text:
Relatives in a Writer’s Life

By Devraj Singh Kalsi

When condemnation comes from a decorated officer with eight medals in his kitty, you are left without any defence. He throws one salvo after another, bombards you with criticism – your self-esteem blown up in smithereens. Being one of the most successful among all your cousins, his fusillade is not dismissed as the rant of a demented relative. Every single word he uses without caution is accorded profound respect.

When such a relative decides to pour scorn on your ordinary life stripped of the essentials such as achievements and recognition, you have the entire cabal of relatives including maternal uncles and aunts echoing similar sentiment, rallying behind him with unequivocal support, attacking you for not choosing a proper career, for not taking life seriously, for not working hard to achieve success.

Yes, he did nothing worthwhile in life. All these years he was writing. But what did he write? Did he produce anything worthwhile? Wasn’t he aware that writing is a hobby? Has anyone ever made it a career choice? Absolutely lazy, crazy idiot! Writing is not for the middle-class people. Does that moron really think life is so easy that writing can sustain it?

These are some common – and caustic – comments that my relatives have shared to define my existence as a hopeless writer. Some sympathisers and gossipmongers have forwarded these Whatsapp exchanges to me – perhaps to stoke further enmity and enjoy a crossfire.

Earlier, such poor assessment used to affect my peace of mind.Over the years, I have learnt to ignore it all. Most of my relatives – elders and peers – are blatant in rejection of my pursuit. My litany of failures has given them the courage and space to doubt my skills.

One relative took a jibe the other day, saying her college-going daughter has started writing stories. She clarified it is her passion to write, and she is interested to build a career in law. She made it clear that a second-year law student has the maturity to decide that writing is not meant for a living and one needs a full-fledged career for that. I should understand the clear and powerful message conveyed through the example of her daughter. She could not have put it more directly. Bang on!

As I was yet to gather myself and say something, she sprang up with another well-crafted one. Pretending to take interest in my writing, she suggested I should share the manuscript I was working on with her daughter for editorial assessment.

Well, she could be one of the trainee editors in publishing houses who rarely read from the slush pile and promptly write rejection notes to those who think they have produced literary gems. Despite my battered, residual ego that I had preserved to keep my self-respect alive, the relationship we shared and the yawning age gap, perhaps as wide as generation gap, I expressed willingness to share my work in progress with her daughter.

If you want to pursue writing, make sure you are able to become successful around the time people from other professions become successful and stable. If you are not able to garner success within that time frame, you are a miserable loser, an awful misfit. Relatives find it difficult to introduce you in their circle of friends when you visit them. Some even do not feel like shaking hands with you – those corporate, ring-studded hands always ready for movers and shakers from around the world.

I was foolish to offer my hand to a relative who worked as a successful manager. He refused to accept the proffered hand in front of a fairly large crowd and simply walked away from me. Such humiliation – in the presence of other relatives – did not shake or stir me. I have learnt to digest insults very well.

Since then, I am careful not to offer my unsuccessful hand for a handshake. I live with the fantasy of the hand being kissed on book covers, the fingers that crafted sensitive prose feel like tender skin on the pages.

My long-drawn struggle brought sympathy from a clutch of superannuated relatives. Uncles warned me of the dangers looming ahead as middle-age was approaching fast like a thunderstorm to rampage me. It would be fair to switch to an alternate career before things went haywire. I should perhaps think of setting up a small restaurant, become an insurance or property agent.

None of these professions are bad per se. But by the manner in which the shortlist of career options was prepared and laid out, it was a clear attempt to suggest I was not worth anything more than this and there were limited options available for me at this stage of life. These relatives wished to be considered my well-wishers, but this was a polished way of taking potshots. Their pearls of wisdom scattered and bounced on the rugged floor of my mind, sending short, sharp, tinkling spasms of pain to my almost-deaf ears.

As a writer, should I engage in a war of words or retreat? When it is most unlikely to change their perspective, it is better not to respond and aggravate the situation. They will surround me on all sides and attempt to weaken my position and resolve. Focus on the work and forget the noise around. Your best output will silence all critics at home and outside. This brings temporary relief like a painkiller administered to treat a chronic ailment.

Now I prefer to isolate myself and this helps me recover faster. I do not bother to call them or message them. Because there is very little worth exchanging with them after health and weather queries get exhausted. They have the same set of questions and I have the same answers to offer. When will this era of struggle end? When will I wake them up with the disturbing news of my success in writing? From when, the question has now become will I ever?

Those who have by now grown fairly accustomed to my long list of failures will find themselves in discomfort zone, will have to review my status and think of adding a rich, smooth and creamy layer of respect that appears appetizing.

They will be faster than chameleon if they find me published. They will say they always knew I had the innate potential to write and I wrote really well. They will say I was just an unlucky writer ignored by lady luck all these years. From sheer rejection to complete acceptance not only from publishers but also from relatives proves success is what matters everywhere, in every profession.

If you have faced tough times and still not contemplated giving up your struggle, you have the genetic code of a writer. If repeated insults have not made you think of suicide, you have already succeeded as a writer. Remember, your reason to write is not the same as what they think you write for.

A life without relatives is what you are compelled to seek at times. Would it be a better life if your relatives had not misbehaved or snubbed you? Think from a different perspective. These episodes have vaccinated you in multiple ways and you should be thankful to them for making you develop a strong immunity as a writer who has to face criticism throughout his life’s work. They are your god-gifted critics before critics enter your life. This training is so essential and when it comes from your own people, you understand how the literary world full of strangers behaves and functions.

Ideally speaking, you should not seek encouragement or support from others to write – that should always come from within just like creativity. Rejection from others in your group of relatives is far more enriching as it hurts you, but you still carry on writing. Because you know there is a voice of a writer inside you and you will not kill it – no matter what others say. You will surely bring it into this world. May not be at the end of nine months, maybe in nine years.

Swallow all the crap that comes from relatives, let them throw more rubbish at you. These are what you need more – to get toughened, to become a writer with a heart of gold. It is true they criticize you for their enjoyment, to feel superior, to get a boost, but it  actually benefits you a lot in the process. Their gains are petty and superficial. Yours are permanent. Convey heartfelt thanks to acerbic relatives in your prayers.

When you publish a book that is hailed as a success in the world of writing, their loaded guns will automatically fall silent. Wait for that day!

Devraj Singh Kalsi works as a senior copywriter in Kolkata. His short stories and essays have been published in Deccan Herald, Tehelka, Kitaab, Earthen Lamp Journal, Assam Tribune, and The Statesman. Pal Motors is his first novel.

Amphan Stories: Uprooted Trees & Broken Nests

By Devraj Singh Kalsi

The giant tree was pulled away from the bosom of the Earth after an intense struggle that lasted for several hours in the dark. It was razed to the ground much like the vandalized bust of a dictator overthrown in a coup.

The birds in all their wisdom had chosen to build their nests in the sturdy tree that came with the implicit assurance of a safe haven. The tree that listed several encounters of surviving severe cyclones in its resume had caved in this time after four decades of brawny existence.

Birds asleep quite like passengers in long-distance trains that collide in the middle of the night – a big jolt wakes them up to discover their world turned upside down. Something similar must have rattled the birds when they found themselves closer to the ground through the thick foliage of leaves that cushioned their unceremonious fall.

Imagine those moments of confusion and hopelessness when they extricated themselves from the wreckage to fly off to nearby safety. The swaying electric wires clutched their nervous feet as they tried to make sense of the world during the incessant downpour, vigorously shaking their rattled heads to puff up resilience in their wings, waiting patiently and calling out other members of the family to unite.

In the wee hours of the morning, I woke up to hear fresh new voices in the garden. As I opened the window of my study, the reality outside and my imagination matched like the blood group of two strangers. The guava tree was the makeshift home where the homeless birds had now gathered and perhaps united with their loved ones. Their chirping was probably their excited conversation to chalk out the future plan of rehabilitation. More birds flew in and sat beside their families, sharing updates of empty spaces available in the mango and jackfruit trees where they could build new nests. Agile and faster than human beings in rebuilding homes, some were already flying around carrying pieces of straw and wires in their beaks as the new foundation for cosy, durable nests to cuddle in.

Quite a few of their flock sat still and gazed at the uprooted tree, perhaps fondly recollecting the good times they enjoyed up there. Like us, they were probably fond of living in grandeur. Maybe they were also proud of having an opulent residence in a giant tree that looked like a mansion. With no other tree of such magnificence around, they would now have to settle down with some modest options.

I joined the birds in observing the uprooted tree. The vacant space was brimming with strange, unfamiliar brightness. What stood hidden behind the tree all these years was now clearly visible. The balcony of the neighbour was in full view. The death of the tree had brought us visually closer. I was not too happy with the new reality and I do not think he would be happy either to reveal the colours of his innerwear left to dry on the balcony railing every day.

I was habituated to look in that direction because of the giant tree. I looked at it whenever I was thinking of ideas. The circle of leafy delight energised my mornings. The sight of the tree stirred and stimulated creativity. Now the neighbour would think I was gazing at him or waiting for the beautiful women of his household to stage an appearance there. He would go further to call it an invasion of privacy – the arousal of voyeuristic tendencies.

I suspect my repeated gaze would make him erect a glass window to cover up the balcony area, to stay safe from my ogling. I would still be looking at the giant tree because it is planted in my mind forever. I would still look at it through my inner eye and seek inspiration. Difficult to make people understand that creative folks often fix their gaze at something but they think of something completely different.

The relief team arrived with a truck – hearse to ferry the mortal remains of the tree. They were more brutal than the cyclone as the dead tree was axed further, chopped into small logs to be sold as timber. Only the tree trunk was left behind and people gathered to click its photos for their social media feeds. Some strangers passing by stood silent to mourn its demise more sincerely than the residents around. The uprooted tree created no signs of emotional distress in the people who lived in its vicinity. Perhaps it is true that the death of a family member does not necessarily cause much agony to the survivors in the family – people who have no blood relationship are also likely to shed more tears.

A fleeting thought of grafting its small branch in my garden – with a concrete slab to perpetuate its memory – did cross my mind. And the epitaph recording the cause of its death: Amphan. Does a tree deserve to be immortalised? Does a tree become evergreen in history? Or it remains just like us ordinary mortals who come and go? Enlightenment makes all the difference. We are all uprooted from time to time, in so many different ways. The uprooted tree left behind a lot for me to dig up within.

Devraj Singh Kalsi works as a senior copywriter in Kolkata. His short fiction and essays have been published in Kitaab, The Bombay Review, Deccan Herald, The Assam Tribune, The Sunday Statesman, Earthen Lamp Journal, and Readomania. Pal Motors is his first novel.

God Survives Corona

By Devraj Singh Kalsi

Non-believers have no God to thank when the virus dies. Believers have too many replicas to genuflect before once the pandemic gets over. This virus came with the huge potential to ensure the mass conversion of believers into non-believers across the world, across multiple faiths. But the virus is most unlikely to destroy the cells of faith. God has survived many such catastrophes and epidemics in the past. He is going to survive Covid as well.

After every pandemic, faith becomes stronger. Survivors do not know why they survived but they know God alone deserves gratitude for their survival. It is a big relief the virus did not attack them because God kept them safe. This strain of thought never mutates. Social distancing, wearing masks, and washing of hands are not considered stronger than the will of God.

Once the pandemic ends, expect people to donate wealth to the favourite places of worship. This time, God appears embarrassed to take undue credit. He knows doctors are the real gods who fought against death and saved lives.

God-fearing people spin a mastermind narrative: If the virus had nothing to do with God, then it should not have resulted in deaths. Believers attribute death to God — the Supreme power. God isn’t happy to hear this. Finally, He musters the courage to clarify that death is not in His hands alone. Parallel chambers of authority have emerged in recent times. He is not the ultimate authority to decide who dies when. Man can kill man. Nations can devastate nations. The powerful heads of states do not seek His consent before declaring wars and planning genocides, before developing nuclear bombs and bio-weapons. God has a valid argument in his defence.

Despite these dark, stark realities, all religions of the world dump death on His shoulders. He is made the scapegoat. Unwilling to shoulder further blame, God denies his alleged role and makes it clear that this virus is not his despatch to punish mankind. It is the remorse within that makes people think God is punishing them in this terrible manner for their mistakes, because the virus is mysterious and inscrutable like the ways of God.

People cannot imagine death without the consent of God. If there is another authority who can decide it, He does not remain supreme. One good reason why people are ready to consider the virus to be God’s representative. Else, the tiny virus cannot wield such power to take them to their graves. People are hell-bent to establish some kind of relationship or tacit understanding between the virus and God.

Many hold the view that the virus cannot be hailed as the New God because it kills and destroys. But it is also true that God has been doing the same thing in a brazen manner for centuries and people still repose absolute faith in Him. Isn’t that strange? There is a fundamental difference in their modus operandi.

God brings death at a much slower pace and targets specific areas at a time. But the virus is killing people everywhere without any discrimination, at a much rapid pace. The virus is sure to make us think we are all equal. Something God never managed to do.

The virus is unpredictable just like God. Do you know what He will do next? Who will get rewarded or thrashed? We pray to stay safe all the time, all our lives, in constant mortal danger. Our life is nothing but His will.

Why do we pray to Him when we have a new super power in our midst? Can He really save us if the pandemic returns again in a much deadlier form? We have already seen this storm and it does not inspire positive thinking about His special powers.

Do not question God or suspect His motives. Be blind in your faith. As the entire world fears for life and medical experts rush to get the vaccine, God alone can deliver a miracle and make the virus lose its potency. Get the drift now. Even if the virus goes away on its own, God gets the credit for its disappearance. This is surely going to make God survive Covid and win Him new believers by converting non-believers to the list.

Devraj Singh Kalsi works as a senior copywriter in Kolkata. His short fiction and essays have been published in Kitaab, The Bombay Review, Deccan Herald, The Assam Tribune, The Sunday Statesman, Earthen Lamp Journal, and Readomania. Pal Motors is his first novel.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are solely that of the author.


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: application/xhtml+xml

WARC-Type: response

text:
Watch: Russian Pranksters Pose as Zelenskyy on Zoom Call, Grill J.K. Rowling

by Kilian Melloy

EDGE Staff Reporter

Friday June 24, 2022

J.K. Rowling on a Zoom call with Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus
J.K. Rowling on a Zoom call with Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus  (Source:Screenshot/YouTube)

Russian pranksters posed as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a Zoom call with author J.K. Rowling in which they harped on Harry Potter and asked: "Is Dumbledore gay?" and "Who did he sleep with?"

A report from IndieWire detailed that Rowling "was the most recent target of Russian comedy duo Vovan and Lexus in a new video taking aim at Rowling's charity work in Ukraine."

"Rowling's Lumos charity has been actively providing aid to children and families in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine," IndieWire said. "The pranksters encouraged Rowling to fund weapons instead of supplies."

Noted IndieWire: "Vovan and Lexus are famous for prank-calling celebrities like Elton John, Prince Harry, Billie Eilish, and Kamala Harris."

The report says that Rowling, believing she was speaking to Zelenskyy, entertained the idea of changing Harry Potter's zig-zag scar into a "Ukrainian trident."

The video also shows her agreeing that the music of Tchaikovsky should perhaps be banned, and reacting to the suggestion that Russian actor Aleksandr Kuznetsov, who appears in the latest "Fantastic Beasts" movie, should personally face sanctions.

Throwing her hands up, Rowling said, "Yes, 'Fantastic Beasts' has been a very interesting experience."

"Vovan and Lexus added that they were writing the killing curse from the 'Harry Potter' books, 'Avada Kedavra,' on Ukrainian missiles," the IndieWire report recounted. "We read 'Harry Potter' to the soldiers in the battalion...just don't read them passages about half-breeds," the comedian posing as Zelenskyy said. "They are nationalists and do not like such people," they said.

The Rowling camp decried the prank, said The Hollywood Reporter.

"The author's spokesperson called the hoax 'distasteful,'" THR said, "and noted, 'J.K. Rowling was approached to talk about her extensive charitable work in Ukraine, supporting children and families who have been affected by the current conflict in the region. The video, which has been edited, is a distorted representation of the conversation.'"

About eight-and-a-half minutes into the video, Rowling is asked, "Is Dumbledore gay? I won't tell anyone! And who did he sleep with?"

"I said in 2007 that I always saw Dumbledore as gay," Rowling responds. "And it was a big scandal at the time that I said it. So I still — yeah, that's the way I see him."

"I will never tell this to anyone," Rowling's interlocutor assures her, before going on to express the hope that Dumbledore did not sleep "with any transgender person," a jibe at which Rowling seems to laugh.

The comedian posing as Zelenskyy then introduces his "team," whom he claims are "hereditary witches" and "real wizards."

"I can see that," Rowling replies. "I can tell. I'm qualified to say."

Watch the video below.

Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.

warcinfo:
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2022-33
publisher: Common Crawl
description: Wide crawl of the web for August 2022
operator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)
hostname: ip-10-67-67-222
software: Apache Nutch 1.18 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)
robots: checked via crawler-commons 1.4-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)
format: WARC File Format 1.1
conformsTo: https://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/


WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: text/html

text:
Having too much fun with conference room names

Yahoo! has a tradition of giving its conference room names fun and creative names. Some are national parks, some are board games, others are tropical islands.

On my floor, they’re all ‘in’ words like conceivable, sane and articulate. The idea is to trick you into saying things like ‘Come here. I’m insane.” Witty. Some go beyond the cute into racy like decent, adequate and continent.

But today the conference room naming went a little too far. I asked someone about where a meeting was and he said “it’s in limbo”. I read this quickly and assumed they hadn’t decided which room it was in. I ran around at the time of the meeting and couldn’t find anyone, so I went back to my desk.

Later, I was asked why I wasn’t at the meeting. I didn’t know what room it was in of course. Then it hit me – the conference room is actually called “Limbo” to fit a floor named for remote and mythical places like Oz, Neverland and Antartica.

Perhaps we should name the next set of conference rooms with this problem in mind. We’ll call them ‘tardy’, ‘lost’ and ‘absent’.

  1. I was a big fan of the first floor of 3420. All the conference room names matched countries and were grouped by geographical placement. All the “european” conference rooms were in one area, the “asian” counterparts were in the opposite side of the building. If you knew the globe, you were never lost.

    Then some idiot in marketing decided to name the new conference room “Animal Style”.

  2. Oh, don’t get me started.

    There’s a room called “Room 222” on the 3rd floor of building B. That’s right, the *third* floor. Of course, there’s a room 222 (now called 2222) on the second floor.

    That one bit me hard a few weeks ago.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


text:
How to use this forum ?

Questions about BrainVisa usage and installation

Moderators: denghien, riviere

Post Reply
Dominique Geffroy
Site Admin
Posts: 161
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2007 4:22 pm
Location: IFR 49 - Neurospin, Gif-sur-Yvette, France

How to use this forum ?

Post by Dominique Geffroy »

Before posting messages, you must register to this forum : click on the link "Register" in the top right corner. The registration is subject to moderation to avoid spam.

Email notifications
If you want to be notified by email when a new message arrives, you have to click on "Subscribe forum" at the bottom of each forum.

Private area
There is a private area in this forum that is not visible by default. It contains a section for developers and an internal section for our lab (I2BM, IFR49). In these sections, it is possible to ask questions about internal software installation and it is possible to ask questions in french. If you want to register to this private forum, send a private message to one of the forum's administrators.
Post Reply


text:
The low end of the high end

Recently, Techmoan posted a video about his daily driver Walkman. This sort of pushed me to go back and finish this post that I had a half-hearted outline of regarding my daily driver Walkman. I don’t really have an exotic collection; my interesting pieces are along the lines of a My First Sony1 and the WM-EX999, notable for its two playback heads, allowing for precise azimuth settings for both directions of play. I also don’t really take my Walkmans out much; they just hang out near me as I do my day job. What I want out of a ‘daily driver,’ therefore, isn’t something that stands out by being the most compact or affordable. Rather, it’s just reliable, pleasant to use, sounds good, and has the tape select options I need (Dolby B and I/II formulation).

The deck that I’ve ended up on to fill this role is the WM-DD11. Readers familiar with Walkman nomenclature will recognize ‘DD’ as indicative that the deck uses Sony’s Disc Drive mechanism. These mechanisms use a servo-controlled motor that butts up against the capstan via a disc, leaving the sole belt path for the takeup hub. They provide good speed accuracy, largely impervious to rotation and movement of the deck. They’re mechanically simple and quite reliable, with the exception of an infamously fragile piece – the center gear. Made of a deterioration-prone plastic, this gear has failed on essentially every DD Walkman out there. While the decks continue working for some time after the gear cracks, a horrid clicking sound is emitted with every rotation. Some folks fill the inevitable crack with epoxy, buying the gear some time. Replacements are also available. But every DD deck out there either doesn’t work, clicks, or has been repaired in some way or another.

My WM-DD11 does not have any center-gear-related issues, nor has the gear been replaced or repaired. Unlike most DD models2, the WM-DD11 has no center gear. DD models were high-end models, and the WM-DD11 sat in the strange middle-ground of a stripped down, low-end version of a high-end design. This is, to me, what makes the WM-DD11 special. It’s what makes it an interesting conversation piece, and it’s also what makes it a great daily driver. Like most DD models3, it only plays unidirectionally. This is, perhaps, inconvenient for a daily driver, but it also removes the b-side azimuth issue that affects bidirectional models4. Like most DD models, it has manual controls for a couple of tape settings – Dolby B on/off and Type I/Types II & IV. And while it lacks the quartz-lock that some DD models5 had implemented by this point, the standard servo-driven disc drive system is still more accurate and stable than other low-end models of the era.

The similarities largely stop there, though. Pressing ‘play’ on the deck immediately reveals the primary difference – lacking the soft-touch logic controls of most DD models, the WM-DD11 has a mechanical ‘piano-keys’ type transport. Unlike most piano keys, Sony did premium the buttons up a bit by keeping them in the standard DD position, on the face opposite the door. This means there’s a larger mechanical path than if they were positioned directly above the head, though I doubt this complexity really affects reliability much. People often malign mechanical transports, but I rather like the physical connection between button and mechanism. They tend to feel more reliable to me as well; soft-touch mechanisms still have mechanical bits, they just have to be controlled by the integration of some motor.

With the DD models, specifically, this tracks. The cursed gear facilitates things like tape-end detection in the soft-touch DD models. I certainly don’t think Sony knew this plastic was going to deteriorate; I don’t think they knew all the capacitors they were buying in the ‘80s were going to leak after a couple of decades either. But, despite the fact that there are only a handful more internal bits in the soft-touch transport, one of these has a critical fault. The gear itself is odd – a large, donut-shaped thing that goes around a metal core. It wouldn’t surprise me if this design led to the use of a plastic that wasn’t so thoroughly time-tested.

Costs were cut in some other places – the tape head stays with the body and not the door, there are some plasticky bits that certainly don’t have the premium feel of other DD models. But the WM-DD11 fits in a market segment that seems underappreciated to me. It’s high-end in the ways that matter, while being stripped down elsewhere. That middle-ground rarely seems to exist these days, with performance going hand-in-hand with luxury and the low-end solely existing at the bottom of the barrel. It’s a false binary presumably created by the need to sexy up anything decent enough to market.It’s hard to sell half the features, but I wish companies would try. I want the low end of the high-end market to exist. I want products like my reliable, simple, yet still very performant WM-DD11 to exist.

  1. These aren’t particularly interesting, but the notion of the My First Sony line fascinates me. On the one hand, it’s just a way to get a brand name cemented into potential customers while they’re quite young and impressionable. On the other, Sony put far more design considerations into these products than my jaded mind would trust nearly any other company to. I’d like to write about these products some day. ↩
  2. Predating the DD nomenclature (and also being a professional model), my understanding is that the TC-D5 series of field recorders uses a similar mechanism to the DD11. ↩
  3. The white whale model WM-DD9 is the only DD model to do bidirectional playback. It uses a different mechanism from most DD models to accomplish this, and by my understanding this mechanism does not have the fragile center gear either. ↩
  4. “Just flip the tape on a bidirectional model!” Yes, except (on portable decks, at least) the option to only play a single side generally does not exist. So you’re probably going to catch this after the deck has already done a bunch of clickety-clacking to get to side B. It’s perfectly acceptable to use a bidirectional model this way, but it’s also incredibly annoying. ↩
  5. I, personally, have mixed feelings on quartz-lock. I think the standard DD mechanism sounds great, and the quartz-lock consumes noticeable battery. But, the WM-DD22 exists as well, essentially a (center-gearless) WM-DD11 with quartz lock. I don’t need one, but it is a bit of a beige whale. ↩


text:
Bridgestone NZ Ltd
  • 27-Jul-2022 to 27-Aug-2022 (IDLE)
  • Tauranga, BOP, NZL
  • Hourly
  • Full Time

Overtime, uniform, staff purchases

We have a vacancy for an experienced Tyre Technician at our Mount Maunganui commercial store. This role is responsible for performing commercial tyre servicing on vehicles, commercial trucks, utility vehicles, heavy construction equipment, and off road forestry vehicles. If you are a person who likes tyre work and gets things done we want to hear from you.

You should have:

  • A valid full New Zealand Drivers Licence
  • Tyre industry experience or a willingness to be trained
  • Ability to work on your own or in a workshop environment
  • A positive and reliable personality, and can deal with customers
  • A willingness to achieve and grow within Bridgestone

We can offer you:

  • 40 hours per week with overtime and weekend work when required
  • A rostered fleet service call out component which is paid over and above your base pay
  • Staff buying privileges
  • Full uniform clothing supplied

About Bridgestone NZ Ltd.

Bridgestone New Zealand Ltd is part of the global Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader providing sustainable mobility and advanced solutions. Bridgestone Select and Bridgestone Tyre Centres are New Zealand's leading tyre specialists, committed to providing a first class, friendly service to all of our valued customers and their vehicles.

Bridgestone is committed to ensuring a safe and healthy work environment. You will be required to pass a pre-employment medical and drug test.

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.

How to apply:

Sounds like you and you're keen to join our awesome team? Please apply Now.

Bridgestone NZ Ltd
  • Apply Now

  • Sign Up For Job Alerts!

  • Share This Page


text:
Research Areas

Bacterial interactions with their environment

The Briegel lab is interested in understanding how microbes interact with their environment on a structural level. We address research questions such as: how are bacterial cells able to actively seek out their preferred environmental niches, how can they evade toxins and predators, how do they interact with phages, each other and with host tissue, and how can they adapt to thrive in changing environments? In order to gain insight into the structure and function of the molecular complexes involved in these behaviors, we use cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) as our key research tool. This technique allows us to directly study microbes in their native state at resolutions capable of visualizing individual proteins.
More specifically, we are currently pursuing three major research lines in the laboratory:

(1)   Chemotaxis

(2)   Bacterial hitchhiking

(3)   Bacterial interactions in changing environments

(1)  Chemotaxis

Bacteria are nearly environmentally ubiquitous, play vital roles in industry and the environment, and are crucial factors for health and disease of all organisms. They are also small, genetically tractable cells that are ideal to study biological processes. As such, the bacterial chemotaxis system serves as a paradigm for signal transduction pathways. Chemotaxis allows motile bacteria, including some pathogens, to monitor their environment and swim toward nutrients and away from toxins. Chemical signals bind to chemoreceptors, which are typically found at the cell poles and organize into highly cooperative, ordered arrays. Chemoreceptor arrays ultimately control whether the cell moves forward or changes direction. The chemotaxis system in the model species E. coli is now structurally well understood. This detailed knowledge can be used for practical applications–this signalling system provides an ideal platform to design biosensors: For example, we are currently developing Neuroblastoma cancer screen based on the ability of the E. coli chemoreceptor Tsr to quickly detect a marker molecule for the disease (funded by KWF).
Additionally, it is becoming increasingly clear that there is an underappreciated variability of chemotaxis systems among the motile bacteria. We are especially interested in the chemotaxis systems of two pathogenic bacteria: Vibrio cholerae and Treponema denticola, human pathogens that use their chemotaxis sensing system for infectivity. We discovered recently that the organization of both of these pathogens is structurally distinct from E.coli
(Muok et al., 2020b; Yang et al., 2018; Yang and Briegel, 2019). We are investing these alternate architectures and their implications in the pathogenicity of these organisms.

(2)  Bacterial hitchhiking

Nearly all motile bacteria are able direct their motility to actively seek out favorable conditions (Hazelbauer et al., 2008). Most commonly, these bacterial cells use flagella to swim through liquid environments or swarm on surfaces. These whip-like appendages are anchored to a rotary motor in the cell envelope. For many pathogens, this type of motility is the first step in host invasion and is essential for survival within host tissues (Matilla and Krell, 2018; Shi et al., 1998). However, many bacteria are non-motile, and lack a motility apparatus.  How do they reach their preferred environments without the means to move by themselves? There is now growing evidence that non-motile species can attach to motile species to benefit from motility without investing energy themselves (Muok and Briegel, 2020). For example, my lab recently discovered that non-motile bacterial spores are transported to beneficial environments by chemotactic soil bacteria via ‘hitchhiking’ (Muok et al., 2020a).

In this research line, my lab is determining the structural interactions that enable hitchhiking behavior between motile bacteria and non-motile species, and the subsequent implications for microbial distributions and pathogenicity.

  Animation by Dr. Lizah van der Aart, Science Artist

(3)  Bacterial interactions in changing environments

Bacteria are able to sense environmental changes in their surroundings and adapt themselves, both structurally and metabolically, in order to survive. These cells are able to switch between free-living states, sessile states in biofilms and active infection of a host organism. Cells selectively express and employ distinct macromolecular machines according to specific growth conditions to interact with and manipulate their environment. Consequently, cells of the same species may have vastly different morphological and behavioral characteristics depending on the environment they are in, and the susceptibility to stressors such as antibiotics and phage infection also may vary dramatically depending on cell morphology. For example, we recently investigated the dramatic changes Vibrio cholerae undergoes when the cells encounter long periods of low temperature and nutrient limitation and enter a persister-like state (Brenzinger et al., 2019).  Due to this innate adaptability, it is necessary to form a detailed understanding of how the cells first sense diverse environments and subsequently how they structurally remodel to counter and thrive despite often dramatically changing conditions. This structural insight is a crucial prerequisite for designing novel drugs aiming to target the specific molecular machines during infection. More specifically, we study the remodeling of V. cholerae during infection in Zebrafish, a natural host for this pathogen (NWO BBOL grant). In order to investigate this interaction at the nanoscale level and in near-native sample preservation, we are developing novel workflows that will allow us extract tissue samples and process them for cryo-ET investigations. This workflow will be generally applicable to investigate microbial interactions in complex environments, such as microbes inside a host organism. To this end, we are also investigating a key microbe-host symbiosis system (luminescent bacteria inside the light organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid (funded by the Moore foundation), as well as bacteria living inside plants (funded by NWO).

Brenzinger, S., van der Aart, L.T., van Wezel, G.P., Lacroix, J.M., Glatter, T., and Briegel, A. (2019). Structural and Proteomic Changes in Viable but Non-culturable Vibrio cholerae. Frontiers in microbiology 10, 793.

Hazelbauer, G.L., Falke, J.J., and Parkinson, J.S. (2008). Bacterial chemoreceptors: high-performance signaling in networked arrays. Trends Biochem Sci 33, 9-19.

Matilla, M.A., and Krell, T. (2018). The effect of bacterial chemotaxis on host infection and pathogenicity. FEMS Microbiol Rev 42.

Muok, A., Claessen, D., and Briegel, A. (2020a). Microbial piggy-back: how Streptomyces spores are transported by motile soil bacteria. biorxiv.

Muok, A.R., and Briegel, A. (2020). Intermicrobial Hitchhiking: How Nonmotile Microbes Leverage Communal Motility. Trends Microbiol.

Muok, A.R., Ortega, D.R., Kurniyati, K., Yang, W., Maschmann, Z.A., Sidi Mabrouk, A., Li, C., Crane, B.R., and Briegel, A. (2020b). Atypical chemoreceptor arrays accommodate high membrane curvature. Nature communications 11, 5763.

Shi, W., Yang, Z., Geng, Y., Wolinsky, L.E., and Lovett, M.A. (1998). Chemotaxis in Borellia burgdorferi. Journal of Bacteriology 180, 231-235.

Yang, W., Alvarado, A., Glatter, T., Ringgaard, S., and Briegel, A. (2018). Baseplate variability of Vibrio cholerae chemoreceptor arrays. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 115, 13365-13370.

Yang, W., and Briegel, A. (2019). Diversity of Bacterial Chemosensory Arrays. Trends Microbiol.


text:
Bristol Old Vic

For more than seven decades, the Bristol Old Vic theatre company has been entertaining audiences in Bristol. Based at the Theatre Royal in Bristol, the company runs a successful Young Company for people between the ages of 7 and 25, and is associated with the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

The History of the Theatre Royal, Bristol

Bristol’s Theatre Royal is the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, and the English-speaking world. Situated on King Street, the theatre was built between 1764 and 1766.

The public entrance to the theatre is through Coopers’ Hall, the oldest building on the property. The hall was built in 1744 for the Cooper’s Company by William Halfpenny.

The theatre itself wouldn’t be built until 1764. The auditorium’s design is believed to be inspired by London’s Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Thomas Paty is credited as the architect of the building, but the theatre was built according to designs by James Saunders.

Rackhay Yard was chosen as the building site for the theatre, which was, at the time, a rectangular site behind a row of homes.

The Theatre Royal opened in May 1766 with a performance by David Garrick, which included a prologue and an epilogue. At the time, the proprietors had not obtained a license for the theatre. To avoid the restrictions imposed on theatres, productions were labeled as “concerts” with “rhetorick.”

In 1778, the Theatre Royal became a patented theatre, and opened for the winter season. A joint company was also formed to allow for performances at both the Bristol and Bath Theatre Royal. The company featured famous figures, like Sarah Siddons, who is believed to haunt the Bristol theatre.

The theatre has undergone some renovations since 1800, including a narrow entrance that was added in 1903.

The Birth of Bristol Old Vic and the Theatre School

In 1861, James Chute relinquished his lease on the theatre, and was determined to focus on his business at Prince’s Theatre.

The lease owners made the decision to put the building up for sale in 1942, but an appeal from the public to save the theatre led to the establishment of a trust to purchase the building.

The building was leased from the trust to the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts, or CEMA. In 1946, the Arts Council, CEMA’s successor, staffed the company with company members from the London Old Vic.

Bristol Old Vic was then established.

The company boasted several famous early members, including Peter O’Toole, Timothy West, John Neville, Dorothy Tutin and Barbara Leigh-Hunt. Hugh Hunt took on the role of artistic director.

That same year, the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School was opened by Laurence Olivier. The school is a Conservative for Dance and Drama affiliate, and is also a University of West of England associate school.

The school used a small room above a fruit vendor’s warehouse in Rackhay Yard, close to the Theatre Royal’s stage door.

Company rehearsals continued in this space until the 1960s.

The 1954 production of Salad Days was a major success for Bristol Old Vic. The show eventually transferred to the West End, where it would go on to become the longest-running musical in London at the time.

Royalties from the show were given to the Theatre School to purchase and renovate two nearby Victorian villas in Clifton. The villas remain the school’s base to this day.

In 1963, the City Council took over the Art Council’s management of the theatre. The London Old Vic disbanded that year, and the Bristol Old Vic became an independent company.

The Modern Day Theatre

Peter Moro designed the current theatre complex, which was officially completed in 1972. The entrance that was added in 1903 was demolished, as was a number of other buildings on the site. The stage area of the original 1766 theatre was also demolished.

The new construction included a fly tower and stage as well as offices and technical facilities.

The 1970s and 1980s were a prosperous time for Bristol Old Vic, with many productions being well-received by local audiences and on tour.

In 2007, the theatre’s board of trustees closed the building for renovation. Over the next few years, a new board of trustees appointed a new artistic executive director and executive chairman.

In 2010, the Old Vic and Theatre Royal Bristol Trust merged into a combined charity. Fundraising efforts by the charity helped raise the £19 million needed for the planned renovations.

Bristol Old Vic Tours

Bristol Old Vic is known for taking its productions on tour throughout the United Kingdom and overseas.

The company’s most notable productions that went on tour include: Hamlet, A Man for All Seasons, Arms and the Man, and Man and Superman.

In recent years, the company has co-produced with the Royal National Theatre, Kneehigh Theatre, and West Yorkshire Playhouse.


text:
History in Structure

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Craig-An-Arden Viaduct

A Category B Listed Building in Arrochar, Argyll and Bute

We don't have any photos of this building yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

Latitude: 56.2582 / 56°15'29"N

Longitude: -4.7095 / 4°42'34"W

OS Eastings: 232257

OS Northings: 710601

OS Grid: NN322106

Mapcode National: GBR 0F.9PZ6

Mapcode Global: WH2KS.MYKR

Plus Code: 9C8Q775R+75

Entry Name: Craig-An-Arden Viaduct

Listing Name: Creag-An-Arnain Railway Viaduct

Listing Date: 8 July 1988

Category: B

Source: Historic Scotland

Source ID: 331303

Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB864

Building Class: Cultural

Location: Arrochar

County: Argyll and Bute

Electoral Ward: Lomond North

Parish: Arrochar

Traditional County: Dunbartonshire

Tagged with: Railway bridge

Find accommodation in

Possibly James Miller, 1891. 8 tall, round-headed arches on a gently curved plan carrying West Highland Railway. Rough-hewn stone with channelled ashlar dressings, slightly battered piers with rusticated ashlar quoins; ashlar voussoirs; chanelled intrados. Crenellated parapet with ashlar coping; pierhead die slightly proud on guttae- effect corbels. Viaduct sweeps down to low wall, pier with ashlar slab coping. High rough-hewn retaining wall runs to outer right along road.

Statement of Interest

The West Highland Railway which runs between Craigendornan and Fort William was opened in 1894. The station buildings at Arrochar and Tarbet and Ardlui are listed separately.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

BritishListedBuildings.co.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact BritishListedBuildings.co.uk for any queries related to any individual listed building, planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself.

British Listed Buildings is a Good Stuff website.


text:
Connect with us

Broadband's Impact

UEN: millions served, every day

See on Scoop.itBroadbandPolicy

Ray Timothy, CEO of the UEN network, explains the ins and outs of a system that makes Utah the envy of the nation.

BroadbandBreakfast‘s insight:

A great interview/profile of the Utah Education Network by Lee Benson in the Deseret News. The UEN is highlighted for its role at the forefront of public-private partnership, and in providing network connectivity.

See on

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Digital Inclusion

Doug Lodder: How to Prevent the Economic Climate from Worsening the Digital Divide

There are government programs created to shrink the digital divide, but not many Americans know what’s out there.

The author of this Expert Opinion is Doug Lodder, president of TruConnect

From gas to groceries to rent, prices are rocketing faster than they have in decades. This leaves many American families without the means to pay for essentials, including cellphone and internet services. In fact, the Center on Poverty and Social Policy reports that poverty rates have been steadily climbing since March. We’re talking about millions of people at risk of being left behind in the gulf between those who have access to connectivity and those who don’t.

We must not allow this digital divide to grow in the wake of the current economic climate. There is so much more at stake here than simply access to the internet or owning a smartphone.

What’s at stake if the digital divide worsens

Our reliance on connectivity has been growing steadily for years, and the pandemic only accelerated our dependence. Having a cell phone or internet access are no longer luxuries, they are vital necessities.

When a low-income American doesn’t have access to connectivity, they are put at an even greater disadvantage. They are limited in their ability to seek and apply for a job, they don’t have the option of convenient and cost-effective telehealth, opportunities for education shrink, and accessing social programs becomes more difficult. I haven’t even mentioned the social benefits that connectivity gives us humans—it’s natural to want to call our friends and families, and for many, necessary to share news or updates. The loss or absence of connectivity can easily create a snowball effect, compounding challenges for low-income Americans.

The stakes are certainly high. Thankfully, there are government programs created to shrink the digital divide. The challenge is that not many Americans know what’s out there.

What can be done to improve it

In the 1980s, the Reagan administration created the federal Lifeline program to subsidize phones and bring them into every household. The program has since evolved to include mobile and broadband services.

More than 34 million low-income Americans are eligible for subsidized cell phones and internet access through the Lifeline program. Unfortunately, only 1 in 5 eligible people are taking advantage of the program because most qualified Americans don’t even know the program exists.

The situation is similar with the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, another federal government program aimed at bringing connectivity to low-income Americans. Through ACP, qualifying households can get connected by answering a few simple questions and submitting eligibility documents.

Experts estimate that 48 million households—or nearly 40% of households in the country—qualify for the ACP. But, just like Lifeline, too few Americans are taking advantage of the program.

So, what can be done to increase the use of these programs and close the digital divide?

Our vision of true digital equity is where every American is connected through a diverse network of solutions. This means we can’t rely solely on fixed terrestrial. According to research from Pew, 27% of people earning less than $30,000 a year did not have home broadband and relied on smartphones for connectivity. Another benefit of mobile connectivity—more Americans have access to it. FCC data shows that 99.9% of Americans live in an LTE coverage area, whereas only 94% of the country has access to fixed terrestrial broadband where they live.

Additionally, we need more local communities to get behind these programs and proactively market them. We should see ads plastered across billboards and buses in the most impacted areas. Companies like ours, which provide services subsidized through Lifeline and ACP, market and promote the programs, but we’re limited in our reach. It’s imperative that local communities and their governments invest more resources to promote Lifeline, ACP and other connectivity programs.

While there’s no panacea for the problem at hand, it is imperative that we all do our part, especially as the economic climate threatens to grow the digital divide. The fate of millions of Americans is at stake.

Doug Lodder in President of TruConnect, a mobile provider that offers eligible consumers unlimited talk, text, and data, a free Android smartphone, free shipping, and access to over 10 million Wi-Fi hotspots; free international calling to Mexico, Canada, South Korea, China and Vietnam; plus an option to purchase tablets at $10.01. This piece is exclusive to Broadband Breakfast.

Broadband Breakfast accepts commentary from informed observers of the broadband scene. Please send pieces to The views expressed in Expert Opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of Broadband Breakfast and Breakfast Media LLC.

Continue Reading

Broadband's Impact

Senate Bill Subsidizing U.S. Semiconductor Production Clears House, Going to White House

Bill aims to strengthen American self-reliance in semiconductor chip production and international competition.

Photo of Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado, during Tuesday's press conference

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2022 – A $54 billion bill to subsidize U.S-made semiconductor chips passed the House Thursday on a 243-187, and moves to President Biden for his expected signature.

Dubbed the CHIPS Act for Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors Act for America Fund, the measure is expected to incentivize domestic semiconductor manufacturing and also provide grants for the design and deploying of wireless 5G networks. It also includes a $24 billion fund to create a 25 percent tax credit for new semiconductor manufacturing facilities.

Advocates of the measure say that it will also improve U.S. supply chain, grow U.S. domestic workforce, and enable the U.S. to compete internationally to combat national security emergencies.

The measure passed the Senate Wednesday on a 64-33 vote.

Congressional supporters tout benefits

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., voiced his support on the House floor, calling it “a win for our global competitiveness.”

The CHIPS Act of 2022 provides a five-year investment in public research and development, and establishes new technology hubs across the country.

Of the funds, $14 billion goes to upgrade national labs, and $9 billion goes to the National Institute of Standards and Technology research, of which $2 billion goes to support manufacturing partnerships, and with $200 million going to train the domestic workforce.

In a virtual press conference on Tuesday, Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennett said that America’s semiconductor industry has lost ground to foreign competitors. “Today, only 12% of chips are manufactured in the United States, down from 37% in the 1990s.”

He said relying on cheaper products produced in China and overseas for so long, it has caught up with the United States.

Bennet suggested to move manufacturing labs to Colorado, where it can support it due to the plenty of jobs in aerospace and facility and infrastructure space.

“We don’t want the Chinese setting the standard for telecommunications. America needs to lead that. This bill puts us in the position to be a world leader,” said Bennet. “We are at a huge national security disadvantage if we don’t do this.”

Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado, joined his Rocky Mountain state colleague in support: “There is a real sense of urgency here to compete not only to re-establish the U.S. to make their own chips, but to compete internationally.”

He said that semiconductor chips are vital to almost every business and product, including phones, watches, refrigerators, cars, and laptops. “I’m not sure if I can think of a business that isn’t dependent on chips at this point.”\

“This is a space race,” he said. “We cannot afford to fall behind.”

Industry supporters say measure is necessary

The U.S. has lost ground to foreign competitors in scientific R&D and in supply chain industry during a recent semiconductor crisis, said France Córdova, president of the Science Philanthropy Alliance, at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation event on July 19. The U.S. only ranks sixth best among other prominent countries in the world for research and development, she said.

“The CHIPS Act of 2022 and FABS Act are critical investments to even the global playing field for U.S. companies, and strategically important for our economic and national national security,” said Ganesh Moorthy, president and CEO of Microchip Technology Inc.

Bide expected to sign measure

With the Biden’s Administration’s focus to tackle the semiconductor shortage and supply chain crisis through the Executive Order made in February, the Biden administration has been bullish on the passage of the CHIPS Act, in a Wednesday statement:

“It will accelerate the manufacturing of semiconductors in America, lowering prices on everything from cars to dishwashers.  It also will create jobs – good-paying jobs right here in the United States.  It will mean more resilient American supply chains, so we are never so reliant on foreign countries for the critical technologies that we need for American consumers and national security,” said Biden.

Continue Reading

Providers Call for More FCC Telehealth Funding as Demand Grows

‘I think obtaining funding from the Universal Service Fund would go a long way.’

Photo of FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2022 – Health care providers in parts of America say they are struggling to deliver telehealth due to a lack of broadband connectivity in underserved communities, and recommended there be more funding from the Federal Communications Commission.

While the FCC has a $200-million COVID-19 Telehealth program, which emerged from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, some providers say more money is needed as demand for telehealth services increases.

“The need for broadband connectivity in underserved communities exceeds current availability,” said Jennifer Stoll from the Oregon Community Health Information Network.

The OCHIN was one of the largest recipients of the FCC’s Rural Health Care Pilot program in 2009. Stoll advocated for the need for more funding with the non-profit SHLB Coalition during the event last week. Panelists didn’t specify how much more funding is needed.

Stoll noted that moving forward, states need sustainable funding in this sector. “I am hoping Congress will be mindful of telehealth,” said Stoll.

“The need for telehealth and other virtual modalities will continue to grow in rural and underserved communities,” she added.

Brian Scarpelli, senior global policy counsel at ACT, the App Association, echoed the call for FCC funding from the Universal Service Fund, which subsidizes basic telecommunications services to rural areas and low-income Americans. “I think obtaining funding from the Universal Service Fund would go a long way.”

Continue Reading

Signup for Broadband Breakfast

Get twice-weekly Breakfast Media news alerts.
* = required field


text:
Connect with us

Broadband News

NTIA Outlines Process and Funding for States Seeking to Opt-out of FirstNet

BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: In a significant new development, the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration outlines a process for how states will be able to receive funding to build their own public safety wireless networks that are separate and apart from FirstNet. The far, approximately 35 of the 50 states have opted-in to FirstNet. Colorado and New Hampshire have issued an RFP and announced a vendor for a radio access network.

SAPP Notice of Funding Opportunity Information, from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration

The State Alternative Plan Program (SAPP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) provides states with guidance on the FirstNet opt-out application process.  The SAPP NOFO can be accessed at using the Funding Opportunity Number 2018-NTIA-SAPP-01, and is also available below.

If a state wants to assume responsibility for the construction, operation, maintenance, and improvement of its Radio Access Network (RAN) to interoperate with Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN), and has received approval of its alternative plan from the FCC, the state must apply to NTIA for the authority to enter into a spectrum manager lease from FirstNet. The state may also apply for RAN construction grant funding.

The SAPP NOFO lays out the application requirements necessary to meet 5 key statutory demonstrations focused on ongoing interoperability, financial stability, technical ability, and comparable security, coverage, quality of service, and timelines. Taken together, the demonstrations will establish whether a state is prepared to provide public safety with interoperable and reliable broadband service over time consistent with the rest of the NPSBN.

Source: SAPP Notice of Funding Opportunity Information | NTIA

Editor’s Note: This story has been corrected. A prior version said that Colorado and New Hampshire have opted-out of First Net, but they have only issued an RFP and announced a vendor for a radio access network.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Broadband Roundup

Google Not Publisher to Australian Court, Omnispace Testing 5G Satellites, AT&T’s $6M to Digital Literacy

Australia’s highest court said Google is not a publisher by making available hyperlinks to articles.

Photo of the High Court of Australia, via Wikicommons

August 18, 2022 – Australia’s highest court ruled Wednesday that Google is not a publisher of information that emerges from the use of its search engine, overturning a lower court decision that opened Google up to a defamation lawsuit.

The Supreme Court of Victoria ruled that Google was a publisher by virtue of the fact that it was providing a hyperlink in its search results to a 2004 news article which outlined conspiracy and incitement to murder charges – that were later dismissed – against the defendant and now criminal lawyer George Defteros. The appeal court upheld this view.

But the country’s highest court disagreed Wednesday. “A hyperlink provides a reference to another source and does not itself constitute publication of it,” the decision said. “Although the link may facilitate the transfer of information, which her Honour accepted as a hallmark of publication, it is equally clear that when a person follows a link, they are leaving one source and moving to another.

“The fact that accessing the content is made far easier with hyperlinks does not alter the fact that a hyperlink, by itself (and as distinct from a search result in which the link is embedded), is ‘content-neutral,’” added the decision.

In a press release on Wednesday, internet advocacy group Public Knowledge said it supports the decision, which “affirms the important of 230-like protections for entities that provide access to user-generated content,” referring to a provision in the Communications Decency Act that shields internet platforms from being liable for what their users post.

Omnispace and Philippine telecom collaborating on 5G from space

Virginia-based mobile communications and satellite company Omnispace announced Wednesday it is partnering with Philippines-based telecom Smart Communications to test space-based 5G communications using low-earth orbit satellites.

The demonstration will examine use cases for the Philippine market, according to a press release, including enabling 5G in rural areas, using internet of things and sensors to monitor weather and natural calamities, and enhancing network coverage for disaster relief and other uses.

Earlier this year, Omnispace completed the deployment phase of its Omnispace Spark program, which is the initial phase in the company’s delivery of a 5G capable satellite network. Omnispace’s satellite network will communicate with mobile networks on land to serve mobile subscribers.

“We are excited to announce this collaborative agreement with Smart Communications, which shares our vision of delivering reliable mobile connectivity to consumer, government and enterprise users, everywhere,” Brian Pemberton, chief commercial officer at Omnispace, said in a press release. “Together with Smart, we seek to bridge the digital divide, while also providing the communications infrastructure to power the development of the Filipino economy of the future.”

Meanwhile, USCellular and Swedish telecom equipment provider Ericsson announced earlier this summer that they were testing 5G performance at attitude using drones.

AT&T commits $6M to digital literacy initiatives

AT&T said Tuesday that it is making $6 million in contributions to in-person digital literacy workshops ot more than 400 libraries and community centers across the country.

The telecom said in a press release it aims to help more than 65,000 people learn to use computers and mobile devices, navigate the internet and apps, participate in the digital world, and avoid scams.

The $6 million is part of a $2-billion commitment the company is making from 2021 to 2023 to bridge the digital divide, it said in the release.

Continue Reading

Broadband Roundup

All States Want BEAD Funds, Digicomm Secures Investment, Glo Fiber Expanding in PA

The NTIA announced all states and territories have applied for initial planning money from the $42.5B BEAD program.

Photo of NTIA head Alan Davidson, left, via Flickr

August 17, 2022 – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced Wednesday that all states and territories have submitted applications for initial planning funds from its $42.5 billion broadband infrastructure program.

The announcement comes two days after the deadline to apply for the funds from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, part of the federal government’s Internet for All initiative. The NTIA said in a press release it will be evaluating the applications and “make awards available as expeditiously as possible.”

The initial planning funds could be used for activities including research and data collection, outreach and communications, technical assistance to potential subgrantees, training for employees of a broadband program, establishing a broadband office, mapping, surveys identifying underserved areas, and marketing the Federal Communications Commission’s broadband subsidy program, the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Within 270 days of receiving the funds, recipients are required to submit a five-year action plan establishing the goals and priorities for internet service, which will serve as a needs assessment, the NTIA said.

“The Internet for All Initiative will provide states and territories the resources they need for thorough planning, which is essential to ensure funding is used equitably, efficiently, and effectively,” said Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. “I want to thank every state and territory for meeting our deadline so that we can close the digital divide as quickly and completely as possible.”

The unprecedented amount of money, which spawned from the passing of the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act in November, received letters of intent to participate from all 50 states, D.C., and the territories, the NTIA announced last month.

Digicomm gets private equity investment

A private equity firm that has made investments in the likes of Charter Communications announced Tuesday it is making an investment in broadband distributor and reseller Digicomm.

Crestview Partners will make an undisclosed contribution to the Colorado-based company, which specializes in hybrid connections involving both coaxial and fiber lines for broadband.

“We believe that Crestview can support Digicomm’s growth through organic investments and M&A to expand the Company’s breadth of product and service offerings as it continues to serve as a value-added partner to its customers in the evolving broadband and communications industries,” Brian Cassidy, co-president and head of media at Crestview, said in a press release.

The investment will also involve adding John Schanz, former chief network officer at Comcast Cable, along with members of Crestview, including Cassidy, to Digicomm’s board.

Crestview has previous made investments in Congruex, WOW!, Insight Communications, Interoute Communications, and OneLink Communications.

Glo Fiber expanding in Pennsylvania

Glo Fiber announced Tuesday it has reached agreements with municipal officials to deploy direct fiber lines to homes in several areas in York County, Pennsylvania.

The areas include York Township, Dallastown Borough, Red Lion Borough, Yoe Borough, Windsor Borough, Windsor Township, and Spring Garden Township.

The subsidiary of Shenandoah Telecommunications Company said construction in the county began this month and will continue into 2023, bringing fiber and symmetrical download and upload speeds, streaming TV and unlimited local and long-distance phone service to over 24,000 homes and businesses throughout the county.

“We have a long, successful history of offering fiber service to large businesses in York County,” Chris Kyle, vice president of industry and regulatory affairs at Shentel, said in a press release. “It is exciting to continue this work by bringing Glo Fiber to thousands of county residents and businesses. Our network is capable of multi-gig service that will provide the speeds citizens need on a daily basis as well as offering a much-needed competitive choice.”

Continue Reading

Press Releases

Institute for Local Self-Reliance Announces Two Initiatives to Foster Local Broadband Solutions

Urban Digital Equity Bootcamp and Let’s Get Going Broadband Program announced.

But the broadband landscape is complicated and confusing for those new to working in it. Every day, we hear from communities looking to orient themselves to the challenges and opportunities they face, and this need only seems to be growing. In response, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is excited to announce two new programs to help leaders and local government officials address their community’s needs in practical, efficient, clear-eyed ways, with sensitivity to all the things that make their community unique. ILSR has nearly 20 years of experience working on local broadband solutions that are accountable to local residents and businesses. We helped to develop the Tribal Broadband Bootcamp, and have worked with hundreds of communities from the smallest towns to the largest cities and counties.

Neither of the programs below is intended to replace existing specialized consultants. Rather, the aim is to help communities understand what their options are before they engage with consultants, so that they can be more efficient with their time.

Announcing the Urban Digital Equity Bootcamp

While most policymakers remain focused on broadband gaps in rural areas, residents of urban areas understand all too well the connectivity problems faced by those who live in cities. The greatest opportunities to achieve digital equity in urban communities is approaching, with unprecedented government and philanthropic support available to address needs long neglected. However, communities need local champions to ensure that problems are resolved in accordance with local goals.

More than 20 years of top-down solutions have failed to result in more connected, resilient communities. The Urban Digital Equity Bootcamps are instead based on the framework that bottom-up approaches, based on trust and local relationships, offer the best path forward. Modeled after the Tribal Broadband Bootcamp, and having learned lessons from the Digital Equity Leadership Lab and Broadband Accelerate approaches, we propose two-day events to develop skills and relationships as well as the needed expertise and partnerships to set and achieve digital equity goals. The program is designed to:

  • Increase knowledge and confidence of participants to allow them to better take action in their communities to achieve digital equity. This includes developing familiarity with key jargon and technologies related to Internet access.
  • Develop diverse cohorts and a larger human network of people sharing local strategies, challenges, and solutions.
  • Demystify Internet technology through hands-on applications and small group learning

Attendees will include a diverse group of stakeholders, from local leaders to activists to the philanthropic community. A key group of attendees would include organizations that already have the trust of frontline communities – groups that understand the importance of digital equity but haven’t had the capacity to address it. In larger communities, multiple events can be tailored to fit the different needs of different neighborhoods.

The primary objective will be building knowledge and trust among local organizations so they can engage in strategic campaigns of digital inclusion. These events will need significant local coordination to be effective.

The Urban Digital Equity Bootcamps will begin this fall. Contact Community Broadband Networks Outreach Team Lead DeAnne Cuellar at for more details, including cost.

Announcing the Let’s Get Going Broadband Program

Community broadband planning and coordinating digital inclusion ecosystems is complicated work. Cities and counties struggling to find the best tools and methodologies needed to address infrastructure and digital inclusion can find the solutions they need by participating in ILSR’s Let’s Get Going Broadband Program.

This eight-week, cohort-based program is designed to help local governments, elected officials, nonprofits, foundations, and digital equity advocates orient themselves and develop solutions. This progressive, syllabus-based program is aimed at helping participants understand local needs, evaluate options, and chart an achievable path to their goals. From leveraging existing assets, to financing, to partnerships, to evaluating available models for success, this program demystifies every step of the process.

It offers individualized advice and assistance along the way, while at the same time placing each community in a small cohort with other cities and counties aiming to solve similar problems. Each cohort will move through the Let’s Get Going Broadband Program together, sharing information, asking questions, and building a network of support along the way. It includes targeted readings, discussions facilitated by ILSR staff, interactive webinars, technical orientation, and lessons learned from fifteen years of tracking, writing about, and talking to communities that have tackled the task of improving their city infrastructure, boosting economic development, improving competition, and reaching the unserved and underserved by investing in locally owned solutions.

The first Let’s Get Going Broadband Program cohort is scheduled to begin in September. The cost per community is $15,000, and we recommend each community will select 3-5 participants to attend.

See the full program flyer with schedule here [pdf], or below.

It includes:

  • Cohort Building – An opportunity for a local broadband team to join a eight-week cohort with other communities in a customized curriculum to develop expertise in solving broadband challenges and taking advantage of funding opportunities.
  • Trainings – 90-minute interactive webinars  focused on understanding – in a commonly accessible manner – broadband technologies, challenges, and how similarly situated communities have addressed these problems.
  • Technical Assistance – Eight, 2-hour technical assistance sessions rooted in local needs
  • Community Progress Reports and Research – Help in developing an information-gathering project with diverse community stakeholders to define digital inclusion problems.

Contact Community Broadband Networks Outreach Team Lead DeAnne Cuellar at for more details.

Sign up for the Let’s Get Going Broadband Program here.

Originally published on the web site of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s Municipal Networks Project, this page is reprinted with permission.
Continue Reading

Signup for Broadband Breakfast

Get twice-weekly Breakfast Media news alerts.
* = required field


text:
The Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience

The Bronowski Clinic

Clinical Support and its Ongoing Development

Consistent with the charter of the Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience the staff of the Bronowski Clinic are devoted to disseminating their knowledge and experience to improve the quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease and other disorders. To achieve this we provide professional support for medical doctors, psychologists, clinicians and other health professionals in their routine practice of treating any disorder that respond to the implementation of phototherapy.

We not only provide professional advice on strategic light use as an adjuvant treatment in Parkinson’s disease but we continue to explore other applications of this non-invasive treatment to help in other conditions such as the Parkinson’s Plus disorders, Multiple Sclerosis, insomnia, depression, Huntington’s chorea and Tourette’s Syndrome. We have also found many instances whereby the comorbid states of many disease that include insomnia and depression can be improved by strategic light therapy where drug intervention has failed.

We have also found that critical factors such as time of light administration during the day/night cycle, duration of treatment and technical aspects of light administration that have not been addressed to optimise chronotherapeutics. Consequently, are we are now refining the application of light therapy so as to compliment traditional approached to treatment of many disorders.

In doing so we are defining a new approach for developing best management practices for applying bright light therapy in the treatment of anxiety, depression and insomnia not only as comorbidities of Parkinson’s disease but also in other conditions as well as being treated as mental conditions in their own right.

In our most recent work, we have unveiled the therapeutic and adverse effects of phototherapy in such detail that we believe light should be regarded as a “drug” in that under dosing, effective dosing and overdosing can result in a response by patients much resembling that occurring with pharmacological intervention. This is particularly important when applying a new treatment to any disorder given that individual sensitivity to drugs can vary from patient to patient and strategic light therapy can elicit the same response.

We are also developing an approach for treating drug overdosing phenomena with strategic drug titration that will aid in reducing polypharmacy in drug addiction, drug over-prescription and also to reduce the need for invasive forms of surgical intervention, such as DBS.

We are currently developing a comprehensive guide describing the key to more effectively treating depression, insomnia and other neurological and psychiatric disorders using the chronotherapeutic approach. This will describe a description of long and short term methodologies for the application of bright light therapy for symptomatic treatment and even slowing the progression of desiderative disease states.

As a research clinic we welcome any person whom remains trouble by common derivatives of many complaints such as insomnia, depression or anxiety, whether they exist they in their own right or they be part of another, more complex disorder.

We are here to serve those who have a compromised quality of life and we will be pleased to provide what service we are able, no matter where you reside.

So please make contact, if you feel we may be of some help in improving your quality of life.

Dr Greg Willis
Clinical Director
The Bronowski Clinic

Contact details of the Institute and the Location of the Clinic.

Address Appointments Telephone Email
The Bronowski Clinic
40 Davy St
Woodend,3442, VIC,
Dr. Greg Willis
+61 407 477 733 International
0407 477 733 Australia
+61 3 5427 1494 International
(03) 5427 1494 Australia

A Chronology of Formal Scientific Publications and Presentations to Learned Scientific Societies Regarding Light as a Therapeutic and the Circadian System in the Aetiology and Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease

A therapeutic role for melatonin antagonism in experimental models of Parkinson’s disease.
Willis GL, Armstrong SM
Physiol. Behav. 66 (5):785-95, 1999.

Therapeutic effects of bright light therapy in Parkinson’s disease: A series of case reports.
Willis, G.L. and McLennan, C.A.
Melatonin and Biological Rhythms Symposium, Australian Chronobiology Society, Adelaide, South Australia, August 21-23, p.015, 2001.

Principles emerging from the clinical use of bright light therapy as the fundamental ingredient in treatment strategies for Parkinson’s disease: an update.
Willis, GL and Turner, EJD
Australian Chronobiology Society Conference, Melbourne, Victoria p14, 2006.

The Role of Psychologists in the Assessment and Treatment of Parkinson’s disease: Returning Quality of Life to the Elderly with Neuropsychiatric Disorders”,
Willis, GL
Australian Psychological Society, Psychology and Aging Interest Group, October, 2007

Primary and secondary features of Parkinson’s disease improve with strategic exposure to bright light: a case series study.
Willis GL, Turner EJ.
Chronobiol. Int. 2007; 24 (3):521-37.

The therapeutic effect of monochromatic blue light on the features of Parkinson’s disease using a quasi-blind strategy.
Willis, GL
Australian Chronobiology Society-5th Annual Meeting, Sydney, Australia, p. 20b, 2008.

Parkinson’s disease as a neuroendocrine disorder of circadian function: dopamine-melatonin imbalance and the visual system in the genesis and progression of the degenerative process.
Willis GL
Rev. Neurosci. 2008; 19 (4-5):245-316. Review.

Can long-term light therapy slow the progressive degeneration of Parkinson’s disease?
Willis, GL, Moore C Armstrong SM
Australian Chronobiology Society-6th Annual Meeting, Melbourne, Australia, p. 23, 2009.

New Vistas on Parkinson’s disease.
Willis GL, Armstrong SM
Eur. J. Neurol. 2010 Apr;17 (4):519-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2009.02852.x. Epub 2009 Nov 18. No abstract available.

The therapeutic effect of strategic long term light therapy in Parkinson’s disease,
GL Willis, GL, Moore C, Armstrong, SM,
Australian Chronobiology Society-8th Annual Meeting, Melbourne, Australia, p. 6, 2011.

A historical justification for and retrospective analysis of the systematic application of light therapy in Parkinson’s disease.
Willis GL, Moore C, Armstrong SM
Rev. Neurosci. 2012 Mar 1; 23 (2):199-226. doi: 10.1515/revneuro-2011-0072.

Breaking away from dopamine deficiency: an essential new direction for Parkinson’s disease.
Willis GL, Moore C, Armstrong SM
Rev. Neurosci. 2012; 23 (4):403-28. doi: 10.1515/revneuro-2012-0037. Review.

The origins of the study of circadian involvement in neuropsychiatric disease.
Willis GL
Invited Plenary Lecture, Australian Chronobiology Society, Adelaide, S.S., August 13-14, 2017.

Circadian system – A novel diagnostic and therapeutic target in Parkinson’s disease?
Videnovic A, Willis GL
Mov. Disord. 2016 Mar; 31 (3):260-9. doi: 10.1002/mds.26509. Epub 2016 Jan 30. Review.

Emerging preclinical interest concerning the role of circadian function in Parkinson’s disease.
Willis GL, Freelance CB
Brain. Res. 2018 Jan 1; 1678: 203-213. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.09.027. Epub 2017 Sep 25. Review.

The effect of light exposure on insomnia and nocturnal movement in Parkinson’s disease: an open label, retrospective, longitudinal study.
Martino JK, Freelance CB, Willis GL
Sleep Med. 2018 Apr; 44: 24-31. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2018.01.001. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

Light as a Therapeutic in the Treatment and Management of Parkinson’s Disease: A Controlled Exploratory Trial.
Willis GL, Boda J & Freelance CB. Front. Neurol. (2018) 9:741. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00741

Related Scientific Work From Other Sources Supporting Our Findings:

Bright light therapy in Parkinson’s disease: a pilot study. Paus S, Schmitz-Hübsch T, Wüllner U, Vogel A, Klockgether T, Abele M. Mov Disord. (2007) Jul 30;22(10):1495-8.

Timed light therapy for sleep and daytime sleepiness associated with Parkinson disease a randomized clinical trial. Videnovic A, Klerman E, Wang W Marconi A, Kuhta T, Zee P. JAMA Neurology (2017) 74(4) 411-418 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.5192.

Bright light therapy for depression in Parkinson disease: A randomized controlled trial. Rutten S, Vriend C, Smit J, Berendse H, Van Someren E, Hoogendoorn A, Twisk J, Van Der Werf Y, Van Den Heuvel O. Neurology (2019) 92(11) E1145-E1156 DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000007090.

Bright light therapy with a head-mounted device for anxiety, depression, sleepiness and fatigue in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Raymackers JM, Andrade M, Baey E, Vanneste M, Evrard F. Acta Neurol Belg. (2019) Dec;119(4):607-613. doi: 10.1007/s13760-019-01214-3.

  • The Bronowski Clinic Consulting Rooms
  • 40 Davy Street
  • Woodend VIC 3442 Australia
  • Public Liaison Ofﬁcer (General Enquiries)
  • Jane Holth
  • 03 5427 1741 |


text:
nail & cuticle SALVE
Rub with finger to activate and apply on cuticles and nail bed.

nail & cuticle SALVE

Brooklyn Bar Body & Bath

Regular price $10.00 $8.00 Sale

Our all natural nail & cuticle SALVE restores the nail bed and skin around the cuticles by moisturizing, healing and repairing for overall healthier nails.

Great for active, hard working or maturing hands.  It nourishes and starts to work all day long.

Rub the salve to activate and then apply directly on cuticles, especially at bedtime for optimum benefits and immediate results.

*We don’t add drying alcohols to our nail & cuticle SALVEs, only the purest essential oils as an antiseptic and for a little aromatherapy.

Comes packaged in a biodegradable, eco-friendly pot.

.5 oz

Net Orders Checkout

Item Price Qty Total
Subtotal $0.00

Shipping Address

Shipping Methods


text:
4x32 BROWE Combat Optic - 5.56mm Chevron (001) Combo with BMR

001 BCO/BMR Combo
(No reviews yet)
Current Stock:
Adding to cart… The item has been added

4x32 BROWE Combat Optic - 5.56mm Chevron (001) with BMR Sight Combo

The 4x32 BROWE Combat Optic (BCO) featuring state-of-the-art technology that delivers high-quality optical glass, high precision machining, rugged military design, and unique features that put the BCO top of its class.

The BCO offers a modern designed combat optic with many unique features, such as Target Light Sensor Technology that detects and measures the target light passing through the optic and automatically adjuste the reticle illumination to the idela intensity.  A Single Intuitive Control (SIC) that gives the user a simple button, designed to simulate muscle memory adn expedite manual operation.  A flash port give access to a field programmable microcontroller and allows the option to customize the BCO firmware, power accessories and attach a pressure pad switch that controls the SIC button at an alternative location on the weapon.

The BCO aids users in seeing further and targeting faster. The fixed Power Rifle Scopes from the innovators at BROWE feature 4x magnification that allows for high-precision clarity and brilliance. With the choice of eleven (11) reticle patterns, the BROWE 4x32mm Combat Optic Riflescope is easy to zero CQB or long range shooting. Able to survive the rigors of repeated usage, this rifle scope has been tested under the harshest of conditions. Thanks to a rugged, military design the BROWE 4x32 Combat Optic Reticle Riflescope is the evolutionary answer to high-quality optics.

Specifications for BROWE 4x32 Combat Optic Riflescope:

Objective Lens Diameter: 32 mm
Exit Pupil: 8 mm
Battery Type: CR123A
Battery Quantity: 1
Field of View, Linear: 36.8 ft at 100 yds
Field of View, Angle: 7 degrees
Eye Relief: 37 mm
Weight: 17 oz
Fabric/Material: 7075-T6 Aluminum
Length: 132 mm
Width: 67 mm
Illumination Type: LED
Brightness Settings: 10
Adjustment Type: MOA
Adjustment Click Value: 0.5 MOA
Adjustment Range: 60 MOA
Parallax: Parallax Free at 100m
Lens Material: BK-7 Glass
Optical Coating: Broad Band Anti-Reflective
Light Transmission: 96 %
Attachment/Mount Type: MIL-STD-1913 American Defense AD-170
Battery Life: 2000-775 hours
Operating Temperature: -40 - 55 Celsius
Weather Resistance: Yes
Water Resistance Level: Waterproof
Shockproof: Yes
Fogproof: Yes
Finish: Hard Anodized
Package Type: Polymer hard case
Included Accessories: Battery Cap Retainer, Adjuster Cap Retainer, MIL-STD-1913 QD Mount, Hard Carry Case, CR123A Battery, Operators manual
Magnification Type: Fixed

Target Light Sensor Technology:

The 4x32 BROWE Combat Optic (BCO) has a photocell that measures target light levels and automaticly adjust the reticle illumination to the proper level.  For many years, photo sensors have been used in a variety of optics to detect ambient light.  What make the BCO Target Light Sensor Techology unique is that it measures the target light levels from the optical light path and automatically adjuste the brightness to properly contrast the target light and shields the sensor from ambient light conditions.  With extensive research adn development, it was discovered that mounting the a sensor in the light path behind the objective lens magnifies the incoming light and provides greater sensitivity and accuracy of the target light levels.  Also, avoids sensor errors casused from ambient light that is near the operator.


text:
The extraordinary Art Nouveau winter garden of the Ursuline nuns

Near Mechelen, the vast complex of school and cloister buildings of the Ursuline Institute of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver, founded in 1840, reveals a remarkable combination of styles as varied as neo-classicism, neo-Gothic, neo-Romanesque and Empire style. But it was not until 1900 that the site was joined by what would become its jewel: a huge Art Nouveau winter garden, which immerses visitors in its magical atmosphere.

This enchanting place, crowned by a cupola with multi-coloured stained glass windows, was the “calling card” of the boarding school for young girls. Strangely enough, the architect of this jewel remains unknown to this day, although his work bears witness to a rare mastery.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Richard Vereijken (@vereijken8) on

The magnificent glass cupola displays the main characteristics of this decorative movement, which developed at an international level: the use of glass and wrought iron, a plant and floral repertoire and the use of curved “whiplash” lines. Its colourful stained glass windows represent Morning, Day and Evening, a popular Art Nouveau theme.

For more information on visiting opportunities, please go to


text:
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog

SOCW 250 Human Behavior and the Social Environment 1

Focuses on human growth and development from the prenatal period through later adulthood. Biological, psychological, and social aspects of human behavior are discussed. The complex interaction between human development and various social, cultural, spiritual, familial, organizational, and community factors are highlighted. Emphasizes applying concepts and theories to assessment.

Prerequisite: SOCW 100 or permission of the department chairperson.

Open only to social work majors and minors, and women and gender studies majors and minors.


text:
Buddy Enterprise: Safety & Security

DISCLAIMER: Buddy Enterprise is the downloadable (on-premises) version of the Service (i.e. hosted on user infrastructure). For security information on the cloud-hosted version of Buddy, click here.

Buddy Enterprise operates on your infrastructure, which means it is governed by your existing information security controls: from firewalls and VPNs, to identity and access management and monitoring systems. The on-premises version of Buddy is for entities that require keeping data in-house, entities located in remote locations with slow Internet connection and those already running their CI/CD process on local infrastructure

Operating System, Firewall and Access

Buddy Enterprise uses Docker as the underlying tech. This means you can install it on any Operating System that supports Docker. We recommended Linux with properly configured firewalls and access permissions to the server with your Buddy Enterprise installation.

Application security

The application and repository data are available only for users defined in the workspace. There are two types of users: administrators with full access to all projects, and members who can only access projects to which they have been added. Members scope of access is independently restricted (or expanded) for the source (Git repository) and pipelines (deployments) using custom permissions.

Encrypted communications

All private data to and from Buddy is transmitted over SSL. All communication with the repository is done over SSH authenticated with keys, or via HTTPS using your Buddy username and password. All registered users are virtual and have no user account on our machines. The SSH credentials used to push and pull cannot be used to access a shell or the filesystem. You can also set a custom SSL certificate for HTTPS traffic.

Backups & Updates

Buddy Enterprise does not perform automatic backups. Instead, we provide tools for easy backup of both the application and data stored. Configuring and running regular backups is critical for software hosted on premises. Buddy does not hold any responsibility for data loss and issues resulting from the negligence of proper backup policy. Running\ta backup is obligatory before updating the application to the newest version.

Patches to the core operating system, and running services to address security concerns, are managed by Buddy as part of our standard product release cycle. This includes patches for new features, improvements, stability, and non-critical security issues, which are usually released on weekly basis. Critical security patches are provided as needed outside of the regular release cycle and specifically announced with email notifications and via our Twitter channel. You can easily check the version and update your Buddy Enterprise installation either from the CLI or the GUI.

External Services and Support Access

By design, Buddy Enterprise is able to operate without any egress access from your network to outside services. However, if your instance does have access to the Internet, it will send us events with the version of the application, and the total number of projects and users. Apart from that, we have no access to any data stored in your Buddy Enterprise installation.

When resolving a support issue we may sometimes ask you for more information. This can be handled in two ways:

  • Buddy feedback – the command sends a package with application logs and configuration files over an encrypted connection to a secure AWS S3 bucket. The package is available only for QA developers for the time required to resolve the issue and immediately removed afterward.
  • SSH access – on extreme occasions we may ask you to give us access to the server with your Buddy Enterprise installation. This is performed over a secure SSH connection (called a tunnel) which first has to be opened from the client’s side by running a command on the server.

If you have any questions regarding the safety and security of our Service, drop a word to support@buddy.works and we’ll get back in a snap.