text:
Q: 'JavaPackage' object is not callable - MLeap When I try to serialize a model using MLeap using the following code:
import mleap.pyspark
from mleap.pyspark.spark_support import SimpleSparkSerializer

# Import standard PySpark Transformers and packages
from pyspark.ml.feature import VectorAssembler, StandardScaler, OneHotEncoder, StringIndexer
from pyspark.ml import Pipeline, PipelineModel
from pyspark.sql import Row

# Create a test data frame
l = [('Alice', 1), ('Bob', 2)]
rdd = sc.parallelize(l)
Person = Row('name', 'age')
person = rdd.map(lambda r: Person(*r))
df2 = spark.createDataFrame(person)
df2.collect()

# Build a very simple pipeline using two transformers
string_indexer = StringIndexer(inputCol='name', outputCol='name_string_index')

feature_assembler = VectorAssembler(inputCols=[string_indexer.getOutputCol()], outputCol="features")

feature_pipeline = [string_indexer, feature_assembler]

featurePipeline = Pipeline(stages=feature_pipeline)

fittedPipeline = featurePipeline.fit(df2)

# serialize the model:
fittedPipeline.serializeToBundle("jar:file:/tmp/pyspark.example.zip", fittedPipeline.transform(df2))

However I get the following error:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TypeError                                 Traceback (most recent call last)
<ipython-input-2-98a49e4cd023> in <module>()
----> 1 fittedPipeline.serializeToBundle("jar:file:/tmp/pyspark.example.zip", fittedPipeline.transform(df2))

/opt/anaconda2/envs/py345/lib/python3.4/site-packages/mleap/pyspark/spark_support.py in serializeToBundle(self, path, dataset)
     22
     23 def serializeToBundle(self, path, dataset=None):
---> 24     serializer = SimpleSparkSerializer()
     25     serializer.serializeToBundle(self, path, dataset=dataset)
     26

/opt/anaconda2/envs/py345/lib/python3.4/site-packages/mleap/pyspark/spark_support.py in __init__(self)
     37     def __init__(self):
     38         super(SimpleSparkSerializer, self).__init__()
---> 39         self._java_obj = _jvm().ml.combust.mleap.spark.SimpleSparkSerializer()
     40
     41     def serializeToBundle(self, transformer, path, dataset):

TypeError: 'JavaPackage' object is not callable

Please assist?

A: I managed to fix this problem by downloading and pointing to the missing jar files on the spark submit script. For my case, I had installed MLeap 0.8.1 and was using Spark2 built on Scalar11, so I downloaded the following jar files from MvnRepository:

*

*metrics-core-2.2.0

*mleap-base_2.11-0.8.1

*mleap-core_2.11-0.8.1

*mleap-runtime_2.11-0.8.1

*mleap-spark_2.11-0.8.1

*mleap-spark-base_2.11-0.8.1

*mleap-tensor_2.11-0.8.1

Then I also pointed to this jar files using the --jar flag on my spark submit file as follows (I also pointed to the maven repository using the --repository flag):
export PYSPARK_SUBMIT_ARGS='--master yarn --deploy-mode client --driver-memory 40g --num-executors 15 --executor-memory 30g --executor-cores 5 --packages ml.combust.mleap:mleap-runtime_2.11:0.8.1 --repositories http://YOUR MAVEN REPO/ --jars arpack_combined_all-0.1.jar,mleap-base_2.11-0.8.1.jar,mleap-core_2.11-0.8.1.jar,mleap-runtime_2.11-0.8.1.jar,mleap-spark_2.11-0.8.1.jar,mleap-spark-base_2.11-0.8.1.jar,mleap-tensor_2.11-0.8.1.jar pyspark-shell'
jupyter notebook --no-browser --ip=$(hostname -f)

-Source

A: The answer of @Tshilidzi Madau is correct - what you need to do is to add mleap-spark jar into your spark classpath.
One option in pyspark is to set the spark.jars.packages config while creating the SparkSession:
from pyspark.sql import SparkSession

spark = SparkSession.builder \
    .config('spark.jars.packages', 'ml.combust.mleap:mleap-spark_2.12:0.19.0') \
    .config("spark.jars.excludes", "net.sourceforge.f2j:arpack_combined_all") \ # this exclude is needed as this lib seems not to be available in public maven repos
    .getOrCreate()

I tested it with Spark 3.0.3 and mleap 0.19.0


text:
Georg Cantor at the Dawn of Point-Set Topology - The Real Numbers
Nicholas Scoville (Ursinus College)
In order to modify the proof in his 1870 paper, Cantor needed to develop his own theory of the real numbers. Although our purpose in examining his theory of real numbers is to demonstrate the emergence of point-set topology, Cantor's construction is interesting in its own right. Even Bertrand Russell begrudges Cantor a compliment when he writes
The theory of Cantor . . . with all the requisite clearness, lends itself more easily to the interpretation which I advocate, and is specially designed to prove the existence of limits. [22, p. 283, emphasis original]
Weierstrass apparently had a theory of the reals at this point ([10, footnote 47], [21]). However, none of Weierstrass' writing on the theory of reals seems to have survived, and we only know of it through his students. Since his students all seem to have published their teacher's theory after 1872, it may not have been well known when Cantor wrote his paper. In any case, in his 1872 paper, Cantor cites Euclid as the definitive source for the theory of real numbers, writing
For comparison ... we mention the book "Elements of Euclid" which remains the decisive treatment of the subject. [6, p. 127]
Still, Cantor was not fully satisfied with this theory, and he desired a more solid foundation for standard operations (addition, etc.) performed on the real numbers. To this end, he defined a sequence of rational numbers \(a_1,a_2,\dots,a_n,\dots \) to possess numberness (Zahlengroße) or to be a fundamental sequence if for every \(\epsilon > 0, \) there exists an integer \(N\) such that whenever \(n\ge N,\) \( \vert a_{n+m}- a_n\vert\,<\epsilon\) for any positive integer \( m.\) (In modern terminology, Cantor has defined a Cauchy sequence of rational numbers.) We associate to any rational sequence possessing numberness a symbol \(b,\) which we refer to as a number value. Cantor writes
This property of sequence \(a_n\) I express in the words \(a_n\) has a certain limit \(b.\)
In other words, by the symbol \(\lim a_n,\) Cantor means the number value \(b\) associated to that sequence \(a_n.\) He denotes the collection of all such fundamental sequences by \(B.\) We will see in Section 5 that every real number corresponds to a fundamental sequence of \(B.\) Cantor goes on to show how we may (for now at least) conceptualize \( B\) as the set of real numbers. However, this is only for intuitive purposes. Cantor is explicit about this last point when he writes
Now these words initially have no other meaning except as an expression for those properties of the sequence, and from the fact that we associate to the series \(a_1,a_2,\dots,a_n,\dots \) a special character \(b,\) it follows that with various series, various characters \( b, b^{\prime}, b^{\prime\prime},\dots\) are formed.
Immediately after making this definition, Cantor is quick to note that the number value \(b\) is simply a formal symbol associated to the sequence \(a_1,a_2,\dots,a_n,\dots .\) This is important to note, as Cantor did not wish to fall into the error of assuming the existence of limits of sequences of real numbers. He simply associates a symbol to any fundamental sequence. Next Cantor defines a total ordering on the set \(B.\) Let \( b, b^{\prime}\) be number values with corresponding fundamental sequences \(a_1,a_2,\dots,a_n,\dots \) and \({a_1^{\prime}},{a^{\prime}_2},\dots,{a^{\prime}_n}\dots ,\) respectively. Then one of the following three relations must hold:
For every \(\epsilon > 0,\) there exists a positive integer \(N\) such that for every \(n\ge N, \) we have \({a_n}-{a^{\prime}_n} < \epsilon.\)
There is a rational \(\epsilon > 0,\) and a positive integer \(N\) such that for every \(n\ge N, \) we have \({a_n}-{a^{\prime}_n} > \epsilon.\)
There is a rational \(\epsilon > 0,\) and a positive integer \(N\) such that for every \(n\ge N, \) we have \({a_n}-{a^{\prime}_n} < -\epsilon.\)
In the first case, Cantor defines \( b= b^{\prime},\) in the second \( b> b^{\prime}\) and in the third \( b< b^{\prime}.\) It is important to again stress that Cantor is defining formal symbol relations. The symbol \(=\) is an equivalence relation on \(B\) (although Cantor does not use this terminology), and we continue to write \(B\) for the set of equivalence classes of number values under the relation \(=.\) Technically speaking, then, an element \(b\in B\) is an equivalence class of fundamental sequences.
Now Cantor is ready to define the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in \(B.\) For conceptual purposes, we may think of this as defining said operations on all real numbers, but technically speaking we are only formally symbol-pushing. Let the number values \( b, b^{\prime}, b^{\prime\prime}\) correspond to the fundamental sequences \[a_1,a_2,\dots, a_n,\dots\] \[{a^{\prime}_1},{a^{\prime}_2},\dots,{a^{\prime}_n},\dots\] \[{a^{\prime\prime}_1},{a^{\prime\prime}_2},\dots,{a^{\prime\prime}_n},\dots,\] respectively. If \[\lim\left(a_n\pm{a^{\prime}_n}-{a^{\prime\prime}_n}\right)=0,\] \[\lim\left(a_n\cdot{a^{\prime}_n}-{a^{\prime\prime}_n}\right)=0,\] \[\lim\left(\frac{a_n}{{a^{\prime}_n}}-{a^{\prime\prime}_n}\right)=0,\,\,\,{\rm for}\,\,\,{a^{\prime}_n} \not=0,\] then we write \( b\pm b^{\prime}=b^{\prime\prime},\) \( b\,b^{\prime}= b^{\prime\prime},\) and \({\frac{b}{b^{\prime}}} = b^{\prime\prime},\) respectively.
After defining operations on \(B,\) Cantor constructs the set \(C\) from \(B\) in much the same way he defined \(B\) from the rationals. That is, he considers all sequences \(b_1,b_2,\dots,b_n,\dots \) of \(B\) such that the limit of \(b_{n+m} -b_n\) equals \(0\) for some fixed value of \(m.\) We associate a symbol \(c\) to such a sequence and define relations, including \(=, <, >, \pm, \cdot,\) and \(÷,\) among such \(c\) as we did in \(B.\) Continuing in this manner, Cantor is able to construct the sets \(D,E,\dots\) consisting of equivalence classes of fundamental sequences made up of members of the previous set. Cantor then remarks that,
It is reserved for me to come back to all these conditions on another occasion in more detail,
a statement that, at least with hindsight, makes his construction here a precursor to his famous theory of transfinite numbers.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I've recently found that a lot of women find it hard to explore fashion due to their tunnel vision of what is truly accepted in their industry. This of course is a myopic way to live simple based off on the fact that there are women in those same industry that are creative with their style.
As a working woman, you have to be committed in whatever you do, this includes being committed to fashion. Fashion is such an important part of the corporate world, while it is sometimes capped because certain things cannot fly in the business environment, there is however a lot of space for you to express yourself creatively and stylishly in what you wear.
"Protect your joy" In this case your joy is your work and your taste in fashion. You can protect these joy by keeping up to date with the latest corporate styles.


Air central air constantly is under a high pressure. At all do not disconnect refrigerator lines and do not remove any components of system, previously without having executed a discharge of the last. The discharge of central air of air should be made by strengths of the skilled expert in the conditions of a car-care center workshop. At a rassoyedineniye of refrigerator lines surely put on goggles!
Cars considered in the real Management are equipped with system of additional safety of SRS which is better known as a safety cushion. Before performing any works near assembly of a pillow or a steering column, without fail disconnect system in order to avoid receiving traumas as a result of its casual operation (see. Head Onboard electric equipment).
1. Make a discharge of central air of air in the conditions of a specialized workshop.
2. Disconnect a negative wire from the battery. Disconnect a safety cushion.
3. Turn out bolts and disconnect from the evaporator two refrigerator lines (see an accompanying illustration). At once закупорьте the open ends of lines and unions in order to avoid hit in dirt system.
4. Remove a ware box (see. Head Body).
5. Disconnect electroconducting from the To/in thermostat and remove clamps of a plait of wires from an evaporator casing.
6. Give fixture (see an accompanying illustration), disconnect from assembly a drainage hose and remove the evaporator from the car.
7a. Turn out forward fixing screws.
7b. Turn out back fixing screws, release clamps (see accompanying illustrations) and divide an evaporator casing into two half, previously having removed from it the Рљ/Р' thermostat.
8. Take from a casing the evaporator heat exchanger, in case of need remove the broad valve.
9. Make a system charging in a specialized workshop.


text:
April, 2004, Thriller
Directed by:Phil Karlson
Starring:Joe Don Baker and Elizabeth Hartman
Some 31 years ago, a raw-boned character actor by the name of Joe Don Baker, (whose name perfectly reflects his Texas roots) shouldered his way into Hollywood's big-time by portraying real-life Kentucky Sheriff Buford Pusser in a cheap exploitation movie tracing that lawman's exploits as a reform-minded public official who cleaned up a corrupt county by (paraphrasing Teddy Roosevelt) speaking softly and carrying a very big stick. Whether Pusser was quite as noble as the film depicted him to be, the combination of titillating corruption and quasi-legally sanctioned violence made wonderful grist for the drive-in theater mill, spawning a second version just two years later, (starring Bo Svenson) and a short-lived T.V. series which followed. Now comes the latest version of this tale, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, (a former pro-wrestler and low-rent version of California's current governor) which features a story line so remote from its predecessors that Pusser's name had to be placed in a "dedicated to" tag-line just before the final credits to make sure that audiences get the connection. Simply put, the movie stinks, but in an interesting if sobering way…
As Malcom X once cynically put it, "violence is as American as apple pie"; Hollywood filmmakers, with an eye on box-office grosses, have understood this from the earliest days of commercial movie-making. But the manner in which violence is actually depicted on the screen has changed markedly over the years, escalating nastily as the technical capabilities of the industry advanced and the appetites of audiences progressively hardened in response to earlier, more obviously staged presentations of screen mayhem. Gone are the obviously phony stomach-clutching dénouements of 30's-era screen gangsters like Cagney, Bogart and Robinson; American auidences now require the grislier ferocity of The Godfather or The Sopranos or Hannibal Lector and are far more likely to be offended by screen sexuality than screen gore, (i.e. The Passion of the Christ) especially when the savagery is presented in a story that involves the protection of innocent victims.
The success of Sam Peckinpaugh's epic but stomach-churning western The Wild Bunch, (1969) coupled with Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry series (1973-1977) spawned a whole era of movies with an essentially fascist world-view. Violence is to be condoned, even celebrated, when used by the police to deliver justice in a legal system increasingly perceived as favoring the criminal over his victim. The first Walking Tall simply brought those intertwined themes into the exploitation genre. Then came Charles Bronson's Death Wish films, a quartet of highly successful but violent melodramas made between 1974 and 1987, which extended this use of vigilantism to individual citizens in a society presumably grown increasingly vulnerable to attack. Thus the leap from vigilantism with a badge to simple, violent revenge-- how else to maintain public safety? Was the political resurgence of the far right, with its emphasis on "victim's rights", (much in evidence by the 1980) prefigured by these Hollywood potboilers? In the wake of current events, have Americans, (and some Israelis) become subconsciously convinced of their collective innocent victimhood, thus justifying the need for even more violence to "keep the peace"? Has that attitude become a facet of popular entertainment, an example of life imitating art?
In this context comes the latest version of Pusser's story, set in the Pacific Northwest, and revolving around the domination of an aging mill town taken over by local robber-baron Jay Hamilton Jr., (played, with his usual brazen villainy by the capable character actor Neal McDonough.) Hamilton's taken the proceeds of his father's failed mill and ploughed them into a gambling casino which features everything from loaded dice to call girls to illegal drugs. When Pusser returns from a stint in the Army, he's forced to take the law--in this case a goodly section of 2-by-4-- into his own hands, demolishing gaming equipment, pick-up trucks and sports cars before peeling his girl friend down to her panties and bra just prior to engaging in a shoot-out with his crooked predecessor that has the look and feel of a major military engagement.
The violence quotient is up here, not only in quantity but in it's nauseating explicitness; an entire police station is subjected to withering automatic gunfire, the hero's torso is brutally disfigured by repeated slashing and the final confrontation between Sheriff Pusser and bad guy Hamilton goes on longer and more excruciatingly than is either credible or necessary. And this in a film rated PG-13!
The original Tall focused on the capacity of criminal corruption to destroy public morality; as such, it functioned as both yahoo entertainment and a cautionary tale about the dangers facing a citizenry willing to allow themselves to become the small-town version of New Orleans, with its "Big Easy" mentality. In the 1970's, Joe Don Baker's Pusser was conflicted by his decision to act outside the law and his ultimate victory came at considerable personal cost. In the current version, The Rock's avenging angel acts out of a simple desire for personal vengeance rather then any notion of civic responsibility and the townspeople aren't complicit in the corruption of their community as they were in the original--here they're just presented as spineless wimps, meekly awaiting the arrival of a new strong-man to dictate the rules.
Movies often entertain, and occasionally edify, but they invariably serve as cultural barometers, appealing to those unspoken trends in public taste that cause the spending of an audience's hard-earned cash. As the success of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ so lamentably points out, this country's capacity for accepting cinematic violence, (coupled with our national identification as innocent victims in need of ever more intrusive governmental intervention against those who see the world quite differently) finds perfect expression in this most blatantly jingoistic of movies.
The original version ran 125 minutes; its immediate successor 109; this version thuds to an end in just over 75, but it manages to pack more brutality into its streamlined timeframe than either of its ancestors while providing even less in the way of character motivation, and justification for its blatantly cynical commercialism.
It's interesting to contemplate what effect this type of movie has on the adolescents who'll line up to see--and be influenced--by it. Or does this thoroughly mindless junk accurately reflect what preoccupies all of us in this post-9/11 world?


To answer these questions, we need to listen to the testimony of Jesus' disciples or to a record of their testimony of Jesus. [Read more…] about Why Do Christians Worship Jesus as God?
Christians confess God to be unchangeable. He does not change or mutate. He is immutable. For many today, however, this doctrine seems archaic and odd.
Archaic because the doctrine is called "the immutability of God" and odd because God seems to change. After all, he creates the world, is sometimes angry, and at other times generous. Most of all, God entered into the world of change when he became man, when he became incarnate. The apostle John asserts, "the Word became flesh" (John 1:14).
Can We Define Our Own Success?
Can you we define our own success? Many certainly try. Some, for example, find success in wealth and prestige, while others find it in living the minimalistic life. In both cases, success is determined by us: either the culture who affirms that being "rich" equals success or by the subculture that argues that living minimalistically equals success.
How should we define success? Can we define it as individuals or should we let the broader collective of humanity define it? To my mind, stating the question this way creates a false dichotomy. [Read more…] about Can We Define Our Own Success?
There is a controversy simmering online about whether or not God can change. Some argue that God changes because he enters into history and appears to do something at one point and to do another action at a different time. God is angry with someone for sinning on Monday. Then he is happy with someone for obeying on Tuesday. The Bible seems to describe God changing.
So is the classical view that God is without change wrong?
No. God is unchangeable, and we should thankful for that! [Read more…] about Does God Change?
"Heart" by Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar licensed under CC BY 2.0.
A simple question. But with a not-so-simple answer.
"What makes you happy or fulfilled?" might be another way to ask the question. Do you work to pursue material success or work out of a fear of failure? Do the long hours that you put into work find their justification because you have a nice home, car, and electronics? Does the pursuit of happiness in your marriage and family have some purpose behind it? Or is it arbitrary?


NATCHEZ — Services for Ruth Britton Dunbar Merrill Flinn, 80, of Natchez, who died Monday, Dec. 11, 2006, at Natchez Regional Medical Center, will be 11 a.m. Friday at Stratton Chapel at First Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Flinn was born April 29, 1926, in Natchez, the daughter of Josephine Carolyn Stratton and Dunbar Surget Merrill.
She attended Hollins College in Virginia and graduated the University of Mississippi, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority.
She had a lifetime affiliation with the First Presbyterian Church of Natchez and was a member emeritus of the Pilgrimage Garden Club, having been involved in club activities from early youth.
She was a founding director of the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society and served as its treasurer for 23 years.
Mrs. Flinn will be sorely missed by her family and numerous cousins and friends, particularly her lifelong chuMississippi who called theMississippielves the Garter Girls. She will be remembered for her devotion to family and friends, love of animals and affection for her home town.
Mrs. Flinn was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband of 56 years, Forrest Derickson "Chip" Flinn.
Survivors include her three sons, Aaron Stanton Merrill Flinn, Forrest Byron Flinn and Joseph Buck Stratton Flinn and wife, Jeri Madden Flinn; grandsons, John Jeffrey Olson Flinn, Dunbar Merrill Madden Flinn and Derickson Stratton Flinn; close cousin and neighbor, Joess Trimble; and faithful canine, Spunky.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Natchez Adams Humane Society, P.O. Box 549, Natchez, Mississippi 39121 or the First Presbyterian Church of Natchez.


On Steve Earle's new release, So You Wannabe An Outlaw, the stylized view of being an outlaw is given a much-needed return to reality. In the current country music genre, the term "outlaw" has become vernacular better lending itself to fashion sense over substance. Earle does a fine job on this album bringing the listener a view into the loneliness, self-destructive behavior, and despair that being an outlaw really brings into one's life.
Earle has been through it all over the years: divorces, addiction, running with actual outlaws, jail stints, and more, which makes the album's messages more like sage advice being handed down from the mountaintop rather than just a collection of songs.
The title track includes a guest appearance from Willie Nelson, which punctuates the message with a definite exclamation point. Midway through the album, the point is driven home with the song, "Fixin' to Die," with its down and dirty rock n' roll riffage and chant of "I'm fixin' to die and I reckon I'm going to hell." If that fails to describe the arc of the outlaw, perhaps there is no tangible way to describe it.
While Nelson was part of the original "outlaw country" movement, Earle was a member of the rough and tumble songwriter world that included folks like Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, Wrecks Bell, Lucinda Williams and, the subject of the final track, "Goodbye Michelango," Guy Clark. Saying goodbye to Clark, a mentor, friend and outlaw in his own right, Earle rests his case like a fine southern attorney.


THE GATEWAY WESTMEAD - The Marketing Co.
Set within a prime location and a fast growing community, The Marketing Co drew inspiration from the thriving lifestyle of city living in Parramatta. The Gateway comprises of 24 boutique apartments. Our client's aim was to develop a comprehensive marketing campaign aimed at positioning The Gateway as an affordable boutiqe development in the heart of it all.
The Marketing Co created a strategy that would focus on the lifestyle and culture in Parramatta and Westmead. Through research our team were able to better understand this growing area and what the future holds. This project was a great success for our clients.


The inception of the department took place in the year 1961 and the first Head of the Department to take charge was Dr. Kalgutkar. Among Prof. Chawathe, Dr. Sakthivel, Prof. Parelkar and Vinayak Dalvie who have been active and dedicated members of Board of Studies, Dr. Sakthivel and Vinayak Dalvie have served the University of Mumbai as Chairpersons, Board of Studies in Zoology. The department, getting its Post Graduate recognition in the year 1980-1981, has entire permanent faculty recognized as Post Graduate teachers as well as guides for M.Sc. by Research. Six faculties of the department are recognized as PhD Guides. The department had published over 160 research papers.
Vision is to provide academic leadership to the subject of Zoology and undertake quality research of global standing while maintaining teaching quality at both UG & PG levels, ensuring high academic performance of the students empowered with entrepreneurial and industrial skills as also enlightened with the research avenues.
Consistent with our vision, our mission is to provide students with an unparallel learning experience in a supportive and caring milieu by being facilitators to connect knowledge with the field application and inculcate research culture by acting as role models with excellence in academics and research.
Vinayak Dalvie has two International Research Associations with Edith Cowan and Deakin Universities guiding two research scholars. The department is ever engaged in research and has a total contribution of 75 research papers.
Dr. Papiya Deb, Assistant Professor of the Department, has received Best Paper Award at an International Conference "Academy of Research", New Jersey, USA.
Miss Neha Vajandar secured First rank in M.Sc in the subject Zoology (University of Mumbai), 11th rank in the entire science faculty in the University of Mumbai and was Awarded "The Prof. A. Gopalkrishna Gold Medal" for the year 2013.
University Textbooks of Zoology (F.Y.B.Sc. and S.Y.B.Sc.) were released on 8th July at the hands of Hon. Shri Amrishbhai Patel, President SVKM AND Chancellor NMIMS University.
Programme was organized by Dr. Rajpal Hande, Principal, Mithibai College which was graced by the presence of Shri Sunandan Devatia, Hon. Secretary SVKM; Shri Jagatbhai Killawala, Trustee SVKM; Shri Nilesh Mohile, Chief Administrative Officer SVKM; Mrs. (Dr.) Smita Durve, Chairperson BOS Zoology, University of Mumbai and was attended by more than 150 teachers from mithibai & othjer colleges along with the students. Twenty seven Author's from different colleges were felicitated in which Shri Vinayak Dalvie and Dr. Anil Singh were from Mithibai College.
Series of F.Y.B.Sc. Zoology Syllabus framing meetings were convened under the Chairmanship of Dr. Anil Singh.
One day educational excursion to Bhandup Pumping Station on 14th July 2014 for S.Y.B.Sc. Students were conducted to study habitat of the area. An elaborate programme of bird sighting was also carried out.
One day Educational Excursion to Aarey Fish Seed Farm on 5th August 2014 for the students of T.Y.B.Sc. and M.Sc. Classes was conducted to study various aspects of fish culture, induced breeding techniques, Biology of culturable major & minor carps, etc.
One day Educational Excursion to Alibaug on 31st January 2015 for the students of M.Sc. Classes to study marine flora and fauna and also survey local aquatic and migratory birds.
One day educational excursion to Imagica on 24th January 2014 for Students was conducted to have an insight into simulation techniques with special focus on 'Rajasaurus' an extinct Dinosaur.
One day educational excursion to Maharashtra Nature Park on 13th August 2013 for F.Y.B.Sc. & S.Y.B.Sc. Students was conducted to study the vivid flora & fauna of the park, identify & prepare a checklist of butterflies, birds, insect, etc.
One day Educational Excursion to Aarey Fish Seed Farm on 22nd July 2013 for the students of T.Y.B.Sc. and M.Sc. Classes was conducted to study various aspects of fish culture, induced breeding techniques, Biology of culturable major & minor carps, etc.
M.Sc. in Zoology with specialization in Marine Zoology.
Ph.D. - Guiding two students for Ph.D.
• Resource person in one day workshop on New Syllabus of N.C.C. as an Elective Subject with mutual collaboration of B.C.U.D., University of Mumbai on 30th Nov 2013 at I.C.S. College, Khed, Ratnagiri .
• Resource person at workshop on "Industry- Academia Interface in the Subject of Zoology" at Indian Merchant Chamber on 24th August 2013.
• Resource person at workshop on Credit System, T. Y. B. Sc. Zoology- Theory and Practical -organized by Sathaye College on behalf of the Board of Studies in Zoology, University of Mumbai on 31st January 2013.
• Resource person for workshop for Zoology Teachers on "Implementation of Credit System for M. Sc Part II- Zoology" organized by The Board of Studies in Zoology at G.N. Khalsa College, Mumbai on 16th January 2013.
• Chief Guest and Resource person for M. Sc. Part II University workshop on Credit Based System Syllabus at Guru Nanak Khalsa College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Mumbai on 5th January 2013.
• Delivered Keynote address on 'Innovations in Education' in the Inaugural Session of the National Conference of Secondary Training College on 22nd Feb 2014.
• Guest lecture on Entrepreneurial Zoology at Sonopant Dandekar College, Palghar on 20th December 2013.
• Invited talk at the UGC sponsored National Seminar with the theme on "Recent Trends in Life Sciences" held at Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra on 28th and 29th Jan 2013.
• Appointed as Subject Expert for preparation of Dictionary of technical terms with regard to stem cell and Regenerative Medicine by the Commission for Scientific & Technical Terminology, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Dept. of Higher Education, Govt. of India from 28th Sep 2013 to 1st Oct 2013.
• Co-Investigator for Board of College and University Development (BCUD), University of Mumbai funded research project on "Suitability analysis (water and soil) of the proposed Government sites for commercial prawn culture at Juchandra, Vasai". 2002-03 Received Second Prize adjudged by University of Mumbai.
• Principal Investigator for BCUD, University of Mumbai funded research project on "Internationalization of Indian Education".2005-06.
• Principal Investigator for BCUD, University of Mumbai funded research project on "DNA bar-coding of the species belonging to the Family Cynoglossidae occurring in the North-West Indian EEZ" 2009-10.
• Principal Investigator for BCUD, University of Mumbai funded research project along with Dr. V. Shivramakrishnan as Co-Investigator on "Identification of neuropeptides from P. monodon using 'in silico techniques' and mass spectrometry". 2012-13.
• Principal Investigator for ICSSR funded research project with Dr. G.K. Amte as Co-Investigator on the topic "Study of ecological health categorising Bhivandi lake as per CPCB norms for human needs, further devising management strategies for improving socio-economic conditions of the underprivileged fisher youth befitting the recent policy of the Collector, Thane". Ongoing.
• Co-Investigator for ICSSR funded research project with Dr. Bela Nabar as Principal Investigator on the topic "Ascertaining the quality of representative lake in Bhivandi by examining its microbial pathogens and pesticide content, focusing on its social implications." Ongoing.
• Co-Investigator for BCUD, Minor Research Project of University of Mumbai (2014-15) with Venkatesh Hegde as Principal Investigator and Amish Kulkarni as co-investigator titled "Comparative study of nutritive value with reference to specific vitamins (A,C,B6, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin and Pantothenic acid) present in Scylla serrata, its value added imitation product, the intermediate product and their raw material source Synagris japonicus".
• Principal investigator for BCUD, Minor Research Project of University of Mumbai (2014-15) "Estimation of essential amino-acids in Scylla serrata, imitation product, intermediate product (Surimi) Vis-à-vis the source raw fish meal".
• Member of the committee to recommend the name of suitable person as coordinator for inventorization of biological diversity in the state, 19th June 2014.
• Convenor of the sub committee appointed by the AD-HOC Board of Studies in Physical Education to prepare syllabus of NCC as an optional subject for Foundation Course at First Year of UG Programme (Sem-I & II) under the faculty of Arts, Commerce and Science.
• Convenor of the sub committee appointed by the AD-HOC Board of Studies in Physical Education to prepare syllabus of NCC as an optional subject for Foundation Course at Second Year of UG Programme (Sem-III & IV) under the faculty of Arts, Commerce and Science.
• Appointed as academic co-ordinator (additional charge) by University of Mumbai for the newly established Institute Sindhu Swadhyay Sanstha and Oceanographic Institute for Post-Graduate Studies in Oceanography and Allied Sciences.
• Invited guest at the 2nd Asia Business Responsibility Summit at Bombay Stock Exchange organized by Asian centre for Corporate Governance and Sustainability and supported by Indian Merchant's Chamber on 8th December 2014.
• Appointed as convener of Protocol and Creativity Committee (including Inauguration and Valedictory) for the 102nd Indian Science Congress – 2015 (ISC-2015) hosted by University of Mumbai.
• Member of the National Advisory Committee of National Conference on "Mangroves of Konkan Coast" to be held R.D. Gogate College of Arts and Science are RV. Joglekar College of Commerce, Ratnagiri from 2-3rd February 2015.
• Appointed on the advisory committee of the International Conference on "Ethical Prospects: Economy, Society and Environment" 13-14th March 2015 organized by University of Mumbai, Ratnagiri Sub centre.
• Convener of Local Inquiry Committee of D.G. Ruparel College, Mumbai for renewal of recognition to enrol students for M.Sc. (Research) and Ph. D. Science) in the subject of Zoology.
• Local Inquiry Committee for granting permission to college of Home Science, Nirmala Niketan to start M.Sc. Home Science degree course in the subject of Food Processing and Presentation.
• Local inquiry committee for granting of extension for lab recognition to enrol students for M.Sc. (by research) and Ph.D. (Science) in the Subject of Zoology to S.I.E.S. College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai.
• Convener of the Local Inquiry Committee for grant of lab recognition to enrol Ph.D. (Science) students in the subject of Zoology at Dapoli Urban Bank's Senior Science College.
• Convener of Committee for continuation and extension of affiliation to Modern Education Society's D.G. Ruparel College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai.
• Convener of Committee for extension of recognition to enrol students of M.Sc. (By Research) and Ph.D. (Science) degree in the subject of Zoology SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce, 17th January 2013.
• Convener of committee for continuation of recognition for Ph.D. Science Degree Course in the subject of Environmental Science, Physics and Zoology from the academic year 2014-15, to V.P.M.'s B.N. Bandodkar College of Science, Thane, 27th March, 2014.
• Member of committee for granting recognition of laboratory for for PhD Science Degree Course in the subject of Forensic Science from the academic year 2014-15 to the Institute of Forensic Science, Govt. of Maharashtra, Mumbai, 27th March, 2014.
• Convener of committee for extension of affiliation for NCC in the subject of NCC to St. Gonsalo Garcia College of Arts and Commerce, Vasai, 10th March, 2014.
• Convener of committee for extension of affiliation for NCC in the subject of NCC to J.S.M.'s Smt. Indirabai G. Kulkarni Arts College, J.B. Sawant Science College and Sau. Jankibai Dhondo Kunte Commerce College, Alibaug, Raigad, 10th March, 2014.
• Member of the Committee appointed for granting of extension of affiliation for course B.Com (Investment Management), B.Com. (Financial Management), B.Com (Transport Management) and B.Sc. Interdiciplinary to Mohanlal Raichand Mehta College of Commerce, Diwali Ma College of Science, Armutlal Raichand Mehta College of Arts, Dr. R.T. Dishi College of Computer Science, Navi Mumbai, 10th March, 2014.
• Member of the Committee for inspecting availability of basic essential, physical, infrastructure, financial position etc. for affiliation of courses B.A. (Culinay Arts), B.Com (investment Management), B.Com. (Financial Management) and B.Sc. (Human Science) to New College- Devine Child College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Andheri, 10th March, 2014.
• Member of the Committee for extension of affiliation of courses B.Com. (Financial Management) Birla College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Kalyan, 10th March, 2014.
• Convener of committee for extension of affiliation for NCC in the subject of NCC to B.N.N. Bandodkar Science College, Thane, 10th March 2014.
• Member of the committee for extension of affiliation for courses B.Sc, (Human Sciece) & B.Sc. (Interdisciplinary), 10th March 2014.
• Member of the Committee for granting of extension of affiliation for course (B.Com-Investment Management) and (B.Com. – Financial Management) to Yashwantrao Chavan College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Navi Mumbai, 11th April, 2014.
• Member of the Committee to discuss guidelines and process of M.Sc.(Part-I) centralized admissions to be made by PG Section of University of Mumbaifor the Academic Year 2014-15 on 7th July2014.
• Convener of Committee for continuation of extension to Anandibai Pradhan Science College, Nagothane, Raigad on 28th July 2014.
• Member of the committee for continuation of extension for Regal College of Hotel and Tourism Management, Kankavali, Sindhudurg on 26th July 2014.
• Member of the Export committee for granting of extension of affiliation for the course M.Sc- Hotel and Hospitality Management to Regal College of Hotel Management and tourism, 20th March 2014.
• Member of the Committee for opening of new college with innovative courses- B.Com – investment Management, B.Com – Finance Management, B.Com- Transport Managent, B.Com – Environmental Managent and Economics, B.Sc – Human Sciences & B.Sc – Interdisciplinary, to Prof. Javed Khan College of Commerce and Economics, Navi Mumbai, 10th March 2014.
• Convenor of the Committee for extension of affiliation for course / subject/ addition division in the subject of NCC to Smt. Indira Mahadev Behere College of Arts, Shriman Chandulal Sheth college of Commerce and smt. Shobhanatai College of Science, Ratnagiri, 10th March 2014.
• Chikitsak Samuha, an educational Institution running Chikitsak High School, Girgaon & Patkar College, Goregoan.
• Shri Vithalashram, Hrishikesh, a socio-cultural organization.
• Patron Mumbai Hockey Association.
• Devdatta Lad and Shashikant Patil 2014 Present status of water quality of Ulhas river estuary, Vasai coastal area, Thane, Maharashtra, India. Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 2 (1): 209-212 ISSN: 2320-7051.
• Participated in the one day Seminar on "Advances in Spectroscopy & Chromatographic Techniques". 8Th January 2014. Organized by SVKM's NMIMS Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, Mumbai.
• Participated in the one day Seminar on "Energy Options for India; Non-Conventional Sources of Energy". 23rd August 2014. Organized by SVKM's Mithibai College, Vile Parle (W) Mumbai.
• Participated in the one day workshop on "An overview of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Wildlife crime scenario and illegal trade in wildlife". 7th October 2014 as part of Wildlife week-2014. Organized by Department of Zoology & Nisarg Nature club in collaboration with Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Government of India, SVKM's Mithibai College Vile Parle (W) Mumbai.
• Attended UGC Sponsored regional Workshop on "Advanced Microscopy". 22nd November 2014. Organized by Department of Zoology, Wilson College Mumbai.
Presented paper entitled Pharmacognostic study of Ixora alba L at National Seminar on Recent Trends in Life Sciences at Rajashree Chatrapati Sahu College, Kolhapur on 28-29 January, 2013.
• Invited as a Vice Chancellor's nominee on scrutiny committee for placement of teaching staff for the subject of Zoology under CAS at Hazarimal Somani College, 2014-15.
• Invited as a judge for "The Annual Talent Search, an intra-collegiate competition organized by Cultural Committee, Mithibai College, August, 2014.
• Chairperson, Mithibai Students' Welfare & Grievance Association.
• Member, NAAC Steering Committee.
• Member, Publicity and Brand Building Committee.
• Member, planning committee of 12th UGC plan.
• Member, CBP Independent Ethics Committee.
• Member of the Research, Consultancy & Extension Committee.
• Life member of Indian Association of Teachers in Biological Sciences.
• Life member of Mumbai Immunology Group, ACTREC.
• Presented paper entitled Pharmacognostic study of Ixora alba L at National Seminar on Recent Trends in Life Sciences at Rajashree Chatrapati Sahu College, Kolhapur on 28-29 January, 2013.
• Member of organising Committee of Research meet, February, 2015.
• Attended a one day seminar on "Energy options for India; Non- Conventional Sources of Energy" for all the institutions under SVKM banner, 23rd August, 2014.
• Attended one-day workshop on 'An overview of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, wildlife crime scenario & illegal trade in wildlife', organized by Mithibai College as part of Wildlife Week-2014 on 7th October 2014.
• Attended a one day workshop "Advances in Spectroscopy & Chromatographic Techniques" organised by SVKM's NMIMS S.P. Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, January, 2014.
• Member of organising Committee of seminar on "Energy options for India; Non- Conventional Sources of Energy" for all the institutions under SVKM banner, August, 2014.Invited as a judge for "The Annual Talent Search, an intra-collegiate competition organized by Cultural Committee, Mithibai College, August, 2013.
as peer reviewer of International Journal of Innovation Management- Imperial College Press.
• Sustainability, accountability and socio-environmental concerns required in solid waste management. Deb, P., Welling, M.N. in Mapping the relationships between work and sustainability and the opportunities for ergonomic action Applied Ergonomics- Elsevier Publications.
• Presented paper 'Suggestions for Green Maneuvering in the Indian Hospitality Industry' in a National Conference organized by Rizvi Institute of Management Studies and Research.
• Suggestions for Green Maneuvering in the Indian Hospitality Industry, Management Vision, 6(1), 45-53. ISSN: 0975-7813. 2015.
• Seminar on 'Energy Options for India: Non-Conventional Sources of Energy' organized by Chemical Research Society of India (Mumbai Chapter) and Mithibai College (23rd August, 2014).
• One day workshop on Camag HPTLC System at Camag Switzerland recognized application Research Laboratory- Anchrom (26th April, 2014).
• One day workshop on 'Inferential Statistics in Pharmaceutical and Medical Research' organized by NMIMS School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, Mumbai (20th November, 2013).
• One day workshop on "Career Advancement under UGC Regulations 2010" organized by University of Mumbai and BUCTU (4th October, 2013).
• Sanction Minor Research Project by University of Mumbai in 2014-15.
• Attended two days workshop on Bioinformatics organized by Dept. of Botany, Mithibai College.
• Consolation Prize for the poser presented entitled, "FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy - A non-destructive approach to study biomineralization in Nerita oryzarum (Recluz, 1841)", in UGC and ICSSR sponsored National Conference on 'Emerging Trends in Sustainable Development' organized by Dept. of Zoology, Kirti Doongursee College from 23rd – 24th January 2015.
• Best Paper Presentation Award for the poster presented entitled, "Screening of heavy metal resistant bacteria from Papadi Lake of Vasai Taluka of Maharashtra" in International Conference on Emerging Trends & Challenges in Science & Technology at Bangkok, organized by International Society of Science & Technology & Bioinformatics from 3rd - 5th November 2014.
• Best Paper Award for the poster presented entitled, "Screening of heavy metal resistant bacteria from Nale Lake of Vasai Taluka of Maharashtra" in UGC sponsored National Conference on Concepts & New Trends in Aerobiology & Allergy, organized by the Dept. of Botany & Zoology of Bhartiya Vidhya Bhavan's Hazarimal Somani College from 29th - 30th November 2013.
• Bestowed as 'Fellow of Life Sciences Leaflets'.
• Third Prize for paper co-authored, "Production of aflatoxin by Aspergillus flavus using freshly grated coconut as a substrate" presented in National Seminar on 'Fungi & Health Care' organized by Dept. of Botany, Mithibai College from 6th - 7th January 2012.
• Delivered Keynote Address in National Seminar on Computer Science & Bio-Science, organized by Dept. of Life Science & Computer Application, Mandsaur Institute of Science & Technology, MP on 6th April 2013.
• Invited as 'Resource Person' in Workshop of T.Y.B.Sc. Applied Component-Environmental Science & Pollution at B.N. Bandodkar College, on 2nd March 2013.
• Principal Investigator for ongoing UGC funded Minor Research Project as Principal Investigator entitled "Limno-ecological status of Papdi and Nale Lakes from Vasai-Virar Taluka in District Thane, Maharashtra India" from 2014-16.
• Principal Investigator for Minor Research Project entitled "Bioaccumulation of heavy metals and xenoestrogens in few commercially imperative pelagic and benthic fishes from coastal waters off the Mumbai Coast", funded by University of Mumbai in 2014-15.
• Principal Investigator for Minor Research Project entitled "Screening of herbal drug for embryo protective activity in Adriamycin induced toxicity in chick embryo", funded by University of Mumbai in 2011-12.
• Principal Investigator for Minor Research Project entitled "Limnological assessment of a lentic eco-habitat, 'Gaondevi Talao' in western suburbs of Mumbai with reference to physico-chemical characteristics & phytoplankton diversity", funded by University of Mumbai in 2008-09.
• Co-investigator for Minor Research Project entitled "Nutritional status of Harpodon nehereus (Ham-Buch) in the present scenario of intruding anthropogenic activities", funded by University of Mumbai in 2006-07.
• Co-investigator for Minor Research Project entitled "Environmental impact of Ganapati iIdol visarjan (immersion) at Juhu Beach & Mahim Beach along the Mumbai Coast", funded by University of Mumbai in 2002-03.
• Examination Committee of Mithibai College from 2013-15.
• Invited to judge Research Projects of Honours Programme organized by Dept. of Life Sciences, K. C. College Churchgate on 27th January 2015.
• Invited to judge events in intercollegiate fest 'Vivaxious' organized by Dept. of Biological Sciences, VIVA College Virar on 19th January 2015.
• Invited to judge R-East Ward Science, Mathematics & Environment Exhibition at Gundecha Education Society's High School, Kandivali on 5th December 2014.
• Invited to evaluate Science Research Projects in District Children Science Congress-2014 for Mumbai district North on 30th September 2014, I. B. English School Borivali.
• Invited to conduct interviews for 'Action Research' for the Dr. Homi Bhabha Bal Vaidnyanik Competition organized by Greater Mumbai Science Teachers Association at Social Service League High School, Elphinstone Road on 16th February 2014.
• Co-convener of Committee to organize 'Teachers & Students Training Programmes' of University of Mumbai from 2014 onwards.
• Invited to evaluate Science Research Projects in District Children Science Congress-2013 for Mumbai district West zone at St. Anne's High School, Borivali on 1st October 2013.
• Recognized as a Teacher of the University of Mumbai for the Ph.D. degree in Zoology from 18th January 2013.
• Member panel discussion on 'Gender Sensitization' on occasion of celebration of 'Yuva Divas', jointly organized by Mithibai College & University of Mumbai on 11th January 2013.
• Member of Syllabus Committee of University of Mumbai for the T.Y.B.Sc. Applied Component - Environmental Science & Pollution 2013.
• Recognized as Ph.D. Guide/Supervisor in the subject of Zoology by Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala University from 26th December 2012.
• Convener of the M.Sc. II Zoology - Environmental Science & Co-convener of the M.Sc. II Zoology - Biotechnology Paper V Syllabus Committee of University of Mumbai 2012.
• Kinare Pratik and Shingadia Hitesh, "Screening of heavy metal resistant bacteria from Nale Lake of Vasai Taluka of Maharashtra", Int. J. of Life Science, 2(2) 2014: 139-142.
• V. V. Dalvie, G. K. Amte, D. K. Kakvipure and H. U. Shingadia, "Seasonal variation in the physico-chemical parameters of Kalkhadi Lake, Kharbav (Dist. Thane), India", Contemporary Research in India, 2014: 140-146.
• Hitesh U. Shingadia and Meenakshi Vaidya, "Limno-ecological assessment of lentic eco-habitat, Gaondevi Talao from Malwani, Mumbai (India)", Int. J. of Life Sciences, A (1) 2013: 155-160.
• Amit Tiwari, Sanchari Pandya and Hitesh U. Shingadia, "Therapeutic use of marine organisms", proceedings of UGC sponsored National Conference on 'Modern Trends in Zoology', 20th – 22nd December 2012: 56-65.
• Hitesh U. Shingadia, Hardik Joshi and Meenakshi Vaidya, "Pharmacognostic Standardization of Leaves of Buchanania lanzan Spreng", Folk Herbal Medicines & Drug Discovery, 2012: 141-147.
• Hitesh U. Shingadia, "Effect of Fluoride on histoarchitecture of liver & its repercussion on phosphatase & transaminase in Poecilia reticulata Peters", Environmental Pollution & Life, 2012: 200-207.
• Hitesh U. Shingadia, "Size dependent toxicity of Sodium fluoride on larvivorous fish, Poecilia reticulata Peters". National Journal of Science Information 2(2), 2012: 124-130.
• Hitesh U. Shingadia, "Microbial diversity in marine edible fish Harpodon nehereus (Ham-Buch) from neretic waters of Mumbai Coast, India", Int. J. of Research in Microbes, 1(1), 2011: 6-10.
• Hitesh U. Shingadia and Veena Sakthivel, "Effects of chronic exposure of Sodium fluoride on electrolyte balance of Guppy, Poecilia reticulata Peters", The Bioscan, 3(4), 2008: 409-412.
• Hitesh U. Shingadia and Veena Sakthivel, "Chronic intoxication of Sodium fluoride leads to depletion in phosphorus content vis-à-vis ATPase activity in Poecilia reticulata Peters", J. Aqua. Biol. 3(2), 2008: 150-154.
• Rahul Chauhan, Hitesh U. Shingadia and Veena Sakthivel, "Survey of Avifauna of Borivali Mangroves along the Coast of Mumbai", Nat. Envt. Poll. Tech. 7(2), 2008: 229-233.
• Shingadia Hitesh and Sakthivel Veena, "Impact of short-term exposure of Sodium fluoride on tissue biochemistry of Guppy, Poecilia reticulata Peters", J. Aqua. Biol. 22(2), 2008: 148-152.
• Hitesh U. Shingadia and Veena Sakthivel, "Sodium fluoride induced teratogenic changes on the embryonic development of Guppy, Poecilia reticulata Peters", Int. J. of Ecophysiol. Occup. Hlth. 7, 2007: 85-88.
• Veena Sakthivel and Hitesh U. Shingadia, "Tissue glycolytic potential of pelecypod mollusc, Lamellidens marginalis (Lam.) under stress of a commercial cloth-washing detergent", Nat. Envt. Poll. Tech. 6(1), 2007: 121-126.
• Hitesh U. Shingadia and Veena Sakthivel, "Impact of a commercial Syndet 'Wheel' on total lipid content of freshwater mussel, Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck)", Nat. Envt. Poll. Tech. 5(4), 2006: 585-590.
• Hitesh U. Shingadia, "Target Biology". 2nd Edition, June 2006. Win Publication.
• Hitesh U. Shingadia and Veena Sakthivel, "Effects of sub-lethal concentrations of detergent 'wheel' on tissue proteins in different body parts of common freshwater edible bivalve, Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck)", J. Aqua. Biol. 21(1), 2006: 163-167.
• Veena Sakthivel, G. J. Parelkar and Hitesh U. Shingadia, "Environmental impact of Ganapati idol visarjan (immersion) at Juhu & Mahim Beaches along the Mumbai coast, Maharashtra", J. Aqua. Biol. 20 (2), 2005:105-109.
• Hitesh U. Shingadia and Veena Sakthivel, "Estimation of LC50 values for, Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck) with detergent 'wheel', a component of domestic sewage", J. Aqua. Biol. 18 (2), 2003:187-189.
• Hitesh U. Shingadia and Veena Sakthivel, "Physico-chemical characteristics of Juhu waters before & after Durga Pooja", Proceedings of the National Workshop on Basic Sciences & Fisheries, organized by the Society of Biosciences, Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) & Indian Fisheries Association held from 11th-12th September 2001.
• Presented poster entitled, "FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy – A non-destructive approach to study biomineralization in Nerita oryzarum (Recluz, 1841)", in UGC and ICSSR sponsored National Conference on 'Emerging Trends in Sustainable Development' organized by Dept. of Zoology, Kirti Doongursee College from 23rd – 24th January 2015.
• Presented a poster entitled, "Analysis of heavy metals in water, soil and tissues of Labeo rohita Hamilton in Nale Lake from Vasai Taluka of Maharashtra", in UGC and ICSSR sponsored National Conference on 'Emerging Trends in Sustainable Development' organized by Dept. of Zoology, Kirti Doongursee College from 23rd – 24th January 2015.
• Presented a poster entitled "Doxorubicin hydrochloride induces developmental defects in embryos vis-à-vis ameliorative role of Vitex negundo Linn. on biochemical constituents in amniotic fluid" in 102nd Indian Science Congress hosted by University of Mumbai from 3rd - 7th January 2015.
• Presented a poster entitled "Phytochemical screening of Ruta graveolens L. in DBT and ICMR sponsored National Conference on Drug Discovery and Drug Targeting organized by Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Vile Parle from 22nd - 23rd December 2014.
• Presented poster entitled "Screening of heavy metal resistant bacteria from Papadi Lake of Vasai Taluka of Maharashtra" in International Conference on Emerging Trends & Challenges in Science & Technology at Bangkok, organized by International Society of Science & Technology & Bioinformatics from 3rd - 5th November 2014.
• Presented oral paper entitled "Ultrastructural changes & cell death in liver of Poecilia reticulata Peters induced by fluoride" in International Conference on Emerging Trends & Challenges in Science & Technology at Bangkok, organized by International Society of Science & Technology & Bioinformatics from 3rd - 5th November 2014.
• Presented poster entitled, "Screening of heavy metal resistant bacteria from Nale Lake of Vasai Taluka of Maharashtra" in UGC sponsored National Conference on Concepts & New Trends in Aerobiology & Allergy, organized by the Dept. of Botany & Zoology of Bhartiya Vidhya Bhavan's Hazarimal Somani College from 29th - 30th November 2013.
• Presented oral paper entitled "Limno-ecological assessment of lentic eco-habitat, Gaondevi Talao from Malwani, Mumbai (India)" in UGC sponsored National Conference on Concepts & New trends in Aerobiology & Allergy, organized by the Dept. of Botany & Zoology of Bhartiya Vidhya Bhavan's Hazarimal Somani College from 29th - 30th November 2013.
• Presented a poster entitled "Screening of herbal drug for embryo protective activity in Adriamycin induced toxicity in chick embryo" in University of Mumbai on 5th March 2013.
• Presented a poster entitled "Ameliorative effect of Vitex negundo Linn. Doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity in developing chick embryo" in UGC sponsored National Conference on 'Modern Trends in Zoology', organized by Dept. of Zoology Rizvi College, Bandra from 20th - 22nd December 2012.
• Presented a poster entitled "Therapeutic use of marine organisms", in UGC sponsored National Conference on 'Modern Trends in Zoology', organized by Dept. of Zoology Rizvi College, Bandra from 20th - 22nd December 2012.
• Presented paper entitled "Protective effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Vitex negundo Linn. on Adriamycin induced toxicity in developing chick embryo", in 35th All India Botanical Conference & National Symposium on 'Role of Plants & Microbes for the betterment of Mankind in the changing Climate' jointly organized by Dept. of Botany & the M. S. University of Baroda, Gujarat from 8th - 10th December 2012.
• Presented a poster entitled "Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of methanolic extract of leaves of Buchanania lanzan Spreng (Chironji)" in International Conference on 'Current Trends in Medicinal Plant Research', organized by the Dept. of Botany, University of Pune, from 10th - 12th January 2012.
• Jointly presented poster entitled "Phytochemical screening & antimicrobial activity of aqueous & methanolic extract of young & mature leaves of Psidium guajava L. (Guava)" in International Conference on 'Current Trends in Medicinal Plant Research', organized by the Dept. of Botany, University of Pune, from 10th - 12th January 2012.
• Jointly presented paper entitled "Production of aflatoxin by Aspergillus flavus using freshly grated Coconut as a substrate" in National Seminar on 'Fungi & Health Care' organized by Dept. of Botany, Mithibai College from 6th - 7th January 2012.
• Presented paper entitled "Antifungal activity of essential oils extracted from selected spices against Malassezia furfur" in National Seminar on 'Fungi & Health Care' organized by Dept. of Botany, Mithibai College from 6th - 7th January 2012.
• Presented a poster entitled "Sodium fluoride induced alteration in dehydrogenase & acetyl cholinesterase activity in vital tissues of Poecilia reticulata Peters" at 'Research Meet-2011' jointly organized by Konark Group of Industries & Jai Hind College, Churchgate on 11th December 2011.
• Presented a poster entitled "Alteration in trace mineral content in muscle tissue of Guppy, Poecilia reticulata Peters on chronic exposure to Sodium fluoride" in UGC sponsored International Conference on Life Science, 'We all are one family of entire mother earth', organized by the Dept. of Life Sciences Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University & Paavan Education Trust, Gujarat from 10th - 13th November 2011.
• Presented paper entitled "Preliminary survey of Herpetofauna of Borivali Mangroves - A coastal belt in the suburbs of Mumbai" in UGC sponsored International Conference on Life Science 'We all are one family of entire mother earth', organized by the Dept. of Life Sciences Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University & Paavan Education Trust, Gujarat from 10th - 13th November 2011.
• Presented a poster entitled "Preliminary phytochemical & physicochemical analysis of Putranjiva roxburghii Wall. leaves" in National Conference on 'Role of Chemistry in Health & Diseases', organized by the Dept. of Chemistry, Mithibai College, Mumbai from 17th - 19th January 2011.
• Presented paper entitled, "In-vitro antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of leaves of Lannea coromandelica (Hout.) Merill. in National Conference on 'Role of Chemistry in Health & Diseases', organized by the Dept. of Chemistry, Mithibai College, Mumbai from 17th - 19th January 2011.
• Presented a poster entitled "Pharmacognostic standardization of leaves of Buchanania lanzan Spreng" in UGC, CSIR, Dept. of Earth Sciences, DBT & DST sponsored International Conference on 'Folk & Herbal Medicines', organized by the Dept. of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur from 25th - 27th November 2010.
• Presented paper entitled, "Effect of fluoride on histoarchitecture of liver & its repercussion on phosphatase & transaminase in Poecilia reticulata Peters", in UGC, CSIR, Dept. of Earth Sciences & MoEF sponsored National Conference on 'Present Scenario of Environmental Pollution & its Effect on Living Organisms', organized by the Dept. of Zoology, Govt. College of arts & Science, Aurangabad in collaboration with National Environmentalists Association from 9th - 11th December 2009.
• Presented poster entitled, "Length Weight Relationship & Relative Condition Factor of Coilia dussumieri (Cuv. & Val.) from neretic waters of Mumbai Coast", in 20th All India Congress of Zoology, National Seminar on 'Bioresources & its Management for food, livelihood & Environmental Security' & National Helminthological Congress organized by Central institute of Fisheries Education, Andheri on 29th - 30th December 2009.
• Presented poster entitled, "Biological Aspects of Gold Spotted Grenadier Anchovy Coilia dussumieri (Cuv. & Val.) off the Coast of Mumbai", in 20th All India Congress of Zoology, National seminar on Bioresources & its Management for food, livelihood & Environmental Security & National Helminthological Congress organized by Central institute of Fisheries Education, Andheri on 29th - 30th December 2009.
• Presented poster entitled, "Sodium fluoride induced changes in the embryonic protein profile of guppy, Poecilia reticulata Peters" at the International Conference on Advances in Biosciences: From Darwin to Dolly & Beyond…, organized by the Dept. of Zoology, Yeshwant Mahavidhyalaya, Nanded from 12th - 14th February 2009.
• Presented poster entitled, "Limnlogical assessment and phytoplankton diversity of a lentic habitat, Gaondevi talao at Malvani-Mumbai, India", in one-day Conference on 'Conservation & Management of Wetlands with Special Focus on Thane Creek', organized by Enviro-Vigil, Thane Municipal Corporation, Indian Association of Aquatic Biologists & Birla College on 2nd February 2008.
• Presented paper entitled, "Sodium fluoride induced teratogenic changes on the embryonic development of guppy, Poecilia reticulata Peters" at the National Conference on Environmental Pollution & Toxicology, organized by the Dept. of Zoology, Thakur College of Science & Commerce from 22nd - 23rd December 2006.
• Presented poster entitled, "Environmental Impact of Ganapati Idol Visarjan (Immersion) at Juhu Beach & Mahim Beach along the Mumbai Coast", in one day Seminar on BCUD sanctioned research project entitled organized by the University of Mumbai on 27th August 2003.
• Presented paper entitled "Effects of sub-lethal concentrations of synthetic detergent 'wheel' on certain biochemical aspects of freshwater mollusc, Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck)", at the National Conference on Environmental Biology organized by the Department of Biosciences, Saurashtra University from 17th - 18th October 2002.
• Presented paper entitled, "Physico-chemical characteristics of Juhu waters before & after Durga Pooja" at the National Workshop on Basic Sciences & Fisheries, organized by the society of Biosciences, Central Institute of Fisheries Education & Indian Fisheries Association held from 11th - 12th September 2001.
• Organizing Committee member of UGC sponsored National Seminar on Conservation of Natural Resources & Environment on 13th September 2015.
• Organizing (Technical) Committee member of 'Research Meet-2015' organized by Mithibai College from 15th - 16th January 2015.
• Organizing Committee member (Protocol and Creativity Committee and Sectional Assistant) in 102nd Indian Science Congress, hosted by University of Mumbai from 3rd - 7th January 2015.
• Attended one-day pre-amendment workshop on F.Y.B.Sc. (Revised syllabus) organized by Board of Studies in Zoology at Government of Maharashtra Ismail Yusuf College, on 14th November 2014.
• Organizing Committee member of International Conference on Emerging Trends & Challenges in Science & Technology at Bangkok, organized by International Society of Science & Technology & Bioinformatics from 3rd - 5th November 2014.
• Organizing Committee member of one-day workshop on 'An overview of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, wildlife crime scenario & illegal trade in wildlife', organized by Mithibai College as part of Wildlife Week-2014 on 7th October 2014.
• Attended two-days hands on training workshop on 'HPLC and HPTLC' organized by Dept. of Botany and Herbal Science under the aegis of Star College Scheme of UGC, Ramnarain Ruia College, Matunga on 4th - 5th February 2014.
• Sub-editor & Committee member of UGC sponsored National Conference on Concepts & New trends in Aerobiology & Allergy, organized by the Dept. of Botany & Zoology of Bhartiya Vidhya Bhavan's Hazarimal Somani College from 29th - 30th November 2013.
Delivered talk on Secret World of Creeping Beauties on 09.08.14 as an invited speaker for orientation programme of Nisarg Nature Club.
Ms Mansi Morakhia of T.Y.B.Sc. Class received an offer letter from Manchester Metropolitan University for Masters Programme in Food Safety.
Nishant Ravi Gupta was felicitated by Mithibai College for scoring 91.3% (highest in department) in T.Y.B.Sc. Examination 2014.
Ms Manisha Patel, Ms Pranali Karekar and Ms Nawal Bhati, F.Y.B.Sc. Zoology students won 2nd Prize in Exhibition of Working Models in "Research Meet-2015".
Ms Priya Singh, students of T.Y.B.Sc. Zoology bagged three Endowment Prizes for securing highest marks in Zoology, highest in Science faculty and overall highest in S.Y.B.Sc.
Mr. Amish Kulkarni bagged Endowment Prize as diligent student of the year 2013-14.
Chiranjeev Roy, student of S.Y.B.Sc. Class won 2nd prize in 'Nature Photography' at "Prakruti-Bhavans College Nature Fest". He won 3rd Prize in "Vrukshavalli" an Inter-Collegiate Competition for 'Best out of Waste'. He also won 3rd Prize in "Saptaparni" an Inter-Collegiate Competition for 'Bio-jewellery' & 'Bottle Garden'.


text:
Nocturne No. 20 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. posth.
By Frédéric Chopin - Charles Richard-Hamelin, Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal & Kent Nagano
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21: II. Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21: I. Maestoso
Impromptu No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 29
By Frédéric Chopin
Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58: I. Allegro maestoso
About Charles Richard-Hamelin
Canadian pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin studied piano with Paul Surdulescu, Sara Laimon, Boris Berman, and André Laplante. He attended McGill University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 2011, and Yale University, where he received his master's degree in 2013. He won awards at the Montreal International Musical Competition and the Seoul International Music Competition, and took the silver medal and the Krystian Zimerman Award for Best Performance of a Sonata at the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition. Richard-Hamelin has appeared as a soloist with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the Montréal Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, I Musici de Montréal, Les Violons du Roy, the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra, the Beethoven Academy Orchestra, l'Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, and the Korean Symphony Orchestra, among other ensembles. He has recorded for Analekta and the Fryderyk Chopin Institute. ~ Blair Sanderson


Projects, whether large or small, take a certain amount of work—but wouldn't it be better if there were tools designed specifically to make your projects easier? We have great news for you. These tools exist, and you shouldn't plan another project without trying out these awesome programs.
Free for limited use, with Standard plans charging $6.67 a user and Plus plans charging $12.50 per user. There also are custom Enterprise Grid plans that allow you to find the right amount of Slack services for your needs.
This breezy chat application offers intuitive group chats, team channels, and one-on-one chats—just like major social messaging apps.
Slack is a highly functional team instant messaging application that makes it easy for your team to remain connected and chat. With a web-based, desktop, and mobile app available, Slack is meant to fit the way your team works.
Your team can send one-on-one messages, start group chats, or join pre-established team channels, so it's easy to organize your Slack workspace as needed. Slack offers emojis, attachments, and integration with other common apps your team may use, like Google Drive.
Robust instant messaging features that are designed to boost your workflow and connectedness.
Quick messages or ongoing discussions that would clog up emails, keeping remote or distant team members involved, and offering another way to communicate.
Free plans are available for most users, with the Business Class starting at $9.99 per month when paid annually and Enterprise Class available starting at $20.83 per user per month.
Easy to use and flexible enough to cover many uses.
Trello uses a Kanban board-inspired system to create lists and cards for organizing just about anything you could imagine, from multi-team projects to your vacation plans. Cards can host attachments, be labeled, be assigned due dates and checklists, be commented on, and be moved between lists and boards. It's easy to create a task-tracking system that works well for your team. You can also enhance your boards with power-ups, such as calendar views and automated tasks.
At its core, Trello is a digital version of an index card and corkboard system, but with plenty of thoughtful touches, this system has been evolved to be a comprehensive, easy-to-use, shareable project management system. It also has an Android, iOS, and Kindle Fire app that syncs instantly with your team's boards, so you can keep up, even when you're on the go.
Task management, tracking, and providing a one-stop spot for your team to compile ideas and execute them.
Teams of all sizes looking for a flexible, visually appealing project management system to track, assign, and manage tasks.
Free with a Gmail account, up to 2GB. Business plans are available starting at $10 a user for G Suite, or $8 a user plus $0.04 per GB used for the Enterprise plan.
Easy to upload, organize, and share files since it's designed for teams.
Google drive offers secure, easy-to-use cloud storage options that work great for teams. Desktop and mobile apps make it easy to save and access stored files from anywhere. You can sync files automatically, so you'll never have to hunt for a file you've forgotten on another device. Your data is secured with Google's state-of-the-art encryption, but sharing is simple, and you can control who is able to edit, view, or comment on documents.
Google Drive also integrated seamlessly with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides so your team can enjoy a completely flexible and cloud-based office suite, or they can blend their preferred programs with the convenience Google Drive offers.
File sharing, secure cloud storage, automatic syncing across devices.
Staying connected and keeping files accessible, whether you need them on-the-go or want to share them with your team.
Limited free plan, with team plans starting at $250 per month when billed annually. Individual paid plans are available, ranging from $20 to $125 a month when paid annually.
Simple enough to get started, but it might take some experimenting to find what works best for you.
Zapier is designed to help automate hundreds of little tasks to make it easier to keep track of your workflow. It integrates hundreds of apps, and you can create "zaps," a specific action triggered by an event—like sending you an email to notify you of a change to a Trello board you use. You can link together apps and zaps in whatever way works best for you and your team—fantastic for making sure that the little details don't get overlooked.
The point of Zapier is to free up valuable mental energy by automating small tasks so you can focus on what's important.
Automation for small tasks to make your workflow simpler and better than ever before.
Freeing up your team's time to focus on bigger tasks, while ensuring that smaller tasks happen seamlessly in the background.
Free for up to 10 participants, and then $10 per month when billed annually for up to 100 participants.
Simple to use, whether you're organizing a call, dialing in, or even receiving a call to join a conference.
Created by Dialpad, UberConference is an easier way to handle conference calls. This unique system can dial out to add new members, offers custom call-in numbers, and makes it simple to organize a group conference call—without fiddly PINs or dialing issues. UberConference also integrates with an online app, so it is easy to share your screen with others on the call. This program also offers mobile apps, simple controls for volume of individual callers, social profiles of callers, and so much more.
Headache-free conference calls and screensharing options, so your team, clients, and partners can remain connected—no matter where they are.
Teams who need a comprehensive solution to Skype meetings or obnoxious conference calls.
Limited free trial plan, and options based on your social media and user needs. The Professional plan for 1 user starts at $29 a month, with Team prices at $129 a month for 3 users and Business plans at $599 for 5 to 10 users, as well as custom Enterprise plans.
Hootesuite is easy to use and makes juggling your social media needs simple and quick.
You can connect multiple social media platforms to Hootsuite, which can push out posts on a schedule, provide analytics on posts, monitor posts and notify you when they need attention, create workflows for your team, and integrate with more than 250 apps to make your social media efforts easier than ever before.
Quite simply—social media management, made easy.
Teams and entrepreneurs looking to up their social media marketing efforts, while making it easy to maintain and utilize social media to your brand's advantage.
You've got a lot on your plate as a business owner, but our team is here to help. Bell + Ivy is a unique marketing and public relations agency, dedicated to simplifying the challenges of getting your brand out there. Let us take care of your business's marketing needs, so you can focus on what matters—the success of your company.


Laura Nylen is passionate about instructional innovation in the classroom. Her past experiences include reading and math specialist, classroom teacher in K-6th grades, and Library Media Center Director. Laura holds a master's degree in Instructional Technology. Laura is currently an Instructional Technology Specialist at Indian Prairie School District 204 in Naperville, Illinois. Laura is a change agent and inspirational motivator who leads by empowering others.


In 1775 Alexander Hamilton wrote: "The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sun beam in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power." And the Declaration of Independence says: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights..." Both quotes from our Founding Fathers represent their firm belief in god-endowed rights. This dogmatic view is erroneous. It led to massive mistakes in the Constitution, and grave violations of individual rights throughout our existence as a nation. Millions of citizens now don't believe in god-given rights. They have realized that if god is a myth, then so are the rights he mythically installed in humans. This fantastic foundation for our nation has therefore cracked wide open, and it's crumbling before our eyes. Ayn Rand tried to fix the flaw. She looked away from god and toward individual human lives. She pointed toward an objective basis for man's rights, and thus for our nation. But most intellectuals have not followed in her footsteps. They have returned to more primitive foundations for nationhood, namely religion and race. If someone believes that rights come from a particular god, then logically their nation should be based on the religion of that particular god. And so we see Jews, Christians and Muslims at each other's throats, because each group is fundamentally, spiritually dissimilar, and therefore entirely incompatible with the other in terms of building or sustaining a nation of religionists who believe rights come from their particular god and faith. What if someone does not believe in a rights-endowing creator? What then should be the thing that unites a nation of people? If not a spiritual characteristic, like religious faith, then what about a physical characteristic, like race? Race, however, is a crude trait upon which to form a nation of intelligent people. So it must be conflated with some sort of culture. Logically that will end up being the culture most closely associated with the preferred race. And here we arrive at the notion of a nation founded on "ethnicity": the ethno-state. Here, rights do not originate from one's god, but from one's "ethnic" identity. The ethno-nationalist, like the religionist, represents a political misintegration of the physical and the spiritual. He seeks an integrated whole, but cannot objectively grasp the concept of individual rights by inducing it from the lives of individual men. Ethno-nationalists are biased toward the physical aspects of human life, whereas religionists are biased toward the spiritual. Finally there is the political globalist, who might see the problems with "ethnic" and religion-based nationalism, but who has no fix for the concept of individual rights. Ultimately he rejects individualism as fatally flawed, adopts a collectivist position regarding rights, and advocates something like worldwide communism. In my view, this must be worse than any nationalism, because it sacrifices the individual to all of humanity, whereas nationalism sacrifices the individual to a portion of humanity. Less total sacrificing will be required under nationalism, because there are less people in the group for whom one must sacrifice. Of course it makes little difference to the individual person whether he's sacrificed for globalism or nationalism, unless he supports one of those causes. While I think globalism is generally a bigger threat to civilization, this does not mean I support a religious or "ethnic" nationalism. Rather, a nation should be founded on the shared recognition of objectively identified rights in relation to the individual's natural life.
See: http://thedailyshow.cc.com/extended-interviews/b6364d/sarah-chayes-extended-interview In a couple of other threads where we have discussed taxation and terrorism, a recurring topic is the one revolving around the drivers of history (which in turn gives us insight into the future). Does religion create terrorism, or do terrorists (with other motives) use religion as a tool? Or a combination of both? I suggested that looking through the lens of philosophy is not actually very helpful, despite Ayn Rand's obvious bias in this regard. I instead suggested we look corruption as the driver of history (particularly modern-day history). A few days ago I watched the linked interview here from an author that clearly knows the Middle East extremely well. She explains the rise of terrorism (and terrorist regimes like Isis) better than I've ever seen anybody do so: she shows how corruption leads directly to terrorism. I have also said that reason is the cure--the only cure--for political corruption. I have always maintained that we Objectivists should be the guardians of reason and reality--making sure people know that facts are the basis of a better life and a more fair and effective government. it's our job to fight populism, and to stamp out superstition and other epistemological games corrupt power-brokers play to ply their trade. As an example, I have personally switched my own "political party bias" from Republican to Democrat in the last 20 years because I now see the former as the party of populism, blatant institutionalized (and celebrated) stupidity and unreason (and to be clear, it's a bias not an absolute sort of thing--and I bring up this point up only as an example). I see corruption as our enemy, not "taxes" or "regulations" per se (although both can be the fruits corruption). If we don't defend reason, nobody will. It should be our top priority.
Could religion be considered prosecutable child abuse?
In The God Delusion, Dawkins cites a man with a rather interesting opinion. He states that he doesn't actually endorse this opinion, but he rather presents it as something to think about. I can't remember the guy's name (and I don't have the book with me at the moment), but he believes that it should be illegal to teach religion to children who are too young to look at the arguments and make the decision for themselves. He considers it to be child abuse. He believe it should be illegal in church, school, and even at home, by the parents. I certainly understand his argument and I detest the way that children are brainwashed into religion. But there's still something about his argument that doesn't sit right with me. Discuss.
The utopians Plato (The Republic), Thomas Moore (Utopia), Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan), and Karl Marx (The Communist Manifesto) all lead to the Leftist tyranny of socialism. The "paradisists" Moses (Jewish bible), Jesus (Christian bible), Muhammad (Islamic bible), and Joseph Smith (Mormon bible) all lead to the Rightist tyranny of religion. Both groups of irrational idealists hope to deliver us all to a kind of ultimate end place -- a perfect society or Xanadu -- which is never going to happen. Their belief-systems are deeply foolish, naive, and ignorant. And their ideologies are also depraved, since even if you could visit their unreal utopia or paradise, you wouldn't ultimately want to live there. It would be a kind of living hell, unfit for normal, healthy, individualistic, struggling, ambitious, achieving, flawed, mortal, human beings. The utopians above cause physical slavery to the state, while the paradisians above cause mental slavery to "god." One false ideal results in a kind of vast social coercion and destruction of society. The other false ideal results in a kind of vast personal coercion and destruction of the individual. Both mistaken hopes and dreams result in universal self-sacrifice and self-destruction. Their false and evil moral code should probably be described as "the religio-socialist ethic" (not "the Judeo-Christian ethic"). Both families and categories of belief constitute nonsensicality and philosophy gone badly wrong. These massively untrue and immoral groups of ideologies need to be defeated thru the assiduous application of healthy, sound, proper philosophy. A philosophy which provides the hungry, needy Holy Individual with meaning, purpose, pleasure, exhilaration, and personal greatness in his life. And these two related, mistaken categories of ideology need to be defeated thru the Western liberal ideals of reason, individualism, and freedom. Reason will defeat monotheistic paradisism, freedom will defeat communist utopianism, and individualism will defeat both. Unfortunately, so far the champions of reason and philosophy haven't fully done their job. They haven't provided a guide to life with enough rich satisfaction and deep fulfillment to successfully defeat the utopians and paradisists.


text:
American Justice: John Lennon Assassination
(Manufactured on Demand)
Starring: John Lennon
Item #: ANE074739
Genre: Special Interest-Documentary
Distributor/Studio: A&E Home Video
Rank: 601205
American Justice: John Lennon Assassination on DVD
He was a troubled man whose boyhood fascination with one of the world's greatest stars turned into a psychotic obsession. The shots he fired spelled the end to whatever innocence was left in rock and roll. Mark David Chapman was one of John Lennon's biggest fans. Before he killed the iconoclastic superstar he made sure to get his autograph the last one Lennon ever signed. After he fired four shots from across the street as Lennon entered Manhattan's Dakota apartment building he waited calmly for police to arrest him. Six months later he was sentenced to 20 years to life. AMERICAN JUSTICE revisits the tragedy through interviews with many of the parties involved including Chapman's attorneys the arresting officer and in a rare taped interview from his cell Chapman himself. Forensic psychiatrists explore the twisted fantasy of Chapman's life where the line between celebrity worship and stalking blurred into in distinction. Dramatic footage of the crime scene and aftermath bring the incident to life and legal experts examine the possibility that Chapman will be freed he is eligible for parole in 2000. It's a comprehensive chronicle of the murder that stunned a generation.
Read Complete Description


text:
Home News Manufacturing
Land-swap, Jokowi's latest peat reform scheme, meets opposition from business groups
Indonesian President Joko Widodo's administration has issued a new policy that hopes to provide big oil palm and timber planters with lands elsewhere in the country, but the land-swap scheme has met strong opposition from business groups.
A staff member from Rainforest Action Network stands with members of Borneo's Sekonyer community on a freshly bulldozed portion of the natural forest where a peatland drainage canal was built for palm oil plantation expansion, 2010. Image: Rainforest Action Network, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
By Hans Nicholas Jong, Mongabay.com
Indonesia, a country known for its annual forest and peat fires, is overhauling its peatland management policies, an effort triggered by the great fires of 2015.
2015 was a turning point for the archipelago nation as it experienced one of its worst fire and haze episodes ever.
That year, the fires burned an area four times the size of Bali, affecting tens of millions of people and, according to the World Bank, wiping off $16 billion from Indonesia's GDP, more than double the damage and losses from the 2004 tsunami.
The root cause of the fires is the drainage of Indonesia's vast peat swamp zones by the palm oil and paper industries. Desiccated peat is highly flammable.
In the wake of the disaster, President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, declared a moratorium on new peatland conversion, even within existing concessions.
Last December, he cemented the moratorium via a presidential decree, which carries the weight of a law. The decree says the moratorium will remain in place until the government finishes mapping and zoning the nation's peatlands for conservation and production.
The decree has since been followed up by a series of implementing regulations issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, containing detailed instructions on how to comply.
People are saying that there's no more available land, it's not clear and there's no way to know when [the land swap process] will be finished. But the government has to be able to facilitate it.
Bambang Hendroyono, secretary general, Indonesian environment ministry
A series of follow-up regulations
In February, four ministerial regulations were issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The first one (PermenLHK No. 14/2017) provides guidelines for determining whether a peatland should be zoned for conservation or production.
The second one (PermenLHK No. 15/2017) provides guidelines for how to measure the water table in a peat landscape. The law forbids companies from letting the water table in their concessions drop below 40 centimeters, but there is some debate over where the water table should be measured from.
The third one (PermenLHK No. 16/2017) is a technical guide of peat ecosystem recovery for all stakeholders, such as the government, rural communities and the private sector.
The fourth one (PermenLHK No. 17/2017) concerns the development of timber plantations, which stipulates various obligations and compensations for pulp and paper companies. For instance, companies which concessions fall within conservation areas would be able to request substitution land.
Further, the ministerial regulations contain technical details of the moratorium enshrined in Jokowi's 2016 decree, which says companies can't plant on peat zoned for conservation.
Plantation firms already operating in conservation areas can see their crops through for the duration of their life cycle, after which they cannot replant the land, but are required to rewett the peat for conservation purposes.
Before starting the whole process, companies must submit their working plans based on Indonesia's peatland hydrological area map, which divides the country's peatland areas into two categories: conservation and production.
According to the map, which was recently completed by the ministry's environmental pollution and damage control directorate general, there should be 12.4 million hectares of conservation areas and 12.2 million hectares of production areas.
A company's working plan contains details of its operation map as well as its plans to recover its peat areas and convert back its concessions that fall within conservation areas to be used for conservation purposes.
"The recovery [of peat areas] can't be done if the working plans are not approved [by the ministry] because the plans are the companies' promises on where to recover each year," Bambang Hendroyono, the environment ministry's secretary general, said during a recent panel discussion in Jakarta. "Once the working plans are approved, the companies have to start the recovery process within six months."
According to Hendroyono, the ministry has identified 97 timber plantation firms that must rehabilitate peat in their concessions.
"All 97 firms have submitted their working plans and we have given them direction to revise their plans," he said. "As long as the working plans haven't matched [the requirements], we will keep chasing them until they follow the regulations."
Three of the 97 companies have had their working plans approved by the ministry. They are PT Dharma Hutani Makmur, PT Taiyoung Engreen and PT Hutan Ketapang Industri.
"Because their peat areas are small and they have met all requirements stipulated in the regulations without the need of land swap," Hendroyono said. "Furthermore, there are 23 companies which have received direction for improvement on their working plans. If they have met the requirements, then these 23 working plans can be approved."
Land-swap scheme
The ministry's most recent regulation is No. 40 (PermenLHK No. 40/2017) on a mechanism for land swaps, which outlines the requirement of timber planters to manage substitution land in their concessions.
Under the regulation, the government will substitute the land of timber plantation firms whose concession comprises at least 40 per cent protected peatland by the government's map.
Based on the map, there are 910,393 hectares of concession areas which located inside protected peat areas, and thus are required to be swapped with government-provided lands.
"People are saying that there's no more available land, it's not clear and there's no way to know when [the land swap process] will be finished. But the government has to be able to facilitate it," Hendroyono said. "We are promising the new lands to be ready in three months because we know where the empty lands are."
The government has located empty lands throughout Indonesia to be swapped. There are 300,390 hectares of land in Kalimantan, 281,195 hectares in Sumatra, 101,210 hectares in Maluku, 158,145 hectares in Papua, 60,515 hectares in Nusa Tenggara and 11,060 hectares in Sulawesi.
"These lands are located in former industrial forest concession areas that are not productive as well as areas which have been requested [by companies] but have no permit yet. In total, there are around 900,000 hectares of such lands," Hendroyono explained.
According to data from the ministry, there are 507,410 hectares of land that have been targeted for industrial forest purposes but have no permit yet, and thus can be used for the land-swap scheme.
"With the issuance of the land-swap regulation, what's been worried have been addressed. Now is only the matter of how to execute it," said Drasospolino, director of production forest management unit at the environment ministry.
"We are ready to wait for the working plans to be approved. And we are committed to prioritise open access areas for concession owners whose areas are located in protected peatlands. This is a part of our commitment so that the concerns that the industry's productivity will be affected won't happen."
This story was published with permission from Mongabay.com. Read the full story.


The company releases its latest Firebox X Edge series of security appliances saying it gives small businesses more flexibility and control over their network traffic.
It's not easy for small businesses to keep data networks secure. They face the same threats big enterprises do, but they often lack the resources to take on the complex task. That's why network security appliances can be a good alternative — they provide a raft of security services in one box that connects to your network.
WatchGuard, maker of the Firebox X Edge, offers a new line of appliances aimed at SMBs and companies with remote or branch offices: the Firebox X Edge e-Series. According to Steve Wampler, Watchguard's senior product manager, the new appliances build on the X series and offer new hardware across the product line, advanced networking, quality of service (QoS) support and compliance with European Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) requirements.
NAT: This feature lets the e-Series appliances support multiple IP addresses. That means the appliance can take incoming network traffic and then route it to multiple internal servers, each with their own internal IP address. "This feature helps protect your company PCs from Internet threats, and it gives you control and flexibility about how you route your network traffic," said Wampler.
He also said the NAT capability lets you grant controlled access to vendors, customers or suppliers without letting them see or access the rest of your company network.
QoS: This feature lets you decide which of your Internet-based applications receive priority over the network. For example, if you have a VoIP phone system, you'd want VoIP traffic to go through first before say, downloading e-mail in order to avoid degradation in the sound quality. If you're a retailer, you might want to prioritize point-of-sale traffic over e-mail.
Wampler notes that you can pre-determine the amount of bandwidth you allocate to each application. "What's different about the e-Series, " he said, "is that you can manage the bandwidth. Any bandwidth that's not currently in use moves over to assist with other types of network traffic. If the phones aren't in use, the bandwidth moves to speed up e-mail traffic until the phone become active again."
The Firebox X Edge e-Series is designed to make network security easier and more flexible for small businesses and remote or branch offices.
WatchGuard System Manager: Available on the Core and Peak versions, the software is designed to centrally manage VPNs, distribute policy and firmware updates and configure multiple Firebox X Edge appliances. Wampler said the software also lets you set unified security policies across the entire network and create branch or remote office VPN tunnels in three steps.
RoHS: The Restriction of Hazardous Substances is an environmental requirement now in effect in Europe. Wampler said the e-Series meets those requirements, making it a greener, more environmentally friendly product.
The e-Series includes content filtering and supports 100 Mbps firewall and 35 Mbps VPN — the price range is based on the number of users each appliance can support. Pricing for the wired Firebox X Edge starts at $480 while the starting price for the wireless Firebox X Edge is $580.


On Good Friday, the church in somber remembrance celebrates the trial, crucifixion, and death of Jesus on the cross. For followers of Jesus, Good Friday isn't just a commemoration of a historical event. Rather, it is rememberance, even a reveling in Jesus' sacrificial life and death on our behalf. In it, we remember that our King gave himself for our benefit; we remember that the scorn, mockery, pain, suffering, and grotesque death that we deserved because of our sins was taken upon the life of King Jesus instead.
Join us for a time of worship, remembrance, and the taking of communion.