Tudor, Burks win Red Bull Cold Rush
It was nearing midnight Wednesday in the Grand Imperial Hotel when Dane Tudor and Rachael Burks found out they had won Red Bull Cold Rush, the world's foremost backcountry freeskiing competition held at Silverton Mountain, deep in Colorado's Southern San Juan Range.
Each won handily among a heavily talented field of athletes, who voted on the results after watching 90 minutes of video from the week's runs, which were pared to two days after large avalanches forced the cancellation of the cliffs competition on Wednesday. Neither Tudor nor Burks could stop smiling on the podium, but it wasn't only because they'd won Cold Rush, of all contests one can win in this sport. It was because neither had tasted victory in years, if ever.
Despite their reputations as two of the world's best all-around skiers, Tudor's last win came as a junior competitor in his native British Columbia, and Burks had never won a single freeskiing competition before this week. They changed that with clutch performances on Monday's big-mountain venue and the one-of-a-kind slopestyle course Tuesday.
First-time Cold Rush competitor Pep Fujas -- the only skier not to crash this week -- finished second, and Sage Cattabriga-Alosa earned his second straight Cold Rush podium in third place, following last year's runner-up finish. Jackie Paaso claimed second for the women, followed by Michelle Parker.
"I always give it my all and try and send it, but this year I came in with a different approach," said Tudor, who finished third last year and now heads to Haines, Alaska, for a month of filming. "A lot of times I'll just swing super hard and I end up falling. This year I tried to be more consistent and land all my runs. I think the majority of straight pow rippers are here, so to be on top is crazy. I watched a lot of people this week and thought they were worthy, too."
Tudor strung together two high-speed, technical runs in the big-mountain event, spinning off big cliffs and sticking a ridiculous double drop that featured heavy exposure. He followed that Tuesday with a show of versatility in slopestyle, landing a smooth 720 into a large switch cork 540 off the biggest jump on course. "The winner was Dane, hands down," Fujas said.
Fujas -- competing in his first contest in "five or six years" and his first-ever big-mountain event -- proved that last year's injury-plagued season had no effect on his ability to do everything with style. "This contest doesn't even really feel like a contest," Fujas said. "You're going out there skiing with a bunch of your friends and just rooting everyone on, and you want everybody to do well. It's more like a session than anything. I never got really nervous or crazy competitive and zoned in and focused on trying to be the best."
This contest doesn't even really feel like a contest. You're going out there skiing with a bunch of your friends and just rooting everyone on, and you want everybody to do well.” --Pep Fujas
Big-mountain specialist Cattabriga-Alosa secured his podium spot with creative thinking as much as standout skiing. He was the only competitor to hit three jumps on the slopestyle course, taking a unique angle to do so and sticking 360 variations off of each feature. "In general when I ski, I like to find that extra little something," Cattabriga-Alosa said.
For Burks, the victory brought a measure of redemption in addition to wide-eyed shrieks of celebration. Last year, she broke her ankle three days before Cold Rush and missed the event. Her determination led to this week's win, as she crashed hard on her first runs both days then returned to the scene of her carnage and nailed each jump she'd fallen on -- a 30-foot cliff the first day and a gorgeous backflip the second day. She landed her backflip moments after Paaso put the pressure on by sticking the first front flip she'd ever tried.
"Oh my gosh, I'm elated," Burks said after the awards ceremony, wearing a spiked black wig and headband in honor of the heavy metal band that played deep into the night. "I've never in my life been on top of a podium. I competed on the world tour for five years, and the best I ever did was third place. I'm 30 and on top of my first podium!"
Dash Longe dominated the big-mountain day to cement fourth place overall, and Andy Mahre combined technical skiing Monday with smooth rail riding and a perfect 720 Tuesday to place fifth overall. Perhaps the surprise of the contest was 17-year-old Whistler native Logan Pehota, who took sixth place and opened a lot of eyes with technical and stylish skiing both days. Two-time defending champion Sean Pettit finished 10th and relinquished his title.
While an event like this includes so many brilliant moments (and 11 TV cameras to capture them for NBC -- the event will air nationally on NBC on March 24), a few stood out among the lot: Wiley Miller's nose butter 720 off the cornice Tuesday, Leo Ahrens' relentless if futile pursuit of a double cork and Dave Treadway's hold-your-breath line on the big-mountain venue, which included a spine that had never been skied, according to Silverton founder Aaron Brill.
Said Treadway: "I get a rush out of making something that looks kind of impossible, possible. I had every turn memorized by the time I dropped in."
The week wasn't without some spectacular carnage as well, and some competitors abandoned the event halfway through due to injury. Richard Permin (knee), Callum Pettit (knee) and Kye Petersen (neck) left after Monday's big-mountain day, and Josh Bibby's and Tobias Tritscher's weeks also were cut short due to crashes.


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Veronica Felix: NIEP community organizer highlight
Get to know one of the eight National Immigrant Empowerment Project, or NIEP, community organizers that are advocating alongside members of their community and empowering the immigrant community to take the lead in creating long-lasting, positive changes in their cities.
Catholic Charities of Southern New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Why do you enjoy working with the immigrant and refugee community?
I enjoy working with immigrants and the refugee community because they will do whatever it takes to improve their lives and especially the lives of their children. In working with immigrants and refugees, they come across as hardworking and ambitious individuals. They are willing to take on jobs that others don’t want to do. They tend to be very responsible individuals and because of their ambition, they are three times more likely to become economically stable and well off than other Americans. In the past, I worked on an organizing project that involved a group of 20 families and my goals were to: establish leadership development training programs; provide broader access to community resources and create personal action/improvement plans. The results were amazing. 90 percent of the participants reached their goals within two years.
What inspired you to enter this field of work?
I grew up in the labor movement. My father started working for the United Farmer Workers (UFW) Union as a labor organizer in 1965. My father taught me many things about organizing, and I still remember my father taking me to community meetings, marches and house visits. We also traveled to different states to promote the migrant workers’ grape boycott. As years went by, I would spend most of the summers volunteering at the UFW headquarters. I actually worked with Cesar Chavez for two summers, which further fueled my passion for organizing and helping immigrant families.
In your opinion, what benefits does integration offer your community?
What strategies have you found most impactful when promoting integration? Integrating immigrants into society is important if we are going to build a stronger, inclusive, and more vibrant and peaceful community. Integration engages and transforms communities and its members through sharing of resources, forging mutually beneficial partnerships and creating a more cohesive sense of community. Key aspects of my organizing work includes having one-on-one meetings with community leaders and building relationships with elected officials, decision makers, and members of all religious congregations.
How have community organizing efforts impacted your community?
I am pleased to report that voter registration in rural Chaves County, New Mexico has increased. Through these efforts, we now have a more diverse city council in Roswell, something that hasn’t happened in the past 12 years.
In what ways have immigrants and refugees been involved in grassroots organizing?
The immigrant community organized to raise concerns and issues they had with the Roswell School District’s superintendent. They asked fellow parents to sign petitions calling for his resignation, and they became active at school board meetings. The superintendent was eventually removed from his position as a result of the organizing campaign and community opposition.
How has the immigrant community been empowered in your community?
They have been empowered by envisioning a better future for themselves and their community and by addressing long-standing issues and inequality. They have worked hard from the beginning to set personal expectations, defined their roles and responsibilities, and have provided others with leadership training opportunities and access to resources. It has been important to provide them with leadership opportunities, allow them to create their own vision of the future and to address issues of importance to the immigrant community.
Why is it beneficial for them to feel empowered?
In my experience, when immigrants feel empowered, they gain confidence and have hope, they feel good about helping their own community, and they feel that they finally have a voice to be heard. Also, their own personal self-esteem is improved through the knowledge that they are creating change, they are acting as role models to younger generations and providing others with hope.
Can you briefly explain your project and what changes you are hoping to see over the next few years?
What do you hope communities across the country will learn from the National Immigrant Empowerment Project (NIEP), your project specifically? Currently, I’m conducting voter registration drives and public Know Your Rights forums as well as working closely with church congregations and leaders in Chaves County, New Mexico. I am also working with communities to identify and support individuals who may be interested in serving in public office. My goal is to empower immigrants so they can organize themselves and eventually become leaders in their communities.
For over 500 years, New Mexico has been a very diverse state, and I hope that we can serve as a model for how diverse individuals and groups of individuals can work together to build a more just and equitable society. My goal is to address community issues and inequality now but also build organizing campaigns and structures that will empower immigrants well into the future. To affect long-term change, politicians, our government, and decision-making agencies and entities must be more diverse to reflect the make-up of New Mexico’s population, which is primarily Latinx/Hispanic. I believe the key to affecting widespread and systematic change in society is by identifying and supporting individuals, especially immigrants, who want to serve in public office and who bring greater diversity and cultural competence to public policy making and decisions.

domain: sociology


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Business Recovery and Insolvency Administrator
|Job Title:||Business Recovery and Insolvency Administrator|
|Salary:||18000 - 28000|
|Contact Name:||Keith Lackie|
|Job Published:||December 02, 2019 14:01|
Are you currently working in, or looking to begin a career in business recovery and insolvency?
You will have a desire to build a long term career in business recovery and insolvency, and will be looking for a firm who can support this. You will ideally be AAT or ACA/ACCA qualified or part qualified.
You will be someone who thrives in an environment that is fast-paced, dynamic and rewarding, and be able to focus on delivering the best possible levels of client service.
What you’ll be doing:
You will be in great company, working in a professional and ambitious team that is made up of Insolvency Practitioners, Chartered Accountants, Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency (CPI) qualified professionals and a team of trainees.
You will provide accounting and other support in the Business Recovery and Insolvency department. You will work on both solvent and insolvent company liquidations and other types of insolvency advice and appointments.
You will provide bookkeeping services, including the recording of income and expenditure, matching transactions to bank statements, summarising expenditure types.
You will deliver reports and returns, including recording information for VAT and business tax returns and assistance with the preparation of annual reports to shareholders and creditors.
This will include cashiering, case administration and liaison with stakeholders in person, email and phone.
PKF Francis Clark is the place for your career. Our growth offers you the opportunity to expand and develop your career in a direction that interests you. We offer a supportive and flexible working environment, taking your career seriously to enable you to be the best you can be.
Please click ‘Apply Now’. If you don’t have an up-to-date CV or would prefer to chat to someone before applying, get in touch with Keith Lackie on Keith.Lackie@pkf-francisclark.co.uk.
Everyone will receive a response.
PKF Francis Clark doesn’t discriminate. We’re interested in your skills, your experience, your potential, and nothing else.
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Finance Business Partner
£40000.00 - £50000.00 per annum
China Indirect Tax and Customs professionals – all levels from partner to junior consultant
Financial Reporting Accountant - 12 month contract
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
£43000 - £46000 per annum + bonus + pension
Senior Credit Risk Analyst
£40000 - £50000 per annum
Management Accountant - 12 to 15 Month FTC
Leeds, West Yorkshire
£40000 - £50000 per annum

domain: finance


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Inspirational hardcover journal contains 160 lined pages and coordinating ribbon marker. 8" x 6" hardcover canvas printed design.Seashell and seashore motif is accented with quote from the Serenity Prayer.
Customer Reviews for Serenity Prayer Journal
This product has not yet been reviewed. Click here to continue to the product details page.

domain: design


NREL’s Vehicle Ancillary Loads Reduction team has been working with industry to try to reduce fuel consumption from air conditioning in cars and trucks. The use of ventilated seating is one way to cut air conditioning, and recent research shows that it works.
"If all passenger vehicles had ventilated seats, we estimate that there could be a 7.5 percent reduction in national air-conditioning fuel use. That translates to a savings of 522 million gallons of fuel a year," said John Rugh, project leader for NREL’s Vehicle Ancillary Loads Reduction Project.
W.E.T. Automotive Systems Ltd. provided NREL with ComfortCools® seats for testing. Each seat contains two fans that pull air from the seat surface and out from underneath the seat. General Motors currently offers this ventilated seat as an option for the Cadillac STS.
Using its suite of thermal comfort tools and subjective test data, NREL measured improvement in human thermal sensation for the ventilated seats and the potential for a 7 percent reduction in air-conditioning compressor power.
NREL developed its thermal comfort tools to help the automotive industry design smaller and more efficient climate-control systems in vehicles. The tools consist of a one-of-a-kind thermal comfort manikin called ADAM (ADvanced Automotive Manikin)—which actually breathes and sweats—along with a physiological model and psychological model. Linked together, these tools assess comfort in a transient, nonhomogeneous environment, unlike other commonly used models based on steady-state, uniform environmental data.
NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by Midwest Research Institute and Battelle.
For further information contact NREL Public Affairs at (303) 275-4090.
George Douglas | EurekAlert!
The car of the future – sleeper cars and travelling offices too?
18.06.2018 | Fraunhofer-Institut für Arbeitswirtschaft und Organisation IAO
Self-driving cars for country roads
07.05.2018 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, CSAIL
New design tool automatically creates nanostructure 3D-print templates for user-given colors
Scientists present work at prestigious SIGGRAPH conference
Most of the objects we see are colored by pigments, but using pigments has disadvantages: such colors can fade, industrial pigments are often toxic, and...
Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles present new research on a curious cosmic phenomenon known as "whistlers" -- very low frequency packets...
Scientists develop first tool to use machine learning methods to compute flow around interactively designable 3D objects. Tool will be presented at this year’s prestigious SIGGRAPH conference.
When engineers or designers want to test the aerodynamic properties of the newly designed shape of a car, airplane, or other object, they would normally model...
Researchers from TU Graz and their industry partners have unveiled a world first: the prototype of a robot-controlled, high-speed combined charging system (CCS) for electric vehicles that enables series charging of cars in various parking positions.
Global demand for electric vehicles is forecast to rise sharply: by 2025, the number of new vehicle registrations is expected to reach 25 million per year....
Proteins must be folded correctly to fulfill their molecular functions in cells. Molecular assistants called chaperones help proteins exploit their inbuilt folding potential and reach the correct three-dimensional structure. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB) have demonstrated that actin, the most abundant protein in higher developed cells, does not have the inbuilt potential to fold and instead requires special assistance to fold into its active state. The chaperone TRiC uses a previously undescribed mechanism to perform actin folding. The study was recently published in the journal Cell.
Actin is the most abundant protein in highly developed cells and has diverse functions in processes like cell stabilization, cell division and muscle...
08.08.2018 | Event News
27.07.2018 | Event News
25.07.2018 | Event News
17.08.2018 | Materials Sciences
17.08.2018 | Information Technology
17.08.2018 | Physics and Astronomy


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VRBO is part of the HomeAway family, the world leader in vacation rentals with over 1 million listings. We offer the largest selection of properties for any travel occasion and every budget. We’re committed to helping families and friends find a perfect vacation rental to create unforgettable travel experiences together.
This property allows you to book online with a credit card. After submitting a reservation request, the owner or manager has 24 hours to accept, at which time your card will be charged and you will receive an email confirmation
"We booked this great home for a quick weekend getaway with our toddler son and dogs. Barbara, the owner, was wonderful to work with and very quick to reply. They provide you with all the information you need about the surrounding areas including where to eat and places to shop. The house felt very welcoming as soon as we walked in. It is really well maintained and very clean and cozy. It's conveniently located right on the trail which made it very easy for us to take our dogs out. All in all, it was the perfect place to get away for some peace and relaxation. We only visited for a short time, but will definitely be returning for longer. Thank you, Barbara!"
Guest: Lauren K.Date of Stay: November 2015Review Submitted: November 18, 2015
"I rented this house for my son's wedding. We loved it. Lots of space to spread out. Everything you would need in a kitchen. Beautiful deck and yard. And Amy was a pleasure to work with. Even calling on our arrival to make sure everything was ok. Be aware cell phone service is spotty in Roxbury and there is no internet at the house so listen to Amy's advice and give out the house phone number!"
Guest: Katherine B.Date of Stay: May 2015Review Submitted: June 12, 2015
"We are so glad that we took a little autumn get away.
This house was the best place for the weekend get away we could imagine.
Everything was perfect!
This is a beautiful new house.
We enjoyed eating meals with great view through the huge windows and hiking in the area. Rooms were spotless.
We can't wait to go there again."
Guest: Ela WDate of Stay: October 2015Review Submitted: October 29, 2015

domain: travel


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New blog I've been debating if I should write or not. A more...fantastic perspective on dear old Slendy. So far a lot of just simple character-creating posts (I hope. I'm not sure if her personality is showing yet, but I'll work on it) with one odd appearance that I haven't decided if it's SM or not yet. Wanting to do a bit of a slow buildup, I don't like the whole "Oh, there's a guy. Look, he's back the next day." I've always liked it more randomized, unexpected. Sort of how a real stalker works, takes some time to notice it's the same freaking guy.
Critique, comments before I go 'live' with it in a week or so?
I've done ARGs, but nothing SM-related before, I can take critique on any front. Character, pacing, mythos, whatever.

domain: artistic


Bob Kirtley: If on Thursday the ECB do reduce rates then the Euro could fall exerting upward pressure on the dollar which would be negative for gold. We can look to the summer doldrums or ‘sell May and go away’ investors to account for gold’s fall but the truth is that this tiny sector is in decline. The NFP numbers and the actions of the ECB will make for a volatile end to this week.
Gold prices have fallen for 6 days in a row taking the price down to $1243/oz and it now stands about $60/oz above the 2013 June lows. Silver prices suffered the same fate falling from $19.50/oz to $18.75/oz. The gold producers as represented by the Gold Bugs Index the HUI is down to 204 which is lower than the 2013 June lows. We can look to the summer doldrums or the ‘sell May and go away’ investors when we try to account for these falls but the truth is that this tiny sector has been suffering for a couple of years now.
Many have called the bottom for gold as being the 2013 June low of $1180/oz which is something that we were skeptical about and remain so.
This lackluster performance usually comes to end around Labour Day in the United States which this year is on 1st September 2014 and so we have three months to endure barring a very serious Black Swan event.
There are a myriad of reasons that come into play which effect the direction of gold prices but today we will look at just one of them; the effect of monetary policy as perpetrated by The Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank (ECB).
The Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank
The days of Quantitative Easing (QE) are drawing to an end as the Fed have introduced a strategy of tapering the amount of purchases they will make each month until the programme ends, which is anticipated to be towards the end of the year. In rough terms, the objective of QE was to increase inflation, boost the economy, and create more jobs by way of a massive increase in liquidity. In terms of job creation the Fed are guided by the Non-Farm Payrolls Report which is issued on the first Friday of every month, at 8:30AM EST, the next one falling on 06 June 2014. Estimates suggest a figure of an additional 210,000 jobs will be added which will satisfy the Fed in that they are on the right course and so tapering will continue. Even if this number was very low, it’s only one month and I doubt if the Fed would change direction until they had a run of poor figures. The economy would need to tank for the Fed to re-introduce any form of financial stimulus, this is not out of the question but it’s certainly not in the frame to take place any time soon.
Following this key event, the next one is the June 17-18 FOMC meeting where the Chairperson, Janet Yellen will give a press conference on the state of the economy, etc. We suspect that it will be a case of steady as we go and nothing in the way of dramatic change.
This is important as we see a link between tapering and the value of the dollar, as tapering progresses, the dollar strengthens and has now climbed to its highest level in three months when measured against a basket of major currencies on the US Dollar Index. Not all of this gain can be attributed to the Fed, the actions of the ECB also play a part. Talk of a ‘refinancing rate’ reduction by the ECB this Thursday and the possibility of the deposit rate going into negative territory have taken its toll on the euro.
The decline of the euro helps to support the dollar and as gold is measured in dollars in many parts of the world its price has declined of late.


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There is possibility that "Spider-Man 4" gets a 3-D treatment. Forbes recently gets the chance to talk with Sony Pictures Entertainment's co-chairmen Amy Pascal and Michael Lynton about what's next for movies and it manages to draw an interesting response from the two in regards of whether they were considering to implement 3-D technology in the fourth installment of the superhero film.
When presented with the question, Pascal came up with an evasive answer, saying only "Could be." But, Lynton gave more from the business side. "People are paying a premium to see movies in 3-D and that's a very big deal," he explained. "It's never been done before that someone says you have to pay more to see Spider-Man than a romantic comedy."
The 3-D issue aside, "Spider-Man 4" has been reported to be shot back-to-back with "Spider-Man 5". It teams up once again director Sam Raimi and lead actor Tobey Maguire. Produced by Avi Arad, Grant Curtis and Laura Ziskin, the script which is expected to be ready by summer will be provided by David Lindsay-Abaire. It has recently been confirmed that this movie will be opened in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2011.

domain: news


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Vegans by Race and Ethnicity in the USA?
I know 0.5% of the USA population are vegans. Of that percentage, how many are white? I’m writing a book chapter and need to know this and can’t find the information anywhere!
For some strange reason, The Vegan Research Panel has gender and age, but no mention of race and ethnicity: http://www.imaner.net/panel/details4.htm .
An excerpt from my book chapter is below, for a 2010 book about food justice.
If anyone has any well researched statistical information on vegans by race and ethnicity in the USA, please let me know! ————- Chapter Title (tentative): Problematic of Whiteness, Racialized Embodiment, and Use of the Word “Exotic” for Vegan Foods (Forthcoming 2010) By A. Breeze Harper
Practitioners of veganism abstain from animal consumption and a majority support animal rights. However, the culture of veganism itself is not a monolith and is in fact comprised of many different subcultures and philosophies throughout the world, ranging from punk strict vegans for animal rights (Cherry 2006), to people who are dietary vegans for personal health reasons, to people who practice veganism for religious and spiritual reasons. The Vegan Society, the organization that coined the term “vegan,” states that the heart of veganism calls for practice of Ahimsa or “compassion, kindness, and justice” for all living beings.
Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word for non-killing and non-harming. It is not mere passiveness, but a positive method of meeting the dilemmas and decisions of daily life. In the western world, we call it Dynamic Harmlessness. The six pillars of this dynamic philosophy for modern life (one for each letter: A-H-I-M-S-A) are: ABSTINENCE FROM ANIMAL PRODUCTS; HARMLESSNESS WITH REVERENCE FOR LIFE; INTEGRITY OF THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED; MASTERY OVER ONESELF; SERVICE TO HUMANITY, NATURE, AND CREATION; ADVANCEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING AND TRUTH.1 Despite the definition above, it must be understood that veganism, at least in the United States of America, has the connotation of being a lifestyle of white socio-economic class privileged people. In the book Sistah Vegan: Black Females Speak on Food, Identity, Health, and Society, many of the volume’s contributors let their readers know that veganism is for everyone and is not solely the domain of white people (Harper 2009). In the popular satirical online site, Stuff White People Like, creator Christian Lander jokingly writes, “As with many white people activities, being vegan/vegetarian enables them to feel as though they are helping the environment AND it gives them a sweet way to feel superior to others” (Lander 2009). On Veggie Blog, March 14, 2008, the topic, “Is veganism another white privilege?” was posted2. Jo Stepaniak, author of numerous vegan books, writes on her website, “Bear in mind that not all vegans are white and privileged, and that veganism is a movement of global proportion”3. The most interesting aspect of these stereotypes is that an internet search of U.S. vegans by race/ethnicity results in zero findings; there are statistics on gender and age, but no one has yet to touch the category of race. Implicit in this lack of research is that race is an unimportant issue to the vegan mainstream, despite the complaints, assumptions, and stereotypes from people that vegans are only white. This paper will examine the heavily under-researched intersection of race, vegan foodways, and whiteness. Works Cited and Notes 1 Ahimsa Volume 41, Number 4, page 19. 2 http://www.happycow.net/blog/?p=117 3 http://www.vegsource.com/jo/qa/qaaffluent.htm Cherry, Elizabeth. “Veganism as a Cultural Movement: A Relational Approach.” Social Movement Studies 5, no. 2 (2006): 155-70. Harper, A. Breeze. Sistah Vegan: Black Female Vegans Speak on Food, Identity, Health, and Society. New York: Lantern Books, 2009. Lander, C. (2009). “Stuff White People Like.” Retrieved August 25, 2009, from http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/01/27/32-veganvegetarianism/.

domain: library


text:
TPPA Media Reports of our Campaign
Media Reports of AFTINET TPPA Campaign
2012 Media Reports:
AFTINET Presentation on the dangers of Investor State Disputes at TPPA 14th Round:
The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 September 2012, 6.08pm
Big Tobacco warning at free-trade talks
High Court ruling on Philip Morris case and the dangers of Investor State Disputes:
The Conversation, 16 August 2012, 6.43am AEST Government wins first battle in plain packaging war, by Dr. Kyla Tienhaara. The Conversation Herald Sun, August 16 2012, 5:16PM Plain packaging for tobacco can't be delayed, say legal experts Herald Sun
Media Reports on Melbourne Round of Negotiations:
The Conversation: 20 March 2012, 6.15am AEST.
Australia should defend neighbours in Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations - by Dr Deborah Gleeson.
New Matilda: 15 March 2012.
Is Free Trade Worth it? by Ben Eltham
Asia Times Online: 13 March 2012.
Trade pact reveals US hunger – by Neena Bhandari
Green Left Weekly: 10 March 2012.
Secret trade deal threatens democracy - by Ewan Saunders
ABC Radio Australia: 9 March 2012, 22:51.
TPP Negotiators say FTA won’t harm healthcare – host Karon Snowden
Scoop: 9 March 2012, 11:11 am.
TPPA Negotiations Slowed By Resistance to US Demands – by Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network
Brisbane Times: 9 March 2012.
Trans-Pacific trade negotiations 'on track' – by Chris Zappone
Business Spectator: 9 March 2012.
Pacific trade deal possible by end of year – by AAP
The Australian: 9 March 2012.
US eager to settle Trans-Pacific Partnership – by Glenda Korporaal
Inside Trade: 9 March 2012.
Australian Agricultural Exporters Hope For New U.S. Access In TPP, But No Progress So Far
IT News Australia: 8 March 2012.
Aussie negotiator declines TPP assurances - By John Hilvert
The Conversation: 8 March 2012, 3.00pm AEST.
Why Australia’s medicine cabinet is almost bare – by Simon Quilty
Australian Doctor: 6 March 2012.
Fear of drug price hikes with trade plans - by Alex Hayes
Community Radio "The Wire": 6 March 2012
ISDS, tobacco plain packaging and access to medicines – host Melissa Lahoud.
ABC Radio National Breakfast show: 6 March 2012.
US pressuring Pacific countries to agree to intellectual property policies which could restrict access to generic drugs
Canberra Times (oped): 5 March 2012.
Australia must fight for cheap life-saving medicines – by Kelly Nicholls
SBS Radio World News Program: 5 March 2012.
Concern over trade agreement effects on medicines – by Murray Silby
Herald Sun: 5 March 2012, 7:59PM.
Channel 7 newsreader Peter Mitchell mobbed by protesters on live TV - by Shannon Deery
Canberra Times: 6 March 2012.
Labor holds line on trade deal clauses – by Adam Gartrell
Sydney Morning Herald: 5 March 2012, 6:09pm.
Labor standing firm on Pacific trade deal – by Adam Gartrell, AAP Diplomatic Correspondent
IT News Australia: 5 March 2012, 9:10am.
ICT groups take aim at Trans Pacific Partnership - By John Hilvert
The Age: 3 March 2012.
Dr David Legge’s letter on TPP to The Age:
Sydney Morning Herald: 2 March 2012, 11:53am.
US business seeks Australian legal loophole – by Chris Zappone
Common Dreams: 2 March 2012.
Crikey! Australia Shocks Corporate America on Trade – by Sarah Anderson
ABC Radio The World Today: 1 March 2012, 18:00.
PM urged to block US on intellectual property rights – by Eleanor Hall
Medical Search: 1 March 2012
NGOs call on govt to prioritise access to generic drugs - by Public Health Association of Australia.
Medical Journal of Australia, 196: 1-3.
Challenges to Australia's national health policy from trade and investment agreements - by Gleeson D, Tienhaara K and Faunce T (2012)
ABC Radio, World Today: 1 March 2012.
PM Urged to block US on intellectual property rights – host Eleanor Hall, reporter Anna MacDonald interviews Rob Lake about criticisms of the TPPA because of its threat to affordable medicine for people with HIV / Aids.
ABC Radio Australia - 28 February 2012, 23:15 AEST
NGOs warn against corporate influence on trade talks – host Sen Lam interviews Dr Patricia Ranald.
Sydney Morning Herald – 25 February 2012.
Health groups gasp over tobacco show plans - by Mark Metherell
2011 Media Reports:
Sydney Morning Herald - Beware the limits of latest free trade deal - 15/11/2011 - available from: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/beware-the-limits-of-latest-free-trade-deal-20111115-1ngax.html#ixzz1dsDeL5Ud
Pacific Island News Agency (PINA) - Pacific free-trade deal has hidden dangers: NGO - 15/11/2011 - available from: http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=17001637594ec1883b4b3951b118c4
ABC Radio - PACBeat Program: Pacific warned of hidden dangers in Obama's new TPP push - 14/11/2011 - available from: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201111/s3364650.htm
ABC Radio: Pacific free-trade deal has hidden dangers: NGO - 14/11/2011 - available from: http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201111/3364548.htm?desktop
Crikey - Beware of what lurks beneath free trade agreements - 14/11/2011- available from: From: http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/11/14/beware-of-what-lurks-beneath-free-trade-agreements/
ABC Radio: Pacific free trade deal divides commentators - 14/11/2011 - available from: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-14/pacific-free-trade-deal-divides-commentators/3666280?section=business
SBS Radio - World News Program: Momentum for new free-trade regime - 14/11/2011 - available from: http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/192473/Momentum-for-new-free-trade-regime
Philippine Star - APEC: Still nothing after two decades - 14/11/2011 - available from: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=747771&publicationSubCategoryId=66
ABC Radio - PM Program: Trans-Pacific free trade stalled by US proposals - 11/11/2011 - available from: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3362855.htm
Media Report, 30/10/2011, on Vietnam's reaction to proposed US State Owned Enterprise Chapter: http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/business/vietnam-rejects-us-push-on-state-firms-in-trade-talks-1.49713
Opinion Piece, 26/10/2011, on leaked US IP proposals impacting on access to Medicines and Health: http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/10/26/us-proposals-give-big-pharma-more-power-over-patents-prices/
or if you don't subscribe to Crikey follow this link: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2011/opinion/trans-pacific-partnership-agreements
Also now on the Croakey Blog site: http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2011/10/27/us-wants-to-give-pharma-more-power-over-our-medicines-policy/
Media report, 21/09/2011, on Japanese Agriculture moves towards the TPPA from Western farm Press (USA): http://westernfarmpress.com/government/usa-rice-japanese-ag-leaders-discuss-trade-issues
Media Report, 20/09/2011, on New Zealand resistance in the Information Technology sector to US proposals on Intellectual Property rights in the TPPA, from IT Wire: http://www.itwire.com/opinion-and-analysis/open-sauce/49855-nz-bid-to-resist-onerous-trade-deal
Media Report, 19/09/2011, on Philippines current position on joining the TPPA from Business Inquirer (Philippines): http://business.inquirer.net/20095/philippines-sees-no-tpp-eu-trade-pacts-in-next-two-years
Media Reports resulting from the Launch on 1st September 2011 of AFTINET's "Don't Trade Away health" leaflet: New trade agreement threatens Australia’s laws on medicines and tobacco
Patent talks lift fear of drugs price rise
Eighth Round of Negotiations in Chicago, United States of America
Media Release, 08/09/2011, from medicines Sans Frontier and Doctors without Borders: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/press/release.cfm?id=5519&cat=press-release&ref=home-sidebar-right
Media Report, 12/09/2011, on New Zealand US Council views in National Business Review (New Zealand): http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/steady-progress-tpp-says-jacobi-cw-100380
Media Report, 12/09/2011, on US White paper on Medicines from AAP: http://aap.newscentre.com.au/cpsunat/110914/library/free_trade/26645613.html
Media Report, 12/09/2011, on the threat to generic medicines from the TPPA, from News Medical: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20110912/Access-to-lifesaving-generic-medicines-threatened-by-US-trade-pact.aspx
Media Report, 12/09/2011, on calls from health groups to ban both alcohol and tobacco from the TPPA from New Zealand Herald: http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/call-bar-alcohol-and-tobacco-tpp-cw-100374
Media Report, 13/09/2011, from New Zealand Union – the National Distribution Union on US White Paper on Medicines from Yahoo News: http://au.news.yahoo.com/queensland/a/-/latest/10248464/us-white-paper-on-medicines-window-dressing/
Media Report, 13/09/2011, on International Civil Society views of US White Paper on Medicines from Voxy (New Zealand): http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/us-white-paper-medicines-window-dressing/5/101280Media Release, 13/09/2011, by Dr Jane Kelsey on US White Paper on Medicines from Scoop (New Zealand): http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1109/S00188/us-white-paper-on-medicines-issued-at-tppa-talks-in-chicago.htm
Media Report, 13/09/2011, on US White Paper on Medicines from Trading Room: http://www.tradingroom.com.au/apps/view_breaking_news_article.ac?page=/data/news_research/published/2011/9/256/catf_110913_090200_9553.html
Media Report, 13/09/2011, on US White Paper on Medicines from New Zealand Herald: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10751470
Blog Piece, 13/09/2011, by Rashmi Rangnath asking if the stakeholder meetings in Chicago were simply lip service: http://www.publicknowledge.org/blog/was-tpp-stakeholders-forum-just-lip-serviceCommentary, 14/09/2011, on US White Paper on Medicines from Intellectual Property Watch (IP-Watch): http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2011/09/14/ustr-white-paper-on-trade-in-medicines-raises-questions/
Media Report, 14/09/2011, on current state of negotiations from the perspective of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions from Voxy (New Zealand): http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/tppa-talks-show-signs-mounting-conflicts-ctu/5/101351
Media Release, 14/09/2011, from the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions from Business Scoop (New Zealand): http://business.scoop.co.nz/2011/09/14/tppa-more-movement-on-customs-queues-than-dairy-exports/
Media report, 14/09/2011, on US delays in presenting text on sensitive topics in the TPPA from Reuters: http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFS1E78D1YP20110914
Media Opinion Piece, 15/09/2011, on the risks to health from trade agreements by Dr David Legge and Dr Deborah Gleeson in the Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/public-health-at-risk-in-trade-talks-20110914-1k94z.html
Blog Piece, 15/09/2011, by Sharon Treat asking why the US is negotiating to reduce access to affordable medicines: http://sharon-treat.blogspot.com/2011/09/why-is-us-government-negotiating-trade.html
Blog Piece, 16/09/2011, by Dr Deborah Gleeson about undermining access to medicines in trade negotiations: http://theconversation.edu.au/trade-talks-set-to-undermine-access-to-medicines-for-the-worlds-poor-3392
Media Report, 16/09/2011, on Health group opposition to threats posed in the TPPA on tobacco and medicines from the Centre fro Policy Development: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/16/3915142/health-groups-oppose-threats-on.html
Media Report, 16/09/2011, on the conclusion of the TPPA negotiations in Chicago and the controversial aspects from Progress Illinois: http://progressillinois.com/posts/content/2011/09/16/controversial-trans-pacific-trade-free-talks-end
Corporate opinion piece, 18/09/2011, from big pharma in support of the USTR’s white paper on access to medicines from Securing Pharma: http://www.securingpharma.com/40/articles/1041.php
Our US civil society allies have identified the following media links to reports on the Chicago Round of Negotiations:
Pro-Labor Activists in Chicago Protest Trans-Pacific Partnership Pact (Chicago Tribune)
Activists Protest Trade Summit (WGN-TV)
Union Leaders Call for Fair Deal on Free Trade in Pacific Rim (Chicago Sun-Times)
Ben & Jerry Shut Out While Delivering Message Demanding a Fair Trade Deal (Progress Illinois)
Protests Target Trade Pact Talks (Newstips)
Chicago Rally Kicks Off TPPA Challenge (Voxy News)
Labor Day Protestors Demand Jobs and Fair Trade Deals (Peoples World)
The Activist Beat with Rose Aguilar (KALW Radio)
Labor Day Rally Calls for Fair Trade Agreement (Progress Illinois)
How Sweet This Protest Will Be Thanks to Ben & Jerry's (Chicago Talks)
Chicago Hosting Obama White House International Trade Meeting in September (Chicago Sun-Times)
Labor Unions Endorse Protest of Eighth Round of TPP Talks in Chicago (Inside US Trade)
Deputy USTR Casts Doubt on US Tabling TPP Labor Proposal Next Month (Inside US Trade)
Labor Day Showdown: Can Advocates Stop 'NAFTA of the Pacific'? (Huffington Post)
"NAFTA of the Pacific" Negotiations Begin Tuesday (Economy in Crisis)
Trans-Pacific Trade Pact Called New NAFTA (Peoples World)
Protestors: Pacific Trade Pact Will Help Export Jobs (WBEZ - Chicago NPR Affiliate)
Labor Unions Rally at Grant Park (ABC 7 Chicago)
Chicago: Labor Unions to Rally at Grant Park (Huffington Post)
Deal with Asian Pacific Countries Draws Labor Day Protest Here (Chicago Tribune)
Labor Day Events Included Union Rally (My FOX Chicago)
Pacific Trade Summit Draws Labor Day Protest (CBS Chicago)
Unions Protest Trans-Pacific Partnership (WIFR Radio)
Celebran Labor Day en Chicago (Vivelo Hoy)
Trans-Pacific Partnership (WBBM Newsradio)
Labor Day Rally in Grant Park (WLUW Radio)
Stand Up! Chicago on Free Trade (The Rick Smith Show)
Trans-Pacific Partnership: NAFTA of the Pacific (Economy in Crisis)
What's in the Pacific Trade Deals Currently Being Negotiated (Your Call Radio)
Gallery: Union Leaders Call for Fair Deal on Free Trade in Pacific Rim (Chicago Sun-Times)
Labor Day Chicago 2011 (YouTube)
Seventh Round of Negotiations in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Media reports on comments from Professor Jane Kelsey and Dr Patricia Ranald from Ho Chi Minh City made about New Zealand Prime Minister John Key's address to the Australian parliament are available from:
Fifth Round of Negotiations in Santiago, Chile
SBS Radio “News of the World” interview with AFTINET Trade Justice Campaigner, Harvey Purse, on Civil Society calls to “Release the Text”.The story is towards the end of the podcast. It is available from: http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/world-view/episode/144146/World-News-Australia-15-February.
Tobacco Industry & TPPA:
SMH - January 17th 2011 - "Fresh assault on anti-smoking laws" by Julie Robotham: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/wellbeing/fresh-assault-on-antismoking-laws-20110116-19slv.html
The Herald-Sun - January 16th 2011: "Big tobacco takes fight over plain cigarette packs to free trade agreement". http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/big-tobacco-takes-fight-over-plain-cigarette-packs-to-free-trade-agreement/story-e6frf7jx-1225988764811
2010 Media Reports:
Fourth Round of Negotiations in Auckland generated further media reports around civil society campaigns on the TPPA.
Media Reports on the new book: No Ordinary Deal - Unmasking the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement.
December 14 2010: Interview on ABC PM programme with AFTINET on the TPPA and the PC Report
December 10 2010: Ken Davidson's column in The Age on the TPP book and the PC report
November 18 2010: ABC Radio National Late Night Live - Interview on the TPP book with Jane Kelsey, Lori Wallach and Pat Ranald
November 15 2010: ABC Radio National PM current affairs programme Interview with Lori Wallach
Radio Australia Pacific Beat and Asia Pacific Programmes Interview with Pat Ranald and Lori Wallach
During March 2010 the following articles related to our TPPA Campaign appeared in Australian media.
- This article is an Op-ed by Professor Thomas Faunce which appeared in the Canberra Times on 15th March 2010.
- This article appeared on 16th March 2010 in the Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times. It quotes Dr Pat Ranald (Convenor of AFTINET)
- This item was on ABC Radio National's PM program 15th March 2010. It features Professor Peter Drahos (ANU), Associate Professor David Legge (Public Health Association) and Harvey Purse (AFTINET Trade Justice Campaigner) - it can be heard at http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s2846445.htm
- This article appeared in The Age on 15th March 2010 and quotes ACTU President Sharan Burrow
- This article "Democracy a loser in trade free-for-all" appeared on the Age on 29th March 2010
- This is a letter from Trade Minister Simon Crean to the Canberra Times, March 17, 2010 in response to the article by Professor Thomas Faunce
- 3CR, Melbourne Community radio, "Earth Matters" interview broadcast on 25 April 2010, with Harvey Purse Trade Justice Campaigner for AFTINET on the TPPA.
Author: By The Canberra Times: Publication: The Canberra Times (Mon 15 Mar 2010):
When Barack Obama meets Kevin Rudd, near the top of their agenda will be the expanded Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). Negotiations for this regional trade agreement begin in Melbourne today and continue until Friday. Without a feasibility study or widespread public consultation, Australia has already begun working with the United States, Chile, Peru and the P4 group of nations (New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam) to expand the existing Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP) signed in 2005.
Of particular concern is the threat that the TPPA will impose a so- called ''investor-state'' dispute settlement process.
This would allow US multinationals to sue Australian state or federal governments when those companies believed that laws (for example, protecting the environment or public health) have damaged their investments. Surveys have consistently shown that most Australians consider the Free Trade Agreement (the AUSFTA) the Howard government signed with the US in 2004 was a bad deal.
They're right. In 2007-08, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade statistics show imports from the US continued to increase more substantially than our exports.
We didn't get to export our sugar; the export of lamb and beef was delayed; and we were forced to make changes to our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (the first time a trade deal so directly altered the health policy of another nation).
These PBS changes make it harder to keep down prices of new drugs that aren't proven to work better than existing products. Lobbying by US firm Baxter Healthcare also forced AUSFTA provisions that required then health minister Tony Abbott to recommend privatisation of blood fractionation to the US (it refused). Less well known was that the AUSFTA included provisions that loosened restrictions on US companies investing in Australia and required they be regulated no differently than Australian companies.
Exceptions had to be specified they included social welfare and health, but not water or energy.
The result was that when the Snowy Mountains Scheme privatisation was debated, the Howard government was advised that a plan to restrict US investment to 35 per cent of total shares with management based in Australia would breach the AUSFTA and potentially expose us to trade sanctions in other areas. We comforted ourselves that at least the AUSFTA didn't include an ''investor- state'' provision.
So why would any Australian government want another trade deal with the US? Since the AUSFTA, our balance of trade with the US has worsened. Why should we (particularly after the corporate irresponsibility in the global financial crisis and the growing threat of climate change) let an ''investor- state'' provision impede the capacity of future Australian governments to regulate water and energy unfettered in the national interest? US pharmaceutical companies have signalled they want more changes to the PBS.
They don't like the ''anti-evergreening'' amendments Labor pushed through when it had a majority in the Senate.
These importantly proved that Australia interpreted the AUSFTA as not encouraging drug company patent dodges that unreasonably increased medicine prices. US drug companies no doubt also see the TPPA as a way of eroding the capacity of the Pharmaceutical Management Agency of New Zealand system to scientifically evaluate an objectively fair price for a new drug. They'll probably do this in part by requiring New Zealand drug regulators not approve a generic medicine until it's proven no patent is being breached an ''evergreening'' tactic Australia accepted under article 17.10.4 of the AUSFTA.
The PBS has unquestioned democratic legitimacy.
It's one of the few components of our domestic health policy that has the backing of a constitutional referendum. The problem with allowing trade deals to alter our public health and environmental policy is that they then exert (through the threat of trade sanctions in a globalised economy) a type of quasi-sovereignty over the capacity of our democratically elected parliaments to pass laws in the national interest.
No referendum takes place about the benefits of a trade deal. In the AUSFTA development process Australia's negotiators ran a defensive approach on health policy.
This time they should be more proactive just as the South Koreans were in demanding a PBS-type system in their recent bilateral trade negotiations with the US.
Australia, for example, is entitled to request reciprocal changes in US health-care and medicine policies. It's in our national interest to require the US to have stronger provisions preventing ''evergreening'' of drug patents and restrict corporate influence over drug safety regulators. We'd benefit if US federal drug purchasing programs were required by the TPPA to recognise that pharmaceutical innovation can be equally based on scientific assessment of its comparative cost-effectiveness, as well as the operation of competitive markets (the latter requiring strong anti-monopoly laws).
Australia likewise will gain if our TPPA negotiators seek inclusion of a provision requiring the US to continue supporting a federal medicines cost-effectiveness advice agency and remove any legislative inhibitions on its evolution into a PBS-type system.
This would create a level playing field for the entry of Australian pharmaceuticals into the US market. Our negotiators should argue for a provision that even if a drug is in patent in Australia it can be manufactured in Australia for sale in other TPPA countries where it's out of patent.
The TPPA should expand the compulsory licensing exceptions that allow drug patents to be broken (with reasonable compensation) in a public health emergency. The TPPA should encourage reward of public interest disclosures that reveal fraud in regulatory or funding systems relevant to other provisions in the deal.
Australian negotiators should demand that the US Government pass laws reintroducing the research use exemption that allows public- funded university researchers to experiment with the chemistry of drugs that are in patent without having to pay royalties.
Associate Professor Thomas Faunce is at the Australian National University's College of Law and Medical School, where Ruth Townsend is a lecturer.
Nations ponder terms for Pacific free trade - JACOB SAULWICK NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT - March 16, 2010
SIX years after Australia entered its controversial free trade agreement with the United States, the Trade Minister, Simon Crean, said ''everything is on the table'' for a new agreement featuring the world's largest economy.
Under President Barack Obama, the US has been pressing for increased trade liberalisation in Asia and yesterday negotiations started on a new regional agreement to include Australia, the US, New Zealand, Singapore, Chile, Brunei, Peru and Vietnam.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement is being seen as the precursor to a broader Asian trade bloc, and has the potential to change the trade terms between its member countries from their existing bilateral arrangements.
Mr Crean appeared to indicate yesterday that some of the most controversial aspects of the US agreement would be revisited as part of the new regional trade push.
One issue that flared was whether the deal would include a mechanism allowing companies to sue a government if it introduced laws that hindered trade interests.
Asked yesterday if the new agreement could include this type of mechanism, which was left out of the US deal, Mr Crean said: ''We approached this on the basis that everything is on the table. No exclusions … clearly we understand the fundamental importance of investment as part of the new trade equation.''
Mr Crean's office later moved to clarify his reply, however, indicating the government remained very reluctant to include the mechanism.
''We continue to have serious reservations about the inclusion of investor-state dispute settlement provisions … and Australian negotiators will be making this clear,'' a spokesman for Mr Crean said.
The convener of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network, Pat Ranald, said dispute mechanisms included in the North American Free Trade Agreement had allowed American firms to sue the Canadian and Mexican governments over environmental regulations.
''We don't think that corporations need any additional rights to governments in the Australian legal context,'' Dr Ranald said.
Fears new regional trade deal to undermine public interest
Stephen Long reported this story on Monday, March 15, 2010 18:42:00
MARK COLVIN: Negotiations began today for a new Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement. The Australian Government's promoting the proposed deal as a means of furthering regional ties and opening up export markets.
But critics fear that it could be used to undermine Australia's pharmaceutical scheme - the PBS, and other public health initiatives which big American corporations don't like. Comments by Australia's ambassador to the US, Kim Beazley, have heightened those fears. He's reported to have told a US hearing on the planned agreement that everything was on the table.
A coalition of community groups is now calling on the Government to ensure that the PBS is safeguarded in any deal, along with labelling laws for genetically-engineered food, and rules providing for local content in media.
Economics Correspondent Stephen Long.
STEPHEN LONG: Is it a means of opening up markets in the region? Or a chance for Big Pharma in the US to renew its unfinished business from the US-Australia free trade deal.
Canberra is the venue for the opening talks on a planned Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement involving the US, Australia, Chile, Peru, Brunei, Singapore, New Zealand and Vietnam. Countries with a combined GDP of $18 Trillion and a combined population of 470 million.
This is how Australia's trade minister, Simon Crean, is pitching it.
SIMON CREAN: It has the basis for being the bridge to a free trade area for the Asia Pacific.
STEPHEN LONG: But in non-government organisations, the plan has people worried.
HARVEY PURSE: Our major concerns are that there are a number of issues that were felt very strongly by the Australian community back in 2004 when we were negotiating the Australia/US FTA.
STEPHEN LONG: Harvey Purse is the trade justice campaigner with the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network. It's a coalition of more than 30 church, trade union, community sector and aid organisations.
HARVEY PURSE: Amongst those were claims by Big Pharma in the US wanting to have a real go at the PBS and, in many ways try and …
STEPHEN LONG: The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
HARVEY PURSE: The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The idea being, they saw that as a restriction to trade.
STEPHEN LONG: Professor Peter Drahos is a professor of intellectual property law at the ANU.
PETER DRAHOS: The US industry does not like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme because it does offer other countries a model for how to regulate the price and patents of medicines. And so for a long time the US industry has sought to undermine or erode the price control aspects of the PBS.
And so we can assume very safety that in this negotiation, the US pharmaceutical industry will be seeking to white ant, as much as it can, the PBS.
STEPHEN LONG: These concerns are shared by the Public Health Association. Its spokesman is David Legge, associate professor in the school of public health at La Trobe University.
DAVID LEGGE: From a public health point of view, one of the most important issues is not allowing the large US pharmaceutical manufacturers sabotage the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
STEPHEN LONG: Objectively, the Australian Government has no interest in altering the PBS; it's seen as a model worldwide for how to contain the cost of medicine. But what if there were other benefits on offer, such as an end to restrictions on rural exports, should the Government relax the scheme?
DAVID LEGGE: That is exactly the risk, is that the trade-offs take the issue out of the hands of the health policy people and maybe even the government finance people because other vested interests in Australia are so excited by the prospects which are raised.
STEPHEN LONG: Comments by Australia's ambassador to the US, Kim Beazley, have heightened concerns.
HARVEY PURSE: Just over a week ago, our new ambassador to the US, Mr Beazley, is reported to have said to the US trade commission that everything was on the table.
STEPHEN LONG: Health and environment groups also fear that the US will push for an erosion of standards on labelling of genetically modified foods.
HARVEY PURSE: Organisations such as Monsanto have actually put up that GE labelling is an issue for them and they want that removed in this round of talks.
STEPHEN LONG: No pain, no gain, is a motto that extends to trade negotiations. Critics want assurances that in the quest for greater overseas markets, the public interest won't be traded away.
MARK COLVIN: Stephen Long.
Free-trade talks turn to the Pacific
TIM COLEBATCH AND BEN SCHNEIDERS - March 15, 2010
WITH the Doha trade negotiations becalmed, negotiations will begin today on what Australia hopes will be the next best thing - a free-trade agreement covering eight Pacific nations.
Negotiators from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Singapore, Brunei and Vietnam will sit down in Melbourne for the first round of talks aimed at merging and extending their existing free-trade agreements.
Trade Minister Simon Crean said the start of negotiations on the ''Trans-Pacific Partnership'' is a milestone on the way to free trade in Asia and the Pacific.
''The participation of the US is an important signal of the Obama administration's commitment to the region, and an encouraging sign of broader US engagement on trade policy issues,'' he said.
But it could also be a handicap.
The US Congress has already rejected three free-trade agreements negotiated by the Bush administration, and insiders say none will be passed until the political climate changes.
Today also sees the start of free-trade negotiations with Korea. Australia is now negotiating free trade agreements with 30 countries through seven separate negotiations.
Trade unions warn the talks must not go down the same path as previous trade deals, which they said favoured ''substantial new opportunities for investors over good jobs for workers''.
In a joint statement ahead of the talks, peak union groups from the US, New Zealand, Singapore and Australia have called for more consultation, and that any agreement must protect internationally recognised labour rights such as collective bargaining.
ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the proposed deal should not override domestic government procurement policies to promote development. She said the trade deal must be ''fair''.
''The Pacific trade agreement must be well balanced, create good jobs, protect labour rights, and lead to both sustainable economic development and a healthy environment,'' she said.
Democracy a loser in trade free-for-all
Author: KENNETH DAVIDSON- Kenneth Davidson is a senior columnist.
Voters don't count as governments succumb to market forces.
THERE is a crisis in global governance. The Westphalia system that emerged from Europe's 30-year war in the mid-17th century saw the demise of the barons and the Catholic Church as global powers, replaced by the sovereignty of the secular nation state, which became the absolute reference point in global relations.
This came under threat during the 1980s when the spread of cheap communications and international transport allowed trans-national corporations to globalise the production of goods and services.
This dwarfed the impact of the earlier globalisation of trade in terms of its social and economic impacts. Importantly, the globalisation of trade enhanced the powers of governments while the globalisation of production enhanced the power of trans-national corporations at the expense of government.
Free trade in goods could be sold as a benefit to people. The new globalisation wave in the form of free trade in production, where even labour is treated as a commodity, is promoted by leading industrial nations — Japan, the US and Europe — according to how it advances the interests of their trans-national corporations.
The uneven development of the new wave of globalisation — fast in finance, technology transfer, skilled labour movements and international terrorism and slow in governance, social attitudes, international regulation and the fight against global warming, crime, terrorism and disease — has created winners and losers both within countries as well as between countries.
It is not surprising that the winners want to eliminate the old rules governing trade and commerce and replace them with rules that enhance market relations at the expense of government mediation.
The new trade agreements are fundamentally undemocratic. The negotiations are conducted in secret and the agreements are structured in a way that will make it virtually impossible for future governments to rescind agreements that are found to be unpopular.
Behind the mantra of the superiority of the market — reinforced by privatisation, low taxes and small government — is the aim of shifting the decision-making process from the one-person, one-vote democratic formula to the one-dollar, one-vote market formula.
Hence the secrecy surrounding the negotiations of the new Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), which began in Melbourne two weeks ago. The agreement is designed to replace a number of individual bilateral free trade agreements with an agreement embracing Australia, the US, NZ, Chile, Singapore, Brunei, Peru and Vietnam.
As the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network — which represents a wide range of union, church, health, environment and pensioner groups — points out, US business wants to dismantle the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, local-content rules for the media, labelling of GE food, regulation of foreign investment and government purchasing policies that support local employment. They also want an investor complaints process that will give special rights to international corporations to sue governments for damages if legislation to protect the environment or human health undermines profitability.
The government says that all these issues "are on the table for negotiation". Why? Well, that's a secret. Further, any agreement made under this process will be signed off by cabinet before it is presented to parliament as a fait accompli apart from "procedural" matters requiring parliament legislation.
The Howard government put Australian conditions restricting the right of employers to bring to Australia temporary skilled and semi-skilled workers on the auction block to be negotiated away in return for market access for Australian exports at the Doha round of multinational trade negotiations in 2005. These negotiations are now in abeyance.
Specifically, the official position is that Australia is prepared to remove the requirement for employers to search for skilled and semi-skilled labour before seeking 457 temporary visas for this kind of labour.
The unions justifiably saw this as a union-busting exercise and extracted a promise from the then Labor opposition to remove this proposal from the Australian offer to the stalled Doha round.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd agreed to this request and it was written into the ALP platform before the election.
Under the influence of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the government has made a policy decision that it will not withdraw the offer on the grounds that it would amount to "bad faith" if it were to do so.
A former Australian prime minister, John Gorton, said that the department was infected by the puppy dog syndrome, that is: roll over and get your tummy tickled. It still is.
As this assault on national sovereignty continues, the question is whether the "market system" can fill the vacuum as the power of the state withers away. Certainly markets require the rule of law to function otherwise they become mafia systems, as has occurred in Eastern Europe.
Meanwhile, there's an uneasy feeling that nobody is in charge. The global financial crisis occurred for this reason.
Letter from Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean to the Canberra Times
March 17, 2010
There is an urgent need to correct the record after the publication of the article, "Big pitfalls and fewer freedoms in the new trade agreement with the US" (Canberra Times March 15, pg9) by Thomas Faunce and Ruth Townsend. The article gives an incorrect account of the Trans-Pacific
Partnership talks that are being held in Melbourne this week. To paint these talks as simply just involving Australia and the US is wrong. The partnership involves eight nations. The goal of the negotiations is to find a pathway to a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific. It is not a reopening of the FTA with the US that came into force in 2005. It is misleading to imply that in the lead-up to the first round of talks there has not been engagement with the Australian public. I tabled a
document on November 26, 2008, in Parliament containing a summary of views gathered through a consultation process undertaken by my department. Those consultations continue and views are always welcome and can be sent to email@example.com
It is wrong to suggest that we are about to re-open obligations in relation to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that were settled in 2005. If there are to be any changes to the scheme in the future, it would be part of a domestic policy debate in Australia. It does not concern me what the US drug companies are pushing for because decision about the scheme are made in the national interest by the Australian Government. The article also argues there is a threat to Australia from
the introduction of an investor-state dispute settlement provision through the TPP. We will give our negotiating partners a chance to pitch their case on the issue, but let me say we have serious reservations about the inclusion of investor-state dispute settlement provision in this agreement. We do not want new layers of red tape under the guise of trade liberalization. Australian negotiators will make this clear at the Melbourne meeting which concludes today.
Simon Crean, Minister for Trade, Parliament House
On Sunday 25th April 2010 the Earth Matters program on Melbourne’s 3CR community radio station broadcast an interview with Harvey Purse, AFTINET Trade Justice Campaigner, on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). The interview takes up just over 15 minutes of the program.
The program was rebroadcast on 10-20 community radio stations around Australia over the week that followed.
This is a short summary of the TPPA interview:
Concerns about a new free trade agreement which could make it hard for Australia to create environmental laws. And a very different approach to the economy: a new project to get people meeting their neighbours and sharing stuff.
Select this link to listen on the 3CR website – available until 8 May 2010 – Earth Matters Podcast.
The podcast will be available on our website by during the week starting 10 May 2010.
About “Earth Matters”:
[img_assist|nid=350|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=96]Earth Matters presents local, national and international environmental issues with a strong social justice bent. Interviewees range from individual activists to well-known environmental commentators and scientists.
Bringing fresh environmental news and perspectives to our listeners, Earth Matters contributes to public debate, reports on under-reported activist campaigns and informs the community on critical issues.
This links to the Earth Matters webpage on 3CR: http://www.3cr.org.au/EarthMatters.

domain: economics


Electric immersion heaters are typically inserted directly into a pipe, tank, or vessel to heat process gases or liquids. Since the heat is generated by electricity, virtually all of the energy is consumed by the product being heated. As a result, the liquid is heated near 100% efficiency. With standard elements constructed of Alloy 800, these heaters are designed to heat a variety of fluids and maintain corrosion resistance.
Sigma Thermal examines each process to ensure the proper materials are selected. As a standard, flanged immersion heater elements are constructed of Alloy 800. Typical flange materials include Carbon Steel and 300 Series Stainless Steels. For maximum corrosion protection, seamless or welded and drawn elements are offered. Nickel based flange and spacer materials are also available. For highly corrosive fluids, passivation of all wetted parts is recommended.
Watt Density Selection
Watt densities range from 2 to 60 watts per square inch (.3 to 9.3 watts per square centimeter). Choosing the correct watt density is essential to the life of the heater and the fluid. The fluid’s ability to remove heat from the element will determine the proper watt density. Water removes heat from the elements very well, so a higher watt density is appropriate. Crude Oil and Molasses do not remove heat from the element well, so a much lower watt density is required.
Watt density and material selection is only part of the decision process. Properly selecting the control method is as critical as watt density and material selection.
SCR control panels regulate the power to the heater, reducing the watt density of the element, resulting in a cooler running heater. This reduction in watt density will prolong the life of the heater and prevent fluid degradation when flows are reduced. SCR control is recommended on gas applications and single pass flowing liquids that require tight control.
Off/On control is well suited for tank applications. The immersion heater can be inserted directly into the tank or the fluid can be circulated in a closed loop. The most common applications are freeze protection and viscosity control. Since demand may vary, a stepper/sequencer is recommended to prevent rapid cycling of the contactors. The sequencer will power banks of elements as required for the demand, providing more precise control and lowering operating costs.
SCR / Contactor Combination
For many large loads, full SCR control is not practical. For these applications, a combination of SCR and contactor control is a good choice for tight control with a fluctuation demand. This is accomplished by the use of stepper/sequencer with an analog signal. As the demand increases, the SCR will “ramp up” the temperature until a full bank of contactor circuits engage. The SCR will then “ramp up” and repeat the process until steady state is accomplished.
- Control Panels are available in Carbon Steel, 304SS and 316SS.
- UL, cUL, CE, ATEX, IEC ex
- UL, cUL, CSA, CE, ATEX, IEC ex


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It’s a truism to state that pain is an inevitable part of life. And it’s true that we all, from time to time, experience pain that is short-lived and treatable. But those who deal with chronic pain know the debilitating, life-sucking reality of this condition. And traditional medications often come with long lists of side effects which can be as debilitating as the pain itself.
Since our beginning, Medical Marijuana, Inc. has been striving to bring the health benefits of cannabinoids to the lives of as many people as possible through cannabinoid hemp oil supplements. With our knowledge of cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system just scratching the surface of what’s possible, there is plenty of potential to find new uses for the myriad of cannabinoids available to us.
Cannabinol results from the degradation of THC. There is little of it in the fresh plant, but decarboxylation often raises the amount of CBN in the plant as an effect. CBN is only mildly psychoactive and has a higher affinity for the CB2 receptor than the CB1 receptor, linking CBN to the body’s immune system. In hemp oil, CBN is present in levels of 0.2% or lower.
This is my experience with taking CBD 3000mg for the last 6 months. My blood pressure has gone down, I am able to sleep better, the eczema on my hand has disappeared (using a drop or two twice a day on the area). Sort of did an assessment of my body/joints. Everything feels different in a good way. Joints seem to move smoother than before taking CBD. All is great here. Thanks, Lazarus Naturals for such great reasonably priced products.
Full spectrum CBD also contains a variety of essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, protein, chlorophyll, terpenes, flavonoids, and fiber. When referring to CBD in the hemp plant, it’s important to understand that Hemp contains a large number of cannabinoids (in trace amounts), but the main compounds are CBD and cannabidiolic acid (CBDa). As CBDa is more abundant in the hemp plant, firms must decarboxylate the oil. This process heats the oil and changes CBDa into CBD.
Basically there are a few types of oils. Full spectrum oils are ones that contain terpenes and other compounds. These type of oils tend to work better on specific conditions. Pure CBD is quite hard to come by if you don’t live in a medical or recreational state. There are other oils that also contain THC. The type of oil you need really depends on your medical condition and what you are looking to achieve
In addition, CBD oil can be extracted and manufactured through “supercritical CO2 extraction.” This process involves using carbon dioxide under high pressure in an extremely cold environment. Supercritical CO2 extraction requires expensive equipment, more complex refinement process and production expertise, but it ensures that CBD oil maintains its purity all through the process.
In fact, numerous studies have looked at the relationship between CBD and pain, and the results are promising. Researchers have looked at various kinds of pain – from joint pain to cancer pain. One finding is that CBD increases levels of glutamate and serotonin – both neurotransmitters that play a role in pain regulation. And CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties help by tackling the root cause of much chronic pain.
Full Spectrum generally refers to CBD oil products that not only contain CBD,but also contain some terpenes and other cannabinoids such as CBG, CBN and even some THC. Usually these will be in ratios that were naturally occurring and extracted from the plant and specific strain. But they are also occasionally added back into products as an isolated form to raise the potency of the product. For those that get drug tested, Full Spectrum is something to be cautious about. The THC found in full spectrum hemp products is minimal (less than 0.3%), but can still trigger positive drug tests.
These drops are worth every penny! I first tried the 3,000 mg. Then bumped it up to 6000mg. I use about 1-1.5ml per day. I was hit head-on by a drunk when I was 19 in 1995. Coma 6 weeks hospital 6 months. This makes my life so much easier to live! Thank you Lazarus naturals for making such an awesome product!! And for making it so affordable! These products are worth their weight in gold!
So a full spectrum decarb got higher points than isolate (“decarb” just refers to the process of decarboxylation which turns raw CBD into activated CBD). We also gave more points to companies with a “broad spectrum” tincture. Broad spectrum CBD oil includes a range of other cannabinoids, but minus the THC – which is generally what people using isolates are trying to avoid.
I have also called a couple places to get some input about what we may need, but they all said they cannot give advice. Then HOW do we know what to get. As for MOST of us, we are by no means well off. Quite the opposite, in fact. So to keep “trying” a bunch of different ones is not an option. Blue Bird in CO give discounts to low income, so would like to use their products if possible.
I was highly impressed with this product, and honestly surprised. I have tried many different cbd products, from many different companies, only to find them to be mediocre at best. Lazarus naturals, by far has the most effective cbd I’ve yet to try. With only a 1ml serving, I was able to nullify my knee and foot pain after a 10 hour shift of non-stop standing and walking. Will for sure be a returning customer.

domain: chemistry


The internet of things couldn't exist without smart sensors.
While the use of sensor technology has long affected how manufacturers, industrial organizations and utilities operate, the addition of IoT to sensors has expanded their impact and use cases, bringing more connectivity and analytics to processes than ever before. Today, smart factories, smart cities, smart buildings and connected individuals are using an array of smart sensors to collect real-time data for real-time insights and decision-making.
However, these aren't your grandfather's sensors. They may collect some of the same data as the sensors of yesteryear, but today's smart sensors are internet-enabled and more sophisticated than ever.
Let's dive into how smart sensors work and their use cases across various verticals.
What is a smart sensor?
In general, a smart sensor has three major components: a sensor that captures data from an environment; a microprocessor, which computes on the output of the sensor via programming; and communications capabilities that enable the sensor to communicate the microprocessor's output for action.
A smart sensor may include multiple types of sensors (see sidebar), as well as transducers, transceivers, amplifiers, analog filters and a power source, among other components.
To be most effective, internet of things sensors should include wireless communications, be smart enough to compute data remotely and be programmable to accommodate new capabilities as needed, said Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers senior member Shawn Chandler.
Types of IoT sensors
"Sensors for use in IoT may be purposed for nearly any form of measurement, providing a mechanism that links desired observations from the field to an application," Chandler said.
To categorize sensors, he said, think of them in terms of the physics domains.
- Light and electromagnetism sensors. These include RFID sensors for retail and logistics applications, imaging and identity sensors for security applications, light sensors for automation in smart buildings, and radioactivity sensors for safety and health applications.
- Thermal sensors. For example, room temperature monitoring in smart buildings, environmental monitoring or material temperature monitoring in industrial process management.
- Vibration and sound sensors. For example, seismic sensors for regional safety; sound pressure for health monitoring and industrial process automation; specific sound monitoring for civil management applications, such as gunshot noise detection; personal health applications, such as fitness and health wearables; or vibration sensors for reliability-based maintenance of equipment in plants or for industrial organizations.
- Matter and materials sensors. Many applications for environmental, safety, health, agricultural and environmental automation require specific fluid and gas sensors, such as those to detect a chemical presence or oxygen, carbon dioxide, humidity or water levels.
- Time and space sensors. For example, Geographic Information System location sensors for logistics management; personal applications; or location, velocity and acceleration sensors for vehicle and traffic management.
IoT sensor use cases
Smart sensors serve three broad purposes. First, they provide greater visibility into existing processes and workflows, identifying items, locating them and determining their environmental conditions. For example, smart sensors in industrial IoT environments can keep track of temperature and humidity, can log data for historical records and quality management, or can be used as triggers for alarms or process management in plants or warehouses.
Second, IoT sensors can be embedded into products to improve processes or the products themselves. In the manufacturing process, sensors can monitor, control and improve operations or be added to logistics to streamline how products are delivered. When embedded in devices, smart products can create new revenue possibilities.
Third, the lower cost and more advanced capabilities of sensors enable wider and more effective use cases. The cost of physical sensors and RFID tags has dropped considerably, as have the costs of smart sensor software applications, connectivity options and deployments.
Smart sensor benefits
The three use cases of IoT sensors outlined above lead to three categories of benefits, said Paul Miller, a senior analyst at Forrester Research.
First, the increased visibility IoT sensors provide into existing workflows and processes enable companies to see where things are thanks to real-time data. For example, logistics companies can outfit their fleet of vehicles with sensors to detect the location of each truck.
As companies begin to mine data from those sensors, Miller said, the second benefit emerges: predicting what comes next. In the same logistics example, collecting real-time data about where a fleet has been and how long trucks take to complete their routes can enable the company to predict when drivers will deliver packages. Smart sensors in logistics can also gather information about a driver's driving style and the size and weight of packages, as well as external data, such as traffic or weather conditions that may affect delivery.
"Now you build a rich and, hopefully, accurate model that can be used to improve communication with customers, optimize loading and routing, or reduce costs and emissions," Miller said.
In another example, smart sensors in manufacturing can collect historical machine data that companies can use to build models to predict when machine components are likely to fail.
"Instead of facing the potentially huge cost of unplanned downtime for a production line or factory, suspect components can be proactively replaced during scheduled periods of time," Miller said.
The third benefit of smart sensors relates to revenue generation; IoT creates a number of new business models. With data about how a machine operates, how it is used and how it wears out, manufacturers can offer outcome-based services to customers, Miller said. Manufacturers can now include consumables, servicing and even replacement parts in the price of a machine.
"Companies like Kaeser Compressor in Germany, which traditionally made and sold compressed air machines, are now able to offer compressed air as a service and charge customers by the liter of compressed air consumed," Miller said. "Consumables, spare parts, servicing and even the machine itself are only paid for when they're needed and used."
RFID and IoT
RFID tags are IoT sensors that collect data about the specific object to which a tag is attached. Commonly used in supply chain management, ID badging and access control, RFID tagging involves sending data using specific radio wave emissions.
RFID has two forms, Chandler said: active and passive. An active RFID tag contains an onboard power supply, enabling a tag to communicate data at any time and over larger distances. A passive RFID tag may not communicate unless it is activated by a radio frequency emission. It then uses the radio wave captured by the antenna in the tag to activate data collection and power the return communication path.
The future of smart sensors
Forrester Research predicts that smart sensor-based, track-and-trace and smart products will be the fastest-growing use cases, with 24.2% and 24% compound annual growth rates respectively. But the applications won't stop there.
"Sensors are increasingly being built into products at the point of manufacture," Miller said. "Industrial equipment, trains, planes and buildings increasingly arrive with hundreds or even thousands of sensors already connected."
However, internet of things sensors aren't limited to only new products.
"In markets like industrial manufacturing, where machines may have a life span measured in decades, there's also a healthy market in retrofitting sensors to older equipment," Miller said, noting that lowered sensor costs combined with the growing prevalence of infrastructure that can support IoT data flows will result in companies deploying sensors in greater numbers.
"Where today, a logistics company might install sensors in a truck, tomorrow it may be cost-effective to install sensors in every pallet or even every package," Miller said.
The arrival of 5G, he added, will eventually make it easier to work with a large number of sensors, even in environments where data latency causes problems today.
Also of note is the increased use of edge computing. As more analytics, including the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence, is run at the point of data collection, organizations -- or the sensors themselves or the IoT edge gateways the sensors connect to -- will be able to make decisions faster and more effectively.
Chandler noted that the continued miniaturization of sensors will change the future sensor landscape.
"Sensors will continue to get smaller over time and more capable in terms of computational capability," he said.
Sensors will also offer more functions in the same platform, serving different sensing categories from the same devices.
"Sensors will be installed in more and more devices, with everything from wearables to special-purpose sensors linking observations from our environment to a computing platform," Chandler said. "Estimates from pundits in the industry expect that the total number of IoT devices -- and, thus, possible sensors -- will triple in the next six years, with roughly 25 billion devices today, growing to 75 billion devices in 2025."
Additional reporting by Jim O'Donnell.
Learn the top seven challenges to IoT adoption
Read how pervasive sensing affects security


text: Stop-motion series featuring Rastamouse, Scratchy and Zoomer, crime-fighting special agents who solve mysteries and play in a reggae band. Wensley Dale is releasing a charity record to pay for a new boom box for the orphans. Da Easy Crew have composed a new song for the record, but there's one big problem. The president doesn't like it one bit! Yet when Rastamouse, Scratchy and Zoomer play their tune on For Real FM, all the listeners love it! Can the Easy Crew solve this musical mystery in time to release their charity tune or will the orphans have to go without a new stereo boom box?


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I would of loved to of had another few sleeps today as last night was as per normal intrrupted sleep every 2 hours but our neighbour upstairs has been working on fixing his leaking bathroom so there has been banging and saw noises going on all day. I have been reading, cleaning a little bit, trying to lay down to rest and watching a movie called Neverwas. I have seen a few random comments on line from people who thought the movie was crap but thats becuase they have no imagination.
The movie stars the wonderful Ian McKellen, Aaron Eckhart, Brittany Murphy & Nick Nolte. It was shown first at the Toronto International Film Festival. But apparently went straight to DVD which isnt really a biggy. Anyways the plot is - taken from the Princess Portal
Neverwas is the story of Zach Riley, the son of a famous childrens author, who takes a job in a psychiatric institution where his father once stayed. There he meets the group of patients he is to work with including Gabriel an elderly man who has never uttered a word to any therapist. Gabriel, however, seems to recognize him and believe that he is a part of the fantasy world that forms his delsusions. After some time, Zach realises that Gabriel’s world is the same as the one his Father wrote about, the magical land of Neverwas, and it may not be so imaginary after all.
I truly enjoyed the movie. I wont go out and say its my favourite movie. But it reminded me of as mentioned above Finding Neverland and also Bridge To Terabithia. Where imagination should never be forgotten. Its like my favourite quote: We do not stop playing becuase we grow old. We grow old becuase we stop playing. Anyways I enjoyed the movie. Here is a coupla pics the internet actually had:
Ok so I love movies with magic. And this movie had a sad but happy ending. I think the acting in it was supurb, Ian McKellen was perfect as the character Gabriel. A review from the lady who writes The Princess Portal I added more from her as I competely agree with it.
"This film is about Fairy Tales, and the way we create them out of our own stories, how they can protect us and give us something to hold on to. What is real in the world, is sometimes not as important as what is real in our hearts. I thoroughly reccommend this rare gem of a movie, but warn you that it contains quite strong themes and is probably not suitable for younger viewers, its very intense and made me cry with both joy and empathy. It’s not often that a film moves me to that extent. A really beautiful, touching story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did."
Watch it and think what you like of it but I enjoyed it and thats really all that matters.
And now you can enjoy todays hottie:
Tyson Ritter - Lead singer of The All American Rejects - plus model. Here are some of his modelling photos for Hugo Boss

domain: entertainment


text:
E. E. Smith
Edward Elmer Smith, widely known as E. E. Smith, was a prominent American food engineer and science-fiction author who left an indelible mark on the genre. Born on May 2, 1890, Smith's multifaceted career spanned both scientific research and literary creativity. He passed away on August 31, 1965, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and captivate readers.
While Smith's professional achievements in the field of food engineering, particularly his specialization in doughnut and pastry mixes, brought him recognition and success, it is his contributions to science fiction that truly cemented his place in literary history. Smith's imaginative storytelling, visionary concepts, and epic space operas have earned him a dedicated following and enduring acclaim.
One of his most famous works is the Lensman series, which showcases his talent for creating grandiose and intricate narratives. This iconic series follows the adventures of the Galactic Patrol and their battle against cosmic forces of evil. The Lensman series set the stage for the development of the space opera genre, with its epic scope, intricate world-building, and epic battles of good versus evil.
In addition to the Lensman series, Smith also wrote the Skylark series, another highly popular work that pushed the boundaries of imagination and scientific speculation. The Skylark series explores themes of interstellar travel, advanced technology, and encounters with alien civilizations. Smith's storytelling prowess and ability to create rich and engaging worlds made these series beloved classics among science fiction enthusiasts.
Smith's principles as a writer were rooted in optimism and a belief in the potential of humanity to reach new heights. His works often embodied a sense of wonder, emphasizing the triumph of good over evil and the limitless possibilities of scientific advancement. Through his narratives, Smith inspired readers to dream big and envision a future filled with exploration, adventure, and the triumph of the human spirit.
Although Smith's works were primarily written in the early to mid-20th century, his influence on science fiction continues to resonate today. His imaginative concepts, epic storytelling, and pioneering role in the development of the space opera genre have left an indelible mark on subsequent generations of writers and readers. Smith's contributions to science fiction are celebrated and remembered as a testament to the power of the human imagination and the enduring appeal of exploring the unknown.
In conclusion, E. E. Smith was an accomplished American food engineer and science fiction author who brought his unique vision and boundless imagination to the genre. He is best remembered for his Lensman and Skylark series, which showcased his storytelling prowess and influenced the development of science fiction. Through his works, Smith conveyed a sense of optimism, wonder, and the limitless potential of human achievement. His contributions to the genre continue to inspire and captivate readers, securing his place as a revered figure in the realm of science fiction literature.
Books by E. E. Smith
This book takes readers on a thrilling journey through the cosmos, immersing them in an epic space adventure. Written by the renowned science fiction author E. E. Smith, this book transports readers to a world filled with advanced technology, interst...
It is an exciting science fiction novel that takes readers on a thrilling journey across the cosmos. This book captivates young readers with its blend of action, adventure, and futuristic concepts. Originally published in 1940, "Gray Lensman" is part...
This is a riveting science fiction novel that transports readers to a futuristic universe teeming with action, suspense, and advanced technology. Set against the backdrop of intergalactic warfare, this book offers a thrilling exploration of the conse...
This is a captivating science fiction novel that transports readers to the far reaches of space, where ancient secrets, advanced civilizations, and cosmic forces collide. Written by the visionary author E. E. Smith, this book delivers an enthralling...
In the distant cosmos, a relentless evil threatens to engulf the universe in darkness. "Galactic Patrol" by E. E. Smith thrusts you into a future where the Galactic Patrol, a beacon of order and justice, battles against the sinister Boskone—an alien...


text:
Chicago Bears players revealed some drama-free, sleepless nights for players and coaches in a week that started with speculation about quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s job security and landed coach Matt Nagy at the center of more second-guessing.
“It’s been a crazy week,” Bears offensive tackle Charles Leno said. “We’ve had an interesting week, but it’s on to the next.”
Coach Matt Nagy will be addressing the media for the first time since his story escalated, he’s relieved it’s done and players are trying to focus on their approach to the season ahead.
Nagy let out a knowing smile when he took the podium Monday and started by explaining the ins and outs of the postgame celebration: “Sunday was a crazy day at Halas Hall, and our staff will tell you that. The players, coaches, organization — everybody was on edge about how to celebrate a win. … So, to get through this week on Monday, it was a tough one for everybody involved.
“You go from confusion to knowing you get three days, and then you finally can go back to some normalcy,” he added. “And then I’ll also tell you, not one person saw that. No one thought that was an oddity at all. Like, it was like, ‘I get it. The action speaks louder than words.’ And then obviously, you always see it now as a veteran guy, you’re watching those things, and you go, ‘Did I really see that?’ But I’ve been fortunate enough to see so many different rallies from a number of different teams, and you know, it was the same to me. I can tell you this after one more, we’ll all shake hands with you guys and just move on.”


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These stunning pieces are the work of local artist Jodie Hames, based out of Bethany, Ontario. Functional items take on special qualities that are achieved through different techniques such as carving, stamping, drawing and glazing.
From toss cushions, candles and wall decor to furniture and giftware. Our shop is brimming with colour, character and Canadian craftsmanship for your home. We invite you to browse through the tabs below.