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Mohammed Saleem, 75, was stabbed three times and stamped on in the senseless attack as he returned from evening prayers three months ago.
As police quizzed a Ukrainian over the killing, counter terrorist detectives launched a separate inquiry to discover whether the suspect – along with a potential accomplice – were ‘lone wolves’ who have links to far-right terrorist groups.
The engineering students, aged 22 and 25, on work placements at a high-tech computer company, were initially held last week by detectives investigating explosions near three mosques across the West Midlands.
Now the 25-year-old has also been arrested in connection with the investigation into the murder of Mr Saleem as part of the on-going counter terrorism operation into the blasts.
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk...
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reply to post by Metaphysique
You know, with all the strangeness and information that is out there, I am surprised that even my off the cuff remark might be close to reality.
Strange days we live in, eh?
I'll leave MK-Ultra1.0 - 3.0 for another day...


No matter the urban pressures in Asia and Pacific, governments and their partners must provide spaces for communities to play and interact.
Play is fundamental to human civilization. There is strong evidence that communities that have opportunities to play together, experience social and economic progress.
Yet with the huge pressure to provide space for living, working, and public infrastructure, public spaces—including parks and community squares—have largely disappeared from the cities of Asia and the Pacific.
As urban populations grow in the region, what can governments and their partners do to ensure urban spaces provide communities with the opportunity to play and interact? Here are three observations from across the globe that demonstrate the value of investing in spaces for citizens to play.
First, play improves health and builds life skills.
Physical inactivity is a looming threat to health, well-being, and quality of life. A 2017 ADB Institute study found that weight issues including obesity cost Asian countries 0.78% of their annual GDP, or $166 billion. The study calls for urban planners to consider building parks and amenities that encourage physical activity, since play and sport build key life skills and improve mental health.
Recognizing this, a project spearheaded by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in collaboration with the Philippine Muay Thai Association transformed a dilapidated community space in Malabon city in Metro Manila into a multipurpose sporting ground, allowing youth to play basketball and practice muay thai. This entire project was led by the community itself.
Second, play increases social inclusion.
In 2005, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) began to acknowledge the potential impact of sports on everything from youth employability, violence prevention and gender equality, to education and health. Through innovative public-private partnership models, IDB invested in a project, Paving the Way for the World Cup and the Olympic Games: Alliance for Sports and Development, with private sponsors (FC Barcelona, National Basketball Association, Visa, and Colgate), the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, and community organizations.
Rio’s Secretariat of Sports for Development assumed the lead role, but the alliance also coordinates with other sector secretariats like Education, Housing, and Health.
The alliance’s goal was to involve 4,000 disadvantaged children and youth in Rio’s favelas in sports programs. This model highlights the potential to bring together diverse partners to fuel innovation.
The leadership of a multilateral development bank also translates into policy influence and connections to key government agencies. The strong focus on monitoring and evaluation provides further scope for future expansion.
Third, play and sport enhancing employability.
Sport-based approaches to employment training, entrepreneurship, and enterprise have emerged. These need to take account of opportunities within the broader economy to maximize their potential.
A good case in point is the work undertaken by a civil society organization in India, Magic Bus, which engages children and youth from slums in sports to impart knowledge in leadership. It supports participants after they have completed the program until they are connected to livelihood and vocational opportunities.
ADB has provided platforms for organizations like Right To Play and the Special Olympics to share their knowledge on the role that sport plays in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. These initiatives demonstrate that there is a willingness to rethink the way in which multilateral development banks contribute to how cities are designed. However, much more will need to be done to encourage physical activity in cities – not only through sport and play but also by creating a conducive environment for pedestrians and cycling commuters.
So, as ADB is finalizing its Livable Cities 2019-2024 Operational Priority Plan, how can its urban development operations make a positive contribution to create cities where there is space for sport and play?
Involving young people in the design and implementation of urban projects will be crucial. Through collaboration with initiatives such as the Youth and Sport Task Force led by UNESCO, young leaders have initiated crowdfunding initiatives like Crowd Sukan that mobilizes communities to crowdsource funds to provide sporting infrastructure based on the needs of the communities. Moreover, organizations like ADB can adopt the concept of “play champions” who can facilitate a healthy dialogue on the importance of play in our everyday lives.
Play is something that provides us a retreat from everyday hardships and brings happiness. It should be something that everyone has access to – if only there are the suitable spaces.


Design of Energy-saving and Vibration Damping Knee Joint of Humanoid RobotBased on Bionic Principles
CHEN Bing1, LUO Minzhou1,2, SUN Shaoming2, WANG Meiling1, WANG Kun1
1. Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China;
2. Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Hefei Institute of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Science, Changzhou 213164, China
陈兵, 骆敏舟, 孙少明, 王美玲, 王琨. 基于仿生原理的节能减振类人机器人膝关节的设计[J]. 机器人, 2014, 36(2): 218-223.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1218.2014.00218.
CHEN Bing, LUO Minzhou, SUN Shaoming, WANG Meiling, WANG Kun. Design of Energy-saving and Vibration Damping Knee Joint of Humanoid RobotBased on Bionic Principles. ROBOT, 2014, 36(2): 218-223. DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1218.2014.00218.
A bionic knee joint of humanoid robot is designed through the study of human's knee joint. Imitating the structure of ACL, PCL (anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments) and meniscus of human's knee joint, an energy-saving and vibration damping structure is designed for robot's knee joint, which lowers the peak driving torque at the moving period, reduces the impact of the knee joint at the plantar contact phase, increases the stiffness of the knee and improves the stability of the walking. Optotrak Certus three-dimensional dynamic measurement system of NDI company is used to measure the angle-time discrete sequence of human body's each joint movement, and the walking gait curves of the robot are fitted by the least squares method. Finally, the walk simulation of the robot is carried out with its virtual prototype established in ADAMS, the results on flat terrain verifies the validity and feasibility of the design.
 Hamon A, Aoustin Y. Study of different structures of the knee joint for a planar bipedal robot[C]//IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots. Piscataway, USA: IEEE, 2009: 113-120. 杨小兵, 袁晓华, 房鹤, 等.美军化学防护服防护因数测试用机器人最新研究进展[J].中国个体防护装备, 2011 (1):37-40.Yang X B, Yuan X H, Fang H, et al. Recent development of test method of United States Army chemical protective clothing protective factor test[J]. China Personal Protective Equipment, 2011(1): 37-40. Okita S Y, Ng-Thow-Hing V, Sarvadevabhatla R. Learning together: ASIMO developing an interactive learning partnership with children[C]//18th IEEE International Workshop on Robot and Human Interactive Communication. Piscataway, USA: IEEE, 2009: 1125-1130. Kim J H, Kim J Y, Oh J H. Weight-adaptive walking of the passenger-carrying biped robot, HUBO FX-1[C]//IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots. Piscataway, USA: IEEE, 2010: 33-39. Collins S, Ruina A, Tedrake R, et al. Efficient bipedal robots based on passive-dynamic walkers[J]. Science, 2005, 307(5712): 1082-1085.  van Oort G, Carloni R, Borgerink D J, et al. An energy efficient knee locking mechanism for a dynamically walking robot[C]//IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation. Piscataway, USA: IEEE, 2011: 2003-2008. Ikegami Y, Nagai K, Loureiro R C V, et al. Design of redundant drive joint with adjustable stiffness and damping mechanism to improve joint admittance[C]//IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics. Piscataway, USA: IEEE, 2009: 202-210. 段相林, 郭炳冉, 辜清.人体组织学与解剖学[M].4版.北京:高等教育出版社, 2006:10-100.Duan X L, Guo B R, Gu Q. Human histology and anatomy[M]. 4th ed. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2006: 10-100. 吕莎, 孙倩, 张有青.膝关节镜术后护理及功能锻炼体会[J].医学信息, 2012, 25(10):176-177.Lü S, Sun Q, Zhang Y Q. The arthroscopic surgery nursing and functional exercise[J]. Medical Information, 2012, 25(10): 176-177. Abernethy B, Mackinnon L T, Kippers V, et al. The biophysical foundations of human movement[M]. Champaign, USA: Human Kinetics Publishers, 2004: 10-100. Tsetserukou D, Kawakami N, Tachi S. Vibration damping control of robot arm intended for service application in human environment[C]//IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots. Piscataway, USA: IEEE, 2008: 441-446. Laffranchi M, Chen L, Tsagarakis N G, et al. The role of physical damping in compliant actuation systems[C]//IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems. Piscataway, USA: IEEE, 2012: 3079-3085.


About Columbus Castings
America's Premier Steel Foundry
Columbus Castings is the premier American manufacturer of value-engineered complex steel castings for a wide range of markets and applications. Freight railcar builders, passenger car builders, mining and construction equipment manufacturers, and custom machinery OEM's are just a few examples of the businesses that rely on Columbus Castings for product, quality, technical expertise, and exceptional customer service.
With over 89 acres, including 23 acres under roof, Columbus Castings facilities are impressive. We offer arc melt furnaces capable of melting over 70 tons of steel combined. Nearly all buildings are serviced by one or more overhead cranes to move product efficiently through each process step. We also offer access to class 1 railroads for low cost transportation of heavy components directly to you facility.


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Noida: Marwah Films And Video Production a 23 years old organization of Sandeep Marwah which has given wonderful opportunities to 2300 young enthusiastic film makers to direct short films at the cost of the company.
Sandeep Marwah has created a world record of producing largest number of short films with 2300 directors and 10,000 artist and technicians from all over the World. This is the biggest private library of any single film producer of the World.
Another film to the credit of Marwah when renowned director from Mumbai Akbar Hussain directed another short film OSCAR with the students of Asian School of Media Studies and first screening was organized in the campus.
The formal launching of the film OSCAR will soon take place. The film OSCAR is the extension of 7 times Oscar winning film Slum Dog Millionaire directed by renowned international director David Bowley.

domain: artistic


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cried Dorothy, who was sorry for the poor man; so she ran back to the buggy and took from her suit-case a pretty blue ribbon
On her head, among her black hair--her own, with no false additions--was a little wreath of pansies, and a bouquet of the same in the black ribbon
of her sash among white lace.
So that those unlucky minutes which had been spent in changing the ribbons
, had prevented the lovers from meeting at this time;--a most unfortunate accident, from which my fair readers will not fail to draw a very wholesome lesson.
He took the ribbon
out of the box, smiled at it scornfully, then with a pair of scissors cut out a piece from the palm of the glove.
Jo's cheeks were as red as her ribbon
, and she wondered what he thought of her, but she didn't care, for in a minute she found herself walking away arm in arm with her Professor, feeling as if the sun had suddenly burst out with uncommon brilliancy, that the world was all right again, and that one thoroughly happy woman was paddling through the wet that day.
By an unlucky slip, however, a fluttering fragment of the ribbon
hung out of one of her sleeves, just as she was finishing, and caught Miss Ophelia's attention.
And she spread out her arms to show her short-waisted, lace-trimmed, dainty gray dress, girdled with a broad ribbon
just below the breast.
The knots of blue ribbons
appeared like violated flowers.
But I shall want the ribbon
directly so it had better go to Hartfieldat least the ribbon
With his eyes strained on the ribbon
attached to the pigeon, by that fluttering bit of color he marked his fall.
It is stylish to pin a piece of ribbon
on your coat the same colour as your chum wears in her hair.
This time it was a small package, wrapped in tissue paper and tied with ribbon
I venture, therefore, to propose that a small bell be procured, and attached by a ribbon
round the neck of the Cat.
Well, she followed the ribbon
to a place where it became a bridge over a dry puddle into which another fairy had fallen and been unable to climb out.
Shutters were up along almost the whole line of the house; the great hall-door was unbarred after much ringing of the bell; an individual in ribbons
was seen flitting up the black oak stair, as Horrocks at length admitted the heir of Queen's Crawley and his bride into the halls of their fathers.


World Ocean’s Day keynote address delivered by Ambassador Barry Faure
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Blue Economy, Ambassador Barry Faure,was today invited by the Head of the Delegation of the European Union, Ambassador Vincent Degert, to deliver a keynote address on World Ocean’s Day. The address was delivered virtually during a Webinar themed ‘Innovative actions for the Sustainable Conservation of the Marine Resources’.
Ambassador Faure began his address in stating that “Humanity’s fate has always been intricately tied to that of the ocean. Seychelles has always attached great importance to the ocean as our people have a direct dependence on the ocean resources for their identity, sustenance and livelihood. Both Tourism and Fisheries, our traditional economic pillars, have thrived on the ocean.
“But, with Tourism brought to its knees in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are forced to give greater attention to the ocean in ways which will maximize greater benefits and minimize the risks to the ocean – an ocean which is already under pressure from overfishing, illegal fishing, threats to maritime safety, and the impacts of climate change.
“As responsible members of the global community, it is incumbent upon us to take bold and innovative actions to coordinate our actions to promote, develop and implement a sustainable conservation of the ocean and its marine resources. Whether it is within national jurisdictions, the borders beyond national jurisdictions or on and below the sea bed. We need to be coherent in our actions”, added Ambassador Faure.
In his address, he also emphasized on how Seychelles has shown the world that it is possible to achieve a critical balance between marine conservation and development, especially in actively promoting the Blue Economy Concept and at the same time “continue to exert our role as custodians of the marine ecosystem.”
“Seychelles has banked on innovation, with the Seychelles Debt-for-Nature Swap and the Seychelles Blue Bonds, being two unique financing mechanisms to drive our Blue Economy since its naissance.
“It is only through finding the exact balance between economic growth and protection of our marine environment that we can hope to truly save our oceans. Bridging the gap between the needs of our people and clean and sustainable oceans should therefore be the commitment of our Governments. As the ocean has been instrumental in our sustenance and growth, we should now strive to ensure its preservation”, added Ambassador Faure in his concluding remarks.
For the full speech, please view the link below:


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Larry Norton: The View from Victoria Falls Hotel
Painting of the view from Victoria Falls Hotel (where his gallery is situated) by our famous “artist in residence” Larry Norton. Larry has been back in his home country for several years now and is an active member of the community, and the recently formed “Friend of Victoria Falls”
Although originals are not to everybody’s wallet, prints of his incredible paintings are available at his website!
'View from The Victoria Falls Hotel' Oil on Canvas - 30 x 40 Early morning below the Victoria Falls Hotel, in the dry season. Haze obscures and softens receding ridges and bush. Deep in the Batoka Gorges runs the great Zambezi River. The graceful arc of the bridge spans the chasm between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Drenched with light, spray rises from the Victoria Falls | Copyright Larry Norton


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Please use our Amazon.com widget on the right, to purchase any of the books
recommended here. Thank you.
I don’t know if you’re familiar with the researcher/author Brene Brown. If you aren’t, you might want to be. Here is video of her and she has several books that address relationship, connection and the all important relationship with ourselves. I particularly liked her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, and she has many more if you look her up on Amazon.com. You won’t be sorry. — Submitted by Kim Olver
Dr. Nancy Buck

domain: literature


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Some information is missing or invalid below.
Give your accessories a beautiful place to hang with this lovely jewelry stand.
- Dimensions: 15"H x 5"W x 5"D
- Hooks: 16
- Storage base
- Design: scroll tree
- Metal: copper tone
Not appropriate for children 14 years old and younger.


WASHINGTON – At the end of last year, the US Army had almost completed the necessary tests to integrate a system to protect its fleet of Bradley combat vehicles, but the service is still not looking for money to buy the Iron Fist in its next budget.
The military has faced technical problems and funding gaps in its efforts to set up an active defense system for Bradley’s infantry fighting vehicle. Brig. Gen. Glenn Dean, executive director of the army’s ground combat systems program, told Defense News in the fall that Iron Fist was nearing completion of most of the required tests.
According to the documents justifying the 2023 budget, the army planned to complete testing and integration work by the end of fiscal year 22, but the documents did not provide for further scheduling or funding.
“Essentially, we’re getting to the point where we’re just waiting for resources provided by the military or Congress to proceed with supplies,” Dean said.
The Bradley Iron Fist Light Decoupled, or IF-LD, program received additional funding from Congress for fiscal year 22 – a total of $ 16 million – to continue the second round of testing and complete documentation to support the purchase of IF-LD systems worth one brigade.
“No funds have been identified so far for the purchase of IF-LD systems,” the army’s ground combat systems confirmed.
An army spokesman also told Defense News in a statement that the service “will review the data from the IF-LD test and look for opportunities to fund this requirement in the future.”
Iron Fist was developed by IMI Systems. The Israeli company Elbit Systems, which acquired IMI, has partnered with US firm General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems to integrate the system to serve as Bradley’s temporary active protection system.
The system is designed to provide Bradley with protection from rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank guided missiles and other threats. The Army Oversight Board in November 2018 chose to send a brigade by the end of the fourth quarter of the 20th financial year.
Despite the council’s decision, Bradley was unable to deliver enough power to the launch system, and Iron Fist faced a loss of ammunition during testing. These problems delayed the program by about a year.
In earlier tests, “we had some issues with Iron Fist, mostly maturity issues, and it’s focused on power in the Iron Fist system itself and an ignition train problem in the interceptor,” Tim Neeves, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, senior director. on business development, he told Defense News last fall.
Based on these tests, Neeves said the company is working with the military to find a solution that includes domestic investment to continue development and testing. The company has been working on this solution for the past 18 months.
“We’ve come to the point where we’ve demonstrated that we’ve fixed these issues, and we’ve got a significant level of maturity and demonstration of performance within the system,” Neeves said. He explained that the system faced about 400 threats, including single and double warheads, anti-tank guided missiles, rocket-propelled grenades and recoilless rifles.
In 2016, the military determined that it needed a temporary active defense system for Abrams tanks, Stryker combat vehicles and Bradley vehicles, so the service decided to quickly assess ready-made APS systems to meet this urgent need.
The military has already placed the APS tanks developed by Rafael Trophy on Abrams tanks. The troops have been using those of the European theater for more than a year.
But the service has also run into problems finding an effective system that works for Stryker, and has yet to decide on the way forward.
Senator Gary Peters, D-Mich., Recently cited the effective use of Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems against Russian tanks and armored vehicles in Ukraine. “The wide range of affordable, easy-to-manage ATGMs has certainly changed the calculation of battlefield armor,” he said on May 5th during a hearing on the army’s position on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“Other countries around the world, some of our allies, have taken the decision and are putting it on their armored vehicles in a rather aggressive way,” Peters told Active Defense Systems. “The United States seems to be somewhat reluctant, except for a small number of our Abrams tanks that have the systems. For example, the military does not appear to have a plan to test and use defense systems for the entire fleet of Strykers, for example, or other armored vehicles.
Secretary of War Christine Warmouth said the service was closely monitoring the war in Ukraine and “is certainly very concerned about the threats to our tanks.”
“I think the defense systems we have on our Abrams, on our Strikers, are pretty good,” she said, adding that she was ready to look in more detail at the army’s next steps. “There is a balance between how quickly we can upgrade some of our enduring platforms, such as Stryker, while upgrading.
The military is working on a vehicle protection package, according to the budget justification documents for fiscal year 23, which will create various options through a base kit or VBK, to “develop configurable vehicle survival kits to mitigate existing gaps in protection will allow future insertion technologies to respond to evolving threats and minimize the impact on current capabilities hosted on the Army’s ground combat and tactical vehicle platforms.
The military held a rodeo with suppliers in 2021 for the possibility of a laser warning for the system. He chose Danbury Mission Technologies’ AN / VVR-4 laser detection kit in February. The company was part of Collins Aerospace, but was separated during the merger of United Technologies Corporation and Raytheon.
The laser warning capability is the first of its kind to be integrated with the army’s common interface and controller, which Lockheed Martin developed after winning the contract in February.
The integration of the main set is to take place in the 24th year of the financial year in Bradley, Abrams, Stryker and armored multi-purpose vehicles. The award of a public procurement contract will take place in the second quarter of fiscal year 23, according to budget documents.
Survival improvements will be included in the opportunities in the 26th financial year, with a decision on public procurement for protection against threats attacking from above – such as drones – in the second quarter of the 24th financial year, and an integration decision on the ability to kill smoothly in the first quarter of fiscal year 27. , according to the documents.
The trade study for the vehicle protection package is ongoing and is expected to be completed in the middle of the 23rd financial year, the budget documents say.
Jen Judson is an award-winning journalist covering Land News for Defense News. She has also worked for Politico and Inside Defense. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in arts from Kenyon College.


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Twelve young poets were given the opportunity to develop their writing and critical skills through the annual Tower Poetry Summer School at Christ Church between the 26th and 29th of August. The residential course included exciting and challenging workshops run by experienced tutors and readings by guest poets as well as visits to places of literary interest in Oxford.
Above: David Morley, Professor of Creative Writing, National Teaching Fellow and Director for The Warwick Writing Programme & The Warwick Prize for Writing at the University of Warwick, held participants at the 2008 Tower Poetry Summer School in rapt attention during his reading which included excerpts from The Invisible Kings. The tutors, Jane Draycott and Frances Leviston, plus Peter McDonald, Director of Tower Poetry, were amongst those who thoroughly enjoyed the evening. For further details see David's blog on http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/morleyd/ or the Tower Poetry group on Facebook. Photo: Ralph Williamson
For information about the Tower Poetry Prizes and Summer Schools go to:
Registered Charity Number: 1143423

domain: hobby


Weichai Power works in four different sectors: powertrain ( engines, transmissions and axles ), vehicle engines, hydraulic products and auto parts.Who makes Weichai engines?
Weichai (Chongqing) Automotive Co., Ltd. (潍柴（重庆）汽车有限公司), which is wholly owned by Weichai Power Co., Ltd. since 2012. Weichai Power’s acquired, in 2009, a French company which designs and manufactures marine engines named Société Internationale des Moteurs Baudouin.Why Weichai Power wins the third China Quality Award?
Big News | Weichai Power Wins the Fir... On the award ceremony of third China Quality Award held on November 3, Weichai Power won the “China Quality Award” relying on “WOS Quality Management Process” and Wang Yong, the State Councilor issued the award to Tan Xuguang, the chairman of Weichai Power.How many employees does Weichai have?
Founded in 1946, Weichai has over 95,000 employees worldwide.Weichai ranks the 83th among China’s top 500 enterprises. Because of faith, we challenge the cold and the heat Cross the Kunlun Mountains in the restricted area of life Because of faith, we are firm To climb the peak of global power


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On International Waste Pickers’ Day, Report Shows that Cities that Partner with Informal Recyclers Create Good Jobs, Help the Climate, and Save Money
Working with Waste Pickers is Essential to an Inclusive Economic Recovery
01 March 2021 - The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about devastating economic turmoil across the globe. Consequently, the agendas of many governments are currently centered on economic recovery, job creation, and poverty alleviation. A new report by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), shows how government investment into zero waste systems presents an opportunity for economic recovery and social justice.
The report highlights that through forging partnerships with informal recyclers using dedicated economic recovery funds, governments can make a transition to zero waste city systems. Based on research from countries in the global south such as South Africa, Brazil, India, and China, this report finds that inclusive zero-waste cities have led to greater economic justice for people doing essential work, cost-saving for cities and better environmental outcomes.
It also uncovers the extent to which informal recyclers have become the cornerstone of recycling in Global South cities. Statistics show that in South Africa, waste pickers recover between 80 to 90% of the post-consumption packaging and paper. In Brazil, the National Waste Pickers Movement (MNCR) is responsible for collecting 90% of all material recycled in the country. Moreover, in India it is estimated that waste pickers recycle 54% of all recycled glass, 34-45% of all recycled plastic, and 28-50% of all recycled cardboard and mixed paper.
Cecilia Allen, GAIA’s global projects advisor and author of the report, said:
“Governments have an opportunity to build from waste pickers’ experience, by supporting and investing in their inclusion into municipal waste management systems. This will not only improve the lives of the poorest but will also help governments find a way out of waste disposal systems, which present a never-ending headache of high costs and environmental impacts.”
The report demonstrates that by local governments recognising the essential role informal recyclers already play and partnering with them, they can collaboratively work to create local jobs and provide better recycling and composting services. Based on data from several cities that contract with waste pickers, the average number of jobs created by inclusive waste management systems is 321 jobs per 10,000 tonnes per year of recyclables.
Niven Reddy, GAIA’s African regional coordinator, added:
“In South Africa, municipalities already benefit from the fact that waste pickers in the country are organised and provide an essential service of diverting waste materials from landfill. Because municipalities do not formally recognize their work, the benefits to the climate and municipal landfill space all too often goes unseen. Municipalities should be looking at rewarding these efforts by improving working conditions of waste pickers-- providing them with a space to sort, collect and sell their recyclable materials. Infrastructure development should be prioritised towards material recovery facilities that integrate waste pickers rather than incineration facilities that will displace them.”
Simon Mbata, SAWPA (South African Waste Pickers Association) national coordinator:
“Research has shown that waste pickers play an important role in waste management, in the recycling economy, alleviating poverty and mitigating emissions. We are yet to see meaningful support towards waste pickers by both government and the private sector. Policies at local level are not favourable to waste pickers and their work.”
For more information, please contact:
GAIA Africa Communications Officer - firstname.lastname@example.org
GAIA is a worldwide alliance of more than 800 grassroots groups, non-governmental organisations, and individuals in over 90 countries. The organisation works to catalyse a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution.

domain: sociology


Lovell has started work on a £22million house building programme for River Clyde Homes.
Three sites in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, are being developed to provide 195 new dwellings.
This is the first project in a four-year framework agreement between the construction firm and the housing association.
Lovell, which has an office at the Glasgow Business Park, is also working with Inverclyde Trust to create jobs for local people and contracting opportunities for local businesses.
Alan Taylor, regional director for Lovell, promised community engagement would be an important part of the building process.
He said: "We are delighted to be working on these new homes, the first to be built through our framework agreement with River Clyde Homes.
"We'll be working closely with the housing association and the local community throughout the construction of the new housing."
Roy Steel, chair of River Clyde Homes, said: "We are undertaking one of the biggest house-building programmes in Scotland with the aim of bringing quality housing for our tenants which meets their aspirations.
"Work is under way and it's exciting to see the development plans come to fruition."
Two other contractors have also been chosen to work with River Clyde Homes on its new-build programme.


Can’t get enough Machine Head? Literally foaming at the mouth to hear some new material? Well today’s your lucky day!
Machine Head have released a new track entitled “Locust”. According to the artwork attached to the video this is only an advanced mix, so the song may undergo a few changes between now and the album release, but it’s sounding pretty damn good so far! It’s also now available for purchase via Itunes
Check it out and let us know what you think!
[youtube id=”2jGZJxnJk-4″ width=”600″ height=”350″]


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OK look, everyone is busy compiling their “best of 2019” lists right now (assuming they haven’t done so already), and yours truly is still lagging on the subject a bit. I admit it. But hey, it’ll happen, I promise.
In the meantime, let’s take a quick look forward to some of the stuff that we know is happening in the coming year, as we count down the 8 releases we’re absolutely buzzing for in 2020!
#8: FansToys Thomas
FansToys have quite the slate on the go right now, huh? As is usually the case they’ve announced a whole raft of different characters, including no less than two separate combiner teams and some insane projects like their as-yet-unnamed Fortress Maximus. I’m also really looking forward to the likes of Sheridan and Iceman, both of which are on the near horizon, but for my money it’s FansToys Thomas that really looks exciting right now. It’s not just that we’re long overdue an attempt at a Masterpiece-styled Astrotrain (although boy, are we), the toy itself looks really superb.
That robot mode is *chef’s kiss* levels of cartoon accurate, whilst both the alt’ modes look on point and there’s even some fun to be had with the train track accessory that’s included.
My only hope for this guy is that FT manage to deliver a triple changer that isn’t so mind-numbingly hideous to transform that you end up wanting to leave the thing in robot mode the whole time. Some of their recent designs have been pretty complex in how they convert, so this is going to be an interesting one to see. Fingers crossed though as it looks amazing from the photos we’ve all seen so far, and here’s also hoping that Berserk, their attempt at a Blitzwing is finally not too far behind!
#7: Unique Toys Dragoon
Whether you loved or hated The Last Knight, it seems most people can at least agree that the design for Megatron in that film was pretty swish. Certainly a huge departure from what we’d seen of the character before, but also a really sleek design with a nifty transformation in its own right. Well, after similar efforts such as their Peru Kill and Challenger were well-received, Unique Toys are back to release this big guy, which looks to realise that character design in stunning form.
Oh, and I say “big guy” with a lot of conviction – he seems to be absolutely huge from the comparisons we’ve seen thus far! Equally it’s all shaping up to look like UT have delivered another surprisingly screen-accurate ‘bot with an intriguing transformation scheme. Their recent efforts have all been great fun so here’s hoping they keep that momentum and knock this out out of the park.
#6: Fans Hobby Athena
Fans Hobby have some great things going on right now. They’ve been on fire with recent projects such as Double Evil and God Armor, carving out a relative niche by producing some epic 3PMP representations of Masterforce characters. From their upcoming 2020 offerings there’s no doubt for me that it’s Athena that has caught my eye the most, as they promise to bring us the first Masterpiece-styled Minerva! And does she look epic!
The photos they’ve shown off so far boast a super-articulated robot form, and the car mode looks absolutely to die for. Then there’s the fact that we know we can count on Fans Hobby to produce well-made and above all *fun* toys that leave us feeling a lot of confidence in this release. Can’t wait to see more!
#5: KFC Junkions
This is likely one of those projects that people may have forgotten about, but KFC toys first teased the idea of producing a set of Junkions aaaages ago. Of course they’ve already released Crash Hog (their Wreck Gar) and fellow Junkion, Dumpyard, but these four releases (Castoff, Dregs, Gunker and Scraps) would be the crowning glory to complete the set.
Now sure, you may be sitting here thinking “does anyone really need a set of up to six Masterpiece-styled Junkions?”, and to be fair it’s a very good question to ask! But hey, when they look as adorable as this lot then it’s hard to not be at least a little excited! My only hope is that KFC refine the design a little to improve on that annoying handlebar transformation from the first two figures, which is something they have claimed will happen. Otherwise, bring them on!
#4: X-Transbots Monolith
I’m pretty sure I’ve spent more than enough time banging on about how excited I am to complete this team already, and even did a whole article about the various options for 3PMP Stunticons already! Still, with final team member Gravestone already landing in many collectors hands, we’re one step closer to being able to assemble the full Big Man. And boy… I cannot wait.
You see, despite Gravestone rounding off the roster, the final release will be in April (or thereabouts), when his trailer section will enable us to combine them all into Monolith. It feels like a bit of a wait at this stage, but the design itself seems to be worth it so we’ll just have to be patient a little longer! As well as the combined form, I’m really intrigued by the base mode the trailer can transform into. Should be a lot of fun!
#3: TakaraTomy MP-48 Lio Convoy
The first official toy on our list and it looks like a doozy. It’s bizarre to think that other than a black Nemesis-style repaint of the MP-44 mould and the “Burning Convoy” repaint of Optimus Primal , this guy is currently the only confirmed upcoming Masterpiece toy on the roster (not to mention the only new design!). Oh, and it’s a Beast Wars character… from the Japanese continuity no less! Fortunately it looks really stellar and I for one cannot wait to see it come to fruition.
LOVE that MP Lio Convoy is the same size as Encore Big Convoy. They look great together! Can’t wait for this. pic.twitter.com/7EnGfC6Mij
— Sixo (@SixoTF) December 31, 2019
The idea of a fully cartoon-accurate Lio Convoy has been one that a lot of fans have been clamouring over for years, and MP-48 looks like it’ll definitely deliver on that score. The beast mode might be a bit out there for some Western fans unfamiliar with the anime, but hopefully the overall design will be enough to get people excited about it. Oh, and I’m thrilled to see how he measures up versus the recent Encore Big Convoy!
Will more Masterpiece news be on the horizon soon? Logic says yes, TakaraTomy will no doubt be working on any number of projects behind the scenes, so we’ll doubtless be due an announcement or two before too long. In the meantime I’m going to keep salivating over pics of this guy until he finally drops.
#2: Toyworld Freedom Leader
Some designs just seem to capture everyone’s hearts and minds, don’t they? There’s something about the look of Optimus Prime from the Bumblebee film that just nails the character in many ways, and it’s proven so popular that seemingly any representation of the on-screen likeness in toy form proves to be a hit. So it’s perhaps no surprise that excitement for Toyworld’s upcoming attempt is at fever pitch, although it’s probably also to do with the fact that it looks like a bloody marvel!
Woof, Toyworld really knocked this one out, huh? pic.twitter.com/lUck0RO2eu
— Sixo (@SixoTF) November 20, 2019
The robot mode appears to have nailed the design in so many ways, but the fact that it also transforms is somewhat mind-boggling. Oh, and then he’s packaged with a veritable boatload of fun accessories that you just know is going to make for an enjoyable photoshoot. Yeah, I can’t wait for this.
It’ll also be very interesting to see how this unofficial transforming version shapes up next to the just-released and officially-licensed ThreeZero Optimus Prime. That figure is beyond stunning but I’m still up for this one too!
#1: ThreeZero Soundwave & Ravage
And onto the final release on our list, and the one that I’m truly the most excited for! I’ve recently started picking up a number of the 3A/ Threezero Deluxe-scale releases, including their Bumblebee, Blitzwing, and just in the last fortnight their Optimus Prime, and they’re all quite astounding. Supremely screen-accurate in a way that is hard to imagine of transforming toys, they also boast an impressive attention-to-detail in their design and superior craftsmanship in their quality and build. And now they’re going to tackle Soundwave!
So yeah, they don’t transform. I think pretty much every time I post a photo of one of them online someone will point that out as a critique, but in all honesty once you have one of these things in hand you quickly forget about why that’s even an important factor! I’ve been so enamoured with Optimus that he’s monopolised much of my attention since he arrived, and from the look of Soundwave so far he promises to be every bit as impressive. Oh hey, and he even comes with a Ravage too!
The question now is whether we’ll see more of the Bumblebee crew realised in this form. After all, there’s still potential for Shockwave, Shatter, Dropkick, Starscream, any of the Autobots… the list goes on. One things for sure though, if they keep being as stunning as this thing looks to be, I’ll keep being interested!
So, that’s our list! What are your most anticipated items for the year ahead?


text:
After receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis, the next step should be filing a mesothelioma claim. Chances are you or your loved one contracted this disease after asbestos exposure. Many industries careless exposed people to the carcinogenic substance, and now they are sick. It is important to know the steps on how to file this claim.
There are different forms of mesothelioma. The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. This cancer develops in the lining of the lungs. Also, it accounts for around 75% of all mesothelioma cases. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma often affect breathing and the thoracic cavity(chest), and they can often be taken for problems related to other diseases, such as pneumonia, flu, or even lung cancer.
Filing a Mesothelioma Claim
- Length of exposure to asbestos
- Duration of the asbestos exposure
- Health implications from asbestos
Most people have trouble pinpointing the location of the asbestos exposure. However, an experienced complex litigation attorney can help look through your history and identify possible locations. It is important to do this quickly since many states have a small window when you can file your mesothelioma claim.
Mesothelioma Claim Deadlines
Each state has its own laws, called statutes of limitations. These laws tell you how long you have to file a claim. Some states give you 365 days while others can be six years. The timeframe also depends on the type of claim. These are wrongful death or personal injury. Each claim can change the length of time of the statute of limitation.
Personal Injury Claims
Someone can file a personal injury claim after a mesothelioma diagnosis. A person needs to be directly affected by the disease. Compensation with these claims can be:
- Medical expenses incurred during diagnosis and treatment, including future treatment
- Lost wages or other income, including expected future income
- Pain and suffering experienced because of an asbestos-related disease
Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma can usually file personal injury claims in any state where you were a resident, worked, or served in the military.
Wrongful Death Claims
After a death from mesothelioma, the family can file a wrongful death claim. Family members sue to win compensation to cover:
- Loss of expected income due to the untimely death
- Medical costs
- Funeral expenses
The specific claims available to family members may vary from state to state. Discuss your claim options with us today.
The path to mesothelioma compensation may seem overwhelming. It is important to have a knowledge attorney guiding you through the entire process. We work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing until you receive compensation.
A Complex Litigation attorney like those found at The Michael Brady Lynch Firm is critical when seeking help to cover your asbestos-related expenses. Identifying when and where you were exposed to asbestos is crucial to your lawsuit. Experienced lawyers are familiar with companies that used asbestos and know which job sites had a significant amount of asbestos use. Also, they know which products contained high concentrations of the toxic mineral.
Also, consultations are completely free, confidential and have no obligation. The Michael Brady Lynch Firm has successfully represented thousands of consumers and recovered millions of dollars for their clients. Those in the industry from around the country recognize our team of attorneys as some of the most experienced and successful in the country. Our award-winning staff is also sought after for our knowledge of complex litigation, scientific evidence development, negotiation strategies and trial tactics.
Most of all, our law office is resourceful and dedicated to pursuing any compensation. Because of this, we have received a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, such as inclusion on numerous Plaintiff Steering Committees. We will take whatever legal measures are necessary when fighting for your rights to damages.

domain: law


text:
David Sprague, MD
My Specialties:Gastroenterology, Board-certified, Fellowship Trained
Affiliations:Legacy Health Partners
Dr. Sprague completed his undergraduate degree at Colorado College earning a BA in Biology. After two years of performing research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, he went on to receive his medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine and his fellowship in Gastroenterology & Hepatology at University of Colorado Denver. Dr. Sprague enjoys all aspects of gastroenterology but has a particular interest in the management of liver diseases. He is committed to providing quality, compassionate, patient-centered care.
No reviews are available at this time.

domain: medical


text:
Whether you have an old Manufacturers classic or maybe a newer program, you can take good thing about the Genesis Mini compromise to play most of the most famous video games for the past. It is a simple software that will allow one to run most of the same games you could possibly have played back in the day, but at a fraction of the price.
The Genesis Mini hack is a simple to use program that will allow you to customise your gaming system. You are able to change the size and the seem of your console’s case, set up new things on your cart and modify game requirements. There are even features that allow you to look at pictures with all your digital camera.
Want to know the best part of the Genesis Mini hack is that you are able to play fresh games that you just would have under no circumstances had to be able to play just before. You can even try out some of the best free online games and never having to shell out a dime.
The Genesis Mini compromise is made to emulate the original Sega relieve, with its 40 game titles. You can also play childish games with approximately two players. The Mini also allows you to save game files and background photos. You can even screen games in widescreen structure.
The Sega Mini is actually a fairly small game gaming system, but it can hold hundreds of 16-bit online games. Some Manufacturers 64 video games will also operated with the Mini. You can even play online games when you have a fast sega genesis mini hacked internet connection.

domain: game


text: Duriel dropped a war club for me today not too bad for a war club (but not a "godly" club by any means - I'm really beginning to dislike that term) roughly 160 damage (mid range for a WC) life leech good fire damage decent AR some other good mods req level 26 then I noticed that it had 255 durability IIRC this happens when the game gets confused and tries to make a unique when it cannot, end result is that you get a high dur rare. a somewhat unrelated result, my martyr decides to try it out against my advice and immediately kills himself with the first swing. he he. Back to the question at hand. Is there some sort of secret cabal that I haven't found that would trade decently for such an item? I assume not, but no harm done in asking.


As North Korea gets closer to being able to strike the United States with a long-range ballistic missile, there is a correlation between the former North Korean nuclear agreement delivered by president Bill Clinton and the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by president Barack Obama.
Some of America’s allies are worried the US will either strike North Korea or they will have to live with an unstable nuclear regime in Pyongyang. After President Donald Trump’s tough address to the United Nations General Assembly this month, in which he accused Iran of being a “murderous regime,” many are left wondering if Trump is foreshadowing what is to come for Iran. Observers in northeast Asia are wondering whether the US will allow Iran to go nuclear, a fear shared by Israel and Gulf state allies, as it pertains to North Korea as well.
These concerns are not misplaced – especially since Trump has said he has made a decision about whether to stay in the Iran deal or to decertify the agreement.
In 1994 the Clinton administration signed the “Agreed Framework” that would “freeze and then dismantle” North Korea’s nuclear program and promised Asian allies – specifically South Korea – that they would be “better protected.” The deal collapsed because of North Korea’s duplicity and failure to keep its commitments. This failed agreement led to North Korea acquiring a nuclear bomb and it is now coming closer to having a submarine-launched nuclear missile.
The question the US and Trump will need to ask is whether the flaws in the Agreed Framework mirror those of the current one with Iran.
In his address to the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that unless the “sunset clause” was taken out of the agreement, then Iran would become the next North Korea.
The geopolitical ramifications of the US pulling out of the Iran deal, which was agreed by all five members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, could sour diplomatic relations further with Europe, Russia and China. Iran to its credit has kept to the letter of the agreement, but what geopolitical actions has it taken since the deal took place? And will US efforts that have failed in the past to stop North Korea from attaining nuclear weapons prove any more successful with Iran?\
Iran’s young population is eager to join the international community, and this could possibly make the current and future regimes more susceptible to pressure and incentives
One ray of hope is that the Iranian population is more dynamic, educated and open than North Korea’s. Iran’s young population is also eager to join the international community, and this could possibly make the current and future regimes more susceptible to pressure and incentives. But make no mistake – no Iranian government is going to give up its nuclear ambitions unless properly motivated, either militarily with a pre-emptive strike or diplomatically and economically with a complete welcome into the US-centered “world community” with a full removal of all sanctions.
In the meantime, aided by Hezbollah, Iran is now on a march through Lebanon, Iraq and Syria aimed at challenging the current US-backed hegemony. This strategic expansion has allowed the Iranian military to modernize by purchasing new arms from Russia and China, while allegedly expanding its cyber capabilities and organizing more than 50,000 Shiite militia fighters to keep President Bashar al-Assad in power in Syria.
Meanwhile, Iran’s growing ballistic-missile program has its opponents in the Middle East on edge. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned in early August in an address to Iran’s parliament that “Iran could restart its nuclear program in a matter of hours” if the US imposed further sanctions in violation of the multilateral 2015 nuclear deal or backed out of it altogether. These fears led General Joseph Votel, commander of the US Central Command, to claim this year in testimony to the US Congress: “Iran is the most significant threat to the Central Region and to our national interests and the interests of our partners and allies.”
While Trump has said he has made his decision on the nuclear deal, administration officials are still working on a “comprehensive policy review” of Iran and the supposed threats posed by Tehran. The fear is that whatever strategy emerges on US recertification of the nuclear deal, it won’t stop Iran on its march toward a “Shia crescent” in the Middle East.
The precursor to Trump’s decision should be the evolving challenges coming from Iran and a response that protects the US and its allies. Otherwise, the myriad good and bad reasons to certify or decertify the nuclear deal will be lost in the confusion.
The US has an explosive decision to make in the coming months.


"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."
It’s Madonna’s birthday today! Does anyone else think that she’s hit a point at which she doesn’t seem to be aging? Okay, maybe it’s just me.
I never really listened to popular music until I got my own stereo in highschool – my parents are much more into classical music and musical numbers – but I could recognize the sound of Madonna anytime. Happy 53rd birthday, Madonna!


ABB Laser Level Transmitters
ABB is a leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art level and volume instrumentation for liquid and bulk solids detection. The family of non-contact laser volume and level products, LLT100, LM80, and LM200, provide solutions for accurate measurement in the following applications: inventory in bunkers, blending hoppers, reactor vessels, level control, volumetric measurement, and various dry bulk solids and liquids in silos.
These maintenance-free products meet the demands of process automation and inventory management in several industries such as mining, aggregates, oil and gas, chemicals, food and beverages, pharma, water and waste water.
The LLT100 is specifically made for industrial applications and harsh environments. It provides continuous, non-contact level measurement capabilities for process automation and inventory management in industries such as mining, aggregates, oil and gas, chemicals, food and beverages, power, pulp and paper, pharma, and water and waste water.
The LM200 Laser is a laser-based distance measuring instrument used in process control systems. The on-board microprocessor calculates distance by multiplying the speed of light by the time it takes for a laser pulse to travel from the instrument to a target and back.
The LM80 is a high performance laser transmitter that accurately measures level, distance and position over long ranges in extreme environments. It is a non-contact, level measuring instrument designed for granular solid materials and opaque liquids.
For more info please visit the product's website.
ABB Laser Level Product Brochure
ABB Laser Level LLT100 Datasheet
ABB Laser Level LM200 Datasheet
ABB Laser Level LM80 Datasheet
ABB Level Measurement Made Easy Brochure


Jean Dujardin as George Valentin and Berenice Bejo as Peppy Miller in Michel Hazanavicius's film THE ARTIST. Photo by:The Weinstein Company
John Goodman as Al Zimmer in Michel Hazanavicius's film THE ARTIST. Photo by: The Weinstein Company
The Artist has reminded audience all over the world of the forgotten pleasures of silent-era melodrama. Cinematographer Guillaume Schiffman, AFC says that he and director Michel Hazanavicius thought of the project as a small souvenir of a bygone cinematic age. They did not foresee a box-office phenomenon that would earn 10 Academy Award® nominations, including best picture, best director and best cinematography.
“We didn’t set out to make a duplication of a silent-era movie,” says Schiffman. “We looked at films from that time period for three months, and then we forgot everything and made our own movie. Our goal was to give audiences an idea of the flavor of those older movies, but we used modern tools and techniques. If you compare The Artist to movies from the 1920s, they don’t really look all that similar. But The Artist hopefully allows audiences to rediscover some of the pleasures of the great silent films.”
In the story, the career of a silent-movie star, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), is threatened by the advent of sound. Meanwhile, a young starlet’s career is on the rise. Eventually Valentin despairs and Peppy Martin (Bérénice Bejo) arrives just in time to save the day. It’s a delightful and clever homage told with a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor, but the story and performances evoke real emotions in the audience. The film is almost entirely silent, with the exception of a handful of words and sounds in two scenes.
Schiffman says the most important contribution to the overall look and feel of The Artist was the decision to shoot film. “I made some tests, and it was immediately obvious that we needed the texture of film stock,” he says. “I wanted soft whites and deep blacks, but not so much contrast that the image begins to look like HD. I experimented with some digitally shot images, and they were too sharp. I was fighting against the sharpness.”
To create black-and-white images, Schiffman chose to shoot the film on color stock – KODAK VISION3 500T Color Negative Film 5219 – and to drain the color out during digital intermediate timing at DuboiColor in France. “The producers left the decision of format to us,” he says. “They told us that we had limited means and 35 days to make the film, and took our advice about the right medium.”
To further echo the visual traits of the silent era, Schiffman enlisted Panavision lens expert Dan Sasaki. Sasaki helped the cinematographer identify older, uncoated lenses from the 1950s and 60s that delivered the right look. He also put together tools and techniques that gave the images the vignette that is characteristic of 1920s moving pictures. The edges were then fine-tuned in digital timing. For the movie-within-the-movie images that play on theater screens in the story, Schiffman added flicker and grain, and made the vignette look less subtle. The 1.37 aspect ratio is also reminiscent of the more-square Academy aperture that was standard in the early years of motion pictures.
Schiffman also shot at 22 frames per second to subtly speed up the images. Before sound made 24 frames per second the standard, handcranking cinematographers aimed for 16 fps, and sometimes slowed their cranking for action scenes to add speed and dynamism to images played back at normal rates. That’s why modern audiences usually think of silent films as slightly sped up and herky-jerky.
Camera movement was accomplished using current tools including dollies and Technocranes, but sometimes a subtle authenticity was added with a little shake of the crane during a move. Similarly, modern lighting tools were used to light the scenes, but after steeping himself in older film during prep, Schiffman knew instinctually when a scene’s illumination looked period-accurate. Well-known industry gaffer and lighting expert Jim Plannette refurnished ancient lamp housings and rebuilt them with modern interior elements. These lamps appear in the film, lighting up movie sets in the story.
Schiffman used diffusion filters to further soften the images. “I prefer to do as much as possible in camera, on the set,” he says. “I created a soft image, and if I needed additional contrast, I added it digitally later. You can do so much in the digital intermediate, but you have to light correctly on the set. If you don’t light things right, you’ll never get it back in post.”
Schiffman says the huge success of The Artist is a welcome surprise. “We thought we were making a small film that would be appreciated by a select French audience,” he says. “Now it’s being seen all over the world. That’s amazing.”


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Tarr and Wonson Paint Manufactory - Gloucester, MA
N 42° 36.390 W 070° 39.634
19T E 363787 N 4718455
Quick Description: The Tarr and Wonson Paint Manufactory in Gloucester is a landmark leaving the harbor of Gloucester, MA.
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 9/12/2010 6:07:31 AM
Waymark Code: WM9P1D
This building is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1863, James G. Tarr and Augustus H. Wonson began manufacturing America’s first copper paint. The Tarr and Wonson Paint Manufactory played a vital role in international maritime history, as well as in the development of Gloucester, Massachusetts as a major fishing port.
Prior to the conclusion of the Civil War, schooners were still the craft of choice for harvesting the sea. They also comprised some of this country’s armada. The bottoms of these vessels were plagued with barnacles, grass, and other forms of marine life. As early as ancient Egypt, ship captains had attempted, by various means, to repress or prevent this problem, because when vast masses of this growth clung to the boat bottom, power requirements increased, speed decreased, maneuverability was impaired, and the very safety of the boat and crew was threatened by worms destroying the boat bottoms’ integrity. Before the invention of copper paint, boats were sheathed in metal to address these problems but this was an expensive and cumbersome solution.
Many experiments preceded the development of copper bottom paint. Augustus Wonson and his son Gardiner applied various mixtures to shingles and submerged them in the harbor for testing. Success came with a mixture of copper oxide, naptha or benzene, and pine tar. With the use of this copper paint, the slick bottoms of boats became less subject to fouling, and thus these boats were faster, providing an advantage in battle as well as in chasing fish commercially. The copper paint made on Rocky Neck was shipped all over the world and won many national and international awards for excellence.
For well over a century, the restrained and dignified buildings of the Tarr and Wonson Paint Manufactory have remained a prominent waterfront landmark and gateway to Gloucester’s inner harbor. The Massachusetts Historical Commission has deemed it eligible for listing in the State and National Registers of Historic Places as an example of a small 19th-century industrial complex and because of its important associations with Gloucester’s marine history. Countless painters and photographers have captured its red brick and wooden walls. It is Gloucester Harbor’s icon and most visible sculptural presence. The Paint Factory has witnessed the departure from this port of many generations of mariners, and it signals a safe return home and a welcome to all who enter the Port of Gloucester.
Source: (visit link

domain: geography


text:
Sometimes AzN and CBruhs spend a whole day’s worth at work emailing each other back and forth about something random until we both realize we should probably just copy/paste and make it into a blog post. This, as you may have guessed, is one of those times.
AZN: Did you see this? It looks awesome, but just like Revenge of the Nerds, I was wondering where the original film, The Green Dragons is? Never mind, that kinda sounds like a Chinese fast food chain.
CBRUHS: Wow, that movie could be huge; in terms of Asian repping. Like the next Better Luck Tomorrow. Or it could be really bad, but the fact the director is actually Asian gives me hope that the characters will be portrayed with humanity. Like Justin Chon won’t be wearing a bra and a teddy bear glued to his wiener. Or that kid from Glee will take off his shirt.
AZN: It’s gonna take a lot for me to hop back on the HK cinema train. To keep the analogy going, I’ve long since gotten on the plane and landed in Korea and am now firmly affixed at Seoul Station never to set foot back in HK. Was that clear enough?
CBRUHS: Maybe Scorcese exec producing this movie is his way of paying back the favor of ripping off Infernal Affairs? I hope he pays viewers the favor of making Harry Shum Jr. git nekkid.
AZN: If I was Wai-Keung Lau and Martin Scorsese wins a GD oscar for MY movie idea and forgot to thank the Infernal Affairs team for sourcing him the original material, then the least he can do is EXECUTIVE produce my movie. Executive producing a movie is the equivalent of a “digital introduction” which is right up there with forwarding a PDF to someone in the work world. And did I say “source”? I meant stole cause every Bostonian I know thinks this was a homegrown Boston crime story and no one knows who Wai-Keung Lau is and what Infernal Affairs 1, 2, and definitely 3 are.
CBRUHS: The trailer kinda made me homesick for my old Chinatown neighborhood (altho this took place in Queens) and is serving up a touch of Notorious MSG realness. I’m a sucker for matching jackets, wifebeaters, and manperms. I once asked an ex-banger friend of mine if they were accepting interns. Wish I was playin’ but I’m not.
AZN: If this movie were made in the ’80s I might be a gangster right now. Instead, I had Dustin Nguyen playing a “Japanese” undercover cop. Worst case scenario this might make Asian American gangsters more known in the mainstream which means breaking down Asian American stereotypes right? Hello? Right? Don’t make me come in there looking for your Bank of A-Mattress.
CBRUHS: Affirmative. Here’s where I say something about throwing off the yoke of the Model Minority Myth and the imperative of broadening AAPI media representation. And Harry Shum Jr.’s chesticles.
AZN: I’m just super glad Justin Chon is surviving the Twilight series. If he gets an Oscar nom from this he would be getting rewarded, like Anna Kendrick, for recovering from their “Bella’s BFF crew” role for all three (or was it four?) Twilight films. A feat in itself.
CBRUHS: You know what’s also a feat? Mike Chang’s physique. Is his 12-pack — uh, I mean Revenge of the Green Dragons gonna be screening in 4D??
AZN: **ERROR* Undeliverable mail: Your message did not reach some or all of intended recipients and is being returned to sender.**


China has launched a giant cleaner smog solar energy
The problem of air pollution from smog is especially relevant in China, as in the period of rapid growth of the industry, few people thought about the safety of the environment. However, in recent years the situation has become almost critical, which is reflected even on people's health. Today, therefore, the Chinese spare no effort and means of remedying the situation. For example, a few days ago in the city of Xi'an (Shaanxi Province) has earned the world's largest plant for cleaning smog. Moreover, this setup works on solar energy, but not quite familiar to us understanding.
The main innovation of the Chinese setup is that it operates in a passive mode. On the ground, a plurality of glass roofs to capture sunlight. The air heated by a system of tubes rises to the main pipe 18 meters. In the pipe contaminated air passes through a series of filters and enters it already purified to the atmosphere. Daily passes through a setting of 5 to 8 million cubic meters of air. Data taken from pollution sensors indicate a decrease in the concentration of particulate matter in the air by 19%. It should also be noted that the cost of construction was $ 2 million, and the total area of all the designs sewage treatment is 10 square kilometers. But despite the successes, environmentalists have a lot of complaints about the work, without a doubt, the correct treatment plant. Firstly, there is no evidence that clears if antismogovaya installation of sulfur dioxide - one of the most dangerous air pollutants. In addition, experts say that a treatment plant - a drop in the ocean. For normal air cleaning needs at least a few dozen of these facilities, and given the considerable area of the complex, this would be very problematic.


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Jesse Williams and Aryn Drake-Lee’s divorce battle is getting ugly. Well, more ugly. This mess has been going on for a long time. But Aryn is still coming for that Grey’s Anatomy money (and it’s so much damn money!) and not only wants Jesse to pay child and spousal support but also pay for her legal fees.
The Blast is reporting:
According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Williams is asking a judge to deny Aryn Drake-Lee’s motion requesting he pay her $200,000 for her legal bills and to hire a forensic accountant to prep for the upcoming divorce trial.
Jesse Williams’s currently pays her $100.000 in support ($50k for child and spousal). This number was based on his average monthly income of $521,000.
Even with that insane amount of money he’s bringing in, Jesse is claiming he’s paid enough of Aryn’s legal bills and she needs to learn how to budget.
Williams says he has already paid $270,000 toward his ex’s legal bills in the case. He claims the court already determined that was more than enough.
The actor argues that Aryn is capable of contributing more toward her own fees, pointing out he pays her $100k a month in support alone. He accuses her of using her support to buy artwork and not pay her lawyers.
Williams wants the judge to deny her motion, saying “this is not a free ride” and is asking her to pay her own bills moving forward.
Any episode of Antiques Roadshow will tell you that sometimes buying art (usually found at the yard sale of an oldie) can pay off! But with that being said, Grey’s is in its 15th season, so maybe some financial planning wouldn’t hurt here?
Jesse also claims that he’s not responsible for Aryn’s poor investments.
He also notes that during the trial, “Aryn will likely claim she is losing money on her businesses yet even assuming this true, Jesse should not be prejudiced as a result of Aryn’s poor investment choices.”
Poor investment choices?! Aryn went from being a realtor who paid the bills while Jesse was trying to make it, and then he did and brought in that Shonda Rhimes money. Her investment choices are spot on! In fact, she should be teaching a Learning Annex class on how to #getthatmoney and then make your ex pay for taking his money.

domain: finance


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University of Melbourne – Department of Economics | https://fbe.unimelb.edu.au/finance
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The Department of Social Services is responsible for a diverse range of policies, payments, programs, and services that improve the wellbeing of people and families in Australia. We fund services and payments that assist families, children and older people, provide a safety net for those who cannot fully support themselves, enhance the wellbeing of people with high needs, assist those who need help with care, and support a diverse and harmonious society.
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If you have Nintendo Switch fan in your life, check out this great deal! Right now you can get this Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics Nintendo Switch Game for only $29.99 at Amazon or Best Buy!
- Enjoy 51 tabletop games and more from all over the world from the convenience of your Nintendo Switch system
- Play your favorite games or explore and learn new ones with tutorial and assist features
- Play alone or with friends locally*** and online*
- Each game is presented with stunning detail as dice clack, marbles glimmer, and chess pieces tumble off the board when it’s jostled.
- Free supplementary software available on Nintendo eShop lets you connect with someone who owns the full game you will be able to play all the games that can be played locally
Leave a Reply


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Guido Harari has photographed many music legends in his prolific career in Italy.
Lou Reed said about him: "I'm always happy when Guido takes my picture because I know it will be a musical picture. And it will also have some poetry and feeling to it. The things that Guido captures with his portraits are generally speaking ignored by other photographers. I consider Guido a friend, not a photographer".
Guido started out in the early Seventies as a music photographer and journalist, also exploring reportage, fashion, advertising and corporate photography. He’s produced record covers for Kate Bush, David Crosby, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Ute Lemper, Paul McCartney, Michael Nyman, Lou Reed, Simple Minds and Frank Zappa.

domain: entertainment


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Today, cannabis advocates managed to trend the hashtag #ThingsMoreHarmfulThanMarijuana. You can only imagine where this is going, especially since we can safely assume that half of the snarkers were stoned.
Razor blades in fluffy bunnies? Okaaaaaaaaaaaay.
We can only hope that some of these people are high — because if they’re like this sober, then there really is no hope for the world.


German WWII MG 34 Tanker Panzer Display Light Machine Gun - Panzerlauf
Original Item: Only One Available. Just released from one of America's most prestigious collections, this is a German Tank (Panzer) MG34 Machine Gun built into an inert display gun using original parts and totally unrestricted to own without license by federal Law.
MG 34 Panzerlauf
Most German tanks used during World War II used the MG 34 Panzerlauf for secondary armament. The MG 42 was ill-suited for internal/coaxial mounting due to the method of barrel change. The main difference of the MG 34 Panzerlauf and the regular MG 34 was the heavier, almost solid armored barrel shroud, almost completely lacking the ventilation holes of the basic MG 34. When mounted inside a tank, the MG 34 also lacked a butt-stock. A kit for quick conversion to ground use was carried inside the tank containing a butt-stock and a combined bi-pod and front sight assembly.
This particular MG 34 Panzer Display Machine gun is coded "dot" for BRNO manufacture and dated 1945.
This example does not come with the standard bipod but is fitted with a vehicle mount directly in front of the receiver in the center of gravity bipod position.
Tanker MG 34 versions are very rare and much sought after. Offered in excellent display condition, reconstructed from genuine WW2 MG 34 parts
- This product is not available for international shipping.
- This item is completely legal within the USA. International Military Antiques, Inc observes all Federal, State and Local laws. Everything for sale on ima-usa.com is completely legal to own, trade, transport and sell within the United States of America. Every display machinegun and machine gun parts set and gun sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF).
Due to the high value and nature of these parts sets, they must be sent using UPS/Fedex, and will require a signature upon delivery.
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon


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Pelvic Floor Strengthening
Pelvic Floor Strengthening! Or in Yoga terms… Mula Bandha!
Weak pelvic floor muscles can be caused by many things, including pregnancy, obesity, chronic coughing, or anything that places excess downward pressure on the pelvic floor.
Often we think of women and pregnancy when we talk about weak pelvic floor causes and symptoms, but it affects you men out there too!
This can lead to painful or frustrating and embarrassing symptoms such as incontinence, prolapsed bladder or uterus, back pain, and diminishing sexual sensitivity!
Lets nip this in the bud, its never too early or too late to start strengthening your pelvic floor muscles!


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2018 Consultation Process
In 2018, the Winnipeg Police Board focused on reaching out to community groups to be invited to participate in meetings that were already scheduled.
In addition, the Board received input from:
- Municipal and Provincial government representatives
- Public forums hosted by the Winnipeg Police Service and attended by members of the Board
- Community members who reached out to the Board directly
- Community members referred to the Board by City Councillors
- General public inquiries the Board received throughout the year
The Board annually publishes a report on the input it receives. This feedback informs the Board’s work on its strategic plan for the Police Service.


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At the upcoming annual general meeting on April 19, 2023, Calida Holding AG will propose Felix Sulzberger, Allan Kellenberger, Thomas Stöcklin and Eric Sibbern for election to the board of directors.
The company said in a release that also proposed for shareholder approval will be the re-election of current independent board members Laurence Bourdon-Tracol, Patricia Gandji, Gregor Greber and Stefan Portmann.
Erich Kellenberger, a longtime board member, former CEO and representative of the founding family, will not be standing for re-election in order to hand over the reins within the family. Likewise, Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, nine years on the board, including three years as chairman and Lukas Morscher, four years on the board, have decided not to stand for re-election.
Additionally, Timo Schmidt-Eisenhart, CEO of the Calida Group, has informed the board that he is stepping down from his position for personal reasons. Until the appointment of a successor, Timo Schmidt-Eisenhart will continue to perform his duties as CEO.
Commenting on the board changes, Stefan Portmann, vice chairman said: "Together with the new members of the board of directors and the new representatives of the Kellenberger family and Veraison, we will implement the defined strategy and set new accents. The board of directors deeply regrets the resignation of Timo Schmidt-Eisenhart and thanks him for his great commitment, the successful launch of the current strategy and the record results."
Calida Group to appoint Felix Sulzberger as chairman
The company added that the Kellenberger family has decided to maintain its role as anchor shareholder and intends to remain involved in the Calida Group over the medium term and remain committed to the Accelerate 2026 strategy.
Felix Sulzberger will be proposed as an independent member and chairman of the board of directors. As a former member of the board and a longtime CEO of the Calida Group, Felix Sulzberger, The company further said, has proven expertise and knowledge in the fashion and underwear industry and will bring an industry insider’s edge to the board. Among his other positions, Felix Sulzberger is currently a member of the board of directors of the Holy Fashion Group and chairman of the advisory board of Finatem Private Equity based in Frankfurt.
Allan Kellenberger will be proposed for election to the board as the new Kellenberger family representative. As a direct descendant of the founding family, Allan Kellenberger was steeped in the organisation and operations of the Calida Group from an early age. Prior to his tenures with the Lafuma Group and Millet, from 2017 to 2019, Allan Kellenberger worked for the Tally Weijl brand in various roles in Switzerland and abroad. He holds a master’s degree in fashion, experience and design management from SDA Bocconi School of Management, Italy and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Geneva.
Calida Group announces board changes
Thomas Stöcklin will be proposed for election as an independent member. A business administration graduate and a public accountant, Thomas Stöcklin has been the chief financial officer of Manor AG since 2018.
Eric Sibbern will be proposed for election as the new representative of Veraison SICAV. He is a senior partner and member of management with Veraison Capital AG and is a specialist in mergers and acquisitions, capital market law and risk management. Before joining Veraison Capital AG, Eric Sibbern worked for Credit Suisse AG as a director on the M&A/corporate development team. Prior to this, he was a lawyer with Homburger AG in Zurich and a foreign associate with Kirkland & Ellis LLP in New York City. Eric Sibbern holds a master's degree in law from the University of Zurich and was admitted as an attorney-at-law in 2010. He also holds a master's degree in banking and finance from the University of St Gallen.


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Today I have been reading from some other MS centered blogs and learned some interesting things that I should look into further:
From Mandatory Rest Period there is a story about Tovaxin undergoing clinical trials. In addition another drug, MBP8298 is undergoing trials but only for people further along than I am. Also there is a link to that trial in the web site sponsored by the national institute of health where you can look up trials that are currently recruiting for patients. I'll have to first check out all the recruiting for MS related studies and then set a watch for new ones.
From Erik's Multiple Sclerosis & Lyme Blog: Alternative medicines: Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) and Fish Oil.


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THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF UNITED'S DISCONTENT
Tactical Traveler, May 18, 2000 -- United Airlines has canceled hundreds of flights in the last week due to a dispute with its pilots. Cancellations reached 10 percent of United's schedule on Saturday, but the situation has been less severe during the business week. Unannounced cancellations are expected to continue for several more weeks, however.
DEPRESSING FACTS ABOUT UNITED-US AIRWAYS
Tactical Traveler, June 08, 2000 -- The mainstream media's coverage of United's proposed purchase of US Airways has been fairly predictable: lots of talk about size, speculation about counterpunches from other carriers and too little focus on hard-core facts. So here are three facts worth considering. Fact No. 1: The only guaranteed winners in the transaction would seem to be US Airways chairman Stephen Wolf and chief executive Rakesh Gangwal. Assuming the deal goes through and Wolf activates the change-of-control clauses of his contract, exercises his options and leaves the company, he will walk away with $71 million. Gangwal would walk with $49 million. Both joined the company in 1996. Fact No. 2: The guaranteed losers in the transaction would seem to be Philadelphia-area frequent flyers. That's because the combined carriers would have 100 percent of the service on routes from Philadelphia to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Denver. Fact No. 3: United is attempting to take over an airline while its own performance is deteriorating. According to Transportation Department figures released last week, United in April had the worst on-time performance (65.6 percent) among the nation's ten major carriers. It also recorded an industry-worst rating of 5.87 misplaced bags per 1,000 passengers. United also racked up a higher ratio of passenger complaints and canceled a higher percentage of its daily flights than US Airways.
UNITED HITS THE SKIDS
Tactical Traveler, July 13, 2000 -- Experienced inept service from United Airlines lately? You're not alone. United has skidded to the bottom of almost every category tracked in the Transportation Department's monthly Air Travel Consumer Report. According to the most recent report, released last week and covering travel in May, only 56.6 percent of United's flights arrived on time compared to the industry average of 73.4 percent. Worse, United canceled more than 5,900 flights in May, equal to 8.7 percent of the airline's schedule. (Southwest canceled less than 1 percent of its flights in May.) United also has the worst mishandled-bag rate--6.71 reports per 1,000 passengers compared to an industry-average of 4.80--and racked up more than twice as many customer complaints than the average of the nation's 10 major carriers.
HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE UNITED?
Tactical Traveler, August 3, 2000 -- With United setting records for major-carrier ineptitude and about half its flights running late, readers have their own suggestions for dealing with the nation's largest airline. This one from a frequent flyer in Denver who requested anonymity. "After four miserable roundtrips on United in July, I told my wife, 'Let's act like United's on strike, because, as a practical matter, it is.' "
ANOTHER AGONIZING WEEK AT UNITED
Tactical Traveler, August 10, 2000 -- It's been another bad week to be a United customer. The airline abruptly cancelled more than 300 flights on Saturday, about 250 on Sunday and at least 240 on Monday. Sunday's cancellations were due in part to bad weather, but the other dropped flights were a result of the airline's severe crew shortage and its inability to come to contract terms with disgruntled pilots. United's reaction to its latest woes was typical: an official statement saying management was "agonized by the pain and suffering" inflicted on passengers; off-the-record comments shifting the blame for the airline's collapse to the pilots; and the pre-emptive cancellation of about 3,900 flights in September and October. And rather than bring management's full attention to bear on its current service problems, United instead chose to assign at least 20 top executives to a team planning for the proposed merger with US Airways. Leading the transition team? Chris Bowers, senior vice president of North America. He apparently has plenty of extra time on his hands now that United has canceled all those flights.
These items originally ran at biztravel.com. This annotation originally appeared at JoeSentMe.com in December, 2002.
ABOUT THIS COLUMN
JoeSentMe is Copyright © 2004 by Joe Brancatelli.

domain: news


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Taking public transit at night can be scary and feel unsafe — at least that’s how many New York City women feel.
A recent study by the NYU Rudin Center for Transportation shows that 75% of women in New York have experienced some form of harassment or theft while using public transport.
The high incidence of sexual harassment is having many women feeling the need to avoid public transit during nights, using a rideshare service like Uber or taking a taxi instead. This amounts to a so-called pink tax on women in New York, who are spending between $26 and $50 extra on transportation per month for safety reasons.
The report is based on an online survey with 33 questions about day-to-day transit challenges, with responses from 550 New Yorkers. Based on these answers, the survey found that frightening experiences on public transit have pushed women to women choose different transportation compared to men. Because of these experiences, 29% of women said they don’t take public transportation late at night compared to 8% of male responders.
“This project stemmed from looking at the #MeToo movement,” Sarah Kaufman, associate professor with the Rudin Center who studies transportation technology, said in a statement.
It also seems like New York City Transit’s efforts to end harassments and attacks at the public transit have a little effect, according to responses in the survey.
“After waiting in line to speak with the person in the booth, a train passed through the station, so I was told the person who harassed me had probably already left and it wasn’t worth calling the police. I then took a cab home,” a responder said.
How can we make the public transit safer?
Everyone needs to be able to feel safe and comfortable taking public transit. The authors of the report point out a few possible solutions to make it feel safer.
They explain that public transit could feel a lot safer by posting staff in highly visible places and training them to deal with harassment situations, so women feel protected while they’re waiting for transit. Another solution is to get more women at the highest echelons of transit, so the people running the system look more like the people riding it.
It’s important to consult and involve women in the decision-making process. Refusing to do so will only produce transport networks that are unsafe, less reliable and potentially more costly. Victims should be encouraged to feel able to report harassment and assault on transport networks.
“Most importantly of all, decisive action must be taken against perpetrators to send the clear message that these crimes are unacceptable.” The report reads.
“Women, like men, have the right to feel safe and to live freely in their cities. Let’s make that a priority.”