While the term “artificial intelligence” (AI) became part of the everyday vernacular in late 2022, the term “AI Security” is quite new, not well understood, and often ignored or dismissed, even by cybersecurity professionals who ought to know better. This blog post is intended to clear up any ambiguity or misunderstanding about what we mean when we talk about AI Security, the threats it encounters, and approaches to take to create a secure AI environment across your enterprise.
AI Security refers to the strategic implementation of robust measures and policies to protect your organization’s AI systems, data, and operations from unauthorized access, tampering, malicious attacks, and other digital threats. It is critical for any organization deploying AI tools in or across its enterprise to include security in its AI use strategy because every new component brought into a digital system, including AI-powered applications, increases the number of ways a threat actor can infiltrate or otherwise cause harm to the system; this is called the “attack surface.”
Securing AI-driven additions to an organization’s digital infrastructure, whether those are statistical or large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT and others, is vital for maintaining the integrity, privacy, and reliability of your system, as well as for fostering customer trust and safeguarding your organization’s reputation. And, in a growing number of organizations that use AI-driven tools and solutions for decision-making, operations, and sensitive customer interactions, a strong AI security strategy is crucial to ensure these tools remain trustworthy and are securely protected against external threats or internal vulnerabilities.
This post identifies some of the most significant risks emerging in the AI Security landscape and provides solutions to address them.
LLMs span the spectrum from being considered powerful tools to clever toys. The reality, however, is that they are the latest addition to an organization’s critical information infrastructure and are an especially vulnerable threat surface. Much of the early discussion of LLM risks centered on identifying and solving for threats based on human behavior, such as data loss and inappropriate use. The more insidious threats, however, are stealth attacks to the models and/or their datasets. These attacks are not only growing in terms of the damage they can inflict, but in scope, scale, and nuance, and are becoming increasingly difficult to detect. In the sections below, we outline the three types of attacks that pose the most significant threats to enterprises deploying LLMs and other generative AI (GenAI) models.
“Jailbreak” or prompt injection techniques attempt to “trick” an LLM into providing information identified as dangerous, illegal, immoral, or unethical, or otherwise antithetical to standard social norms. Approximately two hours after ChatGPT-4 was released in March 2023, jailbreak attempts and other hacks on the model proved successful. The jailbreak directed the system to provide instructions for an alarming collection of antisocial activities. In the time since then, numerous threat actors have developed carefully worded, highly detailed role play, predictive text, reverse psychology, and other techniques to get LLMs to bypass internal content filters and controls that regulate the model’s responses.
The danger of a successful jailbreak attack on a GenAI system, such as an LLM, is that it breaches the safeguards that prevent the model from executing bad commands, such as instructions to ignore protective measures or take destructive actions. Once that boundary between acceptable and unacceptable use disappears, the model has no further safeguards in place to stop it from following the new instructions.
A Poisoning attack can have as its target the model, the model’s training data, or your organization’s unsecured data source. The goal of a Poisoning attack is to skew the results or predictions your model produces, and the outcome is that your organization relies on the flawed results and makes bad, potentially damaging decisions, disseminates faulty or incorrect information, or takes other ill-advised actions based on the model output.
- Data Poisoning attacks target the model’s training dataset. The threat actor alters or manipulates the data or adds malicious, incorrect, biased, or otherwise inappropriate data that skews the model output.
- Model Poisoning attacks target the model itself. The threat actor alters the model or its parameters to ensure faulty output.
- “Backdoor” attacks require a two-step approach. The threat actor first manipulates the model’s dataset by adding malicious data to create a hidden vulnerability that does not affect the model in any way until it is triggered. Activating the vulnerability is the second step in this attack; it allows the hacker to cause damage to your organization on their own schedule.
Adversarial attacks occur after models have been deployed and are in use. These attacks vary in approach, but are all very clever, very difficult to detect, and very, very dangerous.
- Model Inversion attacks review a model’s output to uncover sensitive info about the model itself or the dataset it was trained on, which can lead to privacy breaches.
- Membership Inference attacks involve the threat actor trying to deduce whether specific data points, like information about a particular individual, were part of the training dataset. If successful, these attacks cause a significant invasion of privacy.
- Model-Stealing attacks involve scrutinizing the output of a trained model to steal or copy its intellectual property with the goal of cloning the original model, typically for commercial gain.
- Watermarking attacks change the parameters of a trained model to embed a hidden pattern that can be used to “prove” who owns the model. This can lead to significant financial loss, as well as loss of competitive advantage.
- Model Inference attacks review a model’s output to find sensitive info about the training data or the model’s parameters, which can lead to privacy breaches.
Innovative protective strategies and deployment tactics must be developed continually to keep up with new AI-powered technologies, such as LLMs, and the thought of doing so is nothing if not daunting. Proactively deploying safeguards that address the threats outlined above and others is the only reasonable approach to creating a secure environment for organizations to implement LLMs at scale and across the enterprise.
Our Moderator solution is the only tool on the market that provides a secure, resilient environment where other AI Security defenses fall short. Our solution protects your organization from users seeking to ignore or override system controls by reviewing language patterns and categories, such as role-playing, hypothetical conversations, world-building, and reverse psychology, to identify prompts seeking to violate acceptable usage rules. It also scans outgoing and incoming content for toxic, biased, or otherwise unacceptable inclusions. Users are alerted that the prompt will not be sent unless changes are made to its content, and a detailed prompt history allows for auditing such prompts and the users creating them. Moderator also enables administrators to require human verification of the information returned by the model to ensure that any content used in organizational documentation is accurate and factual.
Understanding and implementing AI Security protocols is fast becoming a core business imperative in an increasingly AI-driven marketplace. By integrating AI tools, such as CalypsoAI Moderator, into your security framework, your organization will enable dynamic, real-time adaptation to new threats; ensure robust protection for its AI systems, data, and operations; provide decision-makers with peace of mind; and allow your organization to stay a step ahead of cybercriminals—and your competitors.


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Kim Zolciak, 39, was seen two days ago enjoying a night out with her husband, Kroy Biermann, by her side on the streets of New York. She is having a hard time in the public eye at the moment after NeNe Leakes called her racist. Kim has revealed she and her family got death threats because of it. But she seems to manage it well as she walks with her husband hand in hand to the Watch What Happens Live studios.
The latest episode of the reality tv show The Real Housewives of Atlanta saw her and NeNe still arguing after the roaches incident. Kim’s daughter, Brielle, who is 21 years old took a video from NeNe’s house claiming to show roaches. NeNe took this as a very offensive claim, as she says the word ‘roaches’ for an African-American sounds very racial, making associations with ghetto or trash. Kim took her daughter’s defense and said it was only a joke, but NeNe doesn’t seem to back down from the accusation she has made. The entire conflict backfired though, as Kim had a lot of people at her gate shouting death threats at her. Worth noticing that NeNe’s past isn’t clean neither as she made some weird threats to a reporter too. Hopefully this will be solved in a civilized manner.
Anyway, for her walk Kim looked amazing in a white off the shoulder top paired with a pair of high waisted leather trousers. You can never go wrong with a classy black and white combination.
The Jimmy Choo white pumps with an exaggerated bow take the prize this time. They are a little bit eccentric and out of the ordinary, but they are guaranteed to steal anyone’s attention!
HERE IS A CHEAPER VERSION

domain: news


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Solid Shell Crochet Stitch is one of the simplest patterns that creates repeating rows of seashells arranged like a brick wall. It just uses single crochet (sc) and double crochet (dc) stitches which means that once you master the basics, you can make this fancy crochet stitch in any of your projects.
This stitch is also popular as Scallop or Open Scallop Crochet Stitch. It is a good stitch for creating wavy edging in your projects. Overall, it creates a fabric with solid texture and almost no holes.
It is one of the simplest shell patterns amongst the other shell stitch variations in crochet. You can either work it in rows by repeating the 2nd and 3rd rows or simply make a border with one repeat.
Solid Shell Stitch Pattern Video Tutorial
Video tutorial coming soon on our YouTube channel. Subscribe to get updates!
Solid Shell Stitch Chart
This free pattern is written using US crochet terms.
|st (s)||stitch (es)|
Foundation ch: any multiple of 6 + 2.
|Row 1:||sc in 2nd ch from hook, * sk next 2 ch, 5dc in next ch, sk next 2 ch, sc in next ch; rep from * to end, turn.|
|Row 2:||ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2dc in same st, * sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc, sk next 2 dc, 5dc in next sc; rep from * to end, ending last rep with 3dc in last sc, turn.|
|Row 3:||ch 1, sc in 1st dc, * sk next 2 dc, 5dc in next sc, sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc; rep from * to end, ending last rep with sc into top of tch, turn.|
Repeat Rows 2-3 of this free crochet stitch pattern until you have reached the desired length for your work.
Sample Crochet Projects
We love seeing your finished projects!
Share pictures of any project you make using Solid Shell Crochet Stitch and tag us @aabharcreations or #aabharcreations or visit our page, AabharCreations, and share a pic. We would absolutely love to see your work!
Save This Pin so that you always have access to free video tutorials and crochet charts!

domain: artistic


Monitor and manage the health of drugs during research, manufacturing, storage and transportation.
Our data loggers can help you meet the rigorous standards required for medicines and pharmaceuticals to ensure superior quality and safety.
Our data loggers are used by many medical and pharmaceutical companies that have obtained JCI and ISO certifications.
Select your data logging system according to your application:
- For monitoring the temperature of medicines during transport
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- Logger types available for drugs, drug studies, sample storage, and hospital rooms
- Remote data monitoring and sharing with our cloud storage service
- Alert notifications via e-mail when set alarm levels are exceeded
- Free graphical tools for creating reports


Two landmines recovered in Jharkhand
Ranchi: Two landmines and explosives were recovered from Jharkhand`s Ramgarah district on Saturday, police said.
Police said a team, acting on a tip-off, raided a house in Ramgarh district and recovered two landmines weighing 10 kg and three kg. Police also recovered 10 detonators and some gelatin sticks from the house.
No one was arrested; the owner of the house is absconding.
Police suspect that the landmines and detonators were to be supplied to Maoists.
Maoist guerrillas are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state.
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Carrie Dunn blogs from the 2015 Women's World Cup
Carrie Dunn, Programme Leader for Sports Journalism at the University of East London, will be blogging for us during the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup from Canada.
Carrie, who is also a freelance journalist, is currently working on a book about supporters at the tournament. In her first blog from Canada, Carrie analyses the city of Moncton, where the England Women’s team have been playing.
“It’s been an absolute delight to be in Canada for the group stages of the Women’s World Cup. During my first hour in Moncton, I was gleefully grabbed by two separate individuals who asked excitedly, “Are you from England? Are you here for the soccer?” Clearly the accent is a giveaway.
“The friendly folk of Moncton – a small, bilingual university town on the east coast of Canada – were absolutely thrilled to have such a high-profile tournament there. They were, admittedly, a little surprised, as were most of the footballing community – it’s hardly a celebrated tourist city like fellow host Vancouver, and the stadium is about a quarter of the size of the Olympic Stadium in Montreal. But nevertheless they embraced it – there were banners flying all the way down Main Street, and all the shops and cafes had official posters and home-made artwork for the event.
“And in a town that tiny, everyone’s staying in one of four hotels, all of which are about five minutes apart. There’s the Colombia squad; there are the Mexicans; the France team just wandered off down the high street; oh, and there are the England girls. For those who like women’s football because of the opportunities it offers for fan engagement, this was a prime example.
“After two weeks in Moncton, it was a bit of a culture shock to head to the rather more buzzing Montreal – but oh, what a relief to have a decent and regular public transport system again! The English accent was a little less noticeable in this rather more cosmopolitan city, and they’re a little more blasé about having big sporting events here.
“Of course, one of the big let-downs of the tournament so far has been the limited attendances for matches not involving the hosts Canada or near-neighbours the USA. Indeed, although the Moncton natives were delighted to have the World Cup in town, very few of them were actually intending to go to a game. And with the sprawl of time-zones across the country, it’s not always easy for fans on one coast to keep up-to-date with what’s happening on the other.
“But then it’s easy to get the feeling that bringing people to the ground wasn’t necessarily FIFA’s prime objective. They’ve talked happily about their television viewing figures in “key territories” – and raising the profile of the game around the world is what they’re concentrating on.
“So after an exciting set of group games, it’s on to the knock-out rounds. Moncton will soon be jettisoned with the effort targeted on the big cities now – let’s see how many people will head to Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa and Winnipeg to see the best female players in the world go head-to-head.”

domain: geography


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In depth history of the AFN company that owned and produced FRAZER NASH cars in the 1930s-40s-50s, imported BMWs from the 1930s onwards and later became famous for it's Porsche dealerships.
They ran both car and motor cycle racing operations throughout. Famous names associated with them include A F P Fane, Aldy Aldington, Earl Howe, David Murray, Jock West, Tony Crook and Ken Wharton.
The book includes registers of Frazer Nash and BMW's made and sold and biographical details on the company leading lights Aldington and Fane.
Author Denis Jenkinson was the legendary MOTOR SPORT correspondent "DSJ" and co-driver for Stirling Moss on the Mille Miglia.
Superb book, much fascinating stuff about the motor industry and the sport in the 30s and 50s especially.
1985 320 pages very good condition book alide from a little tanning of the page edges from shelving. in very good jacket

domain: history


|Image Credit: Allposters.com|
I started out to do a review of my favorite recording of George Gershwin's music. Things quickly got out of control as I started outlining and gathering ideas. Then more ideas formulated, then too may ideas! Here are four of my favorite George Gershwin songs with added information about each. The songs are "Rhapsody in Blue", "An American in Paris", "Lullaby for a String Quartet" and "Summertime." Gershwin wrote over 500 songs so this is just a tiny sample from a great American composer.
"Rhapsody in Blue"
|Image credit: Barnes and Noble|
There are three different recordings of "Rhapsody in Blue" that I usually hear on classical music channels. The song is so fresh and modern that it is hard to believe that it was written in 1924. The first recordings that George Gershwin made were player piano rolls. He made over 130 piano rolls for the player piano which was immensely popular at that time. He recorded the complete "Rhapsody in Blue" on a reproducing piano. The reproducing piano recorded not only the notes that being played but also the dynamics with which they are played. According to my research, it's as if the pianist is playing live. The album in the image has music transferred from the piano rolls to the Yamaha Disklavier, which Yamaha calls a modern day player piano. This is the most authentic Gershwin in my opinion, just not my favorite.
Oscar Levant's recording of "Rhapsody in Blue" is astounding. He was a personal friend of George and Ira Gershwin. He appeared in two movies featuring Gershwin music, "Rhapsody in Blue" and "An American in Paris." Like so many geniuses, Levant battled addictions and mental illness. When Levant sat down at the piano, it seems like he poured those battles into his playing. In the movie biography of George Gershwin, "Rhapsody in Blue," Levant was the piano playing double for star Robert Alda.
|Image Credit: Barnes and Noble|
Leonard Bernstein "Rhapsody in Blue" 1 of 2
Leonard Bernstein "Rhapsody in Blue" 2 of 2
"An American in Paris"
An American in Paris-1951 - I Got Rhythm
George Gershwin wrote "An American in Paris" in 1928, long before the movie that was released in 1951. The two are linked inextricably in my mind. I visualize scenes from the movie whenever I hear the song. The New York Philharmonic Orchestra debuted the piece at Carnegie Hall in December,1928. I've seen several references to the music as a "symphonic tone poem," a term created by Franz Liszt. Tone poem simply means music that brings a scene or story to mind. Gershwin said "My purpose here is to portray the impressions of an American visitor in Paris as he strolls about the city,
listens to the various street noises, and absorbs the French atmosphere." He included authentic French taxi horns in the debut for authenticity.
Leonard Bernstein's recording is the one that I listen to although most people are probably more familiar with the movie soundtrack recorded by the MGM Studio Orchestra. Some of the original music is not included and other music is added to the ballet. I'll just call it artistic license and leave it at that. Below are some memorable clips from the movie. Marvelous production details can be found at TCM.com, especially the use of color during the ballet.
The entire ballet-an astounding dance with musical cuts and additions noted
Leslie Caron doing the most amazing splits in movie history!
Lullaby for String Orchestra
The first time I heard "Lullaby for String Orchestra" I didn't even know it was written by George Gershwin. The song is lush and romantic. It was one of his first compositions, written in 1919 while he was studying harmony. Gershwin used themes from the song in his opera "Blue Monday." I've seen references calling this a jazz opera. The "Lullaby" stands alone, without any other music. Just give it a listen in the video and you'll see what I mean.
"Lullaby for Strings"
"Summertime" was written as an aria for the opera "Porgy and Bess." The music was composed by George Gershwin and the lyrics are by DuBose Heyward. I can just feel the heat and humidity of Charleston, South Carolina where the opera is set. The opera premiered on Broadway in 1935 and was made into a movie in 1959.
"Summertime" is a lullaby sung by the character Clara to her baby. The operatic version is in the video clip to the right. There have been thousands of different cover versions. Billie Holiday sang the perfect vocal jazz version and Miles Davis performs a wonderful instrumental jazz version. Rock goddess Janis Joplin brings her gravelly vocals to a genre other than rock.
I've seen claims that "Summertime" was influenced by the gospel song "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child". In the book "Funny, It Doesn't Sound Jewish." the author Jack Gottlieb notices an influence from the Russian lullaby "Pipi-pipipee." He states that the song "may be viewed as an amalgamation of Jewish and Black based components." The lyricist, DuBose Heyward, was a native of Charleston and Gershwin spent some time in that area while writing the music. This would explain the two very different influences on the song.
Three amazing versions of "Summertime"
From the movie "Porgy and Bess"
Miles Davis with Quincy Jones at Montreaux
The one and only - Janis Joplin
About the Composer
George Gershwin composed many Broadway stage and Hollywood film musicals with his older brother, Ira, as the lyricist. According to the Web site gershwin.com, George wanted to compose "serious" music. Gershwin's serious compositions include "Rhapsody in Blue," "An American in Paris," "Concerto in F," and "Second Rhapsody."
Born Jacob Gershowitz to Russian immigrants in 1898, George Gershwin dropped out of high school. He worked in Tin Pan Alley, the locus of music publishing on West 28th Street in Manhattan. "Swanee" was his first hit, at the age of 21. Between 1920 and 1933, Gershwin wrote seventeen Broadway musicals. He then went to Hollywood and wrote four movie scores.
Gershwin died during surgery for brain cancer (glioblastoma) at the age of just 38. Ira Gershwin organized and notated their works and then donated them to the Library of Congress. According to loc.gov, the George and Ira Gershwin Collection contains 60,000 items in 136 containers covering 53 linear feet. The Collection contains musical scores, correspondence, scrapbooks, lyric sheets, photographs and many other personal items. Artifacts in the collection include George Gershin's piano Ira’s typing table, typewriter, and fountain pen, and the Congressional Gold Medals struck in honor of the Gershwins. Many of these materials on currently on display in the Gershwin Gallery on the ground floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building.


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Ten-man Swansea City escaped the Stadium of Light with a point after a barrage of late pressure from the Black Cats.
Garry Monk's side were reduced to 10 after Angel Rangel's dismissal late on for two bookable offences - the second for checking Will Buckley as he raced into the final third.
But despite a late Steven Fletcher header flashing wide and waves of attacks, the Swans held out to claim a point.
They had enjoyed the better of the early stages with decent possession but created little throughout the match.
There was a single shot on goal from Gylfi Sigurdsson which called Vito Mannone into action.
Sunderland first put the Swans under pressure in the 10 minutes before half-time, winning a string of corners.
From those, Fabianski was twice called into action to thwart Billy Jones at his near post before an athletic stop away to his right from Vergini's header.
He had already made a smart stop at his near post from Adam Johnson - turning a fizzing effort round the post.
In the second half, Connor Wickham headed over the bar when in the centre of goal unmarked before Rangel's dismissal saw the Swans retreat even further.
But a resolute defensive effort saw out the rearguard action, securing a vital point for Garry Monk to take back to South Wales.

domain: sports


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Disagreements over the presidency and the location of a proposed Brics development bank could further delay its unveiling.
The leaders of the five emerging market economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - are expected to sign a deal that creates a $100bn (£59bn, €73bn) bank, alongside an emergency reserve fund of the same size.
The Brics development bank, an idea approved in Durban in 2013 after it was envisaged in New Delhi the previous year, aims to challenge developed nations' dominance over global finance.
However negotiations under way in Fortaleza, Brazil, to create the bank, have hit a hurdle, Reuters reported.
Negotiations have slowed down over a row between China, India and South Africa over who will host the bank.
The discord has also delayed a decision on which of the nations will hold the first five-year presidency of the bank, unnamed negotiators told the news agency.
While Russia's presidential adviser, Yuri Ushakov, has said that Shanghai was the most likely location for the bank's headquarters, earlier whispers from the Kremlin suggested that New Delhi could emerge as a rival to China's financial capital.
If Brics leaders fail to resolve their differences, they could still sign off on the creation of the bank and decide on its headquarters and its president later on.
A delay could be an embarrassment for the Brics nations, which hope to break the West's stranglehold on the world's financial architecture – the US and Japan maintain an iron grip on the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
'The Chinese people love peace'
China is also planning an Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
In a meeting with Indian Prime Narendra Modi in Brazil on the sidelines of the Brics summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping invited India to become a founding member of the proposed infrastructure lender, China's official Xinhua news agency reported.
The two nations "should join hands in setting global rules...", Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.
Meanwhile Xi reportedly told South American media that China seeks to play the role of a responsible major power and promote the rights of the developing world.
The president also dismissed concerns over Chinese domination, saying the world's second-largest economy did not believe it was fated to dominate others just because of its growing might.
"We will ... dedicate ourselves to perfecting the international system of governance and proactively push for expanding the representation and right to speak for developing countries in international affairs," Xi said.
"We will come up with more Chinese proposals and contribute China's wisdom," Xi added, without elaborating.
"The Chinese people love peace. In the blood of the Chinese people there are no genes for invading others or dominating the world. China does not acknowledge the old logic of 'when a country is strong it must dominate'.
"China will resolutely pursue the path of peaceful development, to proactively seek a peaceful international environment for its own development, and will use its own development to promote world peace."


text: Julie and Mario from Subtle Glances are the brains behind our business cards that we love so much. We've always been a fan of the timelessness and quality of their letterpress work. Here is a smattering of the invitations that we've shot in the last year. Check out their website and blog! I love looking at their blog and being inspired by all the textures and colors they put up there.

domain: design


Broadcasting Board of Governors – Information War Lost: The Secretary Weighs In – Again, Part Two
by The Federalist
“We have basically abdicated in my view, the broadcast media. I have tried and will
continue from the outside to convince Congress and the others.
If we don’t have an up-to-date modern, effective Broadcasting Board of Governors,
we shouldn’t have one at all.”
(Comments by outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Council on Foreign Relations, January 31, 2013)
These are words we use to describe our reaction in reading outgoing (and now former) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. These were some – and by no means all – of the remarks made when she addressed the Council on Foreign Relations on Thursday, January 30, 2013. Her remarks follow her congressional testimony of Wednesday, January 23, 2013.
With all the issues that abound around the world, Mrs. Clinton singled out US Government international broadcasting as a key issue, more than any previous secretary of state.
She continues to be on message and more forcefully than in previous remarks going back to 2011. These remarks provide an opportunity to expand the discussion on the subject.
Lessons To Be Learned:
We have never met Mrs. Clinton nor have we spoken to her or members of her staff. However, we don’t think it’s a stretch for us to understand the context of her remarks.
As Secretary of State, Mrs. Clinton is recognized as having traveled longer, harder and farther on behalf of the national interests of the United States.
One thing we are certain that Mrs. Clinton discovered in her travels is that the world is a very difficult place. She is also likely to have discovered that US national interests have declining resonance around the world with global publics. In our view, she has correctly identified where the problem lies:
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).
Let us examine the situation:
When speaking about the BBG, we speak of it as not only as a board of governors but also as an agency comprising the Voice of America (VOA) and the various grantee entities which include Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio and TV Marti, Radio Free Asia (RFA) and other operations.
We look at the whole package in its entirety. Why? Because the failure is systemic, not limited to any one particular segment of the operation.
And we most certainly include in that failure the agency executive staff: the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB). Indeed, we see the executive staff as the facilitator and enabler of a failed agency. Why? You already know the answer if you have read our previous commentaries: the “flim flam Soviet-style strategic plan” actively, aggressively and sometimes viciously promoted by the handful of senior IBB staffers.
In recent weeks, there has been a heavy dose of misdirected blame, generated (in our view) by the IBB staff toward members of the current BBG. In reality, the agency’s state of affairs began long before the current board members arrived on the scene. The one constant through much of the agency’s decline and perhaps imminent downfall:
The IBB staff.
Of late, certain members of the BBG have seen through the tactics of the IBB and have raised concerns and outright objections to the direction of the agency’s operations.
Not unexpectedly, the IBB – composed of way too many entrenched, self-serving and self-promoting individuals – co-opted an Office of Inspector General (OIG) report – giving full throat to their arrogance, defiance and (as we see it) gross insubordination. In short, the net effect of the report was a no-holds-barred effort to neutralize the board and usurp the statutory powers of the board.
Clearly, the IBB wants to run the agency the way it wants to without interference from the board and no deference to accountability and responsibility from any quarter, inside or outside the Federal Government.
The IBB overplayed its hand – not unexpected when you are dealing with a group of pompous, overbearing and arrogant individuals who have an oversized view of their power and have become accustomed to getting what they want whenever they want it – including those bonuses they have handed themselves on top of their six-figure salaries.
None of this comes as a surprise to anyone who is familiar with past incarnations of the Board. There is a history of similar IBB tactics being used against governors who have spoken up about agency problems. In addition, there have been some clashes among members of prior boards, some which may have been manipulated by the IBB staff. There have been some major egos at work on the board in the past – ultimately resulting in some equally large disasters for US national interests, as alluded to generally by Mrs. Clinton’s statements.
Like other things that go wrong in government, this is a situation that is cumulative: a process of running an agency that is flawed at best, compromised at worst, over a protracted period of time.
That is why the agency has earned a reputation for being “the worst organization in the Federal Government” and one of the worst places to work in the Federal Government.
Let there be no doubt – as long as the status quo prevails, the situation will continue unabated as the IBB continues the agency’s downward spiral.
What Is Past Is Prologue – Unless You Are The IBB
Mrs. Clinton spoke with great passion about the achievements of the agency during the Cold War. She believes with equal passion that those achievements can be replicated now and in the future.
We share Mrs. Clinton’s passion for the agency and its mission.
The IBB does not.
The IBB believes in a “flim flam strategic plan” which has a whole lot more to do with self-interest than it does with the US national and public interest. The IBB advocates of this plan, and their acolytes inside the Cohen Building, are not about to admit that they goofed. That would be a major career-killer. We see the following scenarios as the consequence of the IBB’s dogged standing by this plan:
Scenario One: The IBB grossly overestimated its ability to reach global audiences via new online technologies versus traditional radio and television broadcasting. They ignored or dismissed numerous obstacles which have had the net effect of reducing the agency’s broadcast footprint worldwide. In turn, they underestimated the ability of adversarial regimes to develop effective countermeasures to the IBB’s wild embrace of new technology.
(Think about it – the government informant in your neighborhood or at the local market has now been augmented by the one encased in your mobile phone or your computer – with you all the time, watching, recording every keystroke you make and automatically reporting any suspicious activity.)
Scenario Two: The IBB may have intentionally “gamed the system,” knowing that to replicate the footprint of its direct broadcast radio transmissions would take years, possibly decades, ensuring that they would be entrenched in their positions as the process laboriously unfolded at a cost of millions and even billions of dollars to the American taxpayer as years and decades roll by.
Scenario Three: A combination of both scenarios above, along with an unwillingness to acknowledge and/or adjust to circumstances.
Another self-inflicted wound has been to the agency’s programming.
Time and again, the IBB has put forward proposals to eliminate staff and broadcasts. Recently, it eliminated its Special English newscasts – the Special English broadcasts being among the most popular with the agency’s (dwindling) global audiences.
Instead of news and information as codified in the VOA Charter, the bedrock of the agency’s mission, we see the agency moving away from breaking and developing news along with in-depth analysis of the news.
In its place, the IBB has turned toward programming of lowered standards. Its credibility has been severely, if not mortally, injured by the vacuum it has created and is being filled, as Mrs. Clinton pointed out correctly, by a hostile, anti-American message.
Boxed out of delivering effective programming by countermeasures by the Chinese, the Russians, the Iranians and others, the agency is now reduced to delivering more content that is in the form of “lifestyle” pieces.
Worse, with its audiences in freefall, some agency elements have decided that the way to attract new audiences is to engage in sexually provocative content – keeping in mind that the content is targeted in certain parts of the world where women are debased, devalued and abused.
In short, the place where Mrs. Clinton would see US Government international broadcasting needs to go is not getting there and won’t get there with the current IBB.
Do We Fix It Or Forget It?
That is the “to be or not to be” question.
Some people suggest that increased funding will solve the problem.
Let us disabuse everyone of that notion. In this agency, more funding equates with more failure. With the same cast of IBB characters in charge, the only thing that will change is the increased size and scope of failure.
To put it bluntly, there isn’t enough money in the Federal treasury to do what is required: a top-to-bottom remedial effort. That takes time and a lot of money – and all the while you will have a renegade group of IBB operatives trying to sabotage the effort. What the IBB bureaucracy doesn’t like, it will try to destroy. Have a conversation with Ambassador Victor Ashe and other members of the current BBG on that subject.
If More Funding Isn’t The Answer, What Is?
This is where things get interesting.
We have said it before and we will say it again, it’s time to neutralize the IBB. The way that is done is through legislation to transfer the agency’s functions elsewhere in the government. The agency could be transferred wholesale – minus the IBB – in order to retain the name recognition of its entities with global audiences. Operationally, the transformation would be seamless. Administratively, there may be a needed break-in period.
The transformation could be incremental as opposed to abrupt.
Facilitating the transformation would be a transition team composed of individuals with superior credentials and expertise. Indeed, we would go so far as to suggest that Mrs. Clinton can put her passion to work in short order by heading up this transition effort.
As for the IBB, Congress would perhaps be more than willing to legislate it out of the way – perhaps making it part of the Public Diplomacy Advisory Council. There, it can while away the days to retirement generating paper, some of it no doubt in a continued defense of its “flim flam Soviet-style strategic plan.”
This approach is likely to be more cost effective than a top-to-bottom investigation of how the agency got to the place it is – no doubt with some revelations the IBB hopes might never see the light of day. As we like to say: follow the money. When you are an agency of the Federal Government spending taxpayer funds, that’s the first place you look: painstakingly, thoroughly.
Clearly, this is a subject that will generate further debate and discussion. However, let us be clear: as long as the status quo prevails, the end result is inevitable:
Close the place. Mission failed.
(To Be Continued)


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It’s no secret that Hollywood loves to remake classics. In this case, it’s a brick-and-mortar do-over of a 20-story tower, the former Renaissance Hollywood, now renovated and recast as the Loews Hollywood Hotel. Anchoring the Hollywood & Highland Center, the 628-room hotel has a close connection—about 70 steps, in fact—to the Academy Awards, which is held in the complex’s Dolby Theatre. An indoor corridor, known as the “winner’s walk,” connects the Dolby Theatre to the Loews. Clutching their statues while the Loews staff offers them a glass of Champagne, the Oscar winners make their way down the halls to meet with the world press on the hotel’s floor of meeting rooms.
After an extensive $31 million renovation, the hotel gleams. Gensler, the global architecture and design firm, redesigned the entrance and lobby so that it now serves multiple purposes, from guest arrival to social center. Armchairs and seating are grouped to facilitate networking, and those powered-up chairs and tables have multiple outlets for mobile device and computer charging. A new lobby bar—craft cocktails and California wines at the ready—livens up the glass-walled space.
A second-floor restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch and otherwise available for events (capacity 200); the pool deck, with catering by Wolfgang Puck, is a favorite for events. When it’s not Oscar week, the Loews sales team books Hollywood & Highland’s entire 120,000-square-foot mix of spaces. Crowning the hotel’s tower is the Panorama suite, with 180-degree views and a grand piano, available for intimate dinners and receptions. A-list talent and film producers often select the vistarich suite for exclusive Oscar events. Under Loews’ new management, the heart of Hollywood is ready for its close-up.

domain: entertainment


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Lost Hills is a town in Kern County in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. Located near Interstate 5, it is one of a few places on this part of the freeway that have gas, food or lodging.
- 1 Days Inn Lost Hills, 14684 Alama St, ☏ . Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Pet friendly hotel that offers free wi-fi, free breakfast, and an outdoor pool.
- Motel 6, 14685 Warren St, ☏ , fax: .
Wasco- 46 East. About 30 minutes away.
Bakersfield- 5 South to Stockdale Hwy to Westside Pkwy. About 45 minutes away. Or go 46 East to 99 South which will take 50 to 55 minutes.
Los Angeles- 5 South. About 2 to 4 hours away, depending on traffic.
Paso Robles- 46 West. About 1 hour away.
|Routes through Lost Hills|
|Sacramento ← Kettleman City ←||N S||→ Buttonwillow → Los Angeles|
|Paso Robles ← Jct S N ←||W E||→ Wasco → McFarland|


INNOVATION AND INCUBATION CENTER
Innovation & Incubation Centre is a platform focused towards fostering & promoting the entrepreneurial spirit of start-up enthusiasts by providing a healthy ecosystem to promote their ideas, start-ups and researches into successful entrepreneurial ventures. It is a space for new age entrepreneurs and young minds to transform their innovative ideas into viable business propositions.
⦁ Encouragement towards Innovation and nurture the Innovative ideas among the student community.
⦁ To encouragement of students to display projects and innovative ideas.
⦁ To promote knowledge driven and technology based ventures among the students, faculty and alumni.
⦁ To encourage the students to participate in the project EXPO being organized elsewhere in the country.
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The vehicle has been designed in such a way that it could attract attention. Though the frame could consist of straight and curve lines in a fashioned way to make it more appealing. The carrier can be given a slight curve structure so as to add to the aesthetics of the vehicle. The carrier also serves as the support for the rollover protection system. The further improvement in the design of fairing can be made to make it look aesthetically sound while minimizing the air drag. A further improvement in the ergonomics of the vehicle can be done by adjusting the position of the pedals so that the rider can ride for a long time without any strain in legs.
Final vehicle is an efficient vehicle that could be safely and effectively used for everyday transportation. It is highly efficient as compared to upright bicycles requiring very less power to overcome air drag at the same speed. Small frontal profile and streamlined body allow it to travel at fast speed as compared to the normal bicycles. This style of fairing increases the appeal and attractiveness to touring in a tricycle. Combined efficiency, safety and utility make it well suited to capture a large market segment in sustainable
The Research Center at Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering is recognized by SVS GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS The Centre focuses on domains such as Power system stability studies, Voltage Stability, computer and Real time applications to Power Systems, Reactive Power coordination and Dispatch, Smart Grid Technologies, Power Quality issues, Renewable Energy etc,AI Application to Power Systems and Control System, Integration of Renewable Energy Source & Distributed Generation into Power System, Cost effective, energy efficient High Voltage Low Current Power Supply System, AI Applications to Power Electronics, Fault Detection in Induction Motors. The Research Centre consist of updated Equipments/Software’s like Lab view, Digital Storage Oscilloscope, Mi Power Software, Single phase Power Meter WT310 , Voltage measurement card , Digital Signal Processing Kit , P spice Software(1User) etc .The Research facilities help students and faculty to involve in Research and pursue PhD.
DEPARTMENT OF EEE
Solar Power Plant:
A solar power plant is an arrangement of various solar components including solar panel to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity, a solar inverter to convert the electricity from DC to AC while also monitoring the system, solar batteries and other solar accessories to set up a working system. The main concern of a solar power plant is to provide complete energy independence while also lowering your electricity costs. It includes both small and large capacity solar systems ranging from 1kW to megawatts.
A solar power plant is also known as a solar energy system, solar system, solar power system and solar plant. There are various technologies used in solar power plants, but solar photovoltaic technology is the best option for collecting maximum sunlight and converting it to electricity.
Solar power plants are mainly available in three different types. The first one is the .On grid solar power plant, second is off grid solar power plant and the third is hybrid solar power plant.
Off Grid Solar System for Home with Battery Backup:
The off-grid solar system is a battery based, independent solar system that does not need a utility grid to illuminate your places. It is a complete solar setup with solar panels, solar battery, and solar inverter, and is ideal to lighten a home even in a far off location. This solar system is more prominent as it comes with a power backup.
Off-Grid Solar System: Components and Working
Importance of each of the components only after reading about its function. The list of these components is mentioned below.
Now the question arises- how do these components work to provide constant power? The working of these components is explained clearly through the below-mentioned steps.
The solar panels are the faces of the system that capture the sun’s energy. These devices convert the energy to DC power.
Then comes the use of a solar charge controller. The solar panels are wired with a solar charge controller to regulate the voltage of DC generated by the solar panel. The solar inverter cum controller will monitor and measure how much energy is being produced by the solar panel array; it has the ability to harvest the maximum possible energy.
This regulated DC gets stored in the battery bank wired with the solar charge controller. In the event of surplus availability of solar power and less load, it provides the possibility to store the energy in the battery and also cater the load simultaneously. The battery bank will allow excess solar energy to be stored and used later on when required.
Now, this stored power can be used any time using a solar inverter to convert DC into AC to power your home appliances.
As we all know the fuel prices especially the petrol is rising steadily day by day. Again the pollution due to vehicles in metro cities & urban areas is increasing continuously. To overcome these problems, an effort is being made to search some other alternative sources of energy for the vehicles.
Again, it is also not affordable to purchase vehicles (mopeds, scooters or motorcycles) for all the class of society. Keeping this in mind, a search for some way to cater these economically poor people as well as to provide a solution for the environmental pollution was in progress. The solar assisted bicycle developed is driven by DC motor fitted in front or rear axle housing & operated by solar energy. The solar panels mounted on the carriage will charge the battery & which in turn drive the hub motor. When the bicycle is idle, the solar panel will charge the battery. This arrangement will replace the petrol engine, the gear box & the fuel tank in case of a two wheeler or a chain sprocket, chain & gear shifting arrangement of a conventional bicycle being used by most common man.  As a part of dissertation work, the solar assisted bicycle is fitted with a dc hub motor on front axle of a bicycle with power rating of 250W and with a travelling speed of around 25-30 kmph. It is provided with a pair of lead acid batteries of 35 Ah each, a photovoltaic solar panel with capacity of 20 watt, a voltage regulator of 24v 10 Amp, accelerator and motor controller of 24v 25Amp. There is also a provision for charging of the battery with 220-240V, AC wall outlet supply, in case of poor solar supply due to cloudy weather. As what had been mention earlier, there are several types of bicycle that can be categories that is paddle bicycle, motorized bicycle, and electric bicycle. The weakness of the bicycle make people do not like to used bicycle. First, paddle bicycle need a lot of energy to paddle the bicycle. The user will surely be tired after used the bicycle. This will not suitable for student to use to go to the class because they will be tired when they are in the class and will lost their concentration while hearing the lecture. Next, motorize bicycle that used fuel as it prime mover. The bicycle use fuel that is costly. As a student, their allowance is limited and only can be used for their study material and for their food to survive at the campus. Besides that, motorize bicycle will make pollution that can be very bad for our environment especially in this period that global warming happen to the earth. Lastly, electric bicycle that generate by battery can be only be sufficient for about an hour. The user needs to find power supply to
Solar Cells/ Panels
As the title suggests the bicycle is operated by solar energy. The lead acid battery is charged with solar energy with the help of a solar cell. Solar cells convert the energy of sunlight directly into electricity through the use of the photovoltaic effect. The photovoltaic effect involves the creation of a voltage into an electro-magnetic radiation. The photoelectric and photovoltaic effects are related to sunlight, but are different in that electrons are ejected from a material’s surface upon exposure to radiation of sufficient energy in photoelectric, and generated electrons are transferred to different bands of valence to conduction within the material, resulting in the build-up of voltage between two electrodes in photovoltaic.
SPV Charge Controller:
It is essential to regulate the voltage output from the solar panel before it is supplied to the battery. A voltage regulator is a power converter with an output DC voltage greater than the input DC voltage. This is used to regulate an input voltage to a higher regulated voltage. The output of the solar panel is not always be stable due to fluctuations in intensity of sunlight, angular changes with respect to the direction of sunlight, as well as other environmental factors. This is the voltage regulator/Boost Converter comes into SAB. The output of the solar panel is the input of the boost converter, which then outputs into the battery for charging. Because the output of the solar panel will be varying constantly, we need a voltage regulator/boost converter that will take an input from a wide range of voltages and output a specific, constant voltage value. A voltage regulator/boost converter is a power converter that will take in a DC voltage and output a higher value DC voltage. Our voltage regulator/boost converter requires output of the solar panel, which can range from 0V to 27.2V, and output for charging of the battery. We were initially attracted to the SPV Instruments (Fig.5, Fig.6) Module because it has the characteristics of taking in an input range of 9.6V to 13.2V and outputting 24V at a maximum of 2-3 amps .This SPV has an area of 2.5 square inches so it is also small in size, which makes it very feasible to be placed anywhere on the bicycle. We go thought the battery voltage & we need to supply 24V in order to charge it
Here we use PIC16F72 controller to control the electric bicycle system. In this electric bicycle system some components are installed such as brushless dc motor, PIC controller, battery and dynamo, so here required to controller for controlling the different component of electric bicycle system. There are different functions of this controller such as under voltage protection, over current protection, control power supply, also to drive and control the Brushless dc motor. There are different signal were transmitted to pin of PIC controller to drive and control brushless dc motor, such as current detection signal, motor speed control signal, capacity detection system. In this PIC16F72 controller has 28 pins, 22 I/O pins that are user configurable on a pin-to-pin basis. There are 35 number of instruction in this PIC controller. The operating frequency is 20 MHz Also in this controller there are three I/O port are use such as PORTA, PORTB and PORTC and three Timers are use Timer0, Timer1 and Timer2. In this pin diagram RA1, RA4 and RA5 pin there are transmitted speed control, helping signal, current detection signal. The current detection signal use here because, if any heavy current situation electric bicycle is running at heavy load the current is increasing in motor. Then it will be damages winding of motor and component of motor. Here required current detection signal for controlling the current. Also there are under voltage protection is required because of avoid the low voltage supply, which is affect on electric bicycle running normally, then controller should be provide capacity checking. The voltage consists with resistance then it transmitted to PIC controller. If voltage supply signal transmitted to PIC controller then checking supply voltage.
Lead acid batteries are one of the most popular types of battery in electronics. Although slightly lower in energy density than lithium metal, lead acid is safe, provided certain precautions are met when charging and discharging. Current supplied from battery indicates the flow of energy from the battery and is measured in amperes (or Amps). The higher the current flow faster the battery will discharge. A battery is rated in ampere-hours (abbreviated Ah) and this is called the battery capacity. This project revolves around supplying and utilizing energy within a high voltage battery. It demands for a battery with longer running hours, lighter weight with respect to its high output voltage and higher energy density. Among all the existing rechargeable battery systems, the lead acid cell technology is the most efficient and practical choice for the desired application. The battery chosen for this project was a high capacity lead acid battery pack designed specifically for vehicles. Plastic casing is provided to house the internal components of the battery.


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Precautions for large muscle group exercise. Large muscle group can recover in a few days
precautions for large muscle group exercise. Large muscle group can recover in a few days. People with fitness experience may understand that it takes time to recover after muscle exercise, while muscles generally have small muscle groups and large muscle groups, and large muscle groups such as chest, back and thigh are the focus of exercise. How many days can large muscle group recover?
large muscle groups can recover in a few days
3 days to fully recover.
training interval is very important for muscle repair, and muscle recovery is also essential for muscle growth. When muscle tissue has sufficient nutrition and recovery time, large muscle groups (such as gluteus, pectoralis, abdominal muscles, etc.) can recover 90% in 48 hours and fully recover in 72 hours, that is, three days. Note how long it takes to recover depends on the exercise intensity. If it exceeds the muscle load, the recovery time may be prolonged.
what factors affect the recovery time of large muscle groups
without training, there would be no more muscles. Training is the premise of muscle growth. Only when muscle fibers are "damaged" through high-intensity training can "repair" and "strengthen" muscle fibers. How long a large muscle group needs to rest to recover depends on the intensity of this training. The greater the intensity, the longer the recovery time.
according to relevant research, when the human body is sleeping and resting, the cells in the body are updated most frequently, that is, at this time of rest, the muscle repair and growth reach the peak, rather than during the training process. Therefore, whether there is good sleep after exercise is also a factor determining whether the large muscle group recovers quickly or not.
during the exercise of large muscle groups, muscle fibers will be seriously damaged. At this time, it is necessary to supplement a lot of nutrients such as protein to repair the damaged muscles. Therefore, if you can supplement sufficient protein and calories after exercise, you will recover faster.
can you continue to exercise without recovering the large muscle group
it is not recommended to continue exercising.
it is not recommended to take the next exercise when the large muscle group has not fully recovered. The final result may be over training, resulting in muscle growth stopping or muscle reduction due to insufficient recovery, and even muscle fatigue, stiffness, strain and other injuries, affecting the fitness progress.
how often do large muscle groups practice
practice the same muscle at least once every three days.
the interval of muscle group training is to ensure the recovery of damaged muscle fibers. Therefore, we should wait until the muscles are fully recovered before the next exercise, which means that the same muscle part in the large muscle group can be practiced at least every three days, and the exercise frequency can be guaranteed once a week.
precautions for large muscle group exercise
1. Compared with muscle training, recovery is more complex and important, because muscle growth occurs outside training, that is, recovery is growth.
2. After exercising large muscle groups, you can accelerate muscle recovery by massage, stretching, supplementing nutrition and ensuring sleep.
3. Muscle growth is not achieved overnight. Be patient and do well in every step related to exercise.

domain: biology


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Cotton Neat Motif by Pierrot (Gosyo Co., Ltd) - This pattern is available for free. Both English and Japanese versions are fully charted using standard knitting and/or crochet symbols. Japanese version available here.
Whether you're after a basic afghan crochet pattern or more advanced patterns, find free crochet afghan patterns here. You'll find free crochet blanket patterns, including ripple afghans, baby afghans, granny square afghans and more.


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LAHORE: The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has expressed its resolve to continue informing facts to the general public despite unfavourable circumstances and threats.
This was stated at the CPNE Standing Committee meeting held under the chairmanship of the Council President Jamil Athar Qazi in Lahore in which serious concern was expressed over the fatwa issued by a branch of the Tehrik-e-Taliban, Shoora Mujahideen.
The Taliban branch has said in its fatwa that Pakistani media had been involved in the propaganda instead of publishing facts. It has termed the media status as an agent of the tyrannical forces. The fatwa also stated that if the media would not stop their propaganda, then they would be murdered.
Those included in the discussion: Imtiaz Alam, Syed Sarmad Ali, Senator (Retd) Fasih Iqbal, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, Zia Shahid, Shaheen Qureshi, Amir Mahmood, Dr Jabbar Khattak and Jamil Athar Qazi. The meeting said that the fatwa bears no name of any mufti which doubts its authenticity. It has been appealed to the Ulema to take notice of the fatwa and ensure that no one poke his nose in the freedom of the press.
The meeting expressed their resolve that all editors were united in the protection of the freedom of expression and any threat and terrorism against any newspapers would be considered an attack on the whole journalist community.
The meeting also expressed their opinion that at a time when there was dialogue going on between the government and Taliban, such fatwas were like to sabotage talks on the part of the Shoora Mujahideen Tehrik-i-Taliban. It will also send negative signal in the efforts of opening peace doors.
The resolution also stated that the CPNE and print media would not become part of such move and it would make utmost efforts to help in making successful the dialogue between the government and the Taliban.
The meeting appealed to all religious sects to discourage threats of murder and torture. Pakistani media should be allowed to work under the constitution and not to allow any hurdle in this regard.
The meeting at the end gave final shape to the arrangement of holding a national conference of prominent politician and journalist, Maulana Zafar Ali Khan in November.
It has also been decided to issue the final information of holding the national conference with the approval of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the final date of the conference. This would be decided by a 35-member standing committee of the CPNE. The newly elected standing committee will also elect members of the CPNE office-bearers. The meeting also expressed its grief over the death of mother of Waseem Ahmad, Chief Editor of Daily Awam and Daily Public, Quetta.
The meeting was attended by CPNE President Jamil Athar Qazi; Senior Vice-President Shaheen Qureshi, Amir Mahmood, Secretary General; Ghulam Nabi Chandio, Joint Secretary; Rehmat Ali Razi, Chairman Punjab/Vice-President, Punjab; Waseem Ahmad, Vice-President/Chairman Balochistan Committee; Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami (Pakistan); Zia Shahid, Daily Khabrain; Dr Jabbar Khattak, Daily Awami Awaz; Javed Mehr Shamsi, Daily Claim; Sardar Khan Niazi, Monthly Naya Rukh; Syed Muhammad Munir Jilani, Daily Paigham; Mehtab Khan, Daily Ausaf; Mumtaz A. Tahir, Daily Aftab; Mukhtar Aqil, Daily Jurat, Karachi; Syed Haroon Shah, Daily Wahdat; Syed Ayaz Badshah, Daily Mashriq, Peshawar; Alyas Shakir, Editor Qoumi Akhbar, Nadeem Chaudhry, City-42; Mohsin Mumtaz, Daily Aftab; Irfan Athar Qazi, Daily Tijarat and Jurat; Aslam Khan, Internews; Imtiaz Alam, South Asian Journal and Ijaz-ul-Haq, Daily Express and Vice-President, Islamabad.


Ebonee Coleman lived in Houston all her life until finally leaving home to attend the Stephen F. Austin University. There she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications-Radio/TV.
After interning at one of the local news stations in Houston, Fox 26 News, Ebonee joined News Channel 6 in Wichita Falls as a multi-media journalist in the Spring of 2020.
Ebonee loves to shop, decorate and spend time with her family, friends, and dogs. However, what brings her the most joy is being a part of the Texoma community and bringing you news that is Live, Local, Now!


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RugbySmart, a rugby union injury prevention programme, was launched in New Zealand in 2001. It was compulsory for all coaches and referees to complete RugbySmart requirements annually in order to continue coaching or refereeing. After 5 years of implementation the programme partners, Accident Compensation Corporation and New Zealand Rugby Union, evaluated RugbySmart to determine its effectiveness in reducing injuries. The purpose was to evaluate the effect of RugbySmart on reducing injury rates per 100,000 players and resulting injury prevention behaviours. The RugbySmart programme was associated with a decrease in injury claims per 100,000 players in most areas the programme targeted; the programme had negligible impact on non-targeted injury sites. The decrease in injury claims numbers was supported by results from the player behaviour surveys pre- and post-RugbySmart. There was an increase in safe behaviour in the contact situations of tackle, scrum and ruck technique.


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UN Set To Vote On Resolution To Weaken ISIS
Aug. 15, 2014
(Undated) -- The UN Security Council is set to vote on a resolution aimed at weakening ISIS militants. The resolution calls for cutting off the terrorist group's flow of foreign fighters and its financial support. EU ministers are meeting today to approve an arms shipment to Iraqi Kurds who are battling the ISIS fighters. France and Britain are among several European nations pledging to send weapons to the Kurds.


Russian officials have claimed that the United States are attempting to overthrow the country by inflating huge rubber ducks at anti-government protests.
The bizarre claim, which first emerged earlier this year, was substantiated in court by officials who claimed that it was the main reason for refusing permission for an opposition rally led by Alexei Navalny.
The initial report, which was first published in May, claimed that ducks have previously appeared in countries including Brazil and China as a ‘symbol of revolution and the illegal overthrow of the state.’
The colourful ducks first became a sign of resistance at anti-corruption protests in Russia earlier this year,after Mr Navalny published an investigation into Dmitry Medvedev, the Prime Minister.
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In the investigation, he alleged that Mr Medvedev has built a secret property empire that included a £70 million mansion with a duck house.
Mr Medvedev has denied the claims, but Mr Navalny now intends to challenge Vladimir Putin during Russia’s presidential elections next March.
Nikolai Lyaskin, one of Mr Navalny’s leading aides, was beaten with an iron pipe earlier this year, amid growing support for his campaign.
But Russia’s election commission argues that Mr Navalny will not be able to stand because he has a fraud conviction.
He plans to continue campaigning regardless.


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In 2016, Pakistani film industry has amused its viewers with some remarkable blockbuster movies. Maalik, Janaan, Mahe Mir, Ho Mann Jahan were one of those which made great business across Pakistani cinemas. It’s good to see that young blood has rejuvenated the Pakistani Cinema and with the entrance of these young producers and directors, the former and legendary stars of Pakistani cinema have come back with some really good work.
The last two years have seen the influx of Pakistani movies and according to the critics, 2017 would witness the same hoax! Maula Jatt 2, Verna and Balu Mahi are lined up to release this year.”Geo Sar Utha Kay” is also one of them.
This action movie is being directed by Nadeem Cheema and is written by Nasir Mehmood. While Babar Ali, Shehryar Cheema, Umer Cheema, Nasir Khan and others can be seen in the cast. The trailer of the movie was released 9months ago and according to Nadeem Cheema, the release date will be announced soon.
The film is based on the real story of a gang in Rajanpur which was involved in criminal activities including murders and kidnappings. The ‘Chottu Gang’ led by Ghulam Rasool would threaten the villagers and ask them to do whatever he wanted. The village was then cleared by the Pakistan Army through the operation, Zarb e Aahan.
In the movie, Shafqat Cheema is playing the role of “chottu”. An item song has added some spice to the movie. The film is shot in selected locations of Lahore, Rajanpur, and Bahawalpur to make it closer to the reality.
However, most of the viewers are not happy with the movie at all. They are considering it as another copy of some Bollywood movie and just displayed the factor of “patriotism” in the movie through “uniforms”
In the last few years, Pakistan Army has been actively participating in a number of counter attacks to combat the terrorism issue in Pakistan. Those brave soldiers are leading different operations with the help of police and rangers in different areas of Punjab and Sindh in which they are achieving remarkable success.
Due to security issues, media houses are not allowed to report the incidents fully and promptly. So, with the help of these movies, a local Pakistani can get complete details of the operation which ultimately create a bond between the Armed Forces of Pakistan and the locals.
We just hope that Pakistani film industry would produce quality work instead of making copies of such serious issues.


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Bryan Ferry at J&R
Bryan Ferry greeted fans and signed autographs in celebration of the release of latest CD, "Dylanesque", a re-imagining of classic Bob Dylan songs. Always the gentleman, Ferry enjoyed his fans, as can be seen in our short, fun video of the event. Here's our email interview with him. Here's our review of the album.

domain: celebrity


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POMONA – The westbound I-10 freeway connector road to the northbound 57 freeway that was closed after a landslide is now open, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The road was closed on April 25 when a landslide occurred on the slope near the connector road.
CHP officer Jennifer Connolly said the transition road was opened at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday. The connector may be closed periodically at night to complete additional roadway repairs, officials said.
To repair the slope, crews terraced portions of the hillside, installed new drainage pipes to remove water from inside of the hill, and compacted the soil.
It cost Caltrans $2 million to repair the slope.
In February, the connector was closed following a larger landslide that dropped tons of dirt and boulders onto the road. Approximately 110,000 cubic yards were removed.
The road was closed for more than a month while crews stabilized the hillside at a cost of about $3.25 million.
Autobahn Construction of Santa Ana was the contractor for both projects.


On November 18th, in Dječija kuća Novo Sarajevo, a full day public talk entitled “Reactivation of the Space for Social and Cultural Activities in Sarajevo – A Model of Public-Civic Partnership” was held, organized by Akcija Sarajevo, and implemented as part of the Cooperative RegLab Program.
There are a large number of abandoned, neglected or underutilized public spaces in Sarajevo. At the same time, a huge number of civil society organizations, artists and civic initiatives have not had adequate working space for decades, further compromising their highly sensitive position. Much of the discussion about reactivating neglected spaces boils down to their potential commercialization, without a clear vision of engaging citizens and staying true to the original purpose and mission of the facility in question.
This event was focused on finding the answers to the following questions: what is the path for the reactivation of public social and cultural spaces and their return to citizens; whether this is feasible by making these spaces available for free use and management of civic organizations and initiatives; can we imagine a different future for public spaces through culture of community and sharing; can Sarajevo have a community center that serves all citizens, regardless of their financial status; how to create conditions for citizens to reunite, socialize, build confidence, share, and initiate joint actions, and, finally, what is the role of culture and art in this process.
The event was attended by cultural activists, artists, citizens, university professors, students, local government representatives, entrepreneurs and donors who discussed ideas for the future of public social and cultural spaces. The participants were: Aida Kalender (Akcija Sarajevo ), Lejla Kreševljaković (Faculty of Architecture, University of Sarajevo), Boriša Mraović (researcher in the organization Crvena Sarajevo), Irena Boljunčić-Gracin (Trans Europe Halles and Rojc Pula Association), Enes Besovic (House of Culture Hrasnica), Belma Kutlovac (Vratnik House of Culture) and Lejla Kreševljaković, PhD candidate in the field of community centers.


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The FTD® Orchid Rose™ Chair Décor takes any reception décor to a new level of sophistication. Pink Cymbidium Orchids and white and pink spray roses are arranged in an elegant manner with variegated ivy vines and smilax garland to be draped on the back of a standard chair, adding that extra special touch to your wedding day. Approx. 48 Inches Length
Buy the ftd® orchid rose™ chair décor w19-4672
Or contact the seller
in section "Wedding bouquets"
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Long before #MeToo became a global movement, Burke mobilized women around these two words. Her memoir opens in 2017, with the realization that the hashtag has taken off on Facebook, pushed by strangers with a different set of goals than she has worked for for years. “It can’t happen,” she said to a friend. “You all know that if these white women start using this hashtag, and it becomes popular, they’ll never believe that a black woman in her 40s from the Bronx built a movement for it. same purposes, using those exact words, for years now. To read “Unbound” is to believe it and understand how Burke used empathy and transparency to pave the way for change.
Iron, September 14 | Read our interview with Burke
“Peril”, by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa
In two previous books, “Fear” and “Rage,” Woodward probed the turmoil of the Trump presidency. Now he and Costa are focused on the transition from Trump’s White House to the Biden administration. They interviewed hundreds of people for this account, which covers the November election, the January 6 Capitol uprising, and the challenges Biden faced in the first months of his presidency.
Simon & Schuster, September 21 | Read our review
Abedin, a longtime political insider, has often been overshadowed by her connections with two politicians: Hillary Clinton, for whom she worked as a high-level assistant, and former Rep. Anthony Weiner, her ex-husband. “This journey has taken me through exhilarating milestones and devastating setbacks. I walked with both great pride and overwhelming shame, ”said Abedin. It’s a life she is “hugely grateful for and a story I can’t wait to share.”
Scribner, November 2 | Read our review | Read our take away book
This book builds on the Pulitzer Prize-winning project published in The New York Times Magazine, which seeks to place the “consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative,” and includes new essays, poems and works of fiction.
One World, November 16 | Read our review

domain: literature


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Welcome to the EGGhead Forum - a great place to visit and packed with tips and EGGspert advice! You can also join the conversation and get more information and amazing kamado recipes by following Big Green Egg at:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Youtube | Vimeo
Share your photos by tagging us and using the hashtag #EGGhead4Life.
In Atlanta? Come visit Big Green Egg headquarters, including our retail showroom, the History of the EGG Museum and Culinary Center
! 3786 DeKalb Technology Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30340.
A healthy photogenic meal
I can't seem to stay away from those pork tenderloins! Last night we decided to try the veggy mix on the egg and result was quite colorful. The loin was a little overdone but it all sure looked great. Tasted pretty good too!
Have a look at the link below and tell me what you think. Are the pics a good size? Is the type size correct? Are the photos the proper darkness/lightness for your screens. I work on a Mac and never get to see this stuff on PC's so I am hoping they work well for ya'll.
[ul][li]A Healthy yet tasty meal

domain: food


Landscapers Select GN434513L Plastic 9-Pattern Spray Nozzle
- Buy 25 for $6.10 each and save 27%
- Buy 100 for $6.04 each and save 28%
- Ergonomic grip
Garden hose nozzles Squeeze Grip yellow/black Thread front nozzle head. Plastic control switch regulates water flow. Locking clip allows continuous water flow.


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Nothing says Southern hospitality like a homemade pie. Join Brian Medford of Idlewild Biscuits and Bakes to create classic Southern pies from scratch. Learn how to make foolproof flaky pastry crust and seasonal inspired Southern pie fillings. Brian will lead you though the fundamentals of creating a three of his favorite traditional Southern pies. Students will leave with flaky pastry crust to turn their kitchen into a Southern Kitchen. Be sure to bring an apron and rolling pin (this is a hands on class).
Menu includes: Southern chess pie, a classic sour cherry pie, and a brightly flavored Shaker lemon Pie.
Class is limited to 10 students. Please note that class reservations are non-refundable.
Student comments from Brian Medford's classes include: "Brian is AMAZING.", "Brian is awesome!", and "more classes with Brian!".


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2022 is set to be a challenging year for sheep farmers, with input costs set to erode any potential margins to be made, according to Anne Kinsella of Teagasc.
Anne, who was speaking at the Teagasc 2022 Outlook Conference, said that on sheep farms, feed costs are expected to increase by 6%, fertiliser costs to increase by 120%, while expenditure on contract charges is expected to increase by 10%.
Anne said these combined overall are expected to see pasture and forage costs forecast to increase by up to 70% in 2022, and that these costs comprise 30% of the total costs on sheep enterprises and will result in total sheep costs rising by 14% in 2022.
She added: “This will impact hugely on sheep farms. Although the forecast is that output/ha will increase marginally by 2% relative to the levels estimated the previous year, our assessment is that, given the less positive outlook for lamb prices in 2022, it will not be sufficient to maintain margins which will be eroded by the higher input costs.
“The average gross margin earned is forecasted to decline by 15% to €634/ha, while the net margin/ha is expected to decrease by 62% to stand at €88/ha.
“Margins earned will be boosted by the receipt of payments from the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS).
“It is important to note that continental markets account for the majority of Irish lamb. And although economic disruptions from the pandemic continue to impact consumer demand, solid fundamentals will continue to support demand for Irish sheepmeat into 2022.”
Anne’s presentation was based on a lowland sheep system on farms with greater than 20 breeding ewes.

domain: finance


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Buzzing Bee Dog Costume
Reg Price: $???
If you want a suit that is brimming with cute, create some buzz in this adorable ensemble! The Buzzing Bee Dog Costume will have your pooch looking sticky sweet from head to feet! If your furry fellow is feeling a little mellow, prepare to dress them in stripes of black and yellow. These wispy wings and alluring antennae will boost the flower-finding power of your little honey bunch! To be sure, your bee-autiful four-legged friend will take flight in this fashionable delight!
- You”ll know you have arrived when the hum around the hive is buzzing with the news that your puppy looks so cute in their little bumble suit.
- Make sure your pup is ready for Halloween with this beautiful bee costume!
- She”ll be buzzing through Halloween with this outfit, which includes a one-piece suit with black and yellow stripes, attached wings, and an attached hood with antennae.
- Includes: jumpsuit.
Don”t be late to pollinate – take your friend for a walk on the wild side and get set to collect candy and compliments from passers-by.
Buzzing Bee Dog Costume Details:
|Color||On Costume”s Picture|

domain: pet


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Year-end Recital held at the Campbell Heritage Theatre
We are excited to introduce the AcroDance Program as part of our Workshop Series this season.
Dates: September 11th - October 17th
Times: Fridays 4:00-5:30pm
Workshop Details: The Acro Series is for dancers ages 8+ who are interested in improving their dance and Acro skills. The classes will work on improving strength, flexibility, and agility while teaching specific tricks which may be incorporated into the choreography of dance routines. All material will follow the Acrobatic Arts Syllabus and be taught in a safe environment.
Contact us for more details.


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Affordability is the ratio of the ongoing financing costs of a property to the borrower’s income. … However, there are some banks who will lend on mortgages where the property expenses do account for more than one-third of gross income.
- 1 How do mortgage lenders check affordability?
- 2 How do you pass the affordability test?
- 3 Are mortgages done on affordability?
- 4 What happens if you fail affordability?
- 5 How many times my salary can I borrow on a mortgage?
- 6 Is an affordability check the same as a credit check?
- 7 What mortgage can I afford on 40k?
- 8 How can I improve my affordability score?
- 9 Can I get mortgage with poor credit rating?
- 10 Can I get a mortgage 5 times my salary?
- 11 What mortgage can I afford on 70k?
- 12 How much do I need to earn to get a mortgage of 150 000 UK?
- 13 Can I remortgage on a low income?
- 14 Can you renew your mortgage without a job?
- 15 What is a rent affordability check?
- 16 Who will lend 5 times salary?
How do mortgage lenders check affordability?
Generally, in order to complete an affordability assessment, a lender will review how much you earn (your income) and how much you spend on bills and other regular payments (your committed expenditure). This is the same whether it’s a joint or sole application.
How do you pass the affordability test?
- Pay Off Your Debts.
- Rein in Your Spending for Now.
- Make sure You have Registered to Vote.
- Make sure You Pay all Your Bills on Time.
- Don’t Apply for a Loan in the Run-Up to Your Application.
- Beat Your Loan-To-Value (LTV) Band.
- Get Your Paperwork Out in Advance.
Are mortgages done on affordability?
When you’re looking to buy a house, whether as a first-time buyer or looking to move from your existing property, the first thing you need to establish is how much you can borrow for a mortgage. A mortgage lender will work this out by carrying out a thorough affordability assessment.
What happens if you fail affordability?
Affordability If you fail their affordability checks, your application is likely to be refused. Lenders may see it as too risky to approve, from their perspective. … In the worst-case scenario, falling behind with payments could put your home at risk of repossession.
How many times my salary can I borrow on a mortgage?
Most mortgage lenders use an income multiple of 4-4.5 times your salary, some offer a 5 times salary mortgage and a few will use 6 times salary, under the right circumstances to work out how much mortgage you can afford.
Is an affordability check the same as a credit check?
Affordability looks at whether you’re able to afford a loan and Creditworthiness assesses how likely you are to actually pay it. … Checking your Credit Report for yourself allows you to see the exact information that will be used by lenders when they work out your Creditworthiness.
What mortgage can I afford on 40k?
Take a homebuyer who makes $40,000 a year. The maximum amount for monthly mortgage-related payments at 28% of gross income is $933. ($40,000 times 0.28 equals $11,200, and $11,200 divided by 12 months equals $933.33.)
How can I improve my affordability score?
The higher an applicant’s ‘discretionary spend’ (i.e. the amount left after your monthly expenses have been deducted from your take home pay) the better your affordability score.
Can I get mortgage with poor credit rating?
It’s possible to get a mortgage with bad credit, although you’ll probably pay higher interest rates and you may need to come up with a larger deposit. There are mortgages designed for people with poor credit, and some lenders specialise in offering these.
Can I get a mortgage 5 times my salary?
Yes. While it’s true that most mortgage lenders cap the amount you can borrow based on 4.5 times your income, there are a smaller number of mortgage providers out there who are willing to stretch to five times your salary. These lenders aren’t always easy to find, so it’s recommended that you use a mortgage broker.
What mortgage can I afford on 70k?
According to Brown, you should spend between 28% to 36% of your take-home income on your housing payment. If you make $70,000 a year, your monthly take-home pay, including tax deductions, will be approximately $4,328.
How much do I need to earn to get a mortgage of 150 000 UK?
So, to borrow £150,000, at most lenders the combined salary of everyone who is going on the mortgage would need to be £37,500. Some lenders will accept £30,000, and a minority of them will offer you a loan of this amount if you earn £25,000.
Can I remortgage on a low income?
Is it Possible to Remortgage with a Low Income? Salaries do change over time, and yes, you can secure remortgage lending even on a low income. If a lender has rejected you as you don’t meet their income requirements or affordability criteria, give the Revolution team a call on 0330 304 3040.
Can you renew your mortgage without a job?
In most cases if you have been making your regular mortgage payments in full and on time, you should not have trouble with your mortgage renewal with your current lender even if you are unemployed. Your current lender is unlikely to reconfirm the details of your employment when your mortgage comes up for renewal.
What is a rent affordability check?
The affordability calculation is designed to tell landlords whether a tenant’s income is high enough for them to take on the rent of the property. A tenant can fail an affordability calculation if their income is less than two and a half times the rental amount.
Who will lend 5 times salary?
Nationwide will allow people looking to get on the housing ladder to borrow 5.5 times their annual income, more than the 4.5 loan-to-income ratio most lenders offer. However, borrowers will need to take out one of the building society’s standard five or ten-year fixed rate mortgages in order to benefit.


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Justification of Red List category
With no reliable data on its population, range, trends and threats, the threat status of this species is difficult to determine. With so few records it could prove to be on the precipice of extinction (thus listed as Critically Endangered) or it could prove common in areas not yet explored (thus Least Concern). Consequently, it is listed as Data Deficient.
This species has only rarely been recorded (with no records since 2009; Allen ). It may therefore be genuinely very rare, or it could be that the region and habitat it occupies remains to be extensively searched. Consequently, even qualitative estimations of its abundance are considered unreliable.
The population trend is of this species is wholly unknown due to there being nothing precisely known of its distribution, habitat requirements or biology. It may however be in decline because of human predation (BirdLife International 2001).
Turnix worcesteri is endemic to the island of Luzon in the Philippines, where it is known from just six localities. Virtually all records have derived from bird-catchers and are assumed to be intra-island migrants. There is a recent (January 2009) record of an individual photographed at Dalton Pass at a poultry market (Allen 2009). The limited available evidence suggests that it breeds somewhere in northern Luzon in April-June and that at least some birds disperse southwards in the period July-March. Thus its true range (and habitat) remain obscure. It appears to be rare; however, buttonquails are a notoriously cryptic and unobtrusive family of birds, and the species could conceivably occur in reasonable numbers somewhere. If it does inhabit grasslands, it cannot be assumed that increases in this habitat on Luzon have benefited the species, which may prove to have specific ecological requirements not met by the creation of pastures or cropland through forest clearance.
It may be confined to grasslands in the highlands of the Cordillera Central, although records are from 150-1,250 m, and the possibility that it frequents forested (non-grassland) habitats cannot be discounted. It has been stated that it inhabits tall grass under pine trees (per Allen 2009), although this requires verification.
Hunting evidently poses a threat (e.g. at the migratory funnel and bird-catching area of Dalton Pass, Nueva Vizcaya and in forest preserves [Scheffers et al. 2012]), but the impact of this on its population cannot currently be gauged.
Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.
Text account compilers
Allen, D., Taylor, J., Lowen, J., Benstead, P., North, A. & Symes, A.
BirdLife International (2023) Species factsheet: Turnix worcesteri. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/luzon-buttonquail-turnix-worcesteri on 30/11/2023.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2023) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org on 30/11/2023.


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Scientists have reported that Antarctica’s sea ice is at a record low level. That’s worrying because the sea ice is an important part of the Earth’s cooling system. It’s not yet clear if the low sea ice level is temporary, or part of a changing climate pattern.
Antarctica is a great, icy land mass, surrounded by the huge Southern Ocean. The ice in Antarctica doesn’t just cover the land. There’s also a massive area of sea ice, which floats on the ocean’s surface.
Every year, the sea ice at the South Pole goes through a cycle of melting and freezing. In the summer, the huge masses of sea ice melt to their smallest point. Over the colder winter months, the sea ice grows and grows until it covers an incredibly wide area. Usually, the sea ice covers the greatest area (its “maximum extent”) around September 23, as winter ends at the South Pole.
Scientists have been measuring the area of the sea ice in Antarctica since 1979. For most of this time, Antarctica has seemed to be almost unaffected by the changing weather conditions experienced in other parts of the globe. In fact, until recent years, Antartica’s sea ice area mainly set records for growing.
That began to change around 2016. Now, for several years, the area of Antartica’s sea ice has been shrinking.
This year, the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) reports that Antartica’s sea ice reached its maximum extent on September 10 – almost two weeks earlier than normal. And the sea ice was at a new record low – not just by a little bit, but by a lot.
The last time Antartica’s low sea ice set a record at the end of winter was in 1986. And this year, there’s about 398,000 square miles (1.03 million square kilometers) less sea ice than in 1986. It’s hard to picture that large an area, but it’s roughly 1.5 times the size of the US state of Texas, or 1.6 times the size of France.
Scientists are still trying to understand what is driving the change in Antarctica. One likely cause for the change is the rising temperatures of the world’s oceans. Ted Scambos, a research scientist at the University of Colorado, says Antarctica’s ice levels have always changed some, but the sharp loss this year is “pointing towards warmer ocean conditions around the continent.”
The new low record has scientists worried. The sea ice is important, because it helps cool the planet. When it’s frozen, sea ice reflects sunlight back out into space. But when the sea ice melts, the water left behind is darker, and absorbs more heat. The concern is that the melting sea ice could start a cycle that might cause even more ice to melt.
Scientists are working hard to better understand Antarctica. They don’t know yet if this is just a short-term problem, or if it’s part of a long-term shift toward less sea ice in Antarctica.
Did You Know…?
The ice loss problems in Antarctica are fairly recent, but the same is not true at the North Pole, where the low level of sea ice has been a concern for years. But the current situation is now similar in both places. The amount of sea ice in the Arctic at the end of this summer was the sixth lowest ever recorded.
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I’m in the mood for a good book and, although Chicken Soup feels like something I’d like to buy and add to my home library, here’s a poem I thought I’d share with you. It’s rather profound.
I have been going through my archives and noticed that one of the most popular blog posts is the book review is on Mbugua Mumbi’s Vitamins for Success. One of my best parts of the book is Ayn Rand’s poem Atlas Shrugged titled The Best Within You. I hope that this poem will also inspire you as you go into the weekend.
In the name of the best within you, do not sacrifice this world to those who are its worst.
In the name of the values that keep you alive, do not let your vision of man be distorted by the ugly, cowardly, the mindless in those who have never achieved the title.
Do not lose your knowledge that man’s proper estate is an upright posture, an intransigent mind and a step that travels the unlimited roads.
Do not let your fire go out…
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