text:
Volume 09, Issue 09 (September 2020)
Object Storage and Kubernetes Containerization of Object storage Application
Sonali Prakash Jadhav, 2020, Object Storage and Kubernetes Containerization of Object storage Application, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY (IJERT) Volume 09, Issue 09 (September 2020),
Authors : Sonali Prakash Jadhav
Volume & Issue : Volume 09, Issue 09 (September 2020)
Sonali Prakash Jadhav
M.Tech, Computer Science & Engineering, Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune, India
Abstract: These days, developers are called on to write applications that run across multiple operating environments, including dedicated on-prem servers, virtualized private clouds, and public clouds such as AWS and Azure. Traditionally, applications and the tooling that support them have been closely tied to the underlying infrastructure, so it was costly to use other deployment models despite their potential advantages. This meant that applications became dependent on a particular environment in several respects, including performance issues related to a specific network architecture adherence to cloud provider-specific constructs, such as proprietary orchestration techniques and dependencies on a particular back-end storage system. Containers have provided us with more flexibility for running cloud-native applications on physical and virtual infrastructure. Containers package up the services comprising an application and make them portable across different compute environments, for both development/test and production use.
Keywords: Containerization, Dockerizing object storage application, Dockerfile to create docker image, Docker Compose to run multiple containers as a single service.
This thesis researches container technologies using Docker and Kubernetes. The main objective is to create a Dockerfile, which forms the base image for the deployment. The image is then used to deploy to Kubernetes. The idea came from the application development team with a need to make the deployment process more streamline for environment setup and testing purposes. Although automation is not included in this thesis, the basis is made from which the creation of the automated deployment pipeline can be started. The goal of this thesis is to find a quick and efficient way to deploy all components and new versions of the application in a test and potentially a production environment. The research for this thesis conducted from a practical viewpoint.
As most modern software developers can attest, containers have provided us with more flexibility for running cloud- native applications on physical and virtual infrastructure. Containers package up the services comprising an application and make them portable across different compute environments, for both development/test and production use. And because containers draw on resources of the host OS, they are much lighter weight than virtual machines. This means containers make highly efficient use of the underlying server infrastructure.
PaaS tries to get around these issues, but often at the cost of imposing strict requirements in areas like programming
languages and application frameworks. Thus, PaaS is off limits to many development teams.
Kubernetes eliminates infrastructure lock-in by providing core capabilities for containers without imposing restrictions. It achieves this through a combination of features within the Kubernetes platform, including Pods and Services. The reason Kubernetes is chosen instead of the native Docker cluster, Docker Swarm, is its scalability, portability and self-healing attributes. Kubernetes has been around longer than Docker Swarm and therefore has much more documentation. It also has more widespread 3 rd. party applications support available.
Cloud storage has changed the rules for deploying simpler, infinitely scalable and more affordable storage. So it makes little sense to burden a cloud storage platform with storage systems that are based on 20th century file systems that inhibit administration, scalability and cost.
Selecting the correct underlying storage system can greatly impact the success or failure of implementing cloud storage. The characteristics of object storage are ideally aligned with a cloud storage infrastructure, delivering a superior cloud storage experience with better scalability, accessibility and affordability.
Object storage is a much better fit for cloud infrastructures. Instead of using a complex, difficult to manage and antiquated file system, object storage systems leverage a single flat address space that enables the automatic routing of data to the right storage systems, specifies the content lifecycle and keeps both active and archive data in a single tier with the appropriate protection levels. This allows object storage to provide better value by aligning the value of data and the cost of storing it without requiring oppressive management overhead to manually move data to the proper tier while providing infinite scalability to support the capacity-on- demand capability of cloud storage. Object storage is also designed to run at peak efficiency on commodity server hardware.
With Object Storage, you can safely and securely store or retrieve data directly from the internet or from within the cloud platform. Object Storage offers multiple management interfaces that let you easily manage storage at scale. The elasticity of the platform lets you start small and scale seamlessly, without experiencing any degradation in performance or service reliability. Object Storage is a regional service and is not tied to any specific compute instance. You
can access data from anywhere inside or outside the context of Cloud Infrastructure, as long you have internet connectivity.
Kubernetes is a vendor-agnostic cluster and container management tool, open-sourced by Google in 2014. It provides a platform for automating deployment, scaling, and operations of application containers across clusters of hosts. Above all, this lowers the cost of cloud computing expenses and simplifies operations and architecture.
Kubernetes is a cluster and container management tool. It lets you deploy containers to clusters, meaning a network of virtual machines. The basic idea of Kubernetes is to further abstract machines, storage, and networks away from their physical implementation. So it is a single interface to deploy containers to all kinds of clouds, virtual machines, and physical machines.
Provisioning, in this context, means a process of preparing, equipping and making available a platform for the Object Storage software components to function in a conducive environment, ensuring reliable functionality.
Kubernetes marks a breakthrough for DevOps because it allows teams to keep pace with the requirements of modern software development. In the absence of Kubernetes, teams have often been forced to script their own software deployment, scaling, and update workflows. Kubernetes allows us to derive maximum utility from containers and build cloud-native applications that can run anywhere, independent of cloud-specific requirements. This is clearly the efficient model for application development and operations weve been waiting for.
In the pre-Kubernetes era, infrastructure and app development were inescapably intertwined. As complexities grew and teams evolved, we saw DevOps emerge as a bridge between development and operations in an attempt to resolve the age-old delivery trouble arising from developers throwing things over the wall to ops and then ops having to deal with production issues on the other side. DevOps rose to be a new subculture within existing teams, sometimes yielding new DevOps teams and even leading to a new class of tools and methodologies.
Traditional Deployment Era
Early on, organizations ran applications on physical servers. There ws no way to define resource boundaries for applications in a physical server, and this caused resource allocation issues. For example, if multiple applications run on a physical server, there can be instances where one application would take up most of the resources, and as a result, the other applications would underperform. A solution for this would be to run each application on a different physical server. But this did not scale as resources were underutilized, and it was expensive for organizations to maintain many physical servers.
Virtualized Deployment Era
As a solution, virtualization was introduced. It allows you to run multiple Virtual Machines (VMs) on a single physical servers CPU. Virtualization allows applications to be isolated between VMs and provides a level of security as the information of one application cannot be freely accessed by another application.
Virtualization allows better utilization of resources in a physical server and allows better scalability because an application can be added or updated easily, reduces hardware costs, and much more.
Each VM is a full machine running all the components, including its own operating system, on top of the virtualized hardware.
Container Deployment Era
Containers are similar to VMs, but they have relaxed isolation properties to share the Operating System (OS) among the applications. Therefore, containers are considered lightweight. Similar to a VM, a container has its own file system, CPU, memory, process space, and more. As they are decoupled from the underlying infrastructure, they are portable across clouds and OS distributions.
Working of container orchestration
When you use a container orchestration tool, like Kubernetes or Docker Swarm (more on these shortly), you typically describe the configuration of your application in a YAML or JSON file, depending on the orchestration tool. These configurations files (for example, docker- compose.yml) are where you tell the orchestration tool where to gather container images (for example, from Docker Hub), how to establish networking between containers, how to mount storage volumes, and where to store logs for that container. Typically, teams will branch and versions control these configuration files so they can deploy the same applications across different development and testing environments before deploying them to production clusters.
Containers are deployed onto hosts, usually in replicated groups. When its time to deploy a new container into a cluster, the container orchestration tool schedules the deployment and looks for the most appropriate host to place the container based on predefined constraints (for example, CPU or memory availability). You can even place containers according to labels or metadata or according to their proximity in relation to other hostsall kinds of constraints can be used.
Once the container is running on the host, the orchestration tool manages its lifecycle according to the specifications you laid out in the containers definition file (for example, its Dockerfile).
The beauty of container orchestration tools is that you can use them in any environment in which you can run containers.
Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications. With Compose, you use a YAML file to configure your applications services. Then, with a single command, you create and start all the services from your configuration.
Compose works in all environments: production, staging, development, testing, as well as CI workflows.
KUBERNETES AND DOCKER SWARM
Installation & Cluster Configuration
Installation is
complicated; but once setup, the cluster is very strong
Installation is very simple; but cluster is not very strong
GUI is the Kubernetes Dashboard
There is no GUI
Highly scalable & scales fast
Highly scalable & scales 5x faster than Kubernetes
Auto-Scaling
Kubernetes can do auto- scaling
Docker Swarm cannot do auto- scaling
Manual intervention needed for load balancing traffic between different containers in different Pods
Docker Swarm does auto load balancing of traffic between containers in the cluster
Rolling Updates & Rollbacks
Can deploy Rolling updates & does automatic Rollbacks
Can deploy Rolling updates, but not automatic Rollbacks
Can share storage volumes only with other containers in same Pod
Can share storage volumes with any other container
In-built tools for logging & monitoring
3rd party tools like ELK should be used for logging & monitoring
APPROACH USED
Instead of using Docker as a standalone process, they can be combined with a virtual machine. All
Hypervisors are a good platform for the Docker host: Virtual Box, Hyper-V, AWS EC2 Instance. No matter the hypervisor, Docker will perform well. Sometimes a virtual machine might be the place to run the docker container , but you dont necessarily need to. The container can be run as a stand-alone service on top of bare metal During the early years of virtual machines, they gained popularity for their ability to enable higher levels of server utilization, which is still true today. By mixing and combining Docker hosts with regular virtual machines, system administrators can maximize efficiency from their physical hardware. Building a container cluster on top of a virtual machine, whether it was made with Docker Swarm or Kubernetes, enables the usage of all the resources provided by the physical machine to maximize performance.
To build an image from an application a Dockerfile is needed. The purpose of the Dockerfile is to automate the image building process, in which all the necessary dependencies and libraries are installed. This project required the configuring of a multi-stage Dockerfile. This enables defining15 multiple build stages in the same file. It makes the build process more efficient through reducing the size of the final image. In the first phase all the needed dependencies are installed and compressed into an artifact. An artifact in Linux environments is usually a compressed .tar.gz- file.
In the second phase the artifact is taken and extracted. The result is a ready Docker image, which can be further used in a deployment.
Although premade images are available for use from the Docker Hub, it is sometimes better to make a specific Dockerfile. This way, you know how the final image is built, what licenses and/or properties it contains. The downside of this is that the responsibility to keep the Dockerfile updated falls on the organization. It is also possible to combine prepared images with self-made Dockerfiles to maximize efficiency.
The Dockerfile supports 13 different commands, which tell the Dockerfile how to build the image and how to run it inside a container. There are two phases in the building process: Build and Run. In the BUILD -phase you determine the commands which are executed during the build process. In the RUN- phase the commands specified are run when the container is run from the image. The two commands WORKDIR and USER can be used by both phases.
The two main components used in this thesis are Docker and Kubernetes. Docker is used to create a Docker image of the application by using a Dockerfile. A Dockerfile has all the instructions on how to build the final image for deployment and distributio. The images that are made are reusable perpetually. The image is then used by Kubernetes for the deployment. The benefits of Docker are, for example, the reusability of once created resources and the fast setup of the target environment, whether it is for testing or production purposes. This is achieved through container technologies made possible by Docker and Kubernetes. Container technology is a quite new technology which has been growing for the past five years.
Once the Docker image is created with the Docker platform, it is ready to be used with the Kubernetes container platform. With the Docker platform a base image is created, which is then used by the Kubernetes deployment platform. At best this is done with a press of a button. The ease-of-deployment eliminates possible human errors in the process, which makes the deployment reliable, efficient and quick. The reason Kubernetes was selected is its versatility, scalability and the potential automatization of the deployment process. The technologies are still quite new and are being developed every day to improve the end-user experience, which already is enjoyable.
The field of Development and Operations (DevOps) benefit greatly from containerization in the form of automating the deployment. There are several types of software to create a continuous integration and deployment pipeline (CI/CD). This enables the DevOps team to deploy an application seamlessly to the targeted environment. Compared to normal virtual machines, containerized platforms require fewer configurations and can be deployed quickly with the CI/CD 6pipeline. Container technologies also solve the problem of software environment mismatches because all the needed dependencies are installed inside the container and they do
not communicate with the outer world. This way the container is isolated and has everything it needs to run the application. With containers, all the possible mismatches between different software versions and operating systems are canceled out. It enables the developers to use whichever programming language and software tool they want to, if they can run it without problems inside the container. This combined with the deployment process, makes the whole ordeal agile, highly scalable and most importantly, fast. With Docker and Kubernetes, it is possible to create a continuous integration- and deploymentpipeline which for example guarantees a quickly deployed development version of an application to test locally.
DESIGN OF PROPOSE SOLUTION
To build an image from an application a Dockerfile is needed. The purpose of the Dockerfile is to automate the image building process, in which all the necessary dependencies and libraries are installed. This project required the configuring of a multi-stage Dockerfile.
In the first phase all the needed dependencies are installed and compressed into an artifact. An artifact in Linux environments is usually a compressed .tar.gz- file.
Fig.1 Workflow and description of resources used to achieve the result
Although premade images are available for use from the Docker Hub (https://hub.docker.com/), it is sometimes better to make a specific Dockerfile. This way, you know how the final image is built, what licenses and/or properties it contains. The downside of this is that the responsibility to keep the Dockerfile updated falls on the organization. It is also possible to combine prepared images with self-made Dockerfiles to maximize efficiency.
I would like to thank A A Bhilare, Assistant Professor of Department of Computer Science and Engineering for his support and encouragement at the various stages of this Dissertation work.
Anthony T. Velte, T. J. Cloud Computing a Practical Approach,
TATA McGraw HILL Edition. 2010
Architecture of the Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM). Retrieved from: http://www.linux-kongress.org/2010/slides/KVM-Architecture- LK2010.pdf and http://it20.info/2007/06/a-brief-architecture- overview-of-vmware-esx-xenand-ms-viridian/2006-2010
Deborah, D. and Giacomo, Evaluating Cloud Computing: How It Differs To Traditional IT Outsourcing, Master Thesis in Information Technology and Management. Jonkoping International Business School, Jonkoping University.2010
https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/docker-cli-to-kubectl/, 2015.
https://www.bluematador.com/blog/running-haproxy-docker- containers-kubernetes
https://hub.docker.com/r/million12/haproxy/dockerfile
https://docs.docker.com/get-started/
Gibson, J., Rondeau, R., Qing, T. Benefits and Challenges of Three Cloud Computing Service Models, Fourth International Conference on Computational Aspects of Social Networks (CASoN), pp. 198- 205, 2012
Implementing Fuzzy Logic to Improve the Accuracy of SoC Estimation for Li-ion Battery
Intravenous (IV) Drip Rate Controlling and Monitoring for Risk-Free IV Delivery


text:
Q: PL/SQL converts name-value pairs to single row table Using PL/SQL, how do I convert a table of name-value pairs like this...
Name      Value
--------- -------
Firstname   Bob
Surname     Smith
Address1    101 High Street
City        London
Country     UK

...to a single row table like this:
Firstname Surname Address1        City   Country
--------- ------- --------------- ------ -------
Bob       Smith   101 High Street London UK

actually what I need is to convert the name-value pairs to a SYS_REFCURSOR as the single row table above
The full story is:
I receive the data as a single string like this (Firstname;Bob;Surname;SmithAddress1;101 High Street;City;London;Country;UK) all I need is to convert this to a SYS_REFCURSOR
I started by creating types
TYPE order_type IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(255) INDEX BY VARCHAR2(255);
neworder order_type;

so far I managed to do so with name-value pairs
is it a good approach?

A: create table t1 (name varchar2(20), value varchar2(20));
insert into t1 values('Firstname','Bob');
insert into t1 values('Surname','Smith');
insert into t1 values('Address1','101 High Street');
insert into t1 values('City','London');
insert into t1 values('Country','UK');

select * from t1 pivot (max(value) for (name) in ('Firstname' as firstname, 'Surname' as surname, 'Address1' as address, 'City' as city, 'Country' as country));

Such SQL converts column data into one row.
If you get your data as a separated string with fixed order I would just parse it using combination of instr('Firstname;Bob;Surname;Smith;Address1;101 High Street;City;London;Country;UK',';',1) and substring function.
Something like:
declare
text varchar2(200) := 'Firstname;Bob;Surname;Smith;Address1;101 High Street;City;London;Country;UK';
firstname varchar2(40);
surname varchar2(40);
address varchar2(40);
city varchar2(40);
country varchar2(40);
begin
firstname := substr(text,instr(text,';',1) + 1,instr(text,';',2) - instr(text,';',1));
surname := substr(text,instr(text,';',3) + 1, instr(text,';',4) - instr(text,';',3));
....
end;

A: came across an interesting utility I didn't know about. dbms_utility.comma_to_table. http://mohsoracle.blogspot.com/2010/04/oracle-breaking-comma-separated-string.html
so if you wanted to use it to return a sys ref cursor from a delimited string maybe something like.
/* Formatted on 10/28/2016 9:42:52 AM (QP5 v5.256.13226.35510) */
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE myproc (v_cur OUT SYS_REFCURSOR)
IS
   lv_Str_List   VARCHAR2 (1000)
      := 'Firstname, Bob, Surname, Smith, Address, 101 High Street, City, London, Country, UK';
   lb_cnt        BINARY_INTEGER;
   la_Tab_Str    DBMS_UTILITY.UNCL_ARRAY;
BEGIN
   lv_Str_List := '"' || REPLACE (lv_Str_List, ',', '","') || '"';
   -- parse the string into comma separated table
   DBMS_UTILITY.COMMA_TO_TABLE (lv_Str_List, lb_cnt, la_Tab_Str);

   FOR i IN 1 .. la_Tab_Str.COUNT
   LOOP
      -- display substring
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (TRIM (la_Tab_Str (i)));
   END LOOP;

   OPEN v_cur FOR
      SELECT *
        FROM (SELECT REPLACE (TRIM (la_Tab_Str (2)), '"', '') AS Firstname,
                     REPLACE (TRIM (la_Tab_Str (4)), '"', '') AS Surname,
                     REPLACE (TRIM (la_Tab_Str (6)), '"', '') AS Address,
                     REPLACE (TRIM (la_Tab_Str (8)), '"', '') AS City,
                     REPLACE (TRIM (la_Tab_Str (10)), '"', '') AS Country
                FROM DUAL) t;
END;

I hard coded in the string but it could come in as a variable then replace your semicolons with commas.
when I ran the following in toad to test it.
DECLARE
  V_CUR SYS_REFCURSOR;

BEGIN
  V_CUR := NULL;

  MYPROC ( V_CUR );
  :to_grid := V_CUR;
  COMMIT;
END;

I got
FIRSTNAME SURNAME  ADDRESS           CITY     COUNTRY
Bob       Smith    101 High Street   London   UK

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Pokeshot is official Sponsor of ESC Jonsdorf!
As we reported last week , the responsible persons of the Pokeshot GmbH were in intensive discussions with the ESC Jonsdorf, with the goal of a mutual partnership! Today we are pleased to inform you that both parties have agreed and that Pokeshot GmbH is now official sponsor and thus a partner of ESC Jonsdorf for the season 2017/2018!
In addition to mentioning Pokeshot as a sponsor of the ESC Jonsdorf on their website and various advertising materials, the Pokeshot logo will be visible on the jersey of the first male team in the 2017/2018 season! A foto of their new jersey will follow soon.
Connect with us on facebook | twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube – We keep you posted!


text:
TNT expands final mile deliveries
TNT Post has revealed it is to expand its end-to-end mail delivery service as the dulcet tones of Labour MP Dennis Skinner – "Royal Mail for sale. Queen's head privatised" – started the countdown to the sell-off of its main rival.
The company, which began its trial mail delivery service 13 months ago in West London, is now preparing to roll out the service to South West London.
TNT Post UK has 350 mail delivery staff delivering on alternate days, three-days-a-week. The trial has since expanded to the City of London, and has already delivered more than 16m items of business mail, reaching a rate of 600,000 items per week last month.
The company now has more than 600 delivery staff based out of six delivery units, and is now aiming to progress towards the 1 million items a week.
Herna Verhagen, the chief executive of Dutch postal service PostNL, said: "Customers are satisfied because of the quality, but also because we have a track-and-trace system on mail items in the UK, so customers can follow deliveries on the Internet. This is new, it's a unique selling point in the mail market."
The move comes as the privatisation of Royal Mail moves a step closer, even though it was not actually mentioned in today's Queen's Speech. The sell-off, expected to bring in between £2bn-£3bn, will rival the privatisations of British Gas and BT in the Eighties. It will also be the largest employee share scheme for 25 years with around 140,000 workers expected to scoop a windfall.
TNT Post hails 1bn mail boost
Posties vote for 'final mile' boycott
TNT chief hails door-drop fightback
TNT posties to take on 'final mile'
Posties set to get share bonanza
Royal Mail strike threat 'suicidal'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Tug boat news
Ffinn January 30, 2019, 12:54pm #21
Operating on a rock in the North Atlantic, LNG is probably not viable given the infrastructure required which is ironic given that the self same rock exports gazillions of cubes a year to UK gas supply system. We are currently assessing the hybrid route for 2 new tugs but also have an eye on hydrogen and compressed natural gas. The hydrogen route is probably too far down the road for any new acquisitions but never say never! The main issues with both hydrogen and CNG is getting the initial infrastucture in place.
ombugge January 30, 2019, 1:33pm #22
I don't know which "rock in the North Atlantic" you are talking about. Rock All, or the island of Britain?
As for use of LNG as fuel for ships, ferries and tugs another rocky outcrop in the Atlantic called Norway was a pioneer. They are now aiming to be the same for hydrogen:
Andersson said she felt hydrogen would develop initially as a short sea fuel, with owners in Norway being the likely pioneers, just as they were when it came to LNG as a ship fuel.
This from Splash 24/7 today:
Splash 247 – 30 Jan 19
MAN reports huge interest for new liquid hydrogen system -
MAN Cryo, the company behind the launch last month of the world's first marine, liquid hydrogen fuel-gas system, has reported enormous interest in the new product from around the world as developments related to hydrogen and shipping accelerate. On...
One thing that has held back LNG as marine fuel is the lack of bunkering facilities. (which is now improving) To ensure the same doesn't happen with hydrogen a bunker vessel has already been designed. (Now waiting on customers before building commence):
Liquefied hydrogen bunker ship design revealed -
Norwegian ship design firm Moss Maritime, in cooperation with Equinor, Wilhelmsen and DNV GL, has introduced a design for a liquefied hydrogen (LH2) bunker vessel. The project, sponsored by Innovation Norway, has been launched with the objective to...
Ffinn January 31, 2019, 11:36am #23
Thanks for this as I was unaware of the H2 bunker vessel design. We are well aware of Norway's foray into H2 ferries here in Shetland however, to date these have been based on fuel cells rather than compression ignition engines. Similar proposals are being looked at for our inter-island ferries. I don't think that there is enough time for H2, LNG or CNG infrastructure to be put in place before we purchase new tugs therefore as previously stated we are looking at hybrid technology.
PS Shetland's nickname is the Auld Rock which is quite apt given that some of the earth's oldest rocks are a mere 15 miles away from where I am sitting!
ombugge February 20, 2019, 11:21am #24
US Navy award rug service contract to Moran:
https://www.tugtechnologyandbusiness.com/news/view,us-navy-hands-out-us74m-multitug-charter-contract_56882.htm
Time to go IoT:
https://www.tugtechnologyandbusiness.com/news/view,time-for-tug-owners-to-take-the-iot-plunge_56885.htm
ombugge March 2, 2019, 11:05am #26
SAAM is aggressively expanding it's business in the Americas, while others are also seeing opportunities there and beyond:
https://www.tugtechnologyandbusiness.com/news/view,acquisitions-demonstrate-towage-growth-potential_56995.htm
ombugge March 16, 2019, 9:55am #27
The wold's largest tug boat company to be formed:
MarineLink – 13 Mar 19
Boluda Corporación Goes to N. Europe
Shipping services provider Boluda Corporación Marítima has signed a letter of intent to acquire all the shares, worth 300 million euros…
ombugge April 10, 2019, 12:52pm #28
Chinese shipyard to build 11 pusher tugs for a project in Africa:
https://www.tugtechnologyandbusiness.com/news/view,cosco-orders-11-pushers-for-mining-project_57426.htm
ombugge May 4, 2019, 9:40am #29
PSA Marine and Wartsila team up for Intelligent Tug project:
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/the-intelligent-tug-of-the-future-wartsila/
A more informative video:
ombugge May 4, 2019, 2:45pm #30
Containerable tug anyone?:
Kennebec_Captain closed May 31, 2019, 3:36pm #31


text:
The Failed Obama Administration
Despite voting for McCain, I actually had high hopes for the Obama administration. I really really want it to be a success. It's early, of course, but so far it does not look good.
The President has failed to exercise the needed leadership in dealing with the economic crisis, instead supinely letting the Congressional Democrats grab total control of what's happening. The result is a gigantic spending bill — even today, $800+ billion is STILL a huge amount of money — that isn't going to do what needs to be done. It's telling that the bill didn't get a single Republican vote in the House. The Republicans weren't just being bloody-minded. Most of them fully recognize the need to push a lot of money out the door to stimulate the economy. But instead of doing that, the Democrats are just filling their own wish lists.
Our economic problem is especially nasty because it is not just a typical cyclical downturn — where businesses have built up inventory stocks, and cut back temporarily to get stocks down. That automatically corrects itself when inventories are run down and production needs to be ramped back up. But what we have now is an implosion of consumer buying, which would mean production won't need to be ramped back up. It's a vicious downward spiral; the worse it gets, the more consumer buying declines. That's the essential problem the stimulus bill needs to attack. And quick. But the bill working through Congress, despite the huge price tag, in the main, doesn't do so.
Meantime, what ever happened to the $700 billion Congress voted last fall? Obama needs to get control of that situation as well. We hear nothing about it. Meantime too, there's the mortgage default situation, which started the whole mess, because it throttled bank lending, which is what the $700 billion was supposed to cure. The economy as a whole will not get back to health as long as the mortgage sore continues to fester. Steps must be taken to prevent defaults, keep people in their homes, renegotiate their mortgage terms, and stabilize the whole situation, so it becomes possible to get a handle on what all the mortgage-backed securities are really worth, paving the way to getting banks back into a position where they are financially sound and can lend. What the Obama administration is doing about this, right now, seems to be absolutely nothing.
Inauguration Review
Rick Warren's invocation was noteworthy for the line asking forgiveness for failures to give respect to all people. Was that a note of penitence?
I lovvvved Aretha Franklin's rendition of "My Country 'Tis of Thee." Not a song whose words I ever liked before — but she jettisoned all its God talk!! And, thank-you likewise to President Obama for pointedly including nonbelievers among America's religious groupings, in his inaugural address.
Yo-yo Ma seemed to be having a really good time in his musical performance. But Aaron Copland should have been credited as the composer of the original melody.
Shame on Chief Justice Roberts. C'mon, the presidential oath is not that long, you'd think he'd have practiced a bit and gotten it right. You could see Obama knew Roberts had it wrong, but when his stopping still failed to elicit the correct version, he was gracious in going along with Roberts's mangled one. Still, the bumbling detracted from the majesty of the moment.
President Obama's speech was good, though not great. For my taste, it was too full of stock phrases, cliches, and banalities; and short on interesting, arresting, or striking tropes. The main theme was not expressed powerfully enough. I did appreciate (of course) his knock against "declinism;" his vaunting "the risk takers, the doers, the makers of things;" and his talk of the false choice between safety and ideals. His words to the Muslim world, though brief, were to the point and well said. I very much liked his statement that America is the friend of every nation, and of every person, everywhere, who strives for peace and dignity. (That was lifted straight out of my own putative inaugural address, never given.)
His peroration invoked December 1776 — a key totem of my own mythologizing (as seen in my last book — and my next one). Obama's quotation was well chosen. But unfortunately he left the impression that the words were Washington's. They were Tom Paine's, in The American Crisis.
Elizabeth Alexander's poem, I thought, started off with a nice spare simplicity, but lost its way and became a mishmash that ultimately did not hang together.
But none of this is what really matters. Present on the inaugural platform was Congressman John Lewis, who was beaten nearly to death for trying to ride on a bus. That Freedom Riders' bus has travelled an awfully long distance in four decades.
U.S. Senate appointment
In light of all the rumors swirling around, I wish to make clear that I have had no contact with Governor Paterson concerning his pending appointment of a U.S. Senator to succeed Mrs. Clinton; and no person authorized to speak on my behalf has had any such contact. While I would be honored to serve in the Senate, I am not a candidate, at this time.
In today's news, we hear that Obama's entourage has indicated that it wants Caroline Kennedy to be appointed. In the first place, her name is Schlossberg, or at least that's what it was for the past several decades until she decided she wanted to cash in on the Kennedy legacy after all. But anyway, I think it's a moot point because I'd be very surprised if Paterson appoints her. The Obama camp's endorsement ought to be the coup de grace to her candidacy, which was already faltering. It was previously looking like Paterson, if he appointed her, was being manipulated into doing so; now, he practically is forced to appoint someone else, lest he appear a total puppet. That's how I'd see it, if I were in his shoes; though I admit politicians often exhibit a stunning inability to see things as I think they ought to.
I have nothing, really, against the lady, she actually seemed pretty admirable (until lately), and appointing her might have come across as a bold and brilliant move, had it come as a surprise. Instead, now, it would come across as capitulation to putative entitlement.
Kid safety?
The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission has enacted regulations, effective Feb. 10, requiring that all products to be used by children 12 and younger must be tested for lead and phthalates (USA Today, Jan 9). Good idea, right? We want our kids to be safe, right?
The testing will cost from about $400 for a small item to thousands of dollars for larger ones. Every item, in every store, with a child use, would have to be tested. Every item. Every store. Even second-hand stores. Products not tested would be deemed "hazardous" even if they contain no lead or phthalates. Even if they are made of wood.
Excuse me, but this is insane. Yes, we want our kids to be safe. But what does "safe" mean? Reducing the possibility of harm to zero? Can't be done; life isn't like that. What we should want is to protect against big, widespread threats. For example, the current hysteria, based on bogus science, that immunizations might cause autism, is a really big threat to children's safety if it leads to fewer immunizations.
There have been a few cases in which potentially harmful substances like lead have been found in kid products. And, yes, small kids do put things in their mouths. But is there any evidence that any significant numbers of children have actually been harmed in this way? No, there is not.
But one thing is certain: these regulations will harm our economy, big-time. Most retailers cannot afford to comply with such onerous and costly regulations. It's completely impractical. At a time when our economy is in such trouble, with so many retailers struggling to survive, with so many jobs at risk, for the government to impose such costs on businesses is insane, in the literal sense of the word.
It would be better to have a requirement that government regulatory bureaucrats be tested for lead in their brains.
We are told that the era of deregulation is over, and government regulation is making a big comeback. Here we see what that means. Oy vey.
Posted in Economics, Politics, Society | 4 Comments »
In an old Laurel and Hardy film, they drive up to a man's house and get into a spat with him. In anger, he breaks a lamp off their car. (An old time car of course.) Hardy responds by walking up to the house front and doing something similar. The man retaliates on the car. Tit for tat, and soon the duo is single-mindedly wrecking the house while its owner ignores them and works on trashing their car. Each becomes solely focused on inflicting damage on the other with no heed to his own damage. Both house and car are demolished.
This is Israel and the Palestinians. Especially the Palestinians, sadly, who Abba Eban once said never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. For forty years, the Palestinians have fought Israeli occupation. Then Israel withdrew its occupation of Gaza; just pulled out and simply handed Gaza to the Palestinians. No more occupation, in Gaza at least. So, did the Palestinians set about building themselves a nation in Gaza? No, instead, their whole focus remained upon trashing the Israeli car. They continuously bombarded Israel with rockets. What was the point of that? What could conceivably have been gained by it? Absolutely nothing, except to finally, inevitably, provoke the Israeli reaction that has done tremendous damage to Gaza and its people.
Where are the grown-ups over there??
Tough situation for an optimist.


Two silhouettes, about a thousand meters apart, could be seen staring each other down as the sized each other up. One, emitted a gentle golden radiance and was standing on a Seven-colored Auspicious Cloud. He looked to be within his early twenties and wore an expression of solemnity, standing with a straight posture and emanating an immortal aura.
The other was truly the opposite. He stood on a dark cloud, clad in a black robe with a crimson red cape hanging from his neck, which was flapping in the wind. Upon inspection, he seemed to be in his mid thirties with a ferocious and unyielding look on his face.
Even though they were about 2000 meters apart, their voices each sounded clear and crisp to the other.
Golden and bloody crimson light beams flashed out as the Seven-colored Auspicious Cloud and the dark cloud approached at lightning speeds.
The golden light suddenly intensified and emitted millions of rays of radiance within the sky.
"NO! It's impossible! How… How did you… Don't tell me you have… – The Nine Celestial Tribulations…!" the middle-aged man's voice was filled with fear and trepidation.
The sun hung up high within the sky, emitting searing rays of light. The sky of this summer day was incredibly hot and so unbelievably scorching that the ground had lost all of its moisture. A simple gust of wind would blow dust all over the place, making it quite difficult for even breathing to take place.
"Damn it, this cursed weather is really going to kill me. If it continues on like this, I think I'll just go back," a slightly childish voice rose.
Two young people could be seen beside the dusty road leaning on a big tree for shelter. The one who said the words before was the elder one, who looked to be around eight to nine years of age. He had a slender physique, small eyes and a high nose. His hair looked messy, like wilted weeds and traces of sweat could be seen on his forehead which was pale yellow in colour, like the rest of his skin. The child was currently wearing a really annoyed expression.
"Brother Long, stop complaining. It's not like that would change the weather in any way. As the saying goes, 'it will feel cool when your heart is cool'. However, I really do hope that it rains a little so that it will not be so toasty any more." This time, it was the younger child who said that.
Compared to the one he called 'Brother Long', he was far better looking and had a shirt slung on his right shoulder. With fair skin, large double lidded eyes and short, black hair neatly combed on his head, this seven to eight year old child was slightly shorter than the other one.
These two children were from a nearby village. The elder child was named Hai Long and his parents had passed away long ago when he was a toddler. Their only legacy left to him was a derelict little cottage, which could not even keep him cold during the scorching hot summers nor warm during the freezing cold winters. He had only managed to survive to this day because of the other villagers' kindness.
As of late, he was making a living for himself by collecting firewood and trading it with the other villagers for food and other necessities.
The one called 'beansprout' by him was named Zhang Hao, whom he had been childhood friends with since long ago. Zhang Hao's family was much better off than Hai Long's and his parents owned a small patch of land which they relied on to farm on a small scale and make a living. Like the rest of the poor children in the village, they matured quickly. Even though they were not even ten, they already considered themselves adults and even talked and acted like them.
Having heard what Hai Long had said, Zhang Hao's previous serious expression reverted to his normal cheerful one.
Hearing that, Hai Long laughed mischievously at Zhang Hao's side, and under his vigilant gaze, he knocked his head again, using more strength than his previous strike. Zhang Hao cried out in surprise and ferociously pounced onto Hai Long, both people mutually attacked each other and slung vulgarities as they wrestled together. Hai Long's strength was obviously greater than Zhang Hao, therefore after showing some skills he pressed him onto the floor and mischievously laughed, "Just give up".
Zhang Hao spoke "Why not? There definitely has to be. My ambition is to be just like that immortal, to learn the abilities of flight. When that time comes, where in the world could we not roam? Roughly a year ago, two gorgeously dressed individuals came to our village, mounted atop horses. It looked like they came from far away lands, and coincidentally stopped at my house for a drink of water.
As you know, my dad is very hospitable, therefore he politely received those two individuals. I was sleeping that day, but awoke to take a look at the bustling scene. I coincidentally heard the conversation between the two individuals. I didn't used to believe in immortals, but after listening to their conversation, I realised that it was actually true! They said that somewhere, about a 100 li from here, there is a sect within the Cloudlink mountains, and that there were immortals living there!
Hai Long was already stupefied by Zhang Hao's words, he didn't even notice when Zhang Hao called him his most detested nickname. Never would he have thought that Zhang Hao's ambitions would actually be this great.
Zhang Hao looked at Hai Long's dumbfounded expression and felt even more delighted. He patted Hai Long's shoulders and said "Little worm, this can be counted as my secret, if you were not my best brother, I would not have told you. How about it? Join me in learning how to read starting tomorrow, in another 4 years, you will be 13 and I will be 12, we can then go and visit that sect to become disciples.
Who knows, maybe after studying for a few years, we will be able to attain glory and return to our village. By then, I can create a mountain of gold for dad and mum, letting them live in comfort." Thinking about this, Zhang Hao started to laugh gleefully.
Hai Long blinked his eyes and murmured "If we go there to seek discipleship, will they provide for our meals? As long as my belly is fed, I will come along with you." Regarding legends such as immortals, how could he not look forward to it?


text:
// -*-C++-*- boost/queue.h
// <!!---------------------------------------------------------------------->
// <!! Copyright (C) 1999 Dietmar Kuehl, Claas Solutions GmbH >
// <!!>
// <!! Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute and sell this >
// <!! software for any purpose is hereby granted without fee, provided >
// <!! that the above copyright notice appears in all copies and that >
// <!! both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in >
// <!! supporting documentation. Dietmar Kuehl and Claas Solutions make no >
// <!! representations about the suitability of this software for any >
// <!! purpose. It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty. >
// <!!---------------------------------------------------------------------->

// Author: Dietmar Kuehl dietmar.kuehl@claas-solutions.de
// Title:  A queue adaptor with extended functionality compared to the standard one
// Version: $Id: queue.hpp,v 1.1.1.1 1999/08/19 23:18:24 kuehl Exp $

// --------------------------------------------------------------------------

#if !defined(BOOST_QUEUE_H)
#define BOOST_QUEUE_H 1

#include <deque>

namespace boost
{

template <typename T, typename Cont = std::deque<T> >
class queue;

template <typename T, typename Cont>
bool operator== (queue<T, Cont> const&, queue<T, Cont> const&);
template <typename T, typename Cont>
bool operator!= (queue<T, Cont> const&, queue<T, Cont> const&);
template <typename T, typename Cont>
bool operator<= (queue<T, Cont> const&, queue<T, Cont> const&);
template <typename T, typename Cont>
bool operator>= (queue<T, Cont> const&, queue<T, Cont> const&);
template <typename T, typename Cont>
bool operator<  (queue<T, Cont> const&, queue<T, Cont> const&);
template <typename T, typename Cont>
bool operator>  (queue<T, Cont> const&, queue<T, Cont> const&);

// --------------------------------------------------------------------------

template <typename T, typename Cont>
class queue
{
  friend bool operator== <T, Cont>(queue<T, Cont> const&, queue<T, Cont> const&);
  friend bool operator!= <T, Cont>(queue<T, Cont> const&, queue<T, Cont> const&);
  friend bool operator<= <T, Cont>(queue<T, Cont> const&, queue<T, Cont> const&);
  friend bool operator>= <T, Cont>(queue<T, Cont> const&, queue<T, Cont> const&);
  friend bool operator<  <T, Cont>(queue<T, Cont> const&, queue<T, Cont> const&);
  friend bool operator>  <T, Cont>(queue<T, Cont> const&, queue<T, Cont> const&);

public:
  typedef typename Cont::value_type      value_type;
  typedef typename Cont::reference       reference;
  typedef typename Cont::const_reference const_reference;
  typedef typename Cont::size_type       size_type;
  typedef Cont                           container_type;
  typedef typename Cont::iterator        iterator;
  typedef typename Cont::const_iterator  const_iterator;

  explicit queue(Cont const& cont = Cont()): m_container(cont) {}

  bool              empty() const               { return m_container.empty(); }
  size_type         size() const                { return m_container.size(); }
  void              push(value_type const& val) { m_container.push_back(val); }
  void              pop()                       { m_container.pop_front(); }
  value_type const& top() const                 { return m_container.front(); }
  value_type&       top()                       { return m_container.front(); }
  value_type const& front() const               { return m_container.front(); }
  value_type&       front()                     { return m_container.front(); }
  value_type const& back() const                { return m_container.back(); }
  value_type&       back()                      { return m_container.back(); }

  iterator       begin()       { return m_container.begin(); }
  iterator       end()         { return m_container.end(); }
  const_iterator begin() const { return m_container.begin(); }
  const_iterator end() const   { return m_container.end(); }

private:
  Cont m_container;
};

template <typename T, typename Cont>
bool
operator== (queue<T, Cont> const& q1, queue<T, Cont> const&q2)
{
  return q1 == q2;
}

template <typename T, typename Cont>
bool
operator!= (queue<T, Cont> const& q1, queue<T, Cont> const& q2)
{
  return q1 != q2;
}

template <typename T, typename Cont>
bool
operator<= (queue<T, Cont> const& q1, queue<T, Cont> const& q2)
{
  return q1 <= q2;
}

template <typename T, typename Cont>
bool
operator>= (queue<T, Cont> const& q1, queue<T, Cont> const& q2)
{
  return q1 >= q2;
}

template <typename T, typename Cont>
bool
operator<  (queue<T, Cont> const& q1, queue<T, Cont> const& q2)
{
  return q1 < q2;
}

template <typename T, typename Cont>
bool
operator>  (queue<T, Cont> const& q1, queue<T, Cont> const& q2)
{
  return q1 > q2;
}

// --------------------------------------------------------------------------

}

#endif /* BOOST/QUEUE_H */

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Opinion | Joseph L. Hooley and Sheila Lirio Marcelo
The importance of investing in early education and care
By Jay Hooley and Sheila Lirio Marcelo ,June 22, 2018, 12:00 a.m.
The benefits of accessible, affordable, and quality early education and care are significant, lasting, and critical to addressing some of the Commonwealth's most entrenched issues. A successful early-education and care system allows parents, in particular working mothers, to be fully productive and active participants in the workforce, provides caregivers and educators with high-quality employment opportunities, and begins the formal education and development of our children and future workforce. In addition to these immediate benefits, investments in the system will compound over time. With targeted investments in our early-education professionals, and the subsequent improvement in the quality of care, we can begin to address the root causes associated with persistent problems such as the achievement gap and income inequality and ensure continued economic success in the Commonwealth.
The economic and societal advantages of a high-quality early-education and care system, which are multifaceted and multigenerational, rely on a skilled and dedicated workforce. Research indicates that children who receive high-quality care are more likely to pursue and persist through higher education and find gainful employment. Additionally, parents are far more committed to, and productive in, their jobs when they know that their children are receiving high-quality care, and that the care can have a valuable long-term impact on their child's future. In particular, access to quality care allows more mothers to remain in the workforce and continue to advance in their careers. The impacts are felt more broadly as fewer public resources are needed for future interventions to compensate for a lack of early skill-building and its associated benefits.
To achieve these long-term benefits, the Legislature has an opportunity to build on the investment of public and private stakeholders. Through substantial grants and provider rate increases, the state has started to significantly strengthen early-education services and programs. It has also leveraged federal dollars to establish new preschool classrooms and programs.
However, barriers to expanding access and enhancing quality of education and care continue to hinder progress. Specifically, professionals in this sector tend to be under-supported both financially and professionally. The substandard compensation of early educators has led to high turnover, which adversely impacts the quality of care. An average salary for an early educator ranges from $22,000 to $27,000, compared with $40,000 for an entry-level public school teacher. Not only is that salary unsustainable, but the lack of clear career pathways discourages professionals from seeking out additional education. While we in the business community commend the state for its dedication in this area, the Commonwealth can do more to address these issues.
The state House of Representatives has proposed a comprehensive and targeted early-education and care package that works to address many of the challenges facing the sector's workforce. Most notably, House Speaker Robert DeLeo proposes increasing the provider rate by $20 million and dedicating $8.5 million to establishing workforce- and professional-development programs with the state's community colleges. These proposals will help to elevate the early-education and care profession by offering a livable wage and the opportunity to build the skills that are necessary for a long-term career in the field.
As the House and Senate work to finalize their budget recommendations for fiscal year 2019, the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership encourages the Conference Committee to adopt he House proposals. Be assured, the return on this investment will minimize the need for the Legislature to spend additional time and money in the future, since these solutions target the underlying cause of many entrenched problems. The Legislature has the opportunity to demonstrate its continued commitment to our children, families, and the early educators who provide the quality care that cultivates an inclusive and productive economy.
Jay Hooley is chairman of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership's Committee on Education and Workforce Development and chairman and CEO of State Street Corporation. Sheila Lirio Marcelo is chairwoman of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership's Committee on Womenomics and founder, chairwoman, and CEO of Care.com.


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Modular offices and portable office trailers in Pennsylvania (PA), provided by Vanguard Modular, can seamlessly add office space for your business. Metro areas like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, Allentown, State College, and Williamsport continue to see surging population growth resulting from notable development of small and large businesses in the area.
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The Kennedy Center recently announced that Deborah Rutter will become its new president in September. It is with great ambivalence that I leave my job to Deborah.
Not because I have any doubt she will do a spectacular job — Deborah is smart, creative, kind and experienced. I am confident that she will bring new ideas and programming to the Center and will enliven it for our audiences everywhere. I cannot imagine anyone in whom I would have more confidence.
Rather, I am ambivalent about leaving the Center.
But running the Kennedy Center is the best arts job anywhere and that is the root of my ambivalence.
Where else does one get to create programming for such a wide range of art forms — symphonic music, opera, ballet, contemporary dance, theater, chamber music and jazz — not to mention the multi-disciplinary festivals, including our huge international festivals? With more than 2,000 performances each year and a substantial programming budget, one is only limited by one's imagination.
Where else does one get to manage an education program that reaches children in all fifty states? This year alone, 11 million people will have an opportunity to engage with the arts thanks to Kennedy Center programming.
Where else does one get to participate in the range of special events — from theKennedy Center Honors to the Mark Twain Prize to, my favorite, the informal July 4th celebration on our roof — with the very best view of the fireworks imaginable?
Where else does one get to collaborate with several national volunteer boards with passionate and engaged representatives from across the nation – not to mention a main board with fourteen members of Congress, three Cabinet secretaries and a remarkable group of patrons?
Where else can one, literally, collaborate with the world? Washington, D.C. is the home to every ambassador to the United States — this gives the Center remarkable access to artists, events, programs and ideas that span the globe.
With all of these remarkable assets — not to mention a tremendous staff and a loyal audience – one is never finished as the chief executive of this institution. One merely has one's opportunity to make a difference and then pass these great assets to someone else with another vision.
I, for one, cannot wait to see what Deborah does with the Kennedy Center. I hope she has as much fun as I have had.
I know I will be jealous that she conceived of programming I could never have imagined; and I also know that in a decade or so, when Deborah is ready to pass on the mantle, she will feel just as ambivalent as I do today.


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Home Resources Ministerial Council Decisions on Combating human trafficking
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Ministerial Council Decisions on Combating human trafficking
Ministerial Council Decision No. 2/03 on combating trafficking in human beings
Decision taken at the Maastricht Ministerial Council Meeting, 2 December 2003
Decision / declaration
Decision No. 6/17 - Strengthening Efforts to Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings
Decision No.7/17, Strengthening Efforts to Combat All forms of Child Trafficking, Including for Sexual Exploitation, as well as Other Forms of Sexual Exploitation of Children
Decision No. 7/13 on the combating trafficking in human beings
20th OSCE Ministerial Council, Kyiv, 5 - 6 December 2013
Decision on enhancing criminal justice responses to trafficking in human beings through a comprehensive approach
Permanent Council Decision No. 5/08
Decision No. 8/07 on combating trafficking in human beings for labour exploitation
15th OSCE Ministerial Council, Madrid, 29 – 30 November 2007
Ministerial Council Decision No. 3/06
Combating trafficking in human beings. Interpretative statement by the delegations of the United States of America and Turkey (Attachments 1, 2).
Decision No. 14/06 on the enhancing efforts to combat trafficking in human beings, including for labour exploitation, through a comprehensive and proactive approach
14th OSCE Ministerial Council, Brussels, 4 – 5 December 2006
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text:
Mass General Staffers Are Helping Hurricane Victims
MGH will send clinicians to help those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
By Rowan Walrath· 9/6/2017, 4:18 p.m.
Read all about the latest gym openings, healthy events, and fitness trends in our twice weekly Wellness newsletter.
MGH staffers on their way to Houston/photo provided
With Hurricane Irma set to hit Florida early next week and southern Texas still recovering from Hurricane Harvey, Massachusetts General Hospital is lending a helping hand.
Six Mass General staff members will assist at the San Jose Clinic in Houston, helping patients who have struggled to access care, according to a hospital statement. In the still-flooded city, four nurse practitioners and two pharmacists will work with emergency aid nonprofits Project Hope and Americares.
Farther east, 11 Mass General employees—two physicians, five nurses, one nurse anesthetist, one physician's assistant, a social worker, and a paramedic—will be on standby in Georgia, according to the statement.
Mass General previously deployed four staff members, who are now back in the Bay State, to assist the federal Trauma and Critical Care Team in Harvey's wake.
Other Boston hospitals coordinated their own hurricane relief efforts. In the days after Harvey made landfall in Texas, Boston Medical Center's radiology team collected donations of food, water, toiletries, and toys to send to Texan families, while emergency department staffers had food and drinks delivered to Memorial Hermann in Houston. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center staff members, meanwhile, helped contribute hundreds of items to the City of Boston's "Help for Houston" drive.
Mass General
Our 2023 List of Boston-Area Top Doctors Is Here
Introducing Our 2022 List of Top Doctors in the Boston Area
Five New Skin-Care-Focused Medspa Treatments for 2023


"A Map to Get Where I'm Going"
The Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience is celebrating storytelling through textiles in its new exhibit Material Pulses: Seven Viewpoints. Quilt-making as a practical art uniquely manifests itself in a vast variety of cultures and traditions all across the world. In this exhibition, seven fiber artists from all around the world will contribute to the contemporary dialogues of textile arts. Curator Nancy Crow says of the collection, "Material Pulses is the culmination of my mission to bring back the majesty, strength, and energy of textile works, particularly large quilts."
An extension of the exhibit, called Mississippi Quiltings, will celebrate the work of twenty Mississippi textile artists. Both collections will be on display from May 25–August 11. Free with museum admission. msarts.org.


A Gilead executive says the drugmaker can't cut product pricing because middlemen who manage drug benefits -- Pharmacy Benefit Managers -- would refuse to cover it.
While PBMs' role is to negotiate lower prices for customers, drugmakers have begun aggressively implicating these middlemen, such as Express Scripts and CVS Health, in the drug pricing debate. PBMs often take a cut of manufacturing rebates (about 10 percent) for themselves before passing the rest of the savings to the insurers. According to pharmaceutical companies, PBMs prefer higher list prices because the middlemen want to boost their own revenues.


text:
The Latest Bitcoin Hack Highlights a Major Problem
To bring the currency into the mainstream, investors need insurance against their money vanishing
Sean Burch | July 5, 2017 @ 4:56 PM
For investors, the regulations for popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum mirrors the law-and-order of the Wild West — as in, there's still plenty of safeguards that need to be put in place.
This was evident with the latest Bitcoin hacking scandal earlier this week, where 30,000 customers of Bithumb — the largest Bitcoin exchange in the world — had their data compromised. The South Korea-based exchange reported the heist to the country's Internet and Security Agency after billions of won — an amount of the South Korean currency equal to a few million dollars — had been stolen from its customers.
This pales in comparison to other Bitcoin hacks — $450 million vanished during the infamous downfall of the Mt. Gox exchange in 2014 — but still adds another blemish to the budding industry.
Also Read: Bitcoin's Mystery Creator Comes Forward -- But Not Without Skeptics
In a statement following the breach, Bithumb said it would pay hacked users ₩100,000 — or about $90 (hat tip to Google Translate). The company added "as soon as the amount of damages is confirmed, we will reimburse the entire amount."
While it remains to be seen if Bithumb will be able to repay all of the victims, the incident shined a light on a glaring issue holding cryptocurrency back: the lack of widespread insurance against evaporating investments. Several of the largest Bitcoin exchanges don't have a repayment policy, and there is no equivalent to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which backs US bank deposits up to $250,000.
Many Bitcoin users welcome this — the lack of regulation is part of the appeal cryptocurrencies have for many users. And to be sure, the FDIC doesn't insure investments, and Bitcoin is just like investing in the stock market. But for Bitcoin to continue its climb, the currency needs to be ubiquitous, and this is difficult to achieve without the confidence investments are safe.
Also Read: Inside Bitcoin's Crazy Run: 4 Reasons the Digital Currency Has Surged 40 Percent in 10 Days
Major exchanges like San Francisco-based Coinbase realize this, and have put in place insurance policies to assuage its investors. For Bitcoin to truly go mainstream, more exchanges will need to implement similar policies for their hacking victims.
'Minority Report' and 18 More Movies That Accurately Predicted Future Tech (Photos)
Steven Spielberg's tech-heavy "Minority Report," starring Tom Cruise, is now 15 years old. Considered one of the most prescient sci-fi movies to grace the big screen, it predicted multiple future innovations, including facial recognition, personalize advertising and predictive crime fighting. In honor of the movie's anniversary, click through here to revisit 18 more movies that accurately peered into the future of technology:
We're so used to touch screens at this point -- we use them every day on our smart phones, and even at McDonald's -- that it's easy to forget that Tom Cruise used the technology in "Minority Report."
Long before Siri, there was HAL. The ominous yet soft-spoken computer system was the antagonist in 1968's "2001: A Space Odyssey." Stanley Kubrick's sinister talking computer ended up turning on its crew in a Siri user's worst nightmare.
Tech giant Elon Musk is at the helm of SpaceX, which will send two tourists to space in 2018. But "2001: A Space Odyssey" imagined commercial space travel decades ago.
Elon Musk, Google and Uber have been duking it out to bring self-driving cars to the masses, but Arnold Schwarzenegger might have jumpstarted the competition when he took a robot-controlled ride in 1990's "Total Recall."
"The Terminator" predicted military drones in 1984 -- long before they were introduced to police forces and militaries.
Virtual reality is taking over the tech scene. You can play games in VR, watch movies and experience Coachella all from the comfort of your living room. But Hollywood predicted we'd have VR more than 20 years ago in 1992's "Lawnmower Man."
The 1982 cult classic "Blade Runner," starring Harrison Ford, predicted digital billboards, which you can see now all over the country, from Times Square in New York to the Vegas strip.
Remember when the TSA rolled out invasive body scanners and a lot of people freaked out? "Airplane II: The Sequel" imagined airport scanners that revealed a person's naked body to agents.
Just like other industries, robots are taking over jobs in the military, too. There are even listicles outlining the "coolest" military robots. "Short Circuit" predicted this technology with the prototype robot Number 5.
Woody Allen's "Sleeper" had robots assisting surgeons by offering advice during surgery. Today, doctors use robotics to add precision to procedures.
The beloved 1960s cartoon "The Jetsons" -- which was made into a movie in 1990 -- predicted the use of robots to clean homes. They had a robotic vacuum and a robotic maid. Can you say Roomba?
In vitro fertilization and at-home genetic testing are common place these days. "Gattaca," with Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, predicted this tech in 1997.
3D printing is used today in industries ranging from aerospace to medical. In "Weird Science," the boys 3D printed an actual girl.
Also Read: From 'E.T.' to 'Explorers': When Kids Ruled the Big Screen (Photos)
We know how dangerous cyber warfare is, and countless companies have been hacked recently. 1983's "WarGames" with Matthew Broderick is all about a kid who walks the line between gaming and reality.
FaceTime, and Skype before it, are commonplace today. But it was cool new technology in 1989's "Back to the Future Part II."
There are a ton of different options out there for smart watches. This was predicted in 1990's "Dick Tracy."
It's so easy to order Domino's online -- you can even watch how far along in the process your pizza is. In 1995's "The Net" with Sandra Bullock, they showed ordering pizza online for the first time.
Tinder, Bumble and OKCupid are only a few of the many, many online dating options out there. But Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks were on the forefront of the online dating trend in "You've Got Mail."
VR porn is growing in popularity. Or as it's called in 1993's "Demolition Man" -- "digitized transference of sexual energies."
The 1929 movie "Woman in the Moon" predicted space travel. Obviously, we hit that milestone decades ago. And hey, they even got the shuttle shape right!
Also Read: 'Top Gun': 30 Things You Didn't Know About the Tom Cruise Classic (Photos)
Fritz Lang Film
From robotic vacuums to smart watches, Hollywood got these tech trends right
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Journeys with Roy
New tramcar on the city circuit
I have spotted a new tramcar on Christchurch Tramways. R Class, No.1888. was making its first revenue run on Christmas Day 2017.
``New'' is not quite the correct expression. It was built in 1934 by Clyde Engineering, Granville, NSW, for use by the NSW Government Tramways. Numbered 1088, it ran on the Sydney tramway network till 1959 when it was donated to the Sydney Tramway Museum. It had been on lease to MOTAT in Auckland prior to being shipped to Christchurch where it was repainted at Ferrymead Heritage Park by Tramways Heritage Trust people and prepared for a new lease of life. The original predominantly green livery was replaced with light blue enabling 1888 to stand out from other Christchurch city tramcars.
No. 1888 is on a 20-year lease from Sydney Tramway museum. Howard Clark, chair of the museum, was in Christchurch to see the tramcar arrive in the city. He approved of the new blue and cream livery and its renumbering from 1088 to eighteen eighty-eight.
I cannot think of one thing wrong with it, '' he said. ``Its new livery suits the type of tramcar it is.''
Its light blue and cream livery will make 1888 stand out from the other city tramcars. It is expected to be a great asset to Christchurch Tramway owing to the increased numbers of visitors and capacity required on the extended tram route. The new addition brings the number of Christchurch heritage trams to seven. One is the popular Restaurant tram No. 411 also leased from Sydney Tramway Museum.
Interesting heritage features retained include notices in the saloon.
Posted by Journeys with Roy at 18:49 No comments:
I am not one to brag by blog. But until last week I would have had no idea what a Civic Award looked like even if I tripped over one. Luckily rather than tripping over, I was presented with one by Lianne Dalziel, mayor of Christchurch. It was in recognition of my efforts in getting the New Zealand World Peace Bell to Christchurch. It has been a prominent feature of our Botanic Gardens for 11 years. It was one of about 40 bells worldwide gifted, from Japan, to countries that had contributed significantly to world peace. Along with being a venue for peace-related gatherings, the bell site is also a meeting place and sanctuary in Christchurch Botanic Gardens. I had been nominated for the award by David Bolam-Smith.
I became interested in the World Peace Bell while a reporter on the Press newspaper. I discovered a reference to a mayor of Shikoku, Japan, Chiyoji Nakagawa, who in 1954 had a huge temple bell cast using coins from member countries of the newly-formed United Nations. The bell was subsequently placed in the UN forecourt, New York, mounted on soil from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nakagawa's message in gifting the bell was; what happened to my country should never happen to any other.
The success of the World Peace Bell was such that further bells were cast and gifted to countries that had made notable efforts towards attaining world peace.
I considered the actions of Mayor Nakagawa were brave. I then thought similarly of the actions of New Zealand Prime Minister, David Lange, initiating New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy 30 years ago.
I visited my first World Peace Bell in Cowra when on leave to write a story about the NSW town's annual cherry blossom festival. The Cowra bell is one symbol commemorating friendship between Japan and Australia resulting from the 1944 tragedy of the Cowra prisoner of war breakout during which some 200 Japanese were killed by Australian gunfire. Four Australian guards died. Many share the same Cowra cemetery.
During the 2001 Japanese winter I had an opportunity to travel to Soya misaki, northernmost tip of Japan, to visit a World Peace Bell. A temperature gauge at Soya misaki recorded -22 Celsius. Quite a breeze was blowing. The nearest landmass is Siberia.
My subsequent story in the Press was sent to the World Peace Bell Association in Tokyo. The organisation distributed the story to worldwide World Peace Bell chapters.
This provided the opportunity to start negotiations to fulfil an ambition to have a World Peace Bell gifted to New Zealand. Being a keen cycling traveller, I offered, as part of the deal, to cycle the length of Japan.
In the meantime I found out that the World Peace Bell Association had previously approached Wellington with the idea of gifting New Zealand a bell. Wellington City principals had little enthusiasm for the gift.
Capital cities were preferred locations. But I knew the Australian World Peace Bell did not go to the capital.
I also knew Christchurch, in 2002, had been declared New Zealand's first Peace City. The concept was founded when a Christchurch peace activist, Kate Dewes, had a Peace City submission accepted by the UN Security Council. Also many of New Zealand's peace promoters were Christchurch people.
I was advised that if he could swing the World Peace Bell for Christchurch the then mayor Gary Moore and his council would support it.
I signed the agreement with WBPA CEO, Tomijiro Yoshida in Tokyo on August 21, 2004.
Next day with my partner, Haruko, we flew with bicycles and gear (brought from New Zealand) to Wakkanai City. We were taken 30 km to the cape by a group from Wakkanai City Hall. Once there, we unpacked and assembled our bikes.
Following a ringing of the Soya misaki World Peace Bell the 4200 km journey began. It was our first of many bicycle journeys outside New Zealand.
We had allotted a three month stay in Japan. That was sufficient time to ride to Soya Sata, southern tip of Honshu (69 days) and a ride around southern Kyushu to Kagoshima City, then part of Shikoku and finally to Kurashiki (sister city of Christchurch), finishing the journey in Osaka.
Among highlights was the Atomic bomb museum of Nagasaki. There, I spotted a panel listing countries that had made significant efforts towards world peace.
To my delight New Zealand was Number One.
That evening I opened an email from Barbara August, of Christchurch City Council's International Relations advising the New Zealand World Peace Bell had been cast was to be loaded onto the Japanese Peace Boat making its first voyage to New Zealand, calling at Auckland.
David Given, then curator of Christchurch Botanic Gardens, suggested the site for the bell. He welcomed an item from Japan saying our Botanic Gardens represented a society descended from Britain.
In the 21st Century that was no longer the case. Christchurch was multi-cultural. Besides, he had Asian plants he was keen to make use of.
A healthy camphor tree close to the World Peace Bell grew from a cutting obtained from a camphor tree that sprung up soon after the Nagasaki bombing on August 9, 1945.This was despite predictions nothing would grow for at least another 70 years.
Cuttings went to several destinations. The tree lives on in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Leaving more than footprints
I enjoy writing about people who are inspirational. I recent interview is a case in point. I met Mike Lowdon and Tina Morrell representing a foursome training hard for a trek to Everest Base Camp from March 24 to April 15, 2018.
In addition to their arduous trek they will be raising funds to rebuild a home in the village, Khumbjung, destroyed in the Gorkha earthquake of April 25, 2015. The Sherpa family is presently living under canvass. The mother, Tangii, is unwell and needs medical help. The foursome's mission is labelled Project EBC. The four are Mike Lowden aged 56, Tina Morrell 50, Bette Chen 37 and Fergus Flannery 19.
``We Want to make a difference,'' says Tina Morrell.
``As individuals we had had an ambition to do something challenging we had not done before. We eventually crossed paths and struck a really good friendship.''
Mike is business development manager at Ideal Electric. Tina is involved with Toastmasters and marketing. Betty is the IT and digital marketing expert at Landpower agricultural machinery. Fergus is presently walking the Aotearoa Trail, the length of New Zealand.
``It is a massive undertaking over about nine days,'' says Mike Lowden.
``The distance is not the challenge. More so will be acclimatising to altitude and coping with altitude sickness. We will climb over 5500 m.''
Other expected challenges include food. Meat is not good owing to it being old when consumed. The team will likely be lacking in protein. Flying into Lukla airport at the start of the trek is another challenge, it being considered one of the world's most dangerous. It was constructed in 1964 under the supervision of Sir Edmund Hillary.
The team has been involved in hill walking, running marathons and specialised altitude acclimatising training.
The trek has been booked with Anne Young Trekking Adventures,
``She put us in touch with the Sherpa family we want to help,'' says Mike Lowden.
Mike is no stranger at being involved in events. He organises an annual spin bike event at Ideal Electric in Montreal Street, Christchurch. It is dubbed Tour de Montreal and is run during the famous Tour de France cycling race. The event raises funds for Special Olympics. The experience over six years has helped Mike with Project EBC.
Helping others is in his genes. It may simply be assisting someone experiencing problems in his workplace.
The team is self-supporting enabling all fundraising to go to the house rebuild project. Buckets have been rattled in workplaces. A Givealittle page is linked to their Project EBC Facebook page.
A recent presentation at Zonta Club of Christchurch-Canterbury went well creating interest amongst professional women.
``We have raised $1700 in just a month,'' Says Tina Morrell. The goal is $25,000.''
Mike says 2018 marks 65 years since Sir Ed summited Everest with Tenzing Norgay
``Who better to have as inspiration than Sir Ed? We will be giving back to the community as Ed did. It's going to be fantastic.''
Project EBC contacts:
FB Project EBC
Email projectebc2018@gmail.com
Webpage www.projectebc.com
New tramcar on the city circuit I have spotted a n...
Community recognition I am not one to brag by blo...
Leavingmore ...


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1949 the First Israelis
Renowned historian Tom Segev strips away national myths to present a critical and clear-eyed chronicle of the year immediately following Israel's foundation.
"Required reading for all who want to understand the Arab-Israeli conflict…the best analysis…of the problems of trying to integrate so many people from such diverse cultures into one political body" (The New York Times Book Review).
Historian and journalist Tom Segev stirred up controversy in Israel upon the first publication of 1949. It was a landmark book that told a different story of the country's early years, one that wasn't taught in schools or shown in popular culture. Rather than painting the idealized picture of the Israel's founding in 1948, after the wreckage of the Holocaust, Segev reveals gritty underside behind the early years.
The new country of Israel faced challenges on all sides. Day-to-day life was severe, marked by austerity and food shortages; Israeli society was fractured between traditional and secular camps; Jewish immigrants from Middle-Eastern countries faced discrimination and second-class treatment; and clashes between settlers and the Arabs would set the tone for relations for the following decades, hardening attitudes and creating a violent cycle of retaliation.
Drawing on journal entries, letters, declassified government documents, and more, 1949 is a richly detailed look at the friction between the idealism of the Zionist movement and the cold realities of history. Decades after its publication in the United States, Segev's groundbreaking book is still required reading for anyone who wants to understand Israel's past and future.
Tom Segev
Tom Segev is one of Israel's best-known historians. He is often cited as one of Israel's New Historians who challenged the country's traditional narratives. His books have been published in 14 languages and include 1949: The Other Israelis; One Palestine Complete: Jews and Arabs Under the British Mandate; The Seventh Million: Israelis and the Holocaust; and 1967: Israel, The War, and the Year that Transformed the Middle East.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (August 14, 2018)
History > Israel
Political Science > Nationalism
Political Science > Civics
Book Cover Image (jpg): 1949 the First Israelis
eBook 9781982102074


Creating viral content is still a big deal for many companies, but it doesn't take five million views on Youtube to do great things for a company. While the object of many social campaigns seems to be creating a mainstream phenomenon, the target market for many companies isn't mainstream. For a lot of companies, aiming for mainstream consumers rather than a niche group is like shooting to just hit the target instead of the bullseye.
Though there are a large number of companies focusing on general consumer goods and services, strategies that try to create the next online phenomenon do little for most companies because the audience is too broad. Content spreads the most effectively when it is emotionally compelling and targeted at a specific audience. Content that is insightful, inspiring, useful, surprising, upsetting, frightening, or exciting will spread. And, if it's relevant to your audience, it will spread to the right people, even if it doesn't spread to as many.
Because the people who send you links tend to send you business as well, links are a useful metric to measure, but links are also valuable on a more technical level. For search engines, links play a large part in determining the importance and relevance of a website. Although there are other ways to get links, there's nothing as powerful for a link building campaign as a piece of quality content that gets shared. Here too, misconceptions abound.
There's so much talk about the people who link and why they link, but in reality the best links are rarely mysteries. The people who link are usually influencers in the target market, and they link because the content is useful or compelling. The internet is mainstream now -- instead of creating content focused on technological influencers, it makes more sense to understand your market and create content they would find interesting regardless of the fact that they found it online. Everyday your customers are likely talking, writing, tumbling, and interacting with media online. If you build it, they will link.
Another misconception some people have is that link building is a pure numbers game. The truth is that search engines are just as concerned, if not more so, with the quality and relevancy of inbound links as they are with the number of them. That's why creating good content is vastly superior to other methods of getting links: good content stands a chance at getting picked up by important and relevant sites in your niche. Other methods such as social media profiles, message boards, and link trades rarely make as much of a difference as a few good links from influential individuals. That being said, Google and friends regard links as a way to measure the conversation about your brand online, if one person thinks the world of you, that's great, but if fifty people think the world of you, that's better.
The internet has moved from static information to a dialog between individuals, and now to a dialog between brands and their customers. Creating content is the best way to join this conversation, and it greatly benefits your search, social, and even PR efforts. The question is: does your company have the time for content?


With this exhibition, we wanted to showcase the Samuel J. Zacks Gallery in its entirety; allowing guests to see not only see the works of Samuel J. Zacks, but also the artistic works of the Zacks Gallery Team.
Featured in the gallery were several of Samuel J. Zacks paintings, including some of his portraits and abstraction pieces. They were placed alongside and juxtaposed with the works of Gallery Director Kristen Elizabeth Donoghue-Stanford and Gallery Monitors Dayna Densmore and Molly Short.
Combining the works of Samuel J. Zacks and the Zacks Gallery team enabled us to deliver a gallery showing that would exhibit painting, drawing, photography,and sculpture in a unique and unified show that would express the artistic creativity of the gallery from its past to its present and leave thoughts of the future.
Dayna Densmore's work focused on unique abstracted ink drawings intermingled with red thread sewn into the works.
Molly Short's work focused on self-portrait and self-reflection paintings along with photography that juxtaposed the abstraction of Samuel J. Zacks work.
Kristen Elizabeth Donoghue-Stanford's work focused on sculpture, representing a physical element of abstraction.
The purpose of this exhibit was an opening up of exploration for the team of Samuel J. Zacks Gallery. As all new members of the team, each was eager to explore and work together to make the first gallery a tribute to Samuel J. Zacks and the past, present, and future of the gallery.


Add the finishing touch to your nursery with this Cowboy Baby Window Valance. Cotton percale valance features a cowboy themed scatter print in powder blue, desert sand, chocolate brown, cream and touches of orange and dusk blue. A chocolate brown ultrasuede accent strip adds the finishing touch. Measures 82 in x 15 in.


Whenever my Mami and I get together our conversation veers in all directions and finally culminates in our one and only indulgence : cooking! Vazhaikkai Podi is a spicy curry which has to be crumbly as the name itself suggests. I usually cut the Raw Banana/ Vazhaikkai along with the peel and then boil it till done. Then I cool it, peel it, crumble it and then mix it with the spice powder to make this delicious dish. If the vegetable is slightly overcooked the Vazhaikkai Podi (Raw Banana Crumble) is sure to turn into Vazhaikkai Masial (Raw Banana Mash)! Mami taught me a traditional method to cook Raw Banana/Vazhaikkai wherein it would remain dry and crumbly even after cooking. Here is the traditional method to make a delicious and crumbly Vazhaikkai Podi.
1. Wash and wipe the Raw Banana/Vazhaikkai and place it on live flame.
2. Hold the stalk and turn it now and then so that it is uniformly grilled.
3. Allow the skin to char on all sides.
4. The sharp edge of a knife can be easily inserted into the Banana/Vazhaikkai when it is done.
5. Allow the grilled Raw Banana/Vazhaikkai to cool down completely.
6. Scrape off the charred peel using a knife.
7. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the tamarind till crisp and keep aside.
8. Add the dals, red chillies and mustard seeds into the same oil and roast till the dals turn golden in coliour.
9. Add asfoetida and switch off fame.
10. Cool the roasted ingredients and grind them coarsely adding the fried tamarind and salt.
11. Cut the grilled and peeled Raw Banana/Vazhaikkai into four pieces and add to the mixer.
12. Just give it one swish so that it crumbles and blends with the spice.
One extra swish will make the Podi mushy. Safest method is to crumble the grilled Raw banana/ sutta Vazhaikkai using your hand.
The powdered spice can be gently worked into the crumbled vegetable.
Enjoy the Sutta Vazhaikkai Podi mixed with plain rice or relish it as a side dish with your meal.


Homebuyers tend to have a strongly favorable opinion of green features, if the impact on price is not mentioned, according to NAHB's publication What Home Buyers Really Want.
And the recent McGraw Hill Construction Smart Market Report, Green Multifamily and Single Family Homes: Growth in a Recovering Market also found that buyers seeking green features were most drawn to energy savings…and saving money. But can the two co-exist? Builders are definitely including more and more of the features.
The Best in American Living article, Keen for Green: Eco-Friendly Features Buyers Want (and Which Ones Buyers Actually Include) investigates how buyers and green features are trending in a market predicted to translate to $80-101 billion by 2016 based on current forecasts.


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Miriatra chalazombra är en insektsart som beskrevs av Günther, K. 1939. Miriatra chalazombra ingår i släktet Miriatra och familjen torngräshoppor. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Torngräshoppor
chalazombra

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Six minutes with Kripi Bhatt
By Floyd Alexander-Hunt - Aug 12, 2021 2:00 pm AEST
Kripi Bhatt is Legal Counsel at CPB Contractors. Prior to moving to Australia, she worked at a top commercial law firm in India in the banking and finance sector. Despite her extensive experience, Bhatt struggled to find work when she first arrived in Australia. Now employed by a leading construction company, Bhatt talks about her career and the committee she's set up to support foreign qualified lawyers migrating to Australia.
Tell us about your upbringing?
I grew up in a small town in the centre of India. To give you an understanding of how small it is, malls were only built there a couple of years ago. There were not many opportunities growing up. I decided to do law because in India you see extreme human rights issues every day and I wanted to help. Fortunately, I was able to get into one of the top 10 law schools in India and from there I was placed in a top-tier law firm in Mumbai.
What is it like working as a lawyer in the building and construction industry?
I'm a first-generation, female, foreign qualified, Indian lawyer working in Australia. Being a woman in construction adds another dimension. I make sure I'm extra prepared, even if it's the simplest of meetings, to subvert any potential presumption. It is an extremely interesting industry and working with CPB Contractors, I get to be part of the most iconic projects in Australia. Even in 50 years, I'll be able to tell my kids "I worked on that".
What has been a particular obstacle you have had to overcome?
When I first arrived in Australia and started applying for jobs, recruiters told me "you will never get a job" or "why don't you just change your career?" I applied for hundreds of legal jobs and was rejected from almost all of them. Despite having experience at a top-tier law firm in India I was rejected on the basis that I had no local experience. But how was I meant to obtain local experience when no one was willing to give me an opportunity in Australia?
Tell us about the Foreign Qualified Lawyers Sub-Committee
The Foreign Qualified Lawyers Sub-Committee is a group I founded within the NSW branch of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association (AALA). It's for overseas lawyers who come to Australia and have to re-qualify and break into the legal profession. I created this sub-committee because I lacked mentorship when I arrived in Australia. I wanted to create a network for foreign lawyers and equip them with the skills they need to adapt to the Australian legal market. I want to grow this group and bring awareness to the struggles and barriers foreign qualified lawyers face.
What has been your career highlight?
I am really proud I am now qualified in two different jurisdictions and that I overcame the identity crisis I had when I first moved. I've been able to move from a one day a week position into a full-time role in a top-tier construction company. I've also set up a committee where I can help foreign qualified lawyers. I'm passionate about getting people to talk about the issues foreign lawyers face as it has largely been ignored in Australia until now.
I love reading. I'm someone who usually has five books going at any one time. I also enjoy bushwalking, so I try and go up to the Blue Mountains and catch a sunrise every now and again. Every year I also try and learn a new skill. Last summer, I learnt surfing and this year I'm looking to go skiing.
tagged in | News
Six minutes with Chin Tan
Six minutes with Hanaan Indari
Six minutes with Courtney Bowie


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Update: Bonds set for Alban armed robbery suspects
Incident was reported at the Wigwam Inn
Update: Bonds set for Alban armed robbery suspects Incident was reported at the Wigwam Inn Check out this story on stevenspointjournal.com: http://spjour.nl/1y0seZc
Sari Lesk and Nathan Vine, Wisconsin Published 4:45 p.m. CT Nov. 30, 2014 | Updated 2:13 p.m. CT Dec. 1, 2014
Harlon Raymond Jr.(Photo: Contributed photo)
ALBAN — The suspects in an armed robbery Sunday morning in the town of Alban made their initial appearances in court Monday.
Harlon Raymond, 24, of New London; Tanner Raymond, 20, of Wautoma; and Destiny Clinton, 17, of Manawa were arrested in connection to an armed robbery at Wigwam Inn, 4791 N. Wigwam Road, town of Alban. Judge John Finn set a $500,000 cash bond for both Harlon Raymond and Tanner Raymond, and a $50,000 cash bond for Clinton. All three are being held in the Portage County Jail on charges of armed robbery, criminal damage to property and resisting an officer. Additional charges may follow.
Tanner Raymond (Photo: Contributed photo)
The Portage County Sheriff's Office and the K-9 unit responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Wigwam Inn at 12:43 a.m. Sunday. Two males wearing ski masks had reportedly robbed the establishment while brandishing a rifle, according to a news release from the Sheriff's Office. The suspects slashed the tires of tavern patrons before fleeing the scene, the release said.
A responding deputy observed a suspicious vehicle traveling south on Highway 49. Upon contact with the vehicle, three suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot into a wooded area, leaving the still-moving car to roll unoccupied into a ditch, the release said.
Additional deputies responded to the scene, established a perimeter and undertook an extensive search. The deputies were assisted by the Marathon County Sheriff's Office and one of its K-9 teams, the Waupaca County Sheriff's Office and conservation wardens from the Department of Natural Resources.
Destiny Clinton (Photo: Contributed photo)
The suspects were tracked back to the village of Rosholt during a canvas of the village, and deputies checked a residence on Washington Avenue at about 8:10 a.m. The homeowner allowed officers to check his home, where all three suspects were located hiding in the basement, the release said. They were taken into custody without incident.
Deputies recovered about $1,400 in cash and an AK-47 style assault rifle. The incident remains under investigation.
The suspects will be back in court on Dec. 15.
Sari Lesk can be reached at 715-345-2257. Follow her on Twitter as @Sari_Lesk.
Read or Share this story: http://spjour.nl/1y0seZc


Payday Loans in Basco (Hancock County) IL - How to Get a Payday Loan in Basco?
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