube wield immense, if not unprecedented, power to shape the interpretation of public events; to censor, delete, or disappear information; and to control what people see or do not see".
"As President, I have made clear my commitment to free and open debate on the internet. Such debate is just as important online as it is in our universities, our town halls, and our homes. It is essential to sustaining our democracy".
"Twitter now selectively decides to place a warning label on certain tweets in a manner that clearly reflects political bias. As has been reported, Twitter seems never to have placed such a label on another politician's tweet".
"As a Nation, we must foster and protect diverse viewpoints in today's digital communications environment where all Americans can and should have a voice. We must seek transparency and accountability from online platforms, and encourage standards and tools to protect and preserve the integrity and openness of American discourse and freedom of expression".
Some important parts of the Executive Order are:
"It is the policy of the United States to foster clear ground rules promoting free and open debate on the internet".
"It is the policy of the United States that large online platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, as the critical means of promoting the free flow of speech and ideas today, should not restrict protected speech".
"The FTC shall consider taking action, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce, pursuant to section 45 of title 15, United States Code."
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