Hafez Modirzadeh is a Professor of Creative/World Music. His work has focused on cross-cultural music, as well as jazz and ethnomusicology. Both an NEA Jazz Fellow and Senior Fulbright Scholar, his Grammy-nominated work on saxophones can be heard on Pi Recordings, while his published research can be found in Black Music Research, Leonardo, Critical Studies in Improvisation, and Popular Music Studies. Modirzadeh has appeared from the Berlin to Monterey Jazz Festivals and has performed with such artists as Omar Sosa, Don Cherry, Peter Apfelbaum, Steve Lacy, Fred Ho, Zakir Hussein, Oliver Lake, as well as many others on the local San Francisco creative music scene.
Dr. Modirzadeh received an M.A. from UCLA (’86) and a Ph.D. from Wesleyan (’92), both in ethnomusicology, and he continues to develop an interdisciplinary musical approach he calls “Chromodal Discourse”. From Tehran to Brown Universities, Chromodal theory has been presented within both musical and scientific academic arenas, most recently acknowledged as a formal subject for the Doctorate of Musical Arts by the University of Madison, Wisconsin (Frey 2002). Through the 90s, he coordinated San Jose State University’s Improvised Music Studies Program until joining the music faculty at San Francisco State in 1998 to develop programs in both jazz and world music and dance. In 2004-05, Dr. Modirzadeh’s SF State sabbatical to Andalucia, in Southern Spain, led to a 2006 Fulbright to lecture on Flamenco and Jazz at the University of Granada, which culminated in his 2007 CD release, “Bemsha Alegria”, released on Disques Chromodal.
Dr. Modirzadeh's composed works have been supported by two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships (’89, ’91), Other Minds (1998), and the Djerassi Composer's Residency Program (2003), while his educational outreach has been repeatedly funded by California Arts Council Artist in Residency (1996-99).


text:
Obama, Clinton Receive The Bodies Of Americans Killed In Libya
In a somber ceremony at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland a short time ago, President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received the bodies of the four Americans killed in an attack on the American consulate in Libya.
"They didn't simply embrace the American ideal they lived it," Obama said.
He said that the four dead — Ambassador Christopher Stevens, State Department information management officer Sean Smith and security personnel Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty, who were both former SEALS — believed in the American diplomatic mission and they knew and accepted the danger that came with it.
Clinton gave an emotional address.
"The people of Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Tunisia did not trade the tyranny of a dictator for the tyranny of a mob," Clinton said. "Reasonable people and responsible leaders in these countries need to do everything they can to restore security and hold accountable those behind these violent acts."
Obama also reiterated that those responsible for the attacks will be prosecuted.
"We will continue to do everything in our power to protect Americans serving overseas, whether that means increasing security at our diplomatic posts, working with host countries, which have an obligation to provide security, and making it clear that justice will come to those who harm Americans," Obama said.
After their addresses, the military band played America the Beautiful and uniformed servicemen slowly carried four flag-draped coffins into hearses.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

domain: politics


text:
Executive Order 8987—Establishing Honolulu Defensive Sea Area
By virtue of the authority vested in me by section 44 of the Criminal Code as amended (U.S.C, Title 18, Sec. 96), the following-described area is hereby established and reserved, for purposes of national defense, as a naval defensive sea area, to be known as "Honolulu Defensive Sea Area":
All United States territorial waters of Honolulu Harbor, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii' its approaches and tributaries from the contour line of extreme high water as shown on the latest U.S.C. and G.S. charts to:
A line running south true from the shore at Koko Head, Oahu, along the meridian of Longitude 157 °42' West, to the seaward limit of United States territorial waters;
A line running south true from Ahua Point Lighthouse to the seaward limit of United States territorial waters; and, ,
A line running along the seaward limit of United States territorial waters between the above-described bearing lines.
A vessel not proceeding under United States Naval or other United States authorized supervision shall not enter or navigate the waters of the Honolulu Defensive Sea Area except during daylight, when good visibility conditions prevail, and then only after specific permission has been obtained. Advance arrangements for entry into or navigation through or within the Honolulu Defensive Sea Area must be made, preferably at a United States Naval District Headquarters in advance of sailing, or by radio or visual communication on approaching the seaward limit of the area. If radio telegraph is used, the call "NQO" shall be made on a frequency of 500 kcs, and permission to enter the port shall be requested. The name of the vessel, purpose of entry, and name of the master must be given in the request. If visual communications are used, the procedure shall be essentially the same.
A vessel entering or navigating the waters of the Honolulu Defensive Sea Area does so at its own risk.
Even though permission has been obtained, it is incumbent upon a vessel entering the Honolulu Defensive Sea Area to obey any further instructions received from the United States Navy, or other United States authority.
A vessel may expect supervision of its movements within the Honolulu Defensive Sea Area, either through surface craft or aircraft. Such controlling surface craft or aircraft will be identified by a prominent display of the Union Jack. The loading or unloading by vessels of oil fuel or other inflammable or explosive materials shall be under the control of the local Naval authority, who shall require such loading or unloading to be accomplished in such manner and at such times as will safeguard the other activities within the Honolulu Defensive Sea Area essential to the national defense.
These regulations are subject to amplification by the local United States Naval authority as necessary to meet local circumstances and conditions.
When a United States Maritime Control Area is established adjacent to or abutting upon the above-established defensive sea area, it shall be assumed that permission to enter, and other instructions issued by proper authority, shall apply to any one continuous passage through or within both areas.
Any master of a vessel or other person within the Honolulu Defensive Sea Area who disregards these regulations, or fails to obey an order of United States Naval authority to stop or heave to, or performs any act threatening the efficiency of mines or other defenses or the safety of navigation, or takes any action inimical to the interests of the United States, may be detained therein by force of arms and shall be liable to attack by United States armed forces, and liable to prosecution as provided for in section 44 of the Criminal Code as amended (U.S.C., title 18, sec. 96).
All United States Government authorities shall place at the disposal of the Naval authorities their facilities for aiding in the enforcement of these regulations. The Governor of the Territory of Hawaii, the local municipal authorities, and the local civilian defense agencies are called upon to render the local Naval authorities all possible assistance in the enforcement of these regulations.
This order shall not be construed as modifying in any way the proclamation of the Governor of the Territory of Hawaii placing the Territory of Hawaii under martial law.
The Secretary of the Navy is charged with the publication and enforcement of these regulations.
FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT
The White House,
December 20, 1941.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Executive Order 8987—Establishing Honolulu Defensive Sea Area Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/368250

domain: law


text:
SAO PAULO, June 15: New teenage Real Madrid signing Takefusa Kubo said it was an “honour” to be nicknamed the “Japanese Messi” when speaking to reporters at the Copa America.
Earlier in the day, Spanish giants Real announced the 18-year-old was joining the record 13-time European champions from FC Tokyo, to play for their B team next season.
“Being called the Japanese Messi is an honour and makes me proud, but I’m still not at his level and I prefer to concentrate on my abilities and strengths,” said Kubo from Japan’s Copa America base in Sao Paulo. Like Messi, Kubo joined the Barcelona academy as a child – when just 10 – but left in 2015 after the Catalans were punished by world football’s governing body FIFA for breaking rules on signing under-age players.
His dribbling skills which drew comparisons to Messi made him a YouTube sensation as a child. But while flattered by comparisons, he still wants to be appreciated for his own skills.
“There are several players like me, but I’m me, not some other player,” he added, speaking Spanish. Kubo wasn’t allowed to speak about his transfer so as not to let the issue deflect from Japan’s Copa preparations. He has signed a six-year contract worth two million euros ($2.25 million) a year, according to Spanish and Japanese media. Earlier this year, Kubo became the youngest ever goalscorer in the J-League, boosting his profile back home almost to the level of icons Hidetoshi Nakata and Keisuke Honda. – AFP

domain: news


text:
CNET on cannabis without THC:
A group of Israeli scientists decided that they should pursue this joy-dampening experiment… they wanted to dampen the effect of tetrahydrocannabinol, the pot element that makes you feel so very good. But their aim was to increase the effect of cannabidiol, a substance that has been shown in some studies to help not only diabetics, but also those with some psychiatric disorders. “It has the same scent, shape and taste as the original plant — it’s all the same — but the numbing sensation that users are accustomed to has disappeared.”
At least one comment sarcastically calls for the mullahs’ regime to attack Israel with nuclear weapons.
Leave it to the Jews to ruin this for everybody.

domain: chemistry


text:
Mount Eagle Health Care is home care agency committed to offer quality Nursing Care, In-Home Aide, Companion, Sitter and Respite care. Our services range from medical to non-medical, long–term or short-term, to people of all ages. We offer services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.
Meet Compassionate, Well Trained and Qualified Staff to meet unique needs of your loved one. Your satisfaction is our success and quality care is our responsibility.
WE OFFER FREE NURSING ASSESSMENT FOR ALL OUR CLIENTS

domain: medical


text:
The number of coronavirus patients in Lincolnshire's hospitals is now at it’s lowest total since early November.
On March 2, the most recently published date, 70 patients were in United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT) sites receiving treatment for covid-19.
Last time the number was this low was back on November 6, when 56 patients were in hospital with the virus.
The patients in hospital figure, is recorded every day at 8am. On February 23, a week before, the total stood at 81, and has decreased consistently since peaking in the first half of January.
Back then, within a week over a 100 patients needed treatment, which at the height of the winter pressure point for ULHT became 217.
The statistics published by government, also reveal how many patients are requiring mechanical ventilation beds as part of their treatment for covid-19. On March 2, 15 patients needed ventilation.
Ventilators take over the body's breathing process when the virus has caused the lungs to fail.
Although figures are still high, it does show that pressure is slowly easing on the health service. This is as the impact of the vaccine programme and the lockdown reduces infection levels.
What do you make of this story? Let us know in the comments
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The new data shows that in total, ULHT has admitted 2,691 patients with covid, since the pandemic first came to the UK over a year ago.
In the latest figure of daily admissions, seven new covid patients were admitted to ULHT on February 28.
The last time the trust had no coronavirus patients in hospital, was on September 13 2020.
Recent data from the office for national statistics shows that coronavirus infections across the country have continued to fall.
The figures, for the seven days up to 27 February, reveal around 1-in-230 people has the virus.
Also this week, professor Chris Whitty said we would experience a third surge of the disease once lockdown was lifted, with a "significant minority" likely to become ill.
You can share your tributes to a loved one who died from Covid-19 here.


text:
Classic Mexican Steak & Potato Stew
After a long day, there’s nothing more comforting than a warm filling meal. The combination of steak and potatoes is used in so many forms, but the most satisfying is a stew with lots of flavor and little ingredients. While the steps to prepare this dish might take a little longer than usual, trust us when we say that it was definitely worth the wait. This recipe has been passed down from generation to generation and now to anyone with a love for Mexican food.
In this episode, we chose to make Bisteces en Chile Pasilla, a savory dish that consists of steak and potatoes mixed in Chile Pasilla sauce. We also made sure to add as much flavor using simple ingredients like clove, all spice, cumin, and oregano. But what really made this cuisine stand out was the Pasilla salsa. Our very eager taste-testers (aka our coworkers) couldn’t get enough of it. Found below all the steps and ingredients used for this recipe:
Mexican Steak & Potato Stew
mexican food and recipes
3 green tomatoes
1 garlic cloves or 1 tsp of minced garlic
3 pasilla chiles
½ lb steak cut in pieces
2 big potatoes
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp of allspice
¼ tsp Cumin
½ tsp oregano
Salt to taste
Get your ¼ piece of onion and chop your potatoes (set potatoes aside).
On a small pot, boil your deveined and deseeded chiles along with the green tomatoes and the piece of onion for about 10 minutes or until the tomatoes turn an olive color (if you’re using garlic cloves add those too, if not add the minced garlic after).
Meanwhile, cook your potatoes with a little bit of olive oil. Set aside.
Once your salsa ingredients are ready, add the minced garlic and blend everything together. Set aside.
Heat a large pan on medium to high heat and cook your meat.
Add all your spices to season (oregano, cumin, clove, allspice and pepper).
When your meat is done, add the sauce and then your potatoes.
Add salt to taste.
Serve with some rice on the side and enjoy!

domain: food


text:
I/We would like to begin by acknowledging that Concordia University is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montréal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.
Throughout our history, Concordia has sustained relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities on the Island of Tiohtià:ke or Montréal and its surrounding area. The Concordia Indigenous Directions Leadership Group is currently developing a history section on the Indigenous Directions Hub to depict and celebrate many of the occasions and collaborations that we have shared. The following is a brief history and explanation of the Territorial Acknowledgment upon which we hope to build.
The Concordia community has developed many versions of Territorial Acknowledgements, practices, and gestures that continue to foster meaningful and respectful relationships with Indigenous community members, knowledge keepers, and collaborative partners. The Territorial Acknowledgement that we are practicing today is grounded in that history. Many members of Concordia’s staff, faculty, students, and community partners have made a contribution to the discussion, wording, and rationale behind it. Our Acknowledgement is built from cumulative efforts of many minds from diverse backgrounds and we hope to keep an on-going dialogue with all of our stakeholders.
How and why we worded the Acknowledgement this way, line by line
This specific version of the Territorial Acknowledgement was primarily authored by Wahéhshon Shiann Whitebean and Dr. Karl S. Hele, with significant contributions at the final stages from Dr. Louellyn White. The final draft was agreed upon unanimously and passed by the Indigenous Directions Leadership Group on February 16, 2017.
We debated and discussed variations of this statement that included naming a number of First Nations and Indigenous communities that are rooted in the Island of Montréal and surrounding area. Many First Peoples claim the land and waterways as a homeland, traditional territory or birthplace of their people since time immemorial. This includes, but may not be limited to, the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Huron/Wendat, Abenaki, and Anishinaabeg (Algonquin). It is not our role to offer a determination of claim, instead we offer recognition and support of all Indigenous peoples and Nations who have and continue to make these lands and waters their homes. We kept the word “unceded” since there are no agreements or treaties that have transferred title from any Indigenous Nation to Settler ownership or control; the land was occupied without permission. This also demonstrates that we recognize the injustices that are part of the colonial history of this place and that Concordia boldly supports and stands in solidarity with the Indigenous members of our community.
Many Indigenous peoples, communities, and Nations helped to build the foundation of Tiohtià:ke. However, it is understood and widely supported that the Kanien’kehá:ka have a strong historic and ongoing presence in the territory with two communities bordering Montréal: Kahnawà:ke and Kanehsatá:ke. This is also in consideration of the oral tradition/history of the island that the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation has passed from generation to generation. We must recognize the role of the Kanien’kehá:ka in protecting and caring for the lands and waters that we share and enjoy today. Their stewardship is a model for how we must collectively respect our natural environment and community as a whole.
The historic and current presence of two Kanien’kehá:ka communities is acknowledged by the use of the place name “Tiohtià:ke,” an abbreviation of “Teionihtiohtià:kon” which loosely translates as “where the group divided/parted ways.” It is here “where the group divided/parted ways” that formed a natural stopping point for First Nations’ travellers.
Thus the region since time immemorial has served as a gathering place which marked the area a key site of diplomacy, as well as for the exchange of culture, language, and goods. It is this centrality and importance of the region that drew the first settlers to the island. The importance of Montréal/ Tiohtià:ke for First Nations and Settlers was demonstrated in 1701 when a Great Peace was negotiated and signed thereby ending a series of destructive wars among various First Nations.
It is important to include our vibrant urban Indigenous community as well as the many peoples from diverse backgrounds that now reside here.
This is similar to a gathering of the minds. We are weaving together the past, present, and future of the entire Montréal community that is built on an Indigenous foundation. This is a reminder to anyone that is not Indigenous to this place that the history/past enabled us to be here, that Indigenous peoples and communities are still present and vital to our prosperity, and that we all must be engaged and invested in our collective future to move forward together.
Spring Convocation ceremonies in 2017 included a Territorial Acknowledgement at the start of the proceedings, stated publicly by a lead member of Concordia’s administration. The Indigenous Directions Leadership Group will continue to work with the Convocation planning committees and Concordia’s administration to modify and adapt future convocation ceremonies in a way that includes and supports Indigenous identities, cultures, and languages. Our goal is to develop an inclusive and open environment for all Concordia students, staff, faculty, and community members. Concordia also supports the choice of any Indigenous peoples to wear regalia/cultural dress at Convocation ceremonies in addition to or as an alternative to formal academic attire.
When and where to deliver the Territorial Acknowledgement
Concordia is committed to fostering positive and mutually respectful relationships with local Indigenous peoples and communities, many of whom are students, staff, and faculty members. A Territorial Acknowledgement is a means of recognizing that Indigenous peoples have a long history with the land and waters that we gather upon today and that this is their home and territory. This creates a space for dialogue, community building, and exchange in the true spirit of Tiohtià:ke/Montréal by drawing on its deep-rooted history as a place of diversity, diplomacy, and economic significance. This is also a way that we embrace our role within the territory to ensure the long-term prosperity of our diverse community and the longevity of the lands and waters for future generations.
Typically, the Acknowledgment would be stated at the beginning of any event, meeting or gathering happening at Concordia or sponsored by the university within the territory. The objective of stating it at the beginning of an event is to situate the events and its participants. It also serves as a means of reaffirming the type of relationships that we, as an institution, collective, or individual, are establishing with the place and Caretakers of the lands and waters. Therefore, the intention set in the Territorial Acknowledgement should be stated consciously.
In an effort to foster positive relationships with Indigenous peoples across Canada, a similar Territorial Acknowledgement should be stated elsewhere when visiting the territory of another Nation/People. This gesture respects local Indigenous peoples and communities outside of Concordia and the Montréal region when hosting or participating in events within other territories. Simply put, an acknowledgement of people, territory or space should not be limited to the Concordia campus or Montréal area.
It is always appropriate to deliver a Territorial Acknowledgement. However, there are times when it is not necessary, for example in regularly scheduled team meetings.
An Acknowledgement is necessary during special occasions, events, activities and meetings where opening remarks or a speech will be delivered in front of an audience. It is also a good practice to deliver an Acknowledgement in high level meetings that only occur a few times per year.
No. We understand that sometimes people forget or that they are unsure whether they should have. We understand that it’s a learning process and that it will take time before the delivery of a Territorial Acknowledgement becomes second nature.
We are more likely to be frustrated if the Territorial Agreement is delivered carelessly, read word per word and treated as a mandatory and meaningless recitation before the real business starts.
Yes. Everyone is at liberty to do so. It is not the sole responsibility of the Chair to ensure that an Acknowledgement is made. The respectful way to proceed in such circumstances is to ask the Chair if you can do so.
Go for it!
Absolutely! The Territorial Acknowledgement is a good starting point for deeper conversations about our relationships with the Caretakers of the lands and waters on which we are situated. It is appropriate to open these discussions in a class, or in any event, as a pedagogical opportunity to learn about history, culture, politics, and think critically about our institutional and personal relation with Tiohtià:ke and the diverse peoples who live here today. Please see below for how to cite the Territorial Acknowledgement.
Who to acknowledge
If you are close to a college or university, it is useful to consult their websites to find out and to get a sense of their Territorial Acknowledgments. Alternatively, CAUT has published a guide. Many larger cities also have adopted Territorial Acknowledgements. You can consult the website of the city you reside in or that is closest to you.
If you live close to an Indigenous community or communities, this may also help you determine whose traditional territories you are on. However, it is necessary to verify the information since many Indigenous Peoples have been displaced and the territory they find themselves on today may not be their ancestral lands. Plus, some territories intersect or were and are still used by a multitude of Indigenous Peoples as gathering places.
Yes. The territory you physically occupy takes precedence.
Yes. You can acknowledge the territory you find yourself on as well as the territory that Concordia is built on. An easy way to get around this conundrum is to establish in advance who will deliver the Acknowledgement for Concordia. All other participants are then free to acknowledge the other territories they are joining from.
It is important to note that you can deliver your own Territorial Acknowledgement even if you find yourself on the same territory as Concordia or another participant at the meeting.
No. It is important to mention the specific peoples concerned. All of Canada is Indigenous land.
It is also important to welcome and adopt the terminology that Indigenous Peoples use to designate themselves. Words such as Mohawk and Cree were often attributed by other Indigenous nations or by Europeans settlers, often with negative connotations.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you do not know how to pronounce Indigenous words.
To learn the proper pronunciation of Kanienkehà:ka and Tiohtià:ke, listen to the audio clips on this page.
The words Mohawk and Kanienkehà:ka do refer to the same people. However, many First Nations are reclaiming their national and cultural identities by getting rid of the colonial terminology used to designate them, terminology that was not in use prior to European Contact.
The decolonization of terminology is a lengthy process that often has legal implications. Official band and reserve names are still often imposed by the federal government. It is up to the community to decide which names to use in specific contexts. In the context of the Territorial Acknowledgement, Concordia has chosen to honour the term that the people of Tiohtià:ke use to refer to themselves.
How to deliver the Territorial Acknowledgement
A Territorial Acknowledgement can be read aloud/stated by anyone (it does not have to be an Indigenous person). The Acknowledgement is particularly designed to assist people that do not identify as Indigenous to situate themselves within an Indigenous place/territory. It is also designed to remind people of a deeper history that is often forgotten or neglected.
It is disrespectful to ask Indigenous people attending the meeting to deliver a Territorial Acknowledgement, especially if this is their land. The Acknowledgement should always be delivered by persons who are guests on the land.
An Indigenous person who is a guest in Tiohtià:ke can deliver the Acknowledgement but it is important not to single out the only Indigenous person in the meeting and expect them to deliver the Acknowledgement.
A person is usually designated in advance. This person can never be someone who originates from the ancestral lands we are gathering on. All other meeting participants are free to deliver a short personal Acknowledgement of their own.
The best way to deliver a Territorial Acknowledgement is to be familiar with the text and give a heartfelt acknowledgement in your own words.
It is also important to infuse something more personal, for example thanking the concerned Indigenous people for the opportunity to live, work and play on their ancestral lands or speaking of why it is important to you to acknowledge the land you find yourself on.
The text is an official document, reserved for written communications and formal affairs. In other situations, it serves as a guide.
It is either a personal choice or a desire not to offend. Delivering a Territorial Acknowledgement is serious business but it is not intended to be delivered like a funeral address!
Indigenous cultures are meant to be celebrated. It is perfectly fine to deliver an Acknowledgement in a more upbeat manner.
Of course not! There are many acceptable ways to acknowledge the territory and local Indigenous peoples and communities. As our knowledge, experience, and relationships develop and change, so will our ways of acknowledging and collaborating within Tiohtià:ke/Montréal’s Indigenous community. We have also developed a few principles to help guide the process of practicing or developing a Territorial Acknowledgement as a starting point (below).
Indigenous peoples and communities have diverse ways of knowing and cultural protocols that guide how they acknowledge each other and recognize the territory they are visiting or residing within. Being Indigenous to a broad area such as Turtle Island (North America) is not the same as being part of a specific community, Nation, or Territory that has ancestral roots and a relationship to particular place. A welcoming or opening may happen in a variety of ways, here are some examples:
a) Indigenous visitors: When visiting the traditional territory of another Indigenous community, Nation or People — an Indigenous person may draw on their own cultural knowledge and protocols to acknowledge the local Indigenous community to the best of their ability. They may refer to the relationship or history between the two communities, or their personal experiences.
b) By making an offering/gift of: tobacco, medicines, food, seeds, personal belongings, words, and/or songs.
c) Opening: Ohèn:ton Karihwatéhkwen “Matters/Issues that come before (all else)”. This is sometimes referred to as a “Thanksgiving address” or “gathering of the minds.” It is the formal way that Kanien’kehá:ka (People of the Flint, Mohawk) open and begin all types of gatherings. The words and the length of the address vary according to the speaker. It is typically done in Kanien’kéha (Mohawk language) and may or may not include a tobacco burning.
Yes, you can do both. However, the preference of an Elder/community member that has agreed to open an event takes precedence. Ask them how they prefer to be introduced and if they are comfortable with a Territorial Acknowledgement being part of their introduction or the opening. If the event includes Indigenous peoples from many territories, the representative from the local Indigenous territory takes precedence. Respect how they wish to proceed. If at any point you feel you must choose between an opening or a Territorial Acknowledgement, go with an opening as it has more significance to the territory and to the community. We have developed comprehensive guidelines explaining the appropriate protocols to follow when working with Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers and community members.
In recognition of the work that was done by members of the Indigenous Directions Leadership Group in creating this Territorial Acknowledgement, it is recommended to cite it as follows:
“This Territorial Acknowledgement and resources were created by Concordia University’s Indigenous Directions Leadership Group (2017). To read the entire Territorial Acknowledgement and learn more about why it was written this way, please visit www.concordia.ca/indigenous/resources/territorial-acknowledgement.html.”

domain: geography


text:
When meeting with clients we often discuss the benefits of employing a revocable (or “living”) trust to help plan the client’s estate. The living trust becomes the centerpiece of basic estate planning for most people both due to the benefits it provides but also due to the horror stories it can help avoid. With the changes in the federal estate and gift tax rules in recent years each United States citizen can currently give away far greater amounts of money when they die without incurring the federal estate tax.
The mistake that many people make is thinking that they do not need a living trust, or even wanting to revoke the one they have, because they “only” have $400,000 in assets. This is a big mistake because the federal estate tax exemption has absolutely nothing to do with the California probate laws. Probate laws still kick in at $166,250 in assets and can be necessary for even smaller estates in some instances. Thus the value of living trusts needs to be considered for anybody who has assets!
This article is written with California laws in mind by a California attorney. The principles are the same or similar in most states but you should review the law in your state with a licensed estate planning attorney. Also, each case is unique so please review your case with an attorney!

domain: finance


text:
Alfred W. McCoy
Position title: Harrington Professor of History
Office: 5131 Mosse Humanities
Mailbox: 5026 Mosse Humanities
Curriculum Vitae (pdf)
Office Hours: Thursdays from 11:30am-1:30pm in 5131 Mosse Humanities, with preference for appointments arranged in advance via email
After earning a Ph.D. in Southeast Asian history at Yale, my writing on this region has focused on three topics — the history of modern empires, Philippine political history and global opium trafficking.
My first book, The Politics of Heroin in Southeast Asia (New York, 1972), sparked controversy when the CIA tried to block publication. But after three English editions and translation into nine foreign languages, this study is now regarded as the “classic” work on the global drug traffic.
My more recent work on covert operations, A Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation, from the Cold War to the War on Terror (New York, 2006), explores the agency’s half-century history of psychological torture. A film based in part on that book, “Taxi to the Darkside,” won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 2008. My latest study of this topic, Torture and Impunity (Madison, 2012), explores the political and cultural dynamics of America’s post 9/11 debate over interrogation.
The Philippines remains the major focus of my research. An investigation of President Marcos’s “fake medals,” published on page one of the New York Times (January 23, 1986) just weeks before the country’s presidential elections, contributed to the country’s transition from authoritarian rule. Analyzing the many coup attempts that followed, my book Closer Than Brothers (New Haven, 1999) documents the corrosive impact of torture upon the Philippine military.
Three of my edited volumes on Philippine historiography have won that country’s National Book Award. In 2001, the Association for Asian Studies awarded me the Goodman Prize for a “deep and enduring impact on Philippine historical studies.”
My book Policing America’s Empire: The United States, the Philippines, and the Rise of the Surveillance State (Madison, 2009), draws together several strands in my research to explore the transformative power of police, information, and scandal in shaping both the modern Philippine state and the U.S. internal security apparatus. In 2011, the Association for Asian Studies awarded that book the Kahin Prize, describing it as “a passionate, elegantly written book that owes its mastery to McCoy’s narrative and analytical gifts, his years of painstaking research and his sure sense of the ominous global implications of his story.”
In 2012, the Yale Graduate School Alumni Association awarded me the Wilbur Cross Medal which is presented annually to “a small number of outstanding alumni” to recognize “distinguished achievements in scholarship, teaching, academic administration, and public service.” Simultaneously, the University of Wisconsin-Madison gave me the Hilldale Award for Arts & Humanities for 2012.
My most recent book, To Govern the Globe: World Orders and Catastrophic Change (Chicago, 2021), explores the interplay of three factors—sovereignty, human rights, and energy—in shaping the succession of empires and their global systems from the Black Death of 1350 through the coming climate crisis of 2050.
My teaching interests include: Modern Philippine social and political history; U.S. foreign policy; colonial empires in Southeast Asia; global illicit drug trafficking; and CIA covert operations.
M.A., University of California-Berkeley
B.A., Columbia College
- Yale Graduate School Alumni Asssociaton, Wilbur Cross Medal, 2012.
- University of Wisconsin, Hilldale Award for Arts & Humanities, 2012
- Association for Asian Studies, George Kahin Prize, 2011.
- University of Wisconsin Graduate School, J.R.W. Smail Chair in History, 2004.
- Philippine National Book Award, 1985, 1995, 2001.
- Association for Asian Studies, Grant Goodman Prize, 2001.
- Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad, 1998-99.
- History 319 – The Vietnam Wars – Syllabus 2021 (pdf)
- History 458 – Southeast Asia Since 1800 – Syllabus 2021 (pdf)
- History 375 – The Cold War – From World War II to End of Soviet Empire – Syllabus 2023 (pdf)
- History 600 – World War II in the Pacific – Syllabus 2007 (pdf)
- History 600 – Empire & Revolution: U.S. and European Empires in Southeast Asia – Syllbus 2011 (pdf)
- History 600 – World War II in the Pacific
- History 600 – CIA Covert Warfare and U.S. Foreign Policy – Syllabus 2023 (pdf)
- History 600 – U.S. and European Colonialism in Southeast Asia – Syllabus 2021 (pdf)
- History 755 – Empire & Revolution: U.S. and European Empires in Southeast Asia – Syllabus 2014 (pdf)
- History 755 – CIA Covert Warfare and Conduct of US Foreign Policy – Syllabus 2021 (pdf)
- History 755 – Reality of Images–Environmental Photography in Southeast Asia
- History 755 – Islands of Southeast Asia–The Practice of Comparative History
- History 755 – Tropical Dictators–Authoritarianism in Indonesia & the Philippines
- History 755 – U.S. and European Colonialism in Southeast Asia – Syllabus 2021 (pdf)

domain: library


text:
KEIR RADNEDGE in MANCHESTER: UEFA, trying to make up lost ground in the anti-racism effort, wants a minimum 10-game suspension for any player of official found guilty of an offence.
Gianni Infantino, the European federation’s general secretary, outlined this today among new disciplinary measures being proposed to Congress in London in May.
Infantino was speaking at the Soccerex European Forum at Manchester Central.
A 10-game ban would be two games more than Liverpool’s Luis Suarez received from the Football Association after his clash with Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and October 2011 and six games more than Chelsea captain John Terry following the Anton Ferdinand incident that same month.
This would also be double the current ban set out in UEFA regulations though Infantino conceded he knew of no player who had ever been punished that severely.
In addition, UEFA would no longer fine clubs for racist behaviour by players, officials or fans but. more drastically, move first to a partial stadium closure and then to a full stadium closure for a second offence.
With these proposals UEFA is seeking to make up for ‘lost years’ in which it was perceived to rate the infringement of commercial regulations as more important than issues of personal discrimination.
Infantino said: “Racism is still a scourge and one we have to defeat and kick out of the game. The situation has improved generally inEuropein many countries but it is still widespread unfortunately.
“Now we have taken this really very seriously on board and we agreed on a joint resolution. We are amending our disciplinary rules and will present to our congress a resolution to ask national associations to implement the same [regulations].”
Infantino described UEFA’s plan as two-pronged. One facet concerned an ongoing educational campaign and a second the punishments.
He said: “The sanctions must have a deterrent effect and we are proposing that, if a player or official is convicted he has to be suspended for 10 matches at least.
“If supporters of a club – or clubs – are guilty of racial abuse the first sanctions will not be a fine any more but a partial closure of the stadium – the part of the stadium where the racist abuse has taken place. A second offence will see the full closure of the stadium and a fine of a minimum 50,000 euro.”
In addition, said Infantino, referees would be encouraged into rigorous enforcement of a “three-step process” to respond to racist abuse from fans. Firstly the crowd would be warned, secondly the game would be suspended and thirdly it could be abandoned.
Infantino concluded: “This is clear, this is harsh, this will be known to everyone and this is what we want to implement.”
The racist abuse issue had gained momentum after the incident inItalyin January when Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng and his team-mates abandoned a friendly against Pro Patria because of racist abuse from a group of fans in Busto Arizio.
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The best pies are made with homemade pastry, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a good pie with shop-bought pastry. Shortcrust pastry is the most essential pastry for any baker, whether you make your own or buy it. There are so many ways to utilise shortcrust pastry and there are so many recipes that require it – from tarts and quiches to pies and pasties. But what do you do if you have bought shortcrust pastry? Is it only good for topping other dishes or can you bake them as well? If you’ve ever asked yourself ‘Do I Have to Blind Bake Shop Bought Shortcrust Pastry?’ then this blog post will answer all your queries.
What is Blind Baking?
Blind Baking is a technique used to cook the pastry before filling and baking the whole thing. It is needed because a lot of fillings, especially sweet ones, contain a lot of moisture. Blind baking ensures the pastry is done before being filled and baked in the oven. This is important because if you don’t bake the pastry enough, it will be soggy. If you over-bake the pastry, it will become too dry and crumbly. Blind baking is the best way to ensure a delicious pastry every time.
Why Do You Have To Blind Bake Shop Bought Shortcrust Pastry?
It will allow you to make a nice, crisp, delicious pastry. It will also prevent the filling from getting soggy as it will be baked separately from the rest. Blind baking means that you’re baking the pastry without the filling. This will give you a chance to judge how long you need to bake it for and how high you need the temperature to be so it turns out perfectly. It will also give you a chance to judge how much you need to add water to the pastry. If you add too much water, the pastry will be wet and sticky. If you don’t add enough water, the pastry will be crumbly and hard.
How to Blind Bake Shop Bought Shortcrust Pastry?
If you’re baking a pie with shop-bought pastry, you will need to blind bake the pastry. What you need to do is roll out the pastry and line the pie tin, adding some baking paper to the bottom. Make sure you prick the base of the pastry with a fork so it doesn’t rise. Blind baking pastry for a tart is slightly different. Instead of lining the pastry in a tin, you will need to line the tart tin. Make sure you put baking paper and a pie weight at the bottom to prevent it from rising. Blind baking pastry is easy to do and you just need to follow a few tips to ensure you don’t mess it up.
Tips for baking shop-bought shortcrust pastry
Turn your oven down to the lowest temperature and make sure to keep an eye on the pie so it doesn’t burn. It can take anywhere between 10-25 minutes to fully blind bake, depending on the type of pastry and the filling. Always keep an eye on it. When you put the filling inside, increase the temperature to the temperature specified in the recipe.
The best pies and tarts are made with homemade pastry, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a good pie with shop-bought pastry. Blind baking shop-bought shortcrust pastry will allow you to make a nice, crisp, delicious pastry that will not only look professional but will taste amazing as well. It will also prevent the filling from getting soggy as it will be baked separately from the rest. Follow these tips and you will be able to bake shop-bought pastry just as well as you would your own.


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This feature provides readers with an insight into one of the most troubling incidents, the much-feared Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion (BLEVE) that can occur in the Dangerous Goods Supply Chain, but most crucially how to avoid the horror of a BLEVE as well as the associated risk of a Fuel-Air Explosion (FAE) aka a Vapour Cloud Explosion (VCE) occurring mere milli-seconds after the BLEVE has breached the pressure vessel and the conditions of a thermal runaway reaction have been initiated.
It was a horrific BLEVE and subsequent FAE/VCE incident in Spain in 1978 that initiated the tightening of the regulations on the carriage of dangerous goods by road throughout Europe – namely the Los Alfaques Disaster.
The Los Alfaques disaster occurred at a campsite in Spain on 11 July 1978, where a road tanker carrying 23T of liquefied propylene caught fire and exploded adjacent to the Los Alfaques Campsite. The fireball caused extensive damage and mass casualties including 217 deaths and over 200 injuries.
The aftermath of this disaster resulted in the UK’s Dangerous Substances (Conveyance by Road in Road Tankers and Tank Containers) Regulations, trivially termed the Road Tanker Regulations (RTR) taking priority over the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Dangerous Substances Regulations (CPR) and the Dangerous Substances (Conveyance by Road in Packages) Regulations (PGR). These, among other regulations on the carriage of dangerous goods, would eventually become consolidated throughout Europe as ADR (Accord Dangereuse Routiers). Despite Brexit, UK domestic regulations run in concert with mainland Europe and Ireland under the ADR framework.
But first some context
A little while back, my friend the Belfast based novelist and leading lawyer Stephen Mearns (who writes as Steve Cavanagh) contacted me, regarding his sixth Eddie Flynn thriller. He required a plot device related to industrial chemistry.
I came up with a scenario related to a BLEVE. Steve used it in The Devil’s Advocate, which became a bestseller in The Sunday Times / A C Nielsen UK book-charts on release in 2021; incidentally it came out in paperback in January 2022.
Due to my industrial experience of handling liquids and gases (in pressurised containment, tanks, cylinders and in transit) and an academic understanding of reaction mathematics and dynamics, especially of the exothermic variety; I thought it might be useful to explain what a BLEVE (and the associated FAE/VCE) incident really is, and how one can avoid the risks that bring about this sequence of deadly events.
I first encountered a BLEVE, on a small scale at the Fire Training (now called Fire Services) College in Gloucestershire in the 1980s. I was sent for training when I worked on a petroleum pipeline and storage facility outside of London, as part of the emergency team. The BLEVE was simulated using liquefied propane in a pressurised gas cylinder, heated vigorously until the liquid propane boiled resulting in a BLEVE, which the trainers put out using abatement foam. The training helped me in my career working in production, storage and transportation of dangerous goods, especially in the Middle East, on gas platforms for liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and liquified natural gas (LNG). I would recommend anyone working with these products, or any dangerous goods that require containment in closed vessels, attend one of the many courses run at Moreton in Marsh’s Fire Services College.
The mathematics, physics and chemistry of a BLEVE
A boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion is caused by the rupture of a vessel, which could be a holding tank, road tanker, rail car or even a pressurised gas/liquid cylinder that contains a liquid under pressure that has reached, or exceeded, its atmospheric boiling point.
The contents of the pressurized vessel can only remain liquid as long as the vessel is intact. If the vessel’s integrity is compromised, the loss of pressure and subsequent rapid reduction of boiling point of the super-hot liquid can, by pressure equalisation with atmosphere, cause the liquid to rapidly convert to gas and expand with exponential and violent rapidity. If the gas is combustible such as a hydrocarbon (e.g. propane or butane) or other volatile liquids such as alcohols, solvents, flammable resins et al. then the initial BLEVE tank rupture will result in an energetic and deadly fireball termed a Fuel-Air Explosion (FAE) or a Vapour Cloud Explosion (VCE).
Those interested in reaction dynamics, and how a super-heated flammable liquid in a pressurised container can boil with an explosive phase change (liquid to gas) by the ruptured vessel, should look into the physical chemistry of the gas laws (Boyle and Charles) as well as the thermodynamics of an exothermic reaction from the Arrhenius equation. This calculates the rate of a reaction by understanding the effect of temperature on the kinetics of the reaction. This equation was proposed in 1889 by Svante Arrheniu and takes into account the activation energy required to initiate the explosion. This is detailed in the graphics.
BLEVEs of flammable gases/liquids are where physical chemistry morphs into the reaction dynamics of an exothermic reaction (uncontrolled combustion) – fire and violent explosion.
BLEVEs can also occur with non-flammable liquids. Remember, the rupture of a container that has become over-pressurised (from its SWP) results in an equalisation of pressure (container to surroundings). This causes an aggressively sudden lowering of the boiling point of the pressurised liquid, due to tank rupture (pressure equalisation with surroundings), resulting in a violent explosion, if not also a fire. Examples of non-flammable BLEVEs include water boiler tanks, cryogenic material (subject to vacuum insulation failure), which become over-heated and rupture.
Water boils at 100°C at atmospheric pressure, but imagine heating a pressurised water tank to 200°C. The water inside would be prevented from boiling due to the pressure build-up inside the tank which could exceed the safe working pressure (rating) of the said vessel. This could lead to tank rupture, which will cause the water pressure inside the vessel to rapidly de-pressurise as the tank equalises with atmospheric pressure. This reduces the boiling point of the liquid in milliseconds, and there will be a subsequent violent explosion as the liquid turns to gas. Though water is not flammable, the physical violence of the explosion would be dangerous and could initiate a fire in adjacent areas if flammable material is stored (flash point/friction/electrical considerations).
Remember, even if your site has closed vessels of any liquid material, then the inadvertent super-heating of the liquid within the closed container (e.g. if a fire broke out on site and heated the vessel in question), could result in a physical BLEVE. However, if the liquid is flammable, then beyond the physical BLEVE, the mathematics of Boyle, Charles and Arrheniu come into play and the BLEVE could undergo an exothermic reaction, resulting in a FAE aka VCE.
With a BLEVE, either of a flammable or non-flammable material, contained in a closed vessel, the rupture and subsequent damage could also result in toxic fumes being evolved, especially in a fire situation.
What to do?
In order to minimise the risks of a BLEVE of containment (temp/pressure) vessels, be they for flammable or non-flammable liquids under pressure, the following considerations need to be factored in:
- Training of staff
- Running drills
- Counter-measures, e.g. fire protection, foam, trained staff, safety plan, wind-socks, plume detection et al.
- Fire Risk Assessments as well as Operational Risk Assessments (of SOPs*)
- Ensuring there are engineering ‘change control’ processes in place
- Thermal and pressure sensors / warning alarms on pressure vessels (SWP* or SWT* if exceeded)
- Documented maintenance of pressure vessels to avoid damage or corrosion
- Periodic and systematic inspection of pressure vessels
- Pressure relief valves / reseating of valves once SWP* restored
- Bursting Discs to operate if SWP* of non-flammable containment vessel is exceeded significantly
- Thermal barriers
- Water spray cooling systems
*SWP = Safe Working Pressure
*SWT = Safe Working Temperature
*SOP = Standard Operating Procedure
This article is written in good faith and is not comprehensive, or site/situation specific but provided for insight only.
The following selected examples of BLEVE incidents are worth putting into a search engine to understand the significance of this type of dangerous goods incident:
- June 1959: Meldrim Trestle Disaster, Georgia USA.
- August 1959: 100,000-litre gasoline tank rupture, Kansas, USA.
- March 1960: Whisky bond fire, Glasgow, Scotland.
- January 1966: LPG storage tank rupture, Feyzin, France.
- June 1970: Derailed propane railcar explosion, Illinois USA.
- July 1973: Explosion of propane tanker, Kingman, Arizona.
- January 1978: LN2 (liquid nitrogen) tank rupture, West Virginia, USA.
- February 1978: LPG rail tank-car derailment/explosion, Tennessee, USA.
- July 1978: Liquefied propylene tanker explosion (Los Alfaques), Alcanar, Spain.
- November 1984: Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank farm, Mexico City, Mexico.
- December 1988: Propane Tanker rupture, Memphis, USA.
- April 1990: LPG fuel tanker & Tank Farm explosion, Sydney, Australia.
- April 1998: Propane Tank Explosion, Iowa, USA.
- May 1999: Propane tanker explosion, Vourla, Greece.
- August 2008: Propane storage facility explosion, Ontario, Canada.
- June 2009: LPG tanks on train derailment, Viareggio, Italy.
- March 2015: MRI machine, liquid helium, BLEVE, New Jersey, USA
- April 2017: Tank Farm and Pipeline BLEVE, St Louis, Missouri
- August 2018: LPG tanker explosion, Bologna, Italy.
- March 2019: BLEVE (no further info available), Yancheng, Jiangsu, China.
For more information, email email@example.com


text:
S.1 failed to advance in the Senate, leaving progressives in disarray. For months, activists and politicians have pushed the phony narrative that new “Jim Crow” voting laws are putting democracy in peril, all to build pressure for a sweeping federal takeover of elections. But the euphemistically-named “For the People Act” has failed to win the support of even 50 Senators, prompting progressives to begin teeing up the backup plan: HR4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act.
It’s easy to see why S.1 stalled. The bill upends the election systems of all 50 states. Its provisions eliminate voter ID laws, let partisan operatives collect voters’ ballots without supervision, and remove proven safeguards from absentee votes. It hands the franchise to convicted felons the second they walk out of prison. S.1 saddles election offices with billions of dollars in unfunded mandates while funneling millions in taxpayer money to the campaigns of the politicians voting for it. And it imposes impossible deadlines that will force states to rush wholesale changes. S.1, in short, is an unprecedented, unconstitutional overreach that risks plunging democracy’s foundations into disarray.
These policies are not only unwise, they are unpopular. Recent polling shows that more than three-fourths of Americans favor photo ID laws for voting. By overwhelming margins, Americans want to add safeguards to the voting process to bolster confidence in elections. Only a tenth of the country wants vote trafficking by partisan operatives. When Americans find out what S.1 does, only 28% support it. Progressives may say that S.1 is “for the people,” but they seem intent on passing it in spite of them.
For months, progressives have pushed a narrative that Republican states are passing a wave of discriminatory new laws that put democracy itself at risk. President Biden has said that states like Texas and Georgia are engaged in an “un-American” assault on voting. Senator Chuck Schumer has accused conservatives of importing “autocracy.”
But that overwrought rhetoric doesn’t match reality. When Georgia lawmakers passed electionreformsearlier this year, they expanded early voting. Peach State voters now have 17 to 19 days to cast an in person vote, including two mandatory Saturdays and two optional Sundays. Anyone can vote by mail-in ballot, and those ballots are now protected by a sensible ID law. These policies are popular and reasonable, but politicians like President Biden and activists like Stacey Abrams denounced them as “Jim Crow” racism.
They may wish they hadn’t done that. This week, West Virginia senator Joe Manchin, the lone liberal holdout on S.1, unveiled a set of proposed changes that would win his support. Among them: a nationwide voter ID law, along with 15 days of early voting, including on two weekends. Sound familiar?
Incredibly, Abrams flipped her position almost immediately, telling CNN she would “absolutely” support policies that just months ago she denounced in the most odious terms possible. Voter ID laws are either racist, or they aren’t. Abrams has already tried to claim a technicality: Manchin’s proposal says voters should be able to use a utility bill if needed. But so does Georgia’s new law.
What has all this corrosive and overheated rhetoric got the left? So far, nothing except increased distrust in our election system that has primed many Americans to view next year’s elections as illegitimate if they don’t go the “right” way.
With S.1’s fate in doubt, Congressional leaders are pivoting to H.R. 4, the “Voting Rights Advancement Act.” That bill has been described as a more moderate compromise, but it is really the backup plan to put Washington in charge of elections. In fact, Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared just days ago that H.R. 4 goes “even further” than S.1.
The bill would let the federal government overrule state election laws across the nation. No state would be able to adopt a new voter ID law, for example, or improve the way it cleans its voter rolls without giving Washington the chance to block them. Just like S.1, the legislation targets commonsense laws progressive activists don’t like—at least, until recently—and empowers Washington to veto them. H.R. 4 previously passed the House, and is awaiting reintroduction.
H.R. 4’s defenders argue that it fights voting discrimination just like the original 1965 Voting Rights Act. Yet, unlike that law, this legislation deliberately shuns objective metrics. States aren’t put under federal control based on poor minority voter registration or turnout, but mainly on how often they are sued by activists. That creates a powerful incentive for partisan attorneys to file frivolous claims that inch a state closer to federal control. It even encourages activists or political parties to collude with like-minded officials and use judicial settlements to rewrite voting laws behind closed doors. This is no idle concern. Progressive groups filed more than 200 cases before last year’s election, and many ended in agreements that weakened safeguards, extended deadlines, and skewed the rules of voting.
Americans deserve elections they can trust. Election safeguards don’t stop people from voting, but hyperbolic rhetoric that questions the credibility of democracy might. If we want a true bipartisan solution that secures voting rights and strengthens our democracy, it’s this: let the states keep working to make it easier to vote, and harder to cheat.
Jason Snead is executive director of the Honest Elections Project.

domain: sociology


text:
Speaker John BoehnerJohn BoehnerFormer House leader Bob Michel, a person and politician for the ages Former House GOP leader Bob Michel dies at 93 Keystone pipeline builder signs lobbyist MORE (R-Ohio) on Tuesday accused Senate Democrats of holding up year-end agreements on the farm bill and the budget.
“It is time for the other chamber to get serious about getting its work done,” Boehner said after a closed-door meeting of the House Republican conference.
A five-year farm bill and a two-year budget agreement are two of the major issues that congressional leaders want to resolve before lawmakers head home for the year.
Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) are said to be relatively close on the contours of an agreement that would replace some of the sequestration cuts over the next two years. A deal would also forestall a government shutdown fight early next year.


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By Anne Bailey
For centuries, the tale of the Atlantic slave alternate has been filtered in the course of the eyes and files of white Europeans. during this watershed booklet, historian Anne C. Bailey makes a speciality of thoughts of the alternate from the African point of view. African chiefs and different elders in a space of southeastern Ghana-once famously known as "the outdated Slave Coast"-share tales that demonstrate that Africans have been investors in addition to sufferers of the exchange.
Bailey argues that, like sufferers of trauma, many African societies now event a fragmented view in their previous that partly explains the blanket of silence and disgrace round the slave exchange. shooting ratings of oral histories that have been passed down via generations, Bailey unearths that, even if Africans weren't equivalent companions with Europeans, even their partial involvement within the slave exchange had devastating results on their historical past and id. during this unheard of and revelatory e-book, Bailey explores the fragile and fragmented nature of ancient memory.
From the exchange Paperback edition.
Read or Download African Voices of the Atlantic Slave Trade: Beyond the Silence and the Shame PDF
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In modern society the assumption of ‘revolution’ turns out to became out of date. what's extra premature than the assumption of revolution at the present time? while, despite the fact that, the assumption of radical switch not refers to unheard of conditions yet has turn into normalized as a part of way of life. Ours is a ‘culture’ of everlasting revolution during which consistent systemic disembedding calls for a meta-stable subjectivity in non-stop transformation.
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African Voices of the Atlantic Slave Trade: Beyond the Silence and the Shame by Anne Bailey

domain: literature


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© Reuters. Illustration photo of a two Rand coin from South Africa
By Vuyani Ndaba
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s rand
The median forecast of over 30 currency strategists polled Nov. 30-Dec. 5 suggested the rand
Strategists were almost evenly split whether the rand will be closer to their fair value estimates this time next year, with most suggesting the rand is correctly trading firmer than 14/dollar currently.
The currency has made over 10 percent gains in the last two months due to better sentiment for emerging markets. That pinned hopes last month the currency had room to gain by a further two percent by this time next year.
Still, “the rand is expected to be volatile with the upcoming elections, due to continuing structurally low South African economic growth and tighter U.S. monetary policy as 2019 progresses,” said Johannes Khosa, economist at Nedbank.
This is despite the economy expanding 2.2 percent in the third quarter, snapping out of recession after a revised 0.4 percent contraction the previous quarter.
Africa’s second biggest and most industrialized economy is expected to grow 1.5 percent next year, far from being enough to solve a chronically high jobless rate of 27.5 percent of the labor force.
The rand also faces challenges such as prospects for higher interest rates in the United States, likely to bolster the dollar, although a slower pace of hikes there will likely give the currency something of a reprieve.
The Fed has raised interest rates eight times since it began a tightening cycle in December 2015, including three times so far this year. It is widely expected to raise rates again in December.
Other challenges the country faces is an ongoing tussle between the world’s two biggest economies – China and the United States – likely disturbing trade, while at home massive unemployment, social inequality and land reforms will weigh.
(Polling by Mumal Rathore and Indradip Ghosh in Bengaluru; editing by David Evans)
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text:
About this recipe:Slow-cooked beef and beans in a rich tomato sauce spiced with chillies and cumin makes an inviting meal on any day, and warm, crumbly cornbread studded with corn kernels and mild green chilli is the perfect accompaniment. Serve with a crisp salad for a hearty, well-balanced meal.
1 tbsp (15ml) extra virgin olive oil
350 g lean stewing beef, trimmed of all excess fat and cut into small cubes
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
½ tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp chilli flakes
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 can chopped tomatoes (about 400 g)
2 cans red kidney beans (about 400 g each), drained and rinsed
1, 1/4 cup (300 ml) salt-reduced beef stock
For the cornbread
1 cup (130 g) cornmeal
1 cup (140 g) plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 large egg
1 cup (250 ml) low-fat milk
1 cup (140 g) fresh or frozen corn kernels, thawed if frozen
1 small mild fresh green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish, add the beef and fry over a high heat, stirring occasionally, for 3–4 minutes or until well browned. Remove the meat with a slotted spoon.
Reduce the heat to low and add the onion to the pan. Stir well and cook gently for 10 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin seeds and chilli flakes and cook, stirring, for 1 minute, then return the meat to the pan. Add the tomato paste, tomatoes, beans and stock. Stir well and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat so the mixture is simmering gently, then cover with a lid and cook for 1–1½ hours or until the meat is tender, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, make the cornbread. Preheat the oven to 200ºC and grease a shallow 20 cm square cake tin with cooking spray. Mix the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Combine the egg with the milk and stir in to make a thick, rough-looking batter (do not overmix or the bread will be tough). Fold in the corn and chilli. Spoon the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 20–25 minutes or until firm to the touch.
Turn the cornbread out of its tin and cut into large squares. Serve the chilli con carne in warmed bowls, with the warm cornbread on the side.


Indianapolis-based OrthoIndy named Brandon Smith as chief development officer.
The role is new to the practice, according to an Oct. 25 news release shared with Becker's. Mr. Smith has 13 years of experience at Hendricks Regional Health in Danville, Ind.
At OrthoIndy, Mr. Smith will lead growth initiatives for OrthoIndy, including expanding access to physical therapy and imaging, aling with community engagement.
"He brings a proven track record of creating opportuniies for healthcare networks to better serve their communities," John Ryan, OrthoIndy CEO, said in the release. "He will be an invaluable asset in our mission to further expand and enhance the orthopedic services we provide."


The Genesis of IoT: More Than Just Smart Gadgets
You’ve heard the term before: Internet of Things, or IoT. It sounds complex, but when you break it down, it’s not that complicated. Imagine your morning coffee machine ‘talking’ to your alarm clock, so you have a steaming cup ready as soon as you wake up. This is IoT at its simplest. It’s all about devices—anything with an on/off switch—communicating with each other through the internet. IoT and AI go hand in hand.
Table 1: Examples of Everyday IoT Devices
|Impact on Daily Life
|Controls home temperature remotely
|Energy Efficiency, Cost Saving
|Monitors physical activities
|Keeps track of grocery levels
|Reduced Wastage, Convenience
|Real-time analytics and feedback
|Safer Driving, Energy Efficiency
IoT and AI: A Marriage Made in Data Heaven
Now, let’s introduce AI (Artificial Intelligence) to this equation. AI gives these devices the ability to think, learn, and make decisions. Your smart fridge could not only tell you what you’re running out of but also order groceries for you. How does it know what to order? By learning from your past behavior and preferences. It’s as if the fridge has its own little ‘brain,’ thanks to AI.
The data from IoT devices provides the raw material that AI algorithms need to learn and make better decisions.
According to DataProt,
- In 2021, there were more than 10 billion active IoT devices.
- It’s estimated that the number of active IoT devices will surpass 25.4 billion in 2030.
- By 2025, there will be 152,200 IoT devices connecting to the internet per minute.
- IoT solutions have the potential to generate $4-11 trillion in economic value by 2025.
- 83% of organizations have improved their efficiency by introducing IoT technology.
- It’s estimated that global IoT spending will total $15 trillion in the six-year period between 2019 and 2025.
- The consumer IoT market is estimated to reach $142 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 17%.
- 94% of retailers agree that the benefits of implementing IoT outweigh the risk.
- The amount of data generated by IoT devices is expected to reach 73.1 ZB (zettabytes) by 2025.
Real-world Case Study 1: Smart Cities
Take Singapore, for example. This city-state is on the forefront of developing a ‘Smart Nation’ powered by both IoT and AI. Traffic cameras and sensors placed all around the city gather data about traffic flows, pedestrian movements, and public transportation. AI algorithms then crunch this data to control traffic lights, optimize bus routes, and even predict maintenance needs for public infrastructure. This leads to less congestion, reduced pollution, and a smoother life for its citizens.
So, how is this blend of IoT and AI changing the game for us? How does it make our lives better or worse?
IoT: A Double-Edged Sword
For all its merits, IoT has its drawbacks. The more devices connected to the Internet, the more vulnerabilities we open ourselves to. Remember, anything that’s connected can be hacked. In 2016, a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack took down major websites like Twitter and Netflix, by infecting millions of IoT devices.
Real-world Case Study 2: Health Tech Risks
In the health sector, IoT devices like insulin pumps or heart rate monitors can be life-saving. But what happens if these devices are compromised? The FDA has already identified potential vulnerabilities in such devices and is pushing for more robust cybersecurity measures.
So, what are the ethical considerations in ensuring the safety and security of interconnected devices?
The Sanctity of Data: Security in an IoT World
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s talk about something fundamental: data sanctity. Data is the lifeblood of both IoT and AI. It’s what makes everything ‘smart.’ However, this very data can be a goldmine for hackers. As more and more devices get connected, ensuring the sanctity and security of this data becomes critical.
Table 2: IoT Security Measures and Their Importance
|Impact on Data Sanctity
|Protects data from unauthorized access
|Confirm User Identity
|Limits access to authorized personnel
|Keeps the system secure over time
|Enables quick response to threats
Balancing Innovation with Caution
It’s human nature to forge ahead, to innovate. But with great power comes great responsibility. Companies are often in a rush to get their IoT products to market, sometimes sacrificing security measures. In such a scenario, the role of AI is not just to facilitate but to protect. AI can detect anomalies or suspicious activities on the network, effectively acting as a watchdog.
The Role of AI in IoT Security
Remember, AI doesn’t just enable better services; it also offers better security. Advanced AI algorithms can detect unusual patterns and potential security threats, thereby allowing for real-time responses. This can mitigate or even prevent cyber-attacks, safeguarding the sanctity of user data.
According to a report by Cybersecurity Ventures, cybercrime damages could cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. AI can significantly lower this number by adding an extra layer of security. The importance of integrating AI into IoT is therefore not just a matter of convenience but of necessity.
Regulatory Measures and Standards
How do we ensure that this new frontier of technology adheres to norms and standards that prioritize human safety and data sanctity? The answer lies in regulation. Agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States are pushing for standardization in IoT security. These bodies encourage transparency, consumer choice, and data minimization to ensure the sanctity of data.
Table 3: Regulatory Bodies and Their Roles
|Impact on IoT and AI
|Sets guidelines for data storage and privacy
|Health and Safety
|Ensures medical IoT devices meet safety standards
|Regulates IoT data transfer and bandwidth use
How does regulation affect the rapid development and deployment of IoT and AI technologies? And what role does Sanctity AI play in this landscape?
The Cost of Connectivity: Environmental Implications
While we’re enchanted by the benefits of IoT and AI, it’s essential to consider the environmental toll. Data centers, running 24/7, consume vast amounts of energy and water. How do we reconcile the growing need for data storage and processing with our responsibility to the planet?
Greener Alternatives: The Role of AI
In an interesting twist, AI may be part of the solution. Advanced algorithms can optimize energy use in data centers, reducing their carbon footprint. Google, for instance, used its DeepMind AI to cut data center cooling costs by 40%. AI can also be used to create “smart grids” for electricity, optimizing energy distribution to reduce waste.
Ethical AI: Forging a Sustainable Future
Let’s not forget the role of ethics in this arena. It’s not enough to make our lives convenient. We need to consider the long-term impact on society and the planet. Sanctity AI believes in responsible AI usage, and part of that is ensuring sustainability.
The Social Contract: Public Perception and Trust
We need to discuss the elephant in the room: trust. Public opinion about IoT and AI ranges from cautious optimism to outright fear, especially in the wake of high-profile data breaches and privacy concerns.
Table 4: Public Perception of IoT and AI
|Influence on Adoption
|Slows Adoption Rate
Building Trust: Transparency and User Control
The key to widespread adoption is building trust. This is where transparent business practices and clear regulations come in. Users need to know their data is safe, secure, and being used responsibly. By giving users control over their own data, we uphold the principle of data sanctity, fostering a healthier relationship between people and technology.
IoT and AI in Developing Countries
While developed nations have been quick to adopt IoT and AI, developing countries are not far behind. These technologies have the power to solve critical issues like healthcare accessibility, food security, and education. Projects like IBM’s Watson have made strides in assisting healthcare professionals in remote areas.
But these opportunities come with their own set of challenges. Infrastructure limitations, data privacy concerns, and the ethical use of AI are pressing issues. These countries may not have robust regulatory frameworks to safeguard data sanctity and ensure responsible AI use.
So, what challenges do developing countries face in adopting IoT and AI, and how can they ensure the sanctity and ethical use of these technologies?
The Digital Divide: Bridging Gaps and Creating Opportunities
The technological advancements in IoT and AI are undoubtedly groundbreaking, but there’s a caveat. We risk creating a digital divide where only those with access to high-speed internet and cutting-edge devices can benefit from these innovations.
Inclusivity: A Core Tenet of Sanctity AI
Sanctity AI advocates for an inclusive approach where technology serves everyone, irrespective of socio-economic status. Governments and organizations can leverage IoT and AI to provide better healthcare, education, and essential services to underserved communities.
Case Studies: Real-World Applications that Uphold Data Sanctity
- Smart Agriculture: Companies like John Deere use IoT sensors and AI algorithms to optimize farming techniques, minimize waste, and increase yield.
- Telemedicine: Remote healthcare has seen significant improvement thanks to IoT medical devices and AI algorithms that can diagnose conditions early, often in places where medical facilities are scarce.
The Sanctity of Human Experience: Accessibility and Usability
As we blend the physical and digital worlds, we must ensure that these technologies are accessible. User-friendly interfaces, adaptive learning algorithms, and robust security measures are not just optional features but necessities to uphold the sanctity of the human experience.
Conclusion: Navigating the Intersection of IoT and AI
The confluence of IoT and AI presents unprecedented opportunities and challenges. The possibilities are limitless, from smart cities to personalized healthcare. But with these advancements come concerns—data privacy, environmental impact, and social implications—that we must address proactively.
Importance of the Sanctity of AI
The guiding principle of Sanctity AI is to build a world where AI usage is safe, reliable, responsible, and inviolable. The intersection of IoT and AI opens avenues that can either empower humanity or lead to unwarranted consequences. Ensuring the sanctity of AI is not just an ethical obligation but a necessity for a harmonious future.
So, are we prepared to navigate this intricate web of innovation and ethics to build a future that safeguards the sanctity of human life and data?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the key security vulnerabilities in IoT?
- Weak Authentication: Poorly secured passwords and lack of multi-factor authentication expose devices to hacking.
- Insecure Networks: Data can be intercepted during transmission if network security is compromised.
- Outdated Software: Devices running on outdated firmware are susceptible to attacks.
How does AI improve IoT security?
- Anomaly Detection: AI algorithms can detect unusual patterns and trigger alerts.
- Data Encryption: AI can enhance encryption methods, making data more secure during transmission.
- Behavior Analysis: AI can analyze user behavior to flag suspicious activities.
How does IoT impact the environment?
- Energy Consumption: Data centers and IoT devices consume significant amounts of electricity.
- E-Waste: With rapidly evolving technology, older devices become obsolete quickly, contributing to electronic waste.
How can AI mitigate environmental impacts of IoT?
- Optimization Algorithms: AI can improve the efficiency of data centers, thereby reducing energy consumption.
- Smart Grids: AI-enabled energy distribution systems can minimize waste and maximize utilization.
What measures are in place to ensure the ethical use of IoT and AI?
- Regulatory Frameworks: Organizations like the FTC and FDA enforce guidelines for ethical practices.
- Consumer Awareness: Increased public understanding leads to demand for ethical IoT and AI solutions.
- Transparency: Businesses are adopting transparent practices to build consumer trust.
How do IoT and AI technologies impact developing countries?
- Accessibility: IoT and AI can significantly improve access to healthcare and education.
- Infrastructure: These technologies can aid in building and optimizing essential infrastructure.
- Economic Growth: IoT and AI can be catalysts for economic development by creating new industries and jobs.
What role does Sanctity AI play in IoT and AI development?
- Ethical Guidelines: Sanctity AI works to ensure the ethical and responsible use of IoT and AI.
- Public Awareness: Through educational initiatives, Sanctity AI helps the public understand the risks and rewards of these technologies.
- Industry Standards: Sanctity AI collaborates with regulatory bodies to establish and uphold industry standards for ethical use.
What measures are necessary for developing countries to ensure the sanctity of IoT and AI technologies, especially when they lack robust regulatory frameworks?
What are the real-world applications of IoT and AI?
- Smart Cities: IoT sensors and AI algorithms improve traffic management, waste disposal, and energy efficiency.
- Healthcare: From wearable health monitors to AI-assisted diagnoses, the healthcare sector has seen a revolution.
- Retail: AI algorithms analyze customer behavior while IoT helps with inventory management.
How can one ensure data privacy while using IoT devices?
- Strong Passwords: Always use complex, unique passwords for device accounts.
- Software Updates: Keep your devices updated to ensure you have the latest security patches.
- Network Security: Use a secure, encrypted Wi-Fi network to connect your IoT devices.
What are the challenges in integrating IoT and AI?
- Data Overload: The amount of data generated can be overwhelming and requires robust processing capabilities.
- Interoperability: Ensuring different IoT devices can communicate with each other is a challenge.
- Cost: High initial setup costs can be a barrier to entry, particularly for small businesses.
How can businesses benefit from integrating IoT and AI?
- Operational Efficiency: Automated systems can optimize workflows.
- Customer Experience: Real-time analytics can personalize customer interactions.
- Strategic Decision-Making: Data analytics can offer insights into market trends and consumer behavior.
What is the relationship between IoT and edge computing?
- Data Processing: Edge computing allows data to be processed closer to where it is generated, reducing latency.
- Security: Storing data locally can reduce the risk of data breaches.
- Bandwidth Efficiency: Less data needs to be sent to the cloud, saving bandwidth.
How does Sanctity AI view the ethical considerations surrounding IoT and AI?
- Human-Centric Approach: Sanctity AI emphasizes that technology should serve human needs, not the other way around.
- Ethical Framework: Sanctity AI advocates for an ethical approach to data collection, storage, and usage.
- Public Education: Sanctity AI takes on the role of educator to demystify complex technological concepts and encourage responsible usage.
Given the importance of ethical considerations in IoT and AI, how can consumers make sure they are not inadvertently becoming part of an unethical data collection mechanism?


text:
By E.C. Hakewill 1840-41, to which W.D.Caroe added a chancel and eastern bay and vestries in 1902. The interior is now divided into two with the crossing, transepts and chancel used as a church and the nave for community uses.
A large church of 1845-48 by E.C. Hakewill. For its date it is a remarkably well detailed church. The spire by N.F. Cachemaille-Day was added in after the orignal broach spire was destroyed in WW2.

domain: history


The patent (patent no. MY-184165-A) is granted to Innov8tif by Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO).
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 28 June 2021 — MyIPO has granted Innov8tif Solutions Sdn. Bhd. (Innov8tif) a patent for its method of verifying the authenticity of a Malaysian identity document using computer vision algorithm known as microprint detection technique.
Microprint is a security feature found in Malaysian identity card (IC), various government issued identity documents around the world, and banknotes. Microprint detection technique is a key feature in Innov8tif’s EMAS OkayDoc product – part of the company’s EMAS eKYC suite, to effectively determine if an image of identity document was captured from genuine IC or a colour-printed copy. This is achieved by analysing the quality of microprint extracted from a document image; there are subtle differences between an original pattern versus a copy.
This patented technology has already been successfully commercialised to support online and automated verification of customer’s identity for account registration and product application use cases ranging from telecommunication industry to FinTech, InsurTech, WealthTech, PropTech and LawTech. Identity proofing is part of customer due diligence requirements in regulations surrounding KYC (know-your-customer) compliance. In 2020, Innov8tif supported 3.5 million online identity verification transactions.
“There isn’t just one algorithm for document authentication. In fact, Innov8tif has more than ten methods to complete the document authentication process of an identity document. Microprint authentication is one of them, and as we have discovered a unique method to accomplish the automation of this work for ‘physical-document-not-present’ scenario, there was a motivation for us to protect our intellectual property rights through filing of such invention for patent grant application,” said Tiensoon Law, Innov8tif’s Chief Operating Officer.
“The patented microprint detection algorithm helps in mitigating non-conformance of document, especially the colour copy. This milestone proofs Innov8tif’s long-term commitment in the development of digital identity verification business, and it is an assurance to our customers that Innov8tif is the rightful intellectual property owner of such technology.”
Accelerated by evolving customer interfacing landscape to digital touch point and low-touch channel, EMAS eKYC innovations have benefited from the timely market demand. Innov8tif continues its regional expansion activities by sharing its domain-specific experience with innovative businesses riding on transformative business models and delivery channels.
About Innov8tif Solutions Sdn. Bhd.
Innov8tif (pronounced “innovative”) is an ISO 27001:2013 certified AI company helping businesses to widen sales funnel, speed-up processes without paper and prevent frauds. Innov8tif’s EMAS eKYC product enables businesses with digital ID verification capability to support online customer onboarding process and identity fraud management. In 2019, EMAS eKYC was accorded one of the two Merit awards for B2B Fintech category at International APICTA (Asia Pacific ICT Alliance) Awards among 16 participating economies.
Media Relations – [email protected]


text:
My Dad's Flatty, fresh off a body stretch(flatfenders=no legroom). He has owned the Jeep since 1973 of 1974. It started as a 2wd DJ surrey edition. He finished the original build in 1975 and has been wheeling it ever since. This is the 4th rebuild though.
How do we know this isn't some other planets hell?

domain: hobby


text:
In one of the deadliest attacks in the country, a gunman disguised as a police officer shot people in their homes and set houses on fire across the Canadian province of Nova Scotia that took away as many as 16 lives. Officials on Sunday, April 19, said that the suspected shooter was also shot dead.
A police officer among those who died was a female constable and a 23-year veteran of the force. Several bodies were found inside and outside one home in the town of Portapique, about 100 km north of Halifax, where the first scene erupted.
The attack began late on Saturday, April18, after which several bodies were found at different locations. The police claim that the attacker may have shot the first victim and then began attacking randomly.
After the attacks grew intense, police advised the residents to lock their doors and stay in their basements as the attacker went on to set several houses on fire.
Police identified the shooter as Gabriel Wortman, 51, and said that he was disguised in a police uniform and made his car look like a Royal Canadian Mounted Police cruiser.
Police initially claimed that they had arrested Wortman at a gas station in Enfield, but later announced that he had died. "This is one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province's history," Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil said.
RCMP spokesman Daniel Brien said that 16 people were killed in addition to the attacker.
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