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To the ancient Egyptians, dance was an essential part of their culture. People from every social class were exposed to music and dancing. The laborers worked in rhythmic motion to the sounds of songs and percussion, and street dancers entertained passers by. Dance troupes were available for hire to perform at dinner parties, banquets, lodging houses, and even religious temples. Some women from wealthy harems were trained in music and dance. However, no well-bred Egyptian would consider dancing in public, because that was the privilege of the lower classes. Wealthy Egyptians kept slaves to entertain at their banquets, and offer pleasant diversion to their owners. The same idea is reported by those study middle eastern countries today: the more responsibility a woman has, such as being the female head of household, the less often she will dance, even in private. In fact, she might only dance on some significant occasion, like the betrothal of a son or daughter, to make the agreement official. Egypt is considered by many modern dancers to be the source of belly dance.
Elizabeth 'Artemis' Mourat, performer and dance-scholar has categorized these dances into six types: religious dances, non-religious festival dances, banquet dances, harem dances, combat dances, and street dances. Although the Egyptians also had temple dancers, we are primarily concerned with the last three. Little information exists on the wandering street dancers. However, an interesting legend has come to us about the birth of the kings of the Fifth Dynasty. The story tells how the god Ra was about to become the father of triplets. The mother, Ruditdidit as the wife of Rausir who was a priest of Ra. Rausir did not know that the father of the children was his beloved Ra. When Ruditdidit felt labor pains, Ra sent four goddesses (Isis, Nephthys, Maskhonuit, and Hiquit) and the god Khnumu to help her. In order to arrive unrecognized, the goddesses transformed themselves into street musicians and dancers. The god Khunumu assumed the role of their porter. When the group arrived, they were informed that the lady of the house was suffering the pangs of childbirth, they replied, "let us in, for lo, we are skilled in midwifery."
This story raises an interesting question. Did street dancers actually have a sideline as midwives, so that it would be plausible for this story to have occurred? And was this a logical development from the old association of the dance with fertility cults? There is no way to know, but it is possible. These dancers were evidentally accustomed to arriving unannounced and conducting a regular circuit of performances. Edward Lane, who visited Egypt in the 19th century, described the procedure for the ritual of facial tattooing of female children in Egypt, and added that this was usually done by itinerant Gypsy women. His book of 1860 illustrated face, hand, and feet tatoos of ancient design. Like the practice of applying henna designs to the bride and bridegroom, tattooing also has magical-protective meaning for tribal peoples.
Nudity was very much a part of Egyptian society. In the Old Kingdom and Middle Kingdom, women frequently wore very short skirts and danced bare breasted. They often danced quite nude, except for the hip belts and perhaps jewelry. Henna was used to stain the hands and nails for beauty, and for its medicinal and magical properties. This custom has also survived: The traditional Turkish wedding ceremony still contains a Henna ceremony for the new bride the night before the wedding.
The women of the harem were known as the "adorned ones". They were there to please and delight their master. Harem women and society ladies were instructed by choirmasters and mistresses of dance as part of their education. They also learned to play the lute, the lyre, the harp and, most importantly the sistra and menits which were religious instruments. Banquet and harem dances were certainly more refined and sophisticated than the street dances. They featured solos, pas de deux, pas de trois and group dances. That is to say, they created choreography instead of just improvising the dance as they went along. There was a definitive system for choreographic notation. These steps and gestures had names such as "the calf, the successful-capture-in-the-boat, the leading-along-of-an-animal, the fair-capture-of-the-beauty, the taking-of-the-gold and the colonade."
Fortunately for modern researchers, the acrobatic dances and pair dances of ancient Egypt were described by a young man of Syracuse, who visited Memphis at the end of the fourth century B.C. He wrote the following letter describing the entertainment provided at a private banquet. Irena Lexova provides the following translation from the German version by Fritz Wegge:
"Suddenly they disappeared and in their place came forward a group of dancers who jumped about in all directions, gathered together again, climbed one on top of the other with an incredible dexterity, mounting on the shoulders and the heads, forming pyramids, reaching to the ceiling of the hall, then descended suddenly one after the other to perform new jumps and admirable 'saltomortales'. Being in constant motion, now they danced on their hands, now they gathered in pairs, one turning his head down between the legs of his mate, then they lifted themselves mutually and returned to the original position, each of them alternatively being lifted and upon falling lifted his partner up."
He then describes a man and woman dancing with "clappers", i.e. wooden castanets:
"Now I caught sight of a troupe of musicians, coming with various musical instruments in their hands, in which I recognized harps, guitars, lyres, simple and double pipes, tambourines and cymbals. We were overwhelmed constantly by songs which were most cordially applauded by the audience. Then, at a given sign, the middle of the hall was taken by a man and a girl dancer, who were provided with clappers. These were made out of two small pieces of wood round and concave, located in the palms, and gave rhythm to the dancing steps when suddenly knocked together. These two dancers danced separately or together in harmonious configurations, mixed with pirouettes, soon parting and again approaching each other, the young dancer running after his mate and following her with expressions of tender desire, while she fled from him constantly, rotating and pirouetting, as if refusing his endeavors after amorous approach. This performance was done lightly and energetically in harmonious postures, and seemed to me to exceedingly entertaining."
Lexova further notes that a number of these castanets have been preserved in the collection of the Berlin museum, as noted by Curt Sachs in his German treatise on the musical instruments of the Egyptians. They are described as being of small size, so that they "can be seized by the hand in such a way that on the picture one cannot perceive them." Lexova further theorizes that in pictures where the dancer's hand is formed into a fist, it is likely holding castanets. The other rhythm instruments which gave great freedom of movement were true clappers, i.e. short wood, bone or ivory sticks, of various shapes and sizes. Dancers of the New Kingdom are shown using both tambourines and castanets in dance.
Yet another interesting prop used by the dancers was a short curved stick, or cane, carved with little gazelle heads. Given the popularity of various rhythm instruments, including rattles, Lexova states that these were probably canes with rattles on the end. Since that modern Egyptian dancers also do a "cane dance", this is a very interesting connection to ancient Egyptian culture.
From her study of tomb drawings, Lexova identifies one step as being the most fundamental of Egyptian steps: one the modern belly dancer would call a "down". A "down" step is the opposite of an "up", that is, on a "down" the hip goes down when the foot goes down. This is much harder to do, and less natural than an "up", when the hip lifts as one steps. Furthermore, these Egyptian "downs", are emphasized by the action of the foot which is not simply placed flat, but first places the toes and then the heel on the ground. The "down" is still a very typically "Egyptian" step.
In Egyptian dance, the feet were always bare, with traveling steps based on natural movements. The dancers were familiar with a wide range of movements: all types of jumps, hops and ballet-style pirouettes. They used simple walking, vigorous walking, stamping, running, short hops, or leaping. They did turns of 180 degrees. The hands were usually soft, relaxed and open. But there were also movements where the fist was clenched, or the palms were rigid and geometrical. Irena Lexova described the body movements as follows: "the movements of the trunk may be classified from the technical point of view into forward inclines, reclines, sideways inclines, hip, belt, waist and shoulder circulation. Dancers can combine these movements and execute them whilst keeping their spines stiff or accompany them by bending the spine forwards or backwards. Having regard to the manner of execution, one could distinguish movements performed at a normal speed from swings and retarded movements." In other words, the early Egyptian dances had a much larger range of movement that allowed by traditional "belly dance".
But as the Egyptian civilization grew it and became more sophisticated, and was influenced by other cultures. They felt the effects of Phoenicia, Syria, Palestine, Nubia, the Sudan, Ethiopia and the Bedouins. Foreign customs and wealth poured into Egypt. Around 1500 B.C. the Egyptians brought the previously mentioned Bayaderes, who were the elegant temple dancers of India. As an ancient text describes, the dances were becoming less like marches and more elegant: "the lines flow softly and pleasantly; nowhere do they bend sharply or break; and even where the mood is impetuous and impassioned, the movement remains close."
After the New Kingdom there were several invasions: the Libyans, the Sudanese, the Assyrians, and the Persians all influenced Egypt. In 30 B.C. Egypt became a Roman province. Martial, a Roman writer from the last half of the first century A.D., mentioned that dancers from the Nile were sent to Rome. Egyptian culture, whose development had been influenced by its neighbors, was also taken abroad to influence the new Roman Empire.
Perhaps one of the oldest records of a dance contract can be found in the archives of Greek papyri purchased by Cornell University. The following contract, recorded in koine (the Greek used in the Hellenistic period), dates from 206 A.D.:
"To Isadora, castanet dancer from Artemisia of the village of Philadelphia. I wish to engage you with two other castanet dancers to perform at the festival at my house for six days beginning with the 24th of the month of Payni [May 26-June 24] according to the old calendar, you receive as pay 36 drachmas for each day and for the entire period four artabas of barley and 20 pairs of bread loaves and whatsoever garments or gold ornaments you may bring down, we will guard these safely; and we will furnish you with two donkeys when you come down to us and a like number when you go back to the city. Year 14 of Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax and Marcus Aurelius Antonius Pius, Augusti, and Publicus Septimus Geta Caesar Augustus, Payni 16."
[fig 1] The dancer Isadora is referred to specifically as a "krotalistria", whereas the normal term for a dancer in Greek is "orchestria". Therefore, Isadora was a specialist in castanet dancing. (Fig 1 shows one type of "castanet dancer"). She was furnished with transportation and insured against lost of her costumes and props. Had she been a slave, she would not have been allowed to negotiate her own contracts. Thus, Isadora was also a free woman, and agreed to bring two other dancers with her. She could have had other dancers in her troupe as well. Given that the standard pay for bricklayers of the same era was about 2-1/2 drachmas per day, and a skilled weaver about 7-1/2 drachmas a day, the pay of 36 drachmas a day for the dancers was substantially higher. Saretta, who provided this analysis, added that there were approximately 14 other contracts in this period for entertainers who performed in the cities of the Empire.
Curt Sachs claims that Egyptian castanets existed in two forms: First, one shaped like a small wooden boot, cut in half lengthwise and grooved in the leg part, while the tapering foot part served as a handle. The second form was shaped more nearly like the modern Spanish castanuelas; but it was less flat and looked more like the chestnut (castana), for which it was probably named. Sachs adds that neither form is properly Egyptian. The best ones were Greek, and could have come originally from Phoenicia. The actual instruments found in Egypt, in the New Kingdom era, also include a small pair of finger cymbals with an upraised boss in the center, connected by the aforementioned short string. These are virtually identical to a pair found in Pompeii, c. 50 A.D., which are connected by a short chain. Whether the dancers used connected finger cymbals or a more rounded "castanet", the tradition of castanet dancers was widespread throughout the ancient world.
The well-known Ghawazee of Egypt (and the Ouled Nail of North Africa), are unfortunately not documented until the time that European foreigners start to travel in the middle east and write about the scandalous and exotic dancers of Egypt. The reason is likely to be the same that there is no written record of the dancing boys and girls of Istanbul; it simply was not respectable, and/or important enough for anyone to write about in a society where only the most elite and most respectable knew how to write. Therefore, we will discuss what these foreigners found when they wrote about the Ghawazee, even though none of it dates to before the 1600's. From the previous history of Egyptian culture, it is readily apparent that indeed, there were professional dancers from earliest times, and that dance was a part of everyday life. What these early itinerant dancers might have worn, or been called, we have no record of. So we will continue the story as seen by outsiders.
In 1798 the first organized expedition to Egypt was undertaken by a European power: Napoleon landed there seeking an alternative route to India. In Cairo, his soldiers encountered the Ghawazee, otherwise known as banat el beled. The Ghawazee (which meant "invaders of the heart"), were gypsies. They were found in settlements along the lower Nile and also in Cairo, where they quickly discovered a new source of revenue - the French soldiers. Bonaparte's Generals likened them to a pestilence and suggested that they be drowned if they were found loitering. In fact, the writer Auriant tells about four hundred of the Ghawazee who were captured and decapitated, after which their bodies were bundled into sacks and thrown into the Nile. General Billier then suggested to the government that they should try to find proper work for the Ghawazee. On a more practical level, the French later set up licensed brothels in the city. Not only could the women be checked by doctors, they could be taxed.
The attitude of the Egyptians themselves toward the dancers was much different. During the reign of Haroun Al Rashid in Egypt in the ninth century, dancers outnumbered singers to such an extent that it was decided to train some of them more fully in the musical arts. These became known as Almeh (from Alemah, Arabic for learned women) The Almeh were not seen by Napoleon's army, because they were so disgusted with the foreigners that they withdrew from the city and did not return until Napoleon left. Except for special occasions it was considered improper to have Ghawazee inside the house, which was the province of the more respectable Almeh. The Almeh were often part of private harems, and taught the arts of love through their sensuous dances.
[fig 2] Although these early foreigners found the Ghawazee quite obscene, their pictures show women wearing fitted tunics with a low cut bodice, large full skirts, and bulky scarfs around their hips (fig 2). The tunic, cut low around the bodice appears to have derived from the Persian/Turkish tunics as seen on the ladies of the Ottoman Court. Another distinctive feature associated with the Ghawazee are the elbow-length sleeves with a decorative piece of material off the elbow; these are quite logically derived from the Persian coat, which had detachable sleeves, and sleeves which were so long as to be impractical and purely decorative. They are also shown wearing fitted jackets which go halfway down over their hips. Yet another version is the sheer blouse, with small fitted vest, and long full skirt starting at the hips (fig 12). A very full pair of Turkish "hareem" pants might also been seen instead of the skirt.
[fig 12] There exists in Egypt today a family with claim to be the true descendants of the "Ghawazee". They were generally said to have been centered in Esna, Qena, or Luxor. The modern-day descendants live in Luxor, and are known are the Banat Mazin, or the Mazin family. The Egyptian National Folkloric group used research done with this family to choreograph "Ghawazee" dances for the new folkloric tradition. Interestingly, the Mazin dancers speak of their dance as "raqs sha'abi", or folk dance, rather than "raqs sharqi" or belly dancing. "They said that oriental dancers moved around more, and had a more varied repertoire, especially of arm movements. Oriental dancers performed to "oriental" music with the classic middle eastern instruments, a taqsiym (slow/arrhythmic) section; while the proper music of the Ghawazee was folk music on the mizmar and tabla baladi, or perhaps the rebabi (a type of string instrument). Oriental dancers wore revealing costumes of delicate, gauzy materials; Ghawazi wore heavier, more complicated outfits which, they said, did not allow as much freedom of movement" (fig. 12)
As to the dance style of these 19th century Ghawazee, those who see Edward Lane's time-stopped, very elegantly engraved dancing ladies forget that he intended nothing of the kind! Quamar notes that, a 19th century engraver, noted that their dances had "little of elegance; it's chief peculiarity being a very rapid vibrating motion of the hips, from side to side". Qamar noted that the chief movement of the Ghawazee dance was a side-to-side shimmy performed extensively to a very fast 4/4 beat, and was the basic movement to which the dancers returned again and again. The dancers not only dance, they also sing, tell jokes, and generally interact with the audience. This aspect of their performance would have been lost to foreigners, who did not understand the language.
[fig 5][fig 4] Another type of dance associated with Egyptian folkloric dance is the men's cane dance, or stick dance, shown in fig. 5. The Tahtib is the oldest form of Egyptian martial art to have survived, intact, from remote antiquity according to Magda Saleh. Egypt's first theatricalizer of folk dance, Mahmoud Reda, reports viewing representations of this form depicted on the great monuments and tombs in Luxor (fig 4). The long stick used in the Tahtib in Egypt - thick and solid bamboo staff - is know as Asa or Asaya, shoum or Nabboot. As Edward Lane reported: "The Nebboot is a formidable weapon and is often seen in the Egyptian peasant: he usually carries it on a journey; particularly when he travels by night." The tahtib is a favorite at any festive occasions, such as weddings, welcoming parties, and harvest festivals. It is also practiced by the men as a pastime and used as a means of self-defense.
[fig 3] [fig 6] It has also become the custom for female dancers to dance with a cane, in a much more delicate fashion, (see fig. 3 & 6) This may include balancing the cane, holding the cane and shimmying, and swinging the cane about at above and below head level. It has been suggested that the women's cane dance is a "parody" or "comedy" of the men's dance. The ghawazee cane dance witnessed by Qamar did include, however, a very interesting and distinctive step. It is a step-hop, (fig 6) which the National Folkloric group calls the "tawalli" step. The step is basically a hop on one foot, and a lifting of the other leg with the thigh horizontal to the floor at hip level, and the leg bent downward at the knee. In addition to being a very folkloric move, it also bears great similarity to the hop-step shown in pictures of Turkish dancing boys and girls.
Modern belly dancers also perform sword dances, in the sense of sword balancing. Eva Cernik, a professional dancer who travels regularly to Egypt and Turkey, tells this anecdote about sword dancing: "There was a time in Egyptian history when dancers were sold as slaves into the courts, or as property of the wealthy. Some acclimated well, but some retained their independence in a very special way. They took to dancing with swords normally used in battle. They did not wave them around in fighting mode, as the men did, but rather they delicately balanced them on their heads, dancing undaunted, expressing themselves beneath the sword. 'You control my life, you hold the sword over my head, but you do not control my spirit.'" Whether this story is true or not, it is a wonderful explanation.


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I have been given an Ithaca Featherlite in pretty rough condition. The barrell and receiver have a lot of rust. I can work the action, but the safety/trigger is frozen.
If the gun can be salvaged, I'd like to do the job myself.
What steps should I take?
Any advice on freeing the internal parts? What kind of oil should I use?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell has signed SB 949, "An Act Concerning Mortgage Practices." The bill, among other things, establishes residential mortgage fraud as a criminal offense in Connecticut. The bill also amends the definition of "non-prime home loans" and prohibits or restricts a lender from offering non-prime home loans with certain terms and conditions (i.e., negative amortization, default rate increases, excessive late fees and acceleration clauses).
Under SB 949, a high-cost home loan cannot provide for an increase in the interest rate after default or provide for default charges in excess of five percent of the amount in default. The bill becomes effective Oct. 1, 2009.
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text:
They end up building products based on gut feelings instead of data and user research. These products probably boast an overwhelming number of features users don't need or understand. In short, time and money are wasted.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Building a product that users care about requires a plan, a methodology, and a process. When you work on a complex, costly project such as the development of an app, establishing a product scope is crucial.
Essentially, product scope is the sum of all the features and characteristics of a product or service. How it will look, how it will work, and what it will offer to users.
3 Steps to Define a Product Scope
- Lay the foundations of your product
- Define and prioritize product features
- Define the minimum viable product (MVP)
Step 1: Lay the Foundations of Your Product
Before you start defining the functionalities of your app, you need to gather the information that will lay the foundation for your digital product.
Understand Your Users
The first big thing you need to do is to identify who your users are and what they need.
A fundamental part of creating a successful product is to realize that you are not the user of your product. To solve your users' problems, you have to step up from yourself and try to understand how they feel, what are their goals, and how they behave.
One great tool to do that is to create user personas. Personas are fictional characters you create to represent the different types of users that will use your product or service. It’s an excellent resource to understand your customers' needs and expectations.
What's more, user personas are useful throughout the entire product development process: from deciding which features to include in a prototype, to evaluating the end product.
To create a persona, you will need to gather information about your users. One of the best ways to do so is to run user interviews.
Identify Your Product's Value Proposition
A value proposition is your product's promise to customers. You can think of it as your company's elevator pitch.
It is a clear statement that:
- Explains how your product solves users' problems and how it satisfies their needs.
- Defines the specific benefits it delivers.
- Tells the customers why they should buy from you and not from the competition.
Establishing your product's value proposition at the early stages will help you guide critical design and development decisions, such as feature prioritization and product roadmap.
One example of a company that offers an excellent value proposition is Uber.
It conveys the simplicity and the benefits of the service, and explains why Uber is better than other transportation options:
- One tap and a car comes directly to you
- Your driver knows exactly where to go
- Payment is completely cashless
This tells users upfront what type of experience they’ll get if they choose them.
Step 2: Define and Prioritize Features
Now it's time to define and prioritize the features for your product. Consider your user personas and your product's value proposition.
Identify Key Functionalities
Recognizing what features your product should have is, essentially, defining what problems will your product solve and what benefits will it bring to users.
One great way to identify key features is through brainstorming sessions. In his book Solving Product Design Exercises, Artiom Dashinsky describes an excellent framework for brainstorming product features called the 5W1H method.
This technique helps teams to make critical design and development decisions and answer six fundamental questions about the product:
- WHO will be the user?
- WHAT is the feature?
- WHERE will this feature be used?
- WHEN will it be used?
- WHY do we need this feature?
- HOW will this feature be used?
Listing product features of the product will help you determine which should be prioritized.
Prioritizing Features Based on Need
A product shouldn't try to solve all the user's problems. That's why you must prioritize your product's features to offer maximum value,
The core idea is to focus only on those features that serve the mission of satisfying the users' needs; functionalities your product must have to fulfill its fundamental purpose.
The features that don't suit that goal should be cut, not necessarily forever but at least from the first version of your product.
It's better to have an app with a few polished, functional features than an overly complicated product that does things that nobody asked for.
However, with so many stakeholders involved in one product release, it can be challenging to know where you should begin.
One of the most effective ways to prioritize features is using a lean prioritization matrix.
In this matrix, think about the features you brainstormed and then categorize them based on the value they’ll add to the product and amount of effort they will require.
Quick wins are features that are high value, low effort.
Big bets are features that are high value, high effort.
Maybes are low value, low effort.
Time sinks are low value, high effort, and should be cut for good.
This tool allows you to compare features considering the impact they will have on the user's experience or your business, and the efforts they'll require for your team.
Step 3: Define the Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
After you lay the foundations for your product, understand the needs your product will address, brainstorm the product’s features, and prioritize them based on value and effort, you’re ready to define a minimum viable product (MVP) and all the functionalities that it will include.
An MVP is a product with enough features to attract early-adopter customers and validate a product idea early in the development cycle. It also helps the teams receive user feedback to iterate and improve the product.
The features you don't include in the MVP, for example, those you categorized as big bets or maybes in the lean prioritization matrix, will be added in the further versions of the product. That's why you also want to create a product roadmap for your app.
A product roadmap is a long-term development plan that gives all stakeholders the information they need to coordinate development tasks. It's a clear way to represent the evolution of a product throughout its different versions.
This tool can be critical to the success of a business since it provides predictability to the development process and allows teams to allocate resources and coordinate efforts.
Defining a Product’s Scope Requires Critical Thinking and Multiple Iterations
Defining a product scope is setting clear rules on how to face the development of your app to meet users' needs.
Establishing the right scope from the beginning is critical to ensure that your product is going in the right direction to fulfill your business goals and your users' expectations.
It's also a necessary step if you want to keep a straightforward process with an efficient cost and time management.
At Bixlabs, we help top-tier startups build successful digital products for mobile and web. We work with an integrated, resource-efficient process that ranges from validating hypothesis, all the way through launching.

domain: design


ROME - Plans have been revealed for a new, remote-controlled retractable floor system at the Colosseum in Rome, which will feature Accoya wood.
The floor, proposed by engineering firm Milan Ingegneria and recently approved by the Italian government, will replace the arena's original floor, which was removed in the 1800s.
Photo: Milan Ingegneria
The goal of the new floor is to restore to the public the same vision that was had in ancient times.
"The complex underground system under the wooden pavement, thanks to hatches, hoists, and mobile types of machinery, allowed men, beasts, and props to be brought up to the arena floor," said Colosseum director Alfonsina Russo.
Visitors will be able to stand in the center of the arena.
Sustainability is a focus. The floor will be made of carbon fiber slats finished in Accoya wood. Produced by Accsys Technologies, Accoya wood is produced through a wood acetylation process that modifies the wood to make it more stable and more impervious to moisture, fungi or insects.
Some of the slats will rotate so as to send natural light into the undergoing structures, said Russo.
The floor will also feature a rainwater collection system, which will supply water to nearby public bathrooms.
The $22 million project is set to be complete by 2023.
Before the COVID pandemic, the Colosseum was one of Italy's most visited attractions - pulling in around 7 million visitors annually.
Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.


text:
Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales said a replacement would be announced "soon".
"The negotiations have occurred without any information to the Spanish FA and we were informed just five minutes before the press release".
The Spanish FA president and former Hamilton Academical defender Luis Rubiales explaining the decision to terminate Lopetegui's contract.
"We are left in a complicated situation", Rubiales said. Maybe this is tough now, but in the end it will make us stronger.
The announcement initially claimed that the 51-year-old would take the reins at Santiago Bernabeu after the conclusion of the tournament, but La Roja have acted now after making the announcement at a press conference in Krasnodar.
"There's a lot to do".More news: Farrah Abraham arrested at Beverly Hills Hotel
The Spanish giants have been on the hunt for a new manager ever since Zidane surprisingly stepped down last month, just days after winning his third consecutive Champions League trophy. The Spanish team is the team of all Spain.
Lopetegui was appointed Spain's coach in July 2016 and never tasted defeat in the job, leading the team through 20 unbeaten games ahead of the World Cup.
Spain named Fernando Hierro as its World Cup coach later Wednesday.
"Many of the staff are still with us and we've watched videos about the upcoming match, so we have to be intelligent and coherent".
A star midfielder for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, he has also coached Roma, Celta Vigo and returned to the Nou Camp as head coach. I know it's a very hard situation, I know there's going to be criticism whatever I do, but the values of the RFEF are set by the RFEF itself.
"The circumstances are what they are and from now on I accept the responsibility bravely, it can't be any other way".
Spain's first game at the Russian Federation 2018 World Cup is against neighbours Portugal on Friday. I won't judge a club on how they act but, until a few minutes before, we were kept in the dark.


text:
What is a great age gap between two people? Era gaps in a relationship happen to be inevitable. https://mailorderconsultant.com/latin/ If two people enter into a committed romantic relationship and then the relationship reduces, then you will have a difference in how the couple sees themselves. It’s important to find this difference and sort things out. In turn, this will likely make the relationship stronger.
Grow older difference romantic relationships can be extremely rewarding, both meant for the individuals involved and for the folks around them who also love them. While age could possibly be ‘only a number, ‘ several issues formulate age variations. That is not mean that age difference relations will be doomed, nonetheless they might take more effort. You need to talk about problems and sort out them whenever they come up.
Most difficulties with age gap human relationships come from much more both lovers. Often , the condition lies with the partner that’s older. He or she is the one who have brings up the main topic of age tastes. Perhaps the person comes first, and frequently that’s the circumstance. That’s why you should try to talk and pay attention carefully when your partner introduces age tastes.
Other difficulties with age gap interactions come from the people involved. One of the main challenges is having similar passions and preferences. Though a large number of people might find their lovers attractive, now there might be serious challenges if the partners share different interests. This may cause superb stress for the relationship, particularly if there’s a severe amount of intimacy involved. These types of concerns can easily be solved if both equally partners may honestly go over what they feel would deliver enjoyment to the other person.
Of course , era isn’t the only factor that plays in this type of marriage. One of the most prevalent reasons is usually religious philosophy. Some couples simply tend to marry people of the same religion. This creates a a number of sense of uniformity and reduces some of the variations in beliefs and lifestyles. Nevertheless , the younger partner might have a slightly different thought of what a faith based community genuine, which can bring about great clashes in the marriage.
No matter what the factors are, couples who have get older differences should face them head on trying to work through them. It’s not easy to do so, specifically if you know how to start. Fortunately, if you ask the perfect questions, it is possible to find strategies to age distinctions that carry both parties better together. Marriage helps experts understand these strains, and offer much better help with these issues than simply saying “I guess you’re here both right. ”

domain: psychology


text:
Better late than never: German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is planning to make a statement this week on his office’s handling of the criminal sect Colonia Dignidad, a German settlement located in a huge compound in Chile. From 1961 on the group’s founder and leader Paul Schäfer was involved in drugging residents and the rape of children from the sect and the neighboring villages. After 1973, the Colonia collaborated with the Pinochet dictatorship to run a torture prison for opponents of the regime.
Steinmeier’s announcement raises high expectations. In 2010 the German foreign ministry set high standards with its historical work “The Ministry and the past. German diplomats in the Third Reich and in the Federal Republic” (Das Amt und die Vergangenheit. Deutsche Diplomaten im Dritten Reich und in der Bundesrepublik). At the instigation of the Foreign Minister at the time, Joschka Fischer, a commission of academics researched not only the role of the foreign ministry in the Nazi system, but also the continuity of personnel and ideology within the fledgling Federal Republic of Germany. I would have wished for one short extra chapter: German diplomacy during the Argentine and Chilean military dictatorships.
There would have been plenty of grounds for it. In February 1976, shortly before the military putsch, the German ambassador in Buenos Aires Jörg Kastl recommended that Germany “work together with the new regime” and later stressed Argentina’s importance as a “cornerstone of the expanded transatlantic security framework, a market and source of raw materials, home of many German settlers and German assets, and ever a true friend to our Volk”. Cold war mentality in its purest form: global communism as the enemy that must be fought by any means.
Around the same time, the Pinochet regime was more or less publicly torturing people at the national stadium in Santiago de Chile. In Argentina it was done in secret, but the abductions and torture, including of German citizens, after the military seized power were well known around the world – again, including here in Germany.
Yet German diplomats did scandalously little and even helped the military to spread their lies, as in the case of German woman Elisabeth Käsemann. Käsemann was tortured in the secret detention center El Vesubio and subsequently murdered. To cover it up the junta made it look like she had died in combat. The military placed weapons beside her body, and the bodies of other dead prisoners, to make them look like guerrilla fighters.
German diplomats visited the torture and rape colony Colonia Dignidad several times from the mid 1960s on. And yet they didn’t intervene, as they were obliged to do, until well into the 1980s, despite being familiar with the witness testimonies of escaped former residents and the reports on the torture from Amnesty International. The few people who managed to leave the colony got no help from the embassy; in fact, the embassy handed them back to the Colonia leadership, who brutally punished anyone who tried to flee.
Even after Hartmut Hopp, the sect’s doctor and Schäfer’s right-hand man, faced torture allegations before a human rights commission at the German parliament in 1988, the prosecutor’s office in Bonn didn’t feel the need to seriously examine the role played by the Germans in Chile.
In the meantime, prosecutors in Krefeld started investigations against Hopp after he dodged a sentence handed down to him in Chile. A court in Chile sentenced him to five years in prison for aiding and abetting the sexual abuse of minors but Hopp fled to Germany before serving the time.
But Germany’s role in the dictatorships in Chile and Argentina is not just a matter of failures on the part of the foreign ministry. Other entities also played a role. German industry made weapons and nuclear deals with the dictatorships. Mercedes Benz helped to “disappear” trade unionists who stood in their way. Meanwhile, the regime’s henchmen were given a red carpet welcome in Germany, and officers were provided with training in weapons techniques. Bigwigs from the CSU party gave their unwritten support to the dictatorships. And most of the German public looked the other way.
So, better late than never: a thorough investigation is needed into the actions of German diplomats, as well as the intelligence services and the defense ministry, during the dictatorships in Chile and Argentina. The victims must be compensated. And then there must be other consequences: disciplinary consequences, criminal proceedings, and where still possible, political consequences, in order to ensure that in future, human rights are respected in foreign politics. One final note: between 1974 and 1992 the German foreign ministry was led by Hans-Dietrich Genscher, who was recently honored in a German state ceremony.

domain: history


text:
The special meeting of the Permanent Secretaries of Ministries of Agriculture and Local Government and Development Working Group Leaders on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) National Agriculture Investment Plans ( NAIPs), on Country Post-Compact and Investment Plans Implementation, opened today 11 February 2014, at the African Union Commission Headquarters with a call for African leaders to place agricultural transformation at the top of their agendas.
Officially opening the three day meeting, Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture, H.E AtoTefera Derbew, said that without a successful agricultural transformation, it would be difficult to sustain agricultural growth.
“Agriculture transformation should still be high on the agenda and efforts should be exerted to include production and productivity to provide livelihood, raise income and create jobs and wealth,” he said.
Minister Derbew also commended the AU for declaring 2014 as the Year of Agriculture and Food Security noting that it would be an opportunity to review past CAADP implementation challenges and would afford stakeholders the chance to identify what works and to chart the way forward for the next decade.
AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, applauded AU Member States for driving the CAADP agenda in their countries, thereby demonstrating ownership and leadership.
She expressed her delight that to date, 40 African Countries had signed CAADP compacts, many of which have credible National Investment Plans under implementation.
Mrs. Tumusiime noted that it was now more important than ever, not only to sustain the momentum of raising agricultural growth, but also to put in place a robust system of social protection that productively integrates vulnerable social groups to the growth agenda.
“Since our focus is on implementation for results and impact, we will emphasize on key instruments to help us achieve this objective and we will largely focus on monitoring and reporting progress in line with jointly agreed commitments and targets as well as mutual accountability,” she said.
Chair of the development partners’ task team and Programme Manager of the European Union Delegation to the African Union, Mr. Eulogio Montijano, in his remarks, stated that there was need to support a sustainable and inclusive agriculture as a key engine of growth, jobs, poverty reduction and food security.
He said it was for that reason that the decision by the African Union to declare 2014 the African Year of Agriculture and Food Security was supported by development partners as it would give agricultural policies a renewed thrust for the next decade.
Mr. Montijano further acknowledged the CAADP Results Frameworks, which the AUC is currently defining, as an important tool, which should significantly contribute to better identifying the priority areas of the agriculture for growth agenda.
The three day meeting is meant to:
I. Share National Agriculture Investment Plans (NAIPs) implementation progress and challenges and identify lessons learned;
ii. Discuss and identify lessons from efforts to coordinate and align donor assistance to specific components of NAIPs;
iii. Review and discuss the 2014 areas of focus and work streams/thematic areas being proposed to sustain momentum and sharpen focus on implementation efforts;
iv. Review and discuss areas of focus to accelerate the impact of NAIPs and investments on poverty and hunger reduction.
Also in attendance was Sierra Leone Minister of Agriculture, H.E Sam Sesay and other high level government representatives from Africa as well as international organisations and development partners.
SOURCE: African Union Commission (AUC)

domain: agronomy


text:
How to Write Five Different Styles of Essays
The introduction is crucial for anyone who is serious about the academic field they select. The introduction is where the individual begins their essay. It provides the background of the writer, their research, and overall perspective. This is where they will explain the reasons why they are qualified and qualified to study and research the topic they have chosen.
There are many aspects to take into consideration when writing essays. This includes the structure of your essay and the introduction. An essay structure has four major parts. These include the topic, the main body, conclusion and any supporting information. Below are examples of the types of essay structure that may be found in the typical assignments of students.
Writing Paragraph Essays – A paragraph essay consists of four paragraphs. The first paragraph introduces the topic. The second paragraph describes the research carried out. The third paragraph explains the central idea and the fourth states the thesis. Since the introduction is the first step in their research, it is important that the introduction portion is properly written. The conclusion isn’t as crucial as the other three. Students should only include the closing paragraph in their paragraph essays.
Writing narrative essays A narrative essay should include real human voices. While most people don’t be concerned about the voice or style of the writer, some might be offended by pronouns like he, she, or they. In order to write these types of essays, students will want to enlist the aid of a companion or writer to help them out with the story and the specifics of how it is connected to the topic. A narrative essay may consist of only text or pictures that will certainly alter the format and structure of the essay.
Creative Essay Writing – The author’s ingenuity is one of the most fascinating aspects of writing creative essays. This technique lets you create a short story which is connected to the topic of your essay. The character of the character should not be exposed in any way. Students should also ensure that the essay doesn’t overexaggerate the actions of the character. This kind of essay is similar to a short story, however, it typically contains a lot of information and detail. When you’re creating characters and weaving them in to essays creative essayists are recognized for their ability to think small business procedures manual out of the box. Students who like this type of writing might want to enlist the aid of someone who is experienced in creative writing to develop a suitable plot and the required scenes.
Film Essay Film Essay – One of the most common ways to write essays is to link a recent movie event to the subject of the essay. Students will find topics for film essays interesting regardless of whether they are essays on recent films or about celebrities. This style of essay has one drawback: the author must be able to present an engaging story that is relevant to the subject they write about. The plot of the film may be uninteresting if the writer does not correctly connect the different events.
Expository Essay – Students will see that expository essays can be used to present one thesis. A thesis statement is the final sentence of an essay and outlines the central idea of the essay. The thesis statement should be written in a manner that fits with the assignment. Some essays require the student to write the thesis statement completely on their own. Others require the student to submit a separate piece of work that includes the thesis statement.
Argumentative Essays – Students should be able to write argumentative and expository essays. Argumentative essays can be written to support or contest an argument. Expository essays are typically composed of multiple perspectives on a specific subject. Expository essays allow students to gain more knowledge about an issue than a standard, non-expertly written argumentative article. To write an argumentative essay, students must be able to create an idea that is well-developed and supported by evidence.

domain: literature


text:
Call us now: 810-966-9102 | Serving Saint Clair County
Friendly, Effective Program Therapy
That Meets Your Needs
At Riverview Physical Therapy and Hand Rehab, we work hard to offer you a warm and friendly environment in which to begin your healing process. Our entire team is dedicated to your comfort and recovery, from the moment you arrive through our front door until the moment you leave.
Every effort will be made to see that all of your needs are met with efficiency and professionalism.
Back and neck pain
Highly specialized spine program
Joint pains - Arthritis and prehab programs for total joint replacement
Sprains and strains
Trauma (motor vehicle accident, industrial injuries, and amputee)
• Seeks to identify whether you have headaches that can be managed by conservative physical therapy approaches.
• Focus is on identifying causative factors as well as teaching you self-management techniques through exercise, posture, positioning, and ergonomic principles.
• Intervention also consists of therapeutic exercise and manual therapy techniques.
BALANCE / FALL PROGRAM
• Balance training
• Gait / walking assessment
• Fall risk determination testing
• Fall prevention strategies
• Wheelchair evaluations and recommendations
Now we offer specialized treatment program for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders by the only certified LSVT trained therapist in the area using the LSVT BIG modalities.
Our manual therapy techniques (Myofascial Release, Muscle Energy, and Mobilizations and Craniosacral Therapy), exercises and patient education help you get back to the activities you enjoy and prevent further injuries from happening.
"I was impressed by the patient care focus, friendliness, and concern by the staff."
"The degree of improvement in my back pain in such a short time was amazing. I highly recommend Riverview Physical Therapy to everyone for their therapy."
Stroke, Parkinson’s, MS rehab
Cardiac and pulmonary rehab

domain: health


Venezuelan opposition says planned dialogue with gov't suspended
12:05, Sunday, 12 November, 2017
The Venezuelan opposition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), stated Saturday that the planned dialogue with the government in the Dominican Republic on Nov. 15 is suspended. Through a statement, the MUD indicated this is because the government had not agreed on the dialogue being attended by foreign ministers of observer countries, namely Mexico, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia and Nicaragua. The opposition said that the diplomats of these nations, called "friendly countries," "would accompany the negotiation process to exit the political, economic and institutional crisis which Venezuela is suffering." While the government of President Nicolas Maduro has constantly said it is ready for dialogue, the MUD has dismissed this and said the authorities are not willing to discuss its agenda, including calling "fair presidential elections and the urgent opening of a humanitarian channel of food and drugs." "The country is clamoring for a solution to the general crisis which currently exists and Venezuela's commitment must tackle all the factors. We demand seriousness and commitment in these difficult moments for the country," wrote the MUD. On Thursday, the MUD said it was ready for "serious dialogue" with the government setting the date of Nov. 15. This latest attempt at dialogue is taking place after gubernatorial elections on Oct. 15, when the government won 18 states and the MUD won five. Municipal elections are set for Dec. 10, but at least five opposition parties within the MUD alliance have said they would not take part.


text:
BEIRUT: September 14, 2023, Three protesters were wounded by gunfire Wednesday while trying to weld shut a branch of Syria’s ruling Baath party in a southern province hit by nearly a month of anti-government demonstrations.
It is the first time protesters have been injured since demonstrations began last month in Sweida province, the heartland of Syria’s Druze minority, after the government lifted fuel subsidies.
The move dealt a heavy blow to Syrians reeling from war and economic woes.
“They fired at protesters who were trying to shut a Baath office, leaving three wounded,” an activist in Sweida told AFP.
Local media outlet Suwayda24 said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Baath party members who had been guarding the building fired at protesters, wounding three.
The outlet, which is run by citizen journalists, shared a video on X saying it showed “guards of the Baath command building… firing to disperse a group of protesters who were trying to close off the building.”
In recent weeks, demonstrators have welded the doors of offices of the Baath party shut in an act of defiance, while others have removed photos of President Bashar Assad in the city.
Suwayda24 said dozens of protesters took to the streets of Sweida on Tuesday. Such demonstrations have occurred daily in recent weeks, with larger numbers attending on Fridays.
Protests against deteriorating economic conditions have erupted sporadically in Sweida since 2020.
Smaller, sporadic protests have also taken place in neighboring Daraa province, the cradle of Syria’s 2011 uprising, which Assad bloodily suppressed.
The Druze, who follow an offshoot of Shiite Islam, made up less than three percent of Syria’s pre-war population. They have largely kept out of the conflict.
Sweida has been mostly spared from the fighting, and has only faced sporadic jihadist attacks, which were repelled.
Syrian security services have a limited presence in the province, and Damascus has turned a blind eye to Druze men refusing to undertake compulsory military service.
Syria’s war began after the government repressed peaceful protests in 2011 and quickly escalated into a deadly conflict that pulled in jihadists and foreign powers.
The conflict has killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions and battered the country’s infrastructure and industry.
Source- Arab News


text:
TitleAn integrated environment for simulation and control of mobile robots
NameBerkowitz, Ron (author), Jaluria, Yogesh (chair), Baruh, Haim (internal member), Cook-Chennault, Kimberly (internal member), Song, Peng (internal member), Bottega, William (internal member), Rutgers University, Graduate School - New Brunswick,
SubjectMechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Mobile robots--Research--Simulation methods
DescriptionThere have been increased interests in mobile robot research due to its many applications in areas such as material handling, explorations in hazardous environments, and military missions under extreme conditions. Many control schemes and robot systems have been developed, yet most of these systems eventually become individual experiments that are unique or specific to particular applications. It is very difficult to verify or reuse the controls developed and build upon the existing knowledge. We argue that it is necessary to develop an integrated experiment and simulation environment equipped with a user-friendly interface to examine existing controls and eventually serve as an experimental testbed for mobile robot research. The main contributions of this thesis are the design and integration of a hardware in the loop simulation environment for mobile robot control and navigation. We developed an easy to use graphical user interface (GUI) that can provide the users with the overall access to various robot functions including sensor feedback, object recognition, and tools for implementing the control strategies to study robot behaviors.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Noteby Ron Berkowitz
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.


PORT Adelaide is within one win of the top eight after capitalising on other results going its way and recording a 55-point win over GWS at Adelaide Oval on Saturday evening.
Losses for eighth-placed Richmond (9-7), ninth-placed St Kilda (9-7) and 10th-placed Western Bulldogs (8-8) opened the door for the Power, who remain 12th but improve to 8-8 with a percentage boost after their 12.12 (84) to 3.11 (29) win.
POWER V GIANTS Full match coverage and stats
The excitement for the Power, who started the 2022 season with five straight losses, may be tempered with a daunting month ahead. Port has four games against top-eight sides – Melbourne, Geelong, Collingwood and Richmond.
But Port held up its end of the bargain on Saturday night against the 13th-placed Giants as Connor Rozee dazzled with four goals from 24 possessions, while Zak Butters returned from a two-game absence due to a knee injury with a team-high 26 disposals.
The Power were dominant with 400-307 disposals and 65-37 inside 50s, with their trademark pressure on show with 19-8 tackles inside 50.
They shared the load, but Sam Powell-Pepper (25 disposals and 10 marks) and Travis Boak (24 disposals, including 12 contested possessions) were among their main ball winners.
Jeremy Finlayson impressed in his makeshift ruck role facing his former club for the first time, with 22 disposals including a joint game-high 12 contested possessions and nine inside 50s with 13 hit-outs and five clearances.
The Giants barely put up a fight and their poor evening was further soured with a worrying hamstring injury to veteran Phil Davis.
GWS co-captain Stephen Coniglio continued his excellent form with 32 possessions with a game-high seven clearances, while Josh Kelly (27 disposals) and Harry Himmelberg (22 disposals for 461 metres gained) were both good contributors.
Rozee's hot first half – that included three goals and six score involvements – set up the win as the Power jumped to a 38-point half-time advantage fuelled by a dominant 36-16 inside 50s.
Todd Marshall and Kane Farrell booted two goals each for Port, while Jesse Hogan was GWS' only multiple goalkicker in a game that fizzled out.
The Giants threatened to offer a challenge in the second half but kicked only one goal – via Toby Greene – from six scoring shots in the third term.
The goals dried up in the second half before a late Power surge, with Rozee grabbing his fourth major late in the fourth quarter to put the icing on the cake.
Curtains for Phil Davis?
The end may be nigh for Davis, who was the first player to ever sign with the Giants way back in August 2011. The key defender, who turns 32 late next month, clutched his right hamstring and grimaced in pain on the ground after contesting a mark with Charlie Dixon early in the third term. The 192-game veteran limped off the field and was subbed out in a worrying sign, having missed months earlier this season after a grade three tear in his left hamstring in round two. With six games left this season, Davis' future appears in limbo.
Marshall still the sharp-shooter
Port spearhead Todd Marshall is the most accurate goalkicker in the game this year, going into this game having booted 32.9 at 78 per cent, and he reinforced his sharp-shooter status with two excellent majors in the first quarter from tough angles. Marshall nailed a set shot from 40m on the boundary and a few minutes later repeated the dose from the other pocket with a classy snap. He finished with 2.1 in an intriguing battle with Giants defender Sam Taylor.
Where to with Haynes forward?
Giants caretaker coach Mark McVeigh hasn't been afraid the throw the magnets around since taking over with Stephen Coniglio's full-time midfield switch and Harry Himmelberg going down back, but one experiment that doesn’t seem to be paying off is Nick Haynes forward. The 2020 All-Australian defender hasn't kicked a goal since his switch forward and had only two touches and no marks up until half-time against Port. He finished with seven possessions and three marks. Himmelberg's move into defence has necessitated Haynes' switch forward, but McVeigh may be considering his options especially after his side kicked three goals for the game.
PORT ADELAIDE 4.2 8.6 9.9 12.12 (84)
GWS 1.4 2.4 3.9 3.11 (29)
Port Adelaide: Rozee 4, Marshall 2, Farrell 2, Bergman, Dixon, Powell-Pepper, Georgiades
GWS: Hogan 2, Greene
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Butters, Finlayson, Boak, Powell-Pepper, Aliir
GWS: Coniglio, Himmelberg, Kelly, Hogan, Cumming
Port Adelaide: Nil
GWS: Davis (hamstring), Kennedy (concussion)
Port Adelaide: Jed McEntee (unused)
GWS: Xavier O'Halloran (replaced Davis in the third quarter)


text:
Best of Lao Gan Ma: Spicy Chili Crisp & Chili Oil With Black Bean
If you've tasted Lao Gan Ma chili oils, then you're already a fan of "The Godmother" because there is no way to resist her charms. If you haven't, then let's just say these are China's—and possibly the world's—tastiest chili oils.
Spicy Chili Crisp is the classic, full of crispy onions, chilies and Sichuan pepper bits. It's used mostly as a condiment or ingredient in Sichuan cold sauces. (Because of the high ratio of flakes to oil, this is not a substitution for chili oil in recipes, but used in addition to. For a chili oil with a higher oil ratio try this Sichuan Chili Oil.)
Chili Oil With Black Bean is chock full of fermented black soybeans (douchi). Use as a condiment on rice, noodles, eggs, etc., or as a super-umami addition to a stir-fry. Use the Mala Market recipe for Lao Gan Ma Black Bean Chicken as a blueprint to stir-fry proteins or vegetables in this addictive sauce.
We've had a hard time picking our favorite of these two sauces, so we are packaging them as a set to encourage you to try both. They are both quite spicy—but not so spicy that you can't eat them in abundance, as many devotees do. Go here to learn much more about Lao Gan Ma.
Producer: Guiyang Nanming Laoganma Special Flavor Foodstuffs Co., Guiyang, Guizhou Province
Chili Crisp ingredients: soybean oil, chili, onion, soybeans, monosodium glutamate, Sichuan pepper powder, sugar, salt, sulfur dioxide, sodium sulfite
Size: 210 grams (7.4 ounces)
Black Bean ingredients: soybean oil, soybeans, chili, monosodium glutamate, salt, sugar, sulfur dioxide, sodium sulfite
Size: 280 grams (9.9 ounces)

domain: food


Access Portal Hardware - Plastic Housing
Access Control Hardware
Portal Hardware - PLASTIC HOUSING WITHOUT LCD
The Access Portal cluster controller module brings an unrivalled simplicity to the installation of an access control solution.
True plug-and-play modular hardware means you simply plug in more units to expand your installation. This makes it very easy to adapt the system to suit your changing needs. The clustering concept is also highly cost effective as one cluster controller can manage up to eight reader modules, giving you up to 16 readers from just one controller.
However, the modules don’t have to be plugged together. You can connect using SBus which allows you to connect a module up to 150 metres from the controller – that’s the length of one and a half rugby fields.
Another benefit of the cluster controller is the on-board intelligence which allows for full off-line functionality in the event of a power failure and each cluster controller can store up to 100,000 transactions.
Security is another important consideration and the cluster controller comes fitted with an anti-tamper switch.
Portal Hardware - PLASTIC HOUSING WITH LCD
With the flick of a dipswitch, the cluster controller can be configured as a complete stand-alone access control system - Access Portal Lite. The controller contains an embedded web server, and offers up to eight anti-passback doors, or 16 single entry doors.
When selecting a cluster controller in Lite mode, there is no need for additional software or even a computer. The LCD version can be configured and operated through the touch screen, whilst the non-LCD version can be connected to the internet and configured through a browser. Both units can also be accessed through any HTML5 device, such as a smart phone, tablet or laptop – giving you 24 hour access to your site.
World of choice
We understand that most sites are unique, with their own specific installation needs and for this reason, we’ve created a few variants of the cluster controller. The unit is available with and without a LCD touch-screen, and housed either in plastic or a secure metal IPS enclosure.
In addition, the cluster controller comes with a variety of modules, which simply clip together, depending on your application:
• Wiegand reader module
• Antenna reader module
• Digital I/O module
Portal Hardware - PLASTIC HOUSING: WIEGAND MODULE
The Impro Wiegand Reader Module (WRM) is one of the new, 3rd-generation, Access Portal Cluster Modules from Impro Technologies.
This Cluster Extension Module may be plugged into an existing Cluster (or connected to a Cluster Controller Module via S-Bus) to add full Anti Pass-back (APB) control of one door, or Single Entry Access Control of two doors.
The Module has two full-featured Wiegand Reader Terminals with their associated Relays, Door Open Sense and Request To Exit digital inputs.
The Wiegand Reader Module is presently available as a Cluster Module in a black ABS plastic Housing - and a PCB Card version for installation into an IPS (Integrated Power Supply) Housing.
• Cost effective, modular solution that offers:
− Scaling to the size requirement of the application
− Expansion - Quick and convenient (plug-in) should needs increase
− Zero System Downtime - (When plugged into the Cluster Controller) - Replacing a WRM only requires downtime on the doors associated with the Expansion Modules that are disconnected (the Tag memory and Transaction Buffer reside in the Cluster Controller).
− Hot Swappable - No need to power down when plugging, unplugging and wiring of modules.
• 3-Year Warranty on Hardware
• A Software utility to upgrade Firmware while installed on-site, without removal of the WRM (WRM must be clustered with its CCM.)
Portal Hardware - PLASTIC HOUSING: ANTENNA MODULE
The Impro Antenna Reader Module (ARM) is one of the new, 3rd-generation, Access Portal Cluster Modules from Impro Technologies. This Cluster Extension Module may be plugged into an existing Cluster (or connected to a Cluster Controller Module via SBus) to add full Anti Pass-back (APB) control of one door, or Single Entry Access Control of two doors. The Module has two full-featured Antenna Reader Terminals with their associated Relays, Door Open Sense and Request To Exit digital inputs. The Antenna Reader Module is presently available as a Cluster Module in a black ABS plastic Housing - and a PCB Card version for installation into an IPS (Integrated Power Supply) Housing.
• Cost effective, modular solution that allows for: − Scaling to the size requirement of the application − Expansion - Quick and convenient (plug-in) should needs increase − Zero Downtime – Replacing an ARM will not require downtime (the Tag memory and Transaction Buffer reside in the CCM).
• A Software utility to upgrade Firmware while installed on-site, without removal of the ARM.
• Flexibility in installation – The ARM may be: − Plugged (together with other Expansion Modules into the CCM, forming part of a “Cluster” of Impro Controller Modules − Installed up to 150 away from its CCM (connected via S-Bus) − Installed (as a PCB Card) in a 19” Rack version of the system
• The ARM supports the following tags: − Slim Tags (Read only) − Omega Tags (Read Only) − Philips HITAG™ 1 and Philips HITAG™ 2 (Read/Write) − HID 125 kHz Tags (Read Only). NOTE: HID is a registered trademark of HID Global Corporation (an ASSA ABLOY Group Brand).
• 16-step Auto-tune that allows for increased cable distances of up to 25 m (82 ft.) for Non-keypad Antenna Readers and up to 16 m (53 ft.) for Keypad Antenna Readers. • End-of-Line (EOL) Sensing on Door Open Sensor (DOS) Inputs.
• Connection to up to two Antenna Readers per ARM, allowing Relaxed or Full Anti-passback (APB) access. • An excellent user interface consisting of 8 LED “Diagnostic Indicators”.
• Two independent single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) Relay Outputs which let you interface to door strikes, magnetic locks and other third-party devices (for example alarms panels or lighting). • IXP220 / ImproNet System Compatible
• Four Dry Contact Digital Inputs including two Door Open Sensor (DOS) and two Request to Exit (RTE) Inputs. (When used in Access Portal Pro or IXP220 Systems, these inputs may be configured for other uses, including: Scanner Inhibit, Alarm interface and Action Request)
• A Software utility to upgrade Firmware while installed on-site, without removal of the ARM (provided the ARM is clustered with its CCM).
Portal Hardware - PLASTIC HOUSING: DIGITAL IO MODULE
The digital I/O controller module brings a world of flexibility and customisation to our access control system and the automation of your building. The module offers true plug-and-play connectivity, which ensures that both installation and future expansion is quick and convenient. It is a gateway to multiple connect and disconnect options and a must have for any integration, for installations both large and small. Each module has eight digital inputs and four relay outputs which gives you the ability to create a custom sequence of events, such as · Activating sirens for the beginning and end of shifts, or turnstile indicators · Controlling elevators (lifts), alarm systems and fire control · Managing emergency door control · Creating unique sequences of events such as starting machinery or deactivating intrusion systems The digital inputs also include end-of-line (EOL) sensing for added protection, which can be configured to raise an alarm if cables are broken or tampered with. In addition, up to eight modules can be connected to a single cluster controller, to provide as many as 64 inputs and 32 outputs, making the solution highly cost-effective and flexible. Another key benefit of the module is that firmware upgrades can be undertaken onsite, with no need to remove the module, resulting in zero downtime. The module is available in a stand-alone plastic housing, or integrated into a boxed solution with an integrated power supply.


With over 19,000m² of pillar-less exhibition space being occupied by the latest global traffic technologies at this week’s Intelligent Transportation Systems World Congress (ITSWC), the organizers have commissioned a smartphone app to help the 7,000 international delegates navigate around the event sites.
ITS Australia has engaged an official mobile app partner, global location cloud company Here, to introduce delegates to world-first technology with the development of the World Congress app.
The application will allow delegates to experience advanced location enabled services, such as indoor routing, so they can search for an exact plenary room or exhibitor booth and be guided from their hotel, another ITS venue or anywhere in the city of Melbourne. The ITSWC app will give delegates access to live journey planning with indoor and outdoor routing to a range of points of interest, including local attractions, ATMs, venue facilities, transport options and cafes.
Here developed the custom built ITS venue map by converting event floor plans into a digital 3D format. User’s mobiles then respond to wi-fi and beacon technology that has been installed within the venues to enable precise indoor positioning and navigation. With additional features such as the ability for delegates to send each other messages, engage with presenters through live polling and discussions, and share insights with external audiences through social media channels, the app is set to create a holistic approach to the event and dovetail into the whole purpose of the week. Delegates can download the app by searching for ‘ITS World Congress 2016’ in their provider’s app store.
“It’s only fitting that when the world’s leaders in transport and logistics come together at ITS World Congress 2016, they will get to experience the most advanced 3D venue map and indoor navigation application ever deployed for an event of this scale,” commented Here’s Asia-Pacific director, Brent Stafford.
“It’s a huge milestone for Here and a great achievement for ITS. It’s truly three-dimensional navigation, transitioning from GPS positioning outdoors to indoor routing within the venue, and switching levels as users move up or down staircases, lifts and elevators, for a seamless experience. Common everyday mapping apps typically provide a separate user experience for indoor maps and then outdoor maps. This is the first time a truly seamless multimodal indoor-outdoor 3D map and navigation platform has been deployed with such level of detail. The World Congress app is really giving delegates a first-hand experience of the real-time smart city technologies that will enable tourists and citizens to navigate the cities of the future.”
Susan Harris, CEO of ITS Australia, said, “With over 7,000 delegates set to embark on the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and our partner venues over the week, to be able to accurately navigate their way to different sessions and exhibitions, while also having an understanding of their real-time environs, will be hugely beneficial for our delegates. As a Congress focused on demonstrating the latest technology in traffic and transport, why wouldn’t we want to create an app to match!”


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We've been steadily making progress, one clamshell box and one tiny artist book at a time - there's a dedicated handful of talented people who give of their time and talent bimonthly to make the boxes, not to mention the ten artists involved who continue to chip away at their artist book edition of 50.
So it's a nice lift when we get a little visibility and a reinforcement for our mission (to sell these lovelies to collectors and raise funds for Pyramid Atlantic and CityDance). Recently, we've been on a bit of a roll.
I'm happy to report that the edition has been accepted for consignment by both the Minnesota Center for the Book Arts and Vamp & Tramp Booksellers. The project's documentarian, Francisco Campos-Lopez, has some of his films (including Moving Parts) featured on SONY Worldwide's Professional Site.


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Just because it's now May doesn't mean that all your activities have to take place outside. This month brings some world class theater productions to NYC and you don't want to spend too much time in the sun or you might miss them (...or burn). Check out four of the hottest shows around that you'd be a fool to miss out on.
I Am a Tree: This play, written and performed by Dulcy Rogers and directed by Allan Miller, arrives in the Big Apple! The show, produced by United Pies, Inc. in association with The Elephant Theatre, is coming to NYC from a critically acclaimed run in Los Angeles, beginning May 25th until June 30th. The show follows are 30-year-old Claire as she discovers family members she never knew existed. She begins to embark on a journey to find her relatives to find out about the mother she never knew but when she finally tracks down three crazy aunts, they all have very different stories about her mother. Performances are Thurs-Sat at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased here.
Planet Connections Theatre Festivity: NYC's premiere eco-friendly/socially-conscious 4th annual theatre festival begins May 30th and runs through June 24th at 45 Bleecker Street. Each show partners with a charity to raise funds for their organization. There is a great mix of shows this year, including What We Do For Love, a musical revue about relationships as looked at through Top 40 hits of the past four decades (with musical arrangements by Hinton Battle), Pageant Princess, a musical inspired by Toddlers & Tiaras, and Trafficked, a show addressing sex slavery and child exploitation that was compiled by actual interviews and created in partnership with representatives from the United Nations, just to name some of the many performances going on. Check out the full list of shows here.
Murder in the First: 59E59 Theaters welcomes The Directors Company, in association with Chase Mishkin, Barbara & Buddy Freitag, and Invictus Theater Company with this hot new play, written by Dan Gordan and directed by Michael Parva. Inspired by a true story, Murder in the First is a gripping drama about the murder trial that goes behind the scenes of the deplorable treatment of the prisoners of Alcatraz. The stage version of Gordon's 1995 explores the friendship that develops between the young attorney and the prisoner he is defending. The show begins on May 25th and runs through July 1st with performances Tues-Thurs at 7pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday at 3pm and 7pm. Tickets are $60 and available here.
Up To You: TADA! Youth Theater brings the world premiere of Up To You to NYC, with book and music by Eric Rockwell, lyrics by Joanne Bogart, and direction by Janine Nina Trevens. The show is set in 1977 during elections for student council and examines issues facing youth today, including peer acceptance, bullying, and popularity. The story emphasizes the idea that each individual can make a difference for themselves, as well as in their community. Performances are currently running now through May 20th, on Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm and 4pm (excluding Mother's Day). Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children, or $25 for adults and $15 for children for premium seating. Tickets are available for purchase here. In addition to performances, on May 6th at 11am, there will also be a free forum discussion about bullying moderated by Miss New York Kaitlin Monte.

domain: artistic


Good morning, AdLand. Here's what you need to know today:
Pinterest plans to test its first advertising product with a small group of undisclosed businesses.
The company promised on its blog that the promoted units will be transparently marked and relevant to users' interests.
LinkedIn appointed ex-Google executive Penry Price as its new advertising sales chief. Price's title will be vp/global sales for marketing solutions.
Seattle agency Cole & Weber United tapped Elizabeth Rowny as managing director and partner. Rowny was most recently worldwide managing partner at TBWA/Chiat/Day.
Fox's Tuesday comedy lineup is a huge hit with affluent viewers.
YouTube and Fox Sports have teamed up to sell video advertisements on the network's YouTube channel. They've signed up Burger King to be their first sponsor.
The NFL is kicking off its "Together We Make Football" campaign highlighting the stories of individual fans' relationships with the game. The campaign will start with the story of Samantha Gordon, the 10-year-old girl who became a viral sensation last year when clips of her running over, around, and through her male opponents surfaced on YouTube.
Unruly hired Richard Kosinski as its U.S. president. Kosinski will be tasked with helping the social video marketing consultancy grow the company's U.S. footprint.
Co.Create shared its 10 Commandments of Content.
Nielsen is updating its TV ratings data to include smartphones and tablets.
Publicis Groupe purchased the digital agency Poke London. Poke New York's founding partners, Michael Kantrow and Tom Ajello, announced a management buyout from Poke London and have formed a new agency called Makeable.
Arnold promoted Paul Nelson and Elliott Seaborn to managing directors at the agency's Boston headquarters.
Previously on Business Insider Advertising:


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Are cemetery bodies polluting Stoughton wells?
Residents of the Bishop’s Landing subdivision off Route 139 can see the tombstones from their back porches.
From some of the townhouses in the complex, the cemetery can’t be more than 40 or 50 feet away.
So when bacterial contamination started to show up in the development’s wells, people started to, as one town official put it, “put two and two together.”
The implication is gruesome, but state and local officials won’t say directly that the cemetery is responsible for the contamination.
But what’s certain is that the water in the wells is no good, and Bishop’s Landing residents will be footing the bill for the fix.
The 23-unit complex had been using a four-well water system for more than 20 years that was never registered with the state, a Department of Environmental Protection spokesman said last week.
The system is too close to, in addition to the graveyard, Route 139 and the paved access road to the cemetery – all sources of potential groundwater contamination, officials say.
Health Agent Sandra Gabriel said she got a call from state Department of Environmental Protection in July of 2010 saying that E.coli bacteria had been found in the water.
“There have been quite a number (of tests) with total coliform bacteria in the water,” said Ed Coletta of the DEP.
Gabriel went to the development to advise residents to boil water before drinking it. She said the Board of Health has been working closely with the neighbors.
“We wanted to help these folks out,” she said.
In July 2010, a new management company took over Bishop’s Landing and told the state the well system was not registered, Coletta said. Any water system that serves more than 15 buildings or 25 people is considered a public water system, he said.
Once registered, the wells were subject to regular testing – and that’s when contamination started to show up.
“They started to put two and two together,” said Town Engineer Ben Fehan. “Apparently the wells are closer than they should be to the point of possible contamination.”
Coletta said wells have to be 400 feet from any potential contamination, a rule known as zone 1 protection. Both the cemetery and Route 139 are well within that range, as well as other parking lots and the complex’s swimming pool.
“There’s a certain radius around the wells that really needs to be protected,” he said.
To solve the problem, the residents of Bishop’s Landing, which is a private development and not a town-accepted road, are seeking to connect to the town’s water system. It will come with a cost, but the homeowners are hoping to borrow the funds through a state trust.
Article 11 on the upcoming annual town meeting warrant asks for $400,000, to be borrowed from the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust. The money will be paid back through betterments assessed to Bishop’s Landing residents.
“That would soften the blow on the owners,” said Fehan, pointing out they won’t have to pay for the work up front.
Since only a town can borrow money from the trust, it is the sponsor of the article.
The citizen who brought the initial petition to the town declined to comment when contacted by The Enterprise, although he did say the betterment program is what the residents want.
The project is on the draft approval list for state revolving funds, he added, although the list hasn’t been finalized. If approved, the money would be lent at 2 percent interest over 20 years.
“The bottom line is it won’t cost the town any money,” said Fehan.
Town meeting will be held May 7 at Stoughton High School.
Justin Graeber may be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org or follow him on Twitter @justingraeber.
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Alicia FerrisLicensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, MS, LMHC, SUDP
We often keep reproductive health experiences to ourselves or are responded to in unhelpful ways by those we confide in... which leads us to suffer in silence. But it doesn't have to be that way. Evidence-based tools, skills and a cultivated community of support can make all the difference!! I can help you learn to thrive through infertility, pregnancy after infertility, the postpartum period and up through the toddler years.

domain: medical