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“I could either watch it happen or be a part of it.” — Elon Musk
With a similar motivation to be a part of something bigger than themselves, Aaditya Sharda and Souvik Sengupta founded Infra.Market, a B2B online procurement marketplace for real estate and construction materials, with technology as their focal point.
During a recent conversation about the current scenario of India’s construction industry, the founders at Infra.Market told Inc42 that the infrastructure and construction industry of India is estimated to be valued at $300 Bn by 2020.
However, the industry is largely unorganised and adding to that was the aftermath of the demonetisation of currency notes in 2016, where India witnessed a major fall in the revenue of the construction industry due to the cash crisis in the market. Besides, around the same time, the global financial turmoil pushed the construction curve further downwards, demanding that the government step in to stabilise the sector.
The Centre then started taking major steps to uplift the economy by creating new fiscal policies supporting the construction sector, leading to it becoming a multi-billion dollar industry contributing majorly to India’s growing GDP.
Infra.Market is looking to be a key player in the construction industry by taking the procurement process online and bringing parity and transparency in pricing. Aaditya Sharda explains, “We all know, how critical is it for construction companies in India to avoid project cost over-runs to stay financially viable. We believe that procuring the materials at the right price can help them avoid these cost over-runs to a large extent.’’
Infra.Market realises that every construction project is unique in its own way and procurement of materials for these projects is an art which requires strong technical and negotiation skills and a local geographical know-how, which many construction companies in India find difficult to build in-house. Compared to large companies, smaller companies are deprived of the cost benefit on procurement of materials due to their small order-size or due to the presence of multiple middleman in the supply chain. Further, the supply chain for various materials is fragmented and unorganised.
‘’We sought to re-define this and decided to bring transparency in the procurement process of construction companies,’’ emphasises Aditya Sharda.
Infra.Market: Lower Prices And A Level Playing Field
- Central procurement unit to help Real estate and Construction companies procure materials for their project
- Better pricing and credit facilities to enhance parity, transparency, and productivity in the construction sector
Mumbai based Infra.Market has built a centralised online market for real estate and construction materials that offers fair pricing and an enhanced technology experience to its clients. It does this by aggregating clients’ demands, matching them with its supply chain, and offering economies of scale on material pricing, along with affordable credit options that were earlier not available to individual customers.
Aaditya Sharda says, “We have enabled our clients to make an average of 5%-7% savings on their input costs.”
There are some other B2B ecommerce companies serving in the same space, the notable being Moglix, IndustryBuying, OfBusiness, and Power2SME. Though these online startups are providing efficient services to the construction industry, not all of them act as a one-stop solution for construction and related products. Infra.Market’s edge is its industry specific focus.
Souvik Sengupta adds, “If you consider some of the other startups in the B2B ecommerce industry in India like Industrybuying & Moglix, they have chosen to cater to a large number of products across diverse sectors. We are following a different model than them. We consciously have been industry focused, product focused and geographically focused so far.’’
Infra.Market believes that the dynamics of running a business as a B2B are starkly different than that of running a B2C, be it offline or online. Only giving discounts to attract customers doesn’t work in B2B.
‘’We will remain relevant only if we add value to our customers by helping them consistently procure cheaper in the long run, ‘’ says Souvik Sengupta.
Infra.Market’s strategy has helped the company achieve the target of bringing value for customers by helping them save 5%-7% of their input cost. In a nutshell, Infra.Market truly believes that as a B2B ecommerce platform it is bringing India’s unorganised construction industry online.
The Infra.Market Edge
- Enhanced technology platform connecting client requirements directly to its supply chain, enabling ease of ordering and delivery tracking through their mobile application.
- Online hassle free registration with ease of credit and instant quotes
As a technology platform, Infra.Market creates a direct communication chain between its clients and supply chain, ensuring an efficient delivery tracking facility. The startup dishes out a unique and personalised experience for its clients and allots each one of them a dedicated relationship manager to help understand and fulfill their requirements.
Aaditya Sharda adds “Our customer repetition is close to 90% due to our customer specific relationship managers. This enables us to bring to our clients an experience none of our competitors are currently providing. Our mobile application is helping us ensure our customers have a substantially better experience in ordering and tracking their order till delivery to their site, an experience unheard-of in the industry.”
Souvik Sengupta says, “We are growing at 100% year-on-year for the last couple of years; we expect to continue this growth. Our focus is to stay profit-centric and consequently, we wanted to first build a profitable ecommerce model and then grow it by diversifying into multiple products and expanding geographically, instead of the other way around.’’
Infra.Market’s strategy has helped the company become successful in touching the projected levels of revenue growth and maintaining positive PAT levels every year since inception. They believe in raising only what the business needs and hence the company has only raised $1 Mn in the last three years from an angel investor. ‘’We will further raise $3 Mn in a Series A in FY20 to widen our network, market penetration, launch new products and enter new markets,” says Souvik Sengupta.
The Sweet Spot That Infra.Market Has Picked
Infra.Market aspires to become India’s largest B2B ecommerce player in the construction space and its next target is achieving revenue of $15 Mn in FY20. With this in mind, the startup is aiming to capture a larger market and bring more and more construction and infrastructure products online.
The industry has a positive outlook with experts forecasting that India is going to be the third largest construction market globally by 2025. In fact, the construction sector has been the second highest recipient of FDI in 2017.
In order to increase the participation of foreign players in the ecommerce field, the Indian Government hiked the limit of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Ecommerce marketplace model for up to 100 per cent (in B2B models).
There are projections that by 2020, the B2B ecommerce market is set to grow at 2.5 times from the present pace to touch $7 Bn. The global B2B ecommerce market will reach $6.7 Tr.
Though the projected statistics seem opportune, ironically, construction is one such sector where companies invest less than 1% of their revenues in adopting new technologies. The sector however is ripe for disruption and the adoption of technologies can help greatly enhance the quality, productivity, and output of the industry as a whole. And that is exactly the sweet spot that Infra.Market is leveraging — using technology to design its product and ultimately benefiting the construction segment in its entirety.
With its USP as a centralised platform for all construction-related procurement solutions, better pricing and an enhanced customer experience, Infra.Market is emerging as a game-changer in the construction industry.


To the editor:
While I do not claim to know all of the workings of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office I do know a little bit about Chief Deputy Jim Frye. I don’t break bread with Chief Deputy Frye on a daily basis. However you don’t have to do that to know what kind of man you are dealing with.
Jim Frye prior to being Chief Deputy, and after being appointed Chief Deputy was one of the guys you could call at the Shelby County Sheriff’s when you needed something and needed it right away.
I know Jim will not take the position of Sheriff lightly. He has never done that in any position he has held at the Sheriff’s Office. Although Jim is a Republican, he will not just represent a Democrat or a Republican, he will represent all the people of Shelby County.
Jim also has a military background that helps in Law enforcement.
I have been with Jim and around Jim and seen how he keeps a cool head in any type of situation. You need someone with experience in Law Enforcement, and someone who has handled a variety of situations as a Deputy Sheriff. He has compassion for people when working with them.
Until you have walked in the shoes of a Sheriff or Deputy you really don’t know what you’re getting into. As Chief Deputy and with his experience Jim understands this. There are many facets of a Sheriff’s Office that you must know to keep things running well. Jim knows them.
If I could cast a vote for Sheriff in Shelby County my vote would be for Chief Deputy Jim Frye.
Allen F. Solomon
Sheriff of Auglaize County


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Read how the Thai government is collaborating with cooperatives to upgrade informal settlements at a large scale. Can South Africa take a leaf out of Thailand’s book?
Opportunity Village is a new pilot project in Eugene, Oregon doing just this by allowing those who are currently without housing to build and inhabit their own transitional micro-housing with the support of the surrounding community.
In Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam argued that urbanisation, especially suburbanisation, had been harmful to levels of civic engagement in the US. Sifting through recent data on volunteering and civic participation in US Cities, Andy Carr finds some anomalies that suggest density may indeed encourage greater civic engagement where educational and religious organisations are strong.
Community-led mapping and enumerations are powerful tools to return power and democracy into the hands of the urban poor. Marcus Tudehope sets out twelve reasons why you and the communities you work within should embark upon an enumeration of your own.
Going against the national government’s own best practices and the consensus of urban planners worldwide, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) continues to shift thriving urban communities into lifeless high-rise residential towers, ignorant of the economic base the existing neighbouroods provide to their residents, as Greg Randolph shows in Govindpuri.

domain: geography


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Bond and relax with your loved one when you visit the most beautiful places New Zealand has to offer. Marvel at perfect beaches, twinkling glow worms and geothermal wonders as you travel south through the country. Queenstown offers perfect alpine scenery and lakefront restaurants while Milford Sound - described as the eighth wonder of the world - offers towering peaks, huge waterfalls and stunning glacier-carved cliffs.
día 1 / 9
Arrive in beautiful Auckland, a harbourside city known as the 'City of Sails'. Pick up your rental car at the airport before checking into your hotel and venturing out to explore. Take a boat cruise and head out on the harbour - see if you can spot dolphins and whales frolicking in the water. Head up the iconic Skytower for huge views of the city and beyond. At 328 metres high, it's the tallest structure in New Zealand. In the evening, enjoy a romantic dining experience in the viaduct, Auckland's hub of delisiouc restaurants.
En el animado centro de la ciudad de Auckland, puedes comprar todo lo que te plazca, saborear buenísima comida, explorar el ambiente artístico local y disfrutar de impresionantes vistas.
Debes iniciar sesión si quieres guardar el viaje para tus próximas visitas. Iniciar sesión ahora


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BOGOR, Indonesia, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Indonesian leaders hailed on Monday the fruitful meetings held during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Indonesia.
The statements were made at a joint press conference attended by Li and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, after witnessing the signing of cooperation documents.
The two sides agreed to stick to peaceful development, safeguard regional and global peace and stability based on widely-accepted international laws and rules.
The two leaders agreed that the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries is mutually beneficial and will produce win-win results. Such a partnership is significant for peaceful and stable development of the region and the whole world at large.
As the world's major economies, China and Indonesia should work together to accelerate the recovery of global economy, Li said.
China and Indonesia should safeguard free trade and the rule-based multilateral trading mechanism, Li said, adding that trade and investment should be further liberalized and facilitated.
China is willing to help Indonesia improve its infrastructure facilities and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Indonesia with respect to market rules and make contributions to enhancing employment in the country.
Praising the huge potential of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, the Chinese premier said that a more balanced two-way trade would be promoted with Indonesia.
China welcomes Indonesia to bring more farm products such as palm oil, fruits and coffee to the Chinese market, Li said.
Widodo on his part noted that China has a great market potential with its huge population, expressing a gratitude for China's readiness to enlarge its imports of Indonesian farm products.
Premier Li also met with Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who said that the Indonesia-China relations are at their best times.
New consensus was made with Indonesian leadership on deepening bilateral ties and enlarging mutually beneficial cooperation, Li said.
China is willing to step up the bilateral relations and cooperation, contributing more to the stability and development of the region and the world, Li said.
Kalla thanked China for its investment in Indonesia, which he said will be conducive to local economic development.
The vice president also expressed a readiness to enhance communication and cooperation with China in fields including economy, culture, education and marine development.

domain: politics


Luke Fletcher has signed a two-year contract extension with Nottinghamshire.
The 30-year-old will take his association with the club into its 13th and 14th seasons, having made his debut back in 2008.
Since his first-class bow against Oxford UCCE in April of that summer, the Bulwell Bomber has taken 326 wickets for Notts four-day cricket at an average of 27.87, and has added a further 144 scalps with the white ball.
The right-hander has also amassed 2,503 runs in his time with the club to date, including five half-centuries.
“I’ve loved every single minute of my time representing Nottinghamshire and I can’t wait to do that for a further two years,” said Fletcher.
“Playing with some great players and winning trophies with good friends are up there as my favourite memories and I’m hoping to create more of them over the next few years.
“We can’t deny that we’ve had an up and down summer, but that makes me even more determined to put in the work to get us back to where we should be.
“I’m hoping we can have a positive end to the Vitality Blast group stages and emulate our achievement of winning the trophy in 2017.”
In a tough summer on the field in the red-ball format, Fletcher has been Notts’ shining light with the ball in hand, topping the club’s wicket-taking charts with 30 wickets at an average of 26.36.
And with the tall right-armer having ascended to the position of leader of the bowling attack in the four-day game, director of cricket Mick Newell is delighted to extend the contract of one of Nottinghamshire’s stalwarts.
“Luke is Nottinghamshire through-and-through and it’s great to have him sign on for a further two years,” said Newell.
“Ever since joining the club in 2009 it’s been clear how much it means to him to wear the shirt, and he puts in a lot of work off the field to keep putting in the performances he does.
“Even in a tough red-ball summer he has held his head high with ball in hand and we will be looking to him to continue leading by example in the years to come.”


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This lovely quilt captures a moment in time ~ elegance and grace, steeped in beautiful surroundings, sipping tea under the rose arbour with special friends. The quilt features simple applique and peicing, as well as elegant embroidery ~ the perfect combination.
We sold out of the original fabrics very quickly after the release of this design, and we have made two more versions since, both of which have also sold out.
We have just put together a new kit in gorgeous peaches and cream colours. These fabrics are pictured below. We have packaged these with labels as a guide to which fabrics are to be used for which parts of the quilt.
Bonus! The kit is on special. Normally $490, it is now $390, a saving of $100! The pattern set is normally $150 and is now $75.
A Threads Pack is available for an extra $45 and this is sufficient to do the embroidery on the the entire quilt. The threads have been selected to match these new fabrics, but the pattern will detail threads in the original fabrics. You will need to adjust accordingly. Please note in the Comments Column if you would like us to include this in your kit
November 2021 Update: Only ONE KIT left in large floral border and ONE KIT left in Rose & Violet border (phto of this fabric is the last photo below). Please nominate which one you want of these two when you order! A LARGE FLORAL for border or B ROSE & VIOLET for border
Scroll down to order. Go ahead ~ indulge yourself!
|Pattern Price: |
|Kit Price: |

domain: design


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Fairy Party cake. all covered in fondant. Made for a friends birthday she loves fairys and she loved this.
Chocolate cake covered with white chocolate fondant iceing, roses made from modeling paste.
Garden Birthday Cake
I did this cake for a lady who was 80 and loved her garden and her dog. She also loved her cake and refused to cut it.

domain: food


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Telecommuting is viable
No one can argue with the fact that traffic in the metropolis has become practically apocalyptic. The sad part is that the situation will become worse in the coming years before it gets any better—if at all.
The addition of tens of thousands of new vehicles every year to the same road network, lack of discipline among public utility and private drivers, clogged side streets that could have served as alternative routes, a dilapidated mass railway system, and the perennially myopic treatment of the problem by successive administrations all contribute to the daily suffering of Filipino commuters.
What used to be a one-hour commute from home to work has more than doubled, or in cases when gridlock happens due to some road
repair or accident, even quadrupled.
Last week’s “carmageddon” at the South Luzon Expressway, which backed up vehicular traffic for more than 20 kilometers from Alabang to Laguna and caused thousands of commuters to miss work or classes, appointments and flights, is a testament to this lamentable state.
There is one relief for commuters that should start gaining traction in the Philippines: the option of “telecommuting,” or working from outside the office or place of work using telecommunications and computer technologies.
There is, in fact, now a law on this. President Duterte signed the Telecommuting Act (also known as work-from-home law) on
Dec. 20, 2018, to institutionalize telecommuting as an alternative work arrangement for employees in the private sector. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III signed the law’s implementing rules and regulations three months later, on March 26 this year.
Based on the implementing rules, an employer in the private sector may offer a telecommuting program to its employees on a voluntary basis or as a result of collective bargaining. It is the employer’s decision if this type of work arrangement is applicable based on the nature of the job and the company’s business.
The employer and employee also have to create a mutually agreed policy or telecommuting agreement detailing “the applicable code of conduct and performance evaluation and assessment; appropriate alternative workplace; use and cost of equipment; observance of data privacy, and occupational safety and health, among others.”
Studies have shown that work-from-anywhere methods improve productivity and save costs. One recent study by consultancy firm P&A Grant Thornton pointed out that telecommuting can have a positive impact on Philippine businesses and the Filipino workforce because it will allow employers to attract and retain prime talent, reduce overhead expenses and increase productivity.
It noted that for many individuals, the travel time between the workplace and home has become a major consideration in applying for employment with a company, and that some executives have actually crossed out job opportunities that would require more than an hour’s commute.
By offering a work-from-home arrangement, the study noted, employers may be able to entice quality candidates to join them; while for existing employees, it will eliminate the daily hellish commute and may help keep them happy enough to stay with an employer for the long term. This scheme also gives workers greater control over their work hours and work location.
Working from home is also seen as more productive because employees do not have the distractions or hectic pace of an office environment.
There are financial benefits that telecommuting offers, too: it saves employers money in office expenses such as office supplies, furniture, equipment, coffee and janitorial services; while it helps employees save on expenses such as fuel, parking fees, vehicle maintenance, public transport fare, dining out and clothing.
Telecommuting is, unfortunately, not for everyone, though. Workers in production lines at factories, for one, where physical presence is required, will not be able to apply for telecommuting arrangements.
Long-term relief from the horrendous traffic situation will hopefully come from the elevated highways and subways being built around the metropolis, which are causing massive road strains at this time.
However, until these promised mass transport systems are fully operational years down the road, commuters at their wits’ end need as much relief as they can get. Telecommuting is an effective, workable and easy-to-implement solution.
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domain: economics


Marlian Music fast rising singer and rapper, C Blvck releases a brand new single titled “Paper”.
On the new single, the Ogologo crooner enlists Davido Music Worldwide vibes machine, Peruzzi.
What do you think about this song?
We want to hear from you all.
Drop your comments


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A couple friends and I reserved a night and dinner and I have to say, it was one of the best ideas we have had in a long time... what fun. the hostess was wonderful and the food perfect... the room was amazing... and I am fussy! Clean, comfortable,cozy and fresh. I loved all the details and the home touches.
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- Thanks to everyone who has stayed with us over the last 12 years. We are closing on November 30, 2014. The Inn will be a private home for a large family. May you all have lovely travel experiences. You will be remembered for your travel stories and your kindness to me and to our pets. All the best wishes. ... more less
- Also Known As:
- Kern River Hotel Kernville
- Kern River Inn b&b

domain: travel


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Chair. Wednesday , September 05th , 2018 - 18:19:18 PM
For large-scale applications of folding tables and chairs, there are folding chair trucks and folding table trucks available. These trucks are made of heavy gauge steel and can usually store 1 to several dozen chairs and up to a couple of dozen folding tables. After they are loaded, you can simply cart your folding chairs and tables into storage.
You will want your dining area to look amazing and this can be achieved by having the right style of dining chairs and table in there. It is always advised to buy the dining set as one complete unit and then it is guaranteed to look great and match. If you buy the wrong dining chair then it can make the whole room look bad and spoil the look of your home. You have to ensure that the dining chairs not only look amazing but they are also comfortable to sit on. If they are not then you and your guests will get backache and not enjoy your meal.
For instance, a dark green wall could be paired with a chair rail painted in white. The wall and the chair molding may also share a color in the same hue (tint) but in different intensities. This is by far one of the most common chair rail ideas although they produce a stunning effect. For more chair rail ideas, you can always ask the experts for their opinion. Finish carpenters and interior designers might have an advice or two for you. Otherwise, you can always search the internet for fresh design ideas.
Another thing to consider when choosing accent chairs for your home is choosing the right type of material for your accent chair. You need your chair to be great to look at but you also want it to be functional in its designated room as well as comfortable. If you are choosing an accent chair for a very formal room, you may want to choose an elegant straight back wooded chair where great attention to detail has been placed in the chair's carving. If you need a chair that's functional but also flexible microfiber may be a good material to choose.
These chairs generally come as single piece or in pair. As they form important decorative furniture for living rooms, they have to be carefully matched with the room's set up and be placed in the area which holds a good focal point. The fabrics and textures of the chair should fall well within your needs. As accent furniture makes your room more beautiful, they are offered at different price range and are generally expensive. But one can still get good quality living room accent chairs, from top manufacturers, at discounted rates from online furniture stores. They have a umpteen varieties to offer and one can definitely find something which suits their needs perfectly.
Padded. Another viable choice for event seating are padded folding chairs. These chairs still come with a plastic back, but rather than having the quintessential plastic seat they instead have a padded fabric seat. They are more expensive in price, however they are also much more comfortable for you or your guests to be sitting on, especially if expect to be seated for an extended period of time. These chairs are best used in fancier events or when people will be required to sit for long periods of time in order to ensure their comfort. With their elegant and comfortable construction, they are a better choice for impressing your guests if presentation is an important factor to you.
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Any content, trademark/s, or other material that might be found on this site that is not this site property remains the copyright of its respective owner/s. In no way does dovv.us claim ownership or responsibility for such items, and you should seek legal consent for any use of such materials from its owner.


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SLoFIG Investment Group: Helping Put Money Where The Good Food Movement’s Mouth Is - Good Food on Every Table
Finding sourcing for financial capital has been one of the major dilemmas that many startups (and even some better-established players) face in the fast-growing Good Food movement. Fortunately, the money gap is starting to be filled by venture capital groups that see the business potential in the Good Food movement. Chicago’s SLoFIG, an acronym for Sustainable LOcal Food Investment Group, was one of the first to see — and seize — the opportunity.
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FABIIO SURPRISES THE LATIN MUSIC INDUSTRY WITH HIS “TRAP DE DISEÑADOR”
Miami, Florida | July 1st, 2021 | Fabiio, the young-emerging artist from Puerto Rico, who stands out as a singer, producer, and songwriter, presents his new single “Trap de Diseñador”. A song that has a lot of his artistic and personal essence, with a music video where he shows his great talent for Skateboarding. The song and its videoclip are available on all digital platforms.
Fabiio is a rising artist, who identifies himself as a Spanish Trap interpreter. His lyrics are full of optimism and “good vibes” since, as the artist himself affirms, “music is to enjoy it, laugh and have a good time”. Hence, “Trap de diseñador” was born, a humorous and quite different song, with a happy and very contagious melody. The song was written and produced by Fabiio himself alongside JS Beats under the AP Global Music record label roof.
One of Fabiio’s great passions is Skateboarding and he is proud to be one of the few athletes who also pursue a successful musical career.
“Trap de Diseñador” has its release together with its official videoclip, which, in addition to making Fabiio’s great ability on the Skateboard known, shows beautiful landscapes and iconic settings of the city of Miami, such as: Miami Beach and Wynwood.
The audiovisual piece was produced by Keli Inc. & Rum Bum Productions, directed by Angel “Vibe Pill” Rodríguez with Andrez Velez in the art direction. The single and its official music video are available on all digital platforms.
Trap De Diseñador (orcd.co)
Contacto Medios / PR Contact
NV Marketing and Public Relations, LLC
Management and Booking
+ 1 (305) 614-4366


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For a significant part of my life, I self-identified as a skeptic. I dreamed about going to skeptic meetings, and having an impact in the skeptical movement.
I was also very proud of my skepticism (most people would instead use the term “obnoxious”). I could see through bullshit, and it was damn hard to get one over on me. I would debunk the claims made my friends and co-workers, explaining why the dowsing rod they were describing was utter bullshit.
I would write reviews about pseudoscientific movies, and share them on my blog — here’s a review I wrote about Zeitgeist, which I still think is fairly good.
But all of it was part of a strategy. Ironically, it was all part of a conspiracy run by my Survival Mechanism to keep me safe.
See, like anything else, there’s a cost and payoff to a particular way of being.
On my most recent coaching call, my coach and I were looking at the fact that I found myself skeptical that anything was actually going to make a difference.
I italicize found myself, to draw attention to my language. It tells us something already — notice how at effect it is. It’s like, I have no agency in being skeptical. I just happen to “be that way”..
The reality is, I’m choosing it, just like anything else. For me, skepticism is fairly automatic. It’s a default that I can go in to that protects me.
Let’s look at some of the costs and payoffs of this pattern.
Actually, let’s take a digression first.
My memories of Junior High were mostly of being terrified. I was bullied, like everyone else, although it was verbal and emotional, as opposed to physical. I was also new to my school, so I didn’t have any safe spots. I didn’t have any friends that I was bringing to this scary new world with me. It was just me.
What scared me almost as much (if not more so) than being bullied, was seeing other kids being bullied or made fun of. This terrified me, because I knew that the same thing could happen to me. There didn’t seem to be much logic to this type of cruelty, just that if you were unlucky that day, you were the one that it landed on.
The other thing I could not stand to be with was the feeling of embarrassment. Every time we had to do oral presentations in a class (which felt like roughly every two days to me), I would stand at the front, go bright red, vibrate, and stutter through my words. The worst part about this kind of embarrassment was that everyone laughed at you (or at least I created the story that they did), both to your face, and worse, behind your back.
Finally, the worst type of bullying of all was the pretend-your-cool-so-we-can-then-make-fun-of-you. The kind that the kids ran on Carrie in the titular movie, right before she snaps. The kind where you finally think that you’re accepted, and then it turns out you’re a big fat loser that was just getting set up.
Oof. Gut shot.
So, one of the defensive measures I put in place was creating a strong sense of skepticism. I wouldn’t take a compliment at face value — what if it meant that I was getting set up to be made fun of?
My attitude was “Better to remain cool , detached and aloof than to accept a compliment, feel good about myself, and risk being made a fool”.
That approach is fine if you’re committed to a life of being cool, detached and aloof, and free of any random acts of kindness.
I made my motto “There’s no such thing as a free lunch”, and then I created a world where that was true (because at the very best, I would analyze the crap out of every single free lunch I was given — and let me tell you, that was a cost, if nothing else was).
So, as I pull this contraption out, give it a shake and really look at it, what I can see is that my skepticism is ultimately designed to keep me safe. It’s there to stop me from diving in to something and then feeling like an ass.
That’s problematic when I want to create a breakthrough, because no breakthrough ever makes sense from where you are currently standing. If it did, it wouldn’t be a breakthrough. A breakthrough fundamentally changes what is possible in your world. Until you create the breakthrough, those things are impossible. They’re not even in the realm of something you’d consider. (So from the point of view of protecting ourselves from looking foolish or being taken advantage of, it kind of makes sense to be skeptical).
When does skepticism stop being a choice, and veer into the realm of the automatic for me? (NB: This is really all that matters. There’s nothing wrong with being skeptical, or anything else, until it stops being something we can choose, and becomes a default reaction). Usually when I’m worried about feeling dumb, taken advantage of, or unsure of the “right” way to move forward.
In summary: every time I feel vulnerable.
So, what I’m starting to distinguish as I write this (this post is really much more for my benefit than it is yours), is that if I want to continue creating breakthroughs in my life, I’m going to have to tackle the skepticism head on. It’s predictable that it will show up every single time I take on something new and scary (when do you feel most vulnerable?).
Hilariously, I was even skeptical about exploring my own skepticism (sometimes coaching makes me feel schizophrenic) — but as I go through this process myself, and with my coach, it’s clear that this is a big thing that stands in my way.
More as I continue to distinguish this. For now, this is as far as I’ve gotten to, and as much of my process as I can share with you.

domain: psychology


text:
Valve may not be able to provide full “Windows on Deck” support at this time but the company has provided updated drivers and a recovery guide on its support page.
Included in the newest Windows resources are several drivers for outstanding issues. Valve released a GPU driver, WiFi driver, and Bluetooth driver. Unfortunately, the audio drivers are still in the works so getting sound through the speakers and 3.5-millimeter jack will still be a no-go. Steam Deck users are still be limited to Bluetooth and USB-C for audio. Still, the release of these drivers ups the viability of Windows on Steam Deck by a wide margin.
Downloading Windows still presents a tough choice, though. A major pitfall of installing Windows is that there is still no way to dual-boot the system, meaning if you want Windows, prepare to delete SteamOS. Because this process can scare off prospective Windows users and due to it being a shame to unintentionally lead yourself to a point of no return without a guide, Valve has also put together a recovery guide to lead users back to SteamOS should they get in too deep.
Valve’s Steam Deck is capable of a dual-boot, but the dual-boot wizard isn’t complete just yet. The company estimates dual-boot will be available when the SteamOS 3 update launches, according to the support page.
To round out the post, Valve includes instructions for how to install Windows 10 on Steam Deck, though they’re rather streamlined. Valve did state that it is working on a BIOS update that enables fTPM, which is needed to support Windows 11.
Downloading Windows on the Steam Deck was always a possibility since the handheld is essentially just a Linux PC, and Valve didn’t put restrictions on what could be downloaded to the device. But without updated drivers, users who installed Windows at launch ran into some issues with WiFi, Bluetooth, and audio.
While there are still some kinks to iron out in the audio department, Valve has already come through on supporting Windows on Steam Deck when it truly doesn’t have to.

domain: news


text:
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (reception)
6:30 PM – 8 PM (panel discussion)
The David J. Steinberg Seminar is presented in connection with the George Polk Awards, which are conferred annually to honor special achievements in journalism. They were established by Long Island University in 1949 to commemorate George Polk, a CBS correspondent murdered the year before while covering the Greek Civil War.
RSVP at firstname.lastname@example.org (Full name plus your guest full name)
About the Company: Kumble Theater
Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts at Long Island University's Brooklyn Campus is a dynamic, state-of-the art performance venue serving one of the most diverse campuses and communities in the country. It is designed to nourish artistic exploration and development by students and other emerging artists while providing the entire community greater access to an exciting range of Broadway-quality, classical and cutting-edge professional performances. Impeccably crafted for the dramatic and technical demands of dance, music and theatrical productions, this elegant, 320-seat theater provides finely tuned acoustics and top-tier lighting, projection and other electronic capabilities. With a stage featuring a sprung floor extending to the seating area, the theater fosters an intimacy between performers and their audiences. This extraordinary theater was made possible through the generosity of Long Island University Trustee Steven J. Kumble. It is part of an ambitious Campus renovation that created an extensive performing arts complex also featuring a black box theater, dance studios and a glass-enclosed art gallery. Among other major supporters of the performing arts complex are the EAB/Citigroup Foundation, through Long Island University Board of Trustees Chair Edward Travaglianti, trustees Bruce C. Ratner and Donald H. Elliott, the City of New York and the Independence Community Foundation. Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts reflects Long Island University's dedication to awaken, enlighten and expand the minds of its students. Expressed in its motto Urbi et Orbi, the mission of Long Island University since 1926 has been to open the doors of the city and the world to women and men of all ethnic, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds who wish to achieve the satisfaction of the educated life and to serve the public good.
5:30PM â€“ 6:30PM (reception)
6:30PM â€“ 8PM (panel discussion):
Theater: Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts
Address: 1 University Plaza
Buy Tickets Online or Call: Kumble Theater at

domain: artistic


An online survey and in-depth interviews conducted with urban water businesses in Australia and New Zealand by Smart Water Research Centre has shown 80 per cent of respondents are actively pursuing smart metering or intelligent water networks.
Momentum for these projects continues to grow in the region as businesses pursue pilot and operational projects.
“It is clear that urban water businesses are recognising the role digital water metering technology can play in efficiency, demand management, and customer service,” said Adam Lovell, Executive Director of Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA).
“In line with the vision set by our members – ‘customer driven, enriching life’ – it is also important that the end user – the customer – understands the benefit of the technology,” said Mr Lovell.
The research shows that many utilities are now seeing how digital metering and use of near real-time data can benefit customer service.
The survey, conducted by the Smart Water Research Centre on behalf of WSAA, provides a deeper understanding of the state of smart metering and intelligent water networks in Australian and New Zealand urban water utilities. Building on the baseline data gathered in 2013, this study looked at gauging the penetration of smart metering and intelligent water network projects to identify challenges and emerging trends.
The survey found that in the last 12 months there has been a doubling in the number of utilities that are pursuing intelligent water networks. Extending asset life and deferring investment were the key business case drivers identified by survey respondents.
Challenges still exist, especially for smaller water utilities, in transferring the recognition of the new technology into solid businesses cases.
WSAA will continue to work with the urban water industry in understanding the challenges for the implementation of intelligent water networks and smart metering.
The full report can be read online.


text:
Early maize farmers selected for genes that improved the harvesting of sunlight, a new detailed study of how plants use 'doubles' of their genomes reveals. The findings could help current efforts to improve existing crop varieties.
Oxford University researchers captured a 'genetic snapshot' of maize as it existed 10 million years ago when the plant made a double of its genome – a 'whole genome duplication' event.
They then traced how maize evolved to use these 'copied' genes to cope with the pressures of domestication, which began around 12,000 years ago. They discovered that these copied genes were vital to optimising photosynthesis in maize leaves and that early farmers selecting for them 'fuelled' the transformation of maize into a high-yield crop.
A report of the research is published this week in the journal Genome Research.
'Although whole genome duplication events are widespread in plants finding evidence of exactly how plants use this new 'toolbox' of copied genes is very difficult,' said Dr Steve Kelly of Oxford University's Department of Plant Sciences, lead author of the report.
'With crops like wheat it's not yet possible for us to unravel the 'before and after' of the associated genetic changes, but with maize we can chart how these gene copies were first acquired, then put to work, and finally 'whittled down' to create the modern maize plant farmed today.'
It is particularly useful for such genetic detective work that close relatives of maize did not duplicate their genomes 10 million years ago: those that retained a single copy went on to become the plant we now know as sorghum. This enabled the researchers to compare genetic data from these 'duplicated' and 'non-duplicated' descendants of ancient maize, something that is not yet possible with other duplicated crops like wheat.
In the wild plants have to overcome the challenges posed by pathogens and predators in order to survive. However, once domestication by humans began plants grown as crops had to cope with a new set of artificial selection pressures, such as delivering a high yield and greater stress tolerance.
'Whole genome duplication events are key in allowing plants to evolve new abilities,' said Dr Kelly. 'Understanding the complete trajectory of duplication and how copied genes can transform a plant is relevant for current efforts to increase the photosynthetic efficiency of crops, such as the C4 Rice Project [c4rice.irri.org/].
Our study is great evidence that optimising photosynthesis is really important for creating high-yield crops and shows how human selection has 'sculpted' copies of genes to create one of the world's staple food sources.'
University of Oxford News Office | Eurek Alert!
Chains of nanogold – forged with atomic precision
23.09.2016 | Suomen Akatemia (Academy of Finland)
Self-assembled nanostructures hit their target
23.09.2016 | King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
The Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP has been developing various applications for OLED microdisplays based on organic semiconductors. By integrating the capabilities of an image sensor directly into the microdisplay, eye movements can be recorded by the smart glasses and utilized for guidance and control functions, as one example. The new design will be debuted at Augmented World Expo Europe (AWE) in Berlin at Booth B25, October 18th – 19th.
“Augmented-reality” and “wearables” have become terms we encounter almost daily. Both can make daily life a little simpler and provide valuable assistance for...
With the help of artificial intelligence, chemists from the University of Basel in Switzerland have computed the characteristics of about two million crystals made up of four chemical elements. The researchers were able to identify 90 previously unknown thermodynamically stable crystals that can be regarded as new materials. They report on their findings in the scientific journal Physical Review Letters.
Elpasolite is a glassy, transparent, shiny and soft mineral with a cubic crystal structure. First discovered in El Paso County (Colorado, USA), it can also be...
For the first time, Fraunhofer IKTS shows additively manufactured hardmetal tools at WorldPM 2016 in Hamburg. Mechanical, chemical as well as a high heat resistance and extreme hardness are required from tools that are used in mechanical and automotive engineering or in plastics and building materials industry. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS in Dresden managed the production of complex hardmetal tools via 3D printing in a quality that are in no way inferior to conventionally produced high-performance tools.
Fraunhofer IKTS counts decades of proven expertise in the development of hardmetals. To date, reliable cutting, drilling, pressing and stamping tools made of...
At AKL’16, the International Laser Technology Congress held in May this year, interest in the topic of process control was greater than expected. Appropriately, the event was also used to launch the Industry Working Group for Process Control in Laser Material Processing. The group provides a forum for representatives from industry and research to initiate pre-competitive projects and discuss issues such as standards, potential cost savings and feasibility.
In the age of industry 4.0, laser technology is firmly established within manufacturing. A wide variety of laser techniques – from USP ablation and additive...
Every three years, the plastics industry gathers at K, the international trade fair for plastics and rubber in Düsseldorf. The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT will also be attending again and presenting many innovative technologies, such as for joining plastics and metals using ultrashort pulse lasers. From October 19 to 26, you can find the Fraunhofer ILT at the joint Fraunhofer booth SC01 in Hall 7.
K is the world’s largest trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry. As in previous years, the organizers are expecting 3,000 exhibitors and more than...
23.09.2016 | Event News
20.09.2016 | Event News
16.09.2016 | Event News
23.09.2016 | Life Sciences
23.09.2016 | Health and Medicine
23.09.2016 | Life Sciences

domain: biology


text:
AT THIS STAGE OF THE PANDEMIC, SURVEY SUGGESTS CIRCUMSTANCES NOT IMPROVING FOR CAREGIVERS” (May 2022): Mothers’ health and careers continue to be disproportionately impacted
ALMOST A QUARTER OF PEOPLE IN CANADA FEEL GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IS “NONE OF MY BUSINESS” (March 2022): New survey also shows gap between desire to end violence and ability to support victims
FEW ARE WELL-PREPARED TO SUPPORT SOMEONE FACING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (November 2021): Canadian Women’s Foundation flags low public confidence in knowing what to say and do, but texting SIGNAL to 540-540 will help people feel more prepared.
TWO THIRDS OF PARENTS ARE CONCERNED THEIR CHILDREN HAVE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD VITAL HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP SKILLS (August 2021): Canadian Women’s Foundation flags skills gaps during the pandemic and responds by supporting critical community programming as students head back to school.
ALMOST HALF OF MOTHERS IN CANADA ARE “REACHING THEIR BREAKING POINT” (May 2021): New data reveals that mothers in Canada are struggling under the brunt of the day-to-day decision-making and care for their children and families, including shouldering worry for their family’s mental and physical health. This has led to mothers carrying greater feelings of anxiety, isolation, anger, and sadness than fathers, with nearly half (46 per cent) saying they are reaching their breaking point.
ADVOCATES PROVIDE CRUCIAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN INCLUSIVE ACTION PLAN FOR WOMEN IN THE ECONOMY Prominent gender justice advocates from the Canadian Women’s Foundation, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and the Ontario Nonprofit Network, have joined together to offer essential recommendations on an inclusive Action Plan for Women in the Economy.
TWELVE WOMEN-SERVING SOCIAL PURPOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO GROW THEIR IMPACT THROUGH UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP The Canadian Women’s Foundation and LIFT Philanthropy Partners are joining forces with support from the Government of Canada’s Investment Readiness Program.
#ACTTOGETHER CAMPAIGN ADDRESSES GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN THE SECOND WAVE OF THE PANDEMIC: The Body Shop partners with the Canadian Women’s Foundation to inspire digital activism at a time of heightened risk for women, girls, and Two Spirit, trans, and non-binary people.
NEW POLL INDICATES HIGH PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT COVID-19’s IMPACT ON WOMEN: The Canadian Women’s Foundation has released the results of a national opinion poll highlighting public concern over the social and economic fallout of COVID-19 on women.
NEW RAPID RESPONSE EMERGENCY GRANTS SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR DIVERSE WOMEN AND GIRLS: Service demands on all gender-based programs throughout the country continue to grow. In response, the Canadian Women’s Foundation launched the nationwide “Tireless Together Fund” to mobilize community generosity toward diverse women and girls. So far, over $350,000 has been raised.
NEW FUNDING FOR WOMENS’ AND GIRLS’ INITIATIVES IN THE NORTH: MakeWay (formerly Tides Canada) and the Canadian Women’s Foundation have launched a new strategic grantmaking program in service of women and girls in Canada’s territories and Inuit regions. With new gendered challenges emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, including possible increases in violence against women,
empowerment of women and girls in the North is imperative
NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS INEQUITIES WORSENED BY COVID-19: The Canadian Women’s Foundation has released a report that highlights how gender-based inequalities play out for different segments of the population. In the context of COVID-19, these results are even more concerning and highlight the need for an intersectional gendered approach in post-pandemic recovery plans.
CANADIAN WOMEN’S FOUNDATION LAUNCHES SIGNAL FOR HELP INITIATIVE: The Canadian Women’s Foundation is proud to announce its support for Signal for Help, an online initiative to assist those experiencing violence as a result of home isolation during the pandemic. Strict isolating measures have led people in Canada to increasingly turn to video calls to stay connected. Signal for Help is a simple single-hand gesture that can be visually and silently displayed during video calls, to alert family, friends, or colleagues that an individual needs help and that they would like someone to check in safely with them.
CANADIAN WOMEN’S FOUNDATION LAUNCHES TIRELESS TOGETHER FUND IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC: “Many people in Canada want to help but aren’t sure how to,” says Paulette Senior, President and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation. “And it’s clear that women are on the frontlines of the crisis and their well-being is critical to the country’s ability to weather this storm. We knew we needed to act fast, so we launched the Tireless Together Fund to mobilize this goodwill and address the gendered impacts of COVID-19.”
COALITION CALLS FOR FEDERAL LEADERS’ DEBATE ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS, GENDER EQUALITY: “We are back once again to ask each federal party leader, ‘Are you up for debate?’” said Paulette Senior, President and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, speaking on behalf of the Up for Debate coalition.
2019 FEDERAL BUDGET CONTINUES PROGRESS TOWARD A GENDER-EQUAL CANADA: The 2019 federal budget released today builds on the historic 2018 budget, which had an unprecedented focus on advancing gender equality in Canada.
SURVEY FINDS DROP IN CANADIANS’ UNDERSTANDING OF CONSENT: A new study from the Canadian Women’s Foundation has found that Canadians’ understanding of consent has decreased over the last three years, with only 28 per cent of Canadians fully understanding what it means to give consent, compared with 33 per cent in 2015.
NATIONAL GENDER EQUALITY NETWORK TO MEET IN HALIFAX NEXT WEEK
Over 140 women leaders from across Canada will meet in Halifax April 30-May 1 to discuss how to make gender equality a reality.
AFTERMETOO PARTNERS WITH CANADIAN WOMEN’S FOUNDATION TO ESTABLISH FUND FOR SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUPPORT SERVICES
Toronto/Montreal – March 6, 2018 – AFTERMETOO, in partnership with the Canadian Women’s Foundation, today announced the creation of a fund to address the increase in demand on sexual violence support services across Canada. In recent years – and especially since highly publicized movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp – more people have come forward to report sexual violence, and Canada’s already overwhelmed and underfunded sexual violence support services cannot keep up. Calls to the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre increased 100% in the last year alone, and that’s just one of many examples.HISTORIC 2018 FEDERAL BUDGET SETS OUT A PATH TOWARD GENDER EQUALITY Toronto, ON – February 28, 2018 – With its unprecedented focus on the needs of women and girls in Canada, the 2018 Federal Budget is a step forward for gender equality.
4 IN 5 CANADIANS BELIEVE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN JUST AS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE SEXUAL ASSAULT
Toronto, ON — May 3, 2017 — A new study from the Canadian Women’s Foundation reveals Canadians feel the outlook is bleak for the next generation of women (Gen Z or those born after 1999). Timed with the launch of the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s annual May-long Campaign to End Violence, the survey indicates that four-fifths of Canadians (79 per cent) believe that Gen Z women are just as or more likely to experience sexual assault.
ALWAYS® PARTNERS WITH CANADIAN WOMEN’S FOUNDATION
Toronto, ON — October 6, 2016 — Always® Celebrates International Day of the Girl with confidence and encourages Girls to Keep Playing #LikeAGirl with commitment of $100,000 to the Canadian Women’s Foundation.
CANADIAN WOMEN’S FOUNDATION LAUNCHES #GIRLPOWERED CAMPAIGN, BY GIRLS, FOR GIRLS
Toronto, ON — October 11, 2016 — The Canadian Women’s Foundation has partnered with Havas Canada to launch #GirlPowered, a campaign that allows girls to create positive, empowering messages, raising their confidence and self-esteem.
CANADIAN WOMEN’S FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO
Toronto, ON — September 1, 2016 — The Canadian Women’s Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Paulette Senior to the role of President and CEO effective October 11, 2016.
2/3 OF CANADIANS BELIEVE THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT CLAIMS ARE TRUE
Toronto, ON – May 2, 2016 – Amidst several high-profile sexual assault cases over the past year that challenged the credibility of women that report sexual assault, a new study from the Canadian Women’s Foundation reveals that two-thirds of Canadians (67%) believe the majority of sexual assault claims are true.
ONLY 1 IN 3 CANADIANS KNOW WHAT SEXUAL CONSENT MEANS
Toronto, ON – May 5, 2015 – A new study from the Canadian Women’s Foundation, which launched its annual May-long Campaign to End Violence, reveals that while almost all Canadians (96%) agree that sexual activity between partners should be consensual, two-thirds of Canadians (67%) do not understand what it means.

domain: sociology


The MG TF
A great MG roadster - the MG TF 'Tiptronic' .
An Iconic 'modern' all British MG sports car - true to the MG heritage compete with MG number plate.
The MG TF is more than just an old car wearing slick body panels.
Real development shows through in MG TF – a new generation roadster to replace the MGF.
Beneath the attractive dart-like body line with stylish air intakes/rear deck and modish projector lights lives an amazingly different roadster.
In its heyday, the TF earned accolades from Italian car designers as the 'Most beautiful car in the world' – it is a very attractive 2-seater sports car.
The MG engineers worked magic! they produced a great roadster with the TF - with true MG heritage.
With its lightweight four cylinder 16-valve 1.8-litre K Series engine - the TF has some real get-up-and-go
With the redesigned running gear/suspension the MG engineers gave the MG TF even more agility. To the front are double wishbone suspension with coil springs - at the back is a multi-link rear axle set-up. Coupled with the 16-valve 1.8-litre K Series engine, the step-speed gearbox makes the TF feel quicker than our manual gearbox MG F 1.8 VVC - the TF has real get-up-and-go.
MG TF: a great MG Roadster- a worthy successor to the MG F.
The TF is a willing performer that revs sweetly and with the CTV auto-gearbox one cannot over-rev the engine!
The MG TF has a sports auto “gearbox” with six-speed sequential 'Tiptronic' transmission – “kick the floor” and its 118bhp and 122 lb ft of torque can get the rear wheels spinning on its way to 0 to 60mph in 9.7 seconds. It lets you snap up and down the ratios Formula One style using either the gear selector or steering-wheel fingertip controls. Clutch-less gear changing whilst hanging onto the revs through winding roads is a breeze. With its lower weight to power ratio it will outstrip our 1.8 ZR 120 which also has the same racing style “Tiptronic” direct drive gearbox.


In guns, particularly firearms, caliber or calibre is the approximate internal
diameter of the barrel, or the diameter of the projectile it fires, in hundredths or ...
Jan 31, 2016 ... Quickly learn all about common bullet sizes & calibers with tons of pics. Plus find
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Bullet caliber refers to the size, or diameter of the bullet.
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text:
The London Mayor and a leading business person will co-chair the city’s new local enterprise Board, which will bring together the capital’s political and business leaders, local boroughs and universities with the aim of making London the world capital of business.
There are now 31 local enterprise partnerships across the country since the Government’s Local Growth White Paper was published in October last year. Local enterprise partnerships now cover over 87% of the population- 1.8million businesses and 20m employees.
Ministers believe this announcement is a strong testament to the ambition and enthusiasm that local enterprise partnerships are inspiring across the country to revitalise the economy and create growth from the ground up.
The London proposal, which will help to ensure the Mayor’s aim for London to have the most competitive business environment in the world, has the support of: London Councils (representing the support of all London boroughs), London First, the London Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses.
Mark Prisk said:
“I am pleased that we are able to ask another local enterprise partnership to appoint their board. The partnerships have an important role to play in driving local economic growth and creating a strong environment for business.
“We are continuing to assess proposals for further partnerships across England, so that soon more local communities will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of the private sector and the opportunities that growth brings.”
Greg Clark added:
“I’m delighted to be able to invite London to begin appointing its local enterprise partnership board today. This partnership has the ambition, big ideas and clout needed to create economic growth in the capital from the ground up. We are continuing to put London’s future firmly in the hands of Londoners.
“Nearly 90 per cent of the population now has a local enterprise partnership set to promote jobs and prosperity in their local area. This is a testament to the ideas, ambition and innovation you can find at the grassroots.
“Local councils, local business and civic leaders who know their area best are coming together to take the reins of their local economy and ensure its future success.”
Local enterprise partnerships will operate within a geography that reflects natural economic areas and will provide the vision, knowledge and strategic leadership needed to drive sustainable private sector growth and job creation in their area.
Ministers also announced today that partnerships are now able to bid for a share of the £4m capacity fund the Prime Minister announced in January. The Fund is intended to help Local Enterprise Partnerships understand the issues facing businesses in their areas. Bids will be considered in light of the different needs identified by each partnership.
The London partnership aims to create new opportunities that build on London’s knowledge base and its world-class Higher Education Institutions as well as supporting private sector job creation. It will also pilot and develop proposals for new and innovative ways of raising public finance.
The London Enterprise Partnership will work in the context of the Mayor’s Economic Development Strategy, which has the following overarching aims:
- promote London as the world capital of business;
- ensure that London has the most competitive business environment in the world;
- make London one of the world’s leading low carbon capitals;
- increase economic opportunity;
- maximise the return from investment in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Business will have a majority on the Board, which will include business leaders from across London; representatives of London’s growth and employment sectors; pan London Business Leadership organisations; 3 Borough Leaders (to be proposed by London Councils); third sector and Higher Education Institutions
The London partnership will work closely with the Kent, Essex and East Sussex partnership in also driving the growth of the Thames Gateway, through the new locally led Thames Gateway Strategic Group which met for the first time yesterday.
Londoners are already set to benefit from an unprecedented devolution of power from Whitehall under radical new plans in the Localism Bill that will see the city get greater powers over housing, regeneration, economic development, and Olympic legacy.
Notes to editors:
- In September 2010 the Government received 62 responses to its invitation to form local enterprise partnerships. Proposals covered every part of England outside London. Today the London local enterprise partnership has been asked to set up its board and progress its proposals to the next stage. It joins the 30 partnerships now approved. The total 31 now approved are:
Birmingham & Solihull with E. Staffordshire, Lichfield &Tamworth
Cheshire and Warrington
Coast to Capital
Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly
Coventry & Warwickshire
Gt. Cambridge & Gt. Peterborough
Kent, Greater Essex & East Sussex
Leeds City Region
Leicester & Leicestershire
Liverpool City Region
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby, & Derbyshire
Oxfordshire City Region
Sheffield City Region
South East Midlands
Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire
Thames Valley Berkshire
West of England
York and North Yorkshire
A map of approved local enterprise partnerships is available from http://geocommons.com/maps/32888
Proposals for partnerships were assessed in line with the expectations set out in the 29 June 2010 letter from the Business Secretary and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/regional/docs/10-1026-final-letter-local-enterprise-partnerships
Specifically, the Local Growth White Paper proposes that local enterprise partnerships will be able to consider a diverse range of roles, reflecting the differing local priorities in different areas, including:
- working with Government to set out key investment priorities, including transport infrastructure;
- coordinating proposals or bidding directly for the Regional Growth Fund;
- supporting high growth businesses, for example through involvement in bids to run the new growth hubs;
- participation in the development of national planning policy and ensuring business is involved in the consideration of strategic planning applications;
- lead changes in how businesses are regulated locally;
- strategic housing delivery, including pooling and aligning funding streams;
- working with local employers, Jobcentre Plus and learning providers to help local workless people into jobs;
- coordinating approaches to leverage funding from the private sector;
- exploring opportunities for developing incentives on renewable energy projects and Green Deal;
- involvement in the delivery of other national priorities such as digital infrastructure
Revised proposals from partnerships which have not yet been approved will be welcomed by Government as they become ready_. _
The £4m Capacity Fund will be spread over four years, £1m per year, and the deadline for bids for the first round closing at midnight on March 31 2011 and the second round will open later this year. Ministers are seeking bids which address gaps in intelligence available to the Partnerships, facilitate business engagement and interaction with Partnerships; or boost board capacity to prioritise actions which will support business-led growth and jobs within the Partnership’s area.
Radical new plans will see the Mayor of London and Borough councils and neighbourhoods handed greater decision making powers over the city’s housing, regeneration, economic development, and Olympic legacy as part of the Localism Bill:
- BIS’ online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See [http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom](http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom) for more information.
Notes to Editors
BIS Press Office
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
020 7215 5951


text:
Association of Academic Health Science Libraries
The Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) supports academic health sciences libraries and directors in advancing the patient care, research, education, and community service missions of academic health centers through visionary executive leadership and expertise in health information, scholarly communication, and knowledge management.
AAHSL promotes the success of its members through relevant programming and services; benchmarking; advocacy; partnerships with like-minded organizations; and the development of a community of colleagues.
The Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) comprises the libraries serving the accredited U.S. and Canadian medical schools belonging to or affiliated with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
It includes other related libraries and organizations that lead in resolving information and knowledge management problems in the health care environment.
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domain: library


December 2, 2014
MICHAEL P. CURLEY, Plaintiff-Appellant,
CITY OF NORTH LAS VEGAS, Defendant-Appellee
Argued and Submitted, San Francisco, California:
September 10, 2014.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. D.C. No. 2:09-cv-01071-KJD-VCF. Kent J. Dawson, District Judge, Presiding.
Americans with Disabilities Act
The panel affirmed the district court's summary judgment in an action alleging employment discrimination and retaliation in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The plaintiff alleged that the City of Las Vegas discriminated against him by firing him because of his hearing impairment and retaliated against him for filing an EEOC complaint and requesting an accommodation. The panel held that the plaintiff failed to establish a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the City's stated reason for firing him--his long history of threatening coworkers--was pretextual.
Michael P. Balaban (argued), Law Offices of Michael P. Balaban, Las Vegas, Nevada, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
Sandra Douglass Morgan (argued) and Jeffrey F. Barr, City Attorneys, North Las Vegas, Nevada, for Defendant-Appellee.
Before: Mary M. Schroeder, John B. Owens, and Michelle T. Friedland, Circuit Judges. Opinion by Judge Friedland.
FRIEDLAND, Circuit Judge:
Michael Curley appeals the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of the City of North Las Vegas on his claims alleging discrimination and retaliation in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (" ADA" ). First, we consider whether a doctor's finding that Curley did not pose a safety threat belies one of the City's stated reasons for firing him--his long history of threatening coworkers. Second, we consider whether the City's prior leniency toward Curley's misconduct provides reason to doubt that the City fired him partly because of that misconduct. We conclude that neither provides a basis for finding the City's explanations pretextual, so we affirm the district court's grant of summary judgment.
Michael Curley was an employee of the City of North Las Vegas from 1996 until 2009. In 2005, Curley became a pretreatment inspector--a position that primarily entailed cleaning sewers and preventing sewer blockages.
Curley received many oral and written reprimands during his employment with the City. His disciplinary record reflects that, over the course of several years, Curley had numerous verbal altercations with coworkers, made insensitive remarks about a fellow employee's motorcycle accident, damaged City property, and made several threats of violence against coworkers. Curley's disciplinary record also includes statements by coworkers regarding his constant complaints and negative remarks about his managers and the City.
In December 2008, Curley filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (" EEOC" ). The charge alleged that the City had denied Curley's request for accommodation of a hearing impairment. The charge also alleged that the City was retaliating against him for having filed a prior charge of retaliation and race and age discrimination.
In January 2009, Curley made a second request that the City provide him an accommodation for a hearing impairment. In his request, he complained that the noise from one of the trucks he operated was causing his hearing to deteriorate. Curley asked to be relieved from all duties that required him to be near that type of
truck. Because those duties were essential to his position, the City rejected his request and instead recommended that he use dual hearing protection.
Shortly after his correspondence with the City regarding his second request for accommodation, Curley was involved in another incident with a coworker. The coworker asked Curley to remove his hearing protection so that the two of them could communicate about a work-related task. In response, Curley began swearing and asking the coworker whether he thought he was a doctor. The incident prompted the City to place Curley on administrative leave and to launch an investigation into his behavior.
As part of the investigation, the Human Resources Department interviewed City employees and asked about their interactions with Curley. The interviews revealed that Curley had repeatedly threatened his coworkers and their families. For example, he threatened to put a bomb under a car, insinuated that he had mafia connections, and talked about giving a " blanket party" --which would involve throwing a blanket over a person's head and beating him. One coworker reported that Curley threatened to kick his teeth out if the coworker did not join a union. On another occasion, Curley threatened to shoot his supervisor's children in the kneecaps.
The interviews also revealed details about Curley's work habits. Multiple coworkers said that Curley regularly conducted personal business while at work, sometimes spending up to three hours on his cell phone. It also appears that Curley was operating an ADA consulting business. Many of the calls he made during work were about the business, and coworkers saw him approach disabled individuals to discuss potential lawsuits.
Finally, the City scheduled Curley for a fit-for-duty evaluation as part of the investigation. The evaluation assessed only whether Curley could return to work and whether he was a danger to himself or others. The doctor who conducted the evaluation determined that Curley was fit for duty and was not a danger to himself or others.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Human Resources recommended that the City conduct a hearing to determine how to discipline Curley. After the hearing, the City decided to fire him. A memorandum explaining the termination included the following charges: nonperformance of duties due to excessive phone calls, intimidation of coworkers by threats of violence, conducting and soliciting personal business on work time, and making disparaging remarks about his supervisors and the City.
Shortly after his termination, Curley filed a charge with the EEOC alleging discrimination and retaliation under the ADA. Curley received a right-to-sue notice and filed suit in state court in Nevada. The City removed the case to the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, which granted the City's motion for summary judgment. Curley appealed.
II. Standard of Review
A district court's grant of summary judgment is reviewed de novo. Smith v. Clark Cnty. Sch. Dist., 727 F.3d 950, 954 (9th Cir. 2013). We must determine, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, whether there are any genuine issues of material fact and whether the district court correctly applied the substantive law. Id. We may affirm a grant of summary judgment on any ground supported by the record, even one not relied upon by the district court. Walton v. U.S. Marshals Serv., 492 F.3d 998, 1009 n.4 (9th Cir. 2007).
The ADA prohibits an employer from " discriminat[ing] against a qualified individual on the basis of disability." 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a). In addition, the ADA prohibits retaliating against an employee who engages in certain protected activities. See id. § 12203(a). Curley argues that the City discriminated against him by firing him because of his hearing impairment. He also contends that the City fired him in retaliation for his filing an EEOC complaint and requesting an accommodation.
Discrimination and retaliation claims under the ADA are both subject to the burden-shifting framework outlined in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802-04, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973). See Raytheon Co. v. Hernandez, 540 U.S. 44, 49-50, 124 S.Ct. 513, 157 L.Ed.2d 357 & n.3 (2003); Brown v. City of Tucson, 336 F.3d 1181, 1186-87 (9th Cir. 2003); Snead v. Metro. Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 237 F.3d 1080, 1093 (9th Cir. 2001). Under that framework, an employee challenging an adverse employment action has the initial burden of establishing a prima facie case of discrimination (or retaliation). The burden then shifts to the employer to provide a legitimate, nondiscriminatory (or nonretaliatory) reason for the adverse employment action. If the employer does so, then the burden shifts back to the employee to prove that the reason given by the employer was pretextual. See Raytheon, 540 U.S. at 49-52 & n.3; Brown, 336 F.3d at 1187; Snead, 237 F.3d at 1093.
We need not decide whether Curley can establish a prima facie case of discrimination, because, even if he could, he has not raised a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the City's reasons for terminating him were pretextual. Curley concedes that, assuming he could establish a prima facie case, the City has carried its burden of providing legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for firing him. The City gave four reasons for Curley's termination: nonperformance of duties due to excessive phone calls, intimidation of coworkers by threats of violence, conducting and soliciting personal business on work time, and making disparaging remarks about his supervisors and the City. Curley has failed to offer any basis for believing those reasons were pretext for discrimination.
Curley tries to show pretext by pointing to the results of his fit-for-duty evaluation. The doctor who performed that evaluation determined that Curley was fit for duty and not a danger to himself or others. Curley contends that the City's decision to fire him despite the conclusions of the evaluation creates a genuine issue of material fact as to the credibility of the City's stated reasons for firing him.
Curley's argument fails for two reasons. First, the City explained that it fired Curley because of the threats he had made in the past, not the danger of future violence. The Seventh Circuit addressed an analogous situation in Bodenstab v. County of Cook, 569 F.3d 651 (7th Cir. 2009). In that case, the employer fired the plaintiff for making threats and informed him that it believed he was a direct threat to the health and safety of his coworkers. Id. at 658. The court determined that it did not need to decide whether the plaintiff actually posed a " direct threat" as defined by the ADA. Id. The Seventh Circuit held that, even if the plaintiff was not a direct threat,
summary judgment was appropriate because the employer " had a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason for firing [him]--the threats he had already made." Id. at 659. In other words, the plaintiff's threats were an independent and sufficient basis for dismissal, regardless of whether he posed an actual danger.
Like the plaintiff in Bodenstab, Curley was fired for threats he had already made. The City's notice of termination specifically relied on Curley's history of intimidating coworkers. Nothing in the fit-for-duty evaluation addressed that history. Thus, even if the City had Curley evaluated to determine whether he posed a danger to other employees, the City represented that it fired him for past threats, not for the potential of future violence. Curley presented no evidence that the City's reliance on past threats was actually pretext for discrimination.
Second, even if the fit-for-duty evaluation somehow undermined the credibility of the City's stated concern about Curley's threats, the City put forward other reasons for terminating him: nonperformance of duties, conducting personal business at work, and making disparaging remarks about his supervisors and the City. Curley does not even try to refute these reasons. Disputing only one of several well-supported, independently sufficient reasons for termination is generally not enough to defeat summary judgment. See Cotton v. City of Alameda, 812 F.2d 1245, 1248 (9th Cir. 1987) (" We must consider whether a genuine issue exists with respect to the credibility of each of the employer's proffered explanations." ); Jaramillo v. Colo. Judicial Dep't, 427 F.3d 1303, 1309 (10th Cir. 2005) (per curiam) (" [A]s a general rule, an employee must proffer evidence that shows each of the employer's justifications are pretextual." (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks omitted)). There is no reason to depart from that rule here.
As with his discrimination claim, we need not decide whether Curley established a prima facie case of retaliation because he cannot show pretext. Curley argues that, because the City tolerated his bad behavior for years before his recent protected activity (filing an EEOC claim and making an accommodation request), his termination must be retaliatory. But Curley wrongly assumes that the City was aware of the severity and scope of his misconduct during the years in which it refrained from terminating him. In fact, after his protected activity, Curley instigated yet another altercation with
a coworker, which prompted the City to investigate his behavior. This investigation revealed the full extent of his misconduct, including several additional, independently sufficient bases for firing him. Curley does not contest these additional bases. Given this, the City's failure to fire Curley sooner does not constitute evidence from which a jury could find that the stated reasons for firing Curley were pretextual.
Curley also argues that the fact that the City fired him within two months of his protected activity is itself evidence of pretext. It is true that very close temporal proximity between a protected activity and an adverse employment action can be sufficient evidence of a causal link between the two to support a prima facie showing of retaliation. See Brown, 336 F.3d at 1187. But the new information revealed by the City's investigation defeats any causal inference that might otherwise follow from the temporal proximity between his protected activity and his termination. The timing here therefore does nothing to refute the City's legitimate explanations for the adverse employment action, making summary judgment appropriate even if Curley has established a prima facie case. See Hashimoto v. Dalton, 118 F.3d 671, 680-81 (9th Cir. 1997) (holding that, although " the timing of the events suffice[d] to establish a minimal prima facie case of retaliation, it d[id] nothing to refute" the employer's stated legitimate reasons for disciplining the plaintiff).
For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM the district court's order granting summary judgment for the City.


It was a more forceful, determined and resolute President who appeared before a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, vowing to meet “obstruction with action”, issuing a challenge to the Republicans to risk being left behind unless they could agree on something and presenting a challenge to his supporters to believe in him once again. The only question: was it enough?
Maybe. The plans he announced mainly centered on finding way to help the middle class, renew American innovation and manufacturing and, perhaps, bridge some of the income gap between the very rich and ordinary citizens. Whether you believe any of it depends both on whether you want to and whether you have any degree of open mind at this point. A huge minority of Americans have written off this president and many of them did so before he ever came into office, so there is no hope that that group will give Obama credit for anything, at any time.
It is good that Obama recognizes, at last, some of the forces he is up against. Yet, he did not call down the partisanship in Congress in any forceful way, only enough to cause Minority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia to develop a deeper and deeper frown on his face as the speech went along.
Why not lay it out in stark terms? Why not say that the Republicans in the House appear to have dedicated themselves to destroying his presidency and risking the economic recovery in the name of winning the next election? Well, he couldn’t risk saying it quite that harshly, but he could have put more fire into his remarks. Obama is still, at this late hour, holding out some small hope that the Republicans will relent and agree on something. All I can say, I am glad it is Obama and not me waiting on them to soften up.
Obama called for the ridiculous filibuster rule in the Senate, whereby the minority can derail any legislation just by saying “filibuster”, to be changed immediately. He also called on the Senate to hold a vote, up or down, on any cabinet or other nominees within 90 days of submission by the president. As the saying goes, good luck with that. It was great, however, to hear any president issue a challenge on these issues, ones which are crippling the functioning of government in a way most voters are not aware of and generally don’t understand. Obama could have given more time and emphasis to these points, but he probably realizes there is no hope.
All of the Republicans on the floor of the House tended to look like grumps when the camera caught them for close-ups, especially Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader. McConnell is on the record as saying the prime goal of this Congress is to ensure that Obama is a one term president, wh
ich doesn’t leave much meeting space between the two men.
If Obama does not win reelection, this would have been his last State of the Union speech before Congress and the nation. I had the impression of a president who has, over the last three years, gradually awakened to the realities he faces and that he someone who is trying to push forward by moving around the Congress to take his own path, with or without legislative support. That realization has been a long time coming and that, along with the current disaster in the Republican primaries, represent Obama’s best hopes for a second term. Well, those factors plus barrels of campaign money.
Doug Terry, 1.25.12


A month after being named the boys head basketball coach at Forreston Shane Bautch has resigned and former head coach Jonathan Schneiderman has been named his replacement.
Bautch is a former head coach at Rockford Christian who guided the Royal Lions to a third place finish at State in Class 2A in the 2010-11 season. No reason has been given for his resignation from Forreston. A press release from the Forrestville School District stated only that the resignation was “unexpected.”
Schneiderman’s name is synonyous with Forreston basketball. He was a star basketball player there before going on to play at UIC.
Schneiderman later was Forreston’s head basketball coach from 2005-2014. His Cardinals posted a 178-85 record during tha span. They won Regional Titles in 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012 plus Sectional Titles in 2006 and 2011.
“We are excited and fortunate to have Mr. Schneiderman return to the coaching ranks at Forreston High School, ” said Forreston Assistant Principal/Athletic director Kyle Zick in a press release. “His character and integrity are exactly what we want in front of our young men on a daily basis.”
Superintendent Sher Smith added, “We are grateful Mr. Schneiderman is willing to step back into the head coaching role. We understand the time and sacrifices needed to run a quality program and we appreciate Mr. Schneiderman’s willingness, along with his family support to lead our young men once again.”
Schneiderman is also the Elementary Principal at Forreston Grade School and German Valley Grade School.


Philippine military has occupied nine islands, features in Spratlys :Lorenzana
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the military is already occupying areas that the Philippines is claiming in Spratlys.
“We have nine islands in the Kalayaan Island Group or KIG that are already in our possession since long ago including Pag asa,” said Lorenzana.
“We have Philippine Marine troops in every one of them,” he said.
Lorenzana said President Rodrigo Duterte “wants facilities built such as: barracks for the men, water (desalination) and sewage disposal systems, power generators (conventional and renewable), light houses, and shelters for fishermen.”
Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman, said maybe the president is referring to areas that were occupied by the Philippine military.
The nine islands and features occupied by the Philippine military are Ayungin Shoal, Pagasa Island, Lawak, Parola, Patag, Kota, Rizal Reef, Likas, and Panatag.
Duterte also said he will visit Pagasa Island, the largest area that the country occupied in Spratlys, by June of this year.
When asked for possible escalation of tension with China because of Duterte’s planned visit, Padilla said “I would not suppose (it will be) so because we have opened up bilateral consultations with the Chinese and they have always mentioned that everything will be always be discussed peacefully.” Robina Asido/DMS


text:
IN BRONX, 'DESPERADOES' BATTLE CRIME
By KATHLEEN TELTSCH
Published: June 26, 1983
When burglars broke into George and Hydee Matos's hardware store in the central Bronx last month for the third time in three years, they made off with electrical equipment valued at $4,000. A few blocks away, within the last few weeks, thieves broke into a dress factory owned by Victor and Rose Davi, taking 13 sewing machines.
But both couples said they intended to stay in the neighborhood. And they talked optimistically the other day about a new anticrime program being organized by a coalition of local community groups called the Mid-Bronx Desperadoes. The coalition adopted the name Desperadoes nine years ago when it began working with local residents who were desperate for decent housing.
The campaign to reduce street violence and crime was initiated by the Eisenhower Foundation in Washington. The foundation said it expected to start similiar programs in at least 10 other cities. The Bronx program is being financed by the Eisenhower Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation of New York and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, set up by the Ford Foundation to help revitalize deteriorating neighborhoods.
The sponsors provided $60,000 to begin the two-year program, which they said would be designed to the community's wishes. The Ford Foundation had earlier provided $430,000 to the Eisenhower Foundation for the national anticrime program. The money was matched by an additional $430,000 raised locally from 30 corporations and foundations in 10 cities. Survey on Bronx Crime
As a first step in the Bronx venture, Fordham University took a survey of 500 residents and owners of businesses about their fears of crime. Most people who responded said that automobile thefts, muggings, drug use and burglaries were their main concerns, according to Dr. Orlando Rodriquez, an associate at Fordham's Hispanic Research Center.
''People are afraid to go outside at night,'' Dr. Rodriquez said. He added that 40 percent of the residents are women who head their households. Those interviewed said they wanted to remain in the neighborhood, he said.
''People feel the worst has happened already and now conditions will be stable or move upward,'' he said. The community is almost evenly divided between black and Hispanic residents.
At the Davis's dress factory, a modern shop employing 100 workers, the owners said they wanted local merchants to help pay for a security patrol in the area to augment police patrols of the 42d Precinct. 600 Buildings Renovated
The Mid-Bronx Desperadoes have rehabilitated 600 housing units in a 20-block corridor between 173d and 174th streets, running from Southern Boulevard to Bryant Avenue. About 6,000 tenants live in the renovated buildings, according to Genevieve Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit organization. She led a tour through the area last week for Dr. Lynn A. Curtis, president of the Eisenhower Foundation, and Anita Miller, director of the Bronx program for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation.
Dr. Curtis was told about a break-in at one of the buildings. Two youths spotted the thieves leaving with suspicious-looking bundles, alerted police and then chased them for several blocks along with scores of local residents. They seized the burglars before the police arrived.
The youths were given awards at a party sponsored by the community yesterday. Two police officers from the 42d Precinct were also honored.
''That's the core of what we are doing here,'' Mrs. Brooks said. ''Once people have a stake in their own neighborhood, we find crime rates go down and so does fear.'' Escort Service Favored
The Fordham researchers found residents favored setting up an escort service for elderly shoppers and using tenants as block watchers. The new program will begin in late July.
The Mid-Bronx Desperadoes' office at 1690 Vyse Avenue is in a lowrise apartment building shaded by honey locust trees and brightened by sidewalk planters of petunias.
Mrs. Brooks pointed to an abandonded building across the street, an eyesore amid the newly restored dwellings. She said the building would be rebuilt and would be the new offices for her organization.
The Mid-Bronx Desperadoes group is also a co-sponsor of a nearby housing development of one-family residences called Charlotte Gardens. Models of two of the neat, suburban-style houses surrounded by white picket fences recently went on sale.
''Come back in three years and it will all be reality,'' Mrs. Miller said of the improvements in the Bronx. ''All it takes is vision and money.''


text:
Hittite geographers: geographical perceptions and practices in hittite anatolia
Journal of Ancient Near Eastern History
Item Usage Stats
Hittite archives are remarkably rich in geographical data. A diverse array of documents has yielded, aside from thousands of geographical names (of towns, territories, mountains, and rivers), detailed descriptions of the Hittite state’s frontiers and depictions of landscape and topography. Historical geography has, as a result, occupied a central place in Hittitological research since the beginnings of the field. The primary aim of scholarship in this area has been to locate (precisely) or localize (approximately) regions, towns, and other geographical features, matching Hittite geographical names with archaeological sites, unexcavated mounds, and—whenever possible—with geographical names from the classical period. At the same time, comparatively little work has been done on geographical thinking in Hittite Anatolia: how and for what purpose(s) was geographical information collected, organized, and presented? How did those who produce the texts imagine their world and their homeland, “the Land of Hatti?” How did they characterize other lands and peoples they came into contact with? Concentrating on these questions, the present paper aims to extract from Hittite written sources their writers’ geographical conceptions and practices. It is argued that the acquisition and management of geographical information was an essential component of the Hittite Empire’s administrative infrastructure and that geographical knowledge was central to the creation of a Hittite homeland.