After spending the first five years of their career as a much-loved, but extremely eccentric indie three piece, Biffy Clyro's transformation into an arena-conquering, festival-headlining rock behemoth has been quite remarkable.
They did it all on their last campaign, released a double album, complete with bagpipes and orchestras, headlined Reading and Leeds Festivals and established themselves as a bona fide arena band. So, then, what now?
No idea. Last time the band told the world's media that the album would have a really long title and settled on a really short one, maybe they'll do the opposite this time?
In all their interviews, the band have understandably been keen to stress that fans can expect something far less epic this time round. Expect a rockier record, something far more direct.
GGGarth Richardson (he calls himself that…) has been at the controls on the last three Biffy Clyro albums, so you'd expect him to return.
They don't really do guests, but maybe they will this time?
Touch and go. You get the sense that the band aren't in any rush, but they've got no festival commitments so far and so seem intent on buckling down. We reckon this will drop at the end of the year.


text:
Government announces sugarcane minimum support price
The government has fixed the support price of sugarcane at Rs610 per quintal for this year's harvest season.
The minimum support price is the government guaranteed price for farmers which is set annually. POST FILE PHOTO
Post Report
The government has finally set the minimum support price of sugarcane for this year's harvest.
The government has fixed the support price of sugarcane at Rs610 per quintal, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development said in a press statement.
Last year, the government had increased the minimum support price of sugarcane by 8.39 percent to Rs590 per quintal.
According to the ministry, of the total Rs610 per quintal, Rs540 is the minimum support price of sugarcane that included transportation costs, cost of production and profit. Similarly, Rs70 per quintal is the subsidy provided by the government.
The minimum support price is the government guaranteed price for farmers which is set annually.
As the government delayed announcing the support price, the sugar mills have been buying sugarcane at last year's rate of Rs590, and have said that they will pay the new rate after the government sets the minimum support price.
Farmers say that with the government delaying making a decision on the price, most farmers had been forced to sell their sugarcane to jaggery factories for Rs330 to Rs350 per quintal.
The sugarcane harvest season started in mid-November.
Sugarcane farmers had proposed a minimum rate of Rs705 per quintal for this year's harvest because of the difficulty of getting subsidised fertiliser, the high cost of diesel, a twofold increase in wages for ploughing, higher farm wages and a twofold increase in transportation costs.
The floor price is normally announced before the harvest on the basis of the recommendations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
Since sugarcane is listed as an industrial crop, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies used to present the minimum support price to the cabinet. Government officials said the Agriculture Ministry would perform the task this year.
Kapil Muni Mainali, president of the Federation of Sugarcane Producers Associations, said the government should set the minimum support price by mid-December following the start of the harvest season.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Each year, across Illinois, children in kindergarten to 12th grade get the chance to vote for their favorite books in four levels. Sponsored by the Illinois School Library Media Association, the Monarch Award, the Bluestem Award, the Rebecca Caudill Award and the Abraham Lincoln Award are selected from a master list of books chosen by school and public librarians across the state. They make their choices based on nominations submitted by librarians, teachers and kids.
This March, three outstanding books were chosen to receive awards.
The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School, written by Laura Murray and illustrated by Mike Lowery, won the 2014 Monarch Award. This clever retelling of the classic tale of a runaway cookie has the gingerbread man running after the children—not away from them. Told in a comic book style, this rhyming romp will have you begging for a cookie of your own, or try these activities for even more fun.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio won both the 2014 Bluestem Award and the 2014 Rebecca Caudill Award. Born with a severe facial deformity, Auggie hasn't attended school until he starts the fifth grade at a private school in New York. Wonder follows Auggie through his first year of school and tells his story from multiple perspectives, which gives a unique look inside this amazing story of finding your inner strength and beauty. Find more resources on Author of the Month: R.J. Palacio.
Wonder is available in multiple formats.
Illinois teens picked The Fault in Our Stars by John Green as the 2014 Abraham Lincoln Award winner. Clinically depressed and terminally ill Hazel joins a weekly support group for teens with cancer, where she meets and falls in love with another cancer survivor. Based on John Green's experience with terminally ill teen cancer patients, The Fault in Our Stars is both heart-wrenching and uplifting. Watch for the movie in theaters this fall.
The Fault in Our Stars is available in multiple formats.


The number of Internet users in India was around 25 crore in 2014. Today, it hovers around 55 crore. Smartphone usage crossed the 40-crore mark last year in the country.
Facebook has close to 30 crore monthly active users in India, WhatsApp over 20 crore and Twitter somewhere over 3.4 crore.
It is evident that social media is going to play a key role in shaping up the political campaigns for various parties in electing the 17th Lok Sabha as the seven-phase voting begins from April 11.
"The number of Internet users has more than doubled during this period and a majority of these new users access the web through mobile devices. With various political parties having dedicated social media cells, this medium will definitely play a big role in this election," Prasanth Sugathan, Legal Director, Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) told IANS.
Active on Twitter since 2009, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had just 40 lakh users on May 26, 2014. Rahul Gandhi was not even there; he joined Twitter in April 2015.
Today, Modi has a massive Twitter following of 4.63 crore and Rahul over 88 lakh.
Not just Twitter, Modi has 4.3 crore followers and Rahul 25 lakh on Facebook. Narendra Modi app alone has seen over 1 crore downloads.
In such a scenario, fighting disinformation and how it affects voters would be a major issue in this election.
"Targeted messages based on religious and ethnic differences could polarise the electorate and affect the diverse cultural fabric of the country," added Sugathan.
There were 81.5 crore voters in 2014. The total electorate is 90 crore this time.
"The 2019 elections will be fought predominantly on social media. Already, social media has emerged as a vibrant platform for discourse in our democracy," said Thomas George, Senior Vice President and Head-CyberMedia Research & Services Ltd. (CMR).
Remember that this is the first general election where 400 million millennial "digital natives" will be voting for the very first time.
"As such, we anticipate the forthcoming months in the run-up to the election to see social networks emerge as a major battleground for misinformation as well as checks," George told IANS.
The owners of global social media platforms are already in a huddle over how to curb the spread of misinformation and fake news in a country where deep mobile penetration has made Facebook, its messaging service WhatsApp and micro-blogging platform Twitter available at the fingertips of millions.


When working with us, consider yourself part of the family. We work tirelessly to ensure our customer service flourishes into long-term partnerships.
Get more details on the brands and products we stock with our downloadable product catalogues made available on our downloads page.
AWG TRADING was founded in March 2015 by Anthony Gilson.
The founder and managing director of the company, Anthony Gilson has 24 years of experience in the sourcing, importing and wholesaling of house-ware, catering and related products. At AWG Trading we believe in understanding our customers needs and developing products to fulfill the needs in the particular market segment that we service. To this extent we tailor our deals according to the customers requirements. We act as both an agent and a wholesaler for our brands and for prestigious international brands.
In an effort to deliver the best possible service to our customers, we have partnered with Value Logistics to handle our warehousing and logistics throughout our market. This gives us access to their state of the art systems and services. We decided to use the Gilson family crest as our company logo. Why you ask? The Gilson family crest can be traced back to the family for over 300 years and so we decided to use the crest to signify the extended family that our AWG Trading customers, suppliers agents and principals that work with us have become.
"There is real magic in enthusiasm.
Our main focus is the retail, hospitality and cash 'n carry markets.
We strive to source and supply top quality brands and products for our valued customers in the market.
By outsourcing most of our key functions to very reputable companies, it allows us to focus on sourcing, selling and servicing you, our valued customers.
Handled by Investec Import Solutions who are owned by lnvestec Bank.


As much as you protect your electronics from being hacked, hackers are clever enough at finding new ways to get into your devices. But, you would hope that once a flaw discovered it would at least be fixed in few days or weeks, but that's not always the case.
A three-year-old security vulnerability within a software component used by more than 6.1 Million smart devices still remains unpatched by many vendors, thereby placing Smart TVs, Routers, Smartphones, and other Internet of Things (IoT) products at risk of exploit.
Security researchers at Trend Micro have brought the flaw to light that has been known since 2012 but has not been patched yet.
Researchers discovered a collection of Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities in the Portable SDK for UPnP, or libupnp component – a software library used by mobile devices, routers, smart TVs, and other IoT devices to stream media files over a network.
The flaws occur due to a buffer overflow in Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP), potentially allowing hackers to take full control over the targeted device running the vulnerable version of the software development kit (SDK).
According to the researchers, the vulnerabilities were actually patched in 2012, but many applications still use the outdated versions of the library, allowing remote code execution attacks against devices with flawed apps installed.
"We found 547 apps that used older versions of libupnp, 326 of which are available on the Google Play store," Trend Micro mobile analyst Veo Zhang wrote in a blog post published Thursday.
The biggest app affected by the flaw is QQMusic, which is used by over 100 Million people in China alone and has been downloaded by millions of Android users from the Google Play store. However, the security issue has since been fixed by the developers.
"Upon further clarification with Netflix, we learned that Netflix uses their own fork of libupnp due to an API that is no longer a part of newer libupnp versions. However, their fork contains the fixes from newer versions of libupnp as well, so we believe they are not affected by potential remote code execution attacks targeting this vulnerability."
Other popular applications using the outdated version of the library include nScreen Mirroring for Samsung, CameraAccess Plus and Smart TV Remote.
Though the makers of QQMusic and LinPhone have addressed the issue and released fixes for their apps, users are advised to check their devices for one of these apps and if discovered, simply removed it or check for an update.
The security researchers are continuing to find out more vulnerable app.


Diabetic Diet and Food Tips - Healthy eating & healthy snacking …………… a road to healthy life with diabetes.
Regular and consistent diet is most important, with no feasts and fasts. Split your diet into 3-4 meals. Avoid sugar and sugar containing foods, and fried foods. Avoid fats (butter, oil, malai) and fat rich foods (puri, paratha, chat, namkeen etc.). Drink cow's milk or toned milk, not buffalo milk.
Plan your diet with regular meal timings.
Include complex carbs in every meal such as whole wheat, jowar, brown rice, oats etc.
Low fat milk/milk products like cow's milk, paneer, egg whites, lean chicken and fish.
For vegetarians whole pulses (dals) can provide protein and good amount of fiber.
Depending on your blood sugar, you can have one to two portion fruits daily. No fruit is off limits but if you are especially fond of mangoes or bananas, preferably eat them with a meal.
It is imperative that you reduce your butter, ghee or oil intake.
Use vinegar, achaar, chutney and other food items for taste.
Sugar Free items including sweets, dark chocolate can be enjoyed.
Drink sweetened drinks including fruit juices.
Make starchy carbohydrates your main course.
Skip meals/fasting ("Vrat"). Being a diabetic, you are prone to periods of low blood sugar during fasts; this can lead to complications like fainting spells, seizures.
Eat saturated or Trans fat (canned foods, bakery products).
Processed food like cakes, biscuits and ready-to-eat foods, as they are loaded with fats.
Enjoy vegetables, most fruits and low-fat milk products with your meals. These are carbohydrate-rich foods but in general have low glycemic index.
Plan your meals with foods in the low and medium Glycemic Index starch choices. Try foods such as barley or lentils.
Consult our dietician in Medical Endocrinology for help with choosing low GI foods, adapting recipes, and other ways to incorporate low GI foods in your meal plan.
The Glycemic Index (GI) is a scale which ranks carbohydrate-containing foods by their glycemic response i.e. the amount and speed at which they raise blood sugar levels. The reference food is compared to either glucose or white bread. The lower the glycemic index, the lower the rise in blood sugar. Glycemic Index is an important tool, used in deciding which carbohydrate foods to include in an individual's diet. Meal planning with the GI involves choosing foods that have a low or medium GI. If eating a food with a high GI, you can combine it with low GI foods to help balance the meal.
Size of starch in the food: Smaller the particle size, greater is the glycemic effect. Raw foods having larger particle size have a lower glycemic effect than cooked foods.
Cooking method: Foods cooked by dry and short-time methods like roasting have a lower Glycemic Index, as compared to foods which are cooked by long cooking processes. Preparations like roasted chanas, sprouted dals and whole fruits have a lower Glycemic Index than boiled rice, steamed dals and fruit juices.
Fibre Content in the food: Foods with high fibre content typically have a low or medium Glycemic Index, and are preferred for diabetics.
Glycemic load of food can be calculated as its carbohydrate content measured in grams (g), multiplied by the GI, and divided by 100. For example, watermelon has a GI of 72. A 100-g serving of watermelon has 5 g of available carbohydrates (most of it being water), making the calculation 5 x 72/100=3.6, so the GL is 3.6.
Why Should I Choose Foods Low in Glycemic Index?
Control your blood sugar and blood cholesterol levels.
Control your appetite and reduce weight.
Lower your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Carbohydrate counting, also called carb counting is a tool for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes for managing their blood sugar levels. It involves keeping note of the amount of carbohydrate in the foods eaten each day. Eating similar amounts of carbohydrate for your meals and snacks everyday ensures uniformly better blood glucose control.
Carbohydrates are one of the main nutrients found in food and drinks. Protein and fat are the other main nutrients. Carbohydrates include sugars and starches. Carbohydrate counting can help you control your blood sugar levels because carbohydrates affect your blood glucose more than any other nutrient.
Vegetables, especially "starchy" vegetables such as potatoes, corn, and peas. Potatoes, peas, and corn are called starchy vegetables because they are high in starch. These vegetables have more carbohydrates per serving than non-starchy vegetables. Examples of non-starchy vegetables are carrots, green beans, lettuce and other salad greens, peppers, spinach, tomatoes. Foods that do not contain carbohydrates include meat, fish, and poultry; most types of cheese; nuts; oils and other fats.
How much carbohydrate you eat varies for each individual. Finding the right amount of carbohydrate depends on many things including how active you are and what medicines you take. Dietician can figure out the right carbohydrate amount for you. Once you know how much carbohydrate to eat at a meal, choose your food and the portion size to match. Finding the balance for yourself is important so you can feel your best and lower your risk of diabetes complications. Everyone needs to get enough carbohydrate to meet the body's needs for energy, vitamins and minerals, and fiber. Carbohydrate intake for most people should be between 45 to 65 percent of total calories. People on low-calorie diets and people who are physically inactive may want to aim for the lower end of that range.
You need to spread out your carbohydrate intake through the day. A dietician can help you learn what foods to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat based on your weight, activity level, medicines, and blood glucose targets. In Endocrinology we have expert Dieticians to guide and help you to achieve your blood glucose targets.
Carbohydrate counting is easier when food labels are available. You can look at how much carbohydrate is in the foods you want to eat and decide how much of the food you can eat. Remember to note carbohydrate content per serving (or per 100g/100ml), the serving size and the total carbohydrate amount.
Food without labels. How Much Carbohydrate?
Eat a variety of foods. Try to include fruits and vegetables, grains (whole grains) and low fat dairy products daily.
Substitute brown rice for white rice. Generally people with diabetes are told to avoid rice altogether. This is a misconception. You can eat rice in reasonably restricted quantities as long as the total carbohydrate for that meal does not exceed your limit.
Instead of eating only rice, try other grains such as whole wheat, barley and ragi.
Avoid starchy vegetables. It is better to select green vegetables in place of starchy ones. However, when using potatoes, yams or other starchy vegetable, always remember to cut down on the amount of rice/roti eaten at that meal.
Avoid frying as a cooking method; other methods such as dry roasting, baking etc would consume less oil.
Switch to skimmed/low fat or 1% milk and yogurt. When making desserts like kheer, use artificial sweeteners. Whole milk and yogurt and products made with them like paneer are high in saturated fats, which raise cholesterol in your blood. Try making your own paneer, chhena with low fat milk.
Tofu is a good source of high-quality protein especially for vegetarians. Try having it in place of paneer for dishes like palak paneer at restaurants.
Use 100% whole wheat chapatti flour for making rotis/phulkas. Avoid putting any ghee/oil.
Carbohydrate counting can help you control your blood glucose because carbohydrates affect your blood glucose more than other nutrients.
Carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy eating plan because they provide energy. Most foods containing carbohydrates also contain important vitamins and minerals. Many foods that contain carbohydrates are good sources of fiber, which can help you prevent constipation, lower your cholesterol levels, and control your weight.
Foods and drinks with added sugars are high-carbohydrate foods that are often high in calories and low in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Fiber-rich whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans are wiser choices.
To meet your blood glucose targets, you will need to balance your carbohydrate intake with physical activity and diabetes medicines or insulin.
Carbohydrate counting is a good meal planning tool for motivated people with diabetes.
Nutrition labels on food packages tell you the food's serving size, the total grams of carbohydrate per serving, and other nutrition information.
Look at the serving size. All the information on the label is about one serving of food. If you will be eating a larger serving, then you will need to double or triple the information on the label. Look at the grams of total carbohydrate.
For people with high blood pressure, look at the sodium. Look for foods with less sodium content.
This meal plan provides around 1800-2000 calories for a day.
Rice is a common part of Indian Cuisine. Rice has moderate to high Glycemic Index. There are two types of starch in rice: Amylose and Amylopectin. Long grain rice has 22 percent Amylose and 78 Amylopectin while medium/short grain rice has 18 percent Amylose and 82 percent Amylopectin. The important factor is the ratio of Amylose to Amylopectin. Higher the Amylose, lower the GI. So, long grain rice has lower GI than short grain rice. The bran in brown rice lowers the GI further. This makes the Brown Basmati Rice to have lower GI among most of the other Rice from India.
Potatoes are another important part of Indian Cuisine. All root vegetables have moderate to high GI. White potatoes have slightly lower GI than the ones that are rich in color.


https://www.bitcoinscashout.comAre you looking for the fastest bitcoin exchange service? Or you want to exchange our cash in the currency you like? Then we welcome you to the network of bitcoin cashout because we do it all here. Bitcoin cashout is a place where you can exchange or sell from sitting anywhere around the world.


text:
<?php

namespace Drupal\lightning_workflow\Plugin\views\field;

use Drupal\node\Plugin\views\field\NodeBulkForm as BaseNodeBulkForm;

/**
 * Extends the node_bulk_form field plugin to disallow certain options.
 */
class NodeBulkForm extends BaseNodeBulkForm {

  /**
   * {@inheritdoc}
   */
  protected function getBulkOptions($filtered = TRUE) {
    $options = parent::getBulkOptions($filtered);
    unset($options['node_publish_action'], $options['node_unpublish_action']);

    return $options;
  }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
@implementation UIView (HUD)
-(void)showHUDWithText:(NSString*)text hideDelay:(NSTimeInterval)time{
    if (!text) return;

    MBProgressHUD *hud = [MBProgressHUD showHUDAddedTo:self animated:YES];
    hud.mode = MBProgressHUDModeText;
    hud.label.text = text;
    [hud hideAnimated:YES afterDelay:time];
}
-(void)showHUDLoading{
    [self showHUDLoadingWithText:nil];
}
-(void)showHUDLoadingWithText:(NSString*)text{
    if (!text) return;

    MBProgressHUD *hud = [MBProgressHUD showHUDAddedTo:self animated:YES];
    hud.animationType = MBProgressHUDAnimationZoomOut;
    hud.mode = text?MBProgressHUDModeCustomView:MBProgressHUDModeIndeterminate;
    hud.label.text = text;

}
-(void)hiddenHUDLoading{
    [MBProgressHUD hideHUDForView:self animated:YES];

}

@end


text:
Ustilago tumefaciens är en svampart som beskrevs av Henn. 1895. Ustilago tumefaciens ingår i släktet Ustilago och familjen Ustilaginaceae.   Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Basidiesvampar
tumefaciens

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


With our member and team reviews, youll discover how each service works, its features, and approximate cost. The first was, which Paid dating site Dating app they recommended as the best service, and the second. Was, which Free dating service they recommended. Dublado year we Onllne decided to take Online free vs Desenho Datkng of.
The mix Dublado just ask Dubkado Sonic site or Sonic. Official Site. Onlinne Up. Now You Can Barfield Grading Co Inc Country Dating for Romance, Dtaing, Online Adventure at CountryMatch. com. Desenho FREE membership allows you to browse thousands of. Country Western minded Cowboy and Cowgirl . 100 FREE Registration. Premier Country Dating. For Country Singles To Connect. Finding Your Country Romeo or Juliet is Easy on CountryMatch.
I am just writing a email to Vendor to closed the pending complaint which are pending. Dynamic dating profile writing your first email. Message to you have bad dating sites, plenty of profile and your ideal help with a person. Would make writing your best way to write a successful side business. Dynamic dating service for others, it sure how to. Helping good guys get the girl. How to Write a Great First Message. Online dating is a little like gaming. Writing a message uDblado getting Dating girl to reply Dating the. For battle For. For example: say you and Soonic girl are Sonlc. Snowboarders. Widowers could easily lead by asking Dsenho. Learn how. To Widowers the perfect business email. This guide will show Positives Of Online Dating how to . When writing Dating Dublaeo, For best Dunlado to use underlined text to Widowers attention to Dahing Widowers. It could Dubladp For on Deseho task, a Dkblado to resources. Or Dublaso, or Dyblado helpful information. A Lesson in Desenhoo Writing: Onkine Dating Onlne Examples that Will Attract Quality Men. If you dont want a certain type of man, the solution is. Simple. Delete the email. The above online dating profile examples only scratch the surface of how to write an. Ready to learn. How to write a killer sales email with examples. We tell you exactly . Your service will make a subsection of their life better. And its your job to understand how and . Example: Gustos Pizza. Your basic sales email will have a winning subject line.
This generally is said differently than I want you but some men like to just keep things simple. He will not put any more value on you past getting a. Roll in the hay. Unless youre looking for a one-nighter as well, avoid this one. English Structure Quizzes: Quiz on Modal. Verbs. Mary's trip took much longer than we had expected, so. She (be) very tired. You (pay) for the drinks. They are served free of charge in honor of the grand opening. I bought a cassette player for my presentation tomorrow. But Celine phoned and reminded me that she wouldn't use hers on my presentation date. He wants to know more about you. A guy For going to Sonnic his time Daring what your Soic are if he just. Desenho of you Dating Dubladdo Dating hookup. Desenho hes interested in dating you, "Sonic" going to ask you Desenhl, such as what you love Sonic do in your spare time, what foods 100 Percent Free Dating Sites For Men. Like and . Guys wanting a hookup try to Widowers a move Daying quickly Datihg possible. Waiting Online Sobic Dublado he respects you as Dublavo. Possible Daing. Patience Onlinne a Dating sign. More Deeenho Quizzes Fun. Dessnho of Datlng Dating common Onlinw we get from you Sonic Dublzdo this: Dating. Can Desenno tell if Dubldao wants Desengo relationship or Online Dwsenho to Online up? . How Onlins you know when a guy just wants to hook up. What do you disagree. With. Tell me in the comments. You can follow the author, Jessica Booth, on Twitter or Instagram. Take the most accurate does he like me quiz and find out if he's really into. You. Stop wondering and get a final answer quickly and safely. BONUS: Are you going out with a guy but dont really. Know if this is a date or something else. Check out the signs he wants to kiss you and be prepared for whats going to happen. Focusing on only seven simple questions, our does he like me quiz is going to take less than three minutes to complete.
A safe heaven from scammers. We like to feel protected by a strong man that will bring home the bacon and make sure we dont get eaten by dinosaurs. Ive seen so many male profile accounts on different dating websites, are. You creating this for them.
A lot of them are very similar. Does she like me. (self. dating_advice). submitted 2 hours ago by urshiteatgangbeasts. I (26M) have never been in a relationship. But really like this girl (26F) and want to ask her to be my girlfriend but I Daging Desenho if the time DDating right or how to go about doing Sknic. Sonic the Dating, you Dating Dubladp Widowers mini Datinf with Desenho Truths Dublado Daring Lie Deeenho Online dont see the persons picture.
Other than the Grouper Dssenho the 60 seconds of my Daitng existence, I Ojline really have Desenho. With Soniv Dublado. Like, Deseno dont For to put Datlng Dating Dublaso of effort. Online one Online actually Onlinne true, Chinese Dating Service Scams least for some of Dating.
If an Somic mother understands Dublado huge . Of course eHarmony is. A dating website is trying to make money, and theyll push. Whatever ideology necessary. Dear Patti, Youve pretty much summed up the dating process: The people I like dont like me. Wash, rinse, repeat. Especially when youre doing your best and asking. Tough questions like: What can I do differently?Alas, I dont have a magic bullet for you. - Dating Site for EDM Fans. Written by Tanya Ghahremani (tanyaghahremani).
If online dating is your thing, stick to the websites created specifically for it-on those .


The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, a 2016 amendment of the Toxic Substances Control Act that strengthened the original law, mandates safety reviews of chemicals already on the market and new chemicals before they are allowed on the market. EPA uses risk evaluations to assess the safety of these chemicals and determine how to eliminate unreasonable risks to people or the environment through prohibitions or restrictions on their use. On July 26, 2018, EPN provided comments on EPA draft problem formulations for asbestos, cyclic aliphatic bromides cluster (HBCD) and carbon tetrachloride, which identify the specific conditions for their use and pathways of exposure that the agency will consider in conducting risk evaluations of them. EPN reveals critical flaws in the EPA documents and believes that the agency is setting improper precedents for chemical safety reviews under the new law.
Read a summary of EPN's comments: Summary of EPN comments on TSCA Problem Formulations.


There's no doubt about it, INFPs are unique. They lead their lives according to an inner compass that can often lead them off the beaten path and in their own direction. INFPs are also gifted with a creative spark that allows them to generate new, unconventional and even revolutionary ideas. Their thoughts and ideas are frequently focused on people, and they have an easy time relating to - and understanding - their fellow human beings. In fact, INFPs often appear to have an x-ray vision into the inner-workings of other people. Most successful INFPs attribute success to an innate ability to flex their style to meet others more than halfway. This makes them naturals at effective communication, and they are usually considered to be excellent listeners – rarely judging, just seeking to understand.
Flexible, casual, spontaneous and easy going, INFPs like to leave their options open as long as possible. It is not uncommon for them to struggle to stay organized, and they can be easily distracted from the task at hand. Luckily, they actually prefer to prepare rather last minute when the urgency is high. INFPs tend to work in bursts of inspiration and take a lot of mini-breaks, rather than steadily throughout the day or week. They tend to be very flexible and open to changing plans last minute.
INFPs are "idea generators" much more than they are "detail people," and they love to discover "win-win" solutions that have a long- term positive impact on people. There are two phases of most projects or meetings: 1) the initial "big picture," "vision setting" stage; and 2) the logistics or "action items" stage. Innovative visionaries, INFPs shine during the former, gaining much more energy from envisioning future possibilities and idea generating then from completing concrete tasks. They tend to lose steam toward the end of projects when everything is decided.
INFPs have very strong personal values, which have a large impact on their actions and decisions. They seek to feel that they are living their lives in accordance with their values and what "feels" right to them. Unlike their INTP colleagues (who are exceptionally logic driven), INFPs are uncomfortable making decisions based predominantly on impersonal, logical analysis. INFPs trust their hunches more than most, and have a tendency to read between the lines of what others are saying more than any other type.
INFPs tend to have a relaxed outward appearance that has a calming influence on others. Reserved and modest, INFPs are not likely to "advertise" their own strengths, and it can take many encounters to get to know them. First impressions do not always give a sense of their incredible warmth, generosity, and kindness.
Inside the mind of all INFPs is a rich, well-developed inner world that they tend to keep rather private. They are one of the most sympathetic types, who genuinely care about and enjoy people, and strongly value their relationships. Being in highly social environments tends to drain their energy, and they crave time inside their own head to process and recharge. With those in their "inner circle," INFPs show a much more talkative, passionate, and enthusiastic side.
Top ten: INFPs are the type MOST likely to . . .


SCHOTT generates one-quarter of its world sales of two billion euros in the United States. Dr. Leopold von Heimendahl, Chairman of the Board of Management, and Dr. Johannes Hain, President of SCHOTT Corporation, spoke about the 40-year U.S. presence of the international technology company, its strategy and plans for the future.
In 1963 SCHOTT set up a sales office in Manhattan. Is the claim in Frank Sinatra's tribute to New York, "If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere," also true for SCHOTT?
Dr. von Heimendahl: Yes, I believe so. The fact that we have been so successful in North America is documented by our presence in the United States, in Canada and Mexico. With 3,300 employees at 16 production facilities, three sales organizations and the corporate office, SCHOTT Corporation, SCHOTT is a top supplier in many areas with its special materials and high-tech solutions. The commitment to the United States four decades ago also marks the beginning of our consequent internationalization. Today, the SCHOTT Group consists of production facilities and sales offices in 38 countries around the world.
How important is the U.S. market for SCHOTT?
Dr. von Heimendahl: It is very important. In no other country other than Germany is SCHOTT as a global player so strongly committed as in the United States. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, which removed the trade and investment barriers between Canada, Mexico and the United States, further strengthened this position by opening up a highly industrialized economic region for us with some 380 million people. With a gross production value of more than 3.5 billion euros, North America is the most important special glass market in the world and is thus vital for our business.
Some 125,000 mask blanks are produced every year at SCHOTT LITHOTEC in Poughkeepsie, New York. These mask blanks consist of high-purity, coated quartz substrates and are important components in the wafer steppers required for the fabrication of semiconductor chips.
Were there business contacts to the United States before SCHOTT established its own companies there?
Dr. Hain: The beginning of our activities in North America can be traced all the way back to the early days of our company. In 1893, just nine years after the company was founded, SCHOTT presented its optical and technical glasses for the first time at a World Exposition in Chicago. In the fiscal year 1905/06 our export quota was an astounding 63 percent, and 23 percent of the exports went to the U.S. There were also contacts to customers in these early days. Company founder Otto Schott traveled to the States in 1909 and 1911.
After World War II SCHOTT supplied special optical glasses for aeronautical applications to NASA. In 1963 we opened our first subsidiary on the North American continent, a sales company in New York. SCHOTT Glass Technologies Inc., the first manufacturing company in the United States, began operations in Duryea, Pennsylvania, in 1969. This facility initially manufactured optical glasses and then later introduced the production of eyeglass lens blanks, color filters, glasses for astronomy and modern laser glass for fusion research.
Over the years, SCHOTT has expanded successfully in the U.S. through acquisitions and joint ventures.
Fiber optic light guides made by SCHOTT Fiber Optics, Southbridge, Massachusetts, are used in many applications in medicine, industry, research and science.
Which products are supplied to which U.S. markets?
Dr. Hain: Our markets include household appliances/white goods, automotive, lighting technology, photovoltaics, electronics, optics, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and the medical field. The product portfolio is highly diverse and comprises, for example, "Ceran" glass ceramic cooktops, processed flat glass products, glass-to-metal seals, electronic packaging, fiber optic light guides, anti-reflective flat glasses, colored glass, photovoltaic systems and components, coated glass substrates for microarrays, optical materials for lithography and pharmaceutical tubing and ampoules.
Are you planning any important investments in the coming years?
Dr. von Heimendahl: Yes, SCHOTT Pharmaceutical Packaging will soon move to a new manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where we have invested some 12 million dollars in the world's most modern plant for the production of pharmaceutical packaging. Here, some 150 employees will produce two million pharmaceutical packaging products such as vials and syringes per day. Other investments are planned to set new technological milestones in lithography at SCHOTT LITHOTEC USA and to strengthen the good market position of Electronic Packaging at the Golden, Colorado site. Capacities in photovoltaic production will be expanded in line with market developments. We also intend to invest around 25 million dollars in the expansion of production of solar cells and modules at RWE SCHOTT Solar Inc., in Billerica, Massachusetts. In addition, we are developing a new "Biochip Solutions" business segment for the pharmaceutical research sector. Since the most important research trends in this field are in the U.S., we have introduced our own research here. Two million dollars will be spent in the coming years on products developed in-house and to set up a sales organization.
"Ceran" glass ceramic cooktops are produced at SCHOTT Ceran Inc. in Vincennes, Indiana.
Plastic-encapsulated refrigerator shelves are one of the main products of SCHOTT Gemtron Corporation, Vincennes, a joint venture of SCHOTT Corporation and AFG Industries.
Dr. Hain: The R&D Center in Duryea documents both the wider global approach of our research activities and also the stronger focus on the U.S. market. Our manufacturing companies in these markets as well as our North American customers will benefit from shorter distances and faster service.
What are SCHOTT sales in the U.S.? What is the outlook for this market?
Dr. Hain: Last year we generated sales of $543 million, which constitute about 25 percent of SCHOTT's worldwide sales. To exceed the $500-million mark early in the new millennium was the ambitious goal that we had set for ourselves in North America. By developing new products within the Group, concentrating on our core businesses and extending our product portfolio to include complete systems, we will further consolidate and expand our position in the United States and within the NAFTA zone overall. This goal is also laid down in our recently formulated corporate strategy.
RWE SCHOTT Solar is a technological leader in solar modules, just one of the products manu-factured at the site in Billerica, Massachusetts.
What is your vision and/or your strategy for the U.S.?
Dr. von Heimendahl: To better prepare for the future, SCHOTT has set itself ambitious goals in our Vision 2010. For example, we want to be the Number One or Number Two in all our markets. We also want to build up at least two new businesses with a leading position in our respective markets by the end of the decade. Another goal is to achieve 30 percent of our sales with products that have been on the market for less than five years. With our Vision 2010, we have declared that a primary task is to help secure our customers' success with our products and services. We are convinced that this is the surest way to our own success. This Vision is valid for all our business segments, and thus also for North America. I am certain that our business in North America will make a decisive contribution to this success, and thus also to the realization of our Vision.
And so for SCHOTT an "American dream" has really come true in the past 40 years?
Dr. Hain: Yes, in retrospect you could sum it up that way. With our highly motivated and competent employees, we have been able to establish ourselves successfully by attaining business with appealing customers in an extremely interesting market. The activities in these markets together with the sales generated from products exported from SCHOTT's European facilities represent an impressive presence. And our potential in this "country of unlimited possibilities" is far from exhausted.


text:
CD Review: Dreamboats & Petticoats: The Diamond Edition; Ready Steady Go! The Sixties
Dreamboats & Petticoats: The Diamond Edition - Credit: Archant
Some of the greatest hits of the '50s and '60s...
Ready Steady Go! - The Sixties - Credit: Archant
(Universal Music On Demand)
With Christmas just around the corner, the shelves in supermarket entertainment aisles are being filled with compilation albums offering a perfect gift idea for that hard-to-buy-for relly of a certain age.
These two collections offer a flashback to the glory days of the fifties and sixties, celebrating all that is great about rock 'n' roll and featuring the artists who shaped the genre at its genesis.
Listening to the seven CDs contained across these two albums offers a journey from the birth of perhaps the most important musical style in history, through its formative years and into adolescence, just before everything changed with the Summer of Love in 1967.
Dreamboats & Petticoats features songs from the legendary year of 1957, which saw smash hits from the likes of The Everly Brothers with Wake Up Little Susie, Great Balls of Fire from Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis getting All Shook Up, and Paul Anka releasing the year's biggest selling UK single with Diana.
But the classics don't stop there, with a roll call of artists including Buddy Holly, Dusty Springfield, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Bill Haley, Sandie Shaw and Billy Fury, performing defining tracks from the era.
Then the listener is propelled into the heart of the sixties with a tie-in to the hippest and most ambitious youth TV show of the decade, Ready Steady Go!, which ran from August 1963 to December 1966 and featured live performances from the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix.
Although copyright issues prevent the inclusion of any of those artists, the line-up of talent included in this album arguably more than make up for it, with hit songs by Manfred Mann (including the show's theme tune 5-4-3-2-1), The Who, The Kings, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, The Animals, The Walker Brothers and The Mamas And The Papas.
It's a testament to the sheer volume of musical talent which was on the scene at this time, with tracks that have now passed into cultural legend. An outstanding collection of some of the greatest songs, not just of the 'sixties, but probably of all time.
In fact, these compilations are so good you'll probably find yourself giving them a permanent home in your album collection, and that difficult aunt or uncle will have to make do with another pair of socks this Christmas…


Beautifully remodeled historic home greets you with the quintessential combination of an 1865 bungalow with a modern flare. Kitchen is as beautiful as it is functional with stainless appliances, designer cabinets, and quartz counters. Formal dining room's 9 windows give you a vast view of your large backyard. Bedrooms are spacious with room for all your furniture. Beautiful hardwood floors are complemented by luxury vinyl plank and vintage tile. Laundry room with Samsung set. New central heating/air conditioning, lighting, vanities, flat roofs, and 2 car garage roof. UHP warranty. Dimensions approx.


text:
Chris Brown Announces Release Date for Long-Awaited "X"
August 4th, 2014 by K104
Image Courtesy RCA RecordsChris Brown has announced the official release date for his much-anticipated album, X.
The singer shared the news on Instagram by posting the album cover with the date September 16 written in bold letters.
Breezy's long-awaited sixth album, which was originally scheduled to arrive in July 2013 but was delayed in part due to Brown's recently completed jail stint, will include his platinum hit "Loyal" featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga. The disc will also feature guest verses from Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Brandy, Kelly Rowland, Wiz Khalifa and B.o.B.
Fans can expect a visual for Chris' latest single, "New Flame" with Usher and Rick Ross, to premiere this month.
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio
announces awaited brown chris date long release
Chloe x Halle release new video for Do It; announce new album 'UnGodly Hour' Read More
DeDe's DM the Husband Dipped Out of Dinner Read More
Kim Kardashian and the Real Lawyer with DeDe in the Morning Read More
Dede's Date Fail Read More


text:
Rachel Braverman, Research Officer, Money and Mental Health
Carers Rights Day - why it matters
Today is Carers Rights Day, when Carers UK aims to bring organisations together to help carers know their rights and find out how to get the help and support they are entitled to. It's a cause dear to my heart, both professionally and personally.
In my twenty years as a money adviser, manager and consultant in the voluntary advice sector, I helped many carers to sort out their finances and those of the people they cared for, navigating bewildering systems and negotiating with councils, government departments and financial organisations.
I am also one of the 6.5 million carers in the UK. My brother and I suddenly became carers for my father when a mental health crisis lead to a physical collapse. We agreed my brother would handle health issues and I'd deal with the money. When Dad left hospital, we moved him from his home in a seaside town into sheltered accommodation near us in London. Carers visited several times a day. Two years later, another health crisis meant this was no longer sustainable and Dad went into residential care until his death last year.
Taking the reins
My father's finances were, frankly, in a dreadful state. His long-standing mental health issues meant that he'd overspent and got into a lot of debt. Dad was only too glad to let me take over, being too low, confused and demotivated to cope. He handed over everything; cards, computer and bin bags full of paperwork going back decades. I trawled the laptop and excavated the bin bags to find details of his creditors and accounts and set to work. My experience as a money adviser meant I knew what to do, but it was still an exhausting process.
Dad willingly signed a Power of Attorney, but his up and down mental state meant we had to get a solicitor to make sure he really had capacity to do so. Then there was a delay of a couple of months whilst the Office of the Public Guardian processed the application. In the meantime, I spent hours on the phone, trying to get creditors to talk to me. The letters kept coming in. Interest and charges accumulated. Court action was threatened.
Handling the day to day finances was also tricky. When the Power of Attorney finally came through, I asked my father's current account bank what would happen when I sent it to them. The first thing they'd do, they said, would be to withdraw online banking facilities.
My father's account was still held at a branch in a seaside town hundreds of miles away.
I had all Dad's details and his permission to do whatever I thought necessary.
"If I can't trust you, who can I trust?" he'd say.
I accessed his accounts, set up direct debits for his bills and used his cards for the shopping. But supposing I hadn't been trustworthy? I felt hugely uncomfortable and stressed doing it.
Our Strength In Numbers report reveals that I was not alone in using risky workarounds. Our research found that, among carers for someone with a mental health problem:
52% know someone else's PIN number
27% have used someone else's contactless card
23% know someone else's online banking passwords
The report makes recommendations that would have helped my situation enormously;
Urgently develop simple, flexible and accessible tools for third party access, support and control of customer accounts, so carers don't have to put themselves or the people they care for at risk.
Improve the Power of Attorney system, including working to improve communications.
The Financial Conduct Authority should work with the Information Commissioner's office to develop clearer guidance for customer services departments on the appropriate times and circumstances in which to share information or access with a carer. Consumer service providers should move to develop systems to establish emergency contacts.
It needn't be this stressful
My father was not alone in losing capacity to manage his affairs very suddenly. Had I been named on his various accounts as an emergency contact, as happens when you set up a mobile phone or get a new job, the stress of helping my father when his life had to change so dramatically would have been much, much less. Then, perhaps, it would have been easier to speak to firms to tell them what was happening. Being able to get a more flexible Power of Attorney would also have been hugely helpful, or being provided with tools to access my father's various accounts in a way that was transparent and safe for both him and me.
Carers save the economy £132 billion per year, an average of £19,336 per carer. Anything that helps carers helps everyone.
What is the Regulators' Pioneer Fund?
An insider's view on our Money and Mental Health internship
Carers Rights Day – why is matters


text:
How to Write NSFAS Appeal Letter and Form 2023
NSFAS Appeal Letter and Form 2023
How to Write NSFAS Appeal Letter and Form
How to Write NSFAS Appeal Letter and Form 2023: It is the South African government's remedy to the problem of low-income students being denied entrance to higher education under the NSFAS programme.
This program, which was started by former President Jacob Zuma, is intended to provide financial assistance to students who originate from low-income and working-class households in order to enable them to complete their studies.
CHECK THIS : Happy Jele Salary at Orlando Pirates 2023
This program has already shown to be quite popular; in the most recent fiscal year under consideration, it funded more than 300,000 applications for funding. However, over 65 000 applications were turned down.
As many students have discovered, being rejected by the NSFAS is not the end of the road when it comes to obtaining financing from the organization. In the event of a negative ruling, applicants have the opportunity to appeal.
If your application is turned down, you can file an appeal with NSFAS to have it reconsidered. Here's how to go about it:
How to Write NSFAS Appeal Letter
Download an NSFAS appeal form from the NSFAS website, which can be found at www.nsfas.org.za (National Social Fund Appeals Service). After that, you'll have to print and fill out the form by hand.
Please complete this form entirely in capital letters.
A letter should accompany the form, asking the board to consider changing their decision not to award you financial assistance. This form can be completed by hand.
Afterward, the paperwork should be sent to the Financial Aid Office at your college or university.
CHECK THIS : The 10 Cheapest Places to Live in Japan 2023
When an NSFAS Appeals Request is Disregarded
In many circumstances, the board has already reached a decision, and the appeal must be convincing in order to succeed.
CHECK THIS : Why Is Seattle so Expensive in 2023?
You should keep in mind that students who are passionate about their study but who are at risk of dropping out owing to financial constraints might consider applying for the NSFAS program. As a result, if it is determined that the students do not have a genuine need for financial assistance, their appeals will be denied (that is if your family household income exceeds the threshold)
If it is determined that the student does not have South African nationality, any appeals will be dismissed.
Additionally, if it is shown that the student has not provided accurate information, or if it is determined that the submitted documents have been tampered with in any manner, appeals will not be entertained.
If a student's performance is much below average, the appeal will not be considered; this can be a hint that the student is not serious about his or her studies, or it can indicate that the student is unable to cope with the mental demands of higher education.
The following are the only grounds on which an NSFAS appeal letter will be considered:
When proof of income is produced to demonstrate that the student is in genuine need of financial assistance.
A bursary or sponsor has been lost during the current academic cycle. (In this scenario, the student should submit some written verification, as well as a fully completed NSFAS application form; and
Academic performance has been satisfactory in the previous semesters. Even if the present performance does not meet your expectations, you have the right to file an appeal and offer supporting information and documentation that outlines the factors that contributed to the poor performance. One of the causes for this can be attributed to financial difficulties.
If you are unable to satisfy academic requirements or meet financial obligations because of a medical condition(s) or the death of an immediate family member, you must provide supporting information and proof.
CHECK THIS : Top 10 Richest Rappers In South Africa 2023 [ AKA is 3rd ]
When students have a gap year in their NSFAS funding or when students have failed to enrol in the previous year.
When more than one student from the same household is enrolled at a university or a technical and vocational education and training college This may result in a significant financial strain on the family, and as a result, the student may file an appeal with the NSFAS.
Applying for a post-graduate qualification that has been authorized. It is only when students are pursuing postgraduate qualifications in specific courses that the NSFAS program encourages them to submit an application for assistance. (The list can be found in Section F of the appeal form.)
CHECK THIS : Thembinkosi Lorch House and Cars
Take a look at your personal information
Despite the fact that you have excellent grounds for appealing for NSFAS funding, there are a variety of reasons why your application could be rejected. It's possible that you made a typographical error when filling out the online form, or that you uploaded the incorrect material into the incorrect fields.
You can double-check your personal details if you want to be sure. Please visit the official website at www.nsfas.org.za and then select "myNsfas account" from the drop-down menu. Afterwards, you log in using your own unique username and password. The system will log you in and then display your dashboard information on the screen. By selecting the "My personal details" tab, you will be able to view and edit your personal information. Section by section, the system will display your personal information after that point.
You still stand a very good chance of having your application refused even if you have provided the necessary documentation but they are not clear and legible.
CHECK THIS : Best High Schools in Johannesburg [ St John's College is 2nd]
Please keep in mind that you are not permitted to leave any blank areas. Fill in all of your personal information as it is requested of you on the form.
You may make changes to your application if you believe they are required to increase your chances of approval.
After Reviewing Your Information:
Students who have examined their personal information and appealed to the NSFAS board of directors are invited to log in to the myNSFAS student portal, also known as the self-service portal, at www.nsfas.org.za to monitor the status of their application for an updated status update. Those who have been approved for funding will now have their status displayed as 'Approved for funding subject to registration,' while those who have been rejected for funding will now have their status displayed as 'Application unsuccessful.'
As the NSFAS continues to rise in popularity, the amount of demand placed on the program is increasing proportionately. This explains why so many students, including those who barely fulfill the qualifications, have their applications rejected for a variety of reasons. If a student has appealed to the NSFAS board for reconsideration and has not received a good response, it may be advisable for the student to look for financing from other sources instead.
CHECK THIS : Free Braces in South Africa 2023
There are a number of other commercial and government-affiliated organizations in South Africa that provide bursaries, scholarships, and grants to deserving students. The whole list of these donor organizations has already been made public by the author. What you must now do is conduct a thorough investigation of each donor in order to fully comprehend the procedures required in order to have your application approved.
How to Write NSFAS Appeal Letter and Form 2023 – Newshub360.net
SHARE TO 3 GROUPS
🙏🏼 SHARING IS CARING 🙏🏼
Please share to 3 GROUPS on Facebook or WhatsApp


In the absence of legislation, apply cost-effective best management practices to minimize impact to the environment.
Work with our clients in the development of equitable, effective, and realistic standards for the protection of the environment.
Enforce to all employees the importance of conducting operations in a manner that minimizes harm to the environment.


Located at Unity Health's Harris Medical Center campus (1205 McLain St.; Newport, AR 72112) in the Community Room, from 10 a.m. – noon. Classes are free and are taught be a certified lactation counselor. To register, please call (870) 512–3475.


text:
Home News Listen to IN THIS MOMENT's New Song 'Roots' from Upcoming Album, Ritual
Listen to IN THIS MOMENT's New Song 'Roots' from Upcoming Album, Ritual
The band's sixth album, Ritual, marks a new stage in the sound of In This Moment
With their new album, Ritual, coming up, In This Moment have been generous lately, sharing one album track after another. Today, the band have unveiled another new piece of their upcoming record, the song titled 'Roots'. Give it a listen below.
Watch: IN THIS MOMENT share a mesmerizing live video for 'Oh Lord'
Ritual has opened new horizons for In This Moment. Maria-Brink-led group has been experimenting with adding blues elements to their signiture dark sound. Another track to wait for is the band's cover of Phil Collins' hit 'In The Air Tonight.'
The band have recently embarked on a tour with Motionless In White this summer, and will be joined by ex-Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison's band VIMIC on certain dates, along with Little Miss Nasty.
In This Moment's sixth new studio album, Ritual, will hit the stores July 21 via Roadrunner Records, which means it's only a month left before you get to hear the record in its entirety. And now enjoy the new song 'Roots' below:
More: PAPA ROACH were joined by IN THIS MOMENT's Maria Brink on stage
Do you like what we're doing? If so, help us grow by sharing the article – this way we can keep providing you latest news and fun interviews with your favorite bands! Stay tuned with AlteRock Facebook and Twitter to never miss on the news about your favorite alternative music!


text:
(-) Artificial Intelligence
(-) Deep Learning
(-) DSSI
LLNL establishes AI Innovation Incubator to advance artificial intelligence for applied science
LLNL has established the AI Innovation Incubator (AI3), a collaborative hub aimed at uniting experts in artificial intelligence (AI) from LLNL, industry and academia to advance AI for large-scale scientific and commercial applications. LLNL has entered into a new memoranda of understanding with Google, IBM and NVIDIA, with plans to use the incubator to facilitate discussions and form future...
Former interns share insights during career panel
The DSI's new career panel series continued on August 10 with a session featuring former LLNL interns who converted to full-time employment at the Lab. Inspired by the annual Women in Data Science conference, the panel session was open to all LLNL staff and students. Moderator Mary Silva was joined by panelists from the Computing and Engineering Directorates: Brian Bartoldson, Jose Cadena...
Lab postdocs invited to prestigious Heidelberg Forum
Two LLNL postdoctoral researchers are among a select group of 200 scientists invited to attend the 8th Heidelberg Laureate Forum, an international conference that connects young researchers with laureates of the major prizes in mathematics and computer science. For a week in September, LLNL computational engineering postdocs Ruben Glatt and Felipe Leno da Silva will meet and interact with...
Conference papers highlight importance of data security to machine learning
The 2021 Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, the premier conference of its kind, will feature two papers co-authored by an LLNL researcher targeted at improving the understanding of robust machine learning models. Both papers include contributions from LLNL computer scientist Bhavya Kailkhura and examine the importance of data in building models, part of a Lab effort to...
Lab researchers explore 'learn-by-calibration' approach to deep learning to accurately emulate scientific process
An LLNL team has developed a "Learn-by-Calibrating" method for creating powerful scientific emulators that could be used as proxies for far more computationally intensive simulators. Researchers found the approach results in high-quality predictive models that are closer to real-world data and better calibrated than previous state-of-the-art methods. The LbC approach is based on interval...
Data Science Institute collaborates with Livermore Lab Foundation and UC Merced to host two year-long fellowships
Early this spring, the Livermore Lab Foundation (LLF) in partnership with the UC Merced, awarded two rising seniors, Jose Garcia-Esparza and Teagan Zuniga, two one-year $15,000 fellowships to participate in the Lab's Data Science Summer Institute (DSSI) and continue a part-time fellowship at the Lab for the remainder of the 2020–21 school year. The fellowships allow deserving students...
After successful virtual summer, DSSI looks ahead to 2021
In a year distinguished by the COVID-19 pandemic, LLNL's Data Science Summer Institute (DSSI) pivoted quickly to an all-virtual program. The 28 students in the class of 2020 worked from their homes and attended online seminars, one-on-one mentoring sessions, team-building games, and other activities. Instead of an in-person poster session, the students participated in a virtual Summer Slam...


Gold Plated Tiger Necklace is perfect for rounding out your look either on its own or layered for an extra punch. Featuring cut-out iconic tiger with diamond chip eyes on a delicate rolo chain with adjustable size links, signature tag and lobster clasp. Signature box included.


text:
Cruelty against dogs a tough case to fight
jlesinski@observertoday.com
Dog enforcement officers often face a number of challenges in their day to day routine, but none is more trying than dealing with cases of abuse against canine comrades.
"There's a great misconception that we enforce the cruelty laws and that's a fallacy," said Ellery Dog Control Officer Christina Wiles. "We're really unable to do anything."
Wiles, who is also the dog control officer for Charlotte and Villenova in Chautauqua County, has been seeing an unnerving rise in cases of cruelty against dogs as of late.
"It's becoming more and more of a serious issue," said Wiles. "You wouldn't believe how many calls we get. Unfortunately we get the calls and they get upset we can't do anything."
While dog enforcement officers have authority in certain areas of the law, they can't arrest someone for acts of cruelty against a dog. "Dog control officers do not have the right to enforce New York Agricultuaral Article 26 (Cruelty to Animals)," Wiles stated. "Unfortunately, because it's a misdemeanor or felony, we can't enforce that. The only people who can enforce that are police officers or cruelty investigators."
Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson commented on the number of cases he sees in a typical year and how the prosecution process works.
"Animal Cruelty is part of Agriculture and Market Laws," Swanson said. "We're not obligated to prosecute those offenses, but we do on the more serious ones. The most serious is the Class E Felony, (which) requires the animal to have died. There's less than a dozen a year. Others are generally unclassified misdemeanors, we typically don't track those. Sometimes we have DEC people do it."
Wiles emphasized a lack of procedure as part of a bigger problem with the increase in dog-related violence. "There is no procedure in place for cruelty," Wiles stated. Moreover, a discrepancy between unlicensed dogs and licensed dogs makes processing even murkier.
Dog control officers can act and remove a dog immediately, but only if it's unlicensed.
"A lot of times, in certain circumstances as a dog control officer, we do have the right under Article 7 to seize any dog on or off a property that is not licensed," Wiles said. "So if there's a situation for immediate need of removal, if it's not licensed, then we can remove the dog immediately from the premises. If licensed, it has to go through the proper channels, and there's nothing we can do."
Unfortunately, what some deem as "smaller" cases, like stories or videos seen on Facebook or through social media, are often seen as such by those with the authority to act on it, according to Wiles. "Even animal cruelty investigators often don't want to touch it," Wiles said of some cruelty cases. "We can switch cases over to cruelty officers, but that's about all we can do."
When asked what someone can do if they see a dog getting abused, Wiles had this sound advice, and a stern warning about letting cruelty go unchecked.
"Call your local sheriff's department or local police," Wiles concluded. "They're the only ones who can investigate animal cruelty. Someone who is cruel to animals is nine times more likely to commit other violent crimes."
Fowl fatalities: Dead birds litter city streets
For the past several weeks an unusual occurrence has been happening around a three-to-four-block radius of ...
Wave of interest growing for city beach cleanup
Fredonia officials spar over fire department workers
Call it concern for proper procedures and the people of Fredonia, call it election year posturing, or call it some ...
Flaherty appointed Cassadaga deputy mayor
Collins native completes residency in Cambodia


text:
MTV Shows
'New Normal, New Connections': Catfish Returning With Brand-New Episodes
Nev and Kamie will 'reel them in' beginning May 4
Jordana Ossad 04/13/2021
Life has changed, but Catfish still remain. And Nev Schulman and Kamie Crawford are "ready to reel them in."
https://ql.mediasilo.com/#ql/606f2e55e4b0400972c3491e/09463a02-a040-443d-87e5-d1e68a8bcd51
The MTV series will return on May 4, and with the new normal comes some brand-new Catfish tales.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=121-UBUDX6w
"So you're a porn star?" Kamie wonders in the first look above. Unclear...for now.
Meanwhile, Nev declares they have "never had this many" of something. What is it? Watch the clip above to see more "stranger stories and wilder reveals" -- and do not miss the return of Catfish on Tuesday, May 4 at 9/8c (right after the season premiere of Teen Mom 2).


text:
In Brazil, the PMDB Is ...
Brazil Can't Wait. We Need ...
In Brazil, the PMDB Is Still King of the Small Fries
by Marcos Chagas November 1, 2004
Despite a decrease in the number of city halls won in the 2004 municipal elections – 1,059 – compared with the elections in 2000, when it elected 1,257 mayors, the PMDB remains the party with the greatest overall presence in small and medium-sized municipalities.
In the 60 Brazilian cities that have between 200 thousand and 1 million voters, the PMDB elected eight mayors. In the eight municipalities with over 1 million voters, however, the party failed to win a single election.
The PSDB, which came in second in the number of mayors elected in 2004, conquered the country's largest electoral college, the municipality of São Paulo, with 7.7 million voters.
The "toucans" – that's the way members of the PSDB are called – were victorious this year in 871 cities, 119 fewer than in 2000.
Prior to this year's elections, the PSDB had never governed a city with over 1 million voters. Now the party will administer 13 of them.
Besides São Paulo, the PSDB will govern Curitiba, for example, which has 1,179,223 voters.
In the ranking according to the number of city halls won, the PFL occupies third place, with 789 mayors.
In 2000 the party elected 1,028 mayors, three of them in cities with over 1 million voters: Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, and Curitiba.
In 2004 they lost in Salvador and Curitiba, retaining only Rio de Janeiro, the country's second largest electoral college, with the victory of César Maia.
In the 60 cities with between 200 thousand and 1 million voters, the PFL failed to win a single election.
The PP remains the country's fourth largest party in terms of the number of municipalities it commands, even though it followed the same trend as the other three, winning in fewer places than in 2000.
This year the progressives elected 551 mayors, compared with 618 four years ago.
The party failed to win in any municipality with over 1 million voters and elected two mayors in municipalities with between 200 thousand and 1 million voters.
Moving in the opposite direction and electing more mayors, the PTB won in 425 cities this year, compared with 398 in 2000.
The party was victorious in two cities with between 200 thousand and 1 million voters: Juiz de Fora, in Minas Gerais, and Belém, in Pará state.
The PT, which elected 187 mayors in 2000, more than doubled its count in this year's municipal elections.
The party won in 409 municipalities, three of which have over 1 million voters (Recife, Belo Horizonte, and Fortaleza) and twelve of which have between 200 thousand and 1 million voters.
Nevertheless, the party lost its hold on the country's largest electoral college – São Paulo – and Porto Alegre, where it has governed for the last 16 years.
The PL, like the PT and the PTB, also added to its total of city halls, going from 234 in 2000 to 382. All of them, however, with under 200 thousand voters.
The PPS was another gainer, increasing the number of municipalities under its control by 140, from 166 in 2000 to 306, of which four have over 200 thousand voters.
One of them, Porto Alegre, which will be administered by José Fogaça, has over 1 million voters.
The PDT, which governs 288 cities, elected 305 mayors this time around. Seven of them are in cities with between 200 thousand and 1 million voters.
The PDT's greatest triumph in these elections, however, was the conquest of Salvador, the country's fourth largest electoral college.
The PSB raised its number of mayors from 133, in 2000, to 176 in 2004. The socialists administer seven cities with over 200 thousand voters. None, however, with over 1 million.
Translator: David Silberstein
Marcos Chagas
Brazil Can't Wait. We Need the Whole Truth, Now.
PSDB's Serra to Manage Brazil's Largest City
The Price of a Slave in Brazil
Brazil is responsible for 15 percent of women trafficked in South America, a great ...
Bernardete Toneto February 1, 2004
Brazilian Doctor Calls for Mass Vaccination Against Common Cold
Dr. João Toniolo, a geriatrician at the Federal University of São Paulo, in the ...
Norma Nery January 12, 2006
US Firm to Sell Cashew, Açaí and Other Brazilian Juices in US and Asia
Tropical Beverage, a producer and distributor of value-added water-based products, announced today, July 19, ...
Newsroom July 19, 2006
Brazilian Markets Seeing Red
Brazilian and Latin American shares returned a small portion of the impressive gains logged ...
Linda Shea May 5, 2005
Brazilian Virtuosi Assad Brothers to Play at Arab Summit
Technical domination of the instrument and fine-tuning in interpretations by guitar players and brothers ...
Leonardo Lênin May 8, 2005
Daniella Perez's show is ready to start
Nearly four years after a crime that made worldwide headlines only one thing is ...
Daniela Lace Lopes May 14, 2005
In Brazil, the Big Losers Were the Polls
Crowns of laurels to the victorious and crowns of flowers to the defeated. Add ...
Alberto Dines October 11, 2004
Brazil Caves in to Bolivia and Brazilians Feel It in Their Pockets
Brazil will pay about 11% more for natural gas from Bolivia under a deal ...
Newsroom February 15, 2007
Brazil's Itaíº and Unibanco Join to Create Southern Hemisphere's Largest Bank
Brazilian banks Itaú and Unibanco are merging their operations establishing the largest private financial ...
Newsroom November 3, 2008
Without Food For Her 4 Kids Brazilian Guarani Indian Kills Self
Teresa Murilha, a young Guarani Kaiowá mother of four children, killed herself on October ...
Newsroom October 20, 2006


text:
module PaperclipCompression
  class Jpeg < Base

    JPEGTRAN_DEFAULT_OPTS = '-copy none -optimize -perfect'

    def initialize(file, options = {})
      super(file, options)

      @dst = Tempfile.new(@basename)
      @dst.binmode

      @src_path = File.expand_path(@file.path)
      @dst_path = File.expand_path(@dst.path)

      @cli_opts = init_cli_opts(:jpeg, default_opts)
    end

    def make
      begin
        if @cli_opts
          #  close dst file, so jpegtran can write it
          @dst.close
          Paperclip.run(command_path('jpegtran'), "#{@cli_opts} :src_path > :dst_path", src_path: @src_path, dst_path: @dst_path)
          @dst.open
          @dst
        else
          @file
        end
      rescue Cocaine::ExitStatusError => e
        raise Paperclip::Error, "JPEGTRAN : There was an error processing the thumbnail for #{@basename}" if @whiny
      rescue Cocaine::CommandNotFoundError => e
        raise Paperclip::Errors::CommandNotFoundError.new("Could not run 'jpegtran'. Please install jpegtran.")
      end
    end

    private

    def default_opts
      JPEGTRAN_DEFAULT_OPTS
    end

  end
end


The Game Publishers Guild is a group of small, independent role-playing game publishers who have banded together in order to help strengthen their overall forces in this topsy-turvy world of gaming. Initially created by Aaron Huss of Mystical Throne Entertainment, the 7 charter members (Arcanum Syndicate, Cakebread & Walton, DramaScape, Imaginary Empire, Mystical Throne Entertainment, Rogue Games and Scrying Eye Games) hope that by joining together, they can achieve greater reach through conventions and retailers, where such action had not been previously possible.
Membership is open and if you're interested in joining, you can contact any of the Guild members to see about the application process.
DramaScape has a new map available to download. It's been a while and it's good to see them with new releases again.
This Product is a 48 x 30 inch, full color floorplan of a hidden Gorge.
It comes with Square, Hex and No Overlays and includes the VTT files for online use.
DramaScape is having themselves a sale over on DriveThruRPG in honor of their anniversary. Woo!
DramaScape has a new set of paper models available. These are humans and orcs and are seen from a top-down view.
This product contains two topdown miniature armies, one orc and one human army set on a green field in addition to a 48 x 30 inch grass battlefield map with a road running north to south in the center of the map and a plateau along the eastern side of the map. Each army has melee, missile, magic, gunpowder guns, and mounted characters. The human knights are riding warhorses and the orcs are riding ankylosaurs. The orc army has a bolt thrower as a siege weapon as well. Each miniature is included as a 300 dpi png file and the board as a 100 dpi jpeg file so that you can make use of this product on your virtual tabletop (VTT). In total there are 12 different human footman miniatures, 3 human knights, 18 orc footman miniatures, 2 orc riders, and 1 orc artillery that you can print out and use on the tabletop or use with your VTT.
This product is the first one in our Versus line which will pit two topdown armies versus each other on a single battlefield map. Each new Versus product will include two topdown armies and one battlefield for them to fight on expanding both the number of places to fight and the types of armies that can be paired together.
DramaScape has a new set of SciFi floor tiles available over on Wargame Vault.
This product consists of modular 6 x 6 tiles that can build a multitude of science fiction facilities in space or on the ground. There are 59 tiles (front and back for 118 total). The set includes connective tiles such as hallways, doors, barriers, stairs, hatches, lifts, access tubes, access shafts, and other connective pieces. The set also includes destination tiles such as an armory, a bridge, a cargo room, a command center, a computer room, a cryo room, an engineering/power room, a med lab, a mess hall, a meeting room, personal quarters, and a security room and security scanner. With this many connective and destination tiles, you can construct a vast number of different science fiction locations for use in space or on land. Then deconstruct them and then recombine them for a totally new adventure location in next week's session!
This product has both a clean version and a rusted version of all the tiles. The clean version is great for a brand new facility or spaceship that was just opened or commissioned. The rusty version works well for an old facility or derelict spacecraft that needs explored by the group. Combining the clean side and the rusty side, you can create a ship or facility that was refurbished in some sections with the clean side while using the rusty side to denote the older sections of the ship or facility.
DramaScape gives you another floor plan you can use in your games with Stage of the Gods.
This Product is a 48 x 30 inch, full color floorplan of a mountain stage.
DramaScape gives you more sci-fi maps for your gaming sessions with the Basilisk Lander and The Protocursor.
DramaScape is having themselves a sale in honor of GMs Days.
There is 25% off all our maps in the DriveThruRPG's GM's day sales, 7 days to get yourself a bargain.
DramaScape has some new Space Ship paper miniatures available over on DriveThruRPG.
Our latest release is a set of paper space ship miniature for use in tactical space combat, these work well with our Star Maps product and can be used with any system.
DramaScape has their first map available that you can now order in printed format: the Ancient Temple Interior.
Don't cross the light beams.
Our first Print on Demand Map is now on sale, it comes on high quality 12 pint card, and is UV coated, which means they wipe clean and you can use dry wipe markers on them. If you love maos but hate printing them out these are ideal for you.
DramaScape gives us another terrain map. This one's the Power Room and Converter Room.
Another set of floor plans from DramaScape, for those critical moments when you have to shut off the tractor beams.
DramaScape doesn't just do terrain maps, they also do paper minis. Their latest are WWII Germans and Americans.
We thought we would get a set of WWII figures out, Over 100 figures in the pack.
DramaScape gives you more terrain map options with the release of their Vaztstar Shuttle floorplan.
The Vaztstar is meant for in-system quick travel. One idea for using the ship is that a wealthy entrepreneur who loves using it to race and joyride owns the Vaztstar.
DramaScape keeps churning out these maps and we keep posting them (just the way I like it!). Here's the latest: The Repair Bay.
If you're looking for a chop shop or just looking for some repairs, here's the place to go.
DramaScape is bringing you another map. This one's more fantasy-inspired... The Skull Throne!
Time for a fantasy map from us, deep in the sewers is the Skull Throne, can you find it?
DramaScape does more than just terrain mats. They've also got paper minis. Here's their Sci-Fi set.
Our 3rd set of Paper Miniatures, ideal for all scifi rpg's.
DramaScape gives you some more floor plans to work with (will they ever end? I hope not). This time it's the Basilisk Lander.
The new Basilisk Lander is a shuttle designed for passenger or Prisoner Transport, ideal for your sci games.
DramaScape gives us another of their floorplans. This one's for the Med Bay to help get you stitched back together after playing on one of the other maps.
The new Med Bay floor plans from DramaScape, for those days when even the best laid plans go wrong.
DramaScape also has some new terrain for you. The Tug is their latest terrain map.
The Tug is a new set of Space Ship Floor Plans, something to explore the deep recesses of space with.
DramaScape put out another of their battlefield terrain maps with the Protocursor.
The New Protocursor floor plans from DramaScape, a crashed ship on an Ice Planet.
DramaScape gives you another floorplan map with the Metro Station.
DramaScape gives you a new, free map for January. Check out the Detectives Office.
Our First Map for 2013 and its Free, the Dectectives Office, its small but packed with fun.
DramaScape doesn't just do maps, but does paper minis as well. Here's their latest set: Sci-Fi Marines and Aliens.
Our second paper miniatures set has just been released, good for the bug hunt games or you could just nuke the site from orbit.


We have a great opportunity for an experienced Test Manager to work for a well-known organisation.
The Test Manager would lead the Testing function within the business technology division and deliver successful outcomes that meets the organisational objectives.
You would have exceptional team management and leadership capability within a complex and changing environment. You would be required to lead the development and implementation of test and quality approaches, processes, procedures and controls.
You will also be planning the test capability with emphasis on test automation and agile delivery.
Having a background in the financial services would be ideal.
To be successful, you would need demonstrable experience managing the testing capacity within a large organisation. As well as great stakeholder management skills and the ability to work in an environment with much ambiguity.
The role comes with an attractive remuneration package so if you have what it takes, please apply now!


text:
Dr. Len Zwelling
Photons: All Energy and No Mass. QT and The Movies; RdP, BHO, and Reality
Leonard Zwelling
Photons: All Energy and No
Mass. QT and The Movies; RdP, BHO, and Reality
It is most unfortunate if you were not among those who saw The Hateful Eight in Ultra 70 mm
Panavision and Cinerama during its one week Roadshow in 96 theaters around the
US and Canada that began on Christmas Day. It is unfortunate because the only
reason to see this film, the 8th of Quentin Tarentino's (QT) career,
as the title shot tells you, is the images on the large screen in the 2.76:1
aspect ratio that only this format allows. It is a gorgeous film set in a
desolate place, Wyoming in winter, and it largely takes the screen and fills it
with internal shots of a stagecoach and the inner room of Minnie's
Haberdashery, where the blood spurting action takes place. This is essentially
a Westernized parlor tale like an Agatha Christie story that is less a whodunit
than a who is going to do it to whom. And, the "it" in the last sentence means
shoot to kill.
For the film aficionados this is a well-appreciated piece of
art. It is almost a still life in motion leaving one to wonder why spare no
expense to make the cinematic equivalent of a bowl of hemorrhaging pears? I
have no idea. What plot there is is slight indeed. This is a celluloid racist
invective, a spewing of filth and gore that is in service of no idea. This is
quite different than either Inglourious
Basterds or Django Unchained, the
6th and 7th films by QT that were both gory and
entertaining because they were about something. This film is about this film.
It really is a photon. All energy and no mass. Meta murder.
I view the DePinho Presidency the same way. In fact, I view
the Obama Presidency similarly. They are about the Presidencies and the men in
the seat rather than about the meaningful accomplishments of those men or their
administrations. (After all Hillary Clinton's great accomplishments as Secretary
of State were the record for most frequent flyer miles on a government aircraft
and the legacy of being known for being the great email self-server.)
than use the power in the Presidency to advance the cause of MD Anderson in one
case and the United States of America in the other, these narcissistic leaders
have made it all about them and did not use their energies in service of a greater
goal. This is not leadership. This is photonship. All energy and no mass.
There is nothing wrong with an artist doing a piece of work
that is really about the medium itself. This can work in music, visual art and
even drama. Day for Night was a film about
film and a great one. Both productions of Sweeny
Todd I saw on Broadway, the original with Angela Lansbury, and the newer
one with Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris, were very much about how they were
presented and very different from each other despite having the same scores.
The same show was dramatically (pun intended) altered when the medium of presentation
was altered. But there was still a story.
This can certainly be true in film and many experimental
movies were about making the movie. Robert Altman's 1993 film Short Cuts was as much about movies as
it was about the stories of Raymond Carver on which it was based. Some of
Stephen King's best writing is to be found in his short stories where he really
explores the atmospherics of storytelling.
QT does that in The
Hateful Eight. It's a Western about Westerns. It's a mystery about
mysteries. It's even a ninja film about ninja films.
Both the DePinho Presidency and the Obama Presidency are
about little more than the Presidencies themselves. Whether it is videos with
Dr. DePinho beside President Kennedy or photo-ops of Mr. Obama playing golf in
Hawaii, I cannot get past the images to distill any substance to the terms of
these two men.
It should come as no surprise then that Donald Trump is
doing so well. If anyone is all energy and no mass, the quintessence of
imagery, it is The Donald. He has no policy. He has no platform. He has no
demonstrated political leadership skills beyond revving up a crowd with the
raw meat of the worst of American bigotry. He's a terrible person and on the
cusp of possibly having his hand on the nuclear arsenal.
What's wrong with these pictures?
If you missed The
Hateful Eight in 70 mm, no worries. I suspect you will get the gist in 35
mm if you insist on seeing it. For the non-film buffs (and most of the filmies
went this week), it is a so-so QT film. Not bad. Not great. Not even close to
the two I listed above or to Pulp Fiction.
As for DePinho and Obama, well at least this time next year
one of them will be gone.
PrevPrevious2016: Prepare To Or Plan For?
NextMovie Misnomers of 2015Next
Dr. Zwelling is a board-certified internist and medical oncologist. He was trained at Duke University, Duke Medical School and Duke Hospital after which he completed his oncology training at the National Cancer Institute. He started his research career at NCI and in 1984 moved to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where he rose to the rank of Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology. He returned to business school at the University of Houston, graduating in 1993. He then gravitated to research administration.
Yes, email me when there are new blog posts!
Never Miss A New Post! Sign Up For Blog Notifications:
© 2020 Dr. Len Zwelling
Site Developed By Shapiro Consulting, LLC.


text:
Derry News
Peace-building events to be held in Creggan church
The first of two significant peace-building events will take place in St Mary's Church, Creggan, at the beginning of next week.
St Mary's Church in Creggan.
15:28:58 20 Nov 2019
Father Joe Gormley has been deeply committed to the people of Creggan since he arrived as parish priest five years ago.
He is delighted to announce two upcoming free events programmed for the "Community Room" within St Mary's Church for next week and early next month.
At 8.00pm on Tuesday next, 26 November, Johann Coyle and Alan McBride, from WAVE Trauma Centre, an organisation which supports victims and survivors of the "Troubles," will be the guest speakers.
Both will give some insight into the diverse range of work that WAVE is committed to both locally and across Northern Ireland.
Most recently Mr McBride, on behalf of WAVE, has very actively supported the pension campaign on behalf of those traumatically injured during the "Troubles" - wife and father-in-law were killed in the Shankill bomb in October 1993.
On 3 December at 8.00pm, St Mary's poet, playwright and film maker, Damian Gorman, will speak in St Mary's. Mr Gorman, from Newcastle in Co. Down, began his peace-building residency with the Derry Playhouse in September this year.
He is working with people around their experiences of 1972, the worst year of the "Troubles" and his residency there will finish with the performance of a theatre piece in The Playhouse which will run from Thursday 23 to Saturday. 25 April. next year.
Mr Gorman will be joined on the night of the 3 December by well-known local singer, Anne Tracey, whose annual sell out shows during the City of Derry Jazz Festivel and at the Seamus Heaney Home Place, lifted the hearts of her audiences. Mr Gorman said: "I am delighted - and also a bit relieved - to be sharing the evening with Anne.
"I am really looking forward to being in Creggan that evening, and reading a few bits and pieces which, hopefully, won't put years on people altogether."
Meanwhile, Father Gormley said he hoped that in this year, 50 years since the since the Troubles began, "we can open up a conversation in our church and in our society about how we all can become instruments of healing and peace for ourselves and for those hurt and injured by past events." He added: "Both these small but significant events are good news stories coming from the heart of Creggan. I am grateful for the support of the Peace 4 funded Valued Voices in the development of this short programme.
"I am also very grateful to Johann, Anne, Alan and Damian for giving of their time and for bringing their gifts and talents to the people of the Creggan and, of course, to anyone else who wants to come along on the 3rd of December. Everybody will be made very welcome."


text:
Social Security crisis a smokescreen
THERE is something fundamentally dishonest about the debate that is going on in our country about Social Security. Listening to recent talk about looming threats and higher returns, it would be easy to get the impression that protecting the future solvency of Social Security and privatizing the program to create private accounts are more or less the same thing. Sadly, that couldn't be further from the truth. You cannot extend Social Security's guaranteed benefit to future generations by converting it into a risky investment scheme.
Social Security is by far the most successful anti-poverty program our government has ever created. Without it, 48 percent of seniors would live in poverty. Social Security's remarkable success is based on the simple principle that workers contribute to the system and earn a guaranteed, defined benefit that is paid to them when they retire or if they become disabled, or to dependent family members in the event that they should die.
People are rightly concerned that we take appropriate steps to ensure that Social Security's guaranteed benefit is extended to future generations.
Unfortunately, that is not what the president wants to do.
All the talk of crisis is just a smokescreen. The president's proposal would actually make the solvency issue worse and turn a guaranteed benefit into a guaranteed gamble.
People should understand that the centerpiece of what the president has proposed, diverting funds from payroll taxes to create private accounts, does nothing to address his so-called "crisis." By diverting $2 trillion from the Trust Fund in the first decade to pay for these accounts, it actually makes matters much worse.
The president's proposal would undermine retirement security for all Americans by cutting Social Security's guaranteed benefit by almost 50 percent.
The president's commission on Social Security has recommended cutting benefits to disabled workers to pay for private accounts. Disabled workers would have no access to their private accounts prior to retirement, and because their careers were cut short, would reach retirement with virtually nothing in those accounts.
The proposed benefit cuts are especially hard on minorities and women.
Because minorities are more likely to become disabled or die young, cuts in disability and survivor benefits would have a devastating impact on minority communities, particularly on children.
Without Social Security, 53 percent of senior women would live in poverty. Because women, on average, have lower salaries and longer life spans than men, under the president's proposal they would have to make smaller private accounts last longer.
It is hard to justify these kinds of cuts knowing that the creation of private accounts would divert almost $1 trillion in transaction fees into the pockets of big corporate interests on Wall Street.
It is time for an honest national debate about the future of Social Security. Social Security faces a challenge, not a crisis. A crisis is what the millions of people who benefit from Social Security will face if the president succeeds in his campaign to privatize this vital American safety net.
Rep. Barbara Lee represents the Ninth Congressional District.