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Picture used for illustrative purpose only.
Sajjad Ahmad, Staff Reporter
Women play a big role in the economic growth of the UAE and the trend of women entrepreneurship is on the rise in the country.
The UAE is leading the region in empowering women by fully supporting and facilitating them to increase their contribution in the business activities.
The UAE offers significant growth opportunities to women for growth across sectors and the country’s women entrepreneurs have acquired significant attention in recent years through their innovative ideas and advance skills.
According to McKinsey Global Institute study, advancing women's equality could add $12 trillion to the global economy by 2025.
In a best-case scenario, that number could jump to $28 trillion dollars.
On the occasion of ‘Women Day’ celebration entrepreneurs from various sectors shared their thoughts with the Gulf Today on the future opportunities.
Ghada Sawalmah, CEO of Gargash Hospital said, “The acceleration of economic growth has been possible only because of women entrepreneurs. Women contribute to half of the world’s population, and their efforts have come to surface well in this era."
"At Gargash Hospital, around 50 per cent of the hospital’s workforce is made up of women, with 80 percent holding key leadership roles. We believe in the power of women, and can’t wait around for the industry to catch up with this trend."I personally feel that skill, adaptability and understanding are few of the prime reasons for us women to emerge as business leaders. When women are active contributors in the workforce, they invest in their families, their homes, and their communities, leading to measurable impact," says Ghada.
"In the UAE, the wise leadership, government and the citizens support and encourage the contributions of women, which has been a critical force in empowering us to serve as game-changers for the economy. Today women are as likely as men to recognize the business opportunities around them. Women are not only strong innovators, but they also help grow markets, maintain sustainability and increase employment prospects."
Sadia Anwar, Founder & CEO of Storically, “The trend of women entrepreneurs is on the rise, with 25% of business being owned by women in advanced market economies. In developing economies, many women are turning to entrepreneurship as well, especially in the space of micro-businesses.
"In the UAE, women as myself have had the opportunity to not only present our ideas, but also give shape to our dreams. My venture Storically is a testament to the same," adds Sadia.
Sadia concluded by saying that the socio-economic impact of women on the economy is immense, the contributions ranging from job creation and poverty reduction to social equality. Just like the UAE, several other countries are also taking the lead to enable more women to take up entrepreneurship to bring innovative new ideas, products and services to the market.
Rika Bothra, Co-Owner & Marketing Director, Plastfree Middle East FZE said, “Women today are at the helm of global economic development. Over the past several decades, women have been a fast-growing segment of small business owners, with entrepreneurial women representing the fastest-growing cohort of all entrepreneurs.
"Further, many women-owned businesses focus on sectors such as health care and education, qualifying for consideration as social enterprises, designed for both profit and positive social or environmental impact. Plastfree, is one such organisattion, where we have not only ventured into a business which defies the odds, but also ensured that the community we serve, benefits from our solutions," states Bothra.
"In the UAE, we have been privileged to be a part of an ecosystem that supports women entrepreneurs, helping us create a mark for ourselves in the country. The UAE business environment is committed to driving equality in the business world, serving as a steppingstone to learn, grow and develop. We are grateful to the country and its government for offering us equal opportunities to grow and flourish at each stage.”
The startup ecosystem in the Middle East and especially in the UAE is a perfect ensemble that rings in the right notes and the well-orchestrated symphony for encouraging women entrepreneurs.
Experts suggest there is compelling evidence, further supported by the recent findings of the Kauffman Fellows Research Centre, that top management teams with more significant gender, international experience and educational diversity have a significant positive impact on business performance.
The world, particularly the UAE is heading towards this change, with several women already holding the reins to top positions.
The news that the UAE is spearheading the cause of women’s rights all over the world is heartening, to say the least. It shows that it shows full-on care for their plight and seeks to advance their cause to the best of its ability. The UAE tops advanced
The Abu Dhabi Pension Fund pointed out that the labour market in Abu Dhabi witnessed the appointment of 1,151 women between January and July 2020, which constitutes 55 per cent of those employed during the same period.
The first Women’s Car Club has been created in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, celebrating a year on the roads since the driving ban was lifted on 24 June 2018.
“I feel proud of my work at Dubai Police, which has a great reputation worldwide and has made high level police achievements. Dubai Police is a dream and destination for many young people seeking excellence, creativity and innovation..."
The stock market can be a great way to do it, but it comes with its own set of risks and rewards. With the ever-changing economic situation across the globe, it becomes mandatory to invest wisely and safely for a better future.
European Union member states, the Group of Seven industrialized countries and Australia said on Friday that they have reached an agreement on price caps for Russian petroleum products.
Dubai Customs (DC), in partnership with the Dubai Digital Authority, has unveiled the Early Cargo Targeting System to enhance security measures and combat illegal trade.


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Tampa Bay is ideally located for European business who want to target the U.S. market and/or use Florida as a springboard to Latin America.
Located within the Eastern Standard Time zone, this major port city offers sea access to the Gulf of Mexico and is logistically connected to major highways to get goods moving. To move people, Tampa International Airport has consistently been ranked as one of America’s finest and is a destination for direct flights to Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, the UK and several cities in Central and Latin America.
Tampa Bay is one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing regions of the United States. With a robust manufacturing sector and a growing IT and financial services industry, Tampa Bay continues to attract companies looking to benefit from the vibrant business climate and also offering quality of life to its employees.
Many nationally known chain restaurants got their start in Tampa. Target Industries are: Financial and Professional Services, Information Technology, Life Sciences and Health Care, Defense and Security, Manufacturing, Distribution and Logistics. Workforce availability is one of the region’s advantages.
Tampa is the western end of the I-4 corridor, a vibrant economic area between Tampa and Orlando offering excellent value for development.

domain: economics


NPR and PBS were government propaganda organs from the beginning. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was created under Lyndon Johnson’s presidency. Here is the excuse (propaganda) from Wikipedia for the purpose:
“CPB’s mission is to ensure universal access to non-commercial, high-quality content and telecommunications services. It does so by distributing more than 70% of its funding to more than 1,400 locally owned public radio and television stations.”
But "universal access" is a false label. The "locally owned" means mostly your local "public" broadcasting concerns, which in turn means government money. Which means all these people are the ones who think government money (from your pockets and mine) is morally equivalent to commercial money. But who asks you for permission to tax you all they way up to May every year? Now when it comes to growing government or shrinking the oppression of government branches and agencies, which side is such an entity going to tend toward? LBJ did the same coopting thing to religions by adding them to the list of 501(c)3 organizations. So with that, pastors and other clergy cannot name names, and the muzzle tightens when free speech and religious freedom exercise is most important: political campaigns.


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Published on Jul 4, 2014
We took the 2015 KTM 250SXF out to our stomping grounds at Glen Helen Raceway to see how the new bike stacked up compared to last year's model. The new forks and shock settings as well as a new linkage are just some of the things noticable on this new bike. To see the full test look for the Octover issue of Motocross Action or head over to the site now at motocrossactionmag.com

domain: news


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HUGO cufflinks that are polished to a shine and distinguished by their rounded shape and enamel inserts in a contrasting colour. The intricately engraved logo on the front adds a subtle brand detail. Italian-made men’s accessories that give a chic finishing touch to your contemporary suit combinations.
Material and Care
Material information: 100% Brass, Facing: 100% Enamel

domain: design


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It took us quite a bit to get used to Zurich. Like in every city it takes time to meet likeminded people and to know good places like bars, restaurants, cinemas and so on.
Zurich offers a lot of option for everyone and within half an hour you are in nature. In Summer there are a lot of places for relaxing and BBQs like Chinawiese, Wipkingerplatz or Platzspitz. Take a cruise on the beautiful Lake Zurich and explore the outskirts.
Not far away there are three smaller lakes; Katzensee, Ustersee and Pfäffikersee, which are worth to explore as well. One of my favorite places is Jucker Farm. On a sunny weekend it is a good place for relaxing with local food and paramount view over Pfäffikersee.
In Winter you are very close to good ski resorts like Davos, Arosa, Laax or Lenzerheide. If you are looking for a weekend away with some spa we highly recommend Hotel Guarda Val above Lenzerheide. The hotel combines the fascination of deep-rooted Graubunden alp tradition with a contemporary concept of Alpine design and lifestyle.
Here are just a few places we explored during our time in Zurich.
- Fork and Bottle
- Maison Blunt
- La Cèdre Bellvue
- Restaurant Steinfels
- Holy Cow (Best Burger in Town)
- Heidi & Tell (Burger)
- Restaurant Schüssel
- El Lucador
- Tibits (Fully vegetarian)
- Restaurant LaSalle
- Giesserei Oerlikon
- Himalaya (Tibetan Restaurant)
- Outback Lodge
- Restaurant Roter Kamm
- Dean & David
- BACKbAR (Best Bakery in Town)
- Maison Blunt
- Dante (Great Gin Bar)
- Frau Gerolds Garten (Best Summer place)
- Rimini Bar
- Labo Spa
- Jucker Farm (Take your kids there!)

domain: geography


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When it comes to diplomatic achievements, often common citizens can be even more effective than foreign relations specialists. In all likelihood this is because, at the grassroots level, interaction on the basis of pure friendship is possible; whereas in relations between professional politicians, words and actions tend to be determined by national interests.
Only cricket diplomacy will not do between India and Pakistan...Polo is one of the favourite games in both Baltistan and Ladakh. This is the traditional sport of both the regions. If this sport is encouraged then people from both these regions can be made to come together in dialogue and cross-border tours and travel which will open new vistas for reaching long-lasting peace.
Lu Cairong, deputy director of China International Publishing Group (CIPG) said at the opening ceremony that friendly exchanges between Esperanto circles of the two countries have helped boost bilateral people-to-people exchanges, and served as a unique way to promote bilateral ties.
Last week, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf asked the impossible of our Foreign Office — project a soft image of Pakistan abroad through public diplomacy, cultural exchange, trade and people-to-people contacts.
New Delhi, Jun 26 (IANS): The cultural cooperation between India and Africa is moving beyond traditional exchanges to focus on education and capacity building initiatives which can become "a part of the national idiom", says Suresh Goel, director general of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Envoys of 25 African countries and charge d’affaires of 11 others assembled at the Hyderabad House here Wednesday to take stock of the ongoing partnerships between India and Africa under the umbrella “INDIAFRICA: A Shared Future” people-to-people initiative of the public diplomacy division of the ministry of external affairs.
The United States and Russia are increasing people-to-people connections through education, culture, sports, media, and other professional interactions. Interaction among NGOs, artists and arts groups, businesses, academics and young athletes is growing.
Shared histories, similar cultures and aspirations link India and Africa together. Launched in 2011, 'INDIAFRICA : A Shared Future' is a people-to-people initiative between India and the African continent.

domain: sociology


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I've wanted to try and make my own game for a while now but i'm i'm terrible at art, textures and 3D modelling but i want to learn it so has anyone got any pointers to get started with the whole shebang?
What do you want to do exactly? I mean, do you share any quality or have any qualification to do something in particular? For example i'm terrible at modeling and art but i'm not bad programming, then i'm focused on 3D engines(collisions, rendering, optimizations, algorithms...). The thing is to find what you are good at and you enjoy.
If you want to learn about my area i can easily give you a lot of information and recommendations.

domain: hobby


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Ready, set, animate your doodles! Sounds fun right? I love doodling – I’m practically a pro, but I have never animated my doodles. When I saw the Loop app, I knew I’ve been missing out. The best part about animating my own doodles? GIFs!
Loop turns your iPad into a mini-spiral bound sketchbook full of moving images – the animations are gifs that you can edit and share. The app gives you just three simple colors to draw with: blue, red, and black. Thicker lines are made with swift strokes while slower strokes will give you thinner lines. Use the eraser tool to remove unwanted lines (no “undo”). Duplicate slides to quickly make animations and edits. You can also use your phone’s camera to capture videos and stills for “tracing” (photo below).
Here are some of my favorite Loops from the user-submitted gallery:


New Delhi: Volkswagen India has announced its 2017 new model line up Thursday and this time around, probably understanding the need to be price competitiveness, the local unit of the German carmaker is keen on enhancing localisation.
For the first time VW will be locally assembling its upcoming vehicles -2017 Volkswagen Tiguan
and Volkswagen Passat
. The Tiguan SUV and Passat sedan are scheduled to be launched later this year and will be rolled out from company’s Chakan plant near Pune.
Volkswagen Tiguan will be the company’s first new product launch of 2017 and will be launched in the Indian market within next three months. We expect the car to be launched by end April or early May 2017.
Michael Mayer, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India said:
“With exciting new products across the segments, we are now ready to enter the SUV segment with Tiguan and luxury segment with the all new Passat. The slew of launches will ensure every car buyer finds a car to meet their requirements at our showrooms.”
The 2nd generation of the Volkswagen Tiguan SUV will be based on the the MQB (modular transverse matrix) platform and will get a 2.0 TDI engine which is likely to shed a power of 240 PS and 500 Nm of torque and will be mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox.
Globally the car is also available with a 2.0 TSI petrol engine which for the starters at least won’t be launched in India.
Volkswagen Passat will also be locally assembled and the car is also based on the same MQB platform and will also get the same 2.0 TDI engine with different tuning and a 6-speed DSG gearbox.
The sedan will be the second product to be launched in the country. The company had also showcased the hybrid variant, Passat GTE at the 2016 Auto Expo but at the moment the company has not confirmed any plans to bring the hybrid sedan to India.
The source also confirmed that both the products will be launched in India within next 6 months.
The local assembly
on Volkswagen Tiguan and Volkswagen Passat will help Volkswagen India to price the car aggressively.


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With the growth of the internet as a global information exchange tool, and the creation of social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter, there has been an explosion in the business of Smart Business Economics . Smart Business Economics is a field that examines the economics of companies operating in niches that are not mainstream. Smart Business Economics looks at how a specific company can survive in a particular economic climate, while competing with similar businesses in its market segment. For example, if you are an entrepreneur starting a lawn care service, you might consider the lawn care services niche, as this is one area that is always growing and yet, it is not a highly profitable niche to start a business in.
The competition in this area will be extremely high, yet if you have an innovative, top quality service then you stand a good chance of survival. This lawn care services niche has plenty of competition, yet because of the innovative services you provide, you stand out and remain highly profitable. In the current economic environment, homeowners want value for their dollar; they want the best lawn care, landscaping, and maintenance available.
If you provide a top quality lawn care services, then you will have customers dropping in on a daily or weekly basis, offering significant monetary gifts – enough to keep your business going, right? Of course, many home owners are looking for additional ways to reduce their expenses, cut back on entertainment, and find ways to get more out of their leisure time. These home owners will be highly receptive to offers such as lawn care services.
For this niche, you will want to create value for the home owner, who will be highly impressed with your knowledge, your creativity, your customer service, your willingness to work hard, and your overall “attractiveness”. These home owners have enough issues to deal with without worrying about spending money on someone else’s lawn care services. They are in a powerful position to make decisions as regards their own lawn care needs. This is why they are willing to pay a little extra for high quality lawn care. You can meet this niche and become financially sustainable by providing high quality lawn care services in the economic environment.
Homeowners who value the services that they receive from their lawn and garden care provider will likely recommend you to others. It’s that easy. You create value and the home owners appreciate it. They talk about you, recommend you, and refer your business to others. Word of mouth spreads like wildfire in the business world and that is what is making you a financially sustainable lawn care business.
Now, let’s talk about some more specific examples of what I mean by being a “smart business”. One of my favorite examples is franchising. A smart businessperson looks for franchise opportunities in an economic environment. He doesn’t care which business he launches – he just wants to launch it in an environment that makes him money. The first place to look is in an economically-disciplined sector.
You see, there are lots of home owners who have lawn maintenance problems but aren’t interested in becoming a franchisee. Instead they’d rather work on their own and I think they’d be better off doing it. The franchisee will come to them and help them figure out how to get a profitable system going. They will also help the franchisee market the system so that they can eventually take it and operate it on their own.
In my opinion, home owners who are motivated to help other home owners should be the target market for a franchised business. This will provide them with financial security and a growing sector of customers for their services. Once you’ve gotten them to use your services they will refer you to others, their friends, and ultimately, all of their customers. You’ll never reach the top as an entrepreneur unless you build a large network of clients and customers.

domain: finance


The hip-hop all-star spectacular "Up In Smoke" was one of the biggest live hip-hop shows of all time. All the biggest stars in the world together, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Eminem, Ice Cube and other special guests. Eminem shows why he was the hottest MC in the world in this clip taken from the Eagle Vision DVD "Up In Smoke".
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text: What's the absolute cheapest I could get a Blackout that's still relatively intact? Seriously. I've got like... not a lot to spend here... at ALL. But I suddenly regret not getting one. *cough* Don't care which version, or if it's got the Scorpy (I was going to display it with the Legends version of his little buddy for a slightly better scale anyway). Just so long as it's not missing pieces off the actual body (like rotor blades or limbs). Obviously I'm appealing to the ones here who have one, yet have no attachments (emotional or financial) to it. Have one that you got as a gift, but you hate it and the person who gave it to you? Have one that you bought on clearance, transformed it once, and you've not even touched it since? Have a spare one rotting in a box in the back of your shed because you wanted two Scorponocks for some reason? Etc... Also, I don't have a paypal account so I'd have to do a Money Order.


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Retirement Plan Detectives
A couple become Retirement Plan Detectives, searching records from old employers.
Have A Question About This Topic?
A change in your mindset during retirement may drive changes to your portfolio.
Affluent investors face unique challenges when putting together an investment strategy. Make sure you keep these in mind.
Six out of 10 millennials regret buying a home because they weren’t prepared for the hidden costs.


The company provides both commercial off the shelf and custom solutions based on its proprietary electric unmanned helicopter and hybrid VTOL platforms, with options including tethered systems, ground control stations, data and video links, dual- and quad-sensor gimbals, and autonomy and swarming capabilities.
Features of the upgraded RANGER P2X include:
- Autonomous obstacle avoidance for flight safety
- Modular design to allow fast deployment in three minutes
- Extended flight time of 120 minutes
- BVLOS flight with 30 km radius and real-time video feed
- Ability to withstand extreme environment conditions
- Versatile payload options for different application scenarios
The Ranger P2X is designed to fly and reach inaccessible locations to collect data. With an advanced AI system, it generates real-time feedback and handles flight anomalies. The system has conducted 1,486 flights, with daily patroling for air-sea coordinated missions over the last 12 months. This included the discovery of 152 suspicious vessels during these large-scale missions.
Designed for industrial missions, the Ranger P2X unmanned system consists of all the necessary multi-functional equipment required for these missions. The command center or Ground Control Station (GCS) is equipped with up-to-date GCS software, independently developed by Ziyan UAS. Its user-friendly interface allows the operator to manage flight plans and parameters of the aircraft in one go.
The modular design of the Ranger P2X makes it easy to swap payloads, with the ability to add payloads for mapping, surveillance, crowd control or search and rescue.


Learn about Presentations 2Go products, view online manuals, get the latest downloads, and more. Connect with other Presentations 2Go users, or get service, support, and professional advice from Presentations 2Go.
"Lecture capture is an umbrella term describing any technology that allows instructors to record what happens in their classrooms and make it available digitally. In its simplest form, lecture capture might be an audio recording made with an iPod; alternatively, the term might refer to a software capture program that records cursor movement, typing, or other on-screen activity. Lecture capture systems offer three important benefits: an alternative when students miss class; an opportunity for content review; and content for online course development. Lecture capture enhances and extends existing instructional activities, whether in face-to-face, fully online, or blended learning environments."
- Support for Presentations 2Go Flipclass has ended
- Support for Presentations 2Go Encoder version 4.x has ended
- Support for Presentations 2Go Editor has ended
- Support for videoserver v4.x ended
- Stream studio not supported on 32bit windows
- Stream Studio support on Windows 7 limited
- Magewell USB Capture HDMI
- Epiphan SDI2USB 3.0
- INOGENI 4K/HDMI/DVI to USB 3.0 capture boxes
- DarkCrystal HD Capture SDK Duo (C129)
- Epiphan DVI2USB3
- Viewcast Osprey 260e


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- ShapeShift is integrating its platform with decentralized exchange protocols.
- As a result of embracing DeFi it is shifting back away from KYC policies.
- Yet DeFi protocols face regulatory questions of their own.
According to a press release today, ShapeShift is now utilizing decentralized exchanges to process orders.
“Now, ShapeShift’s customers will be able to trade directly with these external protocols, rather than trading with ShapeShift as an intermediary, for an easy and seamless user experience,” the release reads. “This change means that ShapeShift customers will no longer need to provide personally identifiable documentation to meet ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) regulatory requirements for trading, giving customers greater privacy, security and transparency over their order flow.”
We’re excited to announce the integration of decentralized exchange protocols, sunsetting our traditional business of trading with customers and KYC practices. 🦊🦊🦊
Read our full announcement here: https://t.co/B9xjqDuI0z#DEX #crypto #Ethereum pic.twitter.com/hqkyljCjG0
— ShapeShift 🦊 (@ShapeShift_io) January 6, 2021
It’s a second about-face for the US-based exchange, which unlike Coinbase and other prominent players, does not take custody of users’ crypto. For the first four years of its existence, the privacy-centric ShapeShift took a standoffish approach to regulations—going as far as cutting off services to New York and Washington residents over those states’ customer reporting requirements—before adopting KYC policies in 2018.
In November 2020, it delisted three coins affiliated with private transactions—Dash, Monero, and Zcash—as a way of “de-risking the company from a regulatory standpoint,” Chief Legal Officer Veronica McGregor told Decrypt at the time.
Now, by making Ethereum and a whole range of Ethereum-based assets available directly via decentralized finance protocols, the company seems to be going back to its roots.
That may help ShapeShift redeem itself to customers who have fled the exchange for more private pastures. ShapeShift CEO Erik Voorhees told CoinDesk last year that moving to KYC cost the company 95% of its users.
After this article was originally published, ShapeShift Chief Legal Officer Veronica McGregor told Decrypt, "Many of our customers were dismayed in 2018 when we implemented KYC, and they were overwhelming supportive and excited about the news yesterday."
But the road into DeFi isn't an easy one.
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has noted that decentralized finance “is going to cause [the SEC to sit down and ask some fundamental questions about regulations.”
In September, she told Decrypt, “The goal of DeFi, as I understand it, is to eliminate intermediaries and to allow people to engage with one another directly. And typically, the way regulators have regulated the financial system is to regulate intermediaries.”
Problem solved for ShapeShift, then, right?
Well, maybe not.
Preston Byrne, a partner at law firm Anderson Kill, told Decrypt, “Generally speaking, incorporating DeFi into a web application with the intent that the SaaS provider become a pass-through for the decentralized backend is fraught with legal and compliance issues. Because DeFi tries to replicate financial services, and financial services is regulated, providing services to interact with DeFi is likely to be captured by financial services regulation.”
Companies looking to bake DeFi into their offerings should first take a good hard look at the regs. There's a big difference between, say, developing software that doesn't implicate MSB reg versus, say, operating part of an unregistered MSB that happens to have a DeFi backend.
— Preston Byrne (@prestonjbyrne) January 6, 2021
One issue he pointed out was that decentralized exchange providers such as EtherDelta have run afoul of the Exchange Act “arising from the use of a DeFi platform to trade coins which in the SEC’s view were not coins but rather ‘digital asset securities.’”
McGregor told Decrypt, "Our approach to compliance hasn’t changed, and we’ve worked closely with regulators and law enforcement across multiple jurisdictions for years. We are a well-known and established company that must remain fully compliant with all laws. What is changing is that we are sunsetting the regulated activity of trading with customers—there is no reason for us to continue providing that service."
Byrne clarified that he wasn’t referring to ShapeShift, which he believes has good regulatory advice and has considered the issues at play, as McGregor suggested. “What I will say is that there is a big difference between being a publisher of downloadable software tools on the one hand and providing an API, which the service provider hosts, on the other,” he said. “The more involvement a company has in intermediating transactions between users and protocols, the more legal risk the activity presents.”
While ShapeShift says it “is no longer acting as any form of financial intermediary or counterparty,” it clearly believes it has value to add in the equation—otherwise users would go straight to the decentralized exchanges themselves.
Regardless of whether that value is worth any potential regulatory headaches that come its way, ShapeShift certainly hopes that it knows its customers.
Will Gottsegen contributed reporting for this article.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comments from ShapeShift.


On TV, she fought crime as Wonder Woman. In real life, longtime D.C.-area resident Lynda Carter is serving yet again as a hero, this time as the grand marshal for the 24th AIDS Walk, stepping off from Freedom Plaza on Saturday, Oct. 2.
”This city has been my home for many years and I have become very familiar with the work the [Whitman-Walker] Clinic does, from free HIV testing to full health care services,” said Carter in an Aug. 3 WWC release announcing her participation.
”As an actress, I have experienced playing a beloved action figure, but true heroic work is what Whitman-Walker Clinic does every day. I encourage everyone in DC to take part in this great event.”
David Mallory, director of AIDS Walk, says organizers are hoping to raise $1 million with the 2010 event.
”We think it is certainly doable,” he says. ”Last year we finished around $890,000, which in a down economy was really kind of heartening for us.”
To help reach that goal and to broaden the scope of AIDS Walk, WWC is changing the way it produces the annual walk by opening the door to ”community partners.” These other D.C.-area HIV/AIDS organizations will help produce the event in return for keeping half the money they raise.
”It’s an opportunity for these other HIV/AIDS organizations to raise funds that they need, to reach out to their supporters, their donors, so that we can all come together as one community on Oct. 2 for the walk.”
WWC will announce those organizations participating as community partners at a later date. Mallory says so far the clinic is ”getting a good response.”
Unlike the Community Partners program employed by Capital Pride annually – an arrangement begun when the clinic was managing the LGBT celebration – Mallory says organizations will not have to make an ”up-front investment” to participate as a partner with AIDS Walk.
”All the money that they’re going to receive back is going to be based solely on the amount of money that their team members raise,” he says.
”It might somehow dilute [WWC’s] fundraising effort, but we thought the positive really outweighed any kind of concern about that because I think we’re reaching out to whole new audience.”
The 2010 AIDS Walk is scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2, at Freedom Plaza. Walk registration is $25; timed-run registration is $35. For more information, to register, or to become a community partner, call 202-332-WALK or visit aidswalkwashington.org.
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!


Final Smith-Emery Test Results Show SCS System Stronger Than Comparable Rebar Confinement Systems
Warstone Innovations, LLC has completed a third and final round of testing with Smith-Emery Laboratories to determine the tensile force capabilities of our patent pending Continuity Connection - an integral aspect of our Structural Column Strengthening (SCS) System.
In comparison, the tensile strength of a standard #3 grade 60 rebar is 9,900 lbs at failure, whereas our system resulted in over 10,000 lbs of tensile force at failure.
These test results prove that our Continuity Connection is easily capable of exceeding the comparable stress requirements of conventionally used confinement rebar. Improvement of the continuity connection system is continuing and recent upgrades show promising improvements in tensile strength capabilities.
With these test results, we are confident that our Continuity Connection will defy conventional confinement systems and completely unearth new column strengthening markets previously unattainable.
You can find more information about our SCS System HERE.


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ANALISIS TEKNO-EKONOMI PENDIRIAN PABRIK BIODESEL DARI BIJI NYAMPLUNG (Calophyllum inophyllum L.)
AbstractWorld crises that occurred in the last decades indicated the scarcity of fuel. Fuel consumption is unbalanced with fuel production so it needs the development of alternative sources of energy. One of them is to use nyamplung seed. Nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum L.) is one of the biodiesel alternative raw material that has a large potential to be developed to overcome the problem of scarcity of fuel. The advantages of nyamplung as raw material for biodiesel are the dry seeds have high yield (approximately 70%) and its use does not compete with food purposes. The purpose of this study was to analyze techno-economic aspect of biodiesel industry establishment of nyamplung seed. Scope of research included techno-economic on the market and marketing aspects, technical and technological, management and organization, environmental, legal, valuation and commercialization, as well as financial aspects. This biodiesel industry is planned to be located in Banyuwangi, Indonesia with the selection criteria associated with using Analytical Hierarchy Process and the industrial capacity of 1000 liters per day with raw materials as much as 4500 kgs per day. After the assessment of all aspects, it can be concluded that the industry of biodiesel from nyamplung seed is feasible to be established.
Keywords: techno-economic, nyamplung, biodiesel industry

domain: agronomy


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Ed Jacobs reports on Mike Nesbitt’s election at the weekend as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).
Newly elected Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mike Nesbitt, has ruled out any prospect of an electoral pact with the Democratic Unionist Party after a surprisingly conclusive victory in the quest to replace Tom Elliott.
Speaking after claiming the UUP crown, he told BBC’s Sunday Politics Show in Northern Ireland:
“I can’t imagine any circumstances where it would be good for the Ulster Unionist Party, good for the pro-union people of Northern Ireland, or good for politics to have an electoral pact.”
Nesbitt’s remarks came just a day after he secured a landslide victory, winning the support of 536 delegate votes at the party’s AGM in Belfast as compared with the 129 achieved by his rival for the post, John McCallister.
Accepting his election, the former journalist and victims commissioner, who was only elected as MLA for Strangford last year, told his party:
“This is a great party, with a long tradition of service, and its revival will be based on our fundamentals; our values and ethos; our belief in the cultural, social and economic benefits of the Union; our membership who offer the skills, experience and expertise that can give us the capacity to do the business of government better than anyone else; and our ability to reach out to those currently not engaged in the political process.
“Over the coming weeks I will be working on making our party more cohesive and more coherent, and I am determined that we will deliver a shared future for all the people of Northern Ireland, not the Shared Out future being planned by the DUP and Sinn Féin.
“I want everyone in this country to get out of bed with a sense of purpose and go to bed with a sense of achievement. I want the same for this party. I want us to reach out to become the party of choice for every pro-Union voter in Northern Ireland, including those who say until today they had no-one and no party to represent them or for them to support.”
• The battle for the future of the UUP begins 13 Mar 2012
• What’s the point of the UUP? 19 Jan 2012
• Tories and UUP split over merger deal 5 Jan 2012
• UUP renew calls for opposition at Stormont 25 Oct 2011
“Most importantly for us, Saturday the 31st of March brought to an end 14 years of pain. The price we paid for opening the path to peace in 1998 is paid, in full. We accept the challenge of taking Northern Ireland to the next phase.”
Nesbitt’s job now will be to revive a once great force in Northern Ireland politics.
Having been at the centre of the Good Friday Agreement under the leadership of David (now Lord) Trimble, 2010 saw the party’s sole MP, Lady Sylvia Hermon, quit and subsequently get re-elected as an independent following a disastrous electoral pact agreed between the leader at the time, Reg Empey, and David Cameron.
The episode highlighted the difficulty the UUP have had in recent years in establishing a unique identify that can pose a serious challenge to the DUP as Northern Ireland’s dominant unionist party. Indeed, it was ultimately the claim and counter claims over how close the UUP and DUP were going to become that ultimately led to Tom Elliott deciding to stand down as leader altogether, hence Nesbitt’s scramble early on to rule out a pact.
It was met, however, with disappointment from the DUP, with one of its MLAs, Simon Hamilton, arguing:
“The unionists that I meet throughout the country yearn for unity. They want to see the DUP working with the UUP. They want the pro-union family working together. It disappointed, but didn’t surprise me that Mike’s first policy announcements were that he wants to defeat the DUP and is against unionist unity.”
All eyes will now turn to what moves the new leader intends to make in taking the party out of government altogether.
Having made clear that he would at some juncture take the party’s sole ministerial portfolio at Stormont, during his election Nesbitt said that if successful he would appoint his defeated rival, John McCallister, to chair a committee to asses at the possibility of a move to opposition.


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He has two beautiful children
Philip was born into the Greek and Danish royal families. After studying in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, he joined the British Royal Navy in 1939 at the age of 18.
Beginning in July 1939, he began correspondence with 13-year-old Princess Elizabeth, whom he had first met in 1934. During World War II, he served in the Mediterranean and Pacific fleets.
He is the longest-serving consort of a reigning British monarch and the oldest ever male member of the British Royal Family. Philip retired from his royal duties on August 2nd, 2017, at the age of 96, having completed over twenty-two thousand solo engagements since 1952.
A keen sports enthusiast, Philip helped develop the equestrian event of carriage driving. He is a patron, president or member of over 780 organisations.

domain: celebrity


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Join 78,997 users and earn money for participation
read.cash is a platform where you could earn money (total earned by users so far: $ 586,091.23).
You could get tips for writing articles and comments, which are paid in Bitcoin Cash (BCH) cryptocurrency,
which can be spent on the Internet or converted to your local money.
It took a long while for these babies to sprout. I followed @gertu13 's suggestion to place the potato in the fridge. At room temperature, the potatoes go bad due to the humidity but in the fridge, they last quite long and if it works out, they would sprout too.
We love potatoes and we have a grand wish to be able to harvest loads of potatoes but with the limited space that we have, a small harvest will do :)
I think we bought the Russett potato variety and left them in the fridge for months now. We thought perhaps it is time to plant it, especially since we managed to clear one of the bigger pots from the weed mint plant.
The potato is said to be a good source of vitamins C and B6, potassium, fiber and carbohydrate which provides many levels of benefits to health from heart health to digestion to cancer and metabolism (source 1, source 2).
We placed the potato and its babies into the soil and within a few days or a week, we see greens appearing.
And it keeps growing, day by day...
I took a shot every other day and it is growing quite fast upwards.
I am wondering how is it looking underneath the soil but we will be leaving it for a while before we dig to see.
The leaves look really good and I wonder if we can cook them too. Most sources say the leaves are not edible (source) due to its possible high Solanine content which can lead to Solanine poisoning, although it is possible to eat sweet potato leaves, not the usual potato leaves.
I guess we will leave the leaves for now and wait to harvest. Few months perhaps?
O' potato, potato, we patiently wait for you.
All photos were taken using my iPhone 6, close-up and at different angles, by placing half of the phone into the pot.

domain: food


I have an ASE90 30" barrel for sale with a complete set of KOLAR subgauge tubes. They have removable chokes but only come with two skeet for each gauge. They appear new and come with hammer and removal tool. The 12 gauge is a 30" barrel with Briley thin wall chokes but only includes two skeet as well. The stock is unaltered from factory. The trigger is non selectable. There is some bluing wear on the forearm metal and on the very end of the barrels at the muzzle. There is some handeling marks on the wood but nothing bad and no cracks or repairs. All comes ina Kolar hard case that is really nice. The price is firm at 5500.00 plus shipping thru UPS insured to an FFL. Located in central Illinois.


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Walkers and Kirkland acted as Cayman Islands counsel to ACON S2 Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, in relation to its business combination with ESS Inc.
ACON S2 will enter into a business combination with ESS Tech, Inc. a manufacturer of long-duration iron flow batteries for commercial and utility-scale energy storage applications. The transaction will result in ESS becoming a publicly listed company, with the combined company having a pro forma enterprise value of $1.072 billion. As part of the transaction, ACON S2 raised a $250 million fully committed PIPE from institutional investors. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021.
The Walkers team was led by Cayman Islands partner Bicrom Das (Picture) with assistance from associate Tom Hagger.
Kirkland advised ACON S2 Acquisition Corp. with a team led by corporate partners Shawn OHargan, Doug Bacon and Anthony Speier and associates Jennifer Gasser, R.J. Malenfant and Alia Heintz and capital markets partner Matt Pacey and associate Logan Weissler.
Involved fees earner: Douglas Bacon – Kirkland & Ellis; Jennifer Gasser – Kirkland & Ellis; Alia Heintz – Kirkland & Ellis; R.J. Malenfant – Kirkland & Ellis; Shawn O’Hargan – Kirkland & Ellis; Matthew Pacey – Kirkland & Ellis; Anthony Speier – Kirkland & Ellis; Logan Weissler – Kirkland & Ellis; Bicrom Das – Walkers Global; Tom Hagger – Walkers Global;
Clients: ACON S2 Acquisition Corp.;


Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
|Title:||Ground loss due to circular tunnel deformation in sands|
|Citation:||Proceedings of the 12th IACMAG: Geomechanics in the Emerging Social & Technological Age, Goa, India, 1-6 October 2008, 4009-4015|
|Abstract:||Considerable ground settlement can occur during tunnel construction. Shape of the settlement trough during tunnel deformation closely follows a normal distribution curve. However, most analytical solutions only approximately represent this profile because of the assumption of uniform radial displacement field around the tunnel during its deformation which presumably exists only at shallow depths. For large diameter tunnels and when non-uniform grout pressure is used, tunnel axis is prone to distortion making these solutions unreliable. This paper examines experimental results of tunnel collapse in small-scale centrifuge environment. Tunnel walls were represented by pressurised rubber membrane. Cover to diameter ratio of the tunnel and relative density of the sand were the only variables in the tests. All tests were conducted on the large diameter centrifuge at IIT Bombay. The results show that deformation above the crown and width of settlement trough, both increase near to the ground surface. The results are compared to data available in the literature and relationship between point of inflection and tunnel depth is derived.|
|Appears in Collections:||Proceedings papers|
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


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Islamist group claims abducting seven foreigners in Nigeria
KANO, Nigeria (AFP) - Islamist group Ansaru on Monday claimed the kidnapping of seven foreigners in a deadly weekend raid on a construction site in restive northern Nigeria.
The attack in Bauchi state late Saturday was one of the worst incidents targeting foreigners in northern Nigeria, a region that has seen waves of violence by extremist Islamist groups but relatively few kidnappings.
Ansaru is considered a new group with a rising profile after it claimed the abduction of a French national in December.
Some view it as being directly linked to Boko Haram, the Islamist insurgents blamed for killing hundreds of people in northern Nigeria since 2009.
In an email statement sent to journalists, Ansaru said it has "the custody of seven persons, which include Lebanese and their European counterparts working with Setraco," the Lebanese-owned company targeted in the attack.
Police in Bauchi said four Lebanese, one Briton, a Greek citizen and an Italian were among those taken hostage by gunmen who stormed the site in the town of Jama'are in Bauchi state. The assailants shot dead a security guard.
A Setraco official, who requested anonymity, later told AFP that in fact the Middle Eastern hostages included two Lebanese and two Syrians. Beirut has said that only two of its nationals were abducted.
Ansaru's two-paragraph statement in English cites "the transgressions and atrocities done to the religion of Allah ... by the European countries in many places such as Afghanistan and Mali".
The group has previously protested France's efforts against Islamist rebels in Mali.
Residents in Jama'are, about 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the state capital, said Setraco evacuated all its staff from the company compound on Sunday, and a company spokesman told AFP its road project had been stopped.
"There is no way we will continue to work there because the lives of our colleagues are in danger," John Ogbamgba said Monday. "We are all in tears."
President Goodluck Jonathan urged foreigners "to continue to go about their normal business," in a statement that promised "a total commitment to stamping out all forms of terrorism".
Expatriates have typically been kidnapped in Nigeria's oil-rich south and often released following ransom payments.
But such incidents in the north have been isolated and some analysts fear that Ansaru's emergence may be a sign of changing tactics among the Islamist groups in the region.
The Setraco spokesman said the firm was especially concerned that the abductions took place in the north, where "you don't get information".
If the attack had occurred in the south, "maybe there would be a ransom demand", Ogbamgba said.
Aside from the French national abducted in December whose whereabouts remain unknown, the three others Westerners kidnapped in the north since 2011 have all been killed.
They include a German engineer abducted last year as well as a Briton and an Italian seized in 2011, in an attack the British government linked to Ansaru.
Britain declared the group a terrorist organisation in November.
Some experts say that Ansaru's leader may be Khalid al-Barnawi, one of three Nigerian extremists labelled a "global terrorist" by the United States last year, saying he had ties to Al-Qaeda's north African affiliate.
The governments of Greece and Italy have confirmed that their citizens were among those taken hostage.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Monday that London was in touch with Nigerian authorities but did not confirm that a Briton was among the hostages.
Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and top oil producer, roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and mostly Christian south.
Boko Haram has said it is fighting to create an Islamic state in the north and its insurgency is estimated to have left 3,000 people dead since 2009, including killing by the security services.


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Location in Kerala, India
|• MLA||Adv. K. Premkumar|
|• Chairperson||K Janaki Devi|
|• Total||32.7 km2 (12.6 sq mi)|
|Elevation||54 m (177 ft)|
|• Rank||2nd in Palakkad district|
|• Density||1,600/km2 (4,300/sq mi)|
|Time zone||UTC+5:30 (IST)|
|Sex ratio||1000:1121 ♂/♀|
Ottapalam, (also spelled Ottappalam) is a town in Ottapalam taluk of the Palakkad district in Kerala, India. Chinakathoor Pooram, an event held every year at Chinakkathoor Temple in Palappuram near Ottapalam, is one of the famous festivals in Kerala.
The area now known as Ottapalam was formerly known as Ayirur Thekkummuri Desam. The present-day Ottapalam, Pattambi and Cherpulassery areas were part of the medieval Nedunganad kingdom. Nedunganathiripad (Nedungadi) was the main ruler of Nedunganad. The headquarters was at Makovilakam near Kodikunnu, Chembulangad. Nedunaganad was ruled by the Nairs of Kavalappara, Thrikkadeeri, Kannambra, Vattakkavil Perumbada under the leadership of Nedunganathiripad. Ottappalam was the administrative area of Thrikkadeeri Nair. Its north side starts at Ayirur-Vadakkummuri near Mannarkkad and ends at Ayirur-Thekkummuri. After passing Ayirur-Thekkummuri, crossing the 'Ottapalam of Kanniyampuram river', then it comes the place to pay a toll for Kavalappara Nair.
Around 1487 AD, the region was annexed to the kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut. The Zamorin appointed his chieftain at Kavalappara Kovilakam. After the long rule by the Zamorin of Calicut, it became a part of the Kingdom of Mysore around 1766. It came under the rule of East India Company with the Treaty of Seringapatam in 1792. The British formed the Malabar District and built their headquarters at Kozhikode. The headquarters of North Malabar was at Thalassery and that of South Malabar was at Cherpulassery. The headquarters of South Malabar was later changed to Ottapalam. Ottapalam was a part of Walluvanad Taluk of Malappuram Revenue Division in Malabar District with its Taluk headquarters at Perinthalmanna during British Raj. The railway came and the place was renamed as Ottappalam. The South Malabar Special Court started functioning at Ottappalam by 1880. Thus the name Ottappalam became familiar. Gradually, the name Ayirur-Thekkummuri was confined to the land records.
Before the Indian Independence, present-day Kerala state was scattered in South Canara and Malabar Districts of British India and two princely states namely Cochin and Travancore. The first All-Kerala conference of Indian National Congress was held in 1921 at Ottapalam, which was the then capital of South Malabar, on the bank of the river Bharathappuzha, which also later demanded a separate state for the Malayalam-speaking regions in future Independent India. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee was formed in that conference. Before that, Malabar District, Cochin, and Travancore had separate Congress committees. Ottapalam is located right in the middle of Kerala state.
Ottapalam is also called The New Film City of Kerala.
Ottapalam is located at  It has an average elevation of 54 m (177 ft)..
|Climate data for Ottapalam, Kerala|
|Average high °C (°F)||32.8
|Average low °C (°F)||22.3
|Average precipitation mm (inches)||2
Ottapalam is sub district of the Palakkad District. Over the last 10 years, the population growth has been 9.2%. The town is listed in the top 18 most populous Urban Agglomeration in Kerala. The First Defence Park in India is established in Ottapalam KINFRA industrial park. A film district is also under discussion.
Ottapalam is one of the six Taluks of Palakkad district.
The Palakkad-Shoranur (Kulappully) State Highway passes through the town. Government buses as well as private bus services operate between Ottapalam and other major towns, such as Thrissur, Palakkad, Mannarkkad, Perinthalmanna, Pattambi, Guruvayoor, Thiruvilwamala, Chelakkara (through the Ottapalam-Mayanur Bridge, inaugurated on 22 January 2011.)
The following people were either born in and/or are residents of Ottapalam:
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ottapalam.|
|Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ottapalam.|


Selected Written Works by Congressman Rothman
A Dangerous, Odd and Unconstitutional Texas Law
The new Texas anti-abortion law is unconstitutional as its purpose and effect is to hinder, if not to entirely prevent, the free exercise of a Texas woman’s right to an abortion under Roe vs. Wade. It is also unconstitutionally vague, arbitrary, overbroad, unreasonable and dangerous.
The Taliban Don’t Completely Control Afghanistan and May Never: China & Russia are right to be nervous anyway
People who think they know what will happen in Afghanistan need to hold off on their predictions. That country’s future is far from clear.
Eulogy for Muriel Fischer Rothman
My mother, Muriel Fischer Rothman, was a gorgeous, tough, elegant, sharp, classy, Bronx girl, with a dry and cutting sense of humor. She tolerated no fools. But she was always there for me.
The GOP’s Efforts to Nullify Elections Are a Threat to American Democracy
Would we still regard America as the land of liberty and justice if the United States was to become a country where the person who lost the presidential election could be installed as our President anyway?
9/11 and 1/6: America Resilient
Yesterday brought me to deep anger and tears of profound sadness as I witnessed, along with all Americans and the entire world, America’s “Temple of Democracy” invaded and defiled by criminally-incited domestic terrorists.
Rothman Says He Never Considered Challenge to Garrett
I recently read an article in New Jersey Globe that said, incorrectly, that when the New Jersey Republican plan for Congressional Redistricting was enacted and presented as a fait accompli to the New Jersey Congressional Delegation in December 2011, that I considered running in their gerrymandered 5th Congressional District, but ultimately decided to run in my home 9th Congressional District, because I thought I would lose a race in the 5th. Not true.
Considering the Human Future in the Age of Great Computers
Will self-learning computers, initially programmed by humans, continue to be governed by the judgments of our relatively slow-thinking homo sapiens species? According to Yuval Noah Harari, whose three non-fiction books have each spent months on the best-seller lists, humans have created ever-more powerful computers to examine, draw patterns from and create more effective approaches to human productivity, health, happiness, longevity and perhaps immortality.
Condemn All Acts of Racism and Anti-Semitism, From Whomever
We sure are an odd political couple: A Centrist/Liberal Democrat who is a former U.S. Congressman from Bergen County and a Conservative former Chairman of the Bergen County Republican Party. We join today to ask two questions that concern us as Americans and American Jews.
Big Brother Takes Giant Steps In China
Not everyone missed it. But I did. It was the spring 2018 news story about how China has instituted a Social Credit Policy for its 1.4 billion people and the domestic and international companies that do business with China.
GOP Tax Plan not the solution for America
In an age when so many are rightfully suspicious that our elected officials don’t have a vision that addresses the realities of most Americans, it is time to focus on what most of us agree are the major needs in our country. Needs that the latest Republican tax law appears to ignore and make much worse.
Should we remember the Holocaust without mentioning the Jews?
Do words with accepted meanings still hold those meanings, even in the age of Donald Trump? The Cambridge, Oxford, Collins, Merriam-Webster, Wikipedia and virtually every standard dictionary describes the Holocaust in nearly identical language, as “the systematic murder of many people, especially Jews, by the Nazis during World War II.”
In honor of our Republic, if we can keep it
Our country is a work in progress. But that has always been the case with America. In the 1800s, abolitionist Wendell Phillips said there is no guarantee, absent the watchfulness, hard work and insistence of a thoughtful people, that our experiment in freedom and self-government will continue successfully.
Reflections on the Completion of 25 Years In Public Office and the End of A Political Career
As my 16 years in the U.S. Congress have now ended, completing a total of 25 years in elected office, I have been reflecting on how grateful I am for those years of public service. In 1982, as a 29-year-old lawyer, wanting very much to help lead my hometown of Englewood in its renaissance, I ran for and was elected twice as Mayor. Those years were truly a labor of love. Working with my neighbors, we were able to fix many things and help set Englewood on its path to renewal.


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Spoiler alert: do not read on if you don't want to know where the Hulk ends up in the final scenes of The Avengers: Age of Ultron.
One of the most exciting aspects of the Marvel cinematic universe is that the Disney-owned studio's superheroes sometimes pop up in movies in which you never expected to see them. The geekosphere has gone into overdrive this week, following a report by the respected blogger Drew McWeeny of Hitfix that the Hulk will wind up meeting the Guardians of the Galaxy in outer space, following the events of the Avengers sequel Age of Ultron.
For anyone who hasn't kept a particularly watchful eye on the whole comic-book movie thing, this might not sound like such a big deal. But to those of you who enjoyed The Avengers, let me say that Guardians of the Galaxy has the potential to hit the same high levels: having visited the Shepperton studios set last year, I can confirm that it is a hugely ambitious space opera epic with a whole lot of heart, and the kind of quick-fire interchanges between the motley main players that fans of the original Star Wars trilogy will love.
McWeeny dropped his bombshell in the wake of comments by Mark Ruffalo, aka Bruce Banner aka the Hulk, in which the US actor appeared to rule out a future Hulk solo movie based on the comic book Planet Hulk. Such a scenario would have seen the giant green meanie blasted out of the solar system on the orders of an Avengers-like group of superheroes called the Illuminati (Iron Man among them), to a planet without intelligent life where they imagine he can happily smash up the local wildlife far from anything approaching a civilisation. Things in the comic book go awry when the Hulk's shuttle accidentally passes through a wormhole and crash-lands on the inhabited planet Sakaar. He is captured and forced to compete as a gladiator for a ruthless ruler named the Red King, along with an assortment of fellow contestants from various planets.
As Ruffalo said himself, Planet Hulk would be a funny way to go, because it features a version of the character who is all Hulk and zero Banner. "I don't think it is the way to go yet," he told MTV News. "I think you need more Banner. The whole thing is just him as Hulk, on a planet, fighting other gladiators."
But Marvel boss Kevin Feige has indicated in the past that the studio might borrow scenarios from both Planet Hulk and the subsequent World War Hulk series, that saw the not-so-jolly green giant returning to Earth to exact revenge on Iron Man et al. Now it looks as if Hitfix has the inside line on exactly how this might work. Anyone who doesn't want to hear a spoiler about the end of Age of Ultron should stop reading now.
McWeeny reports that Joss Whedon's sequel ends with the Hulk trapped in a spaceship that's heading out of the Earth's atmosphere with no way of stopping it. Which provides both a nice parallel with the end of The Avengers and a useful way to send Banner and his alter ego into space to meet the Guardians.
Such a move could begin the process of integrating the Guardians into the wider Marvel universe, as well as remove the need for the Hulk to have his own solo movie. The studio would be cautious of going down that path again, after two previous efforts, from the directors Ang Lee and Louis Leterrier, failed to strike much of a chord with fans. And if The Avengers proved one thing, it was that the Hulk works better on the big screen when he has frenemies around him to bounce off.
Hitfix speculates that a Hulk-Guardians movie could easily incorporate other elements of Planet Hulk without slavishly following the storyline of the original comic. So Banner might still end up as a gladiator, but one with the ability to transform into his angry alter ego when he really needs to smash up his alien opponents. Now that sounds like a storyline to grab the attention.
I'm usually loth to highlight unconfirmed blog reports, but McWeeny has a superior track record to the likes of Latino Review (which started the Planet Hulk rumour). And something about this scenario just sounds right. It would expand the Marvel universe into new and radical territory, which is exactly where the studio needs to go to avoid repeating the failure of tired entries such as last year's Thor: The Dark World.
Marvel changed the landscape of comic-book movies with its multi-character approach, bravely betting the house on lesser known superheroes such as Thor, Captain America and Iron Man, then introducing the even more obscure Guardians ensemble before most of us had time to blink. Hulk vs Guardians of the Galaxy sounds like just the sort of idea to move that nothing-to-lose mantra to the next level.

domain: entertainment


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Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes including homemade crust!
Prep Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Grill Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 2 8-10” personal pizzas
1 t. active dry yeast + 1/2 C. warm water + 1 pinch white sugar
1 t. salt
1/2 T. olive oil
1 1/2 C. all purpose flour OR whole wheat flour OR whatever you have on hand
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 T. basil
1/2 C. olive oil
1 t. garlic minced
1/2 C. tomato sauce
1 t. oregano,1 t. basil, 1 t. garlic powder OR whatever spices you want in pizza sauce
Toppings: Whatever your taste buds prefer!
1/2 C. chopped tomatoes
small can sliced mushrooms
onion, chopped into slivers OR green onion diced
1 C (8 oz) shredded cheese – mozzarella or whatever you have
To make the crust, dissolve yeast in warm water with a pinch of sugar and let sit 5 minutes to proof (foamy). Mix in salt, olive oil, flour, minced garlic and basil. Knead for 5-8 minutes. Dough should be stiff but not too sticky. Form into ball, let rise until doubled – 1/2 hour to 1 hour depending on temperature. Punch down and knead again. Let double again. To make two “personal pizzas”, separate dough into 2 pieces & roll out to about 8” round (or whatever shape fits on your grill – we can do 2 at once).
Turn grill on and heat to about medium to medium high heat. You’ll need to experiment with the heat since every grill is different. Brush the bottom of the crusts lightly with olive oil with garlic mixed in. Put dough on grill and grill for just long enough to get the bottom a bit browned. Then, brush the top with olive oil/garlic mixture. Using two spatulas, flip it over so the browned bottom is now on top. Spread pizza sauce and toppings on top – thinner layers of toppings seem to work best to get the entire pizza cooked before burning the bottom. Close grill lid and bake until the cheese is bubbly. On our grill, the initial crust grilling takes from 2-5 minutes and the pizza grilling takes another 10 minutes. Watch it closely so the bottom crust doesn’t burn! If you have trouble, you may need to place an upside down metal pan on the grill to get the pizza farther from the flames. Enjoy!


Orr Sinay is a performer, composer and double bassist, who uses her work to integrate experimental and avant-garde genres with free improvisation. As a bassist, she also performs in different styles, ranging from contemporary and new music, to free jazz.
Orr seeks and explores the art of real time; the risk of unpredictable components. She has performed and collaborated with many artists and ensembles in both modern and experimental fields as well as in Free Jazz. Another major part of her work is in collaboration with dance and performance artists. Currently a member of Nova Collective, View Cuts ensemble and Mobile Budka trio (which she also co-founded).
As an Educator Orr teaches independent courses in Improvisation, traditional music and theory, collaboration workshops with dance and theater, arranging classes and critical thinking about improvisation and experimental performance.
B.Mus. from The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance (2014)
MFA from CalArts (California Institute of the Arts) (2017)
Teaching Diploma from Tel Aviv University (2018)


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Bullets and Bonfires
Google Play: http://pxlme.me/Qfmv0i03
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2tcGl2r
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B073Q6J98C
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B073Q6J98C
Add to your Goodreads TBR: http://bit.ly/Bullets_GR
Bullets and Bonfires
by Autumn Jones Lake
The one man she’s always wanted is now the sexy sheriff of their hometown.
Battered but not broken, grad student Brianna Avery returns to the childhood home she abandoned four years ago. With her abusive ex behind bars, Bree needs the summer to relax and recover before returning to school. But her overprotective brother decides she needs someone to babysit her in his absence, and he picks the one person guaranteed to drive her nuts.
She’s the one woman he can’t have.
Telling Bree no has never been easy. Four years ago, Liam Hollister did it to preserve his friendship with his best friend—Brianna’s brother. Now, no matter how she tempts him, he’s determined to do the right thing. As deputy sheriff of their rural area, Liam is torn between protecting Brianna and wanting her for himself.
Take a risk or lose the chance.
Spending so much time alone together challenges them both. Old feelings and hurts resurface immediately. With each hot, sweaty day it’s harder to deny their attraction.
It’s going to be a long, hot summer.
Q: Is Bullets and Bonfires a Lost Kings MC Novel?
A: No. Bullets and Bonfires is a full-length, stand-alone contemporary romance.
Liam and Bree’s story takes place in the same fictional upstate New York county of Empire that the Lost Kings MC is based in. Liam and Bree were briefly mentioned in White Knuckles (Lost Kings MC #7). Teller and Murphy both appear in Bullets and Bonfires. You do not need to be familiar with the Lost Kings MC in any way in order to enjoy Liam and Bree’s story.
Q: Is this the start of a new series?
Q: When will the next Lost Kings MC book be available?
A: Teller’s book is up for pre-order now and will be available September 18, 2017.
Q: You said Teller makes an appearance in Bullets and Bonfires, is this book a love triangle?
A: Not at all. It’s an older-brother’s-best-friend romance.
Q: Will I recognize anyone else in Bullets and Bonfires?
A: Yes. You’ll recognize Jake from Wrath’s gym, his brother Sully, and Keegan, the arson investigator from White Knuckles.

domain: literature


text:
NowVertical Group Inc. (TSXV: NOW) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire venture capital-backed analytics platform Affinio Inc. The transaction is reported to be for total consideration of US$7.3 million in a cash and stock deal.
Under the terms of the agreement, the big data firm agreed to acquire 100% of Affinio. The acquisition price consists of US$6 million in cash and issuance of NowVertical subordinate voting shares worth US$1.3 million. The number of shares will be calculated based on the Canadian dollar equivalent of US$1.00 per share.
“Affinio’s graph analytics technology was already a game-changer for so many enterprises’ marketing and customer analytics efforts,” said NowVertical CEO Daren Trousdell. “Now that they’ve expanded their capabilities to work directly on top of Snowflake, they’re going to prove yet again to be an industry driver and critical component of every serious marketer’s toolkit.”
By expanding its graph analytics technology to live natively in Snowflake’s data warehouse, Affinio users can work across data sources without having to move their data.
The transaction is expected to close on the week of November 1, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.
NowVertical Group last traded at $0.95 on the TSX Venture.
Information for this briefing was found via Sedar and the companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.


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An Unconventional Manufacturing Process in the Ivry-sur-le-Lac nature
Overlooking Lake Manitou in Ivry-sur-le-Lac, Québec, the home, designed by Canadian architect Richard Rubin from Figurr Architects Collective, consists of five prefabricated custom modules, each approximately fifty feet long, that are assembled before being delivered to the site. The concept allowed for indoor construction under optimal working conditions.
The modular design is unique, created according to precise plans by the architect. The insulation, windows, and flooring were all assembled before shipping. Transporting the giant modules proved to be quite a challenge. The process included preparation, coordination, and navigating through country roads with ninety degree turns in inclement weather.
Construction began in late summer before the demolition of the existing house. This ensured a faster construction so that the family would not lose more than one season enjoying the country.
Low environmental footprint
Conceptualized with the vision of creating an extremely low environmental footprint, the house was built using sustainable and local materials. The large windows capture the beauty of nature in all its glory and flood the inside with light. The direct sunshine helps in reducing both heating and lighting costs.
The natural colored outdoor facade blends easily into the woodland decor and the opaque black accents add an artistic flair. The wood used indoors is warm and welcoming.
The architect is in the process of applying for a LEED Gold certification for this home.
A place adapted to all
The house interior was designed so that each member of the family has their own personal space.
The ground floor's open concept has a large kitchen and dining area where everyone enjoys cooking and eating delicious meals together, a beautiful, cozy living room space, and a three-season screened-in porch surrounded by lake and woods.
The ground floor also has an atelier for painting and carpentry. The lowered lakeside deck was designed as to not disturb the view of the magnificent scenery.
Completion Year: May 2019
Architect: Figurr Architects Collective
Engineer: Jeffrey Leibgott SBSA
General contractor: Norexco
Supplier: Énergéco Concept
Landscape Architects: Projet Paysage
Project Manager: Rick Rubin
Photography: David Boyer
Source: Figurr Architects Collective & v2com
Visit the Figurr Architects Collective webiste

domain: artistic


text:
Adele scolds security guard during the show
Grammy-winning singer Adele stopped in middle of her concert to to tell off a security guard who had been asking fans to sit down.
After finishing her song “Water Under The Bridge,” Adele, 28, called out the security guard and asked him to stop telling the audience at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium to stop dancing, reported Contactmusic.
“Excuse me sir? I know you work here but can you stop telling people to sit down? This is a music show. If people can’t see then they can stand up.
“If you’re moaning about people dancing, what have you come to a show for? If I see one more person be told to sit down, I swear to God… Right, let’s go, excuse my language,” she said.
Adele is not the first one to scold security guards for being too strict on fans; Elton John reportedly threatened to walk out of his performance at Leicestershire County Cricket Club in England over the club’s crowd control tactics in June last year.
You might also like
Grammy-winning singer Adele has confirmed that she is married to Simon Konecki. At a concert in Brisbane, Australia this weekend, Adele said she is “married now,” reported Entertainment Tonight. Adele,
The second trailer of the much-awaited film ‘Baywatch’ is finally out! The 2-minute trailer is everything you’d hoped for just that Priyanka Chopra’s presence is almost zilch. While the first
The trailer of Disney-Pixar’s upcoming animated film ‘Coco’ was released on Wednesday. The film has been directed by Lee Unkrich, known for directing ‘Toy Story 3’, and revolves around a
Singer Ed Sheeran says he may not have changed that much after becoming famous as much as his popularity changed people around him. In an interview with OK! magazine, the
Actor Ian McShane says he believed old friend John Hurt will survive cancer and it was shocking for him to come to terms with his death. The 74-year-old actor, who
Jewellery worth $200,000 was stolen from the home of model Kendall Jenner, just months after her sister Kim Kardashian West was robbed in Paris. Kendall, 21, called police at 1


text:
At Family Eye Care Center of Atlanta, we strive to provide all patients with exceptional eye care regardless of insurance coverage. That’s why we have developed an affiliate program for patients who are out-of-network or uninsured.
Exclusive Exam, Frame, Lens pricing to affiliates with greater than 5 employees enrolled from the same company starting including concierge delivery of eyewear
*Preparation of forms to submit to insurance company
Priority scheduling for eye emergencies with flat pricing at a discounted rate
Discounted contact lens fitting services
Discounted Vision Therapy Services
Greater discount offered to affiliate companies with greater than 10 employees enrolled
Contact our Atlanta Vision Center for details and pricing and how to enroll the company.

domain: medical


TAMPA — Now that Houston-based Means Knaus Partners has assumed property management of the SunTrust buildings in Tampa and Orlando, the firm has begun makeover work that appears to signal new competition among Class A buildings in a tightening tenant market.
Other downtown buildings, such as Rivergate Tower, also have begun making upgrades.
“There is kind of a wave of activity,” said Sharon Bragg, vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle, which is leasing the SunTrust Financial Centre in Tampa. “The downtown buildings are generally well-managed and well-maintained, but people are trying to stay current. There is a trend in the central business district.”
Downtown hasn’t seen new office tower construction in 20 years.
The Brookdale Group, an Atlanta-based, privately held commercial real estate investment company that owns both buildings, selected MKP effective April 1. Stiles Property Management Co. of Fort Lauderdale previously managed the Tampa building.
Brookdale acquired the 36-story Tampa tower in December for $82.5 million and the 30-story Orlando property in March for $131.5 million.
The Florida buildings were peeled away from the October acquisition of 14 buildings for $1.71 billion by Beacon Capital Partners in Boston from Charter Hall Office REIT in Sydney, Australia. All of the other buildings were located outside the Southeast except the two SunTrust properties and a building in Atlanta.
CBRE leases the Orlando property.
Local expertise a plus
A Brookdale executive would not comment on the record, but noted the longtime Tampa tenure of Hal Flowers, managing director of MKP’s eastern division, in making its selection of the firm.
Flowers helped develop the Bank of America Plaza and 100 N. Tampa office buildings in downtown Tampa as a partner with the Paragon Group. He is a former president of Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Tampa Bay.
Flowers said a lobby makeover and mechanical upgrades are being planned for the Tampa SunTrust building and should be executed by the end of the year.
“This building has excellent bones,” he said. “It’s got what you need. It just needs pointed up a little.”
The work is expected to cost at least $1 million. Final estimates have not yet been calculated, and Flowers didn’t want to speak on behalf of The Brookdale Group, which is providing the capital.
Work at the Orlando property is more complicated because of adjoining property, he said.
In a class of their own
Downtown buildings are different than suburban offices in terms of their finishes, mechanicals and other work that goes into a skyscraper, Flowers said.
“It’s the difference between a frigate and an aircraft carrier.”
Brookdale sold several buildings in the Westshore submarket in 2005 ahead of the global real estate and economic collapse.
About 100,000 square feet of the 527,000-square-foot Tampa SunTrust building, including four entire floors, are available for lease, Bragg said.
Last August, law firm GrayRobinson announced it would lease 38,864 square feet at the building in October, covering two floors over an 11-year term.
Bragg said there haven’t been any new leases since the December sale, but she is optimistic the new work will improve the outlook.
“We would love to have it at 90 percent” by the end of the year, she said. “The market is a lot more active than just six months ago.”
MKP is retaining the 10-person building staff, including building manager Terri-lynn Mitchell, Flowers said.


text:
Supplì, designed by Luca Nichetto, is an inviting and elegant armchair; the soft and sinuous curves give off heat and embody a spatial anchoring, almost perfect for rest and relaxation.
B.B.P.R. studio designed the armchair Giulietta with all the characteristics of arflex production: deep study of the line and absolute comfort, without forgetting the elegance.
Rigorous shape for the seating system Naviglio, but pleasantly softened in the lines, thanks to a competent use of the materials.
A classic of the '50s office, Elettra is the armchair you can't do without. Thanks to its timeless style and its elegant proportions, it adapts perfectly to any environment.
Neptunia collection was designed in the 1950s, as a continuous line of Elettra's series, to offer a wide choice to design offices and public spaces.
Two coloured glasses with different shapes, but complementary, create a play of transparencies.
Cradle's characteristic is based on the structure: a classical triangular construction, that is repeated several times around the models.
The seat was born from a very simple idea: two tubes bent into a “U” shape and connected together by a joint.
Seating system with a comfortable line, where its structure can be enriched by the manual weave of the cowhide, in order to give an elegant scene to the sofa.
Modular system designed around the classical geometry of the arch, employing from the beginning the disciplined use of the arch to create something more organic.
Slow waves, rolling hills, soothing pulse: kind, soft, iconic - soft beat.
The special form is inspired by a leaf falling from a tree, that becomes a symbol of comfort. It invites you to take a rest and relax.
Delfino armchair by Erberto Carboni is a significant example of the so-called "organic" furniture, which develops in the 1950s and draws inspiration from the forms of nature.
Serenity, simplicity, materiality, modularity are some of the key words of Rendez-Vous.
It is possible to create a very large possibility of proposals with a personal character, maintaining the aesthetical and functional point of view, that place themselves individually in very differ


2002 Hanse 301
- View Full Specifications
Price just reduced
- Engine/Fuel Type:
- Single / diesel
- Located In:
- Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
- Hull Material:
- Current Price:
- £ 19,950 Tax Paid (US$ 24,852)
This Hanse 301 yacht is very well specified including:
Lead wing keel, 6 x mooring cleats, cockpit mainsheet track, uprated winches, single outlet Webasto heating, legs (used annually for shore storage), 2 x solar panel, holding tank. Excellent sail inventory and instruments. The yacht is currently on a 2017 SBS trailer which is available seperately.
Now viewing near Plymouth.
Out of office hours contact Simon Beeby on 07855 401858
Please contact Simon Beeby at +44 (0)1752 227911
Additional Specs, Equipment and Information:
Hull Shape: Monohull
LOA: 29 ft 5 in
Beam: 10 ft 0 in
LWL: 26 ft 1 in
Minimum Draft: 3 ft 10 in
Dry Weight: 9160 lbs
Total Power: 10 HP
Engine Brand: Volvo Penta
Engine Model: MD2010
Engine Type: Inboard
Engine/Fuel Type: Diesel
Propeller: Folding propeller
Drive Type: Sail drive
Engine Power: 10 HP
Fresh Water Tanks: (18)
Fuel Tanks: (7)
Number of single berths: 6
Number of heads: 1
Fully battened mainsail
Manufacturer Provided Description
Thanks to her arrangement with a separated fore cabin and additional lockers, the well-proportioned section below deck offers a lot of space and comfort. And the Hanse 301 is an ideal cruising yacht without abandoning great sailing performance..
Fitted out in beautiful, warm mahogany faced marine ply. Upholstery is fabric covered 8cm foram, 4cm at aft berth. Forward cabin: V-berth with under-berth lockers. Two lockers. Shelves. Saloon: 2 settee berths (approx. 6'9" long). Galley has stainless steel sink, 2 burner gas stove with oven, 1 gas bottle, coolbox, drawers and locker. 100 l freshwater tank, pressure water system. Heads: Marine toilet, sink with cold water supplied by electrical pressure system. Aft cabin: Cabin with double berth.
- 2 x 12 Volt ships batteries with isolator
- Engine hour meter (fitted by current owner).
Volvo Penta MD 2010 twin cylinder inboard diesel, 7,4 kw (10 hp) with freshwater cooling. Saildrive. 40 l fuel tank. Seawater strainer, fuel filter.
The Volvo drive leg seal is original. We understand that Volvo now recommend changing this every 11 years (previously 7 years). We are not aware of any of these saildrive seals actually failing.
Deck in white with non-slip finish. Sandwich construction, hand laid-up using Isophtalic resin and with bulkheads bonded to hull and deck. Longitudinal stringers. Self-draining cockpit with large lockers. 2 bilge pumps. Opening hatch in forward cabin. 6 Acrylglas windows in alloy frames (2 opening). Selfdraining anchor locker with opening lid. Integral bathing platform, swimming ladder.
Rig & winches
7/8 two spreader rig with anodised alloy mast and boom. Hanse single line reefing system (handled from the cockpit). Kicking strap. Stainless steel standing rigging, Backstay adjuster. Internal main and jib halyards led aft to cockpit. Main and jib sheets. Self tacking jib traveller. Genoa tracks. Roller furling gear. Winch handle. Barton mainsheet track fitted in cockpit.
Rigging renwal - we understand that the owner reolaced the inner stays last winter, and plans to replace the outer stays at the end of 2012.
- 2 x Harken 16ST self tailing genoa winches
- 2 x Harken 8 winches on coachroof
6 mooring cleats, two combined halyard and jibsheet winches, 6 halyard clutches, mainsheet with cockpit traveller. Pulpit, pushpit with ensign staff socket, guardrail. Sliding hatch with garage and washboard. Handrails on deck.
- Standard battened mainsail.
- Standard self tacking jib, lightly used.
- Furling genoa.
- Cruise chute + unused snuffer, used approx. 6 times
- Spinnaker. used 10 times
Navigation / Instruments
At chart table:
- Garmin GPS128
- Nasa BM1 Battery Monitor
- Simrad RD68 DSC/VHF
- Navman Tracker 5100 GPS/Plotter
- Simrad IS15 speed/depth
- Nasa Clipper Wind
- Navico LS200 Cockpit Speaker
- Plastimo steering compass
The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.
Other Boats from Liberty Yachts Ltd
Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom


text:
More than a hundred people from Immokalee and surrounding communities gathered Friday for the fifth annual Migrant Matrix. It’s a program geared toward those who provide services to migrant workers. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.
Monday, 06 October 2008 01:00
Migrant MatrixWritten by Luis Hernandez


text:
Sri Lanka travel guide, including map of Sri Lanka, top Sri Lankan travel experiences, tips for travel in Sri Lanka, plus leopards, temples and tea
Hanging like a tear-drop from the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Ringed by a necklace of palm-fringed beaches, its mountainous interior rears up in a jungled hinterland roamed by elephant and leopard, rising finally to the cool highlands that grow the country’s famous tea.
Amidst all this there’s culture too. Overwhelmingly Buddhist, Sri Lankans practice their gentle beliefs with a lavish enthusiasm. There are thronged temples and sacred relics, religious festivals and extravagant sacrements, at their most spectacular in the holy city of Kandy, home to the Buddha’s tooth.
History lives on in the steep, lushly forested hills. This is where you’ll find the mighty rock-top fortress of Sigiriya and a cluster of historic towns, including Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.
It may sound cliched but Sri Lanka is genuinely a year-round holiday destination, although December to mid-April is considered to be the peak season. Temperatures are fairly constant year round, with coastal regions enjoying average temperatures of 25-30°C and the highlands 15-18°C on average. If you’re travelling during the summer months (May to September) you’ll want to head towards the east coast and northern regions for dry, sunny weather, as the west and south west coasts experience rain at this time. On the flip side, the west and south west enjoy favourable weather conditions during the winter months (October to February) when the monsoon season hits the east and north.
Experience life amidst beautiful green mountains, cascading waterfalls, and plenty of massive and breathtaking tea estates in the hill country of Sri Lanka. Look out of any window from any hotel room and serene greenery is what you will see when you are in places like Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Hatton or Ella. The chilly weather up country is like the icing of the cake and is just what you need to get away from the humidity in most of the other areas of Sri Lanka.


text:
The architecture enables each police station to function independently
Wipro Infotech, a provider of IT and business transformation services, has developed an integrated police information system, which is an online application software. Currently the application is in a pilot stage.
According to the company, the online application software covers all the important activities related to the day-to-day functioning of the police departments including the back-end administrative processes of general administration, finance and stores, etc. The processes have been automated to ease the tasks of administration and record keeping, thereby bringing in operational efficiency throughout the police department, the company added.
Wipro Infotech said that the application has been developed on a flexible software-oriented-architecture, which allows it to be used in a centralized deployment mode as well as a de-centralized deployment mode. This architecture is expected to enable each police station to function independently and at the same time allows for data to flow to the divisional and headquarter levels at regular intervals, thereby achieving the benefits of a centralized system.
The application also has a citizen interface through which complaints can be raised and the status of an already lodged FIR can be tracked. The user interface can display content both in English and the local language.
The application has several operational modules which will maintain records within the police stations and other police bodies pertaining to various activities of the police in areas like crime, law and order, wireless, traffic, intelligence and counter intelligence, etc. Each module has the search function to retrieve relevant data. A standard based information exchange gateway will make available the required crime and criminal information for access by other states. The information exchange will also retrieve the required information from other states enabling a seamless sharing of crime and criminal information across the country, according to Wipro Infotech.
Ranbir Singh, general manager for government and defense at Wipro Infotech, said: To combat high crime rates more effectively Wipro sees a huge role for information technology. This is a path-breaking application and will bring in a lot of efficiency and agility in the functioning between various units of the police department through real-time information sharing thereby resulting in better service to the citizens.

domain: law


text:
Article Processing Charge (APC)
JMechE is an Open Access journal with no subscription charges. All articles published in JMechE will be immediately free for everyone to read and download from the website. A fee of USD250 is payable by the author to cover costs associated with publication. Together with the submission, the author should include this statement: “As an Author, I acknowledge I need to pay the Article Publishing Charge if my manuscript accepted for publication”.
Types of Contribution
The journal will accept the following types of contribution:
Theoretical, Numerical and Simulation Works, Experimental works, and Combinations of the above.
Original papers in all fields of mechanical engineering. Case studies and papers that describe original work applicable to engineering practice are particularly encouraged. Submissions must be previously unpublished and may not be under consideration elsewhere.
Main Criteria for Article Submission
- The scope is within the Mechanical Engineering field
- Similarity Index less than 20%
- The submitted manuscript is not a review paper
- The number of references must not be less than 20 references, with 60% of the references from recent publications (the last five years)
- The manuscript must use good English proficiency

domain: library