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Shopping for health insurance isn't easy for most people, but for Branden Weaver, the stakes are especially high: His two young sons are on the autism spectrum, and he and his wife are determined to ensure they have a health plan that covers the practitioners who treat them.
But the first time they tried signing up for coverage through the state's health insurance exchange, Access Health CT, they ended up in Medicaid, which didn't cover one of their older son's providers. Weaver tried to sign his son up for a private insurance plan that did, but even with his information technology background, he found it difficult. So he turned to an insurance broker.
"He was able to help right away and get things situated," said Weaver, a stay-at-home dad in Southington.
Weaver has gone back to his broker for issues that have come up since then – things he dreads handling on his own. But for him and thousands of other Obamacare customers who have their own brokers, getting their help probably won't be an option much longer.
While insurance companies have traditionally paid brokers a monthly commission for each policy they sell, insurers are discontinuing those fees for 2017 plans sold through Access Health. That means that brokers who continue working with their exchange clients probably would be doing so without pay.
The change in broker availability comes at a time of significant flux for the exchange. About half of Access Health's close to 100,000 customers will need to change plans during the open enrollment period that begins Nov. 1, said Jim Wadleigh, the exchange's CEO. Some are covered by companies that won't sell exchange policies in 2017 – HealthyCT and UnitedHealthcare – while others have plans that are being discontinued.
And many have relied on brokers in the past. This year, 40 percent of exchange policies were sold through agents or brokers.
To help those who want advice, Access Health plans to have approximately 20 brokers working through its call center or in storefronts in New Britain and New Haven. The brokers will be contracted through the call center vendor and paid a salary; the total cost is expected to be around $1 million, some of which will come from reductions in Access Health's advertising.
"That obviously isn't going to be free," Wadleigh said. "We think it's about the best that we can do in the short period of time."
But some have questioned whether it will be adequate.
"I'm anticipating that the consumers are going to be extremely upset and it's going to be a very tough open enrollment period for Access Health CT," said Tim Tracy Jr., a Fairfield insurance broker and president of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters. "You're going to be taking all these people that have worked with their brokers for multiple years, [are] comfortable with brokers, brokers [who] are local. Now you're saying sorry, you're going to have to call the 800 number and deal with whoever we've hired and is on the phone."
Will it be enough?
The exchanges created by the federal health law were intended to make it easier for people to comparison-shop for health plans. But Jesse McDonald, a Milford broker, said that without digging beyond the initial online results page, shoppers could pick a plan that costs them more for care or doesn't cover their doctor or medication.
"The consumer can get caught choosing the wrong plan," McDonald said.
Besides helping people pick plans, brokers help clients submit the documents needed to verify their eligibility. McDonald said if brokers aren't available, it probably will mean more calls to Access Health.
The change in the broker situation also concerns Deb Polun, director of government affairs and media relations at the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut.
Health centers have staffers who are trained to help people sign up for coverage, but they're not allowed to advise people on plan selection – nor do they have the training for it, Polun said. In the past, they gave out lists of brokers to call for help choosing.
Without a broker, she said, "It would be like a doctor saying to you, 'Here's seven prescription drugs. Just pick the one you want.'"
She thinks the 20 or so brokers who will be available through Access Health probably won't be enough to meet the demand.
Wadleigh said he hopes they will be able to handle the volume.
"My gut tells me that if everyone calls us in the last two days, we won't be able to handle all those calls," he said. "So we will continue to push and encourage everyone to call and enroll prior to [the last minute]."
He added that the exchange intends to work with the insurance companies to reach out to customers who need to change plans to try to get them signed up before the Dec. 15 deadline for coverage that starts Jan. 1. Others can be automatically re-enrolled.
"In a perfect world, we're hoping that we can adapt and adjust, and if we don't, we'll re-evaluate after open enrollment and work with the carriers and the brokers to see what we can come up with," Wadleigh said.
Why no commissions?
Anthem cited price as a factor in its decision to stop paying commissions for exchange plans. Commissions come out of the premiums customers pay.
"In evaluating these changes, we believe they are necessary to create long-term sustainable pricing while providing customers with health care that remains affordable," the company said in a statement.
Anthem spokeswoman Sarah Yeager said the company also concluded that a low percentage of individual business was generated by brokers compared to other resources available through the exchange. And she noted that the exchange has tools that allow people to shop on their own.
ConnectiCare acknowledged that it will not pay commissions for exchange products, but did not explain why.
Both Anthem and ConnectiCare will continue paying commissions for plans sold outside the exchange.
Brokers said it's not clear if there are alternative ways to continue serving exchange clients, since there are restrictions on charging clients money.
According to the Connecticut Insurance Department, licensed insurance agents and brokers can't charge a fee to people buying health insurance that qualifies for subsidies on the exchange. Those licensed as certified insurance consultants can charge a fee for advice, counsel or opinion, but they can't benefit from selling an insurance policy.
Even if they could charge consulting fees to exchange customers, brokers said that's unlikely to be a widespread option since many people buying coverage struggle to afford even discounted premiums.
John Calkins, a Watertown insurance agent and legislative chairman for the underwriters' association, predicted that commissions could become a legislative issue next year. He noted that in California, commissions are required for plans sold through the exchange.
"Poor people are going to be discriminated against because they can't get a licensed professional agent," Calkins said. "We want to help our clients. We want to continue to help the 40 percent we enroll, but unless the state of Connecticut's going to give me a break on taxes or a break on electricity and payroll and everything else, how can I afford to do this?"
McDonald has about 200 to 250 clients who buy plans through the exchange, about one-third of his individual-market business. This year's commissions for most plans are $16 per month.
"I have to try to find a way to guide them as best I can given the fact that it would be pro bono work on a mass scale," he said. "I don't know realistically if it's doable, because anytime you're in business, if let's say a third of your revenue stream is gone, you have to find new revenue streams."


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Welcome to Purple Pawn, covering games played around the world by billions of people every day.
04 Apr
Posted by David Miller as Card Games
An update to Steve Jackson's first person shooter computer game without the computer is on its way to retailers. Frag: Gold Edition is the same game as the original base card game but includes upgraded components such as a two-sided rigid gameboard, plastic figures, erasable character cards, and 18 dice. Just the ticket if you might enjoy a quick session of mindless violence but don't want to invest in the high-end graphics processor.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

subset: commoncrawl


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What are you saving your money for?? Or maybe I should take a step back and ask, ARE you saving?
Life is a lot easier with savings in the bank (no ####, Sherlock). However, the act of getting around to saving money may be one of the hardest tasks to achieve in life. It can help first to figure out for what — and when and with whom — would we even save in the first place? Accumulating savings can be much more attainable after asking yourself these questions. From here, a "savings plan" can begin to form.
Here are a few typical savings items. Feel free to compare to your current list or start adding your own personal ideas:
- First house
- Bigger house
- College or graduate school (for self or kids/grandkids)
- New car
- Business venture or to expand a business
- Vacation(s)
- Retirement
- Hobby
- ……………………….
This is what "Quadrant #1 of Saving" is all about: Personal Vision.
A wise man or woman once said, "How are you going to know you arrived when you get there, if you don't know where you are going?" It is the same with saving. Let's take saving for retirement as an example (but feel free to fill in your own savings item).
There are the "overlooked aspects" and the "standard objectives" of saving for retirement — or really any goal:
Commonly Overlooked
- Are you and your spouse (if you are married) in agreement on the where and when?
- When is the last time you talked or thought seriously about it?
- Have you taken a hard look at your cash flows (i.e. what you spend your money on)?
- What and where will work best with your personality?
Standard Objectives
- Live where you want
- Spend time with family and friends
- Volunteer and contribute
- Travel
- Have fun
- Feel and be healthy
One big misconception at this stage is that there is "a right answer". There is no perfect, right answer. Of course, deciding to save money in the first place is a no-brainer. But each person's or each family's situation, timing — and solutions required — are different. Expert advice is needed along the way and to optimize results and success.


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Home > Archive > 2009 > September > 3
River2 is ready
Thursday, September 03, 2009 by Dave Winer.
Or as ready as it'll ever be. :-)
It's an aggregator that runs on your desktop and supports reading lists, rssCloud and is a podcatcher.
I'm sure there are bugs and know there are still features to come, but I and others are using it all the time to keep up with what's new in RSS feedland, and to download podcasts, and as more cloud-aware apps come online, we're going to need software that can subscribe to the. That's what River2 is for.
If you have questions or comments, post them here or on the howto linked above.
Here we go and good luck to all of us!
PS: Now I've hit my first milestone due before the rssCloud meetup next Wednesday. I have a few others to cross off the list. Wish me luck!
Recent stories
Dave Winer, 54, pioneered the development of weblogs, syndication (RSS), podcasting, outlining, and web content management software; former contributing editor at Wired Magazine, research fellow at Harvard Law School, entrepreneur, and investor in web media companies. A native New Yorker, he received a Master's in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin, a Bachelor's in Mathematics from Tulane University and currently lives in Berkeley, California.
"The protoblogger." - NY Times.
"The father of modern-day content distribution." - PC World.
One of BusinessWeek's 25 Most Influential People on the Web.
"Helped popularize blogging, podcasting and RSS." - Time.
"The father of blogging and RSS." - BBC.
"RSS was born in 1997 out of the confluence of Dave Winer's 'Really Simple Syndication' technology, used to push out blog updates, and Netscape's 'Rich Site Summary', which allowed users to create custom Netscape home pages with regularly updated data flows." - Tim O'Reilly.
Dave Winer
© Copyright 1994-2009 Dave Winer .
Last update: 9/3/2009; 4:07:52 PM Pacific. "It's even worse than it appears."


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Gina Frangello is the mainstay of the Chicago literary scene—journalist, novelist, editor for OV Books (and long-time editor of its predecessor Other Voices magazine, and winner of this year's Summer Literary Seminar's Unified Contest ((fiction category). She's also featured in The &NOW AWARDS: The Best Innovative Writing, which I co-edit for &NOW Books.
Her new collection, Slut Lullabies drops this month from Emergency Press, and now, to cap her career, she's submitted to a Big Other interview.
Davis: When did you decide you "were" a "writer"?
Gina: This is a tricky one, as it probably is for most writers. I've always written. I was dictating stories to my mom and illustrating them before I could even print. I started writing my first "novel" when I was 10, on one of those long rolls of brown paper you had to tear off, and by the time I was 15 I had 3 manuscripts—I'd progressed to notebook paper by then—of about 400 pages each, all about the same characters. Then I started partying and I was always either out or on the telephone and I forgot about writing for four years.
In college, I got the idea to take a creative writing workshop as an "easy" elective my sophomore year, and although I immediately learned that there was nothing easy about it, I never stopped writing after that. Still, it was quite a long while before I began to identify as a writer. I majored in psychology at Madison, and went on to get my master's and practiced as a therapist for three years. I thought of writing as a hobby. I had grown up urban poor, and when I entered college my family made less than 10K per year, below the poverty level—I had never even met a published writer, so to me majoring in creative writing or deciding to "be" a writer as a career was something rich kids with parental support or trust funds did. I needed not only to pay the bills but also, probably, to support my parents in their old age. The only writer I'd ever met as a kid were a jobless alcoholic who lived in my parents' garage with a shitload of ants, and a frustrated cop who wrote unpublished, sprawling novels about the Russians trying to take over the United States by infiltrating all the McDonald's. They did not make writing look like a viable profession.
Truthfully, for plenty of people, writing is not a viable profession. Most writers also teach, of course, but tenure is hard to come by and in many cases adjuncts would make better money waiting tables. Still, even that being true, when I was about 25 I started working on a novel and became so obsessed with it that I started calling in sick to work all the time, stopped sleeping, and wrote 450 pages in 3 months. My husband suggested I go back to grad school for creative writing, and the idea was that I was going to do this for two years and then return to my profession as a therapist—I planned to get a Ph.D. and open a private practice. Needless to say, that never happened. I started editing Other Voices magazine in grad school, and teaching adjunct and publishing—all my economic worries about the lack of financial viability of the writing world were completely accurate, but it didn't matter because there was no looking back, I was just hooked.
Davis: Where does the title SLUT LULLABIES come from?
Gina: I think up titles all the time. Usually I don't know for a long while where they'll end up or what characters they'll be connected to. I thought of the title "Slut Lullabies" while I was in a hotel room in the early 90s. I started writing in my notebook, and at the time I thought the story was going to be about a young mother who had lied to her husband about her sexual past and had reinvented herself and was trapped in that new identity. I wrote a few pages longhand but never finished the piece. About ten years later, I started writing a completely different story about a recent high school grad whose mother, a former party-girl divorcee, is dying of cancer, and the title came to me again and ended up feeling more organic to that piece. It later became the title of my collection, mainly because people had such strong responses to that particular title. One anecdote I love is that when I was working with Mary Rockcastle, the editor of Water~Stone Reivew, on the title story, which was first published in her mag, we had to sub out the word "slut" every time it appeared in the ms. because otherwise her university's email wouldn't allow the attachments into her inbox.
Davis: What feelings will reading Slut Lullabies induce in the reader?
Gina: Well, of course who knows, right? The stories in the collection are not related, so I hope they induce a range of feelings. Some are fairly satirical or a little goofy, and even the darker ones are, I hope, funny in their own way. But mainly I hear that my writing tends to make people emotionally uncomfortable. All the blurbs on the back of the book say this in one form or another, I think. Most people who have said this mean it in a good way. A few—mainly in corporate New York publishing—have meant it in a negative way. But I like the idea of my work making people uncomfortable. To me, if that's true, it's a great compliment.
Davis: If you were to receive a bad review of Slut Lullabies–which of course
will not happen–write that one sentence that you'd keep reading over and
Gina: Every story in this collection wants to be a novel.
Davis: What's the Emergency, really, at Emergency Press? Are we supposed to stop or encourage this emergency?
Bryan Tomasovich, my editor at Emergency Press, could speak to this better than I can, but I definitely believe that EP is on to something in the industry that's in transition and needs to be seized. We're in a place right now where publishers need to figure out what is still viable about the old models of the business vs. what needs to be discarded. What I love about Bryan is that he's absolutely committed to old school editing and to vigorous, diverse marketing strategies tailored to an individual author's strengths. Like all indie presses, EP is not flush with cash, but they're also not afraid to spend some money promoting a book, which I—as a publisher myself as well as an author—think is pretty imperative, still, but can be woefully rare in indie publishing. What makes this possible for EP is that they're also taking advantage of new technologies and platforms that make operations cheaper and challenge traditional models in the industry, like the Depression Era distribution model that rapes small indies and bankrupts them. Bryan believes in truly collaborating with and busting his ass for his writers, and it's a privilege to work with anyone like that. This is a jaded business, where in corporate publishing the bottom line is almost always about mass-market appeal and shareholder profits, and in indie publishing there can be almost the diametrically opposite view that can make writers and publishers feel gauche for aspiring to earn any money at all. I would say, happily, that Bryan and EP are not buying into either of those mindsets.
Davis: Describe Other Voices Books aesthetic or mission.
Gina: Other Voices Books is committed to filling a gap that used to be addressed by the dominant literary publishing industry—short story collections, anthologies, international fiction—but no longer is because of a combination of the corporatization of publishing and the way politics and the economy have impacted the books industry in the past decade or so, especially since 9-11. We at OV see ourselves as carrying a torch that has been irresponsibly and negligently dropped by mainstream publishing. While we seek work that pushes the envelope, we are probably more known for risky content than for avant-garde stylistics. Our work is by and large accessible to a literate, fiction-loving readership, in no way limited to academics or other writers. We see there being a large gap between the more hardcore experimental presses and the giant corporate houses that churn out by and large formulaic and reductive genre work. I believe that much of what Other Voices Books publish would have, at one time, been snatched up by the serious literary editors in New York, often for a decent advance, before these editors had to answer to their shareholders and were forced to become drones for corporations. Now, we are lucky enough to get that work instead and we aim to champion the hell out of it and show it a good time.
Davis: Where do you see Other Voices Books in 20 years?
Gina: The publishing industry is changing so rapidly that I think anyone would be in error if they made a sweeping prediction for where their press will be in two decades. In 20 years, I'm not at all sure I'll still be doing the same things I'm doing now, in terms of my career passions, but I very much like to think that if I should choose to move into any new arena, I would find a passionate successor just like my own former boss and mentor, Lois Hauselman, who founded Other Voices magazine, found in me. I feel confident that eventually most enterprises require new blood to stay current and vibrant. In 20 years, I'd like to be doing a lot of traveling that having three young children in school can inhibit. Right now, running my own business out of my home is the perfect work for me, but I think once my children leave the house, I would want to be on the move quite a bit more, so who knows what kind of work will seem most exciting then?
Davis: If you could pulp any existing hard copy book for all time, which, and
Gina: Although it's arguably an important historical document, I certainly wouldn't mind pulverizing Malleus Maleficarum for all eternity, for reasons that probably don't require much explanation.
Davis: If you had to sacrifice character, setting, or plot as part of a
gruesome mystery cult ritual, which gets on the chopping block?
Gina: I have written stories, and even one novel, where setting was not particularly important. When I was younger, I think a more general urban sensibility was part of my intention—that I even shied away from extremely specific settings. That's no longer true, though. My newest novel, A Life in Men, is highly contingent on place. It's about a woman traveler with Cystic Fibrosis, and each chapter takes place in a different country—I hope each location is as vivid as any character in the story.
Davis: Do you write, or does the writing write you?
Gina: Both things happen.
I write nonfiction pretty lucidly and volitionally—though I get carried away to some extent, I'm always still somewhat present and conscious of the craft of what I'm doing, what I'm trying to accomplish.
With fiction it's very different. Particularly with longer projects, I tend to lose all track of myself. I often experience the concrete world around me as extremely surreal and fake when I'm working on a novel, because the "real" world of my characters seems to exist behind a veil I can't quite reach, as though I'm trapped in an alternate space and can't get back to where I'm supposed to be unless I'm at the computer working, living there, with those voices and those people. This can go on for a long period of time, but is always at its most intense in the final month or so of a first draft. That stretch, for me, really is about entering another reality pretty fully, and having to leave a lot of this world behind temporarily.
I think writers (and all kinds of artists) often experience this kind of—well, what is called "mania," at times of heightened productivity. In many ways, it is a delicious period, being on a continuous high without much need for sleep or food, with your brain and body constantly buzzing. In other ways, it can be terrifying. Mania is accompanied by reckless behavior, which in this context can be an effort to bring a gravity or extremity back into your practical reality—an attempt to jolt yourself out of that alternate, imaginative space. People experiencing mania can be delusional too, but maybe writers are always borderline delusional in some ways, so that can be hard to call with us . . .
Luckily for me, this hits most acutely when I'm finishing a first draft of a novel, and I've only finished novels four times in my life, so as intoxicating as this state is, I don't inhabit it the bulk of my time. I love writing and entering those other worlds, but I love the life I lead off the page even more passionately, so I would never want to leave it on any permanent basis.


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Beach volleyball is one of the trending topics in the 2016 Rio Olympics, from the beach venue and the party environment to the new challenging system during the games, the sport is receiving a lot of attention.
The Rio de Janeiro Olympics is the event of the moment, and the beach volleyball tournaments appear to be one of the major attractions, starting with the Copacabana beach volleyball venue. Copacabana's party environment is present during all of the Olympic volleyball matches that sometimes are played in the middle of the night with singing and cheerful fans.
Volleyball is one of the main sports played on Copacabana beach. Just outside of the Olympic venue hundreds of nets are displayed for anyone to play, which explains the excitement during the three days of Olympic Beach Volleyball in Rio.
Copacabana's volleyball
Over eight games have already been played on the Copacabana Stadium where different countries faced each other in the arena. First, Italy faced Austria in the men's tournament, showing a winning Italy in a 21-14 to 21-13 match.
Brazil's men team, represented by player Evandro Goncalves and Pedro Salgado, won over the Canadian team in a 21-19 to 22-20 preliminary game. The USA women's team suffered a loss in the arena against strong rival Poland. The game started strong for the American team lead by Brooke Seat and Lauren Fendrick, winning the first match.
During the second and third set, the Poland team, represented by Kinga Kolosinska and Monika Brzostek, won over the Americans two sets to one. The team finished with flying colors over the Australia team in a 21-14 t0 21-13 match.
The American men's team, represented by Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson, had a winning strike in the last games succeeding over Tunisia in a 21-7 to 21-13 match. The Tusinians are represented by Mohamed Naceu and Choaib Salah.
The volleyball division in charge of Rio 2016 has applied a new "challenge" method that allows players to ask for a revision over a referee's call. When a team wants a review, they form a "C" letter with their hands and a video playback is showed during the match. The newly implanted system has received good feedback from players and the public so far.
"We want the game to be more transparent, we want the players to be happy with the decisions and want the game to reflect what happens on the field," said Angelo Squeo, Director of the beach volleyball international federation.
Source: NBC Olympics


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Avast Business Antivirus offers your business outstanding online protection. Its advanced features promise to detect and block threats faster and more reliably, than any other software AV available.
Your business can't afford to stay defenceless. Avast Business Antivirus offers exceptional protection with a 100% malware detection rate. With the number of cyberattacks growing daily, it's only a matter of time until your business becomes a target. It's time to fight back with the best Antivirus protection software available.
PricingPrices start at $39.99 (for one PC for one year), to $79.98 (for one PC for three years' cover). If you're looking to cover up to 10 PCs, this price drops down to $20.99 per PC, per year for three years' cover ($629.80). For 15 devices or more, Avast recommends its Business Managed Antivirus solutions.
Bottom Line Avast is one of the biggest names in computer security and its acquisition of AVG means it has an enviable reputation in the business sector. Avast Business Antivirus is the entry-level product in its business AV line-up, but the level of protection offered is still impressive.


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Jussie Smollett Trial Set For November After Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss
Jussie Smollett is headed to trial in Chicago after a judge denied his latest motion to dismiss disorderly conduct charges from his alleged 2019 hate crime hoax.
According to USA Today, Smollett will stand in front of a jury beginning on Nov. 29, which will be open to the public and press but closed to media cameras.
Prior to the trial being set, Judge James Linn allowed Smollett's newest defense lawyer Nenye Uche to plead for dismissal of the case again on Friday (Oct. 15). Uche shared that his client had been offered a non-prosecution deal by previous prosecutors in the Cook County state's attorney's office in Chicago. Uche also reported that Smollet had already done community service and given up a $10,000 bond under a prior agreement.
"It's as clear as day – this case should be dismissed because of an immunity agreement," Uche said. "A deal is a deal. That's ancient principle."
Smollett is charged with disorderly conduct after prosecutors say he staged an attack in 2019. He pleaded not guilty.
BET previously reported that the case of the former Empire star first began back on Jan. 29, 2019, after allegations that two men assaulted him in a racist and homophobic attack while he was returning home from a sandwich shop in Chicago. Smollett claimed that he was beaten, called racist and homophobic slurs, had an "unknown chemical substance" poured on him, and had a rope put around his neck.
Smollett also faces a lawsuit from the City of Chicago. It claims that the actor owes the city at least $130,000 to cover the overtime costs for the police while they investigated the alleged incident they say was a hoax.


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How to Improve Mobile Page Speed
It doesn't matter how good your website or landing page is, if it doesn't load fast enough most people won't notice. Even the best ads struggle to convert when the landing page is slow. Most users (53%) will abandon your page if it takes over three seconds to load (Think with Google). And, unfortunately, the average […]Continue Reading


text: Home / PAKISTAN: A year on from the Lahore attacks but Ahmedis still suffering PAKISTAN: A year on from the Lahore attacks but Ahmedis still suffering An article by Nasim Malik published by the Asian Human Rights Commission PAKISTAN: A year on from the Lahore attacks but Ahmedis still suffering A day of ghastly sight of gristly, gruesome bloodshed of Ahmadis in Lahore Pakistan A year after the terrifying horrendous massacre of 86 Ahmadis of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Lahore, Pakistan the world remains deeply in shock, appalled by that act of religious terrorism, cold bloodedly covered up by the government of Pakistan. The 86 murdered were part of a Friday worship service in Darul Zikr mosque in Lahore and Baitul Noor mosque in Model, Town, Lahore. During the course of this carnage nearly 150 people were seriously injured. The very next day the security forces arrested 6 terrorists who confessed that they had carried out the attack on the Darul Zikr mosque but no action to this day has been taken against anyone. Both the mosques are in close proximity of police stations who could clearly hear the gun shots and blasts but they did not show up on site until the terrorists had exhausted all their ammunition stock. Even on arrival the police did not allow the emergency services to enter the mosque which could have saved many innocent lives of worshippers. The families of the victims of this carnage received no support or assistance from the government whatsoever and the widows and the orphans are left to suffer and fend for themselves. The government of Pakistan usurped the fundamental basic human rights, rights of religious freedom of Ahmadis in Pakistan by declaring them non-Muslims in 1974. This was perpetuated by the infamous Ordinance XX promulgated by General Zia ul Haq under which Ahmadi Muslims can be sentenced to death or imprisoned for practising the Islamic faith or using the Islamic scriptures or epithets. Over 200 Ahmadi Muslims have been murdered in Pakistan for following their faith since 1974 and several hundred prosecuted and imprisoned under the infamous Blasphemy laws. Pakistan today is infected with Islamists persisting in their hard-line interpretation of Islam based on force and violence to promote their objectives and promote terrorist activities resulting in frightful loss of innocent lives on a daily basis. The federal government has taken no effective bold step to curb and eliminate the activities of extremists who are continuing to erode the very values on which Pakistan was established. The political parties in Pakistan too have shown no indication to confront the religious bigotry, extremism and violence which has shattered the social and economic fabric of the society. Pakistan is a signatory to the UN Human Rights Charter and its ancillary declarations but is attitude and treatment of minorities particularly Ahmadis is deplorable. Ahmadis now well established in 198 countries of the world have earned a worldwide reputation of being a very tolerant law abiding and peace loving community. They have been treated horribly, unjustly and discriminately to the extent they cannot even vote but they have never protested or acted against the state of Pakistan. Ahmadi generals shed their blood in the Pakistan wars to protect its integrity and today the government of Pakistan is not showing the slightest regard for the rights, safety and security of Ahmadis in Pakistan. The 28 May 2010 massacre gives an undeniable slur of cruelty and atrocity upon Pakistan and its continued injustice and violation of the fundamental rights of Ahmadis will not go in vain. It is time that the government of Pakistan sanely attends to its obligations towards all its subjects without discrimination to save itself from a path of destruction on which it is treading. It is now high time for the government of Pakistan to act. —————— The views shared in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the AHRC, and the AHRC takes no responsibility for them. About the Author: Mr. Nasim Malik was a Swedish Socialdemocrat politician and was elected as a reserve member of the Swedish Parliament and President of the International Wing of the Socialdemocrats Kalmar. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com Document ID :AHRC-ETC-017-2011 Countries : Pakistan Date : 30-05-2011 PREVIOUS « PHILIPPINES: Torture victims speak out–"I still suffer from trauma after two decades" Interview 2 NEXT PAKISTAN: Ethical implications in mentoring medical students »


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News Corp. agreed to pay $70 million for a stake in the media company owned by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, one of its largest shareholders.
The New York media conglomerate will take a 9.1% stake in Rotana Group, with an option to double its holdings in 18 months, the companies said Tuesday. News Corp. will have two seats on Rotana's six-person board.
The investment gives News Corp its first significant foothold in the Middle East, where it expects economies to grow quickly. Rotana owns television operations, a music label and a movie library, and already distributes two News Corp. English-language TV channels as well as movies in the region.
The deal also increases ties between News Corp. and Prince Alwaleed, who owns 7% of News Corp.'s class B voting shares.
News Corp. owns The Wall Street Journal.
Prince Alwaleed is chairman of the Saudi conglomerate Kingdom Holding Co., whose investments include significant stakes in Citigroup Inc. and the parent company of the Four Seasons.
Write to Summer Said at firstname.lastname@example.com


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This simple adaptation of a jig-saw puzzle guides children to enjoy the challenge of putting together pieces to create a picture.
- Any picture that relates to the Bible Story you are teaching
(Draw your own or download from websites such as the ones listed at the end of this article)
- Scissors
Preparation Before Class:
- Cut the picture into pieces like a puzzle
(Try different shapes and find out what works best for your group)
- For younger children make fewer pieces and simple shapes
- For older children create more complicated pieces
- Consider the number of children and their ages. If the group is large or made up of various age groups it might be helpful to make more than one puzzle and have children work in smaller groups.
What to Do:
Spread the pieces out on a flat surface and let the children put the puzzle together. As they work talk about what the picture might be and what is happening. Let this be a lead-in to the story you will be covering today.
Additional Ways to Use a Puzzle for Teaching:
- Visual Aid:
Before class outline your story and then cut the puzzle into pieces, one for each point in your outline. If you wish, you can write words on the backs of the pieces to help you remember what to say. Proceed to place the first piece in front of the children as you cover the first point. Then add the next piece as you cover the next point. Continue until you have completed the story and the puzzle. (Hint: Save the most important parts of the picture for your last points so the children won't guess what it is too soon.)
- Hide and Seek:
Before class hide the pieces around the room and let children find them and put them together.
- Make a Review Game of It:
After you have finished telling the story use a puzzle for review. Children can answer questions about the story to "earn" a puzzle piece. After the child adds the puzzle piece to the picture they can guess what it is.
- Use Words Instead of Pictures:
Instead of a picture write the memory verse or important words from the story on a paper and then cut it into pieces.
- Children Make Their Own Puzzles
Guide the children in drawing their own picture from the Bible story. They can then cut the pictures into pieces and trade them with the person next to them.
Helpful Resources for Pictures:
Free Bible Images


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March 18, 2013
Went home for lunch and whipped out another Doc Holliday.
Daily Whipout #496, "Doc Holliday's Last Gunfight #4"
Someone commented on the bullet hole in his hat, but it's actually the sun going down on his head.
"The average Westerner will will take offense if you say his father was a crook, but he will brag a little if he discovers that his great-grandfather was an outlaw."
—Old Vaquero Saying


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Mostly '97 Cabernets -
Results from a Cabernet tasting - Saturday, January 15, 2000, at the Wine Exchange in Orange, CA. Seventeen wines were poured for a tasting fee of $29.
The wines, in the order tasted:
'97 Charles Krug - Napa Valley. $10.99. Dark ruby garnet color.
Nose of sweet cassis, shoe polish, with hints of briar and cheddar. Medium
mouthfeel, soft fruit, good balance, with soft tannins for the short haul.
Surprisingly good, considering the price point.
'97 Clos Tita - Santa Cruz. $20.99. Medium garnet ruby color.
Nose of cassis and vanilla, with notes of butter, rosemary, and blue cheese.
Fairly tight and somewhat tannic mouthfeel, with moderate fruit and herb
flavors. This wine was surprisingly flavorful, considering its moderate
extraction. 50 cases made.
'97 Duncan Peak - Mendocino County. $24.99. Ruby color. Nose of
black cherry and blueberry, with a cheesy aroma. Slightly tart fruit and
mouthfeel that is more to the acid side of the chart. But, the fruit carries
it well and the wines does come together at the finish.
'97 Ehler's Grove - Napa Valley. $23.99. Medium dark violet ruby
color. Major aromas of cassis, shoe polish, and boysenberry. Big mouthfeel,
sweet and chewy fruit, very long flavorful finish. Coming from the people
who gave us the lower priced Cartlidge and Browne and Stratford labels,
this is indeed a step up.
'97 Clos Pegase - Napa Valley. $23.99. Dark ruby color. Nose of
sweet cassis, cedar, and green olive. Sweet fruit, substantial, yet not
massive mouthfeel, nice long fruity finish. Very tasty.
'97 Silo - Napa Valley. $24.99. Medium dark ruby color. Nose of
ripe cassis, vanilla, toast, and blackberry jam. Concentrated, yet somewhat
tight and closed mouthfeel, long finish. This label (previously known
as Savannah) has had a name change effective with this release.
The story is that, after the winery's initial release of a '97 Merlot
last year, the Savannah-Chanel winery in Santa Cruz issued a "desist"
order, citing potential confusion for consumers.
'97 Fisher Coach Insignia - Napa Valley. $22.99. Very dark
ruby garnet color. Huge off-sweet cassis nose, with additional aromas
of shoe polish, vanilla, and toast. Substantial mouthfeel, a bit backward
and tannic, with tart-sour fruit.
'97 Swanson Alexis - Napa Valley. $31.99. Dark violet ruby
color. Nose of cassis, blackberry, vanilla, toast, and sweet sawdust.
Sweet moderate mouthfeel, irresistable sweet fruit. Lingering acids and
tannins on very long finish.
'97 Signorello - Napa Valley. $37.99. Very dark garnet ruby color.
Slightly tart cheddery nose, with oak, toast, and cassis rounding out
aromas. Sweet-sour fruit, substantial mouthfeel, and excellent palate
coverage. Very long and seamless finish.
'97 August Briggs - Napa Valley. $37.99. Dark purple ruby color.
Beautiful nose of sweet cassis, vanilla, sawdust and cheese. Slightly
tart or sweet-and-sour fruit, chewy but somewhat soft mouthfeel. Very
nice wine; it just seems to fall a bit short of the aromatic expectations
on the palate. One of my favorite Cabs of the '96 vintage. Briggs apparently
knows what they've got and have priced this year's offering nearly 27%
'98 Cape d'Estaing - Kangaroo Island, South Australia. $39.99.
Extremely concentrated dark purple ruby color. Massive nose of cassis,
vanilla, toast, and sweet sawdust. Absolutely stunning! Huge mouthful
of slightly tart fruit, that softens somewhat through long finish. Outstanding
nose; and the mouth isn't far behind either. Bloody Aussies!
'97 Del Dotto - Napa Valley. $44.99. Violet ruby color. Huge blast
of cassis, blackberry, toast and vanilla in the nose. Very big mouthful
of chewy off-sweet fruit, with very long complex and seamless finish.
for my tastes, this offering delivers more substantial fruit than their
'97 Harrison - Napa Valley. $49.99. Dark ruby garnet color. Nose
of cassis, cedar, vanilla, with a hint of pine. Chewy cassis fruit, substantial
mouthfeel, great balance, very, very long finish. Just a hint of pine
noted in the taste as well, but I felt this added an interesting note
of complexity.
'96 Freemark Abbey - Napa Valley. $20.99. Medium dark ruby garnet
color. Slightly tart nose of toast, cassis, newsprint, and ink. Surprisingly
sweet and substantial mouthfeel, moderately long finish. This wine might
have performed better if placed earlier in the flight. However, coming
between a '97 Harrison and '96 Corison Kronos it just couldn't cut it.
'96 Corison - Kronos Vnyd, Napa Valley. $79.99. Violet ruby color.
Dense cassis, toast, sweet blackberry and tar nose. on the palate, subtle
off-sweet fruit, slightly sour at latter palate, and medium long finish.
The nose of this wine is a stunner. But, the mouthfeel and taste falls
short of expectations.
'95 Reverie Special Reserve - Diamond Mtn. $62.99. Dark
ruby color. Nose of cassis, shoe polish, toast. Huge toasty fruit-filled
mouthfeel, and long seamless finish. Very nice.
'94 Michel-Schlumberger Reserve - Dry Creek Valley. $33.99.
Dark violet ruby color. Nose of cassis and toast - just beautiful! Light-medium
mouthfull of sweet-sour fruit, with medium long finish. Really nice nose,
but the extraction level on the palate just doesn't keep pace.
Overall impressions: a look at twelve more '97s , as well as a smattering of previous vintages. The '97 vintage is still turning out some fabulous wines, pricey though they may be. The Del Dotto tastes fabulous, and is really a lot of wine for the money. The Reverie was a huge wine that has a long future in front of it. The Briggs was just a hair less concentrated than last year's model at a fairly substantial increase in price. The lone Aussie entry, Cape d' Estaing, had without a doubt the most killer nose. In addition to being as dark as a black cat in a coal mine, the fruit just oozed out of the glass. Also, judging by the nose, the Corison Kronos looked to be a stupendous effort. But, as with several others in the flight, the mouthfeel/taste didn't live up to the advance billing.
No major letdowns here. But, had the Fisher delivered on less
tart fruit, it would have merited a much higher score. Especially considering
its price point at less than $25 in today's market. This and the Clos
Pegase seemed like the best bargains, followed by the Charles Krug,
as the best everyday wine.
Here is my relative ranking, by tier and in order of preference, of the wines tasted.
'97 Del Dotto - Napa Valley. $44.99.
Copyright © 1993 - 2004, Eric Anderson - All rights reserved
No original material may be reproduced without written consent
Mail - Comments - Eric Anderson


text:
Growth is a priority for most healthcare businesses, but one that's elusive and difficult to achieve. Some healthcare players do it really well, delivering sustainable growth year after year. What makes those companies so special? And what can we learn from them?
India's healthcare sector is at crossroads. It must address the significant health needs of its domestic population, while positioning itself to take advantage of the more profitable global markets.
According to India Brand Equity Foundation report, healthcare has become one of India's largest sectors both in terms of revenue and employment. During 2008-22, the market is expected to record a CAGR of 16.28 per cent. The total industry size is expected to touch $372 billion by 2022. Indian companies are entering into merger and acquisitions with domestic and foreign companies to drive growth and gain new markets. The hospital industry in India stood at Rs 4 trillion ($61.79 billion) in 2017 and is expected to increase at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16-17 per cent to reach Rs 8.6 trillion ($132.84 billion) by 2023.
Concurrently, India's dream for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) still seems far from being achieved. The nation is still battling to solve many complex healthcare issues. India spends about 1.3 peer cent of their GDP on healthcare. Moreover, government's population report indicates that India over 25 years has added 450 million people by 2016. During this period, the proportion of people living in poverty fell by half. This period of rising prosperity has been marked by a dual disease burden, a continuing rise in communicable diseases and a spurt in non-communicable diseases, which accounted for half of all deaths in 2015, up from 42 per cent in 2001-03. Although, the government is working towards adding more funds to healthcare budgets, collaborate with the private sector, bring in policies to foster innovation, facilitate quality and price control and more, the path to progress seems arduous.
At a recent healthcare conference in Bengaluru, Professor Vinod Paul, Member NITI Aayog addressed the gathering of healthcare industry saying, "The Government of India's Ayushman Bharat is committed to the well being of our citizens. The focus of the health and wellness centres is to ensure disease is prevented and detected early, care that is accessible and closer to home, better health outcomes at lower costs and a platform for health, nutrition, wellness and sanitation. Under the Ayushman Bharat, there will be opportunities for health innovators under various areas to contribute to building stronger health systems for the country."
Similarly, Professor K Srinath Reddy, President, PHFI said, "The Sustainable Development Goals have positioned UHC as a target to be delivered by 2030. For India, encouraging and supporting healthcare innovations that enable health services to reduce the burden of diseases at different levels of the health system and prevent disease at the population level are a high priority. These innovations must have relevance, affordability and scalability for impact. Building partnerships in health is also essential so that research explores, science discovers, technology develops, and the health system delivers. India can become the creative crucible of frugal, functional innovations that can transform healthcare."
Well, an exact sentiment run through the minds of several healthcare organisations large and small. Industry experts believe that the sector has a huge potential to add economic value to the nation and heal its health economics, if every healthcare organisation maps a clear growth path.
In this special issue, we identified some key elements such as innovation, partnerships, culture, business models and more that can drive success for healthcare organisations in India. We spoke to some healthcare companies such as Microsoft, Medtronics, Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, Philips Healthcare and POC Medical Systems who have achieve immense success. These healthcare players have excelled in many ways and have achieve sustainable growth year after year.
What makes these organisations so special and what can we learn from them? Moreover, when organisations grow so does the sector prosper. How can this success heal the country's health economics?
While many share some common traits, they all take different paths to grow using different formulas to achieve it. Dr V Mohan looks at excellence in quality as a key indicator for the growth of his company. This has helped them establish 41 branches across the country and they also aim to reach the 100 mark in the next few years. Medtronics is driven by growth strategies that promote therapy innovation, globalisation, and economic value. With this prime focus, Medtronic has 50 research and innovation centres globally, and has made an investment of $2.2 billion in R&D as of FY17. For Microsoft, India is a strategic market and their plans are anchored in the country's development and growth. They believe in creating an environment of shared value for all. Philips on the other hand focusses on innovation that can make healthcare more accessible and affordable. Moreover, POC Medical Systems aims to solve complex healthcare issues in diagnosing cancers.
At the end, these companies share their learnings and explain how they go about formulating and executing strategies, motivating and engaging people, building a growth culture that will facilitate them to develop distinctive competencies to stay ahead of the pack.
– Dr V Mohan's eye for quality par excellence
– Medtronic's continuous commitment to innovation
– Microsoft's digital India vision
– Philips Healthcare's betting on digital technologies
– POC Medical Systems' looking to disrupt diagnostics


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The figure is well below the government's full-year target of 3.5 per cent.
Meanwhile, China's exports rose 7.2 per cent year-on-year to $190.73 billion in August, according to customs figures released on Sunday.
The growth rate was 2.1 percentage points higher than July.
Last month, food prices rose 4.7 per cent year-on-year, while prices of non-food products were up 1.5 per cent, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Monday.
Average consumer prices in the first eight months rose 2.5 per cent from the same period of last year, according to the statement.
Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng said last week that consumer prices will maintain stable growth and the nation will meet its 2013 inflation goal, according to a Ministry statement.
The bureau estimated that the carryover effect dropped 0.7 percentage points from July to 1.1 per cent in August.
The data also showed China's producer price index, which measures inflation at the wholesale level, fell 1.6 per cent in August from the same month last year.
The pace of decrease has eased for three straight months, fuelling anticipation of an economic recovery.
China's economic growth slowed to 7.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2013 from 7.7 per cent in the first quarter.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that the Asian nation has chosen to implement a macro economic policy even at the cost of slowing growth.
"We would rather bring down the growth rate to a certain extent in order to solve the fundamental problems hindering our economic development in the long run. In this sense, such a growth rate is the result of sound adjustment," said President Xi.
Source: Agencies


text: Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /home/psychodr/public_html/wp/wp-content/themes/valenti/library/core.php on line 1104 To anyone who has taken so much as a cursory glance at my reviews it should be abundantly clear that I am an incredibly strong supporter of free speech. I've made it my mission to track down and review the darkest and most fucked up films ever made and I revel in witnessing cinema's most disturbing creations. This is all to say that it's extremely rare that I come across a film with parts that even I find problematic, but it does happen. A classic example would be the unsimulated animal killing in Cannibal Holocaust whose artistic value is superseded by the real-world suffering caused by their creation. It had been a long time since I'd seen Murder Set Pieces, so I was surprised to find a similar moral predicament as I wondered to myself "Wait, is this a fucking pro-Nazi film?" More on that in a minute. The film itself is very light on actual plot and essentially just follows around an unnamed professional photographer (Sven Garrett) as he brutally murders women in Las Vegas. Despite the fact that he's racking up a substantial body count, the only person who is even remotely suspicious of this obvious sociopath is his girlfriend's little sister, who is determined to find out what is really going on. Now, if you are going to have a villainous, evil character, a Nazi or Nazi sympathizer is certainly a good choice and as such have been used effectively in many other films. In the case of MSP though it feels very…..different and not just because the protagonist is openly supportive of Nazis and screams in German while he kills people. By themselves these traits could be passed off as simply being used to enhance the evil nature of the character, but when you also start your film with a strange quote about "the Jews" and use a production company named Third Reich Ventures (!) shit starts to add up. To be fair, this film was made in a different time, years before a peaceful frog was co-opted into an official symbol of hate speech by armies of trolls seeking to make racism "great" again. If I was to play devil's advocate I could say that it is possible that writer/director Nick Palumbo was perhaps using the imagery more in service of shock value than promoting an ideology. However, this more generous read of the subject matter is a tough sell considering how the entire film feels like little more than a vicarious indulgence of Palumbo's darkest fantasies. In scene after scene the strong, good looking protagonist is able to effortlessly pick up beautiful women and viciously fuck and murder them in a seemingly consequence-free environment. In addition to this, this unnamed photographer uses nearly all his non-German dialogue on misogynistic rants or fawning praise for Nazis. This is of course when he isn't busy working out while Triumph of the Will plays in the background. It's really unfortunate that these things had to be so pervasive within the film because despite the numerous problematic elements there is actually a lot that MSP does very well. From a visual standpoint this film is absolutely stunning, and Palumbo makes excellent use of his two-million-dollar budget to create mesmerizing visuals on 35mm film stock. Side note, this film also has the bizarre distinction of allegedly containing the only known 35mm footage of the WTC towers going down on 9/11, for whatever that's worth. Anyway, horror fans don't just come for the pretty pictures though, we come for the gore and on that front MSP delivers incredibly well. So well in fact that the film was thrown out of three labs before finally being processed. Thankfully, it was eventually processed because the director's cut of this film has some of the most gorgeous and gruesome gore effects ever put to celluloid. Each murder scene is exquisitely crafted to showcase the raw, visceral bloodshed in all its glory. The chainsaw to the head scene stands out as a particular highlight but whether it's a brutal throat slitting, bathtub drowning or vicious beating each violent scene is filled with a raw, vicious energy that makes the kills much more realistic and disturbing. Throw in some corpse eating, severed head fucking and a brutal on-screen child murder (!) and what you get is a truly unfiltered example of Extreme Cinema that goes well beyond where conventional horror films dare to venture. The glorious gore effects were courtesy of Fred Vogel's Toetag Pictures production studio and Vogel himself even cameos in the film. He is also joined by horror legends Gunnar Hansen and Tony Todd, who's disgruntled porn store clerk character is a highlight of the film. So, in the end there is a lot to like about MSP and if it hadn't been infested with Nazi propaganda it would be an easy film to recommend to fans of hardcore cinema. Overall, I'm left feeling conflicted because as much of a fan as I am of the gorgeous, unhinged violence I just can't fully endorse a film that seems like it would be a top pick for a neo-Nazi movie night. This review originally ran on Corin Totin's Sick Flix website. Check it out for more dark and disturbing film reviews! (Visited 918 times, 1 visits today)Sick Flix: Murder-Set-Pieces (2004)2.0Overall ScoreReader Rating: (0 Votes) Related


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An international team of scientists studying shorebirds, led by the University of Bath, has found that successful plover parents are more likely to divorce after nesting than those that did not successfully breed, in contrast to most other bird species which tend to split up after nest failure.
The researchers studied the mating behaviour of eight different species of Charadrius plovers, covering 14 populations in different locations across the world.
These shorebirds tend to lay 2-4 eggs per nest and can have up to four breeding attempts per season.
Plover chicks mature quickly and fly the nest around a month after hatching; in most plover species both parents care for the hatchlings, but in some species either parent can desert the nest to breed again with a new mate.
Surprisingly, the researchers found that pairs that successfully raised chicks were more likely to divorce, whereas unsuccessful pairs tended to stick together and try breeding again.
Females were more likely to desert the nest than males, and those that did often produced more offspring within a season than parents that retained their mate.
Plovers that divorced also dispersed across greater distances between breeding attempts to look for new mates.
The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, suggest that a range of factors including the adult sex ratio, the length of breeding season and adult lifespan affect the fidelity and parenting behaviour of these birds, rather than simply being due to the species.
Naerhulan Halimubieke, PhD student at the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath and first author of the paper, said: "Our findings go against what you'd intuitively expect to happen -- that divorce would be triggered by low reproductive success.
"Interestingly, we found that mate fidelity varied amongst different populations of the same species -- for example, Kentish plovers in Europe and China are serial polygamists and are migratory, whereas those found on Cape Verde are exclusively monogamous.
"This shows that mating behaviour is not simply down to which species they belong, but that other factors affecting the population are also important, such as ratio of males to females and temperature variation of the habitat."
Tamás Székely, Professor of Biodiversity at the Milner Centre for Evolution, said: "Our previous work has shown that in populations where there are more females than males, the female tends to leave the nest after breeding to make another nest with a new mate.
"Since plover chicks don't need much work in bringing them up, one of the parents can free themselves from the nest early and go on to breed elsewhere.
"Females are more likely to leave their partners if the population is skewed towards males, because they have a greater choice of potential partners and so are more likely to increase their reproductive success by breeding with another mate.
"More research is needed to fully understand how factors such as the adult sex ratio and the climate of the populations affects the breeding behaviour of these birds."
Story Source:
Materials provided by University of Bath. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
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text:
Kuan Hon mourns the (impending) death of cloud computing at the hands of the GDPR, and even suggests a song to sing while preparing for its demise
The GDPR's coming, soon to be law they say
Middle of 20-18 may be the fateful day!
What will this mean for clo-ud? Will cloud be here to sta-ay?
Don't want to be pessimistic, not sure how we'll find a way
Killing cloud quickly with DP, killing cloud quickly, with DP, tearing up SaaS, PaaS and I-aaS
Killing cloud quickly
With DP…?[1]
1. Introduction
It'll be tough to use cloud computing for processing personal data and comply with the proposed GDPR.[2] Indeed, it's tough to use cloud compliantly with data protection laws now, especially if you try to follow slavishly the Article 29 Working Party's cloud guidance.[3] However, the GDPR will make compliance an order of magnitude harder.
It's not because cloud computing is inherently privacy-invasive in itself, no more so than a computer is inherently privacy-invasive - at least with infrastructure cloud (IaaS/PaaS, pure storage SaaS).[4]
It's because the GDPR would set in stone the most prescriptive, cloud-impracticable, elements of WP196, while omitting parts of WP196 that actually recognised how cloud works. Rather than making data protection laws truly technology-neutral, the GDPR will perpetuate the 1970s models of computing/outsourcing embedded in the 1995 Data Protection Directive (DPD).[5] Unfortunately, the new rules' impact extends far beyond cloud – modern outsourcing arrangements generally will become more complex, although the problems are starkest with cloud.
Previously, I outlined some key issues.[6] This article focuses on controller-processor contract requirements.
2. Cloud contracts
GDPR Article 26, headed 'Processor', provides (emphasis added):
…1a. The processor shall not enlist another processor without the prior specific or general written consent of the controller. In the latter case, the processor should always inform the controller of any intended changes concerning the addition or replacement of other processors, thereby giving the opportunity to the controller to object to such changes.
2. The carrying out of processing by a processor shall be governed by a contract or other legal act under Union or Member State law, binding the processor to the controller, setting out the subject-matter and duration of the processing, the nature and purpose of the processing, the type of personal data and categories of data subjects, the obligations and rights of the controller and stipulating in particular that the processor shall:
(a) process the personal data only on documented instructions from the controller, including with regard to transfers of personal data to a third country or an international organisation, unless required to do so by Union or Member State law to which the processor is subject; in such a case, the processor shall inform the controller of that legal requirement before processing the data, unless that law prohibits such information on important grounds of public interest;…
(c) take all measures required pursuant to Article 30 [security];
(d) respect the conditions referred to in paragraphs 1a and 2a for enlisting another processor;…
…(f) assist the controller in ensuring compliance with the obligations pursuant to Articles 30 to 34 [security, breach notifications to regulators/data subjects, data protection impact assessments, prior consultation of regulators] taking into account the nature of processing and the information available to the processor;…
…(h) make available to the controller all information necessary to demonstrate compliance with the obligations laid down in this Article and allow for and contribute to audits, including inspections, conducted by the controller or another auditor mandated by the controller. The processor shall immediately inform the controller if, in his opinion, an instruction breaches this Regulation or Union or Member State data protection provisions.[7]
2a. Where a processor enlists another processor for carrying out specific processing activities on behalf of the controller, the same data protection obligations as set out in the contract or other legal act between the controller and the processor as referred to in paragraph 2 shall be imposed on that other processor by way of a contract or other legal act under Union or Member State law, in particular providing sufficient guarantees to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures in such a way that the processing will meet the requirements of this Regulation. Where that other processor fails to fulfil its data protection obligations, the initial processor shall remain fully liable to the controller for the performance of that other processor's obligations.
The main problem is that infrastructure cloud providers are considered 'processors' under data protection laws if controller customers process any personal data in-cloud, regardless of context. Infrastructure cloud services are used for customers' computing, storage and/or networking purposes (whether internally and/or to serve customers' own customers in turn), instead of buying their own servers/storage/networking equipment. If a controller buys or rents computing/storage/networking equipment for processing personal data, the equipment manufacturer and rental company are not generally considered 'processors'. Use similar equipment through cloud, however, and cloud providers are treated as 'processors'. This approach is not technologically-neutral. Rather, it discriminates against cloud, and may deter cloud use despite its known costs/flexibility benefits.
Under Article 26(2), where organisations buy or rent servers/storage/networking equipment for self-processing of personal data, they're not legally obliged to specify, in the purchase or rental contract, the processing's subject-matter/duration, nature/purpose or types of personal data or data subject categories processed. Organisations don't want to give vendors/rental companies all that information, and vendors/rental companies don't really want to know – TMI, it's none of their business what organisations use bought/rented equipment for, that's up to each organisation. Now, change that to use of infrastructure cloud. Article 26(2) would force controller organisations to tell cloud providers, in their contracts, all about the organisation's planned personal data processing, whether organisations want to or not, or face fines of up to €10m or 2% total annual turnover if higher. How will that improve data subjects' protection? Quite the opposite, arguably.
Now, consider prior consent to sub-processors (Articles 26(1a), 26(2)(d)). Suppose a prospective customer of SaaS provider S wants to store personal data using S's service. S's service was built on IaaS provider I's service (classic example: Dropbox's SaaS storage on Amazon's IaaS). How can it make sense to ask customers to 'consent' to S's use of I's service? Surely, in reality, the only choice customers have is to consent to I, or not to use S's service, because S can't feasibly re-engineer its entire SaaS service to work with another IaaS/PaaS service just because one prospective customer objects to I. What kind of 'consent' is that? How does requiring such consent, or imposing contractual requirements for such consent, help data protection? Similarly, if a sub-provider is to be changed because of a strategic business decision by S or I (eg switching connectivity provider to another carrier because I's business connection with S's current carrier has terminated), in reality S will have little or no say if the decision was made by I and, whether the decision was made by S or I, again if one customer of S objects, in reality it will simply have to stop using S's service.
On to 'instructions' (Article 26(2)(a)). Cloud providers don't actively process personal data as customers 'instruct'; customers use cloud services directly themselves, in self-service fashion.[8] For example, S's customer may upload, edit and delete personal data stored on S's service by clicking buttons or typing in its web browser, which invisibly sends commands over the Internet to S's software application (running on I's service) to store, amend or delete data stored on S's (or rather I's) equipment. Or, a customer of I may upload personal data to I's servers to process in virtual machines configured and started by the customer. Are commands to S's or I's software 'instructions'? Discussing processing of personal data in accordance with controllers' 'instructions' makes no sense in cloud. The DPD's 'instructions' requirement was aimed against processors' unauthorised use or disclosure of personal data for their own purposes.[9] This objective would be equally, indeed better, served had GDPR specifically banned processors' use or disclosure of personal data without controller authorisation, rather than perpetuating the outdated 'instructions' requirement.[10] What's the difference between 'instructions' and 'documented instructions', anyway? How would you 'document' http requests sent when customers click buttons in their browsers, if those are 'instructions' (log everything)?
Next, security (Article 26(2)(c), (f), (h)). Article 30 GDPR (security) requires measures appropriate to the particular personal data processing and its risks. A risk-based approach is sensible, but making processors as well as controllers assess risks and take measures is again at odds with cloud. A controller, who obviously knows the nature/purposes of its intended processing, can secure data e.g. by encrypting securely before upload (if using cloud only for storage), implementing backups internally or to another cloud service, and take other appropriate measures. But public cloud providers can't tailor security measures to the individual needs of hundreds, even thousands or millions, of customers, because their services are standardised/commoditised and because of the numbers involved. Yet, Article 30 would make them investigate every customer's intended personal data processing/risks and customise security accordingly, or risk €10m/2% fines. One workaround may be to implement the highest possible levels of security, passing costs on to all customers - or perhaps offer tiered services where, say, services meant for sensitive data would cost more because higher security levels would be provided. But what if a customer deliberately chooses to process sensitive personal data using a cheaper lower-security service? Could the provider still be liable for not finding out the customer's real use and providing higher security accordingly? Cue longer contracts, with extra customer disclosures, representations/warranties and indemnities… and intrusive proactive provider monitoring of customer usage, which customers don't want, and would add to costs, perhaps affect performance, and certainly can't help improve data protection. For infrastructure services, shouldn't controllers be primarily responsible for assessing services' appropriateness for their intended processing, including security levels, rather than turning processors into prying processors?
Even WP196 (p 22) acknowledged that 'individual audits of data hosted in a multi-party, virtualised server environment may be impractical technically and can in some instances serve to increase risk', recognising that third-party audits (although by auditors chosen by customers) might be acceptable instead. Yet Article 26(2)(h) requires contractual audit rights for controllers. Processors will have to notify 'personal data breaches' to controllers without undue delay (Article 31(2)), as a direct GDPR obligation, but of what exactly isn't stated: what about a breach affecting others but not that controller? Again, this very brief obligation will be difficult to apply to public cloud, as will the contractual obligation on processors to 'assist' with controllers' breach notification obligations (which will no doubt increase costs), where it's unclear what 'taking into account the nature of processing and the information available to the processor' means.
The biggest issue is probably Article 26(2a)'s requirement (mirroring WP196) regarding sub-processor contract terms. If a cloud provider is a 'processor' then logically any sub-providers, including indeed infrastructural sub-providers, are sub-processors: for example, data centre operators and connectivity/network service providers (as personal data transmission is clearly 'processing'). This goes way beyond cloud. Imagine asking every third-party data centre operator and carrier involved in a service's delivery to sign a contract on Article 26(2)'s detailed terms for every end customer who processes personal data using that service – cloud or not. Thousands or millions of tailored contracts per service that involves personal data processing (cloud or not) is impracticable, and doesn't necessarily help data protection. Of course, as practitioners who've struggled with implementing hundreds or thousands of model clauses know, rigid prescriptiveness may have to win out.
A data centre operator may - or may not - have access to intelligible data processed on its premises: it depends on the arrangements. Similarly, a carrier/ISP has technical ability to 'tap' data flowing through its cables, but would have access to intelligible data only where not securely-encrypted pre-transmission. Arguably, treating providers of infrastructure services (cloud or not) as 'sub-processors' with obligations beyond maintaining a certain minimum level of security, regardless of whether they can access intelligible data, doesn't make sense, and may lead to absurdities.
3. Practical issues
Contracts will be king. The many uncertainties in the GDPR's text seem best addressed by ensuring they are covered in detail in controller-processor contracts, and indeed sub-processor contracts – for example, the scope of a cloud provider's obligation to 'assist' controllers with their obligations on security, data protection impact assessment etc (and the costs of providing such 'assistance'). And for contracts that may expire after the GDPR takes effect, suitable change control/change of law clauses need inclusion even now, to enable contracts to be amended for compliance with Article 26 (as well as to allocate responsibility and liability among supply chain actors appropriately).
Systems will also have to be engineered to increase cloud logging/recording, which is good for transparency but again may increase complexity and certainly costs.
One consequence (presumably unintended) of GPDR is that only the largest cloud customers and cloud providers are likely to have the resources and bargaining power to force the whole supply chain to enter into the required sub-processor contracts. This means small customers and cloud providers will be unable to operate – or may simply not comply, despite the potentially huge fines, taking the risk that regulators with limited resources will not go after them as 'small fry'. But this would bring the GDPR into disrespect.
4. Concluding remarks
Space doesn't permit discussion of other problems GDPR will cause for cloud, and indeed sourcing/outsourcing generally. However, at the risk of being repetitious, like the DPD, Article 26 of the GDPR only works for 1970s outsourcing, when controllers gave exclusive control of personal data to computer service bureaux by delivering tapes/disks containing personal data (often the only tapes or disks storing that data), and 'instructing' them to handle that data actively for particular purposes in particular ways, eg payroll processing. Commoditised, standardised, pre-built, self-service public cloud, particularly infrastructure cloud, just doesn't follow that service model. 21st century laws should strive towards technology-neutrality, rather than enshrining 1970s models.
W Kuan Hon is a senior researcher working on cloud law projects at QMUL, and a consultant lawyer for Pinsent Masons. This article is written in a purely personal capacity and should not be blamed on QMUL, Pinsent Masons or any other organisation with whom she may be associated.
This article may be copied/redistributed under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC 2.0 UK licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/uk/, attributing Kuan Hon kuan0.com and linking to this article.
[1] With apologies to the Fugees and, for traditionalists, Roberta Flack
[2] This article uses the version approved by the European Parliament's LIBE Committee and COREPER (the Council's Committee of Permanent Representatives), at http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-5455-2016-INIT/en/pdf.
[3] http://ec.europa.eu/justice/data-protection/article-29/documentation/opinion-recommendation/files/2012/wp196_en.pdf
[4] Chapter 8, Cloud Computing Law (OUP 2013), Millard ed; earlier open version http://idpl.oxfordjournals.org/content/2/1/3.full
[5] http://www.iicom.org/intermedia/intermedia-january-2016/dark-clouds
[6] http://www.scl.org/site.aspx?i=ed43376
[7] Discussed previously - n.7. At least this is no longer a direct GDPR obligation, but it's still not a sensible requirement in my view.
[8] n.5.
[9] Eg Salems (Sweden) http://www.datainspektionen.se/documents/beslut/2013-05-31-salems-kommun.pdf
[10] n.5.
Published: 2016-02-04T00:07:35
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Lower electricity bills using solar power from your local community.
Lower electricity bills using solar power from your local community.
Haz click aqui para ver esta pagina en español.
Community Power is a program that allows you to lower your bills with a solar energy system in your community.
No sign up fees or hidden costs.
Guaranteed monthly savings.
No installation required.
All available spots for the Project have been filled. If you'd like to be added to our Standby List, fill out the form below.
Watch the video below to learn more!
Community Power Benefits: Lower your energy bills while supporting clean energy in your community
Lower monthly energy costs
Save on average of $8-$10 per month on your energy expenses. That's about $120 a year!
NYC Community Energy Co-op Membership
Membership in the cooperative grants a vote in future project decisions and NYC CEC initiatives funded by the cooperative.
Customer-friendly terms
Community Power is designed to provide guaranteed savings and there is no upfront cost to participate.
Support local solar energy projects
The solar energy systems will be installed on three NYCHA developments, Carver Houses in East Harlem, and Glenwood and Kingsborough Houses in Central Brooklyn.
Workforce development opportunities
The project will provide job training and employment opportunities for NYCHA residents.


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Nearly 20 years ago, the United Nations Security Council implemented the Women, Peace and Security Agenda to formally recognize the impact of warfare on women and girls as well as the importance of incorporating women into peacebuilding activities and conflict resolution.
As the Women, Peace and Security Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, an international think tank, Katelyn Jones researches policies and issues surrounding that agenda. It was built on four principles: prevention of violence against women and girls, protection of women's rights in regions of conflict, equal participation of men and women in security matters and providing relief and recovery where necessary.
"My research is broadly centered on how gender is a concern in world politics and how gender both shapes policies and needs to be considered to ensure effective policy implementation on the ground," Jones said.
In stressing the inclusion of women in peace negotiations, Jones points to a statistic referenced by the organization UN Women that claims, "When women are included in peace processes, there is a 35-percent increase in the probability of an agreement lasting at least 15 years."
Jones is heartened by the record number of women and LGBT candidates that ran for – and were elected to – congressional offices during the Nov. 6 midterm elections.
"In terms of the changes that one would expect to see in Congress," Jones said, "I think we'll see more lived experiences being represented in debates and my hope is that will translate to policies and legislations passed."
Jones joins us in discussion on "Chicago Tonight."
Follow Evan Garcia on Twitter: @EvanRGarcia
Related stories:
March to the Polls to Honor First-Time Voters Ahead of Midterm Elections
New Report Highlights Harassment in Illinois Politics


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Nationwide Launches Custom Auto Insurance to Save Drivers Money
SmartMiles members pay for the miles they drive
For those who work from home, carpool frequently or use public transit more than they drive, Nationwide is launching SmartMilesSM, a new auto insurance solution for low-mileage drivers.
Committed to the evolution of its telematics journey which began in 2011 with SmartRide®, SmartMiles allows Nationwide members to pay for the miles they drive, providing more control over the cost of their auto insurance. With consumer adaptation and increased comfort level with telematics technology in mind, Nationwide developed SmartMiles for its low-mileage driving members that can provide substantial savings on their auto insurance premium.
"SmartMiles was developed to provide a program that allows our customers the freedom to control their auto insurance expenses based on how much they drive and how safe they drive," said Teresa Scharn, Nationwide associate vice president who helps build and manage the insurer's telematics program. "Whereas most insurance companies' mileage-based insurance programs look only at miles driven, Nationwide's SmartMiles telematics program takes many factors into account, creating a more personalized offering, which is revolutionary to the auto insurance industry."
No More "one-policy-fits-all" approach—SmartMiles offers personalized pricing
Unique in the usage-based insurance market, Nationwide members in multiple-car households now have an option to select a Nationwide auto insurance program for each vehicle. This personalization affords drivers the opportunity to create a policy that best suits the distinct auto insurance needs of a household. Members now have options beyond a one-policy-fits-all approach or requiring separate policies for multiple vehicles. Nationwide offers flexible usage-based programs with SmartMiles and SmartRide to fit different driving styles among family members.
How it works
For example, a member of a family that commutes 75 miles to work round-trip each day and their college student, whose car is seldom driven, can be on the same Nationwide policy with auto insurance rates that are custom to each situation. The member would save on their insurance premium by enrolling the college student's vehicle in SmartMiles, while the commuter's optimum usage-based program would be Nationwide's SmartRide product.
SmartMiles uses a small device to track the miles driven by that vehicle. Members can keep tabs on their miles driven through the SmartMiles member portal.
Highlights of Nationwide's SmartMiles
• Drivers pay for the miles they drive.
• Drivers who are most likely to benefit from SmartMiles, are those who:
o use public transit o carpool o work from home or live near their workplace
o are frequent users of ride-sharing services o are college students
o have vehicles that are driven infrequently, such as car collections or seasonal transportation
• Nationwide members can enroll in SmartMiles for low-mileage vehicles and the SmartRide program for higher mileage vehicles on the same policy within a household.
• Road trip exception: daily mileage is capped at 250 miles; if a driver takes an extensive road trip they won't be heavily impacted that month.
• Members get up to a 10 percent discount for safe driving after the first renewal.
There are no contracts or long-term requirements for the program. Should a member or a household's driving patterns change, they can move their vehicle from SmartMiles to SmartRide at any time.
SmartMiles is currently available in Illinois. Nationwide plans to roll out SmartMiles in additional states throughout 2019.
For further information about SmartMiles, go to Nationwide.com/getsmartmiles.
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.


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The ride in this video wasn't from today The next three videos will be today's rides. When I started to output the first video, I realized that I still had one more in the queue that I had forgotten to upload.
It's always good to get back in the saddle isn't it? You seem busier now than before you retired though.ReplyDelete
Glad you had time to stop at home for a shower before heading out again. Sounds like you are enjoying your 'retirement' and that's a good thing.ReplyDelete
Didn't even get to sleep in your own bed before heading out again?
At least you got a ride in.
Hitting a deer with a motorcycle is terrible enough, but a moose...I can't imagine the impact.ReplyDelete
A moose will total just about anything that runs into it. Even semi-tractors will get seriously damaged if not totaled. So you really need to watch out for them. Fortunately, this is a low snow year so there is less of a reason for them to be on the road except to get across.Delete


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Thanks, Alex Parker-Magyar of the New Jersey Hills Media Group.
From the review:
In "The Swamps of Jersey," Nagler uncovers widespread corruption in Ironton. The Ironton of "A Game Called Dead" has begun to rebound economically, and its residents are beginning to speak out against the status quo. Against this backdrop, Nagler is tasked with finding the person who viciously assaulted a pair of female college students in their dorm room.
Nagler finds himself chasing a killer the likes of which he has never encountered, a terrorist who identifies himself as #ARMAGEDDON. The killer has transferred his acts from a violent video game popular among local college students into the real streets of Ironton.
As Daigle says, "Every death is both a clue and a warning."
"It's a game. The game isn't just the title, the story itself is a game. You've got the players and you've got the rules."
"It's a matter of following who is changing the rules, and who is the last person to change the rules," Daigle says. "The funnel gets narrower and narrower until they both meet."
Upcoming event:
I'll be joining authors Jeffrey Somers and Michael Ransom for the discussion of "Plot Twists and Red Herrings" at the Parsippany Main Library, 449 Halsey Road from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday June 4.
The event is co-sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America, New York Chapter.
To register, visit http://www.parsippanylibrary.org of call 973-887-5150, ext. 209.
"A Game Called Dead" is the second Frank Nagler Mystery, following "The Swamps of Jersey." (2014), both published by Imzadi Publishing of Tulsa.
Available at:
Amazon: http://goo.gl/hVQIII
Kobo: https://goo.gl/bgLH6v
NOOK: http://goo.gl/WnQjtr
Bobby's News and Gifts, 618 Main Street, Boonton.
The Clinton Book Shop, 12 E. Main Street, Clinton. http://www.clintonbookshop.com/
Sparta Books, 29 Theatre Center, Sparta. http://www.spartabooks.com/
For information on independent book sellers visit, http://www.indiebound.org/
The books are also available at the at the following libraries: Morris County Library; Somerset County Library System; Bernardsville Public Library; Hunterdon County Public Library; Mount Olive Public Library; Phillipsburg; Warren County, Franklin branch; Mount Arlington; Wharton; Dover; Hackettstown; Clark, and the Ramsey library, as part of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System.


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(PRWEB) July 25, 2013 -- Hypervibe, a leader in whole body vibration technology, announced the winners of the company's whole body vibration machine giveaway. The winner will receive a whole body vibration machine from Hypervibe worth over $2500.
Hypervibe opened entry to residents of Canada, Australia, and the United States. Fans of each region's Facebook page submitted photos and inspirational stories about themselves, explaining how winning a whole body vibration machine would change their lives for the better. Finalists were chosen from the pool of participants and put to a vote by the public.
Helen Atkinson, of Vancouver, is the Canadian winner.
"Helen's story was very compelling," said Deb Pelletier, local distributor for Hypervibe. "She told us how she fought viral encephalitis and eventually contracted Myalgic Encephalomyelitis which attacked her immune system and left her unable to exercise or exert herself without going into life-threatening distress. We are so excited to present Helen with this machine and we wish her well as she uses her new machine to get back to wellness."
Whole body vibration machines stimulate the body in a variety of ways not possible with traditional forms of exercise. The machines pair gravity and resistance with the transmission of low frequency vibrations to the body. Benefits of using the machine include increases in: muscle power and strength, tone, circulation, bone density, balance and flexibility.
For more information, visit the company's Canada Facebook page.
About Hypervibe:
Hypervibe is a company devoted to whole body vibration. Their team is made up of health experts, fitness enthusiasts, and technical professionals from all over the world. Hypervibe is dedicated to educating, informing and inspiring those who seek to achieve overall health and wellness. To learn more about Hypervibe whole body vibration, visit http://ca.hypervibe.com.
Deb Pelletier, Hypervibe Canada, http://ca.hypervibe.com/, +1 (617) 674-2100, [email protected]
SOURCE Hypervibe Canada


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July was a month of revisions, book review column and cover copy. But: revisions for Cast in Wisdom are done, and I am once again rereading all of the words for the unfinished books that I didn't touch while revising (revision being an entirely separate part of my brain than creating). There was a lot of cursing #pastme.
I am going to the Worldcon in Dublin this year, which is just over two weeks away. So I'm desperately trying to get as many words as possible before then.
Below is my current schedule — I think locations are subject to change, but not times.
Kaffeeklatsch: Michelle Sagara
Format: Kaffeeklatsch
15 Aug 2019, Thursday 17:00 — 17:50, Level 3 Foyer (KK/LB) (CCD)
Stroll with the stars: Friday
Format: Stroll
16 Aug 2019, Friday 09:00 — 09:50, Ground Floor Foyer (CCD)
Zen Cho, David D. Levine, Michelle Sagara, Kate Heartfield , BE Allatt, Paul Cornell
Writing past our literary blind spots
Format: Panel
18 Aug 2019, Sunday 10:00 — 10:50, Wicklow Room‑1 (CCD)
A writer's subconscious, experiences, and social influences can conspire to cause trouble during the creation process. It's possible to catch some issues such as lifeless tropes, cultural faux pas, and stereotypes, but it's impossible to catch them all. Our panellists share tips on how to see through our literary blind spots – as well as how to thoughtfully point them out in the work of others during the editing and critique process.
R.W.W. Greene (M), Tanya DePass (I Need Diverse Games), Michelle Sagara, Shaoyan Hu, John R. Douglas
Getting published and staying published
Format: Panel
18 Aug 2019, Sunday 13:00 — 13:50, ECOCEM Room (CCD)
You have a two-book deal with a mainstream publisher. Huzzah! But, after those two books, what happens next – not just immediately, but across years? Panellists share their experiences and expectations, offering advice and notes on what they wish they had known.
Patrick Nielsen Hayden (Tor Books), George Sandison (Titan Books), E. C. Ambrose (M), Michelle Sagara, Rachel Winterbottom (Gollancz)
Reading: Michelle Sagara
Format: Reading
19 Aug 2019, Monday 10:00 — 10:50, Liffey Room‑3 (Readings) (CCD)
Autographs: Monday at 13:00
Format: Autographing
19 Aug 2019, Monday 13:00 — 13:50, Level 4 Foyer (CCD)
Daniel Kelly, Ellen Kushner, Neil Williamson, Michelle Sagara, Sylvia Spruck Wrigley, Angus Watson


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An airline operating out of Nepal, Himalaya airlines is the premium most airline carriers that you can find in Nepal. Founded as a joint venture between the yeti airlines group and the Tibet airlines, Himalaya airlines is a natural choice for people visiting Nepal.
Having launched its operations in the month of May, 2016, Himalaya airlines has been increasing its operations. As of March 2017, it flies to 5 destinations in the region. To book your tickets well in advance, you can call the Himalaya airlines booking number.
Benefits: –
People that would want to read the Himalayan region of Nepal would have to travel with the help of Himalaya airlines. To ensure that you get proper customer satisfaction, you can call the Himalaya airlines helpline. Some of their benefits include;
- Wonderful food which is supplied to the people in flight.
- Good entertainment options in the form of iPads.
- Proper servicing of the aircraft in order to make it air worthy.
- Friendly service personnel to guide you at all times.
- Customer satisfaction is a priority with the 24 hour manned Himalaya airlines customer service number.
Should you use Himalaya airlines?
When you need to travel far off regions like Nepal, using Himalaya airlines is your only option. Not only is it the safest manner for you to travel, but it is also the best option if you want to travel in the shortest time possible. For a much better idea about their destinations, you can visit their online portal.
The good thing about using Himalaya airlines is that they have a lot of experience in travelling through rough weather. Most of their pilots are experienced enough in order to help you get through the natural vagaries of the weather. For better information, you can call Himalaya airlines phone number.
Customer Care Link – http://www.himalaya-airlines.com/article/about-us
Company Website – http://www.himalaya-airlines.com/
Email – [email protected]
Himalaya Airlines Contact Details
|Customer Service
Phone Number
|Himalaya Airlines Main Office Kathmandu Nepal
|Himalaya Airlines Enquiry
|Himalaya Airlines Airport
977-1-4464 046
|Himalaya Airlines Media
|Himalaya Airlines Sales
|Himalaya Airlines Training Center


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(In front of the Gate)
Rain since the sunrise.
Approximately 30 people gathered in the Tent. Yesterday, Mr. Yamakawa Hitoshi recommended by All Okinawa Coalition won the Tomigusuku City mayoral election over two conservative candidates. It will greatly boost the protest movement because Mr. Yamakawa won the election by campaigning to oppose the new base in Henoko.
A mayoral election of the prefectural capital, Naha City, will be held this week. When we win this race, we will have won 3 consecutive election races, which will be a severe blow to Abe administration.
It has been rainy, but the people in the Tent looks fine and sunny expecting better tomorrow.
Oct. 15: Following the Governor Denny, a Mayoral Candidate against the New Base in Henoko Won
(In front of the Gate)