Home/Blog/MISTAKES YOU SHOULD NOT MAKE WHEN DECIDING YOUR BUSINESS'S NAME!
When you start your own business, there are a lot of things that are on your list of worries. Some of them are not much of an issue and can be resolved easily with your skill set and expertise. But then there are few things that need a lot of creativity and thinking on your part, but you are not able to hit the bull's eye! The reason mostly is a mental block that forms due to all the stress and worries that you have been burdened with while setting up your own business.
There are many online websites available that help you decide the name of your business. These name generator websites sometimes give creative output, but in many cases, the results are very commonplace. It gets difficult to find the right name but being creative and innovative is in the genes of an entrepreneur and hence finding a suitable name may not be so difficult after all. The mistakes that should be avoided have been listed below, they can help in selecting the best name for your brand!
1. Finding the appropriate name alone can result in mental blocks, but if you involve the key decision makers in your naming session, it could help a lot. Choosing the name alone, or with a lot of people is both a serious mistake.
2. Merging an adjective and a noun to make it sound innovative and creative. This may sound catchy at a glance but then it wears off and the effect of an impactful name goes amiss. For example, if you are selling a variety of food under your banner, you mix up delicious (an adjective, and food (a noun), to create DeliFood. Sometimes this train wreck technique can work but sometimes it could be a disaster.
3. Some people prefer simplicity, in that case using a very simple word as a brand name could be a mistake, because in face of competition it can get lost in the crowd!
4. Using the country/city/town of origin as a part of the name of the product will make it specific. De generalizing is the key to survive globalization. Having a name that rings true at global levels is necessary for success.
5. Using metaphors or clichéd words as brand name is also too common hence, it is highly advisable to avoid using them for your brand name.
6. You should be creative when deciding a name for your business, but letting your creativity go overboard is not going to get you a good name. You should try make sure that the name is not too vague and ambiguous that your customers can not understand it.


April 3, 2017 In the classroom.
Not only is Jane Winters this year's employee of the year for Palm Beach County School District, but state officials announced today that she is among the five finalists for the statewide award that goes to standout school employees who aren't teachers or principals.
Winters is the director of the after school program at Beacon Cove Intermediate School in Jupiter. She's been at the school for 16 years and in addition to running the after school program, she started the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math program, and helped the school land a grant to start a school garden. She also works with student and parent organizations at Beacon Cove.
The school, which sits east of Interstate 95 north of Donald Ross Road, is home to more than 800 students in grades three through five.
See Superintendent Robert Avossa surprise Winters with the district award in February in this video.
Eunice Johnson from Irby Elementary in Alachua County.
David Melnick from Lake St. George Elementary in Pinellas County.
Donna Peavy from Avon Park High in Highlands County.
Jamie Skinner from Ralph Williams Elementary in Brevard County.
The statewide winner will be announced April 21, 2017 in Orlando. The prize: $5,000.
Eunice Johnson has been serving Alachua County students for nearly three decades. She currently works as an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Classroom Paraprofessional. In that role, she develops individualized reading and math activities designed to meet specific needs of each student. Eunice volunteers extensively at her church and throughout the community, and she has been praised for ongoing generosity.
David Melnick is a Food Service Manager at Lake St. George Elementary School. During his tenure, he has changed the culture of Lake St. George with his leadership and concern for the students. Melnick created the Food Patrol Program, which enables students to assist with the cafeteria food preparation. According to the Pinellas County Superintendent, his principal and the school's teachers, the program has helped motivate students to do better in school.
Donna Peavy is the Media Paraprofessional at Avon Park High School. In this role, she manages the media center circulation desk, maintains the library and oversees the computer lab. Avon Park High School's principal praised Peavy for "going above and beyond the call of duty" and making a difference in lives of her colleagues and students, adding that "everyone needs a 'Mrs. Peavy'" in their lives.
As the Cafeteria Manager at Ralph Williams Elementary School, Skinner is an integral member of the school community. During Hurricane Matthew, Ralph Williams Elementary opened its doors as a special needs shelter. For three days, she slept at the school and volunteered her time, cooking for those in need.
Jane Winters is the After School Site Director at Beacon Cove Intermediate School, where she has worked for the last 16 years. In addition to coordinating the after school care program, Winters initiated the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math program, she helped the school earn a grant to create the school garden and volunteers with the school's student and parent organizations.
More information about the School-Related Employee of the Year Program is available here.


Tell more about yourself : Hi everyone! I'm Jacob, a burgeoning gaming journalist, and a longtime avid gamer from Seattle. Ever since I got my hands on my first Gameboy I was immediately enveloped in the world of video games, drawn in by gripping narratives and sprawling open worlds across multiple platforms. Nowadays I can be found elbows deep in the latest RPG or adventure game, or satisfying the soft spot in my heart for charming indie titles. I have an unbridled passion for games journalism, and I hope to continue working and growing in this industry as long as it will have me!


When dog owners think about training their puppy, they think of the basic tricks to teach such as, come, stay, sit and down. These tricks are important, but you should never underestimate learning your dog other new tricks. Even if you decide to adopt a dog who is slightly older you can still tech them new tricks.
Teaching your dog various tricks will help improve their mental stimulation and keep them happy. Plus, it's fun to teach your dog lots of commands as you can show off to your family and friends. It will also improve the bond between you both.
Listed below are 5 fun and easy tricks to train your dog.
This is one of the easiest tricks to teach your dog. Not everyone will enjoy a big, wet, slobbering kiss, but for most of us we love the connection and wet nose feeling brushing against our cheeks. Simply place a treat close to your cheek and instruct your dog to kiss. If you keep repeating this trick, the dog will learn to kiss when there is no treat.
The majority of owners will train their dog to roll over in small intervals and eventually work up to getting them to roll over the whole way. It takes a lot of time and effort to teach this trick but it is worth the effort.
First of all, you will need to kneel down and get your dog into the down position. Place a treat close to their nose with your palm facing upwards. Secondly, turn their nose towards their shoulder and let their nose follow the treat. As they follow the treat they will become slightly unbalanced and flop to their side (make sure to do this on a soft surface or grass in the park) Straight after you must reward them with a dog training treat and repeat this process until they have become fully accustomed to "rolling over".
This trick is fun and can help with common behavioral problems such as excessive barking. Using the "speak" and "quiet" commands will help control your dog's noisiness. It is also fun as you can show off their ability to speak at social gatherings.
To teach this trick you must first get your dog to bark. You could achieve this by ringing the doorbell if you know that this will make them bark. When they bark you must immediately say "speak" and reward them with a treat for speaking. Repeat this process over and over again.
This trick is simple enough and very polite when in the company of those with impeccable manners! It involves having your dog take a bow and placing their chest close to the ground whilst their bottom is reared up in the air. This may sound like a tough trick to teach, but it's actually very simple and comes naturally to dogs.
5. This trick is taught in four simple steps.
Step 1 - Hold the treat right at the tip of your dog's nose and then slowly move it down whilst holding it close to your dog's body.
Step 2 - Keep your dog in the bow position for a few seconds and then bring him back up to the standing position.
Step 3 - As soon as your dog completes the bow and has stood up, then you must congratulate them with a "Yes" or "Well done" "Good boy" etc.
Step 4 - Repeat the steps 2 and 3 several times and say the word "bow" until they get used to the process.
This is a fun trick to teach your dog and can also come in handy. Once they have learned this command you can use it to prevent them from rushing to the door, bombarding you in the kitchen when going into the fridge. This trick is pretty simple to teach and requires some patience from the teacher.
You should start by giving your dog the stay command. Step back from your dog a few steps and then turn to face them. Begin by moving towards your dog, your dog should naturally start moving backward. If they don't keep moving towards them and lean your body ever so slightly forward towards them. As soon as your dog steps backward you must immediately congratulate them with a "yes" and then give them a treat.
This process must be repeated several times and rewards giving each and every time your dog backs up.
Ashley loves to write about pets of all kinds and is a regular dog advice blogger at Mypetzilla.
Copyright 2018 © ThePetGod.com. All rights reserved.


This page is a translated version of the page Help:Notifications/Special:Notifications and the translation is 23% complete.
1 어떻게 이 문서를 찾죠?
If you need to go back to your most recent notifications, a "오늘" button is available.
If there are no notifications to display, an empty state is shown ("이 기준에 맞는 알림이 없습니다.").
If there are notifications but the current filter can't display them, then an empty state message is shown ("이 기준에 맞는 알림이 없습니다.") and a button allows you to reset filters.


Singapore, an island city-state off southern Malaysia, is a global financial center with a tropical climate and multicultural population.Though physically small, Singapore is an economic giant. It has been Southeast Asia's most modern city for over a century. Food in Singapore is taken very seriously. From cheap hawker fare to Michelin-starred fine dining, food-enamoured Singaporeans will line up for it. Fun Fact, it is one of the world's greenest cities, the city of skyscrapers is also one that is filled with lush greenery. Nearly half of Singapore's land area (approximately 700 square kilometres) is under green cover.


omg do you really think that getting one master repair hammer would solve the problem??? how does it fix lvl 100 eidolons spawn killing everyone else???????
Yeah the problem is not the repairs, its the pvp aspect alone. spawn killing is the biggest issue here. and people will always find ways to spawn kill no matter what is done. spawn killing has been a massive issue since Seng and continues to be that since a level 3-4 aura goes to the camp and kills everyone there. this event "can" be good "without" the need to kill other players.
Not really evil. What I felt playing this game is that they are something like the kids of Spy-Kids 4(Game Over). Completely nerd or good-for-nothing in real life & get no attention at all. So what they do is spend all pocket money & try to pick on everyone to prove their mightiness. And that doesn't apply to only kids or teenagers.
I dont' like it.. pay to get killed over and over because they merged us so many times, now its constant battle.. hell no... find something for us for pve!
GM is there any new server to be released?
I will pass that along as well, but don't get your hopes up about this changing since fighting in the guild resource battleground also results in repairs, and most people are fine with that.
i also want to let you know i tried this the first day and had to repair my equips took me 29g to repair and that was with in a 10 minute time frame i am now a lvl 97 scion and i dont stand a chance against all the level 100 eidolons on my server who love to kill and one that is already trying to call out people from S1, S2, and S3 I WILL NOT GO BACK IN THIS EVENT UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT IT! ITS NOT FAIR TO ALL THE PLAYERS.
Last edited by Rosie26; 10-24-2012, 09:31 AM.
Lol, on our servers(bout 7 merged) only 3-5 ppl max go there and they're all OP compared to average players, so yes this event is pretty unfair in a way. The PvP aspect here ruins the chance for other players, every day the same 2-3 players get to the final room and imo that's pretty unfair because you just can't keep up with their dmg. If it's possible make lvl gap rooms or simple things like L1,L2,L3 etc. Or if it's possible make it so that you can't kill the same player more than 5 times inside per day. People usually farm each other in room 1 since room 5 requires 30 kills to pass through but if you make it so that you can't kill each other unlimited then others make a chance to actually compete with the OP ppl.
Still no response from GM.


text:
Donald Trump Gives Mexico One Year To Curtail Drugs, Illegal Immigration, Or He Will Close Border
'I will do it. I don't play games.'
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Aaron Homer
Donald Trump on Thursday gave Mexico one year to stop drugs and illegal immigrants from coming into the United States, else he will either close the southern border or impose tariffs on vehicles coming into the U.S., NPR News is reporting. The announcement comes after days of threatening to close the southern border this week.
"We're going to give them a one year warning, and if the drugs don't stop, or largely stop, we're going to put tariffs on Mexico and products, in particular cars. And if that doesn't work, we're going to close the border."
Trump was short on specifics on exactly how Mexico could demonstrate to him that they'd sufficiently cut down immigrants and drugs, but as NBC News notes, he said that he wants Mexico to stop providing buses to migrant caravans. As Snopes notes, however, the claim that Mexico has provided buses for migrant caravans is "unproven" and based on "sketchy" reports. Trump, for his part, also claimed that Mexico hasn't put migrants on buses for the past three days, because of his threats to close the southern border.
Trump was also unclear on which vehicles would be subject to tariffs, or what those tariffs would be.
The one-year warning comes after days of Trump threatening to close the border this week. Those threats come amid Trump's battles with Congress over funding for his border wall. After having promised that Mexico would pay for the border wall, Trump instead asked Congress for billions of dollars to pay for the wall, an impasse that led to the December-January government shutdown. Trump then declared a national emergency to get funding for the border wall; that declaration is now tied up in the courts.
Trump's threats to close the southern border were met with a lukewarm response even within his own party. As NPR News reported earlier this week, Congressional Republicans were joined by some business groups in warning that closing the southern border could bring with it catastrophic economic consequences. In addition to the tons of agricultural products, such as avocados and melons, that cross the border every day, there are auto parts assembled in Mexico. Without those parts, the U.S. auto industry would grind to a halt within a week, said Kristin Dziczek, vice president of the Center for Automotive Research in Michigan.
"We don't just trade with each other. We're making things together. Mexico is a source of 37 percent of all imported auto parts to the U.S. Every vehicle has Mexican parts in it."
'Sports Illustrated' Model Erin Willerton Smolders In Skimpy Thong Bikini While Vacationing In Greece July 18, 2019
NBA Rumors: Bucks & Two Other Teams Interested In Signing J.R. Smith, Per 'Scoop B' July 18, 2019

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


When two people try to lead, nothing feels right..
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance..
If God has done anything for you in your life, please share this message with someone else. There is no cost but a lot of rewards; so let's continue to pray for one another.
And I Hope You Dance Through 2009!


While hiking, one of the biggest risks is when the weather gets cold fast, and you get lost and starts to freeze.
In the worst case scenario, the situation could lead to frostbite damage depending on the environment you are staying in. Thereby, dressing properly when its chilly is of course, extra important.
Nonetheless, this is easily fixed by using multiple layers of protection, you can easily adjust your temperature during the journey.
Follow the shell principle (also called the Layer-on Layer) when you go for hiking and other similar activities.
You start with an inner layer of underwear, then put on interlayer of pants, sweater or shirt.
In addition, put an outer layer on the upper body in the form of a jacket or anorak.
Last but not least, you have a reinforcement garment like a down jacket or specialized clothing that are created to maintain heat in harsher outdoor environments.


text:
About Us Our Legacy
Why Watermark?
Services Capabilities
Organizational Optimization
Who We Serve Our Customers
Careers Join Us
Contract Vehicles Our List
Media Center News
/Our History
This is Watermark
Watermark Risk Management International, LLC is a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) founded in early 2007 as Watermark Security International, LLC. In January 2008, we changed our name to better reflect our growing business offerings. The company was originally headquartered in Richmond, Virginia and relocated to Fairfax, Virginia in 2008. Watermark was founded by two executives with considerable senior business management and development experience, and intimate knowledge of DoD security programs and mission requirements.
In Watermark's first year, the company supported 18 major commercial and government clients including three Fortune 500 companies and four firms with significant security businesses. Since then, we have supported dozens of clients with more than 150 contracts for clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 200 companies, and government organizations at every level.
In September 2011, Kevin Hodges joined Watermark as the VP of Security Services and assumed the role of primary business developer for the organization, as well as supporting several clients with security assessment and training services. In 2014, Kevin was named President of Watermark and continued to lead company growth by capturing our first international contract and securing contracts on two GSA schedules.
In February 2019, Kevin purchased Watermark from its founders and continues to lead Watermark's growth efforts. Watermark's roots are steeped in a tradition of excellent performance and we offer our clients exceptional value…traditions that continue to be reinforced every day.
About Watermark Risk Management International LLC
It can be challenging to see the "big risk picture." We can help. We provide asset identification; threat vulnerability and risk assessments; strategic planning; security system specification; and security force design.
Need to drive more efficiency in your processes? Grow your business? Transition a new contract? Increase your margins?
Professional Services Schedule (PSS) and GSA Schedule 84 Security, Fire, & Law Enforcement.
Training, education and follow up are the most effective way to drive change. We design and deliver training and education programs that make a measurable difference.
Watermark has been providing subject matter expertise and program support across federal, state and local governments since our very first year.
18415 Cedar Dr.
We support our veterans. Check out the charity Fairways for Warriors.
Copyright © 2019 Watermark Risk Management, LLC Sitemap | Privacy Policy
After acquiring deep, hands-on experience in antiterrorism, critical infrastructure protection, physical security strategies, and risk management, Matt went on to develop executive government and business leadership and management skills that enable him to formulate strategy for Watermark's clients.
Matt retired as a Colonel after serving 22 years in the U.S. Air Force. His military assignments included assignments as the senior U.S. government security official responsible for security oversight of our nation's nuclear weapons program and as the senior security officer for the US Air Force Special Operations Command.
After retiring, Matt created and grew the integrated security consulting service division at a Fortune 500 company; within 3 years it was yielding >125% annual growth. He left that position to become VP/Chief Security Officer at Brinks Inc., one of the world's largest risk-management companies. After establishing Watermark, he served for two years as Chairman of the Board and CEO of one of the largest security services companies in the U.S. At Watermark, he is responsible for overall business strategy, growth, and customer satisfaction.


text:
Q: Reading xml document with several nodes I have used the following code before but my xml is different this time:
protected string ReturnXmlValue(XmlDocument myXDoc, string field)
{
  var retval = string.Empty;

  try
  {
    var node = myXDoc.GetElementsByTagName(field);
    if (node.Count > 0)
    {
      var xmlNode = node.Item(0);
      if (xmlNode != null)
      {
        retval = xmlNode.InnerText;
      }
    }
  }
  catch (Exception ex)
  {
    MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString());
    throw;
  }

  return retval;
}

Here is an example of my xml file dummied down a bit:
<RichDBDS>
  <TrxDetailCard>
    <TRX_HD_Key>18683435</TRX_HD_Key>
    <Date_DT>2015-10-22T21:32:00.233+00:00</Date_DT>
    <TRX_Card_Key>15263569</TRX_Card_Key>
    <Total_Amt_MN>22.0000</Total_Amt_MN>
    <Result_CH>0    </Result_CH>
    <Result_Txt_VC>APPROVED</Result_Txt_VC>
    <Approval_Code_CH>0943253</Approval_Code_CH>
  </TrxDetailCard>
  <TrxDetailCard>
    <TRX_HD_Key>18683825</TRX_HD_Key>
    <Date_DT>2015-10-23T21:32:00.233+00:00</Date_DT>
    <TRX_Card_Key>15263569</TRX_Card_Key>
    <Total_Amt_MN>32.0000</Total_Amt_MN>
    <Result_CH>0    </Result_CH>
    <Result_Txt_VC>APPROVED</Result_Txt_VC>
    <Approval_Code_CH>093389</Approval_Code_CH>
  </TrxDetailCard>
</RichDBDS>

I've not worked with xml much so I'm not sure how to search this for a specific amount. I can have several TrxDetailCards. I know how to get amount when I only have one TrxDetailCard but I need to return the TrxDetailCard for the hits on the amount that I need.
So if I am looking for the TrxDetailCard that is 32.00, I need the method to return:
  <TrxDetailCard>
    <TRX_HD_Key>18683825</TRX_HD_Key>
    <Date_DT>2015-10-23T21:32:00.233+00:00</Date_DT>
    <TRX_Card_Key>15263569</TRX_Card_Key>
    <Total_Amt_MN>32.0000</Total_Amt_MN>
    <Result_CH>0    </Result_CH>
    <Result_Txt_VC>APPROVED</Result_Txt_VC>
    <Approval_Code_CH>093389</Approval_Code_CH>
  </TrxDetailCard>

How would I go about doing this?

A: Try this

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml;
using System.Xml.Linq;

namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            string xml =
                "<RichDBDS>" +
                  "<TrxDetailCard>" +
                    "<TRX_HD_Key>18683435</TRX_HD_Key>" +
                    "<Date_DT>2015-10-22T21:32:00.233+00:00</Date_DT>" +
                    "<TRX_Card_Key>15263569</TRX_Card_Key>" +
                    "<Total_Amt_MN>22.0000</Total_Amt_MN>" +
                    "<Result_CH>0    </Result_CH>" +
                    "<Result_Txt_VC>APPROVED</Result_Txt_VC>" +
                    "<Approval_Code_CH>0943253</Approval_Code_CH>" +
                  "</TrxDetailCard>" +
                  "<TrxDetailCard>" +
                    "<TRX_HD_Key>18683825</TRX_HD_Key>" +
                    "<Date_DT>2015-10-23T21:32:00.233+00:00</Date_DT>" +
                    "<TRX_Card_Key>15263569</TRX_Card_Key>" +
                    "<Total_Amt_MN>32.0000</Total_Amt_MN>" +
                    "<Result_CH>0    </Result_CH>" +
                    "<Result_Txt_VC>APPROVED</Result_Txt_VC>" +
                    "<Approval_Code_CH>093389</Approval_Code_CH>" +
                  "</TrxDetailCard>" +
                "</RichDBDS>";

            XElement richDBDS = XElement.Parse(xml);
            XElement results = richDBDS.Elements("TrxDetailCard").Where(x => (decimal)x.Element("Total_Amt_MN") == (decimal)32.0000).FirstOrDefault();

        }
    }
}

A: You can use Linq-to-Xml
var str = File.ReadAllText(@"C:\YourDirectory\sample.xml");
XDocument xDoc = XDocument.Parse(str);

var trxNodes = xDoc.Descendants("TrxDetailCard");
var node = trxNodes.First(n => double.Parse(n.Element("Total_Amt_MN").Value) == 32.00);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
In this section of Campus, EuropeNow features a selection of scholarly articles and books on topics pertinent to the teaching of Europe or teaching in Europe that were published within the last 5 years. This dynamic bibliography, with monthly installments, seeks to highlight both pedagogy research as well as critical analyses of debates taking place in higher education in and about Europe.
If you are interested in reviewing any of the books featured in any of our Campus Round-Ups, please contact our Research and Pedagogy Chair, Hélène Ducros, at helene@alumni.unc.edu
1. Ungrading
Edited by Susan D. Blum
Abstract: The moment is right for critical reflection on what has been assumed to be a core part of schooling. In Ungrading, fifteen educators write about their diverse experiences going gradeless. Some contributors are new to the practice and some have been engaging in it for decades. Some are in humanities and social sciences, some in STEM fields. Some are in higher education, but some are the K–12 pioneers who led the way. Based on rigorous and replicated research, this is the first book to show why and how faculty who wish to focus on learning, rather than sorting or judging, might proceed. It includes honest reflection on what makes ungrading challenging, and testimonials about what makes it transformative.
Find this book at the West Virginia University Press here
2. Dramatising the Shock of the New: Using Arts-based Embodied Pedagogies to Teach Life Skills
By Sheila Robbie and Bernie Warren
Abstract: The digital economy and the global pandemic, together with the effects of climate change, have taken a human toll affecting the pace of everyday life, creating an exponential increase in anxiety and stress related diseases. Today's complex, globalised world creates a need to challenge and reconceptualise educational priorities. In an increasingly polarised world of beliefs and values, with a rise in populism and nationalism, empathy is essential. In order to function successfully, one needs to know who people are, and the whys and wherefores of their actions and beliefs. This article focuses on how the Arts and humanities can teach a new generation of life skills necessitated by our globalised society and the socio-political aspects of immigration. It discusses how embodied pedagogies help develop self-awareness, emotional regulation and affective empathy and reduce stress. The authors present Arts-based pedagogies and educational strategies that bring history, cultures and beliefs alive and help counteract hatred, tribalism and racism and the illusion of 'us and them.' The article examines what these changes in pedagogy can offer to the discourse, both in the need to keep body/mind healthy and acquisition of new skills necessary for adapting to a changing global environment and cultural /political landscapes.
Find this article in Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education here
3. Theorizing Teaching and Learning in Asia and Europe: A Conversation between Chinese Curriculum and European Didactics
Edited by John Chi-Kin Lee, Kerry J. Kennedy
Abstract: There has been much debate in recent times between the Anglo American tradition of curriculum studies and the Continental and North European tradition of didactics (Didaktik). As important as such debate has been, this book seeks to add new voices to the debate representing ideas and traditions from a different part of the world. The focus is on Chinese curriculum thinking that has passed through a number of stages and currently represents a blend of some aspects of the American tradition and Chinese cultural traditions. How does Chinese thinking about curriculum, teaching and learning resonate with European didactic traditions and what are the implications for theorizing an expanded field of curriculum studies? This book deliberately transcends borders and cultures to explore new territory, to provide a platform for open dialogue and to open up new areas of investigation.
Find this book at Routledge here
4. Portuguese Policies Fostering International Student Mobility: A Colonial Legacy or a New Strategy?
By Thais França, Elisa Alves, and Beatriz Padilla
Abstract: This paper explores policies on international student mobility to Portugal from within the Lusophone space, analyzing the cases of Angola, Cape Verde and Brazil. We argue that Portuguese strategies to attract international students respond to different demands and interests embedded in its geopolitical memberships. One the one hand, they respond to pressure from the European Commission to increase the internationalisation level within the European Higher Education Area. On the other hand, they are embedded within Portugal's desire to continue its influence over the former colonies. We analyze available statistical data and policy documents on Angolan, Cape Verdean and Brazilian students in Portugal, using insights from postcolonial theoretical frameworks. Our results suggest that Portuguese policies on international student mobility, even if discontinuous over time, still aim at maintaining a leading role among the Portuguese-speaking countries, through practices rooted in neocolonial logics. However, Portugal's membership of the European Union propels the need to adapt to wider political forces through contextual and opportunistic strategies as well.
Find this article in Globalisation, Societies and Education here
5. Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: Working towards Decolonization, Indigeneity and Interculturalism
Edited by Fatima Pirbhai-Illich, Shauneen Pete, and Fran Martin
Abstract: This book convincingly argues that effective culturally responsive pedagogies require teachers to firstly undertake a critical deconstruction of Self in relation to and with the Other; and secondly, to take into account how power affects the socio-political, cultural and historical contexts in which the education relation takes place. The contributing authors are from a range of diaspora, indigenous, and white mainstream communities, and are united in their desire to challenge the hegemony of Eurocentric education and to create new educational spaces that are more socially and environmentally just. In this venture, the ideal education process is seen to be inherently critical and intercultural, where mainstream and marginalized, colonized and colonizer, indigenous and settler communities work together to decolonize selves, teacher-student relationships, pedagogies, the curriculum and the education system itself. This book will be of great interest and relevance to policy-makers and researchers in the field of education; teacher educators; and pre- and in-service teachers.
Find this book at Palgrave Macmillan here
From Nowhere to Nowhere by Bekim Sejranović
A Roundtable on Ideas of Race, Ideologies of Racism: Roma…


Looking for a business? Check out the Lawn Business Directory.
Low: 65°F MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S. WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH. OVERNIGHT: MOSTLY CLEAR IN THE EVENING...THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 60S. SOUTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
Low: 65°F PARTLY SUNNY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING...THEN MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. HOT. HUMID WITH HIGHS AROUND 90. SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH. CHANCE OF RAIN 50 PERCENT. OVERNIGHT: MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE EVENING...THEN PARTLY CLOUDY AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN THE MID 60S. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF RAIN 50 PERCENT.
Low: 65°F MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S. OVERNIGHT: PARTLY CLOUDY IN THE EVENING...THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 60S.
Low: 65°F PARTLY SUNNY IN THE MORNING...THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S. CHANCE OF RAIN 40 PERCENT. OVERNIGHT: SHOWERS LIKELY WITH A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS IN THE MID 60S. CHANCE OF RAIN 60 PERCENT.
Low: 61°F MOSTLY CLOUDY. SHOWERS LIKELY WITH A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING...THEN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S. CHANCE OF RAIN 60 PERCENT. OVERNIGHT: MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE EVENING...THEN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN THE LOWER 60S. CHANCE OF RAIN 40 PERCENT.
Low: 61°F MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS. HIGHS IN THE MID 70S. OVERNIGHT: MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE LOWER 60S.


text:
South Africa: How I live in that Strange Place – By Desné Masie
Should Helen Zille - leader of South Africa's Democratic Alliance - disengage from public life because she is white?
South Africa is a strange place. It's almost 20 years since apartheid ended, but for many South Africans, living there doesn't get any easier. So, what should we do about it? How should we go about being South Africans?
Samantha Vice, a highfalutin doctor of philosophy at Rhodes University, South Africa, thinks that she has at least part of the answer. As Vice sees it race is such a loaded issue in our public discourse – we can never get away from it due to the simple fact of being black or white – so white people should step back, and disengage with political and public life.
The fact that Vice said this (in considerably more words) in the 2010 Fall edition of The Journal of Social Philosophy is extraordinary given the subsequent intensity of, mostly angry, public reaction to this sentiment.
Vice's problems began when her now notorious article, "How Do I Live in This Strange Place?" was discussed by journalist and philosopher Eusebius McKaiser on 1 July 2011 in the Mail & Guardian.
While McKaiser agreed with the article's broader sentiment that "white South Africans should feel shame and regret for the past and for the fact that their whiteness still benefits them unjustly", he disagreed with her decision to withdraw from the public political sphere. And such a proposed withdrawal has been the main issue that has seen South Africans of all races, including myself, quite furious with Vice.
I believe there is merit in all South Africans taking some time to meditate on what apartheid did to us, and indeed, articulating a mature post-apartheid political consciousness remains one of our most urgent tasks. So she should be commended to some degree for beginning to tackle this. However, her missive is predicated on several problematic sections, of which the following is the most dangerous, and with which I will mainly engage with here:
"So, recognizing their damaging presence, whites would try, in a significantly different way to the normal workings of whiteliness, to make themselves invisible and unheard, concentrating rather on those damaged selves … One would live as quietly and decently as possible, refraining from airing one's view on the political situation in the public realm, realizing that it is not one's place to offer diagnoses and analyses, that blacks must be left to remake the country in their own way. Whites have too long had influence and a public voice; now they should in humility step back from expressing their thoughts or managing others."
For me, this disconcerting passage far exceeds a humble philosophical exile, and in a country still wounded by separate development, it sounds eerily familiar. Furthermore, if white privilege during apartheid succeeded with the state machinery at the behest of its engineers, and the (mainly) complicit silence of white voters towards its victims, what ends of moral justice would be served if whites should remain silent once more?
Censoring whites thus, not only robs blacks of agency in articulating a political consciousness which they can sufficiently defend without being so mollycoddled, but it means whites too will forever remain politically infantilised by not confronting blacks on the same platform. If whites were to set the perimeters of the agenda thus, they would maintain a superior political and social personhood overindulged as an unbearable burden of privilege, much as Vice's has been. Despite itself, the dissemination of Vice's ideas has mainly succeeded in bringing white prerogatives to the very centre of South African political debate once more. And even more problematically, it has therefore framed the black person as political subject to a whitely centre.
I also forcefully object to the narrow taxonomy of white people made normative in this debate. The choice, in post-apartheid South Africa, seems to be between rugby watching, boisterous whites with a ridiculous sense of entitlement or liberals. And in determining collective responsibility prior to 1994, we are offered only Broederbond Nazi-sympathisers; the silently complicit with the violent machinery of apartheid; or liberals. However, what about the white people who actively participated in the liberation struggle, which salient fact is merely glossed over by Vice as being a mere "opposition"?
It is gross misjudgement and historical inaccuracy to relegate white radicals as the meddling, misguided white liberals highlighted by Biko. Those white radicals who acted on their burden of privilege instead of undergoing a neutered silent suffering of inward flagellation as Vice would have it. Are they allowed to confront whiteness publicly? And here, it seems poignant to highlight that the very Biko whom neo-black conscious intellectuals these days quote with aplomb (especially in response to Vice) would have been recorded as having died of a hunger strike instead of at the hands of the apartheid state, had Helen Zille not persevered with her investigative reportage of his death. The South-African born filmmaker Eric Abrahams warned in The Guardian that South Africa is in danger of repeating the mistakes of the past by forgetting all its heroes in "airbrushing non-black anti-apartheid campaigners, such as Helen Suzman, out of its history".
However, we can massage the philosophical and moral problem of apartheid and its hangover as much as we like, but it is also undeniably a class struggle that is aggravated by racial division. Am I, as a mixed-race South African of considerable privilege in relation to most black South Africans (even while less so in comparison to wholly white South Africans) allowed to feel guilt and shame? Or might I participate in a debate, which has been too simplistically framed by Vice? Amongst other things, you can dismiss neither the complicit "coloured problem" of racial advantage and relative oppression that also served to keep white superiority during apartheid proper intact as unrelated. Nor the complex indigenous political and legal systems that served to enable not only white rule, but also clan supremacy and patriarchy. The South African racial landscape is tangled and complex, apportioning shame and guilt is not so straightforward.
Until the perfunctory manner in which the TRC was handled with its "general apology" is directly addressed at the state level – beyond the enrichment of a few black oligarchs with links to the ANC aristocracy in the face of the spectacular failure of the poor – this debate remains, for now, intractable. And this is another issue that Vice confronts much too superficially, eviscerated as she is by her shame.
The responses to Vice by some white South Africans attest to a sentiment that younger white South Africans feel they cannot be held to ransom for a system they did not create, older South Africans feel they have apologised enough, and cannot be held to eternal guilt and shame for being born white or into privilege, or even rather objectionably, do not see the need to contemplate if any shame should be or should have been felt by them whatsoever. And the latter is indeed a problem: some whites claimed to be or are still wholly ignorant of the extent to which blacks have suffered under apartheid and their lack of awareness, a wilful blindness to history is what is inexcusable, and requires urgent redress.
Nonetheless, apartheid is in the past, and we must move forwards, yet the aporia lies in the fact that we can only move forwards once we have made a satisfactorily pluralistic monument to the past. And if reconciliation is to take place, I believe it must be pluralistic.
Desné Masie is a journalist and academic. She is a former senior editor for the Financial Mail in South Africa, and is currently studying towards a PhD in finance at the University of Edinburgh Business School.
African Arguments Editorial – Boko Haram in ...
Gabon and Special Economic Zones – By ...
Masopha 11 November, 2011 at 12:01
South Africa is not a strange place, it's a crazy place. It has a White minority which largely still controls the wealth of the country (and with it access to opportunities) and yet insists that it was oblivious (or even duped) on how that wealth was accumulated. Having a constructive debate with people who are so disconnected is difficult as the first question one needs to ask is "so how many moons circle year planet?"
IngridAfrica 24 November, 2011 at 10:17
As a white African, I am torn between my silence, which is something many other "liberal" whites have been doing since 1994, and replying, which of course would run counter to the appeal made by Vice.
Clearly, here you have my reply: consider, then the number of silent, agent-less voices of those with their heads in the sand, their quiet and complicit presence with no voice.
Yes, here starts my reply, race is an issue in South Africa, and the glossing, airbrushing and attempts at a simplified answer are causing more damage to a cohesive, or diverse, but tolerant society, which many of us fought for, and are now unsure these are shared sentiments from our fellow South Africans.
Yes, I believe in facing the issues. I am "white". I am African. I was hoping these two things would not be mutually exclusive. Maybe, realistically, (due to Apartheid) not for my generation, but what about for my children, born after Aparthied, named with African names? Is there a place for a white African who is now, like Democracy in our country, a teenager? Is there a space for such a person?
I want to see whiteness in its complexity. My "white" friends who are actually from families who were "mixed" race, yet passes for white. I can count two in my small circle of friends. My "white" friends who are, yes, like me, previously advantaged… now married to people who are not white. And their children who play with mine in the park, and at school, what does your simplistic analysis on race say about these mixed and brown and shaded people, old and young. Ironically, one "white" business associate is struggling for a BEE certificate, due to her sole propriertership, despite her "coloured" husband and mixed children – two "white" from her first relationship, two "mixed" as they define themselves.
When I taught, in my first job after university, in a "township" college of education in the 1990's, I was used to the rhetoric of "drive the whites into the sea". I listened, and shared history, and engaged with these sentiments, and moved towards a space for finding our similarities. That was during those turbulent election times, and I was accepting of the backlash, the anger, and welcomed the start of a dialogue. Yes, it was directed at me, and I did not take it personally. Even when I was held hostage at the college when pregnant, I knew it was part of a process of healing for us all. And yes, that dialogue began with me listening, and making space for others to speak, to vent, to rant if needed. I was told to "go back where I came from". "Where should I go?" I asked, and listed my mixed background of Dutch, Scottish and so on. I dont even speak my ancestors language anymore. I identify as African, just a pale one.
Here we are, fifteen years later. Are we considering a continued silence for the pale Africans among us? Is these any space for the dialogue we opened up then, or is the space growing smaller and smaller? If my children, whatever their shade, will never be black enough, African enough, have I naively stayed, when the intention was to narrow the space ever smaller, and more silent, for the children I named and raised to be African, to never be considered as part of a future here?
Guilty 4 January, 2014 at 21:05
A well considered, thoughtful piece of writing. Masie opens up a "space" for micro-narratives rather than self righteously closing down the debate with an all-encompassing pronouncement of undifferentiated culpability. Our well-loved, verwoerdian constructs of race are still so conveniently and cruelly pervasive twenty years after apartheid ended, we are still immersed in those fictions. For Mr Masopha's benefit, let me be clear: of course i am a guilty mukiwa. Guilt by association, by default, by circumstance, by happenstance, by genetic chance, by vulgar privilege, by skin colour. Sins of omission and commission … Although I was in my mid twenties when that vicious system collapsed yet I am all too aware that I didn't singlehandedly bring down the regime or jump into bed with the Stasi-trained revolutionaries. and here I recall a biblical text: " we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" which – much to his chagrin – applies to Mr Masopha too. But what are the "guilty" to do? Leave – every last nasty whitey? To Perth perhaps? To Holland? Or flagellate themselves perhaps, and surrender to the self-appointed guardians of virtue – jacobins with their guillotine made ready for white necks? Masie, in a more intelligent and measured response than my own (which is, after all, self-evidently the ramblings of a guilty man) recognizes that to continue – or even to commence – a programme of shaming and shunning and humiliation of those we deem to be transgressors is not only flawed but dangerous. The ancient urge to humiliate and silence the old foe after ww1 lead directly to Hitler. Similarly the Balkans and Rwanda all illustrate how perilous is the way of tightening the screws on those we choose to loathe. I have no answers. I think Macie has written something of huge importance. As for me, well Mr Masopha I'm off to the confessional again. I could tell you how with the advantage of a stiff British passport I joined protests outside South Africa House in London, or how time after time even as an insolent young man I came to the defence of fellow human beings being abused by petty apartheid laws on beaches and buses, but when the meta narrative has found you guilty, well, that's that. The show trials of Stalin, the with trials of Salem, the fraudulent justice metered out by the Inquisition… all show how futile it is to defend oneself against the ancient desire for vengeance and humiliation. But I am not bitter. I am guilty.
Uganda: Why the unrest in Rwenzori is far from over
As the House Burns, Whither the Zimbabwean Opposition? – By Nicole Beardsworth


text:
def talk(data):

	#ear.startListening() #fix onclick micro

	if data:
		if data!="":
			if data[0:2]=="l ":
				data=data.replace("l ", "l'")
			data=data.replace(" l ", " l'")
			mouth.speak(unicode(data,'utf-8'))

	if IsInmoovArduino==1 and MoveEyesRandom==1:
		if random.randint(1,3)==1:
			i01.head.eyeX.moveTo(0)
			sleep(2)
			i01.head.eyeX.moveTo(180)
			sleep(1)
			i01.head.eyeX.moveTo(90)

def talkBlocking(data):

	if data!="":
		mouth.speakBlocking(unicode(data,'utf-8'))

def Parse(utfdata):
	#Light(1,1,0)
	utfdata = urllib2.urlopen(utfdata).read()
	utfdata = utfdata.replace("'", "'").replace("http://fr.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...", "")
	try:
		utfdata = utfdata.decode( "utf8" ).replace(" : ", random.choice(troat))
	except:
		pass
	#print utfdata
	#Light(1,1,1)
	return utfdata;

##############################################################
# We listen when the robot is starting to speak to avoid ear listening
# If you click on the webkit mic icon, this trick is broken
##############################################################
def onEndSpeaking(text):
	global IcanStartToEar
	global MoveHeadRandom
	global RamdomSpeak
	global Ispeak
	global TimeNoSpeak

	MoveHeadTimer.stopClock()
	Ispeak=0
	VieAleatoire.startClock()
	TimeNoSpeak="OFF"
	#Light(0,0,0)

	MoveHeadRandom=1

	if IcanStartToEar==1:
		try:
			ear.resumeListening()
		except:
			pass
	WebkitSpeachReconitionFix.startClock()
	IcanStartToEar=1
	RamdomSpeak=0

	#sleep(0.2)

def onStartSpeaking(text):

	global RamdomSpeak
	global MoveHeadRandom
	global Ispeak

	if DEBUG==1:
		print "dbg : RamdomSpeak:",RamdomSpeak
	global RobotIsSleepingSoft
	global IcanEarOnlyKnowsWords
	if RamdomSpeak==0:
		if RobotIsSleepingSoft==1:
			if IsInmoovArduino==1:
				HeadSide.attach()
				i01.head.attach()
			RobotIsSleepingSoft=0
			PaupiereAttach(1)
			sleep(0.1)
			PositionPaupiere(180,180,0.3)
			sleep(3)
			clockPaupiere.startClock()
		IcanEarOnlyKnowsWords=-1

	Ispeak=1
	WebkitSpeachReconitionFix.stopClock()

	if 'non' in text: # or 'no' in text HARD CODED LANGUAGE CLEAN LATER
		No('no')
		MoveHeadRandom=0
		#print("no detected")
	if 'oui' in text or 'yes' in text or '#LAUGH01#' in text:
		Yes('yes')
		#print("yes detected")
		MoveHeadRandom=0
	if MoveHeadRandom==1:
		MoveHeadTimer.startClock()
	try:
		ear.pauseListening()
	except:
		pass
	global TimeNoSpeak
	TimeNoSpeak="OFF"
	VieAleatoire.stopClock()
	#Light(1,1,1)

##############################################################
#We intercept what the robot is listen to change some values
#here we replace ' by space because AIML doesn't like '
##############################################################
def onRecognized(text):
	if DEBUG==1:
		print "onRecognized : ",text
	#print text.replace("'", " ")

	global Ispeak
	global ParrotMod
	if Ispeak==0:
		if ParrotMod==0:
			chatBot.getResponse(text.replace("'", " "))
		else:
			chatBot.getResponse("SAY " + text)
		 #we close pictures
	image.exitFS()
	image.closeAll()

def Light(ROUGE_V,VERT_V,BLEU_V):
	if IhaveLights==1 and IsInmoovArduino==1:

		right.digitalWrite(ROUGE,ROUGE_V)
		right.digitalWrite(VERT,VERT_V)
		right.digitalWrite(BLEU,BLEU_V)

##############################################################
# Cette fonction permet d'afficher une date personnalis(mardi, le 10 juin, 1975, 12h38 .....)
##############################################################
def getDate(query, ID):
	answer = ( wdf.getTime(query,ID,"day") +" " +wdf.getTime(query,ID,"month") + " " + wdf.getTime(query,ID,"year"))
	#print " La date est : " + answer
	chatBot.getResponse("say Le " + answer)

def DisplayPic(pic):
	r=0
	try:
		r=image.displayFullScreen(pic,1)
	except:
		chatBot.getResponse("PICTUREPROBLEM")
		pass
	time.sleep(0.1)
	try:
		r=image.displayFullScreen(pic,1)
	except:
		pass

def UpdateBotName(botname):
	if str(chatBot.getPredicate("default","bot_id"))=="unknown":
		bot_id=hashlib.md5(str(time.time()).encode('utf-8')).hexdigest()
	else:
		bot_id=str(chatBot.getPredicate("default","bot_id"))
	RetourServer=Parse("http://www.myai.cloud/shared_memory.php?action=UpdateBotName&bot_id="+urllib2.quote(bot_id)+"&botname="+urllib2.quote(botname.replace("'", " ")))
	#print "http://www.myai.cloud/shared_memory.php?action=UpdateBotName&bot_id="+urllib2.quote(bot_id)+"&botname="+urllib2.quote(botname.replace("'", " "))
	chatBot.setPredicate("default","bot_id",bot_id)
	chatBot.setPredicate("default","botname",botname)
	chatBot.savePredicates()

def CheckVersion():
	RetourServer=Parse("http://www.myai.cloud/version.html")
	#print str(RetourServer)+' '+str(version)
	if str(RetourServer)==str(version):
		print "software is OK"
		#chatBot.getResponse("IAMUPDATED")
	else:
		chatBot.getResponse("INEEDUPDATE")
		sleep(3)

def PlayUtub(q,num):
	if q=="stop" and num==0:
		subprocess.Popen("taskkill /F /T /PID %i"%proc1.pid , shell=True)
		sleep(2)
		webgui.startBrowser("http://localhost:8888/#/service/i01.ear")
	else:
		webgui.startBrowser("http://www.myai.cloud/utub/?num="+str(num)+"&q="+str(q).encode('utf-8'))
		#print "http://www.myai.cloud/utub/?num="+str(num)+"&q="+str(q).encode('utf-8')

def ShutDown():
	talkBlocking("Extinction")
	MoveHeadRandom=0
	sleep(1)
	if IsInmoovArduino==1:
		i01.setHeadSpeed(RotHeadSpeed+0.1, NeckSpeed+0.1)
		i01.moveHead(90,90)
		HeadSide.moveTo(90)
		clockPaupiere.stopClock()
		sleep(0.2)
		PositionPaupiere(0,0,0.5)
	sleep(5)
	PaupiereServoGauche.detach()
	HeadSide.detach()
	i01.detach()
	sleep(1)
	runtime.exit()

def IdontUnderstand():
	global IcanEarOnlyKnowsWords
	if IcanEarOnlyKnowsWords<=0:
		chatBot.getResponse("IDONTUNDERSTAND")
	else:
		print "robot doesnt understand"
	#runtime.shutdown()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
About ILDG
Ask Nic
The Livestock – Biofuels Connection
Illinois' Value-Added Ag Businesses are Booming
The growing popularity of renewable fuels is strengthening the natural synergy that exists between the Illinois grain and livestock industries. Increasing Illinois biofuels production is boosting the local availability of feedstuffs, byproducts of fuel production. That benefits livestock producers, while grain producers profit from both the biofuels market and the feed market.
In recent months, sky-rocketing petroleum oil prices have become the centerpiece of many consumer concerns, shifting their focus to the merits of corn-based ethanol and soybean-based biodiesel fuels as part of the answer. And not only do renewable fuels producers and corn and soybean farmers benefit from the booming biofuels business, increasingly the Illinois livestock industry is reaping rewards from the connection.
"Biofuels and livestock need each other to be successful in the future. Biofuels will need to get rid of the mountain of byproducts in a way that is economical for their business. Livestock will need a reliable, quality feed supply to continue to meet world demand for meat production," said Gary Asay, pork producer from Osco, Ill., and president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA). "Rather than shipping the byproducts around the world, let's add value to those products by feeding them to livestock here in Illinois and then ship the meat to consumers around the world."
The Illinois livestock industry – often considered the original "value-added" agricultural industry, turning commodity feeds into meat – consumes nearly 120 million bushels of corn and about 40 million bushels of soybean equivalent each year. With growing ethanol and biodiesel production in the state, the byproducts of these renewable fuels production processes are more readily available for local livestock feed use.
"Synergies can be drawn between the ethanol, corn and livestock industries," said John Kuhfuss, ICGA president from Mackinaw, Ill. "Given high transportation costs, the availability of DDGS (dried distiller's grains with solubles) could add momentum to revived interest in expanding the Illinois livestock industry."
The Illinois Livestock Development Group (ILDG) recognizes the value of the byproducts of renewable fuels production, which include the meal from crushed soybeans and DDGS from corn. Generally, for every bushel of corn made into ethanol, 18 pounds of DDGS are created and available for local feed. Every bushel of soybeans yields 48 pounds of meal and 11 pounds of oil when it is crushed. The oil is used in biodiesel production, and the meal is available for feed.
That is good news for pork producers and consumers, in general. The pork industry alone contributes more than $1.9 billion annually to the state's economy, in addition to generating more than $176 million in taxes and supporting 18,500 jobs. Altogether, the livestock industry generates $3.43 billion in economic activity, $334 million in state tax revenue and employs around 45,000 people.
All indications are that renewable fuels production will continue to increase. According to the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA), six ethanol plants are in operation in the state, two are under construction and about 20 are under review and development. Illinois currently has the capacity to produce almost 900 million gallons per year. In total, the U.S. produces more than 4.3 billion gallons of ethanol annually.
Biodiesel production, too, is beginning to see promising growth in Illinois. The largest biodiesel production facility in the state produces 22 million gallons per year. Four new plants are under discussion, and could be built in Illinois during the next 12 to18 months.
"Illinois provides a conducive environment for biodiesel production, given our state and federal sales tax incentives, more than any other state," said Bill Dumoulin, Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) representative to the ILDG. "Five years ago, there were few biodiesel production plants in the U.S. with no measurable production. In 2004, nationwide production was 25 million gallons, that tripled to 75 million in 2005 and 150 million gallons or more are expected to be produced this year."
"The more we can feed local livestock, the better the news for corn, soybean and livestock producers," added Dumoulin. "One of the long-term strategies of supporting value-added agricultural industries is to help bring livestock back to Illinois. As we produce more biodiesel (and ethanol), we create more protein sources for livestock, and we can find new ways to collaborate between these value-added industries."
Value-Added Agriculture Factoids
In 2004, Illinois pork operations produced 1.73 billion pounds of pork, ranking Illinois fourth among all states. Cattle and calf production during 2004 totaled 560.6 million pounds, placing Illinois 18th in total U.S. marketings.
Livestock and livestock products cash receipts in Illinois in 2004 totaled 1.9 billion dollars, which was up 8 percent from 2003. Hogs accounted for 10.6 percent of total cash receipts, while cattle and calves accounted for 5.0 percent and dairy products accounted for 3.2 percent. Compared to 2003, cash receipts rose 23 percent for hogs, 25 percent for dairy and declined 20 percent for cattle.
Illinois livestock numbers have fallen during the last decade – a trend the Illinois Livestock Development Group is working to reverse. About 5.35 million hogs were inventoried in 1994 in Illinois compared with just over 4 million in 2005. Likewise, the beef cattle inventory fell from 1.74 million to1.34 million and the number of dairy farms dropped from 2,300 farms to about 1,400.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation estimates that more than 235 million bushels of corn and 45 million bushels of soybeans were exported through U.S. red meat exports in 2005. By 2007, U.S. red meat exports will account for the use of more than 350 million bushels of corn and 52 million bushels of soybeans.
Illinois ranks second in U.S. corn production with more than 1.7 billion bushels produced annually. Corn grown in Illinois is used to produce 40 percent of the ethanol consumed in the United States.
Illinois generally ranks first or second in total soybean production. Nearly 450 million bushels of soybeans were produced in 2005, representing about one-sixth of total U.S. production. Soybeans are used in food, feed and industrial uses.
During the 2005 calendar year, a total of 7 million gallons of Illinois-produced biodiesel were sold in the state. Various biodiesel blends currently are available at more than 100 retail pump locations throughout Illinois.
Nationwide, biodiesel sales in 2005 hit a record level of 75 million gallons. The annual production capacity of existing U.S. biodiesel plants totals 395 million gallons per year.
In the U.S., 65 companies have invested millions of dollars in the development of manufacturing plants and currently are marketing biodiesel fuel. Fifty companies have plants under construction, and another eight are expanding existing operations.
According to a 2001 U.S. Department of Agriculture study, an average annual increase of the equivalent of 200 million gallons of biodiesel fuel demand would increase total cash crop receipts by $5.2 billion by 2010. The ultimate impact: an average net farm income increase of $300 million per year.
Ethanol production consumed some 1.4 billion bushels of corn in 2004. Studies have shown that corn prices in markets near ethanol plants will increase between five and eight cents per bushel.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ethanol production adds 30 cents to the value of a bushel of corn. The Renewable Fuels Association notes that ethanol production adds $4.5 billion to U.S. farm income annually.
More than one-third of the United State's current trade deficit is the result of petroleum imports. Some projections indicate petroleum's portion of the trade deficit could rise to more than 60 percent of the U.S. trade deficit over the next 10 to 20 years.
The U.S. balance of trade has been aided by ethanol's displacement of imported petroleum in recent years. A 1997 Kellogg School of Management study found ethanol production improved the trade balance by $2 billion that year alone.
American consumers stand to save money by pumping more ethanol. According to a May 2005 Consumer Federation of America report, fuel consumers could save up to eight cents per gallon if fuel sellers would simply add more ethanol to their fuel blends instead of purchasing additional imported petroleum.
RFD Radio Livestock Report Archive
©2023 Illinois Livestock Development Group. All rigths reserved


Cabin Creek Carpentry's primary goal is to deliver value for your dollar by building a quality home that's beautiful and energy efficient, a home you'll be in love with.
We can provide more value by assisting you and your architect with a design to ensure your project can be built cost effectively. Each job is run by a "tool bags on" Project Supervisor, a skilled carpenter whose responsibilities include ensuring timely, efficient execution of the numerous phases of the project.
We feel it is important to build sustainably. We have been working over the years building more energy efficient homes with healthier options that pay off for you and your family now and long term. We will lay out options for you to choose in solar alternatives and renewable products that make practical sense. A well-built mountain home has been and will continue to be one of the best investments you can make.


text:
Why Is America So Rich?
Why is America the world's richest nation? Is it mostly because of the government, or is it thanks to entrepreneurs and businessmen? Historian Burt Folsom of Hillsdale College explains.
The only way the government can compete in the private sector is change the rules to its advantage, inevitably hurting private businesses.
The only way the government can compete in private sector is to change the rules to its advantage, inevitably hurting private businesses. Example: In 1795, the U.S. government established state-run fur factories in order to capitalize on the fur trading business. Although poorly run, in 1816 President Monroe appointed Thomas McKenney to expand the factory system. McKenney and his system were paid by Congress no matter how many pelts they sold, providing no incentive for successful trade with the Indians. By 1818, McKenney began lobbying Congress to force private traders out of the market by requiring a $10,000 bond (formerly only $5 was required), but the plot ultimately failed and the government factories were shut down because of their wastefulness.
The fur business in the 1800s shows how free markets succeed—and big government fails.
John Jacob Astor founded the American Fur Company in 1808. Astor had the vision to move into modern-day Michigan for fur and to trade with the Chinese. He excelled in trading with the Indians because he provided goods that they wanted at good prices. He also incentivized his traders with bonuses from profits. Astor eventually became the first American to have a net worth of $10 million.
The U.S. government's attempt to enter the trade industry, however, did not go nearly so well. In 1795, the U.S. government established state-run fur factories in order to capitalize on the fur trading business. Although poorly run, in 1816 President Monroe appointed Thomas McKenney to expand the factory system. McKenney and his system were paid by Congress no matter how many pelts they sold, providing no incentive for successful trade with the Indians. By 1818, McKenney began lobbying Congress to force private traders out of the market by requiring a $10,000 bond (formerly only $5 was required), but the plot ultimately failed and the government factories were shut down because of their wastefulness.
The US government's failure with the telegraph is a classic example of how the private sector runs circles around big government.
Samuel Morse invented the telegraph and Morse Code in 1836. After getting Congress to fund the first line from Washington D.C. to Baltimore, Maryland, Morse agreed to let the government run the new invention.
By 1845, costs were six times higher than revenues and Congress agreed to let private interests run the new invention in 1846. Just 15 years after Congress allowed private companies to work telegraph lines, the rates for service were only one-tenth the rates under government control.
The profit motive of the market encouraged private businesses to lower costs and increase the quality of the product, making it a successful technology.
Government subsidies drive up prices and hurt the competition. The steamboat industry in the 1850s is a perfect example.
Regular transatlantic steamboat travel began in the 1840s. In the beginning, the U.S. government subsidized the business of Edward Collins to carry mail and passengers. Collins received $3 million up front and built lavish, ornate ships for high class travellers only, charging $200 per passenger and 24 cents per letter carried. Collins lobbied for and received a subsidy of $385,000 per year to operate the ships. By 1852 Collins was asking Congress for $858,000 per year, and yet was still charging $200 per passenger.
All that changed, however, in 1855 when Cornelius Vanderbilt began offering cheap first class rates of $80 to help fill his ships.
Vanderbilt introduced tiered pricing and steerage—very cheap fare for a crowded spot in the bottom of the boat—in order to carry maximum capacity. By 1858, Vanderbilt had driven Congress to revoke Collin's subsidies.
Cornelius Vanderbilt became the first American to earn a net worth of over $100 million.
Vanderbilt's success in the steamboat industry is a prime example of how the private sector outperforms the government every time.
The United States is the world's most prosperous economy. It's been that way for so long -- over a hundred years -- that we take it for granted.
But how did it happen?
There are many answers, of course. One is that the United States values the free market over government control of the economy.
But here's a point that is seldom made: It didn't begin that way.
Before the country placed its trust in the free market, it trusted the government to make important business decisions. Or to put it another way, only after the government failed repeatedly to promote economic growth, and only after private enterprise succeeded where the government failed, did the United States start to develop a world-beating economy.
Let's look at three telling examples:
In 1808, John Jacob Astor formed the American Fur Company and marketed American furs around the world. Europeans adored beaver hats for their peerless warmth and durability. Astor gave them what they wanted.
Instead of leaving the fur business to capable entrepreneurs like Astor, the government decided it wanted to be in on the action.
So, it subsidized its own fur company, run by a self-promoting government official named Thomas McKenney. McKenney should have won the competition. After all, he had the federal government backing him.
But while Astor employed hundreds of people and still made a tidy profit, McKenney's company lost money every year. Finally Congress, in 1822, came to its senses and ended the subsidies for McKenney and his associates.
A similar situation developed in the 1840s around the telegraph.
The telegraph was the first step toward the instant communication we have today. Invented by Samuel Morse, the telegraph transmitted sound as dots and dashes, representing letters of the alphabet.
Morse, more of an idealist than businessman, agreed to let the government own and operate the telegraph "in the national interest."
But the government steadily lost money each month it operated the telegraph. During 1845, expenditures for the telegraph exceeded revenue by six-to-one, and sometimes by ten-to-one. Seeing no value in the invention, Congress turned the money-loser over to private enterprise.
In the hands of entrepreneurs, the business took off. Telegraph promoters showed the press how it could instantly report stories occurring hundreds of miles away. Bankers, stock brokers and insurance companies saw how they could instantly monitor investments near and far.
As the quality of service improved, telegraph lines were strung across the country – from 40 miles of wire in 1846 to 23,000 miles in 1852. By the 1860s, the U.S. had a transcontinental telegraph wire. And by the end of that decade, entrepreneurs had strung a telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean.
Why didn't the U.S. government profitably use what Morse had invented? Part of the answer is that the incentives for bureaucrats differ sharply from those of entrepreneurs. When government operated the telegraph, Washington bureaucrats received no profits from the messages they sent, and the cash they lost was the taxpayers', not their own. So government officials had no incentive to improve service, to find new customers, or to expand to more cities.
But entrepreneurs like Ezra Cornell, the founder of Western Union, did. Cheaper, better service meant more customers and more profits. Just fifteen years after Congress privatized the telegraph, both the costs of construction and the rates for service linking the major cities were as little as one-tenth of the original rates established by Washington.
In the steamship business, we see the story repeated yet again. During the 1840s, regular steamship travel began between New York and England. The government placed its bets on ship owner Edward Collins, a man more skilled at political lobbying than at business.
While Congress funded Collins, Cornelius Vanderbilt started his own steamship company. Vanderbilt cut the costs of travel, filled his ships with eager passengers, and built a fabulously successful business, soon leaving Collins in his wake.
Collins failed because he didn't feel a need to improve, or even provide safe and regular service (for example, two of his four ships sank, killing hundreds of passengers). If he lost money, there was always another politician to appeal to. Vanderbilt, in contrast, had to serve his customers or he would have lost his company.
You'd think we would have learned our lesson by now: economic prosperity comes from free enterprise, not from government subsidies. But it's a lesson we have to learn every generation.
I'm Burton Folsom, Professor of History at Hillsdale College, for Prager University.


text:
Global Eye
Candid Talk
Home > Opinion > Telanganas electoral paradigm
Telangana's electoral paradigm
Rao is confident of winning in the absence of any other local leader of his stature
Kalyani Shankar16 Oct 2018 4:15 PM GMT
Telangana, the country's youngest state, will go into elections on December 7 for the second time since its birth in 2014. Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao took a big risk by advancing the polls by eight months. It was also his bravado to announce the list of 105 candidates on the same day even before the Election Commission announced the polling date. Will he succeed in his gamble?
Though it was the Congress government at the Centre, which agreed for bifurcation of the state in 2014, TRS came to power riding on the Telangana wave. Contrary to its expectations, Congress has been wiped off from both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
As there is no wave this time, the polls are a fight for the survival of opposition including the Congress. Telugu Desam, Congress, CPI, and Telangana Jana Samithi have formed a Mahakootani (grand alliance) against TRS. Kodandaram of Telangana action committee, who has fallen out with KCR, leads TJS. Interestingly, Congress and TDP, one-time arch-rivals have come together gasping for political survival. It is not clear how the chemistry will work. TRS did not expect this development but is taking the alliance seriously.
In 2014, TRS won 63 out of 119 seats while the splintered opposition was mauled. Congress won 21 and TDP 15. Rao has systematically decimated the opposition and strengthened his party by poaching on TDP (13) and Congress (12) and other parties. Congress and TDP strategists hope that former will get a big chunk of upper caste Reddy, SC/ST, and minority votes and TDP can get a substantial number of its core OBC votes.
Rao is now facing new challenges. He has built a personality cult around himself. He has made his son K.T Rama Rao as his number two in his cabinet, his nephew Harish Rao as a minister and daughter Kavitha as an M.P. The opposition is trying to make his style of authoritarian functioning, dynastic rule, and his secret understanding with BJP as election issues besides jobs and non-deliverance of promises. The TRS is now ready to bail out the BJP in case it misses the 272-mark in the next Lok Sabha polls. KCR is also hobnobbing with leaders like West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee attempting to form a federal front.
Why did Rao go for this gamble? Astrologers rule KCR on practically everything. Before making a decision KCR got at least ten surveys done and is confident that his party would get at least 100 seats while the realists put it at 70 or 80 seats. He believes that the surprise element will go in his favour.
Rao wants the polls to be a KCR versus the rest and not a Modi versus KCR. He is confident of winning as neither Congress nor BJP or Telugu Desam has local leaders of his stature. If he wins, he proposes to install his son Rama Rao and move to national politics. KCR has big dreams of becoming the next prime minister.
On the plus side, KCR government has already announced many welfare schemes including Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bhīma for the farmers and taken up projects such as Kaleshwaram irrigation, Mission Kakatiya, Haritha Haram, and Mission Bhagiratha. The manifesto will come up with more poll promises. Telangana has been ranked number one for "ease of doing business". It has registered an increase in GDP growth and industrial development. It is ahead of other states in the per person consumption of power, progress in the service sector and IT exports.
However, it is not all hunky dory for KCR as he has not delivered on the two-bedroom house scheme, transformed the state into Golden Telangana, filled up 1.50 lakh vacancies or provides jobs to those killed in the Telangana agitation. From a surplus state, it has now become a revenue deficit state.
Traditionally, the Congress had the backing of dominant Reddys and Scheduled Castes while the TDP has a substantial number of its core OBC votes. The Congress is seen as a Reddy party while the TRS, a Velama party. Muslims and Dalit voters are key to the polls. The state, a part of the erstwhile Nizam territory, has around 12 per cent Muslim population. The AIMIM, a one-time ally of the Congress has moved closer to TRS and both have decided to go for friendly contests where they have no conflict of interest.
Most surveys predict a clear win for the TRS. As of now, the prediction is that it is an advantage for TRS although a fight by the united opposition will make a dent in TRS votes. But the lack of a Telangana wave is a big minus. A win or lose ultimately depends upon the opposition unity, youth support, anti-incumbency, and communicative skills of the players.
(The views expressed are strictly personal)
Kalyani Shankar
Our contributor helps bringing the latest updates to you


Building web applications is like knitting.
Following a tutorial is like knitting from a pattern.
Building an app is like writing your own pattern.
Hand writing SQL is like spinning your own yarn.
You don't have to know how to spin yarn to write your own patterns.


text:
Q: No such a Instance Field in custom array list ...? How to fix with issue the issue No such a Instance Field for custom array list.
I need your help for fix the issue I am parsing the data from web API. the api providing the accurate data and parsing of json is also done.
  private class DownloadFilesTask extends AsyncTask<Void, String, ArrayList<PreviewData>> {
        public ArrayList<PreviewData> Datalist = new ArrayList<PreviewData>() ;
        private ProgressDialog nDialog;
        Constant constant = new Constant();
        Context context;
        public DownloadFilesTask(Context context) {
            this.context = context;
        }

        @Override
        protected ArrayList<PreviewData> doInBackground(Void... params) {

           NOTE :please note String id,name and email is just dummy items to explain the question;

          /*     Example   */

          for(int i=0;i<jsonobj.length();i++){

           String id =jsonobj.get("id");

           String name =jsonobj.get("name");

           String Email =jsonobj.get("Email");

           PreviewData tempdata = new PreviewData(id, name, Email);    /* data is coming in tempdata list */

           Datalist.add(tempdata);     /* what when i want to add this data in Datalist then it show no such a instance field*/

           }
           return countryList;
        }

       @Override
        protected void onPostExecute(ArrayList<PreviewData> result) {
           super.onPostExecute(result);
           adapter = new MyCustomAdapter(getContext(),R.layout.view_all_campaign_row, Datalist);

           /* Here i want to add the data  in adapter */

           listView = (ListView) view.findViewById(R.id.campaign_list_view);
           listView.setAdapter(adapter);
           nDialog.dismiss();
           Log.i("PostEx",Datalist.toString());
        }
    }


text:
Learn More About Neighborly
Become AFranchisee
About Neighborly
Meet the Team at Neighborly®
Based in Waco, Texas, Neighborly, formerly Dwyer Group, opened its doors in 1981 with only one brand. We have grown to become the holding company of 22 service-based franchise organizations! Together, these brands provide a diverse array of specialty services through nearly 3,700 franchisees in nine countries.
Our organizations are:
Don Dwyer, Sr. began what would eventually become Neighborly when he developed Rainbow International. He envisioned a company that would specialize in buying and building related businesses that would provide high-quality residential and light commercial services. That vision continues to be implemented today by the company's leadership team, led by President and CEO, Mike Bidwell.
Learn more about us:
Women in the Trades
Neighborly believes new franchise owners are attracted to the company's franchise opportunities because of the depth of our support services, our commitment to the company's mission, our Code of Values, the established reputation of our leadership team, and the success of our franchise systems.
Our vision and our mission have remained consistent:
Our Vision: To be the world leader in multi-branded service franchising; providing premium services to homeowners and businesses.
Our Mission: To teach our principles and systems of personal and business success so that all people we touch live happier and more successful lives.
Contact Our Service-Based Franchise Company
Neighborly is an active member in the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA). We are also a founding company of the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative (VetFran). Learn more about our service-based franchise company: Contact Neighborly today.
Our Code of Values Live
Treating others as we would like to be treated.
Listening with the intent to understand what is being said and acknowledging that what is said is important to the speaker.
Responding in a timely fashion.
Speaking calmly and respectfully, without profanity or sarcasm.
Acknowledging everyone as right from their own perspective.
Making only agreements we are willing, able and intend to keep.
Communicating any potentially broken agreements at the first appropriate opportunity to all parties concerned.
Looking to the system for correction and proposing all possible solutions if something is not working.
Operating in a responsible manner: "Above the Line"
Communicating honestly and with purpose.
Asking clarifying questions if we disagree or do not understand.
Never saying anything about anyone that we would not say to him or her.
Continuously striving to maximize internal and external customer loyalty.
Making our best effort to understand and appreciate the customers' needs in every situation.
Having fun in the process!