Chrome beer faucet for all dispensing applications. Connects to beer towers and shanks. Accepts standard size tap handles.
For commercial or home use. Measures 4" Tall without tap handle, 6 1/2" with black plastic tap handle, and 2 1/2" front to back.
I ordered these to replace two leaky taps. Would have preferred replacing the gaskets in the old taps but they weren't available so this was a good & cheap alternative. Nothing fancy but they work well.
Good tap, doesn't leak. Can get stuck if left for too long.
Taps look nice and install easy. They work well except that they tend to get sticky if they havn't been used in a while. They also need to be cleaned out when they get sticky but that is easily done by disassembling and soaking in Oxiclean or similar. Good bang for the buck, but they ain't Perlicks.


There are so many numerous benefits that many people tend to enjoy whenever they go out on vacation and therefore, so many people will always consider going out on vacation. Spending time from the normal office work can prove to be very vital because you will realize that you be able to have time to spend your family. Another important reason why you should always consider going for vacation is because it will enable you to have a good bond with your family members. It is important understand that whenever somebody is planning to go out for vacation, they have to make some very vital decisions. The first thing that you need to ensure that you focus on anytime you are planning to go out on vacation is choosing the best vacation rental. There are quite a number of vacation rentals are available today anytime somebody wants to go out on vacation. In this article, we are going to highlight some of the most important things that you can use in order for you to choose the best vacation rental.
To begin with, you need to ensure that you consider finding out if the vacation rental you are planning to choose is spacious enough for your family or even for the people that you are going with. This simply means that you have to ensure that you consider finding out the number of people that you are planning to take in vacation for you to be able to choose the best vacation rental. It is always recommended that you consider choosing a vacation rental that can offer enough accommodation and this always requires that you consider finding out if the vacation rental is spacious enough. People are different and therefore, you have to ensure that you consider finding out if the environment around the vacation rental is quite conducive for you and your family.
The cost implications of getting the best vacation rental is very important and that is something that you need to ensure that you focus on. learn more about FAB Timeshare here If you are organizing for vacation, usually ensure that you determine the aspect of cost because it will help you a lot in choosing the best and how to plan for that particular vacation.read more on FAB Timeshare here If you choose the Internet, you will realize that it will be very easy for you to get to book a good vacation rental because things have been made easy due to the availability of the Internet. Finally, you can always consider the location of the vacation rental because it should not be located in a far place.


text:
Mortis causa o causa mortis es una expresión latina que significa "por causa de muerte" o "a causa de la muerte". que se utiliza en Derecho para referirse a aquellos actos jurídicos que se producen o tienen efecto a partir del fallecimiento de una persona.

Se opone al acto jurídico inter vivos producto de la voluntad de dos o más personas vivas.

Actos negociales típicos con carácter mortis causa son los relativos a la sucesión, por ejemplo, el testamento, la declaración de herederos en caso de no existir testamento, la posterior aceptación de la herencia del causante y el reparto de la masa hereditaria o caudal relicto entre los herederos.

Las donaciones mortis causa, son comunes y aún vigentes en antiguas legislaciones, sin embargo, ya desde la antigua Roma se prefería tomarlas por legados por ser casi indistinguibles de ellas.

Referencias

Derecho de sucesiones
Expresiones latinas usadas en derecho

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


i know this is a BSA OWNER'S GROUP,how about a section where other's can talk about the other brand's of rifle's they own.only a thought.
Members do have other (inferior?) brands of rifles.
It would save having posts into the General BSA Chat section so keep the site tidy but someone would need to keep an eye on it to make sure the chaps(esses) are not straying into unwanted attention territory.
Would we have enough posts to keep the section active?
I always thought that was what the off topic section was for???
OFF Topic can hev any items in it not just guns, a section for other guns for sale or discussion would be good.
I mean no disrespect to the mods and do appreciate what they do, just thought another heading for just other guns would be good as the other bits one takes in everything from guns to fishing rods etc. This is not a complaint but just a thought.
"OFF Topic can hev any items in it not just guns, a section for other guns for sale or discussion would be good".
I think this is a good idea which should be considered on it on its merits: many of us - as much as we love our BSAs - have other rifles as well. A section for non-BSA rifles which we own and care to write about could be of interest to many members. As for the availability of mods, why invent problems before giving the idea a chance? Isn't is possible that another mod willing to take on a new board may step forward?
Perhaps we could have a section entitled "I am a complete biff and I have purchased an (inferior airgun/overpriced airgun*)"
It is said that confession is good for the soul - The Holy Triumvirate have informed me, through the medium of various divers dreams and visions, that they do not hold with this view and that perversion of the individual from the Path of The Holy Triumvirate is a Mortal Sin. As the Mortal Representative of The Holy Triumvirate I must insist that this proposed thread be entitled " I am an Heretic and my soul shall be damned to burn in helfire for all eternity - I have bought an airgun which is not a BSA"
Sounds fine by me, at least I would know where to post questions and answers about my guns.
I no longer own BSA rifle but may do again in the future! Couldn't agree more bucketboy!!
Why not just make "Other Guns" a child board of "Off Topic" then and keep everyone happy? Separate, but in the same place!
Please not a child board of 'Off Topic'. If a child board is made, then it should be as a sub section of Rifles, Shotguns and Pistols. No sense in hiding it away unless that is the intention!
If you have another brand of gun ( AA, HW etc ) i would advise joining a forum that is dedicated to that brand. Look at all the info., help and advice there is on this forum, would you expect the same from another forum if you had a BSA problem?


text:
package com.tinkerpop.rexster.config;

/**
 * @author Stephen Mallette (http://stephen.genoprime.com)
 */
public class NativeStoreSailGraphConfiguration extends AbstractSailGraphConfiguration {
    public NativeStoreSailGraphConfiguration() {
        this.sailType = AbstractSailGraphConfiguration.SAIL_TYPE_NATIVE;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Young experts reflect on why China holds dear to them
Lu Feiran
A group of 30 scholars recently spent a month in Shanghai to learn about China. Three of them talk about the time they spent here and of their experiences and expectations.
The young sinologists have a great time in Anhui Province.
Young sinologists visit the Shanghai Electric Co Ltd.
A group of 30 scholars from 29 countries and regions were in Shanghai earlier this month for the Visiting Program for Young Sinologists organized by China's Ministry of Culture. During their stay here, the sinologists traveled to the Chongming Island, visited the Shanghai Electric Co Ltd and attended lectures organized by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
Some of the participants were students of Chinese culture, politics and economy while others studied in Chinese universities.
They spent a month in Shanghai to learn more about the country with experts at the Shanghai Academy of Sciences.
Some of them spoke to Shanghai Daily about their experiences.
Amane Tanaka (Japan)
Tanaka traveled with the group around downtown Shanghai, visited suburbs and spent three days at Yellow Mountain in Anhui Province.
More importantly, he sought out information on Silk Road, a subject he has been studying for years.
A visiting fellow at the Institute of Contemporary Chinese Studies of Waseda University, Tanaka says he has been fascinated by Silk Road since his younger days.
"I'm interested in everything about Silk Road — its history, the people living in the area and the art they created," he says. "I always had a strong will to learn from them."
As a youngster, Tanaka loved to read Chinese classical novels. He enjoyed historical novels such as "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" by Luo Guanzhong (1280-1360) and "Water Margin" by Shi Nai'an (1296-1372).
Although the real history was different from the stories he read in the books, Tanaka was still able to grasp some basic information about the ancient Chinese culture and became familiar with Chinese proverbs.
In high school, Tanaka came across "Tun-huang," or "Dunhuang," a book written by Japanese author Yasushi Inoue (1907-91).
Inoue's fictional story is set in ancient China's Northern Dynasty (960-1126) and deals with a young intellectual who travels around western China after missing the imperial examination.
Many Japanese readers, fascinated by the story, traveled to Dunhuang in northwest China's Gansu Province to find the historical traces mentioned in the novel. It also ignited Tanaka's interest in Silk Road, a passageway that linked China and Europe.
That was why he chose anthropology and history as his major for his undergraduate course at Waseda University. People, especially Uygur people living in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, were his main subjects of study.
"In my sophomore year, I set off on a long journey to Dunhuang — I traveled by ferry to Shanghai, then I went by train to Dunhuang," Tanaka recalls. "I will never forget my first impression of the Mogao Caves."
In Dunhuang, Tanaka spent a lot of time with his Chinese friends. They chatted under the high, starry sky and watched children playing on the riverbank.
"Whenever I traveled in China, local people were all warm and friendly," says Tanaka. "There was this one time when I was kissed by a camel. That was an unforgettable experience."
After visiting Dunhuang, Tanaka continued his journey along Xinjiang's oases, which inspired his undergraduate thesis, which focused on people's lives in the area. To complete the thesis, he carried out several field works in Xinjiang.
After graduation, Tanaka felt his road to becoming a researcher had just begun. He enrolled at Waseda University's graduate school of political science for his postgraduate study. He was taught by Professor Kazuko Mori, a leading expert on Chinese politics and Sino-Japanese relations.
He focused on China's ethnic policy, especially about the Uygur.
With China's latest Belt and Road Initiative, it once again reignited Tanaka's passion for the Silk Road after two decades.
"I want to study what impact it will have on Xinjiang and the Central Asian countries," he says. "That will be the subject of my doctoral thesis."
"One day, I would like to write a book about the Silk Road, a story about how people used to travel from China, across Central Asia, to Europe; a story about continuity and the changes over time," says Tanaka.
Mbangose Shawa Mambwe (Zambia)
Mambwe prefers to be called Shawa, known as Xia Wa in Chinese, which is Eve from the Bible. She is an entrepreneur and consultant and studied at Shanghai's East China Normal University about 15 years ago. The Chinese name has stuck since her time as student days here.
But her association with China was much longer than that. When she was young, her father would take the family to watch Chinese movies.
"My father often took us to cinemas to watch kung fu and his favorite actor was Bruce Lee," she recalls. "He also encouraged me to study in China and promised to attend my graduation. Unfortunately, in May 2005, just a month before my graduation ceremony, he passed away."
She was the only woman in a group of eight students selected in Zambia to study in China. Shawa landed in Beijing first and took a slow train, which took 24 hours then to reach Shanghai. She was quite nervous as she had no knowledge of Chinese back then. But she was instantly amazed by the beauty of Shanghai.
"I marveled at the elaborate blend of ancient-style Chinese buildings, pagodas and numerous modern skyscrapers," she says. "The tallest buildings I had ever seen in my entire life loomed over me. For a moment I was overwhelmed, claustrophobic and feared the buildings might collapse above me.
"I also observed that the Chinese were the most disciplined students I had met in all my years of study," she says. "I found that they were even dedicated and hardworking after graduation."
Shawa says she took great pride in being associated with the second-largest economy in the world. And she was more keen to learn how China became such an economic powerhouse in a short period of time and what it meant for the future.
"I believe China's accredited universities are the best place to study world economics and I am honored to have studied in such an exemplary country," she says.
Marta Aureli (Italy)
In 2008, an 18-year-old Aureli made a life-changing decision. Instead of choosing Italian studies as her major, she picked Chinese language.
That was because China was hosting the Olympic Games for the first time in Beijing. Italian TV was flooded with documentaries, news stories and movies about China. It sparked Aureli's interest in the ancient country.
"I got to know about a new culture that was so different from mine, a language so complicated, a history that I had barely heard about before, a political system so different from the one I had grown up in, a concept of art I had never seen before," she says.
It inspired her to come to China for a PhD program at the Shanghai International Studies University.
"I made this decision because I wanted to stay in China for a long time. I wanted to delve deep down to understand the differences between my culture and the Chinese one," says Aureli.
She researched about the multicultural atmosphere in Harbin, particularly of the well-established Jewish community. After she moved to Shanghai, she decided to shift her studies from Jewish community to other communities.
"What I found interesting was not only a moment in history that was not known enough — it really came as a surprise to discover the benevolence shown to the oppressed Jews of Europe by China in the last century — but also to discover how the international communities of Jews in Shanghai, Harbin and Tianjin influenced the town they were living in, the people they were living with side by side and maybe the influence they also received from China," she says.
"This is what I am passionate about — to understand the features that characterize the clash of civilizations inside these international cities. If I understand that, I will also be able to understand so many things about my life as an expat in an international city like Shanghai," she adds.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: $f:G\rightarrow G'$ is a non trivial homomorphism, show that if $\text{ord}(G)$ is prime then $f$ is one-to-one Let $f:G\rightarrow G'$ be a non trivial homomorphism,
Prove that if $|G|$ is prime, then $f$ is one-to-one.
My Attempt:
As $f$ is homomorphism,
$f(gg')=f(g)f(g')$ for all $g,g'\in G$.
If $|G|$ is prime then what?

A: By Lagrange's theorem, $G$ has no non-trivial subgroups. Since $\ker f$ is a proper subgroup of $G$, it must be $ \ker f = \{ 1_G \}$. So $f$ is injective.
However, you cannot prove that $f$ is onto without further hypothesis. An example is any embedding $G \longrightarrow G \times H$ where $H$ a non-trivial group.

A: The first isomorphism theorem gives
$$G/\ker (f) \cong \text{im}(f).$$
Taking the order of both sides, and using Lagrange's theorem gives
$$|G|=|\ker(f)||\text{im}(f)| $$
As $\ker (f) \leq G $ is a proper subgroup, and $|G|$ is prime, Lagrange's theorem gives $\ker(f)=1$. Thus $\text{im}(f)\leq G'$ is a subgroup of the same order as $G$.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


So this page is just a bunch of fun little things that we found! By the way, thank you to everyone that helped me with the episode titles!!! If you still see a mistake please tell me!
I tried to name what episode each of them came out of, but sorry to say i didn't do a very good job. So if you know what episode one of them came out of, please E-mail Lyndsay and I will put it on here! Thanks.
Joyce: Buffy, what is happening?
Buffy: Just have another drink, Mom.
Buffy: I'm sorry, Mom, but I don't have time for this!
Buffy: I told you. I'm a vampire slayer.
Joyce: Well, I just don't except that!
still haven't figured it out?
Joyce: Well, it stops now!
CHOSE to be like this? Do you have any idea how lonely it is?
not really. But it does. So what are we, helpless? Puppets? No.
certain vestiges, certain magics, certain creatures..."
Cordelia:" So, Giles is going to kill Angel, then?"
Xander:" Well, it's about time somebody did."
say "Faster, pussycat. Kill, kill.""
Buffy- "So, this is it. Were you even going to tell me?
Buffy- "I've got a way around it. I quit."
Angel- "It's not that simple."
Buffy- "Well, I'm making it that simple. I quit, I resign, I'm fired.
You can find someone else to kill the master."
Giles- "I'm not sure anyone else can. All the signs indicate..."
Giles- "No, I don't suppose I am."
Angel- "Look we just have to figure out a way.."
Buffy- "I already did. PAY ATTENTION!"
Angel- "I know this is hard, but..."
Buffy- "What do you know about this! Your never going to die!"
think I could stand it?"
Giles- "Buffy, if the Master rises..."
Buffy: "What are you doing here?"
Whistler: "'Cause I need a date to the prom."
then I'm gonna pull out your rib cage and wear it as a hat."
Whistler: "Hello to the imagery! Very nice."
because you say it's over!
Angel: I know...I know. But it's over. It has to be!
Angel: It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter how I feel!
Buffy: Then tell me you don't love me! (He is silent) SAY IT!
don't. Now let me go!
somebody! (takes out a gun) Love is forever.
Reporter: And if you saw tonight's season finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you saw the end of one of television's hottest romances with the death of Angel, the vampire. However, we have it on good authority that Angel is in fact alive. And in fact the WB is resurrecting the hunky vampire by giving David Boreanaz his own show next year. Roby Chavez talked with Boreanaz and Buffy's Sarah Michelle Gellar and got the inside scoop all about next season.
Angelus: I don't have time for you.
Buffy: You don't have a lot of time left.
Reporter: Dumping a boyfriend is never easy but when he's a vampire that's got your heart, killing him off is well, going to get a bit ugly. To say the couple fights a lot is an understatement.
Angel (to Buffy) What's left?
The season finale is farewell for Buffy and Angel after a season of a forbidden heated affair. It took 4 days for the two stars to prepare for this sword fight.
SMG: It was actually a very difficult fight. We all came out of that pretty bruised. I had some bad bruises, so there were some broken fingers and it was a brutal fight, but I think from the finished product it was incredibly worth it.
DB: It was amazing how we just picked up on it, we just got into a groove, we were focused and we just let if fly and it was a great. It was a great battle and we had a lot fun with it. When it was over we didn't want it to be over, (laughs) we wanted to continue fighting with the swords.
Angel: God, I feel like I haven't seen you for months.
Reporter: But it was over and Angel was killed. Due to the demons, but not before a very moving emotional scene that left even the stars overwhelmed. Sarah Michelle Gellar knew it was goodbye.
SMG: David and I are incredible friends, he's one of my best friends. And to do that heartbreaking scene, I was crying afterwards and for about 5 minutes we just kind of held each other there because it was where you have to break that line of , okay this isn't real.
Reporter: But with vampires and television you're never really dead. Especially when you're one of the new faces of Hollywood. It doesn't hurt to be a hunk too. David Boreanaz's spin off "Angel" will debut on the WB network in 1999. Angel moves to LA.
DB: I gotta pay for a lot of my sins that I've done in the past you know 8 weeks of being evil. So if-when I come back I got a lot of people to answer to and its not gonna be fun.
Reporter: The chemistry between Buffy and Angel has been a big hit. It has kept fans wanting more. Both stars say its because behind the scenes, they are friends. The only thing they won't say is whether or not there will be a reunion.
DB: I'll go on back and visit her in Sunnydale and make sure that her next boyfriend is not, you know,treating her roughly or anything, because we can't have any of that.
Reporter: It is a hit, but by the end of the finale even more questions remain. Like: How will Angel come back? Will he remember Buffy? Where is she going? Stay tuned. Roby Chavez for the WB11, news @ 10.
YM: Let's start with your real life- when was your first kiss?
CC: Third grade, behind a chair in class during a movie, when the lights were off. I was boy crazy. I loved the idea of a kiss and being in love. We were talking, and then we looked at each other and we just kissed. I didn't run away. I liked it.
NB: I was 14, with a girl named Joanna. We'd just decided to go steady. I went in for a little kiss, and she opened her mouth. It freaked me out. I kept mine closed, and she closed hers real quick. I couldn't believe it. It was like, "My life's changing. She opened her mouth. I felt her tongue." We were together for four months. I broke up with her because she wasn't popular.And then she became hugely popular. I was like.. "I was just kidding about the breakup. Can we.." She was like, "No." By then she was dating a really popular guy.
YM: Have you ever dated someone that was way cooler than you?
CC: I've dated the cool type. It was always short-lived, and I always wound up with a broken heart. You can't put people on pedestals, Nobody likes to live up to huge expectations. With that kind of pressure, the relationship doesn't work.
YM: Have friends ever tried to keep you from dating someone?
CC: I wasn't popular in school, but I was a cheerleader, and people knew who I was. My high school sweetheart was not popular; he kept to himself, and he had that brooding smart thing going on. My friends didn't give me a hard time, but I think they were surprised by my choice.
NB: It's funny, because I would always look for my twin brother Kelly's approval-- at first. I wouldn't let my friends have that much influence over who I am.
YM: What's the stupidest thing you've ever done for love?
CC: I think I've been too generous. Making a picnic or something like that for someone is so much more thoughtful than overwhelming him with gifts.
NB: Are we talking about love or lust? I went on a couple of dates with a girl in LA. After that, she happened to visit her family in New Jersey the same time I was visiting New York. Well, at 3 am on the day I was supposed to go back to Los Angeles, I was sitting with a friend in a cafe in New York. I wrote a letter to this girl and decided to deliver it to her in person before my flight left at 7 am. So I got in a cab, and the driver took me to Jersey. I had no idea where she lived. By 4:30, I still hadn't found the house. So I called her. She was like, "Why are you calling me?" I dropped the note off and made it to the airport by quarter of seven. The cab ride cost me the excess of $300. And we never talked after she got back to LA. I think I lost a large part of my integrity that night. But there was no stopping me. I felt that I was watching a film that I was in, cheering myself on: "Do it, Do it!"
YM: What's the smartest thing you've ever done for love?
NB: Do you really do smart things for love? I don't really equate "smart" with "love". I met Wendy [Thompson, girlfriend]. That was pretty smart. As many times as I've tried to blow this relationship, I haven't succeeded, with a lot of help from her. I think being with her could be pretty smart.
CC: The smartest thing I've ever done for love was to let go when I wasn't really in it.
YM: What's the nuttiest pick up line you've ever used on someone?
NB: I've never used a pick up line. I think they're cheesy.
CC: On a dare, I kissed somebody I totally didn't know. And I had to have been at least 21, because it happened in a bar. That sounds awful. A bunch of gfs and I saw somebody really cute, and I was like, "Omigosh, that guy is Adonis over there." My gfs agreed, and they said, "I dare you to kiss him." So I walked over, and I just laid one on him. He was pretty impressed. He wanted my phone #, but I didn't want it to go that far, you know?
YM: Who first broke your heart?
CC: I've had a broken heart many times. My first love was a boy named Danny. I was 11 years old. He loved me, but he was 13 and his hormones were racing. He dumped me for a girl named Brandy who had a hot body. He dated her for eight months and that broke my heart.
NB: My first serious gf broke my heart. I was 20, and she was 18. She was an actress who was working a lot, and at the time I was not. It was a horrible relationship because she and her family were putting pressure on me about my career. That was the first time I'd been bitten by that bug, where it went from being puppy love to the real thing, and I didn't know how to deal with it. I think the first one's the toughest.
YM: What's the best thing you can do to make yourself feel better after a breakup?
NB: Every time I've been through a break up, I've talked to my brother. There's nothing specific that I do. I know that I lose my sense of humor. I lose my appetite for a while. Also, I get a little asocial. The best way to get through it is just to remember that every day gets better.
CC: I like to date somebody else immediately. That's the only way. Denial is my style. That's the coward's way to do it, but it works for me.
YM: Why were your characters attracted to each other?
Nick Brendon: Just chemistry. It's purely a sexual relationship. You figure they've probably been thinking about it for ten years now.
Charisma Carpenter: We're proof that opposites attract.
YM: What was the first kiss like?
NB: We were both nervous. It was my first on-screen kiss, and it was lips and passion, unlike the Angel-Buffy kiss, which was very tender and sweet.
CC: It's hard kissing someone you're not in love with. I love Nicky. He's my buddy. But kissing's intimate.
YM: Okay, it's Saturday night. There's a dance. Where's Xander? Where's Cordelia?
NB: They're stuck on the highway with a flat tire, and they get to yelling, and then they just start making out on the side of the road. I don't think they ever make it to the dance.
CC: Actually, he's probably on the dance floor with Buffy while Cordelia talks to Willow at some table in the corner. That's usually what happens.
YM: And what do you think about that?
CC: I know this sounds crazy, but I get jealous for Cordelia. Like, "Why are they dancing together? Aren't we a couple?" It's funny.
YM: Do you think it's possible to love two people at the same time?
CC: Xander does. Actually, I think he lusts for Cordelia, and he loves Buffy. I personally don't think it's possible to really love two people at the same time.


In the early 1980's Richard Stallman founded the Free Software Foundation: a socio-technological movement that revolutionized the software world. Stallman and Tim O'Reilly – a pioneer of Open Source – tell the story.
I want to kick this off with a confession: Richard Stallman has always been one of my heroes! Richard Matthew Stallman, also known as RMS, is considered one of the greatest hackers in computer history. The software he wrote in the 1970s is still being used in the present day. On the big screen, when we see a bearded hacker who spends his nights by his computer and sleeping on a bed next to it during the day – we're actually looking at the mythological figure of Stallman, With his untidy beard and his long grayish hair. He was partly an inspiration for this cliché.
Stallman is also regarded as the father of the Open Source movement, a social-technological phenomenon that inspired the creation of many of the programs we use daily: the Android operating system, WordPress, the Firefox browser and many many others. By the way, Stallman very much doesn't like to be called "the father of the Open Source movement." We'll get to that later in the show.
When I decided to write an entire episode about the history of the Open Source movement, I also took the opportunity to make an old dream come true by interviewing Richard Stallman himself.
This interview – how should I put it – didn't go as I had expected it. The conversation with him made me doubt a few of the premises regarding the world of technology, while illuminating sides of his personality that I never knew about.
Richard Stallman was born in the US in 1953. Even as a child, he demonstrated an anti-establishment attitude and rebelliousness. His behavioral problems made him switch schools every now and then, and that left him, socially, as a bit of an outsider among children his age. He even admits that he never learned how to get along properly with other people.
Computers, though, were a completely different story. Believe it or not, as an elementary student, Stallman read computer manuals and wrote software. Of course, it was the 1950s and 60s, days when computer access was a rare privilege – so the software he wrote was all on paper. Only in high school did he actually get to SEE a real computer, but at that point, he already knew computers much better than most teenagers. To say that Richard Stallman is a brilliant person is an understatement.
He studied physics at Harvard. Although he enjoyed the classes, there was one thing that upset him greatly. There weren't many computer terminals in Harvard back then, and students were desperate for any computer time they could get. Many professors held computer terminals inside their offices – but they would often lock the doors at night. It was a huge waste: the terminals went unused for many hours, like precious electronic stones – while outside there were those who really, really wanted to use them.
Not far from Harvard is MIT, the world famous technological university. During his studies at Harvard, Stallman visited the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory – where he witnessed a completely different attitude. At MIT, computer terminals were considered a common resource, and no one had a direct and distinct ownership over their machines. If one of the professors kept a computer terminal in his office and dared to lock the door behind him – the students would literally break open the door – sometimes with makeshift battering rams – and take the computer.
The Artificial Intelligence Laboratory was the home for many young students who were passionate about technology. At the time they were known as "hackers", although the term had a slightly different meaning compared to today: Back then, "hackers" were those who liked to research deeply into the guts of any system and change it. It certainly did not have the negative connotation it holds today, of someone who steals information or does damage. The hackers of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory wanted to create interesting things using the tools they had, and they did not have any tolerance or patience towards those who tried to restrain them. For Stallman, this was love at first sight – and he quickly joined the lab.
Life at the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory was intense. The professors and their students used the lab during the day, and as soon as they left, the hackers took over and worked all night. They ordered Chinese food at three a.m. and continued working on their software until dropping onto folding beds to catch some sleep. Together with other programmers, Stallman developed software and ideas that are considered to be milestones in the history of modern technology. For example, he created an important algorithm for the artificial intelligence field, and a hugely popular text editor named Emacs.
Stallman loved every minute at the lab. When he graduated from Harvard – making the Dean's list, of course – he registered for his master's degree at MIT, mainly so he could continue working at the lab. He was enchanted by the comradery and the spirit of cooperation; the lab was a place where people worked together for a common cause and for the good of the public.
But this ideal environment didn't last forever, and MIT's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory was a victim of its own success. The majority of computer users during the 1950s and 60's were from the academic world and they were used to sharing ideas – and software – with each other. But during the late 1970s, when computers began spreading in the business sector, many new companies developed proprietary software for industrial needs, and it was only natural that these companies offered their software to customers in exchange for a payment, instead of giving them away free. This signaled an end to the culture of free software exchange. These companies also offered very high salaries to the MIT hackers, whose talents were now in high demand. Within several years the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory became empty. Not physically, of course – professors and their students still used the facility, but the anarchist hackers were nowhere in sight.
Even though Richard Stallman stayed at the lab, he soon realized that the spirit of the place had changed. The remaining programmers weren't as thrilled to share knowledge and creative solutions with each other. In the brave new business world, knowledge was power. Knowledge was money. The high-quality software that programmers used to write for their own common use at the lab was replaced by mediocre and proprietary software; and as for reading other people's e-mails, that was simply out of the question.
In the programming world, the word "sharing" has a deeper and more complex meaning than its daily use among the public. I'll explain. Let's assume that I am a chef at a restaurant. Tonight I'm making a wonderful dish of spaghetti Bolognese – my mother's legendary recipe… I serve the dish to the table, and my guests simply cannot get enough of my spaghetti. You could say that I "shared" the dish with my guests – but that wouldn't be completely true: I shared the dish, but I didn't share the recipe. By not telling them how I made the spaghetti – I am preventing them from trying to make it themselves. Only by sharing my secret recipe will I give them something more meaningful than a delicious bowl of pasta; only by sharing the idea of spaghetti Bolognese and my mother's special way of making it can they hope to recreate my dish, alter it, and create a new, perhaps even more delicious, dish than mine.
In the programming world, this 'recipe' is called the 'Source Code': it is the specific list of instructions that the programmer created for the processor to execute. These instructions are then transformed, via a special process, to a regular software that we, the users, are familiar with. A game, for example, starts out as a long list of instructions. I can share with someone a copy of a game I wrote – just as sharing a dish of pasta – but only when I share the source code will it be considered "full sharing." A programmer that will get access to my source code could understand the techniques and ideas I used, learn from them, and perhaps create a new and improved version of the game.
But that, of course, is exactly the reason why business companies refuse to share their software's source code. A program's source code is often considered to be a top industrial secret and is closely guarded, since what game company would want its competitors to develop an improved version of its game?
Stallman knew that the key to creating a community of programmers, all sharing the same passion for technology and the will to contribute to a common cause, is by creating an environment of full cooperation, without secrets or restraints: meaning, the programmers needed to share the source code they are writing. In other words, this is exactly the difference between a group of people eating prepared food and having a not-so-interesting-conversation, to a group of chefs standing around the kitchen table, and passionately debating whether rosemary should be added to the dish, or rather oregano. Together they will create a wonderful and unique dish that otherwise would not have existed.
An operating system is a vital instrument in the process of creating new software; it is the foundation on which a software operates – just the same as roads, signs, and stoplights are the foundation of transportation. The most common and popular operating system at the time was Unix, and the majority of programmers were familiar with it. Unix was owned by AT&T, and whoever wanted to use it had to pay the company. Stallman wanted to create an operating system that was similar to Unix – but one that was free, that is – not proprietary. In 1983 he released a statement in one of the online discussion groups and announced his new project: the GNU project – an endeavor to create a new, modern, operating system. The acronym GNU stands for: GNU is Not Unix. This is known as "recursive acronym," because the letter "G" stands for the acronym itself.
A year later, in 1984, Richard Stallman left MIT in order to concentrate on his project and established an organization called the "Free Software Foundation" (FSF). He wanted to institutionalize the idea of "sharing" which was so common during the 1960s and 70's and create a social movement with a clear ideology, a movement whose members support and assist each other. Needless to say, the ideology encouraged people to create and share "Free Software".
Freedom 0: The freedom to run the program as you wish, for whatever purpose you have.
Freedom 1: The freedom to study the source code of the program, and change it so it functions for you the way you want it to.
Freedom 2: The freedom to make exact copies and give or sell to others when you wish.
Why does Stallman emphasize freedom as a main and vital characteristic of a software? In all the years I have been working as a software engineer, I have read countless books and articles about software engineering, all full of advice and techniques for creating a "good" piece of software – but the word freedom was never mentioned in any of them. So what makes it so important, according to Stallman?
Well, he believes sharing knowledge and ideas are the keys to innovation in software. A proprietary software, one where the user has no access to its source code, might be useful – but it contributes nothing to innovation; in fact, it even blocks it.
Let's assume that I am a programmer and that one day I realize that the software I am using – Microsoft's Word, for example – could be significantly improved by adding some feature. This feature might be a major one – such as adding support for a new foreign language, or it might be a minor one, like adding a new icon. Since Microsoft won't give me access to the source code of "Word," there is no way for me to make those improvements. I could, of course, rewrite a better version of "Word"…but that's not really practical. It would me years of work in order to create the software from scratch when all I wanted to do was add a single feature. This is a common example of how a lack of access to the program's source code blocks innovation.
The lack of freedom could also be harmful in other, less obvious ways.
Stallman views controlling a software as a part of a power struggle between common citizens and the powerful forces of society – a class struggle whose terminology is almost identical to older social ideologies like Marxism.
Stallman's ideas regarding freedom and cooperation gained a lot of traction, and the Free Software movement became bigger and stronger. Its members organized conferences, published online magazines, and created group chats on the internet. Other programmers joined the movement in order to help him with the GNU project; which was more certainly needed since writing an operating system is a complex task that demands thousands of hours. But despite all the volunteering spirit, the cooperation and the help he got, in the early 1990s Stallman found himself facing a serious problem.
Roughly speaking, an operating system can be described as having two parts: a "kernel," and an "envelope" (also known as "application layer"). The envelope holds the software that computer users work with, for example, a calculator, file explorer, or a drawing software. The kernel of an operating system is the part that connects software to the hardware – the processor, the memory, the disk, and more. If we think of an operating system as a theater play, then the envelope is the stage, and the kernel is the mechanism behind the scenes: the lighting technician, the set manager, make-up artist and all necessary service providers that are needed to run the show.
The GNU project was stuck in a technological quicksand that threatened the entire Free Software movement: although the envelope was ready, there was no kernel – and without an operating system, it is impossible to write free software – and writing free software was the whole point.
As mentioned, Richard Stallman was just looking for a suitable replacement for Hurd, the failing kernel of the GNU project, and found Linux to be very interesting. The Linux operating system was completely new and therefore didn't contain any code from Unix or other proprietary software – a necessary demand for any free software. At first, Stallman was reluctant about using Linux since Torvalds announced that his operating system could only support a certain type of computer known as AT. This meant that Linux was limited to only one computer model and hence was not completely "free". But two years later, when Stallman realized the advantages of Linux's technology, he changed his mind and Linux replaced Hurd as the kernel of GNU operating system. Since then, the operating system is called GNU/Linux – to denote that the envelope is GNU while the Kernel is Linux.
Adding Linux gave the GNU project a powerful tailwind. Linux was a very successful kernel, and together with the software developed by Stallman and his colleagues, it created a strong, sophisticated, and reliable operating system that proved the validity of Stallman's ideas – that full cooperation of knowledge and ideas could produce quality software to compete against proprietary software sold by Microsoft and others. Many new members joined the Free Software movement, and Richard Stallman's reputation as the prophet of this new and exciting movement was accordingly established.
But even though Linux was an important addition to the GNU project, it also turned out to be somewhat of a Trojan horse. The significant changes Linux created, or to be more accurate – the changes brought about by the young programmers it attracted – were about to create a serious rift within the young community of the Free Software movement. This rift and its consequences will be the focus of our next episode. We will talk about the split that occurred in the Free Software movement which led to the establishment of the open Source movement. We will also answer the question – why is Google trying to kill Android? And we will also get to know Richard Stallman better – what does the guru think of modern software technology? You might be surprised to find out that he hardly ever uses it.
In the previous episode, I introduced Richard Stallman, one the greatest hackers in computer history, whose bearded figure became iconic as the character of the Hollywood computer hacker. Stallman is also one of my biggest heroes – he has been an inspiration to me from the moment I realized I wanted to be an engineer.
Stallman took upon himself the role of a "counterweight" to all users who prefer the comfort offered by proprietary software over the freedom of free software.
On second thought, maybe I shouldn't.
A short visit to Stallman's website gives a general clue about his militant character: the website is full of slogans and calls for activism, such as a call to resist oil drilling in the North Pole, a call to boycott Facebook due to its privacy issues, to boycott Apple, Amazon, the patent system, and even boycott Harry Potter since Stallman believes that J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry potter books, is too greedy.
In 1996, Stallman and his colleagues at the Free Software Foundation held a conference. The main speaker was Linus Torvalds. Interestingly enough, even though Torvalds contributed to the GNU project by letting Stallman use his operating system, he did not share Stallman's ideas and ideology. Of course, he was thrilled to assist the GNU project –but unlike Stallman, Torvalds was more interested in the technological aspects of software engineering and operating systems, rather than the social aspects. On stage, Torvalds gave a speech where he said, among other things, that he loves using Powerpoint, Microsoft's presentation software.
For Stallman and his supporters, Torvalds' words were nothing but blasphemy. They considered Powerpoint an abomination: a proprietary software by a company known for its ruthless business ethics. Using PowerPoint?!… Who would do such a thing?!
Yet the message Torvalds put forth in his speech – intentionally or unintentionally – hit a sensitive spot among the younger crowd. At that point, the Free Software Foundation was over a decade old and many of its younger members grew up in a world much different than the world Stallman grew up in. During the 1960s and 70s, when computers were found mostly in academic institutions, free software was the norm while proprietary software was relatively rare. Torvalds' generation grew up in the 1980s and 90s when having a computer at home wasn't unheard-of. Proprietary software was all around, while free software was now rare. Of course, everyone believed in freedom and cooperation – but if you like a certain software and think it is useful, why not use it? Only because it is not free?? Many of the younger generation hadn't "connected" to Stallman's militant and strict message, and this inter-generational gap led to a crisis within the movement in 1998 – a crisis that ultimately led to a division, and the birth of the Open Source Initiative.
As we all know, Open Source is a much more familiar and household name than Free Software – and we'll get to the reasons for this, and the actual differences between these two terms in a few minutes. The rise of Open Source created an odd situation, perhaps even a bit surreal.
"Most people who have heard of me have been misinformed and believe that I'm a supporter of Open Source. I get messages several times a week thanking me for my contributions to Open Source, and I have to write back to them and point out that there is a misunderstanding here. I support the Free Software Movement.
At this point, it's a good idea to introduce into the conversation one of the men who started Open Source.
Although you might not recognize the voice, I'm willing to bet his name will ring a bell – at least for anyone who has been in the Hi-Tech industry for the last thirty years or so. He is Tim O'Reilly, founder of O'Reilly Media, which publishes a great many books on technological topics. He also one of the more influential thinkers in Silicon Valley, and popularized the terms Web 2.0 and – as we shall soon hear – Open Source itself. I asked Tim about his recollection of the pre-Free Software movement period.
"It's actually interesting that you start there because there is a narrative that it all started with Richard Stallman and the GNU Manifesto. My first encounter with Free Software predates the GNU Manifesto. I was a tech writing consultant and I started using UNIX. I was really deep in the UNIX culture of free software. It was this big collaborative barn-raising that built UNIX. Even though it was originally developed at AT&T, many of the key utilities were developed outside – particularly at UC Berkeley. I had become immersed in this culture and started documenting, filling in the gaps in the documentation for UNIX. I put together several documentation sets for clients. So, that was my world. It was the world of the shared community of UNIX.
"Richard [Stallman] came along and said – 'Copyright is Evil, so we've got this new thing called Copyleft.' Here at Berkeley we just said – 'Take our software to Copy Central and make copies of it!' [laughing] that was the culture that I grow up in, like – hey, we're doing this thing for research, we're doing this thing to advance the state of the art and we're giving it away to all commerce because it's just this reciprocal gift culture. It was really a continuation, in my mind, of that UC Berkeley/Early UNIX culture, that was really just about advancing the state of the art without having the political overlay that the Free Software Foundation had. But again, for me, I was really influenced by the UNIX/Berkeley side.
So in essence, Tim is saying that Free Software – or at least the ideas of free software – didn't start with the GNU project and that Open Source has much deeper roots in the sharing culture of UC Berkeley, back in the UNIX days.
The popularity of the GNU/Linux operating system clearly demonstrated the positive technical potential of Free Software. Still, there were many engineers and businessmen that doubted its financial basis: how can a company survive if it's giving away its product for free? One of the reasons some businesses refused to adopt Free Software stemmed from an incorrect interpretation of the term "Free" in this context. Some people mistook it to mean the software was distributed free of charge – and what costs nothing, goes the idiom, is worth nothing. Of course, that wasn't what Richard Stallman meant – he spoke of free as in freedom, not gratis. But some businesspeople didn't or couldn't understand the ideological nuances behind the idea of Free Software.
In February 1998, a few developers and entrepreneurs met in California, in an organization called The Foresight institute. The catalyst for the meeting was a dramatic announcement by the Netscape corporation that had taken place a month earlier. The name "Netscape" was familiar to almost anyone who used the web in the 1990s: it was the owner of the Netscape browser, the most popular browser at the time. Netscape's leaders were familiar with the ideas behind the Free Software Foundation – and believed in them. In an almost unprecedented step, Netscape decided to share the browser's source code and invited programmers around the world to contribute to it and improve it. Netscape's announcement stirred a great interest in the technology world; The California conference participants of the Foresight institute wanted to take advantage of Netscape's announcement and use the media attention to spread the ideas of Free Software. They decided it was their duty to educate the business world about the real advantages of free software: to emphasize the technical advantages of an open development model over a closed one. To do so – they had to detach themselves from Richard Stallman and his ideological burden.
This is where Tim O'Reilly entered the scene. In 1998 he organized a conference of some of the best and brightest minds in the software world: Linus Torvalds, Guido Van Rossum (the creator of Python), Larry Wall (of Perl) and many other luminaries.
This conference is known today as the Open Source Summit, but it wasn't called that in the beginning.
"I built a lot of relations with the press then, and I also got this idea that telling a big story was the right way to advance the agenda. So in addition to bringing all these people together for this Freeware Summit, my goal right from the outset was: we're going to tell a story about all these people who have this thing in common.
But it was not actually until during the day at that meeting that I heard the term Open Source. We were talking about the naming issues, and Eric told about the invention of this term, Open Source, and actually there was quite a bit of push back! It sounds like 'open sores', it will never fly…but I said – look, we really want to have a common story, so let's take a vote and let's all agree that this is the term. So, everybody who was there, we took a vote and Open Source won. So we had a press conference at the end of the day and we introduced the term.
The way the press conference was set up was, I just had all these people behind a long table, and we had people from the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, San Jose Mercury which at the time was the paper record of Silicon Valley, Forbes, and Fortune. And I said, look – all these guys have an absolute market share in the category of software with no marketing budget, no company behind them, just on the strength of their ideas of this new development model and this model of giving away the software for free over the internet. It's called Open Source.
Tim's initiative was a great success. The fact that so many opinion leaders and experts sponsored the Open Source initiative helped push it forward, and within a few years it eclipsed its big sister, Free Software.
It's hard to imagine our current technology world without GNU/Linux, WordPress, Android, PHP and many other software projects that are distributed with their source code. There are thousands of communities, large and small, devoted to software tools of almost every sort imaginable: from word processing to espionage software. Some projects last for many years – Linux is a great example – and some are a result of a weekend hackathons, fueled by pizza and soda.
What Draws Companies to Open Source?
At this point I think we should take a slight digression, you might say, and ask ourselves what draws big tech companies to open source their software – that is, to give it away for free? To help with this question I sat down recently with Jonathan Israel of Wix.com – a company that specializes in providing easy to use web building tools.
"We promote open source projects, we organize conferences, we allow the people time to write blog posts and help them with resources such as tech writers. We're pushing forward a lot of standards in open source project, as in your code needs to be documented, it needs to be clear, and we allow engineers that actually develop tools to help with their day-to-day work – to open source them, to allow the people to use the same tools, to learn from the mistakes that we had as a really big development group.
R: Which brings me to an interesting question. I can understand why you, as developers, have an incentive to release what you worked on as open source. But what incentive does Wix as a company have for open sourcing code which its own developers worked hard for?
J: There are two main reasons for that. The first one I already said and will say again. […] it's the idea that they are first and foremost part of the engineering community. And so, they have a lot of incentive to open source what they are doing and we don't think that's a bad idea. On the contrary – you show people that the engineers who work here are engineers like any other place, and we don't mind. It's a good idea to show that we support the idea of open source, we support the idea of blog posting, we support the idea [of] sharing the knowledge.
In other words, companies like Wix view the idea of sharing software not as a liability – but as an opportunity. By releasing software as Open Source, they encourage their developers to learn new things, be part of a greater community and feel more satisfied. In the process, these companies also brand themselves as leaders and positive forces of innovation in the world of technology. It's a win-win situation that helped the open source community explode over the last few years.
I admit that it was hard for me at first to understand why Stallman denies the Open Source Initiative – an initiative that exists mainly due to his early efforts. But looking closely at Stallman's motives, I could begin to grasp the roots of his resentment. It is easy to let Stallman off the hook by saying that he is a rigid conservative ideologist who wouldn't put his pride aside and admit that someone else marketed his ideas better than him. But is that really the case here? I am not so sure. Here is an example that might make you think twice about the way our modern technology world operates. It has to do with the Android operating system. As I said, it will make you think TWICE, since in fact there are two Android operating systems.
In the late 2000's, Apple set the tone in the smartphones' market. When you said "smartphone", you meant Apple's iPhone. Google saw Apple's success as a threat and wanted to gain at least some of the smartphone market share in order to sustain its control of search and other online services. Therefore, in 2006, Google initiated the Android Open Source Project, or ASOP for short – an operating system for smartphones developed by "Android Ltd," which was bought by Google. A resourceful community grew around Android, with many developers who created new apps and modifications for the operating system.
A quick jump to the present. The tables have turned: Android has the lion's share of the smartphone market and is making Google a lot of money. However, its Open Source status has now become a disadvantage for Google. Since Android's code is available to the public, nothing prevents a competitor from taking the code, modifying it a bit and then using it in its own smartphones or tablets. In fact, that is exactly was Amazon did! Amazon took Android, adapted it to its own tablets and created a competitive app store to Google's Play Store.
You don't have to have a degree in business management in order to see that Google has no interest in providing other companies a with a "gift" like a ready-to-use operating system. But on the other hand, it's also not in Google's best interest to upset its developers' community, the people who worked hard on Android all these years – so turning Android into a proprietary software was also out of the question. Google's solution, then, was to slowly but surely "strangle" the Android Open Source Project.
How? When users turn on their Android device for the first time, they find all sorts of basic and standard apps already installed on their smartphone: a Calendar, keyboard, camera, music player, and more. These apps are a part of the Android Open Source Project, and every phone maker who wants to use Android gets them for free as a part of the operating system.
At the beginning, Google updated these apps on a regular basis – but over the last few years, Google stopped updating the open source apps. Instead, it released new, proprietary apps, substitutes for the old ones. The SMS application, for example, was replaced by Hangouts. The music app was replaced by Google Play Music, and the same goes for the calendar app, the camera app, the search app, the keyboard and more. The new apps are being updated frequently while the old ones slowly rot away, neglected. For example, the proprietary version of the search app has a voice recognition ability, and can read search results out loud. The open source version for the same app supports text search and nothing else.
Now let's put ourselves in the shoes of a cell phone manufacturer, Samsung for example. Android is an open source software, so Samsung could use it "as is" – it doesn't need Google's permission. But what Samsung will get is an inferior operating system with some aging apps. If it wishes to have the newer, proprietary apps – it needs to strike a deal with Google and pay whatever needs to be paid. The final outcome is that Samsung and almost all other smartphone makers are tied to Google in "golden chains" and cannot compete with it. And if there is no competition – the customer is almost always on the losing side.
Honestly, I don't blame Google. If I were in Sergey's Brin shoes – I'd probably make the same business decisions, and that's exactly what Stallman is saying. In his view, companies like Google adopt the Open Source policy for the financial benefit it offers. But as soon as that benefit disappears, they happily abandoned it. Had Google, for example, adopted the Free Software ideology of maintaining the user's' freedom, encouraging innovation, and so on – it might not have backed down from it so easily.
Tim O'Reilly, however, completely disagrees with this assumption.
"I think they are completely orthogonal. The morality of a company is not encoded by a license that compels them to morality. If we are compelled to morality – it's actually a much shallower morality than one that seems us all as members of the same species, all members of the same body. If you think that way, you will act morally.
Richard Stallman still leads the Free Software Foundation as its president and continues to warn against the dangers of proprietary technology.
I must admit that Stallman made me think. I have always been a sworn fan of any kind of technology and was the first to buy every new gadget and cool app. I never gave a second thought about my freedom of choice, the right of innovation, or other issues Stallman cares about so dearly. I'll probably be more aware of these matters in the future, and they may affect my purchasing decisions.
But how far will I go with my inner truth? Richard Stallman, as he was during the 1970s and 80s, was an inspiration. A mythological hacker. A man who breathed ate and slept technology twenty-four-seven. But Richard Stallman of 2016 doesn't own a smartphone or tablet and doesn't listen to MP3 music files. Stallman seems to be afraid of technology. For me, it's like hearing Superman confess that he's afraid of heights.
This may sound like an impossible choice to make: should I give up my love for technology, or should I give up my freedom? I fear that if Stallman is right, a day might come when I will actually have to choose. I fear the day when I will find out that I am not brave enough to make the right choice.


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Crisis Communications and Public Relations
Bravo viewers who follow the network's stars on social media have had a hard time with the seemingly tone-deaf posts of Erika Jayne Girardi, estranged wife of disbarred attorney Tom Girardi who misappropriated funds owed to plane crash and gas explosion victims' families.
What was lacking from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star's feeds early on, when news first broke of Tom's crimes, was an expression of sympathy for the victims' loved ones. Even if blindsided by Tom's actions, Erika's mantra of giving "zero f*%ks" was not an appropriate sentiment considering the news, which included that she had received gifts from Tom which were paid for with the stolen money.
Parallels Between Entertainers and Entrepreneurs/Tech Titans
There are parallels between the optics of how entertainers conduct themselves "on the gram" to how disgraced entrepreneurs have behaved historically.
Much of it boils down to the severity of the crime. The late Jim McAfee, a Silicon Valley legend, was considered a key suspect in a murder, later committed tax evasion, and still went on to splashily run for president twice as a Libertarian candidate. Erika Jayne, on the other hand, is being scrutinized for her conduct in the aftermath of her husband's misdemeanors (and not her own), although she allegedly profited from his misappropriations.
More commonly in the business world, a crisis can involve:
Merger/acquisition activity
C-suite changes
Product development delays
All can adversely affect how a brand is perceived.
The Attorney's Take
Jay Edelson Esq. of Edelson PC, the attorney fighting pro bono for families of Tom Girardi's victims, says: "I've always been fascinated by accepted strategies in 'crisis' PR. What I've seen is that individuals who find themselves in the hot seat hire big teams who move slowly, give empty platitudes or non-substantive denials, and are purely reactive. When they try to be proactive, they tend to go on the attack in the most unthoughtful ways."
He continued, "Erika's recent strategy is instructive. Her lawyers and my team worked out an agreement to avoid fighting over whether Illinois courts have jurisdiction over her, moving the case to California to create efficiencies in litigation. Erika and her lawyer decided to use this as an opportunity to go on the offensive, putting out false statements claiming she'd somehow been vindicated in the courts. She was giving herself high fives on social media, telling the world she'd won. We responded immediately, and the story shifted to the fact that she was lying. Our next filing was going to be bad for her. Her PR team did not respond: they hadn't thought two steps ahead."
Edelson emphasizes that Erika and Bravo could have used her platform to raise funds for the families early on. He also feels that had Erika agreed to go through the settlement process, it would have cast her in a sympathetic light.
While this is Edelson's perspective, Bospar's Laurenn Wolpoff has a slightly differing take. "My heart breaks for the families impacted, but when it comes to Erika, people are smart enough to see through the smoke and mirrors of a person pretending to have changed based on traumatic experiences forced on them as a result of their spouse's crimes. Authenticity wins."
'A Tone-Deaf Comment Is Always Newsroom Gold'
Of the parallels between entertainers and businesspeople, Bospar's Brett Larson, a former tech journalist/broadcaster, opines: "A tone-deaf comment is always newsroom gold. Everyone starts digging for more to get the story on air with a bigger bite."
Clients facing a crisis should keep honesty top-of-mind. Communicate candidly and quickly, stressing open communication. And, if the circumstances merit it, accept responsibility (while taking any legal constraints or ramifications into account). The best crisis communications tactic could well be an apology!
Shira Weiss is a Director of Content at Bospar Public Relations. Shira has promoted a variety of organizations in B2B and consumer technology. She has worked both in-house and in technology-focused PR agencies, specializing in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and HR and financial/banking technologies. Her work has consisted of PR and marketing content production, crafting bylined articles, pitches, press kit materials and website and social copy. Weiss also worked as a regular contributor to The Huffington Post and as a freelance writer for multiple newspapers and news websites.


Val Emmich is strutting his stuff on Ugly Betty, recently covering Tom Petty's "American Girl," on-set–exposing his musical interpretation to the world.
But although Val Emmich is hot and plays the guitar like no one else, Ugly Betty is having none of that. She's pissed at him for making noise in the apartment complex. The plot thickens.
His recurring role on Ugly Betty is getting him great exposure. His video for "Get On With It" is soaring to new heights on the MTVu charts, and everybody's clicking into his MySpace page like crazy. Val Emmich is launching a soon-to-be-huge, bona-fide musical career. Check out his "American Girl" cover–and his video premier on the show here.


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Global position
Global ambition
The University of Stirling and Europe
Message from the Principal – Brexit
With more than 120 nationalities represented on campus, we're proud that the University of Stirling is home to students and staff from all over the world. Our international partnerships and diversity bring vibrancy to our community, foster academic insight and enhance awareness of social and cultural perspectives.
Following the result of the EU Referendum in 2016, the UK is expected to leave the European Union. If you're a current student or member of staff, or if you're thinking about studying at the University, you probably have questions about what Brexit means for you. Below you'll find guidance on some frequently asked questions related to studying and working here after the UK leaves the EU – as well as links to the most up-to-date information available from relevant bodies. Please be assured that we are committed to maintaining an inclusive and diverse learning environment for all of our students irrespective of the outcomes of Brexit.
Current student FAQs
Research, innovation and Brexit
Stirling welcomes the world
"The University of Stirling is an international university that welcomes and values staff and students from across the EU and internationally, and will continue to do so."
Professor Gerry McCormac, Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Principal calls for post-Brexit stability
Principal gives evidence to the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee
Information for prospective students thinking about studying in the UK after Brexit.
Are undergraduate students from the EU still eligible for free tuition in Scotland?
The Scottish government has confirmed that EU students starting their degree in Scotland in 2019 and 2020 will continue to be eligible for Scottish/EU fee status and will retain that fee status for the duration of their studies. EU students enrolling in 2019 and 2020 continue to remain eligible for tuition fee support from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
Can postgraduate students from the EU still apply for funding support in Scotland?
The UK Government has confirmed that EU students enrolling in the 2019/2020 and 2020/21 academic years for a taught postgraduate course will be admitted as Scottish/EU fee status students, and will be eligible for the same student loan support as Scottish domiciled students. See more infomation about postgraduate loans and funding.
Can I still apply for Research Council funding for my PhD?
It has been confirmed that EU postgraduate research students commencing their studies in 2019/20 will retain their fee status and eligibility for Research Council support for the duration of their course. Future changes to the fee status and available funding for EU students will depend on the timing and terms of the UK's exit from the European Union.
Will a no-deal Brexit affect my healthcare cover?
In a no-deal scenario, European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) cover for both UK and EU students may cease. However, the UK Government has confirmed that it will cover the cost of healthcare for UK students who begin their courses in the EU ahead of the UK's exit date, and for the full duration of their courses.
Beyond this, the UK Government aims to establish reciprocal healthcare arrangements with each EU member states, valid for a limited time, in the event of a no-deal exit.
EU students commencing courses after exit date, therefore, will be subject to the reciprocal arrangements between the UK and the country of origin and may require third party cover, depending on the length of their course.
I am a non-EU international student: how does Brexit affect me?
Brexit will not affect the status of international students outside the European Union and we will continue to encourage international applications from around the globe. With over 120 nationalities on campus, the University of Stirling offers a diverse and multi-cultural student experience.
Helpful resources and information
View the latest information compiled by Universities UK on the implications of Brexit.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs offers up-to-date advice for students on post-Brexit rules.
Read the Student Awards Agency Scotland's full guidance on Brexit.
See the latest information from Erasumus+ about how Brexit will impact their European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport. You can also contact us at erasmus@stir.ac.uk if you have any questions related to the programme.
Trained citizens advice bureau advisers can be contacted on 0800 916 9847 or visit www.cas.org.uk/brexit.
Learn more about the implications of Brexit if you're already a University of Stirling student.
Will my fee status change after Brexit?
No, your current fee levels will not change. If you're an undergraduate student from the EU already studying here, you'll still be entitled to tuition fee support from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for the duration of your course. Current postgraduate students from the EU will still pay the same fees agreed on entry and have access to the same funding sources.
Will I be able to live and work in the UK after I graduate?
This video from Study UK offers helpful guidance on fees, visas and staying in the UK after Brexit.
The EU Settlement Scheme is now open to most students, who are eligible to apply if they are either:
An EU national with a valid passport (not identity card)
A non-EU citizen who has a residence card or permanent residence card issued on the basis of an application made under EU law provisions on or after 6 April 2015
Please visit the UK Government website, or the UK Council for International Student Affairs website, for information on who should consider applying under this scheme and updates on post-Brexit rules and entitlements.
I am an EU national. Will a no-deal Brexit affect my immigration status?
If you are already studying in the UK then there is no need to do anything immediately. The UK government has confirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of EU nationals, and their family members, residing in the UK when the UK leaves the European Union. The EU Settlement Scheme will allow EU nationals to continue living in the UK with the same access to work, study, benefits and public services as currently.
The EU Settlement Status scheme is live and open for applications. All EU nationals in the UK will be required to apply for either pre-settled or settled status, even in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The application deadline is 31st December 2020 (in the event of a no-deal) or 30th June 2021 (in the event of a deal).
If you have not yet travelled to enrol on your course then the implications of Brexit may depend on when you'll be arriving in the UK. Details of changes for those students arriving in the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit continue to be developed by the UK government. Currently, in the event of no deal, new EU students moving to the UK to study at the University prior to 31 December 2020 will continue to be able to enter the UK using only their passport or ID card.
Read this guidance covering a number of considerations
How will Brexit impact Erasmus+?
All students participating in Erasmus study or work placement are being kept up to date via pre-departure orientation meetings with the mobility team. We are currently working with our European partners to establish bilateral exchange agreements in the event that UK universities are no longer able to participate in the Erasmus+ programme post-Brexit. Our students will still have the opportunity to study abroad throughout Europe, in addition to our other worldwide exchange partnerships.
See the latest information from Erasumus+ or contact us at erasmus@stir.ac.uk if you have any questions related to the programme.
In a no-deal scenario, European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) cover for both UK and EU students may cease. However, the UK Government has confirmed that it will cover the cost of healthcare for UK students who begin their courses in the EU ahead of 31 October 2019 exit date, and for the full duration of their courses.
Beyond this, the UK Government aims to establish reciprocal healthcare arrangements with each EU member state valid for a limited time in the event of a no-deal exit.
For EU students commencing courses in the UK before the date of exit, the UK Government has confirmed they will be able to access 'needs arising treatment' through the NHS.
If reciprocal healthcare arrangements are not in place by the date of departure, the UK Government has stated it will provide funding for healthcare for UK nationals in the EU27 for a period of 6-months after exit.
The Students' Union is here to support you and further information can be found on their website.
See a range of resources about Brexit from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.
Living in the UK beyond your studies - read the government's detailed guidance on settled and pre-settled status for EU citizens and their families.
Read a case study about an EU student's application for settled status in the UK.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs has this helpful breakdown of the UK Government's white paper on the post-Brexit immigration system.
Resources and guidance for our staff about the impact of Brexit.
Will I be able to continue living and working in the UK after Brexit?
Yes. The Government has issued the following guidance on EU citizen's rights:
In advance of the UK's exit from the European Union (EU), the UK government has committed to protect the rights of EU citizens and their family members currently living in the UK. This includes the right to live, work and access public services such as healthcare and benefits. To retain these rights, EU citizens must apply for either "settled status" or "pre-settled status" under the EU Settlement Scheme by 31 December 2020 if the UK exits without a deal (or 30 June 2021 if the UK exits with a deal).
Settled status would be granted to EU citizens and family members resident in the UK for more than five years and pre-settled status granted if resident in the UK for less than five years. Further details on the EU Settlement Scheme can be found here and details of who should apply (including those EU citizens with existing permanent residency status) can be found here.
To apply to the scheme you are required to complete an online application form. Applicants are then required to prove their identity using the newly developed software app – "EU Exit: Identity Document Check". The app is available on android devices and on iPhone 7 and newer models. Further detail on how to use the app can be found here.
If you are unable to access an android device to download the app, please contact HR Services via hroperations@stir.ac.uk.
Will it cost me to apply?
No. On 21 January 2019, the UK government announced that it would no longer be charging EU citizens the £65 application fee. If you made an application during the pilot phase, ie before 30 March 2019, the Home Office will reimburse the fee.
Can I apply if I am a national from the wider European Economic Area or Switzerland?
Yes. The Home Office has confirmed that nationals of the wider European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein) and Swiss nationals can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme now that it is fully open.
What support will the University give me?
An Android device is available for staff who require it to submit their application to the EU Settlement Scheme, this can be used within HR&OD and can be booked by contacting HRoperations@stir.ac.uk.
I am an EU National and will be outside the UK when the UK's exit date is expected to occur. Is there anything I should do in advance?
It is strongly recommended that you make an application to the EU Settlement Scheme before you travel.
All staff and students travelling on University business should notify insurance@stir.ac.uk of their travel plans if they are travelling outside of the UK.
What impact might Brexit have on travel plans?
The UK Government have advised that you ensure your passport has six months validity.
For EU citizens who want to re-enter the UK around the UK's exit date, those without settled or pre-settled status are advised to take proof of residence with them (eg Council tax bill or equivalent).
I will be travelling in Europe on University business when the UK's exit date is expected to occur, am I insured?
University travel insurance remains in place and will continue to provide the same level of cover after Brexit. All staff and students travelling on University business should notify insurance@stir.ac.uk of their travel plans if they are travelling outside of the UK and there is no change to this after Brexit. If staff or students travelling on University business have any concerns they can contact insurance@stir.ac.uk.
Key Travel is the University's preferred way of arranging travel and it should therefore normally be used by staff for this function (including booking air travel and as many other travel-related services as practicable). Further information can be read here.
I am an Irish national. Do I need to apply for settled status?
As an Irish national you do not need to apply for settled status. However, you will need to apply for it if you either wish to become a British citizen, or you wish to bring non-EEA dependent family members to the UK with you in the future.
I am currently away from the UK on business / personal travel – can I still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme?
Yes, overseas applicants are able to apply to the scheme.
Detailed information about the EU Settlement Scheme.
See example case studies of EU citizens living in the UK after it leaves the EU.
Read the latest information from Universities UK about Brexit.
Information on driving in the EU after Brexit can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-the-eu-after-brexit-international-driving-permits
Will the UK continue to have access to EU funding for research and innovation?
In the event that a deal is reached between the UK and the EU, the UK will remain in the Horizon 2020 research programme and other EU funding programmes that are part of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) until the end of 2020. This will allow for UK participants to continue to apply for and receive Horizon 2020 funding for the full duration of successful projects. UK recipients would have to continue to comply with EU financial reporting and auditing requirements.
What will happen if there's a no-deal Brexit?
In the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK Government already guaranteed in August 2016 to underwrite successful Horizon 2020 grant applications for the full duration of projects. In July 2018, it was announced that this guarantee would be extended to cover all successful Horizon 2020 projects until the end of the programme, provided that the UK is eligible to participate as a third country. However, single-beneficiary Horizon 2020 grants, including the European Research Council (ERC) and parts of the Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions (MSCA), are not covered by this guarantee.
In September 2018, UKRI launched an online portal for UK-based recipients of Horizon 2020 funding to log details of their grants in order to implement the underwrite guarantee, should it be required.
In August 2019, the UK Government announced that any Horizon 2020 funding applications which are submitted before the UK leaves the EU but which are deemed ineligible after the UK has left will be evaluated and funded by UKRI. This will cover applications to the European Research Council, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions and the SME Instrument.
The European Commission has proposed a new regulation on UK participation in the 2019 EU budget in a no-deal scenario. Provided that the UK Government pays its full contribution to the 2019 EU budget, it states that UK entities remain eligible for 'calls, tenders, contests or any other procedure which may lead to financing from the Union's budget' until the end of 2019 (with some limited exceptions relating to security and actions involving the European Investment Bank or the European Investment Fund). It also provides that the European Commission would continue to make payments to UK entities already in receipt of EU funding and that the UK would continue to contribute towards minimum eligibility criteria. This appears to cover all EU funding programmes, including Horizon 2020, meaning that the UK would remain eligible for European Research Council and Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions funding until the end of 2019 if the government accepts this offer.
What about participation in future research programmes?
Universities UK, the sector's representative body, is lobbying for full association for the next EU framework programme, Horizon Europe, which is due to start on 1 January 2021. The proposal for this programme was published by the European Commission in June 2018, and leaves open the possibility of full UK participation as an associated country.
There is still a lot of uncertainty around the full implications of the EU Referendum result for the UK Higher Education sector, but if you have any questions or concerns related to studying or working at the University of Stirling after Brexit, please get in touch.
Current and prospective students
Contact Admissions on +44 (0) 1786 467044 or by emailing admissions@stir.ac.uk.
Contact Human Resources on +44 (0) 1786 467136 or by emailing hroperations@stir.ac.uk.
Scotland is a diverse and inclusive country that celebrates being home to many different people and cultures from around the world. Find out more about studying here.
Scotland welcomes the world
#WeAreInternational
We're supporters of the #WeAreInternational campaign – a celebration of the talented students and staff from across the globe who choose to study or work in UK universities.


All About Me and My Unique Personality: Tess is one of 6 kittens who are currently winning the stakes of being the most friendly, loving, sweet litter that has come through our doors. Tess is becoming a bit of a live wire with teaser toys and games - she is so excited and full of energy. She loves any sort of game but certainly loves a good pat and cuddle. A sweet and petite little girl who will bring loads of love to any home.
My Ideal Home: Tess is looking for a home that is dedicated to providing a safe and loving indoor environment. Being so young she would fit into most homes.
What is Known About My Background: Tess came into care with her gorgeous mum, Tilly and 5 other siblings. Nothing is known about how they wound up at the pound in this situation but they have gone from strength to strength since arriving in care with HAR.
How Do I Interact with Kids, Dogs, Cats and Other Pets: Tess has been raised with and handled by 3 young children and is very comfortable with all the attention and interactions. She seems to have become the favourite kitten who is picked up the most.
Tess is part of a large litter (along with one extra little kitten) and happily plays and wrestles with her brothers and sisters.
No formal introductions have been made to the resident dogs at this stage but she has certainly unofficially seen them and doesn't seem to mind their presence. If they get too close though she does still get a fright. One of her siblings has moved to his home and is living quite happily with their dog.
Have a question about Tess ~ on hold?


Corporate reporting and assessment frameworks are powerful tools to help investors and consumers choose their investments and products wisely. In the wake of the World Resources Forum 2011, corporate sustainability assessments are an important tool to help consumers and investors drive change towards a less-resource-intensive world. One of the oldest, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) started in 1999 as a way to list the top 10 percent of sustainable global companies for investors. SAM, a boutique sustainable investing fund, invites the largest 2500 companies each year to submit sustainability data for DSJI scoring; companies are added and dropped from the list based on their performance. The process is third-party reviewed by Deloitte Consulting.
Two companies that attended the World Resources Forum 2011 are ranked on the DJSI; Kraft Foods and Syngenta. Listing on the DSJI is not only for internal corporate social responsibility initiatives, however. Companies such as Kraft Foods view sustainability both as a short-term competitive advantage and as a way to ensure the company's long-term value and success, as Philip Hodges, Senior VP of Supply Chain, Kraft Foods Europe in a Student Reporter interview. More and more investors and consumers are also coming in line with this view. In fact, studies show that investors view sustainable corporations as having long-term shareholder value and better financial performance.
A 2008 assessment by UN Environmental Programme Finance Initative (UNEP-FI) found that SAM's process for the DSJI is "among the most rigorous." There are issues however, with its methodology and practices. Another WRF2011 participant, Hewlett-Packard, was dropped from the DSJI this year without clear explanation.
Other surprising deletions from the DSJI this year were Coca-cola, Hewlett-Packard, FedEx, Waste Management Inc., among others. These companies have invested heavily in sustainability programs, or at least sustainability communications. This shows that socially-aware consumers and investors now need to follow complex and changing story-lines within corporate sustainability. DJSI, however, does not release the reasons why companies are removed from the list, citing company privacy concerns. More obvious recent deletions were the Tokyo Electric Power Company after the nuclear emergencies post-earthquake and tsunami and BP post-oil spill. But what about the others?
While one can understand the need for privacy protection, the withholding of information leaves the public to speculation. James Farrar of ZDNet.com commented that HP's 2010 Sustainability Report was a "mixed bag." Farrar also speculated on the reasons Microsoft was not included and noted that Microsoft has been inconsistently reporting on sustainability. Coca-cola, who has several sustainability and social responsibility initiatives, said via Tweet, "We were disappointed to learn that we were not included, but pleased to see scores reflect our investments in packaging, water-related risks & raw material sourcing." Meanwhile, some of the world's recent environmental criminals like Halliburton, Nalco (maker of Corexit) and BP have all been on the DJSI (BP was removed after the BP oil spill in April 2010). In response, blogger reactions ranged from incredulous to just plain outraged: TheStreet.com editorial staff simply called it "dumb." Not being clear about why a company is delisted from the Index is a communications and transparency issue that could hurt more marginal companies by lumping them in with flagrant abusers.
As the field becomes more established, best practices will continue to emerge. A Rate the Raters is currently underway to help consumers, investors and companies choose credible rating systems and to help grow the field. Academics, companies and nonprofits are all working towards making this sector better and more efficient: to read about a recent conference on sustainability metrics, head here. We can hope that this trend will continue at the World Resources Forum 2012.Initiative. Other specific investor rankings include the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index and Vigeo, among others.
With you regarding the issue of transparency. I can't even seem to find the full list of companies included in the index. Do you know where I could get this? (I'm a PhD student in business and sustainability is my area of research).
Most direct and current way would be to go to a Bloomberg terminal and pull it out yourself if your university has one, and is enabled for DJSI.
Hope this helps. Good luck with your research and thanks for reading!