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SARPAC trial initiated at the University Hospital Ghent in Belgium
Lexington, MA – March 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Partner Therapeutics, Inc. (PTx) announced that Leukine® (sargramostim, rhu-GM-CSF) is being assessed in the SARPAC trial (sargramostim in patients with acute hypoxic respiratory failure due to COVID-19 – EudraCT #2020-001254-22) at University Hospital Ghent to treat patients with respiratory illness associated with COVID-19. Major medical centers in Germany, Italy and Spain are considering joining the study. The study will evaluate the effect of Leukine on lung function and patient outcomes.
“Patients with COVID-19 who progress to acute hypoxic respiratory failure due to COVID-19 have very limited treatment options and a high mortality rate,” said Prof. Bart Lambrecht, Principal Investigator for the trial at University Hospital Ghent and the Flanders Institute of Biotechnology (VIB). “We rapidly initiated this study with Leukine, because GM-CSF has profound effects on antiviral immunity, can provide the stimulus to restore immune homeostasis in the lung, and can promote lung repair mechanisms.”
Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is essential for the health of the lungs. Alveolar macrophages, a cell type found in the lungs, are dependent on GM-CSF for differentiation and normal functioning. GM-CSF is an immunomodulator that plays a critical role in host defense against pathogens and maintaining proper functioning of the immune system.1 GM-CSF confers resistance to influenza by enhancing innate immune mechanisms.2 In animal studies, GM-CSF reduced morbidity and mortality due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from viral pneumonia.3 In clinical studies, use of Leukine showed beneficial effects in patients with viral pneumonia.4,5 Recent data highlight the importance of understanding the immune status of patients and role of immunomodulating agents like GM-CSF to activate the immune system to help clear virus and reduce the risk of secondary infections.6
“Partner Therapeutics is committed to investigating Leukine in patients with COVID-19 and we are working with academic and government agencies here in the US and in Europe in this effort,” said Dr. Debasish Roychowdhury, Chief Medical Officer at Partner Therapeutics. “We believe, like many investigators and scientists, that GM-CSF has multiple ways by which it may help these patients, including playing a role in clearing the infection, boosting the immune system and repairing damaged tissues.”
“In pre-clinical studies, GM-CSF protects the lungs from viral pneumonia and the influenza A virus”, stated E. Scott Halstead, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Penn State University College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. “Preliminary data indicate an apparent benefit of inhaled Leukine therapy for autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (“aPAP”) and suggest it has reduced the need for whole lung lavage therapy for patients receiving treatment. Collectively, the data suggest that aerosolized Leukine may prove to be a meaningful therapy to decrease mortality and increase ventilator-free days in patients with respiratory disorders associated with viruses such as COVID-19 and Influenza A.”
For the treatment of COVID-19 associated acute hypoxic respiratory failure and ARDS, Leukine will be used in nebulized form for direct inhalation or through intravenous administration for patients already on a respirator. Nebulized Leukine has been studied in phase 2 and phase 3 randomized trials in pulmonary conditions that affect alveolar macrophages, such as aPAP. IV administration of Leukine has been studied extensively in other conditions and in phase 2 randomized trials in ARDS.
Leukine was initially approved in the United States in 1991 and has been approved for use in five clinical indications. Its safety and tolerability profile are well understood. In 2018, Leukine was approved for use as a medical countermeasure to treat Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) and has been procured for use by the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile. Leukine is distributed outside the U.S. on a named-patient basis through PTx’s designated program manager, Tanner Pharma Group. The use of Leukine to treat respiratory disorders associated with COVID-19 is investigational and has not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority.
Please see full Prescribing Information for LEUKINE® at www.leukine.com
About Leukine® (sargramostim)
Leukine® is a yeast-derived recombinant humanized granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhuGM-CSF) and the only FDA approved GM-CSF. GM-CSF is an important leukocyte growth factor known to play a key role in hematopoiesis, epithelial repair, and augmentation of innate host defense by effecting the growth and maturation of multiple cell lineages as well as the functional activities of these cells in antigen presentation and cell mediated immunity.
Important Safety Information for LEUKINE® (sargramostim)
- LEUKINE® is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor such as sargramostim (GM-CSF), yeast-derived products, or any component of LEUKINE®.
Warnings and Precautions
- Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic reactions, have been reported with LEUKINE®. If any serious allergic or anaphylactic reaction occurs, immediately discontinue LEUKINE® therapy and institute medical management. Permanently discontinue LEUKINE® in patients with serious allergic reactions.
- LEUKINE® can cause infusion-related reactions, including respiratory distress, hypoxia, flushing, hypotension, syncope and/or tachycardia. Observe closely during infusion, particularly in patients with preexisting lung disease, as dose adjustment or discontinuation may be required.
- Do not administer LEUKINE® simultaneously with or within 24 hours preceding cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy or within 24 hours following chemotherapy.
- Edema, capillary leak syndrome, pleural and/or pericardial effusion have been reported in patients after LEUKINE® LEUKINE® should be used with caution and monitored in patients with preexisting fluid retention, pulmonary infiltrates, or congestive heart failure.
- Supraventricular arrhythmia has been reported in uncontrolled studies during LEUKINE® administration, particularly in patients with a previous history of cardiac arrhythmia. Use LEUKINE® with caution in patients with preexisting cardiac disease.
- If ANC > 20,000 cells/mm3 or if WBC counts > 50,000/mm3, LEUKINE® administration should be interrupted or the dose reduced by half. Twice weekly monitoring of CBC with differential should be performed.
- LEUKINE® therapy should be discontinued if disease progression is detected during treatment.
- Treatment with LEUKINE® may induce neutralizing anti-drug antibodies. Use LEUKINE® for the shortest duration required.
- Liquid solutions containing benzyl alcohol (including LEUKINE® Injection) or LEUKINE® for Injection reconstituted with Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP (0.9% benzyl alcohol) should not be administered to neonates and low birth weight infants.
- Concomitant use of drugs that can potentiate the myeloproliferative effects of LEUKINE® should be avoided.
Adverse events occurring in >10% of patients receiving LEUKINE® in controlled clinical trials and reported in a higher frequency than placebo are:
- In Autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) patients–asthenia, malaise, diarrhea, rash, peripheral edema, urinary tract disorder
- In Allogeneic BMT patients–abdominal pain, chills, chest pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, hematemesis, dysphagia, GI hemorrhage, pruritus, bone pain, arthralgia, eye hemorrhage, hypertension, tachycardia, bilirubinemia, hyperglycemia, increase creatinine, hypomagnesemia, edema, pharyngitis, epistaxis, dyspnea, insomnia, anxiety, high glucose, low albumin
- In AML patients–fever, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, skin reactions, metabolic laboratory abnormalities, edema
Please see full Prescribing Information for LEUKINE® at www.leukine.com
Indications and Usage
LEUKINE® (sargramostim) is a leukocyte growth factor indicated for the following uses:
- LEUKINE® is indicated to shorten time to neutrophil recovery and to reduce the incidence of severe, life-threatening, or fatal infections following induction chemotherapy in adult patients 55 years and older with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
- LEUKINE® is indicated in adult patients with cancer undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells into peripheral blood for collection by leukapheresis.
- LEUKINE® is indicated for the acceleration of myeloid reconstitution following autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) or bone marrow transplantation in adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL).
- LEUKINE® is indicated for the acceleration of myeloid reconstitution in adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from HLA-matched related donors.
- LEUKINE® is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 2 years and older who have undergone allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation in whom neutrophil recovery is delayed or failed.
- LEUKINE® is indicated to increase survival in adult and pediatric patients from birth to 17 years of age acutely exposed to myelosuppressive doses of radiation (Hematopoietic Syndrome of Acute Radiation Syndrome [H-ARS]).
About Partner Therapeutics, Inc.:
PTx is an U.S.-based commercial-stage biotech company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics that improve health outcomes in the treatment of cancer. PTx’s development focus spans the entire range of cancer therapy from primary treatments to supportive care. The company believes in delivering great products with the purpose of creating the best possible outcomes for patients and their families.
- Trapnell BC et al. GM-CSF Regulates Pulmonary Surfactant Homeostasis and Alveolar Macrophage-Mediated Innate Host Defense. Annual Review of Physiology 2002 64:1, 775-802.
- Halstead ES, et al. GM-CSF overexpression after influenza a virus infection prevents mortality and moderates M1-like airway monocyte/macrophage polarization. Respir Res. 2018; 19(1):3. doi:10.1186/s12931-017-0708-5
- Unkel B, et al. Alveolar epithelial cells orchestrate DC function in murine viral pneumonia. J Clin Invest. 2012; 122(10):3652–3664. doi: 10.1172/JCI62139
- Herold S, et al. Inhaled granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor as treatment of pneumonia-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome. Am J Resp Crit Care Medorg/10.1164/rccm.201311-2041LE
- Paine R, et al. A randomized trial of recombinant human GM-CSF for patients with acute lung injury. Crit Care Med. 2012 Jan; 40(1): 90– doi:10.1097/CCM.0b013e31822d7bf0
- Hall MW. Immune Modulation in Pediatric Sepsis. J Pediatr Intensive Care. 2019;8(1):42–50. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1676607
Other Relevant References
- Campo I, et al. Inhaled sargramostim and whole lung lavage as therapy of autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (aPAP). Eur Respir J. 2016; 46(60). Presented at European Respiratory Society meeting 2016. DOI: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA3870
- Huang F-F, et al. GM-CSF in the Lung Protects against Lethal Influenza Infection. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011;184(2):259-68. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201012-2036OC
- Luisetti M, et al. Physical properties, lung deposition modeling, and bioactivity of recombinant GMCSF aerosolized with a highly efficient nebulizer. Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2011; 24(1):123-7. doi:10.1016/j.pupt.2010.08.004
- Presneill JJ, et al. A randomized phase II trial of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor therapy in severe sepsis with respiratory dysfunction. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002; 166(2):138-43. DOI:10.1164/rccm.2009005
- Rösler & Herold. Lung epithelial GM-CSF improves host defense function and epithelial repair in influenza virus pneumonia – a new therapeutic strategy? Mol Cell Pediatr. 2016; 3(1):29. DOI 10.1186/s40348-016-0055-5
- Subramaniam R, et al. Protecting against post-influenza bacterial pneumonia by increasing phagocyte recruitment and ROS production. J Infect Dis. 2014; 209(11):1827-36. doi:10.1093/infdis/jit830
- Tazawa R, et al. Inhaled GM-CSF for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. N Engl J Med. 2019; 381(10):923-932. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1816216
- Tazawa R, et al. Inhaled granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor as therapy for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010; 181(12):1345-54. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200906-0978OC
- Umstead TM, et al. Lower respiratory tract delivery, airway clearance, and preclinical efficacy of inhaled GM-CSF in a post-influenza pneumococcal pneumonia model. Am J Physiol Lung Cell MolPhysiol. 2020. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00296.2019
- Weber GF, et al. Pleural innate response activator B cells protect against pneumonia via a GM-CSFIgM axis. J Exp Med. 2014; 211(6):1243-56. doi: 10.1084/jem.20131471
- Xu Z, et al. Pathological findings of COVID-19 associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Lancet Respir Med. 2020. doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30076-X
For more information contact:


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Latest Activity: Aug 11, 2019
Please note: The information given below is outdated and referring to the old program verson SME 4. For up-to-date information regarding the new program version SME 5 please visit the new homepage at https://www.somanyeuros.com.
So Many Euros Deluxe Edition is the software for all Euro Coin Collectors. It contains all circulation coins from 1 Cent to 2 Euro and the popular 2 Euro commemorative coins. All countries (also Andorra, Cyprus, Latvia, Malta, Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia and L), all different sets (eg Vacant Papal See from the Vatican), all years and all stamping places are supported, all together more than 2,500 variants.
So Many Euros Deluxe Edition helps you to keep track of your collection. Pictures of all the about 420 Euro coins will support you while trying to identify a given coin. For every coin there is information available about the motive and the number of copies with respect to the different variants. Of course you can save the number of copies you own for every coin so that it can be seen at a glance which coins are missing or which can be swapped. Using the extensive reporting function “Search” and “Offer” lists can be created.
These can easily be copied into e-mails for exchange partners. It is also possible to generate HTML pages for publish on your homepage or lists in BBCode for internet forums. So Many Euros Deluxe Edition is easy to handle due to its clearly structured graphical user interface. Within some minutes you will have all your existing coins registered.
Programme language is English, German, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Finnish, Polish, Slovak, Slovenian Czech, Russian, Greek or Catalan
The software features;
- all 22 countries
- all years (1999-2014)
- all stamping places
- all coins 1c to 2€
- all 2€ commemorative coins
- 2,500+ variants
- search & offer reports
- and much more, have a look at http://www.somany.de/euros/home.html
- you can also download a demo for free by going here http://www.somany.de/euros/download_e.html

domain: hobby


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YOGA FOR SINGERS
Allowing singers to explore and free their voice, body and mind through yoga, breath work and vocal techniques.
Rosie works with singers to find their own unique voice, and to sing with ease and confidence. With ten years of performing and teaching experience, Rosie uses a holistic approach to explore the voice as a whole instrument.
Find out more about how yogic techniques can help you find your voice.
How can Vox Yoga benefit me?
Vox Yoga is a holistic approach to voice training, considering the voice as a whole instrument. Exploring how to connect the body, breath, mind and voice, allows a singer to embody their performance and sing in a healthy and expressive way.
Yoga is fantastic for every body! As an experienced performer, singing teacher and yoga teacher, Rosie uses elements of yoga including asana (physical postures), pranayama (breathwork), meditation and mindfulness, combined with traditional vocal exercises, for a full body session.
Individual lessons are completely tailored to your needs and group workshops are a chance to explore different yoga postures, stretches and vocal techniques. Whether you've never done yoga before, want to explore your vocal ability or are a professional singer or voice user, Rosie works with all levels.
Rosie Secker has been performing and teaching professionally for the last ten years. Rosie has worked with students, singers, actors and voice users of all ages and levels, privately and at top institutions.
Rosie trained at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She has also completed Estill Levels 1&2, is a Certified Vocal Health First Aider and a Certified 500hr Yoga Teacher. Through her training, teaching experience, knowledge of physical and vocal anatomy, and ongoing research, Rosie works with singers to unlock the body and the mind to truly free the voice.
The 30 Day Yoga & Singing Practice Challenge has now finished and was a big success!
The challenge will be running again in the future (it's completely free!) so make sure you sign up to the Vox Yoga newsletter to stay in touch
FOR ALL BODIES & VOICES
Rosie is commited to offering a safe, accessible space for all participants of individual or group classes. Every race, age, gender, ability is welcome. Please do get in touch if you have any questions.

domain: artistic


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First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. bought a new stake in shares of Post Holdings Inc. (NYSE:POST) during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 10,016 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $828,000.
Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in shares of Post Holdings by 44.0% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 6,170,022 shares of the company’s stock valued at $424,312,000 after buying an additional 1,884,431 shares in the last quarter. University of Notre Dame DU Lac increased its position in shares of Post Holdings by 12.7% in the first quarter. University of Notre Dame DU Lac now owns 19,402 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,334,000 after buying an additional 2,185 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Post Holdings by 5.4% in the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 482,860 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,206,000 after buying an additional 24,706 shares during the period. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P increased its position in shares of Post Holdings by 24.2% in the first quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 690,875 shares of the company’s stock valued at $47,512,000 after buying an additional 134,635 shares during the period. Finally, Quadrature Capital Ltd bought a new position in shares of Post Holdings during the first quarter valued at about $1,072,000.
Shares of Post Holdings Inc. (NYSE:POST) traded down 1.123% during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $78.775. The stock had a trading volume of 232,154 shares. Post Holdings Inc. has a 1-year low of $50.93 and a 1-year high of $89.00. The firm’s market capitalization is $5.09 billion. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $81.23 and its 200-day moving average is $78.62.
Post Holdings (NYSE:POST) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 4th. The company reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, topping the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.13. Post Holdings had a positive return on equity of 5.44% and a negative net margin of 0.76%. The company had revenue of $1.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.26 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.27 earnings per share. Post Holdings’s revenue was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Post Holdings Inc. will post $2.46 earnings per share for the current year.
Several research analysts recently issued reports on POST shares. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Post Holdings in a research report on Friday, July 15th. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Post Holdings from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, October 8th. BB&T Corp. upgraded shares of Post Holdings from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $87.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Thursday, June 23rd. KeyCorp reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $90.00 price target on shares of Post Holdings in a research report on Monday, June 20th. Finally, Pivotal Research reduced their price target on shares of Post Holdings from $105.00 to $90.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $86.00.
In related news, CEO Richard R. Koulouris sold 21,942 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.33, for a total value of $1,872,310.86. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 28,334 shares in the company, valued at $2,417,740.22. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Post Holdings Company Profile
Post Holdings, Inc is a consumer packaged goods holding company. The Company operates through four segments, namely, Post Consumer Brands, Michael Foods Group, Active Nutrition and Private Brands. The Company’s Post Consumer Brands segment includes the Post Foods branded ready-to-eat cereal operations and the business of MOM Brands.
Want to see what other hedge funds are holding POST? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Post Holdings Inc. (NYSE:POST).
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domain: news


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Circa 8 AD
Completed around 8AD, Ovid’s Metamorphoses is viewed as an epic and the two hundred and fifty stories describe life, death and transformation.
Ovid was born Publius Ovidius Naso on March 20, 43BC , a year after the death of Julius Caesar. He lived in a time of calm and prosperity, and because of his family’s wealth, Ovid was able to write in peace.
Circa AD 100-200
Elements of Ovid’s Metamorphoses were used by Apuleius for his work called The Metamorphosis. The tale of Cupid and Psyche even begins with the line “Now there were in a certain city, the king, and the queen…”
Lucius, the hero of the book resorts to witchcraft in order to experience the sensations of a bird. However the attempt fails and the work describes his life as an animal, who needs to locate and eat rose petals in order to revert to being a man.
Little is known of Apuleius, Born 125 AD. He was the recipient of a large inheritance, which Apuleius spent on education, including initiations into mystery religions, probably including those of the gods Dionysus and Isis.
Circa AD 200-300
The timelines for this work are highly debatable, however it has been included at this point.
The Panchatantra, also spelled Pancatantra, is a collection of Indian animal fables, these have been widely circulated and re-told.
In theory, the Panchatantra is intended as a textbook of niti (“policy,” especially for kings and statesmen). The original Sanskrit text is a mixture of prose and stanzas of verse with the stories contained within.
Unfortunately there are no illustrations to go with the wonderful titles contained within the book and reproduced from the Contents page.
The book is written in Sanskrit, with the Foreword and Typographical Devices and Abbreviations in English.
Circa 900 AD
Stories from the 1001 nights, most commonly known in English as The Arabian nights, have been enormously popular in the West since the 18th century. We do not know the origins of this collection of wondrous tales, although it would appear to have been told in Arabic and Persian from the 8th century.
There are numerous versions of the stories and the themes include adventure and magic. These stories were likely to have travelled along trade routes to reach the West.
Circa 1000 AD
Beowulf is a story that is most certainly not for children and is yet another book that cannot easily be dated. The only surviving manuscript is from circa 1000AD.
Written in England but set in Scandanavia, Beowulf tells of how the Grendel has ravaged Heorot (the Great Hall). Beowulf fights and kills both the Grendel and the Grendel’s avenging mother.
Beowulf becomes king and reigns for fifty years but now the land is being ravaged by a fire breathing dragon. Beowulf kills the dragon but is mortally wounded.
In the 17th century, the French Salons were filled with authors of fairy tales. The most prolific and influential of these were Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy and Charles Perrault.
‘These special stories have fallen out of circulation, since the days when the French ladies and gentlemen all read fairy tales together, and the order of the Terrace was instituted for little Louis XV…It was not only children who liked fairy tales in those days: there was a general fashion for them.’ P. ix
Madame D'Aulnoy (born 1651) was a noble woman who published twelve books. Her most popular works were her fairy tales and adventure stories as told in Les Contes des Fées (Tales of fairies) and Contes Nouveaux, ou Les Fées à la Mode.
The book contains the story titled Le Petit Chaperon Rouge, which is the original Red Riding Hood.
Brothers Grimm, German folklorists and linguists (known for Grimm’s Fairy Tales), built on the traditions of other countries such as: Scandinavia, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland, England, Serbia, and Finland.
Hans Christian Andersen wrote 168 fairy tales and some these are as popular today as when they were first written.

domain: library


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Data Protection Update / 29th March 2017
You’ll have probably received an invite to a seminar from a professional services firm to explain the legalities behind GDPR. By GDPR we mean data protection changes.
Since Websand helps marketers create ‘data driven marketing’ we’ve been following this closely and making sure our platform helps make our users ‘future proofed’.
Now that the conscious uncoupling between the UK and the EU has begun, the GDPR will begin to take shape from a regulation to law.
Brexit is irrelevant to this. The UK will still be part of the EU when it becomes a legal requirement, and it’s going to be a ‘standard’ for doing business anyway.
And, it’s also a great excuse to put some ‘best practice’ in place and improve your business.
A date of 25 May 2018 has been mentioned, so that’s only one Christmas away. If you are a digital marketer or if your business collects customer data (pretty much everyone then). Please take some time to read these posts, as you’ll need to get prepared.
If you need help, please get in touch.
Now back to the main event… winter is coming.
Data Protection Update aka GDPR — what does that mean?
Strange that every update I’ve written about the EU Data Protection update (now known as GDPR) seem to be linked to Game Of Thrones. The correlation continues, as in the week the EU Data Protection update (GDPR) were agreed, and guess what… Game Of Thrones began a new season (season six if you were wondering).
Whatsmore, the new Data Protection update (GDPR) will take two years to come into effect. Game of Thrones has two more seasons. So when Game of Thrones ends, the EU Data Protection Regulations will come into force. As I said in the first blog post, winter is coming, and in two years time it will arrive (for both marketers and most likely in Game Of Thrones).
So down to business…
What does the EU Data Protection Update (GDPR) mean for You
The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) are a game changer. You need to know the details and you need to act on the details.
The changes affect the following areas.
- How you collect data
- How you use the data you collect
- Your bottom line — if you get this wrong, you will be fined and that could mean a lot of money.
It’s a complex subject, so we are going address this piece by piece, and in the spirit of the (GDPR) data protection regulations we are going to do our best to use simple English to it’s easy to understand.
This post focuses on data collection points 1 and 2.
Collecting data from people.
Let’s start at the beginning — the point you collect data from ANYONE! That’s B2B and B2C.
You need to make sure that you are communicating the following information to the person you are collecting the data from.
- Your contact retails and the details of your data protection officer (yes, you will probably need one of those).
- Why you are collecting this data from the person, i.e. what you are going to do with the data.
- If the data is going to be used by a third party, who will receive or use the data.
- Make sure that the person knows of their rights to erase or amend their data.
- Make sure they know how long you are going to keep it the data for.
- If you need to collect the data as a part of what you do — i.e. they can’t use your service without this information — you need to be clear about this, and why it’s important.
- Make sure you get consent from the person, and make sure they know how they can remove their consent.
- If you are profiling, you need to make sure people are aware that the data they are providing will be used for this purpose.
- Show them the route to complain about any data processing issue.
- And finally, if you change any reasons related to how you use and collect data you need to make sure everyone knows.
OK, that’s a long list and I’ve tried to use simple and clear English. You will have to do the same when you communicate this.
- Use a big font.
- Use clear English, avoid legalese.
- Make sure the most important details are at the top — (who you are, and what you will use the data for)
- If you need to go into lots of detail — use a summary and hyperlink this to a more detailed page.
Do you need a data protection officer?
If you are dealing with a lot of data, e.g. an e-commerce business, then yes. It’s likely you will need to appoint a data protection officer for your business, irrespective of the size of your business.
So that’s the starting point, more detailed information can be found from the excellent DMA GDPR microsite and also from the Information Commissioner website (they will soon be sitting on the Iron Throne)
Please share this with your peers and let us know your thoughts and questions.
Originally published at Websand.

domain: law


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The World soul concept in Greek philosophy
The idea of a soul of the world has played an extremely important part throughout the entire history of philosophy. And at the outset of our discussion we shall attempt to gain an understanding of what the term "world soul" implies. Dr. J. H. Tufts gives the following definition in the Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology; "An intelligent, moving force, or directing and organizing principle, sustaining the same relation to the cosmos as the Soul or Psyche sustains to the rest of the individual." This definition will serve as a point of departure for our discussion, but we shall see later what wide ramifications the world soul concept has had under constantly changing influences in the fields of religion, philosophy and science.


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Theresa May really is kicking the can down the road. It seems that her new strategy for Brexit is to delay, delay, and delay some more.
I mean, to be fair, she is dealing with the Ireland issue. That is not easy for anyone to handle – but delaying Brexit is just delaying the agony.
We need to tackle this head on right now. If we don’t do it now, then who knows if Brexit will ever even happen. The next General Election is 2022 – God knows who will be in charge by then, and they’ll have a whole year before Brexit even happens!


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It’s the summer holidays and you’ve already as broke as can be. But do not fear, there’s loads to do in the Mother City that won’t cost you a dime.
Take a hike up Lion’s Head
You can’t call yourself a Capetonian if you haven’t climbed Lion’s Head. This landmark is situated between Table Mountain and Signal Hill, and is one of the most popular hikes in Cape Town.
Best of all, it’s free — and it boasts a wonderfully panoramic view of the city. The hike itself will take you less than two hours to complete and is easy to navigate, even for beginners.
Newlands Forest is another exhilarating but easy hike. The 7km loop is also dog-friendly and it will take you about two hours at a comfortable pace.
Catch the Golden Hour and Cape Town’s best views
Pack a picnic and watch the sun set at Chapman’s Peak or Signal Hill. They’re both free and arguably deliver the most scenic views you can get of the city.
If you enter the drive from Hout Bay side, you can access Chapmans Peak for free (during daylight hours) and navigate through 3km of raw beauty.
Signal Hill is also a great spot to enjoy a sunset and picnic. To ensure you get a good spot to sit, go at least 45 minutes before sunset.
Get a workout at Green Point urban park
It’s more than a picnic spot, it’s also considered an educational opportunity to learn more about the Western Cape biodiversity.
Enjoy a free workout and take advantage of the gym equipment in the park. Sit, back, relax and watch kids play on the slides while you enjoy a flask of coffee underneath the trees.
Feed the squirrels: It’s fun and free
Explore the architecture of the city and feed the squirrels at Company’s Garden. This free spot is home to dozens of species of birds, and a variety of flora and fauna.
Escape the bustle of the city and enjoy the stunning Ginko trees in what is known as “Cape Town’s lungs”.
Score birthday freebies in December
- Now that the cinemas have reopened, you can enjoy a 2D or 3D movie for up to six days after your birthday at Ster-Kinekor — for free!
- Calories don’t count on your birthday, so enjoy a free slice of cake using the Mugg & Bean generosity application or redeem a dozen OGs of donuts from Krispy Kremes.
- If you’re more adventure-driven, you can get free entry to some of Cape Town’s best outdoor activities. These include the Two Oceans Aquarium and a free ride on the Cape Wheel at the V&A Waterfront.
- If your child is aged between five and 15 years, and celebrating a birthday in December, they are eligible for a free ride on the City Sightseeing Bus for themselves and two friends.
- Or take a ride to the top of Table Mountain, where patrons over 18 can get a free birthday return ticket from the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway.

domain: travel


text:
JUNE 21, 2021
At Campbell, we believe farmers play a significant role in making the food you love to eat. For over 150 years, we’ve built strong connections with farmers. Today, we’re proud to introduce you to Tommy Dollar, third-generation owner and President of Dollar Family Farms in Bainbridge, Georgia.
According to Tommy Dollar, his farm operation has 4,000 acres of cotton, corn, peanuts, cattle, pine trees—and grandchildren.
“My grandfather started Dollar Farm Products, a farm supply business, in 1939,” Tommy says. “I built our first cotton gin in 1988 and started Dollar Family Farms in 1990.”
Today, Tommy’s son, Hugh, manages the farm operations while Tommy focuses on broader initiatives such as managing water quality. Tommy also co-founded and serves on the board of the American Peanut Growers Group [APGG], a cooperative handling and peanut shelling group for farmers in Georgia and Alabama.
Peanuts—in a nutshell
Peanuts are a longtime rotation crop in the sandy soils of southwest Georgia. The planting season begins in April or May, after the field has been sampled to confirm growing conditions are right. The Dollars sow 150 pounds of seeds per acre—one seed every two inches, in twin rows seven inches apart. The plants, with their delicate yellow flowers, grow above ground, but the pods with the peanuts—which are the seeds—grow underground.
After 140 to 145 days, sometime in September through November, as much as 2 tons of pods are ready for harvesting.
The Dollars plow up the peanuts and let them dry in the field for two to four days, depending on the sunlight. Then they pick the peanuts and use dryers to reduce the moisture. Government inspectors grade the peanuts for size, volume, coloration, and other parameters. The peanuts are stored in 27 warehouses until they can be hauled to the shelling plant.
A grower-owned shelling plant
In the early 2000s, a group of peanut growers including Tommy got together to invest and start their own peanut shelling organization.
APGG was formed as a grower-owned shelling facility so they could sell directly to the end user, companies like Campbell! In fact, APGG’s longest relationship is with Lance crackers. Our Lance peanut butter sandwich crackers include their split kernels.
The shelling facility is known for its high-quality peanuts and President and CEO Neal Flanagan thinks that’s partly because of the equitable way they operate.
“Everyone is treated the same,” says Neal. “Tommy is one of our larger share-holders, but the way all 130-plus growers are paid is the same, whether you’re a 50-ton grower or a 10,000-ton grower.”
In addition to their focus on quality and food safety, APGG is also committed to reducing their environmental impact. One way they promote sustainability is by conducting surveys to learn how their farmers manage resources, from water to soil. By sharing their findings, farmers can learn from one another and have a baseline to improve performance over time.
APGG also installed solar panels, to help meet the rising cost of electricity.
Spreading knowledge and cheer
Hugh and Tommy meet every morning at 7 a.m.
“I want him to be an expert,” Tommy says, “and I try to help with what I’ve learned. It’s not as simple as planting a seed and harvesting it.”
The Dollars rely heavily on experts at the University of Georgia, Auburn University, and the University of Florida to understand how to grow peanuts sustainably by preserving water quality and quantity, and natural habitats.
“I’ll never learn everything about growing crops, but I can learn something every day. Never quit learning.”-Tommy Dollar, Peanut farmer and co-founder of American Peanut Growers Group
That learning has helped Tommy and his team weather the inevitable bad times.
“I have to do everything I can to be the cheerleader. I try to help our farm and our industry be profitable and stay in business through the good years and bad years. When I come to work and see the trucks going out to get a load of fertilizer, the workers planting peanuts that will become food people will enjoy, and the farmers coming to talk—that’s what I thrive on.”

domain: food


text:
This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers visit http://www.djreprints.com.
Dover, Simon Property Group, and Papa John’s International were among the many U.S. companies that announced dividend increases this week.
Manufacturing company Dover (ticker: DOV) plans to boost its quarterly payout to 50 cents a share, up by half a cent, or 1%. The stock, which yields 1.2%, has returned about 35% this year, dividends included, through Aug. 5, compared with 19% for the S&P 500.

domain: economics


text:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The Commerce Department's U.S. Census Bureau today released June 2012 data on new residential construction (PDF). Housing starts in June 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 760,000, up 6.9 percent from May’s revised estimate and up 23.6 percent from June 2011. Starts of multifamily structures increased 12.8 percent, and single-family starts rose 4.7 percent. Building permits for the month were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 755,000, down 3.7 percent from the revised May rate but up 19.3 percent from one year earlier.
“In June, new home starts hit their highest level since October 2008, and housing permits are up 29 percent in the first six months of this year compared to last,” said Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank. “However, while the housing market is stabilizing, too many homes are still underwater and too many homeowners are still struggling to make ends meet. While there are no quick fixes, there are things Congress can do right now to create jobs, including passing President Obama’s proposals to cut red tape so responsible homeowners who are paying their mortgage can refinance at today’s lower rates.”

domain: finance


text:
This week's topic of discussion is celebrity. The status and wealth that celebrity often brings (or the celebrity that status and wealth often brings) often sets celebrities apart from the rest of us in profound ways. Some, like Chris Norris, would argue that celebrity and the media have propagated a "toxic new form of narcissism" among common folks as well. YouTube, blogging, and the seemingly constant availability of at least a small audience is available to all of us.
Read the following article and then answer the question below:
“Hitting Bottom' by Chris Norris from The New York Times
Chris Norris discusses the connection between celebrity and addiction. How do you think he makes this connection? Do you think he's right about the relationship? Dr. Drew (Drew Pinsky), the subject of Norris's article, is a celebrity himself. What does narcissism have to do with addiction? Do you think there is, like Norris suggests, a toxic narcissism in American culture?

domain: sociology


text:
Free Amnesiac in Best QualityNow you can see Amnesiac in best look with duration 90 Min and has been launched in 2015-08-14 with MPAA rating is 3.
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- Language of movie : English,
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- Cast of movie :Kate Bosworth (Woman), Wes Bentley (Man), Shashawnee Hall (Detective), Richard Riehle (Postman), Patrick Bauchau (Doctor), Olivia Rose Keegan (Audrey)
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Download full Amnesiac in HD Quality with movie plot "The story of a man who wakes up in bed suffering from memory loss after being in an accident, only to begin to suspect that his wife may not be his real wife and that a web of lies and deceit deepen inside the house where he soon finds himself a prisoner." in high definition format. Download full Amnesiac in HD Format by push of the download link.
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domain: entertainment


text:
Bulldog girls take big wins
What a week it was for the Baldwin High School girls. A pair of victories put them in good shape for a run at the Frontier League title and a top spot in sub-state play.
First BHS started off with a 49-44 win over Spring Hill, ranked No. 4 in Class 4A, on Tuesday. Spring Hill has a 16-3 record, but two of those losses have come to the Bulldogs. Then, on senior recognition night, BHS polished off Paola 41-25, a team that had handled the Bulldogs easily earlier in the year. It was the Class 5A Panther's first league loss of the year.
The pair of victories left BHS with a 14-3 overall record, 5-1 in the league. The Bulldogs played at Osawatomie Tuesday (results weren't available by press time), will play host to Eudora Thursday at 5 p.m. in a make-up game and at Louisburg Friday. Victories would ensure a tie for the league crown with Paola and a No. 3 seed in the Baldwin Class 4A Sub-State Tournament next week.
"We couldn't have asked for a better week," said coach Eric Toot. "It was a great week for the girls. We only have one league loss. If we take care of business this week, we can tie for the league title."
As for sub-state, it looks like Burlington will be the top seed, Ottawa No. 2, BHS No. 3 and Anderson County No. 4. Those teams would have first-round sub-state games at home Tuesday. BHS's likely opponent is Iola. There's an outside chance it could be Prairie View.
But, it wouldn't be that way without last week's results. Friday's win was special for many reasons. Revenge over Paola and a share of the league title were important. But, senior Suzie Weege, who has started every game this year, was joined by classmates Kristen Wessel, Tarin Troth and Mandy Moore in the starting lineup, along with junior Colleen Kivett. That all helped, too.
"Friday night just kind of went perfect from the start," said Toot. "They've (the seniors) have all played and are important to our team. They deserve it."
BHS opened a slim 10-8 first-quarter lead in the hard-fought, defensive-minded game. By halftime, the Bulldogs were up 18-14. A 14-6 third quarter opened the game up and BHS put it away with a 10-4 advantage in the fourth.
"Everybody played well," he said. "We've improved since we played Paola the first time. The first time they were more aggressive and physical. Our defense has improved. We were in the right position, where we weren't the last time."
Kivett and 6-foot-1 freshman Emily Brown both wound up with 14 points to lead the Bulldogs.
As or the Spring Hill game, what another doozy. It was tied 12-12 after the first quarter. Spring Hill took a three-point advantage at halftime, 20-17. BHS chipped that down to two in third quarter, outscoring the Broncos 15-14.
Down by two heading in the fourth frame, BHS went on a 17-10 roll that meant the difference. Junior guard Jodie Bacon made the big difference, scoring 10 of her game-high 18 points down the stretch.
"We just outscored them 17-10 in the fourth quarter," said Toot. "It was a close game and I thought we'd put it together and we did.
"Those were two very big wins for our team," he said. "I thought we had improved, but this showed it. It's a credit to the team. That's what I'm excited about. We're improving at the right time.
Also in double digits against Spring Hill were Brown with 13 points and Kivett with 10.
Toot is especially excited about hosting the sub-state, with the second and third round games scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
"We're really looking forward to our chances at sub-state," he said. "If people come out to watch the tournament, they're going to see some good basketball."


text:
Cerro San Lorenzo - Mountain Ascent in PatagoniaPlease, note! This tour offer has expired. For similar tour offers currently available search here.
Tour Duration: 15 day(s)
Group Size: 4 - 8 people
Destination(s): Argentina Chile
Specialty Categories: Ice Climbing Mountain/Rock Climbing
Season: September - November
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 2560 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 2560 US Dollar (USD)
Towards the west we have a dense rain forest, towards east the drier Patagonian steppe. Cerro San Lorenzo is the natural frontier that distinguishes the climates. There is an abundance of fossilized forests and Paleolithic pits of the indigenous people that give testimony to the past in the forms of crafts and cave paintings. The mountain was first climbed in 1943 by a team leaded by the Italian missionary and photographer Alberto de Agostini. Cerro San Lorenzo is an immense glaciated peak( the 2nd highest in Patagonia) located in the Argentine border SE of Cochrane.
The ascent of the peak itself is a 7 to 10 days expedition requiring solid glacier progression and some easy ice climbing skills.
Is an excellent option for ski tourers. Also remote valleys at the base of the peak makes it spectacular for almost every trekker.
Day 1: We meet in Balmaceda airport depending on arrival we drive to Cochrane or stay in Coyhaique. Night in Hotel.
Day 2: We drive by 4x4 wheel drive and trek to the Fundo San Lorenzo. Assisted by horses. We will be welcome by the Soto's Family and a good asado. Takes 4 hs more or less. Night in tents.
Day 3: Trekking to Camp Agostini, the base camp (1000 mts). Assisted by horses.4 hs. Today here there is a great cabin which gives a good comfort for the bad weather days. Night in hut or tents.
Day 4: We will climb towards Paso Comedor(1950 meters) 5-6 hours. This will be C 1.
Day 5: Climb to Brecha de la Cornisa (2150 mts) then traverse and access to Gl. Calluqueo where we will settle camp II, right below Northern Shoulder.
Day 6: Summit attempt and descend to Camp II. This will be a long day.
Day 7: Descend to Camp Agostini. Night in the hut.
Day 8 - 12: Extra days if we need them because the bad weather.
Day 13: Hike back from the hut to Fundo San Lorenzo.
Day 14: Return back to Cochrane.
Day 15: End of Services.
The climb can be done in 6 perfect days which is very hard to get in Patagonia, you have to expect bad weather.
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
- UIAGM-IFMGA-IVBV Mountain guide and assistant
- All meals during the expedition
- Transportation from Balmaceda airport to the starting point
- Transportation back to Balmaceda
- Lodging in Fundo San Lorenzo and hut
- Tents, stoves, camping gear
- Night in Hotel during the first and last day of the trip
- Horses for carrying gear
- Domestic and international flights
- Meals in cities, towns
- Crampons, harnesses, ice axe could be provided / rented if is necessary.

domain: geography


Innovative Precision: iMeter
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- The smart laser rangefinder has only one button. Press and hold to start, and then press to begin measuring. You will definitely notice the "novice-friendly" user experience. The patent "little yellow ring" is a mode of rubber paint-soft to the touch and convenient to hold.
- Connect to the MI Home App to Access Many More Functions: Use Bluetooth to directly connect your rangefinder to a mobile phone with the MI Home App. You'll be able to store measurements, map floor plans, and read measurements on your phone in real time.
- Real-time sharing, taking photos, drawing, measuring, creating floor plans, export pictures to albums with one click.
- Convenient Measure Everything of Any Size: From room length and width, window height, to furniture size, everything can be measured with up to 0.001 meters of accuracy.
- The Simple but Effective OLED Display: The patent hidden screen design uses a lower power consumption OLED screen that clearly displays measurement data, power, and Bluetooth connection status. High-strength engineering materials and anti-scratch UV paint-free matte texture from fingerprints.
- Double Laser Transmitters for High Accuracy (in mm): The laser head structure ensures a series of complex steps of "laser emission, internal calibration, secondary laser emission, and measurement data feedback," all within 0.2 seconds. This data is accurate within 2mm.
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— Charging Interface: TYPE-C
— Weight: 36g


text:
LONDON, January 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Amarin Corporation plc (NASDAQ: AMRND) today announced that, at a General Meeting held yesterday, its shareholders approved a 1 for 10 reverse split of each of its Ordinary Shares. The reverse split became effective as of the close of business yesterday, January 17, 2008.
Thomas Lynch, Amarin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented "We are very pleased to report that over 95% of the votes cast by our shareholders approved the one-for-ten reverse stock split. We have made good progress in recent months expanding our management team and broadening our pipeline and look forward to executing on our strategy which we believe will drive shareholder value in 2008."
Under customary Nasdaq practice, with effect from today, January 18, 2008, and for a period of 20 trading days, a "D" will be appended to Amarin's Nasdaq ticker symbol and during that period Amarin's Nasdaq ticker symbol will appear as "AMRND".
Through 2007, the Company embarked upon a program of broadening its development pipeline with the objective of having multiple late stage programs with an appropriate balance of portfolio risk.
This was facilitated by the achievement of a number of important milestones. Firstly, the completion of a comprehensive analysis of the 12-month data from the US Phase III trial of Miraxion (AMR101) in Huntington's disease (HD) showing a statistically significant benefit with Miraxion over longer periods of treatment, and the corresponding feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Amarin also conducted a thorough analysis and re-configuration of its
existing pipeline from which the Company's cardiovascular initiative was
|SOURCE Amarin Corporation Plc|
Copyright©2008 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved


You know climate change is no longer undeniable when the two biggest polluters of the world finally agree start getting serious about it.
Earlier this week the US and China issued a joint presidential statement regarding their action plan on climate change. It’s a reaffirmation of the historic Joint Announcement on Climate Change which they agreed on November of last year. Since then the two nations have been busy taking key steps in achieving their united goal.
Death to the smokestack.
(Image from Rickety.us)
This here is a very significant pledge for three important reasons.
For one, it will set the tempo for the upcoming UN Paris talks happening this November. For years, developing nations have been waiting on the two giant nations to make the big move, something that never happened in UN talks of years past. If any clear commitment was going to be made, it should naturally come from the very nations who contribute to climate change the most.
For another, this commitment is necessary to reach …
Sex robots are upon us. They’re, well… excuse the pun, coming.
Already one company, TrueCompanion, has spent roughly a million dollars on the development of Roxxxy, a life-sized interactive sex robot. Thus far, regular sex dolls in the market have only been mere playthings, with idealized bodily proportions and always accessible orifices. These sex dolls are essentially lifeless objects, alive only in the user’s imagination, becoming inert once more after they’ve been used.
The perfectly agreeable and idealized Roxxxy at your service. (Image from SimonRoses.com)
But not Roxxxy. Imbued with artificial intelligence, Roxxxy is, as her slogan claims, “always turned on and ready to talk or play.” In this way, she transcends her role as a mere sex doll, she now has the potential to become—true to her company’s name—a True Companion. That’s very possible considering the rate at which AI technology proceeds. Just this week, a computer called Giraffe, taught itself how to play chess and became master in it in just three days. True, Siri and Cortana may be lightyears away from the wonderfully aware and shrewd OS that is Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) in the film Her (2013), but who knows what new heights of awareness those two will reach in the next few decades, or even a couple of years?
Last August, the MIT Media Lab’s Mediated Matter Group headed by Neri Oxman, in partnership with the MIT Glass Lab and the Wyss Institute at Harvard University, unveiled a fascinating novel way to 3D print glass previously not possible.
Yes, glass—that awesome material which inspires ephemerality and mysticism, fragility and elegance—can now be 3-D printed.
Oxman and her team uses a platform called G3DP, which can print optically transparent glass to such geometric precision that they influence the play of light passing through. G3DP uses two heated chambers for this purpose: the upper chamber is a kiln that heats glass to more than 1,900 degrees Fahrenheit, while the lower chamber is where glass continues to be heated and then cooled down, a process called “annealing.” Then the syrupy glass is oozed out of an alumina-zircon-silica nozzle that moves around accordingly. We’ve seen concrete being piped out to 3-D print walls and other structures,…
In the past, the challenge was to maximize the tiny cramped space of condo units making it modernly and elegantly minimal yet fully livable. That’s all been done. The new challenge is to make them sustainable every square feet that matters.
It’s voting time (August 11-Sept 11) for USGBC’s (U.S. Green Building Council) proposed rating system, unveiled last April. It’s a new suite of ratings call LEED v4 O+M: Multifamily.
High-rise condominiums in land-strapped Singapore (Image from Wikipedia)
Early on when LEED v4 was launched, new categories of projects—such as data centers, schools, warehouses, and hospitality—were made eligible, each tailored with their own set of guidelines …
Back when BEE was still working on naked Stables, it was still LEED 2009. Targeting a LEED platinum certification, the resort merged 5-star luxury hospitality with pure honest-to-goodness sustainability.
It wasn’t until 2013, with the launch of LEED v4, that the hospitality sector (among other new markets such as data centers, warehouses and distribution centers, schools) would have its own distinct set of green building standards. And since then, hotels have had a new humbling goal to aspire to, to set themselves apart from the competition. Luxury hotels that gracefully include sustainability in their bottom line mean serious business especially for eco-conscious clients.
Set amid lush forests, the peaceful retreat that is naked Stables.
LEED v4’s Impact on Green Hotels
Thanks to LEED, USGBC’s


text:
I vaguely remember a rumour that Edward Norton was to replace Keifer for season 4.
It would take someone like Norton to replace Jack. But why would someone like Norton bother with some TV show?
Too bad they can't just bring back "Adam Kaufman." I guess he's pretty busy nowdays.


text:
These are just a few of the lifestyle trends to be picked up on by Dion Chang of Flux Trends at the Caesarstone Design and Trend Forecast at Decorex Joburg in August this year. Dion, one of South Africa's leading trend analysts, is first on the lineup that includes a global décor trend report as well as a report back from EuroCucina.
Decorex Joburg takes place from 6-10 August kicking off with the Design and Trend Forecast as well as the first ever 100% Design South Africa taking place alongside the exhibition, this promises to be the most exciting Decorex Joburg ever. Surface designer Caesarstone, a global leader in lifestyle design, will be bringing the trend forecast to Decorex Joburg. Bookings have opened for the event that will take place on 7 August.
"We are delighted that Caesarstone has chosen to present the Design and Trend Forecast at Decorex Joburg," said Sian Steyn, GM of the Decorex SA Portfolio. "Our vision is to continue to grow Decorex Joburg into an unmissable event on the décor diary - with all the products, ideas, know-how and now trend updates possible, under one roof. An event of this calibre certainly makes a trip to Decorex Joburg even more important."
Dion Chang presented his talk recently at Decorex Cape Town, where he touched upon various lifestyle subjects, predicting radical changes in media and communication in coming years.
Visual and video mediums continue to be the most important form of communication, although he also forecasts a renewed popularity of print magazines and books when individuals tire of working and socialising on screens and feel the need to "unplug".
Caesarstone will be dishing up a taste of the very latest kitchen design trends as seen at Eurocucina earlier this year. Communications Manager Lisa Aspeling was there and will report back on how open plan kitchens have resulted in more linear designs and that surfaces are more matte and textured than the high gloss of previous years. Lisa's Eurocucina report will also include a stunning video content for some exciting inspiration.
Book your tickets now for the Caesarstone Design and Trend Forecast at Decorex Joburg. Visit www.decorex.co.za
for more information and watch the video below for a visual preview of the event:
Decorex Joburg details:
Gallagher Convention Centre
10am - 7pm daily. 10am to 6pm on Sunday
Adults R100, Students/pensioners R85 and Children under 12 R15
for more info
Facebook: Decorex SA
Decorex Joburg forms part of the Decorex SA portfolio and is owned by Thebe Reed Exhibitions.

domain: design


text:
Black Lives in Music Survey reveals systemic racism in UK Music Industry13 October 2021 - Press release
Black Lives in Music (BLiM) have released the results and findings of their survey - Being Black in the UK Music Industry Pt. 1.- which set out to capture data on the experiences of music industry professionals and creators.
It found conclusive evidence supporting the long-held beliefs about racial discrimination and has illustrated disturbing experiences of systemic and institutionalised racism in the UK Music Industry.
Read the report here
The largest survey of black musicians and music industry professionals conducted in the UK, partnering withOpinium Research, revealed a majority of those who took part have experienced direct or indirect acts of racism in the music industry.
The survey provides real-life data in the wake of revelations made by artists such as Raye, Alexandra Burke, Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Beverley Knight, Sugababes’ Keisha Buchanan and Mis-Teeq’s Sabrina Washington who have all recently spoke out about the covert and overt ways race has been a hindrance to their careers.
Those surveyed reported a range of discriminatory acts and “sometimes hostile working environments”. All founded on factors including barriers to progression based on their ethnicity, the marked and particular ways Black women are specifically affected, income inequalities and more.
Additionally, the survey found Black artists were granted less studio time than their white counterparts, refused event performance opportunities and being told to change the type of music they create. Furthermore, the widespread assumption that they are ‘urban artists’ despite the genre of music they make because of their race.
Black female artists in particular have been told by management companies and labels that they need to assimilate to white/euro-centric standards as they do not know how to market a black female artist.
Key findings include:
- 86% of all Black music creators agree that there are barriers to progression. This number rises to 89% for Black women and 91% for Black creators who are disabled
- 88% of all Black music professionals agree that there are barriers to progression
- Three in five (63%) Black music creators have experienced direct/indirect racism in the music industry, and more (71%) have experienced racial microaggressions
- 35% of all Black music creators have felt the need to change their appearance because of their race/ethnicity, rising to 43% of Black women
- 73% of Black music professionals have experienced direct/indirect racism in the music industry, and more (80%) have experienced racial microaggressions
- 31% of all Black music creators believe their mental wellbeing has worsened since starting their music career, rising to 42% of Black women
- 36% of Black music professionals believe their mental wellbeing has declined, rising to 39% of Black women
- 38% of Black music professionals earn 100% of their income from music compared to 69% of white music professionals.
- 57% of black music creators have seen white contemporaries promoted ahead of them despite being more qualified
The results illuminate statements made by high profile artists about their experience in the UK music industry. X Factor winner Alexandra Burke revealed in a BBC documentary special hosted earlier this year by Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock that she was told - "You need to bleach your skin because you won't sell any records."
Further highlighting the under-discussed realities of colourism, Beverley Knight told ITV News in 2020 that a record company digitally lightened her skin on the cover of her first album so she’d appear more presentable and acceptable to a non-black audience.
Keisha Buchanan, founding member of Sugababes emotionally revealed that she went through a decade of therapy in the wake of her controversial departure from the group in 2009. She claims she was consistently labelled an “aggressive bully” and stereotypically portrayed as an “angry Black woman”. Saying “I didn’t realise that I would be having to go through therapy to help me to cope with some of the trauma that I’ve experienced while being in the Sugababes, or being in the public eye”.
Raye has also opened up about the negative impacts to her mental health that she experienced while fighting with her record label who refused to release her album. She recently told The Guardian, “I am just beside myself about how the beautiful songwriters that I know, a lot of whom are women, and a lot of whom are women of colour, are just hustling out here. I’m angry, I’m raging.”
The survey found some stark data identifying a link between this discrimination and mental wellbeing, especially among Black women. 42% of Black women surveyed said their mental health had worsened since starting a career in music and 16% had sought counselling due to racial abuse. Citing various reasons from the barriers to progression and overt racial discrimination, the report also found that Black women earn 25% less on average than their white female colleagues, and 46% earn less than half their revenue from music (compared to) creating extra pressure to find other routes to supplement their income.
The BLiM Survey makes several recommendations to address the issues and emphasises collaboration across the UK music industry as key to addressing imbalances.
Transparency around the gender and ethnic pay gap, training programmes to increase diversity in middle and senior management in music organisations and investment in grassroots music education are some of the key points. BLiM also calls on the music industry to create an anti-racism support service to support creators and professionals with a helpline available to Black creators and professionals who experience racism in the music industry. Also, providing referral and in-depth therapeutic support.
Join BLiM for a weekly series of webinars ‘Being Black In The UK Music Industry’ from October 13th - 3rd November, dissecting the report and what it means to be a Black creator or industry professional in the UK, co-sponsored bytunecore. Register via www.guesthouslive.co.uk
Charisse Beaumont, Chief Executive, Black Lives in Music:
“You cannot change what you cannot measure. Nearly 2000 people responded to our survey on ‘The lived experience of Black music creators and industry professionals in the UK music industry’. That is 2000 people hoping for genuine change. This report is the first of its kind and holds a mirror up to the UK music industry showing what it actually looks like. The disparities Black creators and industry professionals are faced with is rooted in traditionalism and systemic racism. The report highlights racist culture and behaviours in the workplace, financial barriers and lack of investment in Black music creators, and industry professionals unable to reach their career goals. The report also spotlights Black women being the most disadvantaged across all areas of the music industry and how all of these factors affect the mental health of Black creators and industry professionals. This is data, you cannot ignore it. The data clearly shows that change is needed across the entire music ecosystem from grass root education, all the way up to record labels. I hope industry leaders read this report and hear the voice of those who spoke out. I hope this report evokes change in the way we do our music business which has greatly profited from Black talent.
“We are looking forward to working with all music industry leaders to ensure that we can achieve change, together.”
Paulette Long OBE:
“The BLiM ‘Being Black in the UK Music Industry Pt.1’ Report has really given a voice to the voiceless. It's the first time a survey gathering data from artists of colour working in the UK music industry has been actioned and published. This information alongside data from Black Industry Professionals in the sector further reinforces the UK Music Diversity Workforce Survey, with the potent stories from BLiM further underpinning the data that has been gathered. Data that confirms without doubt, that the UK music industry does indeed have a systemic racism problem within its ecosystem. 2020 was the first time I have seen the dial really begin to shift in terms of the industry slowly becoming aware that there was a real issue to be dealt with, and the first time that the various organisations, educational establishments and companies big and small began to collectively action positive change. Despite the slew of black squares proclaiming solidarity and support for the cause, there are already some signs of that solidarity turning into fatigue. BLiMs report will help stoke the relevant conversations that are needed to bring about real and permanent change, and ensure that the previous inertia of the past never again becomes an acceptable norm.”
Help Musicians - James Ainscough, CEO
“Thanks to Black Lives in Music, the data in this report proves that the individual stories we hear from professional musicians cannot be explained away as rare, one-off incidents but are illustrative of significant, widespread problems that we must all work together to address. It is clear there is more that Help Musicians should do, collaboratively, to create lasting change within the music ecosystem and we look forward to engaging with the BLiM team to work out where we can be most impactful. It is a privilege to be a major funder of BLiM and we hope that the creation of this report will help us, and others, make a difference to improving the lives and careers of black musicians.”
PRS Foundation - Joe Frankland, CEO
“The UK music sector has a lot more work to do to tackle the anti-Black racism which prevents Black music creators and music professionals from fulfilling their potential and is therefore holding the whole industry back.
The Black Lives in Music Report 2021 lays out severe inequalities and differences in experiences in a way that makes it easy to see how underrepresented, marginalised and under-supported Black people in music are, and how urgently we must all address these issues.
The report has built a much clearer picture of the barriers we have been discussing through our POWER UP initiative launch and participant open call. A huge majority of Black music creators and industry professionals experience barriers to progression, with an unacceptable proportion of people experiencing direct and indirect racism. And these barriers have worsened as a result of the pandemic which is disproportionately impacting those already underrepresented. The situation for Black women in the survey is different and more pronounced, and an intersectionality lens needs to be applied to any work the sector does to improve things.
As CEO at PRS Foundation, I am more determined than ever to address the issues shown in the report, and through POWER UP we are proud to work closely with Charisse, Roger and the Black Lives in Music team, aligning approaches to achieve the meaningful change many survey respondents and those in the wider music community demand.”
Tunecore - Faryal Khan-Thompson, VP of International:
“Black Women Matter: We still need to identify, acknowledge, and tackle the problem of intersectional racism in the music industry that hits Black women the worst. This report clearly highlights this, and it is so important to have research done that focuses specifically on the challenges Black creators and industry professionals face, because we know that much of the industry has and continues to profit off of Black people and appropriates Black culture; and yet they are the most disadvantaged community in the industry today. BLIM’s report should serve as a catalyst for industry-wide change. As a woman of South Asian descent, it’s important I recognize my various privileges but also solidarities with Black communities, that lead naturally to developing an allyship with them, especially black women creators in the industry. There is a lot of work to be done, and I commend BLiM for their groundbreaking research study and will do whatever I can to support their mission.”
Leigh Morgan, Global Director of Editorial & Marketing, Believe:
“In 2020 we stood in solidarity with the music industry and the community of Black professionals, initially we participated in #BlackoutTuesday. Since then our teams have been building initiatives, strategies and finding leading partners to help break down the barriers of structural racism which are not only pervasive within the music industry but throughout society. At Believe we feel passionately that things need to change and this change is being sought by our people at every level. We have been extremely happy to have found and work with the team at BLiM here in the UK. We thank them for creating this first of a kind report. The report makes for uncomfortable reading but we are fully supportive of it and its findings.”
Graham Davies, CEO of The Ivors Academy:
“We fully support the report’s recommendations and are committed to playing our part to bring about transformative change in the music industry. Our thanks go to Black Lives in Music and all the respondents for providing details of their experiences. This report is an important step towards our shared goal of an inclusive industry that’s free of prejudice and discrimination, where there’s equal opportunity and treatment, and we create positive and lasting change for Black music creators.”


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TigreVisión RADIO: Transmisión Partidaria del Club Atlético TIGRE con los relatos de Sergio Daniel Pavón y todo el equipo de ...
COPA AXION ENERGY ARGENTINA 2020/2021 FECHA MIERCOLES 08 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2021 A LAS 21:10 HS LO ...
Club Social y Deportivo Defensa y Justicia, commonly known as Defensa y Justicia or simply Defensa, is an Argentine football club from Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires. The team currently plays in the Primera División, the top division of the Argentine football league system.
Temperley is a district in Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina, located in the south of Lomas de Zamora Partido.
In statistical mechanics, the Temperley–Lieb algebra is an algebra from which are built certain transfer matrices, invented by Neville Temperley and Elliott Lieb. It is also related to integrable models, knot theory and the braid group, quantum groups and subfactors of von Neumann algebras.
Alice Temperley MBE is an English fashion designer based in London. Her fashion label, Temperley London was launched in 2000.In 2006, The Guardian noted that she had been described by American Vogue as the designer making the biggest waves in British fashion.
A Temperley transporter is an early form of overhead crane invented by John Ridley Temperley in 1892. They were manufactured by the Temperley Transporter Company of London.
George Temperley was an English landowner, founder of the Argentine city Temperley.
Temperley is a city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, that forms part of the Greater Buenos Aires metro area.
Timperley is a suburban village in Altrincham in the borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. Historically in Cheshire, it is approximately six miles southwest of central Manchester.
Timperley is a tram stop on the Altrincham Line of Greater Manchester's light-rail Metrolink system. In western Timperley about a mile west of the village centre, it opened on 15 June 1992 as part of Phase 1 of Metrolink's expansion.
Timperley Hall was a moated manor house in Timperley, Greater Manchester, England, first recorded in 1560, but almost certainly built to replace an earlier medieval structure. Very little remains of the 16th-century hall, which is not shown on the Tithe map of 1838.
Timperley is an electoral ward of Trafford, Greater Manchester, covering the western part of Timperley.


text: This home is part of a larger condominium development and the owners required a fresh take on the standard models offered. The goal was to create a home which allowed for dreaming, imaginative inspiration, as well as living and working spaces for a couple. The design incorporated the owners eclectic collection of furniture, art and carpets. The shell of the building featured a large central space which was further accented with a central glass rail stair, reading loft and dramatic central vertical atrium. Artwork fills the walls of the home complimented by vintage and contemporary furnishings. Custom millwork made the space fit the lifestyle of the owners.


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VCR scientists are using this knowledge to forecast climate change effects on these fragile coastal landscapes. Plant ecological dynamics on barrier islands are a function of complex interactions and feedbacks between individual species, environmental factors, and geological processes. However, long-term studies of barrier island ecology in the VCR LTER site has revealed that the controls on plant community distribution can be simplified to two key environmental parameters: distance from the shoreline and elevation above sea level.
These two parameters integrate a number of important physical variables. For example, distance from the shoreline affects exposure to sea spray and burial by windblown sand, as well as vulnerability to storm-related disturbance (i.e., overwash) and, as a result, the extent to which ecological succession can take place. Elevation above sea level also determines disturbance vulnerability, and influences groundwater and nutrient availability; at the same time, plants (particularly dune-building grasses) can significantly affect elevation by trapping and accumulating sand.
Shoreline position and island topography are highly variable in both time and space among the VCR LTER barrier islands, resulting in similarly variable plant communities. Shrub thickets, the most stable barrier island plant communities, are intolerant of flooding and increases in groundwater salinity, both of which are caused by storm events and sea-level rise. Shrub thickets therefore serve as excellent sentinels for short-term barrier island change driven by storms and long-term change driven by rising sea level. Researchers in the VCR are using remote sensing (e.g., hyperspectral satellite imagery) and field studies of shrub thickets to assess and predict spatial patterns in the response of these systems to changing climate conditions.


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IoT Smart Greenhouse
Palestine is famous for agriculture, but it is limited to seasonal agriculture. It is clear that modern farming methods and smart greenhouses are widespread in the countries of the world, but they are not in Palestine yet, and therefore this project is intended for the farmers of Palestine. The smart greenhouse greatly helps farmers, as it saves them time and effort, and does not require labor, which reduces human effort. It also allows the cultivation of non-seasonal plants and provides all the conditions that the plant needs from soil moisture, temperature, air humidity and appropriate lighting intensity for each crop. The smart greenhouse saves water consumption and allows the farmer to supervise it from a distance. The advantage of the smart greenhouse is that it is not limited to farmers as it makes it easier for users to control crops even without high experience in farming. This project aims to facilitate farming for farmers so that they can choose the crop they want at any season they want, and determine the appropriate conditions for the crop, which will be provided automatically without wasting the farmer's fatigue or time and a lot of labor, and they can monitor the greenhouse condition directly or in any time. This project will help in the growth of the economy in Palestine in the agricultural field too. The smart greenhouse is designed to consist of two parts, the first part is the electrical circuits, where a complete and correct electrical circuit is connected to read the sensor values (soil moisture, air humidity, temperature, lighting intensity, water height level in the tank), and then based on the appropriate values And specified for temperature, humidity, lighting, and sensor values. Water pumps, fans, heating, lighting and ventilation devices are controlled to reach the appropriate conditions for a particular plant. The other part is a website that helps to control the greenhouse remotely, either manually or automatically. The Internet of things was used to connect the parts of the project completely. This project was presented before at the university, but our project will be distinguished from its predecessor by providing a ventilation system and warning when the water in the tank ends, as well as the ability to see the greenhouse information at an earlier time, and also provides fertilizers on a regular basis. The world lives in the age of speed, as the massive and rapid development has made the world a small village. All things that were previously impossible are now possible and even become a very natural thing in our lives. The development included smart devices in a large and recently extended to become a complete smart system such as a smart greenhouse. It is said about smart things when they can face problems without outside help and without needing anyone. A smart greenhouse is a greenhouse that contains sensors for temperature, soil moisture, air humidity, light intensity, and the percentage of water in the tank. Through the values of the sensors, commands are given to the cooling, heating, lighting and ventilation devices, and their mode of operation is determined so as to provide the specific and required conditions, all using the Internet of Things. This project is designed to benefit the Palestinian people in particular from other peoples due to the lack of similar projects. The goal is to help farmers, improve agricultural crops and save workers a lot of time and effort. It is a system that works automatically and manually controlling the plastic house through the website we designed so that the goal Including improving agricultural productivity by maintaining the appropriate atmosphere for each crop inside this plastic house. • In the future, the project can be developed better. It provides a digital image system based on artificial intelligence, displaying plants and crops, knowing the times of ripening and picking the fruits. • A special fertilization system can also be made, which can automatically know the percentage of fertilizer for each crop inside the fertilizer tank by measuring weight and knowing the volume of water. • We also hope that there will be a system to predict and treat diseases before the crop is damaged. We hope that the model will be implemented on the ground in Palestine.

domain: agronomy