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25 Years In, Rick Bayless' Topolobampo Is Still Changing Perceptions of Mexican Cuisine
The iconic chef's original concept, Bayless talks about the first ideas, how he got the space, how the menu evolved and more.
by Daniel Gerzina Nov 25, 2014, 12:01pm CST
Via All Rick Bayless Coverage [ECHI] and All Topolobampo Coverage [ECHI] | Photography by courtesy of Rick Bayless, except first photo by Barry Brecheisen
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Barry Brecheisen
It's Friday at 4:30 p.m. on an unseasonably cold late-fall day, even for Chicago. Frontera Grill isn't open for dinner yet, but a line already stretches from the host stand all the way back to the end of the bar, where 50 people have been waiting for an hour just for the possibility of a table.
But in the restaurant next door, beyond the soundproofed door, Rick Bayless and his staff, many of whom are Bayless lifers that have been with the prolific and interesting chef for more than a decade, stand around white tablecloth-clad tables and raise champagne flutes for a toast. Bayless then gives a speech before a knife plunges into a cake that reads "Happy 25th Anniversary Topolobampo."
25 years ago this month, three years after Bayless opened the landmark Mexican restaurant Frontera Grill, he opened the restaurant he dreamed of all along. The concept turned most Americans' notions of Mexican cuisine on its ear—many considered the theme, which Bayless describes as "wanting to be on a par with really great contemporary American food in the way that it was presented, but have depth of flavor in that traditional Mexican way," to be an oxymoron.
A quarter-century later and the restaurant continues to evolve. Early this year, Bayless and chef de cuisine Andres Padilla rolled out perhaps the most complex series of menus witnessed in a Mexican restaurant north of the border: seven courses that cover snapshots of Mexican history.
"When I met Rick and his wife, Deanne, I was immediately impressed with them. I thought their dedication, their commitment, and his studious nature of the whole subject was unique," Bayless' landlord Albert Friedman, who is in many ways responsible for the River North hospitality boom, says. "(Three years later) they came to me and said they wanted to expand and go a little higher from Frontera to Topolobampo and this concept of white tablecloth dining. I wound up going and buying the building next door."
"The typical lifespan of a restaurant is seven years," Friedman continues. "When you get beyond that, you become an institution. He's three times-plus. He's more than an institution, he's an icon."
Bayless poses at Topolo after opening
On the eve of the anniversary, Bayless chatted with Eater about the last 25 years of Topolobampo.
On fleshing out the concept:
"From the very beginning, I wanted to open Topolo. I knew that I didn't have the background to be able to do that—I had never worked in fine dining before. But I had worked a lot in upscale casual. When you say "fine dining Mexican," even to this day, I would say 90 percent of the people in the United States would laugh. I knew I had a lot of education to do and I thought when we opened Frontera, that was actually a step up for a lot of people. I knew that I couldn't take it all the way to fine dining (right away) but I could take it another step up and see if our guests would go on that journey with us. They did."
On the timing:
"My wife and I finally got to the place where we had gotten a lot of our opening loans paid off and we had developed some staff that was really beginning to understand what we were doing. Our landlord said that the space next to us was going to come open. It was probably a year before I really wanted to do it, but I thought 'what happens if somebody goes in there and signs a 10-year lease and I'm going to be stuck with just this one place?' We decided to just go for it."
On its decor:
"My idea was to do something like the elegance of San Angel Inn (in Mexico City). We didn't have enough money to do that but we did go down to Mexico. They have a little shop that has home furnishings that's right adjacent to the restaurant. It had these beautiful hand-hammered copper chargers. Then we went to the company in Mexico City that made all their dishware and we got them to make special dishware just for us and hand-blown blue glasses.
I wanted there to be really, really high-quality Mexican art on the walls, not to go for such a plush atmosphere but have the art be the plushness. We invested in art and have continued to do that."
Artwork installation, pre-opening
On the food:
"I was really struggling with it because nobody had ever done anything like that before. When we opened Topolo and for the next three years I worked a position on the line. The hardest thing was just trying to reimagine Mexican food in terms of contemporary American food, in terms of presentation and what people would expect.
The biggest lesson that I learned came about three months in. I made sure that the menus in Frontera and Topolo were really different so that no one would ever say, 'oh you just pay more for it but it's basically the same food.'
One night I had a mishap with the sauce. I just grabbed a sauce from Frontera and I put it on this dish in Topolo, a different dish, but I just used the exact same sauce. Some regular customers were in Topolo that night and they had eaten a lot in Frontera. They came back to the line at the end of the meal and they go, 'we just had the most amazing meal. The sauces taste so much more subtle and complex in this room than the ones that you make for Frontera.'
It hit my like a ton of bricks. They have slowed down and the atmosphere in the room is much calmer. They pay more attention to the food; it's not the food, it's their perception of the food that had changed so much."
Topolo pre-opening construction
On staying true to the cuisine:
"We probably spend more time in our kitchen talking about the way that you create traditional flavors and then how far you can take them in a contemporary setting then we talk about anything else. Because it's art, not science. It's very easy to kind of think, 'oh, I'm going to deconstruct this dish and that will be a contemporary approach to it.' But the truth of the matter is you're going to lose all of the depth of flavor and tradition, almost always when you do that."
On service:
"I'm more proud than ever of our dining room staff. I describe our service style just like I describe our food: I want it to be very precise and I want it to be knowledgeable. But at the same time I want it to be completely infused with that generosity of spirit that you find everywhere in Mexico. I want people to feel generous, that we are generous with them in terms of our hospitality, but at the same time I want that incredible precision that you get in a really top-level fine dining restaurant."
On whether he was worried that the concept wouldn't work:
"You know, I was so in love with what I was doing it never occurred to me to ask that question. I have a total artist temperament, and I have a wife that has her feet firmly planted on the ground. That's the reason we've been successful."
The early feedback from customers:
"The first table at Frontera sat down, looked at the menu, got up, and said, 'we have no idea what this food is. You're going to be closed in 3 weeks.' When we opened Topolo, we were expecting to have the push back from Frontera guests that would say, 'why would I ever come over here? It's just the same food but being more expensive.'
I said, 'even if they do think it's the same food for more money, at least we're giving them an opportunity to get a reservation, to be treated in a different way, to have a quieter atmosphere. We can sell it on the atmosphere alone.' Some of the beginning times we were selling it on the basis of the atmosphere, but then we started to get reviewed and the reviewers said 'wow, it's a different experience.'"
The original Topolo dining room
How the food and menu evolved over the 25 years:
"It was a menu that was very much set up in a traditional style for many years, in four basic categories. We started having these brainstorming sessions where we talked about what would we like to see the menu evolve into for the next 10 years. What we came up with was a way of looking at Mexican food the way that we talk about it in the kitchen.
When we put a menu together, we are actually doing it by pulling dishes that fit into flavor categories as a flow through. We came up with eight categories and decided that we were going to make all of the dishes the same size and you could order three, five or seven of them to make your own kind of tasting menu. Then we'd have our themed menu that's seven courses."
On regrets:
"You know, I wish I was smarter. I guess that's the only thing that I regret. Sometimes it takes me a long time to figure things out."
On Topolobampo being one of only three Michelin-starred Mexican restaurants:
"We were the first, because Michelin doesn't go to Mexico City, and we were super honored to do that. It's kind of funny because we're not content with one, we want two. What could we do? Because we revamped our menu this year we were hoping that maybe somehow the Michelin gods would smile on us. We're like Cub fans, maybe next year."
On the future of Topolobampo:
"I think next year we're going to tackle something really big. We're going to do some regional menus, it's going to involve a lot more of our traveling to places and bringing things back and weaving them in.
We probably were pretty amateurish at some of the things we had done (in the beginning). 25 years into it (and) there are some nights that feel almost like opening night because I'm still learning so much stuff. There's so much still to explore, so much to learn that I could go at it for another 25 years."
Topolobampo
445 North Clark Street, , IL 60654 (312) 661-1434 Visit Website
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L'Instituto Camões és una institució creada per la promoció de la llengua portuguesa així com de la difusió de la seva cultura arreu del món.

Història
l'Instituto Camões fou creat el 1992 com a successor del Instituto do Cultura e Língua Portuguesa sota la supervisió del Ministeri d'Afers Estrangers de Portugal, i actualment té una autonomia tant administrativa com patrimonial. Avui dia l'Institut està present en més de 30 països, creant en ells tant Centros de Língua Portuguesa com Centros culturais portugueses, en els primers dels quals s'ensenya l'idioma i en els segons la cultura i tradicions de Portugal.

Aquesta institució és equivalent a l'Institut Ramon Llull català, al Institutul Cultural Român romanès, a l'Institut Cervantes espanyol, a la Società Dante Alighieri italiana, l'Alliance Française francesa, el British Council britànic o el Goethe-Institut alemany. Tots ells treballen per divulgar les seves respectives cultures arreu del món, afavorint així el coneixement d'algunes de les principals llengües europees.

L'any 2005 l'Institut Cervantes, l'Instituto Camões, l'Alliance Française, el British Council, el Goethe-Institut i la Società Dante Alighieri varen ser reconeguts internacionalment per la seva tasca essent guardonats amb el Premi Príncep d'Astúries de Comunicació i Humanitats d'aquell l'any.

Enllaços externs
  Pàgina Oficial de l'Instituto Camões
  Fundació Príncep d'Astúries, Príncep d'Astúries de Comunicació i Humanitats 2005

Entitats de Portugal
Filologia
Premis Príncep d'Astúries de Comunicació i Humanitats
Escoles d'idiomes

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Good Housekeeping noticed our mad skills on Pinterest and had to meet us. Nope. In all seriousness, its digital video head approached us for a fresh set of eyes on its social and on-site video content. We worked with their internal video team to freshen and elevate on existing video franchises and to ideate and execute on new content aimed specifically at parents. After working with us, they are thinking of changing their name to Great Housekeeping.
If this doesn't make you stop and smile today than you may have some issues. Sorry. Cuteness overload warning.


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Elvira Peretsman
Displaying: 1 - 10 of 12
46th Annual Juried Art Show At The Smithville Annex Art Gallery
Elvira Peretsman received a Curator Selection Award for one of her photographs ("Just Trains") in the 46th Annual Juried Art Show at the Smithville Annex Art Gallery in Eastampton, NJ. Two other photographs by Elvira Peretsman, "Fancy Tomato Juice" and "Burst Of Sunshine", were also selected by the juror Art Smith to be a part of the exhibit. The exhibit will be on display until November 20, 2022.
PHOTOgraphy 2022 Exhibition At The Philadelphia Sketch Club
Three photographs by Elvira Peretsman ("Invisible Connection", "Refraction Phenomenon", "Fancy Tomato Juice") were part of the juried PHOTOgraphy 2022 exhibition at the Philadelphia Sketch Club. Philadelphia Sketch Club is America's oldest artist club, founded in 1860.
Art Of The Flower 2022 Juried All Media Exhibition At The Philadelphia Sketch Club
The popular work of Elvira Peretsman, called "Burst Of Sunshine" was selected to be a part of the annual "Art Of The Flower" Juried All Media Exhibition at the Philadelphia Sketch Club (judged by Mary Ann Krutsick). The framed art print was purchased by a collector from Philadelphia even before the show was over.
Annual Juried Photography Show At The Ocean City Arts Center
Elvira Peretsman received a 2nd place Award for one of her photographs ("Burst Of Sunshine") in the 2022 Annual Juried Photography Show at the Ocean City Arts Center in Ocean City, NJ. Two other photographs are also part of the exhibit.
2022 Phillips Mill Photographic Exhibition In New Hope, PA
Two photographs by Elvira Peretsman ("Refraction Phenomenon" and "Just Trains") are part of the prestigious 2022 Phillips' Mill Photographic Exhibition in New Hope, PA. It is widely regarded as the premier juried photography exhibition in Bucks County, Pa. Juror Bob Krist selected 136 images from 1143 submissions, which came from 18 states and 2 countries.
2022 Art Of The Flower Juried All Media Exhibition At Medford Arts Center In Medford, New Jersey
Elvira Peretsman received an Honorable Mention Award for one of her images ("Burst Of Sunshine") in the 2022 Art of the Flower Juried All Media Exhibition at Medford Arts Center in Medford, NJ. The exhibition will be on display in the gallery March 11 - April 7, 2022 at Medford Arts Center in Medford, NJ. The exhibition can be also viewed online https://www.medfordarts.com/2022-art-of-the-flower-juried-exhibition.html#gallery.
Just Photography 2022 Juried Photography Exhibition At Medford Arts Center In Medford, New Jersey
Three photographs by Elvira Peretsman ("Refraction Phenomenon", "My Butterfly", and "Purple Bubbles In Ice") are part of the juried photography exhibition "Just Photography 2022" at Medford Arts Center in Medford, NJ. The exhibition can be online https://www.medfordarts.com/2022-just-photography-juried-exhibition.html#gallery
International Juried Photography Exhibit UNFRAMED At The Watchung Arts Center In Watchung, NJ
The NJ Photography Forum opened its 27th Annual Photography Exhibit, Unframed, online on October 1. Seventy-five works by 40 artists were chosen for this year's show from hundreds of entries which came from around the globe and across the U.S. Five photographs by Elvira Peretsman were chosen by the judges to be included in the exhibit. One of them, "Just Trains" received An Award Of Excellence!
The show will remain available online until January 15, 2022. Unframed, printed images of the selected works will also be on display at the Watchung Arts Center in Watchung, NJ from November 2, through December 18, 2021.
Fall Into The Arts Juried Photography Exhibition At Croft Farm Arts Center
Three photographs by Elvira Peretsman ("Young Poplar Trees", "Vacation Dream", and "Autumn Twins") are part of the juried photography exhibition "Fall Into The Arts" at Croft Farm Arts Center in Cherry Hill, NJ. The exhibition dates: October 11-29, 2021. The exhibition can be also viewed online https://www.chnj.gov/1224/Fall-Photography-Show
TRANSFORMATIONS Exhibition By The Pennsylvania Center For Photography And The New Hope Arts Center
Elvira Peretsman received an Honorable Mention Award for one of her images ("Mysterious Flower") in the TRANSFORMATIONS Exhibition presented by The Pennsylvania Center For Photography in collaboration with The New Hope Arts Center. The exhibition will be on display August 13 - September 6, 2021 at The New Hope Arts Center in New Hope, PA.
TRANSFORMATIONS is a juried exhibition that pays tribute to the vision and skills of photographers who freely express their creativity by whatever means they choose.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Find an expression for the event that exactly two of the first four events occur. Let $A_1, A_2, · · · ,$ be a sequence of events of a sample space, not necessarily mutually exclusive.
$(a)$ Find an expression for the event that at most one of the first three events occurs.
Hint: the event that "at least one of the first two events occurs" is expressed as $A_1 ∪ A_2$.
$(b)$ Find an expression for the event that exactly two of the first four events occur.
My attempts:
$(a)$ "At most one of the first three events occurs" is equivalent to saying the complement of "at least two of the first three events occur".
And thus, this could be expressed as: $(A_1A_2∪A_2A_3∪A_3A_1)^c$, where $A_1A_2 = A_1 \cap A_2$ and so on.
$(b)$ I'm not sure about this part, but is "exactly two of the first four events occur" equivalent to saying the complement of ("at most one of the first four events occur intersection at least three of the first four events occur")?
And if so, how is it written as an expression?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Choosing the right boxing gloves is important for serious boxing enthusiasts. When you set out to buy boxing gloves though, you will find that choosing the right one is not as clear-cut as it seems. There are several options when it comes to the weight, size, style and brand. This guide will help you clear the clutter of options in order to find the right one.
The glove size is classified as ounce and you can choose from 8 to 16 ounces. You can also find several odd sizes when you shop for gloves, although they are not as common. The sizing of gloves correspond with the weight. The importance of choosing the right size is to ensure that you get the right fit. If the fit is not right, it will be uncomfortable and make your hands prone to injury when boxing.
The weight of the gloves is also the reason why it is important to get the sizing right. You want the gloves to be the right weight in order to match your intended boxing method. Bigger gloves have thicker padding to offer superior hand protection. In addition, they are heavier; hence, this is the choice for boxers when training. When they are accustomed to wearing heavier gloves, it will be easier for them to cope during fight night.
An important tip to remember when choosing the right size of gloves to buy: wear it with hand wraps. You need to take the hand wrap into account when fitting the gloves since you will be wearing it during a fight.
Aside from the size, the glove type is one of the most basic factors to determine what to buy. Each type of glove sold in the market serve a purpose. Therefore, it is important match the type to the intended use or boxing method.
As an employer, it is your obligation to keep up a sound and safe work environment for your workers, customers, partners, and even suppliers. Leading a series of regular medical management consultations, regularly updating your security and well-being administration framework, and arranging projects to avoid ailments and injuries among your workers are some of the main approaches to keep up your work environment healthy and hazard-free.
Keeping your workplace safe and secure for your workers requires a lot of effort, money, and time. But, you can consider it as an investment for your growing business. Below are some of the helpful measures you can undertake to maintain a safe work environment.
Actualising standard working environment reviews can help counteract mishaps, injuries, and diseases. Through this procedure, risks are distinguished and addressed in cases when they are overlooked or mismanaged. Additionally, finding out about the correct medical management consultations and utilising the perfect individual to carry out the job can lessen the occurrences of accidents. These all make the general work environment review imperative to keep up a solid and safe workplace.
A few businesses think that following strict conformity to the standards that govern the health and safety of employees is a waste of money and time. That is completely false because you, as the employer, can even spare yourself from an exorbitant reimbursement when somebody in your group get harmed or sick in view of working environment perils.
Making a hazard-free arrangement, directing a yearly introduction classes on security administration, and enlisting an occupational physician can help you a great deal while evaluating your laborers' well-being in the working environment.


March Madness - FINAL FOUR at The GOAT - The G.O.A.T.
Who will end up in the CHAMPIONSHIP?!
Come out Saturday, April 6 and watch all the action at The GOAT, your March Madness Headquarters!
Auburn meets Virginia at 5:09pm!
Texas Tech meets Michigan State at 7:49pm!
Drink specials will be flowing!
Gold & Motion will be taking the stage later in the night as well!
We will see you all at The GOAT!


Do you know how to get Delphiniums to bloom in your garden?
I've always wanted to have Delphiniums in my perennial border with tall spires of blooms in all shades of blue reaching for the sky.
I had moderate success a dozen or so years ago, but after a season of bloom, the delphiniums always disappeared from the garden.
Last year, I did some research and decided to try some Foerster hybrids. I purchased seeds, sowed them indoors and ended up with several nice little delphinium seedlings. Then one day I put the seedlings outside and while my back was turned, something ate them and they were no more.
Like any gardener, I watered the remaining pots of dirt for awhile, but no miracle sprouts came back and I temporarily gave up on my delphinium dreams.
But we don't give up on our gardening dreams that easily, do we? No! This spring I sowed more delphinium seeds and planted the seedlings out into the garden last week. I don't know if they'll make it, but I am hopeful.
In the meantime, I've discovered the secret to getting delphiniums to bloom in my garden.
How's your summer reading program going? I hope that the June-July selection of the Garden Blogger's Book Club, People with Dirty Hands: The Passion for Gardening by Robin Chotzinoff, is at the top of your stack of books to read.
"I am so excited that people are going to read this 10+-year-old book that I wish I could send all of you a drywall bucket full of aged rabbit poop, which I consider to be the best compost of all. Seriously, this is great for me. If you have any trouble finding the book, contact me through my blogsite and I can send you one, cheap and signed."
Yes, you can contact Robin via her blog, People With Dirty Hands, and she'll hook you up with the book, cheap and signed!
Then to participate in the book club, just read the book and write a post about your thoughts on it, what struck you as funny, what parts you identified with, or anything else related that you think of.
Or, you can go with "door number 2" which is to read one of the following books about specific passions for gardening and write a related post.
Or if you want to participate in the book club without ever reading a book, you can do so by writing a post about someone you think has a passion for gardening. It could be someone you look up to and admire for their passion for gardening, or a gardener who helped you be a better gardener or a mysterious gardener that you haven't really met, but you've seen their garden and wonder what they are like. Or contact your favorite garden blogger and interview them via email and write a post about that.
If you've been thinking about joining in the Garden Bloggers' Book Club, this is the perfect time to do so, with so many ways to do it. Don't make me beg!
I'll post the virtual club meeting post on July 31st with links to everyone's related book review or gardener interview, but you can post whenever you'd like before then. You don't have to wait until July 31st. Just let me know via a comment or email when you do post, so I can visit your blog and get the link.
Over on Plurk, I commented that I bought a plant that the people at the greenhouse didn't know much about, except it was from Australia and they called it "Joey". Can anyone help identify it?
I just hope it isn't some roadside weed over in Australia, but is a nice cultivated flower. At least it is going to be a nice cultivated flower in my garden, growing in this pot. I hope.
The flowers kind of remind me of clover, but they are much bigger. The foliage is smooth and so far there is just that rosette of leaves with the bloom stalk coming up out of it.
And by now you are dying to know the secret to getting delphiniums to bloom in your garden, aren't you?
I'm not telling this secret to just anyone, and I bet you know what it is and you've done it yourself.
Buy the plant already blooming!
I'm reading People with Dirty Hands right now, Carol. What fun to read the book of someone we've actually met and shared a pitcher of Texas martinis with (or iced tea).
Clever girl, Carol. I don't have any problems with delphinium growing or blooming...just with what I call the "great delphinium and peony-flattening wind and rain storm" which we get every year just at the peak of bloom. I stake things but they often fall over anyway. Oh well.
When I went on Amazon, I didn't have any trouble finding a copy of Robin's book. Almost wish I had now, as I'd like to have her autograph it. Oh well, perhaps she'll be at another garden bloggers meeting...there WILL be one, yes? Please??
haha, I'm kidding.. I'm excited to start reading this book! thanks for the recommendation.
You are too funny! Isn't it amazing that you can grow the weirdest things, but them have trouble with a relatively easy plant like delphinium?
LOL, Carol. I planted my first delphinium this year with visions of those tall spikes of purple you described. I didn't know I had to buy one already blooming! So far it has survived a flood and strong winds, but doesn't seem to be getting any bigger. Let us know how yours turn out this year.
I'm reading 'People with Dirty Hands' right now, and I'm just loving it. Great choice!
Yes, Delphiniums are expensive annuals. If I had good soil in full sun I might try them.
Your delphiniums are beautiful. I have never had any luck with them. . .sigh.
Pam/digging, I agree, it's nice to have a face to put with the name of the author. When I met and talked with Robin, I didn't know she had written this book, then later someone said, "Did you know..."
Jodi, That is sychronicity across the miles. A further comment below will take you to a website with the positive id of the plant.
Nancy, You could always buy a 2nd book from Robin, I'm sure she wouldn't mind. As for another garden bloggers meet-up, I've heard fall of 2009 in Chicago is a possibility, but I'm not in the loop on it, so don't know for sure.
SJP8987, I do what I can!
Sherry at the Zoo, I don't see any Delphiniums growing in your garden, so how do you know they are an easy plant. "Double dog dare you" to try to grow one!
Rose, I will keep all posted on my Delphinium dreams or disasters, as the case may be. I do have another one I bought earlier in the spring, without a bloom spire, and it doesn't show any signs of doing anything.
Colleen, Great to hear you are reading the book.
Mr. McGregor's Daughter, And they can be annuals that don't even bloom.
Molly, Thank you, that is exactly it!
Cathy, Try buying some in bloom like I did!


Just weeks after the events of Captain America: Civil War, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns to his home of Wakanda, a nation that has been hidden away from other nations who would exploit the nation's most valuable resource, vibranium. The exposition is told beautifully via living sand, which forms the people and its setting.
But as he ascends to the throne to become king, T'Challa will learn that it's not easy to progress to an unforeseen future because the fear of change could have an adverse affect on the country. Things only get more difficult when Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), a formidable opponent and outsider who proves to be more than a match for the young king, seeks to change Wakanda's old ways.
While films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War explored the dangers of protective overreach and superhero oversight, Black Panther gets grounded with its politics. Here we see T'Challa trying to progress his native Wakanda forward but also being held back by the old ways. In the film, vibranium is the nation's most valuable and most powerful resource. If weaponized, it could tip the balance to any warring conflict, so it is easy to see why they are hiding from outsiders who may exploit their valuable resource for nefarious purposes.
But we also get to see how Black Panther uses some of those comic book themes as a reflection of today. There are children forced to become soldiers. Barriers created for protection and safety. Most importantly, we get to see a film that speaks to representation. People of color can see that there are heroes who look like them. Not only that, but the characters' struggles are also their struggles. Providing more details to that would be delving into spoiler territory, but it is important to have a film like this, especially in times like these. There is even a cultural divide that speaks to what is going on today. But the characters never lose sight of who they are and where they are from. They carry their nationality on their shoulders with pride.
While MCU deserves villains like Loki and Ultron, Erik Killmonger is the kind of villain the MCU needs. Jordan absolutely hits it out of the park as Killmonger, bringing a real-world sensibility and honesty so rarely seen in Marvel films. Rather than go about bringing a one-dimensional villain with a generic motivation, writers Coogler and Joe Robert Cole gave Killmonger a Shakespearian tragedy backstory, one that would fuel his goals. Everything Killmonger does almost make you want to sympathize with that he is trying to achieve. He isn't looking to bring an end to the world, but rather come out of the shadows after being exiled for a crime he did not commit and move a country towards a new direction.
These are the kind of bold changes in the MCU narrative that we need now. One that dares to do something different and something more meaningful. And for Black Panther, we see that women are no longer sexualized or judged by their beauty. There is a different kind of beauty that resonates in this film. In the film, beauty is not only celebrated through looks but through strength, skill, intelligence. Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia, Letitia Wright's Shuri, and Danai Gurira's Okoye support the film in their own ways. And each brings a definitive personality that is strengthened by a strong character arc. These are well-developed characters and that carries throughout the entire film.
But there is no comic book film without some very cool action sequences, and in Black Panther, almost every action sequence dazzles on screen. There is a tracking shot that follows T'Challa, Nakia, and Okoye through the course of a battle that takes place inside an underground casino. A car chase. But the ones that stand out above the rest are the fights that take place on Warrior Falls, where anyone from any tribe can fight with the current Black Panther to claim the rights to that title and rule over Wakanda. It's at this location where fights could change Wakanda forever. It's certainly better than the generic climatic battles that we all know are coming.
After 18 films, Marvel Studios continues to evolve and adapt to the ever-changing times. They are no longer bound to the generic and tired old tropes of saving the world from an apocalyptic threat. Instead, we get a film that allows its title character to develop into the hero he was destined to be. Black Panther is that film. It holds great meaning for culture, representation, and identity. And Coogler is able to execute and tell a story with all those themes while still maintaining a superhero feel, flawlessly.


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About SEPA
EverywhereDocument libraryNews & Insights
Introducing the EPC
The EPC and the SEPA process
EPC Members
List of EPC members
SEPA payment scheme management
What is a payment scheme?
The schemes rely on global open standards
Evolution of the schemes
Clearing and Settlement Mechanisms
Questions on the schemes
SEPA payment schemes
SEPA Credit Transfer
SEPA Instant Credit Transfer
Other SEPA Payments
SEPA for cards
SEPA for cash
SEPA goes mobile
SEPA Proxy Lookup Scheme
Toolkit for new scheme participants
Scheme participation fees
Register of Participants
SEPA Payment statistics
SEPA timeline
SEPA goals and benefits
SEPA political, legal and regulatory framework
Press releases and position papers
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Searching for Enlightenment?
The new book 'ISO 20022 For Dummies' has all the answers!
Demystifying ISO 20022
The ISO 20022 standard1 lies at the heart of
Single Euro Payments Area
rulebooks that describe the flows of data between
participants mandate the use of ISO 20022 for messages exchanged by financial institutions. They also recommend that the standard be used in the customer-to-bank space. Despite the groundbreaking work of the
community in adopting ISO 20022 however, a great deal of confusion still surrounds the new standard in the financial industry at large.
As a key stakeholder in ISO 20022, and a long-term advocate of the standard's ability to transform automation in the financial industry, SWIFT2 has long worked to dispel this widespread confusion over ISO 20022's purpose and potential. To address this issue, SWIFT Standards, together with ISO and the publishers John Wiley & Sons, will launch the new book "ISO 20022 For Dummies" on 26 October 2010 at Sibos Amsterdam, which aims to demystify ISO 20022 once and for all.
The book follows the well-known "For Dummies" formula of informal, easy-to-use knowledge reference books, recognisable by their bright yellow covers and cartoon graphics. Its 52 pages cover the origin of the standard, the workings of the ISO organisation that promotes and maintains it, and crucially, the unique role ISO 20022 can play in enabling business process automation across the financial industry.
From the book: Things to tell your CIO about ISO 20022:
ISO 20022 is a methodology for defining financial messages - a standard for standards, so to speak.
Currently, 260 messages have been defined, and there are many more on the way.
It's not just about messages - ISO 20022 provides a common language for machines and people to exchange information about financial business. This common language is set out in a formal dictionary.
ISO 20022 is a business standard; its principal focus is on the content of the dictionary, rather than the technicalities of how data is exchanged.
You can use the dictionary to help translate between messages that use different syntaxes, and to solve other kinds of problems where a shared understanding of the business is important, such as internal system integration.
Although ISO 20022 messages are mostly exchanged in XML, ISO 20022 doesn't depend on a specific message syntax, so if a different syntax is required to satisfy a business or technical requirement, or a new syntax emerges, ISO 20022 can accommodate it.
ISO 20022 adoption is gathering pace in major markets around the world.
ISO 20022 is an open standard that anyone can use, and to which anyone can contribute.
"Writing the book was a true team effort involving SWIFT staff and external contributors - a great example of industry collaboration," explains Gottfried Leibbrandt, SWIFT's Head of Marketing. The outline of the book was written by Gottfried, with a working title of "10 Simple Questions about ISO 20022". This material was expanded by numerous experts in the SWIFT Standards department, resulting in a draft that was distributed within SWIFT and to several prominent experts in the wider ISO community for comments and suggestions. Many of these were incorporated in the final text.
Some in the ISO organisation put their stamp of approval on the document through a contribution: Karla McKenna, Chair of ISO Technical Committee 68 / Financial Services submitted a foreword, and the ISO secretariat provided useful background information on the organisation's structure and mission. SWIFT then began the process of dummification - converting the factual content of the book into the familiar "For Dummies" style.
At SWIFT, we believe that ISO 20022 is the right way forward for standardisation in the financial industry. Yet, its full benefits can only be realised if the industry engages across the board. To share the ISO 20022 vision, however, it is necessary to grasp the principles governing this methodology. Given the time and effort usually required to navigate the mysterious (to most) straits of messaging standards, the general understanding of ISO 20022 to-date remains quite vague. Not surprisingly then, the launch of "ISO 20022 For Dummies" is eagerly awaited by many in the standardisation and payments communities. Preliminary feedback was universally positive and stressed the market need for this publication. "ISO 20022 For Dummies" provides key information in a form that is clear, concise and accessible to readers who do not happen to be professionally involved in the process of setting financial industry standards.
Gerard Hartsink, Convener of the ISO 20022 Registration Management Group and Chair of the
, points out: "I am extremely supportive of this initiative. More people should understand what ISO 20022 is all about. Communication is very important for that reason: ISO 20022 should not be a 'secret language' of experts only."
If you are at Sibos 2010, do not miss the launch party!
"ISO 20022 For Dummies" is launched on 26 October 2010 at the Standards Forum at Sibos. As is always the case with the standards crowd, this is set to be a fun and informative event:Dominic Hobson, executive editor of Global Custodian, will interview Gottfried Leibbrandt about ISO 20022 and the motivation behind the book. Copies of the book will be available for all who attend; those who can't make it to the launch will be able to download an electronic copy of the book from www.swift.com/iso20022fordummies.
The interest already shown by so many in the industry for this reference guide is encouraging; the enthusiasm to learn more about ISO 20022 is promising.
Jamie Shay is Head of Standards at SWIFT. Stephen Lindsay is Head of Automation, Standards at SWIFT.
www.swift.com
www.iso20022.org (This link also gives access to the ISO 200222 Newsletter)
Related articles in this issue:
The Global Data Highway. The ISO 20022 catalogue of financial services messages: a progress report
Facing Up to the IT Challenge. Choosing the right IT strategy for SEPA compliance
Related articles in previous issues:
Improving the Bottom Line. ISO 20022 meets key corporate expectations (
Newsletter, Issue 3, July 2009)
The silent Revolution. The impact of ISO 20022 on payments services in general and SEPA in particular (
Take Payments to the next Level. Benefits of ISO 20022 for bank customers: improved control and increased efficiency (
1 The International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) is a global organisation of national standards bodies. ISO 20022 aims to give the financial industry a standard platform for the development of messages. See also link to the ISO 20022 web site under 'Related Links'.
2 SWIFT is a member-owned cooperative that provides the communications platform, products and services to connect more than 9,000 banking organisations, securities institutions and corporate customers in 209 countries. SWIFT enables its users to exchange automated, standardised financial information securely and reliably, thereby lowering costs, reducing operational risk and eliminating operational inefficiencies. SWIFT also brings the financial community together to work collaboratively to shape market practice, define standards and debate issues of mutual interest. www.swift.com
If you would like to comment on this article, please identify yourself with your first and last name. Your name will appear next to your comment. Email addresses will not be published. Please note that by accessing or contributing to the discussion you agree to abide by the EPC website conditions of use.
ISO 20022 is bound to have a profound effect on anyone with a stake in the payments business: the ISO 20022 approach generates cost benefits for businesses and banks by integrating systems for electronic data delivery. Anyone who asks how it does this will usually get the following answer (if the next five lines of this text are not intelligible to you, you definitely want to read this article - and the new book "ISO 20022 For Dummies"!): ISO 20022, the universal financial industry message scheme, aims to give the financial industry a standard platform for the development of messages. According to ISO, this is achieved using a modeling methodology (based on Unified Modeling Language (UML)) to capture in a syntax-independent way financial business areas, business transactions and associated message flows and a set of XML design rules to convert the messages described in UML into XML schemas. The ISO 20022 message standards are globally supported based on the efforts of organisations such as SWIFT, banks and national standardisation bodies to ensure locally developed EDI-based standards are upgraded to the XML-based ISO 20022 design. In case you feel none the wiser at this point, do not worry: "ISO 20022 For Dummies", to be launched at Sibos on 26 October 2010, provides key information on this global messaging standard in a form that is clear, concise and accessible to readers who do not happen to be professionally involved in the process of setting financial industry standards. Jamie Shay and Stephen Lindsay of SWIFT shine the light on the ISO 20022 message standard first deployed by payment service providers offering services based on the
payment schemes.
Jamie Shay
Head of Standards at SWIFT
Stephen Lindsay
Head of Automation, Standards at SWIFT
The Shortcut to SEPA: Who Is Who and Who Does What
The EPC Newsletter also Makes for a Nice Christmas Present
Update EPC Plenary Meetings
Facing up to the IT Challenge
The Way is the Goal
332 Votes for an End Date
Facing the Facts in October 2010
The Single Euro Cash Area
The Global Data Highway
An Epic Voyage: the SEPA Odyssey
So what's in a Name? Explaining Payment Schemes, Instruments and Systems
Preparation for SEPA by Public Administrations in France
The Quantum Leap for SEPA Direct Debit
Common Architecture for Mobile Payments
SEPA Schemes: Next Generation
TPPs: latest views on PSD2 implementation
PSD2 implementation: challenges for ASPSPs
What's next for RTP?
Greece's steady progress towards a cashless society
Update from EPC and insights on payments in Europe delivered to your inbox monthly
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text:
(Video) ALA Lecture Series: ALA President Patty Wong
iSchool News Staff - May 16, 2022
Wong shares her 37-year journey with the ALA and the association's ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion.
Last month, the College of Information Studies hosted Patricia (Patty) Wong, President of the American Library Association (ALA), as a featured speaker for the College's ALA Lecture Series. The joint Lecture Series was established in 2019 to provide an additional platform for the ALA leadership to talk with researchers, educators, and practitioners of library science. The event held on April 27 was moderated by Joe Thompson, Director of Public Services for the Carroll County Public Library in Maryland. Dr. Keith Marzullo, Dean of the College of Information Studies, and Dr. Ursula Gorham, Faculty Director of the MLIS Program, provided opening remarks.
Throughout the lecture, Wong shared her extensive history of committee work, policy development, and advocacy for underrepresented groups in the fields of library and information science, and offered advice for incoming students interested in studying LIS and becoming more involved with their local library chapters and organizations.
Wong highlighted several of the ALA's diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives, including the recent adoption of the DEI Scorecard for library and information organizations to evaluate their education, training, recruitment strategies, and the overall sustainability of the organization's commitment to DEI practices, and the introduction of DEI as one of the latest metrics adopted into the accreditation review process by the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Wong announced the ALA will also be instituting the study of race in libraries and information technologies as part of the mission of the ALA's Center for the Future of Libraries.
"What that means for our students and our LIS programs is that for the first time we're going to be looking at the standards, and seeing how we frame EDI purposefully, in the evaluation of our LIS programs through curriculum and faculty and student recruitment and retention," Wong said.
Later this year, the ALA will be implementing a maximum three-year cycle for comprehensive DEI training for all ALA staff, and hiring its first ever Accessibility Officer, a role that Wong believes will be an invaluable resource for both internal staff and ALA members. Wong also announced a one year residency program that will also be adopted later this year to serve as a ALA workforce pipeline for early and mid-career professionals with interests in LIS or association management.
Wong is the first Asian American to serve as President of the ALA. An active ALA member for 37 years, Wong has served several terms as at-large councilor (1996–2007, 2012–2014) and as California Chapter councilor (2015–2017). Wong previously served as the Executive Board member from 2001-05. She has held numerous committee positions, including chair of the Budget Analysis and Review Committee. She is an active member of Association of Library Service to Children, Public Library Association, United for Libraries, Young Adult Library Services Association, the Social Responsibilities Round Table, Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, and the Rainbow Round Table. She is a member of the Freedom to Read Foundation and, as an ALA Executive Board member, has worked with the association's Intellectual Freedom Committee, Committee on Legislation and the Conference Committee.
You can watch the full ALA Lecture Series event below or on YouTube here.
Partner & Industry News


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Rugby: Pride on the line for United States and Tonga at Hanazono
By Joel Fitzpatrick, KYODO NEWS - Oct 12, 2019 - 15:05 | Sports, Rugby2019, All, Higashiosaka
In a difficult pool with England, France and Argentina, both the United States and Tonga will have been targeting the final game as their best chance at snagging a win at the Rugby World Cup.
The problem is, only one team will be happy on Sunday.
"We're both desperate," said Tonga coach Toutai Kefu. "We watched them play on Wednesday (against Argentina) and thought they were a very aggressive side. If we don't bring anything but our best we're going to be in trouble."
(Tonga head coach Toutai Kefu)[Getty/Kyodo]
Tonga may be ranked below their Pool C opponent by World Rugby, but they enter the game at Hanazono Rugby Stadium as slight favorites with a superior points differential over their previous three games in Japan.
"We're approaching the game as if it's our grand final. Looking at what we've done the last couple of weeks, the improvements we've made, we don't want to undo that and put in a below-par and poor performance," said Kefu.
The Pacific islanders' high point of the tournament was their narrow 23-21 loss to France on Sunday, an effort all the more encouraging since they overcame a 17-0 start to run the three-time finalists close.
The United States' best effort also came against Les Bleus, with the Eagles keeping the deficit to just three points deep into the second half, before France ran in three late tries.
"This is a Rugby World Cup, we're here to win games, we're not here to hand out caps, here we want to win," said Gary Gold, the team's South African coach.
The Americans have proven they are never ones to shy away from contact, and against Tonga -- a country they have only beaten once in nine tries -- they will need to embrace the impacts.
(United States head coach Gary Gold)[Getty/Kyodo]
"We're going to expect massive physicality, they've played some really good rugby of late. They've got a good scrum, got some big boys. Their back three is very dangerous, they're a very good side," said United States backrower Nick Civetta.
Gold believes the Tongans have grown in stature at the Rugby World Cup, and the improvement has made them a difficult proposition for his team, one that has shown it can hang with the best physically, just not skill-wise, yet.
"If you consider it was only a few short weeks ago that (Tonga) conceded 90-odd points against New Zealand. It's a massive credit to Toutai and his team as to how they've dusted themselves off and come back fighting."
And Gold is wary of a wounded Tonga, saying he knows they will be "devastated they didn't win that game against France -- they certainly deserved to."
Quarterfinal berths may be out of reach, but there is still plenty to play for.
"Both teams will be fighting for a lot of pride, both wanting to go back to our respective countries with our heads held high from a tough group," Gold said.
Oct 12, 2019 | KYODO NEWS


According to our 2017 study The State of 3D printing, plastic is still the most used 3D printing material. At Sculpteo, we used to 3D print your plastic parts using the SLS technology (Selective Laser Sintering), but a few weeks ago we started offering you a new option to match more precisely your needs. This new plastic 3D printing technology called Multi Jet Fusion was created by HP. What are the differences between these two technologies? Which one shall you use for your project? Here are our answers!
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is the most used 3D printing technology at Sculpteo. It's mostly used by professional companies and online 3D printing services. Indeed, SLS 3D printers are usually quite large and expensive.
How does it work? A powder is deposited on the build stage. Then, a laser selectively scans this thin layer of powder, sintering the powder particles together according to the shape desired for this precise layer of the design. Afterwards, the build platform is lowered one layer down, and the whole process starts once again until the 3D printed part is complete.
Once this whole process is done, the completed object is removed from the 3D printer and it's depowdered. No further process is necessary, except if you choose any additional finish (paint, polishing, dye, smoothing beautifier…).
SLS doesn't require supports since the powder acts as a self-supporting material. It allows the construction of intricate and complex geometries, and thus an almost total design freedom.
HP Multi Jet Fusion is a 3D printing technology which is quite similar to Binder Jetting. Indeed, it uses a liquid binding agent in order to create the different layers of your 3D printed part. Once this agent is deposited on the powder bed, a detailing agent is also deposited in order to get the finest details and a smooth surface.
This 3D printing process needs less heat to fuse the powder than SLS. It still needs to cool once the part is ready, but it goes way faster. At that point, the building box is placed into the post-processing station which cools the parts and makes them ready for cleaning. Once depowdering is done, your object is ready.
Which plastic 3D printing technology should you choose?
One of the most interesting things that can be achieved thanks to the HP Multi Jet Fusion technology is high precision. Parts 3D printed using the SLS technology are also really precise, but the detailing agent used in the Multi Jet Fusion process takes precision to the next level. As a result, your parts can be extremely precise, with complex designs.
Moreover, layer thickness with this plastic 3D printing technology is of 80µm, whereas it can go up to 100µm with the SLS technology. This also brings a higher level of precision to your parts.
Since the HP Multi Jet Fusion was launched quite recently, it only offers Black PA12 parts, with no finishing options available. The result is already satisfying without finishes, that's why this 3D printing process can be chosen even to make finished products. But you might want to have more choice regarding your object. If it's the case, SLS can be the right technology for you.
Indeed, SLS offers you a large range of materials: PA12 Plastic (Nylon), Alumide, CarbonMide, Glass-Filled Nylon and PEBA (Flexible Plastic). Thus, you can find a 3D printing plastic which totally matches your needs, either if you want to create a flexible plastic part or an extremely strong one.
Moreover, many coloring and finishing options are available, even just for PA12 (the most used 3D printing plastic material). For instance, you can use the exclusive finish we developed at Sculpteo: the Smoothing Beautifier. This physicochemical process makes the surface of your object glossy and incredibly smooth, which is great for finished products.
Now, you know how to choose between these two plastic 3D printing technologies. Once you've made up your mind, upload your 3D model on our 3D printing service!
Are you hesitating between other 3D printing technologies? Discover our blog post comparing SLS, SLA, CLIP and FDM!


It was a beautiful day at OysterFest! Hope everyone had a chance to stop by the OysterFest in Shelton, WA to enjoy some oysters, other yummy seafood, drinks, music & great company. A special shout out & thank you to all the PCSGA members who volunteered to work the booth & share your knowledge, stories, & fantastic personalities with all the fest goers.
Thank you: Lisa Carleton-Long, Kris & Dave Barton, Debi & Marty Beagle, Dan Hansen, Rob Snyder, Vicki Wilson, Dave & Cairn Steele & PCSGA's own Becky Mabardy.


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Paulsboro train derailment, spill under NTSB review
A crane lifts up the first car at the derailment site in Paulsboro, NJ., in December (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks, file)
A two-day hearing on the train derailment that caused vinyl chloride to spill in Paulsboro, N.J., kicked off Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
The Conrail train released 20,000 gallons of the chemical into the air and water when several cars derailed last November.
The toxic spill forced the evacuations of Paulsboro residents over several days.
Train engineer Mark Mather testified that his crew followed proper procedure for making sure a bridge that opens and closes was safe to cross.
But he told the National Transportation Safety Board that he got conflicting messages.
"So I'd call up the train dispatcher and I'd say, 'The bridge is lined and it's locked. It's giving us a clear, but it's telling us it failed to operate,'" Mather said.
The train proceeded after the conductor physically checked that the bridge was locked; however, a red light still signaled it was not safe to cross. The derailment happened shortly after.
The NTSB reports that 24 malfunctions occurred at the bridge last year, half in the month of November.
The hearing will continue Wednesday.
N.J. opens 3rd COVID vaccination mega-site; Edison center aims to vax 2,000 people daily
The Garden State expects to ultimately open six vaccination mega-sites, along with pharmacies and other smaller locations currently administering doses.
N.J. commission approves rules for driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants
The move means those who are not legally present in the United States may be able to apply for driver's licenses as early as May.


text:
Brachmia ballotellus is a moth in the family Gelechiidae. It was described by Hans Georg Amsel in 1935. It is found in Palestine.

References

Moths described in 1935
Brachmia
Moths of the Middle East


SkinPen using a microneedling technique is one of the hottest new trends in aesthetic skin care.
Performed by our Medi.SPA aesthetic professionals the SkinPen procedure creates microscopic wounds in a patient's area of concern. Perioral wrinkles, large pores on the nose, certain scars, and stretch marks all respond well to SkinPen.
With easy healing and good results, our staff enjoy performing this innovative and effective treatment to help patients achieve their skin care goals. We invite you to call our office today to book your SkinPen appointment in the Medi.SPA at ADVANCED.


The Courier's complete archives, since the first issue published in 1948, are accessible. More than 700 issues are available in English, French and Spanish. Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese and Russian versions are available beginning 2010.


What are haikus? They're three-line imagistic poems written according to rules based on Japanese poetic conventions and they've long enjoyed cult status among students with a literary bent.
Dhrupad Karwa, who graduated from UCL with a degree in economics this summer, thinks that not only are haikus fun to read and write, but that their popularity is a basis for a great enterprise for the social media era.
HaikuJAM, the brand new app that he and two collaborators have created, harnesses the power of the internet to allow two or more poets anywhere in the world to create a haiku together. Just before HaikuJAM's successful launch on the iOS App Store, we sat down with Dhrupad to find out more.
Where did HaikuJAM come from?
If your business involves technology, you need to learn how to code. These technologies have been democratised, so you don't need to pay thousands of pounds - there's so much amazing learning material online.
But you also need to know where to draw the line. Learning to code doesn't mean you're necessarily going to be able to build a phenomenal application yourself - there are people who spend their entire lives developing who can do that for you. But knowing a bit about coding means you can communicate with your development team, not get taken for a ride, and keep control over the process..
I'd always thought I'd love to be an entrepreneur. Last summer, I'd just come out of working on another startup idea that turned out not to be feasible, so I decided to go for tea at Fortnum & Masons with my best friend to cheer myself up.
I'd had this idea in the back of my mind that I'd love to write some poetry and let another creative individual continue the poem. So while we were there, I wrote the first line of a haiku, asked him to write the second line, and then I wrote the third. This continued for about two hours and it was really fun! So that was where the idea was born.
What were the steps between coming up with the idea and submitting HaikuJAM to the App Store?
I started by mulling over the idea, working on the concept and fleshing out the structure. I also decided I was going to teach myself to code - I'm not a big fan of entrepreneurs outsourcing all their responsibilities and not getting truly involved in the intricacies of their product.
But before getting into the technology, the focus was always on the user experience. First of all, I had to think: who am I doing this for? The first step was looking at the marketplace - what's already out there, understanding how people wrote haikus, talking to poets, and just thinking about whether this was an opportunity that excited me. I also started thinking about the brand. "HaikuJAM" was actually the very first name that came into my head - it just felt natural.
At the end of the Christmas holidays, I got two friends from my course on board as there comes a point when it's inefficient to try to do everything by yourself because you can only move at a certain pace. And one of the reasons I now feel confident about the project is because of the quality and dedication of the team.
Together we started a business plan and put together a prototype through Google Docs and Excel. We ran about 60 sessions where we invited three people to write haikus together for an hour or so, and we got some fascinating feedback. Most people enjoyed it, which reassured us.
But before we started converting our idea into an actual app, we designed the app's user interface, which took most of this summer. We were thinking about every button and every screen flow. How would someone use this feature? How does it feel?
Next, we were lucky enough to win £25,000 of funding from UCL, who are amazing when it comes to supporting student entrepreneurs. Then we decided: let's start building. We did some research and ended up choosing a team of developers in Russia. They then built the app, and we've just submitted it to the App Store.
The app will be free, but we have some ideas on monetisation. All I can say is that it won't be revenue generation through standard forms like adverts. It'll be incorporated into the creative process. But we don't have a set-in-stone monetisation strategy as we don't know what our user base will look like yet.
Working with our developers in Russia can be frustrating at times. Everything happens through Skype and emails and so much can be lost in communication when you can't just look over someone's shoulder.
One enormous concern is around censorship. We don't want to censor users because that wouldn't be right, but we've made it as easy as we can for users to report offensive content and for us to then remove that haiku from the database.
Getting new funding for HaikuJAM is definitely going to be a challenge for the future. I've recently been meeting with potential new investors to spread the word about HaikuJAM among the venture capital community.
We want to evolve HaikuJAM into something that truly delivers our vision of collaborative creation. To some extent, an app in itself is not a sustainable business. So ultimately we want to keep the concept, but move it beyond being an app. We're not primarily a technology company - it just happens that technology enables us to do what we want to do at the moment. In five years, HaikuJAM won't be the offering it is now. We want to explore and collaborate with other brands and with artists, and move into lots of different areas.


Committed. Thanks, our first Qt4 translation!
The next build should have most kinks ironed out.
Tab names and threading preferences appear to be missing from your ts file. Running lupdate should fix these.
You\'ll need to translate some of Qt for the OK/Cancel buttons, etc. The translation file can be found in Qt\\4.3.2\\translations\\qt_untranslated.ts. Take a copy of it as qt_it.ts. QDialogButtonBox and QFileDialog are probably all that is required. To test, copy the compiled qm file to Avidemux\'s i18n folder.
Everything else should be fixed in r3642.
c:\\qt\\4.3.2\\bin\\lrelease avidemux_it.xml -qm avidemux_it.qmYou\'ll need to change the paths according to your setup.
there is just a little strange problem (also with svn 3658): if i release the .qm file as you say, the string \"Edit\" in the menubar is not translated.
on the contrary, if i use \'lrelease avidemux_it.ts avidemux_it.qm\' , it si translated (=\"Modifica\").
I use Edit as a test at start up. It\'s translation is logged to stdout.txt. This must be throwing something off.


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Населення Об'єднаних Арабських Еміратів. Чисельність населення країни 2015 року становила 5,779 млн осіб (113-те місце у світі). За оцінками ООН населення країни становить 9,157 млн, з яких 85 % трудові мігранти з інших країн. Чисельність громадян ОАЕ стабільно збільшується, народжуваність 2015 року становила 15,43 ‰ (128-ме місце у світі), смертність — 1,97 ‰ (224-те місце у світі), природний приріст — 2,58 % (20-те місце у світі) .

Природний рух

Відтворення
Народжуваність у Об'єднаних Арабських Еміратах, станом на 2015 рік, дорівнює 15,43 ‰ (128-ме місце у світі). Коефіцієнт потенційної народжуваності 2015 року становив 2,35 дитини на одну жінку (85-те місце у світі).

Смертність у Об'єднаних Арабських Еміратах 2015 року становила 1,97 ‰ (224-те місце у світі).

Природний приріст населення в країні 2015 року становив 2,58 % (20-те місце у світі).

Вікова структура

Середній вік населення Об'єднаних Арабських Еміратів становить 30,3 року (110-те місце у світі): для чоловіків — 32,1, для жінок — 25,1 року. Очікувана середня тривалість життя 2015 року становила 77,29 року (72-ге місце у світі), для чоловіків — 74,67 року, для жінок — 80,04 року.

Вікова структура населення Об'єднаних Арабських Еміратів, станом на 2015 рік, має такий вигляд:
 діти віком до 14 років — 20,85 % (616 669 чоловіків, 588 546 жінок);
 молодь віком 15—24 роки — 13,57 % (466 663 чоловіка, 317 735 жінок);
 дорослі віком 25—54 роки — 61,38 % (2 704 889 чоловіків, 842 851 жінки);
 особи передпохилого віку (55—64 роки) — 3,18 % (137 753 чоловіка, 46 214 жінок);
 особи похилого віку (65 років і старіші) — 1,01 % (36 725 чоловіків, 21 714 жінок).

Шлюбність — розлучуваність

Розселення
Густота населення країни 2015 року становила 109,5 особи/км² (109-те місце у світі).

Урбанізація

Об'єднані Арабські Емірати надзвичайно урбанізована країна. Рівень урбанізованості становить 85,5 % населення країни (станом на 2015 рік), темпи зростання частки міського населення — 2,87 % (оцінка тренду за 2010—2015 роки).

Головні міста держави: Дубай — 2,415 млн осіб, Шарджа — 1,279 млн осіб, Абу-Дабі (столиця) — 1,145 млн осіб (дані за 2015 рік).

Міграції
Річний рівень імміграції 2015 року становив 12,36 ‰ (7-ме місце у світі). Цей показник не враховує різниці між законними і незаконними мігрантами, між біженцями, трудовими мігрантами та іншими.

Расово-етнічний склад

Головні етноси країни: місцеві еміратські араби — 19 %, інші араби та іранці — 23 %, південні азіати — 50 %, іноземці-заробітчани — 8 % населення. Лише 20 % населення держави 1982 року мали громадянство.

Українська діаспора

Мови

Офіційна мова: арабська. Інші поширені мови: перська, англійська, гінді, урду.

Релігії

Головні релігії й вірування, які сповідує, і конфесії та церковні організації, до яких відносить себе населення країни: іслам (державна релігія) — 76 %, християнство — 9 %, інші (індуїзм, буддизм, зороастризм (парси), бахаїзм, друзи, сікхізм, ахмадія, ісмаїлізм, юдаїзм) — 15 % (станом на 2005 рік). Дана статистика репрезентує усе населення країни, 85 % з якого не є її уродженцями.

Освіта

Рівень письменності 2015 року становив 93,8 % дорослого населення (віком від 15 років): 93,1 % — серед чоловіків, 95,8 % — серед жінок.
Дані про державні витрати на освіту у відношенні до ВВП країни, станом на 2015 рік, відсутні.

Охорона здоров'я

Забезпеченість лікарями в країні на рівні 2,53 лікаря на 1000 мешканців (станом на 2010 рік). Забезпеченість лікарняними ліжками в стаціонарах — 1,1 ліжка на 1000 мешканців (станом на 2012 рік). Загальні витрати на охорону здоров'я 2014 року становили 3,6 % ВВП країни (182-ге місце у світі).

Смертність немовлят до 1 року, станом на 2015 рік, становила 10,59 ‰ (131-ше місце у світі); хлопчиків — 12,35 ‰, дівчаток — 8,75 ‰. Рівень материнської смертності 2015 року становив 6 випадків на 100 тис. народжень (146-те місце у світі).

Об'єднані Арабські Емірати входить до складу ряду міжнародних організацій: Міжнародного руху (ICRM) і Міжнародної федерації товариств Червоного Хреста і Червоного Півмісяця (IFRCS), Дитячого фонду ООН (UNISEF), Всесвітньої організації охорони здоров'я (WHO).

Захворювання
Кількість хворих на СНІД невідома, дані про відсоток інфікованого населення в репродуктивному віці 15—49 років відсутні. Дані про кількість смертей від цієї хвороби за 2014 рік відсутні.

Частка дорослого населення з високим індексом маси тіла 2014 року становила 34,5 % (22-ге місце у світі).

Санітарія
Доступ до облаштованих джерел питної води 2015 року мало 99,6 % населення в містах і 100 % в сільській місцевості; загалом 99,6 % населення країни. Відсоток забезпеченості населення доступом до облаштованого водовідведення (каналізація, септик): в містах — 98 %, в сільській місцевості — 95,2 %, загалом по країні — 97,6 % (станом на 2015 рік). Споживання прісної води, станом на 2005 рік, дорівнює 3,99 км³ на рік, або 739,5 тонни на одного мешканця на рік: з яких 15 % припадає на побутові, 2 % — на промислові, 83 % — на сільськогосподарські потреби.

Соціально-економічне становище
Співвідношення осіб, що в економічному плані залежать від інших, до осіб працездатного віку (15—64 роки) загалом становить 17,8 % (станом на 2015 рік): частка дітей — 16,4 %; частка осіб похилого віку — 1,3 %, або 74,6 потенційно працездатного на 1 пенсіонера. Загалом дані показники характеризують рівень затребуваності державної допомоги в секторах освіти, охорони здоров'я і пенсійного забезпечення, відповідно. За межею бідності 2003 року перебувало 19,5 % населення країни. Дані про розподіл доходів домогосподарств у країні відсутні.

Станом на 2012 рік, у країні 177,99 тис. осіб не має доступу до електромереж; 98 % населення має доступ, у містах цей показник дорівнює 99 %, у сільській місцевості — 93 %. Рівень проникнення інтернет-технологій надзвичайно високий. Станом на липень 2015 року в країні налічувалось 5,274 млн унікальних інтернет-користувачів (63-тє місце у світі), що становило 91,2 % загальної кількості населення країни.

Трудові ресурси
Загальні трудові ресурси 2015 року становили 5,136 млн осіб, з яких 85 % не громадяни країни (80-те місце у світі). Зайнятість економічно активного населення у господарстві країни розподіляється таким чином: аграрне, лісове і рибне господарства — 7 %; промисловість і будівництво — 15 %; сфера послуг — 78 % (станом на 2000 рік). Безробіття 2001 року дорівнювало 2,4 % працездатного населення (15-те місце у світі); серед молоді у віці 15—24 років ця частка становила 12,1 %, серед юнаків — 7,9 %, серед дівчат — 21,8 % (91-ше місце у світі).

Кримінал

Наркотики

Перевалочний пункт наркотрафіку до Південно-Західної Азії; через те, що країна виступає важливим регіональним фінансовим центром, вона уразлива до відмивання грошей.

Торгівля людьми

Згідно зі щорічною доповіддю про торгівлю людьми () Управління з моніторингу та боротьби з торгівлею людьми Державного департаменту США, уряд Об'єднаних Арабських Еміратів докладає значних зусиль в боротьбі з явищем примусової праці, сексуальної експлуатації, незаконною торгівлею внутрішніми органами, але законодавство відповідає мінімальним вимогам американського закону 2000 року щодо захисту жертв () не в повній мірі, країна знаходиться у списку другого рівня.

Гендерний стан
Статеве співвідношення (оцінка 2015 року):
 при народженні — 1,05 особи чоловічої статі на 1 особу жіночої;
 у віці до 14 років — 1,05 особи чоловічої статі на 1 особу жіночої;
 у віці 15—24 років — 1,47 особи чоловічої статі на 1 особу жіночої;
 у віці 25—54 років — 3,21 особи чоловічої статі на 1 особу жіночої;
 у віці 55—64 років — 2,98 особи чоловічої статі на 1 особу жіночої;
 у віці за 64 роки — 1,69 особи чоловічої статі на 1 особу жіночої;
 загалом — 2,18 особи чоловічої статі на 1 особу жіночої.

Демографічні дослідження

Демографічні дослідження в країні ведуться рядом державних і наукових установ:
 .

Переписи

Див. також
 Населення Землі
 Населення Азії

Примітки

Література

Українською

Російською

Посилання

  — демографічні показники населення світу.
  — медико-статистичні показники Об'єднаних Арабських Еміратів.
  — репрезентативні дані про стан здоров'я і населення в країнах, що розвиваються.
  — статистичні дані про стан і положення дітей Об'єднаних Арабських Еміратів.
  — статистично-економічні показники Об'єднаних Арабських Еміратів.
  — економіко-статистичні показники Об'єднаних Арабських Еміратів  від Міжнародної організації праці.
  — сторінка локального відділення Програми розвитку ООН.
  — Європейська економічна комісія ООН (ЄЕК ООН).
  — оцінки населення світу.


text:
Abstract: stem cells x
Abstract: pluripoten* x
Abstract: totipotent x
Epigenetic reprogramming in embryonic and foetal development upon somatic cell nuclear transfer cloning
Heiner Niemann, X Cindy Tian, W Allan King, and Rita S F Lee
The birth of 'Dolly', the first mammal cloned from an adult donor cell, has sparked a flurry of research activities to improve cloning technology and to understand the underlying mechanism of epigenetic reprogramming of the transferred somatic cell nucleus. Especially in ruminants, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is frequently associated with pathological changes in the foetal and placental phenotype and has significant consequences for development both before and after birth. The most critical factor is epigenetic reprogramming of the transferred somatic cell nucleus from its differentiated status into the totipotent state of the early embryo. This involves an erasure of the gene expression program of the respective donor cell and the establishment of the well-orchestrated sequence of expression of an estimated number of 10 000–12 000 genes regulating embryonic and foetal development. The following article reviews the present knowledge on the epigenetic reprogramming of the transferred somatic cell nucleus, with emphasis on DNA methylation, imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation and telomere length restoration in bovine development. Additionally, we briefly discuss other approaches towards epigenetic nuclear reprogramming, including the fusion of somatic and embryonic stem cells and the overexpression of genes crucial in the formation and maintenance of the pluripotent status. Improvements in our understanding of this dramatic epigenetic reprogramming event will be instrumental in realising the great potential of SCNT for basic biological research and for various agricultural and biomedical applications.
Expression of the homophilic adhesion molecule, Ep-CAM, in the mammalian germ line
R. Anderson, K. Schaible, J. Heasman, and C. Wylie
During normal embryonic development, mammalian germ cells use both cell migration and aggregation to form the primitive sex cords. Germ cells must be able to interact with their environment and each other to accomplish this; however, the molecular basis of early germ cell adhesion is not well characterized. Differential adhesion is also thought to occur in the adult seminiferous tubules, since germ cells move from the periphery to the lumen as they differentiate. In a screen for additional adhesion molecules expressed by the germ line, expression of the homophilic adhesion molecule, Ep-CAM, was identified in embryonic, neonatal and adult germ cells using immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry with an Ep-CAM-specific monoclonal antibody. At embryonic stages, germ cells were found to express Ep-CAM during migration at embryonic day 10.5 and early gonad assembly at embryonic day 12.5. Expression of Ep-CAM was also found on neonatal male and female germ cells. In the adult testis, Ep-CAM was detected only on spermatogonia, and was absent from more differentiated cells. Finally, embryonic stem cells were shown to express this receptor. It is proposed that Ep-CAM plays a role in the development of the germ line and the behaviour of totipotent cells.
Early cell fate decisions in the mouse embryo
Néstor Saiz and Berenika Plusa
During mammalian preimplantation development, the fertilised egg gives rise to a group of pluripotent embryonic cells, the epiblast, and to the extraembryonic lineages that support the development of the foetus during subsequent phases of development. This preimplantation period not only accommodates the first cell fate decisions in a mammal's life but also the transition from a totipotent cell, the zygote, capable of producing any cell type in the animal, to cells with a restricted developmental potential. The cellular and molecular mechanisms governing the balance between developmental potential and lineage specification have intrigued developmental biologists for decades. The preimplantation mouse embryo offers an invaluable system to study cell differentiation as well as the emergence and maintenance of pluripotency in the embryo. Here we review the most recent findings on the mechanisms controlling these early cell fate decisions. The model that emerges from the current evidence indicates that cell differentiation in the preimplantation embryo depends on cellular interaction and intercellular communication. This strategy underlies the plasticity of the early mouse embryo and ensures the correct specification of the first mammalian cell lineages.
Generation of male differentiated germ cells from various types of stem cells
Jingmei Hou, Shi Yang, Hao Yang, Yang Liu, Yun Liu, Yanan Hai, Zheng Chen, Ying Guo, Yuehua Gong, Wei-Qiang Gao, Zheng Li, and Zuping He
Infertility is a major and largely incurable disease caused by disruption and loss of germ cells. It affects 10–15% of couples, and male factor accounts for half of the cases. To obtain human male germ cells 'especially functional spermatids' is essential for treating male infertility. Currently, much progress has been made on generating male germ cells, including spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids, from various types of stem cells. These germ cells can also be used in investigation of the pathology of male infertility. In this review, we focused on advances on obtaining male differentiated germ cells from different kinds of stem cells, with an emphasis on the embryonic stem (ES) cells, the induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, and spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). We illustrated the generation of male differentiated germ cells from ES cells, iPS cells and SSCs, and we summarized the phenotype for these stem cells, spermatocytes and spermatids. Moreover, we address the differentiation potentials of ES cells, iPS cells and SSCs. We also highlight the advantages, disadvantages and concerns on derivation of the differentiated male germ cells from several types of stem cells. The ability of generating mature and functional male gametes from stem cells could enable us to understand the precise etiology of male infertility and offer an invaluable source of autologous male gametes for treating male infertility of azoospermia patients.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of OCT4 protein localization during preimplantation development in mice
Atsushi Fukuda, Atsushi Mitani, Toshiyuki Miyashita, Hisato Kobayashi, Akihiro Umezawa, and Hidenori Akutsu
Spatiotemporal expression of transcription factors is crucial for genomic reprogramming. Pou5f1 (Oct4) is an essential transcription factor for reprogramming. A recent study reported that OCT4A, which is crucial for establishment and maintenance of pluripotent cells, is expressed in oocytes, but maternal OCT4A is dispensable for totipotency induction. Whereas another study reported that OCT4B, which is not related to pluripotency, is predominantly expressed instead of OCT4A during early preimplantation phases in mice. To determine the expression states of OCT4 in murine preimplantation embryos, we conducted in-depth expression and functional analyses. We found that pluripotency-related OCT4 mainly localizes to the cytoplasm in early preimplantation phases, with no major nuclear localization until the 8–16-cell stage despite high expression in both oocytes and early embryos. RNA-sequencing analysis using oocytes and early preimplantation embryos could not identify the splice variants creating alternative forms of OCT4 protein. Forced expression of OCT4 in zygotes by the injection of polyadenylated mRNA clearly showed nuclear localization of OCT4 protein around 3–5-fold greater than physiological levels and impaired developmental competency in a dose-dependent manner. Embryos with modest overexpression of OCT4 could develop to the 16-cell stage; however, more than 50% of the embryos were arrested at this stage, similar to the results for OCT4 depletion. In contrast, extensive overexpression of OCT4 resulted in complete arrest at the 2-cell stage accompanied by downregulation of zygotically activated genes and repetitive elements related to the totipotent state. These results demonstrated that OCT4 protein localization was spatiotemporally altered during preimplantation development, and strict control of Oct4 protein levels was essential for proper totipotential reprogramming.
The genetics of induced pluripotency
Amy Ralston and Janet Rossant
The flurry of recent publications regarding reprogramming of mature cell types to induced pluripotent stem cells raises the question: what exactly is pluripotency? A functional definition is provided by examination of the developmental potential of pluripotent stem cell types. Defining pluripotency at the molecular level, however, can be a greater challenge. Here, we examine the emerging list of genes associated with induced pluripotency, with particular attention to their functional requirement in the mouse embryo. Knowledge of the requirement for these genes in the embryo and in embryonic stem cells will advance our understanding of how to reverse the developmental clock for therapeutic benefit.
Totipotency continuity from zygote to early blastomeres: a model under revision
Michele Boiani, Ellen Casser, Georg Fuellen, and Elisabeth S Christians
The mammalian zygote is a totipotent cell that generates all the cells of a new organism through embryonic development. However, if one asks about the totipotency of blastomeres after one or two zygotic divisions, opinions differ. As it is impossible to determine the individual developmental potency of early blastomeres in an intact embryo, experiments of blastomere isolation were conducted in various species, showing that two-cell blastomeres could give rise to a new organism when sister cells were separated. A mainstream interpretation was that each of the sister mammalian blastomeres was equally totipotent. However, reevaluation of those experiments raised some doubts about the real prevalence of cases in which this interpretation could truly be validated. We compiled experiments that tested the individual developmental potency of early mammalian blastomeres in a cell-autonomous way (i.e. excluding nuclear transfer and chimera production). We then confronted the developmental abilities with reported molecular differences between sister blastomeres. The reevaluated observations were at odds with the mainstream view: A viable two-cell embryo can already include one non-totipotent blastomere. We were, thus, led to propose a revised model for totipotency continuity based on the construction of the zygote as a mosaic, which accounts for differential inheritance of totipotency-relevant components between sister blastomeres. This takes place with no preordained mechanisms that would ensure a reproducible partition. This model, which is compatible with the body of data on regulative properties of mammalian early embryos, aims at tempering the rigid interpretation that discounted maternal constraints on totipotency.
Generation of multipotent cell lines from a distinct population of male germ line stem cells
Fariborz Izadyar, Francis Pau, Joel Marh, Natalia Slepko, Tracy Wang, Rafael Gonzalez, Thomas Ramos, Kyle Howerton, Chauncey Sayre, and Francisco Silva
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) maintain spermatogenesis by self-renewal and generation of spermatogonia committed to differentiation. Under certain in vitro conditions, SSCs from both neonatal and adult mouse testis can reportedly generate multipotent germ cell (mGC) lines that have characteristics and differentiation potential similar to embryonic stem (ES) cells. However, mGCs generated in different laboratories showed different germ cell characteristics, i.e., some retain their SSC properties and some have lost them completely. This raises an important question: whether mGC lines have been generated from different subpopulations in the mouse testes. To unambiguously identify and track germ line stem cells, we utilized a transgenic mouse model expressing green fluorescence protein under the control of a germ cell-specific Pou5f1 (Oct4) promoter. We found two distinct populations among the germ line stem cells with regard to their expression of transcription factor Pou5f1 and c-Kit receptor. Only the POU5F1+/c-Kit+ subset of mouse germ line stem cells, when isolated from either neonatal or adult testes and cultured in a complex mixture of growth factors, generates cell lines that express pluripotent ES markers, i.e., Pou5f1, Nanog, Sox2, Rex1, Dppa5, SSEA-1, and alkaline phosphatase, exhibit high telomerase activity, and differentiate into multiple lineages, including beating cardiomyocytes, neural cells, and chondrocytes. These data clearly show the existence of two distinct populations within germ line stem cells: one destined to become SSC and the other with the ability to generate multipotent cell lines with some pluripotent characteristics. These findings raise interesting questions about the relativity of pluripotency and the plasticity of germ line stem cells.
Stem cells, in vitro gametogenesis and male fertility
Go Nagamatsu and Katsuhiko Hayashi
Reconstitution in culture of biological processes, such as differentiation and organization, is a key challenge in regenerative medicine, and one in which stem cell technology plays a central role. Pluripotent stem cells and spermatogonial stem cells are useful materials for reconstitution of germ cell development in vitro, as they are capable of differentiating into gametes. Reconstitution of germ cell development, termed in vitro gametogenesis, will provide an experimental platform for a better understanding of germ cell development, as well as an alternative source of gametes for reproduction, with the potential to cure infertility. Since germ cells are the cells for 'the next generation', both the culture system and its products must be carefully evaluated. In this issue, we summarize the progress in in vitro gametogenesis, most of which has been made using mouse models, as well as the future challenges in this field.
Stem cell potency and the ability to contribute to chimeric organisms
Irina Polejaeva and Shoukhrat Mitalipov
Mouse embryonic chimeras are a well-established tool for studying cell lineage commitment and pluripotency. Experimental chimeras were successfully produced by combining two or more preimplantation embryos or by introducing into host embryo cultured pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Chimera production using genetically modified ESCs became the method of choice for the generation of knockout or knockin mice. Although the derivation of ESCs or ESC-like cells has been reported for other species, only mouse and rat pluripotent stem cells have been shown to contribute to germline-competent chimeras, which is the defining feature of ESCs. Herein, we describe different approaches employed for the generation of embryonic chimeras, define chimera-competent cell types, and describe cases of spontaneous chimerism in humans. We also review the current state of derivation of pluripotent stem cells in several species and discuss outcomes of various chimera studies when such cells are used.


The Context of White Supremacy hosts our monthly Global Sunday Talk On Racism. This broadcast is specifically designed to encourage participation from Victims of Racism outside the United States and/or non-white people who are not able to participate during our typical broadcast time. Major political elections in France, Germany and the Netherlands have many predicting a continued wave of "far-right," racist triumphs in the voting booth. The Netherland's Geert Wilders, who's anti-immigrant rhetoric was often compared to President Donald J. Trump, was defeated in this week's election. But France's Marine Le Pen remains a favorite to become the next country's next president. Gus is eager to hear commentary from our black British listeners about the kerfuffle raised by Samuel L. Jackson's remarks. The star of Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained criticized the importation of black Brits to play the part of African Americans. Daniel Kaluuya, the star of Get Out, took offense to the remarks – which may suggest that Racist instigated this entire issue to promote conflict between black people.


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text:
Ireland's democratic experiment lays the ground for stronger climate action
Published on 18/02/2019, 8:00am
The Citizen's Assembly could become a model for developing informed, fair and ambitious climate policy – if the government accepts its recommendations
Environmental campaigners on Ireland's Cliffs of Moher (Photo: Eamon Ryan/350.org)
By Sara Stefanini
Ireland's struggle with climate change cuts to the heart of people's daily lives and reflects the country's revival after recession: more cars on the road and thriving cattle farms.
That makes it a political hot potato that Irish governments have tended to kick down the road – until it came to an assembly of 99 randomly selected citizens, tasked with weighing in on some of the country's most contentious social issues.
The Citizens' Assembly spearheaded Ireland's vote to overturn an abortion ban in 2018, after a similar public consultation led to the vote to allow same-sex marriage in 2015. Now, the assembly could force Dublin's hand on divisive and expensive new measures to tackle climate change, including raising the carbon tax on road fuels and extending it to agricultural emissions.
How closely the government sticks to the citizens' 13 recommendations on climate change remains to be seen in the next few months. But Ireland's bottom-up approach to policymaking is at the vanguard of a trend towards more participatory, consultative democracies aimed at building consensus – and political cover – on thorny issues such as Brexit and French tax reforms.
The key: strip out the party politics and arm the public with information.
Youth climate strike: 'If not us, who?'
"Politicians are looking over their shoulders the whole time at the next elections," said Mike Loughnane, one of the Irish assembly's members, from Dublin. "If the model is constructive, in such a way that encourages honest and open debate, then honest and open debate will result. If you bring in less baggage, there's less contention."
British politicians, including former prime minister Gordon Brown, are pointing to the Irish example in calling for a series of citizen assemblies on Brexit. This would lead to "constructive reconsideration by parliament of our relations with Europe", Brown wrote in a Guardian op-ed last month.
It could also help build support for climate change efforts, as the focus spreads from big industries such as fossil fuels to sectors that touch the wider public, such as transport, home heating, food and farming.
The UN's intergovernmental panel of climate scientists said as much in its report on limiting global warming to 1.5C last October. Education, information and community approaches can accelerate changes in behaviour, as long as the changes are seen to be distributed fairly, it said.
Perhaps taking that cue, French president Emmanuel Macron launched a 'great national debate' in January on four issues, including climate change, in an effort to quell the gilets jaunes protests sparked by his attempt at raising the diesel tax.
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The Irish government, on the other hand, points to those French protests to explain why it is treading more carefully.
"As the taoiseach [Leo Varadkar] has indicated, we need to get this right – we need to bring people with us," MP Hildegarde Naughton, from Varadkar's centre-right Fine Gael party, told a Dublin City University conference this month. "Taxing or carbon pricing or whatever you want to call it – it's not an easy issue in any country, and we saw what happened in France in relation to the protests."
Naughton chairs the cross-party parliamentary committee that is debating the Citizens' Assembly's recommendations on climate change. It expects to publish a report at the end of February. Climate action and environment minister Richard Bruton said he will then set out climate targets across all government departments.
Irish climate advocates were initially sceptical about giving such a touchy, broad and complex issue to the Citizens' Assembly. Then they were surprised by the strength of recommendations published last April.
The citizens backed a higher and wider carbon tax – something Varadkar chose not to announce in his October budget, saying he wanted to ensure there was cross-party support. They also favoured incentives for electric vehicles, especially in rural areas; an end to subsidies for peat extraction while protecting workers' rights; and the expansion of public transport and bus and cycle lanes.
These would be significant changes for one of Europe's worst performers on climate change.
Ireland has won praise for its renewable electricity growth and the parliament's vote last summer to make it the first country to fully divest from fossil fuels. But its biggest problem is with farming, cars and industries like cement, food and aviation, not energy.
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The country is on track to miss an EU-mandated emissions reduction goal for 2020, according to the Irish Environmental Protection Agency. Agricultural emissions edged up in 2017 due to more dairy cows. Transport emissions slipped for the first time in four years, but that was attributed to a Brexit-related anomaly: fewer drivers crossed from Northern Ireland to buy fuel, because the British pound was cheaper. The number of Irish drivers still increased.
The question now is whether policymakers take up the citizens' mantel. Naughton said the cross-party committee has not yet decided which sectors should pay a carbon tax, but stressed that farmers will need to reduce their emissions while increasing and diversifying their food production.
Members of the Citizens' Assembly vote on the wording of ballot questions at a meeting in Dublin
(Pic: Citizens Assembly/Maxwells)
Touted as an "exercise in deliberative democracy", the Citizens' Assembly started in late 2016 with members chosen at random and varying in age, gender, social class and location.
They were tasked with weighing in on five policy issues including abortion, how to deal with an ageing population, and climate change, and met over 12 weekends until it wrapped up in mid-2018. They listened to experts, broke out into discussion groups, and voted on recommendations.
"The Citizens' Assembly showed that if you structure the debate around information, discussion, questions and answers, and allow citizens to really thrash things out with expert advice – in a manner that is intelligible to them – very often people will shift their positions," said Sadhbh O'Neill, an expert adviser to Naughton's parliamentary committee and a PhD candidate on environmental policy at University College Dublin.
Given that success, Ireland should now make this people power an institutionalised fixture that works "hand-in-glove" with the government, said Loughnane.
"The capacity of your average citizen to tackle such things, including myself to a large degree – I was hugely impressed," he said. "Politicians can fob things off, they can go back to their political agendas, they're looking over their shoulders for elections. They're kicking the can down the road."
Read more on: Carbon price | Climate politics | EU | Ireland Carbon price
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