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Prof. dr hab. Jerzy Dudek "Symmetries in Nature - Symmetries in Physics - Selected Aspects of Symmetry in Nuclei"
About the Course:
The proposed series of lectures addresses the non-specialists in the domain of symmetry - on the level of the PhD and/or researchers principally those working in the field of the experimental nuclear physics and its applications. [Young researchers working in theoretical physics may find these general lectures instructive as well.]
About the Programme:
We propose to begin by presenting the symmetries observed in nature in the living objects, mainly plants and certain insects. We will arrive at the notion of the so-called golden-ratio and the Fibonacci numbers which govern the symmetries observed in those objects attracting the profound attention not only among the biologists and physicists but also architects, historians, even mystics . This discussion, illustrated by a rich graphical material will bring us to the issues of: Why do the symmetries occur? Under which circumstances? What are the driving forces which impose on a given system one symmetry or another?
In the physics discussion we will address some spectacular nuclear properties, in particular the effect of nuclear super-fluidity and related impact on various nuclear observable phenomena.
We will turn to the symmetries of certain nuclear systems. For this purpose we will recall the properties of the nuclear forces governing the nucleon-nucleon interactions and we will arrive at the un-expected predictions and conclusions related to the geometrical symmetries in the universe of the smallest objects such as atomic nuclei. We will address the issue of understanding `How come that the compact nuclear systems may manifest the symmetries characteristic for complex molecules which, from the comparative point of view are. virtually empty! We will argue that this in principle should never happen i.e. `the nuclei should remain spherical' - and yet appears as a common nuclear feature.
Illustrations of the newest achievements and results in this domain will be presented using simple language and without any advanced mathematical formalism.
Schedule: 3.04 - 7.04. 2017,
Location: Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN, Kraków
Lecture 1: 3 April (Monday) 13:30 - 15:00 room 5301
General introduction to the notion of symmetries in nature; geometrical symmetries in the world of living objects; presenting numerous examples of their presence and varieties established during the centuries. After presenting the illustrations of the status quo we formulate and discuss some natural researcher's questions: What are the driving forces in nature that impose, sometimes fully `strange and unexpected' geometrical symmetry?
Lecture 2: 4 April (Tuesday) 13:30 - 15:00 room 5301
Historical evolution in the human interests in symmetries in nature: The magic numbers of nature (known as Fibonacci numbers) and their relation to the celebrated in all domains of human intellectual activity golden ratio, the special number known by historians, architects, medical doctors, philosophers, mystics and last but not least: physicists. We present some mathematical aspects and turn to the applicative ones: Golden ratio and applications in medicine.
Lecture 3: 5 April (Wednesday) 14:30 - 16:00 room 4402
Geometrical symmetries on atomic and subatomic level. As known form introductory physics courses, many-body interactions, in order to be in accordance with the relativity principle, should be invariant under translations and rotations of the reference frame. And yet: Why many-body systems such as atomic nuclei are generally non-spherical? We will present experimental facts related to their non-sphericity - together with the consequences for theories and theoretical modelling.
Lecture 4: 6 April (Thursday) 13:30 - 15:00 room 5301
It has been nearly 40 years back that A. Bohr, B. Mottelson and J. Rainwater obtained their Nobel Prize for the discovery of the nuclear collective motion which involves, first of all, the so-called "shape vibrations". This discovery influenced strongly the big part of nuclear structure physics over many years, which followed; the aspects related to the geometrical symmetries will be discussed. The discussion will include the phenomenon of nuclear super-fluidity and its impact on the effect of symmetries in sub-atomic scale. Why nuclear super-fluidity cannot fully restore the spherical symmetry?
Lecture 5: 7 April (Friday) 13:30 - 15:00 room 5301
Finally the news of today. It turns out that the geometrical symmetries, nicknamed "high-rank", attracted a strong interest in very recent years, and this for several reasons. Firstly, they shed a totally new light on the issue of the nuclear stability - a determining factor within the physics of exotic nuclei - the research intensified today in the biggest leading world centres. Secondly, the presence of the high-rank symmetries in certain nuclei is expected to lead to the existence of the full new class of the so-called waiting-point nuclei with the determining role in the nucleosynthesis, stellar processes and nuclear astrophysics. Thirdly, the symmetries in question lead to the very exotic quantum features, which have to do with the unprecedented degeneracy of the nucleonic energy levels in nuclei. Finally, it has been only two years ago that, within Fukuoka-Strasbourg collaboration, we have learned about the unique experimental signals, which will allow us to find the first case of presence of the related important new physical effects in subatomic physics.
Registration for the lectures: firstname.lastname@example.com
About the Lecturer:
Professor Jerzy DUDEK is Excellence Class Professor at the University of Strasbourg, France and Honorary Professor of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie University, Poland. He studied physics at the Jagiellonian University, and next completed his Ph.-D. thesis and habilitation at the University of Warsaw, Poland. He was invited professor at-, and had long collaboration contacts with various foreign institutions. Among the most important are: The Niels Bohr Institute of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark; University of Liverpool, UK; University of Manchester, UK; University of Bonn, FRG; University of Tubingen, FRG; Max-Planck Institute, Heidelberg, FRG; University of Fukuoka, Japan; University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA; Florida State University, USA.
Professor Dudek, specialist in theoretical sub-atomic physics, is among the most cited 1% physicists in the world. So far, over 50 young physicists have prepared their Ph.-D. or Master diplomas under his supervision. Among various fields of sub-atomic physics research to which Professor Dudek importantly contributed count: Microscopic theories of nuclear isomerism and exotic nuclear configurations, in particular theories of fission-isomers and physics of super- and hyper-deformed states and bands, structure of the so-called yrast-trap isomers, various forms of subatomic symmetries including nuclear point-group symmetries and symmetry- breaking phenomena, nuclear mean-field theory of collective nuclear rotation and interplay with the single-nucleonic and quasi-particle degrees of freedom, spontaneous symmetric breaking phenomena in the intrinsic nuclear frames, the so-called pseudo-symmetries in nuclei, nuclear behaviour at the extreme conditions: high-spins, extreme-isospins, high-temperatures and high- deformation limits, nuclear microscopic mechanisms within self-consistent Hartree-Fock theories, time-reversal and chiral-symmetries and symmetry breaking, transitions between nuclear-superfluid on normal phases, etc., to mention the most important.


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If we supply for the core nutritional and environmental parameters correctly we reduce the overall chance of avoidable harm/disease in our reptiles and amphibians
Impaction is a potentially fatal condition usually caused by the ingestion of 'non-natural' particles. It usually occurs in animals that have been under-provided for. Particles of substrate or even large food items are not able to move through the animal properly and start to build up in the intestines. There is then a risk of the waste matter building up inside the animal, which can lead to many internal complications.
There are many myths circulated with regard to the use of lose substrates and impaction. It is vital that we know the truth behind the causes of impaction. Also remember that some substrates are more likely to cause harm than others. If we use good product safely we negate the risk and allow our pets to live a 'wild-like' life within the enclosures that we have created for them.
The move towards Bio-Activity and loose substrates is a positive move but we must make sure that we only use substrates that pose no risk of becoming an issue when ingested. The easiest way to decide whether a substrate is suitable is to use mixes that occur in the habitats of the species in the wild. As example, a substrate made purely of coconut fibre (coir) does not occur in the wild. Animals have not have developed a use for, nor a level of protection against the material. Couple that with it being very stringy and fibrous and we have a very real risk, not to mention it being nutrient poor and not allowing live plants to grow properly. The same can be said for Calci-sands (CaCo3). This is non-natural and does not seem to dissolve in the gut (as once thought), instead it becomes almost sticky and cannot properly exit the system.
Natural, free flowing sands without added colours will be fine for arid reptiles when they are kept with the correct heating, lighting and nutrition and not allowed to ingest lots of the substrate.
Similarly, some substrates are entirely unsuitable for certain species. For example, bearded dragons often taste their environment with their tongues and can end up eating fibrous substrates such as aspen. Aspen does not have any nutritional benefit for a beardy and its short, sharp lengths lend themselves to getting stuck in the digestive tract. Aspen may be more suited to a large, heavy bodied snake, where they eat larger meals, less frequently than lizards and therefore a small particle of aspen will not be so dangerous.
There are then many variables that seem to act together to make the situation worse. Major factors that have an impact upon the digestive tract include poor hydration, a poor diet, a lack of heat and a lack of enrichment.
Overall Nutrition
Not many of us realise the effect on overall animal wellness due to the impact of stressors on the body. Let's be clear here, Reptiles are a highly adapted group of animals. They obtain 'nutrition' from every aspect of their lives, 'Almost with every breath'. They are living, breathing machines that use both external and internal sources of 'nutrition' in order to thrive. By 'thrive', we refer to an animal that is able to live a long, enriched life, able to function as it would in the wild, with as low chance of avoidable disease as possible, and that is able to reproduce well. This allows them to project their genes into as many generations as possible.
The ingestion of earth for animals in the wild. It occurs directly, (which is called 'geophagy'), or via indirect methods such as soil sticking to food items and of course through particles or in water. These particles, being full-spectrum in terms of their mineral content, are wholly beneficial within overall nutrition. It is certainly a very natural part of the wild feeding processes.
Arcadia EarthMix and EarthMix Arid have been developed to be as close to wild soil as possible for a reptile-safe substrate. As it contains a natural soil substance, volcanic rock dust and earthworm castings for a completely safe, natural substrate that is non harmful and actually even beneficial when ingested in small amounts.
Impaction, just as with MBD, is 'man made'! It is the outworking of an under supply, or improper supply of a core part of nutrition, within captive surroundings. Stress puts a strain on the body and the immune system. Cortisol levels go up and the animal has a reduced ability to go through its usual biological functions.
You will very rarely see impaction in the wild, apart from in already sick animals or where humans have caused it. For example, king cobras have been found to ingest plastic and subsequently have died.
Reptile and amphibians use an external source of power, (namely the sun) to obtain the energy that they need to function. This is via heat (infrared). They also use the 'full-spectrum' of light including UV to maintain their biological processes within the body and for their vision. This 'power' is then used to move, hunt, feed, exercise, breed and of in vital organ function. The external energy field and its effective capture allows them to make use of the nutrition that is consumed during the day. This includes the assimilation, storage and use of critical minerals like Calcium (via the D3 cycle).
For this to be truly effective, the animals' internal organs must function properly. Heat, light, water and movement are ALL vital within overall organ function. As we have shown, the wild-like ingestion of mineral particles is nothing other than a normal part of wild food and water ingestion. Nature has therefore provided a use for and a level of protection against it. We should view the substrates that we use as being the 'heart' of a naturalistic or Bio-Active enclosure. They are both stimulating and nutritionally positive IF used correctly and IF the external parameters are catered for in a healthy animal.
Under-hydration and a lack of movement due to underpowering further increases the chance of impaction. If we use natural substrates, large enough enclosures, provide heat, light, energy from light, hydration and humidity and a vastly varied 'wild-like' diet, we as 'forward-thinking' keepers will be going some way to provide for an animal's actual biological needs.
All aspects of nutrition must be provided for in a safe and measured way with items that are proven effective and 'wild-like'. Enclosures must offer room to move and hunt. We must encourage movement just as we do with humans. Exercise increases blood flow and exercises the muscles, keeping vital organs functioning well. Movement, enrichment and exercise also allows for increased digestive function.
We must provide areas of light and shade, heat and cool with areas of seclusion, be that in naturally dug tunnels or caves or indeed from broad leaf plants. This is not rocket science, we look to the wild, learn as much as we can and the try to emulate that in captivity. There can be a tendency to remove substrates in order to remove the potential 'risk' they can have but that will remove an important aspect of the animal's environment.
All of this is of course the base of the Theory of 'Wild Re-Creation™'. Taking our queues from nature and implementing everything that we can in a safe and measured way within the enclosures that we build and sell. Substrates are a vital part of this process and if provided correctly can only be viewed as being positive.

subset: commoncrawl


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Chilli Sauce revisited
|Story location: Home / food_and_drink / recipe_a_week /
A few weeks ago I mentioned my attempt at making chilli sauce. We had a turkey curry tonight so in addition to a heaped teaspoon of curry powder, I added half a teaspoon of the chilli sauce.
The sauce had separated a bit so I gave it a good stir first. It was quite spicy but seemed to add heat rather than flavour to the curry.
I intend to plant more chilli seeds soon. If I get a good harvest then I might try making the sauce again but this time use my home grown chillies.


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With today's ring, I tried to capture some of the excitement of a lightning storm using St. Petersburg chain. I used alternating rows of 11/o seed beads in navy blue, gray and yellow. The zig-zag pattern makes perfect lightning shapes.
Although I like the overall design, I'm not completely satisfied with the finished piece. The St. Petersburg chain just doesn't work as well on a small scale as it does in a necklace or bracelet. The thread is very noticeable, and looks a little unpolished. So this ring is going to live in my jewelry box.
Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading


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This database contains information about more than 6,000 publications on autism and related issues.
If you know of any other publications we should include in this database please email email@example.com. Thank you.
Please use the Search Function to find specific items.
Please See Publications on Autism for information about literature reviews, clinical guidance and publications published by Research Autism.
Showing 1 to 1 of 1 Results
Realmuto G. , August G. , Garfinkel B. (1989)
Clinical effect of buspirone in autistic children.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
9(2), pp. 122-125
Showing 1 to 1 of 1 Results


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Medication Disposal Sites
There are many locations in the Seattle and outlying areas where you can dispose of expired and unwanted medicines. Check out the https://med-project.org/ website to see a comprehensive list of locations in King and Snohomish County. Many pharmacies, police departments and health care locations are drop off locations for unwanted medicines. Some libraries are offering mail-back packaging to mail in old medicine for free.
Accepted medicines: Medications in any dosage form, except for those listed below, in their original container or sealed bag. This includes pet rx/medicine.
Not accepted medicines: Herbal remedies, vitamins, supplements, cosmetics, other personal care products, compressed cylinders, aerosols, inhalers, medical devices, pet pesticide products, sharps, illicit drugs, iodine-containing medications.
Search for locations on the following websites:
Recycling/Disposal Locations:
Costco Pharmacy
QFC Pharmacy
keywords: medicine, rx, pet medicine, pet rx


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Welcome to some awesome blooper reel material! Join us as we dive right in with and start talking about gear. Intymen and aussieBum dominate the gear conversation this week. We have bikinis, boxer briefs and singlets to talk about.
Moving on to other topics that have arisen this week in the LGBT world we touch on; controversay at Andrew Christian, top men adverse to wearing jockstraps, which brought us to Mask 4 Mask and the dude that is our show art this week. We touch on the hot topic of RuPaul's repsonse to trans-people competing in RuPaul's Drag Race and some mental health chat about dealing with stressful situations, steming from the current climate in Toronto with the recent arrest of a serial killer targeting gay men.
Don't forget you can always visit our show notes to leave comments or call us at 1.415.969.4001.
(Hopefully this week the show notes look a LOT better on your mobile device. Sorry about last week.)
Firstly, thank you so much for all the awesome feedback and "participation" after last week's episode. We love that you boys are coming out of our shells! For gear we talk about; SAXX, Edipous, Daniel Alexander & aussieBum.
We also touch back on our discussion about hookup culture amongst gay men, the importance of telling a friend when you are going to hookup and how easy it is to do so. We also touch on the Chief of Police and his comments surrounding the serial killer investigation in Toronto.
Welcome to the premiere episode for Season 06. We dive right back into things and probably went a little longer than usual. Topics; sexting, safety equipment, swearing, underwear review, sex toys review, circumcision, freedom of religion, Toronto's serial killer in the gay village.


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It's been a busy week and I haven't yet started my full-time job.
There's still things to do in my garden. But I can say I accomplished a few things like learning more tips from Ben Cheah at the pruning workshop. I grilled him on what fruit trees would grow on clay and he said he didn't bother - he just grew his fruit trees in the biggest planter bags he could find.
But he did say citrus did especially well in Auckland's climate. As well as feijoas, but everyone has feijoas. We are still eating ours. What happens when you cross an orange with a pomelo? You get a strange hybrid citrus called a grapefruit. Ben said they tried to get the thick rind of the pomelo with the sweet juiciness of an orange but instead got the thin rind of an orange and the bitterness of a pomelo. It was like crossing Einstein and Marilyn Monroe but getting Einstein's looks and Monroe's brains. Instead of the other way round. So I'm not sure about planting a grapefruit..but am interested in maybe a lime and two blueberry bushes. In the biggest planter bags I can find.
Mt Asher Magnolia now has grape hyacinth at her feet. I moved three clumps and mulched with shredded notebook paper, and also added giant cyclamen that had nearly died at church. I'm hoping for a revival. So it's looking a bit literary at the moment before I head up to Palmers and see if I can buy some of that fancy manuka and seaweed mulch. It's just I don't know if Magnolia will thrive on shredded memories alone. Don't try piecing them together, writers have to process a lot before anything gets published. Most of our jumbled thoughts make good mulch.
Olga has put forth the idea that we have a remembrance chair in the garden so we can sit and remember our loved ones who have passed on. I just need a plank of wood to make one as I have two palm stumps for the base but nowhere to put it yet. Mine would be more like a seat or bench, I have considered making one for church but even the church elders thought it would be stolen just like the poppies were, so have given up the idea of putting it there. I do think its odd how the faithful are no longer buried in the churchyard and we have parking lots instead. I find cemeteries can be wonderful places to sit and reflect and have hope that one day, just like a seed put in the ground, new life will sprout again.
My Quiet Garden movement is still under wraps but I am sure one day it will happen. Just have faith!


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Recognising and Celebrating Women's Stories
There are so many inspiring stories of famous women - women who stood out - struggled forward to make a difference and after serious perseverance and personal sacrifice managed to realize their dream of making a difference to this world we live in.
Well as my friend, associate, colleague and advocate for Women Entrepreneurs - Gwen Serrotti - CEO and Founder of Xtraordinary Women says, "There are extraordinary women amongst us in everyday life. You never know who you're sitting next to and what her story is! We all have an Extraordinary story to share. Take the time to get to know the person you're sitting next to at a business networking meeting - you'll be surprised when you hear their story."
Social Media: An important Marketing Channel to consider – Clinical & Holistic Therapists.
Social Media marketing is in our books one of the most important marketing channels to communicate your services to your core target audience. It is also an excellent channel to create brand awareness and educate your potential customer of your services and your relevance in their lives.
Read more: Social Media: An important Marketing Channel to consider – Clinical & Holistic Therapists.
The financial benefit of Walking in your Truth
Do you find yourself questioning why life treats you 'badly'? Why every relationship, barring a precious few don't yield what you're searching for? Are you left wondering why your business is not taking off at the speed you'd like it to or why - no matter what - whatever you do, wherever you go, no matter how you show up - you never seem to be happy, grateful or impressed with your own outcomes?
Leading with Integrity - by Daniel Mitchell
Article written by: Junior Account Executive - Daniel Mitchell at Word on the Street Media
Before I write about the topic of integrity I just need to add a little disclaimer in order to avoid any beat up sessions I might get from the locals around here. I do not always get it right, I have made many mistakes but have learnt from them and grow from these mistakes daily.


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It took me almost 26 years just to get a grip of my mindset. The subsequent 5 years was constant learning and continues to evolve through education, new material and learning from experience
What I want to see is you getting there and not taking 26 years. Not having to go through avoidable heart ache and life situations that only a few would get through. Sometimes, it's as simple as changing the way you communicate with yourself
If you would like 1-2-1 or group mentoring, get in touch for more detail. 1-2-1 coaching can take place in person or via Skype


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"Thanks for opening up the gym for us on the holiday—" My father-in-law stopped mid-sentence and laughed. He was talking to our friends Korey and Lauren Frazier, who had opened the Events Center at Bonita Park for us to play in. The words had snuck out before he realized what he was saying. We all laughed along with him. It wasn't Christmas for anyone but us. But Christmas it was…complete with lights on the tree, decorations, chilly weather, a fire in the fireplace, gifts, yummy food, cookie decorating, matching Christmas jammies for the little ones, and a little bear nativity, all in one of our favorite settings—Jaron's parents' cabin at Bonita Park Nazarene Camp.
We may be #seasonallyconfused as my sister-in-law put it, but it's not without purpose. There are traditions—as important for the grown-ups in this family as for the kids—that must be upheld and passed on, even (or especially when) your scheduled departure date is Dec. 1. The season is so important it's worth celebrating with family six weeks early if need be. The Patman family butter cookie recipe must be made and piled with frosting and stowed in the freezer (because the "experts" say somehow they're better frozen). A nerf shooting device must be retrieved from every stocking for impromptu battles. The table must be filled with delectable foods for every meal of the weekend, and gifts must be exchanged. All this in celebration of the greatest gift of all—the hope of Jesus.
Not one thing was amiss. Qoo (pronounced cuckoo, as Q's cousin calls him) and The Nut as he dubbed her wrestled through our attempts to capture their pictures, played with their Christmas gifts, reveled in the rare opportunity to eat cookies with icing, wallowed in the giant beanbag chair, and only paused their shenanigans long enough to let the adults catnap in the afternoon. Together they are Qoo Qoo and The Nut. No title could be more fitting.
Wrapping and gifts were collected into piles. Stuffed snowballs were thrown across the living room. A puzzle was assembled way past midnight. Then, we all gathered for worship at Angus Church of the Nazarene on Sunday morning, squeezed in a family photo session with Danielle Rush, and played at the playground before hugging good-bye on Monday.
So, while you were probably thinking about football and fall leaves this weekend, we were jamming out to Christmas carols, thanks to Lauren, as we climbed the rock wall and slid down the giant slide late in the afternoon of our Graham family Christmas day.


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2014 Kia Sorento Tires
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Kansas drivers tend to put quite a few miles on their vehicles over the course of a year. When your many miles of traveling across long Midwestern roads inevitably begin to take their toll on your vehicle, know that Conklin Honda Hutchinson has your back. We know that you rely on your vehicle in spring, summer, fall and winter, and we do our best to help you keep it on the road all year long.
At our Honda dealership near Wichita, KS, we have every component available to us, perfect for replacing auto parts that have begun to fade over time. Replace those broken windshield wipers, burnt-out lightbulbs, bald tires and worn-down brake pads with high-quality OEM Honda parts from our inventory and get on with your life. We're happy to help you find any items that you're looking for, and we can even install the car components you've bought, safely, quickly and correctly. Shop at Conklin Honda Hutchinson today and keep your car in shape!


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I feel like my life is always on the cusp of a great big change lately. One week, I want to be yoga instructor, the next week not. One week I want to quit my job and move somewhere brand new with my husband and animals with no plans whatsoever, the next week I chide myself on daydreaming that I can just pack everything and leave. But no matter the day or the week, I never stop dreaming! My husband teases me on how I am always daydreaming and sometimes I will forget that I'm daydreaming.
For example, and this is kind of embarrassing, I was driving on 494E and saw a billboard on the powerball.. I think it was some insane amount of gazillion bajillion dollars that you could win. As I'm driving down the highway, I start thinking about what I would do with that amount of money. And I get lost in my daydream , as usual. I call my husband and tell him all these things that we were going to do with that money and he had to (kindly) remind me that, no, Susel, we don't have a gazillion dollars to spend on a private island for abused animals (dammit!)
But I actually really like that about me and I never want to lose my optimistic, day dreaming, can do anything, side of myself. And I think because I am surrounded by other people who have the same mentality, I keep on planning and dreaming and searching. And here are some things that I have control over (unlike the powerball..)
- go back to school to get my MBA : for the longest time, I thought I wanted to be a counselor or a social worker. So I went to school for social work. 8 years later, I'm pretty sure I don't want to be a counselor or a social worker. I want to be in marketing, social media, or something where I can use my outgoing personality to my advantage. Unfortunately, my resume does not show my personality (too bad!). And I want to learn more, I want to learn about business, I want to learn about marketing, I want to be an actual boss so I am exploring the notion of going back to school. First step: meeting with my director at work this week who obtained her MBA at Carlson School of Management and learn about her experience. And I already met with another director at work about her experience at St. Thomas. Like I said, surrounded by amazing people always.
- have a financial advisor: stocks? bonds? CDs? mutual funds? index funds? savings? checking? WHAT DO I NEED TO DO WITH THIS MONEY?? (not gazillion dollars unfortunately ..) *in process*
- start a family?? : who knows…if my dad had his way, he would have 5 grandchildren already LOL
What about you?? What's on your immediate bucket list? Anything that you've been thinking about lately? Tell me what it is! And I SAY GO FOR IT!


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by Amy Campbell | 20 August 2018
To celebrate World Photo Day which took place on Sunday 19th August 2018, AT would like to share some professional photographs which were taken at one of our projects in the Scottish Borders.
The Wave is a sustainable, four-bed family home with open views across the Manor Valley and the River Tweed.
The site was bought by our client in 2011 and we were appointed to provide full architectural services from planning to completion following a small, private competition. The house explores the idea of innovative architecture through sustainable design. The narrow plan and contemporary layout maintains a low profile and is predominately determined by the landscape and contours, curving to follow the topography.
Photography credit to Stella Lathangie Photography – https://www.stellaephoto.com/


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Darren Hayman "Thankful Villages Volume 3" (Independent, 2018)
Released to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Armistice, this final instalment of the former (indie-folksters) Hefner main man's triptych focuses not only on the aforementioned villages, but also rural stories in general. As such it contains interviews, field recordings, soundscapes and original songs, running much like a radio show. Given this, it's … Continue reading "Darren Hayman "Thankful Villages Volume 3" (Independent, 2018)"


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At the press and analyst day of the Hadoop Summit in Dublin, three Hortonworks partners told the press what their customers want most when it comes to embracing enterprise-ready, open source big data tools.
Where Hortonworks is keen to speak about the transformational capabilities of Spark, machine learning, real-time and predictive analytics, the partners painted a slightly different picture, of enterprise customers that just want simplicity when it comes to releasing value from their data. (See also: what is a graph database?)
Corporations are looking to reduce their reliance on coding and programming when it comes to their big data strategy, especially with the current talent shortage in data science.
This means that simplicity and enterprise-ready Hadoop deployments are a natural fit for companies looking at open source big data solutions.
Read next: How Hortonworks helped British Gas unify its customer data in "a true open source environment"
As its VP of corporate strategy Shaun Connolly said, Hortonworks at its core is about: "Productising Apache tech into commoditised enterprise tech."
Stefan Voss, director of technical marketing at EMC said: "Simplicity is the most important trend we hear from customers. You will hear all of this nice, pretty new projects and all enterprise customers struggle to integrate them all and the complexity."
EMC's Voss said that he points his customers towards integrated, enterprise-ready solutions like Hortonworks DataPlatform (HDP) for data-at-rest and DataFlow (HDF) for data-in-motion.
This "allows the data scientist to pick and choose which tools they need based on the data streams and deploy it in a very fast manner", he said.
Voss expects to see more industry specific tools being developed for Hadoop for the Internet of Things (IoT) use cases and in verticals such as healthcare, to simply plug and play when it comes to complex data analytics, "with the intention of hiding the complexity of the underlying structure," he says.
Chris Goodfellow, CTO of Haven OnDemand at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, agrees that his customers seek simplicity.
"A lot of our customers, especially in the more traditional enterprises, their data is all over the place and each piece of data is siloed," he said.
"You couldn't have one hundred [Hadoop] projects, with thirty people [working on] each. So making the technology accessible and simplified is a key evolution [that will enable] perhaps two or three developers to say: 'I have this specific business problem and I will apply this technology to that without having to start from scratch and deploy servers and networking.'"
Releasing data
Hortonworks executives spoke earlier in the day about how their customers generally fall into two camps when it comes to their data: they want to 'renovate' and 'innovate'.
'Renovate' means to take proprietary data spread out disparately across various silo and bring it together using a single data lake. This is where Hortonworks HDP comes in.
'Innovate' is where companies look to do more with their data when it is all stored in a Hadoop cluster, such as advanced analytics, machine learning and predictive modelling, which is HDF's remit.
Raghu Ramakrishnan, CTO for data at Microsoft sees his customers as very much in the renovate stage, with companies wanting to combine their proprietary data with contextual information to drive insight.
"Fundamentally I think what we are seeing is much more data-centricity in all facets of business," he said.
"What that means is you have the kind of use cases that traditional relational databases enabled. But increasingly you are seeing them want to blend that data with other information from operational data sources that are not relational, from third-party sources like Twitter to IoT devices.
Ramakrishnan added: "So you need to make everything as easy as it can be, because these systems have gotten complex enough that enterprises are asking us for a platform that can deal which allow them to focus on the business logic, and to do all of this with the data uniformly governed and audited."
HPE's Goodfellow agreed that his customers are getting more savvy about what they can do with their data once it is consolidated.
"With traditional business intelligence (BI) you would want to use that information to see what your sales were like last week. But also they want to start doing things in real time."
Case study: Predicting traffic patterns
To show the benefit of blending proprietary data with contextual, EMC's Stefan Radke from EMC gave the example of a government 'smart city' project which analysed traffic flows, a project which EMC helped facilitate.
"What kind of data would you have to have to predict traffic on the road?" asks Radke.
"That is not only how many cars on the street but how fast they go. So to predict things you would collect weather data, you would collect data from schools, when they open, when they close.
"All of these sources would be required to develop a predictive model. You have to have as much data as possible, store it in the data lake and decide on-demand on the schema that you want to use."
Open source
Microsoft's Ramakrishnan channelled the tech giant's greater acceptance of open source under the leadership of Satya Nadella during the session.
"All of the products need to run on the same machines where the data is, because that customer is not going to be locked into any one solution," he said.
Ramakrishnan went on to speak about the architectural issues around Hadoop deployments.
"The openness of the sockets we build around is key. I think we are seeing a LEGO-style architecture for data management and analytics and two of the key blocks are the place where we keep the data and manage it: the store, and resource management, that allows us to co-locate our computation as close to the data as possible."
Microsoft already integrates Hadoop capabilities into a range of its cloud products through HDInsight, including Azure data lake, Power BI, Azure machine learning and Azure active directory.
What all of this shows is a set of enterprise customers which aren't quite as advanced as some open source proponents would like us to think.
A lot of these customers are just looking for a better way to give their data scientists access to the relevant data, rather than complex machine learning and predictive modelling just yet.
Neil Winters from Hortonworks customer Markel Insurance put it best when talking about how Hortonworks is viewed within his organisation: "Senior leadership wouldn't know what Hortonworks is, but they do know that our data warehouse and BI team are running at a faster rate and turning solutions out at a rate they've not seen before.
"The cost is keeping down and the capabilities are going up," he said, two things that are pretty much guaranteed to acquire you some board-level sponsorship for your big data strategy.


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Penny tax heads for SC Supreme Court
PRINT: This is one in a series of articles I wrote on the highly-contested Florence County Penny Tax, which went to the state Supreme Court before being voted into law. This issue caused an intense debate between local and state level politicians and required extensive research into the law and precedents set by other counties.
Find your Bali Ha'i
PRINT: This is a column / blog I wrote after visiting Bali and being struck by the local culture.
Department Brochures
MARKETING: These are examples of department brochures, or literature sheets, created for the SiMT. It was my responsibility on this project to serve as the lead on copy, image selection, and assistance with layout.
The ESAB Blog
ONLINE: I created and maintained The ESAB Blog during my time with the company, leading to increased leads and a growing reputation for ESAB as a thought leader in the welding and cutting industry.
A place to call home
PRINT: Due to this article, several people contacted the agency and decided to become adoptive parents.
Florence Shag Club preserves state dance
PRINT: This article increased awareness of the local shag club and increased sign-ups for dance lessons.
PRINT: The far reaching effect of this article drew together family members from all over the nation who now contribute to and participate in the restoration of Jamestown.
Horse therapy for Wounded Warriors
PRINT: Due to this article, Bethlehem Therapeutic Stables gained the exposure they needed to better fund their programs and get approved as a designated Wounded Warrior rehabilitation center.
ArtFields pulls together local art community
'Just look around you': ArtFields pulls together local art community By Lindsay S. Buchanan April 22, 2018 LAKE CITY, S.C. – The Pee Dee has long been known for its agriculture, textile, and medical industries, but more recently the region has been put on the map in regards to art – thanks to ArtFields. Now … Continue reading ArtFields pulls together local art community
Boss Tacos
Boss Tacos: A year in, King Jefe makes its throne. An article on Florence, SC's funky Latin restaurant.


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Having seen more than my fair share of plays, whether they are professional or student productions, I judge the quality of a show by how quickly I want to write my review after it (even if I'm not technically reviewing). It's 11.18 pm and I finished watching Mercury Fur about an hour ago. I probably would have sat down sooner if I wasn't physically shaking.
Philip Ridley's Mercury Fur has a history of controversy: famously banned by Faber & Faber, this play follows a set of closely intertwined characters in an almost-apocalyptic world in which butterflies are drugs and 'party' is synonymous with your darkest fantasies. The characters spew lines of racist slurs, beat each other and themselves, and draw the audience into their intense relationships.
This is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting scripts I have witnessed. The characters are so distinct (with the intentional exception of the Party Piece) and complex, each simultaneously lost in a state almost akin to childhood, and sadistic. Ridley is able to showcase his prowess by writing Elliot's insults as epic similes; this is highlighted by his ability to then undercut this often satirical and humorous style with a conversation wrought with emotion.
I am extremely passionate about 'in-yer-face' theatre: Ravenhill's and Kane's plays are on my shelves, and yet I have unfortunately not been able to see them performed. To call a text 'in-yer-face' seems to miss the point, I have realised after tonight's Mercury Fur. What makes it so disturbing, so violating, is actually being in the presence of it.
Director Jacob Lovick absolutely understood the importance of this. Staged in the basement rehearsal room of the Guild, the audience was instantly removed from the student bubble and into a dingy flat strewn with the signs of depleting life. The play utilised the whole space, creating a sense of claustrophobia: the characters moved around the audience, absorbing them into the world of the play. The lack of interval was also a nice touch (a la Shopping and F***ing): there was no escape from the unrelenting emotions.
It really does take a stellar cast to pull off a play like this: get it slightly wrong, and the uncomfortableness you're trying to create will be plain awkward. This cast not only succeeded in making me cry a grand total of three times (which is quite a feat; I've only ever cried at five films and maybe one play), but made me feel physically uncomfortable: I couldn't sit back in my chair, I wanted to escape and stay simultaneously, my skin was crawling and I was shaking at the end of the performance.
I was utterly astounded by the quality of the acting in this production; not only did I forget that I was watching a play in the Guild, I forgot that I was watching students act. Calum Witney was by far the stand-out member of this cast. His accent and ability to master Elliot's swings of emotion was phenomenal. Ben Firth also made an excellent Darren: he was able to capture his naivety and pure adoration of Elliot. I particularly enjoyed the scenes between Witney and Firth; I truly believed in their bond as brothers, not only through Ridley's writing, but the actors' execution of it.
When Naz was introduced into the mix, I instantly prickled: Ridley introduces a character that is quite frankly annoying. However, Alice Hodgson made her loveable. I felt sincere concern for the character, and was utterly horrified when I realised her fate. Additionally, Hodgson's performance of Naz's monologues and her character post-torture were incredibly convincing and very distressing to watch.
David Williams was a genius choice for Lola. The text calls for a man to play this part, but at times Williams's mannerisms and expressions were so convincing I almost forgot his sex. The chemistry between Witney and Williams was also entirely believable, and I found the scenes between the characters incredibly touching.
Daisy Tudor was fantastic as The Duchess, deftly exploring her character's tortured mental state through carefully selected movements and delivery of lines. Pairing her with Danny Hetherington as Spinx was also a brilliant move: while I was oddly intrigued by and pitying of The Duchess, Spinx's devotion to her was unsettling, and Hetherington's ability to switch into Spinx's sadistic mode was excellent. Jack Fairley still made an impression with his minor role: the Party Guest was utterly creepy and disgusting from the moment he stepped into the room, let alone when he revealed his dark fantasy.
The crew of this production must also be praised highly: the effects and make-up used in the play were very convincing; I felt entirely immersed in the world of Mercury Fur.
The point of in-yer-face theatre is to push its audience to the very limits. There were points during the performance where I really wanted to leave but was oddly impelled to stay. What I struggled with was my desire to stop it – I really did feel like it was all unfolding around me – and also the range of emotions I experienced: at one moment I would be disturbed and sickened; a matter of seconds later, I would be laughing, and I felt incredibly unnerved by this. This is why I love plays like Mercury Fur: at the end, I feel like someone has reached inside my body, pulled something out and made me really look at it. With in-yer-face theatre, the audience is made to look at themselves and assess how they would act in certain situations or evaluate their behaviour and emotions. There is betrayal at every level in this play, sadism, cruelty, anger, and love. It is a truly exceptional example of postmodern nihilism and an intense exploration of the human state, and I (strangely) loved every minute of it.
by Jenna Clake


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Sample Sale | Custom Mandi Bracelet
Sorry, currently out of stock
This is the Mandi bracelet in a custom length, 6.5". Only one available!
- Silver metal with clear Swarovski crystals.
- Bracelet is 6.5" including the clasp.
- Handmade in our Denver, CO studio.
- Please note this product has already been made -- color, size, & design customizations are not possible.
- Packaged in our signature heirloom box.
- Ships in 3-5 business days.
- Please CONTACT us to inquire about expedited processing.
- Final Sale: All Sara Gabriel pieces are individually hand cut, stitched, set and soldered by our team of artisans when you place your order, so we can't accept returns.
- If you are not certain a design is right for you, please visit one of the many BOUTIQUES that carry the Sara Gabriel collection for a one-on-one styling appointment and assistance placing your order.


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Startex Payday Installment Loan Six Monthly Payments | Online By Next Business Day | 29377
Personal Loans $300 - $2500 in Spartanburg County SC
Payday and installment loans direct deposit quickly to your account in Startex, SC 29377. Easy application online to Spartanburg county.
Payday Loan Online - Up to $500
Installment Loan Online - Up to $2500
Fast Online Loan | Funds 24/7 to 29377
Need a checking account:
The Guernsey Bank
Need a traditional loan:
S C Telco Federal Credit Union
3239 Wade Hampton Blvd
Taylors - 29689
g.shepard at sctelcofcu.org
Ph: 8645275330
Need a financial planner:
Coastal Financial Corporation
2619 Oak St.
Myrtle Beach - 29577
james.dusenbury at coastalfederal.com
Ph: 8432052000
Inexpensive activities in SC, get out and enjoy your life and your family:
Anderson County Museum - Anderson
Oconee State Park
WireLend is not a lender. You will have the opportunity to accept or deny the loan offer after you apply. If you accept a loan offer the funds may be direct deposited to your bank account in Startex on the next business day. The terms of the loan may be between you and the lender. WireLend does not retain any personal information. Please use short term credit responsibly.
WireLend City Code: 4542-25-389175966-370650-3340
Financial Tips and Ideas from WireLend:
Television Control
Television can be an addiction also, especially when it comes to children. As it become a usual hobby, this is not good for your home finances. Your electricity rate can increase after a while. A portion of the budget will go to the cable provider (if you have it connected). This should be controlled and enjoyed in moderation.
Save Your Surprise Money
No matter how down on our luck we are, there's always a chance you could get a windfall of cash. Whether it's a more sizeable tax refund, birthday money, or a twenty dollar bill you find in the ground, extra money is a good thing. The trick is, you can't spend it all right away. Save a majority of it. Put it toward a debt and make a dent in one of your smaller loans. If you save at least half of your surprise money, you'll be shocked at the difference it makes.
Startex Payday Installment Loan | Bad Credit | 29377


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Equus Welcomes Emigra as a New Ecosystem Partner
Emigra Integration Simplifies Immigration Support And Compliance For Mobile Employees
DENVER, May 23, 2018 (Newswire.com) - Equus Software, a leader in global mobility solutions, announced today that Emigra, a global immigration consulting firm, is now an Equus Ecosystem Partner. The integration of Emigra into the Equus environment makes it easier for users to collect, monitor and manage the immigration data that is vital for business travelers and global employees.
Organizations around the world rely on the Equus technology to manage their global mobility program. Now with Emigra's immigration information integrated with the Equus Ecosystem, clients can benefit from a single platform approach, one that provides direct access to employee-related information and the ability to see and fulfill requests in real-time. Since it eliminates the need to work across multiple systems, Emigra's Ecosystem integration improves the integrity of mobile employee's immigration information, while also enhancing the efficiency, accuracy, visibility, and value of global mobility programs, as a whole.
"Immigration compliance is a top priority for our clients, and now that Emigra is an Equus Ecosystem Partner, it's easier than ever for them to manage all of these processes across a single platform," says Mark Thomas, CEO of Equus.
"By forming this strategic partnership with Equus, Emigra Worldwide is taking yet another step to provide our clients with innovative solutions to bring them comfort, choice, and flexibility. Emigra Worldwide, in conjunction with Equus, will help businesses better meet their needs of immigration service and compliance throughout the world, " said Mark Grippo, Chief Operating Officer at Emigra.
Founded in 1999, Equus Software is the market leader in cloud-based relocation and mobility solutions. More than 300 organizations around the world use Equus to automate mundane, transactional work so that global mobility teams, talent management professionals, and other key stakeholders can focus on adding value to the business. Equus has a proven track record of delivering cost-effective global mobility solutions, continuous innovation, and exceptional customer service. www.equusoft.com
Emigra Worldwide is the leader in global immigration since 1996, offering a single source for full service, end-to-end processing of immigration and consulting related services. Emigra maintains company-owned offices in 14 countries including Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States and brings more than 290 professionals servicing more than 50,000 service transactions annually. www.emigra.com
Mandy Hawks
Marketing Director
Equus Software
Source: Equus Software
Categories: Human Resources, Saas (Software as Service)
Tags: assignment management, business travelers, Equus Ecosystem, expatriate, global mobility, immigration, international workforce


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Northern Ireland spends about £22 billion each year on its public services. It raises £14 billion in taxes, with another £8 billion coming from the British government. Under direct rule from Westminster, all of this money is allocated and spent from London.
This subsidy amounts to more per head than Scotland or Wales. And the treasury is now pressing for Northern Ireland to start paying its own way. As well as the introduction of water charges, real cuts in public spending are on the way.
Peter Hain, New Labour's Northern Ireland secretary, has warned that Northern Ireland's levels of public expenditure are "simply not sustainable". He refers to "the hugely wasteful costs of division in this society" — many public services are duplicated because of sectarian divisions, such as two schools in an area.
New Labour's solution is to cut back, with big business calling the shots. "Two of the main issues preventing growth at present are political uncertainty and the overwhelming reliance on the public sectors," says one Northern Ireland business leader.
"There is a essentially a garage sale of all the civil service buildings in Northern Ireland taking place," one civil service worker told Socialist Worker.
"It was announced at the same time the IRA announced its decommissioning. They're selling off the buildings and outsourcing security and services.
"The human resources section of the Northern Ireland civil service has been privatised. They are attacking jobs as part of the peace process.
"Leaders from all five main political parties appeared in a promotional video on Thursday last week to launch a campaign against poverty.
"Yet in reality the one thing that all these politicians agree with is that neo-liberalism is the solution for Northern Ireland.
"They all say they are against introducing water charges, but they will be happy if Labour brings them in."
Joint proposal
At the end of 2004 the Unionist DUP and Nationalist Sinn Fein put forward a joint proposal to obtain a £1 billion peace dividend.
The plan was put together on advice of the Confederation of British Industry, the Institute of Directors and the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce.
The proposal was to "encourage big multinationals to relocate" and to cut corporation tax.
Liam Gallagher, secretary of Derry trades council, says the current impasse in politics is "alienating working class people and driving them into the hands of paramilitaries".
He adds, "Our public services are being sold off to the private sector, with the prevailing philosophy being that the private sector can deliver and manage our public services more efficiently and economically.
"I've never heard of a private employer whose motivation for getting out of bed in the morning is to promote the common good and to provide a public service.
"Quite the opposite, in fact — the private sector is in the business of making profits and that is their only motivating interest."
As Mark, an anti-poverty campaigner in West Belfast, points out, "All the mainstream parties say they oppose water charges and privatisation. But all are equally opposed to a campaign of non-payment.
"Parties which are based on representing one community and not the other would be directly threatened by a campaign which mobilised people on a basis which has nothing whatsoever to do with what community they come from.
"This is why they all claim to be against water charges — but are unanimous in doing nothing about it."


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LONDON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Monday launched a major city-wide plan to harness London's tech talents to make London one the world's smartest cities.
Speaking at the launch of this year's London Tech Week, Khan published Smarter London Together -- his roadmap for how he will help the city's public services use tech and data to improve the lives of all Londoners and tackle some of the capital's most pressing challenges -- including air quality, urban design and digital connectivity.
Among Khan's plans, which includes more than 20 initiatives, is a bold new approach to improving connectivity, including proposing planning powers for full fiber connectivity to all new homes, working with Transport for London (TfL) and councils to roll out 4G using public buildings and existing physical infrastructure, and supporting bids for government funding to test 5G connectivity.
Meanwhile, another initiative, the Civic Innovation Challenge, will play a major role in establishing London as a test-bed for technological innovation, as well as supporting the development of smart infrastructure and attracting investment in dynamic new businesses.
"As one of the world's leading technology hubs, we need to be bold and think big, to experiment and try things out that have not been done elsewhere," said the mayor.
"I see London's future as a global 'test-bed city' for civic innovation, where the best ideas are developed, amplified and scaled."
Khan also revealed a new report on London's artificial intelligence ecosystem from CognitionX, the AI advice platform, which shows the capital is home to 758 artificial intelligence companies, more than twice as many as its closest rivals Paris and Berlin combined, underlining London's position as a leading tech hub.
Figures collated by Pitchbook have revealed that UK tech companies received more than 5 billion pounds (6.7 billion U.S. dollars) in Venture Capital funding since the EU referendum -- more than France, Germany and Sweden combined -- of which London attracted more than 4 billion pounds.
A smart city is a collaborative, connected and responsive city which uses technology and data-sharing to make it a better place to live, work, visit and study -- all of which is at the heart of Sadiq's agenda.
In recent years, London has led the way in innovation which has gone on to have a significant impact on people's lives.
Jen Hawes-Hewitt, Smarter London Board member and UK Cities lead at Accenture, said the mayor's plan helps to solve many of London's challenges and create new opportunities.
"Coupling the power of data with human-centered design can bring a step change in public service delivery. Creation of a diverse pool of talent is also critical," said Hawes-Hewitt.
Meanwhile, London is also seeking cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) with other countries including China which witnessed increasing investment and applications in AI.
According to data provided by London and Partners, the promotional agency of Mayor of London, China's AI startup scene received 48 percent of all equity funding in 2017 with the U.S. taking 38 percent and the rest of the world receiving 13 percent, marking a dramatic shift from 2013 when the U.S. AI startups received 77 percent of equity funding.
Over the past five years, China has been the second largest investor into London, behind the United States, with increasing share in tech investment.
London was the top destination in Europe of China's FDI tech project investment in 2017, and the third largest recipient in the world of Chinese FDI in this regard, behind only Hong Kong and Singapore, according to London and Partners.
Laura Citron, Chief Executive of London and Partners, told Xinhua that there are huge potentials between Britain and China in terms of AI cooperation and China is "one of our top priorities in terms of investment partner and innovation partner".
"AI is really important not only for business, but also to the way we run our cities," said Citron. "And I think that is a really exciting area for cooperation between London and Chinese cities like Beijing."


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Thanks so much for submitting a report. It has been emailed to the Rum Captain and will be actioned shortly.
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Last drink for tonight is a WM Cadenhead's Green Label 13y Brazil edition. Bottle looks pretty basic. Color is surprisingly light for a 13 year old rum. Strong citrus to the nose. Strong citrus and some alcohol to the palate. Very short finish. Decent 5 rating.


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The Supreme Court's (SC's) decision last week on the Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu (TN) and Karnataka may seem like it could put the 126-year-old dispute to rest.
The Supreme Court's (SC's) decision last week on the Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu (TN) and Karnataka may seem like it could put the 126-year-old dispute to rest. But precedents suggest that resolution may not come that easy. The downstream state, TN, will now get lesser water than was allocated to it by the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT) in 2007, since the SC increased Karnataka's allocation by 14.75 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft). TN loses as much water, with allocations to Kerala and Puducherry—part of Cauvery riparian system—remaining unchanged. Both Karnataka and TN have been on the boil, especially in dry years, over water-sharing, despite the 2007 order and subsequent temporary SC orders. With agrarian usage and urban water supply in both states burning electoral issues, the matter will stay politicised. So, it is difficult to see how the SC order will be implemented peacefully.
The apex court arrived at the award on the basis of the drinking and household water needs of Karnataka's capital, Bengaluru, and availability of groundwater in TN—4.75 tmcft was deducted on the account of the first consideration and 10 tmfct based on the second. Karnataka had argued that TN's groundwater was an additional water resource, while TN told the court that the groundwater in the basin was a result of recharge by the surface water and was subject to caprices of the monsoons. TN, as per a Central Ground Water Board survey, has the highest number of 'dark zone' blocks—that is, ground water consumption far outstrips recharge. Farmers in the Cauvery basin in the state are heavily dependent on the river, but the river itself has been under tremendous pressure form growing needs. At the heart of the water scarcity in the two states—thereby increasing their dependence on the river, which, in turn, affects its health and volume—is poor water usage and storage.
TN has done little to wean farmers off the water-intensive samba paddy cultivation even as bore-wells have proliferated. The state also receives some 1,000 mm of monsoon annually, of which 30% drains into the sea. Similarly, as per a water-use analysis by IndiaSpend in 2016, in Bengaluru, 49% of the water supplied to the city is lost in the process of distribution.
Prioritising one state's needs over the other, with great consideration for just one city, is bound to rankle. The states may appear to have accepted the verdict, but things will not be as placid in rainfall-deficient years. The new allocations will be proportionally reduced in dry years, and that will test the patience of the stakeholders affected, even if there are monthly releases of water as determined by the CWDT and a Cauvery Management Board is set up—the SC directed the Centre to set this up in the next six weeks. Inter-state coordination, especially in riparian matters, remain troubled waters, and given how the Centre has conducted itself in several disputes so far, this doesn't inspire much faith.
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text: I picked up 2 small firefish for my nano tank a week ago. Both are doing well and eating but now clearly have flukes on them (both looked healthy at the store). I would like to do a fresh water dip on them but know firefish can easily stress out and am not sure how long a small fish can handle fresh water. If I'm able to net them, how long should I leave them in the fresh water, and do I need to raise the pH of the fresh water to match the sw tank?


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This is my car for sale...I'm a long-time member here, but wanted to give my local BMWCCA chapters first-dibs on the car in the hopes that it would stay local. The description above is a pretty good summary, but I've got a ton of additional info if anyone is interested. Here's the background:
I live about 1 hour northwest of Philadelphia PA (zip 19610). The car really doesn't get driven much anymore, so it's just sitting most of the time. I ordered it new, it was garage-kept its entire life until 2 years ago. It has 102K miles now.
I did the cooling system proactive replacement at 73K, and I just replaced all the front bushings and control arms last month. I follow Mike Miller's (Roundel) Lifetime Maintenance Schedule pretty religiously. Have all service records from new (I'm an engineer who obsesses over my cars...do most of the work on them myself too).
Asking $12.5K, including winter/summer wheels and tires, plus including over $500 in parts that I ordered over the last year for preventative maintenance but haven't had a chance to install (new DISA valve, new intake boots, new oil level sensor, new front and rear brake pads, new front and rear brake hoses).
I'm not in a rush to sell it until it starts warming up, and I can take the puny 17" winter wheels/tires off the car (they look emaciated in comparison to the 18" BBS wheels, but will get you through the worst of the white stuff). I've got five cars for "2.5 drivers" (daughter is away at college), and since I'm working from home most of the time it's just sitting in front of the house.
I've made up a 3-page summary on the car, so if anyone wants to copy, just call, text, or email me directly. It's got all the details, plus I can also share my service records. I want to see it go to a good home!
Steve (cell 610-698-4714, email firstname.lastname@example.com)


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Welcome to forum, feel free to post any questions :)
Free in-ear headphones, no post fee. Please PM me before June 18th, 2017. Thanks.First come, first served.
Hi Shaun - a guy named Hugeman is posting reviews that link to Amazon.uk for sales. I don't know if that's OK with you or not, but he doesn't even review the items actually, just posts a brief description with the sales link.
I am a professional blogger and love to write about gadgets.
share happiness,enjoy life
Use headphones for running; mostly.
+ Be Calm and Drink Water !!!
I am a sport and music lover,enjoy the music all the time.
Hi Dale,
I should have scrolled down to the bottom of the thread, Shaun has posted there about some of the points.
There's a 420 character limit on PMs - will attempt to change!
I've just found that the H8 was listed after you posted, so it was down to some unfortunate timing!
As you've likely noticed, we're spending more time and effort on the forum now and are planning some more changes so are in a position to consider any suggestions you may have.
Many thanks,
Hi Dale,
Thanks for your continued (and valued) presence on the forum!
Did you try to PM me regarding the H8 thread? I'm sending this to check how it is the other way around, and also to ask about your comment on the forum software - do you mean there should be links to likely products on thread with keywords, for example?
I got an email from the site due to someone's post, and the email contained a link to the user's interest, allowing me or anyone else to bypass the HiFiHeadphones site and go directly to the user's site. So I think the link may be OK on the forum, but the forum should remove that link before sending the email.
There also was a problem linking to product from the forum. An aspect of #2 (old issue) is where there's overlap (i.e. portables and Bluetooth, for example) - sometimes the product doesn't show up in both searches.
Heh - 420 character limit! Anyway, I'll keep an eye out for any bottlenecks etc. and let you know.
Separate names with a comma.


text:
ARCHIVED - Canada Council Grants
What the "Archived Content" notice means for interpretation bulletins
DATE: March 31, 1995
Canada Council Grants
REFERENCE: Paragraph 56(1)(n) (also subsections 5(1) and 9(1), paragraphs 8(1)(p) and (q) and 56(1)(o) of the Income Tax Act and section 7700 of the Income Tax Regulations
This bulletin cancels and replaces Interpretation Bulletin IT-257, dated October 20, 1975 and the Special Release dated March 21, 1986.
This bulletin deals with the tax treatment of grants and other payments from the Canada Council. The bulletin indicates how and when such amounts are included in income as business or employment income or as taxable grants, fellowships or prizes. The bulletin explains the deductibility of expenses related to grants for the production of artistic works. It also discusses non-taxable prescribed prizes.
Discussion and Interpretation
1. The Canada Council and its subsidiary agencies ("the Council") offer various types of assistance, primarily grants, prizes and other assistance for the promotion of the arts, as well as some fellowships in the humanities and social sciences. This bulletin sets out general principles to be applied when considering the taxability of these amounts.
2. Depending on the nature of the assistance, the status of the recipient, and the arrangements or circumstances under which the assistance is provided, the amount received may be included in the recipient's income as:
(a) income from business (see 3 below);
(b) income from an office or employment (see 4 below);
(c) a scholarship, fellowship, bursary, prize or research grants (see 7 and 8 below), including a grant for the production of an artistic work (see 5 and 6 below).
Income from Business
3. When a taxpayer receives the assistance in the course of operating a business or practising a profession, the amount is included in the calculation of income or loss under section 9. Examples of such assistance are Grants in Aid of Publication and Translation to the publishing industry, and project grants (other than education grants) to self-employed artists. In addition, payments made for the purchase of works of art from a self-employed artist under the Art Bank program of the Council are not grants but are considered to be ordinary business income to the artist; accordingly, such payments are included in the income or loss under section 9. The current versions of IT-504, Visual Artists and Writers, and IT-525, Performing Artists, discuss factors that identify a self-employed artist earning business income.
When a grant for the production of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work does not constitute business income, it may qualify for the special treatment outlined in paragraphs 5 and 6 below.
Income from Employment
4. When a taxpayer receives an amount by virtue of or in connection with an office or employment, it is considered employment income under subsection 5(1). It is immaterial that the funds from which the remuneration is paid were obtained under Council assistance or from some other source. For example, a university professor may have been employed on the strength of a Council grant awarded to the university specifically for the purpose of engaging his or her services. In that situation, the professor's remuneration would be subject to tax as employment income under subsection 5(1). In another case when, for instance, an artist is selected by the Council for training or development through an arrangement under which the artist is placed under an employer for a small salary or no salary while the Council subsidizes the artist's employment income, the assistance from the Council to the artist, whether paid directly or through the employer, is considered to be received by virtue of the employment, and is therefore taxable in the artist's hands as income from employment. (Please refer to the current version of IT-525, for guidance in determining whether or not an artist is an employee or self-employed.) Paragraph 8(1)(p), applicable to the 1988 and subsequent taxation years, and paragraph 8(1)(q), applicable to amounts paid after 1990, allow a limited deduction of expenses paid for the purpose of earning employment income from certain musical and other artistic activities.
Art Production Grants
5. When an artist receives a project grant (referred to in this bulletin as an "art production grant") that is neither business nor employment income, the grant is included in the artist's income under paragraph 56(1)(n), but special rules apply. Specifically, an exception to the flat $500 exemption mentioned in 8 below applies if an artist receives an amount that is included in income under paragraph 56(1)(n) and that amount is to be used by the artist in the production of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work. In such cases, when calculating income from an art production grant under paragraph 56(1)(n), the taxpayer may deduct whichever of the following amounts is greater:
(a) $500 and
(b) the total amount of reasonable expenses incurred to fulfil the conditions of receiving the art production grant, but not exceeding the total amount of the grant included in income for the year under paragraph 56(1)(n).
The amount in (b) above does not include:
(c) personal or living expenses of the taxpayer (other than expenses for travel, meals and lodging incurred in the course of fulfilling the conditions of the grant and while absent from the taxpayer's usual place of residence for the period to which the grant relates). The taxpayer may not claim the travelling expenses of his or her spouse and children or other third parties,
(d) expenses for which the taxpayer has been reimbursed, and
(e) expenses that are otherwise deductible in computing the taxpayer's income.
In this context, the term "expenses" includes not only current expenses, but also expenses of a capital nature.
6. Subparagraph 56(1)(n)(iii) provides that eligible expenses must be incurred in the same year in which the art production grant is received in order to be deductible from the grant. In some cases, expenses related to the production of the artistic work may be incurred in the year immediately before or immediately after the year in which the grant is received. While those expenses are not deductible in the year in which they are incurred, they will be allowed as deductions in the year in which the grant is received. However, expenses incurred in the year immediately before the grant is received are only deductible from the grant if they are incurred after the artist has received notification that the grant will be paid. Expenses incurred more than one year before, or more than one year after, the year in which the grant is received are not deductible from that grant. For example, if notification of a grant is received in September of one year, but the grant is not received until February of the following year, production expenses incurred during the last three months of the first year will be allowed as deductions from the grant in the second year when it is received and included in income.
Scholarships, Fellowships, and Research Grants
7. Various grants, fellowships, awards and scholarships are provided by the Council. In each case, the facts must be examined in order to determine whether the assistance is included in income as a scholarship, fellowship, bursary or taxable prize under paragraph 56(1)(n) as described in 8 below, or whether it is a research grant included in income under paragraph 56(1)(o), after deducting allowable expenses. However, as discussed in 9 below, an award from the Council is not included in income if it qualifies as a "prescribed prize." The current version of IT-75, Scholarships, Fellowships, Bursaries, Prizes and Research Grants, discusses the differences between these types of amounts, as well as the manner in which they are taxed under various circumstances.
8. Subject to the qualifications explained below, paragraph 56(1)(n) includes in income all but the first $500 of amounts received in the year as or on account of a scholarship, fellowship or bursary. Paragraph 56(1)(n) similarly includes in income all but the first $500 of a prize for achievement in a field of endeavour ordinarily carried on by the taxpayer (other than a prescribed prize - see 9 below). Paragraph 56(1)(n) and the $500 exemption above do not apply to amounts received in the course of business or to amounts received in respect of, in the course of, or by virtue of an office or employment. As explained in 5 above, different treatment may apply to grants for the production of literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works.
Prescribed Prizes
9. A prize meeting all of the criteria of a prescribed prize is not included in computing the income of the recipient, even if the prize relates to accomplishments in the recipient's ordinary field of endeavour. Section 7700 of the Regulations defines a prescribed prize as "any prize that is recognized by the general public and that is awarded for meritorious achievement in the arts, the sciences or service to the public but does not include any amount that can reasonably be regarded as having been received as compensation for services rendered or to be rendered." Certain prizes awarded by the Council qualify as prescribed prizes, for example, the Governor General's Literary Awards. However, other Council awards and prizes, such as the Joseph S. Stauffer Prize are only given to individuals who have successfully qualified to receive a Council grant. In such circumstances, these awards or prizes simply replace the grant that was otherwise payable and the recipients are still required to carry out their projects in accordance with the terms set out in their grant application. Such awards or prizes do not qualify as prescribed prizes.
10. Unless an award is a prescribed prize as described in section 7700 of the Regulations, the Council must file information returns under section 200 of the Regulations in respect of its grants and awards.
If you have any comments concerning the matters discussed in this bulletin, please send them to:
Director, Technical Publications Division
Policy and Legislation Branch
Revenue Canada
875 Heron Road
Ottawa ON KlA OL8
Explanation of Changes for Interpretation Bulletin IT-257R Canada Council Grants
The purpose of the Explanation of Changes is to give the reasons for the revisions to an interpretation bulletin. It outlines revisions that we have made as a result of changes to the law, as well as changes reflecting new or revised departmental interpretations.
IT-257R updates existing IT-257 and its March 21, 1986 Special Release, which deal with the tax treatment of grants and other assistance from the Canada Council. The current revision was undertaken to incorporate changes in law to paragraph 56(1)(n) and the addition of paragraph 8(1)(q) contained in S.C. 1994, C.7 Schedule 11 (1991 c.49-formerly Bill C-18); the addition of paragraph 8(1)(p), contained in S.C.1988, c.55 (formerly Bill C-139), as well as the introduction of tax-exempt "prescribed prizes", applicable to 1983 and following years, by section 7700 of the Regulations. General revisions have also been made to improve the readability of the bulletin and to reflect recent departmental interpretations.
Legislative and Other Changes
New No 1 replaces the introductory comments in former No 1 and reflects the Canada Council's mandate to provide grants to the arts and its lesser involvement with providing research fellowships in the humanities and social sciences.
New No 2 is a simplified version of former No 2. The details formerly found in this paragraph have been consolidated in later Nos.
New No 3 replaces the comments on business income found in former Nos 2(a) and 3. We have clarified that the assistance payments to a business or practicing professional form part of the computation of business income or loss under section 9.
Former No 4 has been deleted as the situation outlined there no longer occurs under any existing or contemplated Canada Council program.
New No 4 deals with the inclusion of assistance in income from employment and is substantially unchanged from former No 5. Reference has been added to the deductions under paragraphs 8(1)(p) and (q) for expenses laid out for the purpose of earning income from musical and certain other artistic activities.
New Nos 5 and 6 reflect the amendment to paragraph 56(1)(n). It allows expenses to be claimed against grant income received by artists in the form of what are here termed "art production grants." Applying a similar position from IT-75R3, new No 5 advises that travelling expenses of the artist's family or third parties are not allowable.
New No 6 discusses the deduction of expenses incurred in the immediately preceding or the immediately following taxation year. This position is consistent with comments in IT-75R3.
New No 7 on scholarships, fellowships, and research grants, is largely unchanged from former No 6.
New No 8 expands on and updates the comments on prizes found in former No 2(c).
New No 9 deals with tax-exempt prescribed prizes under section 7700 of the Regulations. Paragraph 56(1)(n) was amended in 1987 to refer to "prescribed prizes." It also provides an example of a prescribed prize.
New No 10 reflects the requirements for the Canada Council to file information returns pursuant to section 200 of the Regulations for most grants and awards.
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text:
Plain Truth
In your interest.
Online Personal Finance Magazine
Unbiased Research
Hard Facts
Clear Analysis
No beating about the bush.
Bankers are worried that the new model will affect their business of giving short-term loans to corporate clients at cheaper rates (below PLR), as lending rates on such loans will go up at least by 2% in the base rate system
With the 1st April deadline to migrate to the base rate model fast approaching, bank chiefs are likely to raise concerns about the new system and seek an extension of the deadline during their scheduled meeting with top Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officials on Friday, reports PTI.
Bankers are worried that the new model will affect their business of giving short-term loans to corporate clients at cheaper rates—below the Prime Lending Rate (PLR)—as lending rates on such loans will go up at least by 2% in the base rate system.
According to bankers, the base rate, a function of the cost of deposits, may be in the range of 8.5%-9.5% for most banks, which were lending to top-rated corporates at much lower rates, sometimes as low as 6%.
"When the lending rates rise in the new system on account of (the) base rate model, we may lose corporate customers who may seek other avenues to raise funds," said Allen C Pereira, chairman and managing director, Bank of Maharashtra.
According to him, creating a separate benchmark for short-term loans would help lenders retain their long-time corporate clients whose demand for working capital forms a good part of banks' loan-books.
Bankers are likely to seek time till July to prepare for the migration to the new model as they feel the April deadline gives them very little time to complete the huge task of gathering segment-wise data required to arrive at their respective base rates.
"Each bank has to calculate its own base rate. Banks which don't have their full operations under core banking may find this difficult. They may need some more time," said M Narendra, executive director, Bank of India.
Similar views were expressed by a majority of the bankers in a meeting with the Indian Banks Association (IBA) last month. In a letter to the RBI recently, the IBA had sought an extension till July to implement the base rate model.
In a move to bring in more transparency into bank lending, the regulator had issued draft guidelines last month to replace the existing benchmark prime lending rate (BPLR) model with the base rate.
The actual lending rates charged to borrowers would be the base rate plus borrower-specific charges, which will include product-specific operating costs, credit risk premium and tenor premium.
The central bank was apparently unhappy with the practice of banks lending at much lower rates than the BPLR to top-rated corporates, while the common borrower had to borrow at higher rates.
Standard Chartered Bank's India chief executive, Neeraj Swaroop, said that the new model has both 'plus and minus' aspects, which should be discussed by all stakeholders.
Citibank's chief financial officer Abhijit Sen said that lenders might be forced to administer two types of interest rates, particularly in infrastructure and mortgage loans, for a significant time if the customer was unwilling to switch to the new model.
Coal linkages for 11 supercritical units of 660MW each, which will come up in the 12th Plan period of 2012-17, have been sanctioned
The Indian government is believed to have approved fuel linkage for 11 thermal power projects of NTPC Ltd and Damodar Valley Corp Ltd (DVC) totalling an investment of over Rs29,000 crore, reports PTI.
"Coal linkages for the 11 supercritical units of 660MW each, which would come up in the 12th Plan period (2012-17) have been sanctioned," a coal ministry source said.
These 11 units include nine units of NTPC's power plants at Nabinagar (3x660MW), Meja (2x660MW), Solapur (2x660MW) and Mouda (2x660MW) and two units of DVC's Raghunathpur plant in West Bengal.
The global tender for sourcing equipment for these units was floated in October last year.
Supercritical units are environment friendly and improve efficiency of thermal power projects. The equipment would be used in five power projects in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
The Cabinet committee on infrastructure gave its approval to the bulk tender in September last year.
The recent judgement by the apex court will be of great help to businessmen and the same can be relied upon for all the current or future assessments in determining the allowability of bad loans when written off in the books of accounts of the assessee
The Supreme Court has ruled that it is not obligatory on the taxpayer to prove whether a loan has become a bad loan, once such loan has been written off in the books of accounts.
The apex court in a ruling in the case of TRF Ltd versus Commissioner of Income-Tax held that the position in the law is well-settled and after 1 April 1989, it is not necessary for the assessee to establish that the loan, in fact, has become irrecoverable.
This is an important decision rendered by the Supreme Court on the issue of allowability of bad loan as a deduction from business income and this sets at rest the doubts and the widespread litigation that was prevalent in the matter, said Ameet Patel, partner, Sudit K Parekh & Co.
In a tax-alert note, the chartered accountancy firm said that the Income-Tax Act, 1961 has a special section that allows deduction from business or professional income in respect of bad loans. The relevant section is 36(1) (vii).
Earlier, the section was worded in a manner which was interpreted to mean that the taxpayer needed to establish conclusively to the satisfaction of the assessing officer that the amount written off had actually become bad. This led to a situation where most of the times, the taxpayer had to put in extra efforts to show that the loan had actually become bad, the steps taken for recovery of the same and whether any legal action had been taken against the loaner.
Practically, in many cases, bad loans were not allowed as a deduction because the taxpayer was not able to conclusively establish that the loan had become bad.
However, with effect from assessment year 1989-90, there was an amendment in the said section whereby the necessity for establishing the fact that the loan has actually become bad has been done away with. After the said amendment, the only conditions to be fulfilled by a
taxpayer for successfully claiming a deduction in respect of bad loans are as under:
1. The amount which is claimed as a deduction should have been taken into account in computing the income of the assessee for the year in which the amount is written off or any earlier year and
2. The amount should be written off as irrecoverable in the books of accounts of the assessee for the accounting year in which the claim for deduction is made.
The wordings of the Section 36(1)(vii) read with circular 551 dated 23 January 1990 issued by the Central Board Of Direct Taxes (CBDT) leave no scope for debate that any amount incidental to the business or profession of the assessee, which is taken into account in computing the assessable income would be allowed for deduction as a bad loan, if it is written off in the books of the assessee in the previous year.
Despite the above clear provisions of the law, many tax officers continued to disallow the claim for bad loans on the ground that the taxpayer had not conclusively established that the loan had actually become bad. In most cases, the matter had been taken up for litigation. Many Tribunal Benches have held against the Income-tax Department and in favour of the taxpayer that after the amendment to Section 36(1) (vii), the taxpayer does not have to prove the fact that the loan has actually become bad.
Indian courts have time and again reaffirmed the above view and accordingly allowed the claim of bad loans deductibility.
In a judgment in the case of the Commissioner of Income-Tax versus Star Chemicals (Bombay) Pvt Ltd, the Bombay High Court has reiterated the view that the fact that the loan has been written off as irrecoverable in the accounts of the assessee will suffice for claiming it as a deductible bad loan. It is for the assessee to decide whether the loan has become bad or not and the assessing officer can never insist on production of demonstrative and infallible proof that the loan has become bad.


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Authorities Drain Pond to Look for Body
Shawn Head, 35, has been missing since January 2004. The Randolph County Sheriff's Department began draining Higbee Pond last Thursday to try to find any clues.
"We felt it would be our best interest, at the time, to pump the lake and either find the remains or put this to rest and actually move forward with the investigation on the correct track," said Sheriff Mark Nichols.
"The reason for the draining," he added, "it is almost impossible for the divers because of the vegetation at the floor of the lake to do an adequate search."
The sheriff's department suspects foul play is involved in Head's disappearance. Authorities first searched Higbee Pond in June 2005 after several tips indicated Head's body might be there.
The department believes it will find a body within the next couple of days, but it may be weeks or months before it's identified.


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Customary is a mobile game that exposes players to the culture and social norms of countries foreign to them, preparing them for successful interactions in higher education and business. The first version of this game was created for the Columbia Business School to help their students understand Japanese business norms and integrate successfully into Japanese culture.
Future versions of Customary will be targeted toward American business travelers to multiple countries, as well as international students attending US universities.
You can see more at customary.io or on the app store here.


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(Petar Milošević, Public domain)
According to the US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert the rationale behind the move was the view that the Russian government violated international law by orchestrating the poisoning of a former Russian agent and his daughter in the UK earlier this year. Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence officer who acted as a double agent for the UK's intelligence services during the 1990s and early 2000s, along with his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent in March this year. Skripal was discharged from the hospital he was treated at in May.
A former Defense Department official, Mark Simakovsky, said that a second tranche "targets Russian exports to the US and theoretically could include flights by the state airline Aeroflot as well as a downgrade of diplomatic relations". Barclays bank informed that a little-noticed provision in the draft law imposing sanctions against Russia could seriously affect some of Russia's biggest banks, potentially doing more damage than a clause calling for a ban on purchases of sovereign debt that has caused grave concerns among international investors.
"The most drastic version of the sanctions on transactions with Russian banks, in which all of the state banks are sanctioned, can have significant ramifications for the entire Russian economy, which could be even more painful than sovereign debt measures," said Liza Ermolenko, an economist at Barclays Capital in London.
Market reaction
The combination of the two recent measures by the US against the Russian economy intended to force Kremlin to change its policy, hit the Russian financial market hard. First reacted Russia's currency. The RUB fell to its lowest USD value in almost two years. Before the announcement of the latest round of sanctions, USD1 equaled roughly to RUB62.5. At the beginning of August, when the sanctions were announced the RUB fell against the USD to 66.5.
The RUB plunged further, hitting the mark of 68.66 against the USD, but later bounced back to its previous level. The reason for that was the action on part of the Russia's Finance Ministry. In response to the sudden drop of the RUB/USD exchange rate, the Ministry announced that it would temporarily suspend its financial interventions, namely purchases of the USD. Russia's Finance Ministry purchases the American currency in the framework of its budgetary rule which aims to stabilize the RUB exchange rate and decouple its value from the price of oil.
Similar to the temporary respite in USD purchases in April this year, motivated by an imposition of sanctions against Russia by the US and a subsequent fall of the RUB, Russia's Finance Ministry hoped that this measure will bring some stability back on the currency market.
Russia's main stock index, the Micex, wasn't spared the harmful effects of the new sanctions. As expected, certain companies endangered by the provisions of the sanctions the most were hit particularly hard. The state airline, Aeroflot, lost 11.4 per cent of its market value. Russia's largest state-owned bank Sberbank lost nearly 5 per cent of its market value.
Moscow's response
The Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev strongly condemned the latest move on part of the United States. "The US has declared economic war on Russia," Medvedev said in August. "Western partners argue that the Russians are bad, they carry out the wrong policy, that the government of the Russian Federation should change its position on a number of issues, but to a large extent, it is merely an attempt to restrict our economic power," Mr. Medvedev added.
According to some preliminary estimates, the sanctions may slow down Russia's economic growth by between 0.5 per cent and 1.5 per cent, and the standard of living will decline further. Mr. Medvedev emphasized that the Kremlin would not accept these sanctions without some sort of response, without giving any specifics as to how Russia could possibly reiterate against the latest round of anti-Russia sanctions by the US.
Unlike Mr. Medvedev, a number of Russian lawmakers offered more specific ideas concerning Russian response. Andrei Kortunov, director of the Russian Council for International Affairs, said that Russia could respond by placing restrictions on Citibank or the big four US consulting firms.
Fyodor Lukyanov, Chairman of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, said that Russia should respond by halting the supply of titanium, uranium, and rocket engines to the US. However, he also noted that this measure would be equally as bad for Russia, as it would be hard to recover lost market share. Lukyanov noted that Russia could respond by stepping up its military and political activity in regions where the US has weak presence.
Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, said that the best response to the new sanctions would be to intensify cooperation with non-Western countries, such as Malaysia, Brazil, and Algeria.
Filip Brokeš is an analyst and a journalist specializing in international relations.