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CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS 2014 is the ATFPDR’s year of Urban Outdoors. Urban Green Citizenship is a unique local workshop which combines non-formal learning with direct community work and active experience of open air workshop festival Give&Get. It will bring together youth workers, youth leaders and NGO workers from across Europe, providing them with an opportunity to share their experiences in the field and learn from other participants the different approaches to youth work in cities when it comes to green urban activism. By this workshop we aim to: give young people the possibility to experience sustainable living, community building, new ways of youth participation, personal expression and development; let young people actively experience the magic of the Give&Get festival providing workshops and activities for festival participants and getting involved in community service - check the video from the festival in 2013 - http://www.giveandget.lv/en/galleries/21-give-get-2013; analyse environmental impact of living in a city and countryside, discover possibilities to reduce ecological footprint of urban living and bring new initiatives to community; inspire and connect young people by letting them explore the ways to make their communities become liveable. The activity will be based on non-formal education principles and enable participants to share knowledge, acquire competences and hands-on skills on urban green living, tackling not only overall knowledge of green living, but also democratic competences of reclaiming spaces in cities and engaging in legal forms of activism in order to promote green values and initiatives in the cities. Participants will also gain knowledge and experience in such community building practices like gift economy, urban gardening, sharing and bartering. Trainers of the course are Ilze Jece and Stanislavs Babins. Apply for the workshop, if you: - are proactive and both want to learn and share your knowledge on the course topic - have a workshop to offer for other participants and festival attendees - are enthusiastic about non-formal learning - have engagement in a local organization and experience, or have a high interest, in running urban green activities with local community - wish to act as a multiplier in your own community by introducing new concepts of urban activism - are able to understand and speak good English - are willing to live in a tent and eat vegetarian food while on the course The participants will be selected taking into account gender balance, geographical scope and their previous experience/involvement in green urban projects and local and international youth work. When and where? How much will it cost you? 15 March 2014,Casa Stiintei Ostroveni”Ramnicu Valcea No participation fee. How to apply? Follow this link for the application form: www.atfpdr.eu All of you selected for the local workhsop will be informed personally via e-mail until 10th of Marchl 2014. This project is kindly supported by the European Comission through Youth in Action Programme,Action 3.2-Youth in the world.

http://www.atfpdr.ro/index.php/en/news/133-local-workshop-of-green-youth-citizens-project

# Underwater search and recovery Underwater search and recovery is the process of locating and recovering underwater objects, often by divers, but also by the use of submersibles, remotely operated vehicles and electronic equipment on surface vessels. Most underwater search and recovery is done by professional divers as part of commercial marine salvage operations, military operations, emergency services, or law enforcement activities. Minor aspects of search and recovery are also considered within the scope of recreational diving. ## Professional search and recovery The scope of professional search and recovery includes the following applications: Marine archeology - search for artifacts of historical interest and importance, and where applicable the recovery of such artifacts for study. Marine salvage - search for lost material of value and recovery thereof Environmental protection - search for environmentally undesirable material and disposal thereof Forensic S&R - search for and recovery of material relevant to police investigations Emergency S&R - Search for and recovery of victims of accidents and disasters Military S&R - Search and recovery related to military operations and material Scientific S&R - search for objects of scientific interest, recovery of instrumentation and samples ## Recreational search and recovery Search and recovery diving is also frequently undertaken as part of recreational diving, and most diver training organisations have dedicated training courses on the subject. Search and recovery is generally considered a more hazardous speciality diving course. Underwater search and recovery used to form a mandatory component of the Advanced Open Water Diver training course for many North American diver training agencies, which, in addition to learning basic search and recover skills, also assisted in teaching students to cope with task loading. Although the scale, value and equipment used in commercial and recreational search and recovery are enormously different, the basic premise remains the same in each case. ## Search ### Diver search Underwater searches, much like above water searches, are designed around specific search patterns. The most common forms of underwater search patterns are: Circular search Jackstay search Expanding square search "U" pattern search The patterns are usually performed by divers in pairs or teams below the water, but they can also be conducted by use of a tender who may be a snorkeller at the surface, a person on a towing boat, or a person located on the shore. In simple search operations, the patterns will usually be conducted by the divers simply looking visually for the object. In more sophisticated search operations, underwater magnetometers or hand held sonar may be used. #### Types Diver training traditionally divides searches into two categories, specific and non-specific. A specific search is an attempt to locate a known object in a known area where it was believed to be lost even if the time period is undefined, and the search terminates upon the location of the object. The classic example of this would be an item lost overboard from a boat, which needs to be recovered. A non-specific search is a search for either a type of object or anything valuable within the dive locale. The discovery of a relevant object does not usually terminate the search until the entire search area has been covered, or the search terminates early for other reasons (air supply, no decompression limits, etc.). ### Searches using non-visual methods A magnetometer is a device that measures magnetic field or magnetic dipole moment. Different types of magnetometers measure the direction, strength, or relative change of a magnetic field at a particular location. Magnetometers can be used as metal detectors: they can detect only magnetic (ferrous) metals, but can detect such metals at a much greater distance than conventional metal detectors which rely on conductivity; they are capable of detecting large ferrous objects over considerable distances. Side-scan sonar A dragline is a line which is towed ether across the bottom, or at a depth controlled by floats and weights, or hydrodynamically, by paravanes or otter-boards, that is intended to snag the target, indicating its position. Cadaver dogs ## Recovery Recovery techniques depend upon the type and size of the object. Smaller objects, such as a coin or camera, can simply be carried up by the diver. Training agencies vary in what they specify to be the maximum weight that can be safely carried up unassisted, but normally the limit is set around 15 pounds (7 kg). Anything heavier represents a material change to the diver's buoyancy control, and may put the diver at risk from an uncontrolled ascent if contact with the object is lost during ascent. Medium-sized objects are normally recovered using a lifting bag, and students are trained in lifting bag technique. The most common hazard is entanglement with lines whilst filling the lifting bag from the diver's alternate air source. This risk, when coupled with the possibility of rapid ascent following the freeing of the object from suction caused by it resting upon the sea bed, can seriously compromise the safety of the recovery team if done improperly. Lift bags can be rated up to several tons, but these are beyond the capacity of most recreational divers. A cubic metre of air per tonne at ambient hydrostatic pressure is needed. This is not practicable for cylinders carried by the diver (the most common scuba cylinder size has a total capacity of 80 cubic feet (2.3 m3) at surface pressure.) Significantly larger objects usually require specialised commercial lifting equipment, either a winch attached to a boat or platform, or specialised equipment to seal and inflate sunken vessels.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_search_and_recovery

Scientists Measure Calcium Nuclei’s Thin Skin A first-of-its-kind measurement of the rare calcium-48 nucleus found a neutron-rich “thin skin” around a core of more evenly distributed protons and neutrons. The Science Using a new and first-of-its-kind precision measurement of the nucleus of the rare calcium-48 isotope, nuclear physicists have determined how its 20 protons and 28 neutrons are distributed inside its nucleus. The experiment found that calcium’s protons and neutrons aren’t simply sprinkled throughout the nucleus. Instead, they form a neutron-rich “thin skin” around a core of more-evenly distributed protons and neutrons. The researchers found that the calcium-48 neutron-rich skin is just 0.121 femtometers thick. A femtometer is just one billionth of a meter. This is thinner than many models predicted and is somewhat surprising in comparison with the thick neutron skin seen in lead. This is because existing theoretical models predicted that calcium-48 should have a thicker skin than it does, while these same models predicted a thinner neutron skin for lead than was measured. The Impact This new measurement is exciting for nuclear physics. It warrants further exploration of the thin skins of other heavy nuclei to determine why there’s a large discrepancy between nuclei of calcium, which has a medium mass, and more massive lead nuclei. Combining the data from these experiments will provide scientists with important constraints on future models of nuclear structure. The results also have implications for the neutron matter equation of state, which describes the structures of neutron stars and the dynamics of neutron-star mergers. Summary To better understand nuclear structure, nuclear physicists conduct experiments to tease out how protons and neutrons are distributed inside atomic nuclei. Dense, neutron-rich nuclei provide unique insights into nuclear structure. As nuclei get heavier, they require more neutrons than protons to remain stable. For instance, lead-208 has 82 protons and 126 neutrons, while the rare calcium-48 nucleus has 20 protons and 28 neutrons. The first of these measurements confirmed that lead nuclei have a thick, neutron-rich skin surrounding a more-evenly distributed core. This most direct observation of lead’s neutron skin measured its thickness as 0.28 femtometers, or 0.28 millionths of a nanometer. In the lighter calcium-48 nucleus, the neutron skin was measured to be just 0.121 femtometers thick. This surprising result is thinner than predicted and presents a challenge to theoretical models to solve this discrepancy. These measurements were made possible by the unique capabilities of the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility, a Department of Energy (DOE) user facility at the Jefferson Lab that offers an extraordinarily stable electron beam for experiments. In addition, the ingenious experimental technique developed to carry out these measurements is helping scientists reveal new details in the structures of atomic nuclei. Contact Kent Paschke University of Virginia [email protected] Funding This work was supported by the DOE Office of Science, Nuclear Physics; the National Science Foundation; and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

https://science.osti.gov/np/Highlights/2022/NP-2022-10-d

Chicago has been here before. In November 1997, Chicago police Superintendent Matt Rodriguez resigned. That same month, a blue-ribbon commission on police reform released its recommendation on how to address police corruption after 10 officers were indicted in the robbery and extortion of drug dealers. A decade later, in April 2007, Superintendent Philip Cline resigned. A video had emerged of an off-duty police officer brutally beating a female bartender. The incident, along with new information about the torture of suspects by Commander Jon Burge’s “Midnight Crew,” led to the creation of the Independent Police Review Authority. On Tuesday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the resignation of police Superintendent Garry McCarthy and the creation of a task force on police reform following the release last week of a video of a police officer shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times. The city is once again gripped by a familiar story. Another video of police violence. Another ousted police superintendent. Another committee to study police reform. “I’ve seen a good number of superintendents come and go,” said Flint Taylor, of the People’s Law Center, who has worked on police misconduct cases since 1969. “Unless the culture of the police department is radically changed and the whole structure of the justice system is realigned, changing the head [of the department] by itself is not going to have the impact that we would all hope it would.” Complete overhaul of the criminal justice system appears unlikely, but experts on policing say there are some clear best practices that CPD could learn from other police departments around the country – especially those like Portland, Seattle, and Los Angeles that have signed agreements with the US Department of Justice. Calls for a Justice Department investigation of the Chicago Police Department have been growing louder – coming from various quarters, from the Chicago Urban League to the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. On Tuesday, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan wrote a letter to US Attorney General Loretta Lynch requesting a Department of Justice investigation into CPD to determine whether there are “systemic violations of the Constitution or federal law” by the Police Department. Madigan said: “An investigation into whether there are patterns and practices of civil rights violations by CPD is vital to bringing about the systemic change that is necessary here … Chicago cannot move ahead without an outside, independent investigation into its police department that moves toward improved policing practices and increasing trust between the police and the community.” The Justice Department has investigated 67 police departments since 1994 and become deeply involved in 16 of them. “It’s quite simple,” said Samuel Walker, a professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska and a nationally recognized expert on police accountability. “Simply adopt the reforms that are in all the Justice Department settlements in terms of controlling use of force, reviewing patterns and trends, identifying problem officers and keeping policies up to date.” Those four areas that have been the focus of Justice Department interventions have been lagging in Chicago, experts say, despite repeated attempts at reform. Chicago is fourth among the nation’s largest cities in the number of civilians killed by police per capita, according to an analysis by the Better Government Association. Since September 2007, IPRA has investigated more than 380 police shootings, an average of nearly one a week. Laquan McDonald was one of 127 people killed in shootings by police in Chicago between September 2007 and September 2015, according to IPRA data. Reviewing patterns of misconduct has been another shortcoming of police accountability in Chicago, experts say. “The Police Department and IPRA refuse as a matter of practice and policy to look at any pattern evidence, to look at any prior complaints against police officers in any part of their misconduct investigations,” said Craig Futterman, law professor and director of the Civil Rights and Police Accountability Project at the University of Chicago. Ilana Rosenzweig, who led IPRA from its inception in 2007 until 2013, said her investigators conducted searches of an officer’s full record of complaints when they started an investigation, but they were limited in what they could get. IPRA has access to complaint history and investigative records but no other internal CPD records, such as discipline histories or performance evaluations. In addition, the union contract limits what actions IPRA can take based on prior complaint history. “IPRA doesn’t have access to the entire personnel file of an officer,” said Rosenzweig. “So its ability to perform a holistic review of an officer’s past performance is limited.” That kind of review should be done regularly by the Police Department itself, Rosenzweig said. In theory, it is being done through an “early intervention system,” another best practice in police reform, which has been in place in Chicago since 1997 when Mayor Richard M. Daley’s blue ribbon commission recommended it. “The premise is simple,” the commission wrote in its final report. “Small problems become big ones if left unattended.” But experts and police watchdogs say the system of flagging officers with numerous civilian complaints or other disciplinary issues is clearly broken in Chicago. Jason Van Dyke, the officer who was charged with first-degree murder charges for McDonald’s death, had previously been the subject of at least 19 misconduct complaints, including at least 10 for excessive force. He was also the subject of two civil lawsuits, one of which cost the city more than $500,000 in damages and legal fees. “A half-million dollar lawsuit should have risen to the surface as a potential problem,” said Dennis Kenney, a former police officer and professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. “If he had so many complaints against him, why did some mid-level supervisor not notice it earlier?” In 2007, Jeff Kelly Lowenstein wrote about the failures of the early warning system for the Reporter. According to the article, fewer than 1 in 7 officers who had more than 10 complaints between 2001 and 2006 had been placed in the Behavioral Intervention System, based on data analyzed by Futterman’s police accountability project. CPD did not respond to questions this week about how many officers in recent years have been placed in the Behavioral Intervention System, Chicago’s early warning program, or whether Jason Van Dyke was one of them. A police spokeswoman told Lowenstein in 2007 that the department had adopted a new personnel performance system to enhance the early warning system. But Futterman says that few things have changed since then. “I grow tired of saying this is ineffective, because I think that may be the wrong term,” Futterman said. “It’s worse than having an ineffective system. The intent of the system is to do exactly what it is doing” – that is, to ignore patterns of abuse by officers like Van Dyke. In announcing McCarthy’s resignation and the creation of the task force on Tuesday, Emanuel noted Chicago’s history of police abuse. “I know the use of excessive force and misuse of authority is not new in Chicago or isolated only in Chicago,” he said. “There is a history of it.” Futterman said the history is all too familiar. “We’ve been at moments like this one many times in our past – all too many times,” he said. “You can replace a superintendent, but without remedying or addressing the underlying issues that have prevented accountability and principles of honesty, we’ll be here another year or two from now having the same conversation.” The Chicago Reporter is a non-profit investigative news organization that focuses on race, poverty and income inequality.

https://truthout.org/articles/new-police-reform-task-force-triggers-feeling-of-deja-vu/

As the battle to determine who occupies Nigeria’ Presidential seat in 2019 hots up, ex-Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has strongly admonished those he referred to as his ‘self righteous’ critics and enemies to provide evidence of his being corrupt or mind the skeletons in their own cupboards or forever keep quiet. The APC Chieftain also said that he would fight corruption like never before if he is given the opportunity to preside over the affairs of the country. Atiku Abubakar made the charge at a facility tour of the new ultra-modern Yaliam Press Limited in Jabi area of Abuja on Monday. In a press statement released by his media office in Abuja, the former Vice President said, “It is sickening to continue to regurgitate allegations of corruption against me by people who have failed to come forward with a single shred of evidence of my misconduct while in office.” He added that people who have no initiative, personal resourcefulness and ideas about wealth creation, always assume that a man cannot build himself without stealing. According to him, “People who are bereft of ideas about entrepreneurial spirit always think that everyone else is a thief just like them.” He added that it is morally offensive for people who despise honest labour to become judges in the courts of public opinion. The Waziri Adamawa explained that though he has not been convicted of corruption by any court in the land or elsewhere, his political enemies have been parading a fake morality to fool gullible Nigerians. “Despite previous desperate efforts to link me with corruption, the William Jefferson trial in the United States ended in 2009 without indicting me or linking me to corrupt activities,” he said. Atiku, who was responding to the welcome address by the Chairman/CEO of Yaliam Press Limited, Yahaya Ali Amfani, recalled that he had pasted a reminder at his bed rest during his training as a Custom Officer that he (Atiku) would retire from any agency if he had not attained the headship of the place at the age of 40. Atiku said that he was only able to attain the position of Deputy Director before his exit in 1989 to chart a career in business.

https://pmparrotng.com/2017/09/12/atiku-to-critics-provide-evidence-that-im-corrupt-or-forever-shut-up/

Warning: more... Fetching bibliography... Generate a file for use with external citation management software. The importance of oxidative cytocidal mechanisms of phagocytic cells in immune protection against microbial pathogens is uniquely revealed by chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a genetic deficiency disease of man. This cytocidal response in mononuclear phagocytes is principally regulated by IFN-gamma. A somatic cell genetic approach was taken to select oxidative variants from a cloned murine macrophage cell line, J774.16, which formally permitted us to dissociate three regulatory effects of IFN-gamma on these cells: the antiproliferative effect, the antiviral effect, and production of superoxide anion. Half of the variants defective in O-2 production after phorbol myristate acetate stimulation were also resistant to the antiproliferative effects of IFN-gamma. This result suggests that IFN-gamma-induced growth inhibition and production of cytocidal oxygen intermediates are mediated via a common pathway. The somatic cell genetic approach has allowed us to develop in vitro macrophage models for several forms of CGD. One variant characterized in detail, D9, was unable to produce superoxide after stimulation by phorbol esters. At the molecular level, Northern blot analysis revealed that the mRNA encoding the large subunit of the putative CGD gene product, cytochrome b558, was absent in this variant. Another class of variants constitutively unable to produce O-2 or the cytochrome b558 mRNA could be induced to do so by IFN-gamma. These somatic mutants may be useful models in clarifying the role of the CGD gene product and its regulation in the production of cytocidal oxygen intermediates. National Center for Biotechnology Information,

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2153711?dopt=Abstract

Although this complaint is fairly minor, and it usually only happens on slow-moving roads like Duval, why do joggers consistently jog in the bike lane? Sometimes it's even two abreast, jogging against traffic. I'm all about sharing the road space, and I understand that the sidewalk is often broken (keep it weird Austin!), but they hardly ever attempt to move out of the way. Did some jog authority inform them that running in the bike lane is a good idea?? Offline I don't think they should be getting in the way, but I know why they are on the road instead of the sidewalk. The sidewalk is concrete, and the road is asphalt. Asphalt is less harsh to run on, so many runners will choose it. Of course, running on the side of the road where the road is more curved over isn't all that great for you either. Offline Funny thing is every day I see joggers doing their jog on the LAB, which is a pavement strip a few yards away from the trail. Weird indeed. Offline The sidewalks are often broken, poorly lit, blocked by obstacles. Those conditions can be dangerous for runners. People jogging out in the road aren't doing it because they like playing in traffic or because they want to annoy cyclists; they are probably in the middle of a longer route and trying to get where they are going in the safest way possible (sound familiar?) If you ever feel like bicycling is hard, try being a pedestrian. Many more pedestrians die in Austin than bikers. Please give runners, joggers, walkers, and any other non-vehicle road users the same consideration, support, and reciprocal kindness you would like to receive from car drivers. Offline Also it's safer as a pedestrian to run/walk against traffic. Offline I had a gal yelling at me the other day because I rode by her in the bike lane as she was jogging in it. This was San Jacinto during peak evening commute. While I understand why a jogger would want to run in the bike lane for all the reasons already mentioned, that doesn't mean it's the right or safe thing to do. I don't ride my bike on the sidewalk or mopac under the same logic. I find the bike-lane joggers almost as irritating as the folks jogging 2-5 abreast in the east Chavez neighborhood. Again, I realize that running in a group, chatting with friends in a quiet neighborhood is a fun safe way to exercise, but there seems to be a presumption that they have priority usage of the roadway and are very reluctant to yield to oncoming or passing traffic or cars or bikes. If joggers want safe, well maintained, and broad trails beyond what is already available in Austin (hike and bike trail, etc) then perhaps they should press the city to make that happen. If not by creating new trails, then at least maintaining the existing sidewalks, preventing folks from parking on sidewalks, encouraging land owners to trim overgrown brush, and educating drivers about stopping before the cross-walks. Offline I agree with all the above about making room for runners. But I am afraid that on Exposition, one of these days there is going to be a terrible crash (I cannot call it an accident, because it is avoidable): there are sometimes semi trucks that roar up and down that road, especially at off hours such as the early morning. Two joggers in the southbound lane encroach on the car lane. I am biking south, I have to swerve into the car lane, and a semi is coming the other direction. Add in a car going the same direction, and you have disaster. Yes, they have the right to the road. But I guess that means we all have a right to die, too. Offline The law (I forget if it's an Austin or Texas law) says that pedestrians may not walk on the roadway if there's a sidewalk available. (And of course, a bike lane is part of the roadway.) If there is no sidewalk, then they can walk on it. Of course, this is often violated and I've never heard of it being enforced, but it's there ... Offline The thing is, pedestrians are able to detour MUCH more easily compared to cyclists. If I was jogging in a bike lane, I'd move away as best as possible to allow a cyclist to pass easily. It's not like a jogger is going to get a flat tire for running through glass or from hitting a pothole. In such a situation, I've had many joggers move onto the grass for me. It's never really been a problem. Of course it's a different story on Great Northern where you have lots of pedestrians taking up the already tiny bike lanes. It's easy to move into the travel lane if there are no cars, but if there is a car coming, guess what happens - yes, the cyclist is again treated as the lowest class citizen, even with a 'bike lane'. Today I biked down the Shoal Creek trail near Lamar and downtown. That's a sidewalk IMO. I saw a mother and a 2 yr old on it and immediately slowed to 5mph until I passed them. I have no problem giving priority to those who are meant for it. A bike lane is a bike lane and I think pedestrians should be yielding to bikes in it, especially since it is so easy for them to do so. Offline Most of the time the joggers/walkers I pass are very courteous and nice. But there have been a couple times where they were obviously trying to make a point to show their dominance of the bike lane. Not really sure what makes people like this tick, but I always think to myself... "Now if I were to actually HIT you who would take the worst of it?" I almost hit a guy coming around a corner once (he was walking in the bike lane) because it was a blind corner and he was actually walking against traffic. But fortunately that's only happened once. Offline The notion amongst some joggers that asphalt absorbs impact and thus creates a difference in comfort as opposed to cement, is total BS. If asphalt compressed significantly under the weight of a human foot, a cement mixer would sink down a few inches. Even if there was the most minimal compression, it would amount to .001% of what the sole of the running shoe absorbs. Broken sidewalks are one matter, but if the sidewalk is intact there is no excuse for joggers to use the street. Don Offline I am both a runner and a cyclist. There are many reasons a runner might not use the sidewalk: 1) There is no sidewalk. Many roads along my bicycle commute route have no sidewalk. Some have "multi-use" lanes, some have nothing, and some have a dedicated bike lane. Sections of Jollyville not only have no sidewalk, but have sections which are unwalkable off the road due to steep sides. 2) The sidewalks are misaligned. I have tripped and fallen while running on the sidewalk, because a section lifted up a half-inch or inch, and my foot caught the lip. 3) Lots of driveways. The slope of the sidewalk changes where there is a driveway. A few driveways are tolerable, lots of them make for awkward running. 4) Sprinkler systems spraying across the sidewalks. 5) Passing other runners or avoiding getting close to unfriendly-looking dogs. I try to run on sidewalks, but many times don't for the reasons above. Simple courtesy for both cyclists and pedestrians goes a long way. Rod Offline Any thoughts on the Pam Leblanc coverage of "joggers in bike lanes" issue? This morning's paper illustrates her column with a photo of someone cyclng on a two-way segregated 'cycle track' -- Riding on the wrong side! With arrows painted on the pavement in each lane to show the right way! Could they not find someone using the facility as intended? Kudos to her for covering the issue, but I am amazed. Earlier coverage of the Rio Grande two-way track also had a photo of people riding on the wrong side. Offline I haven't read more than the blip that's available online, but here's my take as a runner and cyclist: runners shouldn't use the bike lane for basically every imaginable reason, especially if there's a sidewalk available. The basic argument runners use is that asphalt is easier on your body because it's softer (here's one person making this argument). Unfortunately, that thinking has little basis in fact. Asphalt is about an order of magnitude harder than concrete in objective measures of hardness. However, what matters is the ratio of the hardnesses between the surface and your body; either is basically infinitely harder than your body, so these differences don't matter much. If you doubt that, consider that the studies I've read (e.g.; I can upload a PDF if anyone is curious) that looked injury rates of runners who use different surfaces have found no perceptible difference in injury rates between runners who run on concrete vs. those who run on asphalt. The popular book Running Injury-Free has this to say about road running: "Roads are also notoriously poor surfaces, not only because of traffic hazards but because they are canted so that water will run off the center of the road. This slant causes the 'upward' foot to pronate more and the 'downward' foot to supinate more. Any biomechanical abnormality will be amplified in one foot or the other when you're running on the road." He also continues, repeating the misconception that the hardness of sidewalks presents a problem: "Provided you wear good shock-absorbing shoes, sidewalks tend to make better training surfaces than roads because they are flat. The problem, of course, is that cement surfaces are significantly harder than asphalt or other man-made surfaces." There's also the legal argument; pedestrians (which includes runners, by definition) usually aren't legally supposed to go on the road when a sidewalk is provided. This is the law in Texas (see "USE OF SIDEWALK") and basically everywhere else in the US. So, in short, the argument runners typically use for running on the road (and often in the bike lane) are based on bad science, and they also don't have the law on their side. I run 3 times a week and I'll use the sidewalk when it exists. When there is no sidewalk, I run in the road, but never in the bike lane. All my running routes avoid bike lanes. I'm guessing now you were probably more interested in the specifics of her coverage, not the issue she mentioned, but I haven't read the article and already wrote this post, so I'll go and hit submit. Also, here's an older video of mine that shows a runner in the bike lane for those who haven't seen this phenomena before. Last edited by btrettel (2014-02-03 18:47:25) Offline The sidewalks are often broken, poorly lit, blocked by obstacles. Those conditions can be dangerous for runners. Bingo. Before my injury when I was able to run, my training loop included Guadalupe from 51st to Koenig (which I ran very late at night or very early morning), and around 51st St. the sidewalks are DARK, broken, and often littered with debris. It's dangerous to run fast there. I ran in the bike lane, opposing traffic, with a headlamp strapped to my head to be super-visible. If a cyclist ever came my way I'd move over since a cyclist has the right of way in a bike lane, but in the few years I trained I could probably count on one hand the number of times I encountered a cyclist. Offline Bingo. Before my injury when I was able to run, my training loop included Guadalupe from 51st to Koenig (which I ran very late at night or very early morning), and around 51st St. the sidewalks are DARK, broken, and often littered with debris. I run in that area and I agree about the sidewalks. They're even worse in Highland. Parked cars, broken pavement, untrimmed trees and shrubs, animal feces, poor lighting, trash, mud, you name it. I don't feel obligated to run on sidewalks like this. I keep an eye out for bikes but I'm more concerned about SUVs.

https://bicycleaustin.info/forum/viewtopic.php?id=566

CSE3325: Lecture 6 Information Design In the previous lecture: In this lecture: References: What is Information Design? Presenting information about motion, process, mechanism, cause and effect. How do we present information in a way that: Clarity and Excellence in thinking = Clarity and Excellence in Data Graphics reveal data. Some examples: Graphing Data The use of abstract, non-representational pictures to show numbers (statistical graphs invented around 1750-1800). Graphs allow us to reason about quantitative data. (They can also be misused.) An excellent chart by Minard (1869) shows the relationship between the size of Napoleon's army as it marched on Russia in 1812, the obstacles it was forced to overcome and the times, places and success with which these obstacles were met. Transport Maps London Underground map, designed by Harry Beck in 1933 achieves a reduction of complexity through: - simplified geometry and topology - a focus on connections rather than geographic accuracy (users are interested in the sequences of stops rather than the precise direction of travel or distance between stations) Too much reduction makes the representation too abstract and reduces understandability. Of course mapping is a fantastic information display mode in many contexts! - French Piste Map - UK Census map - Snow's famous map of the Cholera Epidemic - A topographical map (of mediocre quality but illustrative nevertheless) Challenger Disaster The space shuttle Challenger exploded, 73 seconds after launch, on January 28, 1986, killing the seven astronauts on board. The shuttle failed because two rubber O-rings leaked fuel. The O-rings lost their resiliency because the ambient temperature was very low. Before the flight, engineers knew of the problems of O-ring damage with low ambient temperatures and recommended that the shuttle not be launched. Was the information presented in a way that did not make the engineers claims clear? Road and Transport Signage Comparison of different signage systems. Swatch Watch Design style outweighs utility and functionality. A multitude of designs allows personalization for the buyer. The same methodology has been applied to a number of consumer products. (Swatch website) Air Traffic Control System Original design used a single colour vector display. Extensive colour research allowed designers to come up with a perceptually-based system to help ease fatigue and draw operators' attention to critical data. Do a web search to find out what these displays look like. Here is good example. Web Examples Crime Mapping Thinkmap web site (Java) Fuse98 web site (DHTML) History Flow (WIKI / Wikipedia content diagram) Presenting information in ways that reveals the information content clearly and encourages analysis can have often critical advantages for multimedia design.

https://users.monash.edu/~cema/courses/CSE3325/lect6.html

Article by Barbados Today Published on February 25, 2016 Independent Senator John Watson has come out in support of a waste-to-energy plasma gasification plant in Vaucluse, St Thomas. Watson gave his backing to the controversial project today while speaking in the Senate on the Sanitation Service Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2016. He said he had some concerns about the proposed Cahill project, including the cost and its size. However, the Independent Senator said there were benefits to establishing such a plant here. “I see nothing wrong with the plasma gasification plant as a method of converting waste-to-energy. I looked at it and I have seen nothing wrong with it,” he told the Upper Chamber. “What I said before [and] I still stand by is that it is an expensive method of creating energy at very high cost and it also requires a substantial level of maintenance. For that reason I have some concerns about it. But the process itself I see nothing wrong with it. “In terms of the plant in Barbados that is being talked about, and if some of those things are true, then the plant that is being proposed for Barbados to my mind might be too big. In order to run the plant we may have to bring in waste.” Watson emphasized that if plasma gasification was the route Barbados had to take, policymakers needed to ensure that the size of the plant suited the country’s needs and that there would be no need to import garbage or to use agricultural land to produce fuel for that plant. He lamented the narrow focus of both Government and Opposition parliamentarians on the issue of waste disposal, complaining that those on the governing side tended to address the issue of financial waste at Greenland, while those in Opposition tended to speak about the Cahill project. “To my mind that is their politics. My position here as an Independent Senator is to give a view that I think is rational and reasonable for the better development of the country,” Watson explained. Share it! Post navigation 6 thoughts on “Watson all for waste-to-energy” Leroy What do you support? Waste to energy in general or that Barbados should adopt waste to energy? Sir as a senator the people needs to hear from your insight as the proposals not just that u support WTE, any person can say Ye or naw for WTE, what I want to hear is from your great vantage point and based on the facts is WTE the way for bds to go or would you nudge your peers and fellow politicians to install a comprehensive recycling canpainge or would that take away rubbish to burn in WTE? What do you support? Waste to energy in general or that Barbados should adopt waste to energy? Sir as a senator the people needs to hear from your insight as the proposals not just that u support WTE, any person can say Ye or naw for WTE, what I want to hear is from your great vantage point and based on the facts is WTE the way for bds to go or would you nudge your peers and fellow politicians to install a comprehensive recycling canpainge or would that take away rubbish to burn in WTE? You proffer two points: support and cost concerns. You have not provided a view. You just said you looked at it and you see nothing wrong with it so let us use it. Waste to Energy might offer Barbados an opportunity for an alternative source of energy, but it must not be done under the auspices of a Democratic Labour Party’s controversial handling of its genesis. Dennis Low Lowe, who is one of the four ministers that signed off on this project, as well as the Prime Minister of Barbados, are not exactly servants high on the transparency and integrity radars. They are ministers of controversy and secrecy – two of the ingredients that make for a good thing becoming a highly suspicious thing as perfected by the politics of this administration You proffer two points: support and cost concerns. You have not provided a view. You just said you looked at it and you see nothing wrong with it so let us use it. Waste to Energy might offer Barbados an opportunity for an alternative source of energy, but it must not be done under the auspices of a Democratic Labour Party’s controversial handling of its genesis. Dennis Low Lowe, who is one of the four ministers that signed off on this project, as well as the Prime Minister of Barbados, are not exactly servants high on the transparency and integrity radars. They are ministers of controversy and secrecy – two of the ingredients that make for a good thing becoming a highly suspicious thing as perfected by the politics of this administration As a so called Independent Senator Mr. Watson you need to ask many more questions about this particular WTE plant proposed by Cahill. There are definitely dangers associated with the disposal of toxic by-products from gasification. That which is being proposed is the first plant of its size anywhere in the world. Smaller plants have failed for unreliability in terms of their operations and financial viabililiy. Since the proponents of the plant have already indicated that it is for sale and they themselves have no track record in building or operating a plant of this type, what assurances will we have that any purchaser has the expertise to safely operate a plant of this type. What regulations and oversight will be introduced to ensure safe operation. These are real concerns since the plant is situated upwind of the platinum belt. And then there is the secrecy that has surrounded the project. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it is a duck. Bajans are not only right to be wary of this new and largely unproven technology, but well within their rights to have their questions answered. As a so called Independent Senator Mr. Watson you need to ask many more questions about this particular WTE plant proposed by Cahill. There are definitely dangers associated with the disposal of toxic by-products from gasification. That which is being proposed is the first plant of its size anywhere in the world. Smaller plants have failed for unreliability in terms of their operations and financial viabililiy. Since the proponents of the plant have already indicated that it is for sale and they themselves have no track record in building or operating a plant of this type, what assurances will we have that any purchaser has the expertise to safely operate a plant of this type. What regulations and oversight will be introduced to ensure safe operation. These are real concerns since the plant is situated upwind of the platinum belt. And then there is the secrecy that has surrounded the project. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it is a duck. Bajans are not only right to be wary of this new and largely unproven technology, but well within their rights to have their questions answered. You have disappointed me Senator Watson by towing the Party line.

Does deadline mean on or before? Deadline means “this day at the latest”. That day. you can give it to your professor at 11:59 Pm as long as its the 15th. once it hits 12:00 it’s the 16th and late. How do you manage deadlines answer? “I am used to working under tight deadlines, so I set my most urgent tasks at the top of my to-do list every morning when I get to work. Then, I establish a clear deadline for myself that’s usually a day in advance of company due dates. Recently, I had to shift around my workload to accommodate an urgent product order. How do you meet tight deadlines interview? Tips For Answering Questions About Handling Tight Deadlines When interviewers ask candidates about how they have worked under tight deadlines, most will give an answer along the lines of: ‘I’m very accustomed to working under tight deadlines. Basically, all the projects that I work on have tight deadlines. How do you manage your time when you have an important deadline? 7 Time Management Tips for Meeting Deadlines - Set Goals. Make a list of your goals for the week. - Put Together a Checklist. Create a daily checklist so you can cross off the goals you’ve accomplished. - Set Aside Uninterrupted Time. - Prioritize. - Make Small Changes. - Only Check Your Email at Certain Times. - Know Your Productive Period. How do you handle pressure and tight deadlines? - Create A Prioritization Strategy. Assess each task on your list. - Forget The Future, Focus On The Present. - Break Your Tasks Down. - Ask Yourself What Needs To Be Done Right Now. - Stop Procrastinating. - Take Contrary Action With Purposeful Slacking. - Change How You Think About Pressure. - Try The Eisenhower Model. What is the purpose of meeting work standards and deadlines? Meeting internal deadlines serves employee morale. If deadlines are valued and meeting those deadlines is enforced, expectations are consistent. Employees who meet deadlines will not resent those who don’t. How do you handle pressure situations? 2. Commit to a Positive Attitude - Decide what you can do. Pinpoint which parts of the situation you have the power to change or influence for the better. - Get support. Find someone to talk to about your situation. - Care for yourself. Take especially good care of yourself when stress in your life is high.

https://ru-facts.com/does-deadline-mean-on-or-before/

Today, the International Olympic Committee announced the final sports program for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. In regards to the sport of wrestling, the program for Paris will match the same exact details as the upcoming Summer Olympic in Tokyo, Japan in 2021. Basically, wrestling at the Paris Games will have the same number of medals, the same number of athletes and the same specific weight classes as will be in effect in Tokyo. There will once again be six medals in each of the three Olympic disciplines, men's freestyle, women's freestyle and Greco-Roman. In fact, the weight classes will be exactly the same as for Tokyo. The number of athletes are exactly the same, with 96 entries in men's freestyle, 96 entries in women's freestyle and 96 entries in Greco-Roman for a total of 288 athletes. That works out to 16 athletes in each of the 18 weight classes. Wrestling for Paris 2024 did not gain or lose in any categories in comparison to the Tokyo Games. Click here for complete 2024 Paris Event Program There were a number of significant changes in the 2024 Paris Olympic program, as reported by the IOC today in its press release, including: - Exactly 50 per cent male and female participation, following on from the gender equality already achieved for Tokyo 2020, which will have 48.8 per cent female participation. - Growth of mixed gender events, from 18 to 22, compared to Tokyo 2020. - Skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing and breaking confirmed as additional sports based on a proposal by Paris 2024. Breaking will make its Olympic debut. - Reduction in the overall athlete quota (including all new sports) to exactly 10,500. - Reduction in the overall number of events, with a final programme of 329 events. According to the IOC press release, the number of athletes overall will be 592 fewer. The 10,500-athlete quota set for Paris 2024, including new sports, will lead to an overall reduction in the number of athletes – 592 fewer compared to Tokyo 2020 (11,092). It will also lead to a reduction in the number of officials, and therefore in the overall size and complexity of the Games. The reduction across the 28 sports has been proportionate and focused on those sports that can best absorb the reduction, whilst maintaining the universality of the Games.

https://www.sunkistkids.org/news/wrestling-program-at-2024-paris-olympics

3 A’s of Affect In her article titled Affective Economies (2004), Sarah Ahmed explains that affects are linked with emotions. She states that in this particular instance, emotions drive the relationship between the bodies and signs (117). That the objects of affections and those feeding into the affections generate the emotion and that it does not exist “within” or “without” individuals (117) She states that these emotions create relationships and boundaries between the object of affection and the person feeling the affection (117). Affect therefore, in this project, links to how emotions have an impact on the relationship between the celebrity and their superfan counterparts. “In such affective economies, emotions do things, and they align individuals with communities—or bodily space with social space—through the very intensity of their attachments” (119). Ahmed effectively describes here, what this project itself demonstrates. To be a superfan means having a stronger affinity towards a fan object than what is termed as the fan. The relationship between the fan and the fan object is one that presents a lot of strong emotions. Because of these emotions, fans do indeed “do things” to situate themselves within this phenomenon known as superfandom. Ahmed goes on to explain that emotions themselves generate capital which in turn increases the value of the object (120). What this means in terms of this project, is that the more emotion a superfan attaches to their fan object or celebrity, the more of an affect the celebrity will have on the everyday lives of their superfan. As superfandom is linked with higher emotions than regular fandom, this would link to the notion that superfans are indeed affected by their celebrities. This can be in multiple different categories. Whether it be in social, political or economic terrains, the superfan is likely to experience higher affects than the regular individual. Superfandom is participatory in nature as Zoe Fraade- Blanar and Aaron M. Glazer explain in their book titled Superfandom (31), and this links directly with the understanding of affect and affective economies. For the purpose of this project, we will be analysing affect in a very specific way. This section of this website is dedicated to understanding how the celebrity has an affect of their superfan Through in depth immersion, I was able to find three main areas of impact or affect. These three affects present themselves constantly and consistently in this project. The first affect is titled Activities, the second is titled Aesthetics and the final affect is called Attitudes. In order to understand what each one of these mean, you can click on each individual heading with the same name. Each category has an affect on the superfan of the celebrity but each subject I used displays one more prominently. Thus, they have been given their own space to be understood individually. However, when you meet the superfans in this project, you will be able to understand how they all present themselves.

https://thecelebrityandsuperfan.co.za/3-as-of-affect/

Contributors: Contributions by Aileen Burns & Johan Lundh, Carolin Köchling, Rafael Ortega, Filipa Ramos, Volker Sommer, Eugenio Viola. The catalogue please listen hurry others speak better accompanies solo exhibitions by Amalia Pica at three venues: ears to speak at The Power Plant in Toronto and please open hurry at the Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts. Two threads in Pica’s practice are brought together: communication between humans and exchange between species. The artist raises questions of mutual understanding through constructing forums that address shared experience. Illustrations of primate and human social models and interpersonal communication in the publication are accompanied by documentation of performances that enact social hierarchies and animal-language studies. Volker Sommer writes about his work on animal rights and the initiative to establish a “community of equals,” and Filipa Ramos reflects on primate anthropologists Jane Goodall and Gregory Bateson. A conversation between Carolin Köchling and Pica considers her artistic practice, and Eugenio Viola and Pica discuss the performative element of the artworks.

https://ima.org.au/product/pre-order-amalia-pica-please-listen-hurry-others-speak-better/

Kimberly McLain is Chief Executive Officer of the Newark Alliance. In this role, she sets the strategic vision for the organization and leads its work in partnership with state and local stakeholders to improve education, employment and economic opportunities in Newark. Prior to the Alliance, Kimberly was President & CEO of Foundation for Newark’s Future (FNF), the centerpiece of a $200 million philanthropic initiative to improve educational outcomes for Newark students from early childhood through college. FNF, established with a five-year charge to seed conditions for systemic change, used short-term philanthropy to create the systems and conditions necessary for long-term educational improvement. At FNF, Kimberly oversaw the Foundation’s pursuit of comprehensive high-quality school options, including traditional, charter and community schools. Kimberly also led the expansion of the Foundation’s core strategies beyond K-12 to include career and workforce development by investing in the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program, the Newark City of Learning Collaborative and an Opportunity Network to reengage at-risk youth.Previously, Kimberly served as Vice President of Finance and Operations with Newark Charter School Fund and Managing Director of Planning with Teach For America. Prior to transitioning to the nonprofit sector, she was an Investment Banker with Credit Suisse and Certified Public Accountant with KPMG LLP. Kimberly serves on the board of Leadership Newark and is Chair of the Board of BRICK Academy; a transformative educational organization that focuses on improving low performing schools in Newark’s South Ward. She has received many accolades, including the Leadership Newark Education Award, the Willing Heart Community Center’s Excellence in Philanthropy Award, and NJ Biz’s Top Forty Under 40 Award. Kimberly holds a BS in Accounting from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from Columbia University. Peter Cordrey is a Managing Director and Head of Product Management and Distribution at Prudential Fixed Income. Previously, Mr. Cordrey was Head of Alternative Investments, responsible for all fixed income long/short strategies as well as the Collateralized Debt Obligation (CDO) Platform. Earlier, Mr. Cordrey was Head of the Global Liquidity Sector Team, the group responsible for managing US government and foreign government securities, US mortgage-backed securities, and fixed income derivative products. Prior to joining Prudential Financial in 1996, Mr. Cordrey spent nine years at Merrill Lynch, trading U.S. Government Securities. He has served as Board Member and President of Summit Youth Lacrosse Club, where he has coached for over 20 years. Together with his family, they have fostered children for over a decade on behalf of NJ DCF. Mr. Cordrey received an AB in Economics from Princeton University and an MBA in Finance from Columbia University. Sally Dunlap Booth is a life-long resident of Bernards Township. She graduated from Ridge High School in 1978, worked for Representative Millicent Fenwick in 1982, served on the Bernards Township Board of Education from 1994-1997. She was a member of the Municipal Alliance, served as the program director for the Somerset Hills League of Women Voters and was a legislative affairs representative for the Junior League of Morristown. Mrs. Booth holds a BA in political science from Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, and a master’s degree in education from St. Elizabeth College, Convent Station, New Jersey. Prior from becoming a teacher, Mrs. Booth worked in public relations for Adidas, USA and other fortune 500 companies. In 2003, she became a teacher and has taught history and English in private, public and charter schools. She is currently a public school teacher in Somerville and serves on the Board of Trustees for BRICK Academy in Newark, New Jersey. and Tarrytown, New York and leads a team of 4 patent attorneys, a patent agent, and support staff. Melanie reports to BASF’s General Counsel and Senior Vice President. Melanie also serves as the Pro Bono Coordinator for BASF Corporation and in 2011; the Pro Bono Partnership honored her with an Individual Volunteer of the Year Award for her pro bono work. Before joining Engelhard, Melanie was an IP attorney at Honeywell International Inc. for 15 years and had worldwide responsibility for IP matters of various Engineered Materials businesses. She assumed roles of increasing responsibility including heading the IP function for the fibers business in Richmond, VA. Melanie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1979 and a Juris Doctorate with honors from Capital University Law School in 1985. She is licensed to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office and in Ohio and New Jersey. She is a member of the North Branch Reformed Church, Bridgewater, New Jersey and serves on the Preschool Advisory Board. She also does fundraising for non-profit Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue in addition to adopting their rescues. Gary DeBode founded Gallium Real Estate in 2015 to co-invest in and develop multi-family residential and self-storage projects. Prior to leading Gallium, Gary led Edison Properties, a real estate development and operating company which ownsand operates Manhattan Mini Storage and Edison ParkFast. Most recent title was CEO, having worked in the business for 22 years. While at Edison, he led teams in the development of eight Manhattan Mini Storage projects totaling over 1.5 million square feet; repositioning of the Hippodrome Building (1120 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY) while 90% occupied, and led a team in the development and construction of The Ludlow, an 80/20, 243 unit multi-family project in the lower east side of Manhattan. Worked for Tishman Realty and Construction as a Project Engineer on commercial projects in Atlantic City, Jersey City and Manhattan. Served as Lieutenant in U.S. Navy as a Naval Submarine Officer and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Engineer. Matthew H. (Matt) Malloy, is a Managing Director, head of the Institutional business and a member of the firm wide Operating Committee at Neuberger Berman LLC. Matt joined Neuberger Berman in 2015 from J.P. Morgan Asset Management, where he was Global Head of the Institutional Solutions Group. Prior to J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Matt was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs Asset Management; and worked as a Managing Director in Financial Institutions Investment Banking with UBS Investment Bank and Merrill Lynch. Matt has over twenty years of investment management and investment banking experience. He holds a BA from Washington & Lee University and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University. Matt resides in Mendham, NJ with his wife and three children. A writer, Ms. Mazarakis is a former consultant in the areas of organizational development, community economic development, and nonprofit management. In this role, she worked extensively with organizations such as Community Development Solutions, Inc., the New York Community Trust, AmeriCorps, the Clinton Global Initiative, and The New School for Social Research, among others. She previously served as the Executive Director of the Montclair Economic Development Corporation and as a Program Director for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Key government experience includes senior leadership positions at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and in the New York City Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. Ms. Mazarakis is a National Board Member of the Princeton Prize in Race Relations, as well as Chair of its Regional Support Committee and founding Co-Chair of its Northern NJ Committee. She has also held volunteer leadership roles on the School Action Team for Montclair High School, the Princeton University Class of 1984 Memorial Fund, and the Montclair Housing Commission. Ms. Mazarakis earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Princeton University and an MPA from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service. Aaron is the Senior Program Officer at The MCJ Amelior Foundation where she manages the education portfolio of investments. Prior to joining MCJ, Aaron worked as Program Officer at the Foundation for Newark’s Future. Aaron joined the foundation world after eight years working at the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) in a variety of roles. For four years, Aaron led the Office of School Redesign where she spearheaded the effort to standardize how more than 20 large, comprehensive secondary schools restructured into Small Learning Communities with theme-based, semi-autonomous academies. Her work included managing over $17M in federal and philanthropic grants and establishing a framework, implementation rubric, and targeted professional development to support schools in their improvement efforts. New York City’s work in this area was recognized as a national model of promising practice. Later, Aaron worked with the NYCDOE’s Chief Operating Officer to provide oversight for the implementation of strategic priorities in the Division of Community Engagement, the Office of Family Information and Action, and the Panel for Educational Policy. She also coordinated a strategic communications plan for the NYCDOE that served as a blueprint for NYC’s education campaign. Prior to leaving the Department, Aaron led a major leadership pipeline program designed to develop the capacity of teachers to lead their peers and to increase the number and preparedness of teacher leaders ready to take on school-wide leadership positions. Before to joining the NYCDOE, she managed national children’s literacy grants at Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and traveled the country to monitor and support program implementation in schools and communities. Aaron’s commitment to education began after college as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Las Cruces, NM where she served as a literacy tutor and school-to-family liaison to help bridge the gap between school and home learning. Aaron lives in Morristown, NJ with her husband, two daughters, and old dog.

http://bricknewark.org/the-board/

The terms hurricane and typhoon are regionally specific names for a strong tropical cyclone, a low-pressure system that originates in the tropics. These cyclones usually include intense thunderstorms and strong winds that can exceed 157 mph. Hurricanes/typhoons and tropical storms can further result in tornadoes and heavy flooding. They can cause extensive damage through both strong winds and high flood waters from rain and storm surges. While the following content provides information on preparing for a tropical cyclone using the name hurricane, you would prepare for a typhoon in the same manner. Tropical depression—A system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and sustained winds that do not exceed 38 mph. Tropical storm—A system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and sustained winds 39-73 mph. Hurricane/Typhoon—A system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and sustained winds 74 mph or higher. Storm surge—An abnormal rise of water pushed ashore by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tide. Storm surges, which are often the greatest threat to life and property, are affected by a number of complex factors and can vary in magnitude despite hurricane categories. For example, Hurricane Katrina, a category 3 hurricane, had a storm surge of 28 ft., while Hurricane Charley, a category 4 hurricane, had a storm surge of 6-8 ft. Storm tide—A combination of storm surge with normal tide, increasing the amount of water (e.g., a 15-foot storm surge with a 2-foot normal tide creates a 17-foot storm tide). Hurricane/tropical storm warning—Hurricane/tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours in specified areas. Hurricane/tropical storm watch—Hurricane/tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours in specified areas. Stay tuned to radio or TV for further information. Short-term watches and warnings—Provide detailed information about specific threats during hurricanes, such as flash flooding or tornadoes. Category 1—Winds 74-95 mph, 64-82 kt, 119-153 km/h, very dangerous winds will produce some damage. Category 2—Winds 96-110 mph, 83-95 kt, 154-177 km/h, extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage. Category 3—Winds 111-129 mph, 96-112 kt, 178-208 km/h, devastating damage will occur. Category 4—Winds 130-156 mph, 113-136 kt, 209-251 km/h, catastrophic damage will occur, well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Category 5—Winds exceeding 157 mph, 137 kt, 252 km/h, catastrophic damage will occur, high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed with total roof failure and wall collapse. In the western North Pacific, the term super typhoon is used for tropical cyclones with sustained winds exceeding 150 mph. Understand Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness. Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness (TCCOR) are the Navy's guidelines for estimating how long a region has and the actions necessary before it will be hit by destructive winds. Destructive winds are defined as winds of 58 mph or greater. At each TCCOR level, installations and tenant commands have set actions or checklists to complete prior to the storms arrival. These checklists range from verifying recall procedures to closing facilities and sandbagging. Essential supplies can quickly sell out when a major storm is forecasted to hit the region, so it is vital for personnel to prepare for damaging storms before they establish themselves in the news cycle. TCCOR 5 - Indicates that we are in hurricane season. From June 1 to November 30, all vulnerable installations should maintain at a minimum TCCOR 5 levels of readiness (note except Guam/Marianas - which maintains TCCOR 4 year round). This is not the absence of threat; it just indicates that any storm/hurricane is greater than 72 hours away. TCCOR 4 - Trend indicates possible threats of destructive winds are indicated within 72 hours. TCCOR 3 - Destructive winds of force indicated are possible within 48 hours. TCCOR 2 - Destructive winds of force indicated are anticipated within 24 hours. TCCOR 1 - Destructive winds of force indicated are occurring or anticipated within 12 hours. Determine whether your property is in danger from tidal floods, storm surges, or dam failures, and take flood precautions. If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure—such shelters are particularly hazardous during a hurricane no matter how well fastened to the ground.

https://www.ready.navy.mil/be_informed/natural_hazards/hurricane_typhoon.html

Ludwig von Mises Was a Free-Market Ideologue, Not a Hardheaded Thinker Ludwig von Mises, the influential right-wing economist, thought of himself as a sober, scientific critic of socialism. In reality, he was a free-market ideologue, using dressed-up dogma to prove why workers should bow before their capitalist masters. In his 1922 book Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis, the famed classical liberal Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises presents his analysis as an impartial and sober critique — based on “science” and “utilitarian” evaluations rather than prejudice or moralism. In a telling section, however, Mises lets the mask slip. He excoriates liberals who are willing to allow any state intervention in the economy to advance the general welfare: It is not possible to compromise, either, by putting part of the means of production at the disposal of society and leaving the remainder to individuals. Such systems simply stand unconnected, side by side, and operate fully only within the space they occupy. . . . Compromise is always only a momentary lull in the fight between the two principles, not the result of a logical thinking-out of the problem. Regarded from the stand-point of each side, half-measures are a temporary halt on the way to complete success. Rather than a “logical” or “scientific” argument, the overwhelming impression one gets from reading Mises’s many works is unrelenting dogmatism, with more than a touch of xenophobia and elitism. (“You have the courage to tell the masses what no politician told them: you are inferior and all the improvements in your conditions which you simply take for granted you owe to the effort of men who are better than you,” Mises wrote to Ayn Rand in 1958, praising her free-market treatise Atlas Shrugged). A kind of bizarro vulgar Marxist, Mises really did just think liberalism was a synonym for the ideological defense of private property. This was reflected in his hagiographic view of capitalism’s history. According to Mises, market society alone was responsible for human progress since the middle ages. If other forces played a role — whether political groups agitating for universal suffrage or organized workers agitating for better conditions — these were either made possible by capitalism (and therefore of negligible importance) or were in fact a barrier to capitalism’s beneficent advance. By the same token, if liberal capitalism had any flaws or sordid chapters, it was the fault of egalitarian forces for introducing anti-capitalist imperfections or for posing such a threat that only repressive action (à la fascism) could counter them. It is quite the day I find myself agreeing with Milton Friedman, but his characterization of Mises as “no question” intolerant was spot on. Anyone who has spent time arguing with a religious zealot will immediately recognize the tedious justificatory moves that litter Mises’s work. Mises on Liberalism, Capitalism, and Utilitarianism Ludwig von Mises was born in 1881 in the city of Lemberg, Austria-Hungary (present-day Lviv, Ukraine). He became one of the most influential free-market economists of the twentieth century, shaping scores of right-wing figures, including Friedrich Hayek, Murray Rothbard, and (often begrudgingly) Ayn Rand. Mises grew up in an affluent and talented Jewish family and studied at the University of Austria under the anti-Marxist economist Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk. After World War I, Mises held several prestigious appointments in the new Republic of Austria, including economic advisor under the Austrofascist Engelbert Dollfuss. Around the same time, Mises began publishing the series of books that would make him famous well beyond economic circles. The massive Socialism hit stands in 1922, and his polemical Liberalism: The Classical Tradition came five years later. Following the Nazi invasion of Austria, Mises and his family fled the continent and settled in the United States. He ended up teaching at New York University, became active in the United States’ small-but-growing libertarian circle, and in 1949 published his magnum opus, Human Action: A Treatise on Economics. He died in 1973 in New York City. Mises is perhaps best known for his writings on the “calculation problem,” which he claimed would bedevil any socialist society. Under capitalism, Mises explains, the price mechanism allows profit-seeking firms to determine what products consumers want and in what quantity. It is “an illusion,” he argues, that a large-scale socialist community could engage in such calculations without money or a similar medium of exchange. At best, a socialist society would make decisions about what things to produce and how to distribute them based on “vague valuations” that could only prioritize those commodities “needed most urgently.” The capitalist market, Mises argues, always beats the socialist planner. The calculation problem was later fine-tuned by Hayek, and it is indeed a serious challenge for planning-inclined socialists. Some socialists have responded that technological advances solve the calculation problem, since computers today can handle far higher levels of data. Just look, they say, at actually existing capitalist firms like Walmart that plan on a vast scale. Others (including me) think that market socialism plus workplace democracy is the way to go. But rather than rehash debates over the “calculation problem,” I’d like to focus on the profound flaws of Mises’s moral and political arguments for private property and capitalism. Mises often ahistorically lumps these together under the label “liberalism,” as in his book Liberalism. The program of liberalism, therefore, if condensed into a single word, would have to read: property, that is, private ownership of the means of production . . . All the other demands of liberalism result from this fundamental demand. Side by side with the word “property” in the program of liberalism one may quite appropriately place the words “freedom” and “peace.” Mises acknowledges that his definition isn’t shared by many other self-identified liberals, but he rushes full-bore ahead. He chastises well-known liberals like John Stuart Mill for arguing that liberalism can be separated from reverence for property. He inveighs against “natural rights” and “social contract” liberals, including stalwart defenders of life, liberty, and property like John Locke. Instead, Mises defends capitalism and private property on purely utilitarian lines — both psychologically and morally. He regards the best society as one that efficiently satisfies human needs, and insists that the “science” of economics has shown decisively that only capitalism can do so efficiently by incentivizing people to work and grow the economy. What makes the market uniquely powerful for Mises is his belief that through each person’s pursuit of their individual self-interest, they contribute to overall well-being through mutually beneficial exchanges that in turn incentivize further economic growth. At times he compares the market to something approximating a worldwide democracy, where each consumer is allowed to vote with their dollars on what should be produced. While Mises acknowledges that some people have more dollars with which to “vote,” he is untroubled by this imbalance. He thinks we should disregard moralistic demands for equality (motivated, he says, by mere “resentment”), and instead realize that a rising tide raises all ships. Eventually, he suggests, liberalism and capitalism will bring about a high standing of living and worldwide peace for all. Moral Equality and Happiness for All It becomes clear very quickly when analyzing Mises’s arguments about liberalism, utilitarianism, and property that there is a lot of fudging going on. At least part of his exasperation with more egalitarian figures who shared his utilitarian outlook, like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, can be chalked up to either not understanding or not applying the doctrine consistently. For instance, Mises often vehemently rejects the fundamental liberal idea of human moral equality, often ridiculing it as a sentimental fantasy. Indeed, his utilitarianism sometimes slips into good old-fashioned meritocratic elitism. In passages of The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality, he praises capitalist society for permitting natural inequalities to express themselves more vividly, clearing the way for the best to rise to the top. In market society, the inequality of men with regard to intellectual abilities, will power and application becomes visible. The gulf between what a man is and achieves and what he thinks of his own abilities and achievements is pitilessly revealed. Daydreams of a “fair” world which would treat him according to his “real worth” are the refuge of all those plagued by a lack of self-knowledge. From this perspective, the wonder of capitalism is that unlike in aristocratic orders — where hierarchies are set and altered by accidents of birth — the dynamic competition of market society elevates the superior and pushes the inferior down to their proper station. Oftentimes, Mises’s rather unscientific outlook is glossed up by his romanticization of entrepreneurs and denigration of workers — as in Socialism, when he compares the worker who thinks he understands a complex enterprise to the “average man” who believes the sun rotates around the earth. The problem is that the doctrine of the moral equality of individuals isn’t just foundational to natural law and contractarian forms of liberalism, but to utilitarianism — to which Mises ostensibly subscribes — as well. In the nineteenth century, the utilitarians Bentham and Mill were both considered radicals for their views on political democracy and economic equality. This flowed quite logically from the core tenets of utilitarianism: to secure the “greatest happiness for the greatest number” and, as Mill put it, that “everybody [must] count for one, nobody for more than one.” If the aim is achieving the highest level of overall happiness for a society in which each person’s happiness counts equally, then a relatively or even highly egalitarian distribution of goods — subject to variation based on each individual’s particular needs — would seem like the only sensible distribution. Indeed, this posed a fundamental problem for more sophisticated utilitarian defenders of the market like English philosopher Henry Sidgwick. In his famous 1874 Methods of Ethics, Sidgwick highlighted how utilitarian psychology insisted we are all “rational hedonists” as market society suggested, but its morality demanded we adopt a position of “rational benevolence” that denied even our own desires should have special weighting when determining the rightness or wrongness of our actions. After all, if securing the greatest happiness for the greatest number meant the rich giving up excess wealth to the poor (who gained more marginal utility from it), the right thing to do seemed to be clear. Later, free-market economists like Mises recast utilitarianism along far cruder lines, purely in defense of capitalism: market societies not only offered consumers a wide array of goods to satisfy their needs and tastes, but also generated fantastic economic growth, promoting greater happiness for all in the long run. Yet this made the argument for unbridled capitalism extremely vulnerable to empirical falsification, since proponents must continuously prove that the high levels of inequality that flow from their preferred system are absolutely necessary to promoting greater happiness in the long run, and that any interference will foster needless suffering. After all, one can’t be a consistent utilitarian and fling around the kind of elitist bombast that Mises does — per utilitarian logic, each counts as one, the same as everyone else. This is true even on issues like taste and high culture, which Mises was eager to associate with unequal wealth. In the end, as Bentham puts it, a pure utilitarian must hold that a “pushpin” is as good as John Milton if the former gives more people pleasure. More importantly, in a world where the Nordic social democracies enjoy the world’s highest standards of living, and where public services like the UK’s National Health Service are among the most popular in their respective countries, a sober utilitarian would have to conclude that a society with a strong welfare state is preferrable to free-market capitalism. One could even go further and point out that a truly global focus on utility would reveal vast disparities between different regions of the world, with the rich shelling out enormous sums on goods of low marginal utility while the poor lack access to food, shelter, and water. Any stringent utilitarianism would recognize there can be no argument for spending $275 million on a luxury yacht when you could inoculate thousands of children against malaria for ten dollars a pop. Liberalism, Imperialism, and Xenophobia One of the most striking things about Mises is his fairy tale understanding of liberalism’s complex history, which he often couples with a dose of chauvinism and prejudice. For Mises, liberalism and liberal capitalism were fundamentally anti-imperialist and pro-peace. Liberalism was less an ideology adopted by concrete political actors than a monolithic doctrine existing outside of material reality. Thinking of liberalism in rarefied, purely ideational terms allows Mises to move the goalposts and engage in some truly remarkable gymnastics when confronted with liberal capitalism’s, shall we say, checkered past. And it’s not hard to see why. The classical liberal heyday of the nineteenth century is often called the “Age of Imperialism.” Liberal capitalist states like Great Britain and the United States invaded and annexed vast parts of the globe, all while mouthing liberal niceties. The seizure of Native American land was often justified on the Lockean line that indigenous people weren’t using the land “productively”; the colonization of India was legitimated in part as an effort to bring civilization and markets to an allegedly backward part of the world. Mises’s response to these heinous crimes is to simply define them away. He (admirably) condemns the colonialism of the European absolutist states, but defends British imperialism on the basis that it was directed not so much toward the incorporation of new territories as toward the creation of an area of uniform commercial policy out of the various possessions subject to the King of England. This was the result of the peculiar situation in which England found itself as the mother country of the most extensive colonial settlements in the world. “Peculiar” is indeed a peculiar word for a process that dispatched British arms and emissaries to every corner of the earth, unleashing rivers of blood and piling up mountains of corpses in its wake. Aligned to this geopolitical project was an economic one, wherein colonial regions were transformed into vast centers of resource extraction for the sake of the mother country. One example, raised by Marxist historian Eric Hobsbawm in The Age of Capital , was the transformation of much of South America and the Caribbean into immense sugar, cacao, and coffee plantations. These regions were rendered perpetually underindustrialized, with many trapped to this day in the ups and downs of a resource-dependent economy. The colonial project was a spectacular example of the actual historical practices of liberalism violently contradicting its theoretical commitments to freedom and inequality. Unless, that is, you possess the dogmatic mind of Ludwig von Mises. In The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality, first published in 1956 as many around the world still struggled under the yoke of colonialism, Mises blamed the colonized countries themselves for this legacy, at points chalking it up to their cultural and civilizational inferiority. As he puts it, “what makes hundreds of millions in Asia and Africa destitute is that they cling to primitive methods of production and miss the benefits which the employment of better tools and up-to-date technological designs could bestow upon them. . . . It is nonsensical to blame capitalism and the capitalistic nations of the West for the plight the backward peoples have brought upon themselves.” These are rich words considering “the capitalistic nations of the West” were, for many years, the very masters of the so-called “backwards peoples.” But Mises seems willing to brush past blame for their suffering as quickly as the capitalists armed with liberal doctrines once raced to exploit them. The Unempirical von Mises Despite its frequent pretenses to scientific status, much of Mises’s work is closer to armchair a priori reasoning than rigorous analysis. He starts from a set of rigid premises about human nature and utilitarian justifications for capitalism, and then uncompromisingly fits historical data and facts to vindicate those suppositions. It isn’t even particularly good a priori reasoning. When forced to deal with issues like the egalitarian starting point of utilitarian reasoning, Mises simply absconds and then reaches for elitism to get the conclusion he wants. Where the real world of actual history calls into question his view, he simply defines it away — even if that means characterizing the most expansive imperial project in history as little more than a customs union with a surfeit of Union Jacks. I don’t like to psychologize those whom I criticize, but I will make a rare exception here. Mises frequently draws on the language of resentment to pillory socialism and the Left, characterizing any efforts to redistribute wealth as motivated by the envy of the masses toward their superiors. Yet his broadsides miss the key distinction between envy and resentment. Envy is wanting what someone else has. Resentment, as Friedrich Nietzsche knew, is either wanting to deny someone what they have if you cannot have it, or wanting to deny someone what you have since you can’t enjoy it if others also have it. The former can be a weakness of left-wing movements, but the latter is common on the Right — for instance, when conservatives insist that this is “our” country and we will not share it with migrants and refugees. Seen from this perspective, Mises’s writings are the picture of right-wing resentment of the powerful toward the weak, fiercely indignant at workers’ movements for daring to think they and their representatives could manage things as well as capitalists and, consequently, gain the privileges previously reserved for business titans. And the only way he can justify denying them that democratic power in the workplace is by insisting on their inferiority. Thanks, but no thanks.

https://jacobin.com/2022/10/ludwig-von-mises-free-market-ideology-dogmatism-liberalism-utilitarianism

Brooklanders that lived in the neighborhood more before 2007 share fond memories of “Brookland Day”. The event was a home-grown neighborhood celebration that featured a parade of local school kids and organizations and provided a venue to promote local businesses. For years, a handful of neighbors and I hoped to revive this great tradition. Little by little the pieces fell in to place, and we are happy to announce a new neighborhood organization, the Brookland Cultural and Heritage Alliance (BCHA). The BCHA is a non-profit organization established in 2013 to facilitate a new annual Brookland community festival, and is dedicated to celebrating community, diversity and service. While we hope the BCHA can be a conduit for many exciting events, our primary focus right now is putting on our first annual community festival on April 19th 2014. The festival’s concept is a “Brookland Cultural & Heritage Day”. We want an emphasis on the history of Brookland and to celebrate local crafts, cultural organizations, and businesses. A driving theme is keeping the “homegrown” feel of previous Brookland Days and focus on highlighting 12th Street businesses. We have a lot of ideas, but are trying to be realistic. We want the organization and festival to get a foothold and then mature over time, so the first festival will be small in scale, but big on heart. For now, we are planning on the following: - Kids Zone (games, activities, etc.) - Live entertainment (music/cultural acts/dance, etc.) - Vendors (food, arts/crafts, organizations and businesses) - Hometown parade - Brookland history and Cultural events Pulling this off will require a community effort and we know that the single most important factor in the festival’s success is the support of volunteers. There are lots of ways to get involved – from planning, fundraising, and manpower on the day of the festival. The first volunteer meeting will be Monday, January 20th (location to be determined). We welcome all ideas and are forming committees right now, so this is a great time to get involved! Stay tuned for updates here and for more info on the BCHA and the Festival, check out our website and Facebook page.

http://brooklandbridge.com/8672/brookland-cultural-and-heritage-aliance-launches-festival-coming-this-spring/

Celebrating the rich cultural heritage and entrepreneurial spirit of a local family, the Jubilee: Festival of Heritage is held annually in late summer on the grounds of the historic Mann-Simons Site. Jubilee features a variety of activities including hands-on demonstrations from some of the region’s most skilled artists and craftsmen, musical entertainment including African drumming, jazz, and gospel, and vendors with African-influenced and traditional merchandise. Highlights of the festival also include tours of the Mann-Simons Site, African-American heritage sites tours, and many other activities throughout the day. Check out the website for more information!

https://www.preserveatwindsorlake.com/Portal/Home/BlogPost/8fdbf675-9cdc-421d-aba3-f3a769f255f9

The shoulder has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body. It is our shoulders that allow us to put our hands where they need to be for work, play, and all of our daily activities. To manage this, the shoulder has to have the right balance of strength, flexibility, and stability. Loss of this balance can lead to pain and injury. Maintaining this balance through exercises aimed at stretching and strengthening can help avoid shoulder problems. The shoulder is at risk for injury in many sports. The rotator cuff can be injured through overuse or through trauma. Rotator cuff tendinitis is common in overhead sports such as baseball, tennis, volleyball, and swimming. Rotator cuff tears can occur if the tendons are overloaded in weight lifting or football. There are ligaments which hold the shoulder bone in its socket. The shoulder has a very large range of motion, and needs some flexibility of the ligaments to allow for that range. But if the ligaments become stretched or torn, this can lead to instability. A mild amount of instability will allow the shoulder to slip part way out of socket, called a subluxation. When the shoulder comes completely out of its socket this is called a dislocation. Subluxation or dislocation can occur with nearly all sport activities. The ligaments of the shoulder are attached to the socket at the labrum. Tearing of the labrum sometimes occurs with instability. Another part of the shoulder commonly injured is the acromioclavicular or AC joint. The clavicle or collarbone meets the shoulder at the acromion where a small joint is found. This joint can be injured to varying degrees in a fall onto the outside part of the shoulder. Injury to the AC joint is called an AC separation. AC separations occur in contact sports and are frequently seen in skiing and biking falls. Clavicle fractures are common injuries seen frequently in sports where speed or contact are involved.

http://www.beachvolleyballworld.com/Injuries/Shoulder

Dr. Dimitrios Stefanidis Dimitrios Stefanidis, MD, PhD, FACS, FASMBS is an Associate Professor of Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine and serves as the Chief of Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery and Vice Chair of Education for the Department of Surgery. He received his medical school degree from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, and did his doctoral work at the University of Bonn in Germany. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio, a surgical simulation research fellowship at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA, and his minimally invasive bariatric surgery fellowship at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Stefanidis came to IU after 10 years at Carolinas Healthcare System in Charlotte, North Carolina where he had established a busy minimally invasive and bariatric surgery practice and served as Associate Professor of Surgery and the Surgical and Research Director of Carolinas Simulation Center. Dr. Stefanidis’ area of clinical practice is general and bariatric surgery with a focus on revisional and robotic surgery. Dr. Stefanidis serves as a board member of the Association for Surgical Education (ASE), as program chair of the 2017 ASE annual meeting, as the chair of the SAGES Guidelines Committee, the co-chair of the Research and Development Committee of the Accredited Education Institutes of the American College of Surgeons, the associate editor for the Journal of Simulation in Healthcare, and the ASE recorder of the American Journal of Surgery. He is an active member in numerous other national committees. His contributions to the education of surgeons and other healthcare workers have earned him the educator of the year award by the Charlotte Business Journal in 2012. He also received a presidential citation in 2016 for his contributions to simulation by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Dr. Stefanidis has served as principal or co-investigator on research projects totaling over 2 million dollars, has more than 110 peer reviewed publications, written several book chapters, and has won numerous competitive grants and research awards. His research focuses on surgical education, simulation, surgical outcomes and patient safety. His most recent research projects, include the development of a mental skills curriculum for surgeons funded by the AHRQ and the development of a coaching mechanism for practicing surgeons funded by CMS. He has mentored numerous surgical fellows, residents, and medical students over the years and has helped them grow as clinicians and researchers.

https://surgicalexcellence.org/person/dr-dimitrios-stefanidis/

The Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities (MLPD) is inviting applications for the Accessibility Program Manager position. About the MLPD Accessibility Consulting Services Pilot Program MLPD is a seasoned, cross-disabilities organization that promotes equal access to opportunities. The MLPD Accessibility Consulting Services Pilot Program will help organizations develop and implement their accessibility plans and policies as required by the new regulation: Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA). This program has a social enterprise approach including fee-for-service activities in support of promoting accessibility for persons living with disabilities and generating revenue for MLPD. Reporting to the MLPD Provincial Coordinator, the Program Manager will be responsible for all aspects of the MLPD Accessibility Consulting Services Program, including the following: Develop accessibility plans with clients Facilitate and act as a resource to the MLPD Community Advisory Committee (MCAC) Facilitate on-site testing and schedule/coordinate testers Plan and manage public forums and/or workshops on accessibility and the requirements as per the AMA Prepare reports to funders Market the Program resources and services and source potential clients As this is a new program she/he will work in collaboration with our Program Coach to develop program resources and processes. QUALIFICATIONS Must Haves: Demonstrated knowledge or expertise in the area of Accessibility Demonstrated program management experience Excellent planning and organization skills including process improvement, information analysis, and program evaluation Strong interpersonal skills Strong oral and written communication skills Self-motivated and self-directed, but work as part of the MLPD team Good to haves: Lived experience facing barriers Experience advising organizations about Accessibility and barrier removal Experience working in the charity sector with a volunteer board structure Understanding of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA), Manitoba Human Rights Code, or history of the disability rights movement in Manitoba MLPD office hours: Monday thru Thursday, 9 am – 5 pm This is a one year, full-time, term position (January 2, 2017 - December 31, 2017) which may be renewed dependent on funding. Some off-site, evening and weekend work should be expected. Salary range is $33,000 - $36,000 per year. Application deadline is December 16, 2016. To apply, send a copy of your resume and custom cover letter by email or snail mail to:

http://www.deafcentremanitoba.org/2016/12/the-manitoba-league-of-persons-with.html

Otosclerosis is a common cause of progressive conductive hearing loss in which softening and hardening of minute areas of the ossicles (malleus, incus and stapes) in the middle ear produce abnormal bone growth and impede conduction of sound vibration from the eardrum to the inner ear. In about ten percent of patients with otosclerosis, the bone growth spreads to the stapes bone in particular, the final link in the middle ear chain. The stapes is a small stirrups-shaped bone with its base resting in a small groove, commonly called the oval window, in intimate contact with the inner ear fluids. When the amount of otosclerosis at this location is significant, as determined by careful hearing tests, a stapedectomy (or stapedotomy) is the treatment of choice. A stapedectomy is a microsurgical technique in which all or a portion of the stapes is replaced by a prosthesis. When the procedure was first introduced in the 1950s, many surgeons became skilled in the technique and while it is now performed by many more surgeons, on an average, there are relatively few performed per surgeon. Hence, proficiency is harder to maintain for the occasional stapes surgeon. A stapedectomy is usually performed through an incision in the ear canal under local or general anesthesia. A flap consisting of canal skin and the tympanic membrane (eardrum) is elevated and the posterior superior bony external auditory canal is drilled away to expose the stapes, incus, and chorda tympani (facial nerve). The ossicles are palpated to confirm fixation of the stapes and mobility of the malleus and incus. With care taken to preserve the chorda tympani, the joint between the incus and the stapes is separated with a knife, and a laser or other microsurgical instrument severs the stapes tendon and one crus (leg) of the stapes. The arch of the stapes bone may then be removed by fracturing off the other crus allowing the footplate to remain in the oval window. A laser is next employed to form a minuscule hole in the footplate for posting the stapedial prosthesis. In some cases, the footplate is also removed by a so-called "large hole" technique and a vein grafted to the internal wall of the tympanum to cover the opening and to support the prosthesis. After a hole is made in the footplate (or tissue is placed over the opening to the inner ear made after removing the footplate) one end of a biocompatible plastic or metal piston-like stapedial prosthesis of proper length is posted in the hole and the other end attached to the incus. A piece of fat or other tissue is taken, such as from a small incision behind the ear lobe, to seal any hole in the window, and the eardrum is folded back into its normal position with a small gelatin sponge to hold it in position. A critical part of the procedure is attaching the prosthesis around the lenticular process of the incus due to its minuteness and delicate nature, typically about 3.5 mm to 6 mm long and 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm diameter, For instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,689 to Causse one end of the prosthesis fabricated of PTFE is posted in a hole drilled in the exposed footplate and a split eyelet at the other end must be crimped around the incus. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,714,869 to Shay Jr. one end of the prosthesis is placed on a vein graft invaginated into the oval window, and a split eyelet at the other end must be forced open by elastic deformation to fit onto the incus. Elastic recovery capacity of the eyelet causes it to restore to its original form in about 20 minutes and grip the incus firmly. U.S. Pat. No. 3,838,468 to Armstrong discloses a stapedial prosthesis for use in cases where the footplate is also removed. A piston is fixed at one end to a vein graft for covering the oval window. A wire of stainless steel, platinum, gold or like biocompatible material shaped like a shepherd's crook extending from the other end, is crimped about the lenticular process of the incus. U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,749 to Clifford et al. discloses a stapedial prosthesis of metal or plastic in which one end of a piston extends into the fluid in the inner ear and the other end is secured to the incus by a separate heat-shrinkable sleeve when heat is applied as by a laser. It is readily apparent that great care and skill are required to secure these and similar prostheses to the lenticular process of the incus. The minute size of the prostheses also makes them extremely difficult to manipulate into proper position for tightening around the incus, even with state-of-the-art microsurgical instrumentation. Once in place, if the prosthesis is not tightened sufficiently about the incus, fluctuating hearing loss, dizziness, or extrusion of the prosthesis may occur. If it is too tight, necrosis of the incus may occur. In either case, the tightening procedure in itself may cause trauma to the delicate middle ear structures, including fracture or subluxation (dislocation) of the incus. Other otologic protheses may be implanted by similar procedures directly between the malleus and the footplate of the stapes or the oval window of the inner ear.

The Service Desk Function - In many organizations, the service desk function is the service-consumer interface to service level management and therefore a source of service expectation information. It is important to remember that the service desk is not an ITIL process area, it is an ITIL function. Information discovered about the service desk, however, may relate to process area requirements. Discovery for Financial Management Most IT organizations calculate a budget for IT services. They may even charge for them. These budgets and invoices contain implied services and associated financial management requirements. Often, they are supported by spreadsheets that contain detailed financial information. Location and review of such documents can provide lists of candidate services and associated costs and charges. Discovery for IT Service Continuity Management One can obtain and review any existing disaster recovery plans to determine candidate IT services as well as their relative value to the business. Other ITIL Processes Similar exercises can be applied across all other ITIL processes to formulate a proforma SLA: Gather existing artifacts; Analyze them for implied SLA information; Review the analysis with stakeholders to formalize agreements. Weve all heard that You cant manage what you cant measure. Many people take this to mean that measurement is a binary issue, i.e. that either something is being measured or it isnt. But thats not always the case in the real world. Measurement can also be a continuum. So the question isnt just whether something is being measured or notits whether the level of measurement is sufficient to fulfill a companys business requirements. With an SLA in hand, one can determine the right architecture to right-size ITIL implementation. Editors Note: Additional articles in this series will delve into individual ITIL areas, providing use cases and architectures that illustrate ITIL implementation options with their associated costs and benefits. Frank Bucalo is a senior architect at CA. Frank has more than 20 years of experience implementing business applications for the Wall Street community. Over the last five years, Frank has a track record of successfully delivering ITIL implementations from business analysis, through intelligent design, and technical implementation.

http://www.itsmwatch.com/itil/article.php/11700_3720946_2/Rightsizing-Your-ITIL-Implementation.htm

This research was a part of the User Research Bootcamp at the Interaction Design Foundation January – April 2022. It was carried out with the collaboration of Yellow Yoga, where study participants were recruited. The research aimed to uncover how people in 2022 experience taking Yoga classes. Focusing on the User Audience of the Yellow Yoga studio, the study targeted Users’ preferences, motivations and pain points when looking for a Yoga class. Process Overview An overview from start to finish: From identifying Research Objectives and appropriate Methods, to finding people, coducting Interviews and Open Card Sorts, Carefully transcribing, extracting relevant quotes and creating an Affinity Diagram for each method. Finally, bringing the insights to the foreground by creating a Persona, a Journey Map and HMW Questions. Conducting a process through all its stages produces long lasting insights: not only about the research subject but also about the process itself. One learns, sometimes the hard way, why it is important to listen, to allow participants the time they need, and follow up on what is truely interesting. in this Research, 4 Semi Structured Qualitative Interviews and 3 Open Card Sorts were conducted and used as the source of User Data. Themes from Interviews The benefits of online classes, as well as their challenges and limitations. - Online classes are accessible and convenient. - They provided connection and structure in a time of isolation and uncertainty. - People want online classes to continue. - People talk about a growing feeling a being lazy (not going to the studio) and sloppy (in their practice). - People want to return to the studio but feel there is a barrier, a difficulty. People find in Yoga a source of support, self care and inspiration. - People find in Yoga a source of emotional support, challenge and inspiration. - People find in Yoga a form of self care, also when dealing with injury or the prevention of it. People appreciate Yellow Yoga’s authentic and friendly character. - People think of Yellow Yoga as laid back, affordable, inclusive, authentic, friendly, welcoming and cozy. - People miss the studio, and casually meeting each other in class or after class. The Yoga teacher plays an important role in people’s experience. - People look for classes with their favorite teachers. Teacher > Yoga style - People find themselves comparing and judging more when it comes to teachers they don’t know. . Themes from Card Sorts Concerns about the future of the Yoga studio and the future of teaching Yoga. - Teachers are concerned about the sustainability and future of the studio. - Urban Sports has negatively affected group consistency and student commitment, which makes it hard to teach. - Teachers feel that the studio’s values are slowly being eroded. - Teachers feel that some teaching formats are not adequately compensated. Teaching Yoga online has had some unexpected benefits. - Teaching online is surprisingly personal. - Teaching online from home was for some teachers a liberating experience, allowing for more freedom to experiment and develop an authentic teaching style. - Teachers have successfully created regular online classes with high student commitment by relying on their own network. Students’ preferences regarding online or in- studio are becoming clearer and more differentiated. - Some people prefer online classes, and expectations are beginning to form. Technical issues regarding sound quality as well as punctuality are important. - Some students still prefer the in- studio experience. The ability of the teacher to attend to the people in the studio is important. - The hybrid model offers accessibility and flexibility, but the students in the studio find the large screen too intrusive. Communicating the findings Introducing primary persona, Yulia ! 5 fun facts about Yulia : - Yulia finds online classes very convenient. - But… Yulia gets easily distracted at home and wants to go more often to the studio. - Yulia would love to try out a new teacher she doesn’t know yet. - Has a monthly flatrate at Yellow Yoga - Prefers taking classes in the morning. Yulia’s journey through the week From Sunday to Saturday : - Planning the week ahead, deciding which Yoga classes to take. - When facing an unexpected change in the schedule, changing plans and finding alternatives. - Thought- and emotion process around the decision to take an online class rather than go to the studio. - Pain points around themes like class cancellations or substitutions, and the decision whether to go to the studio or use the online option. - Questions and Opportunities presented to Yellow Yoga as a stakeholder. Main Narrative To help communicate to stakeholders one important thread out of the Journey Map, a few sections were picked out and arranged as a narrative. - Initially, Yulia simply faces a choice: Go to the studio or take the class online ? - Next, Yulia recognizes the advantages of taking the class online, especially if the class is challenging, or long, or if she doesn’t know the teacher. - However the thoughts grow more negative as Yulia is not sure if leaving an online class in the middle is “ok”. - The negative thoughts turn into judgement and feelings of guilt. - Looking at this process, we can lift up these questions to the collective sphere: What does the studio say about leaving online classes in the middle ? In terms of numbers of participants in the studio and online, what is desirable for the studio ? How could the studio help students see the benefits in both of these forms and not focus on the disadvantages and limitations ? Wrap up At the end of the process, a meeting was held with the main stakeholder: the administration team of the Yellow Yoga studio. The research findings were presented and there was a short and productive discussion.

https://michaelshapira.com/qualitative-research/

Task team makes progress in North West Tangible progress has been made to stabilise the struggling North West provincial departments that were put under administration earlier this year. In August, the North West departments of health; education and sports developments; and local government and human settlements were placed under Section 100 (1) (B). An Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT), led by Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, was appointed to provide oversight in the implementation of the intervention. Dlamini-Zuma on Friday met Premier Job Mokgoro, North West MECs and administrators in Pretoria to assess the work that has been done to implement the North West intervention since its inception. Now in its fourth month, the intervention teams are fully embedded in the complex environment in which they must restore governance and service delivery, said the IMTT in a statement on Wednesday. It said to date, there has been endorsement of Section 100(1) intervention by the NCOP, enabling the intervention to be extended beyond the 180-day limit imposed by the Constitution. President Cyril Ramaphosa established the IMTT following violent protests over service delivery in the province earlier this year. “Visible progress has been made in stabilising the provincial departments in the North West and the provision of basic services has been prioritised. We are also pleased to note that various government departments are working together to promote good governance. “The critical point of the intervention by national government in the North West is ensuring that a clean administration and efficient service delivery are in place to achieve a better quality life for all residents of the province,” said Minister Dlamini-Zuma in the statement. The Minister said it was safe to indicate that the province is now stable. The IMTT noted protests by various communities and individuals who are unhappy about the delivery of services. It urged the affected communities to express their dissatisfaction through a number of constructive platforms, such as the Presidential Hotline. “Government reiterates that any form of intimidation or looting by protestors is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Protestors should act responsibly and within the bounds of the law. “Government will at all times ensure that protests are peaceful and do not violate the rights of others. Acts of violence, intimidation and destruction of property are criminal offences and the police will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute those who commit such crimes,” the statement reads. The IMTT reiterated that it remains committed to the task of restoring trust and confidence between labour and government, assisting the province to upgrade its systems and capabilities to a new normality. The intervention is also ensuring that there is compliance with the legislative and regulatory framework of government that enables sustainable service delivery and improved financial management. “The IMTT wishes to appeal to the people of the North West to work in partnership with government and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies. The destruction of the existing infrastructure while protesting for improvements of certain issues is counter-productive. It is the role of communities to protect the existing infrastructure like clinics, schools and libraries,” the statement further reads. To ensure that intervention by the IMTT in the North West succeeds, national government has put in place a capable team of specialist officials who will work closely with the North West Executive.

https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/task-team-makes-progress-north-west

The human history of this oasis started during the Pleistocene, when nomadic tribes settled sometimes there, in a time when the Sahara climate was wetter and where humans could have access to lakes and marshes. But about 6 000 years ago, the entire Sahara became drier, changing progressively into a hyper-arid desert (with less than 50 mm of rain per year). However, specialists think that nomadic hunter-gatherers began to settle almost permanently in the oasis of Dakhleh in the period of the Holocene (about 12 000 years ago), during new, but rare episodes of wetter times. In fact, the drier climate didn't mean that there was no more water in what is now known as the Western Desert. The south of the Libyan Desert has the most important supply of subterranean water in the world, and the first inhabitants of the Dakhla Oasis had access to surface water sources. Pharaonic Period The first contacts between the pharaonic power and the oases started around 2550 BCE. Islamic Period The fortified Islamic town of Al Qasr was built at Dakhla Oasis in the 12th century probably on the remains of a Roman era settlement by the Ayyubid kings of Egypt. After 1800 The first European traveller to find the Dakhla Oasis was Sir Archibald Edmonstone, in the year 1819. He was succeeded by several other early travellers, but it was not until 1908 that the first egyptologist, Herbert Winlock, visited Dakhla Oasis and noted its monuments in some systematic manner. In the 1950s, detailed studies began, first by Dr. Ahmed Fakhry, and in the late 1970s, an expedition of the Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale and the Dakhla Oasis Project each began detailed studies in the oasis. Geography Dakhla Oasis consists of several communities, along a string of sub-oases. The main settlements are Mut, Al-Qasr, Qalamoun, together with several smaller villages. Some of the communities have identities that are separate from each other. Qalamoun has inhabitants that trace their origins to the Ottomans. Dakhleh Oasis Project The Dakhleh Oasis Project (DOP) is a long-term study project of the Dakhleh Oasis and the surrounding palaeoasis, initiated in 1978 when the Royal Ontario Museum and the Canadian Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities were awarded a joint concession for part of the Oasis. In 1979, the Centre for Archaeology and Ancient History at Monash University began to cooperate in the project. The DOP studies the interaction between environmental changes and human activity in the Dakhleh Oasis. The director of the DOP is Anthony J. Mills, former curator at the Royal Ontario Museum. The excavations at Ismant el-Kharab (ancient Kellis), Mut el-Kharab, Deir Abu Metta and Muzawwaqa are undertaken with the cooperation of Monash University, under the direction of Gillian E. Bowen. Bowen and Colin Hope, also of Monash, are the principal investigators at Ismant el-Kharab. The DOP has also excavated at 'Ain el-Gazzareen, El Qasr el-Dakhil, Deir el Hagar and Ain Birbiyeh. As well as the Dakhleh Trust, formed in 1999 to raise money for the DOP, organizations which have supported or participated in the DOP include: the Royal Ontario Museum, the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, Monash University, the University of Durham, the University of Toronto, Columbia University, the American Research Centre in Egypt, the Egyptology Society of Victoria and New York University. In addition, excavations are undertaken at Amheida under the direction of Roger S. Bagnall. These were originally conducted under the auspices of Columbia University, but are currently conducted for New York University.

http://newstaregypt.com/Dakhla%20Oasis.html

- Construction : Zimenta, Obras y Proyectos S.L.. - Engineering : Buin Ingenieros - Technical Architects : Antonio Gil Melero y Natalia Rodríguez - City : Madrid - Country : Spain Text description provided by the architects. The construction of the building in the “Parque Conde de Orgaz” area, required the previous processing of a planning figure, a detailed study, as well as the formal and functional adaptation of the building to its surroundings. The convergence of orientation and views at noon on the front access of the plot, the existence to the north of a degraded urban environment and the adjoining buildings of a certain entity in both side boundaries, led us to positioning the façades rotated 45º with respect to the orthogonal limits of the plot. With this decision, we avoided the views facing the adjacent buildings and we made all the houses participate in the magnificent views that unfold towards the south. The family profile of the inhabitants of the park area, made us opt for a homogeneous typology for all homes, both in size and program. Three different types were created: ground floor houses with private gardens and individual pools, dwellings on intermediate floors overlooking their terraces and duplex penthouses with private gardens and pools spatially connected to the interior space through large glass panels. The architecture of the building enhances the privacy of homes and defines the volume without compromising its functionality. The common areas, the gym, gardens and pool, enriches the access areas, being part of it but without giving up privacy. The use of the vehicle entrance to the building is dominant, so the entrances have been treated from the parking lot with the same nobility as the rest of the building. The detail solves the landscaping of the perimeter of the terraces in the plane of the ground in order not to interfere with the views. For this, a vessel housing the soil and landscaping, is built on profiles and laminated steel plates which cantilever from the edge of the concrete slab. In this edge profile, glass parapets are anchored to enclose the terraces. The choice of materials and the design of the construction details have been developed to make their integration and understand the whole as a unit at the same time of guaranteeing their noble aging.

https://www.archdaily.com/895561/madronos-27-bueso-inchausti-and-rein-arquitectos

When you press the shutter release on a camera, there's usually a lag time or delay before the shutter actually fires. This corresponds to the time required for the autofocus and autoexposure mechanisms time to do their work, and can amount to a fairly long delay in some situations. Since this number is rarely reported on (and even more rarely reported accurately), and can significantly affect the picture taking experience, I routinely measure both shutter delay and shot to shot cycle times for all cameras I test, using a test system I designed and built for the purpose. (Crystal-controlled, with a resolution of 0.001 second.) Here are the numbers I collected for the Sony DSC-W5: | | | || | (secs) | | |Power On -> First shot|| || | LCD turns on and lens extends forward. Pretty fast. |Shutdown|| || | First time is time to retract lens, second time is worst-case buffer-clearing time. Pretty fast, the 16 second clearing time corresponds to emptying the buffer of 100 small/basic shots. |Play to Record, first shot|| || | Time until first shot is captured. Very fast. |Record to play|| || | First time is that required to display a large/fine file immediately after capture, second time is that needed to display a large/fine file that has already been processed and stored on the memory card. Quite fast. |Shutter lag, full autofocus|| ||First time is at full wide-angle, second is full telephoto. A fair bit faster than average.| | | Shutter lag, continuous autofocus | || | As usual, no benefit to continuous AF for stationary subjects. (May help with moving subjects, but I have no way to test that.) |Shutter lag, manual focus|| | 0.204 |Quite fast.| |Shutter lag, prefocus|| | 0.011 |Time to capture, after half-pressing shutter button. Amazingly fast!| |Cycle Time, max/min resolution|| | 0.95 / 1.00 |First number is for large/fine files, second number is time for "TV" mode (640x480) images. Times are averages. In both modes, clears the buffer after each shot and continues at this rate indefinitely. Very good, much better than average.| |Cycle Time, continuous mode, max/min resolution||0.70 / 0.60 | (1.43 / 1.67 fps) |First number is for large/fine files, second number is time for "TV" size images. Times are averages. Shoots 9 images this fast in large/fine mode, clears the buffer in 4.4 seconds, and is ready for 9 more. In TV mode, shoots over 100 frames without slowing, and clears the buffer in 15 seconds. Quite good, and very good buffer depth as well. (Note that buffer-clearing times are for Memory Stick PRO media, ordinary Memory Sticks will be slower.)| |Cycle Time, "Multi Burst" mode||0.03 | (30 fps) |Camera captures sixteen 320 x 240 pixel images, stores them in 4x4 arrays inside normal 1280 x 960 files. Frame rate can be set to 30, 15, or 7.5 fps. Buffer clears in about a second, and it's ready for 16 more. Very fast.| Great speed, very responsive. The Sony DSC-W5 is faster than average starting up and shutting down, and when it was running, it was faster yet. Full-autofocus shutter lag was a good bit faster than average, at only 0.31 - 0.62 second. (Average these days is a range from 0.8 - 1.0 second.) When the camera was "prefocused" by half-pressing and holding down the shutter button before the shot itself, shutter lag dropped to an astonishing 0.011 second. Shot to shot cycle time was also very fast, at only 0.95 second for large/fine JPEG images. In continuous mode, the camera could capture up to 9 large/fine images at a time, one every 0.70 second. (1.43 frames/second.) Bottom line, the Sony DSC-W5 should be an excellent camera for keeping up with an active family or capturing shots of sporting events. Power The Sony DSC-W5 uses a two AA batteries for power, and two Sony-branded 2100 mAh NiMH batteries are included with the camera. Unfortunately, the camera uses a "dummy battery" AC adapter (rather than a standard external power connector), so I couldn't conduct my usual direct measurements of power consumption. For what it's worth though, Sony claims that the W5 will run for as much as 190 minutes in capture mode with the LCD display turned on, capturing up to 380 full-resolution images. If true (and I have no reason to disbelieve it), the DSC-W5's battery life is very good, especially for a camera powered by only two AA cells. While the camera comes with two good-quality NiMH AA cells and a charger, I do recommend that you pick up another pair or two of high-capacity NiMH batteries. See my battery shootout page for a current listing of the top batteries, tested under actual load conditions. Storage Capacity The Sony DSC-W5 stores its photos on Memory Stick memory cards or in approximately 32 MB of internal memory, and no card is included with the camera. (I strongly recommend buying at least a 64 MB card, preferably a 128 MB one, to give yourself extra space for extended outings.) The chart below shows how many images can be stored in the internal memory at each size/quality setting. | | Resolution/Quality 32 MB Internal Memory |Fine||Normal| |2592 x 1944 ||Images | (Avg size) |12 | 2.6 MB |23 | 1.4 MB |Approx. | Compression |6:1||11:1| |2048 x 1536 ||Images | (Avg size) |20 | 1.6 MB |36 | 903 KB |Approx. | Compression |6:1||11:1| |1280 x 960 ||Images | (Avg size) |48 | 668 KB |89 | 368 KB |Approx. | Compression |6:1||10:1| | ||Images | (Avg size) |196 | 167 KB |491 | 67 KB |Approx. | Compression |6:1||14:1| Download Speed The Sony DSC-W5 connects to a host computer via a USB interface. Downloading files to my Sony desktop running Windows XP (Pentium IV, 2.4 GHz), I clocked it at 4915 KBytes/second, an amazingly fast rate. (Yes, we did check that a couple of times to make sure. It really is that fast.) (Cameras with slow USB interfaces run as low as 300 KB/s, cameras with fast v1.1 interfaces run as high as 600 KB/s. Cameras with USB v2.0 interfaces run as fast as several megabytes/second.) W5 Test Images W5 Specifications W5 "Picky Details"

https://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/W5/W5DATA.HTM

This guide shows you how to search for journal articles and e-journals using the Library catalogue and A-Z databases list. Journal articles which are available in full at York St John are all accessible via the Library Catalogue which gathers all our full text articles into one place for easy access. You can access journal articles by using: Using the Library catalogue to search for journal articles Getting started Start from the Library and Learning Services Homepage, go to the Library Catalogue and select the button to 'Search electronic content including journal articles'. Enter your initial search query to get the first results. From here, you can make your search more specific by selecting the advanced search option just below the search bar. Advanced search Using the advanced search function makes it easier to narrow down your search to get more relevant results. You can also create an account on Ebsco to save useful results and keep the details for referencing the items that you find. Let's consider a search topic: The impact of ICT on the performance of small business Key concepts of the search would be: ICT, Performance, Small business Think of alternative keywords for each concept of the search: |ICT||performance||"small business"| |"information technology"||productivity||SMEs| |comput*||profit*||"small firms"| The table shows how you can use techniques to improve your search such as adding an asterisk (*) after the main part of the word to find different word endings, so profit* finds profit/s, profitable, profitability. The quotation marks around two or more words searches for the words as a phrase such as "information technology". Phrase searching is very important in Discover to avoid returning a huge number of results. The next step is combining your search together using link words as shown in the table below: |Link words||Example||Effect| |Use AND to link different key concepts of your topic||gender AND leadership||Finds records containing both terms (narrows search)| |Use OR to link terms with similar meanings (synonyms)||job OR occupation||Finds records containing either or any of the terms (widens search)| So, in Discover your search for the topic: The impact of ICT on the performance of small business becomes: Each line of the search contains all the alternatives for each search concept. The Plus sign adds a fourth line if you need to add another term. You can choose to search in the abstract index only, to narrow down your search results. Limiting your search results Let's look at one article in more detail: Using the A-Z journals list to search for journals You can use the library's A-Z list of journals to search for journals by title. This allows you to check which journals are accessible and the years that you can access. To find articles in online journals go to the library catalogue search box and select journal article search. Let's use the British Journal of Management as an example. Access the A-Z list of journals, and (if prompted) log in with your usual University username and password. You will then be presented with the record for the electronic journal, with a link (or links) to the provider. Click on the provider link and you will be taken to the journal's home page. From here you can navigate to the year, volume and issue you need. So for the British Journal of Management, we have access via Business Source Premier from 1990 onwards except for the most recent year and via Wiley from 1997 onwards. Troubleshooting - It is important to remember that you will only be able to access journals for which we have an electronic subscription. If you are unable to access the text of an article you require, please check the holdings on A-Z journals. - If there is more than one supplier listed via A-Z journals list, and you have trouble accessing the article you want from the first supplier you try, please try the other suppliers. - If we don't have a current subscription or have access to the article you need, we can obtain it through our service. This library resource is available to YSJ students and staff free of charge. As an off-campus student you will likely prefer a PDF so please make sure you register for Secure electronic delivery before making your first request. - If you go to a journal website direct (for example, Wiley, Taylor & Francis) without going through Discover or A-Z Journals, you may find that you are not logged in to the resource. Make sure that you use Discover, A-Z journals or one of our many databases. - Your University username and password. You need to change this once a year and as an off-campus student you won't be prompted to do this. If you find that you are suddenly no longer able to access our resources after a period of successfully doing so, this might be the reason. To change your password please visit change my password.

https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/students/library/accessing-and-searching-for-journals-and-articles/

Does your clan have Scottish origins? If you search all of Findmypast's records with 'Scotland' entered in the location search field you'll return over 53 million records, so it would be a mistake to underestimate what we can add to your Scottish family research. Add to that our ever-growing collection of Scottish newspapers, and you have yourself a veritable treasure chest of material to help you find highland relatives. So what records have we got and how should you go about searching them? Scotland Births & Baptisms 1564-1950 - Over 9 million records covering nearly 400 years of Scottish history. Each record contains a transcript of original sources and you will usually find out names, dates, locations and parents' names. Scotland Marriages 1561-1910 - A comprehensive collection of over 4 million records will help you uncover a union in two branches of your Scottish family. Scotland Billion Graves Cemetery Index - If your ancestors were buried in Scotland, use this continually-updated index to find the precise location and even view a photograph of their headstone. Our British Newspaper Collection is of the most important resources you can search for your Scottish family. You can narrow your search by date and county. For a full overview of our Scottish newspapers and how to get the most from them, click here. Scotland is included in our British census records from 1841-1901. The censuses are the perfect way to track your family's evolution over generations. They'll tell you your ancestor's name, address, birth year, occupation and more. In the 1901 census, you've got the added benefit of searching by addresses as well as names. Over 395,000 soldiers from Scotland are included in our comprehensive British Army Service Records. You can filter your search by country and county to narrow your results to exactly what you're searching for. There are many regiments with origins in Scotland including The Scots Guards, The Royal Scots Fusiliers and The Highland Light Infantry. Scotland Registers & Records are a varied array of social histories and parish records covering everything from the parish of Alloa to the Black Watch. Scotland, Paternity Decrees 1750-1922 will help you break down brick walls by discovering illegitimate ancestors. Scotland Pre-1841 Censuses and Population Lists takes you back further with early census information for several Scottish parishes. Findmypast is not the only resource available to help you build your Scottish family tree. ScotlandsPeople is the official Scottish government genealogy website and holds comprehensive collections of civil and church registers, censuses, land records and more. Combining ScotlandsPeople with Findmypast will most likely yield the most-well rounded Scottish family history research.

https://blog.findmypast.com.au/how-to-trace-scottish-ancestors-2104866014.html

Category: Accommodations | Types: Hotels, Motels, Apartment Hotels Region: Central Ontario Address: 68 Monogram Place, Trenton Phone: 613-965-6660 | | Map - Driving Directions Map - Find Nearby Businesses Our beautiful and tastefully appointed guestrooms provide the best in convenience and comfort. With a total of 80 rooms furnished with either two double beds or a queen size bed, our facilities will meet all your needs. Our 10 Business Class rooms, with the enhanced amenities package, provide the utmost comfort for the business traveler on the road. Catering to your needs, each room has a business desk with ergonomic executive chairs. Conveniently located only 3km from downtown, our hotel offers easy access to all major attractions in the area such as the Loyalist College, RCAF Museum and the Big Apple Theme Park. Local Weather Amenities Move your mouse cursor over each icon for more info!

http://www.realontario.ca/index.php/ontario-tourism-listing?pid=6085

A. Psikuta et al., "The Impact of the Outer Layers in Multi-Layer Clothing Systems on the Distribution of the Air Gap Thickness and Contact Area", in Proc. of 7th Int. Conf. on 3D Body Scanning Technologies, Lugano, Switzerland, 2016, p. 21. Title: The Impact of the Outer Layers in Multi-Layer Clothing Systems on the Distribution of the Air Gap Thickness and Contact Area Authors: Agnes PSIKUTA 1, Annette MARK 1,2, Rene M. ROSSI 1 1 Laboratory for Protection and Physiology, Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, St. Gallen, Switzerland; 2 Institute of Textile Technology and Process Engineering (ITV), Denkendorf, Germany Abstract: The heat and mass transfer in clothing, and hence its thermal comfort, do not only depend on the properties of fabric but also on the variation of the thickness of air layers and the magnitude of the contact area. The garment design and the body geometry have major influence on the above-mentioned parameters. Until now several studies have been conducted to analyse the impact of clothing fit at lower and upper body, moisture content and body shape and posture on the distribution of the air within garment. The present study addressed the effect of adding on a second layer to the clothing system on the air gap thickness and the contact area. For this reason, the distribution of the air gap thickness and contact area for the upper body dressed with regular- or loose-fitted inner layer and the regular-fitted jacket was experimentally determined. The outer layer of the 2-layer clothing system was made out of transparent foil. The foil was chosen to ensure high stability, good transparency, least reflection and similar stiffness to typical jacket fabrics. The 3D scanner was able to scan through the outer layer in a smooth process and capture the shape of the inner layer underneath. Each inner layer garment and a combination of inner and outer layer garments was subjected to 3D scanning and analysis of air gap thickness and contact area by imposing 3D scans of the nude and dressed manikin and advanced post-processing in dedicated software. Finally, the results for the inner layer with and without outer layer were compared. The air gap thickness and the contact area varied with different fit levels corresponding to the ease allowance, which was in agreement with other studies in the literature. The contact area increased and air gap thickness decreased, when the foil jacket compressed the inner layer in both fits. However, as soon as the ease allowances of the inner and outer layers were similar, the compressing effect of the outer layer disappeared. The findings can be used to optimize the fit and comfort of garments. Details: Abstract: 16.021.pdf Proceedings: 3DBST 2016, 30 Nov.-1 Dec. 2016, Lugano, Switzerland Pages: 21 Copyright notice © Hometrica Consulting - Dr. Nicola D'Apuzzo, Switzerland, www.hometrica.ch. Reproduction of the proceedings or any parts thereof (excluding short quotations for the use in the preparation of reviews and technical and scientific papers) may be made only after obtaining the specific approval of the publisher. The papers appearing in the proceedings reflect the author's opinions. Their inclusion in these publications does not necessary constitute endorsement by the editor or by the publisher. Authors retain all rights to individual papers.

http://3dbody.tech/cap/abstracts/2016/16021psikuta_abs.html

Do you know how beautiful you are? Do you have any idea what Beauty created you, what Beauty adorns you, what Beauty permeates and surrounds you? Do you know all Beauty is a gift of Love, leading you to Itself? Reflection Beauty is a gift of Love, leading you to itself. Where there is beauty, there is love. Follow beauty, find Love. This statement transcends the question about whether beauty is internal or external, and it can be applied both to subjective beauty and objective beauty. Just follow beauty internal or external, subjective or objective. Follow beauty for it is love leading you. I am saying this with my recent experiences of beauty as peace quite in the front of my mind. Thus, when I say follow beauty, find Love, there is a part of me also feeling follow peace, find Love. For me, now, it seems, beauty and peace are inseparable. And that raises a question. Is there beauty in chaos? Is chaos beautiful? From chaos comes clarity, right? (or maybe this only applies to Nicholas Hexum and Doug Martinez?) Does this mean that chaos itself can be beautiful, or is it chaos’ ability to catalyze clarity that may be beautiful? Oh, but wait. Isn’t there a scientific term called entropy, which states that everything moves into greater and greater states of chaos? If so, when does the clarity come in? If chaos simply devolves into chaos, how does chaos bring about clarity?

https://susanwithpearls.com/2017/05/22/journey-of-beauty-day-33-entropy-in-action/

The USGBC recognized Melrose Commons with Stage II LEED for Neighborhood Development certification, the first in New York State. Melrose Commons is a 30-block Urban Renewal Area anchored around Melrose Avenue and East 161st Street in the Bronx. Working with a locally-based community organization, Nos Quedamos, Magnusson Architecture and Planning, (MAP) provided planning and technical assistance to craft a plan that reflected the community’s vision for its revitalization and sustainable future development. This plan was officially adopted by the New York City Planning Commission in 1994, and over the past decade more than 2,000 units of affordable housing have been developed within the Urban Renewal Area boundary, along with community and retail space. MAP has designed a series of new buildings on separate sites and continues to work in the neighborhood. In each new development we collaborate with funding organizations and city agencies to promote the highest feasible environmental and design standards. This dramatically successful and on-going 15-year neighborhood revitalization is now part of the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) Pilot Program. As developed by the USGBC, the Congress for New Urbanism, and the National Resources Defense Council, the LEED-ND Rating System integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism, and green building into the first national standard for neighborhood design. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a development’s location and design meet accepted high standards for environmentally responsible development. Through the LEED-ND Pilot Program, MAP has helped to document what’s been accomplished in Melrose Commons and to promote sustainable infill development as a strategy for neighborhood preservation and revitalization. In February 2010, Melrose Commons became the first project in New York State to receive Stage II LEED-ND certification, at the Silver level. We hope that this achievement will not only raise awareness of what has been accomplished in the South Bronx, but also increase public confidence in the sustainable redevelopment of other urban neighborhoods across the country. One of MAP’s most recent new buildings within Melrose Commons, El Jardin de Selene, is also on track to achieve Gold Certification under the LEED for New Construction program. The 12-story building, among the tallest in the area, is a mixed-use, affordable housing development located on the corner of Melrose Avenue and East 158th Street. Its brick and cast stone façade serves as a reminder of the rich architectural heritage of the Bronx, with art deco elements incorporated into the design. The new tower provides 84 rental units in an array of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. Residents have access to over 2,000 square feet of community space, including a laundry room and an outdoor courtyard at the second level. The building also includes 6,000 square feet of commercial space and over 12,000 square feet of parking. In addition to pursuing LEED Certification, El Jardin de Selene was designed to be NYSERDA Energy Star certified and Enterprise Green Communities compliant. Meeting these stringent requirements will be achieved through a variety of sustainable elements including daylight and occupancy sensors in common areas, energy star fixtures and appliances, bamboo flooring, green roof at 9th Floor setbacks, high-performance windows, thru-wall ventilation and solar panels on the building’s roof.

Your wishlist has been temporarily saved. Please Log in to save it permanently. In Deception: Murder in Hong Kong, players find themselves in a scenario of intrigue and murder, deduction and deception. One player is the Murderer, secretly choosing their weapon and the evidence they leave behind. Another is the Forensic Scientist who holds the key to convicting the criminal but is only able to express their knowledge through analysis of the scene. The rest are investigators, interpreting the clues to solve the crime – and the killer is among them. Investigators must collaborate and use their wits, their hunches, and their keen deductive insight to correctly identify the means of murder and the key evidence to convict the killer. The murderer must mislead and confuse the investigators to save themselves. Do you have what it takes to see through the lies and catch the criminal in your ranks or will they muddy the waters long enough to get away with murder?

https://boardgameco.com/products/deception-murder-in-hong-kong

Examining vehicle operating speeds on rural two-lane curves using naturalistic driving data Horizontal curves have been shown to exhibit crash rates significantly higher than comparable tangent segments. Extensive research has investigated the causes of crashes on horizontal curves, particularly the curve navigation process and driver speed selection. Research in this area has generally been limited by the nature of the data, which is often inhibited by practical constraints as to the number of locations and drivers that can be observed. This study overcomes these hurdles through the use of naturalistic driving data, providing insights on how drivers navigate and react to curves on rural two-lane highways. Nearly 10,000 vehicle traces were collected from 202 drivers on 219 horizontal curves as a part of this study. All driving traces were collected on rural two-lane highways with prevailing posted speed limits of 45 mph or 55 mph, as well as a diverse range of curve advisory speeds. Regression models are estimated via generalized estimating equations to discern those factors affecting mean speeds on curves. A log-linear relationship was found between curve radius and mean vehicle speed, with speeds relatively stable on radii of 900–1000 ft. or more, decreasing more rapidly as radii decreased below this range. Drivers were found to reduce speeds when curve advisories were present, but the magnitude of these reductions was much less than suggested by the advisory signs. Speeds were significantly lower when a W1-6 curve arrow sign was present adjusting for the curve radius. There were also some differences in speeds based on driver age and gender. Ultimately, this paper provides insights into driver curve navigation and demonstrates the potential of high-fidelity naturalistic driving data to assess speed management and geometric design on horizontal curves. - Record URL: - Record URL: - Availability: - Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575 - Supplemental Notes: - © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier. - Authors: - Wang, Bo - Hallmark, Shauna - Savolainen, Peter - Dong, Jing - Publication Date: 2018-9 Language - English Media Info - Media Type: Web - Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables; - Pagination: pp 236-243 - Serial:

https://trid.trb.org/view/1522771

Mudlarking is the practice of scavenging river banks looking for treasures hidden in the mud and Lara Maiklem has spent nearly 20 years doing exactly this mostly along the River Thames. She started river walking as a way to relax and over time started to become increasingly curious about the wide variety of things she found on her walks. Often these tiny discoveries yielded incredible history and stories behind them. As she began to document and share her discoveries she discovered there was a surprisingly large community of people who were fascinated by her findings and the practice of mudlarking. This ultimately led Bloomsbury Books (famous for the Harry Potter series) to publish her first book appropriately titled, Mudlarking. Launched earlier in August 2019, the book has shot to Number 2 on the Sunday Times Bestseller list as well as being named the BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week.

https://www.tedxnewcastle.com/lara-maiklem/

There is a plethora of information available to help organizations protect their cyber assets. So much so that it has become difficult for some to know where to begin. The Critical Security Controls from the Center for Internet Security address this issue by prioritizing defenses based on their... By Paul Ackerman July 25, 2016 Download All papers are copyrighted . No re-posting of papers is permitted Related Content Blog Cyber Defense Essentials, Cybersecurity Insights September 8, 2021 Keynote Announcement: Diversify and Conquer with Diana Kelley at SANS Cyber Solutions Fest 2021 Turn diversity into power. Diana Kelley will be presenting the day 2 keynote at SANS Cyber Solutions Fest on Friday, October 22. Angelina Derajtys read more Blog Digital Forensics and Incident Response, Cyber Defense Essentials, Industrial Control Systems Security, Purple Team, Blue Team Operations, Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking, Cloud Security, Security Management, Legal, and Audit November 30, 2020 Good News: SANS Virtual Summits Will Be FREE for the Community in 2021 They’re virtual. They’re global. They’re free. Emily Blades read more Blog Cyber Defense Essentials June 27, 2015 PowerShell for Math.NET Numerics Purpose PowerShell can utilize the math libraries of Math.NET Numerics and the processor-optimized Intel Math Kernel Library (MKL). To help coders get started, this article is a collection of PowerShell examples using Math.NET with Intel's MKL. Download The Script Because source code can be hard to... Jason Fossen read more Share:

https://www.sans.org/white-papers/37115/

Abstract At present, research on forecasting unpredictable weather such as heavy rainfall is one of the most important challenges for equipped meteorological center. In addition, the incidence of significant weather events is estimated to rise in the near future due to climate change, and this situation inspires more studies to be done. This study introduces a rainfall model that has been developed using selected rainfall parameters with the aim to recognize rainfall depth in a catchment area. This study proposes a rainfall model that utilizes the amount of rainfall, temperature, humidity and pressure records taken from selected stations in Peninsular Malaysia and they are analyzed using SPSS multiple regression model. Seven meteorological stations are selected for data collection from 1997 until 2007 in Peninsular Malaysia which are Senai, Kuantan, Melaka, Subang, Ipoh, Bayan Lepas, and Chuping. Multiple Regression analysis in Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software has been used to analyze a set of eleven years (1997 – 2007) meteorological data. Senai rainfall model gives an accurate result compared to observation rainfall data and this model were validating with data from Kota Tinggi station. The analysis shows that the selected meteorological parameters influence the rainfall development. As a result, the rainfall model developed for Senai proves that it can be used in Kota Tinggi catchment area within the limit boundaries, as the two stations are close from one another. Then, the amounts of rainfall at the Senai and Kota Tinggi stations are compared and the calibration analysis shows that the proposed rainfall model can be used in both areas.

http://penerbit.uthm.edu.my/ojs/index.php/ijie/article/view/774/

The take-home message from CNBP’s two day ‘Research Translation’ workshop, held in Adelaide, the 5th and 6th of July, was that high quality science can change people’s lives and that the research that CNBP undertakes is truly transformative with huge translation potential. Over 75 CNBP researchers, students, partners and invited guests attended the workshop which was based at the University of Adelaide on Day One and which then moved to the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institution (SAHMRI) on Day Two. During the workshop CNBP researchers worked in small groups with senior clinicians to learn about clinical problems and discuss how their research could be translated. They also heard from several leading clinicians about what it’s like to be part of a clinical translation project. Additional talks described clinical translation from ‘the other side’ – with technical researchers explaining the steps involved in translating a new technology, and drawing on their real-world experiences and outlining key learnings that had been made. Dr Anne Collins then brought insight from a commercial perspective, providing a detailed case study of one of Trajan Scientific and Medical’s most recent market products. A number of CNBP researchers, from all nodes across the Centre, then presented brief updates on clinically-related projects that are currently underway. This culminated in a master-class led and coordinated by CNBP CI Nicki Packer on seeing nanoparticles at super resolution in cells. CNBP Director Prof Mark Hutchinson wrapped-up workshop proceedings noting that he had been highly impressed with the science and information presented and encouraged the CNBP team to keep ‘commercialisation impact’ top of mind as this was one of the Centre’s core values. Prof Rob McLaughlin, Founder of Miniprobes and Senior CNBP Investigator, who helped host the event noted, “We’d like express our gratitude to all of the clinicians who made the workshop such a success: Jillian Clark, Rob Fitridge, Adam Wells, Phan Nguyen, Nam Nguyen, Tarik Sammour, Hidde Kroon, Sam Parvar and Nagendra Dudi-Venkata. Our thanks also to Anne Collins from Trajan Scientific and Medical, and Andrew Abell.” Informal feedback from attendees at the event was that they had experienced a highly informative and rewarding two days of translational workshop activity. Note – a brief visual video of the event has been produced by Dr Johan Verjans here. Below – Dr Johan Verjans CNBP AI at SAHMRI discusses the need to work closely with clinicians to successfully translate research into the clinical environment.

http://blog.cnbp.org.au/cnbp/wp/page/2/

Current Vacancies: Training Manager Click here to access the job specification The Training Manager is responsible for the development and management of training within the organisation. Making sure adherence to relevant accreditation and QA system requirements of certification bodies and to assist with the management of internal training compliance procedures and processes with both internal and external stakeholders. To apply for the role fill out the form below and upload your CV. Training Administrator Click here to access the job specification Responsible for the administration of training taking place nationwide. This role covers all elements of administration from liaising with clients, to confirming bookings, to scheduling of instructors, to the preparation of all training material and processing training records and certificates. To apply for the role fill out the form below and upload your CV. Trainers Required: The Cpl Institute are actively recruiting for associate trainers nationwide. Great opportunities exist for qualified Health and Safety, Hospitality, Professional Development and Healthcare. There are also opportunities available for trainers in the delivery of long term programmes. What’s required: Trainers are required to have a recognised professional qualification at least one level above that being delivered; A train the trainer qualification for a minimum of 5 years and extensive training experience as well as at least 6 years professional experience in the industry. We will provide all training materials and are a financially stable organisation with significant administrative and technical support from our management team. Apply Today…. If you want to work with us, please apply today. Please fill out the form below, upload your CV and click send and our team will be in touch.

https://www.thecplinstitute.ie/careers/

Share this post Link to post Share on other sites The price range I have seen for the first type Medal "Remembrance 1942-1943" (the kind suspended from the blue ribbon) has been between $300 and $600 when I have seen them. I paid $450 for mine. Now, for the screwback IKOM Medal of Remembrance, I have seen anywhere from $50 to $150, though probably $75 would be a solid price in my opinion. The Mennica Panstwowa made examples - like Bob's in the very first post in this thread - are rarer. I don't have one, but I imagine those are $150 to $300 or so.

You may have already received competency from the FNS10 Financial Services Training Package for the unit listed below. If you are satisfactoryin this unit of competency, please complete Option A – Application for National Recognition and upload, along with supporting documentation to receive National Recognition for these units. If you have not attained this unit of competency, please print the Option B – Written assessment tasks section of this document and complete as required. NAME ( BSBOHS303B Contribute to OHS hazard identification and risk assessment I have read the National Recognition Policy and understand that if this application is successful that I will be given automatic exemption in the relevant units of competency as detailed above. I understand that I will only receive automatic exemption for these units upon successful submission of a statement of attainment for each unit. I have supplied a *certifiedcopy of my statement of attainment for the units which I am claiming recognition. (If your qualification was obtained through AAMC Training, an uncertified copy will be sufficient as AAMC Training can confirm the authenticity of your units of competencies.) Signed: Date: *Copies of documents provided in support of an application, or other purpose required by the National Law, must be certified as true copies of the original documents. For a list of persons who can certify documents: http://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Process/Certifying-Documents.aspx Certified documents must: • Be initialed on every page by the Authorised Officer. • Annotated on the last page as appropriate e.g. “I have sighted the original document and certify this to be a true copy of the original” and signed by the Authorised Officer. • List the name, date of certification, and contact phone number and position number (if relevant) and have the stamp or seal of the Authorised Officer (if relevant) applied. OPTION B – Written assessment tasks Specific resources for assessment must ensure: • access to relevant information on compliance requirements such as: o organisational policies, standard operating procedures, procedures and plans o relevant legislation, regulations, licensing requirements, codes of practice, standards • access to relevant internal and external data files • access to appropriate computer resources needed for the management of identification and rectification of breaches in compliance requirements. Task 1 – Workplace project To complete this task you may use the templates at the rear of this assessment or download them from AAMC Training’s Useful Resources. 1. Identify hazard/s in your workplace. To do this you will need to conduct a work area inspection using a workplace inspection checklist. If your workplace does not have a checklist you may use the template provided. 2. Once you have identified the hazard/s; complete a risk assessment using a risk register. 3. Now complete a hazard alert form/report outlining the hazard, root cause/ subsequent implications and minimize the risk by using the hierarchy of controls, i.e. what control methods have been recommended. Task 2 – Short answer questions Provide a brief outline on how you plan to ensure/support/contribute to ongoing evaluation/monitoring of new hazards and those currently identified. Task 3 – Workplace project What are an employer’s legal responsibilities for OH&S in the workplace? As part of your response; ensure you name the Health and Safety Act and regulations. You may wish to access this website to support your response. In addition review employer responsibilities for your state: http://www.business.gov.au/business-topics/employing-people/workplace-health-and-safety/Pages/default.aspx Review the health and safety policies and procedures of your company or another company available via the internet i.e.; Woolworths provide OH&S Safety Policies on their website for contractors. Comment on why you believe it is important for an employer/company to have organisational policies, standard operating procedures and plans in place. Task 4 – Case Study Read the following scenario regarding hazardous substances, and answer the corroborating questions. 1. Complete an incident report to report this occurrence. You can either use your own company’s incident report forms or use the example found in the learning guide. 2. Who would you report it to? Why? 3. Explain your workplace emergency first aid procedure in dealing with this situation. 4. Explain the recommendations you would make for storing and using hazardous chemicals (such as Drano) in your workplace. RISK REGISTER COMPANY NAME: Risk description – what can happen and how it can happen Likelihood Consequences Risk Rating (LxC) Optional comments Risk identified 1. 2. 3. Workplace Inspection Checklist – Office INSPECTORS: DATE: LOCATION: Yes No Comments BULLETIN BOARDS AND SIGNS Are they clean and readable? 0 0 Is the material changed frequently? 0 0 FLOORS Is there loose material, debris, damaged flooring or worn carpeting? 0 0 Are the floors slippery, oily or wet? 0 0 STAIRWAYS AND AISLES Are they clear and unblocked? 0 0 Are stairways well lighted? 0 0 Are the aisles marked and visible? 0 0 EQUIPMENT Are guards, screens and sound-dampening devices in place and effective? 0 0 Is the furniture safe? 0 0 – worn or badly designed chairs 0 0 – sharp edges on desks and cabinets 0 0 – poor ergonomics (keyboard elevation, chair adjustment) 0 0 Are ladders safe, well maintained and properly affixed? 0 0 EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT Is all fire control equipment regularly tested? 0 0 Is fire control equipment appropriate for the type of fire it must control? 0 0 Is emergency lighting in place and regularly tested? 0 0 BUILDING Do buildings conform to relevant standards with respect to use, occupancy, building services, and plumbing facilities? 0 0 Are the following structures built to ensure safety? 0 0 – swinging doors 0 0 – floor and wall openings 0 0 – ladders, stairways and ramps 0 0 – guardrails 0 0 VENTILATION Does air exchange rate meet standard requirements? 0 0 Is the system free of sources of contamination (asbestos, micro-organisms, dust fumes)? 0 0 Is humidity at standard level? 0 0 Does ventilation control smoke and fumes? 0 0 DANGEROUS SUBSTANCESHave all dangerous substances been identified? 0 0 – chemical, physical and biological properties 0 0 – adverse health effects 0 0 – exposure levels for workers 0 0 – correct handling methods 0 0 Have the proper authorities carried out tests? 0 0 Are test results made available to all safety committee members, to employee safety representatives and employees? 0 0 Have substitutes been requested? 0 0 Are dangerous substances properly labelled? 0 0 SANITATION Are washrooms and food preparation areas clean? 0 0 Is there adequate provision of the following? 0 0 – toilets 0 0 – showers 0 0 – potable water 0 0 – clothing storage 0 0 – changing rooms 0 0 – field accommodations 0 0 – lunchrooms 0 0 Are measures in place to prevent the spread of disease? 0 0 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Do entry and exit procedures provide workers personal security at night? 0 0 Are emergency (evacuation, fire, bomb threat) procedures in place? 0 0 LIGHTING Are lamp reflectors clean? 0 0 Are bulbs missing? 0 0 Are any areas dark? 0 0 MATERIAL STORAGE Are materials neatly and safely piled? 0 0 Are passageways and work areas clear of obstructions? 0 0 GENERAL Are extension cables used extensively? 0 0 Are electrical or telephone cords exposed in areas where employees walk? 0 0 Are any potentially dangerous machines properly guarded? 0 0 Is electrical wiring properly concealed? 0 0 Is the fixed electrical subject to routine inspection and test? 0 0 Is portable electrical equipment subject to routine inspection? 0 0 Does any equipment have sharp metal projections? 0 0 Are wall and ceiling fixtures fastened securely? 0 0 Are paper and waste properly disposed of? 0 0 Are desk and file drawers kept closed when not in use? 0 0 Are office accessories in secure places? 0 0 Are materials stacked on desks or cabinets? 0 0 Are file cabinet drawers overloaded? 0 0 Are filing stools or wastebaskets placed where they might be tripping hazards? 0 0 Workplace Inspection Programme – Guidelines It is highly desirable that a programme be set up to monitor and inspect the workplace. Such an inspection programme will: • Enable control measures to be checked • Enable work practices to be observed • Permit the monitoring of risk management performance • Provide a mechanism for identifying hazards An inspection programme should initially identify the areas to be inspected and the frequency of inspection. Some one should be made responsible for carrying out inspections. For each area to be inspected, a checklist should be prepared. The checklist should include the most significant hazards and the controls that are expected in the area. It should include not only physical features such as checking that guards are in place and goods are being stored in the correct areas, but should also include checks to see that the correct working practices are being followed. The checklist should be edited to reflect your workplace and the hazards that it might contain. Inspection Records When inspections are carried out, a copy of the relevant checklist should be taken with you. Each item should be ticked or crossed as appropriate and comments recorded if needed. Use the following coupon code :

https://www.premiumessaywritingservice.com/application-for-national-recognition/

When the pandemic disrupted traditional face-to-face classrooms, faculty at the C. T. Bauer College of Business improvised on the spot, adding new modes of learning to reach students in multiple ways as classes transitioned online. Because research exploring the effectiveness of online instruction is limited, two of Bauer’s accounting professors decided to investigate what worked best for the more than 1,000 students taking a managerial accounting course during the spring semester in 2020. In their resulting paper, titled, “Did COVID-19 Impact Student Learning in an Introductory Accounting Course?” published in the Business Education Innovation Journal, Associate Professor Janet Meade and Assistant Professor Kiran Parthasarathy begin by summarizing what existing research has identified as three types of interaction inherent in effective online courses: learner-to- instructor, learner-to-learner, and learner-to-content. When at least one of these forms of interactions is incorporated into teaching, positive results are associated with student achievement and satisfaction. Interactions with peers, instructors, and content help online learners create interactivity and a sense of community and that these correlate with positive learning outcomes. The Bauer researchers assessed their students to identify what learning modes students relied on: in-class interaction, watching instructor-created video, both modes, or none at all. Their findings: Students who increased both types of interaction after the COVID-19 transition outperformed all others on the final exam. Likewise, those who increased learner-to-content interaction (video only) while reducing learner-to-instructor interaction (coming to classes) also performed well, but at a lower level. Students who reduced both types of interaction underperformed the other two groups. “The findings of this research suggests that student success, at least at the undergraduate level, is associated with engaging students live and providing good videos (multiple modes),” Parthasarathy said. Meade added that the increasing cost of higher education is forcing more students to take part-time and full-time jobs, resulting in less study time and greater demand for flexible modes of instruction.

https://www.cba.uh.edu/news/2021/multiple-modes-for-course-success/

For signaling to proceed normally in the nervous system, there has to be the right number of the right type of ion channels and transmitter receptors on the neuronal membrane. What kind of quality control machinery can ensure the proper assembly of these membrane protein complexes? How does a cell control the number of channels and receptors on its cell membrane? We have found a novel quality control mechanism that curtails the trafficking of inadequately assembled membrane protein complexes from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the cell membrane. This ensures surface expression of fully assembled ATP-sensitive potassium (K-ATP channels with four Kir6.2 and four SUR subunits, and of properly assembled, heterodimeric GABA-B receptors that can functionally couple to the G protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK or Kir3) channels. The ER retention/retrieval signals in the K-ATP channels also limit the number of these channels on the cell surface. How general might be the use of ER retention/retrieval in the quality control of membrane protein complexes? Does the cell regulate other steps of membrane trafficking to control the number and type of ion channels and transmitter receptors? We have developed new methods to test the hypothesis that the numbers of different potassium channels are subjected to different membrane trafficking regulations. The examples to be used in our study are potassium channels that mediate slow synaptic potentials, control neuronal excitability, and potentially protect central neurons under stress. Mutations of potassium channel proteins are known to cause ataxia, epilepsy, deafness, arrhythmia, hypertension, and unchecked insulin release leading to hypoglycemia. Indeed, human epilepsy could result from mutations that reduce the M-type potassium channel activity by only 25 percent. And some of the disease-causing mutations alter the amount of functional potassium channels on the cell membrane. Our goal is to achieve better understanding as to how membrane trafficking regulates channel number and type. This may help us appreciate in the long run how regulation of membrane trafficking might contribute to synaptic plasticity, and whether malfunctions of this process contribute to mental and neurological diseases.

John le Carre’s next novel, his 25th, will be published next October. The book’s arguably uninteresting title? Agent Running in the Field. The titles of novels, like the heds on feature stories, are a challenge for editors. One famous writer-editor disagreement was between author F. Scott Fitzgerald and book editor Max Perkins. After Fitzgerald finished his most famous novel he wanted the title to be Trimalchio in West Egg. After much discussion, Perkins convinced Fitzgerald that Trimalchio in West Egg was too vague, uninteresting, and hard to pronounce and the book became The Great Gatsby. Agent Running in the Field somehow doesn’t sound like the title of a book by an author of such bestsellers as: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Our Kind of Traitor The Honourable Schoolboy A Perfect Spy Smiley’s People A Murder of Quality The Naive and Sentimental Lover An editor might guess that Agent Running in the Field was the author’s choice (he turns 88 next year) and after 24 previous best-sellers the Viking editors let him have his way. — That said, there are no rules for book titles and feature story heds. What has a ring to it and seems somewhat interesting? Some examples: To Kill a Mockingbird—intriguing but what’s it about? In the same category: Gone With the Wind. Charlotte’s Web. One Hundred Years of Solitude. The Catcher in the Rye. Intriguing and a little clearer: Bonfire of the Vanities. The Lord of the Rings. And Then There Were None. The Da Vinci Code. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The Eagle Has Landed. — At the Washingtonian, the heds on stories that won National Magazine Awards: The Saving of the President (about President Reagan’s medical treatment after he was shot by John Hinckley). Like Something the Lord Made (about an African-American laboratory worker who helped physicians devise life-saving surgical techniques at Johns Hopkins Hospital). Where Have All the Warriors Gone? (about how the Pentagon became more interested in bureaucratic warfare than actual warfare). Life and Death on the Fast Track (about a train crash with dramatic rescue stories). How to Save Your Life (about finding Washington’s best emergency care). On one story, a National Magazine Award finalist, I spent two days trying to come up with an appropriate and intriguing headline. It was the story of Paul Adkins, a thoracic surgeon who looked at an x-ray of his chest and realized that he’d be dead within a year from lung cancer. Finally, in the Bible, I found a line from Corinthians that seemed to match the emotion of the story:

https://jacklimpert.com/2018/12/the-challenge-of-writing-good-book-titles-and-feature-story-headlines/

Saturday was a perfect summery day for strolling along the streets of southern Park Slope and visiting with the artists participating in the weekend’s South Slope Studio Tour. More than 40 artist studios were open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, welcoming visitors eager to meet with local creatives and check out their workspaces. Bob Hagan welcomed guests into the 17th Street studio/home he’s been working at since 1980. He shared with BKLYNER the story behind his satirical triptych Triumph of Unrighteousness Over Virtue from his series entitled Regime Change. The panel on the left features the sculpture The Triumph of Civic Virtue Over Unrighteousness which was displayed at NYC City Hall in the 1920s. It disturbingly depicts a male figure standing on two women. The unpopular sculpture was eventually removed and now resides at Green-Wood Cemetery. “To acknowledge that ‘bad ideas never die,’ the work has moved virtually to Temple Trump,” Hagan explains on his website. The center panel shows images from the Pergamon Altar that Hagan digitally placed before Trump Tower as he did on the left side. A response to the image in the first panel, this scene depicts a woman committing violence on a man—a subject in art Hagan says was very difficult to find. The last panel depicts a figure exaggeratedly bowing at Trump Tower—referencing The Apprentice contestant and Trump fan Omarosa Manigault’s claim that “Every critic, every detractor, will have to bow down to President Trump.” Over at MadArts at 255 18th Street, about 20 artists greeted guests in the maze-like, 14,000-square-foot former warehouse that is home to 25 art studios. Danny Glass is a figurative painter who is also studying Art Business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. He started working at MadArts last fall after moving to Brooklyn from Providence, where he earned a B.A. in Art History and a B.F.A. in Painting through a dual-degree program at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. Inspired by his surroundings, Glass creates compelling, realist work influenced by the “type of emotional atmosphere and specific expression that I read in people,” he explains. A recent work depicts his fellow classmates at Miami’s Art Basel viewing a work by the artist Richard Prince. Glass captures “their reaction and interaction with this piece of contemporary art.” “This juxtaposition of the Richard Prince painting with all these people who are some of the most intelligent and talented people that I’ve met, and also this group of people who are the future collectors, the future professionals in the art world, the future culture makers…was incredibly potent to me,” he says. Glass connected to the Prince work based on his fascination with the blue-chip artist’s current legal battles with appropriating others’ work—namely using images he finds on Instagram. “Some of the most interesting classes I’ve taken recently have been my law classes and learning that whole other layer of his legal battles and how that’s really intertwined in my mind with the idea of appropriation art,” Glass says. “The idea that we talk about, what is appropriation and how far can we go? He’s not just talking about it in theory, he’s dealing with it in the courts…. Regardless of how I feel about the work, I think that’s incredibly interesting,” he states. Around the corner, in another studio at MadArts, Marlene Weisman creates bold, vibrant collages, assemblages, and paintings. “I love it here. I think MadArts is a vibrant arts community. I love the interaction but also the peace to work,” she says of the studio space she’s been working in since last summer. Weisman, a native New Yorker, has lived in the neighborhood for 15 years with her husband and son. She’s worked as a graphic designer, first creating graphics for rock, punk, and jazz musicians and venues, and then moving on as an in-house graphic designer for Saturday Night Live for seven years. In the 80s, Weisman’s work was included in the Xerox Art Show, a group exhibition curated by Keith Haring at Club 57 in the East Village. Her love of images, type, color, texture, and the history of things fuels her passion for collage, using found objects and materials she’s collected over the years in her intricate works. Her series While I Was Stuck In The Supermarket came to her when she was waiting in line at the grocery store, frustrated about “never having enough time to work as an artist.” Composed on supermarket circulars Weisman describes them as “homages to women who have inspired me,” including punk icon/poet Patti Smith, writer Zadie Smith, actress Louise Brooks, and feminist icon/political activist Gloria Steinem. “I decided to honor these iconic heroes of mine in tribute to their escape from domestic oblivion,” Weisman states on her website. These works have been featured in solo and group exhibits at the Brooklyn Public Library/Central Branch. Another series, Saved Souls, was inspired by a box of tintypes given to Weisman. Of the people featured in the vintage photographs, the artist says she “tell[s] the story of what I imagine their lives would be,” through assemblage and collage (the unique stories are written on the back of each). The compact, one-of-a-kind pieces are whimsical and touching tributes to the sitters in the portraits. Open Source Gallery (306 17th Street) opened up its storefront for Francesco Simeti‘s Swell, a motorized installation that explores the human impact on the environment and depicts images of Brooklyn waterways. On view through May 27, Simeti is combining this piece with workshops, collaborative projects, and partnerships with local organizations.

https://bklyner.com/highlights-south-slope-open-studio-tour/

4 Reasons Your Wheels Might Be Out Of Balance Have you noticed that when you are driving down the road, you are experiencing difficulty controlling your vehicle and the steering seems off? Can you see excessive wear on the tires? If so, you might have one or more wheels that is out of balance. Here are some of the more common reasons why this occurs. Road Hazards In many cases, wheels get out of balance due to hazards on the road. When you hit a curb, you might not realize it did damage that you don't notice right away. However, hitting a curb or a parking space bumper is actually a common reason for wheels to get out of balance, especially if it was a particularly hard hit. There are also other road hazards that can cause wheel misalignment, including going too quickly over potholes or speed bumps, both of which bend the wheel slightly. Off-Road Driving Off-road driving can be a lot of fun, but unfortunately it is really hard on your vehicle, especially the wheels and tires. When you are driving over rocks and gravel, and around curves and dips too quickly, you are putting those wheels through quite a bit of trauma. When this happens, the tires go through tread more quickly and can get worn when they hit the scratchy gravel surface. This in turn causes the wheels to become misaligned. If you are going to be off-road driving, have high-quality wheels and tires that can handle it. The Wheel Parts Are Worn If you have an older vehicle with wheel parts that have never been replaced, they might be worn. This can cause your wheels to get out of balance more often since they no longer hold the suspension as effectively. Springs and various other parts of the wheel will get worn over time and need to be replaced. They go through years and thousands of miles of wear and tear, so naturally they aren't going to be the same quality forever. If your suspension starts to sag due to these parts, it will cause misalignment of the wheels. Luckily, they are not difficult to replace. No Suspension Modification If you drive a truck that has been lifted, you need to make sure the mechanic who did the raising of the truck also raised the tire suspension. Not doing this is a common problem which can cause the wheels to become misaligned. Wheel suspension heights need to coincide with the level of the vehicle. Hello, I'm Heidi Trullid. I am interested in seals and gaskets used in the automotive industry. Seals and gaskets are found throughout each vehicle build to keep liquids in or out, depending on the part. For example, engines and transmissions used seals and gaskets to keep lubricants from escaping the case and leaving the internal components bone dry. Heating vents, doors and windows also use seals to keep moisture outside of the vehicle. When any of these seals or gaskets go bad, the vehicle will not work as expected. You can actually check the integrity of these components and perform preventive repairs to keep your vehicle in good shape. I will discuss the locations to check, and what signs of damage to look for, during your seal and gasket inspection. Come back soon to learn more.

Is Writers’ Block real, or simply an excuse for procrastination and laziness? Yes, Writers’ Block does exist. That’s not the answer that you’ll find on most writing blogs, but it’s my own honest answer to the question. However, it’s not quite as simple as deciding whether Writers’ Block does exist, or does not. And no, I’m definitely not denying that Writers’ Block has the potential to be used by writers as an excuse to procrastinate, or even be lazy. Side note: Those two terms are not interchangeable, as procrastination occurs for many reasons, and not all of these involve laziness. My short post about procrastination, and why writers’ often avoid actually writing, touches upon this. Writers’ Block is not a medical condition. In that sense, it doesn’t exist. You can’t go to a doctor, be diagnosed with Writers’ Block, and come away with a prescription to cure the affliction. But we all realise that, surely? It can occur when we’re suffering from actual mental and physical illnesses, but I’ll expand upon that, in due course. However, Writer’s Block, in and off itself, is not a disease. Writer’s Block is a construct. It’s simply a way to express the problem that most, if not all, of us face as writers, at particular times. It describes an inability to write: not in the practical, physical sense, but due to a creative block, and the words seeming not to flow. It could be a lack of ideas and pure inspiration, or the inability to express our ideas, but the result is not writing, when writing is what we aspire to do. Many people don’t find the concept of Writers’ Block useful. This is a fair point. If you feel that it doesn’t help you to move forward, and prefer not to think in terms of “being blocked”, then that’s fine. In that sense, Writers’ Block doesn’t have to exist for you. But whether you refer to any writing struggles as Writers’ Block, or by some other name, or don’t refer to them at all, you will probably continue to experience, on occasions, the same writing issues that others choose to describe as blocks. Writers’ Block is an umbrella term. There are so many reasons why writers can potentially struggle to write. These include simply feeling “out of ideas”, or overwhelmed by too many ideas, and not knowing where to start. And, at the other end of the spectrum, there will be: burnout, clinical depression and anxiety, other mental and physical health conditions, and serious personal problems, such as financial difficulties, relationship break-ups, and bereavement. It’s beyond the scope of this post to offer solutions to Writers’ Block, but possible solutions will become clearer, when the precise causes are identified. For a lack of ideas and inspiration, there are many simple fixes. For some of the more complex and severe underlying causes, these simple suggestions won’t be enough. Of course, there are often multiple factors involved, and in such cases, simple ideas may be of some use, even if they don’t solve the problem entirely. I may well address how to find ideas, and sources of inspiration, in a future post.

https://paulathewriter.com/2019/02/09/writers-block-does-it-exist/

Following on from her 'Paint the Town Red with the community' project, this activation will demonstrate the practicality of engaging a community in developing a concept and managing an interactive mural. Utilising both acrylic and aerosol paint, the imagery will be outlined on temporary walls with delegates and members of the community encouraged to add their own colour, pattern work, texture or text. The overarching aim of the work is to create a mural that focuses on rural artists as a community.

https://v2.artsfront.com/event/5368-arts-ablaze/session/25325-paint-the-town-red-interactive-mural

Reblogged this on Brew City Royalties Investment Club and commented: What’s in it for Jerry Brown? Guest Blogger Ken Alex: 2030 is Calling Ken Alex is a Senior Advisor to Governor Jerry Brown and the Director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. The views expressed in this blog post are his own. California’s AB 32 is the most important climate change law in the country. We are in full implementation mode to meet the requirement that California’s greenhouse gas emissions fall to 1990 levels by 2020. Renewables will provide at least 33 percent of power to the grid by 2020, and emissions from new vehicles are scheduled to drop very significantly in that time frame. The cap and trade system is in its initial launch, and will address about 20 percent of the 2020 emission reduction requirement. So far, the progress towards 2020 is encouraging. California also has a 2050 target for GHG reduction of 80 percent below 1990 levels, based on Executive Orders. 2050 is not as far away as it used to be, and reaching that target appears daunting. AB 32 provides no specific targets or reduction requirements beyond 2020. So how do we get there? 2050 is still in the somewhat hazy future, and, as we know, technology changes rapidly around here. So the Brown Administration will be focusing on the 2030 to 2035 time frame: what are the reduction requirements that keep us on track for 2050? What are the cost considerations? Which actions should we take first? What is the best path for success? We are thinking about this set of issues in a number of different ways, including feasibility, cost, and efficacy. For example, if we can implement energy efficiency measures first, we will need to build less generation, reducing costs overall and obtaining GHG reductions earlier. If we can reduce the number of miles people travel in their cars, our requirements for reductions in carbon content in fuels may be slightly easier to meet. There are some even larger reasons to start planning the route to 2030-35. California is leading the nation on most aspects of GHG reduction to 2020. With careful consideration of the path beyond 2020, we will continue to lead and show what is possible and viable. In addition, the Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol is aiming toward the meeting in Paris in 2015 to establish a post-Kyoto regime. The Kyoto agreement, like AB 32, lacks specificity after 2020. California’s determination of a viable path to GHG reduction in the 2030-35 timeframe will illuminate the world’s discussion in Paris. Over the next year, through the AB 32 Scoping Plan update and something called the Environmental Goals and Policy Report, along with other evaluations and actions including a state plan on climate change preparedness, California will engage in this discussion and evaluation in earnest. Please join in. Reader Comments 2 Replies to “Guest Blogger Ken Alex: 2030 is Calling” - Reblogged this on Brew City Royalties Investment Club and commented: - The sad truth is that even if the U.S. and the global community were to suddenly reduce greenhouse gas emissions (specifically, carbon) to where emissions must be, the atmospheric system will take substantial time to correct itself. It is this part of the equation we don’t have much knowledge about and which will play a significant role in how far down the path we have gone and what, if anything can be done to thwart the consequences. Comments are closed.

https://legal-planet.org/2013/08/02/guest-blogger-ken-alex-2030-is-calling/

A delegation from the international body asked to independently verify British claims on the use of a Russian nerve agent in the Salisbury poisoning will not arrive until Tuesday, almost a week after it was asked. Britain’s leading expert on chemical weapons said that the chances of inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons finding traces of novichok at the crime scene were decreasing “by the day” as it degraded. Samples of blood taken from the victims should allow the agency to test claims that novichok was used, Alistair Hay, a scientist who sits on one of its boards, said.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/chance-of-finding-evidence-fades-as-inspectors-drag-feet-glz3j6spw

Provided by the utility model is a display panel apparatus that comprises a display panel (16), a flexible film substrate (20), and a bonding layer (30). Specifically, the display panel has a glass substrate (12); and a plurality of rows of panel arranging wires (13) are arranged at a first side of the glass substrate. A plurality rows of rows of substrate arranging wires (21) connected with the panel arranging wires (13) are arranged at a second side. And the substrate arranging wires (21) are higher than the panel arranging wires (13); and wire widths of the end portions of the substrate arranging wires are greater than those of other portions of the substrate arranging wires; and the wire widths of the end portions of the panel arranging wires are greater than those of other portions of the panel arranging wires. Therefore, the wires arranged on the flexible film substrate can be electrically connected with wires arranged on the glass substrate well.

An Introduction to Numerical Methods using MATLAB is designed to be used in any introductory level numerical methods course. It provides excellent coverage of numerical methods while simultaneously demonstrating the general applicability of MATLAB to problem solving. This textbook also provides a reliable source of reference material to practicing engineers, scientists, and students in other junior and senior-level courses where MATLAB can be effectively utilized as a software tool in problem solving. The principal goal of this book is to furnish the background needed to generate numerical solutions to a variety of problems. Specific applications involving root-finding, interpolation, curve-fitting, matrices, derivatives, integrals and differential equations are discussed and the broad applicability of MATLAB demonstrated. This book employs MATLAB as the software and programming environment and provides the user with powerful tools in the solution of numerical problems. Although this book is not meant to be an exhaustive treatise on MATLAB, MATLAB solutions to problems are systematically developed and included throughout the book. MATLAB files and scripts are generated, and examples showing the applicability and use of MATLAB are presented throughout the book. Wherever appropriate, the use of MATLAB functions offering shortcuts and alternatives to otherwise long and tedious numerical solutions is also demonstrated. At the end of every chapter a set of problems is included covering the material presented. A solutions manual to these exercises is available to instructors. Prerequisites The material contained in this book should be easily grasped by students with a background in calculus, elementary differential equations and some linear algebra, and, when utilized in a mathematics, science, engineering, computer science or engineering technology course sequence, it should give a good basic coverage of numerical methods while simultaneously demonstrating the general applicability of MATLAB to problem solving. Chapter Descriptions Chapter 1 discusses MATLAB basics while chapter 2 gives a general introduction to numerical methods in science and engineering and presents the computation of numerical errors along with the Taylor series as a basis of approximation in numerical analysis. Chapter 3 offers a coverage of the popular methods of finding roots of equations such as Bisection, Newton- Raphson, Secant and Iteration. Solutions to systems of nonlinear algebraic equations obtained by the iteration method are also presented. The applicability of root-finding to practical problems such as those that occur in column design and control system analysis is demonstrated. In chapter 4, matrices and linear algebra are dealt with along with the solution of eigenvalue problems. Applications to the field of vibration engineering and stress analysis are also discussed. Chapters 5 and 6 focus on numerical interpolation and curve-fitting respectively. The common techniques of interpolation and the functions generally resorted to in engineering for curve-fitting of data are covered quite thoroughly. The applicability of these to the analysis of scientific and engineering data such as stress-strain, load-deflection and fatigue failure is presented. Chapters 7 and 8 address numerical differentiation and integration. The concept of finite differences is introduced and the common methods of differentiation and integration, such as the interpolating polynomial method, trapezoidal and Simpson’s rules and Romberg integration are covered. Applications of numerical differentiation and integration such as determination of velocities and accelerations from given displacement data and computation of the moment of inertia of a cross section are included. The last chapter, chapter 9, deals with coverage of numerical solution of ordinary differential equations, and although it does not discuss each and every technique that is available, it does focus on the popular ones such as Taylor series method, Euler, modified Euler and Runge-Kutta methods. A variety of practical applications of numerical procedures is included in this chapter, ranging from the response of an electric circuit to an input voltage to the effect of damping on the response of a control system. Table of Contents - Basics of MATLAB - Introduction to Numerical Methods - Roots Of Equations - Matrices and Linear Algebra - Numerical Interpolation - Curve Fitting - Numerical Differentiation - Numerical Integration - Numerical Solution of Ordinary Differential Equations References Index Instructor Resources The following downloadable resources require that you are registered, logged in and have been authenticated as an instructor.

https://www.sdcpublications.com/Textbooks/Introduction-Numerical-Methods-Using-MATLAB/ISBN/978-1-63057-245-7/

Our mission is to provide a safe, nurturing environment, unifying academic challenge with quality opportunities for social, emotional, and intellectual growth. This includes a multicultural emphasis that values individuality and attainment of each child’s fullest potential. With the Montessori philosophy as our foundation, we guide the development of responsibility and respect by cultivating independent thinking, self-awareness, cooperation and inner discipline.BACK TO TOP Livonia Montessori School, Cultivating Curiosity since 1972. We are all about the “Ah-ha” discoveries that light up our students' faces. Experience our unique approach for yourself. Schedule your visit today! LIVONIA MONTESSORI SCHOOL PARENTS! Virtual learning is underway during this challenging time! Please stay in contact with your child’s teacher. Stay safe, stay healthy and watch for updates!

https://livoniamontessori.org/about/about-us/mission-statement/

The Yakima and Selah Neighbors’ Network (YSNN) promotes new ways to navigate the challenges and opportunities of aging by creating programs, friendships and services that support independence in our homes and connection to our community. Our Vision To build and sustain a community where neighbors engage with and support one another through the transitions of aging. Our Values Inclusiveness – We accept members and volunteers regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation, race, financial status, or spiritual beliefs and treat every person with respect, dignity and kindness. Accountability – We work to provide a safe environment for our members and volunteers. We operate responsibly, recognize the limitations of our mission, and hold ourselves accountable as we carry it out. We work with individuals and organizations in our community to strengthen our Network and reduce duplicated efforts. Compassion and Connection – We embrace each person, regardless of their current situation or past, knowing that everyone deserves understanding and patience. We believe in building a Network where our members may find meaningful relationships. We consider ourselves a community of giving and receiving and strive to provide ways in which people may contribute and connect. Openness – We value diverse backgrounds and ideas, and we carefully consider them to find new ways to benefit our members and volunteers. Appreciation – We are grateful to our community. Without the dedication of our volunteers, members, and supporters, we would not be able to fulfill our mission. We depend on local donors and appreciate their support as a measure of their respect for the Village concept and our work in carrying it out. We appreciate our volunteers, train them well, and listen to their needs and suggestions. Model Yakima & Selah Neighbors’ Network is a member of the Village to Village Network, a national organization that helps villages by providing expert guidance, resources, and support. If you live outside the greater Yakima and Selah areas, please visit www.vtnetwork.org to find a village near you. Staff and Board of Directors Chrissy Schott, Program Manager Chrissy grew up in Yakima but called Seattle home for over 30 years. She graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle in the midst of the Seattle area music scene in the late 80s and experienced an exciting career in the field. Changing gears, Chrissy found serving older adults as one of the most important transitions and joys and that now continues as the Program Manager for Yakima and Selah Neighbors’ Network. Chrissy lives with 2 cats, 2 dogs and her 93-year-old dad. Her mother and husband live nearby. Chrissy enjoys walks, swimming, singing and dancing with family and friends. Mary Lou Rozdilsky, Board President Mary Lou retired as Dean of Arts and Sciences from Yakima Valley Community College in 2006. She served on the Larson Gallery Guild Board where she organized the Tour of Artists’ Homes and Studios for several years and later was a docent for the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy and helped with butterfly-tagging. She loves her Yakima neighborhood and the Central Washington landscape – as a gardener, hiker and an artist—she appreciates the generous support the community has given our Neighbors’ Network. Barb Heinzen, Board Vice-President Barb is a retired Physical Therapist with a passion for helping folks achieve their highest level of function. She has been with YSNN since the beginning and is now the Board Vice-President and co-chairs the Membership and Volunteer Committee. Barb strongly believes in the mission and vision of YSNN and that the challenges of aging are best met within a forward-looking supportive community. Barb is married to her husband Joel and has three grown children and four young grandchildren. Her hobbies include hiking, golfing and quilting. Becky Johnson, Board Secretary Becky has been a lifelong resident of the Yakima/Selah area. She is married to Ron, a retired City of Yakima Firefighter, and has two adult daughters and two grandsons. She retired from the Washington State Department of Ecology having worked with the superior court judge on the recently completed Yakima Basin Adjudication. Janet Doty, Board Treasurer Janet was a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for over 25 years with a regional accounting firm in Yakima and was the accountant for her family orchard for several years. Janet is married to Doug and has two grown children. She is a Deacon at Grace of Christ Church. In her spare time, Janet enjoys hiking, golf, jigsaw puzzles, and playing with their two dogs. Inga Wiehl Inga received a scholarship from the University of Washington. She left home in Copenhagen and arrived in Seattle where she completed her Master’s degree in the course of a year. With a renewal of her scholarship, she went on to study for her PhD in Comparative Literature and received her doctorate after completing her dissertation. Arriving in this country without her family has taught her to rely on her friends and, she hopes, to be a friend herself. She brings that experience to the Neighbors’ Network. Susie Lattomus Susie is a retired (2014) RN, BSN. Her first career is in Natural Resource management, mostly with the US Forest Service. She also spent several years in the fruit industry. She had her mother living with her for 17 years, so she could observe firsthand the needs and decline of an elderly person. For fun, she enjoys hiking and outdoor activities, music concerts, friends, and eating. Contact Us Ask a question or get in touch using the form below.

https://yesneighbors.org/about/

The Happiest Quilt on the Block is roughly 37″ squared, which is a traditional size for baby quilts. This is also an excellent size for draping across a chair or sofa to brighten up a room. This functional quilt is machine pieced and bound for durability and hand quilted with embroidery cotton. This quilting style yields visible stitches that add to the blanket’s design and produce a rich texture. Colors include yellows, blues, pinks, greens, grays, and reds with black accents. This quilt has some minor issues with its binding and is not perfectly square. Pricing reflect these characteristics. This a useable, beautiful piece made of cotton fabric and batting.

https://oakparkmutualaidcraftfair.com/product/happiest-quilt-on-the-block/

From soups and stews to sticky, sweet pastries, Marrakech has it all... Updated on 01 December 2019 • Written By Rosie Conroy The answer to where to find the best restaurants in Marrakech really lies in what you’re looking for. This magical melting-pot of a city holds everything you could want within its walls – from five-star dining to small local haunts – but finding what you’re after is often the biggest challenge. Because of the sometimes-confusing nature of the winding streets, busy squares and enveloping souks, pinning down a restaurant in Marrakech is easiest when you’ve not left things to chance. Make sure to have a rough idea where you’re going before you leave your hotel, riad or apartment and for busier, more popular restaurants ask your host or hotel manager to call ahead so that the place you’ve picked will hold you a table. As with any place you go where you’re not used to eating the food, we’d recommend not buyimh from any stall, stand or shop you come across, and rather referring to our quick guide on where to eat in Marrakech, to make sure you stick to our tried and tested solution. The national dish of Morocco, of course, has to be the tagine, and leaving Marrakesh without having tried at least one would be remiss. These richly spiced stews are cooked in clay pots that infuse the meat and vegetables with the traditional flavours of cumin, cinnamon and saffron, as well as commonly used condiments like preserved lemons, sweet dried fruits and nuts. Aside from this signature serve, there are other treats not to be missed – sticky sweet pastries piled high in glass cabinets, fried pockets of pastillas filled with all sorts from tuna and vegetables to beef and chicken, and golden flatbreads cooked hot over griddles and served with bright fruit jams. Below is our pick of the best restaurants in Marrakech, but we’d love to hear your recommendations too. We try to keep our content as up to date as possible, so if you have a tip for us please let us know via Instagram, Twitter or Facebook so we can have a look. As you might know the old town of Marrakech is the picture-perfect centre that draws tourists and creates the backdrop to many a perfect holiday picture. It’s here that you’ll find most of the traditional riads and a whole host of delicious dining options. Below is our pick of some of the best. Image: El Fenn © Kasia Gatkowska A riotous cacophony of colour and texture, El Fenn attracts a creative crowd who find pleasure in the plush aesthetics of the space. The rooftop hosts a restaurant bedecked in bright clashing red and white plate-covered walls and turquoise tile-topped tables. In winter fires burn to keep you warm, while temporary walls hold out the slightest whisper of wind. Come summer there’s an outdoor bar with views that reach to the far edges of this pastel pink city, and the tables are protected by swaying canvas canopies. The set lunch menu offers diners a selection of dishes without having to choose a thing. A variety of bowls and plates are served on a huge silver tray for you to help yourself to and might include things like crisp green salads, simply barbecued fish and crispy fried potato cakes enveloped in golden panko breadcrumbs. Pudding is included and offers up just one choice – an apple and almond tart with cream, say. The main draw of Nomad is its expansive roof terrace that looks over the soft terracotta houses of the Medina below. Perfect for a lunch on cooler days, or an early dinner during summer where you can watch the sun go down and appreciate the first solace from the sun, this restaurant is on every influencer’s list of top spots. While the food is pleasant enough, it’s not the best thing we’ve ever eaten, but if you appreciate aesthetics above all else this is the place for you. Traditional Moroccan fair sits side-by-side with more Western style plates so there should be something for everyone. Service ranges from friendly waiters making jokes tableside, to stand-offish hostesses who make you feel as if you’re ever so slightly inconveniencing them. As a central spot with good views and free wifi, this is also a good spot to soak up the afternoon sun and enjoy a glass of mint tea. It would be hard to happen upon Le Jardin Secret, unless you knew it was there. Surrounded on all sides by ancient walls and a tower that offers up some of the best views across the city, this duo of enclosed gardens is a medley of lush planting from across the globe. Lemon trees stand proudly in amongst lavender and rosemary bushes, while cactus and palm trees fill other beds. Turquoise tiles cover the ground, water features dance every few feet or so, and the breeze filters through sot muslin curtains to create an oasis of calm. Inside the mansion’s walls is a licensed restaurant and café, which serves up some of the best mint tea we found anywhere, as well as a selection of snacks. There’s something about a good rooftop restaurant that gives off a real sense of luxury, and Terrasse Des Epices is no exception. Dreamt up by a designer Anne Favier, its owner’s occupation is demonstrated through the striking contrast of red floor tiles and black walls, as well as the laidback mismatched furniture and feature lighting. With views out over the city and plenty of swaying canopies protecting guests from the sun, out favourite time to visit this spot is during the day – but in the evening mood lighting also sets a convivial mood. The menu showcases Moroccan food, while still managing to cater to international crowds with familiar ingredients and techniques used. Dishes range from soups and stews to salads and seafood – with the monkfish tagine a house speciality. While Marrakech isn’t short of options when it comes to eating out, it can be hard to find a decent bite to fill you up while wandering through the souks, thanks to the overwhelming calls of street traders and restaurant hosts. On the edge of this magical market is Le Jardin, a cool oasis in the middle of the city’s hustle and bustle. The menu here focuses on fresh produce, with a section offering up mezze dishes like sweet carrot hummus flavoured with rich paprika, fresh cheese with cucumber and mint, and local olives marinated in garlic, herbs and prized Moroccan argon oil. Elsewhere you’ll find a selection of sandwiches, salads and grills as well as a mains section which features traditional dishes like tagine and kofta. The turquoise tile surrounds are offset by lush planting and rich gold accents, the perfect Instagram fodder. Café Des Épices has the same owners as Nomad and a similar expat community frequents its tables, giving it a cool and creative vibe. Treat yourself to a lazy, long lunch out of the hot midday sun or come for dinner when candlelight sets a warm and inviting atmosphere. Those looking for a taste of the local cuisine will find it in smoky grilled meats and vibrant, fresh salads. If you happen in during the afternoon choose a spot underneath one of the awnings to sip refreshing mint tea under and indulge in a few pastries or three (you are probably on holiday, after all). It can be tempting to plump for Moroccan food at every opportunity thanks to the moreish mix of spices and sweet dried fruits running through most things, but once you’ve had your fill of the local delicacies it can be nice to get a taste of the familiar. Pepe Nero offers up a reliable Italian a stone’s throw from where most of the action in Marrakech happens. With tables clustered under orange trees in a tile-lined courtyard that boasts a beautiful water feature at its heart, you don’t get much more atmospheric than this. The menu spans all the classics, with pasta as a main focus, plus a substantial seafood section. If you’re willing to cast your net a little further than the centre of the city, you’ll be well rewarded with a whole host of options. From swish country clubs and five-star hotel restaurants to rural retreats, these are our favourite restaurants within an hour’s drive of Marrakech. Marrakech’s plush Four Seasons hotel is just a fifteen-minute car ride from the old town and houses a couple of restaurants to choose from. Our favourite is Quattro, a modern Italian restaurant housed in a generous open-plan space that places a kitchen at its heart. Watch as the chefs deftly make pizzas and pastas in front of you, soaking up the five-star service from friendly, well-rehearsed staff. Begin with cocktails from the bar, a well-curated list of drinks that includes classic Champagne serves and more modern twists on firm favourites, like the Smoking Negroni which sees your glass infused with smoke for a rich flavour as well as some live tableside theatre. Meals here begin with plates of canapes and the main menu includes well-made pastas, generously portioned risottos and wood-fired pizzas. Set out in the midst of the Atlas Mountains, Kasbah Bab Ourika is a real oasis in the centre of its rugged, rocky surrounds. Much of what ends up on your plate has been grown on the property itself, resulting in fresh, tasty plates of food. Typically, there are a handful of lunch dishes on the menu, with a similar setup at dinner. Whatever the lineup though, there is usually a tagine on offer which will profile the flavours of the local cuisines, combining sweet and savoury flavour profiles for a moreish meal. Views across the viasta make lunchtime dining particularly desirable. This magical countryside retreat just happens to be a playground of the rich and famous (Poppy Delavigne hosted her second wedding here, no less). Situated among fields of roses with vast, expansive gardens and glasshouses peppering the site, a meal at Beldi is about more than just the food and it’s not hard to see why it’s a favourite of some of the world’s most notable figures. Treat yourself to a pool pass to really make full use of an afternoon wiling away the hours or wander round the ‘souk’; a curated collection of shops that sell authentic local homewares, gifts and clothes. At lunchtime there’s a set menu, which includes three courses and has a focus on meat and fish cooked on the plancha. This smoky barbecue flavour lends itself well to gently spiced yogurt marinated chicken and plump king prawns, while a starter of quinoa tabbouleh caters to a crowd who want their local cuisine with a side of superfood. Twenty minutes outside of the city centre in the upmarket Palmerie district lies Jnane Tamsna. This boutique hotel and restaurant serves up a decent lunchtime menu for both guests and day visitors. The French owners have put their European spin on things, and even the menu fuses Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisines. Much of what ends up on punter’s plates was grown or raised on the premises, which results in fantastically fresh food. Start with a crisp, clean gazpacho before moving on to ginger chicken tagine or a plate of crispy fried pastilla. A full table of desserts should do the trick come pudding time, with each item beautifully presented and adorned with blooms from the garden. Try to book a table under an orange tree poolside, where you can relax for the rest of the day with the complimentary use of the sunbeds. Nestled in the centuries-old olive groves outside of Marrakech, Berber Lodge offers a true sense of calm after the madness of the Medina. A forty-minute journey will bring you to this beautifully designed bolthole, where you can enjoy lunch or dinner. The restaurant is mainly reserved for guests, but if you call ahead, they can usually accommodate day-tripping customers. The menu changes daily to reflect the seasons and makes good use of the Lodge’s gardens and vegetable patch. This is a set affair, so fussy eaters are rarely pandered to, but dietary requirements are always taken seriously and it’s a wonderful opportunity to try things you might otherwise have skipped by on a larger menu. The drinks too provide a point of difference, with the bar team devising homemade syrups for seriously good cocktails and the wine list offering up sulphate free options from Morocco.

https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/best-for/best-restaurants-in-marrakech-_9518

In a gas turbine engine, operational efficiency generally increases as the temperature of the combustion stream increases. Higher combustion stream temperatures, however, may produce higher levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other types of emissions. These emissions may be subject to both federal and state regulation in the United States and also subject to similar regulations abroad. A balancing act thus exists between operating a gas turbine in an efficient temperature range while also ensuring that the output of NOx and other types of regulated emissions remain below mandated levels. Further complicating this balance, non-stoichiometric combustion may produce nitrogen oxides at the high temperatures as described above. Reducing combustion temperatures, however, may result in higher carbon monoxide (CO) emission levels because of the incomplete oxidation of the fuel. Carbon monoxide also is a regulated emission. Recently, various types of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) techniques, and more particularly stoichiometric exhaust gas recirculation (SEGR) techniques, have been useful in reducing overall emissions of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide. Turbines using stoichiometric exhaust gas recirculation techniques, however, may require a significant increase in the amount of air extracted from the combustor, about thirty percent (30%) or more depending upon the flow needed to replace the oxidizer such as air or oxygen. Such a significant extraction, however, may impact at least on overall combustor cooling and combustion temperatures therein as well as the overall lifetime of the combustor components. There is thus a desire for an improved combustor design for the use with a stoichiometric exhaust gas recirculation turbine system. Preferably such a design would permit adequate air extraction to the turbine while maintaining adequate combustor cooling and combustor temperatures for improved efficiency and overall component lifetime.

A 53-year-old woman presented to a hospital with a history of general malaise, significant weight loss and chest discomfort for 6 months. She had no significant past medical history. Her initial investigations revealed elevated inflammatory markers, normocytic anaemia, mildly increased cardiac biomarkers and an elevated eosinophil count. Baseline chest radiograph showed bilateral pleural effusions, and transthoracic echocardiography revealed a small pericardial effusion, mild impairment of left ventricular function and moderate mitral regurgitation. Differential diagnosis included viral myocarditis and an autoimmune disease. Patient subsequently underwent cardiac MRI (CMRI) for further evaluation. This revealed significant thickening and active inflammation of the pericardium (figure 1). Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) series demonstrated extensive circumferential LGE of the pericardium and linear subendocardial LGE of the left ventricle in a non-coronary distribution (figure 2). These findings in the setting of hypereosinophilia were concerning for an idiopathic eosinophilic syndrome. Patient underwent a pericardial biopsy via mediastinoscopy for further evaluation. Histology demonstrated abundant eosinophils seen at the inner surface of the pericardial cavity. IgG and IgG4 staining were performed, and over 40% of plasma cells were positive for IgG4. After a multidisciplinary discussion, a diagnosis of IgG4-related disease was made. Patient has been maintained on CD20 monoclonal antibody with good response. She remains under close follow-up. IgG4-related disease is a rare, fibroinflammatory entity. It is a difficult condition to diagnose as it can present with a myriad of clinical features suggestive of a neoplastic or an inflammatory process. This disease may affect multiple organs and, as a result, can present with various, non-specific symptoms, which may lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment.1 Serum IgG4 levels coupled with typical biopsy findings, including abundant lymphocytes, fibrosis, IgG4-plasma cells and obliterative phlebitis in the setting of a relevant clinical presentation are diagnostic of IgG4-related disease. Treatment consists of steroids and steroid-sparing agents, such as CD-20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab). The natural history of this disease remains uncertain.2 Learning points Cardiac MRI should be considered in suspected autoimmune or inflammatory condition involving the myocardium or pericardium. It is important to consider an idiopathic eosinophilic syndrome in the presence of an elevated eosinophil count. Specialist input is required once diagnosis of IgG4-related disease is made, and inappropriate treatment may result in relapse and increased morbidity. Footnotes Contributors MMG was responsible for literature review and write up of the case. RA was responsible for review of the images. CD was responsible for managing the case and final review of the manuscript. Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. Competing interests None declared. Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed. Patient consent for publication Obtained. Request Permissions If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

https://casereports.bmj.com/content/12/6/e230505

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Nick Smith, D-Chicago, recognized Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Awareness Month on Thursday, emphasizing its imbalanced impact on communities of color and calling for further action to support underserved patient populations. “Metastatic TNBC is a particularly deadly form of breast cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than 30%,” Smith said. “It is not easily treatable, and statistics show that Black, Hispanic and younger women experience higher rates. Today and throughout this month, I call on residents to support efforts to improve screening access, along with promoting cultural sensitivity in health care environments.” Smith’s House Resolution 585 names March as Illinois’ TNBC Awareness Month. It encourages the General Assembly to support legislation that addresses disparities in early detection and survival, as well as ensuring equitable access to affordable breast cancer screening, genetic counseling and diagnostic testing. Additionally, the resolution highlights the need to increase cultural competence and diversity in the health care workforce, as well as guaranteeing patients access to timeline clinically-appropriate treatment. TNBC accounts for 15-30% of all invasive breast cancer diagnoses in the United States. In 2019, 53,700 cases were reported. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2018 the mortality rate for breast cancer in women of all races and ethnicities in Illinois was 20.7, while for Black women it was 33.1. “TNBC grows quickly, meaning it’s more likely to spread when doctors discover it,” Smith said. “It’s also more likely to come back after treatment than other types of breast cancer. That’s why we have to do what we can here in Illinois to educate people about this cancer, and encourage state action that can create better treatment outcomes and save more lives. The aggressive nature of TNBC, combined with existing barriers to accessing care, only exacerbates these alarming outcomes. There are targeted therapies hold great promise, but we can’t leave anyone behind.” For more information, please contact [email protected]. Visit Rep. Nick Smith’s website Springfield Office: 288-S Stratton Office Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-6476 District Office:

https://ilhousedems.com/2022/03/30/smith-demands-action-for-underserved-triple-negative-breast-cancer-patients-passes-house-resolution/

Take a leap in developing and implementing next-generation cyber defense of the banking infrastructure “Cyber Security Framework in Banks” circular from RBI sets the guidelines for Banks in India towards developing and implementing next generation cyber defense capabilities. The RBI cyber security framework addresses three core areas: (1) Establish Cyber Security Baseline and Resilience (2) Operate Cyber Security Operations Centre (C-SOC) (3) Cyber Security Incident Reporting (CSIR). RBI Cyber Security Framework – Overview Establish Cyber Security Baseline Establish Cyber Security Operation Centre (C-SOC) C-SOC Functional Requirements Define the functional requirements of the security operations centre Governance Requirements Define the governance structure of the CSOC and management framework Integration Requirements Integrate the CSOC with security solutions to generage alerts People Requirements Ensure the right skillsets are available within the CSOC operations Process Requirements Define the CSOC processes, playbooks, and operation manuals. Develop the IR process and playbooks to meet the RBI CSF CSOC requirements Technology Requirements Deploy the CSOC technologies such as SIEM integrated with threat intelligence feeds / services. Develop Cyber Security Incident Reporting (CSIR) Template for reporting Cyber Incidents An advanced black-box penetration testing engagement is performed based on minimal information received about the target environment. The testing process may span between few days to months depending on the engagement model.

https://valuementor.com/en-in/rbi-cyber-security-framework/

On Saturday, March 23, Recorder of Deeds staff will be available at the Neshaminy Activity Center, located at 1842 Brownsville Road, Feasterville, PA 19053, as they continue to take the Veterans ID Discount Card program on the road. The event will run from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. To date, over 700 Bucks County businesses have agreed to offer substantial veterans discounts (5-20 percent on merchandise and services) to those holding the Bucks County Veterans ID card, and more are signing up to participate each day. To register a business to participate in the Veterans ID Card Discount Program, please call Crystal Boose in the county Recorder of Deeds office at 215-348-6017 or visit www.BucksCounty.org to fill out a form stating intent to take part. A list of participating businesses is available on the official county website, www.BucksCounty.org, as well.

http://www.buckscounty.org/news/2013News/2013/07/11/News2013-03-20-VeteranDiscountEvent

Although your retirement may seem like light years away, it’s wise to create a retirement budget and work with a financial advisor to determine if you’re on track. Why? Only two out of three workers feel confident about having enough money during retirement, with only 17% feeling very confident according to the 2018 Retirement Confidence Survey. They also found that today’s workers feel behind in retirement savings and are planning on working longer to make up for it. To help you prepare for this important life milestone, here are our tips on how to create a retirement budget. How Much Does It Cost to Retire in Indiana or Michigan? There are several factors that will affect the amount you personally will need to retire, including the age you retire, your spending habits, and inflation. Another major factor is where you live during retirement. For those looking to retire in Indiana, you should budget at least $1,133,273 for retirement, with an average of $45,331 for annual living expenses. In Michigan, you should factor in at least $1,098,594 to your retirement budget. This information can be a good baseline to see if you are saving enough money in your 401k or IRA or other savings accounts. Earned income: The Social Security Administration defines income as any cash that is received or given in-kind that pays for food and shelter, like wages from a part-time job. Unearned income: This category consists of any payments you receive like Social Security, pensions or annuities, other benefits from the government like unemployment or disability, and any interest income from savings accounts, certificates, or investments. Check out TCU’s Retirement Income Calculator for more detail. Housing: This should include your mortgage or rent, property taxes, insurance, utilities, any condo fees or other fees that may apply. Food & Entertainment: Estimate your monthly grocery shopping bill, any restaurants you may frequent, and other fun things you may do for entertainment, which could include cable tv and/or internet, Netflix, Amazon Prime, memberships (gyms, online gathering places, warehouse clubs), and even vacations. Personal Care: Add up what you will expect to spend on clothing and other personal care items. Getting Around: In the transportation category, calculate your costs around your vehicle payments, auto insurance, gas, vehicle registration, or public transportation fares. Healthcare: Factor in the possibility of healthcare costs changes, especially between ages 60-65, when you become eligible for Medicare. Add in more than you think in that category, and consider dental, eye care, and hearing. Give yourself an emergency bucket as well. Healthcare is the biggest factor that can make or break a budget because this is the largest expense category in retirement given the average retirement age. Charity and Gifts: Most people feel compelled to give back to their communities when they are older. If tithing, donating to charity or gifting (spoiling the grandkids!) will be part of your life, add this into your budget. Emergency Savings: Things go wrong all the time. That’s why you want to stash some extra savings away for a rainy day to fix broken appliances, cars or technology. Having a budget for retirement will help you get a clear picture of the amount of money you’ll need to live out your golden years and give you a better idea of what you should be saving today. TCU has several ways to help you save for retirement, including high-interest savings accounts, certificates, money market accounts, and IRAs. Use our Retirement Calculator to see how far your nest egg will take you for a quick snapshot. You can also use the Social Security Administration’s calculators to get an idea of your monthly Social Security benefits. To get a personalized retirement plan, please set up an appointment with a TCU financial advisor. Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and doesn’t constitute tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult with an attorney or tax professional for guidance. Securities sold, advisory services offered through CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. (CBSI), member FINRA /SIPC , a registered broker/dealer and investment advisor. CBSI is under contract with the financial institution to make securities available to members. Not NCUA/NCUSIF/FDIC insured, May Lose Value, No Financial Institution Guarantee. Not a deposit of any financial institution.

https://www.tcunet.com/About/The-Latest/February-2019/Planning-Your-Retirement-Budget

1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to network interface and the tasks performed by the interface to enable the communication between inter-connected computers. More particularly, this invention relates to the interface system and method that the network communications may be more efficiently performed. 2. Description of the Prior Art Since computer networks and their applications now place ever greater demand for transmitting large volume of data in very high speed among networked data processors/computers, the requirement that two inter-connected data processors must utilize the `communication protocols` to setup appropriate system configurations and procedures in order to carry out the network data exchange. The protocol process may be quite complicated and often become a bottleneck of data transmission. This situation is even more intensified with the emerging multi-media applications wherein more video, audio and other types of data are to be shared and exchanged among the networked data processors for `real time` process and display. When a plurality of processors are connected as a network to exchange data messages, a set of procedural rules are set forth as the communication protocols. Every networked processing entity must follow this set of procedural rules, i.e., the protocol, which serves as the common language between these processors for communication with each other. In order to properly follow the communication protocol for setting up communication session between two processors in a network, each of the networked processors are often represented as a `finite state` machine. The operational states of these processors are cataloged as a `state table`. Depending on the operation conditions of each of the processors, each processor is identified as being in a specific state. The communication protocol generally has two modes, i.e., a `connectionless` mode and a `connection-oriented` mode. In a connectionless mode, the sending and receiving processors can communicate by sending and receiving data from each other without requiring that a `connection` be established first. Under that circumstance, each processing entity invokes a finite state machine comprising only two states, i.e., an inactive state and an active state. The transmission of messages among these two processing entities begins when both entities are in active state. Such protocol mode is very simple and can be easily implemented. However, it has several disadvantages because there are no safeguard against erroneous data transmission and no status monitoring and reporting of the communication processes. On the other hand, if two networked processors attempt to exchange data in a connection-oriented mode, then a `connection` must be established first. When a data processor receives a `connection-oriented` message from another networked processor requesting communication, the message is a protocol message containing a request to the receiving processor that a special sequence of steps are to be executed by the sending and the receiving processors so that the communication can be properly achieved. The finite state machine in such a connection-oriented mode is represented by a more complex state table which comprises more state-event entries. Table 1 shows a specific example of a state table, i.e., the state table of ISO 8073 Class-4 Over CLNS. The states of the processor are listed in Table 1 as a two-dimensional array wherein each processor can be in one of many `states` and in that state the processor may perform different events depending on the protocol definition of the processor. Table 1 is only a state table for one of possible seven layers of a processor and there are state tables like Table 1 for each layer. FIG. 1 is a flow-chart showing the sequence the steps that a processor carries out in the process of performing a communication with other processors under a `connection-oriented` protocol mode. Once a processor receives a connection-oriented message via a `connection.sub.-- id`, and `request` (step 10) to initiate a communication process, based on the requested connection.sub.-- id contained in the received request, a corresponding finite state machine is activated (step 12). In order to properly process the message received, the event in the state table as requested by the `request` (step 10) must be identified (step 14). The purpose for identifying the event in the state table is to enable the processor to execute a sequence of processing steps according to the rules of communication protocol. Based on the state in the state table as determined by step 12, proper actions are activated (step 16). This sequence of actions are developed and implemented in the finite state machine represented by the state table based on a set of predefined rules according to the communication protocols. After these actions are executed (step 18), the finite state machine may change the state of the FSM (step 20) according the actions as defined by the state table. The process for communication according to the connection-oriented message is completed (step 22) and the protocol entity is ready to receive and process another message including `connection.sub.-- id` and `request` (step 10). In the process of determining which actions to be executed by the processor in identifying a specific state-event in a state table (step 16), a conventional method most commonly used is by configuring the state table as an two-dimensional array. The first dimension is for identifying an `event` and the second dimension is for identification of a `state` under that `event` in a state table. Each element of that array is associated with a procedure name. The procedure name is used to invoke an executable statement segment which performs a sequence of actions as defined by the state table under that specific `state` and `event`. This method has several disadvantages. The first disadvantage of this method is that the two-dimensional array requires substantial memory space on a data processor for storage. The memory requirement is increased because size of the state tables expands when the structure and functions of a modern processor and the associated communication protocol become more complicate. In addition to the data storage requirement, extra processing time, search time and access time may also likely to increase as the array is increased in size. This further impedes efficient data communication between processors. In addition to the aforementioned disadvantages, the table-lookup array method may also be very inefficient because in a state table, there are many `null elements` in the table-lookup array where the `event` under a processor state is an empty set which often occurs when it is impossible for a processor to be in that condition under certain state as defined by the state table. As a matter of fact, as the state table expands when the protocol becomes more complex, more null elements are added to the array. The table-lookup method thus wastes more unnecessary data storage space and search time in storing and processing these null elements in the state tables. In order to avoid this problem, a nested-select method is used to implement the state table. Each event in a state table corresponds to a procedure name. Each state under a event in the state table is implemented by a separate statement segment. Each statement segment thus define the actions to be carried out under a specific state of a event. These statement segments are embed in a nested-select procedure. The procedure executes a series of `if.sub.-- else` logic steps which sequentially determines a proper state corresponding to the current state of the FSM. Once the specific state is determined, the actions as defined by the appropriate statement segment name corresponding to the event under the selected state are executed. In order to expeditiously perform the communication between the processors, the states which have higher probability of occurrence should be placed in position within the nested-selected procedure such that the if.sub.-- else tests can be performed on these states as soon as possible. However, the probability of occurrence of the states corresponding to a specific event may not be predicted initially. Under these circumstances, the benefit of priority arrangement may not be realized. Furthermore, if there are many states corresponding to a requested event, the nested-select program may become very large and cumbersome. Especially, under some conditions, same sequence of actions are to be executed for several event-state entries in the state table, the storage space may be wasted by using this conventional nested-select method because more duplicate statement segments are embed in a series of procedures. Meanwhile, unless proper priority arrangement is made, this method may require substantial processing time if the nested select program is expanded to contain a large number of logic steps. For those skilled in the art, the prior art still present several limitations in the implementation of a finite state machine corresponding to a more complicated state table. Under either the table-lookup array method or the nested-select programming techniques, efficient use of the memory storage space and processing time are not achieved. Therefore, a need still exists in the art of communication among networked processors for an improved technique in implementing a finite state machine for more efficient protocol interface in order to overcome these limitations.

Top 10 Suggestions for Supervisors – 2013 The following article was published by the ASA, as written by A. Kevin Troutman of Fisher & Phillips Law Firm. As the New Year unfolds, supervisors may have even less time to manage all the complexities that arise in the world of employment law. With goals and deadlines to meet, well-intentioned managers may be tempted to rely on experience and “common sense” to guide them. Unfortunately, this approach often creates headaches and even litigation, despite managers’ good intentions. Today’s alphabet soup of employment laws (ADA, ADEA, FMLA, OSHA, NLRB, etc.) are simply too vast and complicated for most supervisors to digest on their own. Other issues are so subtle or counterintuitive that even seasoned HR professionals can find it difficult to recognize and/or deal with them. There is a silver lining to this cloud. A few basic practices can help supervisors avoid many problems—or at least recognize when to turn to HR for guidance. 1. Always tell employees the truth This rule encompasses more than avoiding outright falsehoods. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of making sure that employees always know how you assess their job performance. Of course this includes telling employees what they are doing well—but perhaps even more important, it means telling them how and where they are not meeting expectations. While many supervisors may prefer to avoid delivering “bad news,” this rule is an increasingly critical aspect of their jobs. Performance evaluations illustrate this point. Audits routinely show that well over half of all evaluations rate employee performance above average, a de facto impossibility. Unfortunately, evaluations that overrate employees’ job performance can be devastating during litigation. Judges and juries are generally unsympathetic toward supervisors who suggest that they did not really mean what they wrote on a performance evaluation. This simple rule is so important that companies should consider discontinuing annual performance evaluations unless they can be done accurately and honestly. 2. Communicate clearly and directly Going a step beyond Rule No. 1, supervisors should expect employees to do their jobs and cannot let “politically correct” language obscure their message. Specifically, they must communicate clearly without being insensitive or disrespectful. For example, instead of telling an employee that he or she has an “opportunity” to improve, identify what specific aspects of performance are below expectations and what must be done to improve. Offer to assist, but make it clear that you expect improvement. When documenting these communications, be succinct and explicit. Always try to address “who, what, when and why.” (As simple as it seems, this includes ensuring that documentation is legible, dated and signed where appropriate.) This rule applies to policy violations, poor attendance and simple coaching or reminder sessions. 3. Avoid surprises Many lawsuits result from anger or hurt feelings, which may be the result of an employee being surprised by disciplinary action or a termination. Remember, a supervisor’s silence is typically interpreted as approval, but if communication is consistent, clear and direct, employees should never be surprised by disciplinary action. They may not agree with the supervisor’s decision, but they should never be able to say truthfully that they did not see it coming. 4. Always get both sides of the story It’s surprising how often supervisors violate this simple rule. As a practical matter, there should be no exceptions to it. No matter how egregious or clear-cut the facts appear to be, always give accused employees a chance to tell their side of the story. (The only possible exception might be when there is a legitimate objective or safety concern that would prevent this from occurring.) Consistent with this rule, do not document conclusions or prepare termination paperwork until the investigation is finished. 5. Keep your promises Don’t make promises that you cannot keep. Supervisors who promise to meet periodically with employees or to provide periodic feedback must do so. Again, jurors are unlikely to forgive supervisors who criticize an employee’s job performance, but fail to abide by their own follow-up schedule. So do not set deadlines or timetables that you cannot meet—instead, maintain some flexibility. Don’t make oral promises such as, “as long as you do your job, you will always have a place here.” In some states, these promises can be legally enforceable. 6. Do not ignore protected status in making employment decisions At first blush this rule may seem illogical, but when considering disciplinary action it is always important to consider how you have handled similar situations in the past. If an employee in a protected classification (race, sex, religion, age, disability, etc.) is treated differently under the same circumstances from someone who is not in the protected class, supervisors and HR must be able to justify the reasons clearly. When considering which employees fall in a protected classification, don’t overlook employees who recently took FMLA leave, sought an accommodation under the ADA, or provided information in response to an investigation of alleged workplace discrimination. These activities protect employees from retaliation and likewise require consideration of comparable situations where no employee had engaged in protected activity. 7. Think before hitting “send” Email traffic provides increasingly fertile ground for both sides in employment cases. Supervisors must therefore recognize that their email messages are potential trial exhibits. A quick, off-hand message has the potential to be extremely embarrassing if presented out of context to a jury. Therefore, it is never a good idea to fire off quick responses, especially when emotions are running high. Wait a few moments before hitting “send” and be especially careful about using the “reply to all” button. 8. Document important facts when they’re still fresh Important details can easily get muddled in today’s fast-paced work environment, so make a habit of jotting down those key facts when they occur. When doing so, be sure the documentation is dated, legible and understandable (see Rule No. 2). Always include objective language describing “who, what, when, where, why” and identify any witnesses. Identify the author of the documentation—sometimes nothing can be more difficult than retrospectively trying to determine who prepared unsigned material. 9. Send it to HR When supervisors keep files containing notes or information that has not been forwarded to HR, it almost always creates problems when litigation ensues. This can force the employer to change a representation it has already made to the EEOC or plaintiff’s counsel. More importantly, it can support a plaintiff’s contention that the supervisor (who is usually the alleged wrong-doer) cannot be trusted or is hiding something. On a related note, always refer employment verification and reference inquiries to HR, who will ensure company-wide consistency in responding. 10. Never forget that you are the boss Even during meal breaks, after hours, on weekends, or away from the workplace, supervisors still carry the mantle of company authority. Unguarded, inappropriate or “joking” comments can and do come back to haunt supervisors who forget this. When an employment relationship goes bad, seemingly innocuous comments often emerge. Comments made in jest rarely look good in front of a jury. This is a critical and sometimes painful lesson for supervisors to learn. Bonus Rule 11 Always strive to be fair, consider “how would this look to a skeptical third party (like the EEOC or a jury) who knows nothing about me or the employee?” The workplace is complex and demanding, especially for supervisors striving to meet deadlines, maintain positive employee relations and avoid legal pitfalls. While they are not a “cure all,” these suggestions can help supervisors manage more effectively.

https://www.pacestaffing.com/top-10-suggestions-for-supervisors-2013/

Department of Environmental Health, County of Riverside, CA Accidental Release (CalARP) The Riverside County Department of Environmental Health Hazardous Materials Branch began implementation of this Program County-wide, with the exception of the cities of Corona and Riverside, in January 1991. The respective fire departments within those cities continue, as administering agencies, to implement the CalARP Program. Risk Management Plans are one of the cornerstones of the Accidental Release Program. Similar to a Business Plan, an RMP will list the equipment and procedures that will be used to prevent, mitigate, and abate releases of CalARP materials. Additional requirements for RMPs include the listing of spill prediction worst-case scenarios, possible effects on the surrounding community, and comprehensive emergency procedures. For more information about the CalARP please contact a HazMat branch office and ask to speak with a lead inspector. ..

https://rivcoeh.org/OurServices/HazardousMaterials/CaliforniaAccidentalReleasePrevention(CalARP)

Approximately 99.87% of the votes cast by Rivers' shareholders were voted in favour of the Arrangement, including approximately 99.85% of the votes cast by Rivers' shareholders other than Canopy Growth, whose votes were required to be excluded pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. Approval was required from at least (i) two-thirds of the votes cast by the holders of Subordinated Voting Shares ("SVS"), voting separately as a class; (ii) two-thirds of the votes cast by Canopy Growth, as the sole holder of all of the Multiple Voting Shares ("MVS"), voting separately as a class; and (iii) a simple majority of votes cast by holders of SVS, voting separately as a class, excluding the votes attaching to the SVS held by Canopy Growth. "We are thrilled by both the high voting turnout and the tremendous support we received for the Arrangement," said Narbe Alexandrian, President and CEO, Rivers. "We believe that this deal provides substantial value to shareholders, which was highlighted by the overwhelming support we received today. We look forward to delivering on this vote of confidence as we execute on our new strategy focused on opportunities in the U.S. market." Right of First Refusal in respect of the Vert Mirabel Shares The Company also announced today that Les Serres Stéphane Bertrand Inc. ("Serres Bertrand") has exercised its right of first refusal to purchase its proportionate interest of the common shares (the "ROFR Shares") in Les Serres Vert Cannabis Inc. ("Vert Mirabel") from Rivers, which was triggered as a result of the Arrangement. Accordingly, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, RIV Capital Corporation (formerly Canopy Rivers Corporation) ("RCC"), has entered into a definitive purchase agreement (the "Share Purchase Agreement") with Serres Bertrand in respect of the ROFR Shares, pursuant to which RCC will sell to Serres Bertrand 117 ROFR Shares, representing 11.7% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Vert Mirabel, for cash consideration of approximately $3.4 million (the "ROFR Transaction"). The ROFR Transaction is expected to be completed on the same day as the Arrangement, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions in favour of RCC, including the deposit by Serres Bertrand of the cash consideration, and the consummation of the Arrangement. The Company expects that both the Arrangement and the ROFR Transaction will close prior to the end of February. The ROFR Transaction will result in a downward adjustment to the number of common shares of Canopy Growth that RCC will receive pursuant to the Arrangement by approximately 103,000 shares, such that RCC will now receive approximately 3.65 million common shares of Canopy Growth. The remaining shares of Vert Mirabel held by RCC will be transferred to Canopy Growth pursuant to the Arrangement. If the conditions to completion of the ROFR Transaction are not satisfied, all of the ROFR Shares will be transferred to Canopy Growth as part of the Arrangement. About Canopy Rivers Inc. Canopy Rivers is an investment and acquisition company specializing in cannabis with a portfolio of 17 companies across various segments of the cannabis value chain. We believe that bringing together people, capital, and ideas raises the potential of the entire cannabis industry. By leveraging our industry insights, in-house expertise, and thesis-driven approach to investing, we aim to provide shareholders with exposure to specialized and disruptive cannabis companies. As part of the Arrangement, the Company will also change its corporate name to "RIV Capital Inc." The Company expects that further updates will be communicated under the new corporate name following the close of the Arrangement. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. To the extent any forward-looking information in this news release constitutes "financial outlooks" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, the reader is cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose and the reader should not place undue reliance on such financial outlooks. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding: the Company's belief that the ROFR Transaction will be completed; the anticipated cash proceeds from the ROFR Transaction; Serres Bertrand's ability to meet certain conditions in order to complete the ROFR Transaction; the Company's belief that the Arrangement and the ROFR Transaction will close on the same day; the value provided to shareholders by the Arrangement; that shareholders supported the Arrangement because of the values derived from it; the Company's anticipated focus on its strategy in the U.S. market; the Company's expectation that the Arrangement will close prior to the end of February 2021; and the Company's expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical fact but instead reflects management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of the Company. Financial outlooks, as with forward-looking information generally, are, without limitation, based on the assumptions and subject to various risks as set out herein. Our actual financial position and results of operations may differ materially from management's current expectations. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: the possibility that the Arrangement will not be completed on the terms and conditions, or on the timing, currently contemplated, and that it may not be completed at all, due to a failure to obtain or satisfy, in a timely manner or otherwise, the required approval of the court, or other approvals and other conditions of closing necessary to complete the Arrangement, or for other reasons, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Arrangement; the possibility that the ROFR Transaction will not be completed on the terms and conditions, or on the timing, currently contemplated, and that it may not be completed at all, due to a failure to obtain or satisfy, in a timely manner or otherwise, the conditions of closing necessary to complete the ROFR Transaction, or for other reasons, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Share Purchase Agreement; the delay of implementation of the Arrangement or failure to complete the Arrangement for any reason; the Company's ability to alter its capital structure on the anticipated terms; the inability of Serres Bertrand to meet certain conditions pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, including the delivery of the cash consideration thereunder; credit liquidity, and additional financing risks for the Company and its investees; the entry into the U.S. market by the Company; the potential for the company's board of directors and shareholders to be prosecuted for aiding and abetting violations of U.S. federal law; enhanced scrutiny of the Company's investments and operations if the Company invests in or operates U.S. cannabis businesses; the effect of operating or investing in the U.S. on the Company's existing contractual arrangements and business relationships; the risks associated with U.S. banking and anti-money laundering laws and regulations; the classification of the Company's income as proceeds of crime and the ability of the Company to declare or pay dividends or effect other distributions or the repatriation of funds back to Canada; risks associated with the termination, renegotiation and enforcement of material contracts; credit, liquidity and additional financing risks for the Company and its investees; litigation risks; stock market volatility; regulatory and licensing risks; cannabis pricing risks; changes in cannabis industry growth and trends; changes in the business activities, focus and plans of the Company and its investees and the timing associated therewith; the Company's actual financial results and ability to manage its cash resources; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including challenging global financial conditions and the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic; competition risks; potential conflicts of interest; the regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks and risks relating to regulatory change; changes in the Company's relationship with Canopy Growth and its investees; changes in applicable laws; compliance with extensive government regulation, including the Company's interpretation of such regulation; changes in the global sentiment towards, and public opinion of, the cannabis industry; reliance on material contracts; risk of default by investees; divestiture risks; and the risk factors set out in the Company's annual information form for the year ended March 31, 2020 and the Company's management information circular in connection with the Arrangement, filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Christian education, Outdoor. Subject Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings Found in 6 Collections and/or Records: Collection 326 Papers of James Edwin Wright Collection Identifier: CN 326 Scope and Contents Oral history interviews and personal notebook relating to the ministry of James E. Wright with Youth for Christ in India, Mexico, and the United States.Series 1: Audio TapesOral history interviews with James E. Wright in which he describes his youth, conversion and spiritual growth, education at Wheaton College and Multnomah School of the Bible, involvement with Youth For Christ in Portland, Oregon, India and Mexico, counseling and follow-up... Dates: Created: 1950-1986 Collection 406 Records of SEND International Collection Identifier: CN-406 Scope and Contents Correspondence, reports, minutes, promotional materials, incorporation documents, news releases, statistics, news/prayer letters, clippings, photographs, negatives, films, and financial records related to the origins, development and operation of SEND.Includes information on ministry in Japan and the Philippines, particularly following World War II and later in in Alaska. Limited information available on work in Hong Kong, Spain and Taiwan. Persons prominently featured include... Dates: Created: 1943-[ongoing] Collection 407 Records of InterAct Ministries Collection Identifier: CN 407 Scope and Contents Correspondence, minutes, newsletters, brochures, handbook, video tapes, and historical sketches documenting the ministry of the mission. Topics covered include administration of the mission, the Arctic Bible Institute, infant baptism, the Moravian Church, Arctic Training Center, Victory High School, Multi Media Production, the correspondence school program, Victory Bible Camp, Slavic Gospel Association's transfer of its work in Alaska to AMI, Native Institute of Canada, Native Bible Centre of... Dates: Created: 1947-1989 Collection 446 Papers of Jack Wyrtzen Collection Identifier: CN 446 Scope and Contents Oral history interviews, audio tapes and video tapes relating to the ministry of Jack Wyrtzen.Series: Audio TapesTape 1 to Tape 7: Oral history interviews with Jack Wyrtzen in which he describes his parents, childhood, early influences, conversion, relations with other Christian leaders, development of the Word of Life Fellowship, radio and television work and youth work. The time period covered by the interviews... Dates: Created: 1991 Collection 533 Oral History Interview with Catherine E. Jeter Collection Identifier: CN 533 Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Catherine Elizabeth Jeter in which she discusses her childhood; conversion to Christianity through a neighborhood Bible club; education; marriage to Joseph Jeter; the start of their ministry (Have Christ Will Travel Ministries); work with inner-city children of Philadelphia and summer camp ministry in Nova Scotia, Canada; and the 1961 Billy Graham crusade in Philadelphia. Other topics discussed include: Jeter’s education at Philadelphia College of the Bible; Short... Dates: Created: 1996 Collection 604 Oral History Interview with Dan D. Crawford Collection Identifier: CN 604 Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Dan Duvall Crawford in which he discusses his parents, Percy and Ruth (Duvall) Crawford; Percy Crawford’s evangelistic ministry at meetings, through radio and television programming; and the camps his father founded. Other topics discussed include Crawford’s experiences at Pine Brook Camp as a child; Pine Brook Praises and Young People’s Church of the Air; Percy Crawford’s relationship with Billy...

https://archives.wheaton.edu/subjects/2316

154 S.W.3d 330 (2005) The FRU-CON/FLUOR DANIEL JOINT VENTURE, et al., Appellants/Cross-Respondents, v. CORRIGAN BROTHERS, INC., Respondent/Cross-Appellant. No. ED 82587. Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, Division One. October 19, 2004. Application for Transfer Denied January 26, 2005. Application for Transfer Denied March 1, 2005. *332 Phillip George Greenfield, Daniel E. Blegen, Kansas City, MO, J. Roger Edgar, Mark A. Menghini, Christopher John Daus, St. Louis, MO, for appellant. James R. Dowd, Michael A. Gross, Joseph Fredric Yeckel, St. Louis, MO, for respondent. Application for Transfer to Supreme Court Denied January 26, 2005. SHERRI B. SULLIVAN, J. Introduction The Fru-Con/Fluor Daniel Joint Venture ("the Joint Venture") appeals from the trial court's Amended Judgment entered after a bench trial awarding a net judgment in favor of Corrigan Brothers, Inc., d/b/a Corrigan Company Mechanical Contractors ("Corrigan") in the amount of $2,497,063.50. Corrigan cross-appeals. Factual and Procedural Background[1] The Procter and Gamble Paper Products Company ("Procter and Gamble") hired the Joint Venture as the general contractor to build a $485 million paper products manufacturing facility in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri (the "Project"). During the latter half of 1998, the Joint Venture, as general contractor, and Corrigan, as subcontractor, entered into two contracts, the "Papermaking contract" and the "Balance of Plant contract," both of which called for Corrigan to perform certain pipe fabrication and mechanical work in the construction of the Project. Throughout the course of the Project, the Joint Venture made substantial modifications to the scope of Corrigan's work. These modifications came in the form of change orders. A change order[2] is an agreement between parties that modifies or changes the original contract terms. Nicholson Const. Co. v. Missouri Highway and Transp. Com'n, 112 S.W.3d 6, 11 (Mo.App. W.D.2003). The parties had significant disputes over the pricing of these change orders. As a result of their disputes over how much and when Corrigan would get paid for the change orders, Corrigan quit working on the Project in mid-September, 1999. The Joint Venture filed suit against Corrigan, alleging that Corrigan breached the contracts by not completing the required scope of work. The Joint Venture sought damages for completion of the work by *333 replacement contractors, back charges, and attorney's fees and costs. Corrigan counterclaimed for breach of contract, cardinal change and/or abandonment, quantum meruit and intentional or negligent misrepresentation, and sought damages for unpaid work that was performed, prejudgment interest, attorney's fees and costs. The trial court found that as to the Papermaking contract, Corrigan breached the contract by walking off the job. At the time Corrigan left, the Joint Venture's expert witness Brad Bright estimated that about 70% of the base work and change work in the Papermaking contract had been completed. The trial court accepted this estimate and used it for its damage calculations, also using a reasonable labor modifier of 43%[3] on top of Corrigan's base rate, to find that Corrigan had been underpaid by $345,152.74 on the Papermaking contract. The trial court did not award the Joint Venture any damages from Corrigan's breach, because it found the Joint Venture failed to distinguish between work remaining to be performed under Corrigan's base contract and unresolved PCA work. The trial court found that Corrigan was not responsible for the unresolved PCA work, and since the Joint Venture did not allocate these costs, it was impossible for the trial court to assess the Joint Venture's damages for Corrigan's breach of contract. As for the Balance of Plant contract, the trial court found that the parties mutually abandoned their agreement for the following reasons. The Balance of Plant contract called for Corrigan's work to be completed by February 1, 1999, but Corrigan could not even start until approximately that date. The contract required Corrigan to perform its work in accordance with ISOs,[4] or drawings, to which the Joint Venture had made "a multitude of changes." Specifically, the Joint Venture issued 258 revised ISOs amounting to 132% of the initial drawings. The contract required Corrigan to work four 10-hour shifts, but significantly more hours were required from the Joint Venture's schedule changes and ISO revisions. The trial court held that because the Balance of Plant contract was abandoned, Corrigan was entitled to recover in quantum meruit. The trial court awarded Corrigan a net subtotal of $1,925,624.60, a figure which the trial court arrived at by taking $5,781,032.00, for the reasonable value of Corrigan's services performed, and subtracting $3,638,388.00, which had already been paid to Corrigan and subtracting $195,273.08 in back charges against Corrigan. Both parties appeal from the trial court's judgment. Standard of Review In a court-tried case, the decree or judgment of the trial court will be sustained by the appellate court unless there is no substantial evidence to support it, unless it is against the weight of the evidence, unless it erroneously declares the law, or unless it erroneously applies the law. Murphy v. Carron, 536 S.W.2d 30, 32 (Mo.banc 1976). Appellate courts should exercise the power to set aside a decree or judgment on the ground that it is against the weight of the evidence with caution and with a firm belief that the decree or judgment is wrong. Id. *334 Discussion In its first point, the Joint Venture alleges that the trial court erred in failing to award the Joint Venture, as damages for Corrigan's breach and failure to complete the Papermaking contract, its cost of completing Corrigan's remaining work under the Papermaking contract. This point assumes Corrigan's breach of contract and only challenges the trial court's award of damages to the Joint Venture for the breach. However, Corrigan's first three points on cross-appeal dispute the trial court's finding that it breached the Papermaking contract at all. Therefore, we shall address Corrigan's first three points on cross-appeal prior to addressing whether the amount of damages awarded for such breach were appropriate. Corrigan's First Three Points on Cross-Appeal In its first point, Corrigan claims that the trial court erred in concluding that Corrigan breached the Papermaking contract because the Joint Venture, and not Corrigan, breached the contract, in that the Joint Venture (1) rejected Corrigan's reasonable pricing proposals, which denied Corrigan compensation for change work and forced Corrigan to subsidize change work; and (2) wrongfully terminated the Papermaking contract after Corrigan justifiably suspended performance pending resolution of payment for change work. In its second point, Corrigan contends that the trial court erred in concluding that Corrigan breached the Papermaking contract because the parties abandoned the contract prior to the time that Corrigan suspended work, in that (1) the Joint Venture substantially delayed the start-up and the performance of Corrigan's work on the contract, (2) the Joint Venture ordered sweeping and continuous changes that significantly changed the cost of the contract from the price initially agreed upon by the parties, (3) the contractual procedure for determining and paying for change costs proved incapable of resolving change payment issues, (4) the Joint Venture pursued a strategy of delaying payment for extra work performed by Corrigan, and (5) the Joint Venture's "advance" payment to Corrigan and Corrigan's stated desire to convert to a time-and-material contract or some other replacement of the original lump sum contract demonstrated the parties' acknowledgment that the original contract was abandoned. In its third point, Corrigan asserts that the trial court erred in concluding that Corrigan breached the Papermaking contract because the Joint Venture effected a cardinal change and thereby breached the contract, in that (1) after providing Corrigan with a complete set of isometric drawings for its bidding and building, the Joint Venture changed or revised approximately 2,500 of the 3,600 drawings, (2) the Joint Venture abused its authority under the contractual provisions for ordering changes and making payment for change orders, and (3) the combination of continuous changes to and revisions of isometric drawings and withholding of reasonable contract modifications fundamentally altered Corrigan's work under the contract. Condensed, Corrigan's first three points assert that the parties abandoned the contract prior to the time that Corrigan suspended work (Pt. 2); or that the Joint Venture breached the Papermaking contract because it rejected Corrigan's reasonable pricing proposals and wrongfully terminated the Papermaking contract after Corrigan justifiably suspended performance (Pt. 1); and/or that the Joint Venture effected a cardinal change and thereby breached the contract (Pt. 3). Abandonment Corrigan cannot be guilty of a breach of the Papermaking contract if it *335 has been mutually abandoned by the parties. Schwartz v. Shelby Const. Co., 338 S.W.2d 781, 788 (Mo.1960). An abandonment may be accomplished by express mutual consent or by implied consent through the actions of the parties. Id. Where acts and conduct are relied on to constitute an abandonment, they must be positive, unequivocal and inconsistent with an intent to be further bound by the contract. Id. The question of abandonment is essentially one of fact. Id. at 787. Our State Supreme Court perspicaciously noted in Schwartz that "The law is not complicated, though the facts may be." Id. at 788. In the instant case, there was no express consent to abandon the contract, so we focus on whether there was implied consent consisting of positive and unequivocal acts and conduct inconsistent with an intent to be further bound by the contract. We find that there was not. Rather, the parties engaged in extensive negotiations and amendments to the Papermaking contract. As changes to the contract became necessary, the Joint Venture assigned a "PCA" number for purposes of pricing the changes. The contract provided that the Joint Venture could require Corrigan to begin change work before the parties had agreed on the price for the work. The price for the change work would be negotiated at a later date. Despite the large number of changes, they were allowed by the contract itself, and did not excuse Corrigan's performance under the contract. The breakdown in negotiations as to the price and payment for these changes ultimately led Corrigan to walk off the project, but did not constitute a mutual abandonment of the contract. Point denied. Did the Joint Venture Breach the Papermaking Contract? Corrigan also maintains that the Joint Venture breached the Papermaking contract because it rejected Corrigan's reasonable pricing proposals and wrongfully terminated the Papermaking contract after Corrigan justifiably suspended performance, and/or that the Joint Venture effected a cardinal change and thereby breached the contract. Once Corrigan walked off the project, or "suspended its performance," as Corrigan phrases it, the Joint Venture had every right to terminate the contract. Corrigan had already breached it. Corrigan maintains that walking off the job is not a breach of contract as a matter of law. Merely walking off a job is not a breach of contract as a matter of law. When the owner, or someone standing in his stead, prevents a contractor from completing performance, the contractor's failure to complete his work is excused, and he is not regarded as having breached the contract. Curators of University of Missouri ex rel. Shell-Con, Inc. v. Nebraska Prestressed Concrete Co., 526 S.W.2d 903, 911 (Mo.App.1975). In the instant case, however, the Joint Venture did not prevent Corrigan from performance. Rather, the two parties could not come to an agreement on pricing, and Corrigan thus voluntarily ceased performance. In its decision, the trial court adopted Corrigan's proposed 43% labor modifier in determining the complete value of the unresolved change work.[5] Corrigan argues *336 that since, as the trial court found, Corrigan's pricing proposals were reasonable, and the Joint Venture had rejected them during negotiations, then consequently the Joint Venture breached the contract. We find this deduction is not necessarily true. Although the trial court adopted Corrigan's proposed 43% labor modifier, it also found that the Joint Venture did not negotiate in bad faith regarding the pricing of the change work. Rather, it found that the inability of the parties to reach an agreement on the pricing proposals was a consequence of the nature and extent of the Project and the parties' inability to communicate effectively throughout the duration of the Project. Therefore, even though Corrigan's proposed 43% modifier was reasonable, it does not necessarily follow that the Joint Venture breached the contract by not accepting it. Rather, the Papermaking contract itself gave the Joint Venture the power to make changes and assumed that the parties would come to an agreement on the corresponding price for those changes. The Papermaking contract's change order clause reads as follows: [The Joint Venture] may, at any time, by written instructions... direct [Corrigan] to make changes, additions, deletions concerning the Subcontract Work, and [Corrigan] shall promptly proceed in compliance with such written instructions.... An increase or decrease in the Subcontract Price resulting from such changes shall be agreed upon in writing by the parties hereto. Such an agreement never happened. As such, we agree with the trial court in finding that Corrigan, not the Joint Venture, breached the Papermaking contract when it walked off the job because the Joint Venture would not accept Corrigan's proposed rates. Point denied. Corrigan also theorizes that the Joint Venture effected a "cardinal change" and thereby breached the contract. The doctrine of cardinal change breach of contract is rooted in federal contract law. Beaubois v. Marous Brothers Construction, Inc., No, 02-CV-985, 2002 U.S. Dist. Lexis 26625 at * 9 (N.D.Ohio Oct. 17, 2002). As a general rule, cardinal change cases have involved suits brought by contractors against the United States Government in the U.S. Court of Claims. Id. The Beaubois Court noted that "no court has limited the doctrine to cases brought against the United States and the recent trend is to analyze the concept of cardinal change even in the context of private construction contracts." Id. Even so, the Court then went on to decline to adopt the cardinal change doctrine in Ohio, noting that neither Mississippi nor Illinois had adopted the doctrine. There are no Missouri cases addressing the cardinal change doctrine. Applying the cardinal change doctrine to the instant case has no support or precedent in Missouri law. Additionally, the arguments presented by Corrigan in support of its contention that the Joint Venture effected a cardinal change are essentially the same ones presented in support of its arguments that the Joint Venture breached and/or abandoned the contract. Therefore, any discussion would be redundant. Point denied. The Joint Venture's Appeal Now we return to the Joint Venture's first point on appeal, in which it argues that the trial court should have awarded it its cost of completing Corrigan's remaining work under the Papermaking contract. In support of its argument, the Joint Venture asserts that it sustained its burden of proving these damages in that (1) the Joint Venture's takeover costs of completing the remaining work under the base subcontract, subcontract modifications and unresolved PCAs, which Corrigan was obligated to perform, *337 exceeded the price for which Corrigan was bound to complete such work; and (2) the Joint Venture was not required to allocate its completion costs for the base subcontract, modifications and unresolved PCA work. The trial court rejected the Joint Venture's claim for damages from Corrigan's failure to complete its work on the Papermaking contract because the Joint Venture's evidence did not distinguish between work remaining to be performed under Corrigan's base contract and unresolved PCA work. The Joint Venture contends that the calculation of its damages under Missouri law is simple and straightforward, and may be expressed as the cost to the Joint Venture to complete Corrigan's remaining scope of work, less the unpaid balance of the total price of Corrigan's remaining work. The Joint Venture asserts that no allocation of takeover costs was necessary for the trial court to properly determine the Joint Venture's damages based on the evidence before it. The Papermaking contract provides for Corrigan's failure to complete its work by authorizing the Joint Venture "to take over or cause others to take over any work being performed and to be performed under this Subcontract." The Joint Venture contends that this provision makes Corrigan responsible for the cost of every change order transmitted before Corrigan suspended its work. We disagree. We reject the Joint Venture's contention that Corrigan would be responsible for the unresolved PCAs. We find that a more logical interpretation of the contract would be that the contract made Corrigan responsible for the cost of completing the work under its base contract, and that the cost of the Joint Venture's change orders remained the responsibility of the Joint Venture. Because the Joint Venture did not distinguish between these two items, making it "impossible to know what portion of the takeover costs [were] Corrigan's responsibility, and what portion would be the Joint Venture's responsibility," the trial court could not award the Joint Venture any damages for its takeover costs. The Joint Venture argues that it was not required by the contract to allocate its takeover costs. Regardless of whether the contract did not require the Joint Venture to allocate its takeover costs, we do not find that Corrigan is obligated to pay for the unresolved change work in this case. Because the Joint Venture did not separate those costs out, it is not entitled to any damages. Point denied. In its second point, the Joint Venture contends that the trial court erred in awarding Corrigan penalty interest and litigation expenses pursuant to the Missouri Prompt Payment Act, Section 431.180,[6] on Corrigan's claims under the Balance of Plant contract because Corrigan was not entitled to litigation expenses under the act in that the trial court's damage award was in quantum meruit and not premised on a "scheduled payment" due under the Balance of Plant contract and, further, no "scheduled payment" was due under the Balance of Plant contract. Under Section 431.180, the trial court may award litigation costs and interest upon a showing that the parties entered into a contract for construction work, and the Joint Venture failed to make payments in accordance with the contract. The trial court found that the parties entered into the Balance of Plant contract for construction work in late 1998, and that the Joint Venture withheld payment to Corrigan in the amount of $66,000.00. The trial court awarded Corrigan $918,910.24 in prejudgment interest (1½% per month from *338 March 8, 2000, the date of the lien filing, through January 6, 2003, the date of judgment), and $307,085.70 in attorney's fees pursuant to Section 431.180. The trial court's award of damages in quantum meruit does not preclude the trial court from also awarding interest and attorney's fees under the Prompt Payment Act, because the parties did enter into a contract, and the statute does not require the contract to be in existence throughout the duration of the project. Even if the trial court found that the Balance of Plant contract had been abandoned, the parties still entered into it, and the Joint Venture still withheld payment to Corrigan for its work done pursuant to the contract. Therefore, the statute's requirements were met, and thus the trial court was well within its rights to award these additional damages. Further, the statute specifically provides for an independent cause of action to recover penalty interest and litigation expenses "in addition to any other award of damages." Section 431.180.2 (Emphasis added). The Joint Venture further argues that no "scheduled payment" was due under the Balance of Plant subcontract. On the contrary, the contract required "monthly or other periodic progress payments." On August 31, 1999, Corrigan submitted pay application number 11 for $66,282.53. The Joint Venture refused to pay Corrigan's pay application number 11. We find this is sufficient evidence that a scheduled payment was due, and the Joint Venture refused to pay it. Point denied. Corrigan's Last Two Points On Cross-Appeal In its fourth point, Corrigan states that the trial court erred in assessing back charges against Corrigan on the Balance of Plant work because the Joint Venture breached the Balance of Plant contract in that the Joint Venture failed to give Corrigan seventy-two (72) hours to cure any defective work after a notice of default as required by the Balance of Plant contract. The Balance of Plant contract provides: If Subcontractor for any reason fails or is unable to commence, prosecute and complete the Subcontract Work skillfully, promptly, and diligently ... [the Joint Venture] shall have the right, if it so elects and without prejudice to any other rights it may have, by giving seventy-two (72) hours written notice to Subcontractor, to take over or cause others to take over any work being performed and to be performed under this Subcontract, or any part thereof, ... and to complete such work for the account of Subcontractor by whatever method [the Joint Venture] deems reasonably practicable and expedient.... Corrigan maintains that by refusing to give Corrigan a chance to cure any defective work as required by the Balance of Plant contract, the Joint Venture waived any entitlement to back charges. We disagree. The trial court found that the parties had abandoned the contract. A contracting party cannot be guilty of a breach of a contract that has been mutually abandoned. Schwartz, 338 S.W.2d at 788. Thus, Corrigan's claim that it was entitled under the contract to a 72-hour period to cure its defective work fails. The trial court assessed back charges to reduce Corrigan's quantum meruit recovery by the amount needed to correct Corrigan's defective work under the Balance of Plant contract, and thus was entirely proper. Point denied. In its fifth and final point, Corrigan maintains that the trial court erred in attempting to reduce the rate of post-judgment interest in the amended judgment because Corrigan was entitled to an award of penalty interest at the rate of one and one-half per cent (1½%) per month under *339 the Prompt Pay Act, in that: (1) the trial court lacked jurisdiction to reduce the award of penalty interest in the original judgment because the rate of post-judgment interest was not raised in a timely filed after-trial motion; or (2) assuming, arguendo, the court had jurisdiction to amend the rate of interest, the court erred in concluding that the Prompt Pay Act does not apply to post-judgment interest awards. In a footnote in its amended judgment, the trial court indicated that post-judgment interest was fixed at the nine percent (9%) per annum rate specified by Section 408.040.1. We find that the trial court was well within its discretion to set the interest rate in such fashion. The footnote in the amended judgment did not amend the original judgment, as there was nothing in the original judgment regarding post-judgment interest. As such, the rate was set under Missouri law; i.e., the 9% per annum rate set forth in Section 408.040.1. We recognize that there was mention in the accompanying memorandum that post-judgment interest would be awarded at $949.62 per day, which reflected the Prompt Pay Act penalty interest rate. However, this mention was not part of the "judgment." Further, Corrigan was not, as it argues, "entitled" to an award of penalty interest at the rate of one and one-half per cent (1½%) per month under the Prompt Pay Act, Section 431.180. Section 431.180.2 provides, in pertinent part, that the Court "may ... award interest at a rate of up to one and one-half percent per month...." (Emphasis supplied). The use of "may" indicates that the trial court's decision to award interest is discretionary. City of Cottleville v. American Topsoil, Inc., 998 S.W.2d 114, 117 (Mo.App. E.D.1999). As a side note, "where a judgment creditor appeals on the ground of inadequacy from a recovery in his favor, and the judgment is affirmed on appeal, the judgment creditor is not entitled to interest pending such appeal." Investors Title Co. v. Chicago Title Ins. Co., 18 S.W.3d 70, 72 (Mo.App. E.D.2000). As such, Corrigan is not entitled to post-judgment interest pending this appeal. Corrigan's last point on cross-appeal is denied. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.[7] GARY M. GAERTNER, P.J., and MARY K. HOFF, J., concur. NOTES [1] At the trial court level, neither party requested findings of fact pursuant to Missouri Rule of Civil Procedure 73.01. However, the trial court believed that an explanation of its decision was appropriate and thus recited some factual background. In the same vein, this Court will attempt to glean and concisely recite from the voluminous factually detailed record only the facts pertinent to the points on appeal. [2] Change orders are sometimes referred to as potential change authorizations, or "PCA's" in this opinion [3] A labor modifier accounts for conditions under which the labor has to be performed, which is added to the base labor rate. Examples of such conditions would be working in cramped spaces, high temperatures, dangerous altitudes, and so on. [4] "ISOs" refer to Isometric Drawings, which are drawings reflecting the design and placement of mechanical piping and associated materials for the paper machines. [5] As provided by the contract, Corrigan submitted pricing proposals for the unresolved changes. For most changes that contained a labor component, Corrigan applied a 43% modifier to its base labor rate to account for conditions under which the work had to be performed. The Joint Venture favored a 10-15% labor modifier, which obviously resulted in a wide disparity in the parties' proposed pricing for the changes. [6] All statutory references are to RSMo 2000, unless otherwise indicated. [7] Corrigan has filed a Motion for Award of Attorney's Fees. This court has the authority to allow and fix the amount of attorney's fees on appeal. Dominion Home Owners Ass'n, Inc. v. Martin, 953 S.W.2d 178, 183 (Mo.App. W.D.1997). We determine that since each party respectively lost its own appeal and prevailed upon the other's appeal, that each party should bear its own attorney's fees.

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is one of the major entrance examinations for management courses, especially MBA. The following post takes a quick look at the GMAT exam. Introduction The GMAT Exam is much like a number of other similar competitive exams that a candidate must have gone through before appearing for it. The atmosphere of a GMAT test centre is similar to all other exam halls, one need to carry a minimum of two sharpened pencils and the drill is the same, scratch paper for rough work, clock, proctor, pin-drop silence and so on. The sections in which the test is divided into are also like any other graduate level aptitude test and comprise of verbal reasoning, quantitative analysis and analytical writing abilities. GMAT-Overview Also similar to most competitive exams these days the GMAT Exam is also held online and is computer based. So the test is made adaptive to the candidate's level. Once the candidate puts in a right answer the computer immediately matches it and bumps up the difficulty level of the next question. And for every wrong answer the difficulty level gets slightly eased off. This is a great advantage in comparison to the typical paper-based tests. There are a number of practice GMAT Tests available for aspiring test takers to help evaluate where they stand in comparison to the thousand other aspirants. But a trend that has been observed is that candidates end up taking more than necessary practice tests. As suggested by the leading academicians in the country, the students should simply take one test before beginning their preparation to evaluate where they stand, then take three more mock tests while in the course of their preparation within 3-8 weeks of it. And right towards the end of their prep the candidate is advised to take only 1 mock test per week. One must understand that tests are comparable to thermometers; they help to indicate how sick a person is but cannot cure them. Similarly while taking too many practice tests the candidate will not be able to learn more about solving similar questions, the only way to get better at solving them will involve studying. What to expect in a GMAT Exam? As discussed earlier the test is completely computer based and the difficulty level of the questions increases based on the candidates capabilities, so the marks will also reflect on similar basis. That is the number of correct answer given for each and every difficult question will reflect a higher score. An important note for students to understand is the fact that the GMAT test is just like any other aptitude test and is targeted to test a candidate's general skills and abilities rather than their managerial skills that they will acquire if they qualify for the program in a suitable college. The main thing that B-schools are looking to evaluate is a student's ability to communicate efficiently and to analyze given data. Basically these are the key skills that are pertinent to being a good manager. GMAT Exam Format In the test all three sections namely, verbal sections, analytical writing assessment and quantitative section will be included and should be incorporated in ones GMAT review. Except the writing portion all others are present in this version. The main types of question one can expect are of topics related to mathematics, economics or issues related to human resources. Here are a few bullet points for effective GMAT test preparation: - GMAT requires about 2-4 months of preparation time unlike other MBA entrance exams like CAT. - GMAT takes a writing ability test which helps in evaluating the student's thought process and his/her ability to express themselves effectively. - With GMAT scores a candidate has the choice to apply in the top B-colleges all over the country and even the top 1 percent and also all the best B-schools abroad. - The GMAT score remains valid for five whole years. - GMAT tests are held throughout the year once a month and a person is eligible to take it multiple times (about 5 times) within a year. The Final Words The analytical assessment section will contain 2 writing tasks each of half an hour. The verbal assessment portion has a total of 41 multiple choice problems and will require total of 75 minutes. This portion covers three basic areas, sentence correction, critical reasoning and comprehension reading. Finally the quantitative analysis section has a total of 37 MCQs and will require 75 minutes to complete properly. The areas covered in this section include, data sufficiency and problem solving.

https://lerablog.org/business/school-education/some-important-points-for-students-opting-for-gmat/

About this Research Topic Large-scale earthquake hazards pose major threats to modern society, generating casualties, disrupting socioeconomic activities, and causing enormous economic loss across the world. Events, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, highlighted the vulnerability of urban cities to catastrophic earthquakes. Accurate assessment of earthquake-related hazards (both primary and secondary) is essential to mitigate and control disaster risk exposure effectively. To date, various approaches and tools have been developed in different disciplines. However, they are fragmented over a number of research disciplines and underlying assumptions are often inconsistent. Our society and infrastructure are subjected to multiple types of cascading earthquake hazards; therefore, integrated hazard assessment and risk management strategy is needed for mitigating potential consequences due to multi-hazards. Moreover, uncertainty modeling and its impact on hazard prediction and anticipated consequences are essential parts of probabilistic earthquake hazard and risk assessment. The Research Topic is focused upon modeling and impact assessment of cascading earthquake hazards, including mainshock ground shaking, aftershock, tsunami, liquefaction, and landslide. Innovative contributions related to the following research topics are welcome: • Physical/probabilistic modeling and assessment of strong ground shaking (mainshock) and triggered aftershocks: e.g. time-dependent hazard and risk modeling, spatiotemporal variability/dependency of triggered events, and stochastic modeling for cascading scenarios. • Cascading modeling of earthquake and tsunami, and their impact to buildings and infrastructure • Earthquake and tsunami vulnerability assessment • Cascading modeling of earthquake and liquefaction/landslide, and their impact to buildings and infrastructure • Hazard and risk mitigation against cascading earthquake hazards: e.g. multi-hazards and risk mapping, design of earthquake and tsunami-proof structures, multi-hazards design of evacuation buildings, evacuation simulation with explicit consideration of cascading and time-dependent hazards • Risk management strategies for cascading earthquake hazards and risks (including insurance and financial risk management) Keywords: Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Geo-hazards, Multi-hazards, Disaster risk management, Resilience Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/4251/mega-quakes-cascading-earthquake-hazards-and-compounding-risks

Laura Marling Vancouver 2017 show at the Vogue British folk singer-songwriter and musician Laura Marling is hitting Vancouver’s Vogue Theatre on April 26. Fans can anticipate some of her greatest hits, including many from her sixth album titled Semper femina, which means ‘always a woman.’ The album consist of songs that are influenced by her fierce intelligence and unique take on womanhood – a result from her growing out of a masculine time in her life. According to Marling, her album is all about the realities and illusions of womanhood, and as a result, it marks a shift in her career. “The time and the political climate that we live in, we’re coming to a point where there’s no need for this sort of artistic expression that I’ve been a part of,” she says. “Innocent creativity had a little flourish in the last ten years. But also I’m getting older and now I think ‘What use is that?’ It’s not rooted, not pointed, not political. For me right now I feel like it’s more important that I have a practical use.” With Marling’s latest focus on “re-writing the idea of [the] tragic woman,” fans can expect an emotional show with songs that have more than one meaning.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/laura-marling-vancouver-2017

Today is the International Day of People with Disability, which aims to promote a positive image of people with disability. The day is designed to recognise and celebrate the skills, abilities and achievements of people with a disability, and their contributions to community life. This is a welcome area of endeavour in Australia, where it frequently appears that the community views people with disabilities variously with admiration, surprise, bewilderment and fear. In a submission to the Productivity Commission's inquiry into a disability care and support scheme, a mother and carer of a profoundly intellectually disabled adult articulated a disability 'hierarchy', which differentiates disability types according to how society perceives and accepts people with those disabilities. People who are fully intellectually able and articulate are championed. We're amazed by Matt Hallat, a Paralympian downhill skier with one leg; by Nick Vujucic, who was born without limbs but shares his story and hope with others; by the mind and ideas of Stephen Hawking, who has cerebral palsy; and by Hilary Lister, a quadriplegic woman who sailed around the word solo. We have every reason to be impressed. Many able-bodied people could not achieve these feats. Similarly, people without intellectual disability but with some physical impairment are respected by the community, particularly if they work in important or high-profile roles. Australia's Disability Discrimination and Race Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes (who lives with blindness), comedian Adam Hills (who has a prosthetic leg) and broadcaster Wendy Harmer (who had a cleft palate) fit this category. Regular 'Joes' (and 'Josies') with full intellectual capacity are also accepted. Yet acceptance is not so forthcoming for people with intellectual disabilities. Although some individuals with a mild intellectual impairment have achieved success in sport or the arts, and this is celebrated to a degree, by and large people with intellectual disabilities do not experience the same acceptance. If a mental impairment is mild, and an individual can care for themselves, converse, form relationships and work, the lack of acceptance is not so pronounced. There are kind-hearted people who regularly engage with people with intellectual disabilities, and even foster friendships. Unfortunately, where a mental impairment is more severe or profound, or coupled with physical disability, wider acceptance evaporates. It can be difficult to communicate with a person who does not use speech, to interact with someone who requires high levels of assistance with mobility and personal care, or engage with someone who may not have complete control of their sounds or movements. As a result, many people with such severe or profound disabilities are avoided, ignored and rejected. They, along with their parents and carers, risk being marginalised. The 'physical' disability lobby has been extremely successful in raising awareness of the issues faced by having a world catering only to the physically able. In fact, the physical disability lobby has been so successful that the wider community seems to forget that the disability sector includes a very significant number of people with a mental impairment, at times even alongside a physical impairment. Why are things different for those with intellectual disabilities? Why are people with intellectual disabilities more disconnected? I feel that it is simply mainstream society's fear of the unknown. For decades, people with intellectual disabilities were denied an education in most schools; governments did not have dedicated specialist schools. For decades, people with intellectual disabilities were institutionalised, often separated from their families. The community has been the poorer for missing out on the participation of those with intellectual disabilities. Were that not the case, would our society be more appreciative and less competitive? More patient and empathetic? More compassionate and inclusive? I like to think that my own experience with disability has engendered these qualities in me. The lives, abilities and achievements of individuals living with disability are as many and varied as those individuals themselves. It would be wonderful if, on this International Day of People with Disability, we could reflect on the contribution of those with intellectual disabilities too. Moira Byrne Garton is a PhD student in political science at the Australian National University, and a policy analyst. She is strongly engaged with disability issues. Topic tags: hierarchy of disability, adam hills, stephen hawking, Graeme Innes, Wendy Harmer, Nick Vujucic If there's one thing that the recent election campaign and its outcome demonstrated, it's the depth of the divisions that exist in our Australian community. Our politics is focused on point-scoring, personalities, and name-calling across party lines. The media, for the most part, don't help, driven by the 24-hour news cycle and the pursuit of advertising dollars into a frenzy of click-bait and shallow sensationalism. What does it mean to be an Australian in times like these? What are the values that unite us? Eureka Street offers an alternative. It's less a magazine than a wide ranging conversation about the issues that matter in our country and our world; a conversation marked by respect for the dignity of ALL human beings. Importantly, it's a conversation that takes place in the open, unhindered by paywalls or excessive advertising. And it's through the support of people like you that it is able to do so. Thank you, Moira, for this wonderful and very moving article. Cassandra | 03 December 2010 Thank you for this wonderful article. it is an important prompt to self-check regarding attitudes and behaviours towards people who have different capacities- something that even the most compassionate and engaged people could benefit from. loulou | 03 December 2010 Unfortunately, in Australia, the most extreme form of discrimination against people with a disability is abortion. It would seem that there is a perception that to be valued we must be perfect. How many Downs Syndrome babies are allowed to be born? We need to tackle discrimination at its root. Jennifer Guinane | 03 December 2010 Three cheers for Moira's article and three cheers for Jennifer Guinane's comment. I am the father of baby girl, born this year with many qualities, among them Down syndrome. Molly's presence in the world challenges all of us to reconsider what it is that we value about a human life, and what we value in each other. Which is exactly what Moira's article does too. Raimond Gaita has some wise and penetrating thoughts about unconditional love and human beings of all sorts and types: see his book A Common Humanity, ch 1 in particular. Cameron Johns | 03 December 2010 Three cheers for Moira's article and three cheers for Jennifer Guinane's comment. I am the father of baby girl, born this year with many qualities, among them Down syndrome. Molly's presence in the world challenges all of us to reconsider what it is that we value about a human life, and what we value in each other. Which is exactly what Moira's article does too. Raimond Gaita has some wise and penetrating thoughts about unconditional love and human beings of all sorts and types: see his book A Common Humanity, ch 1 in particular. Cameron Johns | 03 December 2010 Thanks Moira, you have once again hit the nail on the head that many of us either as carer's and/or individuals face everyday. Great piece. :) Julie Smith | 03 December 2010 Moira, as a carer for 29 years of a severely intellectually disabled person I found your article insightful and "spot on", and blessedly free of the usual cliches and motherhood statements that are commonly used whenever the subject of disability is mentioned. The gift of the intellectually disabled to the able-bodied is that they allow us to be human...they simply ask us to love them. God's blessings be with you and your family, Moira Leanne Johns | 03 December 2010 I would like to correct your article. Hilary Lister did not sail around the world solo, she sailed around Britain Solo. Paul | 03 December 2010 Thank you Moira for accurately describing this 'hidden' hierarchy. Everyday I reflect on the contribution that my beautiful little boy, born with an extra chromosome (Trisomy 21 - Down syndrome) makes to our family and to society at large. His presence and personality bring us inexpressible joy. His gifts to the world are many, in particular gentleness and love. Virginia | 03 December 2010 ... decades ...? Greig WIlliams | 04 December 2010 Thank you all for your thoughtful comments. Jennifer, you make an excellent point. In a similar vein, I have noticed that many people who support euthanasia want for the option of assisted suicide if they become disabled. It grieves me to think that people see disability as a fate worse than death! Greig, your single word is evocative ... indeed, it has been centuries (millenia even?) that people with intellectual and multiple disabilities have been hidden away and shut in (or out, as the case may be). And Paul, thank you for picking up my mistake. What I meant to write was not what I typed! I also wish to correct another error. Stephen Hawking actually has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a form of motor neurone disease. Moira Byrne Garton | 07 December 2010 As a person with a physical disability who is doing a PhD with people with intellectual disability I wholeheartedly agree with this notion. The needs of people with intellectual disability are often neglected unless they have been given the support to advocate for themselves or have someone else speak on their behalf. Much of this is because of the enduring assumptions that surround intellectual disability. Incapacity, incompetent and dependent are but a few that prevail. These notions perpetuate the value accorded to people with intellectual disability. Thanks for a great opinion piece. Madonna | 18 December 2010 Thank you, Moira, for your article. We very much share your thoughts, that you express so eloquently. We could never find the correct words, as you have. Paul and Bev Garton | 27 December 2010 Hi, I was just wondering if you could help me with what fading prompting is, reinforcers, motivators to learn and de-motivators or blocks to learning, and how this applies to the disability sector and carers and clients please, I'm studying cert 3 in disability so I can become a better carer but I've hit a block finding answers. Thank you so much for your time, I appreciate it so much. Linda | 13 May 2011 Moira, I am glad to find some evidence I am not the only one who sees this! I am currently engaged in a great wrestling match within the disability advocacy community trying to bring this to light. As it stands now, power within this sector is completely within the physical disability sector. This means that systemic advocacy is focussed on issues such as physical access to transport and buildings, when there are people within the mental health, ID and ABI communities whose issues of abuse neglect, homelessness, etc., are not even getting a mention. As long as persons with ID, mental health, ABI, and other conditions rely on people with physical disability to raise these issues in the community, they will be waiting a long time! Matthew Dent | 23 May 2011 I used to carry a knife in my handbag. Like nearly a quarter of Australians, I believe that 80 per cent of all crime is violent crime; I was concerned for my safety. And then I discovered that if my self-defence weapon were used, it would likely be used against me. Nobody pretends child maltreatment is easily prevented. Yet we are passionate about the evils of same-sex marriage. Wouldn't it be great if we put that energy into providing what children need: a family environment of love and understanding where they can achieve their potential. x Subscribe for more stories like this.

https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=24390

This new edition has been specially designed to meet the needs of learners of both Mandarin Chinese and English. A clear layout, up-to-date coverage of everyday words and phrases, and a handy travel supplement make this dictionary the ideal portable companion. Written for all those learning Mandarin Chinese or English for study or for travel. It is the ideal text for anyone who needs a wealth of reliable information in a portable format.* Contains all the everyday words and phrases used in today's Chinese and English that you will need to know, with a practical supplement for travellers.* This dictionary offers extra help with essential vocabulary, and thousands of useful phrases to guide you to the correct translation.* To help with the pronunciation of Chinese words, the dictionary includes Pinyin for all Chinese headwords, translations, phrases and examples. Pinyin is the official phonetic system for transcribing Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet, and is accepted in all Chinese-speaking countries.* In addition, the dictionary also includes both simplified and traditional or complex Chinese characters. Simplified characters are generally used in mainland China and Singapore, while traditional characters are mainly used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.* The radical index is a clear guide to looking up Chinese characters, helping the user to navigate the dictionary and find Chinese characters without knowing their pronunciation. This item is on the shelf at the following Harry Hartog shops. Please contact the shop to hold your copy. * Availability and price subject to change at any time.

http://harryhartog.com.au/new-book/collins-mandarin-chinese-dictionary-gem-edition/9780008141837/buy-online

Movement and fitness have become optional extras for modern humans. Most of us now spend the majority of our lives sitting for prolonged periods – at our desks, in our cars, on our sofas. This prolonged inactivity has been linked to an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and increased all cause mortality. See here and here for some further reading. Such chronic positioning also has negative impacts on the musculoskeletal system: over time, our bodies adapt subtly to the chair shape, making us unsuited to other less frequently performed movements, and prone to back pain and injury. Even for those of us who try and exercise regularly, we tend to engage in repetitive activities such as running, cycling or bodybuilding, which can lead to overuse injuries, chronic pain and immobility. We have become either soft or overspecialized, and have lost the ability to move in the same way as our ancestors, whose very survival depended on their ability to run, throw, carry and fight. But it wasn’t always this way: look at the way young children play and move. Adults can learn a lot from the way they get up and down off the floor; the way they roll and crawl and climb naturally. Children generally run without heel strike and can squat fully and easily. At some point in our lives we stopped playing and started sitting, and lost the ability to perform many of these important natural movements: running, jumping, climbing, balancing, crawling, lifting, carrying, throwing and catching, swimming and wrestling. If you want to see if this applies to you, have a go at some of these basic movement skills at home (I did and was unpleasantly surprised at my lack of mobility): - Can you move from standing to sitting on the floor and back up again? How easy is it? Can you get down and get up without using your hands? - Can you perform a deep squat, keeping your heels on the floor? Can you hold this position comfortably for 10 minutes? - Can you hold yourself in a dead hang from a pole or branch for 30 seconds or more? - Can you perform a single pull up from a dead hang? You can? That’s fantastic – how many can you do without kipping (kicking) for assistance? Proponents such as Erwan Le Corre, the developer of MovNat (a fitness system based on natural movements), believe so. He suggests that practicing these innate skills will not only make you a more well-rounded athlete and improve mobility, but also that it has practical application in our everyday lives. In its purest form it will help reconnect us with nature, by training outdoors using the natural environment as our gym when possible. To illustrate, a beginner’s natural movement workout might look something like this: 3-5 cycles of: - Bear crawl 15m - Leg swing jump to a precision landing (x 8) - Deadlift (x 8) - preferably using a rock! - Running at fast speed over 30m - Balancing along a 3m long beam (x 8) - Muscle ups on a pull up bar or tree branch - Balancing farmers walk - Rope climbs - Log carrys What’s clear is that inactivity has become a major problem in our society and we urgently need to move more. But how often do we need to move? How intensively? What movements and exercises are best? It may be possible to offset the effects of inactivity simply by doing more exercise. This study suggests that 60-75 minutes per day of moderate intensity activity may eliminate the increased mortality associated with sitting. It’s likely that this is not a realistic option for most people who already struggle to do the recommended 30 minutes of exercise per day; we would perhaps be better off focusing on reducing our sitting time and finding ways to incorporate more movement into our daily routines, whilst still trying to fit in exercise when we can. Could natural movement and functional fitness help address our inactivity and overspecialization? The evidence base is limited here, but the idea of relearning natural movement skills makes sense, and the philosophy is appealing, with its focus on performing practical activities rather than repetitive, isolated movements, and a renewed connection to nature. There is certainly mounting evidence that contact with green spaces and natural environments is associated with benefits to mental and physical health. Natural movement practice won’t appeal to everyone, but it does offer certain advantages: in the beginning it requires little or no equipment, no gym membership, it can be relatively time efficient and provides an interesting, holistic workout, combining both strength and aerobic conditioning. However, as with other forms of bodyweight training, as you progress, the movements become harder and it helps to have some extra tools such as a pull up bar, kettlebells and a medicine ball, but of course these can be improvised using tree branches, rocks, logs etc if you really want to be strict about the natural ethos! Finally, if you want some inspiration, check out this master class of natural movement, showing just what human beings are capable of. MBChB DMM MEM FRCA FANZCA Dr. Tim Smith is a Consultant Anaesthetist. He’s now based in Scotland, but has previously worked and trained in Australia and New Zealand. In addition to his specialist medical qualifications, he has a Masters in Environmental Management (MEM), with a particular interest in the relationships between the natural environment, biodiversity and human health. He teaches medical students about this subject at the University of Dundee. He is also a trail runner, hill walker and climber, a qualified Mountain Leader and holds a Diploma in Mountain Medicine.

https://bslm.org.uk/post/the-lost-art-of-natural-movement/

In the United States Court of Appeals For the Seventh Circuit ____________________ No. 18‐1531 NICOLE D. NELSON, Plaintiff‐Appellant, v. GREAT LAKES EDUCATIONAL LOAN SERVICES, INC., et al., Defendants‐Appellees. ____________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. No. 3:17‐CV‐183 — Nancy J. Rosenstengel, Chief Judge. ____________________ ARGUED OCTOBER 23, 2018 — DECIDED JUNE 27, 2019 ____________________ Before KANNE, HAMILTON, and ST. EVE, Circuit Judges. HAMILTON, Circuit Judge. Like many students, plaintiff Ni‐ cole Nelson borrowed money to pay for her education. De‐ fendant Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. services repayment of her federally insured loans. On its website, Great Lakes offered to provide guidance to borrowers strug‐ gling to make their loan payments. It told borrowers: “Our trained experts work on your behalf,” and “You don’t have to 2 No. 18‐1531 pay for student loan services or advice,” because “Our expert representatives have access to your latest student loan infor‐ mation and understand all of your options.” Nelson alleges that despite these representations, when she and other mem‐ bers of the putative class struggled to make payments, Great Lakes did not work on their behalf. Instead, Nelson contends, Great Lakes steered borrowers into repayment plans that were to Great Lakes’ advantage and to borrowers’ detriment. Nelson alleges that defendant’s conduct violated the Illi‐ nois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and constituted constructive fraud and negligent misrepre‐ sentation under Illinois common law. The district court granted Great Lakes’ motion to dismiss, holding that all of Nelson’s claims were expressly preempted by this provision of the federal Higher Education Act: “Loans made, insured, or guaranteed pursuant to a program authorized by title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) shall not be subject to any disclosure requirements of any State Law.” 20 U.S.C. § 1098g. The district court reasoned that Nel‐ son’s claims are expressly preempted because they all allege in substance only that Great Lakes failed to disclose certain information. The district court’s ruling was overly broad. When a loan servicer holds itself out to a borrower as having experts who work for her, tells her that she does not need to look elsewhere for advice, and tells her that its experts know what options are in her best interest, those statements, when untrue, cannot be treated by courts as mere failures to disclose information. Those are affirmative misrepresentations, not failures to dis‐ close. Great Lakes chose to make them. A borrower who rea‐ sonably relied on them to her detriment is not barred by No. 18‐1531 3 § 1098g from bringing state‐law consumer protection and tort claims against the loan servicer. Tort law has long recognized the difference between mere failures to disclose information and affirmative deceptions. And as we explain below, the Ninth Circuit decision the district court relied upon, Chae v. SLM Corp., 593 F.3d 936 (9th Cir. 2010), does not apply to claims of affirmative misrepresentations in counseling bor‐ rowers in distress. Accordingly, Nelson’s claims are not expressly preempted to the extent she is alleging that Great Lakes made false or misleading affirmative representations to her in the counsel‐ ing process. Also, neither conflict preemption nor field preemption applies to her claims. We vacate the judgment of the district court and remand for further proceedings con‐ sistent with this opinion. I. Factual & Procedural Background The district court granted defendant’s Rule 12(b)(6) mo‐ tion to dismiss on preemption grounds, a legal determination that we review de novo. Guilbeau v. Pfizer Inc., 880 F.3d 304, 310 (7th Cir. 2018), citing Toney v. L’Oreal USA, Inc., 406 F.3d 905, 907–08 (7th Cir. 2005). We accept as true all well‐pleaded fac‐ tual allegations in the amended complaint and draw all per‐ missible inferences in Nelson’s favor. E.g., Fortres Grand Corp. v. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., 763 F.3d 696, 700 (7th Cir. 2014). A. Loans Under the Higher Education Act The Higher Education Act (“HEA”) was enacted “to keep the college door open to all students of ability, regardless of socioeconomic background.” Rowe v. Educational Credit Man‐ agement Corp., 559 F.3d 1028, 1030 (9th Cir. 2009) (citation and 4 No. 18‐1531 internal quotation marks omitted); see also 20 U.S.C. § 1071(a)(1) (identifying purposes of statute). The HEA estab‐ lished the Federal Family Education Loan Program (“FFELP”), a system of loan guarantees administered by the U.S. Secretary of Education that were “meant to encourage lenders to loan money to students and their parents on favor‐ able terms.” Chae v. SLM Corp., 593 F.3d at 938–39 (footnote omitted). The FFELP regulated three parts of student loan transac‐ tions: (1) between lenders and borrowers, (2) between bor‐ rowers and guaranty agencies, and (3) between guaranty agencies and the Department of Education. Bible v. United Stu‐ dent Aid Funds, Inc., 799 F.3d 633, 640 (7th Cir. 2015), citing Chae, 593 F.3d at 939. Under the program, lenders used their own funds to make loans to students attending postsecondary institutions. These loans were guaranteed by guaranty agen‐ cies and reinsured by the federal government. See 20 U.S.C. § 1078(a)–(c). Thus, the federal government served (and still serves) as the ultimate guarantor on FFELP loans. Bible, 799 F.3d at 640. Lenders assigned the loans to loan servicers like Great Lakes to manage the repayment process with the bor‐ rowers. In 2010, Congress ordered a halt in new FFELP loans and transitioned to a “Direct Loan” program, in which the United States serves as the lender and contracts with non‐ governmental entities to service loans issued by the Department. 20 U.S.C. § 1071(d); see also Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111‐152, § 2201 et seq., 124 Stat. 1029, 1074. Federal Direct Loans “have the same terms, conditions, and benefits” as those issued under the FFELP. 20 U.S.C. § 1087e(a)(1). No. 18‐1531 5 Central to the preemption issue here, the HEA requires lenders and loan servicers to make certain “disclosures” be‐ fore disbursement of loans, before repayment of loans, and during repayment of loans. See 20 U.S.C. § 1083. Required dis‐ closures include the core terms of the loan at origination, as well as before and during repayment. § 1083(a), (b), & (e). But when a borrower is having difficulty making payments, as Nelson was, § 1083(e)(2)(A) requires loan servicers to provide: “A description of the repayment plans available to the bor‐ rower, including how the borrower should request a change in repayment plan.” Loan servicers must also provide to dis‐ tressed borrowers descriptions of forbearance and other op‐ tions to avoid default and expected costs or fees associated with those options. § 1083(e)(2)(B) & (2)(C). The HEA includes several express preemption provisions, including the one dealing with “disclosures,” which is the fo‐ cus of this appeal. Entitled “Exemption from State disclosure requirements,” again it provides: “Loans made, insured, or guaranteed pursuant to a program authorized by title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) shall not be subject to any disclosure requirements of any State law.” 20 U.S.C. § 1098g. Both Federal Direct Loan Program and FFELP loans are so authorized, so lenders and loan ser‐ vicers are not subject to “disclosure requirements” imposed by state law. B. Nelson’s Loans and Claims Nicole Nelson financed her education with federal student loans. Great Lakes, Nelson’s loan servicer, manages borrow‐ ers’ accounts, processes payments, assists borrowers with al‐ ternative repayment plans, and communicates with borrow‐ ers about the repayment of their loans. Great Lakes services 6 No. 18‐1531 many billions of dollars in federal student loans for millions of borrowers. Nelson began repaying her loans in December 2009. In September 2013, she changed jobs and her income dropped. She contacted Great Lakes, and its representative led Nelson to believe that “forbearance” was the best option for her personal financial situation. A few months later, Nelson lost her new job. She contacted Great Lakes again in March 2014. Great Lakes’ representative again did not inform her of income‐driven repayment plans and instead steered her into “deferment.” Nelson alleges that Great Lakes’ representatives were working off of a script provided to them by Great Lakes when they made these recommendations to her. Nelson alleges that she relied on the information provided by Great Lakes. Forbearance is “the temporary cessation of payments, al‐ lowing an extension of time for making payments, or tempo‐ rarily accepting smaller payments than previously were scheduled.” 34 C.F.R. § 682.211(a)(1). Nelson argues that for‐ bearance is not appropriate for borrowers experiencing long‐ term financial difficulty. Under forbearance, unpaid interest is capitalized (i.e., added to the loan principal), which can substantially increase monthly payments after the forbear‐ ance period ends. Federal law requires lenders and loan servicers to offer income‐driven repayment plans, which set monthly loan payments as a percentage of a borrower’s discretionary income. See 20 U.S.C. § 1098e(b); 34 C.F.R. §§ 682.215 & 685.208. Nelson argues that these plans are more appropriate in situations of longer‐term financial hardship. These plans can offer borrowers extended payment relief and No. 18‐1531 7 reduced monthly payments that can still count toward various loan forgiveness programs. Despite the availability of these plans, Nelson alleges, Great Lakes steered borrowers away from income‐driven repayment plans that are less lucrative to lenders and toward more burdensome options, especially forbearance. Am. Cplt. ¶ 6. Nelson asserts that enrolling borrowers in income‐driven repayment plans is “time‐consuming” and requires “lengthy and detailed conversations” with the borrowers about their financial situations. She argues that Great Lakes thus “failed to perform its core duties in the servicing of student loans.” To help focus on the factor we view as decisive here—the difference between affirmative misrepresentation and failure to disclose information—we lay out next some of the details of Nelson’s allegations. Count I of Nelson’s Amended Complaint asserts viola‐ tions of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, 815 Ill. Comp. Stat. 505/1 et seq. She highlights seven unfair acts and practices in servicing loans: (a) Holding themselves out to be experts in stu‐ dent loan servicing issues or offering “expert” help; (b) Holding themselves out as working on Plaintiff’s and Class Members’ behalves, when they worked for the benefit of Defendants; (c) Holding themselves out as understanding all student loan options, and offering those options to student loan borrowers, including Plaintiff and Class Members; 8 No. 18‐1531 (d) Offering forbearance as a recommended or best option to struggling student loan borrow‐ ers who could have enrolled in a much better re‐ payment plan; (e) Failing to provide struggling student loan borrowers all of their options, or discussing in‐ come driven repayment plans prior to enrolling student loan borrowers in forbearance; (f) Failing to follow up with student loan bor‐ rowers after a first forbearance and explaining or alerting student loan borrowers to other, more advantageous repayment options; and (g) Systematically steering struggling student loan borrowers, including Plaintiff and Class Members into forbearance without explaining, or even identifying other, better repayment options, based in part of Defendants’ failure to adequately staff its operations, providing scripts that call center employees had to follow, reviewing call center employees on call duration and how many times a student loan borrower was cut off mid‐ sentence, or by providing other incentives for quick call times. Am. Cplt. ¶ 130 (emphasis in original). These allegations com‐ bine both affirmative misrepresentations by Great Lakes, such as recommending forbearance as the best option for a partic‐ ular borrower, and failures to disclose information. No. 18‐1531 9 Count II alleges constructive fraud under Illinois common law, saying in part: 154. Defendants accomplish this breach of a confidential or fiduciary relationship by misrep‐ resenting, concealing, or omitting the detri‐ mental effects of entering or continuing in for‐ bearance, omitting other alternative repayment options, including income driven repayment options that would allow $0.00 monthly pay‐ ments holding themselves out as “experts,” holding themselves out as having all student loan borrowers information, and holding them‐ selves out as working in the best interest of stu‐ dent loan borrowers, including Plaintiff and the Illinois Constructive Fraud Class Members. …. 158. Defendants held themselves out to all stu‐ dent loan borrowers as “experts,” held them‐ selves out as knowledgeable regarding student loan borrowers situations, and held themselves out as working on behalf and to the benefit of student loan borrowers. Am. Cplt. ¶¶ 154 & 158. These allegations also combine af‐ firmative misrepresentations and failures to disclose. Count III alleges negligent misrepresentation under Illi‐ nois common law. Nelson asserts that, to increase its profits, Great Lakes “supplied false information or omitted material information for the guidance of student loan borrowers.” Am. Cplt. ¶ 170. Great Lakes is alleged to have accomplished this by “misrepresenting their ‘expert’ status, misrepresenting 10 No. 18‐1531 that they work for the benefit of student loan borrowers, and misrepresenting or omitting material information, including alternative or income driven student loan repayment options which may have offered a $0.00 monthly repayment amount.” Am. Cplt. ¶ 171. Nelson includes a list that alleges both mis‐ representations and omissions of information similar to her list in Count I: (a) Defendants claim to be “experts” regarding student loan; (b) Defendants work for the benefit of student loan borrowers; (c) Forbearance or deferment are the only op‐ tions for struggling student loan borrowers; and (d) Failure to discuss or counsel student loan borrowers on alternative and income driven re‐ payment plans. (e) Offering forbearance as a recommended or best option to struggling student loan borrow‐ ers who could have enrolled in a much better re‐ payment plan; (f) Failing to provide struggling student loan borrowers all of their options, or discussing in‐ come driven repayment plans prior to enrolling student loan borrowers in forbearance; (g) Systematically steering struggling student loan borrowers, including Plaintiff and Class Members into forbearance without explaining, or even identifying other, better repayment op‐ tions, based in part of Defendants’ failure to No. 18‐1531 11 adequately staff its operations or by providing other incentives for quick call times. Am. Cplt. ¶ 172.1 The district court agreed with Great Lakes that all of Nel‐ son’s allegations pertain to information Great Lakes suppos‐ edly failed to disclose. The court dismissed all of Nelson’s claims, holding that they are expressly preempted by 20 U.S.C. § 1098g. Nelson v. Great Lakes Educ. Loan Servs., Inc., No. 3:17‐CV‐183, 2017 WL 6501919, at *5–6 (S.D. Ill. Dec. 19, 2017). The court did not determine whether Nelson’s claims were preempted under the conflict‐ or field‐preemption 1 Nelson’s allegations echo the findings of an Inspector General’s re‐ port on loan servicers’ compliance with federal law generally and advice about repayment options in particular. See U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General, ED‐OIG/A05Q0008, Federal Student Aid: Ad‐ ditional Actions Needed to Mitigate the Risk of Servicer Noncompliance with Requirements for Servicing Federally Held Student Loans (Feb. 12, 2019), available at: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/audit‐ reports/fy2019/a05q0008.pdf. According to the report, the Department’s “oversight activities regularly identified instances of servicers’ not servic‐ ing federally held student loans in accordance with Federal require‐ ments,” yet the Department “rarely used available contract accountability provisions to hold servicers accountable for instances of noncompliance” and “did not provide servicers with an incentive to take actions to mitigate the risk of continued servicer noncompliance that could harm students.” Id. at 2. The Inspector General found that these failures can result in “in‐ creased interest or repayment costs incurred by borrowers, the missed op‐ portunity for more borrowers to take advantage of certain repayment pro‐ grams, negative effects on borrowers’ credit ratings, and an increased like‐ lihood of delinquency or even default.” Id. at 19. Particularly relevant to this case is a section entitled “Servicer Representatives Not Sufficiently In‐ forming Borrowers of Available Repayment Options.” Id. at 10–13. 12 No. 18‐1531 doctrines or whether, in the absence of preemption, Nelson otherwise stated viable claims. II. Analysis The Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution “invalidates state laws that ‘interfere with, or are contrary to,’ federal law.” Hillsborough County v. Automated Medical Labs., Inc., 471 U.S. 707, 712–13 (1985), quoting Gibbons v. Ogden, 22 U.S. 1, 211 (1824). The Clause provides: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding. U.S. Const. art. VI, cl. 2. “Since state law may not contradict federal law, sometimes the latter will render the former unen‐ forceable.” Int’l Ass’n of Machinists Dist. Ten v. Allen, 904 F.3d 490, 509 (7th Cir. 2018). Preemption can occur in three different ways: express, conflict, and field. Express preemption applies when Con‐ gress clearly declares its intention to preempt state law. Mason v. SmithKline Beecham Corp., 596 F.3d 387, 390 (7th Cir. 2010). Conflict preemption applies when there is an actual conflict between state and federal law such that it is impossible for a person to obey both, or when state law stands as an obstacle to fully accomplishing the objectives of Congress. Mason, 596 F.3d at 390; see also Patriotic Veterans, Inc. v. Indiana, 736 F.3d 1041, 1049 (7th Cir. 2013). Field preemption, which applies to No. 18‐1531 13 only a few fields of law, occurs when “federal law so thor‐ oughly occupies a legislative field as to make it reasonable to infer that Congress left no room for the states to act.” Aux Sable Liquid Products v. Murphy, 526 F.3d 1028, 1033 (7th Cir. 2008) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). We first ex‐ plain why some of Nelson’s claims are not expressly preempted. We then explain why those claims are not preempted by either conflict or field preemption. A. Express Preemption 1. Statutory Language Express preemption presents a question of statutory inter‐ pretation, so we start with the preemptive language: “Loans made, insured, or guaranteed pursuant to a program author‐ ized by title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) shall not be subject to any disclosure require‐ ments of any State Law.” 20 U.S.C. § 1098g. The intent to preempt some state laws is evident, but Congress did not de‐ fine the term “disclosure requirements” in the HEA itself. The central question here is whether and how the phrase “disclo‐ sure requirements” in § 1098g applies to state‐law remedies for misleading business practices. Section § 1098g preempts a state law declaring, for example, that student loan servicers must affirmatively disclose X and Y in a specific format and at a specific time. But Congress did not use language that preempts all state‐law consumer protections for student loan borrowers when they are communicating with their loan ser‐ vicers. While § 1098g indicates that Congress “intended the [HEA] to pre‐empt at least some state law, we must nonethe‐ less ‘identify the domain expressly pre‐empted’ by that 14 No. 18‐1531 language.” See Medtronic, Inc. v. Lohr, 518 U.S. 470, 484 (1996), quoting Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc., 505 U.S. 504, 517 (1992). As the Supreme Court often reminds us, it is a “fundamental canon of statutory construction that the words of a statute must be read in their context and with a view to their place in the overall statutory scheme.” Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. v. Jack‐ son, 139 S. Ct. 1743, 1748 (2019), quoting Davis v. Michigan Dep’t of Treasury, 489 U. S. 803, 809 (1989). The statutory con‐ text and scheme here provide helpful guidance for the ques‐ tion we face here. In general, disclosure requirements are familiar regulatory tools applied to consumer borrowing and other financial transactions. Rather than regulating the substance of the transaction terms (such as usury laws do by limiting interest rates), disclosure requirements are intended to ensure that consumer‐borrowers have accurate, relevant information and can make their own informed choices about their financial af‐ fairs. Such disclosure requirements are familiar under many regulatory regimes, including, for example, the Truth in Lending Act and federal securities regulation, including FINRA rules for broker‐dealers. See, e.g., 15 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.; 17 C.F.R. § 240.15c2‐5; FINRA Rule 2264 (2011). The language of § 1098g itself provides no specific guid‐ ance about the scope of “disclosure requirements.” Other HEA provisions, however, impose explicit disclosure require‐ ments on lenders and loan servicers, particularly in 20 U.S.C. § 1083. It makes sense to understand “disclosure re‐ quirements” in § 1098g against the backdrop of those federal disclosure requirements in § 1083. The HEA also includes, in addition to § 1098g, several other fairly specific preemption provisions: 20 U.S.C. § 1078(d) (usury laws), § 1091a(a)(2) No. 18‐1531 15 (statutes of limitations), § 1091a(b) (collection costs/infancy defenses), and § 1095a(a) (garnishment requirements). These other provisions in the HEA help guide our interpretation of § 1098g. First, the several specific preemption provisions in the HEA weigh against attributing to Congress a desire to preempt state law broadly. The specific preemption provi‐ sions show that Congress considered the issue of preemption and decided to preempt on particular topics. It most certainly did not enact language imposing broad preemption on any state laws, or even any state consumer‐protection or tort laws, that might apply to student loans and their servicing. At the same time, the express disclosure requirements in the HEA lead us to disagree with Nelson’s argument that “disclosure requirements”—and the associated preemption intended by Congress—pertain solely to “standardized, pre‐ scribed provision of the terms and conditions and facts of a student lending transaction,” and not to counseling borrow‐ ers in financial difficulty. In particular, 20 U.S.C. § 1083 spells out disclosures that are required before disbursement of loans, before repayment of loans, and during repayment of loans. Under the subsection entitled “Required disclosures during repayment,” a paragraph entitled “Information provided to a borrower having difficulty making payments” provides: Each eligible lender shall provide to a borrower who has notified the lender that the borrower is having difficulty making payments on a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this part with the following information in simple and understandable terms: 16 No. 18‐1531 (A) A description of the repayment plans available to the borrower, including how the borrower should request a change in repayment plan. (B) A description of the requirements for obtaining forbearance on a loan, includ‐ ing expected costs associated with for‐ bearance. (C) A description of the options available to the borrower to avoid defaulting on the loan, and any relevant fees or costs associated with such options. 20 U.S.C. § 1083(e)(2). In the context of these express disclosure requirements in § 1083, the phrase “disclosure requirements” in § 1098g ap‐ plies to information that must be given to borrowers who are struggling to repay their loans. Listed as a “required disclo‐ sure” to borrowers struggling during repayment is a “de‐ scription of the repayment plans available to the borrower, in‐ cluding how the borrower should request a change in repay‐ ment plan.” § 1083(e)(2)(A). This sort of communication be‐ tween a lender and a borrower is exactly what is at issue in the present case. Nelson alleges that when she informed Great Lakes that she was struggling with repayment, it did not ap‐ propriately inform her of her repayment plan options. We therefore disagree with Nelson’s effort to distinguish between disclosures on standardized origination and billing forms and communications with struggling borrowers about their re‐ payment options. No. 18‐1531 17 That being said, we agree with Nelson that the HEA’s preemption of state‐law “disclosure requirements” does not bar entirely her attempt to use Illinois consumer‐protection and tort law. Nelson complains of false and misleading state‐ ments that Great Lakes made voluntarily, not required by fed‐ eral law. Imposing liability for those voluntary but deceptive statements does not impose additional “disclosure require‐ ments” on Great Lakes. Many of Nelson’s specific claims allege that Great Lakes misled her and other class members by making affirmative misrepresentations—about its expertise and its devotion to borrowers’ best interests, and in recommending forbearance as the best option for borrowers in financial trouble. The dis‐ trict court found these claims were preempted by recasting them as omissions, such that state law would implicitly im‐ pose on Great Lakes some disclosure requirements in addi‐ tion to those imposed by federal law. Nelson, 2017 WL 6501919, at *5. We respectfully disagree with that reasoning. At least some of Nelson’s claims of affirmative deception do not nec‐ essarily imply any additional disclosure requirements at all. She is complaining about at least some deceptive statements that Great Lakes chose to make voluntarily, not because fed‐ eral law required them. Great Lakes could have avoided these claims by remaining silent. State law could impose liability on these affirmative misrepresentations without imposing addi‐ tional disclosure requirements on Great Lakes, and thus avoid preemption under § 1098g. See Altria Group, Inc. v. Good, 555 U.S. 70, 79–82 (2008) (state‐law fraud claims for false affirma‐ tive representations in cigarette advertising were not preempted by federal law). 18 No. 18‐1531 One foundation of the law of fraud and negligent misrep‐ resentation is the difference between an affirmative misrepre‐ sentation and a failure to disclose. The common law tort of fraud ordinarily requires a deliberately false statement of ma‐ terial fact. E.g., Davis v. G.N. Mortgage Corp., 396 F.3d 869, 881– 82 (7th Cir. 2005); Connick v. Suzuki Motor Co., 675 N.E.2d 584, 591 (Ill. 1996); Siegel v. Levy Organization Development Co., 607 N.E.2d 194, 198 (Ill. 1992). An omission or failure to disclose, on the other hand, will not support a common law fraud claim but may be actionable as constructive fraud or fraudulent con‐ cealment if the defendant was under a particular duty to speak, which may stem from a fiduciary duty or a similar re‐ lationship of trust and confidence. See Joyce v. Morgan Stanley & Co., 538 F.3d 797, 800 (7th Cir. 2008) (Illinois law); Connick, 675 N.E.2d at 593; Restatement (Second) of Torts § 551 (1977). When a plaintiff alleges a defendant’s actionable failure to disclose, it is easy to understand how that claim implies a “disclosure requirement,” to use the language of § 1098g. But when a plaintiff alleges a defendant’s false affirmative mis‐ representation, recasting the claim as imposing a “disclosure requirement” is not necessary and may not even be appropri‐ ate. If the claim is that the defendant said something false that it was not required to say in the first place, the claim does not necessarily imply a disclosure requirement. The defendant could have complied with its legal obligations, under the plaintiff’s theory, by merely refraining from making the false affirmative misrepresentation about its expertise, its work in borrowers’ best interests, and its recommendation of forbear‐ ance to most distressed borrowers. In this case, the district court relied upon a broad reading of the Ninth Circuit’s opinion in Chae v. SLM Corp., 593 F.3d No. 18‐1531 19 936 (9th Cir. 2010), to treat Nelson’s complaints about affirm‐ ative misrepresentations as implying some additional disclo‐ sure requirements. While Chae may apply to some of Nelson’s claims, it was a mistake to read Chae so broadly. The plaintiffs in Chae complained about the supposed failures to disclose key information in specific ways, such as loan terms and re‐ payment requirements. Since the defendant was required to disclose that information by federal law and had disclosed it in ways permitted by federal law, the Ninth Circuit found that the plaintiffs were implicitly seeking to impose additional dis‐ closure requirements under state law. We do not disagree with the Ninth Circuit’s reasoning, but Chae itself made clear that § 1098g would not extend to other sorts of disclosures to borrowers. Chae limited the reach of some of its broader lan‐ guage by holding that other state‐law claims, focusing on the “use of fraudulent and deceptive practices apart from the bill‐ ing statements,” are not preempted by § 1098g. 593 F.3d at 943 (emphasis added). That limitation applies to this case, or at least to parts of it. The broad language in Chae simply does not extend to Nel‐ son’s claims about Great Lakes’ affirmative misrepresenta‐ tions in counseling, where Great Lakes could have avoided liability under state law by remaining silent (or telling the truth) on certain topics. On this theory, plaintiff may proceed on her claims based on affirmative misrepresentations, as dis‐ tinct from those that require proof that defendant failed to dis‐ close information. We recognize that it would be possible to apply state con‐ sumer protection laws to impose additional disclosure re‐ quirements on loan servicers of federally insured student loans. Such applications would be preempted under § 1098g, 20 No. 18‐1531 as the Ninth Circuit made clear in Chae. 593 F.3d at 942–43. But that result is not necessary or inherent in Nelson’s claims, at least to the extent she alleges affirmative misrepresenta‐ tions. We cannot say on the pleadings that all of Nelson’s claims are preempted by § 1098g. On remand, the district court may need to use jury instructions and other tools to al‐ low Nelson to proceed on her claims of affirmative misrepre‐ sentations while ensuring that the case does not become a ve‐ hicle for state law to impose new disclosure requirements. B. Conflict and Field Preemption Great Lakes has argued in the alternative for conflict and field preemption. The district court did not reach those issues, but we should. They present questions of law that we can ad‐ dress at the pleading stage. To show conflict preemption, Great Lakes must show either that it would be “impossible” for Great Lakes to comply with both state and federal law or that state law (as Nelson seeks to apply it) constitutes an “ob‐ stacle” to satisfying the purposes and objectives of Congress. See Patriotic Veterans, Inc. v. Indiana, 736 F.3d 1041, 1049 (7th Cir. 2013). Great Lakes does not identify any impossible con‐ flict, but it argues that application of state law here would be an obstacle to the operation of federal student loan programs. Conflict preemption does not bar Nelson’s claims. Recall that there are several express preemption provisions in the HEA: 20 U.S.C. § 1078(d) (usury laws), 1091a(a)(2) (statutes of limitations), 1091a(b)(collections costs and infancy defenses), 1095a(a) (garnishment requirements), as well as § 1098g (dis‐ closure requirements). The number of those provisions and their specificity show that Congress considered preemption issues and made its decisions. Courts should enforce those provisions, but we should not add to them on the theory that No. 18‐1531 21 more sweeping preemption seems like a better policy. E.g., Virginia Uranium, Inc. v. Warren, 139 S. Ct. 1894, 1901 (2019) (plurality opinion) (“Invoking some brooding federal interest or appealing to a judicial policy preference should never be enough to win preemption of a state law Y.”). Properly un‐ derstood, state law and federal law can exist in harmony here.2 The Ninth Circuit in Chae used broad language on conflict preemption and the value of uniformity in the federal loan program: “Congress intended uniformity within the [FFELP]. The statutory design, its detailed provisions for the FFELP’s operation, and its focus on the relationship between borrow‐ ers and lenders persuade us that Congress intended to subject FFELP participants to uniform federal law and regulations.” 593 F.3d at 947. That broad language, however, focused on different sorts of claims, where the value of uniformity would be more compelling than it is here. Chae focused on uni‐ formity in the method of setting late fees, repayment start 2 We do not give special deference to the U.S. Department of Educa‐ tion’s 2018 informal guidance, entitled “Federal Preemption and State Regulation of the Department of Educationʹs Federal Student Loan Pro‐ grams and Federal Student Loan Servicers.” 83 Fed. Reg. 10619 (Mar. 12, 2018). The Department expressed its view that the HEA preempts all state regulations that “impact” FFELP loan servicing. We agree with the district court’s thorough analysis of this issue in Student Loan Servicing Alliance v. District of Columbia, 351 F. Supp. 3d 26, 48–49 (D.D.C. 2018), that Skidmore v. Swift & Co., 323 U.S. 134 (1944), provides the appropriate test for defer‐ ence here. We also agree that the Preemption Notice is not persuasive be‐ cause it is not particularly thorough and it “represents a stark, unex‐ plained change” in the Department’s position. Student Loan Servicing Alli‐ ance, 351 F. Supp. 3d at 50; see Skidmore, 323 U.S. at 138. That is not to say we disagree with every particular in the Department’s informal guidance, but we give the document itself little weight. 22 No. 18‐1531 dates, and interest calculations. See id. at 944–47. We assume the need for nationwide consistency on those sorts of admin‐ istrative mechanics is substantial. That need does not extend to the claims Nelson asserts based on affirmative misrepre‐ sentations—not required by federal law—to borrowers hav‐ ing trouble making their payments.3 Finally, field preemption does not apply here. Field preemption is rare. It applies “when federal law occupies a ‘field’ of regulation ‘so comprehensively that it has left no 3The Department’s Preemption Notice also cited Boyle v. United Tech‐ nologies Corp., 487 U.S. 500 (1988), to argue that the servicing of student loans “is an area ‘involving uniquely Federal interests’ that must be ‘gov‐ erned exclusively by Federal law.’” See 83 Fed. Reg at 10619, citing Boyle, 487 U.S. at 504. The Department explained that “there is no question that the ‘imposition of liability on Government contractors will directly affect the terms of Government contracts,’ at the very least by raising the price of such contracts, and ‘the interests of the United States will be directly affected.’” Id. at 10621, quoting Boyle, 487 U.S. at 507. It is true that the federal government has an interest in protecting the rights and obligations established in its contracts, and that this interest extends to “liability to third persons.” Boyle, 487 U.S. at 505. At the same time, Illinois has a com‐ pelling interest in protecting its consumers by providing oversight of fed‐ eral student loan servicers. See Student Loan Servicing Alliance, 351 F. Supp. 3d at 59. Boyle itself noted that just because an area involves a “uniquely federal interest,” that “does not, however, end the inquiry. That merely establishes a necessary, not a sufficient, condition for the displacement of state law. Displacement will occur only where Y a significant conflict ex‐ ists between an identifiable federal policy or interest and the [operation] of state law, or the application of state law would frustrate specific objec‐ tives of federal legislation.” 487 U.S. at 507 (internal citations, quotation marks, and footnote omitted). While Boyle explained that the conflict in such a situation “need not be as sharp” as it generally would to find preemption, “conflict there must be.” Id. at 507–08. We see no such conflict posed by Nelson’s claims here, at least to the extent those claims are con‐ fined to affirmative misrepresentations. No. 18‐1531 23 room for supplementary state legislation.’” Int’l Ass’n of Ma‐ chinists Dist. Ten v. Allen, 904 F.3d 490, 498 (7th Cir. 2018), quoting R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. Durham County, 479 U.S. 130, 140 (1986). “Federal statutes that preempt a field ‘reflect[ ] a congressional decision to foreclose any state regulation in the area, even if it is parallel to federal standards.’” Int’l Ass’n of Machinists, 904 F.3d at 498, quoting Murphy v. Nat’l Colle‐ giate Athletic Ass’n, 138 S. Ct. 1461, 1481 (2018). On this point we agree with Chae. See 593 F.3d at 941–42 (“we have previously held that field preemption does not ap‐ ply to the HEA”), citing Keams v. Tempe Technical Inst., Inc., 39 F.3d 222, 225–26 (9th Cir. 1994) (holding that field preemption did not apply under HEA to preempt state tort claim by stu‐ dents against accrediting agency: “It is apparent … that Con‐ gress expected state law to operate in much of the field in which it was legislating.”); accord, Armstrong v. Accrediting Council for Continuing Educ. and Training, Inc., 168 F.3d 1362, 1369 (D.C. Cir. 1999) (affirming prior holding that “federal ed‐ ucation policy regarding [private lending to students] is not so extensive as to occupy the field”). In the HEA, Congress chose to displace state law only in certain specified, express preemption provisions. Those provisions indicate that Con‐ gress has not sought to displace all state regulation of student loans. And the absence of language indicating an intent to oc‐ cupy the field weighs heavily, of course, “in favor of holding that it was the intent of Congress not to occupy the field.” Frank Bros. v. Wisconsin Dep’t of Transp., 409 F.3d 880, 891 (7th Cir. 2005), citing Hillsborough County v. Automated Medical Labs., Inc., 471 U.S. 707, 718 (1985). Field preemption is confined to only a few areas of the law, such as the National Labor Relations Act, Int’l Ass’n of 24 No. 18‐1531 Machinists, 904 F.3d at 497–98, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, Trustees of AFTRA Health Fund v. Biondi, 303 F.3d 765, 776–79 (7th Cir. 2002). Courts consistently apply field preemption in cases dealing with those federal statutes. The opposite is true here. Courts have consistently held that field preemption does not apply to the HEA, and we do as well. Conclusion Nelson has alleged claims under state law that are not nec‐ essarily preempted by federal law. The judgment of the dis‐ trict court is VACATED and the case is REMANDED for fur‐ ther proceedings consistent with this opinion.

UB’s division of University Communications (UC) is responsible for university-wide communications and marketing — including branding, media relations, digital (web, social media), editorial/content, and creative design — for the University at Buffalo (UB). The division is highly visible, nationally recognized, and its award-winning communication products represent the public face of the university. As a member of UC’s Digital Communications & Strategy team, you will help us transform the way content is created, distributed and tracked on social media, the web, and other digital communication platforms. You will support the department’s efforts to monitor and shape perceptions, fulfill information needs and provide exceptional service to external and internal audiences of UB. As our Social Media Assistant Analyst you will focus on helping to organize and mature the information and reporting systems in our best-of-class Social Media Management system (Sprinklr) and use it to analyze and report on UB’s impact in the social media landscape. Candidate Profile The successful candidate will: - Be highly motivated, professional, creative and excited to learn - Bring ideas and inspirations to the table - Be a big picture thinker who is extremely detail oriented - Be comfortable working in a high-productivity team environment - Demonstrate strong social media and analytical skills - Be a current SUNY student (mandatory) - Ideally, the candidate will remain a SUNY student through May 2020 or later Hours - This PAID student position requires a weekly commitment of 15-20 hours. Successful candidates will be available to work summer 2018 and ideally continue through spring 2019. - All work (unless otherwise agreed) is to be conducted in UC offices in Crofts Hall on UB’s North Campus. Responsibilities - The Social Media Assistant Analyst will work directly with the Social Media Specialist, and collaboratively with other members of the UC team to accomplish the following goals using UC’s social media management tool (Sprinklr): - Assessment of Social Media organic (our channels) and paid (advertising) performance, as well as identifying trends in the social landscape - E.g. Defining and measuring key performance indicators on each social channel - Content/campaign performance - E.g. Measuring performance for all outbound content during March Madness - Identifying and maturing information architecture and systems - E.g. Developing tagging structure to effectively benchmark like content/posts that can be scaled for units across the university - E.g. Use tagging structure to analyze data, identify trends and optimize future posts - E.g. Developing tagging structure to effectively benchmark like content/posts that can be scaled for units across the university - Support and project logistics - Assist in management and administration of UB’s top-level social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest - Support digital analytics activities Qualifications - Must have strong user knowledge of social media, web and mobile platforms (this is NOT a programming position. It is an information organization, system and analysis position) - Must be a critical thinker, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail - Must have excellent analytical skills - Ability to recognize and classify content - Excellent written and verbal communications are essential - Effective time management and adherence to deadlines - Experience in Excel, Google Docs required - Experience with Google Analytics a plus - Keen sense of individual responsibility and initiative. Self-directed - Desire to learn and explore new and existing technologies - Enthusiastic team player To apply: - Complete the following pre-qualification form: https://goo.gl/forms/J3ryi2nSY9RynGCB3 - Email your resume and a brief cover letter to [email protected] Applications are being accepted immediately with a cut off of April 30, 2019. Start date is flexible.

https://blogs.honors.buffalo.edu/honorablemention/posts/category/career-opportunities/

This session highlights the findings of a study measuring and exploring the factors influencing K-12 online teachers’ job satisfaction, organizational commitment and turnover intentions, including flexibility, meeting student needs, compensation and workload. This session highlights findings from a qualitative analysis of challenges faced by teachers practicing blended learning, including concerns around curriculum orchestration, student self-management, and technology challenges, and explores ways that responsive online teacher professional development (ROPD) might be able to solicit useful feedback from blended teachers. Using a dataset of 12,032 enrollment records from a state virtual school in the 2013-14 school year, this study examined the effect of class size and teacher load on students’ learning outcomes. The quarterly Collaborative Meetings are designed for researchers in the field of K-12 online and blended learning to come together, get feedback on their work, and share any collaboration opportunities on grants, research, publications, etc. The quarterly Collaborative Meetings are designed for researchers in the field of K-12 online and blended learning to come together, get feedback on their work and share any collaboration opportunities on grants, research, publications, etc. In this episode, we get the opportunity to talk with Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, the Assistant Superintendent of K-12 Teaching and Learning at Santa Ana Unified School District in Santa Ana, California. Michelle’s district has made a commitment to innovating the educational process by focusing on personalized and competency-based learning, flexible and engaging learning environments, and effective technology integration. We talk with her about the strategies involved in deploying such an approach to personalized learning and learn what’s made them so successful. Learn more about the district by checking out their website and following them on Twitter @StanaAnaUSD. In this episode, we’re talking with David Rose, the Deputy Chief of Educational Technology and Library Programs at Washington, D.C., public schools. David and I discuss how his district has been able to find success with its blended learning initiative, effectively bringing it to scale across a number of buildings in the district, and the comprehensive strategy behind continuing its success. Be sure to read more about their programs and experiences at their website, and follow @dcpublicschools and @DaveTechDC. In this episode, we’re talking with Dr. Michael Barbour, the Director of Doctoral Studies at Sacred Heart University. Dr. Barbour has been involved in the field of online and blended learning research for over a decade and offers us plenty of insights on how he’s observed the field grow and evolve over that time. He also brings an international perspective, having lived and conducted research in Canada for quite some time. We also talk about how researchers, practitioners, and policymakers can tweak their processes in order to better reflect what’s been demonstrated through research. Be sure to check out his blog. This session will highlight findings from an international survey of over 600 teachers in face-to-face, online and blended settings examining how teachers adapt rather than adopt open educational resources and the importance of changing teacher habits in the quest to mainstream OER. A team of researchers from the American Institutes for Research present their findings from recently published research examining the potential impact of on-site mentors or facilitators on student success in online courses for credit recovery. The studies conducted by AIR have received national attention from news outlets including NPR, and their findings help shape an ongoing conversation around how to improve the use of online learning in K-12 settings. Join us for this engaging webinar session to hear from the researchers themselves and contribute to the conversation!

https://mvlri.org/research/webinar-podcast/page/4/

Logic analysis technique We frequently use the term ‘logic’. People who use logic to back up their comments, decisions or actions are considered as logical. Sometimes this term is interchangeably used with the term ‘rational’. People who do not act or behave according to commonly accepted norms are termed as irrational. Human beings do not always follow stringent logic. Nevertheless ‘logic’ is a technical term that is well-defined and precise – nothing vague in ‘logic’ at all. In logic domain, there is truth or falsity of propositions, nothing in between. It is a kind of black and white Boolean world. One says, the statement or the proposition – “Rainee lives in Kolkata” can either be true or false. Thus this statement or proposition is a valid proposition in logic. “Rainee is a good girl” in contrast is not a valid proposition because 'good' is highly subjective introducing uncertainty and it is difficult to determine whether the statement is purely true or surely false. Though real life cannot really be represented or explained using logic, still logic analysis as a technique in real life problem solving undoubtedly is valuable. Let us look at this concept domain more closely by solving a problem from Martin Gardner’s South Sea adventure stories. Logic Problem: Which path would you take? (version 1) A logician while visiting a South Seas island is at a fork facing two paths, one leading to the village he wants to go. The other path might lead to an unpleasant experience. He needed to know which of the two paths in front of him leads to the village. Perchance he has two willing natives available near at hand. But one of them is from a tribe of invariable truth-tellers, and the other from a tribe of invariable liars. He knows this predicament but does not know which one is the liar or the truth-teller. The natives though know each other well. The problem is: the logician can ask only one question to any one of the natives, answer to which maybe yes or no only. Can he know the right path to the village? To remind you, Logic Analysis is a discipline where there are statements or propositions which can only be true or false (yes or no) and logicians are experts in dealing with problems in this domain. As you are perhaps not a logician, you are not an expert in the process of solving logic problems like this. In spite of this shortcoming, at least you are a problem solver who is supposed to proceed solving any problem systematically. So you need to proceed using deductive reasoning systematically, not in any random or chaotic manner. We would suggest you to devote a few minutes trying to pose as the successful logician. Reasoning The logician can ask the all important single question to only one of the natives without knowing whether the native is the liar or the truth teller. Depending on the answer he will know which the right path is. If the answer is different from the two natives he can never be certain. So a necessary condition for the question to surely lead you to the right path, the answer must be same whether the native to whom the question is asked is the liar or the truth teller. Being a good deductive reasoner, you analyze and arrive at this conclusion. Now the problem is transformed to - how to form such a question with the same answer from the both? Consider that a habitual truth teller can be symbolized as a logic transformation box that outputs the same logic variable state it takes as inputs. The following figure depicts the situation. Similarly, the logic transformation box for the habitual liar will be to reverse the state of input. In other words, if the input is YES, it will output with answer NO and vice versa. The following figure depicts the situation, So you understand that a single question will surely produce two values as answer from the two natives. This cannot be the solution then. It implies surely that a single simple question will not be the solution - you need then to ask not a simple question but a compound question comprising of two simple questions. You arrive at this conclusion by your deductive reasoning mechanism again. Knowing that reversing twice restores the original state, we may think of asking the habitual liar two questions in conjunction, “Will you answer YES if I ask you whether the path on the right is the path to the village?” The second part of the compound question goes as the first input to the logic transformation box of the habitual liar reversing the state of the input. In terms of our problem it means, if in reality the path on the right were the path to the village, the TRUE answer to this part of the question would be YES, but as the liar must reverse the state, he must answer with NO. This is hypothetical, but still the habitual liar has no other option than to imagine that his answer to the second part of the question would be a NO. This NO then goes as input to the logic transformation box of the liar for answering the first part of the question and completing his whole task. Being a logic state reversing mechanism, the liar would have to reverse this NO to YES and actually arriving at the TRUE answer to the original core statement. The truth teller poses no problem as he does not do any transformation in each of the two transformation stages. An input of YES passes straight through as YES in the output. Note that, the question could have been “path on the left” instead of “path on the right” and also “NO” instead of “YES”. Try these out. The figure below depicts the transformation sequence for the habitual liar. Even though you are not a logician, being a problem solver, you proceeded by adopting a systematic approach and finally arrived at the solution. Logic analysis is an important problem solving skill and like most other skills you can boost your level of this skill by following systematic methods. As you can guess, practice or drill is an inseparable element in any such method.

https://mail.suresolv.com/problem-solving-techniques/simple-logic-analysis

Love Yourself. 3/25/2020 I woke up this morning and spent some time with Jesus, then I went live and did a devotional with y'all. Thanks to those who joined me. While I was on the live, I was using my phone as the camera, and so constantly looking at myself. How many of y'all know that can be a hard thing to do. Looking at yourself and giving yourself words of affirmation is even harder. When I look at myself sometimes I don't see what I want to see, and then there are moments like today. Today while I did that live, and when I went back and looked at the video I actually saw some youth. I saw some beauty, and I saw some good qualities. I liked seeing the good because heaven knows Satan wants us to focus on the bad. As we grow older, and that image in the mirror changes, I think it's normal to not especially like what we see. For a woman to continue to love what they see as time goes by can be really hard, especially for some of us. If we're being honest, women have a hard time loving themselves regardless of age, so when age comes, grey hair pops up, wrinkles embrace our faces, and age spots and random hairs appear, we struggle to see the good, but that's not a problem for Jesus. Jesus loves us just the way we are today, and when we look different in a few years, He'll love us just the same then. He doesn't care what our hair looks like, or what we're wearing. He doesn't care if we have put on a few pounds, or if we don't have any makeup on. (Side note, my entire adult life I have rarely worn makeup.) He loves us through and through, and it has zero to do with how we look. We need to take some notes from Jesus and learn to love ourselves the same way He loves us, with no regard for our outer appearance, but man that' s a tough one. Keep in mind as you look at your face, your body, yourself, that you've been through a thing or two in your life. You've had some struggles, and you've got some battle scars. I've had six babies, and all six were c-sections. That takes a toll on a body folks, I promise you. I had so many stretch marks after my first child was born that I sat and cried when he was a few days old just because my body was so ugly to me. My body was a shell of the body I had before my son was born, and it never returned for me back to my pre-baby body. That was devastating, but guess what I have learned over the years? My worth isn't in my body. It's not in my stomach and whether it's flat or not, and it's not in my skin whether marked by stretch marks, or free from them. None of that matters to Jesus, and it shouldn't matter to me. I can tell you it doesn't matter to my husband, because he sees my worth in so much more than what I look like, and for that I am thankful. He doesn't even call me Jen, he always calls me "beautiful"...how's that for some esteem building? I love that man. You too may have battle scars. Maybe you've had surgery, maybe you have dark circles, maybe it's something more, but whatever it is, it's nothing, and don't let Satan convince you it's something. You're not your imperfections, you're an amazing, talented, loving, caring, vibrant, individual who has a Godly purpose on this earth, and it's important to embrace it. I want to be an encouragement to you today to embrace who you are from head to toe, and don't get hung up on things like aging, which is what I tend to see when I look in a mirror. This morning when I looked at myself I didn't see an aging face, I saw a beautiful face. I loved seeing myself in a different light first thing, without having negative thoughts upfront. I feel like all that talking to Jesus about this has really helped me because I'm starting to let go of my imperfections and just embrace it and go on with my life. So today if you're holding on to your imperfections, let go of them, and grab a hold of Jesus instead. He's awesome, and with your focus on Him, you'll be less focused on the many things about yourself you may not be the biggest fan of. I'm not perfect folks, I'm actually so far from perfect it's scary, but I'm perfectly made in His image, and I'm grateful for it. Embrace Jesus and not your imperfections today, and be blessed as you step into a future of worrying less about your appearance, and more about the Lord your God who created you to be the person you are. Until we chat again, be blessed y'all. XOXO, Jen Leave a Reply. | | Author Hi I'm Jen, and I'm so glad you're here. I have a passion for Jesus, my family, and connecting with a more simple way of life. I love to write, and enjoy many creative avenues. I look forward to sharing so much with y'all so come back often! Archives September 2020 Categories All Disclosure Hey Y'all! I wanted to let you know that my blog contains affiliate links. When you click on them you won't pay a penny more for your purchase, but I will earn a small commision, which helps maintain this blog. Thanks!

https://www.thatfarmcharm.com/blog/love-yourself

Chen Shu (1660-1735) was born into an elite family in Jiaxing, China and was the daughter of an artist. This allowed her to study painting as a young girl, despite the mixed feelings about women’s education at the time that kept only a few women of the elite from pursuing an education. Chen Shu studied art and the classics and was able to help her family by selling her paintings and tutoring in painting as well as teaching her own children. Much of her work focused on flowers and birds, such as her iconic work “White Cockatoo” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Later in her life, Chen Shu’s art focused primarily on landscapes, which were rare from women artists as they were unable to travel as often as men. For this reason, Chen Shu studied landscape paintings by male artists. It was popular for literati painters of the time to reference famous artists in their work, creating works in the artist’s style and using similar subject matter. While she referenced other (typically male) artists, she incorporated her own style and her works lead to the beginning of the Xiushui School painting style. Famous in her own right for her artistic works, Chen Shu was also the mother of Qing stateman and poet Qian Chenqun. After the early death of her husband, she raised her son on her own and when he joined the court of the Qianlong Emperor, he introduced the emperor to his mother’s paintings. Chen Shu became a favorite of the emperor and many of her works are included in the imperial collection today. “Reading the I-ching in a Mountain Study” Further Reading:

https://renaissancereframed.com/2021/03/31/reframing-history-chen-shu/

Ukiyo-e meets wagyu in this culturally culinary crossover. Ukiyo-e paintings became Japan’s most iconic artform not just because of their beautiful aesthetics, but for their woodblock printing production method. By pressing a series of stamps onto the paper for layer of color, ukiyo-e could be made efficiently in large quantities, which in turn let them be sold at prices where you didn’t have to be a member of the aristocracy to own one, thus fostering an appreciation for art among the common people of feudal Japan.

https://lowkeygeek.com/2021/06/20/japanese-art-has-never-looked-quite-as-beautiful-as-when-its-made-out-of-japanese-beef%E3%80%90photos%E3%80%91/

Often, our old family pictures are resting in a long-forgotten color film. If you take the time and scan these at last, there’s only one thing left to do with them in order to get their original color back. This is not as simple, however, as it seems at first. Load the photo There’s the color film strip page scanned, which we’d like to see in its original colors on the monitor. One would think you simply need to use Invert command in Photoshop, that is, inverting the colors of the image. Well no, not just that. A new palette There’s a separate corrections palette called Adjustments in newer versions of Photoshop. If it’s not visible, you can make it appear using Window/Adjustments command. You’ll need two icons from here, two correction tools. Invert in the bottom row, which has just been mentioned, and Levels in the upper row. You needn’t worry if you are using an older version of Photoshop. You can reach Invert and Levels command at the bottom of Layers palette, with the fourth icon from the right (Create New Fills or Adjustment Layer). Inverting colors First use Invert, which reverts colors into their opposites. And there’s the problem, the picture did not at all get back its original colors. There’s a powerful blue tinge over the image and the contrasts are weak. Let’s leave the colors as they are for now, and go on to Levels section, where you can correct these deficiencies. You can return to the icons row above with the arrow at the bottom left of the palette. The darkest and the brightest Once you have selected Levels command, you’ll get a new settings panel for brightness levels. You’ll need only two eyedropper tools, which are on the left of the panel. First, select the upper one, which defines the darkest (black) point in the picture. This prescribes the absolute black for the software and the rest will be adjusted to it automatically. In our picture, the shady tree branches should be dark (rather than dark blue), and so we clicked there. Next, select the bottom eyedropper, which determines the brightest (white) point in the picture. The cherry blossoms in the tree are white originally, so we should click on such a point with it. Once you are done, you can again exit with the arrow at the bottom left of the panel. Adjustable Though we have more or less finished the correction and exited from the panels, the settings we did can still be adjusted. There are two new corrections layers sitting over the original layer in Layers palette. One contains the settings in Invert, the other contains those in Levels. If you wish two make further adjustments in Levels, for example, just double-click the icon of that layer and the panel opens again. You can decrease the opacity of the two layers in Opacity slider, but it could shift the colors again. You can add a new corrections level as well if you click on any icon in Adjustments panel. It might serve you right to play with colors using Vibrance or Selective Color. They can be adjusted afterwards too, in a separate corrections layer. The original colors of the film We have got back the original colors of the film, so you can save the image now. In the sample above, we have also tried increasing saturation, We created a new layer by clicking on Vibrance icon. Be careful, since Photoshop offers its own format for saving in the first place because of the multiple layers, so it’s a good idea to unify layers before saving the picture. After that, you cannot make further adjustments in the separate corrections, but if you save the file in PSD, all the layers including the corrections remain editable.

https://digiretus.com/negative-film-colored-in-photoshop/

Pygmalion in management (harvard business review classics) and over one million other books are available for amazon kindle learn more. Since 1922,harvard business reviewhas been a leading source of breakthrough ideas in management practice theharvard business review classicsseries now offers you the opportunity to make these seminal pieces a part of your permanent management library each highly readable volume contains a groundbreaking idea that continues to shape best. Pygmalion in management has 2 ratings and 1 review sukhamaya said: precise way of putting things about thought processes of managers though it is an ol. View summary of pygmalion in management from mba mgmt 5345 at texas el paso summaryofpygmalioninmanagementbyjsterlinglivinsonpublishedon1969 harvardbusinessreview,pages8189 employeeperformance. Pygmalion in management by j sterling livingston, harvard business review 1969 introduction a manager s expectations are the key to a subordinate s. Pygmalion in management in george bernard shaw's pygmalion, eliza doolittle explains: you see, really and truly, apart from the things anyone can. Publication date: january 01, 2003 what has long been recognized by teachers, physicians, and behavioral scientists holds true for management: one person's expectations shape another person's behavior. Summary of pygmalion in management by j sterling livinson published on 1969 harvard business review, pages 81-89 employee performance is directly linked to the manager's expectations, high expectations lead to high performance impact on productivity metropolitan life insurance company example: group of best manager + best agents = by far. Pygmalion motivation - a study we will discuss about the concept of pygmalion motivation which will give an insight into the art of motivating and fair team management origin of pygmalion motivation. How can you get the best out of your employees expect the best. Rosenthal and jacobson originally described the phenomenon as the pygmalion effect pygmalion in ovid's metamorphoses (book x) was a sculptor who fell in love with an ivory statue of his own making enamored by the beauty of his own making. Get this from a library pygmalion in management [j sterling livingston harvard university graduate school of business administration. Find information on the golem effect and the pygmalion effect to understand how managerial expectations influence employee performance. By: george bernard shaw pygmalion pygmalion background written by george bernard shaw in 1913 irish, socialist: comic dramatist, literary critic, socialist propagandist. The rosenthal-jacobson study can be applied to more than a school environment the pygmalion effect has been demonstrated in the workplace too, specifically management. Pygmalion in management: reaction most managers have a common sense about the impact of expectation they understand higher expectations motivate subordinates to perform better. The pygmalion effect is a term that was coined by dr robert rosenthal, an emeritus professor from harvard university in terms of impression-management, team obama is kicking team mccain's butt team obama's impression-management strategy was incredible mccain's mistake. The 'pygmalion effect' works through the self-fulfilling prophecy ancient pygmalion joins contemporary management: a meta-analysis of the result jornal of applied psychology, 85, 314-322 merton, r k (1948) the self-fulfilling prophecy antioch review, 8, 193-210. Pygmalion leadership is in operation when staff excels in response to the manager's belief that they the pygmalion factor: how to ensure your employees' success talent management pygmalion in the classroom, one of the most controversial publications in the history of educational. When the pygmalion effect is applied to a person with pygmalion philosophies further reading pygmalion in management don eden's book for productivity as a self-ful- filling prophecy lexington books the pygmalion effect article by rw goddard personnel journal. Introduction pygmalion was a legendary figure from cyprus in greek mythology, he was a sculptor who fell in love with the statue of a beautiful woman he created. The pygmalion effect may be one of the oldest management principles—nearly as old as the golden rule—but, because of its significant impact on employees, it's one that should be regularly reviewed and re-implemented what is the pygmalion effect according to wikipedia, the pygmalion effect is the phenomenon whereby higher expectations. Key words: pygmalion, management, performance i introduction expectations play a major role in determining the leadership effectiveness and the performance of an industry or an organization it's been said that, a manager's expectations is the key to a subordinate's. Abstract the article reviews the book pygmalion in management: productivity as a self-fulfilling prophecy, by dov eden. Pygmalion in management harvard business review classicspdf pygmalion in management harvard business review classics pygmalion in management harvard business review classics. Read this essay on pygmalion in management come browse our large digital warehouse of free sample essays get the knowledge you need in order to pass your classes and more only at termpaperwarehousecom. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Application of the basic concepts and principles of management to those segments of the organization that produce its goods or services operations or tactical planning short-range planning done primarily by middle- to lower-level managers. Pygmalion in managementwant the most from your employees expect the best — j sterling livingston most parents are aware that teachers' expecta.

http://wqassignmentpybz.skylinechurch.us/pygmalion-in-management.html

What Will the Singularity Feel Like? As we advance into the future, we will find that AI will surpass our abilities and become more efficient than us. While some humans will fight against AI, others will simply ignore the progress and let the machines run the show. Ultimately, this will be a disaster for us, since we will only fall further behind as machines get more advanced. Instead, humans who work with AI will learn from them and direct their growth, resulting in the centaurs of the future. What will the Singularity Feel Like is still in question. Some believe that it will be an event in the distant future that we won’t remember. Others think it will be a pleasant experience, but the question is – “How will it feel like?” Among those who believe in the possibility of a technological singularity, Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking have expressed concerns that full artificial intelligence could end up destroying humanity. This has resulted in an intense debate about the consequences of this emergence. As the rate of AI advances, humans will be no longer a viable option. Some have even advocated the genetic engineering of human beings, despite a number of ethical concerns. The authors of this book disagree on the timing of the Singularity. While Kurzweil predicts a singularity by 2045, he differs from Vinge. The latter says that the Singularity will happen in the near future. In both cases, computers will reach a point where they can function in any way humans would need. The Singularity is likely to come sooner rather than later.

https://whattheborgthinks.com/2022/04/27/what-will-the-singularity-feel-like-71/

Slow sand filter and package treatment plant evaluation : operating costs and removal of bacteria, Giardia and trihalomethanes by McIndoe Fall fire district 3, McIndoe Falls, Vermont 05050 Disclaimer The copyright of the documents on this site remains with the original publishers. Operating Costs Operating costs based on a plant throughput of 1.2 million tonnes of sand per year are as follows: Category Cost ($/tonne) Labour 3.76 Power 0.40 Thermal Energy 2.57 Maintenance 3.39 Loader Fuel 0.20 Flocculent 0.06 Total Cost Per Tonne of Product 10.37 The cost to produce oil in the oil sands is made up of the upfront capital cost required to first construct a facility, the cost to operate a facility once it is online, and the periodic cost to sustain production by replacing worn out equipment or parts or, in case of in situ projects to drill new wells pairs over time. Crushing Plant Design and Layout Considerations Ken Boyd, Manager, Material Handling, AMEC Mining & Metals, Vancouver, BC ABSTRACT In mining operations, the layout of crushing plants and ancillary equipment and structures is a crucial factor in meeting production requirements while keeping capital and operational costs to a minimum. The melting cost will also be greater for a larger part weight and is influenced by the material, as some materials are more costly to melt. However, the melting cost in typically insignificant compared to the metal cost. The amount of mold sand that is used, and hence the cost, is also proportional to the weight of the part. Lastly, the cost Efficient, reliable and rugged, the Weir Minerals sand wash plant is designed for robust performance and minimising cost of ownership. Overview In sand and aggregate operations, performance and profitability depend on the reliability of equipment. operating costs • Declining demand and commodity prices coupled with low operating margins. The last two reasons, while not as obvious as operating the plant at less than its rated capacity, can have just as significant an impact on the overall viability of an operation, since they cost estimate to reflect the challenges inherent to working in a marine environment. Mechanical dredging costs typically include the costs of floating plant: a barge mounted crane or excavator, tugboat, disposal scows, hydrosurvey boat, and the labor to operate the dredging equipment. The cost of this conversion is much lower than that of installing additional rapid sand filters. Capping involves the replacement of a portion of the sand with anthracite. In this conversion, a 2-6 in. layer of 0.4-0.6 mm (0.016-0.024 in.) sand is removed from the surface of a bed and replaced with 4-8 in. of 0.9 mm (0.035 in.) anthracite. A delivery-only sand and gravel business has a lower start-up cost, which includes dump trucks to haul the aggregate and loaders to load the trucks. Dump trucks can run anywhere from $30,00 for a pre-owned model, to $100,000 for a brand new truck, suggests the industry website Trux . The Rapid Sand Filter (RSF) water treatment equipment differs from the Slow Sand Filter water treatment equipment in a variety of ways, the most important of which are the much greater filtration rate and the ability to clean automatically using back washing. The mechanism of particle removal also differs. Rapid sand Water filter does not use biological filtration and depends primarily on The costs for disposal consist of the disposal of sewage sludge, screenings, sand and municipal waste. The disposal costs can differ between 15 and 50 % of the total operation costs. Generally, disposal costs depend to a large degree on - the size of the treatment plant, - national regulations for the disposal of organic materials like sewage 29-08-2011· S-190 wash plant, Powerscreen Finesmaster 120, Ezystak W-5030 wheeled conveyor. Complete plant avaliable for immidate sale. Other wheel and track c Fine aggregate including sand – material passing a 3/8-inch screen sieve, essentially all passing a # 4 sieve (i.e., a 0.187-inch square opening). ! Coarse aggregate including gravel – generally considered being crushed stone or gravel, almost all of which is retained on a No. 4 sieve. Valuation of Operating Aggregate Operations for Banking Modular Wash Plants, such as the McLanahan UltraWASH, are assembled from containerized washing modules and produce up to five products, including three clean aggregate and two washed sand fractions. Additional modules can be added as needed to create a complete wet processing plant that is flexible enough to meet any production need.

https://fazir.pl/07/08+27782.html

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with Southern Rail regarding disabled passengers, in the light of the company’s plans to change the role of conductors. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con) My Lords, each train operator is required to participate in the passenger assist system, run by the Association of Train Operating Companies, which allows disabled passengers to book staff assistance when required, and in a disabled persons’ protection policy, enforced by the Office of Rail and Road, setting out the level of services and facilities that disabled passengers can expect, how to get staff assistance and how to get help. This will not change. My Lords, the Minister will be aware of the shocking daily chaos that is Southern Rail. Passengers are at breaking point, and there is no support from the company or the Government, but all those cuts, cancellations and overcrowding problems are compounded for those with disabilities, for whom railway travel is becoming more difficult and, for some, inaccessible. Could the Minister confirm reports of a wheelchair user being told recently that their wheelchair was too heavy for the bus replacement service and that on the new driver-operated trains disabled passengers would have to phone the station at least 24 hours in advance? Is it really the Government’s view that a driver viewing 12 carriage doors on a screen the size of an iPad can guarantee the safety of all passengers? First, if the noble Baroness provides me with the details of the wheelchair issue in the case that she raised specifically, I shall follow that up and come back with a direct answer. On some of the other issues that she raised, she is of course quite right—and I agree, as I have previously from the Dispatch Box—that the situation with Southern is unacceptable. I assure noble Lords that the new Secretary of State has made this issue and its resolution a priority. Indeed, the new Rail Minister is in front of the Transport Select Committee today, so there is a real baptism by fire for my colleague. It is a priority for the Secretary of State and the Rail Minister; the issue needs resolution. On the issue of driver-only operated trains, as the noble Baroness is aware, it is not about making conductors redundant. It is about making them into train supervisors; they will continue to have a role in working with the driver of these trains, ensuring primarily the safety of all passengers. Will the Minister bear in mind that the removal of safety responsibilities from the conductor makes it ever more likely that trains will be dispatched in the absence of the conductor on a driver-only basis? After the point that my noble friend Lady Smith made, could the Minister imagine the situation in which a train driven in such circumstances, perfectly legally as it so happens, stops at a de-manned station where somebody with a disability wishes to board or alight? There is no provision for any assistance in such circumstances. There is one other point that the Minister should bear in mind about driver-only operations and trains stopping at de-manned stations without a supervisor on board. It is extremely uncomfortable for passengers travelling alone at night in such circumstances, particularly for women. There is surely enough evidence for the Government to intervene to ensure that our trains and our stations are properly staffed. As I have already said, on the particular issue with Southern, driver-only operated trains will have supervisors. On disabled passengers, I fully recognise the issues and genuine concerns that have been raised. As noble Lords will be aware, for longer journeys or long-term planned journeys, disabled passengers can ring 24 hours in advance of their journey, but I fully accept that disabled passengers, like any of us, wish to turn up at a particular station at a particular time, board the train and then disembark from the train. The concerns the noble Lord has raised are part of the discussions we will continue to have. Let me assure noble Lords that I have put in place a proposal which I will be discussing with all noble Lords who have represented their concern, and the concerns of people they speak to or represent, that this issue cannot go on too long and that it is important for the Government to communicate regularly with your Lordships’ House on this important issue. My Lords, is the Minister aware that London buses used to have their ramps broken by electric buggies that were far too heavy for them? At that time, there was a great campaign to ensure that buggy manufacturers would make them at a weight that could be tolerated by the buses. Does he know whether anything similar is issued by the railways to make clear the tolerance limits? My noble friend makes an important point. London is a very good example of how industry providers, suppliers and operators have worked together. On the rail industry, there are good examples, which need to be replicated across the whole network. My Lords, there is a real problem for disabled Southern passengers at the moment with the overcrowding, not least for those in wheelchairs who are unable to get on to trains and for ambulant passengers who may need access to the priority seats but cannot get there. What are the Government doing to ensure that Southern is making sure that all passengers are aware that passengers with disabilities may need particular help on overcrowded trains? I agree with the noble Baroness. Southern needs to improve its communications and consultations and is not doing enough in that regard. If there are specific issues and cases, I am happy to take them up directly in the discussions my honourable friend is having. There is a wider issue. The company running the franchise needs to look at the services it is providing not just for disabled passengers. The noble Baroness, Lady Smith, brought to my attention the appalling situation which arose in Brighton yesterday. Frankly, no Government or no train operator wishes to see it. We have to get on and try to fix it, and that is the intention. I hope that the franchise company and the unions can come together and resolve the issue which is impacting the service. My Lords, would the Minister be surprised to know that, with regard to Southern, the Department for Transport director Pete Wilkinson at a recent public meeting, talking about trade union members on Southern, said: “We have got to break them. They have all borrowed money to buy cars and got credit cards. They can’t afford to spend too long on strike and I will push them into that place”? He went on to say that he wanted to drive trade unions “out of my industry”. That may well be the view of that official. I do not know. I shall certainly look into that quote. Let me assure the House that the resolution of this problem requires everyone, all stakeholders—the company, the Government and the unions—to come together to resolve this issue. This has gone on for far too long. Such statements do not help in providing a solution to this long-running problem. My Lords, conductors normally get out of the train to make certain it is safe to close the doors before the train goes on. Will drivers be getting out of the train to perform that task? I repeat to my noble friend what I have already said: the new driver-only operated trains do not mean that there will be staff redundancies. Those conductors will now become train supervisors and will continue to have a role not only in ensuring that passengers leave and embark on the train safely but in ensuring passenger safety across the whole train.

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2016-07-20/debates/B7203C24-CF13-4028-97FB-E8FF96C8A82D/SouthernRailDisabledPassengers

I remember the precise moment I finally understood my dark fascination with Professor Snape — that greasy-haired, hook-nosed, black billowing robe of terror who stalked the halls of Hogwarts. It was just a passing image, but my throat clenched, breath caught. Because here was this scene I’d seen play out so many times in my own life. And an experience I never imagined I shared in common with the foreboding, formidable man I thought I knew after four lengthy books. That moment changed everything, and also nothing about who Severus Snape was. It changed nothing in the way that abuse does not absolve anyone of the cruel behavior. But it (and all other subsequent Snape memories) changed everything to complicate the series’ outlook on evil and villainy. And it (or rather Snape) changed everything for me, as loving him allowed me to embrace the neglected, unloved, crying child in the corner — and the darkness that brewed inside us both. Listen, I’m fully aware that I embody everything that a vocal, adamant, relentless, and sometimes even aggressive subset of the Harry Potter fandom despises about “Snape Apologists.” Ironically, in a testament to the Half-Blood Prince’s enduring resonance as a character, the Great Snape Debate rages on a decade after the conclusion to the franchise. And to be clear, neither the fans who love Snape nor the people who reject his redemption are acting in bad faith. Neither are “wrong.” The purpose of this article is in no way to declare either “side” of the argument a winner. Those well-made arguments have been thoroughly exhausted. But what I do want, though, is that we all lay down our wands and look past the familiar arguments over the status of his heroism (or lack thereof). Instead, I want to understand what these reactions to Snape says about us, as both readers and people. What I am asking, in other words, is for us to try to become comfortable with living in the grey. Because I actually understand how anti-Snapers feel. Before that moment in Order of the Phoenix, there had been no logical explanation for my shameful, ill-advised love for the Potions Master. I pained over the inescapable magnetic pull I felt toward him, that electric jolt every time I read his name on the page. I was a Gryffindor, after all. Through and through. I felt nothing for any of the other villains in Harry Potter, if anything repulsed by more popular bad boys like Draco Malfoy. I flinched, along with Harry, at every awful injustice Snape inflicted upon his students (from my house in particular). Like Snape, I became attracted to dark people and things that let me believe I’ll never have to be that crying child in the corner ever again. So why, I wondered in all my youthful naivete, could I not resist the poetry of his first year potions speech: those promises given in no more than whisper to ensnare my senses, bottle glory, even stop death. Looking back, I like to think I saw hints of that vulnerable, crying child hiding behind his cold, black, unfeeling gaze. But more likely, that’s just an excuse I give myself to keep from admitting that, like Snape, I am weak to promises of power. Because like Snape, I am attracted to dark people and things that let me believe I’ll never have to be that crying child in the corner ever again. On a thematic level, Snape also expanded the moral worldview of Harry Potter in a way that it desperately needed. Even as a proud Gryffindor, I myself readily admit that the books have a tendency to fall into the trappings of the good vs evil fantasy genre tropes. While more evolved than, say, Tolkien’s orcs vs hobbits, Harry Potter still pales in comparison to the complex moral tapestry of other fantasy contemporaries, like Game of Thrones. With a few exceptions, the fandom is accustomed to quite literally sorting characters into two neat boxes: bad guys (Death Eaters and Slytherins) and good guys (kind of everyone else, particularly Gryffindors). Most characters who urge Harry and the reader to not do this even show their own hypocrisy, and do it anyway. Sirius, for one, never fully saw beyond black and white, despite warning his Godson about splitting the world into polarities. Even Dumbledore, the most enlightened and empathetic toward the plight of bad guys, falls into this trap, in the way he “compliments” Snape by musing that he should’ve been sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin. This dichotomous view of people and goodness inevitably trickles down into the Harry Potter fandom. Sure, the later books (Deathly Hallows in particular) challenged readers. It forced us to recognize that our greatest heroes like Dumbledore are also weak to power, and that incredible bravery lies in the greatest villains like Snape. In the tone of the Great Snape Debates, you too often hear this dire need on both ends to either bathe him in an a white light of total absolution, or to cast him down as an inescapably repugnant pit of darkness. In these kinds of discussions, though, there is little room for the truth of humanity: That we all live in perpetual shades of grey, some days darker, and other days lighter. I say this with the bias of someone who sees my own weaknesses reflected in Snape. Yet still, I think to deny Snape’s humanity — to shrink away from the complexity of the darkness he represents — is to miss the point of the Harry Potter series altogether. And before you @ me about how being abused or neglected as a child does not justify a lifetime of Snape’s moral failures, I am aware. And I reiterate: This is not about justification. Because I also know that kids of abuse often unwittingly find themselves locked in a cycle of abuse, reenacting the same traumas they experienced onto others. This does not mean they cannot rise above it (yes, I know, Harry did), or that many do not. But that’s exactly why I must believe Snape, in his own deeply backwards, complicated, and self-serving way, did overcome that cycle. As a kid, I did not have dark magic to turn to when the feelings of powerlessness threatened to consume me to a point beyond repair. At first, I responded to it by becoming quiet, making myself small and as invisible as possible. But I soon realized that did little to protect me. And instead, I turned to my own sort of magic, which I then proceeded to consciously weaponize. Words. Those things that, as J.K. Rowling put it, “are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.” I began to use intelligence and words as my own version of Sectumsempra, slicing down all perceived enemies with eviscerating verbal rages and abuses. After years of being the little girl too shy to speak, too terrified to fight back, the dark magic of anger was the single most intoxicating sensation I had ever felt. Nothing, not even the leaden weight of guilt that began to build in my gut every time I caused pain, could make me turn away from my addiction to that sense of invulnerability. To my credit (and the credit of characters like Harry and Sirius), I realized far sooner than Snape that this addiction would cost me everything if I let it. But undoubtedly, the Sorting Hat would’ve had a tough time deciding whether I should be in Slytherin or Gryffindor (before listening to my choice, that is). The need to stave off the monster inside me — the one that promised glory, control, and power — continued to be a daily battle. Sometimes I lose that battle, no matter how hard I try. The scars of being bullied, beaten, broken, and forgotten never fully heal, even if you master every tool available in a desperate attempt to overcome them. On the hardest days, when self-hatred overwhelms, you must hold onto the smallest glimmers of goodness you can find in yourself. Snape’s tragedy is that he could never find the strength to see that goodness in himself. He relied on Lily’s love, not just romantically but as possibly his one and only friend. And almost certainly, as the only person (outside of Dumbledore, later on) who made him feel safe enough to trust that this goodness could outweigh the protection that evil promised him. From my perspective, his iconic line of, “Always,” is not a declaration of obsessive love. It is not romantic. When Snape says, “Always,” it is in reference to the prison of loss and guilt that he made himself prisoner to. With nothing nothing but his own weakness of character to blame, Snape lost the battle of becoming worthy of Lily’s love. He failed, or arrived too late, to breaking the vicious cycle of abuse. But in losing her, it became a reminder to himself — and to me — that one can lose everything when they allow fear, cowardice, and anger to overcome love, courage, and forgiveness. Snape is not a hero. There is no argument there. He was a villain, but in the way that all of us are sinners because that is the very nature of being human. He is not like Harry. He is not, despite what Dumbledore implied, a secret Gryffindor. His switch to the good side was born from a place of personal loss rather than moral integrity. And in this way, he’s a Slytherin through and through. And it is precisely because and not despite these flaws that he is the single most important and relatable characters in the Harry Potter series. In a sea of characters who play out our fantasies of pure heroism which flies in the face of logic, Snape is something else. He was a villain, but in the way that all of us are sinners because that is the very nature of being human. To love Snape is not necessarily to excuse the inexcusable, or romanticize his abusiveness. It is to embrace the concept that we are all mortal, all fighting inner demons. Some of us don’t make it out of those battles looking like the hero. Others don’t even make it out of that battle alive. But as Harry Potter fans, we have seen that winning the war against pure evil is not just up to the purely good and moral. Rather, it is about fighting alongside the people who struggle with the temptation of evil themselves. The ones who know that darkness so well that they can tell us exactly how to conquer it. I, for one, must trust in a person’s capacity to find redemption from that darkness. Even if it is in their final hour, with tears that encapsulate the goodness that they could never show the world in life.

https://burningcofferificfever.com/in-loving-memory-of-severus-snape-harry-potters-greatest-anti-hero/

Q: How should Garrett Rolfe have acted when Rayshard Brooks tried to tase him? What should he have done to avoid prosecution? A: Rolfe and his partner should have apprehended Garrett using non-lethal force, or else just let him get away. In Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985): [Deadly] force may not be used unless necessary to prevent the escape and the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others. A taser, as various police forces have assured us, does not pose a significant threat of death or serious physical injury: In its report, the panel said that while CED use is not risk free, there is no clear medical evidence that shows a high risk of serious injury or death from the direct effects of CEDs. Field experience with CED use shows that exposure is usually safe. Since Garrett was running away when he was shot, and did not take any time to aim the taser, there is no reason to suppose that he would have attacked Rolfe or anyone else if he had succeeded in hitting him. Also his partner was present and would certainly have intervened. In addition, at the time when Rolfe shot Garrett the taser had been discharged and therefore presented no danger to anyone. Hence there is a strong case that Rolfe was not justified in using deadly force against Garrett. If deadly force was not justified then its use is a crime. A: In Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985), the Supreme Court held that, under the Fourth Amendment, when a law enforcement officer is pursuing a fleeing suspect, the officer may not use deadly force to prevent escape unless "the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others." A fleeing suspect who has already used up the capacity of the Taser and who has no other weapon does not pose a significant threat to a reasonable officer. The officer could have not shot the suspect in the back, could have refrained from kicking him when he was down and could have arranged immediate medical help. News reports say the officer broke seven use of force rules of the Atlanta police force.

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including... in the Pacific Northwest Pacific Northwest The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the... region of North America North America North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas... . The river rises in the Rocky Mountains Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States... of British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858... , Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... , flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state U.S. state A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of... of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state of Oregon Oregon Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern... before emptying into the Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World... . The river is 1243 miles (2,000.4 km) long, and its largest tributary is the Snake River Snake River The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean... . Its drainage basin Drainage basin A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean... is roughly the size of France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... and extends into seven U.S.

http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Columbia_River

The 3rd ‘Science and Musicology’ meetings provided the occasion for teachers and students of the Science and Musicology double degree to present their degree as well as their professional opportunities. In the middle of the afternoon, Catherine Rudent, lecturer at Paris-Sorbonne University presented a conference that developed a musicological approach to voices in song. Towards the end of the day, students studying the double degree were offered a pleasant musical moment that varied in style from classical, to post rock and rock. It was an opportunity for all to become familiar with this juncture between science and music. ‘Science and Musicology’, a double degree Shared by both Pierre et Marie Curie University and Paris-Sorbonne universities, this programme offers a 3 year course after completion of the Baccalaureate (A-levels). Introduced in 2006, the course leads to a double degree: The degree in Science and technologies from the UPMC and the degree in Musicology from the Paris-Sorbonne university Paris-Sorbonne. The aim of this degree is to offer students regular music practice to couple their interest in music with high-level science training. Professional opportunities for those following this degree are threefold: graduating students can choose to use their double competency to orientate themselves towards a masters degree in musicology, towards a scientific masters, or towards careers such as sound engineering. This interdisciplinary training offers science and audio teachings in equal parts including aural training, studies of the history of music, signal processing and so on. Additional training in language and general culture as well as a semester overseas are all assets of this double degree. There is a sense of pride in the comments made by the representative of the alumni association, Clément Gariel, that echoes the originality of the interdisciplinary approach. The gamble seems to have paid off as students with a passion for music can delve into musico-scientific disciplines, developing a capacity for adaption necessary to a group of professions undergoing regular changes as sound techniques evolve. "There few fields of research more interdisciplinary in nature than musicology. Being a musicologist is a difficult career, and one in which a passion for knowledge is vital. Jean-Jacques Nattiez" A musicological approach to vocal styles in song With a soprano voice that cuts through the silent Cordeliers refectory, Catherine Rudent, Lecturer at the university of Paris-Sorbonne, tries to answer a question she herself posed : "How does one create a science of the voice? Catherine Rudent" Musicology is the scientific analysis of music. It is the study of socio-cultural phenomena linked to music, its evolution and that of its stylistic elements through numerous disciplines; biology, cognitive sciences, ethnology and so forth. In her presentation, Catherine Rudent takes us on a journey tofind the musical logic of sung voices. To achieve this, she compares vocalists by taking well-defined concepts. The details of two different concepts were presented. A distinction must first be made between the main groupings of song independent of culture and gender. Catherine Rudent used the concept of ‘Vocal energy’ to do this. Song excerpts were played for us, from Aretha Franklin (Gospel, Jazz), Edith Piaf (music-hall, French popular music), and Serge Gainsbourg (French Popular Music) to illustrate the different elements that determine the energy level of a voice. Both women cited use techniques to sustain long notes, generously and with ease. They introduce sound interjections and vocal ornamentations (several notes sung with the same syllable) and, often, quickening rhythms. Serge Gainsbourg however refuses to hold notes, practices a fall in pitch, and a lax pronunciation that gives an impression of a lack of energy. A further concept studied by Catherine Rudent is ‘vocal tension’ that introduces a feeling that the voice is forced, lending drama to the song. The second approach is part of the study of vocal techniques found in different musical styles. Here Catherine Rudent focused on the use of larynx mechanisms in voices including the chest voice and the head voice. Excerpts from yodelling and from Ray Charles were used to illustrate different techniques for changing between the chest and the head voice in order to intensify the message. To conclude, Catherine Rudent considered the individual styles of vocalists. She explained that the musical style for singers like Juliette Gréco or Mademoiselle K is similar to the their spoken vocal style. The same goes for the breathing rhythm that creates a breathy ambience or, conversely, a relaxed breathing style such as that practiced during speech. To conclude, the singing voice can be approached from a musicological perspective if the rigorous concepts that define vocal techniques can first be determined. It is, nevertheless, often difficult to distinguish by ear how a singer uses his/her voice. Moreover it is common knowledge that vocal effects are added by microphones! Thus a technological analysis of voice samples conducted by timber and spectrum analysers would be the logical next step from Catherine Rudent’s studies who, responding to questions from the audience, said she would like to link up with sound engineers to continue her musicology studies on voices. [issuu layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Flight%2Flayout.xml showflipbtn=true documentid=110505085842-cf14301a90d146f989090b38fce875d0 docname=d_cursus_musicologie username=yolobia loadinginfotext=Double%20cursus%20Sciences%20et%20Musicologie showhtmllink=false tag=musicologie width=420 height=298 unit=px] L. B. and the team MyScienceWork wish to thank the Association of former students of the double cursus that published our article in the june 2011 issue of its journal: [issuu layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Flight%2Flayout.xml showflipbtn=true documentid=110719151911-91e7d54394e049f78ae4782ed9f054d8 docname=spond_aasm username=yolobia loadinginfotext=Assos%20ancien%20eleves%20musico showhtmllink=false tag=journal width=420 height=297 unit=px] ©Tsian; U.P.images - Fotolia.com Find out more:

https://www.mysciencework.com/omniscience/science-and-musicology

Raman, S. (2010) Designing a Liveable Compact City: Physical Forms of City and Social Life in Urban Neighbourhoods. Built Environment, Vol. 36 (No. 1). pp. 63-80. doi:10.2148/benv.36.1.63Research output not available from this repository, contact author. Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.2148/benv.36.1.63 Abstract This paper reports findings from recent research examining the relationship between urban design and layout and aspects of social and communal life in urban neighbourhoods. To address this, six UK neighbourhoods of varying densities and layouts were selected for detailed investigation. Data on social interactions, social activities and social networks along with perceptions of the built and social environment of the neighbourhoods were collected through observations, questionnaire surveys and secondary data sources. Neighbourhood design and layout were analysed using spatial network and visibility graph analysis methods. Correlation and multiple regression tests were conducted to test the claimed associations. Findings indicate differences between socializing patterns and structure of social networks in high- and low-density areas. Low-density areas were associated with widely spread social networks and activities with very few strong relationships. In high-density neighbourhoods, respondents had small networks but stronger ties were found. Detailed investigation shows that much of this can be attributed to, among other physical factors: the location of public spaces, visibility from and to these spaces, visual links between neighbourhoods', typology and physical form of development rather than density alone. This indicates that some of the negative social impacts found within high-density urban development might be rectified with better design of neighbourhoods. It is clear that to deliver sustainable development, the compact city will have to be designed with specific spatial and built environment characteristics.

http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/47041/

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY This Patent Application makes reference to, claims priority to, claims the benefit of, and is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/128,444, filed Sep. 11, 2018, which claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/556,617, which was filed on Sep. 11, 2017. The above referenced Application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to a cross-platform management system. More specifically, various embodiments of the disclosure relate to a system and method for cross-platform proposal creation, optimization, and deal management. BACKGROUND Recent advancements in accessibility of data on multiple communication platforms has pushed for distribution of audience on these communication platforms. Examples of such communication platforms may include, for example, a linear platform (such as a television), a mobile platform (such as smartphones, tablet, wearables, handheld devices, and computers), and a digital platform (such as personal computers, gaming consoles and social platform). Such distribution of audience has led to an evolution in traditional marketing and platform-based advertisement campaigns (such as social media marketing campaigns, digital marketing campaigns, television marketing campaigns and the like). Traditionally, such advertisement campaigns are independently managed on different platforms to achieve various goals of an advertiser, a promoter, or a brand owner. Examples of such goals include reach of target audience, impressions, sales, outcome, brand promotion and the like. In certain scenarios, a promoter may wish to shift the target audience and budget requirements from one platform to another platform, for example from a mobile platform to a linear platform or from a linear platform to a digital platform. However, current systems are inefficient for optimally shifting the target audience with due considerations of different costs, budget, and associated constraints. Thus, there may be required an optimal system to address the aforesaid problems. Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present disclosure as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings. SUMMARY Systems and/or methods are provided for cross-platform proposal and deal management, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present disclosure, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a functional diagram that illustrates an exemplary network environment for cross-platform proposal and deal management, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary cross-platform management system for cross-platform proposal and deal management, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrates an exemplary processing pipeline for cross-platform proposal creation, optimization, and re-optimization during a flight, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary pacing model, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 5 is a graph that illustrates a time variant in-flight distribution of target audience across a selected set of delivery platforms, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D collectively, is a flow chart that illustrates exemplary operations for cross-platform proposal and deal management, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an exemplary cross-platform management system employing a processing system for creation, optimization, and re-optimization of proposal plan for given client-requirements, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. DESCRIPTION Various embodiments of the disclosure may be found in a system and a method for cross-platform proposal creation, optimization, and deal management. Rapidly-changing technologies in media sector is redefining how advertisement content is created, consumed, delivered, and tracked. Examples of the advertisement content may include, but are not limited to digital videos, streaming banners, images, three-dimensional (3D) or two-dimensional (2D) computer graphics content, animation, brand jingles, snippets of information, audio-visual content, or other advertising media. Nowadays, advertisers, promoters, or brand owners want to create more focused advertising campaigns that target better customers that will be exposed to them. Further, such advertisers, promoters, or brand owners do not want to restrict their advertisement campaigns and consumption of their desired advertisement content via a single delivery platform, for example, a linear delivery platform (such as a television-based distribution). However, current systems are inefficient for optimally managing allocation, scheduling, and delivery of advertisement content at multiple delivery platforms at the same time with due considerations of different costs, budget, gross impressions, and associated constraints. This is turn is making advertisement content scheduling and delivery more resource intensive, error prone right from the planning stage to the delivery stage and has significantly increased uncertainties in achieving client objectives. Various embodiments of the disclosure may comprise a cross-platform management system that not only solves the aforesaid problems but provides a technological solution to improve convergence of various delivery platforms and associated devices for providing extended consumption of advertisement content across multiple delivery platforms with due considerations to multiple objectives to be achieved. The ability of the disclosed cross-platform management system to optimally manage distribution of target audience across multiple delivery platforms during a flight also enables better signaling of audience preferences back to the advertisers, promoters, and brand owners. FIG. 1 FIG. 1 102 104 106 108 110 112 114 114 116 116 120 118 106 102 120 108 110 112 114 114 116 116 104 a n a n a n a n is a functional diagram that illustrates an exemplary network environment for cross-platform proposal and deal management, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The network environment in the may include a cross-platform management system , a plurality of delivery platforms , a plurality of devices , one or more client terminals , an advertisement (Ad) server , a media content delivery network (CDN) , audience data sources , . . . , , service providers , . . . , , and a communication network . A plurality of consumers may be associated with the plurality of devices . The cross-platform management system may be communicatively coupled, via the communication network , to at least one of the one or more client terminals , the ad server , the media CDN , the audience data sources , . . . , , the service providers , . . . , , and the plurality of delivery platforms . 102 104 102 102 The cross-platform management system may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to perform management of one or more client-defined requirements of the one or more clients on the plurality of delivery platforms . In other words, the cross-platform refers to different media delivery platforms or channels through which content may be distributed for end-user consumption. The cross-platform management system may be implemented as computer programmable instructions, in conjunction with computational components, such as a processor, on a local or cloud server. The management of the one or more client-defined requirements corresponds to business and/or social objective of the client. For example, a client-defined requirement may correspond to a reach of a brand to a desired number of users, such as “100,000 users” on a mobile device, and a desired number of impressions, such as “100,000 impressions”, for an advertisement content on a television. The cross-platform management system may be a distributed block (logical or instructional) of multiple interconnected subsystems for optimal management of the one or more client-defined requirements in a defined time duration. 104 106 104 106 106 118 106 106 The plurality of delivery platforms may include, but are not limited to, a linear delivery platform (such as a television), a digital delivery platform (such as applications on personal computers, gaming consoles, social platforms, connected home appliances/devices, or emails), and a mobile delivery platform (such as a smart device including smartphones, handheld devices, wearable devices, or a tablet). In general, a delivery platform corresponds to a platform that provides an interface of an application, activity, a broadcast, page, or media stream accessible on a specific type of delivery device. Each delivery device of the plurality of devices may correspond to a delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms . Examples of the plurality of devices may include, but are not limited to, a mobile phone, a laptop, a desktop, a display device, a wearable device, and a television. Additionally, the plurality of devices may also include a household device, such as refrigerator or a microwave in facility, such as a residential or a commercial space. A consumer of the plurality of consumers may be engaged with multiple delivery platforms, such as the mobile delivery platform (such as a smartphone) and the linear delivery platform (such as a television or TV content streaming application in a d). For example, a podcast application in a smart phone may correspond to a mobile delivery platform. A media streaming application in a mobile phone may provide a linear media access or a non-linear media access (such as video-on-demand (VOD)). One or more promotional audio or graphic items may be inserted based on intent or engagement of a user of the application on a delivery device. Each delivery device of the plurality of devices may be associated with at least one of a unique device ID and a platform ID. Additionally, user related data may be accessible on each delivery device of the plurality of devices . 106 Each of the plurality of devices may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to receive and/or render the advertisement content corresponding to each delivery platform. In one scenario, the advertisement content may be received for placement between or over at least one of a set of inventory items. The set of inventory items may correspond to a set of engageable items for the user. At least one of the set of inventory items may correspond to a media item, a web page, a document, an e-mail, or an application. Each inventory item may be associated with a preference of a target audience based on one or more preferences. Example of the preferences may include, but are not limited to, genre, field, content, and other parameters. For example, an inventory item, such as a television program, may be preferred based on content, theme, actors or location. Additionally, an inventory item may be associated with a rating, a review, a popularity index, a viewership, or number of shares or likes, which may be used to identify relevant ad slots and associated pricing and demand for the placement of the advertisement content. The media item may be a scheduled program on a television, a streamed video on a web channel, or a podcast or audio broadcast on a web or radio platform. 106 118 104 Advertisement content, for example, a media-based television advertisement may be placed between one or more ad slots that may be present between a television program or a picture-in-picture (PIP) type of placement. In another scenario, the advertisement content may be received by the plurality of devices to notify a consumer (of the plurality of consumers ), by visual or audible media, about the advertisement content. In one example, video ads, such as pre-roll ads, mid-roll, or post-roll ads, may be delivered on digital platforms. In another example, a consumer engaged in a music listening activity in a music application of a mobile device may hear a promotional sound clip during the engagement. Alternatively, the consumer may receive an ad notification, or a pop-up message based on context or time of targeting the advertisement content. The advertisement content comprises one or more promotional items, each of which may correspond to an advertisement for a product, service, cause or media content. The advertisement content may be present in one or more formats. The one or more formats of the advertisement content may be present to suitably target each of the plurality of delivery platforms . Examples of the one or more formats include, but are not limited to, a video format, an audio format, a text format, an image format, or a suitable programmable or non-programmable instructions format. For example, an application in a mobile device may be configured to generate and serve the advertisement content, as notifications or banners, snippets of information, or an video ad, based on programmable or non-programmable instructions. The advertisement content may be further classified as an interactive advertisement content or un-interactive advertisement content. The interactive advertisement content may correspond to an interactive media item such that each outcome (e.g., a click, an impression, page redirections, user views, or any outcome) may be recorded as part of an outcome stream for the corresponding consumer. Additionally, views or outcome may be recorded as impressions, and page redirections or commercial sale on a redirected page may be recorded in real time or near-real time. 108 102 108 102 102 108 The one or more client terminals may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to provide a communication interface to one or more clients for providing one or more requests to the cross-platform management system . The one or more requests may correspond to one or more client-defined requirements. The one or more client terminals may further receive a proposal plan from the cross-platform management system corresponding to each request. Each client terminal may be further configured to track progress and performance of the cross-platform management system for each request. A client associated with at least one of the one or more client terminals may be configured to visualize a real time progress and completion of the one or more client-defined requirements of the request. A client terminal may include a communication interface integrated within a standalone device (such as a kiosk, a networked mobile, or a computer) or a cloud server with a web or cloud-based application. 110 110 The ad server may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to maintain a repository of advertisement content. The advertisement content may correspond to one or more promotional items, such as media files, images, texts, logos or animations, in a specified platform-adapted format. The advertisement content may be associated with the one or more clients that may be an owner or an associated promoter of a brand, a service, a cause or a media item. The request for access to the advertisement content may be programmatically managed based on a generated proposal plan for corresponding request from the client. For example, the ad server may comprise a graphic ad of a brand for digital delivery platforms and a video ad of a brand for linear delivery platform. 112 112 The media CDN may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to distribute media content over one or more distribution channels. Each distribution channel may correspond to a streaming network for distribution of the media content in formats and specifications adapted for the delivery platform. The media CDN may be configured to provide media content via a distribution technology that may include broadcast, simulcast, multicast, such as via an over-the-air content delivery/distribution network, a linear content delivery/distribution network (such as VOD), a cable content delivery/distribution network, a satellite content delivery/distribution network, an Internet Protocol (IP) based content delivery/distribution network, and/or the like. 114 114 118 106 104 118 104 106 114 114 a n a n The audience data sources , . . . , may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to retrieve and store audience data that corresponds to a plurality of consumers of at least one of a plurality of devices on plurality of delivery platforms . The retrieval, storage, or any processing related to the audience data is executed in compliance with different governmental regulation and policies related to data privacy and protection applicable, if any, to a particular jurisdiction or a geographical area, and such collected audience data. The audience data may include, but is not limited to, demographics data, audience targeting data, device data, and geo-location data. The demographic data may correspond to a set of statistical data with classification of each user based on at least one of race, gender, ethnicity, age, and the like. Similarly, the audience targeting data may correspond to at least one of user preferences, user behavior, social status, income, spending trends, and the like. The device data may correspond to a device identifier (ID) and a platform ID of each delivery device which may be associated with one or more of the plurality of consumers . Additionally, the platform ID may be associated with one or more host applications on a delivery device, for example, a mobile delivery platform may be associated with e-mail clients, web browsers and linear or non-linear media streaming applications. Each host application may be associated with a user ID which may or may not be the same as the device ID, for example, an e-mail ID, a phone number, a cookie ID, image, digital signatures, fingerprints, or some alphanumeric or graphical IDs. For example, a user may be engaged with multiple delivery platforms, such as a mobile delivery platform (such as a smartphone) and a linear delivery platform (such as a television). The device ID for the mobile platform and the linear platform may correspond to an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number (or a phone number) and a set top box number (or a subscriber ID) respectively. Alternatively, a user (may or may not be registered) may be tracked on each of the plurality of delivery platforms associated with the plurality of devices based on one or more trackers. Examples of the trackers may include, but are not limited to, cookies, web beacons, e-mail trackers, bots and Internet protocol (IP) and network-based trackers. The audience data sources , . . . , may further include user estimation data. 118 104 102 114 114 102 114 114 114 114 104 114 114 114 114 114 114 a n a n a n a n a n a n The user estimation data may include estimated values, such as user ratings, impressions, outcomes, review, and likes or dislikes for certain media items, derived from analysis of the audience data corresponding to the plurality of consumers of the at least plurality of delivery platforms . The user estimation data may also include a path to retrieve a specific media item, for example, a trending media item. The cross-platform management system using the audience data sources , . . . , may further generate an audience forecast information and estimate audience for at least one of a target or demographics for a specific item. The specific item may correspond to a web-page, an e-mail, an application page, and the like. The audience forecast information may include audience rating estimates, lead-in audience estimates, and/or other research-based forecast. The cross-platform management system using the audience data sources , . . . , may also generate an expected audience of an advertisement content scheduled for a specific bin of time on a day. Additionally, the audience data sources , . . . , may acquire historical viewership data of the specific item on at least one of the plurality of delivery platforms . For example, the audience data sources , . . . , may acquire historical viewership of career related emails or a specific aired program on a specific television channel. The bin of time, location and frequency for the viewership may be acquired by the audience data sources , . . . , . A measure of purchase intent for historical advertisement content may also be recorded by the audience data sources , . . . , for each type of demography, such as based on gender, age band, area, and income group. 102 108 104 104 118 104 118 114 114 a n. In operation, the cross-platform management system may be configured to receive, from a client, a request corresponding to the plurality of client-defined requirements, via at least one of the one or more client terminals associated with a client. The request may pertain to a proposal plan to achieve the one or more client-defined requirements. Each of the one or more client-defined requirements may correspond to a defined goal which may be associated with a target budget value, a target reach, or target impressions. A client-defined requirement may correspond to a reach to maximum users of a specific income group, maximization of impressions from a specific number of users for a defined time duration, maximization of a revenue parameter, and minimization of a total penalty that may arise from deviations of goal values specified in the deals for advertisers and/or advertisement campaigns. Additionally, the request may be associated with one or more request parameters. The one or more request parameters may include, but are not limited to, a desired audience, a requested distribution of audience on the plurality of delivery platforms (mix), a cost constraint defined by a budget and a flight and intermittent schedule of placement of the advertisement content. A flight may correspond to a desired time duration for delivery of the advertisement content (or running campaign) across the plurality of delivery platforms . The flight may be provided by the user or may be adjusted based negotiations with the client. The adjustment may be based on budget constraints or availability of required inventory or number of consumers to be reached. The target audience may correspond to a target plurality of consumers on the plurality of delivery platforms associated with platform IDs or device IDs. The platform IDs or device IDs associated with the target plurality of consumers may be retrieved from the audience data sources , . . . , In certain scenarios, a particular goal (also referred to as a client-defined requirement) may be provided that is to be achieved for a campaign, for example, to reach out to a certain number of people for a certain time period irrespective of the platform selected for the campaign. In such scenarios, a single campaign may be created for the linear media delivery platform, and a total viewership may be tracked. In an event, the total viewership at a given time point (e.g. after “1 week”) within the “2 weeks' time period” is less (under delivering) than an estimated value for such time point, other media delivery platforms, such as mobile, may be utilized to meet the provided goal. Alternatively, to achieve the goal, one campaign may be created for each selected media delivery platform, for example, the linear, the mobile, and the digital media delivery platforms with certain proportion of media mix. For example, “50%” target to be achieved by linear, “20%” by mobile, and remaining “30%” impressions to be achieved by digital media delivery platform. Such distribution of the goal, for example, may be done using the optimization framework to meet a plurality of defined request parameters, for example, multiple objectives, applied not only to one platform but cross-platforms. In certain other scenarios, a particular goal, for example, a goal to achieve a certain number of impressions in a given period, may be provided. The particular goal may be associated with the one or more goal parameters, for example, a distribution of target audience on different delivery platforms or allocation of ad slots, which may be adjusted dynamically over time to obtain a maximum achievement of the goal. 104 102 102 FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C In certain other scenarios, a goal of specified number of impressions may be provided to be mandatorily achieved via different media delivery platforms, for example, mobile media delivery platform, digital media delivery platform, and linear media delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms . In such scenarios, different campaigns may be required to be created for each desired media delivery platform. For this, the cross-platform management system may be configured to generate a proposal plan corresponding to the request from the client. The proposal plan may comprise a proposed distribution of target audience on each requested delivery platform (i.e., a recommended mix, budget, and objectives of be achieved). The cross-platform management system may generate an optimal proposal plan based on balanced fitment of the requested one or more parameters with one or more defined parameters for the proposal plan. An example of the creation of proposal plan, and periodic optimization, and re-optimization, is described for example, in . 102 104 104 102 104 The cross-platform management system may be configured to store data corresponding to promotional opportunities on the plurality of delivery platforms . The promotional opportunities may correspond to inventory-defined promotional opportunities, such as media content placement opportunities of different length, an available capacity across the plurality of delivery platforms at the time of receipt of a client request, video ad slots, PIP slots, graphical or banner slots, associated with the set of inventories. Additionally, the promotional opportunities may correspond to user-defined promotional opportunities. For example, the cross-platform management system may identify an actual number of engageable audience, active on the plurality of delivery platforms . 102 110 112 102 102 FIGS. 3B, 3C, 4 and 5 FIG. 3A The cross-platform management system may further execute the proposal plan by adaptively serving the advertisement content, via each planned delivery platform, between or over the at least one of the set of inventory items. The advertisement content may be obtained from the ad server and the engagement items may be obtained from the media CDN or from a self-maintained internal repository. The cross-platform management system may adaptively control and monitor delivery of the advertisement content on each planned delivery platform for granular bins of time duration in accordance with the planned distribution of the target audience on each planned delivery platform, as discussed in detail in . Thus, in other words, to achieve a common goal of the specified number of impressions, a media mix for cross-platform may be executed by the cross-platform management system such that the plurality of defined request parameters are determined in an optimized manner in order to meet the given objective(s). An example of the different objectives is described, for example, in . FIG. 2 FIG. 2 102 102 202 202 204 206 206 208 210 212 202 214 216 216 216 104 204 202 204 202 a b c is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary cross-platform management system for cross-platform proposal and deal management, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to , there is shown the cross-platform management system that further comprises an inventory management system . In some embodiments, the inventory management system may include a proposal management system and a cross-platform deal management system . The cross-platform deal management system may further include a mobile deal management system , a digital deal management system , and a linear deal management system . The inventory management system may further include an order and traffic system and various inventory management systems (such as a linear inventory management system , a mobile inventory management system , and a digital inventory management system ) for different delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms . In some embodiments, the proposal management system may be separate system and may not be included within the inventory management system . In such embodiments, the information and instructions may be exchanged between the proposal management system and the inventory management system . 102 218 222 218 220 222 224 220 222 204 108 202 220 222 108 FIG. 1 The cross-platform management system may further include an audience data processor and a consumption tracking data reconciliation system . The audience data processor may be configured to store the audience definition information in an audience definition database . The consumption tracking data reconciliation system may include a pacing model generator . The audience definition database and the consumption tracking data reconciliation system may be operatively connected to the proposal management system . Additionally, one or more client terminals () may be operatively coupled to each of the inventory management system , the audience definition database , and the consumption tracking data reconciliation system . The operational connection of the one or more client terminals may be enabled to provide an interface for one or more clients to communicate requests, provide inputs, and visualize performance corresponding to the requested requirements. 202 202 The inventory management system may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to monitor and track an available set of inventory items corresponding to one or more requests received from corresponding one or more clients. The set of inventory items may include, but are not limited to, a repository of media content (e.g., an advertisement media of different length, such as an “X” second video or audio), a number of ad slots in a broadcast feed for various buckets of time, and a repository of inventory items for different genres, age groups, sex, and other demographic factors. Additionally, the inventory management system may keep track of an available bandwidth (with respect to traffic) in ad space in accordance with the request received from each of the one or more clients. 202 104 202 216 216 216 202 202 104 a b c In accordance with an embodiment, the inventory management system may be configured to manage and track requirements of the set of inventory items discretely for each delivery platform, such as linear, digital and mobile delivery platforms, of the plurality of delivery platforms . In other words, the inventory management system may allocate the tasks of management and monitoring of requirements of the set of inventory items to the linear inventory management system , the mobile inventory management system , and the digital inventory management system . The inventory management system may also allocate the task of management and monitoring to other delivery platforms also, without a deviation from the scope of the disclosure. In accordance with another embodiment, the inventory management system may be configured to manage and monitor the requirements of the set of inventory items holistically for each delivery platform, such as linear, digital and mobile delivery platforms, of the plurality of delivery platforms . 216 104 216 216 216 204 a a a a The linear inventory management system may be configured to manage and monitor requirements of the set of inventory items for corresponding linear delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms . For example, the availability and demand of ad slots in specific television programs for a bucket of time may be managed by the linear inventory management system . The linear inventory management system may also store information, such as genre, length, ratings, reviews, viewership, and the like, related to the type of television program or content. The set of inventory items may be ranked, and each ad slot may be priced for each type of advertisement content based on determination of rank for each inventory item of the set of inventory items. For example, a first inventory item, such as an episode of a live chat show, may have viewership in millions and a second inventory item, such as a documentary on healthcare, may have viewership in thousands. Therefore, the demand for ad slots in the first inventory item may be greater than the demand for the second inventory item. Therefore, the linear inventory management system may price the ad slots for the first inventory item at a greater price than the price for the ad slots in the second inventory item. The proposal management system may generate a proposal plan based on optimal allocation of low priced slots and high-priced slots for each request for the proposal plan from each corresponding client. 216 104 216 216 b b b The mobile inventory management system may be configured to manage and monitor requirements of the set of inventory items for corresponding mobile delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms . The set of inventory items for the mobile delivery platform may comprise, but is not limited to, a number of promotional opportunities in a set of mobile web pages, mobile e-mail client and emails, mobile applications (mobile or web), mobile media streams, mobile messages, mobile podcasts, browsers, and the like. The availability and demand of promotional opportunities for the advertisement content in mobile-specific inventory items for a bucket of time may be tracked and managed by the mobile inventory management system . The mobile inventory management system may also store information related to the type of inventory item for the mobile delivery platform, such as context, presentation quality, ratings, reviews, historical viewership, application interface, and the like. 216 104 216 216 216 c c c c The digital inventory management system may be configured to manage and monitor requirements of the set of inventory items for corresponding digital delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms . The set of inventory items for the digital delivery platform may include but is not limited to a number of ad slots in a set of web pages, e-mails, applications (mobile or web), messages, podcasts, and the like. An availability and demand of promotional opportunities, such as ad slots, for the advertisement content in specific inventory items for a bucket of time may be tracked and managed by the digital inventory management system . The digital inventory management system may also store videos, text information, and attributes, for example, context, presentation quality, ratings, reviews, historical viewership, and the like, related to the type of inventory item for the digital delivery platform. In some embodiments, the digital inventory management system may be configured to display video and text, for example, pre-roll ads, mid-roll ads, and post-roll ads. 216 216 216 a c b In accordance with an embodiment, the linear inventory management system may correspond to an engine for managing and tracking resources and inventories for television, marketing and/or advertisement plans. The digital inventory management system may correspond to an engine for management and tracking of resources and inventories for digital marketing plans. The mobile inventory management system may correspond to an engine for management and tracking of mobile advertisement marketing plans. 204 204 104 204 104 The proposal management system may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to receive a request corresponding to one or more client-defined requirements from a client and generate a proposal plan corresponding to the request received from the client. The request may correspond to one or more objectives, which may be achieved in a defined time duration, known as a flight. For example, the proposal management system may receive a request to obtain one million impressions for a specific advertisement product in ten days. The request may be further associated with the one or more request parameters, such as a budget of “100,000 USD”, a target audience of “teens in an age range of 14-19”, a preferred location of “Los Angeles”, and a requested exemplary distribution of about “50%”, about “30%”, and about “20%” of target audience on the plurality of delivery platforms . The request may further be associated with at least one of a constraint on cost, for example, cost per thousand impressions (CPM), association of the advertisement content of the client with specific brands, content provider or channel, time or day of targeting constraint, and the like. The proposal management system may further validate the one or more client-defined requirements and generate the proposal plan. The generated proposal plan may comprise at least a proposed distribution of target audience across the plurality of delivery platforms . Additionally, the generated proposal plan may be an aggregate of one or more proposal plans corresponding to one or more requests from a client. 204 204 204 204 204 104 220 a a a The proposal management system may include a first predictive model . The first predictive model may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to receive, for example, an initiate signal from the proposal management system . Based on the received initiate signal, the first predictive model may be configured to predict a count of users across a set of delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms over a flight. The count of users may also be referred to as a reach or a count of reachable users. The count of users across the set of delivery platforms, may be predicted based on the determined audience definition information in the audience definition database . The set of delivery platforms are delivery platforms that are selected in accordance to a mix of different delivery platforms requested in the plurality of client-defined requirements in client request. 204 204 204 104 216 216 216 104 104 b b a b c The proposal management system may include a cross-platform capacity estimator . The cross-platform capacity estimator may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to determine an available capacity across the plurality of delivery platforms at receipt of a client request. The determined audience definition information, inventory information from each of the linear inventory management system , the mobile inventory management system , and the digital inventory management system , and the predicted count of users across the selected set of delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms over the flight, provides a good notion of the available capacity. The inventory information indicates current booked inventory items or promotional opportunities for each individual delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms . 204 204 204 104 204 204 c c d The proposal management system may further include a target proposal creator . The target proposal creator may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to initially create an interim proposal plan corresponding to the received request based on one or more request parameters. The interim proposal plan corresponds to at least a distribution of target audience across the set of delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms . The created interim proposal plan may be optimized based on adjustment of the one or more request parameters with respect to a set of proposal parameters by a cross-platform proposal optimizer of the proposal management system . 204 108 204 204 204 104 d d d d The cross-platform proposal optimizer may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to optimize the created interim proposal plan to generate a proposal plan that can be communicated to a client for acceptance before execution, via the one or more client terminals . The cross-platform proposal optimizer may further control execution of the generated proposal plan and continuously optimize and re-optimize the generated proposal plan in accordance with optimal distribution of promotional opportunities with identified set of inventory items for granular buckets of time duration. The optimal distribution of promotional opportunities, such as ad slots, may correspond to a balance of the one or more client-defined requirements and availability of promotional opportunities or validity of the one or more request parameters. For example, the generated proposal plan for a client may guarantee a reach of the advertisement content to “30%” users on mobile delivery platform and “40%” users on linear delivery platform in “3 days”. The value of “30%” users on the mobile delivery platform and “40%” users on the linear delivery platform may be under-achieved during the first day due to a shortage of promotional opportunities. The cross-platform proposal optimizer may identify such deviations and modify (or dynamically adjust) the distribution such that the client-defined requirement of “30%” users on mobile delivery platform and “40%” may be achieved in the “3 day” time duration. The cross-platform proposal optimizer may be further configured to moderate the distribution of the target audience on plurality of delivery platforms during a flight of the proposal plan to optimally balance factors affecting the one or more client-defined requirements. 204 204 204 102 204 204 204 204 f f f The proposal management system may further include a proposal information system which may be configured to collect, store and process statistical and non-statistical data for each request from each corresponding client to identify a correlation and availability of resources for the request of the client. For example, a client may provide a request to obtain “100,000” impressions for a certain beauty product in a “2 days duration” at a CPM of “10 USD” and cost per sale (CPS) of “25 USD”. Here, CPS may be considered as an example of cost per outcome. In this example, the request may further comprise an exemplary distribution of target audience by “40%”, “20%”, and “40%” on a linear, a digital, and a mobile delivery platform respectively, each user being a female in an age range of “18-40 years”. The proposal information system , in conjunction with the cross-platform management system , may determine that the budget of the client for the requested proposal plan may not be achieved in the “2-days” duration. Therefore, the proposal management system , in conjunction with the proposal information system , may determine one or more points of negotiation in the request and based on acceptance, a negotiated proposal plan may be generated. It may be noted that in the above example, the proposal management system receives one request from a client. However, those skilled in the art would appreciate that the proposal management system may receive more than one request, concurrently or serially, from more than one client. 206 104 206 208 210 212 104 104 208 210 212 206 208 210 212 a a a a a a The cross-platform deal management system may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to execute the generated proposal plan in the defined time duration on at least one of the plurality of delivery platforms in accordance with the one or more client-defined requirements corresponding to the received request. In accordance with an embodiment, the cross-platform deal management system may further comprise platform-defined deal management systems, such as a mobile deal management system , a digital deal management system , and a linear deal management system . Each platform-defined deal management system may be configured to discretely execute the proposal plan on corresponding delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms based on corresponding allocated distribution of target audience. The set of constraints, budget, and availability of the inventories may be segregated and classified for each delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms and managed independently by the each of the one or more platform-defined deal management systems. Additionally, each platform-defined deal management system may further comprise a deal information system, such as deal information systems , , and . The cross-platform deal management system may retrieve deal related information from each of the deal information systems , , and and may store, update and moderate the set of proposal parameters, the one or more request parameters and inventory information in real time or near-real time. 214 214 214 214 214 214 214 a b The order and traffic system may comprise suitable logic, hardware, and interfaces to manage one or more orders in the generated proposal. The order and traffic system may be configured to clear orders based on available inventory. The orders may be cleared, for example, on a first come first serve (FCFS) basis. When an order is received, the order may specify the certain inventory units be placed in promotional slots or opportunities for different time periods in a flight. Since there may be multiple bookings occurring, the order and traffic system ensures the availability of the inventory for booking the required inventory units for the order. The order modification system of the order and traffic system may be configured to change the attributes associated with an order that has already cleared inventory, add one or more inventory units for an order to the inventory, or delete one or more inventory units from inventory. The inventory units correspond to promotional slots, e.g., ad slots, and promotional opportunities where the advertisement content can be inserted for consumption. The order and traffic system may be further configured to receive cleared and/or modified orders and queue them for assignment to an available promotional slots or spots and further pass such information to the cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system for scheduling and delivery. 214 214 206 202 120 214 206 202 b b b The cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to generate a schedule based on the generated promotion plan and received cleared and/or modified orders. The cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system may be further configured to monitor the generated schedule and delivery of the advertisement content on each delivery platform in the generated proposal plan corresponding to received request from the corresponding client. The schedule and the delivery of the advertisement content may be monitored to identify deviations in achievement of the generated proposal plan from the requested proposal plan. Additionally, one or more results corresponding to the one or more client-defined requirements may be obtained. The obtained one or more results may be shared with the cross-platform deal management system and the inventory management system . For example, a promotional banner may be placed in content, on web pages and e-mails, a promotional video may be placed in ad placements in television media streams and a graphic or animation may be placed in ad placements in mobile applications during a first day of scheduled delivery of the advertisement content. A set of impressions received on the promotional banner in webpages, e-mails and mobile applications may be recorded and a quarter of a million reach via the linear, digital and mobile delivery platforms may be recorded during the first day. The data may be transmitted, via the communication network , to the cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system and further transmitted to the cross-platform deal management system and the inventory management system . 218 114 114 226 120 218 104 104 114 114 226 218 220 220 118 106 a n a n The audience data processor may be configured to process audience data received from the audience data sources , . . . , , by a network interface , through the communication network . The audience data processor may be configured to determine an audience definition information that is consistent across the plurality of delivery platforms based on audience data of each individual delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms received from a plurality of different audience data sources, such as the audience data sources , . . . , , via the network interface . The audience data processor may be configured to store the audience definition information in an audience definition database . The audience definition database may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to store audience data that corresponds to the plurality of consumers of at least one of the plurality of devices . 222 116 116 222 224 104 a n The consumption tracking data reconciliation system may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to reconcile consumption data for the advertisement content delivered at different delivery platforms across the set of delivery platforms. The consumption data may be received from a plurality of different service providers, such as the service providers , . . . , , at different time of day, at different frequency, and with different data structure for each time period during a flight. The reconciled consumption data is utilized to obtain the one or more results corresponding to the execution of the generated proposal plan with respect to the one or more client-defined requirements of the plurality of client-defined requirements. The consumption tracking data reconciliation system may include a pacing model generator that may be configured to generate a pacing model that indicates a difference in achieved consumption of advertisement content against a planned delivery of the advertisement content during execution of the generated proposal plan for the first time period, and subsequent time periods during the flight to be achieved, based on the measured deviation in the derived one or more results across the set of delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms . 108 204 204 104 In operation, a client may provide a request for a proposal plan corresponding to the plurality of client-defined requirements, via a client terminal of the one or more client terminals , to the proposal management system . The client may correspond to a user (e.g., a brand promoter, an advertiser, a user in general, or programmable instructions which may provide a request associated with the plurality client-defined requirements, such as a reach of a brand, a cause, a service, or a campaign to a target audience or a specific number of impressions from the target audience. The proposal management system may be configured to receive the request corresponding to one or more client-defined requirements to be achieved in a given flight. The request for the corresponding one or more client-defined requirements may be associated with one or more request parameters. A client-defined requirement, for example, may correspond to a reach to maximum users of a specific income group, maximization of impressions from a specific number of users in a defined time duration, maximization of a revenue parameter, and minimization of a total penalty that may arise from deviations of goal values specified in the deals for advertisers and/or advertisement campaigns. The one or more request parameters may include, but are not limited to, a desired audience, a distribution of audience on a plurality of delivery platforms (mix), a cost constraint defined by a budget, and a flight or intermittent schedule of placement of the advertisement content. 1 In a first example, a client (A) may provide a request (R) for a client-defined requirement of “1 million” impressions for a health product (X) in a “10 day” duration. The one or more request parameters of the request may include, for example, a budget of “100,000 USD” (CPM of 10 USD), a distribution (mix) of target audience as “60%” on a mobile delivery platform and “40%” on a linear delivery platform, a geographical location of “California” (Over the Top (OTT)) and a time duration of targeting to be in a range of “7-10 PM”. The target audience may be specified by an age group of “8-30 years”, preferentially a male, within a specific income group of “60,000 USD” to “1M USD”. The placement of the advertisement content across the set of inventory items may be constrained with the one or more constraints, such as a constraint on non-association with sexually explicit content and a competitive brand (Y). 2 In a second example, another client (B) may provide another request (R) for a client-defined requirement of a maximum reach of a campaign for a social cause (S) in a “15 day” duration. The one or more request parameters of the request may include a budget of “500,000 USD” (CPM of 8 USD), a distribution (mix) of target audience as “30%” on a mobile delivery platform, “50%” on a linear delivery platform, “20%” on a digital delivery platform, a geographical location of “Texas” and a time duration of targeting to be in a range of “5-9 AM”. The target audience may be specified by an age group of “14-60 years”, without any gender preference. The placement of the advertisement content across the set of inventory items may be constrained with the one or more constraints, such as a constraint on non-association with a meat associated brand. 3 204 In a third example, another client (C) may provide another request (R) for a client-defined requirement of a sales parameter and value of “300,000 and 3 million USD” for a service (Z) in a “30 day” duration. The one or more request parameters of the request may include a budget of “300,000 USD” (CPM of “5 USD” and CPS of “10 USD”), a distribution (mix) of target audience as “40%” on a mobile delivery platform, “40%” on a linear delivery platform, and “20%” on a digital delivery platform, geographical location(s) with an average gross domestic product (GDP) of more than “200 billion USD” and a preferred time duration of targeting in a range of “8-11 PM”. The target audience may be specified by an age group of “18-60 years”, without any gender preference and preferentially a student or a working professional. The placement of the advertisement content across the set of inventory items may be constrained with the one or more constraints, such as a constraint on non-association with content for kids. The proposal management system may be configured to perform an adjustment check for each client-defined parameter to determine an optimally adjusted client-defined parameter. 204 The proposal management system implicitly examines all possible combinations of allocations across all feasible inventory items across all platforms (e.g., delivery platforms) required by the client and determines which allocations provides the best goal while at the same time meeting all constraints, such as availability of target audience, availability of inventory items or capacity requirement of the set of proposal parameters, budget and pricing constraints. 218 220 204 220 220 220 104 The availability of target audience as defined by the one or more request parameters may correspond to an available number of promotional opportunities on the requested delivery platform, or the availability of the inventory items, such media content or web pages, on the requested delivery platform. The target audience may be determined in conjunction with the audience data processor . The audience definition database may be operatively coupled to the proposal management system . The audience definition database be configured to store and provide records of each user and user-associated devices, a personal data, historical product, brand or service preferences, visited or present location(s), and historical interaction or viewing preferences. For each user, the audience definition database may further include web cookies data, Nielsen watermark data, login or registration data, subscription data, IP address, network bandwidth data and the like. The audience definition database may include platform or device ID for each delivery device associated with the plurality of delivery platforms . Examples of such platform or device IDs may include, but are not limited to, a web cookie, a web beacon, a contact number, an IMEI number, a media access control (MAC) address, an IP address, a set top box ID. 104 114 114 226 218 104 104 114 114 218 220 a n a n In accordance with an embodiment, audience data of each individual delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms may be separately received from a plurality of different audience data sources, such as the audience data sources , . . . , , via the network interface . Such received audience data may not be uniform and compatible with each other. Thus, it may be difficult to utilize such audience data as such for planning and proposal creation and using such data may result in error. The audience data processor may be configured to determine an audience definition information that is consistent across the plurality of delivery platforms based on the audience data of each individual delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms received from the plurality of different audience data sources, such as the audience data sources , . . . , . The audience data processor may be configured to store the audience definition information in the audience definition database . The total audience across all delivery platforms is a summation of users across all such platforms. The formula can be written as: <math overflow="scroll"><mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mrow><mrow><mi>T</mi><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mi>A</mi></mrow><mo>=</mo><mrow><munder><mo>&#x2211;</mo><mrow><mi>i</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>j</mi></mrow></munder><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mrow><msub><mi>x</mi><mrow><mi>i</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>j</mi></mrow></msub><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mi>where</mi><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>&#x2062;</mo><msub><mi>x</mi><mrow><mi>i</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>j</mi></mrow></msub><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mi>is</mi><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mi>if</mi><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mi>user</mi><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mi>i</mi><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mi>uses</mi><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mi>delivery</mi><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mi>platform</mi><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mi>j</mi></mrow></mrow></mrow><mo>,</mo><mrow><mi>otherwise</mi><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mi>is</mi><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mstyle><mspace width="0.8em" height="0.8ex" /></mstyle><mo>&#x2062;</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow></mrow></mtd><mtd><mrow><mo>(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable></math> 204 220 204 The target audience may be further selected based on constraints or requirements defined in the one or more request parameters of the request. The proposal management system may take into account whether the required distribution of the target audience is available in the audience definition database to achieve at least one of the plurality of client-defined requirements. The availability may depend on some pre-reserved slots for other client proposal plans or may depend on a lower budget quote in the request which may not satisfy the required volume of the target audience. The proposal management system may perform adjustment of the distribution of the target audience on each requested delivery platform. 102 202 202 102 112 204 202 202 204 204 The availability for a set of inventory items or capacity requirement of the set of proposal parameters may be performed with respect to an inventory or brand associated with a request parameter. The cross-platform management system works in conjunction with the inventory management system to provide availability of the inventory items or capacity requirement. The inventory management system may be configured to provide an availability of the set of inventory items and promotional opportunities (slots). Further, the cross-platform management system may work in conjunction with third party inventory providers, or an associated media CDN . For example, a request may require placement of “20%” of promotional ads between ad slots of a specific television show on a linear delivery platform. The proposal management system may transmit the constraint to the inventory management system . The inventory management system may provide a list of unavailable slots for each scheduled day of airing the program to the proposal management system . The proposal management system may be configured to adjust the inventory or brand associated request parameter with a feasible and adjusted distribution, such as “10%”, on the linear delivery platform. 104 202 204 All other client's constraints are assessed for viability during the proposal creation. In one such instance, a price constraint (as defined by the budget) may violate a calculated minimum price constraint for the delivery of the promotional content on the plurality of delivery platforms for the corresponding one or more client requirements. Referring to the first example, the cost per thousand (CPM) price of “10 USD” may violate a minimum price requirement for completion of the client-defined requirement of “1 million” impressions for the health product in the “10 day” duration. In another such instance, a constraint for association of the promotional content with specific brands or inventory items may be checked. Referring to the second example, the constraint on non-association with a meat associated brand may not be validated as the inventory management system may identify “zero” available ad slots with non-meat associations for the placement of the promotional content in the time duration of “5-9 AM”. The proposal management system may be configured to adjust and verify the validity of the one or more constraints. 104 206 206 104 104 102 206 206 The generated proposal plan may be transmitted to the client, via the client terminal, for acceptance before execution and delivery of the advertisement content on the plurality of delivery platforms . After acceptance, the generated proposal plan may be transmitted to the cross-platform deal management system . The cross-platform deal management system may be configured to execute the generated proposal plan during the flight on at least one of the plurality of delivery platforms in accordance with one or more client-defined requirements. The execution of the proposal plan on the at least one of the plurality of delivery platforms may correspond to management and delivery of the advertisement content to the target audience for each corresponding request from the client. Additionally, the execution of the proposal plan may correspond to a real time tracking of the set of proposal parameters, the distribution of target audience on different delivery platforms, and results corresponding to the one or more client requirements, such as impressions or a reach, during the flight of the execution. In other words, the cross-platform management system may be configured to manage delivery and pace of achieving the one or more client-defined requirements in the requested proposal plan. For example, a proposal plan with an exemplary distribution of target audience by “20%”, “30%”, and “50%” on mobile, digital and linear delivery platform respectively, for a product (A) may be executed by the cross-platform deal management system . The proposal plan may be scheduled for a flight of “10 days”, with a budget of “100,000 USD”, and a constraint of placement of the advertisement content on technology related inventory items. The cross-platform deal management system may be configured to book slots (promotional slots) and schedule placement of the advertisement content for the product (A) on each requested delivery platform based on an optimally determined distribution of the target audience for the one or more delivery platform for the given flight of the proposal plan and an availability of the inventory items satisfying the specified constraints and the budget line. 204 206 FIGS. 4 and 5 Referring to the third example, the generated proposal plan may comprise an adjusted distribution (mix) of target audience, for example, as “43%” on the mobile delivery platform, “37%” on the linear delivery platform, and “20%” on the digital delivery platform. The proposal management system may execute the proposal plan with generation of schedules and slots in associated with a flight of the proposal plan in the “30 day” duration. The cross-platform deal management system may be further configured to control (or dynamically modify and re-optimize) the distribution of the target audience for the one or more delivery platform for the given flight of the proposal plan for each granular bin of time, as illustrated in . In accordance with an embodiment, the execution of the generated proposal plan may deviate from achieving the plurality of client requirements with discrete bins of time during the flight of the proposal plan. The deviation may be present for granular bins of time and may be based on dynamic variations in consumption of promotional opportunities associated with the set of inventory items. Additionally, the deviation may be based on other similar factors apart from the ones mentioned above, without deviation from the scope of the disclosure. 204 204 204 104 204 d d d d The dynamics and the deviation in the proposal plan with respect to the flight of the proposal plan may be optimally balanced and controlled in real time by the cross-platform proposal optimizer . The cross-platform proposal optimizer may be configured to control execution of the generated proposal plan based on real time analysis of one or more control factors. The execution of the generated proposal plan may be controlled to optimally balance requirements of other concurrently operational proposal plans of other clients and pace of the generated proposal plan. Additionally, the control may be exercised upon the execution of the generated proposal plan based on real time analysis of one or more control factors. The one or more control factors may include, but are not limited to, a real time variation in demand of promotional opportunities, an under-delivery or over-delivery on a client requirement, and a deviation in the proposed reach or impression and the requested reach or impression. In accordance with an embodiment, the cross-platform proposal optimizer may modify the distribution of the target audience on the plurality of delivery platforms during the flight of the proposal plan in real time to optimally balance real time variations or deviations from the client-defined requirements in the proposal plan. In accordance with another embodiment, the cross-platform proposal optimizer may modify the set of proposal parameters affecting the results from the execution of the proposal plan during the flight of execution. 204 204 112 104 104 d d In accordance with an embodiment, the cross-platform proposal optimizer may perform context and/or sentiment mining of the advertisement content and the media content that may be aired in future. A correlation or mapping of the context and/or sentiment may be performed between at least one segment of the media content and the advertisement content. The allocation of the content or sentiment correlated advertisement content may be allocated at the one or more promotional opportunities (such as slots) within the context or sentiment correlated media content. The cross-platform proposal optimizer , in conjunction with the media CDN , may be configured to optimally deliver the context or sentiment correlated advertisement content in the media content that is streamed across the plurality of delivery platforms . The optimal delivery of the context or sentiment correlated advertisement content may be performed to achieve the one or more client-defined requirements, such as the planned distribution of target audience across the plurality of delivery platforms , in the proposal plan. In other words, the context or sentiment correlated advertisement content may be placed at a time that may match with the scheduled or requested delivery of contextually or sentimentally relevant media content. The delivery of contextually or sentimentally relevant advertisement content along with the media content may affect intent (or interest) of target audience to react (or interact) with the advertisement content and therefore, such reactions from the target audience may be assessed to achieve the one or more client-defined requirements of the proposal plan. The proposal plan may be stewarded based on evaluation of a number of users that watch the contextually or sentimentally correlated advertisement content within the media content. In accordance with an embodiment, such evaluated number of users may be separate from the target audience or a demo measurement service. 102 The biggest challenge in the media industry when attempting to build a cross platform system is converting the value of an impression from TV to digital to mobile. The rates between the various delivery platforms are typically negotiated independently with the client as part of the campaign sales process and then delivered within separate operational tools and measured separately. However, the disclosed system, such as the cross-platform management system , can place a campaign based on content/sentiment relationship between the ad creative (the advertisement video to be aired) and programming by finding the matching content/sentiment within the future programming aired on any of the distribution platforms. In this case, the goal of the campaign is reached by content matching, which is done in the context of optimally reaching the audience when context is most relevant. The deal can be steward by simply counting any person watching that commercial within the programming divorced from audience or demo measurement services. 204 104 206 202 204 d d. In general, the cross-platform proposal optimizer may balance the requirements of the client based on adjustments in the distribution of the target audience across the plurality of delivery platforms with dynamic variations in capacity (such as promotional opportunities) and inventory items. The operations of the cross-platform deal management system and the inventory management system may be controlled by the cross-platform proposal optimizer 104 204 104 d With real time variations in at least one of the demand of promotional opportunities, the under-delivery or over-delivery on a client requirement, the undesirable results from applied distribution of target audience on the plurality of delivery platforms for the flight of the proposal plan, and deviations in the proposed reach or impressions, the cross-platform proposal optimizer may be configured to optimally modify the distribution of target audience on the at least plurality of delivery platforms such that the real time variations may be favorably compensated and balanced. The modifications may be performed for granular bins of time duration such that each of the one or more client requirements may be completed during the flight of the proposal plan. 206 204 th th d Referring to the first example, the cross-platform deal management system may report under-delivery with a lower distribution (mix) of target audience as “40%” on the mobile delivery platform and “30%” on the linear delivery platform at the “5day” due to unavailability of promotional opportunities (such as ad slots), 30% desktop computers or handheld. The cross-platform proposal optimizer may re-optimize the generated proposal plan and accordingly modify the current distribution with a distribution (mix) of target audience as “50%” on the mobile delivery platform and “50%” on the linear delivery platform at the “6day” to balance the under-delivery on the client-defined requirement of “1 million” impressions for the health product (X) in the “10 day” duration. 206 202 214 214 206 202 204 b b d The control and execution of the proposal plan may be further managed and operationally delivered, in conjunction with the cross-platform deal management system and the inventory management system , by the cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system . The cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system may be configured to monitor the generated schedule and delivery of the advertisement content on each delivery platform in the generated proposal plan corresponding to received request from the corresponding client. The schedule and the delivery of the advertisement content may be monitored to identify deviations in achievement of the generated proposal plan from the requested objectives. Additionally, the cross-platform scheduling system may be configured to obtain one or more results corresponding to the one or more client-defined requirements associated with the generated proposal plan. The obtained one or more results may be shared with the cross-platform deal management system and the inventory management system . The shared one or more results may be assessed by the cross-platform proposal optimizer to assess deviations in meeting the client-defined requirements of the proposal plan. FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C FIG. 1 FIG. 2 FIG. 3A 300 illustrates an exemplary processing pipeline for cross-platform proposal creation, optimization, and re-optimization during a flight, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. are described in conjunction with elements from and . With reference , there is shown a processing pipeline . 302 102 226 108 120 302 304 306 308 306 FIG. 1 At , the cross-platform management system () may be configured to receive, via the network interface , a request corresponding to a plurality of client-defined requirements to be achieved in a flight. The plurality of client-defined requirements may be received from a client from the one or more client terminals via the communication network . The plurality of client-defined requirements corresponds to received input , such as a budget , a total duration of the flight (hereinafter simply referred to as a flight ), a target audience , and one or more objectives to be achieved in the flight . 310 310 308 104 310 310 310 306 310 310 306 310 310 306 104 310 310 a b b c d e The one or more objectives (hereinafter simply referred to as objectives ) to be achieved, include a cross-platform mix criteria that indicates a requested or at least some distribution of the target audience in a set of delivery platforms that are selected from the plurality of delivery platforms . The selection of the set of delivery platforms is also based on at least one of the plurality of client-defined requirements that indicate a client-desired mix of delivery platforms. The objectives further include an expected outcome criteria that indicates a reach to at least a threshold number of users of the target audience within the budget. In some cases, the expected outcome criteria indicates a reach to a maximum number of users of the target audience within the budget during the flight . A cost efficiency criteria of the objectives is to achieve as much cost per thousand impression (CPM) reduction as possible while achieving other objectives during the flight . A gross impressions criteria may be one of the objectives that indicate total impressions (e.g., CPM) for the desired advertisement content to be achieved during the flight across one or more delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms . In some embodiments, one of the objectives may be a receptivity criteria that indicates how likely the consumers will watch and engage with a delivered advertisement content more attentively if the advertisement content is delivered at a specific time of day or scheduled to be displayed within a most viewed TV show, or a match or a degree of similarity of context between the advertisement content and a media stream in which the advertisement content is to be placed. For example, it may be expected that consumers will be more receptive to a product advertisement content, such as a truck, when such truck impressions are shown in an action movie as compared to a cartoon or a comedy movie. Consumers may be more receptive at certain times of day, for example, 6 PM to 11 PM, than morning 7 AM to 9 AM. In some embodiments, a client-defined requirement of the plurality of client defined requirements may correspond to a reach to maximum users of a specific income group or a specific characteristic of consumers, maximization of impressions from a specific number of users in a defined time duration, maximization of a revenue parameter, and minimization of a total penalty that may arise from deviations of goal values specified in the deals for advertisers and/or advertisement campaigns. 104 114 114 226 114 114 a n a n In accordance with an embodiment, audience data of each individual delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms may be separately received from a plurality of different audience data sources, such as the audience data sources , . . . , , via the network interface . Such received audience data may not be uniform and compatible with each other. For example, one audience data source may provide target audience data of age group 35-45 that falls in the income group of above 75,000 USD annual income, where some consumers are associated with corresponding set top box ID and whereas some other consumers are associated with both set top box ID and mobile ID. Another audience data source may provide target audience data of age group 40-45 that falls in the income group of above 90,000 USD annual income, where each consumer is associated with mobile device ID. Thus, it may be difficult to utilize such audience data for planning and proposal creation and using such data may result in error. 312 218 104 104 114 114 218 220 a n At , the audience data processor may be configured to determine an audience definition information that is consistent across the plurality of delivery platforms based on the audience data of each individual delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms received from the plurality of different audience data sources, such as the audience data sources , . . . , . The audience data processor may be configured to store the audience definition information in the audience definition database . 314 304 306 104 310 306 302 310 204 204 204 f a. At , the plurality of client-defined requirements (i.e., the received input), for example, the budget , the flight ), the audience definition information that is consistent across the plurality of delivery platforms , and the objectives to be achieved in the flight (from ), may be transformed to system acceptable values, as one or more request parameters. The one or more request parameters may include a cost constraint defined by the budget, a range constraint defined by the total duration of the flight, an audience characteristic constraint defined by the target audience, a video type or a banner type of the advertisement content, an order of preference for specified promotional slots for placement of the advertisement content, and different values associated with one or more criteria of the objectives . In some embodiments, the one or more request parameters may be stored with an associative relationship with the plurality of client-defined requirements in the proposal information system . The proposal management system may be configured to feed the one or more request parameters associated with the plurality of client-defined requirements and the audience definition information to the first predictive model 316 204 104 306 220 204 204 a a b. At , the first predictive model may be configured to predict a count of users across a set of delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms over the flight . The count of users across the set of delivery platforms, may be predicted based on at least the determined audience definition information in the audience definition database . The output of the first predictive model may be further provided to the cross-platform capacity estimator 318 204 104 216 216 216 104 306 104 306 b a b c At , the cross-platform capacity estimator may be configured to determine an available capacity across the plurality of delivery platforms at receipt of the request. The determined audience definition information, inventory information from each of the linear inventory management system , the mobile inventory management system , and the digital inventory management system , and the predicted count of users across the selected set of delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms over the flight , provides an improved estimation of the available capacity. The inventory information indicates current booked inventory items or promotional opportunities for each individual delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms . Alternatively stated, the available capacity may be determined by subtracting the amount of inventory units that has been sold from the total inventory (total capacity), and where the flight and the determined audience definition information indicates availability of desired target audience in accordance to the plurality of client-defined requirements. FIG. 3B FIG. 3A 300 104 204 204 320 204 104 204 104 204 204 c c c d With reference to , there is shown the processing pipeline in continuation to . After the available capacity across the plurality of delivery platforms is determined, the proposal management system may activate the target proposal creator . At , the target proposal creator may be configured to initially create an interim proposal plan corresponding to the received request based on one or more request parameters. The interim proposal plan corresponds to at least a distribution of target audience across the set of delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms . The target proposal creator may be configured to create the interim proposal plan based on the determined available capacity across the plurality of delivery platforms . The interim proposal plan then may be provided to the cross-platform proposal optimizer of the proposal management system . 322 204 108 204 310 306 104 204 108 214 314 d d b FIG. 3A At , the cross-platform proposal optimizer may be configured to optimize the created interim proposal plan to generate a proposal plan that can be communicated to a client for acceptance before execution, via the one or more client terminals . The cross-platform proposal optimizer may be configured to generate the proposal plan corresponding to the received request based on adjustment of the one or more request parameters with respect to a set of proposal parameters. The proposal plan includes the one or more request parameters (i.e., one or more objectives of the objectives to be achieved during the flight , expected results (outcome), and a recommended mix. The recommended mix corresponds to an optimal distribution of target audience across a set of delivery platforms selected from the plurality of delivery platforms . Thus, some mix may be ensured once a historical capacity or historical delivery is known based on the analysis of the data received from the cross-platform capacity estimator . This was not possible in traditional advertising campaign management on individual delivery platform separately. The generated proposal plan may then be communicated to a client device, via a client terminal of the one or more client terminals , for acceptance before execution and delivery of client-desired advertisement content. In case the acceptance is received for the generated proposal plan, the generated proposal plan is provided to the order and traffic system . In case the acceptance is not received for the generated proposal plan or rejected, for example, by a brand promoter or advertiser, additional input may be received from the client device via the client terminal. Further, the additional input may be then transformed to one or more additional request parameters like the operation (). The one or more additional request parameters may be added to the existing one or more request parameters and constraints. The generated proposal may then be further adjusted based on the newly added additional request parameters and send for acceptance again. In this regard, one or more iterations may occur in order to generate a finalized proposal. 324 214 214 214 306 b b At , the order and traffic system may be configured to generate a schedule (i.e., an initial scheduling) based on the generated promotion plan, using the cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system . The cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system may be configured to book promotional slots (e.g., ad slots) and schedule placement of the advertisement content for a specified product across the selected set of delivery platforms at least for a first time period during the fight in agreement to specified constraints in the set of proposal parameters, based on the generated proposal plan. The set of proposal parameters may correspond to a current availability of inventory items, price constraints, brand or content association constraints and the like. FIG. 3C FIG. 3B 300 326 214 214 306 306 b b With reference to , there is shown the processing pipeline in continuation to . At , the cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system may be configured to instruct delivery of advertisement content across each delivery platform of the set of delivery platforms at different booked promotional slots for the first time period, in accordance to the distribution of target audience across the set of delivery platforms in the generated proposal plan and the set of proposal parameters. Alternatively stated, the cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system may be configured to execute the generated proposal plan for the first time period (e.g., week 1 of the flight ) in the flight on one or more delivery platforms of the set of delivery platforms in accordance with the plurality of client-defined requirements corresponding to the received request. 116 116 306 222 306 102 102 a n In accordance with an embodiment, during execution of the generated proposal plan for the first time period, consumption data of the delivered advertisement content may be received from a plurality of different service providers, such as the service providers , . . . , , at different time of day, at different frequency, and with different data structure for each time period, such as the first time period at this point, during the flight . In other words, consumption tracking data, e.g., number of impressions achieved for different devices may be received at different time of day. For example, consumption tracking data for mobile delivery platform, such as a smartphone, may be received 30 minutes previously whereas consumption tracking data for television may arrive only at end of day. Thus, it may be required to decide an optimal time to reconcile such data. The consumption tracking data reconciliation system may be configured to reconcile consumption data for the advertisement content delivered at different delivery platforms across the set of delivery platforms. The reconciled consumption data is utilized to derive one or more results corresponding to the execution of the generated proposal plan with respect to the one or more client-defined requirements of the plurality of client-defined requirements. Based on the dynamic variations in consumption of promotional opportunities associated with the set of inventory items, the execution of the generated proposal plan may deviate from achieving the one or more client requirements with discrete bins of time during the flight of the generated proposal plan. The cross-platform management system may be configured to track an actual delivery of the advertisement content across each delivery platform of the set of delivery platforms for the first time period in accordance to the distribution of target audience across the set of delivery platforms and one or more client-defined requirements of the plurality of client-defined requirements associated with the generated proposal plan. The cross-platform management system may be configured to measure a deviation in the derived one or more results across the set of delivery platforms for the first time period in the flight during the execution of the generated proposal plan, based on the reconciled data. 328 330 204 306 204 332 224 d e FIG. 4 FIG. 4 FIG. 4 At , re-optimization is executed after actual delivery beings for the first time period. At , the cross-platform proposal optimizer may be configured to re-optimize the generated proposal plan for a second time period (e.g., week 2 or “t−1” of ) in the flight by an in-flight re-distribution of the target audience across the set of delivery platforms. The in-flight re-distribution of audience across the set of delivery platform is executed based on the measured deviation in one or more client-defined requirements of the plurality of client-defined requirements during execution of the generated proposal plan for the first time period (e.g., in the week 1 or “t−2” of ). For the re-optimization, the second predictive model may be configured to forecast the re-distribution of the target audience across the set of delivery platforms for the second time period based on the reconciled consumption data for previous time period (i.e., the first time period). For example, if the results impressions on the television delivery platform is detected low and the impressions on the mobile delivery platform is detected high than planned then more impressions may be pushed for the television delivery platform for the second time period and comparatively lower impressions may be targeted for the mobile delivery platform for the second time period. At , a pacing model is generated by the pacing model generator . An example of the pacing model is shown and described, for example, in . 334 214 At , the order and traffic system may be configured to re-allocate and re-schedule advertisement content across each delivery platform of the set of delivery platforms at different promotional slots (e.g., ad slots or advertisement content placement opportunities) for the second time period in accordance to the in-flight re-distribution of the target audience across the set of delivery platforms and the set of proposal parameters. The re-scheduling is done to control execution of the re-optimized proposal plan for the second time period in the flight and to align to the one or more client-defined requirements of the plurality of client-defined requirements. 336 214 214 214 b a At , the cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system may be configured to re-express the advertisement content based on the re-scheduling in accordance with the re-optimized generated proposal plan for the second time period. The re-expression corresponds to controlled execution of the re-optimized proposal plan for the second time period in the flight on one or more delivery platforms of the set of delivery platforms in accordance with the re-optimized proposal plan to align with the one or more client-defined requirements. In the re-expression, the order modification system of the order and traffic system may be configured to change the attributes associated with an order for the re-scheduling and accordingly add one or more additional inventory units for one delivery platform while deleting one or more inventory units from inventory for another delivery platform to cause the execution of the re-optimization. The inventory units correspond to promotional slots, e.g., ad slots, and promotional opportunities where the advertisement content can be inserted for consumption. 214 306 310 In accordance with an embodiment, the order and traffic system may be configured to re-allocate, re-schedule, and re-instruct modified delivery and clearing of the advertisement content across each delivery platform of the set of delivery platforms at different promotional slots for the second time period. Such re-allocation, re-scheduling, and re-instruction for modified delivery of advertisement content may be done for the controlled execution of the re-optimized proposal plan for the second time period in the flight and to align to the one or more client-defined requirements of the plurality of client-defined requirements. Thus, a continuous cycle of optimization and re-optimization for each time period during the flight is executed to achieve at least one or more given objectives (e.g., the objectives ). FIG. 4 FIG. 4 FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A to 3C 224 402 306 104 306 1 2 3 306 1 2 3 1 3 1 2 3 306 illustrates an exemplary pacing model, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. is described in conjunction with elements from . In accordance with an embodiment, the pacing model generator may be configured to generate a pacing model that indicates a difference in achieved consumption of advertisement content against a planned delivery of the advertisement content during execution of the generated proposal plan for the first time period (e.g., “t−2”), and subsequent time periods (t−1, t, t+1, t+2, . . . , t+n) during the flight to be achieved, based on the measured deviation in the derived one or more results across the set of delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms . For example, for the first time period (represented as “t−2”) in the flight , the distribution of the target audience (i.e., actual obtained results) may be “50%”, “30%”, and “20%” for the television (also represented as medium 1 “M”), mobile (also represented as medium 2 “M”) desktop (also represented as medium 3 “M”) delivery platforms respectively for the first time period (i.e., “t−2” or week 1 of the flight ). The original recommended mix in accordance to the generated proposal plan may be “40%”, “35%”, and “25%” for the television (“M”), mobile (“M”), desktop (“M”) delivery platforms respectively for the first time period (“t−2”). Thus, impressions for television (“M”) is planned to be reduced by 10%, increased for mobile by “5%” by percentage share), and increase for desktop (“M”) too by 5% in re-optimized plan. Again, the actual results obtained may be 45%”, “40%”, and “15%” for television (“M”), mobile (“M”), and desktop (“M”) respectively at “t−1”, as shown. Thus, the proposal plan may be optimized and re-optimized for different time periods (t, t+1, t+2, . . . t+n) based on measured deviation in the obtained one or more results across the set of delivery platforms for the different time periods of the flight of execution of the generated proposal plan. FIG. 5 FIG. 5 FIG. 4 FIG. 2A 500 306 500 306 306 306 502 204 306 306 d is a graph that illustrates a time variant in-flight distribution of target audience on a selected set of delivery platforms, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. With reference to , there is shown a graph of a proposal plan on a television delivery platform, a mobile delivery platform, and a desktop delivery platform during execution for a given flight, such as the flight . The graph may be represented as a plot of the percent target audience for each delivery platform for the flight . The flight may correspond to a continuous point in time or a discrete bin of time. The distribution of the target audience may be assigned as, for example, “50%”, “30%”, and “20%” for the television, mobile and desktop delivery platforms respectively for the first time period (i.e., “t−2” () or week 1 of the flight ). The distribution for each delivery platform may vary with time with respect to a straight line parallel to flight axis (constant distribution). The cross-platform proposal optimizer () may modify the distribution with time to balance the client-defined requirements and the availability of promotional opportunities within the inventory items or the selected set of delivery platforms. The generated distribution may be optimally achieved at the end of the flight . The cumulative or total distribution of the target audience may be achieved as “40%”, “35%”, and “25%” for the television, mobile and desktop delivery platforms respectively during the entire duration of the flight in accordance to the ensured mix and the plurality of client-defined requirements. FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D FIGS. 1, 2, 3A to 3C, 4, 5, and 6A to 6D 600 600 102 602 604 , collectively, is a flow chart that illustrates exemplary operations for cross-platform proposal and deal management, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. A flowchart may be described in conjunction with detailed description of . The operations of the flowchart may be executed in the cross-platform management system , where the operations start at and proceeds to . 602 204 FIG. 3A At , a request corresponding to a plurality of client-defined requirements to be achieved in a flight may be received. The request corresponding to the plurality of client-defined requirements may be associated with one or more request parameters. The proposal management system may be configured to receive the request corresponding to the plurality of client-defined requirements. An example of the plurality of client-defined requirements has been shown and described in . In accordance with an embodiment, the plurality of client-defined requirements may also correspond to a reach to maximum users of a specific income group, maximization of impressions from a specific number of users in a flight, maximization of a revenue parameter, and minimization of a total penalty that may arise from deviations of goal values specified in the deals for advertisers and/or advertisement campaigns. 604 204 102 At , the plurality of client-defined requirements may be transformed to the one or more request parameters that are acceptable as input to a processing system, such as the proposal management system . The cross-platform management system may be configured to transform the plurality of client-defined requirements to the one or more request parameters that are acceptable as input. The request for the corresponding one or more client-defined requirements may associated with the one or more request parameters. 606 104 106 114 114 218 a n At , audience data may be received for each individual delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms and associated devices (e.g., the plurality of devices ) from plurality of audience data sources, such as audience data sources , . . . , . The audience data processor may be configured to receive and process the audience data. 608 104 104 114 114 218 104 a n FIGS. 2 and 3A At , audience definition information that is consistent across the plurality of delivery platforms may be determined based on audience data of each individual delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms received from a plurality of audience data sources, such as the audience data sources , . . . , . The audience data processor may be configured to determine the audience definition information that is consistent across the plurality of delivery platforms . The audience definition information, for example, has been described in . 610 104 306 204 104 a At , a count of users across a set of delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms over the flight (e.g., the flight ) may be predicted based on the determined audience definition information. The set of delivery platforms may be selected in accordance to a mix of different delivery platforms requested in the plurality of client-defined requirements. The first predictive model may be configured to determine the count of users across the set of delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms over the flight. 612 104 104 204 104 216 216 216 204 b a b c b At , an available capacity across the plurality of delivery platforms may be determined at receipt of the request, based on the determined audience definition information and inventory information. The inventory information indicates current booked inventory items and promotional opportunities for each individual delivery platform of the plurality of delivery platforms . The cross-platform capacity estimator may be configured to determine the available capacity across the plurality of delivery platforms based on the determined audience definition information and the inventory information retrieved from the linear inventory management system , the mobile inventory management system , and the digital inventory management system . Alternatively stated, the cross-platform capacity estimator may be configured to predict ad impressions that can be delivered to a specific device associated with a user or multiple devices associated with different target users. 614 204 204 f At , a set of proposal parameters associated with the one or more request parameters may be retrieved from the proposal information system . In accordance with an embodiment, the proposal management system may be configured to retrieve the set of proposal parameters. The set of proposal parameters may correspond to availability of inventory items, price constraints, brand or content association constraints and the like. 616 204 FIG. 2 At , the one or more request parameters may be adjusted with respect to the retrieved set of proposal parameters. In accordance with an embodiment, the proposal management system may be configured to adjust the one or more request parameters associated with the one or more client-defined requirements with respect to the retrieved set of proposal parameters. The adjustment of the one or more request parameters may be based on one or more checks, negotiation, and validation of an availability of inventory items, promotional opportunities, and constraints, as discussed, for example, in . 618 204 104 At , a proposal plan may be generated based on adjustments of the one or more request parameters with respect to the set of proposal parameters. The proposal management system may be configured to generate the proposal plan based on adjustments of the one or more request parameters associated with one or more client-defined requirements. The proposal plan may correspond to at least a distribution of target audience (i.e., a recommended mix) across the set of delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms . 620 206 At , the generated proposal plan may be communicated to a client device, via a client terminal, for acceptance before execution and delivery of advertisement content on the set of delivery platforms. The cross-platform deal management system may be configured to communicate the generated proposal plan to the client device. The client device may be operated by a client, such as an advertiser, a brand promoter, or a client-side person responsible to manage an advertising campaign. 622 206 104 624 626 FIGS. 1, 2, and 3B At , it may be checked whether an acceptance on the generated proposal plan is received. The cross-platform deal management system may be configured to receive the acceptance on the generated proposal plan from client before execution and delivery of the advertisement content on the selected set of delivery platforms of the plurality of delivery platforms . In case of non-acceptance, the generated proposal plan may be negotiated, as discussed in and the control passes to . In cases where the acceptance is received, the control passes to . 624 108 604 616 At , additional input may be received from the client device via the client terminal (of the one or more client terminals ). The additional input may also be transformed to one or more additional request parameters (e.g., similar to operation at ). The control may return to , where the additional request parameters are further adjusted. 626 206 At , the generated proposal plan (or the negotiated/finalized proposal plan) may be executed for a first time period in the flight on the set of delivery platforms in accordance with plurality of client-defined requirements corresponding to received request. The cross-platform deal management system may be configured to execute the generated proposal plan based on acceptance of the generated proposal plan. 628 214 214 b At , the advertisement content may be allocated and scheduled across each delivery platform of set of delivery platforms at different promotional slots for the first time period, in accordance to distribution of target audience across set of delivery platforms during execution of the generated proposal plan. The order and traffic system may be configured to allocate and schedule the advertisement content across each delivery platform of set of delivery platforms using the cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system 630 214 b At , delivery of the advertisement content across each delivery platform of set of delivery platforms at different promotional slots for the first time period, may be instructed based on the scheduling in accordance to the generated proposal plan. The cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system may be configured to instruct delivery of the advertisement content across each delivery platform of set of delivery platforms at different promotional slots for the first time period. 632 116 116 222 116 116 a n a n. At , consumption data for the advertisement content delivered at different delivery platforms across the set of delivery platforms may be reconciled. The consumption data may be received from a plurality of different service providers, such as the service providers , . . . , at different time of day, at different frequency, and with different data structure for the first time period. The consumption tracking data reconciliation system may be configured to reconcile the consumption data for the advertisement content delivered at different delivery platforms across the set of delivery platforms received from the service providers , . . . , 634 102 At , an actual delivery of the advertisement content may be tracked across each delivery platform of the set of delivery platforms for the first time period in accordance with the distribution of target audience across the set of delivery platforms and one or more client-defined requirements of the plurality of client-defined requirements associated with the generated proposal plan. The cross-platform management system may be configured to track the actual delivery or forecasted delivery of the advertisement content across each delivery platform of the set of delivery platforms for the first time period in accordance to the distribution of target audience across the set of delivery platforms and the reconciled consumption data. 636 214 204 b d FIG. 3C At , one or more results corresponding to execution of the generated proposal plan with respect to one or more client-defined requirements of plurality of client-defined requirements may be obtained. The one or more results may be obtained based on at least the reconciled consumption data and the tracked actual delivery of advertisement content. The cross-platform scheduling and delivery control system may be configured to obtain the one or more results corresponding to the execution of the proposal plan. The obtained one or more results may be delivered to the cross-platform proposal optimizer , as discussed in . 638 206 At , a deviation in the obtained one or more results across the set of delivery platforms for each time period in flight during execution of generated proposal plan, may be measured based on the reconciled data. The cross-platform deal management system may be configured to measure the deviation in the obtained one or more results across the set of delivery platforms for specific points of time during the flight of execution of the proposal plan. 640 224 At , a pacing model may be generated that indicates a difference in achieved consumption of the advertisement content against a planned delivery of the advertisement content during execution of the generated proposal plan for the first time period, based on the measured deviation in the obtained one or more results across the set of delivery platforms. The pacing model generator may be configured to generate the pacing model. 642 204 At , one or more control factors may be identified to control the deviation in the one or more client-defined requirements of the plurality of client-defined requirements in the next time period in future (e.g., the second time period) that is subsequent to the previous time period (e.g., the first time period) in the flight. The proposal management system may be configured to identify the one or more control factors based on the generated pacing model and the measured deviation in the obtained one or more results during execution of the generated proposal plan. This enables a controlled and balanced achievement of the plurality of client-defined requirements. 644 204 d At , an in-flight mix that corresponds to in-flight re-distribution of the target audience across the set of delivery platforms, may be generated. The cross-platform optimizer may be configured to generate the in-flight mix that corresponds to in-flight re-distribution of the target audience across the set of delivery platforms based on the identified one or more control factors. 646 204 328 d FIGS. 3C, 4, and 5 At , the previously generated proposal plan may be re-optimized for a second time period in flight based on the generated in-flight mix. The cross-platform optimizer may be configured to re-optimize the previously generated proposal plan. An example of the re-optimization (at ) has been described, for example in . 648 206 At , an execution of the re-optimized proposal plan may be controlled on one or more delivery platforms of the set of delivery platforms for a next time period in flight in accordance with the re-optimized proposal plan to align with one or more client-defined requirements of the plurality of client-defined requirements. The cross-platform deal management system may be configured to execute the re-optimized proposal plan on one or more delivery platforms of the set of delivery platforms for the next time period (e.g., the second time period) in flight in accordance with the re-optimized proposal plan. 650 214 At , a re-allocation, a re-scheduling, and re-instruction for modified delivery of advertisement content across each delivery platform of the set of delivery platforms at different promotional slots for the second time period may be done in accordance to the generated in-flight re-distribution and clearing of the target audience across the set of delivery platforms and the set of proposal parameters. The order and traffic system may be configured to re-allocate, re-schedule, and re-instruct modified delivery of the advertisement content across each delivery platform of the set of delivery platforms at different promotional slots for the second time period. Such re-allocation, re-scheduling, and re-instruction for modified delivery of advertisement content may be done for the controlled execution of the re-optimized proposal plan for the second time period in the flight and to align to the one or more client-defined requirements of the plurality of client-defined requirements. 652 306 632 632 652 FIG. 6C At , it may be checked or determined whether the re-optimization is executed for all time periods in the flight. In cases where a periodic or continuous re-optimization is executed for all time periods in the flight (e.g., the flight ), the control ends thereafter. In cases where one or more time periods are remaining for re-optimization to be executed during the flight, the control returns to of . The operations to may be repeated until results from a previous time periods are obtained, and re-optimization is executed for all time periods in the flight. FIG. 7 FIG. 7 FIG. 1 700 102 712 712 704 202 218 222 226 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an exemplary cross-platform management system employing a processing system for creation, optimization, and re-optimization of proposal plan for given client-requirements, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to , the hardware implementation for the cross-platform management system of employs a processing system for proposal creation, optimization, and re-optimization in accordance with the plurality of client-defined requirements, as described herein. In some examples, the processing system may comprise one or more hardware processors , an inventory management component, such as the inventory management system , the audience data processor , a consumption tracking data reconciliation component, such as the consumption tracking data reconciliation system , and the network interface . 102 712 702 702 102 702 704 706 202 218 222 226 In this example, the cross-platform management system employing the processing system may be implemented with a bus architecture or other communication medium, represented generally by the bus . The bus may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific implementation of the cross-platform management system and the overall design constraints. The bus links together various circuits including one or more processors, represented by the hardware processor , a non-transitory computer-readable media, represented by the non-transitory computer-readable medium , the inventory management system , the audience data processor , the consumption tracking data reconciliation component, such as the consumption tracking data reconciliation system , and the network interface , which in combination may be configured to carry out one or more methods or procedures described herein. 708 702 226 226 120 114 114 116 116 108 104 710 102 710 102 710 a n a n FIG. 1 FIG. 1 A bus interface provides an interface between the bus and the network interface . The network interface provides a means for communicating via the communication network with various other apparatus, such as the audience data sources , . . . , , the service providers , . . . , , the one or more terminals , and the plurality of delivery platforms (). The user interface (e.g., keypad, display, speaker, microphone, pointing device, or graphical user interface, a human-machine hardware interface) may also be provided to enable a user to interact with the cross-platform management system (). In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, the user interface may enable user interaction with the cross-platform management system . For example, the user interface may be utilized to enter administration (admin) and/or configuration parameters. 704 702 706 704 102 102 704 102 706 704 FIG. 1 FIG. 1, 2, 3A to 3C, 4, 5, 6A to 6D The processor may be operable to manage the bus and processing, including the execution of software stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium . In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the processor may be configured to control the operation of the cross-platform management system () and may be configured to coordinate operation amongst the components therein, as well as with entities external to the cross-platform management system . The software, when executed by the hardware processor , causes the cross-platform management system to perform the various functions and/or operations described in , for any particular apparatus. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the hardware processor when executing software. 704 706 202 202 204 206 214 218 222 704 906 102 602 652 600 300 FIG. 2 FIG. 2 FIGS. 1, 2, 3A to 3C, 4, 5, and 6A to 6D FIGS. 6A to 6D FIG. 3A to 3C In an aspect, the hardware processor (also simply referred to as one or more circuits, circuitry, processor, or one or more processors), the non-transitory computer-readable medium , or a combination of both may be configured or otherwise specially programmed to perform the functionality of the inventory management system (including the various components of the inventory management system , such as the proposal management system , the cross-platform deal management system , and the order and traffic system , as described in ), the audience data processor , and the consumption tracking data reconciliation system (which are illustrated in ). For example, the processor , the computer-readable medium , or a combination of both may be configured or otherwise specially programmed to perform the functionality of the various components of the cross-platform management system as described in (e.g., the operations to of flowchart () or the operations in the processing pipeline ()). 102 104 104 The cross-platform management system operates faster and more efficiently to accommodate proposal creation, optimization, and re-optimization, across the plurality of delivery platforms at the same time or concurrently and can operate to efficiently and optimally process impressions and in-flight distribution of target audience which range from hundreds, thousands, to millions in number. The concurrent operations to manage the plurality of client-defined requirements across the plurality of delivery platforms including capacity estimation, audience definition determination for accurate distribution of target audience during a flight produces a synergistic effect and may utilize less memory, than would otherwise be required resulting in much faster processing time. With regards to synergistic effects, it is observed that consumers exposed to advertisement content on television, and paired media of television, on Internet, and mobile applications, have greater perceived message credibility, ad credibility, and brand credibility than counterparts exposed to repetitive ads from a single delivery medium or platform. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. As utilized herein the terms “circuits” and “circuitry” refer to physical electronic components (i.e. hardware) and any software and/or firmware (“code”) which may configure the hardware, be executed by the hardware, and/or otherwise be associated with the hardware. As used herein, for example, a particular processor and memory may comprise a first “circuit” when executing a first one or more lines of code and may comprise a second “circuit” when executing a second one or more lines of code. As utilized herein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joined by “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. As another example, “x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. As utilized herein, the term “exemplary” means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As utilized herein, the terms “e.g.,” and “for example” set off lists of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations. As utilized herein, circuitry is “operable” to perform a function whenever the circuitry comprises the necessary hardware and/or code (if any is necessary) to perform the function, regardless of whether performance of the function is disabled, or not enabled, by some user-configurable setting. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Further, many embodiments are described in terms of sequences of actions to be performed by, for example, elements of a computing device. It will be recognized that various actions described herein can be performed by specific circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuits (ASICs)), by program instructions being executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both. Additionally, these sequences of actions described herein can be considered to be embodied entirely within any non-transitory form of computer readable storage medium having stored therein a corresponding set of computer instructions that upon execution would cause an associated processor to perform the functionality described herein. Thus, the various aspects of the disclosure may be embodied in a number of different forms, all of which have been contemplated to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. In addition, for each of the embodiments described herein, the corresponding form of any such embodiments may be described herein as, for example, “logic configured to” perform the described action. Another embodiment of the disclosure may provide a non-transitory machine and/or computer readable storage and/or media, having stored thereon, a machine code and/or a computer program having at least one code section executable by a machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machine and/or computer to perform the steps as described herein. The present disclosure may also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, either statically or dynamically defined, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form. Further, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, algorithms, and/or steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, firmware, or combinations thereof. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure. The methods, sequences and/or algorithms described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in firmware, hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination thereof. A software module may reside in random access memory (RAM) memory, flash memory, read only memory (ROM) memory, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) memory, registers, hard disk, physical and/or virtual disk, a removable disk, a compact disc read-only-memory (CD-ROM), virtualized system or device such as a virtual sever or container, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is communicatively coupled to the processor (including logic/code executing in the processor) such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. While the present disclosure has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be noted understood by, for example, those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications could be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined, for example, in the appended claims. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from its scope. The functions, steps and/or actions of the method claims in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure described herein need not be performed in any particular order. Furthermore, although elements of the disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention discloses a manufacturing method for a gift toy. The method comprises the following steps: 1) preparing a gift toy body the contour of which is of an animal, wherein the gift toy body comprises a trunk and a plurality of strip protruding parts, the strip protruding parts are respectively connected on the trunk detachably and protruding outwards, at least two protruding parts protrude and the front parts thereof are mutually folded; and 2) setting a battery, a photoelectric sensor, a displacement sensor, a temperature sensor, an MIC, a control circuit, a storage module, an acousto-optic element, and a display element which mutually electrically connected respectively in the trunk of the body and each protruding part. The invention also discloses the gift toy manufactured by adopting the method, comprising the toy body. The preparation method and product provided by the invention have the advantages that through the combination of conventional gifts and toys, good wishes and other information of a gift contributor to a gift receiver can be accurately and clearly expressed, and can be displayed repeatedly.

Organization of glomeruli in the main olfactory bulb of Xenopus laevis tadpoles. Structural and functional investigations were carried out to study olfactory glomeruli in the main olfactory bulb (OB) in tadpoles of the clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. Calcium imaging of odor response patterns of OB neurons revealed that the synapses within the glomeruli are functional. Tracing axons of individual olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), dendrites of mitral/tufted (M/T) cells and processes of periglomerular interneurons indicate that the glomerular architecture is solely determined by terminal branches of ORN axons and tufts of M/T primary dendrites. The small population of periglomerular neurons forms wide-field arborizations that always extend over many glomeruli, enter the glomeruli, but lack any glomerular tufts. Antibodies to synaptophysin indicate a high density of synapses within glomeruli, which was further confirmed at the ultrastructural level and quantified to approximately 0.5 synaptic sites per microm(2). Combining immunocytochemistry and ultrastructural investigations, we show that glomeruli in Xenopus laevis tadpoles lack any cellular borders. Glomeruli are surrounded neither by periglomerular somata nor by glial processes. Taken together, our results demonstrate that olfactory glomeruli in Xenopus laevis tadpoles (1) are fully functional, (2) are spheroidal neuropil aggregations of terminal tufts of ORNs and tufts of primary dendrites of M/T cells, and (3) are not enwrapped by a border formed by juxtaglomerular cells.

On August 31, 2012, the President signed an Executive Order requiring the Departments of Defense (DoD), Veterans Affairs (VA), and Health and Human Services (HHS) to work together to prevent suicide, enhance veterans’ access to mental health care through community providers, increase the number of VA mental health providers, and promote mental health research to develop more effective treatments. The Interagency Task Force on Military and Veterans Mental Health, co-chaired by high-level official representatives of the DoD, the Veterans Health Administration, and the HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), prepared an interim report that was made available to the public on May 21, 2013. According to the report, both the DoD and the VA are incorporating telemedicine and internet technologies to expand access to care. The DoD, for example, has implemented clinic-to-clinic telemedical care that allows providers to care for patients located in settings where authorized TRICARE providers offer medical or psychological services. One House lawmaker is encouraging the DoD to permit patients to receive mental health telemedical care in their homes. The DoD is also offering psychological health care tools through the internet via sites including afterdeployment.org and Military Kids Connect, which offer support to service members, families, health care providers, and other community members dealing with the deployment cycle. Military Pathways, an anonymous mental health and alcohol education screening program. It is also promoting the use of mobile medical apps to support clinical treatment. Breathe2Relax encourages breathing to calm “fight or flight” responses; T2 Mood Tracker allows patients to record emotions and behaviors and track progress on using indicators relevant to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. PTSD Coach educates users about PTSD, provides a self-assessment, aids in managing symptoms, and recommends sources of support. PTSD Coach was created by the VA’s National Center for PTSD in collaboration with the DoD’s National Center for Telehealth and Technology. The VA has also expanded its use of telemedicine into clinics and, in limited instances, into homes. The VA has initiated a group of pilot projects to allow patients access to treatment through community providers in locations with accessibility issues or that experienced difficulties recruiting and placing mental health professionals. Eleven such projects were in effect in February 2013 and 20 were expected to be operational by May 31, 2013. The projects vary from site to site, but some are expected to include telemedical mental health services. The VA and the DoD are also creating an Integrated Mental Health Strategy on “Military Culture Training” that is intended to educate community providers about the unique needs of veterans and service members. The web-accessible training will focus on military culture, deployment stress, and related mental health and substance abuse issues. The VA has already launched a Community Provider Toolkit to provide information to community providers seeking to treat veterans. In addition to existing in-person programs, online programs include psychology courses, as well as a behavioral health certificate program consisting of 14 online courses that train civilian providers regarding the military and issues that specifically affect veterans and their families.

http://health.wolterskluwerlb.com/2013/06/new-media-to-aid-in-expansion-of-mental-health-services-for-service-members-veterans/

The students listen to a short story that introduces difficulties involved in making choices. Using a grid, the students discuss costs and benefits as they make choices. (The class uses an apron as a prop in making decisions, here and in future lessons.) The lesson introduces the concept of opportunity cost, defined as the best alternative given up when a choice is made. This engaging lesson gives students the opportunity to identify risks and rewards of entrepreneurship and distinguish between entrepreneurs who start a business to produce a good or provide a service. 1 out of 12 lessons relate.

http://fffl.ncee.net/lessons.php?gradeLevel=K-2&lid=68200

Christian Boer, an Amsterdam-based graphic designer who struggles with dyslexia, wanted to create a typeface that was all about ease of use. So the first thing he did, he says, was "throw every rule of making a typeface overboard and look at what could happen to make it easier to read". The result is Dyslexie. Each letter is designed so that it can't be confused with others, even when rotated or mirrored. "That's something that people with dyslexia do without noticing," explains Boer, 32. Extra weight on the underside of characters, slanted strokes and widened openings make them easily distinguishable. Dyslexie can now be downloaded so anyone can use it to type or read with. Don't use that old typeface. Why not design your own instead?

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/this-headline-has-been-written-for-dyslexics

How does the INFP personality fit into the Big Five personality traits? Reading time: 5 minutes In personality studies, scientific researchers often use a trait-based approach to describing the differences between people instead of using personality types. The most well-established method is the Big Five, which describes differences along five broad dimensions: Personality types are far less precise than getting exact Big Five measurements, but knowing your personality type can give you a rough idea of where you fall on each dimension. In the graph below, each dot is an INFP, placed by where they fall on each of the Big Five dimensions. You can see that INFPs can vary quite a bit on any single dimension. For example, some INFPs fall near the top of the Openness dimension, while others fall closer to the middle or average. However, very few INFPs fall below the average on Openness. So, we can be reasonably confident that an INFP will be average or higher than average on Openness, and an INFP is unlikely to be lower than average on Openness. Using the same principles, we can profile the INFP personality type across every Big Five dimension. See your personality clearly See where you fall on the Big Five, see the words that describe you, compare yourself to others, and more. INFPs are often highly open to experience. As a group, INFPs stand out in their unusually high openness to experience. High Openness to Experience is related to strong need and preference for novelty across all types of experiences. Like many INFPs, highly open people tend to have diverse tastes in food, music, art, and literature, are intellectually curious, and often embrace unconventional habits, ideas, or beliefs. INFPs tend to be less conscientious. Conscientiousness describes one’s tendency to make detailed plans, be highly organized and systematic, and follow consistent, regular schedules. The relatively low conscientiousness of INFPs’ means that they more readily accept chaos and irregularity, and may actively avoid what they perceive as being too organized or systematic. INFPs are less likely to be highly focused and dedicated to a single long-term goal. Instead, they tend to act more impulsively, happily bounce between smaller, short-term projects and goals. Lastly, INFPs will feel less obligated to carefully follow widely accepted social norms, rules, and regulations in several areas of life. They may opt for an unconventional or even rebellious approach. While INFPs tend to be more introverted, they are the least introverted of all of the Introverted personality types. Many INFPs fall just below average on Big Five Extraversion, which describes tendencies around social engagement and experiences and expressions of positive emotions. More introverted INFPs may prefer to spend time engaged in more solitary activities or surround themselves with calm, less stimulating environments. Those INFPs who fall closer to the average may more comfortably switch between highly social activities and quiet downtime alone. The INFPs level of introversion will also be reflected in their patterns of emotional expression. As introversion increases, INFPs may seem stoic and serious, less likely to display a range of positive emotions like joy, laughter, and excitement. INFPs tend to be highly varied on Agreeableness. Merely knowing that one is an INFP tells you very little about how agreeable or demanding they are. From the graph above, you can see that INFPs fall evenly along the entire range of Agreeableness, with some at the very low extremes and some at the very high extremes. More agreeable INFPs will seek to maintain warmer and friendlier relations with other people, from strangers to relatives to close friends. More agreeable people will try to avoid interpersonal conflicts, and will attempt to reduce or resolve disputes as they arise. INFPs with higher agreeableness will also have greater altruistic interests, and may gravitate towards professions or hobbies that involve helping others. Less agreeable INFPs are more demanding and more comfortable with interpersonal conflicts and disagreement than most. They often find it easier to prioritize their own goals over others’ needs, and more easily voice their criticism and negative feedback to others. The high variation of Agreeableness in INFPs is an excellent example of the shortcomings of using personality types. If you want to know how agreeable you are, just take TraitLab’s free Big Five test. Just as with Agreeableness, INFPs are highly varied in their level of Neuroticism or Emotional Stability. Some INFPs fall on the very low end of Neuroticism, some land on the very high end, and most fall somewhere in between. Knowing that someone is an INFP tells you almost nothing about their relative level of Neuroticism. Neuroticism describes our emotional volatility and variability. It is closely tied to our tendency to experience negative emotions: anxiety, anger, distress, and depression. High Neuroticism is related to more frequent and dramatic mood swings and a general tendency to worry more often. More neurotic people are more irritable, have a shorter temper, and are more likely to dwell on negative experiences. Low Neuroticism, or high Emotional Stability, is related to an overall decreased reactivity to stress, fewer and less intense experiences of negative emotions like anxiety and anger, and a more relaxed and easy-going temperament.

https://traitlab.com/blog/infp/big-five