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Higher Education Under Attack From 10 Janpath
While opinions vary on the performance of the first Indian governments in different sectors, higher education is a sector where India's first steps usually evoke a positive response across the board. One can clearly see the success of secular advanced education that has paid dividends in India in a strong contrast to the other countries of the Indian subcontinent where either higher education was not given enough emphasis or was not secular in its character. Do not get me wrong, higher education in India has clearly not been an all-sunshine story, as India is far from its true potential but what I am trying to emphasize is that it is not a complete failure yet. You will get to see that 'as yet' is the operational word, as we are soon heading down the lane of Pakistan and Afghanistan, courtesy of the dirty politics of New Delhi.
Even though initial seeds of education were sowed with a foresight of modern secular thinking, Indian academia has failed to truly blossom. The reasons for this are manifold. We certainly need to explore all the reasons for the Indian failure to launch but right now the call of the hour is to protect the barely-alive academia from the ongoing onslaught of the myopic, vindictive and dictatorial UPA regime that is hell bent on destroying secular character of our advanced education system. When we get beyond fending the attacks from Kapil Sibbal and other cronies of 10 Janpath, then we must ask despite having one of the highest density of researchers and research settings in many sectors, why India frequently fails to innovate.
If we want to lift the standing of Indian education, then we need a cold blooded, comprehensive evaluation of the rotten cesspool of shit that Indian research set up of science and humanities alike, is quickly degenerating into. Instead of a lengthy voluminous and systematic evaluation of all the facets, in this article, I will present few case studies of attack on the secular character of higher education to pique your interest and foment direct action. Hopefully once you see the preventable rot, we will together be part of this battle with 10 Janpath and the puppet prime minister to improve education and research that can enable India to better deal with economic, social, medical and technical problems and most importantly evolve an intellectual culture that cannot be measured in terms of any price tag.
Indian policy makers under Nehru paved the way for a secular scientific higher education by establishing central and state universities, technical colleges and research institutions and attracting exceptional talent to run what used to be somewhat autonomous academia. Here I am focusing on 10 Janpath attacks on central universities alone instead of research institutions and technical colleges. Central universities educate more students and employ more researchers than the research institutions and technical colleges. These central universities are now facing a threat to their secular and modern character due to opportunistic politics and rise of religious fundamentalism.
Let us take the example of the University of Delhi, one of the largest of the central government universities that once used to be projected as a pride of India. It is now suffering from the same structure that initially served it well. The University is structured such that power is in the hands of few people who are politically appointed, instead of entirely merit-based autonomous council that is outside the influence of politicians. The University of Delhi has a Visitor who in theory has the ultimate power. This Visitor is the President of India. Then comes the Chancellor, who is the Vice President of India. The president of India on the advice (but in reality on the dictates) of the office of the Prime minister and the ministry of Human Resource Development appoints the Vice-Chancellor. The Vice Chancellor (VC) is in effect the head of the University. The VC can act like the dictator of the University, if he or she wants to, with obviously no reporting to the constitutional namesake head of India – the President. The VC appoints his team that plays a role in deciding the allocation of resources, approval of course work, appointment of college principals, teachers and eventually all policy matters. Although certain academic bodies involved in decision-making, like the executive and academic council have some elected members, usually no member gets elected without a political affiliation and backing.
This structure is in a strong contrast to the free merit-based truly autonomous academia in the developed parts of the world. The reason this structure worked to some extent in the first few decades after independence is that educated ruling class understood that academia should be run mostly on merit if the nation has to prosper. Unfortunately, the structure that was evolved depended on the wisdom of the Prime Minister but not a structure that was free from political intervention. This structure although constitutionally has some balances and checks in the form of some elected members in the administrative bodies and vibrant trade unions but to overcome this menace of democracy, Kapil Sibbal's men have decided not to call any meetings of these bodies and rule by decrees. With Sibbal's blessing, these men have forced academics to knock the doors of court on every matter if they do not like their dictatorial and inane decisions.
We all know of the always honest, political intervention free and super-expedient Indian judiciary. You judge what the outcome of such policy is going to be. Vice Chancellor at times has delayed calling due meetings of these administrative bodies for over a year on many vital decisions. The situation is so bad that even if an elected member in these bodies is a card holding Congressi, given his or her answerability to the faculty, even that member to maintain credibility, ends up opposing the Vice Chancellor. From students point of view one needs to look at directly impacts courses and degrees and what influences the quality and job satisfaction of the educators. One should wonder the wisdom of haphazardly changing the curriculum, introducing semester system without understanding logistics, pros and cons, whimsical twists to examination patterns, attendance policies that destroy precious years of young students and alter their career paths midway. We should systematically explore the various criminal actions of VC, various deans and heads of departments against educators, like blocking their promotion, holding back pension money and encouraging harassment of dissidents to score political points. In any advanced country with a rule of law, this kind dictatorial and incompetent conduct would get the criminals, not just the cronies but central government ministers and the ultimate puppet masters behind bars for decades. Only in countries where people with fake degrees and false claims of ties can set education agenda to Harvard and Cambridge that the business goes on as usual despite the ongoing rape of education and motherland in general.
I would like to remind you that the decision-making bodies like academic and executive council are infested with non-elected members appointed by dictates of 10 Janpath and those elected are almost always affiliated with political alliances like the UPA, NDA or the left groups. The party in power at the centre with all its economic muscle and influence favours the election of its sympathetic candidates to these bodies. This is just an insult to the injury, given that there should be no role of one's personal political leanings in academia, leave alone using it as a ground for dirty political games. Given the direct influence of the Vice chancellor in the appointment of college faculty through his appointed members in the interview panels and indirect influence through college principals, the system is designed such that rarely can a new teacher unfavourable to 10 Janpath be offered a position, whatever be their merit.
Even though the system is rigged from the start, still at rare instances, exceedingly good merit prevails and sadly, for Sibbal, time travel has yet not been invented to remove the old academically meritorious and honest crop. The way this academically honest section of faculty has been attacked is by exemplary punishments ranging from everyday discrimination to blocking promotions, derecognizing existing promotions, blocking salaries and pension money. Instead of directly hearing grievances for even most serious matters, the Vice Chancellor appoints someone on his behalf for representation. This representation is not acknowledged in writing and minutes of meetings are never provided to the complainant to evade any legal action. Though such attacks have been on people with saffron background too, these attacks have been more focused on people with secular credentials, as these people would not let Sibbal use academia as place for communal electoral politics. Politicians are now using vote bank politics of appeasing fundamentalist demands of different communities and keeping Indian society divided from the stage of once sacrosanct academic settings. A recent look at sub judice cases on Indian academic giants will open eyes of anyone wanting to see the carnage by the bulldogs of 10 Janpath to enforce their corrupt dictatorial agenda. I would clarify that my refrain is not in any way to honour the farcical judicial system but I do not want the victims of Sibbal to face additional pressure. After years of research in US, I spent one year (2011) in India to explore the current scientific and socioeconomic landscape of my home country and witnessed carnage of Sibbal and corruption of academia up close. While I am keeping detailed account of this experience for later, I would briefly like to point to the fact that corruption of academic culture enables significant portion of research to be plagiarized in India and original research to be below par – reminding me of a Samuel Johnson witticism "Your manuscript is both good and original. But the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good." This open politicization of education enables funding grants for non-existing research, denial of positions and funding to deserving candidates, existence of redundant institutions with zero productivity, harassment of researchers, violations of basic ethical codes of conduct, including the use of research facilities and funds for personal benefits, open solicitations in a supposedly blind peer review system.
If one is looking for obvious examples of this corruption, one can see a blatant hiring scam in the recruitment of several new teachers in some of the new colleges of the Delhi University. In a central university, everyone is supposed to be paid by the University Grant Commission (UGC); now many teacher appointments within the University of Delhi are illegally paid from the chauffeurs of the state of Delhi. This constitutional breach of pay check coming from state budget for a central university in its most optimistic scenario reeks of lack of any planning by the incompetent men and at its worst and more likely scenario, a tool to change demographic to less competent but more sympathetic to 10 Janpath. A simple look at the recent appointments of college Principals can show you the infestation of Indian academia by Congress honchos. For some merely accidental reasons (pun intended), an overwhelming number of recent College Principal appointments seem to be of young Punjabi female teachers who once used to teach science and are strongly affiliated with Yuvraj Rahul's gang.
I have nothing against young age, being a young scientist myself, neither against women, for whose rights, I have been fighting for all my adult life and nothing against Punjabis, which is my paternal ethnic heritage but I cannot stand having any other criteria than merit to decide the future of our country. What sense does it make to appoint a science faculty as Principal to a college with only humanities subjects, unless it is for simple political reasons? From over a decade ago, before I moved to top Indian research institution and then to top US research facilities, when I was young undergraduate student at this same university, I knew a very incompetent teacher who used to knit sweaters in our classroom, while reading textbooks verbatim. Her acts and intelligence could have made middle school teacher look Aristotle or Socrates in comparison, though she did order free tea for us in cold December months. In sympathy with other women, she frequently advised my female classmates against pursuing a postgraduate degree telling of non-academic compromises it took for her to get a Ph.D. The last I heard from her is when she became a Principal of a new college under this new administration because of proximity to Indian National Congress.
Sitting in a U.S. research institution that has produced one of the most numbers of Nobel laureates in the field of Medicine; I have no problem pointing out some individuals in India. Nevertheless, pointing few such examples would not solve much and it would be unfair for only one or two incompetent political puppets to be recalled due to my finger pointing while the epithet of corruption remaining the same. So, I will leave pointing lower level individuals for some later stage, just giving them chills for now but focus on Rahul baba, puppet prime minister, corrupt ministers and VCs ruining our education.
Few years ago at the University of Delhi, a collusion of BJP and Congress's political interests, led to a laughable act of allowing astrology (no, not astronomy but dumb stone age astrology) to be part of its curriculum. After much of controversy and worldwide ridicule acclaimed intellectuals, it was eventually withdrawn. One may wonder that after such infamy the government would not redo such mistake again but alas. The trend of non-secular intervention continues unabated. Somehow magically fundamentalist administrators, be it a Muslim, Sikh, Christian or Hindu whosoever suits Congress's electoral play continues being appointed. Some of the ethnically focused institutions, whether for segments within minorities or majorities were created to encourage enrolment of students from segments who otherwise faced the danger of being left out without such privileged institutions. The goal was to create a modern alternative to inadequate and often sectarian madarasa or ashram kind of religious education that these youngsters might be turned to in absence of secure modern alternatives. To provide such education faculty from all ethnicities were hired and promoted. Now with politicization, somehow the faculty enrolment has started paralleling the bias in student enrolment, throwing the criteria of merit of faculty in the dirty ditch of politics. Such bias denies good quality education to target segments that these institutions were in the first place set up to provide for.
While a trip around the University of Delhi would bear out many such examples of decadence of this administration, I would like to point out a single notable piece of capitulation to religious fundamentalism so you can better see how appeasement of different ethnic group works for political convenience. Recently based on orders from Congress headquarters, the Vice Chancellor forced the University to withdraw 'Three Hundred Ramayans', a great text by AK Ramanujan that quite clearly captures the ubiquitous nature of Ramayana tales in the whole of Indosphere, even beyond Indian subcontinent like in the islands of Indonesia or lands as distant as Cambodia. The text educates to the fact that Ramayana has many local variants and it is a truly a tale of all Indic region with amazingly deep cultural penetration that has sway in shaping even an atheist like me, leave alone some orthodox Vaishnav Hindu. After saffron politicians stroke trouble objecting to this long-standing course material the talibanized RSS goons of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of BJP got offended to this whiff of knowledge. Their argument (or more accurately non-argument) was that Valmiki Ramayana is the accurate one. The claim that one version of Ramayana is celebrated more is correct, especially when viewed with strictly North Indian Vaishnav lenses but the argument is ridiculous, as the material was not taught as a course on religion. This text was not an effort to say one version is right or wrong or which imaginary fried should one believe in or which organize religion is better, but a historical collection of different texts that exist in the Indosphere.
Five exemplary texts that captured the largest heterogeneity were chosen to capture the diversity of cultural heritage. Congress did not want to lose Hindu fundamentalist votes to BJP, so to one up the idiots of sangh, Sibbal decided to use his bully pulpit to remove the text from the course work all together. This move, where history and literatures appropriateness is decided by the sentimentality of ill-educated political goons instead of facts, is no different than banning some book because of a fatwa by some crazy Mullah in streets of Lahore, Riyadh or Kabul. Such yielding to pressure from religious bigots in general public life of India is not new and not even unique to Delhi's Congress-BJP dominated politics. Who can forget unsympathetic treatment meted out to Taslima Nasreen by the stalwarts of left, the so-called secularists? What is new is the systematic attack on academic integrity by a demon of religious fundamentalism, corruption and dictatorship that is unleashed by Sibbal on the commands from 10 Janpath. This removal of highly acclaimed assay is being condemned worldwide and such acts continue to degrade the legitimacy of Indian education and validity of higher academic degrees.
More than the damage to Indian image or to the validity of Indian educational credentials, the impact from such acts, if recurrent, will render an already barren Indian innovation and academic landscape to become completely sterile. A healthy academic culture, where one can discuss life stories surrounding the myth and reality of lives of Prophet Mohammad, Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ or Lord Rama, when in the context of history or of linguistic style, independent from the sentimentality of religion or conduct research on the impact of a particular pesticide on human health, independent of the connections of that pesticide company to the ruling party, is a necessary backbone of any country aspiring to innovate and grow. I am actually not much of a Nehru fan on most socioeconomic and defence issues but what I think was his singular undisputed legacy of sowing the seeds of higher education is now being destroyed by his own great grandson.
I also want this article to serve as warning that if the state of affairs of Indian academia gets worse than international condemnations, signature by top academics including Nobel laureates, boycotts and derecognizing several academic degrees would have to initiated to stop this rot of academia in India. Such actions to improve India would not be unprecedented for Indian expatriates. Recently, to stop the murder of the rule of law by Indian judiciary that was allowing indefinite detention of people without evidence, the international community including many notable Indian expatriates jumped into action, shaming India at the world stage. This external ridicule and pressurization is the least pleasant and most painful thing an Indian can do but when reform does not come from within then one is not left with any other option. One may be aware of the fact that many degrees from India are not recognized internationally and the list is not shrinking. If this corrupt management run by Sibbal's cronies continues ruining the quality of graduate and postgraduate education and stifles the intellectual output then whether one likes it or not, several other Indian academic honours, intellectual exchange programs will almost justifiably face an international axe. While there shall soon be action from international intellectual community if the victimization of secular teachers and Talibanization of education continues but what is truly needed in India is an internal change. No international pressure, punishment or encouragement can drag India to the modern era. Only Indians living in India can do so. The sleeping elephant has to wake up on its own, assuming the elephant is sleeping and not comatose or cold dead. It is unlikely that academic causes on their own would generate equal anger as has the corruption on street but all versions of Ramayana teach us that all sins add up. This murder of intellectual culture of central universities may provide additional fuel to the funeral pyre being readied for the political class if change does not come soon.
A Historical exploration of Khajuraho
The UNESCO world heritage temples of Khajuraho are situated in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. Built by the kings of Chandela dynasty during 950 to 1050 AD, these exquisite temples were lost to the world from 13AD onwards till they were discovered by the British in 1838 under the cover of dense date palm trees.
This collection of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples are Khajuraho temples are famous for art on stone. Variously described as living temples, Temple of Love and consisting of unique erotic sculptures the Khajuraho group of temples are considered by many to be the pinnacle of India's temple art. The temple complex creates an eclectic mix of spirituality, eastern philosophy, architecture and cultural heritage.
Khajuraho is best visited during winter on account of its extreme climate. Summer months can be very hot. The famous Khajuraho Dance Festival is held in March and attracts visitors from across the world.
Khajuraho is well connected to major cities by train and by air. The airport is 5km from the city centre and links to Delhi, Agra and Mumbai. It is best recommended to use a trusted cab service provider like Savaari, where you can make an online booking by downloading the Savaari App.
Western Group of temples.
The Western group of temples have the largest of the temples and are richly decorated and form the main area of attraction
- Lakshmana Temple – The temple dedicated to the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva is the oldest of the Khajuraho temples and has some the finest sculptures that can be seen in India.
- Kandariya Mahadeo Temple – This Shiva temple is covered with beautiful carvings, sculptures and frescos that are known for their beauty, grandeur and finesse.
- Devi Jagdamba Temple – This relatively dainty temple dedicated to Goddess Jagadamba has three bands of sculptures and the uppermost layer has some of the most erotic sculptures that Khajuraho is also famous for.
- Chitragupta Temple – One of the rare temples of the Sun God in the country.
- Vishwanath Temple – The temple is unique for its colossal bull statue dedicated to Nandi, the favourite companion of Lord Shiva.
Eastern Group of Temples
- Parsvanath Temple – The Jain temple shows an eclectic mixture of Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim influences in its three roof architecture.
- Ghantai Temple – This Digambar Jain temple has a beautiful frieze inscribed on stone depicting the 16 dreams as seen by the Mother of Lord Mahavira. The temple though gets its name from the remarkable pillars, carved with chains and bells.
- Brahma Temple – Among the oldest temples in Khajuraho, the temple is built entirely using granite and sandstone and dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Southern Group of Temples
- Chattarbhuj Temple – Situated 3 km from the main city, the temple is the only one in Khajuraho without any erotic sculpture and faces west. Best visited during the sunset, the temple is known for the intricate and beautifully detailed four-armed idol of Lord Vishnu.
Do remember to attend the Light and Sound Show conducted in the Western group of temples that describes the horary past of these beautiful monuments.
Khajuraho is surrounded by other places of interest, such as the Panna National Park and the Ranneh Falls. Do plan your visit and hire outstation or local cabs from the airport to visit these temple complexes.
Explore the royal city of Mysore
Call it the Heritage City or the City of Palaces, the city of Mysore still emanates a feeling of au royale even in a 21st century India. A place of heritage for royal families, sultans, and legendary names in history, every corner of Mysore is steeped in stories of victory, power, and grandeur. A tour of this majestic city is only justified when you explore the royal heritage of the City of Palaces.
Getting there
Conveniently located on the southern edge of the Karnataka State, Mysore is easily accessible from major cities. It takes about three hours to travel the 152 KM distance from Bangalore to Mysore.
History and Heritage
The city of Mysore served as the capital for the Kingdom of Mysore between the 1300s until 1956. These six centuries saw the kingdom change hands of rulers and kings, from the Wadiyar Dynasty, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. But the common element of all the rulers was their penchant for art and culture. Under their patronage, they contributed to the city's visual and cultural glory which earned Mysore the fame of Karnataka's cultural capital.
A royal tour
If you want to experience the regal side of Mysore, you cannot but miss these structures of historical and architectural significance. You can join a heritage walking tour to explore the city on foot, or head from Bangalore to Mysore by car and stop by at monuments, palaces, and museums and learn about the legends that made Mysore. You can start your walk from the Town Hall, built in 1884, as a tribute to the first Dewan of the city.
Mysore Palace- The official residence of the royal family of Wadiyars, the palace itself is a work of marvel. An overwhelming blend of Indo-Saracenic, neoclassical, Indo-Islamic and Gothic architectural works, the Mysore Palace is a breathtaking sight. Built in 1912, the palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and boasts delicate works of mirrors, stained glass, mosaic and more. On any given day, you will find more tourists here than even at the Taj Mahal. Every Sunday, the palace comes alive with 97000 light bulbs bedazzling its façade and the premises.
Lalitha Palace– Yet another heritage building, the two-storied Lalitha Mahal sits on a ridge at the foothills of the Chamundi Hills, which makes for a great vantage point. The palace was transformed into a hotel and offers a royal stay. If you truly want a feeling of royalty, then a stay here would be an experience.
Jaganmohan Palace– One of the seven prominent palaces of Mysore city, is a stunning work of ancient Indian architecture with intricate interiors and exteriors. The palace, transformed into a royal art gallery since 1915, houses paintings of the royal family, art by Raja Ravi Varma and an array of rare and antique musical instruments.
Museums- Stop by the Rail Museum to explore the archaic steam engines, the Maharani's saloon, and other railway souvenirs. There's also the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion showcasing more than 6500 folk artifacts from all parts of Karnataka. The Folk Art Museum, one of the most visited in the city, is also known for its collection of toys, models, and figurines.
Crawford Hall- Built in 1947, this is a must visit historic structure in Mysore. The royal palace is now known as the Mysore University but still renders a rich heritage to its ambiance.
Small, medium or large-scale, every historical building and monument of Mysore has a majestic touch to it. And such architecture speaks of its glorious past, which has left traces for the modern civilization to explore.
India's Victory at the International Court of Justice is the World's Challenge to the Status Quo
For the past week, both the Indian and British media have rigorously covered the story of the re-election of India's justice Dalveer Bhandari to the bench of judges in the International Court of Justice on Tuesday, November 21. That the Indian judge retained his position on the bench was not the sole reason for the story's extensive coverage; his reappointment combined with the fact that it happened at the expense of the United Kingdom's spot on the bench is why the story is making so many rounds… and no, that many Indians may see it as some sort of a comeback against Britain's 200 years of colonial rule over the country is not the reason why it matters. It matters because this is the first time since 1946 that the UK has no judge on the ICJ bench, and that signals possible changes in the way international bodies govern and are governed. So what does this mean for India, for the UK and for the world at large?
The International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice or the ICJ was established in 1945 by the United Nations as its principal judicial branch and is located in The Hague, Netherlands. Its job is to settle legal disputes between states that are submitted to it and give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it. The court comprises of a total of 15 judges that are elected to 9 year terms by way of voting from both the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) separately. One third of the court is re-elected every three years, and no two judges of the same nationality may assume positions on the bench simultaneously. However, the rule that led to the deadlock between the candidates from India and UK is that a candidate must obtain an absolute majority in both the UNGA and the UNSC in order to be elected to the bench.
UN General Assembly vs UN Security Council: The Race in Numbers
On November 9 and November 13, in seven rounds of voting justice Bhandari secured between 110 and 121 votes from a total of 193 in the UNGA against figures between 68 and 79 secured by his British counterpart Sir Christopher Greenwood. However, among the UNSC, justice Bhandari lost out by 5 votes to 9 in favour of Sir Greenwood. In the face of uncertainty, the UK then pushed for a 'joint conference' under the rules of the court between the UNSC and the UNGA. Under the 'joint conference' three countries from each side then determine the name for the court. However, the rules do not mention the procedure to select these countries and understandably so, since the option was last invoked in 1921. Fearing not enough support from the council, criticism for invoking the charter, and harming its friendly as well as economic relations with India, the UK eventually chose to not follow through with the process and withdrew its candidature for the post. In the end, India secured the seat with a total of 183 votes out of 193 at the UNGA and all 15 at the UNSC.
There is More to the Victory than Meets the Eye
The result means different things for the parties involved and also for the balance of power and influence between countries. For the UK, there are hardly any positives to take away from this result amid already turbulent times. Many in the British media have viewed this loss as 'a blow to British international prestige' and the country's acceptance of a diminishing role in global affairs. This was the UK's second major defeat at the ICJ after it lost a vote by a margin of 94 to 15 countries in June when the UNGA voted in favour of referring the question of decolonisation and self-determination of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to the ICJ, which is currently under its control. Many within and outside the country have also been quick to blame Brexit for the situation in which they find themselves today, arguing that the other states, especially the ones within the European Union would have been less willing to snub the UK had the UK chosen not to leave the alliance. In the face of defeat, British diplomats have continued to maintain that they are happy that their close friend India has won, but have also not been shy of hiding their natural disappointment at their own loss.
For India, their victory in having a judge win the contest in getting elected to the ICJ bench against a permanent member of the UNSC is more symbolic than anything else. It reinforces India's image at the highest stage as a major emerging global player and its ability to bring in greater reforms that push for more involvement from developing countries and emerging economies. Also, having a judge on the ICJ bench gives India an edge over Pakistan in the case involving former Indian Navy Officer Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on the charges of espionage. True, a judge on the ICJ does not represent his/her country or their interests. However, as suggested by repeated criticism the court receives for being biased in favour of the states who appoint the judges, having a judge on the panel is certainly an asset for any country, no matter what the rules dictate on paper.
The most important takeaway from the whole episode far exceeds the ambitions of just the two countries and a race for a seat at the ICJ. India's victory at the court reinforces the belief that power does not necessarily reside or has to reside with the 'few global elite', a sentiment which was expressed clearly when most member states of the UNGA backed India's justice Bhandari to be re-elected against the choice of the permanent members or P5 of the UNSC. There seems to be an acknowledgment among the member states of the UN of the beginning of a change which sees an increasing shift in the balance of power away from the traditional powers of the world or the P5 – Britain, China, United States, Russia, and France. Of these countries, China was the only member to not have a judge on the ICJ between 1967 and 1985 till the final decision last week, when they were joined by the UK in the list. Last year, Russia was voted off the United Nations Human Rights Council. In the 2016 elections, France lost out on securing a position in the International Law Commission. While diplomats at the UN continue to maintain that there are no winners and losers here, that it is all part of a bigger picture, these developments undoubtedly mark diplomatic victories for the Group of 77 or the G77, a coalition of developing nations at the UN that have constantly pushed for an enhanced negotiating capacity. What remains to be seen is just to what extent they bring about a change in the status quo.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Benefits Of Using Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Catering Equipment, and HVAC
Refrigeration is a good known way of preventing food-borne illness as well as a way of preserving food like meat, vegetables, and drinks and consume them later still with their original taste. Refrigeration is not only used at most home around the world but it is also used in big trucks to transport all perishable goods in order they get to the market while still being fresh, pus also once in the market they need to be kept under refrigeration to ensure they don't expire. Even in many industries refrigeration is very much used, like in manufacturing industry for hardening steel , and also refrigeration is used for dehumifying air, and still in making some gases like oxygen turn to liquid state through deep refrigeration, among other uses.
Air conditioning is commonly used when one want to adjust the temperatures in a room, it is good to know that there are a number of air conditioning control system but as they all tend to attain one objective. Having a chance to control the temperature of your environment ,is a good thing and this is one of the reasons that makes people appreciate temperature control air conditioning systems in their homes. The main disadvantage of some temperature air conditioning system is that they don't give user liberty to perform separate operations that is either cooling or heating ,but it cannot be possible to both heat and cool room, its only set either to cool a room or heat it.
When planning to buy some of the catering equipment for your industry or even for home usage there are some conditions that one needs to consider which will help you make informed decision. Among the very first points to check should be warranty and service agreement, one should always make sure that the equipment has a warrant and at least they offer service to the equipment after sometime. It would always be advisable to buy the catering equipment depending on your projected budget for the same, by considering this one has to put into account the cost of the equipment and if need be installation cost.
Hvac is the new way of proving either heat or cold in buildings. A licensed Peron who is also very specialized in his service of hvac should be among the qualities to look when looking for an expert in this area this will give guarantee that the work that you want to be done will be done perfectly by him without any mishap.
Getting To The Point – Professionals


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Living with the Tesla Powerwall for a year: the first Australian case study
Savings in excess of 90% have been reported by the first Australian to install a Tesla Powerwall after a year of living with the solar system. And with rapid advancements making home batteries more affordable, the number of installations are expected to triple in 2017.
Nick Pfitzner and his family live in a four bedroom home in Kellyville Ridge, NSW. It's a large place with a study, an internal laundry, a pool and an outdoor entertainment area.
Powering the home with electricity in 2015 cost him $2289. But just over a year ago, he invested in a solar power system that has since significantly cut costs.
Nick, a self-confessed Tesla fanboy, was the first person in Australia to buy the company's Powerwall. He bought a 7kW battery, a 5kWp solar array, a SolarEdge inverter and a Reposit monitoring system for $16,790 in January 2015.
A year on and Nick's annual electricity bill has dropped to $178.71 – that's a 92% saving of $2110.
The savings exceeded projections, as well as Nick's own expectations.
"Before I crunched the numbers I was looking at what would be my return on investment. If it saved me 80% of my power bill, [I thought] it would be pretty good," he says.
"I really learned a lot about myself and how my house uses energy and how we can improve with solar now."
Home batteries are an emerging technology. They gained a lot of attention when electric carmaker Tesla entered the market. Original projections estimated a payback time of more than a decade, anywhere from 14 to 18 years.
At this rate, Nick's solar system will pay itself off within eight years.
His average quarterly bill dropped from $572 in 2015 to $45 in 2016.
One of his quarterly bills was in credit of $50. This is because his system can sell unused electricity back to the grid.
"The system will power whatever the house needs first as a priority, then it will fill the battery as a second priority and then anything over it'll export," he tells CHOICE.
"The aim is to try and export about three times of what I import because my electricity cost is about three times [as much]."
The going rate is 8 cents per kilowatt-hour, but Nick installed a Reposit monitoring system – an $800 extra – that'll push the price up to $1 per kilowatt-hour at certain times.
"So when we had that really hot weather last week, what happened is, there's a peak event on the network and [electricity companies] asked batteries to start dispatching power, so it's kind of like a little power station if you like."
The Reposit system is one reason why Nick could end up paying his system off much earlier than projected. Another has to do with the capacity of his solar array, which at 5kW, is larger than the 4kW arrays used for modelling.
Then there's the price he paid – $15,990 without the Reposit add-on – which was cheaper than the systems using the smaller 4kW array.
But these reasons are of little consequence to people interested in buying a home battery today, as the market undergoes drastic changes.
Dropping prices
More than 6500 Australian households installed a solar battery in 2016 – a 13-time increase on the year before.
And the number of installs are expected to triple to 19,000 by the end of 2017.
The growth spurt is owed to a number of factors, including steep price drops, increased competition and an appetite for cheaper electricity bills, says Warwick Johnston, the founder of SunWiz, the first consultancy firm to audit the home battery market in Australia.
"Part of [the growth] was the significant reduction in prices that occurred, particularly mid way through the year.
"I'd say battery prices practically halved. In conservative figures it was at least a 40% drop in the last year."
Another driving factor is owed to increased competition in the industry. There were only a handful of home battery manufacturers in 2015, but Johntson estimates the number has shot up to 20 home battery brands offering 90 different models.
This has been made possible by an increase in the mining and manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries. The Tesla Gigafactory, for instance, is anticipated to produce more lithium ion batteries in 2018 than the world managed to produce in all of 2013.
The increase in supply and competition will cause prices to keep dropping, says Johnston, though not by as much.
"There won't be steep price drops in 2017. You won't see halving occurring.
"You could see a 10% to 20% price reduction this year," Johnston tells CHOICE
Rather, the capacities of batteries could change. Tesla's second generation Powerwall, for instance, doubled its capacity even though it will sell for the same price.
Warwick credits the Tesla Powerwall for creating an awareness of home batteries, but does not believe it is unique in its offering.
"It is at the forefront of many people's minds because of that brand positioning. A lot of people look at what else is available and identify there are other products out there that have more favourable advantages than Tesla."
As for paying a solar system off within ten years, that'll come down to each individual case, he says.
"When you're buying a new solar array alongside your battery system, then you can get a 10 year payback. If you have above average electricity consumption, you can do it.
"But if you want to retrofit a battery to an existing array, then you're unlikely to get a ten year payback on just the battery alone."


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In just a few weeks, teams will start rolling in for Manawatu's premiere cycling event with many looking to attain valuable UCI points on offer.
Australian-based Mobius-BridgeLane, in its first year as a registered UCI-Continental team, will be contesting the Gravel and Tar Classic starting in Palmerston North on Saturday, 27 January.
Coming on the back of a growth year in 2017, where team manager Tom Petty turned down the opportunity to obtain a Continental license, he instead focussed on the long-term stability of the team by having well-recruited and strong cyclists.
Amongst Petty's 19-strong team are four New Zealanders. Dunedin cyclist Brad Evans, a 2017 Tour of Southland stage winner joined the squad late last year and under Mobius-BridgeLane will target as much UCI racing during 2018, as well as being a team captain passing on his knowledge to other riders.
Southland rider Nick Kergozou is a New Zealand track cycling representative and looking for a place in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. His inclusion into the 2018 Mobius-BridgeLane squad is his first foray into professional cycling.
The other two cyclists are Ethan Batt and Carne Groub, both 19 years old, who form part of the U21 development being mentored to ride in the next year or two at Continental level.
Petty will name his strongest team for the Gravel and Tar Classic in the coming weeks as he takes his team globetrotting in search of UCI points.
Cycling's international body, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) accredited the Gravel and Tar Classic a level 1.2 status which not only recognises the high standard of event but also puts the event on the International Cycling Calendar.
The cost of meeting the UCI requirements for this 1.2 level race was made possible through a successful application to the CEDA (Central Economic Development Agency) Major Event Fund.
by Colleen Sheldon


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Representative example
If you borrow £10,000 over 60 months at a Representative 3.0% APR and an annual interest rate of 2.96% (fixed) you would pay £179.51 monthly and the total amount you would repay would be £10,770.60.
At least 51% of people who take out a loan between will be given the advertised representative APR. The rate you're offered will depend on the amount you wish to borrow along with your personal circumstances, financial circumstances and credit history.
An Admiral Home Improvement loan lets you borrow £1,000 to £25,000 between 12-60 months
What is a home improvement loan?
A home improvement loan is an unsecured personal loan that you could use to pay for home improvements like a new kitchen or bathroom, or to convert your loft or garage.
Why consider a home improvement loan?
With house prices on the rise in the UK, many people are turning to home improvements instead of buying a new home.
The average house price in January 2019 came in at £228,000 meaning many people are finding it difficult to buy their first home or upgrade to something bigger.
Home improvements could be a good option if you're:
- Happy in your current location and property
- Finding it difficult to sell your home
- Wanting to add value to your home
- Wanting to improve your home and/or create more space
- Unable to afford to buy a new house
This data is based on a survey of 304 Admiral Home Improvement Loan customers in November 2018
Other reasons for taking out a home improvement loan could include:
- Garage, loft or basement conversion
- Roof replacement
- Buying a new boiler
- Building works like plastering or rendering
- Electrical rewiring
- Garden make-over
How does a home improvement loan work?
Once you've worked out how much you need to borrow and over how long (use our loan calculator if you're not sure) you can apply for an Admiral loan online or over the phone.
We'll check your credit history and make sure you can afford the repayments, usually we can give an instant decision but some applications are referred to our underwriters who might need more information from you.
If you're accepted we'll offer you a personalised rate, and you'll see your monthly payments and total amount repayable. When you sign for the loan, you'll get the funds in your bank account 3 working days later.
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The process of applying for a personal loan can be a confusing one, but the more you prepare the easier the process of being approved…Find out more
Before you take out a Home Improvement loan
- As with any finance, think carefully before you take out a home improvement loan – make sure you're able to afford your monthly repayments should your financial situation change.
- Weigh up the costs of the home improvements and how much value the work will add to your home. Make sure you research the property market, looking at similar homes in your area as well as trends in house prices. Sites like Rightmove will tell you how much properties in your neighbourhood sold for and when and we have a guide on which home improvements add the most value
- It's a good idea to get personal recommendations and written quotes from a number of tradesmen so you can compare prices and reviews; make sure you use a registered tradesman by checking organisations like the Federation of Master Builders.
- Once you're happy with a price, get the quote in writing and ask the trader to include start and completion dates and agreed payment terms. Make sure you ask for a quote, which includes materials and labour, rather than an estimate so you have a good idea of how much you need to borrow and won't be surprised by any additional costs.
- Most tradesmen won't expect full payment upfront, but might ask for a deposit to buy materials before they start work.
- Before you start any work, check your home insurance policy – you usually have to let your insurer know if you're having any structural work done, and your insurance might not cover you while you're having works done.
"A really simple application process and quick decision."
"Very quick and very good rate. No extra hidden costs."
"Admiral have got excellent customer service and made the whole process very easy for me."
Forfar angus
Easy to apply and hit my account
Very easy to apply
Waiting time for funds to be credited to account
Great service
Your questions answered
As a basis for qualification, you must be a permanent resident of England, Wales or Scotland, having lived in the UK for at least 3 years, be between the ages of 18 and 75, and with no recent history of bad credit such as County Court Judgements (CCJs), IVA or bankruptcy. The rate offered will depend on the amount you wish to borrow and your individual circumstances. You can apply for any amount between £1,000 and £25,000 for a period between 12 and 60 months.
APR stands for annual percentage rate. This is the total charge for the loan including fees and interest expressed as a percentage. The APR you are offered may differ from the representative example displayed, this is because each loan application is assessed on an individual basis. The maximum APR we offer is 29.9%.
Admiral Loans is a trading name of Admiral Financial Services Limited (AFSL). Admiral Financial Services Limited (AFSL) is registered in England and Wales at Tŷ Admiral, David Street, Cardiff, CF10 2EH (Reg. No. 10255225). Admiral Financial Services Limited (AFSL) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm reference number: 771862). These details can be confirmed by visiting the Financial Services Register, www.fca.org.uk/register.
Admiral Financial Services Limited (AFSL) is a registered data controller (No. ZA257412). The data controller is Admiral Financial Services Limited. You acknowledge that by providing your personal data to us, you consent to its processing in the manners outlined in our Privacy Policy. Click here to read.
Please see our terms and conditions here.
AFSL are a member of the Finance and Leasing Association(FLA) who are an industry leader in promoting best practice within the motor finance, consumer and asset businesses in the UK. As a member we are subscribed to their Lending Code. Click here to download a copy of their Lending Code.
When you submit an application for a loan, we will conduct an application credit search which may affect your credit score, so you may wish to keep applications to a minimum to protect your credit rating.
If you have any queries about the manner in which your data is processed, please write to: Data Protection Officer, Admiral Financial Services Limited, Tŷ Admiral, David Street, Cardiff CF10 2EH.


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Apple Pay Express Transit goes live at the New York Penn Station. Just tap your iPhone or Apple Watch to an OMNY card reader.
Apple Awards, Intercontinental Payment Systems – TMO Daily Observations 2019-12-03
Dave Hamilton and Charlotte Henry join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Apple's 2019 Best Of Awards, and payment systems in the US and UK.
Apple Express Transit Arrives in London
Apple made Express Transit Mode available to UK Apple Pay users traveling on Transport for London services, such as the tube and buses.
Hong Kong Apple Pay Coming Later This Year
Octopus confirms that Hong Kong Apple Pay is coming later this year to iPhone and Apple Watch.
Mac Pro: You Want It? You Got It! – Mac Geek Gab 764
Yes, some things happened at WWDC, and your two geeks discuss them. But first, some Cool Stuff Found. We can't ignore that stuff, after all! Then it's time for a jam session all about macOS Catalina, the new Mac Pro, and a few other things related to Apple's announcements this week. All very cool stuff, and you're guaranteed to learn at least five new things!
Apple Pay London Express Transit is Coming
Apple Pay London Express Transit is coming, and Transport for London confirmed it on Twitter.
NYC Subway Riders Can Use Apple Pay This Friday
NYC subway riders can start using Apple Pay Express Transit at certain subway stations starting Friday, May 31.
Portland Transit Riders Can Add Hop Fastpass to Wallet
Portland transit riders can now add the Hop Fastpass to Apple Wallet, which works with TriMet, C-Tran, and Portland Streetcar.
iOS 12.3 Lets You Add an Apple Pay Express Transit Card
One of features included in today's iOS 12.3 update is the ability for iPhone customers to add an Apple Pay express transit card.


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I have combined all five sessions in this post, so you can listen to the entire series in one place.
Category: meditation
Session 5: Meditation as a Lifestyle
Your meditation practice can become a lifestyle. In this session we talk about how we can bring our meditation into our daily life.
Session 4: Meditation Styles and Techniques
In this session we are going to talk about different meditation techniques for you to try.
Session 3: Emotions and Meditation by Ned Burwell
In this session we are going to talk about our Emotions. Understanding our emotions and learning how to use them as a tool is an important part of learning how to meditate.
Session 2: The Mind and Meditation by Ned Burwell
Session 2: The mind In this session we give you some practical tools to start your meditation practice.
Session 1: Introduction to Meditation
Session 1: Introduction to Meditation
Meditation Series
We are excited to announce that we will be adding a meditation section to Umatter. Over the next few months we will be recording a complete series to teach you how to begin a meditation practice or how to deepen your current practice of meditation.


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Feel the bars like never before. The Flexair gloves are a minimalist glove with an exceptional fit and lightweight feel. The stretch mesh finger gussets (the fabric between your fingers) increases flexibility as well as helps channel air through the glove for superior comfort. The Flexair glove also features a conductive thread on the thumb and index finger so you can use your phone without removing your gloves. Capture every moment and feel free to share - #foxracing.
- Minimalist glove with an exceptional fit and lightweight feel.
- Special Edition Day Glo fabric and reflective logos for increased visibility
- TruFeel uses internal silicone texture on the inside of the glove to provide heightened sensation and feedback, so you have maximum control of the levers
- Conductive Clarino® palm for touch screen compatibility
Play Video


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A perfect look back over Dublin's Historic Four In A Row
The Lashing Rain. Alan Brogan's Winning Point. Stephen's Smile. The Replay. Connolly's Penno. Costello Shines. Mayo Again. O'Callaghan's Goal. Cluxton's Save. Rocks Winner. McCaffrey's Marching Smile. Mannion's Penno. Scully's Palms. Kilkenny's Shorts! Pure Football.
Some will read the above and wonder. Some will remember every last details. Dublin made history, lifting the Sam Maguire for the fourth year in succession. There was talk about the four in a row for such a long time. When it finally happened, though expected, was still a thing of beauty.
But to watch back the clips since 2015, it really does show just how amazing a fete it was. From the pouring rain in 2015, through a replay and two close calls against Mayo, to the final accomplished victory over Tyrone. You could make a highlight reel that could last for hours, and it still wouldn't do the displays any justice.
In this GAANOW video, you can reminisce to your hearts desire, all the highs, all those vital scores, all those special moments that culminated in Stephen Cluxton lifting Sam once again a few weeks ago.
Dublin 0-12 Kerry 0-09 (2015)
A strong first half proved far more than half the battle for determined Dublin who braved the difficult Croke Park conditions to hold on for a third All-Ireland title success in five seasons, their second at Kerry's expense in that period, as they prevailed by 0-12 to 0-09.
Jim Gavin's side built up a four-point half-time lead after a strong finish to the opening half when they outscored holders Kerry by six points to one. It afforded the Sky Blues a cushion that they relied upon throughout an error-strewn game that they ultimately deserved to win and, in truth, could have won by significantly more.
Paul Flynn, Bernard Brogan and Dean Rock lead the scoring, but it was Alan Brogan's winning point that washed away the memory of his distraught demeanour the year before after losing to Donegal in the Semi Finals.
Dublin 1-15 Mayo 1-14 (2016 Replay)
Dublin retained the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time since 1977 with a 1-15 to 1-14 replay win over Mayo. Heartbreak visited Mayo once again, and they continued to search for their first title since 1951.
Diarmuid Connolly's second-half penalty gave the Dubs the vital score which helped them reach out for their fourth Sam Maguire Cup success in six years, and their 26th in all.
Dean Rock claimed the championship top scorer title with a nine-point haul, but he was matched on the day by the 0-09 of Cillian O'Connor, whose late equaliser a fortnight ago had set up this thrilling re-match. But it was the three point cameo off the bench by Cormac Costello that riled the Dublin fans into a frenzy just when they thought they may not hang on.
Dublin 1-17 Mayo 1-16 (2017)
Another year but the same outcome, as Dublin won Sam Maguire Cup for the third year in a row, after a 1-17 to 1-16 win over a heartbroken Mayo team who dominated for long periods.
Losing by 1-05 to 0-09 at half-time, Dublin emptied their far superior bench but it was Dean Rock with a free in the sixth minute of injury time that won it for the champions.
Lee Keegan scored a goal for Mayo in the 54th minute, they went a point up and looked like kicking on. But Dublin were not back-to-back champions for no reason and Jim Gavin used his bench well, bringing on Diarmuid Connolly and Kevin McManamon at half-time as the Dubs put in an improved second-half performance.
The finest moment of this game, came right at the beginning when Con O'Callaghan waltzed by Colm Boyle and poked the ball past David Clarke in the Mayo goal right in front of Hill 16.
Dublin 2-17 Tyrone 1-14 (2018)
Quite simply the most decisive Dublin victory in their six All Ireland's this decade, and we got to witness history in the making. Their claim to be the greatest team of all time slowly but surely becomes more undeniable.
And this was over and done by the half time whistle with a penalty from Paul Mannion and a superbly worked move that finished with Niall Scully palming the ball into the Tyrone net.
Tyrone gave it their all, but Dublin were simply better than them in all facets of the game – pure skill, tactical intelligence, and raw athleticism. Players like Jack McCaffrey, Brian Fenton, and Ciaran Kilkenny in particular were just on another level, and Tyrone didn't have the quality to match them blow for blow.
This Dublin team has inked another entry into the record-books, and you get the strong feeling they're not finished just yet.
(video credit: GAANOW via YouTube)


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Buying a used car might seem daunting, but with so many excellent options out there, it's sure to be a rewarding experience. Here's how to choose the best used car and make the most of your budget.
Research models
Before you start shopping around for used cars, do some research on different makes and models. Consider what you want from a vehicle — like good fuel efficiency, towing capability, safety features — and start there. Read about different segments and model years to get a good idea of what might work for you.
Check the market value
Once you have your eye on a couple of models, take a look at Kelly Blue Book to get the market value of each make, model, and year. This will help you make confident offers and avoid being overcharged.
Find a dealership with options
Shopping at an experienced used car dealership like Pollard Used Cars gives you access to all kinds of different models, and provides you with the expert guidance of an experienced team.
Get the history
With the VIN number of a vehicle, you can use a resource like Carfax to get a vehicle history report on any used vehicle. This will give you insight on any repairs, accidents, or major events in the vehicle's history, so you can be informed before committing to a purchase.
Take a test drive
Before signing any papers, be sure to take your winning vehicle on a thorough test drive. Go at different speeds, and pay attention to the feel of the acceleration, brakes, handling, and shifting. Listen for any unusual noises and watch for any strange smells. If the car handles well, move on to the amenities. Check the sound system, heated seats, power moon-roof, and other features to make sure everything is functioning.
Come to Pollard Used Cars for a huge selection of quality vehicles.


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Project Details
Client: Prospect Steel Company
Location: Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Capex: $58 Million
Project duration: 2011-2012
Owner: North Carolina Department of Transportation
Design firm: Modjeski and Masters
Architect: Bowman Murray Hemingway Architects
Engineer: Modjeski and Masters
Contractor: Archer Western Contractors Ltd.
Scope of Work
- 3D BrIM modeling and shop detailing of approximately 1,320 tons of structural steel including the bascule girders, floor beams, stringers, lateral bracing, counterweight, centering device and trunnion columns for the new double single leaf bascules.
Project Stats
- The Elizabeth City Bascule Bridge is a complete replacement of the existing 80-year-old moveable "bascule" bridge and carries approximately 10,000 vehicles per day on the Camden Causeway
- The new bridge includes two (2) 12-foot traffic lanes, an 8-foot wide bike path and a 5.5-foot wide pedestrian sidewalk
- 146-ft double-leaf trunnion bascule span
Highlights & Challenges
- Our team encountered problems with bascule girder field/shop splice locations. The depth of the bascule girder heel exceeded maximum available plate width, and it was decided to utilize two (2) horizontal shop splices. Design drawing field splice locations ended up fouling the floor beam connection as well as web stiffener plates. The field splice was re-positioned thereby altering field splice design. The re-located field splice created changes in lateral bracing connections.
- Issues with Trunnion Column configurations. Column cap/base plates had to be modified to accommodate welding and knife connection, also swedged anchor bolt lengths were changed in order to achieve minimum embedment requirements.
- Issues with Bascule Girder and Rack Assembly interface. Geometric interface between bascule girder flange and rack assembly as originally shown on contract drawings was out by one (1) degree, hole pitch and gage were adjusted/revised to suit rack assembly.


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Science fiction
The Void Club Ch.11
Call of Cockhulhu, an Eldritch Tale (extended title). As always in these series of games you'll meet with familiar characters and this time the accent is on Raven and Starfire from Teen Titans, however you'll see Samus, Cara, Susan, Triss and other girls from previous series as well.Views: 37563
Bounty Hunter Samus
This is a fan made game about Samus Aran from Metroid series. She has spent most of her life fighting the evil that wreaked havoc in the galaxy. A lot of friends have asked her to share the origins of her battles against evil. So now she'll tell us some story about her life and how she became what she are today.Views: 64284
Game of Whores (sponsored)
Dragons, queens and traitors are just a few of the enemies you will encounter. Choose your fighter and slay your foes to become King of Whoresteros. Are you ready to take your chances playing the Game of Whores?Views: 2018
Guilty Force [v 0.215]
This is an action game where you'll have to control a girl and fight your way through multiple levels. The year 22XX, humanity vastly expanded across the solar system. Scientists are working to create interstellar engines without success yet. Humans have gone way too far with free sex, drugs and anarchy. Check the in game tutorial to learn all controls and how to play the game.Views: 169861
The Corruption of Emma
As the game screen is so big, use Zoom out function to fit it in the screen (CTRL -). Emma is a robot who was created by some scientist and in the end he let her go, hoping that all this was just a dream. But it wasn't and Emma now is on the streets, not knowing anything about human nature and how they could exploit her to please their sexual needs.Views: 116586
Succubus Covenant Generation One: The Cursed Forest
A science fiction game where group of scientists are trying to find out how to stop invasion of Succubus. You end up at some forest with other buddies where you'll face hot big breasted babes with big round booties who will try to seduce and suck you out dry. Read the story carefully.Views: 112948
Overgrown: Genesis [v 0.10.5]
The first victims were members of expedition to Amazon. There they got in touch with some parasite that crippled all males. Their wounds soon covered hard layer and they turned into aggressive female raping monsters. Now the virus is all over and you play as Juno, survivor of this apocalypse. Your task is to cooperate with other humans and try to survive. RPG graphics are shitty, but images are really good.Views: 450307
Rogue Courier Episode 3.07.00
This is not a full version, some scenes are locked. After fighting with Emoru, The Whacko, Gouia gets trapped. The Drako Imperial Army sets foot on the Rukkian territory, demanding that Kouia delivers Halina to them. Now, Kouia has to try and flee from the station as quick as possible, before either the Drakos or Rukkian officers get him. The story deepens and becomes more mysterious. What is the secret behind Halina? What is the role of Kouia in all of this? Find out!Views: 541020
The Void Club Ch.9
This time it takes place in Metroid universe and you'll meet sexy character Samus Aran. Your task is to get her in your club as you did before with the girls from other galaxies. Red haired girl Cara will guide you through all of this. Not sure how choices impact the story and scenes you reach.Views: 63434
Earthy Cummy
Hold CTRL if you want to skip dialogues. Your answers impact the path you'll go. Check the gallery as you complete the game. You will test the latest virtual simulator of Cummy Industries. Earthy is the girl from this simulator and you'll have to interact with her and get as much pleasure as possible.Views: 108078
Sex Stalkers
Felicia is going to visit her friend Morrigan's castle during her vacation. Felicia thought they will have a great time, but turns out Morrigan is busy with other stuff. Felicia will fuck multiple characters like Rikou, Victor, Donovan and more characters from Darkstalkers series.Views: 50431
City of Broken Dreamers
You take the role of the Ghost - really professional and powerful bounty hunter. You've not always been so cold, there's always a story behind the fate. However you have a new contract related to a young girl with some secret. You'll have to interact with lots of characters and make right decisions to keep going and reach nice scenes.Views: 255524
Full game name is: Four Unknown Cosmos Kisses. You take the role of the 19 year old girl who lives in the small village. Space traveling become possible and that changed entire society. All those discoveries went further and now you can join space simulation program as well. You live with Jesse. You'll fuck with him time by time.Views: 108617
Jekyll and Hyde [v 0.3]
It's a near future and after the war lot of people died, but those who survived adapted to the new world. Jekyll wakes up in a strange place with a headache and needs to find way out of this place. Turns out he was a victim of some scientific experiment and now he has lost lot of his memories. Besides now he has his evil best friend inside his mind - Hyde, who's totally crazy person. Help them to find some girls to get laid.Views: 72660
Beneath Steel Clouds
In this game you'll take a role of the farmboy from the future. He dreams to get away from his destiny and reach some other heights. Of course, at some point of time he would like to fuck somebody. That's why you should improve your skills and keep learning and doing things day by day. As always Lesson of Passion did a really good job and made a great game.Views: 166254
Reclaim Reality [Demo]
Melinda (the protagonist) is a 25 year old office worker in the year 2200, tasked to do various jobs for the high profile clients her business works with. She was assigned to a new client, the job went fine, but it took more time than usual so she decided to stay in a hotel. She got to her room and went to sleep as she was totally exhausted, but then something strange happened and she can't tell is it a dream or reality.Views: 86372
Booty Farm (sponsored)
You are a playboy who just inherited his uncle's farm. There is a shortage of men in the village and the girls are very lonely. On Booty Farm, things get XXX very fast. Engage in hot scenes across the farm like a boss. It's time to get your hands dirty, farmboy!Views: 2018
Adulterers - The Sky
The game has both male and female characters so it is for both gay and straight players. The Adulterers is an ancient secret society wielding the powers of sex. A new planet filled with sexual parasites was found, and they are attacking earth. The Adulterers have to stop them before they descend from space. A simple relaxing shooting game with bizarre and sexual graphics.Views: 89077
Cereborg: Inception
This will be another text based novel with nice images and story line. You'll take the role of one of 3 different characters: scientist Chieko Naru, the security director Howard Wyatt, or a singer Emily Harbrook - she's the one the game is named after, a female that will become the first Cereborg robot.Views: 149758
Teen Titans Tentacles 2
After fucking Raven, the evil demon grabs another slut - Starfire, and fucks her pussy. But these girls have some super powers in their vaginas, because every time monster fucks them hard - he dies.Views: 703300
Time Tramp 3
Third part of Time Tramp adult series called "Under her Big Top". This time our heroine gets hi-tech toy and fucks with Tarzan. After that she travels in time and gets in the circus. A lot of sexual adventures and situations are waiting for you.Views: 204477
It's year 2097 right now. The world has changed a lot since global catastrophe. Our main hero is a former cop who lost all his family and became a criminal. Help him to solve some case about missing girl and don't forget to fuck someone when you can.Views: 270379
Nico Robin
Another mini loop game starring horny Nico Robin. This time she is fucking with some Muslim guy and he has ability to become invisible. Just click on the guy to use this feature.Views: 519055
Super Sexy Android
In this new movie from Super Sexy Android Kenichi finally finds out what it's like to be sucked and fucked by a hot robot. Of course at the beginning he doesn't know that and is fully enjoying whole act as he tries out different sex positions with this hot chick.Views: 1130295
Robo Sex Lab
Earth - the year 3012. 1000 years has been passed since the robots destroyed all the mankind. A couple of perverted scientist robots work in the secret genetics laboratory. Today they're planning to take some experiments with a super hot human clone.Views: 679181
Strip the Tech
Ever wanted to reach into the phone or through your monitor and just strip the tech support - that sexy girl who makes you horny? Well here's your chance! Undress the tech support and see her naked! Use mouse to click on objects.Views: 791052
Teen Titans - Jinxed
This is a Hentai parody of Teen Titans featuring Jinx, Cyborg, Raven and Starfire. As usual in Hentai parodies someone must get fucked very rough and hard. Cyborg will continue this tradition!Views: 1273242
Raven Sladed
This flash movie is a parody of Teen Titans featuring Raven and Slade. It uses footage from the actual cartoon intermixed with actual vector based flash animation. Even though this is a parody, it is extremely sexually explicit in nature and should be considered hentai. Watch how Slade rapes Raven.Views: 519860
Kerri's Bigger invention
Kerrigan has made some liquid that can give You very special powers - You could have penis :D Her friend came down to lab and their are starting to make out. But at the end of animation frog finds injection and got peniseyes. :)Views: 207458
Latin cards
You have to find secret agent among so many invited people to this party. To find it you will use special glasses which can help you to see through clothes. Don't forget about the mission when you will see naked sexy women.Views: 161582
Fap Ceo (sponsored)
Welcome to Fap CEO! Embark on an epic, sex-filled journey to build your very own video-chat empire, all while getting as much pussy as you can fuck!Views: 2018
Kills sperm dead
You will be sub-cellular spermicidal battleship module and your mission is to kill sperm and virus, bacterium in hooker's vagina. Use cursors with arrows to move and try to shun from bacterium and virus.Views: 97119
Time tramp
500 years in future sex starved sexy scientist is masturbating in front of her computer watching sexy picture with very nice man body. Robot enters her room and offers her to have sex with him. She just can't deny to his extra robot penis.Views: 178131
- Current rating 3.97/5
- Current rating 3.97/5
- Current rating 3.97/5
- Current rating 3.97/5
- Current rating 3.97/5
- Current rating 3.97/5
- Current rating 3.97/5
- Current rating 3.97/5
- Current rating 3.97/5
- Current rating 3.97/5


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Early Friday morning, 21-year-old University of South Carolina senior Samantha Josephson ordered an Uber home after a night out with friends in Columbia's popular Five Points nightlife district. Surveillance footage shows Josephson waiting for her car outside the bar Bird Dog. At 2:09 a.m., a black Chevrolet Impala pulls up and she hops in.
But Josephson hadn't ordered an Impala. The man in the vehicle was not her driver, according to authorities, and he didn't take her home.
Fourteen hours later, hunters discovered her body in a field nearly 70 miles away.
"Our hearts are broken," Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said at a news conference, shortly after meeting with Josephson's relatives. "They're broken. There is nothing tougher than to stand before a family and explain how a loved one was murdered."
Josephson's co-workers at the Liberty Tap Room, a local restaurant, grew concerned when she didn't come in for her morning shift that day. The establishment's operating partner, Rich Vascovich, told Columbia's newspaper The State that her friends contacted him to see if she'd shown up for work.
"That kind of clued us in that something wasn't right," Vascovich told the newspaper.
By early afternoon, Josephson's friends reported her missing.
As the search for her ensued, two turkey hunters in a wooded field in Clarendon County discovered a body in clothing that matched the description of what Josephson had been wearing out that night: black jeans, light shoes, orange top.
According to The Washington Post, 24-year-old Nathaniel D. Rowland was arrested early Saturday after a police officer noticed him driving a black Impala two blocks from Five Points. It was the same type of car Josephson got into and investigators believe she mistook it for her Uber. USC's student newspaper, the Daily Gamecock, also reports that Josephson's Uber driver canceled the ride when she failed to appear at their pickup point.
Authorities discovered blood in the trunk and on the passenger seat of Rowland's Impala, and tests confirmed it was Josephson's. Police also found window cleaner, bleach, antibacterial wipes and Josephson's phone.
The child safety locks had been activated in the back seat.
Chief Holbrook said Rowland had lived near where Josephson's body was found in Clarendon County, which is "very difficult to get to unless you knew how to get there."
Rowland waived his right to a court hearing on Sunday and did not appear before a judge.
According to WISTV, Josephson's mother made a statement during proceedings.
"There are no words to describe the immense pain, his actions have caused our family and friends," Marci Josephson reportedly said. "He's taken away a piece of our heart, soul and life. Shame on him."
She asked the judge not to forget her daughter. "Samantha Josephson. My daughter's name is Samantha Josephson," she said. "Don't ever forget her name. Samantha Josephson."
Rowland's case will be moved to general session court, which handles felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, according to The Washington Post. A judge will determine whether he will be granted bond.
Josephson was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority at USC. She would have graduated in May, before heading to law school at Drexel University in the fall.
In a message to students, USC urged them to use campus shuttles and to "exercise best practices when using services like Uber and Lyft." The school also encouraged students to "match the description and license plate number in your app and always ask the driver who he or she is there to pick up before opening the door."
USC President Harris Pastides released a statement announcing Josephson's death. "It is with the heaviest of hearts that I write these words this morning. Our prayers are with the family and friends of Samantha Josephson following the devastating news of her death," Pastides wrote. "Times like these leave me searching for words of wisdom and comfort. However, I take solace that the Carolina Family is here to embrace those who are hurting."
Josephson's father, Seymour Josephson, published a statement on Facebook, writing, "I will miss and love my baby girl for the rest of life. Samantha is no longer with us but she will not be forgotten. It is extremely hard to write this and post it but I love her with all my heart. I could continue to write about her but it kills me. I sit here and cry while looking at the picture and write this."
Around 500 people gathered Sunday night for vigil to honor her life.


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3rd annual Rising HoopStars Holiday Camp Recap 2018!
Thank you to all those that supported the 3rd annual Rising HoopStars Holiday Camp. In our 3rd year we have seen our camp grow and so has the talent base. The Rising HoopStars Camp is a 5 hour camp that consisted of Elite player skills development broken into stations and ran by Elite Coaches. At the end of skills development we incorporated game play to reinforce the skills that were worked on prior to game play. Our goal is to continue to challenge and help each athlete unlock new layers and confidence within their game.
Camp Award Winners:
7th grade - Tameron Ferguson - Mr. Productive
7th grade - Jakari Mia - Mr. Defense
7th grade - Trenton Radloff - Mr. Hustle
6th grade - Jonah Ask - Mr. Productive
6th grade - Nikola Domier - Mr. Defense
6th grade - Ethan Lee - Mr. Hustle
4th grade - Jayvion Gardner - Mr. Productive in the 4th/5th grade division...
Tag(s): Home


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From an early age onwards, I've been intrigued by the art of graphic design and I was always designing things for the web in my free time. During my previous study in tourism, I visited many different countries and witnessed some of the most beautiful places on earth. During a trip in Thailand I realized that I wanted to share such miraculous pieces of our world. This led to my decision to follow a new, creative course which involved capturing such experiences and telling stories. So I started studying Communication & Multimedia design at the MAMDT in Maastricht and this is how I got in touch with photography. at first I was doing a lot of videography, but after a while of shooting pictures for a hobby, people told me I was good at photography and should do it some more. And that's how it all started.
I grew up in Maastricht, in the south of the Netherlands. But travelling is one of my passions besides photography. I love my profession and everything that comes with it. Wherever I go to do my thing, I appreciate the people I meet, the places I visit and the new impressions I get. As I love being around people, photography is a great way to meet new faces.
When photographing, I love capturing details that most people miss as they might seem 'just normal' to them. However, many of my clients so far complimented me for seeing things in a different perspective and capturing it beautifully.
Besides details, I love to capture the spontaneity of people and the raw reality of everyday life. Add capturing emotion and the energy of certain situations to that, and you have the mix that excites me to push the button, or not.
Ontwerpbureau Reiters, CforCharlie,
Hotel The Dutch, Coconuts Media, Hotel Beaumont, Fest300, Singha beer,
Sansiri development, Restaurant de Pastory, Drift om te dansen, Floorfiller Events, Kolour Events, Perla, Guest Agency
Thanks for viewing my work — I hope you enjoy my website and the work I'm doing. Want to work with me? contact me here.


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Visakhapatnam – 17th-21st November 2016 After what was in the end a dull draw at Rajkot, India and England head to Visakhapatnam, another venue which will be hosting its first Test. India will be the most disappointed with the draw,… Continue Reading →
Rajkot – 9th-13th November 2016 Two sides with contrasting form come into this Test, with the hosts clinically despatching New Zealand 3-0 in their last series, and England failing to beat Bangladesh in challenging conditions. The conditions in Rajkot will… Continue Reading →
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Pleated Trousers, Moleskin black
3 Pleat trousers in cotton with extreme tapered leg and a long rise, side pocket and one back jet pocket.
- 100% Cotton Moleskin
- Lining 100% organic cotton
- 2 colours black and dusty pink.
- Sizes S, M, L and XL
Made in London UK
Model is 176 cm tall and wears size small.