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Serving Art Educators
and Students Since 1994
It's been 15 years since the tragedy struck New York City. Shortly after the event, several members of this site and the art education list group shared student pictures, their feelings and memories about the tragedy. I am including their comments and submitted images below. The images below were part of the healing process for students who lived near the World Trade Center:
"Here in Switzerland, we had 3 minutes of silence everywhere. We are thinking of you all Americans."
Claire-Lise Veronese
"We were asked to turn off our tv's, as well. (Middle school and elementary) It was on in my room before that. I have a student whose Mother worked on the 39th floor (she survived), but when the building collapsed, we did not know that. Everyone was very supportive of this young person. I did not know it that day, but her aunt worked there, too. Her aunt is unaccounted for. It has been hard."
"We had a moment of silence on Friday. In addition, I got shrink art and pin backs and we made patriotic pins to wear and give. Some made the traditional folded ribbon, some did red, white and blue abstracts, some drew the American Eagle... one did the two towers in front of a cover (minus words) of the Grateful Dead... (I asked others not to copy that one... but I did shrink it... he was not being disrespectful... it was his way of coping. I went to school Saturday and made sure that the room was extra orderly, since the children have so much disorder from the attack."
Sincerely, Becky T
"I teach in a small, private school in central NJ. Once we had a general idea of what happened (the Internet was jammed, our cable TV line was out and our building's design makes radio reception difficult) we had a school-wide meeting at 11:15. The principal assured students that we were all in a safe place and that counselors and teachers were available to talk."
"A letter went home with each student that day restating the same. On Wednesday each class met separately with our team of counselors to discuss the events and emotions which followed. Calmness and professionalism helped everyone cope. Although many of our school community have friends, family and neighbors who work in NYC, just one of them is among the 5000 missing. Thoughts jumble together... from the thankfulness in having family and friends safe to imagining the emptiness that must overwhelm the families of the victims in NYC, Washington, DC, and on the aircraft that crashed.
"The attack has brought out much that is good among us: determination, pride, cooperation and altruism... donations of blood and emergency supplies are flooding in and volunteers from local rescue squads and fire departments are now in NYC helping out. But, it has also seen the rise of hatred and bigotry. Central NJ is home to a vast diversity of ethnic and religious groups, some of whom have become targets for the anger and anxiety expressed by others.
There are folks who have begun to shun anyone who "looks" middle eastern or Islamic. Letters to the editor have talked about avenging the innocent victims here by practicing genocide oversees as a way to protect the rest of us. These behaviors and letters are a chilling reminder of how prejudice and hatred are covered under a shallow veneer of civilized behavior. In the days ahead, as we wait for our government's response, it would be wise to reflect upon how hatred for others who are different brought these tragic events to our cities... and pray for the peace of God, which passes all human understanding, to touch our hearts and the hearts of those everywhere... including the innocent abroad who fear an angry, indiscriminate military retaliation."
Michael Gerrish
Transforming Education Through Art
"This was the hardest week I have ever had to teach. Although we found out through word of mouth at our school, immediately after it happened, and things continued to happen, we had nothing but a radio as communication with outside world... and we had to go on teaching without telling the students. This was particularly difficult because I have many friends and family members who lived and worked in that area. I work in Westchester and many of the student's parents worked in the vicinity of the tragedy. The day after I had the students paint how they were feeling- no violent images were allowed. Some great discussions took place. I am now trying to think of a bulletin board that would remember this great tragedy without upsetting the students... something hopeful, or something that would give tribute to all of those involved. I know this is a hard time for everyone, but any ideas are welcome."
"The evil that destroyed the area around the World Trade Tower was not the Afghani people. Ben Laden and the network of other terrorists are the main target and they are spread all over the middle east, North Africa, and SE Asia. Ben Laden is a religious zealot who has found followers amongst the Taliban. I wonder about the other group that is battling in Afghanistan. Are these the remnants of the communist government? Are they people who respect laws and human rights? I would back these people in a second if they were decent people. We already made the mistake of backing Ben Laden during the war with the Russians. Pakistan has a nuclear bomb and I worry that it is not secure. Too much of Pakistan is controlled by religious zealots. If Pakistan can not be trusted then India could be drawn in and that would be very dangerous. The Russian Replics have said publicly they would not co operate in any operations against Afghanistan, but do the Russians always do what they say???" - Meg
"I teach in Long Island, New York and this has been such a devastating time for all of us. Since Tuesday, I have been unable to resume teaching from the art curriculum. My students and I shared our thoughts, facts, beliefs, and feelings about the terror in our city. Students were responsible, vulnerable, and mature as they shared their candid thoughts. They expressed their pride about being American. I asked them if they would like to do anything to contribute.Sudents are going to paint a mural and design T-shirts to raise money for the red cross. I will support and guide them in their efforts. I hope that we can all get through this. God Bless America!" - Cathy Rode Freeport NY
"Our school of 1500 collected over $2000 Wed. just at lunch for NYC. Our clubs are donating funds that were for operations, also. "
"Our students here are making American flags and they write a poem about the tragedy on each stripe. They are hanging flag mobiles in the hallways as well... "
"I teach in Central New Jersey in a k-8 school... from some of my students' homes, the Twin Towers could be seen. I had a prep 2nd period last Tuesday and was in the hall with 2 other teachers (I was putting up a bulletin board) when we heard of the disaster. One of our teachers' son was on the 32nd floor of Tower # 2... I went to cover her class so she could leave (she called that night to tell me he was ok... even though they announced to his building that it was just an isolated incident (the crash at Tower 1) and they could return to their offices, he left his building minutes after the second plane crashed)..."
"Later, during my lunch I watched TV in utter, unbelieving horror. Parents came to school and removed students. Some teachers (upper grades) put the radio on, so by the time some students got to me, they knew bits and pieces. I felt our administration was extremely lax. The next day we were given handouts outlining how we should be "supportive." We had no assembly, no unity, nothing as a school-community~ not even a schoolwide pledge to the flag or moment of silence. Everything was put on the individual teachers... there was no solidarity at all. I was approached to make flags... I thought of quite a few diverse ways to approach flag-making and it opened up a dialogue with my classes. I made a huge flag with the 8th grade and we had everyone in the school sign their names in red, so the red stripes were made up of signatures. We made folk art flags with stamping and stenciling. I did a ruler exercise for making flags. Collaged flags too... I xeroxed sheet music and we made patriotic stars and stripes... on and on... anything to try to ease the sorrow about NY. My husband and I donated blood and sox and money... but nothing fills the emptiness we feel... I hope you are all safe and coping the best that you can. My thoughts and prayers are with you..."
"I live in the Seattle area, far from the chaos of NY and VA. Here most kids had heard and seen the news before they ever left for school. At our house the alarm went off at 5:30am, we heard that a plane had crashed into one of the towers. We did not turn on the TV immediately, not completely sure why...probably because we never turn the TV on that early. About 6:00 am our phone started ringing, it was my brother in Japan, they had been watching the news and had seen the second plane crash. He was thinking it was 5:00 here and figured we were all still asleep and wanted us to know what was happening. Our school for the most part tried to keep a normal schedule. They always do a schoolwide Pledge of Allegiance. They sent home a letter Tuesday afternoon with pointers for talking to your children and helping them cope with tragedies such as this. On Friday, following the Pledge there was a moment of silence. The older students have organized a schoolwide fund drive for the Red Cross. One second grade class drew pictures and wrote letters to students in NY. Although each class and teacher has been left to handle the situations as they see fit, but they have also shared ideas, etc. with each other."


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Happy Mother's Day to All!
Halycon Sage doesn't know who his mother is for reasons you'll find in the book.
But here's my mother. The writing on the back says, "Little Miss Goodie Two Shoes," and you can see how adorable she was.
She grew up to be a piano player, photographer, painter of beautiful water colors, and author of two plays and a novel.
A sophisticated lady, she also had moments of great sweetness and a monster sense of humor.
Born on May 11, 1926, Mom was never crazy about Mothers' Day because she said she had that weekend first!
If she were alive today she'd be 99 and would probably want you to read my forthcoming metafictional Sci-Fi novel, This book is not called SQUID!! Well, that's what we're calling it for now.
Real title: To be revealed this summer!

subset: commoncrawl


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You'll get that and more with State Farm Condo Unitowners Insurance. State Farm has dependable options to keep your condo and its contents protected. You'll get coverage options to accommodate your specific needs. Thank goodness that you won't have to figure that out by yourself. With personal attention and terrific customer service, Agent Ryan Walker can walk you through every step to help provide you with coverage that shields your condo unit and everything you've invested in. Bend condo owners, are you ready to find out what a company that helps customers by handling thousands of claims each day can do for you? Reach out to State Farm Agent Ryan Walker today.


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We have in-house manufacturing of our own proprietary state of the art assembly equipment and machines. All the components required for producing our line of pressure and temperature instruments: cases, bezels, bourdon tubes, connections and measuring systems are manufactured and assembled in Schiedam. Custom design and production printing of any scale or logo is available. Production is managed and controlled through our IBM iSeries computer system. MAPICS XA soft-ware is our production standard.
Research and Development
ENFM maintains a dedicated team of specialized professionals managing our R & D programs. This team is totally integrated throughout our company. They are assisting in the development of new testing and manufacturing machinery, as well as the development of new products. Through the use of technology programs like Solid Edge, we are able to get our new products from the design board to the customer faster than ever before. This allows us the opportunity for rapid response to customer market & requirement changes.
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Human body consists of about 60% water, wheres muscles are about 75% water.
Water plays a number of roles in the body, but during exercise its key role is to maintain the right body temperature. Working muscles generate a lot of heat and it must be released into the environment, otherwise the body will overheat. High body temperature causes severe fatigue, and a further increase in temperature is dangerous for the brain, kidneys and liver. It is estimated that under very intense exercise (90% VO2max), body temperature would increase every 4 to 5 minutes - if it wasn't for the appropriate mechanisms to prevent it. That's why we start to sweat so that the heat can dissipate along with the evaporating water.
How to hydrate...
Every day hydration
It is very important to take care of hydration at all times, not only while excerising. For every 1 kcal in the diet there should be 1 ml of water (e.g. 2000 kcal equals 2 liters of water - half a gallon). Counting water intake is difficult, so in everyday conditions it is worth relying on the color of urine. The color of the urine stream should not be darker than that of apple juice. It may or may not be transparent.
Before activity hydration
You should start hydrating about 2-3 hours before the start of your activity, you should drink about 300-500 ml (two cups). Then, about 20 minutes before exercise, you should drink about 120-180 ml (one cup) of fluid.
During activity hydration
During activity your water intake should be 400-800 ml (2-4 cups) per hour. Fluids taken during activity should contain glucose (supports hydration and is a source of energy) and sodium (supports hydration and prevents the decrease of this element in the blood). Most sports drinks meets these conditions.
Post activity hydration
At the end of activity, you should replenish all the fluids that were lost during exercise. In fact it is recommended to replenish 150% of water we lost. The easiest way to determine how much water we lost is to weigh our self before and after activity.
For every lost pound we should drink about 3 cups of water withing 2-3 hours post activity.
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The word Baile "boy-yeh" means home in Iridh.
This fragrance evokes childhood memories of Summers spent in Iteland. Rollling green fields, rose gardens in full bloom and the long summer evenings with the scent of night musk in the air.
TOP: Green leaf, Flower Stems
HEART: Hyacinth, White lily, Fressia
BASE: Musk


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Performance and design improvements: We've upgraded page load times to help users get their work done in half the time. These improvements will be available by end of month. Along with performance improvements, we're also focusing on inclusive design principles to provide millions of our users more choice and greater flexibility. That efforts starts with Dark Mode for OneDrive web, which we'll be releasing soon for both commercial and personal accounts. In addition to its aesthetic appeal, Dark Mode also reduces eye strain and improves the battery life of your devices.
Add to OneDrive: Files are often the starting point for getting work done and staying connected. OneDrive not only makes it easy for you to access and organize your work files, it also helps you get back to the files that matter the most—especially now with Add to OneDrive, a much-awaited feature that we're rolling out in public preview with the option to opt-out. Now, when someone shares a folder with you in OneDrive, Microsoft SharePoint, or Microsoft Teams, you can easily add a shortcut to that shared folder, either from Shared with me or your shared libraries, in your OneDrive to easily find it later. Added folders retain all the power of OneDrive, which means you can sync and access these folders from anywhere on any device; share and co-author files in added folder; and, stay up-to-date with @mentions, activity, and notifications. Added folders respect all existing policies, compliance, and security settings, too.
Move and keep sharing: Our files often go through a workflow or lifecycle—from creation to review to final. During this journey, you might need to relocate your file from an individual OneDrive site to a SharePoint shared library to extend its reach to a broader group of collaborators. But doing so should not affect the file's original access controls. Now, when you transfer an individual file to a shared library, the sharing permissions remain intact. This feature is rolling out now.
For Details on these and other coming Microsoft Office Features click here.
Also check out the OneDrive Blog for other new features.


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ITS-Davis is internationally recognized for its multidisciplinary approach to transportation studies, with sustainability as a key underlying theme. To address today's challenges, ITS-Davis has built strong research programs in three areas:
These research programs are carried out by mission-specific centers within the Institute. They are:
The 3 Revolutions Future Mobility Program includes a two-part strategy to build strong capabilities in rigorous research and policy outreach and engagement. These two complimentary efforts will address key challenges facing government and industry decision makers, including vehicle use, traffic congestion, air pollution, energy use, and the equity gap between mobility haves and have-nots.
ITS-Davis BicyclingPlus Research Collaborative conducts applied research on travel by bike, e-bike, e-kick-scooter, skateboard, e-skateboard, and other similar travel modes. The need for understanding the role of bicycle travel and other small vehicles is growing. A rise in adoption of bicycling and the proliferation of micromobility service companies (e.g. Lime, JUMP, Bird, Spin, etc.) both indicate a travel future where these vehicles play an important role in every day transportation. As our name implies, we are collaborative by nature working with researchers from a variety of universities and centers and partnering with government agencies and private industry.
China Center for Energy and Transportation studies Chinese motorization and transportation energy systems, and teaches American and Chinese graduate students. The center collaborates with senior Chinese transportation scholars at State Council's Development Research Center, Tsinghua University, Shanghai Tongji University, and Beijing Jiaotong University. The China Center is led by Director Yunshi Wang.
The UC Davis Plug-In Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Research Center is the hub of collaboration and research on plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles for the State of California. It provides technology and policy guidance to the state, and address research questions and commercialization issues for PHEVs and EVs. The PH&EV Center is led by Director Dr. Gil Tal.
The Energy and Efficiency Institute (EEI) at UC Davis is a leading university institution advancing impactful energy and energy efficiency solutions. We focus on addressing critical energy challenges and improving energy use through research, education, and engagement. The EEI is home to innovative research centers and programs in buildings, transportation, water, and agriculture & food production; has more than 45 affiliated faculty; and hosts an interdisciplinary graduate program in energy systems.
The Energy Futures Research Program is a rapidly growing research and policy program in the Institute of Transportation Studies of the University of California, Davis. It grows out of the STEPS program and focuses on medium/long term transportation energy transitions for California, the US and worldwide. The program receives support from a range of government and industry partners, planning agencies and research foundations, and works in close cooperation with the federally-funded National Center for Sustainable Transportation and the other research programs at UC Davis.
The ITS-Davis European Transport and Energy Research Centre (ETERC), based in Paris, as part of an effort that is broadening the geographical scope of its work across various global regions to help addressing these challenges. ETERC leverages years of close cooperation between the ITS-Davis and European institutions, especially important at a time when the European Union is developing articulated policy packages to support a green, digital and resilient transformation of its transport and energy systems. It builds on the ITS-Davis experience to support California in the development of key sustainable transport policies with global visibility.
In recent years and at COP26, India and California have demonstrated continued global climate leadership, including joining the ZEV Transitions Council to advance ZEV adoption and promote international cooperation. Both regions are hubs of innovation and offer important lessons on using creative policy design and strategic public institutions to accelerate EV deployment. A California-India ZEV Partnership will provide the opportunity to explore sub-national policy design as a lever for vehicle electrification, and importantly, harness the role of states as laboratories of innovation in both the US-India context as well as the global south.
The Mobility Science Automation and Inclusion Center serves as a nexus point for collaborative research on developing innovative transdisciplinary solutions for vehicle automation, connectivity, and edge intelligence (ACE), aiming to create a sustainable and equitable mobility ecosystem.
In 2013, the National Center for Sustainable Transportation was selected in a national competition and established as one of five national University Transportation Centers (UTCs) as part of the UTC program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. In 2016, the NCST successfully re-competed for the opportunity to continue serving as one of the U.S. DOT's five National UTCs and is addressing the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act research priority area of Preserving the Environment. The NCST provides national leadership in advancing environmentally sustainable transportation through cutting-edge research, direct policy engagement, and education of our future leaders. To achieve the goal of preserving the environment, the NCST's programs are organized around four high-priority themes: environmentally responsible infrastructure and operations; multimodal travel and sustainable land use; zero-emission vehicle and fuel technologies; and institutional change.
The UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy (Policy Institute) was founded in 2011 to support the mission of relentless pursuit of knowledge, innovation, and collaboration by facilitating productive engagement between policymakers and University researchers on pressing energy and environmental issues.
The Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways (STEPS) Program is a four-year multidisciplinary research consortium that brings together the world's leading auto and truck OEMs, energy firms, new mobility companies, foundations and government agencies to understand sustainable vehicle and energy solutions. Since 2007 STEPS has carried out a wide body of interdisciplinary research projects analyzing and comparing potential transportation energy pathways across program areas including consumer demand and behavior; infrastructure system analysis; environmental, energy, and economic cost analysis; innovation and business strategy; vehicle technology evaluation; policy analysis; integrative scenarios; and understanding critical transition dynamics for sustainable transportation.
Freight movement is on the cusp of major transformations in the U.S. and worldwide. Yet to achieve very low levels of CO2 as well as pollutant emission reduction goals, complementary solutions will be needed. The Sustainable Freight Program evaluates goods movement patterns, supply chain management strategies, intermodal dynamics, new vehicle technologies, and new fuel options, along with infrastructure requirements, environmental impacts, and policy. Starting from the premise that the freight system is the economy in motion, our research is at the intersection of transportation, supply chain management, technology and policy.
The UC Davis Transit Research Center asks the question, "What will it take to uplift and empower transit and transit use in the US?" Transit ridership has been on the decline for the past decade. Our research explores what will enable policy makers, communities, and transit agencies to support transit use, improve perceptions of transit and transit users, and allow transit in the US to thrive.
The University of California Pavement Research Center is dedicated to providing knowledge and using innovative research and sound engineering principles to improve pavement structures, materials, and technologies.
Thank you for your interest in the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies. Subscribe today to keep up with the latest ITS news and happenings.


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Union of the Baltic Cities
Wały Jagiellońskie 1
80-853 Gdańsk Poland
tel. +48 58 301 09 17
tel. +48 58 301 91 23
fax +48 58 301 76 37
Contact us
Wały Jagiellońskie 1
80-853 Gdańsk Poland
tel. +48 58 301 09 17
tel. +48 58 301 91 23
fax +48 58 301 76 37
Contact us
XXV International Jazz Festival
The unique festival offers the performances of international jazz coryphaei for the lovers of music in various public areas of the city. Kaunas Jazz remains one of the most important jazz promoting factors in Lithuania and an outstanding culture event of the country.
|CONTACT: www.kaunasjazz.lt
|24-27 April 2015
Operetta in Kaunas Castle
The first operetta festival in East Europe will open its stage for the most beautiful pieces of music performed by soloists, musicians and orchestras from all over Europe.
|CONTACT: www.operetta.lt
|May – July 2015
XX Pažaislis Music Festival
The best world-wide known professional musicians and soloists will perform classical, ancient, popular, jazz music; various creative projects; a special performance of Lithuanian drama authors at Kaunas Castle on the occasion of Statehood Day.
|CONTACT: www.pazaislis.lt
|31 May - 30 August 2015
International Dance Festival AURA'24
The international contemporary dance festival will present the works of the acknowledged foreign choreographers and troupes joining different forms, techniques and traditions of art.
|CONTACT: www.aura.lt
|8-12 October 2015
Christmas Tree lightening and Town
Christmas Tree lightening festival and Christmas Town. The cycle of Christmas events.
|CONTACT: www.tautosnamai.lt
|December 2014 - January 2015


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By Adefolake Adekola
The recycling industry in Nigeria is gradually growing and so many people are showing interest but it is still seen as a job for environmentalists. It would shock many to know that all through the global lockdown, recycling companies were still working because they have to recycle used materials to make provisions for manufacturing industries.
Morit International School in Ajegunle (Lagos state) accepts plastics as school fees. A woman, Balikis Muritala, during an interview, mentioned how it was almost impossible to pay her child's school fees until the African Cleanup Initiative (ACI) came up with the initiative to allow parents to pay school fees through a program called RecyclesPay Educational Product. This goes to show the importance of plastics even after we have consumed the contents inside and how people are finding creative ways to earn a living or provide support to others around them.
The pandemic that just recently crippled world economies and giant organizations is still causing a lot of havoc around the world. It might take a while for things to normalize. This may never happen: everyone might have to adjust from how things were before. Some organizations no longer see the need for numerous staff and have downsized. To this end, people are out of jobs and we need to find alternative sources of income such as recycling.
Many of us are thinking "I do not have money to start a company". Don't fret, there are other ways to make money from recycling without owning a registered company or even full-time staff.
I once worked in a waste management company and I know how much the plastic recyclers made on a daily and weekly basis. Some of them made N5,000 a day while their collectors made as high as N500,000 or more, weekly. They collect waste from several people and sell to the recycling companies.
There is a Warri adage that says "na from clap dance dey start," loosely translated as 'big things don't happen suddenly'. I know we want to sit in an office and wait for people to collect plastics and pay us thousands, possibly millions in the long run, but we have to start somewhere.
The more plastic you provide, the more money you make. After a while, you can expand to the collection of glass and aluminum scraps for recycling, which is even more money.
Steps to take to make money from recycling
- Start by keeping all the plastics you use at home, in the office, from parties, anywhere you go. It is advisable to clean the bottles because the neater they are, the higher the value, and the more money you get. China started rejecting plastics because of contamination.
- When you have gathered the plastics to a significant amount, you can reach out to recyclers across the nation depending on where you stay. There are some recyclers online but most of them are found around dumpsites because most of their recyclable materials are found there. Only a few come from outsiders.
- Be careful not to fall victim to fraudsters because there are a lot of people that hang around the dumpsites looking for people to swindle. It is advisable to have a formal agreement with the recyclers. Some recycling companies actually get their materials directly from the dumpsites. But you can serve as the go-between for the scavengers and the recycling companies.
Subsistence Farming (Backyard Farming)
Some people are looking at their CVs and saying, "I cannot go and start picking plastics with my first-class degree certificate, I would rather stay at home". Well, all hope is not lost, there is still something else you can do to make money and save the environment as well. Backyard farming, which is also known as subsistence farming, is the way to go. This involves farming on a small scale. You could start with crops that are easy to cultivate around the house, such as vegetables and fruits (scent leaf, moringa, turmeric, bitter leaf, waterleaf, aloe vera, pawpaw, avocado, lemon, tomatoes, pepper, etc.)
Do you know that by farming, you are saving the environment? You get better air quality, shade around the house, lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced energy use for food production, etc.
All these fruits and vegetables I mentioned above are currently in my mother's backyard and she cultivates them herself with the assistance of a domestic staff. She has about 14 different crops within the compound. Initially, it seemed frivolous until COVID-19 hit and she was eating fresh fruits and vegetables without stepping out of the compound. If she decided to make money during this period, at least she would have been making a few thousands per day.
You do not have to go into crop farming, you can decide to go into fish farming.
There are so many ways to make money and save the environment, you just have to be open to ideas. I know some want to say "but my backyard is not big enough", you'd be surprised to know the small space some of these fruits and vegetables need.
How to go about backyard farming to earn money
- Carry out a survey and decide on what crops would be suitable for you. Based on the size of your backyard and other factors such as market availability.
- Prepare the soil
- Plant the crop
- Nurture, nurture, and nurture!
- When they are mature, sell them, and make your money. It is that simple.
A lot of us have probably submitted our CVs to countless places and it is becoming frustrating. Some just lost their jobs during this pandemic, while some have their jobs and are just bored with working from home. Recycling and subsistence farming can help save the environment and help you make money. It is time to get those hands dirty!


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Republican Congressman Jeff Denham, who hails from the Central Valley, would like to sell a vacant site at First and Broadway in Downtown LA. The property has long been intended for a new federal courthouse, since "Federal judges in the Los Angeles area consider the need for [a new] courthouse well-established and pressing," according to the LA Times. The new courthouse would replace the Depression-era one on Spring St., which "court officials say has 'among the worst security risks in the nation.'" But Denham thinks the intended site can net the government about $25 million and that the judges can all just move into the Roybal Federal Building (which is already used as a co-courthouse; opponents say it would be too crowded to fit all of the area's needs).
The new courthouse has already been scaled back (at one point its estimated cost topped $1 billion)--the plan is for a 650,000 square foot building with 24 courtrooms and 32 judges' chambers (current cost is $400 million). Congress has already signed off on funding for the project.
Denham's bill covers several federal buildings he says could be sold or consolidated, but he "called a Capitol Hill hearing for Friday to use the L.A. project as a poster child." His bill has already made it through a committee.
· Federal courthouse plan in L.A. meets opposition [LAT]


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But local historians say either way Brown is pegged — mad man or hero — he has left an important mark on American history.
This year, beginning in April, lessons of Brown will be relearned with special events and activities throughout 2009. The 150th commemoration kicks off Saturday, April 18, in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia and continue throughout the quad-state region, ending in December, the anniversary of his death.
According to Todd Bolton, events committee chair of the Sesquicentennial Quad-State Committee, because Brown's story starts long before Brown marched into Harpers Ferry, W.Va., from the Kennedy Farm in nearby Keedeysville activities are spread through the region.
Bolton, along with Dennis Frye, chief historian at Harpers Ferry NHP and chair of the John Brown Sesquicentennial Quad-State Committee, said there many places where people can get the Brown experience.
From the Kennedy Farm to the John Brown House in Chambersburg, Pa., there are plenty of places to walk in Brown's footsteps.
Bolton, who is also a supervisory park ranger for Harpers Ferry NHP, said the John Brown Wax Museum tries to give a more complete story of Brown. The museum is at 168 High St. in historic Harpers Ferry.
Bolton said Harpers Ferry NHP doesn't take a side when it comes to Brown's guilt or innocence, therefore, neither does the museum.
He said the first part sits up what America was like prior to 1859, as well as slavery in North America.
The second part of the museum is the story that Harpers Ferry knows so well — the 36 hours of the raid and Brown's capture.
The third part of the museum tells the reaction to the raid and the aftermath of the event in both North and South.
"An earlier interpretation of the museum gave the story of John Brown, but it now tells the story in the context of its time," he said.
Frye said while in Harpers Ferry, a good place to experience Brown would be John Brown's Fort. He said it might not be in the exact site it once was; the fort has been moved four times. It might have been rebuilt as well. But it's still a historical building, he said, and still a building associated with Brown.
"It's something uniquely American," he said.
# # # #
Herald-Mail Newspapers, Used by Permission


text: Current Native Hawaiian Population demographics in Bakersfield, California 2020, 2019 by gender and age. View Population Demographics and Statistics for all races in Bakersfield, Californiapopulation totalsTotal Native Hawaiian population in Bakersfield Total Population:132Male Population:77Female Population:55median age by sexMedian age of Native Hawaiian in Bakersfield Both sexes26Male25Female32Relevant Related Information sex by age for the population in householdsPopulation of Native Hawaiian in households in Bakersfield Total Population:128Male Population:77Under 5 years:55 to 9 years:710 to 14 years:815 to 17 years:618 and 19 years:220 years:221 years:222 to 24 years:625 to 29 years:1230 to 34 years:435 to 39 years:1040 to 44 years:345 to 49 years:550 to 54 years:255 to 59 years:160 and 61 years:062 to 64 years:065 and 66 years:067 to 69 years:070 to 74 years:175 to 79 years:180 to 84 years:085 years and over:0Female Population:51Under 5 years:45 to 9 years:210 to 14 years:715 to 17 years:318 and 19 years:120 years:121 years:122 to 24 years:125 to 29 years:530 to 34 years:435 to 39 years:240 to 44 years:145 to 49 years:550 to 54 years:555 to 59 years:360 and 61 years:162 to 64 years:165 and 66 years:067 to 69 years:370 to 74 years:175 to 79 years:080 to 84 years:085 years and over:0average population of home by ageAverage Native Hawaiian household size in Bakersfield Total:2Under 18 years:018 years and over:1household typeNumber of Native Hawaiian occupied homes in Bakersfield Total:48Family led homes:25Husband-wife family:13Other family:12Population of male led with no wife present:1Population female led with no husband present:11Population of Nonfamily homes:23Population living alone:15Population not living alone:8population of homes with people under 18 years old by typeTotal occupied homes of Native Hawaiian in Bakersfield with people under 18 years old: Total:48Population of homes with one or more people under 18 years:15Population of family homes:15Husband-wife family:7Under 6 years only:1Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years:46 to 17 years only:2Other family:8Male householder, no wife present:1Under 6 years only:0Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years:16 to 17 years only:0Female led with no husband present:7Under 6 years only:1Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years:36 to 17 years only:3Nonfamily households:0Male led households:0Under 6 years only:0Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years:06 to 17 years only:0Female led householder:0Under 6 years only:0Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years:06 to 17 years only:0Households with no people under 18 years:33Family households:10Husband-wife family:6Other family:4Male led with no wife present:0Female led with no husband present:4Nonfamily households:23Male led householder:17Female led householder:6type of home by age of owner-renterTotal number of Native Hawaiian led homes in Bakersfield, by type Total Home Population:48Population of Family homes:25Population of 15 to 24 year olds:0Population of 25 to 34 year olds:7Population of 35 to 44 year olds:6Population of 45 to 54 year olds:9Population of 55 to 59 year olds:1Population of 60 to 64 year olds:0Population of 65 to 74 year olds:1Population of 75 to 84 year olds:1Population of 85 year olds and over:0Population of Nonfamily Homes:23Population of 15 to 24 year olds:2Population of 25 to 34 year olds:9Population of 35 to 44 year olds:4Population of 45 to 54 year olds:2Population of 55 to 59 year olds:3Population of 60 to 64 year olds:2Population of 65 to 74 year olds:1Population of 75 to 84 year olds:0Population of 85 year olds and over:0population of homes with people 60 year olds and overNative Hawaiian households in Bakersfield containing people over 60 Total Population:48Population of homes with one or more people 60 years and over:71-person household:12-or-more-person household:6Family households:4Nonfamily households:2Population of homes with no people 60 years and over:411-person household:142-or-more-person household:27Family homes:21Nonfamily homes:6population of multigenerational homesNative Hawaiian homes in Bakersfield with multiple generations. Total Population:48Home has three or more generations:1Home does not have three or more generations:47presence of unmarried partner of home owner-renterUnmarried Native Hawaiian population in Bakersfield under 18 years old in homes Total Population:42Unmarried partner of home lead present:6In family homes:6Population of male led and male partner homes:0Population of male led and female partner households:2Population of female led and female partner households:4Population of female led and male partner households:0In nonfamily homes:0Population of male led and male partner homes:0Population of male led and female partner homes:0Population of female led and female partner homes:0Population of female led and male partner homes:0No unmarried partner of home lead present:36In family homes:36Population of husband-wife family homes:21Population of male lead with no wife present, family homes:3Population of female lead with no husband present, family homes:12In nonfamily homes:0population in families by agePopulation in Native Hawaiian families living in Bakersfield Total Population:89Population Under 18 years:41Population 18 years and over:48tenure of people in homesHow long Native Hawaiian in Bakersfield have lived in one place. Total:48Population of Owner occupied homes:14Family home:10Nonfamily homess:4Male led home:3Living alone:1Not living alone:2Female led home:1Living alone:1Not living alone:0Population of Renter occupied homes:34Family run homes:15Husband-wife family:4Other family:11Male led with no wife present:1Female led with no husband present:10Nonfamily Homes:19Male led homes:14Male living alone:12Male not living alone:2Female led homes:5Females living alone:1Females not living alone:4


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I Have My Own Teeth… and 7 Other Things this Woman Over 60 is Grateful for
Did you know that writing gratitude lists boosts your mood and improves happiness? I sometimes forget this in my day-to-day grumblings about hangnails and hay fever, but today, I've dusted off my gratitude list. Firstly, I am grateful for my…Read More


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Mumbai (Bombay), often known as the city of dreams, is one of the widely visited tourist attractions in India. The city with its coastline, nightlife, food, and culture attracts tourists from all over the world.
The history of Mumbai can be traced from the beginning of 600 BC and the journey has a gripping story. The city displays an epitome of cultural and spiritual amalgamation along with stark contradiction in the way of life. The contradiction exists due to the fact that the rich and poor live side by side.
Exploring the city needs a good amount of time as it has a lot to offer to its visitors. Mumbai has 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Street food, Iranian restaurants, modern cafes, and bars makes your food tour all the more exciting.
Hindi, English and Marathi are the common languages spoken here.
When to Travel?
Being a coastal city, Mumbai is best visited during November – March. Monsoon season creates havoc in the city and planning a visit must be avoided during that season.


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YouTube's rumored TV service just got a major new partner. According to reports in The Wall Street Journal and Variety, CBS has signed a deal with Google to provide content to a new TV subscription service that will launch in early 2017. That service, first reported by Bloomberg News earlier this year, would launch under the YouTube brand and include access to a number of channels for a single flat fee.
According to Variety, Google is also close to a deal with Fox, which would also include associated cable channels like Fox Sports, FX, and National Geographic. The Journal report also mentions an imminent deal with Disney and its ABC subsidiary, although Variety is more skeptical. Variety also reports that an NBC deal is farther off, and YouTube's new service is likely to launch without a deal in place to distribute NBC content.
Notably, the new Apple TV launched last year without an over-the-top streaming service. The company was in talks with CBS for such a service, in what CBS CEO Les Moonves characterized as "an ongoing conversation," but Apple's interest in such a service has reportedly cooled.
Google's forthcoming service is similar to YouTube Red, the offline subscription service launched last year, but will operate separately from Red for both consumers and content owners. YouTube Red commissioned its first TV series earlier this year, based on the Step Up franchise.
Note: NBCUniversal is an investor in Vox Media, parent company of The Verge.


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LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The owner of a San Fernando Valley trucking school has been sentenced to four years behind bars for siphoning more than $4 million from the US Department of Veteran Affairs in GI Bill funds for classes that veterans never attended.
Emmit Marshall, 53, was also ordered to pay $4.1 million in restitution, according to the US Attorney's Office.
The Woodland Hills resident pleaded guilty last year to five federal counts of wire fraud.
In sentencing Marshall, U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson called it "a very serious fraud on the government" which involved "calculated, criminal acts that cannot be condoned."
Defense attorneys unsuccessfully argued that Marshall be allowed to serve his prison time in home detention as a condition of probation so he can care for his children.
Co-defendant Robert Waggoner, 57, of Canyon Country also pleaded guilty to five wire fraud counts and is expected to be sentenced in March.
Marshall was owner and president of the Alliance School of Trucking, and Waggoner was a director at the Chatsworth school.
Marshall recruited veterans to take trucking classes paid under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. AST was certified to offer classes that included a 160-hour Tractor Trailer & Safety class and a 600-hour Select Driver Development Program.
Marshall told the veterans they wouldn't have to attend the classes, but could still collect housing and books fees supplied by the VA, while tuition payments were disbursed directly to the school, according to prosecutors
Knowing that the vast majority of veterans enrolling at AST did not intend to attend any portion of the programs, Marshall and Waggoner created and submitted bogus enrollment certifications and student files that contained counterfeit documents, court documents show.
From the end of 2011 through April 2015, as a result of the scheme, the VA paid AST about $2.35 million in tuition and fee payments for veterans who purportedly attended approved programs at AST, according to the April 2017 indictment.
During that same period, the VA also paid roughly $1.96 million in education benefits directly to veterans who purportedly attended approved programs at AST, according to federal prosecutors.


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Someone else found apn201.comART? Posted on Fri, January 31, 2014 09:08:20
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Using his own savings APN201 wants to show that you can make art without grants.
As long as you have brain that is producing ideas you can do anything.
This page is a collection of pictures, videos and text. Describing the art work and the process around it.
Info: email@example.com
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text:
On June 11, Nominet, the registry operator for .UK, will perform a system upgrade. This upgrade is part of Nominet's ongoing data restructuring project, and is largely comprised of back-end changes.
These changes will allow Nominet to eventually move to the EPP protocol, and introduce new functions in the future.
Nominet has scheduled this upgrade for Sunday, June 11.
Registrations, renewals, transfers and modifications will be unavailable during this period, however steps have been taken to ensure minimal disruption is experienced.


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Registration Form for 22nd Nov 2019 Seminar
It has been a great year and One Academy has nurtured quite a handful of skilled professional makeup artist & hairstylist in 2019. As part of our mission, One Academy strives to train our students with practical skill sets and techniques that is highly required in today's competitive market. Being a professional makeup artist or hairstylist is a lucrative career as the demand for them are ever increasing. To stand out against the rest of the competition, you need to be different.
On 22nd August 2019, 7:00 pm to 9:00pm, we will be conducting a preview session on "The Professional Makeup & Hairstylist Career" to help you achieve a deeper understanding in this ever changing and lucrative industry.
In this session, we will share on the following topics:
– Career Path & Income
– Type of Makeup Artist & Hairstylist you can become
– The types of jobs available in the marketing
– How do I outshine other artists in terms of skills and techniques
– Live Demo of Professional Makeup
– Live Demo of Professional Hair-styling
Date: 22nd November 2019
Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Venue: 36 Newton Road, Hotel Royal, Singapore 307964
*Conducted by Founder, Ivy Chen.
Limited seats available. Reserve your seats with the link below!


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Supporting infants, children and teenagers at home
Dr Maria Montessori boldly stated, 'The child is both a hope and promise for mankind. If we, therefore, mind this embryo as our most precious treasure, we will be working for the greatness of humanity'. How can you mind your children as your 'most precious treasure' and enable them to become resilient, caring, able, empathetic…Read more


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Maxiweb Internet Provider
- Data Center
- Maxiweb Internet Provider
- Provider
- Maxiweb Internet Provider
- Location
- Sao Paolo
- Address
- Rua Santa Catarina 519
Vila Progresso
- Website
- https://maxiweb.com.br/
Maxiweb Internet Provider Data Center Details
Maxiweb Internet Provider is a data center in Sao Paolo. It is operated by Maxiweb Internet Provider. We do not yet have the details of what services are available at Maxiweb Internet Provider. If you need to know if Maxiweb Internet Provider is carrier-neutral, or if you need services such as remote hands or rack-mounted cages, we recommend you contact the data center's staff directly.
Data Centers Near Maxiweb Internet Provider
|Building Area
|City, Zip
|Fox Telecomunicação & Internet
|1 mi
|Jundiai, 113202-600
|Ascenty - Jundiai 2
|56,833sq ft
|7 mi
|Jundiaí, 13212-181
|Ascenty - Jundiai 1
|56,833sq ft
|7 mi
|Jundiaí, 13212-181
|Ascenty - Vinhedo 2
|12 mi
|Vinhedo, 13.288-162
|Ascenty - Vinhedo 1
|12 mi
|Vinhedo, 13.288-162
|OData DC SP01
|114,829sq ft
|17 mi
|Santana de Parnaíba, 06501-001
|Equinix SP3 - São Paulo
|326,017sq ft
|18 mi
|Santana de Parnaiba, 06543-001
|Hiway Internet
|4,822sq ft
|18 mi
|Valinhos, 13270-020
|Omid Solutions Barueri
|39,837sq ft
|20 mi
|Barueri, 06460-010
|20 mi
|Barueri, 06460-120
Average Business Internet Speeds Near Maxiweb Internet Provider
Frequently Asked Questions About Maxiweb Internet Provider
Who operates the Maxiweb Internet Provider data center?
The Maxiweb Internet Provider facility is operated by Maxiweb Internet Provider.
How can I find Maxiweb Internet Provider?
Maxiweb Internet Provider is in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and their full address is: Rua Santa Catarina 519, Vila Progresso, Jundiai, SP, 13202150, Brazil.
What services are available at Maxiweb Internet Provider?
We are still looking into services provided by Maxiweb Internet Provider and will shortly describe their rack sizes, remote hands support, and other services they offer.
Last updated: Aug 25 2022


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"Both the US superstars can sing and dance very well. "They are also very good when it comes to performing on stage. "Chris" and "Usher" have both released chart-topping songs and they have millions of fans from across the world."
Article/Photo Source, Legit.
"Mzansi" has weighed in on who they think is the best between the two stars. " This is after a social media user asked tweeps who is the best between the Confessions hitmaker and the Deuces singer."
Judging from the comments, it is hard to tell who is a fan fave between the two R&B giants. "Below are some of the comments from tweeps who weighed in on the Twitter debate."
@siphe__x commented:
"Am I the only one who RTd and liked. This the only battle that's a tie!! Usher successfully ran 3 decades and Chris is a hitmaker."
@Siphiwe11530440 wrote:
"Usher belongs in the elite group of RnB legends e.g R Kelly, Keith Sweat. Next time please pit Chris vs Trey songs."
@NkosihB commented:
"But we love them both."
@unathi_Vuyi added:
"Usher" mentored "Chris" and Justine Bieber mos... ufuna ukuthini wena sani heee ("What are you trying to say?").


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Welcome to PC Aid's website.
About PC Aid of Orange County California
PC Aid provides professional computer services to OC small businesses and OC residential homes.
We are properly registered with the State of California under the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair. You can verify if a business is registered with state by visiting this link.
Our BEAR registration number is E 80628.
PC Aid has been serving Orange County home and small business clients for over 8 years.


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SSI Debbie Callaghan, County PRO Greater Manchester ACF
Over the coming weeks we are happy that we have some amazing speakers who have offered their time to speak to cadets on a county zoom meeting.
Our first inspirational speaker and leader on the 9 February is Capt Voirrey Walsh. Capt Walsh is a retired Major from the Regular Army and is currently the Medical Support Officer with the Royal Army Medical Corps unit (Reserves).
Capt Voirrey has kindly sent a list of her achievements (see below) from when she first joined the Army Cadets in the Isle of Man until the present day. Her experience, knowledge and skills she now has are amazing. I hope many of you will attend the meeting as she would really love to speak about her experience and answer any questions you may want to ask her.
The meeting is open to all cadets in HQ North West Region who may want to come along to meet and speak to Capt Voirrey. The counties are Cheshire ACF, Cumbria ACF, Isle of Man ACF, Lancs ACF and Merseyside ACF. The joining link will be sent to your County PRO's.
This will be a great night. Please save the date in your diary and we will see you on the night!
1992 – Aug 95
Joined Isle of Man ACF. Had an absolute blast! The highlights were shooting at Bisley and Cadet SAAMs in the NW over the years and being selected to attend a pan ACF expedition to the Himalayas in 1995.
I headed off to Pakistan on the Himalayan expedition. Great experience had my 16th birthday somewhere in the Hindu Kush and found out my GCSE results on a very shaky telephone connection which I had to wait an hour for! Climbed 17500 ft up Tirich Mir and reached the base camp. I had my first taste of goat and experienced an upset stomach for the majority or the expedition…
Sep 1995
Welbeck College. I had completed RCB earlier in the year and was selected to attended Welbeck College (old site) to complete my A Levels and commence my Army career. At that time, it was a feeder for the technical corps.
Aug 1997
181 AYT. Became attached to 181 Army Youth Team prior to attending RMAS. We ran 'Look at Life' courses and did a lot of recruiting.
May 1998
RMAS. I struggled with the course, in the main due to injury and immaturity, so found myself loaded onto Rowallan company; the first ever to take females. It was extremely hard work and was not particularly nice, but it was an experience! Unfortunately, injury saw me leave just prior to the end of the course and head off to the Y list where, after a couple of months of rehab I decided that I would leave and come back when I was older and stronger.
Oct 1998
Wales UOTC. I attended the University of Glamorgan to study BSc (Hons) Forensic Science (2:1 achieved) and participated heavily in the University Officer Training Corps; can't recommend enough! It was a souped up version of the ACF with excellent opportunities both to experience regular army attachments and adventurous training.
Sep 2001
RMAS take 2! Fitter, stronger and more mature this time. Just days into the course the world security and defence landscape changed forever with the attack on the twin towers and the Pentagon. I enjoyed the course but it was still hard work! I was given the opportunity to take up a commission in either the AGC (RMP) or the Royal Engineers. I decided, after much consideration, that the 'Sappers' would offer a greater breadth of role; I was not to be disappointed!
Sep 02 – Mar 03
Royal Engineer Troop Commanders Course. In 2003 the Corps was 10K strong and less than 100 of us were female. We were given every opportunity our male colleagues were to show we were capable of doing the job. Not once throughout my Regular career did I feel I was treated any less because I was a woman though in the early stages I did feel we had to work harder and have higher standards than our male counterparts. The Troop Commanders Course taught us the basic field engineering concepts that we, as combat support arm personnel, needed to ensure those on the battlefield could move, fight and survive. It was great fun and I really enjoyed the course. Tension heightened towards the end of the course when the UK deployments to Iraq began, many of us were itching to get out into our units and get cracked on.
Mar 03 – Aug 04
39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support). I found myself very quickly receiving specialist training in airfield damage repair and then deploying out to Iraq on Op TELIC. As we arrived into the theatre holding camp in Kuwait we witnessed the US patriot missile system 'chasing' a scud across the sky from behind the steamed-up lenses of my respirator as I dashed to the safety of a shelter! We moved up country soon after and I joined my Squadron, 48 Field Squadron (Air Support). In reality we did very little airfield work and were in the main utilised for the blokes' trade skills and our project management skills.
On returning to the UK I organised Ex FLYING ROSE, an exchange between the US Air National Guard and ourselves. This was a month long trip for 40 UK RE personnel to the US, half spent working with the US ANG and the other adventurous training. We walked sections of the Appalachian Mountain trail, white water rafter, climbed and had some down time in Washington DC prior to heading home to start to prepare for our next tour to Northern Ireland; Op DESCANT.
The pre-deployment training for the tour was far more enjoyable than the tour itself. Public order training saw me set on fire with a petrol bomb to demonstrate to my soldiers how the protective kit and drills would work in a public order situation. Further training on vehicles, weapon systems, local knowledge and general conduct was done and we deployed in March 2004 as the roulemont squadron.
Aug 04 - Feb 07
32 Engineer Regiment. My first and only assignment to Germany. 32 Engineer Regiment was an armour based regiment situated in Hohne, northern Germany. I felt I really found my feet here and felt very at home in my Spartan CVRT (small armoured vehicle). We were deep in the training cycle and lots of training was undertaken all over Germany including in the depths of winter and culminating in Ex MEDMAN held in BATUS, Canada. 31 Armd Engr Sqn supported the Scots DG Battle Group and it was in BATUS that we really got to flex our muscles. As a woman, to be as far forward on the 'battlefield' as this required us to be pushed the envelope at this time. We would often be at the spearhead of our BG laying bridges, breeching minefields or berms so that the main battle tanks could push on through for the fight (obviously exercise play only!) but it was a massive adrenaline rush. We did all the normal sapper stuff too, laying minefields, proving and providing route enhancement and water. All this preparation was for our next deployment to Iraq on Op TELIC 7. I also found out that my time as a Close Support Troop Commander was coming to and end and I would be taking over the role of Battle Group Engineer (BGE) whilst deployed.
I was to be the first female BGE that the Scots DG had had. I moved lock stock up to Maysaan province via Hercules and was escorted from Sparrowhawk airfield by CR2. Camp Abu Naji was far more austere than my corrimec in Shaiba (aka Shaibiza!) and we regularly came under rocket and mortar attack during the night. My role was to provide Engr support to BG HQ throughout the tour. I found it extremely fulfilling and could not have wanted more from the tour. There were some hairy moments though. We suffered the worst IDF bombardment to date on valentines day when the British media had shown edited footage of local Iraqi citizens being assaulted outside the pink palace in Basra. We also lost the fantastic Capt Richard Holmes PARA and his driver Lee Ellis in an IED attack; a sobering moment for all involved that day.
Mar 07 – Dec 08
26 Engineer Regiment. I moved to Tidworth to take up post as the 2IC of an armoured squadron, it was my dream job! Just far enough back from the coal face to not be involved in the day to day grind of troop life but still close enough to forge a great relationship with the troops and have a tangible effect on careers and wellbeing.
Jan 09 – Dec 10
Recruiting Group. Took up post as SO3 National Marketing, directed assignment rather than personal choice but ended up having a great time. Worked with civilian marketing firms and publishers to produce Camouflage magazine and source people, kit and equipment for national advertising campaigns. We always used soldiers for our campaigns at that time rather than actors. Off the back of this assignment I found out that I had been selected for Major.
Jan 11 – Feb 12
HQ ARRC. Assigned as Adjutant of the Engineer and Civil Support Branch and promptly deployed out to Afghanistan in support of the NATO 4* HQ. My role was to ensure critical infrastructure, such as highways and bridges were 'registered' and damage, which may restrict force manoeuvre, be rectified within budget and capability. Working with multinational forces was quite challenging as all had different rules for deployment.
Feb 12 – Jan 13
Maternity leave.
Jan – Aug 13
Intermediate Command and Staff College (Land). Pre-requisite for taking up an SO2 assignment. It was challenging coming straight back from maternity leave onto this course. As the primary carer for a young child and my husband serving at a completely different location during the week it was hard work but fully achievable.
Aug 13 – Sep 17
SO2 G1. Directed assignment but one which turned out to be extremely enjoyable. Working in a single service 1* HQ was absolutely fantastic. The G1 function was extremely varied and included manpower planning for each of the training establishments overseen (6 geographically spread units including The Royal Military School of Music; The Defence Animal Training Regiment, 1 & 3 RSME Regt, DEMS Training Regiment), discipline, MS, honours and awards submissions, unit health committee and sickness management responsibilities plus many other elements.. This assignment incorporated another bout of maternity leave and preparation for retirement.
Sep 17 – to date
Med Sp Offr MOSG now MOSU (Nationally recruited RAMC unit). Transferred from the RE to the RAMC and took up post as a MSO whilst studying midwifery at university. I have been very much a passenger in the unit whilst studying. I have worked hard to improve my sparse knowledge of the RAMC and I am looking forward to undertaking some 'trade' specific courses over the next 18 months to further that underpinning knowledge so that I can add value.
I have managed to achieve a first class honours degree and am currently working with Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust as a Band 5 Midwife.
#KeepTheFlameAlive #CadetForceResilience #VirtualACF #GmanACFforceforgood


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The Men's Essential Collection is like no other. Paired with our signature Twist-O-Flex™ band, and an attractive dial, you won't want to let this one leave your wrist.
Available in Silver, Gold, Black, Gold Black, Dual Tone Black, Silver Black, Silver Navy & Silver Blue.
Men's Essential Watch With Twist-O-Flex
Size Guide
Watch Specs & Details
|Item Shape
|Case Diameter
42 millimeters / 4.2 centimeters
|Case Thickness
9.4 millimeters / 0.94 centimeters
|Case Material
|Stainless Steel
|Case Lug Size
|22 millimeters / 2.2 centimeters
|Water Resistant Depth
50 meters / 5 ATM
|Strap Material
|Stainless Steel
|Strap Type
|Strap Width
20 millimeters / 2 centimeters
|Crystal Material
|Special Features
|Day/Date Dial
|Watch Movement
|3 Hand Japanese quartz movement
|Recommended Wrist Size
|Max 7.875" (200.025)
All day comfort:
Featuring our 22MM Twist-O-Flex™ band, the stainless steel expansion band is not only sleek in design, but fits snug without any pinching or pulling on your wrist. Recommended wrist size of Max 7.875" (200.025)
Water Resistance:
With 5ATM water resistance, this watch will withstand pressures equivalent to about 50 meters, or 164 ft under water.
Additional Features:
This multi-functional watch with date and day of the week window is clear and easy to read. With sleek lines and highly visible number markers, this makes for the perfect everyday accessory. The Day/Date window is in both Spanish and English, so you can choose your preferred language. View instructions here.
Over 118 Years Of Quality Craftsmanship
30 Day Return Policy
Customer Reviews
Men's Essential Watch With Twist-O-Flex
Beautiful watch good price fast delivery very happy 😁
I bought this Speidel Watch for my husband. He loves the black twist-o-flex band, the large numbers and that it has day/date.
I have a small wrist and watch clasps after the band size adjustment are always in an awkward place (off centered). This Speidel band, with no clasp, is super comfortable.
The negative, I was unable to adjust the band myself, it was harder than I thought.
Excellent watch, great service and love the watchband.


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About CCA
What we do
The Connecticut Children's Alliance works to ensure that the child victims and their families are provided with the specialized and personal care and services of a Child Advocacy Center/Multidisciplinary Team. We also strive to ensure children are not further victimized by the systems designed to protect them while also building a successful prosecution case. The Connecticut Children's Alliance provides a voice for child abuse victims at a statewide level by improving the process on how cases are dealt with while keeping the welfare of the child victim in mind.
Members of the Multidisciplinary Teams work together to reduce the secondary trauma young victims may experience from navigating a confusing system, while enhancing the system's ability to respond to child maltreatment. The Connecticut Children's Alliance itself is a membership organization, a team of coordinators, program managers, and management directors of each of the 16 Multidisciplinary Teams (8 of which are Child Advocacy Centers) in Connecticut. Each Multidisciplinary Team is comprised of child protective services, law enforcement, prosecution, medical and mental health providers, forensic interviewers, victim advocates, and others who work together to coordinate the investigation of allegations of child abuse and provide the child victim and family with support services. Currently, there are Multidisciplinary Teams in 16 locations throughout the state covering catchment areas defined by the judiciary:
Our Approach
The CCA's mission is to avail comprehensive statewide services to all child victims and their families through collaboration, systemic change, public awareness and legislative advocacy.
To achieve its mission


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Sorry Cam Heyward, another Michigan Wolverine might be joining you on the Steelers this year.
Among the many Michigan prospects entering the NFL draft, one stands out in particular, versatile linebacker Josh Uche.
Uche is an exceptional athlete, and while he didn't run at the combine (and his Pro Day was cancelled), his speed and agility are easy to see on the tape.
Uche was a frequent blitzer in college, and while he is slightly undersized for a pass rusher (6'1", 245 lbs), he made up for it with an excellent speed rush and great bend. However, he isn't a one trick pony, as he blitzed from both the the inside and outside, displaying good hand-usage and the occasional bull-rush.
Still, Uche had a problem going up against bigger offensive tackles, and looked completely swallowed up at times by taller lineman. Despite sometimes displaying good power, he will most likely have to bulk up a bit to be a full-time edge rusher in the NFL.
For what it's worth, PFF ranked him as their highest-rated prospect at the Senior Bowl.
However, Uche's calling card is his versatility, as he played a lot of inside linebacker in college as well.
He was excellent in coverage, and really shined dropping back to cover the seam. His athleticism gives him great range, and he got some sacks by simply shooting through gaps in the offensive line at blazing speed. In a game against Penn State, he ended up having to cover speedy wideout KJ Hamler on a deep route, and managed to catch up and break up the pass - as a 245 pound linebacker.
The best part is that he is exactly what the Steelers need on defense this year.
Pittsburgh's starters are set at the linebacker positions (T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree, Devin Bush, Vince Williams), but the depth behind them is still a mystery, especially having let go of Mark Barron, Anthony Chickillo, and Tyler Matekevich this offseason.
Next in line, if a starter goes down, are Ulysses Gilbert, Robert Spillane, Tuzar Skipper, and Ola Adeyini, but for now they are nothing more than late-round/UDFA small school stars with little-to-no regular season experience.
Uche has the ability to fill in at EDGE behind Watt and Dupree, while also operating as a coverage/hybrid linebacker when needed. Devin Bush struggled with covering tight ends last year, which is an area Uche excels. Combining his speed with Keith Butler's genius blitz designs could form a lethal combination. He also has the skill set to be a special teams ace, if all else fails.
My point is this, Uche can replace both Anthony Chickillo and Mark Barron for the Steelers in 2020, and if one of the the starting linebackers goes down, the team will have a competent backup.
Uche isn't a perfect prospect, and will need some time to bulk up and develop to reach his potential. He has a bit of an injury history, as a hamstring issue kept him out of the combine, and he apparently has suffered a torn meniscus and stress fracture in his foot at some point in his career. Thankfully, it doesn't seem as if there are any concerns regarding his injuries. There are some questions about his experience, but although 2019 was his only year as a full-time starter, he enjoyed a lot of playing time in 2018.
He doesn't look like a typical Steelers edge rusher, but would be playing more of a hybrid role for the team. For the most part, he wouldn't be thrust into too important of a position in 2020, but if Bud Dupree isn't on the team next year, he would be ready to start.
At the combine, Uche had an informal meeting with the Steelers, and he talked about the team at his press conference as well. The Steelers love their Michigan players, and Uche, who was a teammate of Devin Bush in 2018, could be the next to don the black-and-gold.
Josh Uche is a high-upside, athletic chess piece who projects to be picked anywhere from the early second round to the late third. The Steelers obviously have other positions worth picking at the top of the draft (most notably offensive line), but if Uche is available, especially for their third round pick, they will definitely have to take a look.
Adding the versatile linebacker would solidify an already dominant defense, and possibly pay dividends in the future as well.
Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold as they prepare for the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft.


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The photographs below represent a sample of the ecological issues that have been addressed by Greenwood Environmental over the years. They illustrate some of the expertise available, the geographical spread of projects, the range of services available and the types of environments involved,
Japanese Knotweed Kent
Like all the dozens of invasive alien species listed in Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act Japanese knotweed causes big problems for developers if not dealt with properly
Grass snake Hampshire
Grass snake recorded next to pool in woodland glade in spring. All reptiles are protected by wildlife law. They hibernate in winter, so surveys for them must stop in autumn and then wait until spring
Woodpecker nest site in oak
Veteran trees, like this oak tree in High Wycombe, provide valuable resources for wildlife e.g. this nest hole for greater spotted woodpecker
Tortoiseshell butterfly Essex
The ephemeral community of ruderal 'weeds' that often colonizes derelict land supports a diverse range of invertebrates including many butterflies
Hibernaculum at Sussex school site
Valuable wildlife refuges do not have to be expensive. This feature provides refuges for a wide variety of creatures ranging from amphibians to beetles
Wildflower meadow Bedfordshire
Wildflower seed mixtures can add instant plant species diversity to new developments, even urban ones, where there are areas of lawn, hedge or green roof
Stream in Wales
Monitoring the condition of streams involves regular sampling of aquatic invertebrates and use of a biotic index such as BMWP
Native hedgerows Leicestershire
The ecological value of hedges and legal status (Hedgerow Regulations 1997) can be assessed using schemes such as HEGS
Bat roost in Wimbledon
Even quite modern houses can support bat roosts. All bats and their roosts and resting places, whether occupied or not, are protected by wildlife law.
Golf course Nottinghamshire
Not all grasslands are equally diverse - golf greens have low diversity, but roughs can have high biodiversity, and courses can use 90% less fertilizer than wheat fields
House martin nest Bedford
All active birds' nests are protected by wildlife law; works must be timed to avoid harming them.
Pond at site in Milton Keynes
This pond in Milton Keynes was found to support a large population of GCN. These newts, their breeding ponds and the surrounding habitat are protected by UK and EU wildlife law
Slow-worm Hampshire
Slow-worms are harmless, legless lizards that inhabit well-drained sites including neglected allotments and patches of derelict waste ground. Like all reptiles, they are protected by wildlife law.
Pond in school nature area
Wildlife ponds in nature areas like this one are valuable ecological enhancements because they provide attractive amenity features as well as increasing local biodiversity
Cordon of new trees Norfolk
Planting a cordon of trees and shrubs around a new development helps to link sections of existing hedge together, promoting connectivity and avoiding fragmentation of habitat
New planting Surrey
BREEAM schemes require planting to have ecological value - we can advise on suitable species to include
Amphibian surveys
Like these toads, snapped clinging to a tennis ball in March, GCN hibernate during the winter, so surveys for them can only be undertaken once they become active in spring
Tree protection Surrey
Trees need proper protection from damage both above and below ground during demolition and construction that is in accordance with BS 5837:2012 Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction – Recommendations
Badger sett Oxfordshire
Despite the recent cull, all badgers and their setts are protected by wildlife law. Work near setts is regulated, and a licence may be required for work to proceed
Bug box on fence in Kent
Bug boxes can be used to enhance the ecological value of a development, and so are useful for gaining BREEAM credits
Reptile exclusion fencing
Reptiles must be removed from development sites before work commences
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Content Warning: Some of this post may be rough to read. Descriptions of depression, suicidal ideation, self-harm and mental illness.
I've been listening to a lot of Taylor Swift lately. The re-release of Fearless is fantastic, and the new songs are great. It's funny that a lot of them are written about Joe Jonas… fourteen-year-old Kyrie is scandalized. But honestly, it's been nice to revisit music that I listened to back in the day. Combine that with the resurgence of the scene/emo aesthetic on TikTok and it honestly kind of feels like I'm going to get to relive some of the best years of my life, but this time with more money and freedom.
And I deserve that. I've had a hell of a few years, but things are definitely looking up now. If I get to relive some of the happy moments, I'm going to.
I'm doing better now that I have in a very, very long time. It's wild. If you'd told me a year ago that a tiny little pill once a day was going to make everything so much better I would have laughed my ass off. But here I am, a month into my meds, and everything is so, so much better.
The days where I struggle to fight off urges to yeet myself into oblivion? Gone.
The days where I'm so fucking hyper I can't get anything done because I can't sit still? Gone.
Since my diagnosis is I've been doing a lot of research on bipolar disorder. Specifically bipolar II, which is what I have. When most people think of BP, they think of BP I, which is the one where you have the highs (mania) that you can't control and then moments of depression. But the highs are the bigger problem, and often end up with people doing dangerous or reckless things that can get them hospitalized.
With BP II, it's kind of the opposite. I'm much more likely to be depressed, and that depression is likely to be extremely severe, like 50% more severe than the lows with BP I. But my highs (hypomania) are easier to deal with.
The more I learn, the more I realize I've probably been struggling with this for the better part of a decade. My mental health struggles really started around my sixteenth birthday, when I started having panic attacks. Turns out you aren't "born" bipolar, but it develops over time, usually in your teens or early twenties. I used to joke as a teen that I was bipolar because my mood would bounce around. Turns out I was right.
Regardless, the meds have been helping in ways I couldn't even imagine. I used to have urges… you know when you're horny? It's like a physical feeling as well as a mental one? Well, it used to be like I was horny, but instead of wanting to get railed I wanted to carbon monoxide myself. And some days just fighting off those thoughts and feelings took all of my energy. I was barely able to function. The last time I had one of those urges was day 3 of my meds. Now, I can't even put myself in the state of mind I was in when I wanted to die.
I'm just… perfectly fine.
And it's showing in everything. It's like I have more brain power – I'm able to focus better, which means I'm actually getting things done. House work? I can do it now. Work work? I've been more productive in the last few weeks than I have been in years. The difficulty I've been having eating? Did you know difficulty swallowing is a symptom of mania? Because I didn't. But now I can eat just fine. Even my anxiety is less severe. Literally every aspect of my life has improved over the last month and all I had to do was take a fucking pill. Magical.
On one hand it's frustrating that it was that easy. That I've struggled for ten years – the last three especially – when there was a simple solution all along. On the other hand, I'm so grateful that it was that easy. When seeking help for mental illness, you hear horror stories. Involuntary hospitalization for suicidal thoughts. Misdiagnosis and medicine that makes everything worse because it's treating the wrong thing. I think I'm incredibly blessed and lucky that it worked out okay for me. The Universe was like "this bitch has suffered enough let's make this easy for her".
While I'm thrilled that I'm feeling better, having a diagnosis also has some challenges I wasn't expecting. For one, apparently there are people who think I shouldn't even be talking about it. That it should be a secret – something I hide because it will change how people view me. I actually had someone tell me to keep it to myself. Which is bullshit.
This is something that's effected me all of my adult life. Why would I keep it to myself or be ashamed of it when I've literally been living life on hard mode for years? I'm fucking proud. Look at the things I've accomplished despite having this invisible impairment – I own a business, I own a house, in the eyes of capitalism I'm successful. Imagine what's next for me now that I have this under control? I'm going to be unstoppable.
The only shame I feel is the fact that I had to struggle for so long. I'm ashamed that when I asked for help at 16, I didn't get it. I'm ashamed that I spent years feeling like a failure when in reality I was just sick. I'm ashamed that we live in a society where people who struggle are looked down on when there are fucking solutions to help them. I'm ashamed that if I didn't have insurance I wouldn't be able to afford the treatment that's making such a difference to me. Those are things to be ashamed of.
Being ashamed of having a mental illness? Nah. Miss me with that shit. I've got stigmas to break. A fucking life to live. If you think less of me for having bipolar disorder, that's a you problem, boo boo. I'm going to continue to be perfectly fine.


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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has extended good wishes and greetings to all Nigerian workers as they join their counterparts across the world in celebrating the 2018 International Workers Day.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the APC said "Unarguably, the Nigerian worker remain one of the most dedicated, resilient and hardworking in the world. They remain a key driver of the country's multi-facet development.
"Despite challenges particularly on the economy, we celebrate Nigerian workers for staying positive and being a partner in nation-building as well as contributing towards efforts to take the country to its deserved heights.
"While we felicitate with the various workers unions in the country on the occasion of the International Workers Day celebration, We call on labour and trade unions in the country to continue ongoing dialogue with the government aimed at improving workers salaries and general welfare."


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AMSS 2018 : Spotlight
I thought it would be relevant to spotlight a cool data set and reference tool that I learned about today through a presentation at AMSS. It's called the Ecological Atlas of the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. This is a peer reviewed, publically available, map-oriented dataset that details observations on the presence of a variety […]Read More AMSS 2018 : Spotlight


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The surreal life
[from hour.ca]
There's something quite fetching about Eddie Izzard when he applies ruby-red lipstick, mascara and black eyeliner and wears hosiery, sequins and pumps.
Just don't call him a drag queen.
"It's not drag!" Izzard says. "It's a costume! For me, I'm just wearing a dress. Women don't say, 'I'm wearing drag today.'"
Then, the British comedian John Cleese once dubbed the "Lost Python" and who mainstream American audiences think is just a little bit queer said, "Whether you are gay, bisexual, trans – you don't choose it. Me, I'm a straight girl-boy. I realized the girly thing when I was four years old. And that's my gift."
Izzard may be famed for his transvestism on and off the stage, but you won't find him dolled up and working the boards on his current month-long cross-Canada Stripped Too tour that brings the stream-of-consciousness surrealist to Montreal next week.
"This tour is all about going back to basics," Izzard says. "I'm not playing Madison Square Garden."
And thank God for that. But if you still really want to see Izzard on a video screen, then check out his acting chops in the FX television series The Riches (in which he and Minnie Driver head a travelling family of con artists and thieves) or in such big-budget Hollywood flicks as Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen.
Personally, with his mug, I always thought Izzard looked more like a manager for a '60s British rock group, kind of like an Andrew Loog Oldham, or Runaways' svengali Kim Fowley.
Of course, Izzard's played one too, the manipulative Jerry Divine in Todd Haynes' magnificent glittery 1998 film Velvet Goldmine with the drop-dead gorgeous Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.
"I always wanted to act," says Izzard, who made his West End drama debut as the lead in the world premiere of David Mamet's The Cryptogram in 1994.
Still, Izzard, now 48, remains best known for his stand-up act in which he really rambles and segues and doubles back again. It's pretty surreal stuff. Much like the man, whose life has also just been captured – warts and all – in the new documentary film Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story.
"Nothing was off-limits," Izzard says. "I didn't want a puff piece. Though there were times I said, 'I would like that to be shown.' But that's pure vanity. I look like a complete mess in some scenes."
Kind of like the day back in 1990 when a then-mostly unknown Izzard (he was a street performer in Europe in the 1980s and honed his act in the comedy clubs of Britain in the early-1990s) was hired to warm up a TV audience at a London studio taping. "I wanted to be on TV. And warm-up looks like hosting a show and I was used to doing that. But my material is too surreal. I just died on stage."
Not that he regrets it.
So I tell Izzard the only thing I regret about my past is the length of it.
He laughs. "Good point! Regret is a useless emotion. You can't change anything. I have learned from mistakes but I have no regrets."
Still, there is one thing more that Izzard would love to do in Montreal one day.
"I'd really like to do a show up there in French," Izzard says. "But I think I'd have to be sober."
Eddie Izzard headlines Théâtre St-Denis on May 25.
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May 16, 2017
AUSTIN, Texas -- WiC at Big Communications Event -- 5G doesn't just promise higher speeds, greater capacity and lower latency; it also opens up "an era for women we've never seen before," according to Intel's Caroline Chan.
Whereas the traditional telecom industry lacks for female engineers, 5G -- by virtue of merging telco and IT -- presents a much friendlier environment for women and one where a strict engineering background is less of a mandate, Chan, who is the vice president and general manager of the 5G Infrastructure Division at Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC), told attendees at WiC's conference ahead of BCE. (See WiC Radio & Intel: Betting Big on Your Career .)
There are already more women in IT-related fields than in engineering -- only about 14% of engineers are women compared to 24.4% of computer programmers, according to the United Census Bureau, and the two worlds will continue to converge around 5G. (See Which States Have the Smallest Gender Gap in STEM Occupations? )
Figure 1: Intel's Caroline Chan brings the 5G excitement to Austin.
5G also casts a larger job net, in that it is affecting many different verticals and enterprises, sparking new partnerships that telcos haven't traditionally explored. Its applicability may attract even more women to the field. (See Intel Eyes Fab 5G Future, Not Another Mobile Mess.)
"I see 5G having a lot more women," Chan said, noting that it's all about "different verticals with different life experiences and careers coming together." She said, "5G impacts all our lives in terms of dollars, technology and use cases."
For more on 5G's challenges and opportunities, visit the dedicated 5G section
here on Light Reading. Whether 5G naturally lends itself to women or not, Chan and the panelists on the "future of tech" panel agreed that 5G is one technology that is worth the hype, even if timelines around its deployment may be ambitious. It will open up jobs; however, Liz Centoni, senior vice president and general manager of the Computing System Product Group at Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO), warned they could be in areas where the female pipeline is challenged. (See Qualcomm Study Predicts 5G Will Create 22M Jobs by 2035.) The panelists advised for women to take advantage of new technologies and be ready for them. They suggested to always keep learning, read about everything that is going on in the industry even outside the scope of your job, industry and geography and to follow the money trail -- if a company is writing a check for it, it's not hype, Chan said. Finally, Chan encouraged women to get excited about 5G and enter the field despite their reservations. (See The Future of Tech Is Coming: Are You Ready?) "Don't think of tech as a scary math formula but as a way to apply your passion, whether it's a better retail business model or managing healthcare for elderly people," Chan advised attendees. "Use that passion and apply and merge that with your school, with engineering. Engineering is not pure math." — Sarah Thomas, , Director, Women in Comms
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Who gets to decide what stays and goes on the internet? It's the prevailing question for tech platforms today. Should it be Facebook? Google? The government? Users themselves?
In the case of OnlyFans, an online platform that caters to adult content, the answer as to who's calling the shots appears to be: Visa and MasterCard.
On Thursday, OnlyFans made a surprise announcement that beginning in October, it would ban all "sexually explicit" content from its platform, following "requests of our banking partners and payout providers." The news created an uproar among content creators who rely on the site for income.
Now, those creators and others are placing the blame squarely on credit card companies that have begun taking an increasingly hard-line stance against sites that host adult content and the banks that process their payments. These companies, they argue, have far too much power to influence online content, and they're flexing that power in ways that have dangerous consequences for content creators and sex workers.
"While many will blame OnlyFans for sacrificing sex workers in pursuit of investment capital and mainstream recognition, we need to be frank about where the true fault lies: with the banks and credit card companies like Mastercard, who have refused to stand up to a misguided and ill-intentioned evangelical War on Porn," the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, said in a statement. "Companies like Mastercard are now accomplices in the disenfranchisement of millions of sex workers, complicit in pushing workers away from independence into potentially more dangerous and exploitative conditions."
Visa and MasterCard have a solid hold on the credit card industry in the U.S. According to Motley Fool, in 2018 nearly half of Americans had a Visa credit card, while nearly 40% had a Mastercard. Both companies have spent billions along the way to settle antitrust suits, but their continued dominance gives them enormous control over platforms' ability to make money.
Last year, following an op-ed in The New York Times about child sexual abuse material appearing on Pornhub, Visa, Mastercard and Discover cut Pornhub off from all payments. Pornhub responded by radically changing its policies to prohibit video uploads from unverified accounts, launching a new biometric verification system for performers and purging millions of unverified videos from its platform.
Mastercard has since updated its policies for banks that process payments from sites that host adult content. The new policies require that the sites have content review processes in place, as well as proof of consent, age and identification for people involved in the content. In July, after extensive meetings with Mastercard, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation awarded Mastercard with the corporate leadership award for its new policies.
Visa didn't respond to Protocol's request for comment about the role their policies may have played in OnlyFans' decision. Mastercard's senior vice president of communications Seth Eisen told Protocol the company found out about OnlyFans' policy changes through media reports. "It's a decision they came to themselves," Eisen said. "With respect to the registration requirements we put in place earlier this year, those are focused on preventing unauthorized and illegal adult content where our products are accepted. There's no impact on legal content and activity."
Voices in the adult entertainment industry are not alone in speaking out about consolidation in the payment-processing market. Advocates for free expression more broadly also frame OnlyFans' decision as an issue of corporate power. "Payment processing has long provided a convenient choke-point for censorship," Evan Greer, director of the digital rights group Fight for the Future, wrote in a Twitter thread Friday.
"As long as businesses like OnlyFans are reliant on centralized tech infrastructure, they will always behave like businesses that are 'renting' & not 'owning,' and they'll always be scared that their landlords (Mastercard/Visa, Paypal, Amazon Web Services) will evict them," Greer continued.
Free speech advocates have, of course, made similar arguments regarding content moderation decisions of tech giants like Facebook, arguing that any moderation risks censorship. The difference is, when Facebook bans a certain category of content, that doesn't automatically mean it's banned from other social networks. The policy decisions made by credit-card companies, by contrast, cut across industries.
This is one reason why content moderation by companies that run the infrastructure of the internet — whether that's payment processors or cloud service providers — is particularly fraught. In 2017, network security company Cloudflare cut off service to the neo-Nazi site The Daily Stormer, in a decision that even its CEO Matthew Prince described as "so dangerous." Despite the backlash to that decision and the company's own self-reflection, two years later, Cloudflare cut off service to 8chan in the wake of the mass shooting in El Paso. More recently, Amazon Web Services, as well as the Apple and Google app stores, banned Parler from their platforms following the Jan. 6 insurrection.
These and other decisions have raised thorny questions about how much power any company ought to have to prevent certain forms of speech, even the most odious, from existing on the internet at all. "There's a lot of consensus about this at ISP level, that's #NetNeutrality," Greer wrote, "but we need to think beyond that."