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Adaptimmune Therapeutics PLC – (NASDAQ:ADAP) – Investment analysts at SunTrust Banks increased their FY2018 earnings estimates for shares of Adaptimmune Therapeutics in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, November 6th. SunTrust Banks analyst P. Lawson now expects that the biotechnology company will post earnings of ($0.89) per share for the year, up from their previous estimate of ($0.96). SunTrust Banks also issued estimates for Adaptimmune Therapeutics’ Q4 2018 earnings at ($0.26) EPS, FY2019 earnings at ($1.16) EPS, FY2020 earnings at ($1.41) EPS, FY2021 earnings at ($0.94) EPS and FY2022 earnings at ($0.16) EPS.
Adaptimmune Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ADAP) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, November 6th. The biotechnology company reported $0.06 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.03) by $0.09. The company had revenue of $40.79 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $29.41 million. Adaptimmune Therapeutics had a negative return on equity of 41.63% and a negative net margin of 139.57%.
Several other research analysts also recently issued reports on the company. BidaskClub downgraded Adaptimmune Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday. Zacks Investment Research downgraded Adaptimmune Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday. ValuEngine downgraded Adaptimmune Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 6th. Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Adaptimmune Therapeutics in a research note on Tuesday, November 6th. Finally, Raymond James cut their price target on Adaptimmune Therapeutics from $20.00 to $16.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $15.44.
NASDAQ:ADAP opened at $6.18 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $627.87 million, a PE ratio of -7.73 and a beta of 2.02. Adaptimmune Therapeutics has a 52-week low of $5.73 and a 52-week high of $14.63.
In related news, insider Gwendolyn Knowlt Binder-Scholl sold 25,000 shares of Adaptimmune Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.79, for a total transaction of $344,750.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Ali Behbahani acquired 12,000,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 7th. The shares were bought at an average price of $1.67 per share, with a total value of $20,040,000.00. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 26.47% of the company’s stock.
A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ADAP. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA purchased a new stake in Adaptimmune Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth about $122,000. BB&T Securities LLC purchased a new stake in Adaptimmune Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth about $128,000. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in Adaptimmune Therapeutics during the 1st quarter worth about $168,000. Trexquant Investment LP purchased a new stake in Adaptimmune Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth about $178,000. Finally, Trellus Management Company LLC purchased a new stake in Adaptimmune Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth about $195,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.99% of the company’s stock.
About Adaptimmune Therapeutics
Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the provision of cancer immunotherapy products based on its proprietary Specific Peptide Enhanced Affinity Receptor (SPEAR) T-cell platform. Its platform enables in identifying cancer targets; finding and genetically engineering T-cell receptors (TCR); and producing TCR therapeutic candidates for administration to patients.
See Also: Bear Market
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A national group that searches for victims of human trafficking, specifically children, is searching for a local teen.
Brezhae Castleman, 17, was last seen on June 25, 2015 in Shelbyville getting into a red or maroon vehicle. Police believe she could be a victim of child sex trafficking.
The Center for Search and Investigations (CFSI) spent time Tuesday afternoon passing out flyers and going door to door looking for her.
“This is what works,” said CFSI CEO Melissa Miles. “The physical part of it, going door to door, having boots on the ground is the most effective.”
Miles says law enforcement doesn’t always have the resources to go door-to-door.
“We’re able to go into the neighborhoods and businesses and able to raise awareness where law enforcement may not be able to all the time,” Miles told News 2.
CFSI said they received a tip that Castleman was spotted at an apartment complex in East Nashville. So three group members, all women, asked residents there if they knew Brezhae.
“It’s all about two words: found safe,” said Dawn McQueeny, the state coordinator for Tennessee. “Our goal is to find them and bring them back home.”
CFSI is a non-profit organizations, completely comprised of volunteers. They’re in all 50 states and in five countries.
They provide all their services pro-bono but a parental intake form must be filled out by the parent or legal guardian. The child also must have an open case with local law enforcement.
So far, CFSI has a 100 percent success rate. They have found every child they’ve ever looked for, which is a total of 1,310 children found.
Miles took off work to travel the country with CFSI. She’s from Utah but traveled to Tennessee and other states to work her group’s open cases.
“The program works,” she said. “We don’t have volunteers in every city but that’s why I’m travelling. Knowing that this program works and applying pressure.”
CFSI is looking for volunteers in Tennessee, including Nashville. Click here to apply.
If you have seen Brezhae, please contact the Shelbyville Police Department at 931-684-5811 or 1-800-TBI-FIND. You can also reach out to CFSI at 615-546-9478.


Our Computers are doing it.
So we’re not really lying… or are we?
This latest defense by Eric Holder, that “no-one in the Justice Department is listening to your phone calls” is interesting. It’s tantamount to a Tagger saying “I didn’t spray paint that wall! The Spray Can did it.”
While technically true, it does not absolve the individual who employed the TOOL used to commit the act.
Whether a human-being or a computer is “looking for patterns”, “listening” or “reading” our private correspondence is irrelevant. The act of doing so has been initiated by a Human.
These word games are what we get from Lawyers… it’s semantics combined with careful parsing of words.
It is Machiavellian.
In the Prince, Machiavelli offers the advice to his Desired Employer that the Noble should be prepared to do whatever it takes to keep control over the population. In fact, when faced with doing things to them they stand to rebel against… do it anyway, then point the finger of blame at his opponents, whomever they may be at the time.
The problem for this Administration is the last part of that tactic. They have not been able to successfully blame their political opponents. The public simply doesn’t believe them anymore.
This is where we are now. As of this typing there are those in the press trying to tie Bush’s name to these acts. Yes, he had a hand in much of this as did Bill Clinton with the new, at the time, spying programs of Echelon and Carnivore.
But those guys are gone. Not present. And there is one person who has the power to stop this now, the most Brilliant Protector of Civil Liberties and most Intelligent man to ever occupy the White House… President Barack Obama. In fact, he has had 5-years since his election to stop this abuse of power and intrusion into the private lives of American Citizens that he railed against a little over 5-years ago before his election.
Yet he has not. In fact, these acts have risen to a level never before exposed in our lifetimes.
We are being told that all of this is to defend ourselves against Terrorists.
Well, let me ask… who defines the term Terrorist? Does the United States Government have an official definition so we know we don’t fit that bill?
And, considering the abuse coming to light in the IRS, who says a jilted lover or political opponent decides that you fit the description… because they happen to be the “decider” that day?
We are on Treacherous Ground here.
June 6th, 2013 at 8:27 pm
Oh shit! HTML fail 😦 -cross-off ‘wit’!
June 6th, 2013 at 8:15 pm
What? They would miss your wit and paycheck
June 6th, 2013 at 7:42 pm
I am so confused. We cry for a transparent government who should disclose all information to its citizens, have no secrets. And yet, we as citizens believe we should be completely protected from any intrusion to our privacy for any reason.
Then we have those who scream in outrage when things go bad. “Why didn’t the government DOOOO something?!” The GOVERNMENT should have KNOWN and protected us!” AND THEN it would seem that with all this spying power the government uses against us to protect us – they ignore any signs when someone is really a potential threat.
June 6th, 2013 at 10:14 pm
You’re not confused… You are correct. The Government answers to us, not the other way around.
You will not find those who understand the value of their Freedom screaming “Why didn’t the Government Do something… at the expense of our Liberty?”
I added the last part because it needs to be added.
There will always be an element of danger we must be prepared to live with, and deal with subsequent to the fact, if we intend to remain free.
June 7th, 2013 at 7:32 am
Absolutely. We have to take the good with the bad. it is impossible for us to shield ourselves from every bad guy with questionable ideologies, a gun, a knife or a pressure cooker.
June 6th, 2013 at 3:52 pm
Jilted lovers and political opponents I can handle but it is the fact that I didn’t know I was making a porn movie when I emptied my dishwasher
June 6th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
At this point I’m thinking of burying myself… to the thrill of many of those around me.


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By Lesley McGee, Keith P. Klugman (auth.), Douglas L. Mayers MD (eds.)
The volumes integrated in Antimicrobial Drug Resistance characterize the 1st entire, multidisciplinary reference masking the realm of antimicrobial drug resistance in micro organism, fungi, viruses, and parasites from simple technological know-how, medical, and epidemiological perspectives.
The first quantity, Antimicrobial Drug Resistance, Mechanisms of Drug Resistance, is devoted to the organic foundation of drug resistance and potent avenues for drug improvement. With the emergence of extra drug-resistant traces, the method of facing the drug resistance challenge needs to contain the study of alternative points of the mechanisms of bacterial resistance and the dissemination of resistance genes in addition to learn using new genomic info. those methods will allow the layout of novel techniques to strengthen new antibiotics and defend the effectiveness of presently to be had ones.
The moment quantity, Antimicrobial Drug Resistance, medical and Epidemiological Aspects, is dedicated to the medical points of drug resistance. even supposing there's proof that constrained use of a selected antibiotic could be by means of a lessen in drug resistance to that agent, drug resistance keep watch over isn't simply accomplished. hence, the infectious affliction doctor calls for enter from the medical microbiologist and an infection keep an eye on expert to make knowledgeable offerings for the potent therapy of varied lines of drug-resistant pathogens in person patients.
This 2-volume set is a crucial reference for college students in microbiology, infectious ailment physicians, clinical scholars, simple scientists, drug improvement researchers, microbiologists, epidemiologists, and public well-being practitioners.
Read Online or Download Antimicrobial Drug Resistance: Clinical and Epidemiological Aspects PDF
Best clinical books
This concise pocket advisor to urological investigative systems stories the indicators and pitfalls of exams ahead of they're asked and indicates which exams could be played in person urological stipulations. half I describes the rules, technique, benefits and downsides of every of the investigations and covers all urological investigations/tests.
1 2 D. FITZGERALDI, I. PASTAN , and J. ROBERTUS creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . I 2 Toxin Structure-Function homes 2 2. 1 services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2. 2 Binding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . three three Intracellular Processing - Cleavage and aid .
- Cutaneous Lymphomas (Basic and Clinical Dermatology)
- Pain: Handbook of Clinical Neurology (Series Editors: Aminoff, Boller and Swaab) (Handbook of Clinical Neurology)
- Sperm Chromatin: Biological and Clinical Applications in Male Infertility and Assisted Reproduction
- Cardiac Repolarization: Bridging Basic and Clinical Science
- The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Current Concepts On Pathogenesis And Clinical Care
Extra info for Antimicrobial Drug Resistance: Clinical and Epidemiological Aspects
Hansman D, Bullen MM. A resistant pneumococcus. Lancet 1967;1:264–265 47. Hansman D, Glasgow H, Sturt J, Devitt HL, Douglas R. Increased resistance to penicillin of pneumococci isolated from man. N Engl J Med 1971;284:175–177 48. Naraqi S, Kirkpatrick GP, Kabins S. Relapsing pneumococcal meningitis: isolation of an organism with decreased susceptibility to penicillin G. J Pediatr 1974;85:671–673 49. Appelbaum PC, Bhamjee A, Scragg JN, Hallett AF, Bowen AJ, Cooper RC. Streptococcus pneumoniae resistant to penicillin and chloramphenicol.
Viridans group streptococci are donors in horizontal transfer of toposiomerase IV genes to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2003;47:2072–2081 108. Bast DJ, de Azavedo JC, Tam TY, et al. Interspecies recombination contributes minimally to fluoroquinolone resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2001;45:2631–2634 109. Pletz MWR, McGee L, Beall B, Whitney CG, Klugman KP. Interspecies recombination in type II topoisomerase genes is 691 110. 111. 112. 113.
VGS with wild-type PBSs are susceptible to beta-lactam antibiotics (22). In order to become resistant, they have to decrease the affinity of beta-lactams to the high-molecularweight PBPs. This can be achieved by amino acid substitutions in the transpeptidase domain of the PBPs (19, 22). One point mutation can result in slight increase in the penicillin MIC. Normally more than one mutation is needed for intermediate-level beta-lactam resistance. Highly resistant strains have accumulated several mutations in the PBPs.

domain: literature


Twitter announced today that it will be effectively removing the character limit on Direct Messages between users sent through the social network. Previously DMs shared the same character limit as tweets which cap out at 140 characters before being unable to be sent.
While not everyone is thrilled about the nature of direct messages changing from limited texts to longer form communication, the move should help Twitter position private direct messaging as a stronger competitor against Apple’s iMessage and Facebook’s Messenger and WhatsApp.
The change follows other recent enhancements to direct messages including the ability to embed and share tweets. The changes better position Twitter’s direct messaging feature if the social network ever wanted to roll it out as a standalone app on mobile platforms.
Twitter announced the change to its private messaging service in a blog post to developers and added that tweet character limits will remain the same. Direct messages will carry the much higher character limit of 10,000 starting next month.
Moments after the announcement, Twitter also revealed in a tweet that the CEO of the social network will be leaving on July 1st. Dick Costolo is stepping down next month with co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey taking over as interim CEO in bit of a Steve Jobs fashion. Dorsey remains CEO of the payment service company Square, which he developed.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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Added Feb 27, 2010
This is my version of the free Colette Pattern “Madeleine Mini Bloomers”. I really like this pattern because it was an easy project to relax and the result is very cute.
Actually, I made this bloomers out of an old tablecloth. I hope it is not that obvious! :) Next time I would really like to try this pattern with silk or another light-weight fabric, like the other BurdaStyle members have done (whose results are just wonderful!).
Meet this seamstress, mom, jeans lover, and the instructor of our digital pattern drafting course!
Pattern of the Week
This timeless style ties at the back and looks stunning at formal events
The results are in! Check out our winning submission.
Daydream about fall sewing with boho layers, oversized jackets, and a leopard pencil skirt.
Get 9 patterns specially picked for shorter stitchers.
You must allow our "request for permission" request to login to Burdastyle with Facebook.

domain: hobby


This paper looks at the robust trajectory control of spatial mechanical systems using sliding mode techniques. Two distinctions of the proposed method from reported methods are: (1) The measure of altitudinal error used is intrinsically defined, Euclidean-geometric, and intuitive. From Euler’s theorem it follows that given a desired and actual attitude of a rigid body there exists an axis and angle of rotation relating the two attitudes. This defines a relative rotation vector, which is used as an intrinsically defined, intuitive measure of error. Reported methods use algebraic differences of entities such as generalized coordinates representing attitude. While functionally correlated to attitudinal error, these measures are not intrinsically defined. (2) A novel, dynamically nonlinear sliding function is used that results in a simple control law. The parameters of this function are dynamically and geometrically intuitive. Simulation results are given for a spacecraft tracking a complex desired trajectory.


Improvement in diffusion barrier properties of PECVD W-N thin film by low energy BF2+ implantation
- Improvement in diffusion barrier properties of PECVD W-N thin film by low energy BF2+ implantation
- 김동준; 김용태; 박영균; 심현상; 박종완
- PECVD; W-N; BF2+ implantation; diffusion barrier
- Issue Date
- Proc. of EOS/SPIE Symposium on Microelectronic Manufacturing Technologies
- The structural and electrical properties of BF2+ implanted PECVD tungsten nitride thin film were investigated. After BF2+ implantation with 40keV and 1 X 1017 B ions/㎠, W-B+-N layer was formed at the surface region of W-N films. The ternary layer maintained the microcrystalline state and prevented nitrogen out-diffusion form W-N thin film after annealing at 800 degrees C for 30 min. The overall electrical resistivity of W-B+-N/W-N thin film is 200 (mu) (Omega) cm, which is higher than that of W-N thin film because of forming the ternary phase. BF2+ implanted tungsten nitride thin film improved thermal stability against Cu diffusion more than W-N thin film.
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- KIST Publication > Conference Paper
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1, high heat-generating device plus heat sink, heat-conducting plate
When there are a few devices in the PCB that generate a large amount of heat, a heat sink or a heat pipe can be added to the heat generating device. When the temperature cannot be lowered, a heat sink with a fan can be used to enhance the heat dissipation effect. When the amount of heat generating components is large, a large heat sink can be used, which is a special heat sink customized according to the position and height of the heat generating device on the PCB board or a high flat position on a large flat heat sink. The heat shield is integrally fastened to the component surface, and is in contact with each component to dissipate heat. However, due to the poor consistency of the components during welding, the heat dissipation effect is not good. A soft thermal phase change thermal pad is usually added to the component surface to improve heat dissipation.
2, through the PCB board itself to dissipate
Currently widely used PCB sheets are copper-clad/epoxy glass cloth substrates or phenolic resin glass cloth substrates, and a small amount of paper-based copper-clad sheets are used. Although these substrates have excellent electrical properties and processing properties, they have poor heat dissipation properties. As a heat dissipation path for high-heat-generating components, it is hardly expected to conduct heat from the resin of the PCB itself, but to dissipate heat from the surface of the component to the surrounding air. However, as electronic products have entered the era of miniaturization, high-density mounting, and high-heating assembly, it is not enough to dissipate heat from the surface of a component with a very small surface area. At the same time, due to the large number of surface mount components such as QFP and BGA, the heat generated by the components is transferred to the PCB in a large amount. Therefore, the best way to solve the heat dissipation is to improve the heat dissipation capability of the PCB itself in direct contact with the heat generating components. Conducted out or emitted.
3, using a reasonable wiring design to achieve heat dissipation
Since the resin in the sheet has poor thermal conductivity, and the copper foil line and the hole are good conductors of heat, increasing the copper foil residual ratio and increasing the heat conducting hole are the main means of heat dissipation.
4. For devices employing free convection air cooling, it is preferred to arrange the integrated circuits in a vertically long manner or in a horizontally long manner.
5. The devices on the same printed board should be arranged as far as possible according to their heat generation and heat dissipation. Devices with low heat generation or poor heat resistance should be placed in the uppermost flow of the cooling airflow, with large heat or good heat resistance. The device is placed at the most downstream of the cooling airflow.
6. The heat dissipation of the printed board inside the device mainly depends on the air flow, so the air flow path should be studied during the design, and the device or the printed circuit board should be properly configured. When the air flows, it tends to flow in a place with low resistance. Therefore, when configuring the device on the printed circuit board, avoid leaving a large air space in a certain area. The same problem should be noted in the configuration of multiple printed circuit boards in the whole machine.
7. Avoid the concentration of hot spots on the PCB, distribute the power evenly on the PCB as much as possible, and keep the temperature performance of the PCB surface uniform and consistent. It is often difficult to achieve a strict uniform distribution during the design process, but it is necessary to avoid areas where the power density is too high, so as to avoid the hot spots affecting the normal operation of the entire circuit. If necessary, it is necessary to perform thermal performance analysis of printed circuits. For example, the thermal performance index analysis software modules added in some professional PCB design software can help designers optimize circuit design.
8. Place the device with the highest power consumption and maximum heat generation near the best position for heat dissipation. Do not place higher heat generating components on the corners and peripheral edges of the printed board unless a heat sink is placed near it. When designing the power resistor, choose a larger device as much as possible, and have enough space for heat dissipation when adjusting the layout of the printed board.


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Virginia Muslim Girl Found Dead After Confrontation
Monday, 19 June 2017 A Virginia Muslim girl, 17-year-old girl Nabra Hassanen, was found dead after reportedly being separated from her friends by a confrontational motorist while walking home from a Fairfax County restaurant.
Reuters has reported that a man accused of killing a teenage Muslim girl appeared in a Virginia court on Monday morning to face a murder charge. Police said the killing was not being investigated as a hate crime. 22-year-old Darwin Martinez Torres, was in his car when he got into a dispute with the...
Udhampur (Jammu and Kashmir), Apr 16 (ANI): The parents of the minor Muslim nomadic girl, who was allegedly abducted, drugged, gangraped, tortured and killed demanded justice for their daughter and.. Source: News unlimited -
The gruesome rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu & Kashmir's Kathua district had sparked outrage across the country. The minor girl belonged to the nomadic Bakherwal Muslim.. Source: nnis Crime English -
Thane (Maharashtra), Apr 11 (ANI): A four-year-old girl was found dead after she went missing on April 1. The girl’s father filed a complaint regarding the girl’s kidnapping in Bhiwandi.. Source: News unlimited -
Children fib, we all did when we were kids and kids will continue to make up stories and try to hide things with their words forever. The little girl in this video is no exception, as she tells her mom.. Source: Rumble -
A 14-year-old girl, student of class VII was allegedly raped and burnt to death by her 17 year old neighbor Vijay Pal in Aligarh on Sunday. According to police the suspect committed the crime when the.. Source: nnis Crime English -

domain: sociology


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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means many people are gearing up to travel for the holiday.
Even though Thanksgiving isn’t until Nov. 23, busy travel could begin as early as this Friday.
The Transportation Security Administration says this Friday through next Tuesday will be the busiest holiday travel period ever, up 9% from last year as nearly 3 million people will pass through the nation’s airports.
Myrtle Beach International Airport is preparing for a very busy Thanksgiving travel period.
Starting this Friday up until Nov. 27, MYR plans to see 46,088 people and 343 departing flights. And while air travel is seeing record numbers, the American Automobile Association is seeing the same on the roads.
“At AAA, they’re anticipating over 55 million motorists to be traveling during this holiday period,” said Lance Cpl. Lena Butler with South Carolina Highway Patrol. “We ask the motoring public to remember good driving behaviors.”
Tiffany Wright, the director of public affairs at AAA Carolinas, said she expects a big number of rescues as well.
“So, you know, I expected in the Carolinas alone, we’ll probably rescue anywhere between 10-15,000 motorists during this Thanksgiving holiday period,” she said.
Wright said people traveling the roads during the holidays are also getting an early holiday gift when it comes to gas prices.
“I think they’re going to remain low through Thanksgiving,” she said. “They’re going to continue to kind of decline through the Christmas holiday, if you will. So, we get to the end of the year.”
During the holiday travel period in 2022, SCHP said there were more than 1,400 collisions — 11 of them being fatal.
“We’re going to be working with local law enforcement agencies as well as the state transport officers,” Butler said. “So, yes, there will be an increase in the South Carolina Highway Patrol during this holiday season.”
Officials say the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after are the busiest travel days, so they encourage people to travel on Thanksgiving if possible.
* * *
Gracie is a multimedia journalist at News 13 and is from Cleveland, Ohio. Gracie joined the team in June 2023 after graduating from the University of Alabama in May. Follow Gracie on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, & read more of her work here.

domain: news


Kuala Lumpur’s highly anticipated dance music show “UNLIMITED“, presented by Stake of Sound, is only one day away, and we couldn’t be more excited! The event features a massive lineup that will take on Kuala Lumpur’s international scene on March 30th. Stake of Sound is ready to ignite the darker, deeper, harder and Live 2.0 journey that has been long-awaited in Malaysia!
For any fans of Hard Trance music, this event can’t be missed!
For Unlimited, Stake of Sound build a legendary lineup featuring local favorites like Chukiess & Whackboi and D’Jaeger to compliment the very special appearances of Giuseppe Ottaviani from Italy presenting Live 2.0, an evolution of his previous ‘Live 1.0’ performance combining all those live elements with his productions and performing new “freshly-made” tracks, Sneijder from the UK with his recent ’Afterdark’ concept for all things dark, original and dance floor orientated, Chris Schweizer from Argentina, hard trance legend Scot Project from Germany, and Shugz from the UK.
Proudly organized by Stake of Sound, a collective of passionate dance music lovers coming together, this electronic dance music event will be held at KL Live, Kuala Lumpur with the first act to start at 8 pm.
Watch the Stake of Sound UNLIMITED teaser below and get ready to party!
Get to know the artists performing at Stake of Sound UNLIMITED!
GIUSEPPE OTTAVIANI PRESENTS LIVE 2.0
Electronic dance music producer Giuseppe Ottaviani will unveil the first full production of his new ‘Live 2.0’ show concept at Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Mexico on February 28th, 2016. The Live 2.0 concept is an evolution of his previous ‘Live 1.0’ performance concept wherein he recreated his original productions using live instruments onstage. Dance music fans can also catch Ottaviani’s Live 2.0 performance at a number of large outdoor festivals throughout 2016.
Some may consider Giuseppe Ottaviani a mad scientist. Some consider him a music obsessive. One thing’s for certain: the Italian-born collaborator who is a favorite of producers the likes of Paul van Dyk cares more about music than almost any other aspect of his daily life. Giuseppe Ottaviani is the musician’s musician.
To think outside-the-box as a live performer, Ottaviani decided to scale his hardware to fit squarely inside a box. Doing so ensures that each venue – be it a major outdoor festival or a darkened nightclub – will meet the exacting performance standards Ottaviani requires with virtually no changeover time and no chance for rigging errors. Said Ottaviani, “Afterwards, I can just pack up my suitcase and get on the next flight!”
As a performer, Ottaviani is not a DJ and has never considered himself to be one. In fact, he is actually more of a live musician than a DJ. The lines of his Live 2.0 stage setup are as clean and sleek as his music is spontaneous and robust, with each note played a result of inspiration gleaned from the crowd surrounding him. Ottaviani’s custom equipment setup may seem deceptively unassuming, though the aural mayhem he wreaks is anything but.
One of the elements that set Giuseppe Ottaviani apart from most electronic dance music DJs is that he plays only his own music, his own remixes, and his own bootlegs. Ottaviani’s live setup involves keyboards, MIDI controllers and rapid access to not only every track and song he’s ever recorded, but to the stems of every track, he’s ever recorded. He also has access to an extensive sound library during live performances and this allows him to push his shows even further.
With the Live 2.0 setup, Ottaviani is now able to incorporate layers of sound so that he is actually creating new music in real-time. The resulting symphony consists of dancefloor-shaking original Ottaviani productions with live elements – strings, keys, percussion or effects, played spontaneously – so that no two shows are identical. Audience members won’t see posing or guzzling of cocktails during an Ottaviani set; his mind and his hands are too busy devising new music on-the-fly. Together with the crowd, Giuseppe Ottaviani will be living the moment and having an intricate musical dialogue with his crowd each night.
With the new Live 2.0 setup, Ottaviani will embark upon an entirely new way of performing that’s not been attained by other EDM artists. After this point, there will be no turning back.
Dubbed a leader of the current Tech Trance revolution, Sneijder possesses a distinctive aptitude of fusing together euphoria and darkness; a trait that sets him apart from many. His skill is evidenced by the vast number of chart- toppers he’s created, including “Love of My Control” and “Away From Here,” his recent singles “Neutralize” ”Vaporize” ”Viper” & ”Polarize” are a masterclass in forward thinking, cutting edge club music.
Adding his unique sound to remixes for Armin van Buuren, Aly & Fila & John O’Callaghan have seen Sneijder become one of the most in demand artists in Trance. Releasing records regularly on the industries most respected labels and boasting a back catalog of hit records have helped cement his name firmly amongst the list of Irish greats.
In 2015, he unleashed his debut LP ‘Everything Changes’ upon the world, which showed off the true scope of his musicianship and additionally earned him countless accolades from peers and fans alike. His skills in production are hardly a surprise, with an immense knowledge of the dance floor paired with years of cutting his teeth on the club circuit, thus becoming well-versed in what sounds make the ears tick.
Now, the maverick has reached the next step of his career: label owner. Sneijder launched Afterdark as a platform for himself and other similar caliber artists in 2016, firmly asserting his iconic status in the underground. Afterdark stands for all things dark, original and dance floor orientated, while also playing its part by cultivating the careers of the next generation of the Trance Elite. It’s safe to say Sneijder’s path will only continue in an upward direction as he moves into the next phase of his already prolific career.
Still at the young age of 25 years old Argentinian Chris Schweizer has the world at his feet with his trademark big bassline sound fusing the boundaries between the big room sounds and trance. Signed to the mighty Armada Music label in Holland his releases are getting support from the biggest headliners across the globe including Armin Van Buuren, Paul Van Dyk, Ferry Corsten & Gareth Emery
His latest productions have been getting regular airplays on the worlds biggest trance radio show ‘A State Of Trance’ as well as entering the beatport trance top 5 chart!
With many more slamming productions forthcoming this year as well as major worldwide tours planned 2017 is going to be the year of Chris Schweizer!
Scot Project is regarded as a legend in the dance scene. The genius behind some of the most epic tunes in the mid-’90s and early ’00s. Scot Project single-handed started the movement for the harder / edgier side of electronic music. One of the pioneers of Hard Trance!
It all started in 1986, fronting a youth club in Frankfurt, and from there took up residency in many clubs around a city well associated with the dawn of Techno/Trance. His first release was in 1994 X, followed by the massive Underground hit “U” in 1995 on Positiva Records. His international breakthrough came in 2001 with his well known ultimate Anthem “O” (Overdrive) that was a game changer for the genre of Trance music. A second home run came with L (Want your Love).
This took Scot Project on a journey around the globe for over a decade, performing at every major night club and festival on the planet, and regular appearances at landmarks shows like DanceValley, Sensation Black, Defqon1, Trance Energy, Tomorrowland, Global Gathering, EDC, Love Parade, Street Parade and the highest profiled clubs in the world such as Gatecrasher, Ministry of Sound, Godskitchen, Zouk, Limelight, Slinky.
His discography of over 250 productions includes massive tracks such as “G” (Ghost, “T” (Techem), “FM” (Feeling Me) and His Album “A1”. Under his other aliases Arome, Tocs, and his latest project Supermusique!, he has released chart-topping remixes and tracks such as Arome Hands Up, TOCS 2. HIs superabundance of remixes and bootlegs includes artists like Marcel Woods, Sander van Doorn, Tiesto, U2, Daft Punk, Yoji Biomehanika, Organ Donors, Talla 2XLC, Public Domain, Lisa Lashes and many more.
In 2010, Scot Project received a genre Beatport Artist Award and has had the honor of being supported by many legends in the world such as Tiesto, Ferry Corsten, Paul Van Dyk, Armin Van Buuren, Paul Oakenfold, Judge Jules, Yoji Biomehanika, and many more. After collaborations with Artists like A.S.Y.S, Organ Donors, Mark Sherry and NO. 1 chart success like W (whooo!) EP, P (paradise), Found Love and Recently Top 3 Track “W5 (Waiting for) showed a new direction for the Legendary master.
2017 will see Scot Project continue his venture into a territory he has been building towards for the past several years. Scots sound is now comprised of a diverse fusion between Progressive, Electro, and of course trance in its tougher form. A sound that can only be dubbed as “Scot Project sound”.
As music evolves on its exponential path, new artists are introduced and make their climb to the top every single day. Some artists go the way of history, and yet, a few from the past continue to re-build, re-fresh and re-connect with the electronic generation. Scot Project is one of those.
Shugz (Christopher Kirkpatrick) is a name that has appeared to come out of nowhere on the Trance scene. Combining youth, energy, electrifyingly impressive deck skills and notable production ability, it doesn’t take long to realize why there is such a fuss around this exceptional talent.
Shugz’ DJ skills are arguably where his real talent lies. Relentless practice for years has to lead to an astounding array of deck wizardry, comparable to a very rare few in the scene. Often seen in sets using the 3rd deck, scratching, cutting & using layered effects, combining fast mixing and unexpected tune drops – Shugz is fast becoming a fan favorite. Having achieved local hero status in N. Ireland, Shugz recently debuted at the famous ‘Luminosity Beach Festival’ and was highly acclaimed as having the ‘set of the night’.
Pre-sale – RM138
Door sale – RM158
VIP Ticket – RM168 (excluding 7.5% processing fee when purchase online) [VIP Entry Lane / Upper level VIP Area / 1x complimentary drink]


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The Opalka (Solanum lycopersicum) Polish variety tomato is vigorous, with vines that produce excellent yields of large paste-type tomatoes. These fruit have an unusual shape, which often catches the attention of visitors and double-blossomed flowers sometimes produce tomatoes with an almost cartoon-like appearance. Besides being fun to look at, Opalka tomatoes are coreless, few-seeded, and larger than most other paste-types, making them a breeze to process. I just take a thin slice off the end to remove the stem scar, halve the remainder and feed into my sauce maker. Very little work and very little waste. 85 days to harvest.
Grown in Tennessee.
Planting Guide included. Ships in padded envelope.
Visit heirseeds.com to view our full inventory of rare heirloom seeds.
Mar 31, 2022

domain: agronomy


text:
May 4, 2011 |
PITTSBURGH - A major furniture-rental chain has software on its computers that lets it track the keystrokes, screenshots and even webcam images of customers while they use the devices at home, according to a lawsuit filed yesterday. The lawsuit was filed by a Wyoming couple who said they learned about the PC Rental Agent "device and/or software" inside the computer they rented last year when an Aaron's Inc. store manager in Casper came to their home on Dec. 22. The manager tried to repossess the computer because he mistakenly believed the couple hadn't finished paying for it, the couple said.
April 8, 2011 |
Just because the theme of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts is early 20th-century Paris doesn't mean it's stuck in the past. PIFA itself has its own app for smartphones that comes with a schedule and a function to upload your art to the PIFA video cube outside of the Kimmel Center. Here's a taste of PIFA's more-cutting edge elements, which continue until May 1 unless otherwise indicated: VPAP@PIFA/ Augmented Reality: Break out your smartphones. Augmented Reality, produced by Breadboard at the Science Center, creates 22 virtual artworks throughout the city, like a giant squid sitting on the Schuylkill waterfall or an alien chilling at the top of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps.
March 17, 2011 |
When computer magnate Michael Dell closed the deal to buy upper Main Line business-software maker Boomi last year, boss Robert Moul said he was hopeful this merger would create jobs at his firm, not kill them. "Some folks were skeptical," Moul recalls. "We're already expanding and taking on more projects within Dell. We'll be doubling staff size, adding some 30 heads here in Berwyn, and expanding office space. " Dell Boomi met applicants Tuesday at the Dolce Hotel in King of Prussia to fill posts such as Application Integration Specialist and Cloud Operations Architect.
January 3, 2011
Michael Apkon has been hired as senior vice president and chief medical officer at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia . Apkon most recently was vice president and executive director of the Children's Hospital division of Yale-New Haven Hospital. Comcast-Spectacor , the Philadelphia sports and entertainment firm, promoted Lou Scheinfeld , who was instrumental in the formation of the Spectrum and the Flyers in l966, to vice president of development. He had been director of closure for the Spectrum.
December 22, 2010 |
We may not be seeing a rush of blockbuster acquisitions as 2010 draws to a close, but each December day seems to bring word of a small deal here and there. On Monday, three transactions involved local companies. Just like some of those Christmas gifts you may have tossed into your shopping cart, they were missing price tags. Quinnova Pharmaceuticals Inc. , of Newtown, Bucks County, was acquired by a unit of Amneal Enterprises L.L.C. , a Bridgewater, N.J., maker of generic and specialty pharmaceuticals.
November 4, 2010 |
Dell Inc. has followed Oracle Corp., Google Inc. , and other big computer-based companies that have expanded to the Philadelphia area by buying specialized local firms. "We weren't looking to sell," Bob Moul , chief executive officer of Boomi Inc. , said after Dell confirmed it was buying the Berwyn business-software-maker. Boomi had been negotiating since early this year on a deal to refer Dell clients. Boomi hooks up business-enterprise software made by Oracle, SAP AG , and other giant companies, to new applications such as Salesforce sales-data software, and does so cheaply and quickly.
October 28, 2010 |
Got a tip about a Gloucester County crime? Not inclined to give your name? Information that could help investigators may now be sent anonymously through a text-message service, the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office announced Wednesday. The "text-a-tip" software makes the messages impossible to trace, Prosecutor Sean Dalton said. Authorities hope texting encourages young people to help solve or prevent crimes discreetly. Tipsters may get in touch with police about anything from a "playground" crime to drug dealing or homicide, Dalton said.
October 1, 2010
Kenexa Corp., a human resources software and research company in Wayne, said today that it completed its acquisition of Salary.com Inc. Kenexa announced last month it would acquire the Needham, Mass., firm for $80 million in cash. Salaray.com, which provides on-demand compensation and talent management software, is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kenexa, the company said. - Reid Kanaley
September 28, 2010
Unisys Corp., Blue Bell, today said it won a contract worth up to $18 million to provide security software and support for the 29 agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The project will result in a virtual Agriculture Security Operations Center for real-time monitoring and response to security incidents, Unisys said. The first year of the contract is for $8 million, the company said, and four one-year options are worth about $2.5 million each. Unisys has revenue of about $4.5 billion yearly.
August 12, 2010
Instem, a Conshohocken software firm, said Wednesday that it will supply software for the collection, management and maintenance of certain studies overseen by the National Institutes of Health. The value of the deal is $656,100, Instem said. The company said its Provantis software will be used by the NIH's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for reproductive, perinatal and developmental National Toxicology Program studies conducted predominantly at contractor laboratories around the United States.


Star Trek Beyond.
This week TNV is fashionably late. With deference to listeners and staggered release time, TNV waited before delving into the latest incarnation of the Kelvin universe. Joining Colin on the show this week are Steve and first time guest Richard Marquez. In the show we find out that Steve is not such a fan of The Wrath of Khan as most people, We heap praise on a movie that a lot of people had trepidations about, while also talking about the easter eggs and new aliens which appeared throughout the film. Oh and we also went on a tangent about the Enterprise incarnations. So without further ado we finally pull up a mic and talk about "Beyond." the third incarnation in what some term "JJ Verse."
First Impressions (00:04:10)
Trek Movie Comparisons (00:08:09)
The Opening (00:17:12)
Character Moments (00:25:06)
Beastie Time (00:48:31)
Colin Higgins, Steve Roberts, and Drogyn
Colin Higgins (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)
The view from the UK. There has been much rumor and speculation about the forthcoming Star Trek series. We bring you opinions about the ship, lead, and more from across the pond.
Snow Globe in Space. This week TNV is fashionably late. With deference to listeners and staggered release time, TNV waited before delving into the latest incarnation of the Kelvin universe.
HawaiiCon. Star Trek is the focus of many conventions, but how many can claim to take place on a volcanic island? We're joined by Chief Executive Officer and Convention Chair GB Hajim to learn about the event's unique and intimate atmosphere.
Star Trek Online’s Original Series Expansion. Fans of the 23rd century rejoiced at the recent announcement by Star Trek Online. Cryptic's Maria Rosseau joins us to discuss the game's new TOS expansion, honoring Star Trek's 50th anniversary.
Cosplay. Part of the fun of fandom is feeling as if you actually live in that universe—if only for a moment. We welcome two cosplayers—Kat Sky and 10ant—to learn how to get the best out of this thriving scene.
TNV Relaunch. Just when you thought it was safe to put your headphones back on, Trek News & Views returns! Host Colin Higgins introduces the shows refit after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus plus two co-hosts: Steve Roberts and Drogyn.
Signing Off. This week we bring you the final episode of Trek News & Views with voice messages, email, and the final discussion. Thanks for sharing the journey with us here on Trek News & Views.
Looking Back at TNV. In the penultimate episode of Trek News & Views, Colin casts an eye back on the past two years and picks a few nuggets from the previous 98 shows.


Information stored on computers
All computers from laptop computers to mainframes contain information. Much of this, whether corporate or personal, is confidential. Many thousands of laptop computers containing important company or state information have been stolen. Since most corporate records are now kept in electronic form on computer systems, procedures need to be put in place to protect the computers.
Apart from deliberate violations by people, computers are also subject to accidental damage and natural disasters.
Physical access to mainframes should be restricted to operators and systems administrators. Facilities should be fire and flood proof. Highly sensitive installations should also have adequate protection from criminal and terrorist activities.
Desktop and laptop computers are very vulnerable to theft. A simple procedure is to only allow authorised people access to offices. The use of security cameras can also act as a deterrent. Desktop computers can be physically attached to the floor or a work surface.
Laptop computers present the greatest risk. They are not only light and easy to pick up, but they are also more expensive and valuable than desktops. The best protection is not to let them out of site. If a manager is staying at a hotel, he or she can leave the computer in the hotel safe rather than their room.
Information can be stolen, altered or deleted without the computer being physically removed. The information may even be accessed across the Internet.
A firewall is the first line of defence against hackers. It is a computer program that is installed on a computer that connects a network to the Internet. The firewall analyses the packets that pass in and out of the network. It is programmed to follow certain rules which enable it to decide whether or not to allow a packet to pass. There is firewall software that can be installed on a stand-alone PC.
Access rights can refer to both physical and software. In a physical sense, these refer to different members of staff who have to gain physical access to certain areas. For example, access to the room containing the mainframe may be restricted to operators. Software rights refer to the level of access different users have to different levels of data and information. For example, some users may have no access to certain data, others may only be able to read the data but not change it. Others in turn may have full rights to create and change data. Access rights are associated with a user id and password. A user id could be a user name or a combination of letters and numbers. To log on to a system a user would need a user id and a password. As other users may know the user id of colleagues, another level of security in terms of passwords needs to be added in the form of a password. Passwords are private and should never be divulged to anyone else. Users could have several user ids, each with a different level of security. They would log on each time with the lowest level of security they need to accomplish a given task.
Password policies refer to guidelines or requirements on the structure and use of passwords. They can be required for access to a computer system or a group of files or a single file. The following are some guidelines for password policies:
- They should never be blank.
- They should not be the names of family members or pets or anything else that would be easy for an intruder to try out.
- Ideally they should never be words, especially words like administrator, admin or root.
- They should never be less than five characters and preferably longer. Short passwords can easily be determined by a brute force password cracker. This is a piece of software that repeatedly feeds in all combinations of letters and numbers until accessed is gained. With short passwords this can be done in seconds.
- A good policy is to use a meaningless combination of letters and numbers that is seven or eight characters long. What some users do is to take a meaningful word such as looking and replace the o with the number 0 and the letter i with the number 1 so that the password becomes l00k1ng. You could also make a less obvious change, for example replace k with 3 and g with 9 so that the password becomes loo3in9.
- Passwords should be changed on a regular basis. Administrators can set a policy that automatically causes passwords to expire after a certain period of time, for example 7 days.
When using a PC, you would need to use an operating that provides genuine access protection with a user id and password. This means using Linux or Windows NT/2000/XP/2003. In Windows 95/98/Me the logon procedure can be bypassed. If Windows NT, 2000, XP or 2003 are used, it should be in conjunction with the NTFS file system.
Data should be encrypted. Encryption scrambles the data and makes it unintelligible without the use of a key. The key is used to decipher the data.


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Bristol Palin brands Levi Johnston a felon and an absentee father in new custody papers after revealing the 'deadbeat dad' owes $67,000 in child support
Bristol Palin has branded her ex-boyfriend and baby daddy Levi Johnston a felon in new papers obtained by TMZ filed in their bitter custody battle.
The daughter of former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin believes the 23-year-old is so up to his eyeballs in debt it constitutes a felony under Alaskan law.
Behind by as much as $67,000 in child support, Levi is apparently instead spending his money on cars, holidays with his new wife, Sunny Oglesby, and daughter, Breeze Beretta, and his favourite pastime: hunting.
Scroll down for video
They way they were: Levi Johnston - seen here in 2010 with then-fiancée Bristol Palin and son Tripp - has filed for equal custody of his child despite being as much as $67,000 behind in child support payments
While the father-of-two filed for 50/50 joint custody of the couple's son, Tripp, earlier this month, according to Bristol, also 23, Levi doesn't support his child financially, let alone see the soon-to-be five-year-old on a regular basis.
In 2010, the pair agreed that Bristol would retain primary physical custody of the child and the couple would share legal custody, with Levi given visitation rights.
He also agreed to pay child support, though as of October 15, the single mom's lawyer, John Tiemessen, reported that he was in arrears by almost $70,000.
Telling it like it is: Just over a week ago, politician-turned-reality star Sarah Palin told TMZ that her daughter's baby daddy is a 'deadbeat dad' who doesn't deserve custody of her grandchild
Little more than a week ago, Bristol's outspoken mom, Sarah Palin, 49, publicly called her daughter's baby daddy a 'deadbeat dad' as she laughed off his latest bid for custody to TMZ.
In 2009, the then-father-of-one announced his intention to seek joint access, though he seemingly never went through with filing any paperwork.
Then, in August last year, he declared, 'I love my son more than anything and I will do whatever it takes to make sure he is raised the right way,' after witnessing the youngster's so-called 'downward spiral' when he appeared on his mother's short-lived Lifetime reality show, Life's A Tripp.
More than a year later, it seems he's finally ready to take action, though judging by his lack of parenting of the child thus far, it seems unlikely that the couple's arrangement will be amended.
Birth of a TV star: Bristol, 23, shared this photo of her and Levi, also 23, taken just after their baby was born, on the first episode of her short-lived Lifetime reality show, Bristol Palin: Life's A Tripp
United front: The young pregnant couple supported Sarah Palin's bid to become vice president, appearing on stage during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, in September 2008
The unwed, expectant teenagers were thrust into the spotlight in 2008, when Sarah - then Governor of Alaska - was tapped as the Republican vice presidential candidate.
The couple became engaged but broke off their relationship weeks after welcoming Tripp into the world in December 2008.
They got back together and renewed their plan to marry in July 2010 - though it wasn't to last, and they split for good in August 2010.
Levi married Sunny in October 2012, a month after their daughter was born, while they continue to reside in Wasilla, Alaska.
Moving on: Levi, pictured here celebrating his 21st birthday in Las Vegas in 2011, married Sunny Oglesby on October 28, 2012 after welcoming daughter Breeze Beretta a month earlier
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domain: celebrity


text:
Solvay’s Ixef® PARA offers alternative to stainless steel in Innovative Surgical Designs’ new Redi-Spine™ system for spinal fusion surgical procedures.
Alpharetta, Ga., October 2, 2018 --- Solvay, a leading global supplier of specialty polymers, announced during NASS 2018 last week that Innovative Surgical Designs, a developer and manufacturer of orthopedic spinal systems, chose Ixef® polyarylamide (PARA) resin to innovate a new single-use surgical instrument kit for minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery. Innovative Surgical Designs’ new Redi-Spine™ kit leverages Ixef® PARA’s mechanical strength, moldability and gamma sterilizability to offer an economical alternative to reusable stainless steel instruments.
“Ixef® PARA’s metal-like strength and rigidity enabled us to simplify and deliver Redi-Spine™ instruments in a compact, elegant kit,” explained Jon Rinehart, chief financial officer of Innovative Surgical Designs. “When we first started heading down the path of polymer instruments, I candidly admit that I was skeptical. I didn’t think an injection-molded alternative to stainless steel was possible. But when we started working with Solvay’s Ixef® PARA resin, I realized how wrong I was. We wouldn’t be able to offer the Redi-Spine™ kit for all of our surgeons’ one- and two-level cases without Solvay’s high-performance polymer and application support.”
Designed to withstand the severe torsional forces and rigors of thoracolumbar spinal fixation, Innovative Surgical Designs’ Redi-Spine™ instruments received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in August. It contains multiple disposable, handheld instruments including a T-ratchet handle, counter-torque tool and gearshift probe that are molded entirely or in part from Solvay’s Ixef® GS-1022 PARA.
Ixef® GS-1022 PARA can be sterilized with gamma ray radiation without any significant change to its mechanical properties, ultra-smooth finish or color. Solvay offers the material in a range of gamma-stabilized colors, from which Innovative Surgical Designs, Inc. chose gray for its kit. Solvay’s polymer has also been evaluated for ISO 10993 limited duration biocompatibility and is supported by an FDA Master Access File, which can help streamline regulatory approvals.
“The growing adoption of single-use surgical instruments has increasingly established Solvay’s Ixef® PARA as a mainstream material for these applications,” said Jeff Hrivnak, business manager for Healthcare at Solvay’s Specialty Polymers Global Business Unit. “We continue to build on our early and proactive support of this trend by working closely with trailblazers like Innovative Surgical Designs, Inc. to help optimize their products for molding and speed to market.”
Innovative Surgical Designs plans to launch the Redi-Spine™ kit during the fourth quarter of 2018. For more related news about specialty polymers for healthcare, please go to www.solvayhealthcarenews.com.
® Ixef is a registered trademark of Solvay
™ Redi-Spine is a trademark of Innovative Surgical Designs
Innovative Surgical Designs Inc. is a privately held, orthopedic medical device company focused on developing breakthrough minimally invasive spinal solutions for patients. The company intends to achieve improved patient outcomes while lowering costs throughout the clinical value chain. If you are interested in learning more about our products, please go to www.innovativesurgicaldesigns.com.
Solvay is an advanced materials and specialty chemicals company, committed to developing chemistry that addresses key societal challenges. Solvay innovates and partners with customers worldwide in many diverse end markets. Its products are used in planes, cars, batteries, smart and medical devices, as well as in mineral and oil and gas extraction, enhancing efficiency and sustainability. Its lightweighting materials promote cleaner mobility, its formulations optimize the use of resources and its performance chemicals improve air and water quality. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with around 26,800 employees in 61 countries. Net sales were €10.1 billion in 2017, with 90% from activities where Solvay ranks among the world’s top 3 leaders, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 22%. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLB.BR) and in the United States its shares (SOLVY) are traded through a level-1 ADR program. Financial figures take into account the announced divestment of Polyamides.
Solvay Specialty Polymers manufactures over 1500 products across 35 brands of high-performance polymers – fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, semi-aromatic polyamides, sulfone polymers, ultra-high performance aromatic polymers, and high-barrier polymers – for use in Aerospace, Alternative Energy, Automotive, Healthcare, Membranes, Oil and Gas, Packaging, Plumbing, Semiconductors, Wire & Cable, and other industries. Learn more at www.solvayspecialtypolymers.com.

domain: chemistry


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Deviant's Masquerade: Get Ink'd (A Toon Villain Quest/RPG) Comedy Action Adventure School Life Supernatural Psychological
Joshua Durand has always lived in someone else’s shadow, a side character in someone else’s show.
His brother was the real hero of the tale, or he was until his ‘friends’ stabbed him in the back.
Now though, he’s got a chance to step into the spotlight, as long as he’s willing to make a deal with the devil.
He doesn’t know if this is the right decision or the wrong one, but what he does know is “It’s showtime!”
This is forum quest story taking place in the same city/setting as my other stories: The Huntsman's Quest and Hacking Reality stories meaning that while a majority of the plot is made up by me, the major choices as well as what each chapter is about are usually made by the actual readers in forum votes.
Additionally, given how this is essentially a story version of a Tabletop game there is also a background RPG system that while the characters aren't necessarily aware of, the readers can see these stats to know how each chosen 'Action' effects their character's development.
1. Prologue (First Scene)
2. Prologue (Scene 2)
3. Prologue (Final Scene)
4. Act 1- First Day Training
5. Act 2-Bars, Friends, and Family
6. Act 3- Training And A Stumbling Start
7. Act 4- Training Ink and Malice
8. Act 5- Toon History, Parkour Flops, and Rube Goldberg
9. Act 6- Working Out and Knocking Out
10. A Malicious Test (Scene 1)
11. A Malicious Test (Scene 2)
12. A Malicious Test (Final Scene)
13. Act 7, Scene 1- Angry Girls, Asskickings, and The Cabaret
14. Act 7, Scene 2- Meeting The New Boss
15. Act 8: Wonderlands, Toons, and Madness
16. Act 9: Fun Vengeance And Less Fun Vengeance
17. Act 10: Tooning Things Up A Bit.
18. Act 11: Got Them Toon Hands
19. Act 12: Heroes, Secrets, and Jon Whitaker
20. Act 13: Complications and the Drawing Board
21. Act 14: Investigations, Roof Running, and Toon Drawing
22. Act 15: Doodling, Challenges
23. Act 16: Dreams, Heroes, and Crime
24. Act 17: Bags, Costumes, and Cringe
25. Act 18: Ball to the Wall
26. Act 19: Bullies, Escape Routes, and Dungeons
27. Gamer Guild’s Dungeon (1st Floor)
28. Gamer Guild's Dungeon (2nd Floor)
A Lord of Death
Efrain Belacore, lich and erudite necromancer, was just trying to enjoy a cup of tea with a morning book. Then that over-excited paladin just had to kill herself, with his pendulum no less. Now Efrain has been drawn into a much larger story than he had wanted, caught between a powerful chruch, its young champions, and an mysterious curse. Join in a hilarious and fascinating journey as Efrain and his unexpected students explore from the holy capital of Anogrrah to the magical continent of Pasgrima, as shadowed conspiracies and ancient secrets rise to meet them.8 176
The Bear - First chronicle of the Children of the Bear
Bryn Grey-bear is a monster of a man who always gets what he wants. In the midst of changing times in the nation of Valhym, Bryn's influence grows from a bandit to be feared to a legacy that has the potential to change the entire world of En. In this first chronicle of his family and legacy, the Bear builds his home and wicked roots dig deep into Valhym's icy soil. The world shivers in anticipation as Lyra Bryndottr and Fenrin Brynson are born. After all ill begets ill and the children of the Bear are destined to clash. See last part for a map of the World of En. Please note the content warnings. Marked for graphic violence, sexual content, abuse, and torture. Story can also be found on Wattpad.8 170
The Tale of the 13th Battalion
In the world of Xeil of the continent known as Voreson lies the 3 nations that have stood tall in the ,The Harsh and unforgiving lands full of creatures and humanoid beings that poses threat to each nation.This tale belongs to the 13th Battalion of the Sovereignty of Merlon as we unfold their stories on what happen during their days at the backside borders of their beloved land and their hardships that comes along with it. And forces that defies normality.8 100
Words to My Demons | Poetry ✔
❝she was simple, an angel born without wings. yet she was special, an enchanting song her lost soul sings. ❞ A dark and deep poetry collection of every little thing that makes us both unique and insane.~ Highest ranking in Poetry: #7 ~ 1st Place in 2018 Ocean Awards ~ 1st Place 2018 Monthly Genre Awards ~8 348
On his way home after buying a pack of cigarettes, Dude suddenly finds himself in the lowest floor of a labyrinth! After conquering the legendary labyrinth in accident, he wanders around as he asks himself what to do next. Can he find his way back home? Or will he choose to live in this game-like fantasy world filled of adventurer?8 99
TREASURE&ENHYPEN GROUP CHAT || MGL
↬Сайн байна уу?ENHYPEN грүп чатанд тавтай морил☺↬Сайн байна уу?TREASURE грүп чатанд тавтай морил☺ Хөвгүүдийнхээ хөгжилтэй ертөнцөөр аялцгаая😊8 106

domain: artistic


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Dothan is looking for ways to slow down drivers who speed through neighborhoods.
Dothan traffic engineer Charles Metzgers says adding more stop signs, speed humps, even islands to narrow the roads are a few ways to slow down speeders.
The more problematic areas are in the Chapelwood and Grove Park subdivisions.
“Anything that can be done is truly appreciated. We have children that frequently play here, we have The Terrace which is an assisted living facility here in Grove Park, we also have over 200 families that live in the area,” Mgr. Judy Harris of Grove Park Subdivision Project.
City officials say more research is needed before approving what's called, 'the traffic calming' plan.


Homes scoop this year’s top awards
CROSBY’S Kilnyard Road development by One Vision Housing (OVH) has been announced as the winner of the Best Affordable Home to Rent at this year’s North West Property Awards.
The development saw off competition from housebuilder Countryside and property developer Luxor Estates to take home the coveted prize.
The NWPAs is an annual awards ceremony which celebrates a year of residential and commercial property success across 11 categories.
Nearly 300 guests attended the glamorous event at the Lutyens Crypt in Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral.
OVH’s development of 10 two-bedroom homes was completed in July 2017 and they’ve been in extremely high demand.
All 10 properties were built solely to let at an affordable rent.
Kilnyard Road’s architecture, innovative use of space and landscaping impressed the judges.
Although affordable, there was no compromise on quality, with the judges highlighting the development’s clever design and creative flair.
Located south-west of Crosby town centre and within walking distance to schools, shops and recreation space, the development offers residents quality living in a highly sought after area.
OVH is a registered provider of social housing, with approximately 13,000 homes across Sefton, Liverpool, Wirral, and more recently Cheshire and West Lancashire.
It is part of The Sovini Group which was formed in December 2011.
Kim O’Brien, director of the NWPAs, says: “The number of build-to-rent developments has been increasing over recent years as more and more long-term renters look for high quality and affordability in the rental sector.
“Congratulations to One Vision for developing the Best Affordable Home to Rent in the North West.
“We have been overwhelmed with entries so to win this award is a real testament to its quality.”
NWPA judges include director of Falconer Chester Hall Alastair Shepherd; CEO of Knowsley Chamber; Lesley Martin-Wright and Elaine Cunningham, owner of Elaine Cunningham Design Studio.
Countryside was this year’s headline sponsor while MSB Solicitors, Redrow Homes Lancashire, UK Business Supplies, The Foundry Agency, Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors, Redwing Living, The Sovini Group, BMD Law, Brock Carmichael supported as category sponsors.
Furnish That Room sponsored the reception.
Winners of the awards


text:
Gas prices hit cops' budgets
Foot patrols among ways to cut costs
MONTICELLO — Police cruisers are often run close to 24 hours a day, and that can add up when gas is retailing for $4 gallon.
Municipalities aren't paying retail prices, but every gallon of gas that's burned is also burning tax money. Local police say you can't really cut back patrols — so they're trying other methods to conserve fuel.
"We've put a general order out not to idle cars, not to leave them running unnecessarily," said Eric Chaboty, Sullivan County's undersheriff. The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office plans more foot patrols in the hamlet areas — with deputies parking the cars and walking — where and when it's practical.
Other departments are taking similar measures, and everyone's keeping an eye on the bottom line.
"The way fuel's going up, we're wondering if we're going to go over budget," Chaboty said. The budget for fuel is $180,000.
When counties and cities were planning their 2008 budgets last summer, reformulated gas retailed a little above $3.25 per gallon on average in New York, and prices dipped below $3 in early fall, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. This week, the average retail price was $4.01.
Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum says they budgeted for a rise in gas prices for 2008.
"For sure, we didn't anticipate it going as high as it has," he said.
To cope, Ulster tries to keep deputies in their assigned patrol zones, working from the nearest substation. But patrols and inmate transports to courts, jails, prisons or hospitals can't really be cut back.
So far, there's no move among most departments to stop detectives or brass from taking their cars home. Van Blarcum says it's more efficient when those officers answer middle-of-the-night calls.
In the City of Middletown, Lt. Paul Rickard said, some officers will double up in cars, and there's an order to avoid idling cars unless there's a person in custody or a police dog inside.
The city spent $74,000 on fuel last year, and had budgeted $113,000 for 2008. But four months into the year, they had already used up $45,000.
"We're not going to let it affect our patrol coverage," said Rickard. "We're not going to reduce services."

domain: economics


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I made this model as a showcase item for the new Unity-to-Sketchfab plugin. It’s supposed to fill several technical requirements to properly test the PBR capabilities of the exporter. I wanted to test if the settings were properly transfered and if there were any issues with the model if it was brought to Sketchfab over Unity. Also, it’s supposed to show a connection between 3D art coming from Unity and entwining with Sketchfab. I like that metaphor :) Here is a direct link to the blogpost! :) https://blog.sketchfab.com/publish-unity-art-sketchfab/


text:
SEED PRODUCTION IN Festuca hallii (Vasey) Piper: ECOTYPIC VARIATION AND PHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS
MetadataShow full item record
Plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii (Vasey) Piper)) is an important forage grass species in Western Canada. Seeds of this species are in high demand for forage production and habitat restoration. However, the supply of seeds is extremely limited owing to erratic seed production in time and space. Thus, seed producers require a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence flowering and seed production in this species. This study elucidated the effects of autumn and spring temperatures and moisture conditions on flowering and seed production in Festuca hallii. Furthermore, the present study evaluated the morphological and phenological variation existing among the six ecotypes of Festuca hallii from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Temperature and precipitation data as well as observations on flowering of Festuca hallii at the Kernen Prairie near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan between 1986 and 2010 were analyzed to examine the effects of temperature and moisture conditions on flowering and seed production. To assess the morphological and phenological diversity among the six ecotypes of Festuca hallii, seedlings were grown in the field and transplanted to the greenhouse in November. Plants not flowering in the greenhouse were vernalized under 5oC- 8 h light for 11 weeks. In another experiment, plants were subjected to temperature regimes of 15/5oC, 10/0oC and 5/-5oC with temperature regime having daylength treatments of 12, 8 and a gradually changing daylength from12 to 8 h. Colder than normal temperatures to normal temperatures and wet to normal summers and autumns favored flowering in the following year. Moreover, warmer than normal to normal temperatures in the spring also favored flowering. However, there was no clear pattern in spring moisture conditions that could distinguish between seed producing and non-seed producing years. The occurrence of freezing events in spring negatively affected seed production. Irrigation in late summer and autumn is recommended for seed production in Festuca hallii. Differences in morphological and phenological characteristics were evident among the ecotypes of Festuca hallii. Vernalization requirements also varied among ecotypes. Overall, 15/5 to 5/-5oC day/night temperature regimes with photoperiods between 12 and 8 h were effective in inducing flowering. Seed mass was highest under 5/-5oC and 12 h to decreasing daylength. Flowering frequency was highest in the seedlings of MCL ecotype, which were vernalized in the field and again were subjected to the similar vernalization treatment. However, the overall flowering frequencies were higher in both MCR and MCL ecotypes under different artificial vernalization treatments. Because of the variation in growth and vernalization requirements among ecotypes, seed sources should be an important consideration for habitat restoration and forage production.
DegreeMaster of Science (M.Sc.)
CommitteeCoulman, Bruce; Tanino, Karen; Romo, Jim T.
Copyright DateDecember 2012
inconsistent seed production


The D700's connections are in two places, either at the front top right (remote and flash PC sync) or the left side of the body (from the rear). The remote (which also allows for serial GPS) and flash PC sync terminals are protected by a rubber cover which is itself attached to the strap eyelet. On the side are the largest group of connectors, from top to bottom; HDMI (digital video out HD/SD), Video out (composite), USB 2.0 and DC-IN. When using HDMI output you can select five different output options; Auto, 480p, 576p, 720p or 1080i. For an example and video clip of HDMI output see this page of our D300 article.
Camera Base / Tripod Mount
The bottom of the D700 is very similar to the D300. The base of the camera has a soft rubber foot made from similar material as the grip. The metal tripod mount is located in line with the center of the lens and the focal plane.
Unusually for a professional Nikon (in fact unusual for a professional camera, full stop), the D700 has a small pop-up built-in flash. The flash is released manually by pressing a small button on the left side just below the flash. The long arm raises the flash unit a respectable distance above the top of the lens (useful for lens hoods and reducing red-eye). Just below the release button is another button which changes flash mode and flash exposure compensation control button. Hold the button and turn the main command dial (rear) to change flash mode, sub-command dial to change flash exposure compensation (-3.0 to +1.0 EV).
Lens Mount / Sensor
Below on the left you can see the D700's lens mount with the mirror down, on the right with mirror up and shutter open (exposing the sensor). Lenses are inserted twisted clockwise and lock in place with an anticlockwise turn. This is a standard Nikon F lens mount and can use almost the complete range of Nikkor F lenses (although some features are only available with newer type G or type D lenses). The D700 supports the aperture ring found on older AI lenses. Despite being full-frame it also supports 1.5x crop DX format lenses automatically and masks the viewfinder view accordingly (see earlier in this article).
Self-cleaning sensor unit
The D700 trumps the D3 in one area; it has the same automatic sensor cleaning system as found on the D300. It works in the same manner as other implementations, piezoelectric elements vibrate a cover filter which should in theory remove any light dust particles attached to it.
Supplied In the Box
Box contents may vary by region:
- Nikon D700 body
- Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e
- Quick Charger MH-18a
- USB Cable UC-E4
- Video Cable EG-D100
- Camera Strap AN-D700
- Body Cap BF-1A
- Accessory Shoe Cover BS-1
- LCD Monitor Cover BM-9
- Software Suite CD-ROM
|Ammonite Press Nikon D700 eBook||$15.99|
|Rocky Mastering the Nikon D700 eBook||$25.59|
|Nikon D700 Camera User Manual||$4.99|


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Best Albums Of 2006
December 1st, 2006
It’s that time of year already… prepare to be bombarded with year-end Best Of lists galore. Not one to be left out, here’s my crack at putting together a Best Albums list. Below are what I believe to be the overall 10 best albums (LPs) of 2006. My criteria for determining this list is totally random and subjective, so take it for what it’s worth. Here they are, in reverse order.
|10. Morrissey: Ringleader of the Tormentors |
Now in his late 40s, Morrissey continues to make music that’s relevant and worth listening to. This CD came out of nowhere and without much fanfare (in the States, at least). RotT is Morrissey’s 8th solo album. No worries… requisite self-loathing deprecation and guilt still remain. A great follow-up to the acclaimed You Are the Quarry… yet another step forward for the Moz. Yes, I am a Morrissey fanboy.
|9. Silversun Pickups: Carnavas |
Straight-ahead rock reminiscent of early Smashing Pumpkins (it’s
|8. Beirut: Gulag Orkestar |
Beirut’s debut is destined to be on everyone’s Best Of list this year. The orchestration on this album is beautiful and the vibe is purposefully Eastern European (a la Korki Butchek). Postcards From Italy and Scenic World are the most lively and accessible tracks on the album. Although some songs can tend to sound similar, it’s an intimate and exquisite listening experience all around.
|7. Tilly And The Wall: Bottoms of Barrels |
Tap-dancing pop music at its finest. Not as consistent as their debut (Wild Like Children), but still undeniably enjoyable and packed with indie pop anthems.
|6. The Hidden Cameras: Awoo |
‘Gay church folk music’, indeed. Previous efforts may have produced more memorable (and often perverse) songs; however, this album shows more of frontman Joel Gibb’s tender side, as well as a more refined sound. Good all the way through, with the exception of Lollipop… too Barenaked Ladies-esque for my liking. You’ll either love or hate the title track.
|5. Band of Horses: Everything All the Time |
I’m not totally in love with this album, but after repeated listenings I can’t deny that it’s damn good. Not overly exciting, but ethereal melodies abound. I change my mind… I am in love with this album.
|4. Mates Of State: Bring It Back |
I’d be hard-pressed to find a band/artist that I enjoy more thoroughly than Mates Of State… their music is so fun and catchy. Surprisingly, Kori and Jason’s cutesiness actually doesn’t make me want to vomit; come to think of it, it makes me want to do the opposite of vomit (figuratively speaking).
|3. Islands: Return to the Sea |
A unique pop album. The sound is familiar, but the album is unmistakably ambitious and experimental and draws from numerous eclectic influences. It would’ve been better off without track #6 (Where There’s A Will There’s A Whalebone)… the rapping is painfully cheesy. The rest of the album more than makes up for it, though.
|2. Asobi Seksu: Citrus |
Asobi Seksu play moving and beautifully orchestrated noise. Don’t discredit them as just another shoegaze band, though; they have definite pop appeal. Vocals are purposefully subdued and only add to the musical ambience. For me, this album is the modern day equivalent of a heavily distorted Chopin nocturne on crack.
|1. Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton: Knives Don’t Have Your Back |
Emily Haines’ first solo effort is a poignant and understated departure from Metric’s synth-rock sound. Haines crafts complex and stirring melodies primarily with the accompaniment of a piano. This melancholic journey is inifinitely memorable and haunting; Haines wears her vulnerability on her sleeve on this very personal recording. It’s beautifully composed and performed, but don’t expect a feel good album.
Honorable Mentions / Sentimental Favorites (in no particular order)
– The Dears: Gang Of Losers
– Puffy AmiYumi: Splurge
– CSS: Cansei De Ser Sexy
– Camera Obscura: Let’s Get Out Of This Country
– Say Hi To Your Mom: Impeccable Blahs
Stay tuned for more year-end lists / favorites.
Posted by Oliver Filed in Lists, Reviews


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NORFOLK, VA – The Center for Digital Government (CDG) announced Norfolk, VA as among the winners of the 2018 Digital Cities Survey. Now in its 18th year, the annual survey recognizes cities using technology to tackle social challenges, enhance cybersecurity, improve transparency and much more. The survey honors cities in five population classifications: 500,000 or more, 250,000 to 499,999; 125,000 to 249,999; 75,000 to 124,999 and fewer than 75,000.
“This year’s Digital Cities Survey winners are leading the nation when it comes to leveraging data to
improve a wide range of city services and initiatives,” said Teri Takai, executive director of the Center for
Digital Government. “Thanks to the efforts of these innovative cities, citizens now benefit from enhanced services as well as improved transparency and privacy protection efforts. Congratulations to the winners!”
Norfolk placed among the top ten cities in the 125,000 to 249,999 population category, directly behind Alexandria, VA (#4) and ahead of Hampton, VA (#6), the only other Virginia cities that made it into the top ten in that population category. Norfolk has been ranked as a top ten Digital City for the past three years. “We are proud to receive this recognition. This makes the third consecutive year that Norfolk has been named a Top 10 Digital City by the Center for Digital Government,” said Steven DeBerry, Norfolk’s Chief Information Officer. “We appreciate this recognition of our efforts to deliver innovative and effective technology services that connect our residents to their city government, promote transparency, encourage resilience and improve public safety.”
The Digital Cities Survey summarized Norfolk’s win on its website: Norfolk created its open data policy in 2017 and launched its data portal in March this year, giving residents free 24/7 access to information such as the Norfolk Cares call center, permits and streetlights. The portal has 19 data sets, with more to be added in the future. What’s more, the city’s Open Data team is working with the Sunlight Foundation on a Tactical Data Engagement. The foundation is guiding Norfolk in identifying an issue that can be solved with data: resilience and flooding. Another transparency highlight, Balancing Act, gives residents a chance to provide input on city budgetary decisions like increasing taxes or decreasing services.
Norfolk plans to upgrade its decade-old 311 tracking system to integrate the city’s workload management data. This will include launching a service portal that will upload and track residents’ issues; it will also be available as a mobile app.
Norfolk has also striven to provide residents with more access to online services by building on its free public Wi-Fi network. That effort began in city libraries and expanded to free Wi-Fi in public spaces. There is also a free mobile Wi-Fi hotspot program in public libraries, which permits residents to check out personal hotspot devices to access Wi-Fi.
For more information about the 2018 Digital Cities Survey winners, click here

domain: geography


After a demo of a Nicki Minaj track called “We Miss You” leaked online, the rapper took to Twitter clarify that the touching lyrics of the song are not a reference to her cousin, Nicholas Telemaque, who was killed in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Sunday.
“[Though] the lyrics of ‘We Miss You’ eerily depict the circumstances surrounding my cousin’s death, I wrote & recorded that song on 5/24/2010,” Minaj posted on Thursday afternoon (July 7). “It was sent to Mariah Carey & Keyshia Cole over a year ago for a possible feature. It didn’t make ‘Pink Friday’ due to clearance issues.”
Musically, “We Miss You” strikes the same chord as Minaj’s more emotional far like “Right Thru Me” and “Moment 4 Life,” although the lyrics seem to reference a lost romantic interest instead of a family member. “You said that you would leave these streets/And I know you didn’t mean in a body bag/But now you say you’re not bulletproof/And I’m mad, ’cause you’re the best that I ever had,” she raps.
Minaj, who is currently opening for Britney Spears on her Femme Fatale arena tour, confirmed on Monday that Telemaque, 27, was “murdered” near his home on Sunday night. After discussing the leak of “We Miss You,” Minaj expressed her appreciation for her fans’ support over the recent tragedy: “Thank u ALL for your kind words and well wishes. Love,” she tweeted.


Saturday, March 18, 2006
By Elmer A. Ordoñez
THERE were two reported US interventions in the recent aborted “coup plot” leading to 1017 followed by its lifting a week later but belied by continuing repressive police/military actions (on party-list members, the media, leftist and opposition figures and users of cyberspace).
The first version of the US traditional role (gleaned from a broadsheet column) is that the plotters were warned by US agents not to go through with their conspiracy, otherwise 5,000 US Marines already in the country under the Visiting Forces Agreement would stop them.
The other version, apparently contradicting the other, was that the coup plot was instigated by US agents themselves who supposedly called the restive military leaders “meatheads” for not moving to oust the leadership that had become a liability to US interests—like the war on terror.
The first version is consistent with earlier US official and business statements that any regime change must be constitutional. It seems that the US has had it with the present administration whose continuing repression of civil liberties would be an embarrassment to US professed policy of “spreading democracy” around the world.
The second version may be seen in the context of William Blum’s Rogue State which gives as a lurid catalogue of US covert and overt interventions (from 1945 to the present) into the affairs of other nations during the Cold War, the US fight against the Soviet Union and other socialist states (like China, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba), and national liberation struggles (particularly in the Third World). Now add Iran and Syria as US targets.
US policy then was one of “containment” to prevent “developing” nations from falling under the influence of either Soviet Union or the People’s Republic of China. The US went to war in Vietnam precisely to negate the “domino theory” inherent in its “national security doctrine” underpinning US foreign policy. Under the Bush’s policy of waging war on terror, the US has embarked on ill-advised military incursions in Afghanistan and Iraq where, as in Vietnam, US troops are dying and hard put to disengage themselves from the quagmire of suicide bombings and escalating civil war. Key officials in the conduct of the US war in Vietnam like Kissinger and Haig, speaking in a postmortem forum, are either on denial mode or
conscience stricken—unable to see the connection of the Vietnam debacle with what is happening in Iraq. As President Johnson said in 1966: “I oughtn’t to be in this country [Vietnam] but I can’t get out.”
The lessons of Vietnam have not been grasped by local supporters of the war in Iraq. I remember nationalist writers here warned about the perils of supporting the US war in Iraq in the name of fighting terrorists (their slogan after 9/11). Then the US began labeling as terrorist national liberation forces/ personalities—effectively stopping NDF/GRP peace talks.
The history of US intervention in this country goes back to the turn of the century when revolutionary forces had practically defeated the Spanish troops—surrounding its remnants in Intramuros. What followed was a series of US betrayals of Filipino interests and a ruinous Philippine-American war. The “benevolent assimilation” or “pacification” drive of the US had so thoroughly Americanized our way of life and thinking that by the time the country became nominally independent in 1946 our leaders and most of the people looked up to the US for practically everything. It would take nationalist-minded leaders and groups in struggle to regain our humanity and pride as a people.
William Blum has this to say about US intervention after EDSA:
“Another scenario of poverty, social injustice, death squads, torture, etc. leading to wide-ranging protest and armed resistance. . . time once again for the US military and CIA to come to the aid of the government in suppressing such movements. In 1987 it was revealed that the Reagan administration had approved a $10 million, two-year plan for increased CIA involvement in the counterinsurgency campaign. The CIA undertook large-scale psychological warfare operations and US military advisers routinely accompanied Philippine troops during their maneuvers. The Philippines has long been the most strategic location for US war-making in Asia, the site of several large American military bases, which have been the object of numerous protests by the citizens. In 1991 the US Embassy informed the media that embassy polls indicated that 68 percent, 72 percent, even 81 percent of the Philippine people favored the bases. The polls, however, never existed. ‘I made the numbers up,’ an embassy official conceded.”
The US bases are gone (thanks to nationalist protests), but a Visiting Forces Agreement, gratuitously ratified later by the Senate, has indeed the effect of enabling US Marines to intervene militarily in Philippine affairs.