Retirement often involves a shift from employment income to income derived from a combination of your retirement savings (investments inside and/or outside of superannuation) and potential Age Pension entitlements.
In a nutshell, it's these sources of income that help you to fund your retirement lifestyle.
Consequently, for many of us, retirement age is often guided by the rules relating to the accessibility of certain sources of income.
Superannuation can be a powerful investment structure for wealth accumulators and retirees alike, considering its tax-effectiveness and the benefits of compounding (which is often applied over an extended period).
In the superannuation environment, there is a term called 'Benefit Payment Standards'. This term encompasses the conditions of release in which you are eligible to access your superannuation and the cashing restrictions that apply, i.e. whether your benefits can be paid as a lump sum, pension or both.
No cashing restrictions, benefits can be paid as a lump sum, pension or both.
No cashing restrictions, benefits accrued up until the date of termination can be paid as a lump sum, pension or both; however, new contributions or growth on balance after this date will be preserved until another condition of release is met, such as attaining age 65.
You must cease gainful employment, and your superannuation trustee must be satisfied that you do not intend to be gainfully employed (on a part or full-time basis) ever again.
There are cashing restrictions. You could commence a 'transition to retirement' pension, where your maximum income each year cannot exceed 10% of your account balance, and you cannot withdraw a lump sum – these cashing restrictions apply until another condition of release is met that has no cashing restrictions.
Tax considerations – if you access superannuation prior to age 60 there may be tax payable on lump sums and income payments (i.e. received from retirement or transition phase pensions).
Longevity risk considerations – the earlier you start to access your superannuation, the longer the potential period it needs to last. In conjunction with this, the benefits of compounding are also reduced. Consequently, whilst you may satisfy a condition of release prior to age 65 for example, it's important to consider whether taking up this option aligns with your financial goals and objectives – this also relates to those wishing to retire prior to satisfying a condition of release.
The Government pays an income support payment, the Age Pension, to senior Australians who meet eligibility tests with regards to age, residency, income and assets.
Briefly, the overall aim of the Age Pension is to ensure senior Australians can meet basic lifestyle expenses. To put this in perspective, utilising ASFA's Retirement Standard, the base pension rate of the Age Pension provides singles and couples with income that allows them to maintain a lifestyle just below a modest lifestyle in retirement.
The maximum total pension rate (including Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement) differs according to whether you are single (currently $907.60 per fortnight) or a member of a couple (currently $684.10 per fortnight each). However: if a couple is separated due to illness, they are each entitled to the single rate.
Generally speaking, to meet the residency test for the Age Pension, you need to be an Australian resident, and have been so for at least 10 years in total. Furthermore, for at least five of these years, there must have been no break in your residence. However, there may be some exemptions to this, for example, if you were a refugee or former refugee.
10 years of continuous Australian residence, and not have been an activity tested income support payment recipient for a five-year cumulative period.
Before we dive into the details with these two tests, it's important to highlight that the rate of payment of the Age Pension is calculated under both the income test and the assets test, with the test that results in the lower rate (or nil rate) being applied.
Please note: If you receive less than the base pension rate, you may be entitled to the Pensions Loans Scheme; and, in the income test and the assets test listed below we have not included the transitional arrangements that may apply to some pensioners that received the Age Pension prior to 20 September 2009 (and continue to do so).
*Some assets are deemed to earn income, whilst there are special rules for other types of income. Furthermore, the Work Bonus may be applicable if you are earning income from employment.
^Income over these amounts reduces the rate of pension payable by 50 cents in the dollar (single), 25 cents in the dollar each (for couples).
#These amounts may be higher if Rent Assistance is paid with your pension.
*Some assets are deemed to earn income, while certain assets are not included (e.g. generally your principal home is exempt) in the assets test.
^Assets over these amounts reduce pension by $3 per fortnight for every $1,000 above the amount (single and couple combined).
If there is anything in this article that you would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to contact us.


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eBooks "at the last trump"
Es wurden 39274 eBooks für den Suchbegriff "at the last trump" gefunden.
Alfred Eugene, Pearl THE GATES OF HELL
The Strong Delusion of the Last Days
"The Gates of Hell" exposes the "Strong Delusion" of the last days by exploring the end-times prophecies of the book of Revelation. [mehr][weniger]
Stichwörter: last days, end times, Bible prophecy, end of the age, ages, prophecy, Revelation, God's throne, Strong Delusion, Satan's kingdom, prince of this world, Yahshua, YHVH, Yahweh, Joshua, Jericho, trumpet judgments, four horsemen of the apocalypse, Apocalypse, first seal, second seal, third seal, fourth seal, fifth seal, sixth seal, last trump, twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, rapture, first resurrection, resurrection, second coming, return of Christ, millennium, milenium, reign of Christ, Jesus, wonder in heaven, moon under her feet, green horse, pale horse, white horse, red horse, black horse, balance, scale, crown was given unto him, jericho, Joshua, hurt not the oil, oil and the wine, equilibrium, alternative view of prophecy, generation shall not pass, fulfilled prophecy, William Blackstone, parable, church, gates of hell, 501(c)(3), the lie, a lie, believe a lie, deceived, true christian, truth, true christianity, world domination ideology, world domination ideologies, King of the Jews, mystery in iniquity, antichrist, moneychangers, Caesar, Genesis 49, man ox eagle lion, Abrahamic model, generation shall not pass, tribulation, holocaust, saints, when the saints come marching in, 144 thousand, ice canopy, vapor canopy, Hovind theory, Nimrod, tower of babel, Babylon, flood of Noah, history of the bible, man of sin, Hitler [mehr][weniger]
Charles Kingsley At Last
156112 Wörter
At Last We, Too, Were Crossing The Atlantic. At Last The Dream Of Forty Years, Please God, Would Be Fulfilled, And I Should See (And Happily, Not Alone) The West Indies And The Spanish Main. From Childhood I Had Studied Their Natural History, Their Charts, Their Romances, And Alas! Their Tragedies; And Now, At Last, I Was About To Compare Books With Facts, And Judge For Myself Of The Reported Wonders Of The Earthly Paradise. We Could Scarce Believe The Evidence Of Our Own Senses When They Told Us That We Were Surely On Board A West Indian Steamer, And Could By No Possibility Get Off It Again, Save Into The Ocean, Or On The Farther Side Of The Ocean; And It Was Not Till The Morning Of The Second Day, The 3d Of December, That We Began To Be Thoroughly Aware That We Were On The Old Route Of Westward-Ho, And Far Out In The High Seas, While The Old World Lay Behind Us Like A Dream. [mehr][weniger]
A Christmas In The West Indies
Charles Kingsley (12 June 1819 – 23 January 1875) was a priest of the Church of England, a university professor, historian and novelist. He is particularly associated with the West Country and northeast Hampshire. He was a friend and correspondent with Charles Darwin.[1] [mehr][weniger]
Charles Kingsley (12 June 1819 – 23 January 1875) was a priest of the Church of England, a university professor, historian and novelist. He is particularly associated with the West Country and northeast Hampshire. He was a friend and correspondent with Charles Darwin. [mehr][weniger]
N. Barry Carver At Long Last Sooth
After the tale you know and before it became famous, the truth was hidden about its ending. Truth is here revealed... to those who seek it. [mehr][weniger]
j2006kidafrancis Free at last!
She pulled the trigger and ran.He fell to the ground dead.
Hintajax love at last
a girl at school meets a guy and doesent know she has a crush on him please read i will wright more later [mehr][weniger]
Oiseoje Abode FREE AT LAST
the lamentation of the unborn
This book, "Free At Last", is based on a poem I wrote, titled, "Free At Last". It is a personal reflection of the ordeal an unborn baby passes through before it is born. It is also an eye opener to the fact that as long as a zygote is formed, life begins. It is therefore a crime to abort an already growing "seed". Happy reading! [mehr][weniger]
Stichwörter: Seed, Damian, Clara, Soil, Light
zzmbrashear Together At Last
Poor Sarah has grown up with out parents and had a horrible relationship, until one day she kicks him out to find out weeks later she is pregnant. [mehr][weniger]
Stichwörter: Love, Fiction, Romance, Sad
WALTER BESANT IN LUCK AT LAST
Sir Walter Besant (14 August 1836 – 9 June 1901), was a novelist and historian. William Henry Besant was his brother, and another brother, Frank, gave his name to Annie Besant.The son of a merchant, he was born at Portsmouth, Hampshire and attended school at St Paul's, Southsea, Stockwell Grammar, London and King's College London. [mehr][weniger]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


HE SETS FIRE TO A BUILDING OWNED BY HIM IN ARN-PRIOR, ONTARIO--HIS ESCAPE TO THIS COUNTRY AND SUBSEQUENT ARREST.
On the night of Aug. 4, 1876, a fire broke out in a house in process of construction in Arn-Prior, Renfrew County, Ontario, owned by Allan James Simpson, a carpenter, who had been a resident of the village for several years. The building was burned down and the flames communicated to the adjoining premises, and before the villagers could check the progress of the fire a most disastrous conflagration ensued, resulting in the destruction of 24 of the best residences in the village. An investigation convinced the authorities that the fire was of incendiary origin, and as Simpson and his family disappeared immediately after the fire, suspicion naturally attached to him as the incendiary. Search was made for him by the Canadian detectives, but proved unsuccessful. About two weeks ago a letter was received from Simpson by the agents of the insurance company in which his property was insured, inclosing a claim be speedily settled. This letter was addressed from No. 615 West Forty-eighth street in this City, and was the first clue the authorities obtained to his whereabouts. A warrant was at once procured for his arrest, and Detective Cinq-Mars of the Dominion Police came to this City in search of him. Calling on Superintendent Walling for aid, Detective King, of the Central Office, was detailed to assist him. The officers went to No. 615 West Forty-eighth street, and found that Simpson did not live there, but the detectives learned that his letters were received there, and thence forwarded to No. 218 West Twentieth street. Simpson was found at the latter place, living with his wife and family. He was arrested, and yesterday morning was arraigned before Justice Murray at the Essex Market Police Court. Detective Cinq-Mars produces the warrants which had been issued for the arrest of Simpson. The prisoner admitted that he was the person named in the warrant, and waiving all formalities, expressed his willingness to return to Canada with the officer and stand trial. Justice Murray thereupon indorsed the warrant, and the prisoner was delivered into the custody of Detective Cinq-Mars, who left the City on the evening train with his prisoner.


Climb one of the highest active volcanoes in the world at 5897 m! Due to its perfectly symmetrical cone, covered in a thick blanket of snow and ice, the Cotopaxi is one of the tourist highlights in Ecuador and it's most visited and climbed volcano. The climb to the summit occurs during the night; this allows watching the sunrise from the summit and displays unsurpassed views of Quito to the North and Chimboroazo and Tungurahua to the south. At the top you have a magnificent view into the snow capped crater where it is possible to see steam emissions. The ascent departs from the refuge at 4800m normally * (the refuge is currently under renovation, scheduled to open in December, base camp now is at 3,800 m) and climbs through a mixture of volcanic sand, snow, and glacier to the summit. Although the climb is not classified as technically difficult, it is absolutely necessary to go with professional guides and specialized glacier hiking equipment like ropes, ice-axes and crampons.The climber must be in good physical condition and must already have had a good acclimatization. The ascent takes between 6-8 hours while the descent takes 3-4 hours.
Departure from Quito at 9 am in private transportation to the Cotopaxi National Park. After a 2 -2 ½-hours-drive south you arrive at the parking lot of the refuge in the Cotopaxi National Park at 4500 m. * (Refuge is currently under renovation, scheduled to open in December. Base camp is now at 3,800 m. So no practice on the glacier just hiking nearby. )From there you hike up for about one hour to the Jose Rivas Refuge at 4800m. After lunch, you do some climbing exercises on the glaciers nearby. Back to the refuge you will have dinner and then rest until midnight.
***Current adjustment in program, means you get up at 10pm for breakfast, drive for 25 minutes then begin your push to the summit.*** Other program with stay in the refuge should start again in December 2014.
You get up at midnight, have breakfast and get ready for the climb. Around 1:00am you leave the refuge. As soon as you reach the glacier, you put on crampons and rope up in teams. Each guide will take one or two persons. If all goes well, you reach the summit a 5897 m between 6:00am and 8:00am. The return to the refuge takes about 3 hours. When all groups have returned, you leave for Quito. Return around 1 to 2 pm.
Departure from Quito at 8 am in private transportation to the Cotopaxi National Park. After a 2 ½ – hours-drive south you arrive the campsite, where you will stay the first night 3800 m. After setting up the tents and lunch you hike up the Ruminahui, a mountain situated close to the Cotopaxi in the National Park. The climb takes about 5 to 6 up to 4712 m and you will get recompensed for your effort with stunning views at the volcanoes Cotopaxi and Sinchilagua. After returning to the campsite you have dinner and time to rest.
After breakfast you drive up to the parking lot of the Cotopaxi refuge at 4500m. From there you hike up for about one hour to the Jose Rivas Refuge at 4800m. After lunch, you do some climbing exercises on the glaciers nearby. Back to the base camp you will have dinner and then rest until 1opm.
***Current adjustment in program, means you get up at 10pm for breakfast, drive for 25 minutes then begin your push to the summit. Last meal for the program so make sure you eat, you'll need the energy *** Other program with stay in the refuge should start again in December 2014. You get up at midnight, have breakfast and get ready for the climb. Around 1:00am you leave the refuge. As soon as you reach the glacier, you put on crampons and rope up in teams. Each guide will take one or two persons. If all goes well, you reach the summit a 5897 m between 6:00am and 8:00am. The return to the refuge takes about 3 hours. When all groups have returned, you leave for Quito. Return around 1 to 2 pm.


Urbanisation goes hand in hand with an increase in mental disorders, including addiction. The metropolitan environment is associated with great cultural diversity, low socio-economic status of a large number of people, social mobility and lack of social control. These urban characteristics have an effect on the occurrence and the course of mental disorders.
Conversely, patients with severe mental illness are an integral part of the city street view. Often this group causes public nuisance through criminal offences, begging or otherwise deviant behaviour. At the same time, these patients do not explicitly present themselves for help, which limits the possibilities of effective interventions.
1. Monitoring service use and treatment outcome. Service use is evaluated by investigating trends in the use of different types of compulsory measures and routine outcome monitoring.
2. Reduction of the use of involuntary care. Studies are aimed at prevention of compulsory measures by means of risk assessment, risk management, and tailor maid care arrangements that contribute to continuity of care.
3. Strengthening treatment engagement in severe mentally ill patients. Impaired awareness of illness and lack of social support prevent severely mentally ill patients from influencing their care plan.
Approximately 45% of all Dutch persons experience one form of domestic violence (DV) during their life time (1). Domestic violence can be defined as 'any incident of threatening behavior, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been an intimate partner, family member, friend or otherwise closely involved. Recent studies have found a high prevalence of domestic violence among female and male psychiatric patients (2).
Results from the Dutch nationwide study on victimization in psychiatric patients suggest a 6- fold increase of domestic violence in severe mental illness patients as compared to the general population (3). Domestic violence is associated with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction and psychosis. Despite the numbers mentioned before, domestic violence in psychiatric patients is often not detected. Only around 10-30% of cases are detected by psychiatric service providers. As was shown in a systematic review of controlled studies, identification of victims of DV by health care professionals can increase by training and organizational change within health care systems. With the BRAVE (Better Reduction through Assessment of Violence and Evaluation) intervention we aim to train and educate professionals in health care on domestic violence. We also set up a referral pathway to specialized services in domestic violence. We hope to improve detection and referral rates of domestic violence and eventually reduce victimization of psychiatric patients.
The BRAVE study is a cluster randomized controlled trial investigating detection- and referral rate of domestic violence in psychiatric patients from professionals working in FACT (Functional Assertive Community Treatment) teams. FACT teams are teams specialized in outreaching health care and municipal health service teams (GGD Rijnmond) specializing in domestic violence. All FACT- and GGD teams operating in Rotterdam and around are eligible for inclusion. FACT teams serve approximately 200-250 patients with severe mental illness. A FACT team consists of a psychiatrist, psychologist, social psychiatric nurses and social workers. The teams at the Muncipal Health Service have persons working who are specialized in domestic violence and provide their services for people living in Rotterdam and surroundings. The intervention consists of a training for FACT teams in domestic violence and setting up a referral pathway for referrals back and forth between teams at the GGD specializing in domestic violence and FACT teams. The teams at the GGD will receive education and training about psychiatric patients.
This cluster randomized controlled trial assesses the number of detected cases of DV amongst psychiatric patients of FACT teams in the intervention condition in comparison with FACT teams providing care as usual. We expect that teams in the intervention condition will detect more cases of DV, that patients will get referred to the GGD Rijnmond teams faster and that they'll receive more often care targeting domestic violence. We hope that, in time, with this intervention the risk of domestic violence against psychiatric patients will decrease and that the burden for psychiatric patients being victimized by domestic violence also will decrease.
1. Dijk Tv, Flight, S., Oppenhuis, E. En Duesmann, B. . Huiselijk geweld: aard, omvang en hulpverlening; 1997.
2. Oram S TK, Feder G et al. Prevalence of experiences of domestic violence among psychiatric patients: systematic review. The British Journal of Psychiatry 2013;202:94-9.
3. Kamperman AM, Henrichs J, Bogaerts S, Lesaffre EMEH, Wierdsma AI, Ghauharali RRR, Swildens W, Nijssen Y, van der Gaag M, Theunissen JR, Delespaul PA, van Weeghel J, van Busschbach JT, Kroon H, Teplin LA, van de Mheen D, Mulder CL. Criminal Victimisation in People with Severe Mental Illness: A Multi-Site Prevalence and Incidence Survey in the Netherlands. Plos One 2014;9.
This open label randomized controlled trial compares penfluridol and second generation oral neuroleptics (olanzapine, risperidone) for their effects on adherence, measured as time to all-cause discontinuation (primary outcome variable) and for their effects on health related costs and Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY's). Other outcome variables are the reason for treatment discontinuation, efficacy, safety and tolerability, drug attitude, subjective well-being, and insight.
Compliance problems are present in 40-75% of psychotic disorder patients. Penfluridol (acemap) is the only long acting neuroleptic today that can be taken orally once a week for the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Other oral antipsychotic drugs, including olanzapine and risperidone, have to be taken daily. Since penfluridol can be taken once weekly, we expect better compliance as compared to olanzapine and risperidone. Better compliance may be associated with less relapses, better quality of life, less crises and less or shorter hospitalisations, leading to lower costs. There have been no studies comparing penfluridol and second generation neuroleptics. Given the absence of evidence on these matters, penfluridol is not recommended in any guidelines on psychiatric treatment of psychosis, although compliance and outcome may be better and costs may be lower. We hypothesize that there will be significant differences in the overall effectiveness of penfluridol, olanzapine and risperidone that reflect variations in efficacy, safety and tolerability, and costs. We hypothesize that penfluridol as compared to oral second generation neuroleptics (olanzapine and risperidone), will show better compliance (primary outcome) and therefore lower healthcare costs.
The primary aim of this multicentre study is to determine the time to all-cause discontinuation of penfluridol (acemap) as compared to second-generation oral neuroleptics (olanzapine, risperidone), using an open label randomized controlled trial design in 180 patients. The secondary objectives are to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis and a budget impact analysis to determine the cost-effectiveness of penfluridol and to estimate the impact of penfluridol on the national budget for healthcare. Other study parameters include the reason for treatment discontinuation, efficacy, safety and tolerability, drug attitude, subjective well-being, and insight. We will explore how these covariates affect the outcome of our primary analysis. Adult patients with psychotic disorder are allocated in three groups; (a) penfluridol orally once weekly, (b) olanzapine orally once daily, and (c) risperidone orally once daily. Medication is prescribed by the treating psychiatrist, according to current conventional care. At baseline, three and twelve month follow-up information about all parameters will be collected by independent raters. At 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks and 6, 9 and 12 months, information about adherence will be collected from the participating centers.
The primary parameter adherence will be measured as time to all-cause medication discontinuation. Medication discontinuation will be measured by two objective and one subjective measurement. In this study we will be using two objective and one subjective scale for measuring adherence. Pill count in the healthcare setting, medication blood levels and the Brief Adherence Rating Scale will be used to determine adherence as measured by all-cause medication discontinuation rates. The secondary analyses will consist of a cost-effectiveness analysis and a budget impact analysis. These analyses will be carried out by the institute of Medical Technology Assessment (iMTA) of the Erasmus University, Rotterdam.
Randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of assertive community treatment for the elderly with those of care as usual. Primary outcome measures will be the number of dropouts, the number of patients engaged in care and patient′s psychiatric symptoms, somatic symptoms, and social functioning.
Adults aged 65 and older with severe mental illnesses are a growing segment of the Dutch population. Some of them have a range of serious problems and are also difficult to engage. While assertive community treatment is a common model for treating difficult to engage severe mental illnesses patients, no special form of it is available for the elderly. A special assertive community treatment team for the elderly is developed in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and tested for its effectiveness.
We will use a randomized controlled trial design to compare the effects of assertive community treatment for the elderly with those of care as usual. Primary outcome measures will be the number of dropouts, the number of patients engaged in care and patient′s psychiatric symptoms, somatic symptoms, and social functioning. Secondary outcome measures are the number of unmet needs, the subjective quality of life and patients′ satisfaction. Other secondary outcomes include the number of crisis contacts, rates of voluntary and involuntary admission, and length of stay. Inclusion criteria are aged 65 plus, the presence of a mental disorder, a lack of motivation for treatment and at least four suspected problems with functioning (addiction, somatic problems, daily living activities, housing etc.). If patients meet the inclusion criteria, they will be randomly allocated to either assertive community treatment for the elderly or care as usual. Trained assessors will use mainly observational instruments at the following time points: at baseline, after 9 and 18 months.
This study will help establish whether assertive community treatment for the elderly produces better results than care as usual in elderly people with severe mental illnesses who are difficult to engage. When assertive community treatment for the elderly proves valuable in these respects, it can be tested and implemented more widely, and mechanisms for its effects investigated.
Randomised controlled trial with two intervention groups and one control condition. Both interventions consist of a crisis plan, facilitated through the patient′s advocate or the clinician respectively. Primary outcomes are the number of emergency (after hour) visits, (involuntary) admissions and the length of stay in hospital.
Crises and (involuntary) admissions have a strong impact on patients and their caregivers. In some countries, including the Netherlands, the number of crises and (involuntary) admissions have increased in the last years. There is also a lack of effective interventions to prevent their occurrence. Previous research has shown that a form of psychiatric advance statement – joint crisis plan – may prevent involuntary admissions, but another study showed no significant results for another form. The question remains which form of psychiatric advance statement may help to prevent crisis situations. This study examines the effects of two other psychiatric advance statements. The first is created by the patient with help from a patient′s advocate (Patient Advocate Crisis Plan: PACP) and the second with the help of a clinician only (Clinician facilitated Crisis Plan: CCP). We investigate whether patients with a PACP or CCP show fewer emergency visits and (involuntary) admissions as compared to patients without a psychiatric advance statement. Furthermore, this study seeks to identify possible mechanisms responsible for the effects of a PACP or a CCP.
This study is a randomised controlled trial with two intervention groups and one control condition. Both interventions consist of a crisis plan, facilitated through the patient′s advocate or the clinician respectively. Outpatients with psychotic or bipolar disorders, who experienced at least one psychiatric crisis during the previous two years, are randomly allocated to one of the three groups. Primary outcomes are the number of emergency (after hour) visits, (involuntary) admissions and the length of stay in hospital. Secondary outcomes include psychosocial functioning and treatment satisfaction. The possible mediator variables of the effects of the crisis plans are investigated by assessing the patient′s involvement in the creation of the crisis plan, working alliance, insight into illness, recovery style, social support, locus of control, service engagement and coping with crises situations. The interviews take place before randomisation, nine month later and finally eighteen months after randomisation.
This study examines the effects of two types of crisis plans. In addition, the results offer an understanding of the way these advance statements work and whether it is more effective to include a patients′ advocate in the process of creating a psychiatric advance statement. These statements may be an intervention to prevent crises and the use of compulsion in mental health care. The strength and limitations of this study are discussed.
Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials NTR2968.
The Motivation and Treatment Engagement Intervention Trial (MotivaTe-IT) is a multi-center cluster randomized trial investigating the effectiveness of feedback generated by clinicians regarding their patients′ treatment motivation upon the patients′ TE. The primary outcome is the patients′ treatment engagement.
Treatment disengagement and non-completion poses a major problem for the successful treatment of patients with severe mental illness. Motivation for treatment has long been proposed as a major determinant of treatment engagement, but exact mechanisms remain unclear. This current study serves three purposes: 1) to determine whether a feedback intervention based on the patients′ motivation for treatment is effective at improving treatment engagement (TE) of severe mentally ill patients in outpatient psychiatric treatment, 2) to gather insight into motivational processes and possible mechanisms regarding treatment motivation (TM) and TE in this patient population and 3) to determine which of three theories of motivation is most plausible for the dynamics of TM and TE in this population.
168 patients will be randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 84), receiving a financial reward for each accepted antipsychotic medication depot, or to the control group (n = 84), receiving treatment as usual without financial rewards. The intervention has a duration of twelve months. During the subsequent six months follow-up, the effects of discontinuing the intervention on depot acceptance will be monitored. The primary goal of this study is to assess the effectiveness of providing financial inceptives in improving adherence with antipsychotic depot medication (during and after the intervention). Our primary outcome measure will therefore be the number (percentage) of accepted depots. Secondary however, we will consider alternative measures of medication acceptance, i.e. the longest period of uninterrupted depot acceptance and the time expired before depot is taken. Additionally, the effectiveness of this intervention will be considered in terms of psychosocial functioning, substance use, side-effects, quality of life, and cost-utility, and we will assess patients and clinicians attitudes towards M4M.
This RCT assesses the effectiveness and side-effects of financial incentives in improving adherence with antipsychotic depot medication in patients with psychotic disorders. This study is designed not only to assess whether M4M is an effective intervention to improve patients' acceptance of their antipsychotic depot medication, but to assess how this intervention can contribute to patients functioning and wellbeing as well.
Patients will be randomly assigned to the experimental group receiving a financial reward for each accepted antipsychotic medication depot, or to the control group receiving treatment as usual without financial rewards. The primary goal of this study is to assess the effectiveness of providing financial inceptives in improving adherence with antipsychotic depot medication.
Non-adherence with antipsychotic medication is a frequently occurring problem, particularly among patients with psychotic disorders and co-morbid substance abuse. Prior research has shown encouraging results for interventions based on 'Contingency Management', where desirable behaviour is encouraged by providing rewards contingent upon the behaviour. However, little research has been done on the effectiveness of contingency management on medication adherence in patients with psychotic disorders. An earlier pilot-study by our study group showed promising results in reducing admission days and increasing adherence. The current study is a randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of a contingency management procedure called 'Money for Medication' (M4M), in improving adherence with antipsychotic depot medication in patients with psychotic disorders through financial rewards.
The Motivation and Treatment Engagement Intervention Trial (MotivaTe-IT) is a multi-center cluster randomized trial investigating the effectiveness of feedback generated by clinicians regarding their patients' treatment motivation upon the patients' TE. The primary outcome is the patients' TE. Secondary outcomes are TM, psychosocial functioning and quality of life. Patients whose clinicians generate monthly motivation feedback (additional to treatment as usual) will be compared to patients who receive treatment as usual. An estimated 350 patients, aged 18 to 65 years, with psychotic disorders and/or severe personality disorders will be recruited from outpatient community mental health care. The randomization will be performed by a computerized randomization program, with an allocation ratio of 1:1 (team vs. team or clinician vs. clinician) and patients, but not clinicians, will be blind to treatment allocation at baseline assessment. Due to the nature of the trial, follow-up assessment cannot be blinded.
The current study can provide important insights regarding motivational processes and the way in which motivation influences the treatment engagement and clinical outcomes. The identification of possible mechanisms through which changes in the outcomes occur, offers a tool for the development of more effective future interventions to improve TM and TE.
Trial registration: NL 20120502 CTA (EudraCt) CCMO protocol id: NL40553.078.12 METC: MEC-2012-273.
In the Vitamin D Intensive Outreach (ViDIO) stydy participants with vitamin D deficiencies of <50 nmol/L serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) are randomly allocated to one of two different strategies (VIDIO and CAU) of vitamin D supplementation. Primary outcomes are serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Prevalences of vitamin D and B1 deficiencies will be described.
Decreased bioavailability of vitamins may be due to inadequate dietary sources, lower intestinal absorption and/or liver dysfunction. Muscular weakness and wasting is frequently found in chronic alcoholism and might be related to severe vitamin D hypovitaminosis. Alcohol-related osteoporosis responded well to vitamin D therapy. In alcoholic myopathy, however, a clear understanding of the role of vitamin D is currently lacking.
Participants are community-dwelling adults with a history of alcohol use and who are at risk of multiple vitamin deficiencies. Firstly, we seek to identify possible mediating variables of vitamin D status, by assessing baseline characteristics, liver function and other laboratory findings, help-seeking behaviour, social support, and service engagement. Secondly, participants with vitamin D deficiencies of <50 nmol/L serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) are randomly allocated to one of two different strategies (VIDIO and CAU) of vitamin D supplementation.
VIDIO: Vitamin D Intensive Outreach includes a cholecalciferol loading dose, if applicable, and subsequent bimonthly high-dose cholecalciferol through an outreach approach of the Street Doctor Service in Rotterdam. CAU: Care As Usual includes daily prescriptions of cholecalciferol 800 IU, available in combination with calcium carbonate. The VIDIO intervention is based upon general principles to enhance medication compliance for successful treatment, disease prevention, and health promotion, by means of a simple medication regime in one-on-one patient contacts. We hypothesise that vitamin D supplementation may be more effective on vitamin D levels and muscle performance when given through VIDIO, rather than CAU depending upon medication prescriptions and medication compliance of the participants. Primary outcomes are serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Secondary outcomes include the participants' quadriceps maximal voluntary contractions, gait and balance abilities, results of cognitive screening, and a health-related quality of life evaluation. Prevalences of vitamin D and B1 deficiencies will be described.
Comparison between the two strategies of vitamin D therapy and serum 25(OH)D levels provides insight in the effectiveness of the interventions. Progress in muscle strength in the VIDIO intervention reflects an effect of vitamin D. Possible associations between results of cognitive screening and vitamin D or B1 deficiencies are discussed.


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School test scores show how students struggled because of COVID
Meredith Willse
York County school officials braced for test score results for the last year, anticipating a precipitous drop due to lost classroom time and family strife brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, with the release of National Assessment of Educational Progress data, the impacts are becoming clear: Virtually every district saw a measurable decline in academic performance, some more dramatic than others.
"I am aware the scores have dropped," said York Suburban High School Principal Brian Ellis. "Ours have dropped a bit but not significantly. I am proud of that."
York Suburban, which saw a less-dramatic decline in test scores than many districts across York County, was the only public school district to respond to The York Dispatch's requests for comment.
Nation's Report Card: The NAEP gathers data to document how regions are doing every few years through specific tests. The recent assessment, or Nation's Report Card, reported Pennsylvania's eighth grade math score average was 273 out of 500. Only 19 other states performed better, while 16 averaged close to national public average and 18 performed lower. The Department of Defense Education Activity — which represents schools on military bases — scored 292. Puerto Rico scored 216.
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Reading was different. Pennsylvania scored a 259 in eighth grade reading. Ten performed better, 30 roughly the same and 12 performed lower.
The scale score summarizes a students' overall performance levels. The individual students' and schools' scores are not reported, but rather an average of the state, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Pennsylvania's fourth grade math scored 238; the nation's average was 235. The average fourth grade reading score was 219, which the organization reported was lower than the 2019 score of 223.
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District dedication: Ellis believes the district's dedication to the students made the minimal change in test scores possible. The district will keep helping the students achieve their highest level, which they were already doing, but it is now more pronounced because of COVID challenges.
The principal said the teachers are being responsive to students' needs. The staff is doing remedial activities to help them catch up where needed. Ellis said they are trying to help fill the students' education gaps and get them back up where they traditionally would be.
Ellis said honors level and advanced placement students did not miss a beat, but the broader student population struggled to overcome the challenges.
Making up ground: York Suburban Elementary School Principal Denise Fuhrman said staff used the lessons they learned from cyber learning. They prioritized their curriculum to be about what was most important.
"We know that there are gaps to fill, and we remain focused on not only providing the grade level materials," she said. "We also recognize there are some gaps that need to be filled."
"There's still kiddos who have significant absences due to exposure to different illnesses and things like that," she added.
Instead of covering everything and going back to recover it, Fuhrman said the teachers dug deeper into what the students needed most, such as what would be reintroduced in the next grade level.
Ellis explained some of the problems came because the students weren't always in school. He said they have 180 days of school. If the students are there, the system works as it should; but when there are disruptions, there's more difficulty.
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Ellis said many students did well during the blended year when students spent some days in school and some days schooling from home. However, there were a lot more students missing more days of school because of quarantine and isolation.
"All those pieces in combination have impacted students in some way and that's why we're seeing across the board that most scores are down," Ellis said. "But it significantly impacted some of our students who missed a lot of school or did critically poorly with the hybrid or the blended learning kind of approach."
Fuhrman said the real test is how students are performing in the next grade level, such as 2021-22 second graders will do in third grade this year.
Other results: Hanover schools also had small changes, as did Red Lion, Southeastern and West York, in math and science.
Schools such as York City's Keystone Exam scores from 2021, 2019-2016, do prove the nation's numbers. Their math dropped in all categories but below basic, which rose from 35.7% to 50%. In science, advanced and basic rose a little while below basic stayed at 50%, just as it did in 2019. Scores dropped across language arts except below basic, which jumped up to 70.6% from 30.5%.
In science, Dallastown saw the biggest change in its advanced science with advanced and proficient scores cut in half. Basic rose around 20 points. Dover's proficient score dropped from 50.9% to 9.5%. Eastern's science also took a hit, with advanced and proficient scores dropping by more than half.
Dover saw a shift, with its advanced scores sliding from 30.2% to 21.8%. Eastern saw a similar decline in both advanced and basic science scores. Northeastern's advanced also dropped by about eight percentage points. York City's science proficiency scores fell from 19.1% to 12.1%. York Suburban saw a drop in advanced scores, from 36.1% to 29.9%. Basic rose from 6.6% to 11.5%.
Catholic schools: Local Catholic schools do not take the same tests as public schools but did participate in the Nation's Report Card. Daniel Breen, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg's superintendent of schools, said instead of the end-of-the-year tests, they use Renaissance Star Testing in their elementary schools, which tests three times a year. The local schools started this testing in 2019, which means they don't have any data from prior to the pandemic that could serve as a comparison.
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Its Renaissance test results have shown their students tested 72% proficient in reading and 70% proficient in math, both higher than public schools' performances.
Act 158 concern: Ellis is concerned about this year's new graduation requirements under Act 158, which was signed by Gov. Tom Wolf in 2018. The legislation gave students the option to graduate through several different paths that involve some combination of testing and experiential learning.
For Ellis, the timing of Act 158 — he noted that this is the first year students are impacted by the new legislation — is concerning. Despite the presence of four paths that hypothetically make it easier for them to graduate, the disruptions due to the pandemic are still significant.
This class of students, he said, has been impacted by COVID more than any other.
The public can view all of the PSSA test scores data at https://www.education.pa.gov/DataAndReporting/Assessments/Pages/PSSA-Results.aspx and the Keystone data on the Pennsylvania Department of Education's website at https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/Keystones/Pages/default.aspx.
— Reach Meredith Willse at mwillse@yorkdispatch.com or on Twitter at @MeredithWillse.


David Kroll chief marketing officer of MillerCoors will leave the company on July 27. Kroll is leaving to "pursue other independent business interests," CEO Gavin Hattersley said. Kroll first joined MillerCoors in mid-2012 as a vice president in charge of U.S. marketing and took over as CMO in July 2015.
Marissa Fernandez, member of the Portada's Brand Star Committee, has been promoted to Vice President, Marketing Strategy & Fan Development by the National Football League (NFL). She previously held the role of Director, Marketing Strategy and Fan Development.
Clyde McKendrick has joined Canvas8 in a managing partner role for the US, and as its global chief innovation officer. McKendrick's previous role was at Sparks & Honey as its chief strategy officer.
Papa John's announced that John Schnatter, chairman of the restaurant chain, has resigned hours after publicly apologising for using the N-word during a conference call with Laundry Service, the marketing agency.
Chief creative officer Jeremy Perrott has been fired by McCann Health for violating its code of conduct. McCann has not provided details on the nature of the complaint.
Ogilvy has fired Tham Khai Meng, its longtime chief creative officer and co-chairman. Meng had held the role since 2009, a role that effectively ended after a two-week investigation due to employee complaints regarding his behavior.
The Havas Group has appointed James Wright as global chairman, Havas PR Collective, and chief executive officer of Havas PR North America. Wright will both drive the North America business and spearhead more unified collaboration to its global offering.
Enrique Rodriguez is joining Liberty Global as head of technology. In this role, Rodriguez will lead the company's technology & innovation team of more than 7,500 employees.
Dunkin' Brands has promoted David Hoffman to chief executive. Hoffman will continue to serve as president of Dunkin' Donuts US, a position he took on in 2016.
Amanda Seaford has joined WPP's Mirum as both its first U.S. CEO and the first woman to serve in a chief executive role. Seaford previously worked at Critical Mass, the digital agency she first joined in 2006 where she most recently served as chief client officer.
Wasserman, the talent management company that acquired Laundry Service in 2015, announced Jason Stein's departure in a statement. He "is transitioning out of LS and Cycle to pursue new entrepreneurial endeavors", a spokesperson confirmed.


Hey, you with the posthole digger! Let me see some ID!
When it comes to service projects, nobody does it better — or safer — than the Boy Scouts.
Can my 14- and 15-year-old Boy Scouts use lawnmowers and string trimmers to cut the grass at the local church?
Can my 16- and 17-year-old Venturers use a chain saw and log splitter to cut firewood for elderly residents?
In this case, the answer is no and no.
That's why it's critical to follow the Age Guidelines for Tool Use and Work at Elevations or Excavations, found on page 103 of the Guide to Safe Scouting (PDF).
The document details how old Scouts should be to use certain hand tools and power tools at service projects (including Eagle Scout service projects). I've got complete details below.
BSA national health and safety guru Richard Bourlon and his team of volunteers and professionals created these simple, clear guidelines to align the BSA with other youth-serving and service organizations.
"Habitat for Humanity gave us great feedback on their experiences" with youth-work restrictions, Bourlon tells me. He also consulted the U.S. Department of Labor.
In other words, these guidelines didn't come out of thin air. They're the work of hours of analysis meant to prevent injuries.
Each tool will have manufacturer-recommended safety gear, so check the product manual if you aren't sure whether to require safety glasses, for example.
Qualified meaning an adult familiar with the tool is present, and supervision meaning those qualified adults are actively supervising the use of the tools.
Read the complete guidelines on this PDF.
And check out these Service Project Planning Guidelines (PDF).
Do these guidelines match what your unit already does? How do you enforce safety guidelines at service projects? Leave your thoughts below.


Building or repairing power supplies, testing DC motor drivers etc often calls for using dummy loads, i.e. raking through your parts bin for a suitably rated high wattage resistor of the right value. However, rarely is the one you want to be found! What's needed is an adjustable dummy load, or an Elecronic Dummy Load!
So, inspired by V1.0 of my Electronic Dummy Load which has 2 amp maximum I thought I'd build a bigger unit capable of up to 10 amps @ 25vdc (250watts).
2 * 450maH 3S 11.1v Lipo Battery (used to power 12v fan as well as circuit). Note: 1 battery only will work also.
The design is based around an N-type mosfet and an op-amp. A 10-turn potentiometer controls the load and displays this in amps via the on-board LCD. Basically, the circuit provides a constant current sink to the supply being tested and irrespective of the voltage of the source.
I have optimized this design around a 10A max. load. Working backwards from R1 (35W shunt resistor), at 10A it'll see 2.7vdc across it, i.e. 27W. This means pin 2 of the op-amp will see 2.7vdc and so pin 1 needs to be setup to see 2.7vdc max. A 5k pot in series with a 4k7 resistor off +5vdc will achieve this.
The 2.7vdc max voltage also drives the LCD with an adustable voltage divider R2, R3 allowing for calibration.
These are N-type Linear Power Mosfets, the IXTK46N50L (500v, 46A). Conventional mosfets can be used but you would be limiting the range of voltages/loads the Dummy Load would be able to cover due to running the mosfet in it's linear mode. The IXTK mosfets overcome these limitations by extending the transistors' FBSOA. I.E. ETI (Electro-Thermal-Instability) as a result of positive feedback within the mosfet when used in linear mode. The IXTK is ideally used in programmable loads, battery chargers & current regulators etc.
There are 2off Mosfets paralled together in order to spread the load both electrically and thermally, however I should note that this can cause oscillations (due to un-matched ON resistance, gain and threshold voltage) so if it does then try a ferrite bead on the gate of each Mosfet, or try 1off Mosfet only.
PS. You may get away with standard power mosfets (much cheaper!), and you'd more than likely be limitting the voltage range of the load.
This is single supply capable and rail to rail in order the output can swing down to 0vdc. The LM8272 chosen here is also ideal as it is able to drive large capacitive loads such as power mosfets. This is crucial for the operation of this circuit across the full voltage range of the load.
PS. Standard op-amps may work, but again more than likely you'd be limitting the voltage range of the load.
This is a 200mV FSD DVM and capable of a common SIG- / V-, i.e. the DVM SIG- is tied to V- (supply 0vdc). Some DVMs do not work this way and will not work here.
The 5k trimpot on the PCB allows the FSD of the DVM to be adjusted.
The 4.7uF capacitor across the op-amp is used to stabilize the mosfet especially at higher voltages where oscillations can occur.
To limit the max. current the load can be set to then adjust the value of the resistor in series with the main 10k potentiometer.
To house the electronics and rather than use an enclosure a large heatsink encloses the electronics, including housing the 11.1v Lipo batteries which powers the electronics & fan.
The device being load tested is connected to the large screw terminals. Polarity is important.
The maximum load current that can be used is down to heat dissipation. The IXTK46NL50 FET is capable of 46amps drain current (at 25degC), and with 2off them should be able to run up to 92amps, however this would require a heatsink capable of dissipating over 2000watts (@ 24vdc). Clearly this is not going to be the case here, and with the heatsink I've chosen, the mounting of the FETs, the small fan and with a heatsink rating of 0.5degC / Watt gives me a more realistic figure of 10amps @ 25vdc........and even then it does get quite hot!
I have tested my Dummy Load to 10amps @ 24vdc.
Therefore 23 + 25 = 48degC calculated heatsink temperature.
The err in the above (12degC) will be due to the heatsink not being used at it's optimum, i.e. mounted vertically and with a good clear air-flow. Mine is horizontal and with the central section air-flow being blocked by all the electronics/battery etc.


Ghazni, a city of 280,000 people, according to Afghan figures, sits astride the important Highway 1 linking Kabul and Kandahar, the second largest Afghan city, in the south, and is less than 100 miles from the capital Kabul. Ghazni city holds great value for the Taliban because if the Taliban successfully took Ghazni and are able to hold it, they would essentially cut off the traditional Taliban homelands in the south from northern Afghanistan and the capital.
Heavy clashes between the Afghan government forces and the Taliban for the control of Ghazni city broke out in the first week of August as Taliban launched their assault on Ghazni, which resulted in the death of hundreds on both sides. Security in the Ghazni city, which is a two-hour drive south of Afghanistan's capital Kabul, had been deteriorating for months as Taliban fighters slowly encroached. The Taliban assault on Ghazni city marked the bloodiest week in Afghanistan in years and came only two months after an unexpected Eid-ul-Fitr holiday truce in June which many saw as a rare hope in America's longest war. [1a] The fighting for Ghazni also came only weeks after Taliban envoys met with senior American officials in the Gulf in an attempt to kick start some kind of political settlement. And even though the Afghan government later on claimed – which is disputed by many observers and journalists – that it successfully captured back entire Ghazni city from Taliban, the assault itself gave Taliban a major propaganda victory and left Ashraf Ghani's weak government red-faced.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said on Twitter that Taliban fighters infiltrated every part of the city. "Hundreds of Mujahedeen entered the [Ghazni] city, captured the police headquarters and all six police districts and an important military base, Bala Hesar".
But witnesses in Ghazni as well as local and international journalists were reporting an entirely different situation. A reporter for The New York Times who entered the city found the Taliban confidently in control at every intersection and checkpoint.  The Taliban had overtaken several government check-posts and had destroyed communication towers in the city, making it extremely difficult for those in the city to communicate with the outside world. This also resulted in significant delays for locals in getting the word out to the Afghan government in Kabul about the situation on the ground. Many residents fled Ghazni on foot as the Taliban had mined the roads heavily and were refusing to allow civilian traffic out of the city.
Taliban display weapons and ammo captured from government forces in Ghazni battle.
Following the Taliban assault on Ghazni city, U.S. Special Operations Command headquarters scrambled into action, deploying three 12-man Green Beret teams from 1st Special Forces Group along with their Afghan partnered force from the 2nd Commando Kandak, and conventional U.S. infantry soldiers from 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Making their way through roadblocks in the form of destroyed vehicles and mines set up by the Taliban, as the US forces reached the outskirts of Ghazni, the real situation finally dawned on them. They saw that the Taliban clearly had an upper hand in the fighting despite all the US equipment possessed by Afghan government forces. The Taliban started clashing with the US forces almost instantly after the US convoy entered Ghazni. The US forces on the ground were aided by a AC-130 gun ship, Apache attack helicopters, A-10 attack planes, F-16 fighter jets and MQ-9 Reaper drones.
The US military said it dropped 73 bombs and missiles in the Ghazni operation. Although the initial mission of US forces was to secure the two Afghan helicopters shot down by the Taliban, they spent the next few days fighting the Taliban in an attempt to reach the helicopter site. The Taliban were armed with machine guns, AK-47s, rocket-propelled grenades, rocket launchers and mortars, and kept the US forces busy for next few days.
During Ghazni fighting, the Taliban also torched several buildings in the city, including the building of Afghanistan's national TV channel and radio station and killed at least one of the staffs.
The media building in Ghazni torched by the Taliban.
"We're seeing the strategy is fundamentally working and advancing us toward reconciliation, even though it may not be playing out the way that we anticipated," General John Nicholson, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, said on Aug. 22. This statement released by General Nicholson in fact contradicts itself and raises serious questions about the state of war in Afghanistan.
General Nicholson's statement comes in the same month when the Taliban have launched a nationwide assault, in which hundreds of people on both sides have been killed. While the Pentagon officially says that the combat role of US has long ended in Afghanistan and that the US forces are only there to train, advise and assist government forces, the fight in Ghazni highlighted the grim cost that US still has to pay in its plan to train, advise and assist every time it rushes to aid Afghan forces on the verge of defeat. Nine Americans were evacuated from the battlefield by air because of injuries incurred by the Taliban attacks. At least two US soldiers received Purple Hearts after suffering serious wounds. Seven out of 10 armoured vehicles in one US convoy were completely destroyed in the Ghazni battle.
In the following photos, a US Special Forces airman who was injured in the Ghazni battle and received a Purple Heart shows his gear which got badly damaged in the fighting.
US Forces airman, injured in the Ghazni battle, received a Purple Heart. Here is he showing his damaged equipment.
A major reason why the US forces and the Afghan government were both taken by surprise by the Taliban assault on Ghazni was that the government as well as US Coalition forces had moved most of their fighting units from Ghazni and were instead focused on fighting the Islamic State in Khurasan Province (ISKP) in Eastern Nangarhar. And at the same time the assumption was that since the Taliban announced a truce in Eid-ul-Fitr and were engaged in negotiations with US in Gulf, they would not launch any major attack at least until after Eid-ul-Adha. But Taliban did exactly what everyone assumed they won't do. And even though the Afghan government and US Coalition had received prior intelligence that a Taliban attack on Ghazni was imminent, they still didn't take it as seriously as they should have and were caught with their pants down in broad daylight. It would also be important to note that the Taliban attack in Ghazni did not come out of nowhere. Earlier in May, locals in Ghazni told The New York Times that Taliban fighters infiltrated the city and are stashing arms and ammo in safe houses.  Clearly the Afghan government or the US Coalition did not take these reports very seriously at the time.
In truth, the strategic value of the Ghazni attack seems to have been the tweets, headlines and video footage that rippled across social-media feeds, showing armed Taliban brazenly roaming free in the city centre. The message of the Taliban to US was clear: the Taliban remains a fierce enemy who can strike whenever they choose, regardless of peace talks and hopes of reconciliation. And this is something which the US Generals in Afghanistan have no solution for. For the US forces to call the Ghazni battle a success means the bar for success has been set far too low. Perhaps no one understands the futility of this war better than Afghan civilians, many of who trust the Afghan government forces about as much as the Taliban. These civilians are the ones who actually lost the most in the Ghazni battle, with many either losing their life or limbs while others losing their property and livelihood.
Besides the heavy toll on civilians, there's also the problem of Afghan forces mistakenly or intentionally attacking US forces. During the Ghazni battle, two American soldiers told a TIME reporter that the Afghan National Army (ANA) had accidentally fired on their own units, as well as American convoys. With US continuing to say that US forces are only training, advising and assisting, the question arises of how long and for what cost can US afford to continue this training, advising and assisting mission with local forces it cannot even fully trust. Besides the issue that US forces don't fully trust the Afghan forces, there's also the problem of lack of coordination between Afghan police, army, air force and other security institutions. In fact, this lack of coordination immensely helped Taliban in the Ghazni battle to push out the Afghan government forces that were armed with more sophisticated US-supplied weapons and equipment.
Following the assault on Ghazni and the counter-attack by Afghan forces aided by the US forces, the Taliban released August issue of its monthly Al-Somood magazine in which it gave extensive coverage to the Ghazni battle, giving their own version of the story.
August issue of Taliban's monthly Al-Somood magazine.
The Afghan Taliban also released two videos from Ghazni; one showing the prisoners it released from Ghazni prison and the other detailing their 'victories' in Ghazni.
Bombarded by the Taliban propaganda videos and images, the US Coalition brought out its own tools of information warfare and started releasing images and videos from Ghazni that purportedly contradicted claims of the Taliban. A video released by the US Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan claimed to show the Taliban harassing civilians in Ghazni.
For US to lose, the Taliban don't necessarily have to win. All the Taliban have to do is to keep launching raids across the country, killing as many as possible while exposing the weak spots of the already weak government, and then spreading propaganda images and videos across social media while claiming victory. The problem is this game of cat and mouse is mounting a high cost upon the Afghan government and the US Coalition as well as local civilians and not just in the form of loss of life and property but also in the form of psychological impact, and Taliban fully understand this. The only possibility of long-lasting peace could come from successful negotiations between the US and the Taliban. Any negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government are going to be futile since the Taliban don't consider it a legitimate government and would only seriously negotiate with the international backers of the Afghan government.
Faran Jeffery is the Deputy Director and Head of South Asia desk on terrorism at ITCT. He is a South Asia based expert on counter-terrorism, counter-extremism and security-related matters. He closely monitors Jihadist groups in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, especially Islamic State and Al-Qaeda allied groups. Mr Jeffery is an expert on Open Source Intelligence and terrorist propaganda. Some of his past work includes working as a News Editor and later as an analyst for a Pakistani national security think tank.


Toddler Time is a great shared experience for child and parent. A time for your little ones to discover the joy of being active, bouncing under the supervision of their parents, and without interference from the big kids. We will meet inside at the toddler zone area! Dress your toddler ready to jump!


Mobile Memory is a collection of ink and acrylic sketches on wood panels of aging camper trailers. Using found images, and personal photographs, Phillips removes the trailers from the context of their original travel photos, and imposes them on the existing wood grained landscape of the panel.
By removing the context, the viewer is free to make their own personal connection with the work. Phillips is interested in the connection and nostalgia many people experience, often sharing stories of forgotten memories of family camping trips and good old fashioned road trips.
Heather Phillips holds a BFA from York University, where she studied studio art and curatorial studies. Phillips often works with concepts of memory, the home, and how those two ideas come together within the spaces we inhabit. Phillips is the co-owner of ARTiculations and the creator and curator of the PGP (Portable Gallery Project), a transportable gallery space that moves around the city. She currently lives and works in the Junction.


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            var id = activity.getResources().getIdentifier("AppTheme", "style", activity.getPackageName());
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application.mainModule = "views/main-page";
application.cssFile = "./app.css";
application.start();

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The schedule and assignments for these dates is dependent on your class period's performance on the SAGE test. If scores indicate that more review is needed before the final, your class period will be working on additional review assignments during these days. If scores indicate that your class period is already well prepared for the final, you will be doing other enrichment activities.
I already forgot the instructions I got in class. How do I wash my shirt??
Make sure the washer is empty.
Cut the bags & ties off-- touch the shirt as little as possible-- the dye is still active!
Squirt some (1-2 Tbsp) liquid dish soap (the kind you use in the kitchen sink on pots & pans) DIRECTLY into the machine. (NOT into a dispenser!!) Liquid dish soap (for the sink, not the dishwasher) is essential to the washout-process. It contains a chemical that deactivates the dye.
If you & your mom are nervous, run it one more time as a rinse.
Dry normally. Wear proudly. Tell people you have mad chemistry skills.
*If your washer saves water by detecting the load size for you, it won't use enough water! You can either (1) Make friends with someone whose washer isn't as environmentally friendly as yours (double soap, large load) or (2) add a load of wash rags or dark towels to convince the washer you need more water. (Add extra soap to be safe.) If an extra rinse is an option, that's a nice idea too.
Canvas: Final Review is due on the day of your final at 7:45 am.
The complete MOLE CONVERSION SUMMARY is two pages, and includes molarity and molality conversions in addition to the ones shown above.
Here is a STUDY GUIDE for the Unit 4 Test!
You might want to REVIEW THESE CHARTS, which can help you decide which conversion to use.
Need more help on your Mole Conversion Homework?
Review the last few examples from the PowerPoint and/or check out this convenient printable copy of this summary from day 18 (this was the last page of the notes).
Need help on your Mole Conversion Homework?


(MINNEAPOLIS, MN) - JAMF Software, the leader in Apple device management, today announced automation for FileVault 2 disk encryption for the Casper Suite. As Apple continues to grow in the enterprise, JAMF's Casper Suite is embracing Apple technologies to ensure Macs are able to meet corporate security standards. This new feature provides organizations with an automated way to ensure corporate data is secure and encrypted in Mac environments.
JAMF's proven track record of supporting Apple's rapid release cycles enables end users to update to the latest Apple OS with the Casper Suite, most recently OS X Mavericks. The Casper Suite offers a full security solution that goes beyond disk encryption by ensuring corporate data is secure on Macs, in transit to and from a device and between corporate applications—whether they are on or off the corporate network.
To learn more about how to automate Apple's FileVault 2 disk encryption solution with the Casper Suite, watch JAMF's recent webinar here.
JAMF Software has focused exclusively on helping the enterprise succeed with the Apple platform since its founding in 2002. JAMF Software has over 4,000 customers across commercial, education and government verticals managing more than 2.8 million Macs, iPads and iPhones. JAMF Software is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Visit JAMF at http://www.jamfsoftware.com and join the conversation at @JAMFSoftware.


text:
Home / News, Events and Publications / EU court rules in favour of Greens' 'Robin Hood' Tax
EU court rules in favour of Greens' 'Robin Hood' Tax
THE European Court of Justice in Luxembourg has ruled an EU-wide 'Robin Hood' Tax proposed by Green MEPs is lawful.
The Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) – a small levy on financial transactions designed to raise funds for public services while 'cooling down' the pace of the financial speculation and bankers' gambling responsible for the financial crash of 2008 – was agreed by the EU last year.
Initially, 11 countries – including France and Germany – agreed to take part.
But the UK refused to join – and immediately launched court action in a bid to block anyone else from implementing it either, fearful that it could be imposed on UK banks operating in the Eurozone later.
London's Green MEP Jean Lambert said: "This ruling is really about whether or not we want to support speculative casino banking with billions of pounds of public money when the bankers get it wrong.
"In 2008, they got things spectacularly wrong, and we are all still paying the price with recession and government austerity measures.
"A 'Robin Hood' Tax would slow down the gambling – and raise revenue for public services at the same time. I can see why the French and German governments have embraced the idea.
"I welcome this ruling, which takes us down the road of delivering the more people-centred banking industry the Greens in Brussels are working hard for."
It had been expected that the European Court of Justice would issue its decision later this year. The UK Chancellor is expected to appeal against the ruling.
Ms Lambert added: "With over 50 MEPs from around the EU in our group, we Greens have been able to make sure ordinary voices have been heard and propose a wide range of banking reforms, such as a Robin Hood Tax and a cap on bankers' bonuses.
"Many of these reforms have been taken up at EU level, and we look forward to them being enacted in the UK too.
"The Government here likes to pretend this is about the UK's freedom from Brussels, but really it's about the banks' freedom from democracy."


How Did Hitler Gain The Power To Become Chancellor In 1933 34?
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"Ground Control" - To What extent could the concept of "service as theatre" be applied to Starbucks?
Compare and contrast Rupert Brooke's poem, "The Soldier" with Wilfred Owen's,"Dulce Et Decorum Est."


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The first 13 videos are aimed at understanding the fundamentals of Flexbox - we will take a deep dive into understanding rows, columns, axes, wrapping, alignment, centering and layout. The last 7 are code alongs where we will build everything from a navigation to a mobile app layout entirely with Flexbox!
Wes Bos is a fullstack developer and educator from Hamilton, Canada. Wes loves to break down complex topics into short, tasty, little tutorials. He has contributed to Smashing Magazine, CSS Tricks and NetMag as well as released React For Beginners, Sublime Text Power User and Command Line Power User.
Cross Browser Flexbox Support and Autoprefixer!
Just finished the excellent https://t.co/wlRIDd3IQf videos by @wesbos. If you hate CSS float hacks you will love FlexBox. Thanks Wes!


Where are traditions of Easter?
Seems that it was just yesterday we were attending Carnival all-inclusive fetes, singing the refrain of Like ah Boss and revelling in the street. Ash Wednesday is but a memory, the final day of Lent is here and it is the long Easter weekend holiday once more.
Easter is ushered in with the "40-day, 40-nights" Lenten period for Christians where traditionally, many discipline themselves to eating fish and seafood while abstaining from drinking liquor and alcoholic beverages, smoking and having any carnal activity.
The actual Easter weekend itself, culminates with Holy Week that tail-ends with Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Glorias Saturday and the holiday Easter Monday.
In days gone by it was deemed taboo to sing, even whistle at home, a calypso during Lent. Calypso was not played on the airwaves as the music was deemed to be "satanic." The calypso "ban" however was rested on St Joseph Day and completely lifted on Glorias Saturday, when the playing of calypso resumed. No one knows when the blackmark against calypso during Lent was relaxed and subsequently removed?
Perhaps the most significant day of the year on the Christian calendar, today (Good Friday) is steeped in tradition and myth. The morning traditionally opens with a sumptuous breakfast in which hot crossed buns are the requisite item. Breakfast is normally followed by attending the three-hour Station of the Cross church service.
Late lunch, with fish as the main ingredient, usually was embellished by white-coloured food, usually white provision, white peas (gub gub or lima beans), and, white wine.
A major myth of Good Friday was that if you should bathe in the sea before 6 pm today you would turn into a fish. No one has ever witnessed this but many adhered to the myth and stayed away from beaches on Good Friday.
Another myth of yore dealt with egg white and a glass of water. When placed in the sun if the egg white changed into a church steeple, you were blessed and would have prosperity.
Good Friday tradition also included the beating of the bobolee, a stuffed effigy made in memory of Judas Iscariot, the villain in the betrayal of Christ. Through the years, bobolees have evolved, from being reincarnations of Judas to effigies of public figures the public is aggrieved with, to celebrities who are wed, complete with ceremony and procession, like the annual bobolee festival in Maraval. This being an election year one expect there will be several political figures portrayed. The remainder of the weekend is usually occupied with family outings, mainly to the beach or to wide open spaces, like Port-of-Spain's Queen's Park Savannah, to fly kites of every design and variety, from little chee-kee-chongs to huge, elaborate mad bulls.
One expects beaches nationwide to be chock-a-block with seabathers and sun-seekers on Monday. However, a popular and traditional Easter Monday pastime is horse racing and the second of the year's triple-crown races�Easter Guineas�will be held at the Arima racing facility. This is a gala affair and attendees dress to the hilt in sartorial fashion splendour.
Whatever you choose to do Pulse wishes you a safe and enjoyable Easter holiday weekend.
This year's Tobago Jazz Experience begins on April 19, but Randy Glasgow Promotions is staging a big curtain-raiser one week before, April 11, in Buccoo. Billed as Bacchanal in D Jazz, the concert will feature former National Calypso Monarchs Cro Cro and Pink Panther, past Extempore Monarch Brian London, Mr Shak, Skatie, comedian Tommy Joseph and more.
But, it is Good Friday and today ushers in a long weekend of fun and entertainment. Perseverance Sports and Action Community Council hosts its annual Good Friday Sports & Family Day at the Hugo Francis Recreation Ground, Woodford Lodge, Chaguanas. The action commences with a 5K race at 7 am and continues from 3 pm with athletics, novelty events and an Easter Bonnet Competition.
Good Friday fun continues at 1 pm when Causin Rabb holds its annual Good Friday cricket street tournament, on Thomasine Street, Success Village, Laventille.
At the same, Tuco will begin its annual Good Friday fete match, at The Paddock, Queen's Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
Jazz is also in the mix as the Women in Jazz series of shows begins tomorrow at Fiesta Plaza, MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain. Beginning at 8.30 pm the star of the night will be Krystal Khanye.
Many parties are planned this weekend and one of the biggest will be the annual Yorke Inc Glorious Saturday Party, also to be held tomorrow, at Pier 1, Chaguaramas. Music will be by DJs Howie T, Mr Q, Richard Simply Smooth and Sensational Sammy.
On Sunday afternoon, at 2 pm, DC Shell Theatre continues its run of Sinbad at Queen's Hall, St Ann's. A second show will be staged that evening at 6.30 pm.
ComPANion will hold its Steelbands Sports and Family Day cricket preliminaries on Sunday, at 2 pm, at Republic Bank Exodus Pan Amphitheatre, EMR, St Augustine.
That evening, from 4 pm, Belmont Cultural Improvement Committee will hold its annual easter Bonnet Parade 2015, at Belmont Community Centre on Jerningham Avenue.
Weather permitting, outdoor activity ought be extremely enjoyable for all this Easter weekend.
Popular Trinidadian steelband arranger/composer/musician Ken "Professor" Philmore was the star of The Baltimore Sun newspapers last month when coached students of Catonsville High School in playing the national instrument. Philmore was invited to do the workshop by the steelband's musical director Jim Wharton who annually invites a professional musician to come and teach members of the school steelband.
Philmore worked with the students for one week, his course culminating on March 27. Beaming with pride and a sense of accomplishment, Wharton likened Philmore's visit to the school's football team acquiring the services of acclaimed football coach Joe Flacco. During his visit Philmore taught the young pan musicians, ranging from freshmen to seniors, how to play the instrument without reading a music score. In a published feature in The Sun, Wharton said: "He (Philmore) is absolutely a virtuoso performer and a star arranger ... it's really an honor to have him here."
Also interviewed, Philmore told The Sun: "I know music just naturally, kind of like the wind does. I have ears as big as an elephant's. I can't read or write music, but I feel music. For me, it's a very spiritual thing."
The Sun reported that Philmore's goal is for more children to learn to play 'steel drum' and for more people worldwide to respect it like traditional drums, guitar or piano."
He added: "I love teaching kids, because I like to see the joy in their faces. It's easier to work with kids than with big people ...with kids, it's just a joy. It's fun."


Heulandite-Ba: Mineral information, data and localities.
Named in 1822 by Henry James Brooke in honor of Johann Heinrich "John Henry" Heuland [March 21, 1778, Beyreuth, Germany - November 16, 1856, Hastings, Sussex, England, UK], a mineral collector and mineral dealer living in England and for the suffix indicating dominant Ba. Despite having an international reputation, there are no known images of Henry Heuland.
The barium analogue of Heulandite-Ca, Heulandite-K, Heulandite-Na, and Heulandite-Sr.
Calcite 1 photo of Heulandite-Ba associated with Calcite on mindat.org.
Merkle, A.B., Slaughter, M. (1968) Determination and refinement of the structure of heulandite. American Mineralogist: 53: 1120-1138.
Alberti, A. (1972) On the crystal structure of the zeolite heulandite. Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 18: 129-146.
Comodi, P., Gatta, G.D., Zanazzi, P.F. (2001) High-pressure structural behavior of heulandite. European Journal of Mineralogy: 15: 247-255.
Larsen, A.O, Nordrum, F.S., Döbelin, N., Armbruster, T., Petersen, O.V., Erambert, M. (2005) Heulandite-Ba, a new zeolite species from Norway. European Journal of Mineralogy: 17: 143-154.
Green, D.I., Tindle, A.G., Hubbard, N., McCallum, D., Jackson, B. (2008) Heulandite-Sr and heulandite-Ba, two zeolite group minerals new to Britain from Whitesmith Mine, Strontian, Highland Region, Scotland. Journal of the Russell Society: 11: 80-86.