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Metrotown mall owners sue developer over proposed mixed-use towers
Concord Pacific's proposed new development would include retail, offices and residential
It's not unusual for proposed real estate developments to prompt heated debate in Metro Vancouver's red-hot housing market, but it's not often residents hear of those battles taking place between major developers.
The stakes, in this case, are high.
On the table — a multi-million dollar real estate project of a type industry insiders say is becoming increasingly common as retail businesses try to cash in on the lucrative housing market and take advantage of cities keen on densification.
But a dispute, outlined in a recent B.C. Supreme Court judgment between two giant real estate developers, over a 30-year-old agreement neither of them signed but both inherited, is threatening to pull the project apart in an area the City of Burnaby is considering turning into its "true downtown."
The rift is between Ivanhoe Cambridge, the owners of the Metropolis at Metrotown shopping centre, and Concord Kingsway, a subsidiary of real estate developer Concord Pacific, the new owner of a Sears Canada store and the land on which it sits.
Concord says it could lose money on its hefty investment, while, on the other hand, Ivanhoe says Concord is pushing forward the project without abiding by their long-standing agreement to work in partnership.
In 2013, Sears Canada issued a news release describing its intentions to turn the site into a massive mixed-use development that would include residential and office high-rise towers with retail on the ground floor, including a new store for Sears.
Two years later, according to court documents, Concord Kingsway and Sears closed a $100 million deal for to enter into a joint venture to develop the site.
Now, Metropolis owner Ivanhoe Cambridge is taking Concord and Sears to court, claiming the company can't develop the site without its permission.
Agreement crux of dispute
At the crux of the issue is a long-standing agreement signed in 1986 that neither party was originally privy to, but which the judge said both inherited through various means when they took over their respective properties.
Sears and Concord argue the wording of the agreement is vague.
The agreement states the two properties "are intended to be operated, supplied, maintained, repaired, altered and reconstructed as a unified, first class, integrated, regional shopping centre," according to the judgment.
To redevelop the site, Sears would need to give 15 months' notice and couldn't build anything deemed "incompatible with the existing shopping centre." It also couldn't close the Sears store for more than 150 days.
But the judgment says Ivanhoe's "first warning signs of trouble" was when Concord wrote Ivanhoe to say that, as the new owners, it wasn't bound by the agreement.
Retail increasingly mixing with residential
Sears submitted a rezoning application to the City of Burnaby planning department in 2013, which is currently under review. Concord has since taken over the application.
At first glance, the redevelopment appears to fit in with the city's draft plan for the Metrotown area, which includes increasing services and residences in the transit-friendly neighbourhood already on a SkyTrain line.
Andrew Evans, senior consultant with Colliers International, said he couldn't comment on this specific case but explained that it's becoming increasingly common for older, struggling department stores like Sears to develop their properties to make money off the land they sit on — but that can cause friction between neighbours.
"In general, when somebody is proposing a large development, the neighbouring properties sometimes have challenges with it if they feel the development would affect the development potential on their property or negatively impact them in some way," Evans said.
Shopping malls in the Lower Mainland are also looking to take advantage of the current real estate market and add residential on their properties, Evans said — especially those like Metropolis that are already close to a transit hub.
"Quite often you're not losing the retail, you're having more of a focus on how to bring residential to the site as well," he said, citing Lougheed and Brentwood malls as examples.
Whether or not this is a route the mall owners are keen to take is unclear.
The judgment does mention that Ivanhoe has also been "exploring redevelopment options," and the city's draft plan for the area lists redevelopment of both Sears and the Metrotown shopping centre as part of the neighbourhood's revitalization.
Ivanhoe refused to comment on the matter. Concord Pacific did not respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, a different lawsuit over the matter that started two years ago is still unfolding in B.C. Supreme Court.


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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Back Pain
If you have back pain have you tried boosting your Vitamin D ? A woman who had had back pain for over 20 years found that the pain went away after 2 weeks of high dose Vitamin D. Similarly, there … Continue reading
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Depressed and SAD ?
January, February and March are the worst months in the UK for Depression The stores of Vitamin D that we had built up from the previous summer are at their lowest The "half-life" of Vitamin D in the body is … Continue reading
Does Vitamin D protect against Melanoma ?
In his book Athlete's Edge, Dr John Cannell of www.vitamindcouncil.org describes how his daughter has fair skin and used to burn easily. He suggested that she took 10,000 IU of Vitamin D3 a day for a month before she went into the sun, … Continue reading
Vitamin D or Tamoxifen to prevent Breast Cancer ?
This is a slightly edited version of a personal message to me from Professor Cedric Garland about the NICE & NHS decision to offer Tamoxifen or Raloxifene to UK women who may have a higher than average risk of Breast … Continue reading
How much Vitamin D ?
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Vitamin D reduces complications in pregnancy
If a woman starts pregnancy with a lack of Vitamin D and continues to be deficient throughout pregnancy she is at an increased risk of complications. A lack of Vitamin D has been linked to an increased risk of pre-eclampsia, … Continue reading
Vitamin D for babies
The Vitamin D Association has identified a serious error in the NHS guidelines on vitamin D supplementation of breastfed infants in the UK QUOTE: The UK guidelines do not recommend vitamin D supplementation of breastfed infants during the first five … Continue reading
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Vitamin D in pregnancy
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Vitamin D "deficiency" in the UK
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Today, people from all over the world; England, Australia, Sweden, Canada, Brazil even Luxemburg and the Netherlands are flocking to Las Vegas to be able to say, they got married on 12/12/12. According to an article from the New York Times, 80 of the town's chapels are preparing for an expected high volume of weddings. The Marriage License Bureau is going from five to nine windows and has staff working overtime. Chapels and venues have so far booked up to 15 times the usual amount for a Wednesday.
Thus far, the record breaking triple digit wedding day has been 07/07/07. For the four days leading up to it, Vegas issued 4,333 licenses, followed by 10/10/10, with 3,090 and 11/11/11, with 3,342. For an average month the total is around 7,500.
The next triple date to occur is in 89 years: 01/01/2101.
Normally, my advice to people when they head to vegas is, "play the odds." However, this seems irrelevant, so instead I'll go with an oldie but goodie, "may the force be with you."


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Quick Reference
In remote sensing systems, a variable assigned to a pixel, usually in the form of a binary integer in the range of 0–255 (i.e. a byte). The range of energies examined in a remote sensing system is broken into 256 bins. A single pixel may have several digital number variables corresponding to different bands recorded.
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Looking at them now, thought Jim, you'd never believe they weren't in love with each other, and not with a hopeless, doomed obsession like poor Isabel Meredith. This was what love ought to be like: playful and passionate and teasing, and dangerous, too, with sharp intelligence in it.
Cite this Page: Citation


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Kotaku - I thought I was on another planet on Wednesday when I saw Alex Ward for the first time in five years.
This was Criterion's Alex Ward, the developer of a game studio that pushes gaming hardware to the brink and that hasn't made a game for Nintendo in 10 years. He was saying nothing but glowing things about the Wii U.
Which game creators, other than people who work at Nintendo, say glowing things about the Wii U these days?
Ward was pit-stopping in New York City, en route from his studio's offices in Guildford, England to Nintendo's in Seattle. He was on his way to show Nintendo the March-scheduled Wii U version of the excellent Need For Speed: Most Wanted. He consented to show it to some reporters while he was on his way. I was one of them and was waiting for him at an EA showcase on the fourth floor of a hotel in midtown Manhattan.
Again, I think I have Definitively proven-
-That The Trolls on the N4G are to be trusted over the Illuminati & Alien Mind-Controlled game developers.
Just ask Abraham Lincoln ;)
yeah no kidding, but i thought all the third parties hated nintendo and complained about cancelled games, like need for speed most wanted and monster hunter 3 ultimate, oh wait... and did any one show proof of actual names of companies and what games were cancelled? no? how odd? no proof that these companies said this? yeah another lie from the biased media against nintendo, some one call frodo and gandolf, we have got to get rid of all these trolls.
"Everyone wants to talk about this and that on the hardware, and it's not as interesting to me. What's really important is what we're doing with the player experience. The games I'm playing on Wii U—Nintendo Land and New Super Mario Bros. U—what Nintendo [does], they just deliver excellent gameplay. It's probably one of the big problems in the industry at the moment. Everyone—you guys—like to talk about specs and this and that. We've got to get back to just playing the game. And that's what this game is about. It's about a simple, fun experience. It's not about 10,000,000 polygons and who does this and who does that.''
Alex Ward.
and check this out http://mynintendonews.com/2... yes, a game maker with brains, if only the rest of third party would think with their brains, you don't need ten million polygons to make a great game, it's refreshing to hear a game developer talk like that.
The Wii U is a great system. The price is a bit high though, the wii casuals are used to lower prices. It will happen. X box ps4 come out, wiiu drops in price, Nintnedo hits the air waves with heavy marketing... games arrive. I think it will shape up well.


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Up All Night Review: Christie BrinkleyChris O'Hara at . Comments
Who would have guessed that college wasn't a fond memory for Chris?
On "Jerry Duty," we met Chris's college roommate who, along with an incessant appetite for terming things awesome, also reminded Chris of a not-so-memorable period of his life.
Reagan, meanwhile, had her eyes opened to the possibility she wasn't the best big sister she could have been when she and Scott were younger. While I thought his baby blanket trick was more suited for pet anxiety, Scott shined in his most featured episode yet. We were also treated to the first real sibling squabble between him and Reagan, which ended only when Chris had to take away their swords. Apparently girls love weaponry too.
Chris has pointed out some of Reagan's personality flaws, but the ones brought up by her were not so easily dismissed. She was genuinely worried that she had been the cause of a lot of the pain Scott had endured in his life, even if her rationale was rather narcissistic. Scott did well to hold his own ground and remind his big sister that he has done just fine in a life that includes being a parent longer than she has been.
In the other storyline of the night, Jerry was not as loathsome as I had anticipated. His biggest crime was being overly psyched about everything. We should all be so optimistic. Ava had one of her more toned down episodes to date, but still had some great lines, like her comment about adoring wine, which made it's way onto the best Up all Night quotes list this week.
I noted last season how I loved it when Ava would call Chris "Christopher," as if he was some model of manhood. Sadly for Chris, but worthy of a few laughs, was the scene where Reagan got a chance to uncover a few flaws herself, namely Chris's toenails and nose.
Perhaps the best scene of the episode, though, was the opening one, where Reagan and Chris spewed frustration about sleeping with Amy in their bed. Yet another all too true pitfall of parenting nailed by the writers of Up All Night.
So which ring tone would you have chosen? The air horn, the European ambulance or the horn from the General Lee?


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If it was a mistake to put Dr. Long on a postage stamp, it's a mistake to deny Dr. Wells such an honor.
Dr. Crawford W. Long, a physician and druggist during the mid-1800s in Jefferson, Ga., was honored in 1940 on a postage stamp as the discoverer of anesthesia, even though he had admitted such a claim was inaccurate. He is best remembered in Georgia for his widespread use of ether as anesthesia.


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Use the controls above to listen to the episode or subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Google Play | RSS
Andy Pike is a freelance software developer in the UK who builds bespoke software for companies of all sizes ranging from early stage startups to large multi-nationals. He has approximately 20 years of experience, with many of those years as the CTO of a successful digital agency and has now branched out on his own. Andy is active in the developer community, he is the founder of a local developer user group, has contributed to multiple open source projects, has spoken at several conferences and has volunteered as a mentor at workshops for underrepresented groups in tech. When he isn't working, he's spending too many hours mining for diamonds with his kids in Minecraft.
What You Will Learn From This Episode
- How to decide if management is right for you.
- What management is and what it is not (hint: it's not time sheets and holiday approvals).
- The product of every team lead and how to understand yours.
- How to communicate with your team to get results.
- Why you should walk through your team's code, even if you don't program any more.
- Andy's two biggest pain points as a manager.
Resources Mentioned
- Career Hyperdrive Course – 7 day audio and email course to launch your career into hyperspace.
Contact Guest


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Either a single cultivar or a group of very closely related strains, the Mongibello or Mt Etna variety may be the most common type of fig grown in northern zones.
This type of fig can be traced to Mt Etna, Sicily where it is known as Mongibello, beautiful mountain, presumably combining the Sicilian Mungibeddu with the Italian Montebello. If planted outdoors and killed to the ground by severe cold over winter, Mongibello is the cultivar most likely to ripen fruit on new growth in summer.
Mt Etna and the Mt Etnas: The purple/red berry punch Mt Etna fig variety may be the most common type of fig grown in ground along the US eastern seaboard from Boston to Baltimore because of the ability to ripen fruit the summer after severe winters. Tracing to the foothills of Mt Etna, Sicily, where it is known as Mongibello, "Mt Etna" is an umbrella name. Some Mt Etnas traded or sold under many different names have been shown to be genetically slightly different from one another, while others seem synonymous
Various forms of protection can help most fig cultivars avoid total top-kill. One simple method: in fall, press low limbs flat to the ground and cover with layers of leaves, wood chips, or dirt.
A bountiful fig with a wonderful grape-strawberry flavor, Mongibello begins to ripen a couple weeks after the earliest cultivars, all things equal. Of any fig cultivar grown in ground in cold zones, robust Mongibello seems best able to ripen fruit each year.
These figs are known and distributed under many names, including: Hardy Chicago, Takoma Violet, Gino's Black, Sal's EL/GS, Maryland Berry, Zingarella, Rossi Dark, Marseilles Black, Keddie, Malta Black, Black Greek, Spanish Unknown, Dark Portuguese, Salem Dark, Black Bethlehem, Macool, St Rita, Danny's Delight, Jersey Fig, Martini, Don Fortis, Hardy Pittsburgh, Hardy Hartford, Mt Etna Unknown, GM #11 (Sicilian Dark), Abba, NJ Red, San Donato (Calabria), Dominick's, Bari …
A couple links (from below) with good information on the subject:
The origins of "Mt Etna" figs: "Mt Etna fig studies"
Hardy Chicago Photo Thread At GardenWeb
Hardy Chicago, Sal's… Thread At GardenWeb
Characteristic Mount Etna / Mongibello fig leaves shape:
And fruit:


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Credits: 3
Spring 2017: W, 1:00-3:50, Marsh Classroom
Spring OCI Listing
The course examines small-holder management systems in the tropics from several different perspectives. A brief overview of tropical forest ecology is provided first, with an emphasis on the factors that limit the nature and intensity of resource use. An analysis of silviculture as applied forest ecology follows, together with a description of the major silvicultural systems employed commercially throughout the world. The distinct operational and contextual differences between conventional and indigenous forms of forest management are presented, and the three main types of indigenous silvicultural practice are defined and described in detail. Examples from Asia, Central America, South America, and Africa are provided to illustrate each system. The relative economic, social, and ecological benefits of community forest management are discussed in detail, and the major constraints to a greater acceptance and application of the "conservation through sustainable use" paradigm are highlighted. A selection of case studies is used to examine existing policies that regulate the use, management, and trade of forest resources by local communities. A final lecture and discussion weave together these themes to assess the overall potential of managed landscapes as a viable conservation strategy.


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Additional Information
They stay a tiger doesn't change her stripes, and with Stance's Camila, you won't want to either. This Winter Everyday sock is as cozy as they come, a plush blend of fibers built with active elastic arch support and reinforced heels and toes. A moody take on holiday hues, this striped sock puts the class in classic, the perfect companion for every work function and weekend adventure. Your stripe dream? It's reality with Stance's Camila.
- Terry Loop In Forefoot, Heel, And Toe For Cushioning
- Seamless Toe Closure
- Plush Fuzzy Knit
Product Care
- Machine Wash in 40 °C / 104 °F.
- Avoid Bleaching or Ironing the socks.
- Socks will last longer if you keep them out of the dryer.


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Hand Crafted Jewellery
Jeweller Taryn Compagnoni, through Tayha Designs, is proud to present an exquisite collection of jewellery hand-crafted here in Western Australian.
Taryn's passion in life is jewellery, from the design through to the final hand crafted piece. The idea of being able to explore and express an individual's personality through a piece of jewellery is what inspires her to create. Tayha Designs is a place where Taryn can share her designs with the public.
Jewellery can bring a great sense of joy and fascination to one's life. It can be in any form, from extreme simplicity to incredible complexity. Every person looks at a piece of jewellery differently and finds beauty in different aspects of it, and for us this is what makes it so interesting. Tayha Designs is a place where you can find that special piece of jewellery that is individual and speaks to you.
This Website is currently under construction- we will be updating to bring you a better online store where you can view and purchase any of your favorite pieces. Until then if you have any trouble purchasing your product please contact us via the contact page so we can assist you.


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Two Famous Ghost Towns in Yukon, Canada
Had it not been for the long Alaska Highway, Whitehorse would not be the town it is today with hotels, restaurants, an airfield, and a population of over 8,000 people. That's far from being a ghost town. But that's not the way things were and the town has not forgotten its beginning. Relics of the past such as the town's single street along the waterfront, old loading docks and hulks of steamboats that once tied up there along with false-fronted buildings remain from the days prospectors swarmed into Whitehorse. The town was not an easy place to reach, especially for those who choose to reach it by water down the Yukon. One of the most feared stretches of the entire waterway was Miles Canyon where a torrent of white water flowed at express train speed. Then there was White Horse Rapids where the foamy, misty crests took the form of charging white stallions. The trip by boat down the Yukon to Whitehorse was more than 25 miles. And not all that tried made it. As Whitehorse grew, Closeleigh faded into the sunset and is no more. - Ghosttowns.com
In its glory days, Carcross had a population of over 20,000 - for about 6 months. As the Klondike gold rush grew, many gathered on the shores of Lake Bennett waiting for the ice to break on Yukon. Many logged and whip-sawed lumber to make boats to float their supplies down the river. Thanks to the NWMP and Sam Steel, many a boats man was saved. In early May of 1898, the river ice broke and the great race was begun for the gold fields of Bonaza creek. Skookum Jim and Tagish Charlie, co-discovers of gold in the Klondike are buried in the cemetery here. After the gold rush died down, Carcross (formally Caribu Crossing) became a stopping point for the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway. The WP&YR no longer runs, but the tracks still run along the lake. –Ghosttowns.com
Haunted House Online is the biggest website on the web to help you find haunted houses, haunted house by state, city or by zip code. HauntedHouseOnline.com also features thousands of haunted hayrides, Halloween attractions, corn mazes, ghost tours, haunted tours and much more. HauntedHouseOnline.com also includes trick or treat safety tips, free pumpkin carving patterns, haunted news, horror movie reviews, featured articles on haunted attractions and links to vendors, other haunt related websites and so much more. Guests can also create accounts on Hauntworld.com and rate, review their favorite local haunted houses. Create an account today and start rating and reviewing haunted houses. Hauntworld.com publishs a magazine called Hauntworld Magazine which you can subscribe at www.Hauntedhousemagazine.com. Hauntworld is also a proud supporter of HHA (www.hauntedhouseassociation.org). Haunted House Online also supports several haunted house tradeshows and you can find a complete list of upcoming trades on our haunted house tradeshow page. Hauntworld.com and HauntedHouseOnline.com are the most advanced haunted house website on the planet featured on www.Google.com, www.Yahoo.com, www.USAtoday.com, and has been featured on Travel Channel, National Geographic, HIstory Chanel and every Food TV. Find haunted houses, scariest and best, Zombie Runs, Halloween Attractions, Haunted Hayrides, Horror events, tradeshows and much more.


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Originally posted by jimmiec
reply to post by ObservingYou
Actually, Saudi Arabia requested US military aid to protect them from Afghan militants threatening their country. Bin Laden did not like the US military in Saudi Arabia. So, technically Saudi Arabia created it.
Originally posted by lucid eyes
France has been waging war against Al-Qaeda in Mali almost all by themselves.
When America does similar there is international outrage and rampant activism by anti-war and peace-protestors, TV-Commentators, Academics and the international LEFT in general. Why is that totally lacking when France does the same? Is it because France currently has a socialist Government? Or is it only "Imperialism", "Aggression" and "Warmongering" when the USA does it? Or does the left finally see that Al-Qaeda are NOT a mere myth/conspiracy/false-flag of Israel/USA?
Originally posted by skalla
reply to post by lucid eyes
firstly there are plenty of right wingers who oppose american activities overseas, on ats as well as elsewhere - there is no need for a left or right political leaning to have any bearing on one's view to any countries involvement militarily abroad.
this in no way defines the left or the right, it is simply a case of who falls for the BS excuses for exploitation of other nations and the underhand methods to continue the so-called and deceptive war on terror, beit the US, france, the UK or whoever is currently the standard bearer for western governments domination and interference.
and ofc AQ is a creation of the west, then bodies abroad took ownership of the term as a rallying cry, covered in great detail on these boards amongst a wealth of other places.
as the "big guy" the US cops the flak, maybe it should be shared around a bit more, but as i read another poster state else where, and i paraphrase
"when america farts, we all have to smell it" (copy right LesMisanthrope iirc)... at present british and french farts dont have the same volume and projectile power, you just have the misfortune not to live in the eighteenth or nineteen centuries, in which case we would be in an alehouse slagging off mostly britain and france.
suck it up, sorryedit on 6-2-2013 by skalla because: minor clarity issue
God forbid you be an ugly girl, 'course too pretty is also your doom, 'cause everyone harbors a secret hatred for the prettiest girl in the room
The average Joe was taken down a notch as far as standard of living
Europe is living an adjustment and is practically calling for civil wars across the board
Tell me how the perfect world works
Originally posted by jimmiec
reply to post by ObservingYou
Since Saudi Arabia controls the oil, I would reverse that.
Originally posted by zedVSzardoz
reply to post by ObservingYou
you are right. We are the source of all evil. I cant wait for your country to blow up our death star we built to conquer the world because we are like that.
But your dribble has a price.
When the US is not there, who is the UN and NATO going to send when an international incident happens? France, Greece? China is the only one capable...Are you going to be happy living in a world where China is policing everyone? If you ever disagree with them, just go through their system of international oversight to have your issues addressed accordingly. You know the one they will be happy to bow to the way the US does so that everyone feels equal, even though they are not.
OK.....have fun with that. We have been policing the world without a real need to for the last 70 years. Think you can do better? Think you an afford it, stomach it? OK...
edit on 6-2-2013 by zedVSzardoz because: (no reason given)


text: Search Search Home > Travel to & get around > Getting around in Porvoo > By bicycle Share this Navigation By foot By bicycle By taxi Parking By bicycle By bike you can explore the surrondings and find your own favourit spots. Rent a bike at the tourist information under the Mannerheiminkatu bridge from June 6th. Taking a ride with the bicycle taxi is a trip you will remember!


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January 23, 2007
Company news from the 1/23/07 news brief
Schering-Plough and its Schering Sales Corp. division were officially sentenced to pay $435 million as part of its settlement with the Justice Department over accusations the companies engaged in off-label marketing and lied about drug prices. Under the settlement first announced in August, Schering Sales Corp. pleaded guilty to conspiracy and agreed to pay a criminal fine of $180 million. Parent company, Schering-Plough agreed to pay another $255 million to resolve civil aspects of the case. The sentencing ends an investigation by the Justice Department and the US Attorney's office in Boston that began in 2001. Teva Pharmaceuticals is suing several other generic drug companies that seek to challenge its position as the lone maker of non-branded Zoloft. Companies named in the suits include Novartis AG's Sandoz and Lupine Laboratories. Zoloft (sertraline), an antidepressant marketed by Pfizer, lost patent protection in June. Teva began selling a generic version in September and has sole rights to do so until Feb. 6, the expiration date for its 180-day exclusivity period on producing sertraline. The FDA gave its tentative nod for several others to receive approval to make generic copies on that date, including Sandoz and Lupine. The Teva suits, filed in New Jersey and Delaware, target would-be sellers of generic Zoloft, plus companies that make the active ingredient, according to Bloomberg. Other companies Teva is suing are Apotex, Copal, Cadila Healthcare's Zydus-Cadila Healthcare, Merck KGaA's Genpharm, and Watson Pharmaceuticals's Andrx, as well as manufacturers Invagen Pharmaceuticals, Hetero Drugs and Torrent Pharmaceuticals, according to court records cited by Bloomberg. Information and media group VNU is changing its name to The Nielsen Company. Among the changes to come along with the rebranding effort will be the launch of a new corporate Web site and graphic identity, the company said. The rebranding will be rolled out progressively by all of Nielsen's units during 2007. Nielsen owns PERQ/HCI, which reports on advertising expenditures and content in healthcare journals in the US. Nielsen's Business Media unit is the parent of magazines Adweek, Brandweek, Mediaweek and numerous other publications. VNU was founded over 40 years ago through the merger of two Dutch publishing companies. The company was taken private in 2006 after six private equity firms acquired it in a leveraged buyout for $9.85 billion. AstraZeneca announced a $100 million research investment to boost work in the infectious disease area and continue its incremental growth in cancer research at its R&D center near Boston. The expansion of AstraZeneca's research facility will accommodate up to 100 additional researchers to join the 400 existing employees already in engaged in work-related to infectious disease and cancer treatments. The new investment calls for construction of a 132,000 square foot facility to begin during the first quarter of 2007, with scheduled completion by mid-2009. The Department of Health and Human Services has awarded GlaxoSmithKline Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics and Iomai all a total of $133 million in funding for development of H5N1 Avian Flu vaccines. GSK's contract will total $63 million over 5 years. Novartis receives $55 million over the same period. Iomai was awarded $14 million over 15 months for the completion of Phase I trials of its skin patch, designed to stimulate the immune system when used along with vaccines. The company can be awarded a further $114 million if the study shows positive results. Under the terms of the contracts, each of the three companies is expected to be able to provide 150 million doses of the vaccines within 6 months of the start of an Avian Flu pandemic. Evotec has signed two contracts with Solvay Pharmaceuticals. In the first agreement Evotec has been chosen as Solvay's partner for fragment-based drug discovery. Solvay will access Evotec's proprietary fragment-based screening platform and fragment library to identify fragment hits against a high priority target. Evotec will produce 3-dimensional co-crystals of the fragment hits bound to the protein and then will use their track record in fragment-to-lead activities to further optimise the fragments. Financial terms include an access fee payable by Solvay for accessing Evotec's fragment-based screening technology. Further details were not disclosed. The second agreement extends an existing library synthesis contract for a further 12 months from Jan. 1, 2007. Evotec has been synthesizing and supplying chemical libraries to Solvay, for screening against targets in its drug discovery programs, since January 2001. Acumen Pharmaceuticals announced that its collaboration with Merck has achieved a $5 million milestone in the antibody program. The milestone was triggered by development activities. The two companies signed a license agreement in 2003 to research and develop disease-modifying therapeutic drugs for Alzheimer's disease and other memory-related disorders. Under the terms of the original agreement, Merck obtained an exclusive license to research and develop antibody products, an option to develop vaccine products and certain diagnostic rights. In November, Merck amended the collaboration agreement to include an exclusive license grant to Merck for the diagnostic related rights.


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Stollen is the German Christmas bread. According to Peter Reinhart, in the book, Bread Baker's Apprentice, the shape of the stollen symbolizes the blanket of the baby Jesus, and the colored fruits represent the gifts of the Magi. Dresden is considered the home of stollen and even hosts an annual stollen festival where they unveil a giant (huge!) loaf.
The bread is generously dusted with powdered sugar, and also often filled with a rope of marzipan, a sweet almond paste (I used slivered almonds instead).
The dough is shaped by folding it over a layer of almonds (or marzipan) and then folded again, in a "Z" pattern. Then it is shaped like a crescent to symbolize a blanket in a manger.
Don't let the "drunken" fruit in the bread scare you away. It is not the dreaded fruitcake. Not even close. I loved this version of stollen, especially toasted and buttered for breakfast.
The original recipe calls for a mixture of dried and candied fruit, I substituted all dried fruit, including golden raisins, cranberries, cherries, apricots, and currants, which I soaked in rum.
There are billions of iterations of stollen, but this one is my favorite (don't ask me about the failed loaf that looked like biscotti before it's sliced that I initially made for this #TwelveLoaves post. I will deny it ever existed). I first made this version while baking every recipe in Peter Reinhart's Bread Baker's Apprentice. It was great to revisit the floury, tattered, and much loved pages of the book to bake this bread again.
Stollen Bread Recipe
- Warm the milk to 100 degrees F and add the flour and yeast. Stir and cover with plastic and let sit for one hour, until very bubbly.
- In a bowl, mix the fruit, rum, and orange extract, and let sit while you are making the dough.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the flour, sugar, salt, zests, and cinnamon and whisk to combine.
- Add the sponge, egg, butter, and water (enough to create a soft but sticky dough. Mix on low with the paddle attachment for about 2 minutes to fully combine.
- Cover the bowl and let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Drain the fruit, and add it to the bowl. Use your hands to mix it into the dough.
- Using the dough hook, knead for about four minutes, adjusting with flour and water to achieve a tacky but not sticky dough.
- Form the dough into a ball and place it into an oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for about 45 minutes.
- On a lightly floured counter, press the dough into a 8 inch by 4 inch rectangle. Sprinkle with the half of the almonds over the top.
- With a small floured rolling pin, press in the center of the dough the long way and roll the middle out to 1/2 inch thick, but not all of the way to the sides. Leave the long sides thick.
- Lift one long side, and fold it over the other side, leaving some overlap. Tuck the rest of the almonds inside the fold, and then pick up the overlap and fold it back. The shape sort of resembles a "Z."
- Place the loaf onto a parchment lined baking sheet, gently press the layers together, and shape it into a crescent. Spray the loaf with spray oil and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for about an hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 20 minutes. Rotate the pan, and bake for another 35 to 50 minutes, until the interior reaches about 190 degrees F.
- After removing the loaf from the oven, place it on a wire rack. Immediately brush it with melted butter, and generously sift powdered sugar over it.
- Cool completely before slicing.
- Apricot Ginger Panettone from A Shaggy Dough Story
- Bacon Fat Spice Loaf from girlichef
- Cranberry Kringle from Kudos Kitchen by Renee
- Eggnog Streusel Muffins from From My Sweet Heart
- Fruitcake Quick Bread from Rhubarb and Honey
- Gingerbread from Nik Snacks
- Holiday Fruit and Cheese Bread from Basic N Delicious
- Joululimppu (Finnish Christmas Bread) from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Kardemummakrans from Ma che ti sei MANGIATO
- Raisin and Nut Wreath Bread from A Baker's House
- Stollen from Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Stollen Wreath from Cake Duchess
- Swiss Butter Braid from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Whole Wheat Cranberry and Walnut Bread from NinjaBaker
- Post your Twelve Loaves bread on your blog, making sure to mention the Twelve Loaves challenge in your blog post (this helps us to get more members as well as share everyone's posts).
- Please link your post to the linky tool at the bottom of this blog. The bread MUST meet the Twelve Loaves theme (enter theme).
- Share your Twelve Loaves bread (must be baked and posted this month) on your blog by enter the last day of the month.
<!-- end LinkyTools script →


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Martha Zapata, Community Representative
Martha, originally from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, has lived in San Diego for the last 35 years. She served on the Board of Directors for the Sherman Heights Community Center, Community Development Corporation, as well as Coordinator for the Logan Heights Neighborhood Council. She is also a certified Spanish/English interpreter and translator.
Martha can be reached via email at [email protected]


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Internet Resources
These are a list of the sites I use, in addition to the federal (DOL,DOE, DOA, CDC, EEOC,etc) sites and the legislative (federal and state) sites.
Site Name Address Purpose
Washington Post www.washingtonpost.com/ General news and Tuesday's health section
MSNBC www.msnbc.com General news and event tracking
Rollcall http://www.rollcall.com/ Congressional news
Medical breakthroughs http://www.ivanhoe.com/ News service run by nurses for general media
Accuweather http://www1.accuweather.com Weather, what more can you say
Allnurses.com http://www.allnurses.com/ This one you know
Medscape Nurses http://nurses.medscape.com/Home/netw...g/nursing.html
Current nursing info and free CEU's
Casemgr Web page http://www.med-employ.com/casemgr/ List serv for casemgrs
Best Practice Network http://ww1.best4health.org/startbp.cfm Resource for best practices in nursing
Immunization Action http://www.immunize.org/index.htm Immunization info
Prime http://www.primeinc.cc/ Online CM ceu's, especial WC CM
Continuing Care http://www.ccareonline.com/ CM magazine
Canopy Central http://www.canopycentral.com/ resource list (i.e. ICD9 look up)
FMLA of 1993 http://www.dol.gov/dol/allcfr/ESA/Ti...rt_825/toc.htm Law
FMLA physician form http://www.dol.gov/dol/esa/public/re...fmla/wh380.pdf Link to the form
Job Accommodation http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/ ADA resource for employers
Office of Disability http://www.dol.gov/dol/odep/ DOL office Employment Policy
Promed http://sun00781.dn.net/promed/ Best outbreak listserv, most rapid reporter
Vet Consultant http://www.vet.cornell.edu/consultant/consult.asp When I cann't find a clue anywhere else
Kids Health http://kidshealth.org/ I use for the under 21 employee
Less Stress http://www.lessstress.com/ Funniest ACLS/ATLS simulator on the web
Family doctor http://familydoctor.org/flowcharts/index.html Self care flow charts
Earth Med http://www.earthmed.com/ Alternative healthcare resources
Law.com http://www.law.com/ Health law information
Pediatric http://www.callyourped.com/ When parents should call their sleeping Peds
Neuromuscular Dx http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/index.html from U. Of Washington
Dermatology http://telemedicine.org/stamford.htm skin disease some with photos, at times
National Health Museum http://www.accessexcellence.org/
Forensic Panel www.forensicpanel.com Forensic information
NIH Yellow http://calendar.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sbdev NIH schedule of classes
Health grades http://www.healthgrades.com/ Grades on providers and hospitals
Duke OEM http://occ-env-med.mc.duke.edu/oem/default.htm International OEM listserv
Medical Center OEM http://www.mcoh.net/ MCOH section of ACOEM
Dr. Freidlander's Page http://www.pathguy.com/
Great page/listserv for path questions a favorite of US mystery writers
Dogpile Search Engine www.dogpile.com favorite meta engine
About Sharon
Joined: Jul '98; Posts: 240; Likes: 9
Program ManagerMay 6, '02Thank You! Very helpful! Do you have any knowledge of "Occupational Enzyme Hygiene Programs?" How about the benefits of performing "Fit for Duty" or "Preplacement" assessments? Any help would be greatly appreciated.May 6, '02Thank You for the help! This should be very helpful! Any info to share on "Fit for Duty" assessments or"Preplacement" assessments?


text:
Highest JAMB Score in 2016 UTME, Best Score Ever Recorded With 399
This should be the highestJoint Admissions and Matriculation Board,JAMB Score this 2016 UTME. A summary of the result is;
Use of English = 99
Physics = 100
Biology = 100
Chemistry = 100
Giving a total of = 399
The student is going for medicine and surgery in ABU.
Even without yet concluding the exam, it is far to say this would be the highest ever recorded.
Related Posts:
Tags: Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board | jamb.org.ng


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Media-buying focus
Ms. Sanchez, 37, is switching from a full-service Hispanic ad agency to a media-buying shop at a time when media agencies are aggressively chipping away the media buying from the full-service agencies that still dominate Hispanic media buying.
Ms. Sanchez joins Tapestry on June 26, and will work on existing and new business. Tapestry is 100% owned by Publicis Groupe, and owes much of its size and clout to handling the Hispanic-media billings for marketers who work with Starcom, MediaVest and GM Planworks, which handles General Motors Corp., the second-largest advertiser in the Hispanic market, and some of the media business for Publicis-owned Hispanic creative agencies.
$382 million in billings
Tapestry had 2005 billings of $382 million, at least double the size of the next-largest shop, according to Advertising Age's ranking of Hispanic media buyers. Ms. Sanchez's former agency, Bravo, is the fifth-largest media buyer, with estimated 2005 billings of $140 million.
Ms. Sanchez's job change comes just a month after Lisa Contreras-Torres moved to MPG Diversity from Carat USA, where she was VP-head of multicultural services. At Havas-owned MPG Diversity, she will lead MPG's multicultural media effort.


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Language - langue - idioma
France +33 668749705
Australia +61 280466572
Highlands Tribes Escorted Tour. 7 nights. 10 - 17 September 2018. Culminates at the Goroka Festival. $2170. click here
10-night Tawali resort - Spirit of Niugini cruise - Tufi resort: The best of Milne Bay and Oro provinces, 31st August to 10th September. Free photo coaching and yoga from $3895 click here
12 - 15 January 2018: Paris Dive Show
23 - 25 March 2018: Beneath the Sea, New Jersey
November 2018 : DEMA Las Vegas (trade only)
Papua New Guinea has half a dozen cultural festivals duirng the year, the biggest and best being the 60-year-old event at Goroka in the Eastern Highlands, the most well-known is at Mt Hagen in the Western Highlands, the National Mask Festival in Kokopo is modestly priced, and the small Ambunti Crocodile Festival in the Sepik is the the most remote.
Over the three-day weekend closest to the September 16th Independence Day, over 100 tribes gather at Goroka in the Eastern Highlands for a celebration of their cultural diversity. Only a couple of hundred foreigners attended this spectacular and unique event. In 2010, I was one of them for the first time. Amidst a riot of colour, singing, dancing, and feathers I wandered through the field of performers, taking pictures and trying to chat with the different tribes. See a video here, or scroll to the bottom of the page.
In 2017 less than 400 VIP passes were sold (to foreign visitors and PNG dignatories), 150 tribes were present, and attendance over the three days was between 70,000 and 90,000 (the organisers only printed 60,000 one-day tickets and sold out first thing on the Sunday). In 2018 the main festival or Sing-Sing will take place on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th September.
Although the dancers are keen to pose for the camera and readily struck a pose, it is far from a show designed for tourists. Quite the opposite in fact. The first "Goroka Show" was held in 1957, the brain-child of administrators and missionaries trying stop virulent inter-tribal conflicts and implemented by Australian Patrol Officers (PNG was under Australian administration until peaceful independence was arranged in 1975). Instead of fighting over ancient feds and cultural differences, the idea was to get together and celebrate diversity, take part in competitions, and intermix peacefully.
As unlikely as it sounds, the idea worked, and fifty three years on is still going strong. There are no longer any competitions (I can imagine the archery and spear throwing competitions were hotly contested and probably not the best way to promote peace), not even for dancing or singing. Quite rightly, the organisers feel that one cannot say that one cultural dance is better than another without giving the feeling that the culture itself is being judged. Nowadays each group has a section of the showgrounds and dances and sings there from 9 am to 4 pm each day.
There are a considerable number of women's groups, wearing more birds in their headdresses than you'd find in a Philipino smuggler's suitcase, their glimmering breasts sporting as many kina shells as they possess in order to display their wealth. Fierce-looking Silimbuli warriors with blackened faces in huge hair-woven berets jump up and down in unison to the rhythm of their kundu drums, dissuading any challenge. Brightly-coloured Mount Hagen warriors form a formidable spear line, but chant and whistle cheerily whilst grass-skirted Engan ladies dance and sing as their men beat out a tune on bamboo (and hardware store PVC) pipes with flip-flops. One tribe has giant bird and butterfly frameworks on their backs in a sort of Rio Carnival style, others act out stories about spirits and ancestors in song, shaven headed children with their hair made into beards playing the roles of pygmy ghosts. Hornbill beaks and wild pig tusks are proudly worn, and feathers, grasses and leaves used as dress and decoration in a myriad of ways. Every tribe is stunning, headresses are often an ornithologist's nightmare of feathers and often whole stuiffed birds. You can open a full screen gallery here or watch a collection of video clips here
I go on a yearly basis, and for 2018 have put together a 7-night Highlands tribes trip with two nights in the Western Highlands for Birds of Paradise and Melpa culture, two nights in a locally-run lodge in an Asaro Mudman village, and three nights at accommodation at Goroka. Contact us for details.
Shorter stays for three and four nights are also possible. See here.
You can stay in the quite expensive Bird of Paradise hotel in town, or use the basic but clean and safe accommodation right next to the showgrounds. Four-night packages with flights range from $1100 USD upwards depending on accommodation chosen, all including domestic flights, an Asaro Mudmen village visit and Sing-Sing with mumu lunch or hiking.
After the successes of 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, for 2018, we will be running another and Highlands Tribes tour over 7 nights, starting in Port Moresby on the 7th, returning on the 18th.
You can find the full details of the options here.
Other Goroka activities:
Goroka has coffee plantations, Asaro villages, half-day and full day walks and tours, as well as multi-day tours and treks.
We also work with an Asaro village that has a basic lodge for visitors and organise multi-day stays, Contact us to discuss your requirements. You can see more on the lodge at www.asaromudmen.com
Four nights' half-board accommodation at the Rapopo Plantation Resort, Kinavai Ceremony, full day Rabaul and Kokopo land tour or Duke of York Island visit. Double occupancy rates: Garden Bayside room $580 per person. Premier Poolside room $635pp, Premier Suite $710 pp. Festival passes to be bought on site as the rate is set just prior to the event. 2016 rates were 50 Kina ($18). Extensions for the end of the Warwagira music festival (14th and 15th). Extensions for island visits and island stays possible.
The National Mask Festival takes place every year in Rabaul and is run by the PNG National Cultural Commission. Highlighting Papua New Guinea's mask culture, it attracts artists and performers nationwide. Many types of ancestor, spirit and tumbuan masks are visible, both old and recent.
Ancestor masks represent humans, often with holes in the eyes being a key feature. Smaller masks are used as headgear during dances and ceremonies or to depict ancestors in people's homes. Spirit masks are also mounted on walls or gables to provide protection through the representation of non-human forms. The Tumbuan is also the representation of a spirit, but larger so that they can be worn over the head and shoulders, or even the entire body during dances that tell stories about the afterlife.
This is without a doubt the largest and most wide-ranging collection of masks at a Sing-Sing, and overlaps with the Warwagira music festival. It's a great occasion to see and purchase local crafts and artefacts, and witness the Kinavai opening ceremony and visit the Baining's village for a captivating fire dance.
Mount Hagen also hosts a Sing-Sing over a weekend in August. It has slightly more tourist vistors and less tribes than Goroka, bit still pulls together and impressive 70 to 90 tribes. It can be combined with bird watching, visiting a Melpa village, going to other birding or cultural activities in Tari, home of the Huli wigmen, or a visit to any of the dive resorts. The best short option is a four-night stay arriving on the Thursday and going to a private mini Sing-Sing on the Friday in Paiya. We include it in our four-night packages.
You can find our 2018 Hagen Show packages here.
The Ambunti Crocodile Festival almot didn't go ahead in 2017, and was only confirmed a week before due to political and funding issues. For 2018 we are planning tours that pass by Ambunit at those dates, so that if the festival does occur, clients can see it. If it does not happen, then clients will continue with their planned itinerary. Email us for a bespoke quote.
The Hiri Moale festival used to take place in Port Moresby at the same time as the Goroka show and celebrated the sea and man's life on it. This colourful festival was originally designed to preserve the Hiri Trade expeditions between the Motu-Koitabu people and the Erema (Kerema) people on PNG's south-west coast. The Motu-Koitabu would undertake a three-month journey by Lagatoi (traditional canoe) to trade clay pots for sago and canoe logs from the Erema. Today, the festival features traditional dances, the Hiri Queen contest (a beauty pageant), the arrival of the Lagatoi (traditional canoes), canoe racing, musical presentations and an arts and crafts exhibition. The two main venues are at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium and Ela Beach.
The Malagan show and the Yamut Festival used to take place in Kavieng, New Ireland at the end of July and celbrates the New Ireland mask and craft making culture. However, the Malagan Show and teh Yamut Festival have not taken place for a number of years due to a lack of funding and coherent organisation despite being talked about every year. In fact, there has been no decent Malagan Show since 1987.
In the Trobriand Islands in the south, July is also the preferred month for a Yam Festival. However, it is really an event for locals and little advance notice is given of the actual date as the festival only occurs when the harvest is deemed successful. When the July harvest is considered too small, the festival has taken place in October or November. It's best to consider being on the islands when the festival occurs as a lucky bonus rather than a key point of a trip.
Alotau has a Kundo Canoe festival in late October or early November. Canoes and the Kundu drums are a significant aspect of the lives of the people of Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. Both the Canoe and the Kundu were widely used in olden times in ceremonies and rituals and were meticulously crafted from special woods under strict customs, to derive the best results and to appease the gods. The National Canoe and Kundu Festival were first held in Milne Bay in 2003. The canoes that are used in the festival are crafted in the same way that the canoes were crafted many years ago by the people's ancestors. The colours and patterns reflect upon the tribe and the area the canoe comes from. The canoes and traditional dancing groups come from all over the Milne Bay province, including some parts of the Papuan Region.
Copyright © Best of PNG. All rights reserved.
Best of PNG is a subsidiary of Indigo Safaris LLC


text:
UE Research & Education Fund
A unique way to support both global solidarity
& justice for U.S. workers
|International union leaders show support for rights of North Carolina workers
In 1994 the UE greatly expanded its international program. At the same time, we set up a new non-profit corporation -- the UE Research and Education Fund -- permitting receipt of foundation funding and tax deductible contributions. Such funding provided early support for the workers' centers in Mexico that were established by the Frente Auténtico del Trabajo (FAT), and it continues to support worker to worker exchanges, cultural projects, and other cross-border work which appears throughout this site. Since then, it has sponsored two dynamic projects to help bring justice to workers here in the United States.
Fighting for bargaining rights for North Carolina public workers
|UE & ZENROREN leader with Worker Justice newsletter at U.S. Social Forum
Many people don't know that it is illegal for public sector workers in North Carolina to bargain with their employers – on the state, county and municipal levels. The International Worker Justice campaign combines community organizing with the creative use of international law to challenge that grave injustice. Read more about the successful ILO case and other accomplishments and challenges!
Warehouse Workers - from exploitation to justice
|Warehouse Workers calling for justice
Meanwhile, building on the victory of UE Local 1110 at Republic Windows and Doors, workers in Chicago's huge logistics industry decided to form a new workers' center.. Warehouse Workers for Justice (WWJ) has accomplished an amazing amount in a short period of time: challenging discrimination and other legal violations by major employers, educating workers on their rights, building alliances in the community and with logistics workers in other cities, and doing the groundwork to win policy changes that improve conditions for warehouse workers and the quality of life in Chicago communities.
We are pleased to thank the following foundations for their support of this important work:
We want to thank our many individual contributors and the following foundations for their recent support and for helping to make this work possible:
- Ben and Jerry's Foundation
- Canaday Family Foundation
- CCHD - Diocese of Joliet
- Common Counsel Foundation
- Communitas Charitable Trust
- General Service Foundation
- Mertz Gilmore Foundation
- Public Welfare Foundation
- Resist
- Southern Partners Fund
- Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock
- Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation


text:
Stretegies for fabrication of nanostructures using focused ion beam technology
V.J. Gadgil
MESA+ institute for nanotechnology, NL
Keywords: patterning, redeposition, waveguides
Abstract:Recently FIB is increasingly being used for fabrication of nanosturctures and rapid prototyping. In the area of optical sciences, FIB is used for fabrication of 2D and 3D photonic devices. One of the problems in patterning is the redeposition. FIB provides control of the Ga beam and parameters such as scan direction, spot overlap, dwell time can be controlled. With new developments, it is also possible to blank the beam between two features to be milled. When milling a nano structure, it is critical to choose the right parameters. So far no mathematical model is available which deals with the redeposition. In this paper the effect of milling parameters on the redeposition is evaluated. Cross sections have been made to characterise the milled features. Results of nano structures fabricated with FIB are presented. Strategies for selection of parameters leading to optimum resolution of the intended structures is discussed.


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|15 Apr 2014
window 8.1 64 bit
window 8.1 64 bit at super slow speed
Recently my new computer acer v5-552g suddenly when super slow when I on it .opening a program might take 5 minutes and keep hanging.it is so slow and laggy till I couldnt use control panel and stuffs.any advice and help???
|My System Specs
|15 Apr 2014
Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
Hello and welcome jjw mate you would be far better off posting a thread in the 8 forum - it is a sister forum to this one and loads of members here are members there.
As for your problem again better posted in that forum but sounds like a filing system or malware problem to me.
See pic and most of us who do belong use our 7 details ID and avatars etc
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text:
Cassie 'Sean Jean Ad' Flicks
Don't get me wrong this little girl is pretty...but she's so under developed.Ugh!
I agree, those Capri's are hot, but not nearly as hot as the pictured model!!
It is useful to try everything in practise anyway and I like that here it's always possible to find something new. :)
Don't spoil also by bouncing your head abercrombie Outlet from the highway.A half helmet one is more suited to abercrombie and fitch those riders who don't mind to consume a variety of bugs along the abercrombie sale way! Most of these proper protection because they are built using chrome.A guys Harley abercrombie & fitch davidson t-shirt is likely to overhead about abercrombie This is a touch aggressive for just a fabulous t-shirt except for likely to be able to presents abercrombie uk Harley davidson identity but also you are abercrombie london finding high-quality any material., typically the functioning color block for good Harley davidson tee abercrombie and Fitch Polo is a great identify. And even, this valuable t-shirt wouldn't shrink further abercrombie Polos up like most cotton tees do.
The Clarity determines Tiffany Bracelets the purity or clearness of diamonds. Tiffany Earrings The Clarity is ascertain Tiffany Necklaces by the number, size, Tiffany Bangles nature and location of the internal Tiffany Rings and external flaws or imperfections. Tiffany Pendants The Color determines the amount of color a diamond has. Tiffany Cuff Links The color can range from colorless Tiffany Key Rings or clear to yellow with tints of gray, Tiffany Sets brown or yellow. It can also range from brown to intense yellow, Tiffany Charms blue, pink, red and green.
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|Build an HTML5 Game
|Karl Bunyan
|No Starch Press - 2015-03-23
You must register with us as either a Registered User before you can Download this Book. You'll be greeted by a simple sign-up page.
Once you have finished the sign-up process, you will be redirected to your download Book page.How it works:


text:
Artist's description:
Version of famous portrait " The milkmaid" by Johannes Vermeer with a cat insured by images which I have found in a book " Cats Galore" by Susan Herbert . She has given us feline versions of unforgettable works of art as well as well remembered scenes from the theater, opera and films. Words cannot describe the surprise and pleasure found in seeing this art pieces .
I have done one of them for cats lovers in oil on canvas .
Ready to hang .
Signed on the front
I created this painting using fine artist oil paints which will not fade when they get exposed to UV light Painting continues around the edges of the canvas giving a very contemporary style although it can be framed if you wish
This work is sold unframed and shipped in cardboard box which is very secure for shipping canvases
Materials used:
Oil on canvas
Cat with a jar . Feline art. (2017)
Oil painting by Olga Koval
- Oil painting on Canvas
- One of a kind artwork
- Size: 19.92 x 23.94 x 0.79 in (unframed) / 19.92 x 23.94 in (actual image size)
- Signed on the front
- Style: Expressive and gestural
- Subject: Animals and birds
This artwork is sold by Olga Koval from United Kingdom


text: Like the title says, is it safe to update to 3.3u (from 3.1u) via wifi? The two systems I want to update are running a Wiikey and a D2Pro. Both already have the homebrew channel installed. Will it be safe to update to 3.3u and then use the Waninkoko Downgrader to get back to 3.2u? I heard that 3.3u's only downside is that it cannot read trucha signed disks; what are trucha signed disks?


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This Week @ MHS
As you come back from a long weekend refreshed and ready to take what the city throws at you, why not catch an easy lob and come into the MHS on Wednesday, September 4, for a Brown Bag lunch talk. This installment features Noam Maggor, Vanderbilt University, presenting "Brahmin Capitalism: Bankers, Populists, and the Making of the Modern American Economy." In this project, Mr. Maggor charts the business and politics in the late-19th-century as Boston transformed from an anchor of an industrial region into the second largest banking center in North America. It explores the creation of a wide-ranging network of capital flows which funded railroads, mines, agriculture, and industry across the continent, spurred by a vanguard of financiers from Boston's old elite, and how this process of capital migration, in turn, redefined urban politics on the local level. Far from seamless, this transformation triggered an array of political controversies over the priorities of city government, and more broadly, over the future shape of American capitalism. Brown Bag talks are free and open to the public, beginning at 12:00 PM. So pack a snack and come on in!
The only other thing to note within this week's calendar is the closing of two exhibits currently on display. Saturday, 7 September, will be the last opportunity to view "The Object of History: 18th-Century Treasures from the Massachusetts Historical Society," as well as "The Education of Our Children Is Never out of My Mind." Both exhibits will remain on display for the public, free of charge, from 10:00am to 4:00 PM until Saturday. Keep an eye on the MHS website and calendar to see what will fill the void left by the closure of these two exhibits!
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Colleges and Departments
Top Scholars Program
UTSA's Top Scholars program is the first of its kind in San Antonio to offer a merit-based scholarship combined with personalized experiences in academics, leadership, and community service. We are recruiting high caliber students from San Antonio and throughout Texas to be part of this exciting program.
Our Top Scholars enjoy intellectual camaraderie, establishing close and lasting friendships with other students and professional relationships with faculty. They're encouraged to gain a broad perspective through service experiences that merge their academic interests with community issues.
Visit the UTSA Top Scholar Website for more information.
Many UTSA Colleges & Departments offer scholarships and other financial assistance programs for students, including those listed below:
Architecture, Construction and Planning
Education and Human Development
Liberal and Fine Arts
- Dean's Office
- Anthropology
- Art & Art History
- Communication
- English
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Medics had to save Sam Quek during her bushtucker trial in tonight's I'm a Celeb.
The Wicked Windmill, dubbed the "most difficult trial yet" was delayed as a cockroach crawled into Sam's ear and Medic Bob was called to remove the creepy critter.
Joel and Sam were strapped to the sails of the Wicked Windmill and before the trial began eight numbered stars and forty blank ones were dropped into the capsule.
When the windmill was at speed, they were asked a series of Australia related questions and when answered correctly they could find the star with the relevant number on it and pop it in their bag as a meal for camp. Eight stars to be won in eight minutes.
First the stars were poured into their capsule and then came the critters…15,000 meal worms, 40,000 crickets, 50,000 cockies and two green ant nests.
The trial then had to be paused. "I've got one in my ear, seriously I can't hear," she cried.
Medic Bob was called to wash her ear out, "I can hear now," she said.
As Joel tried to distract himself with thoughts and songs about Christmas, the windmill span around with the critters pouring up and down and over them.
Dec asked who is the current Prime Minister of Australia – Sam and Joel passed.
Next question was how fast can a cockroach run in miles per hour? Joel guessed 3 correctly and then had to find star number one while the 100,000 critters poured all over the pair.
He found the star and they went on to the next question: Spinning Around was the hit single for Kylie Minogue, in what year did she release it?
Joel went back immediately with 2000 and started searching for star number two.
Successfully retrieved and pocketed, they answered the next questions incorrectly as Sam held her hands over her ears and nose.
The next question answered correctly was kangaroos don't fart – true or false? True shouted Sam correctly as they searched for star number three using all their time.
They got the next question but failed to find the star in the two minutes they had left.
"Mate that was too hard," said Joel. "Really horrible, by far the worst trial, so difficult and the critters were horrible as well. There were so many elements to it, loads of stars, questions that I was going to be terrible at and the critters."
Sam agreed: "It would have been hard enough with just the stars let alone everything else."
Looking at the three stars they retrieved Dec said: "That's the lowest haul – how is it going to go down."
"This is not a great day for us, I'm so frustrated" said Joel. "We knew this might be a bit difficult but that's an understatement," added Sam.


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Explore Further◄ Browse by Call Number ►
Subject Headings
A mismatch between talent, interest and a weekly ballet class leads to frustration for Ada, until she tries something new and finds her true passion. If you enjoy Elise Gravel's cheeky cartoon humour check out her other titles! Slightly older kids who love "gross" facts will want to check out her "disgusting creatures" non-fiction series.
This is a pretty cute book, however, I do not like the repetitive use of the word "hate" for such a young audience.
There are no age suitabilities for this title yet.
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Volume 73, Number 3
Volume 73, Number 3 (2012)
Arthur F. Greenbaum, The Automatic Reporting of Lawyer Misconduct to Disciplinary Authorities: Filling the Reporting Gap, 73 Ohio St. L.J. 437 (2012).
Michael J. Kaufman & John M. Wunderlich, Messy Mental Markers: Inferring Scienter from Core Operations in Securities Fraud Litigation, 73 Ohio St. L.J. 507 (2012).
Sarah H. Ludington, Aiming at the Wrong Target: The "Audience Targeting" Test for Personal Jurisdiction in Internet Defamation Cases, 73 Ohio St. L.J. 541 (2012).
Chris Hammond, Jackpot! You Lose?: Molding a Hybrid Approach to Demonstrate that Marketability Restrictions on Lottery Winnings Warrant Departure from IRS Annuity Tables When Valuating an Estate, 73 Ohio St. L.J. 575 (2012).
Chenwei Zhang, Towards a More Perfect Election: Improving the Top-Two Primary for Congressional and State Races, 73 Ohio St. L.J. 615 (2012).


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Restorative Practices
Resilient Reentry
Partnerships for Change
Here at Five Keys, our goal is to restore communities through education. Our philosophy
is that through social and restorative justice principles, we can provide traditionally underserved communities the opportunity to restart their education, focusing on five key areas: Education, Employment, Recovery, Family, and Community.
Our journey began in 2003, when the San Francisco Sheriff's Department established
Five Keys as the first charter school in the nation to operate inside of a county jail. Today, Five Keys is a nationally recognized education management (non-profit) corporation that operates accredited charter schools and programs for transitional-aged youth (TAY) and adults at 70 locations across California. Through our focus on restoring communities through education and other programs that respond to the students' and communities' needs, we are creating safer communities. Five Keys provides a range of educational programs and services including: high school diploma, career and technical education, digital literacy, ESL education, cognitive behavioral therapy, recovery programs, case management, correctional education consulting, and college access to TAY and adults in seven California counties: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and San Bernardino. Through these efforts, our ultimate vision for our students is that they will develop transferable skills through curriculum and instruction that take learning off the page, out of the classroom, and into the 21st century workplace and learning environments. They will be leaders, advocates, and competitors, making positive contributions within their communities, families, and homes.
Thank you for your continued support of our school and mission.
Steve Good
San Francisco | Los Angeles | Alameda | San Mateo | Santa Clara | Solano | San Bernardino
Download our latest community flyer below, and find a site near you. It's never too late to graduate! Download Northern California Flyer. Download Southern California Flyer.
Pit Stop LA. Community Outreach
Battling SoCAL's heatwave by passing out water bottles to the homeless. In partnership with our Hunters Point Family.
Pit Stop LA being interviewed by Channel 4 Los Angeles
"Pit-Stop" monitors and community ambassadors in Downtown LA
Five Keys partners with Hunters Point Family and Los Angeles Dept of Public works to hire 28 ex-offenders to work as "Pit-Stop" monitors and community ambassadors in Downtown LA and Skid Row.
Mobile classroom bus will steer adults toward a diploma
Thousands of high school dropouts in San Francisco would like to return to the classroom, but for many, the short distance from home to an adult school might as well be a hundred miles given turf wars, gang ties or other safety concerns.
That's the challenge described by local education leaders who will bring a classroom to those potential students in the unusual form of a revamped Muni bus stocked with computers, Internet access, and a teacher.
Latest News
Find out about our organization, mission, our methods, and the results of our decades of advocacy.
Five Keys has established various satellite programs at sites throughout the greater San Francisco and Los Angeles regions.
The Good News
Ready to take the next step? You can become a contributor to our cause, or participate yourself.


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Build Guide by honkey42069
Not Updated For Current Season
This guide has not yet been updated for the current season. Please keep this in mind while reading. You can see the most recently updated guides on the browse guides page.
Thank You!
Your votes and comments encourage our guide authors to continue
creating helpful guides for the League of Legends community.
Vladimir Build
Ability Sequence
Not Updated For Current Season
The masteries shown here are not yet updated for the current season, the guide author needs to set up the new masteries. As such, they will be different than the masteries you see in-game.
this is my first build so cut me some slack
this is the build i use for Vlad if the lvls for abilities are wrong i apologize i just lvl them as i can not sure what lvls u can do ur ult. anyways heres what i do/how i play
early game:
i ALWAYS take mid or solo a lane if we have a jungler on our team, people will always argue with you but the bottom line is so long as your not ******ed and you actually know how to play then Vlad is by far one of if not the best char for mid...you have no mana...you can heal yourself...and you rape face in general. i start with a tome and 1 health pot and harass the other champ every time transfusion is off CD..if ur any good or the other person sucks you should easily have a kill or 2 before you even get your ult. after you hit lvl 6 ganking gets a lot easier with ur the added dmg increase from your ult.
don't go back to town for the first time until you have at least 1k so you can buy your boots outright9i normally don't go back for the first time until i have 1475 for boots and the ruby crystal if im doing really good against the other mid)
mid game:
once you hit lvl 9 ganking is ******edly easy since transfuse is on a 2 sec CD. just walk up to someone throw your ult on them hit Q then E then pool to slow them ult goes boom then Q and E again GG u win. after a few ganks you should easily have around 1600 gold go back get your leviathan and soul-stealer and watch your stacks build and build and build
late game:
you should have most if not all of your scepter by now and working on your ring. ganks should be very easy by now as your stacks start to rack up. and never be afraid to run away from a team fight or stay near the back since this build is VERY stack reliant..so while u might think your a bad A** running around with 19 stacks don't get stupid u can still be killed...easily. despite what this builder says for final stats i normally have 777ap and just shy of 5k hp(that's with 20 double stacks)
if i missed anything or screwed up somewhere feel free to tell me


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New Priest-in-charge needed for Salisbury St Martin's (city centre, Diocese of Salisbury)
9th Sep 2014
Bishop Jonathan writes:
Following a long vacancy, this week and next week an advertisement appears in the church press for this important post, which now attracts a half-stipend.
The parish is the most ancient in Salisbury, close by the cathedral. It is the home of a prayerful and very promising community and parish for the right priest. The exquisite and newly refurbished ancient parish church, with good modern facilities, stands in the midst of a socially very diverse parish, including areas of significant deprivation and need. The parish has long been affiliated to Forward in Faith, and looks to the Bishop of Ebbsfleet for episcopal and sacramental care.
The task is two-fold:
First, to build up the congregation who during the vacancy have already grown in trust and vision for the future
"We want a priest who will -
Second, to extend their witness and service more effectively into the community around, and the other parishes around.
"… a priest who will -
If you think you might be that priest – or you know that priest – please think seriously about the possibility.
+Jonathan Ebbsfleet
8 Sept 2014
Further details can be obtained from the Churchwardens:
Tel 01722 503123
Email email@example.com
Parish website www.sarumstmartin.org.uk
For parish profile and application form please apply to:
The Archdeacon of Sarum,
Ramsbury Office, Church House,
Crane Street,
Salisbury SP1 2QB
Tel: 01722 438662
Email: email@example.com
Diocesan Website: www.salisbury.anglican.org
Closing Date: 24 September 2014
Interview Date: 15/16 October 2014
Enhanced DBS disclosure required.


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ChefSteps' Genius Roasted Onion Cream
If you like it, save it!
Save and organize all of the stuff you love in one place.Got it!
If you like something…
Click the heart, it's called favoriting. Favorite the stuff you like.Got it!
Author Notes: A brighter (and vegan) alternative to cream—for all your soups, sauces, and sides. Adapted slightly from ChefSteps.com. —Genius Recipes
Makes: about 1 cup
large onions (sweet or regular)
salt, to taste
lemon juice, to taste
olive oil, to taste
- Coat the onions lightly with oil, and roast them at 400º F in a skillet or roasting pan that fits them snugly for about 45 minutes, or until they are very dark on the outside and molten soft on the inside—the insides should not have taken on any color. Let cool.
- Once they have cooled, Remove the peels, and add the onions into a blender. Blend until very smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes. Finish by adding salt, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and olive oil to taste, then blend 20 to 30 seconds more. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Use as you would cream to finish a dish.
- To store: Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to two weeks. In either case, blend for 20 to 30 seconds to reincorporate just before serving.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
More Great Recipes:
Vegetable|Condiment|Soup|5 Ingredients or Fewer|Make Ahead|Vegan|Vegetarian|Spring|Fall|Winter


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You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Alliance for Financial Inclusion' tag.
> Posted by Elisabeth Rhyne, Managing Director, CFI
In 2014, the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan (RMA), the country's central bank, made a commitment under the Alliance for Financial Inclusion's Maya Declaration to develop a national financial inclusion strategy. It backed the overall pledge with specific commitments detailing the main pieces of the strategy. Since then, it has diligently put these pieces into place. Over the past three years, the RMA created regulations for microfinance organizations (deposit-taking and non-deposit taking) and agent banking. It set up a mobile payments system, a credit bureau and a collateral registry. This is an impressive set of accomplishments for a country starting from a relatively blank slate in these areas.
But is it enough? I wonder whether these initiatives will spark the provision of financial services that contribute to the inclusive economic growth Bhutan is seeking.
In the following post, John Owens offers an overview of his research project with the CFI Fellows Program.
Background & Research Questions
More and more online credit providers have started to offer loans to not only consumers but also to SMEs around the world.
Outside of digital banking platforms, new alternative online and digital platforms that target consumers and small SMEs include:
- Peer-to-peer (P2P) SME lenders
- Online balance sheet lenders
- Loan aggregator portals
- Tech and e-commerce giants
- Mobile data-based lending models
While the rise of alternative data-based lending has opened new and innovative credit opportunities for individuals and SMEs, these new technologies and providers also come with several consumer protection challenges. These can be categorized into seven main areas:
Read the rest of this entry »
> Posted by Center Staff
Today, around the world individuals, governments, and organizations are celebrating women and calling for increased action towards gender parity, including in the financial services arena. And for good reason. Research indicates that when women control finances, they're more likely to be spent on household necessities, like food, water, and children's education and healthcare. In recognition of International Women's Day, we compiled some of our favorite recent industry efforts to further financial inclusion for women. But first, here's a quick run-down of where inclusion for women stands.
The Global Findex tells us that there is a gender gap in access to accounts at seven percentage points globally (65 percent vs. 58 percent), and across developing countries it's nine percentage points. In some regions, this gap is significantly more severe – 18 percent in South Asia, for example. Gender gaps exist in other areas, too. GSMA estimates that in developing countries there are 200 million fewer women than men who own a mobile phone. And as one example of the gap in financial capability, in the World Bank Group's 2014 Financial Capability Survey in Morocco women scored significantly lower than men.
Prioritizing financial inclusion for women is not only the right thing to do, it benefits everyone. In addition to benefitting women and women's households, financial inclusion of women augments economies writ large. About half of women worldwide are missing from the workforce. In Egypt, for example, the IMF estimates that achieving equal labor participation among men and women would increase GDP by 34 percent. The IFC estimates that women-owned businesses have an unmet financing need of $320 billion worldwide.
Many organizations are working to close the gap:
The latest edition of the Financial Inclusion 2020 News Feed, our weekly online magazine sharing the big news in banking the unbanked, is now available. Among the stories in this week's edition are: the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) released the 2015 AFI Global Policy Forum Report, distilling the happenings of the network's largest and most diverse forum to date; new startup PayJoy is attempting to solve the financing problem surrounding the 2 billion individuals globally who have access to the internet but can't afford a smartphone; The Guardian spotlights how mobile money supported healthcare workers during the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone. Here are a few more details:
- The 2015 AFI Global Policy Forum brought together over 500 senior financial inclusion policymakers, regulators, international organizations, and private sector partners in Maputo, Mozambique. Highlights from the forum include the adoption of the Maputo Accord, making SME finance a larger priority for the network, and sessions on green finance and gender.
- PayJoy, beginning an initial roll-out in California, is offering an alternative to the tech industry's equivalent of payday lenders who charge upwards of 500 percent interest on loans to buy smartphones. PayJoy covers 80 percent of the cost of a phone at 50 to 100 percent interest, and if individuals aren't able to make their monthly installments, the phone locks until the payment is received.
- In Sierra Leone, payment to healthcare workers combating Ebola was originally largely disbursed inefficiently in the form of cash, resulting in incidences of workers not being paid for months at a time, which caused disruptions to both healthcare and public trust in the system. NetHope, a consortium of NGOs working in IT, enrolled workers into an automated mobile money-based payment system using an open source facial recognition software.
For more information on these and other stories, read the latest issue of the FI2020 News Feed here. This is the final issue of the News Feed. Though if you have any stories or initiatives that you think we should cover on the blog or via our other social media channels, email your ideas to Jeffrey Riecke at email@example.com.
> Posted by Elisabeth Rhyne, Managing Director, CFI
Sub-Saharan African countries may be leading the world in mobile money and growth in access to accounts, but the state of financial consumer protection in Africa is in urgent need of attention.
In the EIU Global Microscope's 2014 overall rating of the policy environment for financial inclusion, African countries scored very close to the global average (44 SSA vs. 46 Global out of a possible 100). However, these countries were substantially below the average on consumer protection indicators – market conduct (27 SSA vs. 43 Global) and grievance redress (35 SSA vs. 45 Global).
These numbers have human consequences. The Smart Campaign commissioned research in two African countries – Benin and Uganda – which revealed the frequently harsh environment in which microfinance is conducted. In Uganda, research on what happens to clients who default showed that, lacking regulatory oversight and the calming influence of credit reference bureaus, lenders in Uganda feel compelled to resort to practices such as rapid confiscation of a borrower's assets. They are afraid that if they do not act quickly, the borrower may flee. In the research on client experiences from Benin, clients reported major gaps in trust and transparency. For example, many reported being surprised by fees that were not explained or expected, having no place to turn when problems arose, or being publicly shamed for late payments.
The research pointed to very low trust on both sides between providers and customers. In fact, in Smart Campaign conversations with African microfinance institutions about consumer protection, one of the most frequently asked questions is, "Who will protect us (the lenders) from them (the borrowers)?"
> Posted by Susy Cheston, Senior Advisor, CFI
Of the 700 million new accounts that the Global Findex reports were opened from 2011 to 2014:
- Banks and other financial institutions accounted for 550 million;
- Mobile network operators accounted for 100-240 million, depending on your source and methodology;
- Microfinance institutions accounted for 50 million.
These numbers are rough and involve some overlap—but they point to the continued importance of commercial banks in financial inclusion. Put another way, of the 3.2 billion accounts reported in the 2014 Findex, 3.1 billion were accounts with a financial institution.
That's why I was so interested in hearing what the commercial bankers had to say at an Institute of International Finance (IIF) roundtable held in Lima on October 9 alongside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) / World Bank meetings. The strategies they discussed for reaching the BoP were not new to those immersed in the financial inclusion world, but it was heartening to hear their commitment to putting those strategies into operation. Here are a few of the points from the discussion:
Use data to understand customers. Now more than ever, there is a wealth of available data to help us better understand customers at the base of the pyramid. These new customer insights are opening up new practices – from on-boarding, to cross-selling, to risk management. Data analytics can also enable cost reductions on credit and insurance. For example, ecommerce platforms for small manufacturers can facilitate credit offers and then arrange for automatic repayment from the ecommerce activity itself. This innovative use of data allows financing at half the cost.
> Posted by Susy Cheston, Senior Advisor, CFI
There was good news from the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) yesterday: the announcement of a partnership with MasterCard Worldwide to build technical capacity so that AFI members are better equipped to regulate innovations in products and business models.
Since its birth seven years ago, we have admired AFI for so effectively galvanizing a powerful regulator community to set a high bar on financial inclusion. Part of AFI's strategy has been a fierce commitment to ownership of the issue by the regulators themselves. The results have been measured not only in dramatically increased access among AFI member countries, but also in higher standards around the quality of those services, as evidenced by Maya Commitments around client protection and financial capability. AFI Working Groups have also been developed for peer learning on digital financial services, financial inclusion data, and other key issues.
Yet we are among many in the industry who have felt that AFI's circling of the wagons meant that their policy solutions were not always smart about encouraging innovation and investment in financial inclusion. To its credit, AFI got the message, and in 2014, it launched a Public-Private Dialogue Platform (PPD) to incentivize policymakers and regulators to cooperate with the private sector. Yesterday's announcement about the new relationship with MasterCard is a strong next step toward realizing the PPD's promise.
This trajectory resonates with recent interviews on client protection that we have carried out at FI2020. Among the regulators we interviewed, what was striking was the path many have followed toward empowering the private sector to play an active role in customer protection. We heard about a number of good practices that build capacity and break down communication silos between the public and private sectors.
> Posted by Jeffrey Riecke, Communications Associate, CFIEmbed from Getty Images
Last week global leaders across industries gathered in the tiny mountain town of Davos, Switzerland for the 2015 World Economic Forum (WEF). (Though you probably already knew that, given the annual event's ever-swelling stature and press.) The WEF fosters strategic dialogues in the hopes of developing ideas, insights, and partnerships around the most pressing issues and transformations reshaping our world. This year's WEF included sessions from Jack Ma of Alibaba on the future of commerce, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on global responsibilities in a digital age, IMF Director Christine Lagarde on global monetary policy, former Israeli President Shimon Peres on political affairs affecting the region, and Bill Gates on sustainable future development. Of course we were following the topic of financial inclusion, and the action that got underway made it a week worth noting. Here's a snapshot of some of the financial inclusion happenings at Davos.
In the "Inclusive Growth in a Digital Age" session held on Wednesday, a panel, which included MasterCard CEO Ajay Banga, considered how our age of digitization can confront income and wealth inequality, support investments in education and work-based training, and address vulnerable employment. Among the points of discussion was mobile phone penetration leveraged for financial services access. A full video recording of the session is available, here.
> Posted by Jeffrey Riecke, Communications Associate, CFI
Rwanda has a lot to celebrate in terms of financial inclusion these days. Last week in Kigali the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) hosted a conference in partnership with the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) commemorating their 50-year anniversary. At the event, titled Financial Inclusion for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development, NBR Governor John Rwangombwa highlighted the country's recent rise in access levels, from 48 to 72 percent between 2008 and 2012 across formal and informal providers. Rwanda now has the laudable goal of increasing this figure to 90 percent by 2020. To help it get there, on Friday the World Bank launched a $2.25 million program supporting key financial inclusion areas for the country.
Along with overall exclusion rates dropping from 52 to 28 percent over 2008 to 2012, formal services access increased from 21 to 42 percent during the same period, according to the 2012 FinScope Rwanda Survey. The new government goal of 90 percent access by 2020 is an extension of the country's Maya Declaration Commitment of 80 percent access by 2017. Rwanda's growth in formal access can be attributed to products offered by both banks and non-bank providers, like the country's community savings and credit cooperatives known as Umurenge SACCOs. Over the past three years, Umurenge SACCOs have attracted over 1.6 million customers. Ninety percent of Rwandans live within a 5 km radius of one of the cooperatives. Countrywide, the number of MFIs, including Umurenge SACCOs, increased from 125 to 491 between 2008 and December 2013. Elsewhere in the sector, over the last three years, the number of banks increased from 10 to 14, the number of insurance companies increased from 9 to 13, and the number of pension providers increased from 41 to 56.