text:
From farms to commercial greenhouses, IoT technologies are increasingly being used to help to enable more efficient resource allocation, reduce water consumption, optimize human labor and increase the quality and quantity of crops. Deploying the right hardware -from sensors to drones to RFID tags- is just the first step; being able to collect, monitor and manage IoT data workflows (and making sure that the right data gets to the right application at the right time) from all these devices is key to harvesting value from any IoT deployment.
Agricultural enterprises often consist of a heterogeneous network of sensors and devices that must be able to operate under a wide variety of environmental conditions and monitor everything from soil conditions, light levels, water usage and equipment assets. As the FDA and other agencies around the world move towards requiring farmers to incorporate more technologies to ensure food safety, system integrators and developers will face more complexity in trying to build scalable IoT projects.
On-prem IoT software, such as Machinechat’s JEDI One, enables system integrators and developers to quickly deploy data collection, visualization, monitoring, rules and notifications, and local data storage without the need to spend weeks and months developing custom software and applications. More importantly, by normalizing and managing data within the local enterprise, data security is enhanced and cloud data processing costs are reduced.
Want to read more? Download our latest environmental monitoring use case by clicking below.

domain: agronomy


text:
J Oral Pathol Med (2011) 40: 629–635
Background: The risk of malignant progression of oral leukoplakia with and without dysplasia is unpredictable.
Materials and methods: Leukoplakias without dysplasia of 35 patients, leukoplakias with dysplasia of 4 patients, and similar lesions obtained from tumor patients were retrospectively examined by immunohistochemistry for the expression of the proteins pRb, p53, p16INK4a, Cyclin D1 and Ki-67. The predictive power of combined aberrant expression patterns for the progression of leukoplakias without dysplasia was examined.
Results: Increased expression of p53, Ki-67 and Cyclin D1, and loss of p16INK4a occurred in 45.9%, 38.9%, 29.4% and 32.4% of the leukoplakias without dysplasia, respectively. All alterations increased with progression but had poor positive predictive value. However, the combined p53/p16INK4a/Ki-67 aberration occurred in only three (9%) cases, of which two patients (66.7%) experienced progression to dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. The combined p53/p16INK4a/Ki-67 alteration had a negative predictive value (NPV) and sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 97% and positive predictive value (PPV) of 67%. By contrast, the combined p53/p16INK4a/Cyclin D1 alteration had 97% NPV and sensitivity of 50%, specificity of 90% and only 25% PPV. Loss of pRb and concomitant overexpression of p16INK4a were not observed arguing against an involvement of HPV in oral leukoplakia.
Conclusions: We propose the combined p53/p16INK4a/Ki-67 alteration as a basic marker to define high risk leukoplakia patients. Lesions not showing this alteration appear to be harmless. Future studies should validate these findings and search for proteins which can further improve the PPV of the proposed basic marker.

domain: biology


text:
- 1 Location and Approach to Deux Balés National Park
- 2 History and Formation of the Park
- 3 Geographical Features and Climate
- 4 Biodiversity in Deux Balés National Park
- 5 Conservation and Sustainability
- 6 Practical Information for Visitors
- 7 Contact and Additional Information
- 8 Photo Gallery
Located in the heart of Burkina Faso, the Deux Balés National Park offers an unparalleled showcase of the rich biodiversity of West Africa. With a unique blend of savannas, forests, and aquatic ecosystems, the park is a true sanctuary for nature lovers and safari enthusiasts.
Location and Approach to Deux Balés National Park
Deux Balés National Park is located in the Mouhoun region, about 250 km east of the capital, Ouagadougou. Its proximity to the capital makes access easy, with several transportation options available.
History and Formation of the Park
The park was established in 1967 to protect its diverse wildlife and has remained an important conservation center ever since. Its name, Deux Balés, comes from the two rock formations that dominate the park’s landscape.
Meaning of the Name
The name ‘Deux Balés’ means ‘Two Bullets’ in French, referring to the two prominent rock formations that are characteristic of the park and integral to its unique beauty.
Geographical Features and Climate
Deux Balés National Park spans a vast area of savanna and forest, interrupted by the spectacular rocky outcrops of the ‘two bullets.’ This varied landscape provides a multitude of habitats for a wide range of species.
Climate and Seasons
The park experiences a tropical savanna climate, with a rainy season between May and October and a dry season for the rest of the year. The diverse climate influences the varied wildlife in the park.
Flora and Ecosystems
The vegetation in the park is diverse, ranging from savanna grasses to dense gallery forests along the rivers. The presence of numerous ecosystems contributes to the rich biodiversity of the park.
Biodiversity in Deux Balés National Park
Wildlife and Endemic Species
Deux Balés National Park is home to an impressive variety of wildlife, from large mammals such as elephants, buffalos, and antelopes, to smaller, less visible but equally fascinating creatures. It is a refuge for endemic species that are perfectly adapted to their environment.
Conservation and Sustainability
Threats to Conservation
Like many national parks in Africa, Deux Balés faces several challenges in terms of conservation. Human pressure, deforestation, and climate change are just some of the threats this unique ecosystem is facing.
Conservation and Sustainability Initiatives
Despite these threats, significant efforts are being made to protect and preserve Deux Balés National Park. These initiatives include environmental education programs, anti-poaching efforts, and reforestation. The aim is to ensure that the park is conserved for future generations.
Community Participation and Education
An integral part of these conservation initiatives is the involvement and education of the local community. Programs are being implemented to engage local communities in conservation efforts and provide them with training and employment, which in turn helps preserve their natural heritage.
Practical Information for Visitors
Accommodation and Meals
There are several accommodation options near Deux Balés National Park, ranging from luxury lodges to more rustic campsites. Meals are generally included in these accommodations, with the opportunity to taste delicious local cuisine.
Rules and Regulations of the Park
To ensure the safety of visitors and the protection of wildlife and the natural environment, specific rules and regulations are in place in Deux Balés National Park. These include restrictions on where and when visitors can walk, rules on appropriate behavior near animals, and prohibitions on damaging flora and fauna.
Health and Safety
It is important to consider health and safety considerations when visiting the park. This includes proper preparation for the heat, hydration, and protection against mosquitoes. It is also advisable to hire a local guide, who can help ensure a safe and enjoyable visit.
Contact and Additional Information
How to Get There and Transportation
There are several ways to get to Deux Balés National Park, from driving from the capital to taking a local bus. Once in the park, transportation can include safari vehicles, walking, or even canoes for certain areas.
Useful Contacts and Online Resources
For more information about Deux Balés National Park, including contact details, opening hours, and fees, it is recommended to visit the official park website or contact the Burkina Faso tourism office.
Opening Hours and Fees
Deux Balés National Park is open year-round, although specific hours may vary depending on the season. An entrance fee to the park applies, which is used to support conservation efforts. It is advisable to check the official park website for the most up-to-date information on opening hours and fees.
We hope this article inspires you to explore Deux Balés National Park, a true treasure of Burkina Faso and an impressive showcase of Africa’s rich biodiversity. Happy travels!

domain: geography


text:
Pet Insurance in and around Olathe
Extra Love For Your Favorite Furry Friends
Pets may need more care as they age, just like humans. And just like people, pets need care to keep them healthy. Caring for your pet's troubling health issues or ongoing medical conditions can require testing and hospitalization—and those bills can add up! Getting your furry friends the medical attention they need shouldn’t require going into debt. The last thing we should have to do when our beloved pets need care is the cost to help them heal. Sadly, many pet owners find themselves facing tough decisions about their dog’s or cat’s care.
Pets Fill The Home With Warmth
By working with State Farm agent Debbie Swinney, you’ll get the policy you need for your beloved pets. Debbie Swinney understands how important your family pet is and can walk you through all your Trupanion® pet insurance options. As a commited provider of pet insurance in Olathe, KS, State Farm helps you keep your furriest family members protected. Call State Farm agent Debbie Swinney today and keep your pets happy and healthy.

domain: pet


text:
Justin Timberlake: Suited Up
Season 2 – Ancient Aliens – 2.Gods and Aliens
He is one of the most successful recording artists of the 21st century. From the Mickey Mouse Club to NSYNC, Justin Timberlake has gone on to become an international superstar as a solo artist. There have been many highs and lows throughout his well publicized and extremely high profile career, from his break up with Britney, to winning the life time achievement award at the 2013 VMA awards. There is no doubt that Justin Timberlake is the quintessential superstar of his generation. Throughout this documentary you will discover the ins and outs of his amazing career and personal life, including interviews with the man himself and with show biz experts. This is the truly remarkable story of an iconic superstar….Justin Timberlake.

domain: library


METHOD 1: Hide “Get Windows 10” Icon in Taskbar:
This is the easiest way to get rid of the icon. You can right-click on the date/time in Taskbar system tray and select “Customize notification icons” option. It’ll open a new window. Now look for GWX (Get Windows 10) entry in the list and change its value to “Hide icon and notifications” using the drop-down box.
Apply the changes and it’ll hide the White Windows flag icon in Taskbar notification area.
PS: If the options (drop-down boxes) to change behaviors are grayed out or disabled, then uncheck “Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar” checkbox and it’ll allow you to customize icons behaviors.
METHOD 2: Kill “Get Windows 10 (GWX)” Process Using Task Manager:
If you don’t want to use the above mentioned method, you can kill the process related to “Get Windows 10” app and it’ll automatically remove the icon from Taskbar.
1. Right-click on Taskbar and select Task Manager option. It’ll open Task Manager. You can also directly launch Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys together.
2. Now go to Processes or Details tab and select GWX process and then click on “End Process” button. You can also right-click on GWX process and select “End Process” or “End Task” option. Or you can simply select GWX process and press Delete key.
It’ll kill GWX process and will also remove its icon from Taskbar notification area. If the icon is still visible, just hover mouse cursor over it and it’ll magically disappear.
METHOD 3: Disable “Get Windows 10” Using Registry Editor:
If you follow above mentioned method, it’ll remove the app and its icon temporarily. After some time or next logon, the app and its icon might come back. Following Registry tweak will disable “Get Windows 10” app and its Taskbar icon permanently:
1. Type regedit in RUN or Start search box and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.
2. Now go to following key:
3. Create a new key under Windows key and set its name as GWX
So the final key path would be:
4. Now select GWX key and in right-side pane create a new DWORD DisableGWX and set its value to 1
5. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer to take effect.
It’ll permanently disable “Get Windows 10” app and will also remove its icon from Taskbar.
In future, if you decide to re-enable the app and its icon, simply change value of DisableGWX DWORD to 0 or delete the DWORD.
PS: If you are not familiar with registry editing tasks, we are also providing ready-made registry script to do the task automatically for your convenience. Just download following ZIP file, extract it and then run the given .REG files to enable/disable GWX app and its icon:
Registry Script to Disable “Get Windows 10” App and Icon in Windows
Tag : Disable/Remove Win10 GWX.EXE files permently fix


text:
The Monticello Neighborhood Association has been informed by our contact within the City of Fort Worth that construction to replace the Monticello Park playground equipment is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 30th.
Below are details of what we know about the project and how it could impact those using Monticello Park:
- The City is providing all new equipment as part of a City-wide update to non-compliant parks and recreational facilities.
- The construction will last 3-4 months.
- During construction, the entire playground portion of the park, including the toddler swings, will be blocked off and unusable to the public.
- There will still be access to the tennis courts and the large, empty field (closest to Monticello Drive) during construction.
- We understand that in addition to new playground equipment, the City will also be replacing the gravel with compressed wood chips.
- The City is planning to do concrete work on the sidewalks.
- At the conclusion of the project, MNA is going to plant new trees to provide additional shade to the playground area.
As we get more details, MNA will pass them along to our membership. In the meantime, please do not schedule any events for the park effective October 30th.

domain: news


Whatever your tank level & flow measurement needs -stack, flare, combustion- OSi has the non-contact sensor to meet them. Visit website for details. OSi sensors reliably serve customer's needs at refineries, smelters, power plants, airports & more!
At Weidmuller, our mission is to be at the forefront of automation technology. We are a leading provider of products for the transmission of power, data & signals in industrial environments, including electronics-network components & in-panel connections.
The OWI-430 uses a compact, triple aperture optical system to measure both precipitation and visibility. OFS-2000 series sensors meet EPA 40 Parts 60 & 75 and are in service in power plants, mines, refineries, incinerators - throughout the world!read more
880 Columbia St. Brea, CA 92821
United States of America 714-835-6000
561 Hillgrove Avenue LaGrange, IL 60525
United States of America 708-354-1040
2621 Ridgepoint Drive Suite 235 Austin, TX 78754
United States of America 512-837-0283
6837 Nancy Ridge Drive Suite A San Diego, CA 92121
United States of America 858-546-8327
Xymox Technologies, Inc.
9099 West Dean Road Milwaukee, WI 53224
United States of America 414-362-9000


text:
SILVER PLATED LONG PEARL NECKLACE EARRINGS. BLACK. WHITE.
The Design Story
As an energy worker, I design each piece with the specific intent to draw and invoke positive and loving thoughts that amplify the beauty and qualities of the materials. I welcome custom design requests. Please convo me if you have a favorite stone, energy, or intent that you want to be the theme for a custom design.
- Handmade Silver Plated Long Pearl Necklace and Earrings
- Length: 42 inches (necklace); 3 inches (earrings)
- Color: Crystal AB
- Materials: Silver Plated Textured Chain, Czech Glass Beads, Glass Pearls, Bali Silver Findings, Sterling Silver Kidney Ear Wires
- Availability: Ready to ship.
Inspired by Fleur de Life Jewelry designs? You are invited to Contact Us about a specific energy, quality, or intent that you want to be the theme for a custom design.

domain: artistic


text:
Black Barbershop Initiative Sets Up Shop In FL
FT. LAUDERDALE - The Diabetic Amputation Prevention (DAP) Foundation has announced that it will launch the Florida Initiative of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, on Saturday, August 28, 2010. This unique and innovative program will provide free diabetes and high-blood pressure screenings to men and women at black-owned barbershops and beauty shops throughout Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. In addition, on-site medical professionals will provide educational materials about exercise, fitness, obesity, prostate cancer, and breast cancer, as well as a medical resource guide. For the next several years, the program will travel throughout the United States with the goal of screening 500,000 African American men for diabetes by the year 2012.
The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, founded by Dr. Bill J. Releford, is pleased to include Black-owned beauty shops for the first time in South Florida, collaborating with Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-Miramar) to address the health care disparities among African American men and women. Hastings will visit the Neighborhood Unisex Salon in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, August 28 at 12:00 p.m. The goal of the event is to empower African American men and women to take control of their health and become health advocates in their communities through education and prevention.
On July 30, 2010, Hastings introduced a resolution (H.Res. 1591) recognizing the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program and expressed his continued commitment to supporting similar initiatives that seek to improve health outcomes in black communities across the country through education, community involvement, research, and culturally relevant strategies. The resolution currently has 18 co-sponsors.
The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program will be hosting a press conference with Dr. Releford at FoundCare Community Health Center in West Palm Beach on Friday, August 27, 2010. FoundCare provides comprehensive medical care regardless of a person’s ability to pay and accepts a variety of insurance plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, and Health Care District programs. Family practice, pediatrics, and infectious disease providers are ready to offer preventative health care services and welcome patients to establish FoundCare as their health care home. Services are provided by bi-lingual staff.

domain: medical


Our Amare midi skirt is a staple that can be worn all year. It easily pairs well with sandals and a crop top or boots and a sweater.
Features a smocked high waist, charming side pockets, and gracious ruffled round hem.
100% Balinese Rayon
Made in Bali
Care: Machine wash in cold water on a delicate cycle or hand wash with mild detergent. Dry flat or hang to dry. Some shrinkage may occur after wash. To return to its original shape use warm iron or steam.


text:
As long as folks from the world of TV, movies and sports continue to declare their legitimate candidacy for political offices – and in more than a few cases, winning election – it’s time to start treating them as politicians instead of cuddly curiosities.
For example, the case can and should be made by the news media that the fame and fortune that now allows Arnold Schwarzenegger to run for Governor of California is very likely rooted in steroid use.
While Schwarzenegger has admitted to “some” steroid use during those years when he was a competitive body-builder, the international competitions he won from the years 1968 through 1975 were widely known as anabolic showdowns. Few, if any contestants bothered to compete – and would not have even reached regional finals – if they were not pumped far beyond the limits of natural physiological proportion.
And it is from these juiced competitions that Schwarzenegger launched a movie career that brought him the finances and the fame to run for Governor of California. His steroid use should not be dismissed or ignored as incidental or insignificant, not when it’s far more likely to be the foundation of his political fortunes.
But as recent history tells us, we cannot expect a Tim Russert or a Chris Mathews to pursue such an issue or a line of questioning with non-traditional, celebrity candidates for public office.
A George W. Bush and a Bill Clinton can and will be aggressively investigated and interrogated about relatively inconsequential substance use in their young adulthoods. Did Bush try cocaine? Did Clinton smoke pot?
Why were those front-burner issues while Schwarzenegger’s steroid use is not likely to become even a minor issue?
This hideous double standard was in full view before and after Jesse (The Body) Ventura’s election as Governor of Minnesota. A couple of hours of intensive investigation – the kind applied to more standardized political candidates – would have revealed Ventura as someone whose background made him unfit to be your weekend house guest let alone the title resident of a Governor’s mansion.
Ventura’s long service to Vince McMahon and his World Wrestling Federation – employment that continued (italic) after (end italic) his election – found Ventura’s fame and fortune to have been based in vulgar performances, ratcheted up each week for the enjoyment of kids and young adults.
Ventura, an admitted former steroid user, was not a bit player in McMahon’s unprintably obscene scripts. He was front and center.
But as a politician Ventura made the TV rounds and was widely welcomed and indulged by bemused newsmen and newswomen who had little to no idea as to what pro wrestling had become nor how Ventura had lent his name and presence to helping it advance into the sewer and, in too many cases among drug-reliant wrestlers, the morgue.
Ventura was instead embraced as both a refreshing novelty act and an action hero – with nothing in his recent or distant past worthy of serious inspection.
Even after Ventura’s election his service to McMahon through the low-brow XFL on NBC sell – Ventura’s mission as the lead “analyst” was to fabricate hate-filled story lines – didn’t prevent TV news people from respectfully presenting Ventura as a statesman and even a legitimate candidate for President of the United States!
There is no one familiar with international body-building competitions during those years when “Pumping Iron” star Arnold Schwarzenegger was at the head of the class who would not laugh at the mere suggestion that Schwarzenegger succeeded without the considerable help of dangerous, muscle-massing drugs.
It’s crazy. If a fellow who has ably served for years en route to higher political office is revealed to have smoked pot in college, he risks immediate and lasting scandal. But Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose drug use likely served to launch first a movie career and now a political one, is unlikely to suffer any such consequences.


text:
A business council between Turkey and Mexico held its first meeting in Mexico City on Friday with the participation of Rifat Hisarciklioglu, chairman of Turkey's Union of Turkish Chambers of Commerce, and Industry, or TOBB, and president of the country's Foreign Economic Relations Board.
"It seems as Turkish businesspeople we have missed Mexico for a trade partner. If you want to be a global player in commerce you need to do business with Mexico," Hisarciklioglu told businesspeople attending the meeting.
Hisarciklioglu said Mexico was the 11th biggest economy in the world with an export volume of 300 million USD, calling on Turkish and Mexican businesspeople to improve their cooperation.
"Turkey's economy is going smoothly and the country grew the fastest in the first nine months of last year. Turkey is the only European country which did not have to bail out any of its banks," Hisarciklioglu said.
Turkish FM says Ankara and US can differ sometimes because they have own interests; but in general, overlapping polices.
After Dec. 1, companies will be fined up to 519 Turkish Lira ($235) if their vehicles do not comply with the law.
Biden and his wife also visited the principal Greek Orthodox cathedral and the historic Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul
Davutoglu says pro-Kurdish HDP party should express its sincerity to solution process with apology.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said he and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan he had discussed a transition of power in Syria away from President Bashar al-Assad during a four-hour meeting in Istanbul
A 25-year-old Serbian basketball fan was killed in Istanbul on Friday night before a Turkish Airlines Euroleague game.
Yildiz says $2 billion in oil exported so far; expresses concern for Russian gas import decline in Turkey.
Trouble flared up outside the Abdi Ikpeci Arena in Istanbul before the match when around 400 Red Star fans arrived but were banned from entering, according to RTS
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also highlighted the importance of U.S. and Turkey relationship, especially in the current backdrop of regional turmoil
US Vice President Joe Biden has said Turkey is the only country which is expected to grow in the next decade in Europe
Gul dismisses as 'fallacious and unreal' remarks attributed to him by Iran's state-owned Press TV
Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn says he supports Turkey's bid for EU accession
Turkish officials attempted to prevent the execution but failed.
Input from developing countries and small to medium-sized enterprises are themes for Turkey's G20 presidency next year
The ratings agency also issued a "negative" outlook for Turkey, predicting GDP growth will slowly return to above 3 percent.
Biden meets with Turkish Prime Minister Davutoglu during his Istanbul visit.

domain: economics


Strong internal controls are just one source of prevention.
The CEO of the nation's second largest credit union and a bank lobbyist join forces.
NCUA Board Member Fryzel responds to a recent CU Times column bemoaning Washington and rulemaking.
Some asset classes in the NCUA's risk-based capital proposal, like consumer loans, have better risk weights than Basel III.
A $306M credit union files 52 letters. CUSO CU*Answers files 129.
The proposal's 250% risk weight assigned to investments in CUSOs would discourage credit union funds.
NCUA Board Member Michael Fryzel provides a behind-the-scenes look at the rule's development and explains his no vote.
The $14.3 million Mayfair FCU has been losing money; fourth conservatorship this year.
Wilshire Consulting study finds low-interest rate environment wreaking havoc with corporate retirement assets.
During the Governmental Affairs Conference, Chip Filson announced his intention to seek an NCUA Board seat, which was the culmination of speeches and online postings criticizing the NCUA’s activities throughout the financial and corporate crises. He has launched a petition designed to force President Obama to consider him as a...


text:
Bridging the Guideline-Practice Gap: The Critical Care Experience Rupinder Dhaliwal, RD Daren Heyland, MD Rupinder Dhaliwal, RD Daren Heyland, MD
Guidelines for Nutrition Therapy in the ICU Rupinder Dhaliwal, RD Operations Manager Clinical Evaluation Research Unit Kingston, Ontario Rupinder Dhaliwal, RD Operations Manager Clinical Evaluation Research Unit Kingston, Ontario
DisclosureDisclosure Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nutrition Support for the Mechanically Ventilated Critically ill Co-Author Rupinder Dhaliwal
Critical Care Nutrition The right nutrient/nutritional strategy The right timing The right patient The right intensity (dose/duration) With the right outcome! www.criticalcarenutrition.com
A Continuous Quality Improvement Effort What is done? What ought to be done ? What do we need to do differently? “Gaps” - site reports How to change? “KT strategies” RCTs, Systematic Reviews, and Evidence-based practice guidelines Survey results www.criticalcarenutrition.com What is done?
To identify the similarities and the differences between the recommendations of three North American Clinical Practice Guidelines Understand why these differences occur Need for harmonization across guidelines Objectives Objectives
Why bother with guidelines? Clinical practice guidelines are “systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances.” Best available evidence with integration of potential benefits, harm, feasibility, cost Reduce variability in care, improve quality, reduce costs and can improve outcomes
The more guidelines they publish, the more confused I get!
Review of guidelines needed A review of the content and the evidence used to formulate the recommendations Assesses the process of development
Which Guidelines to compare? Critically ill populations Developed by North American professional/national organization Published/online 1999-2009 Addressed more than one single topic Were not consensus statements (i.e. immunonutrition ) Were original work vs. part of cluster RCTs
North American Guidelines www.criticalcarenutrition.com
Population Levels of Evidence Grading used Time frames, outcomes Level of transparency between evidence and recommendation What differences?
Differences AreaCanadianADAASPEN/SCCM PopulationMechanically ventilated critically ill patients no elective surgery Critically ill patients eligible for EN no burns Medical and surgical critically ill patients expected to stay in the ICU > 2-3 days Level of evidence RCTs, meta analyses Level 1 or 2 based on validity of evidence All levels of evidence Grade 1-5 based on validity of evidence Minimum n>20 All levels of evidence Level 1-5 based on validity of evidence Time Frame 1980-20091993-2003 1993-2009 1996-2006 (2009) unclear Outcomes clinical outcomesclinical and non clinical outcomes
GradingCanadianADAASPEN/SCCM Strongest Weakest “Strongly recommend” no reservations re: endorsement (5%) “Strong” benefits exceed harm high quality evidence anticipated benefits (41%) “A” supported by at least 2 Level 1 (RCT n > 100) (3%) “Recommend” supportive evidence but minor uncertainties re: safety/feasibility or costs “Fair” Same as above but quality of evidence is not as strong “B” supported by 1 level 1 “Should be considered” Evidence was weak or major uncertainties re: safety/cost/feasibility “Weak” Suspect quality of evidence little clear benefit “C” Level 2 (RCTs <100) “Insufficient data” Inadequate data or conflicting evidence (51%) “Consensus” Expert opinion “D” At least 2 Level 3 (non RCT, contemporaneous controls) “Insufficient evidence” No pertinent evidence and harm/risk is ? (37%) “E” Level 4 (non RCT, historical controls) Level 5 (case series), expert opinion (39%)
Criteria High Quality CPGs Rigor of development: – Provide detailed information on the search strategy, the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and methods used to formulate the recommendation (reproducible). Transparent link between evidence, values, and resulting recommendation – External review – Procedure for updating the CPG AGREE Qual Saf Health Care 2003;12:18
Integration of values Validity Homogeneity Safety Feasibility Cost evidenceintegration of values + practice guidelines
Indirect calorimetry vs. predictive equations Differences: recommendations CanadianADAASPEN/SCCM Insufficient data 1 small RCT burn patients Strong Use indirect calorimetry Non RCTs, no clinical outcomes Grade E Use either, caution with equations Narrative review article
Dose of EN/Achieving target range Differences: recommendations CanadianADAASPEN/SCCM Should be considered Use strategies to optimize EN i.e. goal rate start, 250 mls GRVs, m. agents, small bowel feeding No threshold 1 RCT and 2 Cluster RCTs Fair Give at least 60-70% energy within first week 2 RCTs and 2 non RCTs Grade C Provide >50-65% goal calories in first week Specifics for Obese (Grade E and D) 1 RCT and 1 non RCT
Gastric Residual Volumes & Motility agents Differences: recommendations CanadianADAASPEN/SCCM GRVsShould be considered 250 mls 1 RCT and 2 Cluster RCTs Consensus 250 mls Grade B 500 mls 4 RCTs Motility agentsRecommend metoclopromide Strong metoclopromide Grade C Metoclopromide Erythromycin Opiod antagonists
Arginine Differences: recommendations CanadianADAASPEN/SCCM Recommend NOT be used Meta-analyses of 22 RCTs 3 RCTs harm (Bower. Bertolini, Dent) Fair Not be used 11 RCTs 2 RCTS harm (Bower, Bertolini) Grade A Surgical Grade B Medical Cautious in severe sepsis Volume use 50-65% goal earlier meta-analyses showing no benefit RCT showing benefit (Galban) Grade A: based on elective surgery patients
Enteral Glutamine Differences: recommendations CanadianADAASPEN/SCCM Burns & Trauma: Should be considered Other ICU: Insufficient data 9 RCTS --------Grade B Burns, Trauma and mixed ICU patients 1 RCT (Jones mixed ICU pts)
Peptides Differences: recommendations CanadianADAASPEN/SCCM Recommend polymeric (since no benefit for peptides) 4 RCTs --------- Grade E Use small peptides in diarrhea 1 non RCT
Fibre Differences: recommendations CanadianADAASPEN/SCCM Insufficient data 6 RCTs --------- Grade E Use soluble fibre 3 RCTs Grade C Avoid soluble and insoluble fibre for bowel ischemia/severe dysmotility 2 non RCTs (review, case study)
Probiotics Differences: recommendations CanadianADAASPEN/SCCM Insufficient data No benefit in outcomes, potential for harm 12 RCTs --------- Grade C Use in transplant, major abd surgery, severe trauma Not in necrotizing pancreatitis 5 RCTs (elective sx)
Intensive Insulin Therapy Differences: recommendations CanadianADAASPEN/SCCM Recommend Target around 144 mg/dl (8.0 mmol/L) Range 120-160 mg/dL (7-9 mmol/L) Keep < 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) in all Most recent meta- analyses includes NICE SUGAR Strong Medical: 80-110 mg/dL (4.4-6.1 mmol/L) BEING UPDATED 2009 Grade B Moderate strict control Grade E 110-150 mg/dL (6.1-8.3 mmol/L)
TopicCanadianADAASPEN/SCCM Use of EN over PN Start EN within 24-48 hr EN Fish Oils ----- CHO/FatInsufficient -----Insufficient Body position (45) Small bowel vs. gastric Continuous vs. otherinsufficient----High risk (D) PN vs std careNot be used----Not for 7 days Type of IV lipidsNo soy based----No soy based PN Glutamine ---- Low dose of PN ---- AOX/vits/minerals ---- ADOPT NOW!
Slight difference in strength Enteral Nutrition over Parenteral Nutrition Canadians and ADA: Strongest ASPEN/SCCM: second strongest Feeding Protocols Canadians and ASPEN/SCCM: weaker recommendation ADA: none for feeding protocol per se, but for GRV : expert opinion EN plus PN Canadian: recommend NOT be used until strategies to maximize EN adopted ASPEN/SCCM: not be started for 7 -10 days (grade C) Blue Dye ASPEN/SCCM : not recommend ADA : do not recommend but highest level of evidence
Differences exist between the guidelines: – Populations – Levels of evidence: not enough RCTs so tendency to make a recommendation – Time frames of literature searches and updates – Recommendations: due to interpretation of the evidence, lack of transparency Similarities in many of the recommendations Conclusions
Similarities should be adopted without hesitation Differences Define critically ill patient Transparency needed (websites) Harmonize between societies Practitioner: right recommendation for the right person Implications


text:
Magical and mystical Siquijor Island is a glowing gem in the Visayas region. With centuries-old trees and an abundance of resorts on white sand beaches (and often for less than the cost at similar destinations), this palm tree-packed tropical paradise is another wonderful option in the Central Visayas region to spend a few days, whether you are solo, a couple, or in a group.
Island Transportation Overview
Because tourism is not a large industry on Siquijor like it is on some of its sister islands (like Bohol or Siargao), getting around on a tricycle will cost you a bit more.
The good news is that prices have been somewhat standardized for foreigners, so you can know what to expect and create a budget ahead of time. Daily transportation can be an often overlooked expense when choosing accommodation. Make sure that the activities that you want to participate in are close by to your hotel if possible, as it will save you time and money. This article will help you figure out the major towns on the island.
The major towns on Suquijor are listed below, in geographical order, counter- clockwise around the island. Starting with the largest port, and most populous town: Larena. This is the port that the large boats travel to. Supercat 2Go and Oceanjet have regularly scheduled trips here, while smaller boating companies port at Siquijor.
• San Juan
• Enrique Valencia
The majority of the resorts are in the first three destinations, and they are also by far, the most popular because they are closest to the ports, potentially saving tourists a significant amount of transportation money.
Foreign tourists can expect to pay an unofficially standardized fare of 250 pesos between each town. If you find the need to go between two towns, then the fare is 500, 750 and so on. A private tricycle hire for the day will cost about 1200p if your negotiation skills are good.
There are Always Exceptions
Larena is the largest port and therefore where the big companies can be found. Ocean Jet and Supercat each have ticketing windows and regular journeys here to the nearby cities of Tagbilaran, Cebu (via Tagbilaran) and Dumaguette.
Exiting the port terminal at Larena will land tourists in the center of a busy intersection lined with tricycles, motorbike rentals and even a few vans, though these vans are typically privately owned by resorts and are here to provide a transfer service for their customers that already have reservations.
A small number of cafes/ places to eat can be found in this intersection as well.
A smart, budget minded tourist will bypass the initial wave of offers from tricycles drivers and choose to spend some time and money in one of the cafes. The hard working drivers know the ferry schedules, and it is very obvious when one dumps a few dozen passengers off. This rush creates a glut of quick offers, all at full price because there are so many passengers trying to get to their destinations as soon as possible. Accepting a ride at this point, all but guarantees paying full price.
Exiting the café after a quick drink or even a small meal (one can expect to pay 100 pesos for fried chicken and rice) visitors will find only a handful of other tourists around, and several dozen tricycle drivers, eagerly waiting for their next fare. Depending on the ferry schedule, the next opportunity could be hours away.
With some keen negotiation skills, and persistence, a fare can often be negotiated for slightly less than the standardized rate, as the tricycle driver would likely be able to take a discounted fare and still return to the port for the next boat’s arrival. Its possible to get from Larena to San Juan, a 15 minute, 6 km trip for around 400 pesos. No promises, but the right combination of haggling skills, boat schedule, and luck could save you enough to pay for that chicken and rice.
Siquijor is an enchanting island and is worth a visit in the Filipino summertime (Jan-May) so don’t be discouraged by the higher transportation costs and slightly higher rate of difficulty getting around the island on a tricycle, the low cost/ high performing resorts and the super friendly people will far make up for the extra transportation money spent.
Enjoy your days on Siquijor Island!


text:
Thursday Random Roundup
Published: 02 May 2012
Written by Anthony
Two free PSN games on Playstation Facebook page
Special offer: Halo Reach + Gears Of War 2 + Fable 3 (Download Full Game Code) Xbox 360 only $22.99!
Super Street Fighter, Shadow Wars, Pilotwings Resort and Tetris 3D for $19 at GAME (out of stock online)
Steam - EA Indie Bundle 70% Off (6 Games for $21 USD usually $70)
PSN Autumn Sale - The Sly Trilogy $19.95, GOW Collections I & II $27.95, Fat Princess $8.45
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days Limited Edition PC $4.00
Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes $5.00
Arcania: Gothic 4 $9.99
2013 All rights reserved.
Custom Design by Youjoomla.com

domain: entertainment


Boris Johnson's local government advisor implemented a series of cuts in his borough, culminating in the axing of hot meals on wheels for old and vulnerable people.
Before he stepped down as the head of Bexley Council, Ian Clement told pensioners that they would no longer receive their meals on wheels service but should instead order frozen food from 'approved suppliers' on the internet.
Meals on wheels, which were pioneered in London during the Blitz, and have since spread across the world, were axed according to Clement, as a means to "provide users with greater choice and offer an enhanced service."
But unfortunately for Clement, angry pensioners failed to see how removing the option to have a hot meal delivered to their door was increasing their choice, or how forcing them to cook a meal that they were incapable of, was improving their service.
And as the protests grew, Clement was forced to make it clear that pensioners would be assessed for need and could claim an 'attendance allowance' to pay for the meals to be heated if necessary.
But with many pensioners unable to access the internet, let alone submit themselves to the application process, Bexley council were accused of implementing cuts for cuts sakes.
Thirty council workers were also due to lose their jobs, and Bexley Council had shed themselves of a huge subsidy, but for the vulnerable pensioners whose daily visits from the meals on wheels van were often the only ones they had, Clement's decision was to have an even bigger impact.
Because when Boris Johnson came to power, he promised to give greater power and influence to individual boroughs, but the problem with giving that extra power away is that individual boroughs already make very self-interested and damaging decisions as it is.
And without that central control over key social and housing policies, that Livingstone was so criticised for, people in one part of London will often suffer in ways that those in other parts avoid.
In his latest rallying cry against waste and 'politically correct London,' Andrew Gilligan wrote yesterday that when :
'the GLA's new cost-cutting chief executive, Tim Parker, starts work, we will see that second essential revolutionary moment: the part when selected victims are led out to the firing squad.'
He then goes on to say that under Boris money will be redirected away from 'cycling for the blind initiatives' and 'gay Bengali workplace sustainability forums' and will instead go towards helping the most deprived people in London.
But beyond Andrew Gilligan's fantasy land where Notting Hill liberal Tories toss help to London's poor, lies the realities of a political party dedicated to cutting taxes and the services that go with them.
And while Gilligan's eyes are turned, it is not gay Bengali cyclists, but the ordinary pensioners and vulnerable people of London who are often the first to be 'led out to the firing squad.'


text:
Join us for a complimentary wine reception followed by the folk-inspired chamber music of the masterful Dvořák.
- Duo concertante for violin and double bass
- String Quartet No. 13 in G, Op. 106
- Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major, Op. 81
- Marc-André Hamelin piano
About This Performance
The highly acclaimed Canadian pianist joins our musicians for one of Dvořák's masterful piano quintets.
Programs, artists, dates, prices and availability subject to change.


text:
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires 120 days after purchase. Amount paid never expires. Registration required. Limit 1 per person, may buy 1 additional as a gift. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About A Chat with ArtWorks
What services does your business offer and what makes your business stand out from the competition? ArtWorks Studio offers technical lessons at the beginning of each session to build your knowledge and improve your oil painting ability in a private, fun environment. Guest artists will be scheduled monthly and active students will receive a discount to attend workshops.
Do you provide any materials? What should your students expect to bring? ArtWorks provides a paint pallet, paint board, easel, and clean up supplies. Students will need to bring oil paints (a list will be provided when class is scheduled), oil medium, brushes, oil paints, and a notebook.
What was the inspiration to start or run this business? I am always inspired by people who view my art when I paint in the field and want to share my knowledge with others who have the desire to create.
What do you love most about your job? Creating and helping others create works of art.


There’s been talk about a foldable Samsung tablet for the second half of the year, but till then we’ve got the usual concepts. Jermaine Smit is back with a flexible and foldable device, that’s pictured below.
This is a mere teaser of what’s coming, a slate that to me looks like an Apple model and also a bit like a new LG G Pad. The device seems to adopt an edge to edge display and I’m guessing it will fold in a more modest way, maybe like the LG G Flex. I see metal and glass here, judging by the appearance of the slate. While flexing a phone has a purpose, because leave them in backpacks filled with heavy books or in the back pocket and sit on them, why make a tablet flexible?
The only way a foldable tablet makes sense is if you can actually fold it in two and make it a smartphone. That triggers a new problem: you will create a very thick smartphone you will be ashamed to use in public, because it looks bulky. So what’s the advantage? Why do YOU want a foldable tablet?
[via Jermaine Smit]


text:
Laws, Regulations & Annotations
Property Taxes Law Guide – Revision 2017
Revenue and Taxation Code
Part 6. Tax Sales
CHAPTER 1. Publication of Delinquent List and Notice of Sale
Article 1.7. Published Delinquent List*
3375. Notification by tax collector. The county tax collector or assessor, whichever is applicable, shall notify the Controller within 60 days, in the manner as the Controller shall direct, of all property subject to a "Notice of Lien for Postponed Property Taxes" recorded pursuant to Section 16182 of the Government Code and for which notice of any of the following has been expeditiously processed:
(a) Becomes tax defaulted subsequent to the date of entry on the secured roll of the information required by subdivision (a) of Section 2514; or
(b) The claimant of which transfers ownership or changes his or her mailing address, and the property is a residential property; or (c) The claimant of which has been determined to be deceased.
History.—Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 1242, in effect October 1, 1977. Stats. 1978, Ch. 576, in effect August 31, 1978, in the first paragraph after the word "which" added the ":" and designated the remaining portion of the old sentence as subdivision (a) and also added the ";" and the word "or" to the end of subdivision (a). Also added subdivision (b). Stats. 1984, Ch. 988, in effect September 11, 1984, substituted "Becomes tax defaulted" for "Is sold to the state for unpaid taxes" before "subsequent" in subdivision (a). Stats. 2014, Ch. 703 (AB 2231), in effect September 28, 2014, substituted "county tax collector or assessor, whichever is applicable," for "tax collector" after "The", substituted "within 60 days, in the" for ", in such" after the first "the Controller", and substituted "and for which notice of any of the following has been expeditiously processed" for ", which" after "Government Code" in the first sentence of the first paragraph; deleted "paragraph (1) of" after "required by" in the first sentence of subdivision (a); and added subdivisions (b) and (c) and deleted former subdivision (b) which provided that "Becomes subject to those collection procedures that are available for collection of delinquent taxes or assessments on the unsecured roll."
Note.—See note following Section 2194.

domain: law


text:
Messaging app company Line has released a new service that will allow brands, SMEs and other business users to tap into its platform communicate with customers and consumers.
The Line@ app — which is available for iOS and Android — is essentially an enterprise-focused version of Line’s popular chat app. Line@ plugs into the existing chat service and can exchange messages with regular Line users and post content to the social network-like ‘Timeline,’ but it is designed for communicating with people who are not friends but are clients, customers or fans. Line has 170 million active users worldwide.
From the Line blog post:
The new service is free to use but Line is charging users for a searchable, vanity ID ($24 for the first year, $12 thereafter) while free accounts are limited to sending 1,000 messages per month. Those wishing to go for more can pay $50 per month for 50,000 messages, messages beyond that bundle cost $0.01 each.
Line is already open to brands and business via its ‘official’ (branded) account option, but it costs tens of thousands of dollars to create and use a branded account leaving many business users priced out. In countries like Japan, Thailand and Taiwan — where Line is the dominant chat app — small merchants and SMEs have long adopted the consumer version of the app for their business, but in dong so they mix personal and work contacts in the same place. That’s exactly the issue that Line@ is designed to cater to, and it allows users to have a personal and business profile on the service.
Line@ is essentially the company’s answer to Facebook Pages, except that it allows closer one-on-one communication between brand/business, and their customers/fans. There is also a PC version of Line@ — Line’s consumer app has Mac and Windows apps — and that offers additional services like polls and surveys, but the mobile app is certainly the main focus here.
The Line@ service is available worldwide — with the exception of China — and in 14 languages, including English, French, Korean, Japan, Russian and Thai.
WeChat, the dominant chat app in China that counts nearly 500 million active users, has already made its app friendly to business users. Enterprise accounts were opened to all businesses last September, and earlier in 2014 the service added a mobile store platform and released its payment service to all businesses — combined together, those three elements allow companies to run their business and communications via the service.
Line has introduced payment too, and though it is dabbling in its own version of shopping, it is pushing an online-to-offline strategy that allows retailers to establish a presence and interact with fans via its mobile messaging platform — giving them a dedicated point of access, beyond the expensive official accounts, is an important step.
However, Line has struggled to dominate markets beyond Japan, Taiwan and Thailand. A lack of users in a country makes it harder to sell the need for Line@ to businesses and brands, so it remains to be seen how this new app will be adopted. Line is focused on evolving beyond a messaging platform with games, and this month it launched a $42 million fund dedicated to turns its service into a lifestyle platform.


text:
Connecting the continents. Power system modelling and capacity building for detailed assessments of global power sector decarbonization pathways
University College Cork
Deep decarbonization of the global energy sector is essential for reaching increasingly ambitious climate change mitigation targets. The momentum on global climate action is gathering speed, hence the need for energy research to accurately inform development pathways and decision making processes for the global energy sector is both critical and urgent. Electricity end use is expected to gain a larger role due to the potential for emission reductions in the electricity sector combined with the ability of electricity to displace fossil fuel use in other sectors. While completely decarbonised power systems based on very high penetrations of wind and solar energy are desirable, the technical and economic feasibility of power systems mostly or fully based on renewables remains a matter of debate. Furthermore, from a continental or global perspective, the role of flexible assets such as large-scale transmission interconnections are poorly understood. This thesis develops, applies, and disseminates a number of key foundation blocks for robust assessments of global power system decarbonization pathways by means of open methods and datasets that can be used with a broad range of modelling tools. The author constructs and uses a detailed global power system model with high technical, temporal, and spatial modelling resolution to assess the technical feasibility of scenarios coming from long-term planning models. The methodological open source soft-link framework presented here is carefully designed to respond to known limitations of Integrated Assessment Models in a manner that allows for iterative model coupling to pinpoint and improve key areas of power system representation within Integrated Assessment Models. The thesis results provide insights that planning models struggle to generate, for example regarding curtailment of renewable electricity, occurrence of unserved energy and the operation of flexible assets at hourly modelling resolution. The research pays particular attention to the potential for intercontinental trade of electricity in context of a globally integrated power grid. The main contributions of this thesis are the development, application and dissemination of new methods, datasets and models that improve power system modelling and capacity building efforts at the global scale. The foundation blocks provided by this research are currently contributing to improved assessments of power system decarbonization pathways and are enriching the evidence base underpinning global climate- and energy policy decisions.
Global , Power system modelling , Energy policy
Brinkerink, M. 2021. Connecting the continents. Power system modelling and capacity building for detailed assessments of global power sector decarbonization pathways. PhD Thesis, University College Cork.


Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Make It Better
Release Date: September 16, 2016
Label: Rootfire Cooperative
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad (GPGDS) are on a mission to Make It Better. The new album from the Rochester, New York-based band addresses this theme, not just through music, but through art, conversation, and everyday living. Formed in 2001 in Rochester, NY, GPGDS first received praise for their live show, which combined world beats and reggae rhythms with an urgent energy and jamband dynamics. More recently the band’s diverse recordings have showcased their songwriting, musicianship, and ability to transcend genre.


text:
DRAMA IS BACK
Fall at the Cafe
Lunch and Drinks!
Ambler, Lansdale, and Emmaus
Our coffees are roasted to perfection in small-batches in Lansdale, PA.
We ship all over the United States. Free shipping on orders over $30.
shop all coffee
All of our coffee subscriptions come in whole bean.
**Billed monthly and shipped on the first Monday of the month.
FROM THE BLOG:
We only purchase superior, responsibly sourced coffee beans. Working with an importer to source sustainably grown coffee from around the world is something in which we take great pride. Great coffee begins at the heart, with hard-working farmers and co-ops. By sourcing, we’re doing our part to secure a sustainable future.


text:
News & Events
Khalsa Sikhs can wear kirpan in Toronto courthouses
Sikhs who wish to enter a Toronto courthouse wearing a kirpan (stylized representation of a sword) now face fewer barriers according to a settlement reached with the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Police Services Board, and the Ministry of the Attorney General.
The Toronto Police Service ("TPS") agreed to revise its procedures to ensure that practicing members of the Sikh faith will be allowed to wear kirpans in public areas of courthouses, subject to an individualized risk assessment.
The TPS will also seek input from the World Sikh Organization of Canada and the Ontario Human Rights Commission on training for its court officers dealing with the duty to accommodate the kirpan related to a person's creed under the Human Rights Code ("Code").

domain: sociology


text:
Date: Wednesday 16th May 2007
Venue : The Westin Hotel, Sydney
Speaker: The NSW Premier, the Hon. Morris Iemma MP
Winner Mr Greg Goodman, Group Chief Executive Officer, Macquarie Goodman Group Ltd
The Property Person of the Year is an annual award presented to a property sector leader in NSW. The 2007 Property Person of the Year award was presented by the NSW Premier , the Hon Morris Iemma MP to Mr Greg Goodman, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Macquarie Goodman Group at a charity fundraising dinner in aid of the Warrah Society.
Winner of the Property Person of the Year 2007
Mr Greg Goodman
Greg Goodman is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Macquarie Goodman Group and is responsible for its global operations and implementation of the companys strategic plan.
Macquarie Goodman is a global leader in property investment, development and management services. It is the largest industrial property group listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and the second largest in the world, with offices across Asia Pacific, UK and Europe.
At the core of the groups remarkable success is its unique customer service model, which reflects the organisations commitment to creating long-term customer relationships.
The Hon Morris Iemma, Premier of NSW
presenting the Property Person of the Year
2007 Award to Mr Greg Goodman,
Group Chief Executive Officer, Macquarie
Goodman Group Ltd
Greg has 25 years of experience in the property industry with significant expertise in the industrial property and business space arena. Gregs philosophy is simple put back into the community what you take out, plus a little bit.
Greg moved to Australia from New Zealand in late 1985. He formed a substantial private unit property trust predominantly comprising industrial properties in 1989. In July 1995, the trust listed on the Australian Stock Exchange as Goodman Hardie Industrial Property Trust with a portfolio of eight properties and total assets of approximately $73.2 million. In 2000 it merged with Macquarie Industrial Trust and is now known as Macquarie Goodman Industrial Trust (MGI).
Greg played a fundamental role in establishing MGIs position as the largest industrial property trust on the Australian Stock Exchange. He oversaw the merger of Macquarie Industrial Trust and Macquarie Goodman Management Limited to create Macquarie Goodman Group, and has managed the Groups prolific growth since then.
Today, the Groups total assets under management total $33.3 billion. It has 543 business space properties under management, approximately 1000 staff and 2,500 customers. Macquarie Goodman Group acquired three like-minded businesses in Europe Arlington in December 2005, Eurinpro in May 2006 and Akeler in November 2006. Collaboratively, these businesses provided the complete platform to deliver the Groups Customer Service Model in Europe.
Macquarie Goodman integrates specialist services and expertise around the globe to deliver complete, proactive property solutions. The Macquarie Goodman global brand was built on the combined strengths of four like-minded businesses across Asia-Pacific and Europe, the commitment of a passionate team, and the support of loyal customers.
Greg is married to Anna and has three boys, Josh, Sam and Harry. His family has significant financial interests in New Zealand, with his parents still residing there. Gregs older brother Patrick is the managing director of the Goodmans private company and his younger brother Craig is a director of global customer relationships for Macquarie Goodman Group in Paris.
Greg enjoys spending time with his family as well as boating, skiing and tennis.
Greg admires people who live their lives to the fullest and thrive on their achievements. His best investment was an airline ticket to Australia in 1984. His worst investment was a set of golf clubs which he has never used.
MC Jean Kittson at the Property
Prson of the Year 2007
Mr Greg Goodman accepting the honour
of Property Person of the Year 2007
Pat Tierney, Chairman of the Warrah Society
Bob Rose, Chairman of the Urban Taskforce
|For more information about the Property Person of the Year 2007 Award please contact the Urban Taskforce on (02) 9238 3955 or email firstname.lastname@example.org


Press Release Summary:
- Powered by CMOS sensor, cameras combine indexing speeds up to 4,500 indexed points per second
- Offer high-speed EBSD mapping with the highest indexing performance on real-world materials
- Image resolution combined with Combined with Triplet Indexing routine provides orientation precision values of less than 0.1°
Original Press Release:
EDAX Adds Velocity Pro to Its EBSD Camera Series
MAHWAH, NJ (Jan. 6, 2021) – AMETEK EDAX, a leader in X-ray microanalysis and electron diffraction instrumentation, is adding a new, fast, low-noise CMOS camera to its Velocity™ Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) Camera Series. The Velocity Pro offers high-speed EBSD mapping with the highest indexing performance on real-world materials.
The Velocity EBSD Camera Series now includes three cameras tailored to specific EBSD analysis applications:
- Velocity Pro – Collects up to 2,000 indexed points per second
- Velocity Plus – Collects up to 3,000 indexed points per second
- Velocity Super – Collects up to 4,500 indexed points per second
Powered by a CMOS sensor optimized for high-speed EBSD, the Velocity EBSD Camera Series combines indexing speeds up to 4,500 indexed points per second with indexing success rates of 99% or better. At these speeds, the Velocity Cameras use 120 x 120 pixel EBSD patterns for improved band detection. This image resolution, combined with the proven EDAX Triplet Indexing routine, provides orientation precision values of less than 0.1°.
The Velocity EBSD Series can be integrated with compatible EDAX EDS detectors to provide an analytical system for efficient simultaneous EDS-EBSD collection, even at the highest collection speeds. Furthermore, the collection can be combined with ChI-Scan™ analysis for results with useful, integrated data for accurate phase differentiation.
This new addition to the EDAX portfolio of EBSD cameras offers users another option for high-speed mapping and accurate indexing to resolve crystallographic microstructures and help solve materials characterization challenges quickly and easily.
EDAX is an acknowledged leader in Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, Electron Backscatter Diffraction, and X-ray Fluorescence instrumentation. EDAX designs, manufactures, installs, and services high-quality products and systems for leading companies in the semiconductor, metals, geological, pharmaceutical, biomaterials, and ceramics markets.
Since 1962, EDAX has used its knowledge and experience to develop ultra-sensitive silicon radiation sensors, digital electronics, and specialized application software that facilitate solutions to research, development, and industrial requirements.
EDAX is a unit of the Materials Analysis Division of AMETEK, Inc., which is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annual sales of approximately $5 billion. For further information about EDAX, please contact:


text:
As 2012 comes to a close, we pause to remember those we lost this year. This is not a comprehensive list by any means, but merely a list of departed individuals that made an impact on our lives at LouieLouie.net
Tom Ardolino of NRBQ (January 6)
Tom was a musician, music collector, and archivist of truly unusual treasures. It was truly a pleasure to shoot video of NRBQ and meet Tom at that infamous Village Music party in Mill Valley all those years ago. As I learned more about him, I discovered he was an incredible resource of musical information.
Terry Dolan of Terry & the Pirates (January 15)
Terry and the Pirates were one of the earliest bands I photographed when I bought my first 35mm camera, straight of high school. Years later when I worked with Jesse Block (fellows LOUIE co-producer) and Jim Draper on their documentary on John Cipollina, I reconnected with Terry Dolan and some of the other Pirates, and documenting some wonderful stories about their various adventures for posterity.
Kearney Barton, NW Recording Engineer (January 17)
Kearney Barton was one of the important recording engineers in the Pacific Northwest during the 1950s-1970s, and I’m very fortunate we were able to capture some of his stories for the LOUIE documentary.
Johnny Otis (January 17)
Johnny Otis did a lot of things in his life -singer, songwriter, disc jockey, keyboardist, drummer, bandleader, talent scout, music producer, television show host, record label owner, cartoonist, and so much more. A long-time associate of Richard Berry, Johnny was a generous man who understood the LOUIE project, and made sure I was always on the permanent guest list during his run as the artist-in-residence at the San Jose Fairmont.
Etta James (January 20)
A singing partner of Richard Berry for “Roll With Henry.” Mother-in-law for Richard’s youngest daughter, and mutual grandparent for three beautiful children.
A powerful voice with fans all over the world, she was truly a legend in the world of music.
Don Cornelius, host of Soul Train (February 1)
Don Cornelius created the TV show Soul Train as a national showcase for soul music. It was on this TV show that Barry White reminded America that LOUIE LOUIE was written by a black man, followed by a version that was a wonderful tribute to the original version by Richard Berry.
Michael Davis of MC5 (February 17)
MC5 was one of the great garage bands that opened the doors for punk rock before the genre was even defined as such, and Michael Davis was part of the band from 1965 to 1972, as well as various reunions. Kick out the Jams, Mo-Fu!
Danny Holiday, Seattle DJ / Music Historian (February 20)
Danny Holiday was a disc jockey in the Northwest with a great love for music history. He loved the LOUIE project, and we talked a couple of times, comparing notes on the Kingsmen, Revere & the Raiders, and the legendary riots of Seaside, Oregon.
Davy Jones of the Monkees (February 29)
One of my favorite video assignments was working on a video shoot of a Davy Jones concert in San Francisco on 10-10-10, courtesy of my friend Karl Anderson. As an old-time Monkees fan, it was a truly a treat to participate in this project, and hear some inside Monkees stories direct from the source. Absolutely no LOUIE stories from Davy, but plenty of other great ones, including a fun one involving Jimi Hendrix on a fishing adventure.
For details on this upcoming video release, be sure to visit
Jaime Rodriguez (sometime in March)
Jaime Rodriguez was a bass player connected with various punk bands around San Jose – Ribzy, Rogue Apostles, the Quirx, KerPlunk, Grimace, Sporadic Spontaneous, and Vacant Churches.
A nice guy with a funny sense of humor.
More on Jaime at
Dick Clark, entertainment icon (April 18)
Dick Clark was serious player in the entertainment industry, and played a big part in the career of Paul Revere & the Raiders.
Kathi Kamen Goldmark (May 24)
Kathi did some remarkable things when she organized the Rock Bottom Remainders – the all-star band consisting of big name writers. Who else could have coerced Stephen King, Amy Tan, Dave Barry, Matt Groening, Dave Marsh, and so many other talented literary types into performing as an actual rock ‘n’ roll band?
Kathi was a friend and ally for the LOUIE project. I had no idea she had breast cancer. WTF?
Doc Watson (May 29)
Doc Watson was one of the great guitar flatpickers, playing traditional American music for over 60 years. Doc worked with the LOUIE documentary team, with Jesse Block producing/directing the Doc Watson and David Grisman concert video that was released by Rounder/Guitar Workshops.
Sherman Hemsley, actor/ musician (July 24)
Sherman Hemsley was not only a gifted actor, but also a musician that put out a fairly unique version of THE SONG. Who would have guessed he was friends with the band GONG and loved psychedelic music? Certainly not me…
Phil Tiger (August 30)
Phil Tiger was a cantankerous, but lovable curmudgeon of the San Jose art / punk rock scene. An amazing illustrator (when he wanted to be), Phil was the leader of the band known as “The Bruces.”
Richard von Busack wrote an excellent obituary about Phil for the Metro weekly newspaper:
Tiger was a genius for stirring it up, but the talent for mischief shouldn’t eclipse his art. That artistic talent is demonstrated in pictures on Tiger’s Facebook shrine. So is the grief of those “who knew him or wish they did.” Tiger grew up in Saratoga. He was the student body president at Prospect High, according to his old friend Jan Bernstein Chargin. As an adult, Tiger joined with fellow artists Larry Eder and Steve Briscoe to exhibit at SCU’s Freight Door Gallery. These students put up more than 20 shows, despite the insignificant $100-a-year budget. Eder, today a publisher in Wisconsin, says, “Phil had the skill of a Dutch master, a real ability to draw.”
Phil was called many things in his life but he could never be considered “forgettable.”
You can learn about Phil’s more life by visiting this page…
or watching this video from the E.P. archives…
Kathi McDonald (October 3)
Kathi McDonald was a gifted singer that worked with Ike & Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones, Leon Russell, Long John Baldry , and Big Brother and the Holding Company , who brought her into the band after Janis Joplin died. The LOUIE production team shot a few concert productions where Kathi was a special guest, but my favorite moment was at a special record release party for George Michalski’s album, where I wound up having a really nice little chat with her, learning more about her amazing career.
Patricia Molino (October 22)
Patricia Molino was a familiar friendly face on various events that hired the LOUIE production team. One of the best make-up artists in San Francisco, Patricia worked double-duty on Neil Young’s “Greendale” feature film, both as both make-up artist and actress in this very special production. She played the role of “Lenore the art dealer.” We were all devastated at LOUIE Central when we learned we lost our friend to cancer.
Spain Rodriguez (November 28)
Growing up with ZAP Comics, the artwork of Spain Rodriguez had a definite impact on the artistic-intellectual development of the LOUIE team. Years later, being able to run into the man himself at various events was a good reminder why we make the San Francisco Bay Area our home. Spain was one of the good guys- always approachable, and usually more than willing to provide a nice little sketch to anyone that asked.
Looking at his latest book, I saw that he gave a nice little acknowledgement of a Richard Berry song – “Yama Yama Pretty Mama,” as part of his lifestory soundtrack.
Sadly, Spain was another one of those folks we lost with cancer.
Dave Brubeck (December 5)
Dave Brubeck was another other one of the super-talented, world-famous musical icons that the LOUIE team had the pleasure and honor to work with. Jesse and I both worked with Dave back in 1994 for the BET Jazz Central show, and then Jesse also worked with him years later at the Monterey Jazz Festivals, as video director for the live video feed.
I had a nice little off-camera chat with Dave during the Jazz Central sessions, where I asked him about a then-recent performance at the White House for President Bill Clinton a few weeks before. He mentioned that he actually played for almost every Presidential administration since President John F. Kennedy. The only exception was President George H.W. Bush, who apparently was not a fan of jazz music.
Mike Korek (November 27)
Mike Korek was the primary person running the main operations of the Smart Life Forum, an organization that focused on discovering new ways of extending one’s life expectancy. Each month, different people would come in and give detailed presentations about alternative therapies for cancer, diabetes, weight-loss programs and other health problems that still lack definitive cures.
Mike hired me to shoot video of these forums, which have been shared via webstream and YouTube. I’ve been working with this organization for over a year, and I’ve learned some very good things as a result of this alliance.
Mike will definitely be missed. I had no idea he was 82 years, as he certainly seemed younger than that…
John Thoennes (early December)
Back in 1999, John Thoennes put together an ambitious show in Seaside, Oregon, reuniting a handful of bands that hadn’t played together in 30 or so years. Jack Ely & the Courtmen (formerly Jack Ely & the Kingsmen), as well as James Henry & the Olympics were the main acts for this one. Jesse and I attended the event, and got some priceless footage, which tied in well with the LOUIE documentary project.
This year, I re-connected with John via the social networks, and learned more about his own career as a working musician. I was hoping I’d be able to meet up with him again in near future, but fate took another path…
Bubba the Dawg (December 23)
A few days before Christmas, I felt devastated by the passing of my beloved doggie companion, Bubba, who had some age-related ailments. Bubba was the first dog I bonded with as an adult, and I’m still coming to terms with his loss.
I miss my beloved foot-warmer, walking companion, dish-cleaner, and faithful friend.
Ray Collins of Mothers of Invention (December 24)
Ray Collins was the original lead singer of the Mothers of Invention, the band that propelled Frank Zappa into the spotlight. Ray only lasted for a few albums, leaving the band sometime in 1968. In the LOUIE universe, his claim would be singing “Plastic People” – the Zappa re-write of LOUIE LOUIE. Sadly, he stopped doing music, resisting efforts to join in new bands, or perform with the Grandmothers- the group consisting of former members of Mothers of Invention.
– written & assembled by Eric Predoehl, producer/director of LOUIE documentary + LouieLouie.net administrator


Folk music legend Christy Moore has teamed up with musicians’ site Tradconnect in a project to help the next generation of songwriters.
The ‘Songwriter’s Showcase’ provides an opportunity for new writers and performers to gain some exposure.
Moore will listen to songs by the artists and offer support. He says he is excited at the prospect at discovering some great new material.
A Norwegian University choir has put a new twist on one of Ireland’s favourite songs.
The folk classic Rocky Road to Dublin was performed by the Trondhjems Studentersangforening, an 80-strong singing group, and they do a pretty good job with it.
Ireland has a star-in-the-making as Dubliner Janet Grogan wowed both judges and audience on the X Factor with her second audition at Wembley.
The 26-year-old gave a stunning rendition of U2’s Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. The performance had the crowd on their feet cheering, and head judge Simon Cowell grinning from ear to ear.
Grogan received a ‘Yes’ from Cowell and fellow judges Cheryl Cole, Mel B and Louis Walsh, to progress through to the next stage of the competition.
Irish singer songwriter Coade has teamed up with photographer Mick Quinn to produce a moving video to one of his songs.
The song, called Understand, was written by Coade for his son when he was a child. The video features several pairs of fathers and sons.
Coade’s son is now aged 21 and lives in America. He was unable to feature in the video. Instead Coade took the ‘son’ role in the video, appearing with his father.
Coade said: ““I’ve been a musician forever. I actually wrote this song years ago for my boy Sam. I knew he would grow up and I wanted it to document my love for him.
A Japanese flute player was joined by a fluttery friend as she took part in a competition earlier this week.
It seemed that a butterfly was so enchanted by the delicate music performed by Yukie Ota that the equally delicate animal perched on the flutist’s face to get a closer look as she played.


Analog Microelectronics offers analog ICs with voltage output for capacitance measurements. The capacitance-to-voltage converter product family comprises ICs for differential capacitance measure-ments and single capacitance measurements. The C/V-converters feature an adjustable ratiometric voltage output (e.g. 1 … 4 V), an integrated temperature sensor and a voltage reference. They can be used in a voltage range from 4.75 to 5.25 V (typically 5 V) and a temperature range from -40 to 105 °C.
CAV424 is an integrated capacitance-to-voltage converter suitable for the measurement of single or differential input capacitances. It generates a ratiometric output voltage signal and can be used as front end for µC. The IC’s wide measurement range, low EM susceptibility and high sensitivity allow a multitude of applications.
CAV444 is a capacitance-to-voltage converter IC for the measurement of single capacitances. Its ratiometric output voltage signal is proportional to the input capacitance. CAV444 can be used as stand-alone IC or as front end for µC. Its wide capacitance measurement range and high sensitivity allow various applications.


Our politics is polarized on more issues than ever before we believe that much of the public discussion of party polarization misses two important points how political polarization . This research was generously funded by the knight foundation executive summary as the discussion surrounding misinformation and polarization takes center stage, one space that has been largely overlooked is the chinese media sphere within the united states, where questionable content has garnered a loyal following among chinese-speaking immigrants. Editor’s note: see here for an alternative view on polarization counterpoint: the positive side of political polarization political polarization is a serious problem for the united states .
Published in english contain phrases like “ideological polarization” and “political polarization”1 to normalize for overall trends in discussion of politics, i divide the total count of books containing. Through analysis of the content of congressional hearings on the issue of climate change, we are able to explain political polarization of the issue more fully in particular, our results show that, contrary to representations in the mainstream media, there is increasing consensus over the science of the issue. By all accounts, political polarization is on this rise the gulf between americans who identify as either republican or democrat has widened and deepened, even to the point that some citizens say they would not approve of their son or daughter marrying outside their own political party.
Political polarization is the defining feature of early 21 st century american politics, both among the public and elected officials as part of a year-long study of polarization, the pew research center has conducted the largest political survey in its history – a poll of more than 10,000 adults . Kniss said she hasn't fully reviewed the issue but said that balin's complaints appear to be a very personal issue, rather than a political or a professional issue. Polarization by computing the difference in means (or medians) across the political parties, where a larger gap indicates a greater level of polarization figure 21 presents the difference in. Eg, as you know, in political science it has long been recognized that “political knowledge/sophistication” sharpens the relationship between self-reported ideology or party self-identification and positions on various issues (and hence the extent of polarization this actually figured in an exchange that you & i had about ideological .
The future is no joke: a discussion of american political polarization morgan gray january 24, 2016 morgan gray ’16 graduated with a double major in history and spanish. Deep polarization is a fact of american political life in the 21st century, but our debates need not stay so overheated share quote & link none of this will change soon. Identity politics and political polarization, part ii the first blog in this five part series examined the issue of our doctoral program in health service psychology opened a discussion .
Political polarization dominates almost every discussion of american politics today the gap between the two political parties can be seen most clearly in washington and especially in congress, but also among american voters themselves. In the current period of partisan polarization and news media fragmentation, there is growing concern that public discussion of important issues is inhibited by a lack of agreement across partisan lines about basic facts. Political polarization and christian unity ecclesial discussion of local or national policy issues carried on in a parish or diocese is apt to leave us stuck in .
Right now, social media has not had a productive impact on increasing political polarization in the us however, facebook offers a unique opportunity. Political polarization in the us and social inequalities twenty years ago, your opinions on political issues did not line up the way we have come to expect . How the media’s coverage of political polarization affects voter attitudes the issue: ideological the media’s discussion of political polarization has .
Our posts discuss issues of general interest that emerged from the specific evaluations join circle for an ongoing discussion a time of political polarization . Is political polarization in america mainly the result of structural changes in society vote and share any alternative or complementary explanation on the discussion forum below get others to join this lse100 public discussion. An animated look at how polarization has expanded political polarization is getting worse everywhere by the gap between the political leaning of republican and democratic caucuses on .


text:
Like the city itself, the Civilian collection of day bags is layered with hidden details and surprises of color. Its modern styling is paired with ultra-functional pockets and compartments. The Jacks Laptop Messenger offers simple, clean styling on the outside and numerous pockets for your laptop, electronics, business accessories, papers and files on the inside.
PROS: Materials seem durable, but look somewhat cheap. I ordered the black and green and the green looks better than expected, but not like the website. The bag might work for you if you need a durable slightly better than average looking bag for a larger PC.
CONS: This bag is not a good choice for a macbook air or pro. The bag is enormous in a vertical direction, bulky, and heavy (may be 3.5 pounds). It is tapered resulting in limited useable space. It looks great on the website, but up close I think it looks unsophisticated. For the price ($200+) I'm sure I can do better.

domain: design


Da Brat’s Surprise Birthday Wish Went Left
Lisa Raye was in the midst of celebrating her birthday until a bomb was dropped in her lap when her sister made an attempt to surprise her for her birthday
According to somelikeithaute;
LisaRaye’s “Cocktails with the Queens” co-hosts thought they were doing something good by surprising her with an appearance from her sister Brat. While she at first was brought to tears upon seeing her sister, things quickly turned left and the 2 began arguing. And Da Brat has clearly been around Judy too long it’s like she purposely wanted to upset her big sister.
Watch the footage below.
Do you think Lisa overreacted or did she respond properly?


text:
Jan Techau: Trump tries to prove that Russia is not able to manipulate him
The Head of the European Bureau of the Vestnik Kavkaza, Orkhan Satarov, took part in an exclusive conversation of a limited number of journalists with the director of the Richard Holbrooke Forum for the Study of Diplomacy and Governance at the American Academy in Berlin, Jan Techau. Tehau is considered one of Germany's leading political experts specializing in German foreign policy and transatlantic relations. Vestnik Kavkaza offers the readers to get acquainted with the expert's opinion on the most acute problems of the world politics.
US foreign policy
”In fact, the US under President Donald Trump behaves towards Russia in a different way than it was supposed during the election campaign of the Republican candidate," Tekhau said. According to the expert, today the Trump administration has rather returned to the traditional American foreign policy line. This is due to the fact that Trump needs to prove at the domestic political arena that Russia is not in a position to manipulate him. Therefore, he demonstrates a tough position on the foreign policy front. "I do not think that at the moment there can be a real partnership between Russia and the West, there are some topics on which there is a mutual understanding, for example, the similar views on the fight against terrorism." Between Europeans and Russia there is a unity of approaches to Iran's nuclear problems, but it is not even worth talking about some kind of strategic partnership,’’- Tehau believes. The expert reproached Russia for the military demonstrations, as well as the attempts to influence the intra-European and intra-German political processes, in particular through social the media, influence on the parties and certain groups of the population (for example, Russian Germans). According to Jan Techau, this has led to the fact that today in Europe there is a unity on the issue of extending the anti-Russian sanctions, although initially this topic was a source of contradictions between the EU countries.
Answering the question of Vestnik Kavkaza about the readiness of Europe and, in particular, Germany, to withdraw from the ‘military custody’ of Americans and make a bet on the creation of their own nuclear weapons, Jan Tehau noted: "First, Germans must better understand , how much they are dependent on the nuclear deterrence. In the internal German debate on the foreign policy and security, this topic is hardly touched on. People do not understand that Germany today is not a subject to the nuclear blackmail just because it is under the umbrella of the US. The fact that Russia, being nominally the dominant power on the continent, de facto does not dominate Europe, is due to the nuclear protection from the US. Germans do not understand this instinctively and the onset of this understanding would already be a progress. Maybe it will seem arrogant, but I actually think that most Germans do not realize this.’’ The second, the expert believes, Germany should discuss with other European partners the probability of what will happen if, at some point, the American "nuclear umbrella" disappears one day. "Now there is no such a threat, and President Trump did not put the American security guarantees in a question, but there is an uncertainty about how much we can rely on Donald Trump. If the US nuclear protection is no longer so obvious as before, then what should Europe do in this case? There are two European nuclear powers, France and the United Kingdom, while France has always stressed that its nuclear weapons are exclusively French, not European. But the UK has not commented on this issue at all. The question is how to organize the European nuclear deterrent without having to engage in the arms race This is an open question, and there are no discussions conducted in connection with it, and Germany should participate in the process of solving it,’’ the expert is sure. ‘’If Germany starts thinking about creating its own nuclear weapons, then there will be a massive nervous breakdown in the country for sure,” Jan Techau said, pointing out at the strong pacifist sentiments in the German society. "I also do not think that we should strive for this, but we must think about how it can be possible to organize the common European nuclear deterrence system without America, and this will not be an easy task,’’ the German political scientist concluded.
"I object the Nord Stream-2 project for several reasons. First, it is not necessary for Europe's gas supply, and the second, this project creates a significant distrust on the part of the Central and Eastern European countries towards Germany, since the decisions, that are of strategic importance for them, are made without their participation. The US also does not understand what motivates Germany to advocate actively this project. The third, this project drives a strategic wedge between Germany and these countries, because the transportation of gas will be organized in such a way that the transit countries get out of the game and lose their strategic importance.The fact that Germans drive a wedge into a union of the countries connected by a "single energy fate" is wrong. In my opinion, this moment is decisive in the calculations of the Russian side, that is why it pushes the project so hard. It remains a mystery to me, why Chancellor Merkel so consistently defends the Nord Stream-2, although the energy profit for Germany is quite low, but the strategic losses are high. I think that Berlin should withdraw from the project, although Foreign Minister Zigmar Gabriel will say exactly the opposite. "
Relations between Europe and Turkey
The relations between Europe and Turkey are formed, first of all, not by the ‘deal on migrants’, but by the fact that Turkey is already a major European power and soon will become even stronger. Now in Europe we are witnessing a policy aimed at bringing the relations with this future European power onto a constructive track. The relations with Turkey are being built not only for the immediate future, but also for the post-Erdogan era. The ‘migration deal’ with Turkey should be understood in a following prospect - Europeans has ‘paid off’ from the refugees by signing it. This can not be characterized in other way. Turkey regulates access to the Balkan route, and it should also be noted that most of the refugees were accepted by Turkey itself. And if we want to support the regulator of the Balkan route - Turkey - in a good mood, and provide that the refugees stay there further, then we have to pay Turks. This cooperation works fairly tolerably, Turks adhere to the deal, they accept the majority of refugees, and, of course, receive money. As a measure to curb the migration flow this agreement justifies itself, although this, of course, is an unstable game. It is noteworthy, that even in the midst of the contradictions with Europe, Ankara does not withdraw from this agreement, since it considers it profitable for itself. And so I think that the potential for blackmailing Europe by Turkey is not so high. If Turkey seriously threatened to break the deal, then such a potential would exist. But Turkey itself does not give any signs that it is not interested in the deal. A threat, of course, always exists, but in fact the both sides are interested in the deal.
As for the position of the German Federal Government and Chancellor Merkel, who did not grant President Erdogan an opportunity to speak before German Turks in Germany during his upcoming visit to Hamburg, in this situation the main role is played by the German election struggle. The Chancellor should try not to seem too friendly towards Erdogan. It would hurt her in the election campaign, while the current critical attitude towards Ankara is extremely popular in Germany. In addition, one can not ignore the mood in Berlin, where many parliamentarians have been angered Turkey because of its refusal to allow the Bundestag deputies to the Injirlik military base. It is noteworthy that the reaction from the Turkish side was much milder this time than during the previous refusals to provide the Turkish politicians an opportunity to make speeches in the German cities. Probably, Ankara also understands that the decision of the German government was made due to the electoral struggle above all. Obviously, Turkey itself is not interested in escalating. I think that for Erdogan this speech is not worth of creating a crisis.

domain: politics


- Max Speed Normal: 464 km/h
- Max Speed Boost: 589
- Boost Time (sec.): 3.7
- Body Strength (/100): 90
- Turn Performance: D
- Turn Balance: B
This machine has the best normal top speed and great armor in F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, but it pays for that in having poor acceleration, a short boost, poor jumping, and poor turn performance.
Use the boost after tight corners.
Master the rocket start to partially mitigate the poor acceleration.
This machine has great armor and good traction, so use explosives on the track for speed boosts.


Expediency is the motto of the administration of Governor Jerry Brown.
We know this thanks to Chuck Bonham.
The California Department of Fish and Game Director told the Associated Press that Brown is scaling back habitat restoration in the Delta that’s tied into the Twin Tunnels project in favor of something that is more realistic to achieve in the remaining four years of the governor’s term. Then he let slip an inconvenient truth. Bonham said it was unclear what impact climate change will have on California’s water picture. Precisely.
Since Brown’s mantra is to do everything to prepare for climate change from building high speed trains to nowhere and taxing carbon-based energy into oblivion, then surely even he can see the double-standard created with his second shot at sacrificing the Delta and the economies of Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties to appease the water gods of the Metropolitan Water District and farmers that get around using Lear Jets instead of Ford 150s.
Climate change would mean more conditions like the Delta is seeing now. Taking fresh water out of the Delta under such circumstances could create an unprecedented ecological disaster.
The bureaucracy that Brown oversees last week made the supposedly startling announcement that they could only count one Delta Smelt during a survey. Now that doesn’t mean that there is just one of California’s most important creatures left swimming around in the Delta. It’s just that the numbers are shrinking due to a combination of lower water flows and more brackish water that is changing the ecological balance of the Delta in the fourth year of a severe drought.
What is happening now to the Delta environment and Delta Smelt is precisely what will happen when you have all the fresh water the state moves to Los Angeles et al and corporate farmers deep in the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley bypass the Delta in normal or even wet years. It will make the Delta unsustainable for wildlife as we now know it.
A much cheaper solution to address salt water intrusion is being done currently in the form of a $28 million emergency “dike” to keep salt water at bay as fresh water flows into the Delta slow to a trickle. While a more effective salt water barrier would have to cover more area and cost more money it would still be a lot cheaper than the $22 billion bore job.
So if the Twin Tunnels are built where will the state obtain the fresh water for pulse flows and such to keep the Delta Smelts happy as clams plus the long list of other endangered fish and species? The same place they are getting it now — from reservoirs that don’t supply Los Angeles and corporate farmers. Topping the list is New Melones Reservoir. Of course you can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip. But then again as water bypasses the Delta in a good water year, the state simply siphons off improved precipitation on the Stanislaus River watershed. The bottom line is the prospect of New Melones Reservoir being lined with concrete to create the world’s largest skate park for summer recreation is a distinct possibility even in wet years.
Right now water heading to the Tracy pumps to journey south is serving a dual purpose — quenching Southern California’s thirst and helping the environment.
Wednesday’s announcement of state plans to scale back wetland and wildlife habitat restoration plans for the Delta from 100,000 acres down to 30,000 acres while trimming the cost from $8 billion to $300 million was also an unintended scathing indictment of the bureaucracy.
The state powers that be said they were frustrated with how difficult it was to secure federal permits from federal wildlife agencies. Now the state knows how the private sector and local government agencies feel when they deal with the state government as well as the federal government.
Bureaucratic red tape dispensed by Sacramento makes getting even a reasonable request for a permit when dealing with levees or water issues about as grueling as the 100 Year War.
The worst instant in terms of deadly consequences was how a reclamation district near Arboga in Yuba County tried for years to get state permission to kill burrowing rodents that were weakening the integrity of the Feather River levees. Before approval came, the weakened levee collapsed in 1997 and killed three people, destroyed 322 homes, and put 15,000 acres of productive farmland underwater.
The state typically suspends environmental regulations that govern everyone else when it gets in a way of its objectives as the governor did with high speed rail. But in the Delta the state is stuck answering to a higher authority — federal bureaucrats.
So now instead of doing what they said was the minimum needed to counter the impacts funneling water into tunnels to bypass the Delta would do to the environment, the state is scaling back Delta restoration simply because it is more expedient to do so.
Perhaps if they bored a third tunnel for a high speed rail line to go under the Delta, the state would spare no expense even if it destroyed the Delta Smelt.