The debt merry-go-round of UP governance!
Today's subject came to mind as I perused the plethora of tributes to the late J.H. Mensah published in this paper and elsewhere since his death last month
recent economic and development history of Argentina and Brazil came to mind, as well as the emphatic statement from candidate, now Vice-President Dr Bawumia about the falsity of beautiful economic statistics belying reality presented by the previous government during our last campaign period.
There is a preponderance of the encomiums heaped on J.H. for his technocratic, debt-restructuring negotiation skills.
This is clear in the two United Party (UP)-based governments in which he served in the Second and Fourth Republics. This is worrying for the development trajectory of Ghana, to say the least.
The UP, founded in late 1957 to avoid the original discrete, constituent smaller parties being banned with the passage of the Avoidance of Discrimination Act of 1957, is undoubtedly the precursor of our ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) of today.
I use the word undoubtedly very carefully, because in 1969 at the formation of the Progress Party (PP), the Leader, former Prime Minister Professor Kofi Busia, said clearly that the PP was a brand new party open to all Ghanaians without any links to the UP he had led from 1957 till its banning upon the successful referendum which ushered in the one-party state of President Nkrumah in 1964.
In my opinion, Dr Busia made this distinction to avoid of the old guard from UP days of the 1950s from sowing discord either in government or in opposition in the late 60s and 70s. In the event, it turned out that these pressures from the past moved the PP government of the Second Republic to make decisions which led directly to the coup that overthrew the regime in January 1972.
The devaluation of December 1971 which led to the coup was a consequence of the economic philosophy of the government just as much as the ill-advised appointment and elevation of the soldier, General Acheampong, who eventually overthrew his benefactors. The choice of Acheampong reflected the tensions between the old and the new in the PP.
It is striking that any time parties from the UP tradition gain power, there is always a heavy concentration in public and official messages about the heavy debt burdens placed on the development agenda of the government, whether PP or NPP, by the outgoing regime.
In the case of the PP government, the predecessor regime was the Nkrumah government. Why is this so? And are current plans being unveiled in respect of leveraging our bauxite deposits for substantial loans to finance massive infrastructural schemes just another debt being foisted on us after the opposition to the concept of debt? Additionally, is this seductive dance with foreign assistance not a denial of the current credo of Ghana without aid?
Because of the unfortunate interregnum of our military rule past, it is easy to defend by saying that the soldiers prevented the UP tradition from working its magic. But military rule affected both the UP and their opponents in this country equally. None of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) of Dr Nkrumah, the PP of Dr Busia, nor the People’s National Party (PNP) of Dr Limann was ruling hand in glove with the soldiers that overthrew their respective governments.
The other accusation usually hurled in the UP defence is that since the anti- UP formations had had a far longer period than the UP successors in power, the problems of this country, seen only from the debt perspective, must rest with anti-UP parties. This is false and unfortunate.
The CPP, PNP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were duly elected and freely chosen by the people of this country to run the country. They did not impose themselves. And in spite of debt, they left us with worthy and enduring legacies.
The fascination with debt instead of development which marked the time in of pro-UP parties is becoming untenable, tiresome and boring. In the 70s, 80s and 90s, that was all we read about Argentina and Brazil until they also switched permanently to civil rule.
these are very wealthy countries today with substantial local manufacturing and agro-industrial bases, notwithstanding the crippling debts that beset them. I will agree that to be able to do this, one must first win an election.
If the lavish promises which made victory possible for the ruling NPP are anything to go by, then the earlier the crippling narrative of debt constraints was abandoned in favour of the developmental narrative, the better it would be for us Ghanaians and for the tradition the ruling party represents.
Sympathetic historians after 1972 blamed the crippling effects of Nkrumah-era debts for the failure and collapse of the Busia regime, and not their ineffectual response to economic problems the regime encountered.
The historians of today know different, that given time, the narrative of debt and the cardinal necessity of beautiful statistics will not fill the stomachs of the hungry, give jobs to the unemployed or house the homeless.
It is only a deliberate effort to create and increase our national patrimony through a conscious grasping of the mandate to provide infrastructure which endures in the breasts of voters.


text:
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domain: design


text:
Walking away from those we love most may seem like the kindest thing we can do, but it’s a choice that will forever haunt those we leave behind.
Where do we place our faith—in God, in other people, in science? Grace and her father believe salvation will come in the form of a cure for the schizophrenia that led her mother to abandon her family and which now threatens Grace as well. To this end, her workaholic father, a racially ambiguous adoptee who met her Korean mother while working as an Army doctor, is a recruiter for a laboratory doing genetic research, luring in the best talent he can find. Still in high school, 18-year-old Grace has an internship at the same lab, where she meets one of her father’s hires, blue-eyed Will, whose easy manner and caring personality draw her in. But all is not well for Grace at home, at school, or in the dark recesses of her mind, where grief, fear, memory, and dread mingle. Told obliquely, with frequent shifts in time marked by seasons in the chapter headers, the spare, haunting text demands and rewards readers’ careful attention as they struggle, along with Grace, to determine what is actually real.
Thoughtful readers who appreciate literary fiction will find much to savor in this lyrical novel suffused with beauty and terror.
Family, art, love, duty, and longing collide in this painfully beautiful paean to the universal human need for connection.
Cupertino, California, high school senior Danny Cheng has a tight circle of friends, adoring parents, and a full scholarship to his dream school, the Rhode Island School of Design. But lurking just beneath the surface are secrets and tensions that threaten to tear apart everything he holds dear. Closeted Danny has kept hidden his longtime attraction to his best friend, Harry Wong, who is in a serious relationship with Danny’s close friend Regina Chan. Some of his parents’ oddities also turn out to be more than just eccentricity; they are hiding something dark from their past. Danny knows he had an older sister who died in China, but little beyond that. He stumbles across a mysterious file of papers, but his parents refuse to explain. Meanwhile, some in Danny’s circle of school friends are struggling with demons of their own. Gilbert paints a vivid portrait of a largely Asian-American community, diverse in terms of socio-economic status, ethnicity, and religious faith. While the topics dealt with may be heavy, the book is suffused with the warmth of the characters’ love for one another. Imperfect in their human frailty and noble in their desire to do the best they can, they are universally recognizable and sympathetic.
Acclaimed novelist Gilmore (We Were Never Here, 2016, etc.) explores the loaded subject of adoption from multiple perspectives. She fashions two first-person narratives: Bridget, a pregnant 16-year-old grappling with whether to keep her baby at the turn of the 21st century, and Ivy, a 16-year-old adoptee, who in 2017 decides the time to find her birth mother has come. Early on, Gilmore slowly reveals that Ivy is the daughter Bridget gave to lesbian couple Andrea and Joanne in 2000, exiting their lives shortly thereafter, leaving only letters for Ivy. While the intricately interwoven nonlinear narrative offers much food for thought in terms of identity formation and reflects a concerted effort to present characters from a variety of diverse backgrounds, the novel excels in diving head-on into the deep moral and existential quandaries unplanned pregnancy and adoption present. On the one hand, Bridget expresses the view that “adoption is always the story of someone breaking someone else’s heart,” just as Ivy tries to reconcile feeling fortunate—“I am the prize. I have never not felt that way”—with wondering “Why did she hand me over in the end? What did I do that was so bad?” Bridget and Ivy are white.
Gilmore’s gritty multigenerational tale not only seeks to ask adoption’s toughest questions, but dares to offer no easy answers: Not to be missed
. (Fiction. 14-adult)
After the sudden death of his sister, Shane, an Anishinaabe teen, is left to carry the weight of grief for his family.
His mother is inconsolable. His girlfriend has become clingy. And his secret love, David, keeps him at a distance, as the pair hasn’t quite found a way to co-exist within a reservation community where there are no openly gay couples. Shane is dealt another crushing blow after his sister’s memorial when he discovers that the funding for his college tuition deposit hasn’t been approved by the band. College in Toronto is the one escape that Shane believes will offer him a semblance of a future that might not be forever lost within the cyclical trauma that exists in his community—even though his family sees his leaving the rez to go to college as a betrayal. From the first page, Cree/Métis filmmaker Jones (adapting his award-winning film of the same name) uses a poetic voice to interlace the landscape and the main character as one symbiotic being. Complex, vulnerable emotion is embedded within the specificity of the writing in this dramatic prose debut. Jones avoids clichés of reservation life, humanizing the stories of how his people reconcile the trauma of suicide, missing family members, same-sex relationships, and the isolation of a community left to fend for itself.
A touching story that has been a long time coming for the Indigenous community
. (Fiction. 14-18)
Darius Kellner suffers from depression, bullying by high school jocks, and a father who seems to always be disappointed in him.
When Darius’ grandfather becomes terminally ill, Darius, along with his parents and younger sister, travels to Iran for the first time in his life. Iranian on his mother’s side and white American on his father’s side, Darius never quite fits in. He’s mocked for his name and nerdy interests at Chapel Hill High School in Portland, Oregon, and doesn’t speak enough Farsi to communicate with his Iranian relatives either. When he arrives in Iran, learning to play the Persian card game Rook, socializing, and celebrating Nowruz with a family he had never properly met before is all overwhelming and leaves Darius wondering if he’ll ever truly belong anywhere. But all that changes when Darius meets Sohrab, a Bahá’í boy, in Yazd. Sohrab teaches Darius what friendship is really about: loyalty, honesty, and someone who has your back in a football (soccer) match. For the first time in a long time, Darius learns to love himself no matter what external forces attempt to squash his confidence. Khorram’s debut novel is filled with insight into the lives of teens, weaving together the reality of living with mental illness while also dealing with identity and immigration politics.
This tear-jerker will leave readers wanting to follow the next chapter in Darius’ life.
The follow-up to the slice-of-life manga about Japanese single father Yaichi, his daughter, Kana, and his deceased brother’s white Canadian husband, Mike.
The story seamlessly picks up where the first entry left off, inviting readers back into Yaichi’s swirling thoughts as he considers how much more comfortable he’s become with Mike’s homosexuality and the areas where he’s still learning. Importantly, Yaichi finally recognizes that despite what he’s told himself, he treated his twin brother, Ryoji, differently after he came out. Here, Tagame (My Brother’s Husband, vol. 1, 2017, etc.) demonstrates how quietly refusing to affirm a family member’s sexuality can be just as harmful as outright rejection. As in the previous book, paneled black-and-white illustrations balance precisely with the light-handed translated text, allowing room for readers to relax into the world and interpret characters’ expressions for themselves. The plot’s leisurely pace also gives time to elements of the gay experience rarely covered in other stories, including the complications that can arise when an out gay man interacts with a closeted man in public. Additionally, this volume delves deeper into how Ryoji’s death has changed Mike, particularly his new understanding that nothing in life is guaranteed. Though both Mike and Yaichi reflect on the uncertainty of the future, the comfort between the two men and their mutual desire to stay connected proves a heart-filling resolution.
Readers will want tissues in hand for the final, bittersweet pages of this remarkable series
. (Graphic novel. 13-adult)
A magical story about a girl who awakens to her potential when her vagabond mother abandons her at her grandmother’s home in Laredo, Texas.
Kept in the dark her entire life, 16-year-old Martha discovers that everything she thinks she knows about herself is a lie. Evicted time and again while on the road with her mother, her life was nomadic and impoverished. Thrown into her grandmother’s Spanish-speaking world, she discovers that her last name is Gonzalez rather than George and that she has a large family. As Martha endeavors to learn the language of her long-lost family, she discovers that her grandmother is a curandera with healing powers. Engaging in practices that are a fusion of Indigenous beliefs and Catholicism, Martha finds her confidence. But as she becomes determined to uncover her mother’s secrets, she is thwarted by the way her family is reluctant to talk about the past. When she develops a mortal enemy at school, she must decide whether to back away or fully immerse herself in her grandmother’s curandera teachings. Debut novelist Temblador has created an unforgettable character in Martha, a girl whose gifts are greater than she could have imagined, in part because they belong to a world she never could have imagined. The novel introduces young readers to a Mexican community that maintains its roots in its Indigenous bloodlines.
A suspenseful and fascinating glimpse into a Mexican-American world.
A pie-baking hockey player from small-town Georgia begins college and settles into jock culture.
Eric “Bitty” Bittle’s dreams are coming true: He is starting college on the hockey team at Samwell University in Massachusetts. Bitty played hockey and figure skated competitively; unfortunately, the coed team back home did not allow “checking,” or physical contact, and Bitty’s fear of being hit becomes a real impediment in college hockey. Bitty’s team captain, Jack Zimmerman, “the hockey prince,” is determined to break Bitty of his fear of being checked. Despite Jack’s mercurial nature, Bitty develops a serious crush on the attractive athlete. As the practices and games develop, Bitty forms bonds with the other players and, after coming out, settles into college life. When sophomore year rolls around, Bitty has to face that two of his closest teammates are seniors and will be leaving soon. Based on a popular webcomic, this is a warm story with an irresistible protagonist, a clever supporting cast, and lively and plentiful game and practice scenes. There are many themes here: acceptance, standing up to fear, and finding your place, to name a few. Despite its episodic style, the humor and heart at the center of the story carry it through. The art relies on expressive facial shots to complement the snappy and sometimes-raunchy dialogue. Bitty is white, and there is some diversity in secondary characters.
A fun and deeply satisfying read for teens. (Graphic novel. 14-18)

domain: literature


As the direct link shows, so far the only known place for the Toecutter is the Seventh House guild-only trader.
It's a decent weapon (off-hand: +3 dmg, Slow 1) but if you can't get it, you can still et the Main Gauche of Shadows, which is an unique quest item with slightly better stats (
off-hand, +3 dmg, Slow 1, +1 Def).
Cursed Fang and Lightning Dirk are off-hand weapons with Stun 1. Cursed Fang is a drop item everyone can get and has better damage than the Toecutter. Lightning Dirk is also a guild-only item for Seventh House members.
Opps. The better off-hand weapons are reserved for members of the Seventh House and Rouges. There's been a discussion of having better off-hand weapons for everyone so there might be something in the next update but can't really confirm as I just don't know.
1-H warriors benefit a lot from being able to switch from a shield to an off-hand weapon for the damage or effect. The extra damage helps them compete with 2-H warriors. Not a lot of stuff options for 1-H warriors either so off-hand effects would be great.


OCCUPATIONAL NOISE SURVEYS
DID YOU KNOW?
Noise survey measurements must be completed when workers are exposed to sound levels above 82 dBA Lex
(some exemption apply; see WorkSafebc.com)
The first step to implementing an effective Hearing Loss Prevention Program is knowing the actual noise levels that workers are exposed to. Factors such as the type of equipment being used, room acoustics, and the length of exposure all greatly affect noise measurements. Having your workplace noise measurements will help determine the proper hearing protection that is required.
HearSmart Solutions Inc. is certified to perform formal Occupational Noise Survey’s. HearSmart Solutions Inc. uses integrated noise level meters and dosimetry equipment to perform accurate noise level measurements. We can provide you with a comprehensive noise survey that details noise level exposure, time-weighted averages, peak levels, and also support you with recommendations on the level of required hearing protection.
More info or quote? send us an email:
An Occupational Noise Survey will identify noise sources to help prioritize control measures, determine hazardous noise areas, and verify if annual hearing testing is required. In order to identify appropriate hearing protection requirements, it is essential for employers to have accurate information detailing the actual noise levels that employees are exposed to.
As per WorkSafe BC, when noise levels in a work facility may exceed 82 dBA Lex, it is mandatory that the employer have noise measurements taken (some exemptions apply). New measurements must also be taken anytime new machinery has been installed or removed, noise levels have changed due to altered workload or equipment operating conditions, structural changes have been made to the facility, or rotations or schedules have changed the length of exposure time.
* indicates required field


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The Mississippi State Department of Health reports two new cases of West Nile virus, bringing the state’s total to 23 so far for the year.
The cases were reported in Calhoun and Hinds counties. Health officials are advising Jackson residents to be especially aware of the threat.
So far this year human cases have been reported in Adams (2), Calhoun (2), Copiah, Forrest (2), Hinds (9), Itawamba, Jones, Madison, Marion, Oktibbeha, Pearl River, and Washington counties. In 2017, Mississippi had 63 WNV cases and two deaths.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said that Jackson residents should be especially aware of WNV and the risk for infection. A total of nine cases have been reported in Hinds County this year, all within the Jackson city limits.
Prevention tips include:
- Using DEET while outside and rubbing the application into the skin to avoid missed spots.
- Get rid of standing water and containers with water to prevent breeding grounds.
- Wear loose clothing to cover arms and legs while outside.
- Avoid areas that are prone to mosquitos.
Symptoms of WNV infection are often mild and may include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, a rash, muscle weakness or swollen lymph nodes.

domain: geography


At Openbank we are looking for great people to join our digital business processes team.
The primary focus of this role is to build new digital products and services that delight our customers or solve pain points from existing products and experiences. The PM will know how to create and mould great digital customer experiences, taking into account regulatory impacts and customer behavior.
Working closely with UX/UI and the tech teams, and dealing with multiple stakeholders (Product, Legal, Compliance) you will be fully responsible for developing product definition and requirements documentation to define the digital product/service digital journey.
- You will be the owner of a product/services line and will have to make things happen.
- You will have to take regulatory and market practice recommendations and adapt existing digital products/services to be acceptable in each market Openbank is present.
- We expect you to be an expert in digital solutions and to provide a valuable input as you will be heavily involved in reviews and validations.
- Working cross-functionally with UX, T&O and both internal and external stakeholders, you will push and coordinate to meet with project deadlines.
- You will be responsible for tracking the progress and status of the projects.
Experience and knowledge:
- 4+ years of Digital Product Management experience.
- Experience in dealing with multiple stakeholders ranging from senior MDs and Directors to people in the trenches.
- Project Management Experience previous experience in digital banking, fintech, online retail or e-commerce.
- Experience in customer-facing roles, to understand customer experience.
- University Degree (Undergraduate)
- Master Degree desirable (subject relating to digital, CX or project management)
- You need to have a high proficiency or fluency in English and Spanish
- Self-management, Leadership, Negotiating, Effective Communication, Problem Solving, Resilience, Proactivity, Autonomy.
- InVisio, Service Now, Confluence, Jira, Office


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November 05, 1974
Border security agreement between Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union and rules simplifying crossing of the Czechoslovak-Soviet border for citizens of the two countries
This protocol between the border security forces of Czechoslovakia and the USSR is aimed at facilitating the exchange of bilateral information between the two forces (per the agreement of March, 1961), discussing the findings of both security organizations from May 1972 to October 1974 and coordinating a new border security agreement. This document also includes data on telephone connections in the border regions. The two delegations agreed upon rules concerning the simplified border passage of Czechoslovak and Soviet citizens.


SCHUYLKILL – In the first such ceremony since 1992, the names of 35 military service personnel who have received the Medal were Honor were dedicated at the restored Medal of Honor Grove at Freedoms Foundation Sunday.
Before and after the formal ceremony in the sun on a foundation lawn, many of the several hundred who turned out walked through the shaded rolling hills of the grove to inspect ground markers and obelisks with the names of new and older recipients of the highest honor of the United States.
Among the six past medal honorees in attendance was retired Army Col. Harold Fritz who expressed thanks to the volunteers responsible for ‘re-establishing the splender it certainly deserves.’
‘This grove has a special sense of place,’ said State Sen. Andrew E. Dinniman of Chester County, whose office helped coordinate efforts to repair and restore the commemorative area. He told the gathering it was more than just a beautiful piece of land next to Valley Forge National Park but a classroom for children and to show visitors a commemoration of the sacrifice of placing others before self.
Four new names were added to the Pennsylvania obelisk. Tom and Romayne McGinnis of Shippenville gathered there for a private ceremony for their son, PFC First Class Ross A. McGinnis, who was killed in Iraq in 2006 and received the medal for his sacrifice.
Another name added was Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger of the United States Air Force who died heroically in the Vietnam War in March 1968. His son Cory Etchberger said his family was presented with his father’s commemoration in 2010, because his actions sacrificing his life to save the lives of his fellow servicemen were classified. His unit was in Laos, where the United States was not supposed to be fighting.
Cory Etchberger, a biology professor at Ursinus College in Collegeville, said he has been involved in restoring the grove since the effort started. He was present Sunday and helping other medal families find names of loved ones at the grove.
The grove was established decades ago to honor the war heroes of the United States by the private foundation dedicated to promote the ideals of the United States.
However, the grove had fallen into serious disrepair over the years. The foundation, facing financial difficulties, has had discussions (since dropped) about selling the grove for development.
Volunteers and veterans groups coordinating out of Dinniman’s office over the past 18 months have worked to clean up the area and monuments, clear out brush and replace missing markers. A Friends of the Medal of Honor Grove group was established to improve the area and serve as caretakers of the grove, which remains foundation property.
While praised by a several speakers, Dinniman pushed the compliments back on the volunteers for their efforts to restore on the grounds and ‘never let it go again into disrepair,’ and that the grove and its message of honoring sacrifice for country were to remain in perpetuity.
‘This is a treasure,’ he said later while walking through the grove, pointing out the work of the volunteers to polish monuments of grime and mold, clear brush and branches, and in general making the site more orderly.


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T.R. Knight joins Stephen King's 11/22/63
T.R. Knight, best known for playing George O’Malley on five seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, is returning to TV with Hulu’s original event series 11/22/63.
Based on Stephen King’s novel, 11/22/63 follows Jake Epping (James Franco), a divorced English teacher who tries to prevent the assassination of President Kennedy. Along the way, Jake’s mission is threatened by many factors, including love, Lee Harvey Oswald, and the very fact that the past does not want to be changed.
Knight will play Johnny Clayton, a salesman in 1960s Texas whose wife, Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon), falls in love with Jake. Let’s just say that Johnny and Jake have a confrontation—and that Johnny has a few secrets of his own.
The 11/22/63 cast also includes Chris Cooper and Cherry Jones.

domain: artistic


text:
The England international was getting a lot of interests from Manchester United and Chelsea but is now set to extend his stay at the Emirates
Theo Walcott is set to continue his Arsenal adventure after agreeing to a four year deal with the club that will see him make 100,000 pounds a week. The England international had a couple of years left on his current contract and despite taking his time to sign a new deal, never really wanted to leave the club and allowed his representative to thrash out the deal while he concentrate on what he does on the field.
According to reports, the former Southampton man will sign the extension in the next couple of days
“My agent has talked to the club, I enjoy playing for Arsenal, so I am just letting them crack on with things and I’ll continue playing my football,” explained Walcott, as quoted by the Mirror.
“If it happens, it happens. We’ll just play the waiting game and see what happens, but I’m sure it won’t be long.
“And if it’s not sorted before the season starts I’d be comfortable with that, definitely. It’s not in my thought process at all and I think that’s the best way to be.

domain: sports


text:
Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Rituximab in Treating Older Patients With Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.|
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00052936|
Recruitment Status : Unknown
Verified June 2007 by National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Recruitment status was: Active, not recruiting
First Posted : January 27, 2003
Last Update Posted : March 12, 2010
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. It is not yet known whether combination chemotherapy is more effective with or without rituximab in treating aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying how well giving cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone together with or without rituximab works in treating older patients who have aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. (This trial is no longer randomized as of 6/2005).
|Condition or disease||Intervention/treatment||Phase|
|Lymphoma||Biological: filgrastim Biological: rituximab Drug: CHOP regimen Drug: cyclophosphamide Drug: doxorubicin hydrochloride Drug: prednisone Drug: vincristine sulfate Radiation: radiation therapy||Phase 3|
- Compare the efficacy of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) with vs without rituximab in elderly patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Compare the efficacy of 6 vs 8 courses of CHOP chemotherapy in patients treated with these regimens.
- Compare the rate of complete remission, rate of primary progression, tumor control, disease-free survival, overall survival, and relapse after radiotherapy in patients treated with these regimens.
- Compare the safety and side effects of these regimens in these patients.
- Compare short-term and long-term side effects of these regimens in these patients.
- Compare quality of life of patients treated with these regimens.
- Compare the cost of these regimens in these patients.
- Determine relapse in patients treated with these regimens who received involved-field radiotherapy.
OUTLINE: This is a randomized (randomized part of study completed as of 6/2005), open-label, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to participating center, value for serum lactic dehydrogenase (no greater than upper limit of normal [ULN] vs greater than ULN), bulky disease present (no vs yes), stage (I or II vs III or IV), general ECOG status of patient (0 or 1 vs 2), and age (61 to 70 vs 71-80). Patients are randomized to 1 of 4 treatment arms. Patients with CD20-negative lymphoma are randomized to arms I or II only.
- Prephase treatment:Patients receive vincristine IV on day -6 and prednisone on day -6 to day 0 before initiating CHOP chemotherapy.
- Arm I (closed to accrual as of 7/25/2005): Patients receive standard CHOP chemotherapy comprising cyclophosphamide IV, doxorubicin IV, and vincristine IV on day 1 and oral prednisone on days 1-5. Patients also receive filgrastim (G-CSF) subcutaneously once daily on days 6-12 of each CHOP course. Treatment repeats every 2 weeks for 6 courses.
- Arm II (closed to accrual as of 7/25/2005): Patients receive standard CHOP chemotherapy and G-CSF as in arm I for a total of 8 courses.
- Arm III: Patients receive standard CHOP chemotherapy and G-CSF as in arm I. Patients also receive rituximab IV before CHOP every 2 weeks for a total of 8 courses.
- Arm IV (closed to accrual as of 7/25/2005): Patients receive standard CHOP chemotherapy and G-CSF as in arm II. Patients also receive rituximab IV before CHOP every 2 weeks for a total of 8 courses.
In all arms, treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Beginning 3-6 weeks after completion of the last chemotherapy course, after complete recovery of bone marrow, and after complete remision of mucositis, patients with sites of initial bulky disease or extranodal involvement undergo radiotherapy 5 times a week for 4 weeks.
Patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years, and then annually thereafter.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 1580 patients will be accrued for this study within 5 years.
|Study Type :||Interventional (Clinical Trial)|
|Estimated Enrollment :||1580 participants|
|Masking:||None (Open Label)|
|Official Title:||Randomised Study Comparing 6 And 8 Cycles Of Chemotherapy With CHOP ( Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine And Prednisone) At 14-Day Intervals (CHOP-14), Both With Or Without The Monoclonal Anti-CD20 Antibody Rituximab In Patients Aged 61 To 80 Years With Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma|
|Study Start Date :||January 2001|
- Time to treatment failure at 3 years within the study and then periodically after study completion
- Complete response rate at 3 years within the study and then periodically after study completion
- Progression rate
- Tumor control
- Disease-free survival
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00052936
|Study Chair:||Michael G.M. Pfreundschuh, MD||Universitaetsklinikum des Saarlandes|

domain: medical


APN’S – no relief for the taxpayer
The First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has dismissed a taxpayerʼs appeal against penalties imposed for the late payment of accelerated payments – Nijjar  TC 05667,
Mr Nijjar appealed against two penalties that HMRC imposed, under s226 of FA 2014, for late payment of accelerated payments demanded in an accelerated payment notice (“APN”) issued pursuant to s219 of Finance Act 2014. The Tribunal accepted that Mr Nijjar was ‘an honest and reliable taxpayer.’
On 19 May 2015 HMRC issued Mr Nijjar with an APN relating to the tax year to 5 April 2008 arising out of arrangements known as “Liberty 2” which HMRC considered to be notifiable under DOTAS. At the time HMRC issued the APN, there was an enquiry (under s9A of the Taxes Management Act 1970) open into Mr Nijjar’s self- assessment tax return for the 2007-08 tax year. The APN specified an accelerated payment due of £61,676.98.
Mr Nijjar made representations to HMRC under s.222 FA 2014on 17 August 2015, objecting to a number of aspects of the APN. HMRC rejected those representations by letter dated 15 February 2016. HMRC determined that Mr Nijjar was obliged to make the accelerated payment by 21 March 20162. It was common ground that he had made no payment by that deadline, or by the date of the hearing.
As Mr Nijjar had not paid the accelerated payment demanded by the relevant deadline HMRC assessed Mr Nijjar to an initial 5% penalty under FA 2014 s. 226(2), followed by a further 5% penalty because the payment had not been paid within 5 months of the deadline under s. 226(3).
Mr Nijjar suffered from poor health and had financial difficulties. He had also been the victim of a significant fraud. At no point however, whether prior to the deadline for paying the accelerated payment or after, did Mr Nijjar initiate contact with HMRC with a view to agreeing a payment plan for that accelerated payment. Nor did he propose a payment plan and no such plan was in place at the date of the hearing.
On 26 April 2016, Mr Nijjar received a letter warning him that enforcement proceedings would be taken in respect of the accelerated payment unless he paid immediately. This made it clear to Mr Nijjar that HMRC were not giving him any latitude, whether because of his financial situation or otherwise, and prompted him to call to HMRC on the number quoted in that letter.
Mr Nijjar subsequently appealed to HMRC against the first penalty imposed on 11 May 2016 on the grounds that (i) a penalty should only have been imposed if the underlying tax was actually due; (ii) he had not actually obtained a cash flow advantage from his participation in the Liberty 2 arrangements and (iii) he was in grave hardship because of his financial situation and health problems. HMRC rejected that appeal on 6 June 2016 concluding, among other matters, that Mr Nijjar did not have a reasonable excuse for failing to pay the amount due. A subsequent review by HMRC upheld the penalty, on the basis that that Mr Nijjar did not have a “reasonable excuse” for failing to pay the amount demanded and that there were no “special circumstances” that would allow HMRC to reduce the first penalty. However, as the FTT found, Mr Nijjar notified his appeal against the second penalty to the Tribunal without first appealing to HMRC, and there was thus no evidence of HMRC’s reasoning in relation to the second penalty and it was clear that they had not considered the issue of special circumstances separately in relation to the second penalty.
The FTT’s decision
The FTT reviewed the applicable legislation, under s.226 FA 2014 as applied to Schedule 56 FA 2009. The FTT recorded that, whilst there is no appeal to the Tribunal against the APN itself, there is a right of appeal against a penalty that is imposed for failure to make an accelerated payment. In this respect, no payment was due if the Taxpayer could satisfy the FTT that was a ‘reasonable excuse’ for the failure to pay the APN. Alternatively, HMRC has a power under ‘special circumstances’ to reduce a penalty.
The FTT were not sympathetic to Mr Nijjr on grounds of ill health or financial difficulties. The Tribunal said:-
‘Despite Mr Nijjar’s health problems, he has dealt competently with procedural issues relating to the APN…..Since Mr Nijjar’s health problems did not prevent him from taking those (procedural) steps, I do not consider that they would have prevented him making payment on time particularly given that HMRC told him on a number of occasions when the due date for payment was, and what he needed to do if he could not make payment on time.
I accept that Mr Nijjar’s financial difficulties are attributable to events outside his control (they have arisen as a result of his protracted poor health and the fraud of which he was a victim). They are not therefore excluded by paragraph 16 of Schedule 56 from being a reasonable excuse. However, by the time the accelerated payments fell due, Mr Nijjar had suffered from financial difficulties for a long time. He should have realised from the point at which he received a letter warning him that he was about to receive an APN that he would not be able to pay the amount demanded and taken steps to get in touch with HMRC to arrange a payment plan. It was not reasonable for Mr Nijjar simply to assume that HMRC were aware of his financial situation and would make due allowance for it.’
Mr Nijjar’s arguments were similarly rejected on the issue of ‘special circumstances.’ The FTT said:-
‘HMRC have considered whether there are “special circumstances” in relation to the first penalty. However, as I have noted at , they did not take into account that Mr Nijjar had been the victim of a fraud. I have concluded that HMRC did not consider “special circumstances” at all in relation to the second penalty (although Mr Nijjar’s actions in notifying his appeal against the second penalty direct to the Tribunal have contributed to this result).
It follows from what I say at  that HMRC’s conclusions on “special circumstances” are “flawed” in the sense set out in paragraph 15 of Schedule 56 of Finance Act 2009 and I therefore have the power to substitute my own decision on that issue for that of HMRC. I will not, however, alter HMRC’s decision. I do not think that that Mr Nijjar’s health problems have contributed to his failure to pay the accelerated payment to such an extent as to warrant a special reduction. The real reason why Mr Nijjar has not paid on time is his financial situation. That is an “inability to pay” which is excluded by statute from being a “special circumstance”. In any event, since I do not consider that Mr Nijjar has taken reasonable steps to address the consequences of the inability to pay, I would not anyway have reduced the penalty for this reason.’
Levy and Levy comment
The key point is that any taxpayer faced with an APN cannot just plead financial circumstances and sit back and do nothing; he or she must proactively approach HMRC with a view to explaining those circumstances and attempting to agree a payment plan. If such a plan cannot be agreed, at least the hard-pressed taxpayer can point to having made the effort in any subsequent proceedings before the FTT in relation to penalties.
Levy and Levy – the tax resolution and investigations specialists in London and Tunbridge Wells


text:
Three Australian politicians recently experienced what life is like for deployed ADF personnel in the Middle East region.
A new book details how Australia's 15-tonne armoured vehicle is saving lives and earning praise.
Governor-General and Chief of the Defence Force pay tribute to Australian personnel helping bolster security.
Scott Morrison thanks ADF members for their service.
The Kabul Garrison Command adviser team’s Australian military mentors played a role in Afghanistan’s September 28 presidential election.
Captain Anne Andrews is helping to improve women's employment opportunities in Afghanistan.
When the workshop team from Force Support Element 10 arrived in the Middle East, they inherited Mercedes-Benz Unimog truck. The problem was, it was...
Lieutenant Nicole Johns is making a difference in Afghanistan using valuable clinical experience gained at the Royal Hobart Hospital's emergency...
A female cadet has been named the best in her course during a graduation ceremony at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy.
Anzac Day was commemorated throughout the Middle East with a number of dawn services.
Brigadier John Shanahan became the first non-US commander of the 11,000-strong Train Advise Assist Command – South.
For Flight Lieutenant Matthew Jones, the biggest challenge working in a military hospital in Afghanistan is not knowing what will come through the

domain: news


Civilization: Beyond Earth Likely To Drop Intel/AMD Linux Support
There's a new blog post out by Aspyr Media who has been doing the OS X and Linux porting work for the Sid Meier game. In today's update, Russ Looney shares that they've been running into graphical problems with Intel and AMD GPUs on Linux. It's not a performance problem but of incorrect rendering.
Looney noted, "we’re seeing some graphical problems with Intel and ATI cards on Linux. The performance is good (i.e. no slowdown or chugging frame rates), but there’s still lots of graphical tearing and other anomalies that make it practically unplayable. Though not official yet, it’s likely we’ll drop support for Intel and ATI graphics cards on Linux platforms prior to the game’s launch on Linux."
There's not yet any firm release date for the Linux version but there's been some hope we'd see it out in December. However, it looks like the Linux build of Civilization: Beyond Earth for SteamOS and Linux is still several weeks away. More details via this blog post.


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H.R. 4710 (102nd): To extend the statute of limitations applicable to civil actions brought by the Federal conservator or receiver of a failed depository institution.
Mar 31, 1992
102nd Congress, 1991–1992
Died in a previous Congress
This bill was introduced on March 31, 1992, in a previous session of Congress, but was not enacted.
Representative for California's 27th congressional district
About the bill
- Summary (CRS)
- 3/31/1992--Introduced.Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Federal Credit Union Act to extend from three to five years the statute of limitations for civil actions brought by a Federal ...
- What is a bill?
The “H.R.” in “H.R. 4710” means this is a House of Representatives bill in the United States Congress. A bill must be passed by both the House and Senate in identical form and then be signed by the President to become law.
The bill’s title was written by its sponsor.
2 cosponsors (1R, 1D) (show)
- Committee Assignments
The committee chair determines whether a bill will move past the committee stage.
There have been no votes related to this bill.
- Subject Areas
- Find Similar Bills
Search for similar bills.
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Click a format for a citation suggestion:
Civic Impulse. (2015). H.R. 4710 — 102nd Congress: To extend the statute of limitations applicable to civil actions brought by the Federal conservator .... Retrieved from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/102/hr4710
“H.R. 4710 — 102nd Congress: To extend the statute of limitations applicable to civil actions brought by the Federal conservator ....” www.GovTrack.us. 1992. May 22, 2015 <https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/102/hr4710>
|title=H.R. 4710 (102nd)
|accessdate=May 22, 2015
|author=102nd Congress (1992)
|date=March 31, 1992
|quote=To extend the statute of limitations applicable to civil actions brought by the Federal conservator ...

domain: law


text:
There, data coming directly from the Crowd across Europe are gathered into live dashboards and granular reports.
Are you interested in knowing how we provide our clients with only reliable and accurate data? In this article, we’ll take you through our 4 steps to maximum accuracy.
1. Individual reviews
Every submission coming from the members of our Crowd is manually checked by an international team of reviewers. These employees also cover shifts during evenings, weekends and holidays in order to ensure full support for the Crowd and real-time data for our clients. Only after all parts of a submission have been approved (question answers, pictures, location, etc.) the data becomes available on the Roamler Client Portal.
2. Representative photos
At Roamler, photos are of vital importance. The pictures submitted by our Crowd must be clear, taken live in stores from the right distance and with good lighting. In addition, each photo needs to respond exactly to the requirements of the task. If the photos do not meet these requirements, the submission gets rejected, and the task needs to be performed again.
3. Correct location
The accuracy of the task location is crucial to delivering the most reliable insights. The Roamler app makes use of an advanced GPS technology that enables our team to verify that the data have been submitted from the exact location requested in the task. Furthermore, if a Roamler visits a location that differs from the one outlined in the app, he or she receives a warning to change locations so that he or she can perform the task correctly.
4. Extensive answers
We often also request our Roamlers to describe their shopping experience, including the interaction with store personnel, cleanliness of the facility, etc. This extra information is useful for both our clients and our Roamlers, who get the opportunity to elaborate on different aspects of the consumer experience. The members of our Crowd are required to submit a report that meets or exceeds a minimum word count; this way, we can provide brands with extensive collateral information about their in-store execution.
These four pillars contribute to enhancing the quality and accuracy of the data we provide our clients across the whole of Europe. Whether this happens in retail, the tech industry or in healthcare, our location-based technology and built-in review system can address any business problem with a data-driven solution that improves operations at all levels.


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I love to read. I read just about everything - classics, historical fiction, sci-fi, memoirs, young adult, mystery - I read it all. I love the places I could otherwise never go and the people I could otherwise never meet in a book.
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair is one book that I never finished. To be honest with you, I've only read the first couple of chapters. I know the gist of the rest of the book is rather depressing, and I'm not sure I'm ready to alter the beautiful image the beginning paints of the characters.
Sinclair opens the first chapter describing a very dismal meat packing district in turn of the century Chicago that he refers to as "back of the yards". The remainder is spent setting the happy and hopeful atmosphere of a wedding.
Each character is given special attention as we get to know their background, struggles, and strengths. A page about the bride, another for the groom, a paragraph here and there for the other characters. But of all the people Sinclair describes, he spends the most time on the musicians.
His eloquent description of the musicians is something that stayed with me, and is a paragraph I can always find when I pick up a copy of this book -
"The musicians—how shall one begin to describe them? All this time they have been there, playing in a mad frenzy—all of this scene must be read, or said, or sung, to music. It is the music which makes it what it is; it is the music which changes the place from the rear room of a saloon in back of the yards to a fairy place, a wonderland, a little corner of the high mansions of the sky."
"...it is out of this material that they have to build their lives, with it that they have to utter their souls. And this is their utterance; merry and boisterous, or mournful and wailing, or passionate and rebellious, this music is their music, music of home. It stretches out its arms to them, they have only to give themselves up."
At some point in his life, a musician made such an impact on Upton Sinclair to put these words in his mind. I know this is not the message Sinclair was trying to send when he wrote this book, but it's my message that I take from it. -- I can only hope that by sharing my little corner of the high mansions of the sky and speaking my utterance, I will one day make such an impact.

domain: library


text:
Usually, one would not immediately know when one has fallen a victim to a Cryptocurrency Scam. At this point, you might start to wonder where your money has gone and why no one is responding to your questions. Eventually, we all know the reality when it has set in after you recognize that Bitcoin Scammers have made off with your money and are nowhere to be found. Off late, it has been found out that some Cryptocurrency con artists or the Bitcoin Scammers are opting for different tactics and have actually told their victims they’ve been duped of certain dollars.
Soon after being duped into putting more than AUD$43,000 ($30,000) into fake Bitcoin investments, a Canberra, Australia-based couple named Nick and Josie Yeomans had received a WhatsApp message telling them that the whole thing was a Scam, as stated by the ABC news. The Yeomans’ had been investing in Coinexx.org which is a company that claims to manage darknet Cryptocurrency and Forex investments for its clients. But as per the message that the couple had received, it “is a Scam.” It seems that the Coinexx.org website is still live and still appears to be legitimate while displaying links to Cryptocurrency news sites and price tickers.
Mr Yeomans was introduced to the most famous Coinexx.org through a Facebook group and he was initially pretty sceptical. Even so, he then decided to risk his money anyway on what he said he was “expecting to be a Scam.” While it may have turned out to be a Scam, Coinexx.org appeared to be playing the longest game. Mr Yeomans initially invested AUD$1,400 ($984) and six months later, Coinexx.org produced an AUD$3,700 ($2,600) in return. Given the promising outlook, Mr Yeomans had quit his job while he and his wife became reliant on their Coinexx.org earnings.
It was not late though, seemingly out of nowhere, the Yeomans’ were blocked from accessing their money, and Coinexx.org began demanding additional fees to access their money. This was the first in a string of excuses given to the couple when they began querying what was happening with their money and what is wrong with the company. Unfortunately, by this point, the couple had already invested their savings, quit their jobs, had taken out loans and sold possessions to pay the fees that Coinexx.org was continuously demanding. After begging for their money back, Coinexx.org sent the Yeomans’ the WhatsApp message and ceased all contact with them.
ABC has noted that it tried contacting the WhatsApp accounts that were dealing with the Yeomans’ accounts but did not hear back whatsoever. While the phone number that contacted the Yeomans’ could help locate the Bitcoin Scammers, it’s still unclear if police are continuing to investigate this incident. Hard Fork has also tried to contact the phone numbers that were listed on the Coinexx.org website that stated all are out of service, at the time of writing. Cryptocurrency Scams appear to be growing in Australia pretty much. In 2018, Australians lost $4.3 million to Cryptocurrency Scams; a 190-per cent increase over the previous year has been experienced. By May 31 2019, Australians had reported more losses to Cryptocurrency Scams than they had for all of 2018, according to the report.
Disclaimer: Darkweblink.com does not promote or endorse claims that have been made by any parties in this article. The information provided here is for the general purpose only and unintended to promote or support purchasing and/or selling of any products and services or serve as a recommendation in the involvement of doing so. Neither Darkweblink.com nor any member is responsible directly or indirectly for any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused by or in relation with the reliance on or usage of any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.
Tags: #deep_web_links #Tor_.onion_urls_directories #Deep_Web_Sites_Links #Dark_Web_Links_Hidden_Wiki #Dark_web_directories


text:
Inspired by 2 pilot friends (thanks Benn & Daina), we are driving a Rickshaw from Cochin (in the South of India) to Shillong (in the North of India) to raise money for Frank Water. Frank Water is a small UK based charity dedicated to providing access to much-needed safe drinking water for the world’s poorest communities.
Our route spans 3500 km’s and takes us through some very interesting territory.
Here are some links that may interest you:
Half a tribe
The White Tiger
Thanks to all our friends, family and clients who have donated – your generosity of spirit is greatly appreciated.


text:
'Dance-Persona' is a holistic dance and development program designed for all ages that focuses on Physical, Cognitive and Social development.
Students will be introduced to role plays and 'buddy systems' to learn the conceptual elements of a performance. Emphasis is placed on mentoring early leadership concepts and the importance of taking accountability. This process will allow students to leverage their individual strengths and improve on other specific areas. This course will aim to combine world music such as Bollywood, Latin, Western music (and more!) to grant variety. This program consists of a holistic development program disguised as magical performances!


Shimano Tiagra 10 Speed Cassette
This is the Shimano Tiagra 10 Speed, Hyperglide, MTB 11-34 tooth road cassette. Providing riders with a high quality 10-speed cassette thanks to the Hyperglide sprockets and contoured shift gates; this cassette is perfect for the keen sportive rider, racer or commuter who is running a Shimano 10-speed groupset. With its lightweight sprocket carrier, it delivers smooth gear steps across its 10-speed range.
This fits all of our 10 speed Bosch / Yamaha eBikes.
- High quality 10-speed road cassette
- Hyperglide sprockets have a computer designed tooth configuration with contoured shift gates, resulting in a crisp smooth shift even under load
- Sprockets are cut away and drilled to reduce weight without reducing rigidity
- Nickel-plated finish offers hard wearing resistance to corrosion
- Corrosion-resistant steel cassette lockring
- For 10-speed HG and HG-X road chains
- 11-34 teeth
- Product code: CS-HG500-10


text:
Photos: Best new rides of 2012 at California theme parks
While our Top 10 is dominated by new rides coming to Disney California Adventure, 2012 will also see the debut of enough prototype roller coasters, extreme thrill rides and cutting-edge attractions to make any serious theme park fan salivate.
Image 1 of 10
10) Crazy Surf - Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk plans to update the Crazy Surf flat ride with a newer model that includes tilting seats and water jets that splash passengers. The new ride, which will keep the Crazy Surf name, features an 18-seat gondola mounted to two revolving arms that take passengers 12 feet in the air.

domain: entertainment


text:
Joy Malone finds herself looking at a pair of all-black eyes when the boy cuts her eye. In doing that, he has marked her as his. The boy’s name is Indelible Ink and it turns out he was trying to cut her eye out, but now they have to pretend that Joy is his helper, lover and will be in his future forever. Indelible Ink is invisible so there is no proving to anyone what is going on around her, and that means there is no way to go back to how it used to be.
"Dawn Metcalf creates a rich world full of creatures that are terrifying, beautiful and definitely intriguing....This story is dark and bittersweet and will have you shivering in fear while you read it, yet you will be unable to put it down."
Now Joy is seeing strange, terrifying creatures everywhere. Monsters in her windows, glowing girls are waiting at her doorstep --- the world has become a dangerous place for Joy Malone.
INDELIBLE is an amazing story that any reader will get caught up in. Dawn Metcalf creates a rich world full of creatures that are terrifying, beautiful and definitely intriguing. This story is dark and bittersweet and will have you shivering in fear while you read it, yet you will be unable to put it down.
The characters grab you into their stories, and Ink will have you falling in love. You will want to keep reading and reading until you reach the end and gasp in horror because the book is over. This book will also have your emotions all over the place; one moment, you will be sighing because of something Ink said, and the next, you will be reading the book while hiding behind a pillow. Dawn Metcalf has woven together an amazing book, that is definitely dark, definitely unique, and it's definitely 100 percent amazing! INDELIBLE is a must read, that every reader will enjoy and end up craving the sequel.
Reviewed by Harman K. on August 28, 2013


text:
Competition through environmental CSR engagement and cost of equity capitalHatem RJIBA, Oussama Ben Hmiden, Samir Saadi
We examine the capital market outcomes of firms’ competition over environmental corporate social responsibility (CSR) ratings. We hypothesize that if environmental CSR engagement contributes to reputational advantage that may lead to lower cost of equity capital, firms would compete to acquire such reputational advantage in the market for environmental ratings. In line with our prediction, we find that firms that are further away from the worst practices common to their “toxic” industry peers have a lower cost of equity financing. Moreover, consistent with the resiliency argument, we document that higher relative environmental CSR performance help mitigate the negative impact of the 2008 global financial crisis on the cost of equity capital. Our results are robust to a battery of sensitivity checks, including use of multiple estimation methods, alternative proxies of cost of equity capital measures and potential endogeneity concerns.

domain: finance


To catch a criminal, police sketches can be useful — or hilarious
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but are police sketches worth the paper they're drawn on?
Twitter users played a gleeful game of Guess Who yesterday, with an artist's impression of the man who Stormy Daniels alleged threatened her in 2011. The adult film star says she was being warned off selling a story to a magazine about a sexual encounter with Donald Trump.
Tom Brady and Matt Damon were among the celebrities being compared to the sketch on social media, but for Diana Trepkov, one of Canada's top forensic artists, it's a serious business.
"Someone knows something, always, when it comes to stuff like this," she told The Current's guest host Laura Lynch.
"If someone did threaten [Daniels] seven years ago, they would be bragging about it in a bar to some friends," she added. The sketch could ring a bell and prompt them to come forward. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is also offering a $131,000 US reward to anyone who can positively identify the suspect.
Trepkov has worked on more than 200 cases worldwide. She said that when someone is threatened, "that image will burn in their head, they'll they'll remember that face."
When working with victims, she starts by asking questions that could trigger that memory: What was the weather like that day? What was the person wearing?
Once a witness is comfortable, she'll show them a picture catalogue of features: eyes, noses, ears. The witness will point out what resembles the perpetrator, and Trepkov will start to draw, but without showing the witness her progress.
- CBC NEWS | Sketching for clues: Why some Sask. police forces still draw suspects
- THE CURRENT | Data-based inquiry 'could have led to McArthur arrest sooner'
When she is about 60 to 70 per cent finished, she will "swoosh it" past the witness, giving them only a brief glimpse.
"I could tell by the expression on her face how close I am," she said.
"If it's a little 'Oh my God,' or a scared look, then I know I'm getting close."
Our memories make mistakes
Michael Arntfield, a criminology professor at Western University, cautions that human memory can be fraught with problems, which can make for unreliable police sketches.
"We don't remember explicit details necessarily, certainly not the degree of detail that courts like to hear," he said. "We remember with emotions, we remember with … other senses, including scent and sound."
Arntfield said that in the 1950s, U.S. firearms company Smith and Wesson released the Identi-Kit, a collection of facial features printed on transparent sheets.
- THE CURRENT | Prevailing wisdom stops police catching killers, says former detective
- CBC NEWS | Putting together a police sketch
"Essentially it's a Mr. Potato Head," Arntfield explained, "where you have a face, and just plot certain eyes or nose or mouth shapes on to this transparency."
"Because it was sufficiently generic, and allowed for a certain degree of interpretation ... it really resonated with people."
In contrast, the sketch commissioned by Daniels has an "excess of detail," he said, and is more likely to generate publicity than leads.
Best police sketch ever. pic.twitter.com/8ezc3uUP6K—@richardroeper
A useful tool (with a credible witness)
The wrongful murder conviction of Thomas Sophonow is an example of how unreliable eyewitness accounts can be, said Arntfield.
In 1981, witnesses incorrectly identified Sophonow as a man they had seen near the Winnipeg donut shop where 16-year-old Barbara Stoppel was murdered. After three trials, he spent four years in prison before being acquitted.
As an investigative tool it can useful, he said, but only with a credible witness.
Trepkov has come across fabrications in her work, and has learned that witnesses that are too ready to accept her sketches are often hiding something.
"When someone says it's 100 per cent, and you don't have to fix anything," she said, "then it was made up."
Listen to the full conversation at the top of this page, where you can also share this article across email, Facebook, Twitter and other platforms.
This segment was produced by The Current's Julie Crysler, Howard Goldenthal and Exan Auyoung.


text: With educational programming and year-round music instruction, the Napa Valley Music Associates have spent over two decades enriching the culture in the valley while developing young local talents. One of the associates’ most popular annual events returns this week with the Mozart in the Valley benefit concert performance, which helps keep the nonprofit organization’s scholarship fund thriving. Celebrating Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 261st birthday, the concert features San Francisco soprano vocalist Emily Thebaut leading a program of Mozart’s most famous operatic compositions on Sunday, Jan. 29, at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center, 2277 Napa Vallejo Hwy., Napa, 707.256.7500. 3pm. $10–$25. napavalleymusicassociates.org.


text:
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I have to admit something.
I don’t always love nuts.
But then I remember that they are kind of a perfect snack, and can be pretty darn delicious from time to time. Everyone likes peanut butter, right? I just recently came around to raw almond butter, and now I slather it on toast, celery and apples on a regular basis. I would never turn down pine nuts in pesto either. 🙂
If you are aren’t yet a fan, try adding some nuts in at snack time or nut butters for breakfast or lunch. Here’s the what, why and how…
- Pine Nuts
- Brazil Nuts
- Macadamia Nuts
- (peanuts are technically a legume but are usually fall into the nut category)
- contain fat, protein and fiber
- full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol
- can help reduce the risk of diabetes
- nutrient dense: full of vitamin E, folic acid, niacin, copper, magnesium
- Raw Nuts are best and then roast at home so they don’t go rancid
- Add some flavor to roasted nuts (like curried or herbed nuts)
- As a snack, on salads, or part of trail mix
- Nut Butter – look for natural varieties – the only ingredients should be nuts and/or salt.
- Watch portions! Nuts, although good for you, are very calorie-dense. A serving is one ounce.
- Recipes to Try: Almond-Honey Power Bar, Nut Recipes on Foodily, Nut Recipes on Gojee
Do you have a favorite nut or way to eat them?

domain: food


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TEHRAN, Feb. 8 (MNA) – Researchers in Iran Biological Resource Center have discovered a new bacterium, publish in International Systematic Microbiology Journal.
Actinomycetes are valuable microorganisms used for the 1st and 2nd metabolism in food industries. These microorganisms help produce enzymes widely applied in food industry to process starch in fructose-rich drinks and enzymes used in molecular biology techniques.
Actinomycetes are also applied in production of new generations of antibiotics due to their specific metabolism routes.
Researchers in Iran Biological Resources Center discovered a rare actinomycete belonging to the family Pseudonocardiaceae. The discovery of this microorganism was announced in a paper in the prestigious IJSEM under the name of Alloactinosynnema Iranicum
The microorganism is accessible in National Iranian Biological Resource Center as a valuable microorganism in access code of BRC-M 10403T.
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.


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The Jatropha is a plant native to Central America. The plant has a smooth bark with pale green leaves and grows upto 5 metres in height. The seeds are the most useful part of the plant. The oil extracted from these seeds is used to prepare dyes and bio-diesel.
Jatropha seeds take 3-4 months to mature. The oblong black seeds are highly toxic and are roasted before they are handled. They are then cleaned and the oil is extracted. The oil obtained is non-edible and is used to manufacture bio-diesel – diesel that is mixed with 5-10% jatropha oil. Besides this, the latex obtained from the bark contains an alkaloid that kills cancer cells. Jatropha root is useful in treating snakebites.

domain: biology


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The latest short from Josh Banks is a cryptic mystery centring on an unsuspecting woman who discovers a mask that alters her future. It’s a brilliantly executed film that’s crafted with a strong attention to detail. Banks is consistently teasing the audience with subtle breadcrumbs that allude his protagonist’s fate – certainly a short to check out more than once. Banks spoke to Twelve Cabins below, revealing his precise approach to storytelling and the important creative decisions behind the design of his fate-altering mask.
What drew you to tell this story about a mysterious mask?
Whether it’s a trip through the woods to Grandma’s house or our curiosity at just where that White Rabbit is hurrying off to, we learn the most about ourselves when we’re faced with the extra-ordinary as it intrudes upon our “ordinary” lives. As a storyteller, I’m drawn to stories that explore aspects of the human experience through the lens of the weird. And believe me, it’s all weird when you look closely enough at it. After all, we are stuck to a rock that’s spinning wildly through an ever-expanding vacuum of nothingness while tethered to a massive nuclear fusion reaction, and that’s what we perceive as “ordinary.” Our very existence is the other-worldly, and exploring that aspect of ourselves is who we are. This story is our species’ story: addiction and attraction to the void; not recognizing ourselves due to the masks we can’t help but wear; and the potential hope for the future, if only we can avoid repeating mistakes of the past.
I really enjoyed the enigmatic nature of the film, were you always keen on keeping certain aspects of the narrative withheld from the audience?
I love films that leave a trail of breadcrumbs for careful viewers to explore and piece together, both during the initial viewing and then later through moment-by-moment re-viewings. As an audience member, I find it’s exciting to see the metaphorical narratives that were hinted at spring to life as the story-line pieces start to fall into place. As a director, planting those seeds that eventually get discovered and translated by an audience’s experience is a huge part of my love of directing. Nothing is accidental. It’s all been carefully planned out for the audience to experience and explore. The answers are there. As with all things, we see only when we are willing to look, and that’s where we find the magic.
There’s a strong sense of tension after she first discovers the mask, how did you find creating that during production?
I was incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Nate Spicer as my Director of Photography. He and I share a love of the language of cinematography. He understands that the camera isn’t just something to capture the action within the frame, but that it can tell the story through its movement and its energy as much as its focus and framing. To me, the camera is a character in the story. How you get from moment to moment and what you don’t show is as important as what you do. The camera is a dance partner with the actors, the lighting and the set. I was thrilled to work with Nate because he could hear the music. Our lead, who is also my wife, Rachel Annette Helson brought everything to life. A story like ours brings unique acting challenges, and she elevated everything to the next level!
When it came to the mask itself, how did you want it to look?
I’m so glad you asked this. The look of the mask is one of the things in M that I’m most proud of. The first shot of the mask is the brightest thing in the film. The entire film is white balanced off of it so every other thing in the film is not quite as bright as that first moment it appears. This gives it an otherworldly glow that makes the rest of the world feel muted by comparison. I wanted it to look flawlessly smooth and bright the first moment you see it, but only upon careful inspection do you notice that it’s got very sharp edges and as the film progresses, it has small cracks in it and doesn’t shine as bright. Similarly, the eyes of the mask are colour graded to be the deepest black in the film, the darkness of the void.
Who contributed to the score? It has such a driving presence in creating the unsettling atmosphere of the film.
Richard P. John a Wales-based composer, created the entire original score for M. Our film only has one spoken word of dialogue, so I needed a composer that could tell a story entirely through music. I wanted the audience to know what was happening in the film even if they couldn’t see the screen. Richard’s ability to tell a story musically was a perfect match.
It’s the question we ask all our filmmakers. What is it that attracts you to the horror genre as a director?
I appreciate the freedom with which horror allows a director to explore the human experience. I’m not tied to a particular time, reality or world. I can explore the depths and heights of stories with absolutely no restrictions as to where that exploration leads. Horror is a genre where the audience cheerfully embraces the weirdness of the universe with an open mind.
What will you be working on next?
I’m working on two new horror features, one that’s a psychological horror and one that’s based on Lovecraftian horror. I’m also working on a steampunk IP that I’m currently turning into a graphic novel. If anyone wants to keep up with my future work, I will be posting updates about releases on my website, www.joshbanks.net.


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Conditions list medically reviewed by George Krucik, MD, MBA
Common colds and influenza are contagious infections that affect the respiratory system. Both are airborne illnesses, spread through coughing and sneezing. Shared…
Swine flu, or H1N1, is highly contagious and can spread quickly from person to person. A simple sneeze may cause thousands of germs to spread through the air.
If left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS. AIDS weakens your immune system to the point where it can no longer fight off disease and infection. Learn more.
Infectious mononucleosis, or mono, refers to a group of symptoms usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
Lyme disease is an infectious disease that's transmitted to humans through tick bites. Learn how Lyme disease is diagnosed and treated, and learn how to prevent tick…
Legionnaires' disease is a severe type of pneumonia, or lung infection. Learn about its symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention.
Histoplasmosis is a type of lung infection. It is caused by inhaling fungal spores. Spores are found in soil and in the droppings of bats and birds.
Brucellosis is a disease caused by bacteria from the genus Brucella. Learn more about how this condition is spread, symptoms, and treatment.
Weil's disease is a severe form of the bacterial infection leptospirosis. Learn how to lower your risk of getting this potentially life-threatening illness.
Valley fever is an infection caused by the Coccidioides fungus. Learn about valley fever symptoms, causes, treatment, prevention, and more.
This feature is for informational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose. Please consult a healthcare professional if you have health concerns.


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AUSTRALIA (CBS) Thousands took the streets of a regional Australian town on Saturday to celebrate the life and music of late musician Elvis Presley.
Participants donned wigs and bejewelled jumpsuits to dance down the main street of Parkes, Australia while others joined the parade in vintage cars.
For first-time festival attendee, Victor Dunstan, the festival was a chance to relive the music.
“It’s just amazing stuff all around, just bringing people together to remember him,” he told Reuters.
The Parkes Elvis Festival is in its 29th year and attracts close to 25,000 to the town some 222 miles west of Sydney.
The festival was cancelled in 2021 and delayed from January to April in 2022 due to COVID-19 concerns, and the Parkes Shire Mayor, Ken Keith, was uncertain how that would impact the celebration.
“We didn’t know how things would go post COVID but people were so excited to get away from COVID and go and celebrate the king’s wonderful music and they’ve turned up in droves here at Parkes this year.”
This years’ festivities closes on Sunday after five days of frivolities and Elvis-inspired events.


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I picked this up on Amazon for less than $10. All these years of wrestling paint bottles open, just got easy.It works on all but the large caliber paint bottles.
That’s pretty cool, the real question is will it open up a bottle of ModelMasters enamel that’s welded itsself shut. I own one bottle of light gull gray I only use for dry brushing. It’s always a chore to get the lid off.

domain: hobby