content
stringlengths 0
1.88M
| url
stringlengths 0
5.28k
|
|---|---|
Two scientists resigned from a key Environmental Protection Agency science advisory board on Friday in an act of protest against a decision this week removing the board’s co-chairmen, according to a resignation letter sent by one of the scientists.
“It is with certain regret and concern — and in protest — that we submit our resignations as members of the Sustainable and Healthy Communities Subcommittee of the Board of Scientific Counselors” for the EPA, says the letter from scientists Peter Meyer and Carlos Martin.
The Union of Concerned Scientists, an advocacy group representing environmental scientists, said the resignations were “largely due to the administration’s efforts to water down credible science and the recent removal of the subcommittee’s co-chairs,” according to spokesman Seth Michaels. | |
Tricia Anderson is a female. Tricia Anderson currently lives at 10537 Wagon Box Cir, Highlands Ranch, CO 80130-8951. Her current phone number is (303) 683-3221.
(303) 683-3221 is Tricia's current phone number. The phone number’s provider is registered at Qwest. There are 1 associated with this phone number.
Mark A Petteys
Age: 53
Tricia Anderson
Tricia Anderson
Age: 47
Tricia M Anderson
Age: 48
Tricia M Anderson
Age: 40
Tricia L Anderson
Age: 51
Tricia Anderson
Age: 49
There are over 328 million people in the United States and you’ll need a combination of 2 names to get close. What makes this more difficult is many people change their name, either when they get married, when they get divorced, for self-branding or simply because they can. Moreover, many go by their middle name or nickname personally and professionally, making a search for Trip, more fruitful if you search for William. What’s more, it’s not uncommon for alternate data sources to be enter in misspellings or alternate spellings.
|Full Name||Persons Count||Share|
|Patricia Anderson||5811||9.32%|
|Trisha Anderson||196||5.91%|
|T Anderson||653||4.12%|
|Tricia Peterson||42||0.72%|
|Tricia Miller||216||0.72%|
|Tricia Robinson||101||0.72%|
|Patrick Tobin||239||0.72%|
|Trish Anderson||37||0.72%|
|Tricia Andersen||7||0.72%|
|Tricia Tobin||4||0.72%|
|Tricia Kreie||1||0.72%|
|Tricia Shelton||25||0.54%|
|Tricia Wilke||3||0.54%|
|Tricia Boland||2||0.54%|
|Tricia Nalls||1||0.54%|
Although people search engines are great for finding details about a person, your standard search engine can guide your search on Addresses. For instance, searching https://www.google.com/search?q=tricia-anderson in Google may yield their personal site (with contact information), or notifications of their marital status or recent exploits.
Either social platform benefits from people using their real names. Both Facebook and LinkedIn require you to sign up, fortunately, they’re free. For Facebook, try using https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=tricia-anderson; for LinkedIn, try https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/people/?keywords=tricia-anderson.
If you’re trying to get in touch with someone and not having success using our platform or social media, consider a more indirect approach. If you can remember their family members’ names , , , , , and , search for them, or if you remember who they used to be friends with, search them on a social platform and check their connected/friends list.
x
The Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA") is a federal law that promotes the accuracy, fairness and privacy of information in the files of consumer reporting agencies.
Intelius does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA. Intelius reports cannot be used for background checks related to consumer credit, insurance, employment, housing or any other purpose prohibited under the FCRA.
You may not use any information obtained from Intelius for any purpose covered by the FCRA.
Find out more about the FCRA here. | https://www.addresses.com/4:eJyKVgopykzOTFTSUVLSUXLMS0ktKs7PU9KBCisgiaAhQ1-PAF0LJxNfJR2lkqLEvOLSvEywOpCEI1giFhAAAP__9cMZ-g==/ |
Over the coming months Burjesta Theatre will be stretching its wings into new disciplines for the weekly Wednesday workshops. The idea is to use, maybe dance, maybe yoga, fitness programs, juggling or any form of movement and ‘add’ it to theatre. This is with a view to moving away from the notion of an actor who learns, remembers and repeats lines at particular points in a play at a particular point of the stage. We want to develop actors into performers and physical performers at that, with the voice being merely one aspect. All in all we want to foster a dynamic spirit within actors that leads to spectacular performances.
The format will follow along these lines. In the first workshop we’ll look at a particularly discipline, a particular style of dance for example (with an invited specialist in that genre leading the workshop). In follow-on workshops we will then apply the movements and aspects of that discipline to drama, creating improvisation and scenarios from this combination.
Later on in the year we’ll also be incorporating some of these ideas into a study of commedia dell ‘arte, the Italian style of theatre, involving improvised scene playing, which has stood the test of time for 400 years now and was enormously influential on Shakespeare, Moliere, Lope de Vega to name but three giants. These workshops will then feed into our next production for the autumn/winter season, and will be in keeping with our policy of only auditioning people who have been attending the workshops. | http://www.burjesta-theatre.co.uk/any-genre-save-the-tedious-latest-news-on-workshop-programs/ |
Of course the quality of your food is important, but nothing turns customers off more quickly than bad service. If servers or hosts interact with customers in the wrong way, those customers probably won’t be back. So what should your employees do? Read on to find out the things servers and hosts should never say.
1. “Are you still working on that?” No one likes to feel like their meal is work. It also makes the diner feel rushed, like the restaurant can’t wait to clear them out and seat the next customer.
2. “That’s not possible.” Whether it’s a host saying s/he can’t seat a customer or a server saying s/he can’t provide substitutions, this isn’t a good idea. Your restaurant can’t fulfill every customer’s whims or get a table of 11 people a table right away, but your servers and hosts should still have a more positive attitude. Try saying, “I’ll check with my manager” or “I’ll see what I can do” before finding out if it’s really impossible.
3. “Would you like freshly ground pepper?” Most servers ask this immediately after putting plates in front of customers, but think about it: how does a customer know if their food needs seasoning if they haven’t even tried it yet?
4. “The wait won’t be long.” If the wait really will be lengthy, it’s not a good idea to lie to customers about it. It’s better to overestimate. If the host tells them that the wait will be an hour and they’re seated in half an hour, they’ll feel lucky. But if a host tells them the wait is half an hour and an hour later they’re still not seated? Well, they probably won’t be so pleased.
5. “Did you save room for dessert?” Many servers talk about dessert like it’s some sort of sinful, extravagant extra. It makes sense that customers might want to indulge when they’re enjoying a night out, but don’t make them feel guilty about it! Servers should simply ask if customers would like to see a dessert menu.
6. “Sweetie.” Servers or hosts might think they’re being friendly by using pet names, but many customers find this way too familiar. Avoid using “sweetie,” “honey,” or other too-cute terms.
7. “Just one?” If a customer is dining alone, servers and hosts should avoid drawing attention to this fact. A person who’s eating alone doesn’t need to be called out for it!
8. “Would you like change?” This question is especially out of place if a customer’s paying for a $50 meal with a $100 bill. If customers don’t want change, they’ll let their server know. When a server asks them, it just looks greedy.
Providing great service is one of the most important things your restaurant can do to attract (and keep!) customers, so make sure your hosts and servers know how to appropriately speak to diners. If your employees can stay away from the phrases on this list, they’ll avoid offending customers and hurting your business.
Article provided by Buzztime.
For daily tips, ideas, and concepts for your bar or restaurant, please visit
http://www.BuzztimeBusiness.com/smarts
Trusted by over 3,200 bars and restaurants in North America since 1985, Buzztime integrates trivia, card and sports games with in- and out-of-venue messaging and communication tools. With over 4.2 million player registrations on the Buzztime platform and over 52 million games played each year, Buzztime players spread the word and invite friends and family to their favorite Buzztime location to enjoy an evening of fun and competition. | https://www.restaurantmagazine.com/8-things-hosts-and-servers-should-never-say/ |
Do you and your couch have a long-term relationship that has paid off well for you over the years? Even the sturdiest of couches can develop sagging cushions after some time because of common wear and tear. If your cushions have lost their firmness and you're ready to restore your couch to its previous glory, here's what you're going to need to do.
You're going to need to do some surgery to open up your couch cushion. Open up the cushion at the seam so that you will be able to stitch it closed again without leaving a nasty scar once the operation is complete. Choose a top seam that is typically at the back of the couch if you're concerned about your ability to stitch.
Most of the time, the only thing that a new couch cushion needs is some replacement foam. Depending on how old the couch actually is, you may need to just replace all of the foam. You may also notice that your furniture has a different type of stuffing instead of foam – that's fine because you can still use foam. It's cheaper. Position the foam so that it creates an even sitting surface. Use as few pieces of foam as possible to achieve this to prevent a lumpy surface in the future.
Once you've replaced the foam, you're ready to close up the seam. A simple stitching pattern that is back and forth over the seam with strong thread is often all that is needed to accomplish this task. A lucky few actually have cushions that are designed with zippers so that the foam in the cushion can be easily replaced.
What if your couch has cushions that are affixed to the bottom of the couch itself?
This is a trickier procedure because what you've got in this instance is a structural problem that is causing the sagging couch cushions. You'll need to open up the bottom of your couch to determine where the foundation of the couch has broken. Locate the broken beam and then measure the length, width, and height of the beam itself.
Take these measurements and get two new pieces of wood [or similar material] that are of the exact same size or a little smaller. Fit the two good pieces of wood around the broken piece of wood, much like you would do if you were creating a homemade splint for someone with an injured leg. You're making a sandwich and the two good pieces of wood are the bread. Straighten out the board so that it is in its proper position once again.
You'll then place at least two screws through the good wood, into the broken wood, and into the back of the other good piece of wood. This will reinforce the broken beam and eliminate the sagging immediately. Repeat the process for additional broken beams and you'll have fixed your couch. | http://www.landlordstation.com/blog/fix-sagging-couch-cushions/ |
Quotable: “This day is amazing, a dream come true. Signing to play college football is something I always wanted to do. And it’s actually happening. It’s surreal. It all started when I put on Twitter I was going to walk-on at Florida, and they reached out to me. I went out there and they offered. It’s a long way, but I’m very excited to start.” - Noah Keeter
- Larry Savage
Jakhai Mitchem
Position: Running back
Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 200 pounds
College chosen: Northwest Missouri State (Maryville, Missouri)
Other schools considered: Long Island University, West Florida, Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Stats: Second team all-area as junior and senior, rushing for a combined 1,412 yards with 20 touchdowns for the Bobcats.
Quotable: “It means a lot. It is going to be tough leaving home, but it’s time for me to go. Going to another state to play football. I like the coaches over there, they really took me in. It will be home for the next four to five years.” — Jakhai Mitchem
Victor Nelson
Position: Defensive back
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 181 pounds
College chosen: Air Force
Other schools considered: Georgia Southern, Yale, FAU, Army
Stats: First team all-area as senior, 23 tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups, 25.6 average on 21 kickoff returns; originally signed early with Air Force in December.
Quotable: “It means the world to me. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve dreamed about playing football at the next level. Get to college and the NFL, but you have to get to college first. My most vivid memory would be the overtime interception in the end zone against Fleming Island to win the game. Will remember my team, my defense, my coaches - they helped me be a better man on and off the field.” — Victor Nelson
Camden Orth
Position: Quarterback
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 210 pounds
College chosen: Long Island University
Other schools considered: West Florida.
Stats: First team all-area as senior, completed 160 of 257 passes (62 percent) for 2,082 yards with 25 touchdowns and 9 interceptions for 7-4 Bobcats, which lost to Orlando Edgewater (65-21) in the first round of the 7A state playoffs; in a four-game stretch against Creekside, Oakleaf, Bartram Trail and Santa Fe, completed 68 of 90 passes (76 percent) for 920 yards, 12 TDs and no interceptions.
Quotable: “It’s a testimony of hard work. It might not look like it at the beginning, but pays off at the end. It will be a little chillier than in Gainesville, but I will be alright. Every day we made memories here, I enjoyed Buchholz.” — Camden Orth
Quotable: “It’s really special, I’ve always wanted to go to college and because a lot of people in my family never did it. I want to set a good example for my kid, go to school and be a student-athlete.” — Jaylen Brown
Stats: First team all-area as senior, caught 47 passes for 667 yards (14.2 avg.) and 9 touchdowns, caught three TDs and had 131 yards in season-opening win over Gainesville, had 11 receptions for 140 yards in playoff win over Fletcher
Quotable: “It feels good because I know where I’m going and I’m ready to go. Most memorable moments at Columbia were Friday nights, waking up and knowing what’s going on, we have a game tonight, big crowd, community comes out. I will always a Tiger heart. ” — Bobby Fulton
TJ Jones
Position: Wide receiver
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds
College chosen: Penn State
Other schools considered: Florida, Miami, Indiana.
Stats: First team all-area as senior, caught 42 passes for 833 yards (19.8 avg.) and 10 touchdowns for the Tigers, season-high 144 yards on five catches with 2 TDs in regular-season win over Robert E. Lee, had six receptions (119 yards) at Trinity Christian Academy; a preseason Super 11 selection, had 40 Division I college offers.
Quotable: “It was the best opportunity for me to play early. They (Penn State) were on me and sort of backed off when they thought I was going to stay in state. I told them I was looking to play out of state.” — TJ Jones
Quotable: “It’s a special day, and a long time coming. All the hard work paid off. I’m just ready to start my college career and get a good education.” — Ahmad Williams
— Larry Savage
DIXIE COUNTY
Carlos Williams
Position: Running back
Height/weight: 6-foot, 195 pounds
College chosen: McNeese State (Lake Charles, Louisiana)
Other schools considered: Valdosta State, Tusculum.
Stats: As a primary tailback in his junior and senior seasons, Williams carried the ball 239 times for 2,639 yards, scoring 44 touchdowns. The two-time first team player averaged 11 yards per carry. Played just 8 games as a senior due to injury, still scoring 26 touchdowns and rushing for 1,327 yards.
Quotable: “I felt like McNeese was a good fit for me because I’ll get a better chance to get in and play right away. Their coaching staff is all new, and I feel like the program is going to go up the next few years. I’m just excited to help be a part of it. It felt like a family environment over there and the academic staff will offer me a lot of help. It means a lot to know all my hard work has paid off.” — Carlos Williams Jr.
— Scott LaPeer
GAINESVILLE
Seth Cox
Position: Wide Receiver
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 165 pounds
College chosen: Valdosta State
Other schools considered: None
Stats: Cox had 19 receptions for 277 yards and three touchdowns with a long reception of 89 yards for the Hurricanes, who finished 7-4 and advanced to the 6A playoffs.
Quotable: "It is a good environment, a place that I know and I have family there. It just felt like home. The national championship helps the decision, but being close to home was something I was looking forward to." - Seth Cox
D'verik Daniel
Position: Strong Safety
Height/Weight: 5-foot-10, 190 pounds
College chosen: Catawba College (NC)
Other schools considered: Webber International University, Warner University
Quotable: "The folks at Catawba made me feel like home. The weather is bipolar like here but it felt like home. We (my teammates) always dreamed about this day of signing to play college football since we were freshmen. For this day to actually come true, it's just a blessing. I am going to miss the tradition of Gainesville High, my family went here and it is home. I am going to miss Citizens Field and everything about being a Hurricane." - D'verik Daniel
Stats: First-team all-area as a senior, Kelsey caught 56 passes for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns and returned a punt for a score. He caught 11 passes for 176 yards in win over Ocala Forest and had nine catches for 193 yards and 2 TD's in loss at Columbia.
Quotable: "They (Campbell) are a newer program, and we can build that program up and start fresh. I had a connection with the head coach, and he is like a father figure for me. It's like a home and a brotherhood with the boys at Campbell." - Jalen Kelsey.
Quotable: “This is my dream since I was a kid, able to live it is one of my greatest accomplishments. I went to visit, and the campus and academics are amazing. The coaches really treated me well.” — Josh Hughes
Stats: First team all-area as senior, caught 35 passes for 646 yards (18.5 avg.) and six touchdowns for 8-4 Hornets.
Quotable: “It means a lot being my first year in football. Overall outcome is obviously amazing, and I would like to thank God for that. Athletically and academically, it (Thomas More) was the best fit. I really liked their campus and their coaches.” — Ritchy James
Ben Massey
Position: Wide receiver
Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 165 pounds
College chosen: Albany State
Other schools considered: FAMU, Webber.
Stats: First team all-area as junior and senior, catching a combined 91 passes for 1,865 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Quotable: “It means a lot, been waiting for this day for a while. Woke up this morning, and was thinking about that. It (Albany State) felt like I was back at my Alabama home. I know they are one of the tops in criminal justice, and that’s what I want to major in.” — Ben Massey
— Larry Savage
Never miss a story
Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery. | |
Turkish author and poet who has published over 50 books in his career. In 1994 he founded and has since led the Ottomans Ilim and Irfan Foundation, an Ottoman monarchist NGO. He has 60,000 followers on Instagram and 500,000 on Twitter. Kadir Misiroglu was born on January 24, 1933 in Turkey. Attila İlhan is another well-known Turkish poet. He studied law at Istanbul University in 1954. Scroll below and check our most recent updates about Kadir Misiroglu Net Worth, Salary, Biography, Age, Career, Wiki. Also discover more detailed information about Current Net worth as well as Monthly/Year Salary, Expense, Income Reports!
He married Aynur Mısıroğlu in 1961. He has not shared about His parent’s name. We will update Family, Sibling, Spouse, and Children’s information. Right now, we don’t have much information about Education Life.
|Bio/Wiki|
|First Name||Kadir|
|Last Name||Misiroglu|
|Profession||Poet|
|Age||87 years|
|Birthday & Zodiac|
|Birth Sign||Aquarius|
|Birth Date||January 24, 1933|
|Birthday||January 24|
|Birth Place||Turkey|
|Country||Turkey|
|Height & Weight|
|Height (Approx.)||Not Available|
|Weight (Approx.)||Not Available|
He founded the publishing house Sebil in 1964 and its magazine in 1976.
Kadir Misiroglu Net Worth
According to Trend Celebs Now, Kadir Misiroglu’s estimated Net Worth, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details has been updated below. Let’s check, How Rich is Kadir Misiroglu in 2019-2020?
|Estimated Net Worth in 2020||Under Review|
|Previous Year’s Net Worth (2019)||Under Review|
|Annual Salary||Under Review.|
|Income Source||Primary Income source Poet (profession).|
Noted, Currently, We don’t have enough information about Cars, Monthly/Yearly Salary, etc. We will update you soon. | https://networthandsalary.com/kadir-misiroglu/ |
Q:
How many matrices are there in the vector space $M_{m \times n} (\mathbb{Z}_2)$?
I got its answer $2^{mn}$ when I searched this site, but I was wondering how we arrived at this answer. I worked out different explanations for it, but I was unable to justify which one is correct:
First possible explanation:
Consider $M_{2 \times 2} (\mathbb{Z}_2)$, then each $2 \times 2$ matrix has $4$ entries while the field $\mathbb{Z}_2$ has $2$ elements. We can divide all the matrices in $M_{2 \times 2} (\mathbb{Z}_2)$ into $5$ cases: $0$ in $4$ entries, $0$ in $3$ entries and $1$ in rest, $0$ in $2$ entries and $1$ in rest, $0$ in $1$ entry and $1$ in rest and $1$ in $4$ entries. In first and fifth case, we get $1$ matrix, in second and fourth we get $4$ matrices and in third we get $6$ matrices.
Therefore, $1+4+6+4+1=16 \implies ^4C_0 + ^4C_1+^4C_2+^4C_3+^4C_4=2^4$
But then I was wondering if this was the right explanation and why we will use combinations instead of permutations when order of entries in a matrix is important.
Second possible explanation:
Then I thought maybe it can be explained by permutations with repetition: $n^r$ $\{$Here $n=2$ (cardinality of the field) and $r=4$ (number of entries in each matrix)$\}$.
I am not able to justify which explanation is correct (first, second or neither). Please help.
Thanks.
A:
For every entry in an $m\times n$ matrix we have $2$ choices so there will be $2^{mn}$ elements
A:
In general, if $F$ is a finite field with $q$ elements and $V$ is a $d$-dimensional vector space over $F$ then $V$ has $q^{d}$ elements ( every $v \in V$ has a unique expression of the form $\sum_{i=1}^{d} f_{i}v_{i}$ with each $f_{i} \in F$ , where $\{v_{i}: 1 \leq i \leq d \}$ is a fixed basis for $V$).
It is clear that $M_{m \times n}(F)$ has dimension $mn$ (it has a basis consisting of those $mn$ different matrices with a single entry $1$ and remaining entries zero).
| |
As the Light of our true Self fills our conscious understanding, time is dramatically altered. We return to the eternal present moment fashioned in timeless perfection, a reflection of our true Self.
Our true existence resides in the eternal present moment, outside of the continuum of time. The present moment is all that exists, as it is the reflection of ever-present Truth. However, to be able to experience a fluid image of reality and not one of fragmented images, like broken up pixels on a screen, each moment is wrapped in the story of its past. This “time wrapper” creates a cohesive picture of our mind’s perception of reality. Though our mind perceives a past and future connected to the present, we aren’t bound to the past and future, and in this awareness is our freedom.
Through a deeper understanding of how we create, our mind is freed from continually projecting conditions of the past into our present moment, distorting its inherent perfection. Creation isn’t of the physical, but streams from the conscious mind.
The space/time continuum exists in the outer reality of appearances. Beyond this outer reality is the realm of consciousness, our true creative space, which isn’t constrained by the effects of space/time. In this higher realm, we can alter the flow of time. It’s within this ethereal atmosphere that we gain awareness of the ever-present Light of Truth, so that it can be translated through our mind (the creative mechanism that translates the consciousness into the physical) and expressed into physical forms in the realm of space/time. What we hold in our conscious awareness as true, right now is what the physical plane will reflect.
Ignorant of how we create from the conscious realm, we try to manipulate reality only through the physical forms, which is constrained by time. In this lack of Truth, we believe we are bound to time and the past created through it. We falsely accept we can’t change certain things, or only minimally or superficially. This mistaken belief in an unalterable past trajectory greatly limits our otherwise limitless creative potential. As we awaken to the understanding that our true creative power lies beyond time in the realm of consciousness, we recognize we can change the course of time and it’s our gift to do so as a creator within the Creator in order to reveal the Immutable Peace inherent in the eternal present moment.
In the recognition that our creative freedom lies in the realm of consciousness beyond the constraints of time, our creative focus shifts from outward to inward.
Mentally stepping out of the physical constraints of time and engaging our mind’s true creative space, we aren’t beholden to the trajectory of the past. This understanding of how we create allows us to be free from being mentally bound to past conditions so we can experience the perfection of divine love that comes through divine emergence in the present moment.
In divine emergence, our mind functions as one with the Divine Mind of Truth. As the Light of our true Self fills our conscious understanding, it alters reality. The past is no longer the cause to our present moment, but the nature of our true Self is the creative Cause. In emergence, we consciously engage our Mighty I Am Presence to orchestrate the present moment in timeless perfection, instead of trying to outwardly control and manipulate time in very limited ways according what we think best. As we set our attention on the divine attributes of our I AM presence, like giving Peace to all, we trust the Infinite Intelligence of the Divine Mind as to how it unfolds into the physical plane. The Divine Mind works through us and yet beyond our conscious awareness to manifest the present moment for the highest good for all.
By not trying to change the present moment from the outside, but through emergence by the power inherent in our I Am Presence, we enter into the present moment’s inherent perfection. When our consciousness is illuminated with the radiance of our true Self, the present moment reflects its timeless perfection. In this, we are free from the effects of the past and our life story emerges into one of Immutable Peace and Divine Harmony; out of the darkness and into the Light.
Only the perfection of timeless Truth exists. Free from the illusionary constraints of time, we return to our true state of timeless perfection. | https://stirringthedeep.com/2020/07/08/timeless-perfection/ |
Bealey Spur offers a stunning combination of mountains, weaving rivers and beech forest, along a track more accessible than most in the Arthur’s Pass National Park. Just be prepared to get your feet a little muddy.
Highlights
- Incredible views of mountains and braided rivers
- Pausing for lunch at historic mustering hut
- Pretty beech forest and pleasant walking
- Feeling on top of the world
Up Onto Bealey Spur
Bealey Spur is hands down one of my favourite hikes in New Zealand. And it’s not one you’ll find on most lists of top day hikes. It’s also pretty cruisy compared to many others in the Arthur’s Pass area.
From the carpark, there’s a fairly steep walk up a road to the start of the track. Then you’re immersed in a beautiful beech forest. There are multiple paths that break off and lead you to lookouts. Of course, we followed every single one we saw and our excitement grew. The view from less than a quarter of the way up was amazing!
It was quite muddy when we went in February, so having sturdy hiking boots helped; especially for Cedric who managed to slip his boot into the boggy mud! The landscape would be very different in winter, so make sure you prepare for snow if attempting then.
Midway through the hike the forest gives way to alpine scrub, and you cross a boardwalk past a lake. Another short stint through forest and you’re up at the historic green hut, once used by musterers who let their sheep graze on the mountain. The hut has bunk beds and can be used overnight, but beware of rats!
We paused at the hut for a bite to eat and chatted to another hiker. A little disappointed with the lack of view from the hut, we were delighted to hear that we could make it up to a peak if we followed an unsigned track.
Getting To The View
The track from the hut was even muddier than before, and after a short section through forest, we were huffing and puffing up a steep climb to the peak. Every time we stopped for a breath, the view was magnificent and kept us going.
At the top, there’s a 360° vista of mountains, valleys and braided rivers. Apart from the surreal feeling of standing so high and looking out on all that grandiosity, there was so much variation to notice. The mountains to either side of us had their own unique textures, slopes and colours.
If you’re planning on attempting Bealey Spur, don’t stop at the hut, but carry on up the unsigned track. We hope you get as lucky with the weather as we did so you can enjoy a clear view of the sublime landscape.
Essential Gear
- Sturdy footwear (waterproof might come in handy)
- Water & snacks
- Sun protection
- Windproof jacket (the summit gets chilly!)
How To Get There
The car park is just off West Coast Road, the main road which leads from Christchurch to the South Island’s West Coast. From there, walk up Cloudesley Road to find the trailhead.
Activities
- Hiking
- Photography
Skill Level
Beginner – Intermediate. The first section of the hike to the hut is pretty easy going. The last section to the peak is steep, muddy and is not signed.
Distance Covered / Duration
~6km to the hut / 2 hours to the hut and about 30min from there to the summit. | https://weareexplorers.co/bealey-spur-arthurs-pass-nz/ |
Students are expected to come fully equipped with a reading book and appropriate equipment for each day’s lessons. Access to an English dictionary at home is essential, and Collins Easy Learner French Dictionary is strongly recommended to support homework and class activities. All students must be equipped with a pencil case containing the following equipment:
- 2 writing pens either blue or black ink ( KS4 need black pens only for all exams)
- 1 purple pen
- HB pencil
- 2B sketching pencil
- 12 colouring pencils
- Highlighter pen
- Ruler, rubber and pencil sharpener
- Calculator, Compass, protractor
- Glue stick
- USB stick
- Multimedia headset (Earphones)
- Reading book
Students should bring a named water bottle that they can refill during the day from one of our water coolers. | https://www.kingstoneacademytrust.co.uk/page/?title=Required+Equipment&pid=233 |
NHS worker unable to eat food for seven years due to rare stomach condition
Lauren Blake, 22, from Southampton, is unable to digest food and drink and vomits at least ten times a day due to a condition called Gastroparesis and requires an £18,000 operation not funded by the NHS to help her eat normally again
A young NHS worker has been unable to eat food for seven years after being struck down with a rare stomach condition.
Lauren Blake, 22, suffers from Gastroparesis, a condition which prevents her stomach from digesting food and drink and causes her to vomit "at least ten times a day''.
The call handler has had to use feeding tubes since the age of 15 but is now she is on a mission to fundraise enough money for life-changing surgery which could allow her to eat normally again.
Miss Blake, from Southampton, Hants, has to raise £18,000 to have a gastric pacemaker fitted in her stomach as the operation is not funded by the NHS.
She said: "Gastroparesis has taken away the social side of my life. It all started when I was 15 and it hasn't been easy, it took a while for me to be diagnosed.
Lauren Blake after being admitted for seizures due to PTSD from hospitals (
Image:
Solent News & Photo Agency)
"I was so ill for about three months before I went to hospital, I wasn't keeping anything down, I was on feeding tubes.
"I spent four months in hospital and we had gone through every test possible. it was a bit of a shock but it was nice to get a diagnosis."
Miss Blake, who lives with her parents, is on multiple different medications, is still reliant on feeding tubes and suffers from pain and sickness.
Anything she eats remains in her stomach but does not get absorbed and can sit there for more than twelve hours.
Miss Blake is fundraising for an operation which would allow her to eat normally again (
Image:
Jordan Pettitt/Solent News)
She added: "I am sick at least ten times a day. On my worst days, I can't even keep down my own saliva. It's constant, like having a stomach bug but all the time.
"It's affected everything. I was admitted to hospital at 15 when I was in my first year of college and they ended up removing me from their record because I couldn't attend or keep up. I've lost several jobs because of this."
After spending years on a variety of medications, Miss Blake is now determined to raise the money required to fund the surgery for her gastric pacemaker.
"It's basically exactly the same as a heart pacemaker," she said.
"It's placed onto my stomach and gets the muscles to contract so my stomach can absorb food. It will give me the chance to actually eat and drink normally."
Miss Blake is planning a long walk and a bingo night in her fundraising efforts (
Image:
Solent News & Photo Agency)
Miss Blake recently visited a specialist doctor in Leeds to find out more and said she qualifies for the surgery.
The health worker has now begun fundraising and her efforts include climbing Mount Snowden last year and riding the world's fastest zip wire.
But she often has to use a wheelchair due to her other condition and how tired she gets from not eating.
"I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome that causes me to have about 80 joint dislocations a day. My doctors think this is what caused my Gastroparesis," she said.
The NHS worker said the treatment would be life changing (
Image:
Solent News & Photo Agency)
Miss Blake said the gastric pacemaker would "give me my life back".
She added: "It's been nearly seven years since I was able to keep a meal down. It has been difficult.
"I'm always worrying about where the nearest bathroom is or if I'm at work and my colleagues are eating their lunch and question why I'm not eating anything.
"Raising £18,000 would be life-changing. It would give me my life back and change absolutely everything for me."
She has launched a GoFundMe to help her raise money for the operation she needs.
MORE ON
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info. | |
A number of years ago, I was at a teacher workshop. One of the presenters was a magician and he incorporated that into the his presentation. He was quite good actually. Everyone was impressed and duly mystified with his performance except me.
The presentation took place in the media center at one of the schools in our district. Televisions had been brought in for cataloging and as soon as the magician came into the room, he realized this could cause a problem on this bright and sunny day so he turned them around. The problem was, he missed one over in a and back a bit.
The room was crowded that day. I took a seat which was tucked back away from where everyone else was. When the presentation started and the tricks began, I was suddenly distracted by something else. A small ray of light came through the window and illuminated the television screen and it acted like a mirror, reflecting everything the magician did behind his back.
I looked around the room. All eyes were on the magician and I realized that from their vantage points no one could see what I saw. I must confess I was fascinated watching how all his tricks were performed. For me there was no mystery, no magic for I could see the truth reflected in a "mirror".
After the presentation, a small group of teachers, including myself, remained to chat with him. Just before we all left, he made a comment about being relieved that he had come early. He'd seen the televisions and realized they would be a problem so he had turned them all around. His final words of wisdom was that if you every wanted to perform a "trick", you needed to look out for mirrors and other reflective surfaces lest your "tricks" be revealed. I didn't have the heart to tell him that he missed one.
We tend to forget that the enemy is the master deceiver and father of lies. We become arrogant and think that we can easily detect him and his lies and that's exactly how he likes it. There is only one sure-fire way to tell the difference between what is genuinely from and of God and what is counterfeit. We must hold it up to the Light so that it can shine upon and through it. Then and only then are we able to truly see what is counterfeit and what is genuine.
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:130 (NIV)
Blessings! | https://www.christianblog.com/blog/kreynolds/counterfeit-or-genuine/ |
Use the formula 1/Hz * 1000, where Hz represents cycles per second. Multiply the seconds value by 1000 to derive the milliseconds value. For this example, enter 0.002 x 1000. This results in a value of 2 milliseconds. Seminar Available on this topic. In many cases, the speed with which a person can respond, "reaction time," is the key to assigning liability. It is common practice for accident reconstructionists simply to use a standard reaction time number, such as 1.5 seconds, when analyzing a case.
Convert 30 Seconds to Milliseconds (sec to ms) with our conversion calculator and conversion tables. To convert 30 sec to ms use direct conversion formula below. 30 sec = 30000 ms. You also can convert 30 Seconds to other Time (popular) units. | https://eurobay.it/seconds-to-milliseconds-formula.html |
The Nutrition and Food Science facilities are comprised of the Nutritional Biochemistry, the Microbiology, and the Physical Analysis laboratories. These facilities are within the School of Agriculture and Natural Sciences in The Center for
Food Science and Technology.
The Nutritional Biochemistry laboratory is used for nutrient analysis, particularly protein, fiber, minerals, and oil/fat. It is equipped for research in lipid (fat) metabolism, specifically blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoproteins. Through
its research operations, the Nutritional Biochemistry Laboratory is used to determine chemical elements and nutrient compounds in food and their reaction within biological systems. It also used in assessing the bioavailability of nutrients in food.
Equipment includes a Fat Extractor and Protein Digester. The Fat Extractor is used to determine the amount of oil contained in a food sample. Determining the amount of oil helps researchers make decisions concerning diets for both humans and animals.
The Protein Digester determines the amount of protein, fat, moisture, and mineral in a sample. It takes the sample through the processes of digestion, distillation, and titration to determine the nitrogen content.
In part, the Microbiology Laboratory is used for conducting research on food-borne, pathogenic microorganisms such as salmonella
and campylobacter. The laboratory is equipped with Auto Plate 4000 and CO2 Incubator. The Auto Plate 4000 is a microprocessor-controlled dispenser used for bacterial
numeration, anti-microbial susceptibility testing, and mutafenicity assays. It deposits a liquid sample in a spiral pattern onto the surface of a rotating agar plate creating
a three-log dilution effect. The CO2Incubator is used to incubate micro-aerophilic (
<5% O2, 10% CO2, 85% N2) micro-organisms such as campylobacter.
The Physical Analysis Laboratory is used to study physical properties of food such as texture and structure. The laboratory is equipped with Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Microtome, and Texture Analyzer. The TEM JEOL – 100 IIX
is an instrument that uses a beam of highly energetic electrons to examine objects on a very fine scale. The Microtome NOVA is used for ultra-thin sectioning of samples. The Texture Analyzer TA-XT2 quantifies the texture of foods. It also measures
a variety of textural parameters such as hardness, adhesiveness, and spreadability. The Texture Analyzer is used in conjunction with "Texture Expert," a software application that acquires, displays, and analyzes data. | https://www.umes.edu/AES/Pages/Nutrition-and-Food-Science/ |
Q:
Contour Integral for Cosine and a rational function
I've been trying to figure out this integral via use of residues:
$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \displaystyle \frac{\cos{5x}}{x^4+1}dx$$
The usual semicircle contour wont work for this guy as the integrated is unbounded.
My idea came from a book I was reading on contour integration, where we let
$$f(z) = \displaystyle\frac{e^{(-5iz)}}{2(z^4+1)}+\displaystyle\frac{e^{(5iz)}}{2(z^4+1)}$$
And do the integral in the complex play as follows:
$\gamma_{1}= \text{The contour taken to be the top half of the circle in the counter clockwise direction}$ This contour uses the second term in $f(z)$
$\gamma_{2}= \text{The contour taken from $-R$ to $R$ on the real axis}$
$\gamma_{3}= \text{The contour taken to be the bottom half of the circle in the clockwise direction}$ This uses the first term in $f(z)$.
In the end, the contours $\gamma_{1}$ and $\gamma_{3}$ are bounded and will tend to $0$ as $R$ goes to infinity, so that we're left with the two integrals that we want.
My issue now is that when computing residues..everything seems to be cancelling out and I'm getting $0$. Should I take different contour? I'm really not sure what I did wrong.
A:
I've given the skeleton of my work below. Fill in any missing pieces and check your answer against mine.
Using $\gamma=[-R,R]\cup Re^{i[0,\pi]}$ and the simple poles at $\frac{1+i}{\sqrt2}$ and $\frac{-1+i}{\sqrt2}$ inside $\gamma$
$$
\begin{align}
\int_{-\infty}^\infty\frac{\cos(5x)}{x^4+1}\mathrm{d}x
&=\mathrm{Re}\left(\int_\gamma\frac{e^{i5z}}{z^4+1}\mathrm{d}z\right)\\
&=\mathrm{Re}\left(2\pi i\left(\left[\frac{e^{i5z}}{4z^3}\right]_{z=\frac{1+i}{\sqrt2}}
+\left[\frac{e^{i5z}}{4z^3}\right]_{z=\frac{-1+i}{\sqrt2}}\right)\right)\\
&=\mathrm{Re}\left(\frac{\pi}{2i}e^{-5/\sqrt2}\left(\frac{1+i}{\sqrt2}e^{i5/\sqrt2}
-\frac{1-i}{\sqrt2}e^{-i5/\sqrt2}
\right)\right)\\
&=\pi e^{-5/\sqrt2}\mathrm{Im}\left(\frac{1+i}{\sqrt2}e^{i5/\sqrt2}\right)\\
&=\pi e^{-5/\sqrt2}\mathrm{Im}\left(e^{i(5/\sqrt2+\pi/4)}\right)\\
&=\pi e^{-5/\sqrt2}\sin\left(\frac5{\sqrt2}+\frac\pi4\right)
\end{align}
$$
Mathematica 8 agrees numerically, but its closed form involves complex functions and looks nothing like what I have above.
| |
Most Parents Aren’t Saving For Their Kids’ College Education
My wife and I both went to college. I have two graduate degrees, and Mel has a four-year degree. We had a few starts and stops on the way, along with three children, and once it was all said and done, combined, we are sitting just shy of $100,000 in student loan debt.
Now keep in mind, this isn’t horrible. I have friends who went to medical school, or law school, or Ph.D programs with more than double, or even triple, the student debt we have. But the fact is, neither Mel nor I had much help from our parents when it came to paying for our education, so we paid with loans. We got a few scholarships. In graduate school, I was lucky enough to land a graduate assistantship, so that helped quite a bit.
RELATED: How To Make Money In College: 25 Ways Not To Be A Broke Undergrad
Nonetheless, we will be saddled with our own student loan debt for the foreseeable future, probably until after all three of our children have left the house.
Most college-educated parents are in the same boat, and now that we have children of our own, we are stuck between a rock and hard place — trying to pay off our own education while attempting to save for our children’s education.
If you’re like me, you’re probably working hard to pay off your own student loans, but when it comes to saving for your children’s education… well, that seems to be taking a back seat. In fact, some months, even with both my wife and I working full-time-plus, it’s all we can do to pay all our bills, let alone put something away for our kid’s future.
I feel pretty bad about this, but as it turns out, I’m not alone. According to a recent survey by Student Loan Hero, 44% of parents feel guilty about not saving enough for college. They surveyed 1,000 parents who are currently saving for their child’s education to find out how they’re doing it, and how they feel about it. They found what they claimed to be some surprising findings, but to any parent who is struggling to pay of their own education, they probably won’t raise an eyebrow.
For example, “the majority of parents who are currently saving for their child’s education have saved less than $10,000.” Well, I’m in that boat, as well. In fact, we haven’t saved any money for our children’s education. But at the same time, I only finished my graduate work five years ago, and Mel just finished her degree two years ago. We are both still relatively young in our working lives as college graduates.
The fact is, paying off loans as substantial as those used for a college degree take time. Lots of time. But at the same time, my oldest child is 11 years sold, so we don’t really have that much time left to save. And the closer it gets to his college years, the more I feel like I’m approaching a financial cliff, and my son will be left to pay for his own education.
Then again working while going to college and paying my own way did teach me a lot about sacrifice and determination. But, on the other hand, I envied those friends who had a nice savings account from their mom and dad to fall back on.
Such mixed emotions, I tell you.
Naturally, Student Loan Hero has a few things to say about how to save money for your child’s college to get the most out of what you can put away. Turns out 74% of parents who responded to the survey were using a traditional savings account for college funds. While some money for your child’s education is better than no money, putting money in a 529 plan can really pay off in the long run.
For those wondering what a 529 plan is, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future college costs. Basically, parents can invest in the plan and the earnings on those stock investments aren’t taxed. Naturally, there are a few different flavors of the 529, but ultimately, the return on investment is positive.
But it comes with a catch… once the money is put in, it can only be used for education. That is, unless you want to pay a penalty. And of course, it also assumes that there’s money in the family budget for contributions to the 529 plan in the first place. As a parent who is often blind-sided by unexpected expenses (for example, our roof just started leaking, and last year my son needed a CT scan), placing money in an account that isn’t easily accessible can be nerve-wracking.
However, if you have the money and you can place it away without fear of needing to withdraw it, here is how Student Loan Hero explains the benefits of a 529 in comparison to a traditional savings account: “Say you build your savings in a high-yield bank account earning 1.00% interest. After 15 years of monthly deposits of $200, you’d have $38,823, according to our savings calculator. Alternatively, say you put your $200 monthly contribution into a 529 college savings plan tied to the stock market. After 15 years of 7% growth, your balance would be $63,392.”
Now here’s the kicker: While there are options to save money, 52% of parents are planning to rely on federal student loans to pay for they kids’ college education, just like I did for my own.
So what does this say about our children’s future college plans? Gosh, I don’t know. In some ways, it feels like we are all caught in the perpetual cycle of paying for our own education in monthly installments, with interest, and feeling guilty about not being able to dig ourselves out of the student loan hole so we can free our children from that burden.
How do we fix all this? I don’t have an answer to that either. But what I can say is that if you are struggling to pay your own student loans, and feel guilty about not saving for your children’s education, you are not alone. Your struggle is part of a larger problem with American higher education and the cost associated with it, so please, for the sake of your own sanity, don’t kick yourself too much. And if you are fortunate to be able to save for your children’s college, do it wisely. | https://www.scarymommy.com/most-parents-arent-saving-for-kids-college-education |
Chennai, India, August 21, 2017 – Nepal is undergoing significant economic transformation, uncovering investment opportunities across a wide array of sectors. The Government of Nepal intends to achieve GDP growth of 7.2% in 2017-18 through increased momentum in post-earthquake reconstruction and significant spending on infrastructure projects. The current budget has allocated $600 million for the execution of National Pride Projects, which include key, large infrastructure projects such as the Gautam Buddha International Airport and the 456MW Upper Tamakoshi hydropower project . Investment in infrastructure projects will be lucrative for private sector participants given the Government’s focus on adopting the public-private partnership (PPP) model for large projects, including hydropower, smart cities, new towns, railways and roadways.
In the light of evolving economic and industry conditions , Frost & Sullivan’s Emerging Market Innovation team will host an online briefing/webinar titled “Nepal’s Economic Transformation – Seizing Investment Opportunities” onAugust 30, 2017, Wednesday, at 12 pm (IST) / 12:15 pm (NPT) / 2:30 pm (SGT). A panel of experts comprising of Nepal Government policymakers and key private sector representatives, as well as Frost & Sullivan senior management will provide commentary on the country’s changing economic scenario, evolving policy conditions, and industry specific investment opportunities. The briefing will conclude with an interactive Q&A session with the expert panel.
For more details and to register for the briefing, please click here.
“Bouncing back from the lowest economic growth in the last decade, we believe Nepal is on the verge of economic transformation that will likely entail government and private sector investments in large infrastructure projects and commercial ventures. The recent policy amendments, which are mainly targeted at attracting foreign investments, hint at improved business environment that could potentially lead the country to a high growth phase”, said Prerna Mohan, Associate Director, Strategic Planning and Implementation, Emerging Market Innovation, Frost & Sullivan.
The expert panel of presenters for this briefing will comprise:
- Ms. Prerna Mohan – Associate Director, Strategic Planning and Implementation, Emerging Market Innovation, Frost & Sullivan
Topic: Nepal’s economic priorities and growth outlook
- Mr. Dipendra Nath Sharma – Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development
Topic: Smart city and modern town investment modality; urban infrastructure policy developments and growth outlook
- Mr. Shiba Raj Shrestha – Deputy Governor, Nepal Rastra Bank
Topic: Implications of FDI policy changes and priority investment sectors
- Mr. Anuj Agrawal – Executive Director, Vishal Group; Vice President, Confederation of Nepalese Industries
Topic: Recent and potential private sector policy changes; growth opportunities across priority industries such as hydropower, iron & steel, and tourism
Who will benefit from this briefing and how:
C-suite executives across business development, planning, and strategy, and government representatives will benefit from the webinar by:
- Learning more about economic growth trends, domestic policy changes and associated implications for investments
- Gaining an understanding of key trends influencing major industries such as hydropower, tourism, iron & steel and urban infrastructure and consequently identifying related engagement opportunities
- Engaging in a live Q&A session with national policymakers and markets leaders
The Emerging Market Innovation team at Frost & Sullivan, responsible for hosting the emerging market briefing series, tracks global macroeconomic trends, policy developments, and growth opportunities, thereby helping organizations to navigate through global volatilities and capitalize on investment opportunities.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today’s market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?
Media Contact: | https://www.frost.com/news/press-releases/frost-sullivan-explore-investment-opportunities-nepal-amidst-economic-transformation/ |
Week two is already over, and it’s been a great time! Week two flew by, and we learned so much. Our classes this past week involved learning about horticulture, and animal sciences. We took a field trip to the Virginia Tech Horticulture Gardens, and took a tour around the gardens. Our tour guides showed us the ponds with different sized fish, and they were very beautiful. We got in touch with our nature side. The next day, we got to experience and visit all the different livestock farms on Virginia Tech, like sheep, cows, horses, and pigs. We even got to see a pig give birth! It was very convenient or inconvenient timing. We all learned about the different types of animals and their different use in agriculture. Both of these field trips were able to get in touch with the many aspects of agriculture and interested many of the different students.
Our week hasn’t just been all work, and we ended it with a bunch of fun. Saturday night, we went to Christiansburg for midnight bowling. We all dressed up in white or neon colors, and they looked really cool with the black lights. Sunday we went to the movies. Some of us saw Despicable Me 2, and a few saw The Lone Ranger. It hasn’t been all work and no play. A handful of kids also decided to do the “Vermonster” at Ben and Jerry’s. It is 20 scoops of ice-cream, and a grand total of 14,000 calories. All of that was consumed after eating at Red Robin. We’ve had fun, and we’re all excited to see what week three holds for us. | https://govschoolagriculture.com/2013/07/17/week-two-is-already-over/ |
The invention provides a vehicle air filter, comprising a shell and a filter element; wherein, the shell is composed of an upper shell, an intermediate shell and a lower shell; the upper shell and the intermediate shell form a first cavity after assembly; two resonant cavities with different volume are arranged in the first cavity; the intermediate shell and the lower shell form a second cavity after assembly; the filter element is installed at an access point on the intermediate shell and the access point is used for connecting the first cavity with the second cavity; the first cavity is communicated with an air inlet channel and the second cavity is communicated with an air outlet channel; portal parts of the two resonant cavities are communicated with the air inlet channel. The vehicle air filter transfers the resonant cavities to the air filter shell without affecting the performance of the air filter, which can effectively narrow the occupied assembly space of an engine compartment by the air filter, simplify the structure, reduce the complexity of assembly and simultaneously lower the manufacturing cost of the products. | |
Q:
How to name an Actor in libgdx?
Actors have no names below. In libgdx whats the best way assign a name to each actor?
public class JewelsMainActivity implements ApplicationListener, InputProcessor {
private Vector2 point = new Vector2();
public TextureAtlas jewelsAtlas;
public Texture jewels;
private SpriteBatch batch;
public Actor[][] actors = new Actor[10][10];
public Stage stage;
public int gridSize;
@Override
public void create() {
stage = new Stage(800, 600, false);
gridSize = 10;
batch = new SpriteBatch();
jewels = new Texture(Gdx.files.internal("assets/gems1.png"));
jewelsAtlas = new TextureAtlas(Gdx.files.internal("assets/pack"));
for (int z = 0; z < gridSize; z++) {
for (int x = 0; x < gridSize; x++) {
Random r = new Random();
int j = r.nextInt(2)+1;
actors[x][z] = new Image(jewelsAtlas.findRegion(""+j+""));
actors[x][z].x = x*56; //each gem is 56*56 width / height
actors[x][z].y = z*56;
// actors[x][z].name = "actor"+x+z;
// cant use this above as it wont allow....
stage.addActor(actors[x][z]);
}
}
Gdx.input.setInputProcessor(this);
}
@Override
public void render() {
Gdx.gl.glClear(GL10.GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT);
batch.begin();
stage.draw();
batch.end();
}
@Override
public boolean touchDown(int x, int y, int pointer, int button) {
stage.toStageCoordinates(Gdx.input.getX(), Gdx.input.getY(), point);
Actor actor = stage.hit(point.x, point.y);
if (actor != null){
Gdx.app.log("name", actor.name);
// the actor.name is null
Gdx.app.log("hashCode", ""+actor.hashCode());
((Image)actor).color.set((float)Math.random(), (float)Math.random(), (float)Math.random(), 0.5f + 0.5f * (float)Math.random());
}
return false;
}
....
....
....
}
A:
The name is final, and as such has to be defined in the constructor.
Where you have
actors[x][z] = new Image(jewelsAtlas.findRegion(""+j+""));
Use
actors[x][z] = new Image(jewelsAtlas.findRegion(""+j+""), Scaling.none, Align.CENTER, "myawesomenewname");
| |
On Monday, the Otters began exploring light. We learned that light is a form of energy that we can see and is made up of tiny particles called photons. We did a movement activity where became photons ourselves! As photons, we travel in waves but only in straight lines. Some Otters practiced this concept on the SmartBoard! It was exciting to learn that we can see objects because photons bounce off of objects and into our eyes.
We explored different types of objects to see which ones light can pass through. We discovered that light can pass through transparent and translucent objects, but no light can pass through an opaque object. It was fun to have the lights turned off in the classroom and explore with flashlights!
Since light cannot pass through an opaque object, a shadow is formed! On Thursday, we went outside and built structures while studying the shadows by tracing them. The Otters had interesting observations and experiences with angles of blocks. One Otter noted that if the block was tilted one way, the shadow looked like a triangle. If the block was turned a different way, then the shadow looked like a parallelogram! This made us wonder about the ways shadows can be changed. We observed that moving the opaque object changes the shadow, but moving the light source will also change the shape of the shadow. On Friday, some Otters traced their shadows during outdoor learning at 10:40 a.m. We returned to the same spot at 1:40 p.m. and our shadows had completely changed! Our light source (the sun) had moved in the sky, which changed the shape of our shadows. | http://earlylearningcomm-otter.squarespace.com/otterblog/2016/5/14/light |
Store owner: Thieves swipe birds worth thousands of dollars
This undated photo provided by Birds-N-Paradise pet store shows Patagonian Conures, three of the six birds stolen from the Birds-N-Paradise pet store in Menifee, Calif., early Friday, March 16, 2018. Store owners said each Patagonian Conure is worth $950. (Lori Lister/Birds-N-Paradise via AP)
By:StaffThe Associated Press Published on
MENIFEE, Calif. — A business owner says thieves smashed a window of a Southern California pet store and made off with six birds worth thousands of dollars.
Schreiner believes the theft at his shop in the city of Menifee is tied to other recent bird heists in the region. Thefts have occurred at a bird farm in Redlands and an exotic bird store in Cypress in the past few weeks.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Department says it's not clear if the crimes are linked. | |
HMS H47 was a British H class submarine built by William Beardmore and Company, Dalmuir. She was laid down on 20 November 1917 and was commissioned on 25 February 1919. It had a complement of twenty-two crew members. HMS H47 was sunk in a collision with British L class submarine L12 off Milford Haven, Wales on 9 July 1929. Twenty one of the crew were lost with only three survivors.
Like all post-H20 British H-class submarines, H47 had a displacement of 440 tonnes (490 short tons) at the surface and 500 tonnes (550 short tons) while submerged. It had a total length of 171 feet (52 m), a beam length of 15 feet 4 inches (4.67 m), and a draught length of 12 metres (39 ft). It contained a diesel engines providing a total power of 480 horsepower (360 kW) and two electric motors each providing 320 horsepower (240 kW) power. The use of its electric motors made the submarine travel at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). It would normally carry 16.4 tonnes (18.1 short tons) of fuel and had a maximum capacity of 18 tonnes (20 short tons).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) and a submerged speed of 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph). Post-H20 British H-class submarines had ranges of 2,985 nautical miles (5,528 km; 3,435 mi) at speeds of 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) when surfaced. H47 was fitted with an anti-aircraft gun and four 21 inches (530 mm) torpedo tubes. Its torpedo tubes were fitted to the bows and the submarine was loaded with eight 21 inches (530 mm) torpedoes. It is a Holland 602 type submarine but was designed to meet Royal Navy specifications. Its complement was twenty-two crew members. | https://alchetron.com/HMS-H47 |
How Does a Traffic Light Work?
Do all traffic signals work in the same way?
How can traffic signals sense when vehicles are present?
Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Auora. Auora Wonders, “how does a traffic light work?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Auora!
Dog 1: So what you're telling me, Charlie, is that these humans drive these cars around and just stop for no reason simply because there's a red light hanging up in the air?
Dog 2: I know it sounds crazy, Rex, but I've watched the cars here for quite a while and that indeed appears to be what happens. Sit here and watch with me a while.
Dog 1: Would you look at that, Charlie? You're right. That car was driving along and, even though there aren't any other cars around, it just stopped when that light up there turned from green to yellow and then red.
Dog 2: It's a mystery, Rex. Why would they do that? It's almost like they don't have anywhere important to be. It's like they've got all the time in the world and are never in a hurry.
Dog 1: People are so weird. I'll never understand them. Oh well, I need to get back home to chase cats and bark at leaves.
Dog 2: Look! That car is coming this way. Let's chase it!
Rex and Charlie took off in a flurry of fur and barking. We're not sure if they ever caught the car or, if they did, what they would've done with it. Nevertheless, their brief conversation did make us WONDER about the traffic lights that hang above intersections. Exactly how do those work?
While traffic signals may be a mystery to dogs, human drivers are happy that they're there to regulate the flow of traffic on busy streets. Without traffic lights and stop signs, navigating your way around a big city could be quite dangerous.
As you probably already know, most traffic lights feature three colored lights. The green light signals that it's safe to proceed through the intersection. A yellow light (also known as a caution light) alerts drivers to the fact the light is about to change to red.
When drivers encounter a yellow light, they know it's necessary to slow down and come to a stop at the intersection. The red light, of course, indicates that drivers must stop and wait for a green light before traveling through the intersection.
Although most traffic lights have a similar appearance, they can often function in very different ways. The most common traffic lights work on simple timers. Depending upon traffic levels at a particular intersection, the traffic light will cycle through green, yellow, and red at regular intervals to ensure a consistent flow of traffic in all directions through the intersection. Timer-based systems are excellent for busy areas that have a consistent, heavy volume of traffic.
In areas where traffic can be sporadic and unpredictable, timer-based systems don't work as well. For example, in a rural area, a timer-based system might have drivers stopped unnecessarily when no traffic is present. In these situations, sensor-based traffic signals maximize traffic efficiency by only functioning when traffic is present.
Rather than timers, "smart" or "intelligent" sensor-based traffic signals rely upon a system of sensors to detect when vehicles are present. The types of sensors used can vary by location and technology. Some systems use lasers, rubber hoses filled with air, or video cameras to detect the presence of cars.
Another popular type of sensor is known as an inductive loop system. These systems rely upon a coil of wire embedded in the road's surface. The wire detects changes in magnetic fields when vehicles (large metal objects!) are stopped above them.
So how do sensor-based systems maximize traffic efficiency? In a rural area, for example, the main direction of travel can remain on green to allow the majority of vehicles to pass through quickly. When a vehicle on a side road arrives at the intersection, a sensor will detect it and cycle the lights to allow traffic on the side road to pass through. In this way, traffic can flow uninterrupted on the main road unless and until traffic on a side road appears.
Some traffic signals in large cities are even advanced enough to allow certain types of vehicles to control them when necessary to allow quick passage through intersections for certain types of vehicles. These systems, known as traffic preemption systems, allow emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars, to change traffic signals as they approach, so that they can get to where they need to go much faster.
We believe tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day is going to crack you up!
Ask an adult friend or family member to take you on a field trip to a local area with multiple traffic lights. Park your vehicle and spend some time at each intersection with a traffic signal, observing how it works. Can you determine whether it's working on a timer or a sensor? If a sensor, how is the sensor triggered? How can you tell? Have fun observing traffic signals in the wild!
Inductive loops sensors work based upon changes in magnetic fields caused by the metal in cars. Do you think these sensors will become obsolete as more and more cars are made out of plastic and composite materials? Why or why not? Based upon other types of sensors you've seen developed and put into practice in recent years, what types of sensors do you think will be best to use for traffic signals in the future? Why?
Do you have a vivid imagination? Pretend that you're a traffic engineer in the year 2099. Not only are regular vehicles, such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles, still in use, but there are also autonomous (self-driving) vehicles, as well as flying cars. What type of traffic signal system would you develop to control traffic involving all these different types of transportation? Give it some thought and then write a short story or draw a picture that explains the type of traffic signal system you'd use in the future!
Hi, Jada! We have a Wonder about New York! Wonder 718: Have You Ever Been to the Big Apple?
What about the color blind people ? The horizontal trafict light bar show 2 square lights for red, 1 lozange for yellow and round for green. And now most of the time green is indicated by an arrow. And when there is a light bar in both side of the road, the green light in the left bar is at the right of the bar and at the right bar the green light is at the right of the bar. Unfortunately, some cyties does not always respect this rule. However at night it's not easy to know the position of the green light in a bar. When it's a upwright bar, the green is at bottom, yellow middel and red up. As a color blind, we must be more carefull. I had only one accident and one tiket in 50 years driving because the trafict light was wrongly install.
Thank you for sharing with us, Jean!!
I think that traffic lights have some kind of thing in it so each lane gets the same amount of time.
I think traffic lights are really helpfull because it will help is not crash.
That's true, Joban! We are very thankful for traffic lights!
Traffic light work with some background process called Traffic light interface.it is preprogrammed one.
Very interesting! Thanks for being our Wonder Friend, S.Lakshmanan!!!
Which type of traffic signal sensor uses a coil of wire embedded in the road surface?
In areas with consistent, heavy traffic, signals may simply run on what?
Which of the following is NOT a type of vehicle that might use a traffic signal preemption system? | https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-does-a-traffic-light-work |
Coulomb's Law - Definition and Formula
In this post, we will cover Coulomb's Law Definition and Coulomb's Law Formula that will help you to understand Coulomb's Law better.
Coulomb's Law Definition-
The mechanical force produced between two magnetic poles is produced to the product of their pole strengths, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
Coulomb's Law Formula-
In the SI System, The law is given by-
where F is the force between the poles (in Newtons), m1 and m2 are pole strengths, d is the distance between the poles in meters, μ(r) is the relative permeability of the medium in which the poles are situated, and μ(o) is the permeability of free space (in air).
μ = Absolute permeability of air (or vacuum) x relative permeability μ(r). | https://www.electricalnotes4u.com/2019/10/coulombs-law-definition-and-formula.html |
'Random Access Memories' guest reveals Paris recording studio secrets
Animal Collective member and Daft Punk collaborator Panda Bear has spoken about working on the French duo’s new album ‘Random Access Memories’ – scroll down to watch it.
Talking to Vice as part of their Creators Project series, Panda Bear revealed that he was invited to work with Daft Punk in Paris after having asked the duo to remix one of his solo songs and an Animal Collective song. Speaking about his time in Paris, Panda Bear says: “They set up a bunch of microphones to see which one would sound best with my voice and then it was like, ‘OK, do something good’. It was right at the last moment that we came up with something that we all liked.”
Speaking about his work on the album, Panda Bear says: “It’s a huge honour for me, but to talk about it is still a little difficult for me. Something I like about Daft Punk is that every album is a little bit different.” Adding: “Instead of sampling an old piece of music it was like recording things in an old way to make something that sounds like it was sampling something old which, in turn, makes it sound new. It’s repetitive like a sampler but it has these sonic imperfections too. It’s wanting to remember something old that’s good but has been forgotten in some way. It’s a cool way to say thanks for the inspiration.”
Panda Bear is one of a number of collaborators Daft Punk have pulled in for ‘Random Access Memories’, which is released on May 20. Synth pioneer Giorgio Moroder, Todd Edwards, Pharrell Williams and Chilly Gonzales are set to appear on the LP. | https://www.nme.com/news/music/daft-punk-92-1267417 |
, flowing counterclockwise, when you look down the x axis.
2) A disk carries a uniform density charge of σ and is rotating around its center at angular velocity ω. What is is the surface current density
K
at a distance
r
from the center of the disk?
3) A uniformly charged solid sphere has total charge
Q
and radius
R
. It is centered at the origin and is spinning at a constant angular velocity ω about
z
axis. Find the current density
J
at any point
(r,θ,φ)
inside the sphere.
4) Find the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at point P for the steady current configuration shown below
5) Two parallel wires carry a line charge λ and are distance
d
from each other. They move at a constant speed as shown below.
How great that speed has to be in order for magnetic force to balance the electrostatic repulsion? Obtain the numerical value - is it a sensible speed?
6) A steady current
I
flows down a long cyllindrical wire of radius
R
. Find the magnetic field inside and outside the wire, if: | http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/~gershtein/385/homeworks/hw11.html |
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually inaugurated Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital at the international headquarters of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur in the state of Gujarat.
The inaugural event was also attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Member of Parliament CR Patil.
The 250-bed facility is spread across eight acres of land and involved a cost of more than $25.2m (Rs2bn).
It seeks to provide free treatment to underprivileged patients by offering diagnosis, treatment, preventative care and rehabilitation.
More than 300 doctors and specialists at the hospital will offer over 16 specialities.
The facility promises to deliver end-to-end care in every department to cater to the healthcare needs of the tribal population.
Furthermore, the hospital features six ultra-modern operation theatres, 1.5 T MRI Machine, 128 Slice CT scan with CT angiography, Cardiac Catheterisation Lab and a dialysis unit.
Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital is also equipped with an 18-bed ICU and a 26-bed NICU, District Early Intervention Centre, Aqua Therapy and Robotic Physiotherapy as well as a Sensory Garden for Developmental Disability.
To promote medical research, and train medical students and staff, the hospital has partnered with international medical varsities.
The hospital, part of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur, was envisioned by spiritual visionary Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji.
Rural patients will also get access to global doctors at the hospital through teleconsultations free of cost.
In April this year, Modi inaugurated seven new cancer hospitals in the state of Assam in a bid to boost healthcare capabilities in the north-eastern part of the country. | https://www.hospitalmanagement.net/news/shrimad-rajchandra-mission-dharampur-opens-hospital-india/ |
It is very important to fight against corruption that has existed in Ukraine for many years. It was cultivated in Ukraine and it's a very serious challenge, so here we decided to take a systematic approach. There is a two-fold answer to this question. On one hand, we have to fight in criminal terms. We should bring to justice everyone who commits corruption-related offences. On the other hand, there are the institution-related changes that allow us to eliminate the roots of corruption.
As far as the first part is concerned, in 2015, when I was the Speaker of the Parliament, we started amending the national legislation. We created quite open national legislation that demonstrates its efficiency to date. We needed to detect corruption-related offences. All the necessary laws have been approved and they have come into force.
The second step was the creation of anti-corruption institutions that are designed to fight corruption. For the first time in the history of our state, we created an absolutely independent national anti-corruption bureau that investigates corruption. Also, we have created a national agency for the prevention of corruption. Its mission is to analyze situations and to conduct scrutiny and monitor the way of life of public officials. We have opened all the public registries now, so it's easy to obtain information about the beneficiaries and owners of property. Previously, this data was closed. We introduced the electronic declaration system, which is quite meticulous and which raises the bar for officials and for those who hold public positions. In addition, we have created an independent anti-corruption prosecutor's office. There was a special procedure for creating this office. Today, it is established and unfolding.
Now we need to resolve the third problem. That is the creation of a fair and just judiciary. In this context, we need to rework the Supreme Court system. We are recreating the Supreme Court in accordance with the constitutional amendments approved last year. Now there is a new initiative to create anti-corruption courts. The President's position—and this is his constitutional mandate—is to introduce a bill to establish the new anti-corruption courts in the near future. All the institutions will be created, will be in place, and then we'll have to fight corruption.
With regard to the institutional changes, as I said, we are working to pass systematic decisions to eliminate the roots of corruption. For example, in August of 2016 we launched a system of transparent public procurement. By the way, the agreement on free trade with Canada allows Canadian companies to take part in Ukraine's public procurement, so now we spend billions in an absolutely transparent manner. Previously, it was a very corrupt and closed system.
We eliminated corruption in energy with regard to gas pricing. It used to be a very corrupt system. We also implemented large-scale deregulation and we removed various obstacles to the development of a national economy and business. In addition, back in 2015 we launched an important reform, for the decentralization of power, which is another important anti-corruption change. | https://openparliament.ca/committees/international-trade/42-1/85/he-volodymyr-groysman-2/only/ |
If you asked a reader of Regency Romance what character would wear a cap, they would say a married woman or a spinster. But what makes a spinster, and why would they wear a cap? The reader would reply, an unmarried woman past her prime would wear a cap. But they might be vague on why.
To signify she was off the marriage market? To indicate her age? To allow her to avoid fussing over her appearance for yet another unproductive Season? So she could sit on the sidelines and not dance until the handsome rake/Lord noticed her? Ah, the appearance of a Regency Romance cliché!
The whole thing must have been confusing. Married women wore a cap, so it would follow that the odd time, the rake would have flirted with Lady Offlimits—until Lord Offlimits showed. There might be a better chance of it, since the spinster would have been passed by repeatedly, implying she was never as vivacious as Lady Offlimits. Unless, of course, she was crossed in love. Another Regency Romance cliché.
For the 21st century woman, the choice of a cap is personal. I figure it’s a lot like the turban: a way to hide your non-Regency hair indoors when your hat or bonnet must come off. If you’re married, or single and proud of it, you certainly have the option, and would have in the Regency. We’ll just assume that you have to be a grown-up to wear a cap: old enough to be married.
One of great-Grandma Lauder’s tatted doilies, 21 inches in diameter, was easy to make into a cap. I tied a matching ribbon to a point about 2½” from the edge and pinned a safety pin to the other end. The safety pin helped me to weave the ribbon in and out around the doily at 2½” from the edge until about 2½” from the start point, gathering in the fullness. I tightened the ribbon so the “cap” fit my head loosely, then tied the other end off, too. Then I tied a bow to tighten the cap with once in place.
It’s a bit big for my head, and droops, but I have a small head. I still think it looks rather pretty.
The trouble is, I doubt many caps looked like this, so at best, it’s graded as a “closed parasol”: okay in a pinch, but not correct. The one shown from 1806 has some similarities in appearance from the front, but it’s not the same construction. You see, I had mistaken the idea of a lace cap as a cap made of heavier lace like tatting, and had not paid a great deal of attention to real examples.
In actual fact, Regency caps were made from fine cotton, muslin, or linen, often with whitework embroidery, including eyelets, drawn thread techniques, and areas cut away so lace-like darning can fill the area.
Back view showing embroidery on 1806 cap/bonnet.
Sources of whitework might be found on a pillow sham as seen below, as well as handkerchiefs, scarves, or tablecloths. The shams, found at a small thrift shop for $1.99 for the pair, have some large drawn thread panels that can be used to make a cap, but it will be complicated.
The first step will be to figure out how best to select the panels of embroidery, then where to cut them for the right shapes to piece together for a cap. The panels should be sewn together because of the complex shapes and need for fine, flat seams. Ruffles on the front edge of the hat and ties at the throat seem to be optional, which saves me some fussing.
I’ve been watching for a pattern that may better suit my situation before I start this project. The one shown may not be perfect, but it may be all I have.
With all the mention of what your hair will look like if you remove your headwear, and all the alternatives, we have yet to spend any time on hats and bonnets! Is that a bit like Chicken Little, worried about something unknown that may never come to pass?
It could be that your event is an out-of-doors afternoon Promenade. A Regency lady would wear some kind of head covering outdoors to give her an air of modesty. To shield her delicate skin from the sun, she may also carry a parasol, but it will not be a substitute for headwear, as in the drawing of the set of three ladies above.
Unless you plan to spend an appreciable amount of time indoors during the event, you might never need to remove that hat while in your Regency persona. Alternately, if you plan to attend a Regency ball in the evening, and take on your persona indoors, you need not don a hat or bonnet in the first place. My event, the Louisville, KY Jane Austen Society of North America Annual General Meeting in October 2015, will call for both.
Here are some of the wide variety of designs for Regency hats and bonnets from around 1810, as well as the original seven modern hats I collected to demonstrate what you can find in your closet, showing which ones will work and which are devoid of the famous grading parasol!
NEXT POST, I’ll give some ideas on how these hats can be made into Regency hats or bonnets, and show step-by-step how I made a Capote hat with one of them. I may have time to make a second hat or the whitework cap before then, too. | http://suzanlauder.merytonpress.com/tag/jaff-meetups-ups/ |
These cookies are pretty much perfect. When I started making them, I figured I would switch back to my standby chocolate chip cookie recipe when I got bored of them. Instead, the old recipe has been permanently replaced! The texture is amazing, they're beautiful, and I can't stop eating them. Definitely a keeper recipe. I'm very particular about my cookies, and I love these ones!
Giant Rainbow Cookies
How Sweet It Is
2 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (I usually have to add an extra few tablespoons)
1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) of salted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg + 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup mini m&m’s (or something else that you love)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Mix the flour and baking soda in a bowl and set aside. In another bowl, mix the butter and sugars until they are combined (and look like the first picture above). Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and stir until mixed. Gradually add flour and mix until a dough forms – it will look crumbly at first, but it will come together. I even used my hands to help at one point. Fold in the m&m’s.
Divide the dough how you choose (1/4 cup portions for 18 large cookies or 2 tablespoon portions for 36 smaller cookies). Shape each portion into a ball with your hands then pull each ball into two equal pieces. Turn each half so that the rough side of the half (what used to be the inside of the ball) faces upwards and then squish both halves together. Place the dough rough-side up on a baking sheets. If you’re doing large cookies, I’d leave about 2 inches in between each.
Bake for 12-15 minutes (large cookies) or 8-12 minutes (small cookies) or until the edges are slightly brown. The centers should be soft and puffy. Do not over bake. Let cool completely then dig in!
These also happen to be my tiny assistant's favorite cookies, and she loves helping me make them!
Hungry for more from The Baker Upstairs? | https://www.thebakerupstairs.com/2011/08/rainbow-cookies-take-two.html |
In 2008, with the appointment of Professor Alan Barber as the inaugural Neurological Foundation of New Zealand Chair in Clinical Neurology, the Neurology Research Unit was established. Since this time, the NRU has expanded with the appointments of Dr Cathy Stinear, movement neuroscientist, and Dr Jennifer Pereira, clinical neurologist, as senior lecturers. In addition, the Neurological Foundation Douglas Clinical Fellowship and Dr Suzanne Ackerley, Clinical Neuroscience Research Fellow, complete the team. Professor Barber and Dr Stinear lead the Brain Recovery Clinic, the CBR research clinic at the University’s Tamaki Campus.
The NRU aims to take discoveries made in the lab and translate them into therapies for people living with the devastating effects of neurological illness. The major focus is on stroke, reflecting the current research interests of the team. This extends from epidemiology of stroke and transient ischemic attack, to new risk factors and acute therapies for stroke and new rehabilitation techniques.
Feigin VL, Barker-Collo S, Parag V, Hackett ML, Kerse N, Barber PA, Theadom A, Krishnamurthi R, on behalf of the Auckland Regional Community Stroke Study Group. Prevalence and predictors of 6-month fatigue in patients with ischemic stroke: a population-based stroke incidence study in Auckland, New Zealand, 2002-2003. Stroke. 2012;43(10):2604-2609.
Child N, Fink J, Jones S, Voges K, Vivian M, Barber PA. New Zealand National Acute Stroke Services Audit: acute stroke care delivery in New Zealand. NZ Med J. 2012;125(1358):44-51.
Stinear C, Barber PA, Petoe M, Anwar S, Byblow W. The PREP algorithm predicts potential for upper limb recovery after stroke. Brain. 2012;135(8):2527-35.
Wright L, Hill KM, Bernhardt J, Lindley R, Ada L, Bajorek BV, Barber PA, Beer C, Golledge J, Gustafsson L, Hersh D, Kenardy J, Perry L, Middleton S, Brauer SG, Nelson MR, on behalf of the National Stroke Foundation Stroke Guidelines Expert Working Group. Stroke Management: updated recommendations for treatment along the care continuum. Internal Medicine Journal. 2012;42(5):562-9.
Davis S, Campbell B, Christensen S, Ma H, Desmond P, Parsons M, Levi C, Bladin C, Barber PA, Donnan G. Perfusion/Diffusion Mismatch Is Valid and Should Be Used for Selecting Delayed Interventions. Translational Stroke Research. 2012;3(2):188-197.
Wu TY, Anderson NE, Barber PA. Neurological complications of carotid revascularisation. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. 2012;83(5):543-550.
Ma H, Parsons MW, Christensen S, Campbell BCV, Churilov L, Connelly A, Yan B, Bladin C, Phan T, Barber PA, Read S, Hankey GJ, Markus R, Wijeratne T, Grimley R, Mahant N, Kleinig T, Sturm J, Lee A, Blacker D, Gerraty R, Krause M, Desmond PM, McBride SJ, Carey L, Howells DW, Hsu CY, Davis SM, Donnan GA, on behalf of the EXTEND investigators. A multicentre, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase III study to investigate EXtending the time for Thrombolysis in Emergency Neurological Deficits (EXTEND). International Journal of Stroke. 2012;7(1):74-80.
Theadom A, Barker-Collo S, Feigin VL, Starkey NJ, Jones K, Jones A, Ameratunga S, Barber PA, on behalf of the BIONIC Research Group. The Spectrum Captured: A Methodological Approach to Studying Incidence and Outcomes of Traumatic Brain Injury on a Population Level. Neuroepidemiology 2011;38(1):18-29.
Barber PA, Snow B. Non-Contact First Specialist Appointments Are Safe (editorial). NZ Med J. 2011;124(1347):10-11.
Harwood M, Weatherall M, Talemaitoga A, Barber PA, Gommans J, Taylor W, McPherson K, McNaughton H. Taking charge after stroke: promoting self-directed rehabilitation to improve quality of life – a randomized controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2012;26(6):493-501.
Sheridan NF, Kenealy T, Connolly MJ, Mahony F, Barber A, Boyd MA, Carswell P, Clinton J, Devlin G, Doughty R, Dyall L, Kerse N, Kolbe J, Lawrenson R, Moffitt A. Health equity in the New Zealand health care system: a national survey.International Journal for Equity in Health. Published online 20 Oct 2011;10(1):10-45.
Connolly MJ, Kenealy T, Barber PA, Carswell P, Clinton J, Dyall L, Devlin G, Doughty RN, Kerse N, Kolbe J, Lawrenson R, Moffitt A, Sheridan N. National variability in provision of health services for major long-term conditions in New Zealand (a report from the ABCC NZ study). NZ Med J. 2011;124(1344):16-35.
Johnson C, Lane H, Barber PA, Charleston A. Medication compliance in ischaemic stroke patients. Internal Medicine Journal. 2012;42(4):e47-52. E-Pub 26 Feb 2010; DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2010.02209.x.
Carter K, Barber PA, Shaw C. How does self-reported history of stroke compare to hospitalization data in a population-based survey in New Zealand? Stroke. 2010;41(11):2678-2680.
Chemmanam T, Campbell BCV, Christensen S, Nagakane Y, Desmond PM, Bladin CF, Parsons MW, Levi CR, Barber PA, Donnan GA, Davis SM. Ischemic Diffusion Lesion Reversal is Uncommon and Rarely Alters Perfusion-Diffusion Mismatch.Neurology. 2010;75(12):1040-7.
Lees KR, Bluhmki E, von Kummer R, Brott TG, Toni D, Grotta JC, Albers GW, Kaste M, Marler JR, Hamilton SA, Tilley BC, Davis SM, Donnan GA, Hacke W, ECASS, ATLANTIS, NINDS and EPITHET rt-PA Study Group, Allen K, Mau J, Meier D, del Zoppo G, De Silva DA, Butcher KS, Parsons MW, Barber PA, Levi C, Bladin C, Byrnes G. Time to treatment with intravenous alteplase and outcome in stroke: an updated pooled analysis of ECASS, ATLANTIS, NINDS, and EPITHET trials. Lancet. 2010: 375(9727):1695-703.
Tu HTH, Campbell BCV, Christensen S, Collins M, De Silva DA, Butcher KS, Parsons MW, Desmond PM, Barber PA, Levi CR, Bladin CF, Donnan GA, Davis SM, for the Echoplanar Imaging Thrombolytic Evaluation Trial (EPITHET) Investigators. Pathophysiological Determinants of Worse Stroke Outcome in Atrial Fibrillation. Cerebrovascular Diseases.2010;30(4):389-95.
Ackerley SJ, Stinear CM, Barber PA, Byblow WD. Combining theta burst stimulation with training after subcortical stroke.Stroke. 2010;41(7):1568-72.
Parsons MW, Christensen S, McElduff P, Levi CR, Butcher KS, De Silva DA, Ebinger M, Barber PA, Bladin C, Donnan GA, Davis SM, for the Echoplanar Imaging Thrombolytic Evaluation Trial (EPITHET) Investigators. Pre-treatment diffusion- and perfusion-MR lesion volumes have a crucial influence on clinical response to stroke thrombolysis. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism. 2010;30(6):1214-25.
Campbell BCV, Christensen S, Foster SJ, Desmond PM, Parsons MW, Butcher KS, Barber PA, Levi CR, Bladin CF, Donnan GA, Davis SM, for the EPITHET Investigators. Visual Assessment of Perfusion-Diffusion Mismatch is Inadequate to Select Patients for Thrombolysis. Cerebrovascular Diseases. 2010;29(6):592-6.
Butcher K, Christensen S, Parsons M, De Silva DA, Ebinger M, Levi C, Jeerakathil T, Campbell BC, Barber PA, Bladin C, Fink J, Tress B, Donnan GA, Davis SM, for the EPITHET Investigators. Postthrombolysis blood pressure elevation is associated with hemorrhagic transformation. Stroke. 2010;41(1):72-7.
Campbell BCV, Christensen S, Butcher KS, Gordon I, Parsons MW, Desmond PM, Barber PA, Levi CR, Bladin CF, De Silva DA, Donnan GA, Davis SM, for the EPITHET Investigators. Regional Very Low Cerebral Blood Volume Predicts Hemorrhagic Transformation Better Than Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Volume and Thresholded Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in Acute Ischemic Stroke. Stroke. 2010;41(1):82-8.
De Silva DA, Ebinger M, Christensen S, Parsons M, Levi CR, Butcher K,Barber PA, Bladin C, Donnan GA, Davis SM, for the Echoplanar Imaging Thrombolytic Evaluation Trial (EPITHET) Investigators. Baseline diabetic status and admission blood glucose were poor prognostic factors in the EPITHET trial. Cerebrovascular Diseases. 2010;29(1):14-21.
Mudge S, Barber PA, Stott NS. Circuit-based rehabilitation improves gait endurance but not usual walking activity in chronic stroke: a randomized controlled trial. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2009;90(12):1989-96.
Brownlee W, Fergus L, Bennett P, Gommans J, Fink J, Barber PA. Transient ischaemic attack services in New Zealand.NZ Med J. 2009;122(1299):21-7.
De Silva DA, Fink JN, Christensen S, Ebinger M, Bladin C, Levi CR, Parsons M, Butcher K, Barber PA, Donnan GA, Davis SM, for the Echoplanar Imaging Thrombolytic Evaluation Trial (EPITHET) Investigators. Assessing reperfusion and recanalization as markers of clinical outcomes after intravenous thrombolysis in the echoplanar imaging thrombolytic evaluation trial (EPITHET). Stroke. 2009;40(8):2872-4.
Stinear CM, Barber PA, Coxon JP, Verryt TS, Acharya PP, Byblow WD. Repetitive stimulation of premotor cortex affects primary motor cortex excitability and movement preparation. Brain Stimulation. 2009;2(3):152-162.
Gommans J, Barber PA, Fink J. Preventing strokes: the assessment and management of people with transient ischaemic attack. NZ Med J. 2009;122(1293):50-60.
Barber PA, Gommans J. How to treat stroke and TIA. NZ Doctor. April 9, 2009;19-23.
Ebinger M, Iwanaga T, Prosser JF, DeSilva DA, Christensen S, Collins M, Parsons MW, Levi CR, Bladin CF, Barber PA, Donnan GA, Davis SM, for the EPITHET investigators. Clinical-diffusion mismatch and benefit from thrombolysis 3 to 6 hours after acute stroke. Stroke. 2009;40(7):2572-4.
Ebinger M, Christensen S, DeSilva DA, Parsons MW, Levi CR, Butcher KS, Bladin CF, Barber PA, Donnan GA, Davis SM. Expediting MRI-based proof-of-concept stroke trials using an earlier imaging endpoint. Stroke. 2009;40(4):1353-58.
Barber PA, Gommans J, Fink J, Hanger HC, Bennett P, Ataman N. Acute stroke services in New Zealand: changes between 2001 and 2007. NZ Med J. 2008;121(1285):46-51.
Anderson NE, Barber PA. Limbic encephalitis - a review. J Clin Neuroscience. 2008;15(9):961-971.
Gommans J, Barber PA, Hanger HC, Bennett P. Rehabilitation after stroke: changes between 2002 and 2007 in services provided by district health boards in New Zealand. NZ Med J. 2008;121(1274):26-33.
Davis SM, Donnan GA, Parsons MW, Levi C, Butcher KS, Peeters A, Barber PA, Bladin C, De Silva DA, Byrnes G, Chalk JB, Fink JN, Kimber TE, Schultz D, Hand PJ, Frayne J, Hankey G, Muir K, Gerraty R, Tress BM, Desmond PM, for the Echoplanar Imaging Thrombolytic Evaluation Trial (EPITHET) Investigators. Effects of alteplase beyond 3 h after stroke in the Echoplanar Imaging Thrombolytic Evaluation Trial (EPITHET): a placebo-controlled randomised trial. Lancet Neurology. 2008;7(4):299-309. UI: 18296121.
Barber PA, Hach S, Tippett LJ, Ross L, Merry AF, Milsom P. Cerebral ischemic lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging are associated with neurocognitive decline after cardiac surgery. Stroke. 2008;39(5):1427-33.
Butcher K, Parsons M, Allport L, Lee SB, Barber PA, Tress, B, Donnan GA, Davis SM for the EPITHET investigators. Rapid assessment of perfusion-diffusion mismatch. Stroke. 2008;39(1)75-81.
Bolland MJ, Barber PA, Doughty R, Mason B, Horne A, Ames R, Gamble GD, Grey A, Reid IR. Vascular events in healthy older women receiving calcium supplementation: randomised controlled trial. British Medical Journal. 2008;336(7638):262-6.
Stinear CM, Barber PA, Smale P, Coxon JP, Fleming MK, Byblow WD. Functional potential in chronic stroke patients depends on corticospinal tract integrity. Brain. 2007;130(Pt 1):170-180.
Carter KN, Anderson CS, Hackett ML, Barber PA, Bonita R on behalf of the Auckland Regional Community Stroke (ARCOS) Study Group. Improved survival after stroke: is admission to hospital the major explanation? Trends analyses of the Auckland Regional Community Stroke Studies. Cerebrovascular Diseases. 2007;23(2-3):162-8.
Manley P, Somerfield J, Simpson I, Barber PA, Zwi J. Bilateral uraemic optic neuritis complicating acute nephrocalcinosis. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. 2006;21(10):2957-8.
Somerfield J, Barber PA, Anderson NE, Kumar A, Spriggs D, Charleston A, Bennett P, Baker Y, Ross L. Not all patients with atrial fibrillation-associated ischemic stroke can be started on anticoagulant therapy. Stroke. 2006:37(5):1217-20.
Somerfield J, Barber PA, Anderson NE, Spriggs D, Charleston A, Bennett P. Changing attitudes to the management of ischaemic stroke between 1997 and 2004: a survey of New Zealand physicians. Internal Medicine Journal. 2006;36(5):276-80.
Feigin V, Carter K, Hackett M, Barber PA, McNaughton H, Dyall L, Chen MH, Anderson C on behalf of the Auckland Regional Community Stroke (ARCOS) Study Group. Ethnic disparities in incidence of stroke subtypes: Auckland Regional Community Stroke Study, 2002-2003. Lancet Neurology. 2006;5(2)130-9.
Carter K, Anderson C, Hackett M, Feigin V, Barber PA, Broad JB, Bonita R on behalf of the Auckland Regional Community Stroke (ARCOS) Study Group. Trends in ethnic disparities in stroke incidence in Auckland, New Zealand, during 1981-2003. Stroke. 2006;37(1):56-62.
Anderson C, Carter K, Hackett M, Feigin V, Barber PA, Broad J, Bonita R on behalf of the Auckland Regional Community Stroke (ARCOS) Study Group. Trends in stroke incidence in Auckland, New Zealand, during 1981-2003. Stroke. 2005;36(10):2087-2093.
Butcher K, Parsons MW, MacGregor L, Barber PA, Chalk J, Bladin C, Levi C, Kimber T, Schultz D, Fink J, Tress BM, Donnan GM, Davis SM for the EPITHET investigators. Refining the perfusion-diffusion mismatch hypothesis. Stroke. 2005;36:1153-1159.
McNaughton H, Barber PA, Gommans J. Nowitz M. Management problems of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage. Hospital Medicine. 2005;66:229-234.
Barber PA, Gommans J. Tissue plasminogen activator approved for stroke (editorial). NZ Med J. 2005;118(1214):U1432.
McAlister H, Barber PA, Clark M, Fenelon M, Fink J, Harwood M et al. The management of people with atrial fibrillation and flutter. McAlister H, ed. 2005. Wellington: New Zealand Guidelines Group.
Mayer SA, Brun NC, Begtrup K, Broderick J, Davis S, Diringer MN et al for the recombinant activated factor VII intracerebral haemorrhage trial investigators (incl Barber A. Principal investigator New Zealand). Recombinant activated factor VII for acute intracerebral haemorrhage. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:777-785.
Barber PA, Charleston AJ, Anderson NE, Spriggs DA, Bennett P, Thomas K, Baker YK. Changes in stroke care at Auckland Hospital between 1996 and 2001. NZ Med J. 2004;117 No 1190: ISSN1175 8716.
Barber PA, Parsons MW, Desmond PM, Donnan GM, Tress BM, Davis SM. Use of PWI and DWI Measures in the Design of “Proof of Concept” Stroke Trials. Journal of Neuroimaging. 2004:14:123-3.
Baskett J, McNaughton H, Anderson NE, Barber PA, Cookson T, Dady K, Fink J, et al. Life after stroke: New Zealand guideline for the management of stroke. Baskett JJ, Mc Naughton H, eds. 2003. Wellington: Stroke Foundation of New Zealand and the New Zealand Guidelines Group.
Barber PA, Davis SM. Limitations of current brain imaging modalities in stroke. In: Davis SM, Fisher M, Warach S, eds. MRI in Stroke. Cambridge 2003: Cambridge University Press. Chapter 2. Pages15-29.
Butcher K, Parsons MW, Chalk J, Barber A, Donnan GM, Desmond PM, Tress BM, Davis SM. Perfusion thresholds in acute stroke thrombolysis. Stroke. 2003;34:2159-2164.
Gommans J, Barber A, McNaughton H, Hanger HC, Bennett P, Spriggs D, Baskett JJ. Stroke rehabilitation services in New Zealand. NZ Med J. 2003;116 No 1174. ISSN 11758716.
Baird TA, Parsons MW, Barber PA, Desmond PM, G, Tress BM, Colman P, Jerrums G, Chambers B, Davis SM. The influence of diabetes mellitus and hyperglycemia on stroke incidence and outcome. J Clin Neurosci. 2003;9:618-626.
Gerraty RP, Parsons MW, Barber PA, Darby DG, Desmond PM, Tress BM, Davis SM. Examining the lacunar hypothesis with diffusion and perfusion MRI. Stroke. 2002;33:2019-2024.
Parsons MW, Barber PA, Desmond PM, Darby DG, Byrnes G, Tress BM, Davis SM. Acute hyperglycemia in PWI/DWI mismatch patients leads to poorer stroke outcome. Ann Neurol. 2002;52:20-28.
Parsons MW, Barber PA, Darby DG, Chalk J, Rose S, Desmond PM, Gerraty RP, Tress BM, Donnan GA, Davis SM. Diffusion and perfusion weighted MRI predicts response to thrombolysis in stroke. Ann Neurol. 2002;51:28-37.
Barber PA, Anderson NE, Bennett P, Gommans J. Acute stroke services in New Zealand. NZ Med J. 2002;115 No 1146:3-6.
Parsons MW, Barber PA, Davis SM. Relationship between severity of MR perfusion deficit and DWI lesion evolution (Letter). Neurology. 2002;58:1707.
Desmond PM, Lovell AC, Rawlinson AA, Parsons MW, Barber PA, Yang Q, Li T, Darby DG, Gerraty RP, Davis SM, Tress BM. The value of ADC maps in early cerebral ischemia. AJNR: American Journal of Neuroradiology. 2001;22:1260-1267.
Parsons MW, Yang Q, Barber PA, Darby DG, Desmond PM, Gerraty RP, Tress BM, Davis SM. Perfusion MRI maps in hyperacute stroke: relative cerebral blood flow most accurately identifies tissue destined to infarct. Stroke. 2001;32:1581-1587.
Baird AE, Dambrosia J, Dambrosia Q, Chaves C, Silver B, Barber PA, Parsons M, Darby D, Davis, S, Caplan LR, Edelman RR, Warach S. A three-item scale for the early prediction of stroke recovery. Lancet. 2001;357:2095-2099.
Hirano T, Read SJ, Abbott DF, Baird AE, Yasaka M, Infeld B, Barber PA, Davis SM, McKay WJ, Donnan GA. Prediction of the final infarct volume within 6 h of stroke using single photon emission computed tomography with technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2001;11:119-27.
Barber PA, Consolo HK, Darby DG, Desmond PM, Gerraty RP, Yang Q, Tress BM, Davis SM. Comparison of perfusion MRI with HM-PAO SPECT in chronic stroke. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2001;11:128-36.
Gerraty RP, Parsons MW, Barber PA, Darby DG, Davis SM. The volume of lacunes (Letter). Stroke. 2001;32:1937-1938.
Parsons MW, Li T, Barber PA, Yang Q, Darby DG, Desmond PM, Gerraty RP, Tress BM, Davis SM. Combined 1H MRS and diffusion weighted MR imaging improves the prediction of stroke outcome. Neurology. 2000;55:498-506.
Barber PA, Anderson NE, Vincent A. Morvan’s syndrome associated with voltage-gated K+ channel antibodies. Neurology. 2000;54:771-772.
Davis SM, Tress BM, Barber PA, Darby DG, Parsons M, Gerraty RP, Yang Q, Li T, Donnan, GA, Desmond PM. Echoplanar Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Acute Stroke. J Clin Neuroscience. 2000;7:3-8.
Darby DG, Parsons MW, Barber PA, Davis SM. Significance of acute multiple brain infarction on diffusion-weighted imaging. (Letter) Stroke. 2000:31:2266-2268.
Barber PA, Darby DG, Davis SM. Disturbed diffusion and X-ray hypoattenuation in acute stroke, (Letter). Stroke. 2000;31:233.
Barber PA, Darby DG, Desmond PM, Gerraty RP, Yang Q, Li T, Jolley D, Donnan GA, Tress BM, Davis SM. Identification of major ischemic change: diffusion-weighted imaging versus computed tomography. Stroke. 1999; 30:2059-2065.
Yang Q, Tress BM, Barber PA, Darby DG, Gerraty RP, Desmond PM, Li T, Davis SM. Evolution of apparent diffusion coefficient and anisotropy in acute ischemic stroke. Stroke. 1999;30:2382-2390.
Barber PA, Davis SM, Darby DG, Desmond PM, Gerraty RP, Yang Q, Jolley D, Donnan GA, Tress BM. Absent middle cerebral artery flow predicts the presence and evolution of the ischemic penumbra. Neurology. 1999;52:1125-32.
Darby DG, Barber PA, Gerraty RP, Desmond PM, Yang Q, Parsons M, Li T, Tress BM, Davis SM. Pathophysiologic topography of acute ischemia using combined diffusion-weighted and perfusion MRI. Stroke. 1999;30:2043-2050.
Barber PA, Davis SM, Infeld I, Baird AE, Donnan GA, Jolley D, Lichtenstein M. Spontaneous reperfusion following ischemic stroke is associated with improved outcome. Stroke. 1998;29:2522-2528.
Barber PA, Darby DG, Desmond PM, Yang Q, Gerraty RP, Jolley D, Donnan GA, Tress BM, Davis SM. Prediction of stroke outcome with echoplanar diffusion- and perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Neurology 1998;51:418-426.
Barber PA, Davis SM. Single-photon emission computed tomography-derived relative hypoperfusion volume after ischemic stroke, (Letter). Stroke. 1999;30:1733-1734.
Charleston AJ, Barber PA, Bennett P, Spriggs DA, Harris RG, Anderson NE. Management of stroke in Auckland Hospital in 1996. NZ Med J. 1999;112:71-74. Barber PA, Chambers ST, Parkin PJ. Australian paralysis tick bite. NZ Med J. 1994:107:252-253. | https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/en/faculty/cbr/our-research/research-teams/neurology-research-group.html |
Q:
Determine a basis for the solution of $x - 3y + z = 0, 2x-6y+z = 0$
Determine a basis for the solution of
$x - 3y + z = 0, 2x-6y+z = 0$
I tried this;
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & -3 & 1 \\
2 & -6 & 2 \\
\end{bmatrix}
Gauss ->
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & -3 & 1 \\
0 & 0 & 0 \\
\end{bmatrix}
only the first column has a pivot, what should i do next?
A:
$$x-3y+z=0\tag 1$$
$$2x-6y+z=0\tag 2$$
$$2 (1)-(2)\implies z =0$$
$$\implies x=3y $$
the set of solutions is span$(3,1,0) $.
| |
Q:
How to map an array of objects to an array of values by key
I want to get the message by key-word in the json structure. For example, the json structure is:
[{ _id: 123, message: 'hello', username: '1' }, { _id: 456, message: 'world', username: '2'}
Now I want to get all the message and put them into an arrary. How to implement this in javascript? Thanks
A:
You can use Array.map() or loop over the array and push the message to the array.
var a = [{ _id: 123, message: 'hello', username: '1' }, { _id: 456, message: 'world', username: '2'}];
var b = a.map(function(obj){
return obj.message;
});
console.log(b);
| |
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Tsuga canadensis
Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière
Eastern Hemlock
Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: TSCA
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
Eastern hemlock is a straight-trunked, gracefully pyramidal tree with long, pendulous limbs and short-needled, feathery branches. Evergreen needles are dark-green with silvery undersides.Evergreen tree with conical crown of long, slender, horizontal branches often drooping down to the ground, and a slender, curved, and drooping leader. Height is usually 40-70 ft., but can reach 100 ft. or more.
The bark was once a commercial source of tannin in the production of leather. Pioneers made tea from leafy twigs and brooms from the branches. A graceful shade tree and ornamental, it can also be trimmed into hedges.
From the Image Gallery
Plant CharacteristicsDuration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf: Dark Green
Flower:
Fruit: Brown
Size Class: 72-100 ft.
Bloom InformationBloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr
DistributionUSA: AL , CT , DC , DE , GA , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: NB , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Distribution: N.S. to Man., s. to MD & n.e. MN; along mts. to GA & AL
Native Habitat: Rocky ridges; moist, mountain slopes
Growing ConditionsWater Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: None
Soil Description: Rocky, cool, moist soils.
Conditions Comments: Eastern hemlock can be a fast-grower, but is more often slow-growing. It must be placed where there is good drainage and no strong, drying winds. Trees seem somewhat pH adaptable but prefers acidity. They can be restrained as a hedge for years with regular pruning. Sunscorch kills back branches, and drought kills the tree. A number of diseases and insects can be troublesome, but trees in good health prove reliable.
BenefitUse Wildlife: Other Showy Insects
Fragrant Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Columbia silkmoth
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
|
Columbia silkmoth |
(Hyalophora columbia)
Learn more at BAMONA
Larval Host
PropagationDescription: Layering has proven successful, as has propagation by seed and cuttings. Cutting must be treated. Sow seeds in fall or stratify until spring. Spreading a layer of compost on bare soil beneath a mature hemlock and allowing natural seeding to produce a f
Seed Collection: Cones mature in one season. Pick cones as they begin to open and leave in paper sacks until seed can be shaken free.
Seed Treatment: A 2-4 month stratification at 40 degrees hastens germination.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
Mr. Smarty Plants says
Evergreen plants safe for horses in Louisville, Kentucky
May 16, 2010
I have a horse farm in Louisville, Ky. I want to plant evergreen plants along the walls in front of the horse barns. What types of plants are not toxic to horses can I use? Thank you so much for all y...
view the full question and answer
Evergreen privacy hedge and drought-resistant garden
July 21, 2008
I am looking for a hardy evergreen hedge for privacy in Northern Michigan. I have sandy soil. Also am interested in planting a drought garden with mostly sun in same sandy soil.
view the full question and answer
Evergreen shrubs for Michigan
June 17, 2008
I'm seeking a small-medium, ornamental, fairly compact, evergreen shrub to complement my front yard woodland wildflower garden. I want a shrub that will flank both sides of my front porch steps. I wa...
view the full question and answer
National Wetland Indicator Status
|Region:||AGCP||AK||AW||CB||EMP||GP||HI||MW||NCNE||WMVE|
|Status:||FACU||FACU||FACU||FACU|
From the National Organizations DirectoryAccording to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:
Georgia Native Plant Society - Atlanta, GA
Longwood Gardens - Kennett Square, PA
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE
BibliographyBibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr. | https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=TSCA |
Monocular viewing head with 45° inclined eyepiece.
DIN standard 4x (0.10 N.A.), 10x (0.25 N.A.) and 40xR (0.65 N.A.) achromat objectives. All are parfocalled, parcentered and color-coded.
Three-hole nose piece is ball-bearing mounted for smooth, precise positioning of objectives.
Variable LED light provides bright, white illumination.
110V power supply, unit shipped with American plug.
Large 4-3/4 in. x 4-1/2 in. (120mm x 115mm) stage, with locked-on, spring mounted stage clips, drilled and tapped to accept optional mechanical stage.
Built-in 0.65 N.A. special condenser lens. | http://www.microscopesfromnightingale.com/product/Swift%20M2251CL%20%20Monocular%20microscope |
I’ve put PB in shiny green, and written about it here, to make sure you all notice. The Hot Chocolate race had a watch time of 01:10:55 (official time 01:10:54) and a distance of 10km exactly. So I definitely have a new PB. But I think it’s actually even better than just one second!
If the distance of the Welwyn 10k had been 10km on the nose, I reckon I could have completed the race in 01:10:22 (according to Strava) (So many ways of logging!).
That’s an improvement of 32 seconds, and this course wasn’t flat like the Hot Chocolate one.
All in all, very chuffed with myself.
This was also my first run in my OH! Ladies running top. It was great to have the support of my fellow OH! Ladies who were marshaling. I will definitely be wearing it again.
Onwards and upwards to the half marathon on the 8th March, and hopefully another PB. | https://intrepidtalie.com/2015/03/09/race-report-love-welwyn-10k/ |
The summer doldrums continue. Heat, humidity, and more dry weather. But there are a couple of items to take note of over the next week. High temperatures are not expected to be quite as extreme as what we saw earlier in the week, and there will be a slight chance for rain late next week when a weak cold front sags south into North Texas. I know it’s not much, but at this point into the summer, we’ll take any amount of good weather news we can find.
As of late Friday morning, Doppler radar showed an area of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms covering the Big Country, between Abilene and Wichita Falls. The activity was spreading to the southeast and it should have no impact on Hill Country or Central Texas weather. Doppler radar showed another area of rain and thunderstorms over southern/western Louisiana and Northeast Texas associated with a weak wave of low pressure. Although the area of rain was slowly spreading to the west, it is not forecast to reach the middle Texas coast or Central Texas.
Our region’s weather remains in the grips of a large dome of high pressure that covers most of the western, central and southeastern U.S. Although the center of the ridge is forecast to shift to the southeastern U.S. by the middle of next week, little change in the weather is forecast for Central and South Texas this weekend and most of next week. Expect more sunny, dry and hot weather.
- High temperatures this afternoon through Sunday are forecast to be around 100-104 degrees across the Hill Country and Central Texas regions, and in the upper 90s across the coastal plains.
- High temperatures Monday and Tuesday are forecast to be near 101-105 degrees across the Hill Country and Central Texas regions, and in the upper 90s across the coastal plains.
- High temperatures Wednesday through Friday are forecast to be near 100-103 degrees across the Hill Country and Central Texas regions, with upper 90s across the coastal plains.
A slight chance for scattered rain showers and thunderstorms is forecast to develop across the region next Friday and Saturday when a weak cold front sags south and stalls somewhere near the Red River valley. This will occur at a time when the ridge over Texas will be weaker than it is today. On both days, showers and thunderstorms are predicted to develop along the front and move to the south. As of now, the probability for rain at any spot will only be 20-30 percent. Unfortunately, significant rain is not expected as rain amounts are forecast to only be around a quarter to a third of an inch.
The chance for rain is forecast to diminish late Saturday as the cold front weakens.
Long-range forecasts call for mostly, sunny, hot and dry weather to resume next Sunday and continue through the first week of August. Interestingly, the center of the high pressure ridge is not forecast to be over Texas during this period. Instead, it is forecast to be over the southeastern U.S. and the far western U.S. With a slightly weaker ridge across Texas, it should translate into slightly lower temperatures and a few isolated Sea Breeze showers each day. Daily high temperatures the first week of August are predicted to be around 100-103 degrees.
Tropical Weather Outlook
Weather conditions remain quiet across the tropical Atlantic. Tropical cyclone development is not forecast for at least the next 5 days.
NOAA/Colorado State University/RAMMB 07/22/2022 12:40 pm CDT
Saturn Moves to the Evening Sky
For the past few months, all of the visible planets have only been visible in the morning sky before sunrise. But that is finally changing. Beginning in late July, the planet Saturn will be rising in the southeastern sky mid-evening and it should be fairly east to find. It will be located close to the famous Teapot asterism in Sagittarius. For much of the night in late July and August, Saturn will follow the Teapot across the southeastern sky. Watch for them to rise mid-evening in late July and at sunset by mid-August. Saturn is the faintest of the bright planets, but it’s bright compared to most stars! It’s golden in color.
The planets Venus, Mars, and Jupiter are all still visible in the sky just before sunrise.
Have a good weekend. | https://www.lcra.org/expecting-another-week-of-sunny-hot-and-dry-weather/ |
Homemade french fries are the BEST! They are not healthy, although I’ll give a few ways to make these healthier. Personally, if I’m going to make french fries, I go all out. Like, let’s deep fry those bad boys!
Easy Homemade French Fries Recipe
Start with any potato. Peel and cut into semi-thin fries, like below. You don’t want them to be too thin that they overcook and you don’t want them to be too thick where they are soggy.
Heat oil in a high rimmed pot. This is important!
Once upon a time, I made the mistake of trying to fry potatoes in a small pot. The oil boiled over once I added the potatoes (because they have moisture), and I set my stove on fire.
If you ever encounter something similar, do not add water! Just smother the fire with a large pot lid.
Back to making homemade french fries.
I use the largest pot I have in the home. I fill the pot about 1/4 or 1/5 of the way with oil.
Set the stove on high heat.
Never leave oil unattended.
Get a large plate and put a few sheets of paper towel on top. Get your frying spatula ready.
Test the oil by dipping a fry. If it starts to bubble, the oil is ready. You don’t need a rapid bubble, but just a few bubbles.
Add a generous amount of fries in the oil, where they are fully covered.
Leave them alone, do not mix!
I know it’s hard. But resist all temptation to mix the fries until they start floating to the top and turning brown. Mix them one time.
Once the fries have all floated to the top and turned the color brown that you like, remove with the frying spatula onto the plate.
Salt the fries immediately after removed from the oil. I like to use Moldon’s flake salt.
Which Oil to Use?
My general answer is to use whatever oil you normally like to use for frying. I’ve tried 4 different oils and compare them below:
- Vegetable Oil / Canola Oil – Both of these oils make similar tasting french fries. The french fry is heavier in taste and less crispy.
- Sunflower Oil – This makes a lighter tasting french fry, kind of like the way Inn-N-Out fries taste. The fries are also a little more crispy.
- Coconut Oil – This is a “healthier-ish” option, however, you need to be careful to not exceed the smoke point of the oil. So, you will need to cook the fries on a lower heat and for a longer period. These fries have an aftertaste that some people love and some people do not. The fries are heavier in taste.
- Fractionated Coconut Oil – There is no heavy aftertaste like with regular coconut oil. These are heavier in taste as well.
How To Make These Healthier
If you are concerned about the effects of deep-frying on your health, then choose one of the alternatives below. I especially love the baking option!
Air Fryer Option
Place cut fries into the air fryer basket. Spray preferred oil on fries. Cook. Salt and enjoy it!
Baking Option
Place parchment paper on the cookie sheet. Mix potatoes in melted butter, coconut oil, or olive oil. Place on a cookie sheet without overcrowding. Cook at 425F on the top rack until starting to brown. Flip fries carefully. Continue to cook until the desired doneness.
Other Tips
Easy homemade french fries are a great side dish for hamburgers, kabobs, Renga, and Hawawshi.
I’ve tried substituting sweet potatoes for regular potatoes, and I prefer the sweet potatoes baked.
If you find that the potatoes start to turn a different color while they are waiting to be fried, you can rest the potatoes in water. However, before careful right before they go into the hot oil. I strain them for a few minutes prior to cooking them. The water and hot oil do not mix!Print
How to Make Easy Homemade French Fries
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Here’s our easy homemade french fries recipe. Also, we give an option for baking that’s a little healthier without sacrificing flavor.
Ingredients
- Frying Oil
- Potatoes (about 1 to 1.5 medium potatoes per person)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
Prepare Potatoes
- Peel potatoes.
- Slice into fries.
Frying Option
- Fill a high rimmed pot with 1/4 full of frying oil.
- Heat oil on high heat. Monitor at all times.
- Place fries into hot oil very carefully using a frying spatula.
- Do not mix fries until they are starting to float to the top.
- Mix fries one time.
- Once all fries have risen to the top, remove and set aside.
- Salt fries.
Baking Option
- Heat oven to 425F.
- In a bowl, put cut fries and fat of choice: avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, or butter.
- Mix fries until all sides are coated.
- Put a parchment paper on a cookie sheet.
- Put fries on parchment paper. Try not to overcrowd the cookie sheet.
- Bake until top of fries are golden.
- Remove from oven and very gently turn fries over. If potatoes are breaking, then the potatoes are not cooked enough to be flipped.
- Once fries are golden and cooked, remove from oven. Salt to taste.
Notes
The nutrition values below are for a medium-sized russet potato (about 5 ounces) baked in the oven with 1 tablespoon of olive oil per potato. | https://thematbakh.com/how-to-make-easy-homemade-french-fries/ |
Q:
Uniformly Pick Row and Uniformly Pick Column == Uniformly Pick Matrix Entry??
Let $A$ be $M \times N$ matrix. I need to sample a entry uniformly from the matrix. If I sample a row (pick a number among integers $1,\dots,M$) and sample a column, both uniformly, is it equivalent to picking a entry uniformly across the matrix?
A:
Yes. The probability of picking the $i$-th row and $j$-th column is then
$$P(row=i, col=j) = P(row=i| col=j)\cdot P(col = j) =\\= P(row=i)\cdot P(row=j) = \frac{1}{M}\cdot \frac1N = \frac1{MN}$$
which is the probability of picking one of $MN$ objects uniformly by random.
| |
Triggered operations and counting events or counters are building blocks used by communication libraries, such as MPI, to offload collective operations to the Host Fabric Interface (HFI) or Network Interface Card (NIC). Triggered operations can be used to schedule a network or arithmetic operation to occur in the future, when a trigger counter reaches a specified threshold. On completion of the operation, the value of a completion counter increases by one. With this mechanism, it is possible to create a chain of dependent operations, so that the execution of an operation is triggered when all the operations it depends on have completed its execution. Triggered operations rely on hardware counters on the HFI and are a limited resource. Thus, if the number of required counters exceeds the number of hardware counters, a collective needs to stall until a previous collective completes and counters are released. In addition, if the HFI has a counter cache, utilizing a large number of counters can cause cache thrashing and provide poor performance. Therefore, it is important to reduce the number of counters, especially when running on a large supercomputer or when an application uses non-blocking collectives and multiple collectives can run concurrently. Moreover, counters being a scarce resource, it is important for the MPI library to be able to estimate the number of counters required by a collective so that it can fallback to the software implementation when the number of available counters is less than the required number. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to optimize the number of hardware counters used when offloading collectives with triggered operations. With our algorithm, different operations can share and re-use trigger and completion counters based on the dependences among them and their topological orderings. We have also proposed models to estimate the number of counters required by different collectives when using the optimization algorithm. While the proposed counter optimization algorithm assumes that the dependences among various operations in a collective are represented using a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG), there might be cases when no DAGs are provided for the collective. In this paper, we also discuss how we can optimize the usage of counters for such cases. Our experimental results show that our proposed algorithm significantly reduces the number of counters over a naïve approach that does not consider the dependences among the operations. | https://experts.illinois.edu/en/publications/minimizing-the-usage-of-hardware-counters-for-collective-communic-3 |
pipeline: Directed graph execution model
Our current pipelinelib based jobs require repos to conform to a number
of rigid conventions: assume the repo contains source for only a single
application, build "test" variant, run "test" variant, build
"production" variant, helm deploy/test, publish under a single tag name.
These jobs also assume all of these operations need to be performed
linearly.
While this design was sufficient for our very first use cases, its
convention based design it already proving prohibitively inflexible. For
example, teams maintaining repos that contain multiple interrelated
applications cannot build and test these applications as independent
images; Teams wanting to execute multiple test suites would have to wrap
them in a single entrypoint and implement their own concurrency should
they need it; Etc.
Instead of Release Engineering maintaining a new specialized pipeline
job for each team that performs only slightly different permutations of
the same operations (resulting in duplication of job definitions and a
large maintenance burden), we can instead establish a configuration
format and interface by which teams provide their own pipeline
compositions.
This initial commit in a series of pipeline related commits implements
two fundamental components to support a CI/CD pipeline that can execute
any number of user-defined variant build/test/publish/deploy stages and
steps in a safely concurrent model: a directed-graph based execution
model, and name bindings for stage outputs. The former provides the
model for composing stage execution, and the latter provides a decoupled
system for defining what outputs each subsequent stage operates upon.
First, an `ExecutionGraph` class that can represent a directed acyclic
graph given a number of linearly defined arcs (aka branches/edges). This
component will allow users to provide the overall execution flow as
separate linear processes but allow parallel branches of the execution
graph to be scheduled concurrently.
Example:
/* To represent a graph with separate parallel branches like:
*
* a x
* ⇘ ⇙
* b
* ⇙ ⇘
* y c
* ⇘ ⇙
* z
*
* One only needs to provides each linear execution arc
*/
def graph = new ExecutionGraph([["a", "b", "c", "z"], ["x", "b", "y", "z"]])
/* The ExecutionGraph can solve how those arcs intersect and how the
* nodes can be scheduled with a degree of concurrency that Jenkins
* allows.
*/
graph.stack() // => [["a", "x"], ["b"], ["y", "c"], ["z"]]
Second, a set of context classes for managing immutable global and local
name/value bindings between nodes in the graph. Effectively this will
provide a way for pipeline stages to safely and deterministically
consume inputs from previous stages along the same branch, and to
provide their own outputs for subsequent stages to consume.
For example, one stage called "build" that builds a container image will
save the image ID in a predetermined local binding called `.imageID` and
a subsequent "publish" stage configured by the user can reference that
image by `${build.imageID}`.
Once a value is bound to a name, that name cannot be reused; bindings
are immutable. Node contexts are only allowed to access namespaces for
nodes that precede them in same branch of the graph, ensuring
deterministic behavior during parallel graph branch execution. See unit
tests for `ExecutionContext` for details on expected behavior.
Put together, these two data structures can constitute an execution
"stack" of sorts that can be safely mapped to Jenkins Pipeline stages,
and make use of parallel execution for graph branches. Specifically, the
`ExecutionGraph.stack()` method is implemented to yield each set of
independent stack "frames" in topological sort order which can safely be
scheduled to run in parallel.
Bug: T210267
Change-Id: Ic5d01bf54c703eaf14434a36f1e2b3e276b48b6f
| |
There is a box in the UUCH Fellowship Hall for collecting new item donations to fill the duffle bags. These items can be for boys or girls, ages infant to 18, and of all races.
We appreciate anything you can contribute. No donation is too small.
e's goal is to collect and donate 100+ items per month for the food pantry. CAN you pick up an extra CANNED good, nonperishable food item, or personal care product next time you are out shopping? Please do, and put it in the basket in the church foyer to be donated to the Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP).
Glen Clark [email protected] for further information.
Our predominately white Unitarian Universalist (UU) denomination has challenged its members to recognize and confront systemic racism and white supremacy in our society, our denomination, our churches, and ourselves. For UUs who are white, it can be difficult to acknowledge white privilege, white fragility, anti-blackness, and other common white racial patterns that prevent us all from reaching racial equity.
Also this Sunday, we Share The Plate with The Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen and Thrift Store. For more about the program, see the article below.
We continue our Summer RE program MORSE CODE BRACELETS and LEGO, with le ad ers Sarah Kinley and Jennifer Garlen and helpe rs Erin Reid and Cate Sparks. The Sunday Supervisor is Heather Kyemba.
For information or to register a child, contac t Audrey Fox, CYRE Chair, at [email protected].
Please join us for a potluck immediately after the worship services. Bring a dish and let us enjoy the warmth of the weather as we eat together! Fellowship served up with potluck food. Get to know your fellow UUs!
The UUCH choir has reconvened for the new church year on Wednesdays at 7:15pm in the choir room. We will be figuring out sections (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), assigning folders and music for the first half of the season, and reaffirming our joyful connection with each other and our mission of enriching the lives of the congregation through music. Whether you know how to sing or would like to learn, we would love for you to join us!
The Knit Wits, UUCH's Knitting Circle, is meeting at Jefflyn Weed's house on Thursday, August 10th at 6:00 p.m. for the "Yarn Bombing Project." We have members who give excellent and extremely patient help to newbies. Please email Jefflyn Weed at [email protected] if you plan to join us.
The Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen and Thrift Store, located at 2412 Memorial Parkway, is a non-profit, non-denominational, 501C3 ministry to the homeless and needy in Huntsville, Alabama. They focus on providing a non-judgmental sanctuary for many to come and "Dine with Dignity" in a friendly, home-style environment; serving two meals daily, Monday through Friday. Their staff goes to great lengths to provide home-cooked, wholesome, and filling meals. Their dining area is dressed with tablecloths and flowers and meals are served on dinnerware with silverware in an atmosphere of peace and acceptance. Every month they serve over 2,000 meals to the area's hungry.
The Rose of Sharon also offers free clothing assistance to those in need; and, in the colder months, blankets, coats, hats, scarves, and gloves are supplied to help the those they serve to stay warm.
*When we "Share the Plate," all cash collected on the first Sunday of each month in the second quarter (July, August, and September), along with any checks noted as "Share the Plate," will be halved with The Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen and Thrift Store.
Kirsten and Josh Clark, a candle of joy: We are now the proud parents of a 10 year old! Maggie turned 10 on the 27th and we have been celebrating all weekend long.
LaDawn Edwards, a candle of joy: For the generosity of everyone who contributed to clothes and school supplies for Abi Nielsen and her sister Lily.
Theresa Miller, a candle of sorrow: My 80-year-old sister, Rosemary, is in the hospital under observation with heart arrhythmia and out of balance electrolytes. Prayers are requested for her and another sister, Lois, who had a colon mass removed this week, and bother in law, Bill, hospitalized this week with lung and liver problems.
Tim Miller, a candle of joy: Gratitude to Alice Dilbeck for organizing the camping/rafting trip this weekend. What a great fun and community-building experience! | https://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Unitarian-Universalist-Church-of-Huntsville.html?soid=1102771164068&aid=lqgch8tWagU |
Full-text links:
Download:
(license)
Current browse context:
cs.RO
Change to browse by:
References & Citations
DBLP - CS Bibliography
Bookmark(what is this?)
Computer Science > Robotics
Title: Planning Optimal Paths for Multiple Robots on Graphs
(Submitted on 17 Apr 2012 (v1), last revised 17 Jan 2013 (this version, v4))
Abstract: In this paper, we study the problem of optimal multi-robot path planning (MPP) on graphs. We propose two multiflow based integer linear programming (ILP) models that computes minimum last arrival time and minimum total distance solutions for our MPP formulation, respectively. The resulting algorithms from these ILP models are complete and guaranteed to yield true optimal solutions. In addition, our flexible framework can easily accommodate other variants of the MPP problem. Focusing on the time optimal algorithm, we evaluate its performance, both as a stand alone algorithm and as a generic heuristic for quickly solving large problem instances. Computational results confirm the effectiveness of our method. | https://arxiv.org/abs/1204.3830 |
If you want to understand the values of numbers then you'll need to know the values of the places in them. In KS3 Maths you should be well familiar with place values so this quiz will test just how much you've learned.
We know the value of a digit changes with its position in a number relative to the decimal point. Before the decimal we have units, tens and hundreds, and after we have tenths, hundredths and thousandths. We also use place holders. Zeros at the end of a number are place holders. They come after another number, a 1 for example, to show whether it is worth 10, 100 or 1,000. The number 648.937 is 6 hundreds (600) + 4 tens (40) + 8 units (8) + 9 tenths + 3 hundredths + 7 thousandths.
The following quiz will recap the subject of place values. Take your time and read each question carefully before choosing your answers. Good luck! | https://www.educationquizzes.com/ks3/maths/level-3-4-numbers---place-value/ |
The right questions to ask when considering a reporting or document generation solution.
You’ve identified a need for a new reporting component for your company or product. Now what?
Evaluating reporting software can be a complex process. Vendors make many of the same claims (“We’re the easiest to use, our output is the most flexible, our customer support is the best” – do these sound familiar?) but those claims can’t tell you whether their reporting or document generation software will become your competitive advantage.
For this reason, we’ve created a checklist to assist you in getting to the crux of the matter: determining which specific solution is the best one for your unique situation.
This guide features a series of questions to ask yourself during each step of the evaluation process.
Do you need reporting that will be integrated into your own software offering (OEM)?
Is your business producing reports for internal or external use (or both)?
Does your industry mandate specific reporting standards?
How is your company’s data organized?
Have you already identified a list of reporting product requirements?
How much technical knowledge do you have (e.g.,programming, database administration, etc.)?
How much time, if any, do you personally have to devote to reporting?
What types of data and how much of it are you responsible for reporting on?
Are they primarily located in one region or are they an international audience?
Do you offer your products for a specific industry or for a more generic use?
Does your customer base need a fixed volume of reports (e.g., very large or very small numbers) or will it need a scalable solution?
With these answers in hand, let’s move on to considering one of the most important criteria: how quickly and easily you can design templates.
Consider the types of reports your company or product generates and their current visual impact.Now think about how you’d ideally like those reports to appear.
Do your reports contain large chunks of data that would be best organized in highly configurable tables?
Do you need headers, footers and tables of contents to enhance multi-page documents?
Are charts and graphs the optimal format for displaying some of the information?
Do you want banded reports (where all of the images, charts, paragraphs of text, etc. appear in layers) or reports that will need to take advantage of free-form design?
Will you need to use text tools such as vertical text and preset styles in your templates?
Do you need “special” layout features such as barcodes, PivotTables, Microsoft® Office shapes,hyphenated text, etc.?
Do you have a large set of templates that you or a customer will need converted?
In your evaluation, you should also try to assess how quickly you (or your end user) will be able to get up to speed on the reporting design tool or interface.
How easy will it be to learn the design tool?
Is there significant training involved?
Have you used a similar program before?
Does the tool come with well-written documentation?
Is the interface clunky or intuitive?
Does it contain all the necessary features identified earlier, or will you need to spend time customizing the software to get the reports to look the way you want them to?
Will users have the ability to apply the tool effectively on their own or will they have to rely on others (e.g., the IT group) to design templates?
How time-consuming is it to edit templates?
How hard is it to convert older templates?
If the primary person in charge of system implementation leaves, how easy will it be to carry on with the reporting effort?
Do teams need to work together on template editing and design, and does the package offer collaboration tools?
Can more than one person work on a particular template and are there additional costs for doing so?
Can more than one person view, run, edit and schedule reports?
Does each employee need his or her own user’s license?
RESEARCH TIP: Vendor samples can spark design ideas and will give you an idea of whether a reporting package is capable of generating the designs you’ve identified as best for your company.
Downloading a trial and experimenting with the samples will give you firsthand experience as to ease and flexibility of design.
What data sources can you use in your reports?
How many different data sources can you use atone time?
What types of data (e.g., XML, Big Data) can you include?
Does the package ensure data security?
Does the software allow you to filter data categories, easily sum totals, and perform other necessary calculations?
How difficult is it to learn how to use these data functions?
How does the report template itself handle your data? Does it have features you need such as built-in formulas for working with data?
Does the software include connection wizards?
A hybrid mixture of the first two: they typically require an IT staff member to create the data placeholders, but also enable the business user to modify these placeholders.
How long does it take to design a template?
How long does it take to add data to that template?
How long does it take to run the report?
How long does it take to modify a template and re-run the report?
What sample performance metrics can the software vendor show me?
Picture this: You or a customer generates a report and presents it at a staff meeting. Two weeks later,the boss asks for a copy of the updated report, ASAP. But there isn’t the ability to rerun the report because only a third party can do so.
Can you simply make a request with a button click to access an updated report or do you need to take multiple steps?
Does the solution have a built-in scheduler?
If so, how flexible is the scheduler?
Can you schedule reports to be automatically printed or sent via email?
How many iterations of each report can you store?
Some reporting solutions offer only a couple of proprietary outputs, while others offer a much broader range.
What output formats, if any, do your report recipients (or customers) require?
Does the solution let you generate reports in digital formats that can be viewed but not altered?
Do your customers and employees need reports where they can analyze and manipulate subsets of the data themselves?
Are you generating letters, policies or other types of documents that must be printed first before being sent via snail mail?
Are your customers or colleagues receiving or sending reports via email?
Training, professional services and ongoing day after-day costs aren’t nearly as exciting as flashy template design features, but they are important.
How accessible is the vendor?
What is the vendor’s customer service reputation (e.g., what do online reviews say)?
Does the vendor supply user references?
What user guides, instructional videos, tutorials,and other documentation are available?
Are there additional fees for this documentation?
Does the reporting program include sample reports?
Do the samples show you how to accomplish your design goals?
What kind of training does the vendor provide?
Will the vendor walk you through a training session, and is its staff available to answer questions by phone or email?
Does the vendor hold online seminars where users can ask questions and learn from other users?
Once someone in your organization is versed in a product, how much time and energy will he or she spend teaching others how to use it?
What user groups are available?
How is information shared in these groups?
How well are user questions answered and issues resolved?
What support packages are offered and at what charge?
What free support options exist?
How available is the support team?
Is there a searchable knowledge base?
How does the vendor handle ongoing support?
And finally, we come to the pricetag. It’s impossible to determine in advance exactly how much a reporting solution will cost, but you can arrive at a fairly solid estimate when you look at the options, services and conditions that will affect your ROI (Return on Investment) and TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).
Will the solution integrate into your current infrastructure or product?
What programming languages are required?
How long will it take to embed the solution into your software product (OEM)?
Will the solution grow as your company does?
Does licensing change with increased output or number of users?
What will your expenditures be in terms of time spent and resources devoted to implementation?
How much up-front investment will you need to make in software?
Will you need to upgrade any related software?
Will you need to buy or lease new hardware?
How much will you spend in on going maintenance of the reporting solution?
Does this solution require a dedicated IT resource?
Simple yet flexible report design: Use all of the powerful features you already know in Microsoft Office, including charts, PivotTables,shapes, headers, footers, images and more.
Multiple data source support: Connect to as many data sources as you need in a single report, including Big Data, file-based data and most every data source.
Efficient report production: We move the template creation and modification from the IT department to the business professional.
Easy to embed: You can embed it into your new or existing software application in as little as 14 lines of code.
Flexible output generation: Reports at the click of a button, to the standards of your organization and customers: DOCX, RTF, PDF,HTML, XLSX, or even directly to your printer.
Abundant learning resources: We offer a website filled with samples, tutorials and product documentation.
Flexible licensing and pricing: Windward requires no hardware, and we offer a variety of cost-effective licensing options for SaaS, mobile,desktop and enterprise deployments. | https://www.windwardstudios.com/white-papers/reporting-software-evaluation-checklist |
The invention discloses an elevator intelligent management system based on the internet of things. The system involves an image acquisition module, an image analysis module, a feature analysis extraction module, an analysis server, a community database, an elevator stop input module, a control execution module, a scanning input module, an alarm module and a display terminal. According to the system, through image acquisition, analysis and feature extraction on personnel in an elevator, the identity of the personnel in the elevator is obtained, and a floor where the personnel need to stop is extracted, so that intelligent stop control over the elevator is achieved; personal information of unidentified personnel in the elevator is input through the scanning input module, so that full-personnel monitoring on passengers in the elevator is improved, and the safety and intelligence of the community elevator are improved; and images of an elevator waiting area is recognized to judge whether aperson waits in the elevator waiting area or not, and if no person waits in the elevator waiting area, the elevator crosses the floor where the elevator needs to stop, so that the operation efficiency of the elevator is improved, and the waiting time of the passengers is shortened. | |
Henry Semat Lecture in Physics: Glennys R Farrar, Could Dark Matter be Made of Quarks?
Henry Semat Lecture in Physics: Glennys R Farrar, Could Dark Matter be Made of Quarks?
Start:
Wed, Nov 7, 2018
Wed, Nov 7, 2018
Event Time:
04:00 PM to 05:00 PM
Location:
MR418N
Phone Number:
Alexios Polychronakos, 212-650-5536
Admission Fee:
Free
Event Details:
Could Dark matter be Made of Quarks?
Glennys Farrar
Professor of Physics
New York University, New York
Abstract:
Its conceivable that there is an undiscovered neutral stable particle made of quarks (uuddss), with mass near twice the proton mass. If so, it could be the dark matter. I will discuss how it can be that such a particle could have gone unnoticed and how to detect it. Remarkably, a particle with these properties can both explain the observed abundance of dark matter at high accuracy, and account for the observed 10-sigma deficit in primordial Li7 compared to the prediction of the standard cosmological model. Even if such a particle does not exist, or exists but is not the dark matter, investigating the problem provides a fascinating tour through modern cosmology and particle physics — which will be presented in a manner accessible to non-experts.
Prof. Glennys Farrar received her Ph. D. in theoretical physics from Princeton University in 1971, breaking the gender-barrier in physics at Princeton in the process. She was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study and on the faculties of the California Institute of Technology and Rutgers University before moving to NYU in 1998. Among her accomplishments in particle physics, Farrar is perhaps best known for pioneering the phenomenological study of supersymmetry. With P. Fayet and others, she developed most of the present search techniques for superparticles, gave the first limits on SUSY breaking and superpartner masses from accelerator experiments and precision observables such as g-2, identified and clarified the role of R-parity, initiated the study of cosmological effects of SUSY. She has stressed the interest of light gaugino scenarios and has lead the effort to constrain them from experiment. Her other work has ranged from QCD and hadron physics to electroweak baryogenesis and the study of dark matter. She made a number of predictions whose experimental confirmation played an important role in establishing the Standard Model. The scaling dependence of exclusive scattering was the first clear demonstration that quarks are dynamical degrees of freedom, and not merely a mathematical device realizing current algebras. Other predictions which play an important role in QCD phenomenology today include copious direct production of photons in hadronic collisions, the ratio of up to down quarks and the dependence of quark and gluon distributions at large x-Bjorken, color-transparency, the normalization of the pion form wavefunction, and helicity dependence of hadron scattering.
Farrar's current work focuses mainly on problems at the intersection of astrophysics, cosmology and particle physics, including ultrahigh energy cosmic rays, the nature of dark matter and dark energy, and the origin of the asymmetry between matter and antimatter. UHECRs: Farrar and collaborators use existing UHECR data to deduce properties of their sources and cosmic magnetic fields. Another thrust of NYU research is to improve simulation and reconstruction of cosmic ray air showers. H. Drescher, a postdoc in Farrar's group, developed the shower simulation code SENECA; it gives a more realistic description of individual events and is 40 times faster than previous codes. Farrar and Drescher have used it to check the reliability and model independence of UHECR energy calibrations; with Courant grad student D. Krasnov, more powerful methods to identify and reconstruct a primary cosmic ray's energy are being developed. Dark Matter and Cosmological Dynamics: Farrar and Peebles showed the mass of dark matter could arise from a Higgs-type interaction with the dark energy field, producing interesting variants to the standard LCDM cosmological model. Farrar is now engaged in several related projects, simulating the impact of such interactions on the formation of structure and using observations of large-scale structure and galactic dynamics to constrain the possibility that dark matter experiences non-gravitational forces. Novel models of Dark Matter: Farrar and Spergel are studying models in which DM is normal matter on a different brane. Farrar and grad student G. Zaharijas have shown that the baryon asymmetry of the universe may be only an asymmetry in "packaging", with the baryon number in nucleons balanced by anti-baryonic dark matter. Observational constraints on such DM have been obtained and are found to be consistent with the expected DM properties. In one such scenario the DM consists of H and anti-H dibaryons, impelling a renewed study of a long-lived H dibaryon. | https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/calendar/henry-semat-lecture-physics-glennys-r-farrar-could-dark-matter-be-made-quarks |
Author:
Lisa Longley
Ingredients
8
hot dogs
8
hot dog buns
1/2
cup
mayonnaise
1/2
cup
pickle relish
1/2
cup
mustard
1 15
oz
can of chili
1/2
an onion
diced
2
cups
cheddar cheese
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 by 13 inch pan with cooking spray.
Spread the mayonnaise, mustard, and pickle relish in the bottom of the buns. Add the hot dogs and place all eight hot dogs in their loaded buns in the pan. (You will be able to fit six side to side the long way and then add the last two end to end the short way.)
Top with the chili, then cheese, then onions. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and the buns begin to crisp.
Serve immediately. | https://www.wineandglue.com/wprm_print/20728 |
For three days in January, Ground Floor Video recorded the live sales training for Yancey Caterpillar Sales team in Jekyll Island, GA. Each year the team assembles for training on new products, equipment and sales techniques. Ground Floor has been working with Yancey each year for this very important event. Using three cameras and live switching, Ground Floor was able to capture every detail of each presentation. Close-ups of each intricate part of the machines is vital in training sales staff. Once the convention was wrapped, Ground Floor edited the finished product and delivered on USB drives for Yancey to share with each sales office. Training a sales force using video is the most consistent way to make sure your best practices are utilized across your entire team. | https://www.groundfloorvideo.com/blog/yanceys-caterpillar-sales-training-convention |
Ancient Coin with Gryphon
Ancient coin featuring a gryphon with reverse side showing head of Apollo.
- Set in 18k yellow gold, hand made in Bali
- 18inch 18k white gold Italian made cable chain
- We can help you choose a different chain, just email us.
- 13mm, 2.4gram authenticated coin
- From Thrace, Abdera
- 245-265 BC, AR Drachm
Abdera is a town on the coast of Thrace neat the mouth of the Nestos, and almost opposite Thasis. Its mythical foundations was attributed to Heracles, its historical to a colony from Clazomenae in the 7th century B.C. The ruins of the town may still be seen on Cape Balastra.
The gryphon, is a legendary creature with the body of lion and the head and wings of an eagle. As the lion was traditionally considered the king of beasts and the eagle the king of the birds, the gryphon was thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature. Gryphons are normally known for guarding treasure. In antiquity it was a symbol of divine power and a guardian of the divine. | https://www.jalbrechtdesigns.com/collections/ancient-coin/products/ancient-coin-with-gryphon |
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Webb Telescope reveals the Cartwheel galaxy, located 500 million light-years from Earth. The observatory’s $10 billion infrared gaze offers a rare view of the wheel and its two smaller companion galaxies against the backdrop of many other galaxies.
Scientists say the display will provide new details about star formation and central black holes galaxy this. Its appearance, like a wagon wheel, is the result of an intense, high-speed collision between a large spiral galaxy and a small galaxy.
Other telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope, have already examined Cart wheel, which is in the constellation Sculptor. But the dramatic galaxy has been shrouded in mystery, given how much dust obscures the view.
James Webb’s images and associated NASA videos also offer a new look at how the Cartwheel Galaxy has changed over billions of years. “This image of Cartwheel and its companion galaxy is a composite of the Webb Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and the Central Infrared Instrument (MIRI), which reveal details difficult to see in individual images alone,” NASA said.
“Webb’s observations captured the Cartwheel in a very transitional phase. What shape the Cartwheel Galaxy will ultimately take, given these two competing forces, remains a mystery. However, this snapshot gives some perspective on what happened to the galaxy in the past and what it will do in the future,” NASA said.
Collisions of galactic proportions cause different cascades, Cartwheel is no exception. The collision mainly affects the shape and structure of the galaxy.
The Cartwheel Galaxy has two rings – a glowing inner ring and a colored ring around it. These rings extend outward from the center of impact, like ripples in a pond after a stone is thrown into it.
Because of this feature, astronomers call it a “ring galaxy,” a structure less common than spiral galaxies like our Milky Way. The bright core contains large amounts of hot dust, with the brightest areas hosting young giant star clusters.
On the other hand, the outer ring, which has been stretching for about 440 million years, is dominated by star formation and supernovae. As this ring expands, it penetrates the surrounding gas and triggers star formation.
However, studying the finer details of the dust that inhabits galaxies requires Webb’s Central Infrared Instrument (MIRI).
MIRI data is colored red in this composite image, revealing regions of the Cartwheel galaxy rich in hydrocarbons and other chemical compounds, as well as silicate dust, like most dust on Earth.
These regions form a series of spiral rays that essentially form the backbone of the galaxy. The rays were clearly visible in previous Hubble observations published in 2018, but they become much more prominent in this Webb image.
While Webb gives us an idea of the current state of the wheel, he also gives insight into what happened to this galaxy in the past and how it will develop in the future.
Last month, dazzling and unprecedented telescope images of “star nurseries”, dying stars shrouded in dust and a “cosmic dance” between clusters of galaxies were revealed to the world for the first time.
This ends months of waiting and rushed anticipation as people everywhere are treated to the first batch of treasure troves of images that will culminate in the universe’s first appearances.
Webb’s infrared abilities mean he can ‘look back in time’ to just 100-200 million years since the Big Bang, allowing him to snap photos of the first star to shine in the dark. universe more than 13.5 billion years ago.
The first images of a nebula, an exoplanet and a cluster of galaxies sparked huge celebrations in the scientific world and were hailed as a “great day for humanity”. Researchers will soon begin to learn more about the mass, age, history and composition of galaxies, as Webb seeks to explore the earliest galaxies in the universe.
DAILY MAIL
Lily:
Webb Telescope shows South Ring Nebula 2,500 light-years away
Still updates up-to-date information. Listen recent news and selected news from Tempo.co on the Telegram channel “Tempo.co Update”. Click on https://t.me/tempodotcoupdate join. you have toinstall Telegram app first. | https://drawinghope.ca/webb-telescope-reveals-cartwheel-galaxy-500-million-light-years-away/ |
The number one question I’m asked about shawl design is about adapting stitch patterns to fit certain shawl shapes, especially for lace stitch patterns. Different shawl shapes need different stitch patterns – a rectangular chart will not do the job for a triangle shawl, for instance.
This post introduces adapting stitch patterns and provides an introduction to my article series about adapting stitch patterns.
The answers were many (thank you!) and had a clear central theme: Are there basic rules for making knit shawl stitch patterns fit different shaped shawls? And if yes, how to do it?
Triangle shawls need different stitch patterns than stoles, for instance. Crescent shawls are a question of their own but yes, crescent shawls can include stitch patterns, too! There’s no limits in using lace or color patterns in whatever shawl shape you choose.
We can design lace shawls in any shape we desire!
Yes, even for crescent shawls. And for cornucopias, swirls, Faroese shawls and so on – not only for triangles and stoles. Promise.
There’s two ways of approaching this question. First, we could start with a shawl shape and adjust our stitch pattern to fit the shapes. The other option is to select the shawl shape based on the shape of a certain stitch pattern.
As stitch patterns are mostly published in rectangular shapes, the first way – adapting the pattern to the shawl shape – is the more important one to understand. Besides that it will help you getting a deeper understanding of the subject as well as mastering the second way – selecting shape by pattern – easily.
There’s three rules to follow. After giving an overview, we’ll look at some examples below.
You need to know your shape and its construction principle. Which shape are your working? Are you going to work it top down. bottom up, sideways or in some other way? You need to know your increases (or decreases) to be able to define your canvas.
Row 1 (RS): k1, YO, k to end of row.
Row 2 (WS): k t last st, YO, k1.
As soon as you know your shape you can define your canvas. Your canvas is your drawing space, the area you have available for your stitch pattern. The best way to get an idea of your drawing canvas is to sketch an empty chart including all increases or decreases your shape needs.
Let’s do this for our example above, a triangle shawl with increases on one side only. Your drawing canvas would look like the following picture.
An example for a drawing canvas, showing the first few rows of a triangle worked sideways (increases on one side only).
All stitches shown in white in the picture above are available for your stitch pattern. Within this frame you can design whatever you desire. There is only one rule: in sum, all increases (yarn overs or similar) have to be paired with corresponding decreases (ssk, k2tog, …).
This will work: every increase (yarn over) is paired with one decrease. In total, the stitch count within the white area stays constant – not taking into the account the increases at the right side which are there for shaping reasons.
This won’t work: not every increase (yarn over) is paired with one decrease! In total, the stitch count within the white area doesn’t stay constant.
I hope this article helped you figuring out the principles of how to adapt stitch patterns from one shape to another. To learn more about chart adjustments for specific shawl shapes have a look at the other parts of this series – you can find the table of contents at the beginning of this post.
Let me know by leaving a comment in case you have any questions!
If you want to know more about fitting stitch patterns into other shapes (crescents, vortices, Faroese shawls, circles, …) please have a look at Shaping Lace.
Thank you for doing this article and are you planning on offering a course on just this topic. I believe this would be a great topic of study.
Thank you! I’m always very happy to hear feedback like this.
Great article, very clear and precise.
Excellent article. I’m not clear on the increase counts adding up to 20…I count 24. Would you be able/willing to indicate the increases that you’re counting to get 20?
Ten stitches on every side in the last chart add up to 20.
This will be very helpful-thanks a lot.
Thank you for this helpful and informative post. It would be helpful to me to see a knitted swatch of the “unsuccessful” chart so I could visualize the results better. | https://knitting.today/adapting-stitch-patterns-shawl-shapes/ |
The supervisor needs to maintain measurable objective in line with Organisational operation plans and must consult with the employees while developing objectives. It is important that supervisor must meet up with the staff for creating their performance plans. At this point, supervisor must avail the chance for explaining for the staff how their performance have a direct impact on how work goal can be attained. Monitoring: Supervisors must evaluate the overall progress of the staff at the time when it is due; instead it should be practised on a constant basis.
Theses sklls have to present in order to insure a proper session between counselros and clients. Every counselor should aqquire these certain counseling skills if they wish to be a successful and professional counselor. The communication and counselling skills presented should be used correctly by the proper professional and in the proper environments to finally ensure that the client comes out having been assisted to influence a positive change in their life. The counsellor has a huge role in influencing this change through the critical communication and counselling skills mentioned. To counter the communication barriers, the counsellor has to have a strong understanding of all the possible obstacles and barriers that may present themselves while having detailed knowledge of the solutions of said barriers.
Teaching assistants must be aware of all statutory frameworks that affect their own delivery of the curriculum, health and safety, child protection and any others aspects of school life whether it be social or academic. A. Equality of opportunity. Classroom assistants have an important role in ensuring pupils’ equal access to opportunities to learn and develop. Some pupils need additional or different support in order to have equality of opportunity, and classroom assistants are often employed to provide this for individuals or small groups of pupils. Sometimes, working under the direction of the teacher, classroom assistants will work with the whole class in order to free up the teacher to work with individual pupils who need special attention.
The emotional energy towards an issue is therefore preserved. The framework created through the discussions would now help me out in the solution provision to a challenging situation. I applied the argumentation and reasoning after which they appreciate me in helping them out resolve issues whenever we meet. I have used the listening skill that I learnt successfully in many more instances
His model identifies authoritative interventions (prescriptive, informative and confronting) and facilitative interventions (cathartic, catalytic and supportive) to decide when and how to help them to shine. (John, 2012). Regularly perform Training Needs Assessments looks at an employee and organizational knowledge, skills, and abilities, to identify any gaps or areas of need to determine what your team needs to be successful, this assessment serves as a diagnostic tool for determining what training needs to take (Training Needs Assessment Survey, n.d.) The emotional support is also important, the Blake-Mouton Managerial Grid is based on two behavioral dimensions.
Every staff member is different, has different needs and different working styles and working abilities. As a manager it is important that you know these differences and seek the proper feedback from your employees regarding their current role, from there you can work out if any changes need to be made. As a manager you should also seek feedback on your own performance from others in the
These should include: o Feedback o Measurement of effective performance o Mentoring and counseling To get the best of employee’s productivity, it is imperative to continuously manage his performance. This involves, after assigning him the task to be performed, getting a feedback from his performance to make sure it is done properly and to pin point gaps, to do so, outcome measurements must be predefined and explained, and make corrective measures when needed through mentoring and counseling to align employee’s performance with the company’s goals. Measurement of Performance Manager or supervisor have the duty of making sure that the employee is conducting his work as required by the company standards.
2.1PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT: Purpose Each individual who is responsible for the performance management of an employee or employees shall be held accountable for carrying out these responsibilities in accordance with this policy. At Etihad we refer to the performance management process as I Achieve. The purpose of the I Achieve performance management process is to: A) Align individual performance with organizational business plans by agreeing i) clear objectives and ii) standards of behavior in line with company values.
Collective bargaining refers to the process of negotiation between organizations or employers and employees aimed at establishing working condition and salaries to ensure the fundamental rights and satisfaction of both parties (Dessler, G.,2015). The main terms of agreement regularly include wages, training, working hours, health & insurance, and safety. Collective bargaining is a way to offer a great opportunity to the employees in order to assert their issues with employments, resolve any conflicts and unequal treatment to enhance fairness and productivity, and strengthen stable and beneficial labor relations (Libreri, C., Novkovska, Band et al. 2013). In addition, collective bargaining plays a key role in determining employees’ behaviors
It utilizes the concept of reflection to enable one keep track of the steps they have made to acquire skills and knowledge. It enables one to keep track of the changes required in their life and the weak spots requiring improvement. The plan provides a gauge for a person to see their progress, and determine the skills to be achieved in the future. It aids in the achievement of personal and professional development goals. This is because success requires planning and goal setting.
The sources of support for planning and reviewing own development could be from my manager, colleagues, meetings, mentors, or through observation. My manager whom am answerable to helps me with any concern I have about my job. Colleagues I work with to give guidance on related job role.
Formal induction is designed to help individuals within their roles and ensure that staff have access to the specific areas of knowledge that will support them within their role. Incorporating safeguarding training in the induction process it ensures that new members of staff are aware of their role and responsibilities regards safeguarding prior to commencing working on their own. Individual agencies are responsible for ensuring that all staff, paid or unpaid, are competent and confident in carrying out their responsibilities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the resident. Induction should signpost safeguarding and safe practice.
In conclusion, my delegation style will be more hands on until I know and trust my UAP. Because the task is ultimately my responsibility, I will work with my UAP to ensure that tasks are being carried out according to the facility’s policy and procedures. This style, I feel, would allow for teaching opportunities in any areas that the UAP may need guidance. Once I am sure that the UAP has mastered a task I will assist when needed but trust them when I need their
Supervisors are expected to help their staff develop plans that will offer the best education for students. In fact, the goal is for supervisors to gradually encourage teachers to become more involved in the decision-making process. In these cases, it is evident all four teachers need some level of direction from their educational leaders to help them find resolutions for their respective problems. In case one, teacher Gerald Watson’s developmental level was very low. He needs the most preparation time and his skill level causes the highest level of concern. | https://www.ipl.org/essay/Theories-Of-Professional-Supervision-PK826CK6JE8R |
Silver Dollar City is opening for the season nearly three months after the coronavirus pandemic postponed the theme park's spring launch.
The Branson attraction is slated to open under occupancy restrictions to season pass holders June 13-14, followed by all guests on June 15, according to a news release. The theme park's opening this year has been postponed multiple times from the original March 17 date.
"We’ve spent months planning and preparing to open within the health and safety guidance from our industry and governmental experts," Silver Dollar City President Brad Thomas said in the release. "Families are facing many challenges today, and we are excited to welcome them to create new and exciting memories."
Silver Dollar City spokesperson Lisa Rau could not be reached for comment by deadline on how many people would be allowed in the theme park at any given time.
Additionally, park officials are requiring visitors to make reservations, undergo a temperature scan and wear face masks, among other safety measures, according to the release.
The new $23 million Mystic River Falls attraction is slated to open later this summer at Silver Dollar City. Rivertown Smokehouse, a $4 million restaurant, is scheduled to open along with the park June 13-15.
Silver Dollar City Attractions also set June 15-16 for season pass holders and June 17 for all guests to reopen White Water. Additionally, the Showboat Branson Belle is slated to reopen June 20, according to the release.
The latest survey data yield results.
Feds: Former PFH execs' actions lead to $1M forfeiture at Springfield business
Missouri to invest $100M in charging stations for electric vehicles
FORVIS cracks top 10 on Inside Public Accounting list
Poll: Will you vote in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana in Missouri this November? | https://www.sbj.net/stories/silver-dollar-city-announces-reopening-dates,69114/p/stories/coronavirus-coverage,68060 |
"Caroline combines in-depth knowledge of her craft with solidly based teaching skills"
Dialogue and Voice
April 28th - 29th 2018
Course Tutor Zosia Wand
Good dialogue sounds natural, but is, in fact, highly stylised and efficient. Writing effective dialogue requires an understanding of your characters, their history and motivations. Economy and subtext are everything.
Course Content:
-
A wide range of creative exercises to explore your characters
-
How character affects voice
-
Making each voice distinct
-
The importance of subtext
-
Silence is golden.Less is more.Cut, cut, cut and trust your reader.
-
The power of suggestion
You will, through a series of creative exercises, explore your characters and how they speak. You will discover what they say and what they can’t say. While discerning their unique voice and point of view you will strengthen your plot and enrich your story.
By the end of the course you will have:
-
Developed a strong voice for your protagonist.
-
Defined a contrasting voice for your antagonist.
-
Analysed the key features of successful dialogue from professional playwrights.
-
Written and edited key scenes with effective dialogue
-
Gained the skills to edit dialogue effectively.
-
Gained a network of writers who might form a continuing support group. | https://www.zosiawand.com/dialogue-and-voice |
Al Kent is an advisor to executives in the Inustrials, Chemicals and Energy industries for Strategy&, PwC's strategy consulting group. Based in Florham Park, N.J., he is a principal with PwC U.S. He focuses on cost reduction topics and has more than 17+ years of experience within industry and consulting.
Al is a recognized specialist in a broad range of cost reduction topics – most notably:
- Manufacturing Strategy
- Design to Cost, Direct Materials Sourcing Strategy
- Field Service Strategy
- Stocking Strategy, Inventory Management
- Rapid Cost Reduction Strategies (e.g. Business unit turnarounds)
Al works with his clients to effect real and lasting change – a few examples of recent projects are:
- Manufacturing Strategy: Developed and implemented manufacturing footprint restructuring for an Industrials manufacturer through better customization strategy and leveraging low cost labor regions – relocations led to a 20% improvement in manufacturing costs
- Design to Cost: Redesigned the cost structure of a flagship product by ~25% for a Fortune 100 multi-national Industrials company through a combination of design and sourcing levers – identified the path to achieve these savings in 5 weeks through a series of rapid workshops
- Direct and Indirect Sourcing: Designed and ran a comprehensive sourcing transformation effort for a major Industrials company across their $6B in spending – delivered 12% in direct and indirect savings to the bottom line
- Field Service Strategy: For an Industrials company, restructured their 20,000 person field/managed service business – and reduced costs by 18% - by improving utilization and deployment, restructuring of wages and benefits for the entire organization
- Stocking Strategy, Inventory Management: Developed a market-back stocking strategy for a major bearing, gear manufacturer by revising make-to-stock categories and order policies to better reflect the flow and potential of their machining centers; not only did this allow for a reduction in inventory and lead time through the plant – but also achieved a lift in the market through advantaged availability and service
- Rapid Cost Reduction: Led a 6-month turnaround of a major energy and mining company – focused on support, engineering and production overheads as well as portfolio reduction – achieved a 23% reduction in overheads and significantly reduced portfolio
Al has published multiple articles on cost reduction – most notable are Accelerated Cost Transformation and Retooling labor costs.
Prior to joining Strategy&, Al worked for Armstrong World Industries and BOC Gases within a variety of production and engineering management roles. He earned his MBA from Carnegie Mellon University and a BS in Chemical Engineering from Penn State. | https://www.strategyand.pwc.com/team/al-kent |
The gap between the average rate charged on a two-year fixed rate mortgage and the cost of the average five-year fix stands at 0.36 per cent this month, down from 0.42 per cent at the beginning of the year and the lowest since January 2012, when the difference was 0.35 per cent.
According to the latest figures from comparison site Moneyfacts, the average two-year fixed rate has fallen by 0.03 per cent from 2.52 per cent in January 2019 to 2.49 per cent in June.
Meanwhile the average five-year fixed rate decreased by 0.09 per cent from 2.94 per cent to 2.85 per cent over the same period, .
In contrast, the gap between the average five-year fix and the typical 10-year fix has increased by 0.04 per cent.
This is despite the 10-year average rate falling by 0.05 per cent from 3.05 per cent in January 2019 to 3 per cent in June, the lowest recorded average 10-year fixed rate since February 2018.
Darren Cook from Moneyfacts said that with the difference between the average two and five-year fixed rate at a seven-year low, the difference in the monthly repayment between these fixed terms will also be narrow.
He added: “For example, on a repayment mortgage advance of £200,000 over a 25-year term at the average fixed rate for each respective term would see the average two-year repayment this month stand at £896.23, while the five-year average repayment amount would be £932.89, totalling a difference of £36.66 per month.
“Using the same mortgage criteria, the difference between the monthly repayments of the average five-year and 10-year mortgage rate at £948.42, this monthly difference is just £15.53.”
Cook noted that current mortgage rates appear to be competitive across the board, allowing borrowers the flexibility to choose whether to fix repayments for either the short, medium or longer-term initial rate periods.
“However, borrowers must also remember to consider other factors, such as potentially greater fee expenses if they opt for a shorter initial fixed payment term and have to switch deals more frequently or the possible implication of mortgage tie-in costs if they wish to shop elsewhere during a longer initial rate period,” he added.
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
By submitting your details, you are agreeing to AE3 Media’s privacy and data policy
The data controller is AE3 Media Ltd. We will use your data for the purposes of sending you newsletters from yourmortgage.co.uk and any other relevant information from Your Mortgage such as events, research, and surveys. You can withdraw your consent at any time by visiting the privacy policy | |
The Peterson Institute for International Economics debuted Trade Winds, a biweekly virtual event series, on May 22, 2020. Hosted by Anabel González, PIIE nonresident senior fellow, Trade Winds will explore the future of global commerce in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, including ways that international cooperation on trade can accelerate the recovery.
The first episode on “Disruption of Global Value Chains and International Trade Cooperation” featured Mary Ng, minister of small business, export promotion and international trade of Canada, Jeffrey J. Schott, PIIE senior fellow, and Stephen de Boer (Canadian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the WTO). The discussion focused on how the COVID-19 global pandemic has disrupted global value chains in the production of goods and services and what policymakers can do to keep trade lanes and supply chains open. | https://blogs.piie.com/events/piie-trade-winds-disruption-global-value-chains-and-international-trade-cooperation |
Registration is open for the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) Graduate Virtual Open House! The online event includes program-specific information sessions and opportunities to engage with current graduate students, faculty and our admissions team.
The Anthropology Department is hosting an information session for prospective graduate students on Thursday, October 27 at 10 a.m. EDT.
Who We Are
At its core, anthropology poses questions about the human experience: Where did we come from? How do we communicate? How did we organize into complex societies and what makes us different?
The GW Department of Anthropology navigates these and other questions through interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate programs.
As the foremost comprehensive anthropology program in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region, the department also hosts the Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology. We print 3D models in house for national museum exhibits and conduct research in 3,000 square feet of laboratory space. And we partner with the Koobi Fora Field School, the National Park Service and other internship and field sites around the world to offer students the opportunity to study anthropology up close.
Core Focus Areas
In our classrooms and laboratories, and in museums and field sites around the world, our students enjoy rich learning and research experiences across the core areas of archeology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology and sociocultural anthropology. They work alongside world-class faculty examining the ancient ruins of early ancestors and relics of sunken slave ships; they are deciphering how humans first formed social networks and looking at the role of language in human thought; and they are even analyzing how cell phones are impacting our global culture, not to mention our daily lives.
Fall 2022 Graduate Program Applications Are Open!
GRE scores are not required for application to the MA, MS and PhD programs and, if submitted with the application, will play no role in our departmental admissions decisions. The Department of Anthropology values building a thriving intellectual community that is diverse, equitable and inclusive. We do not consider GRE scores to be a valid predictor of intellectual promise — indeed we believe the GRE often promotes injustices that are contrary to our values.
However, for some PhD funding packages the university continues to require that GRE scores be submitted. For this reason, we currently recommend that applicants to the PhD program take the GRE, but with the understanding that your scores will not affect your chances of admission into the program. We hope that, in the future, the GRE will no longer be required for any funding packages and we are actively working to make this happen.
Dr. Sarah E. Wagner
Associate Professor of Anthropology
"At the core of anthropology are real people’s lives. As anthropologists, we go into communities and spend time trying to understand lived experiences. We tell people’s stories. And we have an obligation to do it right." | https://anthropology.columbian.gwu.edu/ |
Lucas Bohn Details Journey from Teacher to National Comedian
A few years ago Lucas Bohn was trying his luck as a standup comedian, booking gigs here and there, but not making the leap he wanted. One day while watching the show, Tosh.O, he was really impressed with what the comedian was doing with taking videos and doing standup about them.
“I said to my friend, ‘this could be simplified and it would be so much more effective,’ and I decided to just do it,” Bohn says. “I created a story using photos, which I tell through standup comedy as I do a PowerPoint presentation.”
The images originally came from his own collection, but has grown with shots from friends, family and things he’s found on the internet.
“Every time I do a show, I have fans who will send me photos, and when they do, immediately, the standup in me takes over,” Bohn says. “Sometimes the jokes are pretty obvious, but sometimes it can take some time as I analyze it and figure out what can be funny. I love it.”
For 10 days in May, Bohn will be appearing at the Drafthouse Comedy Theater in downtown DC, with his performance Lesson Plans to Late Night. The shows, which combine live standup comedy with stories from when Bohn was a public school teacher and uses actual examples of student work displayed on a video screen, will take place May 10-13.
“I thought there was an opening in this niche and people just started to show interest,” Bohn says. “I started selling out theaters and working on cruise ships and in more clubs.”
Bohn first tried comedy while in college at Coastal Carolina University studying to become an elementary school teacher. He never expected it to turn into a career. Over the years, Bohn has performed with notable entertainers like Jimmy Fallon, Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart, and was nominated for “Comedian of the Year” in 2013 by Campus Activates Magazine.
“I thought you had to be so intelligent and so driven just to survive in this business,” he says. “I took a comedy writing class but didn’t think I would pursue it for real. In 2010, I did a college showcase and booked a bunch of work and had to decide if I should stop being a teacher and focus on comedy full-time. I took the risk.”
Lately it seems that a lot of comics are jumping on the image, joke marriage. Amy Schumer’s latest Netflix special saw the comedian using slides in a hilarious way and other comedians are experimenting with photos in their acts.
“This is where it’s going. I never thought I was a prodigy or savant, but to me, why wouldn’t you embrace technology with standup?” he says. “I recently got a performing-arts-venue and theater agent, and in 2018, I have already booked multiple shows in over-1,000-sear venues. This show is just one of those things that just sells. It’s funny, entertaining and visual.”
His hope is that one day he can follow in the successful footsteps of a show like Defending the Caveman, bringing Lesson Plans to Late Night to a Broadway stage.
“It’s such a fun show to do,” Bohn says. “If you like comedy and you like something that’s different, this is the show for you. It’s not like anything you are going to see anywhere else.”
For more information and a complete schedule of show times, visit here. | |
romanticised narratives and clichés.
Alongside our positioning in Europe post Brexit, the
American 2020 election and its impact on the UK, we
see further complexities to our so-called 'special relationship' making questions around identity relevant. During uncertain times and amongst the deep-rooted pervasiveness of
western individualism and popular culture, the desire to
retreat into worlds of fantasy can offer sanctuary for some.
The Flesh & the Fantasy explores British individuals
and communities who adopt alternative lifestyles and
asks what it means to appropriate additional cultural
traits whilst maintaining a sense of identity, belonging, community and home. | https://andypilsbury.com/The-Flesh-the-Fantasy |
“The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” President Franklin D. Roosevelt
I am frequently drawn to write columns about soil due to its vital importance as a national resource as well as the fact… that we treat it so poorly. In this column, I will weave together some of the points I have made in the past and also explain why we should consider using seaweed-based fertilizers.
First let’s talk about soil. An ideal soil has approximately 50% of its volume filled with solids and the other 50% with water and air. Ninety percent of the solids should be minerals, basically eroded rocks, and 10% should be organic matter such has decaying leaves. The spaces between the solids accommodate water and allow air to reach plant roots, a vital step in plant growth. Healthy soil is the most biologically productive environment on Earth. A single gram of soil can contain up to a billion organisms, representing over a thousand species.
Soil contains approximately 70 different minerals. Thirteen of these are known to be essential for plant growth: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, iron, boron, manganese, copper, zinc, molybdenum, and chlorine. The other 50 or so, including things like cobalt, iodine and selenium, often referred to as micronutrients, are likely to be important to plant growth even if the mechanisms are not fully understood. For plants to be able to utilize these minerals efficiently, the environment in soil must have proper moisture, pH, and organic content. In particular, when soils become deficient in organic matter, the ability of plants to absorb minerals from the soil drops precipitously.
In a similar fashion to plants, humans need a wide array of minerals in our diet to maintain our health. With the exception of taking vitamin supplements, a practice which is less effective than you might think, we get the vast majority of our minerals from the soil, either by eating plants(1) that have extracted them from the soil for us, or by eating animals that have eaten plants. Seafood provides another important source of minerals. As you might guess based on the title of this column, you will read more on that subject below.
As farmers harvest plants, minerals which had formerly been in the soil are removed. Unless these minerals are replaced, the field will quickly lose productivity. Replenishment of minerals can be accomplished by the application of fertilizer or by extraction from rocks already in the soil through the action of fungi and/or ground water. Nitrogen is a special case in that it can be extracted from the air through cooperative action of a legume such as alfalfa and several types of micro-organisms in the soil.
Generally speaking, the industrial agriculture systems in the United States are not particularly effective in replacing soil minerals. Most fertilizers applied on large U.S. agricultural operations include only nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and, at best, a small handful of other minerals. To make matters worse, over tilling and insufficient application of compost result in a reduction of the soil’s organic content. Therefore, the absorption of even the small subset of minerals applied to the fields is inefficient. To overcome this inefficiency, farmers increase the amount of fertilizer that they apply, which then results in the run off of excess nitrogen and phosphorous into the surrounding watershed, which creates a number of additional problems.
You may be asking yourself, “If the situation is as bleak as what Jeff is describing, how is it that we keep growing billions of pounds of corn, wheat, and lettuce every year”? The answer is that a large ear of corn and a nutrient-filled ear of corn are not the same thing. Just as one can raise a full-sized, but unhealthy child on a diet consisting primarily of Twinkies® and Fruit Loops® you can also grow a field of unhealthful corn, devoid of many minerals and nutrients, by limiting fertilization to just nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, the Twinkies® of plant growth.
The United States Department of Agriculture has been tracking the impact of the depletion of our soils since the 1950’s. Every year they analyze the vitamin and mineral contents of approximately forty common foods, including carrots, apples, wheat, and chicken. As the decades have passed, the vitamin and mineral content of these foods has dropped in the range of 10-30%. This slow erosion of food quality in the U.S. is a key, but little discussed, underlying cause of many of our public health challenges.
So what can we do to reverse this trend? We can improve our soil management practices, which I will address next week in Part II, and we can use fertilizers which contain a broader array of minerals by looking to the oceans.
Since the oceans of the world are down stream from everywhere, they are not depleted of minerals. The cobalt, iron, and selenium content of the oceans are roughly the same as they were when our ancestors first crawled up on the sand. Therefore, plants which live in the ocean can, and do, absorb up to 50 to 60 different minerals, including the full array of micronutrients.(2) This characteristic is key to the attractiveness of seaweed both as a fertilizer and a health food. Japan utilizes seaweed extensively in both of these capacities.
Given our long coast line with its variety of inlets and bays, North Carolina has the potential to develop a successful seaweed farming industry. To me there is a certain beauty in the idea. Minerals from our fields find their way from the soil, to our food, to us, and then to the ocean. (I’ll let you puzzle out the mechanisms and pathways on your own.) Then the seaweed can collect these minerals for us so that we can harvest them and bring those minerals back to our fields. There may be efforts to develop seaweed farming in NC already occurring. If any readers are aware of them, please let me know.
Have a comment or question? Use the interface below or send me an email to [email protected]. Think that this column includes important points that others should consider? Send out a link on Facebook or Twitter.
(1) For simplicity, I am including mushrooms, which are fungi, as plants.
(2) For the purposes of this column I am ignoring the effects of ocean acidification due to the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. When the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rises, more of it becomes dissolved in the oceans. Dissolved carbon dioxide forms carbonic acid and reduces the pH of the water. Just as I discussed above regarding soil pH, changes in the pH of the ocean affect the ability of plants in the ocean to absorb minerals. The ongoing acidification of the oceans is predicted to decrease the ability of plants to absorb minerals and, thereby, have a strong detrimental effect on biological productivity. But the mineral depletion our soils are experiencing is more immediate, and therefore the focus of this column. | http://news.algaeworld.org/2014/07/soil-part-seaweed-fertilizer/ |
Disaster Response in the Eye of the Storm
It’s easy to criticize those we don’t know or don’t like. And nothing brings out our inner critic like a high-profile natural disaster. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, there was a great deal of finger pointing regarding the response times of various private organizations including Christian churches. Joel Osteen’s Lakewood church received the brunt of the criticism: he’s a well known, affluent person, who many people already perceive to be just a 21st century snake oil salesman. Though his prosperity gospel is not congruent with my understanding of the Word, I couldn’t necessarily cosign on the aspersions being cast. However, I’m not writing this as a “defense” of Osteen. I don’t know the ins and outs of Lakewood’s resources or preparedness. For all I know, he could have had all of the provisions and human power ready to mobilize at a moment’s notice and yet still chose to turn his back on suffering people until public backlash shamed him into action. That’s the prevailing narrative anyway. But it is also possible that it’s a little more nuanced than that.
I recently saw a viral clip of a small boat that was taking tourists to watch pods of dolphins. In the midst of the journey, they crossed the path of a jumping dolphin – that landed squarely in the boat! Understandably (to me anyway) those in the frantic animal’s proximity quickly cleared the area. It took a few moments for people to compose themselves. One man from another boat in their party came aboard and attempted to lift the dolphin up and over the side. It proved too difficult to manage alone and eventually several men cooperated to hoist the dolphin back into the water. In my opinion the actions of everyone in the video were perfectly reasonable. Yet plenty of critical posts followed in the comment section. “Why are those people running? It’s just a dolphin!” And, of course, all these internet marine biologists talked about how they would’ve had, not only the composure, but also the strength to immediately heave the dolphin back in the water themselves. It was pretty clear that most people really had no idea about dealing with dolphins or formulating a plan. So what does this have to do with Hurricane Harvey?
1. People who have never been in charge of something always want to tell others why their hypothetical plan would’ve been superior. If you have never had a leadership position, the idea of thinking through logistics may be a foreign concept. Honestly, even a lot of career leaders are bad at it. “Visionaries” often surround themselves with “details people” so there will be someone to think through how things can get accomplished—and to think through scenarios where things may go wrong. Our natural impulse to help needs to be tempered with thoughtfully considering how our goals can be realistically accomplished.
2. Ignorantly rushing towards problems—even with the best of intentions—can create more harm than good. The people who initially scampered out of the dolphin’s way were smart. Dolphins are powerful creatures. An erratically flailing tail is strong enough to inflict some serious damage. Getting hit will now result in two emergencies: a stranded dolphin and an injured “helper”. The impulse to want to help during a crisis like Harvey is a compassionate desire. But it takes a lot more than just opening up the doors of your church. Unless helpers are trained and prepared, you are merely relocating the disaster to your doorstep. Many folks lamented that “only” 60 churches and 30 mosques in Houston opened their doors as sites. They obviously didn’t recognize that most churches comprise less than 150 members and that the vast number of churches in any given city are likely ill prepared to face such a large-scale crisis. Inviting crowds with no good way to provide what they need will make things worse, not better.
3. Even with a plan, there must be people to execute it. In the dolphin video one man stepped into action. But he quickly realized the limitations of his own strength: dolphins may look sleek, but they are dense with muscles! A full-grown dolphin can weigh up to 1400 lbs.! Despite this man’s best intentions, the execution of his plan was dependent on getting others to help. So it is with most plans of any sort—someone has to do the heavy lifting! Ironically, the most vocal critics of church ministries are often those who aren’t involved. People who don’t even volunteer to help in their local church soup kitchen were among the most irate that faith based organizations hadn’t mobilized a full-fledged disaster response team! Instead of assuming that most people are like them and rarely volunteer, critics prefer to hold everyone else to a higher standard. “Sure, I won’t go to the community clean up on a sunny afternoon, but I can’t understand why on earth there isn’t a legion of church volunteers at the ready to rush toward a hurricane. Those selfish people!” 80% of people do 20% of the work in most churches. That doesn’t magically change during a disaster. Churches need human power to actually accomplish their ministry goals. And YOU (and I) are the church! If we don’t enthusiastically volunteer on a regular day, why should we expect others to do so in extenuating circumstances?
Now presenting this perspective isn’t meant to entirely absolve faith based organizations from the responsibility to act. We have an imperative to be a light to the world. So, though it’s unreasonable for people to expect untrained and unprepared organizations to rush in at the drop of a hat, there’s no reason why we can’t take the opportunity to become trained and prepared organizations instead. Not every church will be able to be a shelter in response to disasters, but there is a lot that we can do (and “we” includes you also, dear reader). We can learn how to assist in other ways should the need arise (and the need will always arise—as I write Irma, Jose, and Katia are picking up steam). I spoke with disaster response expert, Darriel Hoy, about tangible ways individuals can assist before, immediately after, and during rebuilding from a natural disaster. You can listen on the SoundCloud link here. Hopefully, we can be prepared for the next natural crisis. Unfortunately, I can offer no help with your next dolphin fiasco.
Courtney Ray is an ordained pastor in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Make sure your comments are germane to the topic; be concise in your reply; demonstrate respect for people and ideas whether you agree or disagree with them; and limit yourself to one comment per article, unless the author of the article directly engages you in further conversation. Comments that meet these criteria are welcome on the Spectrum Website. Comments that fail to meet these criteria will be removed. | |
To investigate whether the presence of an expert witness would affect the juror's decision making ability.
1 of 13
Method
Lab experiment using a videotaped mock trial.
2 of 13
Participants
538 American psychology students who were given extra credits.
3 of 13
Procedure
Participants were shown a videotape of a robbery in groups. Afterwards, they independently completed a questionnaire,which included their verdict, a memory test and rating how confident they were in their verdict. There were four IVs
4 of 13
IV:
1, Witness Identification Condition: good or bad. 2, Witness confidence: 100% or 80%. 3, Expert Opinion Expressed: 0-25 point scale. 4, Form of Expert Testimony: descriptive or statistics
5 of 13
Results
Jurors gave more guilty verdicts when WIC's were good which increased if the psychologist used ordinary language. 85% jurors remembered what the expert psychologist said. Jurors also expressed more confidence when the witness was 100% sure.
6 of 13
Conclusion
Expert testimony improved juror’s knowledge of factors that affect the accuracy of EWT and made them pay more attention to WIC. With expert testimony, sensitivity to problems with evidence is improved and may help prevent miscarriages of justice.
7 of 13
Background
Jurors tend to think that witnesses are accurate and trustworthy. However, they lack knowledge of factors that might affect witnesses’ memory of the events, such as: weapon focus effect, leading Qs and delay of testimony.
8 of 13
Background #2
This may have serious consequences for the accused, so sometimes, the defence calls in expert psychologists to explain to the jury why the witness testimony may not be accurate or reliable.
9 of 13
Ads of Expert Witness
This adds scientific credence to the evidence and helps clarify complex issues to the jury so they can be more confident about making a verdict based on the evidence provided.
10 of 13
Loftus's study
aimed to assess the influence an expert witness can have on juror’s acceptance of eye witness evidence.
11 of 13
Loftus's study - procedure
Half cases- statement from expert who provided evidence about the unreliability of the EWT (weapon focus effect and witness drinking). other half - No vidence about the problems associated with reliance on EWT evidence.
12 of 13
Loftus's study - Results and Conclusion
Results showed that those who received the expert testimony spent longer discussing the eye witness evidence and were less likely to find the defendant guilty. Therefore, expert witness influences juror’s decision.
13 of 13
Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Method
Back
Lab experiment using a videotaped mock trial.
Card 3
Front
Participants
Back
Card 4
Front
Procedure
Back
Card 5
Front
IV: | https://getrevising.co.uk/revision-tests/persuading-a-jury-expert-witness-cutler?game_type=flashcards |
ROOM: The Space Journal is one of the major magazines on space exploration, technology and industry. At ROOM, we share a common objective – advancement of peaceful space exploration for the benefit of humankind, all while bringing you detailed articles on a plethora of current topics. Our authors include academics and industry leaders from all over the world, which lets us bring you timely and accurate information about space weather journal.
... can lead to service degradation or, more rarely, to complete satellite failure. Awareness of the effects of space weather on terrestrial infrastructure – known as geomagnetic disturbances (GMDs) - is lower, because examples are few and ...skills, systems and resources that impact the community. The infrequent nature of severe space weather events that impact terrestrial infrastructures complicates the fostering of a community’s resilience strategy ...
...tornadoes and earthquakes, provide an overview of the estimated impact, frequency and severity of these space weather events. CMEs can also cause geomagnetic storms on Earth that induce electrical currents in the ... to monitor, characterise and model all of these contributions. NOAA’s Space Weather Scales are a means of communicating current and future space weather conditions and their possible effects on people and systems. The scales describe...
... addition to EOR satellites, protecting the growing number of assets in space requires a greater understanding of space weather effects in general. This includes understanding how space weather can lead to various anomalies onboard spacecraft, as well as how ... as the Van Allen Probes, along with ground instrumentation near Earth’s poles, space weather researchers at the British Antarctic Survey continue to work towards these goals by developing...
... UK Royal Academy of Engineering (Cannon et al, 2013). Risks of severe space weather This showed that the 1-in-100 year space weather storm could seriously disrupt many of these critical technologies, leading to major disruption...16 2012 captured here by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. Such events contribute to space weather Thus the Space Weather Public Dialogue is complementing and supporting the wider development of UK policies for mitigating...
... of avoiding collisions”, SSA has three specific purposes: providing space surveillance and tracking of space debris (objects) that circle Earth; providing space weather reports (see next section); and detecting near Earth objects ...that could cause damage on Earth. Through the observations made, the space-based infrastructure is prevented from ...
... environment, and remote sensing law & regulation. He has been a contributor to several aviation and space law focused journals, is a member of the International Institute of Space Law, is the Chair of the Legal Technical Committee with the American Institute of Aeronautics...
... groups many thousands of miles away without long-range satellite communications; space-based surveillance to detect approaching threats; weather satellite forecasting of sea states and cloud cover over potential targets; ... their Hohmann transfer orbits, so a hidden ASAT would not require much additional fuel to attack many different space targets. And it is unlikely that any nation would be willing to manoeuvre their ‘inspector satellites’ to ...
...model building. It is therefore no great surprise that Lego has embarked on its own small space programme. Entering space Space is increasingly an integral part of our culture… It is therefore no great surprise that ... writer, and a Commissioning Editor for ROOM Space Journal. He has 40 years of experience as a satellite communications engineer and consultant to the space industry, space insurance and space education sectors. He is the author of ...
... communication Currently, there are a number of methods of tracking objects in space, such as the Space Data Association’s Space Data Center (SDC), which ingests flight dynamics information from member companies as... the way we aggregate multiple sets of data. Transparent data is more actionable, whether it concerns space weather, radio frequency (RF) interference or collisions. It’s a common occurrence for operators to receive data or warnings... | https://room.eu.com/content/space-weather-journal |
Limited liability in general means that the liability of a business owner is limited to the amount that the owner has invested in the company. Common misunderstanding assumes that limited liability means that business owners are not liable for anything that happens in the business, but this is not true. "Limited liability" does not mean "no liability," and business owners can be held liable in some circumstances.
The term "limited liability" has been around since the formation of corporations. In the U.S., corporations were formed in part because the owners of the corporation didn't want to be held liable for actions of the business. Corporations are considered separate entities from their owners and shareholders, so their liability is separate. The term "limited liability" has been extended to the LLC (limited liability company), S corporation ownership, and to types of partnerships.
Misuse of funds. If a business owner takes business funds for personal use, or if the owner commingles funds for his or her own gain. For example, if the owner has both business and personal funds in a personal checking account and doesn't clearly separate the two types of funds, this may result in misuse of the funds.
Fraud. Fraud is knowingly misrepresenting something for material gain. For example, if a business owner defrauds customers by concealing the defects in a product or commits insurance fraud by overvaluing assets, the liability protection of the company won't protect the owner. Fraud is a breach of the duties and responsibilities of a business owner, and it is against the law.
Criminal action. If the owner of a business or an employee assaults a customer, the business can't hide behind the company's liability protection. In the case of professional misconduct, you should have malpractice insurance or other professional liability insurance.
Personal guarantees. In some circumstances, a business owner must personally guarantee a business contract; in this case, the personal liability of the owner to fulfill the contract overrides the "limited liability" circumstances. The best example of this situation is when a business owner must personally guarantee a loan to the business with personal assets.If the business cannot make the loan payments, the business owner is personally responsible for these payments and must pledge personal assets to pay off the loan.
A business owner should make sure that he or she does not personally sign a contract which should have been signed on behalf of the business. The corporation or LLC is the party to the contract, not the individual. If the owner signs as an individual, he or she has assumed the liability for that contract.
The limited liability concept is included for all business types except the sole proprietorship. A sole proprietorship doesn't separate the owner from the business, so the business' liability is the owner's, with no limits. That's why most businesses prefer to limit their liability by forming a corporation, LLC, or partnership.
Avoid actions that will be charged with negligence, fraud, or other criminal acts. Sure, you may not have complete control of other corporate shareholders or officers or other LLC members, but monitoring each other and sharing information on possible issues may help keep you out of such lawsuits.
Keep excellent corporate and LLC records. Don't assume that having an LLC rather than a corporation absolves you of the responsibility to keep records. Record all meetings and actions of the board and LLC membership.
Don't mix business and personal funds. Mixing business and personal funds gives the appearance that the two entities are not separate.
If one of the owners takes money from the business, be sure to record this as either a loan or a disbursement and include the proper documentation of the transaction. A loan to the business or capital contribution should also be recorded and the transaction appropriately documented.
Disclaimer. This discussion about liability is not intended to be tax or legal advice. Before you make any business decisions, check with your attorney. | https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-does-limited-liability-mean-to-a-business-owner-398317 |
A grooving machine for gift box machining comprises a workbench, a grooving machine head is arranged above the workbench, a negative pressure suction device for conducting negative pressure adsorption on gift boxes is arranged on the top wall face of the workbench, and the negative pressure suction device comprises a negative pressure box installed in the top wall face of the workbench. The workbench is further provided with a moving mechanism for driving the grooving machine head to move front and back for adjustment, the moving mechanism comprises fixing plates fixedly installed on the bottom wall faces of the left side and the right side of the workbench, and a portal frame is movably installed between the two fixing plates. According to the grooving machine for gift box machining, the negative pressure suction device for conducting negative pressure suction on gift boxes and the working switch of the air pump are arranged, the air pump conducts air suction, the air pump conducts air suction through the suction box, and then the negative pressure boxes evenly distributed on the negative pressure boxes start to suck air; therefore, gift box paper placed on the negative pressure box is adsorbed by negative pressure, and the stability of the gift box paper in the grooving process is guaranteed. | |
Ah, the week after Christmas. Depending on your line of work, these can be the most intense few days of the year. Or the deadest.
Some pack in their final time off before it disappears at year’s end. Others have their nose to the grindstone to hit year-end goals. All of us live in this curious in-between time, with the high feast day of Christmas now behind us and the prospect of a new year, and its psychological resets, just ahead.
Strange as this one week may seem on the calendar, we find here an interesting parallel to the Christian life we live for decades — with yesterday’s cheer feeding the present, and propelling us into the resolves and possibilities of tomorrow.
Christmas Behind, New Years Ahead
For Christians, the cheer of Christmas Day is not the thing itself, but our collective annual reminder that the thing itself actually happened and is just as true every day of the year, and every moment of the day, as it was two millennia ago. Christ came. God himself, in the person of his Son, dwelled among us, as one of us, and then died, rose, and ascended. The cheer of Christmas is not a single calendar day in 365 that ends at midnight. The cheer of Christmas is a fixed, objective reality for the Christian, every bit as true today as yesterday.
“The decisive event has happened in the coming of Christ, and work remains to be done, in us and through us.”
And we are called to live on. History, and our lives in this age, are not yet over. The decisive event has happened in the coming of Christ, and work remains to be done, in us and through us. New days come. New years come. And God calls us to build our lives — years that have not yet unfolded — on the cheer of Christmas. To bring that great unchangeable Christmas past into the present and live a different future because of it.
For such a week as ours is a simple and obscure New Testament blessing that marries the cheer of Christmas behind us with a catalyst for action in the days ahead of us. It’s an easy blessing to overlook since it’s tucked into the middle of the epistle, instead of appearing at the end.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16–17)
Observe here how decisive divine action in the past fuels the engine of the present to energize new life — our lives — and produce fresh strength for the times to come.
The Father Loved and Gave
While the blessing bleeds into the future — for life yet to be lived — Paul can’t help but rehearse what God has already accomplished in the past. The divine genius of Christianity, which sets it off from every other so-called religion, doesn’t begin with to-dos, with the onus on us to perform, but with the great, unchangeable dones of the past. For Christians, the past is not just the past. The past, as it reveals the God who is, is power for the present, as he is present.
Paul has something particular to pray that “our Lord Jesus Christ himself” will do for us in the present, but he wants us to know that Christ won’t be going rogue to do it. He and his Father are working in concert, and in mentioning “God our Father,” Paul rehearses what is done, finished, accomplished, and unalterable: he “loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace.”
Your right standing with God isn’t owing to your doing but his. Long before he called you to anything, he loved you and demonstrated it in history, almost two thousand years before you were born. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). There is a priceless doneness to the Christian faith. “By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). From the cross, Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). On his finished work, we come into relationship with God by faith alone, not by any action on our part.
Eternal Cheer, Solid Hope
Paul mentions here two dones in particular that are ours in Christ: eternal cheer (“comfort,” Greek paraklēsin) and good hope. The cheer that is ours, by grace, in Christ, is not fleeting. It is not temporal, thin, or cheap, but real, strong, never-ending, eternal. Its source is not in us, fickle as we are, but secure, outside of us, in Christ himself, who is not fickle but resiliently faithful.
“For Christians, the past is not just the past. The past, as it reveals the God who is, is power for the present.”
And the hope that is ours, by grace, in Christ, is not a hope that goes bad, or might prove untrue. It is solid hope, good hope — hope that God will make good on. In a world teeming with thin, empty, deceptive, bad hopes, this one is good. It will not disappoint.
So, first, Paul accents the action of the Father, action that is nonetheless together with and in and through his Son. He loved. He gave. And these past graces have clear present implications.
Jesus Cheers and Strengthens
Paul then prays for Christ’s present action, not yet ours. We’ll get there, but don’t put yourself forward too quickly. Stand back and let the Godhead lead.
Just as both Christ and the Father acted in the past, but the previous accent was on the Father, so now, in the present, they work in concert with the accent on the Son. Now may Christ himself, Paul prays, cheer your hearts and strengthen them.
Christ’s cheering of our hearts is not only done, accomplished in the past. It is present. He is doing this now for his people. He does it today. He will do it tomorrow. Jesus loves to cheer our hearts. And, get this, he doesn’t just make us happy — wonderful as that would be — and leave us weak. He cheers and strengthens (“establishes,” Greek stērizai). He makes our hearts strong, meaning ready to act.
This is a remarkable prayer: that Christ himself would instill us with cheer and strength. Christ himself supplies the power for us to feel and resolve and do what God has called us to do.
Christ himself as strengthener — strange at it may sound to some ears — is actually a well-worn refrain for the apostle Paul. “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord” (1 Timothy 1:12). Jesus gave him strength, he says. And he testifies that when he stood alone, “the Lord stood by me and strengthened me” (2 Timothy 4:17). So Paul says to Timothy, “Be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1), and to us all, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). And of course, Paul declares so memorably in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me.” The apostle even speaks of his own toiling “with all his energy that [Christ] powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:29).
The risen, reigning God-man himself provides energy for his people to do what he’s called them to do. He sits enthroned at his Father’s right hand, and he is not inactive. He stands ready to cheer your soul and strengthen your body. And now to what end?
So, now we have two comforts — two cheers. The eternal cheer we have been given in Christ by the Father. And now a present cheer in Christ from Christ himself. And now, finally, our action, our part, our calling, our resolves: “in every good work and word.”
Work Like a Protestant
The past and present actions of Christ and his Father make for an amazing recipe for a Christian work ethic for the new year. Divine grace forms the foundation and provides the power by which we now act, in faith, through words with our mouths, and works with our hands and feet. Buoyed and fed by such grace, we “let our light shine before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
We might call this the “Protestant work ethic.” That term has been misunderstood by some to mean that Protestants work hard because they view success as a sign that they are elect. That is a serious misunderstanding. Rather, the true “Protestant work ethic,” if we’re going to refer to such, would be a label to put on the precise dynamics we have seen here: the previous and primary action of God in Christ, including present cheer and strength, leads to eager and energetic activity in his people, for the good of others.
For Everyday Works and Words
In other words, because we are justified before God by faith alone in Christ, we are secure enough to expend our lives in the cause of Christ. Heaven is secure. Now what? Let’s change things on earth. The finished work of Christ, and the completed aspect of our justification, liberates us for the ongoing work of sanctification and acts of love to serve others. Knowing ourselves secure in Christ, and empowered by his Spirit, unleashes us to speak good and do good in the world, rather than turn inward to constantly try to fix ourselves before God.
“Heaven is secure. Now what? Let’s change things on earth.”
Christianity, emphatically, does not make people lazy. Rather, it makes lazy people, at long last, into serious workers. The gospel, in the power of the Spirit, makes us increasingly “zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). Those who are saved in Christ “not because of works done by us in righteousness” (Titus 3:5) are finally freed, and divinely empowered, “to be ready for every good work” and to “devote themselves to good works” (Titus 3:1, 8, 14).
May Christ himself make it so in this next year. May the Christmas behind us, true today as ever — in its certainty and cheer — send us hopefully, and energetically, into the unknowns of the year, and life, to come. | https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/grace-loving-hard-working-and-happy |
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is a technology that enables you to convert different types of textual documents, such as scanned paper documents, PDF files or images captured by a digital camera into editable and searchable data.
When OCR converts a scanned image into digital text, it becomes a searchable text file, thus making navigation much easier.
You could quickly find the page number of a favorite quote or locate all the uses of certain keyword within a large document, for example.
You can also copy, paste, and edit passages of text within the document.
Documents can be converted to digital text using OCR software such as Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.
Scan Setting Recommendations for OCR:
Some Limitations of OCR: | https://libguides.tulane.edu/diy_digital/ocr |
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School is a mixed selective 11-18 school with academy status. The Sixth Form Centre is based at the York Street site and accommodates over 600 students.
Working closely with architects, Cassidy & Ashton, we were appointed to design and furnish the library in this impressive school.
Our brief was to update the space into a contemporary learning environment.
The library is a very important part of the school environment, therefore the design, layout and the selection of products has to support student’s personal and academic development as well as the needs of the staff.
Beginning the project we embarked on a thorough consultation period with the client, discussing layouts, furniture options and colour schemes. The challenge was to design a space that would not only house the schools extensive book collection, but also provide flexibility of use for quiet and group study by teachers and students.
Maximising the height of the room a mezzanine floor was introduced. This space is home to the quiet study area and is fitted with desking, comfortable seating and low level bookcases. Utilisation of this extra headroom with its glass balustrade and original feature windows, allows students to take advantage of the fabulous views of the surrounding Lancashire countryside.
In a world driven by technology it was still important to provide a home for books. Effective space planning was essential to achieve the storage capacity required, with custom made bookcases fitted around the perimeter of the room.
A bespoke reception desk, complying with DDA requirements, allows staff to have full view of the ground floor. Neutral floor finishes and feature walls compliment the overall look and a centre piece soft seating area incorporating the school colours completes the look of the space.
The library now offers much more than just shelves of books, the combination of quality furnishings and careful design presents a flexible learning space that accommodates a number of different features: IT facilities, comfortable zones and study areas. | https://www.whitespace.org.uk/case-studies/education/clitheroe-royal-grammar-school |
Supreme Court
No. 2008-121-C.A.
(K1/05-570A)
State :
v. :
Gerardo E. Martinez. :
NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before
publication in the Rhode Island Reporter. Readers are requested to
notify the Opinion Analyst, Supreme Court of Rhode Island,
250 Benefit Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, at Telephone
222-3258 of any typographical or other formal errors in order that
corrections may be made before the opinion is published.
Present: Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Flaherty, Robinson, and Indeglia, JJ.
OPINION
Justice Indeglia, for the Court. The defendant, Gerardo E. Martinez (Martinez or
defendant), appeals from a conviction of murder in the first degree and an imposition by the trial
justice of a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. On appeal, he
contends that the trial justice committed reversible error in (1) admitting acts of prior misconduct
that he allegedly committed against the decedent; (2) denying his motion for a new trial; and (3)
sentencing him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. After reviewing the record
and considering the parties’ written submissions and oral arguments, we discern no error on the
part of the trial justice and affirm the judgment of the Superior Court.
I
Facts and Travel
In October 2005, a grand jury indicted Martinez on charges of first-degree murder in
violation of G.L. 1956 § 11-23-1 and G.L. 1956 § 12-29-5 1 (count 1) and driving a motor vehicle
without consent of the owner in violation of G.L. 1956 § 31-9-1 (count 2). 2 After Martinez
1
In pertinent part, G.L. 1956 § 12-29-5(a) applies to “[e]very person convicted of * * * a crime
involving domestic violence * * *.”
2
The defendant does not contest his conviction on count 2 in this appeal.
-1-
pleaded not guilty to the charges, the Attorney General filed a notice of intent to seek a sentence
of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if Martinez were convicted of first-degree
murder, pursuant to G.L. 1956 § 12-19.2-3.
Over the course of an eight-day trial, the prosecution presented twenty-five witnesses
who testified to the following facts. At the outset, we acknowledge that many of these facts are
graphic and disturbing. We recite them in necessary detail because they are relevant to our
evaluation of whether (1) the crime amounted to murder in the first degree and (2) the sentence
of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole was appropriate.
Lindsay Ann Burke, the decedent, graduated from Rhode Island College in May 2004
with a bachelor’s degree in special and elementary education. At the time of her death, Lindsay3
was employed by Opportunities Unlimited, where she was responsible for assisting disabled
adults living in group homes.
Lindsay met Martinez while attending a wedding in September 2003. They started dating
shortly thereafter. Her mother, Anna Burke, testified that “[she] could tell [Lindsay] was swept
off her feet” when she met Martinez “and [that Lindsay] was on cloud nine.” Anna recalled her
first impression of Martinez: “He was very polite. He was soft spoken. * * * He was very
respectful.” However, she testified that her opinion of Martinez later changed and that her
relationship with Lindsay soon became strained when she told Lindsay that she “no longer
approved” of Martinez.
In March 2004, while she was still a student at Rhode Island College, Lindsay moved out
of her parents’ home to live with Martinez. Anna testified that she continued to see Lindsay
“approximately once a week”—usually on Sundays, for dinner. When Martinez eventually
3
This Court means no disrespect by referring to some individuals in this opinion by their first
names. It is for clarity purposes only that first names are used throughout this opinion.
-2-
blocked Anna’s phone number from calling his home, Anna continued to communicate with
Lindsay on her cell phone. According to Anna, in March 2005, Lindsay became “displeased”
with her relationship with Martinez and moved back into her parents’ home. Nonetheless,
Lindsay “continued to take [Martinez’s] phone calls and talk to him.” By June 2005, Lindsay
was staying at Martinez’s home six nights a week. She once again moved out of her parents’
home to live with Martinez “sometime” in July 2005.
Around the third week of August 2005, Lindsay told Anna that “she was probably going
to leave [Martinez] * * * and move out of his house * * *.” Lindsay told her that she had met
somebody else—a man named Chris, who worked as a cook at the Cranston Senior Center. This
man was later determined to be Christopher Barrett.
At trial, Barrett testified that he met Lindsay in May 2005. At that time, he was
incarcerated at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) for a second-degree robbery conviction,
and he worked at the Cranston Senior Center on work release. At the time of trial, Barrett had an
extensive criminal record, which was related to the jury during his testimony. After meeting
Lindsay, they soon developed a friendship. Barrett testified that Lindsay would visit him three to
four times a week during visiting hours at the ACI. Barrett testified that he wrote her letters and
notes—about fifteen in total—and that he and Lindsay grew close and loved each other. He also
gave her some photographs of himself, in which he posed as a “body-builder.” In addition,
Barrett gave her about $1,300 while he was incarcerated at the ACI.
According to Barrett, Lindsay had told him that she was involved in a relationship with
Martinez and that she was “very unhappy.” Barrett then testified, over defense counsel’s
objections pursuant to Rule 404(b) of the Rhode Island Rules of Evidence, that Lindsay told him
that Martinez “had been physically abusive on more than one occasion, that he was very
-3-
controlling, [and] that he had alienated her.” 4 Lindsay never told Barrett specifically where on
her body Martinez had hit her, only that “he was really smart and he knew how to * * * do it in
ways where it would be covered by clothing.” She also told Barrett that she was going to leave
Martinez and move in with her brother, Christopher Burke.
Lindsay’s supervisor at Opportunities Unlimited, Katherine Baxter, also testified at trial.
Defense counsel also objected to her testimony on Rule 404(b) grounds. Baxter testified that she
and Lindsay developed a close personal relationship during April 2005. Baxter confided in
Lindsay that she was “depressed” about her recent breakup. Lindsay then opened up to her about
her own relationship with Martinez. Lindsay told Baxter that her relationship with Martinez was
“turbulent [and that] there was abuse, verbal[ ] and physical.” Lindsay confided that “he would
twist her arm behind her back” and that he once “punched her in her right thigh over and over.”
On a different occasion, Baxter noticed that Lindsay had “a red mark on her face” which was
“circular” and “near * * * her mouth.” Lindsay told Baxter that Martinez had “hit her.”
Lindsay eventually moved in with her brother, Christopher, in late August 2005. Anna
testified that she last saw Lindsay at Christopher’s North Kingstown home on September 11,
2005. A few days later, on September 14, 2005, Anna recalled receiving a phone call from
Christopher, in which he told her that Lindsay was uncharacteristically not responding to his
phone calls. Anna testified that she then called Lindsay’s cell phone, left her a message, called
the Warwick police to report Lindsay missing, and then drove to Martinez’s home. She further
testified that she called Lindsay’s employer.
Officer John McHale of the Warwick Police Department testified that he was dispatched
at around 4:16 p.m. that afternoon in response to Anna’s phone call. He met with Anna and her
4
We elaborate on defense counsel’s objections pursuant to Rule 404(b) of the Rhode Island
Rules of Evidence in Part III-A, infra.
-4-
husband, Lindsay’s father, at a location next door to Martinez’s home in Warwick. Anna told
him that Lindsay had not shown up for work, and that they had not spoken in a couple of days,
which, according to Anna, was “highly unusual.” He also found out that Lindsay had been
involved with Martinez.
At that point, McHale walked over to Martinez’s home, located at 1917 Warwick
Avenue. He checked the registration on the pickup truck parked in the driveway and learned that
the vehicle was registered to Martinez at that address. He then knocked on the front door, which
proved futile. He noted that the front door was locked and the shades were drawn. He then told
the Burkes that he “would keep a check” on Martinez’s home throughout the night. He
instructed the Burkes to contact the North Kingstown police to report Lindsay as a missing
person, because Lindsay actually resided at her brother’s home in that town.
McHale was again dispatched to Martinez’s home at approximately 5:40 p.m. that
afternoon. McHale had learned that the New Hampshire State Police had found Lindsay’s
vehicle and that it had recently been involved in an accident. The operator of the vehicle was
identified as Martinez. 5 The New Hampshire State Police informed McHale that Martinez had
cut himself in an attempted suicide and that he was “unconscious when they located him” inside
the vehicle. He told McHale that they had also found a suicide note in the vehicle, signed by
Martinez, which stated in relevant part that “[s]he f***ed me over. I didn’t want to kill her but I
did.” 6
5
Martinez was found inside Lindsay’s vehicle at a rest area in New Hampshire, after the vehicle
hit a tree. A rest-area attendant found Martinez alone inside, vomiting. She then dialed 911. He
eventually fell out of the car and collapsed before the police arrived.
6
The entirety of the suicide note was read into evidence at trial by Trooper Sean Faherty of the
New Hampshire State Police.
-5-
In light of this new information, McHale’s supervisor ordered him to return to Martinez’s
home. When he arrived, Martinez’s mother, Elizabeth Belina, was just exiting her vehicle. She
told him that she was there to “check on her son since she hadn’t heard from him and he also did
not show up for work.” They waited a few minutes for other officers to arrive. Belina gave the
officers her key to Martinez’s home, which they then entered. McHale testified that he walked
directly to the back of the residence, while the two other officers with him went to other sections
of the home. He first saw the bathroom door, which was closed. He recalled that he saw dried
blood on the doorknob, and that there were droplets of blood on the floor as well as on the door
itself. Another officer, wearing gloves, then opened that door. When McHale stepped into the
bathroom, he “immediately notice[d] * * * a large amount of blood, a pool of blood on the floor,
* * * [and] blood on the tub.”
He then found Lindsay’s bloodied body in the bathtub covered with a blanket. He noted
that the glass doors of the tub and shower were “off the track” and leaning into the tub. He then
immediately went to the front of the house to secure the front door, and he started a crime scene
log. He maintained his post at the front door until approximately 11:45 p.m., at which time he
left and completed his police report.
Detective Daniel Gillis (Det. Gillis), a member of the BCI Unit of the Warwick Police
Department, testified that he was called to Martinez’s home around 6 p.m. that evening. He
arrived with Det. Walter Williams (Det. Williams), another BCI Unit member. They waited
outside Martinez’s home until a search warrant was issued at around 10 p.m. that night.
Detective Gillis then photographed the scene inside the home and made a sketch of its layout. At
trial, he described the numerous photographs he had taken at Martinez’s home that night. In the
living room, there was a blood stain on the couch cushion and several blood drops on the floor.
-6-
He testified that there was a pink pocketbook, a black billfold, and a three-and-a-half inch knife
on the couch in the living room. The black billfold contained Lindsay’s driver’s license, among
other items.
In the bathroom, he photographed a knife on the vanity counter. The knife blade was
stained with blood and contained strands of hair. He also photographed personal items found in
the sink, including a photograph of “a male subject [wearing] khaki pants, no shirt,” 7 as well as
various checks payable to Lindsay from her employer. He photographed a blood splatter on the
mini-blind, “an arc of blood” on the back wall, and “blood * * * coming up the toilet, on the rim
of the toilet and, also, in the bowl.” Additionally, he photographed a stuffed animal, recognized
as “Scooby Doo,” which was found on top of Lindsay’s body in the bathtub.
Carl Zambrano, an investigator from the medical examiner’s office, arrived shortly
thereafter. Although Zambrano did not testify at trial, Det. Gillis testified to what he himself
observed. He stated that he watched Zambrano remove the blanket covering Lindsay’s
unclothed body. The transport team from the medical examiner’s office then removed Lindsay’s
body from the bathtub. While Zambrano began his investigation and checked Lindsay’s body,
Det. Gillis continued to take photographs. He photographed a “large laceration to the back of her
neck,” “large lacerations” on her chest, “bruising to the face area,” and other wounds to her
body.
As noted above, Det. Williams also responded to Martinez’s home that evening. At trial,
he was qualified as an expert in both fingerprints and blood stain analysis. He testified that there
was a blood stain on the couch in the living room and bloody clothes in both the kitchen and the
bathroom. He identified fingerprints belonging to Lindsay on various papers in the bathroom.
7
The shirtless man pictured in the photograph was later determined to be Christopher Barrett.
-7-
However, he was unable to develop any identifiable fingerprints on the photograph of Barrett,
which was found on the bathroom vanity. He testified that there were “transfer patterns of blood
overlapping the lip of the * * * sink” in the bathroom, which he identified as originating from
Lindsay’s hand.
Further, Det. Williams observed blood stains on the wall in the bathroom. The shape of
the blood stains led him to conclude that they were the result of “arterial spurts.” He testified
that, from his observations of the arc patterns of blood on the wall, “the blood from [Lindsay’s]
artery was not being ejected from one spot. It appear[ed] that the artery was also moving and
projecting blood and it was spattering the blood on the surface at a perpendicular angle.” He
noted that the wastebasket in the bathroom was full of rolled-up toilet paper with transfers of
“small, significant amount[s] of blood” consistent with a minor injury, such as a nosebleed. He
also testified that the bathroom floor contained a “large volume of blood.” He concluded that
blood had spattered from many different directions. He further determined that, based on the
amount of blood present in the bathroom, the fatal injury to Lindsay occurred in the bathroom.
He stated that any injuries suffered in the living room occurred prior to the fatal bathroom injury,
but he could not state with certainty how much time had elapsed between her various injuries.
Sharon Mallard, an employee of the Rhode Island Department of Health at the Forensic
Biology Laboratory, performed DNA analysis on the evidence collected by the police at the
crime scene. She testified that Lindsay’s DNA matched the blood on a T-shirt found in
Martinez’s bathroom, the men’s jeans in the kitchen, the women’s sneakers, the women’s pants
from the bathroom, the men’s sneakers, the bear-claw knife in the bathroom, the tissues in the
-8-
wastebasket, and a cutting of the stain from the living-room couch. She also found Martinez’s
DNA under one of Lindsay’s fingernails. 8
Peter Gillespie, M.D., an assistant medical examiner for the Rhode Island Department of
Health, also testified at trial. He was qualified as an expert in forensic pathology. He testified
that he performed an autopsy of Lindsay’s body on September 15, 2005. He first examined
Lindsay’s hands, which had been bagged to preserve evidence. He noticed “traumatic injuries on
[her] hands,” which were “bloody.” He noted that there “appeared to be a bloody material
underneath [her] fingernails.” He further testified that there were three contusions on her
forehead and that her nose was “extensively fractured.” He stated that it was unlikely that all
three contusions were caused by one blow, since each was on a different area of her forehead.
He thus concluded that each contusion was caused by “a single contact with her forehead”—
“something striking her forehead or her forehead striking something.”
Doctor Gillespie further testified that on the left side of Lindsay’s neck was a “very large
incised wound, very deep” which had cut the carotid artery, the jugular vein, and the trachea. In
addition to the incised wound, he also noted a stab wound on her neck. He noted that there were
“traumatic injuries present on [her] right upper chest” which consisted of “two punctate puncture
wounds.” She also had a superficial incised wound on her right leg.
There were eight contusions present on Lindsay’s skull, which, according to Dr.
Gillespie, occurred while Lindsay was still alive. He determined that the cause of death was
“massive hemorrhage due to sharp force wounds of the left carotid artery and the left jugular
vein.” He testified that Lindsay remained alive for a period of time after the fatal wound
8
Detective Eric Johnson of the Warwick Police Department testified that he drove to New
Hampshire to interview Martinez on the night of September 14, 2005. While he was there, he
took photographs of Martinez, which revealed scratch marks on the side of his stomach, as well
as lacerations on his forearms.
-9-
occurred. 9 He further determined that the manner of death was homicide. He testified that the
time of death occurred “probably [twenty-four to thirty-six] hours” prior to the time he
performed the autopsy, which was 9:45 a.m. on September 15, 2005.
The vice president of Coastway Credit Union was also subpoenaed to testify at trial. A
printout of the daily transactions at Coastway Credit Union, located on Warwick Avenue,
revealed that on September 13, 2005 at 11:56 a.m., Martinez withdrew $500 from the drive-up
ATM. This was further corroborated by the bank’s own video surveillance.
A warranted search of Martinez’s home computer performed by the Warwick police
further revealed that between 12:43 p.m. and 12:59 p.m. on September 13, 2005, Martinez
conducted Internet searches pertaining to gun shops, gun shows, and waiting periods for gun
purchases in New Hampshire. At 1:31 p.m. that day, Martinez then videotaped a statement in
which he apologized for what he had done to Lindsay and said goodbye to his family. In his
statement, he further said, “I’ll never understand what happened to me. The rage that just filled
me in a split second to make me do what I did that I did. I’m sorry but I apologize. I know
that’s not enough.”
After making the videotape, Martinez eventually drove Lindsay’s vehicle to New
Hampshire. As previously stated, a rest-area attendant in New Hampshire found Martinez alone
inside Lindsay’s vehicle. 10 The New Hampshire State Police seized several items from the
vehicle. The vehicle and the seized items were then transported to the Warwick Police
Department. Detectives Williams and Gillis responded to examine the vehicle for evidence.
Detective Williams testified that the seized items included: a blood-stained towel, cards and
9
On redirect examination, he testified that this period of time lasted for about “five or ten
minutes.”
10
See note 5, supra.
- 10 -
letters sent to Lindsay from Barrett, photographs of a shirtless Barrett, a list of visiting hours at
the ACI, a Scooby Doo Father’s Day card from Lindsay to Martinez, 11 a white notepad
containing Martinez’s suicide note, and a white three-ring binder belonging to Martinez, which
contained his various certificates of achievement and photographs of Lindsay and him.
Martinez’s suicide note, which was found inside the vehicle, included the following
statement:
“I found out that Linds was talking to someone * * * so she
was cheating on me. * * * I found love letters. * * * I snapped. I
had told my therapist that I felt that all I needed was one more
thing to push me over the edge. I had been f***ed over by to [sic]
many women. * * * If I could take back what I did to [Lindsay], I
would have not killed her, but I did. I went crazy, crazy. * * *
The girl that stopped me from killing Diane was the one that
f***ed me over.”
He also wrote that he “felt like [he] went insane.” He wrote that he was “so sorry for everything
especially for what [he] just did to Lindsay and all the families.”
Detective Eric Johnson of the Warwick Police Department testified that he arrived in
New Hampshire just after midnight on September 15, 2005. He then gave Martinez his Miranda
warnings and interviewed him. The video recording of this interview was played for the jury at
trial. In the interview, when asked “what happened back at your house,” Martinez stated that he
and Lindsay “got into an argument, and I said f*** this I’m out of here * * *.”
Following the state’s case-in-chief, defense counsel introduced an exhibit—a photograph
of the back seat of Lindsay’s car when it was discovered by the New Hampshire State Police in
the rest area. Defense counsel then rested. After several hours of deliberations, a Kent County
Superior Court jury returned a verdict finding Martinez guilty of both first-degree murder and
driving a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner.
11
Anna testified that the writing on the card was, in fact, Lindsay’s handwriting.
- 11 -
After this verdict, the trial justice instructed the jury to decide whether the state had
proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Martinez’s murder of Lindsay involved either aggravated
battery or torture. 12 In his instructions to the jury, the trial justice defined aggravated battery as
“the malicious causing of bodily harm to a victim while that victim was still alive by seriously
disfiguring the body of that person * * *.” The trial justice also instructed the jury that torture
“requires evidence of serious physical or mental abuse of the victim while that victim was still
alive and conscious.” After further deliberation, the jury found that the murder was committed
with both aggravated battery and torture to Lindsay. Thereafter, Martinez moved for a new trial
pursuant to Rule 33 of the Superior Court Rules of Criminal Procedure. The trial justice denied
that motion.
Based on § 12-19.2-1, the trial justice then conducted a presentence hearing, at which the
Attorney General and the defense were permitted “to present additional evidence relevant to a
determination of the sentence.” At this hearing, defense counsel presented the testimony of
Ronald M. Stewart, M.D., an experienced clinical and forensic psychiatrist. Doctor Stewart
testified that he had recently interviewed Martinez at the ACI in the presence of a social worker.
He then issued a ten-page report of his findings to the court.
Doctor Stewart testified that he reviewed Martinez’s personal background, which was
shaped by a history of abuse at the hands of his father, as well as a traumatic experience in the
Navy. After reviewing his personal history and also conducting an interview with Martinez, Dr.
Stewart diagnosed Martinez with “[p]ost-traumatic stress, chronic major depressive disorder, and
panic disorder, [and] also alcohol abuse disorder.” He testified that Martinez was “very
12
General Laws 1956 § 11-23-2 permits a trial justice to impose a sentence of life imprisonment
without the possibility of parole based on the jury’s finding that either of these two elements was
present.
- 12 -
intelligent, very insightful and very contrite regarding his crime, very remorseful about it, and
would work diligently to try to repair the damage to himself.” He opined that, with prescribed
medication and counseling, Martinez’s condition would “[c]ertainly” improve, such that he could
be “rehabilitated” and could “abide by the norms of society.” Moreover, Dr. Stewart testified
that, in his opinion, Martinez “would not be a recidivist” if paroled to society after serving a
lengthy term in prison.
On cross-examination, Dr. Stewart acknowledged that, in formulating his psychiatric
opinion of Martinez, he had taken into consideration Martinez’s history of domestic violence.
However, he testified that he did not review the videotape Martinez made of himself shortly after
murdering Lindsay.
Martinez also addressed the court at this hearing. In significant part, he stated:
“I take full responsibility for the murder of Lindsay Ann Burke. I
am truly and sincerely sorry for my lack of self-control on that
morning. * * * I’m so sorry for causing this horrible nightmare.
I’ll be the first person to tell you that Lindsay did not deserve to
die. * * * From the bottom of my heart and all sincerity, I’m so
sorry for causing * * * all this pain.”
After considering Dr. Stewart’s report, the presentence report, the arguments of counsel,
the statement from Martinez, victim impact statements from Lindsay’s family, as well as letters
from friends and the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the trial justice
concluded that “the nature and consequences of this vile, heinous and completely unnecessary
unjustified slaying merits a sentence of life [imprisonment] without the possibility of parole * *
*.”
The trial justice articulated the following findings in his sentencing. “Lindsay was alive
through much of the attack on her person in the bathroom and was able to experience and feel the
infliction of these wounds up to the time of the fatal slashes which took her life.” Moreover, the
- 13 -
trial justice referred to the testimony of Det. Williams in finding that the blood spatter patterns in
the bathroom showed that Lindsay “fought ferociously to defend herself during the assault.”
With respect to torture, the trial justice found that “[t]he horror that Lindsay Ann Burke
experienced at the hands of this defendant which she had to endure for some minutes before her
ultimate death while futilely fighting for her survival clearly constitutes torture of the cruelest
nature.” He further found that “[Lindsay’s] enduring the multiple abrasions, punctures, stab
wounds and slashing has manifestly shown aggravated battery in the inordinate number of
wounds she experienced while being in a conscious state.”
Further, the trial justice found that “[a]ny mitigation accruing to the defendant because of
his age, his military service and lack of prior criminal record are subsumed in his lack of true
remorse or acceptance of responsibility * * * of his actions.” The trial justice characterized
Martinez’s anger, alleged lack of sleep, and medical status as “shallow attempts to blame others”
for what he had done. He stated that Martinez’s potential for rehabilitation “is extremely poor,”
especially in light of the domestic abuse he had previously imposed on the mothers of his two
children. He further noted that domestic violence “continue[s] to increase and the rate of
recidivism among perpetrators, in this [c]ourt’s view, is nothing short of alarming.” With that in
mind, he stated that “[t]his sentence ought to clearly be a deterrent to others who may be
similarly situated * * *,” although he acknowledged that the court “doubt[ed] its effectiveness or
ability to curb or lessen these criminal activities.” 13
13
As a result of efforts undertaken by Lindsay’s family and other domestic violence awareness
advocates after her murder, the General Assembly enacted the Lindsay Ann Burke Act, which is
aimed at preventing and addressing dating violence in all of the state’s school districts. See G.L.
1956 § 16-85-2, as enacted by P.L. 2007, chs. 287, 490.
- 14 -
The trial justice sentenced Martinez to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole
for Lindsay’s murder, and to five years concurrent time in prison for the motor vehicle offense.
Martinez then timely appealed to this Court.
II
Issues on Appeal
Martinez advances three arguments to support his appeal. First, Martinez challenges the
trial justice’s admission of certain testimony from two witnesses: Barrett and Baxter.
Specifically, he avers that their testimony about his alleged prior abuse of Lindsay was
inadmissible under Rule 404(b). Secondly, Martinez challenges the trial justice’s denial of his
motion for a new trial. He contends that the jury was wrong in concluding that the homicide
amounted to murder in the first degree rather than murder in the second degree. Lastly, Martinez
maintains that his sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole was
unwarranted. Martinez urges this Court, in the event we uphold his conviction, to reduce his
sentence to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.
In countering Martinez’s contentions, the state argues that the trial justice properly
admitted the Rule 404(b) testimony since it related to Martinez’s intent and motive, which are
both permissible purposes under that rule. The state also argues that the trial justice properly
denied Martinez’s motion for a new trial, pointing out that the trial justice adequately explained
his reasons for agreeing with the jury’s verdict and validly determined that there was sufficient
evidence to support the intent necessary for murder in the first degree. Lastly, the state maintains
that the trial justice was justified in imposing the sentence of life imprisonment without the
possibility of parole.
- 15 -
III
Discussion
A
Admissibility of Rule 404(b) Evidence
We have long held that “decisions concerning the admissibility of evidence are ‘within
the sound discretion of the trial justice, and this Court will not interfere with the trial justice's
decision unless a clear abuse of that discretion is apparent.’” State v. Gaspar, 982 A.2d 140, 147
(R.I. 2009) (quoting State v. Mohapatra, 880 A.2d 802, 805 (R.I. 2005)).
Rule 404(b) states that “[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to
prove the character of a person in order to show that the person acted in conformity therewith.”
However, the rule permits such evidence when offered “for other purposes, such as proof of
motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, [or] absence of mistake or
accident * * *.” Id. This Court has consistently stated that the list of admissible purposes
contained within this rule provides “examples, rather than a complete enumeration, of permitted
purposes.” State v. Ciresi, 45 A.3d 1201, 1213 (R.I. 2012) (quoting State v. Rodriguez, 996
A.2d 145, 150 (R.I. 2010)).
Thus, Rule 404(b) operates to exclude evidence of a defendant’s “prior crimes, wrongs,
or acts * * * to prove that the accused has a criminal disposition and, therefore, is more likely to
have committed the crime for which he [or she] stands accused * * *.” Rodriguez, 996 A.2d at
151 (citing State v. Graham, 941 A.2d 848, 861 (R.I. 2008)). However, “that rule does not
‘require exclusion of otherwise legally probative evidence simply because such evidence might
also suggest past criminal activity.’” State v. Garcia, 743 A.2d 1038, 1051 (R.I. 2000) (quoting
State v. Gordon, 508 A.2d 1339, 1348 (R.I. 1986)). We have long held that evidence of prior
- 16 -
bad acts is admissible “if such evidence has ‘independent relevance in respect to the proof of an
element material to the chain of proof of the crime in issue.’” Id. at 1052 (quoting State v.
Acquisto, 463 A.2d 122, 128 (R.I. 1983)). 14
Here, Martinez contends that the trial justice erred in admitting certain testimony offered
by both Barrett and Baxter pertaining to his alleged prior abuse of Lindsay. He maintains that
such evidence was strictly propensity evidence and that therefore, its admission violated Rule
404(b). The state maintains that this testimony was properly admitted because it related to
Martinez’s intent and motive and provided the jury with the complete story of the circumstances
surrounding the murder. The state argues that this evidence belies the theory of second-degree
murder proffered by the defense.
Martinez articulated a similar argument at the pretrial hearing on his motion in limine to
exclude such evidence. The state countered that exclusion of testimony relating to Martinez’s
prior abuse would cause the jury to view the evidence of Lindsay’s murder in a “vacuum” and
wrongly conclude that this was a “rare instance” in which Martinez “snapped” and “acted on his
emotions.”
We recognize that “[t]he line between Rule 404(b) evidence presented for the
impermissible purpose of demonstrating propensity and Rule 404(b) evidence presented for one
of the specific non-propensity exceptions is ‘both a fine one to draw and an even more difficult
one for judges and juries to follow.’” Rodriguez, 996 A.2d at 150 (quoting State v. Brown, 900
14
This Court has held that in cases involving sexual assault, a trial justice must also determine
whether the Rule 404(b) evidence is “‘reasonably necessary’ for the prosecution to carry its
burden of proof.” State v. Ciresi, 45 A.3d 1201, 1213 n.12 (R.I. 2012) (quoting State v.
Mohapatra, 880 A.2d 802, 806 (R.I. 2005)). However, in cases involving non-sexual crimes,
such as those at issue here, “only independent relevance must be shown and the reasonable-
necessity requirement is not a condition precedent to the introduction of such evidence.” Id.
(quoting State v. Garcia, 743 A.2d 1038, 1052 n.10 (R.I. 2000)).
- 17 -
A.2d 1155, 1160 (R.I. 2006)). “However difficult the task, the trial justice must exercise his or
her sound discretion in fixing that line and deciding whether this type of evidence should be
admitted, excluded, or limited.” Ciresi, 45 A.3d at 1211 (quoting State v. Dubois, 36 A.3d 191,
200 (R.I. 2012)). In deciding whether the trial justice abused his or her discretion in admitting
the Rule 404(b) testimony, “we look to the trial justice’s reasons that underlie the ruling.”
Dubois, 36 A.3d at 200.
After a carefully measured and thoughtful analysis, the trial justice concluded that some
of the Rule 404(b) testimony would be necessary for the jury to decide whether the state was
able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Martinez had the requisite intent for first-degree
murder. Expressing a “very deep concern about the volatility of this type of testimony when
exposed to a jury,” the trial justice stated that any admitted Rule 404(b) evidence “must be
extremely detailed and curtailed by the prosecution to elicit only the nearest minimum testimony
necessary * * *.”
Although the trial justice did not allow the state to introduce all of the requested Rule
404(b) testimony into evidence, 15 he did allow the state to introduce testimony from Baxter and
Barrett about direct communications from Lindsay concerning specific instances of physical
abuse by Martinez. He stated that this evidence would be “appropriate for the jury to consider[,]
if they think it’s important[,] * * * whether or not this defendant may have formed the intent
necessary to be convicted [of] first-degree murder[,] and for no other purpose.” Aware that
15
The trial justice precluded Anna from testifying about any type of abuse that Lindsay suffered
at the hands of Martinez on the basis that Lindsay did not speak directly to Anna about such
abuse. The trial justice also excluded a letter written by Lindsay and addressed to Martinez, in
which she referred to enduring Martinez’s abuse. The letter was unspecific about whether the
abuse was physical or emotional. The trial justice determined that, “in light of the fact that the
[c]ourt is going to admit [other] [Rule] 404(b) evidence,” the letter “[was] manifestly less
relevant.” As such, the trial justice ruled that the letter was inadmissible.
- 18 -
defense counsel sought to convince the jury that the evidence amounted to second-degree
murder, supported by Martinez’s statement that he “snapped,” the trial justice determined that
the Rule 404(b) testimony was “reasonably appropriate” for the jury to consider. According to
the trial justice, the Rule 404(b) testimony wove into the “fabric of the fact pattern” leading up to
the murder and therefore should not be excluded.
Additionally, the trial justice considered the Rule 404(b) evidence in conjunction with
Rule 403 of the Rhode Island Rules of Evidence, which states that relevant evidence “may be
excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice,
confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of
time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.” The trial justice determined that “while
prejudicial [to Martinez,] [the Rule 404(b) evidence] does not in any regard outweigh the
probative value of the information to the jury.”
Further, with respect to any other Rule 404(b) testimony that the state sought to
introduce, the trial justice cautioned that “the [c]ourt is going to be extremely, extremely guarded
as to the nature and extent of the testimony that it will allow with regard to [Martinez’s alleged
abuse against Lindsay].” At trial, the state did not introduce any Rule 404(b) testimony other
than that offered by Barrett and Baxter.
Furthermore, the trial justice issued limiting instructions to the jury directly following the
testimony of both Barrett and Baxter, as well as a third time at the close of the case. 16 We note
16
After first explaining to the jurors that they were not to consider the Rule 404(b) evidence as
propensity evidence, the trial justice instructed the jurors that they could consider such evidence
“if [they] think it’s important,” and “if it tends in [their] mind[s] to establish possible motive,
intent, or the absence of mistake * * *” in this case. Further, he stated that the jurors could
consider the evidence to determine whether “the defendant had formed a specific intent to
commit the crimes charged in this case or to show that the defendant acted knowingly and
- 19 -
that “the members of the jury are presumed to follow the trial justice's instructions.” State v.
Clark, 754 A.2d 73, 80 (R.I. 2000) (quoting State v. LaRoche, 683 A.2d 989, 1000 (R.I. 1996)).
Mindful of our deferential standard of review with respect to the trial justice’s decision to
admit the Rule 404(b) testimony at issue, along with his careful analysis based on Rule 403, we
cannot say that the trial justice erred in admitting such testimony for the limited purpose of
demonstrating Martinez’s intent. 17
B
Denial of Motion for a New Trial
This Court will leave a trial justice’s ruling on a motion for a new trial undisturbed if he
or she has “‘articulated an adequate rationale for denying’ the motion * * *, and has not
misconceived or overlooked material evidence * * *.” State v. Staffier, 21 A.3d 287, 291 (R.I.
2011) (quoting Rodriguez, 996 A.2d at 149).
It is well settled that “[w]hen ruling on a motion for a new trial, the trial justice acts as a
thirteenth juror, exercising ‘independent judgment on the credibility of witnesses and on the
weight of the evidence.’” State v. Heredia, 10 A.3d 443, 446 (R.I. 2010) (quoting State v.
Imbruglia, 913 A.2d 1022, 1028 (R.I. 2007)). In so doing, “the trial justice must (1) consider the
evidence in light of the jury charge, (2) independently assess the credibility of the witnesses and
the weight of the evidence, and then (3) determine whether he or she would have reached a result
willingly * * *.” Because defense counsel did not object to these instructions at trial, they are
not subject to our review on appeal.
17
We further note that the jury was fully aware of the content of Martinez’s suicide note, in
which he stated that Lindsay “stopped [him] from killing Diane.” This may have been damaging
evidence to Martinez. However, defense counsel did not object to its admission on any grounds,
including Rule 404(b) or Rule 403 of the Rhode Island Rules of Evidence. Therefore, we deem
this issue waived on appeal.
- 20 -
different from that reached by the jury.” Staffier, 21 A.3d at 290 (quoting Heredia, 10 A.3d at
446).
If, after conducting this analysis, “the trial justice agrees with the jury's verdict, the
inquiry is complete and the motion for a new trial should be denied.” Staffier, 21 A.3d at 290
(citing State v. Morales, 895 A.2d 114, 121 (R.I. 2006)). Conversely, if the trial justice disagrees
with the jury’s verdict, he or she must then “determine whether the verdict is against the fair
preponderance of the evidence and fails to do substantial justice. If the verdict meets this
standard, then a new trial may be granted.” Id. at 290-91 (quoting State v. Guerra, 12 A.3d 759,
765–66 (R.I. 2011)).
On appeal, Martinez avers that the trial justice was clearly wrong in denying his motion
for a new trial. Martinez does not dispute that the state’s evidence was sufficient to convict him
of second-degree murder; rather, he argues that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of
first-degree murder. According to Martinez, “reasonable minds could not differ” in reaching a
conclusion that this was murder in the second degree. According to Martinez, the evidence
shows that the murder was “not an act of willful deliberation,” but rather a “crime of passion.”
To support this argument, Martinez highlights certain portions of his suicide note and his
videotaped confession, in which he states that he “snapped,” “went crazy,” and that “rage * * *
just filled [him] in a split second to make [him] do what [he] did * * *.” As Martinez argued in
his motion for a new trial, he maintains on appeal that “it is a fair inference * * * that he went
through Lindsay Burke’s purse, saw the photographs and/or love letters, became very enraged or
upset, walked in, saw her and committed this dastardly act”—a scenario that, in his view,
squarely constitutes second-degree murder.
- 21 -
Section 11-23-1 defines murder as “[t]he unlawful killing of a human being with malice
aforethought * * *.” That same statute defines first-degree murder as, among other things,
“[e]very murder perpetrated by poison, lying in wait, or any other kind of willful, deliberate,
malicious, and premeditated killing * * *.” Id. “Any other murder is murder in the second
degree.” Id. Thus, the statute provides that malice aforethought is a requisite element of both
first-degree and second-degree murder.
Malice aforethought is tantamount to “malice, either express or implied.” State v.
Texieira, 944 A.2d 132, 142 (R.I. 2008). It is well settled that “[l]egal malice can arise from
either an express intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm or from a hardness of the heart,
cruelty, wickedness of disposition, recklessness of consequence, and a mind dispassionate of
social duty.” Id. (quoting State v. McGranahan, 415 A.2d 1298, 1302 (R.I. 1980)).
Furthermore, “[m]alice aforethought ‘consists of an unjustified disregard for the possibility of
death or great bodily harm and an extreme indifference to the sanctity of human life.’” Id.
(quoting McGranahan, 415 A.2d at 1302).
This Court has consistently held that “[t]he distinction between murder in the first degree
and murder in the second degree is that murder in the first degree requires premeditation.”
Texieira, 944 A.2d at 142 (quoting State v. Vorgvongsa, 692 A.2d 1194, 1196 (R.I. 1997)).
Thus, in order to establish first-degree murder, “the state [must] prove beyond a reasonable doubt
[that] a premeditated intent to kill of more than a momentary duration [existed] in the mind of
the accused * * *.” Id. at 142 (quoting State v. Parkhurst, 706 A.2d 412, 421 (R.I. 1998)).
“[F]irst-degree murder requires the formation of ‘an intent to kill for a period more than
momentarily prior to the killing itself.’” Id. (quoting Vorgvongsa, 692 A.2d at 1196).
Conversely, the offense of second-degree murder, which does not require any premeditation,
- 22 -
“involves a fleeting intent that is contemporaneous with the murder.” State v. Gillespie, 960
A.2d 969, 977 (R.I. 2008). As such, second-degree murder is established when the “formation of
the intent to kill is merely momentary.” Parkhurst, 706 A.2d at 421.
This Court has held that, if a defendant harbors an intent to kill for more than a mere
moment, the jury may rightly return a verdict of first-degree murder. See Gillespie, 960 A.2d at
977. The duration of the defendant’s intent to kill therefore determines, in part, whether the
murder falls into the category of first or second degree. See State v. Ros, 973 A.2d 1148, 1161
(R.I. 2009).
In denying Martinez’s motion for a new trial, the trial justice found that the jury’s verdict
was “supported by reasonable, competent evidence.” After carefully reviewing the witnesses’
testimony, the medical examiner’s report, and the nature and extent of the wounds Lindsay
suffered, the trial justice concluded that there was “no doubt” that Lindsay “put up a battle,
fighting for her life” for “more than a mere moment.” Noting that there were “at least two
instances of activity that drew blood in this case”—in the living room and the bathroom, “which
was terribly full of [Lindsay’s] * * * blood,”—the trial justice determined that “[the] assault took
time, there was a definite struggle, and during the course of that battle certainly more than
enough time elapsed to allow the defendant to form the intent to kill.”
The trial justice acknowledged that the jury had the “very difficult task” of determining
whether Martinez had engaged in premeditation, a necessary element of first-degree murder. He
noted that the jury could have reached a verdict of second-degree murder. However, based on
the trial justice’s own “independent evaluation [of] the physical, testimonial and circumstantial
evidence in this case,” he concluded that “more than a mere moment” had elapsed during the
commission of Martinez’s “terrible assault” on Lindsay. Accordingly, the trial justice agreed
- 23 -
with the jury’s verdict, finding that the evidence was sufficient to convict Martinez of first-
degree murder.
As defense counsel observes in her brief to this Court, “[a] specific intent to kill can be
inferred from the nature of the killing.” Ros, 973 A.2d at 1162. Here, the evidence shows that
Lindsay’s murder took time to complete. The medical examiner testified that Lindsay was alive
for the duration of the assault; and, even after the fatal wound was inflicted, her death was not
instantaneous. 18 The evidence overwhelmingly shows that this terrible struggle lasted for more
than a mere moment—which is time enough for Martinez to have premeditated his heinous
murder of Lindsay.
Moreover, we point out that defense counsel was not precluded from arguing to the
jury—and, in fact, did argue—that the element of premeditation was absent from this murder.
During his closing argument, defense counsel argued that, upon finding the shirtless photo of
Barrett in Lindsay’s purse, Martinez was “unable to control his emotions” and “los[t] it for a
short period of time.” Defense counsel further proffered that Martinez was dejected when he
found the photograph linking Lindsay to the heart of another man. Martinez, then, just
“snapped.” The jury, however, rejected this argument. As the trial justice indicated in denying
Martinez’s motion for a new trial, defense counsel merely “suggest[ed] a set of inferences in his
argument,” which the jury was free to accept or reject.
We emphasize that both the state and defense counsel had ample opportunity to present to
the jury their respective versions of what transpired during the murder. The jurors, as fact-
finders, were then charged with the formidable task of deciding whether the state had proved the
element of premeditation beyond a reasonable doubt. We discern no error with respect to the
18
See note 9, supra.
- 24 -
trial justice’s charge to the jury on both first-degree and second-degree murder, and we note that
Martinez does not challenge this jury charge on appeal. We conclude that the trial justice was
correct in determining that the jury “did what [he] asked them to do[,] which was to make
findings of fact based on the law * * *.” Accordingly, we hold that the trial justice did not err in
denying defendant’s motion for a new trial.
C
Sentence of Life Imprisonment Without the Possibility of Parole
We cannot overstate the gravity of a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility
of parole. It “is the most severe sentence authorized by Rhode Island law.” State v. Carpio, 43
A.3d 1, 13 (R.I. 2012) (citing State v. Tassone, 749 A.2d 1112, 1121 (R.I. 2000)). This Court
has consistently stated that “the sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole is
reserved for those who commit a ‘narrow class of the most heinous crimes.’” State v. Sifuentes,
996 A.2d 1130, 1135 n.10 (R.I. 2010) (quoting State v. Brown, 898 A.2d 69, 86 (R.I. 2006)).
“Under * * * § 11-23-2, the ‘sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of
parole may be imposed in a first-degree murder case when one of seven enumerated grounds is
present.’” Sifuentes, 996 A.2d at 1135-36 (quoting State v. Motyka, 893 A.2d 247, 288 (R.I.
2006)). 19 In deciding whether to impose a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility
19
Section 11-23-2 provides as follows:
“Every person guilty of murder in the first degree shall be
imprisoned for life. Every person guilty of murder in the first
degree: (1) committed intentionally while engaged in the
commission of another capital offense or other felony for which
life imprisonment may be imposed; (2) committed in a manner
creating a great risk of death to more than one person by means of
a weapon or device or substance which would normally be
hazardous to the life of more than one person; (3) committed at the
direction of another person in return for money or any other thing
of monetary value from that person; (4) committed in a manner
- 25 -
of parole, the trial justice must also “consider evidence regarding the nature and circumstances of
the offense and the personal history, character, record, and propensities of the defendant which
are relevant to the sentencing determination.” Section 12-19.2-4. Additionally, in carrying out
the heavy responsibility of sentencing a defendant, this Court has directed the trial justice to
consider “(1) the severity of the crime, (2) the defendant's personal, educational, and
employment background, (3) the potential for rehabilitation, (4) the element of societal
deterrence, and (5) the appropriateness of the punishment.” State v. Tiernan, 645 A.2d 482, 484
(R.I. 1994).
This Court reviews a trial justice’s sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility
of parole in a de novo manner. Sifuentes, 996 A.2d at 1135 (citing Motyka, 893 A.2d at 288). In
doing so, we must “exercise [our] own independent judgment and discretion in determining the
appropriateness of the sentence.” State v. Quinlan, 921 A.2d 96, 111 (R.I. 2007) (quoting
Tassone, 749 A.2d at 1119). As such, we “don the robes of a trial justice” and examine “the
record, the jury’s findings, the trial justice’s conclusions, and the character and propensities of
the defendant, including any aggravating circumstances as well as any mitigating factors.” State
v. McManus, 941 A.2d 222, 235 (R.I. 2008) (quoting Quinlan, 921 A.2d at 111-12).
involving torture or an aggravated battery to the victim; (5)
committed against any member of the judiciary, law enforcement
officer, corrections employee, assistant attorney general or special
assistant attorney general, or firefighter arising from the lawful
performance of his or her official duties; (6) committed by a
person who at the time of the murder was committed to
confinement in the adult correctional institutions or the state
reformatory for women upon conviction of a felony; or (7)
committed during the course of the perpetration or attempted
perpetration of felony manufacture, sale, delivery or other
distribution of a controlled substance * * * shall be imprisoned for
life and if ordered by the court pursuant to chapter 19.2 of title 12
that person shall not be eligible for parole from imprisonment.”
(Emphasis added.)
- 26 -
Furthermore, after considering the transcripts of the lower court proceeding, this Court “may, in
its discretion, ratify the imposition of the sentence of life imprisonment without [the possibility
of] parole or may reduce the sentence to life imprisonment.” Section 12-19.2-5.
Thus, in resolving whether the trial justice was justified in imposing a sentence of life
imprisonment without the possibility of parole, this Court must “embark on a thorough,
independent review of the record” to determine whether the murder was committed with
aggravated battery or torture. McManus, 941 A.2d at 235. Additionally, we must also consider
Martinez’s character and propensities to determine whether it is probable that he will be
rehabilitated. See Sifuentes, 996 A.2d at 1138.
Here, the jury found that Martinez had committed murder in the first degree, and also
found that the murder involved both aggravated battery and torture. We note that, although the
jury found that the murder was committed with both aggravated battery and torture, only one of
these factors would have sufficed for Martinez to be eligible for a sentence of life imprisonment
without the possibility of parole. 20
This Court has explained that “the terms torture and aggravated battery are words of
common usage.” McManus, 941 A.2d at 236 (citing State v. Travis, 568 A.2d 316, 323 (R.I.
1990)). We have stated that the term “aggravated battery * * * convey[s] to a juror of ordinary
intelligence an image of a beating or infliction of traumatic force that is greater than necessary in
order to render a victim helpless or to subject the victim to the will of the aggressor.” Travis,
568 A.2d at 323. The term “torture * * * convey[s] a similar meaning of inflicting pain and
20
We further note that, in her oral argument to this Court, defense counsel conceded that the
murder involved both aggravated battery and torture. Defense counsel, therefore, focused her
argument on the second prong of this Court’s review of a sentence of life imprisonment without
the possibility of parole—the likelihood that Martinez could be rehabilitated.
- 27 -
traumatic force beyond that which would ordinarily be expected even in the case of homicide.”
Id.
Based on our measured and independent review of the record, which included viewing
gruesome photographs of Lindsay’s body after the murder, we conclude that the evidence in this
case overwhelmingly illustrates that the murder involved both aggravated battery and torture.
We agree with the trial justice that “[t]he horror that Lindsay * * * experienced at the hands of
this defendant which she had to endure for some minutes before her ultimate death while futilely
fighting for her survival clearly constitutes torture of the cruelest nature.” Likewise, we agree
with the trial justice that “[Lindsay’s] enduring the multiple abrasions, punctures, stab wounds
and slashing has manifestly shown aggravated battery in the inordinate number of wounds she
experienced while being in a conscious state.” Lindsay was savagely beaten, while trying to
defend herself to save her life. Even when Martinez dealt her the final, fatal blow, Lindsay did
not die instantly. Instead, she remained alive for some time before her untimely passing. 21
After independently determining that Lindsay’s murder involved aggravated battery and
torture, we now proceed to determine whether Martinez’s character and propensities warrant the
imposition of the sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. See McManus,
941 A.2d at 238. In so doing, this Court looks to “any aggravating circumstances as well as any
mitigating factors.” State v. Lopez, 45 A.3d 1, 24 (R.I. 2012) (citing State v. Mlyniec, 15 A.3d
983, 1000 (R.I. 2011)).
In his brief to this Court, Martinez beseeches us to compare the facts of this case with the
facts of other cases in which we have upheld a sentence of life imprisonment without the
possibility of parole. He argues that these other cases involved more heinous murders. We
21
See note 9, supra.
- 28 -
decline his invitation to engage in the task of deciding which facts ultimately shock us the most.
Rather, we look at the facts of this case alone in deciding whether the sentence is appropriate and
justified. See State v. Washington, 581 A.2d 1031, 1035 (R.I. 1990); see also McManus, 941
A.2d at 237 (“There may have been more heinous, more gory, and more brutal murders in this
state, but this Court will not attempt to weigh the degree of atrocity associated with each
murder.”).
Defense counsel also urges this Court to give great weight to Dr. Stewart’s testimony at
the presentence hearing. Through his testimony, we learned that Martinez graduated from a
vocational high school program in Cranston, where he participated in soccer and wrestling.
Martinez then honorably served in the United States Navy for five years, during which he
received military honors. After his honorable discharge in 2001, he gained employment as a
civilian radar technician and also purchased a home. He is the father of two young children, and
he did not have a criminal record prior to this murder.
As a young child, Martinez was the victim of domestic abuse inflicted by his father. He
was also sexually molested by various babysitters. Additionally, his service in the Navy was
traumatic. Upon his discharge, he sought counseling, and was treated with medication, which he
tended to overtake. He abused alcohol, and suffered nightmares about his military experiences.
As a result of his nightmares, he was able to sleep only two to three hours per night.
At the hearing, Dr. Stewart testified that after interviewing Martinez at the ACI, he
concluded that Martinez was “very intelligent, very insightful and very contrite regarding his
crime, very remorseful about it, and would work diligently to try to repair the damage to
himself.”
- 29 -
Doctor Stewart diagnosed Martinez with post-traumatic stress, chronic major depressive
disorder, panic disorder, and alcohol abuse disorder. According to Dr. Stewart, these diagnoses
“could all cause [Martinez] to act impulsively[,] to have [a] somewhat marginal understanding of
what he was doing, [and] to not behave rationally at times.”
Doctor Stewart was “reasonably certain” that Martinez could be rehabilitated and “abide
by the norms of society” with prescribed medication and counseling. He further testified that the
medication and counseling necessary for Martinez to be rehabilitated would be available to him
at the ACI. Doctor Stewart did not believe that Martinez would be a recidivist if paroled to
society after serving a lengthy prison term.
On cross-examination, Dr. Stewart acknowledged Martinez’s lengthy history as a violent
domestic abuser, testifying that Martinez was “no stranger to domestic abuse.” He
acknowledged that Martinez had “forced [his former wife] to perform oral sex upon him and
[had] kicked her in the head with a steel-toed boot.” He further acknowledged on cross-
examination that he was aware of other occasions on which Martinez had engaged in domestic
violence, including an incident when he forced his young son to stay on his knees for extended
periods of time while Martinez yelled obscenities close to his son’s face. He stated that there is a
“terrible disconnect”—“a type of Dr. Jeckel [sic] and Mr. Hyde type thing where we have a
monster one minute and then some point afterward, it gets resolved, and they say, ‘My God,
what did I do?’” Doctor Stewart also acknowledged that “[d]omestically abused people who
become abusers themselves without adequate treatment[—]long-term treatment[—]tend to
[abuse] again * * *.”
In rendering his diagnosis and psychological opinion about the likelihood that Martinez
could be rehabilitated, Dr. Stewart admitted on cross-examination that he did not review the
- 30 -
videotape that Martinez made of himself shortly after murdering Lindsay. Thus, at the time he
rendered his report, Dr. Stewart was not familiar with Martinez’s demeanor in the immediate
aftermath of the murder. Notwithstanding that, on redirect examination, Dr. Stewart testified
that this new information would not change his opinion that Martinez would not be a recidivist.
Defense counsel also emphasizes Martinez’s testimony at the presentence hearing. In his
allocution, Martinez stated: 22
“* * * I * * * take full responsibility for the murder of Lindsay
Ann Burke. I am truly and sincerely sorry for my lack of self-
control on that morning. I respectfully beg for forgiveness from
Lindsay’s family and friends and bringing shame to my family—
for bringing shame in this unfortunate tragedy. Unfortunately it’s
something that I and everybody else will have to live with, and I’m
so sorry for causing this horrible nightmare.
“I’ll be the first person to tell you that Lindsay did not
deserve to die. It’s not fair that she is dead, and I am still alive.
“If I could ever switch places with Lindsay, I would in a
heartbeat. * * * [I]f I could relive th[at] morning, I would not do
what I did to Lindsay * * *.”
Additionally, in his statement to the court, Martinez denied ever abusing Lindsay before he killed
her.
Defense counsel argues that the testimony from both Dr. Stewart and from Martinez
himself demonstrates that Martinez is remorseful, which indicates his ability to be rehabilitated.
However, the state contends that Martinez’s suicide note, written immediately after murdering
Lindsay, suggests otherwise. In this note, Martinez appeared to blame Lindsay, and not himself,
for what happened. In the letter, he wrote: “I found out that Linds was talking to someone. * *
* [S]o she was cheating on me. * * * She strai[gh]t lie[d] to me.” He also appeared to blame
other women in his life for the murder, writing that he “had been f***ed over by [too] many
22
Martinez also made statements at the presentencing hearing casting Lindsay and her parents in
a negative light.
- 31 -
women.” Further, he additionally blamed the murder on “what [he] went through when [he] was
a kid, and the amount of time [he] got shot [at] in Kosovo [while in the Navy].” As such,
according to the state, Martinez’s suicide note deflects blame away from himself, indicating that
Martinez is not remorseful.
We further note that, in the presentence report, Martinez is quoted as stating that this was
not murder in the first degree. He appeared to attribute blame for the murder on his lack of sleep
and failure to take his medication. Additionally, he commented that when he and Lindsay began
dating, Lindsay’s parents “gave up on her.” Because of this, he had to take care of her, which,
according to Martinez, proved to them that he was “man enough” to do. He further stated that he
felt sorry for Lindsay’s parents, since they never had the chance to apologize to her.
“[A] criminal defendant's prospects for rehabilitation should be a major consideration * *
* when imposing sentence.” State v. Bertoldi, 495 A.2d 247, 253 (R.I. 1985). This Court has
stated that the “many factors” involved in this consideration cannot all be “categorized or
succinctly described.” Id. “These factors concern the defendant's attitude toward society, the
remorse or guilt that a defendant may feel for having committed a crime, and his or her
willingness and ability to take a place as an honest and useful member of society.” Id.
Here, we cannot ignore Dr. Stewart’s testimony, especially his opinion that Martinez is
capable of rehabilitation after serving a lengthy prison sentence. However, this testimony must
be weighed against Martinez’s own statements in which he assigns blame for this murder to
sources other than himself. Although he has never denied that he committed the murder, he has
pointed his finger at Lindsay, other women, his lack of sleep due to nightmares, his military
trauma, his abusive father, Lindsay’s parents, and his misuse of medication, among other
reasons, as scapegoats.
- 32 -
Moreover, although Martinez does not have a prior criminal record, we are not convinced
that he is capable of or willing to take a place as an honest and useful member of society. His
history as a domestic abuser speaks volumes. During his allocution at the presentence hearing,
Martinez denied that he had ever abused Lindsay before the murder. Additionally, in the
presentence report, Martinez claimed that the day of the murder was the “one day” on which he
failed to “take the high road.” These statements clearly show that Martinez had not taken
responsibility for the domestic abuse he had inflicted not only upon Lindsay, but also upon two
other women, as well as upon his own son.23 Furthermore, it is also telling that Martinez stated
that he will “never understand” why he committed this murder nor “what happened to [him]” on
that morning.
After carefully considering the record and exercising our own independent judgment and
discretion, we are not persuaded to reduce Martinez’s sentence. Any mitigating factors, such as
Martinez’s employment, lack of criminal record, young age, and honorable military service are
far outweighed by the aggravating factors present in this case. Martinez viciously assaulted and
murdered Lindsay, a woman whom he claims to have loved. He has failed to accept the entirety
of the blame for her utterly senseless death. He has even failed to acknowledge and take
responsibility for his own violent propensities with respect to other women he had relationships
with. We therefore remain convinced that this terrible crime warrants the imposition of a
sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Accordingly, we affirm the
sentence imposed by the trial justice.
23
We note that in his allocution at the presentencing hearing, Martinez did state that he “[took]
full responsibility for the murder.”
- 33 -
IV
Conclusion
For the reasons stated in this opinion, we affirm the judgment imposed by the Superior
Court, to which we remand the record in this case.
- 34 -
RHODE ISLAND SUPREME COURT CLERK’S OFFICE
Clerk’s Office Order/Opinion Cover Sheet
TITLE OF CASE: State v. Gerardo E. Martinez.
CASE NO: No. 2008-121-C.A.
(K1/05-570A)
COURT: Supreme Court
DATE OPINION FILED: January 23, 2013
JUSTICES: Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Flaherty, Robinson, and Indeglia JJ.
WRITTEN BY: Associate Justice Gilbert V. Indeglia
SOURCE OF APPEAL: Kent County Superior Court
JUDGE FROM LOWER COURT:
Associate Justice Francis J. Darigan, Jr.
ATTORNEYS ON APPEAL:
For State: Virginia M. McGinn
Department of Attorney General
For Defendant: Catherine Gibran
Office of the Public Defender
| |
For teachers and trainers who want to incorporate literature into the language classroom. A resource for trainers working with groups of teachers. Explores different approaches to using literature with learners of all levels.; suggests criteria for selecting and evaluating materials for classroom use; identifies some of the distinctive features of novels, short stories, poems and plays so that these can be successfully exploited in the classroom and provides a wide range of ideas and activities for developing materials which teachers can use with their own classes.
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places. | https://books.google.com.my/books?id=RNIMiCVXfcEC&lr=&as_brr=0&source=gbs_quotes |
Read Full Article Here: http://nwasianweekly.com/2020/08/world-war-bonsai-remembrance-resilience-on-view-now/
FEDERAL WAY — The Pacific Bonsai Museum is hosting a free, virtual, live event, “Branch Out,” on Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. about its newest exhibit, which runs through Oct. 21.
“World War Bonsai: Remembrance & Resilience” presents the untold history of bonsai artists working in the World War II-era and how they changed the course of bonsai art, with 32 bonsai, archival documents, and photographs.
The exhibition traces the cultural practice of bonsai in the United States and in Japan immediately before, during, and after World War II, amid incarceration, and at peace.
Bonsai created by artists from Washington’s South Puget Sound region, Seattle, California, Colorado, Hawaii, and Japan are featured.
To register for the virtual event, see the link to Branch Out on pacificbonsaimuseum.org. | http://urbanitymag.com/nwasianweekly-com-world-war-bonsai-remembrance-resilience-on-view-now/ |
Background {#Sec1}
==========
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of non-traumatic disability among young adults in industrialized countries \[[@CR1]\]. With an estimated 110 MS cases per 100,000 inhabitants, \[[@CR2]\] the MS prevalence in Switzerland surpasses the median estimate for Europe - the region with the highest MS prevalence worldwide (80 per 100,000 inhabitants) \[[@CR3]\]. However, the Swiss estimate has not been updated in nearly 30 years, mostly because no easily accessible routine data are available, for example from clinical care or health insurances. Unlike countries with national health care systems, the highly fragmented Swiss health care landscape suffers from a lack of standardization in data collection, an inexistent legal basis for mandatory reporting of severe chronic illnesses, as well as limited information technology (IT) system interoperability between different care and health insurance providers. In light of these constraints, the establishment of a medical registry with active data collection from various sources is one of very few viable options for establishing a long-term monitoring of epidemiological trends, but also for promoting personalized medicine approaches in MS \[[@CR4]\].
As illustrated by a systematic survey of European MS registries, the role of registries in MS research is not limited to monitoring purposes \[[@CR5]\]. The international MS registry landscape is very diverse, and many of these studies have made important contributions to MS epidemiology, treatment, diagnosis, and care research. However, several other disease aspects are less well covered by some existing registries, such as cost of illness, quality management of healthcare, patient preferences, and patient reported outcomes \[[@CR5]\]. These research limitations can weigh heavy in chronic illnesses such as MS, often characterized by a complex management, an unclear evidence base for treatment guidelines, and on the important role of patient preferences in treatment decisions.
These two issues, a lack of epidemiological data for Switzerland and the promotion of the patient-perspective in MS research, triggered the Swiss MS Society to establish a novel MS registry. The Swiss MS Registry (SMSR) not only contributes basic data on the epidemiology of MS in Switzerland, through its patient-centered design it can also fill an important niche in national and international research together with other studies \[[@CR5], [@CR6]\]. This manuscript describes the main philosophy behind the SMSR and elaborates on the study design, as well as the methods and contents of the data collection. Moreover, a companion paper illustrates how the SMSR merges traditional with novel, internet-driven research approaches to leverage the advantages of both while mitigating legal, ethical, and data security risks \[[@CR7]\].
Methods/Design {#Sec2}
==============
Study objectives {#Sec3}
----------------
The SMSR was established with three primary goals. First, the SMSR shall provide the basis for more accurate prevalence estimates and long-term monitoring of epidemiological trends of MS in Switzerland.
Second, the SMSR will establish a study base for patient-centered MS research in Switzerland, thereby focusing on assessments of the disease burden for persons with MS (PwMS) and their relatives and proxies. Along the same lines, the SMSR aims to contribute research to previously understudied topics concerning patients' life circumstances and experiences (e.g. MS and work), as well as on clinical and health care related aspects (e.g. access to specialized MS care).
Third, by creating a versatile database and a flexible study infrastructure, the SMSR offers a platform for nested investigations. From the outset, the SMSR aimed to be an interdisciplinary, open, collaborative project, designed to leverage other existing research efforts. In particular, by systematic analysis of the Swiss and the international MS research landscape \[[@CR5]\], knowledge gaps were identified and subsequently taken into account during the study planning phase. Examples of such topics include health-related quality of life, alternative medicines, physiotherapy, or work and insurance, which have now become part of the SMSR core data collection. Furthermore, the SMSR data structures were designed for compatibility with ongoing national and international collaborations (EUReMS) \[[@CR8]\]. Specifically, the SMSR has established a strategic partnership with the clinically-oriented Swiss MS Cohort (SMSC) study \[[@CR9]\] and strives to complement the SMSC data collection by adding further data from the patients' perspectives on diagnosis, treatment, and general well-being. In both studies, informed consent documents include opt-in agreements to allow future data exchanges between the SMSR and the SMSC for data validation and research projects.
Study design {#Sec4}
------------
The SMSR is an open-ended, longitudinal and prospective, nationwide, patient-centered study ([http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov](http://www.clinicaltrials.gov) identifier: NCT02980640). It follows a citizen-science approach with direct involvement of PwMS, who contribute to the SMSR development and research via representation in the Scientific Assembly.
Unlike other MS registries, the data are primarily collected directly from participants via structured questionnaires, that is, without intermediary health professionals. Consequently, surveys must be understandable by lay-persons and be provided in the three main Swiss official languages (German, French, Italian). Participation is offered via an online web system and as paper & pencil versions.
Design and the research strategy of the SMSR are based on three major tenets, which were flexibility regarding study contribution by PwMS (from one-time to longitudinal participation), provision of data feedbacks to participants and regular information on how data are being used, as well as the involvement of PwMS in study design and execution.
The SMSR includes four participation options for PwMS: (1) they can simply fill in a one-time survey, (2) additionally they can complete regular, semi-annual surveys on varying topics, (3) when signing the informed consent, they can decide to grant access to their medical records for abstraction by the SMSR, and (4) participants can allow the SMSR to exchange their data with the SMSC. Combinations of these options are possible. The decision for participation in either study module needs to be taken at time to informed consent signature (layer 1) on an opt-in basis but can be revised later, for example if a person wishes to withdraw her/his consent for medical record release.
These different participation forms are also reflected (and accommodated) in the SMSR study design, which entails different layers (Fig. [1](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"}) through which participants can gradually navigate. This layer concept was inspired by the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis registry in the USA \[[@CR10]\]. The first, outermost layer 1 includes the deposition of contact information and informed consent signature. During these steps, prospective participants can also decide on which study modules they would like to contribute to.Fig. 1Study design of the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry (SMSR)
The SMSR registration process is considered complete upon submission of a first, one-off questionnaire, which also demarks the second registry layer. The purpose of layer 2 is to collect basic demographic and medical data from as many PwMS as possible for epidemiological investigations (e.g. on MS prevalence in Switzerland).
In layer 3, the SMSR further offers regular participation by means of semi-annual surveys. The main objective of this third layer is a longitudinal data collection on disease burden, MS progression, physical and mental well-being, and changing life circumstances (Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"}). Layer 3 is open to all participants who have completed layer 2 and are willing to submit a confirmation of their diagnosis, signed by their treating physician.Table 1Overview of assessments in the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis RegistryTopicsLayer 2 (one-off Survey)Layer 3 Baseline (one-off Survey)Layer 3 Follow-up 1 (every 6 months)Layer 3 Follow-up 2 (every 12 months)Layer 4 (Medical chart review every 12 months)Sociodemographic variables Personal informationXXX Family and living situationXXX Education, professionXX Working situationXX Occupational changes due to MSXX Societal context (e.g. disability insurance)XXDisease course First symptomsXX Symptoms ever, currentXXXXX Symptoms changes (prior and after diagnosis)X Disease stage, type of MSXXXXX EDSS-scoreXXXX MobilityXX RelapsesXXXX Age of disease progressionXDiagnostic process Age at first symptomsX Time of first medical doctor visitX Personal experience of diagnostic processXTreatment Disease modifying treatment ever/currentXXXXX Non-drug therapiesXXXXX Side effects / adverse eventsXXXXX Therapy stop / interruptionXXXX Interventions against side effectsXXXX Alternative medicineXXXX Additional medicine / supplementsXXXX Cannabis treatmentXXXComorbidities ComorbiditiesXXXX Medication for comorbiditiesXXXXRisk factors and family history WeightXX Smoking behavior (and exposure)XX Alcohol consumptionXX NutritionXX Previous medical historyX Childhood illnessesX VaccinationXX MS family historyXX Sun exposureX Hormonal factors (only women)XNutrition and Lifestyle Nutrition change since diagnosisXX Lifestyle change since diagnosisXX Physical ActivityXXXCare and medical aids Institutions visitsXXX Care typesXX Contact with healthcare professionalsXXX Specialists consultationXXX Confidence in specialistsXX Medical aidsXX Domestic assistanceXX HouseworkXX Disclosure of MSXXQuality of Life Health related quality of life (EQ-5D-5 L;WHO 5-item well-being index)XXXXMental health Psychological well-beingXXXX DepressionXXXBurden of disease Individual burden (e.g. symptoms,\...)XXXX Societal burdenXXX Economic burdenX
The self-reported data from layers 1 to 3 are complemented by clinical data in layer 4, which stems from two sources. Participants may either elect to release their patient charts for medical record abstraction or they can allow data exchanges between the SMSR and the SMSC in case of dual participation in both studies. These clinical layer 4 data are of critical importance for validation of self-reported medical events such as symptoms, relapses, comorbidities, and treatments. The goal is to document up to 1000 participants, and the patient selection for layer 4 medical record abstraction is made by the SMSR study center based on age, gender, disease stage, and treatment setting in order to ensure representativeness.
Layers 3 and 4 also allow data collections for specific projects, which can either be included into regular follow-up surveys and data abstractions or be conducted as separate nested measurements outside the regular follow-up schedule (but possibly requiring its own ethical approval / informed consent). Combined, the layer design offers a very flexible structure, which not only accommodates specific research needs, but also offers participants a choice of different commitment levels.
Study population {#Sec5}
----------------
The SMSR is open to all adults aged 18 years and older who were diagnosed with MS or a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and who live or are regularly receiving medical care in Switzerland. For contribution to layers 3 and 4, the MS/CIS diagnosis needs to be confirmed by a physician.
Study recruitment {#Sec6}
-----------------
The SMSR was initiated by and developed in close collaboration with the MS community in Switzerland, represented by the Swiss MS Society. The SMSR is executed by the University of Zurich and promoted as a project of the Swiss MS Society. The Society's extensive network and various media outlets (website, member magazine, social media activities, newsletters) allowed a quick and nationwide dissemination of information about the SMSR to potentially interested participants, as well as physicians.
Registry enrolment occurs by means of self-recruitment and peer referral. Clinics and private practices are involved in recruitment insofar as they provide postcards and leaflets about the SMSR and raise awareness of the Registry's existence among their patients. For SMSR enrolment, interested persons can either send in a postcard to the SMSR data center, upon which they will receive additional instructions for joining the SMSR. Alternatively, they can login directly to a website ([www.ms-register.ch](http://www.ms-register.ch)), create an account, and - after signing the informed consent- access the surveys.
Ethical aspects {#Sec7}
---------------
The study has been approved for nationwide conduct as a multi-centric study by the Ethics Committee Zurich (Study number PB-2016-00894). Informed consent is obtained from all participants, either electronically upon first access to the SMSR platform or as part of the registration process for participants who prefer paper & pencil versions. In line with the SMSR's strategy to offer various commitment levels, the informed consent offers three opt-in choices regarding study module participation.
The first module involves the diagnosis confirmation, which is prerequisite for participation in regular follow-up surveys (layer 3) and medical record abstraction (layer 4). That is, refusal of providing permission of the diagnosis confirmation by the treating physician implies that only participation in layer 2 is possible.
The second module is the medical record abstraction. Giving approval to this study option means providing the SMSR data center personnel access to medical records. Prior to first record access, participants are notified and given 3 weeks to notify the SMSR data center in case they wish to reconsider their decision.
Third, SMSR participants can agree to share their data with the SMSC study and vice versa. This study module only applies to persons enrolled in both studies. Overall, agreement to these three study modules is in excess of 90%. Withdrawal from any of these study modules or from SMSR participation is possible at any time and without provision of explanations, but very few persons have chosen to do so (\< 20 participants).
Data acquisition {#Sec8}
----------------
Data are collected directly from participants via structured questionnaires. The entry questionnaire, which constitutes layer 2, takes approximately 20 min to complete and collects data on a person's MS history, symptoms, treatments, diagnosis, risk factors, as well as changes in lifestyle behavior due to MS (Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"}). Approx. 75% of all layer 2 participants also contribute to the regular surveys in layer 3. These semi-annual questionnaires require 45 min and collect data on recent medical events, drug- and non-drug treatments, living and familial situation, work and evolving special topics (e.g. on patients' experiences of the diagnostic process). Participants are either informed via email when a new questionnaire is ready or, in case of participation on paper, the survey is mailed directly, along with a pre-stamped return envelope. The online system implements completeness and plausibility checks, as well as bifurcations if questions pertain only to a subgroup of respondents. It further allows users to pause the entry process and to store intermediary results. Upon completion and submission of the questionnaire, the answers are stored in the study database and can no longer be changed or updated by the participant. A help desk, located at the SMSR data center, is available via phone and email in case of questions.
For all layer 4 data collections, participants must have either agreed to release their medical records or to exchange data with the SMSC in case of dual enrolment. The SMSR data center manages all data collections and exchanges. Medical record abstraction is performed on site at clinics and private practices on an annual basis.
Technical aspects {#Sec9}
-----------------
The SMSR has established an online platform for survey delivery and data collection, which also includes a patient diary, as well as features for participants to analyze their own data. The data collection platform was developed in close collaboration with the S3IT (Science and IT) Division of the University of Zurich. The backend and the frontend applications are hosted on secure servers at the University. The backend consists of a Mongo Database and a set of Python scripts providing API functions for the frontend. The frontend is programmed in Java Script Angular by a dedicated Web Developer and also includes a Content Management System for simple creation and update of online study forms.
Security and data safety are of great concern. Safety measures include e-mail confirmation during account creation (double opt-in), password strength enforcement, 256-TLS secured SSL communication between clients and servers, as well as strict separation of identifiable and research data. For user administration and access authentication, a single sign-on system was developed (Mysql, PHP), which is hosted outside the University of Zurich by a certified Swiss Internet provider. All identifiable data are encrypted and IT security was assessed by an external, specialized company.
Measurements {#Sec10}
------------
One particular challenge for studying MS is its multifaceted manifestation. Therefore, in line with its patient-centered design, the SMSR data collection goes well beyond medical information also including data on sociodemographic factors, family history, (lifestyle) behaviors and exposures, risk factors, patient-reported outcomes and living and working conditions (Fig. [2](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}). In addition, data on the general cultural, environmental and socioeconomic conditions can be added based on where participants live. The breadth of data collection enables comprehensive study questions on disease burden, causes of disease, prognostic questions, therapeutic questions as well as research on health services for PwMS. The following paragraphs and Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"} provide further details on the specific topics, as well as their assessment frequency.Fig. 2Holistic ascertainment of determinants of health outcomes in individuals affected by MS
### Symptoms, relapses and progression {#Sec11}
Data on symptoms and MS progression are collected by self-reporting in regular surveys. At baseline, participants are instructed to indicate all symptoms they have ever experienced, the first MS symptoms they ever noticed, as well as symptoms that have occurred during the past 6 months. The questionnaire further includes items on the number of relapses and corticosteroid treatments (including treatment settings or, where applicable, reasons for absence of treatment initiation). This information is updated on an annual basis in layer 3 and validated with clinical layer 4 data where available. Aspects of mobility are queried in layer 3 by use of the validated MS Questionnaire for Physiotherapists (MSQPT) \[[@CR11]\].
### Treatments, medication and adherence to disease-modifying treatment (DMT) {#Sec12}
In the layer 2 survey, participants are asked to list all DMTs they have taken in the past 6 months, as well as all DMTs that were ever taken. The survey also collects basic data on alternative medications and non-pharmacological drug treatments. These data are updated semi-annually in regular layer 3 questionnaires. Adherence to DMT is assessed at least annually in layer 3 on the basis of a short questionnaire that queries the number of missed doses over the past 4 weeks.
### Health-related quality of life {#Sec13}
The EuroQol- 5 Dimension (EQ5D) instrument is assessed on an annual basis \[[@CR12], [@CR13]\], for the first time in layer 2. The EQ5D is also integrated in the patient diary, which is accessible through the online data collection platform. The regular follow-up questionnaires also contain the Warwick-Edinburgh Scale \[[@CR14]\] and the World Health Organization (WHO) 5-item well-being scale, which are also implemented annually \[[@CR15]\]. In addition, a validated single-item questionnaire on (positive) health behavior is included \[[@CR16]\].
### Mental health, depression, and fatigue {#Sec14}
In order to assess fatigue, which represents one of the most prominent symptoms of MS, the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS-21) is applied \[[@CR17], [@CR18]\]. In addition, the well-established Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29) is assessed to address physical and psychological impact from the patient perspective in the last 2 weeks. \[[@CR19]\]
Additional questions covering aspects of mental health and depression are assessed in specialized follow-up surveys by applying the standardized Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-Fast Screen \[[@CR20]\], and Mini SPIKE \[[@CR21], [@CR22]\].
### Circumstances of life {#Sec15}
The layer 3 questionnaire further includes a series of questions on education, living situation, work, disability insurance, social support ("Oslo 3 Social Support Scale" \[[@CR23]\]) and benefit finding ("Benefit Finding in MS Scale" (BFiMSS)) \[[@CR24]\]. These questions were developed in close collaboration with the Swiss MS Society, neuropsychologists, and PwMS. The work history and insurance status are updated annually.
Statistical analyses {#Sec16}
--------------------
The SMSR Data Center, located at the Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute of the University of Zurich, is responsible for data collection and quality assurance. Statistical analyses are performed continuously for monitoring purposes, for data feedbacks to study participants, and for specific scientific projects. One of the SMSR core aims is to establish a long-term, epidemiological monitoring of MS in Switzerland. As no single study is able to establish precise prevalence estimates for MS in Switzerland, the SMSR approaches this goal by combining information from different sources (e.g. the SMSC) to estimate the total size of the Swiss MS population. Thereby, the SMSR employs methods of sensitivity analysis \[[@CR25]\], data triangulation \[[@CR26]\], and individual-based mathematical modelling (e.g. \[[@CR27]\]) in order to refine these estimates and assess the validity of results.
Study status {#Sec17}
------------
Since its launch on June 25, 2016, the SMSR has enrolled 1605 persons with MS who have signed the informed consent (status per September 27, 2017). Recruitment is ongoing, with 1--2 new enrolments daily. In total, 1343 persons have successfully completed the first layer 2 questionnaire. Moreover, 1005 persons also opted to participate in regular surveys and have successfully completed the first layer 3 questionnaire, which is the starting point for semi-annual follow-up surveys. Of those 1005 persons, 833 have already submitted a diagnosis confirmation. Overall, 80% of participants complete the questionnaires online, the remainder on paper.
Organization and funding {#Sec18}
------------------------
The SMSR was established at the initiative of the Swiss MS Society, which is also the financial sponsor of the study. The SMSR has a clearly defined governance structure and guidelines in place to ensure a cooperative, transparent operation. The main steering body of the SMSR is the Scientific Assembly, which oversees the research strategy, elects the SMSR president, and grants access to research data. It consists of elected representatives of major MS centers, the Swiss MS Society, the MS research community, neurorehabilitation clinics, and, last but not least, PwMS. Scientific Assembly members bring in diverse professional expertise such as neurology, nursing, physiotherapy, neuropsychology, IT, or neuroimmunology. The Scientific Assembly is structured into three thematic research committees, which oversee the operational aspects of the MS registry development and initiate research projects in their respective area of expertise. The first Research Committee is concerned with all patient and population-based research activities (including review of questionnaires and research instruments). A second Research Committee deals with all things related to IT, databases, and analysis of unstructured data. This IT Research Committee also initiates and develops technology-driven registry extensions. The third Research Committee oversees all clinical and laboratory research and has the lead in the development of the layer 4 data collection.
Anonymized SMSR data are - in principle -- available to all qualified researchers for specific projects. Guidelines regulate procedures for data access, which consist of the submission of a research proposal to the Scientific Assembly. The proposal is then scored according to feasibility, scientific soundness, and alignment with overarching SMSR goals and examined by independent reviewers before being approved by the members of the Scientific Assembly. PwMS and the Swiss MS Society are also involved in this approval process.
Discussion {#Sec19}
==========
The SMSR is a longitudinal, patient-centered study, designed to fill important knowledge gaps on MS epidemiology and disease burden for patients in an environment where systematic compilation of routine data from providers and/or insurers is not feasible. The close collaboration with a patient-organization, PwMS, and MS researchers has created a unique approach and philosophy for data collection and research. In particular, the SMSR stands out for its participatory approach to registry development and research, a singular blend of patient-reported and clinical data, as well as a transparent governance.
Other web-based, patient-centered initiatives include, for example, the UK MS Register, which is a nationwide, web-based study for the UK \[[@CR6]\], which also has participatory elements \[[@CR28]\]. The UK Register gathers basic information on MS status and progression, socio-demographic factors, and a number of several patient-reported instruments and has recruited over 11,000 participants in 5 years \[[@CR6], [@CR29]\]. A second notable example is the Dutch MS Study, which also collects longitudinal data on quality of life and health status by means of validated, patient-reported instruments \[[@CR30]\]. Although comparable in scope and methodology, we believe that the SMSR offers additional noteworthy features.
First, the SMSR pursues a participatory approach to study planning and research. PwMS and the Swiss MS Society are active contributors to the SMSR, which enhances motivation for participation and greatly improves the clarity and structure of the surveys, as well as communication of the findings.
Second, the layer model offers several participation options with different time commitments. The SMSR strives to obtain basic epidemiological data from as many PwMS as possible by means of a short one-off survey. Participants may also opt to contribute to semi-annual surveys, which are somewhat more time-demanding. Other additional study modules such as medical record abstraction come without any additional workload for patients and care providers, however.
Third, the SMSR offers regular data feedbacks for private use and self-monitoring. Feedbacks are contextualized in the whole population of study participants. That is, participants receive additional information on whether their specific survey response is rare or common among the other participants. Data feedbacks are also a very efficient means to solicit data corrections of key variables from participants.
Fourth, the SMSR has established a governance structure that involves PwMS via representation. The Scientific Assembly determines the scientific strategy and approves data requests for research. The inclusion of patient representatives and the Swiss MS Society in governing bodies guarantees influence of the MS patient community over project guidelines, research agenda and data usage.
Finally, by combining traditional and novel, web-based data collection methods the SMSR exploits the potential of societal and technological trends while mitigating legal and ethical risks. By offering different participation modes (web, paper & pencil) and in the three main national languages, the SMSR leverages benefits of modern technology for those who wish to participate online, without leaving less internet-savvy persons behind. Furthermore, unlike commercial initiatives, the SMSR operates under clear regulations and guidelines (Swiss Human Research Law), which guarantee the rights of participants.
Therefore, while the SMSR may not be the first participatory study in the field of MS research to take advantage of technical innovations, in particular by providing a web portal for data collection and visualization, it clearly takes patient participation to a new level, thereby distinguishing itself from other international MS registries.
Conclusion {#Sec20}
==========
The SMSR is an innovative, prospective study that combines advantages of traditional and novel research methods in medical research. Moreover, the SMSR is unique by taking the participatory approach further than any other study in the MS field and by covering a large variety of domains that are relevant to PwMS' experiences and life circumstances. What is more, the flexible IT infrastructure and clear governance rules support extensions to the core protocol and data collections, thus creating a future-oriented platform that is well suited to respond to future technological innovations and research trends, but also to challenges in health care provision in MS.
BDI
: Beck Depression Inventory
CIS
: Clinically isolated syndrome
DMT
: Disease-modifying treatment
EQ5D
: EuroQol- 5 Dimension
IT
: Information technology
MS
: Multiple sclerosis
MSIS-29
: Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale
MSQPT
: Multiple sclerosis questionnaire for physiotherapists
PwMS
: Person with MS
SMSC
: Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Cohort Study
SMSR
: Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry
WHO
: World Health Organization
Members of the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry are:
Bernd Anderseck, Pasquale Calabrese, Andrew Chan, Giulio Disanto, Britta Engelhardt, Claudio Gobbi, Roger Häussler, Christian P. Kamm, Susanne Kägi, Jürg Kesselring (President), Jens Kuhle (Chair of Clinical and Laboratory Research Committee), Roland Kurmann, Christoph Lotter, Kurt Luyckx, Doron Merkler, Patricia Monin, Stephanie Müller, Krassen Nedeltchev, Caroline Pot, Milo A. Puhan, Irene Rapold, Anke Salmen, Sven Schippling, Claude Vaney (Chair of Patient- and Population Research Committee), Viktor von Wyl (Chair of IT and Data Committee).
Funding {#FPar1}
=======
The Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry is funded by a grant from the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Availability of data and materials {#FPar2}
==================================
Data from the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry are available for research purposes. Requests (incl. a synopsis of the planned research) can be addressed to the corresponding author.
NS, MP & VvW wrote the first draft of the manuscript, GD, DM, CP, JKu, PC, JKe, SR & VA revised the manuscript critically. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
The Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland (Study number PB-2016-00894). Informed consent is obtained from all study participants.
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
| |
Unique design and development of modular furniture lines that provides a high level of flexibility enabling units to be easily modified, resulting in quality and functionality.
The appearance of the laboratory is influenced by the various hues one can obtain according to requirements of the architect, personal requirements or with assistance from our technical department.
PV Lab furniture system design incorporates lab employees and their needs in different labs: chemical, biological, analytical, nuclear technology and research. | http://pvplast.co.il/en/laboratory-equipment/ |
Sorry! This position is no longer accepting applications.
Project Manager for a General Contracting Company
A Leading Recruitment Agency in UAE
Iraq
Ref: RP713-978
Job description / Role
Project Manager up to 16.5k Aed+ for a General Contracting Company in GCC
• Ensure multiple complex integrated EPC projects are delivered on schedule and at budget by performing project management function and researching complex business and technical issues
• Direct and manage EPC project in a manner that achieves project requirements for safety, quality, engineering, schedule, construction, and cost management
Requirements
• Bachelor's degree in Chemical / Mechanical Engineering from a four-year accredited college or university
• Certified Project Management (PMP) certificate is a plus
• 12 years of experience in leading and managing multi-national teams
• International/GCC experience is required
• Design and project experience on large-scale oil/gas and petrochemical capital projects
• Must have previous project management experience on EPC Project of at least 10 Million USD
• MS Office (Excel and Word) and MS Project product competency required
• Has clearly demonstrated strong engineering competence
• Ability to work within a diverse cultural environment
• Strong leadership and management skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Full fluency in English required
• Second language desired
About the Company
A leading recruitment agency in UAE. | https://www.gulftalent.com/iraq/jobs/project-manager-for-a-general-contracting-company-282695 |
Suspicious packages found at U.S. installations in D.C.
March 26 - Suspicious packages were found at multiple U.S. government installations in the Washington, D.C. area on Monday and were being analyzed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine their contents, law enforcement officials said.
Among the facilities where the packages turned up were Fort McNair in the southwest District of Columbia and Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County, Virginia, both U.S. Army installations.
"The FBI responded to multiple government facilities today for the reports of suspicious packages. Each package was collected for further analysis by the FBI," agency spokesman Andrew Ames said.
At Fort McNair, a suspicious package was delivered at about 8:30 a.m. eastern time, prompting officials to evacuate the building, according to a base spokesman.
Some four hours later a U.S. Army Ordnance Disposal unit confirmed that the package had tested positive for explosive residue and determined that a fuse was attached, the spokesman said.
Few details were released on the package found at Fort Belvoir, but a base spokesman said that it had been rendered safe.
Sites Of Interest
The Jerusalem Post Customer Service Center can be contacted with any questions or requests:
Telephone: *2421 * Extension 4 Jerusalem Post or 03-7619056 Fax: 03-5613699E-mail: [email protected]
The center is staffed and provides answers on Sundays through Thursdays between 07:00 and 14:00 and Fridays only handles distribution requests between 7:00 and
13:00
For international customers: The center is staffed and provides answers on Sundays through Thursdays between 7AM and 6PM
Toll Free number in Israel only 1-800-574-574
Telephone +972-3-761-9056
Fax: 972-3-561-3699
E-mail: [email protected] | |
Participants are urgently being sought for a new COVID-19 vaccine study comparing Moderna’s original booster with one that may protect specifically against the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
The Royal Free Hospital is one of a number of sites hosting the study which is aiming to recruit 120 participants – aged 16 and over - and is particularly keen to include people over the age of 65.
Participation in this trial lasts up to 13 months and includes phone calls and visits to the clinical research site. Participants will receive a single dose of an investigational booster vaccine or the already authorized vaccine, Spikevax.
To be eligible to join, you must:
• Be in good health or stable health
• Have previously received two or three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine
• Have not received a COVID-19 vaccine within the past three months
• Have not tested positive for COVID-19 since 8 November 2021 or have had significant exposure to someone who has tested positive within the past 14 days.
Additional eligibility criteria apply.
If you would like to find out if you qualify visit the pre-screening website which is provided by Informa, a commercial clinical trial company.
The study is being run with the support of the NHS and the National Institute for Health Research, working in partnership with Moderna. | https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/news-media/news/new-covid-19-booster-vaccine-study-at-the-royal-free-hospital/ |
What career advice can you give to engineers that hope to reach management levels in managing their careers?
Top ten tips include:
1. Obtain management and project management skills both through education as well as professional experience – technical skills coupled with business/management skills are critical to success in management.
2. Understand how to gather, analyze, and manage data – data analytics is a very important skill for all professionals, especially for managers. Information is power and therefore, understanding the significance of data and having the expertise in data analysis to convert data into information to make knowledgeable decisions is the key to successful management.
3. Develop strong verbal and written communication skills.
o To be effective communicators, engineers, scientists, and researchers must learn what it takes to translate – the language of technologist/engineer/scientist into concepts and analogies that can be easily understood.
4. Work collaboratively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
5. Employ a novel and adaptive thinking approach to your role, and continually create new solutions and ideas beyond that which is rote- or rule based.
6. Become skilled in cognitive load management. Become adept at sifting through large amounts of information to eliminate “noise” and focus on what is most pertinent.
7. Recognize the importance of an organization’s ability to be nimble and therefore, continually try to get the team out of doing things the same way just because that is how it has always been done to “how can we do this better and more efficiently.”
8. Capitalize on the strengths of each team member and try to mix up the different groupings of team members. This helps make the team more dynamic as well as promotes individual development.
9. Develop the ability to see the organization in relation to the wider environment and stand outside the organizational culture to come to conclusions and actions that keep the organization responsive and healthy.
10. If you believe in the work that you are doing, you will be motivated to work hard to accomplish the goals.
Should students starting out in school or their careers focus on a specific technology or take a broader approach to the industry?
It is important to pursue an academic field that will make one marketable to get a job. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, students who pursue “STEM” (science, technology, engineering and math) related disciplines are in high demand right now.
It is important to note, however, that while having the technical skills required for the job is an important factor in getting the first interview and ultimately the first job, the following attributes and skills are significant factors in reaching career success:
* Novel and adaptive thinking
* Analytical skills
* Computational thinking – ability to translate large amounts of data into abstract concepts
* Understanding and communicating across multiple disciplines (known as transdisciplinary)
* Virtual collaboration
* New media literacy – visual, audio and virtual media are surpassing traditional text-based media
* Demand for blend of project management and technical skills
* Cross-cultural competency – be able to operate effectively in different cultural settings
* Communication skills (oral and written) – employers recruit those who are articulate, concise and have strong written skills. Verbal skills are important, while the new generation does most of their communicating without talking, “talking” has not gone away in business
* Leadership and team skills
* Time management
* Conflict management and resolution
* Facilitating and managing change
* Social intelligence and empathy – connecting to others in a deep and direct way
Therefore, it is important to develop the broad base of skills to complement the specific skills for the student’s’ discipline. Soft skill traits can be just as crucial as the technical skills.
What opportunities are you seeing most unfilled in the industry, and any insight into why?
The opportunity for a better collaboration between industry and academia to enhance student’s and educators’ learning/teaching experience.
* Mentoring opportunities from industry to educational institutions – involving both students and teachers.
o For example, in healthcare and biotechnology, early partnerships with local pharmaceutical, medical, healthcare, and biotechnology institutions is key to developing the necessary workforce and successfully placing students.
* Promote summer education workshops for teachers and guidance counselors in the industry with the ultimate goal of raising awareness in major influencers of future generation of scientists and engineers.
* Given the gap between public understanding and public perception of biotechnology, genetic engineering or gene mapping, researchers should take an active role in helping to educate and inform the public.
o Not all scientists are in the teaching profession, but all scientists can teach by sharing their knowledge and expertise with others. Whether it’s giving a presentation to students in on ‘career day,’ serving as a mentor for an aspiring biologist or talking to a local civic organization – being able to communicate effectively about your research and your scientific discipline is essential.
What type of work should students look to perform as part of internships?
I believe any type of exposure to a professional setting will provide valuable experience for the student. It is important that the organization has made a commitment to dedicate resources to spend time with the student, provide meaningful work to the student, and therefore, there is a specific outcome expected of the experience so that the student has something to show for their time.
Keep the following in mind:
* Goals are defined
* Work experience is varied
* Experiential learning is accompanied by discussion with professionals
* Access to mentors is available
It is when learning is infused with examples from the biotechnology/engineering/scientific/business setting, and students are able to practice hands-on technical/management skills on a regular basis that a program has the greatest impact on a student pursuing a job in their field of interest.
Biotechnology has been one of most popular fields when discussing job growth and opportunity. In your role as an educator, have you seen a large number of career changers entering the field? Are they finding opportunities after school as readily as traditional students?
We have several health sciences programs at DeVry University, including health information technology (HIT) and neurodiagnostic technology (NDT), and those areas seem to attract career changers.
Other popular fields generally include healthcare as well as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology and the types of jobs these offer range from a medical writer to a product/process developer to a bioinformatist.
Career changers oftentimes tend to be more mature, have more confidence as well as experience, while not in their current field of study necessarily. However employers are gravitating towards these types of students due to those characteristics described earlier that differentiates them from their less experienced academic peers.
Therefore, many times the career changers have a competitive advantage. In addition, the HIT and NDT programs engage students in practical settings and not only enable participants to develop high levels of competency in basic industry skills, they also provide participants with the opportunity to understand different aspects of the field.
How important are advance degrees in the biotech field?
Interdisciplinary skills including biology, information technology, mathematics, and analytics are all extremely important for success in the biotechnology field. There are few degree areas that offer all or a subset of these in one undergraduate degree, such as bioinformatics. Therefore, advanced degrees are necessary to acquire a combination of these necessary skills.
For those who aspire towards management, advanced degrees in management and business administration are also necessary for complementing the science/technology expertise with management skills.
How competitive is biotech for the mature career changer? If any, what challenges does an older group face?
As I mentioned, in response to a previous question, a mature career changer in many instances has a competitive advantage over traditional students in biotech and healthcare, based on maturity, confidence, communication and leadership skills.
The challenges include:
* Proficiency in use of technology
* If they have not used their math and analytical skills for a long period of time, this serves as a challenge for them
* Requirement for interdisciplinary skills
What are the top 3 things a 2013 graduate in this field should be doing now to prepare for his or her job search in this field?
* Develop a network of contacts (professors, friends, parents of friends, friends of parents, family, and neighbors, etc.)
o Inform people know that you are about to graduate and are looking for a job before you actually graduate
o Create a professional social media profile (i.e. LinkedIn)
o Look into professional organization memberships
o Good networking is about building solid, trusted relationships that are long-term, not short-term
* Develop and market your brand: what are your key differentiators, how do you want people to perceive you
* Think ahead – create a 3-5-year plan
For more information on careers of the future and ways to advance in your job search, visit www.devry.edu/know-how.
Author: Forough Ghahramani
A transformational business leader, engineer, and entrepreneur, Forough Ghahramani is an associate dean of the College of Business and Management and the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University and is the founding director of the New Jersey Center for Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship.
Prior to her current role, Forough was a senior systems architect at Hewlett-Packard. Forough’s diversified career experience includes higher education management, strategic planning, management consulting, business analysis and organization-wide information technology planning.
Forough has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in biology from Pennsylvania State University. She also holds a master’s in business administration from DePaul University as well as a master’s degree in computer science from Villanova University.
Related Posts
About Mark Anthony Dyson
I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers," career consultant, job seeker advocate, career writer, and founder of this award-winning blog. I help the employed, unemployed, underemployed, and under-appreciated find jobs using job search strategies to navigate the new job market. I aim to give a safe place online to those with different needs, cultures, and ethnicities to find their voice in the job market. Thousands have read my career advice throughout the web as I write about everything from job search strategies to the mobile job search. I have published more than 400 articles on this blog and some of the largest career sites such as Recruiter.com, YouTern, and Come Recommended. I've been quoted in major online publications such as Monster, TIME/Money, Fortune, Business Insider and MSN. FlexJobs, JobMonkey, Aerotek, Career Pivot, and CareerSherpa listed my podcast as one of the top podcasts to help your job search. Love for you to sign up for the weekly newsletter. I share the latest articles I've written, new podcast episodes, and answer any questions you may have. The new job search is scary and if you need help, I am here for it! | https://thevoiceofjobseekers.com/career-advice-from-a-tech-expert-interview-with-forough-ghahramani/ |
Institute of Applied Business Law
WIRE is a legally independent institution and, as a competence center for legal research, is closely linked to the HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration. Thus, we jointly promote the intensive exchange on the topic of business law, the expansion of jurisprudential teaching and research and the cooperation between business and university.
The focus of the Institute of Applied Business Law is on the topics of corporate law and ESG, their applicability and design. The work of the Institute includes the analysis of the current legal situation and current legislative proposals, a regular exchange of knowledge and experience with companies, law firms and associations as well as the elaboration of improvement possibilities on all levels.
In addition to the research work, the Institute serves as a network platform for the mutual professional, but also personal exchange of all partners involved, such as the board of directors, the scientific advisory board, the associated scientists, lecturers and students of the HSBA, Hamburg business representatives and practitioners from the legal practice.
Podcast "Corporate Crash"
In our podcast "Corporate Crash", we take a look at both well-known and lesser-known corporate scandals in recent economic history. Cartels, corruption and managerial failures show again and again impressively how important governance and compliance are in companies.
Business law research
The Institute is active in research in the field of applied business law.
This research is based on three pillars: First, an analysis of problems of the current legal situation, planned legislation and literature reviews. Secondly, a continuous survey and evaluation of the problems in the daily application of the law described by companies as primary users of commercial law. Thirdly, the elaboration of possibilities for improvement at all levels, starting with internal best practice guidelines of the users of the law, through the interpretation of the current legal situation to the elaboration of proposals for amendments to the law.
The focus is always on the clear application-relatedness of the solution approaches.
Certificate in ESG (planned)
The Institute is strongly committed to the practical training and further education of business lawyers.
Special focus is on legal training in the field of ESG - one of the regulatory centers of our economy. To this end, it is involved in a (planned) course to become an "ESG Officer" at HSBA.
In particular, the Institute brings in top-class lecturers via its network (university professors, judges, administrative lawyers and international law firm lawyers) and ensures that former students have a legal network at their disposal when they return to work.
Events of the institute
The institute regularly hosts interesting events.
An important cornerstone is the annual conference in Hamburg in autumn. Top speakers from business, administration, legal and management consultancy as well as the judiciary speak there on current topics of business law that are truly relevant to companies. There are also numerous other events, such as panel discussions and colloquia.
In addition to the professional exchange at a high level - which is expressed, for example, in the recognition of the annual conference as a specialist lawyers' training course by the Hamburg Bar Association - there is always room for participants and members of the Institute to get to know each other and network in a relaxed atmosphere. | https://www.wire-institut.de/en |
The chenille plant is a vigorous, upright, coarse-textured shrub that usually attains a height of 5 to 6 feet. Older specimens can grow taller with some support. The stems are heavily foliated with 6- to 8-inch-long, ovate, medium-green leaves. The flowers of chenille plant are attractive and droop in cattail-like, pendent clusters up to 18 inches in length. Flowers are showy, red, and borne by female plants during warm months of the year.
General Information
Scientific name: Acalypha hispida
Pronunciation: ack-uh-LIFE-uh HISS-pid-uh
Common name(s): chenille plant
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Plant type: shrub
USDA hardiness zones: 10 through 11 (Fig. 4)
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year round
Origin: not native to North America
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Uses: hedge; specimen; foundation; border; mass planting; accent
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant
Description
Height: 4 to 6 feet
Spread: 6 to 8 feet
Plant habit: upright
Plant density: moderate
Growth rate: fast
Texture: coarse
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: serrate
Leaf shape: ovate
Leaf venation: pinnate; arcuate
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen
Leaf blade length: 4 to 8 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: Red
Flower characteristic: year-round flowering
Fruit
Fruit shape: no fruit
Fruit length: no fruit
Fruit cover: no fruit
Fruit color: no fruit
Fruit characteristic: no fruit
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: typically multi-trunked or clumping stems; not particularly showy
Current year stem/twig color: green
Current year stem/twig thickness: medium
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in full sun
Soil tolerances: acidic; slightly alkaline; sand; loam; clay
Drought tolerance: moderate
Soil salt tolerance: poor
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Other
Roots: usually not a problem
Winter interest: plant has winter interest due to unusual form, nice, persistent fruits, showy winter trunk, or winter flowers
Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
Use and Management
The chenille plant is a beautiful flowering shrub that is commonly used as an accent, hedge, specimen, or container plant. Its long period of bloom makes it a showy centerpiece for any tropical or subtropical garden. It is well suited for planting in a container to be set on a deck or patio.
This plant performs well in many types of well-drained landscape soils. It grows and flowers best in full sun, with little care other than irrigation needed to maintain the plant once it is established. After the plant finishes flowering, pruning may be needed to keep it a desired size.
Propagation is by cuttings.
Design Considerations
The long red flowers of the chenille plant are a striking feature that can be used to bring color to a shrub border. Red shows best in full sun when paired with other shrubs with white and pink flowers to make the red look more intense. Shrubs with dark green glossy leaves would also contrast well with the leaves of the chenille plant. Foreground plants could include purple and white flowers and fine or medium textures such as narrow strap blades in a clumping form or tall spiky forms with narrow leaves.
Pests and Diseases
There are no diseases of major concern associated with chenille plants. Scales, mites and aphids may be troublesome pests in some landscapes, especially when the plants are grown in partial shade. | https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP004 |
Forest: Measures afoot to prevent forest fire
With the onset of summer, the Coimbatore Forest Division has taken precautionary measures to prevent incidents of forest fire.
District Forest Officer D. Venkatesh said that patrolling had been intensified in areas that were prone to forest fire. Also, works of creating fire lines - a line made by charring or charring dry leaves, grass along forest boundaries - had been intensified under the supervision of Deepak Srivastava, Additional Principal Chief ConseMore
Forest is a wallpaper posted in Nature category. You can edit original image, you can download free covers for Facebook, Twitter or Google Plus or you can choose from download links resolution of the wallpaper that fit on your display. | https://theartmad.com/wallpaper/forest/ |
*Disclaimer* no scallops were harmed in the making of this meal…
Forget feeling left out whilst everyone tucks into their seafood this Christmas, try this vegan scallops recipe! Scallops are an indulgent treat, but I’m not a huge fan of seafood, so this vegan dish is the perfect alternative for feeling a little fancy whilst also sorting out your pasta craving. The king oyster mushrooms absorb all that sumptuous garlickiness and have a delicious meaty texture. Packed with flavour, this one is perfect if you’re aiming to impress – be it date night, a boxing day celebration or just a tasty meal for one.
(Serves 2)
Ingredients
2 king oyster mushrooms
1-2 tbsp (vegan) butter
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 shallots, diced
3 sprigs of rosemary
50ml white wine
200g pack of cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp sugar
200g spaghetti
Method
- Start by preparing your ‘scallops’. Slice off the flat cap of the king oyster mushrooms, dice finely, and put to one side. Slice the mushroom stems into 4 sections (each about an inch thick). Save the caps for another meal!
- Add your spaghetti to a pan of salted boiling water, and boil according to cooking instructions.
- In a frying pan, melt the butter on a low heat and add the garlic, shallots and rosemary. Once the onions have turned golden, place the ‘scallops’ into the frying pan, and fry for a few minutes.
- Add the white wine, cover, and simmer for about 10-12 minutes, or until the mushrooms have softened slightly.
- Remove the lid, turn the up heat to medium, and fry the mushrooms until they are golden brown on both sides. Once ready, remove the ‘scallops’ from the frying pan and put to one side.
- In the same pan, add the tomatoes, diced mushroom caps, oregano and sugar, and gently simmer until the tomatoes have softened. Add about half a cup of pasta water, allow the liquid to partially absorb, and then add the cooked spaghetti.
- Combine well, season to taste, and serve with the mushroom ‘scallops’. | https://candidorangemagazine.com/2020/12/08/vegan-scallops-with-marinara-spaghetti/ |
The regression coefficients, the slopes, or, the B values represent the unique variants explained in the outcome by each predictor.
- For a simple regression: Regression Coefficient
- For a multiple regression: Regression Coefficient
The regression coefficient, <math>B_1</math> is the slope for <math>X_1</math>. assuming an average score on any other predictor <math> X_2, X_3, \dots, X_n</math>. If there's no moderation, it's representative of all the other values on all the other predictors. Like the mean is representative of the entire sample, if you don't have any skew or outliers effects.
No moderation effect implies that <math>B_1</math> is consistent across the entire distribution of others predictors.
Having a moderation effect, implies that a single regression coefficient relating x to y is not sufficient. Because the slope representing X to Y is actually changing as a function of this moderator variable, Z. So one regression coefficient B1 is not sufficient to count for the true relationship that exists between X and Y. A moderator variable is needed to show that the relationship is changing as a function of it. That's the power of a moderation analysis.
While interpreting the slopes, you have to take the units of the variables into account. | https://gerardnico.com/data_mining/regression_coefficient |
ST. LOUIS (CNS) — People in the pews really need to understand the issue of stem-cell research, especially in light of the upcoming presidential election, said a nationally respected neuroscientist and theologian.
Stem-cell expert Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk spoke to Catholic pro-life officials gathered in St. Louis Aug. 6.
He said the debate on such research and the closely related issue of cloning is not just national in scope but international as the United Nations now faces again the question of whether to ban all types of human cloning.
"To have an informed debate," the priest said, "people need to be aware of what the real parameters of the discussion are: What is a human embryo? What is cloning? What are stem cells, and where do you get them from? And what’s the price that’s going to be paid if we take stem cells from certain sources like living, growing human embryos?"
Father Pacholczyk said later in an interview the claim that embryonic stem-cell research shows the greatest promise for curing disease "is vastly oversold." The number of those cured by use of such cells is "exactly zero," the priest said. He noted that "the true cures are coming from adult and umbilical cord stem cells." [Full Story]
We can never forget the importance of education in this debate. Too much of the public debate has bee framed as ideology against science where any opposition to stem-cell research is just knee-jerk fundamentalism. The distinctions between embryonic and other sources of stem-cells is rarely made and all stem-cell researched is lumped together as being opposed by Christians and others.
Justin Katz links to and comments on a story from Ramesh Ponnuru about a family going to Washington, D.C. to meet with their congressman, Republican Mark Souder.
Souder was "very, very gracious," says Kallsen. But he said that he supported adult-stem-cell research, not research that killed human embryos. The fact that embryonic-stem-cell research involved destroying human embryos came as news to Kallsen and his family. "Basically, it was a learning experience for us. We were not well informed about all of the issues. We’re all pro-life and…we had not done enough research on our own to understand that if we were promoting embryonic stem-cell research that’s the opposite of pro-life. We were so interested in finding a cure that we weren’t looking at how it’s done." Kallsen also now believes that adult-stem-cell research is more promising than he had thought at the time of the meeting
Justin then comments:
I’m not faulting the Kallsens, but really: think about that. Think about the extent of misunderstanding, or only partial understanding, that must surround this issue if it is possible for those actively pushing for one side, in the year 2004, don’t know the alternatives that the other side supports. More than that, imagine the perplexing gap of silence that people must perceive when they don’t even know the opposition’s reason for opposition!
So on the pro- embryonic stem-cell research (ESCR) side we seem to have a mixture of ignorance and ideology. Many have been sold on the miraculous cures promised by ESCR and those who this promised cures effect are angry at those who would get in the way .I can also see why some consider this debate to be extremely important ideologically. This debate really brings us back to the fact that life begins at conception and for them to loose on embryonic stem-cells would be for them to ultimately lose in the pro-abortion debate. On this issues and on therapeutic cloning (clone and kill), I think that abortion is the very reason the debate on embryonic stem-cells has been so lopsided in its reporting as evidenced by all of the distortions. Yesterday in an article, Michael Kinsley ironically called Laura Bush speech on stem-cells disingenuous and then goes on to say.
The purpose of Bush’s stem cell policy is to discourage medical research using embryos. Bush is supposed to think that these clumps of a few dozen cells are every bit as human as the people who will suffer or die from diseases that stem cells could cure. He had better believe that, because stem-cell research uses embryos being discarded by fertility clinics and doesn’t actually add to the embryonic death toll at all. Only a deep conviction about the humanity of these microscopic dots — which have fewer human characteristics than a potato — could justify sacrificing real human lives to make the purely symbolic point that these dots are human too.
Peter Kreeft in his must-read essay on Human Personhood answers these objections.
The fourth argument is right, of course, to say that development is gradual-after conception. Conception is the break, the clear dividing line, and the only one. I am the same being from conception on. Otherwise we would not speak of the growth and development and unfolding of that being, of me. I was once an infant. I was born. I was once in my mother’s womb. My functioning develops only gradually, but my me has a sudden beginning. Once again, the pro-choice objection confuses being a person with functioning as a person.
Furthermore, if personhood is only a developing, gradual thing, then we are never fully persons, because we continue to grow, at least intellectually and emotionally and spiritually. Albert Schweitzer said, at 70, “I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up.” But if we are only partial persons, then murder is only partially wrong, and it is less wrong to kill younger, lesser persons than older ones. If it is more permissible to kill a fetus than to kill an infant because the fetus is less of a person, then it is for exactly the same reason more permissible to kill a seven-year-old, who has not yet developed his reproductive system or many of his educational and communications skills, than to kill a 27-year-old. The absurd conclusion follows from defining a person functionally.
No other line than conception can be drawn between pre-personhood and personhood. Birth and viability are the two most frequently suggested. But birth is only a change of place and relationship to the mother and to the surrounding world (air and food); how could these things create personhood? As for viability, it varies with accidental and external factors like available technology (incubators). What I am in the womb-a person or a non-person cannot be determined by what machines exist outside the womb! But viability is determined by such things. Therefore personhood cannot be determined by viability.
Fifth, if the fetus is only a potential person, it must be an actual something in order to be a potential person. What is it? An ape?
There are no “potential persons” any more than there are potential apes. All persons are actual, as all apes are actual. Actual apes are potential swimmers, and actual persons are potential philosophers. The being is actual, the functioning is potential. The objection confuses “a potential person” with “a potentially functioning person”-Functionalism again.
Hopefully this debate will also make some in the pro-life movement in the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations to reevaluate some of the positions they have taken in the past. Too many people stood on the sidelines as IVF became more and more widespread. The empathy for childless couples has outweighed the reality of frozen children and multiple implantation of embryos hoping at least one survives. Without these unused embryos that this procedure entails, scientist could not have been doing the ESCR that is currently happening. | http://www.splendoroftruth.com/curtjester/2004/08/the-stem-cell-debate/ |
This report provides KPMG in Canada’s first comprehensive Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) update, adding a new milestone to KPMG’s 150-year history of serving Canadians, inspiring confidence, and empowering change.
A message from our CEO
Our highlights at a glance
Planet
- Committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030
- 100% renewable electricity starting in 2022
- Set an internal carbon price
- 16% reduction in net emissions since 2019
- 29% reduction in net emissions per individual since our baseline year in 2019
People
- Launched KPMG’s Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan
- Set targets to increase representation by 2026 in our workforce to: 1.7% Indigenous Peoples, 5% Black people, and 6% people with disabilities
- Increasing targets to 33% women and 26% people of colour in our Partnership by 2025
- $2,000 in mental health benefits for each of our people and family members
Prosperity
- US$1.5 billion global investment over next 3 years to focus on ESG change agenda
- CAD $9.5 million in community investments
- 36,422* hours volunteered, including pro bono
- 8,760 full-time employees in FY21, 12% growth from FY20. Plus 20% growth in FY22.
- Co-developed global strategy to economically empower 10 million disadvantaged youth by 2030
Governance
- Management Committee comprising 57% women, 14% people of colour
- Established our Impact Steering Committee and Environmental Council to complement Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Council to advance ESG commitments
- 99% of partners and employees completed training on KPMG’s Code of Conduct and anti-corruption policies and procedures
*includes volunteer hours that are firm sponsored and on employees' own time
Earth's natural resources and ability to nurture life are being stretched to their limits, but we are far from helpless. Today, many are working to turn the tide, and the member firms of KPMG are proud to count themselves among them.
KPMG's environmental strategy
Here are the five pillars of our national strategy:
People engagement
Providing our people with eco-forward technologies, education, and awareness initiatives that engage them in our environmental commitments.
Governance
Establishing internal structures and policies that champion best practices across our firm.
Decarbonization
Implementing best practices, training, and technologies needed to reduce emissions, both within our operations and across our engagements.
Nature and biodiversity
Exploring ways to reduce our environmental impact, forging eco-forward collaborations, and enhancing employee awareness.
Circularity
Exploring and developing office strategies for our assets and practices to reduce waste.
At its core, KPMG is a people business. We recognize that when the best people choose to build a career within our firms, we all thrive as a result – our clients, people, communities, and our planet. That’s why KPMG is committed to fostering a caring, purpose-led, and values-driven culture for our people.
Our mission is guided by the following priorities:
- Champion inclusion, diversity, and equity in all that we do
- Prioritize the health and well-being of our people
- Promote a culture of continuous learning
- Advocate and respect human rights in our work and communities in which we operate
- Lead the way in talent attraction, development, and retention
Diversity of our people*
Women
Men
Non-Binary / Gender Diverse
2021 was marked by significant social, economic, environmental and geopolitical challenges, many of which were systemic and long-standing. With over 10,000 KPMG people across 47 offices in Canada, we are well-positioned to address these challenges and have a responsibility to engage our community of professionals in building a better world.
Our collective impact
In 2021, we made significant investments in social impact through our sponsorships, fundraising, contributions to the community, and donations through the KPMG Foundation, focusing on social impact priorities.
*includes volunteer hours that are firm sponsored and on employees' own time
At KPMG in Canada, our Purpose is to "Inspire confidence. Empower change." This purpose shapes our values and drives our people to deliver industry-leading services that benefit our clients and communities. It also compels our firm to consider the economic, environmental, and social impact of our activities and align our financial and societal performance as part of a shift toward stakeholder capitalism. Moreover, it requires us to have strong governance in place to oversee all our activities. | https://kpmg.com/ca/en/home/insights/2022/11/our-impact-plan-canada.html |
Getting different people collaborating effectively isn’t always easy. In today’s modern world we have generations in the workplace that work and communicate differently, and when you add in conference calls, ad hoc meetings and individual work objectives, it’s easy to see that getting teams to work together when they have different priorities can be a challenge.
Creating a cultural change and adopting new technologies such as Microsoft Teams can help. But ask yourself, is your business ready? Is your technology ready? And, importantly, are your users ready? Changing the internal culture is a major barrier to digital transformation; one which many organisations try to ignore. Businesses and their leaders must seed cultural changes that start to shift towards a digital culture—one that is agile and collaborative, bringing people and their disparate priorities together. Without addressing the human element, any digital transformation will either struggle to get off the ground, slow down or stop altogether when trying to achieve scale.
Whilst there is no doubt that Microsoft Teams is a powerful collaboration tool – released to great fanfare in 2017 – there is still some resistance from businesses who are not sure if their way of working will suit this adoption. In response to this, GCI has developed three workshops designed to ensure that your digital adoption is fit, agile and cost-effective:
- Business Readiness Assessment
Understanding your current and future strategy is a key step in enabling your vision of flexible and agile working. This assessment highlights your business challenges, qualifies the fit of new technology and identifies the areas for change. It will be an in-depth analysis to understand your current business strategy, your technology stack, current projects and integration work with the objectives of establishing high-level business and technology strategies, culminating in an agreed roadmap.
- User Readiness Assessment
The holy grail of any successful technology deployment is ensuring a strategy is in place that will encompass cultural Change Management. This assessment will examine your employees’ skills and their propensity to adapt and change, as well as what training might be needed and what Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Plans should be put in place and the success metrics to measure against.
- Technical Assessment
Remove the fear of unreliable connectivity and communication. This assessment will test your organisation’s current network to check that it has the capacity and quality to support implementation of a new technology, ensuring that the technology needed to adopt digital change is fit for purpose. This will result in recommendations and a high-level design of any proposed improvements to your infrastructure.
Culture change is not easy and adopting a company-wide unified collaboration tool such as Microsoft Teams isn’t either - but GCI are here to help. To discuss a Teams Readiness Assessment with one of our experts, simply email us at [email protected] and we’ll be in touch.
Author: Andrew Wild - Cloud Product Manager at GCI
Want more insights from us?
By submitting this form you agree to our GDPR Marketing Privacy notice. You have the ability to opt out at your discretion.
MORE BLOG POSTS
EVENTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN
Contact us to see what we can do for you
By submitting this form you agree to our GDPR Marketing Privacy notice. You have the ability to opt out at your discretion. | https://www.gcicom.net/News-and-Events/Blog/Ready-set-go |
Every two weeks, I have a Sunday family dinner with my siblings at my parent’s house. Last month, I discovered that I’m not special at all when it comes to teaching myself how to read Tarot cards. lol In fact, I learned that both my Dad & my grandmother know how to read standard playing cards, which I found incredibly fascinating. Today, I’m super eager to inform you that you don’t need Tarot cards to look into your past, present, or future.
When my Dad was younger, he taught himself how to read cards as well as how to read palms, just like I did when I was in high school. My mom told me about a memory she had that whenever it looked like my grandma was playing solitaire, she was actually reading her own cards. My dad gave me a brand new deck of cards that he got from a casino as a present before dinner, so I could start learning ASAP. I’ve spent this month learning how to read playing cards, & last Sunday, my dad also showed me our family’s most used card spread. I then read my siblings’ & my brother’s fiancé’s cards as practice.
Historians believe that the 52 cards in a single deck of playing cards represent the 52 weeks in a year. The 13 cards per suit represent the 13 lunar cycles in a year, & the 4 card suits represent the 4 seasons in a year. Much like Tarot cards, each face card, card suit, & card number has a meaning. While Tarot card readings take into account reversals, since playing cards are mirror images, there’s no real way to know if a card should be considered “reversed”. Depending on your energy or the energy of the person you’re reading, I suggest using your intuition & knowledge on the current situation or question being asked.
SUITS
Hearts: Love & Relationships (Cups/Months/Summer)
Diamonds: Financial Issues (Pentacles/Years/Winter)
Spades: Conflict & Suffering (Swords/Weeks/Autumn)
Clubs: Big Life Changes (Wands/Days/Spring)
NUMBER & FACE CARDS
Ace: New Beginnings, Growth, Potential, & Opportunities (Missed Opportunities, Bad Timing, & Lack of Direction)
Two: Balance & Cooperation (Disharmony & Lack of Planning)
Three: Connection & Sharing (Loss & Unexpected Delays)
Four: Stability & Solid Foundation (Instability & Conflict with Others)
Five: Conflict & Competition (Avoiding conflict & Tension)
Six: Flow, Patterns, & Communication (Ignorance)
Seven: Mystery & Change (Stagnation)
Eight: Harmony, Health, & Time (Imbalance)
Nine: Growth & Wish Fulfillment (Disappointment & Idealism)
Ten: Completion (Resistance)
Jack: Jacks represent immature, young adults, or children. They are similar to a page in Tarot. They can represent small gestures or the start of something new. Jacks can also be considered as a messenger of inner thoughts, similar to a knight in Tarot.
Queen: Queens represent women, divine feminines, karmic partners, etc. of any age. They can represent motherhood & love, as well as nurturing, creativity, & introspection. Queens denote growth & personal power. They’re about emotions, intuition, & healing.
King: Kings are grown men or younger men who are mature for their age or are burdened by responsibilities. They denote mastery, authority, control & leadership. Kings are protective & commanding, but they can also be demanding, possessive, aggressive & overbearing, depending on the suit & surrounding cards.
PERSONALITY TRAITS BASED ON SUITS
Hearts: Emotional, creative, romantic, compassionate, generous, sensitive, nurturing, dependable, protective, or moody.
Diamonds: Independent, extravagant, impulsive, impatient, optimistic, dynamic, restless, analytical, intelligent, or high strung.
Spades: Powerful, intense, demanding, controlling, secretive, possessive, charming, mysterious, calculating, or detached.
Clubs: Practical, friendly, reliable, trustworthy, helpful, ambitious, enthusiastic, sensible, stable, or stubborn.
With all of the information above in mind, you can try any card spread, depending on your situation/question. Here are my favorite Tarot spreads to use from Pinterest. I would share my family’s most used card spread, but I’ve decided that it shall remain a family secret that I want to pass down to my own children one day as well as future generations. I hope this blog helps anyone who has been interested in Cartomancy, but hasn’t had the courage to pick up a Tarot or Oracle card deck yet. If you’ve been waiting for a sign from the universe to finally learn, this is it! Grab a deck of cards & let me know how it goes in a comment below. | https://denisejoyce.com/tag/cartomancy/ |
Dr. Kropf enjoys membership in numerous professional societies, including the California Medical Association, the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and the North American Spine Society. He is the Principal Investigator for several investigational device exemption studies, including those for PRODISC-Cervical, PRODISC-Lumbar, and NeoDisc-Cervical disc arthroplasty. In addition, Dr. Kropf is a Co-Investigator on the studies of Coflex, the minimally invasive interspinous process device, and the AxioMed Freedom Lumbar Disc.
Dr. Kropf graduated with honors, receiving his bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from the University of California, Riverside (UCR). After earning his medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Kropf completed a general surgery internship at the same institution. Following that, he completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery at Harbor UCLA Medical Center as well as a fellowship in spinal surgery at UCLA, directed by Dr. Rick Delamarter and Dr. Edgar Dawson.
Currently, Dr. Kropf performs surgery at several hospitals in Los Angeles (including Cedars-Sinai) and serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UCLA’s School of Medicine. Dr. Kropf’s practice is dedicated to providing his patients with the highest-quality spine care. He actively participates in fellowship training of orthopaedic and neurologic surgeons in state-of-the-art surgical techniques, and dozens of his outstanding students presently practice throughout the United States.
Tricia Camp
Cedars – Sinai Clinic Scheduler (Outpatient)
Phone: (310) 248-7320
Fax: (310) 601-4592
Nancy Garcia
Surgical Coordinator
Phone: (310) 248-8704
Fax: (310) 601-4592
Yanet Del Real
Clinic Coordinator
Phone: (310) 248-7323
Fax: (310) 601-4592
Liat Nosrati
Practice Manager
Phone: (310) 248-7322
Fax: (310) 601-4592
Billing
Momentum Billing
Biller: Katie Miklavcic
Phone: (310) 873-3905
Michael A. Kropf MD
1980 University of California, Riverside, B.S. – Biomedical Sciences, Graduated Honors
1983 University of California, Riverside and Los Angeles M.D. | https://www.laspine.com/physicians/michael-a-kropf-md/ |
US toddler dies after secretly swallowing button battery
A US toddler died after secretly swallowing a button battery.
Dangers of button batteries exposed00:00:00
Queensland Health has released a powerful video to warn parents about the dangers of button batteries.
Jackie raced into Johnathan’s bedroom as soon as she heard him begin to cough loudly over the baby monitor in mid-December last year.
The American mum-of-two raced in and picked up her 23-month-old son, with the affectionate nickname of Nugget, who immediately began to vomit bright red blood all down her shirt.
As her husband AJ, who works as a paramedic, raced into the room to help, Jackie, a physician’s assistant, grabbed her phone to look for the nearest hospital just as Johnathan started to have a seizure.
“AJ said he could feel him go limp in his arms. His hands drew up, his lips turned blue and he was unconscious,” Jackie, who works as a physician's assistant said.
"We knew it was serious - we knew he needed to go to emergency.
"That’s when AJ he said Johnathan's pulse slowly started going down. He could feel his heart beating and then it was beating slower and slower and his heart stopped.”
Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this
Little Johnathan, pictured here with mum Jackie, dad AJ and his older brother Michael, was just 23 months old when he died. Source: Kennedy News and Media
"We did CPR on our toddler - but it was too late"
His paramedic instinct kicking in, AJ called triple zero while Jackie started CPR on their young boy as blood poured from his mouth.
For the next three minutes, until the ambulance arrived, the couple tried their best to get Johnathan to start breathing again to no avail.
Johnathan was then rushed to hospital with his father with Jackie driven behind them by the local police.
“I ran into the hospital and AJ was standing there with a chaplain from the hospital,” she painfully recalled.
“The doctor immediately walked over to me and started the speech, the speech that I've given people so many times. I knew as soon as he started talking, from the tone of his voice and him saying 'we've done everything that we can', I knew that he was dead. I just broke down.
“The nurses said that they tried to draw blood for labs - but he had no blood in his body anymore, none.”
It wasn’t until an autopsy was performed that a small button battery was found in Johnathan's intestines – with his cause of death ruled as a haemorrhage into the gastrointestinal tract, as well as esophageal and aortic wall erosion.
RELATED: The moment that forever changed our lives: "My daughter swallowed a button battery"
Before Johnathan's death, he had a high temperature and was throwing up blood. Source: Kennedy News and Media
"My son has secretly swallowed a button battery"
So in the midst of grieving their beloved son’s tragic death, Jackie and AJ had to figure out where Johnathan had possibly encountered the deadly object.
All too aware of the risks, the parents had kept all remotes in a bucket around a metre off the floor in the kitchen so their kids couldn't reach them.
“We went to where we kept the remotes and discovered the keyfinder remote's back was off. We hadn't seen it and we had no idea the battery was missing, we blamed ourselves,” Jackie said.
Unbearably wracked with guilt, the heartbroken parents tried to work out when Johnathan might have been able to sneak into the bowl. They quickly realised that there was only one possible time that it could have happened – during the 20-minute rush to get ready for daycare the previous Wednesday.
It was later that day Jackie had received a call from the centre to inform her that Johnathan had woken up from nap time surrounded by a puddle of blood. At the time, an ambulance was called with paramedics suggesting that Johnathan had simply suffered a nose bleed.
This sounded reasonable to Jackie, but she did decide to follow-up with their family paediatrician when Johnathan’s temperature shot up to 38.3 degrees later that evening.
RELATED: Mum’s call for help after toddler swallows 22 batteries
No one knew that Johnathan, pictured here with four-year-old brother Michael, had swallowed a button battery that ended his life. Source: Kennedy News and Media
"Parents, please be aware of the dangers of button batteries"
The toddler was swabbed for COVID-19 and given a chest X-ray before doctors suggested that he simply had a bad case of bronchiolitis Nobody realised that Johnathan actually had a button battery inside his digestive system that was quickly burning through the tissue.
“The damage from those batteries can cause damage for days and I think that's what happened. It was eroding through and when it hit the aorta on Sunday that was it, there was nothing else that could be done," Jackie said.
Instead, just days after Christmas, Jackie and AJ laid their beloved son to rest in a heartbreaking service, wishing that he was still there beside them.
“It's not the way that life's supposed to go. How do you pick a nice spot in the ground for your child?” Jackie emotionally said.
“I just want to make every parent aware of the dangers and make people realise just how many devices have these batteries all over your home.”
Jackie went on to say that after losing Johnathan, she and AJ learnt that something as simple as covering the back of the remote in duct tape might have saved their son.
“Duct tape is hard for adults to get off, a two-year-old is not going to be able to open it. I can't bring back Johnathan, but if there is anything I can do to make more parents search through their homes, then that's something," she urged. | https://www.kidspot.com.au/news/us-toddler-dies-after-secretly-swallowing-button-battery/news-story/4c8f8436251a1ed6aed2e97999bef05f?nk=383a920b649def138e89d8037533ea71-1615098453 |
Q:
How to do this specific sql left join using sequelize?
I tried to make a DB structure for voting system using sequelize like below:
PollAnswer = sequelize.define('PollAnswer', {answer: DataTypes.STRING});
PollQuestion = sequelize.define('PollQuestion', {question: DataTypes.STRING});
VotingHistory = sequelize.define('VotingHistory', {});
User = sequelize.define('User', {name: DataTypes.STRING});
PollAnswer.belongsTo(PollQuestion); //every question has many answers
VotingHistory.belongsTo(PollQuestion);
VotingHistory.belongsTo(PollAnswer);
VotingHistory.belongsTo(User);
I want to write a query to receive the answers of a specific question and their vote counts in VotingHistory table, I did it using folowing sql command and response was what I expected:
select count(VotingHistory.PollAnswerId), PollAnswer.answer from PollAnswers
left join VotingHistories on PollAnswer.id = VotingHistory.PollAnswerId group by PollAnswers.id
expected response:
answer count
------------
ans1 10
ass2 2
ans3 0
But when using sequelize to query the same thing like below:
VotingHistory.findAll({
where:{PollQuestionId: req.params.poll},
attributes:[[sequelize.fn('count', sequelize.col('PollAnswerId')), 'count']],
group:['PollAnswerId'],
include:[{
model:PollAnswer,
attributes:['id','answer']
}]
})
it just returns this:
answer count
------------
ans1 10
ass2 2
my question is:
how can I get the expected response that above sql command query returns, using sequelize?
A:
You should use PollAnswer.findAll, sequelize.fn and include PollHistory, see a similar solution
| |
Jainism ( जैनधर्म – Jainadharma) is one of the most environmentally conscious religions in the world. The religion is based on the principal of non-violence towards all living beings. The religion is thought to have its roots in the Indus Valley Civilization and the later Vedic Civilization, a period of intense philosophical deliberations on the Indian subcontinent. Jainism was firmly established in India between 9th and 6th century BC. Today, there are over 4 million followers of Jainism in India and around the world.
Vardhaman Mahavir
The most important religious holiday for Jains worldwide is Mahavir Jayanti, the birthday of Lord Mahavir. Lord Mahavir was the 24th and the last Tirthankar in Jainism who played an important role in defining the Jain religion as it exists today.
Bhagwaan Mahavir, who is also known as Vardhaman Mahavir, was born in 599 BC in Kundgram near Vaishali of Bihar in India in the royal family of King Siddartha and Queen Trishala . After 30 years as a householder, he abandoned his family and went to the forests to perform a penance. After about 12 and half years of severe penance he attained “Keval Gyan” (Omniscience). Since then he preached non violence to people and insisted to inculcate the feeling of compassion towards all forms of living beings. He, himself set as an excellent example by remaining calm and forgiving all the creatures who imposed severe austerities on him. He is the last tirthankar of the 24 tirthankaras , who attained salvation on New Moon Day of Kartik, 527 B.C.E at Pavapuri in state of Bihar in India.
Non violence – the basis of Jainism
”Ahimsa-paramo-dharmah” (non-injury to living beings) is one of the basic virtues of Jainism. To kill a living being is considered to be the greatest of sins. Practice of non violence is not just limited to humans or animals but is extended to all forms of life. All living beings are regarded as equal. Jainism also stresses on the moral responsibility of the humans in their mutual dealings and relationships with the rest of the universe and hence it is a religion of compassion – it aims at the welfare of all living beings. An important principle of Jainism is expressed in Sutrakrta-anga (1.11.33) as follows:
A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.
Apart from preventing oneself from act of injury or killing, Jainism also considers controlling emotions like aggression, possession, and consumption that are usually the root causes of violence in today’s world.
The core beliefs of Jainism demonstrate how close the beliefs are to the ethos of environmental sustainability.
Nature and Jainism
Jain Agams depict nature in a very unique way as it says that five main elements of nature; ”Prithvi” (land, soil, stones, etc), ”Jal” (Water resources including cloud), ”Agni” (Fire), ”Vayu” (Air) and ”Aakash” (Sky) are living creatures and must be treated as living beings. These five types of elements go on to form five classes of beings (as shown alongside) such as vegetation, trees and plants, fungi and animals. This unique concept of Jainism restricts its followers to harm any creature and eventually leads to limited consumption as well as help in protecting environment.
Lord Mahavira, who lived in forests and jungles most of the times during his asceticism, attained Keval gyan (omniscience) on the bank of river Rijuvalika below a shal tree. It is noteworthy that Mahavira is the 24th and last Tirthankar of Jain and all others also lived their ascetic life in similar manner. They preached sitting in Samavasharana after enlightenment. The Samavasharana itself is a complete ecosystem. Lord Mahavira has clearly warned in Acharanga Sutra, first Jain Anga Sutra, that contamination of any natural resources is not desirable in any case. He has gone in to details of contamination. Jainism considers these as weapons to creatures (natural resources).
One of the ways Jain monks or the followers of Jainism, observe non violence is by restraining themselves from eating the roots like potato, radish, carrots, ginger etc, especially during the 4 months of rainy season. The reason behind this is they think that during harvest of these vegetables, earth is dug out and the soil organisms are killed more during rainy season. Jains called this period as “Chaumasu” or “Chaturmas”. In this period, even the monks do not wander from one place to another in order to avoid any unintentional killing of any form of life. For example, on a rainy day, they would observe fasts as they cannot walk on the wet streets to get “Gochari” (get food for themselves).
Jain scriptures motivate people for minimal consumption. They emphasize on ”Tyaga” (Sacrifice). Jain ‘‘Sharavaka” / ”Shravikas” (Laymen and women) are preached to minimize their ”Bhoga” (Consumables). The seventh vow for Jain households is ”Bhogopbhog Pariman Vrata” (Vow). This vow restricts them from unlimited consuming of natural resources. Moreover, this vow is a ”Shiksha Vrata” (Educational vow). It preaches its observers to learn and educate themselves towards limiting their consumables.
Why India needs better public health?
They say that change always involves a pivotal event that can drastically change the course of things in a new direction. Change is often necessary be it in the way we think or in major things e.g. the way we deal with things of national importance. Revolutions in science and technology often change the course of human life and one such change deemed to happen is in global public health. We are currently on the verge of experiencing a third wave of revolution in science.
The first happened about two decades ago when scientists began understanding that DNA was the basis of genetic transmission and the first animal Dolly was cloned. The second revolution happened around the early 1990s when scientists started understanding the molecular and cellular basis of genetic events. According to the latest report by UNFPA, the human population on this planet is 7 billion and this huge population certainly poses numerous challenges and at the same time several opportunities to tackle the problems at hand. India is currently the second most populated country in the world and by 2015, the population is predicted to rise making India one of the most populated countries in the world. If we fast forward and extrapolate to 2020, India will still remain one of the most populated countries in the world, though world population would seem to plateau at that time. These numbers for population of India are not unexpected. China has taken drastic measures to control their population by implementing several policies where India has obviously failed. But these increasing population numbers mean huge impacts on public health and since Indians will constitute about 17% of the world population they will have a significant impact on global public health too.
The need for better public health cannot be overstated here. What we fail to understand is the health of a nation is pivotal to its economic growth. Currently, the population of US is increasing steadily but this increase is due to migration of the youth and due to the high standard of living and good public health practices and strict environmental regulation, issues of public health are seemingly less of a concern as compared to a country of 1.2 billion people like India.
Another issue particularly relevant to India is of environmental injustice which arises as an offshoot of having huge populations reside in a small square kilometer areas surrounding major cities. Most people residing in such areas belong to low-income households who can barely afford 2 meals a day let alone feel or even bother about environmental pollution surrounding them. Good health facilities are available mostly to the higher income households who can afford to eat and live better.
How can find a solution to these issues? In my opinion, what we really need is an institute analogous to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that monitors on-going environmental degradation, puts legislation on emissions, hazardous waste emitting industries, and designs ways to controls epidemics arising in the affected areas. Large scale programs such as National health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES) assess health and nutritional status of people in the United States. These models or systems may not exactly be applicable to India. The job at hand is large. But we can atleast build models similar to those in developed countries Several agencies such as Center for Science and Environment (CSE-India) and other NGOs are trying to alleviate the problem at hand by generating awareness among the masses. But this just seems like a drop of in the vast ocean of environmental degradation. We need to develop a long range vision for toxicity testing along with public health measures which could involve:
- Establishing institutions that will solely govern the status of public health. Primary health clinics in these areas can work with regional hospitals documenting cases of diseases such as tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, HIV to cancers of the cervix, lung etc.
- Give grants to small institutions to conduct research on nearby-areas simply documenting preliminary studies of effect of chemical contamination on human cells.
- Create awareness at the grass root levels e.g. Schools, primary health centers, NGOs can talk with people about the industries nearby, talk with parents regarding their child’s health, provide free medicines at the beginning of each season, free vaccination camps etc.
- Reduce the use of plastics drastically. Take measures to properly recycle metal tins, nickel containing batteries, wires, e-waste, electronics especially in ship breaking areas ,junkyards or places where salvage workers come in direct contact with toxic metals and chemicals.
- Proper identification and documentation of hazardous waste sites across the country. Each site should then be studied systematically encouraging collaboration between scientists, public health doctors, local NGOs and citizens or village folk.
These methods are not guaranteed ways of achieving success over the perils of environmental degradation and public health problems affecting India today but hopefully a few steps in the right direction can make a lasting impact.
If you are interested please see the link below that points towards a series of articles published in the medical journal –The Lancet, focusing on the state of Indian public health.
Official state symbols of India – plants and animals
It is quite possible that you know the national symbols of India. You may know that the National Animal is the Tiger, the national tree is the Banyan Tree, the national bird is the Peacock and the national flower is Lotus. You may, perhaps, also be aware that the Gangetic Dolphin was recently declared the national Aquatic Mammal of India. However, you may not be aware of the symbols of the different states of India. I wasn’t too, and the information available online was not properly referenced. So, I decided to take advantage of the wiki setup we had with the Biodiversity of India website and compiled an exhaustive, well-referenced list of various state symbols.
What can this list be used for? Well, for starters, it is an educational resource. Teachers can quiz their children on various state symbols and ask them to describe each one of them, draw their pictures and research deeper on where they are found in their state. This list can be used by amateur conservationists, to generate awareness among the common man for conservation of these species. Conservation efforts over the past several decades have shown that if we project a certain flagship species – Tiger in India, Elephant in Africa, Orangutans in Indonesia – and create a movement for their conservation, countless other species also get saved in the process. The same strategy can be used in each state in India, by creating a movement around the state symbol.
The entire list of the official state symbols of India can be accessed here: Official flora and fauna of Indian states.
Climate change and the end of the Indus Valley Civilization
First published: Biodiversity of India
The states of Punjab and Sindh in Pakistan and Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat in India had a great river named Saraswati (now the Ghagra Hakra river) flowing through their lands, four thousand years ago. The world’s first large civilization – the Indus Valley Civilization – arose on the banks of the Saraswati and the Indus rivers. At its peak in 2000BC, cities of the IVC such as Harappa and Mohenjo Daro housed over two hundred thousand people. The civilization was thriving – it had culture, a symbolic language, trade, city planning and a central rule of law. However, the civilization mysteriously vanished around 1500 BC. Hundreds of thousands of people disappeared, cities were lade bare and large swathes of land turned into deserts. Very few traces of this civilization are to be found in the next stage of India’s history – the Vedic civilization. What happened to all the people of the IVC? Why did such huge cities crumble to dust? Although several hypotheses have been proposed to address one of the biggest historical mysteries of all times, one leading explanation involves the role of climate change.
Many experts today believe that the IVC disintegrated after the Saraswati river started turning dry. Satellite imagery of the region along the Indo-Pakistan border clearly shows existence of vast underground channels where the mighty Saraswati once flowed. Most currently known sites of the IVC line perfectly along these channels, suggesting that these massive cities propped up along the banks of Saraswati. It is also believed that there was a general weakening of the monsoon system around 1500BC. It is believed that hordes of people migrated from the IVC and went towards the Gangetic plains or to Central Asia. Research has also shown that the new centers of activity arose east of the Saraswati a few hundred years after the Saraswati dried up.
Human civilization has existed in India for the past fifty thousand years – ever since the first pre-humans migrated out of Africa and proceeded towards the southern coastline of India. Millions of migrants and conquistadors have since entered India through the northwestern frontier. Most decided to stay here – the country had plentiful rivers, a beautiful landscape, fertile soil and an amazing biodiversity. The cultural evolution over the past two thousand years saw much of this nature get integrated into the lifestyle of the people. Right from having gods bearing pythons and elephant heads to finding medicinal uses of leaves and roots, from worshiping the rivers as deities to considering the earth as the Mother (Dharti Mataa), India’s nature got richly integrated into its culture. India, not just the country, but also the concept, exists because of its nature. As the example of the IVC shows, you destroy India’s nature and you’d have disintegrated its civilization.
This scenario is no longer a historical, or for that matter, a futuristic one. It is very much a problem this generation and the generations to come have to deal with. Climate change today is a reality. According to several scientific reports, India and its 1.5 billion people and countless species will be among the worst affected by climate change. Himalayan glaciers, for example, provide water to one third of the world’s population. These glaciers are the sources of our rivers like the Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra. What happens when the water starts running low? On the other side of the country lie the mighty Western Ghats. Rivers like the Cauvery and Krishna have their sources in the Western Ghats. These megadiverse ranges are the most human-inhabited biodiversity hotspots in the world. Predictions suggest that changing patterns of the monsoon winds will significantly change water availability and the ground water table in these regions. What will that mean for the people living in these areas? How will it affect the rich flora and fauna?
Questions like these are no longer hypothetical but very much a reality. This is no longer a time to take petty, superficial actions and put a plaster over the developing cracks. We are no longer dealing with petty issues like bringing CO2 emissions down to pre-1990 levels or signing nominal accords with foreign countries. We are certainly not dealing with petty divisions of language, caste and religion. We are at one of the biggest crossroads of the Indian civilization today. The scenario is much the same as what the people of the IVC faced four thousand years ago. We can either let the India of today degenerate into chaos or we can take bold actions with a sense of urgency. The kind of India our children inherit tomorrow is very much dependent on what action we take today. That is what we must all realize. | http://www.projectbrahma.org/category/environment/ |
110 F.3d 67
CHUMS, LTD., a Utah corporation, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
ALWAYS IN MIND, INC., a Louisiana corporation, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 96-56102.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Argued and Submitted Feb. 6, 1997.
Decided March 21, 1997.
NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel.
Before: D.W. NELSON and TROTT, Circuit Judges, and BRYAN, District Judge.*
MEMORANDUM**
Defendant/Appellant Always in Mind, Inc. ("AIM"), a distributor of SnugZ/USA ("SnugZ"), appeals the district court's denial of its motion to vacate the default judgment and the permanent injunction. Plaintiff/Appellee Chums, Ltd ("Chums") filed a complaint against AIM for misappropriation of two of Chums's products in violation of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) and for unfair and deceptive business practices in violation of Cal.Bus. and Prof.Code §§ 71001 et seq. When AIM failed to file an answer to Chums's complaint, a default judgment and a permanent injunction prohibiting AIM's distribution of SnugZ's products in California were entered.
AIM moved to vacate the judgment and permanent injunction pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b)(4), (b)(5), and (b)(6), arguing that a nearly identical case had been resolved in the Central District of Utah. AIM contended that, because the Utah case resulted in a judgment based on a jury's determination that SnugZ's products did not amount to misappropriation or unlawful infringement, the permanent injunction against AIM's distribution in California should be vacated. The district court denied the motion to vacate judgment pursuant to Rule 60(b)(1), finding that AIM's failure to answer the complaint and to oppose Chums's motion for default judgment was "culpable conduct that led to the default."
We review a district court' denial of a Rule 60(b) motion for abuse of discretion. Al-Torki v. Kaempen, 78 F.3d 1381, 1384 (9th Cir.1996); In Re Hammer, 940 F.2d 524, 525 (9th Cir.1991).
The policy considerations of Rule 60(b) limit the trial court's discretion in three ways. Hammer, 940 F.2d at 525. Those considerations are:
First, since Rule 60(b) is remedial in nature, it must be liberally applied. Second, default judgments are generally disfavored, and whenever it is reasonably possible, cases should be decided upon their merits. Third, where a defendant seeks timely relief from the judgment and has a meritorious defense, doubt, if any, should be resolved in favor of the motion to set aside the judgment.
Id. (citations and quotations omitted). A trial court considers three factors when it exercises its discretion to grant or deny a Rule 60(b) motion to vacate: 1) prejudice to the plaintiff if the judgment is set aside; 2) any meritorious defenses of the defendant; or 3) any culpable conduct by the defendant leading to the default. Id. This three-part analysis is a disjunctive one; a finding of one of the three factors can be sufficient to justify a district court's denial of a motion to vacate a default judgment. Id. (citing Cassidy v. Tenorio, 856 F.2d 1412, 1415 (9th Cir.1988)).
* AIM argues that the district court abused its discretion by applying the culpable conduct standard set forth in Hammer. AIM contends that the proper consideration is whether there are changed circumstances that render the default judgment void or unenforceable. AIM relies on Safe Flight Instrument Corp. v. United Control Corp., 576 F.2d 1340 (9th Cir.1978). There, the plaintiff succeeded in obtaining an injunction against the defendant's use of a "540" patent belonging to the plaintiff. Id. at 1342. The injunction resulted from a settlement agreement in a case that was filed in the Western District of Washington. Id. The plaintiff filed a similar action in the Central District of California against other defendants, which was pending but untried at the time of the Washington injunction. Id. In the California litigation, the "540" patent was found to be invalid. Id. Two years later, United Control Corp., the Washington defendant, moved to vacate the injunction issued in the Western District of Washington. That motion was granted and upheld on appeal. Id. at 1344.
AIM's reliance on the Safe Flight decision is misplaced. A critical distinction between this case and the Safe Flight case is the existence of a settlement agreement between the parties which stipulated that, if the patent was declared invalid, sale of the protected product would be allowed. Id. We upheld the district court's grant of relief, because it "was founded upon the express agreement of the parties as reflected in the Settlement Agreement; that relief simply holds plaintiff to its bargain and is hardly inconsistent with equitable principles." Id.
Considering the application of the culpable conduct factor under Rule 60(b), we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion. It is undisputed that AIM received actual notice of the complaint, and that AIM failed to answer the complaint. AIM does not provide any explanation for its failure to answer the complaint. These facts amount to culpable conduct. Hammer, 940 F.2d at 526 (finding culpable conduct when a party has received actual or constructive notice of the filing of the action and failed to answer the complaint); see also Al-Torki, 78 F.3d at 1385 (finding that a defendant's culpable conduct may outweigh other factors). Defendants should not be encouraged to fail to respond to one lawsuit in the hope that they will succeed elsewhere and can then return, with their successes, to vacate a default judgment. The district court's denial of AIM's motion to vacate judgment should be affirmed.
II
Chums presents an alternative argument: that counsel for AIM did not formally file a notice of appearance. Chums argues that counsel represents SnugZ, which is not a party to this case, and that their activities here amount to unauthorized representation.
Generally, an attorney may appear on behalf of a party by either filing a formal notice of appearance or filing pleadings on behalf of that party. Martinez-Zelaya v. I.N.S., 841 F.2d 294, 296 (9th Cir.1988) (finding that the personal appearance of an attorney was sufficient to demonstrate authority to represent a party, independent of filing designated form for "Entry of Appearance"). No evidence has been presented that AIM's counsel is not authorized to represent AIM. Chums's argument is not supported by fact or law.
III
Chums contends that this appeal is frivolous. "An appeal is frivolous if the result is obvious, or the arguments of error are wholly without merit." Wilcox v. Commissioner, 848 F.2d 1007, 1009 (9th Cir.1988). Under this standard, this appeal is not frivolous, and we reject Chums's argument.
CONCLUSION
The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying AIM's motion to vacate the judgment. There is no showing of fact or law to support Chums's contention that counsel for AIM have engaged in unauthorized representation. This appeal is not frivolous. The district court's denial of the motion to vacate default judgment and permanent injunction is affirmed.
AFFIRMED. | https://openjurist.org/110/f3d/67/chums-ltd-v-always-in-mind-inc |
Your Guide To Surviving In The End Times - From The Editors of ChristianMoney.com
06/30/2014
Two UFO Guys Cross Lightsabers Over Underwater Alien Base
A big story in recent days for the alternative media has been the discovery of an anomalous section of the ocean floor six miles off the coast of Port Dume, California. The story was originally reported by Jimmy Church, host of the Internet radio show Fade To Black. I am personally intrigued by the Google Earth pictures that Church has been posting and I mentioned this on my national show last night.
Underwater alien base? Located six miles off the coast of Port Dume California, the elliptical anomaly measures three miles in width and appears to have several columns. (source: Google Earth)
Early this morning, fellow UFO enthusiast and Huffington Post columnist, Lee Spiegel, appeared on Coast To Coast AM with George Knapp to discuss his own article. Spiegel said he was not going to mention the name of the Internet radio host that contacted him with the suggestion that he cover the story (but there is no doubt that he was making reference to Church). Spiegel claims that he was also expecting to appear on Church's Internet radio show to discuss his article, but was abruptly uninvited after his piece was published. The dust-up, according to Spiegel, stems from his reserved judgment, and mostly agnostic take of the anomaly (my paraphrase of his views from last night). Spiegel says that the experts he interviewed (that provided the counterpoint to Church's views) were also recommended to him by Church.
If the idea of an underground alien base was not enough to keep our attention, we now have what is shaping up to be a bitter feud between those reporting on it.
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Sorry to disappoint, but there is no bitter feud shaping up here. When Jimmy Church first contacted me about the Malibu underwater object, he insisted I call him back that same day because of the"urgency" of the discovery. I did call and I WAS intrigued by the Google Earth images, and decided to look into it and write a story (despite the fact that, after my story was published, Mr. Bill Birnes incorrectly suggested on Jimmy's show that I have to go through a whole special monitored editorial process at Huffington Post in order to get approval to write about certain things).
Throughout the entire process of my looking into this story, an article by Mark Kovar was (and still is) prominently displayed on Jimmy's radio show website. The headline and first sentence completely misleads the readers, and, in my opinion as a writer with a little bit of journalistic integrity, should have included a few important words like "alleged," "reported," "supposedly," etc. But, instead, it just blurts out the idea that this underwater object, is in fact, "a deep underwater base" and that it "appears to be the Holy Grail of UFO/USO researchers that have been looking for it over the last 40 years." That, my friends, is NOT what real investigative journalism is about -- to make blanket statements like that without providing any real evidence to back it up.
During the course of my own research into the underwater object, Jimmy suggested two individuals for me to interview -- a geologist and an Egyptologist -- who, he said would give me excellent quotes and opinions for my story. Jimmy was right about that.
While I was putting the story together, Jimmy and I had quite a bit of contact, and he told me that as soon as it was ready and published, he'd want me to come on his show to talk about it.
On the day that my piece was published, I send it to Jimmy and fully expected him to confirm my appearance on his show. Instead, he emailed me to let me know that he'd be discussing my story on his show later that night...but when he didn't mention that he wanted me to join him, I knew that something wasn't quite right.
Later that evening, I tuned into the show to discover Jimmy talking about how one-sided my article was, that it relied too heavily on the testimony of two of the people (the geologist and Egyptologist, who Jimmy wanted me to interview in the first place), and that my story placed too much emphasis on the idea that the underwater object may simply have a natural geological explanation.
That's not necessarily where I originally thought my research would take me, but as my friend nuclear physicist Stanton Friedman is always saying: "Go where the evidence leads you." Wise words for investigating ANY unexplained phenomena.
It was obvious from the tone of the radio show that Jimmy and his other invited guests were unhappy that my article didn't go in the direction they had hoped it would.
"Go where the evidence leads you."
And don't get me started on listening to Bill Birnes spouting off about the process that I probably go through at Huffington Post in order to get my stories published. He has NO idea what he's talking about, and has NO right to presume anything about me or the organization I work for. He has never met me or ever talked to me. And without getting into specifics here, I know for a fact that Mr. Birnes hasn't always given out accurate information about UFO stories that he's reported on in the past. I repeat: I know this for a fact. So, he has no right to be sounding off on these matters.
As for Jimmy wondering why I interviewed him for my story vs. talking with other more influential members of the UFO "community," that's pretty simple. It didn't matter who I interviewed who may have felt this underwater object is an alleged (see how I correctly use that word?) UFO or alien base. What I found in my research was that there is no definitive evidence of that -- it's more speculation and conjecture, i.e. the fact that there've been many sightings of UFOs/USOs in this area, or that this underwater object seems to be situated in a geographic region that's allegedly within the coordinates of military installations, etc.
Speculation is NOT evidence. Geological research is closer to evidence, and this underwater object was not discovered by Jimmy or the others who were involved with these Google Earth images in the beginning. As my article pointed out, there had already been previous scientific research done about this underwater region -- years ago.
"Go where the evidence leads you."
Also, Mr. Paris, when you paraphrased my views as stemming "from his reserved judgment and mostly agnostic take of the anomaly," like many others, you feel like you have the right to interpret my motives or reasons for saying or writing something. My reputation in this field is strongly based on the notion that I don't offer any judgment about the things I write about -- that's not my job.
My job (despite what I might believe personally) is to gather information from different sources and put that information into cohesive articles that offer different points of view to help readers decide for themselves which way the "evidence" leads them.
That's exactly how I wrote my Malibu underwater object story and I won't apologize to anyone out there who may be unhappy that I didn't more fully support the idea that we're dealing with a UFO-alien base out there in the water.
I went where the evidence took me and I offered it up, I didn't have to get permission from anyone to write it that way, and I never have to wait for editorial approval. The Huffington Post trusts me to write stories based on my years of credibility -- that's why they hired me.
If we all adhere to the mantra of "go where the evidence leads you," this whole UFO-alien issue will be much better off.
| |
27th August 2014:
The Romans of Fane Road project includes heritage walks and talks, a community excavation, and popular publication. A lot has happened since the project was launched last November.
The heritage learning sessions have so far proved very popular. The basic format includes a talk by a range of specialist speakers followed by a ‘hands on’ session. The talks have included a range of subjects focused on the Peterborough area or the community excavation. The heritage walks have also proved popular with over 60 people attending the walk around Durobrivae in May led by Dr Stephen Upex and David Kenny (English Heritage), and over 30 people being guided around the multi-period site at Flag Fen.
Since the start of the year, David Crawford-White and colleagues have spoken to eight groups, among the Young Archaeologists’ Club, a youth club, and local history societies, and three schools leading up to the community excavation.
With the first enrolments for the community excavation being received soon after the launch event, it has been a busy few months preparing and then running the community excavation. In the end, over 120 volunteers took part in the 20-day excavation in May and June. The volunteers on site were supported by a small dedicated team of OA East staff (James Fairbairn, Toby Knight, Steve Morgan and Rhiannon Philp). The excavation period covered the summer school half-term, thereby allowing families to get involved.
David relied heavily on volunteers in the administration and preparation of the community excavation, with support from Nick Carr, Paul Clarkson, Rick Kelly, Terry Mortlock, Brian Parsley, Catherine Potter and Gill Willis. Volunteers dealt with enquiries from schools and groups, produced lists, sourced equipment, helped to pack the van, assisted in the setting up and taking down of the compound, as well as taking general photographs, organising the finds processing with schools, talking to visitors on site, etc. While some volunteers made the tea and coffee (donated by Morrisons), cakes were brought in for the break times as well as eggs for the early morning egg sandwiches for OA East staff! The allotment has a large number of resident hens.
A range of different activities took place during the excavation. These included four open days (two with re-enactors), one open evening, numerous site tours for local schools, as well as several day and evening site tours for local groups. One of the highlights of the community excavation was the successful construction and firing of a Roman-type kiln. Jon Cane (freelance illustrator/potter), with support from Wendy Gamble (potter/allotment holder), constructed the kiln in the main compound. Some 150 pre-made pots, all decorated with a slip by visitors, were fired overnight. The results were impressive, with just five pots not surviving the wood fired kiln.
Apart from excavations, there were plenty of finds for the volunteers to process. Also during lunch breaks, OA East staff and volunteers gave a range of tool-box talks on such diverse subjects as aerial photography, drawing a section, and Ely Cathedral.
The once suggested southern wing of the villa was not established, although close to the southern baulk of this trench there was a large area of demolition and robbed foundations. The villa certainly did not extend south into Trench Two where a terrace wall was found running west east, below which and abutting the wall was another cobbled surface. Two small test pits were excavated close by, and again in both a cobbled surface, probably related to that abutting the stone wall, was found. This potentially extensive cobbled surface was considerably lower than anything found in Trench One, suggesting a lower terrace south of the villa.
A typical range of finds associated with a Roman villa were found, including bone, pottery, nails, painted wall plaster, a large amount of mortar, window glass, CBM and tessarae. Other finds included several coins, two bow brooches, worked bone and six loomweights associated with Iron Age features. From this material, much of which was found in the topsoil and demolition layer, a set of teaching resources will be developed for use in local schools.
Throughout the community excavation the site attracted a range of casual visitors, including owners of the new properties built on the Itter Crescent site. Others included allotment holders and local people who followed the signs from the adjacent Itter Park. We also had a visit from Debra Milligan (HLF Award Officer) and the local MP, Stewart Jackson.
This very successful community excavation could not have taken place without support from the city archaeologist (Dr Rebecca Casa-Hatton), permission from the land owners (Peterborough City Council) and the Fane Road Allotment Association (Liz Law). The organiser would also like to thank in particular two allotment holders, Wendy Gamble and Steve Bettany (and family) for their involvement. Two other volunteers that also need a special mention are Terry Mortlock and Katie Green. Terry volunteered on the Itter Crescent excavation and this time returned to support OA East staff in the finds processing area. Katie, who worked for OA East in the past, and was more recently a community archaeologist in Lincolnshire, supported David, who had up to 90 pupils a day coming to the site to take part in a range of different activities.
Now that the community excavation is over, David, with support from volunteers, is working through the post-excavation phase and planning the community excavation exhibition on Saturday 25th October at a local community centre. | https://oxfordarchaeology.com/news/336-romans-of-fane-road-update |
The fifth in a series of international parliamentary events in follow-up to the publication of Assuring our Common Future: a parliamentary handbook on disarmament for security and sustainable development.
Thursday, September 29, 2022
Session A: Timed for Asia/Pacific: 7:00 Central Europe Time (CET)
Session B: Timed for the Americas/Europe/Africa: 17:00 Central Europe Time (CET)
Co-organised by PNND and the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Event concept note: English / French
Outer space is becoming increasingly important in information, communication and control systems that guide and manage our daily lives, scientific research, and international business. It is also becoming increasingly important in military operations on the ground, specifically for surveillance and communication, and in providing guidance for military strikes. And it is being contemplated as a potential battlefield of the future.
A number of countries are researching, developing, and testing systems for anti-satellite warfare and other applications of force into or from space. There are several international agreements protecting outer space for peaceful purposes, but they are limited in scope and are not sufficient to address key issues and developments impacting space security.
Parliamentary oversight, national regulations, and a strengthening of international agreements is vital to protecting space for our common good; In an evolving context of international tensions, it is vital to ensure that outer space remains free from weaponization and continues to be a realm of scientific breakthroughs, international cooperation, peace, and understanding.
This webinar will focus on the role of parliaments and parliamentarians in protecting space for peace and our common heritage. It will draw upon information, recommendations, and examples of effective policy from the Outer Space section of the joint publication Assuring our Common Future: A guide to parliamentary action in support of disarmament for security and sustainable development.
Speakers
- Tan Sri Mazlan Othman (Malaysia), Founder of the Malaysian Space Agency. Former Director of the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs;
- Hon Phil Twyford MP (New Zealand). Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control (Ministerial responsibility for New Zealand’s space launch regulations);
- Dr Setsuko Aoki (Japan), Professor of Law (specializing in Space Law) at Keio University Law School and Deputy Director of the International Institute of Space Law;
- Melusine Lebret (France). Graduate student, LSE European Institute. Member of the PNND/Youth Fusion team producing the Outer Space for Peace podcast series;
- Paul Meyer (Canada). Fellow, Outer Space Institute. Adjunct Professor of International Studies and Fellow in International Security at Simon Fraser University.
- plus others to be confirmed
Registration
Registration for Session A: Timed for Asia/Pacific: 7:00 CET
Registration for Session B: Timed for the Americas/Europe/Africa: 17:00 CET
Objectives of the event
- Increase awareness of the connections between disarmament, peace, and outer space;
- Identify challenges and opportunities that could help parliaments play a more active role in ensuring peaceful uses of outer space;
- Share ‘good parliamentary practices and effective policies on disarmament in outer space.
Language:
The event will take place as an online webinar.
Session 1 in English.
Session 2 in English, with simultaneous translation in French and Spanish.
Space for Peace podcast series
PNND and Youth Fusion are producing a Space for Peace podcast series in conjunction with the September 29 webinar. The first episode in the series is now available at Space for Peace: A Conversation with Professor Paul Meyer. | https://www.youth-fusion.org/webinars/for-outer-space-to-remain-our-common-good/ |
JOB DETAILS:
In accordance with Nig. CARs Part 9.2.2.2 & IS 9.2.2.2, the minimum initial qualifications for the advertised position are as follows:
- Hold a valid Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) with the appropriate ratings for at least one of the aircraft listed in the AOC holder’s operations; and 3 years’ experience as Pilot in Command (PIC) in commercial air transport operations on Large or Small aircraft.
- Note: Previous experience as DFO, Chief Pilot, flight safety officer, flight technical officer and flight training manager of an AOC holder will an added advantage.
The skills required include the following:
- Knowledge of the Nigeria Civil of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs);
- Knowledge of the NCAA’s five (5) phases of the AOC certification process;
- Ability to operate computers, including knowledge of Microsoft Office;
- Ability to use sound business judgement to resolve issues;
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing;
- Knowledge of Project Management;
- Broad Industry Experience;
- Ability to lead and bring out the best performance in the teams;
- Ability to work independently as well as in collaboration with team members;
- Ability to work under demanding conditions, prioritize and execute with a sense of urgency and deliver excellent outputs;
- Critical thinking and strong decision-making skills.
As required by Civil Aviation Regulations, the individuals who serve in the above position must:
- Be qualified through training, experience and expertise;
- Discharge their duties to meet applicable legal requirements and maintain safe operations and
- To the extent of their responsibilities, have a full understanding of Aviation Safety Standards and Safe Operating practices and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.
Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: [email protected] using the “Job Title” as the subject of the email. | https://recruitmenttrust.com/jobs/chief-pilot-at-a-startup-airline-avarun-consulting-limited/ |
Click here to Order a Custom answer to this Question from our writers. It’s fast and plagiarism-free.
Case Study is attached in PDF Format. Please read it to its entirety.
Case Study
Instructions
Survey, question, read and review the information in the case study provided. Select the key problems and issues in the
case study. Read and review the five case study questions provided.
In addition to answering the case study questions, be sure and establish sufficient background information, relevant facts
as well as the most important issues. Be sure and demonstrate that you have researched the problems in this case study.
In addition, each paper should be neatly typed, should use appropriate graphics, and should be approximately 5- 7 pages
in length, not counting title page, reference page(s) or appendices. Should be doubled-space, 12 pt font Times New
Roman, 1 inch margins, and adheres to current APA guidelines.
As you answer the five case study questions provided, be sure and include specific and realistic solutions or changes that
are needed. Evaluate the pertinent segments of the case study. Analyze what is working and what is not working. Support
your proposed solutions with solid and substantive evidence including information from the course textbook, discussions
and the weekly lessons presented thus far in our course.
Assemble the specific strategies that you propose for accomplishing the solutions. Recommend any further action that
should be taken. In essence, what should be done and who should do it and why should they do this?
Closing the golf – preparing US Executives for Assignments in Mexico
On a summer’s day in 2017, Charles Ramoz-Ramírez was chairing a meeting of the six most senior employees of the HR
consultancy he established almost five years ago. His decision to establish the consultancy was an extremely difficult one
for him, as he held a senior, well-paid and secure position as an HR executive within a Multi-National Corporation (MNC)
based in New York. This HR position within the MNC involved training and developing professional executive staff such as
engineers and project managers to undertake overseas assignments mainly in Spanish-speaking countries in South
America.
At this meeting with his senior staff, Charles reminded them about the history of the consultancy for which they now work.
He reminded them that there were two main reasons which underpinned his decision to leave the employment of the MNC
and set up the consultancy business. First, he found himself being invited to deliver, on an increasingly frequent basis,
specialized training sessions on expatriate programs organized by independent training organizations and even other
MNCs. He concluded from the frequency of these requests that there was a scarcity of HR professionals who possessed
genuine expertise in preparing US executives for assignments in Mexico. Second, he did not agree with his HR director’s
view of expatriate training which was very much a case of ‘send them and see’. That is, his HR director did not doubt that
pre-departure training for expatriates was helpful, but she did not see it as a critical success factor. Charles’s view was
that pre-departure training of expatriates was not just helpful; he saw it as a prerequisite for any overseas assignment no
matter what its duration. His belief in the value of pre-departure training thus became a key operating principle of the CRR
Expatriate Development consultancy organization which he formed on the day he left the employment of the MNC. In
essence, Charles established a consultancy which aimed to design and deliver in-house pre-departure training programs
for employees of US MNCs who would be taking up assignments in Spanish-speaking countries in South America.
The approach by the MNC: problems with Employee’s Pre-departure training
After reminding his senior staff of how the consultancy came into being, Charles explained to them that a recent event had
served to convince him that the emphasis he placed on the training of expatriates was fully justified. Charles informed
them that he had recently been approached by the current HR director of the MNC which had previously employed him.
(The previous HR director for whom Charles worked had retired approximately two years ago.) The current HR director
told Charles that, over the last 12 months, the senior management of the MNC had become increasingly concerned about
the general failure of its expatriate workforce to adjust to life in Mexico. As a result, the HR department had commissioned
an independent training needs analysis. Part of this analysis was based on responses from 40 engineers who had
returned home in the last two years from assignments in Mexico. Charles proceeded to inform his staff about the findings
of this analysis which were supplied to him by the HR director of the MNC.
The independent analysis provided a fascinating insight into the pre-departure training that the 40 employees had
received. Notably, only 25 of them had received any formal pre-departure training at all. Subsequent investigations
revealed no obvious explanation as to why the remaining 15 staff had received no formal training. Further, when the
MNC’s training records were examined, they showed that the duration of the training received by the 25 staff varied
tremendously. See Table 1.
Table 1: Length of Pre-departure Training Received by the 25 Employees
1 to 5 days 6 to 10 days 11 to 15 days More than 15 days
Number of employees 6 3 11 5
Again, organizational records offered no obvious explanation as to why these 25 employees received training which
varied so much in terms of duration.
The training needs analysis document proceeded to report further information about the nature of the pre-departure
training received by the group of 25 employees. The 25 employees experienced various pre-departure training methods
such as lectures and tutorials including basic language classes, access to online material about Mexico, and cultural
awareness workshops delivered by an outside training agency. Prior to their assignments, four of the 25 employees were
offered the opportunity to undertake seven-day field visits to Mexico. These visits enabled them to meet colleagues
already based in Mexico and to visit organizations and places in Mexico that were linked to their assignments. The
variation in the pre-departure training received by the 25 employees made it difficult to evaluate the employees’ views
about the effectiveness of the pre-departure training they had received. Some anecdotal evidence presented in the
analysis did, however, indicate that seven employees who accessed online training material found it to be of little value in
terms of cultural preparation for their assignments.
Finally, with an eye on future training, the 40 employees who had returned from assignments in Mexico were asked to
identify the two biggest challenges that they had faced when working in Mexico. A summary of their responses to this
question is presented in Table 2.
Table 2: The ‘Two Biggest Challenges’ Faced by the Employees (N=40) During Their Assignments in Mexico
‘Biggest Challenge’
Number of employees
citing this challenge*
Communication problems with local workers 28
Technical issues relating to their work 15
Traveling within Mexico 10
Health and diet issues 10
Accommodation issues 6
Loneliness/boredom 4
Safety including crime 3
Pressure from family in USA 2
Other challenges cited by only one employee 2
*Total number of responses is 80, that is, two responses per employee
The implications of the analysis
At this point of the meeting, Charles revealed to his team that, on reading the fairly scathing independent report on pre-
departure training, the board of directors of the MNC reached the conclusion that training for employees undertaking
assignments in Mexico was a priority issue. The members of the board decided that they wanted to bring in an external
consultancy with real expertise in this area. It was opportune that the independent investigation into current training
arrangements had unearthed a number of documents in which Charles, during the time he was employed by the MNC,
had expressed his concern with the training that employees were receiving to prepare them for their overseas
assignments. It was quickly established that Charles had left the MNC in order to open a consultancy specializing in this
very issue.
Charles then informed his colleagues: ‘The HR director of the MNC is commissioning CRR Expatriate Development to
design and facilitate a ten-day long pre-departure programmed for 30 engineers and project managers who will be taking
up medium-term (that is, six months to one year) assignments in Mexico over the next year. Using the information, we
already have from the independent analysis, I want us to put together an initial draft of what this training programme
should look like.’
Case Study Questions
1. Assume that you are a member of the senior team of CRR Expatriate Development. On the basis on the case study
material and also your wider knowledge of the subject area, highlight what you think should be included in the content of
the new ten-day pre-departure program for the 30 engineers and project managers.
2. Having drawn up your list of the essential elements of this program, (a) explain why you think that each element is
necessary, and (b) state how much program time you would devote to each element.
3. Assuming that you were permitted access to the 40 employees who have already completed their assignments in Mexico,
state what further information you would seek from them to help you to design the ten-day pre-departure program.
Case Study Questions for Further Reflection
1. Highlight what further information you would seek about (a) the 30 engineers and project managers, and (b) their
forthcoming assignments in Mexico, before finalizing the design and content of the pre-departure program.
2. Explain how you would seek to augment the content of a program, such as the one you are proposing, with ongoing
cultural training during an expatriate’s assignment.
Reiche, B. S., Harzing, A., Tenzer, H., International Human Resource Management. [devry]. Retrieved from
https://devry.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781526454928/ pp. 393-395
Grading Rubric
Criteria Descriptions
Background Set the stage, established background information, described fully the situation.
Analysis of the Five
Questions
Answered the five questions fully and completely. Included key problems and issues. Answers provided
are indicative of graduate level thinking, analysis and writing.
Solutions /
Recommendations
Solutions proffered; changes suggested. Analysis complete and thorough. Evidence from
academically appropriate third-party sources provided. Information provided indicates graduate
level thinking and analysis as does the writing.
Paper Layout / Editing /
Grammar
Writing Style and paper layout. Conforms to current APA Style guide. Overall length of paper is sufficient
free of grammatical, spelling, and formatting errors. | https://answerstohomework.com/case-study-ard4-case-study-is-attached-in-pdf-format-please-read-it-to-its-entirety-case-study-instructions-survey-question-read-and-review-the-info/ |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.