text:
Mark Zuckerberg’s remarks on Holocaust denial ‘irresponsible’

Facebook founder had suggested site did not need to remove unintentional denial

Mark Zuckerberg has been criticised by Jewish groups and anti-racism organisations for suggesting Holocaust denial should be allowed on Facebook because it could be unintentional.

In an interview on Wednesday, the Facebook founder said he found Holocaust denial deeply offensive, but added: I dont believe that our platform should take that down because I think there are things that different people get wrong. I dont think that theyre intentionally getting it wrong Its hard to impugn intent and to understand the intent.

Zuckerberg, who is Jewish, later retracted his remarks, issuing an update that said: I personally find Holocaust denial deeply offensive, and I absolutely didnt intend to defend the intent of people who deny that.

But his comment came too late to stop criticism from Jewish groups, both for the specifics of his statement and the general practice of allowing Holocaust denial to thrive on his platform.

Stephen Silverman, director of investigations and enforcement at the Campaign Against Antisemitism, told the Guardian: Mark Zuckerbergs remarks are deeply irresponsible. There is no such thing as benign Holocaust denial.

It is solely a means of inciting hatred against Jews by claiming that we fabricated the genocide of our people to extort money in the form of reparations. It is utterly abusive and Mark Zuckerberg must take responsibility for excising it from Facebook.

Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the US-based Anti-Defamation League, said: Holocaust denial is a wilful, deliberate and longstanding deception tactic by antisemites that is incontrovertibly hateful, hurtful and threatening to Jews. Facebook has a moral and ethical obligation not to allow its dissemination.

ADL will continue to challenge Facebook on this position and call on them to regard Holocaust denial as a violation of their community guidelines.

Matthew McGregor, campaigns director of HOPE not hate, told the Guardian: The Holocaust is one of the great evils of history, an industrial genocide levelled against the Jewish people. It did happen and it is more than just deeply offensive: it is incredibly dangerous to give any credence or platform to those who deny it.

Facebook, as a publisher of content, has a responsibility to ensure that the violence inherent in the message of Holocaust deniers must not be able to flourish without being challenged or held in check. This is not about getting it wrong, it is about not enabling dangerous people to spread a vile message of hate.

Facebooks community guidelines, published in detail in April, a year after the Guardian obtained the then secret documents in a leak, ban hate speech because it creates an environment of intimidation and exclusion and in some cases may promote real-world violence.

But the companys definition of hate speech requires violent or dehumanising speech, statements of inferiority, or calls for exclusion or segregation, which it says does not cover Holocaust denial.

Facebook removes Holocaust denial in some countries, such as Germany, where it is illegal. Monika Bickert, Facebooks head of global policy, explained the distinction in May, telling an event at Oxford University that something might be illegal in 10 countries, but if only two countries say this is important to us, its illegal, remove it, we will do it. And if the others dont, we will not remove it.

Sometimes countries may have laws on the books this is certainly true in the United States, I can say as an American lawyer that are really out of date with how that culture thinks about speech, that are no longer enforced. So we wait for that government to make a request about it.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/19/mark-zuckerberg-holocaust-denial-facebook-remarks-offensive

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General News » News

Handel’s Messiah comes to New Tecumseth

December 7, 2018   ·   0 Comments

The New Tecumseth Singers, along with their friends from the Dufferin Concert Singers, will be presenting Handel’s Messiah under the direction of John Wervers on Sunday, December 16, at Banting Memorial High School, 203 Victoria Street East, Alliston, at 3:00 p.m.

The 95-member choir will be accompanied by the Waterloo Chamber Players orchestra and four soloists.

The soloists include local area bass singer Lorne Derraugh who wears many hats in the region’s musical and theatre scene. Soprano Hannah Shelton-Campbell and Alto Cara Cameron come from the Dufferin area and have performed in Alliston on numerous occasions.

Tenor Blair Spry recently graduated from Wifrid Laurier University and resides in Brantford.

Messiah is perhaps the best-known and best loved of all major choral works. Only an inspired person could have produced this masterpiece in less than a month. After 277 years, this triumphant work continues to move audiences around the world at Christmas and Easter time.

The work is a major undertaking, and the New Tecumseth Singers enthusiastically take this project on every few years so that area residents have an opportunity to hear and observe this intense work in their own neighbourhood.

A project of this size can only happen with the support and encouragement of our local audience.

The singer, soloists and orchestra members look forward to meeting you at Banting on Sunday,

December 16 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets, while they last, are available from Lloyd’s Papermoon, 47 Victoria St. W. Alliston at 705-435-9890; South Simcoe Arts, 14 Victoria St. E. Alliston at 705 435-2378 or contact Keith at 705-435-7374.

If this date is not convenient, they will be performing in Orangeville on Saturday, December 15 at Broadway Pentecostal Church, 556 Broadway West at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the Saturday event are available at Booklore, 121 First St. Orangeville 519-942-3830 or contact Kathy at 647-483-2117.

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A brief history of the NBA

The first important history of professional basketball league, the American Basketball Association. The league began in 1946 as a way for hockey arenas, you can shop in the off season. BAA has been extended for three seasons until it was merged with the smaller National Basketball League in 1949. The combination of Dallas Cowboys jersey
the BAA and NBL born, the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949. played six franchises in the BAA that still exist today (Celtics, Knicks, Lakers, Pistons, Warriors and Royals.) DynastyIn Boston Celtics of the 1950s the Minneapolis Lakers won several NBA championships. But when the Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach and Bob Cousy hired acquired players such as Tommy Heinsohn and Bill Russell, the Celtics began the dynasty of the basketball in the NBA. Since 1957, the Celtics have won 11 NBA championships in 13 years. His main opponent in this season were in Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers. Although trained as impressive as the Celtics, the Lakers no NBA titles during this period of history have won.
The threat of ABA and other problemsIn the 1960s, the NFL is facing the biggest threat in history as an upstart and exciting new league called the AFL. In the last part of the decade, the NBA is facing similar problems with its new competitor, the American Basketball Association (ABA). The new league has attracted many players from the basketball star and had a quick play. The ABA is probably best known for his basketball-red, white and blue known. Finally, the ABA joined the NBA in 1976, when the Major League allows Nets, Nuggets, Spurs and Pacers in their organization.
The fusion does not end the problems of the NBA. It was a dark period in the history of basketball as an NBA player with many serious problems related to drugs in 1970 are facing. Rumours were rife that the basketball players were in the NBA many abuses marijuana and cocaine at this point in history. Certainly, the NBA is not unique, drug problems in 1970. But the negative image that has led to low morale, low participation and poor ratings of television.
Glory Days: The 1980sJust when the NBA was at its lowest point in history, were two young stars of Jets 6 Sanchez AFL50th jersey
the league and revitalized the NBA. Larry Bird is the Boston Celtics and Earvin Magic Johnson is the Lakers in Los Angeles. In the 1980s, the Celtics won three NBA titles and the Lakers have won five. In fact, the two rivals clashed in the past three times in this decade. Older fans of basketball with the Celtics face as most NBA fans quickly for the Showtime Lakers style. More importantly, the interest of basketball fans in general leads young and old NBA arenas and ratings increased.
While the Celtics and Lakers were the renovation of the old jokes in the decade of 1980, broke a skinny kid from North Carolina to the NBA scene. Once he got the NBA, Michael Jordan was consistently score 30-40 points per game. Jordan's talent knew no boundaries, both as a shooter and a jumper and tenacious fighting spirit was legendary, both as a lawyer and above all in practice. He took his team, the Chicago Bulls to collect for several years for a proper distribution of aid to the coach. But once he found the right formula, Jordan and the Bulls six NBA titles and won the Most experts agree that Michael Jordan the best basketball player in history.
The NBA in 21 century when retirement of Michael Jordan and the Bulls broke the team belonged to his coach, Phil Jackson joined the Lakers in Los Angeles. Jackson continued his journey by winning five NBA crowns or 11 NBA titles as head coach, most of the story. Among the players was the debate in most of the 21 century, when Kobe Bryant (notes) or LeBron James (notes) the best player in the NBA. While most agree that James is the most talented player in the NBA, Bryant is considered the best player because he won championships.
Although facing the NBA is suffering many problems of Steelers 43 Polamalu jersey
companies in a bad economy are still very popular is basketball and the league is very strong. Its speed and style of appealing to young people to ensure that basketball is very popular in the immediate future, and probably for many generations.

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text:
Industrial Production indicates that the “recovery” ended in 2014

It´s well known that manufacturing makes up less than 20% of the economy while the service sector, which gets far less attention, contributes much more to the economic pie. However, in contrast to services, which grows steadily irrespective of ‘wind strength’, manufacturing is highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and demand. That´s the reason Industrial Production is widely used in forecasting the economy.

The Fed´s “tightening rhetoric” that began in mid-2014, quickly had a negative impact on industrial production and capacity utilization. Total Industrial Production fell on the heels of the mining slump. Manufacturing just stagnated.

In the spring of 2016, realizing it had shot itself in the foot, the Fed´s tightening rhetoric was relaxed. That was not enough to bring about improvement, just sufficient to stop things worsening.

However, the “tightening rhetoric” begins to pick up again…

According to the news:

U.S. industrial production fell in January because unseasonably warm temperatures cooled demand for utilities, but underlying figures show modest progress for the manufacturing sector.

The immediate market reaction was interesting. The dollar and long-term yields shot up on the better than expected retail sales news. One hour later, when the industrial production data was released, yields recoiled while the dollar went into negative territory.

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text:
Grab some popcorn: Redmond has asked for feedback
Microsoft’s about to test a new feature of Windows 10 that will force users to employ its Edge browser under some circumstances.
Revealed in the announcement of Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17623 for Skip Ahead, the change means “we will begin testing a change where links clicked on within the Windows Mail app will open in Microsoft Edge”.
Microsoft’s justification for the change is that Edge is the best, most secure browser on Windows 10.
But the change will reportedly override users’ preference for default browser.
While that’s naughty in lots of ways and makes Microsoft’s efforts to boost its browser’s market share pretty lame, this change won’t have a massive effect because Windows Mail isn’t a big deal. A firm named Litmus tracks email client use and in its analysis of the email market in 2017 found Outlook has six per cent of the email client market, has four per cent and Windows Live Mail had one per cent market share. Windows Mail didn’t get a mention. That means it is behind even Yahoo! mail’s two per cent market share not in the same postcode as the 28 per cent share for the iPhone’s email client, 26 per cent for Gmail, and even the five per cent market share for Samsung’s mail client.
And of course the change also applies to a Preview, meaning there’s a decent chance this “feature” won’t ever make it into a proper version of Windows 10.
Microsoft’s post is also peppered with calls for feedback: The Register imagines few comments Redmond receives will be positive. ®
Sponsored: Minds Mastering Machines – Call for papers now open

Continue reading...


text:
Thursday, 13 October 2011

Education Minister John O'Dowd's Twitter Q&A - Transcript of questions and answers

Education Minister John O'Dowd has taken part in the Northern Ireland Executive's first live Twitter Q&A.
Minister O'Dowd answered 26 questions over an hour on a range of topics. The full transcript of the Q&A is available below.
Q&A Transcript
From @niexecutive - Education Minister John O'Dowd up next to answer questions. Just arriving from a visit to Wellington College, Belfast #AskDE
Question 1 - from @ColininNI
#askDE to what extent will the review announced recently include the efficiency of maintaining 5 ELBs?
Answer - @ColininNI Viability audit does not include Boards. I aim to replace Boards and other bodies with single Education & Skills Authority #AskDE
Question 2 - from @boo50hoo
@niexecutive #AskDE Why did Mr O'Dowd not brief the Education Boards before his speech two weeks ago. The SELB is not following his criteria
Answer - @boo50hoo All ELBs were briefed on day of speech. Terms of ref for audit will be on DE website soon #AskDE
Question 3 – from @nbonnes
#AskDE In the minister's opinion what would be the ideal model for the Randalstown/Ballymena post-primary provision?
Answer - @nbonnes the area planning process will identify proposals for all areas including Randalstown. I await proposals from ELBs #AskDE
Question 4 – from @collapsibubble
Will you consider removing compulsory xian religious participation from schools? Schools should educate and churches preach. #AskDE
Answer - @collapsibubble Schools deliver core RE topics, add to them as per ethos. Parents can withdraw children from RE classes if they wish #AskDE
Question 5 – from @Kilsally
#AskDE Does the minister foresee a move to a single education system for all to foster reconciliation and to save money? @1schoolthought
Answer - @Kilsally Better planning and greater sharing will promote reconciliation and efficiency #AskDE
Question 6 - from @Gary_NI
@niexecutive my mum is a substitute teacher with 25yrs experience in full time teaching. Is she now considered past her use by date? #AskDE
Answer - @Gary_NI Most certainly not, we value all our teaching staff #AskDE
Question 7 – from @MrMalcontent
@JohnODowdSF so, did you have a look at how some teachers are willing to do their own CPD in NI? #tmbelfast #askDE
Answer- @MrMalcontent CPD, and teacher education in general, is currently under review - see link #AskDE
Question 8 - from @derd28
@JohnODowdSF #AskDE when are you going to sort this transfer test mess out? Despicable the level of stress put on children. Action needed!
Answer - @derd28 Transfer policy requires no tests. Many good schools do not use academic selection #AskDE
Question 9 - from @Wiseabap
Time to end schools inherent homophobia and their exemption from equality duties Minister O'Dowd #askDE @niexecutive
Answer - @Wiseabap Homophobia is unacceptable. See this link to see how we are tackling it #AskDE
Question 10 - from @bradleyea
 #askDE what will you do to support & expand integrated sector? Not mow a regional option for many who would like to choose it.
Answer - @bradleyea I support parental choice in selection of schools for children, recognise value of Int sector along with all sectors #AskDE
Question 11 - from @rickyp119
Protestant schls don't teach GAA. Catholic schls dont teach cricket. Do U think more could be done to increase cultural...
Answer - @rickyp119 I don’t want to name names, schools decide. I accept your point but schools have flexibility and I want to preserve that #AskDE
Question 12 - from @rickyp119
Do you think GCSEs have now been devalued to the point of being meaningless? #askde
Answer - @rickyp119 Most definitely not #AskDE
Question 13 - from @jasonfisher6
 #ASKDE Minister prove that this audit is not a numbers game and you're not targeting the most vulnerable with most to lose
Answer - @Jasonfisher6 the criteria were laid out in my speech. Terms of ref public soon #AskDE
Question 14 - from @jasonfisher6
#ASKDE @niexecutive why are you allowing the SEELB to prevent Ballykeigle primary school from getting a new principal?
Answer - @Jasonfisher6 Appointment of principal is a matter for the SEELB. Principal is in place in Ballykeigle PS on a shared arrangement #AskDE
Question 15 - from @kiplisburn
#AskDE @JohnOdowdSF how does the minister plan to solve the problem of lack of jobs for NQTs?
Answer - @kiplisburn Assembly recently endorsed motion on difficulties faced by newly qualified teachers in gaining employment. Details here on niassembly website
Question 16 - from @kiplisburn
#AskDE what can be done to solve the problem of nursery place shortages? Many parents offered places far from home.
Answer - @kiplisburn I am currently studying the findings of a review #AskDE
Question 17 - from @kiplisburn
#AskDE Will politicians come to an agreement on the way forward with regards to post primary transfer? What is the next step?
Answer - @kiplisburn I am seeking political agreement on the way forward #AskDE
Question 18 - from @redriding
 Could I please #askDE the minister if he is aware of the proposals currently in process with a view to the closure of...
Answer - @redriding this issue would be better dealt with by letter as you have raised several concerns. DM me your details #AskDE
Question 19 - from @nocuts2011
#askDE. What has happened to the £250 that workers who earn under £21000pa were supposed to get?
Answer - @nocuts2011 we are working with DFP to resolve this #AskDE
Question 20 - from @helenhamill
school inspections are announced? they don't reflect reality of day to day provision. drop-in effective measure. tool? #askDE
Answer - @helenhamill All inspection matters are kept under review. The day to day work of a school is monitored via District Inspector visits #AskDE
Question 21 - from @kylep77
 #askDE @niexecutive In cases of school closures, will Mr O’Dowd be able to reallocate those teachers who are left jobless?
Answer - @kylep77 I am engaging with stakeholders to help address challenges #AskDE
Question 22 - from @ransom_stoddard
 Why is more money spent on maintaining grammar school standards rather than improving standards at the lower end #askDE
Answer - @ranson_stoddard Grammars not funded more than other schools. Schools with greater challenges given additional support #AskDE
Question 23 – from @davidwkerr
Does the Minister think post-primary education should allow children to pursue vocational subjects from 14yrs rather than academic? #AskDE
Answer - @davidwkerr The Entitlement Framework allows children to choose #AskDE
Question 24 - from @helenhamill
INSET is very costly and schools have use SEN budget to provide assistants. So teachers may have no INSET. Enforceable #askDE
Answer - @helenhamill New SEN resource file free to every school in Learning NI. Detailed info on teaching SEN based on outstanding practice #AskDE
Question 25 - from @davidwkerr
Education systems in other EU countries is there one system the Minister admires more than any other & we cld learn from? #AskDE
Answer - @davidwkerr I wish to create a system other EU states admire #AskDE
Question 26 - from @jsni
 With your background as a culinary expert - What 3 people would you have to your dinner party? #AskDe
Answer - @jsni I would like to invite Muhammad Ali, Billy Connolly and Michael Palin #AskDE
From @niexecutive - That’s it for John O’Dowd’s live Q&A. We hope you found it useful and engaging. Thanks for all the Qs, sorry if yours wasn’t answered. #AskDE

1 comment:

  1. "Thanks for all the Qs, sorry if yours wasn’t answered." said #AskDE. However one tweeter had three questions answered and another two. Either the Minister only had 22 individuals submit questions or, more likely, ducked and weaved to avoid the more difficult questions that would prevent him using Twitter to promote ESA and continue to undermine the ELBs. Yet another SF propaganda exercise. Must do better O'Dowd


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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Even more family reunion fun!

Here is the group picture we took of everyone! This is my mom and her sister and brother and their spouses, children and grandchildren. My brother and my Aunt Kathleen's daughter weren't able to make it, but everyone else was there! What a fun memory it is! And here are some pictures from our second and last day!

While most of the boys played golf, some of us went into town to a few little shops. Alli got a root beer, and we had some fun taking pictures!!

More kubota fun :)

Mom, Uncle Vince, Aunt Kathleen

Their sweeties

One of the reasons we got together was to celebrate my cousin Bailey's high school graduation! She is so precious and we loved getting to honor her! Here she is opening a few graduation gifts :)

the audience

back out for a last little bit of playing!

yes the grill is attached to the kubota! we had yummy bbq

and cake and homemade ice cream!

I really was there :)

Alli braided the girls' hair! She's such a fun aunt/cousin :)

And that's all! You're not going to believe it, but I really did narrow this down!
scroll down for day 1 :)

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Reindeer husbandry

Responsibility area

To promote research on reindeer husbandry related issues in the Nordic countries. A central aim is to accomplish networking between scientists from different disciplines, countries and research organisations, as well as between science and end-users (reindeer husbandry, management agencies and others) and thereby stimulate knowledge building and research cooperation.

We also wish to integrate young researchers and students into reindeer husbandry-related research. Our vision is to contribute to maintaining reindeer husbandry as a resilient social-ecological system.

The establishment of the Reindeer Husbandry Section is a consequence of the closure of the previous contact forum, NOR (Nordic Council for Reindeer Husbandry Research;

As a well-established member organisation, NJF has the prospect of continuing the previous role of NOR as a contact forum and for e.g. arranging research conferences and initiating joint research projects. An independent section for reindeer husbandry research at NJF is justified by the multidisciplinary field, which covers a range of diverse themes within natural and social science and humanities.

The permanent Section Board will consist of at least one representative each for reindeer husbandry research in Norway, Sweden and Finland, and possibly representatives from Iceland and Greenland too. Board members may be appointed from other member countries if they are interested in joining; at least one representative from a reindeer herders’ organisation; a representative from a relevant management agency; if available, a contact person representing reindeer husbandry related research in Russia.

Minutes May 30 2017

Birgitta Åhman
Professor in reindeer husbandry,
Uppsala, Sweden

Members of Section Board

Kirsi Muuttoranta
LUKE (Natural Resources Institute Finland)
Jokioinen, Finland

Svein Morten Eilertsen
Utskarpen, Norway


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Meditation Club

Meditation is the practice of turning your attention to a single point of reference. It can involve focusing on the breath, on bodily sensations, or on a word or phrase known as a mantra. In other words, meditation means turning your attention away from distracting thoughts and focusing on the prsent moment. It is to train the mind and induces a mode of consciousness. Students will meditate for 1 hour each meeting followed by a group reflection/discussion.

Advisor: Mr. Fu

Meets: Thursday 2:15-3:15 p.m.
Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2019 West Corporation. All rights reserved.


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Strengthening Constitutional Self-Government

No Left Turns

More on Beinart’s false hope

George Will considers Peter Beinart’s call for a renewal of old liberalism a la 1947 (and beats up on Robert Kuttner in passing). He thinks it an admirable exercise, similar to what Bill Buckley did regarding the Birch Society in the 1950’s, but, alas, Will thinks Beinart will not be so successful. How can he convince a base that is fueled (as it would seem) by the likes of Michael Moore and As a relative matter, Buckley’s GOP base was hardly influenced by the Birchers; besides, they were wrong about some things, yet did not have contempt for the American people, as Beinart’s liberals do.

The reason that Moore is hostile to U.S. power is that he despises the American people from whom the power arises. Moore’s assertion that America "is known for bringing sadness and misery to places around the globe" is a corollary of Kuttnerism, the doctrine that "middle America" is viciously ignorant.

William Voegeli wishes Beinart luck with giving liberalism a fighting faith for the second time, but he is also not optimistic. He thinks that liberalism crossed the Rubicon with Vietnam, and there is no going back to the ADA of 1947; in fact the ADA, along with Arthur Schlesinger, et al, left their 1947 version of themselves in 1967 when they broke with LBJ. Besides there is a connection between their domestic and foreign policies. A snippet from this thoughtful essay:

We should expect, then, that the same qualities will animate liberalism’s domestic and foreign policies. Whether dealing with terrorists abroad or delinquents at home, the first impulse will be the same. As Joseph Cropsey wrote forty years ago, "The liberal view is consistent with itself in applying to domestic as well as to foreign affairs the dictum that trust edifies and absolute trust edifies absolutely." Accordingly, liberalism’s faith in forebearance and mediation is as strong in the international arena as in the domestic: "Among nations, [liberals believe], there are no genuine issues but only attitudes or states of mind which, if they are inconducive to peace, can be removed by the methods of conflict resolution, or exorcism of mass delusion and neurosis."

Discussions - 2 Comments

A IMHO more realistic development until 2008/2012 would be an even more ’Social’ Democratic Liberal party (a Dean-Rodham coalition) combined with and possibly put to power by a third force of MARCI PORCII libertarian and paleocon isolationalist renegates or any major non-leftist third candidate.

correction and clarification:

1) aN imho ...

2) "more realistic" with regard to Beinart’s post election vision of a new old fashioned Democratic party, not with your commenting on it

(I’m a little insecure with my English)

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Node.js and MongoDB are a pair made for each other. Being able to use JSON across the board and JavaScript makes development very easy. This is why you get popular stacks like the MEAN stack that uses Node, Express (a Node.js framework), MongoDB, and AngularJS. CRUD is something that is necessary in most every application out there. We have to create, read, update, and delete information all the time. Today we’ll be looking at code samples to handle CRUD operations in a Node.js, ExpressJS, and MongoDB application. We’ll use the popular Node package, mongoose.

Author : sudeepdk

Tags   asd

Feb 1, 2016


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Atlantis Gold Online Casino Websites

Atlantis Gold Online Casino Websites

NO DEPOSIT BONUS : Atlantis Gold is offering a limited time bonus offer to new players…To claim your Bonus, just use the image above to Register & Make your First Deposit. With this HUGE Bonus offer, Atlantis Gold wants every player to feel like a high roller. Atlantis Gold is consistently rated one of the Best Online Casinos, with Fast Withdrawals and a Huge Variety of Games. Treat yourself, this Atlantis Gold Bonus offer is worth it!

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Its exclusive site with the detailed reviews of the best online casinos, their |Atlantis Gold investigation of online slots for fair gameplay with the best bonus * The statistics remains the same. The majority of UK gamers chooses the mobile


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Johan Falk – Season 3

1. Rules of the Game
Two years have passed since John Falk and Frank Wagner ended their professional relationship. Frank has just opened a bar and his ex-girlfriend’s brother Kevin gets into trouble because of gambling debts. Meanwhile, Johan and GSI in conjunction with the German police are try to take down a ruthless gang selling a new type of drug. Frank’s search for Kevin crosses paths with Johan’s investigation and renews their relationship.

2. The 107 Patriots
Gunfire rings out in Gothenburg’s city park. Two gangsters are shooting at each other and a large scale police operation begins. The conflict grows rapidly to include several gangs from Gothenburg’s underworld. Johan Falk and GSI must take on the most dangerous and violent gang war so far.

3. Mother Of All Robberies
A robbery takes place by a gang of ex-military criminals. Johan Falk and GSI believe that the robbery is just a warm-up for something much bigger. A robbery, as it turns out, that will make all other robberies in history pale by comparison.

4. Organizatsija Karayan
Johan Falk’s stepdaughter Nina has got in contact with her biological father Orjan. But Orjan is in debt to an Estonian construction company so Nina is kidnapped. Johan and GSI’s investigation leads them to the top of northern Europe’s most dangerous mafia, the Russian-Estonia Karayan Organization, composed of former KGB officers.

5. Juvenile Infiltrator
A robbery involving a gang of youths, who force security guards to strip naked at shopping centres before making off with their money bags, results in an innocent passerby getting killed. The gang leader must quickly get the money laundered so that he can pay the criminal mastermind who sold him the plan for the robbery.

6. Codename Lisa
A gang of heavily armed men burst in to Frank Wagner’s apartment. Frank responds quickly and manages to escape with his family to the only person he can trust: Johan Falk. Frank’s cooperation with the police is finally revealed, and attacks escalate in Gothenburg against both crime bosses and police officers.


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Norka-Roots conducts one day Pre Departure Orientation Programme to overseas job aspirants to make them aware of general job situations abroad and to impart essential information relating to Visa, emigration rules, employment contract, customs regulations, travel formalities etc. Classes are taken by eminent personalities having rich and varied experience on issues related to emigration.

Pre Departure Orientation Training programme is currently being carried out through Centre for Management Development (CMD) and more reputed institutions are planned to increase utility of the programme. Schedule and venue of the programme will be announced locally though newspapers and also through web site.

Kerala | NORKA | Norka-Roots | Regional centres | Recognised Associations | Indian Mission | Ente Malayalam | NRK Directory
Home | Contact us |
Application Forms | Nammude Malayalam | Ente Malayalam Ente Abhimanam
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Population in the Northampton area set to rise to 263,100 by 2036

Northampton faces a predicament – the population is growing and the provision of new housing isn’t keeping up. With the average age of a Northampton person being 37.1 years (compared to the East Midlands average of 40 years old and the national average of 39.4 years of age), the population of Northampton is growing at an alarming rate. This is due to an amalgamation of longer life expectancy, a fairly high birth rate (compared to previous decades) and high net immigration, all of which contribute to housing shortages and burgeoning house prices.

My colleagues and myself work closely with Durham University and they have kindly produced some statistics specifically for the Northampton Borough Council area. Known as the UK’s leading authority for such statistics, their population projections make some startling reading…
For the Northampton Borough Council area… these are the statistics and future forecasts
2016 population           224,911
2021 population           236,206
2026 population           246,230
2031 population           255,185
2036 population           263,181
The normal ratio of people to property is 2 to 1 in the UK, which therefore means…
We need just over 19,000 additional new properties to be built
in the Northampton Borough Council area over the next 20 years.
Whilst focusing on population growth does not tackle the housing crisis in the short term in Northampton, it has a fundamental role to play in long-term housing development and strategy in the town. The rise of Northampton property values over the last six years since the credit crunch are primarily a result of a lack of properties coming onto the market, a lack of new properties being built in the town and rising demand (especially from landlords looking to buy property to rent them out to the growing number of people wanting to live in Northampton but can’t buy or rent from the Council).
Although many are talking about the need to improve supply (i.e. the building of new properties), the issue of accumulative demand from population growth is often overlooked. Nationally, the proportion of 25-34 year olds who own their own home has dropped dramatically from 66.7% in 1987 to 43.8% in 2014, whilst 78.2% of over 65s own their own home. Longer life expectancies mean houses remain in the same hands for longer.
In the short to medium term, demand for a roof over of one’s head will continue to grow in Northampton (and the Country as a whole). In the short term, that demand can only be met from the private rental sector (which is good news for homeowners and landlords alike as that keeps house prices higher).

In the long term though, local and national Government and the UK population as a whole, need to realise these additional millions of people over the next 20 years need to live somewhere. Only once this issue starts to get addressed, in terms of extra properties being built in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way, can we all help create a socially ecological prosperous future for everyone.

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Providing Professional Doula Services to Families in Greenwich, Westchester and NYC

Home Births

It’s finally time to meet your newborn and you’ve been dreaming of seeing their perfect face for months.

When they finally get handed to you, they’re not always the “picture perfect” sight you expected.

What is all this cheesy stuff all over my new baby?!

It’s gross!

We ordered ours without the cheese, thanks.

While it can seem pretty unsightly, be thankful it's there.

The 'cheese' or more commonly referred to as vernix, is an important part of protecting your baby inside the womb.

Vernix Caseosa covers a baby’s delicate skin in the womb as it’s developing. The amniotic fluid’s acidity can damage this delicate skin and the Vernix coats the baby and prevents infection. It also keeps a newborn insulated, keeping them at a comfy temperature.

Amniotic fluid would dry out a baby’s sensitive skin if it weren’t for the layer of hydrating Vernix. Your baby would be born a shriveled up raisin if their skin wasn’t constantly being hydrated while in the womb. Think of it as your baby’s first skincare regimine.

Soundproof Studio

It’s pretty noisy to float around in liquid for months, and the...Read more

Bringing "home" To the Hospital

was the most recent topic Rosie Pope asked me to write about. (click the above link to read the post)

After her expert ob/gyn warned about the dangers of homebirth, her team thought, there must be a way to bring your home to the hospital with you!

I spent a good while thinking about how you could do just that and what I figured out is...

You can't!

Authored by: The Rock n' Roll DoulaRead more

1)  Music is familiar. Making a playlist of songs that you know well, to listen to during labor can be very comforting. Giving birth in a non-familiar place can disrupt the natural flow and continuity of labor. Filling the room with things familiar to you can relax you and help your labor to progress. Typically, songs that you know all of the words to are songs that you have sang along to on many occasions. Those songs will stimulate familiar thoughts for you and can bring a comforting feeling with them.

2)  Music is personal. Music defines us in some ways and so can giving birth. Choosing to have music in your labor room and choosing what music will play gives us ownership of our room and ultimately our experience. It creates personal space in that room and tells the people who come in the room that you are a woman who has made choices about your experience. Own your personal space with the music that tells the story of who you have been and who you are becoming!

3)  Music is rhythmic and so is labor. Women who are given the opportunity to move during labor, intuitively move like they are dancing. When they are not restricted and are feeling uninhibited, women will roll their hips in a swaying or circular motion. Music helps us find that rhythm and allows us to go deeper into the experience.

4)  Music is inspiring. Think Rocky! Nothing inspired the...Read more

First time mom gives birth 2 weeks early at her BABY SHOWER!

Enjoy this story of a precipitous birth!Read more

I am a Doula. That is my profession, my career.  It is my job, NOT my lifestyle. I clean my house with bleach (not cleaning products that are safe for human consumption) and I was devastated (but now recovering) from Hostess’ announcement to go out of business. I drive a gas guzzlin’ SUV and patchouli oil gives me a migraine!

All professions come with stereotypes. Accountants are called nerds, Firemen are sexy, used car salesmen are deceitful and you know what they say about those hot librarians! However, I, and the staff at Northeast Doulas does not meet the stereotypical description of Doulas. Instead, we are professional, articulate, well trained, certified support Doulas.

I do not encourage any certain birth philosophy or parenting style. I have no agenda. I simply want for my client, what she wants for herself. I support her completely free of judgment, knowing that I may be the only woman on Earth NOT judging her.

Somewhere down the road, the definition of the word Doula became cloudy. For many, it has taken on a connotation that implies crunchy, granola, natural un-medicated, un-intervened birth along with exclusive breastfeeding and attachment parenting.

Today, I set the record straight!

The word Doula, is a Greek word and it is defined as a woman servant. A woman who serves another woman. The capacity that we use it in is a woman serving another woman through pregnancy, birth and the postpartum...Read more

Staying safe from negativity during pregnancy!

“She acts like she’s the only woman to ever be pregnant”… followed by an eye roll….

Who says that?! Oh, I’ll tell you who says that! WOMEN! Close friends, co-workers, sisters, in-laws, out-laws etc… The onslaught of birth negativity starts the moment we share our amazing news!

There are some bizarre behaviors that surround pregnancy in our culture that I will never understand.
Here is a perfect example.

Sister in law: So, (excitedly) when are you due???
Newly pregnant mom: My midwife said my estimated due date is Sept 12th.

Sister in law: Hmmph…That doesn’t mean a thing. If you don’t have your baby by that day, they will induce you.
Newly pregnant mom: Really?

Sister in law: Yup, that’s what happened to me. They made me go to the hospital, hooked me up to this crazy medicine called Pitocin. I was contracting like crazy! One after another for hours! I begged for an epidural! I thought I was gonna DIE!!!!
Newly pregnant mom: What if I want a natural birth or a water birth?

Sister in law: What are you nuts?! Go to the hospital and get an epidural the second you go into labor!!!
Newly pregnant mom: (walks away feeling terrified and confused)

This happens every day in our culture. Women seem to enjoy creating fear for one another around labor and birth....Read more


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Ten-Mile Creek

posted in: News | 0

NPCA is a member of the Montgomery Countryside Alliance and supports it in a number of areas, one of them being watershed protection of the Ten-Mile Creek and Little Seneca Reservoir, which helps to provide safe drinking water for our … Continued

Greenbriar Local Park

posted in: Montgomery County Parks | 0

12525 Glen Rd., Travilah, MD 20854 Greenbriar Local Park will be an open and partially-wooded area near the intersection of Travilah Road and Glen Road, providing natural open pace for the enjoyment of residents and passersby. This 25.1-acre park was acquired by … Continued

Hanson Farm

posted in: News | 0

The Hanson Farm was purchased in 1941by Robert Hanson’s parents.  It is a 410-acre farm near Travilah and Quince Orchard Roads and the Hanson family still farms it today.  However they have plans to develop the property when Robert Hanson passes … Continued

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Growing an Existing Business

Too often, companies launch successfully but then stall because their business growth strategy did not take them beyond the first few years. We know exactly how to bring your sales strategy back to life.

For the CEO

Most Execs have great ideas on the back burner. It can be very difficult to explore new ideas by pulling resources from highly profitable existing efforts. However, no idea is great forever. We can assist with business growth strategy consulting, vet your ideas, and bring back the data for you to make critical decisions. New vertical, new market, new product idea? We’re on it. And while we're at it, let us provide sales consulting. Nearly every organization needs another set of eyes on existing sales strategies and operations. Bring us in. Let’s look under the hood and give your efforts a tune up.

For the Marketing Execs

Marketing is always looking for the sweet spot. Data is king but sometimes nurtured leads that do not get touched. We sit between marketing efforts and sales teams. We contact your efforts to qualified appointments for sales reps. One human interaction can be the tipping point from email campaign to sale. It can be difficult to A-B test campaigns. We specialize in building professional outbound based efforts capable of pivoting on a dime. We are experts in business growth, sales operations, list building, and pitch creation.

For the Sales Execs

Your best reps should be closing business, not cold calling or working warm leads. Let’s put some gas on your strategies. We will work with you to bring in new business. Our reps can book demonstrations for your reps or even close business if appropriate. We hire experienced professionals ready and able to build business. We will recruit, hire, train, and manage specifically for your account and those reps will only work on your behalf. This ensures we are building your infrastructure for long term success. Tired of employee churn? See below.

SDR roles have some of the highest employee churn in the industry. It is incredibly difficult and expensive to recruit, hire, train, and invest in sales talent. North State Consulting is a full service consulting firm designed to help you company grow as well as maximize your ROI. Our clients can hire our employees should there be a mutual fit. Our employees would be fully trained on your product and our culture of selfless service, gratitude, and hustle. You have the opportunity to get to know them, benefit from their results, and see how they can raise the bar for performance within your organization.

“Quite simply, it just works.”

Bill O’Boyle founded North State Consulting as a way to empower businesses to reach their potential following his straightforward methodology. The North State team understands how to create a strategy that will work for every aspect of your business.


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no avatar

Environmentalist files motion opposing NEXUS pipeline

By IVY KELLER • Updated Nov 19, 2016 at 6:48 PM

The contentious NEXUS Gas Transmission pipeline project is facing further opposition in the form of a 66-page motion.

The motion was sent Nov. 16 by mail and email to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by Terry Lodge. The FERC regulates the transmission and sale of natural gas.

Lodge filed the motion on behalf of the Michigan Sierra Club, an organization that advocates environmental protection and activism. The Seirra Club Foundation operates on a national level, with many smaller branches throughout the country.

Although the Sierra Club has a long history of working to preserve nature, Lodge seems to be taking a practical approach to his argument against the pipeline. Rather than simply argue about the negative impact a gas pipeline might have on the surrounding land, he focuses largely on the claim that the pipeline is unnecessary, and would essentially be more costly to consumers.

A voice for conservationism since the 1800s, the Sierra Club recently protested the Keystone XL pipeline in 2013. More than 40 of its members and executive director Michael Brune were arrested following an act of civil disobedience.

Now, Lodge and the Michigan Sierra Club seek to oppose the NEXUS pipeline.

The focus of his motion against NEXUS is “on lack of need for the gas.”

In his e-mail, Lodge also writes that “the regulatory violation of soaking DTE Energy ratepayers for half the costs of construction; illegal misuse of eminent domain as a threat to coerce landowners to capitulate and lock down the pipeline route; NEXUS and FERC's refusals to consider any alternative to building the redundant pipeline; incorrect analysis of the contributions to global warming the pipeline would make; and the continuing FERC notion that it exists to rubber stamp any and all pipeline planned willy-nilly to crisscross the East and Midwest without regard to environmental effects with global implications.”

Lodge’s main argument lies not in the pipeline’s potential environmental impact, but the effect it would have on the energy sector — allegedly creating a non-competitive market and strong-arming consumers into needlessly paying more. Lodge also criticizes NEXUS and DTE Electric for building an unnecessary pipeline simply to take advantage of federal laws and pass more costs onto the customer.

He cites the nation’s “overbuilt” energy pipeline infrastructure as well. According to Lodge, the very incentives meant to encourage economic growth in the energy sector have instead led to companies taking over-advantage of them.

“The project history demonstrates that Electric committed to buying NEXUS gas despite its own conclusions that NEXUS would be less cost-effective than other available means of obtaining the same supply,” said Lodge, referring to DTE.

NEXUS, for its part, says it is simply filling a need for additional pipeline infrastructure in Ohio, Michigan and Canada. It says the pipeline would “support the growing demand for clean-burning natural gas and to offset the decline in traditional western Canadian supplies.”

Additionally, the NEXUS website states that by “expanding access to natural gas in these markets, NEXUS will provide consumers across the region with affordable, cleaner-burning and domestically-abundant natural gas to help meet the growing demand for cleaner power generation, industrial and commercial use, and home heating.”

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, natural gas is relatively clean-burning for a fossil fuel, but drilling for the gas and transporting it poses risks to the environment such as pollution.

The administration also notes that 26 interstate and several intrastate natural gas pipeline companies operate within the Midwest. This includes Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, as well as Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois.

A map and list of pipelines may be found here: www.eia.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/analysis_publications/ngpipeline/midwest.html.

Terry Lodge’s letter may be read here: www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/sce-authors/u1071/pipelinecomments.pdf.

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dust mite
WAR on House Dust Mite

Most of use would have experienced it before. While spring cleaning our house, changing the bed sheets, or sweeping the floor, we get caught in a frenzied episode of sneezing, tearing in the eyes and blocked nose. Why? Doctors will tell you that you are allergic to house dust and its components.

Your nose can be irritated by a variety of things that we are exposed to. Some of these factors may be found outdoors, for example, exposure to the haze, car pollution, and construction work in the neighborhood. Most of the nose problems I see in my clinic, however, are due to factors found indoors within the milieu of your own home. Hose dust account for the majority of sensitive noses that I see in my clinic.

House dust comes from within the house!

House dust is not a homogenous entity. Some people mistake it as something that is blown into the home from the outside. The reality is that house dust is composed of a wide spectrum of substances that are produced in the indoor environment.

Depending on the specific indoor environment of your home, house dust contains varying proportions of dog hair, cat saliva, bird feather, urine from pet rodents, dead and disintegrated cockroaches, molds and fungi.

However, the major ingredient of house dust is none other than the shed scales from your own skin. In other words, you are the main cause of dust formation in you house!

Unwittingly, your shed skin scales provide the principal food supply for a ubiquitous army of microscopic 8-legged spider-like creatures that play a very important role in causing allergic rhinitis, asthma and eczema – the house dust mite.

The house dust mite is every where!

The humble house dust mite is an amazing organism. You cannot see them with your naked eye, yet they are there on your skin, pillow, mattresses, window curtains, carpets, and soft toys – everywhere, and all the time.

Like an alien out of a sci-fi movie, a new generation of mites sprouts out every 3 weeks. A mite colony can survive when there are enough skin scales for them to feed on.

But an environment with high humidity and warm temperatures will multiply mite growth exponentially, and allow them to flourish in much greater numbers.

This is the reason why dust mites thrive in our warm tropical climate, making it the most important cause of allergies in the nose, sinuses, skin and lungs.

Whether they are dead or alive, dust mites can aggravate your allergic symptoms. This is because it is not the dust mites themselves, but their waste products, that induces allergy. Dust mites produce 20 waste particles a day. These remain on your bedding or carpets even after the mites have been killed.

You will not get much benefit in symptom reduction just by killing the dust mites themselves. You will also have to remove those allergy causing waste particles by washing or vacuuming before you will begin to experience any improvement.

Environmental control is important!

One of the most important ways to relieve you allergy problem is by minimizing exposure to house dust. This is achieved by a process called “avoidance” or “environmental control”.

The strict avoidance measures needed to control exposure to dust mite is essential in minimizing your reliance on medications and other treatment strategies, like surgery, desensitization and immunotherapy.

Your bedroom is the dust mites’ favorite dwelling place. This is the first place to begin environmental control.

The bedroom is the first place to start environmental control for the following 3 reasons:

  1. You spend more time in your bedroom than in any other rooms in your home. This means that more skin scales are being shed in the bedroom.
  2. With more skin scales and dust mite food in the bedroom, it is only logical that they will gravitate there. Dust mite numbers tend to be higher in the bedroom than in any other room.
  3. Because you spend more time in the bedroom, you are exposed for longer periods of time to higher numbers of dust mites.
Six steps to a dust free environment!

Eliminating house dust mites require discipline and planning. I recommend a 6-prong approach that will reduce the mite population in you bedroom and your exposure to them.

There is another group of adult snorers who are slim, fit and healthy. Prevention is a less feasible option in these cases, as there is usually a specific underlying problem. These people may have sinusitis and blocked nose, or enlarged tonsils. Weight control, regular exercise and other preventive measure may help to a minor degree. Treatment in these cases may involve either medications or surgery to clear the sinus infection, alleviate blocked nose, or remove the tonsils.

ONE: Interrupt their supply chain

Starve the mites of their important food supply – your own human skin scales. Clean and wipe the room regularly with a moist towel. If you normally use a feather duster, moisten it first before swinging it around.

Never use a dry feather duster.

Dust particles floating around in the air after dry dusting will cause more problems for you as they are more easily inhaled into your nose, throat and lungs. Using a wet feather duster traps dust particles instead of scattering them around.

Redesign your bedroom so that it is easy to clean. Remove clutter by storing away books and other small items in closed shelves or drawers. Personal belongings that are stored in open shelves make it difficult and cumbersome to clean, and should not be used.

House plants and dried flowers do not belong in the bedroom where they can trap dust. Do not leave clothes hanging in the open, but store them in a closed cupboard.

TWO: Deprive them of their hiding places

Mites love to hide in upholstered furniture and couches. They also flourish in carpets, rugs, and thick curtains.

However, their choice accommodation coincides with where you would spend most of your resting hours – on the warm comfort of your mattress and pillows.

Here, they are guaranteed an unlimited supply of food. Mites also love the soft toys that children, and even some adults, can’t bear to spend the night without.

You have to be ruthless about this! Remove all pieces of furniture and bedroom paraphernalia that can potentially harbor the enemy. Spare no prisoners when it comes to removing the upholstered furniture, carpet and rugs. If your child loves to hug soft fluffy toys or even sniff them, some bold parenting action is needed.

Expel them from the bedroom, or trade them away. A kinder alternative would be to wash them weekly in hot water of at least 60oC (to kill the dust mites), or to wrap them in a plastic bag and leave them in the freezer overnight.

THREE: Slow down the arrival of reinforcements

House dust mites thrive and reproduce very rapidly in a warm, high humidity (75% to 80%) environment that has a plentiful food supply. You can slow them down by cooling and dehumidifying (40% to 50%) your room with an airconditioner.

Air filters do not work effectively in managing the mite population. This is because mites and their waste products are heavy particles that settle on the ground. The air filter is unable to siphon off the dust particles unless they are airborne.

Air filters are only useful for airborne particles like pollen.

FOUR: Surround and trap them

Dust proof pillows and mattress covers are available in the market. They are made of tightly woven fabric that prevents mites and their fecal particles from passing through. Research has shown that these mattress encasements are a useful long-term strategy for mite allergen avoidance.

FIVE: Launch a direct assault

House dust mites may be killed by chemicals called acaricides (mite-killing chemicals), or by exposing them to hot water and subzero temperatures.

If foam washable pillows are used, they should be washed weekly in hot water (more than 60oC).

Soft toys and rugs should preferable be removed from the bedroom. But if they have to stay, two options are available. One, wash them in hot water. Two, wrap them in an airtight plastic water-proof casing, and leave them overnight in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator.

SIX: Clearing up the spoils of war

Killing the mites does not completely solve your problem. Fecal particles that the mites produce will remain to haunt and produce allergic symptoms. These have to be physically removed by vacuum cleaners that use a high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filter.

Vacuuming is only effective for removing dead mites and fecal particles. The live mites possess claws that allow them to latch on tightly and resist eviction.

Use of acaricides will not help in this situation as they act only by killing the life mites.

In conclusion, dust mite avoidance and control strategies are an important component in the overall plan of treating allergic diseases like rhinitis, asthma, and eczema. The 6-prong approach that I have described should significantly reduce exposure to house dust and alleviate the troublesome symptoms of sneezing, blocked nose and runny nose that has plagued so many nasal allergy sufferers.

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Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Productivity Science - Foundry - Metal Casting

Factors considered and Justificaction:
Improvements in metal quality and productivity.
Additional melting capacity.
Opportunities to reduce fixes operating costs.
In - House recycling of machining chips.
Rapid return on the invesmet.
Impact on foundry environmet.
Compact layout High metal recovery.
Low specific energy consumption.
Continuous melting in molten metal.
Instantaneous Entrainment.
Molten metal temperature uniformity.
Flux less melting.

Prayas - Tata Metaliks Customer Magazine June 2017
Has productivity improvement ideas in various stages of casting process

The noval idea of this research is to investigate the various defects of cast iron foundry and suggest remedies for the defects in a day to day activity and propose a supply chain model to present the necessity of quality in a medium scale industry of cast iron foundry under different delay conditions, rejection rates and also various other factors.

International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa Vol. 20
Pages: 248-258

S. Nallusamy et al., "A Proposed Supply Chain Model for Productivity Enhancement in Medium Scale Foundry Industries", International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa, Vol. 20, pp. 248-258, 2016

Simulation tools in enhancing metal casting productivity and quality: A review
Muhammad Azhar Ali Khan, Anwar Khalil Sheikh First Published April 5, 2016 Review Article

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture

Quality and productivity improvement through Six Sigma in foundry industry
Darshak A. Desai

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2012, vol. 9, issue 2, 258-280 (text/html)

Belgaum Foundry Cluster: Productivity of firms increases by 60%
By Pramodkumar Vaidya, Feb 24, 2012

Archive:Metal casting statistics - NACE Rev. 1.1
This Statistics Explained article is outdated and has been archived - for recent articles on structural business statistics see here.

Data from January 2009.

Productivity and cost effectiveness in foundry industry a study of foundry industry in Belgaum district
Researcher: Naik, Janardhan G
Guide(s): Kalkundrikar, A B
Karnatak University
Completed Date: 31/12/1995

Energy Productivity - Efficiency Improvement

Institute for Industrial Productivity - Industrial Efficiency Technology Database (IETD)

The IETD aims to catalyse the widespread adoption of technologies and practices in industry that improve productivity and profitability while reducing energy

Energy Efficiency and Productivity Strategy
The Victorian Government 2017

JUNE 13, 2016

ClimateWorks Australia has  published the Energy Productivity Index for Companies, and it  illustrates the importance of energy productivity performance to both profitability and the reduction of industrial greenhouse gas emissions.

The new guide analyses the energy productivity of industrial companies and provides investors’ guide, information about the percentage of profits that could be saved in the different sectors, as well as other useful resources and guides.

The energy productivity is  described or defied as the amount of economic output per unit of energy input.

Improving Eenergy Productivity in Australia

Energy Productivity Management - 3 day course

Energy Productivity Training - Model Factory

11 Organizational Obstacles to Energy Efficiency Investment
Written by Paul Baier on July 27, 2011

Energy Efficiency: A Recipe for Success
World Energy Council
170 page report

Metal Casting Industry Energy Best Practice Guide Book

Pfizer Energy Audit
$1 million annual  savings from $5.4m annual energy cost

Leading By Example: Improving Energy Productivity in Federal Facilities
Pdf file

Related Blog Posts by Me in This Blog

Energy Efficiency Conference - ECEEE

Energy Efficiency and Productivity - International Events and Examples

Industrial Engineering in Electical Engineering

Cost Reduction Opportunities in Power Plants and Distribution Systems

Economic Analysis - Clean Energy Investment Proposals

Energy Productivity - Efficiency Improvement

Energy Industrial Engineering

National Energy Conservation Day

Updated on 22 March 2018,  8 June 2017,   7 Apr 2016, 26 Nov 2014

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Water Productivity - Why Waste Water? - Eliminate The Water Waste

"Why Waste Water?" is the theme of World Water Day 2017.

The theme is relevant to industrial engineers? What is the water consumption in industry? Is the consumption efficient? Are industrial engineers doing analysis of water consumption. Resource use analysis or productivity analysis is the first part of IE study. The second part of coming out with more productive processes.

Industry uses 19% of the global consumption of water.
Iron & Steel industry uses 95,000 to 150,000 liters of water for producing a tonne of steel.

The uses of water

Only 1% of water used by humans (compared to the global sum of all withdrawals) is for drinking, washing and cooking. An additional 10% is calculated for all other domestic uses (toilet flushing etc). Industry uses 19% and the rest, a massive 70%, is used by agriculture for irrigation, drawing water from rivers, lakes and underground water strata.

UN World Water Report 2018

Available online

Challenge of Raising Water Productivity
By Peter Debaere- December 15, 2017
Every dollar of manufacturing uses three times as much water as a dollar of services. Every dollar of agriculture uses 700 times as much water as a dollar of services.

Water consumption, grain yield, and water productivity in response to field water management in double rice systems in China
Xiao Hong Wu, Wei Wang , Chun Mei Yin, Hai Jun Hou, Ke Jun Xie, Xiao Li Xie
Published: December 7, 2017

Temporal Variations of Water Productivity in Irrigated Corn: An Analysis of Factors Influencing Yield and Water Use across Central Nebraska
Tony Carr, Haishun Yang, Chittaranjan Ray
Published: August 30, 2016

The  concept  of  water  productivity  (WP) in Agriculture

The  concept  of  water  productivity  (WP)  is  offered  by  Molden  et  al. (2003)  as  a  robust
measure of the ability of agricultural systems to convert water into food. While it has been
used  principally  to  evaluate  the  function  of  irrigation  systems  as  the  amount  of  ‘crop  per
drop’, it seems reasonable to extend the concept toinclude other types of livelihood support,
such as mixed cropping, pasture, fisheries or forests.
WATER PRODUCTIVITY ASSESSMENT: Measuring and Mapping Methodologies
Basin Focal Project
Working Paper no. 2

World Water Productivity: Current Situation and Future Options

Ximing Cai and Mark W. Rosegrant
International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA;
International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2003. Water Productivity in Agriculture: Limits and
Opportunities for Improvement (eds J.W. Kijne, R. Barker and D. Molden)

The Water Productivity term plays a crucial role in modern agriculture which aims to
increase yield production per unit of water used, both under rainfed and irrigated conditions.
This can be achieved either by 1)increasing the marketable yield of the crops for each unit of
water transpired, 2) reducing the outflows/ losses, or 3) enhancing the effective use of
rainfall, of the water stored in the soil, and of the marginal quality water.

A note on Water use efficiency and water productivity

Ragab Ragab – WP3 - W4C
This note is based on a number of discussions that took place in Bari and Bangalore and as
the W4C project carries in its title the term “water use efficiency” and WP3 is dedicated to
Water Use Efficiency

India Initiatives

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  - More Crop per Drop

More GDP per Drop - More Value per Drop

Individual Company Initiatives

Between the years 2005 and 2010, Toyota was able to reduce water consumption at all global facilities by 35 percent.

Toyota set a target of reducing water usage to 0.98 kgal / vehicle and achieved the target.
GM: Metrics for Sustainable Manufacturing - MIT, 2009,%20report.pdf

Thank God. Somebody used the word science along with productivity.

Irrigation Science

Volume 25, Issue 3, March 2007

Special Issue: Water productivity: science and practice

ISSN: 0342-7188 (Print) 1432-1319 (Online)
In this issue (8 articles)

Water productivity: science and practice—introduction
A. H. Kassam, D. Molden, E. Fereres, J. Doorenbos Pages 185-188

On the conservative behavior of biomass water productivity
Pasquale Steduto, Theodore C. Hsiao, Elìas Fereres Pages 189-207
Download PDF (417KB)  View Article

A systematic and quantitative approach to improve water use efficiency in agriculture
Theodore C. Hsiao, Pasquale Steduto, Elias Fereres Pages 209-231

Causes of the differences in efficiency in each step, going from water delivery to soil water
extraction, transpiration, photosynthesis, and conversion to crop biomass and yield, and to animal product are discussed in the paper. Based on an equation quantifying the impact of changes in efficiency of component steps on the overall efficiency, it is concluded that generally, it is
more effective to make modest improvements in as many steps as possible than to concentrate efforts to improve one or two steps.

Beyond irrigation efficiency
Marvin E. Jensen Pages 233-245

This paper describes how efficient management of water for irrigation requires a full understanding of water balance for the field, irrigation project, or river basin under consideration. Development of the classic term irrigation efficiency is summarized along with recent modifications such as effective irrigation efficiency which reflects the efficiency of the system in terms of the amount of water effectively consumed by the system, taking into account outflows water as not wholly “wasted” or “lost” from river basins and that can be recovered and made available for use in the context of the water balance of the river basin. This makes it possible to develop accounting procedures for water use, or water accounting based on the water balance approach for a water basin and analyzing the uses, depletion, and productivity of water.

Water uses and productivity of irrigation systems
A. J. Clemmens, D. J. Molden Pages 247-261

Measuring and enhancing the value of agricultural water in irrigated river basins
Intizar Hussain, Hugh Turral, David Molden, Mobin-ud-Din Ahmad Pages 263-282

Economics, adoption determinants, and impacts of micro-irrigation technologies: empirical results from India

R. E. Namara, R. K. Nagar, B. Upadhyay Pages 283-297

The study by Namara et al. (analyses of micro-irrigation adoption and impacts in selected localities of Maharashtra and Gujarat states in India) indicates that micro-irrigation technologies result in significant productivity improvement and hence economic gain over the traditional method of surface irrigation.  The most important
determinants of micro-irrigation adoption identified by the study include access to groundwater, the prevailing cropping pattern (proportion of staples vs. high value crops), level of education, availability of cash, the social stratum of the household, and the wealth or poverty status of the
farmer. The majority of the current adopters of low-cost micro-irrigation systems are the richer section of the farming population. Thus, reducing the cost alone is not yet effective to improve
the outreach of micro-irrigation technologies.

Water productivity in rainfed systems: overview of challenges and analysis of opportunities in water scarcity prone savannahs
Johan Rockström, Jennie Barron Pages 299-311

World Water Day - 22nd March

Updated 22 March 2018
22 March 2017

Fluid Intelligence - Productivity - Productivity Science

Total Factor Productivity is an increasing function of ordinary workers’ fluid intelligence.

A Theory of Intelligence and Total Factor Productivity: Value Added Reflects the Fruits of Fluid Intelligence

Taiji Harashima
Kanazawa Seiryo University
7 December 2012

Online at
MPRA Paper No. 43151, posted 7 December 2012

The model of TFP shows that TFP is an increasing function of ordinary workers’ fluid intelligence. It also shows that TFP depends substantially on ordinary workers’ fluid intelligence, and that production is almost impossible without it.

 In this paper, a theory of TFP is proposed, and TFP is suggested to reflect the fruits of human intelligence. That the fluid intelligence of ordinary workers is an important element in TFP is particularly emphasized. Ordinary workers can also create something new (i.e., innovate)  because they have intelligence, just as do researchers and other highly educated or trained employees. Although most innovations of ordinary workers are so minor that they do not become part of the accumulated knowledge of humanity, they are indispensable for production because a large number of minor unexpected problems that ordinary workers must address occur in the process of production.

A model of TFP is formulated on the basis of the finding that ordinary workers’ fluid intelligence is an essential element in TFP. TFP is modeled as a function of fluid intelligence, and item response theory, which is widely used in psychology and psychometrics, is used to specify the functional form. The model of TFP shows that TFP is an increasing function of ordinary workers’ fluid intelligence. It also shows that TFP depends substantially on ordinary workers’ fluid intelligence, and that production is almost impossible without it. Therefore, value added comes from the fruits of humans’ fluid intelligence.

Part of Research Project

Productivity Science - Determinants of Productivity

Please share information of determinants of productivity - propositions, hypotheses, research papers.
Thank you.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Productivity-Improvement Technolgy - Monitor for Industrial Engineers

American Machinist  -        The

March 2018

Robotic Process Automation

Unlock the next wave of business productivity and sophistication in the fastest way possible with the most advanced Enterprise RPA Platform. Designed, tested and proven to perform elegantly in the toughest enterprise challenges.

UI Path

UI Path started the  journey in 2005 on a mission to create technology that would eventually enable new ways of working through what was then the emerging field of Robotic Process Automation (RPA). Today, RPA technology has matured into the legitimate and established way to run business processes. Behind our revolutionary approach at the time was our product’s unique computer vision technique. Think of the human visual system, which can detect and interpret information from visible light to build a representation of the surrounding environment.  We came up with a solution to capture and recreate automatically some of the actions on the screen that are normally driven by human perception. This is how we brought much-needed disruption to the market, enabling highly reliable automation in difficult scenarios like Citrix. It took us almost a decade to develop this technology. We put forth our greatest engineering efforts to accomplish what has now become the most widely adopted RPA Platform, capable of executing reliably to deliver millions of hours of productivity to enterprises.

Today, UiPath is a new standard in Enterprise RPA, leading with a cutting-edge Platform whose performance has been validated through phenomenal customer growth – last year we grew our enterprise customer base from less than 100 to more than 700 – through what is now the largest community of skilled RPA users, and through official recognition from global analyst firms.

The AI world is maturing. We will accelerate our product roadmap – the computer vision we have built into the product is now powered by machine learning – and extend our collaboration with solutions from the AI space that will tie in perfectly with RPA’s agnosticism to create powerful new use cases for our customers’ digital businesses.

We will also invest heavily in the expansion of UiPath’s global operations, with a focus on robust product support, customer success teams and sales efforts across all time zones and geographies, to benefit our customers as well as our partners–counting more than 200 today and including strong alliances such as Cognizant, Deloitte, KPMG, PWC, and TCS.

Optimize or Automate? How RPA is redefining Rapid Cycle Improvement
By   Gregory North  -   May 8, 2017

An In-Depth Look at Robotic Industrial Automation and Its Impact
January 6, 2016

Robots increase manufacturing productivity
April 13, 2015
Combining the cognitive abilities of human operators and robots will increase the productivity of automated manufacturing processes.
Andrew Wilson, Editor

Feb 2014
Hex-drive tools enable 360-degree deburring, cleaning

New robotic standards to improve safety and productivity
Revised RIA R15.06 standard addresses control advancements and the need for risk assessments

US scientists have created a type of printed electronics they claim is up to 10 times more efficient than existing technology.

8 Ways to Improve Productivity With a Weld View Camera
High dynamic range imaging may hold the key to unlocking the secrets of process improvement in automated welding

Increasing machine tool productivity with CNC Technology - 2011

Boosting Catalyst Productivity - Chemical engineering

Chemical Process Simplification: Improving Productivity and Sustainability - Wiley Book - 2010 - Girish K. Malhotra

Improving Productivity with submerged arc welding

Innovative Milling Tool path programs for 10 times increase in metal removal rates

Robotic Sheet Metal Bending - December 2010 Canadian Industrial Machinery

8 technologies for improving Boring Mill Productivity

Advances in Press technology for productivity improvement
Bending similation software

CIM Canadian magazine for Metal Working and Fabrication Technology has a number of articles on Productivity-improvement Technology There is a search link to search for productivity

Updated 2018 - 16 March 2018
5 February 2014


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Moles are dark, round spots found on the skin. Some moles are mere dots while others can be quite large. These pigmented flat or raised areas are typically harmless, but some moles may be dangerous. While some turn to home remedies to get rid of moles this is not advised, since some moles can be an indication of serious skin conditions, such as melanoma

Your plastic surgeon will be able to visually evaluate the moles you want to remove. If a mole is deemed harmless, it can be removed in one of several ways:

  • Shaving
  • Excision
  • Laser removal

None of the mole removal methods are painful, and all can be performed in the doctor’s office. The plastic surgeon will use a small needle to infuse the area with anesthetic. You will be awake for the mole removal. Once the area is numb—it takes a few minutes for the anesthetic to work—the surgeon will use one of the mole removal treatment methods.

During a shaving process, a scalpel is used. The mole is shaved off in layers until it doesn’t extend above the skin’s surface. The area is then cauterized, which means a heat source is used to burn the treated area. In most cases, a simple Band-Aid covering is sufficient.

In mole removal by excision, the surgeon uses a scalpel to excise or cut out the mole and a small border around it. If the mole extends into deeper layers of the skin, this part will also be removed and sent for laboratory analysis. If the surgical wound is large enough, sutures (stitches) may be used to closed the wound. The surgeon will remove the sutures at a follow-up appointment.

Following removal, the physician will instruct the patient on how to clean the wound to prevent infection and aid healing with minimal scarring.

Laser technologies are an exciting option for non-invasive mole removal. The Cynosure/Palomar Icon laser system uses a safe and powerful laser to target and destroy the cells that make up the mole. Your surgeon will precisely focus treatment on the mole, rather than the surrounding tissue. The Cynosure/Palomar Icon laser system emits pulses of light (hundreds of pulses per second) to heat and destroy unwanted cells. The device is equipped with a monitor so the physician has a continuous view of the treatment area and is able to precisely direct the laser for optimal benefits.

Importantly, laser mole removal is appropriate for flat moles, i.e., moles that do not rise above the surface of the skin. Raised moles are treated with shaving or excision. Laser technology can also be sued to remove other flat dark spots from the skin, such as age spots (also known as liver spots), dark birthmarks, and freckles.

While excision can leave patients with a small scar, laser mole removal effectively eliminates scarring. Only about 1% of patients are left with a scar after treatment.