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- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- All Balkan Countries
Nation-building cannot be said to have failed in Bosnia as the big powers, operating under warped calculations, have not allowed democracy to take root there in the first place.
Matthew Parish is wrong when he states that Wilsonian political liberalism has been the guiding motif of Western foreign policy in the former Yugoslavia.
Josip Glaurdic, a Junior Research Fellow in Political Science at Clare College, at the University of Cambridge, has provided a paradigmatic new study, The Hour of Europe: Western Powers and the Breakup of Yugoslavia, which is far and away the most well researched account of the policies which motivated the major powers during the crisis leading up to and beyond the actual dissolution of Yugoslavia.
Glaurdic demonstrates convincingly that a realist power calculus drove the UK, the US, France and Germany, as well as the broader European Community, to consistently side with the forces of reaction in Yugoslavia, out of a belief that they would establish a new regime based on order and stability.
Before Serbia’s Slobodan Milosevic became the preferred strongman, the Yugoslav National Army, JNA, had been the leading contender for the throne left vacant by Yugoslavia’s long-time ruler Josip Broz Tito.
Yet, as Milosevic rose through the ranks and shrewdly established himself as the dominant political institution in Yugoslavia after 1987, the opinions of Western policy-makers followed.
“In spite of formidable evidence to the contrary,” the international community insisted on viewing, and mistaking, “the Serbian leader for a reformer of Gorbachev’s mould who was trying to strengthen the integrity of the federation.”
He remained their choice for leadership of a unified Yugoslav state and Glaurdic argues that that this “is why they failed to alter their policies even after all the rallies and regional putsches and even after the brutal subjugation of Kosovo.
This is also why they gave signals of approval for the increasing involvement of the JNA. What is worst,” he concludes, is that “they continued to make such ‘realist’ mistakes in years to come - even after those ‘armed battles,’ which Milosevic announced at Kosovo Polje, had spread throughout Yugoslavia.”
While Glaurdic does not deal with the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina itself, he suggests that the policies of tacit approval that the Western powers had pursed - in allowing Milosevic to orchestrate a series of wars when his recentralization of the federation began to fissure - saw their bloodiest expression there.
By consenting to the strong-arm tactics of Milosevic and his ally, the Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, (still in the name of “peace” and “stability”), the international mediators tasked with preventing the war in Bosnia implicitly embraced the logic of ethno-nationalist chauvinism, which had become the clear and dominant feature of the former’s political ambitions.
The February 1992 “peace plan” proposed by Portugal’s Jose Cutileiro and Britain’s Peter Carrington damaged the prospects for peace and co-existence in Bosnia in a manner “that cannot be overstated.
By accepting the ethnic principle for the reorganisation of the republic, Cutileiro in essence recognised the platforms of [Karadzic’s Serbian Democratic Party] the SDS, and the Boban wing of the [Bosnian Croatian Democratic Union] HDZ and opened a Pandora’s box of ethnic division that still mars Bosnia to this very day.” As Glaurdic notes, “Cutileiro’s intent was obviously to appease the Bosnian Serbs and their Belgrade sponsor into not implementing their massive war machinery.
However, instead of lowering tensions and giving the three parties an impetus to keep negotiating, the plan actually gave them a ‘charter for ethnic cleansing.’” Under the guise of accepting “ethnic reality” the plan was “in fact inducing the parties - and especially the Bosnian Serbs, who had the military backing of Serbia and the JNA - to create new ethnic realities on the ground.”
As the head of Serbia’s Helsinki Committee Sonja Biserko has noted, when their war effort finally collapsed, the “Serbian elite accepted the  Dayton Agreement under the pressure of reality, and in the knowledge that [the Bosnian Serb entity, the Republika Srpska] would otherwise be totally defeated.”
However, it was the international community which “halted the [joint Croatian-Bosnian] offensive which threatened the fall of Banja Luka and Prijedor” and later insisted on “the ethnic division of Bosnia and the war results, [which] meant that, at the very outset, elements were introduced which could not guarantee a functional state [in Bosnia-Herzegovina].”
In considering the historical moment in which the Dayton Agreement was produced, the eminent theorist of International Relations Professor David Campbell has argued that in “contrast to the unitary and non-racial structure of South Africa post-1994 elections…[Dayton] resembles in large part the political logic abandoned in southern Africa,” which is to say: apartheid.
The apartheid logic, embraced by the international community in the mid-1990s, has since then become institutionalized state policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It has created a state composed of ethnic fiefdoms, where oligarchs like Milorad Dodik, Fahrudin Radoncic and Dragan Covic, amongst others, are able to sequester the possibility of actual democratic politics to the realm of their theatrical ethno-nationalist antagonisms.
Post-war Bosnia is thus what Professor of Political Science Asim Mujkic of the University of Sarajevo has referred to as an “Ethnopolis,” a state where “[under] the cover of the legitimacy conferred by free and fair elections, citizens as individuals are stripped of any political power”.
The continued insistence of the European Union and the US on political reforms in Bosnia is hence made virtually impossible by the very structures which they have imposed on the country, and the political actors which they continue to treat as genuine interlocutors.
Parish’s contends that, “[imposing] liberalism is a contradiction in terms, and attempting to do so after a war has intensified ethnic hatreds defies common sense. Political values take centuries of inculcation, and state-building missions try in vain to prove themselves exceptions to this iron rule.”
He has however completely misrepresented the actual character of the international administration of Bosnia. Any remotely consistent liberal doctrine would have supported democratic reforms in Yugoslavia in the 1980s, would have supported genuine multiethnic co-existence in Bosnia in the 1990s and would have empowered the position and political rights of individual citizens since the end of the war.
Instead, at almost every critical juncture, the international community has sided with the forces of reaction and violent chauvinism because they did not have the convictions to defend their own purported values, but preferred instead a realist calculus in the name of “stability” and “order.”
The danger in providing an account such as the one Parish has provided is that while it correctly identifies the frustrations felt by many international observers and policy makers when it comes to the failure of “nation-building” in Bosnia, it provides a completely backwards analysis of why “nation-building” in Bosnia has failed or, at least, slowed.
The Bosnian people have not even been seriously allowed to experiment with democracy because the international community has insisted on a constitutional order that has made ethnic animosity a permanent feature of daily political life. Democracy has not failed in Bosnia, as it has not even been allowed to take root.
And in any case, if this is what constitutes “nation-building” then I do not see that it has failed, either; what other possible outcome could Dayton’s logic have ensured?
The people of Bosnia deserve an opportunity to live in a secular, democratic, multiethnic society. We cannot allow the warped relist machinations of the Great Powers and the petty chauvinism and banditry of local oligarchs to doom the aspirations of an entire country. After more than 20 years, we owe them a change in policy.
Jasmin Mujanovic is a PhD student in Political Science at York University, in Toronto, Canada, working on the topic of democratic renewal in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and is a regular contributor to Politics, Re-Spun.

domain: sociology


Android Open Source Market Opportunities Shrinking as Android One Becomes Viable Market Contender
May 2, 2016
London, United Kingdom - 02 May 2016
Overall smartphone share of the global handsets market is slowing as mobile phone (or feature phone) sales show some resilience through local brands in emerging markets. While ABI Research, the leader in transformative technology innovation market intelligence, finds major Chinese vendors are continuing to witness solid volume growth, the market region could be on the cusp of a change as Google Android regains momentum and fights back against AOSP (Android Open Source Project) devices. ABI Research estimates that AOSPs’ share of the global smartphone market fell to 14% by end of 2015, while Android improved to a commanding 67%.
“Huawei, Xiaomi, and ZTE, all showed notable volume growth in the fourth quarter and continue to do so,” says David McQueen, Research Director at ABI Research. “As most Android OS devices in China are not yet allowed to carry Google’s services, notably Play, many smartphones act much like AOSP devices. This situation may change in the near future, as either Google’s services become accepted in China or Google’s Android One standard grows to be a viable market contender. This is likely to spread to other Asian markets, which may mean the plight of AOSP.”
ABI Research considers AOSP devices to be modified versions of Android open source on which vendors can build their own user interfaces, app stores, and key applications. While a number of key brands, such as Xiaomi and Amazon, and other smaller Asian vendors have embraced the AOSP platform, the device category faces mounting competition as Google’s Android One continues to target both emerging markets and low-cost smartphone manufacturers.
In the months ahead, ABI Research expects some AOSP vendors to migrate toward Android OS/Android One and leverage on the wider ecosystem as their shipments grow. The AOSP platform may be further stymied by mobile operators who remain reticent to carry AOSP devices, notably in the U.S., which will reduce their acceptance and success in certain markets.
“While we anticipate that Google will continue to have a strong hold on the Android platform in some developing markets, particularly Latin America, the dynamic beyond these could change very quickly,” concludes McQueen. “If Android One does not perform as well as expected over the coming months, AOSP will remain a force within many emerging markets, despite Google’s best efforts to entice vendors away from it.”
These findings are part of ABI Research’s Smartphone & Handset Tracker Service, which includes research reports, market data, insights, and competitive assessments.
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Launched in 1996, the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) is one of the top accelerators in the U.S. designed to help companies affiliated with the University of Chicago turn ideas into viable businesses. Run by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the program includes five tracks to serve the diverse entrepreneurs at the University of Chicago. The Alumni New Venture Challenge (ANVC) track serves University of Chicago alumni who are launching early stage ventures.
In its inaugural year in 2019, the ANVC launched in five regions: East Coast (NYC), Midwest (Chicago), West Coast (Bay Area), Europe (London), and Asia (Bangalore). ANVC teams received regional support, resources, and programming from the Polsky Center and 32 alumni co-chairs. Semifinals were hosted in each local region and the program culminated at the global finals in Chicago during Chicago Booth Reconnect Weekend on Thursday, May 2, 2019, where finalist teams from each region pitched in front of a world-class panel of investors and established entrepreneurs for a chance to win up to $100,000 in funding. This year’s winner was Care Advisors, which helps hospitals get paid more from the government through its Medicaid enrollment software. Read more about the Finals here.

domain: geography


A good friend of mine has a saying that has become something of a motto in our relationship: "Being a good person is hard." We say it with mock frustration to hide our genuine shame, often stomping our feet and slamming a fist down on whichever wall or table is closest. We say it when discussing a text to an ex who treated us poorly, or to justify screening a call from our parents, or when we were thinking about sending a thoughtful email to an aunt — but then, you know, season two of Orange is the New Black came out.
More recently, we say it when we make a purchase from Amazon. In fact, the most recent time I can remember the catchphrase coming up is upon seeing an Amazon Prime package at my friend’s apartment. "But we said we weren't going to shop at Amazon anymore," I said. He raised his hands in the way children do when they're caught with a cookie before dinner. "I needed a book for school, and the Strand said it would take five to seven business days, and I needed it in one,” he said. "Being a good person is hard."
Two days later, I went to my friend's apartment, where we watched Life Itself, the Roger Ebert documentary, on Amazon Instant Video. It cost us $6.99 — the same price that Apple is selling it for, but we didn't have Apple TV, and yeah, sure, we could have crowded around a laptop, but who really wants to do that?
Being a good person is, indeed, hard.
If you're wondering what the tie between ethics and Amazon is, it's possible that you are living on another planet (though I wouldn't be surprised if Amazon Moon becomes the company's latest venture). George Packer asked the question "Is Amazon good for books?" in an in-depth New Yorker article earlier this year, just a few months before Hachette Book Group, one of the largest publishers in the world, entered a standoff with Amazon. Due to confidentiality agreements signed by both Hachette and Amazon, the details of the fight remain murky, but the general consensus is that Amazon sought concessions on ebook sales which Hachette was unwilling to concede. In an effort to change the publisher’s mind, Amazon delayed deliveries and prevented pre-orders on certain Hachette books, upsetting book buyers, Hachette authors and, in a wave that rippled through the publishing community, literati at large.
Hachette vs. Amazon was just the beginning of a cloud of controversy that has formed over the online retailer. Nowadays, it seems like you can't swing a drone without crashing into an Amazon lawsuit. On June 10, the Federal Trade Commission filed a suit against the company, claiming that Amazon had improperly billed customers for "many millions of dollars" of charges that children had made without the consent of their parents.
Even more recently, the French Parliament passed legislation that, though not officially aimed at Amazon, has been dubbed the “Anti-Amazon” Law by some. (Whether Lagardere, a French media company and parent of Hachette Book Group, had any hand in the passage of the legislation remains conjecture.) The new law bans free shipping on books sold at 5 percent below retail rates, creating a hurdle for much of Amazon’s business. It was a move that showed France’s commitment to protecting brick-and-mortar bookstores, but the online retailer isn't going down without a fight: Amazon announced via its French website that it will be charging only .01 Euro for shipping on all orders containing books.
What's most notable about France’s law isn't its effectiveness (or lack thereof), but the French government’s position against Amazon. After all, if anyone or anything is actually going to break — or even just loosen — the online retailer's steel grip on the publishing industry, it's likely going to be legislation that erodes its unique, Internet-age monopoly.
All of this debate comes on the heels of Amazon's 19th anniversary. Though the company was founded in 1994, it didn't publicly come online until July 16, 1995. Back then it was just a few people packing up boxes of books from a two-car garage in Bellevue, Washington; Amazon is a far cry from there now. The company ended 2013 with $74.5 billion in revenue, a 22 percent increase from 2012. It also recently announced that Babak Parviz, one of the leaders behind the Google X and Google Glass, will be joining Amazon. Additionally, the company is currently in the process of asking the Federal Aviation Administration permission to use drones as part of its plan to deliver packages in 30 minutes or less.
It's systems like the drones that make being a "good person" (a vague phrase that means everything and nothing, but for me means, amongst other things, supporting small and local businesses) such a difficult feat. Being morally malformed can seem like a small price to pay when you're busy and broke and Amazon is promising fast and cheap delivery. Although I wish I could spurn Amazon, I can, at best, say that I will only use it when I truly do need a book as soon as possible and all the bookstores nearby are not selling it. I will promise that I won’t ever use Amazon to purchase toilet paper (an infuriating habit that a former roommate of mine got into because it’s “just so easy”), but I do admit that sounds like a vegetarian promising not to eat only when the line at Shake Shack is too long.
Anniversaries are typically a cause for celebration, and at least inside Amazon's headquarters in Seattle, there is a lot to celebrate. But for the rest of us, it might be good to carve out some time today not to celebrate, but to reflect on how Amazon has changed both publishing and the world in the past 19 years, for better and for worse.


安全检测：瑞星：安全 诺顿：安全 卡巴：安全
Tying together design, process planning and machining with STEP-NC technology
While simulation has been successful in tying design and process planning into an iterative loop, machining has traditionally been a downstream terminus of the manufacturing cycle. Simulation of machining has proven difficult due to the highly dynamic and nonlinear nature of the material removal process. Consequently, actual machining must be performed to determine the suitability of designs and process plans. The nature of the programming interface to machine tools has been an obstacle to information flow in both directions. Toward the machine tool, useful design and process information is reduced to primitive tool path motion statements. From the machine tool, no automatic data paths exist, so machinists must translate results into recommendations for design or process changes manually. The advent of STEP (ISO 10303) data for numerical control, or STEP-NC, promises to rectify these problems by providing full product and process data to the machine tool controller at run time and an automatic path back to these upstream activities using technologies such as XML. This paper describes STEP-NC and early experiences that show how these benefits can be achieved.


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I arrived at 10:30pm and Bassline was bumpin with deep and tech-house spun by Rick Logic. There was a surprisingly large amount of people there for 10:30.
There were boas, masks and beads waiting to be donned on tables by the dance floor and the scene was complete with women dressed in burlesque wear. I grabbed some water and tried not to stare as corsets, frilly underwear, fishnets and high heels pranced to and fro. Some of these dashingly dressed women struck up conversation with me and were very friendly, but I figure my shirt (or lack thereof) may have had something to do with that.
Rick dropped one of my favourite tracks, Dennis Ferrer’s remix of Underground by Nick Curly, and I had to shuffle a bit in the emptyish dance floor. It was still early and most people were at the bar.
One pleasant and outgoing Asian lady in a sexy corset was a very big fan of my fashion sense that night and kept paying me visits throughout the night to arrange my top a certain way 😉 I later found out that this bold beauty is Elina Ho Howson, she throws parties at Bassline called Welcome to the Darkside.
D-Ash came on at around 11 with a disco-y start.
More people were coming in and the free jello shots were finding their way around the crowd via a leggy long-haired lady, dressed in sexy attire, of course.
Bassline was filling up and the dance floor was seeing a little more action. The deep and bumpy beats D-Ash were throwing down were doing the trick. He busted out Sonny Fodera and Gene Farris’s Turn Down …nice one.
A remix of Groove is in the Hood marked the end of D-Ash’s set and the beginning of The Beatfabrikators’ sweaty tech-house adventure at around midnight. Alex Freeplay assumed the decks and according to Shazam, Tapesh & Sidney Charles’ Never Ending Story was blasting through the speakers, which were too loud if you asked me. Oh, the price I pay to be at the #frontofthedancefloor.
The dance floor was pretty packed and the hats n boa’s were appearing on people’s bodies. And what’s this? I see a lovely young lady with a painted on corset. Bold!
All of a sudden I’m being told to move to the side….and…yup, it’s time for Pretty Penny’s first performance. Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend came on and the very fit Penny proceeded to tease the crowd, as she wore less and less clothing. Gotta say, experienced some ass envy!
Trevor Lambert, the third Beatfabrikator was MCing the night…and was funny as hell. “FEEL THE BASSLINE IN THE WAISTLINE!”…indeed.
130 rolled around it was time for The NightOwls to show us how its done. Mark Beshai was on first and Goonhouse took over Bassline. Energetic techy house beats had the dance floor movin’ and if you follow me on Instagram, you would know that I am a fan of Mark’s arms…at certain angles.
Oh, oops, told to move aside again for another performance by Pretty Penny. As I didn’t have to secure my #frontofthedancefloor real estate, I took the opportunity to get some more of the essence of life…..(water).
The crowd cheered for Penny and dancing resumed. Upbeat tech-house got me movin’ again and the crowd was still pretty thick at last call. I reached the #frontofthedancefloor again just in time to bust it to Jeff’s track, Hold Tight, that will be released in June on Mjuzieekal Education as a part of a 3 track EP with Mark Beshai and Adam Nics. *High five*
Jeff threw down another wicked disco-y tune and I asked what it was and it turned out to be Dance by Adam Nics…which isn’t out yet either. OOoh, NightOwls, bein’ all special n shiot.
After shakin’ it to a few more tracks it was time for me to go home…I was hitting up the Sonny Fodera party the next night and needed to get some sleep.
It was such a great party! Thanks to Kim of Diamondz aka Forever Lush Events for throwing such a creative event where I could sweat in something scandalous.
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Pics 1, 3, 4 and the featured image were taken by Grace Cavarra

domain: entertainment


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The Broncos finally broke former Florida QB Tim Tebow into the offense for real last week in a loss to the Jets. Tebow took eight wildcat snaps, handing off twice and running six times for 23 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown for his first career score. Don't be surprised if Tebow makes his first NFL pass today against the Raiders.
"We can't do the same thing with it week after week after week," coach Josh McDaniels said of using Tebow, right. "We'll probably continue to tinker with it, including his ability to throw the ball."
As for Tebow? "I'm just excited that I get a chance to be on the field."
The NFL season enters the seventh week today, long enough for teams to have established themselves and for the division races to take shape. Today, we rank the divisions from best to worst.
|1. AFC South||The emergence of the Texans (4-2) and the re-emergence of the Titans (4-2), to go along with the Colts (4-2), make this a cutthroat division. Especially so when you consider the last-place Jaguars are 3-3.|
|2. NFC East||It's competitive with the Giants (4-2) and Eagles (4-2) just a game ahead of the Redskins (3-3). And the Cowboys have too much talent to be 1-4. Every team has question marks, but the Giants, Eagles and Redskins appear to be getting better every week.|
|3. AFC North||The Steelers and Ravens might be the best two teams in football, but the Bengals continue to be schizophrenic, and the Browns are just awful. Still, this division is the most top heavy in football.|
|4. AFC East||The Dolphins (3-2) are slightly better than expected, and the Jets and Patriots (both one loss) are among the class of the AFC. But the Bills, our pick for the worst team in football, drag down this division's grade-point average.|
|5. NFC South||The Saints (4-2) appear to still be the best team in this division, and Atlanta (4-2) is respectable. We just don't think a lot of the other two teams — the Bucs and Panthers.|
|6. NFC North||We thought this was going to be one of the NFL's best divisions. But the Packers and Vikings haven't played anywhere near expectations, and the Bears don't appear to be as good as their 4-2 record. And the Lions are still, well, the Lions.|
|7. AFC West||One good team and three mediocre ones. Going into the season, we would've guessed that the Chargers, not the Chiefs, would be the good one. And we're still not completely sold on the first-place Chiefs.|
|8. NFC West||Coming into the season, most thought this would be the NFL's weakest division, and it hasn't disappointed. The 49ers were supposed to be the team to beat, and that's exactly what they've been — the team to beat often. The rest look like .500 teams, which is why their records are hovering around .500.|
Tweet of the week
"Worst case scenario you get hit up top=concussion. Worst case scenario you get hit down low=knee surgery or possible end of career."
Saints RB Reggie Bush, on Twitter.com, saying he doesn't care for the NFL's crackdown on head shots and that he would rather get hit high
Number of the week
119 Starts, after today, QB Brett Favre will have made at Green Bay's Lambeau Field, passing John Elway (118 at Mile High Stadium) for the most QB starts in one stadium.
Teams to watch
The Ravens host the winless Bills today, and don't expect any sort of letdown. Coach John Harbaugh's greatest strength might be getting his team ready to play no matter the opponent. Since Harbaugh became coach in 2008, the Ravens are 13-1 against teams with losing records. Starting today, the Ravens play four of their next six games at home, and one of the road games is against the winless Panthers. A strong stretch, including what could be a second victory against the Steelers on Dec. 5 at home, can put away the division.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs are better than anyone could have imagined. They have lost two in a row after winning their first three, but they were competitive in the losses to the Colts (19-9) and Texans (35-31). The Chiefs' next four opponents are a combined 7-16 now. Kansas City leads the AFC West, and a hot streak now could salt away the division.
This and that
The Raiders and Broncos meet for the 100th time in the regular season today. The Raiders lead the series 56-41-2. … The Cowboys will make their 72nd Monday Night Football appearance this week. Only the Dolphins (76) have made more appearances, but the Cowboys have the most MNF wins with 42.
If you can run the football and play defense, you can be competitive. Just look at the Titans, who are 4-2 after going 8-8 in 2009. The Titans lead the NFL with 24 sacks and are tied with the Bucs for second with 10 interceptions. RB Chris Johnson has 596 yards (second to Houston's Arian Foster) and has an NFL-leading seven touchdowns. But they are in a tough division. The Texans and Colts are 4-2 and the Jaguars are 3-3, although the Titans thumped Jacksonville 30-3 last week. Today will be a good barometer of where the Titans are as they host the 4-2 Eagles.
Patriots over Chargers. I'm not even sure why the Chargers are favorites, but they are, so I'll take the Pats.

domain: news


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Women love dating Want to do free online sex chat with teens
Established in 2014, Bumble is branded as a feminist dating app that puts women in the driver’s seat and takes the pressure off men to initiate dating conversations.
In a 2015 However, a honeybee hive is less about sisterhood and more about gendered inequity. Putting myself out there repeatedly made me feel vulnerable, not empowered.
Bumble men, much like male bees, largely sit and wait for their invites to come. I like your photos, they’re attractive and interesting. Only 60 per cent of my opening lines were answered and I met just ten men in five months, which is a nine per cent “success” rate.
Another idea is to have Bumble refresh its narrative to support women’s desires and to help diverse dating roles be more readily accepted by men.
The app could add a forum where users can share their various Bumble experiences in ways that encourage safe, engaged dating-related communication.
Bumble needs a serious upgrade it if truly wants to empower women and make room for men en route to more meaningful dating experiences.
One suggestion would be to remove the “she asks” and “he waits” design so both partners can access one another as soon as a match is made.


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(CBS Detroit) — Congress finally reached a deal on a second stimulus package Sunday worth approximately $900 billion. The House and Senate will vote on the package Monday, which must be signed by President Trump. The economic relief for individuals and businesses will be part of a larger spending bill to keep the federal government open through next September.
The long-awaited stimulus package includes some similar measures to those passed with the CARES Act back in March, albeit in different amounts. Among them are stimulus checks. A second round of direct payments — this time for $600 instead of $1,200 — will go out to every adult with an annual salary up to $75,000. Adults earning between $75,000 and $100,000 per year could receive a reduced payment. Parents will also be paid $600 for each dependent child, rather than the $500 issued under the CARES Act.READ MORE: Michigan Man Linked To Supremacist Group Gets 56 Months To 20 Years
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC Monday that the money could start reaching bank accounts by next week.
The second stimulus package also includes additional unemployment benefits. Those currently receiving state unemployment will receive an additional $300 per week from the federal government. That weekly bonus will last through the middle of March, 2021. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, for freelance workers who don’t qualify for traditional unemployment insurance, will also continue. The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program, for those who have exhausted their state benefits, looks to be extended as well.
Those whose unemployment benefits have expired will probably have to wait a few weeks for them to resume.
Businesses will receive another $325 billion in relief. About $284 billion of that will be doled out through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which issues forgivable loans for small businesses to keep employees on staff. TV and radio broadcasters, as well as local newspapers and nonprofits, reportedly including churches and faith-based organizations, will be eligible for the program.READ MORE: General Motors Reinstates Dividend Suspended In Pandemic
Another $15 billion will be set aside for theaters and other types of live venues, along with $30 billion for vaccine distribution. An additional $82 billion is earmarked for schools and universities to service or replace ventilation systems.
The stimulus package will extend the eviction moratorium through the end of January. Eviction protections put in place by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and various states are set to expire at the end of the year. Also included will be $25 billion of assistance to renters.
Aid for state and local governments and business liability protections, the two initiatives which held up relief efforts for months, are not part of the deal. However, the deadline for cities and states to use money supplied under the CARES Act will be pushed back until the end of 2021. Aid for states and localities is supported by Democrats and opposed by Republicans. The coronavirus liability shield is supported by Republicans and opposed by Democrats.
This second round of stimulus is coupled with an omnibus spending bill worth $1.4 trillion. The legislative text stretches to 5,593 pages, among the longest bills Congress has ever considered. The package includes many other provisions unrelated to COVID relief. There is wording that would end surprise medical bills, which arise when patients receive care from (and then are billed by) out-of-network doctors without prior knowledge. The spending bill also calls for a women’s history museum and the National Museum of the American Latino. Also included is money for infrastructure, along with another $1.4 billion for the U.S.-Mexico border wall.MORE NEWS: Detroit's Historic Marlborough Apartments To Reopen For First Time In 40 Years
Last updated 4:30 p.m. ET.


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The Best Cheap LED Grow Lights For Cannabis (2021 Update)
Based on these specifications, King Plus 600W is one of the best Cheap LED Grow Lights that works well for indoor cannabis growing. Buying King Plus 600W LED Grow Light is the best bet if you want the best LED Grow Light for the money you spend.
The Best Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights | Epic Gardening
May 20, 2019 · Right now, full spectrum LED grow lights are expensive. The costs of setting up a system that depends on these lights can be more expensive than standard HPS or HID setups. However, you will save a lot of money in the long run due to the efficiency of LEDs vs. HID lighting. For example, the average lifespan of an HPS bulb is around 10,000 hours.
10 Best 1000w LED Grow Light Reviews for Cannabis 2021
Apr 09, 2020 · This new technological LED grow light comes to the next when we are talking about the indoor 1000W LED grow light. This is because of its new and exceptional feature of dual-chip technology to be used in LEDs. This makes this grow light brighter than the other LED grow light. While it is more efficient than the traditional grow light of 3W and 5W.
Want to Garden Like a Pro? Here’s a Simple and Affordable ...
3. Other Indoor Grow Light FAQs. Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions we get about our DIY indoor grow light setup: 1. How much indoor light hours do your plants need? Answer: Each type of plant is a little different, but generally speaking, your edible garden plants will do fine with 10-14 hours of indoor light per day.
Light Emitting Diode (LED) When LED grow lights first came on the market, they were met with incredible skepticism for two reasons: Manufacturers were making incredible claims about their effectiveness and efficiency; They were a new lighting technology and old-school indoor growers were suspicious
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domain: agronomy


The building sector consumes the most energy and emits the greatest quantity of greenhouse gases of any sector. Energy savings in this sector can make a major contribution to tackling the threat of climate change. Research has produced a variety of solutions, for example, net zero and positive-energy buildings. At the same time, both models and controls are being challenged by increasingly complex buildings equipped with advanced information and communications technologies (ICT). This dissertation addresses these challenges by proposing a multidisciplinary, wide-ranging modeling methodology that enables new strategies for saving building energy. The core methodology utilizes novel modeling approaches to improve predictive models and produce innovative energy solutions. Models are validated and investigated using a variety of buildings and controls. Data centers and demand controlled ventilation (DCV) are the focus because they represent both "multifunctional buildings" and general energy system controls. This dissertation makes the following seven original contributions: (1) The first systematic, complete case study of a data center in which infrastructure, energy and air management performance, and waste heat recovery systems were investigated, analyzed, and quantified using long-term power consumption data. (2) A novel and tuning-free DCV building control strategy that is far superior to proportional control and more competitive than proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control. (3) An artificial neural network (ANN) model for predicting the water evaporation rate in a swimming hall. (4) A new ANN model for estimating prediction intervals and accounts for the uncertainty of point estimation for indoor conditions in an office building. (5) A new Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) model for predicting constant and time-varying air change rates and a coupled model for estimating the number of occupants in an office. (6) Discovery of a new physical law for run-around heat recovery systems that can be used to develop a simulation model to estimate the system performance for constant volume air (CAV) and DCV systems. This new law was verified in different sites. (7) A new hybrid numerical-ANN model for building performance simulation. The hybrid model can improve not only the model accuracy but also the generalizability of ANN. The results demonstrate the applicability of the modeling techniques and the models, and significant energy savings in buildings. The resulting improvements in model accuracy, forecasting capability, and energy efficiency were published in eight journals. By unifying the results of eight publications, this dissertation presents a comprehensive and coherent study that advances the state-of-the-art building energy research.
|Translated title of the contribution||Improving building energy efficiency through novel hybrid models and control approaches including a data center case study|
|Publication status||Published - 2016|
|MoE publication type||G5 Doctoral dissertation (article)|
- neural networks
- demand-controlled ventilation
- data center
- building simulation


Keynote Address at the PLI’s Seventeenth Annual Institute on Securities Regulation in Europe
Feb. 1, 2018
Thank you, Brad [Gans] and thanks to the Practising Law Institute and Allen & Overy for hosting today’s event. I am pleased to be here and provide you with a few thoughts on the state of the Division of Corporation Finance.
Given that companies and the markets that we regulate are increasingly global, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss our policies and existing or potential regulations. I hope you find it informative. For us, this annual institute provides a valuable forum for this dialogue, and I look forward to joining the U.S. regulatory developments panel this morning. Your views and perspectives, particularly as representatives or counsel for foreign private issuers (FPIs), are valuable to the SEC. FPIs are a significant component of the U.S. capital market, with a market capitalization of more than $9 trillion.
Since I arrived at the SEC in May 2017, I have spent time getting to know the Division of Corporation Finance and agency staff and becoming more familiar with the depth and breadth of their work and experience. I am proud to serve alongside such dedicated and talented individuals. I have been so impressed by how the staff manages through changes in our economic environment and how well it adapts to changes in the fields we regulate. It is a terrific group.
Chairman Clayton has stated that the SEC’s mission – to protect investors; maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and facilitate capital formation – is our touchstone. The Chairman has made clear that our efforts must extend to all investors, especially Main Street investors, and that our capital formation efforts should benefit them by enabling businesses to grow and increasing investment opportunities. Today, I want to elaborate on how the Division is implementing that directive and my vision for the Division.
Before I do, I need to give you the standard disclaimer – the views I express today are my own, and do not represent the views of the Commission, individual Commissioners, or other members of the staff.
In developing my vision for the Division, my starting point has also been the SEC’s tripartite mission. Each tenet is equally critical, and fulfilling the mission is at the heart of everything we do. But let me focus on one aspect – capital formation – for a moment. I believe that making the U.S. public markets more attractive for companies to go public – and stay public – will ultimately benefit investors and our markets through increased transparency, liquidity, and investment opportunities. So considering ways to facilitate capital formation is top of mind.
Having spent a career advising private companies as they move along the path to an initial public offering, I have seen how companies and their investors benefit from the evolution from a private company to a public reporting company. Accounting policies are sharpened and explained more cogently, risks inherent in the business are examined and disclosed in the crucible of the public reporting system, the business model and the strategy that drives it are better focused and understood. Management is strengthened, sometimes with the aid of new hires. Typically the board becomes more knowledgeable and more independent, and corporate governance is improved. All of these things combine to create a stronger company. It is a gratifying process and one that I am sure many of you have experienced. And ideally, a new promising young public company emerges that represents an additional investment opportunity, available to a broader range of investors, who can participate in its growth.
The process of becoming a public company can be daunting and a company must be prepared to shoulder the weight of additional regulation, new investor constituencies, and increased public scrutiny. Private companies, particularly those that have grown quickly, often do not have the same rigorous policies and procedures as public companies and must expend considerable time and money to establish them. There is real value in doing so. And, of course, not all IPOs and newly public companies find success. But consider the alternative – if fewer companies find the public alternative attractive, the options for investors focused on public, liquid investment opportunities, typically smaller investors, are more limited.
How can we make our capital markets and the public company alternative more attractive, while also protecting investors? I do not think there is a single answer. There are a multitude of reasons asserted for why companies may choose not to go public, to go public at a later stage, or to exit the public markets. We know from meeting with companies and their advisors that our regulatory environment is a significant consideration. Given that, and the scrutiny of quarterly market expectations and the growing influence of activist investors, it is no surprise that the availability of private capital has led to companies remaining private longer and, in some cases, indefinitely. On top of this, we lose public companies to merger and acquisition activity. While we cannot address all of these issues, we can change, and hopefully enhance, the regulatory environment. We must seek to strike the right balance with the disclosure and other regulatory burdens placed on companies that join the public sphere. Getting that balance right not only benefits regulated companies, it is good for our markets and investors.
In the United States, proponents of new regulatory ideas sometimes view the SEC’s oversight and disclosure regime as the best tool to address broader policy issues, even if those issues are outside of our core focus of capital formation, efficient markets, and investor protection. I can understand how this happens; our agency and the stock exchanges we oversee have robust rulemaking and enforcement frameworks in place to implement such ideas. But the risk of this approach is that it adds to the regulatory burden that public companies face; a burden not shared by other companies operating in the U.S. economy. I believe this can unnecessarily discourage companies from entering the public markets and that over time, this has contributed to more weight being given to the arguments for delaying entry into or avoiding the public markets.
I would like to see those arguments weigh in favor the public markets, so when I arrived at the SEC, I challenged the Division staff to take a fresh look at our work to see where we can make a difference. That challenge has been met with enthusiasm. We are currently reviewing our rules to find areas where we can reduce compliance burdens. We are also examining our guidance, our processes, and how we interact with registrants, investors, and other stakeholders and considering enhancements. As we do this, I have stressed three hallmarks of good regulation – collaboration, transparency, and efficiency. With those principles in mind, we are considering changes we can make in both the near term and longer term.
Guidance and Policy Updates
As you know, for some time the Division has accepted non-public submissions of registration statements by foreign private issuers and foreign governments. The scope of that policy varied over time and is now primarily utilized by FPIs that are pursuing both a U.S. and non-U.S. listing. In 2012, the JOBS Act provided a similar accommodation for emerging growth companies (EGCs) engaging in an IPO. A qualified foreign private issuer could choose to take advantage of either the EGC or FPI accommodation.
Shortly after my arrival, we began taking actions to enhance our guidance and operations. The Division expanded the non-public review process for draft registration statement submissions to all issuers conducting IPOs, initial Securities Act registrations, and initial Exchange Act registrations under Section 12(b). We also decided to accept draft registration statement submissions for follow-on offerings within one year of an IPO or initial Section 12(b) registration. We are pleased that companies are taking advantage of this policy. Since we announced it, we have received draft submissions for more than 20 IPOs of companies that exceed $1 billion in revenue or otherwise do not qualify to submit as EGCs, and from over 35 companies engaged in follow-on offerings. These options, which are also available to FPIs, smooth the capital-raising process for first-time registrants and newly public companies. It can reduce uncertainty for these companies and allow them to raise capital with less exposure to market volatility, which is good for the companies and their investors.
We also updated guidance to provide greater clarity about what financial information is required when submitting draft registration statements or filing publicly. The statutory framework of the JOBS Act and the FAST Act affords certain accommodations to EGCs not available to other issuers. Our intent is to streamline the process and put EGCs and non-EGCs on as level a playing field as possible.
Under the FAST Act, an EGC may omit from a filed registration statement financial information that relates to a historical period that the company reasonably believes will not be included at the time of the contemplated offering. Under our guidance, an EGC may omit from its draft registration statement interim financial information that it reasonably believes it will not be required to present separately at the time of the contemplated offering. Prior to the guidance, EGCs including these interim financials in their draft submissions would often replace them prior to or at the time of public filing. In addition, a non-EGC can omit from its draft registration statements annual and interim financial information that it reasonably believes it will not be required to present separately at the time it files its registration statement publicly. An issuer may not omit any required financial information from its publicly filed registration statements.
We have heard that these accommodations are making a positive difference to issuers. In many cases, they save the equivalent time and money spent to prepare one or more quarterly reports. We think that is significant. We are still able to perform our filing reviews and investors continue to receive the full financial information required when an issuer files publicly.
Another area where new guidance has had a significant impact is pay ratio disclosure. In September 2017, the Commission issued guidance to assist companies in their efforts to comply with the pay ratio disclosure requirement. The Division also updated its interpretations and closely collaborated with staff in the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis to provide guidance on calculating the pay ratio and using statistical sampling. The Commission and staff guidance reflects feedback the SEC received as companies worked to implement the requirement and underscores the flexibility incorporated into the rule.
Most recently, the Division worked closely with the Commission’s Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA) to monitor developments related to changes to the U.S. tax laws and to consider requests for guidance. When the new tax law was enacted in late December, OCA issued a staff accounting bulletin providing guidance about the application of U.S. GAAP when preparing an accounting for certain income tax effects of the law. The Division also clarified that a re-measurement of deferred tax assets to incorporate the newly-enacted tax rates would not be an impairment and thus would not trigger an obligation to file a Form 8-K. Overall, the guidance takes a practical approach to the challenges companies face as they integrate the new tax laws into their financial accounting and reporting. The guidance provides a measurement period of up to one year to assist registrants in assessing the impact of, and finalizing the accounting for, these complex changes to the tax laws. It also outlines the disclosures we expect to see in periodic filings until the accounting under U.S. GAAP is complete. If you have questions about your particular situation, do not hesitate to reach out to us.
While the Division stands ready to assist companies in complying with the federal securities laws, we want to make sure that message is reaching everyone. The Division staff has engaged in outreach efforts to make sure that companies know we are open for business and that we want to be as transparent and collaborative as possible. For example, we have reminded companies that we will consider requests made under Rule 3-13 for modified financial statements. We will consider the specific facts and circumstances in each case, and while we may not always agree that an accommodation is warranted, we are willing to consider requests. We encourage companies and their advisers to reach out to discuss the matter with us before developing extensive applications for relief. This should ultimately save companies time and money. Our Division’s Office of Chief Accountant has updated the Financial Reporting Manual to provide the names and contact information for staff that can assist with requests. I encourage you to utilize this resource.
While much of what I have discussed is relevant to capital formation in the public markets, we appreciate that significant and growing amounts of capital are raised pursuant to our private, non-registered offering exemptions. In order to better understand these private offering markets and their participants, we have sought to engage with a wide range of stakeholders at meetings and conferences around the United States. In October, Chairman Clayton and I attended a high tech jobs summit in Montana. The summit brought together lawmakers, regulators, and businesses – both large and small – to discuss job creation and capital formation, among other things. We held our annual Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation outside Washington, D.C. this year by meeting in Austin, Texas. Trips like that give us the opportunity to hear from smaller companies seeking to grow their businesses, and to talk about the ways smaller companies can utilize Regulation Crowdfunding and Regulation A to raise capital. I also participated in a conference at the Berkeley Center for Law, Business and the Economy with a variety of private and public companies and their advisors. We candidly discussed the benefits and challenges for companies seeking to grow and raise capital, become public companies, and stay public companies. It was useful to hear views about what is working and what could be enhanced under our regulatory regime.
As you can tell, we are very focused on outreach and I hope that you will engage with us on things of importance to companies and their investors.
Future Areas of Focus
As we move forward, we will continue to keep transparency, efficiency, and collaboration in mind in everything we do. What’s next on the Division’s agenda? We are looking for ways to make our internal processes more efficient, thereby benefitting us and registrants. For example, we are considering areas such as filing reviews and no-action requests and examining whether we may be able to better our response times. We are working to update our Financial Reporting Manual and our Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations to make sure they are current, transparent, and easy to use. We want to collaborate with registrants to address challenges they face while still maintaining a disclosure regime that results in capital markets that generate global confidence, trust, and respect.
We are also considering whether additional areas exist where guidance is needed. One area that we have identified is cybersecurity disclosure. The Division issued guidance in 2011 to assist companies in assessing what disclosure, if any, might be required about cybersecurity risks or incidents, based on their particular facts and circumstances. Since that time, companies have continued to face increasing cybersecurity risks and incidents. We are working on recommendations for the Commission for further guidance on the disclosure requirements that may be implicated by cybersecurity risk and incidents, such as risk factors, MD&A, and board risk oversight.
In addition, we are continuing our work on a full rulemaking agenda. We are preparing recommendations for a proposal to implement the resource extraction issuer disclosure provision of the Dodd-Frank Act. The Division is also continuing to identify disclosure requirements that we can simplify and make more effective, without reducing investor protections. In the coming months, I anticipate that the Commission will consider rulemaking to raise the threshold companies need to stay below to qualify for smaller reporting company eligibility. We will also make recommendations for final rules to update and simplify disclosure requirements that are outdated, or are overlapping or duplicative with other Commission rules or U.S. GAAP. We are also preparing recommendations for proposals to amend the rules for financial information required for acquired entities (Regulation S-X Rule 3-05), as well as Regulation S-X Rule 3-10 for disclosures by guarantors and issuers of guaranteed securities. And we are developing recommendations for updating Industry Guide 3 to modernize the disclosure requirements for financial institutions. Our work on these rulemakings have benefitted from public comments and I encourage you to provide comments on any new proposals that the Commission issues.
As you can tell, the Division has a very full plate and we are working as expediently as possible. I am pleased by what the Division accomplished in 2017, and 2018 is off to a fast and productive start. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues in continuing our important work on behalf of investors, companies, and our markets.
Thank you again for having me here today. Enjoy the rest of the conference.
 The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as a matter of policy, disclaims responsibility for any private publication or statement by any of its employees. The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission or of the author’s colleagues on the staff of the Commission.
 This number is an approximation as of December 2017, and is based on the SEC staff’s analysis of filings and market information.
 See Chairman Jay Clayton, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Remarks at the Economic Club of New York (July 12, 2017), available at https://www.sec.gov/news/speech/remarks-economic-club-new-york.
 See id.
 See SEC Division of Corporation Finance, Non-Public Submissions by Foreign Private Issuers (Dec. 8, 2011, updated May 30, 2012), available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/internatl/nonpublicsubmissions.htm.
 See Title I of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act), Pub. L. 112-106 (Apr. 5, 2012) providing for confidential submissions of draft registration statements, available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr3606enr/pdf/BILLS-112hr3606enr.pdf.
 See Press Release, SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance Expands Popular JOBS Act Benefit to All Companies (June 29, 2017), available at https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2017-121 and SEC Division of Corporation Finance, Draft Registration Statement Processing Procedures Expanded (June 29, 2017 [supplemented Aug.17, 2017]), available at https://www.sec.gov/corpfin/announcement/draft-registration-statement-processing-procedures-expanded.
 See SEC Division of Corporation Finance Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), Question 1 (updated Aug. 17, 2017), available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/guidance/fast-act-interps.htm. See also SEC Division of Corporation Finance Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations, Securities Act Forms, Section 101, Question 101.05 (updated Aug. 17, 2017), available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/guidance/safinterp.htm#101.05.
 See Title I of the JOBS Act, available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr3606enr/pdf/BILLS-112hr3606enr.pdf.
 See Title LXXI of the FAST Act, Pub. L. 114-94 (Dec. 4, 2015), available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-114publ94/pdf/PLAW-114publ94.pdf.
 See SEC Division of Corporation Finance FAST Act Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations, Question 1 (updated Aug. 17, 2017), available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/guidance/fast-act-interps.htm.
 See id and SEC Division of Corporation Finance Securities Act Forms Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 101.05 (updated Aug. 17, 2017), available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/guidance/safinterp.htm#101.05.
 See Commission Guidance on Pay Ratio Disclosure, SEC Release No. 33-10415 (Sept. 21, 2017), available at https://www.sec.gov/rules/interp/2017/33-10415.pdf.
 See Pay Ratio Disclosure, SEC Release No. 33-9877 (Aug. 5, 2015), available at https://www.sec.gov/rules/final/2015/33-9877.pdf. See also Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act), Pub. L. 111-203 (July 21, 2010), available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ203/html/PLAW-111publ203.htm.
 See SEC Division of Corporation Finance Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations, Regulation S-K, Section 128C (updated Sept. 21, 2017), available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/guidance/regs-kinterp.htm.
 See SEC Division of Corporation Finance Guidance on Calculation of Pay Ratio Disclosure (Sept. 21, 2017), available at https://www.sec.gov/corpfin/announcement/guidance-calculation-pay-ratio-disclosure.
 See Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Pub. L. 115-97 (Dec. 22, 2017).
 See Press Release, Commission Staff Provides Regulatory Guidance for Accounting Impacts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Dec. 22, 2017), available at https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2017-237 and Staff Accounting Bulletin, Release No. SAB 118 (Dec. 22, 2017), available at https://www.sec.gov/interps/account/staff-accounting-bulletin-118.htm.
 See SEC Division of Corporation Finance Exchange Act Form 8-K Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 110.02 (Dec. 22, 2017), available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/guidance/8-kinterp.htm.
 See Rule 3-13 of Regulation S-X.
 See Communications with the Division of Corporation Finance’s Office of Chief Accountant, available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/cffinancialreportingmanual.pdf#communications.
 See SEC Division of Corporation Finance Disclosure Guidance: Topic No. 2 Cybersecurity (Oct. 13, 2011), available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/guidance/cfguidance-topic2.htm.
 See Regulatory Flexibility Agenda, SEC Release No. 33-10424 (October 6, 2017), available at https://www.sec.gov/rules/other/2017/33-10424.pdf and Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Fall 2017), available at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain.
 See Section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Act, available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ203/html/PLAW-111publ203.htm.


A report by MPs on the Committee of Public Accounts, published on 18 January, says the DH does not know whether services provided cheaply to some NHS trusts under PFI agreements are better value for money, worse quality, or reflect inconsistencies in records.
Despite the apparent lack of monitoring, by April 2009 the PFI, a method of funding public infrastructure projects with private capital, was being used in 76 hospitals in England.
Part of the problem, according to the committee, is that the health department does not have sufficient resources to secure value for money from PFI contracts.
36% of NHS trusts have less than one full time person managing their PFI contract and a further 12% do not have anyone spending a day a week managing their contract.
Spending watchdog, the National Audit Office, has recommended that trusts should form a "PFI club" so trusts can receive central support and provide benchmarking data. But the committee says that the club has yet to be implemented.
Another serious concern for the MPs is the DH's failure to use the "market leverage" that comes from overseeing multiple contracts.
Their findings show that private sector investors have been bundling PFI deals together and using consequent economies of scale to generate bigger profits, but these are not being shared by the taxpayer.
NHS organisations need to "exploit the commercial weight and buying power that comes from letting substantial contracts", says the report.
Margaret Hodge, chair of the Committee of Public Accounts, said: "Health trusts used PFI because there was no realistic alternative, not because it represented best value for money.
"The use of PFI and its alternatives should now be robustly evaluated. Looking back at PFI procurements, the government should also do more to find out where and why PFI works best and capture the lessons."


text:
The littles took turns acting out "Little Miss/Master Muffet" while I snapped photos. Once the photos were developed we glued them on paper and drew spiders.
I attached the following poem to each of their papers:
Little Miss/Master __________ sat on her/his tuffet eating her/his ______________ all day. Along came a spider who sat down beside her/him and frightened Miss/Master _________ away!
The littles had fun telling me what they were eating out of the bowls.

domain: artistic


text:
Designer: Björn Thomasson
Product Developer: Len Ystmark
The Salt 55 is a racer/trainer for intermediate paddlers or ambitious beginners. While significantly more stable than the Salt 51, the difference in top speed is surprisingly small and in touring pace negligible. For those not quite comfortable in Salt 51, the Salt 55 may even be faster overall, since stability makes it easier for the paddler to take full advantage of his or her technique and strength. The high quality of the construction and outfitting makes it a perfect intermediate club kayak.

domain: sports


text:
According to an E! News report, published on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, the estranged exes will be taking their custody battle to trial next month.
However, as a source cited by the media outlet claimed, “They’re still working together towards an out of court settlement. Angelina is not seeking sole custody of the kids, she still supports the reconciliation of the children with their father.” Meanwhile, court documents obtained by the publication revealed that the former couple’s custody trial, which will reportedly begin on Tuesday, Dec. 4, will be overseen by retired Judge John W. Odenkirk through the end of next June.
As Nicki Swift previously reported, Jolie, 43, officially filed for divorce from Pitt, 54, in September 2016, citing “irreconcilable differences.” The Mr. & Mrs. Smith co-stars, who married in a secret ceremony in August 2014 after a decade of dating, share six children together: Maddox, 17, Pax, 14, Zahara, 13, Shiloh, 12, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 10.
The famous exes have been engaged in a highly publicized custody battle ever since calling it quits — but things unfortunately took a nasty turn over the summer of 2018. After reaching a temporary custody agreement, a judge ordered Jolie to allow Pitt more visitation time with their kids in mid-August. Meanwhile, the actor was reportedly “sickened” by Jolie and her legal team’s decision to bring their private custody battle into the public eye after the actress-activist accused him of not paying “meaningful” child support in a court filing. Shortly after, Pitt claimed that he’s paid her over $9 million since breaking up, and the Maleficent star later split from her divorce lawyer.
Having passed the two-year mark of their separation in late September 2018, here’s hoping Jolie and Pitt can come to a permanent custody arrangement quickly and amicably.
In other celeb breakup news, Marvel star Chris Pratt and Mom star Anna Faris recently finalized their divorce in mid-October 2018. The amicable exes, who announced their separation after eight years of marriage in August 2017, will share joint custody of their only child, 6-year-old son Jack. Meanwhile, Camping actress Jennifer Garner and Batman star Ben Affleck, who share three children, also finalized their divorce around the same time after separating in June 2015.


text:
Staybridge Suites® Webster extended stay hotels offer a home-like, upscale extended stay with a feeling of community with free Wireless Anywhere, suites with more space and a full kitchen, evening receptions and complimentary hot breakfast. We know that being on the road means balancing work, family and friends, so we go out of our way to make your stays in Webster enjoyable while keeping you connected to what matters most.
When you stay at a Staybridge Suites in Webster, start each day right with our hot breakfast and freshly prepared favorites.
Large workspaces, complimentary high-speed Internet and business center open 24/7 for you to be efficient. Need more space for a meeting or group event? We can accommodate that, too.
Staybridge Suites extended stay hotels in Webster make your stay enjoyable with free breakfast, Internet, appetizers, fitness room, and 24/7 on-site laundry.
Well managed and friendly.. I have stayed long periods of times during the last three years at this hotel[Less]
Loved the bed...so comfortable and great bedding. Great shower, no curtains or doors. This hotel is a great location, within walking distance of places to eat, less than a mile from an awesome mall!![Less]
I love to stay at this hotel as is it very nice makes you feel like home away from home love that the pool is open late as long as you keep noise down. This time around they had construction going on[More] by the pool so pool was not as clean from last stay. But overall love it here..[Less]
Great atmosphere and service
I enjoyed the stay, valet service was helpful. Beautiful view from room[Less]
what a great place to stay for the price.
We have been staying at this hotel for quite some time. Due to the convenience to ND Anderson. Always been nice and the staff was accommodating. This last stay the room seemed to be little worse[More] for wear. Not up to the normal standard. However overall it was a good stay.[Less]
This location was right by the highway and eliminated the need to fight the crowd. Great room. Very clean with a kitchen available. Very comfortable bed.[Less]
Stay in Candlewoods often but will definitely return to this one.. Great staff and clean hotel in a good location.[Less]
Sheets were old , knotty, but staff brought fresh ones. Room was clean . Laundry room was nice to have and nice swimming pool area.[Less]

domain: travel


text:
- Which hormone is responsible for body temperature?
- Why do I feel hot but my temperature is low?
- What diseases are associated with the hypothalamus?
- Which protein can reset the hypothalamus?
- Do you have hypothyroidism look at your hands?
- What causes problems regulating body temperature?
- Can the hypothalamus be reset?
- What vitamins help regulate body temperature?
- How do you regulate body temperature?
- What emotions does the hypothalamus control?
- Can I check my thyroid at home?
- Can hormones affect body temperature?
- How does thyroid hormone regulate body temperature?
- What are the symptoms of a malfunctioning hypothalamus?
- What is it when you can’t regulate your body temperature?
- How do I cool down my body temperature?
- What part of the body controls body temperature?
- Does stress affect body temperature?
- Does BMI affect body temperature?
- At what body temperature is immediate medical treatment required?
- What foods are bad for thyroid?
Which hormone is responsible for body temperature?
The hypothalamus helps keep the body’s internal functions in balance.
It helps regulate: Appetite and weight.
Why do I feel hot but my temperature is low?
People may feel hot without a fever for many reasons. Some causes may be temporary and easy to identify, such as eating spicy foods, a humid environment, or stress and anxiety. However, some people may feel hot frequently for no apparent reason, which could be a symptom of an underlying condition.
What diseases are associated with the hypothalamus?
Disorders of the hypothalamus and/or anterior pituitary can also result in hypopituitarism, including adrenal insufficiency (see adrenal disorders section), hypothyroidism (see thyroid disorders section), hypogonadism (see puberty and its disorders section), growth hormone deficiency (see growth disorders section) and …
Which protein can reset the hypothalamus?
Endogenous pyrogen – a group of cytokines that cause fever responses: IL-1, IL-6 and TNFa — in addition to resetting the thermostat in the hypothalamus, these cytokines mobilize energy via fat and protein breakdown to allow for increased body temp.
Do you have hypothyroidism look at your hands?
Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism can show up in the hands and nails. Hypothyroidism can cause dermatologic findings such as nail infection, vertical white ridges on the nails, nail splitting, brittle nails, slow nail growth, and nails lifting up.
What causes problems regulating body temperature?
One of the most common causes of heat intolerance is medication. Allergy, blood pressure, and decongestant medications are among the most common. Allergy medications can inhibit your body’s ability to cool itself by preventing sweating.
Can the hypothalamus be reset?
Chance HRT is a simple technique to reset the Hypothalamus. The Hypothalamus is called the “Brain of the Brain.” This technique allows the Hypothalamus to regain control over so many of the body’s functions.
What vitamins help regulate body temperature?
Magnesium – Magnesium helps with body temperature regulation. Magnesium is an essential mineral for staying healthy and is required for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body.
How do you regulate body temperature?
Our internal body temperature is regulated by a part of our brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus checks our current temperature and compares it with the normal temperature of about 37°C. If our temperature is too low, the hypothalamus makes sure that the body generates and maintains heat.
What emotions does the hypothalamus control?
The hypothalamus also plays an important role in emotion. Lateral parts of the hypothalamus are involved in emotions such as pleasure and rage, while the median part is associated with aversion, displeasure, and a tendency to uncontrollable and loud laughing.
Can I check my thyroid at home?
One way to check is to take a good look at your neck to see if you can detect any signs of thyroid swelling. You can do a physical check of your own thyroid at home with these directions from The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists: Using a hand mirror, watch your throat as you swallow a drink of water.
Can hormones affect body temperature?
Estrogen controls the part of your brain that regulates body temperature. Low estrogen levels can increase your body temperature to an uncomfortable degree, resulting in hot flashes and night sweats.
How does thyroid hormone regulate body temperature?
Thyroid hormones regulate body temperature by increasing available energy in the body, as well as by increasing appetite, pulse, the amount of oxygen delivered to different body parts, and fat buildup. Thyroid hormones work together with the nervous system in order to maintain body temperature.
What are the symptoms of a malfunctioning hypothalamus?
Symptoms of hypothalamus disorderssensitivity to heat.anxiety.feeling irritable.mood swings.tiredness and difficulty sleeping.lack of sex drive.diarrhea.constant thirst.More items…
What is it when you can’t regulate your body temperature?
Dysautonomia is a failure of the autonomic nervous system to regulate certain body functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, respiration, digestion, etc.
How do I cool down my body temperature?
The following home remedies are easy and effective ways to beat the heat.Cold foot bath. Placing your feet in a cold foot bath cools your body and allows you to sit back and relax. … Coconut water.Peppermint. … Hydrating foods. … Sitali breath. … Dress accordingly. … Aloe vera. … Buttermilk.More items…•
What part of the body controls body temperature?
Much like a thermostat regulates the temperature inside your home, the hypothalamus regulates your body temperature, responding to internal and external stimuli and making adjustments to keep the body within one or two degrees of 98.6 degrees.
Does stress affect body temperature?
In some people, chronic stress causes a persistent low-grade fever between 99 and 100˚F (37 to 38°C). Other people experience a spike in body temperature that can reach as high as 106˚F (41°C) when they’re exposed to an emotional event.
Does BMI affect body temperature?
Among the physiological determinants of body temperature, body mass index (BMI) have been shown to be positively associated with body temperature in some studies [8,9,10] but not in others [11,12,13].
At what body temperature is immediate medical treatment required?
A mere 3.6° F drop in body temperature (below 95° F) requires immediate medical attention.
What foods are bad for thyroid?
Which nutrients are harmful?soy foods: tofu, tempeh, edamame, etc.certain vegetables: cabbage, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, spinach, etc.fruits and starchy plants: sweet potatoes, cassava, peaches, strawberries, etc.nuts and seeds: millet, pine nuts, peanuts, etc.

domain: medical


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In fact, businesses looking to lease or buy in Tracy might have trouble finding vacancies. Net absorption for 2016 in the city was a stunning 3.1 million square feet. Vacancies are at a record low of 0.4 percent.
Tracy has four projects under construction totaling 1.7 million square feet that will be completed this year.
The vacancy rate in San Joaquin County at the close of 2016 was 6 percent, up slightly because 370,000 square feet of sublet space is coming available on Runway
Drive, west of Stockton Metropolitan Airport. More than 3 million square feet of industrial space was built in the county last year.
Anyone looking for industrial space may have to broaden their search to include Lathrop, Manteca and Stockton.
The vacancy rate in Lathrop was 9.8 percent for 2016. The Carpenter Company closed its 417,600 square foot manufacturing facility last year. Colliers said the city has five
speculative sites under construction totaling 1.7 million square feet.
Lathrop’s I-5 Logistics Center, a 750,000-square-foot logistics facility was built on spec and leased to UPS prior to project completion in mid-2016.
Manteca’s vacancy rate was 4.6 percent thanks to 88,000 square foot manufacturing facility that was just completed and 172,572 square feet that was just delivered back to the market.
Stockton’s availability rate was 7.5 percent thanks to the 370,000 square feet of new sublease space west of the airport.
Five Class A buildings are available that could accommodate users of 100,000 square feet and greater. Just one building is scheduled for delivery in 2017: a 451,611 square
foot speculative logistics facility on Boeing Way in the Stockton Airport Business Center.

domain: economics


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GenDx and Horaizon have teamed up in a consortium led by prof. dr. W. de Jonge from the UMC Amsterdam which has received a 4 years TKI-PPP funding. Goal of the project is to develop a rapid assay to predict therapy response in Crohn’s disease patients.
About the project
Current mainstream therapeutics (“biologicals”), are only partially (<50%) effective and it cannot be predicted which biological will be effective in which patient. This lack of appropriate response to treatment in terms of true clinical remission and healing of ulcerations leads to high cost, and serious adverse events in unresponsive patients. In preceding two-year collaboration, involving 240 patients, the three parties showed that epigenetic markers are highly useful to discriminate responders and non-responders prior to therapy. In this project, targeted epigenetic assays towards markers identified by UMC Amsterdam, will be validated by Horaizon. GenDx will coordinate further development towards a diagnostic kit, to be able to deliver the optimal treatment for each individual Crohn’s disease patient.

domain: biology


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Jewish Life in Twenty-First-Century Turkey: The Other Side of Tolerance - Marcy Brink-Danan
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Author: Brink-Danan, Marcy
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Title: Jewish Life in Twenty-First-Century Turkey: The Other Side of Tolerance
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On Sale: 2011-12-06
Category: Social Science : Anthropology - Cultural
Category: Social Science : Jewish Studies
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domain: library


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It’s no secret that Cadillac is hunting… hunting BMW and Mercedes-Benz to lure in their owners and sell them a prestige luxury vehicle. So it would only make sense that the brand offer features comparable to those of its rivals, like carbon ceramic brakes on ultra high-performance vehicles, for instance.
Over the years, Cadillac has resisted the carbon ceramic brake craze, instead electing to equip its high performance V-Series cars with very capable Brembo brake calipers and massive steel rotors. Today, full-fledged Brembo brakes are standard on the ATS-V and CTS-V. But does that go far enough?
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text:
Christopher James Berman, nicknamed “Boomer”, is an American sportscaster. He has been an anchor for SportsCenter on ESPN since 1979, joining a month after its initial launch, and hosted the network’s Sunday NFL Countdown program from 1985 to 2016 and NFL Primetime from 1987 to 2005 and since 2019.
Chris Berman Parents: James Keliner Berman, Peggy Shevell
Chris Berman was born to James Kleiner Berman and Peggy Shevell.
Peggy Shevell died on December 28, 2014, and his father James Kleiner Berman passed away on September 22nd at the age of 89, losing a valiant two-week bout with pneumonia.
Who is James Keliner Berman?
James Keliner Berman is a businessperson and the father of Chris Berman. passed away on September 22nd at the age of 89, losing a valiant two-week bout with pneumonia.
His greatest passion was always his wife, Peggy (Tenenbaum), to whom he was married for 62 years.
Who is Peggy Shevell?
Peggy Shevell is the mother of Chris Berman. Peggy Shevell was born in New York City on April 13, 1927, to Sam Sanford Tenenbaum and Sadie Shevell. Peggy Shevell married James Kellner Berman, She passed away on December 28, 2014.

domain: celebrity


Are you ready for the ultimate noughties throwback?!
Sadly we’ve come to the end of Your Future Mixtape’s #ThrowbackThursday’s noughties series. *boo!* But on the upside this also means it’s time for the ULTIMATE NOUGHTIES THROWBACK!
‘What does this mean?! I hear you cry! Well, let me explain… I’ve trawled through every single song I’ve ever included from the last few weeks’ playlists and picked the best of the best. Think of it as the best noughties playlist you’ll ever hear.
The playlist shown below includes over 230 songs from 2000 – 2009. That equals 14 hours and 38 minutes (to be precise) of hits from the noughties. Woah!
Whether you prefer to bust out the dance moves to S Club 7’s ‘Reach‘, or if you prefer to sing your heart out to some *NSYNC, there are songs for everyone. All there’s left to do now is get stuck in and enjoy!
Click play to get lost in the 2000’s best tunes…
or heading to the #ThrowbackThursday category.


Blue Cross Employees Address Policy Cancellations
Four Blue Cross of California employees last summer testified that the insurer reviews as many as 1,500 policies per week and cancels those in which medical record information was misstated or omitted, whether it was intentional or not, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The employees testified as part of a lawsuit that claimed Blue Cross routinely canceled policies for members after reviewing applications for inconsistencies, rather than fraud. According to legal experts, state law permits insurers to cancel policies only if members made deliberate misstatements or omissions in their applications.
Ten similar lawsuits were filed last month (Girion, Los Angeles Times, 4/26).
Plaintiffs said they filled out their applications for an individual health policy honestly, and treatment was authorized by Blue Cross for months before they were diagnosed with a previously unknown and serious medical condition. Some patients said they cannot afford follow-up care since their insurance has been canceled, and the retroactive cancellation of their policies has left some with medical bills totaling more than $100,000 (California Healthline, 3/28).
Blue Cross employee Sheila Millan testified that reviews were prompted by claims made for treatment for certain conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The list of conditions was sealed by the court, but portions of the list in the public court file include endometriosis and conditions affecting the jaw, breast or female genital tract.
The employees, who comprise the four-member team that reviews claims, described how the reviews were conducted and said Blue Cross kept monthly reports of its cancellations.
Blue Cross parent company WellPoint denies wrongdoing. The allegations are being investigated by the Department of Insurance and the Department of Managed Health Care (Los Angeles Times, 4/26).


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Trump's comments came during an Oval Office meeting where he questioned why the USA would accept more immigrants from Haiti and "shithole countries" in Africa as he rejected a bipartisan immigration deal, according to one participant and people briefed on the extraordinary Oval Office conversation.
The White House has also led a almost yearlong campaign to reduce the number of refugees allowed into the United States, as part of broader immigration restriction efforts.
"Trump has always been a racist, only a racist can use such foul language", said Nancy Mulenga, a student at the University of Zambia.
Trump, who grew up in a Presbyterian family, shot back saying it was "disgraceful" for the pope to question his faith.
Trump had been quoted as saying during a meeting at the White House earlier in the week, "Why do we want all these people from Africa here?"
"I suspect the Democrats are sitting there going, 'Why would we want to compromise with him on anything", said Simpson, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. "They're s***hole countries. We should have more people from Norway".
"I was not in the meeting with the President and do not know what was said, although (I) have every reason to believe President Trump when he says he did not make those comments".
Rivers said Trump took the torch out of the hand of the Statue of Liberty with his remarks.
The African Union said in its statement that while it condemn Trump's remark, maintaining a dialogue with the president was necessary to help him better understand their continent. Trump's use of the word fulfills both criteria - so Gambitused it in an online headline, as did The New Orleans Advocate (though it later was changed to "s--hole", the same choice made by NOLA.com).
Retired Ethiopian long-distance runner Haile Gebrselasse, who won his first 10,000 Olympic gold medal in the US city of Atlanta in 1996, told Reuters Trump's comments did not reflect the views of all Americans. "Why do we need more Haitians?"
When discussing the people he saw rescued after being trapped under rubble for days, Mr Cooper paused to take a moment as tears started to well up in his eyes.
"I think it was an ignorant comment", said a high school student whose parents immigrated from Mali.
"Other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country", he posted on Twitter.
Almost a year into Trump's presidency, members of Congress are still struggling to relate to the unorthodox Trump and his spontaneous, often crude remarks.
Trump reportedly said. "Take them out".
'My colleague, Republican senator Lindsey Graham of SC, spoke up and made a direct comment on what the president said, ' Durbin said in the Capitol, CNN reported.


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The designer became a fan of Lindsey Stirling’s music, while listening to classical music covers, when designing and assembling pieces. He purchased songs from her first album, was hooked, and then purchased her other albums. Lindsey Stirling often times uses watches and steampunk themes as a metaphor for time lost and she also uses a butterfly to reference herself.
There is an antique pocket watch dial, with the enamel chipping off to show the shiny copper underneath. A metal filigree butterfly rests on top and a small antique watch movement sits on the butterfly. This was attached to a silver plated bail and a stainless steel chain.