antimonopolshchikov deprive of legislative monopolyToday at meeting at vitse - prime minister Igor Shuvalov the question on destiny " will be solved; the second antimonopoly package “ amendments FAS to the law on a competition against which representatives of business and a number of departments actively act. The assistant to head FAS Andrey Kashevarov counts that following the results of meeting the bill will be divided on two parts: to the co-ordinated norms of a package it will be set in motion, disputable will be sent on completion.
yesterday in the Russian union of industrialists and businessmen (RSPP) has passed the first public discussion “ the second antimonopoly package FAS “. For project discussion in RSPP the committee on the antimonopoly law has been urgently created. We will remind, “ the second package FAS “ assumes entering of amendments into laws “ About competition protection “ “ About commodity exchanges and exchange trade “ “ About operatively - search activity “ “ About natural monopolies “ “ About bowels “ in the law “ About kontsessionnoj activity “ and also in Wood, Ground, Town-planning and Water codes. Sanctions for infringements register amendments to KOAP and UK.
the Most disputable began to enter offer FAS responsibility for “ abusing the market power “ even for those subjects of the market who do not occupy a leading position. Besides, according to project FAS acquires the right to demand from monopolist to sell production part at a stock exchange with the coordination of the starting price of the auctions. FAS acquires also the right to spend planned checks (now the service brings actions only under complaints of subjects of the market). The right to define a rule of not discrimination access to objects of an infrastructure even if they do not belong to state monopolies is offered to assign also to the government. “ In offers FAS there is no disbalance, they do not bear risk of superfluous intervention of the state in economy, it is a question of mutual relation of subjects of the market, instead of business and the state “ - the assistant to head FAS Andrey Kashevarov has explained a position, making comments on norm about “ abusing the market power “.
Business, however, acts categorically against responsibility introduction for “ the actions which are not answering to principles of respectableness, a rationality, justice “. “ This norm is directed on subjects who possess the market power, but it can mirror turn. Those who suffers today from market masters, can abuse it. As it is possible to regard “ a respectableness principle “? What can I tell in court if I have a dispute? “ - The main legal expert of LUKOIL Igor Nefedov who has acted also against an interdiction for granting of sites of bowels for mining operations to those subjects which supervise more than 35 % from their reconnoitered volume has declared. In total decision RSPP it is noticed also that restriction in using own infrastructure will lower interest of business in infrastructural projects. In RSPP notice that the compulsory conclusion to a stock exchange means cancellation “ a principle of freedom of the contract “ and initiatives in nedropolzovanii will allow to limit activity of the raw companies any way.
making comments on bill prospects, Andrey Kashevarov has declared “ “ that FAS does not exclude package division: “ the Coordinated norms will go forward, on the rests discussion will be continued “. While it is possible to consider as the norms However, co-ordinated with business only introduction of disqualification for the officials who have admitted infringement of the antimonopoly law, and necessity cancellation to co-ordinate with FAS a number of transactions. Head RSPP Alexander Shokhin has declared “ “ that work on the bill will be finished not earlier than the middle of 2009. It is not excluded, however, that in the government will listen to its offer to postpone “ the second antimonopoly package “ and to return to antimonopoly law editing only after the statement “ Programs of development of a competition “ which concept Ministry of economic development and trade also will present at today`s meeting at vitse - a premiere.


Nicky Henderson's hurdler is the 5-4 favourite for the feature race on day one of the Festival – but he must bounce back from a shock defeat at Kempton last time out.
Sent off the 1-4 favourite for the Christmas Hurdle, the JP McManus-owned hurdler was downed by stablemate Verdana Blue in a thrilling finish.
Henderson's mare is in contention to do battle with Buveur D'Air once again as she is one of six possible contenders for the Seven Barrows handler.
Brain Power, Charli Parcs, Call Me Lord and We Have A Dream complete Henderson's possibilities.
Ireland are well represented in the race with Closutton maestro Willie Mullins holding five entries.
BREXIT BOMBSHELL Odds on no Irish runners in Grand National slashed due to Brexit chaos
His team includes star mare Laurina along with Cilaos Emery, Melon, Saldier and Sharjah.
Irish title rival Gordon Elliott holds four entries with Apple's Jade top of the pile. Samcro – who has flopped so far this season – is a possibility along with Farclas and Tombstone.
The Irish chances are completed by Henry de Bromhead's Petit Mouchoir, Gavin Cromwell's Espoir D'Allen and Jessica Harrington's Supasundae.
Dan Skelton has two chances, with Ch'tibello and Mohaayed in with a shout while Colin Tizzard has given Pingshou and Vision Des Flos the option.
Warren Greatrex's Western Ryder, Sophie Leech's Men Of Plenty, Ben Pauling's Global Citizen, Nigel Twiston-Davies' Wholestone and Evan Williams' Silver Streak complete the 27 initial entries.
Source: Read Full Article


text:
DESPITE the market downturn in Tokyo, Wall Street's Dennis Jarrett is not yet throwing in the towel on equities.
Mr. Jarrett is chief market "technician" for Kidder, Peabody & Co. Surrounded by charts, graphs, and other financial information, Jarrett attempts to cut through the fog of statistics and determine the future direction of the United States stock market. And what Jarrett is seeing now is a US stock market that "could" rebound in the next few weeks, based on low inflation, the presidential election-year cycle that favors a strong economy, and the lack of good alternative investments.
"Sentiment has become very negative in the marketplace," says Jarrett. "But it's worth remembering that the market in general - not the Dow Jones industrial average, but other market indexes - is pretty well washed out. The NASDAQ over-the-counter index peaked in February, for example." Thus, the downturn in the Dow last week was a case of the blue-chip market catching up with the broader market.
While not ignoring the Tokyo market's problems, "much of that situation has been overblown here," says Larry Wachtel, a vice president with Prudential Securities Inc. He was encouraged by a sharp rally in the Dow last Thursday, despite unhappy news in Tokyo the prior day. On Friday, prices in both Tokyo and New York rose strongly.
Gene Jay Seagle, a vice president with Gruntal and Co., an investment house, predicts a market rally sometime this spring. One factor that should help, he says, is the coming to maturity of $150 billion worth of bank certificates of deposit now earning low interest rates - about 4 percent on three-month CDs.
During the next three months, "some of that [CD] money can be expected to be shifted to equities," Mr. Seagle says.
In April alone, CDs worth over $100 billion are expected to mature. During the first quarter of 1992, investors cashed in over $60 billion worth of CDs. Part of that money was put into equities. But a significant amount was parked in low-paying money market accounts - money which Seagle says will be moved to equities should investors anticipate a new bull market.
Many brokerage houses have also breathed a sigh of relief at the latest news on inflation. Low inflation, approximately 3 percent a year over the next few years, should help shore-up the stock market, according to a study by Salomon Brothers.
A number of analysts still urge caution. Elaine Garzarelli, chief market technician with Shearson Lehman Brothers, sent shock waves through Wall Street last week by substantially lowering her forecasts for the Dow this year. Her remarks were widely quoted. Whereas she had been somewhat bullish on the market several weeks ago, she is now taking a "neutral" stance.
Factors that worry many market technicians are the high price/earnings ratios of stocks; lackluster-to-bad first-quarter corporate earnings; and slow economic growth in Europe and Japan, which hits US manufacturing exports.
What would most help the US stock market "would be another cut in interest rates," one market strategist said. He got his wish Thursday, when the Federal Reserve pushed short-term rates under 4 percent.

domain: news


50,000 TikTok followers for Newport Musician
It’s Earth Day today and to mark the occasion Wildlife Trusts Wales have launched their new, youth climate change project, Stand for Nature Wales. The pan-Wales project sees six Wildlife trusts across Wales come together to inspire young people to take action against climate change.
By Emily Price Repair Efficiency Wales launched today urging people to stop throwing broken items away but to get them repaired instead. The Repair Directory covers 14 local authority areas and hopes […]
Cardiff Metropolitan University is set to be home to a new franchise in the British Wheelchair Basketball Women’s Premier League.
The legal age to play The National Lottery changes tomorrow, rising from over 16 to over 18 for online and in-person related sales. This is due to the review of the by the Government to tackle young gambling addictions.
Doctors have moved to reassure the Muslim community that having a Coronavirus vaccine is safe and permissible during the holy month of Ramadan.
A woman from Barry has self-published a children’s book with the aim of raising autism awareness among primary school children in Wales
Residents in Cardiff have been left angered over the recent delays to their waste collection
after a new system has been introduced.
A sculpture of a Welsh bird landed outside Cardiff Castle yesterday as RSPB Cymru call for the Welsh Government to ensure a greener future for Wales.
A campsite in Peterson Super-Ely, is looking to raise money to replace their old toilet facilities with a new sustainable toilet block. Scout groups across the UK are starting to return for in person meetings for the first time this year, but many have had to adapt their facilities to pass new coronavirus restrictions. The new toilet block would allow thousands of scouts to return for face-to-face sessions.


text:
Teresa Baksa, a traditional media painter based out of South Dennis, has had a long-time passion for art, but a roundabout journey to making it her full time profession. She dreamed of painting as a career after her training at Montserrat College of Art in Beverley, Massachusetts, but originally prioritized working in other industries.
She reminisces on her post art school job in Boston at a company called Teradyne that develops and supplies automatic testing equipment. This position enabled her to support herself through finishing her education at Harvard Extension School, after which Baksa decided to “cut the umbilical cord” as she puts it, and pursue art full time. She left her job and moved to the Cape in 1990, settling in Yarmouth Port where she set up a studio and gallery to focus mainly on commission paintings while still dedicating time to her personal art.
Going from living at Boston’s Fenway Studios to Yarmouth was certainly a big change, but after spending summers on the Cape as a kid, it was a no brainer to Baksa that this was where she wanted to create. “The Cape is a place where you can think; it’s quiet here. I love the quiet of the winters. It’s easier to concentrate,” she says. Not only does Baksa love the quiet of the Cape, but being surrounded by nature here speaks to her in ways the city never did.
While she pulls a lot of inspiration from nature, she doesn’t just create the landscapes and seascapes that most often come to mind when you think of traditional Cape Cod art. “I have done a bunch of landscapes and seascapes,” she explains “but by saying ‘nature,’ I am referring to quietness and the shapes and forms that are so intrinsic to nature. Right now, even working with figures almost exclusively, I still look to nature for inspiration.”
Over the years, Baksa has gone through phases of different inspirations. In 2004, for instance, she focused solely on the sea and sky in order to clear her mind. She created a series of atmospheric paintings shown at Cape Cod Museum of Art entitled “Between the Sea and Sky.” After this collection, Baksa went through more phases where she felt most inspired to paint landscapes, but continued to draw figures in order to keep up her skills in that area.
Keeping her skills sharp in all aspects of her art has paid off as Baksa currently works almost exclusively with figures, feeling like she is at a point in her life where she can express the most powerful ideas through figures. She explains that her goal is to “bring together all that I have learned and experienced in my life, and art, to create works that are alive, intense, imaginative, and full of movement, dimension, and feelings.” Baksa is currently working towards this goal through an oil painting entitled “Saving Grace.” This work-in-progress composition is meant to represent the monumental and heroic gesture of trying to save all that is good, a concept the world is sorely and increasingly longing for.
For the creation of her pieces, Baksa prefers to work with live models but still utilizes photographs occasionally. Regardless of whether it’s a photograph or a model, Baksa’s pieces all begin with a sketch. She jokes that she finds it easier to be free with drawing because it’s not as big of an investment in materials, just charcoal and paper. Beginning with a drawing also allows her to manipulate and change the composition until she is satisfied enough to transfer the sketch onto a canvas where she adds detail and color.
While at times she may find it difficult to put aside her own passion projects, Baksa appreciates commission work for the skills it taught her. She even admits the technique of sketching prior to painting on canvas stemmed from the commissions she did when she first moved to the Cape. She advises young artists to throw themselves into commission work; “let it teach you as much as it can,” she says. She counsels young artists to be flexible, open and to figure out the message they want their art to portray. She emphasizes the importance of working even when uninspired and unmotivated and reassures aspiring artists that, eventually, they will find their place in the community.
From art school, to designing printed circuit boards, and (thankfully for all who love her work) back to art studies, Baksa definitely took the long way to her dream. She owes her success in the industry to her enthusiasm for her art as well as her ability to find a message that people relate to. Those two ingredients as well as representation from a gallery that fits her needs, Miller White Fine Arts in South Dennis, have helped her art reach people that have a true, deep appreciation for it. – Emma Ryan

domain: artistic


|20050192727||Sensor Assemblies||2005-09-01||Shostak et al.||701/37|
|6738697||Telematics system for vehicle diagnostics||May, 2004||Breed||701/29|
|6611755||Vehicle tracking, communication and fleet management system||2003-08-26||Coffee et al.||701/213|
|6510842||Flow meter||January, 2003||Ismailov||123/494|
|6275231||Centralized control and management system for automobiles||2001-08-14||Obradovich||345/349|
|6195604||Tractor with monitoring system||2001-02-27||Moore et al.||701/50|
|6151549||System for controlling engine fueling according to vehicle location||2000-11-21||Andrews et al.||701/115|
|4611287||Fuel volume measuring system for automotive vehicle||1986-09-09||Kobayashi et al.||701/123|
|4400779||Method and apparatus for indicating mileage corresponding to remaining fuel for vehicles||1983-08-23||Kosuge et al.||364/442|
|4296472||Non-intrusive fluid measuring system||1981-10-20||Sarkis||364/509|
|4218744||Fuel flow consumption monitoring system||1980-08-19||Pratt et al.||701/123|
|4050295||Digital measuring system for engine fuel performance||1977-09-27||Harvey||73/114|
|3908451||Apparatus for measuring engine fuel efficiency||1975-09-30||Walker et al.||73/114|
This invention relates to apparatus and method for generating vehicular engine fuel flow data suitable for supply to a GPS-receiver for display to a vehicle operator (e.g., the pilot or co-pilot of an aircraft).
The following prior art issued U.S. patents are examples of prior art fuel flow measuring systems for various types of vehicles:
Walker et al., Harvey, Pratt et al., Sarkis and Kosuge et al. are representative of prior art dealing with various fuel flow measuring systems. None of these patents discloses a system that interfaces with a vehicle GPS signal receiver, although the Pratt et al. patent uses a Flow Scan model 201 transducer.
Andrews et al, Moore et al and Obradovich disclose systems that utilize both fuel transducers/sensors and GPS signal receivers. Andrews et al discloses a truck fuel control system that adjusts fuel flow on the basis of the truck's elevation, as determined by the GPS signal receiver. Moore et al discloses a tractor monitoring system, which incorporates a GPS signal receiver for plotting a yield map showing the amount of grain harvested in a given area. Obradovich discloses a management system for an automobile, which includes a GPS signal receiver for an associated navigation system.
There are also fuel flow monitoring systems for aircraft that generate fuel flow data for input to an existing GPS “fuel page” display. For example, fuel flow computer and display systems are available from Insight Instrument Corporation, from JP Instruments, Inc. and from Shadin, Inc. However such prior systems include a transducer mounted in the engine compartment and a separate cabin panel mounted computer and display. The separately installed computer/display requires programming upon installation to accommodate the proportionality or “K” factor of the particular installed transducer and, of course, requires its own panel space—even though the same fuel flow data may be passed on to the GPS receiver for display there as well.
The present invention is directed to a simplified, less expensive, fuel flow data generating method/apparatus for use in conjunction with a GPS signal receiver. The exemplary simplified fuel flow system includes a micro-controller and fuel flow transducer co-located in a common installation housing in the engine compartment. The micro-controller is disposed in the engine compartment (between the flow transducer and the cabin panel mounted GPS signal receiver) to perform fuel flow calculations, including pre-programmed “K” factor compensation for the particular transducer co-packaged therewith. The resulting fuel flow data is displayed on the “fuel flow” page(s) of the GPS signal receiver—without requiring any extra panel space.
In operation, a user need only turn on the GPS receiver and enter the total fuel on board on the fuel page (if not previously entered), which is the typical procedure associated with many aircraft GPS signal receivers. Nearly instantly, fuel flow information will be produced and displayed on the fuel pages of the GPS signal receiver display. More particularly, the fuel flow transducer inputs raw incremental fuel flow measurement pulses to a co-located factory-programmed micro-controller that calculates calibrated fuel flow rate (and perhaps total fuel used or other fuel-related parameters). The calculated fuel flow data is then formatted and transmitted through the firewall to a serial data interface on the GPS receiver for display.
The transducer can be a conventional commercially available fuel sensor such as, for example, a Flowscan 201B fuel sensor. A commercially available GPS signal receiver can be used such as, for example, the Garmin 430/530.
By utilizing the fuel page(s) display of a suitable GPS signal receiver already located in a vehicle (e.g., the cockpit of an airplane), no additional display device or space need be provided to add clutter to the instrument panel.
The transducer and co-located micro-controller assembly in the vehicle engine compartment preferably includes an LED (light emitting diode) which indicates power supply while also flashing at a rate related to that of fuel flow output pulses from the transducer thus facilitating trouble shooting processes.
Simplified installation is facilitated by the single transducer/computer unit (e.g., on the engine, serially within an engine compartment fuel supply line and electrically to an RS232 data input of an existing GPS unit).
Separate power supply and grounding connections to the transducer and micro-controller, in conjunction with an isolating opto-coupler therebetween, also help suppress common mode noise and/or other “ground problems”.
FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an integrated transducer/micro-controller engine-mounted assembly in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the assembly depicted in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exemplary hardware/software/firmware process flowchart for the micro-controller of FIG. 2;
FIGS. 4 and 5 show the fuel page display of an exemplary GPS signal receiver in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and
FIGS. 6 and 7 depict exemplary modifications of the exemplary embodiment for installation on multi-engine vehicles.
An exemplary integrated transducer/micro-controller engine mounted assembly 10 is shown in FIG. 1. A stainless steel housing 12 is affixed to and supported on engine mounting bracket 14. For example, such bracket may be adapted to mate with engine the juxtaposed engine casing flanges on top of a typical horizontal reciprocating piston aircraft engine (e.g., near the center of the engine where an injection fuel flow distributor is typically mounted). When so mounted, it will be relatively convenient to direct the total engine injection fuel flow into and out of housing 10 as shown (e.g., standard fuel line connectors 13). As also depicted, a shielded multi-conductor electrical cable connection 16 projects from the back side of housing 10 so that it can be conveniently routed to and through the firewall, into the cabin and connected to a conventional RS232 data input port of an existing GPS unit (and to the GPS or other suitable power source if electrical power is not available on a pin of the data port connector).
As shown in FIG. 1, LED 28 is visible to maintenance personnel when the engine cowling is opened. If the LED is lit, then it is known that the unit 10 is being supplied with electrical power (e.g., via the shield and a conductor of cable connection 16). The LED 28 is also configured to flash on and off at a rate related to fuel flow signals (e.g., incremental fuel flow pulses) output from the fuel flow transducer inside housing 10. Thus by causing fuel to flow (e.g., by activating a fuel pump and/or by starting the engine), the operator and/or maintenance personnel can tell whether the fuel flow transducer/computer is functioning.
FIG. 2 shows in block diagram the transducer/micro-controller assembly components of the FIG. 1 exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, fuel flow transducer 20 senses incremental amounts of fuel flow to a vehicle engine, (i.e., an airplane engine), and outputs a corresponding number of electrical signal pulses. Although transducer 20 may have its own internal opto-coupler, output pulses from transducer 20 are preferably connected through yet another isolating opto-coupler 22 to micro-controller 24. Micro-controller 24 outputs processed data signals through a voltage level changing interface 26 to the conventional serial data input port of GPS signal receiver 40, and to LED 28. A power supply 29/29′ supplies separate operating power connections to (a) transducer 20, and (b) opto-coupler 22, micro-controller 24 and interface 26.
Transducer 20 may be of the type that causes fuel to turn an impeller mounted on jewel bearings. The impeller interrupts the infrared light beam of an internal slotted opto-coupler. The opto-coupler signal is then amplified to produce an open-collector output current pulse. Transducer 20 typically produces a pulse stream having a number of pulses linearly related to increments of fuel flow for flow rates down to 0.3 gallons per hour—without causing any appreciable pressure drop in fuel flow to the engine.
Alternatively, the fuel transducer may be based on other flow related phenomena (e.g., a pressure drop through an orifice, an ultrasonic-based transducer using Doppler effects, a heated probe induced temperature gradient, or any other known flow measurement technique) and/or output an analog signal related to sensed fuel flow. A conventional A/D converter could be used to provide corresponding digital signals related to measured flow.
By coupling the electrical output from transducer 20 into micro-controller 24 through yet another opto-coupler 22 (i.e., external to the flow transducer) and separating the electrical return paths (e.g., engine ground for transducer 20 and GPS ground for other circuits) and effectively using separate power supplies, the potentially deleterious effects of common-mode noise voltages can be reduced or virtually eliminated while also enhancing safety of the installation.
For example, common mode noise may appear superimposed on ground connections because of alternator problems or higher than normal ground wire resistances. Two current regulator/limiting diodes D1, D2 (e.g., gate-shorted FET's) respectively supply current limited regulated electrical power to transducer 20 (including its internal opto-coupler) and the remainder of the circuits. They regulate the current for the open-collector outputs of the opto-couplers. As shown, the electrical return path (i.e., “ground”) of the transducer in assembly 10 is the engine/airframe and therefore common-mode noise (i.e., alternator return path currents) present on the airframe may appear as offsets added to the output pulse of transducer 20. Such offsets, if not alleviated, may reduce the signal-to-noise ratio of the transducer output pulses proportionally.
However, in the preferred exemplary embodiment, the transducer output pulses are filtered through an additional opto-coupler 22 with its transistor output side powered from the separate power supply 29′ (which also powers the micro-controller 24 and interface chip 26). Preferably the power supplies 29, 29′ also provide over-voltage and over-current protection (as well as reverse-polarity protection) as an added bonus. As a result, the fuel flow transducer/computer assembly 10 is relatively immune to common mode noise voltages and has a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio.
The current-limiting by power supplies 29, 29′ and separated power supply/ground return for circuit components mounted near fuel sources is also desired for safety reasons. For example, if the flexible conductive ground strap between the engine and airframe develops some appreciable resistance (e.g., it becomes loosely attached, corrosion occurs, etc.), then a relatively small gauge ground wire associated with some other circuit may effectively become a lower resistance ground return path for unexpectedly large current. Such has been known to effectively burn up a small wire and start a fire. Thus there is more than one reason to desire the use of separate, current limited, power supply/return circuits in the exemplary embodiment.
Factory-programmed micro-controller 24 reads (i.e., detects and counts) raw incremental fuel flow pulses, received from transducer 20 through opto-coupler 22 (e.g., during interrupts), compensates for the appropriate pre-determined K factor (i.e., a customized proportionality calibration factor), calculates fuel flow rate, converts calculated fuel flow rate into a serial stream of RS232 digital data acceptable to GPS signal receiver 40, and outputs the serial stream of data to a suitable voltage level adapter interface 26.
Micro-controller 24, in the preferred exemplary embodiment, also drives LED 28, using flow rate dependent pulse modulation which, upon opening the cowling, indicates to the operator or service person: (a) the presence of power to the fuel flow assembly 10 and (b) the operability of the transducer/micro-computer by blinking of the LED. For higher fuel flow rates LED 28 may blink more rapidly and conversely for lower fuel flow rates LED 28 may blink less rapidly. For example, at engine idle LED 28 may blink about once per second, and as the engine revs up it may blink proportionately more rapidly.
LED 28 is preferably disposed on housing 12 of assembly 10 in the engine compartment where it can be best viewed while the vehicle is at rest, although the engine can be revved to observe changes in fuel flow rates. Alternatively, even with the engine off, one can engage a fuel pump to pressurize the fuel injection system and thus temporarily cause sufficient fuel flow to cause blinking of LED 28 and thus confirm operation of at least transducer 20, opto-coupler 22 and micro-controller 28. This simple troubleshooting capability can be quite advantageous out in the field.
The RS232 interface chip 26 receives lower level (e.g., 3–5 volt) logic level RS232 signals, namely, the serial stream of data output from micro-controller 24. It generates its own higher level (e.g., 7–10 volt) drive voltages and relays the higher level RS232 signals onward to GPS signal receiver 40 at an acceptable voltage level for typical GPS receivers.
The system 10 does not require user calibration (i.e., at installation or any other time), because the assembly of transducer 20, opto-coupler 22, micro-controller 24, etc. is pre-calibrated at the factory (e.g., by pre-programming mico-controller 24 to match the K factor value for the particular transducer 20 included therewith). Although-this means that the transducer alone cannot be easily swapped out in the field, the overall unit assembly 10 can be easily changed out together as a unit in the field. Thus, different fuel flow assemblies 10 are interchangeable—even though there is no need to change out or re-program GPS signal receiver 40 when a particular fuel flow system 10 is substituted for a different one. The K factor of transducer 20 is accounted for by micro-controller 24 in that micro-controller 24 is factory-programmed to take into account the specific K factor of its associated transducer 20.
FIG. 3 depicts a simplified hardware/software/process flowchart for micro-controller 24. For example, flow rate counter 30 and fuel used counter 31 receive pulse data from opto-coupler 22. Data from these counters are used for calculating calibrated (i.e., compensated for K factor) fuel flow and, if desired, fuel used. An 8 MHz clock 37 drives flow rate timer 38 and bit rate timer 35. The calculated digital result is passed to output formatter 34 and to an output pulse width/frequency modulator 33 which drives LED 28. Transmit section 36 receives formatted data from process 34 and from bit rate timer 35 and transmits a (low level) RS232 signal at 9600 baud to interface 26.
In operation, the total fuel used is computed using continuous accumulation of pulses coming from transducer 20 through opto-coupler 22. The fuel flow rate is measured by periodically averaging the fuel quantity represented by 100 pulses (nominal fuel flow rate of 17 gallons/hour produces 30,000 pulses per gallon) per unit time (e.g., once every three-quarters of a second). Micro-controller 24 starts flow rate timer 38, flow rate counter 30 and fuel used counter 31 on the first input pulse from opto-coupler 22, waits about half a second and then stops flow rate counter 30 and flow rate timer 3S on the next pulse received. It then calculates the fuel flow rate using the number of pulses accumulated into flow rate counter 30 and the number of seconds accumulated into flow rate timer 38. Such operations are repeated cyclically to provide a sequence of calculated flow rate values. Conventional averaging techniques may be used to smooth out the calculated fuel flow rate over a moving time window.
In many cases, the GPS unit itself will calculate and display cumulative fuel used based on input fuel flow data. However, it may be desirable (or necessary) to generate and supply such cumulative fuel use data to the GPS unit and thus the preferred exemplary embodiment includes this capability. The value in total fuel used counter 31 is compared against a look-up table and if the fuel used counter value is bigger, then the fuel used counter 31 is reset and the amount of fuel represented by that predetermined value is added to an ongoing accumulation of total fuel used (e.g., as maintained in another memory register counter). The addition is preferably done in a way that eliminates floating-point underflow errors. The accuracy of the fuel flow rate and total fuel used calculations can be around 0.0001% through the use of such floating-point arithmetic. However, the overall accuracy of the exemplary fuel flow system 10 is limited by the accuracy of typical transducers 20 to about 1%.
After the fuel flow rate and total fuel used have been calculated, micro-controller 24 arranges the data into the proper format via an output formatter module 34, and times the data output to interface 26 at 9600 baud via bit rate timer 35 and transmit module 36. The transmission may typically occur every second as requested by GPS signal receiver 40. The 9600 baud rate is typical for most commercially available GPS signal receivers, but the exemplary fuel flow system 10 can support baud rates up to 19200.
During computation and transmission, fuel flow pulses are still always being counted and accumulated (by separate counters 30, 31) so no fuel pulses are lost. The next computation cycle is very similar to the first one. For flow rate calculation, fuel flow counter 30 is reset and new pulse accumulation begins. However, fuel used counter 31 is not necessarily periodically reset (e.g., when its content exceeds some pre-determined total) but may be large enough to just keep adding pulses between re-fueling operations and thus directly provide a cumulative measure of fuel used. Storing all the information in floating-point registers that cannot possibly overflow during a flight eliminates the possibility of integer overflow. Moreover, the typically-required output data format will cause overflow well before the fuel used register would, because in most GPS data formats a 5 digit integer number (99999) is the maximum value that can be transmitted.
The self-contained transducer/computer module 10 provide the user with a simple and efficient way of providing fuel information directly to GPS fuel pages. It does so by eliminating tedious installation and set-up procedures that are required for other fuel flow computers. Just mount module 10 on top of the engine (in series with the engine fuel flow) and electrically connect it to the GPS input power, RS232 input and ground. There is no programmable K factor to set-up, no switches to turn, no jumpers to remove or add.
LED 28 preferably is mounted on a printed circuit board (together with the data processing circuits) contained inside the stainless steel case 12 that contains the Flowscan 201 fuel flow transducer. A proper sized hole is drilled in the case and the LED is pushed half way outside the case so it can easily be viewed from outside. The LED is of high-brightness and wide viewing angle type to make it visible from a couple of feet away. To see the LED, a person should open the cowling and look on top of the engine where the module 10 can typically be mounted.
The GPS typically has the capability to calculate fuel usage per distance traveled, remaining fuel to the next waypoint, etc. The fuel information will show on the fuel pages of the GPS. The GPS has to be setup by the installer (not the manufacturer) to receive the input serial stream. Major GPS manufacturers accept the “format Z” serial communication protocol described below. For example, for a GARMIN 430/530, the GPS should be setup to receive “SHADIN FADC” on serial port 1.
Since even LED 28 is located on case 12, the unit 10 literally takes no panel space. The module 10 does not need user calibration because it contains its own Flowscan 201 transducer and is calibrated (by programming micro-controller 24) at the factory where module 10 is manufactured/assembled. The internal Flowscan 201 transducer cannot be replaced in the field. However, units 10 are interchangeable in the field. The software for each micro-controller 24 changes with the K factor of the Flowscan transducer 20 used in that particular unit 10.
In the presently preferred exemplary embodiment, a different software object code is available for each K factor. When it is time for the software to be loaded, a technician researches the Flowscan K factor for the particular transducer being used in that particular module 10 and loads the appropriate object code into the micro-controller 24 (part of the object code file name may be the K factor; for example for a K factor of 2995 the object code file name could be TF2995.OBJ). The programming is done with the micro-controller on-board so there are no mix-ups. After programming, a computerized test is done to verify that the fuel flow and fuel used is computed correctly. From that point on, the unit is sealed and ready for shipping.
Manufacturers of other fuel flow computers require additional boxes to be installed between the Flowscan transducer (mounted on top of the engine) and the display unit (mounted on the panel, inside the cockpit). However, the present self-contained module 10 is mounted on the engine, the fuel lines connect directly with it, there are no additional boxes required. It is literally: fuel in, digital fuel flow data out.
As noted, “ground problems” are eliminated through the use of separate power supplies, ground connection points and the additional opto-coupler.
Prior fuel flow computers require the installation of a transducer (e.g., the Flowscan 201) on top of the engine connected serially in the fuel supply line and a panel-mount instrument. However, the present module 10 has the Flowscan 201 transducer built-in and connects directly to the GPS. If the power is taken from the GPS connector (and not from the aircraft power bus) then the only electrical connection is with the GPS.
The following is an example of the “computer sentence” RS232 (transmission data format) that is accepted (once every second) by Garmin 400 series GPS signal receivers. This format is referred to as a “Z” format, because it transmits a “Z” character in front of every recognized data value. This format is a fixed sequence bounded by start (STX) and end (ETX) transmission characters. This or similar data transmission formats are used by other GPS manufacturers.
|ZA012CRLF||(“012” represents indicated air speed - knots)|
|ZB345CRLF||(“345” represents true air speed - knots)|
|ZC678CRLF||(“678” represents Mach speed - thousandths)|
|ZD + 1234CRLF||(“sign1234” represents pressure altitude - tens of feet)|
|ZE + 5678CRLF||(“sign5678” represents density altitude - tens of feet)|
|ZF + 12CRLF||(“sign12” represents outside air temperature - Celsius)|
|ZG + 34CRLF||(“sign34” represents true air temperature - Celsius)|
|ZH567CRLF||(“567” represents wind direction - degrees from North)|
|ZI123CRLF||(“123” represents wind speed - knots)|
|ZJ + 45CRLF||(“sign45” represents rate of return - degrees per|
|ZK + 678CRLF||(“sign678” represents vertical speed - tens of feet/|
|ZL123CRLF||(“123” represents heading - degrees from North)|
|ZM4567CRLF||(“4567” represents fuel flow, right - tenths of gallons/|
|ZN1234CRLF||(“1234” represents fuel used, right - tenths of gallons)|
|ZO5678CRLF||(“5678” represents fuel flow, left - tenths of gallons/|
|ZP1234CRLF||(“1234” represents fuel used, left - tenths of gallons)|
|ZQ567CRLF||(“567” represents error log/reason indicator)|
|ZR890CRLF||(“890” represents checksum)|
|STX represents a start-transmit character|
|CR represents a carriage-return character|
|LF represents a line-feed character|
|ETX represents an end-transmit character|
FIGS. 4 and 5 show the fuel flow display pages for the exemplary Garman 430 GPS signal receiver 40 that may be utilized with the exemplary fuel flow system 10. To operate the installed fuel flow computer system on, for example, an aircraft, the pilot turns on GPS signal receiver 40 and then conventionally enters the total fuel on board (FOB) as shown in FIG. 5 (e.g., typically at start-up after a re-fueling operation when a known starting fuel amount is readily available). Immediately thereafter GPS signal receiver 40 will display the fuel flow rate and total fuel used as described above and as shown in FIG. 5 where the display reveals:
|Fuel on board (FOB) =||86||gallons|
|Fuel flow (FLOW) =||16.0||gallons/hour|
|Fuel Required (REQ) =||56.4||gallons|
|(to go from present position to CYSN)|
|Left Fuel on Board (LFOB) =||29.2||gallons|
|Left Reserve Flight Time (LRES) =||1:50||hours:minutes|
|Fuel Efficiency (EFF) =||9.6||gallons/nm|
|Range (RNG) =||819||nm|
|Endurance (ENDUR) =||5:21||hours:minutes|
The system 10 described above is intended for a single engine powered vehicle. If a multi-engine vehicle (e.g., a twin engine airplane having engines on both the left and right side) is involved, then some modifications will be required to properly display vehicle fuel usage on the GPS receiver.
For example, one may provide micro-controller 24 with an RS232 data input and appropriate software/firmware to add input “Z” format fuel data to the otherwise locally calculated fuel flow data (and possibly cumulative fuel flow if present) before outputting composite RS232 “Z” formatted fuel data. Such a modified fuel flow measuring assembly 10′ is depicted in FIG. 6 as receiving data from an unmodified fuel flow measuring assembly 10 so as to produce composite “Z” format fuel data to GPS receiver 40. Of course, any desired plurality N of modified units 10′ could be connected together in a daisy-chain fashion to accommodate a corresponding number N of engines.
Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 7, a plurality of unmodified units 10 could have their Z-format fuel data accumulated in an intermediate data combiner 11 before input to a common GPS unit 40. Two such units are depicted in FIG. 7 although, as will be appreciated, any desired number N of such units could be similarly accommodated if the combiner 11 (e.g., a suitably programmed micro-processor) is provided with appropriate connectors and the like.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be preferred exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover all modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It will be understood, for example, that the computing circuits may be implemented entirely in hardware or partly in hardware (micro-processor, micro-controller, hardwired arithmetic and/or gate circuits, etc.) firmware, software, DSP chips, programmed gate arrays, and the like.


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Financial flows between jurisdictions pose regulatory challenges for rich and poor countries alike. When such flows are kept hidden from regulators they can facilitate corruption, tax evasion, money laundering, and terrorism financing. Though scale is hard to measure (these are after all secret transactions) annual illicit flows from developing countries to banking secrecy jurisdictions run by rich countries may exceed total aid flows.
At the same time, anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) enforcement has led banks in rich countries increasingly to “de-bank” nonprofits and money-transfer organizations, thereby raising costs or removing services for users, some of whom then turn to informal channels. By undermining nonprofit transfers, remittances and small volume trade, this shift may have detrimental effects on poor people as well as on the security situation.
CGD research on financial flows and tax transparency seeks to provide a solid knowledge base for the growing international effort to combat illicit financial flows. Over the past few years, it has focused on tax evasion and financial secrecy. Currently, it is focused on how rich countries might rebalance their policies to continue to protect against money laundering and terrorism financing without hindering the ability of people from poor countries to conduct business and transfer money across borders.
Addressing the unintended consequences of rich countries’ anti-money laundering policies
Migrants send over $400 billion of remittances home through formal systems and at least an additional $130 billion through informal channels. Businesses in poor countries also engage in cross-border transactions whether it is to export goods or import inputs. But formal money transfer operators (MTOs), which primarily service poor countries, are often identified as high-risk customers. Banks are therefore de-banking MTOs who are not judged to be implementing “know your customer” requirements to an adequate standard. The withdrawal of banking to some customers or even sectors is also driven by the cost of the compliance measures necessary to reduce banks’ reputational risk and the risk of punitive regulatory action to an acceptable level. De-banking of some remittance providers can thus be viewed mostly as an unintended consequence of the risk-based AML/CFT approach.
This situation implies an increase in the proportion of transfers conducted through informal channels and an increase in costs for formal and informal money transfer operators. These, in turn, imply detrimental effects for the very security situation which motivates AML/CTF enforcement.
CGD has convened a working group to investigate this issue with the goal of producing a short report with specific policy recommendations for rich country governments.
Illicit financial flows from poor countries
Over several decades, developed-country ﬁnancial centers (and increasingly those in emerging markets) have become recipients of funds transferred out of poor countries as a result of theft, tax evasion, trade mispricing, or revenues from illicit activity. Stolen funds are often very diﬃcult to repatriate to impoverished nations and to their true owners. Illicit financial flows include cross-border components of tax evasion, laundering of proceeds associated with crime, bribery of public officials, and the theft of public assets. In each case, the flows rely on being hidden, typically through the exploitation of financial secrecy provided by foreign jurisdictions, many of which are located in rich countries.
Most analyses of illicit flows have focused on estimating the global total or the amounts leaving specific countries or arriving in specific secrecy jurisdictions. While the scale estimates allow us to imagine the amount of damage that is being done, less can be said about the type of damage, the degree of vulnerability of developing countries to illicit flows, and the development impacts of different policy measures to curtail illicit flows. These issues provide the central motivation for CGD’s work. Understanding issues of national and international tax policy form an important subsection of the research agenda.
CGD’s research on financial flows and tax transparency is led by senior fellow Vijaya Ramachandran. It was previously led by Alex Cobham, who joined the Tax Justice Network in January 2015. Senior fellows Owen Barder, William Savedoff, Alan Gelb and research fellow Matthew Collin also contribute to this work. Peter Reuter, professor of public policy and criminology at the University of Maryland and visiting fellow at CGD, is also a member of the team.

domain: law


Tens of thousands of Huddersfield children and their families could be hit be a benefits squeeze.
That’s the dire warning from The Children’s Society, who fear the cutbacks will start to hit families from April.
The charity has warned that more than 700,000 children in Yorkshire and the Humber live in families facing a four-year freeze to their benefits.
Almost two thirds of those affected in Yorkshire and the Humber – 469,000 children living in 247,000 families – live in working households who receive benefits to top-up low pay.
Freezing Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits and Job Seekers’ Allowance – rather than raising them in line with living costs – could see affected families losing up to 12% from the real value of their benefits and tax credits by 2020.
The study shows that 63, 200 families and 32,100 children in Kirklees could be hit. In Calderdale there are likely to be 28,900 families and 15,100 children affected.
The charity is urging the Government to reconsider its plan to freeze benefits and agree to a moratorium on further cuts in support for low-income families.
Officials have argued that while some changes, such as the introduction of a higher minimum wage, might increase household incomes by 2020, others will cancel out any gains by significantly cutting key support for many families.
Planned changes that threaten to make life harder for struggling families, aside from the benefits freeze, include limiting Child Tax Credits to a family’s first two children and scrapping the family element of Child Tax Credit. In addition, Universal Credit claimants may receive less support than they might have under other benefits.
Rob Jackson, Yorkshire Area Director for The Children’s Society, said: “Families on low incomes across Yorkshire and the Humber are facing a barrage of cuts.
“If ministers are genuinely concerned about child poverty they must reconsider plans to freeze benefits over the next four years. At the very least, the Government needs to guarantee there will be no further cuts when the Chancellor delivers his Budget next month.
“Austerity has hit families hard, including those in work. Further cuts to support would push more children into poverty and undermine incentives for families to move into work or earn more.”


text:
Select () or exclude () categories to narrow your recipe search.
As you select categories, the number of matching recipes will update.
Find exactly what you're looking for with the web's most powerful recipe filtering tool.
"Wow; what a great recipe. I served this and cranberry sauce at Christmas dinner and everyone liked this so much, no one ate the cranberry sauce. It will definitly be part of our traditional dinner from now on. Thank you."

domain: food


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The farmer issues such as jersey cow import, irrigation water scarcity are the key elements in this protest. The protesters associated the jersey cow import with banning of bull sport. And associated the production of coke and pepsy drinks with irrigation water scarcity.
The Indian Supreme Court banned the sport in 2014, under an Indian law(Section 22(ii), PCA Act, 1960) aimed at preventing cruelty to animals.
- On 16 January 2017, villagers of Alanganallur protested at Alanganallur ‘Vaadi vaasal‘ and get arrested.
- On 17 January 2017, in support of the arrested, Students gathered in Marina Beach.
- On 19 January 2017, Tamil Nadu chief minister, O Paneerselvam met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- On 20 January 2017, the Supreme Court agreed not to pass judgment on the Jallikattu issue for a week.
- On 21 January 2017, an ordinance promulgated by the Governor on Jallikattu.
- On 22 January 2017, more than 1 Lakh people assembled in Marina Beach.
- On 23 January 2017, this protest ends and violence erupted while clearing the protesters.
- On 24 January 2017, two of the biggest trade associations in Tamil Nadu have asked their members not to sell products manufactured by Pepsi and Coca-Cola from March 1, 2017.
This protest is followed by Kambala(Buffalo Race) protest in Karnataka.


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Don Davis has been the Forum Communications Minnesota Capitol Bureau chief since 2001, covering state government and politics for two dozen newspapers in the state. Don also blogs at Capital Chatter on Areavoices.
- Member for
- 5 years 1 week
ST. PAUL -- Asian carp appear on their way to northern Minnesota waters, or may already be there. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources today announced DNA test results in Mississippi River waters just above a Coon Rapids dam in the northwestern Twin Cities area show the invasive carp may be present. Nineteen of 48 tests near the dam showed silver carp DNA, three upstream of the dam.
ST. PAUL -- Minnesota cattle producers faced six emotional and financially challenging years, but now they celebrate a re-opening of markets nationwide after the state has been declared free of bovine tuberculosis. Gov. Mark Dayton issued a proclamation Wednesday proclaiming TB free day for the state's cattle industry after 58 herds were destroyed and 800,000 animals tested. The TB battle began in 2005 when a northwestern Minnesota cattleman reported that one of his cattle headed to slaughter appeared sick.
ST. PAUL -- Minnesota cattlemen are celebrating the reopening of markets nationwide after tuberculosis found in one cow six years ago hurt their sales. Gov. Mark Dayton today issued a proclamation proclaiming TB free day for the state's cattle industry after 58 herds were destroyed and 800,000 animals tested. "We have eliminated it from the U.S. for the most part," State Veterinarian Dr.
ST. PAUL -- A Minnesota day care provider vote to join unions is least temporarily on hold. A judge Monday ordered a stop to an election that was to begin Wednesday. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton last month ordered the vote, which two unions have sought for six years. Ramsey County District Court Judge Dale Lindman issued a temporary restraining order and said that the proposal should go through the Legislature, not be ordered by a governor. Dayton said he would meet with Attorney General Lori Swanson before deciding how to proceed. Lindman set a Jan.
ST. PAUL -- A judge has put a stop to an effort to unionize in-home day care workers. Ramsey County District Court Judge Dale Lindman today issued a temporary restraining order to at least temporarily put the brakes on a unionization vote, which was scheduled to begin Wednesday. Gov. Mark Dayton, who issued the election order last month, said he would talk to Attorney General Lori Swanson about how to proceed. "I respect the decision of the court today," the Democratic governor said in a statement.
ST. PAUL -- A projected state budget surplus so shocked Minnesota political leaders Thursday that they did not know how to respond. Their talking points, drawn up long ago, featured placing blame on the other side for a new deficit. But then everyone, including the state economist, was surprised with an $876 million surplus. So those talking points issued after the announcement were changed rather hastily.
ST. PAUL -- The revelation of an $876 million Minnesota budget surplus includes a dark side. Gov. Mark Dayton showed the two sides by calling Thursday's announcement "terrific news," moments later adding that it is "no time to celebrate." "We're not out of the fiscal woods by any means," he said. The takeaway for an average Minnesotan is that no one should expect a return to the old days of higher state spending. For the time being, the projected surplus will stay in the bank, where the state economist said it should remain.
ST. PAUL -- Jaws dropped this morning as Minnesota leaders learned the state budget will be $876 million bigger than earlier thought. But the news came with warnings: -- A $1.3 billion deficit is expected in two years. -- The Minnesota economy could take another turn for the worse if the European economy stumbles. -- The good news depends, in part, on continuation of a federal tax cut established in the President George W.


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Opinion: Larimer County commissioners face contradictory choices on NISP
From where I stand, the Larimer County Planning Commission’s 4-2 decision on July 15 to approve Northern Water’s 1041 application for the Northern Integrated Supply Project, NISP, presents a series of contradictory choices for the county commissioners when their hearings on the application take place in August.
First, either they want to “save the Poudre River” through an effort to get Thornton to let their water run through Fort Collins before a pipeline takes it out somewhere south of the city in the 1041 process for Thornton’s proposed pipeline, or they’re the destroyer of the Poudre by approving NISP’s 1041 application to build Glade Reservoir and take even more water out of the river then is currently being siphoned off.
That’s a tough sell to the people of Larimer County – you can’t have it both ways. What’s the overriding principle? The health of the river or recreation opportunities?
Second, either they believe in the Land Use Code and County Master Plan that “protects existing neighborhoods” and believes in a review process that is “fair, open and predictable” without “infringing on the rights of individuals” by protecting residents and neighborhoods even when construction options are in the public right of ways, as with the Thornton pipeline, or they selectively apply those principles and think it’s OK for NISP to construct pipelines across private property and inconvenience certain neighborhoods for months over others. They can’t have it both ways.
Third, either they believe what county attorneys used as answers and objections for denial of the Thornton pipeline in court briefs before District Court in Larimer County and apply them equally to the NISP pipeline, or they used those as excuses to deny the application and make their decisions look arbitrary and capricious before the court. They can’t have it both ways.
So, as president of the Eagle Lake Homeowners Association, whose neighborhood is targeted by NISP for pipeline crossings between homes as well as crossing and using our private HOA roads for construction staging and hauling, I’m looking to the Board of County Commissioners to bring fairness and equal application of principles to the process.
Because no one from NISP has even bothered to contact residents or the HOA about their proposed takings in our neighborhood.
Mark Heiden lives north of Fort Collins.


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Training, education keys to Senate’s ‘Rhode To Work’ action plan
On Tuesday afternoon, Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed was joined by many other senators to announce “Rhode to Work,” an action plan designed to provide the best skills and training for both the currently unemployed and the workers of the future.
The action plan includes seven key concepts that can be addressed through policy, structure and funding changes to improve the job skills gap, something Paiva Weed said is “in crisis.”
“In recent years, despite significant investments we have made in education and workforce training, we continue to hear from businesses that they have trouble finding workers that have the necessary skills, both technical and social,” said Paiva Weed. With unemployment at 9 percent as of November 2013, Paiva Weed said it is important to take action now.
“As the report points out, unless the state figures out a way to raise the education and degree attainment of all of our students, several studies suggest that the workforce of tomorrow could include fewer Rhode Islanders with a college degree and more workers with less than a high school diploma,” said Paiva Weed. “At the same time, half of all new Rhode Island jobs are projected to require some form of a post-secondary credential. This is a really serious disconnect that could seriously jeopardize our state’s economic interests.”
The report, which is posted on the General Assembly’s website under reports (www.rilin.state.ri.us), includes a breakdown of just how the Senate proposes to address the seven strategies.
To create a “single, seamless and cohesive workforce training system,” the Senate proposes reaffirming the Governor’s Workforce Board as sole coordinator of workforce development, putting the state’s career pathways and training systems into a simple, one-point-of-contact system. According to Paiva Weed, access to all resources and programs needs to be in one place.
To improve overall job development, the plan includes exempting the Job Development Fund, which is paid into by the business community, from paying into the General Fund, thus maximizing funding put into job development and training. It also calls for greater transparency and accountability of workforce development programs and maintaining funding for innovative programs.
To help future workers, the plan includes policy changes regarding internships and apprenticeships, first by opening the bRIdge.jobs program to high school students and then expanding Apprenticeship tax credits to more industries.
Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio (D-Providence, North Providence) spoke further about the importance of internships and apprenticeships.
“The job seekers that have no experience are in a catch 22 situation,” said Ruggerio. “Companies won’t hire them because they don’t have the experience and they can’t get the experience because companies won’t hire them.”
The action plan also addresses transforming adult education by providing funding for instructors, classes and facilities to address a waitlist of 1,300 people. The plan calls for a re-imagining of the Career and Technical Education system, mirroring successful models such as Worcester Technical High School in Massachusetts.
Because of the anticipated need for post-secondary degrees in the future, the Senate hopes to eliminate barriers to attaining high school diploma equivalency. According to the report, 80,000 working-age Rhode Islanders don’t have a high school diploma, and the cost of GED programs recently rose with no waiver policy. The plan calls for the Department of Education to look for nationally recognized, less expensive alternatives, and for the General Assembly to establish a waiver.
Finally, the plan addresses closing educational attainment gaps by requiring the Board of Education to prioritize adult education, career and technical education, and credit- and non-credit programs at Community College of Rhode Island; introducing mentoring programs for at-risk students; and investing in pre-kindergarten, all-day kindergarten, summer learning and job programs.
Paiva Weed addressed that all-day K was previously a priority, but nationwide focus on pre-K derailed that.
“It is time for all-day K to happen,” said Paiva Weed.
Paiva Weed explained that the cost associated with this action plan would depend on how much the state decides to invest. The action plan lists only a few specific amounts: An estimated $1.2 million toward job and skill training by exempting the Job Development Fund from the 10 percent payment to the General Fund; an estimated $1.95 million to eliminate the adult education waitlist of 1,300; and a one-time $1 million incentive to re-imagine the statewide career and technical education system. There would also be a cost associated with all-day kindergarten in the state, but that is calculated by needed start-up costs per district and long-term funding, so Paiva Weed could not give an amount.
Overall, Paiva Weed believes this plan will simplify a complex system.
“This action plan will align and streamline all of our workforce development efforts,” said Paiva Weed. “The current system is too complicated.”
Ruggerio added that the plan benefits Rhode Island companies.
“The plans we announce here today will help workers succeed while helping companies in Rhode Island to not only remain here, but also expand here,” said Ruggerio.
Showing that this action plan is a bi-partisan effort, Minority Leader Dennis Algiere (R-Charlestown, South Kingstown, Westerly) also addressed how critical the “Rhode to Work” plan is.
“The steps outlined in the “Rhode to Work” action plan provide a practical way to better prepare the Rhode Island workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Algiere. “And it is not another study; it is a plan of action.”
Twenty senators joined the leaders for the announcement; a showing Paiva-Weed said proves this plan is the top priority.
Cranston Senator Frank Lombardi (D) says he is “very encouraged” by this action plan.
“I think it’s fabulous,” said Lombardi, adding that it is also a long time coming. “I think this is going to jumpstart a particular part of the population.”
Lombardi believes, as he says his colleagues do, that putting people back to work will serve as a “springboard” for the economy. Lombardi believes the aspect of the plan that looks to close the skills gap through education is the most important.
As a representative of the not-for-profit sector, Neil Steinberg, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, was invited to give his opinion on the plan; the Foundation has been leading the Make It Work campaign to improve economic development from the private sector.
“This is exciting,” said Steinberg. “This is economic development. This is education. This is training. This is closing the skills gap and very exciting that it’s today and tomorrow.”
He believes this plan will be successful in getting some of the 50,000 unemployed Rhode Islanders back to work. He was glad to see funding changes along with policy changes and a true partnership with the private sector.
“I have just one request,” said Steinberg. “I encourage, I urge and I implore the Senate leadership, the House and the governor to just do it. To not wait till the end of the session; to just get it done.”
Paiva Weed could not say the exact number of bills that could come out of this action plan, but she said a number of them would be introduced over the next few days, with others still in the drafting and legal phases.


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Photos from my travels near and far from home
What a very unique doorway ... and I see nobody is immune from graffiti!
I love doors and windows - they always make me curious what's behind!
Deux portes pour le prix d'une ! ;-)Franchement les boîtes aux lettres américains sont plus sympa.J'adore tout ce bois ici.
Are those mailboxes on the wall inside? Whatever they are, there's quite a few of them!
I like the RED detail there, it's beautiful!Léia
T. Becque: They are mailboxes. Most of these old buildings have been converted to apartments. So they've got to have plenty of boxes for all the residents!
Thanks for visiting. I love hearing from you.


By Goth Mohamed Goth
SomalilandPress-Somaliland Civil Aviation and Air Transport Mr. Mohammed Hashi Abdi met with the Ethiopian State Minister Ambassador Berhane Gebre-Christos on Tuesday , this week in Addis Abba , Ethiopian Capital.
The two officials discussed relations between Ethiopia and Somaliland, as well as aviation links, peace and security, and trade and business.
Also on the agenda were Ethiopian Airlines cooperation with Somaliland, working together to alleviate terrorism and development cooperation in the Berbera corridor as well as encouraging people-to-people and government-to-government relations.
Ethiopian Airlines, among the three biggest airlines on the subcontinent, is “very confident” that volumes of passengers and goods via Somaliland will rise, and intends to start a joint venture to develop cargo flights to serve goods transiting the port.
The Ethiopian state Minister Ambassador Berhane noted that Ethiopia was committed to broaden its relationships over peace, security, development and tourism. He congratulated Somaliland on the progress it was achieving and said Ethiopia was committed to broaden cooperation over air transport, tourism and related sectors. He also suggested cooperation in the Berbera corridor could be strengthened.
Mr. Hashi said Somaliland appreciated Ethiopia’s role in peace and stability and development in the region. He stressed the importance of Ethiopia’s support to Somaliland and hoped that diplomatic and other relations between Somaliland and Ethiopia could be strengthened. He added that Ethiopia’s cooperation in poverty alleviation and in fighting Al- Shabaab was of significant importance.
Somaliland hopes to become the new gateway for landlocked Ethiopia’s 92m people, developing connections by road, rail, air and sea in a nation at the meeting point of the African and Arab worlds.
International financial institutions have in the past counseled Ethiopia to develop transport routes through Somaliland to “diversify Ethiopia’s options and thus improve its negotiating power with transit corridors


For MRO specialists – companies contracted to provide maintenance and repair parts and services – the past two decades have seen a dynamic shift in business strategy. The end customers being served by these operations cannot afford downtime, as this comes with a heavy price tag in terms of cost, but also with regard to lost productivity and reputation. When plant and equipment needs repair, MRO organisations have to act quicker than ever as production and projects are costed and monitored more tightly today than at any time before.
Products, knowledge, service and reaction time when a product or system goes down on site is key to setting an MRO specialist apart from its competitors and pleasing the end customer. Whether it’s the face-to-face service provided by knowledgeable staff, in-store hose make-up and repair capabilities, or on-site hose fabrication such as with Parker’s Hose Doctor and ParkerStore units, the service an end user gets is crucial.
MRO specialists such as ParkerStore provide an environment for the immediate and direct sale of industrial products through an approved platform that serves the walk-in MRO customer. Combining the trade counter and retail models, such outlets allow customers to order bespoke, while-you-wait hydraulic hose assemblies while shopping for complementary products such as couplings, fittings, valves, filters, lubricants, oil, tooling, safety equipment and more.
But as important is the knowledge, expertise, information and support that goes hand-in-hand with high product availability. The customer won’t always know exactly what they need, or what is best to solve a specific problem, and so an MRO specialist such as ParkerStore who can also take on the role of trusted advisor is of huge value. Furthermore, the ability, if required, to deliver that expertise at the end customer location is also important.
Despite the growth of the Internet, a catalogue remains a vital tool that allows plant and maintenance engineers to find what they need. Typically, catalogues are classified into quick reference categories so that engineers can go directly to sections on hydraulics, pneumatics, compressed air/gas treatment, industrial hoses, fuel filters, instrumentation/process, maintenance consumables and tooling/accessories, for example. As well as printed catalogues available in store and to take away, an online version should also be available.
A huge element of the MRO market that has changed over the course of the past two decades is the use of the internet and technology in general for example access to parts and ordering via mobile platforms such as smartphones and tablets. The internet links businesses to consumers and businesses to businesses with a speed and ease-of-use that facilitates the flow of information from the retailer to the customer and vice versa.
The web has allowed industrial retail outlets to optimise the supply chain using the latest communications technologies and advanced supply chain strategies to ensure high availability of the right parts at the right locations. Demand trends can be monitored in line with local requirements. This provides a huge boost to end customers seeking to highlight and work with the best MRO specialists.
Forward-thinking MRO retail outlets also use social media channels such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, to engage with the next generation of industrial consumers. This can help engineers stay abreast of the latest product developments as well as knowledge-sharing, tips and ideas.
Choosing a reputable, reliable MRO specialist makes the difference in MRO success for the end user. The watchword is to select wisely because many maintenance labour delays are related to issues concerning materials and spare parts. Supply problems can include no locally available stock, late deliveries, incorrect deliveries, and parts that are damaged and cannot be used when they do arrive.
ParkerStore is an example of an organisation that has drawn on its many years of experience at the front-end of the MRO process and recognises the huge importance of helping such mistakes being avoided. Consequently, supplementary initiatives such as the clear identification of components on the part itself and extensive manufacturer cross-reference apps for products such as filters have been developed to minimise risk.
Getting it right has helped a number of MRO distributors survive the economic downturn in recent years, and some have even managed to grow their market share. For many, this has meant taking a new strategic approach to understanding emerging customer demand and the key market drivers.


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I saw this question on a West Coast Swing Discussion Page and thought my answer may help others struggling with the same thing. “Is there a trick to getting better dances to dance with me?”
“I’ve been dancing WCS for a long time, and just about every leader in my local scene knows me and has danced with me at least once. My path to improvement has been very slow, and there are a lot of people who danced with me a few years ago who didn’t enjoy the experience and aren’t anxious to repeat it. Add in the fact that I’m one of the small army of overweight middle-aged women, and I get apprehensive looks even from people who’ve never seen me before. I generally dance with a group of leads who are at my level or below; we know and are comfortable with each other, and dancing with them is fun. However, they are no longer challenging me in the ways I need to be challenged. I take regular privates and my coach and I are now working on things which very few of the people I dance with can do.
The Solution: Getting better Dancers to Dance With Me
I had a student ask me a similar question once and she was surprised to hear that I lived through the same thing as a leader and struggle, even now, as a follower. Dancing outside of someone’s level group may trigger a subconscious fear of missing out on a dance with one of their friends but often there is little incentive for the better dancer to stop their own goal of dancing up to find beginners to dance with. What ever the reason is, its a problem that is not going away. Getting the highly sought after “better dancers” to dance below their level is not easy but I found a way.
My go to move was to ask for help. “Hey there, I am practicing leading whips with a strong 5. Would you mind letting me practice with you for this song?” Because its not a “regular dance” where someone might dance as if they where in a spotlight jack and jill. They can let their guard down when they are thinking in terms of “practice” and their lead and follow technique tends to be more on point. You may be tempted to ask for feed back but be careful you do not want to over stay your welcome. Especially if they are a teacher you could sour the relationship without realizing it.
If you have success with the same person a couple of times, be sure to bring them a small thank you gift, a card, or some homemade cookies, nothing elaborate or expensive but you want to show some reciprocity. This will separate you from all the other people trying to get a dance with them. Giving back is so very important to building any relationship. Better dancers have people taking and taking from them at every dance. A little social grace will go a long way in a short amount of time. I hope this helps!


Scope and arrangement
The Samuel E. Heyward Papers, 1917-1982, have been divided into five series; PERSONAL PAPERS, GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, WRITINGS-MUSIC, ORGANIZATIONS FILE and PRINTED MATERIAL. The collection principally reflects Heyward's professional life and activities, particularly his career as a performer; a significant portion of the collection consists of music manuscripts arranged and/or composed by him.
The Samuel Edwin Heyward papers are arranged in five series:
The series contains scattered files and biographical data, sketches and programs, performance materials, contracts, family papers and financial records.
The series consists of letters received from organizations concerning programs, acknowledgments and solicitations. The correspondence reflects Heyward's involvement in charitable affairs, organizations and musical events.
The series forms the major part of the collection and consists of manuscripts of Heyward's compositions, lyrics and arrangements, as well as music and lyrics Heyward copied and perhaps performed (Collected). There are several of his original compositions; “Ballad of Harry Moore,” “Checkin' on the Freedom Train,” “Dance of the Bees,” an operetta, the “Elfin Ballet Suite,” and several collaborations with Massie Patterson, the folksinger. The second largest category is musical arrangements (for guitar in many cases) by Heyward.
The file is comprised of Heyward's files from his membership in the New Amsterdam Musical Association (NAMA), the Duke Ellington Society, the Overseas Jazz Club and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Alumni. As president of the latter organization Heyward coordinated trips and musical programs for fundraising purposes.


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Francesca Baldelli Bombelli is associate Professor in Chemistry at the Politecnico di Milano. She currently works at the Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering in the SupraBioNanoLab (www.suprabionano.eu). She has been Group Leader at the European Centre of Nanomedicine in 2013-2015. In 2011-2014 she has been Lecturer in Nanotechnology and Colloid Science at the School of Pharmacy, UEA, Norwich, UK. She has been Post-Doc researcher: 2009-2011 at CBNI, University College of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; 2006-2009 at the University of Florence; 2004-2006 at Chalmers University, Gothenburg, Sweden. She got her PhD in Chemical Sciences in 2004 at the University of Florence.
The research interests of F. Baldelli Bombelli are focused on the development of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) for the diagnosis and treatment of untreatable diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative pathologies. In particular, she has recently developed drug delivery systems and fluorinated nanomaterials that showed promising feature to be used as 19F-MRI contrast agents. Moreover, her research also aims at investigating the interactions between ENM and the cellular machinery to improve their efficiency in vivo and evaluate possible toxicity effects. Particularly, her work has been dedicated to the study of the protein corona complexes formed by nanomaterials in situ in relevant biological fluids.
For more information about Francesca Baldelli Bombelli present research projects, refer to the group website www.suprabionano.eu.

domain: chemistry


15 Fév It’s time to collect (lots of) seeds!
Our partner villages are currently busy collecting the seeds we will use for our new sites. Since Hommes et Terre works with sites of about 250 ha, this means we need about 2500 kg of seeds per village!
Instead of buying seeds externally, Hommes et Terre works mainly with local seeds, collected by our partner villages. To ensure that our sites will grow into biodiverse forests, we use a combination of woody (Acacias, Balanites, Zizyphus, Baobab, Neem, Piliostigma) and herbaceous seeds. Not only are these seeds well adapted to the harsh conditions they will have to grow in, and thus have a better chance of germinating and growing into strong trees, they also provide an opportunity for our partner villages to make the restoration of their degraded land pay off from the start.
Once all the seeds have been collected, Hommes et Terre purchases a part of the seeds from its partner villages. The remaining seeds are a contribution from the villages themselves. In this way, our partner villages become co-investors, making their future forests more valuable to them.


SPL-1100 Lat Pulldown
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Diverge at 17.5 degrees per side resulting in full articulation of the shoulder complex.
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THE LAT PULLDOWN IN DETAIL
|50” L x 60” W x 72” H (127cm x 152cm x 183cm)
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|Frame components and welds exclude excluding coatings
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|Labor; cables, linear bearings and shafts and all other components not mentioned elsewhere in this warranty
|Normal wear parts including but not limited to labels, upholstered pads and grips


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Jawan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, is just a few days away from release, and fans couldn't be more excited. SRK surprised everyone yesterday by hosting a #AskSRK session on Twitter today, August 26. During the session, a fan asked him for advice on how to get his wife to get ready quickly because she takes her time. SRK responded with the most amusing response.
One of his fans asked, “Sir meri do biwi hai ek ko #jawan first-day first show dekhna hai dusri ko first day last day. Ek din mai do baar kaise karun sir please help.”
Giving him a solution to his problem, the actor responded hilariously and wrote, “#Jawan mein bhi doh heroines hain….Dono biwiyon ko saath mein le jaa….ek ek karke haath pakade lena jab main alag alag heroine ke saath screen pe aaoon!! #Jawan”
Another user asked SRK, “Sir biwi ke saath plan kia hai #jawan dekhne ke liye, lekin har baar wo late kara deti hai, #Pathaan ke time me v late karwa dia...kuch tips dijiye na jaldi time me pauch pao #Jawan dekhne.”
It appears that SRK was done resolving people's wife problems, so he wrote to this user, “Ok guys no more wife problem-solving questions anymore!! Please!! Mujhse meri nahi sambhalti tum apni problems bhi mujh par daal rahe ho!!!! All wives please just go for #Jawan without stress.”
Jawan hits theatres worldwide on September 7, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. It stars Shah Rukh Khan, Vijay Sethupathi, Nayanthara, Sanya Malhotra, and Priyamani, among others. Deepika Padukone will also make a cameo appearance in the film.

domain: celebrity


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Adult Parties (ages 16+):
$125 for 60 minutes (up to 8 people)
$150 for 90 minutes (up to 8 people)
Parties are perfect for a lunch break, girls night out, birthdays, or just hanging out with a group of your friends. Learn to fly in this fun and challenging 60 or 90-minute class! Book an evening of fun with your friends and enjoy a new relationship to gravity through swinging, flipping, inverting, balancing, and delicious spinal decompression. AntiGravity® Fitness is an innovative approach to fitness designed to increase one's overall health and physical agility while having fun and creating beauty.
Please call ahead to book your time.
(50% deposit required. Cancellations must be done at least 48 hours prior to the party for a full refund.)
Kids parties also available. Click here for kids party info.
No experience necessary to attend! Call 801-463-9067.

domain: entertainment


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When it comes to breastfeeding, Hong Kong is a city of contradictions. LIZ THOMAS shares an update on the #Ittasteslikelove campaign and how the community is supporting nursing mums.
Tackling the taboo
Women here dress as they please and scantily clad models adorn billboards and shop windows. Yet, public nursing is still something of a taboo in Hong Kong. Government hospitals and maternal health centres extol the importance of breastfeeding, but nurses can often be more focused on ensuring “modesty” than guiding new mothers through the process. Breastfeeding in public is perfectly legal, but some 40 percent of mothers who’ve done so say they’ve experienced harassment. For all its modernity, there’s no escaping that Hong Kong clings on to outdated attitudes in some areas, which can be a shock for new arrivals – and new mothers.
#Ittasteslikelove was set up to tackle the fact that while breastfeeding is natural – the biological norm recommended by the World Health Organisation – some people have become so unused to seeing it that it makes them uncomfortable or even react with hostility. We’re working with the community to ensure parents feel happy nursing however, wherever and whenever they need to.
Who’s getting involved?
Removing the stigma about public breastfeeding starts long before a mother leaves her front door. New parents need educated encouragement from friends, family and employers. They also need community support – there have been too many stories of women forced to nurse in toilets and storerooms or told to cover up or even leave.Cafes, bars and restaurants are frequented by different parts of society – a rare crossover of multiple worlds. That’s why #Ittasteslikelove is teaming up with businesses to ensure that breastfeeding is not just tolerated but actively supported. This in turn will stop people voicing their disapproval and perhaps lead them to reconsider their disapproval altogether.
So far, we have more than 100 places backing us. Gyms, salons and education centres have all got involved – read on to hear some of their thoughts about the campaign. Everyone involved is taking a stand against discrimination and pledging that their space is a safe space for those breastfeeding. The city’s malls have wonderful nursing rooms, but these are few and far between – far better if we could embolden women to meet their children’s needs as they need to, rather than forcing them into the shadows.
Finding other mums
There is a small but passionate community of breastfeeding mothers in the city. Hong Kong Breastfeeding has thousands of members on Facebook, providing a fountain of first-hand knowledge but also rallying to help mothers in need. Just recently, a mother hospitalised with COVID-19 posted a message asking for breast milk donations – within a few hours, enough had been offered to nurse her four-month-old for two weeks.
La Leche League HK holds regular meetings and provides outreach, while private lactation consultants such as Yvonne Heavyside are within easy reach.
#Ittasteslikelove takes a multi-pronged approach to normalising breastfeeding. Our Instagram focuses on beautiful nursing photography – we want mothers to celebrate and share this milestone, just as they do newborn and maternity shoots. Our vibrant Facebook page focuses on debate and discussion around breastfeeding. We’ve opened our blog up to women across Hong Kong, who are now sharing experiences from nursing premature babies to breastfeeding and the coronavirus.
The important thing is to build your village, despite the demands of 21st-century living. We believe encouraging the community will in turn embolden and empower parents, and ultimately change the conversation around breastfeeding.
Ten restaurant, café and boutique owners explain why they’re backing the #Ittasteslikelove campaign.
“Café 8 was an early adopter of events that promote breastfeeding within the community and it’s with a great a sense pride that we wholeheartedly support the great work of #Ittasteslikelove.”
– Surinder Kumar Punjya, Executive Director, The Nesbitt Centre
Maximal Concepts (Mott 32, Limewood and others)
“We absolutely support this campaign and want all nursing mothers to feel totally comfortable caring for their children in our restaurants. It’s such an important message to get across, and the stigma definitely needs to change in Hong Kong.”
– Malcolm Wood, Global Managing Director
“Family is one of our core values and it’s our goal to make sure everyone who dines at our restaurants feels loved and supported, especially mothers. We’re firm believers that mothers should be supported to breastfeed in public without any concern, and it’s our job and privilege to provide such an environment. ”
– Liam Colette, Managing Director International of PizzaExpress
“We’re proud to be a recognised family restaurant, which is why it’s been important for us over 10 years to welcome families and help mothers feel comfortable if they breastfeed. The most natural thing is breastfeeding and mothers around the world should be able to feed their babies anytime and anywhere; this is why they will always be welcome.”
– Manon Pellis, Events Manager
Hemingway’s DB (Discovery Bay)
“Hemingway’s fully backs the campaign to normalise breastfeeding in society. Breastfeeding is the single most natural thing we as humans do, and the practice should never be shunned or frowned upon, only encouraged and the mothers supported!”
– Gary Stokes, Owner & Founder
Pret A Manger
“Breastfeeding is a very natural thing, and it shouldn’t be discriminated against in our society. Pret is very proud to be part of this campaign, and we fully support normalising breastfeeding in Hong Kong. We’re pleased to offer a safe, secure, comfortable and supportive environment for nursing mothers to feel free to breastfeed their children.
– Yumi Li, Commercial Director (Asia)
MANA! (Central, Sheung Wan, Wanchai)
“We’re proud to support the #Ittasteslikelove campaign to normalise breastfeeding. Mothers can relax at MANA! and know they are welcome and can dine or drink hassle-free.”
– Bobsy Gaia, Owner & Founder
“We cater for nursing mothers as a matter of course; I regularly give up my office if mum needs privacy to pump or nurse, and, if they’re happy to nurse in public, our staff are mature and accommodating. Mums are always welcome if they’re in the city and need a place to go; they can feed or pump at Glow without hassle (or an appointment!)”
– Sioban Guilfoyle, Owner & Founder
Beef & Liberty (Central, Stanley, Hong Kong International Airport)
“We completely support the campaign. We welcome all nursing mothers and hope to provide an atmosphere that’s comfortable and relaxed where they can look after their children without being judged or hassled.
– Will Bray, Managing Director, Greater China Restaurant Company
Baumhaus (TST, Wanchai)
“Baumhaus supports the #Ittasteslikelove message to normalise breastfeeding. We can offer a butter or chocolate cookie to breastfeeding mums when they’re in the cafés in our centres.”
– Baumhaus Team
See more helpful tips in our Mums & Babies section.

domain: sociology


Now that the United States is about to deploy ground troops in Syria, the CIA is reportedly strengthening its supply lines in order to protect Syrian rebel groups who are also trying to bring down Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Reports indicate that officials from Saudi Arabia and Turkey urged the United States to bolster these supply lines.
In a questionable act, the United States is reportedly supplying some Syrian rebel forces with incredibly powerful weapons. Some of these weapons are capable of bringing down civilian aircrafts.
By supplying rebel groups with weapons, the United States hopes that it will be able to stop the intervention of Russia and Iran, who are working to keep President Assad in power.
Although President Barack Obama has insisted that he doesn’t want the Syrian conflict to develop into a proxy war for the United States and Russia, by supplying the weapons, he is doing exactly that. Arming the rebels only deepens the fighting and the violence.
Meanwhile, officials from the United States and Saudi Arabia remain adamant that President Assad cannot continue to lead Syria.
During the past month, Russian airstrikes in Syria have been intensifying. As a result, the CIA and other forces have been increasing their flow of military supplies to rebels who are located in northern Syria.
Most notably, they have started providing extremely dangerous anti-aircraft weapons. The flow of these weapons are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
One unnamed United States military official said, “Assad is not going to feel any pressure to make concessions if there is no viable opposition that has the capacity, through the support of its partners, to put pressure on his regime.”
Some military experts believe that providing rebel forces with powerful anti-aircraft weapons will be an effective way of deterring Russian forces from making future air attacks.
However, many people are concerned that these weapons could eventually end up in the hands of terrorists. Some of the weapons have been fitted with “kill switches” that can be activated by the United States in order to prevent their usage.
What is very concerning is that the United States started supplying the rebels with these anti-aircraft weapons shortly before a major passenger plane was shot down over Egypt.
ISIS has already claimed responsibility for this deadly attack. Thus, it’s very possible that these weapons have already ended up being seized by ISIS forces.
Needless to say, some highly questionable moves are coming out of the United States.Stay Connected


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Decorative And Special Wedding Table Centerpieces To Get
Wedding table centerpieces with stylish design will make your wedding becomes beautifully designed and decorated. To choose the best centerpieces for the wedding table, this information will help you very much to find the best that you need. Wedding centerpieces for table is an important part although it is small. It is very essential in order to decorate your wedding table to make the decoration concept becomes more complete and perfect. It is very important to have the best and elegant table, but if it is not well decorated, the table will look very plain and boring. So, make sure to give a good look and impression for your guests who attend your wedding.
Decorative and elegant wedding table centerpieces
15 Photos Gallery of: Decorative And Special Wedding Table Centerpieces To Get
To have a best decoration, it is important to prepare all things that you need to make it looks gorgeous like the concept that have been prepared before the wedding. You can have special people or wedding organizer to make it happens for you, or just decorates it by yourself, of course, it will be done by the people who help you for the wedding. So, how you will decorate the table for the guests?
Find the best table centerpieces
There are many choices for the centerpieces with adorable design. If you want to make the handmade centerpieces, there will be some tutorials or guides to make the best styled centerpieces. The reception tables will make your wedding can be done perfectly while the guest can feel the love closer by the decoration icons which one of them is the centerpiece. The well glistened to make it glowing give your guests the best impression for the wedding. To find the best, adjust it with your decoration concept and theme to create a decorative and elegant combination for the romantic and special day.

domain: design