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$30 million poured into effort to energize young voters
By SCOTT BAUER Associated Press
Sep 3, 2018 at 12:14 PM Sep 3, 2018 at 12:14 PM
MADISON, Wis. — Democrats know who their voters are. They just have to figure out how to get them to the polls in November.
That's where NextGen America comes in.
The group founded by liberal billionaire Tom Steyer is in the midst of a $30 million-plus campaign in 11 battleground states to contact young voters, get them registered and have them pledge to follow through in November.
At a recent event on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, NextGen used therapy dogs to attract students and register them to vote.
The goal is to empower young voters in states with competitive races for Congress and other seats.
Wisconsin freshman Kellen Sharp says he's excited to vote. He and others at the Madison event think young people are more energized than ever.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Home » Gaming » Splitgate Delayed
Splitgate Is So Popular That It's Being Delayed to August as Devs Receive $10 Million to Fix Servers
By Dinesh Last updated Jul 27, 2021
The Portal-based shooter Splitgate is so popular now that the game has been delayed by the developers because of server problems. The game will not come out today sadly.
Splitgate has been delayed
1047 Games announced today that it will extend the Open Beta of its competitive shooter Splitgate until August, thus delaying the launch of version 1.0 scheduled for today, Tuesday 27 July.
In a press release, 1047 said that it wants to make sure as many people as possible can get into the game when it officially launches. At the moment this is not possible due to technical limits, which restrict the maximum number of players to 65,536.
"Our team has been blown away by the incredible reception the Splitgate community has shown us," said Ian Proulx, CEO of 1047. "With the steep and sudden increase in players trying to access servers, we're having to sort out a myriad of technical issues that come with this level of insane growth."
We spent all night optimizing more but after talking to AWS, we learned our database (redis) can only handle 65,536 concurrent players (what we hit last night). So no optimizations matter yet. We are working on a queue system to let 65k ppl in until we remove this limitation. pic.twitter.com/SBDpzk0vTy
— Splitgate (@Splitgate) July 22, 2021
Proulx insists the game itself is doing well, with 1047 and Splitgate fans are also happy. The problem, however, lies in trying to scale servers to meet a level of demand never seen before. In addition, the game has gotten so popular that a venture capital firm is spending $10 million in cash to help the team to fix the server problems.
"We've worked hard to provide a high-quality game and experience," added Proulx. "And our biggest challenge is simply to have enough capacity to serve the entire community."
Recall that the open beta of Splitgate is currently available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC with cross-play across all platforms.
PCPS4PS5SplitgateXbox OneXbox Series SXbox Series X


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Les vers de cire sont les larves, ou chenilles, des « teignes » ou « fausses-teignes des ruches », ou « papillons des ruches », qui appartiennent à la famille des Pyralidae.
Deux espèces étroitement apparentées font l'objet d'élevage commercial, la Petite teigne des ruches (Achroia grisella) et la Fausse-teigne de la cire (Galleria mellonella). Elles appartiennent à la tribu des Galleriini dans la sous-famille des Galleriinae.
Ce terme désigne aussi les larves d'une autre espèce, la Pyrale indienne de la farine (Plodia interpunctella), mais on ne la trouve pas dans le commerce.

Il existe encore une autre espèce de teignes de la sous-famille des Galleriinae qui produit aussi des vers de cire, la Fausse-teigne des nids de bourdons, Aphomia sociella, qui ne fait pas non plus l'objet d'élevage.

Les vers de cire sont des chenilles blanchâtres, aux pattes noires à leur extrémité et à la tête petite de couleur noire ou brune.

À l'état sauvage, ces larves vivent comme des  parasites dans les colonies d'abeilles et se nourrissent des cocons, du pollen, et des exuvies d'abeilles, et attaquent la cire, d'où leur nom. Les apiculteurs considèrent ces chenilles comme des ravageurs.
Galleria mellonella (fausse teigne de la cire) n'attaque pas les abeilles directement, mais se nourrit de la cire utilisée par les abeilles pour construire leur rayons.
Le plein développement de ces papillons jusqu'au stade imago nécessite l'accès aux cellules du couvain qui contiennent des protéines essentielles pour le développement des larves.
La destruction des rayons peut entraîner la perte du miel stocké ou le contaminer, et peut aussi tuer les larves des abeilles et contribue à la propagation de maladies.

En captivité, ils peuvent rester longtemps sans manger, en particulier si on les conserve à des températures fraiches.
Les vers de cire sont généralement élevés à l'aide d'un mélange de graines de céréales, de son et de miel.

Voir aussi
 Pyralidae
 Mealworm

Notes et références
https://www.courrierinternational.com/article/environnement-des-vers-mangeurs-de-sac-plastique-reperes

Insecte ravageur
Lepidoptera

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Tag Archives for projects
People power: everyday Australians are building their own renewables projects, and you can too
Dominique McCollum Coy, Monash University; Roger Dargaville, Monash University, and Shirin Malekpour, Monash University
In the town of Goulburn in southern New South Wales, an energy revolution is brewing. The community has come together to build its own 4,000-panel solar farm – everyday citizens are invited to buy shares in the venture and reap the rewards.
Goulburn is not alone: community-owned energy is an idea whose time has come. About 100 community energy groups operate across Australia – their projects at various levels of development – up from 25 groups in 2015.
The concept is gaining political attention, too. Independent MP for the federal Victorian seat of Indi, Helen Haines, in August moved a motion in parliament, calling on the Morrison government to support community energy, including establishing a new government agency. The bill is backed by fellow independent Zali Steggall.
At its core, community energy rests on the belief that everyday people should have power over how their energy is generated – including its environmental and social impacts. Big corporations should not control our energy systems, nor should they reap all the profits. So let's take a look at how community energy works.
Projects such as the ACT's Mount Majura solar farm allow citizens to take control of their energy needs.
Steve Bittinger/Flickr
Australia's first community-owned renewable energy project, Hepburn Wind, started generating power in June 2011. Since then, many more communities across Australia have banded together to manage their own solar, wind, micro-grid and efficiency projects.
The Goulburn project will be built in the Hume electorate of federal energy minister Angus Taylor, about 3km from the town centre. Earlier this year it received a A$2.1 million state grant, under the Regional Community Energy Fund.
Investors can reportedly buy A$400 shares, each covering the cost of a solar panel and the infrastructure needed for grid connection.
Community energy groups take various forms.
Earth may temporarily pass dangerous 1.5℃ warming limit by 2024, major new report says
Hepburn Wind and the Goulburn Solar Farm, for example, involve a community investment model in which local groups develop a project, then seek investors from the community to fund it.
This might involve forming a cooperative, or selling shares in the venture. The community organisation may take responsibility for delivering the project – including design, installation, and management – or may outsource this to an external company.
A second model involves raising money through donations, either via crowd-sourcing platforms or traditional means. The money is usually spent on installing a sustainable energy system at a local premises. For example in north-east Victoria, a First Nations-owned renewable energy project will deliver solar power to the office of a state government agency.
The third type of project involves a group of households coming together to find a renewable energy solution, such as bulk-buying solar energy.
Hepburn Wind is Australia's oldest community energy project.
Community-owned renewable energy projects are a great way for everyday people to get involved in the transition to a low-carbon future. The benefits include:
local job creation and economic development
returns on investment for community shareholders
increased energy security, helping communities to avoid blackouts
more affordable energy
the creation of funds to reinvest in other community projects. For example in Scotland, dividends from renewables developments have been invested in electric public transport and local skills development
community building, in which towns develop a stronger identity, participate in communal activities and make collective decisions about their future.
Empowering the community
The energy transformation is not just about moving from fossil fuels to renewables. It's also about changing who is responsible for, and benefits from, our energy system.
Inevitably, those in power, such as existing energy generators and their political supporters, will resist such change.
'The good, the bad and the ugly': here's the lowdown on Australia's low-emissions roadmap
We've seen this play out in Australia, which has triggered more than a decade of climate policy inaction. More recently, the Morrison government has pushed ahead with a plan for a "gas-fired" economic recovery, despite the harm this will cause to our emissions reduction efforts. These developments are clearly at odds with community support for action on climate change.
Traditionally, communities are often shut out of decision making on energy projects, including renewables. Communities often become dependent on both local political representation to voice their views, and the capacity of energy network operators to work with them.
In community energy projects, locals are involved from the ground up.
Communities must be empowered to take part in planning, and have ownership of projects. Our research, soon to be published, shows such empowerment involves helping communities develop the capacity and power to meet their own energy goals. This means developing new skills, working together and becoming equal decision makers.
Governments are central to this by helping communities deliver projects. The Victorian government's Community Power Hubs are a good example. At three "hubs" – in Ballarat, Bendigo and the Latrobe Valley – various types of energy projects were implemented. Each sought to build local knowledge of, and participation in, community energy, and ensured the benefits stayed in the region.
Australia's growing community energy movement shows us what's possible, but it needs more government support, especially at the federal level. Helen Haines' proposal is a very good start.
The energy transformation will require massive investment, and most projects will be built in regional communities.
Empowering community energy is the ideal way to provide some of that investment, build stronger rural economies and ensure the benefits of the energy transformation are shared by all.
Dominique McCollum Coy, Doctoral Researcher, Behaviour Change Graduate Research Industry Partnership (GRIP), Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University; Roger Dargaville, Senior lecturer & Deputy Director Monash Energy Institute, Monash University, and Shirin Malekpour, Senior Lecturer and Research Lead, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University
October 14, 2020 by particularkev	Categories: Australia, Community Energy, Electricity, Renewable Energy	| Tags: article, Australia, Australians, Community Energy, electricity, personal, projects, Renewable Energy, renewables
Why most Aboriginal people have little say over clean energy projects planned for their land
Pexels, Author provided
Lily O'Neill, Australian National University; Brad Riley, Australian National University; Ganur Maynard, Australian National University, and Janet Hunt, Australian National University
Huge clean energy projects, such as the Asian Renewable Energy Hub in the Pilbara, Western Australia, are set to produce gigawatts of electricity over vast expanses of land in the near future.
The Asian Renewable Energy Hub is planning to erect wind turbines and solar arrays across 6,500 square kilometres of land. But, like with other renewable energy mega projects, this land is subject to Aboriginal rights and interests — known as the Indigenous Estate.
While renewable energy projects are essential for transitioning Australia to a zero-carbon economy, they come with a caveat: most traditional owners in Australia have little legal say over them.
Wind turbines will be built across 6,500 square kilometres in the Pilbara.
Projects on the Indigenous Estate
How much say Aboriginal people have over mining and renewable energy projects depends on the legal regime their land is under.
In the Northern Territory, the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth) (ALRA) allows traditional owners to say no to developments proposed for their land. While the commonwealth can override this veto, they never have as far as we know.
In comparison, the dominant Aboriginal land tenure in Western Australia (and nationwide) is native title.
Native title — as recognised in the 1992 Mabo decision and later codified in the Native Title Act 1993 — recognises that Aboriginal peoples' rights to land and waters still exist under certain circumstances despite British colonisation.
Indigenous people no longer have the legal right to say no to the Adani mine – here's what it means for equality
But unlike the ALRA, the Native Title Act does not allow traditional owners to veto developments proposed for their land.
Both the Native Title Act and the the ALRA are federal laws, but the ALRA only applies in the NT. The Native Title Act applies nationwide, including in some parts of the NT.
Shortcomings in the Native Title Act
Native title holders can enter into a voluntary agreement with a company, known as an Indigenous Land Use Agreement, when a development is proposed for their land. This allows both parties to negotiate how the land and waters would be used, among other things.
If this is not negotiated, then native title holders have only certain, limited safeguards.
The strongest of these safeguards is known as the "right to negotiate". This says resource companies must negotiate in good faith for at least six months with native title holders, and aim to reach an agreement.
But it is not a veto right. The company can fail to get the agreement of native title holders and still be granted access to the land by government.
For example, Fortescue Metals Group controversially built their Solomon iron ore mine in the Pilbara, despite not getting the agreement of the Yindjibarndi people who hold native title to the area.
In fact, the National Native Title Tribunal — which rules on disputes between native title holders and companies — has sided with native title holders only three times, and with companies 126 times (of which 55 had conditions attached).
There are also lesser safeguards in the act, which stipulate that native title holders should be consulted, or notified, about proposed developments, and may have certain objection rights.
Negotiating fair agreements
So how does the Native Title Act treat large-scale renewable energy developments?
The answer is complicated because a renewable energy development likely contains different aspects (for example: wind turbines, roads and HVDC cables), and the act may treat each differently.
Broadly speaking, these huge developments don't fall under the right to negotiate, but under lesser safeguards.
Does this matter? Yes, it does. We know from experience in the mining industry that while some companies negotiate fair agreements with Aboriginal landowners, some do not.
Rio Tinto just blasted away an ancient Aboriginal site. Here's why that was allowed
For example, two very similar LNG projects — one in Western Australia and the other in Queensland — resulted in land access and benefit sharing agreements that were poles apart. The WA project's agreements with traditional owners were worth A$1.5 billion, while the Queensland project's agreements were worth just A$10 million.
Likewise, Rio Tinto's agreement for the area including Juukan Gorge reportedly "gagged" traditional owners from objecting to any activities by the company, which then destroyed the 46,000-year-old rock shelters.
A matter of leverage
We also know the likelihood of a new development having positive impacts for Aboriginal communities depends in part on the leverage they have to negotiate a strong agreement.
Uranium mines harm Indigenous people – so why have we approved a new one?
And the best leverage is political power. This comes from the ability to wage community campaigns against companies to force politicians to listen, or galvanise nation-wide protests that prevent work on a development continuing.
Legal rights are also very effective: the stronger your legal rights are, the better your negotiation position. And the strongest legal position to be in is if you can say no to the development.
For land under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, this ability to say no means traditional owners are in a good position to negotiate strong environmental, cultural heritage and economic benefits.
For land under the Native Title Act, traditional owners are in a weaker legal position. It is not a level playing field.
A just transition
To remedy this imbalance, the federal government must give native title holders the same rights for renewable energy projects as traditional owners have under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act in the NT.
Charles Perkins forced Australia to confront its racist past. His fight for justice continues today
Or, at the very least, extend the right to negotiate to cover the types of large-scale renewable energy projects likely to be proposed for native title land in coming decades.
We must ensure the transition to a zero-carbon economy is a just transition for First Nations.
Lily O'Neill, Research Fellow, Australian National University; Brad Riley, Research Fellow, Australian National University; Ganur Maynard, Visiting Indigenous Fellow, Australian National University, and Janet Hunt, Associate Professor, CAEPR, Australian National University
August 13, 2020 by particularkev	Categories: Aborigines - Australia, Australia, Electricity, Renewable Energy	| Tags: aborigines, article, Australia, clean energy, electricity, land, native title, projects, Renewable Energy, renewables
Coldplay conundrum: how to reduce the risk of failure for environmental projects
As part of its commitment under the Paris Agreement, New Zealand's government has committed to planting one billion trees within a decade.
from http://www.shutterstock.com, CC BY-SA
David Hall, Auckland University of Technology
New Zealand's government has committed to planting one billion trees as part of a transition to a low-emission economy, in line with its commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The One Billion Trees Programme promises to deliver combined benefits, not only by offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, but also reducing erosion on marginal land. However, unless funding is closely tied to successful outcomes, this public investment risks failing in its environmental and political ambitions.
We have developed a results-based bond financing scheme that would remove the risk from forest planting and could be applied to forest and landscape restoration initiatives elsewhere in the world.
Green bonds are taking off – and could help save the planet
The Coldplay conundrum
Globally, we face a major financing gap to fund the infrastructure required to mitigate the causes of climate change and to adapt to the consequences. The scale of global investment isn't equal to the scale of the challenge. The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate estimates that core infrastructure investment needs to nearly double to about $6 trillion annually up until 2030.
The barriers to investment are many, but one is simply the risk of failure. I call this "the Coldplay conundrum", after the British soft-rock band's attempt to offset the greenhouse gas emissions created by their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. Money was transferred to southern India for the planting of 10,000 mango trees, yet, some years later, much of it hadn't made it to landowners and, as a result, few trees survived. Coldplay, for all their green ambitions, ended up with egg on their face.
Politicians face the same risk when they embark on projects to deliver environmental outcomes. Although voters expect governments to deliver various public goods, there is also an expectation that public money will be managed effectively, efficiently and responsibly in doing so. Failing on either front could attract the wrath of the electorate.
The New Zealand government faces just this conundrum over its plan to plant a billion trees over the coming decade. It already manages various grants schemes, such as the Afforestation Grant Scheme and Erosion Control Funding Programme. But upscaling these could produce poor results if funding isn't closely tied to successful outcomes.
A better solution
Results-based financing helps to manage this political risk. The idea is that governments only hand over the money once the desired outcomes are successfully delivered. The New Zealand government might guarantee to pay for trees that are successfully established, thereby attracting private and social sector parties to do this work – and to do it well. This contrasts with more common funding models, such as grants or output-based contracts, which might lead to success, but might also go the way of Coldplay.
My collaborator, investment specialist Sam Lindsay, and I have designed the Native Forest Bond Scheme, a results-based financing structure that would take the risk out of forest planting for the government, to enable innovation over business-as-usual. It is specifically designed to address the challenge of establishing continuous native forest on erosion-prone marginal land.
This is one of New Zealand's most pressing environmental challenges. About 11% of the country's total land area is mildly to severely erosion-prone but currently in pasture. Extreme weather events – which are expected to increase as a consequence of climate change – can trigger mass erosion, with costly damage to public and private property. Pastoral land, or land where forest was recently cleared, is particularly vulnerable.
Recent events in the Tasman District and Tolaga Bay, where torrents of sediment and forestry debris were flushed out of vulnerable catchments onto neighbouring properties and waterways, are a hint of the adaptation challenges to come.
Establishing permanent forest on this land is a no-brainer. It would increase land resilience and create large carbon stocks to offset emissions from elsewhere in New Zealand's economy. A succession of reports, most recently by Vivid Economics and the Productivity Commission, have all highlighted the essential role of afforestation in meeting New Zealand's Paris Agreement commitments. But landowners need help, because they often lack the cash, time or expertise to establish forests successfully.
Riding the global trend
The Native Forest Bond Scheme brings together parties around this common cause. Government provides the guarantee to pay for successful forest outcomes that generate significant public value through erosion control, carbon sequestration, meaningful regional jobs and greater biodiversity. Investors provide upfront capital for forest planting by purchasing the bond.
If outcome targets are successfully met, then investors are rewarded with interest payments, but if the planting programme underperforms, then investors bear the risk of project failure. By reallocating risks and incentives, the scheme enables parties to do what otherwise might not have been done.
Globally, other organisations are turning to results-based financing to create greener landscapes. At the city level, DC Water successfully issued such a bond to establish green infrastructure in Washington D.C., purchased by Goldman Sachs and the Calvert Foundation. At the international level, The Nature Conservancy and Climate Bonds Initiative are exploring the feasibility of sustainable land bonds, where developing countries would issue bonds to raise capital for land use change, and developed countries would then offset the interest payments as long as these changes are successful.
The Native Forest Bond Scheme is a tool for more effective financing of environmental outcomes. By tying funding to results, it creates a more credible commitment to the expectations of the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals. Without rethinking public investment, noble ambitions may ring hollow.
David Hall, Senior Researcher in Politics, Auckland University of Technology
July 28, 2018 by particularkev	Categories: Australia, environment	| Tags: article, Australia, environment, failure, projects, reduce, risk | Leave a comment
Massive road and rail projects could be Africa's greatest environmental challenge
Bill Laurance, James Cook University
Africa's natural environments and spectacular wildlife are about to face their biggest challenge ever. In a paper published today in Current Biology, my colleagues and I assess the dramatic environmental changes that will be driven by an infrastructure-expansion scheme so sweeping in scope, it is dwarfing anything the Earth's biggest continent has ever been forced to endure.
People, food and mining
Africa's population is exploding – expected nearly to quadruple this century, according to the United Nations. With that, comes an escalating need to improve food production and food security.
In addition, Africa today is experiencing a frenzy of mining activity, with most of the investment coming from overseas. China, for instance, is investing over US$100 billion annually, with India, Brazil, Canada and Australia also being big foreign investors.
To feed its growing population and move its minerals to shipping ports for export, Africa needs better roads and railroads. When located in the right places, improved transportation can do a lot of good. It makes it easier for farmers to get access to fertiliser and new farming technologies, and cheaper to get crops to urban markets with less spoilage. It can also encourage rural investment while improving livelihoods, access to health services, and education for local residents.
Improved transportation is especially important for Africa's agriculture, which is badly under-performing. In many areas, large "yield gaps" exist between what could be produced under ideal conditions and what is actually being produced. With better farming, Africa's yields could be doubled or even tripled without clearing one more hectare of land.
Using rudimentary methods, small-scale farmers eke out a living in Gabon.
William Laurance
However, there is another side to new transportation projects — a dark side, especially for the environment. When located in areas with high environmental values, new roads or railroads can open a Pandora's box of problems.
Roads slicing into remote areas can lead to range of legal and illegal human land uses. For instance, in the Amazon, 95% of all deforestation occurs within five kilometres of a road; and for every kilometre of legal road there are three kilometres of illegal roads. In the Congo Basin, forest elephants decline sharply, and signs of hunters and poachers increase, up to 50 kilometres from roads.
A forest elephant shot by poachers.
Ralph Buij
In the wrong places, roads can facilitate invasions of natural areas by illegal miners, colonists, loggers and land speculators. In my view, the explosive expansion of roads today is probably the greatest single peril to the world's natural environments and wildlife.
Africa's 'development corridors'
Earlier studies that my colleagues and I conducted, including a major study published in Nature last year, suggest Africa is likely to be a global epicentre of environmental conflict. A key reason: an unprecedented scheme to dramatically expand African roads, railroads and energy infrastructure.
In total, we have identified 33 massive "development corridors" that are being proposed or are underway. At the heart of each corridor is a road or railroad, sometimes accompanied by a pipeline or power line.
The 33 development corridors that are being proposed or constructed in sub-Saharan Afirca.
William F. Laurance et al. (2015) Current Biology.
The projects have a variety of proponents, including the African Development Bank, national governments, international donors and lenders, and commercial agricultural and mining interests. They're intended to promote large-scale development and their scope is breathtaking.
If completed in their entirety, the corridors will total over 53,000 kilometres in length, crisscrossing the African continent. Some individual corridors are over 4,000 kilometres long.
Will these corridors generate key social and economic benefits, or will they cause great environmental harm? To address this question, we looked at three factors, focusing on a 50-kilometre-wide band laid over the top of each corridor.
First, we assessed the "natural values" of each corridor, by combining data on its biodiversity, endangered species, critical habitats for wildlife, and the carbon storage and climate-regulating benefits of its native vegetation.
Second, we mapped human populations near each corridor, using satellite data to detect nightlights from human settlements (to avoid lands that were simply being burned, we included only places with "persistent" nightlights). We then combined the natural-value and population data to generate a conservation-value score for each corridor, reasoning that sparsely populated areas with high natural values have the greatest overall conservation value.
Finally, we estimated the potential for new roads or railroads to increase food production. Areas that scored highly had soils and climates suitable for farming but large yield gaps, were within several hours' drive of a city or port, and were projected to see large future increases in food demand.
Costs versus benefits
When we compared the conservation value of each corridor with its potential agricultural benefits, we found huge variation among the corridors.
A two-minute video summary of our study's main findings
A half dozen of the corridors look like a really good idea, with large benefits and limited environmental costs. However, another half dozen seem like a really bad idea, in that they'd damage critical environments, especially rainforests of the Congo Basin and West Africa and biologically rich equatorial savanna regions.
In the middle, there are 20 or so corridors that appear "marginal". These tend to have high environmental values and high potential agricultural benefits, or vice versa.
We argue that these marginal projects should be evaluated in detail, on a case-by-case basis. If they do proceed, it should only happen under the most stringent conditions, with careful environmental assessment and land-use planning, and with specific measures in place (such as new protected areas) to limit or mitigate their impacts.
Dangers for Africa
There's no such thing as a free ride. For Africa, the dangers of the development corridors are profound. Even if well executed, we estimate that the current avalanche of corridors would slice through over 400 protected areas and could easily degrade another 2,000 or so. This bodes poorly for Africa's wildlife and biodiversity generally.
Wild zebras in the Serengeti.
Beyond this, the corridors will encourage human migration into many sparsely populated areas with high environmental values. The wild card in all this is the hundreds of billions of dollars of foreign investments pouring into Africa each year for mining. Even if a corridor is likely to yield only modest benefits for food production, it may be very difficult for governments and decision makers to say no to big mining investors.
The bottom line: it could be a fraught battle to stop even ill-advised development corridors, though not impossible. If we shine a bright light on the corridors and argue strongly that those with limited benefits and large costs are a bad idea, we may succeed in stopping or at least delaying some of the worst of them.
This is unquestionably a vital endeavour. Africa is changing faster than any continent has ever changed in human history, and it is facing unprecedented socioeconomic and environmental challenges.
The next few decades will be crucial. We could promote relatively sustainable and equitable development — or end up with an impoverished continent whose iconic natural values and wildlife have been irretrievably lost.
Bill Laurance, Distinguished Research Professor and Australian Laureate, James Cook University
November 30, 2015 by particularkev	Categories: Africa, environment, Travel	| Tags: Africa, article, challenge, environment, greatest, projects, rail, road, transport | 1 Comment
Earth Day (April 22): Ideas for Earth Day
The following link is to a page that has a number of ideas and projects on how to celebrate Earth Day, raise awareness on environmental issues and how to take action.
http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2011
April 19, 2011 by particularkev	Categories: Earth Day	| Tags: 2011, 22, action, April, awareness, celebrate, Earth Day, environmental, ideas, issues, link, number, page, projects, raise | Leave a comment
NEW SOUTH WALES NATIONAL PARKS UNDER THREAT???
The New South Wales government is now considering some level of development in the national parks of New South Wales. Just what level of development that may be is yet to be made clear. It is understood that the development may include accommodation projects, various commercial enterprises and guided bush walks.
Tourism Minster Jodi McKay, a former news reader with NBN television, is waiting on a report from a government commissioned taskforce looking into ways that tourism can be increased in the state's national parks.
The planned tourism development of national parks is a major step away from the 'wilderness' goals of recent times and represents a threat to the wilderness values of national parks and world heritage listed areas.
However, a certain level of development may be appropriate, given the serious deterioration of many of the amenities and signage within New South Wales national parks. Many access routes are also seriously degraded following years of poor management.
Perhaps a quality New South Wales national parks and reserves web site could be developed, with the current web site being quite dated and not particularly useful for visitors to the national parks of New South Wales. Quality information on the attractions and access to each national park would greatly improve the tourist potential of New South Wales national parks.
If quality visitor brochures/leaflets on such things as camping facilities, access routes, walking trails and park attractions could be developed and made available via PDF documents on the web site, potential visitors could plan their trips and this would certainly increase visitor numbers to the national parks.
Quality content and relevant up-to-date information on each national park, as well as well maintained access routes and facilities would encourage far more people to visit the national parks and give visitors a memorable experience.
BELOW: Footage of the Warrumbungle National Park in NSW.
November 2, 2008 by particularkev	Categories: Australia, Bushwalking, environment, national parks, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), New South Wales, News, Tourism, Travel, Warrumbungle National Park, wilderness, World Heritage Listed Area	| Tags: access, accommodation, amenities, appropriate, attractions, available, brochures, bush walks, bushwalks, camping, certain, certainly, commercial, commissioned, considering, content, current, dated, degraded, deterioration, developed, development, documents, encourage, enterprises, experience, facilities, following, footage, former, goals, government, greatly, guided, improve, include, increased, information, Jodi McKay, leaflets, level, looking, maintained, major step, memorable, minister, national park, national parks, NBN, New South Wales, news reader, NSW, numbers, park, PDF, people, plan, planned, poor management, potential, projects, quality, recent, relevant, report, represents, reserves, routes, serious, signage, state, taskforce, television, threat, times, Tourism, trips, understood, up-to-date, useful, values, various, visitors, waiting, walking trails, Warrumbungle National Park, web site, website, wilderness, world heritage listed | Leave a comment


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Over at The Sweet Setup, Shawn Blanc writes his first impressions about the new 12.9″ iPad Pro as it relates to his personal workflows for writing and photo editing.
I was mostly interested in his writing workflows. I'm really interested in the focus-ness of using an iPad for my computing. Still, I do far too much copy and pasting to make the switch full time.
From what Blanc writes, I think I'm going to have to go out and test it.


Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
As you turn to each passage and follow along as I read, look for the answer to these questions.
Question One: Who can make an entire army fall flat on their faces by just speaking His Name outloud? Only Someone with: a Name above all names.
The greatest thing in all of life is knowing, loving and serving God.
The most amazing thing in life is that God uses any of us with all of our weaknesses and struggles.
When God Picked A Woman to Raise His Son, What Did He Look For?


Anxiety is probably more common than you think.
In fact, it is the most common mental health disorder.
Anxiety can be experienced in relation to something specific or a combination of many things.
Many services are available that target treatment of anxiety symptoms.
If anxiety is making your day to day life difficult, it may be a good idea to speak with your doctor about your options.
If you would like assistance in the treatment for anxiety or to find a psychologist in Perth, contact us today.


The 2012 Awards for Excellence were announced at a Gala Dinner during the Annual Conference of Hospitality NZ in September. Tuakau Hotel, Finalist in two Categories, took out the Award for Best New/Redeveloped Accommodation Hotel for 2012. We were thrilled to be named Finalists for the Best Country Hotel as well but never thought for a moment that we would win an Award. We were overwhelmed when they named Tuakau Hotel as this years Winners for the Best New/Redeveloped Accommodationm Hotel and it is testimony to the fabulous design and workmanship of our local trades men & women that we were able to bring the Award home to Tuakau. Four years in the making has paid off for a dream we had back in 2008 to bring this Iconic Hotel to life again. Thanks to all who helped turn our dream into reality, putting the Tuakau Hotel back on the Map for travellers and locals alike.


I finally did it!! I finally set up an Etsy shop for all my items from this blog. I will be removing the pages from this blog and will only keep the main homepage for fun updates. Look at what I've listed so far. I'm still in the process of getting everything loaded.
I have a few projects that I'm working on and thought that I would give you a sneak peak of them.
These 2 pictures are of the fabrics that I will be using to make some new nursing covers.
It's up!! My logo has been created and loaded!! Thanks Carree for the beautiful design I've also created a button that you can add to your blog. Please feel free to post it.


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Full Studio Near The Central Park is an apartment situated in New York 100 metres from Broadway Theatre. The apartment is 400 metres from Carnegie Hall. Free WiFi is provided . A microwave a toaster and a stovetop can be found in the kitchenette. Towels and bed linen are offered in this apartment. There is a private bathroom with a shower. Full Studio Near The Central Park provides WiFi access. They also provide a portable WiFi device for guests for when they are stepping out. A washer and a dryer is available in the building. Radio City Music Hall is 600 metres from Full Studio Near The Central Park while Restaurant Row is 600 metres away. LaGuardia Airport is 10 km from the property.


text:
Q: Updating firebase user picture not rendering new photo until reloading app I am updating a user profile picture and am able to see the image changing in the database.  I am storing the location of the image in profile picture.  I am able to see the change happen when reloading the app and am able to see the image in firebase storage change instantly.
Here is the structure:

Here is the function I am using to change the image:
export const changeUserAvatar = (userId, imageUrl) => {
    firebaseService
      .database()
      .ref('users/' + userId)
      .update({
        profilePicture: imageUrl
      });
  };

And here is how I am rendering the image:
<Avatar size="xlarge" rounded source={{ uri: this.props.profilePicture }} onPress={this.openPicker}/> :

I am using redux to manage the state and would think it would automatically re-render with an updating value of profile picture.  I have tried everything in here:
https://github.com/facebook/react-native/issues/9195

https://github.com/facebook/react-native/issues/12606

And when I try to add something like this I don't get an image at all and it shows up as a blank screen:
{{uri: profilePicture + '?' + new Date()}}

I am facing the same issue for when I navigate back to my messages list/ the picture only changes when I do a hard reload on the app.

A: I finally got solution of this issue:
componentDidUpdate(prevProps) {
    if (this.props.photoUrl && prevProps.photoUrl !== this.props.photoUrl) {
        this.setState({ profilePicture: this.props.photoUrl })
    }
}

Basically, I just decided to store the new picture as a state instead.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The term is currently used in two related, but distinct senses. The first describes what is needed to apply for art school (in its broadest sense) and the second relates to materials submitted to Research Assessment exercises.
A portfolio is a collection of your work, or a 'visual diary', showing how your skills and ideas have developed over time.
c. Portfolio: In cases where the research output is: ephemeral (for example, time-based, non-material, or no longer available); is one in a series of interconnected works (for example, performances or installations); or cannot fully represent its research dimensions through the evidence provided in a and b above, a portfolio in either digital or physical form may be submitted. This material must be sufficiently substantial to constitute evidence which will allow sub-panel members to access the research dimensions of the work. The expectation is that a portfolio is likely to include complementary evidence about the processes and outcomes of the work, for example DVDs, tapes (video and audio), photographs, sketchbooks, web-sites, catalogues, interviews or programme notes. The material should be presented with the sole purpose of assisting panel members to access fully the research dimensions of the work.
The sub-panel noted that in many cases the inclusion of portfolios to support and contextualise the research was essential, and in a number of instances, HEIs had systemically created portfolios that had clarity, relevance and depth. These portfolios provided concise and relevant information that enabled the panel to judge the research dimensions of the submitted work in terms of originality, significance and rigour. In the best examples these were presented as a digital presentation on a USB stick, clearly outlining the research question, the methodology employed and complementary evidence about the work itself. However, a significant proportion of portfolios were not helpful to the sub-panel. The two most typical shortcomings were: 1) the submission of evaluative commentary more concerned with the esteem, impact and status of the output than with research: i.e. a significant number of portfolios contained mainly review and publicity materials. 2) The submission of a high volume of disparate materials, without an index or clear organisational structure, so much so that the sub-panel was unable easily to discern what the relevance of the material was, or what its connection was to the research content of the output. In the worst cases, portfolios were as much an impediment as an aid to the understanding of the research content of the output.
As in 2008 the best outputs in PaR were distinguished by clearly articulated research objectives. In a number of instances, the presentation of practice needed no more than a well-turned 300 word statement to point up the research inquiry and its findings, since the concerns outlined were then amply apparent within the practice itself (which was made available for assessment by a variety of means including DVD or CD recordings, photographic materials, scripts and scores, databases, etc.). A significant proportion of projects, however, also offered insightful additional documentation of process and/or outcomes, which was at its best well-edited, or annotated, to further facilitate access to the research inquiry. Rigorous PaR work across UOA 35 explicitly articulated a research imperative, methods by which it was explored, and how these related to previous work on this topic by others. This approach often helped in making the case for the originality and significance of the findings and was often enhanced by analytical or reflective contextualising writing, though the inclusion of such portfolio materials did not necessarily raise the quality of the research enquiry of the practice itself. The most successful portfolios helped the assessors by providing a pathway through the material submitted so it was clear what the research contribution was and why specific pieces of evidence were provided. On occasion, however, research was documented via a huge collection of documents without sufficient guidance about what it is, and how it can be judged as research. Concision and selectivity in the presentation of portfolio materials was often key to the clarity of a project's research imperatives.
Work was submitted, as expected and encouraged, in a diversity of formats. In some cases, and not only in 'non-traditional' forms, the research aspects of the work submitted were not self-evident nor explained, and on many occasions submitting institutions had not sufficiently acquainted themselves with the REF guidance defining research, and thus had often failed to take advantage of the opportunity to submit additional information clarifying the research basis of the submitted work. The sub-panel welcomed and rewarded research quality evident in practice-led research, but considered that additional information supplied was sometimes less comprehensive and focussed than was needed to make clear the research element in such work.
Guidance for REF 2021 is currently awaited, pending the publication of the draft criteria in July 2018.


text:
Q: Computing the running time of the Fermat primality test I have a question concerning the Fermat primality test and its running time. According to Wikipedia: "Using fast algorithms for modular exponentiation, the running time of this algorithm is $$O(k \times\log^{2}n\times\log\log{n}\times\log\log\log{n})$$ where $k$ is the number of times we test a random $a$, and $n$ is the value we want to test for primality."
Since I am not familiar with the techniques as to how running time is calculated, other than the overall definition, I was wondering whether anyone would be so kind as to illuminate how this result above can be computed.

A: The factor $k$ should be clear.
To compute $a^{n-1}$ one can use repeated squaring and multiplication, which requires one or two modular multiplications per bit of $n$. As the number of bits is $\log n$, we get a factor of $\log n$.
A modular multiplication can be done by adding up to $\log n$ bitshifted copies of a factor. Each addition uses at most twice as many bits as $n$ has, so takes $O(\log n)$ steps; the reduction modulo $n$ might for example be done by using $\log n$ precomputed values, one for each of the "higher" bits. At least this does not hurt the O(\log n) for the addition.
With this simple method, we obtain thus
$$O(\underbrace{k}_{\text{repeats}}\times\underbrace{\log n}_{\text{expon.}}\times\underbrace{\log n}_{\text{mult.}}\times \underbrace{\log n}_{\text{add}})=O(k\times \log^3n).$$
To improve by a factor of $\frac{\log\log n\times\log\log\log n}{\log n}$, one needs to employ slightly smarter methods (I guess FFT or something like that).


text:
FOUR LEICESTERSHIRE GROUPS SCOOP PRESTIGIOUS QUEEN'S AWARD
Leicester Times Team July 7, 2022 13:47
A 'fab four' from Leicestershire have been honoured with The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award which a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
The groups are: 1279 (Melton Mowbray) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets; the Eyres Monsell Club for Young People; Leicestershire and Rutland Blood Bikes and the Menphys charity. All four have been recognised for their various community activities.
The Leicestershire winners are among 241 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year-on-year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
Representatives of the winning groups will receive their award crystal and certificate from Mike Kapur, Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, later this year.
Mike Kapur said: " I'm delighted that so many of Leicestershire's outstanding voluntary and community groups have been recognised in this way.
"During the assessment visits, my Deputy Lieutenants were impressed by each group's commitment to those who they support, and how they continued with service provision throughout the pandemic. I very much hope that we will see more excellent groups nominated for the award in the future"
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen's Golden Jubilee.
The Lord Lieutenant is also encouraging people to come forward with nominations for the next round of awards in 2023. More details can be found at: https://qavs.culture.gov.uk/ and nominations close on September 15.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS PLATINUM JUBILEE AWARDS QUEEN'S 'AWARD FOR ENTERPRISE' WINNERS ANNOUNCED YOUNG LEICESTERSHIRE ARTISTS SCOOP AWARDS FOR PLATINUM JUBILEE PAINTINGS LAST CALL FOR PLATINUM JUBILEE '70 AT 70′ EVENT
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Information for students and staff about recent changes to the UCL Academic Manual.
A range of resources to help departments understand and implement the changes.
The LSA Staff Planning Pack has now been updated for the 2018-19 session.
A single set of regulations now covers all modular undergraduate programmes. Find out more about the key changes to module structures and to the regulations for Module Assessment, Condonement and Classification.
For 2018-19 there are changes to the Module Assessment, Progression and Award, and Classification regulations for Graduate and Taught Postgraduate programmes.
There are a number of changes to be aware of, including new Condonement regulations and revised Classification criteria.
Read about some other important changes to Extenuating Circumstances, exams and plagiarism.
The new Chapter 3 includes improvements to interruptions of study and programme transfers.
Information about recent changes to Chapter 1: Student Recruitment and Admissions.
Including information about the regulations for Non-Modular programmes including the MBBS, Fine Art and English.


Wood Iron Tiny Homes is a tiny house building/designing company located in Sisters, Oregon. They aim to create simple, quality tiny homes; and, their first tiny home for sale is a great example of their work and mission.
This tiny home was not only built to be durable on the inside but on the outside as well. The siding of the home is built to be energy efficient while withstanding the elements. Also, a large awning covers the 5' x 10' porch to protect it from the elements.
Entering through the glass French doors of the home, you will find yourself in the living area. This space features a modern ceiling fan, electric fireplace and black sectional sofa that can be converted into a queen-sized bed.
Facing away from the living room, you will see the staircase that leads up to the lofted bedroom on the right, and the kitchen on the left.
The kitchen is the epitome of luxury with its Italian stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and mosaic backsplash. It features a large fridge/freezer, farmhouse sink, 2-burner gas cooktop, oven and dining bar with bar stools underneath.
If you walk past the kitchen to the far left of the house, you will end up in the bathroom. This bathroom features a standard toilet, porcelain sink, rain shower, tub and stacked washer/dryer unit.
For more information on the Wood Iron Tiny Home company and this home, visit their website here!


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Celebrating Parcelforce Worldwide's LGBT network, where everybody is welcome!
10 Jan 2019 7 min read
The Parcelforce Worldwide LGBT Network was set up to raise the profile of all things lesbian, gay, bi and trans in the business - whether that's help and support at a local level or organising floats for annual Pride events around the country.
As part of Royal Mail Group, our company values are to "Be Positive, Be Brilliant, Be Part Of It" and that message includes everybody who works for us.
We strongly believe that when people are allowed to be themselves, they can reach their full potential.
Being an inclusive employer means accepting people for who they are and supporting them in the workplace. LGBT networks are a great way for LGBT employees to let their employers know what's working for them and what might require a new approach.
Identifying obstacles for LGBT employees
What the LGBT Network has been doing
Why you should get involved at Pride
LGBT champions
Four members who have had rewarding experiences in their involvement with Parcelforce Worldwide's LGBT Network are Leon Evans – Executive Assistant and co-founder of LGBT networks at Parcelforce Worldwide and Royal Mail, Natalie Walker – Campaign Manager at Parcelforce Worldwide, Dan Meacher - Operational Concurrence and Conformance Manager plus Parcelforce Worldwide Lead, and Samantha Plummer – Email and Social Media Team Leader.
As a non-LGBT person, Natalie joined as a 'straight ally' but has felt included from the outset. "The Network are such a lovely bunch of people" she says, "I was immediately welcomed. Anyone can join the Network and there are lots of ways to get involved and show your support. The group is not only there for people who identify as L, G, B or T, but also for friends and allies (like me) who may support an LGBT friend or family member in their home lives."
It's fair to say that all of our members' passion for diversity and inclusion come from their attitude to people. When they're asked what they enjoy most about their jobs, Natalie is straight in: "Without a doubt the people I come to work with every day" she says, beating Leon to the punch. "The best bit is being a part of and supporting a brilliant team" he agrees. Dan agrees that having "a strong and focused team behind me is amazing!"
Sam is equally passionate about the people she works with. "We have worked together for such a long time," she says, "I couldn't imagine not being with them nearly every day. We all have a mutual respect for each other and we support each other through the good and bad times of our lives – work and personal."
As recently as 2014, the Guardian reported that 34% of LGBT people chose not to share their sexuality at work because of fear of discrimination. Living in a society where heterosexuality is considered the norm, some LGBT people hide their private lives at work for fear of homophobia, exclusion or because it might affect their career prospects.
Leon feels that his experience has been more positive than others, but cautions against complacency: "I have been very lucky. In my workplace experiences, I haven't really faced homophobia other than a few 'gay' remarks, though that doesn't mean it isn't there."
Sam underlines how important it is to share personal experiences. "Some people are just scared of the unknown of LGBT. I like to talk to people about my own experiences and a lot of times I get the reply 'I can't believe that has happened to you' or 'why would people do that or be like that'."
As part of Royal Mail Group, Parcelforce Worldwide is one of the largest employers in the UK, which is why Natalie sees the LGBT Network as so important. "We should lead the way and show others what great employers look like," she says. "No one should come to work worried about being themselves."
Leon adds: "We need to look at the whole journey of an employee from recruitment to retirement and support our LGBT colleagues throughout."
Dan underlines why every company should have an LGBT Network. "Diversity schemes always make a business more attractive to work for. It shows that companies put the people first."
A commitment to supporting LGBT people is evident at a local, personal level and through larger initiatives right across Parcelforce Worldwide.
Strong local networks provide support, can be present at local events and offer a friendly face or receptive ear. Larger initiatives are extremely important too. Natalie has found Parcelforce's LGBT Newsletter a great source of inspiration: "There are so many stories of people who have found the courage to come out or identify themselves as transgender at work, and who have been met with encouragement and support by their colleagues." Sam also mentions BEAR the transgender soft toy bear, that travels around Parcelforce Worldwide and Royal Mail offices and acts as a talking point for our staff.
Another great success has been the Rainbow Postbox. First designed as a living logo for Royal Mail when they took part in Pride 2016 in London, it now tours Parcelforce Worldwide offices too. Natalie Walker believes that it "creates the opportunity to talk about and raise awareness of the LGBT & Friends Network."
The Rainbow Postbox represents both the local and business-wide commitment to LGBT issues, as it tours around both regional offices and is displayed at Parcelforce Worldwide HQ. Leon explains why it's such an important symbol. "It's about connecting with people who don't always read the internal magazine or see the TV screens, and also reaching out to the offices in more remote locations or are in less diverse areas."
"It's great fun!" says Natalie when we ask her what being involved in Pride was like, "it brought me closer to other like-minded people." Leon is just as enthusiastic. "Pride is AMAZING! There are great events to share with people close to you as well make new friends. Looking back, a lot of my work-based friendships started at one of these functions!"
Sam also has fond memories: "Walking behind the float and handing out the postcards, I actually felt so proud not only to work for a company that supports LGBT, but also to be out there talking and engaging with the crowds."
It's clear that PRIDE was a huge positive for those who attended. They would all recommend anyone to get involved, with Leon offering an open invitation: "Come along and help us celebrate at one of our BIGGER events in 2018, like Pride in London."
Parcelforce's LGBT Network will also be present at Birmingham Pride 2018 with charity partner, Action for Children.
Just as it's important to have a great support network around you, it's also natural to find inspiration in people.
Natalie identifies Ruth Hunt, CEO of LGBT campaigning group Stonewall, as "a fantastic LGBT champion and leader." Hunt has done much for transgender equality and parental rights for same-sex couples.
Dan Meacher singles out the work of LGBT Foundation, with its excellent support services and useful resources.
Moving the conversation on to more personal connections, Leon looks to his colleague Julia Casson for inspiration. "She is a strong, creative, vibrant person who inspires and challenges me to fight for what we want to change" he says.
Sam admits that she once had a crush on singer K.D. Lang when she was younger, but is afraid that this might show her age! "Her music was great and she just looked like a really strong and independent woman that I wanted to aspire to" Sam beams.
Though they wouldn't suggest it themselves, we'd nominate Natalie, Sam, Dan and Leon as LGBT champions. Dan Meacher seeks to reassure LGBT people who are starting out at a new workplace.
"It's 2018 and there's so much acceptance and equality within many workplaces, especially within Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide," he adds. "We are definitely seeing the benefits from the efforts we have put into the LGBT Group."
Leon has a message for LGBT employees and straight allies alike: "Don't be afraid to be who you are at home and at work. Join our network and help be part of the change." Sam adds: "Be yourself and never be ashamed of who you are."
How's that for inspirational?
Women in business: celebrating the wonder women of Parcelforce
We at Parcelforce Worldwide are huge champions of equality, and are incredibly proud of how diverse our workplace is. Most of you will be aware of the superhero movie Wonder Woman – well, it got us thinking about some of our own wonder women.
18 Jul 2018 7 min read
Happy Father's Day, at Parcelforce
Father's Day is always a big event in the Parcelforce calendar, and we've also a fair few dads who can call their kids 'colleagues' too. We caught up with two of these Parcelforce family pairs to see how they get on both in and outside work.
17 Jun 2019 7 min read
50 years and counting : an interview with Del Warner
At Parcelforce Worldwide, we're pretty proud of the fact that so many of our employees go on to stay with us for a long time. In our workforce, we've got staff who've celebrated 10, 20 and even 30 years at the company. But none have been with us as long as Del Warner, who marked his 50th anniversary earlier this year.
23 Dec 2016 5 min read
SMEs, here's how to truly stand out
There were a record number of small businesses started during the pandemic; the 'Shop Local' advice of each lockdown has grown into shoppers' preferred buying method; and last Black Friday witnessed the boycotting of some of the world's biggest brands - including Amazon - with many independent retailers donating to charity and planting trees as part of a renewed drive against consumerism. All this has meant one thing for SMEs: growth. But this growth also means the competition is higher than ever.
E-commerce innovations to look out for this year
E-commerce has always been a fast-growing and ever-changing industry, but never more so than over the past couple of years.
26 Apr 2022 4 min read
Trust our team to be your team
Find out more about how Parcelforce Worldwide can support your business' growth. Whether you are sending in the UK or across the globe.
13 Oct 2021 3 min read
We'll keep you posted
Insights, business tips, exports and behind the scenes straight from our editorial desk
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I don't like to talk a lot. Sometimes people take this as a sign of being disinterested. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Instead of running my mouth, I like to watch, observe, listen, and learn more than talk. For me, the old adage is true: God gave me one mouth and two ears for a reason. So if I am not necessarily talking to you at length, do not take offense. If you must engage, try asking what I am watching and observing while listening and learning. Then we can have a conversation. I try to control the amount of talking I do. Not everyone does!
If I am talking a lot, then you have one or two things going for you. You either sparked my interest by trying to figure me out, or I just like you in that given moment. Perhaps nothing makes me pay attention more than a person who tries to solve the mystery that is me. You can't because I am too complex! But, I love giving insights about me here and there that will make you say "AHA"! I am a closed book, so if you have read a few of my chapters then consider yourself lucky. I must have allowed you to turn a few pages in my book after telling you what they might say.
I have a creed that I want to share. If you have heard this before, then it means you are very important to me. If not, I will let you have it anyway: when I speak, I know what I am talking about. I don't fake the funk, chew the fat, nor shoot the breeze. You know how some people just talk as if they know something (or everything). Well that is not me. I will tell you when I don't know something. Or you can take my silence to mean I don't know. But when I talk I speak with knowledge and authority. I am strictly business most of the time, especially when I talk. Sure I will joke like everyone else, but most of the time if you hear me speaking it is something important and I know what I am talking about.
Speaking of joking, I'd like to think I have a good sense of humor. I guess you can say I have chime –in humor, not stand-up humor. In other words, I can enhance your story by adding my own brand of humor as needed. I am not the greatest of storytellers. I can turn a funny story into a "guess you had to be there" story in a minute. On the other hand, if you tell a "guess you had to be there" story, I can help you make it funny. Sometimes my humor comes out on cue and then it is funny! Some of the time I can say something "funny" without thinking it was funny. On rare occasions I will crack myself up as I am talking. I actually like talking then!
So what things do I really like to talk about? It depends on who I am speaking to. If you make it into my inner-circle then nothing is off limits. If not, we can talk sports… sports… and more sports. We can also discuss successful people, successful things, and successful outcomes. Hell, let's just talk about success! We can also wax poetic about the best of my/our past. I love to get nostalgic, so if we shared good times and good memories bring them out. Let's rap about it! You can sprinkle in talking about politics as long as you keep an open-mind (no Obama bashing alright). Honestly I think that's about all I want to talk about. If you can get me to talk at length about something else, then I must like you (in that particular moment of course).
Want me to talk? Then ask me to teach you something I know. I will open the floodgates and you might not get me to stop talking. As crazy as it sounds, for someone who doesn't like to talk, I sure like to teach! It is as if I become someone else when I am teaching. Give me a good history lesson and a captive audience: it's on! Ask me how to write with purpose or to explain a success principle or two: let's go! You can be prepared to meet the professor when you want an answer and I'm the one who can supply it. It fascinates me how I can teach for hours, but I can't talk for 5 minutes. Go figure!
I will let you in on a secret. Sometimes I "talk" better as a writer than I do when I am actually talking. Or maybe I am good at writing what I should be saying. Or maybe when I write I am really saying what I should be talking. As I said to a dear friend when I couldn't find the right words to say, I tend to get it right when I write. So maybe I should do more writing and even less talking. I could write what I want to say and let people read it. Wait a minute- most people don't read. Scratch that idea. I guess I still have to talk, but only if I know what I am talking about!
I like to watch, observe, listen and learn more than I like to talk.
If I am talking maybe you sparked my interest because you are interested in me. Or I am talking because I like you.
I speak with knowledge and authority.
I can inject humor into your story, but not into my own.
I can talk about sports (and a few other things) all day.
When teaching, I can talk for a long, long, long time.
I can write the words I want to say better than I can actually say them.
I have no idea why we talked about the reasons why I talk and do not like to talk!


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Texas Gov. Abbott on Biden border policy: 'Two years and $20 billion too late' | USA TODAY Shorts
Texas Governor Greg Abbott criticized the Biden administration's immigration policy during President Joe Biden's first trip to the southern border in El Paso, Texas. RELATED: Biden lands in Texas during first trip to southern border as president https://bit.ly/3CCMyeC President Joe Biden faced pleas for help in addressing the migrant crisis as he traveled Sunday to the U.S.-Mexico border for the first time since taking office, visiting El Paso, where migrants are sleeping on the streets. Biden walked along a section of the rust-colored border wall that separates El Paso from Juarez, Mexico, and met with local officials, community leaders and others who are dealing daily with the humanitarian crisis. "They need a lot of resources," he told reporters who asked what he learned. "We're going to get it for them." Biden's trip, which lasted about four hours, comes amid criticism from Republicans and some Democratic lawmakers that he hasn't done enough to address a surge of migrants at the southern border. From Texas, Biden departed for Mexico City for meetings with North American leaders on immigration and other issues. » Subscribe to USA TODAY: http://bit.ly/1xa3XAh » Watch more on this and other topics from USA TODAY: https://bit.ly/3QYKjbc » USA TODAY delivers current local and national news, sports, entertainment, finance, technology, and more through award-winning journalism, photos, videos and VR. #Texas #Border #Biden


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Charles Henry Kalbfus  (a.k.a. Skinny) (December 28, 1864 – November 18, 1941), was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played in one game on April 18, 1884 for the Washington Nationals of the Union Association. He died on November 18, 1941 in Takoma Park, Maryland, United States.

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External links

1864 births
1941 deaths
Major League Baseball outfielders
19th-century baseball players
Washington Nationals (UA) players
Baseball players from Washington, D.C.


Oct 1, 2009 - Again, it's another 1st of October - Nigeria's Independence Day. But what is Nigeria celebrating - real or flag independence? Is Nigeria really independent if ICT is a bystander? How is ICT helping to facilitate genuine sovereignty?
ICT plays important roles both as a sector in its own right and as a contributor to key sectors of the economy. And various committed stakeholders participate daily in Nigeria's Information Technology (IT) and Telecom space.
The activities of stakeholders give Nigerians some hope. But hope is not enough. The question is how to achieve national objectives through ICT. ICT is a tool not the objective.
Nigeria must move beyond GSM. The majority of the populace is still outside the digital loop. Can national objectives be achieved; can Nigeria truly be independent, if the economy is not knowledge driven? That is the question.
Software is at the heart of the global knowledge economy. Any nation that values its sovereignty must take software serious.
Sustainable growth in Nigeria's ICT sector will depend on its people. People are Nigeria's most important resource. Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation. But independence isn't just about numbers. What is the level and quality of human capital?
Most importantly, in education, we must simply disrespect the established status-quo.
Digital consumption is high, but what does Nigeria produce? The biggest market or the biggest producer? And in a world where job security is dead, in a climate of rising unemployment and the associated socio-economic problems, enterprise development is a necessity.
It is essential to encourage new broadband expansion initiatives. To fully benefit from these interventions it is also important to improve last mile connectivity nationwide.
But ICT is not a cure all. In fact if this sector is to be an engine for sustainable development, serious attention must be paid to creating an enabling environment which stimulates significant investment in the ICT sector and supports ICT and ICT enabled activities.
What is the purpose of ICT in Nigeria? What is independence without purpose? Or are we simply spending money and shooting in the dark? The question of sustainability is always there. ICT must go somewhere. We must reject the action of a barber's chair.
Through policy implementation, the government must provide consistent, clearer and purposeful leadership to guide the national ICT agenda.
ICT is more than consumption. It offers Nigeria freedom, independence - a way to leapfrog into the knowledge economy and the information society.
The challenges are enormous, and the sector is up against multiple obstacles in trying to achieve national objectives. However, as Nigeria marks the 49th anniversary of its independence it must face the future of ICT in Nigeria with confidence, energy and enthusiasm. There is no point moaning and complaining. We always have a choice. We can accept things as they are or work on making things better.
Individual initiatives in ICT are great. They indicate that the people of Nigeria reject digital slavery.
Beyond individual empowerment activities Nigerians must challenge leadership in all sectors and hold them accountable! Leaders must stop sleeping on the job. Strong and responsible leadership is required NOW to drive significant progress. True independence requires leadership that understands and appreciates the role of ICT. Independence is about a generation fulfilling its mission.
We wish the people and friends of Nigeria a happy anniversary and true independence. God bless the good people of Nigeria. God bless Nigeria.
Jidaw.com is the leading content provider of ICT news, jobs, career information and strategic insights on ICT in Nigeria.
Call on 08052647395, 07025333756, 08035007778, 01-8958064, 01-7940562.
I thank for this detailed info. The problem however is with the leaders. Will they rise uo to their responsibilities. Thanks for the sensitization. God bless Nigeria. Amen.


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"I Got A Distinct Look" - Or Do I?
The most popular Halloween costumes in the U.S. this year will be costumes based on three members of the MTV reality show Jersey Shore: Snooki, The Situation, and DJ Pauly D.
If you think those names sound more like cartoon characters than real people, you aren't far off the mark. Jersey Shore centers around a group of 20-something-year-olds who are or who portray (depending on your opinion of how "real" reality TV shows are) the stereotypical Italian American New Jersey resident. Jersey Shore has become one of MTV's most popular shows, and slang first uttered by the show's cast members have quickly entered the American lexicon (rather unfortunately, in my opinion).
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that MTV has partnered with Rubie's Costume Co. to create an official line of costumes based on the most memorable members of the Jersey Shore cast - apparently because of their "standout characteristics," which include a very short skirt and poofy wig for Snooki, flesh colored foam abdominal for The Situation, and a combed-up hair piece for DJ Pauly D. (No word on whether the Snooki costume packaging will include a warning that the wearer might experience "wardrobe malfunctions because of how short [Snooki] likes her dresses.")
However, The WSJ article notes that costume shops that are out of stock of the MTV-licensed costumes have been selling their own versions of Snooki costumes that include short skirts and unsold inventory of Amy Winehouse beehive-style wigs. Presumably, these stores aren't touting their offerings as official Snooki costumes. But the ease with which they have put together costumes that evoke the Jersey Shore character suggests that perhaps the costumes are rather generic at their core. Without the MTV and Jersey Shore logos on the packaging, what MTV-owned IP remains in the bag?
Miri Frankel at 19:52:00
Nils 30 October 2010 at 11:44
Costumes are tough to protect under the best of circumstances due to the copyright law that holds that clothing is a "useful" article. Here I don't see anything protectable. This is an amusing "situation:" (see what I did here?) because Amy Winehouse's 15 minutes of fame are already over and a year or two from now they will be selling old Snooki wigs.