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I'm going to start a series of posts to illustrate my ideas for a better future. I want people to comment on them. Basically what that means is that I don't particularly want to stamp my opinion all over the place if my opinion is based in flawed reasoning and thus could be damaging. I'd rather publish what I think and then work with others to better calibrate my position and reach a point where I become reasonable.
Firstly, the housing crisis. Right now, there are a lot of people living in unaffordable accommodation, that the government is having to pay for, and there are also long waiting lists for homeless people to be placed in accommodation. The government is trying to manage the spend on rent by introducing benefit caps and trying to convince people to move. I would do things very differently. I would first introduce a rent cap. By doing this, I would mandate would-be landlords to get their homes valued and, depending on the value of the home, assign them a maximum rate at which they can charge rent on it. This would not take location into account. The cap would be just as high or low in Central London as it is in places further afield. Given how location affects property value anyway, there would be a variance due to location, but it would be solely based on property value, not 'typical' rent value of local areas. This measure would drastically reduce the amount of money the government would have to spend in housing benefit, as rent prices would be made more reasonable.
I would then recommend the government invest in social housing projects. As I previously stated in another post, I have a particular preference for energy efficient housing, and would definitely want to aim for something that is as closed a system as possible, with recycling and alternative energies being focal points of the estates, along with substantially improved building materials that reduce costs and improve durability as well as energy efficiency. With lower maintenance costs, these estates would be very likely to reduce the housing spends even more, even if they would cost more to plan and build.
The next thing I would like to focus on is the ongoing welfare situation. Again I'd like to spend a bit more, and expect much bigger economic returns. The current government wants to reduce the welfare budget by reassessing people for sicknesses that they are already well-documented as having, and subsequently shoo them off the welfare system if it is possible to understate their difficulties enough. This is not only costly in the short term, especially as the information required is readily available and unlikely to produce results (if used honestly), but it is also extremely inefficient, especially when counting in the fact that for many it only takes a long and gruelling (and above all, expensive) appeals process to reverse the decision. That, and it's also inhumane, and has thus far cost tens of thousands of lives and an obscene amount of money.
What I would instead do is assess capability for work. This might sound exactly like what the government is doing, but it is in fact the opposite. I would allow people to remain on the benefits they are on, and my proposed work capability assessment would assess an individual's strengths and weaknesses in terms of work. While sickness would usually preclude a person from having a typical job, which is a fact seemingly ignored by the current government, it would be possible to help people into employment that is perhaps not so typical, and better suited to them. This would be accomplished through careers advice and training where suitable. While receiving this help, their benefits are paid in full, until such point the claimant finds suitable employment. If indeed their sicknesses certainly preclude any employment whatsoever, then the assessment would determine how long this is expected to be the case, and arrangements made accordingly. Pre-assessments could be made without any direct interaction with the claimant, using evidence from doctors and other professionals.
The idea here is to recognize that the sick are on sickness benefit because they are sick, not because they're somehow lazy. However, the idea is also to empower sick people and find ways in which they can escape from being forgotten at the bottom of the pack. Instead of shifting people around and trying to kick them into work, it is far better to come up with ways in which they can work without being stripped of dignity, and in full recognition of the challenges they face from sickness. Essentially changing the ethic from 'you can work, therefore you can't claim benefits' to 'you're very ill, but not worthless. We have researched the job market, and wonder have you ever thought about doing <this job>? The employer has assured us that you won't have to go to their premises to do the job, and we have allocated you an advocate who can make sure you're treated fairly and not expected to do anything that you cannot. We feel that this career path will work for you, but you do have every right to say no, and your benefits will not be affected'
Job seekers, a different group, are not sick, but still face problems finding work. I feel that they too could benefit from a full assessment of strengths and weaknesses, as well as decent, relevant, and worthwhile training. The reason I emphasise those words is because I am aware that training has been available in the past. CV skills, first aid, and others. Most of which do not result in any meaningful qualification, leaving the jobseeker no more attractive to employers as before. Why not pay for jobseekers to attend universities and colleges and educate themselves towards careers that they actually want and can easily transfer between jobs in? In the short term, this would be very costly, but I'm not so sure. A typical jobseeker costs around £5,000 per annum, and that's without any housing benefits or other costs. Sending them to full time education with their benefits would get them into work on a far more permanent basis and far sooner than the current system. I'm pretty sure the qualifications and subsequent jobs will pay for themselves after a couple of years. Not only would the government save that benefit money, but the newly employed claimant pays tax. Again, they'd be assessed as to what they can/can't do, where their strengths and weaknesses are, and proper advice given to ensure a well-matched and rewarding career is paid for, rather than a course the claimant would not want to do, and drop out of rather quickly.
I mention potential jobs for everyone, but I have yet to make any mention of where these jobs will come from. For a start, there's all the social housing being built, but I have other ideas. What I would do to create more jobs is make use of the Eurozone. UK citizens looking for work in the UK tend to only get employed in the UK. Yet we have the freedom to live and work anywhere in the EU. I would recommend programs be set up where someone could live and work in another EU country if the work is available there, without officially having to leave the UK. Essentially remaining a UK resident, paying tax to the UK, having gained employment in the UK, and having a home in the UK, but having an employment location elsewhere. There would be agreements between the governments ensuring that paid-for housing would be available in the area near the place of employment, so people would only have to pay rent for their UK home, not their EU home. This type of housing would be paid for by the whole EU, not just the UK. However, it needs to be stressed that nobody would be required to take a job in another country, especially if they're sick.
Final thought for tonight: If the government pulls its finger out, it might be able to tweak the tax and enforcement system and recover the hundreds of billions of pounds dodged by big international corporations. Of course, it's legal for the corporations to do that, thanks to loopholes, but it shouldn't be. Why has the law not changed to make it impossible?


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Aging Workforce Poses Employment Law Challenges
October 18, 2016
Is Your Business Facing These Employment Law Challenges?
The American workforce is aging rapidly, and many companies are not equipped to manage the legal challenges. Nearly every week, a major U.S. company is named in an age discrimination lawsuit. HP and Tesla are among the latest.The risk of liability will only increase as the Baby Boomer generation ages and works longer. The percentage of older workers over the age of 55 is projected to be one in four by 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With these numbers in mind, is your business prepared to deal with these potential employment law challenges?
Preference to Hire Younger Workers Can Lead to Liability
Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), employers are generally not allowed to hire, fire, promote, or determine a worker's compensation based on their age (defined as those over age 40). Accordingly, employers must work to ensure that they are making decisions based on abilities, not age.
When making hiring decisions, ageism can play a significant role, even if it's not intentional. A recent study at the University of California at Irvine and Tulane University revealed age discrimination often impacts hiring. The researchers submitted 40,000 fake job applications that included signals regarding the ages of the applicants and then analyzed the response rates. Overall, applicants age 49-51 applying for administrative positions had a callback rate 29 percent lower than younger workers. For workers over age 64, the response rate was 47 percent lower.
While age discrimination can occur across industries, the tech industry has recently come under fire for explicitly seeking out younger workers using advertisements that seek "new grads." Because the jobs ads discourage older workers from submitting resumes, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) takes the position that they are discriminatory. Even more subtle hiring motivations, such as "we need young blood around here" "or "let's bring in the young guns," could be the basis for an ADEA claim.
The good news for employers is that ADEA claims are more difficult to prove under the Supreme Court's 2009 decision in Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc. By a slim majority, the Court held that plaintiffs must show that age was the "but for" cause of discrimination to establish ADEA liability. Nonetheless, the EEOC still secured more than $99 million in ADEA cases on behalf of aggrieved employees last year.
Phasing Out Older Workers Can Lead to Liability
Questions of age discrimination often arise when an older worker is terminated, particularly when the employment decision is not based on cause. To minimize the risk of potential litigation, many employers offer departing employees a severance package in exchange for a release (or "waiver") of liability for all claims connected with the employment relationship, including those under the ADEA.
When drafting severance agreements, employers must be cognizant that, in addition to meeting the requirements for a valid contract, waivers of age discrimination claims must comply with provisions of the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA).
Provisions of the OWBPA
The OWBPA sets out specific minimum standards that must be met in order for a waiver to be considered knowing and voluntary and, therefore, valid. They include the following:
- A waiver must be written in a manner that can be clearly understood. EEOC regulations emphasize that waivers must be drafted in plain language geared to the level of comprehension and education of the average individual(s) eligible to participate. Usually this requires the elimination of technical jargon and long, complex sentences. In addition, the waiver must not have the effect of misleading, misinforming, or failing to inform participants and must present any advantages or disadvantages without either exaggerating the benefits or minimizing the limitations.
- A waiver must specifically refer to rights or claims arising under the ADEA. EEOC regulations specifically state that an OWBPA waiver must expressly spell out the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) by name.
- A waiver must advise the employee in writing to consult an attorney before accepting the agreement.
- A waiver must provide the employee with at least 21 days to consider the offer. The regulations clarify that the 21-day consideration period runs from the date of the employer's final offer. If material changes to the final offer are made, the 21-day period starts over.
- A waiver must give an employee seven days to revoke his or her signature. The seven-day revocation period cannot be changed or waived by either party for any reason.
- A waiver must not include rights and claims that may arise after the date on which the waiver is executed. This provision bars waiving rights regarding new acts of discrimination that occur after the date of signing, such as a claim that an employer retaliated against a former employee who filed a charge with the EEOC by giving an unfavorable reference to a prospective employer.
- A waiver must be supported by consideration in addition to that to which the employee already is entitled.
If a waiver of age claims fails to meet any of these seven requirements, it is invalid and unenforceable.
Do you have any questions? Would you like to discuss the matter further? If so, please contact me, Ramon Rivera, at 201-806-3364.

subset: commoncrawl


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Andrea and John celebrated their big day with a wonderful winter wedding at the always stunning Turkey Mill Orangery in Maidstone.
Andrea and John celebrated their big day with a wonderful winter wedding at the always stunning Turkey Mill Orangery in Maidstone.
Oakwood House Wedding Photographer for Laura and Matthew's big day at the always stunning Oakwood House in Maidstone, Kent
Susana and her bridesmaids got ready for the big day at the Maidstone Hilton just a stones throw away from where the wedding ceremony was being held at the wonderful Turkey Mill. Hair by Vikki Lord. Susana arrived in some style in an English White 1933 Rolls Royce; a beautiful …
The Black Horse Inn Turnham wedding of Cathy and Peter. This wonderful and intimate Kent wedding venue was the perfect spot for Cathy and Peter their family and friends.
Archbishops Palace Maidstone wedding of Sam and Mark. We all arrived from Sittingbourne on the most wonderful vintage wedding bus for the wedding serve at the Archbisopv's Palace Maidstone and then back to Sittingbourne for the reception.
Mulberry Tree wedding of Carol and Michael. This wonderful restaurant tucked away in the countryside around Maidstone in Kent is a superb intimate wedding venue. The Mulberry Tree
Chloe and Dan's iArchbishops Palace wedding in Maidstone, Kent.
The Orangery Turkey Mill Maidstone wedding of Gemma and Francis The Orangery Turkey Mill Maidstone is one of the finest wedding venues in Kent and was the perfect choice for the wedding of Gemma and Francis. For further photography examples from The Orangery Turkey Mill Maidstone weddings click here.
Teresa and Phil held their Kent wedding at the beautiful Archbishops Palace Maidstone.
Turkey Mill Orangery wedding of Alex and Paul The Turkey Mill Orangery in Maidstone Kent was where Alex and Paul decided to hold their wonderful wedding. For more examples of Turkey Mill Weddings click here.
Kathryn and Phil's Turkey mill wedding photography was an absolute dream to shoot.
Boughton Monchelsea Place was the beautiful wedding venue for Samantha and Dominic's big day in Kent
Turkey Mill Maidstone is one of Kent's finest a wedding venues. With it's huge and magnificent gardens, water features, gazebo, bridges etc. Turkey Mill is a brilliant place to get married and a fantastic place for the wedding photographer to shoot at.
The whole family gathered for their Leeds Castle photography in the grounds of England's most beautiful castle.
Turkey Mill Wedding Photos My good friend and fellow wedding professional Paul was married to Noelle earlier this year. Howling Basset photography were honoured to be the couple's chosen Turkey Mill wedding photographer. If you are looking for a romantic and private location for your wedding, Turkey Mill offers you …
Archbishops Palace Maidstone Wedding Photography Carianne and Greg were married at the lovely Archbishops Palace Maidstone here in Kent. Greg arrived in plenty of time as did the family and guests and after the usual chat everybody went inside to get seated and await the arrival of the bride. Carianne …
Kent Life Museum Weddings The Kent life Museum in Maidstone was the wedding venue of choice for Cara and Daniel. Cara got ready and had her preparation photography at the Village Hotel which is lovely and just around the corner from Kent Life Museum, I was also very pleased to …
Some lovely out and about environmental type portraits.Kent Portrait Photographer
Oakwood House Wedding Rosaleen and Stephen celebrated their Kent wedding at Oakwood House in Maidstone. Oakwood House wedding photography
Danielle and Alistair held their big day at the wonderful Nettlestead Place. Nettlestead Place wedding photography
Sarah and Dave had a lovely day at Turkey Mill. Dave is in the army and there were a few smartly dressed uniformed guys around. Sarah had two bouquets one flowers and another very shiny and incredibly heavy one.
Katie and Chris held their Kent wedding at the wonderful venue of Turkey Mill in Maidstone.
Elizabeth and Tom held their wedding reception at the wonderful Turkey Mill in Maidstone, Kent. the weather was awful all day but Elizabeth "Buffy" was very cool about going out in the rain; that's what umbrellas are for.
Jessica and Alan were married at St. Theresa's in Ashford Kent and their reception was held at Turkey Mill in Maidstone. A very wet day but spirits weren't dampened in the slightest. Great day.
Leeds Castle Weddings Thyra and Jon held their big day at Leeds castle in the Maiden's Tower. Leeds Castle Wedding Photographer
Leeds Castle Wedding Photographer Colette and Graham married at the divine Leeds Castle. A beautiful wedding and we have to mention the best coat-hangers we've ever encountered in our wedding travels. Leeds Castle Wedding Photography
Rebecca and Edward held their Kent wedding at The Archbishops Palace in Maidstone
Marie and Stewart held their big day at The Maidstone Mercure Hotel here in Kent. Howling Basset Wedding Photography
Sarah and James held their wedding reception at the wonderful Kent Life Museum near Maidstone. Howling Basset Wedding Photographers
Shandia and Alwin were married at the beautiful Turkey Mill in Maidstone. Great weather: great day.
Stacey and Mark held their Kent ceremony at the lovely Turkey Mill in Maidstone.
Sijia and Will were married at the Archbishops Palace in Maidstone with the reception being held at The Inn on the Lake


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All about my activities, thoughts, inspiration, ideas, and everything that happened around me
Friday, September 18, 2009
Virtual Communication
This morning, i opened up my Google Reader to see the news i subscribed to and when i read one of my friend's shared news, i found an interesting picture. Based on the picture, it seems that we have changed how we communicate with others. In the past, we prefer to have a face-to-face communication, but in today's world, it's changing into a virtual communication, where you can have a mass communication with lots of people in the same time using emails, IM, social networking services (such as Facebook), and the last but not least, micro blogging (Twitter and Plurk).
So, this is one of the evolution that Internet has done for us. We can always think it as a positive or negative, depending on your own perspective.
Thanks to my friend at Netherlands, Sam Warnaars for his share
4 comments:
Hey Willy,ReplyDelete
thnx for the mention:) You are still going strong on the blog, cool stuff! I wish I had the time (took the time) to sit down and write what inspires me and what goes through my mind: there are so many cool things happening:) No time, so instead I share the things which make me smile:)
Have a great day,
Sampai jumpa my friend,
it won't consume your time to write what's on your mind to your blog :)ReplyDelete
It would just take 10-15 minutes to do so
Great series. A bit out of my league, but I'm learning stuff each step of the way. Can't wait to get to it.ReplyDelete
College Term Papers
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A Case Study In Making The Quantum Leap
You've already got everything you need to make the quantum leap, the breakthrough leap, something that re-defines reality, or as I like to say, defies and re-defines possibility.
Because reality is what you can't do, such as, "It's impossible for any human being to run a mile in under four minutes." "The sub 4 minute mile is impossible. In fact, it's dangerous to the health – and could cause death – of anybody who would even attempt it."
But Robert Bannister, after missing his chance in the 1948 Olympics, coming in fifth place in the Helsinki 1952 Olympics, and about to graduate, knew his sports career and his chance for immortality would soon permanently set. Back then professional sports didn't exist, and when you finished university, you finished sports.
And so Roger Bannister, on the heels of that crushing defeat, determined to be the first human individual to ever run the sub 4 minute mile.
Oh, he had a few difficulties. He didn't have time to train for two, to three, to four hours six days a week like conventional sports training says you need to do. He was a busy neuropractitioner. A neuroscientist, studying the brain, a medical surgeon.
He gave it what he could. Completely flew in the face of logic, gave it 30 minutes a day. He had a lunch hour. He had to save some time to shower, to clean, to make a couple phone calls, to handle a couple personal errands, and to say hi to some friends. So he gave it…
Thirty-minutes a day. Which leads me to tell you we've got to look somewhere else other than time.
It's desire. It's training. It's more knowledge. And more… It's someone who set a goal, someone who intended to do something very definite, definable, and measurable, believed he was capable and set about doing it.
How do we know he intended to do it? Well, the day he did it, seconds prior to the starting shot, he looks up to St. George's Church and sees the pennant on top of the steeple drooping, which means there will be no oncoming wind resistance coming into the home stretch. He turns to his pacemaker and says, "The sub 4 minute attempt is on."
He called it, just like you'd call putting an 8-ball in the corner pocket. Something that was impossible to do, but he didn't believe it.
He intended to do this. He did it!
What you believe is more important than what others say the world is. The quantum leap knows when you're afraid; the quantum leap responds when you're confident. You already have everything you need. The observer affects the observed. The quantum leap is operated with passionate intention, with forward running motion!
Oh, by the way… Eighteen-months later, 16 other people were running the sub 4 minute mile. For thousands of years people had been trying. One lone individual who believed in himself and intended to make it happen made it a fact. Today it's a qualifier.
Roger Bannister's story shows it… What you intend is all that's required.
What You Intend Is All That's Required by Ted Ciuba.
Hope you use the good training you get here!
Pick up your copy of the book, which has all 101 Quantum Success Secrets conveniently organized for you in a handy reading size. 🙂
Get your copy of The New Think And Grow Rich
Click Here to donate to Think Rich Ministries * Your generosity enables us to keep putting the message out. Blessings on you.
And tell your friends and family about us!


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During the recent decades, there are a vast number of learning methods for designing intelligent controllers for human machine hybrid systems. However, a further consideration not only is guaranteeing the control stability, but is optimality based on a predefined cost function to determine the performance of the human machine hybrid systems. Therefore, we are faced with a need for improved control schemes, which not only achieve the stability of the human machine hybrid systems, but also keep the cost of the systems as small as possible. The special issue addresses a broad spectrum of topics ranging from deterministic and stochastic intelligent control design for various human machine hybrid systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles, intelligent quadruped robots, industrial robots, robotic exoskeletons, biped robots, wheeled balance transporters, to the optimization of the learning algorithm. Special attention should be given to how to optimize controller design, achieve the high accurate performance for the human machine interactions, and
handle nonlinearities and the unknown system dynamics. This includes modeling, learning control, neural network adaptations, iterative learning, deep learning, reinforcement learning, dynamic programming and testing the effectiveness of the controllers. The special issue publishes original papers of innovative ideas and concepts, new discoveries and improvements, and novel applications to the field of intelligent control for human machine hybrid systems.
Topics explored in this special issue include, but are not limited to:
• Learning and Optimizations for the intelligent control;
• Adaptive dynamic programming for human machine hybrid systems and their applications;
• Iterative learning control for human machine hybrid systems and their applications;
• Deep Learning for human machine interactions;
• Reinforcement learning to handle nonlinearities for human machine hybrid systems;
• Learning control design for intelligent robots;
• High accurate tracking control via learning for multi-robot systems and applications;
• Modeling and learning control for humanoid robots and applications;
• Identification and learning control design for quadruped robots;
• System design and learning control for industrial robots;
• Learning control and optimizations for exoskeletons;
• Learning control and balance analysis for wheeled balance transporters;
• Learning control and optimizations for aerial vehicles;
• Learning control and stability analysis for humanoid robots or quadruped robots;
• Modeling, identification and optimizations via learning;
• Neural network control and practical applications in model-free environment;
• New applications of learning control for human machine hybrid systems.
November 15, 2017 – Deadline for manuscript submissions
February 15, 2018 – Information about manuscript acceptance
April 15, 2018 – Submission of revised paper
June 15, 2018 – Final decisions
October 15, 2018 – Estimated publication date
Wei He, School of Automation and Electrical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, China
Changyin Sun, School of Automation, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
Donald C. Wunsch, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineer, Missouri University of Science & Technology, US
Richard Yi Da Xu, School of Computing and Communications, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
- Read the information for Authors at http://cis.ieee.org/tnnls.
- Submit your manuscript at the TNNLS webpage (http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/tnnls) and follow the submission procedure. Please, clearly indicate on the first page of the manuscript and in the cover letter that the manuscript is submitted to the special issue on Intelligent Control through Neural Learning and Optimization for Human Machine Hybrid Systems. Send an email to the leading editor Prof. Wei He (firstname.lastname@example.com) with subject TNNLS special issue submission to notify about your submission.
- Early submissions are welcome. We will start the review process as soon as we receive your contributions.


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Egyptian iron and marble furniture an enthusiasts delight
Author: Richard Brewster | Posted: 5th December, 2014
A consignment from Egypt of fabulous Egyptian iron and marble outdoor furniture is the highlight of E.J. Ainger's weekly sale from 9.30am Tuesday December 9 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.
The auction also contains decorative mirrors and many decorative French Louis-style pieces and smaller items of interest.
Many of the items are from estates and homes throughout Melbourne and the Bellarine Peninsula and include antique and leather furnishings, genuine woollen pattern rugs, ceiling lights, porcelain and Victorian coloured glassware.
The auction also features brass and copper items and genuine designer handbags.


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Monday, April 19, 2010
Do Good Works
The Christian code is to do good; by your good works you bring glory to God. Your faith in God if that faith is without works is not enough. Care for others and exhort them to love and to do good works, for through good works Christ's love is shown to still others. That love must not be an empty profession, but an active and practical love, a love that identifies you as a faithful child of God. Do good works.
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Compatible with your
Our DC2 control system meets the high standards demanded of all components such as hydraulics, electronics and software. Together with Engcon tiltrotators and Q-Safe, the DC2 makes for a safer working environment. DC2 offers the option of track control, wheel steering and boom slew as well as other excavator functions. A smartphone app allows remote support as a complement to PC and USB cable connection. The product meets the ISO 13849-1 safety standard.
• DC2 complies with the new international machine safety standard SS-EN ISO 13849-1
• Fitted with an automatic basic calibration function for quick starts
• Automatically backs up operator settings
• Option of track control, wheel steering, boom slew and other excavator functions
• Function settings and tools can be adjusted using an android phone/tablet with the Microprop App via Bluetooth for up to four different operators
• Controls up to six proportional functions as standard and a further 14 on/off functions with MIG2 joysticks
• Suitable for most machines on the market
• Ability to create adapted tool programmes
The DC2 control system meets all current and known
future safety requirements.
* additional rollers and functions can be accommodated
What is most important for you?
System engcon, centred around the tiltrotator, saves both time and fuel.
Fewer machine transits and less need for manual work increases safety at the workplace.
The tiltrotator's ability to tilt and rotate makes the machine a good all-rounder that carries out most tasks with greater precision.
Fewer machine movements and faster jobs mean less wear on the machine.
Despite the increasing popularity of tiltrotators, many excavator manufacturers do not yet sell 'tiltrotator-ready' machines on certain markets. There are two main considerations when buying a new excavator for use with a tiltrotator - dipper length and hydraulics. Ideally, a shorter dipper should be chosen to take into account the build height of the tiltrotator. For example, if the standard dipper length is 2500mm, choose one 2000mm long so that the extra reach resulting from the addition of the tiltrotator still falls within the manufacturer's safe working range and that there is no chance of the bucket or other attachment hitting the cab when fully crowded.
The standard machine hydraulics can often be used for tiltrotator operation, but the machine controls may not be sufficiently sophisticated to fully exploit the capabilities of the attachment. Tiltrotators are usually supplied with so-called fully proportional control systems. These allow the hydraulic power to be gradually increased according to the needs of the attachment and the task to be completed, for example when pouring type 1 or concrete into a narrow area or using grabs or pallet forks. Non-proportional, or on/off systems which are generally button-operated do not allow the delicacy of control necessary for many tiltrotator operations.
If the excavator has two dual-acting proportionally controlled hydraulic circuits, then basic tiltrotator operation should be possible using the excavator's controls. A third, non-proportional circuit will be required for the tiltrotator hitch. Where a single, dual acting circuit is fitted, it is often more cost-effective to use engcon's DC2 control system which manages the hydraulic switching and flow proportionally within the tiltrotator, rather than have additional circuits fitted.
Among other things, you can use it to adjust tilt and rotation speeds.
The tiltrotator is connected directly to the excavator's arm or beneath the excavator's quick hitch. The tiltrotator is then connected to the excavator's hydraulics and electrical system. Depending on the excavator's extra hydraulics, control is adapted to suit different types of control system. The most common connection takes place via a single or double-acting extra outlet on the arm and the tiltrotator is controlled by a proportional control system known as DC2. The actual control unit is located in the cab (cab module) and the tiltrotator's functions are controlled using our MIG2 – joysticks with rollers that allow the operator stepless control of the tilt, rotation and grip functions if a grapple has been selected for the tiltrotator. Signals from the joystick and the control unit are received by solenoid valves on the tiltrotator thus controlling the function selected.
The pin geometry on your existing buckets is unlikely to be compatible with the S-type coupler fitted to standard tiltrotators. Choosing a Unisafe/PUP coupler to allow you to use your existing buckets is likely to be a false economy for the simple reason that tiltrotator (s-type) buckets are designed for tiltrotator digging. Not only is the angle of the bucket optimised for tiltrotator use, but the bucket geometry (shape, size, etc.) is specific for rotational and angled digging and grading. The saving you make by choosing the S-type coupler can be re-invested in top bracket adapters to convert your existing buckets and other attachments.
If you are running hydraulic tools, you can also purchase adapter brackets EC-Oil ready, or pre-fitted with EC-Oil and thus convert your current hydraulic tools with ease for the S-type coupler.
Yes, but it's not certain that it will be possible to operate three rollers simultaneously.
Yes. Call one of our authorized service partners or us at engcon and we'll connect to your DC2 control system via your smartphone (Android). This lets us read off the fault codes stored to see if any circuit is broken and also adjust your control system to ensure optimal function. Download the 'Microprop' app from Google Play and you're all set for remote support.
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Anti-Union Parade For Columbus Day In Massachusetts
In 1911 Congress enacted laws that limited the number of weekly hours that women and children could work. Factory owners reacted by reducing pay to match the shorter hours. The women and children were already working for subsistence level wages were angered by the cuts in pay and some went out on publicized strikes such as the Bread and Roses Strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The strikers were viewed as uneducated immigrants and not laborers by unions like the American Federation of Labor. This left more radical labor groups such as the International Workers of the World to step in and take control. The IWW organized all workers, regardless of skill level, immigrant status, gender or skin color.They were viewed as dangerous, un-American and perhaps worst of all, atheists. People who opposed the IWW and strikes formed the Citizens Committee to fight radicalism stating they were for God and country and against the IWW's "principles and methods," denouncing union leaders and members as "godless communists."


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I like closure just as much as I like boundaries. I also enjoy order and organization and experience minor bouts of frustration and anxiety when my expectations aren't met. I hate not finishing anything, but it's been a few weeks - months now? - since I've picked up Yell Less, Love More or How to Deal with Your … Continue reading re-cap
Category: Yell Less, Love More
faith like a child
I've been on vacation. Ok, that's not entirely true, considering I've been back for a week now; but let's be honest: family vacation recovery is real. And I'm not talking decompressing from all the insanity that may or may not have relapsed. I'm simply talking about the process of unpacking and resting - which, mind … Continue reading faith like a child
menu of emotion: frustration for breakfast, anger for lunch, & guilt for dinner
I was almost having a surreal experience this morning as all my reading from two different parenting books and the Gospel of Mark began honing in on one profound theme: self control. It was so clear, so cut and dry, yet so humbling and difficult to swallow. In her book, Yell Less Love More, where … Continue reading menu of emotion: frustration for breakfast, anger for lunch, & guilt for dinner
volume control
I have been working with kids since I was 12 years old. Different experiences throughout my life triggered my "inner teacher," though I never did pursue a teaching degree. I chose a more exciting and unconventional and international path for myself, but it never stopped from teaching. Having the heart of a teacher, however, doesn't … Continue reading volume control


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June 26, 2013
I'm reposting a poem I wrote several months ago. It is still fitting today. So, from the archives….
Blessed Indeed – A Poem
Yes i am blessed
very much so indeed
for God is providing
for my every need.
Some days are good
and some days are bad
and sometimes it just has to
be okay for me to be sad
But whatever life brings
God is right there
Remember there is no promise
for life to be fair.
He carries me each day
and makes sure I am loved.
I'm reminded that life won't be perfect
until we reach Heaven above.
So thank you Jesus for your love
Thank you friends for your care
and thank you family most of all
for always being there.
My days are not perfect
but what's laughter without pain?
And remember we can't have sunsine
without a little rain.
Living one day at a time
I press on toward the goal.
I'm embracing all God has given to me
in what has become my life's role.


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Peace through Strength: Bernard Baruch and a Blueprint for Security
Peace through Strength: Bernard Baruch and a Blueprint for Security
by The Author
TODAY, AS TAESE WORDS are written, Americans are commemorating Armistice Day of 1952. Ironically, a large part of the world is again under arms -- thirty-four years after Bernard M. Baruch played such a major role in mobilizing our country's resources during World War I.
Since that time, Mr. Baruch has continued to serve the cause of preparedness. He has pointed out "to all who would listen," as General Eisenhower has said, "the lesson of that First War and what we had to do to remain safe."
Bernard Baruch was among the first to recognize the danger of totalitarian aggression to the United States and the other democracies and to warn that it could lead to another world conflict. Today, less than four weeks before another tragic anniversary of our unpreparedness at the time of Pearl Harbor, it is fitting that Peace Through Strength -- largely concerned with the preparedness efforts of Mr. Baruch -- should be completed.
It seems to me that a review and analysis of his efforts over the years to strengthen the country militarily and economically has a special timeliness in the light of current world developments. Once again our country is faced with the task of becoming so powerful that not only will it be impregnable within itself, but strong enough and sound enough to assist other free peoples in protecting themselves against the Communist threat.
It is likely that in the crucial days ahead the new President . . .


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By Breanna Melanson and Allison Blair
Edited By Arie Moore
A young boy in Portland, Oregon, is changing the community one lego at a time. Lending libraries are small, weatherproof boxes that usually contain books, which people can swap with or borrow from. However, the Little Lego Library is a bit different; instead of books, people can exchange Lego figurines. The small library was set up by Taz, a local elementary schooler, and his mom.
"At school, Taz (who's 9) was studying how toys are made and learning about all the waste'" Taz's mom, Mrs.Higgs, stated in an email. "He decided he wanted to prevent people from buying more plastic toys and instead share his Legos with other kids and he came up with the idea of a little free library to share his Lego minifigures."
"Hi! Take a minifigure and leave a minifigure that someone else would like. Leave a note in the little log if you want. Have fun!"
After the Lego Library opened last summer, it quickly gained popularity. "It was posted on Facebook and got 20,000 views in the first few days, Mrs. Higgs wrote. "It seems to be the first Lego library out there, and now we know of a couple kids who have built similar lego libraries of their own." According to Mrs. Higgs, hundreds of Legos have been exchanged. Kids from Portland are getting a chance to play with legos, and, All in all, Taz is changing the world, one Lego at a time.
A photo of Taz and the Lego Library.


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Bill's Classical Jukebox, Collingwood Spotlights, Station Blog
Barrie Concert Band president Derryl Johnston stopped by Bill's Classical Jukebox with the story of the band and highlights of upcoming concerts, "Christmas at the Beach" December 2 in Wasaga Beach, and "A Christmas Fantasy" December 8 in Collingwood. The holiday concerts will feature festive favourites, joyous carols and modern classics.
For more information, visit barrieconcertband.org
Listen to the full interview:


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You should now have a sound base of knowledge of not only JavaScript-based navigation and how to use JavaScript in forms for enhanced interactivity and efficiency, but of some of the exciting ways you can combine CSS and JavaScript to add advanced functionality to your Web pages. We have also broadened our knowledge of arrays, learning how to create them and access information that we have stored in them. In Chapter 4, we will leave the Shelley Biotech site and start working on Stitch Magazine's site. We will build on what we have learned of JavaScript and forms, and learn how to handle error checking with JavaScript.
No credit card required


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91 long, dark nights for America: Trump as wit
Ninety-one long, dark nights to go.
Trump's Daily Twitter Highlight: "I am running against the Washington insiders, just like I did in the Republican Primaries. These are the people that have made U.S. a mess!"
Clinton's Daily Twitter Highlight: "Here's the sad truth: There is no other Donald Trump. This is it."
Daily election article of interest: The Polls Aren't Skewed: Trump Really Is Losing Badly
And as the head hits the pillow, let tonight's night fever dream center around the comforting truth that a major party's Presidential candidate is advocating armed insurrection and political assassination should he lose. This is not a candidate whose natural constituency is the Fox News viewer, this is a man who is, at present, impressing InfoWars.com conspiracy theorists.
"… and if she gets to pick—if she gets to pick her judges*, nothing you can do, folks, although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know."
The spin is that Trump is joking. Perhaps that is true. Who can truly know what is happening underneath that fussily thatched dome of his? So let's do what Trump would never do for us and give him the benefit of the doubt on this. I'm not convinced, but, hey, let's indulge on that point. If Trump is merely joking then we discover him (once again) for the asshole that he is. We see that his natural propinquity is with the idiot hauled off for questioning after making a lamebrained bomb joke in the airport security line, that he "gets" the guy who anonymously tweets threats at public figures, that his inner child is the douchey neighborhood kid who has spent his pre-teen years perfecting the flaming bag of dog turds prank.
But the problem with jokes – and particularly the problem with unfunny, angry jokes delivered not by comedians or satirists but by a politician standing at a lectern at their own campaign rally is that not everyone gets in those surrounding that you're not actually making a political statement. The joke isn't funny anymore.
*Re: Judges. Does anyone know what Merrrick Garland has actually been up to since Obama put his name forward for the Supreme Court? I like to think that he's in some sort of purgatorial waiting room – a sort of horrid hybrid of a Delta Airline lounge and a DMV office – where he's just thumbing through old copies of National Geographic wondering if anyone will come to fetch him. Occasionally he hums the melody of American Pie to himself.


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Aseem Datar's rise at Microsoft has taken him all the way to the cloud.
In his 14 almost years at the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant, Datar has risen from developer to chief of staff of the company's Azure cloud business, where's he's taken on the challenge of managing growth for the successful enterprise. This week, he is GeekWire's new Geek of the Week.
"I have always loved the unknown, with the goal of learning more about something that I have no idea about," Datar said. "The uncertainly has a certain amount of enigma that draws me in."
Datar said this attitude has allowed him to push boundaries and consistently get out of his comfort zone, which he considers a key to growth.
The early part of his career was spent working on Windows and Datar was the founding member of the team that built the Office delivery platform before joining the Azure team. Outside of work, he enjoys teaching at the University of Washington, is an advisor to multiple companies in Seattle and he loves mentoring startups.
"Who I am can be traced back to what I learned growing up in Mumbai — work hard, play hard, form long-lasting relationships and most importantly place all others ahead of yourself," Datar said. "Those days were simple, yet formative — it laid the foundation for me for the years to come."
Learn more about this week's Geek of the Week, Aseem Datar:
What do you do, and why do you do it? "Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Azure is a huge part of that. In that endeavor my role is to ensure that the Azure machine has a solid operational foundation that fuels exponential growth. That said, I am constantly hacking away at an accurate description of a 'Chief of Staff' since the landscape is ever evolving and the scope keeps broadening.
"Every single day is a case of juggling, solving challenges that we sometimes have not seen or have no blueprint for. In my experience, this role requires what we call a growth mindset — an ability to always keep learning so we keep marching ahead. Another aspect is being comfortable to operate in highly complex and ambiguous environments where decisions need to be made with the information at hand — it's really about taking calculated risks."
"Lastly, working alongside people on the team to ensure customer delight is paramount."
What's the single most important thing people should know about your field? "Truth be told, we are just getting started with the power of the cloud. Looking across the planet, there is just so much potential that the cloud has unlocked. When I was in grad school writing code, I would worry about memory management — today you just go get more compute or storage on demand and ramp up and down as needed. How cool is that? IoT is not just about placing a sensor everywhere but more about gathering data that proves meaningful in so many ways transforming lives — whether it's your energy consumption or monitoring your health — it's a huge opportunity and Azure is leading this transformation we are going through."
Where do you find your inspiration? "People, my reading list and sports. I am an extrovert at heart, so engaging with people is second nature. Learning about their experiences is the closest I can get to understanding something totally out of my wheel-house. My reading list is primarily comprised of biographies that have so much to offer. Sports has always been a part of my life — whether I am playing or watching — it helps me unplug, focus and more importantly bring my 'A' game."
What's the one piece of technology you couldn't live without, and why? "I'd have to say the ability to stay connected to the web — whether its on my phone/e-reader or my laptop, everything pretty much needs connectivity."
What's your workspace like, and why does it work for you? "It's all open space — desks with lots of casual spaces for meetings etc. I am a huge fan given how easy it is to collaborate. Our entire team is pretty much just a shout away."
Your best tip or trick for managing everyday work and life. (Help us out, we need it.) "First and foremost, it's important to acknowledge the balance needed across both. If it's not on the calendar, it doesn't get done. Part of managing several initiatives is ruthless prioritization, which is easier said than done. I typically go through a mental checklist the previous day and on my way to work which helps me plan what I want to accomplish … and then there is always Sunday night. As for managing life, my mantra is to be PRESENT wherever I am with minimal distractions — I am trying to get better at not glancing at my phone every now and then."
Mac, Windows or Linux? "Windows!"
Kirk, Picard, or Janeway? "Pick Yoda must I"
Transporter, Time Machine or Cloak of Invisibility? "Transporter — definitely, given the amount of air travel we all do these days."
If someone gave me $1 million to launch a startup, I would … "launch an enterprise that invests in some of those that have been turned down by the 'Shark Tank' — some serious talent there!
I once waited in line for … "a McDonalds Big-Mac Meal at 5 a.m. when the first store opened in Mumbai. No denying my love for a good burger."
Your role models: My parents without question — their integrity, work ethic, compassion and value for others has always been something that I have observed and tried to emulate. I will consider myself extremely fortunate if I come close to becoming even 10 percent of the individuals they are."
On the professional side, I am truly lucky to have some stellar mentors who have had a huge influence on me, its my own "Board of Directors" as I like to call them.
Greatest game in history: "Being a passionate cricketer, it has to be the WorldCup Final 2011."
Best gadget ever: "I'd say a universal travel adapter."
First computer: "My Dad's IBM XT 286 — and BASIC was my favorite!"
Current phone: "iPhone 7 Plus."
Favorite app: "It would have to be OneNote … it's a game-changer."
Favorite cause: "Education."
Most important technology of 2016: "Did i mention the cloud already?"
Most important technology of 2018: "AI is truly the next frontier. The pace of innovation in this space and the scenarios we can unlock blows my mind. I sometimes wonder how 'programmed' the world will be by the time my 4 year old grows up."
Final words of advice for your fellow geeks: "No is never a firm NO. Also, it doesn't mean Never Ever, it just means not right now; apply all you've got towards what you truly want to achieve and it will all work out in the end. It always does!"
Twitter: @aseemd
LinkedIn: Aseem Datar


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Our loyal companions are a huge part of our families, so a portrait session with your pet is wonderful. Whether your pet (or pets!) are your fur babies or a part of a family, bring your tribe along to all be photographed together. But it is just as important to capture our loyal friends too as so often the only memories we have are on our 'phones these days.
We've had many different kinds of pets in our studio, rats, cats, parrots and dogs.
We love animals by the way, they are all welcome!


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The Flick -- A term used by air traffic controllers to describe a mental model representing the current and future positions of air traffic in a section of airspace. Controllers visualize the paths of multiple aircraft in terms of position, altitude, trajectory and speed. Controllers also refer to this as "having the picture." But the picture moves -- like a movie -- hence the term "the flick."
Monday, March 23, 2009
Halaby: Government vs. Private
I've tried to rationalize the following excerpt from Crosswinds: An Airman's Memoir with the fact that times were different. Technology has made great strides since then. But still, it sounds utterly clueless.
"One of our prosafety efforts got me into the most heated and unhappy brawl of my government career -- a decision to reduce the number of air-route traffic-control centers, which provided en route control over regions of the nation's airspace. The primary motive was economy through higher productivity, but an important by-product was increased safety: By contracting the number of centers, we reduced the number of handoffs required for flights passing from one center's jurisdiction to another's -- and thus cut the chances for human error. Our goal was to eliminate eight of the twenty-nine then-existing centers. I went directly to President Kennedy with the plan. "
Perhaps, like most pilots, Mr. Halaby didn't understand what handoffs really involved. The number of handoffs would not likely be reduced by reducing the number of Centers. Handoffs are made at each sector border -- not Center borders. Sector size is mostly dictated by traffic volume and complexity -- not which control facility happens to own the airspace. Perhaps his concern was the data transfers required between Centers. The same data has to be transferred between each sector but the process is slightly different between Centers. Or perhaps, he was pretty clueless about air traffic control.
Switching gears rapidly, I think it worth noting that the decision for the U.S. Government to build the Supersonic Transport (SST) was made during Halaby's term. It's more a social comment on my part. In the age when we have private companies trying to commercialize space, it's hard to remember that government used to blatantly finance an obviously-commercial development. Anyway, the SST program ate up a lot of Halaby's time.
That part of the private and government interaction might have changed but this part hasn't;
" The same night after I turned the FAA over to a new administrator, Juan Trippe called me at home.
"I've prepared a definite offer of employment as a senior officer of Pan Am and I'm putting it in the mail," he said."
Mr. Halaby, of course, recognized the conflict of interest. He also recognized the money. He extracted a promise from Trippe that he wouldn't be lobbying the Federal Government and hired on. Trippe, of course, broke that promise. And Halaby let him. Funny how money can massage the conscience. It's not so funny how willing rich men are to corrupt.
Having said that, life is full of contradictions. While Mr. Halaby was lobbying...
"It also escapes me how anyone at Pan Am thought the airline could get anything out of either the Johnson or Nixon administrations -- the two greediest since World War II -- without Pan Am officers and Directors making personal political or financial contributions. Trippe wouldn't and other top officers didn't, for personal reasons. But it sure as hell cramped Pan Am's Washington style... "
He turns the thought that regulation kept fares too high on its head too.
"In markets where the CAB controlled the fare structure, we often took a bath. .../... During the twelve months ending June 30, 1970, Pan Am had an operating loss of $8.7 million in the Hawaii market, which was not surprising in the view of an average yield of less than $.035 per passenger mile -- 40 per cent under the average domestic yield. This is what happens when fares are instituted at ridiculously low rates. And such fares result from the irresponsible promises made by airlines when they seek competitive route authority. "
There are many more instances that provide some insights into history. As I said earlier, the book really isn't that good but I do have to admit I enjoyed it from a historical perspective. It was interesting to see an ex-FAA Administrator making CEO of one of America's iconic companies. It's hard to remember that many thought the Boeing 747 was a disaster when it first entered service with Pan Am. The views on airline deregulation are historically interesting...as are the human qualities we exhibit throughout history. Our never-ending ability to be dazzled by technology. Our reluctance to accept the limitations of the same. The constant of greed.
And that's where I'll leave the subject. Mr. Halaby averaged $30,000 a year as FAA Administrator until 1965. He left Pan Am, as CEO and Chairman, in 1972 making $127,500 a year. Even though he was forced out by the board of directors in March of 1972, Pan Am continued to pay his salary until December of 1973. Yet, it was the stock options he was due that most concerned Mr. Halaby. There was no word as to what they were worth.
Oh, I just can't help myself. One last fact. One of the board members for Pan Am when Halaby was kicked out ? Charles Lindberg. No word on how he voted. Mr. Halaby always liked to think that "Slim" voted in his favor.
Don Brown
March 23, 2009
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Emmaus Church is partnering with Gospel for Nations Ministries (located in India) to share the good news of Jesus with those who have never heard the message of the gospel. We do this through supporting indigenous chuch planters who go into unreached local villages to make disciples and plant churches.
You can support a church planter in India for $25 a month. For more information contact
Through Impact for India, Emmaus is also helping to meet the physical and spiritual needs of a community of leprosy patients in South India. Through this program we help supply nutritious meals each week as well as medical care for those in need.
Remember Me


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Photo: Michael Potiker
Paul Muldoon (b 1951, Portadown, County Armagh) started writing poetry at the age of 13. 'Then, as now, I was fascinated by the power of words to make me see things as if for the first time' he says. 'A flea. A forest. A fluorescent light.'
He studied at Queen's University Belfast: while still a student, his first poetry collection was published by Faber and Faber. Although later accolades include the Pulitzer Prize and the role of Oxford Professor of Poetry, but perhaps the most memorable came in those early days from Seamus Heaney, to whom the young Muldoon showed a batch of poems with the question: what could be done to improve them? 'Nothing', Heaney replied.
Since 1987, Muldoon has lived in the United States, where he is a Professor at Princeton University, poetry editor of The New Yorker and the guitarist and lyricist for a band, Wayside Shrines.
Quizzed about One Thousand Things Worth Knowing (Faber, 2014), he admits he finds starting a new collection hard. 'Each time out, it seems as if one might have discovered the source of the Nile,' he says. 'More often than not, it's a septic tank in one's own backyard.'
Read the Forward Prizes Q&A with Paul Muldoon: "One of the things one realizes, as one gets on a bit, is how very hard it is to be any good. I'm now much more humble before the idea of being an artist than I was when I was a teenager."


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Uttakleiv Beach is known as the most beautiful beach of Norway. Here's why.
Uttakleiv (or Utakleiv) – next to Haukland beach – is the most popular (and therefore most photographed) beach of Lofoten Islands. It is well obvious why: Especially during winter sunsets, people wait for the astonishing light show. Also, it is a well known place to experience the aurora borealis. On less cloudy nights, it is an unforgettable experience.
About 10 miles away from Leknes, Vestvågøy, the beaches eastern direction makes it just perfect for sunsets during winter. The contrast between the pink and blue sky, black rocks and the Carribean water is simply breathtaking.
Utakleiv is a great spot in general, as you have to drive past Vik and Haukland Beach to reach this gem of landscape. Also, Mannen Mountain offers a really great hike to discover an amazing areal view.


text: Overview "Unveil your sky living experience with Sri Utama Condominiums."Sri Utama Condominiums is the first and tallest condominium in Sandakan. Nestled on spacious 10.92 acre land, Sri Utama Condominiums is set to be the first ever luxury condominium providing full recreational facilities, gated and guarded with round the clock patrolling security system etc in Sandakan. Property Status: Open For Sale Share this:


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MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia had convinced itself — and the outside world — that its huge oil wealth and vast foreign exchange reserves made it much less vulnerable than others to the global financial crisis.
But after weeks of virtual silence by state media about the effects the crisis has had on Russia, President Dmitry Medvedev has suddenly acknowledged the extent of the damage.
"In all likelihood, the crisis is going to spread. Here we have to face reality," he said on Tuesday.
Top bankers and businessmen say Medvedev's words amounted to an official acknowledgement of what they have sensed in recent weeks — a sudden, dramatic slowdown of the economy as credit dried up, sales slumped and factories laid off staff.
"We had thought that Russia would be far less badly hurt by the crisis than other major economies," said one leading Russian banker, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"Now it is clear that Russia will be much worse affected by the crisis than other major economies and will be affected for much longer."
The government is still officially predicting growth of 6.7 percent next year but the World Bank this week halved its growth forecast for Russia to 3 percent and many businessmen and bankers say privately growth will be at best zero.
Underlining the fresh sense of urgency felt in the government, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a $20-billion package of tax cuts and extra spending to help pensioners, companies and the unemployed. This was on top of $200 billion of financial aid already pledged by the Kremlin.
The reasons for the sudden gloom, bankers and analysts say, are four-fold:
— economists had highlighted negligible government debt but ignored the fact that Russian oligarchs built up huge foreign debts by buying assets at home and abroad whose stock market value has now collapsed. Since the assets are in many cases key national companies, the Kremlin has to bail the oligarchs out
— the country's once-mighty gold and foreign exchange reserves, which peaked at $597 billion in August, have slumped to $453 billion and are dwindling at a rate of $22 billion a week
— prices of Russia's main exports, energy and metals, have collapsed in recent weeks to levels nobody anticipated. Russia's benchmark Urals crude was trading at $44 on Friday, less than half the $95 level anticipated in next year's budget
— many small and medium-sized Russian companies are poorly capitalized and relied on easy bank credit; they have found themselves too short of cash to continue normal operations
The Russia country manager of one leading European consumer sector company, speaking anonymously because he is not authorized to talk to the media, said his sales boomed through the year until: "In October, they just fell off a cliff."
"Consumers hadn't stopped buying," he said. "But our wholesalers and distributors ran out of money and stopped placing orders."
In a country where few hold shares but most watch the price of dollars, the fate of the rouble has of huge significance.
Ordinary Russians, who have suspected for some weeks that the real economic picture may be less rosy than the official one painted by state-controlled television, have been quietly withdrawing large amounts of roubles from banks to buy dollars.
The central bank announced on Wednesday it had spent $57.5 billion of reserves in the past two months selling dollars to prop up the rouble and analysts said that over the same period savers had withdrawn a quarter of all their deposits.
After weeks of insisting that the rouble would not be devalued, the government now faces an impossible choice: burn up the country's remaining vital foreign exchange reserves in what many regard as a hopeless battle to defend the rouble, or let the currency go and face a collapse of public confidence.
"It would probably be better from a macro-economic point of view to allow the rouble to float freely," said one senior Russian government official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"But if we do, there is a risk that it will overshoot, fall as much as 50 percent and trigger a run on banks."
Problems continue to mount for key Russian companies. Used to years of steadily rising sales and often heavily in debt, they are facing a sudden collapse in demand.
In a latest sign of trouble, electricity generators have seen a sudden rise in unpaid bills from corporate customers.
For the past three weeks, 13 percent of industrial users have not paid their bills, compared to about 8 percent before the onset of the crisis, industry regulator Dmitry Ponomaryov said on Wednesday.
The latest Russian giant to hit the buffers is potash miner Uralkali, whose products are used to make fertilizer.
Its shares, already weak after the government reopened an investigation into a mine accident, crashed after it announced plans to slash production. The stock is now 96 percent down on its June peak, on a par with Russia's distressed property developers who are sitting on thousands of unsold flats.
As layoffs mount, the economic pain is posing a growing threat to the dual leadership of Medvedev and Putin.
An opinion poll published this week by the independent Levada Center showed the proportion of Russians who think the government is doing a good job handling the crisis had almost halved from 13 percent in October to 7 percent in November.
Those saying it is performing badly rose from 27 percent to 33 percent.
In this environment, even the better-placed of the country's famed billionaire oligarchs are feeling the heat.
One of Russia's five richest men, speaking on condition of anonymity, said many businessmen in Russia simply wanted "to be alive, the longer the better."
"This crisis is hitting everybody, big business and small business," he said. "...but Russians are really fighters. They will fight to the end."
Editing by Timothy Heritage


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The Sony PlayStation 4 Black Friday 2016 bundles will be driving Sony's console sales this Holiday season.
There is only one Sony PS4 bundle that features the new Sony PS4 Slim available. The Uncharted 4 PlayStation 4 Bundle sells contains the new PS4 Slim 500GB and the Uncharted 4 game for $299.99.
That is a very limited offering from Sony when compared to Microsoft. The Xbox One S is available ahead of Black Friday 2016 in 7 different bundles, plus two special edition Xbox One S bundles. On top of that the Xbox One S Bundles are offered with an addition free game.
Sony has besides the Sony PS4 Slim also the new more powerful Sony PS4 Pro in the line-up for the Holidays 2016. The $399.99 Sony PS4 Pro will be released on November 10. On top of that Sony has released the Sony PlayStation VR. The PSVR is only available in the $399.99 Core bundle and in the weird GameStop PSVR bundles that contain pre-owned Move controllers and PlayStation Camera. There is no new PlayStation VR bundle on sale.
We expect Sony to go wild on PS4 Bundles as soon as the PS4 Pro is shipping. Not only do we expect the Sony PS4 Black Friday 2016 bundles to contain games, but there will be also PlayStation VR bundles. We expect Sony to launch PS4 Slim bundles, PS4 Pro Bundles and PSVR bundles.
Just imagine a nice big Sony PS4 Box that contains the new PS4 Slim in white, the PSVR headset, Move controllers, PlayStation Camera and a PlayStation VR game under a Christmas tree. Wouldn't that be something amazing? So far Sony has kept the Sony PS4 Slim and Sony PS4 Pro Holiday bundles under wraps.
Microsoft will be again more aggressive with Xbox One S Black Friday deals than Sony this year as they are behind. Sony should though feel too safe. Microsoft has announced this week to launch $299 VR Headsets in Spring along with Windows 10 Creators Update. We expect these low-cost VR headsets, that do not require a camera to work, to work with the Xbox as well.
It is never too early to get ready for Black Friday. We have compiled everything you need to know about Black Friday 2016 in our Black Friday 2016 guide. Find all Black Friday 2016 Ads as soon as they released in this Black Friday 2016 Ad list including the highly anticipated Walmart Black Friday 2016 ad. The first Black Friday 2016 ads are already released.
Read also everything we know about the Amazon Black Friday 2016 sale, which we predict will be largest Black Friday sale in history. Black Friday 2016 is on November 25. The Black Friday 2016 sales begin as early as November 4. Read the latest Black Friday 2016 news.


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Sweetness in the South, Saltiness in the North, Freshness in the East, and Hotness in the West
Addressing salty diets in China's Northern Province of Shan Dong
GAO YUJUAN DOESN'T SUFFER FROM HYPERTENSION but it does affect her life. Yujuan's parents are among the 160 million people in China with hypertension. Hypertension is a major contributor to heart disease and stroke, both of which are leading causes of death in China. Approximately 25% of the adult population in China has hypertension; however, only 36% of those know they have it, and approximately 5% of them control their hypertension with medication. The US-China collaboration in noncommunicable disease focuses its efforts on reducing one of the major risk factors for hypertension – salt intake.
SALT INTAKE IS HIGH IN CHINA, but it's particularly high in Shan Dong province on the northeastern seaboard. It is the second most populous province with approximately 96 million residents. Data suggest that Shan Dong has higher adult hypertension rates and salt consumption than the national average.
THE SHANDONG SALT REDUCTION PROGRAM was launched in March 2011. It is currently supported by the China Ministry of Health and Shandong provincial government with technical assistance and guidance provided by US CDC. It is the first provincial and government-lead salt reduction program in China. A team of 15 government agencies and organizations are implementing a comprehensive strategy to reduce salt intake. This program has great potential to affect prevention and control of hypertension efforts in this province and ultimately throughout China.
"LESS SALT, BETTER HEALTH" was the project slogan heard and seen through numerous mass media campaigns including cartoon videos, news releases, TV, and radio lectures. As information was broadcast throughout the region, Yujuan quickly learned about the risks of high sodium intake, which led her to start cooking low-sodium foods in her home. She was ultimately selected to represent her hometown in the Shandong Family Cooking Campaign, where she won the highest award. She now would like to serve as a volunteer for the program.
POLICIES AND REGULATIONS FOR SALT REDUCTION have been developed with support from the project's implementation team to reduce salt in restaurant food, processed food, and other foods sold. In 2013, all processed food will show sodium content on food labels as mandated by new food labeling laws.


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Ulterra Video: Life of a Drill Bit
From the field, to the customer, through engineering, CAM, and manufacturing then back to the field, each drilling bit's life is unique.
Reaching a Turning Point—Underbalanced Coiled Tubing Drilling Seeing Wider Implementation in Changing Oil Field
Underbalanced coiled tubing drilling has continually advanced since the first trials in the 1990s but remains a relatively niche drilling technology. With UBCTD projects set to start in many countries next year, this technology may be seeing a turning point.
Cognitive Study of Human Factors for Safe Drilling Operations: Eye-Tracking Technology
Considering most of the rigs deal with human-machine interface systems, the role of human factors is at the heart of any successful operation. Eye-tracking technology can be useful in real-time operation centers where ocular movement data can improve the professionals' performance.
Applying Oilwell Drilling Knowledge to Borewell Drilling To Alleviate Water Scarcity
For 60% of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, by cultivated land area, an acute challenge is access to water. Irrigation in such areas is limited because of lack of innovation in drilling methods. Here's a case where the knowledge from oil drilling led to improvements in borewell drilling.
It's All About Aligning With Your Company's Needs
Industry veteran Mario Zamora's story is molded by his long career in the drilling segment of the industry. In this article, he shares his advice for those looking for or starting their first oilfield job, working for a few years, or transitioning.
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11 November 2019
26 November 2019
26 November 2019


text: I think sign language is an astounding skill to acquire. To be able to communicate with someone, without noise, without technology, without fuss almost. Its such a simple yet intricate form of expression and it really fascinates me. While I am not a huge Paul McCartney fan, the beauty of Natalie Portman and the sign language have had me captivated for hours.


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My son, the only boy between 6 girls, is working really hard growing an idea.
When he decides to do something, he doesn't give up.
From the start of an idea
to actually making it happen
this kid did it all.
Read HERE about it.
It wasn't that long ago (it seems to me)
when my little boy was really little.
He was gentle, loving and everything you would ever want in a child.
He still is...
It's a nice feeling to be proud of your children.
I am forever grateful for my scrapbooks.
The feeling I get for each layout is fresh with emotion.
What a wonderful gift I give myself over and over again.
I urge anyone to try it.
Although I share with all of you
it's really for myself that I do this.
There are moments when I wish I could roll back the clock and take all the sadness away, but I have the feeling that if I did, the joy would be gone as well."
― Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember
― Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember


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Friends, it's finally here and I am so excited to share this post with you about The Big Fake Wedding! There's so much to talk about, I could go on
This father daughter first look was so precious, it quickly moved to the top of my list of favorite moments. Pily's dad was so overwhelmed with love and emotion, it made


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Download E-books The Indomitable Spirit of Edmonia Lewis. A Narrative Biography. PDF
By Harry Henderson, Albert Henderson
Winner of the eLit GOLD award: "Illuminating electronic Publishing Excellence."
Edmonia Lewis was once the 1st recognized "colored sculptor" and the 1st to idealize her African and American Indian heritages in stone. She flourished from 1864 via 1878, and, as an artist, used to be a unprecedented device for social switch within the aftermath of the Civil battle. She pressed her case for equality from her studio in Rome, Italy, and with annual excursions of the United States.
Our new narrative of Lewis's existence and paintings updates many "established evidence" - well past faulty delivery and demise dates - with greater than 100,000 phrases, 50 illustrations, 800 references, bibliography, index, and a reference checklist of greater than a hundred works with notes on museum holdings. it really is in keeping with deepest letters, public files, essays, hundreds of thousands of stories goods, studies of her paintings, museum collections, and greater than dozen released interviews. It finds how an international biased opposed to her colour, type, gender and faith bought her. Of distinct curiosity to African-American and American-Indian reports, in addition to artwork, women's, and American background, the narrative opens an abundance of formerly unrecognized assets, reinterprets very important relationships, names lacking works, and corrects the identity of a huge portrait. scholars of the 19th century will locate it a funky counterpoint to the sour rage of Civil battle and Reconstruction.
Readers conversant in her mythical icons of race will be shocked through her many images and her untold strikes to Paris and London. they'll additionally locate solutions to long-standing questions: the place, whilst, and the way did she die? Why did her come upon with a bronze Ben Franklin go away her reeling? Why did she idealize a lady with African beneficial properties just once in her occupation? Why did she by no means cite the now-famous without end loose after her first interviews in Rome? Why did she need to stalk Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the course of the streets to make his portrait? the place was once her studio? How usually did she journey the US? How did she input her paintings within the 1876 Centennial expo, which had barred coloured humans completely? What have been her relationships with lovers, mentors, and fellow sculptors? Who have been her competitors, her most sensible acquaintances, and her worst enemies? clean proof, by no means earlier than accumulated and collated, argues a singular rationale for her erotic masterwork, the loss of life of Cleopatra, which sits aside in her œuvre like a hussy in a small city church. Newly discovered resources additionally swap our view of her youth and supply considerable aid to refute distortions of her own personality, sexuality, and visual appeal.
Harry Henderson was once co-author with Romare Bearden of the "landmark" heritage of African-American Artists from 1792 (Pantheon, 1993) and six Black Masters of yank artwork (Doubleday, 1972). Albert Henderson has contributed to a couple of discovered journals and books.
Read or Download The Indomitable Spirit of Edmonia Lewis. A Narrative Biography. PDF
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Additional resources for The Indomitable Spirit of Edmonia Lewis. A Narrative Biography.
The human heads which ornamented the palms of the chair have been obvious, and detracted from the glory which the artist succeeded in gaining within the determine. a cover of Oriental brightness in colour have been positioned over the statue. [646] Ingram's assurance of the expo took no realize of whatever by way of William Wetmore tale. the main certified reviewer used to be the hot York artist-writer William J. Clark, a pal of Saint-Gaudens. Edmonia must wait years to learn his insightful comparability with Story's queen. Clark not just bubbled but in addition drew differences she might have stumbled on quite pleasant: a good extra notable sculpture from the hand of a feminine artist than pass over Foley's fountain which used to be within the Centennial Exhibition used to be the Cleopatra of Edmonia Lewis. This used to be now not a gorgeous paintings, however it was once a really unique and intensely remarkable one, and it merits specific remark, as its perfect used to be so substantially various from these followed through tale and Gould of their statues of the Egyptian Queen. tale gave his Cleopatra Nubian gains, and accomplished an inventive if now not a historic luck by means of so doing. The Cleopatra of Gould indicates a Greek lineage. omit Lewis, nonetheless, has the cash, medals, and different genuine files in giving her Cleopatra an aquiline nostril and a renowned chin of the Roman sort, for the Egyptian Queen appears to be like to have had such positive factors instead of reminiscent of could extra definitely recommend her Grecian descent. This Cleopatra, accordingly, extra approximately resembled the genuine heroine of background than both of the others, which, even though, it's going to be remembered, laid no claims to being except only perfect works. pass over Lewis' Cleopatra, just like the figures sculptured through tale and Gould, is seated in a chair; the poison of the asp has performed its paintings, and the Queen is useless. the results of demise are represented with such ability as to be completely repellant – and it's a query no matter if a statue of the ghastly features of this one doesn't overstep the boundaries of valid artwork. except all questions of flavor, besides the fact that, the awesome traits of the paintings are indisputable, and it might in basic terms were reproduced through a sculptor of very actual endowments. [647] Acknowledging Edmonia's background and reflecting that merely obscure references to her paintings had ever come to him, Clark went directly to hail the paintings in no doubtful phrases: "the actual strength of her Cleopatra used to be a revelation. " A sign that a few american citizens had come to their senses, Clark mentioned how Story's Cleopatra benefited from Hawthorne's best-selling novel. [648] paintings critic and sculptor Laredo Taft later concurred, "it was once the novelist who gave to the statue its recognition in England and America…. Into the paintings he learn an enormous deal greater than ever the sculptor was once to achieve. "[649] might be Clark intended to spark debate approximately Edmonia's Cleopatra by means of writing, "it is a question even if a statue of the ghastly features of this one doesn't overstep the limits of valid artwork. " Why Edmonia's depiction of death's agonies must have verified barriers remembers the continuing conflict among the fervour of Catholic artwork and simple puritan reserve, among realism that was once discovering a brand new voice and the staleness of the hundred-year-old Greek revival.


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3 Arrested in Rancho Cucamonga in Connection to Instagram Stock Investment Scam
Three people were arrested in Rancho Cucamonga in connection to an Instagram stock investment scam, the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department said Thursday in a news release.
Zoe Ramirez, 19, Ricardo Nicholas Ramkissoon, 23, and Rahim James Parker, 22, all from Rancho Cucamonga, were taken into custody at a home in the 11000 block of 5th Street, police said.
Ramirez used an Instagram account under the handle "Quueeeeeennn" to message a victim saying that she and her mother-in-law "Talishah" would invest $500 of the victim's money in stocks and promised a large return of more than $1,000, according to the news release.
The victim agreed and gave money to Ramirez. She then told him to speak about his investments directly with "Talishah" through text messages.
Police said they later found out that the number used actually belonged to Ramkissoon, who lived with Ramirez.
Over the next two weeks, the victim "exchanged large amounts of money with Ramirez, believing he was investing in stocks," police said.
The victim then asked so-called Talishah to sell his stock so he can get his money. The suspects gave the victim a date and told him his money would be available on that day, authorities said.
For the next two weeks after that, every time the victim tried to collect the money, he was told the stock was continuing to grow and that he had to pay "large fees" for the release, according to police.
"The victim never received any earnings and has lost over $4,000 in property and funds given to Ramirez with the belief the victim's money was invested in real stock," police said.
While serving a search warrant at the suspects' home, detectives recovered property belonging to the victim, a large amount of U.S. currency, other items corroborating the victim's claims, as well as additional evidence identifying more victims, according to the news release.
All three suspects were booked into a Rancho Cucamonga jail on charges including conspiracy to commit a crime, the grand theft of money or property worth more than $950, receiving known stolen property and false pretenses obtaining money/etc., police said.
Parker's role in the scheme is unclear.
Detectives are asking for the public's help identifying anyone else who may have been a victim.
Anyone with information was urged to contact the Rancho Cucamonga Police Detective Division at 909-477-2800. To remain anonymous, call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-27463.
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By BECKY GILLETTE
Italo Subbarao, DO, MBA, senior associate dean with the William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, is an emergency physician with a specialty in disaster medicine and emergency response. The former director of the American Medical Association Public Health Readiness Office in Chicago is now using his experience to work with Hinds Community College to develop ambulance drones that can deliver medical tools, medicine and telemedicine to victims and\or first responders at the scene of natural disasters or mass shootings.
On Dec. 6, two new Health Integrated Rescue Operation (HIRO) ambulance drones made their debuts at a successful active shooter simulation at the John Bell Williams Airport that was witnessed by officials with the Department of Homeland Security, the United Nations, federal law enforcement officers and the governor's office. The event was in concert with the nationwide Homeland Security "Stop the Bleed" campaign.
"I've been responding to major disaster events around the world for many years prior to coming down here five years ago," said Subbarao, who provided field and technical support after the Haiti and Pakistan earthquakes, the Mumbai shootings, and Hurricanes Gustave, Ike and Katrina.
"Tornadoes, earthquakes and terror attacks, I studied all those things before I came to Mississippi in 2011. Five or six months later, this F4 tornado came to Hattiesburg causing tremendous damage. Students came to me and asked if I would help study this event. When studying the event, we recognized there were zero fatalities and fewer overall number of injured people and level of injury than what would expect compared to similar events."
What came out was the critical role played by social media, Twitter in particular, in warning people to seek shelter. An article published on the findings was recognized by the United Nations and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency decided to develop a plan to use social media purposefully. Hospitals were also interested in adopting a social media plan to respond to disasters.
"There was robust, two-way communication between the population that was impacted the response agencies in general," Subbarao said. "People reporting power lines that were down, roads that were blocked, and other concerns. The appropriate response was: 'We hear you, we are working as hard as we can and we will be there as soon as we can.'"
But in studying the disaster, they realized there was more than could have been done by combining the drone technology with telemedicine to create an ambulance drone that was small, cheap and mobile. But putting a mobile telemedicine package on a drone, the supplies could be sent to the address where there were injured people potentially providing critical, life-saving interventions.
"The idea was to provide a critical bridge providing emergency care before the first responders got there to take them to the hospital," he said. "That is the seeding for the idea."
Guy Paul Cooper, Jr., a fourth-year medical student, was co-developer of the HIRO.
"He and I scoped the field to see if this technology was out there," Subbarao said. "I talked to a number of folks about unmanned aerial vehicles and while a lot was being done in terms of drones being used to survey a disaster area, no one was really doing what we suggested. On the commercial side, Amazon, FedEx and UPS are looking at transport drones. What we envisioned was more than a drone, but an integrated system with a medical kit that would be integrated with technology that was user friendly and would empower a person in a chaotic environment."
It is even possible to use visual technology like Google Glass so when someone at the disaster puts on Google Glass, images of what that person is seeing are transmitted back.
"We can speak in their ear and give them reassurance," Subbarao said. "It allows guiding that person. They can push a button on an application that will coincide with lighting a certain area of kit. We tell them, 'Grab that.' Then we can talk them thought it. We can even push video to show them how to do an intervention such as putting a tourniquet on that can literally save someone's life and limb."
The first working prototype they generated focused on rural emergencies. Perhaps someone at a farm has a cardiac emergency, and is a 40-minute drive from a hospital. A drone can get there in half the time and provide life-saving care.
"As we look at the things put in the kits, we are looking at common emergencies you might see in a disaster or rural setting," Subbarao said. "One of the other utilizations for the kits is if you are in remote wilderness area hiking, and somebody gets bit by a snake or a bee, our kits can get out there and bring some life-saving interventions. Otherwise it might take first responders a great deal of time to get to you."
Subbarao said they have received interest from throughout the U.S. and around the world about the use of this technology.
"We are very excited," he said. "We are interested in refining it. Our next step is we are very focused on continuing to test the technology and working with state partners to be able to do some field testing. From our vantage point, I believe we have a solution. We feel we have a Mississippi solution, but also really a global solution based on the response we have received. We're not building drones. We are not building medical kits. We are building a drone response system that can be plugged into an emergency response system."
Subbarao said they believe there is a commercial potential down the road. Currently the biggest barrier to this are FAA regulations that don't allow commercial drones to go beyond physical sight.
"The ambulance drone concept is best utilized in beyond visual line of sight," he said. "If power lines and trees are down, the drone can get up over the barrier. We are working with the FAA on regulatory requirements. There are ways within the system to be able to do this. The important thing is the technology is here now. That is what is amazing.
Subbarao said their partners at Hinds Community College have been helpful.
"We believe there is a fellowship and kinship in Mississippi that will allow us to test and refine it here in the state," he said. "This is a special place where we can develop ambulance drone technology in an amazing way."
Hinds Community College was one of the first colleges in the country to develop a two-year associate degree program in unmanned aerial systems. Dennis Lott, who directs the program, is excited about the future potential.
"William Carey has done a superb job developing this telemedical unit," Lott said. "I monitor worldwide data streams regarding unmanned aircraft systems and we are far ahead of the rest of the world in this area. It is astounding. I'm a homegrown Mississippi boy and it is exciting that here in Mississippi two schools have partnered together to bring this technology out that could really benefit humanity. We will continue to develop it and build it right here in Mississippi."
Lott said there are clear indications that unmanned aircraft systems are an emerging industry that is going be the next golden era in aviation. There are estimates that 110,000 jobs will be created in the field in the next five to 10 years.
"It's pretty big," he said.
The HCC drones, which weigh under the FAA mandated 55 pound weight limit, were constructed specifically to deliver the William Carey College telemedicine package. The drone can also give a bird's-eye view of the disaster allowing rescue personnel to know exactly what is going on.
"I think in the future most emergency response agencies will have an ambulance drone like this, and actual telemedical packages that will be delivered to remote locations to provide the help when it is needed and where it is needed," Lott said. "After hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms or mass casualties, as many as 100 people can be treated from one delivery with one of these drones."


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Hello and good day/night or whatever. I'm not really new to the game because I've played since 2012 but I took a long break (since early 2016) and missed all the transfer windows this year from NA (Don't ask) so I'm starting from scratch. And it's been... harder than I thought. The gameplay is different, the players, etc. And I only played high tiers before I took a break so playing lower tiers has been a... Well, yeah, I think you know what I'm talking about. I mean, it all feels "new".
Anyway, I currently have my eyes on the Maus and E-100 and am on the Pz 4H and just starting to grind what was my favorite line to, the IS line. Any advice on what other lines I can grind? Game advice in general? The recent tank lines? It would be much appreciated.