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The final feature in our Astronology® six part series is here! In this issue of Astronology®, we will discuss variable pay. WorldatWork's 2012 Compensation Programs and Practices Survey found that 84% of organizations use some form of bonuses or incentive compensation to reward employees. With the popularity of variable pay, there also come questions, such as: what are the pros and cons of some different variable pay design options? Does one variable pay design fit all? Should the variable pay design change over time? We will explore these questions and more in our final Compensation Practice Basics article.
Variable pay is a form of compensation that typically is earned by accomplishing specific goals, and is not equally paid throughout the year. It is also referred to as "performance pay." Variable pay is used to "recognize and reward employee contribution toward company productivity, profitability, team work, safety, quality or some other metric deemed important." When it comes to variable pay, one size does not fit all. Variable pay can take one of several forms, including the following:
- Incentive
- Profit sharing
- Bonus
- Holiday bonus
- Deferred compensation
- Cash
- Goods or services
Many organizations look to variable pay during uncertain economic environments. It is easier for employees to accept and understand a reward that is tailored to one's personal performance and the organization's overall performance, than to understand low or no salary increases. As such, many organizations in both the for profit and non-profit worlds have issued employees bonuses instead of annual salary increases in order to retain their top-performing workers.
The practice of variable pay has also fostered an increase in productivity. Employee engagement increases as workers become highly engaged in achieving goals to receive rewards. Employees take a larger role in the responsibility for their work outcome, which also drives commitment to the organization.
Some drawbacks related to variable pay can include execution. If a variable pay plan focuses on quantity, the end results can be a lack of quality. Tangible measurements become more valuable than innovative techniques or genuine customer satisfaction. While an increase in performance is always welcomed, if not careful a variable pay plan could result in outright cutthroat competition…thus ruining an organization's cohesiveness.
As there are different forms of variable pay, every organization that wants to include it in their compensation mix must consider their individual circumstances. It is suggested that a task team should be appointed to consider variable pay as an option. When planning and designing the program this team should consider the following:
- Identify if more than one plan is needed based on employee groups,
- Identify plan participants,
- Determine how to encourage the entire organization to success through positive communication,
- Determine how the plan will be funded, and
- Determine the plan's key aspects, weightings, and measurement methodologies.
Once a plan has been selected, thoroughly develop the modeling criteria, methodologies, and formulas. Create a document that outlines the plan, policies, and procedures. In non-profit organizations, ensure that the maximum potential payouts have been included in the organization's budget to address the legal and tax considerations. Conduct focus group sessions to determine if the plan is easily understood by employees, while paying close attention to the motivation the focus group members demonstrate. If needed, revise the plan based on the focus group results. Ensure that focus group members understand that the payouts from the plan are at risk – not a guaranteed payment that employees can rely on to pay the mortgage or other critical bills.
This task team and focus group approach should be revisited every few years. Variable pay plans generally have a window of greatest effectiveness. Once employees have achieved the targeted goals, it may be time to revisit the plan or eliminate it altogether.
As with every new initiative in an organization, it's important to have full cooperation with all of its members. In order for this to happen, clear communication must be made on the full details of the variable pay. All must be able to understand how this new system will work, how it will benefit them, and what is expected of them once the new pay variable plan goes into effect.
Are you considering introducing variable pay to your organization or updating an existing plan? Need some help getting started? Astron Solutions is here to help! We offer compensation consulting and can assist in introducing a variable pay plan through our cloud-based Talent Management system, FLARE®. Please contact us today with any specific questions you'd like us to explore with you!


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subset: commoncrawl


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- Home
- Crystals
- Tumbled Stones
- Silver Spiral Cage Pendant with Cord
Product Description
Can be used with Tumbled stones or any small crystals
Color: Silver (Base metal)
Size: 3 cm
Weight: 7.5
Since the product is entirely handmade, no two are alike. Hence, there can be slight variation in the given measurement.
Product Reviews
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By performing maintenance on your valves
Guidance in selection and manufacture of valves
Choose your best equipment for automation
Tysa de MÉXICO
About Us
Our company aims to offer solutions. So we provide services in Comprehensive Consulting and Valve Maintenance according to the specific requirements or applications required.
Our service process
Create solutions with our experts while maintaining the operational continuity of your process.
Choice of equipment and material for the construction of your valve.
Product development (design, mold manufacturing, parts machining, assembly).
surface finishing
Review and coating of the product.
Sending of material to the destination facilities of the company.
Industrial Advisors for especific applications.
Services & solutions
Industrial Market
We have valves designed to prevent pressurized gases and vapors from
escaping, which is why we develop high security products that are resistant to
high pressures and large storage of chemical products.


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Landmark College's leadership team wants to keep the surrounding community apprised of our approach to offering residential and online programs to our students. This includes health and safety protocols related to preventing spread of the novel coronavirus.
Health Services reports that all day-7 tests for students who arrived August 27-30 have returned and are negative. Complete testing data can be found at https://www.landmark.edu/covid-19-dashboard.
All students have now been cleared from campus quarantine, meaning they can eat meals in the Dining Hall and travel off-campus to Putney and Brattleboro for limited activities that include grocery shopping, picking up food from restaurants that offer drive-through or curbside pickup, and getting haircuts.
Students have been reminded that receiving day-0 and day-7 negative tests does not mean they no longer need to follow the primary policies in place for COVID-19, including maintaining six feet of physical distance and wearing masks.
Members of the campus leadership team will continue to meet weekly with the presidents of other independent Vermont colleges throughout the semester in order to remain united in our individual and collective efforts to deliver a college education this semester. The Health Services staff meets weekly with the Vermont Department of Health and college health services and leadership teams.
All Landmark College community members are required to self-monitor for symptoms daily and report them using a COVID-specific app, self-isolate if they exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 or are exposed to another individual who tests positive for COVID-19, and comply with all protocols for testing, face-covering, hand-washing, and physical distancing.
Questions about Landmark College policies and protocols related to COVID-19 testing and management should be directed to email@example.com.


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Plaster Like Drawings
Tina Pustizzi Meschko is a Texoma-based artist originally from Los Angeles, California. Meschko earned her BFA and MFA from Texas Woman's University.
Meschko has taught painting and drawing for Mission:
Renaissance in Southern California, the Los Angeles Unified School District, Texas Woman's University, and Grayson College.
She is the owner of Pustizzi Meschko Fine Art Studio in Whitesboro, Texas. Her work has been displayed in several regional and national shows and is included in public and private collections.


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There are many ways to cast love spells using a photo; however, the concept is similar. Many people have practiced this type of spell over the centuries because it actually works – which is why it is very popular in modern witchcraft. Be confident in your decision because once you cast this spell, the person you want will stay with you until the last day. 2 photos (one of your favorite and one of you), a piece of paper, a black candle, a silk thread and a toothpick. As soon as the ritual begins, write his name and yours on the paper with a pencil; then, drop the candle wax to cover the names. Fold and tie the bundle with the thread; then place it under your pillow for the next 7 days. While waiting for the candle to go out, mediation is recommended. Burn the packet on the last day and let the ashes blow away.
Love Spells To Get Your Ex-Lover Back
To be abandoned in love is an unbearable pain. If you want to get rid of this pain, you have to use effective love spells without ingredients to bring back a lover. The power of the magic of love will make your ex forget why he left and will only remember your good qualities. Cast this spell several times and you can win it back in your life and it will love you again like the first time. The result will be displayed within 24 hours, so don't let it spoil every precious moment. When a bad breakup occurs, your ex either hates you or chooses to forget about you. If you really want your ex to love you again, then this type of love spell can eliminate their hate and keep your stress stress free. Now it's easy to get your ex back into your life.
Are Love Spells That Work Overnight Real?
If you've been looking for true love for a long time but the process still doesn't get anywhere, then you might want to try love spells. I think some of you will react with skepticism when you hear about free love spells that work immediately. Well, it's understandable to wonder how one spell can change the situation you've struggled with for years in 24 hours. In a way, it sounds too good to be true! For those who are wondering whether free love spells that work fast are real or not, keep reading this article and you will get the whole question answered.
There are a lot of so–called enchanters online these days claiming to be able to come up with love spells that really work overnight or even less than a day. Without doing research, you risk falling into the trap of some crooks because they know you are in dire straits. Keep in mind that not all spellcasters are genuine; so, be careful when someone promises love spells that work for free overnight. It is essential to have an idea of when to expect a love spell to work. you want to protect your relationship or remove negative energy from your life.
Do Free Love Spells Really Work? Are They Legitimate?
Whenever you consider casting simple love spells without ingredients, you usually wonder about its reality. The point is that a spell in itself cannot exclusively bring out influence; in fact, it depends on many factors and elements. For a love spell to work successfully, the key is to have strong faith. In addition, your intention, awareness, and energy are important for magic to generate power.
Relax and keep your mind calm, then focus on your deepest desire and visualize what you wish to come true. Be positive and prevent negative thoughts from creeping into your head. Even a little doubt can send your spell in the wrong direction. newbies and inexperienced in spellcasting, just ask the professional for help and instruction.


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What do you feel like watching today: your favorite TV show, or a mama long-eared owl caring for her brand new fluffy chicks right now in Missoula, Montana? Maybe some penguins in the Antarctic? A litter of recently rescued kittens in their cage?
Live feeds of these and other creatures are available online for your viewing pleasure. Check in once in a while or spend a chunk of time immersing yourself. It's an innocent sort of voyeurism, and the connection it can give you to life in the wild is compelling.
To browse a number of different creature-cams, check out the website Explore, a multimedia nonprofit that champions the selfless work done by individuals around the world. Not all of the cams yield interesting feeds all the time – animals sleep, after all.
Currently screening is the scene at a Pacific Northwest Beach loved by the local walruses.
The sound effects are a scream!
Click here to see more creature-cams on Explore.


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Comfort/Road Spring Set for TracTive Suspension
Sub total
(you'll choose your delivery rate at checkout)Continue to checkout
Tesla Model 3 suspension upgrades for road and track
The Model 3 is a great road car. It also makes a fantastic track car, but if you want to make best use of your tyres and improve the overall balance, you'll want to make some suspension changes.
Adjustable arms can be used with the factory fitted coilovers to allow the geometry to be optimised for use on track.
Uprated anti roll bars and end links sharpen up the handling and steering feel without affecting the ride quality.
If you want to go one step further, replacement coilovers will transform the ride and handling and can be adjusted for use on the road or track without compromising comfort or performance.
Contact us for more information or advice on Model 3 suspension modifications.


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Loyalty and Rewards Programmes for Students
The purpose of our Rewards programmes is to show our appreciation to our tutors and students who trusted us and joined our Global initiative . Hopefully we help them grow through our services and support in different ways. As a result, we build a stronger, more positive relationship that can last for years.
In addition, through our Charity programme with key charity organisations in Russia, China, Brazil , India, our tutors and students have the opportunity to share part of the rewards they receive with our charity partners to support small children who face serious life threatening diseases.
The programmes that reward those who join our Global Initiative are the following:
Promotion: get 5 lessons as a gift
The terms of the promotion are the following:
Period : from 15/2 - 31/3/21
The promotion will end when already 50 students participated or by the end March 2021, which ever comes first.
Any student, existing or new , who buys for the 1st time any lesson package can use this offer.
This offer is valid only for one such purchase.
The 5 free lessons are valid for 6 months from the date of purchase.
Only part of the Onlingo Tutors community participate in this promotion, and are identified with a promo sign on their profile.
Ambassador Referral Programme
For every student referred, registered and paid one lesson fully, the Referee ( the student who referred the new student ) gets 5 euros in his account, which he can use for paying any future lessons. The Referred student also gets 5 credits in his account after his 1st paid lesson to use for future bookings.
Each student has the right to refer up to 6 students till end of November 2021.
A total value of rewards can be up to 30 euro, which can give to a student up to 4 FREE lessons.
The credits rewarded during this programme can be used till end of December 2021!
Discounted lesson packages
Another way we would like to express our appreciation to loyal students who trust our service is through discounts offered on the price of the lesson.
The discounts below can be enjoyed by any student who buys packages of 5 or 10 lessons in one purchase.
Discounted Packaged Lessons
Students who book 5 or more lessons in one booking enjoy additional discounts as follows:
|5 lessons booked
|10% Discount
|10 lessons booked
|20% Discount


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Apple iPhone 13 leaks have already revealed design, display, storage and 'disruptive' performance upgrades that could leave iPhone 12 owners with buyer's remorse. But now we know Apple is working on something far more radical.
In a new video (embedded below), popular industry insider Jon Prosser has revealed Apple is currently testing a new foldable iPhone and he has an indication of its timeline for release.
"According to my sources, there is a prototype clamshell folding iPhone similar to the style of the Z Flip from Samsung," Prosser explains. "There are shells of this device being tested in a Shenzhen Foxconn factory. I say shells of this device because it's not the entire unit, mostly they're just trying to test the hinge durability [at this stage]."
Prosser goes on to explain that this clamshell iPhone would have an "actual foldable display" with Samsung providing OLED panels for the device. Interestingly, Prosser states that Apple has previously tested a dual screen device and has yet to decide which form factor it will prioritize.
"What I have been told is that we are not going to get both, like Samsung has the Galaxy Z Fold and the Galaxy Z Flip, with this it is just going to be one or the other. At least at first."
As for the timeline, Prosser cites September 2022 but warns that the production schedule is not concrete at this point.
All of which piles pressure on Apple to knock the iPhone 13 out the park. Recent years have shown that iPhones leak far ahead of release (plans for the iPhone 12 Mini first appeared in June 2019) so, if Apple wants to keep iPhone fans upgrading then the iPhone 13 that precedes it will have to be something special.
Thankfully, all signs are that it will be.
Follow Gordon on Facebook
More On Forbes
iPhone 13 Report Promises Smaller Notch And Face ID, Upgraded Cameras


text: Barry Sonnenfeld was less than ten years into a successful career as a cinematographer—with credits including Blood Simple, Raising Arizona and When Harry Met Sally on his resume—when he sat down in the director's chair for the first time on 1991's The Addams Family. It followed what turned out to be his last job (Misery) as director of photography; from that point on Sonnenfeld would work exclusively as a director, and occasional producer, on visually inventive and conceptually ambitious comedies like the Men in Black trilogy and Pushing Daisies, continuing to hone the dynamic style he had established as a DP. […]by Jim Hemphill on Oct 28, 2021


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How Is Spousal Maintenance Determined Under Wisconsin Law?
In a divorce case, how does the court determine the details of spousal maintenance, such as duration and amount of the award? The court considers several factors before establishing the details of this order. Factors the court considers include how long the marriage lasted, the education level of each spouse and the standard of living […]read More


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The information below is from the CMS Website.
COB Fact Sheets: MSP Laws and Third Party Payers Fact Sheet for Attorneys
The purposes of the Medicare Coordination of Benefits (COB) program are to identify the health benefits available to a Medicare beneficiary and to coordinate the payment process to prevent mistaken payment of Medicare benefits. The COB Contractor (COBC) collects, manages, and reports other insurance coverage. The COBC must be notified of situations where medical services rendered to a beneficiary are related to a workers' compensation injury, automobile accident, or other liability because in these instances, another payer has the primary responsibility for payment of medical claims related to the injury. Both you and your client have significant responsibilities and obligations under the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) laws to report these situations, and your participation is vital in ensuring the integrity of the Medicare Trust Funds.
MSP Laws and Third Party Payers
MSP laws are applicable to situations where a beneficiary may file a claim and/or a civil action against a third party seeking damages for injuries received and medical expenses incurred as a result of that illness/injury. Per 42 U.S.C. 1395y(b) (2) and 1862 (b) (2)(A)(ii) of the Act, Medicare is precluded from paying for a beneficiary's medical expenses when payment "has been made or can reasonably be expected to be made under a workers' compensation (WC) plan, an automobile or liability insurance policy or plan (including a self-insured plan), or under no-fault insurance."
Medicare may pay for a beneficiary's covered medical expenses conditioned on reimbursement to Medicare from proceeds received pursuant to a third party liability settlement, award, judgement, or recovery. In these instances, a pro rata share of procurement costs reduces Medicare's reimbursement. This conditional payment is made if it is determined that the liability or no-fault insurer will not pay "promptly." Implementing regulations of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), formerly the Health Care Financing Administration, establish that "promptly" means 120 days from (1) the date a claim is filed with an insurer or a lien is filed against a potential liability settlement or (2) the date the service was furnished or the date of a hospital discharge. See 42 C.F.R. §411.50(b).
If an MSP liability situation is identified after the Medicare claim is paid primary, the beneficiary may be required to reimburse Medicare. The claim may be reprocessed or adjusted to reflect Medicare as the secondary payer.
It is in your client's best interest to keep Medicare's claims interest in mind during the negotiation and settlement process with the third party. Medicare's claim must be paid up front out of settlement proceeds before any distribution occurs. Moreover, Medicare must be paid within 60 days of receipt of proceeds from the third party. If Medicare is not repaid in a timely manner, interest may be assessed.
Notifying Medicare of Other Insurance
Medicare must be notified when the possibility exists that another insurer may have the responsibility of primary payer for your client's health care costs. All MSP inquiries including the reporting of potential MSP situations, invalid insurance information, and general MSP questions/concerns should be directed to the COBC's office. Use our toll-free lines: 1-800-999-1118 or TTY/TDD: 1-800-318-8782 for the hearing and speech impaired. Customer Service Representatives are available to assist you from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, Eastern Time, except holidays. Written correspondence should be addressed to: Medicare-COB, MSP Claims Investigation Project, P.O. Box 5041, New York, New York 10274-5041.
When contacting the COBC, please provide the following:
The above information will provide the COBC with the information necessary to expedite the MSP Claims Investigation process. Upon receipt of this information, the COBC will apply it to your client's Medicare record, assign the case to a Medicare contractor, and inform you and your client of the applicability of the MSP program and Medicare's recovery rights. You will receive a notice advising you of the Medicare contractor assigned to handle the specifics of the case to recovery (i.e., the lead contractor), Medicare's right of recovery, and a beneficiary consent to release form. The consent form and any case related documents should be returned to the lead contractor identified.
Once this process is complete, all further inquiries are made through the lead contractor.
In order to gather Medicare's claim payment summary, the lead contractor canvasses, as necessary, with other Medicare contractors to identify claims they have paid for your client. This process requires adequate time for the Medicare contractors to search their claims history and respond to the inquiry. Therefore, the sooner you notify Medicare of the incident, the faster Medicare can serve you and your client. Medicare's interest cannot be determined until the beneficiary's record has been annotated with the specifics of the case.
Notifying Medicare of a Settlement
If a settlement has already been reached, the following information must be provided to the lead contractor:
Visit the COBC Web Site
For more information about the COBC and the MSP Claims Investigation Project, visit our Web site at http://cms.hhs.gov/medicare/cob.
Jay J. Sangerman, PLLC


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The Mexico Bulldogs Baseball Team with a win over the Moberly Spartans 11-10 last (Friday) night in their home opener.
The Bulldogs trailed 10-7 into the bottom of the seventh inning, a walk off error sealed the victory for the Bulldogs.
Zach Watkins pitched 4 innings striking out 4 and giving up 5 runs.
Ty Prince and Taylor Bledsoe with 2 runs.
Mexico picked up their first NCMC win of the season and improved to 2-4 overall.
They play again today (Saturday) against California with a 1 pm start time.
Mizzou Women's Basketball team still dancing after defeating Drake in overtime 77-76 yesterday (Friday).
The score was tied at 76 with 15 seconds on the clock, when junior guard Jordan Roundtree took a last effort shot and was fouled behind the three point line.
Roundtree drained one of three free throws, putting the Tigers up by one point with over a second left in the game.
A quick shot by Drake missed the mark and the Tigers won the game.
Mizzou will play in the second round of the tournament tomorrow (Saturday) in Iowa City.
The St. Louis Billikens are eliminated from the NCAA Tournament after losing to Virginia Tech 66-52 last (Friday) night.
The Missouri Tigers Wrestling Team is fifth in the NCAA wrestling championships after four sessions and four All Americans from the program are crowned.
John Erneste earned his first All-America honor with a blood round, triple overtime win.
True freshman Brock Mauller also earned All-America honors with an overtime pin.
Jaydin Eierman and Daniel Lewis round out the Mizzou grapplers with the All-America honors.


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Authorities in the U.K. are investigating the death of a railway worker who contracted coronavirus after she was allegedly spat and coughed on at London's Victoria Station in March, the British Transport Police said Wednesday.
The announcement comes one day after the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association said it had learned that the agency was investigating the April 5 death of Belly Mujinga, 47.
The union said Tuesday that Mujinga and another worker from the station's ticket office were on the concourse in late March when a man approached them. Her husband, Lusamba Gode Katalay, told the British broadcaster ITV that he asked Mujinga why she was there.
"She said they were working," he said, according to ITV. "The man said he had the virus and spat on them."
The union, which added that the man also allegedly coughed on them, said that Mujinga and the second worker reported the incident to the ticket office and asked for the police to be called. Within days, the union said, she and the other worker became sick and later tested positive for coronavirus.
In a statement to NBC News, Mujinga's employer, Govia Thameslink Railway, said it is "devastated" by Mujinga's death. "We take any allegations extremely seriously, and we are investigating these claims," the statement said. The railway said that Govia had also provided CCTV to the British Transport Police.
A spokesman for the agency told the Guardian newspaper that it had obtained footage of the incident that showed a potential suspect.
On April 2, nearly two weeks after the incident, Mujinga, who had underlying respiratory problems, was taken by ambulance to a hospital in north London and intubated, the union said. She died three days later.
Mujinga leaves behind her husband and an 11-year-old daughter, the union said.
In a letter Wednesday to Prime Minster Boris Johnson, the union's general secretary, Manuel Cortes, asked that a coronavirus compensation program for National Health Service workers be extended to transport employees like Mujinga.
"She put herself on the frontline and she has died of the virus," Cortes said.
Speaking at the House of Commons Wednesday, Johnson did not address Cortes' request but called Mujinga's death "tragic."
"The fact that she was abused for doing her job is utterly appalling," he said.


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Reform 'under the radar'? Lessons for Scotland from the Development of Gender Self-Declaration Laws in Europe
Edinburgh Law Review vol. 24 (2): pp 281-289. May 2020
An open access copy is available here.
Both the Scottish and UK Governments have recently consulted on proposals to amend the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) 2004 that would enable someone to change their legal sex simply by making a statutory declaration. We were among those who responded to the consultation expressing concern that the Scottish Government's proposals failed to recognise a conflict with women's sex-based rights as enshrined in the Equality Act 2010.
In its consultation, the Scottish Government relied heavily on a narrative of 'international best practice' as a rationale for reform, citing non-binding legal instruments, whilst conceding that current arrangements for changing legal sex are compliant with recent rulings from the European Court of Human Rights.
Our analysis suggests that those jurisdictions in Europe who have already introduced self-declaration models for legal sex change have tended to do so with very little public scrutiny. A report prepared by international law firm Dentons aimed at those advocating for self-declaration stated that pursuing reform 'under the radar' (in its own words) had been a deliberate strategy in Ireland, and advised that proponents of reform should seek to avoid media coverage and 'latch trans rights legislation onto more popular legal reforms' – such as same-sex marriage.
We argue that the pace and breadth of the uptake of these laws may be attributable to a process of policy capture, whereby policymaking is skewed in favour of one particular interest group at the expense of others. There are lessons here for the UK and Scottish Governments as they consider reforms to the GRA. Both should seek to secure broad-based support for any reforms, and consider potential effects on other rights-holders, not least women.


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This article was submitted by Michael Stark, market analyst at Exness.
Most indices started the week on the back foot near Friday's lows. Gold meanwhile remains strong above $1,770. Total deaths around the world from Covid-19 hit half a million overnight from Sunday to Monday, with 10 million total confirmed cases. A number of American states have reversed their decisions to reopen after a spike in the number of cases of the virus.
The main action among central banks last week came from Banxico which cut its benchmark rate to 5% on Thursday. This week's only significant meeting is the Riksbank tomorrow, with Sweden's central bank expected to keep rates on hold at zero.
This week's biggest release of regular data is the NFP, which unusually takes place on Thursday because the USA celebrates Independence Day on 4 July. Other key releases include Caixin manufacturing PMI tomorrow and Australian, Canadian and American balances of trade on Thursday.
Dollar-krona, four-hour
The current situation of resurging numbers of covid infections in the USA is one of the main fundamental factors driving the dollar down. The krona meanwhile has a degree of support from Sweden's generally competent handling of the crisis and relatively high prices of Sweden's main exports such as timber and iron ore. Regular data from Sweden recently has mostly been somewhat positive. Despite yesterday morning's weaker trade balance, Friday's figures indicated unexpected growth in both monthly and annual retail sales.
Technical analysis suggests that a strong support exists just above 9 kr. We can also observe the golden cross of the 50 and 100 SMAs on 19 June. Short-term selling pressure remains high, but the overall volume of buying is much higher. In the absence of any overbought signals, more gains might be expected in the runup to the Riksbank's meeting and the NFP. If the reaction to these is negative and positive respectively, the 38.2% zone from the Fibonacci fan could be the next important resistance.


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It wasn't a great year at the US box office last year. Fortunately for the film business, international markets picked up the slack—particularly in Asia, and specifically, China.
Box office revenue from key Asian markets, led by China, eclipsed those in the US and Canada, according to new figures released by the Motion Picture Association of America(pdf).
The box office in the biggest Asian markets, namely China, Japan, India, South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia totaled $10.5 billion last year, just ahead of the $10.4 billion achieved in the US and Canada.
Globally, the box office eked out a 1% increase to hit $36.4 billion. International markets, including Europe and Latin America, have for many years now, been a much bigger source of box office receipts than the US and Canada. But 2014 was the first time the biggest Asian markets eclipsed the US and Canada, an MPAA spokesperson confirmed to Quartz.
China is by far the biggest driver of this growth. The box office hit $4.8 billion in China last year–the first market outside the US to surpass $4 billion–and an increase of 34% on 2013. By contrast, the box office in the US and Canada shrank by 5% last year.
To be clear, these figures refer to all movies, i.e. not jut those made by the big Hollywood studios, but also domestic ones. That said, the highest grossing movie in China last year (and ever) was a Hollywood film. Transformers: Age of Extinction.
The movie market is absolutely booming in China, yet another example of how its rising middle class is becoming an increasingly important purchasing cohort. It is also changing the way movies are made. As I've written previously, this globalization dynamic is killing off the Hollywood comedy, which typically does not translate well to global audiences. Blockbusters, and sequels often do, however. Particularly ones, like the latest Transformers installment, that cleverly include Chinese actors and settings.
Whether Asian markets continue to surpass the US (and Canada) remains to be seen.The Hollywood Reporter says the Chinese box office alone actually surpassed the US in February. Yet with a promising summer of high profile releases ahead, many are tipping a rebound in the US this year. Either way, the globalization of movies, like everything else, appears inexorable.


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Greater Opportunity Through Innovative Change
The U.S. economy entered recession in March 2001, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research (Nov. 26), which follows four indicators: current employment, industrial production, wholesale-retail trade and real income. The Arkansas Policy Foundation (APF), in its 2001 forecast, issued last February, predicted recession. APF's forecast was based on inversion of the yield curve in Summer 2000; contraction of industrial production; declining credit standards and credit structure issues; and unsustainable consumer wealth-effects from equity valuations based on a new and unrealistic metrics.
Evidence the recession is ending will occur when 1) the yield curve spread is positive and exceeds 200 basis points; 2) employment data, especially the four-week moving average of individuals seeking first-time jobless benefits, improves; and 3) industrial production stops contracting. Among these three the yield curve is showing the most positive indication of recovery. Employment data has been positive of late, and will provide more evidence of recovery if the four-week moving average continues to fall. Conclusive evidence the recession has ended will occur when industrial production, which has contracted 15 of the last 16 months, expands again. This data is released mid-month for the preceding month (ex. mid-March for February).
Credit structure issues, in recession or recovery, will remain problematic in 2002. The Enron Corp. bankruptcy illustrates that they are more important today (Feb. 22) then when APF first referred to them.1 Corporate bond defaults set records in 2000 and 2001. The problem can be addressed through increased transparency. Examples include stating GAAP2 and pro-forma earnings simultaneously, and reporting off-balance sheet derivative transactions by notional dollar amount. Arkansas' manufacturing and agricultural sectors have been effected by producer price "rolling deflation" and a strong U.S. dollar. APF does not see the widely followed Consumer Price Index (CPI) turning negative in 2002 but "rolling deflation" in the PPI bears watching. The Producer Price Index (PPI) has fallen three of the last five years.3 Postwar, the PPI has not been negative so often in a period characterized by the "severe deflation of equity asset values" described by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan (Jan. 11, 2002).
"It suffices that the yield curve can predict future macroeconomic developments without necessarily causing them." ("Intermediate Targets and Indicators for Monetary Policy," 1990; Federal Reserve Bank of New York)
"The yield curve is perhaps the most important market-based indicator of recessionary expectations. It is a graph illustrating maturities and yields of treasuries. The yield curve's normal slope is positive, or upward sloping with short maturities at yields less than long treasuries. Until recently the bellweather long treasury was the 30-year bond. The U.S. government's decision to gradually purchase outstanding 30-year bonds means the 10-year note has emerged as the new bellweather in the market.' (APF memo, 'The Case For Recession,' Summer 2001)
The yield curve (three-month Treasury bill and 30-year bond) inverted in Summer 2000. On June 6, 2000, the three-month bill yielded 5.99 percent and the 30-year bond was at 5.91 percent.(4) On July 5, 2000, the three-month bill yielded 5.99 percent and the 30-year bond was at 5.86 percent. The yield curve remained inverted, providing a strong signal of recession. On Sept. 29, 2000, the three-month bill yielded 6.23 percent and the 30-year bond was at 5.88 percent. The 10-year note yielded 5.80 percent on that date. At year-end 2000 (Dec. 29), the three-month bill yielded 5.27 percent and the 10-year note was at 5.12 percent.
Today, the yield curve has a positive slope with a spread of more than 300 basis points between short and long maturities. For example, on Feb. 1, 2002, the three-month bill yielded 1.76 percent and the 10-year note was at 5.02 percent. The yield curve's positive bias of more than 200 basis points is a positive sign for recovery.
"Employment reached a peak in March 2001 and declined subsequently. Through December, the decline in employment has slightly exceeded the average over the first 8 months of earlier recessions. The cumulative decline is now 1.1 percent, equal to the total decline in the average recession." (NBER memo, Feb. 11, discussing employment)
Jobless claims are a weekly indicator of unemployment. They track the number of individuals applying for first-time state unemployment benefits. Weekly reports can be misleading for various reasons, including seasonal factors so data is tracked on a four-week moving average to develop a more accurate view of the underlying trend. In this recession the four-week moving average increased twice as frequently as it fell from March 2001 to the week ending Oct. 20, when it peaked at 505,000. The moving average has declined 12 weeks since Oct. 20. Increases were registered in only four weeks with two attributable to seasonal factors.
The four-week moving average has nearly retreated to where it stood in March 2001 when the recession began. It's decline since Oct. 20 is a positive trend.
"A peak occurred in June 2000 and the index declined over the next 17 months by 7.1 percent, far surpassing the average decline in the earlier recessions of 4.6 percent." (NBER memo, Feb. 11, discussing Industrial Production)
Postwar, in 90 percent of recessions, industrial production stopped contracting prior to or in the month later declared by the NBER as the end of recession. The lone exception was the 1981-82 recession, which ended in November 1982, one month before industrial production stopped contracting in December.(5) Expansion of industrial production, when it occurs will provide evidence the recession has ended or is ending.
Industrial production data for January 2002 showed a 0.1 percent decline. This decline follows December 2001's modest fall of 0.1 percent.
Capacity Utilization
Capacity utilization measures slack in the economy. It is calculated by dividing industrial production by industrial capacity. A higher or increasing percentage reading indicates less slack, and is a positive trend for recovery. A lower percentage reading means more slack, and, coupled with other monthly declines, is a negative trend.
Capacity utilization of U.S. industry, between 1967 and 2001, has averaged 81.9 percent. The Federal Reserve reports, "Because investment is expected to remain weak, capacity is projected to expand only 1.0 percent in 2002, the lowest rate of increase for this statistic since it began in 1967.
Following is the January 2002 capacity utilization number compared with the troughs for the post-1967 recessions, from least to most severe:
78.510 (July 1980) 78.078 (March 1991) 77.661 (November 1970) 74.227 (January 2002) 72.614 (March 1975) 71.875 (November 1982)
Capacity utilization is lower than in the January-July 1980; September 1990-March 1991; and December 1969-November 1970 recessions. Starting in July 2000, it has fallen 18 months (one month was neutral). January's reading was the worst since April 1983, and provides more evidence of a weak domestic manufacturing sector.
(1) 'Derivatives & The Transparency Of Government Retirement Systems,' (May 2001); 'The Case For Recession,' (Summer 2001).
(2) Generally accepted accounting principles
(3) Seasonally adjusted PPI (1997-2001), Federal Reserve Board.
(4) Treasury Constant maturities. Yields on actively traded issues adjusted to constant maturities. Source: U.S. Treasury Department.
(5) 'Today's Industrial Production Data,'(Feb. 15, 2002).


text:
VOD film review: Fury
Review Overview
James R | On 25, Feb 2015
Director: David Ayer
Cast: Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Bernthal
Certificate: 15
Watch Fury online in the UK: Netflix UK / Apple TV (iTunes) / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / TalkTalk TV / Rakuten TV / Google Play
"Ideals are peaceful. History is violent."
War is hell. It's something that bears retelling to each generation, but it doesn't excuse a war movie from repeating the same old, tired habits. Fury, though, is far from tired. It's awake and positively buzzing.
Director David Ayer gets down to business straight away, barely pausing for exposition before stabbing someone in the eye. The year is 1945. Hitler is desperate. And the Americans in tanks driving through German countryside? They're screwed.
We quickly fall in with the crew manning Fury: Bible-quoting Boyd (LaBeouf), gun-toting Coon-Ass (Bernthal), driver Gordo (Pena) and their leader, Wardaddy (Pitt). But their names are as irrelevant as the context: history is violent, so they are too. The one exception? Norman (Lerman), a fresh-faced clerk shipped to the front to fill the spot vacated by the team's late assistant driver.
Norman's introduction is our window onto the war; literally, at times, as we frequently look out of his hatch at the ongoing carnage. That claustrophobic sense of location gets right under your skin, thanks to Ayer's direction, which keeps the cameras inside the belly of the Sherman tank as much as possible. As a result, it's impossible not to feel some attachment to the boys on patrol, despite us (like Norman) knowing barely anything about them. Once again, brevity is the aim: Gordo's conflicted feelings are summed up by the look on Michael Pena's face; Pitt's fatherly sergeant does his best to break the boy in; while an impressively understated Shia LaBeouf carries the weight of war on his shoulders with the shrug of a cigarette.
Bernthal sticks out somewhat, thanks to his overtly aggressive performance – weapons man Coon-ass is the most visibly affected by the battle – but the bond between the unit is what matters; the ensemble genuinely feel like a family, albeit one fuelled by aggression as much as affection. One standout scene halfway through sees that tie contrasted with that of a real German family; a juxtaposition that takes place around a bizarrely pristine dinner table.
Amid the stern veterans, Logan's naive junior brings a heavy dose of fright to the mix. The result is a cocktail of adrenaline, repeatedly shaken up in that metal container: Fury distilled from a potent blend of anger and fear. David Ayer's script casts aside the politics and history lessons: here, there is no good or bad, no sympathy or hate, no English or German. Just killing, by knife, shell or machine gun. Or, if necessary, by running over. Heroes are pushed to horrific extremes, enemies display unexpected acts of kindness. The only difference between them? Who shoots first.
That combination of confined location and stripped-down combat gives each bloody set piece the kind of nerve-jangling tension that made Saving Private Ryan's opening so shocking. This is war on rails – and it thrives on capturing the intense rush of survival. The film lasts more than two hours, but feels like 30 minutes. Thrilling and terrifying in equal measure, Fury retells the violence of history for a generation where peace remains an ideal.
Fury is available on Netflix UK, as part of an £9.99 monthly subscription.


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Code Green Solutions
Boston, MA, USA
HUH One Western Avenue, HUH - One Western Ave
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Please click on "Accept and Close" button to affirm your consent and continue to use our website. For more information, please view our Cookies Statement.


text:
Patterns by Schachenmayr
pattern category
skill level
patterns by yarn
- Alpaca Cloud (8) Apply Alpaca Cloud filter
- Baby Smiles My first REGIA 25g (6) Apply Baby Smiles My first REGIA 25g filter
- Baby Smiles Bravo Baby 185 (5) Apply Baby Smiles Bravo Baby 185 filter
- Baby Smiles Cotton (5) Apply Baby Smiles Cotton filter
- Baby Smiles Merino Wool (5) Apply Baby Smiles Merino Wool filter
- Baby Smiles Merino Mix (4) Apply Baby Smiles Merino Mix filter
- Baby Smiles Cotton Bamboo (3) Apply Baby Smiles Cotton Bamboo filter
- Baby Smiles Easy Cotton (1) Apply Baby Smiles Easy Cotton filter
- Bravo (1) Apply Bravo filter
- Bravo Big (1) Apply Bravo Big filter
Poncho KIM worked in Boston will keep the neck and the shoulders comfortably warm
With or without a pompom – hat MAXI worked in Boston is a basic but pretty piece
XL-loop scarf OLLI is worked in Boston in a brioche pattern in contrasting colors
Mittens ARNI with an embroidered Norwegian star are worked in Boston
Norwegian-style hat ARNA worked in Boston is a good project for knitters new to this technique
A silky soft cardigan: TILDA is worked in Cotton Bamboo and has an interesting as well as practical design
LIO - a pretty everyday hat for the little one worked in Baby Smiles Cotton Bamboo.
Cardigan MILA has a round yoke and is knitted top down in Easy Cotton
ELLA is an easy knit even for beginners or a great weekend project worked in Merino Mix
Comfortable striped sweater FINN worked in Baby Smiles Cotton Bamboo
Round yoke jacket LIAN with a zigzag pattern worked in Bravo Baby 185 calls for knitting experience
Cuddle up! Delicate scarf with color gradients worked in Alpaca Cloud
Formfitting knitted dress worked in Alpaca Cloud
Light as a cloud: knitted sweater worked in Alpaca Cloud
A great sweater worked in Alpaca Cloud with fluffy cable stitches and a comfortable fit
Time to get fluffy: knitted triangle shawl worked in Alpaca Cloud
Cozy and comfortable – worked in Alpaca Cloud
A perfectly lightweight cardigan thanks to Alpaca Cloud
A sweater, light as a feather, worked in Alpaca Cloud
I feel so comfortable in my new dungarees! Maybe because they are worked in Baby Smiles?
A sporty-classic "feel good" jacket in two colors from the Baby Smiles collection
A comfy, hooded jacket with many lovely details, knitted in Baby Smiles Merino Mix
A striped sweater with lettering, worked in yarns from the Baby Smiles Collection
A new favorite hat in two colors with a pom pom, worked in Baby Smiles Merino Mix
Soft loop with crossed rib pattern worked in Baby Smiles Merino Mix
Warm feet during playtime: knitted non-skid socks worked in My first REGIA
Be aware of the bear in the kid´s room: Knitted carpet with a bear´s head, worked in Bravo Big
There will certainly be a space for these in the sock drawer: knitted socks for rubber boots, worked in My first REGIA
Warm feet during playtime: knitted non-skid socks worked in My first REGIA
Pretty cabled mittens have snug ribbed cuffs to stay on the hands of your little snow baby.
A pretty cabled instep and snugly ribbed leg make sweet socks for your baby.
Sweet and warm baby cap features a pretty cable and ties securely under the chin.
Simple flecked fair isle and ribbed cuffs make sweet mittens for your little one.
Baby's first socks feature a sweet and simple allover pattern of flecked fair isle.
Ear flaps, under-chin ties and a fair isle pattern make for an adorable and practical hat.
Even your baby needs a classic long knitted scarf to snuggle round their neck this winter.
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text:
Fragrance is the invisible part of your personality, it expresses you, says what you want to say, and has a powerful effect on how people see and remind you, and it has many benefits more than just smelling good, from making you more attractive, to helping you reduce stress and increase your confidence. Fragrance can […]Read More
There is no doubt that the biggest dream of every girl is to have consistently a blemish-free, glowing and smooth skin, but since not everyone is blessed with skin that's always glowing, more care may be required, especially with the daily exposure of the skin to many factors that lead to its exhaustion, starting from […]Read More
Being a veiled woman needs most of the time to be more creative to create different styles of hijab that suit the modesty of your hijab and that are in line with the latest fashion trends at the same time. Every winter season, it is important to try new, different, and innovative ways to match […]Read More
Have you ever heard of "The Five Love Languages"? The Five Love Languages is a book that provides an idea of the basic ways in which people express their love. The main idea of the book is that we all have a common love language, or a way to show love to others, as the […]Read More
It may be difficult to resist buying something new every few weeks, but recently, under current circumstances and with rising prices, we are all striving to be smarter shoppers and to be more aware of where and how to spend, which leads us to the most important question: How can every woman become more elegant […]Read More
About Bitcoin There are many ways to make money, or if you are very talented, maybe you can invent it, this is what Satoshi Nakamoto, a 36-year-old computer programmer, did when he invented a new digital currency called Bitcoin in January 2009, where he could without paper, copper, or even silver. To create a new […]Read More
World Arabic Language Day – Dhad Every year on December 18, World Arabic Language Day (WALD), also known as the United Nations Arabic Language Day, is celebrated, which was first chosen by UNESCO in 2010 to celebrate the Arabic language and promote its culture. The International Day of the Arabic Language is celebrated all over […]Read More


text:
Interactions between Dask and Tensorflow
Project description
Start TensorFlow clusters from Dask
Given a Dask cluster
from dask.distributed import Client
client = Client('scheduler-address:8786')
Get a TensorFlow cluster, specifying groups by name
from dask_tensorflow import start_tensorflow
tf_spec, dask_spec = start_tensorflow(client, ps=2, worker=4)
>>> tf_spec
{'worker': ['192.168.1.100:2222', '192.168.1.101:2222',
'192.168.1.102:2222', '192.168.1.103:2222'],
'ps': ['192.168.1.104:2222', '192.168.1.105:2222']}
This creates a tensorflow.train.Server on each Dask worker and sets up a Queue for data transfer on each worker. These are accessible directly as tensorflow_server and tensorflow_queue attributes on the workers.
More Complex Workflow
Typically then we set up long running Dask tasks that get these servers and participate in general TensorFlow compuations.
from dask.distributed import worker_client
def ps_function(self):
with worker_client() as c:
tf_server = c.worker.tensorflow_server
ps_tasks = [client.submit(ps_function, workers=worker, pure=False)
for worker in dask_spec['ps']]
def worker_function(self):
with worker_client() as c:
tf_server = c.worker.tensorflow_server
# ... use tensorflow as desired ...
worker_tasks = [client.submit(worker_function, workers=worker, pure=False)
for worker in dask_spec['worker']]
One simple and flexible approach is to have these functions block on queues and feed them data from dask arrays, dataframes, etc.
def worker_function(self):
with worker_client() as c:
tf_server = c.worker.tensorflow_server
queue = c.worker.tensorflow_queue
while not stopping_condition():
batch = queue.get()
# train with batch
And then dump blocks of numpy and pandas dataframes to these queues
from distributed.worker_client import get_worker
def dump_batch(batch):
worker = get_worker()
import dask.dataframe as dd
df = dd.read_csv('hdfs:///path/to/*.csv')
# clean up dataframe as necessary
partitions = df.to_delayed() # delayed pandas dataframes
client.map(dump_batch, partitions)
Project details
Release history Release notifications | RSS feed
Download files
Download the file for your platform. If you're not sure which to choose, learn more about installing packages.
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Hashes for dask_tensorflow-0.0.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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text:
Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying
Incident Reporting Forms (Form 338)
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:37-15.b.(5), a parent or guardian may confidentially report an incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying by completing the form above and emailing it to one of the district's HIB contacts listed at the bottom of this page.
Anti-Bullying Information and Links
- Manasquan Board of Education Policy #5512
- NJ Department of Education Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying
- Guidance for Parents on the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act
Important Contacts
- Contact information for the School Climate State Coordinator (email@example.com)
- Manasquan Elementary School
- Manasquan High School
- Leigh Busco
- Craig Murin
- Harmony Schwier


text:
While Red Raiders wait for Matt Haarms to announce his decision, the Red Raider basketball program has already picked up two college transfers. Viva the Matadors takes a quick look at what Texas Tech is getting.
Esahia Nyiwe
The first to commit was Esahia Nyiwe (pronounced like Isaiah Ny-wee) from Clarendon College. Nywie calls Omaha, Nebraska his hometown but was born in Sudan. Nyiwe is eligible immediately and has 3 years to play 2 seasons should a red-shirt year be needed.
Beat the odds and remain humble #WreckEm ⚫ pic.twitter.com/ERMfUqoDyA— Zaye (@ZayeNyiwe) April 11, 2020
Esahia "Zaye" Nyiwe can put the ball on the floor when needed and he can finish with authority. The 6'10" JUCO transfer is athletic enough to be able to guard the post as well as helping out at the 3 point line to defend guards. One important quote I want to bring to your attention comes from Carlos Silva Jr in the Lubbock AJ:
"They envision me kind of like a Tariq Owens-type player," Nyiwe said of the coaching staff's plan for him. "Big presence on the defensive side who can also guard multiple positions. I take big pride on defense. My length and athleticism helps me a lot."
A few clips of Texas Tech's most recent offer, Esahia Nyiwe (Clarendon College).— Tech Hoops Guy (@TechHoopsGuy) April 7, 2020
If Gregg Marshall & Chris Beard want him, he might be pretty good. pic.twitter.com/kFdOgFkAS1
"Zaye" averaged about 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 assist a game (very Tariq-like numbers). After the rebounding issues (or lack thereof) Tech had in several games this past season, I think I'm more excited about the near double digit rebounding average than the blocks average. "Zaye," I got to be honest. You had me at Tariq. You had me at Tariq.
Jamarius Burton
Love this new profile pic of new Red Raider, @Moneymaker441 ‼ pic.twitter.com/R7mjreh4za— TexasTechHoopsFans (@TTUHoopsFans) April 14, 2020
Jamarius Burton comes to Texas Tech by way of Wichita State. The 6'4" guard plans to sit a year per current NCAA transfer rules. According to the following interview on Tech Talk with Chris Level and Aaron Dickens, Burton plans to use the year to develop his body and game.
You can listen to the full interview here
Officially ✍— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) April 16, 2020
Help us welcome Jamarius Burton to the Red Raider family!
#4To1 | #WreckEm⚫ pic.twitter.com/FGbwSWIzVL
Burton averaged about 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists as a Shocker. If you listened to the radio interview, Burton said the coaches wanted him to fill the Matt Mooney role. Hold up!
So you're telling me the Red Raiders have picked up a potential Tariq and Mooney clone AND Tech will have them for more than one year. Sign me up right now and twice on Thursday. Time will tell if those shoes are too big for these transfers to fill, but if they come even close to the production that Tariq Owens and Matt Mooney provided, then I for one will be happier than a Kurt Wilson Super Regional 3 run bomb.
A dinger that'll live forever.— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) June 10, 2019
#806ToOmaha | #WreckEm⚫ pic.twitter.com/7LFG19rXT5
Whether Texas Tech lands Matt Haarms or some other transfer or even no one else for this upcoming basketball season, rest assured that the roster will be primed to make another Final Four run (in the words of Chris Beard himself) "sooner rather than later."


text:
My mother is going to be 85 in January. She's currently living in the family home alone, because my father, who is almost 89 and requires 24/7 care, is in a nursing home nearby.
I won't go into the saga that was finally getting my father out of the house and into a place where he could get the care he requires, but suffice it to say, my mother was stubborn about her ability to care for him, and she's even more stubborn about her ability to care for herself. The fact of the matter is: she wasn't capable then, and she's even less so now.
If you look at the check list of "Signs an elder may need assistance", my mother can tick off most of them. She hasn't done laundry since my father left. She'll just sink wash some underwear and pjs and call it a day. The mail piles up in the box until I come over and sort through it all. She sponge bathes. Never washes her hair. Won't cook. Refuses to learn how a microwave works. She subsists on cereal and canned soup. She's supposed to take blood pressure medication, but she either forgets to take it at all or takes too much because she forgets she took it.
As a result of all this she's malnourished and the toll it's taking on her cognizant and physical abilities is obvious, even to her, but still she refuses to see a doctor or accept care. I need an intervention.
She won't even discuss going into a home, even when I say I could find her and my dad a nice place to stay together (there are some lovely places nearby with well decorated rooms that allow personal items and have beautiful grounds, etc).
I'm only 40. I'm an only child and trying to manage a career and family. I work long hours and also live an hour away. I come up every weekend to visit them both and take her to lunch, I pay her bills through internet banking (I have DPOA for both parents, but not guardianship - another battle getting that was), and manage her household as best I can, but it's draining me.
I'm terrified to relax. When I try to take a weekend off from things I get the guilt trip and the reminder that 'we won't be around much longer to bother you.'
I have tried contacting the town's council on aging and the senior services at the local hospital. My mother won't even meet with them. I tried setting up meals on wheels and she refused to even open the door for them. Then, later the same day, she calls to tell me she has no food in the house, could I do a delivery order. I may have had a meltdown over that...
I can't move in with her and I cannot move her in with me. Bless those of you who are able to provide that for your relatives, but that's just not going to work for me. If for no other reason than I have 2 large dogs who would knock her right over and likely break something.
There is little extended family, and those that are nearby are not reliable, nor would my mother allow THEM to visit, either... because she 'doesn't want anyone to see [her] like this'. Her neighbours are helpful, but stay at arm's length and I don't blame them. It's not their problem. I appreciate what they DO do for her.
I'm at the point where I'm waiting to either walk in to find her dead on the floor, or for her neighbour to call me and tell me they're taking her away in an ambulance for whatever reason. In some (terrible) ways, I'm almost hoping something will happen to make it out of her hands whether she's placed in a facility or not, because I can't force her to go, and she's like trying to reason with a toddler.
Calgon, take me away!


text:
New Mortal Kombat 11 Trailer Showcases Classic Fighter Johnny Cage as Latest Playable Character
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios today released a new Mortal Kombat 11 gameplay trailer featuring fan-favourite classic character, Johnny Cage. The brash action star and martial artist returns with an older and wiser mindset but still remains quick with his trademark snark and won't let anyone forget he's still number one. Cage now fights against all odds to save EarthRealm and prove that he's an even braver hero in real-life than on the silver screen.
Johnny Cage is the latest playable character to join the growing roster of Mortal Kombat 11 fighters, alongside Scorpion, Raiden, Sub-Zero, Sonya Blade, Skarlet, Baraka, Geras, Kano, D'Vorah, Kabal and Jade. To keep up with the latest Mortal Kombat 11 news and upcoming reveals, check out NetherRealm's popular Kombat Kast livestream on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Mixer. Mortal Kombat 11 is the latest instalment in the critically-acclaimed franchise, developed by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, and will be available beginning 23rd April for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox One, Xbox One X, Nintendo Switch and PC. Pre-order now to receive the in-game playable character, Shao Kahn. Those who pre-order on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox One or Xbox One X at select retailers, will also receive access to the beta, which will be available on 28th March for those platforms. To learn more about Mortal Kombat 11, please visit www.mortalkombat.com or join the community conversation on Facebook (MortalKombat), Instagram (@MortalKombat), Twitter (@MortalKombat), Twitch (NetherRealm), YouTube (Mortal Kombat), Mixer (NetherRealm, Discord (MortalKombat) or Reddit (MortalKombat). *** These videos/trailers may only be displayed if it is behind an age-gate that: (1) is age-neutral (i.e., requires the user to input their date of birth or select it from a drop-down bar); (2) employs reasonable technical measures to keep underage users from re-entering their age after initially being denied access; and (3) does not display any PEGI rating information on the trailer player or the age-gate itself. Failure to implement these requirements may jeopardise your ability to obtain material of this nature from us in the future. ***


text:
Source code for insights.combiners.journald_conf
Journald configuration
Combiner for parsing of journald configuration. man journald.conf describes where various
journald config files can reside and how they take precedence one over another. The combiner
implements the logic and provides an interface for querying active settings.
The journald.conf file is a key=value file with hash comments.
The parsers this combiner uses process only active settings (lines that are not commented out). The
resulting settings (after being processed by the precedence evaluation algorithm) are then provided
by the `get_active_settings_value` method and `active_settings` dictionary and by the
`get_active_setting_value_and_file_name` method and `active_settings_with_file_name` dictionary.
Options that are commented out are not returned - a rule using this parser has to be aware of which
default value is assumed by systemd if the particular option is not specified.
Priority from lowest to highest:
* built-in defaults (the same as the default commented entries in /etc/systemd/journald.conf)
* /etc/systemd/journald.conf
* \*.conf in whatever directory in lexicographic order from lowest to highest
* if two \*.conf files with the same name are both in /usr/lib and /etc, the file in /etc wholly
overwrites the file in /usr/lib
from man journald.conf in RHEL 7.3:
Default configuration is defined during compilation, so a configuration
file is only needed when it is necessary to deviate from those
defaults. By default the configuration file in /etc/systemd/ contains
commented out entries showing the defaults as a guide to the
administrator. This file can be edited to create local overrides.
When packages need to customize the configuration, they can install
configuration snippets in /usr/lib/systemd/\*.conf.d/. Files in /etc/
are reserved for the local administrator, who may use this logic to
override the configuration files installed by vendor packages. The main
configuration file is read before any of the configuration directories,
and has the lowest precedence; entries in a file in any configuration
directory override entries in the single configuration file. Files in
the \*.conf.d/ configuration subdirectories are sorted by their filename
in lexicographic order, regardless of which of the subdirectories they
reside in. If multiple files specify the same option, the entry in the
file with the lexicographically latest name takes precedence. It is
recommended to prefix all filenames in those subdirectories with a
two-digit number and a dash, to simplify the ordering of the files.
To disable a configuration file supplied by the vendor, the recommended
way is to place a symlink to /dev/null in the configuration directory
in /etc/, with the same filename as the vendor configuration file.
>>> conf = shared[JournaldConfAll]
>>> conf.get_active_setting_value('Storage')
>>> 'Storage' in conf.active_settings_with_file_name
>>> conf.get_active_setting_value_and_file_name('Storage')
('auto', '/etc/systemd/journald.conf')
from insights.core.plugins import combiner
from insights.parsers.journald_conf import EtcJournaldConf, EtcJournaldConfD, UsrJournaldConfD
# TODO - further insights work - convert this to a generic option & file priority evaluator for
# other combiners.
[docs]@combiner(EtcJournaldConf, optional=[EtcJournaldConfD, UsrJournaldConfD])
class JournaldConfAll(object):
Combiner for accessing files from the parsers EtcJournaldConf, EtcJournaldConfD, UsrJournaldConfD
and evaluating effective active settings based on the rules of file priority and file shadowing
as described in man journald.conf.
Can be later refactored to a combiner for parsing all configuration files with key=option lines,
like journald files.
Rules of evaluation:
* Files from EtcJournaldConfD wholly shadow/overwrite files from UsrJournaldConfD with identical
* Files ordered by name from lowest priority to highest (a.conf has lower priority than b.conf).
* Option values overwritten by the file with the highest priority.
* The one central file has either the lowest priority or the highest priority, based on the
central_file_lowest_prio argument.
That is:
* An entire file in UsrJournaldConfD is overwritten by a same-named file from EtcJournaldConfD.
* A single option value is overwritten when another file with a higher priority has an option
with the same option name.
Example of file precedence::
the resulting configuration:
key1=value13 # c.conf has highest priority
key2=value2 # b.conf from /usr is shadowed by b.conf from /etc so value from a.conf is used
key4=value4 # b.conf from /usr is shadowed by b.conf from /etc so value from a.conf is used
key5=value12 # c.conf has higher priority than b.conf
# key6 doesn't exist because b.conf from /usr is shadowed by b.conf from /etc
def __init__(self, journal_conf, journal_conf_d, usr_journal_conf_d):
# preparation for future possible refactoring into a more general combiner
central_file_lowest_prio = True
# comments in this method describe journald configuration; it should work for similar ones
etc_confd = {} # parser instances indexed by file name
usr_confd = {} # parser instances indexed by file name
if journal_conf_d:
for parser_instance in journal_conf_d:
etc_confd[parser_instance.file_name] = parser_instance
if usr_journal_conf_d:
for parser_instance in usr_journal_conf_d:
usr_confd[parser_instance.file_name] = parser_instance
files_shadowed_not_used = set() # full file paths of files that are shadowed by others
effective_confd = {} # deduplicated *.conf files, taking shadowing /usr by /etc into account
for file_name, parser_instance in usr_confd.items():
effective_confd[file_name] = parser_instance
# /etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/*.conf shadow /usr/lib/systemd/journald.conf.d/*.conf files
# with the same name. The following loop overwrites these same-named files by their /etc
# counterparts:
for file_name, parser_instance in etc_confd.items():
if file_name in effective_confd:
shadowed_file_name = effective_confd[file_name].file_path
if shadowed_file_name:
# empty and None file names are not added (that is invalid anyway)
effective_confd[file_name] = parser_instance
files_shadowed_not_used = sorted(files_shadowed_not_used) # deterministic behavior, sorted paths
sorted_file_names = sorted(effective_confd.keys(), key=str)
parsers_list = [effective_confd[file_name] for file_name in sorted_file_names]
if central_file_lowest_prio:
parsers_list = [journal_conf] + parsers_list
parsers_list = parsers_list + [journal_conf]
files_used_priority_order = [] # from lowest to highest priority, not including empty files
# storing only the active values as (val, file_name), taking precedence rules into account
resulting_options_with_file_name = {}
# *.conf files from the lowest priority to the highest, so that the last value stays
for parser_instance in parsers_list:
if parser_instance.active_settings: # do not iterate if empty or None
if parser_instance.file_path:
# empty and None file names are not added (that is invalid anyway), see test_11
for k, v in parser_instance.active_settings.items():
resulting_options_with_file_name[k] = (v, parser_instance.file_path)
# not named simply as `active_settings` so as not to confuse the contents with the
# `active_settings` dictionary in parsers/journald_conf.py
# (dict[str, str] vs. dict[str, tuple[str, str]])
self.active_settings_with_file_name = resulting_options_with_file_name
# Not saving directly to self so that if this function fails in the middle, nothing is saved
# for the offshoot chance that an exception would be swallowed and the invalid instance
# used - prevents incomplete data from being used.
self.files_shadowed_not_used = files_shadowed_not_used
self.files_used_priority_order = files_used_priority_order
super(JournaldConfAll, self).__init__()
[docs] def get_active_setting_value(self, setting_name):
Access active setting value by setting name.
setting_name (string): Setting name
return self.active_settings_with_file_name[setting_name][0]
[docs] def get_active_setting_value_and_file_name(self, setting_name):
Access active setting value by setting name. Returns the active setting value and file name
of the file in which it is defined. Other files that also specify the setting but are
shadowed are ignored and not reported.
setting_name (string): Setting name
tuple[str, str]: setting value, file name
return self.active_settings_with_file_name[setting_name]


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Holy Scriptures Distribution
Shree Bhagwat Gita and Shikshapatri
Holy scriptures provide the essence of ancient Vedic knowledge to help us dispel darkness and clear self-doubt. These ancient texts lead us to introspect, contemplate and find solutions to the challenges and dilemmas we face in our daily lives. Making this knowledge available and accessible to all is a fundamental duty.
Gokuldham Nar recently launched an initiative to distribute our most revered holy scriptures, The Shree Bhagwat Gita and The Shikshapatri, to families across our localities. These scriptures were distributed individually by young Brahmins with guidance on how families should recite and gain benefit from these fountains of knowledge.
We distributed the following after blessings and discourses were offered in front of distinguished Saints and guests in our main prayer hall:
- Bhagwat Gita: 3,000 copies
- Shikshapatri: 3,000 copies


text:
Tech IPOs leave no doubt—It's now growth at any cost
Last week's IPO for Snowflake, a cloud data software company, sheds light on the current state of tech investing. Cordell Eminent Scholar Chair Jay Ritter comments on Snowflake's IPO and just how much money it left on the table. See what he had to say in this story from Barron's (subscription required).


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ld89.org is the home of my link dump blog. But you can call me Luke.
I think this is the 6th iteration of this blog but I could be wrong. I work as an SEO, so I spend most of my life with search engines, writing and optimising web content. This blog isn't part of that work. It's unoptimised and I like it that way. It used to be my main blog but that's now over at lukealexdavis.co.uk/posts. From art to tech, culture, design, music, architecture, sports, I blog about anything I find interesting, funny, and/or cool.
ld89.org has little to no influence on anyone (to my knowledge).
About me
I love the Web a great deal. I fell down the WWW rabbit hole back in 2000 and got into coding a year later. Via graphic design, mathematics, a music tech degree, and 7 years in customer service, I found myself in digital marketing. I'm now an SEO.
You can find me on Twitter (when my account is activated). Or here, obviously.
Want some more facts about me?
I'm learning Portuguese, relearning Spanish and French. I have a son who is my pride and joy. I've had grey hair since I was 20. I've lived in 3 different cities in the UK and 1 in the US (Atlanta for 6 months). I also love Python, HTML, and CSS. And the Web. Have I already said that?
How to contact me
You can email me at [email protected] or tweet me. Just don't ask me for free work.
Technical stuff about ld89.org
ld89.org is hosted by WordPress.
Want to help fund my content work?
I have a Patreon and Ko-fi. I also have a Bandcamp. Your money goes towards hosting and the means to create more content.


text:
Let Us Help You Keep Your Cool by the Pool
Nothing's better than taking a cool dip in your very own pool during New Jersey summer months. If you don't yet have a pool to enjoy, don't despair. All Green Lawn & Landscape offers pool build and design services that look great and are sure to last you and your family for several years to come. Because we have an abundance of experience under our professional belts, we're confident we can help you design the perfect pool that matches your unique needs, the layout of your yard and your budget.
Our Swimming Pool Design Process
To help show why we're so well-qualified to build your pool, take a look at our Pool design process:
- We'll first schedule a consultation with you to get a concrete idea of what you want and need out of your pool.
- We'll then take a close and careful evaluation of the pool site to take measurements and map your existing utilities.
- Next, we draw up a design using the information we've gathered, not stopping until we've got the perfect results that go above and beyond your expectations.
- Before we get started on construction, we'll be sure to provide you with a rundown of the costs, including itemized elements to give you a solid idea of the final bill.
After that, the fun begins! Our technicians will be sure you remain in the loop throughout the entire construction project, from start to finish.
Landscaping for Your Pool
No pool design is complete without a pool landscape element. We'd be more than delighted to help you with this as well. The overall appearance of your pool can be as simple or extravagant as you like, just let us know.
Call Us, and Let's Get Started
You can start enjoying your pool sooner than you might think. Call All Green Lawn & Landscape today at 732-333-1991, and you're more than welcome to fill out and submit a Contact Us form as well.


text: Your sump pump system is your main line of defense against indoor flooding, but only if it is working! If you have a finished basement, or if you are storing valuables in an unfinished basement, you should take regular steps to ensure that your sump pump system is working. To be well protected against the devastating financial losses associated … Read More


text:
BMW M4 Coupe pictures leaked ahead of launch, sporting new bucktooth grille
Few days ago, BMW launched a fully remodelled version of the new 4 Series Coupe with the huge vertical grille that has left its fan base divided. Before the debate is settled whether the new grille ruins the beauty of the iconic BMW twin-grille, there are some more leaks of other cars from the German auto major, hinting that the new design is here to stay.
Several pictures of the upcoming BMW M4 G82 Coupe have been leaked online showing the new grille, which at first glance looks slightly different than the one on the new BMW 4 Series Coupe.
According to the pictures shared on social media, the new generation of G82 M4 Coupe will sport the new grille that has horizontal bar with black paint instead of the dot pattern on the 4 Series Coupe.
Also check these Cars
Besides this picture, there are two other renders of the BMW M4 G82 Coupe shared on social platforms. The leak gives us an idea of the design at the rear. It wears a pair of slim taillights with the quad-exhaust pipes. There is also a hint of a thin spoiler on the top of the boot lid.
BMW has already confirmed that the new M4, along with the new G80 M3, will be launched in September this year. It is expected to go into production by November this year. So there could be minor tweaks to the designs already leaked. However, it is expected to keep the new grille, which has increasingly become BMW's new signature in all its future cars, including some of the Concept vehicles unveiled earlier.
The new BMW M4 is likely to be powered by the new 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged S58 straight-six cylinder engine mated to a six-speed manual or eight-speed Steptronic gearbox. This is the same powertrain used in the BMW X3 and X4 M. It can generate power up tp 375 kW and 600 Nm of torque. It is also likely to come with four-wheel drive version only.


text:
On this Saturday's (01/22/22) livestream podcast of "Real Estate with Mr. G", we will discuss: Two Ways Homebuyers Can Win in Today's Market. Topics include: Act Early and Save, Buy Now and Move Later, Increasing your credit score and much, much more!
Click on the Tab "Broad-cast Live" to view at 7 pm.
(May take a few minutes to start, keep on refreshing screen.)


text: We know increasing your power level might be hard and take a lot of time, and doing it on 2 characters is even more difficult, but we're here for that. Two is better than one. We'll hop on your favorite guardians and get you to the level cap defeating and wielding the darkness


text:
Can't make it in person to Addison Trail's 57th commencement ceremony on May 21? No problem! The graduation will be streamed live at 3 p.m. (CST) online at www.dupage88.net/atgrad.
On May 21, Addison Trail seniors Lea Staller (pictured at left) and Daisy Puebla (pictured at right) will address nearly 500 of their classmates as the student graduation speakers during Addison Trail's 57th commencement ceremony.
Staller and Puebla entered the school's annual graduation-speech competition and were selected as this year's winners by a panel of judges.
Get to know Lea Staller
Title of your speech: "Embrace Change, and Be Kind"
Summary of your speech: The theme of my speech is to be open to change, take advantage of everything available to you, be kind and make a positive difference.
Lessons/advice you hope to share with your peers through your speech: Your friends and views will change throughout your life, and that's OK. But no matter what changes, what should remain consistent is your focus on enjoying life and being kind.
What does it mean to you to be a speaker during the commencement ceremony and to represent the class of 2023? I was excited and surprised to learn I would be one of the speakers. It means a lot and is a nice finale to four years of hard work and being at the top of my class.
Involvement at Addison Trail:
How Addison Trail has supported you: Addison Trail offers a tremendous variety of clubs and academic courses that have helped me advance – especially in math. The school also has a welcoming, community feel.
Your future plans: I plan to attend Cornell University, where I will pursue a major in mechanical and aerospace engineering and a minor in performing arts.
Get to know Daisy Puebla
Title of your speech: "Everything You Need Is Inside of You Already"
Summary of your speech: My speech has a funny, lighthearted tone. I talk about how it's OK to be scared about the future, but what you should focus on is finding your identity and being secure that you have everything you need to succeed.
What does it mean to you to be a speaker during the commencement ceremony and to represent the class of 2023? I teared up – I was so excited and happy. My parents emigrated from Mexico to the U.S., and I'm the first in my family to go to college. They don't know I was selected as one of the student speakers for graduation, so my speech is going to be a surprise for them.
Involvement at Addison Trail: I'm involved in 12 extracurricular activities, including:
How Addison Trail has supported you: I've met so many teachers and students who have been incredibly welcoming and have helped me feel more comfortable and confident in myself.
Your future plans: I plan to attend Elmhurst University, where I will pursue a major in political science or economics.


text:
Tuesday, 12 June 2018
Nifty North Korean Footwork
Standard YouTube Licence
Prompted by the comings and goings in Singapore I googled "Ballet in North Korea" and this is what I found. I am not sure that this counts as ballet but it certainly passes muster as tap. Some very nifty footwork there.
There are plenty of dancers from South Korea in the world's ballet companies. Kimin Kim, the first to spring to mind, actually dances in Russia. He will be performing in London with the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre between 22 and 26 Aug 2018. There is also Hyo-Jung Kang with the Stuttgart Ballet and I nearly forgot Young Gye Choi who is one of my favourites at the Dutch National Ballet.
I struggle to think to think of any from the North. Given Pyongyang's adoption of other Stalinist practices I am surprises that there is not a strong North Korean Ballet or, if there is, that we in the West hear so little of it. If any of my readers know otherwise then do say.
Posted by Jane Lambert at 08:30
Labels: ballet, Hyo-Jung Kang, Kimin Kim, Korea, North, tap, Young Gye-Choi
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Celebrating Generosity
We are grateful to our donors for their essential support of Roper St. Francis Foundation.
2022 Roper St. Francis Foundation Donors
Thank You
On behalf of our patients and teammates at Roper St. Francis Healthcare, thank you to all of our donors for your generous support.
Subscribe to The Foundation News!
Your support matters, donate now.


text:
Research Paper By Francesco Restifo
(Life Coach, ITALY)
Coaching is a supporting profession that deals with change, action, forward movement, transformation, all functional to the client's goals and desires. It is our common experience as human beings that in today's society change is a daily part of our lives, and so is the need to change ourselves to adapt to our mutating surroundings. Adaptation is one of the key features of our species, one that has guaranteed our survival until this day.
So is accountability: it is an effective boost factor for change. In this research paper I am going to explore the relationship between the role accountability has played throughout our evolution as a species, and the role and potential it has in coaching.
What is accountability in the first place? According to the Cambridge Dictionary:
Accountability is the fact of being responsible for what you do and able to give a satisfactory reason for it or the degree to which this happens.
The meaning of the word is intertwined with responsibility, although with an important differentiating factor. Being accountable means being responsible for someone FOR something. Thus the prominent semantic feature is answering to authority.
As a side note, it is interesting to notice that this concept exists in all cultures. This is true independently from the existence or frequency of the word "accountability", which does in fact not exist in many languages. Even in English, it is a rather infrequent word compared to "responsibility". This testifies how deeply wired this behavior is in us as a species: it is something we universally share, despite whether a single culture articulates it precisely or not.
Where does it come from?
During the majority of our history as social beings, we have lived in tribes and villages; these small groups survived also because these small social structures kept people accountable.
The Cambridge Dictionary helps us once more with another definition to understand this:
Responsible altruism is the expectation that a favor given today would be returned in the future.
In other words, giving favors to one another would make it more likely to receive other favors in the future. Also, individuals honoring this principle, returning favors, and contributing to the community gained respect, status, and social recognition. This meant having a better chance of survival and reproduction. The smaller and tightly linked the social group was small, the higher the chances of a good gesture to be reciprocated – thus, those of survival.
In other words, accountability has been functional to our own survival for millennia. For thousands of years, we have willingly been keen on doing something today that may ensure us reciprocal altruism. This pattern has been ingrained into our brains until this day.
Moreover, accountability still has consequences on our response to challenges even today. We all can relate to the fact that accountability triggers automatic mechanisms that produce tangible consequences in our behavior. We think harder about an issue, become more alert, pay more attention, tend to develop more complex strategies, justify our choices more elaborately. This is part of the reason why I believe in the fundamental power of accountability in coaching.
Applications to coaching
Today we live in a much wider, more individualistic society, where this social factor has faded. As our groups and tribes have become huge, we have many more ways to escape the authorities which we should be responsible for, that were once much closer to us. We also have easy shortcuts to compensate for the lack of social recognition that virtuous behaviors generated (at least apparently): for instance, we have the power to choose which parts of our life we want to project to the outside world (eg. through social media).
This fading of accountability structures in society and my experience of it being extremely effective and powerful are the reasons for basing my coaching model around accountability. In the model, I propose to use accountability from the beginning, way before developing an action plan.
I suggest that we, as coaches, work to encourage clients recreating that missing community of accountability peers, as a key factor to successfully pursue whatever change may be pursued.
The two flavors of accountability
Procedural accountability focuses on how a goal was reached and the quality of the individual steps; it is not concerned about the quality of the outcome. In practical terms, individuals are usually asked to justify their strategies and motivate their decisions.
Outcome accountability focuses on the outcome and its quality instead, regardless of the path taken to achieve it. If the result only is what matters, developing healthy strategies for success (eg. collaboration) is not valued. As humans, we are naturally inclined to focus on outcomes, it is an effective cognitive bias: it is the most tangible of the two, the lasting evidence of success or failure, and the basis for judgment of the authority. However, just focusing on outcomes goes into the direction of competition and, in the case of social groups, away from mediation and compromise.
Applications in coaching
It should be stressed that both kinds of accountability have their positive and negative sides. Take sports for instance: it is the realm of competition, where results do matter. Of course, the process is equally important: certain standards are enforced by rules and penalties. If applied in athletes' training, results are what matters, however, success has to be built long term by an appropriate process (eg. regular training, disciplined diet, etc).
Instead of choosing one or the other, a healthy approach lies in being conscious of the existence and importance of the two kinds of accountability and finding just the right balance between them.
Being aware of our human tendency towards outcomes, coaches should empower and support clients offering them both perspectives of accountability, to ensure a healthy and functional transformation journey. Then, of course, the choice of what accountability structures should target is entirely up to each client.
As an example, process accountability could be set up on the smaller, intermediate goals (eg. session goals, quick wins) to generate gratification and fuel motivation; while process accountability could be aimed at the value of the bigger journey, focusing on recognition of successes and learnings made along the way.
Accountability and consequences
There is another wiring in our brains that is both important for the subject.
Psychologically, we are inclined to condemn "free-riders", i.e. those who benefit from the altruism of others without reciprocating at the appropriate time.
This is not (only or primarily) linked to an idea of justice or injustice. Holding commitments has been a fundamental contributing factor to the survival and thriving of the entire community. Thus, there were unpleasant consequences for individuals who did not honor their commitments to others, or took advantage of others, to discourage this behavior.
Applications in coaching
An additional consequence of what is described above is that accountability is more effective when not only the consequences of succeeding but also those of failing, are known. It is everyone's experience that we may be motivated by reaching a pleasant state, or by avoiding a different, unpleasant one.
This is why being aware of (I want to stress being aware of, which is different from being fearful of) the consequences of inaction is equally important as a motivating factor. We may note how different individuals formulate their motivations differently (eg. training to complete a marathon vs. training to avoid quitting before the finish line).
The coach should support the client during this delicate exploration, which as we know will be more effective if done during moments of high energy when the client feels empowered and already motivated.
Accountability and failure
The described mechanism of fearing the consequences of not keeping our social obligation to reciprocate favors is also valid for our failures. In fact, failure is still a difficult thing to accept both as individuals and in society.
"People will accept and embrace accountability if they can take decisions and risks without being blamed for making a mistake. Fail fast is a type of culture that needs to be in place if you want to leverage accountability."
This tells us two things. First, it proposes a healthier attitude towards the possibility of failing; an attitude of awareness and learning. Second, it tells us that the community around us must also be supportive and compassionate: "fail fast" is a culture, i.e. a collective attitude, not just one person's one.
Applications in coaching
Clients cannot immediately control or change the culture of the communities they live in, however, they have the power to work on their goals: ultimately, the whole idea of success is relative to the goal that one wants to reach.
The fear of failing makes us naturally shy away from difficult goals. This is why a divide-and-conquer approach is effective in so many fields, including coaching: it allows us to break away from resistance and feel the positive effects of smaller but constant successes along the way. These are the quick wins, all of those session goals which are within reach (SMART goals).
One more definition: Ownership
Another key concept linked to accountability is ownership. The people at the Cambridge Dictionary come to our help once more:
Ownership is the fact of taking responsibility for an idea or problem.
Responsibility is involved here, too. This time we need to use our imagination to further explore this concept.
Let us try to imagine a situation where two or more people are liable for a common activity. This scenario is not that effective in terms of reciprocal altruism. Individuals might start debating about who should be taking credit for eventual success, or blaming each other in case of a loss. It is easily understood that factions and internal conflict do not increase the chances of survival.
Ownership, on the contrary, is way healthier for the group. It avoids wasting energy and indulging in lengthy debates, in favor of transparent distribution of responsibilities which can be traced back, praised in case of a positive outcome, and judged in the opposite case.
One of the ideas behind responsible altruism is that the thriving of the group or tribe grants better chances of survival to each individual. At the same time, an individual contributing to the success of the group is eligible for recognition and praise.
Applications to coaching
In today's world, the idea of a tribe that is essential to our survival is much more diluted, and although society plays a key role in our wellbeings, luckily our physical survival is not in constant danger anymore.
We have seen how accountability and ownership are interlinked. In coaching, the authority implied by accountability may be external, but not exclusively. It may very well coincide with the person being accountable itself. In fact, as coaches, we do encourage clients to be accountable to themselves to create an effective action plan.
Now, going back to the definition of accountability and comparing it with ownership, we may notice that the latter can be rephrased as follows:
Ownership is taking responsibility for something.
Which can be further reduced to:
Ownership is being responsible TO ourselves FOR something.
In other words, ownership is nothing but being accountable to ourselves. In my coaching model, I explore how ownership can boost the client forward on the path towards reaching the sought goal or change.
The dark side of accountability, Carlo Alberto Hung, 2019
Helen Abadzi, Accountability and its educational implications: culture, linguistics, and psychological research, UNESCO, 2017