20 years and 1 day ago, followers of the Formula 1 motor racing series, and much of the population of Brazil, were shaken to the core with the death of iconic driver Ayrton Senna, who suffered a high-speed crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola (Italy) in 1994, the last driver to die at the wheel of such a car during a race.
On a tragic weekend in which lesser-known Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger also suffered a fatal crash, occurring in a qualifying session the day previously (and Senna's fellow Brazillian Rubens Barrichello narrowly escaping with his life the day before that (going on to be the longest-serving driver in the series' history)), the death of Senna, leading the race for the Williams F1 team at the time of the tragedy, was pivotal in kickstarting safety initiatives for the sport, as well as inadvertently increasing the lasting legacy of the man in the yellow helmet.
With the death of the 3-time champion (aged 34 at the time) having occurred on 1 May 1994, many motorsport personalities and fans extended their marking and tributes to the 20th anniversary of the crash yesterday, including the video game Gran Turismo 6, which has offered a selection of content including an online-exclusive documentary.
In addition to a range of 'inspired' in-game content released throughout the month in honour of Senna under the 'Ayrton Senna Tribute' name, the Sony racing title yesterday unveiled a documentary short focusing primarily on Senna's impact away from Formula 1.
Available to watch below or on the game's website (amongst other 'Ayrton Senna Tribute' items accessible), Ayrton's Wish displays Gran Turismo's relationship with the charity Ayrton Senna Institute (IAS), set up by his family posthumously to continue the work with Brazil's youth that Senna had been involved in when he was alive.


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Senior consultant at Cook Ross, Inc., Kimberly Rattley is an organizational development specialist who, for more than 20 years, has partnered with clients to bring clarity, focus, and alignment to their diverse teams. She combines her expertise in business, leadership development, diversity, psychodrama, and systems analysis to help her clients competently tackle organizational challenges.
Kimberly has an extensive background in academia. At the Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences, she designed and delivered a national diversity curriculum for military medical providers. Her experiential training methodology was the basis of a five-year research project that validated the power of using a whole-brain teaching methodology to ensure learner engagement and retention. She received a Cosby Fellowship for her research on identity development formation and its importance to individual self-efficacy.
Kimberly has a passion for helping people catch a global vision. She has designed more than 100 diversity training curricula for clients including the Applied Physics Lab, Merck, TATA Communications, and the Smithsonian Institution. She coaches senior leadership teams and individuals on the keys to building culturally competent teams.
Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University, a Master of Social Work from Howard University, and is certified in the areas of Life Management Facilitation and Organizational Development from Georgetown University.


Earlier this year The George Lounge had a little facelift. We wanted to create a space that oozes charm, highlights the venue's character and makes you feel good as you walk down the stairs to begin your night.
With a great selection of wine, beer and spirits, comfortable seating areas and space for a dance floor, The George Lounge will also provide you with the perfect backdrop for your next function. A cool basement bar to celebrate a birthday, engagement or corporate function.
The George Lounge holds up to 100 guests and can accomodate functions of any size up to this number.


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Pfizer to Provide the United Kingdom an Additional 2.5 Million Treatment Courses of Investigational Oral Antiviral Candidate to Help Combat COVID-19
Wednesday, December 22, 2021 - 09:08am
• PAXLOVID™ (nirmatrelvir [PF-07321332] tablets and ritonavir tablets) includes nirmatrelvir, a protease inhibitor that was specifically designed to combat SARS-CoV-2
• A total of 2.75 million doses expected to be delivered to the UK through 2022, subject to regulatory approval or authorization
• Pfizer is seeking Conditional Marketing Authorization of PAXLOVID with the MHRA and is working to submit applications to regulatory agencies around the world
New York, December 22, 2021 — Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced an additional agreement with the United Kingdom (UK) government to supply an additional 2.5 million treatment courses of its investigational candidate PAXLOVID™ (nirmatrelvir [PF-07321332] tablets and ritonavir tablets), subject to local authorization. This is in addition to the 250,000 treatment courses previously contracted by the UK Government, pending authorization and recommendation for use, bringing the full amount of treatment courses to 2.75 million.
"Final data from our Phase 2/3 trial in high-risk participants confirmed the overwhelming efficacy of PAXLOVID in reducing the risk of hospitalization by nearly 90% compared to placebo when treated within both three and five days of symptom onset and no deaths. We are pleased that the UK government recognizes the importance of this potential treatment option," said Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer. "As we continue to combat the virus, we are in discussions with governments around the world to help ensure we get this potential treatment to patients as quickly as possible, subject to authorization or approval."
In anticipation of the potential for regulatory authorization or approval, Pfizer initiated
manufacturing of PAXLOVID earlier this year and expects to produce up to 80 million courses of treatment by the end of 2022, with 30 million treatment courses available in the first half of the year.
Our Commitment to Equitable Access
Pfizer is committed to working toward equitable access to PAXLOVID for all people, aiming to deliver well-tolerated and effective antiviral therapeutics as soon as possible and at an affordable price. If authorized or approved, during the pandemic, Pfizer will offer our oral antiviral therapy through a tiered pricing approach based on the income level of each country to promote equity of access across the globe. High and upper-middle income countries will pay more than lower income countries.
Pfizer continues to invest up to approximately $1 billion to support the manufacturing and distribution of PAXLOVID, including exploring potential contract manufacturing options. It has entered into agreements with multiple countries and has initiated bilateral outreach to approximately 100 countries around the world. Additionally, Pfizer has signed a voluntary license agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) for its oral antiviral treatment to help expand access, pending country regulatory authorization or approval, in 95 low- and middle-income countries that account for approximately 53% of the world's population.
About PAXLOVID™ (nirmatrelvir [PF-07321332] tablets and ritonavir tablets)
PAXLOVID is an investigational SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor antiviral therapy. It was developed to be administered orally so that, if authorized or approved, it can be prescribed at the first sign of infection or, pending clinical success of the rest of the EPIC development program and subject to regulatory authorization, at first awareness of an exposure – potentially helping patients avoid severe illness (which can lead to hospitalization and death) or avoid disease development following contact with a household member who contracts COVID-19. Nirmatrelvir [PF-07321332], which originated in Pfizer laboratories, is designed to block the activity of the SARS-CoV-2 3CL (or main) protease, an enzyme that the coronavirus needs to replicate. Co-administration with a low dose of ritonavir helps slow the metabolism, or breakdown, of nirmatrelvir in order for it to remain active in the body for longer periods of time at higher concentrations to help combat the virus.
Nirmatrelvir is designed to inhibit viral replication at a stage known as proteolysis, which occurs before viral RNA replication. In preclinical studies, nirmatrelvir did not demonstrate evidence of mutagenic DNA interactions.
Current variants of concern can be resistant to treatments that are focused on the spike protein expressed on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, due to the mutations in this region. PAXLOVID, however, works intracellularly on the protease of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by inhibiting viral replication. Nirmatrelvir has shown consistent in vitro antiviral activity against the previously identified variants of concerns (i.e., alpha, beta, delta, gamma, lambda, and mu). In addition, nirmatrelvir potently inhibited the main protease associated with Omicron in an in vitro biochemical assay. This indicates nirmatrelvir's potential to maintain robust antiviral activity against Omicron. Additional in vitro antiviral studies with this variant are underway.
If authorized or approved, PAXLOVID will be administered at a dose of 300 mg (two 150 mg tablets) of nirmatrelvir with one 100 mg tablet of ritonavir, given twice-daily for five days. One carton contains five blister packs of PAXLOVID, as co-packaged nirmatrelvir tablets with ritonavir tablets, providing all required doses for a full five-day treatment course.
About the EPIC Development Program
The EPIC (Evaluation of Protease Inhibition for COVID-19) Phase 2/3 development program for PAXLOVID consists of three clinical trials spanning a broad spectrum of patients, including adults who have been exposed to the virus through household contacts, as well as adults at both standard risk and high risk of progressing to severe illness.
In July 2021, Pfizer initiated the first of these trials, known as EPIC-HR, a randomized, double-blind study of non-hospitalized adults with COVID-19, who are at high risk of progressing to severe illness. At the recommendation of an independent Data Monitoring Committee and in consultation with the U.S. FDA, Pfizer ceased further enrollment into the study in early November 2021 due to the overwhelming efficacy demonstrated in these results. Findings from the EPIC-HR interim analysis have been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.
In August 2021, Pfizer began the Phase 2/3 EPIC-SR (Evaluation of Protease Inhibition for COVID-19 in Standard-Risk Patients), to evaluate efficacy and safety in adults with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection who are at standard risk (i.e., low risk of hospitalization or death). EPIC-SR includes a cohort of vaccinated adults who have an acute breakthrough symptomatic COVID-19 infection and who have risk factors for severe illness. Interim data from this study have been reported. In September, Pfizer initiated the Phase 2/3 EPIC-PEP (Evaluation of Protease Inhibition for COVID-19 in Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) to evaluate efficacy and safety in adults exposed to SARS-CoV-2 by a household member. These trials are ongoing.
For more information on the EPIC Phase 2/3 clinical trials for PAXLOVID, visit clinicaltrials.gov.
About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients' Lives
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time.
Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.
The information contained in this release is as of December 22, 2021. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.
This release contains forward-looking information about Pfizer's efforts to combat COVID-19 and PAXLOVID (including qualitative assessments of available data, potential benefits, expectations for clinical trials, a supply agreement with the UK government and the timing of delivery of doses thereunder, other advanced purchase agreements and an agreement with MPP, efforts toward equitable access, the anticipated timing of data readouts, regulatory submissions, regulatory approvals or authorizations, potential to maintain antiviral activity against variants, planned investment and anticipated manufacturing, distribution and supply), involving substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as risks associated with preclinical and clinical data, including the possibility of unfavorable new preclinical, clinical or safety data and further analyses of existing preclinical, clinical or safety data, including the risk that final results from EPIC-SR could differ from the interim data; the ability to produce comparable clinical or other results including efficacy, safety and tolerability profile observed to date, in additional studies or in larger, more diverse populations following commercialization; the risk that serious and unexpected adverse events may occur that have not been previously reported with PAXLOVID use; the risk that preclinical and clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments, including during the peer review/publication process, in the scientific community generally, and by regulatory authorities; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from these and any future preclinical and clinical studies; whether and when any drug applications or submissions to request emergency use or conditional marketing authorization for any potential indications for PAXLOVID may be filed in particular jurisdictions and if obtained, whether or when such emergency use authorization or licenses will expire or terminate; whether and when regulatory authorities in any jurisdictions may approve any applications or submissions for PAXLOVID that may be pending or filed (including the submissions for conditional marketing authorization in the Uk and the EU, the submission for emergency use authorization in the U.S. and submissions in other jurisdictions), which will depend on myriad factors, including making a determination as to whether the product's benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the product's efficacy and, if approved, whether it will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling or marketing, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of PAXLOVID, including development of products or therapies by other companies; risks related to the availability of raw materials for PAXLOVID; the risk that we may not be able to create or scale up manufacturing capacity on a timely basis or maintain access to logistics or supply channels commensurate with global demand, which would negatively impact our ability to supply the estimated numbers of courses of PAXLOVID within the projected time periods; whether and when additional purchase agreements will be reached; the risk that demand for any products may be reduced or no longer exist; uncertainties regarding the impact of COVID-19 on Pfizer's business, operations and financial results; and competitive developments.
A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results", as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com.
Pfizer Contacts:

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Home / l / NATIONAL NEWS / Revision of interest rates for Small Saving Schemes
Revision of interest rates for Small Saving Schemes
l NATIONAL NEWS
Rate of interest from 1/1/2020 to 31/3/2020
Rate of interest from 1/4/2020 to 30/6/2020Saving is income not spent, or deferred consumption. Methods of saving include putting money aside in, for example, a deposit account, a pension account, an investment fund, or as cash. Saving also involves reducing expenditures, such as recurring costs. In terms of personal finance, saving generally specifies low-risk preservation of money, as in a deposit account, versus investment, wherein risk is a lot higher; in economics more broadly, it refers to any income not used for immediate consumption. Saving does not automatically include interest.
In exercise of the powers conferred by rule9-1 of the Government Saving Promotion General Rules,2018, the rates of interest on various Small Saving Schemes for the first querter of financial year 2020-21 starting from 1st April,2020 and ending on June,2020 have been revised as indicated below.
A deposit account is a savings account, current account or any other type of bank account that allows money to be deposited and withdrawn by the account holder. These transactions are recorded on the bank's books, and the resulting balance is recorded as a liability for the bank and represents the amount owed by the bank to the customer. Some banks may charge a fee for this service, while others may pay the customer interest on the funds deposited.
National Savings Certificates, popularly known as NSC, is an Indian Government Savings Bond, primarily used for small savings and income tax saving investments in India. It is part of the postal savings system of Indian Postal Service (India Post).(Bhartiya Daak) These can be purchased from any Post Office in India by an adult (either in his/her own name or on behalf of a minor), a minor, a trust, and two adults jointly. These are issued for five and ten year maturity and can be pledged to banks as collateral for availing loans. The holder gets the tax benefit under Section 80C of Income Tax Act, 1961.
Interest Rates of Small Saving Schemes
The Public Provident FundThe Public Provident Fund is a savings-cum-tax-saving instrument in India, introduced by the National Savings Institute of the Ministry of Finance in 1968. The aim of the scheme is to mobilize small savings by offering an investment with reasonable returns combined with income tax benefits.The scheme is fully guaranteed by the Central Government. Balance in PPF account is not subject to attachment under any order or decree of court. However, Income Tax & other Government authorities can attach the account for recovering tax dues.
Sukanya Samriddhi AccountSukanya Samriddhi Account (Girl Child Prosperity Account) is a Government of India backed saving scheme targeted at the parents of girl children. The scheme encourages parents to build a fund for the future education and marriage expenses for their female child.The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 January 2015 as a part of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign.
Kisan Vikas Patra
Kisan Vikas Patra is a saving certificate scheme which was first launched in 1988 by India Post. It was successful in the early months but afterwards the Government of India set up a committee under supervision of Shyamala Gopinath which gave its recommendation to the Government that KVP could be misused. Hence the Government of India decided to close this scheme and KVP was closed in 2011 and the new government re-launched it in 2014.
Revision of interest rates for Small Saving Schemes 2020-04-01T00:50:00-07:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: Niya
Free Sewing machine scheme & Application Form, Registration Form
Free Sewing machine scheme & Application Form, Registration Form Pradhan Mantri Free Silai Machine Scheme 2021 has been inaugurated by ...


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Smoking & Tobacco Use
Susan's Story
"There are no words to describe how I feel," Susan said. After 40 years of smoking, 5 weeks as a non-smoker feels like a whole new world.
"It's the best thing I've ever done for myself," she added. "I feel sorry for other smokers. They have to stand out there in that nasty weather, ugh!"
"I can't thank you guys and your program enough," shared Susan. To show how much she appreciated the support of the Michigan Quitline she wrote a letter to her local Michigan Dept. of Community Health. In it, she described how every winter severe respiratory infections made her miserable. The constant flow of antibiotics into her system left her feeling drained.
Then, a series of mini-strokes combined with a serious conversation with her doctor about her health was the final straw.
"I read about the quitline online," she said. "I worked with a coach to hammer out a plan and a quit date. When the free patches arrived, I was on my way. The first week was really tough, but I kept telling myself, 'Tomorrow will be better.'"
Every week Susan would update a coach on her progress and challenges she was facing. She worked on getting her husband to smoke outside. She changed up her routines during work breaks, used different oral substitutes like gum and suckers and continued to educate herself by reading everything she could.
"I am so proud of myself," she said. "Tears come to my eyes every time I think about what I've accomplished. If I can do this, I can do anything!"
Susan now appreciates the little things in life that previously went unnoticed. "I can get up and down a flight of stairs without coughing and wheezing. My sense of smell is great!" she said. "If I've made it this long I know will never smoke again."
Tips to Quit Smoking
Reasons to Quit
Types of Tobacco
Hookah Smoking
Menthol Cigarettes
Preparing to Quit
Past Quit Attempts
The 3 A's Strategy
Real Strategies from Ex-Smokers
Challenging Roadblocks
Withdrawal or Quit Symptoms
Staying Tobacco Free
Rewarding Yourself
Slip Tracker
Quit Tobacco Resources
Tobacco & Your Health
Cancer & Tobacco
Coronary Heart Disease & Tobacco
Women & Smoking
Pregnancy & Tobacco
Teens & Smoking
Smoking & Physical Activity
Impact on Adults
Impact on Children


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Search for updates
IOM: Mediterranean Arrivals Reach 110,699 in 2019; Deaths Reach 1,283. World Deaths Fall
Geneva – The International Organization for Migration reported today 110,669 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea during the year just ended, marking the sixth straight year that at least...
Global Migrant Deaths Decline, but Tragedies Continue Worldwide
Geneva –As 2019 draws to a close, the International Organization for Migration reports that there has been a sharp decline in the number of migrants dying while attempting to cross international...
Mediterranean Migrant Arrivals Reach 89,997 in 2019; Deaths Reach 1,090
Geneva – IOM reports that 89,997 migrants and refugees have entered Europe by sea through 6 November, roughly an 11 per cent decrease from the 101,185 arriving during the same period last year...
Europe | Forest Fires January - October 2019 – DG ECHO Daily Map | 04/11/2019
MED: Silver Lining Looms on the Horizon while NGOs Endure Salvini's 'Final Blow'
ECRE
Amid rescues by Spanish ferry and coast guards, one NGO rescue vessel is still stranded at sea. Two were allowed to disembark in Italy but fear heavy fines and persecution for breaching decrees...
Child Care Programme for Vulnerable & Marginalised Families: Together we are uplifting children's education for a 'Resilient Pakistan'
Muslim Aid's Child Care Programme is called, 'Rainbow Family Programme (RFP)' which aims to contribute to the UN's 'Sustainable Development Goals' (SDG). The primary objective is to alleviate the...
Mediterranean Migrant Arrivals Reach 36,670 in 2019; Deaths Reach 686
Geneva – IOM reports that 36,670 migrants and refugees have entered Europe by sea through 24 July, roughly a 35 per cent decrease from the 54,978 arriving during the same period last year. Arrivals...
Spain: Sea and Land Arrivals (1 Jan - 31 May 2019)
WFP Algeria Country Brief, April 2019
In Numbers 125,000 people assisted In April 2019 2,338 mt of food assistance distributed 2,247 kcal/person/day provided through the general food basket US$ 0.9 m six months (May–October 2019) net...
Spain: Sea and Land Arrivals (1 Jan - 30 Apr 2019)
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Column by Alex R. Knight III, posted on March 25, 2007
Exclusive to STR
It was nothing like the ABC -TV special from November of 1983 (save one element) -- but it was November. 2008. The day before the presidential elections, to be specific.
That one element was the use of Soviet-era "suitcase nukes." Within bare minutes of each other, four of them detonated in various parts of the country. Though three of them occurred in different time zones, they all exploded during early afternoon hours, as follows:
* 3:03 PM at the base of the Sears Tower in Chicago, easily leveling the entire building, and taking a 10 square block radius of structures and people with it.
* Ditto 277 Park Avenue in New York (formerly the Chemical Bank Building ), dwarfing the World Trade Center downing on 9-11-01 . In the blast--every bit as destructive as the one happening almost simultaneously in Chicago--the Union Carbide Building across the street was reduced to a steel skeleton, it's multi-layered glass reduced to shards, raining shrapnel and debris down on a mostly going-home-from-work crowd. In turn, most of them never made it there.
* The Space Needle in Seattle had its base blown away at 1:16 PM local time, sending the structure literally toppling over as the brunt of the blast ripped through the streets below, killing thousands.
* 1:17 PM Pacific Time saw the end of Citigroup Center in L.A. 's financial district, wreaking havoc and chaos throughout the greater metro area. Initially, rumors circulate that earth tremors felt from the blast are a seismic earthquake stemming from the San Andreas fault line, though such speculation is rapidly proven false. The truth, naturally, is far more grim.
Within two short hours which few across the country even notice pass, President Bush takes to the airwaves with a message for the American people, and the world. The elections are to be "postponed." A "temporary" state of martial law is now in effect in all 50 states, including all overseas dependencies and territories. Further information as to who is responsible for these "barbaric acts of terror" will be made available pending a full investigation by Homeland Security. No further questions.
As night descends across the continent, and most of those who can and do sleep manage so only in a state of exhausted unreality, TV and radio are ablaze with continuous coverage of the day's horrific events. Scores of commentators and on-the-scene reporters offer their spin straight through the wee hours. All branches of the armed forces and law enforcement are fully mobilized and remain on high alert. The color-coded Terror Alert Level is of course, in the red with a capital R. Millions await with bated breath for any possible follow-up attack. Tension permeates everything.
Dawn sheds its light on a radically altered world. The New York Stock Exchange need not even open its doors. The Dow Jones Industrials and the S&P 500 have crashed through the basement. The Blue Chip Index is a cascading shambles. In turn, all major polling places are closed. Where some voting does occur, it is strictly in rural areas, and then only under police guard. Local officials vow to hold the results "in confidence" until such time as the elections are officially rescheduled. Those across the country who attempt to adhere to some measure of normalcy by traveling to work are witness to an almost surreal increase in police presence, coupled with an Orwellian abundance of military activity. The PATRIOT, Military Commissions, and John Warner Defense Authorization acts are now in full force. Openly, the Bill of Rights and Constitution are now "suspended indefinitely." Checkpoints, demands for identification, and searches of persons and vehicles are conducted frequently, at whim, at gunpoint, and without warrants. The slightest of verbal argument means immediate arrest and jailing without traditional habeas corpus. Numerous KBR/Halliburton "detention facilities" are quietly readied for use across the nation. The patina of fear increases.
At noon , the president is ready to talk to the American people again. Intelligence sources have determined that Iran is responsible for the attacks. Accordingly, U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf , Middle East , and elsewhere are readying for a massive retaliatory assault. A few brave reporters, still not acclimated to the idea of the First Amendment no longer being respected, ask questions regarding a few inconsistencies in the government's reporting of the attacks. They are shouted down as "helping the terrorists," physically removed from the White House press room, and subsequently placed under FBI surveillance. Of course, their questions are never answered, fueling numerous "conspiracy theories" such as those surrounding 9/11. The press largely ignores these--albeit now they are "officially" (read "openly") required to do so. Hosts of Internet websites that question the government's account of the previous day's events are ordered to be investigated by law enforcement.
As the day progresses, there are rumors that China and Japan have vowed to cease purchasing U.S. Treasury certificates--particularly if Iran is attacked. As well, several Asian banks have, with a preplanned lack of fanfare, begun dumping U.S. dollars onto the world currency markets. Uncle Sam counters by threatening to utterly repudiate all federal debt. This rocks the global financial world, as does Ben Bernanke's grim revelation to the effect that interest rates will go double digits within days unless restraint is exercised on all sides, and immediately. But few heed this advice. Things have gone automatic pilot by now; a line of rapidly toppling dominoes.
The first F/A-18 Super Hornets, B-52's, and B-1's begin streaking into Iranian airspace, and in the "Homeland," banks, supermarkets, hardware and Army-Navy stores are besieged with customers. Robberies skyrocket. Riots break out. L.A. itself is 1992, redux. Wal-Marts across the country put a voluntary freeze on gun sales. Many of them are looted by force. Pockets of armed confrontation break out sporadically between citizens and the police/military (there is no effective difference now). The lessons of Waco , Ruby Ridge, and Katrina have not been forgotten. Before the end of the next 24 hours, there is actual talk of secession and open civil war.
Iran is devastated in the initial air strikes, but with heavier than expected American losses -- better than two dozen U.S. aircraft are taken out in the first sorties. This is nothing, however, to the attack's indirect effects. The entire Middle East becomes a fuel reserve set ablaze. Syria declares war on the West. Lebanon and Palestine , driven by Hezbollah, make an all-out, now or never assault on Israel . The continuing violence in Iraq surges in an unprecedented tidal wave. Saudi Arabia , Jordan , and nearly all other Arab states align themselves openly against Tel Aviv--and by implication-- America . Like a joker flung into a hand of high-stakes poker, North Korea announces it will no longer honor any nuclear disarmament agreements it has entered into at six-nation talks. This, in light of everything else, goes almost entirely unnoticed. A U.S. ship is sunk by missile fire in the Persian Gulf , and there is talk in Washington of limited use of nuclear weapons. Russia announces it is severing diplomatic relations with the United States . In a sense, this is nearly inconsequential. The United States , as such, has by now--for all intents and purposes--ceased to exist.
Impossible? Improbable? A far less devastating kickoff than the one I've hypothesized, I'd wager, is all that would be necessary to evince similar results. And while I'm totally in favor of an end to all states, including the United ones, the end goal is a peaceful and prosperous global society with only the market as a ruling force.
So long as we remain poised here on the tedious precipice of government's insane trajectory, we stand in very real danger, instead, of total immolation.
Alex R. Knight III is the author of numerous horror, science-fiction, and fantasy tales. He has also written and published poetry, non-fiction articles, reviews, and essays for a variety of venues. He currently lives and writes in rural southern Vermont where he holds a B.A. in Literature & Writing from Union Institute & University. Alex's Amazon page can be found here, and his work may also be found at both Smashwords and Barnes & Noble. His Facebook page can be found here. Receive Alex's occasional Tweets here.
A New Strategy For Liberty - Part 2: Secession in Three Easy Steps
I Don't Mind If You Keep Voting, But Do You Mind If I Keep Laughing While You Do?
State of the War Party - 2007
The Idiocy of Gender Equality


Some years ago, when our children were small, our family was placed in a situation where it became difficult to find the very essentials necessary for a family to survive. So as the provider of my family, I began to store up food as supplies became available, cooking oil, sugar, canned goods, pasta, meat. I had accumulated enough food for our family to last us for months, without even leaving our home. However, the political situation became so dangerous that we had to leave the country - with only the small amount of possessions we had in our suitcases. Not only were we leaving all of our "worldly possessions," but all of that food I had stored away!
These words from our Lord had so much more meaning for me after that experience. Two years later, after the political climate changed, we were able to return home. All of our possessions had been sold, but because of the dollar exchange, we were able to replace all we had lost and then some. And all that food I had stored away? I'm sure that the Lord gave it to those that needed it worse than we did.


1. 7. Alexander, Mystasia Norinder, Sarah Sophomore Sophomore Cerritos Cerritos 236.18m 12.559m 118' 8" 50' 722"
2. 5. Forkner, Senna Norinder, Sarah Freshman Sophomore Mt. SAC Merritt 34.801m 6917.92m 4114' 263" 4114' 263"
3. 5. Norinder, Sarah Zamora, Maria Sophomore Sophomore Southwestern Saddleback 0624.743m 3910.379m 5481' 2" 5481' 2"
4. 5. Kron, Natalie Reyes, Betsabe Sophomore Senior Saddleback Southwestern 21.873m 3910.379m 71' 90" 50' 722"
5. 2. Curci , Eva Campuzano, Dalia Senior Senior Unattached Mt. SAC 6917.92m 12.559m 0758' 9" 0645' 69"
6. 7. Reyes, Betsabe Reyes, Betsabe Sophomore Freshman Palomar Merritt 9515.431m 0624.743m 50' 722" 841' 2"
7. 6. Zamora, Maria Forkner, Senna Freshman Sophomore Merritt Palomar 5613.889m 236.18m 0645' 69" 5481' 2"
8. 1. Campuzano, Dalia Curci , Eva Freshman Sophomore Palomar Southwestern 12.559m 236.18m 841' 2" 0645' 69"
9. 3. Martinez, Stephany Martinez, Stephany Freshman Sophomore Palomar Palomar 3910.379m 3910.379m 134' 01" 118' 8"


Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur, but don't know where and/or how to start? The Entrepreneur Mind: 100 Essential Beliefs, Characteristics, and Habits of Elite Entrepreneurs by Kevin D. Johnson helps us see how the minds of these individuals, people who find success in entrepreneurship, think.
What's The Entrepreneur Mind All About?
The Entrepreneur Mind by Kevin D. Johnson is a book that helps individuals develop the entrepreneur mind. The author shares vital lessons from seasoned entrepreneurs on how to conduct business.
This book focuses on one hundred core lessons, divided into seven parts: Strategy, Education, People, Finance, Marketing and Sales, Leadership, and Motivation. You don't have to read this book sequentially. You can jump from chapter to chapter base on your interests.
Entrepreneurship is not for the weak. If you aren't prepared to lose it all, then you should definitely do something else.
Respect mostly comes from how you treat customers individually and the high quality of your work.
Any functionality that is not the core to your business should be outsourced at the best cost and quality. In the majority of cases, trying on your own to produce everything that your business needs are unrealistic and highly inefficient.
To be great in business means to be great at putting out fires quickly. They are inevitable, and one of the biggest fires you'll have to put out is an urgent customer complaint. Making sure that you resolve customer complaints in the best way possible, so as to ensure that customers stay with your company.
Business is about solving problems, improving the quality of life, creating new solutions, and yes, making money.
As someone contemplating to start their own business, but don't know where to start, The Entrepreneur Mind is a good resource to learn from. I truly believe in the must of educating oneself before pursuing an interest. Thus enhancing one's levels of success.
I'm rating The Entrepreneur Mind 3 stars over 5. Although the author shared many valuable tips on entrepreneurship, I find some chapters to be a bit dragging.
By the way, this book takes an average of 5-6 hours reading time. The author could have shortened the contents of this book in a comprehensive manner. I believe that some contents are no longer necessary.
Also, the author's ego can be off-putting to some readers. I honestly don't mind this. Just putting it out there for your information.
Overall, I find this book to be an average read. Want to learn more? Check out The Entrepreneur Mind: 100 Essential Beliefs, Characteristics, and Habits of Elite Entrepreneurs by Kevin D. Johnson on Amazon today.


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Italian markets suffer heavy losses after budget deal risks row with Brussels - as it happened
Italy's decision to raise public spending despite a huge debt pile prompts major sell-off of shares and government bonds.
Italy's FTSE MIB plunges 4%, euro falls below $1.16
Italy agrees public spending hike in potential clash with EU
UK growth confirmed at 0.4% in second quarter
Elon Musk and Tesla sued by US regulators
The facade of Rome's Campidoglio Capitol Hill is lit with the colours of the Italian flag
Photograph: Andrew Medichini/AP
Angela Monaghan
Fri 28 Sep 2018 09.55 EDT First published on Fri 28 Sep 2018 02.59 EDT
9.55am EDT 09:55 Closing summary
9.39am EDT 09:39 Wall Street opens lower
7.07am EDT 07:07 Euro falls below $1.16 as fears grow over Italy's deficit plans
6.10am EDT 06:10 EU's Moscovici says its in Italy's interests to respect budget rules
5.53am EDT 05:53 European markets dragged lower by Italy
5.29am EDT 05:29 Italian banking shares on course for biggest one-day loss since 2016
5.14am EDT 05:14 Eurozone inflation rises to 2.1%
9.55am EDT 09:55
Closing summary
Investors have struck a gloomy note on the final trading day of the third quarter.
Markets are sharply lower across Europe, as investors do not share the Italian government's enthusiasm for a higher deficit target.
The spending plans - with a 2.4% of GDP deficit target for 2019 - have raised tensions with Brussels, which has argued for debt reduction in Italy, and prompted fears of a fresh debt crisis.
Italy's banking index was down 6 % and set for its biggest one-day loss since June 2016, with shares in the country's two largest banks, Intesa Sanpaolo and UniCredit, also falling by 6%.
The euro has also been hit, and is currently down 0.5% against the dollar at $1.1582. It is roughly flat against the pound at 88.98p.
In the UK, second-quarter economic growth was confirmed at 0.4%, but the detail showed firms cut their investments in Britain over the period.
On that note, we'll close up for the day. Thank you for all the comments, and please join us again on Monday.
Wall Street opens lower
US markets have opened lower on the last day of trading in the third quarter. Sentiment is being dragged lower by Italy's budget decisions, which have raised fears of a fresh debt crisis, and concerns over trade tensions continues to weigh.
Opening scores:
Dow Jones: -0.2% at 26,397
S&P 500: -0.2% at 2,909
Nasdaq: -0.2% at 8,025
US consumer spending ticked up 0.3% in August, following a 0.4% rise in July.
Reuters Top News (@Reuters)
U.S. consumer spending rises; monthly inflation slows https://t.co/scPP5wYprS
Wall Street is expected to open lower:
IGSquawk (@IGSquawk)
US Opening Calls:#DOW 26355 -0.35%#SPX 2905 -0.33%#NASDAQ 7596 -0.46%#IGOpeningCall
Time for a market re-cap.
Shares across Europe are sharply down after Italy defied EU wishes and set a deficit target of 2.4% of GDP, signalling higher spending and triggering fears of a potential debt crisis.
Here are the current scores:
Italy's FTSE MIB: -4.3% at 20,585
FTSE 100: -0.5% at 7,505
Germany's DAX: -1.8% at 12,214
France's CAC: -1.3% at 5,468
Spain's IBEX: -1.8% at 9,356
Europe's STOXX 600: -1% at 383
Richard Flax at Moneyfarm says Italian bondholders could face further price falls when the European Central Bank winds down its bond-buying programme by the end of the year:
Italian bondholders' hopes were raised by signs of greater pragmatism from the coalition government, once they were in office. However, tensions in the government seemed to have spilled over with an agreement to run a budget deficit of 2.4% for the next three years and committing to greater government spending.
As we begin to see signs of fiscal slippage, and a larger deficit, bond markets will continue to react negatively, perhaps even raising concerns about Italy's long-term debt sustainability. This could be compounded when you consider that the ECB's role in Eurozone bond markets is likely to reduce as the end of the year approaches.
Luigi Di Maio, Italy's deputy prime minister, says he is proud of the work the government is doing.
He tweets:
With the #ManovraDelPopolo we are keeping the promises made! Yesterday they said it was impossible. Today they say it was not to be done. Tomorrow they will remain silent. Proud of the work we are doing for the Italian 💪🇮🇹😀 people
Luigi Di Maio (@luigidimaio)
Con la #ManovraDelPopolo stiamo mantenendo le promesse fatte! Ieri dicevano che era impossibile. Oggi dicono che non si doveva fare. Domani rimarranno in silenzio. Orgoglioso del lavoro che stiamo facendo per il popolo italiano 💪🇮🇹😀 pic.twitter.com/zmp6Peni03
Euro falls below $1.16 as fears grow over Italy's deficit plans
The euro's losses are widening as investors become increasingly fretful about Italy's rising debts and the impact the country's banking system.
The single currency is down 0.6% against the dollar, at $1.1572.
It is also down -0.2% against the pound, at 88.79p
Professor Costas Milas at Liverpool University's Management School says the issues facing Italian banks have the potential to spread to other countries:
The Italian 'virus' has the potential to spread rapidly in other EU countries and in particular to France and Portugal because of bank exposure to Italian debt.
Bank of International Settlements (BIS) data suggests that French banks have quite a high exposure to Italian public and private debt, accounting for as much as 10.25% of their exposure around the world, followed by Portuguese banks with a 7.81% exposure to Italian debt.
Spanish banks have a much lower exposure of 4.65%, while British and Irish banks are 'fairly' immune: Irish banks have a much lower exposure of 1.28% and British banks an even lower exposure of 0.82% to Italian debt.
Angela Giuffrida reports from Rome:
Luigi Di Maio, Italy's deputy prime minister and leader of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, is feeling particularly victorious as the budget included the €10bn required to bring about the party's key election campaign promise of a universal basic income.
Di Maio says it will finally lift 6.5 million people, long ignored by previous administrations, out of poverty.
But it is yet to be made clear who will benefit from the means-tested system. It could be that the income, which starts at €780 for a single person, will only go to those who do not own a property. Some 80% of Italians own their homes.
Updated at 6.41am EDT
The Italian government is targeting a budget deficit of 2.4% of GDP for 2019, compared with a target of 0.8% set by the previous government.
At 2.4%, the budget target is safely within the EU's general rule that a country's deficit must not exceed 3% of GDP.
But Italy is a special case, because national debt stands at a whopping 131% of GDP, second only to Greece. The previous government had pledged to cut its debt, and had been aiming for a 0.8% deficit in 2019, before balancing the books and eliminating the deficit by 2020.
Italy's budget deficit
EU's Moscovici says its in Italy's interests to respect budget rules
Pierre Moscovici, the European commissioner for economic and financial affairs, gave a stark warning to Italians on Friday morning:
If Italians continue to get into debt, what happens? The interest rate increases and the cost of servicing debt becomes greater.
Italians must not be mistaken: every euro more of debt is one euro less for the highways, for schools, for social justice.
Moscovici told France's BFM TV it was not in the interests of the EU to have a row with Italy over its budget plans:
We have no interest in a crisis between the (European) Commission and Italy, nobody has an interest because Italy is an important eurozone country.
But we don't have any interest either that Italy does not respect the rules and does not reduce its debt, which remains explosive.
European markets dragged lower by Italy
It's a sea of red across European markets this morning, with Italy's FTSE MIB leading other major indices lower:
David Madden, analyst at CMC Markets, gives his take:
A rise in Italian bond yields has put major pressure on the FTSE MIB, and other European markets are feeling the pain too.
The coalition government has agreed to run a budget deficit of 2.4%, and the two parties in power are keen to boost public spending in a bid to stimulate the economy.
Brussels will not be happy with the announcement as they would like to see the budget deficit being capped at 2%. The Italian government is sitting on a mountain of debt, and the boosting in public spending is likely to make them more indebted, which could trigger another debt crisis in the currency bloc.
Italian banking shares on course for biggest one-day loss since 2016
Back to Italy now, where the sell-off of shares and bonds continues after the government announced it would increase public spending despite a massive debt pile.
The benchmark equities index, the FTSE MIB, is now down 2.7% at 20,930.
Banking shares have been hardest hit, with shares in the sector down 6% and on course for the biggest one-day loss since June 2016.
Italy banking shares over the past week. Shares plummeted after the government agreed on Thursday night to raise spending, despite huge debts
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Factceleb /biography/j-b-smoove-bio-wiki-the-millers-spiderman-wife-children-net-worth-height
J. B. Smoove - Biography
Actor, Writer, Comedian, Producer
Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Millers
Jerry Angelo Brooks
Plymouth, North Carolina, USA
Floyd Brooks
Elizabeth Brooks
younger brothers
Mount Vernon High School
Shahidah Omar
Jerrica Brooks (daughter)
Who is J. B. Smoove?
J. B. Smoove is an actor, writer, comedian, voice actor, producer by profession and American by nationality. He is best known for starring in Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Millers and Real Husbands of Hollywood.
J. B. Smoove – Age, Parents, Siblings
J. B. Smoove's birth took place on December 16, 1965, in Plymouth, North Carolina, USA. He was born as Jerry Angelo Brooks to father Floyd Brooks and mother Elizabeth Brooks. From the age of 3, he was raised in Mount Vernon, New York and spent a lot of his time with extended maternal family in the Plymouth.
He is no the only child of his parents and has two younger brothers, including a brother named Floyd Brooks Jr. Smoove's family had passed away due to diabetes when he was 15 years old.
Source: Instagram (young J. B. Smoove)
For education, J. B. Smoove attended Mount Vernon High School. After graduation, he enrolled at Norfolk State University where he studied engineering and graphic design. His ethnicity is African-American.
J. B. Smoove – Girlfriend, Wife, Children, Divorce
Smoove married his longtime girlfriend Shahidah Omar on July 8, 2007. His wife is a singer and uses the stage name Shah XO and Shah Clectic.
Source: Instagram (J. B. Smoove, Shahidah Omar in September 2018)
J. B. Smoove has a child, daughter named Jerrica Brooks, who was born on October 21, 1993. But the mother of Jerrica might be a former flame of his. Although Shahidah Omar is said to be the mother of Jerrica, something does not seem fitting.
In the January 2013 Instagram picture, Smoove captioned my baby girl instead of our baby girl. "The wife @shahidahomar and my baby girl Jerrica. Headed to the #RHOHpremiere at the 40/40 Club NYC!"
Source: Instagram (Shahidah Omar, Jerrica Brooks in January 2013 post)
Also read: Aisling Bea - Actress, Comedian, Writer
J. B. Smoove – Career
Soon after completing his education, J. B. Smoove began working as a perfume formulator and sold fire extinguishers door-to-door. Only in 1995 did he start his career in Television and moved to Los Angeles in 1999.
His first role was in HBO TV series Def Comedy Jam, which he had also written. This was followed by roles in TV series Law & Order (1998), Cedric the Entertainer Presents (2002-2003) and in the films Tomorrow Night (1998), Mr. Deeds (2002), With or Without You (2003).
In 2003, J. B. Smoove started to work as a writer and comedian for Saturday Night Live (SNL) which gained him much recognition. Over the next few years, Smoove appeared in Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Ego Trip's Race-O-Rama before finally landing his breakthrough role in Everybody Hates Chris (2007-2008).
Also read: Lil Rel Howery - Comedian, Actor of Get Out
Films and Shows
After his breakthrough role, work came flooding in. Over the years, Smoove has worked in TV series Curb Your Enthusiasm (2007-present), The Gong Show with Dave Attell (2008), 'Til Death (2008-2010), Bent (2012), The Millers (2013-2015), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014-2017), to name a few.
Source: TV Guide (J. B. Smoove with The Millers cast)
In films, Smoove has had minor roles in Hall Pass (2011), Think Like a Man (2012), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), Going Places and lent his voice in The Smurfs 2 (2013), Hell and Back (2015).
On the set of The Millers, J. B. Smoove has starred alongside Sean Hayes, Jayma Mays, Nelson Franklin, Beau Bridges.
Also read: Jermaine Fowler - Actor, Writer, Comedian
J. B. Smoove – Awards, Nominations
He was nominated for 2017's Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series and shared Saturday Night Live's 2007 Writers Guild of America Award for Comedy/Variety Series.
J. B. Smoove – Net Worth, Salary
The net worth of Smoove is estimated to be around $5 million while the figure on his annual salary is unknown.
J. B. Smoove – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
On social media sites Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, J. B. Smoove is followed by millions of followers. He also has an official website – jbsmoove.com.
Also read: Michael Blackson - Actor, Comedian
Tags : J. B. Smoove Jerry Angelo Brooks Shahidah Omar Shah XO Shah Clectic African-American actor The Millers Curb Your Enthusiasm Spider-Man: Far From Home Going Places Saturday Night Live SNL
Kimberly Brook
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Home › Public Diplomacy › Distinguished Lectures › India's relationship with its neighbours: Conflict and Cooperation
India's relationship with its neighbours: Conflict and Cooperation
By: Amb (Retd) Achal Malhotra
Venue: Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak
At the outset I would like to express my gratitude to the Management of the Maharshi Dayanand University of Rohtak and Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs for giving me the opportunity to address the students of this University. This is my second visit to your University and I vividly recall my interaction with well-informed audience last year.
I have been assigned the task to speak to you on India's foreign policy approaches towards its neighbourhood.
Let me begin with a quickly sketched profile of South Asia which accounts for the bulk of our neighbourhood. I will later touch upon our next door neighbours in East Asia namely China and if time permits also Myanmar.
India's neighbourhood which the member-countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka comprise, is a fairly complex geographical entity. This is to say the least. In fact India can be said to be living in a dangerous neighbourhood. The constituent countries-individually as well as collectively-represent a world of historical links, shared legacies, commonalities as well as diversities which are so elaborately reflected in their ethnic, linguistic, religious and political fabric. China and Myanmar, the other two neighbours, are no less complex.
The South Asian region is also full of contradictions, disparities and paradoxes. In the post-colonial period, the South Asia has been a theatre of bloody inter-state as well as civil wars; it has witnessed liberation movements, nuclear rivalry, military dictatorships and continues to suffer from insurgencies, religious fundamentalism and terrorism, besides serious problems associated with drugs and human trafficking. The region also has the dubious distinction of having over 540mn people who earn less than $ 1.25 a day and account for 44% of developing world's poor. The region has produced several powerful female leaders and yet in the overall much remains to be done for the empowerment of women. On the barometer of religious tolerance, the constituent countries range anywhere between flexible secular minded and rigidly fundamentalist.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has remained in existence for over 27 years; yet South Asia is considered as the least integrated of the global regions; this is despite the stipulation in its Charter that "bilateral and contentious issues shall be excluded" from its deliberations, thus making it possible to put the contentious issues on the back burner and focus on areas of possible cooperation.
On the positive side, the region has been registering a healthy growth (average 6% per annum) during the past several years. Also democratic forms of governance (howsoever flawed and feeble) are beginning to gain some ground in most parts of the region.
Where does India stand in this rather volatile region? India's position is unique in more than one sense. As a matter of an interesting geographic factor, India shares borders with all other South Asian nations whereas no other South Asian nation (except Afghanistan and Pakistan) shares borders with any other South Asian nation. Notwithstanding some shortcomings, democracy and rule of law as instruments of political governance are well entrenched in India. Transfer of power has been more or less peaceful and transparent. In relative terms India can be arguably considered as the most stable country in the region, moving ahead on the fast tracks of development, even though the growth has of late slowed down.
Further in terms of its population, territory, GDP, its image as an emerging world economy and a responsible de-facto nuclear State, and as a country which is destined to play a larger role on international arena, and also for several other reasons, India stands apart amongst the bunch of other South Asian countries. In fact India can be said to dwarf others in the South Asian region which in turn has created misperceptions about India and its intention.
India thus has reasons to be proud of its achievements. However, in the regional context, "India's pride", unfortunately is also "neighbours' envy".
There are unjustified and erroneous perceptions about India floating around in the region: "Big Brother bullying the smaller neighbour"; "India treats its neighbours as a neglected backyard" etc. etc. There is no justified explanation for the "trust deficit". On top of it there are vested interests and lobbies for whom being anti-Indian is synonymous with being patriot and nationalist. And then there are strong institutions within the framework of a more or less failed and rogue State in the neighbourhood (Pakistan) which would like to see relations with India in a state of perpetual suspension. India's motives are suspected even in cases of innocent proposals for economic cooperation which would lead to win-win situations.
At times the domestic compulsions in India arising out of regional and coalition politics complicate matters further.
It is against the above backdrop of various challenges one has to look at the options which India's foreign policy makers have at their disposal for this region.
In a scenario where we have incorrigible Pakistan at one end and genuinely friendly Bhutan at the other end of the spectrum, and everyone else somewhere in between, it is perhaps difficult to write one single foreign policy prescription for the entire region. Nevertheless, there are some basic approaches which India has consistently endeavoured to adopt and apply; these include for instance:
India advocates the policy of constructive engagement, despite such serious provocations as have been in the past (attack on Parliament, Mumbai terrorist attacks etc). It believes that violent retaliation and confrontation can only complicate the matters. This applies in particular to Pakistan- the origin of State-sponsored terrorism targeted at India. The policy of engagement is not be allowed, however, to be misunderstood as weakness. Strong and loud messages must emanate from India each and every time our patience is tested.
India adheres to its benign and noble policy of non-interference into internal affairs of other countries in the region. However, if an act - innocent or deliberate - by any country has the potential of impinging upon India's national interests, India does not hesitate in quick and timely intervention. Mind it: intervention is qualitatively different from interference, particularly when the intervention is made at the request of the country concerned.
Foreign policy in India by and large enjoys national consensus. At times, however, there are instances when it appears that the foreign policy is being held hostage to domestic regional politics. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are the most glaring examples. Domestic sentiments and genuine concerns of the segments of the society must be taken into consideration but not allowed to determine country's foreign policy which must be guided solely by the overriding national interests and must be made in New Delhi.
India has endeavoured to deal with the government-of-the-day, be it a democracy, monarchy or military dictatorship, insisting that the choice of the form of government is best left to the people of the country concerned. India does not believe in exporting democracy but does not hesitate in promoting democracy wherever potential exists; this is done by proactively providing assistance in capacity building and strengthening the institutions of democracy;
In contemporary globalised world, the foreign policy and the foreign economic policy objectives stand integrated and cannot be addressed divorced from each other. Creation of an external environment which is conducive to all inclusive growth in the country is one of the integral component of India's foreign policy. All diplomatic skills and political leverages are being put to use to impress upon the partners in the region that joint exploration of natural resources can lead to win-win situations. India's cooperation with Bhutan in hydropower generation is an example to be cited and followed. In contrast, as a result of its reluctance to collaborate with India in this field, Nepal remains a net importer of electricity despite its enormous hydro resources.
India has skilfully used its policy of non-prescriptive development assistance as its soft power since early 1950s. In return India has sought "good will" and "friends of India". In a slight departure India is gradually switching over from pure charity to a judicious mix of outright grants and soft loans linked to project/commodity exports. Also India is judiciously working to ensure that the "goodwill'' thus earned must get translated into concrete political and economic dividends.
Finally, India is ready to go an extra mile in seeking the integration of the region. As often cautioned by the International Financial Institutes, only through regional cooperation can the South Asia be a part of Asian century.
Resurgent India : Are there any Implications For the Neighbours
In the course of over six decades of its independent existence, India's global image has undergone substantial change: from the distorted western perception of a land of Sadhus, Beggars and Snakes to one of a leading economy and emerging global player destined to play an important role in international affairs. The past fifteen years have been of utmost importance. India's economy has moved out of insulated and protected shell and stands integrated into world market. The resilience it demonstrated during the global financial crisis had earned the Indian economy the due appreciation it deserved. The marginal slowdown in the recent past is in sync with the global trends, particularly in the emerging economies, and therefore has had no adverse impact on India's global image. India's credentials as a responsible de facto nuclear power are now well established. Most of those who matter in contemporary global affairs have placed on record their support for India's candidature for Permanent Seat in UN Security Council as and when it is expanded. There is much more to celebrate India's success story.
It is often said against this backdrop that on international arena India does not punch according to its weight even though it aspires to sit on the high seat of UN Security Council. It is a matter of debate as to what should be the levels of aggression with which India should conduct itself at international fora. It is arguably clear however that India can ill afford to adopt aggressive postures in its neighbourhood, and will have to tread with caution while dealing with its oversensitive tiny neighbours.
Now from generics to some specifics:
Pakistan is and for foreseeable future will remain a permanent fixture on the agenda of India's policy makers. The State Relations between India and Pakistan have remained less than normal ever since the partition of India and creation of Pakistan in 1947. Sporadic efforts made by the civilian authorities on the two sides of the divide to provide semblance of normalcy to bilateral relations have often been thwarted by the ISI and Army in Pakistan. History almost repeated itself in the recent past. Pakistani President Nawaz Sharrif made several conciliatory statements during and after his election in May 2013. He was reportedly advised by his Army Chief to go slow and exercise utmost caution while striving to improve relations with India; this was even before Nawaz Sharif was officially sworn in. As the prospects of a possible bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York on the side-lines of the UNGA 2013 Session were looking bright and back-channel contacts had began, the ceasefire violations along the LOC accelerated, culminating in to the killing of five Indian soldiers(6th August 2013). India's response was firm and strong. In a Statement, the Defence Minister of India A.K. Antony said that "It is now clear that the specialist troops of Pakistan Army were involved in this attack when a group from the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) side crossed the LC and killed our brave jawans (soldiers) . We all know that nothing happens from Pakistan side of the Line of Control without support, assistance, facilitation and often, direct involvement of the Pakistan Army."A chain of allegations and counter-allegations followed. In a resolution it adopted on 13th August, the National Assembly of Pakistan accused India of 'unprovoked aggression by Indian military forces across the LoC", promptly rejected and deplored by the Indian Parliament through identical resolutions in the two Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) reflecting the unity of approach to this issue by the ruling coalition as well as Opposition. Besides refuting the allegation and asserting that "it was the Pakistan Army that was involved in the unprovoked attack on an Indian Army patrol", it also added "our restraint should not be taken for granted nor should the capacity of our armed forces to ensure the territorial integrity of our nation." To top it up the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his address to the nation on the 67th Independence Day singled out Pakistan by name and said "for relations with Pakistan to improve, it is essential that they prevent the use of their territory and territory under their control for any anti-India activity".
Against the backdrop of this vitiated atmosphere and divided civil society opinion, the Prime Minister of India decided in favour of meeting his Pakistani counterpart in New York on the sidelines of the UNGA. The focus of discussions during the meeting held on 29th September 2013 was on terrorism, reduction of tension on the borders and restoration of ceasefire. Addressing the media, NSA Sh Menon said "Both sides want to see a better India-Pakistan relationship than we have right now. Both want peace and tranquility along the Line of Control. The stage of broader dialogue has not come yet."
In my assessment the future of India-Pak dialogue would depend on i) whether or not Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is able to minimise Army's influence and control over foreign and security policies ; ii) tangible deliveries from Pakistan on issues of India's serious concerns particularly arising out of Pak-inspired/sponsored cross-border terrorism against India.
As Afghanistan moves closer to multi transitions (NATO drawdown, Presidential elections, economic transition) and enters the phase of transformation decade, India's focus on Afghanistan is becoming sharper in view of the stakes India has in Afghanistan from the perspectives of Its own security and strategic interests. India can ill-afford the return of Taliban. The emergence of a regime in Afghanistan which is a proxy of Pakistan and dominated by Islamic fundamentalists would not be in the interests of India. A stable and peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan is of no use to India if its territories are allowed to be used for the purposes which are inimical to the national interests of India.
Indian policy makers will have to pick up the right option as the security situation evolves; in the event there is no deterioration in the current security situation, India could continue with its policy of commitment to contribute substantially towards reconstruction of Afghanistan and capacity building including training of Afghan Security Forces. [India has invested over $2bn in Afghanistan as development assistance; under its strategic partnership agreement, India is providing training to Afghan Security forces]. It could also adhere to its commitments as Lead Country in Istanbul CBMs. In case Afghanistan returns to chaotic and bloody civil war posing physical threat to Indian personnel's presence in Afghanistan, India may find it difficult to continue to operate in Afghanistan. At the same time, India's military intervention in Afghanistan is more or less ruled out.
India's policy approach towards Sri Lanka is reflected In its response to a Question tabled in the Parliament (Lok Sabha Q. N. 1542 dated 14th August, 2013 ); the Government stated "India has long advocated the creation of an environment in Sri Lanka in which all communities, particularly the Sri Lankan Tamils, are masters of their own destiny within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. Our objective continues to remain the achievement of a future for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka that is marked by equality, dignity, justice and self-respect. In this context, India has been engaged with the Government of Sri Lanka at the highest levels on its stated commitment to implement the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution and to go beyond, so as to achieve meaningful devolution of powers."
India has adopted a multi- pronged approach since the liquidation of the LTTE; this policy has several components: i) India misses no opportunity to impress upon the Sri Lankan Government to abide by its commitments towards Sri Lankan Tamils particularly meaningful devolution of powers and the implementation of the 13th Amendment and beyond in a time bound manner; ii) India reassure as often as possible the Sri Lankan Tamils that it will make every effort to ensure the 13th amendment is not diluted and the future for the community is marked by equality, justice and self-respect; (In June last year "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was explicit in conveying to the visiting Tamil National Alliance (TNA) delegation from Sri Lanka that he was "dismayed by reports suggesting that the Government of Sri Lanka planned to dilute certain key provisions of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution ahead of elections to the Northern Provincial Council" [Ministry of External Affairs official statement, New Delhi, June 18, 2013] ; iii) India continues to invest into the reconstruction of Northern Sri Lanka; iv) As far the Tamil leadership in India, the Central Government in New Delhi listen to their demands, accommodates them to the extent feasible but ultimately exercises the prerogative of the Centre in the formulation of foreign policy taking broader national interests into account rather than being pushed by narrow regional priorities; v) India is monitoring carefully the Chinese overtures in Sri Lanka and check the latter's drift towards China.
In terms of geographic and demographic dimensions, skilled manpower, civilizational depth, China is the only country in the region which qualifies for comparison with India.
The two countries have a long history of civilisational links. Soon after its own independence and the Maoist revolution in China, India went an extra mile to reach out to the communist regime. India was quick in recognising China, and supported its entry into the United Nations; recognized Tibet as an autonomous region of China The 1962 border conflict therefore came as a political shock to India. While Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's landmark visit in 1988 began a phase of improvement in bilateral relations, it is the cumulative outcomes of seven key High Level visits in last 10years which have been transformational for India-China ties. [These were that of Prime Minister Vajpayee [2003], of Premier Wen Jiabao [2005 & 2010], of President Hu Jintao [2006], of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [2008 and 2013] and of Premier Li Keqiang [2013]. It is noteworthy that more than 60% of the agreements between India and China have been signed during the last decade. As of today, both sides have established 36 dialogue mechanisms covering diverse sectors. Bilateral trade has registered enormous growth reaching $70bn in 2011 (and may touch $100bn by 2015). The year 2014 has been designated as the Year of Friendly Exchanges between India and China. The two sides have established a Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity(2005) The leaders of India and China have also been meeting on the sidelines of regional, plurilateral and multilateral gatherings and conferences.
This is not to suggest that there are no irritants in relations between the two countries; there is always the other side of the coin: the border dispute between India and China remains unresolved; China's plans to build dams on Brahamaputra or seek access to Indian ocean through Pakistan and Myanmar, "string of pearls" etc are matters of concern. In addition, the rapid economic rise of China and its military strength have given it the audacity to occasionally flex political and military muscles.
It remains to be answered precisely as to whether the modern China is an opportunity , challenge or threat ? Perhaps, a mix of all three.
May I stop now, and leave the floor for the inter-active session, which is usually the more interesting part of events like this?
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In all, it's an impressive feature, and one that players will be far from mastering even after dunking until their thumbs hurt. Additionally, perhaps the most obnoxious feature in the game is the inclusion of e-mails from the team's owner -- a Mark Cuban-esque figure that seems to really want to do your job for you. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Email * Website Current yer * Leave this field empty Most Popular Games 49.8K 113 PC Grand Theft Auto San Andreas PC 41.8K 126 PC Grand Theft Auto IV PC 21.4K 84 PC Grand Theft Auto Vice City PC 19.2K 26 PC Tom Clancys The Division PC 18.2K 65 PC Fifa 13 DEMO PC 18.1K 43 PC Need for Speed Underground 2 PC 17.8K 86 PC Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 PC 16.0K 60 PC Age of Empires III PC 15.8K 82 PC FIFA Street 2012 PC 15.4K 71 PC Call of Duty 3 PC 13.0K 85 PC Call Of Duty World At War PC 12.5K 67 PC Fifa 12 DEMO PC 12.2K 70 PC Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare PC NBA Live 2004 PC NFL Head Coach PC Download Free Torrents Games for PC, XBOX 360, XBOX ONE, PS2, PS3, PS4, PSP, PS Vita, Linux, Macintosh, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo 3DS. LOG IN Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Recover your password Download Free Pc Games Version Iso Home PC Games NASCAR Heat Evolution CODEX RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER CRACKED JUST CAUSE 3 INSIDE CRACKED ABZU CRACKED Others Fantasy Adventure Horror Fighting Action Sports Mystery Racing Shooting RPG Simulation Strategy Survival War Sci Fi Puzzle Indie PS3 Games The Elder Scrolls Skyrim Special Edition PS3 Free Iso Download Titanfall 2 PS3 Free Iso Download Trials of the Blood Dragon PS3 Free Download Watch Dogs 2 PS3 Free Download Xbox360 Games Steep Xbox 360 Free Iso Download The Elder Scrolls Skyrim Special Edition Xbox 360 Free Iso& Titanfall 2 Xbox 360 Free Iso Download Trials of the Blood Dragon Xbox 360 Free Download WII Games Mac Games Flat Kingdom Mac OS X Free Download Iso Warden: Melody of the Undergrowth Free Download Mac OS X DMCA Contact US -FAQ Home Sports NBA Live 2005 FREE ISO GAME DOWNLOAD FULL VERSION FREE Sports NBA Live 2005 FREE ISO GAME DOWNLOAD FULL VERSION FREE Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter Direct playNBA Live 2005 FREE ISO GAME DOWNLOAD FULL VERSION FREEversion setupwithdirect link for Windows No surveys & Pc Download .NBA Live 2005 FREE ISO GAME DOWNLOAD FULL VERSION FREEFREE Pc Downloadis an *platformer Pc game. Players will fight for position down low, jump into the lane to take charges, feint to throw their man off balance, and in general perform very well. The game goes into slow motion, and the player must time the dunk.
He will pester you all season with reminders about scouting, use of dynasty extras, and training. Home DMCA How To Download Learning Android Zone Top Full Games And Software WORLD Best Site for,Solve your Computer Problems, Download Free Register Software & Games Home Softwares Action Games Action Games Action Page 2 Action 3 Fighting Adventure Small Games Small Games Small Games 2 Girl games Sports Games Shooting Strategy GTA Racing Games Horror Home 2014 November Sports, Uncategorized NBA Live 2005 Game NBA Live 2005 Game November 25, 2014 by Admin 1 NBA Live 2005 Game NBA Live 2005 GameFile Size:1.25 GB System Requirements! Windows Xp,7,Vista,8 Ram:128 MB Video Memory: 32 MB CPU:Intel Pentium III 700 MHz Hard Space:1.8 GB Free DirectX:9.0b Sound Card:yes NBA Live 2005 Game Beowulf The Game The Adventures Of Shuggy Game Filed in: Sports, Uncategorized Share this post Twitter Facebook Google LinkedIn Pinterest Email Recommended for You Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 Game Rapala Pro Fishing Game NHL 97 Game 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures Game One thought on �NBA Live 2005 Game� yaoming11 August 10, 2016 at 1:08 pm Edit Thanks For Making me there and making the rockets win in the wallpaper!!!!!!!!! Reply Post Comment Cancel reply Comment Name * Email * Website Follow Us On Facebook Popular Latest Comments Tags Wwe 12 GameAugust 17, 2013Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare GameJune 28, 2013GTA San Andreas GameJuly 9, 2013Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 GameSeptember 17, 2013Need For Speed Underground 2 GameApril 19, 2013Project Igi 3 The Plan GameApril 7, 2013Euro Truck Simulator 1 GameJune 9, 2013 Police Simulator 2 GameOctober 21, 2016Twilight Phenomena The Lodgers Of House 13 GameOctober 20, 2016Garden Rescue GameOctober 19, 2016Cities In Motion 2 GameOctober 18, 2016Battlefield Bad Company 2 GameOctober 17, 2016Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 GameOctober 16, 2016Dark Souls Prepare To Die Edition GameOctober 15, 2016 abhishek plz upload the wheel man awais very nice game Annonimos is this multiplayer Junior The game works pretty well but i can't hear their conversati Zafar Hey, Admin your site is awesome. Unrar. Enhanced player graphics that vividly reproduce each NBA player reach new heights, while multiple game modes including EA SPORTS Dynasty Mode(tm) put you in the middle of the action. NBA Live 2005 FREE ISO GAME DOWNLOAD FULL VERSION FREE Free Iso Download Pc VersionGame complete PCDirect Game Download ONE FTP LINK TORRENT FULL GAME DLC Updates No SurveysComplete Version NBA Live 2005 FREE ISO GAME DOWNLOAD FULL VERSION FREE Overview nba live 05 RIP, Compressed INFO: It is Full and Complete Game 100% Working. Posted by Z-Blaster View Profile Message User Thank User 6 hours ago Community Stats 3545 users online � 57 registered � 3488 guests Registered users: 9marsik, AlexKar75, AtariKid, Attitude-Check, bananapi761, bevanp, Biggsy666, brandonba, Bulo, carolinaretro, DiGiTaLJaM23, fille1976, Gaiathegald, gaucant, geet, georgedall, gmzalna, godconvoyprime, jumamauya, katom96, kittyflin, Logic, Massamo, MasterOfAll, meup, papa, Pinguino125, pspjoe, Psychotron, raydantheman, roronoix, Ruddock, sasapinjic, skullz613, Soonjai, stillcool, StrykerSwiftfist, sunmingzhao, TempoFunktron, Thanhtai, TheCodstr, tisarge, Urkman1, Xen217, ZX81v2 40,026 topics � 377,925 posts � 102,174 registered users. Pressing another button will launch the player into the air and begin a dunk, the type of which is determined by which button has been pressed in combination with which gathering move. NBA Live 2005 picks right up where 2004 left off. The graphics are moderately improved but still somewhat lacking, the multiplayer is still quite functional (although there are surprisingly few people online to play it with), and the basic mechanics of the basketball simulation itself are largely unchanged. All new 10-man Freestyle adds individual player movements and spacing creating a realistic feel like never before.


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text:
So Close Saturday
Well, it is finally here! Qualification for the women begins tomorrow and there is everything to play for. With the excitement of finals it can be easy to forget how important the qualification round is, but this is the part of the competition which is make it or break it for the gymnasts. This one day of qualifying determines who makes it through to the team final, the all around final and all four apparatus finals. You simply cannot have a bad day in qualifying otherwise you could end up with absolutely nothing.
There are 12 teams that have qualified to the Olympic Games but only 8 places available for the team final. In the qualification round each team can put up four gymnasts on each piece of apparatus with the top three scores counting towards the team total. All five gymnasts in the team will have to work steadily and cleanly to make sure that they qualify. But not only will team mates be competing together, they will also be competing against each other. Each team is likely to have two or three gymnasts who are hoping to qualify for the all around and apparatus finals. With the rule of two gymnasts per country in each of the individual finals there is inevitably going to be some rivalry as to who qualifies highest and ensures their place in the final. Team USA for example has three excellent all around gymnasts who will all be hoping to make it to the all around final, but only the top two scorers in tomorrow's competition will go through. Similarly, Team Romania has many excellent floor workers but only the top two of the four gymnasts competing on floor tomorrow will be able to make it to the floor final.
The top 24 all around gymnasts from tomorrow's competition will qualify to the all around final, after the two per country rule has been taken into consideration. For example, the gymnast who finishes 28th should definitely make the all around final as there will almost certainly be more than four gymnasts in the top 24 who cannot qualify because two of her team mates scored higher. Although many of the top gymnasts hoping to qualify to the all around final are likely to be from one of the 12 teams, there will also be many gymnasts who are singularly representing their country who will be hoping to make their mark. There are 98 female gymnasts competing tomorrow and though not all of them will be competing all around (especially in the teams) 98 to 24 is a big drop so there will be some fierce competition to make the final. For those all around gymnasts who do not qualify to the top 24, their all around position will determine their world ranking so there is still everything to go for.
Apparatus Finals
The top 8 gymnasts on each apparatus will qualify to the apparatus finals, again with the two per country rule. It is highly unlikely that any gymnast will make all four apparatus finals and fairly unlikely that many will even make three. Teams are more and more commonly using specialists these days to help with the team score and trying to take individual apparatus medals. Because these gymnasts specialise in just a couple of pieces of apparatus they have more time to train them and are more likely to post higher scores than the all around gymnasts. With the vault final requiring two completely different vaults many of the top gymnasts do not even attempt to get into this final, making the decision to practise only one vault so they can concentrate more on the other apparatus. What this does mean is that you are likely to see a greater range of countries represented in this final, rather than it just being the top teams on show. It is really nice for some of the less well known gymnasts to get a chance to shine.
It is going to be a long and nerve wracking day tomorrow and I hope that all the gymnasts perform their best and feel proud of their achievements.
Team Tuesday Golden Girls Today was the Women's...
Magic Moments Monday The dawning of Olympic magi...
Sunday Surprise The good, the bad and the ugly W...
So Close Saturday Qualification Well, it is fi...
Friday Favourites Olympic Hopeful McKayla Marone...
Thursday's Thoughts Olympic medallists? With the...
Wednesday Worries Living up to expectations Su...
Team Tuesday The 2012 Chinese Olympic Te...
Magic Moments Monday The magic of the Ga...
Sunday Surprise Leaps and bounds If you had ...
So Close Saturday Adding insult to injur...
Friday Favourites Olympic Hopeful Beth Tweddle...
Thursday's Thoughts Individual hopes With most...
Wednesday Worries Ludicrous leotards! I know t...
Team Tuesday The 2012 Russian Olympic Team I...
Magic Moments Monday Wieber Fever There are many...
Sunday Surprise Making an entrance - Rebecca Tun...
So Close Saturday Daniele Hypolito At the age ...
Friday Favourites Olympic Hopeful Aliya Mustafin...
Thursday's Thoughts My thoughts about Men's Arti...
Wednesday Worries The end of an era The four yea...
Team Tuesday The 2012 Romanian Olympic Team The ...
Magic Moments Monday The wonder of Lilia Podkopa...
Sunday Surprise Brazilian madness What a week it...
So Close Saturday Reserving judgement Imagine sp...
Friday Favourites Olympic Hopeful Sui Lu Over th...
Thursday's Thoughts Thinking about Team GB Wed...
Wednesday Worries So near yet so far With the GB...
Team Tuesday Team USA! Jordyn Wieber . . ...
Magic Moments Monday Blood, sweat and tears This...
Sunday Surprise Birthday Wishes Today's surprise...


PERSPECTIVE: The perception is that mini splits require more work to service. The truth is many mini splits make regular maintenance easier.
Some beliefs, like Greek mythology, last for generations because they contain a valuable lesson. Others, like these, are just ready to become ancient history. Here are 10 myths about VRF, mini split, and ductless technologies.
Since there is no ductwork design involved, ductless indoor units can be installed anywhere.
Even without having to worry about ductwork, selecting the right placement and size for ductless indoor units is very important for efficiency and performance. Undersized systems will not adequately or evenly cool or heat a home, while oversized systems needlessly increase costs and don't perform properly due to short cycling. An HVAC contractor is able to select the appropriate size unit for each zone and will strategically place indoor units to ensure the home is cooled or heated evenly and efficiently.
Mini-split systems can only be duct-free.
A common misconception is that mini splits are exclusively duct-free systems, and for a long time, mini splits were marketed as duct-free. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of ducted mini-split systems. These designs allow customers to take advantage of their existing infrastructure and ductwork while still reaping the benefits of zoned control and comfort as well as the improved efficiency of inverter technology. This approach, while mirroring a conventional setup in some ways, does contain at least one difference. While a ducted mini-split system is laid out very similarly to a unitary system, complete with an air handler, it does differ because the indoor air handler does not require its own power source, as it draws power from the outdoor unit.
Ducted indoor units in this category have low external static pressure capabilities.
Mini splits are just for spot cooling, like in a warm room or an addition.
You might consider this the Schrodinger's Myth of the list. It is certainly not true according to manufacturers and the capability of the technology. And yet, as illustrated elsewhere in this week's mini-split articles, it's true or not true depending on which contractor email you open and which locality you're talking about. This perception seems likely to continue to decrease over time. Let's call it a myth in motion.
Duct-free systems require more maintenance.
With the presence of more advanced technology, the perception is that mini splits require more work to service. The truth is many mini splits make it easier for the homeowner to stay on top of regular maintenance, streamlining the maintenance a contractor needs to perform. One manufacturer pointed out that in its units, the filter is easily removable for quick cleaning, and the company's software makes it simple for contractors to troubleshoot issues.
"Additionally, unlike many conventional systems, where the indoor units might be in a crawlspace or the attic, with a duct-free system, both the indoor units and outdoor unit are easily accessible to the contractor for servicing," said the manufacturer.
Mini splits are only good for new construction.
Mini splits are only for a retrofit market.
The fact that we received these two comments verbatim from different sources tells you the range of inconsistent knowledge and perception that persists among the customer base (and perhaps some in the field) when it comes to these systems.
The manufacturer reply below about the retrofit-only impression also hints at the learning curve and the benefits of effective design/construction coordination.
Mini- and multi-split ductless products will only be a small part of a contractor's business.
There are more and more contractors who are proficient in installing these types of systems. In fact, for some contractors, it makes up the largest part of their product mix. Another key contributing factor is that contractors are finding that they are able to complete more installations in a week, and they're doing it with a smaller crew.
All of the products in this ductless category use the same inverter technology.
Without getting into a company-by-company comparison in this limited space, it's been pointed out that contractors may find differences in products offered in the inverter technology category. Number of stages of operation, proprietary algorithms/designs, etc., may affect the overall performance, so explore what's under the hood of the various systems available.
Mini splits are easy to install.
While in some ways, yes, they are easy to deal with, they are by no means easy. It takes a highly trained and skilled professional technician to properly install, startup, and commission the system.
"We pressure test our systems to around 400 psi with nitrogen to ensure that there are no leaks — not something for a novice to be attempting," one manufacturer said.


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Casey's Introduces Fuel Management Program for Fleets
ANKENY, Iowa — Casey's General Store launched Casey's Business Mastercard, a fleet management and fuel incentive program for fleets consisting of two or more vehicles and over-the-road drivers.
It caters to Casey's customer base, which is typically in the two-to-five or five-to-ten vehicle range, reported Work Truck Online.
According to Casey's, smaller companies tend to be excluded from fleet programs, which are generally contracted by usage or number of gallons per period, as they will not qualify for the incentive programs or the resulting data and information.
"We designed the Casey's Business Mastercard as more of a fuel management program rather than just a fuel card for fleets," said Nathaniel Doddridge, Casey's director of fuels. "In addition to great fuel incentives, it also helps the fleet managers or owners, and over-the-road drivers, by providing detailed reporting, individual spending controls, and the convenience of being able to use it any of the 175,000 fueling locations in the U.S. that accept Mastercard."
Casey's Business Mastercard lets users set individual card usage and spending limits by day, week or month; add or delete ID numbers; and limit company gas cards to business use, adding purchase restrictions during non-business hours.
Security features include the ability to set prompts to ask for vehicle or driver number prior to making a purchase with the card; shut off lost or stolen cards at any time; and securely access transaction data, fleet card and driver ID information 24/7 online.
The program also enables savings of up to 6 cents in rebates per gallon on commercial fuel purchases at any Casey's location.
The ability to use Casey's Business Mastercard at any fueling location where Mastercard is accepted is part of Casey's effort to be the ultimate one-and-done fuel card, according to the company.
"We realize that heavy-duty vehicles need more space than some of our locations offer, and we wanted to ensure that that growing part of our customer base would be happy with the new program," Doddridge added.
Ankeny-based Casey's operates more than 2,100 stores in 16 states.
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We're still trying to figure out the format for email addresses at f-jump.com for sure. We've got the following addresses though for employees currently at the firm. Does this get you any further on your quest?


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License about to expire, what to do?
In Application Studio in the Licening Manager module I can see that our license is about to expire within a few days.
What do we do in order to remain up and running?
I'm representing a company called SKF. I'm not 100% sure of who is the license owner at SKF.