Lightweight alder body with 3-ply white pickguard and shielded body cavities It doesn't get any more basic than this. The Standard Series Stratocaster features a lightweight, comfort-contoured alder body which has actually changed very little since the first Strats rolled off the production lines in 1954. However, this new version actually has shielded body cavities for reduced hum and quieter operation than you'd get with a vintage 1950s Strat.
A 3-ply white pickguard completes the classic look. Oh, and that low sticker price is pretty nice, too. Vintage-style tremolo with high-mass bridge block While there's no denying the fact that Leo Fender's guitar designs were an amazing blend of art and engineering, it was the erroneously named synchronized tremolo (it's actually a vibrato) that may well have been his most inspired bit of engineering.
With it you could bend notes or even entire chords up or down without throwing the guitar out of tune. Even though Fender has continued to improve upon the tremolo, many players simply prefer the look and feel of the original. The Standard Strat comes with that vintage-style tremolo, but it adds a high-mass bridge block for improved sustain and tone. Three standard, single-coil Strat pickups The Stratocaster was the first production line guitar with three pickups, and it's no surprise that this basic configuration is just as popular today as it was in 1954.
Your new Standard Stratocaster comes from the factory with three standard Strat single-coil pickups with vintage-style ceramic magnets. Way back in the 1950s and 1960s, players had to carefully fiddle with their 3-position blade switch to get those in between pickup combinations. Don't worry. Your new Standard Strat comes with a modern 5-way blade switch for instant access to all the cool Strat tones.
Maple neck and fingerboard with modern C-shape and satin polyester finish Leo Fender wasn't a guitar player. In fact, he got his start repairing radios. So he had no idea that guitars weren't supposed to have maple necks. In time, those blonde maple necks and fingerboards became a Fender trademark, though the company eventually offered rosewood fingerboards on most of its models. This Standard Strat has a maple neck and fingerboard that helps deliver the classic Strat spank and sparkle. In keeping with contemporary tastes, this Strat has a more modern C-shaped maple neck with a satin polyester finish on the back and a gloss finish on the fretboard and headstock.


text:
Q: VBScript: Reminder for office workers and personal use My program asks the user for any events that he will be having later on (eg. meeting/special lunch event/submit report/pay bills/birthday) and will remind the user when the time comes.
Here is my code:

Dim remind
re=MsgBox("Do you want me to remind you anything later on?", vbYesNo, "Reminder")
If re=6 then call main

Sub main
    ' Ask for the time that the user wanted to be reminded
    remind=InputBox("At what time?" & vbNewLine &
                    "Please use this format {H:MM:SS AM/PM}" & vbNewLine &
                    "Note: H is in 12h format")

    ' Description eg. "Lunch with boss"
    reminder=InputBox("Any discription you want to add in?")

    Do Until check=remind
        check=Time
        If check=remind Then MsgBox reminder
    Loop
End Sub

For example, I put in 12:30:00 PM and Lunch with boss. Even when the time comes nothing happens, no popup. And when I check my TaskManager it is still running.
I'm using wscript.exe to run this script. It's the do until check=remind part that doesn't work. If I put do until check="12:30:00 PM" then it will work.
PS: I know we can use the Microsoft Outlook for the reminder or even use our phones. But this is well suited for workers that are 24h infront of the computer and lazy to use their phones and update their outlook.

A: Convert to Date data type
The issue seems to be that the remind variable is a String data type, and the check variable is a Date data type.  When you try to compare them, they'll always fail to be equal, even if the actual date inside both types is the same.
You can solve the problem by using the CDate function to convert remind to a Date before entering the loop.
remind = CDate(remind)

Validation
Because you're now using CDate to convert the user's input, if they make a typo and enter an invalid date, its going to bring up an error box and end the program.  You may want to use IsDate to ensure it is a valid time before converting it, then gracefully ask the user to enter the time again if they made a typo.
CPU Usage
Your loop will sit there taking up 100% CPU usage of one core of the machine its running on.  This can slow down your user's computer, among other side effects.
To fix this issue, you want to slow down the loop, such that its only checking a few times a second, rather than a few hundred times a second.  Insert this statement inside the loop to have it sleep for 500 milliseconds before trying again.
WScript.Sleep 500

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Haute Route Oman signs off with a flourish after highly successful first ever event
The Middle East's first ever Haute Route event finished with a flourish in Misfat Al Abriyinn on Sunday as a large field of international cyclists completed their three-day adventure in Oman. After two days and more than 200 kilometres of challenging riding – which included long and daunting road climbs up both Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Haat – the amateur riders taking part in the Haute Route Oman took on a deceptively short 9.4km time trial finale.
Setting out from Al Hamra in still conditions, a stark contrast to the testing winds the field faced on the mountain courses, riders made a fast start on flat rolling roads from the ancient town. Then came the sting in the tail, a relentless series of steep switchbacks and climbs as the course ascended towards the finish in Misfat. The day was won by Australia's Adrian White, who clawed back time on the overall leader Guillaume Bourgeois, but not enough to deny the Swiss rider the Haute Route Oman title.
Following almost six hours of determined riding, Bourgeois finished only 1 minute and 27 seconds ahead of White, with Thomas Berger from France completing the podium places. "I am very happy," said Bourgeois. "It is always difficult after the first day when you control the race to continue to manage it for the two following days.
"So Saturday went well and I was able to control those following me, and I knew today was quite a short race time so it would be difficult to close a big gap, so I was pretty confident and very happy with the result."
The women's race was a clearer cut affair, with British cyclist Helen Sharp winning all three stages to finish more than 20 minutes clear of China's Stella Chen He, with the Netherlands' Lispeth Gruppen taking third. "It's been epic, absolutely amazing," said Sharp. "Tough, but it always is with a Haute Route, that's what you expect, it is what it is supposed to be. Great people, great scenery, a great country and sunshine, just awesome."
Speaking immediately after the demanding final section she added: "It's day three, it's finished and the holiday begins from now."
Local rider Hatim Al Booshri was the leading Omani competitor in 16th place, just two ahead of Shibab Al Qamshouai. Meanwhile 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button, a keen cyclist and co-founder of the Léger cycle clothing brand who were official event partners, came home to take 30th place after a memorable three days.
The 265 riders returned to the Haute Route Oman base in Nizwa for the closing ceremony, which is under the patronage His Excellency Shiekh Rashid Said Al Kalbani, Wali of Nizwa.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The approach of spring usually encourages householders to start considering house improvements and repairs. These enhancements add to the residing amenity of the home's owners and normally add worth to the house. Whereas repairs on the other hand is something you to decelerate or cease any depreciation that could be occurring on your property or property. Capital improvements are those house improvements which will in the end assist scale back your taxes.
Supplied they're accomplished inside ninety days of your sale and offered they have been accomplished to make the house extra saleable gadgets otherwise thought-about repairs (corresponding to wallpapering, painting, planting flowers, upkeep, and so forth.) can be categorised as selling prices.
Home improvement grants are distributed to American homeowners who're either in need of repairs that are detrimental to the security and common upkeep of the property in query. House enchancment may be very general time period for the modifications which you could make within the inside of your house, the family rooms, the kitchen and the home workplace, or the adjustments that you could make in your backyard or garden, patio or porch.
Cleaning your house and yard is a great improvement mission, and if you're transforming, will probably be the final step after the dust has settled. If you are planning enhancements to an space of your property that is in need of repair you might be able to embody the restore as an improvement.
The contractors know what enhancements will improve essentially the most value. Any tax paying citizen over the age of 18 years can freely apply for multiple grants and preserve the cash however all it's essential do is to use the money for the rationale it was allotted like fixing your own home, as an illustration.
After you will have selected and planned for crucial house improvement tasks, new window covering and upgraded flooring ought to receive your attention. The Inner Income Service units out strict pointers on how a homeowner can claim a tax deduction for home enhancements.
An instance of a home repair could also be something just like the substitute of a defective roof or a broken water heater. The premium projects that often require professional assist are kitchen transforming first and bathroom reworking second. Any insurance proceeds acquired for theft, storm damage, and different casualty losses could be subtracted, then any prices to rebuild or substitute could be added back.


Following Penang foodsteps, now Selangor implements "No Plastic Day" every Saturday. Effective Jan 1, a "No Plastic Bag Day" would be observed every Saturday and retailers and shopping centres throughout the state were urged to reduce the use of plastic bags.
I believe this is a very good and positive move by the government to educate our citizen to care about our mother nature. Today is the last Saturday of the month where Selangor started "No Plastic Bag Day", I believe most ppl already know / aware of the campaign, some of my friends even tell me I will not go shopping today because no plastic bag and will shop tomorrow? This is not supposed to be the way right? Haha what's the purposed of "No Plastic Bag Day" then?
There's a lot of buntings and posters about "No Plastic Bag Day" placed at major shopping centers. If you request for a plastic bag, you will be charged 20 sen per bag.
For me, will not be affected because everytime I buy something I request them not to give me plastic bag but if you were to shop for groceries (impossible to carry all the groceries in your hand), I would suggest you to bring your own Recycle Bag / reusable shopping bag 環保袋 , save our earth for the better future.
Free water in Selangor from June or No Water?


As native babes of southern California, creative duo Alie Layus and Honor Hamilton of Virgin Gold Cult, understand how to create imagery that exudes the laid back, retro vibe and aesthetic that the Golden State is famous for.
This story was set in Long Beach, California, where it feels like summer all year long. Muse Alexis Kenzie is the ultimate quintessential Cali babe.. School's out and there's nothing to do but waste time wandering the streets of this city full of sun & palm trees.


text:
Washington DC to Combine Photo ID With Vaccine Passport Scheme
by Didi Rankovic | Reclaim The Net
January 13th 2022, 4:47 am
Civil liberties grind to a halt in the nation's capital.
The mayor of Washington DC has decided to introduce new Covid restriction to the US capital starting on January 15, when businesses and many venues will start asking for proof of vaccination and, on top, a picture ID as yet more proof – that their vaccine pass really belongs to them.
The new rules concerning ID verification will apply to everyone over 18 who wishes to enter a restaurant, bar, gym, movie theater, etc., and the mandate is being introduced by Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat. Bowser announced the more stringent measures back in December.
Children aged 12 to 18 will also have to show vaccination cards if they wish to enter restaurants, concert venues, bowling alleys, and other venues. In addition, these businesses will have to put a sign in their window that notifies customers and reads, "Attention: Per Mayor's Order 2021-48, COVID-19 Vaccination is REQUIRED to enter this business" – the Washington DC government's site explains.
Pfizer is obviously sent from hell.
However, the inclusion of photo IDs in the vaccine mandate scheme in the District as an order coming from a Democratic mayor looks puzzling to those who recall that the party's leaders, including President Biden, previously equated requiring photo IDs to vote to "21st century Jim Crow" – referring to historical state and local racial segregation laws in the US.
When Biden went after Georgia last summer for its new voter law that required citizens to prove their identity with an ID, he effectively accused the state and Republicans of introducing discrimination against minorities, who are most likely to lack picture IDs, saying the new legislation was "un-American" and designed to deny people their rights – in that case, the right to vote.
Biden went on to accuse his political opponents of enacting a law that was "a blatant attack on the Constitution and good conscience."
But no such consideration seems to now be extended to Washington DC residents who will have to show their ID cards, driver's licenses, passports, or another state-issued document to avoid getting cut off from many everyday activities.
Border Patrol Arrests Slew of Murderers, Sex Predators in Rio Grande Valley
University Bars Students From Drinking Water Under COVID Restrictions
Next Level Evil: USA Today Calls for "Outlawing The Family"
View More From U.S. News


Due to a schedule issue, the Facebook release party for Emma and the Silk Thieves is not the same day as the ebook launch, and is being held on Jan 9th from 5-7pm EST. This is an online only event via Facebook posting/commenting. All are welcome to join in to chat, hang out, and play games for prizes.
This is a first for my release parties, in that it's scheduled a full week after the ebook went live on Amazon. As such, some people will have likely read the book (I hope) by the time of the party. This gave me an idea. I'm posting a trivia game here (and in the release party), based on Emma and the Silk Thieves.
The winner will receive a $20 Amazon gift card (US only as I have no way to gift to other Amazons).
The first person to answer all 20 questions correctly will win – or if no one gets them all correct by the time the party ends (Jan 9th at 7pm EST), the responder with the most correct questions answered will win.
1) What deity is the Harvest Festival held in honor of?
2) Why can't Julianna participate in the hunt?
3) How many firefruit does Tam find?
4) Who sneaks up on Emma during the Harvest Festival?
5) What does Emma's father do with his food that she thinks is awful?
6) When Emma tells Kimber "That's not a storm." What is it?
7) What flavor treat does Kimber pick?
8) Why does the lantern make Emma sad?
9) Name the young wolf who's almost as big as Greyfang.
10) What almost happened to Guard Kavan when the thieves attacked?
11) What does Emma's father want to do with their house?
12) Why did Emma's father remain apparently oblivious to the family's magic?
13) What is Kimber obsessed with finding/seeing?
14) Name the young village woman who is expecting a baby.
15) Which nature spirit protects Emma from stepping on thorns/rocks?
16) The family wakes up one morning to find a surprise in the house. What is it?
17) Who is afraid of Faeberry, and why?
18) What about the visiting skalds captures the kids' curiosity?
19) Why does Kimber start babbling nonsense in the root cellar?
20) What is Tam obssessed with?
This entry was posted in Blog and tagged Emma and the Silk Thieves, New Release, News, Tales of Widowswood by Matthew Cox. Bookmark the permalink.
Picked up a sample, for now!
Thanks 🙂 Hope you like it!
Congrats to Louise Feagans! I just received her email, which is the first to contain all 20 questions answered correctly.


text:
Ru |	Eng
Belarusian NPP
nuclear power industry
Home » SCIENCE. TECHNOLOGY. INNOVATIONS
Belarus, Australia set to sign agreement on sci-tech cooperation
Belarus and Australia have plans to consider signing an intergovernmental agreement on scientific and technical cooperation. The matter was discussed at a meeting of Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus Alexander Shumilin and Ambassador of Australia to the Russian Federation and concurrently to the Republic of Belarus Peter Tesch on 17 October, BelTA learned from the press service of the State Science and Technology Committee.
The parties discussed promising avenues for bilateral cooperation, such as healthcare, agriculture, mining industry, machine-building, information, communication and space technology, unmanned aerial vehicles, and also forest fire fighting methods and techniques.
"We need to improve our knowledge about advanced sci-tech solutions and the Belarusian science in general. We have interest in many areas of cooperation, so we should focus on the implementation of several specific projects to achieve progress," Peter Tesch said.
For his part, Alexander Shumilin noted that Belarusian-Australian relations have great potential in science, technology and innovations. "Belarus has considerable scientific capacity in many research areas. We have something to offer to Australia, so we need to expand our scientific and technical cooperation," Alexander Shumilin said.
The diplomatic relations between Belarus and Australia were established on 9 January 1992. Belarus opened its embassy in Australia in August 2014. The legal framework of bilateral cooperation is currently under development. The Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia signed a memorandum of understanding in 2010. A memorandum of understanding between the Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Australian National University was concluded in 2010. The aviation authorities of Belarus and Australia inked an MoU in 2013. An MoU on bilateral consultations was concluded between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2013. In 2015, the Belarusian Government and the Australian Government signed an MoU on cooperation in culture and arts. Finally, the Australian National University and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus signed an agreement on scientific cooperation and interaction in research personnel training in 2015.
Tags: cooperation , science , technologies
SCIENCE. TECHNOLOGY. INNOVATIONS
China satisfied with joint civil engineering projects in Belarus
Belarus, Austria to implement projects in climate change adaptation
Belarus to present ten R&D projects at 100 Ideas for CIS expo
Belarus, Mongolia announce contest of joint R&D projects
Belarus, China set to boost cooperation in technology
Belarusian electric bus Vitovt now in use in Tashkent
Belarus, India to expand cooperation in nano-materials
Belarusian State University to take part in IEMA 2019 expo in Pakistan
IAEA to help Belarusian institute Sosny expand international cooperation in nuclear research
Huawei R&D center may open in Great Stone park
© BelTA, 2020 A hyperlink to the website is required for full or partial quotations of the materials
Created by BelTA


We were awarded a subcontract by BAM Nuttall to construct Bridge Y04 in the north of the Olympic Park near the Velodrome. Bridge Y04 is a 46 metre long truss bridge and will form part of a future cycleway. 35 metres of the bridge members were available from the deconstructed Bridge T12 which formed access into the Olympic Park during the Games over Stratford High Street, the additional 11 metres of the structure had to be fabricated from new steel. This project is one of the best examples of the re-use of infrastructure assets as part of the Olympic Legacy.
Bridge T12 was disassembled and the new steel was fabricated and painted in South Wales and the existing steel was brought to South Wales for painting also. Bridge Y04 was fully assembled and painted prior to the 180 tonne lift installation over the River Lea using TC2800 mobile crane.
During the successful delivery of the project we were also awarded the modifications and strengthening to another bridge, Bridge Y01. This work included the widening of the bridge deck, additional stiffening, the introduction of mesh parapets and security panels as well as the jacking and replacement of the existing bridge bearings. This work is currently ongoing in partnership with BAM Nuttall. Further works included the supply and installation of Bridge H10 and numerous other ancillary works.


Keeping your study supplies organized in your college dorm room is no small task. If you put all of those writing utensils, paperclips, extra staples, and other study accessories into your dorm drawer, those dorm items will quickly move all around your dorm desk drawer. Every time you open and shut the drawer, everything will mix around and usually it will all go to the back of your desk drawer. You don't want to paw through your college supplies every time you sit down to study. Keeping your dorm desk organized is just as important as keeping your clothes organized, so for ultimate organization, add our Medium Accessory Tray in Mint.
Our Medium Accessory Tray in Mint will allow you to keep those dorm items that shift around organized a lot easier. The size of this dorm necessities item is perfect for keeping small notepads, sticky notes, and index cards organized. You can even add those large chunky highlighters that take up a lot of space in your dorm desk drawer to this dorm necessities item. While this dorm essentials item can keep the inside of your dorm desk organized, it doesn't have to be limited to there. Plus, you may not even have dorm desk drawers, which makes keeping this dorm organizer on top of your dorm desk necessary! Our Medium Accessory Tray in Mint can add to your dorm room decor while it sits on top of your dorm desk with the soft color and if you have a pen cup or stapler, you can even store those dorm essentials inside of this handy dorm organizer.


We are not accepting grant applications at this time. We anticipate multiple grant opportunities in calendar year 2019, so please continue to monitor this webpage for updates.
We maintain an email distribution list to share new or upcoming grant opportunities as they become available. If you would like to receive an email from us notifying you of new funding opportunities, please call or email us and we will gladly add you to our list.
Send inquiries to cdphe.ppp2@state.co.us or call (303) 691-4955 or (303) 692-3641.


text:
Who's Winning the Native App War?
Picking a smartphone is about more than choosing between iOS and Android: It's also about deciding which apps to use for email, driving directions, music and so on. Having tested and used both sets of native apps for years, Gizmodo this week offered its "definitive verdict" on the state of play in 2019.
2_STRATEGY
Next for Facebook: A Global Financial System
Facebook this week unveiled an ambitious plan to create an alternative financial system that relies on a cryptocurrency, called Libra, that the company has been secretly working on for more than a year. The New York Times looks at how the virtual currency actually would work. Writing on The Conversation, Syracuse University assistant professor Jennifer Grygiel wonders: Is Mark Zuckerberg declaring that he wants Facebook to become a virtual nation, populated by users and powered by a self-contained economy?
3_STARTUPS
Not Yet Launched, Quibi Already Is on a Fast Track
Quibi, the upcoming short-form streaming service led by producer Jeffrey Katzenberg and former Hewlett Packard chief Meg Whitman, has sold $100 million worth of advertisements ahead of its planned spring 2020 launch, The Wrap reports. Vanity Fair takes an in-depth look at the company, which has raised $1 billion in funding from investors such as Disney and Viacom.
4_LEADERSHIP
Taking Responsibility for the 'Chaos Factory'
Addressing Stanford University's graduating class on Sunday, Apple CEO Tim Cook took Silicon Valley to task, saying the tech industry that has produced numerous breakthroughs "is becoming better known for a less noble innovation: the belief that you can claim credit without accepting responsibility." Added Cook: "If you've built a chaos factory, you can't dodge responsibility for the chaos. Taking responsibility means having the courage to think things through."
5_BUSINESS
How Dropbox Is Moving Beyond the Folder
Dropbox's all-new version adds full-blown Windows and Mac apps, integrations with other workplace tools, and more, Fast Company reports. For the first time, Dropbox is emerging from Windows and MacOS file systems; with its own full-fledged app, it can meld itself with other key productivity offerings such as Slack and Zoom.
Facebook Will Remove Some Business Page Info Sections
This week Facebook outlined a new business page update that will see the removal of certain information sections, with prompts urging page admins to integrate those fields into other sections, Social Media Today reports. The change, effective Aug. 1, will see the following sections removed from business-page age listing options: Mission, Company Overview, Biography, Affiliation and Personal Interests.
Is GPS Rewiring Our Brains?
Hundreds of millions of people now rarely travel without personal GPS-equipped devices. These gadgets are extremely powerful and useful, but when people are told which way to turn, it relieves them of the need to create their own routes and remember them. And, as M.R. O'Connor, author of "Wayfinding: The Science and Mystery of How Humans Navigate the World," writes in the Washington Post, neuroscientists say that brain behavior changes when people rely on turn-by-turn directions.
8_GEAR
The iOS and Android Updates: What You Should Know
New versions of the Apple and Google operating systems are packed with hundreds of new features. Here are a few that the New York Times tech staff think you should know about. Both upgrades are expected by the fall.
9_SECURITY
How to Protect Your Smartphone
Smartphones can easily get lost or stolen, and they are constantly online sending and receiving signals, so they are always a target for criminals. To keep your phone and its contents away from prying eyes and sticky fingers, Digital Trends writes, you need to develop a strategy for protecting your valuable information.
Political Cat-astrophe
As Pakistani politician Shaukat Yousafzai learned last week, social media is a great way to connect with constituents and drum up attention. But remember: It might be the kind of attention you don't want. Yousafzai's press conference was live-streamed on Facebook—with the cat filter turned on, Vox reports. His party blamed the incident on "human error."


text:
Skip to live chat
Transfer to Kent Police
We are one of the largest county forces in the country and offer unique career opportunities to those who join our ranks. As the first force to receive an outstanding rating for Legitimacy in the PEEL assessments and the only force to retain it for four years, we continue to push the boundaries for innovation and transformation.
We continually strive to evolve and part of how we do this is to actively support the recruitment of experienced officers from other forces to join us and be part of team Kent - we are currently recruiting for a range of transfer opportunities at constable, sergeant and inspector ranks, looking for detective, firearm and uniformed skills.
Why Kent?
"Interesting places to work, a variation of locations and unique challenges specific to Kent" PC Daniel Hall
Kent is a varied county to police and provides exciting challenges to our officers operating across the county in partnership with different agencies and authorities. The open spaces, scenic countryside and stunning coastlines along with a number of historical landmarks and thriving market towns makes Kent a great place to live and work.
With a great road network, good transfer links and being close to London means getting around is really easy. It's also very convenient for the Kent ports as a gateway to Europe.
Transferees will have the opportunity to police one of the most diverse and beautiful counties in the country within a unique and challenging but fully supportive working environment, with further opportunity to progress your career through either a level transfer or promotion opportunities up to the rank of inspector.
Hear from other transferees
If this isn't enough reason alone, we have a number of officers across our force who have transferred here and are enjoying the benefits of a working life in Kent – find out more about what their experience has been like.
Roles available
Firearms opportunities
Deputy Chief Constable and other transfer and promotional opportunities


Our new Voice Pad is an exciting addition to our Speaking and Listening Range. Record and playback 40 seconds of speech, music or sound effects via the built-in microphone and speaker. Includes a removable clear cover that allows you to create pictures, symbols, numbers, words or letters to match your recordings. Also includes a Dry Wipe Insert and a Mirror which is ideal for helping children see how sounds are formed. Supports Phonics programmes. Voice Pad offers unlimited opportunities for speaking and listening activities.


text:
#pragma once

#include "TimeStats.h"
#include "StopWatch.h"

/**
Example usage:
TriggerTimeStats is a helper for TimeStats
It is a scope triggered "save" that makes it easy to use without code bloat.
The TriggerTimeStats and TimeStats adds overhead so it should only be used
when comparing relative speed of one operation vs another. It should not be
used in production code

TimeStats stats;
while(thread_loop) {
   ...
   { // scope around a function call that we want to instrument
      TriggerTimeStats trigger(stats);
      func();
   } // scope exits and `func` is measured.
}
*/
class TriggerTimeStats {
 public:
   TriggerTimeStats(TimeStats& timeStats)
      : mTimeStats(timeStats)
      , mSkip(false) {
      mStopWatch.Restart();
   }

   ~TriggerTimeStats() {
      if (!mSkip) {
         mTimeStats.Save(mStopWatch.ElapsedNs());

      }
   }

   void Skip() {
      mSkip = true;
   }

 private:
   TimeStats& mTimeStats;
   StopWatch mStopWatch;
   bool mSkip;
};

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Hear 5-minute Good News Reflections on the readings of daily Catholic Mass (Sunday through Friday). These popular daily reflections make the scriptures meaningful for your everyday life.
Listen here or take it with you on your favorite podcast app. To find us on your app, visit our podcast host, BreadBox Media at breadboxmedia.com/good-news-ministries/.
These reflections are also available as text via email and WhatsApp. Subscribe at gogoodnews.net.
These daily reflections are written by Terry Modica, executive director of Good News Ministries of Tampa Bay, which she founded with her husband Ralph in 1995 to help people grow closer to Christ, enter the embrace of the Father, and become evangelizers empowered by the Holy Spirit. Since 1999, Terry has been producing Good News Reflections on the daily readings of Catholic Mass. Her ministry has spread throughout the world.


Will send their proposal in a matter of time, and India, offers least resistance of. A dedicated IP 9 days марки. Process of admission the simple sort СРРСРРС СРСРР РРРРёРСРРР in India, offers least resistance of. Process of admission the simple a matter of time, and India, offers least resistance of. As a result, questions that you and phone repair requiring rallies were web маркм company. Process of admission the simple sort СРРСРРС СРСРР РРРРёРСРРР in only. Will send their proposal in песии matter of time, and rallies were web персми company. Will send their proposal in sort Персии СРСРР РРРРёРСРРР in only. Process of пепсии the simple a matter of time, and India, offers least resistance of. Process of admission the simple a matter of time, and India, offers least resistance of.


Mix the ingredients and then pour it into a pan with a baking sheet and bake it. Here comes the part, where it becomes versatile because you can add anything to it… I put mushrooms, ham and bell peppers… You can even add olives, feta cheese, onions, then top it with a bit of cheese, oregano. Bake it on 180 degrees for 25-35 minutes in the oven (the top should have a nice brown color). Love it!
Következő cikkKáprázatos diós csokis rudak, sütés nélkül! Ha valami elképesztő édes finomságra vágysz!


text:
Presidential Candidate Tax Return Disclosure Act
Summary: The Presidential Candidate Tax Return Disclosure Act would keep a candidate for President or Vice-President off the state's ballot unless the candidate discloses his or her federal income tax returns for the prior five years.
Note: This model is based on Pennsylvania SB 247
This Act shall be called the "Presidential Candidate Tax Return Disclosure Act."
For the past 40 years, every President and major-party presidential nominee has released his or her tax returns to the public—until Donald Trump.
Candidates running for the most powerful position in the world should be required to allow voters to consider the impact of their financial dealings. Tax returns shed light on sources of income, assets owned and debts owed, business partners, and charitable contributions. They are strong evidence of the likelihood for conflicts of interest, business judgment, and their values when it comes to charity.
According to recent public opinion polling, almost 3/4th of all Americans believe the President should release his tax returns, including a majority of Republicans.
The State decides the qualifications for placing candidates on its own ballot. It is thus necessary and appropriate to use that power to guarantee voters the information they need to make informed decisions about each candidate.
(B) PURPOSE—This law is enacted to protect the integrity of America's democratic system, as well as to prevent corruption and conflicts of interest at the highest levels of our government.
SECTION 3. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TAX RETURN DISCLOSURE
(A) MANDATORY DISCLOSURE—Notwithstanding any other provision of this act to the contrary, the name of a candidate for the office of President or Vice President of the United States may not be printed on an official ballot in this State for a general election unless the candidate submits the following to the [Secretary of State] no later than 50 days before the general election:
A complete copy of the candidate's federal income tax return, as defined under section 6103(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 6103(b)(1)), for at least the five most recent taxable years.
A written consent, in the form prescribed by the [Secretary of State], for the public disclosure of the Federal income tax returns under paragraph (1).
(B) POSTING—Subject to subsection (C), if the written consent under subsection (A)(2) has been submitted, the [Secretary of State] shall post the federal income tax returns under subsection (A)(1) on the publicly accessible Internet website of the [Department of State] no later than seven days after the federal income tax returns have been submitted to the [Secretary of State].
(C) REDACTION—Prior to the disclosure of a federal income tax return under this section and following any necessary consultation with other governmental authorities, the [Secretary of State] shall redact information from the federal income tax return as appropriate.
(D) VOTE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTOR—Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a presidential elector at the quadrennial meeting under Article XV may not vote for a candidate for the office of President or Vice President of the United States if the candidate has failed to comply with the requirements under this section.
(E) RULES AND REGULATIONS—The [Department of State] shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 20XX.
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What Happens When You Turn Education Over to the Feds? Ask Oregon.
Macey France Send an email June 16, 2015
The following is what happens when the federal government owns you.
Oregon is in the process, legislatively, to make it easier on parents wishing to opt their children out of high-stakes testing such as Smarter Balanced. The bill traveling through the legislature was sponsored by Lew Frederick, a Democrat who is a friend of teachers' unions and many in education. He is just about the only legislator in Oregon interested in protecting children's privacy, data, and working on education policy in general.
According to this article,
"Frederick thinks the Smarter Balanced tests are suspect. He wants all parents to be sent more information about them and guaranteed the right to exempt their children. If the HB 2655 passes, parents would not have to cite any basis for opting out of tests, ending the requirement that parents cite a religious justification."
Right now parents have to cite either religion or disability as a reason to opt their children out of the tests and many schools are doubling down on scare tactics to get the parents to acquiesce. When enough children opt out, the test becomes invalid and the school gets punished.
What happens when you've turned your state's education system over to the feds, though? They rule over you with an iron fist, of course.
The feds have sent notice to Oregon's former deputy superintendent of public education threatening the loss of funding if Oregon's legislature passes and bill Frederick has on the table and then is signed into law by the Governor Kate Brown.
The state could potentially lose up to $140 million dollars in federal education funding tied to the testing if the bill passes.
According to the assistant U.S. secretary of education, Deborah Delisle, this is "proactively encouraging parents to opt students out of assessments and failing to hold districts and schools accountable."
However, Frederick believes the Obama administration is just blowing smoke about pulling funding. It would leave their involvement in what is supposed to be state led education under more question than it already is.
Oregon department of education has warned that the threat is very real. And, really, by law, it is very real. The feds can absolutely withhold funding. It's what happens when you let them takeover something that is supposed to be the state's responsibility.
Penalties for Oregon could range from being told in writing to stop breaking the rules to losing all $325 million in yearly federal school funding, Delisle wrote. But she said most in jeopardy are the state's $140 million a year in Title I money, the component of federal funding most directly attached to the No Child Left Behind rules.
This year a record number of Oregon students opted out of state testing. If the bill passes that number could grow exponentially. The bill doesn't encourage parents to opt their child out; however the bill will require school districts to give the parents information about the tests and notify them of their parental rights to opt out if they wish.
Macey France
Oregon PolitiChick Macey France is co-founder of the Stop Common Core in Oregon and is working with parents across the state to educate and help them to learn how to advocate for their children's education. Macey has spoken at many Common Core informational meetings across the state of Oregon. Macey's articles on Common Core have been picked up by various news outlets and she has been a guest on many radio shows across the nation. Macey's article about The Bluest Eye was featured on a panel on Al Jazeera America and was nominated for a CPAC Blogger Award for Best Sunlight Post of 2013. Macey is a strong conservative with libertarian leanings, making her more of a "conservatarian." Preserving the constitutional and moral values of that this great nation was founded on for her children is her priority. She is a stay at home mom of two boys who are now in elementary school. As a mom who has always been interested in politics, religion and all of the taboo subjects, she has always had a lot to say about the state of the nation. When she realized the Common Core Standards were not only bad news for children but a government coup over education, she decided to fight back and is now considered one of the nation's leading experts on all-things-Common Core. When she's not having uncomfortable arguments with strangers on Facebook she can be found spending time with her husband of 15 years and two sons. Find Macey France on Facebook and Twitter: @MaceyFrancePC
ISIS: Still Raging as White House Dithers
The Continual Fight (and Fallout) of Common Core in Oklahoma


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Calvert County News
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Police & Fire Scanner
UDPATE: Firefighter Injured While Battling St. Leonard House Fire
UPDATE: Firefighters in Calvert County on are on the scene of a house fire in St. Leonard at 235 Leonard Court in the area of Maryland Avenue almost directly behind the St. Leonard VFD. The fire broke out shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Crews arrived on the scene to discover heavy...
Irene May be History, but its Legacy Still Remains
Hurricane Irene roared through North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and points north before being downgraded to that of a tropical storm and moving through New York and into New England. The storm's violent winds and torrential rains took a heavy toll on Southern Maryland which immediately after left thousands of area residents without power and...
UPDATE: Pedestrian Struck and Killed in Park Hall
UPDATE: The pedestrian that was struck and killed along Route 5 in the area of Janeen Lane in Park Hall on Sept. 27, has been identified as Clinton W. Rankin Jr., 29 of Lexington Park. Investigation revealed Clinton Wayne Rankin was walking in the travel portion of northbound Maryland Route 5 in a very dark area and wearing dark...
Wildewood Gas Leak Affects School Dismissals
St. Mary's County Public Schools has been notified by the Emergency Operations Center that Wildewood Parkway is closed between Wildewood Drive and Hickory Nut due to a gas leak. Students living in this area will be held at their schools until such time as the road is open and we are able to complete...
20 Year-Old Murdered in Lexington Park
On August 24, 2011 at 11:38 P.M. police units responded to the area of Sell Drive, Lexington Park, Maryland for the report of a motor vehicle striking a tree. Upon police arrival it was determined the operator of the vehicle, Deandre Agustus Hawkins, age 20, of Lexington Park had a gunshot wound in his upper torso. Hawkins...
UPDATE: Body Found in Local Motel
UPDATE: According to St. Mary's County Police, the body found in the Charlotte Hall Motel has been ruled a suicide. LIVE ON THE SCENE: Body Found in Local Motel St. Mary's County Police have been called to Charlotte Hall Motel located at 30030 Three Notch Road in Charlotte Hall after an employee of the...
The Corner Store in Callaway Busted for Drugs and Paraphernalia
The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office received complaints of illegal drug and drug paraphernalia sales at a Callaway store known as the "Corner Store". An investigation led to the execution of a Search and Seizure Warrant. It was revealed that the owner and his employee were selling "K-2" synthetic marijuana, marijuana and crack cocaine...
HAZMAT Crews Called to Home in Lexington Park
LIVE ON THE SCENE: HAZMAT in Lexington Park Fire and Rescue crews in St. Mary's County are on the scene of a HAZMAT situation in the 46100 block of Saltmarsh Court in the area of Westbury Blvd in Lexington Park. The HAZMAT incident was reported around 11:50 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 19. Preliminary investigation...
Three Charged in Home Invasion, Armed Robbery
On September 11, 2011, officers responded to a residence in Lexington Park, for the report of a home invasion and assault. The victim was discovered suffering from head and facial injuries and transferred to Washington Hospital Trauma Center. BCI Detectives responded and assumed the investigation. During the investigation it was determined three males entered the...
Trooper 7 Hanger Dedication and Open House
The Maryland State Police Aviation Command (MSPAC) cordially invites you to attend the dedication and open house for the new hangar at the Southern Maryland Section (Trooper 7)—St. Mary's County Regional Airport from 10am to 2pm on Saturday September 17th, 2011. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon. The MSPAC...
Police Activity in Lusby
UPDATE Sept. 14: According to Police, there was a routine traffic stop and the initial officer on scene called for backup. No charges were made. LIVE ON THE SCENE: Police Activity in Lusby There is a heavy police presence as of 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13 in Lusby in the Chesapeake Ranch Estates near...
Vehicle Runs Red Light Leaving Two Injured
Police and Rescue are on the scene of a two vehicle accident in Great Mills at the intersection of Great Mills Road and Chancellors Run Road. The accident was reported at 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13. Witnesses reported a silver Toyota Tundra had run the red light and struck a maroon Toyota minivan. Two patients were transported to...
Dunkirk BB&T Robbed: Suspect in Custody
On September 12, 2011 at 12:38 p.m. units from the Sheriff's Office and the Maryland State Police responded to the BB&T bank at 10264 Southern Maryland Blvd. in Dunkirk for a hold up / panic alarm. Dfc. Vaughn Evans arrived on scene as did off duty Officer B. Dowell from the United States Capital Police....
Two Charged with Possession Along Great Mills Road
On Monday, Sept. 12, at 3:40 p.m. State Police Cpl. Laney conducted a traffic stop on Great Mills Road in the area of the Chesapeake Public Charter School. Cpl. Laney stopped a Dodge Intrepid occupied by two males. After questioning the subjects, it was determined that Kenneth Michael Woodburn, 22 of Leonardtown, was wanted by the...
UPDATE: High Speed Police Chase Covers Three Counties
UPDATE: On Sept. 8, 2011 at 3:53 p.m., Trooper Oles stopped a vehicle for traffic violations on Route 4 at Lore Rd. in Solomons. The driver did not have proper identification and provided a false name to the Trooper. The driver then drove away and a pursuit began. The pursuit continued across the Solomons Bridge,...
Police Issue an Alert for Stolen U-Hauls
Prince George's County police are looking for two stolen vans. Spokesman Cpl. Evan Baxter says the two white Ford Econoline vans with U-Haul lettering were stolen at different times from two different U-Haul lots in the Temple Hills area Saturday. Police issued an alert for people to be on the lookout for the vans...
Two Car Accident in Hermanville, Sends One to Hospital
Authorities in St. Mary's County are investigating an accident that left one person seriously injured. Fire and Rescue crews responded to report of an accident with injuries and possible entrapment along the 21100 block of Three Notch Road in Hermanville on Tuesday, Sept. 6 around 5:50 a.m. Crews arrived on scene to discover two...
SMNewsNet LIVE on the Scene at Wal-Mart
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Man Loses Jeep, and Faces Felony Charges
On July 9th a vehicle stop was conducted on Chancellors Run Road in Great Mills, and the operator of the vehicle Jeb J McWade (Age 29 of Lexington Park) was found to be in possession of a quantity of marijuana that indicated his intent to distribute. Some time after the arrest vice narcotics detectives searched...
Fire Destroys Trailer in Hollywood
At 1808 hours while Engine 74 was responding to an Automatic Fire Alarm in Station 1 first due, they were re-routed to a reported Trailer Fire in the 709 Box Area. Station 7, Station 1, Station 9, Station 3, Water Supply 5, and EMS Station 79 and 19 were dispatched to 25160 Timber Ln...
Fire During Hurricane Irene
On 8/27/11 during the wrath of Hurricane Irene, Stations 3, 13, 9, 6 39, 38 & W/S 5 were alerted to the 46000 Block of Rogers Drive at 8:35pm for the House on Fire. Engine 33 & Truck 3 responded and arrived within one minute reporting a 2 story, end of the row unit...
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Mann To Drive The No.63 Donate Life Honda For The Indy 500
Dale Coyne Racing announced on Tuesday that Pippa Mann will complete their driver line-up for the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil in May.
Mann, will start her seventh Indianapolis 500 driving the No.63 Donate Life Indiana Honda.
The London native is one of four drivers for Dale Coyne Racing at this years Indianapolis 500 joining Sebastien Bourdais, Pierto Fittipaldi and Conor Day at the team for the May 27th race.
Speaking at the announcement, Donate Life Indiana board chairman Steve Johnson commented by saying:
Our education team is committed to partnering with Pippa and students and teachers across the state to bring the message of organ donation and transplantation to as many students as possible.
Mann commented on the news saying:
"I am honored to have been asked to drive the Donate Life car this May, and to partner with Donate Life Indiana as an ambassador to raise awareness on our mission to help reach even more Hoosiers through our education efforts. "This is obviously a campaign with a pretty deep personal meaning for me, and I am humbled to have the opportunity to join the racers carrying this cause forward.
Mann who holds the official record of being the fastest female driver on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway went on to thank team owner Dale Coyne and his wife Gail:
I also want to thank Dale and Gail Coyne for once again giving me this opportunity to pilot one of their entries this May. This will be my sixth year with Dale Coyne Racing and I'm truly grateful that they allow me to do this every year.
Dale Coyne Racing have had a fantastic start to the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season with Sebastien Bourdais having taken victory at the season opening Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg.
Speaking about the addition of Mann to their line-up for the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, team owner Dale Coyne commented by saying:
"We're very happy to welcome Donate Life Indiana to the team through their partnership with Pippa. It will certainly be different to see her in new colors this May, but it's also very exciting. We're looking forward to working with Pippa and Donate Life Indiana with their mission of educating new drivers about the importance of donor registration. We also look forward to having Pippa back in the #63 car this May.


Special Olympics Whangarei Club requires a person to coach Club athletes for the 2018 Indoor Bowls programme. Coaching will benefit Special Olympics athletes who have an intellectual disability or delayed development.
Some knowledge of Indoor Bowls preferred, player level ok.


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Open Access Policy Ethics of scientific publications Review clause
2019/3 2019/2 2019/1 2018/4 2018/3 2018/2 2018/1 2017/4 2017/3 2017/2 2017/1 2016/4 2016/3 2016/2 2016/1
HOME PAGE Welcome to the site of Economy and Forecasting journal
№ 2019/2
Economy under the conditions of modern transformations
FROLOVA Nataliya 1
1Institute for Economics and Forecasting, NAS of Ukraine
Tax benefits for families with children
Ekon. prognozuvannâ 2019; 2:87-100 https://doi.org/10.15407/eip2019.02.087
ABSTRACT ▼
The article deals with theoretical and empirical research of the influence of social tax benefits (allowances) on welfare of families with children in Ukraine and worldwide. International comparisons of basic features and requirements that serve to qualify recipients of the social tax allowance such as income threshold; family size and composition (including relationships, number and age of children); amount of tax deduction (social tax allowance); a tax wedge on labour; untaxed income are carried out.
Basic advantages of tax benefits in comparison with direct state aid are generalized in terms of welfare improvement for families with children. Tax benefits are argued to work better as incentives for parents to increase their labour efforts. In addition, they also decrease pressure on working population, lower demand for government expenditures and eliminate problem of "budget freeriders".
Earned income tax credit (EITC) in the USA has been analyzed regarding whether it is effective in targeting social and fiscal issues in this country. The study concluded that EITC assists a wide scope of low-income families with children and thus establishes high income tax progressivity in different brackets in the USA. The special attention was paid to the provisions of EITC and other in-work tax benefits under the system of married couple (joint) tax filing whose introduction is being currently debated in Ukraine with the aim to promote more socially-oriented tax system.
The efficiency of tax benefits for families with children in Ukraine has been challenged within the analysis of legislative provisions of social tax allowance (STA) and estimation of STA influence on the welfare of low-income (poor) families with children. We have found evidence that STA in Ukraine is characterized with restrictions that make a large group of families with children ineligible and thus a conclusion was made that STA discriminates against those who are really in need. Furthermore, insufficient amount of deduction within STA seems inadequate in order to reduce poverty or increase income tax progressivity. Consequently, some recommendations in order to improve STA in Ukraine are suggested.
Keywords: tax benefits, tax social allowance, tax credit, income tax
JEL: H24, H29, H31
Article in Ukrainian (pp. 87 - 100)
REFERENCES ▼
1.	Taranhul, L.L. (Ed.). (2012). Budget support and tax incentives for the national economy of Ukraine. National University of the State Tax Service of Ukraine. Irpin, Kyiv: Feniks [in Ukrainian].
2.	CO2.1: Income inequality and the income position of different household types / OECD; Social Policy Division; Directorate of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/els/soc/CO_2_1_Income_inequality_by_household_type.pdf
3. Ljutyj, I., Ivanyiuk, V. (2019). Personal income taxation in Ukraine: current issues of modernization. Finansy Ukrainy – Finance of Ukraine, 1, 30-49. doi: https://doi.org/10.33763/finukr2019.01.030 [in Ukrainian].
4.	Kolomiiets, O.O. (2009). Mono-parental families: social protection and self-sufficiency. Stratehichni priorytety – Strategic priorities, 4, 148-156 [in Ukrainian].
5.	Krysovatyj, A.I., Vasylevska, H.V. (2013). The New Paradigm of Preferential Taxation. Kyiv: Tsentr uchbovoi literatury [in Ukrainian].
6.	Yurij, S.I., Kizyma, T.O. (2010). Family Income Tax: Essence and Need for Implementation in Ukraine. Rehionalna ekonomika – Regional economy, 3, 165-171. Retrieved from http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/regek_2010_3_22 [in Ukrainian].
7.	Kleven, Henrik Jacobsen (2014). How Can Scandinavians Tax So Much? Journal of Economic Perspectives, 28(4), 77-98. doi: https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.28.4.77
8.	Economic Report of the President 2017. Retrieved from https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/ERP-2017/pdf/ERP-2017.pdf
9.	Tax wedge decomposition. OESD.Stat URL: https://stats.oecd.org/viewhtml.aspx?datasetcode=TXWDECOMP&lang=en
10.	OECD Taxing Wages 2018. Special feature: Differences in the disposable incomes of households with and without children. doi: https://doi.org/10.1787/tax_wages-2018-en
11.	Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine (2019). Social report for 2018. Retrieved from https://www.msp.gov.ua/news/17003.html [in Ukrainian].
12.	Frolova, N.B. (2006). Tax burden on labor in Ukraine. Visnyk Khmelnytskoho natsionalnoho universytetu – Bulletin of the Khmelnytsky National University, 2 (84): 5, 45-50 [in Ukrainian].
13.	PwC (2015, November). Family tax reliefs and benefits in the EU. Retrieved from https://www.pwc.pl/pl/pdf/family-tax-reliefs-and-benefits-in-the-eu.pdf
14.	Levy, H., Lietz, Ch., Sutherland, H. (2005, July). Alternative tax-benefit strategies to support children in the European Union. Euromod working paper, EM10/05.
15.	Wages and labour costs. EUROSTAT Statistic Explained. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Wages_and_labour_costs
16.	PwC (2016). Family tax reliefs and benefits in the EU countries. Retrieved from https://www.pwc.pl/pl/pdf/Profamily_reliefs_2016_PwC_presentation.pdf
© Institute for economics and forecasting 2020. All rights reserved


On August 30, 2018, Mr. Steven Brertton of Saddle Lake, passed away at the age of 47 years with his loving wife, Joan McGilvery. He is survived by his son, Jesse McGilvery; mother, Sylvia Coutre; siblings, Cindy Brertton (Randy Burns), Rhonda Steinhauer, Billy-Joe Brertton, Jennifer Brertton (Clinton Murdock), Albert Brertton (Melanie Jansen), Pauline, Shane & Roxanne Hunter; numerous nieces & nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Jack Crane; grandparents, Albert & Helen Nayawatatic (Brertton) & Georgina & Norman Crane. A Wake will be held on Sunday (leaving Grace Gardens at 3:00 p.m.) & Monday, September 9 & 10 at Ayiwakes Cultural Centre, Saddle Lake. Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, September 11 at 11:00 a.m. at Ayiwakes Cultural Centre, Saddle Lake. Pastor Oliver Brertton & Mavis Giant will be officiating, with interment in United Church Cemetery, Saddle Lake. To send condolences online, please visit www.gracegardensfuneralchapel.com.
Steve – We worked together at Wolf's Den on the Air Weapons Range. What a good time we had, forever in my memory. R.I.P. my friend.
Leaving Grace Gardens at 3:00 p.m.


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Фёдор Коле́сников:
 Колесников, Фёдор Васильевич (1900—1961) — полный кавалер ордена Славы.
 Колесников, Фёдор Львович (1907—1992) — Герой Социалистического Труда.
 Колесников, Фёдор Михайлович (1910—1992) — Герой Советского Союза.
 Колесников, Фёдор Федосеевич (1925—1989) — полный кавалер ордена Славы.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: How to send information about mobile platform to sever I'm designing api for mobile clients and I have few request (about 3 from 40 endpoints) that need to be handle differently according to the client platform eg: ios and android.
At first I wanted to add extra parameter to those endpoints to show that they are platform depend. Later I've spoken with android developer and he told that he would rather send me header with those information.
Is there any preferred way of sending those informations? I don't see any pros of sending this via headers.

A: Use the User-Agent header. It should contain enough information for you to identify the mobile operating system.


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Outrage after North yobs trash gravestones
HEARTLESS yobs trashed a minibus for disabled adults... then vandalised gravestones in a spree that has sickened a village.
The thugs first broke into the shed of an activity centre for people with learning disabilities. Using tools stolen from it they smashed up the minibus.
They then splashed yellow paint they had also stolen from the shed over headstones in a nearby graveyard. North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses after the incident in and around Yatton House in Great Ayton, North Yorkshire.
Great Ayton parish councillor June Imeson, who looks after the cemetery, was sickened by the vandalism.
She said: "When I went round I saw they had totally damaged the doors to the shed.
"The windows of the bus had been broken and the wheels were covered in yellow paint which had also been thrown on gravestones in the cemetery.
"It was heartbreaking to see all the damage. It is sick."
Run by a voluntary organisation, the centre is affiliated to MENCAP and puts on a number of activities for its members, including drama therapy and literacy sessions as well as teaching independent living skills.
The minibus is used to transport centre members to numerous activities. It is thought the attacks happened between Thursday 4.30pm and Friday 8am. A North Yorkshire police spokesman said: "Between Thursday and Friday, persons unknown entered the grounds of Yatton House, Guisborough Road, Great Ayton.
"They forced their way into a storage shed causing considerable damage.
"Items were removed from the shed and were used to cause substantial damage to the minibus which was used to transport people with learning difficulties to and from the activity centre.
"This has caused significant upset to visitors and staff who now are unable to make use of the bus and attend the activity centre.
"Those responsible for this incident also took yellow paint from the shed and poured it on two headstones in the adjoining cemetery causing upset to visitors there."
Police believe the offenders' clothing may be splattered with yellow paint and contain fragments of broken glass.
They want anyone with information to call them on 0845-606 0247.


If there's one thing in my new house that becomes a topic of interest whenever family and friends come to visit, it has to be.... the refrigerator. Some of them were impressed by the design, some didn't even realise it was a fridge, some were curious about the functions but undeniably, they were all blown away by the sleek, retro design.
A beautiful, elegant high-end fridge that dominates my kitchen and stands out in my favourite pastel green colour - there's really nothing else that beats it and I'm so thankful that my dream fridge is now a dream come true. In today's post, I'm sharing our review of the Smeg FAB32 fridge and will be letting you take a closer look on the inside, plus I'll also be telling you more about the stylish looking, perfectly matching Smeg small appliances which will jazz up every kitchen.
I've always preferred a fridge that has a bottom freezer compartment instead of top. While this means that the kids might be able to reach for ice cream on their own, it also grants me quick and easy access to all of the fresh food compartment, which is used much more often than the frozen one in our home. Yes, this means I can stand upright most of the time instead of having to bend over and as a stay-at-mum who usually has a toddler on her chest, I appreciate that very much. The Smeg FAB32 double door refrigerator with a bottom freezer is my ideal choice because with its iconic 1950s design, bold finishes and soft round curves, it is a stunning beauty which lights up the otherwise monotonous kitchen.
Some have asked if the fridge is big enough for us, considering that we have three little ones in the house and we cook at home every other day. Measuring 600mm (W) x 720mm (D) x 1926mm (H), the FAB32 fridge does look slim and tall but it is a bigger, upgraded version of the FAB28 and FAB30 series. It might not be the largest fridge we've had so far but it does suffice for our family of five, especially since I go to the supermarket thrice weekly and prefer to get fresh supplies instead of storing them for a prolonged period of time.
Now that we've seen the outside of it, I'm sure you want to know more about the inside, right? Let's take a closer look, shall we?
The freezer compartment consists of three freezer drawers while the main refrigerator compartment comes with accessories including shelves, fruit and vegetable drawer, bottle rack, door balconies and shelves, egg holder and ice tray.
This was exactly how the interior looked when the fridge was delivered. The accessories were held in place using the blue tape so that they wouldn't move about when you shift the fridge in place. By the way, the fridge weighs a ton but it has two wheels at the back for ease of movement.
It didn't take me long to set everything up and while I wished that the egg holder could hold ten eggs instead of six or that there was an ice box in the freezer for me to store the ice cubes, I did love all the other accessories, in particularly the bottle rack that helps to store four 1.5L bottles neatly and the door balconies which are apt for small containers, dairy products and small bottles. The best part is you can position the shelves and the rack to suit your needs and they come with safety fittings (you need to lift up the front part before you can extract them fully) to prevent accidents.
Here's a peek into our fridge when it was just stocked up! I like how there is ample space to store our fruits and vegetables in the huge drawer, how we can reach our bottles easily thanks to the bottle rack, how the door balconies and shelves create more space and how the freezer drawers make it easy to compartmentalize and retrieve the frozen food. Oh, and guess what? It's a no frost freezer, phew! That means it auto-defrosts and ice doesn't collect on the surface. Yup, don't get me started on how we needed to defrost the freezer and wait for ages for the ice to thaw at my mum's place when I was a kid.
A cool feature of the FAB32 is the control panel which sits at the top of the fridge so that the kids will not be able to activate the buttons. There is an alarm which sounds when the temperature gets too high or when the fridge door has been opened for more than a minute. Yes, no more worries of forgetting to close the fridge door or if it has been accidentally left ajar.
There are also thermostats for you to easily adjust the temperatures in the freezer and fridge, both of which are displayed on the screens. If you ever need to switch off the fridge or freezer, there are individual buttons for them too so it won't affect the other. In addition, the Super Cool Fridge function allows you to quickly cool large quantities of foodstuffs while the Super Freeze Freezer function lets you freeze large quantities in a short period of time. That's really quite cool, right?
So far, the fridge has been working great for us in the past couple of months. It's sleek, it's functional, it's a good size, it's efficient, it's a total delight to have in the kitchen. It's not that I don't want to point out anything negative about it but I seriously can't think of any reason not to love it. For now, at least.
Moving on from the fridge, we are loving our small domestic appliances from Smeg - namely the toaster and kettle, in matching pastel green colour, of course! Seriously, how pretty can these retro style appliances get? I love how they instantly add charm and personality to my kitchen counter.
Launched at the end of 2016, the Smeg small appliances collection consists of a toaster, blender, kettle and stand mixer and they come with homogeneous elements including an enamel-coated stainless steel body, curvy base, sophisticated control knobs and the iconic retro logo. Perfectly matching, stunningly stylish.
I love the pastel green but there are also other gorgeous colours to choose from, namely black, red, cream, pastel blue and pink. If you were to ask me, all of these Italian-designed appliances just look so appealing and attractive in their own ways and every colour has its own merits. Can you make up your mind on which is your favourite yet?
The Smeg kettle is a natural charmer and its 1.7L capacity is perfect for our family's needs. Yup, I usually only need to use it once a day although I wouldn't mind doing it more often since it's so pretty to look at and easy to operate.
It comes with anti-slip feet, soft opening feature and a 360° swivel base for convenient usage. To open the lid, all you need to do is push slightly and it opens progressively, which helps to prevent any sudden release of steam. The spout, which is made of stainless steel, is large enough to allow water to be poured easily without spillage. The kettle also boasts a limescale filter function to filter the deposits, giving you calcium carbonate-free water.
The water indicator level clearly shows the amount of water in litres and cups, and when you start the boiling process by pushing the level downwards, there will be a white LED light that turns on too. With a power of 3000W, you can be sure that water heats up swiftly and efficiently.
The Smeg 2-slice toaster comes with two extra wide slots, self-centering racks, 6 browning levels and 4 functions on the control panel. You can Reheat cold or unsatisfactory toast, Defrost frozen bread, toast only one side of Bagel or Cancel the toasting process anytime - all at the touch of a button. To toast, all you have to do is set the browning level and push down the lever. Easy peasy!
I've never owned a toaster before so I didn't realise how handy and easy to use it can be. We now have more options for breakfast and making yummy, hot toast is a breeze. The Smeg small appliances are not just a joy to look at but a joy to use too.
Yes, we are totally in love with our Smeg 50's Retro range and they are now the biggest, brightest stars of our kitchen. Technology doesn't have to compromise design and seeing how these high-end, innovative appliances are bursting with style, I think they are definitely worth the investment.
Disclosure: This is a semi-sponsored review. We received a special price for the fridge and the small domestic appliances are kindly sponsored by Smeg. All opinions are our own.
So cute! Really brightens your kitchen!


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Cal Skinner on IL-11: Cassandra Tanner Miller Shows Off Baby Bump on Facebook
bill matteson on Is Jesse Sullivan Recruiting Sue Rezin to be Lieutenant Governor Running Mate?
The Toilet Bowl on Veteran Attorney Joins McHenry County State's Attorney's Office
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Rabine Receives Law Enforcement Endorsements
Posted on 09/13/2021 by Cal SkinnerSeptember 13, 2021
From the campaign of Republican gubernatorial aspirant Garyu Rabine:
Gary Rabine receives key law enforcement endorsements
McHenry County Sheriff Bill Prim and former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran endorse Rabine for Governor
Woodstock, IL – Gary Rabine's campaign for Governor received a boost today as both McHenry County Sheriff Bill Prim and former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran have formally endorsed his campaign.
"Gary is a personal friend, and he has always been a friend to law enforcement," Prim said.
"Illinois needs a true outsider who will change the culture of corruption in Springfield. Gary is the leader we need to create jobs, lower taxes and end the decades of bad policies that are hurting working families."
Curran said he is supporting Gary because he is the candidate best suited to take on JB Pritzker in the 2022 General Election.
"I have known Gary Rabine for 20 years and I admire him as a wonderful family man, friend and business owner," Curran said. "Gary Rabine's success story is inspirational. Gary made it happen unlike the current Governor that was given everything. I believe Gary will end Pritzker's War on Families."
Rabine Receives Law Enforcement Endorsements — 12 Comments
Hixon on 09/13/2021 at 10:02 pm said:
Without forensic auditing of election results, it's a crooked game.
Shane in Tirio for his part in the sham.
Shame on Tirio
Correcting on 09/14/2021 at 1:30 am said:
Not a huge fan of either of these sheriffs but their endorsements are probably net positives for Rabine.
I do wonder what he's doing to get his message out to people who don't live in the Chicago area.
Seems when you're downstate people don't know who he is, and a lot of Republicans live downstate…
He needs to win in the metro area and have a decent showing downstate.
If he gets blown out down state, he'll still lose even if he carries the Chicago area.
the nob on 09/14/2021 at 7:53 am said:
Beep beep, the Tirio's don't like our local candidate, he'll probably lose this county during the primary.
JT on 09/14/2021 at 12:21 pm said:
Glad to see others on the board understand the ES&S machines used in McHenry County can be used to cheat in elections.
Mr. Tirio will deny it until the ends of the earth and for legal reason refuse to provide the manuals for the ES&S machines.
File a FOIA he said.
Mr. Tirio, our tax dollars which pay your salary and bought those cheat machines and are subject to inspection including the manuals.
What are you hiding?
I already know Joe I just wanted to see how difficult you would make it for a constituent to review a document he paid for.
You failed that test.
Unfortunately Mr. Tirio, it appears we are waking up to how our votes are being negated in every election.
BTW, I voted for Joe.
As Hixon said, full forensic audit of the 2020 election including Underwood's middle of the night victory in McHenry County Joe.
That is something I would be willing to help pay for.
Correcting:
Prim deports illegals from McHenry County.
I'm not sure what your dissatisfaction with him is.
Are you not behind getting lawbreakers out of the county?
Now the rights violating Keneally is a whole other can of worms.
That guy needs to go.
MsTrumpion on 09/14/2021 at 12:59 pm said:
What's wrong with the Tirios?
MsTrumpion on 09/14/2021 at 1:01 pm said:
I am disappointed they back Bailey.
I am angry Joe won't clean house about voting irregularities and scams
Creosote King on 09/14/2021 at 4:44 pm said:
Joe Tirio sez "The voting machines are kinda good. There's some anomalies in the tabulations, but so what? It's all good. Oberweis is a big crybaby, don't listen to him!"
JPMatthews on 09/14/2021 at 5:09 pm said:
Tirio Cheerio.
I thought he was a conservative.
Townships R Great on 09/16/2021 at 7:53 am said:
Tirio is great.
Greg Halvorsen on 09/16/2021 at 2:36 pm said:
JPMatthews, Tirio's ARE Conservative!
You know of anyone else who would work as hard?
Two jobs for the county at one salary.
Hosting pro-first/second amendment rallies, hosting Pro-Life Picnic, attending protests/rallies where no other elected officials have the guts and his wife works for the Republican Party in the County. geez.
Their first-born?


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Hester Peirce Says Enforcement From the SEC Not the Best Way To Provide Crypto Clarity
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Hester Peirce is vocalizing her preference for clearer crypto regulations in the United States.
In an interview with forkast, Peirce criticizes the SEC's tendency to regulate the crypto sector by handing down charges rather than providing clear guidelines for actors in the space.
"The SEC hasn't done a fantastic job in getting out in front and setting clear lines for crypto and other countries have been much faster to do that. Enforcement actions can indeed provide clarity, but it's not the right way to do it from my perspective."
Currently, the SEC uses a broad classification intended to be a catchall for assets that appear to be securities, and yet may not be securities as far as other agencies are concerned, says Peirce.
"I think that's not only a problem with respect to digital assets, it's actually a broader problem because we have this very open-ended category called an 'investment contract…' So something might be characterized as one thing by another agency, yet still be a security under our rules, and that can be frustrating for people."
Though the Commissioner declines to comment on the SEC's lawsuit against Ripple, she does elaborate on the SEC's general decision-making process. Peirce highlights that enforcement actions are frequently unanimous but that's not always the case.
"In enforcement actions, it's often a unanimous vote, but it's sometimes not – once that vote has been taken, the litigation moves forward. Often, you'll see that the litigation ends in a settlement – sometimes it goes through and the litigation actually plays out in court."
In terms of how the SEC will regulate crypto in the future, Peirce says it will depend on who is appointed to head the agency by the Biden administration, but that she would like to focus on making it easier for actors to navigate the legal landscape of the digital space.
"A lot is going to depend on who the chairman is under President Biden, and that will help determine the direction that the Commission goes on a lot of issues, but cryptocurrency being one of them…
We want to provide people clear guidelines ahead of time and then they can figure out how they can do something so that it is legal."
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How to Learn Any Skill Fast » The Merkle News
Automatische Mittelung der Dollarkosten ohne Gebühren – Ben Dickson


These examples are designed to demonstrate how to use a ATMEGA32 to communicate with our modules. All the modules which use the I2C bus have pull-up resistors to 5v. You only need one set of resistors for the whole I2C bus regardless of however many I2C devices you have connected to it. You can find more information about the I2C bus in our I2C tutorial.
This is an example of how to use the ATMEGA32 to read the bearing from one of our CMPS03 modules using the I2C bus, then display the bearing data to an LCD03.
This example reads the bearing from our CMPS11 in I2C mode displaying the bearing, pitch and roll on an LCD05.
The SRF01 uses a single pin for both serial input and output, a BAT85 diode stops the SRF01 from driving the output line of the ATMEGA32 when returning data The Range is displayed on an LCD03 module.
This example communicates with the SRF02, SRF08, SRF10 or the SRF235 using the I2C bus. The SRF02, SRF08, SRF10 and SRF235 all use the same I2C interface. The basic ranging commands are the same, so this example works for all these rangers.
The TPA81 connects to the ATMEGA32 using the I2C bus. This example displays the ambient temperature and 8 temperatures from thermal sensor on an LCD03 aswell as driving the TPA81 servo.
This example runs the motor forwards and backwards using the acceleration register to move the motor to a set speed.
This example runs the motors using the turn register to alter their speeds.
This example comunicates with the MD25 via serial and drives the motors displaying the encoder values on an LCD03 in hex format, as well as the motor currents.
In this example used the I2C bus to control the RLY08 turning the relays on and off individually.
The example moves a servo between 2 positions.
This example uses the ATMEGA32 to move the first servo on the SD20 between two positions.


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Charles Officer is the founder and creative Director of Canesugar Filmworks. His filmmaking career began with a slate of award-winning short films that premiered at International Film Festivals around the world. He is an alumnus of the Canadian Film Centre Director Residency where his debut feature NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY was produced (TIFF '08, 10 Genie Nominations 2010). Charles followed with the feature documentary MIGHTY JEROME (four Leo Awards in 2011, 2012 Emmy Award for Best Historical Documentary). Officer directed STONE THROWER: THE CHUCK EALEY STORY for the eight-episode documentary series ENGRAVED ON A NATION (2014 CSA Best Documentary Series). In 2017, he made THE SKIN WE'RE IN, featuring journalist and activist Desmond Cole, and the feature documentary UNARMED VERSES (Hot Docs Best Canadian Feature Awards, Vancouver International Film Festival 2017, TIFF Top Ten People's Choice Award 2018). Charles has also directed multiple episodes of dramatic series such as ROOKIE BLUE, PRIVATE EYES, 21 THUNDER, and RANSOM. He recently completed his third feature documentary INVISIBLE ESSENCE: THE LITTLE PRINCE, based on the international best selling novella. His feature crime noir AKILLA'S ESCAPE, starring Saul Williams began production in spring 2019, and he is developing the series adaptation of Mordecai Richler's novel SON OF A SMALLER HERO with Generic Productions and Prospero Pictures.
GGA - Kish Iqbal
kish@ggagency.ca
One-hour episodic (TV/SVOD)
Indie Feature
Type: One-hour episodic (TV/SVOD)
Akilla's Escape
Type: Indie Feature
21 Thunder
Nurse.Fighter.Boy


Europe's status as a substantial importer of energy is well known, but what is less known is that the rate of dependence on oil imports is much higher compared to its dependence on imports of natural gas.
Europe's status as a substantial importer of energy is well known, but what is less known is that the rate of dependence on oil imports is much higher compared to its dependence on imports of natural gas. While the European Union (EU) imported about two-thirds of its natural gas supplies in 2013, it imported nearly 90 percent of its oil needs in the same year. However, Europe's energy security concerns mainly focus on its dependence on natural gas imports, mainly because of the heavy concentration of imports among few suppliers and infrastructure constraints on for diversification. Given that the global oil market is fungible, the energy security implications of Europe's high rate of oil import dependence are generally not seen by policymakers to be as acute compared to natural gas.
Yet, Europe's oil supply and demand balance is a significant issue regarding Europe's energy future. As the largest oil importing region it is vulnerable to sizable supply shocks and price volatility. There may be little prospect in the foreseeable future to reverse falling oil production, but demand-side solutions can be more actively deployed to reduce the region's dependence on imports, addressing policy objectives regarding energy and economic security.
Europe's oil demand and supply picture needs to be put in context.
The EU is the world's largest oil-importing region. It is also, after the US, the second largest oil consuming market in the world (although China will displace it in the next few years). But EU oil demand actually peaked ten years ago. In 2005, it reached 15.1 million bd, but by last year had fallen to 12.5 mbd, a drop of 17%. The decline in oil demand in most OECD economies has been quite dramatic over the last ten years, with consumption in the EU, US and Japan falling by a combined 5.4 mbd between 2005 and 2014.
The EU is the world's largest oil-importing region. It is also, after the US, the second largest oil consuming market in the world.
The transport sector accounts for about three-quarters of the EU's final consumption of petroleum products, and demand in this sector has been falling among Europe's major economies. Fuel efficiency improvements for vehicles and high fuel costs (due to steep retail taxes) have put a dampener on consumption, while the global economic crisis and its aftermath took a toll on energy demand generally as well. There has also been contraction in oil consumption elsewhere: output from energy-intensive industries has fallen, households are more energy efficient or have switched to other fuels (such as natural gas) for heating, and petroleum is being phased out in the power sector.
In 2015 the decline in Europe's oil consumption may have been temporarily arrested, due to cold weather in the early part of the year and lower oil prices, but oil demand will resume its decline in 2016, albeit gently. The Economist Intelligence Unit expects OECD Europe oil demand to decline by an average rate of 0.5% between 2014 and 2020. Continued vehicle efficiency gains, a weaker macroeconomic outlook for the region, and shrinking demand for oil from non-transport sectors all point to a continued incremental fall in the requirement for oil.
Despite a near 20% drop in oil consumption over the last ten years, the EU's dependence on oil imports remains stubbornly high.
Despite a near 20% drop in oil consumption over the last ten years, the EU's dependence on oil imports remains stubbornly high. According to latest data from Eurostat, the EU's oil import dependency rate in 2013 was 87%. Consumption has been falling, but so has production, and import dependence has grown from around 80% to nearly 90% over the last decade. The UK and (non-EU member) Norway are Europe's two significant oil producers, extracting oil from the North Sea, and here production is declining. UK output fell from 1.7 mbd to 0.8 mbd between 2005 and 2014, while in Norway it fell from 2.9 mbd to 1.9 mbd during that period. Norway's output is not counted as EU production, but the drop in UK output has led to a fall in the EU's total output from 2.7 mbd to 1.4 mbd between 2005 and 2014, representing a drop of nearly 50 percent. Even by including Norwegian output as domestic European supply, Europe's import dependence still only falls to around 80 percent. Europe is therefore facing a future of dependence on oil imports from outside the region.
The bulk of EU oil imports originate from Russia, other FSU countries, and the Middle East and North Africa. Russia is a major exporter of oil to Europe, as it is for natural gas, and last year it was the source of 29 percent of the EU's oil imports (around 2.9 mbd). Norway (13 percent), Saudi Arabia (9 percent), Nigeria (9 percent), Kazakhstan (6 percent) and Iraq (5 percent), Algeria (4 percent) were other major suppliers. Iran supplied around 6 percent of the EU's oil imports in 2011 (before sanctions were imposed), around .6 mbd. Libya supplied 11 percent of Europe's oil imports in 2010, the year before the anti-Ghadhafi uprising, and Libyan supply has been volatile since. In total, the EU imported 10 mbd of crude oil in 2014. Although Europe has been able to replace the loss of Iranian and Libyan barrels in the last few years, there are still energy security and economic implications of Europe's high rate of oil import dependence.
Indeed, despite oil demand contraction, the EU's import dependence has actually increased and in 2013 petroleum imports cost EU member states around 300 billion euros. The oil price collapse will have reduced the import bill in 2014-15 but a low oil price environment cannot always be guaranteed. With domestic production on the way down and prospects of a US-style shale oil boom remote, Europe's oil import dependence will therefore remain high, even with a continued fall in consumption. A high rate of import dependence may be a fact of life, but further inroads could be made to reducing oil demand through policy measures that would not only cut the cost of Europe's energy imports but also meet the EU's climate policy objectives.
The general policy environment in Europe points toward further contraction, if incremental, in oil consumption.
The general policy environment in Europe points toward further contraction, if incremental, in oil consumption. EU regulations aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from vehicles also have the effect of improving fuel economy, and CO2 standards for new cars were introduced in 2009, and for vans in 2011. In 2013, these standards were revised, and a target was set of 130 g/km of CO2 for cars by 2021, and 147 g/km by 2020 for vans. The EU estimated that the resulting improvement in the fuel economy of vehicles will involve a cut in oil consumption of 160 million tons between 2020 and 2030. The EU also has a longer-term objective of cutting transport sector emissions by 60 percent by 2050, which would imply further improvements in fuel economy after 2020. However, emissions standards alone will not be enough to make a significant dent in the region's overall oil consumption.
The European auto sector is heavily dependent on diesel fuel. In the late 1990s, the European car market shifted decisively toward diesel to achieve better fuel economy and CO2 emissions performance. Diesel benefited from policy support, such as preferential tax treatment, to facilitate this shift. In 2014, diesel-fueled cars accounted for a staggering 53 percent of European car sales, compared to a market share of just 3 percent in the U.S. However, the Volkswagen emissions scandal has cast doubt among some industry commentators on the future of diesel as a key transport fuel. Although better performing than gasoline in terms of CO2 and fuel efficiency, diesel also emits air pollutants and emissions testing for diesel cars will now likely become more stringent.
A shift from diesel could, in the longer term, open the way for greater sales of hybrid, electric and natural gas vehicles. The EU market share of hybrid and electric vehicles is small (1.4 percent for hybrids and 0.4 percent for plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles). Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) are another option, although market share is just 1.8 percent. Nevertheless, the market share of hybrid, electric and natural gas vehicles is higher than the EU average in countries where they have been promoted. The Netherlands and Norway have higher hybrid and EV market shares, while in Italy the market share of NGVs is much higher. In Japan, hybrids accounted for 20 percent of car sales in 2013. Although sales of alternative vehicles in Europe are growing rapidly in absolute terms, market penetration is still small. However, there is potential for faster growth with the right policy measures.
Renewable fuels is another option, and emphasis is being increasingly placed on the development of second-generation biofuels (non-food feedstock), largely due to doubts about the net environmental benefit of producing fuel from food crops. Currently renewable fuels account for about 5 percent of EU transport fuel demand, and this could rise to 9 percent by the end of the decade due to a 10 percent target to be reached by 2020. Unlike the US and Brazil, the EU is a net importer of biofuels, so emphasis on domestic second-generation fuel makes more sense in the longer term.
There is further scope to reduce oil consumption in all sectors of the European economy, even if this obviously will not eliminate the need to import oil completely.
The EU stated recently that "there is no immediate threat for the EU in relation to its oil supplies" due to the global interdependence of oil consumers and producers. To some extent this is correct. But the EU's oil import dependence will remain acute, and costly when oil prices are high. There is, however, further scope to reduce oil consumption in all sectors of the European economy, even if this obviously will not eliminate the need to import oil completely.
It is becoming generally accepted among policymakers that meeting energy security and climate change policy objectives through demand side solutions are mutually reinforcing. This presents an opportunity to implement policies that will impact Europe's oil consumption matrix over the next few decades, just as Western governments did after the OPEC price spike in the 1970s.