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Two regional partners regaled the importance of cooperation in achieving beneficial objectives, as a new project was launched recently to help improve quality systems in the Caribbean.
The "Strengthening of the Regional Quality Infrastructure Programme", a joint initiative between the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), is funded by the CDB to the tune of US$750,000.
The three main objectives of the 18-months project are:
- Development of National Quality Policies (NQPs) using the Regional Quality Policy (RQP) in at least five countries with associated Implementation Roadmaps in order to strengthen the policy and regulatory framework to support national quality infrastructure (NQI) development;
- Technical assistance to at least two testing laboratories for International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 17025 accreditation; and,
- Design and implementation of a comprehensive information and awareness campaign to promote and sensitise stakeholders on matters relating to the operationalisation of the quality policies and to improve knowledge and use of accredited testing services.
At the launch, held at the CDB's Conference Room, Wildey, St. Michael, Barbados, one of the Directors of CROSQ, Mrs. Anthea Ishmael noted that this project was coming at a time when the organisation was ever expanding its partnerships regionally and internationally.
She noted that projects, including with the European Union, the Federal Republic of Germany through the German National Metrology Institute, the CARICOM Energy Unit, the African Regional Standards Organisation (ARSO); the European Committee for Standardization, ASTM International, United Nations Industrial and Development Organisation, the ACP Secretariat and several others were all partnerships that were bringing value to the region by expanding the expertise of quality professionals and institutions here.
This new project, would continue adding value to what currently exists, said Mrs. Ishmael, who is also Acting Director of the Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI).
"Our region has always had tremendous potential, but challenges have existed and continue to exist in accessing opportunities and technical assistance to push our industries further; to make our sectors more competitive beyond our shores. This is where the CROSQ and CDB can be more effective in our relationship – bringing that kind of value to those who need it," she noted.
In remarking on the Bank's commitment to development and integration, Coordinator of Regional Cooperation and Integration, Ms. Andrea Power stated: "The project is indicative of the Bank's belief in and commitment to regional integration as the basis on which our economies can achieve global competitiveness. It is for this reason that the Bank has given priority to partnering with technically competent regional institutions to facilitate the implementation of regional decisions and policies at the national level. All this with the ultimate goal of increasing intra-regional trade."
CROSQ is the network of 15 national bureaux of standards of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Its partnerships with the CDB date back to 2012 when the two entities first began cooperating towards creating regional standards and quality systems in specific sectors.
Following the launch, the Project Steering Committee for the Strengthening of the Regional Quality Infrastructure Programme, met to discuss a number of issues pertinent to the success of the project. The Committee is comprised of representatives of the CDB, CROSQ, the Caribbean Export and Development Agency (CEDA) and a regional QI institution and accreditation body.
Antigua and Barbuda Launches Fuel Verification Programme
The Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards (ABBS) has officially launched its fuel pump verification programme, thereby joining the ranks of some other CROSQ Member States.
In April this year, the Metrology Act came into effect and the Bureau of Standards proposed its first steps for implementation of the Act to be the establishment of a national Fuel Pump Verification Service.
At the launch of the programme a few months later, Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Standards Council, Mr. Cottrille George said: "This journey for developing the nation's quality infrastructure employs metrology or measurement science as one of the main vehicles for promoting fairness and equity in trade, business excellence and consumer confidence.
"It is for this reason that we celebrated the proclamation of the Metrology Act in April this year. This Act gives credence to the Bureau's mandate to ensure the accuracy of weighing and measuring instruments used in trade. The practice of checking, because it is mandated by law, is known as legal Metrology, and will soon become a regular consideration and /or characteristic of any form of business for which earnings or profit are derived from measurements based activities."
The journey to this stage involved Bureau of Standards personnel working with the fuel suppliers and retailers to perform checks/tests on the fuel dispensers for accuracy to ensure that the pumps are delivering correctly the stated metered quantities. This will ensure that consumers are receiving the quantities purchased and also retailers are not losing product due to faulty dispensing.
Having done the necessary preliminary checks, all fuel dispensers that have "passed the test" will be affixed with a blue validation sticker providing the logo and name of the Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards and the expiration date of the authentication of the specific fuel dispenser nozzle.
Consumers are being educated to look for these validation stickers and verifications will be carried out hereafter, in accordance with the provisions of the Metrology Act and Regulations. Lessons learnt will be shared with regional metrologists through CROSQ's Caribbean Metrology Network (CARIMET) and that is recognized by SIM, the Inter-American Metrology System.
CROSQ Talking Energy
A major aspect to the recent 31st Meeting of the Council of CROSQ, in St. Kitts and Nevis was a half-day sensitization seminar on the ground-breaking efforts CROSQ has initialised in the area of energy, with joint-venture support from the CARICOM Secretariat's Energy Unit.
The workshop, which took place on the first day of the two day CROSQ Council meeting, focused strictly on the increasing energy portfolio of the CROSQ network – namely the Regional Energy Efficiency Building Code (REEBC) Project, which is partnered with the GIZ-REETA programme (German Development Agency, Renewable Energy Efficiency Technical Assistance programme); and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (R3E) Project, which is funded by the German National Metrology Institute (PTB).
Technical Officer, Communication and Information, Ms. Latoya Burnham, who conceptualised the seminar, along with other technical staff of the CROSQ Secretariat explained that the key objective was awareness.
"The main things we wanted our directors to walk away with were – an understanding of the progress made thus far with our energy projects; what the next steps would be, and what would be needed in terms of collaborations and cooperation to make our outcomes successful. Primary among all this of course, was to also hear what their concerns were; their thoughts on the Energy Roadmap that has been devised with considerable CARICOM Energy Unit input and their suggestions to us that could make it all happen.
"The manner in which CROSQ functions makes all our project implementation at the national level; so whatever we do at the Secretariat, has to be rolled out on the ground among our regional people. So at every stage, the consultation, buy-in and clear ideas of the roles different parties have to play must be a central thread," she stated.
As such, the Communication Officer said she believed their objectives were reached, especially as far as Member States understanding what comes next, how and why.
For the R3E Project, there was a major stakeholder meeting in Guyana in late October, and the Draft Minimum Energy Performance Standards for Energy Efficiency Buildings in the REEBC Project was still in Member States for comment and feedback, a process that remained open until the end of November 2017.
Activities will intensify in 2018 - with the expected approval of the REEBC by the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and then the development of model legislation for the REEBC along with conferences and stakeholder engagements; and too, the declaration of regional standards for energy efficient lighting, air conditioners and refrigerators in the R3E Project, along with strengthening of laboratory testing capabilities for energy efficiency in these devices.
There will also be a pilot project for the energy efficient labelling scheme in select countries.
CROSQ on Good Path
The following is an edited version of the speech by Outgoing Chairman of the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards & Quality, Mr. Jose Trejo at the Opening of the 31st Meeting of the Council of CROSQ, held at Marriott Resort, Frigate Bay, St. Kitts & Nevis on October 5, 2017.
"It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 31st Council Meeting of the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality. A special welcome to the Acting Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Weekes, we are glad that you could be here with us this morning to share a little bit of your time, surely enough we welcome you to stay for our seminar that will follow immediately after, to learn about the strides we are making in energy standards etc. Let me also extend our sincerest gratitude to our host, Mr. Hiram Williams, Director of the St. Kitts Bureau of Standards for receiving us so graciously during our short stay. To the Directors, friends and colleagues present, I extend a warm welcome.
Before I address you, in my last capacity as Chairman of the Council, I would like to take this time to express our deepest sympathies to all the Caribbean Islands – CARICOM and non-CARICOM – that have been devastated by the passing of two successive and powerful hurricanes in the likes of Irma and Maria. As I watched the images light up on the television screen, I admittedly was jaded, as I am sure most of us were, in disbelief that this could be happening and that it did. The images that you no doubt have seen are a stark reminder that Mother Nature unleashes her fury at will and that the only thing that we can be thankful for in the aftermath, is life itself. Anything outside of this can be replaced. Anything outside of this can be rebuilt; but more so it speaks to the resolve of the unbreakable human spirit to carry on despite the heartbreaking devastation. I am positive that the strength and courage of the peoples of the Caribbean will prevail and that life as we know it will return to some sense of normalcy. We wish for a speedy recovery with the hope that the rhythmic sounds of steel pan and salsa will soon reverberate, flowing from the comfort of homes into the streets, fast restoring what we have come to recognise as truly Caribbean.
Colleagues, now to the order of business. As we gather here today at this 31st meeting, there is an enormous sense of pride felt as I reflect on what we collectively have achieved. It is without question that the Regional Quality Infrastructure (RQI) that we have been tirelessly focusing on over the past decade, is now bearing fruit. In no special order, the region boasts its first ever Regional Quality Policy; a 5-year regional standards development priority plan; laboratories accredited with some as I speak in the pipeline; establishment of two Caribbean Reference Laboratories in Volume and Temperature; Quality Awards schemes developed, marketing and communication plans that in principle are packaged to promote and sell QI services; a Secretariat that has developed an on-demand skill-set that can now confidently extend itself to the wider region. Fair to say that the majority of this was accomplished under the 10th EDF-TBT project executed by the PTB with CROSQ and INDOCAL serving as sub-executing agencies.
To this end, it is important to recognise the technical and financial support that the region has received from its regional and international partners and donor agencies. Arms outstretched, it also serves as given testimony that the region has slowly gained the trust and confidence of it partners and agencies as evidenced in the scaling up of recent initiatives, namely CDB, Tradecom and the PTB to mention a few. As this pool widens so will the benefits flow towards the continued advancement of the RQI.
Colleagues, as we push towards a new frontier we are bound to encounter challenges. I therefore urge you to be ever so mindful that we must in collective fashion, continue to rally as a group to overcome these challenges. Please allow me to say, that no one institution should bear the burden and struggle of solving institutional challenges on its own especially when among you is a repository of experiences that can be draw upon to provide the lift that we more than often need.
With this, I ask those of you who have spent a great portion of your professional careers in quality systems to continue to provide your support and to continue to be the stalwarts for QI. To the new comers – and once upon a time I would consider myself in this group but my grey hair now tells me otherwise – I want to encourage you to be open and willing to bring fresh and innovative ideas to a dynamic field that could never be short of it.
If you will allow me, I would now like to personally thank the Council for giving me this opportunity to serve as the Chairman. It was indeed an honour and privilege to serve in this capacity for the past two years. It was quite an experience, as I have candidly echoed to some of you, much of the credit is due to the work of the CEO and the staff of the Secretariat. Under his sound leadership and support CROSQ is gradually distinguishing itself from the pack, elevating itself as a premier CARICOM Organisation on this platform for RQI.
The CEO continues to thread the needle to ensure that the internal environment at the level of the Secretariat continues to evolve to meet the multidimensional and multidisciplinary needs of the external environment in our region. This has brought to bear a Branding Strategy that is tightly knit to meet the region's needs in an efficient and effective manner. It should come as no surprise then that we are indeed turning heads. The CEO's efforts to draw the attention of regional and international organisations to the unfolding of an RQI in the Caribbean has been nothing short of relentless.
This pivoted on the successes that the region has been experiencing despite the multiplicity of needs across an economic and geographical space that may at times, appear far and wide. The push for the RQI in the Caribbean to stand its own, is an opportunity to explore new frontiers across other regional organisations that not only can assist and support our region but that can also equally learn from us. The CEO has ensured that this plays out to the tune of a region that is outward looking; fully embracing of new alliances that will undoubtedly propel the growth and development of the RQI further into the foreseeable future. To the CEO and his staff, I extend my deepest and sincerest gratitude for all the support that they have given me during this time.
I think it is most appropriate to close with a bold declaration that the RQI is on an unprecedented path of development and as it continues to gather momentum, I remain ever so excited and positive about its future. It is my sincerest hope that we continue to support the Secretariat and the incoming Chair as they carry us into what I consider a promising future.
Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, let not our hearts be troubled, the RQI is in a good place. I welcome you and thank you once again."
(Mr. Trejo is also the Director of the Belize Bureau of Standards.)
The following is an edited version of the speech delivered by Acting Executive Director of the St. Kitts & Nevis Bureau of Standards (SKNBS), Mr. Hiram Williams at the Opening of the 31st Meeting of the Council of CROSQ, held at the Marriott Resort, Frigate Bay, St. Kitts & Nevis on Thursday, October 5, 2017.
"Being part of the global market, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is signatory to trade agreements such as the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement, implemented within the World Trade Organisation (WTO), for which the Bureau of Standards is designated as the Enquiry Point. Under the TBT agreement, states parties are obligated to base their national technical regulations on international standards and to participate in conformity assessments systems.
The World Trade Organization Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO/TBT) recognises the importance and the role of international standards and conformity assessment systems in improving efficiency in production and facilitating global trade. The process of developing National Standards requires significant technical and financial resources. Member States have to use the limited technical and financial resources well.
Developing and effectively implementing standards is not only a lengthy exercise but also costly. A lot of people from these organizations take personal loans to cover such costly expenses! It is important that we make good use of these limited resources to develop our Quality Infrastructure as it relates to Standardisation, Metrology, Certification, Accreditation and Conformity Assessment. Our membership in CROSQ provides us with access to standards developed and harmonised through the coordinated effort of the organisation's Technical Management Committee (TMC). Hence, the Government will continue to support the Bureau's participation in our own regional organisation CARICOM Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), and also support our strategic alliance with International Organisations such as the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the Inter-American Metrology System (SIM), Codex Alimentarius (the world's most recognised food standards body), Pan-American Standards Commission (COPANT), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and ASTM International.
The SKNBS is happy to participate in CROSQ's programme to harmonise regional standards and promote their awareness to improve competiveness and facilitate regional and international trade. In this regard, we commend CROSQ for developing a regional standardisation strategy and also for assisting the Member States in developing their own National Standardisation Strategies.
We are pleased with our partnership with CROSQ and the other Member States as we work together as a region to influence the content of International Standards. And indeed, this was demonstrated recently under the SKNBS's project – "Enhancing the National Quality Infrastructure of ST. Kitts and Nevis", where we received valuable technical assistance from CROSQ in providing the Technical Officer for Standards from the Secretariat and the Chief Technical Officer for Standards at the Barbados National Standards Institute (BNSI), Mr St. Prix and Mr Scott respectively, to assist us in the implementation of the National Standardisation Strategy. Similarly, we are grateful to the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) and Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) for facilitating training attachments for SKNBS technical staff.
Standards and Conformity Assessment procedures are critical and essential to our national quality infrastructure as it relates to health and safety, industry and commerce and to the nation's economic performance. It is estimated that about 80% of global trade in goods and services is affected by standards and technical regulations based on standards. For this and other economic reasons, it is essential for countries to develop and implement national standardisation strategies that will facilitate the development and adoption of standards to meet market needs and requirements to effectively compete and trade globally.
Our membership in regional and international organisations permits us to influence the development and content of regional and international standards and conformity assessment programmes that enhance our position in the global marketplace.
So in addition to our involvement in CROSQ and being the enquiry point for the WTO - TBT agreement, the Bureau is also:
- Contact point for Codex Alimentarius, the leading international food standard organisation,
- one of the contact points for International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN),
- focal point for the Stockholm Convention that deals with the reduction and eventual elimination of persistent organic pollutants, and also,
- the focal point for the Minamata Convention.
And I am pleased to inform you that on the advice of the Bureau of Standards, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis ratified the Minamata convention in May 2017. The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury.
In keeping with the Bureau's responsibilities and the Federation's obligations under international trade agreements, such as the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the Bureau has embarked on the development of training programmes and projects specifically geared towards building our Quality Infrastructure. And, as mentioned earlier, we requested and received technical assistance from CROSQ for development and implementation of a process to adopt and develop standards according to best practices. One of the main outcomes was the establishment of six (6) technical committees to address issues and matters that are relevant and important to the Federation. The committees established were:
- National Committee on Environmental Management;
- Committee on Labelling;
- Committee on Tourism and Related Services;
- National Committee on Codex, to deal with Food Safety and Standards;
- National Committee on Information and Communication Technology, and
- The Energy, Electrical and Mechanical Technical Committee
And these six committees are in addition to the existing National Committee of Conformity Assessment Bodies, which is chaired by Dr Marcus Natta, SKNBS' Science and Research Manager, who is also the National Accreditation Focal Point and presently in Geneva attending one of ISO's - Committee on Conformity Assessment (CASCO) working group meetings.
Another programme that the SKNBS benefited from was also supported by CDB under the 10th EDF standby facility project "Enhancing the National Quality infrastructure of St. Kitts and Nevis". This project provided assistance to the Bureau (SKNBS) to undertake development plans to ensure accuracy and reliability of its test results. Hence a major milestone in this plan is to be accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standard and upgrade and acquiring key pieces of equipment. During the last 12 months, the SKNBS staff has worked extremely hard in developing and receiving training for the implementation of a Quality Management System as per the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025. And as I said, our aim is to be accredited by 2018 starting with selected microbiology tests.
I want to take this opportunity to commend the CEO and staff of CROSQ, particularly over the last year where there has been a drive with success to develop and establish new partnerships and cooperation with relevant regional and international organisations of interest to Member States. We have to adapt to a changing world and this type of partnership and cooperation will help CROSQ to demonstrate and establish itself as a significant and relevant regional standards organisation that can prepare Member States to have an impact on the content of international standards.
Therefore, on behalf of the Minister and the Ministry of International trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, we express our appreciation for having the opportunity to host the 31st Council of CROSQ meeting and Energy Awareness Seminar and wish that we have a fruitful and successful two days of deliberations.
Thank you."
CARICOM One Step Closer to Regional Regulations for Improving Energy Performance in Buildings
Energy conservation and implementation of an Energy Efficiency Building Code are critical to mitigate the impacts of climate change which pose great risks to countries, like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, within the Caribbean.
This was the sentiment was expressed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Commerce in St. Vincent and Grenadines, Mrs. Sandy Peters-Phillips, on Monday, 24 July 2017, when she addressed the opening of the Second Meeting of the Regional Project Team (RPT) for the Development of the CARICOM Energy Efficiency Building Code. The Meeting was held in Kingstown, St. Vincent over two days, 24-25 July 2017, and according to Dr. Devon Gardner, Programme Manager for Energy within the CARICOM Secretariat, signaled the "collective intent of CARICOM to act in a collaborative and cohesive manner to give life an Energy Efficiency Building Code for the region".
Dr. the Honourable, Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who made an appearance at the technical meeting session, provided critical insight into a number of key issues, especially the legal requirements and socioeconomic considerations at national levels, of which the RPT should be mindful. He indicated that the inclusive approach that was being pursued, with regards to the EEBC development, could contribute toward a balancing of the technical options, which were being considered by the experts, with the national realities and provide to an easier path for country adoption.
At this, the Second Meeting, the RPT reached consensus on a Draft Caribbean Application Document (CAD), just four months after the first meeting was convened in Kingston, Jamaica. The meeting also resulted in the endorsement of a programme of work for the effective, efficient and timely completion of the Regional EEBC.
The RPT, which comprises energy efficiency and standards development experts nominated by National Bureaus of Standards from across the Region, was formally launched in March 2017 with the mandate to review and determine an optimal approach for adapting and developing, an appropriate code for consideration as the Energy Efficiency Building Code (EEBC) for CARICOM.
The first meeting had approved the use of the International Energy Conservation Code 2018 (IECC 2018) as the reference code for the Regional EEBC. Since, a Draft CAD was developed, through a cooperation between the CARICOM Secretariat and the CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), and reviewed by Committees established within the Member States that engaged key stakeholders. The revised draft of the CAD will now be open to the general public in Member States for validation.
The EEBC, which will address all aspects of energy use in buildings, is expected to reduce the dependency on imported fossil fuels within the Region by reducing buildings' energy consumption. Furthermore, it can substantially contribute to compliance with domestic targets for sustainable energy use and global commitments for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction.
The development of the CARICOM EEBC is being supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, through the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technical Assistance (REETA) Programme, as well as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), through the Energy for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Caribbean Buildings Project.
The 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Programme has been deemed a success by its partners and stakeholders.
Concluded at the end of March 2017, the programme whose aim was to enhance the services of Quality Infrastructure within CARIFORUM countries to facilitate the smoother operations of trade, was centred around the development and equivalence of standards among Member States; development of metrology (science of measurement) services; the accreditation of laboratories and the development and implementation of testing, inspection and certification bodies and services, as well as the boost of awareness and information sharing.
The programme was managed by the German National Metrology Institute (PTB) and implemented by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) and the Dominican Institute for Quality (INDOCAL) in the Dominican Republic.
Project Coordinator with CROSQ, Ms. Karlene Russell noted that it was a very successful implementation at a rate, as of mid-March, approaching 90 per cent completion.
"The main elements of the TBT Programme included capacity building in all areas of Quality Infrastructure. We also looked at international recognition of national and regional quality institutions, as well as regional harmonisation and equivalency, specifically related to standards development, and of course the promotion of a quality culture in the region.
"To date we have achieved 70 per cent of our performance indicators and another 20 per cent is about 50 per cent completed. So we are looking at significant progress being made in about 90 per cent of our performance indicators. And as far as the implementation of regional programmes go, that is a very very good result and we are very pleased with the success," said the project coordinator.
The performance indicators are the benchmarks set in the project to gauge effectiveness and achievement of the objectives set within the overall project, as well as more specific areas.
The project was a 7.8 Million Euro undertaking, of which about 95 per cent had been spent up to mid-March, which was also concomitant with the technical implementation, added Ms. Russell.
These comments underscored those of Chairman of CROSQ, Mr. Jose Trejo at two separate events in March, the Close-Out Seminar in Antigua and Barbuda, and then a regional press conference held via video conferencing systems and linking a majority of the Member States and Germany.
Mr. Trejo noted that he was exceptionally pleased with the progress and results of the project, and over the coming years, CROSQ would aim to strengthen the platforms set.
"During the next few years, CROSQ will focus on strengthening Quality Infrastructure in the Services sector and creative industries. We will also seek to implement programmes that foster greater utilisation of national QI services by the private sector, public sector & academia. Programmes geared towards international accreditation of conformity assessment bodies – such as testing laboratories, inspection bodies and certification agencies, will be continued in earnest.
"As we pursue our regional development agenda we acknowledge that the CARICOM region is seen as attractive for investment and recognised for our competitive advantage in niche products. Therefore as we continue to develop these markets, quality must remain at the centre in order to advance Caribbean Competiveness," said the Chairman.
In offering congratulations, PTB's Head of Technical Cooperation for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Ulff Hillner noted, "It was in many respects a very rewarding experience for us as a National Metrology Institute. It was the first time the European Union directly entrusted and awarded us as a national organisation to execute this kind of project so we have been able to gain a lot of experience along the way.
"It was rewarding because a team was built in the process that spanned the region that included the CROSQ Secretariat and staff, the National Standards Bodies in CARICOM and the Dominican Republic, so in that way it was a novel and innovative approach which proved to be quite successful. . . I think the achievements speak for themselves," said Mr. Hillner.
Among notable highlights of the project were:
• The development of a Regional Quality Policy that is now set to go before CARICOM's Council on Trade and Economic Development for approval;
• The creation of a Five-Year Regional Standards Development Priority Plan, which was the first of its kind in the world to provide the Caribbean with a forward scope for the development of Standards. It has already gained the attention of the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO);
• The ISO9001 certifications in Belize, Jamaica and Suriname.
• The creation of the Caribbean Cooperation for Accreditation (CCA) Scheme that coordinates regional experts in assisting laboratories and other bodies seeking accreditation, at reasonable rates;
• Equivalence of standards with five commodities between CARICOM and the Dominican Republic – to ensure the standards set at both trading ends were similar;
• The establishment of two Caribbean Reference Laboratories (CaRLs) in volume and temperature;
• Experts trained in mass and temperature in labs within the Region; and the provision of measurement equipment in all CARIFORUM countries;
• Awareness-raising about accreditation at the national level;
• Accreditation of five regional laboratories and one certification body utilising the Caribbean Cooperation for Accreditation (CCA) Scheme; as well as testing laboratories in Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Belize, and an inspection body in Trinidad and Tobago which are on the way to accreditation.
• CROSQ's observer status on the World Trade Organisation's TBT Committee;
• The production of a series of videos about the development of Regional Quality Infrastructure in the Caribbean, which are now available in 17 countries, including the Dominican Republic and Germany.
by Jewel Fraser of Inter Press Service News Agency
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states are in the process of formulating an energy efficiency building code for the region that would help reduce CO2 emissions, but implementation of the code may depend heavily on moral suasion for its success.
Fulgence St. Prix, technical officer for standards at CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) who is overseeing the Regional Energy Efficiency Building Code (REEBC), told IPS, "When we at the regional level propose a standard or code it's meant to be voluntary…We do not have the mechanism to dictate to member states to make any standard the subject of a technical regulation thus making implementation mandatory."
In keeping with WTO guidelines, he said, "A standard is a voluntary document. You cannot force any member state to implement any one standard." The decision as to whether to implement the REEBC, therefore, rests with member states.
The REEBC project was officially launched at a meeting in Jamaica at the end of March. This followed consultations over several months by a Regional Project Team comprising representatives from some of the Caricom member states, as well as regional architects, engineers, builders and electricians, on the need for a minimum energy efficiency building standard for the region.
It was unanimously agreed that it was imperative one be established and the decision was taken to base the REEBC on the 2018 version of the International Energy Conservation Code that will be published in July of this year.
"The goal is to have a document that would reduce the CO2 footprint on the average," said St. Prix, adding that climate change is just one of the considerations driving the REEBC initiative. "If we could develop that code and have it effectively implemented, we could realise at least a 25 per cent reduction of CO2 emissions, but this is just an estimate."
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) chapter on Buildings in its Fifth Assessment Report states that in 2010 buildings accounted for 32 per cent of total global final energy use, 19 per cent of energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (including electricity-related), and approximately one-third of black carbon emissions.
GHG emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean from buildings were said to have grown to 0.28GtCO2eq/yr (280,000,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents of GHG emissions) in 2010.
The report also states, "final energy use may stay constant or even decline by mid-century, as compared to today's levels, if today's cost-effective best practices and technologies are broadly diffused."
However, the IPCC's report suggests that moral suasion may not be the most effective means of achieving the implementation of energy efficiency standards. It notes, "Building codes and appliance standards with strong energy efficiency requirements that are well enforced, tightened over time, and made appropriate to local climate and other conditions have been among the most environmentally and cost-effective."
Trinidadian architect Jo-Ann Murrell, managing director of Carisoul Architecture Co. Ltd., a firm that specialises in green architecture, said effective implementation of a regional energy efficiency building code may have to wait until the region's younger generation become the decision makers with regard to home purchases.
"We have a younger generation who will be older at that time, who will be interested in investing in energy efficiency. They are interested in the sustainability of the climate," she said.
She said that the subsidised cost of electricity in Trinidad and Tobago is 3 cents US per kWh. So, "there is not a desire on the part of clients, due to the cost factor, for using alternative sources of energy or using energy saving devices. So when we tell clients they can achieve energy savings if they use certain building methods, they will choose the energy efficient air conditioning unit, they will use LED lights, and so on, but [not always] when it comes to other options," Murrell said.
She stressed, "We have very competent architects in Trinidad and Tobago and the architects are quite knowledgeable in terms of sustainable design. What we do not have are clients who are willing to do the financial outlay to incorporate sustainability."
St. Prix also cited economic challenges for Caricom states wishing to implement the REEBC. "You know that member states are at very different stages of their development. Any building code is a challenge. The major challenge is human resources and [the need for] economic resources to be able to employ the needed personnel to implement the code."
The IPCC report also cites transaction costs, inadequate access to financing, and subsidised energy as among the barriers to effective uptake of energy efficient technologies in building globally.
The IPCC report goes on to state, "Traditional large appliances, such as refrigerators and washing machines, are still responsible for most household electricity consumption…albeit with a falling share related to the equipment for information technology and communications (including home entertainment) accounting in most countries for 20 % or more of residential electricity consumption."
For this reason, CROSQ is also undertaking a regional energy labelling scheme for appliances sold in the region. Though common in European countries, they are not standard practice throughout the Caribbean. The scheme, said Janice Hilaire, project coordinator for the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project (R3E), is being funded by the German government.
"We also want to develop standards for PVC panels and water heaters," she added.
Hilaire said the R3E would be training people to carry out the testing for this scheme at select labs in the region that has a limited amount of equipment for carrying out the tests.
"We are setting up an intense information and awareness campaign because we want to bring about a change in behaviour. We want householders to understand why they must adopt certain practices. We also want to bring about a more efficient use of energy.in the region which will positively affect GDP. The REEBC cannot operate in a vacuum. It must be complemented by other initiatives," she said.
The REEBC and the associated R3E are in their early stages, St. Prix pointed out. As these projects are rolled out, CROSQ will begin collecting data that shows the actual dollar savings the region enjoys through these initiatives. The CROSQ team will then be able "to go to our policy makers and say, if you make this mandatory you will be saving this amount." Member states would be urged to put legal mechanisms in place, St. Prix said.
(This article was originally published by the Inter Press Service News Agency)
Statement On Concerns Relating To Unwholesomeness Of Processed Meat & Meat Products Originating From Brazil
The Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) has been monitoring the issue relating to the sale of unwholesome meat and meat products originating from Brazil.
Several Member States have already instituted measures to restrict the importation of some or all meat products from Brazil. It is noted that China, the European Union, and Chile have also instituted restrictive measures.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has redoubled its food inspection efforts on beef products from Brazil although none of the slaughtering or processing facilities implicated in the Brazilian scandal shipped meat products to the U.S. The Department said it is still conducting "additional pathogen testing" of all shipments of raw beef and ready-to-eat products from Brazil.
CAHFSA is endeavoring to obtain more information as it relates to the specific plants and products involved and will disseminate same as soon as possible.
We are kindly requesting Member States that are conducting tests of the various products, to share the results with the other Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs)/Member States who may not be in a position to complete the testing protocols. This is in an effort to assist in the decision-making process regarding the continuance of the measures that would have been taken.
We would also like to advise that Members of the Community to take the necessary measures to protect the well-being of their population, until necessary determinations have been made that the products are safe for consumption. This may entail a comprehensive review of the operations/production systems in Brazil in general and the specific companies in particular. Thus, the requirement of a Regional Risk Analysis.
(Statement from the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency - CAHFSA)
Key Experts at Energy Efficiency Workshop in Grenada
Energy security and the efficiency of use of energy in the buildings of CARICOM is the focus of a three-day workshop in Grenada from July 13-15, 2016.
The regional workshop on Energy Efficiency Standards and Regulations brought together over 40 experts from the 15 Member States of CARICOM to examine two key objectives: the establishment of benchmarks for the energy performance of buildings in the form of agreed Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPs), and the provision of a firm basis for the development of a Regional Energy Efficiency Building Code (REEBC).
CEO of the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), Mr. Deryck Omar remarked that the organisation's directive to develop energy efficiency standards for appliances and buildings was one handed down by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in 2013. Such a directive was embraced by CROSQ which committed to the development of the REEBC.
"We also recognise the importance of development of standards for energy efficiency and renewable energy as it enables us as a region to meet our obligations under international agreements, meeting millennium goals and reducing carbon foot print; as well as relieving pressure on our governments as it relates economic transformation, providing for energy independence and security.
"To guarantee success of fulfilling the directive it is both necessary and important for CROSQ to partner and explore synergies with other organisations with similar goals," said the CEO at the opening ceremony of the workshop.
CROSQ is partnering in this initiative with agencies and projects, including the GIZ-funded Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technical Assistance Programme (REETA), the CARICOM Energy Unit, and the Caribbean Development Bank, alongside hosts of the workshop, the Grenada Bureau of Standards.


text:
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Comperio is a leading italian provider of OpenSource solutions for Public, Scholar and University libraries. Clavis NG is the leading Integrated Library Management System web based and provided in dual license OpenSource and Commercial.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Applying to graduate school at U.S. universities can be a long process for international students. Prospective students may feel a sense of relief after taking standardized tests such as the TOEFL or GRE, but a satisfying score is just one step forward in the journey to an American university.
As the application process ramps up, you will realize there is still a lot of work to do before getting an admission letter from your dream school.
Making an application checklist helps applicants to U.S. schools manage the application process efficiently and effectively, and to a large degree, will ease anxiety and stress during the process. Understanding the various tasks that are part of the admissions process will help prospective international students along their path to graduate school.
[Learn how grad school officials evaluate international applicants.]
First, make sure you conduct research on the school. Answers to many questions, such as application deadlines, curriculum details and professors' profile information, can be found during a school's Q-and-A session or on a program's website.
If you do ask questions, make sure they are thoughtful. One good guideline, particularly when emailing professors, is to refrain from asking more than five questions at once – normally asking three or four questions is fine.
Next, make time for interviews, because some U.S. schools may require them as part of the application process. I would recommend you to schedule an interview with the school as soon as you decide to apply, even before you start your application. Contact the school to set up a time for the interview.
When you schedule the interview, take time zones into account and tell the interviewer what time zone you are referring to.
Think about questions an interviewer may ask. Typical responses include a self-introduction, the reason why you're interested in a specific school or program and your knowledge about that institution.
While you should prepare answers ahead of time, if you have an interview over Skype or by phone, don't read your prepared answers. List some talking points and speak normally and naturally like you are having a face-to-face conversation with an interviewer. In order to do that, start preparing at least one week ahead of the upcoming interview.
[Get tips for international students on mastering the MBA interview.]
When you do start working on your applications, set your own deadlines so you can apply as early as possible. Setting a hard personal deadline for each school to which you plan to apply will help you monitor the whole application process in a timely manner.
If a school's official deadline is Dec. 15, set an earlier deadline for yourself, perhaps Nov. 20. By that date, finish preparing all application materials, such as your cover letter, resume and essays.
Making sure everything is ready early will give you at least two to three weeks to polish your resume and rewrite your application essays. Take that time to improve your application before the official deadline. Sloppy, last-minute work will not earn you a seat in your dream school.
[Know how to make an American-style resume for your application.]
Finally, make sure to check on your application status – but do it intelligently. Many schools in the U.S. dislike having applicants inquire repeatedly about the status of an application.
Of course, the waiting process is not pleasant. Many schools allow you to check the status of your application online, so you should do that instead of contacting the admissions office However, this does not help your application if you check it frequently, like three times a day. I prefer to check my status once a day, usually in the afternoon, so that I would get the most updated information of the day.
If your school does not allow you to check online, contact the office about a week after you've submitted your application to make sure they have received all application materials. If you have not gotten a decision from the school by the time they have said you would hear, it's acceptable to send an email to check, but don't inquire more often than that. Many schools don't like to be called because admissions committee members are busy with a high volume of applications and may not have the time to answer the phone.
Take advantage of the opportunity the admissions process presents to learn how to manage all these tasks and priorities simultaneously. You will feel grateful that you have mastered this skill once you start your busy graduate school career.
Jia Guo, from China, graduated from the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism after transferring from Shandong University of Political Science and Law in Jinan, China, where she studied law. Guo is currently a graduate journalism student at New York University.


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Aradia Fitness Testimonials
Aradia Fitness Testimonials
"I have been a student at Aradia for almost a year now, when I first started out I was worried about being male and how I would fit into a business for empowering women. But after my first session I realized it wouldn't be a problem; the instructors were excited to be there, enthusiastic and accepting of all. The business owner Chantelle who also teaches classes herself, is wonderful to work with and flexible. Chantelle is willing to go out of her way to try and find a way to make your fitness needs work and to fit you into the little family at Aradia, I have made great friends and have found pole and silks to be one of the best workouts." – Josh Van Camp
"I look forward to classes (Silks, Pole, Contortion, and Pole Circuit) all day/ week. Great instructors, and a very friendly, comfortable environment."- Alexandra Ioannides
"Been there for a year now, and still loving every week. The instructors are absolutely amazing. I'm on top of the world every time I go there wink emoticon you guys rock!!!" – Theresa Masse
"This is the 1 day a week where I feel sexy!" – Karen L
"In love with Aradia! The instructors are amazing and the studio is beautiful. I wasn't sure if I would be able to do it since I'm kind of a goof but I would recommend it to anyone its so empowering and a great workout!" – Jakkie W
"The new owner has made wonderful changes to Aradia, the instructors are amazing and I the learning pace for me is perfect! Love this place!" – Sara R
Aradia Fitness has completely changed my life. I started taking classes in March/April. Since then I have lost 35lbs and have never felt more confident. The instructors are so sweet and encouraging. They always make me laugh and make me feel comfortable. I look forward to my classes every week. I love this company." – Miranda S
Results May Vary


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Creating a New Build
You can create a new build in two locations:
- The Builds section of an assembly's Inventory tab
- The Build Manager section of the Supply Chain perspective on the Welcome Page
In both cases, create the new build by clicking on the blue plus (+) symbol at the top-right.
Build Configuration
Most of the configuration settings for a build are specified during this first step of build scheduling. The parameters below are available.
Manufacturer Part Number
This is the assembly you are building. Associated with each build are all the parts required for the assembly. Eventually, these parts will be consumed (their inventory quantities reduced) and the finished good is produced (a new inventory unit for the assembly is created).
Part List Version
The current active part list version for the assembly is used during initial build configuration. After you have created the planned build, you can change the part list version to another tagged version.
Build Quantity
The final quantity of the assembly you're building. This is used to compute part consumption based on the number of components per assembly as specified in the assembly's bill of materials. Quantity can be adjusted at any time in the planning stage. Once you allocate parts for the build, you will need to cancel the allocation to make any changes to quantity.
Drill-Down Part Lists
When this option is not checked, Aligni only includes parts on the assembly's part list and will not drill down through subassembly part lists.
When this option is checked, Aligni will recursively include all the parts of the assembly including parts of subassemblies and so on. Traversal in this manner stops when Aligni encounters a part with the "Manufactured Here" attribute set.
Start Date
This is the date the build is expected to start. It is used for scheduling purposes in the Build Manager and establishes the date when the component parts are expected to be consumed for predicting consumption.
If the build you are planning is a one-time build, leave this setting unchecked. Check this if you plan to run the build multiple times and Aligni will schedule multiple builds and predict part consumption accordingly. You can adjust the next scheduled date and recurrence rate at any time.
End Date (recurring builds only)
This date specifies the end date for recurring builds. Scheduled builds will be setup between the start and end dates. The end date may be changed at any time.
Recurrence Rate (recurring builds only)
For recurring builds, this parameter specifies the interval (in days) between the first build on the start date and all subsequent builds through the end date. The recurrence rate may be changed at any time.
The build location determines which inventory units are available during the reservation phase. If you select Global, inventory units at all locations are available for reservation. If you select a specific location, only inventory units at that location will be available for reservation. You may change the build location at any time until at least one item has been reserved.
In some cases, it may be necessary to add, remove, or substitute parts on a build. Aligni has tools to manage, document, and track these deviations through the interface. Deviations are created during the planning phase of a build. For more information, see the Build Deviations page.
Inventory Status
The planning phase of a build is simply a representation of an intent to run the build at some time in the future. No inventory changes or indications are generated when you create a planned or scheduled build. Inventory indications are generated at the next phase when you allocate parts for the build.
Shown to the right are example inventory summaries for the three parts on our example build bill of materials after the build was planned. There is no indication that a build is expected for these parts.
File Attachments
As with parts and suppliers in Aligni, you can attach files and notes to your builds. These attachments remain with the build throughout the process and after completion. It's a great place to store build-specific items such as manufacturing purchase orders, deviation memos, certificates of compliance, serialization information, and so on.
In practice, builds represent a bridge between the product lifecycle management (PLM) capabilities of Aligni and the material requirements planning (MRP) capabilities. When it comes to part revisions, this can create some confusion.
Aligni, like most MRP systems, does not record an item's revision in inventory. This is because, at the inventory level, a particular SKU (or part number) is expected to be compatible in form, fit, and function. If any incompatibility is there, a new part number should be issued and can be tracked separately. If you need to distinguish among inventory units of a single part, the serial number, lot code, and date code fields are there to help.
While Aligni does not distinguish between revisions through the build process, it does record the active revision of each item and maintain that in the finalized build record. Note that it only records the active revision, regardless of the revision specified on the BOM. This is because, ultimately, the build process involves inventory and, in inventory, everything is assumed to be the same revision.
Material Requirements Planning
Part quantities for planned and scheduled builds appear on part usage graphs in indigo and blue, respectively, as shown in the screenshot below. Understanding these material requirements can help you during quoting and purchasing activities to maintain proper inventory levels and avoid line-down situations.
If the build is expected to be performed with some regularity (like 50 units every 3 months), Aligni uses these recurring builds to estimate material requirements over a specified time span when performing inventory consumption predictions. Planning a recurring build is done simply for prediction assistance and has no bearing on when the builds are required to occur. Recurring builds must still be processed to the allocation stage manually.
Completed builds maintain a persistent record of inventory consumption for the individual parts on the build bill of materials. These records serve as historical part usage information that can be viewed on the part details page in the Part Usage box.


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My message for this evening was titled, What to Pray for New Believers and an audio file has been uploaded, to this post, to listen to the message. My text for this sermon came from Colossians 1:9-12 and I hope it is an encouragement to you and those whom you pray for.
If the true church of Jesus Christ, were to follow this example found here in Scripture, there very well could be many great beacons of light throughout the country that could win countless souls to Christ and change the world to the glory of God.
"We long to see the churches full,
That all the chosen race,
May with one voice, and heart and tongue,
Sing His redeeming grace."
This message can be heard and downloaded it for free at http://sermon.net/kurtmichaelson
I do apologize that there weren't any new posts over the past few weeks. My wife and I went on vacation to visit her family for a week in Kansas and then we went to California to surprise my mother at her 60th birthday party.
Have a blessed week and stay tuned for more new posts.
Faithfully in Christ,


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Congratulations on winning the Wiki Helper Award! You can place this on your user page if you want to display the template there: {{Template:Wiki_Awards2020/6}}Loading editor
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Thanks again for your various contributions to the Wiki, but you seem to be using the past tense a little too much. Summaries of stories should be in the present tense, for one. And as for in-universe pages, they should only be in the past tense if the subject is known for sure to no longer exist in the form described. Hence, Neighborhood T8 should be in the present tense, because as far as we know it still exists in the present-day — whereas Caer Dallben is in the past tense because it's most likely long-destroyed by the 21st century.Loading editor
Got it, will keep that in mind for future reference.Loading editor
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Could you ask the calculations group to relook at these two calcs? They are currently used on your wiki for laser cannon justification for Star Wars.
I have critiques on the calcs:
1. For the first one, these asteroids were from a planet's rings and thus would be made of ice, but the calc assumes they are made of rock. Also, the speeds assumed are kinda weird.
2. The second calc uses the high end speed of a comet, 70 km/s, but they range from 10-70 km/s and average out at 40 km/s, but the calc doesn't take that in mind.
3. For both calcs, they also assumed the meteors hit the ships dead on, which didn't happen. They merely grazed or bumped into the side of the ship, and thus the ship didn't take the brunt of the energy. They need to be recalced based on the total surface area hit, though I am not sure how to do it totally.
May you ask the calc group to look at the calcs and fix them given these issues? It would be very helpful. Thanks in advance.Loading editor
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What the bleeding hell are you blabbering about? What has any of this to do with Disney Comics?Loading editor
Dark is a member of VS Battles Will which I cannot comment on, so I conctacted him from here. SorryLoading editor
Yeah, this stuff happens a lot. I'm just glad it's Fan and not another tryhard troll for the umpteenth time...
For the calcs, I know a lot of people were against the first one when i was first posted, so I dunno why it was used. Dunno about the second. I do know there are a bunch of Kiloton grade feats in newer canon media though, albeit mostly done by top level Jedi and Sith respectively, but some done by lower tiers.
I'll post this in the Star Wars thread to see if it gets any buzz. If none of the calc members take a look at it, then I'll contact a few.Loading editor
Thanks. This is moreso not for jedi, but for ships. I am a little skeptical of anything past double digits kilotons from for laser cannons, and see this feat as one of the justifiers.Loading editor
Ah, gotcha.
There's a ship that vaporized a small hill, which is in the single Kiloton range so Town level ships isn't out of the question. Ant already posted the thread about the calculations, so if that doesn't get any steam, I'll ask the others.Loading editor
Link to the feat? Is this that mountain flattening feat? If so, that I calculated to only be megatons and was from turbolasersLoading editor
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Thanks, so looking at the feat I should note that with pulverization that mere chain reaction from the explosion and the natural heat energy ensuing would be enough to create the ash. Vaporization is "cleaner" and would result in no ash but just vapor, and a much larger collateral explosion. As such, I am more convinced it is pulverization. Rock doesn't turn into ash, it is ash which would be unbound by the intense pressure from pulverization and then charred by the temperature.Loading editor
Could you link the calc and note that on the thread that the feat could not be vaporization because turning to ash =/= vaporization and that rock cannot even turn into ash as it is literally a conpressed clump of ash and dirt. It was simply unbound from the energy, pulverized to dust, and charred by the energy. That is not vaporizationLoading editor
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Can you check my blog to see if these calcs are fine? It's not on Vs Battles WikiLoading editor
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Happy Holidays! 🎄🕎🏮🕯Loading editor
Same to you too!Loading editor
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I've blocked the troll that you wanted us to block.Loading editor
Thank you. I apologize for that, trolls from the VsBattles wiki tend to follow me and other admins for inane reasons.Loading editor
Troll? What troll? Where?Loading editor
Scrooge MacDuck wrote:
Troll? What troll? Where?
The user Goggles-Nah, who left two spam messages on Darkanine's message wall. I've blocked them.Loading editor
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Hello, Darkanine! I see you've returned to the wiki! I just wanted to thank you for your edits so far (which have been very good, by the way), and to tell you that we hope you stick around - we could always use more contributors!Loading editor
Thank you!
By the way, what do we do with stories without proper names? It seems the early stories in Walt Disney's Comics and Stories didn't properly name the stories, so they're just called stuff like "Walt Disney presents Donald Duck" and the like.
Would it be "Donald Duck story (*original issue here*)" or something else?Loading editor
Well, a lot of those stories were later reprinted and given proper titles, so first you should check I.N.D.U.C.K.S. and see if that's the case. If it was never reprinted or never given a proper name in English, find out if it was given a title in another language. If it was, translate that name to English and use it for the title. If the story was never given an official name in any language, it may have a common fan-made name - use that if you know of it. And, if none of these things have happened, the best thing to do is to come up with a name for it, making sure to note on the page that it is not an official title, and use that until a more official name can be found.Loading editor
One last question, what's the naming convention for unnamed characters?Loading editor
Actually, we have much the same policy for those as we do unnamed stories: if the character was named in a foreign language version of the story, use the name they were given there (such as we did with Helmsman Benny, who was named in the French version but not the English), if they have a common fan-made name use that (such as we did with Semiramis, who was never named officially but given the name Semiramis on The Feathery Society by the comic author Gaucelm - but be sure that you mention the name is only a fan-made name), and if they have neither of those, just name the page something that describes the character (such as we did with the unnamed Angry Cheese Alien).Loading editor
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Welcome to the wiki.Loading editor
Thanks! I'm a long time lurker, glad to finally edit here.
I have a few questions though. I've been curious if this wiki accepts articles based on cartoons based off Mickey and Donald, like House of Mouse and the Mickey Shorts. Secondly, are non-"Duck/Mouse Universe" comics still published/licensed by Disney allowed articles, like the Aladdin Comics, or the upcoming Gravity Falls graphic novels?
Thanks in advanced.Loading editor
Any Duck/Mouse universe cartoons are accepted and encouraged. However, any other Disney-published things are not unless they have been established to exist within the Duck/Mouse universe. (for example: Tinker Bell has often been shown in Duck/Mouse stories, so any Peter Pan comics are allowed)Loading editor
What Drleezan said. Note that Aladdin does indeed have a history of being associated with the Duck/Mouse crew (albeit nowhere near as extensive as Peter Pan), so they're acceptable as well, be it in film, comic or video game form. If you want to see how the franchise of a particular Disney movie stands on the continuity issue, look at the page Walt Disney Classics. (And no, Gravity Falls isn't part of it.)
That being said, I'd like us to prioritize things that are more well-established as Duckverse-related before we move on to the less well-accepted ties like Aladdin. A good milestone would be not to start on Aladdin pages until at least all of the DuckTales 2017 episodes and characters have been wikied.Loading editor
Gotcha. Thanks!Loading editor
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Hi, I'm an admin for the Scrooge McDuck Wikia community. Welcome and thank you for your edit to Donald Duck (2017 Continuum)!
If you need help getting started, check out our help pages or contact me or another admin here. For general help, you could also stop by Community Central to explore the forums and blogs.
Enjoy your time at Scrooge McDuck Wikia!Loading editor
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text: Mortgage First is a trading name of CIBB Financial Services LLP, 4th Floor, Sycamore House, 290 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JR - is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. CIBB Financial Services LLP's FCA Register number is 495751 CIBB Financial Services LLP's permitted business is advising on and arranging mortgages and non-investment Insurance contracts. You can check this on the FCA's Register by visiting the FCA's Website www.fca.org.uk or by contacting the FCA on 0845 606 9966.


text:
Seeing all these amazing summer scenes sketches from our friends, I figured it was high time to bring back our own "sketch a day" challenge. Bee and I attempted this a few years ago, but life got busy …and it fizzled out.
It was a great bonding time for us, sitting and talking about what was memorable in our day, and usually laughing so hard neither of us could actually draw anything. It kept my brain organized too .. or maybe it was the designated creative time…
We started with doodlers anonymous contest to sketch a portrait. This was a HUGE challenge for me (gosh darn noses!) in skill and confidence. I had to find something good about my face – and not draw it like a beastly alien girl – which is what I see sometimes. Bee did a great job, so quick and easy. I love that she's so proud of herself.
Mine… After many attempts
Now that its done of course, I can breathe and … I actually like the pic. Well, its not hideous and all scratchy like a cat drew it with their eyes closed.
All in all, this time, if I can get my calendar in order, I hope bee will have an opportunity to meet some great artists at the kw urban sketch meetups, rather than my lessons based on faint memories of high school art class.
So hopefully this is the first of many for us.
My sketch of a berry tree (crabapple?)
Bees closeup sketch of the tree


text:
We begin a new year, with a new focus, or shall we say a re-focus on working smarter, more efficiently, more productive, more economically, and hopefully with less stress. If you're still using Windows 7, then make note that the support clock may be winding down. If you're using Windows 10, then you may be looking forward to the possible Spring update, or not.
I'll most likely continue working with Windows when absolutely necessary, but Linux based objectives should remain my main focus.
As noted in early posts, I remain a big fan of Lenovo laptops (mostly older models) – which really shine once you dump the Installed OS and install an up to date version of Linux.
It's possible that some people are not overly excited about using older, less powerful hardware, but once you find the Linux Distro that suits your requirements you may be pleasantly surprised how well things function.
I've gone to using Debian based MX on my older laptops, and started using the Ubuntu flagship on my latest and "slightly" more powerful ThinkPad.
For content creation I've retired my old MacBook (the new ones are a bit expensive) and reluctantly decided to walk away from Logic Pro and see if I can squeeze any more out of LMM and Audacity. I haven't decided if I should just install Ubuntu Studio or stick with the main Ubuntu LTS
On another interesting note, it looks like my favorite packet decode tool for troubleshooting networking issues is getting a refresh – Wireshark 3.0 will be available in the next few weeks. I've looked at the Windows development release 2.9 in the last few days, and look forward to the Debian and Ubuntu supported releases. If I was a true minimalist I would see if I can get more out of tcpdump and not rely on Wireshark as much. That will take some discipline. I have worked with Tshark at times when I probably could have used tcpdump. It might be worthwhile to go old school more often.
I believe the latest version is
4.9.2 released in 2017. I'll have to explore this a little more.
It looks like 2019 could be a great year for Linux, at least from my perspective, and support of Linux apps also promises to be a interesting Chrome OS development heading our way. It's already available for some Chromebooks, sadly not mine – yet.
I'm not quite as excited about the latest predicted Windows 10 browser changes, or underlying Linux support. I'm sure some users will be, but part of my New Year's resolution is to simplify my work flow. I don't need to get too distracted with MS developments at this time unless something truly amazing appears in the horizon.
I would like to eventually pair down to using only one OS, one laptop, and improve my personal and productive time management in the process.
Even with all the security concerns in the news recently (last year was not so good) I still think Windows does a good job of addressing security. That isn't enough of a reason to restrict my options to Windows only. Linux may have had the edge years ago, but whatever OS you use requires some effort on the user's part. Sometimes this boils down to what system you are more familiar with, and how much control of the system you have.
There are a few things I would like to see from any new Windows release, such as the option of a true minimalist installation without all the programs I would never use anyways. I'm also not a fan of the "store", but a repository similar to Linux installs would be a considerable improvement. I'd also be very interested in a simpler, more streamlined HotFix/patching update process. This would also apply to the big system-updates that seemed to get pushed as opposed to downloaded when I want them downloaded – unlike most Linux Distro upgrades.
On a more positive note;
I do appreciate the development of Powershell. Microsoft's new shell continues to get better with age. I'd also like to see some developments with the mysterious Microsoft Message Analyzer application. I thought that it had a lot of potential and was very useful, but I haven't seen much noted on it's future development lately. I thought it was a nice complement (not competitor) to Wireshark. (anyone need a second opinion?)
In all it looks like some operating systems and applications may be improving in the next year. It looks like Windows and Linux users should have a lot of enhancements coming.
On a side note, I'm sure many will continue to use their smartphones more than any other tech device in the coming year.
Smartphones still appear to be the most portable, and the easiest devices to use.
I think we might continue to see laptop use decline this year. I would also not be surprised if someone actually builds a tablet that really gives the iPad Pro some real competition. This could cut even more into laptop use if the price is attractive enough to compete with entry level laptops.
If Apple ever releases a full fledged version of Logic Pro on the iPad Pro (no Mac required) – I'd probably venture down that road and possibly – if not temporarily forget all about my laptop OS. That would really make 2019 a fun year for tech – at least for me. Talk about simplifying your work flow.
I guess there's always GarageBand. Hmmm? Interesting concept, but it might wind up being another distraction. (If it we're to become available)
Focus, focus, focus, that's what I need to do.
Alright, so now where was I?
Oh, yes, I'm going continue to concentrate my energy on working with Linux for the majority of my efforts and opportunities for efficiency as well as productivity.
As you can see, with so many options, it's probably is best to limit my time to a few stable Linux Distros and concentrate on improving my skill set. Any other diversions could ultimately cut into my forward progress. There is always more to learn. There never seems to be enough time to focus on one operating system let alone trying to learn everything about every system. Just like last year we'll just have to go one step at a time.


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20 singers from 12 nations advance to the Art Song and Aria semifinals
Montreal, Friday, June 1st, 2018 – Between May 29 and 31, 38 singers from 20 nations participated in the First round of the Art Song and Aria divisions. The jury selected 8 semifinalists in the Art Song division and 12 semifinalists in the Aria division, representing together some 12 nations. The Art Song semifinal starts today June 1st at Bourgie Hall. Here are the Art Song semifinalists by order of appearance:
Art Song Semifinal I – 3 pm
Julien Van Mellaerts (New Zealand – United Kingdom), baritone
Irina Jae-Eun Park (South Korea), soprano
Axelle Fanyo (France), soprano
Rihab Chaieb (Canada – Tunisia), mezzo-soprano
Art song Semifinal II – 7:30 pm
Gemma Summerfield (United Kingdom), soprano
Tomi Punkeri (Finland), baritone
John Brancy (United States), baritone
Clara Osowski (United States), mezzo-soprano
At the end of the semifinal, the jury will select four singers to advance to the Final on June 3 at 3 pm also at Bourgie.
As for the Aria semifinals, these will be held on June 4 and 5 at 7:30 pm at Maison symphonique, where singers perform with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) led by British conductor Graeme Jenkins. Here are the Aria semifinalists in order of appearance:
Aria semifinal I – Monday, June 4 at 7:30 pm
Dilyara Idrisova (Russia), soprano
Kidon Choi (South Korea), baritone
Mihail Mihaylov (Bulgaria), tenor
Emily D'Angelo (Canada – Italy), mezzo-soprano
Andrew Haji (Canada), tenor
Jongsoo Yang (South Korea), bass
Aria semifinal II – Tuesday, June 5 at 7:30 pm
Konstantin Lee (South Korea), tenor
Petr Nekoranec (Czech Republic), tenor
John Brancy (United States), baritone
Rihab Chaieb (Canada – Tunisia), mezzo-soprano
Mario Bahg (South Korea), tenor
Mikhail Golovushkin (Russia), bass
The Competition closes with the Finals Gala on June 7 at Maison symphonique as six singers perform with the OSM led by maestro Jenkins. The concert will be followed by the proclamation of winners in both divisions at the awards ceremony.
Zarin Mehta, among the world's leading performing arts administrators and consultants, presides over the Voice 2018 jury comprised of Edith Bers (United States), Ben Heppner (Canada), Soile Isokoski (Finland), Warren Jones (United States), François Le Roux (France), Dame Felicity Lott (United Kingdom), Richard Rodzinski (United States), Joseph Rouleau (Canada), and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (New Zealand).
Through a partnership with the Opéra de Montréal, the CMIM presents master classes featuring jury members, all of which begin at 1 pm in Bourgie Hall:
- June 2 with soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, preceded by a short documentary
- June 4 with collaborative pianist Warren Jones
- June 5 with soprano Soile Isokoski
In addition, on June 4 and 5 at 6:45 pm (just prior to the semi-finals at 7:30 pm), in the Foyer Allegro at the Maison symphonique, Jean-Pierre Primiani, Director of Development at the Opéra de Montréal, will host pre-concert talks with jury members Ben Heppner (June 4) and Dame Felicity Lott (June 5).
Through a partnership with the Festival international du film sur l'art (FIFA), the CMIM is presenting CINEMUSE. A chance to discover two exceptional documentaries on artists that have influenced an entire generation of musicians and music fans, on Saturday, June 2 in the Maxwell-Cummings Auditorium at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Host: Mario F. Paquet.
5:30pm: Mstislav Rostropovitch, l'archet indomptable (2017) – A film by Bruno Monsaingeon, followed by a commentary with cellist Denis Brott.
8:00 pm: Bloody Daughter (2012) – A film by Stéphanie Argerich, followed by a commentary with 2004 CMIM First prizewinner pianist Serhiy Salov.
Admission to the master classes and to CINEMUSE is free of charge. Admission to the talks is free of charge upon presentation of a ticket for the following concert.
All rounds of the Competition are webcast live and available on demand at concoursmontreal.ca/live. Master classes will be webcast and available on demand on the CMIM and partner Opéra de Montréal's websites. Moreover, the Aria Finals Gala will be broadcast live on the program Toute une musique on ICI MUSIQUE and the new ICI MUSIQUE Classique digital radio, on Thursday, June 7 at 7:30 pm. Hosted by Marie-Christine Trottier and Sylvia L'Écuyer.
Founded in 2002, the CMIM (Concours musical international de Montréal) aims to further the development of the world's most promising young singers, violinists, and pianists, while making classical music more accessible to the greatest possible number of people. The CMIM is the only international competition in North America to be held annually and to feature three disciplines (piano, voice, and violin) in a three-year rotation. Since its first edition dedicated to Voice in 2002, 3,500 hopefuls have entered the Competition, and close to 500 have been welcomed to perform in Montreal.
Complete details at concoursmontreal.ca
Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @CMIMontreal


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Technology has made it possible for business activities to be carried out on a large scale. The internet has been influential in expanding business activities and making it a possibility for the sellers and buyers from different places to meet on a common platform and amicably exchange what they have. Through the internet companies have been set up to enable people separated by geographical distances to meet to virtually meet and make exchanges. This paper examines one such company and explores how it has expanded. The paper will examine how it has upheld integrity by examining the policies regarding to two areas:
This is an international company that manages eBay.com which is an online auction website which brings together sellers and buyers from various places to sell and buy. Ebay has localized websites and owns skype, payPal among other businesses. Ebay allows the selling of a number of items as long as they are legal and do not violet the policies set up by ebay. Since the company went public in 1998 it has been developing policies to ensure that integrity is upheld in the course of the selling and buying process. Despite all these efforts there have been controversies have been raised over some of the items which have been put for bid on the website. A good example of such is that of a bid of a man's kidney which was put up for sale in 1999 (ecommerce, 2010).
ebay has developed a number of policies to ensure that the process of selling and buying runs smoothly without any party taking advantage of the other. Over time ebay has come to realize a number of ways in which sellers engage in committing frauds and consequently come up with a number of policies to combat these frauds. There are policies not necessary targeting frauds but out to ensure that the process of buying and selling takes place smoothly and no illegal goods are not exchanged. According to ebay (2010), the intention of ebay's policies are, 'support government laws and regulations, minimize risks to both buyers and sellers, provision of equal opportunities to all the buyers and sellers, protection of intellectual property rights, provision of enjoyable buying experience and supporting the values of the ebay community' (ebay p. 1). The section below examines the efforts of ebay in protecting the Intellectual property rights and Broadcast email and spamming.
The intellectual property
ebay has made the necessary provisions to ensure that intellectual property rights of third parties are not infringed with. The Verified Rights Owner (VeRO) program was created with this respect to ensure that the property rights are not infringed with. Rights owners are required to register and sign legally binding documents before reporting items to ebay. The ebay policy of intellectual property upholds the policies spelt out in the U.S. copyright office and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO, 2010; USCO, 2010). These two offices have comprehensive and detailed rules on the use of copyrights. The rules spell out clearly what entails infringing is in reference to intellectual property. ebay requires that the sellers read and understand the ebay rules on how legally binding compliant listings. ebay has a list of items which are prohibited or restricted due to their ability to infringe on intellectual property of third parties. There is also a list of the items which are not allowed on ebay. ebay has rules which affect how a seller can list items for sale and through the eBay VeRO program.
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Broadcast email and spamming
ebay encourages open relationship among its members. Ebay warns its members against using this opportunity to send send spams. ebay defines spam as a message that is sent without the consent of the one receiving it and the message should be discussing the process of buying and selling of either goods or services. Ebay gives examples of spams as follows: "unsolicited email offering sent to potential customers, email messages sent to the mailing list without prior permission, inviting people to join a mailing list that aren't related to a transaction, email sent using eBay messages" (ebay 1). Ebay advices its members to report incidences of spam being sent. ebay has given a procedure on how the members should reports cases of spams.
It should be appreciated that ebay has taken bold steps towards ensuring that it has set up policies which target making the selling and buying experience enjoyable for all the members. In reference to protection of intellectual property ebay should ensure that all the set rules and regulations are followed. Ebay should take an active step in ensuring that the members seeking to list items should have gone through the intellectual property tutorial. To control the spams ebay should ensure that it engages in a close scrutiny of the messages being sent and received. In general for ebay to ensure that its members do not engage in unlawful activities it may need to engage the services of a third party to help in the scrutiny process.
Ebay is a good example of a successful online company which has easily grown to be a very big company over a relatively short time span. The company has excellent policies which protect all the parties involved in selling and buying process. Though the company has some problems at the beginning, it has evolved to become a good example of a modern day online company.
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- How old is your globe? Is it less than 50 years old or is it turn of the century or before? Checkout our "Determining the Age of your Globe" article for assistance in dating your globe based on place names, and if it is more than 50 years old visit our friends at Murray Hudson for globes that date back to the turn of the century and before.
- What is the condition of your globe? If your globe is less than 50 years old and the map is severely torn, ripped or weathered, chances are it will not fetch a whole lot. That is unless the globe contains a unique feature or two that are no longer in production.
- How is it mounted and what is the condition of the stand? If the stand is in tact and in good condition that is a plus. Having a stand that is unique and/or no longer in production may increase the value.
- How was it acquired and who owned it? Is there a story behind the acquisition of the globe, who owned it, the purpose for which it served. Was it a globe made for a dignitary or head of state? While these details are not critical in determining the value of a globe, the story and ownership of a globe can make it more attractive to antique dealers and collectors.
Old globes do contain historical value based on the date of creation, such as:
- Political boarders & boundaries
- How landmasses are displayed
- Names and places of locations, i.e., Country, Capital, City, etc.
Many collectors look for specific features on a globe, such as a major named place change or the layout of the landmasses. The landmass display can be unique on very old globes as this was the understanding of how the earth was at that time.
If you are looking for a turn of the century globe, well, they are not cheap as you can imagine. Some companies do produce globes today with period maps from the 15th, 16th & 17th Century. Many of these can be found on our "Old World Globes" page. However if you are searching for an actual globe from a specific period checkout our friends at Murray Hudson.


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I was first introduced to this route when having to complete the 12 mile roadmarch as part of the 18th Airborne Corps requirements. Little did I know that despite: the blisters, the pain, and the blur of simply trudging along praying I would make the time and not collapse due to the physical toll this roadmarch took on my body; that this route would become such a favored part of my life. Even the rocks smile when I walk by. Can you see the face in this rock formation? It is clear as mud, look closely and let me know if you can't see it.
The building where I worked when I was in the Army used to be the fire station for Clarksville Base. I once tried to upgrade the drafty, leaky windows in our building and was told by the engineers that it was not allowed due to the building being historic. Historic must mean non-energy efficient because the wind sure blew through on cold days.
A favored and truly treasured spot is this stream area. There is a system of several bridges, one of which walkers and roadmarchers will pass over when navigating the trail. I almost always walk down the concrete bank and sit and listen to the water. Many folks do the same. On a sunny day there will be whole families walking the trail and some will even cast a fishing line or two. Look closely in the picture below and you can see tire tracks of some brave soul who decided to spin his car around in the stream. This would have been possible only when the stream was low. Wonder if it was fun to the silly drivers? Beavers, swallows, turtles, deer, wild turkeys, geese, and blue herons are all in abundance in this area. I have seen them all and so enjoy the tranquility of their lives. They coexist peacefully with walkers like me. Whenever the Jimster is with me it is a given he will take off his shoes and socks, roll up his pants and go wading. On a recent trek to the stream around dusk, the Jimster, his friend Christian, and I were enthralled when a 'little bird' helicopter showed up. It was doing night flying above the tree tops. As an air traffic controller we called this type of flying NOE, or nap of the earth flying. This helicopter gave us a show by landing on the bridge above. We were sitting right where I am taking the picture, quite close to the helicopter. Water spray and dust flew everywhere. I still get a tingle being around this type of activity or whenever I hear a helicopter fly overhead or a 'freedom bird' does a low take off just west of my home. It is the air traffic controller part of me coming out. Some of my aviation friends who spent their lives working on helicopters around here HATE the sound of helicopters now. They purposely buy homes far away from flight routes and avoid Fort Campbell altogether. But not me, I love the helicopters and all their noise. Now, the blasting from Fort Campbell I can do without:)
I thank the Army everyday for the wonderful experiences I was able to live during my twenty years of service. To travel to the Middle East, or fly over the Alps in a Huey, to fire a rifle and throw a grenade, to work in a bubble in the sky with air conditioning, to help a pilot land his aircraft in the thickest of fog, to get an education and to meet some really neat folks, to live in Italy and ride a gondola on the canals of Venice, to see King Ludwig's Fairytale Castle Neuschwanstein is something that most people never get to experience in a lifetime. And I was able to do it all and more during my twenty year tour of duty.
This post is really not about the Army, but about a wonderful walking trail on an Army base. This walking trail and walking in general always makes me appreciate the little things in life: like walking on a clear and sunny day and giving myself time to just be me with no pressures, no blogging, no stressors, just life. Walking does this for me. I am going to finish this post with a short video of the stream. You can hear the water running which is such a soothing sound for me. There will be more posts on this super great walking trail. It is filled with wildflowers and noises and vernal ponds full of bullfrogs and fish and geese and life. For now....
I'm in the garden....walking with Bella on the Clarksville Base Trail.
Hi all. I've been contacted by a few folks who are interested in Clarksville Base and from what I understand it was a most special place to be stationed during the Cold War. I am currently working on a post concerning some stories and some information about a few reunions that involve Clarksville Base. The page links are no longer valid for these reunions. Sorry.


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2017 Fellow of the American Physical Society
Congratulations to Prof. Deji Akinwande on his election as a 2017 Fellow of the American Physical Society! Deji is being recognized for "contributions to the physical study and development of scalable uniform monolayer graphene synthesis on wafer scale substrates, and the realization of gigahertz flexible and wearable two-dimensional devices, circuits and systems."
"The criterion for election [to APS Fellow] is exceptional contributions to the physics enterprise; e.g., outstanding physics research, important applications of physics, leadership in or service to physics, or significant contributions to physics education. Fellowship is a distinct honor signifying recognition by one's professional peers." No more than 0.5% of the membership of APS is elected to APS Fellow each year.
Award Category:
- APS Fellow


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Our exploration of the events unfolding in Syria has continued. The discussions have been great and the information has helped us work on writing with detail. Tonight's homework is to write a paragraph about Syria's president. We watched an interview with him from December. In it, he made some startling statements. The students need to write a paragraph about their impression of him.
I'm also asking them to talk to you about what's going on there and what we've learned and why they think it's important for Americans to know about what's going on in country so far away.
That paragraph is due Monday. I'll also be asking them to share with the class what they talked about with you. (Also due Monday is the POW....two different versions of this went home. If your child has the one without scores in the table, here's a hint: the 17 scores have to add up to 119.)
Also, PLEASE make sure students are finishing up 10 Places research at home this weekend. I want to have all 10 rough drafts written by the end of next week. BUT without notes and research, the paragraphs are impossible to write!
In other GATEWAY Exhibition updates...the Stock Market Project starts Wednesday. The Mythology Project will start the week of March 12.
In other news, there is NO SCHOOL on March 16. There's also another after school event, Family Literacy Night, scheduled for March 28 at 5:00 p.m. Stay tuned for details.
In other OTHER news, our class was mentioned in a blog post about video story problems. Check it out HERE: http://www.techsavvyed.net/archives/2352


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Arden Fryefield Wimberly (Coordination)
"Monica, I don't know what I would have done without you. You were so amazing and did a perfect job! I can't thank you enough for everything! This past weekend was the most amazing weekend of my life and everything was top notch thanks to you guys. I will be sure to recommend you to anyone I know getting married."
Terri & Chris sellers (full planning)
Lindsay Shilling (Wedding Weekend Coordination)
"You were wonderful. … So organized and calm, you anticipated every need the night of the wedding and were ready to take care of any problem that came up. You were such a pleasure and such an asset on my wedding day. The best choice I made was to have you there."
Christina Duss-Isetta (full planning)
"Monica sources excellent vendors, is tireless in her efforts and very strong at execution. She is also very kind and calm to work with which is helpful during planning."
Lynn Lucas (Mother of the Bride, full planning)
"Thank you for a great job. You managed everything including Audra perfectly! Could not have had such a great and stress-free affair without you."
Kim & Mike Baumann (full wedding planning)
"I think you know full well by now that there is no way we would have ever been able to do this without you! We were so fortunate we found you and hired you right away…Mike and I definitely felt you were always in our corner even when you had to tell us "no", with a smile. :)…You know your business inside and out, which made a huge difference in the level of service we received and the overall quality of the product.
I have to admit people are still talking about how great it was, including Mike and I. Thank you for listening to our outrageous whims and then bringing it back to reality to create an event we will never forget!"
Robin Rogers & Mats Elmsater (Planning and Coordination)
"Monica, Thank you for everything you did for us to make our wedding perfect! You were so helpful, especially taking care of the details during my finals. We couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate our marriage. So glad you could be part of it!"