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Following his hugely popular account of the previous 2000 years, John O'Farrell now comes bang up to date with a hilarious modern history asking 'How the hell did we end up here?'. "An Utterly Exasperated History of Modern Britain" informs, elucidates and laughs at all the bizarre events, ridiculous characters and stupid decisions that have shaped Britain's story since 1945; leaving the Twenty-First Century reader feeling fantastically smug for having the benefit of hindsight.
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John O'Farrell studied history at Desborough Comprehensive, where he got a B in his O level. He later continued his research by watching lots of programmes about the Nazis on the UK History Channel. Apart from that he has published three novels, a memoir and three collections of his popular Guardian column. A former comedy scriptwriter for such shows as Spitting Image and Smith and Jones, he is the founder of the satirical website NewsBiscuit and can occasionally be spotted on such TV programmes as Grumpy Old Men, Newsnight Review and Have I Got News For You.Review:
"An engrossing and agonising read. And fortunately, a funny one too...The best historical harbingers are also comedians" Independent on Sunday "An enlightening run through the last 60 years of British history" Woman & Home "This very readable account of how 21st-Century Britain was made is a roller-coaster of a ride through fashion and fascism, terrorism and television, soccer and sex." Good Book Guide "All history is subjective, while O'Farrell's take is comically so...Will bring a smile to grumpy old men everywhere." Daily Mirror
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But I'll never forget the one phone call that was like no other I've ever received.
The guy called to say he wasn't going to be able to make our date on Saturday, simply saying, "I'm away." That was the last time I spoke with him.
Act like you're confident and that you know where you are going. It's a bunch of shops, strip clubs and that's about it.
Nothing to make you want to stay there overnight even with the girls.
This coupled with a real-time border wait-time app means a planned visit to Mexico might not be a bad way to meet people with similar interests And if you don’t have a vehicle, no problem, you can take Uber into Mexico, however, she warns you cannot take one back because south of the border service does not yet exist.
For the gay traveler, taking an entire vacation through the country is probably the best way to utilize those digital meet-up services.
A few months later, I found out he had been killed. My experience dating or partying with narcos wasn't unusual in the '90s.
This was the decade of the Arellano Félix brothers, or Tijuana Cartel, which the US government once considered one of the biggest and most violent criminal organizations in Mexico.
Tinder does have same-sex match-up, although not their primary demographic, but still, if you are looking for a good international time, it’s not a bad service to try.“I enter Mexico by foot at dusk on a Friday night,” she writes, “but I started swiping days ago from afar with a premium Tinder feature called Passport.
While teenage girls in San Diego struggled with peer pressure, my biggest concern on the other side of the border was never knowing if I was dating a narco.


The agreements are created pursuant to the provisions of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, whereby the developer agrees to provide or fund public amenities, public services or affordable housing as part of the planning and development process.
Typically, these agreements are entered into at the time of rezoning. The voluntary planning agreement scheme can be controversial: some view the scheme as a means to buy planning approvals from the relevant planning authority. However, some consider that the agreements can procure community benefits better than Section 94 Contributions or flat levy contributions.
Most of the time, the provision of public amenities and public services is done by way of a monetary contribution by the developer to the Minister for Planning & Environment or relevant Council based on the net developable area of the proposed development.
Other times, a contribution may be made by way of dedication of land for the public benefit including “green space” or other recreational or public area or by way of constructing new infrastructure (roads and transport). By funding early infrastructure, this creates the capacity for new development which is considered beneficial to local councils that do not have the funds or infrastructure to support new development in the first place.
A proposed voluntary planning agreement must be made available for public inspection and comment for at least 28 days prior to the developer and Minister for Planning and Environment (or local Council) entering into the agreement.
Furthermore, most agreements require security in the form of an unconditional bank guarantee in respect of the developer’s obligations under an agreement and are required to be registered over the title to the land to which the agreements relate.
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We can assist you in any of the following areas of Property Law, and when you are ready one of our team will be happy to answer any questions that you might have.
When you need a Property Law specialist, contact our team at Conditsis Lawyers. Come visit us at our offices around NSW including Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Gosford and on the Central Coast. We have the depth of experience and knowledge of property law that you need to obtain the best possible outcome for your conveyancing and other property needs.


WASHINGTON — Senator Richard M. Burr of North Carolina temporarily stepped down on Thursday as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, a day after F.B.I. agents seized his cellphone as part of an investigation into whether he sold hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of stocks using nonpublic information about the coronavirus.
The seizure and an accompanying search for his electronic storage accounts, confirmed by an investigator briefed on the case, represented a significant escalation of the inquiry by the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission. They suggest that Mr. Burr, a Republican and one of the most influential members of Congress, may be in serious legal jeopardy.
Given the sensitivity surrounding the decision to obtain a search warrant on a sitting senator, the move was approved at the highest levels of the department, a senior Justice Department official said, meaning that Attorney General William P. Barr signed off on it. The warrant to obtain Mr. Burr’s phone was served to his lawyer, and investigators took Mr. Burr’s phone from him at his home, according to the official who, like the investigator, spoke on the condition of anonymity to publicly discuss the case.
Mr. Burr has denied he did anything wrong. With the investigation progressing, he said Thursday that he wanted to limit distraction to the Senate and informed Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, that he would step aside. Mr. Burr will remain a member of the committee, however, and continue serving in the Senate.
“This is a distraction to the hard work of the committee, and the members and I think that the security of the country is too important to have a distraction,” Mr. Burr told reporters in the Capitol. He declined to discuss the case further but said he was cooperating with the authorities.
Mr. McConnell, who had yet to pick a temporary successor for Mr. Burr as chairman, said that he agreed “this decision would be in the best interests of the committee and will be effective at the end of the day tomorrow.”
Mr. Burr sold the stock on Feb. 12 before the market cratered and as President Trump and some supporters were downplaying the threat of the virus. At the time, Mr. Burr was receiving briefings and involved in senators-only conversations suggesting the country faced a growing health crisis that could hurt the economy.
The Justice Department declined to comment on the warrant, which The Los Angeles Times first reported.
The senator has insisted that he based his trading decisions exclusively on publicly reported information that he read in financial news accounts out of Asia. Mr. Burr’s legal adviser, Alice Fisher, said the facts of the case would ultimately “establish that his actions were appropriate.”
It is not illegal for lawmakers to make investment decisions based on public information. But insider trading laws, including the Stock Act that governs Congress, prohibit officials from making decisions based on specific, nonpublic information they receive in the course of their work.
Paul Shumaker, a longtime adviser to Mr. Burr, said the senator was adamant that he had done nothing wrong and would not resign. “He has no choice but to fight this. He has to clear his name,” said Mr. Shumaker, adding that for Mr. Burr to quit would amount to “an admission of guilt” and that would not halt the inquiry.
Federal investigators have also scrutinized stock trades by other senators around the same time, including Senators James M. Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma; Kelly Loeffler, Republican of Georgia; and Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, according to a person briefed on those cases. All three have said they did nothing wrong.
In April, law enforcement officials asked Ms. Feinstein “basic questions” about stock transactions made by her husband during the period in question, her spokesman, Tom Mentzer, said on Thursday. He said Ms. Feinstein complied and provided documents that showed she had no involvement.
A spokeswoman for Ms. Loeffler, Kerry Rom, said the senator had “forwarded documents and information to D.O.J., the S.E.C., and the Senate Ethics Committee establishing that she and her husband acted entirely appropriately and observed both the letter and the spirit of the law.”
Ms. Rom did not say whether the authorities had requested the information or if Ms. Loeffler provided it proactively in an effort to tamp down a story line that has roiled her Senate campaign.
But Mr. Burr is the primary target of the investigation and his case is more advanced, according to one of the investigators. Unlike other senators under scrutiny, Mr. Burr has not denied that he initiated the sales himself or that they were related to concerns about the coronavirus. He has asked the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate.
The scrutiny of Mr. Burr stems from his decision to sell 33 stock holdings collectively worth $628,000 to $1.7 million. The sales liquidated a large share of Mr. Burr’s portfolio, and they came in the days after a series of briefings on the spreading coronavirus that Mr. Burr received both as chairman of the Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
During the intelligence panel briefing, on Feb. 4, C.I.A. officials sketched out an early picture of the geopolitical effect of an outbreak that was still confined to Asia. Other briefings to the health panel, including one the day before Mr. Burr’s stock transactions, featured top government health officials who would later steer the country through the pandemic.
Investigators are likely trying to determine the content of those briefings, particularly any information presented that was not publicly available, but it could be difficult. Much of the information may be sensitive or closely resemble public reporting at the time. And experts say Congress’s so-called speech-or-debate clause could prevent investigators from directly questioning Mr. Burr about what he learned in the course of his duties as a senator.
Mr. Burr also has a history of warning about the threat from pandemics. He helped write legislation more than a decade ago to assist the United States in better preparing for such events. He heralded that work in an op-ed article in early February saying that the country was “better prepared than ever” to respond to the coronavirus.
Few figures on Capitol Hill have played higher-profile roles in recent years than Mr. Burr. A reliable conservative vote, he has nonetheless been the face of and driving force behind a three-year bipartisan intelligence committee investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and possible ties to the Trump campaign.
His insistence on seeing the investigation through and tough questioning of close associates of the president has piqued the White House at times, and relations between the president and the senator remain chilly.
Some of Mr. Burr’s allies in the Senate privately questioned on Thursday why the search warrants became public if Mr. Burr was cooperating.
“I don’t believe he did anything criminally wrong,” Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, told reporters. “Maybe he used poor judgment, I guess, but I know Richard and he is the one guy I can tell you who actually does watch CNBC Hong Kong.”
Mr. Burr, whose term ends in 2022, has already said he does not intend to run for re-election. But the specter of North Carolina’s senior senator facing an F.B.I. inquiry could further complicate Republican prospects in what is perhaps the most pivotal state on the electoral map this year.
Democrats in North Carolina renewed their calls for Mr. Burr to resign his Senate seat altogether.
“If he has any sense of decency left, Burr will resign immediately, and if they have any regard for the rule of law, Republicans across this state and all over our country will demand the same,” said Wayne Goodwin, the chairman of the state Democratic Party.
Emily Cochrane, Jonathan Martin and Adam Goldman contributed reporting.


The fingerprint sensor will be placed on the back side of the device next to the two rear-camera sensors.
Meanwhile, the 5MP secondary camera allows the users to apply a bokeh effect, while the front camera has a 13MP resolution.
In the optics department, the device sports a 48MP rear camera but due to its Quad-bayer filter, it's better used for outputting 12MP images with a 1,6 µm pixel and real-time HDR.
Moreover, the leaked poster also showcases the phone's front and back designs. The Redmi Note 7 features a 6.3-inch FHD+ display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio with a waterdrop styled notch on top. It is powered by octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE processor with Adreno 512 GPU. In terms of connectivity, the Redmi Note 7 offers 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, IR Blaster, 3.5mm audio jack, and a USB Type-C port. Ahead of the unveiling, the alleged Redmi Note 7 was recently spotted on the Chinese certification agency TENAA's website.
Geekbench results Source – MySmartprice
At its much-awaited event in China, Xiaomi, today announced the successor to Redmi Note 5-dubbed as Redmi Note 7.
Going by the specs, features, and the price, Redmi Note 7 is the new mid-range king of smartphone. But, being the first affordable Redmi phone, I believe the phone will reach other markets, especially India pretty soon. The Redmi Note 7 is official in China and it comes with quite some changes with the company opting for a new sub-brand. Several rumours hint that the device could be called as Redmi Pro 2 or Redmi 7 Pro or Redmi 7. Depending on the variant you choose, the phone is available in four colors: Blue, red, black and a purplish "twilight" gradient. 12,459 and 6GB RAM is priced at 1399 Yuan which is approx. This is one of the first devices Redmi is launching independently after it separated from the main Xiaomi brand. Rs 10,380, 4GB RAM for 1199 Yuan which is approx.
It is backed by a 4000mAh non-removable battery and with the QuickCharge 4.0 support, the device can be fully charged in 1 hour 40 minutes.
Monaco sign Chelsea's Fabregas on two-and-a-half-year deal
I'm honored to announce that I will be starting an exciting journey with this wonderfully historic club". Cesc Fabregas played 303 times for Arsenal between 2003 and 2011, helping the club win the 2005 FA Cup.
Nokia 8 Sirocco finally gets Android 9 Pie update
However, the confusion arises from the fact that the 8.1 succeeds the 7 Plus and not the excellent Nokia 8 from 2017. The phone is expected to be released next month at MWC 2019 alongside a number of other Nokia-branded devices.
Saudi Arabia reveals rise in oil, gas reserves
The 2017 figure for crude reserves is larger than the total 260.8 billion barrels Aramco reported in its 2016 annual review. Dallas-based consultants DeGolyer and MacNaughton carried out the audit of the Kingdom's oil reserves.


text:
Modification of Imperfect Cancer Drugs to Become Perfect Cancer Drugs to Save Cancer Patients
Keywords:Abnormal MEs, chemo-surveillance, cancer drugs, CDA, CSCs, DIs, DHIs, differentiation therapy, wound healing
The objective of this study is to develop perfect cancer drugs to save cancer patients. A specific aim is to save King Charles who was recently diagnosed to have cancer. Perfect cancer drugs are the drugs capable of inactivating abnormal methylation enzymes (MEs) to take out both cancer stem cells (CSCs) and cancer cells (CCs) by inducing these cells to undergo terminal differentiation, and to restore chemo-surveillance to save cancer patients. Imperfect cancer drugs are cytotoxic agents capable of killing CCs but cannot affect CSCs, which also contribute to the destruction of chemo-surveillance to cause fatality of advanced cancer patients. The ineffectiveness against CSCs and the destruction of chemo-surveillance are responsible for the failure of imperfect cancer drugs to cure cancer. Cell differentiation agent-2 (CDA-2) was a persuasive perfect cancer drug approved by the Chinese FDA, the rest of the world do not have a really perfect cancer drug. CDA-2 was a preparation of wound healing metabolites purified from urine, which could serve as a model for the development of CDA formulations as perfect cancer drugs. Wound healing metabolites active as differentiation inducers (DIs) and differentiation helper inducers (DHIs) are the active players of chemo-surveillance created by the nature as allosteric regulators of abnormal methylation enzymes (MEs), which are the most critical issue of cancer. The elimination of abnormal MEs is very effective to cure cancer. Wound healing is a simple matter that comes naturally, because the nature creates chemo-surveillance to ensure perfection of wound healing. Cancer is the consequence of wound unhealing due to the collapse of chemo-surveillance. Cancer therapy can also be a simple matter, if the therapy follows wound healing process. PSCs and CSCs are cells with abnormal MEs, which are protected by drug resistance and anti-apoptosis mechanisms. PSCs are the cells involved in wound healing. Efficient induction of terminal differentiation of PSCs is very critical to the success of wound healing. Natural DIs and DHIs are the partners of PSCs and CSCs in wound healing, which can easily access to PSCs and CSCs. If wound is not healed, PSCs are forced to evolve into CSCs and then to progress to faster growing CCs. CCs display a high level of degradative enzymes to generate substrates for the syntheses of macromolecules to support their faster growth. Natural DIs and DHIs may be rapidly degraded in CCs. A different set of unnatural DIs and DHIs may be necessary to achieve the induction of terminal differentiation of CCs. Thus, two sets of CDA formulations, one CDA-CSC with natural DIs and DHIs, and another CDA-CC with non-natural DIs and DHIs to accomplish effective therapy of cancer. We have carried out extensive studies on natural DIs and DHIs presented in the urine, and unnatural DIs and DHIs as telomerase inhibitors, signal transduction inhibitors, targeted therapeutic agents and growth inhibitors for the formulations of CDA-CSCs and CDA-CCs.
How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2024 Ming C. Liau, Christine L. Craig, Linda L. Baker
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

domain: biology


text:
Hot on the heels of 'Inre Rydmen', the EP that the Swedish multi-instrumentalist group Tommy Awards released via Origin Peoples in mid-June, come the remixes. Drafting in a cohort of the very best, this impending release will see the likes of Jonny Nash, Coyote and Mystic Jungle Tribe jump on the remix duties, touching original productions with their unmistakable idiosyncrasies. Bartosz Kruczynski, the Polish producer better known under his 'Earth Trax' guise, is another name credited on the release, offering up a 15-minute epic as he reinterprets penultimate track, 'Hans Logan.' Also to see an appearance on this EP is the Romanian Eirwud Mudwasser, offering up a rendition of the track 'Mike Sierra Foxtrot' reworked in a similar esoteric expanse, albeit it quite a bit more lucid.
Oscillating electronics mesmerise and an arpeggiating synth melody gradually make way for marimbas. Sweeping, elongated strums of guitar stretch out like the horizon and the dialogue between various melodic elements continues throughout as we bear witness to various transformations. Irregardless of pacing, the meditative quality remaining consistent throughout each glorious edit.
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If you purchase a pre-order item amongst an order of in-stock releases, we will typically hold your order until all items are in ready to send.
Although we use all reasonable means to ensure that your order is delivered within a specified time, we cannot accept any responsibility for late deliveries due to circumstances outside of our control. We will do our best to inform you of any unexpected delay.

domain: artistic


text:
Save 15% on iStock using the promo code
Watercolor Beach Ball
Vector collection of abstract shapes and geometric elements with hand drawn texture
Icon Series #02
Beautiful seamless pattern with blue watercolor stripes. hand painted brush strokes, striped background. Vector illustration.
Paint brush. Black ink grunge brush strokes. Vector paintbrush set. Grunge design elements. Painted ink stripes
Eraser Vector Icon Line Illustration
Brush stroke collection
Illustration of moving the house items
Old faded look beige and light brown coloured striped pattern vector backgrounds with alternate seamless pattern of bands in two shades all over
Tile Vertical Line Grunge Texture. Black Dusty Scratchy Pattern. Abstract Grainy Background. Vector Design Artwork. Textured Effect. Crack.

domain: hobby


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domain: sociology


- RCEP: India in a Catch-22
- Humira’s Best-Selling Drug Formula: Start at a High Price. Go Higher.
- Cancer Drug Price Rises 1, 400% With No Generic to Challenge It
- UACT statement regarding Chilean Congress resolution calling on the President to advance the compulsory licensing request on HCV drugs
- Justice Prabha Sridevan on Life, Laughter and IP
Tag Archives: AAP
Source: PTI Published: Zee News A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar also issued notice to the Delhi Government on the petition which sought direction to identify and publicise the names of hospitals, laboratories and medical … Continue reading


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By: Denise Simon | Founders Code
All is not so copacetic with North Korea. The United States has many channels of intelligence regarding North Korea and dealing with Kim Jong-Un. Many of the moving parts require diplomatic artistry.
Below are but two examples and the prediction of a second summit between the United States and North Korea being noted, the logistics is a chess game.
FireEye has released a report stating the tools and techniques used by the group, “We believe APT38’s financial motivation, unique toolset, and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) observed during their carefully executed operations are distinct enough to be tracked separately from other North Korean cyber activity. There are many overlapping characteristics with other operations, known as “Lazarus” and the actor we call TEMP. Hermit; however, we believe separating this group will provide defenders with a more focused understanding of the adversary and allow them to prioritize resources and enable defense.”
In their official blog, the company further explained the distinction of the group from any other hackers out there. Foremost, the malware tools used overlap or are similar indicating the similar development behind the scenes.
The general pattern used by APT38 was observed to be this way:
- First, the information is gathered by targeting third-party vendors to understand the mechanics of their transactions.
- Then, initial compromise takes place followed by internal reconnaissance, then pivot to victim servers used for swift transactions.
- After this, finally, the funds are transferred or stolen.
- This group does not stop there. They remove all the evidence that might help the authorities trace back to them or know the exact way or methodology of the fraud.
FireEye addressed the threat the group poses to its targeted sector by stating, “APT38 is unique in that it is not afraid to aggressively destroy evidence or victim networks as part of its operations. This attitude toward destruction is probably a result of the group trying to not only cover its tracks but also to provide cover for money laundering operations.” The full 32 page report is here.
The U.S. Treasury Department last week sanctioned a Turkish company, two Turkish individuals, and a North Korean individual for violating UN sanctions on Pyongyang. These sanctions came just before Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s fourth trip to North Korea in preparation for an anticipated second Trump-Kim summit.
Treasury targeted the Turkey-based company SIA Falcon International Group; the company’s chief executive officer, Huseyin Sahin; the company’s general manager, Erhan Culha; and North Korea’s economic and commercial counselor in Mongolia, Ri Song-Un. The sanctions were issued pursuant to Executive Order 13551, which restricts trade in arms and luxury goods with North Korea. UN Security Council Resolution 1718 from 2006 also prohibits member states from conducting such trade.
In a press release, Treasury noted that SIA Falcon operates in Latvia. In February 2018, Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) named ABLV Bank of Latvia an institution of primary money laundering concern. FinCEN noted that ABLV “institutionalized money laundering as a pillar of the bank’s business practices” and conducted illicit financial transactions for North Korean procurement or export of ballistic missiles. Treasury did not confirm, however, that SIA Falcon’s Latvian branch office used ABLV’s bank services.
Treasury’s latest sanctions came the same day as The Rodong Sinmun, a North Korean state-run newspaper, published an article lambasting U.S. sanctions policy. Just days earlier, North Korea’s foreign minister, Ri Yong Ho, implored the UN Security Council to lift sanctions in response to Pyongyang’s moves to freeze missile and nuclear testing and to destroy the Punggye-ri test facility. However, until North Korea agrees to denuclearization and a full declaration of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program, facilities, and capabilities, Washington has confirmed it will not ease sanctions pressure.
After Secretary Pompeo’s latest trip to North Korea, Pyongyang’s media outlets suggested U.S.-North Korea relations are improving. Of course, these latest designations, as well as ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts to ensure international compliance with UN sanctions, could stir further tensions. Despite these risks, the sanctions send a useful message to Pyongyang that the Trump administration will not back down until the Kim regime meets its core demands. Hat tip: FDD.

domain: news


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March 19, 2012–The analytics market is booming during these tough economic times. And with it, the analytic job market is blossoming. This is big news for the horde of talented job hunters out there. But do they have what it takes to keep up with the wildly evolving world of big data? Many sources are helping prepare for just that leap, as we saw in the SF Gate piece, “Cloud Computing and Big Data Tips for Job Seekers.”
All of the tips were helpful, but one of our favorites was “No Limits: Cloud is about online engagement, from collaboration to participation on internal organization chatter, or online crowded sourcing of contract talent. The Cloud workforce of tomorrow will engage in all levels of active participation and collaboration. From online marketing tools like Trada that provide crowded sourcing of online advertisements, to freelancers bidding on design projects, the cloud workforce of tomorrow is engaged in its community.”
So, what, exactly should hunters be hunting for? The hot term is “data scientist.” A catch-all term, defined by Computer World as “A new job title — data scientist — is all the rage. A data scientist typically has a background in computer science or mathematics as well as the analytical skills necessary to find the proverbial needle in a haystack of data gathered by the corporation.” It continues: “A data scientist is somebody who is inquisitive, who can stare at data and spot trends…It’s almost like a Renaissance individual who really wants to learn and bring change to an organization.”
However, not everyone is pushing all their chips to the center of the data scientists table. According to a passionate Atlanta Analytics essay “I really don’t want a “web analytics job.” Not now, not ever in my future. And neither do your best analytics people.” It clarified: “We don’t want to be the digital strategists who point on the map to where we should go; we want to be shepherds, literally walking the business to the destination, taking our place in the action, being present, monitoring progress, and redirecting the tactics when they start to spread too far apart.”
This mentality, though, seems to be in the minority. Thankfully. There are no shortage of opportunities to innovate and lead in the analytics world. The rules are being written as we go along, because change is happening so fast. Anyone worth their salt will love sinking teeth into this new world of challenges.
Image courtesy of Morguefile.com http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/18188


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| Last updated
After making a controversial claim about the recommended size of one’s waist, a diabetes expert has sparked a heated debate online.
Professor Roy Taylor, from the University of Newcastle, presented the data at the annual conference for the Study of Diabetes, held by the European Association.
Taylor, who is reportedly one of the world’s leading experts on diabetes, has claimed that if people can no longer fit into the same-sized trousers that they were wearing at a certain age, they are ‘carrying too much fat’ and need to lose weight.
According to Taylor, people are considered to be ‘carrying too much fat’ and at risk of developing type 2 diabetes if they no longer fit into the same jeans they did at just 21 years old.
The data from an early study, which Taylor presented at the conference, showed that by losing weight, it would be possible for those with type two diabetes who were considered a normal weight, to ‘achieve remission’. According to the study, eight out of 12 people, who consumed only 800 calories each day for three rounds of the programme, were able to ‘get rid’ of the illness by losing 10 to 15% of their body weight.
Taylor’s study resultantly showed, in its initial findings, that diabetes is ‘not caused by obesity but by being too heavy for your own body’. ‘If you can’t get into the same size trousers now, you are carrying too much fat and therefore at risk of developing type two diabetes, even if you aren’t overweight,’ he said.
However, despite his medical advice, Taylor’s comment on being able to fit into the same trousers that you once wore aged just 21 has caused a heated debate on Twitter.
Many women took to the platform in outrage, pointing out the flaws in his analogy, particularly in how women’s bodies change specifically around the stomach and hips due to instances such as pregnancy. One person said: ‘Wait till someone tells him about where babies come from.’ And another replied: ‘Nobody tell him what happens post baby pelvises…’
A second wrote:
Has he thought about female anatomy at all? Maybe I’m some sort of medical freak, but my hips widened quite significantly in my 20s (I assumed it was biology saying, ‘baby time’). At 21, I still had quite a childish body. Friends say the same…
A third commented: ‘I gave up wearing jeans before I even turned 20 because I couldn’t get them long enough… I assume this means I’m going to live forever.’
Many women were quick to condemn Taylor’s turn of phrase and called the claim ‘stupid’, recommending that he be given a lesson in ‘female biology’.
He was also accused by many of ‘implicit misogyny’ and a ‘total lack of understanding of female physiology’, with one woman stating that ‘shaming every peri/menopausal woman is not the way to better public health’.
Other women also commented that they had eating disorders when younger and at the age of 21, which would be an extremely damaging and unhealthy way of living to return to.
The full results of Taylor’s findings are expected to be presented in 2022, as per The Guardian, after the head of research communications at Diabetes UK, Dr Lucy Chambers ‘welcomed’ the findings, but ‘cautioned’ that they were preliminary.
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this article and would like to speak with someone in confidence, call the BEAT Eating Disorders helpline on 0808 801 0677. Helplines are open 365 days a year from 9am–8pm during the week, and 4pm–8pm on weekends and bank holidays. Alternatively, you can try the one-to-one webchat
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President Biden was ripped Sunday for taking a break at Camp David while Afghanistan was overrun by the Taliban — after he withdrew US troops stationed in the country for the past 20 years.
“Why is Joe Biden on vacation?” GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio raged on “Sunday Morning Futures” on Fox. “I don’t think he’s taken one question from the press this entire weekend, so this is a frightening situation.”
Other GOP lawmakers echoed the concern on social media.
“Why is Joe Biden in hiding?” Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas tweeted. “He should immediately address the nation and answer for the catastrophic situation in Afghanistan.
“Conference calls between cabinet secretaries and senators don’t cut it in a crisis.”
Rep. Jim Banks, an Afghan war vet from Indiana, tweeted, “Does Joe Biden even want to be president any more?”


BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST, S.D. (KOTA TV) - Norbeck Society says too much timber is being cut down and is asking for the Black Hills National Forest to temporarily stop.
Norbeck Society, a land conservation organization, sent a letter to the Black Hills National Forest Service days ago to ask them to temporarily stop timber sales.
"Hit the pause button on sales of timber until there's a chance for the interested parties to convene and talk about how to bring the stable quantity into alignment with the current state of the forest," Norbeck Sociey Vice President Mary Zimmerman said.
The letter laid out the concerns the organization has about timber volume being harvested in the forest.
Zimmerman said though she is not trying to eliminate logging she fears too much of it will hurt the environment.
"More than 1,200 other plants that grow naturally in the forest and this system of depressing them to grow more pine is just kind of the culture method in play right now. We believe those plants need to be offered a place to live. And having those supports all of our wildlife," Zimmerman said.
However, Scott Jacobson with the Black Hills National Forest Service, says cutting down trees was necessary to tackle the mountain pine beetle epidemic.
"We had an accelerated timber harvest to thin the forest in advance of the mountain pine beetle to treat the forest. So that helped with reducing the amount of trees for the bugs to eat," Jacobson said.
He said the forest service is instructed to cut down 197,000 Ccf (cunit) of timber next year, which he said is a lot.
Taking note of harvest numbers, the forest service asked for an accelerated analysis process. It's normally a study conducted every seven years, but the forest service asked to have one at the end of three years.
In the analysis, several plots of land are counted to gauge the health of the forest. Scientists count every tree in a plot, compare it to the last analysis, to measure growth of trees, number of trees that died from bug infestations and other potential scenarios. Based on those results they will adjust if need be.
However, Jacobson said people just have different ideas on how to maintain the forest.
"So we do respect the Norbeck Society and their position and we will certainly keep them as one of our partners moving forward and analyzing and taking a look at what's out there ahead of us," Jacobson said.
The analysis report will be available in December. Afterwards, Jacobson plans to sit down with community partners like Norbeck Society, county and state officials to go over the report and decide what to do next for the forest.


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Buy top quality fresh healthy Saram (Fresh)
Saram Fish Fillet (Fresh)Full 1 kg Boneless
- Weighted after cutting and cleaning to give you full 1 kg Fresh Fillet.
- These are Saram (Fillet) Fresh.
- Beneficial for heart
- Helps in neurological development
- It has edible skin & sweet in taste.

domain: food


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I wrote this book as an extension of the LifeChanger series on my blog. I love telling stories of people who are doing something different. They are choosing to change their life or the life of someone around them.
About the ebook
I am inspired by other people. I think most of us want to live a unique life. We just aren’t always sure how to do it. The more I spend time with people who are anything but ordinary, the more I want to share their stories and inspire others. That’s what this book is about.
How to Get a Copy
Becoming a LifeChanger is currently available for free for my new friends. I know so many of you are learning to dream again. I hope this inspires you! You can download it here. Feel free to share it with your friends or someone that you know could use some encouragement.
Why am I giving it away for free?
Because I want to share inspiring stories. I want you to understand that your story matters, and that you can become a LifeChanger too.
I’d be honored if you decide to subscribe to my blog, but it is not necessary. I share my blog posts, podcast episodes, and a monthly newsletter. If you’re interested, simply subscribe below.
The book is also available for $.99 in Kindle format on Amazon.com.
Have you read Becoming a LifeChanger?
What did you think?
I would love to hear from you. Please email your feedback or share in the comments.
Feel free to email me at email@example.com with your thoughts or your LifeChanger story. I’d love to hear from you.
I’d also be extremely honored if you would leave a review on Amazon, or share the book with friends.
Tweet about it
Email this link
Visit my Facebook page to interact with other LifeChangers
I look forward to hearing about your LifeChanger story!
What people are saying:
This ebook is not very long, but don’t let that fool you. This ebook is filled with things to think about. It’s not just another self-help book,but rather a manifesto encouraging us to change the world.
Tammy’s writing is clear and direct. She cuts to the bone and doesn’t give you any extra fluff. Her style
reminds me a lot of Bob Goff meets Jon Acuff. I can’t recommend this book highly enough!
~ Jim Woods
In a world filled with heartache, it’s easy to get discouraged. It’s easy to say “The problem is so big and I’m so small…how could I possibly make a difference?”
Tammy Helfrich is here to show you that you can.
Woven in between stories of people who have moved away from the ordinary and changed lives, Tammy shares practical advice and inspiration about you can make changes in your own life to leave a lasting impact on the world.
~ Christine Niles
I just finished your book (“I just couldn’t put it down”! 😉 ), and I have to say it was very well done. Short, simple, to the point, something anyone can refer back to for a “quick jolt of encouragement”. You backed up your thoughts and suggestions with real life examples (which always strengthens your statements), and maintained a positive, hopeful, even joyful attitude throughout. BRAVO on a work well done!
~ Jace Carlton
Loved it! Very encouraging and inspirational. The perfect prelude to the new year!
~ Mike Plotnick
I learned you can make a difference just where you are. Sometimes we look at successful people and think we are not able to be like them or make a difference. I was one of those people. However, after reading Becoming a LifeChanger, I realized I too can make a difference to those around me. (You can read her review here.)
~ Pilar Arsenec
With “Becoming a LifeChanger,” Tammy rocks you out of your blasé existence and gives you a vision of what life can really be like – extraordinary rather than mediocre. After reading the stories she shares you’ll want to scramble out of your seat and chase after that dream that’s been sitting dormant in your heart for far too long. Whenever I need a pick-me-up, I’m going to pull up Tammy’s book for a good, motivational kick in the butt!
~ Tim Gallen
I had the pleasure of meeting Tammy in September at Jon Acuff’s Quitter Conference in Nashville. I have been following Tammy for almost a year and was excited to read that she was releasing her first book. Becoming a Lifechanger was a fast read, but pleasant. It hit home when Tammy was talking about the battle of fear and to just do it by taking the next step to reach your goals. I loved the stories, I to like other reviewers wish the author went into more detail with eachs journey. I challenge you to read this book and be motivated to begin the challenge, stop waiting and pursue what you want. My goal is to be a Lifechanger in 2013, helping adolescents and adults defy obesity. By sharing my story as a speaker and writing my first book.
Keep up the great work Tammy!~ Ben Dempsey
I was immediately drawn in when I saw the title of the first chapter, “Enough of Mediocre”. This book will challenge you to drop your excuses for not chasing the dreams that God has planted in your heart. It will motivate you to look for reasons to pursue those dreams, rather than reasons not to. The world is full of ordinary people who have accomplished extraordinary things, and have blessed humanity in the process. In “Becoming a LifeChanger”, Tammy challenges you to be one of those people, instead of just watching from the sidelines.~ Paul O’Rear

domain: literature


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Sauted carrot slices (cooked in olive oil over low/medium heat/ use a vegetable peeler)
Cooked basmati rice & quinoa
Cooked dried green split peas mixed together with little bit of mashed avocado, fresh lemon juice, salt, Ayurveda 5 spices blend, herbed salt, finely sliced
Grated turmeric, salt and little bit of black pepper
Sprinkled with fresh lemon juice and olive oil
🤔The TCM nutrition helped me to reduce my acne to a minimum. It may help you, too. 😃More yummy and healthy recipes you can find in my book📕: My new eating habits inspired by the TCM have minimized my acne. Moreover I have summarized everything what was relevant for me to cure my acne.
😀If you need nutritional advice please dm me and I will coach you with the support of my nutrition school.


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text: I am a storyteller. Each surface of my paintings is a stage where I direct, compose, and position my characters to play out a narrative. With thread and a sewing needle, I stitch together reality and imagination. My work is a vessel that draws on themes of displacement and migration by referencing art history, Latin American literature, poetry, and autobiographical details. I explore these ideas through painting, drawing, and collaging. Treating fabric like paint, I stain, layer, cut, and meticulously hand-stitch small pieces of secondhand clothes until they become images. This material is the foundation of my practice—a carrier of stories, memories, and lived experiences of the people who once wore them. I use my family’s discarded clothing that they ship from Miami to my studio in New York City. It is a tactile connection to my Cuban ancestry. I make this work to honor my community and unite the stories of the people displaced worldwide and the memories of the place they once called home.


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The New Collective LA
Photo Curtesy of The New Collective LA
One of the only Los Angeles acting schools that offers a conservatory atmosphere for an affordable monthly membership, this studio offers acting exercise and sensory classes where actors can work on their craft, characters and auditions.
Classes include Actor’s Gym, Actor’s Journey, script analysis, scene discovery and acting for film. There’s also a Master Class.
Performance Opportunities: Developing film projects utilize the talent who are currently in the program. Performances for an invited audience are held once or twice a year.
Career Preparation: A diverse schedule of classes offers the actor consistent practice to develop their on camera audition skills. Actors can bring their own material to the On Camera Audition class. Private coaching and tapings are also available. Students can review their work on a secure server online.
Tuition Fee: Basic membership – $175 for 4 weeks, includes a maximum of 8 classes.
UNLIMITED membership – $295 for 4 weeks, includes UNLIMITED classes.
Discount available for multiple month packages.
What Students Need to Apply: Just sign up.
Acceptance Rate: Actor that is interested in improving their craft and passionate about the work (no auditions required).
Website: The New Collective LA


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The Liberty State Park Protection Act, legislation sponsored by Hudson County Democrats seeking to make the space a protected historic site, cleared a state Assembly panel on Monday. By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“A rare open space jewel in a densely populated urban county and one of only two places in the world from which Ellis Island and Lady Liberty can be accessed, she enhances the quality of life of urban families and visitors from everywhere,” Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-33), one of the bills primary sponsors, said in a statement.
“Future generations deserve to enjoy Liberty State Park as open space.â€
In carrying out its responsibilities, the committee would give consideration to the natural, historic, cultural, recreational, and scenic resources and the local, State, and national significance of Liberty State Park.
Liberty State Park is a beacon of hope that represents all that America has to offer,â€ added Assemblyman Nick Chiaravalloti (D-31).
â€œTourists are drawn to the beautiful markers and rich history but for Jersey City residents it is a plot of much needed green space in the concrete landscape. This legislation will ensure that the park remains a recreational area free for everyone to enjoy.â€
In addition, the legislation would prohibit the DEP from considering any proposal to commercialize, develop, or privatize Liberty State Park, except as provided in the bill.
Under the billâ€™s provisions, the DEP would be allowed to the approve a concession, conveyance, lease, or other agreement with a private entity to provide small-scale commercial activities that directly enhance a visitor’s experience to Liberty State Park.
Some examples would be a bicycle or kayak rental concession, food concession, temporary winter skating rink, commercial boat tour operating from an existing boat slip, and use of the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal (â€œCRRNJ Terminalâ€), and other uses identified in a management plan.
The bill also requires the DEP, whenever it proposes to enter into a concession, lease, or other agreement for a duration of one year or longer, to provide a full public process with public hearings and a public comment period.
â€œThis measure would protect Liberty State Park from any future proposals to commercialize or privatize the state and national treasure,” said Assemblywoman Angela McKnight (D-31).
The legislation cleared the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Monday on Monday and state Senator Sandra Cunningham (D-31) has introduced the bill in the upper house.
Last month, the Jersey City Council approved a measure urging Trenton lawmakers to pass the Liberty State Park Protection Act.

domain: geography


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Cobb transportation officials address BRT, bikes, Braves at town hall meeting
KENNESAW — On the heels of the groundbreaking ceremony for SunTrust Park, the 41,500-seat…
Georgia (Sep 22, 2014) — KENNESAW — On the heels of the groundbreaking ceremony for SunTrust Park, the 41,500-seat stadium for the Atlanta Braves, leaders of transportation agencies in Cobb met Thursday to assure residents they are working to improve the county’s roads.
Link To Articlehttp://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story/25803747/article-Cobb-transportation-officials-address-BRT--bikes--Braves-at-town-hall-meeting
About 100 people attended the town hall meeting at Kennesaw State University’s Continuing Education Center.
Residents attended with varied agendas. Some wanted improvements made to the county’s community transit bus system, others advocated for more biking trails and another resident wanted county Chairman Tim Lee’s proposed bus-rapid transit system.
Charley Levinson, who works at BCT Printing in Norcross and ran for Marietta mayor in the last election season, said he uses mass transit every day to get to work, and he wants the county to implement a bus rapid transit system.
“I hope it’s in the works soon,” Levinson said. “It’s either the BRT or nothing, and nothing is the absolute worst thing for this county.”
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.


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Anticancer Drug Demonstrates Activity Against SARS-CoV-2, Including B.1.1.7 Variant in the Lab
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Some of the information in this article is based on research findings that are yet to be peer-reviewed. Results are therefore regarded as preliminary and should be interpreted as such. Find out about the role of the peer review process in research here. For further information, please contact the cited source.
Scientists at UC San Francisco’s Quantitative Bioscience Institute (QBI) and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai (ISMMS) in New York have shown that plitidepsin (Aplidin), a drug approved by the Australian Regulatory Agency for the treatment of multiple myeloma, has potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
In laboratory experiments reported in Science on Jan. 25, plitidepsin, a compound originally discovered in a Mediterranean sea squirt, was 27.5-fold more potent against SARS-CoV-2 than remdesivir, a drug that received FDA emergency use authorization in 2020 for the treatment of COVID-19. In addition, in two preclinical models of COVID-19, plitidepsin showed a 100-fold reduction in viral replication in the lungs and demonstrated an ability to reduce lung inflammation.
The studies were led by the laboratories of Nevan Krogan, PhD, director of the QBI, part of the UCSF School of Pharmacy, and Adolfo García-Sastre, PhD, professor of microbiology and director of the Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute at ISMMS.
In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Krogan, also a senior investigator at Gladstone Institutes, brought many UCSF labs together in the QBI Coronavirus Research Consortium (QCRG), which played a major role in the new research.
In a separate publication posted to the bioRxiv preprint server, the UCSF and ISMMS researchers, in collaboration with Greg Towers, PhD, and Clare Jolly, PhD, of University College London, show that plitidepsin has antiviral activity against the recently identified B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 which is comparable to the drug’s activity against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. Additionally, they found plitidepsin to be about 100 times more potent than remdesivir in human epithelial cells.
“From the start, our scientific investigations with the QCRG were to research where and how the SARS-CoV-2 virus was co-opting its human host to thrive, survive and become deadly,” said Krogan. “That research led us to a biologic pathway, the eukaryotic translation machinery, where inhibition of the pathway showed significant antiviral activity in cell culture. One of the promising agents that arose from our screen of drugs that inhibit this pathway was plitidepsin. Our preclinical data showing increased potency compared to remdesivir, and in conjunction with recent early clinical data showing promise in COVID-19 patients, as reported by the drug’s manufacturer, suggest plitidepsin should be further evaluated as a COVID-19 therapy.”
García-Sastre said, “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created an immediate need for antiviral therapeutics that can be moved into the clinic urgently. This led us to screen clinically approved drugs with established safety profiles. Our previous study of the SARS-CoV-2’s interactions with human host cells led us to a protein known as eEF1A, which is involved in translating mRNA into proteins, as a potential druggable target to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication.”
The studies were conducted in close collaboration with PharmaMar, a Spanish pharmaceutical company that first isolated plitidepsin (trade name Aplidin) from a sea organism known as Aplidium albicans.
“Plitidepsin is an extremely potent inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2, but its most important strength is that it targets a host protein rather than a viral protein,” said Kris White, PhD, assistant professor of microbiology at ISMMS, first author of the Science paper. “This means that if plitidepsin is successful in the treatment of COVID-19, the SARS-CoV-2 virus will be unable to gain resistance against it through mutation, which is a major concern with the spread of the new U.K. and South African variants.”
Krogan said the work is further validation of the QCRG’s focus on host proteins as a strategy to fight COVID-19 and other viral diseases.
“It is host mechanisms that permit the SART-CoV-2 virus to wreak havoc,” Krogan said. “By targeting host factors that enable or facilitate disease, we have the potential to have a more far-reaching impact in drug development. In this case, SARS-CoV-2 and its mutant strains, and possibly other viruses that leverage the same pathway, may also be susceptible to the same therapeutic agents that inhibit this virus–host interaction.”
White KM, Rosales R, Yildiz S, et al. Plitidepsin has potent preclinical efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 by targeting the host protein eEF1A. Science. 2021. doi:10.1126/science.abf4058
Reuschl A-K, Thorne LG, Zuliani-Alvarez L, et al. Host-directed therapies against early-lineage SARS-CoV-2 retain efficacy against B.1.1.7 variant. bioRxiv. 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.01.24.427991
This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

domain: chemistry


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Contractors as party candidates: Where money power trumps people power
Across the country, construction of roads and bridges worth 10 billion rupees remains in limbo. But the contractors who won bidding for the infrastructure projects have been fielded by major political parties to contest elections on the platform to ‘build the country.’
-Rudra Pangeni, Centre for Investigative Journalism
Among thousands of candidates vying for public offices in upcoming elections are dozens of contractors who have won bid to build roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects. Major political parties have recruited them as candidates for both first- past-the-post and proportional representation system of elections. “Most contractors have been fielded as candidates not for their contribution to the political party they represent, but because they can finance their campaign,” said an official at Federation of Contractors’ Association, Nepal (FCAN). Around 35 contractors have entered the electoral fray, according to FCAN.
Click drop down list in graph to see lists of projects undertaken by contractors
Nepali Congress has fielded the largest number of contractors for the first past the post voting including Dil Man Pakhrin (Dhading-2), Mohan Acharya (Rasuwa), Tirtha Lama (Kavre-1), Purna Bahadur Tamang (aka Kancha Ram) from Ramechhap-2, Indra Bahadur Baniya (Makwanpur-2 B), Raju Thapa (Syangja-1), Hari Prasad Mahato (Sarlahi-3), Ganesh Lama (Kavre-1 B), Chhatra Bahadur Bamjan (Sindhuli-2) and Tek Bahadur Gurung (Manang).
Joint venture of Sharma and Company Pvt. Ltd and Kanchha Ram Construction Pvt Ltd (owned by Purna Bahadur Tamang) had won the contract to build Tinkune-Maitighar section of road in Kathmandu. The contractor, hasn’t received the final payment because it violated the contract by producing substandard infrastructure. After it remained idle for months, Department of Road (DoR) issued notice three times in Gorkhapatra, warning that it would cancel the contract. Another project entrusted to Tamang’s company — the expansion of Duhabi-Biratnagar section of the highway—has hit a dead end. Yet another of his construction project worth 54.7 million rupees in Palpa district hasn’t been able to move forward in the last four years.
Jip Chhiring Lama (owner of Lama Construction) and Bahadur Singh Lama (of Himdung and Thokar Pvt Ltd) have also been fielded by Nepal Congress as candidates for a seat under proportional representation system. Both have poor track record of project implementation. Lama Construction has abandoned six projects including in Biring, Sunkoshi in Khairenighat, Madi Khola in Libang Ghartigaun. Similarly, several construction projects by Himdung and Thokar Pvt Ltd worth Rs 69 million in Basantpur and Myanglung of Terhathum district in eastern Nepal are lying idle. Another project overseen by the company– construction of Buddhist Circuit in Lumbini—has faced delays due to slow progress and may yet miss another extended deadline in July 2018.Seven years ago, the company won a contract to construct health post buildings in Morahang and Poklawang of Terhathum district, but has left the works halfway.
Take the case of the project to expand road from Kamalpokhari to Ratopul in Kathmandu. Ganesh Lama, a candidate recruited by Nepali Congress in provincial assembly polls in Kavre district, forced government to wait for several years before he completed the project. In August, Department of Urban Development and Building Construction had to give a six-month extension to the construction of Goganpani health post in Dailekh district after Lama’s Siruwa Construction in partnership with Majdur Company failed to complete the work worth Rs 23.2 million on time.
Bikram Pande, the promoter of Kalika Construction Pvt Ltd, is contesting election as a candidate of Rastriya Prajantra Party in constituency no 3 of Chitwan district. Although his company has earned praise for some good work, he is notorious for taking advantage of his access to power. Work on a bridge over Dudhkoshi River in Jayaramghat, a joint venture project with Hulas, remains incomplete even after 9 years.
According to Department of Road, until February, the company had completed only 52 percent of the work worth Rs 119.5 million. Among its unfinished work is a 117.9 million rupee Sunsari-Morang bridge, a joint venture with Oasis, whose work began nine years ago.
A bridge along Sagarmatha Highway over Sapsukhola connecting Rajapani with Batase of Khotang district remains in limbo three years after Dev Sayar and Kanchharam JV won a bid to construct the Rs 60 million project. The contractor has already missed a two-year deadline. Despite being fined on several occasions for the delay, the company hasn’t made any headway.
Other contractors who have jumped in the electoral fray includes Ganesh Bahadur Khadka, an independent rebelling against a Nepali Congress candidate in Dailekh district, Janardan Dhakal, who has been fielded by the UML in Rasuwa district as a candidate for a lawmaker of federal parliament and Chandra Lama, a candidate in Kavre-1 B. Similarly, Khadka Bahadur Khatri, a candidate for provincial assembly member in Surkhet-1 Kha, is also known as a contractor. Debendra Bahadur Shahi, a candidate for federal parliament, is contesting to be a lawmaker from Jumla district.
A contractor who sits on contracts
Hari Narayan Rauniyar, managing director of Pappu Construction, quit Nepali Congress in April and joined Federal Socialist Forum, which has fielded him as a candidate for lawmaker at federal parliament in Parsa district under first-past-the-post voting. Though he claims that he has won contract of bridges totaling five kilometer, half of his projects have been found to be ‘sick.’ Half a dozen infrastructure projects worth Rs 800 million overseen by Pappu Construction have been abandoned half-way. “He is number one among contractors who sit on their projects and cause trouble to government officials by using political connection,” said an official at DoR.
Click here to download data
Eight years ago, Dayananda Jha, the head of Hetauda Division Road office, took action against Pappu Construction. The company was found to have submitted fake documents to obtain contracts. It prompted authorities to blacklist it, banning it from bidding. But Jha had to pay a heavy price for his action. Rauniyar lodged a complaint at Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), the anti-graft body. At the time, the UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal served as Prime Minister while Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar was minister of physical planning. Gachchhadar refrained from defending Jha. As a result and under pressure from Pappu Construction, Jha was transferred to DoR.
It seemed like rewarding a thief with key of your house. Since then, according to an engineer at DoR, no engineer dares to blacklist a contractor that violates the contract. “If they have to blacklist a contractor, they will choose the weakest one. The head of the office will drag his/her feet or will ask for transfer to another office,” the engineer said. Another senior engineer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Project managers wish Pappu Construction to not have won the contract at all. Even if it wins a contract, they wish it to withdraw from the project. That’s because they are fearful of awarding the contract and facing the consequences,” he said.
The DoR doesn’t have detailed figures on contractors and bridges that are under construction across the country. But according to one of its estimates, until mid-September, 1200 bridges (ranging from 20 metres to 800 metres) were under construction.
Rauniyar, the managing director of Pappu Construction, told Republica that his son now oversees his construction business. “If projects are not completed on time, it’s not our fault. It’s caused by delay in land acquisition, poor design and lack of sufficient budget to carry out construction,” he said.
When asked about allegations against him—that he discouraged officials who took action against him for the delays and his use of political connection to avoid punishment—he said: “Both allegations are baseless. It’s 200 percent wrong.”
Helpless officials, contractors backed by political parties
Three years ago, Thodung, Lohani, Singh and Brothers JV won a contract to expand a 16 kilometre section of road along Birtamod-Bhadrapur of Jhapa district. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) had funded the project. But even after 18 months, less than 10 percent of work had been completed. When officials began a process to sever the contractors from the contract, they faced political interference.
The government led by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala obstructed the process because the contractor, who implemented the project, among the JV Hari Bansa Pandey belonged to Nepali Congress. A delegation of ADB from its headquarters in Manila went on a ‘field visit’. But they found neither any machines nor equipment in the project site. It failed to deliver the work and in April last year, the contract was finally severed.
The contractor knocked the doors of Appellate Court of Patan, seeking an appointment of an intermediary. In mid-September, the court ruled in favour of DoR. This is a textbook example how contractors use their political clout for protection.
Normally, a blacklist period for contractors lasts from one to three years, but Public Procurement Monitoring Office (PPMO) doesn’t want to antagonize them. So it limits the moratorium to a minimum i.e. one year. Dinkar Sharma, a former director general of DoR, said, “Banning them for a year is like giving them a breather because all it means is that they are only prevented for bidding for infrastructure projects.” Before the current Procurement Act came into force in 2007, concerned minister approved all the contracts.
The intention of the Procurement Act was to free the bidding and subsequent process from political interference and to streamline it. The idea was officials who approve the design and cost estimate should also make the final call on the winning bidders. The law was stipulated in order to delink awarding of contracts from political interest. But it didn’t have the desired effect. Tulasi Sitaula, a former secretary of Ministry of Physical Planning, said, “After the law was passed in 2007, decision to award contract wasn’t made at political level, but its consequence was that contractors themselves became politicians.”
As a result, a nexus between politicians and contractors was established. Surya Nath Upadhyaya, a former chief commissioner of CIAA, said, “Political party leaders break big infrastructure contracts into smaller ones and award it to their cadres. Then, the cadres contest polls as party candidates.”
A 10 billion rupee boondoggle
While political parties have fielded dozens of contractors as their candidates in the polls, infrastructure projects worth more than 10 billion rupees have been deemed ‘sick’. Had the infrastructure projects completed on time, it would have served the public and generated employment. It would have increased capital expenditure, which in turn would have a positive impact on the country’s economy.
But despite delays which extended several years, officials at DoR could neither sever the contracts nor blacklist the poor performing company. Even if an official tries to implicate the guilty party, he or she faces immense political pressure. “The bosses are miserable,” Dinkar Sharma, a former DG of DoR, said, “By preventing them from exercising their authority, the political class has pushed back the pace of development.”
On February 1, 2017, at a meeting of Parliament’s Development Committee, a group of lawmakers boiled over with anger, which they directed at officials of DoR. They accused the officials of allowing offending contractors to avoid punishment. After strong criticism from lawmakers, Min Bahadur Shrestha, the vice chairman of National Planning Commission, told the meeting: “We couldn’t take action against them because we were under pressure from politicians and lawmakers.”
After the meeting, DoR submitted a report including a long list of ‘sick’ projects to the Parliament’s Development Committee. According to the report, big contractors including Pappu, Sailung Construction, Swachchhanda Nirman Sewa each has yet to finish projects worth one billion rupees despite reportedly working on them for years.
Despite the fact that the Committee was well aware of the problem, it never ran any discussion on the report. Nor did it make the report public.
Ganesh Pahadi, a UML lawmaker from Sindhuli district and a member of Development Committee, complained at a meeting about the delays in building a 400-metre bridge over Kamal River, which was awarded to Pappu Construction. “It’s been five years since the contract and the work is yet to begin,” he had told at the time.
In all fairness, the DoR has severed from contracts and blacklisted poor performing contractors, but only those contractors who lack political patronage have been subjected to the rule of law. According to PPMO’s website, in the last five years, a total of 101 contractors have been blacklisted. But only 9 A-listed contractors face the ban.
The politico-contractor nexus
Contractors can easily become politicians because they have greater sources of wealth that allows them to climb up the political ladder. There’s a growing nexus between lawmakers and contractors. A research into the background of lawmakers reveals that most of them were either contractors themselves or backed by them. A former government secretary, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “In the beginning, people who spent their life fighting for democracy entered politics. Then came university students who later joined politics. After the changes of 2006, contractors have been attracted to political parties.”
Twenty two contractors had won parliamentary seats in the last constituent assembly. With the increase in number of people’s representatives in provincial assemblies and federal parliament, number of contractors vying for public offices is likely to rise. More than 200 contactors have won various positions including a mayor in the last local election, according to Ram Sharan Deuja, general secretary of FCAN.
“Politics is supposed to be a selfless service to the country. It should be conducted with minimum support from state. But if candidates win elections by mobilizing money power, then it will not only lead to political corruption, but will also help deepen policy corruption,” said Nilkantha Uprety, a former chief election commissioner.
Yubaraj Gyawali, a veteran politician and a UML leader, recently told an interviewer of BBC Nepali Service that he didn’t contest elections because he couldn’t raise funds required for his campaign. “If you don’t have enough money for your campaign, you are discouraged from contesting in elections. This is a very serious issue,” he said. “Candidates tend to spend millions of rupees in their campaign. I can’t do that.”
Uprety echoed his sentiment. “This is no longer a democracy. This is Money-cracy, this is Gangster-cracy,” he said. “This will drive our country towards a dangerous direction.”


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Buckingham was a city located in the Outaouais region of the province of Quebec. Since January 1, 2002, it has been part of the amalgamated city of Gatineau which merged five former municipalities, including Masson-Angers, Buckingham, Hull, Aylmer and Gatineau, into a single entity.
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domain: travel


Here is BusinessLive’s regular summary of all the changes, appointments and promotions affecting businesses across the wider East Midlands:
Leicester-based multi-disciplinary design practice rg+p has appointed a new director to lead the next phase of growth for its planning division.
Chartered town planner and member of the Royal Town Planning Institute Chris Lindley will initially be based from its Leicester studio.
With a residential and commercial development background, Chris’s experience includes delivering net zero carbon schemes, green belt development, listed buildings and heritage work, estate planning and land promotion.
He also has experience in appeal hearings and appearing at local plan examinations and public inquiries as an expert witness.
He said: “My entire career has been spent in consultancy roles, acting for a range of developers, landowners and
link source - Business Live News


text:
From the outset, the Royal Danish Ballet employed some of the leading French and Italian dancers and choreographers. Within a few years of its founding, in 1771, the Royal Theater Ballet School or Royal Danish Ballet school was established to provide native dancers, of which one of the first was Anine Frølich. One of its early masters, Vincenzo Galeotti, is considered the veritable founder of the company. He was master of the company from 1775 to 1816, and introduced ballet d'action and prepared for the advent of romantic ballet. Galeotti is credited with choreographing Amors og Balletmesterens Luner (The Whims of Cupid and the Ballet Master), which is still part of the company's repertoire and is the world's oldest ballet still performed with its original choreography.
The egg is known from a description published in The Connoisseur magazine in June, 1934:
"Miniatures of the late King of Denmark and his Queen are framed as the surprise feature in the Imperial egg. The outer surface is in light blue and white enamel with ornaments in gold and precious stones. On the top are the armorial bearings of the Danish Royal Family, and it is supported by Danish heraldic lions."
The Danish royal is a scenographer, and has designed costumes and sets for the TivoliBalletTheatre and the Royal Danish Ballet ... In October, the Royal Danish Household confirmed Margrethe and Joachim had sat down for peace talks to smooth tensions that had arisen from the monarch's announcement.
She had originally been due to mark the 50th anniversary of her accession to the Danish throne in January, but festivities were considerably scaled back because of the pandemic ... Margrethe greets staff on the Royal Yacht Dannebrog in Copenhagen ... She has also worked as a costume and set designer with the Royal Danish Ballet and Royal Danish Theatre.
Today, the Danish monarchy is one of the most popular in the world, enjoying the support of more than 80 percent of Danes... A painter as well as a costume and set designer, she has worked with the Royal Danish Ballet and Royal Danish Theatre on numerous occasions ... She has illustrated several books, including a Danish 2002 edition of J.R.R.
And she has become the second longest-serving monarch in Danish history ... The Danish royal line dates back to Gorm the Old in the 10th century ... A painter as well as a costume and set designer, she has worked with the Royal Danish Ballet and Royal Danish Theatre on numerous occasions.
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark looked incredibly fit as she took part in the Royal Run in Kolding, Denmark on Monday. The Australian-born Royal, 50, donned slim-fitting activewear as she ran one mile [1.6 kilometres] and mingled with the crowd ... A royal romance ... The Danish royals are pictured attending a ballet gala honouring the Queen's 50th jubilee.

domain: history