Budget 2023: ₹4,418 cr allocated for Railways' development in Telangana, says Ashwini Vaishnaw1 min read . Updated: 06 Feb 2023, 05:05 AM IST
- According to the Union Budget 2023-24, the allocation includes ₹715 crores to Secunderabad Junction railway station and ₹512 crores to the wagon manufacturing workshop in Kazipet.
Union Minister for railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on 4 February said that Central government's ₹4,418 crores in the Union Budget for Telangana would speed up the development of railway facilities in state.
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Faculty: Strategic Director of the Textile & Fashion Design Department
Strategic Director of the Interior Design Department
Torino – Bologna
Architect, designer, and independent curator, Marco Rainò is interested in experimentation through project practice, theoretical research and critical engagement. He is founder and partner of BRH +, a studio active in broad spectrum design derived from cross-discipline research. Beyond architectural, graphic and product design, he is an Art Director for activities ranging from the LAGO contemporary furniture company to the pop-rock group Subsonica . He is the creator and curator of the IN Residence program and the MARCA collection. Author of publications on design and architecture, writes for Icon Design magazine and is the Strategic Director of IAAD.’s Interior Design Department in Turin and Bologna.
Faculty: Coordinator of the Master course in Digital Marketing & Communication Management

domain: artistic


Even though they’re rather blurry, a couple of leaked photos give us some great clues as to the possible look of the OnePlus 2.
PhoneArena has a picture that shows each side of the device, which will get a virtual reality launch on July 27. The front design feels like a mashup of a OnePlus One and Nexus 6. The back shows some kind of wood paneling, with a vertical bar for the camera lens and what looks to be a fingerprint sensor.
The interface is close to stock Android, which keeps with the underlying aesthetic behind the company’s Oxygen OS. On the hardware front OnePlus pledges that its fingerprint sensor will perform unlocking and other tasks faster than the iPhone’s Touch ID. That’s a lofty promise that will be worth testing should we get our hands on a device.
The story behind the story: The OnePlus 2 definitely shows some promise. If OnePlus learned from some of the many issues that plagued its first phone, we could have a real contender on our hands. Even though we have about a month before the virtual reality launch, we should hear more from OnePlus—the company plans to reveal one feature at a time leading up to launch.
This story, "OnePlus 2 leaks show sleek, Nexus-style build with fingerprint sensor" was originally published by Greenbot.


Subject to the restrictions below, purchase any combination or assortment of solo or small ensemble pieces (published by Cayambis Music Press) in our catalog, totaling $60 or more, and get FREE media mail shipping. (Note: if you like, you may select a faster shipping method, but at its standard rate).
Valid only for residents of the continental United States.
This offer excludes any large ensemble piece (for orchestra or concert band), as well as any work currently in preparation.
No institutions or resellers, please.


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Well, it did take them a while, but finally Lumma Design is ready to unveil their tuning kit for the BMW M6 F12 at the Geneva Motor Show 2013. Called BMW CLR 6 M, this magnificent racing-style kit can be fitted to all F12 coupe and F13 convertible 6-Series and also the M6.
The ingredients of the kit include a revised front bumper with larger air intakes, fender extensions, sport vented hood – optionally in carbon fiber, side skirts, rear fenders, rear diffuser with twin tailpipes in the middle and a GT-style rear wing.
The rear wing and diffuser are modeled on actual racing units, which means they work great as far as aerodynamics matter, but look like a bit of an overkill for street use. They make you look like a boy racer.
Lumma’s 6er also comes with 21-inch wheels with ultra wide tires in size 275/30 at the front and 325/25 out back.

domain: hobby


Introducing Saitama’s Workout Routine
Saitama, the lead character in the acclaimed "One Punch Man" series, possesses unparalleled strength, speed, and endurance. His mysterious practice, commonly known as the "Saitama Workout," has captivated fitness enthusiasts worldwide.
Saitama’s Unconventional Path to Greatness
It’s worth noting that Saitama is far from your average superhero. In fact, he attributes his immense power to his unconventional workout routine rather than any superhuman abilities. This undoubtedly adds a layer of intrigue to his regimen, raising questions about the potential hidden strength within us all.
Unmasking the Components of Saitama’s Workout
This exceptional workout isn’t for the faint-hearted — it’s a true testament to Saitama’s dedication and willpower. His transformation from a jobless powerful monster-hunter to an indomitable superhero, involved a daily fitness regime including:
- 100 Push-ups
- 100 Sit-ups
- 100 Squats
- 10 Kilometer Run
Saitama completed this routine every single day, for three years, without fail—even when he was sick, injured, or simply unmotivated. The grit, determination, and resolve required are what truly define this superhero workout routine more than the set of exercises themselves.
Insights on the Saitama Workout
Primarily, Saitama’s workout is an all-inclusive fitness regiment focused on improving strength and endurance. Its elements—push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and running are all familiar exercises. What sets it apart is his relentless, uncompromising commitment; there are no rest days, no shortcuts, no concessions.
100 Push-Ups: This exercise focuses on the chest, triceps, and shoulder muscles. Consistency in these will enhance upper body strength and endurance.
100 Sit-ups: Sit-ups target the abdominal muscles. A strong, well-defined core is a key component of overall strength and stability.
100 Squats: Squats are an effective lower-body workout, focusing on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. Completing 100 of them daily will increase leg strength, flexibility, and endurance.
10 Kilometer Run: This cardiovascular exercise contributes to better heart health, lung capacity, and endurance. It also boosts mood and mental stamina, critical factors when pursuing physical fitness.
Can Saitama’s Workout Be Reality?
While Saitama’s workout may not lead to one-punch capabilities, it indeed promises several key benefits. However, let it be known that it requires stringent dedication and willpower; as with any rigorous routine, it’s essential to listen to your body and adjust accordingly.
The value of Saitama’s workout doesn’t lie merely in the guarantee of physical prowess—it’s the disciplined, unyielding commitment to self-improvement that truly stands out. This resolve, coupled with the actual fitness benefits, could be what places The Saitama Workout in a unique realm of its own, beyond mere myth or animation.
Adapting Saitama’s Workout in Real-Life Context
While Saitama’s workout routine might seem a bit over the top, it still underscores the importance of persistence and consistency in achieving fitness goals. Therefore, it could serve as an inspiration to shape a personalized workout routine.
Implementing 100 reps of each exercise daily may be challenging initially. As such, start with a reasonable number of reps and progressively increase. Also, ensure to schedule recovery days in between to provide the muscles with enough resting time for optimum growth and recovery.
Disclaimer: Respecting Body Limits and Seeking Guidance
While the Saitama workout routine can provide impressive results, it’s important to consider safety and body limits. Remember, even superheroes know when to seek help when the situation calls for it. If you’re new to fitness or considering a significant change in your workout routine, it’s always advisable to seek professional advice.
Conclusion: Saitama Workout Is More Than Just A Routine
The Saitama Workout is more than just a brutal fitness regimen—it’s a symbol of steadfast determination, grit, and the resolve to improve oneself. To truly embody this routine is to internalize these characteristics, applying them to both fitness and life.
While we may not turn into superheroes overnight, Saitama’s workout can help us to push our boundaries, raise our bar, and redefine what’s possible for ourselves. After all, becoming our own version of a superhero is a journey that goes far beyond physical strength—it starts from within.
- Unveiling an Elite 4-Day Push Pull Workout Routine for Optimal Fitness
- The Truth Behind the Success of Stronglifts: A Detailed Exposition
- Optimal Arm Workouts with Weights: Unlocking Your Arm Strength
- Push Pull Legs Routine: The Ultimate Guide
- Shaping Up With The One Punch Man Workout and Leading a Healthier Lifestyle


The Vancouver Canucks jumped out to a one goal lead and never looked back as they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, 2-0 at Rogers Arena on Monday night.
Christopher Tanev scored on a long shot just 3:35 into the game as it appeared that Justin Peters was screened on the play. The score stayed 1-0 until the Canucks added an empty-netter with a bit over a minute left.
While they put 31 shots on net, the Hurricanes could never rattle goalie Eddie Lack, who earned his first NHL career shutout with the effort. Lack also beat the Canes in Carolina on the first of the month.
Both goalies made some nice saves at times but there was tight defense throughout and several blocked shots in this one as well.
The Canes travel to Edmonton right after the game so they can take on the Oilers on Tuesday night.
- Both team's powerplays went 0-4.
- Jeff Skinner had a team high five shots on goal. Jiri Tlusty was next with four.
- Manny Malhotra led the team in the faceoff circle with a 67% winning percentage, (10 of 15). The Canes finished at 46%.
- Carolina finished with 14 blocked shots. Tim Gleason led the way with four.
- Tuomo Ruutu led the Canes with five hits. They had 20 for the game.
- Low man with ice time was Kevin Westgarth with 4:08. Next lowest was Radek Dvorak with 10:03 and Riley Nash with 10:15. Justin Faulk had a team high 23:28.
- Post game interviews are at CanesPR.com.


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Trekking in Montenegro «Durmitor mountain lite»
This is a light version of our standard Montenegro trek that pays attention to the Durmitor massif. Deep mountain valleys and inaccessible mountain peaks, turquoise lakes and blue skies, fast mountain tours and emerald mountain slopes will surprise and delight you, showing the versatility of the nature of Montenegro.
|You can order this tour, write, or call us.|
Request for tour
|The price includes:||The price doesn’t includes:|

domain: geography


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My editorial work focuses on whole, real food ingredients, usually green and leafy, sometimes kneaded and sugary--- but always rich with color and story.
I enjoy creating ornate presentations of draped vegetable roots and lush tablescapes because I'm drawn to the timeless beauty of napkin folds and the subtle storytelling of the imperfectly dripped sauce. Creating and sharing food is one of our most sensual social rituals and I've made it my artistic playground for over a decade.
During many naturally lit, perfect-shoot days, I'm at my desk—designing—awash in the blue fluorescent glow of Zoom and corporate wonderland. Secretly, I'm often daydreaming I'm cooking with my dog at my feet and my chickens pecking at the back door. Shrug. Survival skills.
I've worked as an Art director and UX designer for over two decades where I've crafted an intimate understanding of audience, storytelling, and deadline.
In a former life, I spent a decade slinging drinks at an all-night rock 'n' roll dive. It could explain a lot. Until recently, I've been slinging food and the occasional drink on Instagram. You'll find that old hearsay documented here: @paperapron
In other news, I am a wife, a mom to a wild boy Golden Retriever, a couple of street cats & four free-ranging French-ish hens. I'm also an abstract painter, a jigsaw puzzler, a wabi-sabi potter, and a frequent Parisian.
I'm available for (sublime!) food content creation. I also make a decent lunch date.


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(Use the Quick Links to the left to quickly find the last comic you read! Or start from the beginning or read the latest page!)
I've been making comics online for a very, very long time. Almost every time you see a comic go on hiatus, they never come back. They may have the best of intentions, but for whatever reason, the hiatus becomes permanent instead of temporary.
Austen and I have been working on this comic together for quite a while. We had been together for even longer. "Had" being the pertinent word there. For those of you who haven't heard yet, we broke up somewhat recently. And with our personal relationship, so too ended our working relationship.
I'd love to say the comic will continue. I've written so much future story, things that are even better than what we've already seen, but without an artist, the comic is just that: a script without art. I can't afford to hire an artist myself. Maybe I'll find a suitable publisher to pick the comic up. Who knows! But for the time being... the comic is, as of today, going on hiatus.
Thank you so much for reading and enjoying and sharing. I've really enjoyed making the comic up to this point. I still stream on Twitch nearly every day, so stop by and say hi!
( More News » )


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Discuss Gas Prices in the ABC30.com Forums
2 Gas prices discussions started by ABC 30 viewers
Discussion 1 - Discussion 2
In Fresno: gas prices topped $4.20 a gallon.
In Merced: one penny less at $4.19 a gallon.
And it's the same in the south Valley.
The latest figures show the biggest monthly drop in driving in nearly 70 years. With gas prices soaring, consumers are responding, by cutting back, and that's making the going a little easier for those on the road.
Traffic was just a little lighter on California highways over the holiday weekend. The highway patrol noticed. "Well, the volume of traffic is slightly less for a maximum enforcement period, the memorial day holiday, so that's a plus," said Kirk Arnold with the Highway Patrol
A "AAA" survey shows for the first time in 6 years Americans actually appear to be driving less this year.
"Normally we go out of town somewhere and we didn't," said Kathy Henderson of Fresno. She said the reason is simple: The surge in gas prices. "I can believe that. I was really surprised. When I pulled up just now and realized how much it had jumped up since the last time I filled up."
The trend to drive less started in March.
The latest figures from the Federal Highway Administration show Americans drove 4% percent less in March of this year, than last year.
This may not sound like much but it's the biggest month to month drop since the agency started compiling figures in 1942. It translates into 11 billion fewer miles driven. The trend is expected to intensify over the summer.
"The plus side is during the holidays and during the summer you may be able to actually go the speed limit. Whereas if there's a high volume of traffic you're going to have congested freeways and increase in traffic collisions and those sorts of things," said Kirk.
The numbers are expected to be even higher for April and May, as gas prices have soared dramatically. In addition to travel plans, Kathy said she'll be changing the way she gets to work. "I'm definitely car-pooling with another friend."
The California Highway Patrol says 163 people were arrested for D.U.I. between Friday and Sunday, and three people were killed in accidents on state highways.
Last memorial day, 203 people were arrested for D.U.I., with three fatalities.

domain: economics


So I’m stressed. Really really stressed. Schoolwork, work-work and all the noise of life.
After our Synthesis session on Friday, I began trying to devise my next little project for Physical Computing, and I realized that what I really want is a machine that will help me calm down. Remembering that meditation devices were among Tom Igoe’s greatest physical computing hits, I set about imagining what meditation device I would make for myself. I didn’t want it to measure something invasive like breath or sweat; I wanted it to be something a person could interact with voluntarily that would soothe through the interaction.
I thought about the stress relief balls that used to be on everyone’s office desk, and started thinking about using one to control a visual program. My thought was that I might squeeze a ball (which intrinsically feels good and relieves some stress) to drive a calming visualization.
But what aspect of the squeeze and what aspect of the visualization? It occurred to me that one of the things that helps me to calm down is deliberate, repetitive motion. I decided that the program would have the user set a rhythm (or rather, a time interval), then place a cue for the smoothest, most regular interpretation of that directly in the middle of the user’s field of vision. The goal would be to squeeze smoothly and make the cue disappear by matching one’s own actions to the computer’s ideal.
(And let me say here that I should have talked this out to myself – any place where there are words like “goal” and “ideal” is a terrible place to begin thinking about mindfulness… but I digress.)
I considered using a Hall Effect Sensor on one side of the ball and a magnet on the other to measure the “squeezedness” of the ball, but Tinkersphere was out of analog Hall sensors, and I realized an FSR taped to the surface might do the trick just fine, with maybe even more flexibility in terms of ball choice. I then went to the 99-cent store and bought a selection of squeezy balls. After a market survey of one potential user (my girlfriend), I decided that the “Guardians of the Galaxy” ball was best for size, firmness and overall feel.
I mounted the FSR to the outside with tape, wrote a program for the Arduino to gather pressure data, then wrote a program in P5 to pull that data and analyze the pressure of the squeeze and the period of fluctuation. It then calculated the average time between peaks, and set that as its “ideal” rhythm.
The program works with the user by coloring the background to match the squeeze – white for no pressure, black for max pressure. It then projects the “ideal” pressure at any given moment in a sort of sphere-like object in the center of the screen.
And I tried using it and realized that I had created the exact opposite effect from what I had intended. Far from it being easy to set my own rhythm to the computer’s, it was intensely difficult – I had made for myself a demanding and unsatisfiable taskmaster.
But at the same time, it was an oddly compelling interaction. I discarded it after the first evening as digital fascism (or something very like it) and then returned to try it again the next evening, just for the hell of it. Miraculously it was much easier, and still much more engaging than two shades of gray on a computer screen ought to be.
The problem, though, is the falsehood of the central premise, namely that there’s something to be gained by syncing one’s own motions to a computer’s suggestions. The thoughts I have (and they are many) center around two lines of inquiry. First, it would be much more interesting to use the same program to have two users sync their motions to each other, remotely – a weird wordless way for two friends or separated lovers to connect, or two strangers to meet.
The other is that it’s a great definable but essentially unpredictable input – the user has full control but not necessarily much understanding of that control. It would be fascinating to drive an animation based on parameters (pressure, period, regularity) supplied somewhat thoughtlessly by one (or, better, two) users, where nothing was clarified (i.e. “by doing thing X to the ball, thing Y will happen on screen) except through iteration.
Thoughts, thoughts… more to say coming soon!


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On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The law enacts wide-ranging, comprehensive changes to health insurance and health care delivery, scheduled to phase in over the next four years, culminating with nation-wide, state-based health benefit exchanges offering health coverage, some of it subsidized, effective January 1, 2014.
In implementing the ACA in the three and half years since it was enacted, much has happened as originally scheduled. However, the road to implementation has been much rougher than proponents expected, starting with House Democrats losing majority control to House Republicans in the 2010 mid-term elections, the ACA facing a constitutional challenge it very nearly lost, and bureaucratic delays and missteps resulting from the law’s contact with the real-world. With California on the verge of opening enrollment in its health benefit exchange on October 1, 2013, it is a good time to review what has happened with the ACA, what is scheduled to follow, and what that may mean.
In seeking to increase federal power over health care for Americans, the Obama Administration’s stated goals for the ACA are to:
- Reduce long-term growth of health care costs for businesses and government
- Protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs
- Guarantee choice of doctors and health plans
- Invest in prevention and wellness
- Improve patient safety and quality of care
- Assure affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans
- Maintain coverage when you change or lose your job
- End barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions
These goals require a massive increase in federal expenditures, resulting in a need to identify and secure new funding for the ACA's provisions with new taxes and spending offsets. Major sources of new revenue include increasing Medicare taxes on incomes over $200,000 for single and $250,000 for joint filers, imposing an annual fee on insurance providers, and imposing a 40% excise tax on "Cadillac" insurance policies. Congress did not provide for income levels to be adjusted for inflation, meaning the taxes on incomes over $250,000 will result in more paying the taxes as inflation drives income increase. The ACA also imposes taxes on pharmaceuticals, expensive diagnostic equipment, and a 10% federal sales tax on indoor tanning services. Congress assumed spending offsets from expected savings resulting from changes in the Medicare Advantage program. Most of the tax increases and spending offsets were pushed back rather than immediately effective.
Summary of ACA Tax Increases: (ten-year projection)
- Increase Medicare tax rate by 0.9% and impose added tax of 3.8% on unearned income for high-income taxpayers: $210.2 billion
- Charge an annual fee on health insurance providers: $60 billion
- Impose a 40% excise tax on health insurance annual premiums in excess of $10,200 for an individual or $27,500 for a family: $32 billion
- Impose an annual fee on manufacturers and importers of branded drugs: $27 billion
- Impose a 2.3% excise tax on manufacturers and importers of certain medical devices:$20 billion
- Raise the 7.5% adjusted gross income floor on medical expenses deduction to 10%: $15.2 billion
- Limit annual contributions to flexible spending arrangements in cafeteria plans to $2,500: $13 billion
- All other revenue sources: $14.9 billion
Summary of Spending Offsets: (ten-year projection)
- Reduce funding for Medicare Advantage policies: $132 billion
- Reduce Medicare home health care payments: $40 billion
- Reduce certain Medicare hospital payments: $22 billion
Significant ACA Events to Date:
The ACA includes numerous provisions to take effect over several years beginning in 2010. There is a grandfather clause on policies issued before then that exempt them from many of these provisions, but other provisions may affect existing policies. While the changes wrought by the ACA are far too numerous to list here, the follow are probably the most significant changes that may be noticed by consumers and employers during implementation, by year:
Because most of the ACA’s tax increases and spending offsets were delayed, most of the immediate changes were mandates on private insurers rather than in government programs.
- Rescission: Prior to the ACA, health insurers and plans could rescind coverage due to mistakes or otherwise unreported information.
- Lifetime Limits: Health insurers and plans will be prohibited from imposing lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits, like hospital stays.
- Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credits: Initially provides a credit worth up to 35% of the employer’s contribution to the employees’ health insurance. Small non-profit organizations allowed to receive up to a 25% credit.
- “Free” Preventive Care: All new plans mandated cover certain preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies without charging a deductible, co-pay or coinsurance.
- Federal High-Risk Pool for Pre-Existing Conditions: The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) provides new coverage options to individuals who have been uninsured for at least six months because of a pre-existing condition. Program ends January 1, 2014 with the opening of health benefit exchanges.
- Extending Family Coverage for Dependent Adults: Young adults will be allowed to stay on their parents’ plan until they turn 26 years old.
Medicare beneficiaries can get preventive services without charge, and receive a 50% discount on brand-name drugs in the Medicare “donut hole.”
- Prescription Drug Discounts. Seniors who reach the coverage gap will receive a 50% discount when buying Medicare Part D covered brand-name prescription drugs. Over the next ten years, seniors will receive additional savings on brand name and generic drugs until the coverage gap is closed in 2020.
- Preventive Care for Medicare. No charge for preventive services, such as annual wellness visits and personalized prevention plans for Medicare beneficiaries.
- Minimum Cost Ratio. Mandates health insurers and health plans spend at least 85% of all premium dollars collected for large employer coverages on health care services and health care quality improvement. For plans sold to individuals and small employers, mandates at least 80% of the premium must be spent on benefits and quality improvement.
The ACA created “Accountable Care Organizations” (ACOs) and other programs to help doctors and health care providers work together to deliver better care; these programs and ACOs started implementation in 2012.
- Integrating Health Systems. The ACA provides incentives for physicians, hospitals and others (including insurers and plans) to join to form “Accountable Care Organizations.” These are intended to improve patient care, help prevent disease and illness and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
- Health Information Technology (HIT): The ACA initiates a series of changes and incentives to standardize billing and requires health plans to begin adopting and implementing rules for the secure, confidential, electronic exchange of health information.
Open enrollment in the state-based and federal health benefit exchanges begins on October 1st.
- Preventive Health Coverage: The ACA provides new federal funding to state Medicaid programs choosing to cover preventive services for patients at little or no cost.
- Increasing Medicaid Reimbursements for Primary Care Physicians: The ACA requires states to pay primary care physicians no less than 100% of Medicare payment rates in 2013 and 2014 for primary care services. The federal government initially funds the increase.
- Enrollment Opens for State and Federal Health Benefit Exchanges: Starting October 1, 2013, individuals and small businesses can enroll in “qualified health benefit plans” in the state.
State and federal health benefit exchanges are supposed to be running; middle and low-income families (with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level) will receive tax credits toward the cost of coverage purchased through an exchange. Medicaid expansion is slated to occur as well.
- Guaranteed Issue: The ACA requires that health policies be issued regardless of any medical condition, and partial community rating requires insurers to offer the same premium to all applicants of the same age and geographical location without regard to gender or most pre-existing conditions (excluding tobacco use, although California disallows the use of tobacco use as a rating factor in coverage costs).
- No Annual Limits on Coverage. The ACA prohibits new plans and existing group plans from imposing annual dollar limits on the amount of coverage an individual may receive.
- Employer Coverage Mandate: Firms employing 50 or more people but not offering health insurance will also pay a shared responsibility requirement if the government has had to subsidize an employee's health care. (POSTPONED TO 2015)
- State and Federal Health Benefit Exchanges: Individuals whose employers do not offer coverage will be able to buy coverage directly in a health benefit exchange.
- Tax Subsidies: Low-income individuals and families between 100% and up to 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL) will receive taxpayer subsidies on a sliding scale if they choose to purchase coverage in an exchange.
- Small Business Tax Credits: The ACA implements the second phase of the small business tax credit, allowing small businesses to qualify for taxpayer subsidies if they purchase coverage through an exchange. The credit increases to 50% of the employer’s contribution to provide health insurance for employees. The credit for small non-profits increases to 35%.
- Medicaid Expansion: Expands Medicaid eligibility to include all individuals and families with incomes up to 133% of the poverty level, and simplifies the CHIP enrollment process. States are to receive 100% federal funding for the first three years to support expanded coverage, then federal funding is scheduled to reduce to 90% in subsequent years.
- Individual Mandate: The ACA requires all individuals not covered by an employer sponsored health plan, Medicaid, Medicare or other public insurance programs to secure an approved private-insurance policy or pay a penalty, unless the applicable individual is a member of a recognized religious sect exempted by the Internal Revenue Service, or waived in cases of financial hardship.
In 2015, the ACA shifts focus to physician payments and outcomes. The ACA seeks to tie physician payments to the quality of care they provide. Physicians will see their payments modified so that those who provide higher value care will receive higher payments than those who provide lower quality care.
Mixed Results So Far – Constitutional Challenges and Administrative Fumbling
Constitutional Challenge to the ACA:
The single largest threat to the ACA was the legal challenge to the constitutionality of the ‘Individual Mandate.’ On November 14, 2011, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a writ of certiorari to the United States Appeals Court for the Eleventh Circuit to consider appeals to its rulings in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius and Florida v. United States Department of Health and Human Services. The Court heard oral arguments March 26–28, 2012 and decided the consolidated case on June 28, 2012. Though the Supreme Court declared that the Commerce Clause did not protect the law, and that under that justification it was not constitutional, the Court declared that the legislatively declared "penalty" was constitutional, as it would more properly be construed as a tax collected under Congress's taxing power, thereby upholding the individual mandate.
The Court also limited the federal government’s power to force expansion of Medicaid to all states, as initially proposed under the ACA. States can now choose to expand Medicaid, or not. All other provisions of the ACA continue to be in effect, with some limits on the Medicaid expansion.
Poor Drafting and Administrative Failures
In addition to the legal challenge that nearly ended the ACA, poor drafting due to the rush to enact the bill, as well as administrative failures, have resulted in a number of missteps and failures to implement the ACA as intended.
- The CLASS Act: The healthcare law included a new insurance program for long-term care, known as the CLASS Act. The program could not be implemented as written, and Congress eventually repealed the program.
- Funding For Federal Insurance Exchanges: Only 18 states (and the District of Columbia) are operating state-based health benefit exchangesi. The ACA provides massive funding for states to set up their own exchanges — and no funds at all for the federally run exchanges. Because 33 states have declined to operate their own exchanges, the Administration has had to cobble together funds from other programs so that it can build the remaining 33 marketplaces.
- The Employer Coverage Mandate: The most recent stumble came early this summer, when the White House announced that it would delay enforcement of ACA’s employer mandate by one year, to 2015. The effect of this on the ACA is unknown, but it does prove the difficulty the federal government assumed in taking responsibility for changing America’s health care systems.
- The Small-Business Exchange: Before delaying the employer mandate, the administration delayed by one year a part of the new insurance exchanges for small business. Although the exchanges will be up and running next year as planned, employers will have to wait another year before they can let their workers choose from a range of plans, rather than selecting just one for the entire company.
- More than 1,200 Special Interest Waivers from the ACA: The Administration has approved more than 1,200 waivers from a provision of the ACA that gradually eliminated annual caps on benefits.
- IRS Form 1099 Reporting: As enacted, the ACA compelled businesses to report nearly all transactions worth more than $600 to the IRS, on Form 1099. Business groups characterized the provision as unnecessary red tape, excessively intrusive in daily business operations, and a compliance nightmare.
- Child-Only Plans: One provision of the ACA, requiring health insurers and plans to cover children’s pre-existing conditions if they sold child-only plans, resulted in health insurers and plans to stop issuing new policies just for children.
- The Federal High Risk Pool: PCIP: The $5 billion Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan (PCIP) offered health coverage to sick patients waiting for full implementation of ACA. PCIP failed to enroll as many people as anticipated, and its costs were higher than expected. In February of this year, the Administration stopped accepting new applicants into the program to ensure it would have enough money to cover people already enrolled.
- The Basic Health Plan: The Administration decided to delay an ACA program known as the Basic Health Plan. The Basic Health Plan would let states bargain directly with insurance companies to create a scaled-down plan for people who aren’t eligible for Medicaid but might not be able to afford the more expensive private plans sold through the exchanges.
- Waiver for Congressional Staff: During legislative debate on the ACA, Democrats accepted a GOP amendment from Senator Grassley saying members of Congress and their staffs had to use ACA. The Administration waived this requirement for Congressional staff.
Long Term ACA Problems
Two-tiered Medicaid System: Under the ACA, states receiving federal funds to expand Medicaid must offer certain preventative care services to newly eligible Medicaid enrollees. While the federal government provides funds as an incentive for states to extend these additional services to existing Medicaid enrollees, they are under no obligation to accept those incentives, per the Supreme Courts’ ruling, and some have already chosen not to do so.
Exchange Navigators and ID Fraud: Nationally, there is increasing concern over the safety of exchange enrollees’ personal information and the potential for fraud. To be fair, both the federal government and state exchanges are sensitive to this concern, with the federal government issuing guidelines to state exchanges on background checks for exchange navigators. California has enacted SB 509 (DeSaulnier and Emmerson), allowing California’s exchange the necessary authority to conduct background checks for persons who do not hold an insurance agent or broker’s license, but are selling coverage through the exchange, in an effort to protect consumers private information.
Consumer concerns with ID theft and fraud could significantly undermine consumer confidence in purchasing coverage through exchanges; recent revelations regarding the federal government’s National Security Administration extensive monitoring of American’s communications and the IRS using tax status to further partisan Democratic Party interests presumably hurts broader public confidence in the exchanges.
The ACA’s Primary Promises – To Expand Coverage, Improve Care and Reduce Costs
Expanding Care and Provider Shortages
One of the signature goals of the ACA is to expand coverage, to provide coverage for nearly all legal citizens. Yet the reality of providing universal coverage is that America already suffers from a physician shortage, especially of primary care providers, and most acutely in rural areas. Yet the ACA does very little in addressing this problem; there is no funding for new medical schools; there is no law addressing scope of practice for mid-level practitioners such as Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants to expand access to care; there is no law (or significant funding) to balance the disparity between primary care providers and specialists. All of these failures, coupled with increased demand for medical services will exacerbate the physician shortage and decrease access to care as more patients wait longer for care. As many have noted, giving someone a health insurance card does not guarantee access to a doctor.
The ACA also promises a health care system that improves patient safety and quality of care, and invests in prevention and wellness programs. It is true that those with health care coverage generally have better health care, and better health care outcomes, than those without coverage. It is also accepted as true that HIT may improve efficiencies and quality of care, but that is not yet proven consistently true.
The physician shortage directly plays into the ability to improve care. Merritt Hawkins & Associates, a physician search and consulting firm, conducted a survey of physician wait times in 15 different metropolitan areas nationwide, and concluded:
"… Boston experiences by far the longest average wait times of any of the 15 metropolitan markets. In addition, wait times in Boston increased in 2009 over 2004 in three of the four specialties where comparisons are possible: dermatology, Ob/Gyn and orthopedic surgery. In general, wait times decreased in 2009 relative to 2004 in most metropolitan markets surveyed, with several exceptions.”
Examining wait times is Boston in notable because Massachusetts adopted a health care reform initiative in 2006 similar to the ACA. The initiative succeeded in covering many of the state’s uninsured patients. However, survey results demonstrate that many patients in Massachusetts are encountering difficulty in accessing physicians. Long appointment wait times in Boston signals what is likely to happen nationally once coverage is expanded through the ACA. Expanding coverage to approximately 49 millionii uninsured Americans can be expected to extend doctor appointment wait times in many areas.
Notwithstanding the potential improvements to patient care resulting from greater deployment of HIT, without a significant infusion of primary care physicians into the workforce, it is very unlikely the ACA can fulfill its promise to improve care for all Americans. Waiting longer to access care, as noted in Boston, will be the natural result of increasing demand by expanding coverage.
Reducing Costs – Rationing Care?
The remaining signature goal of the ACA was to improve affordability, with the president promising his plan would "bring down premiums by $2500 for the typical family," reduce long-term growth of health care costs for businesses and government, protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs, assure affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans, all while investing in prevention and wellness programs. The ACA seeks to achieve these savings through better health information technology (HIT) systems broadly deployed throughout the nation’s health care facilities and systems, and increased emphasis on prevention and wellness programs. Yet the president’s former Budget Director, Peter R. Orszag, previously headed the Congressional Budget Office when it published an analysis discounting the savings resulting from HIT: "Research indicates that in certain settings, health IT appears to make it easier to reduce health spending if other steps in the broader health care system are also taken to alter incentives to promote savings. By itself, the adoption of more health IT is generally not sufficient to produce significant cost savings." Additionally, it is not clear that prevention and wellness programs offer sufficient savings to fulfill the ACA’s promise to reduce health care costs. An article by research professor Louise Russell published January 2010 in Health Affairs concludes: "Over the past four decades, hundreds of studies have shown that prevention usually adds to medical spending." Russell cites 279 cost-effectiveness ratios for preventive interventions from 599 studies published between 2000 and 2005 in which 20% of preventive options produced cost savings, while 80% added more medical costs than they save.
Critically, the ACA fails to recognize medical utilization drives coverage costs. According to a January 2006 study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report titled "The Factors Fueling Rising Healthcare Costs,” approximately 86 cents out of every premium dollar go directly towards paying for medical services such as hospital care, physician care, medical devices and prescription drugs. The remaining costs are spent on consumer services, marketing, government regulation and three percent for insurer profits. Moreover, premium increases very closely follow health care spending growth over time. In the ten-year period (1993-2003) for which data are available, premiums grew at an annual rate of 7.3 percent, while the cost of healthcare services grew at an annual rate of 7.2 percent.
As medical utilization is the primary driver of health care costs, the only way to ensure controlling these costs are to ration care directly by limiting services, or indirectly by capping provider reimbursement rates. Neither approach will give Americans access to care as promised by the ACA.
ACA Embedded Cost Drivers
At the same time, other ACA provisions take effect that will significantly increase the cost of coverage, such as the health insurance tax, minimum essential benefits, and restrictions on age rating. The cumulative impact of all of these provisions increases not only the cost of coverage, but also the likelihood that some individuals, especially younger ones, will choose to purchase insurance only after they become sick or injured, further increasing the cost of coverage for everyone else with insurance.
In enacting the ACA, there were a number of risks to implementation, some unforeseen but others predictable. Congressional Democrats were notably dismissive of the ACA’s vulnerability on Constitutional grounds, and had the Chief Justice not determined the ACA’s penalty on non-compliance to the individual mandate to be a “tax,” the ACA itself may have been overturned. Additionally, as the ACA’s specific details grow clearer, especially the potential taxpayer subsidy of health insurance for families making up to $94,000 annually, and its effect on providing employers an incentive to expand their part-time workforce in lieu of full-time jobs, public opposition may grow. In this light, it is important to note the ACA has almost never enjoyed public support. Currently, the Kaiser Family Foundation’s tracking poll on the ACA shows in June 2013 that 43% opposed, 35% support and 23% of respondents “don’t know or refused to answer” when asked their views of the ACA.iii
The ACA is predicated upon a number of assumptions that very likely will not hold once tested by reality: that significant expansion of coverage through public programs like Medicaid and subsidized coverage through health insurance exchanges will result in cost-saving improvements to America’s public health; that unproven technology and prevention programs can significantly reduce inefficiencies and costs; that federal regulations can realize health care efficiencies that will reduce costs and improve care; that there are near enough doctors and hospitals to accept the greater demand that will naturally result from expanding subsidized coverage; that a government that mismanages Social Security and Medicare can now, magically, manage to provide Americans with better, cheaper, and more health care coverage than the market has provided in previous decades.
For additional information, please visit: Key Health Care Reform Issues, found at the California State Senate Republican Caucus Homepage.
For more information on this report or other Health issues, contact Tim Conaghan, Senate Republican Office of Policy at 916/651-1501.

domain: law


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It's worth knowing that there are laws in place to help you extend your lease, should you wish to do so. During a short lease of 99 years, the property can be bought and sold but your term does not change. As the years roll on, the lease will reduce in length and value, making it decreasingly attractive to mortgage lenders. As a result, the shorter the lease gets, the more expensive it becomes to extend.
If your lease has less than 90 years left, it is time to consider extending, before you fall into what is known as the '80-year trap'. There are various ways to overcome this problem though, so don't panic if you do find yourself in this position.
If you've owned the property for at least two years, you're in luck. You've got a legal right to ask your freeholder for an extension of 90 years, so the first thing to do is to approach your landlord to discuss a new agreement.
If you've lived in the property for under two years, it gets a little more complicated. You can either persuade the freeholder to let you extend, or join the proceedings if the previous owner had already set about trying to get an extension. If neither option works, you'll have to wait until you've been there for the magic two-year period before you can set the ball rolling.
Another option is to buy a share of your freehold with your other neighbours, as when you do this, you can extend the lease at the same time - and often for free too.
There's lots of different costs at play here, so a solicitor can help you with a more in-depth valuation. As a guide though, costs can rise by 1% of the property's value, and there's also stamp duty, legal costs and valuation fees to consider. Most lenders will extend your mortgage to pay for a lease extension, but they'll want to make sure you can afford this.


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From 2014, European satellite navigation system Galileo will provide GPS signals for government users such as the police, military or security services in addition to signals for navigation devices for cars and shipping. On Tuesday Parliament approved detailed rules governing the future “public regulated service” of the Galileo, to be launched in mid-October.
The rules specify who will have the access to encrypted signals and the conditions under which companies will be allowed to develop and sell the software applications or navigation devices. MEPs adopted the proposal with 556 votes in favour against 71 and 30 abstentions.
Galileo will provide five different services: the open service, the commercial service, the safety-of-life service, the search-and-rescue service and the public regulated service (PRS). PRS is one of three initial services which could be provided from 2014 and will be restricted to government-authorised users for sensitive applications, such as critical infrastructure, transport, defence, security and emergency services. These services will use powerful, encrypted signals, as they will need a high level of precision and reliability.
The general public will not have access to PRS – it will be restricted to Member States and EU institutions, while EU agencies, non-member countries and international organisations will be able to use it by special authorisation.
Conditons of use
The rules make a clear distinction between PRS participants, such as Member States, the Council, the Commission (as well as EU agencies, non-member countries and international organisations) and PRS users, who are companies, authorities and persons authorised by the participants to manufacture, own or use a PRS receiver. Users will have to undergo security checks and apply encryption keys when operating the receivers.
Potential uses of the service will be left to the Member States’ discretion, but they will have to meet the minimum security standards and the Member States will have to appoint a Competent PRS Authority to manage and supervise all authorised users. Manufacturers of receivers will need a EU-wide authorisation, while the export of the equipment and technology will be restricted.
Participation will be optional for each Member State, as well as the way the service will be used and whether users should pay for it


If you can remember the 1990s, you weren't there. Said nobody. These days the way we fetishize the past it's impossible to forget what it was like way back when.
In Remember 1998 Simon Peterson jumps in his metaphorical time machine and journey's back to 1998 to collate the pop culture moments that defined those 365 days, in the latest instalment of his 'Remember' series.
It's a big old nostalgia orgy for a time when things were simpler and the internet was nothing but fields. And you could buy a bottle of Peach Tea Snapple for three cents and still have change left over to feed your tamagotchi for a week. Oh the memories! But don't trouble yourself straining your brain trying to actually remember 1998, that's why we have the internet.
So rally round and come peer at your computer screen while emitting little coos of remembrance. And then feel old. So terribly, terribly old.


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16 Wall Street Cliches in 60 Seconds
Pundits say a lot of things about the markets. Let's see if you can keep up.
Have A Question About This Topic?
Learn about all the parts of Medicare with this informative and enjoyable article.
Here are five facts about Social Security that might surprise you.
Many pre-retirees can become focused on the “ideal” retirement, but turning that dream into a reality can be tricky.


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Digital David & Goliath: The EU’s recent $2.7 billion antitrust fine against Google is a big win for the information antitrust war led by Yelp; the small search engine rival of Google that led the intercontinental fight for 6 years utilized various approaches along the way from hackathons to meetings with regulatory agencies to provide evidence of Google’s monopoly on online searching. .
Tempting the Twenty: Ongoing debates about data security, the trustworthiness of the digital economy, and internet access have led members of the G20 to devise a set of guiding regulatory principles in an effort to encourage each member nation to adopt the proposed digital agenda ahead of the G20 Summit in Germany this week.
Terrorism Justifies Privy to Private Messaging? Privacy red flags have been raised as ongoing pressure from various international regulators has resulted in some of Facebook’s human content moderators receiving additional clearance to investigate user profiles with suspected ties to terrorist groups, including their private messages.
Armed and Autonomous: The Dubai police force has unveiled first-of-their-kind driverless police cars equipped with built-in surveillance drones, license plate readers, and facial recognition technology that human officers can use to remotely monitor crowded areas and identify suspects.
Information Security and Cyberthreats
DOJ Dodging Diplomacy? Seemingly in an effort to circumvent international authorities and gain access to data centers worldwide, the DOJ has proposed legislation to Congress and petitioned the Supreme Court to allow the issuing of warrants for digital information stored outside the United States by asking for an expansion of the Stored Communications Act.
Testing the Truth: As AI technology advances, some startups are developing capabilities which within the coming years will create realistic audio and video forgeries eventually undetectable to even forensic analysis, and as these developments evolve so too will various industries that depend on evidence of the truth such as journalism, national security, and the criminal justice system.
Proving Grounds: Weaker defense systems, the rush to enter the digital economy, and the likelihood of anonymity have made developing countries in Southwest Asia and Africa prime targets for hackers looking to test and modify new malware before wielding it against well-fortified entities such as international banks or government networks in more developed countries.
Snapchat’s Shopping Spree: The release of Snapchat’s new Snap Map seems to be the beginning of the company’s venture into augmented reality, as its recent purchases of hundreds of location-dependent technology patents will eventually allow users to tether photos and messages to particular locations on the map that will send to other users when they are nearby.
Free Expression and Censorship
Secure or Censored? A new study has found that websites that switch from HTTP to secure HTTPs connections prevent government censors from blocking specific web pages, forcing censoring governments to decide whether to allow all content on a particular site or block the site entirely.
Content Control: A new wave of government regulations aimed at the Chinese media industry will subject online audiovisual content to an audit to ensure it comports with “core socialist values,” drawing backlash from critics who say the rules will hamper creativity and force popular blogs and social media platforms to limit their content or shut down.
Conversations on “Connected Cars”: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) held a workshop on the “connected car” to address the NHTSA’s proposed rule, consumer safety benefits, the multitude of privacy and information security concerns surrounding this technology, and the need for the private sector to take a vested interest in the regulation of this interdisciplinary intersection of the auto and tech industries.
On the Lighter Side
A Phone for That: While the iPhone celebrated its 10th anniversary this past week, one reporter and smartphone holdout remarked that using the iPhone has dispensed with our need for previously commonplace physical objects like handwritten calendars, noisy alarm clocks, and even our once-beloved iPods.
Joel R. Reidenberg
Stanley D. and Nikki Waxberg Chair and Professor of Law
Founding Academic Director, Fordham CLIP
N. Cameron Russell
Executive Director, Fordham CLIP
Editorial Fellows, Fordham CLIP


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Date(s) - 09/11/2015
Register here for access to the recording of this webinar, available within 7 days of the live class on 07/30/2015. We will email you when the recording is posted here. Prefer the live event? Register here.
Library conferences are a tremendous learning environment for all library staff. There are live speakers, networking opportunities, vendor presentations, and don’t forget that overwhelming exhibit hall! With the travel expenses, conference fees, and difficulty in getting time away from the library, some staff believe they will never have the chance to attend a conference.
In this interactive and informative program, Anne Abate, an experienced conference planner and attendee will not only provide tips on attending the conference and getting the most out of it, but also the best ways to convince your board, boss, or community that sending you to a library conference will be the best decision they ever made.
Also learn how to make that library conference a more fulfilling experience by sharing the wealth when you return to your library.
Instructor Bio ~ Anne Abate
Anne has worked in a wide variety of libraries and library-related organizations during her career. She is currently the owner of Library Discount Network, a business that negotiates with database vendors on behalf of library consortia and networks. The company also provides administrative and management support for nonprofit organizations.
Registration is closed for this event.

domain: library


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Do’s & Don’ts to consider
Do talk about unrealistic representations of sex in pornography
Stress that what they are seeing is often a conflation of sex and violence, is dictated by a handful of pornographers that use extreme acts to shock people into watching and has little bearing on reality.
Do talk about unrealistic representations of bodies pornography
The body image talk here is key for both boys and girls – everything from hairless bodies to fake breasts, talk about the misrepresentation of reality.
Do talk about the impact of sexualisation on young people
Point it out wherever you see it – in signs, in music videos in magazines
Do get them to think critically about the images they see
Don’t let them be passive viewers get them to think about why women are being depicted in this way and the impact it has on expectations in relationships.
Dont allow pornographers to talk to them before you
You have the chance to influence how they absorb this material, make sure you take it.
Don’t make them feel guilty about what they have seen
You want them to be able to come to you so you need to be on the same side
Don't forget to check in with them regularly
This is not a one-off conversation so raise it again when they get their first partner and talk about their feelings about intimacy and boundaries.
Don't make it difficult for them to come to you
Have an open door policy, be patient, be on their side.
We’ve created an advice hub to offer parents more tips and advice to help protect children and young people from online pornography.

domain: psychology


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Among the most popular forms of casino poker on the net is Texas Hold em. One of the best ways to get into this video game when you are a newbie is to observe various other rivals playing the video game at the site that you’ve signed up with. This is a terrific means to learn the specific Texas hold’em game you have chosen because you see what kind of techniques work and what type of methods do not function. Not everyone that plays Texas Hold ’em is a novice – there are lots of excellent gamers that do not play for lots of money online. Most of the moment they stay with micro restrictions. Playing the micros is a fantastic way to take pleasure in and learn the video game without really feeling the stress of placing your whole financial institution roll on the line.
If you do not want to play Texas Hold ’em on the internet, there are other games you can play. All you need to do is search the internet for websites that let you play poker without spending a dime of your own cash. A lot of these sites will certainly also offer you a few totally free dollars to start out with, permitting you to play a money online poker video game making use of your home’s cash and not risking your very own. The internet has escalated the ability and also competition of casino poker while likewise increasing its availability. There are thousands of tables offered online, all easy to participate in seconds. There are lots of different variations of the game, whether you play for real money or fake money. Ultimately, what issues is that you enjoy while playing the video game.
In the above component of the post some variations of pokerqq have actually already been described, yet there are likewise many others. A lot of these are available on the web as long as the interested event searches for them. Other video game types include 5 card draw, seven card stud, Anaconda, and several other video game types and variants. Much like the above Texas Hold ’em video game, gamers can have fun with real cash or with funny money, or perhaps cash given by the site itself. Texas hold’em is an unbelievably prominent hobby on the internet as a result of the range offered. There are lots of ready any type of skill degree, interest, or preference. Best of all, these video games are totally free to sign up with and are readily available any time, any kind of place, as long as you have a net link.


text: Mumbai Wine Festival Is Back With Its Fifth Edition Anupama Khedkar March 5, 2015 FS News, Local Mumbai Wine Festival is here for another installment of their delectable flourish. Having run successfully for five years, Mumbai’s homegrown wine fest is back to dazzle you with their authentic wines and organic aura. The dates of the festival have been rescheduled to 14th & 15th of March and the tickets are on sale HERE. (Image Courtesy: Mumbai Wine Festival Facebook) Exquisite hand-picked wines from Maharashtra, Karnataka and even some foreign wineries, Mumbai wine festival promises to yet again, transform this city into a wine lover’s paradise. (Image Courtesy: Mumbai Wine Festival Instagram) Enjoy a halcyon evening with exquisite wines, delicious food and some great music.


Washington — The United States views the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a “central pillar” of U.S. strategy to elevate engagement across Asia, where “much of the future will be determined,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told attendees at the U.S.-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Cambodia.
Speaking July 11 at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Clinton said the reason the Obama administration places so much emphasis on the organization is because “we work with ASEAN on the issues that are of central importance to the United States, from maritime security to nonproliferation to economic growth,” adding that the United States has “more investment in ASEAN than we have in China.”
She said the United States is focused on six issues with ASEAN: regional security cooperation; economic integration and trade; engagement in the Lower Mekong region; transnational threats; democratic development and war legacies.
The secretary said there is much more room for the United States and ASEAN to expand their economic ties, and the Obama administration is working to “foster more economic activity in very tangible ways,” such as bringing the largest-ever delegation of American business executives to Cambodia who will attend the first U.S.-ASEAN Business Forum on July 20 to “lay the groundwork for economic connections and mutual prosperity for a long time to come.”
Many ASEAN members have suffered recent natural disasters, such as the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and the 2011 floods in the Philippines and Thailand. Clinton said natural disasters “are one of the most significant challenges to the stability, development and prosperity of the ASEAN nations.”
The United States “has been a committed first responder,” she said, and in 2011 it established a legal framework called a Rapid Disaster Response Agreement to help increase its effectiveness in delivering supplies, services and personnel. Clinton said both Laos and Singapore have endorsed the agreement, and it is close to being concluded with the Philippines. She encouraged other ASEAN members to review it.
The United States is also reinvigorating its development assistance to the region through the Asia Pacific Strategic Engagement Initiative (APSEI), which she said is aimed at realigning U.S. assistance with “the priorities we are pursuing in partnership” with ASEAN countries. She said the Obama administration will offer a "down payment" on APSEI in the coming days, and “in the coming months, we’ll be able to talk more about this initiative and its resources.”
According to a July 11 State Department fact sheet, the United States and ASEAN are cooperating on a variety of other projects, including the ASEAN Development Vision to Advance National Cooperation and Economic Integration (the ADVANCE program), which implements approximately 40 activities each year “to support human rights promotion and protection, narrow the development gap among ASEAN member countries and enhance economic integration.”
To address the gap in prosperity among member countries, the United States and ASEAN are also using the Lower Mekong Initiative, which brings in U.S. public and private sector support for ASEAN’s Connectivity Initiative, as well as enhances cooperation in the region on health, education and the environment, according to the fact sheet.
The fact sheet also mentioned cooperation to end human trafficking in Southeast Asia through public awareness and youth-related capacity building, including U.S.-supported live concerts in the region through the MTV EXIT campaign.
ASEAN and the Obama administration are also working together to improve regional food security by increasing market access for food producers and increasing price transparency for ASEAN consumers through the Maximizing Agricultural Revenue through Knowledge, Enterprise Development, and Trade (MARKET) program, the fact sheet said.


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Other Answers (5)Relevance
You still have some vaginal bleeding after a c-section, but no where near as much, more like a light to moderate period and it usually lasts for no more that 2 weeks. The gerenal rule for sex after having a baby is not for the first 6 weeks, but some doctors say 4 weeks for a c-section.
Source(s):I am a L&D nurse of 9 years and had a c-section 12/5/08
Yes you still have bleeding. But the good thing is that it wont last as long. Cuz while they're in there they will clean you out. I think my bleeding lasted like 3 or 4 weeks. As far as sex they recommend at least 6 weeks but hey if you feel up to it I would go for it. Just go slow though!!
i had a c section 1/3/09 and my vaginal bleeding only lasted like a week and it was like an extremely light period. i'm guessing, like everything that the amount of bleeding and time varies from person to person. i waited two weeks after my c section to have sex, but you have to take it easy and be careful of the incision,
yes u do i bleed for 3 weeks after my csection,
my doctor told me 6 weeks wait to have sex but i did it at four
yes the afterbirth(blood) has to come out somehow. you went 9 months with no period and it has to come out. you should only bleed for 2 weeks and then have your period at around week 4.
Do you still have vaginal bleeding after birth if you have a c-section?
if you have to have a c-section done do you still bleed for weeks after you have the baby..how many weeks? and how many weeks do you have to wait to have sex if you have a c-section?

domain: medical


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Take a walk with me through the landscape of Easter as the Bible portrays it.
Rapturous popular admiration for Jesus and religious condemnation
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
The Last Supper – the way of salvation revealed in symbolic form
In Gethsemane- wrestling in prayer with his fathers will. God’s ways are not always easy.
Betrayal – a follower betrays with a kiss
Trial and political machinations
Betrayal – I do not know him – a cock crowing!
A man carries the cross of Jesus
Jesus cares for his mother
A Roman Officer declares him the son of God
A dying criminal finds the way to Paradise
They watch his tomb
He is Risen. Jesus is Alive
Your friend and Pastor

domain: literature


A pesky multitouch bug affecting the new Nexus 7 is no more, thanks to a new software update that is being rolled out by Google this week. There were concerns that the problem may have been related to hardware — given that it didn’t affect all Nexus 7 tablets — but the “JSS15J” release that’s being issued over-the-air promises to eliminate it.
It also addresses an issue with GPS sensitivity, too.
Towards the end of each year, IBM Research publishes a list of five things it predicts our gadgets will be capable of within the next five years. While some of its predictions seem a little too outlandish and farfetched, others — such as its 2006 prediction for realtime speech translation — become a reality.
IBM’s 2012 list is all about the five senses. It predicts that by 2018, our gadgets will help us touch, see, hear, taste, and even smell. Your smartphone, IBM believes, will use new technologies to simulate the physical sensation of touching something, while your tablet will be able to taste your food.
ClockWorkMod is the go-to tool for Android users who enjoy flashing different ROMs as well as performing a slew of other root functions directly from their phone. ClockWorkMod Touch adds touch support to the popular tool and has slowly been rolling out support to a variety of devices. Over the weekend, Koushik Dutta, the author of ClockworkMod recovery, released the first version of the software for tablets. ClockworkMod Touch is now available on the Asus Transformer and Transformer Prime.


It was a tearful goodbye, but Ellen took the opportunity to laugh aswell in her segment bidding farewell to Obama today on her show. Check it out above!
Politicious Category Archive
Balenciaga designer Demna Gvasalia has perhaps achieved a first in fashion, no small task: He made us do a double take to make sure one of his runway models wasn’t literally a door canvasser for the Bernie Sanders campaign (see photo above). Well done! Bernie Sanders himself even had a few thoughts to contribute on the collection.
As a counterpoint to the civically engaged volunteer look, Gvasalia also presented rumpled retrofuture businessman looks and a layered puffer vest ensemble that prompted this comment from Bernie, “With all due respect to Mr. Gvasalia, who I’m sure is a terrific person, we’ve been wearing this look in Vermont for years.”
See our favorite looks from the Balenciaga Fall/Winter 2017 men’s collection after the jump.
!! OMG, SCHOOLED! Watch Senators question Betsy DeVos’ qualifications during her confirmation hearings !!
Heavens to Betsy – What a total shitshow! I feel like I’m watching the resistance fight a billionaire Darth Vader, except even Darth wouldn’t fund gay conversion therapy and Betsy DeVos‘ darksided lightsaber is made of the kindergarten-grade, manipulative re-directing and re-wording of questions, paired with a flat out refusal to answer any question to begin with!
How infuriating for America! This is someone who will be in charge of the quality of a whole generation of children’s education. And what’s the point of these hearings if they can’t even get a firm YES or NO out of the lady!? Watch Bernie, Elizabeth and more of my other heroes take her DOWN! (Too bad it likely ain’t gonna do shit…) Check them out after the jump if you want a real taste of the kind of BS America is in for!
!! OMG, Vic Berger strikes again! Steve Harvey has a change of heart about President Donald Trump !!
Wow! Donald really grabbed Steve by the bussy! First Kanye, now Steve – if one thing is for sure, it’s that Donald has the support of African Americans everywhere! Check out Steve’s change of heart above!
A monumental moment in American history, and President Obama’s words could not be more eloquent or well-placed. Check out the President’s last speech to the country as he leaves office above! Thoughts?


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The ribbon has recently been cut on the Ribble Valley’s latest affordable housing scheme delivered by Great Places Housing Group.
Ribble Valley Mayor Tony Austin officially opened Phase 3 of the Petre Wood Estate in Billington, with VIPs including Great Places Housing Group CEO Matt Harrison, which features 31 affordable two and three-bedroom houses and bungalows for shared ownership and rent.
The development was made possible by a £1.1million cash boost from Homes England, which assured all of the properties would be affordable.
Mr Harrison said: “We are working tirelessly to provide affordable housing solutions across the North and are delighted to have worked in partnership with Ribble Valley Borough Council to address the borough’s chronic shortage of affordable homes.
“Petre Wood is a great example of how partnership working can bring about fantastic outcomes and we are delighted to have delivered Phase 3 of this scheme.”
Ribble Valley Mayor Tony Austin added: “I am particularly delighted to officially open Phase 3 of Petre Wood, because it is in the ward I represent.
“There is a pressing need for affordable housing in Ribble Valley and we are working closely with registered housing providers to address the problem.”
A further 80 properties for affordable rent, shared ownership, discount sale, rent-to-buy for the over-55s will be available in Ribble Valley to local households with annual earnings of less than £80,000 over the coming months.
The properties, including two and three-bedroom houses, and two-bedroom bungalows, will be available in Clitheroe, Barrow, Langho and Longridge.
All new developments in Ribble Valley have to comprise 30 per cent affordable properties – half of them specifically for older people – that attract a mix of people of all ages and circumstances to help create a balanced community.
Discount sale properties are available to people with a local connection for up to 40 per cent below the market value, while shared ownership allows purchasers to buy between 25 and 75 per cent of a property, with an affordable rent on the remainder.
New homes are also available for affordable rent below the market value in line with the local housing allowance, while rent-to-buy allows people to access shared ownership with a minimal deposit by ‘gifting’ them one per cent of the value of the property.
Mark Hindle, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s health and housing committee, said: “The provision of affordable housing, particularly for younger and older residents, is one of the biggest challenges we face.
“We are working closely with housing providers to address this issue and delivered 119 affordable units last year, of which 14 were in rural villages.
“Affordable properties are built to a high specification, with modern bathrooms, contemporary fitted kitchens, turfed gardens and dedicated parking.
“They are an ideal way for some eligible residents to access the housing market and we are delighted that properties will soon be available in areas where affordable homes are particularly scarce.”

domain: finance


text:
Raspberry Hill is a dog friendly vacation rental.
To ensure the comfort of all our guests, pet owners agree to the following policies:
• Dogs must be accompanied by their owners at all times.
• Dogs are not to be left unattended.
• Dogs are not permitted on the furniture or linens.
• Please advise of any “accidents” so they may be addressed promptly.
• Guests are to use the bags provided to dispose of any “deposits” made by pets on cabin grounds. All trash must be secured in trash bags before placing in the outside trash can.
• Pet owners will be responsible for the repair/replacement of items stained or damaged by their pet. If additional cleaning is required after your departure, the cleaning service fee and/or repair costs will be the guests’ responsibility.
3 - 3
(907) 299-3071 /(907) 235-5645 • Homer, Alaska • email@example.com

domain: travel


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text:
MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - Monroe County authorities say they acted on a tip on Wednesday afternoon and that has led to a new development in the search for a missing Monroe County man.
Sheriff Cecil Cantrell tells WTVA.com that his department received a tip around 3:45 about the case of William Harold Wright, 69, of Monroe County.
Wright has been missing since around the middle of April.
The sheriff says they discovered a Ford Ranger Edge pickup truck submerged in the Buttahatchee River about 300 yards east of the Cochran Bridge.
Sheriff Cantrell says authorities also did discover the body of Mr. Wright.
Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley says the autopsy results show the cause of death was drowning.

domain: news


text:
It’s a yucky weekend. The children are whining. You can’t send these to the yard to perform off energy. So how to keep them amused? Children of every age group want to color, so you can keep a collection of coloring books on the shelf. Alternatively you can find on the computer sufficient reason for merely a quick search find and print off coloring pages to appease each kid! No more sheets? Print off much more! Even you the adult can maybe pick one up or two to trip your interest. What superior solution to communicate with your kiddos than chilling around the craft table passing throughout the color crayons or markers? Have older youngsters? Select a complex landscape then let them have a selection of water colors.
You can pick coloring pages in different various themes, for either boys or girls. At Thanksgiving, select holiday themed sheets and encourage the youngsters to put them up throughout the house.
There are various features of coloring pages instead of coloring books. Coloring pages are cost-effective, costing you merely a number of cents worth of paper and ink rather than handful of dollars for any coloring book. Also, you have a choice with coloring pages, whether to keep a fool around to pick out as you please, or only print them out as you want. With coloring books without any further you have to go to the store for further books, and in addition they take up lots more room. If you find a certain neat image in a coloring book and wish more, you must either get a copy machine or pick-up various copies from the book for only a sole page. Any time you look for a image over a coloring sheet conversely, you might merely note it and pull it down to own off however many pages while you wat from without leaving home.
Irrespective in the picture that suits you, coloring sheets are the ideal solution to assist in keeping your youngsters amused.


Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2021-02-26 Origin: Site
Part 1. Dye selection
When choosing dyes, the initial uptake rate of several color matching dyes should be similar. In addition, if the initial uptake rate of the selected dyes is high, it is easy to cause stains. Generally speaking, when dyeing polyester with dispersing material, the initial dyeing rate is close, and the initial dyeing rate is slow, the quality is better, and the color matching compatibility is similar. For example, E type for light color, SE type for medium color, XF and SF type for dark color can basically dye the deep, medium and light polyester with good effect.
Part 2. Selection of additives
The dispersant also has a greater influence on the high temperature and high pressure dyeing of polyester, because different dispersants have different HBL values, and the dispersing ability is also different. Because the dyeing temperature of disperse dyes on polyester is 80-100°C, the dispersant is required to have a higher dispersing ability, that is, the HBL value is high, and the cloud point is better than 100°C. The practice of major dyeing factories has proved that anionic dispersants and non-anionic dispersants have a higher cloud point and are ideal dispersants.
Part 3. Control of heating rate
The heating rate is also an important factor in the production of colored flowers. After reaching the glass transition temperature of polyester, if the temperature rises too fast, the dye will quickly dye the fiber, forming local dyeing and causing colored flowers and color patches. If the initial dye uptake rate is High, the color is more serious. Therefore, in the dyeing heating process, it can be controlled in three stages with different heating rates.
The first stage is the normal temperature rise to 75°C. In this stage, the disperse dyes will hardly dye the fiber, and a faster heating rate of 2-3°C can be used.
The second stage is 75-110°C. This temperature zone is the fastest stage for dyeing. Slow heating must be used, and it is appropriate to control it at 0.8-1°C.
The third stage is 110-130°C. In this stage, the dyeing will be exhausted, and the heating rate of 1.5-2°C can be used.


text:
Statistics from Altmetric.com
If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.
Several people have pointed out correctly that Preventing exacerbations in COPD (first published in DTB in July 2010 [DTB 2010; 48: 74–7] and reprinted in the BMJ in January 2011) included out-of-date definitions for the grades of severity of airflow obstruction. The definitions cited were those quoted in the 2004 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The updated (2010) NICE guideline was published during the final stage of the production of the DTB article, and while the article text was amended accordingly to reflect the revised NICE recommendations on management of exacerbations, it failed to include NICE's revised definitions of severity of airflow obstruction. This error does not affect any of the DTB article's own recommendations.


Rupert Lowe, the controversial former Southampton chairman, could be in line for an unexpected return to the Championship club.
Lowe, who is still a shareholder in Southampton, is reportedly ready to join forces with Michael Wilde – the man who led the campaign to oust him in 2006 and replaced him as chairman – in an attempt to regain control at St Mary's.
Wilde resigned his position in February 2007, having failed to attract significant investment into the cash-strapped club, but remains their biggest individual shareholder.
A move to bring Lowe back could be met with resistance from Saints fans, who still hold him largely responsible for the club's current plight after they were relegated from the top flight under his stewardship in 2005.
But in a statement to the Stock Exchange yesterday, Southampton, who desperately need outside investment, confirmed that Lowe had been in touch with the current board, now chaired by Leon Crouch, although they have yet to receive details of his intentions.
The statement read: "Following the article which appeared in today's Southern Daily Echo regarding Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde, the company confirms it has been contacted by Mr Lowe. The board of Southampton has asked Mr Lowe for detailed proposals setting out his intentions for the company which it has not yet received."
A separate statement from the Saints board went further, saying: "All that matters at this stage of the season is the concentration of everyone (board, staff, manager, players and fans) upon the match against Coventry on Saturday and the need to succeed both then and in the following weeks. No true fan of the club or responsible shareholder could credibly identify themselves with such a controversial proposal at so delicate a time."
Southampton are currently 19th in the Championship, just two points above the relegation zone, having been thrashed 5-0 by Hull on Saturday.Reuse content


text:
Genesis Mini hack may be a free online game that will allow one to play most Sega games on your computer system. This crack works by changing the game code so you can enjoy the online games without paying a single cent. The hack exists for all Genesis online poker space members and is used to unlock the complete games list on your console.
This compromise involves changing the code of the game and requires a USB connection to download. You will probably need a laptop with emulation software set up. The software will then unlock each of the games with your Genesis small, including the ones that are not available somewhere else. You can also download new games to your computer.
The genesis tiny hack allows you to customize the characters, add new items to the trolley, replace the game’s settings, and much more. You can even modify the graphics of this console and change the style of the game. The software even allows you to modify the images on the video game cartridges, improve the level of improvement, and add extra lives. It even works on the Nintendo wii 2, which means you can perform Sega video games on your computer.
Adding games to your Sega Mini with Hakchi is easy. It’s a simple procedure that requires a microUSB cable with data ability. The unit will display a great LED which will flash if it is connected to a PC. And after that, you can relieve the „Reset” button and wait a few minutes for the update being completed. As the update is definitely running, you’ve got to accept pop-ups, so software blog be patient.


text:
Victoria Tram full kit
Our latest full kit - The Victoria tram.
Everything you need to build this lovely loco except glue and batteries. Fully lined as shown.
Complete with our own budget chassis that will give you years of fun.
Scaled for 32mm, but looks great on 45mm track too.
Can be built to either gauge.

domain: design


|To:||"Gene Bigham" <email@example.com>, <TowerTalk@contesting.com>|
|Subject:||Re: [TowerTalk] Ground through wall|
|From:||Jim Lux <firstname.lastname@example.org>|
|Date:||Tue, 11 Nov 2003 11:39:46 -0800|
Call up places that specialize in hardware for marine applications.
I have seen 1/4-20 copper hardware but only in surplus places.
McMaster Carr is another possibility.
At 12:39 PM 11/11/2003 -0600, Gene Bigham wrote:
I went the Radio Works route of station ground, and have a heavy cable to the wall behind my tuner with a large copper lug on it to a stainless bolt running through the plate to the outside, where in similar fashion there is another lug on a heavy cable to a ground rod located just outside. My question is, I would like to replace the stainless bolt/washer/lock washer arrangement with something brass or copper but cannot find at Home Depot or hardware here. Is there such a thing, this is a quarter inch or so sized bolt that is 5 1/2 inches to 6 inches long.
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________ TowerTalk mailing list TowerTalk@contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|<Prev in Thread]||Current Thread||[Next in Thread>|


text:
Scarification: Soak in water, let stand in water for 24 hours
Stratification: cold stratify for 40 days
Germination: sow seed 1/16" deep, tamp the soil, mulch the seed bed
Other: can be fall sown without stratification.
Looking for a striking and attractive plant to add to your garden or landscape? Look no further than Aconitum napellus, also known as Monk's Hood, Monk's-hood, or Venus' Chariot. This herbaceous perennial plant grows up to 1 meter tall and bears dark blue-violet, hooded flowers on tall spikes in late summer. It thrives in most soils and can even handle heavy clay soils. Plant it in spring or fall in rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun for best results. Aconitum napellus is also propagated by division of its brittle roots in fall or early spring. Be sure to handle this plant with care, as its seed and tubers are poisonous (it was used as a poison in ancient times!), and contact with bare skin can result in multi-organ failure and death. That said, with proper handling, Aconitum napellus is a beautiful addition to any garden. It is grown commercially as a cut flower, and its cultivar 'Spark's Variety' has been honored with a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit. Give Aconitum napellus a try and add some striking blue-violet color to your garden!

domain: agronomy


Hennessey Performance Sets Mustang Speed Record
JUNE 2, 2015
774 horsepower Hennessey Mustang tested to 207.9 mph.
On Wednesday, May 27, 2015, Hennessey Performance made another entry into the record books as the first 2015 Ford Mustang to break the 200 mph mark. You may recall that in 2014, Hennessey broke the Production Vehicle Land Speed record in his Venom GT.
With the performance that Pennzoil® Platinum 5W-30 full synthetic motor oil made from PurePlus Technology™ provides, the 2015 Hennessey Performance Supercharged Ford Mustang GT reached 207.9 mph while blazing around the 8.5 mile oval at Continental Tire Proving Grounds in Uvalde, Texas.
“If at first you don’t succeed, just add more horsepower and rpm and try again,” said company founder and president, John Hennessey.
We couldn’t agree more.
With 774 horsepower and 648 pounds of torque, the 2015 HPE750 Supercharged Ford Mustang GT’s 6-speed transmission can launch to 60 mph at 3.4 seconds. There’s a boatload of add-ons available for this beast too, including a 5.0L V8 engine upgrade that includes everything from a 2.9L Supercharger System and to embroidered headreasts and everything in between.
For just under $70,000, you can’t get much more power, performance, and hair-raising speed.
207.9 mph Hennessey Mustang


The International Integrated Reporting Framework (IIRC) released its Framework in December 2013. The Framework is primarily geared to the private sector, but it can be applied by not-for-profit and public sector organisations. The Framework incorporates the public comments submitted to the IIRC on the draft Framework of April 2013. The Framework is available on www.sustainabilitysa.org or www.theiirc.org.
Here’s what you should know about the Framework
1 The Framework carries 18 requirements that, if not met, preclude an integrated report from stating it has been prepared in accordance with the Framework. There are three allowed exceptions relating to disclosed information (1F).
2 Responsibility for the report lies with those charged with the governance of the organisation (the board, in most cases) and a statement acknowledging such responsibility is to be included in the report. There is, however, a ‘scaredy cat’ exception, but this can be applied no later than the organisation’s third report referencing the Framework (1G).
3 The Framework allows for flexibility in the form of the report. It must always be “a designated, identifiable communication”, but it can be part of a report that is prepared in response to existing compliance requirements provided that other required information “does not obscure the concise information required by the Framework” (1E). This clever move allows existing reports such as Management Commentary and Statutory Report (UK) becoming home for the integrated report without detracting from the Framework’s requirement for a concise report.
4 The definition of an integrated report is: “a concise communication about how an organization’s strategy, governance, performance and prospects, in the context of its external environment, lead to the creation of value over the short, medium and long term” (1A). The broader term of integrated reporting refers to the process, founded on integrated thinking, that results in a periodic integrated report and related communications regarding aspects of value creation. Integrated thinking refers to the active consideration by an organisation of the relationships between its various operating and functional units and the capitals it uses or affects (Glossary).
5 The primary purpose of a report is “to explain to providers of financial capital how an organization creates value over time. It therefore contains relevant information, both financial and other. An integrated report benefits all stakeholders interested in an organization’s ability to create value over time …” So, the report is primarily written to get providers of financial capital (as money owners with the power to allocate immense resources) to truly understand the material financial and non-financial factors that come together to create value for the company. An organisation can include in its report information aimed at other stakeholders, but this should “not obscure the concise information required by the Framework” (1C and refer to 3 above).
6 The Framework is principles-based. The intention is to balance flexibility and prescription recognising the wide variation in the individual circumstances of organisations while still enabling some comparability between reports (1D).
7 The Framework does not prescribe specific key performance indicators (KPIs), measurement methods, or the disclosure of individual matters. This is the remit of those responsible for the preparation and presentation of the report who must exercise judgement (1D).
8 The report tells about the organisation’s value creation process – that is, how it creates value for itself (which enables financial returns to the providers of financial capital) and for others. Others? The Framework acknowledges that value is not created by or within an organisation alone; rather it is influenced by the external environment, created through relationships with stakeholders and society at large, and dependent on various resources. The report explains these factors – to the extent that they are material to the organisation’s ability to create value for itself in the short, medium and long term. This acknowledges that the value the organisation creates for itself is linked to the value it creates for others. After all, happy stakeholders make for a happy company! (2B, 2D.) While the Framework neatly describes the value creation process, there is no definition of the term ‘value’. This is because value is accepted as being subjective (just like beauty). A report, therefore, explains the value creation process allowing users to make their own decision on the ability of the organisation to create value in the future. (Figure 2 and its explanatory paragraphs nicely cover the value creation process).
9 The Framework categorises the spread of relationships and resources that are generally used or affected by organisations in their value creation process into six different forms of capital, namely financial, manufactured, intellectual, human, social and relationship, and natural. An organisation is not obliged to use these exact categories (nor does it have to structure its report around the capitals), rather their purpose is as a guideline for an organisation to ensure it does not overlook a capital that it uses or affects.
10 When the Framework refers to value creation it is also referring to value diminution. The value created by an organisation’s business activities can be positive or negative. Value is diminished when there is resulting harm to the capitals used or affected by the organisation (which can affect their future availability and cost). Value is created when there is appreciation in the capitals.
11 The Framework is structured in two parts. Part I covers using the Framework and the two fundamental concepts (value creation and the capitals). Part II covers the content of the report listing seven guiding principles and eight content elements. A summary of the 18 requirements of the Framework is in the Appendix.
12 The guiding principles are applied in preparing the content of the report and in how the information is presented. They are: Strategic focus and future orientation, Connectivity of information, Stakeholder relationships, Materiality, Conciseness, Reliability and completeness, and Consistency and comparability (3).
13 The content elements (akin to information categories) are to be included in the report and are fundamentally linked to each other. They are: Organisational overview and external environment, Governance, Business model, Risks and opportunities, Strategy and resource allocation, Performance, Outlook, and Basis of preparation and presentation (4).
14 Materiality is a big determinant of what ends up in the report. It is defined thus: “An integrated report should disclose information about matters that substantively affect the organization’s ability to create value over the short, medium and long term.” The Framework sets out a four-step materiality determination process. The reach of material matters covers those within the financial reporting boundary and those beyond it – that is, the matters affecting the organisation’s ability to create value stemming from other entities or stakeholders (for example the poor labour practice of a major supplier) (3D, 4H).
15 The Framework uses the terms outputs and outcomes. Outputs are the products and services, by-products and waste coming out of the organisation. Outcomes are the effects (positive or negative, internal or external) on the capitals that result from the organisation’s outputs and activities (such as employee morale, customer satisfaction, negative effect on the environment) (4C, 4F).
The Integrated Reporting Committee (IRC) of South Africa is currently reviewing the Framework for its applicability in South Africa and will issue a communication in the near future.
Watch out for: a launch event on the Framework hosted by the IRC; a follow-up article in Accountancy SA on the IRC’s view of the Framework; and the new TV series on Integrated Reporting on BusinessDay TV. ❐
Author: Leigh Roberts CA(SA) is SAICA’s project director of Integrated and Sustainability Reporting.