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Posts Tagged 'War'
WHY did, "God", make Jews and Gentiles?
Posted: August 3, 2014 in FREEDOM, Gaza, GazaUnderAttack, IOF, Israeli Oppression and Occupation Force, Mid-East, Palestine, Zionism
Tags: American Jews, attack, Bibi, Gaza Massacre, Gaza Under Attack, hatred, Jews, Mowing The Lawn, Netanyahu, nutts, Palestine, Palestinians, War
*A small slice of one of the MULTIPLE pro-anti-Gaza/Palestine arguments. from youtube:
David Chiodo: I support peace…
+Himilo Communication Yes… and Hamas never kills innocent woman and children…
Anne Beckett: +David Chiodo PROVE IT. Show one FACT about Hamas murdering either a woman OR a child.
Hamas is NOT the boogeyman you have made them out to be. They are not a, "terrorist org". They aren't even a military group.
And, it has not been Hamas shooting these essential fireworks into EMPTY FIELDS in, "israel", (stolen from PALESTINE.) One of the main ideas behind this latst/(sic) current barrage of MURDER on Palestine was to take another slice of LAND from Gazans. "IsraHELL is cutting away another forty-percent OF Gaza for their OWN use..; for the squatters they call, settlers.
You really ought to wake the heck up.
David Chiod: Every freaking time they strap explosives to a 'martyr' and have them detonate it inside a crowded market. What I don't understand is if Muslims truly think that it is God's will that they kill Jews…and Gentiles for that matter… and God is infallible… then why did God create Jews and Gentiles in the first place?
Anne Beckett IF there is a god and this god created anything, it would be PEOPLE this god created, not, "jews and gentiles".. That separation of people into groups came from?? JEWS. If you read the bible (by man, not written by any, "god") you should realize it was a product of world jewry.
That you go along with it is (almost) amusing.
NO GOD would go along with the MURDEROUS ATTACK*s* on Gaza and all of Palestine. I mean, do you think any god WOULD? If so, why, "create… gentiles", in the first place? — for SPORT?
I mean; does any of what comes out of your thick head actually make ANY sense? Honestly, guy; that idea (all of it) is NUTTS.
IF you are not a Jew, why would you think Jews, "chosen"? That's a nutbag idea.. and ideology.
I would laugh, but so many babies and mothers are DYING because of this thought-process, that it makes me sick. Have you never really considered what it is you believe in?? really??
By the way: WHEN was the last, "martyr", created? WHEN was the last time ANYONE, "strapped explosives", to his or her chest in order to take out the jews? If you don't know, I can give you a hint.. (ten years ago). And, still. HOW desperate would one be in order to do this? WHAT would cause such desperation? Have you ever pondered this idea?
Start thinking. Stop just, "believing", based on someone else's ideas. OKAY?
And, a voice of reason:
michaelnew1962
+Anne Beckett WOW, You go girl.
DO people actually cotten-to the idea that their GOD or any god has made Jews & Gentiles? Did this god make two different groups? Or is it three groups? Four? How many large religions are there, in this world, and would any god make these different groups for a reason? What would the reason be, if so? Do Christians actually believe the Jews a CHOSEN Race, better in every way than themselves? If they do think Jews are chosen and going to wherever it is the chosen people go (or stay?) after death, why are they not ALL clammoring to the synogogues in order to BECOME JEWS?
Or, is this because they ALSO believe Jews are Jewish,by BLOOD? Would this be the main reason behind ethnic-Jewry? I will say this: the whole thing makes very little sense to a thinking person!
In case you'd like to see the whole back-and-fro, check out this link:
View post ·
25th Anniversary 1st Intifada, cross-post, The OtherSite
Posted: December 20, 2012 in FREEDOM, Gaza, Palestine
Tags: 1st Intifada, 25th Anniversary, Gaza, Gaza. Israel, Intifada, Palestine, War
Dr. Khoury-Machool contributed this article to The OtherSite – Truth? Justice? Peace?
Meanwhile I moved to the side of the road, away from the center of the conflict. A passing taxi picked me up and took me to Shifa Hospital in Gaza. During the whole journey, I heard bursts of fire. At the entrance to the hospital about thirty doctors in white gowns stood waiting for casualties. I was the first. They took me into the operating theater, and ten doctors, including surgeons, all began to treat me at once. One of them took my blood pressure, a second my temperature; a third checked my stomach; another connected me to an ECG machine. I was injured in the face, next to my nose. While they were stitching me up under a local anesthetic, a lad of about 17 was brought into the hospital. He had been shot by soldiers at the incident in Bayt Hanun. From the operating table, I saw in the mirror the barrel of a gun waving nervously across the windowsill. The second casualty died on the operating table, right next to me. I left the theater straight into the hospital courtyard. Seven soldiers stood at the side and arrested all the youths who came to inquire about the condition of their wounded comrade. I decided nevertheless to try to reach the meeting place. A man was waiting for me there, and he took me to the leader. The condition was that I should not know his name nor other identifying details such as where he lived, where and what he studied. Later I saw him in action, giving orders, receiving reports, directing thousands of people against the army. Twice I saw IDF soldiers withdraw. He speaks perfect literary Arabic and also good Hebrew. His speech is open and decisive, laced with figures and data. Every half hour he received up-to-date information from his people on what was going on in the Gaza Strip. Around him I saw five people who kept him supplied with news. During the day, I was with him in various parts of Gaza and the refugee camps of Jabalya nad Shati'. He always stood erect, steady, almost without moving. In every place, people were drawn to him as to a magnet. I talked with him as we walked along the paths and alleys between the houses. The Gazans who saw me at his side asked what I was doing there. They expect that journalists, foreigners as well as Israelis, will sit in the military headquarters or travel about surrounded by 20 jeeps, take a few photo- graphs, and leave. The leader said about this, "We told all our people not to believe the signs which say 'Foreign Press' because the settlers, the army, and the occupiers are behind them, in order to hitch a lift and get into the Strip." But despite this, he said, "The progressive Jewish journalists are the most intelligent and best people in Israel." The bandage on my head broke some of the barriers of suspicion. As far as I was able to tell, he spoke to me candidly and with a great deal of honesty. "They are not really demonstrations and this is not a revolt," is the leader's contribution to the debate in Israel. "This is a war that continues 24 hours a day. We are working in rotation. The order was that the youngsters should go in the front, facing the fire, and they don't hesitate to do so. They block the army's central route. It is the first time in history that this has happened. I go through the whole Strip and instruct them in the camps. It's not just school children. By now it includes everyone aged from nought to a hundred. Here is a 55-year-old woman who took part in the events and was hit with a stick by the soldiers. The women are not afraid. Ninety percent of the people in Gaza belong to political groups. They don't need instructions from anybody. In any case, people who live under occupation and oppression do not need someone else to incite them." How do you organize the demonstrations now? "Once, in order to start a demonstration, we would send the children to organize a disturbance. Now, everyone is out on the streets at 3 in the morning. Not ten or twenty people, but hundreds. We don't have a timetable, but we already have a custom, waves of people going out, at 3 am, in the morning, at midday, early evening. From the evening until 3 am, we sleep and organize. Sometimes, if the situation demands it, we even go out at 10 pm, because during the night, the army doesn't effectively control the streets and doesn't know the local topography, so we are in control. For instance, yesterday in Jabalya refugee camp, there were demonstrations all night and there was not a single soldier, even though there was a curfew. The soldiers simply fled, because thousands of people formed a sort of moving human wall, and nothing will work against something like that, neither an iron fist nor bullets." Aren't you afraid? "It is forbidden. It is simply forbidden to be afraid of anything. The occupation authorities think that if someone dies and they take the body and permit the burial only during the night, then there will not be any disturbance. But our thinking has already passed this barrier. The new system is that we snatch the body from the hospital and bury it and turn this into a sort of spontaneous demonstration. We also forbade the doctors to give the bodies to the military authorities, and anyway the doctors are not in control of this, for we have no difficulty in snatching the bodies. For instance, in the past few days we have snatched four bodies and organized night funerals which have turned into demonstrations. Then the whole area, like Khan Yunis yesterday, is out on the streets. Not a single person stayed at home. Thirty-five thousand took part in that funeral. During the funeral, we injured seven soldiers. Yesterday, I made a few trips, from Khan Yunis to Rafah and from Rafah to al-Burayj. There were tens of thousands, and until 3 am the army could not break in. The distance between the Gaza sentries and the army was fifty meters, and the army simply didn't dare to come in." In one of the side roads, someone came up to him and said that a 17-year-old boy had been murdered in Bayt Hanun. That was the lad who had died on the operating table next to me. All the time, he received reports, how this youth had been struck, whether with a stick or something else, on what part of the body, and where this had happened. He explained that the distribution of leaflets from any organization was forbidden, but if he wanted to he could organize the distribution of leaflets every day, without problems [sic]. "We already know how to identify their civilian information. We feel their presence, particularly in the mornings. We have seen to it that the army does not know who the inciters are. The authorities will not see another inciter. There is an instruction, and everyone goes out, quite spontaneously. There are no single inciters." When I asked him about the role of the leader in directing the masses, he was modest. "No, not exactly a leader. More like a giver of order." But the hours that I spent in his presence showed that his orders are carried out with an almost religious obedience. This is how he sees things. "Out of 650,000 residents of the Strip, the occupying authorities have so far arrested 47,000. Every one of them is already his own leader where he lives. The arrest creates a leader. We cause the politicization of the people, and they like this because they need it. Let no idiot think that external forces are directing what goes on inside. The people inside belong to all sorts of organizations, which are like political parties of the nascent state. Even those who do not belong to any group identify with the overall struggle." Over the years, a sort of quiet hatred has developed among the residents of the Strip for their compatriots in the West Bank. They feel neglected, even forgotten. The journalists reporting on events in the territories usually set out from Jerusalem. They easily reach Ramallah or Bethlehem, but rarely get to Gaza. So the West Bank naturally gets press coverage, even when much more important things which are happening in Gaza don't find any expression in the media. Loyalty to what is called "unity of Palestinian ranks" prevents the Gaza residents from expressing their frustration, but many of them feel that the national leadership in the West Bank looks down on them in the way town-dwellers usually regard residents of some distant province. The leader was only prepared to say these few words about the differences: "The Gazans, if they decide to do something, carry it out to the end. The West Bank is almost paradise compared to the Gaza Strip. Even such a simple thing as a passport is denied to them. The only thing that most of them have is a refugee card." Perhaps this is the reason that the Gaza Strip has always been distinguished by a large measure of independent action. At the end of the 1960s, the underground groups used to organize under the umbrella of one of the Palestinian organizations, but even when contact was made with the leadership outside, it was hard to maintain it. Decisions on activities were taken in the Strip, and the residents usually got hold of the arms and sabotage materials by themselves. In recent years, it has been decided to maintain a strict separation between the armed groups and the activists considered "political." In no case have shots been fired at the army from among the demonstrators, which should have been likely to lead to a bloodbath. The local leaders are responsible for this discipline. "Every quarter has its own leader, who is usually some major personality. He will be known for this high political consciousness, for his charisma, and he will not have to do that much persuasion, for the situation helps him, and he will just have to give the signal. Every one of these leaders has already become a symbol. In a large quarter, there will be two or three leaders. The detainees are usually political people, who belong to an ideological current and not necessarily to a particular organization. The leader creates around himself an organized mass which at any time can go and do whatever is necessary. In effect, we want the army. We don't demonstrate when it isn't here. We want it in order to confront it, in whatever way we can." Referring to the efficiency of the organization, he said: "Yesterday, five hundred women went to Bayt Hanun, and they only knew of the planned trip five minutes before they left. The conscription of all levels of the population is in effect like a military operation. When we want to operate through the whole Strip, our short experience has taught us that within a few minutes we can block the main traffic route leading out from the Strip. When the army says that it has opened the main road, it is a lie because the road is blocked by our people." He stressed: "It is not correct that the mosques are center of incitement. We only use the mosque loudspeakers, nothing more. Now the whole community is united in one front. At the moment, it doesn't matter who the organizations are, even though it is known that the Popular Front is more revolutionary than Fateh. The basic presence on the ground is of the Popular Front and Fateh, though in terms of numbers, Fateh is bigger." Suddenly he disappeared. I don't know where to. He didn't say goodbye or farewell. I met him again about an hour later in Shifa Hospital, in which his forces had been besieged for the past five hours. Shortly after 11, I arrived at the Red Cross building, in which about two hundred lawyers had been barricaded since the morning. At 11:45, they decided to go out for a silent procession to the hospital, which had filled up with casualties over the previous two hours. A strange procession in the Gaza street, many grey heads, tens of men in suits and ties and polished shoes, marching silently between the smoking tires. In the hospital courtyard, the leader received them. "Take off your ties and join in with everyone else," he told them. Some of the elderly lawyers were offended. After five minutes, they were all busily throwing stones at the soldiers surrounding the area. A small mosque stands next to the hospital. The leader went in, put a few guards at the door, took over the loudspeakers, and let his men in. The news of the death of the boy from Bayt Hanun started to spread, and hundreds of people streamed toward the hospital. Within an hour, thirteen people arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds. Among them I saw a girl who had a bullet in her bottom, and a youth injured in his arm – two holes, entry and exit wounds of the bullet. All of the hospital buildings were already full, thousands of people. Many of them were seeking shelter from the shooting in the streets, assuming that the army would not enter the hospital. It was hard to pass along the corridors. Shooting was heard again. Close, very close. The leader started to send his people out. The youths went out first, the adults next, and all the women behind them. The leader instructed them to pass stones from the rear to the front. A chain was formed, and a rain of stones was thrown out. After each barrage, the leader ordered, "Everyone, inside!" The soldiers started to fire at a youth on the second floor of the east wing. He jumped into the courtyard to escape from the shots. A few soldiers came into the hospital grounds. The youth tried to escape, but saw a soldier facing him. He stopped running, stood facing the soldier, opened his shirt, bared his chest and said "Shoot!" The soldier pointed the gun at him and, from a distance of fifteen meters, fired. This happened in front of my eyes, less than twenty meters from me. The soldier's face is engraved in my memory. From all around shouts were heard, "Wounded! Wounded!" The shooting continued. The leader or- dered, "All the women, out, to the wounded." They went and fetched the body and put it on a stretcher. I went into the theater. The doctors told me that the bullet had cut a main artery. Immediately it was known that the boy was dead, masked youths came and took away the body. The soldiers withdrew about 300 meters, to 'Umar al-Makhtar Street. The youths marched with the body in a short procession and disap- peared within minutes. A few hundred people arrived with each further casualty or body. They started to make Molotov cocktails in the hospital. I saw a little boy take a bottle from the floor, pull out from his pocket a plastic flask of turpentine and a rag, fill and seal the bottle, light a match, and throw it. Flames started to rise from the tires which had rolled into the courtyard. The leader told me that, in addition to the stone and the Molotov, they had returned to an ancient method: the sling and stone, like David. The soldiers, who in one of their assaults had come very close to the hospital, were trapped between the burning tires, and hundreds of demon- strators started to surround them. The soldiers tried to flee, but the demonstrators managed to capture one of them. All of his comrades ran. The captive was stripped of his clothes. His jacket, his pack, and all of his equipment were taken. Nobody touched his body, and he was released wearing only a pair of torn trousers. If they had wanted, they could have killed him. They opened the pack, searched it, and asked where the grenades were. Some of them started to dance, with the rifle magazine in one hand and a "V" sign on the other. They threw the soldier's jacket and shirt on the ground, and pressed around to trample on them. I asked them, "What are you so happy about?" and they replied, "It is the greatest humiliation for the occupation." After this victory, the leader found a few minutes for me. "Once it was difficult to hold even a strike," he said. "Today, they strike easily. The army opens the shops, and they close them. Rashad al-Shawwa, who no longer has any influence, says that what is happening in the Strip is an expression of people's despair. But those in despair do not struggle. They surrender. We don't actually have firearms, but even so, if the situation continues we won't only push the soldiers back to Eretz Junction [the major road junction outside the Gaza Strip], but to Tel Aviv." My injury started to bother me. A few doctors ran after me, offering me ice compresses. One offered me antibiotic capsules. By the way, after midnight, when the hell was already behind me, I was forced to wait for four hours for treatment in Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. A further casualty, who had been shot in the head, was brought to the hospital gate. He died a short time later. His body was snatched. The soldiers again entered the hospital courtyard. Bursts of fire were heard in the building. The echo added to the noise and confusion. People started to barricade themselves inside. There were already a few casualties, but there had been no time to treat them. The leader shouted to the women to go out and treat the wounded, despite the danger. For each casualty, twenty people rushed to give blood. Twenty-eight casualties arrived within a short time, three of them with serious injuries. One of them died at 7 pm. In the operating theater, tens of doctors were working without a break, like a conveyor belt. At about 1 pm, a ten-year-old boy was shot in the hospital courtyard, in the sight of his mother. His body was wrapped in a green hospital sheet and placed on a wooden board, adorned with two palm fronds. I went up to the roof. At 3:15, the aerial attack started; a helicopter circled 18 times and dropped tear gas grenades. Everyone started to cough. Those who didn't get gas from above got it from below. Shots were heard from the direction of the helicopter. I heard the army loudspeaker announce that the hospital had been declared a closed military area. The area was attacked from three sides. The iron gates were broken down at once, and 45 minutes of shooting started. Forty Gazans were arrested. Many were injured. I saw a man running, dragging his foot. I felt like a live target. It's good that my tape is on, I thought. At least it will be able to record how I was killed. Meanwhile, about thirty jeeps entered the hospital area, and shots were heard from all directions. Some of the injured jumped over the hospital fence into the neighboring orchard. Others fled into the alleys between the nearby houses, into which it is hard for the army to penetrate. I heard the shouts of the mukhtars, who are being beaten with sticks. I went into one of the nearby houses and dialed the Ministry of Defense, the prime minister's office. Engaged. No line. I dialed the Knesset. They told me that there was not a single Knesset member on the premises. "They are somewhere in the area, but it is impossible to get hold of them." The operator managed to get hold of Tawfiq Ziyad. "I will raise this in the Knesset," he told me. I also contacted the Red Cross. They said they would come. They didn't come. I checked my pulse. One-hundred and twenty beats per minute. A demonstration of thousands of people from Shati' refugee camp reached the hospital. They had heard of the deaths. In the street, I met the doctor who had seen me when I was injured in the morning. He suggested that I rest at his house, with the help of some pills for the pain. Another doctor was sitting in his house. They both checked me. They said that perhaps I had a broken chin. At 4 pm, the curfew started. Night began to fall. The army cut off the electric supply, and the residents sat in dark homes and lit candles. In the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem, Ariel Sharon lit the first candle of Hanukkah in his new home. I went onto the roof of the doctor's house. All around, there were gatherings of people and burning tires. The soldiers had disappeared. The darkness, say the Gazans, is the best weapon against the occupation forces. There were thousands of people in the streets. That was what the curfew looked like. I contacted the paper, seeking a way out. Two Gazans checked the terrain and told me that the main road was blocked. The doctor suggested that I slept at his place. At 9 pm, the electricity returned. "Now the stone rules the streets," they warned me. "Whoever goes out is in danger." I decided to go out. I walked about a kilometer through the empty streets to the police station. The gate was locked. The police pulled out their guns and pointed them at me and only after they had checked my documents permitted me to enter. When the car from the military government came to take me to Eretz Junction, a few police went up to the roof of the police station in order to protect me for the ten meters I had to walk in the street to the car. At Eretz Junction, less than ten kilometers from the center of the events, a few drowsy reservists sat. They asked me what was going on in Gaza and how I had been injured. I told them that I had been asked to act as a referee in a basketball match between Maccabi Hebron and Hapoel Gaza. The crowd attacked me, I explained to them, and said that the referee was a son of a whore. One of the reservists told me that he was a basketball player himself. He asked me about the level of the Arab players and who won the match.


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NAGW Bylaws
Name and Location | Membership | Board of Directors | Duties of the Officers | Association Meetings and Elections | Powers of the Association | Distribution of Assets Upon Dissolution | Limitations | Miscellaneous
I. NAME AND LOCATION.
The name of the corporation is the National Association of Government Web Professionals, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the Association. The principal office of the Association shall be located at 6311 W. Gross Point Rd Niles, IL 60714. Meetings of Members and of the Board of Directors may be held at such places within the United States as may be designated by the Board of Directors. In future times, the principal office of the Association shall be at such a place as may be designated by the Board and communicated to the membership at a conference or through a newsletter or electronic mail.
II. MEMBERSHIP.
Section 1. Members.
To be eligible for full, voting membership in the Association, an applicant must be considered a full- or part-time employee of a qualifying local government entity as defined in Article IX, Section 6, and receive an annual W2 statement from that agency. Unpaid volunteers who manage or regularly update the web site for a qualifying local government entity will be considered by the Board for full, voting membership on a case-by-case basis.
To be eligible for associate, non-voting membership in the Association, an applicant must be considered a full- or part-time employee of the U.S. Federal government (FGE) and receive an annual W2 statement from that agency. Associate members shall not be eligible to vote or serve on the Board of Directors.
It shall be within the discretion of the Board to grant membership without full payment of dues to persons who certify that they cannot afford to pay regular dues.
III. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Composition.
The affairs of the Association shall be governed by a nine-member Board of Directors, all of whom shall be full, voting members of the Association. The Board of Directors shall consist of seven regional directors and two elected at-large. All Directors shall enjoy equal voting rights.
Section 2. Methods of Selection and Terms.
Elections of Directors shall occur in conjunction with the Association's annual meeting through procedures devised by the Board of Directors and the bylaws. The votes shall be counted by the Secretary and at least one Officer of the Board, and the results shall be reported by the Secretary at the annual meeting.
Election shall be by majority of all votes cast, with runoff elections between the two leading candidates when necessary.
For Association purposes, the United States shall be divided into seven geographic regions, in a plan adopted by the Board. To ensure geographical diversity in the policy-making body of the Association, one resident of each region shall be elected as a Director or, in the case of a vacancy, appointed by the Board to the directorship that represents that region. If a region has no Member who is willing to serve as a Director, or no members runs for an at-large position, the Board shall by majority vote of the full board appoint an at-large Director to fill that seat until the next scheduled election for that region or at the next at-large election.
At-large members shall be elected by the full membership of the Association. One at-large member shall be elected in even-numbered years for a two year term and one at-large member shall be elected in odd-numbered years for a two year term. When initially establishing the at-large members, the member filling the one year term shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.
Directors in even-numbered geographical regions shall be elected to a two-year term in even numbered years by the eligible voters in their region, and Directors in odd-numbered geographical regions shall be elected to a two-year term in odd-numbered years by the eligible voters in their region. The term of all offices will commence the first day of the second month following the Association's annual meeting.
Section 3. Removal.
A Director or Officer may be removed from the Board or from office for cause. Cause shall be determined by a majority vote of the full Board of Directors, and removal shall be upon a two-thirds vote of the full Board. The absence of a Director or Officer from two consecutive meetings of the Board may be considered sufficient cause for removal.
A person who has resigned or has been removed as Board of Directors President shall not retain membership on the Board and is disqualified from holding any office within the Association at any future time, except if reinstated by a two-thirds vote of the board.
Section 4. Filling of vacancies
When the office of Board of Directors President becomes vacant, the Board of Directors shall, by a majority vote of the full board, elect a Board Member to fill the office until the next annual meeting. At that time, the Board shall elect one of its members as President for a one-year term. When a position of Director becomes vacant, the Board, utilizing a procedure similar to that of the nomination of candidates for office, by a two-thirds vote of the full Board shall select someone to fill the office until the next annual meeting, when the remainder of the term, if any, shall be filled by election. Any Board Member or the Board President may recommend persons to fill vacant positions.
If more than half of the nine Board of Director seats become vacant, the remaining Board Members shall accept nominations, and a new election shall take place for all vacant positions. If the seats of Board President and all Board Members become vacant, the first nine association Members to volunteer shall form a nominating committee. The nominating committee shall appoint a transition Board, which will hold new elections as soon as possible. The transition board shall be limited to holding new elections and may not seek to amend the bylaws or change the financial structure or account balances of the organization by more than 10 percent of the current balance.
Section 5. Compensation.
No Director, Officer or Member shall receive compensation from the Association for any service rendered to the Association. Exceptions are limited to: 1) Board members shall be exempt from all registration fees and workshop fees for the Association's conferences; and 2) The paid positions of Conference Planner and Finance Director may be filled by current members who are former Board of Directors members. In addition, any Director, Officer or Member may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of duties specified by the Board, under rules established by the membership or the Board.
Section 6. Meetings
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at least twice yearly, at such a place and hour as may be fixed by the Board or the Board of Directors President. Attendance at any Board meeting by Board Members and the Board President may be either in person or by an electronic means as determined in advance by the Board. Notice of regular Board meetings shall be given consistent with the bylaws. Agendas and minutes of all board meetings shall be made available to the full membership. At least one Board meeting shall be held at the annual conference. Board meetings held during the annual conference are open to all Members of the Association.
During regular Board meetings, the presiding officer may determine if the floor will be open to discussion. At the discretion of the presiding officer, meetings shall be conducted under Robert's Rules of Order.
The order of business of the meetings of the Board of Directors shall be as follows:
Call to order by the President
Reading of the minutes of the last meeting.
Report from the Treasurer.
Committee reports.
New business.
Election of Officers (if annual meeting).
Section 7. Quorum.
A majority of the number of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Directors attending a meeting by electronic means as set out in Article III, Section 6, shall be included in the quorum count. Under no circumstance shall a Director vote by proxy.
Section 8. Powers.
The Board of Directors shall have the power to do the following:
Exercise for the Association all powers, duties, and authority vested in this Association by the laws of the State of New Jersey and not reserved thereby to the general membership.
Delegate authority to the Board of Directors President and/or other Officers to act on behalf of the Association and/or the Board.
Delegate certain authorities to a Conference Planner and Finance Director by resolution of the Board.
Section 9. Duties.
It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to:
Cause to be kept a complete record of all its acts and corporate affairs and to present a statement thereof to the Members at the annual meeting or at any special meeting when such statement is requested in writing by at least 50 voting Members of the Association.
Supervise all Officers and agents of this Association and see to it that their duties are properly performed.
Organize an annual meeting.
At the annual meeting, certify results of the election of Directors.
It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to annually select from among its members a President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
To serve as Board President, a person must be a current Director or Board President and must have served at least two consecutive years as a Director by the time of election. In the event no Director with two consecutive years of experience is willing to serve as President, any current Director may serve.
Officers assume their responsibilities the first day of the second month following the annual meeting.
No Officer shall serve more than four consecutive annual terms in any one office.
The Board may invite the immediate past President to serve as a non-voting Board member for a period not to exceed one year.
Each year appoint, not more than 60 days after the adjournment of the annual meeting of the Association, the various committees of the Association, and designate a chair of each such committee.
The Board shall ensure that one or more Directors oversee Member communications and marketing, Member benefits, training, and vendor relations functions.
As determined by the Board, other committees may be created.
Hold at least two regular board meetings annually.
Promote membership in the Association, collect dues, and maintain records of membership.
IV. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
Section 1. Board of Directors President.
The Board of Directors President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors; shall see that orders and resolutions of the Board are carried out; shall represent the Association and the Board, as instructed by the Board; shall perform all responsibilities delegated to him or her by the Board; shall render an annual report at the annual meeting; and shall see to it that an annual audit is performed by a CPA or an audit committee, unless this requirement is waived by the Board, and shall report on the audit to the Board. The President also shall serve notice of all meetings of the Association and of the Board, or shall delegate this responsibility to others.
Section 2. Secretary.
The Secretary shall record the votes and keep the minutes of all meetings and proceedings of the Board and of the Members; shall keep the corporate seal of the Association and affix it on all papers requiring said seal; shall maintain membership records of the Association; shall oversee all committee activity and make a report on such activity to the President; and shall perform other duties as required by the Board.
Section 3. Treasurer.
The Treasurer, or the Financial Director, shall receive and deposit, within ten banking days, in bank accounts of the Association, all monies of the Association and shall disburse such funds as directed by resolution of the Board of Directors; shall sign all checks and promissory notes of the Association; shall keep proper books of account; shall make available all financial records and shall present an itemized fiscal report at each regular meeting of the Board of Directors; and shall prepare an annual budget and a statement of income and expenditures to be presented to the membership at the regular annual meeting, with printed or electronic copies available for distribution. The Treasurer shall perform all the duties of the President in the absence of the President at any meeting.
V. ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS.
Section 1. Annual Meetings.
An annual meeting of the Association shall be held at a place and time to be determined by the Board prior to the end of the fiscal year.
Section 2. Special Meetings.
Special meetings may be called at any time by the Board of Directors President or by a majority of the full Board, after not less than seven days' notice to each Director, provided that the notice requirement may be set aside by unanimous consent. A special meeting may also be called upon the written request of 50 or more Members in good standing.
Section 3. Notice of Meetings.
The date, hour, location and major purpose of defined meetings of the Association shall be announced in writing (in a newsletter or other written notice, or through electronic media or as published on the Association's official website) to Members. For annual and regular Board meetings, the notice shall be given with 30 or more days' notice. For special meetings, the notice shall be given when the meeting is called.
Section 4. Elections.
The voting rights adhering to a full, voting membership may be exercised by the person in whose name the membership is recorded. In the event of a contested right to vote, the presiding officer of the meeting shall rule.
Any current full, voting Member may nominate any full, voting Member, including himself or herself for the position of Director. A nominee must give assurance of willingness to serve, if elected, and must be nominated in writing or by e-mail to the Board Secretary 50 or more days before the annual meeting. The Secretary or the Secretary's designee must give all nominees a nominee questionnaire which must be completed and returned to the Secretary or designee. Non-incumbent nominees must also submit two (2) written recommendations. All documentation must be submitted within 15 business days of the close of nominations. A Nomination Committee consisting of the Secretary of the Board and at least 2 other Board Members not up for re-election will review the questionnaires and recommendations to verify each nominee's qualifications as provided by these bylaws. The Secretary must compile the verified list of nominees and include them in a ballot along with a brief description, to be distributed to all Members at least 30 days before the annual meeting or published on the Association's official website.
Members authorized to vote shall vote do so by electronic ballot on the Association's official website prior to or during the annual meeting as specified by the Board, or by such means as the Board shall determine.
A candidate for Director must be an established full, voting Member of the Association. No person may serve as Director unless he or she is currently employed by a local government agency within the United States as defined in Article IX, Section 6, nor shall any person serve as both a regional and atlarge member of the Board of Directors simultaneously. Termination of such qualifying employment shall require a Director to resign immediately from the Board.
VI. POWERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
This Association shall exercise only those powers permitted Corporations Not for Profit under the New Jersey statutes as are in furtherance of the purpose or purposes of the Association.
VII. DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS UPON DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution of this Association, all of its assets remaining after paying or making provision for payment of all of the liabilities of the Association shall be distributed exclusively for the purpose or purposes of the Association, in such a manner, or to an organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for any one or more exempt purposes and as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 (c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and as from time to time amended (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Directors shall determine.
VIII. LIMITATIONS
No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its Members, Directors or other private persons, except that the Association shall make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purpose or purposes of the Association.
No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the carrying on of propaganda. The Association shall not participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these bylaws, the Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by (a) a corporation exempt from federal income tax under sections 501 (c) (6) or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue laws).
IX. MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Check Signing.
All checks of an amount exceeding $1,000.00 shall require the signature of two out of three of the following: the Treasurer, the Financial Director or the Board of Directors President; provided that the Board may provide for alternate arrangements.
Section 2. Amendments.
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of all votes cast by mailed or electronic ballots that will be provided to all voting Members of the Association, as well as at a properly called meeting of the Association. Any amendment must first be passed by a majority vote of the full Board of Directors and then a description and arguments, giving various viewpoints, must be distributed in a newsletter or electronically to all Association Members.
Section 3. Superiority of Articles.
In the case of any conflict between the Articles of Incorporation and these bylaws, the Articles shall control.
Section 4. Superiority of Membership Action.
The voting membership, acting by resolution or amendment of the bylaws or Articles, may upon majority vote overrule any decision, policy, or action of the Board.
Section 5. Fiscal year.
The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December of each year.
Section 6. Local Government Defined.
For these purposes, a local government entity is either a political subdivision of a state within the United States or one of its possessions, authorized under state statute to deliver governmental services to citizens, and whose governing council or board is elected by the registered voters within that political subdivision's jurisdiction; or a regional council of local governments holding membership in the National Association of Regional Councils, an affiliate of the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, or the US Conference of Mayors. Also eligible as full voting members are full- or part-time employees of a U.S. state government (SGE), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands, who receive an annual W2 statement from that agency. SGE's may vote and serve on the Board of Directors but are limited to the two (2) At-Large positions.
Section 7. Indemnity.
The Association shall indemnify and hold harmless its Board of Directors, and each Member thereof, all councils and committees composed of Directors of the Association, and each Member thereof, and all other elected, appointed, employed or volunteer representatives of the Association, from any and all claims, liability, judgments, costs, attorney's fees, charges and expenses whatsoever arising from the acts and omissions of same, except to the extent that the Association or its aforementioned representatives cause such claims, liability, judgments, costs, attorney's fees, charges or expenses by their own intentional neglect or default. Further, the Association understands and acknowledges that the Association and its aforementioned representatives have assumed such assignment, function, office or capacity upon the express understanding, agreement and condition that they be so indemnified and held harmless to the extent described in this article.
I, the undersigned, do hereby certify that I am the duly elected Board of Directors President of the National Association of Government Web Professionals, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, and that the foregoing bylaws constitute the bylaws of the said Association as duly adopted at an annual meeting of the Association on September 23, 2005, in Denver, Colorado.
Dated this 22nd Day of September, 2005.
Amended 9/15/06, 9/28/06, 12/15/06, 12/14/07, 9/17/09, 7/3/13, 10/23/15

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Star Wars Battlefront 2 - Review Roundup
The embargo for Star Wars Battlefront 2 has ended and critics who were able to experience the campaign and dive into the multiplayer have already given final scores while some are giving thoughts about it as their review is still in progress.
The overall verdict so far? Bigger in content but the progression system sounds like a problem. Thanks to its controversial loot box system that could make the game feel like a Pay to Win experience, what we feared when we played the game during the beta might hurt the game's player base in the long term.
Here's the roundup:
Gamespot: "The biggest problem with this system is that it's never clearly explained. While you'll eventually come to understand how credits, crystals, and crafting components are used, you'll still have to reconcile the fact that the time you invest in the game won't always be rewarded with progress, or at least in the way you want." - 6/10 (Review still in progress)
GamesRadar: " Exceptionally polished and entertaining multiplayer, with an unfulfilling campaign tacked on" - 4/5
Telegraph: "Fabulous fan-service marred by commercial concerns" -3/5
Eurogamer: "DICE goes big in a Call of Duty-baiting package that's as maddening, uneven and spectacular as the Star Wars films themselves."
IGN: "If I'm looking for a rich Star Wars story alongside a deep competitive shooter, this definitely isn't it. But in terms of delivering on that Star Wars fantasy, jumping from corner to corner of the galaxy to see as much as it has to offer, Battlefront 2 succeeds in a very fun way. I'm just not sure there's enough here to keep me interested for very long. " - no score yet (review in progress)
USGamer: "Battlefront 2's good qualities have been obscured by the neverending loot box saga, but they shouldn't be forgotten. It's just a pity that they aren't front and center where they should be." - 3.5/5
PCgamer: "A fun campaign, over-complicated progression, and a strange multiplayer flagship" - No score yet (review in progress)
Polygon: "Our full review will be coming soon. But in the meantime, after playing a limited selection of single- and multiplayer parts of Battlefront 2, I'm optimistic that this game will find favor with fans of the last game, as well as with Star Wars enthusiasts who are looking for a varied world that caters to different skill levels. "
Gaming Trend: "The campaign, while disappointing, is a small part of the complete package. There is enough content to keep you busy for dozens of hours, but the progression system may need an overhaul if EA wants to keep a strong multiplayer audience engaged." - 80/100
VentureBeat: "Star Wars: Battlefront II tries to straddle the hardcore and casual audiences. It succeeds some of the time, and it also fails some of the time. So far, the cut scenes in the single-player campaign are excellent, but I'm waiting to get into some really fun gameplay." - No score yet (review in progress)
I jumped in to buy the first game on day one and that's something I will never see myself doing again, especially with a title that's more multiplayer-focused. For the sequel, it might be worth just looking out from afar to see how it turns out in the end.
Star Wars: Battlefront 2 will be out on November 17, 2017 on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Any new reviews that needs to be on the list? Hit the comments below and we will update the post as soon as we can. Also, we will update all reviews that's currently in progress with their final verdict when it goes live.
Star Wars: Battlefront 2, EA, DICE
The 2017 Game Awards Nominees are In
Steam Added More Than 6,000 Games ...


Scientists have mapped the complete chimp genome and are comparing it to the human genome to see what sets the two species apart. What do you think?
"Finally, we might begin to get some answers to… to… you know, all our most pressing chimp questions."
"Can I use this information to make my arms longer but not hairier?"
"This is secular humanism at its worst. What about mapping Christ's genome?"


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Home>Members>Professional practice>Toolbox>Claims adjustment
3. Condominium Checklist for Claims Adjusters 3. Condominium Checklist for Claims Adjusters http://chad.ca/en/members/professional-practice/toolbox/claims-adjustment/461/3-condominium-checklist-for-claims-adjusters
Before accepting a mandate, it is important for claims adjusters to take into account the limits of their abilities and knowledge and the means available to them to deal with the claim (section 26 of the Code of Ethics of Claims Adjusters) in order to provide the insured with the service he or she is entitled to from a professional.
This applies, in particular, to claims involving co-ownerships (often referred to as "condominiums"). In fact, due to the many parties involved (claimants, insurers, claims adjusters, directors of the syndicate, and suppliers) and the specificities of the legislation and insurance contracts, managing a condominium claim may call for a different approach.
The Condominium Checklist for Claims Adjusters provides a non-extensive list of crucial, condominium-related questions you need to ask yourself in order to successfully deal with condominium claims.
For more information, see the following document:
Condominium Checklist for Claims Adjusters (February 2016)
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In addition to being one of the most legendary entertainers this country has ever seen, Bing Crosby was also the ultimate celebrity golfer. Crosby played nearly every day, was a member at 75(!) different clubs, and created the pro-am format that now exists at nearly every tour stop.
Having had such an impact on the game, it should come as no surprise that there are countless entertaining stories involving Crosby and golf. And now thanks to his son, Nathaniel, you can read all about them. Nathaniel's new book with John Strege, 18 Holes With Bing: Golf, Life, And Lessons From Dad (Harper Collins/Dey Street Books) is now available, and it's a fascinating look at the superstar's obsession with the game, his commitment to his country, and his love for his family.


text:
Home News Throwaway quotes damage agriculture & investment
Throwaway quotes damage agriculture & investment
Sean Christie (additional reporting by Robyn Joubert
However, these organisations also warned that the vocalisation of minority agendas embarrasses government and inflicts lasting damage on agriculture.
"The success of any investment policy depends on the preservation of property rights," said CEO of the SA Poultry Association Kevin Lovell. "It's our view that these statements about turning productive land into a 'national asset' are not the view of the state, but merely of an arm of the state, and that the freehold system will remain intact."
Stone Sizani, chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform, said the department spoke out of turn when it tabled the controversial proposal. He pointed out that such plans did not exist "within ANC structures". He said the public debate should wait until after the Green Paper on land reform was tabled.
"At last, it has become clear that officials in the department are pushing an agenda which is not mandated," said Agri SA deputy president Dr Theo de Jager. He said the time had come for government to speak with one voice on land reform to avoid further embarrassment.
Dr de Jager said he was aware of five foreign companies that had chosen to disinvest in South African agriculture as a result of land reform director-general Thozi Gwanya's statements. "I won't name them because these companies retain an interest in doing business in South Africa on some level, but what I can say at a thumbsuck is that their withdrawal represents a disinvestment of well over R100 million.
"I can also say that comments like Gwanya's have sown unease particularly among German, Dutch and Israeli companies that are active in Lowveld food processing. We're reliant on these players for bringing new technology into the country, as well as for the market access they open in their home countries. It's of great concern to us that throwaway comments about nationalising land will narrow market access to these countries."
Meanwhile, individual confusion about the strategic plan still remains, with many saying it has had an impact on morale.
"He's nuts!" vented a South Coast macadamia and banana farmer. "The first thing I want to know is will they pay us for land or just nationalise it? How will we borrow money from the bank if the land isn't even ours? If they give farmers a 99-year lease like they do in Mozambique that would maybe make sense, but to give a short lease for a crop that has a five- or 10-year cycle is crazy."
A Midlands citrus farmer said, "There's really no incentive to reinvest in your land and to make long-term investments like road maintenance and dam construction. Food security isn't created by having access to land. It's created by people who know how to produce food and have incentives to do it." – Sean Christie
(Additional reporting by Robyn Joubert)


I have nothing to write or say.
If you want to know how I CAN write, how much I reflect on my job, my rôle, education and "all things learning", feel free to read back through my blog. Lots of people have told me that I write well. That I inspire, help, teach through my writing.
But just now, I am not doing too well. I feel low, tired and the much-needed holidays didn't really refresh me.
So I am writing this to say that just now, I can't write.
I can't see much point in it.
I have been here before and I will get back to somewhere better.
I will manage the day job just fine and I will find solace in the classroom, in teaching the subject I love and in helping lead my school.
There isn't space for much else.
Don't worry and don't ask.
But above all, don't think that anyone is immune from not living up to what the world (or perhaps the world of their inner critical voice) expects.
Another outing for this one.
In the summer holidays we often reflect on whether the job we are in the right one, or whether we should have a re-think.
1. Do you like children and are you able to love each one as if they were related to you?
2. Do you like hard work?
3. Do you like working in a team of adults?
4. Are you self-aware and self-reflective?
5. Do you understand your own behaviour and its impact on others?
6. Do you genuinely value inclusion and equity?
7. Are you able to see beyond fads and trends and stay committed to your values and evidence based research?
9. If you have never worked outside of education, are you willing to work hard to research and understand other ways of being?
10. Are you able to say sorry?


We entered in business since 1975. murickens realtor is the first free listing property dealer having a very good web portal for land transaction www.murickens.com with thousands of property details in different districts of Kerala and other state with the category of house with land ,residential land, commercial building with land ,kerala estate ,kerala flat, resort and hotels, low cost land , immediate sale land expecilay kerala district like Kottayam district land , Ernakulam district land,Pathanamthitta,Idukki,Alapuzha,Kollam, Thiruvanathapuram,Thrissur,Palakkad,Kannur,Malappuram,Kozhikode,Vyanadu,Kasarcode, out of kerala.
Our Head Office situated in Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam District. Our Branches are in Nattakom (Kottayam), Palarivattom (Ernakulam), Pandalam (Pathanamthitta) and representative officials at Bombay and USA.
India's first free listing web site for real estate to know kerala house, kerala estate, kerala house plots, kerala resort and hotels, kerala flats, kerala commercial land and building etc visit muricken's web site www.murickens.com. You can find in different spells like muricken, murikkan, murikans, kerala real estate agency etc….


Fan Room 9 spacious fan cooled rooms furnished with a double bed, twin beds or both double and single bed with individual bathroom and hot and cold shower facilities.
Air-Con Room 6 spacious air-conditioned rooms furnished with double bed, twin beds or both double and single bed with individual bathroom and hot and cold shower facilities and cable TV.
Cottage 3 spacious fan cooled nipa hut cottages with private verandah, furnished with double bed or double and single bed with individual bathroom and hot and cold shower facilities.
Family Villa A large 2 story native structure with marble flooring on the ground floor. Family villa has one double and six twin size beds, marbled bathroom with hot and cold shower facilities and cable TV. Verandah overlooking resort garden area.
Private Villas (Opened 1 February '09) 4 native two story, condo-type private villas with bedroom-kitchen-living room-private veranda. One queen and one twin size bed with private hot and cold shower facilities in upscale bathroom. Enjoy the sunset view and partial sea view located on hillside directly behind ORCHIDS RESORT and a short 2-3 minute walk to the 'WHITE BEACH'.
Except Private Villas -- All rooms are furnished with night lampshades and native bamboo closets. Curtains are designed with native batik fabrics. Cable TV is available upon request with a minimal daily rate, applicable for fan rooms and cottages only.


South Georgia Technical College Practical Nursing graduates stand on the stage during their pinning ceremony and recite the Nurse's Pledge.
Just before ushering in a new class for the Fall 2018 semester, South Georgia Technical College's (SGTC) practical nursing program on the Americus campus held a pinning ceremony for its 11 graduates recently. The ceremony, held in the John M. Pope Center of the college's Americus campus, honored the students for completing the program and pinned them as the newest members of the practical nursing brother and sisterhood.
Program graduates during the Summer 2018 ceremony included: Noah Anderson of Richland, Lauren Ard of Americus, Taylor Bennett of Ellaville, Jameica Davis of Plains, Chelsea Durham-Cruz of Americus, Holly Hale of Ideal, Brittany Mutcherson of Americus, Amari Sheriff of Fort Valley, Robin Stukes of Americus, Ashton Singletary Tatum of Americus and Kayla Ware of Americus.
The ceremony began with a welcome from SGTC President Dr. John Watford, who offered congratulations to the graduates and thanked the families and supporters for being present at the event.
"Your graduates up here have gone through a lot – they have worked long hours at clinicals and have spent long nights studying … Thank you for supporting them along the way, and I know that they will always appreciate it," he said.
Graduate Lauren Ard delivered the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance before instructor Jennifer Childs stood to address her class and the audience with a class overview.
After speaking about the students, guest speaker and LPN class of 2011 graduate Clint Storey stood to speak to the students and congratulate them on their accomplishment. Graduate Taylor Bennett introduced him to the audience.
Storey told his story – of how he graduated high school and went on to get an Associate's degree in art, a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and a Master's degree in business. He lived in Atlanta, had a nice house and drove a nice car. Then the recession hit.
After interviewing for several jobs and being told he was overqualified for many of them, he decided to change career paths, thanks to his sister, who graduated from the same LPN program at SGTC in 1991.
"I originally thought, 'why in the world would I want to be a nurse?' But I attended an information session and decided to apply … fast-forward nine years, and that's where we are now. I went back to school, finished a BSN at Georgia Southwestern. Then I went to work in cardiology and found out that wasn't for me. So I went back to school at South University where I just finished my Master's in family nurse practitioners, and just like you, I'm waiting to take the state boards.
Following Storey's address, instructors Childs and Christine Rundle, as well as Academic Dean Vanessa Wall, presented the pins to each of the program graduates. One by one, the graduates stepped onto the stage to receive their pin from the instructors or from a loved-one who is also in the medical field.
After each of the graduates had received their pin, they joined fellow graduate Amari Sheriff on the stage as they recited the Nurse's Pledge and participated in the traditional Lighting of the Lamp – which is representative of the lamp carried by Florence Nightingale.
After the students blew their candles out, Rundle delivered closing remarks, thanking each of the graduates for the opportunity to teach them and wishing them luck in their endeavors. Graduate Kayla Ware delivered the final prayer and benediction.
Upon completion of the program, the graduates are now eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN state board exams to become official Licensed Practical Nurses. The exam consists of 85 to 205 questions and tests all areas in the nursing profession to assure practical nurses have obtained the knowledge to practice safely in clinical settings.
For more information about admission to the competitive SGTC Practical Nursing program, call 229-931-2299 or 229-271-4051. South Georgia Tech currently offers over 200 different associate degree, diploma, and short term technical certificate of credit classes. Enroll today and get ahead in your chosen career. For more information about South Georgia Technical College and its programs of study, visit the website at: www.southgatech.edu.
For more photos, visit our photo gallery.


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Own a Go Burrito!
The Go Burrito! Story!
Visiting Go Burrito is like running to your favorite beach and grabbing a lunchtime burrito from one of the burrito shacks – fresh, made to order and FULL of Cali-style flavor! It might make you wonder how a California style burrito shack hit the map in North Carolina, all the way across the country? Well, the owners of Go Burrito, Mikey and Lily Wetzel, grew up in sunny California. OK, maybe that's too far back, but really any good burrito story needs to have ties to California, the land of surfing, terminators, and big ol' burritos. Mikey and Lily actually met after college up in Seattle, where Mikey had a 16-year career in video games, working on the Xbox team for Microsoft. They ditched the high cost of left-coast living for relaxing lakefront property on High Rock Lake in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Family members would visit and, enjoying the NC sun and small-town lifestyle, decide to join them. Mikey's sister made the move and they explored the idea of opening a candy store together in historic downtown Salisbury. While looking for commercial space for lease, we found a building for sale setup as a sandwich shop (the former Carousel Cafe). That sparked an idea, and after a session of crunching numbers like computers nerds like to do, there was a lot of appeal in starting a restaurant.
They instantly thought of a little burrito shack since there was nothing like that in town. The name Go Burrito and the slogan of "Go Fast. Go Fresh. Go Burrito." came almost instantly. Longing for a good California-style burrito, they went to work making Go Burrito a reality.
They hired an architect and an awesome local builder, and got to work. As in any build-out, there were obstacles and challenges like having their original plan rejected by the city, but most obstacles turned out to be blessings in disguise. After the rejection of the original plans, the architect literally went back to the drawing board and created a new plan that ended up with the first Go Burrito having the only rooftop patio and bar within 50 miles.
About a year in the making from concept to construction, the doors of the first Go Burrito opened in February 2013. When Microsoft wanted to move Mikey back to Seattle, he made the leap to full-time entrepreneur, focusing 100% on Go Burrito. And what a wonderful decision that was!
Because of this cross-country lifetime journey, the Wetzels found a home, not only in Salisbury, but in Go Burrito. Today, they share the Go Burrito opportunity with other like-minded entrepreneurs, helping them fulfill their dreams of owning and running their own business.
Home About Contact Franchising
© 2019 Go Burrito #1 LLC.. All Rights Reserved. We love you, too!


Give your home a unique look with the 72" Madeline Double Vanity. Featuring a solid hardwood cabinet finished in a warm Cherry finish, this vanity boasts stability and incomparable durability. Its marble countertop is matched with two rectangular vessel sinks and offers six pull-out drawers and a large double-door cabinet. It also comes with a large matching mirror to complete the look!


Patrick Reardon is originally from St. Louis, MO where he attended St. Louis Priory, a Benedictine boy's high school. He moved in Dallas in 2014 where he attended the University of Dallas, a liberal arts university centered on the classical pursuit of Truth, Justice, and Wisdom. He graduated with a B.A. in English Literature in 2018.
Mr. Reardon has a deep appreciation for film, animation, baseball, psychology, and, of course, literature. His favorite work is Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the great American novel.


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Q: Base R plot legend from different df than plot, help needed First time posting a question and relatively new to R, so bear with me please. Im building a loop that will take 2 columns at a time to calculate symmetric pivot coordinates (isometric log-ratios) from around 50 variables and produces one xy plot per loop. I have two questions regarding to the plotting. 1) I managed to get loop working and plot diagrams using base R plot, with colored sample points based on variable in column 1 (Cluster). I am struggling with the legend as while it takes the names of the cluster from the column but the colors are not produced expect for one cluster. Any help? 2) I would prefer using ggplot in this loop but it is not working, can anybody help with that? So the loop will create dataframe Z with two columns with calculated pivot coordinated from two variables in df. In the plot, these variables are plotted from Z but will need to get the names from df along with points colored based on column 1 in df.
set.seed(42)  ## for sake of reproducibility
df_syn <- as.data.frame(matrix(runif(n=50, min=1, max=20), nrow=10))
names(df_syn) <- c('A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E')
df_cr <- data.frame(Cluster=c('A', 'A', 'B', 'B', 'C', 'C', 'C', 'C', 'A', 'B'))
df_syn <- cbind(df_cr, df_syn)
D <- ncol(df_syn[, 2:6])
for (i in 2:D) {
  for (j in 2:D) {
    if (i == j) {
      plot(0, 0, type="n", xaxt="n", yaxt="n")
      text(0, 0, names(df_syn[i]))
    } else {
      Z <- robCompositions::pivotCoord(df_syn[, c(i, j, 2:D[-c(i, j)])], method="symm")
      plot(Z[, 1:2],
           xlab=paste(colnames(df_syn[i])), ylab=paste(colnames(df_syn[j])), col=factor(df_syn$Cluster), pch=19)
      legend("bottomright", legend=unique(df_syn[, 1]), pch=19, ncol=1, col=factor(df_syn$Cluster))
    }
  }
}

A: This is actually an easy fix. You specified col=factor(df_syn$Cluster), which gives 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 1, 2, and since just the first three elements are needed, you get black, black, red. What you want ist unique(factor(df_syn$Cluster)).
par(mfrow=c(D - 1, D - 1))
for (i in 2:D) {
  for (j in 2:D) {
    if (i == j) {
      plot(0, 0, type="n", xaxt="n", yaxt="n")
      text(0, 0, names(df_syn[i]))
    } else {
      Z <- robCompositions::pivotCoord(df_syn[, c(i, j, 2:D[-c(i, j)])], method="symm")
      plot(Z[, 1:2],
           xlab=paste(colnames(df_syn[i])), ylab=paste(colnames(df_syn[j])), col=factor(df_syn$Cluster), pch=19)
      legend("bottomright", legend=unique(df_syn[, 1]), pch=19, ncol=1, col=unique(factor(df_syn$Cluster)))
    }
  }
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Are you ready to Rave against Racism?
Party people who know their way around northern England will remember the legendary raves that Headcharge used to throw at the Arches in Sheffield before the venue sadly closed down a few years ago.
Now Jamie Headcharge is working flat out with former Spannered organiser James P to put the final touches on a new project, Rave Against Racism, which has its launch party on 24 May at The Corporation in Sheffield with headliners including The Orb and Mixmaster Morris. There is also a London Rave Against Racism event being launched on 22 May at the Electrowerkz – a venue that is well familiar to Ravetalk readers as the monthly venue for Bang Face.
Ravetalk caught up with Jamie to ask him a few quick questions about the Sheffield event.
Ravetalk: Why "Rave against Racism" when raves have no particular history of racism? Rock Against Racism was started when Eric Clapton spoke out in support of the NF and Bowie gave Nazi salutes on his return from Berlin. Aren't ravers naturally against racism in the first place?
Jamie: That is the most important point and one that we have had the most questions about.
I'm 39, I've been going to raves since the year dot and only ever remember one racist incident in that time which was a rather distasteful joke about Stephen Lawrence just after he was murdered which got stamped on rather quickly.
Racism is something that just goes against the ethos of what raves are about. In fact if you look into the history of the word rave its been used as a term for people having a party since the Jazz days of the 1930s and co-opted by many different styles of music since. It's got to be said that in this country it was white kids dancing to black music or music that was influenced by black artists from , Rock n Roll, Blues, Soul and all that Jazz that made people get together and dance. Music has the power to break down boundaries between people and cultures and is something I will explore a bit further on.
What Clapton said was a disgrace and it's even more of a disgrace that he has still not apologised for it all these years later.
Some people are under the impression that we are campaigning against racism at raves which would be pointless because there isn't any. What we are trying to do is get the people who go to raves more involved in anti-racist groups in their community.
R: What do you plan to do next after the launch raves?
J: The money we raise at our gig is going to a local community radio station called Sheffield Live. Like most community groups they are having funding problems and, with the London Olympics making it increasingly difficult to get lottery funding, they are not able to cover all the areas they would like to. Any money we raise will be ring-fenced and only used with youth groups and schools to give kids the chance to make radio shows that will be broadcast whether, its drama, music etc.
We want to focus on Anti-Bullying and Anti-Racism and if possible for the work to be done in the areas where the BNP have been trying to gain a stronghold in Sheffield. I've always believed that if you get kids at a young age doing something positive and constructive with arts or music it can start to mend some of the racist poison that comes down from family and friends at that age. Certainly worked for me, and we are looking at doing a 14-17 Rave Against Racism along the same lines.
R: Any political plans at all?
It would be very easy to go down the political path if we wanted to and I have various long standing links to several anti far right groups, websites and organisations who would no doubt support us but as it is we are totally independent and prefer it that way.
There are European elections taking place in a few weeks and in this country the BNP only need to take between 8.5%-12% of the vote in various places to gain several Euro MPs. This will give them a massive boost in funding, access to many more resources to spread their lies and an air of legitimacy to the poison they spout. This can only be stopped by people voting and the more people who vote for whichever party they support, the less chance the BNP have of reaching the percentage of the vote they need.
Line-up details and more discussion in our Raves & Parties forum.


Grant to help countries develop drug and vaccine programs to be used globally BOSTON, MA — Management Sciences for Health (MSH) will use a $29.9 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to improve the drug supply systems of developing countries and create new public-private models that will promote sustainable, equitable access to priority drugs and vaccines throughout the world.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA — This year, the eyes of the world again turned to South Africa. From the launch of the African Union and the World Conference on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to the continuing battle against HIV/AIDS and the food crisis in the region, 2002 was an exciting and challenging year.


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HomeMajor boost to IAF and Indian NavyMajor boost to IAF, Navy: Govt seals deal to procure more Astra Mk I BVRAAMs
Major boost to IAF, Navy: Govt seals deal to procure more Astra Mk I BVRAAMs
byIndia's growing Military power - IgMp May 31, 2022
Source : Times Now
Astra MK 1 Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missiles (BVRAAMs)
New Delhi: In a shot in the arm for the armed forces, Defence Ministry on Tuesday signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Ltd for the supply of ASTRA MK-I Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air to Air Missile (AAM) and associated equipment for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy at a cost of Rs 2971 crores. The deal is being viewed as a major boost to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.
ASTRA is a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) class of Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) system designed to be mounted on fighter aircraft. The missile is designed to engage and destroy highly manoeuvering supersonic aircraft. The missile has all weather day and night capability. The ASTRA Mk-I Weapon System can be fitted to SU-30 Mk-I fighter aircraft.
In 2019, DRDO successfully flight tested 'Astra' from Su-30 MKI platform off the coast of Chandipur.
Astra BVRAAM has range of more than 100 kms with modern guidance and navigation techniques. The missile has midcourse guidance and RF seeker based terminal guidance to achieve target destruction with pin point accuracy.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed the ASTRA MK-I BVR AAM based on the requirements issued by the IAF catering for Beyond Visual Range as well as close combat engagement reducing the dependency on foreign sources.
Astra Missile is designed to be launched from fighter aircraft like SU-30, Mirage-2000, MIG-29, LCA-Tejas etc. Astra missile system is developed to neutralise aerial targets such as F-16 aircraft. Filled warheads have been successfully tested for static and dynamic performance.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has played a role in modifying the aircraft for weapon integration. More than 50 public and private industries have contributed in building the Astra weapon system.
"The Transfer of Technology from DRDO to BDL for production of ASTRA MK-I missile and all associated systems has been completed and production at BDL is in progress. This project will act as a catalyst for development of Infrastructure and Testing facilities at BDL. It will also create opportunities for several MSMEs in aerospace technology for a period of at least 25 years. The project essentially embodies the spirit of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and will help facilitate realising the country's journey towards self-reliance in Air to Air Missiles," the defence ministry said in its release.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat Astra Mk1 BVRAAM Govt seals deal to procure more Astra Mk1 BVRAAMs Indian Defence Technology Indian Missile Technology Major boost to IAF and Indian Navy


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When the spare tire is better
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In the aftermath of typhoon Ulysses that caused massive flooding in many parts of Luzon, the stellar efforts of Vice President Leni Robredo to help out calamity victims have been the talk of the town, so much so that the President dedicated a portion of his most recent TV appearance disparaging her for making it appear that she was in charge, not him.
Presidential mouthpiece Harry Roque even alluded to the term 'spare tire' in describing the Vice-President in a follow-up attack.
The actual term is 'Presidential spare tire' – a rarely used term and more commonly used by political commentators, lawyers, political scientists, and teachers of the subject Philippine Constitution in college.
It comes from the following provision of the 1987 Constitution:
SECTION 3. There shall be a Vice-President who shall have the same qualifications and term of office and be elected with and in the same manner as the President. He may be removed from office in the same manner as the President.
The Vice-President may be appointed as a Member of the Cabinet. Such appointment requires no confirmation.
Nowhere else in the Constitution can one find a more clear or distinct job description for the Vice-President. If he/she is not appointed to a Cabinet position, the Vice-President has literally nothing else to do except to wait to assume the presidency in case of the death, disability, or resignation of the incumbent President.
An excellent briefer on the Office of the Vice-President by Manuel Quezon III, tell of its colorful history, noteworthy is that the first Vice-President not appointed to any cabinet position was Diosdado Macapagal as he was from party different from the President's.
Coming back to Vice-President Leni Robredo, she was once appointed to Cabinet as head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council back in July 2016. On December 4, 2016 she was informed not to attend all Cabinet meetings anymore which led to her resignation from the Cabinet the day after.
Since then, the Vice-President has been doing what she can with what little her office has from helping healthcare workers to get much-needed PPEs and transportation when the COVID-19 pandemic caused a severe lockdown in Luzon to the more recent rescue and relief efforts in the aftermath of typhoon Ulysses.
As I have said before:
The fact that @lenirobredo is doing so much with so little means there's a LEADERSHIP VACUUM: the President has failed to exercise leadership, his Cabinet is unable to move on their own, not even the glorified alalay has been of any use.
— Jay (@jhayrocas) November 14, 2020
Naturally and thankfully, the Vice-President has stepped up and shown what real leadership is.
Tags Constitution, Government, Leadership, Philippines, Politics, Vice-President
Will Philippine media do a News Night 2.0?
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The role of journalists and in particular the manner of how they report on the President's public statements have become the focus of discussion on Twitter in the morning after Duterte's most recent address wherein he launched into another diatribe against Vice President Leni Robredo for upstaging him with her efforts of helping out the victims of the two recent typhoons that ravaged Luzon causing massive flooding, damages, and loss of life. Worse, Duterte's tirade was based largely on wrong information that was given to him by his own cabinet officials.
Aside from Duterte who was once more ridiculed and called out for his lies, misogyny and uncouth behavior, veteran journalist Joseph Morong got some flak for allegedly reporting what the President said as he said them without even bothering to fact-check the statements or applying context. Such is the peril of covering the President who is known for his incoherent and at times unfiltered public statements. Rather than interpreting, Joseph Morong has just reported what the President said nearly verbatim. Which is the sensible thing to do to avoid being called out for being 'too biased' with his reporting.
Simply put, don't shoot the messenger as the veteran journalist still deserve some credit for his honest coverage of the President.
However, the larger issue remains: when would Philippine media and journalists step up its efforts in covering the President in a true journalistic fashion:
(UN)COVERING THE PRESIDENT: If an uncouth President makes false claims and sexist tirades, news media organizations should either cut away or fact-check on the spot. This is a fundamental lesson in journalism ethics. Media owners, gatekeepers and reporters should step up.
— Danilo Arao (@dannyarao) November 17, 2020
And it's something that is not hard to as just recently, the world was impressed by US media and journalists for calling out Trump for his baseless accusations of election-rigging after being denied a second term by Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Weeks before the US Presidential elections, there was a hint of this, 'journalistic reboot' from ABS-CBN News chief Ging Reyes that headlined a story that was largely ignored by the public and media itself:
"Media fed our audience too much entertainment. We're guilty of that."
It quickly reminded me of the opening scene in an episode of The Newsroom on which fictional cable news anchor Will McAvoy gave an inspiring apology in the same vein:
It opened with a clip of Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism chief to President George W. Bush, testifying before the US Congress on March 24, 2004, in which he basically apologized to the American people for the failure of their government to stop terrorists from carrying out the Sept 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. The full transcript I reproduce below along with a clip of the episode:
"I welcome these hearings because of the opportunity that they provide to the American people to better understand why the tragedy of 9/1 1 happened and what we must do to prevent a reoccurrence.
I also welcome the hearings because it is finally a forum where I can apologize to the loved ones of the victims of 9/1 1.
To them who are here in the room, to those who are watching on television, your government failed you.
Those entrusted with protecting you failed you.
And I failed you."
"I welcome these hearings because of the opportunity that they provide to the American people to better understand why the tragedy of 9/1 1 happened and what we must do to prevent a reoccurrence. I also welcome the hearings because it is finally a forum where I can apologize to the loved ones of the victims of 9/1 1. To them who are here in the room, to those who are watching on television, your government failed you. Those entrusted with protecting you failed you. And I failed you."
Will McAvoy:
Americans liked that moment.
I liked that moment.
Adults should hold themselves accountable for failure.
And so tonight I'm beginning this newscast by joining Mr. Clarke in apologizing to the American people for our failure.
The failure of this program during the time I've been in charge of it to successfully inform and educate the American electorate.
Let me be clear that I don't apologize on behalf of all broadcast journalists, nor do all broadcast journalists owe an apology.
I speak for myself.
I was an accomplice to a slow and repeated and unacknowledged and un-amended train wreck of failures
that have brought us to now.
I'm a leader in an industry that miscalled election results, hyped-up terror scares, ginned up controversy, and failed to report on tectonic shifts in our country.
From the collapse of the financial system to the truths about how strong we are to the dangers we actually face.
I'm a leader in an industry that misdirected your attention with the dexterity of Harry Houdini, while sending hundreds of thousands of our bravest young men and women off to war without due diligence.
The reason we failed isn't a mystery.
We took a dive for the ratings.
In the infancy of mass communication, the Columbus and Magellan of broadcast journalism, William Paley and David Sarnoff, went down to Washington to cut a deal with Congress.
Congress would allow the fledgling networks free use of taxpayer-owned airwaves in exchange for one public service.
That public service would be one hour of air time set aside every night for informational broadcasting, or what we now call the evening news. Congress, unable to anticipate the enormous capacity television would have to deliver consumers to advertisers, failed to include in its deal the one requirement that would have changed our national discourse immeasurably for the better.
Congress forgot to add that under no circumstances could there be paid advertising during informational broadcasting.
They forgot to say that taxpayers will give you the airwaves for free, and for 23 hours a day, you should make a profit,
but for one hour a night, you work for us. And now those network newscasts, anchored through history by honest-to-God newsmen with names like Murrow and Reasoner and Huntley and Brinkley and Buckley and Cronkite and Rather
and Russert, now they have to compete with the likes of me, a cable anchor who's in the exact same business as the producers of Jersey Shore.
And that business was good to us, but News Night is quitting that business right now. It might come as a surprise to you
that some of history's greatest American journalists are working right now, exceptional minds with years of experience and an unshakeable devotion to reporting the news.
But these voices are a small minority now and they don't stand a chance against the circus, when the circus comes to town. They're overmatched.
I'm quitting the circus, switching teams.
I'm going with the guys who are getting creamed.
I'm moved they still think they can win, and I hope they can teach me a thing or two.
From this moment on, we'll be deciding what goes on our air
and how it's presented to you based on the simple truth that nothing is more important to a democracy than a well-informed electorate.
We'll endeavor to put information in a broader context because we know that very little news is born at the moment it comes across our wire.
We'll be the champion of facts and the mortal enemy of innuendo, speculation, hyperbole, and nonsense.
We're not waiters in a restaurant serving you the stories you asked for, just the way you like them prepared.
Nor are we computers dispensing only the facts because news is only useful in the context of humanity.
I'll make no effort to subdue my personal opinions.
I will make every effort to expose you to informed opinions that are different from my own.
You may ask, "Who are we to make these decisions?"
We are MacKenzie McHale and myself.
Ms. McHale is our executive producer. She marshals the resources of over 100 reporters, producers, analysts, and technicians, and her credentials are readily available.
I'm News Night's managing editor, and make the final decision on everything seen and heard on this program.
Who are we to make these decisions?
We're the media elite.
We'll be back after this with the news."
Will ABS-CBN make good on the apology of its News chief shape up and step up to what the fictional Will McAvoy and his news program did in the Newsroom and be more objective, critical and be 'damned good newsmen'?
Or am I just being too naive into thinking that the network will do such a thing? After what it has been through – suffering a major blow from Duterte, losing billions of revenue, its stable of talents decimated, losing hundreds of employees and making do with online streaming and piggy-backing on other network's broadcasts, maybe it finally saw this as a wake up call. Had it done a much better job of informing the electorate about the monster that is Duterte, maybe it would not have gone through this dark chapter.
Here's a clip of that opening scene:
Tags Aaron Sorkin, Duterte, Elections, Journalism, Media, News, Philippines, Politics, The Newsroom
From Russia with vaccine
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The image above sums up the process of how a vaccine is developed. Now that we're living in a global pandemic, a vaccine is seen as something that will bring an end to lockdowns, economic downturns, and a return to normalcy. Hence the next image:
Scientists and vaccine makers around the world are racing to make one that is safe and effective against SARS-CoV-2 with the World Health Organization leading the global effort at an unprecedented pace. At the moment, there are more than 165 vaccines being developed of which 31 are in various stages of human trials.
The latest to grab international headlines is dubbed Sputnik-V which was announced by no less than Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 11 as 'ready for public use.' Much like how the first Sputnik satellite drew global attention back in 1957, Russia's COVID-19 vaccine brought much shock and awe the world over.
The shock as scientists and medical experts has condemned Russia's approval of a COVID-19 vaccine that has skipped Stage 3 phase of clinical trials. Apart from the risks of side effects that could be harmful, a vaccine that turns out to be ineffective could undermine immunization efforts the world over and not just against the coronavirus. This would even play into the hands of anti-vaxxers to further their agenda. Overall, it threatens global health atop of the natural threat that is COVID-19 which has already killed millions, destroyed livelihoods, and caused worldwide suffering.
It didn't help that President Durterte was quick to announce that Russia would be supplying the vaccine to the Philippines, something that he has been desperately clinging on to as his administration has struggled and miserably failed to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Never mind that even Russian health experts have voiced their opposition to fast-tracking Sputnik-V, Duterte even volunteered to be the first Filipino to get injected.
Days after his late-night address, his spokesperson confirmed that indeed the Philippines would be participating in the Phase III trials for the Russian vaccine. Ironic since the administration has used another controversial vaccine – Dengvaxia, to score political points against the opposition.
If this is not madness, I don't know what else is.
Tags COVID-19, Government, Philippines, Politics, Public health, Russia, SARS-CoV-2, Sputnik V, Vaccines, WHO
Myth: Filipinos lack discipline
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Three data sets utterly destroy the government's mantra that Filipinos lack discipline and that this is the reason why COVID-19 cases – despite having the longest lock down in the world, continue to increase by the thousands each day.
A survey by the Institute of Global Health Innovation of the Imperial College London in partnership with YouGov came up with the following figures:
91% wore masks when they were outside
83% washed hands w/ soap & water
77% avoided crowded areas
61% avoided going out in general
70% avoided touching objects in public
Google's COVID-19 Community Mobility Report (pdf) based on "aggregated, anonymized sets of data from users who have turned on the location history setting" for their Google Account paints a similar picture covering the period of June 2 to July 14:
46% decline in retail & recreation areas, including restaurants, cafes, shopping centers, theme parks, museums, libraries and movie theaters
20% decline in places like grocery markets, food warehouses, farmers markets, specialty food shops, drug stores and pharmacies
25% decline in places like national parks, public beaches, marinas, dog parks, plazas, and public gardens.
56% decline in places like public transport hubs such as subways, bus, and train stations.
44% decline for places of work
23% increase for places of residence. In other words, Filipinos stayed at home.
Marlen V. Ronquillo in his The Manila Times column talks about how a recent survey by the Asian Development Bank 'shatter the myth that Filipinos are pasaway':
63.2% decrease in mobility – Filipinos stayed at home even in the congested areas where at least 10 people are crammed inside a small shanty.
A couple of days ago, Vince Dizon, the so-called 'testing czar' regurgitated the myth that 'discipline' is the key to beating COVID-19. He casually dismissed testing, contact tracing, strengthening the health care system and using available technology as essential tools against the coronavirus. It is bad enough that up until now, public health experts have taken a back seat in the government's response against COVID-19, it's infuriating to hear such ridiculous notions from those who are put in such a position.
I have said it before and will say it again, from the experience of other countries, COVID-19 can be beaten. The struggle only becomes more difficult – at the expense of human lives, when the government itself becomes another enemy in this pandemic.
Tags ADB, COVID-19, Google, Imperial College London, Pandemic, Philippines, Politics, Public health, Society


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Hospital ICUs At Capacity With Reporters Covering Anti-Vaxxers Dying From Covid
ATLANTA—Overwhelmed and running low on resources, hospital administrators confirmed Tuesday that intensive care units across the country were filled to capacity with journalists and broadcasters who were busy reporting on the many anti-vaxxers dying from Covid-19. "At the moment, our critical care facilities are packed wall-to-wall with people from CNN, MSNBC, The Washington Post, and other media outlets, all of them desperate to capture the last moments of people who refused the vaccine and are now paying the ultimate price for that decision," Piedmont Atlanta Hospital spokesperson Christine Hoffman said of the reporters, who held microphones and repeatedly observed that the deaths of the anti-vaxxers were highly ironic, because, in the end, despite all their claims that the virus was no big deal and vaccination was unnecessary, Covid had killed them. "We have resorted to using overflow spaces such as hallways and supply closets to accommodate the growing number of producers, photographers, camera crews, gravely ill patients, and TV personalities. The influx of unvaccinated Covid sufferers has also left us short-staffed, because our doctors and nurses now have their hands full providing reporters with quotes for their stories. Sadly, many of these reporters wouldn't even be here if the patients they were covering had heeded their advice to get the shot." According to sources, many hospitals have been forced to send away journalists who return for care after contracting breakthrough Covid during one of their many reporting trips.