text:
ROD Case No:	84-305 – January 27, 1987
The Complainant was working in a classified job for the Respondent when he was injured on October 18, 1985. As a result of his injury, he was unable to return to work and was awarded Workers' Compensation. Funds' records indicate that the Complainant worked 2,927 hours in the 24-month period prior to October 18, 1985. Based on that number of hours, the Respondent provided continued health benefits coverage for the Complainant from October 18, 1985 until November 1, 1986.
The Complainant states that while recovering from his injury, he was instructed to attend an annual safety and first aid retraining class. The Complainant attended the eight-hour class on April 22, 1986. He was paid for this time at his regular rate of pay. The Complainant asks whether his attendance at the retraining class can be considered his last date worked for purposes of determining a period of eligibility for continued benefits coverage from that date. Funds' records indicate that the Complainant worked 2,011 hours for the Respondent in the 24-month period prior to April 22, 1986.
The Respondent states that the Complainant had not been released for work by his physician when he attended the retraining class on April 22, 1986; therefore, the Respondent claims that the Complainant's attendance at the retraining class does not constitute a return to work for purposes of determining his eligibility for continued benefits coverage. The Respondent maintains that the Complainant has received the maximum continuation of coverage to which he is entitled based on his last date worked, October 18, 1985.
Whether the Complainant is entitled to continued benefits coverage from the date he attended an annual retraining class.
Position of the Complainant: The Complainant asks whether the date he attended a retraining class can be considered his last date worked for purposes of determining a period of eligibility for continued benefits coverage.
Position of the Respondent: The Complainant was unable to work because of disability and was receiving continued health benefits coverage when he attended a retraining class. His attendance at the class does not constitute a return to work for purposes of determining a second period of eligibility for continued benefits coverage.
Article I (1), (2), and (4) of the Employer Benefit Plan provide:
(1)	"Employer" means (name of Coal Company).
Article II. A. (1) and (4) and C. (3) of the Employer Benefit Plan provide:
The persons eligible to receive the health benefits pursuant to Article III are as follows:
Benefits under Article III shall be provided to any Employee who:
(1)	is actively at work* for the Employer on the effective date of the Wage Agreement; or
* Actively at work includes an Employee of the Employer who was actively at work on September 30, 1984, and who returns to active work with the Employer two weeks after the effective date of the Wage Agreement.
C.	Disabled Employees
In addition to disabled Pensioners who are receiving pension benefits and are therefore entitled to receive health benefits under paragraph B of this Article II, health benefits under Article III shall also be provided to any Employee who:
(3)	Is receiving or would, upon proper application, be eligible to receive Sickness and Accident Benefits pursuant to the Wage Agreement.
Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance shall also be provided to Employees described in (3) above.
Article III D. (1) (a), (b) and (d) of the Employer Benefit Plan provide:
(1)	Continuation of Coverage
(a)	Layoff
If an Employee ceases work because of layoff, continuation of health, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance coverage is as follows:
Number of Hours Worked for
the Employer in the 24
Consecutive Calendar Month	Period of Coverage
Period Immediately Prior to	Continuation from the
The Employee's Date Last Worked Date Last Worked
2,000 or more hours Balance of month plus 12 months
500 or more but less than Balance of month plus
2,000 hours 6 months
Less than 500 hours 30 days
(b)	Disability
Except as otherwise provided in Article II, section C, if an Employee ceases work because of disability, the Employee will be eligible to continue health, life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage while disabled for the greater of (i) the period of eligibility for Sickness and Accident benefits, or (ii) the period as set forth in the schedule in (a) above.
(d)	Maximum Continuation of Coverage
In no event shall any combination of the provisions of (a), (b), (c), (e) or (g) above result in continuation of coverage beyond the balance of the month plus 12 months from the date last worked.
Article III D. (1)(b) of the Employer Benefit Plan authorizes the continuation of health and other non-pension benefits for an Employee who "ceases work because of disability." The period of continued benefits coverage shall extend from the date last worked for the greater of the period of eligibility for Sickness and Accident Benefits or the period as set forth in III D. (1)(a). Under Article III D. (1)(a), the period of continued coverage is based upon the number of hours worked for the Employer in the 24-month period prior to the Employee's date last worked. The maximum period of continued coverage under Article III D. is the balance of the month in which the Employee last worked plus twelve months.
The Complainant's last day of work for the Respondent, prior to his disability, was October 18, 1985. Based on the number of hours worked for the Respondent in the 24-month period prior to that date, the Complainant was entitled to continued benefits coverage as a disabled employee for the balance of October 1985 through October 31, 1986.
The issue here is whether the Complainant's attendance at a retraining class on April 22, 1986 constitutes a return to work and his "date last worked" for purposes of determining a second period of continued benefits coverage. article III D. (l)(b) expressly provides continued benefits coverage for a disabled Employee "who ceases work because of disability." The Complainant was receiving Workers' Compensation and continued benefits coverage as a disabled Employee when he attended the retraining class on April 22, 1986. Although the Complainant did not continue to work following the retraining class, he did not cease work because of disability on that date. Rather, the Complainant ceased work because of disability on October 18, 1985, and he remained unable to work as a result of that same disability beyond April 22, 1986. Therefore, the Trustees conclude that under Article III D.(1)(b) the Complainant is entitled to only one period of continued benefits coverage, beginning October 18, 1985, the date the Complainant ceased work because of disability.
The Respondent has provided the Employee with continued benefits coverage for the maximum period required under the Employer Benefit Plan. The Respondent is not responsible for providing a period of continued benefits coverage for the Complainant based on his attendance at a retraining class on April 22, 1986.


TL;DR: Given several recent failures on projects we have, Eve (my boss' boss) got mad at me and I am afraid that Adam (my boss) keeps telling her that it is my fault all the time, when I consider it is not. Several technical and managerial deficiencies I consider are the source of these problems. My guts says that Adam is dodging the blame towards me.
How can I communicate to Eve that things are not how she think they are? What alternatives do I have to point this out to Adam and/or Eve?
I work as a Software Developer in a startup company that has a CEO (call her Eve) and CTO (call him Adam) and another full-time employee. Adam and Eve are very close; I report to Adam and he reports to Eve. For the past months, we have been preparing for our first application launch, doing several tasks.
I went on a one-week vacation at the beginning of this month, and I agreed with Adam that I come back from vacation and we start building two test devices and integrate rest of the features.
Adam has full access to my code at all times and codes in parallel with me. Also, Adam always micromanages (and sometimes both Adam and Eve) my work and is always updated of everything I do on hourly-basis.
I came back from vacation on Monday (early this month) to find out that invited test users to an app launch date (~15 users) and that they are preparing the launch on Tuesday. Plus, they prepared a list of tasks for me to finish before Tuesday. I am was 100% sure at that time, that even if I finished the list, the app would fail, since major features are not implemented yet. Adam knows that, but I started noticing tension and attitude from Eve towards me.
We could not get all missing features implemented before the scheduled launch date, so we had to postpone the launch for another week, which increased the tension and attitude from Eve (and also Adam - mostly when Eve is around) towards me. We even worked on weekends, and still the launch date was a major fail.
After the failed launch, the team set a meeting, gathered feedback and planned for what we should do for the coming week to launch again, and I mentioned that picking a date when the app is not ready neither tested would result in a fail. All agreed with this.
I need to bring up an issue about miscommunication where you say tasks are done but turn out not to be done yet. For example, screen x.
We discussed about that, and that screen x was not ready even before I left to vacation, and that I did not get how they(it is he actually) planned for a launch date without it being implemented. Plus made some suggestions like having a list of requirements for each task, as we currently don't follow that process, and him to review my work when I am "done".
Eve to Adam: Why data are not categorized?
Adam looks at me and says: I thought it was!
Me: No it is not, the last time we touched this screen from the app side was before I went to the vacation.
Eve got mad and I am afraid that Adam keeps telling her that it is my fault all the time, when I consider it is not. My guts says that Adam (in private with Eve) is dodging the blame towards me.
I've tried to focus on your key questions in your TL;DR part, but have taken the time to go through some other points.
How can I communicate to Eve that things are not how she think they are?
Please note that, based on what you've said, no concrete evidence that things are the way you think they are has been mentioned, either.
Now, I'm not saying that you have no reasonable grounds to think that you could be getting blamed behind your back. What I'm saying is that you don't know for a fact that this is what is actually happening.
It could also be that the several project failures you mentioned have placed that startup environment and its management under intense stress... especially if their thoughts are that they're trying to keep their startup from having to file for bankruptcy or something serious like that, and they end up venting at the first sign of additional frustration, whether real or perceived.
Therefore, keep this distinction in mind as one possibility.
On the other hand, if we assume that you're correct, it doesn't sound like there's much you can do. How many other software developers exist there with the responsibility of bringing the application(s) to life? It sounds like it's only you and Adam who are writing any code at all.
I don't know what "very close" means in this context (e.g. they hang out frequently, or are a couple, family, etc.), but whatever the case, it sounds like the level of rapport/trust between them is greater than yours is. (You don't say how long you've been there, etc.) I think that can make perceptions about any sort of criticism even worse, regardless of how well-intended it is -especially since you report to Adam, not Eve.
What alternatives do I have to point this out to Adam and/or Eve?
From what you said, it doesn't look like there're many good alternatives. I think I'd prepare my resume and start looking elsewhere. If they're blaming you now, they're also going to blame you when the project fails, even if it was b/c of their own management practices (or lack thereof); it doesn't look like an environment I'd like to stay at.
If you tell Adam that it's his fault, it's not like he's going to say "Yeah, that's a fair point; let me tell Eve how much I agree on that".
It also doesn't sound like you have regular meetings with Eve (e.g. 1-on-1s), which can make things difficult. It could also make things worse if you go directly to Eve, since it could be perceived by Adam as "going over my head to blame me" and by Eve as "going over Adam's head to blame him", regardless of how objective and accurate your descriptions of the situation are.
If Eve trusts Adam more than she trusts you for whatever reason (and it sounds like that might be the case), then going to Eve will simply be an exercise in shooting yourself in the foot.
Also, while your intentions may be good, it's unlikely they'll take your unsolicited management advice well. Just find a different (and hopefully better) place to work and leave the failure of any future projects to be an unambiguous consequence of their own doing; their poor management practices and/or Adam's technical competence (or lack thereof) will be the only things left to blame after you're no longer there.
[I] made some suggestions like having a list of requirements for each task, as we currently don't follow that process, and him to review my work when I am "done".
Here's the first big problem I see. In short: How can anyone tell when anything is "done" when no one knows that "done" means? Until the team starts including this "done" criteria as part of the features, user stories, tasks, etc. there's nothing to review.
You can reword it as appropriately as you'd like, but you need to be explicit about what the facts are. If it turns out that you are being blamed behind your back, then this is the moment to use facts in your favor in a way that does not require making a direct accusation. Simply presenting the facts as part of the regular conversation and letting the facts stand for themselves would be my strategy here.
Eve to Adam: Why data are [sic] not categorized? Adam looks at me and says: I thought it was! Me: No it is not, the last time we touched this screen from the app side was before I went to the vacation.
Have you considered saying that, maybe, just maybe, if they were to let you do your tasks without constantly being told how to do your job, then maybe you could be more empowered to be more productive/successful and, thus, help them be more successful than what they already are, especially after several failed projects?
Note that this should be worded better; I just put it out like that to avoid ambiguity. I'm also assuming that they don't have good reasons to be concerned about your performance when you're left alone.
[they're] always updated of everything I do on hourly-basis.
This is very disruptive, especially for a software developer. Given that software development is about solving problems in your head, constant interruptions are going to disrupt your thinking process.
This is like frequently throwing water at someone who's trying to start a bonfire, and then expect them to be successful at making a bonfire. It's absurd.
I agreed with Adam that I come back from vacation and we start building two test devices and integrate rest of the features.
I've never been in a startup environment, but something tells me that things change rapidly in said environment. Therefore, the fact that they did it while you were gone should not be a problem. On the other hand, it should also not be used against you.
Several technical and managerial deficiencies I consider are the source of these problems.
and whether it was done before the projects failed, or at least immediately after the most recent failure, if at all. If nothing has changed after several failures, I see no reason to think anything will.
This is the reason why Agile methodologies incorporate a team retrospective at the end of each sprint (i.e. not project!): to provide an opportunity to reflect on what did and didn't go so well in the sprint and commit to fixing it for the next.
You don't wait until after the project has failed, and you certainly don't wait until after several of them have failed. If there's a refusal, at any level, to learn from past mistakes, then they'll just keep repeating them and failing. The first step to fixing problems is acknowledging their existence.
Also, if nothing improves, projects will keep failing, they'll end bankrupting the company, and you unemployed if you chose to stay there. The only way you can change your managers here is by getting a different job.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged professionalism software-industry united-states manager teamwork or ask your own question.
My project was cancelled out of nowhere, and I no longer had a job. Does this sound like I was fired for poor performance?
What does this interviewing process say about a company/role?
Coworker getting demoralized and quitting, should I speak out?


light gray rug 8x10 gray rug grey area s light dark and white jute.
light gray rug 8x10 grey area rug amazing best gray area rug ideas on rugs in wool within grey.
light gray rug 8x10 light gray area rugs exotic solid gray area rug gray area rug exotic solid gray area light gray area rugs.
light gray rug 8x10 gray area rug gray rug cozy shag collection gray dark gray area rug light gray.
light gray rug 8x10 light gray area rugs s light gray rug.
light gray rug 8x10 grey area rug attractive outstanding best shag rug ideas on gray area regarding plush rugs grey area rug.
light gray rug 8x10 gray area rugs gray area rug gray area rug gray area rug s s dark gray.
light gray rug 8x10 white light gray area rug.
light gray rug 8x10 gray area rug gray area rug s light gray area rug solid gray area.
light gray rug 8x10 plush area rugs plush area rugs grey rug flat woven light gray home and living.
light gray rug 8x10 download by tablet desktop original size back to light gray area rug.
light gray rug 8x10 light gray area rug amazing area rugs stunning area rugs blue rugs as light grey rug.
light gray rug 8x10 geometric maze area rug in ivory light gray and sky blue lifestyle.
light gray rug 8x10 best of gray area rug for bed bath indoor area rugs grey rugs for sale amazing gray area rug.
light gray rug 8x10 gray area rug home strata fancy trellis gray area rug light gray area rug.
light gray rug 8x10 gray and white area rug light gray area rug.
light gray rug 8x10 hand woven light gray blended new wool and art silk area rug.
light gray rug 8x10 shag light grey rug 5 1 x 7 6 from gray rugs.
light gray rug 8x10 city light gray navy blue area rug rugs.
light gray rug 8x10 gray rugs area rug dark light grey trellis gray rugs.
light gray rug 8x10 gray rug round gray rug beautiful grey felt rug of felt balls if you take gray rug.
light gray rug 8x10 light gray rug outdoor area rug fancy gray indoor interior light gray area rug.
light gray rug 8x10 home light gray rug.
light gray rug 8x10 light grey area rugs light grey area rug.
light gray rug 8x10 grey and white rug gray area rug gray area rug gray area rug light gray.
light gray rug 8x10 grey area rug gray area rug light gray area rug solid gray area rug.
light gray rug 8x10 pearl dot rug feet light gray.
light gray rug 8x10 solid.
light gray rug 8x10 light grey area rug best area rugs images on.


The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") announced that on September 21, 2000, it filed a complaint alleging securities fraud against Capital Consultants, LLC, a registered investment adviser located in Portland, Oregon, that manages over $1 billion for 340 clients, principally union pension trust funds and individuals, and against its principals Jeffrey L. Grayson and his son Barclay L. Grayson. Without admitting or denying the allegations in the Commission's complaint, the Defendants stipulated to a preliminary injunction from future violations of the federal securities laws and asset freeze and the appointment of a permenant receiver over Capital Consultants.
The Commission's complaint alleges that the Defendants are currently operating an undisclosed Ponzi scheme using client funds to make interest payments to clients invested in a failed and bankrupt $160 million loan that Capital Consultants made to Wilshire Credit Corp. In early 1999, the loan to Wilshire Credit was discharged in bankruptcy. The Defendants, however, have continued to report to clients that the loan's value is $160 million, stating that Capital Consultants had sold the loan to two other entities and that they are making the loan payments.
The Defendants, however, have failed to inform the clients that they have lent an additional $71 million of client funds to the two entities to make the payments on the loan to Wilshire Credit. The Defendants have also omitted other material information, including the fact that the entities that purchased the Wilshire Credit loan have the right to terminate their purchase agreement at any time, for any reason, and without further liability. Moreover, the Defendants, until very recently, billed their clients invested in the Wilshire Credit loan a 3% annual management fee based on the purported $160 million value. The Defendants also continue to sell to clients participation interests in the loan at the full cost.
The Commission's complaint alleges that the Defendants have violated and are continuing to violate the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Capital Consultants, aided and abetted by the Graysons, has violated and is continuing to violate the advisory antifraud provisions of Sections 206(1) and (2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
In a related action, the Defendants were sued by the Department of Labor for ERISA violations. The Commission acknowledges the assistance of the Department of Labor in the investigation of this matter.


The Arbuckle Family Blog: Will you pray for Silas?
Will you pray for Silas?
Friends of ours have a precious little boy, Silas, who went in for another surgery today. His father posted a wonder post at Baptist 21. Click here to read article and please keep Scott, Megan and Silas in your prayers.


Avoid the trouble of having to schedule two different contractors for your wall restore work and painting. A repair that may take you all weekend to carry out will take us solely an hour or two, as a result of we have the instruments and materials at hand and the experience to put them to use quickly and efficiently. Ultimately, practically everyone can have a gap or two that needs patching, and should discover ways to do that minor repair.
Primarily, a dry wall skilled can complete the restore a lot quicker than a nonprofessional. Since every restore state of affairs is unique, contractors usually base their estimates on the time and materials they anticipate the job to take. Each Professional in our community of contractors has been verified by our in-home crew, so you might be assured you're hiring somebody with the right credentials for the job.
Prices fluctuate extensively when hiring drywall companies to carry out repairs, with most of the price being labor. Use a drywall knife to cowl the patch with lightweight joint compound in a crisscross pattern, feathering the perimeters so it blends with the wall.
Drywall is then attached to the wall utilizing nails, sometimes glue, or the just lately made drywall screws. There are a number of methods to keep the brand new piece flush with the existing drywall, but the simplest way is to use Bear Claw Drywall Repair Clips from HYDE Instruments.
Poorly done drywall set up is tough to cover up. You're reminded of it every time you have a look at the wall or ceiling. Earlier than you begin worrying about the latest hole in the wall, choose to work with Efficiency Painting Contractors. Cowl the mesh patch with drywall mud, urgent it firmly onto the patch and into the hole with the drywall knife.


text:
Microgroove technology growing in world, China
Product / Technology
By Charlotte McLaughlin, Apr 10, 2018, 10:37 • 1 minute reading
The International Copper Association (ICA) claims small diameter copper usage, which allow for refrigerant-charge reduction, is growing.
MicroGroove small-diameter tubes
Small diameter copper tubes known as MicroGroove's, which allow for refrigerant-charge reduction, are increasing in China and around the world according to the International Copper Association (ICA).
"The use of smaller-diameter copper tubes began in China and is spreading to the rest of the world," acknowledged Nigel Cotton, a program director for the European Copper Institute (ECI) and MicroGroove team leader for ICA.
The tubes have been utilised in CO2 and hydrocarbon heat exchangers to reduce the charge size.
According to research, by ICA, air conditioner efficiency is increased and materials are reduced by using this heat exchange technology.
"It turns out that the smaller diameter tubes also help reduce refrigerant volume and so they are well suited for use with flammable low-GWP refrigerants in light commercial applications", Cotton explained, "They are also well-suited for use in larger condenser coils and heat pumps."
ICA supports research projects looking at reducing refrigerant volume in natural refrigerants.
Technical papers on tube correlations and coil simulations will be presented at the International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference at Purdue University in July 2018.
By Charlotte McLaughlin
NatRefs 101
By Michael Garry , Jul 02, 2019, 08:18
Tracing the growth of natural refrigerants through the first 100 issues of Accelerate magazines from around the world.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Proof of Stake consensus algorithm was introduced back in 2011 on the Bitcointalk forum to solve the problems of the current most popular algorithm in use - Proof of Work. While they both share the same goal of reaching consensus in the blockchain, the process to reach the goal is quite different.
The Proof Of Stake algorithm uses a pseudo-random election process to select a node to be the validator of the next block, based on a combination of factors that could include the staking age, randomization, and the node's wealth.
It's good to note that in Proof of Stake systems, blocks are said to be 'forged' rather than mined. Cryptocurrencies using Proof of Stake often start by selling pre-mined coins or they launch with the Proof of Work algorithm and later switch over to Proof of Stake.
Where in Proof of Work-based systems more and more cryptocurrency is created as rewards for miners, the Proof-of-Stake system usually uses transaction fees as a reward.
Users who want to participate in the forging process, are required to lock a certain amount of coins into the network as their stake. The size of the stake determines the chances for a node to be selected as the next validator to forge the next block - the bigger the stake, the bigger the chances. In order for the process not to favor only the wealthiest nodes in the network, more unique methods are added into the selection process. The two most commonly used methods are 'Randomised Block Selection' and 'Coin Age Selection'.
In the Randomised Block Selection method the validators are selected by looking for nodes with a combination of the lowest hash value and the highest stake and since the size of stakes are public, the next forger can usually be predicted by other nodes.
The Coin Age Selection method chooses nodes based on how long their tokens have been staked for. Coin age is calculated by multiplying the number of days the coins have been held as stake by the number of coins that are staked. Once a node has forged a block, their coin age is reset to zero and they must wait a certain period of time to be able to forge another block - this prevents large stake nodes from dominating the blockchain.
Each cryptocurrency using Proof of Stake algorithm has their own set of rules and methods combined for what they think is the best possible combination for them and their users.
When a node gets chosen to forge the next block, it will check if the transactions in the block are valid, signs the block and adds it to the blockchain. As a reward, the node receives the transaction fees that are associated with the transactions in the block.
If a node wants to stop being a forger, its stake along with the earned rewards will be released after a certain period of time, giving the network time to verify that there are no fraudulent blocks added to the blockchain by the node.
The stake works as a financial motivator for the forger node not to validate or create fraudulent transactions. If the network detects a fraudulent transaction, the forger node will lose a part of its stake and its right to participate as a forger in the future. So as long as the stake is higher than the reward, the validator would lose more coins than it would gain in case of attempting fraud.
In order to effectively control the network and approve fraudulent transactions, a node would have to own a majority stake in the network, also known as the 51% attack. Depending on the value of a cryptocurrency, this would be very impractical as in order to gain control of the network you would need to acquire 51% of the circulating supply.
The main advantages of the Proof of Stake algorithm are energy efficiency and security.
A greater number of users are encouraged to run nodes since it's easy and affordable. This along with the randomization process also makes the network more decentralized, since mining pools are no longer needed to mine the blocks. And since there is less of a need to release many new coins for a reward, this helps the price of a particular coin stay more stable.
It's good to remember that the cryptocurrency industry is rapidly changing and evolving and there are also several other algorithms and methods being developed and experimented with.


A few weeks ago my son had his first "snow day" of the school year. Granted, he's only in preschool, but he was still excited that he got to stay home and hang out with his mom. As luck would have it, I didn't have to work that day and little Dawson was thrilled.
"You don't have to make money on your 'puter today?" he asked.
"Nope! I get to stay home and play with you!" I told him.
We spent our day playing Candy Land and Chutes & Ladders, and then we watched Bob the Builder until I couldn't stand it. We pretended to be pirates hunting for buried treasure, we imagined we were astronauts on a trip to the moon and then we took a trip to the library to check out some books on Dawson's favorite subjects; trains and insects.
It was a perfect day. I wasn't worried about deadlines. I didn't fret about the unfolded laundry or the dishes in the sink. I didn't answer the phone (unless it was very important, of course) and I unplugged from the internet (and boy was that torture).
I cannot count the number of times Dawson told me he was "having so much fun!" He was so happy just to have my undivided attention. And that's when I felt the guilt.
I try very hard to spend quality time with my son. I do my best to find activities we'll both enjoy, as well as do the things he likes, too. But as a work-at-home-mom, it can be difficult to manage my work time with my "home" time.
On the days that Dawson is in school, my work life is a easier to manage. On the days that Dawson is home with me things are chaotic, and the TV has been a babysitter far more than I like to admit. Of course, I choose educational programs whenever possible, but I still feel like I'm poisoning the child's mind. Honestly, Yo Gabba Gabba scares me sometimes. So does Wubzy, but that's another story.
Out of curiosity, I asked my husband if he feels guilty for going to work every day and not spending a lot of time with Dawson.
"No, I don't feel guilty," he said. "Work is work. I've got to do my job to support my family."
"But do you ever wish you could just stay home with the Doodlebug?" I asked.
"Of course, but men are raised with the notion that they are the ones who must work hard and be the breadwinners."
It was that remark that got me thinking about how I was raised. When I was a young girl, my mother was a stay-at-home-mother. She didn't get a job until I was in 3rd grade, and that's only because the economy in the 80s sucked so terribly that my father couldn't afford the mortgages on his home and business on his income alone.
My mother was raised to believe that women stayed home with the kids. In fact, she quit her teaching job just before she and my father were married. She has a strong work ethic (she was raised on a farm and had to do chores), and probably would have continued teaching, but when I was born there were very few daycare centers and she didn't always have family to rely on for child care.
My mother did what she had to do; whether it was raising her kids and maintaining a household or getting a job to support her family. When she did go back to work, her children were in school and she says it was much easier for her because she didn't worry about who was caring for us while she was working.
When my youngest brother was born several years later, my mother finally felt that nagging feeling of guilt for leaving her baby to go to work. She was fortunate however, because my father was self-employed and able to bring my brother to work with him if needed, and sometimes Grandma would step in when necessary.
I know that every parent's situation is different and we all make sacrifices for our children, but wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have our cake and eat it, too?
When I was in high school I dreamed of being a business savvy executive, raking in the dough and taking exotic vacations as a reward for 80 hour work weeks. I dreamed of climbing the corporate ladder. I also dreamed of being a mother to four beautiful children who looked up to their CEO Mom because she was financially successful, she contributed to the family dynamic and was able to provide them with all that they needed and wanted.
At that time in the late 90s, women were told they could be anything they wanted. We were told we could "have it all" — the big house, fancy car, perfect marriage and happy children — but in reality "having it all" is just a fairy tale for adults. Somewhere down the line we need to give up one dream in order to make another one come true.
Being a parent is hard work. I would even go so far as to say it's the most difficult job I could ever have. But, then I wonder if the actual work of a mother (or father) is more difficult than balancing motherhood, a job, marriage and managing the household.
I try to put myself in my husband's shoes. Does he find it difficult to balance his career with marriage and fatherhood? Does he worry about Dawson when he's at work? Is he thinking about all housework that needs to be done when he gets home?
"I don't have time to worry about anything but my work," he says. "But I do think about my family and look forward to spending time with them when I can."
So maybe it's just a woman's nature to worry and over-analyze every little thing. Maybe we feel guilty because we struggle with finding balance between what we have to do and what we want to do.
Can we really have it all? Maybe, but do we even want to?
I read this article and found it very interesting, thought it might be something for you. The article is called Didn't we almost have it all? and is located at http://www.imperfectparent.com/articles/snow-day/.


As they do with the coming of winter every year, thousands upon thousands of crows -- maybe even millions -- have started to swarm, caw and roost each night in downtown Minneapolis. They're likely attracted by the city's warmer climate compared to the countryside, the availability of food to scavenge from trash cans, and street lamps that help them keep a lookout for predators, especially Great Horned owls.
But while they will famously eat pretty much anything, and they do tend to leave a carpet of droppings beneath their roosts, University of Minnesota ornithologist Bob Zink says this kind of flocking behavior for survival shows that crows don't deserve the bad rap with which they've been tagged -- thanks in part to movie director Alfred Hitchcock, in whose movie, "The Birds," crows made it open season on humans.
It's true that crows, like other critters, will attack if their nests or young are threatened. But on a tour of neighborhoods around Elliot Park, Zink says, no, city residents need not fear a crow assault. And while it's also true crows will eat anything, and leave carpets of droppings beneath their roosts, we shouldn't fear their presence as a harbninger of disease.
Zink also insists we ignore the Old Testament rule about crows being unfit to eat. Prepared properly, crow is tasty, he says, and the variety of recipes out there shows others agree. "Crow hash, to crow stew, to crow steaks -- I even found a crow shish-ka-bob recipe that seemed pretty interesting," Zink says.
Click on the audio link above to hear this latest installment of Minnesota Sounds and Voices.


2. (Monetary Economics) "Good King Wenceslas" of Christmas Carol fame has also featured on the coinage of which country?
3. (Central Bank History) Which Central Bank was founded a couple of days before Christmas 1913?
4. (Applied Econometrics) According to Braun and Evans' seminal paper "Seasonal Solow Residuals and Christmas", by how much does Christmas increase measured productivity in the fourth quarter of each year?
5. (Macroeconomics) Which country is the EU's biggest producer of turkey meat?
6. (Welfare Economics) Gift cards can create deadweight losses because the receiver prefers to shop somewhere other than the place on the gift card. According to Jennifer Pate Offenberg's seminal paper, how big is this loss as percentage of the gift given?
7. (Payment systems) Travellers' cheques were launched in the UK by the London Credit Exchange Company on New Year's day of which year?
8. (International Financial System) Central bankers in time zones ahead of GMT get to celebrate Christmas earlier than us at the Bank of England. Which of these central banks will be the very first to see Christmas Day?
9. (Microeconomics) According to the Christmas Price Index, which set of items in the song "12 days of Christmas" is the most expensive?
10. (Banknotes) Which currency features the North Pole on one of its banknotes?


"I want to commend Buena Vista Township Supervisor Dwayne Parker and Township Manager Dexter Mitchell and for acting quickly to notify residents of the slightly elevated level of chlorine in the drinking water, and for taking immediate steps to ensure residents are safe.
"With the recent events in nearby Flint, the importance of quick action and remediation when it comes to drinking water safety is paramount. Keeping residents safe and healthy must be the top priority.
"I spoke with Interim Director Keith Creagh of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Supervisor Parker this morning, and will be working with the DEQ to determine appropriate steps moving forward.


text:
Contra Dance (Nov 3'12) « | » Madison Violet (Nov 16'12) |
Reid Jamieson and Fish & Bird
Fish & Bird
Reid Jamieson (BC)
Fish & Bird's latest album, Every Whisper is a Shout Across the Void, marks a major step forward for the young band. The project began in Victoria, BC in 2006 as an acoustic duo, comprised of Taylor Ashton (banjo, guitar, vocals) and Adam Iredale-Gray (fiddle). On their 2007 self titled debut, their take on 'folk' included original songs in odd time signatures and traditional murder ballads with rock beats. 2009's Left Brain Blues was a more mature exploration of the space between folk traditions and reckless creativity, with Ashton & Gray playing multiple instruments on each song, and toying with the formats that inspired them. Some of the friends they enlisted to help fill out the sound on the record and at live shows eventually became permanent members of the band, and now Fish & Bird are the five-piece indie-folk powerhouse we know today. They have weird vocal improv sections, they rock out in 11/8, sometimes it seems like they're playing bluegrass, and they might make you cry.
Every Whisper is a Shout Across the Void was released in April 2011. Featuring the full ensemble and some of their strongest material yet, it redefines the Fish & Bird experience yet again. Where 2009's Left Brain Blues took listeners on a roller coaster ride of varied genres and instrumentation, Every Whisper comes off more like a live show, with all the band's influences and musical ideas woven tighter into a more cohesive sound. The arrangements are cleaner, the playing is stronger, and Ashton's singing is at its best, this time finding company in backing vocals from Iredale-Gray and bassist Zoe Guigueno. Fiddler Adam Iredale-Gray is Fish & Bird's resident recording engineer. In the 2 years since Left Brain Blues, he has cut his teeth on a number of other recording projects for a handful of other western canadian artists, and the experience shows on Every Whisper. The album is more lyrically cohesive, too. Expanding on themes hinted at on the second album, Every Whisper explores the relationship between reality and perception. Taylor Ashton's lyrics explore the fragility of human interactions, and the fictions we all weave about our own worlds whether we acknowledge them or not.
Fish & Bird are a five piece band, consisting of: Taylor Ashton (vocals, banjo), Adam Iredale-Gray (fiddle, vocals), Ryan Boeur (electric and acoustic guitars), Ben Kelly (drums), Natalie Bohrn (upright bass, vocals)
Gorgeous, sun-struck acoustic soul - Globe & Mail
Reid Jamieson is a classic Canadian heartbreaker with an incredible voice, therapeutic lyrics and a magical way with melodies. Born and raised in Toronto, Reid moved west to beautifulVancouver BC to write and record while performing regularly with CBC's Vinyl Cafe Orchestra. His new record Staring Contest features the track "RAIL" that just won the grand prize for folk in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
Back in 2004 Reid independently released an alt-country gem titled The Unavoidable Truth to much critical acclaim. Self-penned and produced by Josh Finlayson (Gord Downie Band, Skydiggers) the disc featured guest appearances from Sarah Harmer, Mia Sheard, Peter Elkas, John Southworth, and Bob Egan (Blue Rodeo, Wilco). 2007 found Reid releasing a rather unintentional 50s era tribute to Elvis entitled The Presley Sessions. Initially recorded as a birthday gift for his long time sweetheart, this tender offering highlighted Reid's powerful abilities as a gifted interpreter of classic and cult tunes, as evidenced on free cover tracks he regularly posts to his web site. From Sting to Mary Margaret O'Hara - he even takes requests!
In the fall of 2009 a stripped down preview of 6 new original tracks (later to be revamped on Staring Contest) could be heard on the limited run EP Courting Juniper produced by Byron Kent Wong (David Usher, The Crystal Method). Its now 2012 and his new full length, all original (and self funded) album Staring Contest is here and features Samantha Parton (Be Good Tanyas), Anne Lindsay (Blue Rodeo) and Vinyl Cafe bandmate John Sheard (Dan Hill, The Henrys). Recorded at various home studios with good pal and drummer Michael Frost of Blackfish Sound in Vancouver. Garden gnomes, unstoppable trains and no less than three proposals (!) can be found in the lyrics of this unabashedly romantic collection.
Reid will be heading out with Stuart Mclean on the Vinyl Cafe Christmas tour this November. To celebrate, Reid is releasing an eclectic collection of winter-themed songs, especially chosen to warm your soul when nights grow cold. Recorded at home alone, Reid takes a holiday from the usual well-worn fare with a couple of seasonal originals, as well as luscious interpretations of Gordon Lightfoot, Bruce Cockburn, Nick Lowe, Willie Nelson, Tori Amos (!) plus a few festive surprises. A rare live performer, on stage Reid has a way of connecting with an audience that is at once intimate and universal, whether solo or performing with talented friends. Along with his compelling vocal style and impressive guitar work are songs that draw you in with cautionary tales of love and lies, causing tears and laughter by turns. You won't want to miss what he does next so please stay tuned for more from this tender troubadour.
Recommended for fans of Roy Orbison, Neil Finn, Jeff Buckley & Damien Rice.
He's become a favourite in the Canadian heartland. But, a record as good as 'Staring Contest' shouldn't be held back by radio frequencies, regional borders or time zones. Its simple songs are endearing and unforgettable and should expand his audience to a size that reflects his undeniable talent. - Doug Heselgrave, NoDepression magazine


Kind critics have called it quirky. For some it is "awful" and still others call it "A fun and enjoyable adaptation of the Jane Austen novel." Safe to say, no one is ambivalent. Written by Maggie Wadey (The Buccaneers) for the BBC in 1986 and shown on Masterpiece Theater in December of 1987, Northanger Abbey boasts fair a cast and wonderful scenery. With a different script and score it could have rivaled the Austen adaptations of the 1990's. Instead, it remains an engaging but slightly discordant note in the Austen film symphony. It is truly unlike anything that came before or has been produced since.
As the shortest Jane Austen film on record (it clocks in at 90 minutes) Northanger Abbey lacks the time given to other adaptations for plot exposition. Indeed, while some of Austen's best lines were allowed to remain, the writer felt compelled to add new scenes and create new characters to fill out the story, cutting the original plot still further. Perhaps Jean Bowden, Chawton Archivist said it best when she states, "They completely missed the joke." Maggie Wadey managed to take Jane Austen funniest novel, a satire on the literature of the day, and turn it into what is touted as a Gothic fantasy. All right if you go in for that sort of thing, but certainly not Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. Adding to the awkward feel of the film is the score by Ilona Sekacz (Mrs. Dalloway)- a weird mix of period appropriate, night club jazz, opera and new age music. Some people find it humorous- others, appalling.
Filmed on location in Bath and Bodiham Castle, Kent, this movie is a treat for the eyes. The costumes, created by Nicholas Rocker, are lavish and appealing. While some of the gowns must fall into the category of pure whimsy, others are quite correct. Pelisses worn by both Eleanor Tilney and Catherine Moreland are especially attractive, as are many of the ball gowns. True to the book, Miss Tileny does indeed "always wear white." The hairstyles are also unusual, creating a period feel, but making it difficult to place the film in any particular year.
The cast, including costume drama perennials Robert Hardy (Sir John Middleton, Sense and Sensibility) as General Tilney and Jonathan Coy (Lt. Bracegirdle, Horatio Hornblower) as John Thorpe, does well and represents "normal" people of the period rather than the over-pretty characters we are used to seeing in Austen films. Googie Withers is charming in her role as Mrs. Allen, though Cassie Stuart (Secret Garden with Colin Firth) seems to be a bit over the top as Isabella Thorpe. The real star of this production is the beautiful Ingrid Lacey who plays Eleanor Tilney. She is the one actress in the entire film who seems to have stepped directly from the pages of Jane Austen's novel.
The actual stars of the film, Peter Firth (no relation to fellow actor Colin) as Henry Tilney and Katherine Schlesinger (Catherine Moreland) seem slightly miscast. Firth does well with what he has to work with, but is too old and too blond for his role. Schlesinger, playing the wide-eyed innocent to the hilt, seems almost too childish. Her constant daydreams rapidly move from amusing to disturbing. The repeated switch from reality to dream at times creates an unnerving – almost frightening atmosphere. Concluding with a highly improbable proposal scene the viewer is left to wonder just where he lost track of the storyline and how he ended up here.
There were actually three different baths in use a the time. The Cross Bath, the Hot Bath and the King's Bath which is located next to the Pump Room and is the one attended by Catherine and Isabella in the movie. Since this was the location frequented by "gentlefolk," if they were to have gone bathing this would have been the spot.
There is no record of Jane Austen partaking goings on such as those portrayed in the film and indeed, by the time she arrived in Bath, it's fashionable heyday was over. An interesting scene, it may continue to be one of the mysteries of Northanger Abbey for a long time to come. It is certainly something rarely, if ever, included in a period film and it is intriguing to see that Andrew Davies wrote a similar scene for his recent screenplay of the same novel.
With all it's faults, Northanger Abbey does try hard and as the only version available on film, must be accepted, if only to complete the set of all Austen films to date. The best advice I have heard is, "If you are going to watch it, try to enjoy it with an open mind and no expectations." After all, it does deserve our gratitude. If it hadn't been for Northanger Abbey, Pride and Prejudice (BBC/A&E 1995) might never have been made. It was at a screening of Northanger Abbey that writer Andrew Davies met producer Sue Birtwistle and the idea of making P&P into "a fresh, lively story about real people" was born.
Northanger Abbey is readily available on video in both VHS and PAL format, as well as on DVD. The DVD has no special features beyond a scene selection menu.
For more information on the Andrew Davies' version of Northanger Abbey (in production) visit:The NA2 Upcoming Movie Page.
Laura Sauer is a collector of Jane Austen Films and film memorabilia. She also runs Austentation, a company that specializes in custom made Regency Accessories.


He had his first open-heart surgery at just four days old, his second at six months old, and his last at four years old. He has since had many other surgeries, about 15 in total. It is so vital to kiddos like Ezekiel that research continues for them. We are thankful that the American Heart Association is advocating for increased researching funding so that kids like Ezekiel can live long, healthy lives!
So much progress comes because of the advocacy and fundraising work of the American Heart Association! Programs like Jump Rope for Heart not only promote good heart health, but raise awareness about the heart conditions of special kids like Ezekiel. In Wyoming, we need advocates to help us raise awareness and pass heart-healthy policies for all of Wyoming's kids! Please take a moment to join the American Heart Association You're The Cure advocacy network and help us create a healthier Wyoming for all!
Do you want to share your heart or stroke survivor story? We want to hear from you. Email Allison.Hogue@heart.org.


text:
Free to be Kanien'kehaka: A Case Study of Educational Self-determination at the Akwesasne Freedom School
White, Louellyn
Akwesasne
Haudenosaunee
Holistic education
Lomawaima, K. Tsianina
A history of forced assimilation, colonial education, and cultural and linguistic oppression has resulted in the loss and endangerment of hundreds of Native languages, including the Mohawk language of the northeastern U.S. and Canada. It is estimated that only 5% of the population on the Akwesasne reservation are Mohawk speakers. In 1979 a significant effort to revitalize the Mohawk language began with the establishment of the Akwesasne Freedom School (AFS), a grassroots community-based cultural and language immersion program. No prior research or historical documentation of these efforts has been conducted regarding the AFS. This dissertation documents how the school was founded, how it has maintained itself without federal or state funding, and examines how the school has positively impacted its alumni, students, teachers, parents and staff. Through individual interviews, participant observations, and archival research this dissertation reveals the community's investments in and overall effects of this innovative language program on the Akwesasne community. I present the Akwesasne Freedom School as a model of Indigenous holistic education that incorporates traditional teachings, experiential methods, and language immersion. Alumni, parents, and teachers report that the school has helped them feel a strong sense of Mohawk identity. Many respondents reported that their involvement with the AFS helped them to return to the Longhouse, the traditional meeting and ceremonial place. Knowledge of the Mohawk language is only one aspect of Mohawk identity and several Mohawk values were identified in this study: respect, kinship, responsibility, cooperation, leadership, and stewardship. Ultimately, this study identifies what it means to be fully Mohawk. The Akwesasne Freedom School provides an opportunity for negotiating language and identity in a space designed to transcend historical colonization. The AFS serves as an exemplary model for educational self-determination and as a reminder to the Canadian and U.S. governments of tribal authority and sovereignty over the education of their children. Most importantly, students at the Akwesasne Freedom School are "Free to be Kanien'kehaka (Mohawk)."


text:
Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain - CEMB
International Coalition of Ex-Muslims
Coming Out Party
Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain - CEMB > Blog > 2012
Northern Ex-Muslim Meet-up Group
By CEMB December 31, 2012
The CEMB affiliated Manchester Ex-Muslim Meet-Up group which was established in November 2012 by Sandbad has been renamed Northern Ex-Muslim Meet-up Group. Ex-Muslims from Leeds, Bradford and surrounding areas are now part of the group.…
Why I Left Islam Live Show, 15 December 2012
On December 15th at 9PM GMT/UK time The Jinn And Tonic Show will be discussing the subject "Why I left Islam." This live show will feature calls in from ex-Muslims who are going to talk…
Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain expresses concern at the exclusion of Muslim women from demands for gender equality
By CEMB December 7, 2012
Whilst questions are now rightly being asked about the policies of Christian Unions elsewhere in the country, no one has yet dared publicly inquire as to the treatment of women by Student Union Islamic Societies,…
Statement on adding ex-Muslim to the LSE Atheist, Secularist, and Humanist Society name
The Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) unequivocally supports the London School of Economics Student Union Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society's decision to add 'ex-Muslim' to its name.
Events, Poster Competition, International Apostasy Report and More
Dear friend UPCOMING EVENTS The Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) has a number of events and meetings planned in the next few weeks. On 11 December 2012 we are having end-year drinks for our…
2022mon10jan6:30 pm8:00 pmJanuary Online Support Group Session6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Join monthly support groups to talk about issues that affect ex-Muslims. CEMB currently has two 90-minute online sessions on the first Monday and Tuesday of every month, 6.30-8.00pm UK time. The
Join monthly support groups to talk about issues that affect ex-Muslims.
CEMB currently has two 90-minute online sessions on the first Monday and Tuesday of every month, 6.30-8.00pm UK time. The sessions are led by Counselling Psychologist Dr SAVIN BAPIR-TARDY.
If you have never attended a session before, please email hello@ex-muslim.org.uk.
2022tue11jan6:30 pm8:00 pmJanuary Online Support Group Session6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
2022tue18jan7:30 pm9:00 pmJanuary 2022 Monthly Meetup with Sohail Ahmad and Ali Malik7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Monthly Meetups are held on the third Tuesday of every month, 7.30-9.00pm UK time in central London. Meetups are run by Ali Malik. This month's meet up is with Sohail Ahmad
Monthly Meetups are held on the third Tuesday of every month, 7.30-9.00pm UK time in central London. Meetups are run by Ali Malik.
This month's meet up is with Sohail Ahmad of ReasonOnFaith.org.
Since space is limited due to Covid regulations, please RSVP with ali.malik@ex-muslim.org.uk.
Free Aneesh
CEMB Timeline (2007-2021)
Un anno di… Ceci n'est pas un blapshème, MicroMega, 29 December 2021
UK Women Stage Global Fast To Call On Govt To Secure Freedom Of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliff, Republic World, 20 December 2021
© 2022 Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain - CEMB. All rights reserved.


According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (an international study on the state of the Earth's ecosystems, published in 2005), European ecosystems have been fragmented by human activities at a greater rate than those of any other continent. Ecosystems can play a vital role in mitigating climate change, but the capacity of ecosystems and species to respond to the challenges posed by climate change will largely depend on the degree to which they are protected and the extent to which they can be restored.
Open-pit mining has a particularly negative impact on the environment, often damaging ecosystems beyond repair.
The objective of this project, a follow-up to the 'EcoQuarry' LIFE project, is to develop a management protocol for mining areas, using innovative solutions for environmental protection. It will promote the reconstruction of ecosystems on the basis of reconstructing landforms that mimic the 'natural' conditions of the surroundings, thereby helping to boost biodiversity in the restored lands.
Promote greater specialisation and awareness among the technicians and workers involved.
Expected results: The main result will be the development of know-how, as it is expected that this approach to mining restoration will result in a paradigm shift in the way that mining reclamation is planned and executed.
By creating highly diverse ecosystems and landscapes from formerly degraded lands, the project will boost the biodiversity of the area concerned. It will also have a high demonstration value, showing that land-transforming activities (such as mining) is compatible with the maintenance (and even improvement) of ecosystem services.
Coordinator CEMEX España Operaciones S.L.U.
Description CEMEX provides global solutions for the construction industry. With a presence in more than 50 countries around the world, it has a production capacity of 96 million tonnes of cement per year.


Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck offers fine dining at O'Hare International Airport.
Try a traditional breakfast of eggs, sausage or bacon. Or have some focaccia, pizza, french fries or caesar salad.
Everything is delicious. Wolfie wouldn't let you down now, would he?


We are a family run business based in Northamptonshire. Whether it be an adult party, kids party, wedding, event or a family get together we can help you.
We have a number of children's and adults inflatables in a variety of sizes, colours and themes. There will be something to suit your party whatever the age range. For the bigger kids we have bouncy castles suitable to take adults so you don't have to miss out on the fun, we also have a range of adult inflatable games including Gladiator joust and Pillow wars.
Not only do we have bouncy castles but we also have soft play, rockers, ride on toys, music speakers, garden games and much much more . We can make the perfect party or event package to make your day perfect for you and your guests, letting everyone have fun from the tiny ones to the big ones.
We can also cover events, school fetes, fund raising days, sporting events and so much more.
Contact us regarding this and the options available for your day.
All of our inflatables/equipment are delivered free of charge locally, our friendly team will be there to set it all up and check it all over up to the high standards we hold and collect when the party is done. Letting you enjoy the day with your guests to have a bouncetastic time.
All of our inflatables/equipment come in a clean hygienic condition, safety is at our heart and all our inflatables are checked and tested to ensure the high standard of safety required within this industry either rpii or pipa tested and covered by £5 million insurance cover.


Great deal! Fly with jetBlue from non-major US airports to Aruba for only $168 for a roundtrip!
While in Aruba you can consider De Cuba. This property features an outdoor swimming pool and free WiFI. All rooms include air conditioning, an ensuite bathroom and a flat-screen TV.


text:
Marek Rubnikowicz (ur. 14 lipca 1955 w Drawsku Pomorskim) – polski historyk i archeolog, doktor nauk humanistycznych. W latach 2001-2002 Generalny Konserwator Zabytków, w latach 2007–2020 dyrektor Muzeum Okręgowego w Toruniu, w latach 2018-2021 przewodniczący Rady do Spraw Muzeów i Miejsc Pamięci Narodowej.

Życiorys
Ukończył studia na Uniwersytecie im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu. Stopień doktora nauk humanistycznych w zakresie archeologii uzyskał w 1991 na tej samej uczelni. Tematem jego rozprawy doktorskiej było Późnośrednowieczne i nowożytne hutnictwo szkła na Pomorzu Gdańskim. (W świetle źródeł archeologicznych), a promotorem pracy Jerzy Olczak.

Od 1979 pracował na Uniwersytecie Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu, od 1993 zajmował stanowisko wojewódzkiego konserwatora zabytków w Toruniu. W 1999 powołany został na stanowisko zastępcy Generalnego Konserwatora Zabytków (GKZ). Po aresztowaniu jesienią 2001 Aleksandra Brody – wówczas GKZ – faktycznie przejął jego obowiązki, pełniąc je do czasu mianowania wiosną 2002 generalnym konserwatorem zabytków Aleksandry Jakubowskiej. Od 4 lipca 2002 pełnił funkcję Kujawsko-Pomorskiego Wojewódzkiego Konserwatora Zabytków z siedzibą w Toruniu. 1 stycznia 2007 objął stanowisko Dyrektora Muzeum Okręgowego w Toruniu. Od 2012 członek Rady do Spraw Muzeów przy Ministrze Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego.

Wybrane publikacje
 Toruń – ciepło dla Starego Miasta (1992, wspólnie z Janem Wroniszewskim)
 Perły z lamusa: najcenniejsze zbiory Muzeum Okręgowego w Toruniu, red. naukowa (2009, )
 Tajemnice Samurajów: wystawa uzbrojenia japońskiego z polskich zbiorów prywatnych i Muzeum Okręgowe w Toruniu 2011, katalog wystawy, .
 Radacz: studium krajobrazu kulturowego – przywrócenie tożsamości miejsc 2018, współautor pracy zbiorowej, .

Nagrody i wyróżnienia
 2002 – Medal "Thorunium"
2001 - Srebrny Medal "Gloria Artis"
 2018 – Złoty Medal "Gloria Artis"
 2020 – Medal Marszałka Województwa Kujawsko-Pomorskiego "Hereditas Saeculorum"
2020 – Krzyż Kawalerski Orderu Odrodzenia Polski
2020 – Medal "Za zasługi dla Miasta Torunia" na wstędze

Przypisy

Linki zewnętrzne

Członkowie Rady do Spraw Muzeów
Wykładowcy Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu
Polscy archeolodzy
Polscy muzealnicy
Urodzeni w 1955
Dyrektorzy muzeów w Polsce
Ludzie urodzeni w Drawsku Pomorskim

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
A Nixon Deepfake, a 'Moon Disaster' Speech and an Information Ecosystem at Risk
What can former U.S. president Richard Nixon possibly teach us about artificial intelligence today and the future of misinformation online? Nothing. The real Nixon died 26 years ago.
But an AI-generated likeness of him shines new light on a quickly evolving technology with sizable implications, both creative and destructive, for our current digital information ecosystem. Starting in 2019, media artists Francesca Panetta and Halsey Burgund at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology teamed up with two AI companies, Canny AI and Respeecher, to create a posthumous deepfake. The synthetic video shows Nixon giving a speech he never intended to deliver—half a century after the subject it addresses.
Here's the (real) backstory: In July 1969, as the Apollo 11 astronauts glided through space on their trajectory toward the moon, William Safire, then one of Nixon's speechwriters, wrote "In Event of Moon Disaster" as a contingency. The speech is a beautiful homage to Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, the two astronauts who descended to the lunar surface—never to return in this version of history. It ends by saying, "For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind."
The full deepfake speech can be viewed at https://moondisaster.org.
"Deepfakes" are a class of AI-generated synthetic media. If you have seen one on the Internet before, it was likely an example of the "face-swap" variety. The term itself, a portmanteau of "deep learning" and "fake," has a horrific origin story involving a Reddit account with that name posting celebrity-face-swap pornography. And the problem remains: a 2019 report found that "non-consensual deepfake pornography … accounted for 96 [percent] of the total deepfake videos online."
Beyond this illegal and harmful use of face swapping, there are various other kinds of AI-based synthesized media. Deep learning has also been adapted to create audio fakes, lip syncing, and whole-head and whole-body puppetry. Many of these techniques purely exist as basic research, though AI-synthesized media is quickly evolving commercial uses—including for Hollywood productions and even cancer patients who have lost their ability to speak.
Scientific American Documentary: How the Nixon Deepfake Was Made
The M.I.T. team did not set out to create a simple face swap. (Some machine-learning practitioners are now pushing the idea that with a bit of coding experience, almost anyone can make one of these deepfakes in as little as five minutes.) They wanted to create the best technical fake possible while documenting the labor involved. The process took more than half a year.
To accomplish the visual part of the fake, Canny AI employed a technique called "video dialogue replacement." Instead of face swapping, an AI system was trained to transfer facial movements for the "In Event of Moon Disaster" speech to a realistic reconstruction of Nixon's visage and its surroundings.
For the sound portion, Respeecher processed training audio of an actor reading the speech, as well as recordings of Nixon's many televised appearances from the White House. The company then used a "voice conversion system" to synthesize Nixon delivering the speech from the actor's performance. (Both Canny AI's and Respeecher's techniques are proprietary, and the companies say they have never been used to make illegal fakes.)
The M.I.T. team also wanted to demonstrate such deepfakes' potential to raise questions about how they might affect our shared history and future experiences. To do so, they worked with Scientific American to show their video to a group of experts on AI, digital privacy, law and human rights. In the short film To Make a Deepfake, these experts provide necessary context on the technology—its perils, its potential and the possibilities of this brave new digital world, where every pixel that moves past our collective eyes is potentially up for grabs.
More on Deepfakes
Credit: In Event of Moon Disaster website, Dominic Smith
From M.I.T.: In Event of Moon Disaster
Op-Ed: Deepfakes and the New AI-Generated Fake Media Creation-Detection Arms Race
Credit: Taylor Callery
Related Story: Clicks, Lies and Videotape
Credit: Wesley Allsbrook
Related Story: Misinformation Has Created a New World Disorder
Previous After Surgery, Black Children Are More Likely to Die Than White Children
Next Overcoming Psychological Biases Is the Best Treatment against COVID-19 Yet
This hummingbird survives cold nights by nearly freezing itself solid
2 years ago ATN
Can an Algorithm Help Solve Political Paralysis?
Earthquake Sounds Could Reveal How Quickly the Ocean Is Warming


Well, they've finally done it, and so far there's no black hole originating in Geneva. The researchers set up the test LHC collisions at 13 TeV in a way that protects both the machine and the detectors from stray particles from the beam.
Were getting closer: The Large Hadron Collider is delivering proton-to-proton collisions for four of CERN's major experiments at energies up to 450 GeV per beam.
CERN has brought the massive super collider back online after two years of upgrades. Now the search for supersymmetry begins in earnest.
The Large Hadron Collider will soon power up to test a new theory: whether dark matter originates from the Higgs Boson.
The Higgs boson machine — CERN's Large Hadron Collider — is barely five years old, and yet the international group of physicists is already planning its successor. Dubbed the Very Large Hadron Collider (points for creativity), the new collider will be around 60 miles long (four times longer than the LHC), and smash protons together with a collision energy of 100 teraelectronvolts (14 times the LHC's current energy). While the LHC's discovery of the Higgs boson was a watershed moment, its existence poses more questions than it answers — and those answers probably can't be answered by the LHC.
PandaX is about to go hunting for the elusive dark matter particle known as the WIMP. Its stalking grounds are deep under a marble mountain in China.
The shape of electrons could mean a big headache for physicists who have been hoping supersymmetry would fill in the gaps of the standard model.
The new 31-kilometer (19.2 mi) International Linear Collider (ILC) is finally ready for construction, according to CERN and the Linear Collider Collaboration. The ILC will initially augment the LHC's attempt to identify and characterize the Higgs boson, but in the future it could investigate new areas such as supersymmetry, dark matter and energy, and superstring theory, significantly advancing our knowledge of the universe.
Following the discovery of what appears to be the Higgs boson, CERN's Large Hadron Collider has been shut down so that it can be upgraded. If all goes the plan, the upgrades will almost double the power of the LHC, enabling the particle accelerator to carry out the second part of its primary mission: proving or disproving the existence of supersymmetry.


text:
ADEPT calls on local authorities to help provide new data on public rights of way
by Adrian Tatum
Environment, Infrastructure, Local Government, Transport
12 . 01 . 2021
The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT), is asking local authorities across England to complete a new online survey to understand the ongoing pressures on public rights of way in their areas.
The short survey asks for information on impacts of levels of usage compared with 2019, budget and resource challenges, map work and seeks officers' views on current and future pressures on service delivery. ADEPT is again working in partnership with the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management (IPROW).
COVID-19, national lockdowns and the restrictions of the tiers system have all seen ever greater numbers use public rights of way for exercise and active travel. Although this increase is welcome in terms of mental health and wellbeing, it has meant an increased workload for teams as they manage already tightened budgets, said ADEPT.
Once again, the information collected will be used to inform both organisations' work with Defra, Natural England and the Local Government Association and will be used to highlight budget and resource pressures faced by the estimated 140,000 miles of public rights of way networks across the country.
Shona Butter, Vice-Chair of ADEPT's Rights of Way Managers Group said: "Public rights of way have become a vital part of ensuring that the public's health, wellbeing and access to outdoor spaces can be maintained through the ongoing pandemic. They are a lifeline to local communities, particularly in periods of national lockdown, and there has been a significant increase in the number of users.
"Unfortunately, greater usage also means increased pressures on already strained budgets in terms of maintenance and safety. We want to understand in more detail the challenges faced by officers responsible for maintaining rights of way to inform our work with government."
Chris Miller, IPROW President said: Since the outset of the first lockdown in 2020 the usage level on rights of way and on access land has increased significantly and in some circumstances the network of paths is coming under considerable pressure as authorities struggle to meet demand and expectations. With changes in rights of way legislation and management looming it is important that the increased enjoyment of the network and the need to ensure it remains appropriately maintained and managed is recognised."
Local authorities are receiving emails providing details of how to access the survey and the information to be captured. Once analysed, the results will be available on the ADEPT website.
The latest government advice on public rights of way is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/operational-update-covid-19.
Adrian Tatum January 26, 2023
Read Now »
Ambitious project to make A382 link road the UK's first carbon negative highway part of new Live Lab 2 projects
ADEPT Live Labs 2 projects announced – seven programmes to start in 2023
Adrian Tatum
About Adrian Tatum
Follow Highways News on Twitter and LinkedIn.
PrevPrevious StoryBreedon Group appoints James Haluch as MD of its Contracting business
Next StorySiemens' average speed enforcement solution approvedNext


text:
Glenn BeckGlenn Beck
One of Texas' 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders Captured in Colorado
Dakota Marcus Stewart
A Texas 10 most wanted sex offender is in custody following his capture in Colorado on Tuesday.
26-year-old Dakota Marcus Stewart, considered a high-risk offender, was wanted for failure to register as a sex offender. According to a DPS press release, members of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force in Colorado arrested Stewart, who was discovered living in a campsite in Florissant, CO. The Texas DPS and members of the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force took part in the arrest.
According to a story in The Denver Post, a U.S. Marshal told the Teller County Sheriff's Office that Stewart insisted he was a 58-year-old Russian man named Demetrius Rasputin, but a fingerprint comparison confirmed Stewart's true identity. It's believed Stewart had been in Teller County, CO for about 11 months.
Stewart's convictions include a 2009 conviction for sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by exposure involving two female victims in Tarrant County. Stewart was wanted for failure to register as a sex offender and had warrants out in both Tarrant and Dallas Counties since August of last year.
The town of Florrisant is about 2 hours south-southwest of Denver.
NEXT: Dallas-Fort Worth Ranks in Top Ten For Cities Most Infested With Bed Bugs
MORE: Police Chase Dash Cam Mashup
Source: One of Texas' 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders Captured in Colorado
Filed Under: colorado, sex offender, tarrant county, texas dps
Categories: Texas News


text:
University of San Diego Takes First Place at Ninth Annual NAIOP University Challenge
By Natalie Dolce | April 30, 2019 at 07:40 PM
Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, national executive editor of GlobeSt.com, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company's other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, Natalie was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt. Dolce's background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, Co-Ed magazine and the Daily Orange newspaper. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
Walker & Dunlop Launches Multifamily Valuation Business
San Diego's Population Will Grow 9% in the Next Decade
Kelsi Maree Borland | January 21, 2020
San Diego has a high population of young people and the numbers are going to continue to grow over the next ten years.
These Are San Diego's Most Active Office Markets
Known as life science and tech hubs, UTC, Eastgate and Del Mar Heights led office leasing activity in San Diego last year.
BioMed Realty Expands in Its Core Markets
The life science real estate firm starts the year with eight officer promotions in San Diego and Cambridge.
GlobeSt. NET LEASE 2020Event
This conference brings together the industry's most influential & knowledgeable real estate executives from the net lease sector.


text:
Akrotergit (ang. acrotergite) – element szkieletu stawonogów, stanowiący część płytki grzbietowej.

Akrotergit stanowi przednią część tergitu segmentu wtórnego, położoną przed antekostą, która stanowi jego granicę od wewnątrz. Akrotergit ma zwykle postać wąskiej kryzy lub jest słabo widoczny. Akrotergity skrzydłotułowia owadów są zwykle oddzielone od własnych tergitów i przyłączone wraz z antekostami do tergitów poprzedzających, tworząc z nimi zatarcze.

Odpowiednikiem akrotegitu jest w przypadku płytek brzusznych akrosternit.

Przypisy

Układ szkieletowy stawonogów


text:
Cesca Arm Chair with Upholstered Seat & Back by Knoll
KN51A-7-K152315-K152315
The Cesca™ Chair. A marriage of traditional craftsmanship with industrial methods and materials made tubular steel furniture an international sensation and a modern institution.
Authorized Knoll® Retailer 5 Year Warranty
Upholstery: (Required)
Selected Upholstery is
Request Free Swatch
Cesca™ Arm Chair with Upholstered Seat & Back by Knoll
designed by Marcel Breuer
Marcel Breuer married traditional craftsmanship with industrial methods and materials to help make tubular steel furniture an international sensation and a modern institution. The cantilevered form exploits the possibilities unique to the material and gives the chair added flexibility and comfort.
After completing the Wassily, Breuer felt that the potential grace of the material was not yet fully exploited. The Wassily design was very much influenced by the constructivist theories of the Dutch De Stjil movement. A familiar form — in this case the classic club chair — reduced to its elemental lines and planes. The result was an overlapping, dense arrangement of leather and tubing. For the Cesca chairs Breuer sought to better celebrate the new material. An attempt to reduce visual noise led him to the continuous line of steel supporting a cantilevered seat — one of the most copied concepts in 20th century furniture.
Construction and Details
Seat and back are urethane foam over molded plywood
Frame is 1" diameter chrome-plated round steel tube with a polished finish
Plastic glides protect the floor and prevent the stool from tipping forward
The KnollStudio logo and signature of Marcel Breuer are stamped into the base of the chair
Certified Clean Air GOLD
If you see a fabric or special configuration you like, please call us at 888-467-6278 and one of our awesome customer service folks will be sure to help you get what you're looking for!
A champion of the modern movement and protégé of Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer is equally celebrated for his achievements in architecture and furniture. Breuer was a student and subsequently a master carpenter at the Bauhaus in the early 1920s. His entire body of work, both architecture and furniture, embodies the driving Bauhaus objective to reconcile art and industry. While at the Bauhaus, Breuer revolutionized the modern interior with his tubular-steel furniture collection — inspired by bicycle construction and fabricated using the techniques of local plumbers. His first designs, including the Wassily, remain among the most identifiable icons of the modern furniture movement.
Founded in 1938, Knoll has nurtured many of the most inspiring and iconic furniture designs of the last century. With an extensive collection of modern classic furniture for the home as well as cutting-edge office furniture with a focus on functionality as well as aesthetics, Knoll is at the forefront of how furniture interacts with us and affects us in our daily lives.
Hourglass, named for its distinctive weave, is a classic foundational fabric with a dry, wool-like hand. It features a stain repellent finish and can be cleaned using water-based cleaning products or mild, water-free solvents.
Summit is a soft-to-the-touch chenille upholstery. It features a stain repellent finish and can be cleaned using water-based cleaning products.
Ultrasuede is the premier microfiber in the marketplace. The soft, plush feel and luxurious appeal are matched with extreme durability, stain resistance, breathability, and easy cleanability. It is the first of its kind to use partially plant-based polyester. Cleanable with water-based cleaning products or mild, water-free dry cleaning solvents.


text:
Lionel "Big Train" Billingy (born August 31, 1952) is a retired American basketball player and a basketball coach.

He played collegiately for the Duquesne University.

He was drafted by, and played for, the Virginia Squires (1974–75) in the American Basketball Association for 46 games.

As of 2006, he lives in Switzerland, where he coaches, holds youth basketball camps and works as a preacher.

External links

Basketball Camp page
sports-reference College Stats
NBA.com Stats

1952 births
Living people
Allentown Jets players
Basketball coaches from New York (state)
American expatriate basketball people in Belgium
American expatriate basketball people in France
American men's basketball players
Basketball players from New York (state)
Duquesne Dukes men's basketball players
Liège Basket players
Milwaukee Bucks draft picks
Virginia Squires draft picks
Virginia Squires players
Power forwards (basketball)


text:
Q: Hiding two Relative Layout and ListView I have two button One For New Game And another one for Old Game And I have two relative layout respectively. I want to toggle in same activity between these two buttons when i click NewGame Button then First NewGame ListView(inSide Relative Layout) Should be visible and another should be invisible ViceVersa.
            case R.id.btn_old_game:
            mBtnOldGame.setEnabled(false);
            play_new_game.setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);
            historyRaltiveLayout.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
                             loadHistoryGameList();
                          break;
        case R.id.btn_play_game:
            mBtnOldGame.setEnabled(true);
            getListView().setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);
            historyRaltiveLayout.setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);
            play_new_game.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);

            loadGamesItemsList();
            break;

So the problem in this is , when i click on old game Button it is working but if I again click to New Game Button it is not working and it remains to OldGame ListView(OldGame Relative Layout).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Potential Responses to Mega-regionals by Excluded Countries
Uri Dadush
Source: Getty
Summary: The TPP and TTIP intend to reshape world trade rules for the 21st century. However, the negotiations exclude some 160 countries, which are home to over 80 percent of the world's population.
The TPP and TTIP intend to reshape world trade rules for the 21st century. However, the negotiations exclude some 160 countries, which are home to over 80% of the world's population. These countries typically grow 3% a year or so faster than those included in mega-regional negotiations and, on current trends, may well account for over half of world trade in the not distant future. Thus, how the excluded countries respond to the rise of the mega-regionals is an important question not only for their citizens, but also for the United States, the European Union, Japan and the other 10 countries that are participants in the negotiations.
Uncertainties and possible impact
Dadush was a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He focuses on trends in the global economy and is currently tracking developments in the eurozone crisis.
Very large uncertainty is attached to the content and timing of the mega-regionals. Indeed, whether these enormously complex agreements will conclude at all, or whether they are reduced to a minimum common denominator outcome that does not commit the parties to much, is unknown. Even if the TPP, which is by far the most advanced, is agreed on in 2014, the confidence interval around the "bite" of its provisions is wide, ratification by the US Congress is uncertain and implementation of its more significant measures could take many years. Thus, even though their own policy response could require long lead times, many of the excluded countries may decide to adopt a wait-and-see posture. Furthermore, since any response requires commitment of negotiating resources and political capital, the excluded countries will be inclined to look for strategies that are robust to the many possible outcomes.
The starting point for formulating an appropriate response to the mega-regionals is how the agreements are likely to affect the excluded country's defensive and offensive trade interests. One can already predict that the vast majority of export sectors will be little affected by the TPP and TTIP since tariffs among the contracting parties are already low, and the reduction of many non-tariff barriers (such as custom delays and red tape) are likely to have MFN effects. However, there will also be instances (garments, autos, sugar, cotton, etc.) where tariff peaks prevail and significant trade diversion could occur as a result of their reduction or elimination. And, while the adoption of common standards could open up new export opportunities, there will be instances, especially if the reforms take the form of mutual recognition, where the new standards provide a significant advantage to firms of the contracting parties. There will also be instances where import- competing firms in the excluded countries will be adversely affected, as firms of the contracting parties that compete with them will benefit from economies of scale, lower tariffs and improved cash flow. Many of the effects on both exports and imports will be indirect, as changes in the competitive position of one firm will resonate up and down the supply chain.
While much of the impact on excluded countries will occur in specific sectors and thus calls for careful monitoring of the provisions being negotiated at a micro level, one cannot lose sight of the systemic implications of the mega-regionals, especially as changing the global trade rules is set out as an explicit objective by US and European negotiators. If successful, the agreements could set up new benchmarks and approaches – for example in the life of patents or in policies governing exchange rates – which will either supersede WTO or eventually come to be integrated into WTO. Even if no attempt is made to broaden the reach of the new standards to other countries, their adoption by countries representing such a large share of global economic activity will be of great significance to exporters and import- competing firms around the world. In practice, this means that excluded countries will see their influence on the global trade architecture diminish. Moreover, even for the largest excluded countries, such as China, an individual response to the systemic effects of mega-regionals is unrealistic. It is instead likely to rest in coalition formation with like-minded countries who want to see different outcomes. A natural place to seek out such coalitions is in the WTO, but history shows that the pursuit of parallel or competing regional deals is the more likely path.
How should excluded countries respond? The tendency is to think of countries as led by an all-knowing and independent expert who will choose the public interest. In practice, the response to the mega-regionals will reflect the weight of domestic political interests and how they see themselves affected by the new trends. One implication is that countries are unlikely to react until an important domestic constituency sees a clear threat or opportunity. Another implication is that the largest countries, especially those that see themselves as rising powers – such as China, India and Brazil – will probably react faster to the perceived systemic implications of the mega-regionals, including their geopolitical and security implications, than will many smaller countries who see themselves as little able to affect the system.
Following are the pure strategies that can be pursued, recognizing that they will sometimes be deployed in combination.
This is often a bad strategy but one to which many political systems naturally converge. In this case, the uncertainties are so big that it may make sense to wait and see, especially for small countries that cannot hope to affect the negotiations or to realistically craft a systemic response. Even then, countries will want to monitor developments closely and analyse the impact of alternative scenarios or outcomes on their most important trade interests. They may begin to devise strategies and send out feelers to trading partners.
2. Reject, withdraw, obstruct
This is the worst response. Countries are not likely to retreat into protectionism or obstruct WTO negotiations just because they do not like being excluded from mega-regionals. However, where influential domestic constituencies are hostile to trade anyway, the disappointments with multilateral approaches and exclusion from the most vital parts of world trade negotiations can play into the hands of anti- globalization lobbies and of those who argue that the dice are loaded. Although the modest progress made in Bali may have mitigated this risk, the shift of focus by the major trading powers onto mega-regionals will discourage countries that tend to be inward-looking, such as India, Brazil, Russia and South Africa, from adopting a more liberal stance.
3. Enact autonomous reforms
This is the best response to mega-regionals but also the least likely course politically. The mega-regionals do little to change the political economy of autonomous trade reforms in the excluded countries, and, if anything, strengthen the hand of protectionists. Still, if done at the right pace and with adequate companion measures, unilateral regulatory reform and trade liberalization can induce a supply response and reduce distortions, and are an effective way to prepare firms for the increased competition, tougher standards and bigger markets that successful mega-regionals would bring. Moreover, these reforms are robust – worth pursuing regardless of the shape that mega-regional may take.
4. Join them
One strategy, most likely to appeal to smaller countries eager to join the TPP, is to use the available "docking stations". The downside of this approach for a small country is that it will mean being subjected to one of the most lopsided trade negotiation in history. Moreover, this path is very unlikely to be pursued by large countries, not only because the likes of China or Indonesia will not accept unconditional adoption of the TPP "acquis", but also because the incumbents will be reluctant to open their doors so wide to a big, new source of competition without imposing additional conditions.
Given the complexities of joining a mega-regional after their conclusion has been reached, a more realistic approach is to enter into a bilateral negotiation with both the US, which is a way to get a large chunk of the market access under the TPP and TTIP, and the EU. Such an approach would provide a window to the regulatory reforms and tougher standards both trading powers are aiming for. Many smaller countries will be attracted by this option, even though the negotiations are likely to be lopsided. Larger countries, with greater bargaining power, may also pursue this route – as in the Brazil-EU and India-EU negotiations at present.
5. Compete with them
This strategy consists of joining competing regional arrangements or forming new ones. There is, however, nothing on offer that is likely to compare in terms of ambition or scope with the TPP and TTIP. The prospect of RCEP, which includes China, India and Japan – geopolitical rivals with very divergent trade agendas – resulting in a high ambition agreement is, to say the least, distant. Any number of other opportunities exist for countries to enter into far- reaching trade agreements with neighbours or with their most important trading partners in other regions, including those that are set to join the TPP (those joining TTIP are part of the EU Customs Union) and from whom one can "learn" the new standards. However, these agreements would be limited in their reach (proportion of trade covered). They would only be a very partial response to the mega-regionals and are best seen as a complement to autonomous trade reforms.
6. Re-engage in the WTO
This strategy could have been considered as pure wishful thinking before Bali. After the modest success in Bali, and given the growing realization that successfully negotiating the TPP and TTIP also presents great challenges, WTO re- engagement is perhaps a less far-fetched option for many countries, including those engaged in the mega-regionals. Adopting a realistic post-Bali agenda in Geneva is not going to stop the TPP and TTIP train, but, if done right, could create a positive dynamic between the regional and multilateral negotiations. Indeed, the constructive role played in Bali by many, from the US to China, the LDCs and even India, may reflect concerns that the mega-regionals could render the WTO irrelevant and ultimately undermine its acquis. In some aspects of the mega-regional negotiations, for example on trade facilitation, the Bali agreement could represent the minimum denominator starting point, and advances in regional negotiations could eventually feed back into the multilateral sphere.
What appears unrealistic after Bali is the pursuit of far- reaching WTO agreements based mainly or exclusively on the single undertaking/consensus rule. To revitalize the multilateral system, countries involved in TPP and TTIP negotiations and those excluded will probably have to accept slicing up the Doha agenda (and the many issues which Doha did not address) into manageable pieces involving a critical-mass subset of countries willing to move faster and farther than the rest.
For the countries excluded from mega-regionals and worried about the systemic implications for the global trade system, "plurilateral" or flexible geometry approaches within the WTO probably represent the only realistic response. Such approaches would form an important part of their overall national response to mega-regionals, which could also include autonomous trade reforms and the initiation of new bilateral or regional negotiations with the contracting parties to the TPP and TTIP, as well as with other important trading partners, enabling them to raise the competitiveness of their productive apparatus.
This article was originally published as part of a paper by the World Economic Forum entitled Mega-regional Trade Agreements: Game-Changers or Costly Distractions for the World Trading System?
Emerging Economies
Geopolitics of Indian Ocean Islands in 2019: Takeaways for Traditional Powers
Darshana M. Baruah
A Smarter U.S. Strategy for China in Four Steps
Michael D. Swaine
How China Is Reshaping International Development
Matt Ferchen
Multipolarity in Practice: Understanding Russia's Engagement With Regional Institutions
Paul Stronski
Richard Sokolsky