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ne of the biggest criticisms of Mario Monti is that he wasn't elected. Well of course he wasn't. That's the point. He's supposed to make Italy become productive again. He's supposed to tackle just the sort of nasty problems elected people try to avoid — the same ones everyone thought Silvio Berlusconi was going to repair back in 1994, including pension and labor market reform, and (let's dream a bit) electoral reform.
The reasons these problems remain unsolved is that Italy's underlying social conditions produced them. They are habits, assumptions and beliefs that pre-date Berlusconi, and probably even created him. They're what singer-songwriter and humorist Giorgio Gaber meant when he said: "Non temo Berlusconi in se, ma Berlusconi in me." [I'm not afraid of Berlusconi as such, but of the Berlusconi in me.]
Italy can rightly be wary of having an unelected leader in times of economic turmoil and social unrest (remember fascism?). At the same time, lurking deep Italian psyche is a belief that only an outside authoritarian hand can untangle the mess. In 1992, the hand was called Europe. In 1994 it was Berlusconi, the businessman who could shape up the politicians. Now it's back to the EU (and Germany) and Super Mario.
Instead of worrying, maybe Italy should just embrace its dark side but update it. It could develop a new authoritarian figure, only this time more in keeping with the globalized world, maybe taking a cue from the Asian model.
China and Singapore understood how entrenched social orders or destructive habits could hold a country back. And they weren't afraid to do something about it. Mao and Lee Kuan Yew called a spade a spade. They went head on against "feudalism," "backwardness" and the "Four Olds": old ideas, old customs, old habits, old culture."
What advice might Chairman Mao and Lee Kuan Yew give Monti? I have some thoughts:
1. Manage newspeak I: Language control is a classic kick-starter for reformers. Ban phrases such as ma cosa vuoi? or fare una bella figura. These encourage resignation and whitewashing. In school, substitute truffare for copiare. Modern countries call it "cheating" not "copying."
2. Manage newspeak II: No more "left" and "right" in the political context. Keep it clear and precise: "bourgeois running dogs," "slackers," "thug," or "sell-out." Reinstate use of right and left in the traffic context, as in "use your right/left signal when planning to turn."
3. Make "Cleanup" a mantra: Embrace Mao's "four cleanups" from the 1960s Socialist Education Movement, in which urban professionals and the wealthy were sent work to in rural areas. In Italy, send Umberto Bossi and the Lega Nord to Calabria. Let 'em see what it's like to live down there. Send southerners north to see "Northern superiority" in real life.
4. Apply "Redirection and rehabilitation": Send Lapo Elkann or other cossetted slackers from Italy's upper classes to work at their local A.S.L., the post-office or a bar on Milan's outskirts.
5. Make national exams count: From the Mandarin bureaucracy to Singapore's ruling People's Action Party, these can really shake up a social order and eliminate the raccomandazione.
6. Eliminate political parties. They cost a lot and get in the way.
7. Eliminate parliament. Ditto as above.
8. Liven up the rhetoric through posters: "Fornicating patonza circulators" or "running dogs of crony capitalism." Substitute TV's boob-job babes with billboards of rosy-cheeked female PhDs, waving diplomas. "Join the future of fairly-paid women."
9. Use dunce caps: Remember those consciousness groups where enemies of the people were publicly shamed during the Cultural Revolution? Make corrupt officials wear humiliating hats with slogans: "I spent funds for the day-care center on a Ferrari." "I supplied B with girls." Or tax evaders: "Declared €9,000, lived on €9 million."
10. Manipulate the press. China and Singapore do it all the time. Monti shouldn't be shy. Italy's used to it anyway.
11. Throw money at universities and research; force the brain-drainers home.
12. Eliminate religion. This is another handy tool available to unelected regimes. Eliminate the "8 per mille" levy. This is the .0008% of taxpayers' declared income that — unless the taxpayer opts out — the state gives to the Roman Catholic Church.
13. Emphasize politeness. What about a National Courtesy Campaign like Singapore's? Encourage civil servants to treat the public nicely. Punish irritable bus and taxi drivers and rude mobile phone users. The 1996 Kindness Movement got young Singaporeans to do a good deed daily.
14. Monitor cops. No more police who look the other way. Singapore fined offenders caught chewing gum — and made them pay.
There are risky downsides. But hey, isn't that what the EU and NATO are for?
The Asian example might also help Monti win support from some of Italy's more notorious progress-blockers, including Giuliano Ferrara and members of radical trade unions. They might even still have their Little Red Books.


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Watchmakers are always striving to add more features to their timepieces, but it's the most simple and obvious feature — accurately keeping the time — that's the holy grail of horology. And now you can 3D-print a tourbillon, a complex device that improves a watch's accuracy, and marvel at its mechanics.
Originally developed by watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet over 220 years ago, a tourbillon is simply a mechanism to constantly rotate a watch's escapement and balance wheel — essentially its beating heart — to help improve accuracy and counteract the forces of gravity while it's being worn and moved around.
A three-axis tourbillon, as the name implies, spins a watch's escapement and balance wheel in three dimensions, further improving its ability to remain accurate as it ticks away. It's also a mechanism that contributes to the obscene price tags many Swiss watches are known for, but it's a genuine mechanical marvel, which is why Adam Wrigley has created a larger 3D-printable version for anyone to download and study.
All of the 3D files for Wrigley's creation are available over on Thingiverse, and as intricately complex as a three-axis tourbillon can be, there are only about 99 parts for you to print and assemble to build your own. Is it a cheap way to simply 3D print your own mechanical watch? Not really, most 3D printers wouldn't be able to accurately churn out these parts at that tiny scale. But as a crash course in how old-school watches work, this is better than trying to dismantle an expensive Swiss masterpiece.
[Thigiverse via TechCrunch]

subset: commoncrawl


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Newton teen Marty Sullaway, NN1C, was featured in the March 1, 2019 Amateur Radio Newsline broadcast in a segment entitled, "YOUNG CONTESTERS OF TEAM EXUBERANCE LIVE UP TO THEIR NAME." He's interviewed by the anchor about a group of youths working together as a multi-operator contest team for CQ WPX later this month.
Marty was also mentioned for the lead-in to the next story announcing nominations for the 2019 Young Ham Of The Year Award:
NEIL/ANCHOR: A team of young hams is being assembled for the CQ Worldwide WPX contest March 30th and 31st. Co-leader Marty Sullaway, NN1C tells how it all started.
MARTY: The idea for this project came from Violetta, KM4ATT. Violetta was the one who approached Tim Duffy, K3LR, the owner of the K3LR superstation, to make this a go. She was inspired by her operations from PJ2T as part of the Dave Kalter Youth DX project, and wanted to continue her operating career.
NEIL: Planning is a major undertaking, but the team is fulfilling that role as well.
MARTY: Part of multi operator contesting is working together as a team to build the contest plan, as well as figuring out all the logistics for the actual contest operation. So as a youth team, we are internally handling all the logistics regarding flights, hotels, meals, contest scheduling, operator scheduing, station information and handbooks; and really making this a comprehensive effort. We are taking this extremely seriously, and we hope our diligent planning will pay off, all of this being handled by fantastic youth. So we're really looking forward to that.
NEIL: Marty also talked to me about the goals of this event.
MARTY: We really view this as an excellent opportunity to get youth involved in amateur radio contesting, youth that already know how to contest get more experience, work together as a team, have fun (because we do this to have fun, right?), and gain skill. So this is an activity in skill building, team building, networking, having a lot of fun on the radio contesting… Hopefully this is the start of some bigger work to engage youth in contests in North America.
NEIL: To provide funding for some of the young hams to get to the K3LR superstation, a GoFundMe page has been set up. You can find it at TeamExuberance.org.
NEIL: Youthful exuberance is, in fact, one of the core criteria we look for in candidates for Young Ham of the Year. We just heard from Marty Sullaway NN1C who was Amateur Radio Newsline's Young Ham of the Year for 2017. Last year's winner was Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO, of Montgomery, Alabama. We have opened up the nomination period once again and are in search of candidates who, like Marty and Bryant, have offered the amateur community the best of their talents. All information is available on our website, arnewsline.org, under the YHOTY tab. You'll be able to download a nomination form which is due back to us before midnight on May 31st.


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Happy birthday!
Happy one year birthday of the New Dentist Business Study Club! The journey to ONE has been long and interesting. I remember exactly where I was when I first thought about starting something like this. I was in the Bay Area, helping my sister raise her newborn infant. Our parents had flown in to see… Continue reading Happy birthday!


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Absurd Generosity
Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.
"One of the greatest Jewish scholars to write about Jesus in the modern age was David Flusser, who taught for many years at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Not everyone approved of his scholarship; and one of his most brilliant students, visiting a university elsewhere, was once given a very low mark by the professor simply because of being associated with Flusser. Then, some time later, a student of that other professor came to study with Flusser. His work was not very good, but Flusser insisted on grading it with an 'A'. His teaching assistant protested: how could he do that, particularly after what the other professor had done? 'Give him an A,' insisted Flusser. 'This I have learned from Jesus.'
"The kingdom that Jesus preached and lived was all about a glorious, uproarious, absurd generosity. Think of the best thing you can do for the worst person, and go ahead and do it. Think of what you'd really like someone to do for you, and do it for them. Think of the people to whom you are tempted to be nasty, and lavish generosity on them instead."
But is this possible? Only as you and I allow the Holy Spirit give us this "attitude of heart, a lightness of spirit in the face of all that the world can throw at you. And at the center of it is the thing that motivates us: that's what God is like. God is generous to all people, generous to a fault: he provides good things for all to enjoy, the undeserving as well as the deserving. He is astonishingly merciful."
I've been reading Luke 6:37-38 and the above quotation from Tom Wright over and over the last few days (Luke for Everyone, pp. 73-74). I want to embody this absurd generosity, to have this attitude of heart, lightness of spirit. I'm a simple follower of Jesus and I find that the life Jesus described is the smartest, wisest, most engaged way to live. Living in absurd generosity doesn't mean I don't have principles or opinions, but that I respect and stand with the intention of loving (willing what is best) anyone with whom I disagree. I realize that it may not seem that the "measure I give will be the measure I get back" (v. 38), but the alternative of being critical or anxious or apathetic holds no growth, no adventure, no joy. In the midst of our current chaos, why would I settle for such a life when one of abundance is offered to me?
Grace and peace,


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Hell is looking into your eyes and knowing I meant nothing to you. You who I have given my whole being to. I turn quickly away as tears pour down my face in a never ending cascade of false hopes and broken dreams. Congratulations! You did it! You finally broke me! But I will not give you the satisfaction of seeing it.
You who was once my sun, moon, and stars. I lived for you while trying not to drown under the weight of your expectations but it was still not enough. I was not enough.
The starry night swirls into a Van Gogh painting through the film of my tears. A desolate scream rises in my throat – HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME - but I swallow it back down. I will never give you the satisfaction of knowing you've won once again.
You who was has shut me down at every turn. I finally realize I will never fill the position I've strived for. I can never be number 1 in your heart if the spot was already taken. The only thing that motivated me to overcome and survive your spiteful words and the taciturn look in your eyes that left bruises on my soul was a fabrication, a manifestation of my hopes, a willful ignorance of the clear distain you felt for me.
Well, don't worry, I will no longer be the emotional martyr. As I walk away from the sickening sight of you and her – ignoring your calls of "Wait! Hold it! Let me explain!" – I harden my heart into stone. You will never hurt me again.


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After four days of witness testimony in a federal case that painted a picture of a drug smuggling ring in Southeast Alaska, the prosecution wrapped up its case Tuesday against the man accused of being the ringleader.
Zerisenay Gebregiorgis, 35, is facing a federal drug conspiracy charge after the Alaska State Troopers' Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit arrested him in Ketchikan in August 2016. Gebregiorgis, who also goes by "Sam" and "Bullet," is from Seattle and was accused of using drug mules to bring heroin and meth to Ketchikan and Sitka.
The case will go to the jury today, as the two attorneys will deliver their closing arguments starting at 8:30 a.m. The closing arguments will last a maximum of an hour each, Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess said, and then the jury will begin to deliberate.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt called a variety of witnesses to the stand since the trial began this past Thursday. Law enforcement officials, informants, drug users and people used as mules testified over the course of the trial, many of them identifying Gebregiorgis as the source of meth and heroin that came to the two communities.
Rex Lamont Butler, Gebregiorgis' attorney, made an argument late in the day when the jury was out of the courtroom that Schmidt hadn't done a good enough job identifying co-conspirators who were working with Gebregiorgis. Without co-conspirators, Butler told the judge, this situation doesn't satisfy the definition of a conspiracy (where two or more people knowingly work together to distribute drugs).
This tactic, known as a motion for a judgment of acquittal, could have resulted in an acquittal for Gebregiorgis. Had Burgess agreed with Butler's assertion that the evidence was not sufficient for jurors to make a judgment, Burgess could have made an acquittal on his own. That didn't happen, though, as Burgess stated that "a rational jury could find that the defendant engaged in a drug conspiracy."
On Monday, multiple witnesses testified that at least two people in Sitka who received drugs from Gebregiorgis ended up keeping the drugs for themselves. One, Lawrence Johnson, testified during cross-examination that he knowingly deceived Gebregiorgis and said he never planned on selling the drugs he received.
With these people actively working against Gebregiorgis, Butler argued, it's impossible to identify them as co-conspirators.
"It appears that the people here in Southeast have their own informal way of keeping people out of town," Butler said. "A person allegedly brings a product to town and next thing you know, they've been ripped off."
Schmidt argued that although the drug mules didn't know exactly which drugs they were smuggling, they knew they were conspiring to bring drugs to Alaska for Gebregiorgis. Burgess agreed with Schmidt.
The day of testimony began when Larry Dur'an, a drug investigator and canine handler with the Alaska State Troopers, finished the testimony that he started Monday. Dur'an talked about arresting Gebregiorgis at the Ketchikan airport on Aug. 13, 2016. Dur'an recalled that Gebregiorgis said he was in town to visit a friend and pick up a box of frozen fish. When Dur'an asked Gebregiorgis what the friend's name was or where the friend lived, Gebregiorgis was unable to provide answers.
Some of the contents of Gebregiorgis' cellphone were revealed, including a selfie of Gebregiorgis in his car with stacks of money on the same day that one of the alleged drug mules was flying to Ketchikan.
FBI Special Agent Matt Judy presented a compilation of airplane records that show individuals associated with Gebregiorgis and Gebregiorgis himself traveling from Seattle to Southeast Alaska.
Judy also said that cards whose numbers matched the card numbers that were used to buy some of the tickets were found on Gebregiorgis when he was arrested. Judy also said the confirmation code from one flight was found in the notes section of Gebregiorgis' cellphone.
• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at 523-2271 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at @akmccarthy.


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Hang this beautifully handcrafted Handpainted Gayatri Mantra in your home or workplace to create calming and stress-free environment. It will remind you to chant the mantra and you will experience it magical power. Chanting Mantra brings positive vibrations which eliminate negativity from our minds and surroundings. It will also be a very thoughtful gift for your loved ones.
You can hang it in your living room or decorate your pooja room.
Product details:
- Material: Engineered wood
- Size: 15″x8″
- The product has been sanded to perfection, aesthetically hand-painted, and varnished to seal its beauty.


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China's stock market is crashing, and the Chinese are trying to do the exact same thing America did in 1929
Source: davidicke.com
'While European attention is focused on Greece, China is having a serious market meltdown.
After exploding earlier in the year because of deregulation, China's benchmark Shanghai Composite has collapsed a crazy 29% since the highs of early June. China's other stock markets have had similarly steep falls.
Bloomberg notes that the crisis is closely mirroring the 1929 Wall Street crash, which led to the Great Depression in the US in the 1930s.'
Read the rest: davidicke.com


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In a battle of crafty soft-tossers, the Reds are coming out ahead so far. Arroyo surrendered the now-customary leadoff home run to Rickie Weeks, but Cincinnati came back. Jonny Gomes's first hit of the year was a home run, which is not surprising since this is the first lefty starter the Reds have faced this season. Paul Janish drove in Jay Bruce for a second run before BP struck out with the bases loaded. Join in for the rest of the story, already in progress.
Filed under:


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This Traverse City home has great views of West Grand Traverse Bay from almost every room as well as shared frontage on the Bay. Inside the home enjoy hardwood flooring and an island kitchen complete with granite and stainless appliances. Enjoy a spacious living room with a gas log fireplace as well as a master suite that includes a private bath, large walk in closet, large tile master bath with granite counters and a glass walk in shower.
In the lower level of the home there is a home theater room, gas log fireplace, exercise room, playroom and sauna.
View this property at MyNorth's Real Estate Showcase
This Traverse City property is listed by Lynne Moon of Real Estate One. Call Lynne at 231.218.6667 or visit LynneMoon.RealEstateOne.com to learn more about this Traverse City home.
More Northern Michigan Real Estate
Elk Rapids Real Estate: Elk Lake Home
Northport Real Estate: Family Home on Northport Bay
Traverse City Real Estate: A Condo with Bay Views


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Monstrous sea creature washes up on Indonesia's shore
A giant sea creature washed up on Indonesia's Maluku province and people do not know what kind of animal it is.
However, as the days go by the stench of the decaying body worsens! Locals have asked the government to step in and help get rid of the body.
While social media thinks it's a giant squid or a humpback whale, it is unclear as to what kind of animal it may be.
One thing is for sure certain, it's pretty creepy!
What do you think it is?


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EMF, or electromotive force, refers to the voltage created by a battery or by a changing magnetic field. Counter EMF, also called Back EMF, is a related phenomenon that we will illustrate in this animation.
source/image(PrtSc): National MagLab
Here is a simple circuit featuring a battery a nice switch and a light bulb. This circuit is also provided with a wire coil that serves as an inductor.When the current reaches this Junction it splits and flows to both the inductor and to the light bulb. Watch the video from National MagLab for more info: National MagLab
At first the current flows much more strongly towards the light bulb. This happens because as the magnetic field in the inductor grows, it induces its own voltage through Faraday's law, this is called electromagnetic induction.
So the inductor here is creating a back EMF represented by this yellow arrow back EMF always opposes the change that created it. so in this instance the back EMF is opposing the change created by turning on the circuit.An inductor, also called a coil, choke, or reactor, is a passive two-terminal electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it. An inductor typically consists of an insulated wire wound into a coil.


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Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans LIVE stream: Watch James vs Davis
THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS face the New Orleans Pelicans tonight, and Express Sport is on hand with all the details for how to watch.
LeBron James will be coming up against Anthony Davis for the first time since he admitted he wanted to play with the star.
However, the Lakers superstar was almost forced to miss the game through illness.
James sat out of his team's practice session on Friday morning, and it was reported that his decision on whether to play would go down to the wire.
If he had to it will be the first game he has missed since signing for the Lakers this summer.
Head coach Luke Walton admitted that the team was not at its best going into the game.
"We've got a sick team right now," he said.
"LeBron didn't come to shoot around, so he is getting rest right now.
"Knowing LeBron, he is doing everything humanly possible to get himself ready to be able to perform tonight."
The Lakers will welcome back Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram, who have missed 17 and seven games respectively.
"They'll both be available," Walton confirmed.
"It will be up to me whether I play them or not.
"It depends on who is playing from the sick list."
Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans LIVE stream
Sky Sports are the exclusive rights holders for NBA in the UK.
However, tonight's game will not be shown.
To stream the Lakers vs Pelicans game for free, fans can watch through Bet365's website and apps, so long as they have funds in their account.
Alternatively fans can purchase the NBA League Pass.
There are numerous packages the NBA League Pass offers with the premium account offering coverage from every team, every game and exclusive features for an annual fee of £214.99.
The next one down covers every team and every game for an annual fee of £184.99.
While if you wanted to stick to just one team then it will cost £99.99 for the season or a day pass will cost £4.99.


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In this free eBook, you'll discover:
- How to trade successfully in Europe following Brexit
- The Top 3 International Expansion Fundamentals
- Retailers' reasons and tactics for going global
- How to set up in Europe and further afield
- How flexible order fulfilment maximises opportunity
Download the eBook and we'll send you monthly insights and advice from
The Scale Up blog too (which you can opt-out of at any time).
Developing a successful international retail expansion strategy
EU-UK trade plunged in January 2021 as Britain's departure from the bloc and widespread coronavirus restrictions dealt a double blow to the nation's struggling economy. The practical difficulties faced by retail businesses go well beyond just teething problems.
But that's just half the story.
Operating costs have risen – and in many cases, VAT, customs, and delivery costs have been presented directly to the end consumer. This frustration led to many UK businesses pulling out of Europe; but clearly, the EU remains a key market and demand is still strong.
Acknowledging those frustrations, James and James helps brands distribute goods from inside the EU trading bloc and devise trading strategies that avoid being hit by VAT charges.
Using cutting-edge technology and well-practiced processes, James and James enables retailers to refine customs duty management and avoid lengthy port delays, which have been an all-too-regular phenomenon since January.
This special report looks at how companies can achieve a cost-effective business model that not only supports growth throughout Europe but provides the foundation for further international expansion.
If you're looking to reach new customers overseas, get in touch to find out how we can help.


text: Join us for a guided bike tour of public art in West Fairmount Park! Date Saturday, August 13, 2016 Time 6:00am - 8:00am Location The Oval2451 Benjamin Franklin ParkwayPhiladelphia, PA 19130 Approximately 5 miles. Join the Association for Public Art for a 5-mile loop through West Fairmount Park and the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, highlighting public art included in Museum Without Walls™: AUDIO – the aPA's interpretive audio program for Philadelphia's outdoor sculpture. Free. Space is limited! Registration and signed waivers are required. Helmets are encouraged. Ride includes on-street routes as well as park paths. Please bring your own water and a snack if you might want one! MEETING SPOT: Meet at The Oval's Fairmount Park Launch (western end adjacent to Warby Parker Bus) Attendees receive a copy of the new "50 Unique Experiences in Fairmount Park" map. Get Tickets


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DOYLESTOWN, PA, July 25, 2008 - Building on the success of its annual demolition safety summit over the past 13 years, the National Demolition Association has significantly expanded its popular training program and re-christened it as the "Demolition Academy." The three-day safety and management training event will take place October 15-17 at the Renaissance Concourse Hotel in Atlanta, GA.
"The National Demolition Association is the leading trade organization for the global demolition industry and is viewed as the final source for information on demolition safety," said Michael R. Taylor, CAE, executive director. "That's why we decided to re-brand our program and expand its scope to include more topics aimed at both management and others involved in the demolition process."
The Demolition Academy begins on October 15 with the Demolition-Specific OSHA 10-Hour Certification, offered in both English and Spanish. In addition, training is offered on the topics of Confined Space Rescue and Aerial Lift Equipment Safety - Train the Trainer.
During the following two days, the safety and management topics to be covered include managing stress, implosion safety issues, Personal Protective Equipment, confined space awareness, and rental equipment safety awareness. Other topics will cover managing a demolition project; how to manage a company's safety program; when disaster strikes: what to do during an on-site emergency; legal issues confronting the demolition industry; and current human resources issues on the demolition jobsite. The topics on October 16 and 17 will be in English only.
The Demolition-Specific OSHA 10-Hour Training Certification is taught by certified instructors and is required by many of the industry's larger clients. "It should be an important part of every company's safety training program," Taylor noted. The course is also required as part of OSHA's new Disaster Site Worker Training Certification.
The National Demolition Association is a non-profit trade organization representing nearly 1,100 U.S. and Canadian companies and many international firms that are involved in the demolition process. Membership includes demolition contractors, general contractors, civil engineering firms, and recycling, landfill, and salvage operations. The Association's efforts help members stay abreast of regulatory and safety matters, keep regulators informed about issues facing the industry, increase public and industry awareness, and provide members with networking opportunities and information on the latest technical advances in equipment and services.
NDA re-launches safety program as "Demolition Academy"


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You're a traveler, not a tourist. See it with others who feel the same way.
Bring the entire family and create new memories for everyone, of every age.
Travel solo, but never alone with travelers who look at the world like you do.
Travel with your people on your dates. Private and custom trips designed for you.
A rich, unique travel experience is the ideal way to streng
National Parks
Wildlife Conservation
Hot Springs
Beluga Point


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The MDTF JSS expert team continue to provide support to the High Judicial Council (HJC) to improve execution of its budgetary competences. One of the challenges for the judicial budget are arrears. The MDTF JSS team prepared Analysis of Arrears in Courts in Serbia. The Analysis on of Arrears of Public Prosecutors Offices prepared by the MDTF JSS in 2017 identified need for detailed Analysis of Arrears in Courts. The Analysis represents an effort to analyze the level and structure of arrears accumulated by Serbian courts and assess the reasons underlying their excessive generation in past several years. On one hand it is motivated by the growing issue of overdue payments across the system which are reflecting adversely on the financial health of the courts through the enforced collection of liabilities initiated by the debtors. One the other, the arrears possess strong potential to hurt court performance in multiple ways.
The Analysis was prepared on a sample of five courts: Higher Court in Belgrade, Higher Court in Valjevo, Basic Court in Smederevo, Basic Court in Prokuplje and Basic Court in Novi Sad. The primary focus of the analysis was to address the two key sources of arrears accumulation – investigation and postal related expenditure.
Main findings and recommendations from the Analysis will be presented to the members of the High Judicial Council, representatives of the courts covered by the Analysis, and the HJC Administrative office staff. The Analysis will support the HJC in the future budget planning and budget management.


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Here's the class you've been waiting for! Sam Stadter, certified knitting instructor with Craft Yarn Council, teaches this introductory class for total beginners. Over the course of two sessions, Sam will cover basic knitting stitches and techniques. By the end of the class, students will complete their own classic scarf or cowl! Materials fee will cover 3 skeins of wool in white, black, grey, beige, purple, or red (enough to make your project), 1 pair of knitting needles, and 1 darning needle. Age 7+, please. This class is limited to 3 participants to ensure social distancing. Please wear a mask.
Registration by 11/22 is required to allow time for Sam to order supplies.
Tuesday, December 1, 6 PM-7:30 PM AND
Tuesday, December 8, 6 PM-7:30 PM
Class fee is $60. A materials fee of $30 will be due to teacher at time of class.
Spaces are limited; online registration & payment are required to reserve your spot. No refunds.
Online registrations are not available for this class.


text: I'm a qualified CA & CS with over 10 years of post qualification experience in the field of audits-assurances and now in industries. I've worked with PwC India in it's Mumbai office. Currently, working with a charge of Financial Controller of a french dental healthcare manufacturing & trading company in India.


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The St. Louis Rams did not find a much needed backup running back in the 2010 NFL draft, but that weekend they did bring former Eagles RB Brian Westbrook to St. Louis for a visit and a physical as a backup plan. Westbrook passed the physical and left to consider his options.
Yesterday, it was reported that he'll visit Washington. Don't celebrate the McNabb-Westbrook reunion just yet though. From the Washington Post:
...the Wednesday meeting between Bruce Allen and Westbrook, the former Eagles' running back, sure looks like there's a heavy dose on convenience involved.
Allen and Westbrook were scheduled to appear at a local high school for an event schedule a long time ago. The meeting may have been nothing more than a cursory tire kick. It also could have been an opportunity for Westbrook to drive up leverage a little bit, maybe get the best possible free agent deal he can.
The fact remains that the Rams need a backup running back. Westbrook isn't the young dynamo that many of us had envisioned the team getting this year, but he could play a useful role getting 10 touches a game in an offense he should be very familiar with.


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Finely decorated presentation cases and cabinets and other precious small items in lacquerwork were shipped from the Far East, first by the Portuguese and later by the V.O.C., to Antwerp, which at the time was one of the most important markets for East Asian products. These luxury articles with their glossy coating and decorative inlays appealed to the imagination and soon the demand exceeded the supply, which stimulated European craftsmen to experiment with the technique themselves. In this way, here and there, and not least in Flanders, new lacquer traditions arose in a recognisable style and with their own motifs. This book situates the Flemish lacquer furniture – treated poorly in the history of the decorative arts for a long time – in its historical context for the first time.
His longstanding passion for the art of lacquer inspired author Wilfried De Kesel to write this valuable cultural-historical document about an almost forgotten piece of Flemish heritage.
Artglas – Artistic Glass Panels
€39.90Artglas, het geesteskind van John Dierickx, is een gerenommeerd glasatelier dat het ambacht van glas-in-lood sublimeert tot hedendaags design.


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High-quality pest control depends on the effective use of the innovative tools that are available on the market, with the areas of your premises that could be susceptible to an infestation being dealt with by simply using a piece of pest control equipment to combat the issue. From your own safety to the physical pest control process there are a few key items that we feel every pest control worker should have available to them. If you are looking for a tailored pest control package then it is my recommendation that you opt for smaller family-run businesses such as https://www.yalepest.com/, who pride themselves on making use of a wide range of pest control equipment.
One of the key factors to consider is your safety as a worker when you are working on a pest control issue, the physical protection of your body from exposure to harmful bacteria as well as the pests themselves can be achieved through purchasing coveralls. An extremely affordable and simple product there is no reason why a member of staff should be exposed to danger whilst they work, so ensure that coveralls are always on hand before taking part in a job.
Similarly to the coveralls, face masks are used to prevent your staff from breathing in harmful dust and bacteria, as some demolition may be required to remove any pests workers are likely to be in a dusty environment, making it particularly important they have the necessary protection.
Eradication Chemicals
With pest prevention being an important part of the process, using eradication chemicals not only gets rid of the pests but leaves behind a residue that helps deter any future problems. An innovative product that has multiple uses is a definite must-have.
Vent Cover
Another preventative tool, vent covers are great for stopping insects entering your building through the vents, with microfibre mesh ensuring nothing can get past this simple pest control solution is a crucial piece of equipment, every pest control business should have.
Vermin Traps
Rat infestations can be one of the worst pest control issues to be faced in Connecticut, due to the fact that the issue can be deeply rooted in the foundations of the building and the work that may be required to eradicate them may involve some damage. After the grueling process of getting rid of rats, prevention is particularly key which is where the use of vermin traps may be necessary. Vermin traps allow for the containment of a rat infestation before it is allowed to get too serious, making it an essential piece of equipment in the pest control industry.
Humane Catch Trap
Very similar to normal vermin traps aside from the fact that instead of killing the vermin it contains them, as a pest control worker it is vital you take into account your client's views on whether the pests should be killed or not.
Dusting Tool
The process of removing an insect infestation relies upon a dusting tool to eradicate insects such as ants and wasps, the duster is used to focus a stream of insect-repelling treatments to move insects from the area and help prevent any from returning. With wasp infestations becoming more frequent within the summer period it is likely that a piece of equipment like this will be in high demand.
Electronic Repeller
And finally, the electronic repeller, using radio waves to emit a pest deterring frequency, this nifty piece of kit may be on the pricier side but the effects are worth it. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use this versatile pest control device is vital for dealing with large areas.


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They aim to increase their trade to US$100 billion by 2015.
Underscoring the importance of China–India relations, Xi Jinping, the new General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and President-in-waiting, in a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, assured that China 'expects to carry out close cooperation with India to create a brighter future of their bilateral relations'. The world, he added, has enough space for the two and 'needs their common development'.
In a sign of their growing engagement China and India announced a resumption of joint military exercises at the conclusion of their joint defence dialogue in mid-January. Reacting to the news, the leader of the opposition in the Indian parliament, Sushma Swaraj, said the future generations are assured of peace and prosperity.
Indian business circles are ecstatic about the growing China–India business relationship. The people of India, as elsewhere, are happy benefitting from the mass of cheap Chinese products. Together, China and India as factory and service centre respectively to the world are on track to drive much of the global economy this century. This volume of business activity reflects the two countries' mutual political guiding principles that 'economic and trade relations are conducive to the increase of mutual trust'.
The IMF estimates that China's total GDP may overtake the US by 2017. By the middle of this century China and India will be the biggest economies in the world. Together the two have a GDP of approximately US$10 trillion and are expected to make up around 30 per cent of the world GDP by 2015, lifting the continent and far beyond with them.
China has become the world's second-largest oil importer after the US, importing roughly 5.5 million barrels per day, while India at number four imports approximately 2.3 million barrels per day. The bulk of their oil originates from the Persian Gulf and Africa. As economic powerhouses, both need to cooperate in ensuring the security of sea-lanes.
China and India are ancient civilisations, known for their immense contribution to human knowledge, growing peacefully across the Himalayas. People from both countries have spread afar peacefully taking along with them Chinese and Indian cultures to the far corners of the world with no histories of colonising others. In the new strategic environment of a globalised world the two countries are poised to take their cooperation to a new level.
While there are many convergences between China and India there still remain several disputes, which need to be managed and defused carefully. The short 1962 border war was an aberration in centuries of peaceful existence, leaving behind an unpleasant legacy of disputed border from Arunachal Pradesh in the east to Kashmir in the west. There are differences over Tibet and rivers flowing from there and over how India deals with Pakistan — China's important ally.
India watches warily as the Chinese build ports in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and establish a presence in Seychelles and along the east coast of Africa. The Chinese are concerned about India–Vietnam oil explorations in the South China Sea, which China claims as its territorial waters.
The differences have not deterred the two countries from developing economic partnership as a precursor to solving more intractable issues, such as their border disputes. China is convinced that America's 'pivot' to Asia is meant to contain China. It's worrisome for China when influential US analysts like Robert Kaplan openly encourage India 'to act as a counter-balance to the rising Chinese power'.
That is why very early in his term, Xi sent a personal letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh acknowledging India as a key interlocutor for maintaining peace and security in the region. An alignment where China feels 'contained' is not in India's interest nor Asia's; indeed their being adversaries will hinder further developments in the Asian century.
Having decided under Deng Xiaoping to single-mindedly pursue economic development, China has in 30 years lifted over 650 million Chinese out of poverty and is well on the way to global leadership. India too has released its economic potential by liberalising its economy and boasts a middle class population of over 350 million. The two need to complement each other.
This 'democratisation of human spirit', as one Asian thinker calls it, channelled constructively together by China and India, can be the game changer for the good of the world. This should not be sacrificed for big power politics.
Sajjad Ashraf, who was Pakistan's High Commissioner to Singapore, 2004–08, is an Adjunct Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.
This article first appeared here as RSIS Commentary No. 02X/2013.


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As university students, we are all probably used to working from our bedrooms. However, this time may be a little different, unlike before, we no longer have the option of changing the scene and working in our uni library, or working in class, or working in our usual coffee shop, and that can be detrimental to some students work and focus.
Here are some tips on how to make the best from working from home, how to stay motivated and how to keep up morale.
Keep in touch with your tutors, friends and working groups
Email your tutors in the morning and let them know what you will be working on, send them work to approve and keep an open line of communication.
Video call your friends who are usually in your class, work on the materials together, apart. This will help you to stay focused and less lonely.
Take breaks as you normally would
Work your usual hours, don't over or under work yourself. Act as if you are going to class and work the same amount you would have that day if you had gone into university. It's important to not work when you usually wouldn't i.e. lunchtime or in between classes. This will help you get a clear schedule and to not burn yourself out.
Work your normal hours
As much as you can, stick to finishing and starting work as you usually would. If you usually stop working at 5, stop. If you usually start working at 9, make sure you start working then. It's important to have a work-life balance and doing this will help that.
Have a separate workspace and relaxing space
This means don't work in bed. Have a place set up, whether that be a different room, your desk or your kitchen table that you go to work at. This will help your mind focus more when you are at your designated workspace, but also make it easier to relax when you have finished your days work.
Set boundaries with housemates
If you live with parents, your partner or friends, the chances are they will be working from home too. It is important that you set boundaries so you can all focus on your own work, ensure that everyone understands that during working hours, the aim is to work, not to socialise. You can all meet in a communal space i.e. the kitchen on your breaks, and that way you can communicate as if you would an office space.
Keep tidy
Keep the space around you clean, if you usually work in the library, the chances are it is always clean when you get there, and you don't necessarily (although you should) have to tidy up after yourself. Keeping your work space clean will help you stay focused. Having a messy room could lead you to procrastinate and work on cleaning rather than your work.
Get dressed
Put on work clothes. You should get up at a reasonable time and act as if you were going to go to work. Shower, get dressed, brush your teeth etc. You don't need to put on the exact clothes that you would wear to work, but it's important to get out of your pajamas. This helps your mind to focus on work.
For more tips on working from home, watch this video
Featured image by Tonny Tran on Unsplash


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The Master Leasing Program shall also be known as long-term permanent supportive housing. The goal of the program is to help hard to place persons gain housing stability, such as those re-entering society from prisons and other institutions, persons with serious mental illness, and at risk homeless individuals and families. The program is administered by the designated Lead Agency: Transitional Living Centers, Inc. Program oversight is provided by Lycoming County's Planning & Community Development Department and Fiscal Services Department.
Eligibility Requirements:
1. Must be a resident of Lycoming County for a minimum of at least one year (12 months).
2. Lack suitable housing.
3. Have minimal financial resources to obtain or maintain housing.
4. Have a household income of 50% or less of the area median income ($31,350).
5. Must be referred by a community agency, that provides case management services.
6. Participate and comply with all program requirements and rules, including participating fully in their treatment program/goals.
Referring clients will be interviewed by a panel of non- profit agencies and clients are chosen based on priority as well as the demonstration of being ready to take the "next step" towards self-sufficiency.
Monetary assistance will be time limited for rental assistance , security deposit, and utilities based on clients progress.
One of our Master Leasing Apartments located on West Fourth St. provided to us by ECM Realty.
Copyright © 2023 Transitional Living Centers, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.
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Attention Connect Leaders: from your Management Page, you can view a list of enrolled students, purchase additional seating for new students, and review their course progress.
To view courses for a specific division, please use the category menu above.
ISOW Connect FAQ
How can our church or school cover the cost of registration for our students?
Attention: As of 7/14/2020, the pricing model for ISOW Connect leaders has changed. To cut down on the price of larger groups and to make the process simpler for the students, the one-time account registration fee of $25 is no longer required for ISOW Connect students to participate in your group. Now, each ISOW Connect leader simply pays a flat fee of $100 to be registered as a group leader. This means an ISOW Connect group can now be set up with one simple purchase, and students who are not interested in taking ISOW courses individually are no longer required to pay the one-time $25 fee. This does not affect ISOW Connect group leaders who became leaders before this date, nor does it affect students who were already enrolled in their groups.
How do I structure my small group around ISOW Curriculum?
This is customizable and entirely up to you. Here are a few suggestions:
For Video Curriculum:
- Assign the videos as homework between each small group meeting, using the meeting time to review and discuss the teaching at length.
- Have students print their outline and bring to class. Watch the video together in small group, host group discussion, and assign the quiz questions as homework. You may also wish to utilize the online Discussion Forum to interact about the teaching throughout the week.
For Written/MP3 Curriculum:
- Have students print their outlines and bring them to class. You can then read and discuss the material together, assigning the quizzes as homework. You may also wish to have students bring their own laptops and answer the questions together.
- Have students read the material before small group and use the small group time primarily for discussion and review.
What about students who don't have internet?
For students who don't have internet, we suggest that your church or school of ministry print out the outlines and structure your class in a way that allows these students to participate. If desired, you can provide students with the opportunity to take their quizzes via a computer during or after class.
Do all students receive a certificate and how does this work?
All students who have a registered email can work toward earning a certificate. For more on the Certificate Program and requirements for each certificate, click here.
What if I am already signed up as an individual for a course I want to teach?
At this time, ISOW does not offer a crossover program for current individual students. If you are already enrolled for a course and wish to use it for a small group, it is best to either purchase with yourself as the leader under the ISOW Connect program or register someone else as the group leader. You can still use your individual account to follow along.
Do courses I've taken as an individual still count toward a certificate in ISOW Connect?
Yes, any course you have previously completed through ISOW will carry over. The Certificate Program does not distinguish between being registered as an individual or as part of a group.
What will our students' certificate look like and how do they receive it?
Certificates will be awarded by ISOW and signed by Dr. Bryan Cutshall. They may be printed upon the successful completion of a Certificate Program. To learn more about certificate requirements, click HERE. In addition, you may wish to design and award your students with a branded certificate from your church or school of ministry.
Can I register now and add more students later?
Yes, you are welcome to sign up today as the leader and then return at any time to add students to your group. You may also add students as you grow. There is no minimum or maximum to the number of students you can add.
Can I use the same account from semester to semester or do I need to re-register?
If you are the designated group leader each semester, please feel free to simply add additional students at the $25 rate to your previously registered course.
What happens to the material when we have completed a course?
Courses remain online indefinitely, allowing group leaders and students to access the material at any time
Is ISOW good for staff building?
Yes. ISOW offers great church staff training material such as Vital Signs of a Healthy Church, Building Healthy Church Systems, Marriage and Family, How to Build a Thriving Children's or Youth Ministry, and so much more! In addition, ISOW offers a robust theological division that can equip your staff to answer the hard questions regarding matters of faith.
Does ISOW license ministers?
ISOW does NOT license ministers. This must be done by your denomination or affiliated organization. An ISOW certificate, however, will certainly help round out your educational goals toward receiving a license.
What are ISOW's hours of operation and can I speak to a representative?
ISOW is happy to assist your church or school of ministry in the process of registration or if you need help at anytime in the future. ISOW offices are open 9 am to 5pm, EST, and may be reached at 423-250-5001.
What study materials, such as paper, electronics, etc., will I need?
You can study directly online; however, if you prefer, you can print your studies. All course outlines are in printable PDF format. The video portions of the courses can only be streamed through an active internet connection. The most important piece of equipment for an online course is a laptop, smartphone, or e-tablet, like an iPad or equivalent.


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We all know a little bit about the world's largest airplanes but what about the helicopters? What are currently the world's largest military helicopters with massive transport capabilities?
For our readers, we have today made a list of the top 10 largest military helicopters in the world. The list we present does not include the helicopters that are currently under manufacturing by the military. Instead, this is a list that contains the helicopters that are in active duty or are ready for active service.
So without further wait, here is our list of the top 10 largest military transport helicopters in the world.
Mil Mi-26
The helicopter which is dubbed as the largest military transport helicopter in the world is the Mil Mi-26. The helicopter is also given a nickname as Halo by its western users. This large-sized transport helicopter is being used by nearly 20 countries for transport.
The helicopter entered the design and manufacturing process back in the 70s and the first model was ready for active service by 1983. The helicopter's payload lifting capacity is equal to that of a C-130 transport aircraft. The helicopter is able to hold in either the seating for 80 soldiers or stretchers for 80 people. In some cases, it can also transport nearly 150 soldiers.
The maximum payload capacity of this helicopter is about 25000 kilograms.
CH-53K King Stallion
Second, in line is the CH-53K King Stallion; a helicopter specifically designed in order to fulfill the requirements of the US Marine Corps. The helicopter is an improvement on the previous Russian built CH-53E Super Stallion and was first available for active duty back in 2014 and is regarded as the largest helicopter to be in use of US military.
The maximum payload capacity of the CH-53K King Stallion is about 15.9 tons meaning it can carry a maximum of 37 troops. For comparison, it can also lift any of the following payloads.
- 1 LAV Armored vehicle
- M198 155 mm field Howitzer
CH-47 Chinook
The unique style transport helicopter named CH-47 Chinook was designed to serve the transport purposes of the US military and made its first flight in 1961 while being ready for active duty in 1962. Since the first model was available for duty, more than 1160 of these helicopters have been produced with many being authorized under manufacturing license in Japan as well as in Italy.
The helicopter is able to accommodate a maximum of 44 troops and has the maximum payload carrying capacity of 10300 kilograms inside while 11300 kilograms outside with help of external hooks.
V-22 Osprey
Well, the V-22 Osprey cannot be called a helicopter because it is the world's first functioning tiltrotor. This means that this aircraft has the vertical payload lifting capability of the helicopter while having the speed of a fixed-wing turboprop aircraft. The aircraft is being sued by the following parts of the US military since the very first model was made available in 2001.
- US Army
- Marine Corps
- Navy
The aircraft can easily accommodate a total of 24 troops as well as the total payload carrying capacity of 9000 externally and 6800 kilograms internally.
Being a tiltrotor aircraft, it is equipped for the in-flight refueling ability.
The Mi-38 helicopter is actually designed to not only serve military transport needs but also that of civil customers. The aircraft is designed in order to replace the aging Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters. The helicopter was ready for a small scale ruction back in 2017 and the first helicopter was delivered to Russian military back in 2018.
The helicopter has the ability to transport nearly 32 troops for transportation. As for its payload carrying capabilities, it can lift a total of 5000 kilograms internally while externally it can lift up to 7000 kilograms.
Eurocopter EC725
The Eurocopter EC725 Super Cougar or Caracal which is now renamed as Airbus Helicopters is one of the very best long-range tactically support transport military helicopters in the world. The helicopter was specially designed to fulfill the transport needs of the French Air Force for both their combat search as well as rescue operations. Since the delivery of the first helicopter back in 2005, the following countries now also have this helicopter into their active service.
- Brazil
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Mexico
The helicopter is able to easily transport 28 troops. As for payload carrying capacity, it can carry 5670 kilograms internally while externally it can lift 4500 kilograms.
Changhe Z-18
The Changhe Z-18 is the Chinese military's new transport helicopter which is a product of the efforts from Changhe Aircraft Industry Group. This is the largest ever manufactured military transport helicopter in China. The helicopter was manufactured to replace the aging older generation Z-8 helicopter.
The helicopter has a redesigned fuselage system which allows it to have more space as compared to the Z-8. The Changhe Z-18 is able to transport 27troops. As for its payload carrying capacity, it can lift a total of 4000 kilograms internally while externally it can lift nearly 5000 kilograms.
AugustaWestland AW101
The AugustaWestland AW101 was developed to be a Navy utility helicopter of modern standards. The helicopter is an improved version of the helicopter named Eurocopter Industries EH101. The helicopter is a byproduct of a collaboration between the Augusta company from Italy and the Westland Helicopters company from the UK. Both these companies have now merged to form the AugustaWestland and now this helicopter has been renamed as AugustaWestland AW101.
The helicopter can easily accommodate and transport 26 soldiers while it has a payload carrying capacity in between 4000 to 5000 kilograms which can be either carried inside or outside via slung.
Mil Mi-8
Mil Mi-8 is one of the mass-produced and efficient military transport helicopters in the world. Nearly 7300 of these bad boys were manufactured and delivered since 1961. The helicopter with its many variants in the market is being sold to nearly 60 countries across the world.
The standard variant of this helicopter Mi-8T is able to transport 24 troops while it has a payload carrying capacity of 4000 kilograms internally and 3000 kilograms externally.
NHIndustries NH90
Back in 1985, 5 of the European Nations made a collaboration to develop a helicopter for the early 90s. The helicopter was named as NH90. However, UK then dropped out of this programme leaving behind the following countries to complete the project under the NH Industries.
- France
- Italy
- Germany
- Netherlands
The helicopter to this date is in active service of these countries for the following missions.
- Assault transport
- Rescue
- Electronic warfare
- VIP transport
The helicopter can easily transport nearly 20 troops. As for its payload carrying capacity, it can lift a total of 2000 kilograms internally while externally it can lift 4200 kilograms.
Related Content


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Netflix's 'Dead To Me' has been picked up for a second season. The dark comedy by Liz Feldman, focuses on a dynamic female friendship that dives into the painfully unfiltered, weirdly funny waters of grief, loss and forgiveness.
Creator Liz Feldman, also known for her work on '2 Broke Girls', and 'One Big Happy', will serve as showrunner and executive producer on season two. The programme stars Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini and the pair will return to reprise their roles of Jen (Appelgate) and Judy (Cardellini).
The executive producers for 'Dead To Me' are Jessica Elbaum (Booksmart, Hustlers) from Gloria Sanchez Productions, Will Ferrell (Succession, Drunk History) and Adam McKay (Succession, Drunk History) of Gary Sanchez Productions as well as Christie Smith (Nathan for You, Tosh.0) and Christina Appelegate.
'Dead To Me' is produced by CBS Television Studios for Netflix. You can find 'Dead To Me' online on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.


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An interview with Ruud Antonius concerning his book can be found on http://www.books-writing.com/interview-with-author-ruud-antonius/.
All of a sudden I have found myself to be very busy. During the last week I have been finishing the painting below, creating this homepage and doing all sorts of other things which I never knew had to be done once you've written a book. Quite exciting and a trifle tiring, but hey, I don't wish to complain. For the time being I am enjoying every moment. The second book is coming along nicely though I have decided to rewrite the first chapter. Bugger!! But I wasn't happy with the way it developed.
Underneath a small excerpt from a conversation between Pete and Anthony in the second book I am very happy with. 'Moi father took me to the pigstoi when I was about 13, you know loike they do when you're around that age to explain that your pecker's not just there to see how high you can piss up a tree', Pete sat down at the kitchen table. 'As you know moi dad wasn't a man o' many words but I knew roight from the start Oi'd hear more words from him than Oi'd ever done before. So there we were looking at the pigs and he were trying to find the roight way to tell me about the birds and the bees. And Oi can remember as if it were yesterday, he patted me on the head and told me about pigs. He said that the boars went mental once a year, would jump on the backs of anythin' on four legs, as long as it were about their size. And that were because millions and millions of sperm wanted to get out. He put in plain words we 'ave the same problem once we get to a certain age but because we are humans we don't 'ave it just once a year. We'd 'ave it continuously. Oi found it hard to believe that so many of these so called sperm just laid there in waitin' for a moment in toime to all just be wantin' to rush out. It was about half a year later when Sally Pilkinton came into moi class, she'd moved here to Son upon Tine from Flaunton and she were seated next to me. Oi went all funny, followed her everywhere and wondered if I'd reached the age moi father had been talkin' 'bout. One day she asked whoi I was followin' her round. Oi must've been just14 then. Oi told her it was probably moi sperm that was playing up and that Oi'd gone mental. That got me into roight trouble, Oi can remember that. She'd told her parents who subsequently told moi teacher Mrs. Capstan. Remember her? She wasn't havin' it and turned up at our farm. Moi Dad did his best to explain it away and moi mum went spare after Mrs. Capstan left. Moi mother then explained the whole thing again a day or two later when moi father was out and confused me even more. She told me it was about this mystical thing called love and affection, things loike that. Oi did not understand a word she said. But one thing Oi do know and Oi firmly believe moi dad was roight there, it messes up our brain Anthony'. I will soon start blogging when time becomes available.


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It's tough to get excited about yet another stylized subcompact crossover such as the new-for-2020 Hyundai Venue. Our lack of enthusiasm, however, has more to do with fatigue for small SUVs in general, rather than an expectation that this Hyundai wouldn't be a well-appointed and well-built product. After driving the Venue around Miami, we can say that it's both of those things, and it delivers exactly what price-conscious shoppers of lifted hatchbacks want.
Distinctly Styled, Pleasantly Appointed
At first glance, glinting in the Florida sun, the new Venue looks more exciting than it does in photos. Anonymous styling doesn't fly at Hyundai anymore, and the Venue's design stands out within its segment. The silhouette is boxy, the cladding is tasteful, and the overall look is rugged, size XS. Under that body, however, are only 6.7 inches of ground clearance, or just more than an inch more than the Hyundai Accent upon which it's based. The Venue also is not available with all-wheel drive, although it does look tougher than other front-drive subcompact utes, such as the Nissan Kicks.
Inside, the Venue is rather conventional. The layout is handsome, the switchgear is sturdy, and the material quality is excellent considering its modest starting price. At $18,470, the base SE model with the standard six-speed manual transmission is the least expensive crossover money can buy; add $1500 for the optional continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which is standard on the mid-level SEL ($20,370) and the top-spec Denim ($23,170) trim levels.
All models feature an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Audio. What you won't find in any Venue are a heated steering wheel, power seat adjustments, or wireless charging. Fit and finish, however, are a step above the Venue's budget-minded status. Opt for the Denim model and you get interior upgrades such as a padded armrest and leatherette upholstery with contrasting white piping, which lends it a far more attractive ambiance than you'll get in the significantly more expensive Ford EcoSport.
Our biggest gripe inside has to do with the circular temperature readout on the climate-control panel that appears to be an adjustable knob, but it isn't. The rear seat also lacks vents in the back of the center console as well as 12-volt or USB ports, so your ride-share occupants might not give you five stars. While it has more rear legroom than the Kick and Toyota C-HR and two adults can comfortably sit in back, both the Toyota and Nissan have larger cargo areas with their rear seats folded. The Nissan in particular boasts a significant cargo volume advantage, with 25 cubic feet behind its back row and 53 cubes with the seatbacks stowed. In contrast, the Venue can hold only 19 and 32 cubic feet, respectively.
Modest Motivation
Every Venue is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter inline-four that develops 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. Unfortunately, that meager amount of twist isn't fully unlocked until the engine spins to 4500 rpm, which can make passing at highway speeds more of a challenge than we'd like. The Venue's sensitive steering and wind-catching shape also make it feel restless at higher speeds. At least the CVT does an admirable job of limiting engine droning, even when called upon for max power.
Around town, the Venue feels quicker and more confident. Its small footprint, firm suspension, and quick helm make it easy to dart between lanes. While the engine's throttle response is a bit lazy, the Venue has enough grunt to motor away from stoplights without struggling to keep up with traffic. But we do wish the brake pedal felt more linear and had a stronger initial bite.
It's no surprise that the larger Venue isn't as fuel efficient as its Accent platform-mate. The EPA estimates the Accent at 33/41 mpg city/highway, but the Venue is rated only at 30/34 mpg. The higher-riding Hyundai, however, has standard driver-assistance technology such as forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention monitor. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are optional. Accent buyers have to skip most of those features and only get forward-collision warning with automated braking.
Give Them What They Want
Although the 2020 Hyundai Venue represents the reality of a segment that at times still has us scratching our heads, the subcompact market, like many others, has spoken in favor of SUVs, or at least of high-riding vehicles that look like SUVs. The Venue's lack of all-wheel drive may be a turn off for some and further muddies its equation versus conventional subcompact hatchback cars, which generally are more fuel efficient, better to drive, and only slightly less capacious. But virtually every volume brand today offers a wee crossover, and their collective sales numbers look to be going nowhere but up. The Venue should fit in that group well, because it hits almost all of the key points that shoppers in this space demand while demonstrating that cheap transportation doesn't have to feel, well, cheap.


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Search judgments
by word
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Advanced search in Triblex: case-law database
1. The decision of 3 November 2010 by the Vice-President in charge of Directorate General 4 is set aside to the extent that it maintained the amount of the strike-related deduction from the complainant's remuneration for the month of June 2007 at a level exceeding one-thirtieth thereof.2. The EPO shall reimburse the complainant, owing to the setting aside of the decision under point 1, the sum unduly withheld from the said remuneration.3. The EPO shall pay the complainant 2,000 euros in moral damages.4. It shall also pay her 1,000 euros in costs.5. All other claims are dismissed.6. The applications to intervene are dismissed.
The complainant impugns the application of deductions to her dependant's allowance for participation in a strike and the amount deducted from most elements of her remuneration.
complaint allowed; deduction; right to strike; strike
"[T]he complainant is manifestly misguided in her belief that she can accuse the members appointed by the Staff Committee of failing to defend her during her hearing before the Committee, since those members, who are required just like other Committee members to execute their duties in a fully independent manner, cannot be expected to perform such a role."
internal appeals body; independence
"[T]he decision taken by the EPO to apply a deduction of one twenty-fourth was due to the calculation, based on arithmetically irreproachable principles, that the complainant had absented herself, while participating in an eight-hour strike, for a period equivalent to 1.25 of her average working day, having regard to the specific terms of her part-time employment regime. In so doing, the EPO sought to implement an approach based on proportionality which led it to conclude, as stated in its submissions, that the remuneration of an employee who is absent due to a strike must be reduced by an amount equivalent to the duration of such absence as a proportion of the employee's normal working hours.Such an approach is certainly quite understandable in terms of equity and expediency. However, the Tribunal is bound to observe ...] that this approach is legally inconsistent with the applicable statutory provisions, which are based on a different perspective in this regard."
deduction; right to strike; strike
"The Tribunal has consistently held that any ambiguity in the regulations or rules established by an international organisation should, in principle, be construed in favour of staff and not of the organisation (see, for example, Judgments 1755, under 12, 2276, under 4, or 2396, under (a))."
ILOAT Judgment(s): 1755, 2276, 2396
"[The Tribunal] has already ruled that the various allowances paid by the EPO to its employees, including the dependants' allowance, are in fact subject to a deduction in the event of a strike under the same conditions as the basic salary (see Judgments 1041, under 3 and 4, and 1333, under 3, also referred to on this issue in Judgments 1567, under 4, and 1658, under 6).Noting that, according to paragraph 2 of Article 64 of the Service Regulations, "[r]emuneration shall comprise basic salary and, where appropriate, any allowances", the Tribunal held that the "remuneration" referred to in aforementioned subparagraph 1(b) of Article 65, from which deductions may be made, must perforce be understood as including such allowances.Moreover, the fact that the dependants' allowance consists of a lump sum is not in itself sufficient to exclude it from any application of the principle, embodied in the Tribunal's case law, according to which remuneration is due only for services rendered (on this point see Judgments 566, under 3, 615, under 4, and 616, under 4)."
ILOAT Judgment(s): 566, 615, 616, 1041, 1333, 1567, 1658
right to strike; strike
"Applications to intervene were filed by three EPO employees. [...] It may be deduced from the defendant's comments that the three employees in question have never worked on a part time basis. As their situation in fact and in law thus differs from that of the complainant, the present judgment cannot affect them. It follows that the applications to intervene must be dismissed as irreceivable (see, for example, Judgments 2190, under 10, 2237, under 10, or 3212, under 11)."
ILOAT Judgment(s): 2190, 2237, 3212


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Merry Christmas from The Cold Ones
Consider this our Christmas card to you! Merry Christmas!
'Twas The Twilight Before Christmas
We hope this card imprinted on you. (Twilight jokes… ) The Twilight inspired photo was taken for Diana's blog celebrating a book from the series. Benjamin approved once he realized using the photo meant he didn't have to get dressed or pay for Christmas photos.
Diana went to Taiwan for 3 weeks in mid-February with her parents during the early stages of COVID and they privately toured all of Taiwan. They made it back in time days before borders closed. The house renovations (a new garage, kitchen garden and landscaping) completed in April, Benjamin tested positive for COVID-19 early summer (cold symptoms), and Diana felt fine and didn't care to get tested so she'll never know if she had it!
Our home is now complete but now Diana has moved back inside and is now upgrading fixtures and furniture. So the cycle begins again! Benjamin is asking for prayers.
We send you our love and we are thankful for the birth of Jesus who came to save us!
Diana Elizabeth might do some creative photos for the holidays now, maybe.


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The island of Nevis will welcome Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises' guests starting this November.
Luxury yacht Crystal Esprit will call on the island during its 14-day sailings for the next two years, according to the Nevis Tourism Board.
"Nevis looks forward to this new partnership with Crystal and commits to working hard to make this relationship a long term and mutually beneficial one," said Nevis Minister of Foreign Affairs and Aviation Mark Brantley.
"Our aim is to provide the best possible yacht experience for travelers and as a luxury cruise line, Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises is an ideal complement to the luxury experiences that Nevis offers," Brantley said. "We are happy to welcome them."
The agreement was reached jointly between Brantley; John Stoll, Crystal's Vice President of Land Programs; and Claudius Docekal, Crystal's Vice President of Deployment, during Crystal's recent visit to Nevis.
"The island of Nevis is such a tranquil and stunning location, and the perfect locale for our luxury yacht, Crystal Esprit," Docekal said. "We are looking forward to introducing our Crystal guests to this remarkable and unique destination."
— Dana Niland, CJ Contributor


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Bousman signs off supporting bill aimed at forest safety
SUBLETTE COUNTY – A bipartisan bill going through Washington, D.C., aims to address the rapidly declining health of American forests and the accompanying threat of catastrophic wildfires.
The Resilient Federal Forests Act, introduced last week, would specifically expedite environmental analysis, reduce frivolous lawsuits and increase the pace and scale of critical forest restoration projects. It has already received 70 cosponsors and 87 supporting nonprofits and organizations, counting nearly a dozen Wyoming counties – including Sublette.
Sublette County Commission Chairman Joel Bousman, who also serves as chair of the National Association of Counties' (NACo) Public Lands Steering Committee, offered a five-page written testimony to the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources in support of active forest management.
In his letter, Bousman briefly summarized Sublette's economy, stressing the overarching influence federal entities like the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management have on the county.
"Active forest management will reduce the threat of wildfire to our citizens and local communities in the West," Bousman said. "Reducing fuel loads on our national forests will help to reestablish healthy, thriving ecosystems and improve local economies and landscapes."
He went on to list purified air, increased biodiversity, better water supplies and diminished fire risk as benefits to proactive forest management.
Counties also hold a responsibility intertwined with forest management in ensuring public safety, environmental stewardship and economic opportunities. Sublette County has more so than others due to its multiple-use reliance on federal lands.
"We are excited to see the recent reintroduction of The Resilient Federal Forests Act," Bousman said. "This legislation will strengthen the partnership between counties and the federal government, streamline forest health regulations and reduce wildfire risks."
Among the major concerns Bousman addressed, which have been shared by multiple federal agencies, is the ongoing wildfire risk.
Bousman stated in his letter that 2.5 million acres have already burned nationwide this year. One of those is the ongoing Shale Creek Fire located just outside Kemmerer. That fire increased its reach to 160 acres while burning the ridgelines between Hams Fork and Fontenelle Creek drainages. Temperatures in the 70s and recurring rains have helped contain that fire, although thunderstorm activity has increased difficulty.
"From lightning on bare ridges to muddy, steep slopes, thunderstorms add extra challenges to fighting fire safely in this terrain," incident commander trainee Jacob Henrie said.
Historically, Sublette County has been shaped by the threat and looming tragedy of wildfires. There was the Yellowstone Fire, which spilled into the county, and the catastrophic Cliff Creek, Roosevelt and Fontenelle fires.
"The severity of all these fires could have been greatly reduced if the Forest Service had been engaged in active forest management practices," Bousman wrote. "When the Bonneville Fire reached scientifically managed areas of the forest, the fire laid down and went around these areas as witnessed by helicopter flyovers."
There are also the byproduct risks wildfires bring. Smoke from fires in Idaho, Washington and Montana clouded Sublette County skies and lowered air quality in western Wyoming. Then, as Bousman pointed out, there's the potential for mudslides on charred landscapes, which could pollute water sources.
That's where the Resilient Federal Forests Act aims to make a difference. Among the bill's stated intentions are: utilize science to triage the top 10 percent of high-risk firesheds, simplify and expedite environmental analyses to reduce costs and planning times of critical forest management, speed up essential forest management projects by eliminating frivolous litigation, supply necessary tools to restore watersheds, accelerate reviews for salvage operations and reforestation activities, incentivize collaborative projects up to 30,000 acres, create new authorities to increase tribal management, codify principles of shared stewardship, remove cumbersome interagency consultation requirements and improve existing authorities to address infestations and increase resiliency to wildfires.
"Record-breaking wildfires in the West repeatedly highlight the need for proactive, scientific forest management," said Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, the ranking member on the House Committee on Natural Resources. "Decades of mismanagement have led to insect infestation, hazardous fuel buildup and dead and decaying trees, creating tinderboxes for the smallest stray spark to ignite a raging inferno.
"It's time for Congress to stop sitting on our hands and actually allow the Forest Service to use proven, scientific methods when managing our forests so that we can prevent these fires from occurring in the first place."
In his letter, Bousman also stressed the importance of local management to deal with local issues. Part of the bill's intention is to eliminate some of the bureaucracy that prohibits immediate local involvement in favor for consultation further up the ladder. Bousman also said the county works collaboratively with the Forest Service, BLM and state Forestry Division to actively combat wildfires.
At the July 20 Sublette County commissioners' meeting, fire warden Shad Cooper got approval for development of the community wildfire protection plan, his comprehensive guide for maintaining public safety in the events of spreading fire in the county. Cooper stressed the importance for preparedness and knowledge in helping the community combat increasing wildfire risks.
Bousman said the Forest Service, at this time, lacks the capacity to engage in management at the level required to effectively address the issue. He stated an interest in a county Good Neighbor Authority if counties would be authorized to keep receipts from timber sales and invest them into additional projects, as is similarly done at the state level.
"Congress can futher support these goals by funding our federal partners at levels that encourage them to ramp up timber sales, hazardous fuels reduction projects and stewardship contracting," Bousman said. "It is in the interests of local communities, our nation's economy and the environment to partner with private industries to better manage our forests.
"We also most develop solutions to deal with low-valued wood products, such as increased research and technology in biofuels, which can reduce carbon emissions and contribute to healthier forestlands."
Bousman closed by saying, as a NACo representative, counties urged Congress to enact viable legislation like the Resilient Federal Forests Act to slow the threat of catastrophic fire.
Westerman previously introduced the bill in 2019 but it went no further than introduction. The bill's reintroduction is one of multiple wildfire-related bills on the Congressional floor this session.


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Everton interested in loaning Chelsea outcast Diego Costa.
Ronald Koeman confirmed this week that he would be open to taking the stroppy Brazilian to Goodison Park.
Mirror Sport understands that Koeman has been canvassing opinion behind the scenes among his staff as to whether it is worth taking a punt on the striker.
Costa is currently in a stand-off with the Premier League champions and there little chance of boss Antonio Conte accepting him back into the fold.
He wants to join Atletico Madrid – a switch that cannot take place until January because of the transfer embargo in place at the Spanish club.
But Koeman wants to take him in now and is willing to sanction a temporary deal.
Everton's boss is still seeking a spearhead for his attack in the wake of Romelu Lukaku's £75m defection to Manchester United.
He had high hopes that he could persuade Olivier Giroud to leave Arsenal but the France striker appears unfazed by the arrival of Alexander Lacazette and is ready to fight for his place.
Giroud's colleague Danny Welbeck was another option but that appears to have been met with resistance in north London.
With time running down before the window closes, options are running out and Costa provides both Koeman and Chelsea with a ready-made solution.
However, it remains to be seen whether the troublesome but gifted old-school centre-forward would consider a switch to Merseyside.


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The following excerpt from another blogger represents one man's dream for a more organized, developed mountain bike culture- in Serbia. He also claims the term "freebiking" as an original Serbian word, and perhaps it is.
Cycling in the West has reached cult proportions. There are
lodgings for cyclists, marked tracks leading through picturesque areas, hundreds of kilometres long in some cases, tourist packages for cyclists, printed brochures… Not to mention the availability of equipment. Here, for now, there is nothing. But let's make it happen."
Although he currently lacks suspension, titanium, goo, and marked trails I would caution him to be careful of what he wishes for. Serbian freebiking, and the pioneer status it now holds, will likely be as good as it gets. Every ride an adventure. Every repair a mechanical triumph.
Over here "in the West" on the other end of the spectrum where we have such things as printed brochures and availability of equipment- the squeeze is on. The adventure must be redefined by ever greater epic cross country casseroles that blend the urban, the rural highway, the singletrack and the exploration of forgotten spaces of ambiguous ownership.
I readily admit a hypocritical conflict. If new trails emerge from organizational efforts I will be among the first to ride and enjoy them, but the price is higher than you may think. The truth stings. The "woods" are not yours, or rather ours. They belong to the king, and you enjoy them at the king's leisure. Learning too much about "recreational user groups" and "establishing a previous history of access", and equine/motorcycle/cyclist/runner interface common denominators is similar to running unheeded into the playground fence. This is no wild place. There are no "woods" anymore, there is only the "Forest".
Ask the skateboarders. Once your town got a skate park, were you expected to only ride at the park? Did law enforcement increase at the Winn Dixie parking lot and the middle school? Were you expected to be grateful?
Uncontained, unquantifed recreation does not seem to jibe with our current civil society's strategic planning process.
Come in from the cold or else seems to be the current mandate. Maybe I am just being contrary, but I am not afraid of their "or else". I'll join the Serbian freebike movement.
Click on the title of this post to learn more about the SFM.