text:
It's cold, except on Tiano's hot seat
PUBLISHED: February 1, 2015 at 12:00 a.m. | UPDATED: July 11, 2019 at 12:00 a.m.
A Sun Staff report
IT MAY be cold outside, but the heat just got turned up a few more degrees on Chelmsford Superintendent of Schools Frank Tiano.
Tiano will be the subject of School Committee executive session Monday at 7 p.m., two sources told The Column.
This follows the recent budget deficit, as well as the School Department's week-plus delay in telling parents about allegations regarding teacher's aide Christopher Holt. Holt is now charged with indecent assault and battery on a child for allegedly inappropriately touching an 8-year-old boy at Center School.
Following the Thursday release of public records that showed Tiano negotiated a $25,000 settlement with former school business manager Kathleen McWilliams in exchange for her resignation earlier this month, residents took to social media to express their anger that McWilliams had been paid more than $58,000 in taxpayer money since she was placed on paid administrative leave Oct. 7.
Residents also expressed outrage that McWilliams was allowed to walk away without telling her side of the story, and that she was not interviewed for the forensic audit report.
In recent weeks residents, including very outspoken Veterans Agent Regina Jackson and Barbara Ward, a former School Committee member, have implored the School Committee to let the public know where they stand and whether they are going to take action against the superintendent.
The School Committee may have finally heard their pleas.
One of The Column's unnamed sources said the committee may be considering an investigation into Tiano's handling of the budget crisis.
The first executive session was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. the same night winter storm Juno began. The meeting was canceled along with several other municipal meetings, although the Board of Selectmen was still able to meet the same night, a half-hour later and with an abbreviated agenda.
The weather isn't looking promising for Monday, with yet another storm expected to dump another 6 to 12 inches of snow over the region.
According to The Column's sources, the first meeting was canceled because of both the snow and because one of the attorneys, either Tiano's or the district's, wasn't able to attend.
BAD FEELINGS between Dracut Housing Authority member Brian Bond and the board's chairman, Russ Taylor, erupted to the surface again Monday.
DHA Executive Director Mary Karabatsos told the commissioners she'd received 32 applications for a maintenance laborer job, and interviewed nine before choosing resident James Murphy. The job was advertised twice in The Sun and on the Housing Authority's website.
Karabatsos recommended Murphy based on his experience with doors, windows, dry wall, sheet rock, and because "he's very young and energetic, and I feel he'd be a good fit for our maintenance department," she said.
Bond said the recommendation had "the appearance of political shenanigans," Bond said.
"I'm concerned because I believe that Jimmy Murphy's father, Paul Murphy, is a big supporter of a majority of these commissioners on the board, and I'd like those commissioners to disclose if they've had financial or campaign support by his father."
Bond's allegation clearly irritated the other commissioners, Taylor, Debra DeWitt Ahern, Jesse Forcier and George Nangle. Ditto Karabatsos, who took offense at Bond's questioning of her integrity. She told Bond no board members had meddled.
DeWitt Ahern lectured Bond that he had "no factual basis for that statement; it's uncalled for," she said. "I personally don't know Mr. Murphy's father, I can tell you that, Mr. Bond."
"Just typical muckraking from Mr. Bond," remarked Taylor, who had tried unsuccessfully last year to convince state investigators to remove Bond, a Deval Patrick appointee, from the authority for conduct unbecoming a public official.
Bond, undeterred, addressed Taylor directly: "Did you ever get support from Paul Murphy?"
"Not that I have to answer, but no, I have not," Taylor responded.
The board then approved Murphy's hiring 4-1, with Bond opposed.
State Office of Campaign Finance records show Paul Murphy, of 25 Phyllis St., has made only two political contributions totaling $200: $100 given in July 2002 to D.J. Deeb, who ran unsuccessfully that year for the state rep seat retained by Colleen Garry; and $100 in July 2012 to state Rep. David Nangle, George Nangle's cousin.
FRIDAY'S MEETING at City Hall between Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and city officials was informative and business-like for the most part, however, all got a well-timed good laugh toward the end of the hourlong session.
Polito asked all assembled to briefly give her their thoughts on ways to better local and start government partnerships.
State Rep. Rady Mom graciously thanked the lieutenant governor for her visit to Lowell, and then turned to City Manager Kevin Murphy.
"Before anything else my constituents want to thank the city manager for doing a great job on plowing the streets in our neighborhoods," Mom said. "I received a lot of praise for the city manager."
Without missing a beat, Murphy cracked, "Tell them I drive home that way."
The room exploded in laughter.
AS TEMPERS boil in the year-long negotiations for a new United Teachers of Lowell contract, UTL President Paul Georges is defending figures for the city's listed average teacher salary of $78,298.
The figure landed Lowell about midway between other large districts, behind Boston, Cambridge, Brockton and the highest figure in Worcester at $91,504. Lowell was ahead of Lynn's $69,379 average and Fall River's average of $66,138.
But Georges says the average is nowhere near that figure. "The number that was listed on the DESE site is out of line with most districts and it reflects a much higher number," he said.
Georges finds something wrong with the data, but is not sure what — arguing that it could be including administrators or not including first-year teachers.
The district's highest-paid teacher has been teaching for 30 years, has a doctorate, and is making about $85,000, Georges said. He said very few teachers have 25 to 30 years of experience, which is a factor in the determination of salary.
"There's a lot more people at the lower end of that salary grid," he said. "When I saw $79,000 I said that can't be right. It's askew somewhere, I don't know where."
The 2012-2013 salary report on the DESE website states that the average teacher salary is the total teaching salary divided by the number of full-time equivalent teachers.
Whether teaching salaries are part of the hold-up over the new contract is something that's left to closed-door discussion, honored with the privilege of executive session. But Mayor Rodney Elliott has stated that one reason the negotiation is taking so long is because the union is making requests that are too expensive.
"There are proposals on the table that the city cannot afford," he said.
TWO RECENT initiatives from Lowell city councilors have apparently been halted.
In December, Councilor Dan Rourke suggested the city look into hiring more inspectional staff to better attack the most problematic properties, those with fire and other building violations that can often also become scenes of violence.
A memo from Eric Slagle, director of the development services office, says a recently restored, but yet unfilled senior building inspector position should cover many of the things Rourke is hoping the city will accomplish.
The inspector will work with both police and fire departments, which Rourke called a priority. It will also work with a task force of health, building and inspectional staff, with that began in earnest last summer to respond to properties with histories of violent incidents.
The task force is meant to help solve problem properties where the police alone may not be able to bring change, Slagle said.
Rourke said he would continue targeting problem properties and continue pushing for more inspectional staff.
In another move a councilor asked to study, Lowell won't be leaving the Group Insurance Commission, the program that relies on purchasing power to give communities cheaper employee health insurance.
In November, Councilor Jim Milinazzo suggested a possible switch to Municipal Blue Cross Blue Shield. Saugus had recently saved $1 million by doing so. Mary Callery, the city's human relations director, said a change "may not be feasible at the present moment" for Lowell. Callery said it's not clear that Lowell would see the same savings.
She said Saugus' low claim history, and higher ratio of current employees in the system versus retirees, are among the differences. HMO and PPO plans for Lowell workers would increase under estimates Callery made.
THE LOWELL Historic Board is looking for input as it continues considering tweaks to the historic guidelines that dictate the exterior look of downtown buildings. The next public forum is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 9.
"We're here to help them," Historic Board Chairman Richard Lockhart said, referring to downtown businesses.
The Historic Board is also hoping to make its meetings more accessible to the public. Two city councilors, Milinazzo and Bill Samaras, recently made a motion to see whether the board could broadcast meetings on Lowell Telecommunications Corporation public access, which broadcasts City Council and other meetings.
Lockhart said Historic Board members and the LTC will be meeting to discuss how that can happen.
BILLERICA Town Meeting member Mike Moore is still the lone potential candidate for the town moderator seat vacated by Gil Moreira.
Moore, a Town Meeting member since 2008, served on the Finance Committee until 2012. Moore challenged Moreira for moderator in 2012, and lost. Moreira then declined to reappoint Moore to the finance board.
Moore spoke positively about Moreira's last term.
"With the adoption of electronic voting over the last three years, we've enjoyed a more efficient, open and transparent government," Moore said.
If elected, Moore would change the product Town Meeting uses for electronic voting, making the process "as seamless as switching on a light switch." Moore's plan to update and digitize the Town Meeting manual stems from his experience working for a marketing company.
"Thinking about how best to communicate an audience is something I spend more than 40 hours a week doing," Moore said.
He said new Town Meeting members tackle a steep learning curve. A solution is better, more informative presentations, citing Town Manager John Curran and Superintendent of Schools Tim Piwowar as examples.
When asked how he would combat demagoguery that at times plagues the town's legislative body, Moore said he would improve queuing to make it more "open and inclusive," as well as allow presenters to rebut for a more informed dialogue.
"Sometimes people focus on their own situation rather than help the town as a whole, and that slows Town Meeting down," Moore said.
Most of his family supports this bid, but Moore's 8-year-old son is less than thrilled with dad being away for three hours a night in the fall and spring.
TEWKSBURY SELECTMAN Scott Wilson is still undecided about running for another term. Wilson said he's planning to sit down with his family and make a decision by early February.
That decision, he said, will be influenced by the quality of candidates who step up. So far, there is one, Mark Kratman, a state Department of Transportation employee and a volunteer on the Tewksbury Patriotic Committee.
Wilson said he thinks Kratman could be a strong selectman.
"The little bit that I do know of him, he seems like a very nice guy, and like a thoughtful person who would sit down, consider the issues and make a good decision. It makes it a little easier to consider not running," Wilson said.
Wilson said his uncertainty about running again isn't tied to aspirations for higher office, but if the opportunity came up, he might pursue it.
"I'd definitely pursue something if the time was right for my family. When (former state Sen.) Barry Finegold's seat opened, I was encouraged by a lot of people to run, but it's almost a full-time job that pays part-time," Wilson said. "I wouldn't be able to do that family-wise and be committed to it while working full-time as well."
Two seats on the Board of Selectman are on the ballot. Incumbent David Gay is planning to run for re-election.
Contributing to The Column this week: Amelia Pak-Harvey and Grant Welker in Lowell; Alana Melanson in Chelmsford, John Collins in Dracut, Lisa Redmond in the courts, Chelsea Feinstein in Tewksbury, Kyle Clauss in Billerica, and Editor Jim Campanini.


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The base recipe for the cake is a slight adaptation on an old vinegar chocolate cake which has been around for years and years, but it's a really lovely moist cake that lasts well for a few days so you can easily make it the day before, ice it that night and have it tasting fresh the next day for the party.
Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt together into a large bowl. Make 3 holes and place the vanilla in one, the vinegar in another and the oil in the last hole. Then pour over the water and stir quickly. It is important not to over mix but sometimes I need to give it a quick whisk to get any flour lumps out. Place into a cake tin lined with paper or greased and floured (this means rubbing with butter/dairy free margarine and then tossing flour around the base and sides to cover the margarine). You have two options for cooking: Bake at around 170 degrees until cooked (20-30 mins) although I sometimes have problems with the top/bottoms getting dark and quite crunchy. The second option which gets around this problem is to cook it at 170 degrees for around 15 minutes until it is starting to set around the outside of the cake, then turning the oven off at the wall (to make sure the fan isn't trying to cool the oven down) and leaving the cake inside for half an hour or so. This is slightly riskier as you need to make sure the cake is cooked in the middle, but every time I've done this, the cake has been really moist.
Once the cake is cooked and cooled, trim any rounded bits off the top so it will sit flat. You are going to ice it upside down. To make the chocolate icing, I whisk equal parts dairy free margarine (it needs to be at room temperature) and icing sugar together (I used 300g of each for my cake..there was a bit left over though), then when it is creamed together well, I quickly whisk in about 150 g melted dairy free chocolate (we use Whittakers 72%).
Next, place the top of the cake upside down on a cake board then spread a good amount of the buttercream (thats the icing you have just made) over it. Then place the other piece of cake on the top so what was the bottom of the cake is now facing up on top of the cake. This is so you are not trying to ice a crumb part of the cake.
Then you are going to spread a really thick layer of icing all over the cake. Don't try and use just a little bit as you'll dredge up all the crumbs from the cake and make a big mess! I ice the top first then spread it down the sides after that. Once the cake is covered with a thick layer of icing, you can dip the palette knife or spatula in very hot water and make it all really smooth.
If you are covering your cake with another layer of fondant like I have for his cake, then iced like the pic on the left is fine, so long as its all semi-even. If you were leaving it like this, then you would probably want a thicker and smoother layer around the outside.
Now for the fondant layer: I use Satin Ice, but there are lots of different ones on the market that are fine: I just find that brand is good for not cracking when it starts to dry out. You can also make your own from marshmallow, there are lots of recipes on Google or Pinterest for that.
You need to have a good amount of space on a really clean kitchen bench. I then put equal quantities of cornflour and icing sugar (you may wonder about this given my daughters corn allergy, she is growing out of her allergies at the moment so I wasn't too concerned, but I certainly wouldn't do this for my severe 3 year old..you could just use gluten free icing sugar.) in a sieve and sprinkle some over the work surface. Then knead the white fondant until it is quite pliable, and add a few drops of food colouring. I used Wilton Cornflower Blue for this cake. Knead it on the bench until the colour is completely mixed in. If it gets sticky, just dust your hands with the icing sugar/cornflour mix. Then place it on the bench, dust with the sugar mix and roll out carefully (move it around often and dust underneath so it doesn't stick) until it is quite thin. Mine was probably 2-3 mm thick. Then lift it up carefully with both hands underneath and lay over the cake. If you have never done this before, I recommend looking up a youtube tutorial as there is a particular way to ease icing onto the side of the cake that I can't really explain in words..but basically you flatten the top carefully first then try and ease the icing around the sides so there are no creases. I sort of push upwards from the bottom of the sides if that makes any sense at all!.
Next I wrapped a red ribbon around the base of the cake and pinned it into the cake at the back. My daughter and I had made some of the decorations several days in advance so they had dried out. We used a youtube tutorial for the teddy bears, and for the blanket I just cut squares of red and white fondant out and 'glued' them together with a bit of water, then left it to dry. The mini cake is just layers of fondant sandwiched together with a bit of the chocolate icing.
For the bunting with my daughters name on, I just cut lots of triangles out of red and white fondant then left them to dry for a while. Then I melted dairy free chocolate and piped the letters on ( I use paper piping bags for that and just cut a very small hole at the tip). Then I stuck them on to the cake with the same melted chocolate and piped the string with the chocolate as well. Then I just placed all the decorations on the cake, I stuck the teddies on by placing a toothpick through the middle and sliding the other half of the toothpick into the cake.
Then I made some little flowers to go around the cake with the white fondant. You need a little flower cutter for that. I dry them over the little knobbly bits in an egg carton so they get a rounded shape. When they are dry, I placed a little ball of red icing inside them. And then I was DONE!


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How to stop plastic pollution? Reduce, reuse, recycle — and legislate
CEES Staff|2021-12-01T08:28:34-05:00December 1, 2021|
You interact with plastics every day, often without giving them a second thought. But one CEES affiliate, Wake Forest law professor Sarah Morath, thinks about them a lot.
Morath studies the use of legislation and litigation to address plastic pollution. She initially became interested in plastic waste through her research into the laws around food waste and sustainable agriculture. The average American household, research shows, trashes nearly a third of the food it buys. Much of that is wrapped in plastic. "I realized that there is a lot of plastic waste associated with our food system," she says. "When I was thinking about throwing away food, I was thinking about all the plastic that was getting disposed of as well." A lot of this plastic waste is mismanaged. One place that mismanaged plastic ends up is in the ocean — in fact, an estimated 14 million tons of our plastic waste ends up in the ocean each year.
Sarah Morath
Litigation, taking a case to court, is one way to address the growing mound of plastic littering our land and water. Morath, with the help of two Wake Forest law students, Amanda Thompson and Samantha Hamilton, has recently published an article in the journal Natural Resources & Environment examining how five recent court cases related to plastic pollution might inform litigators going forward. Hamilton is also a student in the Wake Forest Master's program in Sustainability. The trio published their article in a journal for environmental law practitioners to help guide lawyers arguing similar cases in the future.
Legislation is another potential legal avenue to address plastic pollution and one that Morath has also spent a lot of time researching. Her forthcoming book, "Our Plastic Problem and How to Solve It," includes various legislative solutions to plastic pollution. The book will be available in March 2022.
She is currently examining state recycling laws and extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws as solutions to plastic pollution. Under EPR of laws, "the responsibility for the clean up and management of plastic waste rests on the producers," she explains. For example, an EPR law could require soft drink companies to either come up with a system to collect used bottles themselves or make it easier for consumers to dispose of their bottles in an appropriate place. "Or," she says, "They could not change anything, and pay [for clean up] or invest in finding a more sustainable material." EPR laws could actually move companies away from using plastic in favor of something biodegradable. That "something" might not yet exist, but making companies financially responsible for their trash could spur a flurry of research into new plastic substitutes.
There are a few other ways to reduce global plastic pollution through legislation — for example, outright bans on certain products have proven effective. Microbeads, tiny plastic particles in face and body wash, were once a common ingredient in beauty products. At the end of 2015 Congress passed the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, and now they are nowhere to be found in products. Morath also highlights the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, first introduced in 2019 and re-introduced this year, as a potential game changer. "It is very comprehensive, it has environmental justice written into it, and it uses a lot of different [regulatory] approaches," to mitigate plastic pollution.
"Individuals can make demands of companies, that's the entry point for collective action"
Figuring out how to address our plastic problem through laws and policies is a pressing issue. And — critically for our planet — there are, Morath notes, important links between addressing plastics and climate change. "A lot of the companies are the same players," she says. Oil and gas companies, now turning to plastic production, have evaded responsibility through greenwashing (providing misleading information about how environmentally friendly their practices are) and by pushing individual action to solve systemic problems. "I think that's really sneaky marketing on the part of plastic companies, and you've [seen the same approach] with greenhouse gases."
So what role, you may be wondering, can an individual play in addressing plastic pollution, and reducing the amount of waste we produce in general? "For things that we have high recycling rates for, like #1 plastic, newspaper, and aluminum, keep recycling," urges Morath. Look up proper recycling techniques for your city or town — different places have access to different types of recycling facilities. In Winston Salem, you should not place your recyclables in plastic bags before putting them in the bin, and you should remove the caps from your plastic bottles.
But beyond that, and more importantly: Use your voice. "Individuals can make demands of companies, that's the entry point for collective action," Morath says. "We can ask for what we want."
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


But I think they missed out on one crucial specification of the chassis. The positioning of the front I/O. They are not on the front face, but on the left side of the case – just like what Bitfenix did with their Prodigy line of cases as well as its younger brother, the Node 304. This could be a deal breaker for some people like myself. If I bought a case as small as this, I would have it on my desk to the right of the display, on the right hand corner with the left panel almost kissing the wall. That means you won't have easy access to those front USB ports. You might be able to sneak in your fingers to press the power button. And you definitely don't want to cover the side where the window is on, because that would completely take away the reason to have a window in the first place – to show off your goodies.
Of course you can still have it on the left to your display – so all hope isn't gone, but that would not look natural for some peoples' setups. That won't be the most space efficient way for some people.
I can understand why Fractal did this though. They wanted to have a clean and simple look for the front as this might end up in the living room just as the Node 304. But I wish Fractal positioned them on the front or even top, and covered it up with a stealth cover.


text:
Q: Order of priorityQueue in Java? I can't understand the order of PriorityQueue in Java. As i understand they are heap based and they can not provide exact iteration order as insertion order. I want to know then on what basis priorityQueue Sort themselves.
Given code:
PriorityQueue<String> pq = new PriorityQueue<String>();
        pq.offer("hepqo");
        pq.offer("bro");
        pq.offer("wassup");
        pq.offer("okay");
        pq.offer("bingo");
        pq.offer("first");
        pq.offer("last");
        pq.offer("ssup");
        System.out.println("polled "+pq.poll());
        System.out.println(pq);
        String str[] = pq.toArray(new String[0]);
        Arrays.sort(str);
        for(String str1:str){
            System.out.println(str1);
        }

produces output:
polledbingo
[bro, hepqo, first, okay, ssup, wassup, last]
bro
first
hepqo
last
okay
ssup
wassup

Even when i convert it to Array, the order is lost.
I can not feel this is even NATURAL ORDERING by String.
 Is there any way to maintain the insertion order of priority Queues?
 On what basis they sorted on?

A: The queue is sorting according to the strings' lexicographic order, which is their natural ordering (i.e. 'b' precedes 'f', 'f' precedes 'h', etc).  If you want the queue to maintain insertion order, then use a vanilla Queue instead of a PriorityQueue

A: The Priority Queues in Java are an implementation of what is called a Heap (which is an abstract data structure). If you look the Heap data structure, there is no strict principle of ordering among the keys (or collection elements in Java terms). Heap ADT is useful for mainly for fast insertion/deletion and O(K) time retrieval of the first element (which will be the root in case of the Heap). So do not use PriorityQueue data structure in Java for searching all elements, sorting elements, or traversing elements. Because it's not meant for those purposes. The javadoc clearly points out that the optional implementations from Collection and Iterable interfaces are not something to rely upon (i.e., Iterator returns an implementation which does not guarantee the order and the Collection methods like remove(), contains() take linear time)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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WordPress is one of the world's popular leading content management systems; it's a free software that's accessible for anyone to use. It's an easy way to manage a website's content allowing websites to easily be tailored to the user's needs, providing unique website design.
Website hosting is a mandatory requirement for any website. It's a service that allows organisations to make their websites accessible to others around the world via the internet. Your website will be hosted on a server by a website hosting company, allowing the website to be visible on the internet.
Domain registration is the process of registering a domain name. It gives a computer that's using the internet a simple name (IP address), and is used in the address of you web page (URL) to identify individual web pages. Domain registration requires your website to use an accredited company that has the authority to register domain names (domain name registrar).
What does SEO for a website mean?
SEO or search engine optimisation is the process of improving the online visibility of a website in a search engine's unpaid results, more often than not, within Google searches. It improves the ranking of your website organically, placing it earlier on the list of searches relevant to your website. This encourages more visitation to your site because it is more accessible to the end user.
How much will a new website design cost?
The cost of designing a website depends on your requirements. All of our websites are custom designed to your specific requirements. Some items cost more due to their complexity or the time it takes to add them to the site. The best way to get an idea of the cost is to contact us so we can provide a tailored quote based on your requirements. We will take all details into consideration so you don't have any surprises down the track.
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State Legitimacy
Politics, Technology & Critical Theory
Identity, internet, Philosophy, political philosophy, Wittgenstein	 December 19, 2016
Facebook as a Form of Life?
Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889-1951
Wittgenstein's 'form of life' construction, one which has addled my brain for over a year now, is a philosophical device that allows us to think about life, and what it means, in a layered and constructed form. Human beings, in their pure essence, are not really a form of life, but merely a life-form, shorn as they are of context and relativity. If you take a human, take away everything that is non-essential for the preservation of mere existence – legs, arms and so on, and then replace those organs vital for the maintenance of that state of existence with machines – a mechanical heart, even the parts of the brain that are not required, such as those controlling motor functions. There is very little in the bare, denuded essence of man that is in any respect a form of life. It is mere existence, presence; it may even be argued that while rational potential exists, reason does not, as that potential has no access to nurturing functions. It is only when the human interacts with the outside world, with the world that exists beyond consciousness and the self, that she becomes a form of life.
Continue reading "Facebook as a Form of Life?" →
Artificial Intelligence, constitution, Data Privacy, Data Protection, Ethics, internet, Philosophy, political philosophy	 July 2, 2016
The Temper of the Machine
Temper – Tempus – Temporal: Machines are clocks, but they have no temper.
I had the pleasure this week of addressing the Royal Irish Academy on the subject of Digital Citizenship, which, rather than addressing the narrow construct of person-state relationship, instead took in a broad sweep of life in the digital world. Part of a series themed around the constitution, it focused on issues of growing up a teenager in the digital world, data protection (there were a lot of lawyers in the room, not least my fellow presenter Oisín Tobin of Mason Hayes & Curran), privacy, artificial intelligence and the politics of all that. In two hours, it was a hurried skip across disciplines and dystopias, which illustrated in equal measure the interest and enthusiasm people have for addressing the issue (there was barely a seat left in the hall), and the strange paucity (it seems to me, at least) of opportunities that there are to pursue in particular the ethical, policy, and political implications of our digital lives. Convened by Dr John Morrison, the Academy Chair of the Ethical, Political, Legal and Philsophical Committee, and expertly chaired by Dr Noreen O'Carroll, perhaps this is the beginning of an attempt to address that.
Continue reading "The Temper of the Machine" →
Big Data, Capital, Data Privacy, Data Protection, Google, Informal Economy, internet, Karl Marx, law, Multi-National Corporation, Rule of Law, social networks	 August 10, 2015 August 13, 2015
The Data Commodity: Fetish or Fiction?
Shoshana Zuboff, Charles Edward Wilson Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School
Shoshana Zuboff's 'Big Other' and 'Surveillance Capitalism' as Future Economic Models
Shoshana Zuboff's recently published article on what she has termed Information Civilization is a compact and helpful analysis of the kind of internet economies that are emerging in the early twenty-first century. This blog post is a commentary on that text. She takes Google's Chief Economist Hal Varian as her foil, referencing his two articles Computer Mediated Transactions (2010) and Beyond Big Data (2013).
Continue reading "The Data Commodity: Fetish or Fiction?" →
Data Privacy, Data Protection, Iceland, internet, law, MNC, Scope	 June 13, 2015
Data Protection Régimes
The Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) recently doubled its budget, and is busy hiring and building capability. It's an encouraging sign, the function had been significantly under-resourced in recent times; but one wonders whether there needs to be more done. The DPC is responsible for three areas right now – privacy in relation to Internet Services companies like Facebook and Google; privacy in relation to state organisations like the Gardaí; and privacy in relation to private national companies who possess data. That all three domains are vested in this single organisation says something for the breadth of work that these guys have to take on. But nowhere in their mandate does it suggest that they may have a role in commercial or security issues, for which there is no competent authority in the state, and certainly no strategy to address them.
Continue reading "Data Protection Régimes" →
Capital, Europe, Identity, international community, internet, MNC, Multi-National Corporation, National Identity, Platformification, social media, Sports	 July 22, 2014 July 22, 2014
Platform, Identity, Capital, Regulation: The New State
Stuart Hall, who died earlier this year
So let's say the State becomes a platform, like we talked about in the last post. In order to participate in the State, in order to pay taxes, and get educational accreditation, access healthcare, and to get licensed to own dogs, own a gun, or drive a car, you need to subscribe to the platform. Let's say then that the platform allows for commercial entities to participate, to advertise their wares on the State Platform, to 'compete' for consumer attention based on big data analysis of citizen behaviour and experience. What are the other things that are happening with technology that impact upon the evolution of the state?
Continue reading "Platform, Identity, Capital, Regulation: The New State" →
constitution, Democracy, Electoral System, Identity, internet, National Identity, Platformification, social networks	 July 5, 2014
The Platformification of The State
Well, there is that.
Here at StateLegitimacy.com, we're interested in two things. First, how we measure legitimacy, and how legitimacy is constructed, and second, how technology impacts on legitimacy. We're going to ask the question: could Rousseau's Social Contract be implemented in technology? What if the state became a platform?
Continue reading "The Platformification of The State" →
Informal Economy, Informal Justice Systems, internet, Justice, law, Philosophy, Uncategorized, Zizek	 September 6, 2013
National Security and the Legitimacy of the State
Edward Snowdon: His revelations (though not new) have launched an avalanche of introspection and head scratching.
The New York Times and the Guardian have been digging ever deeper into the activities of the US National Security Agency or NSA following the leaking by Edward Snowdon of information about how they were spying both on countries and ordinary people at home. Hot on the heels of the Chelsea Manning and Wikileaks diplomatic cables episode, there has been a constant flow of stories reporting on nefarious activities of spooks and governments, embarrassing opinions, and the mechanisms by which international diplomacy and spying are conducted, though Wired Magazine had got there first. There are numerous angles to all of this. There is the technology problem, an Orwellian, Kurtzweilian post-humanist dystopia where technology trumps all, and big data and analytics undermines or redefines the essence of who we are and forces a kind of a re-evaluation of existence. There is the human rights problem, the balancing of the right to privacy and – generally speaking – an avoidance of judgement of the individual by the state, with the obligation to secure the state. This issue is complex – if for example we have an ability to know, to predict, to foretell that people are going to do bad things, but we choose not to do that because it would require predicting also which people were going to do not-bad things, and therefore invade their privacy, is that wrong? Many people said after 9/11 'why didn't we see this coming?' Which leads to the question – if you could know all that was coming, would you want to know?
Continue reading "National Security and the Legitimacy of the State" →
Filed under: Big Data, Edward Snowdon, NSA, Science Fiction, Spying, Technology
RT @aliceeire: I know many friends on here are busy with #GE2020 but right after that comes #Seanad2020! & I will be running again on the N… 1 day ago
Extraordinary reporting. The free market simply cannot solve everything; pretending it does simply compounds inequa… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 day ago
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Flooding: Obaseki urges Edo residents to clear gutters
By naija.center Last updated Mar 9, 2018
Godwin Obaseki
assures of timely waste evacuation
The Edo State government has urged residents in the state to clear gutters and embrace best practice in disposing their wastes as the raining season sets in.
Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said the early rains, though good for agricultural activities, "could impact on the physical environment if proactive measures are not taken by residents to desilt drains and properly dispose of their wastes."
He noted that "the heavy rains are coming earlier than projected by the federal government weather monitoring agencies and could cut short the dry season window and impact on ongoing road construction work across the state."
Osagie assured that efforts are being made by the appropriate agency of government to reduce the downtime of domestic wastes at collection points and evacuate debris from drainages.
"The Ministry of Environment is worried over the delay in evacuating debris on the road side and is currently simulating several options with a view to adopting the most effective way of dealing with this challenge.
"When the debris are left on the road side, the rains could wash them back into the gutters and when that happens, the surrounding environment will be flooded. People can be sacked from their homes and business places.
"We need a new attitude towards waste disposal and management as stakeholders in our human environment. Often times we bring home things we do not need, that end up in our trash cans."
He maintained that the medium to long-term plans of the state government are to harness the energy generation potential in wastes and recycling/reprocessing through robust private sector investment, to create jobs, produce renewable energy and environmentally-friendly materials, among other benefits.
"The waste to wealth initiative has become very popular across the world and Edo State is ready to key into it and get its fair share of the initiative," Osagie said.
beninEdo StateFloodingObaseki
Reviewed Land Use Charge too severe, undemocratic – LCCI
Expedite Human Traffic Prohibition Bill – Obaseki tells EDHA


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Join the History Center and Museum of Broadcast Communications on July 16 at 7 PM via Zoom for "The Fine Art of Obituary Writing."
In this unique and interactive virtual program, five-time Grimmy award winner Maureen O'Donnell and Executive Director of the Museum of Broadcast Communications Susy Schultz explore the ins and outs of crafting a personal, honest, and memorable obituary.
Listen in as Susy and Maureen discuss Maureen's career as an award-winning obituary writer. Watch videos and see examples of some of Maureen's best obituaries, as well as some of her most challenging. Then, be sure to have pen and paper handy as Susy and Maureen lead a brief writing workshop on crafting your own obituary.
Please note: 1) You MUST pre-register for this event. Those who do not register before 6 PM the day of the program will not be granted entry to the Zoom meeting. 2) This program begins at 7 PM. To ensure that you will be granted access, please login at 6:50 PM. You may be directed to the Zoom waiting room for a few minutes.
The Fine Art of Obituary Writing is free and co-hosted by the Museum of Broadcast Communications. Questions? Contact aschneider@lflbhistory.org.
Register for Obituary Writing
Special thanks to our sponsors for making this program possible:
Don't Miss These Two Twenty in the 20s Film Screenings!
We're delighted to partner with Gorton Community Center in presenting these two iconic film screenings with interesting connections to local history.
Before each film begins, Carol Summerfield, History Center Executive Director, will share some brief cinematic history including Irene Castle's special connection to Lake Forest and F. Scott Fitzgerald's love for Lake Forest and his muse, Ginevra King!
As we continue to celebrate Twenty in the 20s be sure to stop by the History Center during our new open hours to see our exhibit comparing and contrasting life in the 1920s to the 2020s and our permanent exhibit featuring stories on the Castles and Ginevra King.
Register for The Great Gatsby
The History Center will have a table out on our front lawn on July 16 & 17, 10am-2pm
Please stop by and enjoy great deals on James L. Lockhart nature print notecards, select books, hand-painted holiday ornaments featuring iconic community buildings, and other miscellaneous items from the old museum shop.
This Week in History: Episode 9
Join the History Center's Alexandra Schneider for a look back at local history happenings from the week of July 5-July 11. This week's highlights: LF Mayor cracks down on gambling, Dr. Proxmire searches for a sanitarium site and Lake Bluff ladies get a garden tour. View Episode 9 here.
#100YearsAgoToday Harold Fowler McCormick, president of farm equipment manufacturer International Harvester Company, hosted 500 of his office employees at his Lake Forest estate, Villa Turicum (pictured).
Harold F. McCormick had become president of International Harvester in 1918. According to the Encyclopedia of Chicago, "In 1919 the McCormick company added an employee representation plan, a common feature among large welfare capitalist firms of the time. In combination, McCormick programs were intended to blur the distinction between worker and manager, to bind employees to the firm, and most emphatically, to deter unionization." McCormick played a major role in the plan's formation, and hosted these employee outings as bonding experiences.
Source: http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1332.html
#100YearsAgoToday Summer recreation kicked into high gear in Lake Forest, with the town's two playgrounds open and the beach "bathing" season launched. The playgrounds, at West Park and at Farwell Field at Illinois and Washington roads, had recreation instructors (Patricia Taylor and Anna De Haan) to provide supervision, to organize games, and to take children down to the beach twice a week.
#CaptionThis
Last Week's Favorites:
Dede S.- "I thought you said the dance was called The Flamingo."
Phil Scaccia- 'How about Mary Poppins great grandmother !!!"
Penny Gill- "I can't hold this pose much longer take the dang picture"
Duncan M. Thomson- "Zorro's got NUTHIN' on me!!"
Lisa Layne Seccombe- "Why yes I am sassy!"
Richard Moley- "LFHS cheer leaders,1944"
Jackie Hennessy Allen Stephenson- "Simply marvelous my dear"
Give us a witty caption for this week's #captionthis
Email your captions to Alex at aschneider@lflbhistory.org
#CoolerByTheLake Edgar Gleiser sitting on lifeguard Oliver Lindenmeyer's shoulders at Lake Forest beach, 1932.


Maevis raced through the empty streets.
She didn't know why the two men were chasing her, but she wasn't going to wait and find out. They looked like thugs; perhaps some merchant's bodyguards. And she knew what merchants' bodyguards did to little thieves.
If they caught her, they wouldn't just beat her. They would cripple her. Or worse.
The old stone houses loomed above her as she ran, most of their windows shuttered. She knew she wouldn't find help from anyone inside. Not at this time of night, and not in this part of town.
She ran as fast as she could. Faster than she had ever run before.
She took a left, then a right, then another left, and skidded to a stop as she entered a dark alley. A large barrel stood next to the wall to her left. Quickly, she hid behind it.
She took a deep breath and listened. The heavy footsteps were not coming. She allowed herself a smile.
I must have lost them. I am safe now.
She leaned against the wall and willed her pounding heart to slow down.
She waited for a few minutes, but nothing disturbed the quiet night. Her pursuers were gone; she was truly safe.
With a sigh of relief, she left her hiding place and walked towards the end of the alley. It curved to the right. She turned the corner and found herself at a dead end.
Then she heard a low growl from behind.
She whipped around, and her heart jumped in her chest.
She tried to move, but fear held her in place. Then suddenly the wolf stopped, as if on an unseen command. And as Maevis looked up, she saw the others.
Behind the beast stood a tall, thin stranger, clad in furs; a hunter from the Eastern lands. Perhaps the wolf's master. The men who had been chasing her were at his sides. They did not carry weapons, but they didn't need to. They were bare-chested, even in the cold night, and each of them was a mountain of muscle.
She had nowhere to run, and no time to cast her spell. Besides, her ice daggers were harmless; they shattered upon touch. And somehow she sensed the men would not be fooled.
Even as she said it, she realized her mistake. A beastmaster wouldn't chase me for my meager coin.
The man smiled. Maevis noticed the strange glint in his eyes.
"Yes, my lord." How does he know?
He tossed three coins towards her, one after the other. Maevis caught them easily, and as she brought them in front of her eyes, her heart soared.
They were silver. It was more money than she had ever had.
"These will feed your family for a while," the man said.
They will feed us for months, she thought. "Thank you, my lord." But why would he be so kind to me?
At this, Maevis rebelled. "I am not a whore." Not even for three silvers.
Why would the Emperor ask for me? Maevis thought. I am nobody. But there was no reason for the man to lie.
The wolf growled. It looked ready to pounce — and Maevis knew that, if its master ordered it, her life would be over in a heartbeat.
There was only one thing she could say. "I will come with you." And the money will feed my family until I return.
"Very well," the stranger said. He whispered a quick command and his wolf retreated behind him. Then he beckoned Maevis forward.


In just a few weeks, Warren's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) will be holding the 12th Annual Concert for Life, an annual fundraiser that helps to raise money for the American Cancer Society. My older brother, Matt Wessel, will be performing many of his original pieces. It's an afternoon full of wonderful music and raffle prizes, followed by an evening of friends and leisure. But I want to share with you how the Concert for Life got started and what the concert truly means to a certain few, so here's my post from a year ago.


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Home Uncategorized World's largest air pollution hotspot is Mpumalanga – South Africa
World's largest air pollution hotspot is Mpumalanga – South Africa
By Dozilla -
Greenpeace Africa projects 'coal kills' message on Duvha coal-fired power station in Mpumalanga, in response to the news that the province is the biggest pollution hotspot in the world. Greenpeace calls on the South African government to ensure Eskom complies with air quality legislation and that a coal-free IRP is finalised this year to provide clean and healthy air for all. Picture: Shayne Robinson, Greenpeace
A groundbreaking analysis of satellite data from 1 June to 31 August this year reveals the world's largest NO2 air pollution hotspots across six continents in the most detail to date.
Greenpeace analysis of the data points to coal and transport as the two principal sources of air pollution, with Mpumalanga in South Africa topping the chart as the world's largest NO2 hotspot across six continents.
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is a dangerous pollutant in and of itself and also contributes to the formation of PM2.5 and ozone, two of the most dangerous forms of air pollution.
"It has been reported before that the Witbank area has the world's dirtiest air, and now this analysis of high tech satellite data has revealed that the Mpumalanga province is the global number one hotspot for NO2 emissions. This confirms that South Africa has the most polluting cluster of coal-fired power stations in the world which is both disturbing and very scary" said Melita Steele, Senior Climate and Energy Campaign Manager for Greenpeace Africa.
Mpumalanga is home to a cluster of twelve coal fired power plants with a total capacity of over 32 gigawatts owned and operated by Eskom.
The satellite data further reveals that the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria are also highly affected by extreme NO2 pollution levels which blow across from Mpumalanga and into both cities due to close proximity and regular eastwinds.
The average wind directions over Johannesburg and Pretoria in the last 30 years on Meteoblue show that for about 28% of the year, the wind is blowing over Johannesburg from either ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, and S which are all directions where the winds would be blowing pollution from coal-fired power plants into the cities[2]. This means that plumes of dangerous NO2 pollution regularly cover these cities and their 8 million people.
"Because South Africa's coal-belts are hidden from view for the majority of South Africans, it can be easy to pretend that they don't actually exist. The reality is that coal extraction and burning has devastating impacts on the people living in the area. This satellite data now confirms that there is nowhere to hide: Eskom's coal addiction in Mpumalanga means that millions of people living in Johannesburg and Pretoria are also impacted by the pollution from coal" continued Steele.
The list of the largest NO2 hotspots in the world includes well known coal-fired power plants in South Africa, Germany and India, and a total of nine coal power and industrial clusters in China. Cities such as Santiago de Chile, London, Paris, Dubai and Tehran also feature high in the ranking due to transport-related emissions.
"Air pollution is a global health crisis, with up to 95% of the world's population breathing unsafe air [3]. South Africa is a significant global hotspot with its high concentration of coal power stations and its weak air pollution standards. Our Government urgently needs to come up with an action plan that protects millions of people, instead of dirty coal power stations," continued Steele.
Compared with many other countries South Africa has relatively weak Minimum Emission Standards (MES), that allow coal-fired power stations to emit up to 10 times more NO2 than allowed in China or Japan. Nonetheless, the majority of Eskom's ancient and highly polluting coal-fired power stations do not comply with these MES. In 2015 Eskom was granted a five year postponement from complying with MES. In 2018 Eskom has again applied for postponements for nitrogen oxides for 16 of its 19 power plants (including 14 coal-fired power plants and 2 liquid fuel power plants).
"Coal kills, and Greenpeace strongly opposes any further postponements from complying with air quality regulations and demands that all coal-fired power stations that don't comply with the existing air quality regulations be decommissioned on an accelerated timeline".
"The Government should also set up an action plan with concrete steps, measures and deadlines to make sure that air pollution levels in high priority areas comply with existing regulations. This means that no new coal-fired power stations can be included in the national electricity plan (IRP 2018), unit 5 and 6 of Kusile coal power plant in Mpumalanga must be cancelled and 50 percent of current coal-fired power stations need to be decommissioned by 2030 in line with the IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C" continued Steele.
With hotspots across six continents, the satellite imagery shows the global extent and cross-boundary nature of the crisis. Governments must urgently step up their act and provide clean and healthy air for all.
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Bishops from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa met with the pope on their 'ad limina' visit Read More
Chemistry lab, classroom update improves collaboration 'Life Empowers' is the theme of opening night at Generation Life pilgrimage Pope speaks to Abp. Carlson, other U.S. bishops about pro-life issues, transgender ideology Respect for all life is a clear message heard from St. Louis contingent at the annual March for Life Sitting in the 'hot seat' is welcome opportunity for St. Dominic High students who are learning to become apologists
Abp. Naumann asks Catholics to serve mothers in need Annual poll finds 70% of adults continue to support abortion restrictions Bishops welcome guidance on school prayer, Trump's proposed rules Catholic schools called 'essential, integral' to Church's ministry Nation and world briefs
Denying that our actions are sinful is 'the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit' mentioned by Christ Read More
FRENTE A LA CRUZ | Aceptar la misericordia de Dios requiere que reconozcamos nuestra necesidad de perdón
Annual poll finds 70% of adults continue to support abortion restrictions
Majority of respondents support limiting abortion to the first three months of pregnancy
Catholic News Service (CNS)
Submitted January 23, 2020 | 1:38 PM
Catholic News Service is a leading agency for religious news. It was founded by U.S. bishops in 1920, and is an office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Read more articles by Catholic News Service (CNS)
WASHINGTON — Seven in 10 American adults support "significant" restrictions on abortion, according to a new poll released in advance of the annual March for Life.
Conducted by the Marist Poll at Marist College under the sponsorship of the Knights of Columbus, the survey of 1,237 adults Jan. 7-12 showed that the respondents would welcome limits on abortions so that it can be performed only during the first three months of pregnancy.
Notably, 47% of "pro-choice" respondents favored restrictions while 98% of pro-life respondents felt the same way.
In 2019, the Marist Poll found that respondents favored restrictions by a 75% to 25% margin.
Andrew Walther, vice president for communications and strategic planning for the Knights of Columbus, told reporters during a teleconference Jan. 22 that while the numbers have varied by a few percentage points over the 12 years of the poll, 70% to 80% of respondents have consistently supported abortion restrictions.
The latest poll also found that 55% of respondents identified as "pro-choice" and 40% as pro-life.
Barbara Carvalho, director of Marist Poll, said people who identify as "pro-choice" are not necessarily strongly in favor of unrestricted access to abortion as is widely portrayed in the media and among members in the strongly pro-life and "pro-choice" camps.
"Pro-choice people still are supportive of significant restrictions on abortion to, at most, three months during pregnancy," Carvalho said.
"When we look at this issue, like many issues that we see in the public debate, it's one side versus the other side. What is reality, and I think the abortion issue is a very clear example of this, is that Americans have a very nuanced understanding of the issue and want their public policy to reflect that as well," she said.
This year's poll also looked at how respondents would weigh individual presidential candidates' positions on abortion before voting. The poll found that 38% of respondents said it would be a major factor, 36% a minor factor and 25% no factor at all.
Among self-identified pro-life respondents, 45% said a candidate's abortion stance would be a major factor in their deliberations on who to vote for while 35% of self-identified "pro-choice" respondents agreed.
A second question asked poll participants about the likelihood of voting for a candidate who wants significant abortion restrictions.
Overall, 65% of respondents said they were likely to vote for a candidate who supported significant restrictions.
Broken down by political leanings, 44% of Democrats in the poll said they would likely vote for a candidate who wants significant restrictions. That contrasts with 88% of Republicans and 62% of independents holding the same view.
In addition, the poll asked respondents about their views on what the U.S. Supreme Court should do if justices decide to revisit the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, with 46% saying the decision should revert to the states, down from 49% in 2019.
Thirty-three percent said abortion should be legal without restriction, up from 30% in 2019, while 16% said it should always be illegal, the same percentage as last year.
Other findings show:
• 55% of respondents favor a ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
• Respondents oppose taxpayer funding of abortion by a 60% to 37% margin.
• A far larger majority — 76% to 21% — oppose the use of tax dollars to pay for abortion in other countries.
• Nearly two in three respondents — 65% — oppose abortion if a child is diagnosed with Down syndrome.
• 52% of respondents support requiring a woman to have an ultrasound at least 24 hours before an abortion.
Carvalho said the margin of error in the data was plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.
Thousands of people are expected for the 47th annual March for Life Jan. 24 in Washington.
Young people urged to 'witness to the truth that every life matters'
Pro-life groups criticize FDA for abortion drug decision
Respect Life Apostolate shifts focus from memorializing Roe to a celebration of life
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In interview, pope says criticism is annoying, but can be helpful
OBITUARY | Cardinal George Pell
Annual poll finds 70 of adults continue to support abortion restrictions 4897


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Trump's blame game against the WHO: the wrong move in the global endeavour to manage the Covid19 pandemic
HomeMore News...SID GlobalTrump's blame game against the WHO: the wrong move in the global endeavour to manage the Covid19 pandemic
It is classical syndrome of hate-mongering governments to nervously seek and blame "others" for responsibilities and failures that have endogenous roots. Since the arrival of SARS-CoV-2 in the US, Donald Trump's administration has hunted for scapegoats in his relentless attempt to shift blame for the increasing number of American deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) is only the last scapegoat in this sequence – after the Obama administration, China and the US media. The blame-game is a well-known trick, but it's not really credible. Trump's tirade against the Geneva-based UN health organization is totally ruthless and counterproductive, in the midst the viral storm.
While Trump's downplaying the Covid19 alarm and his early inaction in managing the Covid19 disease have come under scrutiny by the science community, for months now the WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been frantically calling for a global mobilization in tackling the virus. Likewise, the WHO teams have worked tirelessly to keep track of the epidemics and promote international cooperation, as well as guide countries on how to best respond (https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-re...). Health experts from all over the world have generally praised the WHO work in these unprecedented circumstances, both in terms of transparency and quality of the decisions. On the other hand, the global response to the virus so far has been contradictory and divided, with a few governments showing at times solidarity – through sharing of medical equipment and expertise – but with many political missteps and backbiting, including initial secrecy from China at the start of the outbreak. Overall, the obligations enshrined in the WHO International Health Regulations (adopted in 2005 to improve global capacity to control disease outbreaks and health emergencies, in the wake of the SARS epidemic), have been overruled by WHO member states. Instead, a viral form of inefficient health sovranism has taken over the international community since the pandemic contagion.
Covid19 is one of the most complex human crises ever, with immense economic and social consequences. Its management is a continuous learning process, at all levels. Bashing the WHO while it is engaged in a steady stream of reliable information, with the entire planet anxiously hanging on every word said by its General Director, appears a very confused and unfair way of dealing with the problem at home. This is not the time, as explicated mentioned by Un Secretary General (https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2020-04-08/statement-the-secretary-general-covid-19). The WHO remains the key global player in the fight against the spread of the contagion.
Over the years, the US has financially supported the WHO much more than China has. This is a fact. Yet, the US also has up to USD 200 million arrears with the WHO, and the vast majority of the US contributions to the WHO are voluntary donations directed to priorities set by the US administration itself. The history of the WHO shows only too well how the US governments, with the complicity of most Western countries, have contrasted the full implementation of the WHO constitutional mandate, its independence and credibility as the only public international organization working to enhance and promote the right to health. Member states continue today to jeopardize the WHO capacity to act, by freezing and containing the agency's budget to a mere USD 2.5 billion per year. Only 20% of the WHO budget is actually managed by the organization for its core mandate. The remaining 80% is tied to providing services and implementing activities set by individual donor countries. This is the perfect recipe for the progressive erosion of the WHO role and operational structure.
The unprecedented outbreak of the new coronavirus clearly places the WHO at the centre of global public action for health, again. It is the only entity which encompasses the technical and scientific competence, as well as the outreach and logistic capacity, in the effort needed to contrast the virus spread globally, and in low and middle-income countries in particular. Pinning the blame for the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 on the WHO at the height of the pandemic belongs to the dystopia of anger that the world needs to heal itself from. The Covid19 may represent humanity's unexpected opportunity, in this regard.
The WHO is not perfect and needs to be strengthened in its scientific, normative and policy-orientation function. It is high time all the WHO Members States understood the immense value of the organization in comprehensively tackling the health challenges ahead of us, also in relation to climate change, and support it adequately (http://g2h2.org/posts/time-to-rally).
WHO will become ever more necessary in the future. Using governments' frustrations as an excuse to bully the WHO's leading role is, yet again, a historic mistake.
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Criminal charges can lead to serious consequences. Those consequences can include substantial fines, loss of civil rights, loss of parental rights, deportation and/or substantial time in prison. Among many other duties, an attorney's key role is to use their experience and knowledge to protect their Clients against these life changing consequences. To put yourself in the best position to fight against these consequences you don't just need any attorney, you need an attorney with years of experience handling criminal cases within that specific court system, knowledge of the laws that apply to your case and the ability to negotiate with the Court and Prosecution. Finally, hiring an attorney who possesses these attributes isn't enough; that attorney needs to be willing and able to put those attributes to work for you and relentlessly fight for the minimization of those life changing consequences.
Why you want the Law Office of Christopher DeCoste, P.A.
"Our system assigns defense counsel a different mission, he must be and is interested in preventing the conviction of the innocent, but absent a voluntary plea of guilty, we also insist that he defend his client whether he is innocent or guilty...." United States v. Wade, 388 U.S. 218, 256 (1967).
The Law Office of Christopher DeCoste, P.A. was founded in 2008 on the principle that not only is each and every person innocent until proven guilty, but further that each and every person deserves the right to zealous and ethical representation whether "innocent or guilty." Because of these beliefs, Mr. DeCoste is dedicated towards fighting tirelessly, yet intelligently, on each and every case, for each and every Client. Along with the drive to relentlessly fight for his Client's rights, Mr. DeCoste possesses experience handling criminal cases in Florida's State and Federal court systems, knowledge of the laws and an ability to negotiate with the Court and the Prosecution. In addition to being founded on that principle, the Law Office of Christopher DeCoste, P.A. was founded by two former Miami-Dade Prosecutors. As a Prosecutor, Mr. DeCoste gained valuable experience by handling thousands of cases with charges ranging from Possession of Marijuana to First-Degree Murder. With this experience also came a firm grasp of the laws and a comprehensive view and understanding of how and why a case is prosecuted. Moreover, as a defense attorney he routinely, and successfully, utilizes his experience and knowledge to defend Clients on charges ranging from Misdemeanors to Death Penalty prosecutions. The Law Office of Christopher DeCoste, P.A. is dedicated towards providing zealous and ethical representation based upon experience and knowledge on each and every case, for each and every Client.


The design language system of IWBI.
You can't innovate on products without first innovating the way you build them.
This idea has informed industrial design and architecture for decades -- and now, the design and development team at International WELL Building Institute have translated that insight into the development of Blue, IWBI's new Design Language System (or DLS).
Blue is a collection of components defined by shared principles and patterns. This system allows for rapid iteration using a shared vocabulary across design, engineering, and other disciplines.
Instead of relying on individual atoms, all Blue components are elements of a living organism. They have a function and personality, are defined by a set of properties, can co-exists with others and can evolve independently.
Each component is defined by it's required elements (such as title, text, icon and picture), and may sometimes contain optional elements. All of the components and views are built with our own technical view framework, which handles these styles, states and adaptivity.
These elements are both defined in our analogue documents, as well as in code, which empowers team members to prototype and experiment with ideas in high fidelity faster and at a lower cost.
Moving forward, we aim to be fully transparent and release detailed case studies on how our system is defined and what decisions go into designing components, patterns, and rules. We want to build a world where the differences between disciplines are blurred, where logic and design truly coexist, and where collaboration is not painful but inspiring.
We're confident that creating Blue will be worth the investment and a huge leap forward for the organization. By focusing on the methods of working across disciplines, building better tools, and creating a unified system, we can use our time to apply creativity to solve bigger challenges and build the future we all want.


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Over the next ten weeks, the Cleveland Gladiators will be taking an in-depth look at some local area high school football programs as they get prepared for the 2018 season. This week's High School Spotlight series take us to the Lake Erie Conference as well as four teams from the Suburban Conference's National Division.
The Bedford Bearcats come into the 2019 campaign looking to build off the success the team had in 2018 when the Bearcats went 10-2, featuring a home first-round playoff win over Eastlake North before falling in the regional semi-finals to Barberton.
After finishing last year's campaign with a 4-6 record, the Tigers enter 2018 with two goals in in mind – win the Lake Erie Conference and get back to the OHSAA Playoffs. With the kind of players returning this season, Head Coach Mac Stephens is confident his team has the leadership it takes to help propel his team in the right direction.
Stephens is especially excited about the progress that senior quarterback Josh Harris has made.
The Tigers open their 2018 regular season in Brunswick against the Blue Devils.
The Lorain Titans dropped a hard-fought contest to the Bedford Bearcats, 54-48, during Week 8 of the regular season last year, essentially ending any chance of claiming the Lake Erie League crown. Then, as an eight seed in the first round of the OHSAA playoffs, the Titans gave the one-seeded Whitmer Panthers all they can handle before ultimately falling 31-28 on a last-minute field goal.
Despite the success of an 8-3 finish to the season, Coach McFarland and the rest of his squad will look to use the experience the team acquired last season, to help push them over the hump this season. The return of junior do-it-all playmaker Daylin Dower will help that cause, as will the return of skill position players Tyshawn Lighty and Tyshawn Nelson.
The Titans kick-off their regular season on the east side of Cleveland, when they travel to Euclid to take on the Panthers on August 31st.
It's been just under eight years since dual-threat quarterback Shaq Washington helped guide his Maple Heights Mustang team to a Division 2 State Championship. Now, fresh off a stand-out collegiate career the University of Cincinnati, the 25-year old Washington returns to his high school alma mater as one of the youngest high school head football coaches in the United States.
On the field the Mustangs return plenty of talent, as veterans Antoine Holloway, Dante Abrams, and ShaMarr Simmons all look to take on integral roles as the new leaders of a Mustang program looking to find their way back into the state playoffs.
Maple Heights opens their season on the road when the team travels to face the Willoughby South Rebels on August 31st.
After a few disappointing seasons, Head Coach Rodney Brown and the rest of the Shaw Cardinals football program are looking to get back to the OHSAA State Playoffs for the first time since 2011. This year the Cardinals lose their quarterback Alejandro Cummings-Washington as well as one of their leaders on defense in linebacker Marshon Wilson, but returning seniors Daeshawn Davis and Quen'shawn Lee give the Cardinals some reliable veteran leadership to lean on.
Shaw makes the trip to Detroit, MI for their regular season opener on September 1st, as they take on East English Village Prep.
Warrensville Heights hasn't been able to claim a conference title or a state playoff berth since re-starting the program and joining the Lake Erie League, but after a gradual climb of wins in the standings over the last four years, Head Coach DeSean Washington is hoping this is the season the program puts itself in position to contend for the Lake Erie League as well as clinching a berth in the postseason.
Quarterback Devyn Byers returns under center for the Tigers and while the team loses the playmaking ability of running back Donte Norris, the collective amount of talent returning across the offensive and defensive side of the ball gives the Tigers the confidence that this is the season that the team takes the next step.
The Tigers open the season on August 31st when they play host to the Gilmour Academy Lancers at Warrensville Heights High School.


2K's new XCom shooter has been pushed back into 2013.
This is starting to get a bit weird. First, 2K Games announces a reboot of the famed X-Com franchise, except not with a strategy game but with a shooter based on the series. Overall interest is a bit on the tepid side, while old-time X-Com fans go nuts over not getting a "real" sequel. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, 2K reveals that Firaxis is in fact working on an X-Com remake of its own entitled XCom: Enemy Unknown, an actual do-over of the original strategy game.
No release date for that game has been set, but today it's come to light that the planned XCom shooter has been significantly delayed and instead of coming out in March of this year as expected, it will now launch sometime in 2013. Reasons for the delay weren't given but according to IGN, 2K now wants to relaunch the franchise with Enemy Unknown rather than the shooter, which at this point is still "subtitle unknown."
What led to the change of heart? It's possible that all the wounded howling led 2K to decide that rebooting the franchise as a shooter was a big mistake, but I'm not convinced that giving the internet what it wants is a good idea, particularly when you're talking about bringing a 20-year-old strategy game to consoles. And if that is the case - if 2K has decided that strategy is the future - then does a shooter really fit into that plan? I wouldn't be at all surprised if further XCom-related shenanigans are in the offing.


Following a soft opening over the weekend, the new Santa Barbara Public Market opened for business today. Offering an array of regionally sourced sustainable food options, including Belcampo Meat Co., the market also features a commissary kitchen that will host cooking classes, local chef highlights and winemaker dinners.
Belcampo's Santa Barbara location opened shortly after the launch of its butcher shop and lunch counter in LA's Grand Central Market, which has been getting rave reviews so far.


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The Bloodcast's hosts Ryan Turek and Clarke Wolfe take a look at the most important figures working in the horror film industry today.
We all know the classic "Masters of Horror," but who are the power players today? Why are they important? Who should you keep an eye on? The two break it down.
Plus, a discussion on The Houses October Built, select Screamfest entries, Ryan's quick trip to Halloween Horror Nights – Orlando and a lot more.
The Screamcast welcomes ShockTillYouDrop.com managed editor Ryan Turek back on the show. He joins hosts Sean Duregger and Brad Henderson to discuss the recent release of The Canal and to reflect on Curtains, the slasher film which garnered some love via Blu-ray thanks to Synapse Films. Listen in to the episode now below, via iTunes or via the Screamcast official site!
The Bloodcast 94: Childhood Frights – What Scared Us?
On the 94th installment of The Bloodcast, Clarke and Ryan are looking back on their childhood fears.
From animated kids movies and television programs to early horror films, what did they see that scarred them for life? Further, what local video stores facilitated these nightmares?
But first, the pair discuss the new horror release Housebound, the insanely popular premieres of American Horror Story: Freak Show and The Walking Dead, and Nightcrawler, Gone Girl, and Wolves.
The Bloodcast returns after a week off to begin October with a bit of catching up and looking forward. Hosts Clarke Wolfe and Ryan Turek recount their trips to Halloween Horror Nights (Orlando) and Fantastic Fest in Austin, respectively. Clarke recounts her favorite mazes while Ryan talks about the film highlights of the fest. They then move on to preview Beyond Fest in Los Angeles and the major horror releases coming to theaters and VOD this month.
With rave reviews and awards buzz for genre-bending Nightcrawler coming out of TIFF (read Shock's review here), this episode of The Bloodcast finds Clarke Wolfe and Ryan Turek discussing respect for the horror genre.
The fellas at The ScreamCast – a podcast that is definitely subscription-worthy for all horror fans – had me on recently to look at Scream Factory's Blu-ray release of The Legend of Hell House. Our discussion also veered into the topic of the haunted house sub-genre in horror and our favorite titles that fall into this category. I had a blast talking with hosts Brad and Sean and, this morning, I awoke to find the episode is up! So, give it a listen below or via iTunes or via The ScreamCast site.
Think selling an audience on a horror film is easy? Think again.
For decades Hollywood has adjusted to new strategies to sell their scare flicks and, for this 89th edition of The Bloodcast, hosts Clarke Wolfe and Ryan Turek look at what has worked and what hasn't.
In their 88th episode, hosts Ryan Turek and Clarke Wolfe are offering their reactions to some of the latest major news headlines hitting the world of horror.
With The Strain enjoying a successful run on FX, Bloodcast hosts Ryan Turek and Clarke Wolfe dive into the works of Guillermo del Toro as part of their Director's Series.
From Cronos to The Strain and everything in between, which Del Toro productions are their favorites? Which hold up best? Are there any franchises they'd like to see more from?
The Bloodcast returns this week with Ryan Turek and Clarke Wolfe welcoming a very special guest: The Pact and At The Devil's Door writer-director Nicholas McCarthy.
Ryan, Clarke and Nicholas are discussing men in horror. What male protagonists resonate in the horror genre? What movies with male leads stand the test of time? Further, what role do they fill within the subtextual layers of horror?
Bloodcast listeners have asked: What kind of kid-friendly horror is out there for my child? Well, in this episode, hosts Ryan and Clarke listened and compiled a list of titles that might work for your little one. They also explore why there has been a lack of live-action kid-friendly horror fare within the last decade or so (emphasis on live-action, not animation). But first, what have the two been watching (like Burnt Offerings, American Horror Story: Coven and Dark City), their thoughts on The Leftovers, and more!
The Bloodcast Episode 81: Penny Dreadful Season 1 Recap & More!


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Home » Carousel » News » Top Story » Cloud of shame as bride refuses to wed pastor
Cloud of shame as bride refuses to wed pastor
Posted by: TellZim News Posted date: Sunday, December 16, 2018 / comment : 0
Naume Mangwarira Pastor Samuel Kaunda
…wedding day turns into nightmare as bride says no…I can't marry an abusive man
TellZim Reporter
MASVINGO - The most popular cliché, 'kudira jecha', normally used in political circles last weekend gained fame in social circles when a Gweru-based apostle with Glory House Ministries was rejected by his bride on wedding day.
Pastor Samuel Kaunda received the shock of his life when his fiancée, Naume Mangwarira suddenly grew cold feet on wedding day and refused to go to the wedding venue.
The circus became the shame of the year for the bride and her groom's parents and relatives who had gathered at Masvingo Sports Club waiting for the duo to arrive in their convoys.
Kaunda's parents had reportedly flown from the UK for the wedding.
The big white marque that had been set had to be pulled down, with people being asked to take away all the food and drinks that had been prepared after spirited behind-the-scenes attempts to break the deadlock failed.
Mangwarira, who resides in Mucheke and is with the Full Gospel Church, is said to have cited physical and verbal abuse as the major reason she had made the 11th hour decision not to marry Kaunda.
TellZim News visited the Sports Club venue where the wedding was supposed to take place last Saturday and saw people loitering around while relatives of the groom sat dejectedly at their colourfully draped tables as attempts were still being made in Mucheke to break the deadlock.
The groom showed up at the venue with his convoy but he later disappeared from the scene after being told his bride had said no.
People who spoke to TellZim News said the apostle was abusive with his fiancée and at some point raised his hands on her.
"The guy is known to have temperamental issues and he often times beats her. He does not know how to keep his anger in check and he takes it up on anyone who is close by.
"Mangwarira was patient but she finally decided she had had enough of the abuse. She told her relatives that she could not go through with the wedding," said a source.
Another close source said Mangwarira made her intentions a long time before the wedding day but church people convinced everybody that preparations for the wedding should continue, promising they will be able to resolve whatever differences that existed between the two.
"She told us that she did not want to be married anymore because the guy is abusive. We were in disbelief because of the status of the guy. We thought that it was a minor misunderstanding which would be resolved amicably. That is why the wedding preparations went on as planned.
"We were however left embarrassed on wedding day when she refused to put on the gown. She said she did not want to condemn herself to a painful marriage," said the source.
Another source said Kaunda had failed to be honest with his UK-based parents, letting them spent large sums of money coming for the wedding without appraising them on the tensions he had long noticed.
"Kaunda should have come clean and accepted reality. This whole shame could have been avoided had he told his relatives the truth. A lot of money was wasted planning for something that never came to fruition," said the source.
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