text:
Yanuar Nugroho and Dimas Wisnu Adrianto – The relocation of the Indonesian capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan is perhaps the most ambitious government project in history. But detailed planning on how the project should be implemented should be undertaken urgently to ensure its sustainability and success.
The Indonesian government's plan to move the national capital (Ibu Kota Negara, or IKN) from Jakarta to East Kalimantan is a prestigious and ambitious project. Thirty months after it was publicly announced, the National Capital Law (IKNLaw), the juridical basis for the relocation of the capital, has been ratified following approval by Members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) on 18 January 2022. And on 10 March 2022, the Head and Vice Head of the Capital Authority were inaugurated.
Although the idea of relocating the capital is not new, to fully implement and bringing about its realisation is perhaps the biggest government undertaking – both technocratically and politically – in Indonesian history. The ambition for building the new capital, to be named 'Nusantara', is reflected in its slogan: locally integrated, globally connected, universally inspired. Nusantara aspires to be the most sustainable city in the world, a symbol of national identity, and the driving force of Indonesia's economy in the future. Furthermore, the capital relocation is a key component of the overall structural transformation of the country.
However, President Jokowi has only two years left to start executing the agenda. He will certainly not be able to complete the entire task – but he will have to lay firm foundations so that the project can be continued and taken over by his successors. Furthermore, this gigantic work spans from careful and comprehensive city planning, building massive physical infrastructures, moving hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of civil servants and their families, and creating a mechanism for populating the new settlement, to running the country in a new governmental strategy and practice. In short, it is not only about physically building a new city but building a new culture of living and governing.
This article describes the intended vision of the IKN project and analyses the lapses and risks associated with – or the unintended consequences of – the conceptualisation and implementation of the project thus far.
Prospective benefits
From the national planning perspective, the relocation of the capital city offers at least two key propositions. First, the new capital city is expected to stimulate economic growth after the pandemic. To date, Java contributes 58.49 per cent to Indonesia's GDP, of which 20.85 per cent comes from Jakarta (BPS, 2018). Adequate infrastructure in the new capital is expected to encourage new industrialisation in the surrounding area and create employment opportunities. In the long term, it is expected to become an economic Super Hub driving the economy of the nation. The new capital city is designed as being among the government's top strategies for national economic recovery after the pandemic, and is projected to be able to support Indonesia's GDP target of USD180 billion and create 4,811,000 jobs in 2045. It is also expected to boost East Kalimantan's economic performance. Some macro indicators are predicted to improve significantly between 2021 to 2030. The province's economy will grow from 2.38 per cent to 6.3 percent, the poverty rate will fall from 6.54 per cent to 5.92 per cent and the unemployment rate will drop from 6.8-7 per cent to 6-6.5 per cent.
Second, the new capital city is expected to encourage equitable development. As promised by Jokowi, development must be Indonesia-centric, i.e. equitable throughout Indonesia so that no one region is marginalised, and no one is left behind. This can be done by creating a new epicentre of economic growth outside Java.
Relocating the capital city is undoubtedly expensive. But if the goal is to establish a liveable urban environment for the seat of the central government, then this agenda offers an advantage over improving Jakarta through urban regeneration or perhaps retrofitting massive green infrastructures which also requires significant budgeting. Building a city from scratch offers the liberty to accentuate innovative urban design that, with appropriate urban planning and governance, can be environmentally, socially and economically viable. Crucially, urban regeneration entails imminent negative impacts like the possibility of a widening social inequality, particularly due to 'speculative urbanism' or 'internal colonisation'. Furthermore, there is a risk that investing in upgrading the environmental condition of a given part of the city may lead to neglect in others.
As such, Nusantara is viewed as an opportunity to "get things right" by starting from a clean slate despite concerns that may make this 'incorrect' – such as those regarding environmental and socio-cultural aspects of the capital. There are further prospects to consider. First of these is having the capital city represent national identity, diversity, and appreciation of Pancasila. The commitment to Pancasila and the principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is carried out through community integration of locals and newcomers with different socio-cultural backgrounds. The capital was named 'Nusantara' to reflect the spirit of strong unity despite the diversity of cultures, languages and religions.
The development of the capital as a forest city and a smart and intelligent city is considered relevant to Kalimantan. The green agenda is also represented in the net-zero carbon emissions design, the provision of extensive public transportation and active mobility and the commitment to allocate at least 75% of green spaces in the Government Area ...
Second is attaining a more efficient and effective governance. The new capital city will be governed by a special authority whose chief is directly appointed and dismissed by the president. Despite critics over the weak commitment to establish a democratised government, this framework will have the advantage of avoiding political tensions created by local elections (Pilkada). Indeed, the appointment of the chief will remain political, but as the president holds full authority on this, it is expected that a stronger central-local alliance can focus on meeting development targets. This is also stipulated in the IKN Law, which aims to secure the development of the capital despite possible changing political circumstances. The special capital region is a province having full authority to govern it jurisdictional boundary while enjoying strong budgetary support. Crucially, this form of functional decentralisation is different from any other model applied in Indonesia (e.g., Otorita Batam and Otorita Borobudur), which means that this agenda creates a new benchmark. Additionally, the orientation towards efficiency and effectiveness in IKNis optimised by e-government.
Third is creating a smart, green and sustainable capital to improve regional and international competitiveness. The development of the capital as a forest city and a smart and intelligent city is considered relevant to Kalimantan. The green agenda is also represented in the net-zero carbon emissions design, the provision of extensive public transportation and active mobility and the commitment to allocate at least 75% of green spaces in the Government Area together with having environmentally friendly technologies for all buildings.
The developing the new capital is to be based on eight main principles, i.e. (i) designing according to natural conditions, (ii) the value of unity in diversity, (iii) connected-active-accessibility, (iv) low carbon emissions, (v) circular and resilient, (vi) safe and affordable, (vii) comfortable and efficient living through technology, and (viii) economic opportunities for all.
Bureaucratically and technically, the relocation of the capital is a multi-year and multi-leadership agenda with a long relay. Referring to the blueprint issued by the Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS), the relocation of the capital will go through four stages: (i) the relocating of core administrative functions including the President's office, (2022-2024), (ii) development of a solid/integrated capital city area (2025-2035), (iii) development of the entire infrastructure and socio-economic ecosystem of the three cities – Banjarmasin, Balikpapan, and Nusantara – to accelerate the development of East Kalimantan (2035-2045), and finally (iv) establishment of its reputation as the 'World City for All'.
Risks and unintended consequences
Notwithstanding all the benefits relocating the capital city may reap, this project is, however, fraught with risks. In this section, we outline at least six key areas of concern.
First is the concern of policy priorities being misplaced amid pandemic emergency responses and future development planning. Indonesia is currently experiencing a national budget deficit of more than three per cent per year, a decline in state revenues, and substantive public debt. There is significant concern that the IKN project will distract the government from focusing on managing the pandemic. In 2022, the government allocated IDR455.62 trillion for post-COVID economic recovery despite the country presently transitioning from pandemic to endemic. But it is estimated that the IKN's project will cost a total of IDR466 trillion, which in the first stage of 2022-2024 alone would require IDR110 trillion. Although the government has repeatedly claimed that the development of IKN will not put undue burden on the state budget since there are many financing options (the state budget, foreign loans, private investment, and public-private partnerships), this is a sizeable commitment from the state which carries significant opportunity costs. The development of IKN itself is estimated to take 15-20 years. The logical implication of this is a shift in the government's focus from pandemic recovery towards prioritising a development agenda. In addition, the imminent impact of Russia-Ukraine war has to be considered. Predictions show that global GDP will decline for about 1 per cent on average alongside an increase of 3% in inflation. This will have a direct impact on investment and business decision-making.
Second is the concern over the hasty legislative process and the lack of public participation. The House's first session on the IKN Bill began on 7 December 2021, and it was passed into Law on 18 January 2022 – a total of only 42 days later. Even for a strategic policy such as this, this formulation process was far too quick, and the hearing process lacked public participation. Consequently, constitutionally the IKN Law has the potential for formal and material defects and violates statutory regulations, especially the provisions for the formation of laws based on the 1945 Constitution and Law No. 12 of 2011 on the Formation of Legislation (Pembentukan Peraturan Perundang-Undangan). Currently, formal lawsuits against the IKN Law have been raised to the Constitutional Court by a civil society organisation, Kelompok Poros Nasional Kedaulatan Negara (or PNKN, National Axis for State Sovereignty). This lawsuit was filed because it is believed that there is a substantive defect in lawmaking process.
Third is the low credibility and inadequacy of the background studies. While the IKN Law consists of 11 chapters and 44 articles; the initial study – called 'Naskah Akademik' or academic manuscript – consists of six chapters (175 pages) but only contains 17 references. This manuscript was widely disseminated and many academics and practitioners have heavily criticised it for its lack of fundamental philosophical and technical (including social, economic, technological, environmental, etc.) analysis. Despite the government's claim that necessary studies had been rigorously done, these had not been made available to the general public, leading to growing concerns over the credibility and legitimacy of Jokowi's plan to move the capital.
The fourth is closely linked to the third, and this is the concern over environmental degradation. There is a serious doubt about the impartiality of the Kajian Lingkungan Hidup Strategis (or KLHS, Strategic Environmental Assessment) due to the fact that it was carried out and published after the decision was taken to move the capital. This issue is especially salient considering that Kalimantan – whose tropical pristine rainforests form part of the world's "lungs" due to its carbon storage capacity and oxygen contribution – has already been degraded following the expansion of mining and agro-complex companies working in the area. The IKN mega-project is seen as a threat to fragile biological ecosystems and environmental sustainability.
Fifth is the concern over social disparity, urbanisation explosion, and social conflict. Instead of creating equal employment opportunities and economic redistribution, there is worry that relocating the capital might trigger new inequality and social conflict. Bappenas estimates that by 2027, 127,000 civil servants would have moved to the new capital – not including their immediate families and the associated service sector businesses. The majority of this demographic will be from the upper-middle class who will have to co-exist with the lower-middle class populations of existing (predominantly rural) communities as well as migrant labourers from across the country. Moreover, there are at least 21 indigenous groups with a population of over 20,000 within the boundaries of the new capital city regions in Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kartanegara whose lives will be directly impacted. The case of Jakarta and how the Betawi people are marginalised has become a dark history as well as a warning tale on how urban planning can lead to the marginalisation of local and indigenous people. The government must devise a strategy to mitigate this concern.
Finally, there is worry about conflicts of interest in land concessions. Most of the land in the IKN region are already controlled by private businesses in the agriculture, forestry, and mining sectors – many of which have connections to elite politicians and their relatives. Moreover, there are also overlaps in these concessions between mining area and forestry. According to the Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM), there are 149 ex-mining pits (abandoned mining sites) in the IKN area of which 92 are inside the administrative capital region. Those abandoned sites form part of 25 mining concessions, some of which are affiliated with ministers in Jokowi's cabinet. According to JATAM East Kalimantan, as of 2021, the distribution of mining pits based on coal mining company concessions in the capital region is 47,875.42 hectares. Despite that, this has not been thoroughly investigated, and some stakeholders have expressed concern that the compensation process will be marred by corruption since concession holders may leverage their political influence to gain unfair compensation.
According to UN Habitat, cities contributed approximately 70% of the total human-induced greenhouse gases while consuming more than two-thirds of the global energy, mostly from fossil fuel consumptions for building and transport-related operations. Thus, while Indonesia's agenda to develop a new capital city with a green and sustainable design could be seen as a 'positive' commitment towards transition to renewable energy (despite the construction process alone generating significant emissions), it has unintended consequences. Fundamentally, despite the significant energy savings eco-design can offer, the application per se is costly both at the construction and maintenance levels. This can potentially affect the overall affordability of eco-cities.
Smoothening the move
After the ratification of the IKN Law and the appointment of the Head and Vice Head of the Capital Authority Agency, the next step in the agenda is to complete the derivative regulations of the law (at the moment there are five – two government regulations and three presidential regulations). Only after they are completed can the physical infrastructure development start and the plan to relocate civil services in key ministries and agencies commence. Only then can the substantive parts of the relocation happen.
In terms of city and urban development and planning, this means there is a need to focus on spatial integration, particularly to set up policies for a regional agglomeration (e.g., the golden triangle of Balikpapan-Samarinda-Nusantara). Regional agglomeration provides various advantages (e.g., labour pooling and sector specialisation networking) which empowers economic productivity and growth. In this matter, the new capital city agenda should also promote economic development as a long-term brand that is equally, or even more, important to the sustainable urban design attributes (e.g., in attracting population and labour migration). However, there is a need to anticipate the pitfalls of encouraging the growth of labour-intensive economic sectors as these pose threats to the protected forests in the outskirts of the new capital. Hence, the economic agenda should also consider strict zoning control or rely on alternative sectors (e.g., services).
With all the multidimensional challenges of relocating the capital, the government needs to incorporate integrated planning practices. Until recently, spatial planning in Indonesia has been conducted in silos by conflicting institutions and jurisdictions which led to ineffective execution of urban development policies. Integrated planning emphasises the co-production of policies (e.g., collaborative decision making), which implies the need for fundamentally inclusive and requires the improving of institutional capacity.
Here, further research is needed in at least three key areas. First is to ensure the continuous attractiveness of the new capital for investment and population migration whilst maintaining environmental well-being as part of urban liveability. Second, in anticipating urban growth, research should be encouraged to ensure social inclusion and cohesive community. This is particularly important as Indonesia struggles with anticipating problems like urban sprawl. Ultimately, as this agenda is considered the biggest urban development in the history of Indonesian urban planning, there is a need to revisit the 26/2007 Planning Act which regulates spatial planning in Indonesia. Currently, there is a gap between dynamic urbanisation and the institutional capacity to manage growth, both at national and local levels.
Perhaps most importantly, research and appropriate planning tools for the relocation and development of the new capital need to be executed ex-ante rather than ex-post. Given the immense complexity of the project, every effort should be taken to anticipate unintended consequences and mitigate them. This is important because moving a capital city is not just a matter of moving government offices and buildings, but also transforming the lives of people.
[This is an adapted version of ISEAS Perspective 2022/69 published on 7 July 2022. The paper and its references can be accessed at this link.]
Source: https://fulcrum.sg/the-nusantara-project-prospects-and-challenges


text:
The social networking sites have opened a new way we interact with people. Sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and LinkedIn allow us to keep in touch with friends, family, coworkers, and at the same time meet new people. Although this interaction is not in person, there are still social norms governing responsibility and appropriate behavior when using these services.
Paying your bills online is easy. It frees up time, saves money and makes your life easier. You have several options when it comes to paying your bills online.
Email is an extremely important and effective communications tool online. There are numerous sites that provide free web based email-including Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail. The following tutorials teach you how to create an email account.
The internet has become an essential part of our day to day. It allows us to do many activities from the comfort of your own home, like shopping, paying bills, making bank transfers, renting and watching movies, and even being in contact with people living across the world. But despite all the positive aspects of the Internet, it is important to remember the potential risks that lie in this technology.
Your Desktop Computer and/ or lap top should come with instructions for set-up and installation. The following guide serves as a supplement to your user guide that accompanies your computer.
Cambia tu Futuro 1133 19th Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036 Tel: (202) 833-6130 Copyright © 2023 LULAC. All rights reserved.
Powered by ARCOS | Design by Plus Three

subset: commoncrawl


text:
An Intelligent Workplace Can Help Finance Leaders Navigate the COVID-19 Turbulence and Future Disruptions
Subscriber Content
When Protiviti conducted a top risks survey among more than 1,000 executives and board members in the third quarter of 2019, few had imagined the risks they'd be facing today brought by COVID-19. More than half of the finance professionals who attended a webinar on creating an intelligent workplace said they never saw this type of disruption coming. Less than a quarter had a vague awareness of a possible event like this affecting their business, and only 5% considered it a top risk before it happened.
This article shares the top five 2020 financial services industry risks and describes what methods finance leaders need to weather the COVID-19 crisis and inoculate against stagnation.


text:
D3DGear 5.00.2318 Crack Plus (100% Working) Serial Key [2022]
D3DGear 5.00.2318 Crack is a fast game video-saving application. It enables users to record gameplay to film without decreasing the game. D3DGear free download has a minimum efficiency effect on the game and might not trigger a game to separate or drop framework price. D3DGear full version latest 2022 is a fast game-saving application for COMPUTER. It enables users to document game play to film with no delaying lower the game. D3DGear Free game recording functionality has minimum efficiency impact on the game; it might not cause a video game to separate or drop a lot of frame price.
D3DGear Crack game-producing functionality supports mic recording, Push-To-Talk documenting, and encounter camera contribution recording. D3DGear License Code 2022 is a very lightweight application. You are going not to observe that it is operating on your COMPUTER. It will also not cause any lag throughout the gameplay. This way, you can concentrate on your video game while it is going to, record all your go.
D3DGear Crack Keygen
D3DGear Serial Key is the software specially developed for recording video games. Moreover, recording the game at a fast speed has no harmful impact on the system or the game performance. This way captures the challenging quest and guides the other player to pass such a situation. Precede the recording in popular video formats such as the WMV or AVI. Upload the recorded video on the social streaming websites. Note that it always delivers the same game quality as the original game. Furthermore, record each part of the game with a clear voice. As a result, record games and add commentary to the video, which makes the video interesting from all aspects.
D3DGear works as the most famous plugin that satisfies a lot of gamers and puts on them in their comfort zone. Plus, as the user launches this application, it starts working and automatically records all the games. Although this is an excellent game recorder, it still offers the choice to take a snapshot of the most critical moments. Hence, receive the output in the 3D form: the beside, the stylish, and the wonderfully decorated interface that appreciates the great workflow.
Features Key:
- D3DGear utilizes a highly successful recording powerplant; they have much less efficient influence while documenting.
- Document and blend game audio enables to change of the volume level of game audio.
- The important recent version of this system allows you to document all pc activities, pressed keys,
- gameplay, movie creating, and numerous other items.
- Save top-quality movies with little file dimension.
- You can measure the framerate of every game at the same time.
- Facilitates coding that enables multi-thread so that it is easy to customize posts.
- Document graphically intensive video games.
- Capture amusement screen catch by mashing hotkey.
- Permit conserve audio comments in the individual track, which is 2nd is noise.
What Is New In D3DGear 5.00.2318?
- There is an enhancement for the Oculus Rift VR Gameplay recording.
- There are many more VR Gameplay 3D SBS HD Movies recorded using the D3DGear Oculus Rift VR recording function.
- Some other enhancement that ensures the Constant Frame Rate (CFR) movie.
- Remove the error that the green chroma key is working.
- More issues are fixed concerning the DirectX12 game.
System requirements
- 2 GHz or higher processor
- 2 GB or other advanced RAM
- 10 GB of hard disk space is mandatory.
Software Info:
- Title: D3DGear Crack
- Release Date: 2022
- Operating system: ( Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, XP, Vista ) Both 32 / 64 Bit
- File Size: 5.2 MB
- Language: English
- Category: Game Recorder
- License: Download Cracked
- Latest Version: 5.00.2318
- Website: idmcracksetup
How To Crack??
- Download the current version of the D3DGear from the given link here.
- Install the complete setup.
- After that, download the crack.
- Now get the crack and move to the installed folder.
- That's all. Enjoy!


text:
Birmingham, AL
Bressler is a proud sponsor of the Special Equestrians Boots and Black Tie Gala on April 21, 2018 at Windwood Equestrian in Pelham, Alabama. Each year the event is held at a local stable and showcases the beautiful horses of the Birmingham area, all while raising funds for Special Equestrians.
From the Special Equestrians website:
The mission of Special Equestrians, Inc. is to provide high quality therapeutic horseback riding and equine assisted activities to persons with physical, mental, developmental, and emotional disabilities.
For more information about Special Equestrians, please visit their website.


text:
Liu, Yia-Ping, Wilkinson, Lawrence S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9337-6124 and Robbins, Trevor W. 2017. 'Waiting impulsivity' in isolation-reared and socially-reared rats: effects of amphetamine. Psychopharmacology 234 (9-10) , pp. 1587-1601. 10.1007/s00213-017-4579-8 |
Preview |
- Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB) | Preview |
Background Rats reared in social isolation exhibit various cognitive and behavioural abnormalities in adulthood. However, impulsivity following this treatment still remains unclear, especially in response to medications used in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, such as amphetamine. Methods Using an isolation-rearing (IR) manipulation, the present study examined the effects of IR on impulsive action and impulsive choice when also treated with doses of d-amphetamine, by employing the five-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT) and a temporal discounting of reward task (TDRT), respectively. Results IR rats showed similar acquisition of the 5-CSRTT. Amphetamine increased premature responding in both groups; however, IR rats showed less responding overall. For the TDRT, IR rats revealed a greater preference for the large but delayed reward during task acquisition (i.e. were less impulsive) with a higher rate of nose poking during the delay, and exhibited a compressed dose-response function (i.e. reduced dose sensitivity) for amphetamine. Discussion Impulsive action and impulsive choice were reduced in IR rats under certain conditions, and a blunted response to d-amphetamine was found on these measures. These reductions in impulsivity contrast with locomotor hyperactivity normally shown in IR rats and the findings have implications for the utility of IR as a model of psychopathology.
Item Type: | Article |
Date Type: | Publication |
Status: | Published |
Schools: | Psychology Medicine Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute (NMHRI) |
Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | Isolation rearing Social deprivation Impulsivity Behavioural inhibition, Amphetamine, Dopamine, Five-choice serial reaction time task, Reward temporal discounting ADHD |
Additional Information: | This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. |
Publisher: | Springer Verlag |
Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 1 March 2017 |
Date of Acceptance: | 20 February 2017 |
Last Modified: | 22 May 2023 19:00 |
URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/98657 |
Citation Data
Cited 16 times in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data
Actions (repository staff only)
Edit Item |


text:
Second Round of Economic Impact Payments
As of Monday, January 4th, 2021 the Internal Revenue Service will begin distributing a second round of economic impact payments (stimulus checks) via direct deposit to people with account information on file. We have an understanding that deposits should continue in weekly batches similar to how they were deposited in April 2020. You should receive your stimulus check the same way you received it in April 2020. Checks may go out faster this time due to many people updating their direct deposit information in the spring. Just because deposits begin this week, does not mean everyone will receive a deposit.
Checks will be in the amount of $600.00, although lawmakers are considering legislation that would increase the amount. If Congress passes a bill that would increase the amount of the Economic Impact Payments, you will receive the remaining amount at a later date.
We are unaware of who will receive payments and when. The easiest and fastest way to check for your economic impact payment is through Home Teller (online banking). Home Teller offers real-time information on deposits and withdrawals. Electronic IRS direct deposits post Monday through Friday, first thing in the morning. They will not post on weekends or bank holidays.
If you do not have direct deposit information on file with the IRS, you should receive a paper check in the mail. Paper checks may go out later than direct deposit. The IRS anticipates the Get My Payment tool will be available in the coming days to track your payment and/or update any direct deposit information.
The IRS is urging taxpayers to be on the lookout for scams regarding the economic impact payments. Remember, the IRS will not call, text, or email you looking for personal banking information. Also, be aware of emails with links or attachments claiming to have information regarding the economic impact payments. Please remember to never give out bank account information, social security numbers, etc. over the phone.
Be aware that with deposits beginning next week, we expect longer wait times in the drive-thru and high phone call volume. Also, to continue to keep our lobbies open, we ask that members adhere to social distancing guidelines and members must wear masks to enter a branch location. If members are unable to wear a mask, please utilize our drive-thru and online and telephone banking.
We thank you for your patience during this unusual time. We remain centered on serving our members knowing we have a responsibility to keep members and employees healthy.
For more information regarding economic impact payments, please visit the IRS website.


text:
Back 4 Blood has done a lot of things right, it has captured the essence of the Left 4 Dead franchise perfectly. It hasn't just captured the essence of Left 4 Dead though, it has built upon and improved the games. One way in which it has done so is with the atmosphere of the game. Left 4 Dead had a decent atmosphere but it wasn't one of the strong points of the franchise. The games had their moments. There's nothing like hearing a Witch in Left 4 Dead but overall the games were probably held back by the time.
Back 4 Blood with all of the new generation improvements has nailed the atmosphere that Left 4 Dead lacks compared to today's games. The improved graphics, sounds, and lighting all work wonders to really pull you into the game. There may not be a Witch equivalent, which to be honest is disappointing (get a warlock in there Turtle Rock!), but there's nothing like hearing any of the special ridden coming after you in Back 4 Blood. The creepy feeling that the sounds of the game create is magnificent.
Then, we have what on the surface seems like a very minor change, but what has added a surprising amount to the atmosphere of the game. The flashlight. In Left 4 Dead the flashlight is turned on and off by the player. In Back 4 Blood it is purely automatic. It'll turn on if you go into a very dark closet but otherwise it's off. This keeps the entire world in relative darkness for almost the whole time you're playing. It adds a lot to the feel of the game. It's probably something that could not have easily been done on 2007 Xbox/PC technology but I'm very thankful to have it now.
Back 4 Blood feels like a zombie movie in more ways than Left 4 Dead ever could. I have a feeling that Back 4 Blood will be the perfect game to play this Halloween.


text:
Michael Watson originally started working in long case clock restoration, before going on to train in instrument making at West Dean College in West Sussex for three years, studying with Roger Rose and Christopher Challen. He was subsequently awarded a grant by the Crafts Council for a further year of research and development. In 1987, Michael set up his own workshop in Hastings, mainly making baroque and modern cellos and, in 1992, he was selected by the Royal Northern College of Music to build the RNCM Baroque Orchestra, comprising 14 violins, 6 violas, 4 cellos and 2 double basses. Having completed the Baroque Orchestra, Michael spent five years sharing a workshop with guitar maker Peter Barton in Addingham, West Yorkshire, before settling in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, restoring and making copies of fine Italian instruments for professional musicians, students and discerning players. Michael also worked at Vernons Violins for over ten years as a restorer, before joining the Ayres Violins workshop in January 2014, swiftly becoming an integral part of the Ayres team.
Michael's instruments are known for their fine sound quality, which has been compared to instruments by the old masters. He searches for top quality wood from the best European sources, whilst making all of his own varnish from the raw materials, producing, as a result, instruments of outstanding individual character. Michael is also busy with commissions and, most notably, made a cello for the eminent cellist Martin Lovett of the world famous Amadeus Quartet.
Ayres Violins Ltd Registered Office & Shop 69-71 School Lane, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6WN Company Number 8282730 Registered in England and Wales TEL/FAX: 0161 448 1860 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Opening Hours: Mon to Fri: 9am - 5pm by appointment only. Sat & Sun: Closed


text:
Application Deadline: March 28, 2021
The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Aquatic Sciences Center (UW), home to the University of Wisconsin Water Resources and Sea Grant Institutes, and in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) seek postdoctoral and post-master's candidates interested in tackling timely science and policy challenges related to water resources management and human health in Wisconsin. Together, these programs will fund a Wisconsin Water Resources Science-Policy Fellow position. This program places a recent master's or doctoral graduate within a state program full-time for one to two years, with the Fellow bringing technical skills to address water issues and tackle related public health challenges and receiving valuable real-world science-policy experience from the resource professionals who will serve as mentors. This mutually beneficial partnership will result in advancing science to support public health policy decisions as well as valuable training opportunities for new professionals entering the work force.
Read more here


text:
Last Updated on 2020/11/03
For centuries Lijiang was the center of Naxi culture, today it is a tourist capital.
Lijiang Ancient City is located in the Lijiang Municipality of Yunnan province in southwest China. It sits in the middle of Lijiang flatland on Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. It covers an area of 3.8 square kilometers and with an elevation of 2,400 meters.
Table of Contents
- 1 Lijiang Ancient City Basic Information
- 2 Overview of Lijiang Ancient City
- 3 Entrance of the Ancient Town of Lijiang
- 4 The design of the ancient city
- 5 Square Market (actually a Square leading to all directions)
- 6 Kegong Archway
- 7 Residential House of Naxi People
- 8 Mu's Mansion (The Mansion of Magistrate Mu)
- 9 Dongba Culture
- 10 Ancient Naxi Music
- 11 Words and Expressions
Lijiang Ancient City Basic Information
Geographic location: in Lijiang City (administrative city)
Scenic status: a national historical and cultural city; a world cultural heritage
Tour time: 1 day
Travel Tips
- As a plateau region, Lijiang has a high daily range of temperature. One needs to have warm clothes for early morning and night.
- Be fully prepared for high altitude reaction and strong ultraviolet rays.
- The Best season for travel is autumn.
Map of Lijiang old town
Recommended Tour Route
The entrance of Lijiang Ancient Town → Square Market → Ke-Gong Archway → Residential House of Naxi People → The Mansion of Magistrate Mu → Naxi Ancient Music Hall → the Black Dragon Pool
Key Points
bridges and rivers, Square Market, Ke-gong Archway, a residential house of Naxi people, Dongba culture, Naxi ancient music.
Overview of Lijiang Ancient City
Built in the late Song Dynasty and the early Yuan Dynasty (about 13th century), Lijiang Ancient City has no city walls, thus it is the only Ancient city of this kind. It rests its head on the Lion Mountain in the west and borders on the Elephant Mountain in the north. Surrounded by green hills, the city looks like a jade ink slab, so it is also called Dayan (Big Ink Slab) Town. In the past, Lijiang was a trading center and an important market in the district. People lived in this ancient city were mostly of Naxi nationality.
The city is well-known for its layout, too. Square Market is the center of the city and five main streets (Xinhua Street, Wuyi Street, Qiyi Street, Xinyi Street, and Guangyi Street) lead into all directions. Alleys and paths run through the whole city forming a road web.
The water from the Black Dragon Pool is utilized well. The crystal clear water flows through the buildings in three major separate channels (the East River, the Middle River, and the West River) and many other minor rivers. Thus, the view was described as "rivers surrounding every house and willows in front of every family", a best-known scene of south China. Rivers and bridges can be seen everywhere in the city. There are 93 bridges in each square kilometer. The best-known bridges built in Ming and Qing Dynasties (14 -19th century) are Suocui Bridge, Dashi Bridge, Wanzi Bridge, Nanmen Bridge, Ma'an Bridge, and Renshou Bridge. For this reason, Lijiang Ancient City is called "Gaoyuan Gusu" (the Plateau Suzhou).
The roads in the city are paved with mottled slabs, easy for walking and cleaning.
The common dwellings in the ancient city are mostly two-storied wooden buildings designed in a courtyard with houses on three sides and a screen wall on one side forming five patios. They integrate the architectural styles of the Han, the Bai, the Tibetan and other nationalities. The system of wooden brackets in Naxi building is so special that the houses wouldn't fall if the wall collapsed. This means that many buildings withstood earthquakes and the ancient city was not destroyed by earthquakes.
The Mu's Mansion (the mansion of a ruler of Naxi nationality) was rebuilt after the earthquake in 1996. Xu Xiake praised the original mansion as: "the magnificence of the mansion can be compared to that of a prince's residence." The mansion's majesty, grandness and spectacular appearance remind people of the cultural prosperity and the special power of chieftain Mu among other chieftains in southwest China for the 470 years and 22 generations of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Lijiang Ancient City became a famous historical and cultural city for its centuries-old history, rich cultural relics and historic sites, and brilliant ethnic cultures. In 1997, the city was declared a UNESCO World Culture Heritage Site.
In Yuquan (Jade Spring) Park at the edge of the city, there are still architectural complexes of the Ming and the Qing dynasties, namely, Wufeng Pavilion (Five Phoenix Pavilion), Guangbi Pavilion, Xietuoling Gate Tower, and the Deyue Pavilion. At the side of the park is the Lijiang Museum of Dongba Culture, and the Institute of Dongba Culture where the artistic charm of the living hieroglyph —— the Dongba Hieroglyph, appeals to visitors. In August 2003, Dongba ancient books and literature were declared the World Written Record Heritage. Roaming in the city, couplets written in Dongba Hieroglyph catch one's eyes, the plain and elegant Naxi Music can be heard making one feel like walking in the past.
In Baisha Village, 8 kilometers north of Dayan Ancient City, and the Suhe Town, 4 kilometers northwest of Dayan Ancient City, there are two ancient residential complexes, which is part of Lijiang Ancient City. The Dabaoji Palace and the Liuli Palace still reserve the famous Baisha Wall Painting. Both palaces are the national cultural relic protection units.
Entrance of the Ancient Town of Lijiang
As there are no city walls, the ancient town of Lijiang is accessible in all directions. The main entrance visitors often take now is in the north. A square has been opened at this entrance. On the right side, there is a screen wall imitating the wall of the residential house of Lijiang with China's former chairman Jiang Zeming's handwriting. A dragon water pole was built further to the screen wall to fulfill people's desire for preventing fire. This is because most houses in the town are wooden structures and people believe that water overcomes fire while dragon controls water.
In front of the screen wall, a big waterwheel is turning round and round constantly pushing the water from the Black Dragon Pool. In the past, waterwheels scattered here and there in the ancient city. Now people in remote areas of Lijiang are still using them.
Nearby stands the statue of the world heritage logo. The circle represents the earth and nature; the square symbolizes the civilization created by human beings. The connection of the circle and the square expresses people's wish for harmony between man and nature. The relief wall on its right side shows the daily life of people in the Ancient Town of Baisha, Suhe, and Dayan. On the wall, the scenes demonstrating culture and life of Lijiang such as Baisha Wall Painting, Square Market of Suhe and Dayan towns, the Big Stone Bridge (Dashiqiao), Dongba Pictographs, Naxi Music Performance, farming, residential houses are all carved.
On the ground is the Bage Diagram, which is also named Frog Diagram. On the basis of the theory of Five Elements, Naxi people created this diagram for the purpose of divination. The frog in the middle, with an arrow thrusting through it, symbolizes five directions, elements, and colors. Scriptures for divination are carved on the back of the frog, around the frog, there are twelve animals arranged in accordance with the five elements. Naxi people use this special divination diagram to explain nature and predict the future.
The design of the ancient city
The construction of the ancient town is based on the river system in its natural way. The river Yuhe separates from here into west, middle, and east branches and these run through the town. Unlike traditional towns in China that are complete and square in the form of a chessboard, all the streets and houses in Lijiang ancient town are built along rivers and hills and extend naturally. The beauty of this special structure lies in its integrity of man and nature. If you get lost in the town, just go against the stream. You will find your way out. Bridges, rivers, and households are the special attraction of the ancient town of Lijiang.
Bridges, rivers, and households depend on each other to give life to the ancient town of Lijiang. The essence of the town is the local residents, the Naxi people. Walking along the road of mottled slabs in the town, Naxi women wearing their loose gowns with dark-colored vest, a plaited apron in front and goatskin cape on their backs are the common eye-catching scenes. Some of them are doing business, some are embroidering and others are playing cards. They are enjoying their time after many years of backbreaking hard work. Staying in groups, these stout Naxi women in their costumes are a unique sight in the ancient town of Lijiang.
Square Market (actually a Square leading to all directions)
Though named Square Market, it is actually a square leading to all directions. It is the heart of the ancient town, the trading center and cultural center for the Naxi people. In the past, merchants from nearby counties like Heqing, Jianchuan, and Dali come here to do business during the day. At night, Naxi people would get together on this square to dance and sing. It used to be one of the most important towns on the Old Tea-horse Caravan Road. The remains from the bustling business are still to be found in the names of the trading sections. For example, the bridge in front of the Kegong Archway is called "Bean Trading Bridge" and the bridge in the southwest of the square is called "Egg Trading Bridge".
Now, the Square Market is still a busy trading center with tourism booming in this small town. One could buy souvenirs of many kinds, such as minority costumes, fur products, tea, brass, silver vessels, and Dongba paintings.
Kegong Archway
This archway is built with a donation from people to commemorate the Yang family living in the small lane for having three successful candidates in the imperial civil service examination. Since 1723, the Qing Court adopted the policy of sending officials to the minority areas instead of employing local chieftains. This had greatly encouraged people in minority areas to take part in the civil service examination. Within 180 years from 1723 to the abolition of the civil service examination system in the late Qing Dynasty, Lijiang had had more than 60 successful candidates at the provincial level and 6 at the highest level. Three successful candidates from one family were common in central China but an important event in Lijiang, a minority area that had long been ruled by chieftains. To celebrate this, the local government and people together built a two-storied archway. One more story was added to it when Mr. He Genji became the last successful candidate in the highest imperial civil service examination. This archway is an evidence of Naxi people's reverence for culture and knowledge.
Residential House of Naxi People
The ancient town of Lijiang is an exhibit of classic Chinese urban architecture — wood and stone, tile roofs, sliding doors, small walled compounds with ornate gate and interior garden. Most of the Naxi houses are two-storied wood-and-stone structures. The houses are typically laid out either in the form of Sanfang Yi Zhaobi (a courtyard with rooms on three sides and a screen wall in the front) or Sihe Wu Tianjin (a big courtyard encircled by rooms and four smaller courtyards).
Naxi houses always have protruding rafters and exposed beams, which are covered at both ends with a "wind-and-fire board" for the sake of protecting and decorating the beams. At each apex of the roof a carved, often painted, and symbolic pair of fish hangs down. Some are stylized shapes while some are quite detailed. The fish represents water and is supposed to magically protect the house from the fire of the lightning demon. It is also supposed to be a pun in Chinese for "felicity and surplus every year".
Special attention is given to the decoration of each particular part of the house. For example, windows are decorated with wood carvings, screen walls are inlaid with marbles or painted with Chinese paintings, the beam-ends is carved into animal heads, and the grounds of the courtyard center are paved with pebbles in traditional designs. The houses integrate function and arts with typical ethnic styles.
To build a house of one's own is one of the important goals for Naxi people. They spend all their savings on houses so that the houses become something to be proud of. Visiting Naxi people's house and finding out the particular beauty is always appreciated and it is a pleasant experience for visitors.
Both government and people have made a great effort in protecting Naxi dwellings. To prevent this valuable legacy of Naxi culture from disappearing, 32 Naxi compounds are under national protection at present.
Mu's Mansion (The Mansion of Magistrate Mu)
The Mansion of chieftain Mu in the Ming Dynasty (1368—1644) is a cultural showcase of Lijiang ancient city. Situated in the southwest of the town, it is a grand architectural complex in the style of the Forbidden City of the Northern Song Dynasty (960~1120).
In the history of Lijiang, magistrate Mu had reigned for more than four hundred years. During his reign, he built a magnificent palace at the foot of the Lion Mountain, which is supposed to be an auspicious place. The Palace is called Mu's Mansion after the surname of the magistrate "Mu". It is surrounded on three sides by three rivers, the north river, east river and south river.
Before entering the Palace, one comes to a wooden archway on which four Chinese characters, "tian yu liu fang" are written. Magistrate Mugong of the Ming Dynasty originally wrote the words. The present handwriting is of Mr. Li Qunjie, a Naxi calligrapher and Chairman of Calligraphy Association of Yunnan. This expression can be interpreted differently in Mandarin and in Naxi language. In Mandarin, it means "emperor's kindness is so great that it moistens the whole land of the country like spring rain". In Naxi Language, it means, "go ahead on reading books". It is a cleverly made pun with two languages which shows Naxi people's respect for knowledge.
The first construction to come across after entering the Mu's Mansion is a stone archway called "zhongyi archway" (the archway of loyalty and righteousness). It is delicate in carving and magnificent in a structure in the form of traditional Chinese archway. It was built under the order of Emperor in the Ming Dynasty in praise for Magistrate Mu's great tribute and his loyalty to the court. Local people compare it to the Three Pagodas in Dali for its great design and workmanship. The archway was destroyed in the Cultural Revolution and the present one was rebuilt in 1998.
Along the axis lie 162 archways, gates, halls, and pavilions. The whole mansion is divided into a frontcourt and a backcourt. The frontcourt includes the Meeting Hall, Scripture Hall, and Hufa Hall (Family Meeting Hall). The backcourt is made up of Guangbi Tower, Yuyin Tower, and Saqin Pavilion that leads all the way to the Lion Mountain. The Meeting Hall is the place for magistrate to handle administration; the Scripture Hall reserves thousands of Dongba Scriptures and hundreds of Buddhist Scriptures; the Hufa Hall is the hall for Mu's family meetings; Guangbi Tower is the back garden gate tower; Yuyin Tower is the place for receiving emperor's order and holding parties, Sanqing Pavilion, a Daoist temple, reflects Magistrate Mu's respect to Daoism.
On the Lion Mountain, there are old cypresses among which magistrate Mu worshiped heaven, ancestor, and nature. The palace is the embodiment of the Ming architectural style, the Tang and Song architectural style, and the Naxi traditional culture. It fully reflects the toleration of Naxi culture to other cultures.
Dongba Culture
Culture is the soul of Lijiang ancient town. Dongba culture is an integral part of the Naxi culture, referred to as the ancient culture of Naxi people. It is called so because it is mostly found in the Dongba religion, which is believed to be one thousand years old. It chiefly consists of scriptures, paintings, music, dances, ritual implements and religious services.
Dongba script, a kind of pictograph, possessing more than 1,400 characters, is believed to be the only well-preserved living pictographic language in the world. It is a precious cultural heritage of mankind. About 40,000 volumes of Dongba scriptures have been found today, all written in Dongba pictographic characters. These scriptures are kept in the libraries or museums in Lijiang, Kunming, Nanjing, Beijing, Taiwan, the United States, Britain, Germany, and France respectively.
Dongba scriptures have covered a wide range of knowledge. They are precious references of the study of the ancient philosophy, religion, folklore, history, art and literature of the Naxi nationality.
The Dongba Dance chart, recorded in Dongba pictographs, is among the earliest of its kind in the world. Dongba paintings are chiefly of three kinds: wood board painting, paperboard painting, and scroll painting. Among them, the scroll painting is best known with its representative work "the Sacred Journey".
Ancient Naxi Music
The Naxi nationality, since ancient time, has created its own music and preserved part of the Han classical music already lost in the inland China.
Naxi Music is an art crystallized from the integration of different cultures. It constitutes Baisha Xiyue and Dongjing music in Lijiang. One theory holds that Baisha Xiyue is the indigenous Naxi music possessing pieces named du, a letter, and sanjisi. The tunes are slow, relaxed, deep and exceedingly sentimental, which are often played on funeral occasions. While Dongjing music is the integration of the court music of the Tang dynasty and Daoist music introduced to Lijiang in the Ming Dynasty from central China. It has music pieces such as Wind Rushing along the River, the Sheep on the Hill, and Song of Water and Dragon.
Because of the special geographical location and people's love for music, the long lost Chinese music is well preserved in this remote area, Lijiang. The music is honored as "the living fossil of Chinese music" and known far and wide. The characteristics of Naxi music is summarized in "three treasures", the ancient music pieces, the ancient musical instruments, and the highly aged players.
There are dozens of troupes of Naxi Music in the ancient town of Lijiang and around. The places one could go to attend Naxi Music concert in the ancient town are Dayan Naxi Music Committee and Dongba Palace.
Words and Expressions
altitude reaction 高原反应
ultraviolet rays 紫外线
pictograph n. 象形文字
hieroglyph n. 象形文字
matriarchal n. 女家长的
dwelling n. 住处
patio n. 天井
waterwheel n. 水车
Bage Diagram 八格图
Frog Diagram 蛙格图
the theory of Five Elements 五行说
eye-catching adj. 引人注目的
souvenir n. 纪念品
rafter n. 椽子
mansion n. 大厦,宫邸
Dabaoji Palace 大宝积宫
Kegong Archway 科贡坊
"tian yu liu fang" 天雨流芳
Baisha Xiyue 白沙细乐
Wind Rushing Along the River 浪淘沙
the Sheep on the Hill 山坡羊
Song of Water and Dragon 水龙吟
Dayan Naxi Music Committee 大研纳西古乐会
"the Sacred Journey" 东巴神路图
Photos: Matteo Damiani, Oliver Huang, Dominique Musorrafiti


text:
Corbin in OPACY:
"Patrick today didn't deserve that," manager Davey Martinez said after the Nationals' starter gave up eight hits and nine runs, two earned, in 3 1⁄3 IP against the Phillies the last time out for the 32-year-old lefty before tonight.
"I think Patrick deserves a little bit better than that," he reiterated, pointing to errors in the third, which opened the floodgates in a seven-run inning, and the Phils added to the lead with two more in the top of the fourth before Corbin's outing ended with the southpaw up to 84 pitches.
"He gave up seven unearned runs, [46] pitches later. He could have been out of the [third] inning with like 11-12 pitches."
It was 11. Then an E:4, two-run home run, a bunch of hits, a walk, another error, and Corbin, as he put it, as quoted by MASN's Mark Zuckerman, "kind of was just shot after that."
Three of the first four hitters he faced tonight reached base, with back-to-back singles by Austin Hays and Trey Mancini to start the bottom of the first, and Hays scored on a 1-out, RBI double to right field by Ryan Mountcastle, who battled the Nats' lefty for nine pitches before bouncing one off the right field wall to drive Hays in, 1-0.
Austin Hays led the Orioles' third off with a home run to left on an 0-2 slider over the middle of the plate in the bottom of the inning, 2-0. No. 10 for Hays in 2022.
Just another visit to The Great Wall of Baltimore pic.twitter.com/8rWGGFsJ1t
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 23, 2022
One out later, it was a 3-0 sinker to Anthony Santander which went out, 414 feet out, to left-center this time, for the second HR of the inning for the O's and a 3-0 lead.
GREEN LIGHT pic.twitter.com/TkpkKU8PmU
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 23, 2022
Hays tripled off the right field wall on a first-pitch sinker with two out in the fourth, but he was stranded at the end of a 10-pitch frame which ended Corbin's outing...
Patrick Corbin's Line: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 Ks, 2 HRs, 83 P, 63 S, 2/3 GO/FO.
Wells vs Washington:
Tyler Wells, 27, took the mound tonight in OPACY with a four-start unbeaten streak going, in which he'd put up a 2.45 ERA, a 4.72 FIP, six walks, 11 Ks, and a .180/.238/.359 line against in 22 IP, and the right-hander had a 3.62 ERA, a 4.32 FIP, and a .234/.274/.396 line against in 13 starts and 59 2⁄3 IP overall on the year in his second year with the O's, after he was selected from the Minnesota Twins (who'd drafted him in 15th Round in the 2016 Draft) in the Rule 5 Draft in December of 2020.
Wells tossed two scoreless to start tonight's game, but he ran into trouble in the top of the third, with a one-out single by César Hernández and then back-to-back, two-out walks to Josh Bell and Nelson Cruz loading the bases in front of Luis García, who K'd looking at a 1-2 slider from the O's starter for out No. 3 of a 23-pitch frame which left him at 55 pitches total in three scoreless.
A 16-pitch fourth, in which he worked around a one-out single by Yadiel Hernández, and 24-pitch fifth in which he stranded Juan Soto after a one-out walk, left Wells at 95 pitches over five scoreless innings, with the Orioles up 3-0.
Tyler Wells's Line: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 Ks, 95 P, 55 S, 5/4 GO/FO.
Bullpen Action > Delay > Ballgame:
Erasmo Ramírez was warming to take over for Patrick Corbin in the bottom of the fifth when the skies over OPACY opened up and the game went into a rain delay and was eventually ... restarted at 9:45 PM, and Ramírez did come back out to the mound, and he retired the side in order to keep it a 3-0 game.
Steve Cishek got the bottom of the sixth inning, and the side-winder gave up a leadoff single by Tyler Nevin, a one-out walk to Jorge Mateo, two-run double by Austin Hays (who hit for the cycle in four at-bats with the two-base hit), 5-0.
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 23, 2022
Hays is the sixth player in franchise history to hit for the cycle! pic.twitter.com/lYZewPPGFM
And a two-run home run by Trey Mancini, 7-0 Orioles...
When it rains, it pours pic.twitter.com/tvWHMsuz53
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 23, 2022
Nationals now 25-47


text: I was completely humbled and honored to have a photograph that I captured used by Sports Illustrated as a two page spread in a story about Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby in this weeks issue. Although I have been published in SI previously, getting a two page photograph in the magazine is a goal that I set for myself every year. For the first time in my career, I can cross that goal off of my list! The photograph was taken during the Penguins victory over the Boston Bruins at the CONSOL Energy Center on March 17th, 2013. -Vincent


text:
How To Save SSL Certificate From Website?
How To Save SSL Certificate From Website? – Before we get into the topic, lets learn some basics of this topic.
How to download the SSL certificate from a website?
An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates a website and enables a secure encrypted connection to be established. Websites can be made more secure by using SSL certificates. HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP, and HTTPS websites are those that use SSL/TLS to encrypt their traffic.
Let's look at how to get an SSL certificate for any secured portal on both Windows and Mac in this tutorial.
Follow the steps to download the SSL certificate in Windows using the Chrome browser
- Since this is a secured network, open a Chrome browser and enter the portal address with HTTPS.
- For instance, go to https://MyServer.esri.com.
- Now, on the left of the URL, click the lock button to see the Certificate (valid)
- To access the following popup, click View Certificate.
- Go to the Certification Path page and look at the certificate chain there.
- Select the parent certificate and double-click it.
- Select Copy to File… from the Details pane, which will launch the Certificate Export Wizard.
- Click Next, then select the Base-64 encoded format you want to use, and then click Next.
- Click Save after selecting the directory where the certificate should be saved.
- When you click Finish, you'll see that the export was successful. Click OK.
- Now go to the directory where the certificate was saved, and send it as an attachment to anyone via email, where they can install it on their device.
Note: Internet Explorer can be used to complete the same tasks.
Using the Safari browser on a Mac, follow the steps to download the SSL certificate.
- Because this is a secure network, open a Safari browser and enter the portal address with HTTPS.
- If you don't have the certificate installed yet, you should get a warning message.
- Select Show Details and then the link. Look at the certificate.
- A window containing the certificate's details will appear.
- Simply drag and drop the thumbnail onto your computer's desktop.
- You can now send this as an attachment through email to anyone and install it on the appropriate device as needed.


text:
Chelsea interim manager Roberto di Matteo has expressed his confidence that star striker Didier Drogba will be fit for the crucial second leg encounter with Barcelona at the Camp Nou. Drogba scored the only goal of the game in the first leg encounter between the two clubs at Stamford Bridge.
The goal that came in the injury time a first half has provided Chelsea with a lead to protect when they go to the Camp Nou. Chelsea played a very defensive formation at Stamford Bridge, and Drogba also helped out in defence. However, he was absent for the match against Arsenal during the weekend after picking up a knock in the Barcelona match.
Yet, Roberto di Matteo has said that Chelsea should expect to have Drogba back in the side when they take on Barcelona in the second leg. It is going to be extremely tough for Chelsea to get into the final of the Champions League, but they have definitely given them a chance with the Drogba goal. If Chelsea to go through to the final beating Barcelona, then it would be one of the biggest achievements of the club in recent seasons because many adjudge Barcelona to be the best team in the world.
"At this moment of time, I don't know. We'll have to assess the players over the course of the weekend. He has an injury on his knee, which is why he did not play here, so it's whether the progression on this injury will be quick enough for him to feature," said Roberto di Matteo after the 0-0 draw with Arsenal. Theo Walcott managed to rupture his hamstring in the match, which is likely to rule him out of the Euro 2012. Arsene Wenger expressed his disappointment after losing the 23-year-old star for the rest of the season.


text:
As he prepares to return to the faculty later this year, Dean Steve Matson shares his perspective on graduate education at Carolina
Editor's note: After a decade of exceptional service to The Graduate School, Dean Steve Matson will step down in 2018. In this column, he shares his perspective on a decade of change and achievement at Carolina. His thoughtful leadership will be greatly missed.
It has been 10 years since I was appointed dean of The Graduate School. Much has changed in those 10 years. My hair is grayer, my children are older and now I have grandchildren. My dedication to our outstanding graduate students, though, has remained constant. I have gained valuable perspective on the role and importance of graduate education in our fast-paced world. I want to share some of those thoughts as I prepare to return to my faculty position in the biology department later this year.
Graduate education has never been more important for our economy and our stature in the world than it is today. Solutions to the challenges we face often have their roots in graduate schools across the country. Our graduate schools are epicenters of discovery, innovation and dissemination of new ideas, new medicines, new strategies for tackling societal problems, new devices to make our lives better, and the list goes on and on. We must continue to view our graduate schools as national treasures and ensure that they remain the best in the world.
One of the most significant changes I've seen is that graduate schools across the country, and certainly at Carolina, have become much more than administrative units that manage the admission, enrollment and graduation of post-baccalaureate students. Graduate schools today lead change and ensure that centralized services are in place to provide professional development, support and enhance diversity and inclusion, and award (and help students identify) funding for academic needs. We depend on our partnerships with friends of graduate education, who inspire us with their own commitment to graduate students.
The fundamental importance of graduate education in the 21st century has led to significant expansion in careers requiring graduate degrees during the past 10 years; our alumni now enjoy job opportunities well beyond the professoriate. And our students are taking advantage of these opportunities. The Graduate School meets this challenge by providing interdisciplinary professional development that prepares students to compete successfully in a global job market. Consequently, the professional development program has expanded – attendance has increased by more than 400 percent since 2006-07! – and is constantly evolving toward even greater effectiveness.
On a national level, providing extensive, professional development for graduate students has become the norm. I am proud to say that Carolina has been a leader in this area, beginning with my predecessor: Linda Dykstra. Led by a dedicated team in The Graduate School, and counseled by an advisory board, the professional development program is an essential resource for our graduate students. This year, we added a new Graduate Certificate in Business Fundamentals and joined the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning consortium. Our students will be well-positioned for leadership roles as they embark on their careers.
To complement this effort, our new alumni survey, currently deployed in 17 programs, will provide information on the careers our students take. Never before have we had access to data like this to feed back to graduate programs for benchmarking and program enhancement. Only a centralized unit like a graduate school can support this type of data collection and analysis effort.
The last decade has also witnessed the critical need for graduate deans to advocate for the important role of graduate education in the university and in society. The need became acute as the Great Recession began to erode the funding provided to our public universities.
Graduate deans had to master the art of advocacy at the university, local, state and federal levels to ensure that the contributions of graduate education were understood. We would all live much different lives without the discoveries and innovations that begin in our graduate schools. Just try to imagine life without a smartphone, a microwave oven and antibiotics. Graduate education is a public good, and the need to communicate that fact has never been greater.
Carolina epitomizes graduate education as a public good. It has been an honor to serve as graduate dean and to work with colleagues within The Graduate School and with faculty and staff campus-wide who are steadfast in their commitment to graduate student success. America's graduate schools are the envy of the world, and Carolina is certainly a world leader in graduate education. Together, we'll protect that distinction – and build on it – in the years to come.
Steven W. Matson, Ph.D.
Dean, The Graduate School
Professor of Biology
UNC-Chapel Hill


text:
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection is a recruitment body set up with the aim of encouraging young graduates to be recruited and placed in public sector banks in India. IBPS conducts many examinations for various clerical and officer positions and is therefore regarded as a leading organisation, especially in the field of job selection and evaluation for different positions at National Indian Banks.
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, also, offers services to various organizations such as Life Insurance Corporation of India, Other Insurance companies, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI), public sector undertakings etc.
The IBPS Clerical Examination is conducted every year by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection. This article contains details of:
IBPS Clerk 2020: Exam Notification
IBPS has released the Official Notification for IBPS Clerk 2020 Exam on 01 September 2020, to recruit more than 2550 vacancies of clerical posts in 11 public sector banks.
On 11 September 2020, the IBPS released a revised notification with increased vacancies.
IBPS Clerk 2020: Exam Highlights
Participating Organisations
IBPS Clerk 2020: Important Exam Dates (Tentative)
Pre- Exam Training: if possible to conduct
Competitors are encouraged to routinely stay in contact with the approved IBPS site for further updates.
IBPS Clerk 2020: Vacancies
Through the official notification, IBPS has announced 2557 vacancies across the country.
State-wise vacancy list
IBPS Clerk 2020: Eligibility Criteria
Age limit
Minimum age limit: 20 Years
Maximum age limit: 28 Years
The candidate's minimum age under IBPS Clerk age limit criteria must be 20 years and a candidate's maximum age should not surpass 28 years as on 01.09.2020.
Age relaxation will be applicable as per category and is given in the table below:
Every IBPS Clerk aspirant should meet any of the below criteria:
(i) A Citizen of India or
(ii) The candidates should be subject to Bhutan or Nepal.
(iii) A Tibetan refugee, who has come to India before January 1, 1962, and has the intention of permanently settling in India.
(iv) The migratory person from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Zambia, Burma, Zaire, Malawi and have the intention of permanently settling to India.
Educational Qualifications
A Degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a University recognised by the Govt. of India or any equivalent qualification recognized as such by the Central Government. Proficiency in the official language of the State/UT or which vacancies a candidate wishes to apply is preferable.
Computer Literacy
Candidates should have Certificate/ Diploma/ Degree in Computer Operations/ Language/ should have studied Computer/ Information Technology as one of the subjects in the High School/ College/ Institute.
IBPS Clerk 2020: Application Fee
The category wise fee structure for the IBPS Clerk Online application form is given below. The application fee must be paid online. The fee will not be refunded once paid.
IBPS Clerk 2020: Pre- Requisites For Online Application
Every candidate should upload the required documents while applying for IBPS Clerk.
1. Scan copy of the photograph
2. Scanned copy of the signature (signature should NOT be in capital letters)
3. Left thumb impression
4. Scanned copy of Handwritten declaration
Handwritten declaration
IBPS Clerk 2020: Steps to apply online
Step 1: Open IBPS Official website (www.ibps.in)
Step 2: Select "CRP Clerks".
Step 3: Click on the option "CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE FOR CRP- Clerks (CRP- Clerks-X)" to open the Online Application Form and you will be redirected to the online registration portal.
Step 4: Click on "CLICK HERE FOR NEW REGISTRATION".
(After successful registration, a provisional registration number and password will be generated by the system and displayed on the screen after entering the basic information in the online form. An Email & SMS indicating the Provisional Registration number and Password will also be sent).
Step 5: Log in with registration ID and Password and Verify using Captcha code.
Step 6: Click the Login Button and fill the details and complete the application form.
Step 7: Upload the images of the candidate's photograph, signature, left-hand thumb impression and a handwritten declaration.
(Once you have entered all the required details, make sure that you check twice once you submit the form as no changes will be entertained).
Step 8: Pay the application fee/intimation charge online.
(Take a printout of the e-receipt and online application for future reference. Payment can be done via credit card/debit card/net banking).
IBPS Clerk 2020: Selection process
There are generally 2 phases for selection under this post.
No interview process is required for the selection of the post of Clerk.
IBPS Clerk 2020: Exam Pattern
Preliminary Examination
Total number of questions: 100 questions
Duration of the examination: 60 minutes (1 hour)
The IBPS Clerk Preliminary exam is an online exam testing every candidate on the basis of aptitude, intellect and knowledge in the English language, under three sections.
Each candidate should clear the cut off of each section to proceed to the mains exam round. Candidates are required to solve the question paper in the stretch of 20 minutes for each section. Passing marks are determined by IBPS and vary each year depending on the difficulty level of the exam.
The marks secured in preliminary examination will not be considered for final selection.
Main Examination
Total number of questions: 190 questions
Duration of the examination: 160 minutes (2 hr 40 min)
Penalty for Wrong Answers
There will be no penalty for the question left blank or not-answered. For every wrong answer, there is a penalty for both preliminary and main examinations. The penalty is marked as a reduction of 0.25 of the total marks of the question.
The aggregate score out of 100 is used for the final merit list for each category. Candidates with top merit rank in each category are finally selected.
IBPS Clerk 2020: Exam Syllabus
IBPS Clerk Preliminary Examination syllabus (Objective Type Questions) is generally categorized into English Language, Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability and for Main Examination, the categories include questions from General/Financial Awareness, General English, Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude, and Quantitative Aptitude.
Preliminary Examination Syllabus
Main Examination Syllabus
The exam covers major 4 topics:
>> General and Financial Awareness
>> General English
>> Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude
>> Quantitative Aptitude
IBPS Clerk 2020: Pre –Examination Centres
Pre- Examination Training is designed by the Nodal Banks /Participating Organizations to a predetermined number of up-and-comers having a place with Scheduled Caste /Scheduled Tribes /Minority Communities /Ex-Servicemen /Persons With Benchmark Disabilities at certain Centres.
IBPS Clerk 2020: Exam Centres
The examination will be conducted online in venues across many centres in India. Once the application has been done, you cannot change or update the examination centre you prefer.
IBPS Clerk 2020 Exam Centres for Preliminary Examination
IBPS Clerk 2020: Exam Admit Card & Call Letter
Every candidate can download their admit card from the official website 10-15 days before the commencement of the concerned exam (Preliminary and Main examination). The hard copies will not be sent to candidates via courier/post.
The Centre, Venue, Address, Date and time for both Preliminary and Main examinations shall be intimated in the respective Call Letter. All eligible candidates should download their call letter from the authorized IBPS website by entering the Registration number and password or else, Date of Birth. There will be an additional call letter for Scribe for the Main Examination. The details will be sent to the email ID and mobile number registered in the online application form for CRP Clerks-X.
Steps to download Admit Card
Step 1: Go to the Official Website of IBPS.
Step 2: Click on "Call Letters Link"
Step 3: In the new window, enter your Registration Number/Roll Number and Date of Birth/ Password.
Step 4: Fill the Captcha Box.
Step 5: Click on the "SUBMIT" button.
>> IBPS Clerk Admit Card will be displayed on the screen<<
Save the Admit Card in PDF format or print the same as per your choice.
If there is a delay to download or to access the admit card, the reason could be a lag in internet speed or any network glitch. It also happens when a large number of candidates are downloading the admit card at the same time. Retry the function after 5-10 minutes when the network is free or the site is having less traffic.
IBPS Clerk 2020: Negative Marking and Cut Off Scores
There is sectional and overall cut off in Prelims as well as Mains Examination. A candidate has to qualify both the cut-offs in order to secure the seat for the next phase of the exam.
IBPS Clerk 2020: Declaration of Result
IBPS (Institute of Banking Staff Selection Board) declared the final results of the IBPS Clerk Prelims 2020-21 Exam on 2 January 2021.
Steps to check IBPS Clerk Prelims Result 2020
Step 1: Open the official webpage of IBPS
Step 2: Fill your roll number and date of birth
Step 3: IBPS Clerk Prelims result will be displayed on the screen.
IBPS Clerk 2020: Provisional Allotment
The provisional allotment of the eligible candidate is released on the official website. The IBPS assigns candidates to the banks on the basis of their preferences at the time of online registration.
IBPS plays a major role in the selection process. In addition, it is the duty of the respective banks to notify the selected and assigned candidates about their joining dates and further procedures.


text:
Natural cleaning solution is obviously a good product to keep the environment safe. With this products, moms especially those stay at home ones are now non-exempt in helping to keep the environment clean and make a better place to live. Come Clean is a natural cleaning solution that contains no harsh chemicals making it an eco-friendly cleaning solution. Included in the Come Clean set is a spray bottle, built-in juicer, microfiber cleaning cloth and the Clean House Green House Guide. It even comes with a reusable sticker used for labeling your cleaning mixture. Ingredients needed to create a cleaning mixture with Come Clean are not hard to find, as it can easily be found in your favorite grocery store.
Source: Full Circle Home


text:
Polly's Open House
The last few weeks I have been watching Donna, Pat, and Dr. Galvis brainstorming on how to make the Open House a success. They researched and came up with some great ideas. Paige offered to bring in her exotic pets too!
The day before the Open House, Donna and Pat came in to set everything up, but I thought they were here to visit me. After all, my home was moved from one kennel to another so I could have a better view.
Now, the day was here and everyone came in early to prepare for our guests. There was a pony to pet, kitties for adoption and a bouncy house for kids in the parking lot sponsored by the Groomery. We had balloons in our walkway and signs to welcome new and old friends. There were goodie bags for dogs and cats as well as door prizes.
I was definitely hamming it up for the Daisy Girl Scouts that came to visit. I was doing all my tricks, rolling over, and looking so cute. Sigh, no one let me out to play. I wanted to meet Paige's rat, Sheldon, but no one thought it a good idea. Sheldon and Oswald, the bearded dragon, were big hits.
What fun watching our team showing off our hospital and providing information on pet care to our community.
See you next year (maybe someone will let me come out and play).


text:
Some students living on campus had their worst fears confirmed on Tuesday after first-year University of Wisconsin-Madison student Elise Poos posted a viral TikTok of mold growth on a do-it-yourself mold test kit she placed in her Sellery Residence Hall dorm room.
To the tune of "Material Girl," Poos showed the mold growth in a petri dish while explaining that she has been sick since September.
The video has over 13,000 likes and 120,500 views as of Thursday afternoon. On Wednesday, the TikTok was also posted on Barstool Sports' UW-Madison affiliate Wisco Chicks, receiving increased attention from their nearly 21,000 followers.
"The sickness I'm experiencing is not the cold that college students warn about on TikTok," Poos told The Daily Cardinal. "It's not the frat flu; the sickness is never-ending."
Poos' symptoms include congestion, eye irritation, sneezing, a sore throat and coughing. She purchased an eight-dollar mold test from Amazon over the Thanksgiving holiday after doing some research about her symptoms and their overlap with potential mold exposure.
"I decided to get the mold test because I wasn't getting any answers regarding the sickness I was experiencing," Poos said.
After Poos followed the instructions on the kit and waited the specified amount of time, mold emerged on the petri dish.
Although not shown in the TikTok, she said that the mold continued to grow.
Concerns with Sellery Residence Hall, its ongoing construction and mold specifically have been expressed by residents for months. In an interview with The Daily Cardinal last September, Sellery resident Scarlett Marruffo expressed concerns about fellow residents' breathing problems as a result of alleged black mold. At the time, the university determined that the mold growth in the residence hall was "not uncommon."
"This fall, we evaluated Sellery with UW Environmental Health and Safety, and there was no widespread evidence of concern regarding mold, but we address every reported concern and treat rooms as needed if any surface mold is found," UW Housing Director of Marketing and Communications Brendon Dybdahl stated.
In September, UW Housing communicated to Sellery residents that "minor" mold growth had been identified in some window air conditioners and encouraged residents to submit maintenance requests if they had any concerns or opt to have Housing remove the unit, Dybdahl said.
"Sellery is notorious for being an old, busted building," Poos said. "So most things I see that make me suspicious, I just glance over."
However, while visiting home for one night in September, Poos' father woke her up because her cough was so severe. Her father, a respiratory therapist, ultimately sent her back to school with an inhaler and additional cough medicine.
Poos has also sought out medical attention, but a doctor was unable to determine the precise cause for her symptoms.
"There hasn't been a period of time since September where I felt 100% healthy," said Poos.
Dybdahl said that the department is aware of the TikTok and in contact with Poos.
Referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, Dybdahl emphasized that the organization states that individuals cannot rely on mold sampling to understand one's health risk.
"It should be noted that environmental mold is present in some form in almost every indoor environment," Dybdahl said, underscoring that at-home mold test kits, like the one utilized by Poors' are "designed" to grow mold and not a good indicator of environmental safety.
On Wednesday, Dec. 8, the Sellery Residence Life Coordinator emailed Poos about her TikTok, suggesting that she could request maintenance to take a look at her room and air conditioner.
"I'm happy they reached out and they didn't stay silent," Poos said, noting that she did submit a maintenance request after receiving the email.
Ultimately, though, Poos remains concerned about what UW Housing maintenance teams' will actually do.
"I've heard from so many people that they've had their room's checked for mold and the maintenance crew just brushed over their concern," Poos said.
Commenters on TikTok also suggested that Poos submit the petri dish to a lab to get tested.
"I simply do not have the money to send my petri dish to a lab," Poos said. "So I'll have the maintenance men of Sellery do their job."
Poos recalled a friend posting a Snapchat of a falling ceiling tile in Sellery with a black substance covering it in September. Although she was unsure whether it was confirmed to be mold, it was an immediate point of concern.
Additionally, Poos mentioned that dated features of the building, broken elevators, construction and cockroaches have marked her Sellery experience but that she is ultimately happy with the residence hall given the friends she has made.
"We all bond over our struggles," Poos said about fellow Sellery residents. "I found community within my floor."
Commenters on the viral TikTok described their experiences living in Sellery as well.
"I lived in dirty sell two years ago and we had mold then too," said user ih8hellenkeller. "It's part of the experience."
User abbysmith813 also said that they were sick "the ENTIRE year," while living in Sellery their freshman year at UW-Madison.
"Sellery is a running joke among UW students," Poos emphasized. "But it's obviously serious if my sickness is from real mold."
"The Sellery jokes are funny, but this sickness is not," Poos concluded.
Editor's note: This story was updated at 11:24 a.m. on Dec. 10, 2021 to include that the Sellery Residence Hall construction project is currently ongoing.
Sophia Vento is the former editor-in-chief of The Daily Cardinal. She previously served as the college news editor. She has covered breaking campus, city, state and sports news, and written in-depth stories about health, culture and education. Any newsroom would be lucky to have Sophia on staff. Follow her on Twitter at @sophiasvento.


text:
summary slide.png (100.5 kB)
Efficacy and Safety of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Type I Interferon-Mediated Monogenic Autoinflammatory Disorders: A Scoping Review
posted on 2021-04-13, 09:38 authored by Adis Journals on behalf of, Pedro Jesús Gómez Arias, Francisco Gómez-García, Jorge Hernández-Perada, Ana María Montilla-López, Juan Ruano, Esmerelda Parra-PeralboArticle full text
The above summary slide represents the opinions of the authors. For a full list of declarations, including funding and author disclosure statements, please see the full text online (see "read the peer-reviewed publication" opposite).
© The authors, CC-BY-NC 2021.


text:
The Community of Inquiry › Forums › CoI Research – Discussion Forum › Interrelationships between/among CoI Elements
This topic contains 3 replies, has 2 voices, and was last updated by Kadir Kozan 9 years, 8 months ago.
November 14, 2013 at 5:04 pm #649
I wanted to comment on Kadir Kozan and Jennifer Richardson's article exploring the interrelationships between the elements of the CoI framework that has been accepted for publication in The Internet and Higher Education. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1096751613000511
This is a very interesting study that helps us think through the interdependence between and among social, cognitive and teaching presence. However, I would like to focus on one aspect of the findings related to social presence. For a number of years I have argued that "there is much to understand with regard to the construct itself [social presence] and its relationship to the other presences" (Garrison, 2011, p.35). Moreover, I suggested a slightly revised definition of social presence to reflect the development of social presence in a purposeful learning environment where identifying with the academic goal of the group has a much stronger influence on the cohesion and open communication than the socio-emotional categories of social presence (Garrison, 2009; Garrison, 2011).
In the Kozan and Richardson study that explored social presence with working professionals, they found that the "results do not align with the theoretical and empirical assumption that social presence is the mediating presence between teaching presence and cognitive presence." The interpretation of this is interesting in that it appears to support my argument that the priority for participants in a formal course of study is with the academic purpose and goals. Consistent with this, the present study found a "large and positive partial correlation between cognitive presence and social presence" while controlling for teaching presence. That is, the academic activities (cognitive presence) appeared to be producing the social presence. For this group of working professionals, the authors argued that interpersonal interactions were established "primarily for learning purposes." Personal relationships would result largely as a byproduct of the purposeful academic transaction and not simply for socio-emotional reasons.
The implication for me is that we should not be focusing too much on the socio-emotional or interpersonal relations at the outset of a course of studies. The social presence emphasis should be on cohesion (common purpose) and open communication (trusting environment); let the interpersonal relationships evolve naturally.
I welcome your thoughts.
Garrison, D. R. (2009). Communities of inquiry in online learning. In P. L. Rogers, Berg, G. A., Boettcher, J. V., Howard, C., Justice, L., & Schenk, K. D. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of distance learning (2nd ed.) (pp. 352-355). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Garrison, D. R. (2011). E-Learning in the 21st century: A framework for research and practice (2nd ed.). London: Routledge/Taylor and Francis.
June 20, 2014 at 6:13 pm #886
Thank you for your insightful comments, Dr Garrison. I just wanted to highlight a point that would relate to the interrelationships between and among the presences closely: time. In Kozan & Richardson (2014), we collected our data at the end of each online course. Therefore, even though completing the survey may have reflected participants` perceived level of presence over the 8-week semesters retrospectively quite well, it would be interesting to see whether our findings would more relate to the end point of the, say, development of presence interrelationships. In this sense, it would be effective to see how those bivariate and partial correlations would look like at least both at the beginning and end of an online learning experience.
kadirKozan, K., & Richardson, J. (2014). Interrelationships between and among social, teaching, and cognitive presence. The Internet and Higher Education, 21, 68-73.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic. -
June 21, 2014 at 1:03 pm #887
Thank you for your post. You raise an interesting and complex issue.
The learning experience in a CoI is dynamic. That is, the emphasis in each presence changes over time as well as the relationships among the presences. I believe it would be more than worthwhile to map the changes among the presences over time and according to the nature of the learning tasks. I believe this is is the issue that you and Jennifer raised in your article?
I would add that I do not see the findings in your article as contradictions but instead reflecting particular circumstances in the learning experience. We have shown that SP does shift over time. I suspect it will also shift depending on the learning task as well.
DRGYou must be logged in to reply to this topic. -
June 24, 2014 at 6:15 pm #890
Dr Garrison,
Thank you for your informative messages as well. I think that involving learning tasks in the development/evolution of presences is a great contribution to the discussion. Following your emphasis on getting social presence to serve learning more aligns fully with this idea. In our article, we did not specifically raise this point (i.e., learning tasks) but assumed that learning itself would speak more to the needs of our participants compared with social interactions, thus letting cognitive presence govern the relationship between teaching presence and social presence. In other words, we assumed that social presence might have served achieving their learning purposes. Regarding individual learning tasks, I am also inclined to think that task complexity would turn out to be an important variable in that tasks would need to be complex enough (in terms of either successful completion or amount of time needed or both) to be solved by a group of learners (compared with tasks that can be done by individuals alone), which would influence formation of a community of inquiry.
kadirYou must be logged in to reply to this topic.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.


text:
What happens when you add a copious amount of platinum to a luxury timepiece? In short, you get one of the world's finest watches for men in the form of the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Calibre 2755! Simply put, this watch is one of the sleekest and suavest the market has ever seen. Seriously, it's hard to go wrong when crafting an epic design with this much platinum. So is this a must-have piece for you man watch collection? Let's find out!
A Dapper Man Watch Design
In short, this watch is covered with a lot of platinum. To be exact, you're getting a platinum case, bezel, buckle, and crown. And really, this all makes for a rugged, yet suave and fine design.
Moving to the dial, you'll get a metal opaline design. And as you'd guess, this all blends perfectly with the 3 calendar sub-dials. If you were curious, these sub-dial pieces split into sleek units telling you the day, month, and weekday. So overall, it makes for one of the world's most luxurious calendars—and it's resting right there on your wrist!
What also looks nice in the dial piece are the silver-toned hands. It's hard to think of a color that could better contrast with that greyish opaline background. And quite frankly, the black and silver minute marks around the edges only add a greater sense of sleekness to this fine timepiece!
But while the design is beyond stellar, perhaps the star of this show is that gigantic Vacheron Constantin tourbillon. Really, it's hard to imagine any other piece better filling the bottom half of this suave timepiece. It's a beautiful accent that adds a nice sense of motion and craftsmanship that sets this piece far above the thousands of other luxury watches you'll find on the market!
Finishing off the great design is the back of this watch. It's a transparent sapphire piece that allows you to see the movement in all its glory. And it's small accents like this that make this man watch one of the best you'll ever wear!
Speaking of that Movement…
Building off that last point, it should come as no surprise that the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Calibre 2755 sports one of the finest and most precise movements you'll ever find on a man watch.
To be exact, this timepiece sports the Caliber 2755 QP movement. It's a manual-winding piece consisting of 602 parts and 40 jewels. But really, what else would you expect from a movement that powers the hour hand, minute hand, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, and a tourbillon? To keep all that in order, you'll need a movement just as exceptional as the one you'll find here.
Buy a Watch: Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Calibre 2755 Price
When you shop watches, it's not often you come across something as fine and dignified as this Vacheron Constantin piece. And the price reflects it's exclusivity at $584,325. But if you look at online watches long enough, you'll be sure to find a great deal. And when you find it, it's best to not delay! After all, this is hands down one of the best-constructed man watches you'll ever wear in your life!
Wrapping Up
At the end of the day, it's easy to say that this fine watch sets a new standard for the modern men's watch. It's not every day you find a timepiece with this much platinum. Moreover, it's even rarer to find a watch with a movement quite as nice as you'll find here. So be sure to add this sleek watch to your collection today!