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Canadian government re-opens privacy debate on access to telecom subscriber info
By Rose Behar
Oct 6, 20167:10 AM EDT
The Canadian government has revived a discussion on a particularly controversial privacy topic: how much access law enforcement should have to telecom subscriber information in the name of public safety.
In September 2016 the government opened a public consultation on national security, releasing a 'green paper' and background document that details issues, challenges and general questions surrounding national security threats like domestic terrorism.
A topic with a long history
Many topics are covered in the documents, but there's one in particular that may sound familiar to Canadians: the issue of warrantless access to subscriber information from telecom companies.
Michael Geist, Canada research chair in internet and e-commerce law at the University of Ottawa, states in an article for The Globe and Mail that the government has been pushing for easier access to carrier data since the early 2000s, with the initiative seeing setbacks such as the defeat of Bill C-30.
Lawful access legislation eventually passed in 2014, resembling something near a compromise between consumer and government interests. Warrant-less disclosure of information and government surveillance capabilities for telecoms were nixed, but the legislation also eliminated liability concerns for Internet service providers (ISPs) that voluntarily disclose basic information and gave the police new powers to require access to digital data.
Watchdog pushback
The above-mentioned public consultation — started by Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale — has put the issue back up for debate, however.
"The Public Safety consultation skips over the years of lawful access debate by putting everything back on the table," writes Geist, "acknowledging that the law was updated less than 24 months ago but suggesting that more change may be needed."
The issue has also been brought to the forefront by the Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic in a report titled "Canada's National Security Consultation I: Digital Anonymity & Subscriber Identification Revisited… Yet Again."
The report, written by Tamir Israel and Christopher Parsons, notes that attempts to legislate access to subscriber identification data — which can include IP addresses, home addresses and mobile IMEI numbers — have always proven controversial and "fallen in the face of public resistance."
Ongoing discussion
As for the Minister's thoughts on the matter, a spokesperson stated to Motherboard: "While both basic subscriber information (BSI) and a phone book can both be used to identify someone, BSI requires safeguards because some of it can reveal intimate details of a person's activities when linked to other information. That principle has been affirmed by the courts. The government is committed to protecting both Canadians' safety and their rights, including their privacy rights."
The spokesperson added that the green paper was meant to "provoke discussion."
The public consultation remains open until December 1st, 2016 and can be accessed here if you'd like to add your voice to the conversation.
Related: Canadian government launches public forum on cyber security
[source]The Globe and Mail, CIPPIC[/source][via]Motherboard[/via]
News by Nida Zafar
Gaming by Patrick O'Rourke
News by Brad Bennett


We can't believe we're nearly in September here at Designcall. For us this normally means we'll be getting even busier over the next few months in the run up to Christmas. We are all the same, and want our homes to look fabulous for our family and friends when they join us over the festive period. So we'll be designing, measuring, sourcing, researching, buying and fitting like mad for our customers in order to get their homes ready in time.
Autumn also features the annual Interior Design trade show Decorex International, which we're really excited about. We can't wait to take a look at the new ranges from our beautiful fabric, furniture, lighting and accessories suppliers and perhaps see some new suppliers too. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates from the show later in September.
Current trends feature minty green accents which will add a touch of freshness as we go into the autumn months. As you can see from these fabulous stacked suitcases from Oliver Bonas, mint green works well with other muted shades such as lilacs and sage green. Classic monochrome seems to be making another appearance in accessories, fabrics and wallpaper so I'm sure we'll see these themes at the show. We particularly love this sketched style Empress Rose wallpaper from Clarke and Clarke below. Copper is also making a comeback – be it reclaimed and weathered or super shiny. We can't wait to work this look into one of our schemes – perhaps teaming it alongside pewter and warm greys and blues. This large copper tear-drop vase is gorgeous.
We've also been continuing to work away building our online shop – Designcall Store – and it is getting very close to going live! The latest additions include wallpaper from Andrew Martin, quirky cushions and an array of sparkly beautiful glassware from candle holders to glass boxes and bottles. We can't wait for you to see it and start ordering!


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Il santuario della Madonna del Soccorso si trova a Prato nell'omonima piazza.

Storia
Esisteva un piccolo tabernacolo con una Madonna che allatta il bambino opera del primo Quattrocento di Piero o Antonio Miniati poco fuori porta Santa Trinita presso quale avvenne un evento ritenuto miracoloso: il 6 novembre 1570 una pastorella con il suo gregge fu sorpresa da un'improvvisa pioggia torrenziale, così forte e prolungata da far straripare i fossi circostanti e intimorire la bambina, che si rifugiò presso il tabernacolo posto in un luogo rialzato; pregando la sacra immagine le acque, che ormai circondavano la zona, avrebbero iniziato a ritirarsi, fino a lasciare il passo per la bambina e il suo gregge.

Con altri eventi prodigiosi e una devozione popolare sempre crescente, si decise far lastricare la strada che portava al tabernacolo e costruire un piccolo oratorio (1574). Poco tempo dopo fu stanziato di far nascere in quella zona una nuova chiesa vera e propria, che venne eretta in pochi anni (1575-1585) su progetto di Alfonso Parigi il vecchio.

La chiesa fu progettata con un portico che circondava la facciata su tre lati, in maniera da fare da riparo per i numerosi pellegrini che arrivavano in questa zona di aperta campagna che faceva una sorta di filtro tra interno ed esterno. Questa caratteristica, qui usata per la prima volta, divenne un modello frequentemente replicato per altre chiese sorte tra Sei e Settecento, soprattutto santuari mariani, in tutta la Toscana.

Il campanile fu innalzato nel 1826 in uno stile tra barocco e neoclassico, su progetto di Giovan Battista Bacci.

Il 26 giugno 1899 il complesso venne danneggiato dalla scossa del terremoto della Valle del Bisenzio, che determinò il cedimento e la caduta di una volta della chiesa.

Nel 1921 la chiesa fu elevata a propositura.

Descrizione
Nel sobrio interno a navata unica con soffitto a capriate, un imponente altare cinquecentesco in pietra serena lumeggiata in oro di Piero di Andrea, con paraste scanalate concluse da timpano spezzato, accolse il tabernacolo, staccato non senza difficoltà. Attorno all'immagine sacra il fiorentino Santi di Tito realizzò una bellissima tavola di Santi di Tito con Dio Padre, lo Spirito Santo e angeli (1580-84), che corona scenograficamente la Madonna col Bambino. L'altare si trova separato dalla navata da una struttura ad arco su pilastri.

Nella navata due nicchie settecentesche sono appena accennate e accolgono i confessionali e due tele. Quella di sinistra, l'Educazione della Vergine di Giuliano Traballesi faceva pendant con un'immagine di Giuseppe Gricci sopra l'altare sinistro: il Transito di San Giuseppe; purtroppo la prima opera fu rubata nel febbraio 1997 e sostituita con un dipinto devozionale.

L'acquasantiera a pila a destra dell'entrata fu donata nel settembre 1578 dalle comunità in pellegrinaggio di Santa Lucia e San Bartolomeo a Coiano.

Altre immagini

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Madonna del Soccorso
Chiese dedicate a santa Maria del Soccorso

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text:
September Newsletter: 'What's That You're Doing?' (No.9/Vol.9)
McCartney IIIWhat's That You're Doing?
Ahoy there! This month might have sailed by, but it's been action-packed with magical trips with Grandude across land, sea playlists and bookshops. From Grandude's Green Submarine - the much anticpated sequel to Paul's internationally bestselling picture book to exciting updated about Paul's other literary adventure THE LYRICS.
Find out everything Paul's been up to in September in the monthly newsletter here!
Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter, along with all the latest updates on Paul's news and releases by registering here.
August Newsletter: 'What's That You're Doing?' (No.8/Vol.9)
Releases30 August 2021
July Newsletter: 'What's That You're Doing?' (No.7/Vol.9)
Releases30 July 2021
UPDATED: Paul Like You've Never Seen Him Before In The 'Find My Way (Feat. Beck)' Music Video!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I was searching for a Property and found this listing (MLS® #16582459). Please send me more information regarding 1901 Myrtle Dr, Atlanta, Georgia, 30311. Thank you!
I'd like to request a showing of 1901 Myrtle Dr, Atlanta, Georgia, 30311 (MLS® #16582459). Thank you!


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British Assassination Campaign Targeting Russian Exiles
Mon 9:31 pm +00:00, 23 Jul 2018
posted by Gordon Logan
? By Finian Cunningham
Over the past decade or so, a disturbing number of Russian nationals living in Britain have met untimely deaths. The victims – at least 14 – have been high-profile individuals, such as oligarch businessman Boris Berezovsky or former Kremlin security agent Alexander Litvinenko. All were living in Britain as exiles, and all were viewed as opponents of President Vladimir Putin's government.
Invariably, British politicians and news media refer to the deaths of Russian émigrés as "proof" of Russian state "malign activity". Putin in particular is accused of ordering "the hits" as some kind of vendetta against critics and traitors.
The claims of Russian state skulduggery have been reported over and over without question in the British media as well as US media. It has become an article-of-faith espoused by British and American politicians alike. "Putin is a killer," they say with seeming certainty. There is simply no question about it in their assertions.
The claims have also been given a quasi-legal veracity, with a British government-appointed inquiry in the case of Alexander Litvinenko making a conclusion that his death in 2006 was "highly likely" the result of a Kremlin plot to assassinate. Putin was personally implicated in the death of Litvinenko by the official British inquiry. The victim was said to have been poisoned with radioactive polonium. Deathbed images of a bald-headed Litvinenko conjure up a haunting image of alleged Kremlin evil-doing.
Once the notion of Russian evil-doing is inculcated the public mind, then subsequent events can be easily invoked as "more proof" of what has already been "established". Namely, so it goes, that the Russian state is carrying out assassinations on British territory.
Thus, we see this "corroborating" effect with the alleged poisoning of a former Russian double-agent, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter in Salisbury back in March this year.
What actually happened to the Skripals is not known – who are said to have since recovered their health, but their whereabouts have not been disclosed by the British authorities. Nevertheless, as soon as the incident of their apparent poisoning occurred, it was easy for the British authorities and media to whip up accusations against Russia as being behind "another assassination attempt" owing to the past "established template" of other Russian émigrés seeming to have been killed by Kremlin agents.
For its part, the Russian government has always categorically denied any involvement in the ill-fate of nationals living in exile in Britain. On the Skripal case, Moscow has pointed out that the British authorities have not produced any independently verifiable evidence against the Kremlin. Russian requests for access to the investigation file have been rejected by the British.
On the Litvinenko case, Russia has said that the official British inquiry was conducted without due process of transparency, or Russia being allowed to defend itself. It was more trial by media.
A common denominator is that the British have operated on a presumption of guilt. The "proof" is largely at the level of allegation or innuendo of Russian malfeasance.
But let's turn the premise of the argument around. What if the British state were the ones conducting a campaign of assassination against Russian émigrés, with the cold-blooded objective of using those deaths as a propaganda campaign to blacken and criminalize Russia?
In a recent British media interview Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was typically harangued over alleged Russian malign activity in Britain. Lavrov rightly turned the question around, and said that the Russian authorities are the ones who are entitled to demand an explanation from the British state on why so many of its nationals have met untimely deaths.
The presumption of guilt against Russia is based on a premise of Russophobia, which prevents an open-minded inquiry. If an open mind is permitted, then surely a more pertinent position is to ask the British authorities to explain the high number of deaths in their jurisdiction.
As ever, the litmus-test question is: who gains from the deaths? In the case of the alleged attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, would Russia risk such a bizarre plot against an exile who had been living in Britain undisturbed for 10 years? Or would Britain gain much more from smearing Moscow at the time of President Putin's re-election in March, and in the run-up to the World Cup?
The more recent alleged nerve-agent poisoning of two British citizens – Charlie Rowley and Dawn Sturgess – in the southern English town of Amesbury revived official anti-Russia accusations and public fears over the earlier Skripal incident in nearby Salisbury.
The Amesbury incident in early July occurred just as a successful World Cup tournament in Russia was underway. It also came ahead of US President Donald Trump's landmark summit with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki.
Again, who stands to gain most from these provocative events? Russia or Britain?
Another revealing twist in the presumed narrative of "Kremlin criminality" came from a recent interview given to Russian news media by the daughter of the deceased oligarch Boris Berezovsky. Of course, her side of the story received no coverage in the British media.
Liza Berezovsky believes that her father's death in 2013, while living in exile in Britain, was the dirty work of British state assassins. The case has added importance because it links directly to the previous death of Alexander Litvinenko, who was also living as an exile in Britain.
Berezovsky's daughter believes that her father wanted to return from Britain to Russia so that he could live out his old age in his native country. She claims that the oligarch had vital information on how the death of Litvinenko in 2006, reportedly from radioactive polonium poisoning, had actually been staged as a smear against Putin and the Kremlin.
Boris Berezovsky, his daughter claims, played a key role along with the British state in orchestrating the demise of Litvinenko to look like an assassination plot carried out by the Kremlin. It was Berezovsky who apparently suggested that Litvinenko, with whom he was an associate, shave off his hair in order to drum up the suspicion of Kremlin poisoning.
Liza Berezovsky contends that, seven years after Litvinenko died, her father was preparing to divulge the dirty tricks involving the British state and their anti-Russian campaign. She said the oligarch wanted to atone for his past misdeeds and to make his peace with Mother Russia. She believes that British state agents got wind of his plans to come clean, which would have caused them an acute international scandal.
In March 2013, just days before he was due to depart from Britain, the oligarch was found dead in his mansion near Ascot, in the English countryside, apparently from suicide caused by a ligature around his neck.
In the end, however, a British civil coroner did not conclude suicide, and left an "open verdict" on the death. An eminent German pathologist hired by Liza Berezovsky provided post-mortem evidence that her father's body showed signs of his death having not been self-inflicted. He was, in their view, murdered.
It is not beyond the realms of possibility that British secret services are running an assassination program on Russian exiles. These exiles are often used for a time by the British state as media assets, presented as high-profile critics of the Kremlin and lending testimonies to much-publicized allegations of "authoritarianism" and "human rights abuses" under Putin.
At some opportune later time, these Russian dissidents can be liquidated by British agents. Their deaths are then presented as "more proof" of Russian malign activity and in particular for the purpose of criminalizing President Putin and his government.
Considering how London has become an international haven for Russian oligarchs whose wealth is often tainted as being proceeds from criminal activity against Russian laws and who therefore are easily framed as Putin opponents – the British state has ample opportunities for setting up "assassinations" and anti-Putin provocations.
Such a nefarious British program is by no means unprecedented. During the 30-year armed conflict in Northern Ireland ending in the late 1990s, it is documented that the British state ran clandestine assassination campaigns against Irish republican figures, as well as ordinary citizens, as a coldly calculated political instrument of state-sponsored terrorism. It was an instrument honed by the British from other colonial-era conflicts, such as in Kenya, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Malaysia (formerly Malaya), and in several Arab countries like Bahrain and Yemen, as detailed by British historian Mark Curtis in his book Web of Deceit.
Adapting such heinous techniques for a contemporary propaganda war against Russia wouldn't cost any qualms to British state grandees and their agents. Indeed, for them, it would be simply Machiavellian business-as-usual.
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2018/07/20/british-assassination-campaign-targeting-russian-exiles.html


9 values (2/1 Euro - 50/20/10/5/2/1 cent) FDC; official Mint packaging.
Containing 1 medal F. S in silver 'IV Centenary of the death of Caravaggio' with certificate in elegant case.
'IV Centenary of the death of Caravaggio' with certificate in elegant case.
Shipping via registered mail only.
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text:
contact@healthliving.in
Home → Others → Navjot Singh Sidhu Has Again Given Resignation
Navjot Singh Sidhu Has Again Given Resignation
This kind of resignation from a nominated member, in such a short time period is exceptional which clearly reflects bad leadership judgment of BJP. This is not the first time when Sidhu has taken the step of resignation. In December 2006, he quit from Lok Sabha, at that time he was sentenced in an 18-year-old road rage case.
It was again reported that in July 2009, Sidhu quit Parliament due to few developments in Punjab BJP unit. However, he had sent the resignation letter to the party leadership instead of the Speaker of Lok Sabha. But his resignation was not accepted so he continued to be in the party as well as in the Parliament as an MP.
The resignation of Navjot Singh Sidhu which was taken place in 2006 was soon forgotten due to his quick return to the Parliament during re-election in Amritsar.
But this time, things will not go the same, as the move comes ahead of the Punjab Assembly election. The resignation of Navjot Singh Sidhu from Rajya Sabha could now well be followed up with a resignation from the party. As technically he is a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, not a member of BJP.
This surprise resignation of Sidhu is undoubtedly a huge setback for the BJP and could also prove a booster for the AAP. As perhaps Sidhu is thinking to be perceived right in the public morality by quitting the post offered by the BJP before he makes his next move of joining the AAP Party to lead its campaign in Punjab, without officially being named as its Chief Ministerial candidate.
AAP had courted so many controversies because of the party leaders, who doesn't know any social and cultural practices for the welfare of Delhi state and who are insensitivities. Moreover, it is interesting to know that as Sidhu has given resignation, AAP Punjab convenor Sucha Singh Chhotepur has announced Sidhu's AAP turn.
Also see – SYL canal dispute
However, AAP has gained some ground in Punjab but to stand in Punjab they need Sikh as a party face for the purpose of taking on the Akali-BJP combine in the state. And Sidhu has a humorous streak and he is a person whom Punjab people placed their faith.
AAP wants to take Sidhu on their side due to creating an ability and appetite to take on the ruling Badal family, whom they are passionately against. Sidhu has complained against BJP that the party was heavily influenced by Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal. He also said that it was one of the reasons of developing a strained relationship with his onetime mentor Arun Jaitley.
Sidhu's fight against Badal seems harsh. In this situation, it is worthless to keep Sidhu in BJP party as now his loyalty is suspected.
On July 19, 2016 / Others / Leave a comment
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I tried to start a singleplayer game, but after the "compression"-Message, it showed the message above. A few days ago anything was allright and I was able to play in singleplayer mode. I´ve changed nothing on my system. Did anyone has an idea or knows this issue yet?


Home >> Other >> Assault Part 3 - 1.9 (MB) Play this game in Full Screen mode.
Assault Part 3 - Avoid the cameras and make your way through the enemy base.. Play it free, rate it, send to your friends, add the game code to your blog or Myspace.


This topic contains 0 replies, has 1 voice, and was last updated by coislancaubechi 1 month ago.
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USA.com / Delaware / Rising Sun-Lebanon, DE
Rising Sun-Lebanon, DE
Rising Sun-Lebanon is located close to the center of Delaware. Rising Sun-Lebanon has 3.39 square miles of land area and 0.17 square miles of water area. As of 2010-2014, the total Rising Sun-Lebanon population is 3,597, which has grown 46.34% since 2000. The population growth rate is much higher than the state average rate of 17.03% and is much higher than the national average rate of 11.61%. Rising Sun-Lebanon median household income is $50,599 in 2010-2014 and has grown by 35.60% since 2000. The income growth rate is higher than the state average rate of 27.12% and is higher than the national average rate of 27.36%. Rising Sun-Lebanon median house value is $241,400 in 2010-2014 and has grown by 85.12% since 2000. The house value growth rate is higher than the state average rate of 78.60% and is much higher than the national average rate of 46.91%. As a reference, the national Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate for the same period is 26.63%. On average, the public school district that covers Rising Sun-Lebanon is better than the state average in quality.
Population 3,597 (2010-2014), rank #25
Population Growth 46.34% since 2000, rank #19
Population Density: 1,008.86/sq mi, rank #50
Median Household Income: $50,599 at 2010-2014—35.60% increase since 2000, rank #50
Median House Price: $241,400 at 2010-2014—85.12% increase since 2000, rank #26
Land Area: 3.39 sq mi, rank #20
Water Area: 0.17 sq mi (4.84%), rank #7
School District: , rank #31
Accommodations: Rising Sun-Lebanon Hotels
Fastest / Slowest Growing Cities in DE
High / Low DE Cities by Males Employed
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HomeLänkar till den endemiska floran och St Helenas unika WirebirdEndemics of St Helena – Redwood
Endemics of St Helena – Redwood
Common name: Redwood
Scientific name: Trochetiopsis erythroxylon
IUCN status: Extinct in the wild
When the island was first discovered, redwoods were found grorwing in large numbers in the upland areas below the tree fern thicket. Redwoods grew with a straight trunk to give a medium sized tree of about six metres.
The Redwood was the most valuable endemic tree to settlers on the Island because it produced a fine hard grain timber and the bark of the tree was used for tanning the hides of cattle. Very quickly nearly all the trees were cutdown or barked, resulting in the redwood nearly becoming extinct as early at 1718. Since 1718, redwoods have remained very rare, only being recorded near Diana's Peak and High Peak. By the twentieth century, redwoods were only found growing in private gardens and a single tree ner High Peak.
Today the redwood only grows to three metres in height, no longer able to reach heights of six metres due to inbreeding. Some trees still grow with single straight trunk although others are considerable dwarfed and mis-shapen.'The leaves are pale green, older leaves quickly turn yellow and speckled and fall, about 75mm long and 50 to 60 mm wide. The main flowering season is in November but flowers can be produced throughout the year. The flowers are about 75mm long and open up to 50mm in diameter and hang down from the tree. At first they are pure white, turning pink with age so that finally the dying flower is deep red.
NUMBER OF SURVIVING POPULATION
The redwood is extinct in the wild. This means that there are no longer any natural populations surviving in their native habitat of the Cabbage Tree Woodland. The last tree to survive in the wild which grew below the waterfall at Peak Gut died in the early 1960's. Norman Williams recalls the tree as being about four metres in height with a spreading canopy of four main limbs. A seedling if this tree was planted at Red Rock but this died in 1992. Another seedling was planted at Scotland which died in 1988. This tree was dwarfed because it lacked a strong leader. Seedlings from the old Scotland and Red Rock trees still survive at Scotland, High Peak and Mount Pleasant. All of these seedlings are from self-pollinate and thus are very in-bred.
In April 1997 the first ever cross-pollinated redwood seedlings were planted out in a seed orchard within the Diana's Peak National park. These seedlings could mark a recovery in the health of the redwood. If not improvement in the growth of redwoods happens then this could mark the inevitable extinction of the species because its genetic base has been irretrievably weakaned.
CONSERVATION RECOVERY PROGRAMME
The redwood is the subject of a genetic improvement programme. That is, we are trying to improve the growth and health of the species through cross-pollinations and selecting the fittest seedlings to be part of our recovery work. It is hoped that by selecting only the fittest seedlings and using these as the parents of the next generation of redwoods improvements can be made. The aim is to get to a point when the redwoods are fit enough to be reintroduced in to a wild situation and be able to regenerate naturally. If this cannot be acheived because the genetic base of the species has been destroyed, then the redwood's fate will be like that of the dodo.


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Q: UML / Visual Paradigm: a C# (Win)Form in the code generation I am creating a class diagram in Visual Paradigm and I am struggling with one thing. How do I specify that a class is in fact a form. So when I export the diagram to code, it wont become a normal class but instead it will become a form. A form which can hold buttons, ListBoxes, etc.
Thank you!

A: You intend to specify in your Visual Paradigm (VP) diagram a dependency on Form which is a class available in the .NET framework.
It seems there is no clear explanation how to do that specific operation in the VP documentation. However, there is an article that covers the topic with Java SE classes. This article uses the Java platform sources (available as a zip file in the JDK since Java 6) to extract the classes in a specific project. Then the reversed project is registered as a referenced project in your model project.
It seems this is possible to do a similar operation with .NET dlls instead of Java sources (have a look at the linked article - the screenshot for step 2). For that you have to identify the relevant dll(s) in your environment: I guess the Microsoft .NET framework, not Mono. According to a Microsoft documentation, the appropriate file would be something like System.Windows.Forms.dll. You should be able to find that file in your environment. On the identification of the relevant dll(s), I can't help you further (being myself a Java developer working on Linux).
Beware: your library project should be quite important as you will have all the dll classes represented. This is probably the reason why the documentation makes the reversal in a separated project and not in the real model project (another reason could be the possibility to use the classes in other projects).

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You might have read earlier this month that the opening date of the Uptown sculpture garden has been delayed from December 2011 to March 2012, but have you heard about the centerpiece sculpture chosen for the space? Because I'm often a month behind on blogs (except for a few), I was ecstatic this morning to read a Black Rock Arts Foundation (BRAF) blog post written a month ago about this piece.
From the beginning of this fight – when advocates including myself convinced the City Council to approve an arts space instead of a surface parking lot in the lot between the Uptown apartments and the Fox Theater – I dreamed about Burning Man style art being featured there. I'm often frustrated that San Francisco gets to publicly display so many East Bay Burning Man art pieces, like Ecstasy and the Raygun Rocket Ship, and I thought this was the perfect space for Oakland to showcase East Bay art. Well, my dreams have come true.
Holiday shopping can be stressful. Waiting in long lines, spending way too much time online trying to find the perfect gift, and driving around the Bay Area in traffic isn't much fun. But there's an easier and more rewarding way to do your holiday shopping – shop Oakland.
When you shop at local Oakland businesses, you'll generally avoid the lines (and much of the driving) and find some very unique gifts. Plus, your dollars will be circulated back into the local community instead of sent off to another city or country.
Sound good to you? If so, join The Great Oakland Grown Holiday Challenge. Oakland Grown, which represents and promotes independent Oakland businesses and artists, is asking Oaklanders to commit to spending a certain percentage on holiday shopping at local businesses. You can either go all out and commit to spending 100% of your dollars here or figure out a percentage that works for you.
I committed to 50% because I've already done some of my holiday shopping in Hawaii and at a goat farm in Pescadero, but I'm going to try to do the rest of my shopping here in Oakland.
I signed up today for the Holiday Challenge and hope you'll do so too. Oakland Grown will send you reminders and once the Challenge is over, if you fill out a survey you'll be entered to win prizes from Oakland businesses.
Check out the Oakland Grown Holiday Gift Guide. They have tons of ideas for local gifts you can buy at stores and online from jewelry, to furniture, to gifts for the little ones in your life.
Go to the Crucible's Holiday Gifty Art Sale this Friday-Sunday. I go to this every year and always find many incredible gifts. Not all of the artists are Oaklanders but many are and the rest are local to the Bay Area. If you've ever thought about taking a class at the Crucible (or gifting one), this would be the time, as they'll be offering a 20% discount this weekend.
Don't have much time to do shopping or just want to get it over with? There are two Oakland stores that could each fulfill all or most of your gifting needs. I've written here before about Rockridge Home, where I've purchased dozens of gifts over the years. Since I've moved closer to Piedmont, I've discovered Nathan & Co, which is now my go to store for gifts. Both places have a huge range in prices, items, and styles – kitchen tools, books, jewelry, clothing, furniture, art, and just about everything in between.
UPDATE: Somehow I didn't find out about this until just now, but Oakland Urban Paths is hosting their First Annual Walk & Shop this Saturday. The walk will wind through three business districts via historic stairways and pathways. Sadly I have a meeting this Saturday, since I'd love to check out more of the stairways in my neighborhood, but luckily they offer a map so you can do the walk and shop on your own, which I plan to do.
If you want an awesome Oakland Grown shopping bag to use while you shop locally, stop by Farley's tomorrow (Thursday) from 5-9pm for the Oakland Grown Happy Hour. Farley's will donate 20% of the proceeds from the evening to Oakland Grown, and it will be a great chance to meet business owners, artists, and supporters of local businesses.
UPDATE: If you've procrastinated a bit on holiday shopping, not to worry – I've put together a last-minute holiday shopping guide for Oakland.
This holiday season, there are a myriad of holiday local shopping opportunities – so many so that it might be hard to keep track of them! So I thought I'd write a brief guide to best places to shop for gifts in Oakland. This guide is just a selection of what Oakland has to offer for holiday shopping so if you have other thoughts on where to buy gifts, please share them in the comments below.
The Full Moon Buy Night in October was incredible. There were tons of amazing vendors, delicious food, and lots of entertaining performances. This time, the event organizers are looking to make the Buy Night bigger and better for the holidays. They're bringing the event inside to the Jack London Market, which I can't wait to see! Hosted by Oakland Unwrapped, in collaboration with Jack London Square, ProArts, and Oakland Grown, this event will feature Oakland shops, artisans, fine artists and products that are manufactured here in Oakland! Items for all ages, genders and tastes. The event takes place on Thursday and Friday nights from 5pm-10pm at Jack London Market, 300 1st St.
This weekend, the Crucible will be hosting its annual Holiday Gifty Art Sale & Open House. I try to make it to this event every year because I find it's one of the best places to find unique gifts for your friends, family, and of course, for yourself. They have a little bit of everything – glass, jewelry, clothing, ceramics, and all sorts of stuff you'd never find anywhere else. They also will be doing demonstrations of the fire arts that are taught at the Crucible, like glass blowing and welding, so you can get a sneak peek of classes. This event will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm at The Crucible, 1260 7th Street. The Crucible is accessible by the West Oakland BART station or by AC Transit lines 13, 19, or 62.
On Friday, December 18, stores and restaurants throughout Oakland will stay open late (from 6-8pm) to give you a chance to do some last-minute holiday shopping. Several of the stores will feature live music, refreshments, discounts, gift wrapping, and a variety of other activities. Visit the website for a listing of all of the participating stores.
If you're the type of person who can't handle shopping in person (or doesn't have the time), you can still shop local online. Oakland Unwrapped has links to 130 Oakland establishments that have online stores featuring clothes, jewelery, wine, art, coffee, and just about everything other gift you might be looking for.
If you'd like to give a gift to the Oakland blogging community (and to Oaklanders in need), please consider donating to the Blogoaksphere Virtual Food Drive. Our goal is to raise $2000, and we've raised $1650 so far. Thanks to all of the bloggers who are participating – A Better Oakland, Future Oakland, City Homestead, Today in Montclair, Fragmentary Evidence, Rebuilding Oaktown, Diary of an Oakland Shopgirl, Back to Oakland, Oakland Grown, and The Oakbook. If you're a blogger who's not yet participating, you can find all the relevant info and pretty buttons that V Smoothe created at the Blogoaksphere Virtual Food Drive web page.
From Jean Quan's newsletter: "Topics to be discussed include Port of Oakland Commission appointment; report back on Chicago LGBT Community Center visit; Oakland LGBT Community Center next steps and Oakland Pride Update. Bring unwrapped NEW toys to support the Oakland Mayor's Community Toy Drive." This meeting takes place from 5:30-7:30 pm in Hearing Room 3, Oakland City Hall.
Among other items, the Council will be voting on granting eleven Mills Act contracts to historic buildings, extending the eminent domain authority under the Coliseum Redevelopment Plan, implementing a solar financing program modeled after Berkeley's program, increasing the fee for residential parking permits, approving the City's 2010 federal and state legislative agendas, approving a contract with an independent monitor for the police department under the negotiated settlement agreement, and hearing updates on several stimulus projects. See the full meeting agenda and check out my post about how to watch and understand City Council meetings if you need some guidance on how or where to view the meeting. The non-ceremonial parts of the meeting start at 7pm in the Council Chambers in City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza.
Several local elected officials are joining together to throw a holiday party. Hosts include Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Senator Loni Hancock, Assemblymember Sandre Swanson, Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Mayor Ron Dellums, AC Transit Director Joel Young, and Peralta Community College Trustee Abel Guillen. This event is free and refreshments will be served. This party will take place from 5:00pm – 8:00pm at Uptown Body & Fender, 401 26th St. For more info and to RSVP, visit the Facebook page.
Come share food, conversation and holiday cheer at the inaugural Walk Oakland Bike Oakland Volunteer Potluck and Social. Don't let the name fool you, you don't have to be a volunteer – all WOBO supporters and enthusiasts are welcome. WOBO's new partner, Xtracycle, has generously donated the use of their space, and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition and Linden Street Brewery have donated some of their specially crafted winter beer, so you won't want to miss out on the fun. It is a potluck so you're asked to bring something in the way of food or a non-alcoholic beverage. WOBO's trying to be light on the planet so you're encouraged to bring your own plate, glass/mug and utensils if possible. There's plenty of bike parking in the gated Xtracycle lot and places to lock up to, so if you bike, definitely ride over. The party takes place from 6pm-9pm at Xtracycle, 1078 60th Street. Find more info and RSVP on Facebook.
Who needs a boring mall when we've got an amazing variety of shops, artisans, and locally made items right here? Get your holiday shopping all wrapped up at the Holiday Buy Night, hosted by Oakland Unwrapped, in collaboration with Jack London Square, ProArts, and Oakland Grown. Two floors, two nights INSIDE the warm & cozy Jack London Market! An Oakland shopping mall-ternative featuring the best of local and indie gifts, art, accessories, clothing and more from Oakland Unwrapped!, Pro Arts and Oakland Grown. Choose from Oakland shops, artisans, fine artists and products that are manufactured here in Oakland! Items for all ages, genders and tastes. The event takes place on Thursday and Friday nights from 5pm-10pm at Jack London Market, 300 1st St. Find more info on vendors and entertainment on Facebook.
From the Temescal District website: "Popcorn, candy canes, hot chocolate, carolers, and lively merchants await you on Telegraph Ave., all weekend long. Show your moves at the outdoor ice skating rink (skates available) at 49th and Telegraph. Drop in on your favorite local merchants for a little last minute holiday shopping. And don't forget to smile when you take your picture with Santa! On Sunday: celebrate the work of Oakland artist Mark Brest van Kempen at the community dedication of Views of the Greenbelt. This public art project, commissioned by the City of Oakland, is a series of sculptures focused on the flora and fauna of the Rockridge Temescal Greenbelt. The dedication event starts at the art sculpture podium adjacent to the DMV parking lot (5300 Claremont Avenue) at 11 AM. Enjoy a brief walking tour of select sculptures ending with light refreshments at Hardy Park." This event takes place on Saturday and Sunday from 12:30-4:30pm in Temescal.
This weekend, the Crucible will be hosting its annual Holiday Gifty Art Sale & Open House. I try to make it to this event every year because I find it's one of the best places to find unique gifts for your friends, family, and of course, for yourself. They have a little bit of everything – glass, jewelry, clothing, ceramics, and all sorts of stuff you'd never find anywhere else. Though there are plenty of artsy holiday sales going on at this time of year, the Crucible's generally has the best entertainment. Where else can you go to shop and see fire dancing stilters? They also will be doing demonstrations of the fire arts that are taught at the Crucible, like glass blowing and welding, so you can get a sneak peek of classes. This event will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm at The Crucible, 1260 7th Street. The Crucible is accessible by the West Oakland BART station or by AC Transit lines 13, 19, or 62.
There were strange creatures featured throughout the festival, including ones without fire elements.
There was also fire flora and fauna, like this field of fire flowers.
And one of my favorite pieces of the night was these hanging flowers, which lit up and played music when you touched them. It was great to see strangers interacting with the art and each other, with huge smiles on their faces.
At these poor innocent men.
2PiR, one of my all time favorite Burning Man pieces, was back. I can't tell you how much fun I've had on this creative, Oakland made art piece. You stand on the platform and dance, and the motion sensors on the platform set off fire. The mom and daughter above looked like they were having the time of their lives.
Of course, there was plenty more fire just to look at, some which was quite beautiful and artistic.
And the pendulum of fire that swung back and forth.
One of the most memorable parts of my night was seeing the gnome, which was made by a group of East Bay residents, including a friend of mine. Pictured above is the small fire that came out of his head, which anyone could activate by pressing a button.


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La corvina (Sciaena umbra), è un pesce d'acqua salata appartenente alla famiglia Sciaenidae.

Distribuzione e habitat
Questa specie è diffusa nel Mediterraneo occidentale e lungo la costa atlantica orientale, dal Canale della Manica fino alla Sierra Leone. Solitamente abita fondali rocciosi, da pochi metri di profondità fino a 30; talvolta si spinge fino a -180 metri.

Descrizione
La corvina presenta un corpo allungato, compresso ai fianchi, con testa a punta e fronte alta, che discende poi verso il lungo peduncolo caudale disegnando un arco. Il profilo ventrale è orizzontale. Le pinne sono arrotondate. La livrea ha un colore di fondo bruno dorato con riflessi argentei, pinne pelviche e pinna anale di colore nero, con bordo bianco anteriore. La pinna caudale è tendente al giallo, nera sul bordo inferiore, mentre la pinna dorsale doppia, giallastra, è molto marcata. Raggiunge una lunghezza di oltre 50 centimetri.

Comportamento
Specie gregaria, di abitudini notturne. Di solito piuttosto lenta nei movimenti, capace però di scatti improvvisi in caso di necessità. I maschi di questa specie producono un sordo ticchettio provocato dallo scontro fra loro dei denti faringei, rumore amplificato dalla vescica natatoria che funziona da cassa di risonanza

Riproduzione
La deposizione avviene ad agosto.

Alimentazione
La corvina si nutre di piccoli pesci e di crostacei.

Pesca
Possiede delle carni molto saporite, e per questo è pescata in tutto il Mediterraneo e nell'Atlantico orientale, anche se non è molto conosciuta. La pesca è vietata in Francia ed è consentita con restrizioni relative alla taglia in Italia. In Turchia gli otoliti sono usati come rimedio per le infezioni del tratto urinario.

Note

Bibliografia

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Sciaenidae
Taxa classificati da Peter Forsskål


The advertising technology firm Dataxu has launched a unified planning and buying solution for marketers called TotalTV For Advertisers.
It's called TotalTV because it brings together linear TV, connected TV and addressable TV into one platform.
Specifically, the solution allows for advertisers to target audiences through OTT, including cord-cutters and cord-nevers, while also finding incremental reach for specific audience targets.
The deal includes the ability to buy programmatic linear TV through a partnership with Sorenson Media.
While marketers are still spending significant sums on traditional TV ad buys, it has become conventional wisdom that those buys aren't reaching everyone they want to reach.
OTT and digital video are widely used among younger consumers. The hope is that solutions like TotalTV can reach those consumers that aren't using traditional TV products, or at least incrementally reach consumers that split their video consumption across a wide array of devices and platforms.
"As the fall TV season kicks off, viewership habits, 30-second spot prices and reaching cord cutters are all top of mind in the advertising world," Sandro Catanzaro, chief innovation officer-cofounder, Dataxu, tells Digital News Daily.
"For the first time, programmatic buys are simultaneously planned and executed on more than 120 million households watching live linear TV and viewers streaming through connected devices," he added.


text:
Zambia Daily Mail
'Kilwa Island in need of major health facility'
CHRISTINE CHIHAME, Mansa
CHIEF Nshimba of the Shila people in Kilwa Island has called on Government to consider constructing a hospital in the area as residents cross to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to access health facilities.
Chief Nshimba said good health services bring about good health and productivity in the country.
He said in an interview that the island only has a single rural health centre which caters for a population of over 20,000 people on the Island.
He said the island has faced a lot of challenges in all sectors of development.
"We need a hospital, people cross into the nearby DRC for medication where they are subjected to brutal treatment by authorities, high medical fees, and some die on the way to the hospital, while others die when boats capsize on the lake," chief Nshimba said.
He said the rural health centre, despite being the only existing health facility has inadequate and dilapidated infrastructure and lacks medical equipment and has shortage of drugs.
"The health centre lacks trained staff, staff accommodation, maternity facilities, and most women deliver in their homes," he said.
He said good health can only be attained with good health facilities in place and therefore, the island needs a hospital with a well-equipped maternity ward.
Chief Nshimba said Government is committed to improving the health sector.
He said many lives in the area have been lost due to the long distance covered to access a health facility.
Tagshealth facility in need Kilwa Island Major
RTSA drives military-like cars off road
Kariba Dam water still low
'Investment to expand labour market'
Jordan business community eyes Zambia
North minister canes sluggish contractor
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This Mom works very hard every holiday season and her kids' late session always signifies the end of my holiday portrait season. This year her kids wanted the family pets on their holiday card. Cute!
Here's some pictures from my second family reunion session over Thanksgiving. This family lucked out with some warmish temperatures for the outside portion of their session. I thoroughly enjoyed photographing these four generations and was particularly impressed with Great Grandma happily trudging through the mud and snow to get to the good light.


San Joaquin Valley College offers the tools you need to receive a successful degree..
San Joaquin Valley College offers the tools you need to receive a successful degree. With eight campus locations and an online learning environment, San Joaquin Valley College is committed to helping you achieve your education and professional goals. At San Joaquin Valley College you will enjoy small class sizes in a friendly atmosphere to help you build personal relationships with your classmates and instructors.
San Joaquin Valley College understands the importance and challenges of balancing work, family and other responsibilities while pursuing a degree. That's why they offer online classes, flexible class schedules and short-term programs. With San Joaquin Valley College online, you can enjoy the flexibility of attending class when it's convenient for you - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Complete your degree more quickly when you join the accelerated training programs with year-round classes and flexible class schedules.
Your experience in the classroom goes beyond the textbooks. You will participate in hands-on training to ensure you are comfortable with the theories you are learning. As you approach graduation, you can also take advantage of job placement assistance. This program helps ensure your resume and interview skills are polished and give you confidence as you begin the job interview process.
The career placement teamat San Joaquin Valley College can help you discover a career that meets your field of interest. From resume development to interviewing skills, you will have the confidence you need to find a new career. San Joaquin Valley College also understands the importance of offering flexible class schedules, including online instruction. You will be able to balance your work and life responsibilities while attending school when it's convenient for you. The online degree programs allow you to study at your convenience, while helping you improve your career.
As a San Joaquin Valley College student you can start looking towards a brighter future. With programs available in the medical, business and technical fields, there is a degree program waiting for you. Now is the time to start a new, rewarding career and to advance your education. Let San Joaquin Valley College help you jump start your career. With job placement and experienced instructors, you will be prepared to enter today's workforce with the confidence that your education is up to speed and industry relevant.


The Supreme Court decided Thursday (June 9th) that the Department of Veterans Affairs must set aside more contracts to be filled by veteran-owned small businesses.
The court was unanimous that the department has not fulfilled its obligation to steer more business to small companies owned by veterans or service-disabled veterans simply by meeting its annual goal.
The decision is likely to help more veteran-owned businesses compete for the billions of dollars in contracts the department awards.
A company called Kingdomware Technologies charged that department officials ignored that mandate when they bought a service that sent emergency information to personnel at four medical centers.
The Court of Federal Claims dismissed the suit, and a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the decision. The judges did not read the law as requiring the department to use the Rule of Two for all contracts; the judges said this was mandated only to the extent necessary to meet the goal of awarding 12 percent of contracts to veteran-owned businesses.
But Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the court, said that was wrong. The law says the department shall award contracts to the veteran businesses under the Rule of Two process, Thomas wrote.
"Unlike the word 'may,' which implies discretion, the word 'shall' usually connotes a requirement," Thomas wrote.
That directive does not change just because the department meets its goal, the court decided.
"The court's ruling means that more veterans will have the opportunities that Congress wanted them to have to build their business through competition before the VA," Luke McLoughlin, who filed briefs on behalf of veteran-owned business associations, said in a statement.
By way of background, the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 ("2006 VA Act") sought to rectify the VA's then-on-going failure to meet its contracting goals relating to SDVOSBs and VOSBs. To do so, Congress set out a powerful provision, requiring the VA to set-aside a procurement for SDVOSBs or VOSBs whenever two or more such entities exist who will submit an offer at a fair and reasonable price that is the best value to the United States. This "Rule of Two," as it is known, has been effective: since its enactment, the VA has met its SDVOSB and VOSB contracting goals.


Bhatia Brothers FZE is a Dubai-based company that was founded in 1957. It has warehouses and offices spread all across the Middle East with significant presence in Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, India, UK, Iraq and France. Bhatia Brothers is also setting up new offices in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Nigeria. The group's businesses are diversified across varied fields as it caters to focused industries, such as oil and gas, water and power, industrial supplies, and offshore and marine. The units under these divisions are further operated via autonomous business units created to serve the customers. Bhatia Brothers' engineering operations have been certified with the ISO 9000 certification (International Quality Standard Operations).
The oil and gas operations include drilling, gas processing, fertilizer, refinery, petrochemical, pipeline, chemical, storage and terminals, along with onshore and offshore production. The power and water functions include generation, transmission and distribution of power, and also desalination of water. The company's offshore and marine division involves maintenance of chemicals, while the industrial supplies include hydraulics, metals, safety and bulk supplies. The Consumer Unit deals with Consumer Electronics, IT Accessories, Automotive, Consumer Products and Security Solutions. Bhatia Brothers FZE is the perfect company to work for. As an employer, it invests time and money in training and improving the skills of the employees. At present, there are more than 300 engineers and 800 qualified professionals working for the company.
3 Jobs Openings in "Bhatia Brothers FZE"


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How to integrate astrocytes into systems neuroscience
BCAM May 29, 2019
Filed under Computer science Mathematics Neuroscience
The Galaxy Within. A 10X image of cultured mouse cortical neurons and astrocytes in cell culture. Neurons are stained red (MAP2 protein), while astrocytes are stained green (GFAP). Source: Dchordpdx / Wikimedia Commons
The computer metaphor draws an analogy between the mind as software and the brain as hardware. In this metaphor, the focus of discussions is usually on the software part, taking for granted that the brain, or the whole nervous system, is a computer of sorts. But this is something that needs to be proved first. At least we should be able to simulate what the brain does – any function would do. In other words, we need to understand the realization of brain-related functions at the level of organization that can be captured by logico-mathematical models, such as those describing man-made systems, for example, computers.
Enter systems neuroscience. It is a subdiscipline of neuroscience and systems biology that studies the structure and function of neural circuits and systems. It is an umbrella term, encompassing a number of areas of study concerned with how nerve cells behave when connected together to form neural pathways, neural circuits, and larger brain networks. The overarching goal of systems neuroscience is to understand how neural circuits give rise to cognitive functions, emotions, and behavior by simultaneously recording neuronal activity and behavior at the highest spatiotemporal resolution possible.
If we pay attention, it looks like systems neuroscience is solely focused on the wiring – in this context, read neurons – and the fact is that it is almost exclusively a neuronal/neural discipline. But, using the computer metaphor, no CPU+memory works in a vacuum: it needs an electrical supply system, a homeostatic (cooling) one and mechanical support and protection. Therefore, it is reasonable to think that any simulation of the brain may not work properly unless the equivalent auxiliary systems are included if they have some computational effect.
The scarce attention to non-neuronal cells in systems neuroscience is puzzling, at least if we consider what astrocytes do. Astrocytes are star-shaped glial cells that delivers "fuel" to the neurons from the blood, removes waste from the neuron, and otherwise modulates the activity of the neuron. Astrocytes also play critical roles in brain development and the creation of synapses. Research since the mid-1990s has shown that astrocytes propagate intercellular Ca2+ waves over long distances in response to stimulation, and, similar to neurons, release transmitters (called gliotransmitters) in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Data suggest that astrocytes also signal to neurons through Ca2+-dependent release of glutamate. Such discoveries have made astrocytes an important area of research within the field of neuroscience.
Although extensive modeling of astrocytic Ca2+ fluxes exists, and sporadic studies have explored the application of astrocyte-based computations to artificial intelligence, astrocytes are characteristically missing from advanced in silico modeling of neural circuits. The point is, if computation is an emerging property of a given neural network, do astrocytes help to shape such property beyond providing metabolic and homeostatic support? If they do, specific questions are whether there are niche(s) in systems neuroscience that would particularly profit from astrocyte idiosyncrasies and whether the impressive techniques and theoretical weaponry deployed by systems neuroscience could be used—and are sufficient—to unravel possible astrocyte-based computations.
Workflow in systems Neuroscience. A central problem in neuroscience is to explain how electrical and chemical signals are used in the brain to represent and process information. This workflow depicts the stages and tools currently used to decipher neuronal codes. In red squares, elements that are relevant to the study the role of astrocytic Ca2+ in neuronal coding are highlighted.
A new review 1 by an international team of researchers, including Maurizio De Pittà (BCAM), comes to clarify the situation.
The researchers review systems-like studies that include astrocytes in order to identify computational operations that these cells may perform, using Ca2+ transients as their encoding language. The analysis suggests that astrocytes may carry out canonical computations in a time scale of subseconds to seconds in sensory processing, neuromodulation, brain state, memory formation, fear, and complex homeostatic reflexes.
They propose a list of actions to gain insight into the outstanding question of which variables are encoded by such computations. The application of statistical analyses based on machine learning, such as dimensionality reduction and decoding in the context of complex behaviours, combined with connectomics of astrocyte–neuronal circuits, is, in thir view, fundamental undertakings.
The review would not be complete without discussing technical and analytical approaches to study neuronal and astrocytic populations simultaneously, and the inclusion of astrocytes in advanced modeling of neural circuits, as well as in theories currently under exploration such as predictive coding and energy-efficient coding.
Clarifying the relationship between astrocytic Ca2+ and brain coding may represent a leap forward toward novel approaches in the study of astrocytes in health and disease.
Ksenia V. Kastanenka, Rubén Moreno‐Bote, Maurizio De Pittà, Gertrudis Perea, Abel Eraso‐Pichot, Roser Masgrau, Kira E. Poskanzer, Elena Galea (2019) A roadmap to integrate astrocytes into Systems Neuroscience Glia doi: 10.1002/glia.23632 ↩
BCAM
BCAM, The Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics, is the research center on applied mathematics created with the support of the Basque Government and the University of the Basque Country. It performs interdisciplinary research in the frontiers of mathematics, training and attracting talented scientists in the process.
Website:http://www.bcamath.org/en/
Twitter:@BCAMBilbao
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Extreme decoherence in chaotic quantum systems


Congratulations! Either you just got, or are about to get your license (or you are a nervous parent of one) you are more then likely wondering how to protect your auto insurance premium. We understand, we have a few teen drivers of our own. Our friendly staff of agents put together these articles to help guide you through this nail-biting experience. Questions? Feel free to reach out to one of us.
Before you nervously hand over your keys to your favorite teenager, let us help make sure you are FULLY protected for whatever life throws at your new driver.


You may have seen the television ad where a boy is throwing paper airplanes over a fence to communicate with his dad, who is away on active duty. Each paper airplane contains a note from the boy to his father. A kindly neighbor on the other side of the fence notices the airplanes, puts them in a box, and sends them to the father. Sometime later, the neighbor receives a box in the mail full of paper airplanes with notes from the dad to his son. The neighbor takes the airplanes and throws them one by one over the fence, where they are discovered by the boy. The story is heartwarming and it's a Hallmark moment for sure, but this is not a greeting card commercial. What is this ad promoting? The answer might surprise you—it's paper and packaging.
This is the sixth year that I have done a video blog review of all the corporate greeting cards I received during the holiday season. This year's collection was a particularly good one, and at the end of the video I highlight five examples that I think are outstanding.
Starting in the fall of 2015, Dr. Harvey R. Levenson, Cal Poly Professor Emeritus, presented multiple conference sessions or webinars dedicated to the issue of patent lawsuits targeted at print service providers. These patent licensing operations, colloquially known as "patent trolls" or NPEs (non-practicing entities), are individuals or business entities that persistently purchase or file for patents, with the sole purpose of charging licensing and royalty fees. This blog builds on some of the key concepts in one of Dr. Levenson's webinars and also summarizes some recent developments related to patent trolls.
Patent trolls are an increasing international issue, and continue to be active in almost every industry. According to UnifiedPatents in their Q3 Patent Dispute Report, over 67% of all patent litigation in the United States are filed by NPEs seeking monetary gain.
It's been almost seven years since Nikon introduced the D300s DX-format DLSR, and for the last several years many Nikon shooters have been waiting for a true replacement to that model. There was speculation that a successor would be announced at nearly every significant trade show over the last few years. That day finally arrived with the launch of the D500 at CES 2016 in Las Vegas.
Why Aren't You a Member of the Business Technology Association? BTA Celebrates 90 Years of Dealers Helping Dealers!!!
The Tape Recorder — a compact, magnetic tape recording and playback machine designed for non-professional use.
The Wire Recorder — a new, portable, low-priced model. The combination phonograph/wire recorder reproducer claimed to have 12 essential features of sound reproduction.
The Photo Copy Duplicator — designed to produce letter- and legal-sized exact facsimiles of anything written, typed, printed, drawn or photographed in a matter of minutes. Claimed to produce more than 30 finished copies an hour at about five cents per copy. Portable. Had a self-contained darkroom.
Fast forward to present day, the Business Technology Association (BTA), led by Executive Director Brent Hoskins and a Board of Directors made up of independent dealers/entrepreneurs, serves office technology dealerships, resellers, manufacturers, distributors and service companies. Its core members — office technology companies — consult, provide services such as managed print services, managed IT services and sell hardware, software and supplies with the primary goal of helping businesses optimize business information workflow. Through the association's various educational programs, information, research, legal services, publications and guidance, BTA member dealerships are positioned to be the premier source of the office technology used by businesses throughout the United States every day. Bottom line, this association is about dealers helping dealers.
So, if you're reading this and you're not a member, my question is: Why Not?! This is seriously what they call a "no-brainer" because for a measly $430 a year…hold on, let me start this part again.
BTA Scholarships – These scholarships are awarded to children of dealers & the children of their full-time employees.
In addition to all of these fabulous benefits, the BTA holds five District Events per year (I know I said no more shameless plugs but this one isn't about me, thus it doesn't qualify as shameless), in the West, East, Southeast (traditionally one in first quarter and the annual Fall Colors event in North Carolina) and the Mid-America event. This year the Mid-America event will be held in BTA's home city of Kansas City, Missouri, on June 8th thru June 10th to celebrate the association's 90th Anniversary. These events feature industry leaders, networking opportunities, educational sessions and opportunities for exhibitors to meet one-on-one with attendees.
If you are already a member of the BTA you know first-hand all of the great work this group of individuals on the staff do for you on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and the contribution made by the association to our industry throughout its proud history. If you are not a member, pick up the phone or email this man, Brian K. Smith, listed below and join today! I promise you, if you invest the time to maximize even a fraction of the benefits I listed, it's worth every penny. And again, the pennies, work out to be like $1.18 a day!
Congratulations to the entire staff at BTA and the countless volunteers, who are too many to name in this blog, for your many hours of hard work making the association successful. A special shout out to Brent Hoskins for his dedication to and stewardship of the association. Last fun fact, Brent also doubles as editor of Office Technology magazine. So when he retires, the Board will have to hire two people to back-fill him; good luck with that. Brent is someone I both personally and professionally have a tremendous amount of respect for and is also someone I believe could be the nicest person on the planet. Much continued success to the Business Technology Association in 2016 and here's to the next 90 years of dealers helping dealers!
BTA, Business Technology Association, Channel Strategy Service, InfoTrends, Managed IT Services, Managed Print Services, Managed Service Provider, MPS, MSP, Office | Comments Off on Why Aren't You a Member of the Business Technology Association? BTA Celebrates 90 Years of Dealers Helping Dealers!!!


text:
from secrets import *

files = ['logs/ragefile.log']
to_email = ["molly.white5@gmail.com"]
output_path = "."
link_blacklist = ['http://www.kiwiirc.com/']

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
98% of councils failing on affordability
Cake Time causes a stir
Councils to keep 'right to buy' funds
Budget relief for homeowners
Spotlight on private renting
Government failing overcrowded children
Midlife cyclists take to the saddle
98 per cent of local authorities in England are failing to deliver enough affordable homes to meet need, a new website launched by Shelter has found.
Shelter's Housing League Table, launched today, found that only 8 of 323 councils in England are providing enough or more affordable homes than are needed, meaning a 98 per cent local authority failure rate.
Local authorities are responsible for identifying the housing need in their area and for ensuring enough affordable homes are provided to meet this need.
However, Shelter league tables also show that in the last year a total of 90 per cent of councils (292) provided fewer than half the homes they say are needed.
Shelter chief executive Campbell Robb said: 'We know that the recession has created a difficult climate for house building, but these figures clearly show that councils must work far harder to ensure more desperately needed affordable homes are provided if they ever hope to meet the housing needs of their local population.
'With 1.8 million households on housing waiting lists and more than one million children living in overcrowded homes it is unacceptable that only 8 councils have provided enough affordable homes to meet local need.'
The findings are part of Shelter's Housing League Table, a new one-stop-shop website that provides local housing data including house prices, housing waiting lists, levels of housing delivery and practical suggestions of what councils can do to provide more affordable homes.
The website also ranks councils according to their current levels of affordable housing delivery against their analysis of housing need.
Shelter hopes the website will provide councillors and members of the public with easily accessible information about the need for more housing in their local area. The new site also highlights the gaps in local authority housing data and will be used to hold councils to account on their performance.
Shelter's Housing League Table will be updated annually to hold council performance and Government policies to account on delivering more affordable homes. This will also highlight those councils who do not provide robust data on housing delivery.
Mr Robb added: 'A step change in affordable housing delivery is urgently needed and all councils must think about how they can work creatively with their partners to deliver more homes.
'But in the current financial climate, and with council budgets set to be slashed, it is also vital that all political parties make affordable housing a top priority, now and in the future.'


The Port of Grangemouth has this week welcomed its new multimillion pound container crane which is set to increase the number of ship to shore cranes at the port by 50% and change the skyline at Scotland's largest container facility.
The addition of the third Liebherr container crane to Forth Ports' fleet is part of a major investment programme at the port to increase handling capacity and service for customers. The 45 metre high crane, which weighs 524 tonnes, arrived in large sections on board the heavy load carrier vessel the Eemslift Ellen after sailing from Liebherr's state of the art facility in Killarney, South West Ireland, where the crane was designed and built.
The crane has been unloaded onto the quayside and will now be constructed by the expert build team from Liebherr on site at the port. The crane will be ready to lift its first cargo by late October and will improve vessel turnaround times, increase capacity for growth and support existing operations. The new crane is also future proofed to enable taller straddle carriers to work underneath the crane legs, allowing the port to further increase its overall container storage capability.
Liebherr is one of the world's leading port crane manufacturers and this new crane, which can handle vessels with 14 containers stowed across the width of the deck, is part of Forth Ports' focus on maintaining Grangemouth as Scotland's number one container port and providing the facilities required to service future container volume growth for export and import cargoes both in European and worldwide markets.
As part of the ongoing major investment programme at Grangemouth, the port introduced three new ESC340 straddle carriers in 2017, increasing the fleet at the container terminal to 16. The port also added a new Hyster empty container handler to the fleet. The new straddles, empty container handler and the new Liebherr crane will increase the handling capacity for both conventional containers and reefers (refrigerated containers). A new terminal operating system and additional storage capacity have also been introduced in 2018. The construction of a new 100,000 sq.ft. warehouse within the port estate is due to be completed by December this year. It will directly link to the container terminal with access to the rail siding.
More than £6 billion worth of goods passes through Grangemouth each year including food and drink, steel plate, timber, paper and equipment for the oil and gas industry.


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Letter from J. G. V. Porter (Shelbourne Hotel) to William Frazer, regarding Mr. McSwiney and the return of a pamphlet.
Letter from J. G. V. Porter (Shelbourne Hotel) to William Frazer, regarding Mr. McSwiney and the return of a pamphlet. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.


Sgt. BARKER was born in Westmill, England on August 26, 1889. He joined the Force as a Special Constable on August 17, 1914 and served at Big Muddy and Wood Mountain Detachments in Saskatchewan. He took his discharge on August 31, 1915.
During the ensuing period, he served for 17 months with the US Army Remount Depot and 3 years with the Imperial Cavalry. Sgt. BARKER was then engaged as a regular member of the RNWMP on April 10, 1919 at Regina, Sask. He was stationed at Regina and employed on the rough riding staff and then served briefly as i/c Big Muddy Detachment.
Cpl. BARKER purchased his discharge from the RCMP on April 26, 1921. Between August 4, 1921 and May 31, 1928, he served with the Saskatchewan Provincial Police (SPP). Upon absorption of the SPP by the RCMP on June 1, 1928, he was taken on strength of the RCMP. He was posted at Preeceville (1928-30), Sturgis (1930-31), i/c Assiniboia (1932-35 and i/c Shaunavon (1935-40). From 1935, he was employed as a Patrol Sgt. and stock detective in the Swift Current Sub/Div.
Sgt. BARKER had a long and successful career as a peace officer. He was killed in the line of duty when he was taken by surprise and shot to death by an insane man in the lobby of the Grand Hotel in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. His killer was Victor Greenlay, the 31 year old son of a prominent Lieut.-Col. In the 14th Saskatchewan Light Horse. Greenlay's father was also an ex-sergeant of the RNWMP.
Sgt. BARKER and Victor Greenlay were friends. Because Greenlay was troubled, they met on Thursday afternoon, March 16, 1940 and talked. The conversation was baffling to BARKER. Greenlay talked in riddles and made no sense. In order to continue their conversation, they agreed to meet again that night at seven o'clock in Greenlay's room at the Grand Hotel.
Arthur BARKER knew he was dealing with a sick person when he agreed to meet Greenlay at the hotel that night. But he went anyway, and listened to his friend ramble incoherently for almost two hours. Greenlay's diatribe was as confusing as it had been in the afternoon. Apparently, Greenlay had heard voices that commanded him to "get out and save the salvation of the world." Victor Greenlay could think of no better assistant for this task then Sgt. BARKER, and attempted to enrol him in the cause. He insisted the first thing they had to do was to stop the Canadian Government from selling horses to France. Greenlay feared trouble was to break out and within weeks there would be troops "in the saddle." He further proclaimed that "Christ will appear in Germany in the form of a woman and will turn the forces against Germany." On a less global theme, Greenlay also wanted BARKER to intercede for him with dissatisfied girlfriend.
Around nine o'clock, when BARKER could see their conversation was futile, he left the room and headed downstairs to the lobby. As he sat at the bottom of the stairs pulling on his rubbers, Greenlay came down the steps and shot him three times; twice in the chest and once in the neck. BARKER fell to the floor and died there under the barrel of Greenlay's smoking .38 revolver.
Thus ended the 26 year career of a highly effective and respected police officer. A big man at six foot two inches, 210 pounds, BARKER seldom used his size to make a point. He had particular success relating with the ranchers and stock growers of the Shaunavon area because he was especially adept at solving cases of cattle and horse stealing. He was also held in high regard by the United States Border Patrol with whom he worked most co-operatively. BARKER was promoted to corporal in 1931 and to sergeant in 1939, at which time he was posted to Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
Sgt. BARKER was survived by his wife, Gladys, and one seven year old son. His brother, Reg. # 6397, S/Sgt. F.W.J. BARKER, and his brother's son, S/Sgt. B.O. BARKER, were also members of the Force. Arthur's funeral was attended by hundreds of mourners at All Saints Anglican Church in Shaunavon. After the service, his remains were transported to Regina and interred at the RCMP Cemetery.
Ex-Sgt. BARKER's RCMP Long Service Medal, awarded posthumously, was presented to his wife on May 30, 1940.
Victor Greenlay was tried for murder and was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
He was ordered confined to a mental institution.


text:
Q: Guarantee that the function will be called after another function in the same scope in C# My question is mostly about the code safety case in C#.
Here is the code:
void foo() {
 theFirst();
 //some code which needs to call theFirst() before executing goes here
 definitelyShouldBeCalledAfterTheFirst();
}

Now I want to ensure that in every scope (basically any method) where the function theFirst() is called the function definitelyShouldBeCalledAfterTheFirst() is called afterwards somewhere in the same scope. Between theFirst() and definitelyShouldBeCalledAfterTheFirst() calls I need to call other functions most of the time and I can not call the functions after definitelyShouldBeCalledAfterTheFirst() or before theFirst().

A: Maybe something like this with delegates can help:
void ExecuteBetweenFirstAndSecond(Action action)
{
    bool success = false;

    try
    {
       First();
       success = true;
       action?.Invoke();
    }
    finally
    {
       //Uncomment if you want to execute Second only if First wast executed successfully
       //if (success)
       Second();
    }
}

A: There are various ways to achieve this, depending on context.
@SENya gives a great option using delegates.
One alternative is where you have a shared base class (though this option is only applicable to a small subset of scenarios).
abstract class MyBaseClass
{
    void doFirst() =>
        Debug.WriteLine("Done First");
    void definitelyShouldBeCalledAfterTheFirst() =>
        Debug.WriteLine("Done After First");
    protected virtual void doSomething() =>
        Debug.WriteLine("between first and after first");
    public void DoStuff()
    {
        doFirst();
        doSomething();
        definitelyShouldBeCalledAfterTheFirst();
    }
}

class MyClass: MyBaseClass {}
class MyOtherClass: MyBaseClass
{
    protected override void doSomething() =>
        Debug.WriteLine("something else happens now");
}

void Main()
{
    var a = new MyClass();
    a.DoStuff();
    /* outputs:
        Done First
        between first and after first
        Done After First
    */
    var b = new MyOtherClass();
    b.DoStuff();
    /* outputs:
        Done First
        something else happens now
        Done After First
    */
}

A: If I understood your question correctly you have following requirements:

*

*Have a function that always executed the first,

*Have a function that always executed the last,

*Some other functions that can be executed in any order but not first or last.

What function is always executes and executes the first? a constructor...
So if you create a class and put a call to your First() function in constructor the requirement #1 is fulfilled.
The insuring that order of execution is met requirement #3 is easy. No code will be executed before constructor. And if you put a flag that function Last() has been already executed you can check that flag in the beginning of each function and throw / return if it is set.
The hardest part is to ensure execution of the Last() function. The closest guarantee will be to implement IDisposable but you cannot guarantee that your class will be called within using.
So we end up with something along those lines:
public sealed class Foo: IDisposable
{
    private bool isLastCalled = false;

    public Foo()
    {
        First();
    }

    public void First()
    {
        if (isLastCalled) return;

        // do something...
    }
    public void Other()
    {
        if (isLastCalled) return;

        // do something...
    }

    public void Last()
    {
        if (isLastCalled) return;

        isLastCalled = true;

    }

    public void Dispose()
    {
        Last();
    }

    ~Foo()
    {
        Last();
    }
}

Additional notes:

*

*First() will be called automatically from constructor but you can call it again as any other before Last() is called. if this is not your intention - make the function private and remove check for the flag

*You can call Last() explicitly or it will be called automatically when the instance is out of the scope. If you do not need to call it explicitly make it private too

A: This is what try-finally is for. Very simple. If the call to theFirst succeeds, then the call to definitelyShouldBeCalledAfterTheFirst is guaranteed to be made even if "some code" fails.
void foo()
{
    theFirst();
    try
    {
        // some code
    }
    finally
    {
        definitelyShouldBeCalledAfterTheFirst();
    }
}


Risa and her friends were invited to check out a brand new arcade that opened up in town. Surprisingly enough, Risa and her friends were unaware that such a place opened. It was a different take on the traditional North American arcade, in that it was entirely like an entertainment lounge made to cater towards a newer generation of players. Escape rooms, table tennis, and VR setups are starting to make their way into these venues. Risa, being quite connected and well-versed into geekdoms and all things techie, this place will be quite the haven for her. That is, if she manages to actually step inside after being glued to the windows in awe.


text:
unless(defined? Crypt::ByteStream)
	require "crypt/bytestream"
  Crypt::ByteStream.strict_mode = true
end
# This is to help testing
unless(defined? Crypt::Rijndael::Core)
	require "crypt/rijndael/core"
end

class Crypt
=begin rdoc
Crypt::Rijndael allows you to encrypt single blocks of data using the encrypt() and decrypt() methods
below.

You probably want to use some kind of CBC module with this.
=end
    class Rijndael

        @@valid_blocksizes_bytes=[16, 24, 32]
        @@valid_keysizes_bytes=[16, 24, 32]

=begin rdoc
The new() function here takes only one argument: the key to use, as a String (or similar). Valid lengths
are 16, 24 or 32 bytes, and you should ensure that this value is sufficiently random. Most people will
choose 16-byte (128-bit) keys, but a longer key will take longer to crack if security is of unusually
high importance for you.
=end
        def initialize(new_key)
 						self.key = new_key
						@current_block_length = nil # This makes it easier to adjust in #block=
        end

				attr_reader :key

				# If you want to, you can assign a new key to an existing object.
				def key=(new_key)
					raise "Invalid key length: #{new_key.length}" unless(self.class.key_sizes_supported.find {|size| size==new_key.length})
					@key = new_key
					@key_words=@key.length/4
					@expanded_key = nil
					@round_count = nil
				end
				def expand_key #:nodoc:
						return @expanded_key if(@expanded_key)
						@expanded_key=(@key_words>6)? Core.expand_key_gt6(key, @block_words):
								Core.expand_key_le6(key, @block_words)
						return @expanded_key
				end
				protected :expand_key

				attr_reader :block
				def block=(new_block) #:nodoc:
					if(new_block.length != @current_block_length) then
						raise "Invalid block size: #{new_block.length}" unless(block_sizes_supported.find { |size| size==new_block.length })
						@current_block_length = new_block.length
						@block_words = @current_block_length / 4
						@expanded_key = nil
						@round_count = nil
					end
					@block = new_block
				end
				protected :block=, :block, :key

				# If you want to probe for supported block sizes, by all means use this method. It'll raise
				# if the value isn't supported.
				#
				# Don't use this: #block_sizes_supported is better.
        def blocksize=(block_size_bytes)
						self.block = "\x00" * block_size_bytes
						self
        end

				# This lets you know how big a block is currently being used.
				# There's probably no point using this.
        def blocksize
            return @block_words*4
        end

				# Provides a list of block sizes (bytes) which are supported
				def self.block_sizes_supported
					@@valid_blocksizes_bytes
				end

				# Provides a list of key sizes (bytes) which are supported
				def self.key_sizes_supported
					@@valid_keysizes_bytes
				end

				# This just calls the class' .block_sizes_supported method for you.
				def block_sizes_supported
					self.class.block_sizes_supported
				end

        def round_count #:nodoc:
						return @round_count if @round_count
						@round_count = Core.round_count(@block_words, @key_words)
        end

protected :round_count

=begin rdoc
Your main entry point. You must provide an input string of a valid length - if not, it'll +raise+.
Valid lengths are 16, 24 or 32 bytes, and it will pick the block size based on the length of the input.

The output is a Crypt::ByteStream object, which is to say more-or-less a String.
=end
        def encrypt(plaintext)
						self.block = plaintext

            rounds=round_count
            expanded_key=expand_key

            blockl_b=@block_words*4
            #puts "m #{block.length}"
            tmp_block=Core.round0(block, expanded_key[0])
						tmp_block = Core.roundn_times(tmp_block, expanded_key, rounds, :forward)
            return Core.roundl(tmp_block, expanded_key[rounds])
        end

=begin rdoc
Your other main entry point. You must provide an input string of a valid length - if not, it'll +raise+.
Valid lengths are 16, 24 or 32 bytes, and it will pick the block size based on the length of the input.
Of course, if the string to decrypt is of invalid length then you've got other problems...

The output is a Crypt::ByteStream object, which is to say more-or-less a String.
=end
        def decrypt(ciphertext)
						self.block = ciphertext
            rounds=round_count
            expanded_key=expand_key

            blockl_b=@block_words*4
            tmp_block=Core.inv_roundl(block, expanded_key[rounds])
						tmp_block = Core.roundn_times(tmp_block, expanded_key, rounds, :reverse)
            decrypted=Core.round0(tmp_block, expanded_key[0])
            #p "decrypted: #{decrypted}" if $VERBOSE
            return decrypted
        end
    end

=begin rdoc
This is exactly the same as Crypt::Rijndael except that the only allowed block size is 128-bit (16 bytes
), which affects possible IV (for CBC and other block-chaining algorithms) and plaintext block lengths.

Given the effort that went into standardising on AES, you may well want to use this instead of
Crypt::Rijndael for encryption if you're interoperating with another party. Of course, you *can* safely
use Crypt::Rijndael for decryption in that circumstance.

The spec for this is in an US government standards document named FIPS-197. Google for it.
=end
    class AES < Rijndael
        AES_BLOCKSIZE_BYTES=16

				# Only one block size is supported for real AES: 16 bytes.
				def self.block_sizes_supported
					[AES_BLOCKSIZE_BYTES]
				end
    end
end


text:
Data Collection: Ethics and Governance
With so many devices today constantly relaying information to corporations, we must consider whether enough is being done to ensure the ethical use of consumers' personal data.
By David Loshin
Early in 2015, CNBC revealed that the voice recognition feature of Samsung's Smart TV was potentially listening to more than just voice commands. At the time, their privacy policy included a sentence that read:
"Please be aware that if your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information, that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party through your use of Voice Recognition."
In other words, by activating the voice recognition, the viewer was also agreeing that any text transcribed through the voice recognition processes could be collected and shared (per Samsung's privacy policy) with affiliates and business partners. That would include any words spoken within "earshot" of the TV, whether they had anything to do with TV voice commands or not.
With the integration of big data platforms, organizations such as Samsung are increasingly able to ingest and process data streams in real time and subject that data to analytical models that direct the delivery of "personalized recommendations." They can also allow television content or advertising providers to make their content more interactive in ways that may influence viewer behaviors.
The data streams may include, as the Samsung Privacy Policy -- SmartTV supplement notes, a significant set of inputs, including:
"Information about content that you have watched, purchased, downloaded, or streamed through Samsung applications on your SmartTV or other devices;
Information about applications you have accessed through the SmartTV panels;
Information about your clicks on the "Like," "Dislike," "Watch Now," and other buttons on your SmartTV;
The query terms you enter into SmartTV search features, including when you search for particular video content; and
Other SmartTV usage and device information, including, but not limited to, IP address, information stored in cookies and similar technologies, information that identifies your hardware or software configuration, browser information, and the page(s) you request."
Presumably, when the viewer accepts the licensing agreement to use the SmartTV, he or she also agrees to allow the company to stream all of this data, including the transcribed voice data. As the technology for capturing and analyzing data becomes more sophisticated, though, at what point does the company have to exercise restraint regarding how that data is used?
From the consumer's perspective: does one have the right to expect protection from being bombarded with eerily accurate recommendations, as well as protection of private information? Can we expect that the company will abide by a set of rules for the ethical use of data?
From one perspective, the answer is "no" -- providing the integrated technologies delivers a presumptive value to the consumer, including more precise recommendations of content, interactive coupons on promoted products, or personalized offers.
In return for this value, the consumer is being asked to "pay for" that service using personal data. From Samsung's vantage point, the fact that the consumers have agreed to the terms of use demonstrates that they accept that their data is going to be used for analytical purposes.
Alternatively, one could argue that the consumers are strongly encouraged (if not effectively forced) into accepting the company's exploitation of their personal data in order to use the promised services. From this perspective, it may be worthwhile for the company to adopt some set of ethical rules guiding how that they plan to both use and protect personal data.
This may be the tack taken by Samsung. A spokesperson said that the company "takes consumer privacy very seriously," and that the company "does not retain voice data, or sell it to third parties. If a consumer consents and uses the voice recognition feature, voice data is provided to a third party during a requested voice command search."
The time may be right for the creation of standards guiding data ethics and policies to govern compliance with those standards. Organizations such as the Future of Privacy Forum are facilitating collaboration between industry leaders and privacy professionals in order to devise guidelines for the responsible use and management of data.
Only time will tell whether consumers will soon look for adherence to ethical data use policies as a factor when purchasing these types of interactive products.
David Loshin is a recognized thought leader in the areas of data quality and governance, master data management, and business intelligence. David is a prolific author regarding BI best practices via the expert channel at BeyeNETWORK and numerous books on BI and data quality. His valuable MDM insights can be found in his book, Master Data Management, which has been endorsed by data management industry leaders.
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