The Canadian PressWINNIPEG – The children’s advocate for Manitoba First Nations says some child-welfare agencies are breaking the law and discriminating against Indigenous family members. Cora Morgan says the agencies are ignoring capable relatives who could care for apprehended children and instead choose to place them in a stranger’s care. Morgan says a mother in labour at a hospital last week called her because Child and Family Services was waiting to take her baby boy. The parents are struggling with addiction and are enrolled in treatment. A great-aunt _ who is already an approved foster parent _ was ready to take the baby, but he was placed somewhere else, Morgan says. “It’s devastating enough to have your children taken … (but) there was hope for that family. They could live with it a bit better knowing that a family member was caring for their child,” the advocate said Tuesday. “A lot of parents don’t even meet the foster parents where their children are placed.” The law requires agencies that apprehend children to give priority to family members, but Morgan said that isn’t happening. She said one woman was told by social workers that there was no one suitable on her reserve to foster her child. They said the reserve “was no place for children.” The NDP government recently outlined a plan to formalize the practice of customary care in which a child at risk of apprehension is placed with a family member in their community. There are no repercussions for agencies who ignore the law and the principles of customary care, Morgan said. “There is nothing that reinforces that in any way. There is no way an agency is held accountable. There should be checks and balances in place, especially in the case of newborn babies.” Manitoba has one of the highest child apprehension rates in the country and officials seize an average of one newborn baby a day. The province has more than 10,000 kids in care. The vast majority are Indigenous. The province’s child-welfare system has come under sharp criticism for years, sometimes for being too quick to apprehend kids or for repeatedly returning them to abusive parents. Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross said the government can’t second-guess decisions made by front-line workers. “An apprehension is a last resort,” she said. “We know keeping a child within their family unit, as well as keeping them with their community, will have a better outcome. That has to be our priority.” Irvin-Ross couldn’t say what, if anything, the government can do to ensure child-welfare groups comply with the law. It’s up to individual agencies to properly assess a family’s situation, she said. Opposition critic Ian Wishart said that approach is an abdication of responsibility. His office often hears about children being placed in foster homes when there are other options, he said. With so many children in care, Wishart said, it’s incumbent upon Irvin-Ross to ensure the law is being followed. “She’s in charge,” he said. “She sets the policy guidelines for these workers. It’s a lack of leadership issue.”
Manitoba child welfare agencies breaking law by ignoring relatives watchdog
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This event is hosting Sean Craig, a Project Management expert who will help guide the session. Craig has 14 years of experience in project management and has worked on projects all over the world. Craig has led projects worth $300 million dollars and has participated in projects worth over $5 billion. He most recently led the energy reduction project at our local Canfor plant.Synergy would like you to join them and interact with other people from different industries to learn more about project management.FB Event Page CLICK HEREFor Tickets to the Event CLICK HERESynergy attracts motivated individuals of all ages, all industries, and all levels of experience to come together on pertinent topics that are collectively important to the group.Synergy recognized there is strong economic growth and limitless opportunities in Fort St. John. This is a place for individuals to build their career skills in a variety of fields. Synergy can help provide relationships outside of the workplace with people from all over the world and from all walks of life. FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Synergy allows individuals in the community to learn and grow from one another using a ‘Think Tank’ model.Wednesday, January 30th from 7 pm – 9 pm, join Synergy at Whole Wheat and Honey Cafe for this free ‘Project Management’ event.Shared from the event page, Synergy says, regardless of your role, if you take on projects as part of your overall position, knowing how to effectively maneuver stakeholders, how to plan and mitigate risks, and properly budget for projects requires a refined skillset from a project leader in Project Management. Synergy is open to anyone interested in building themselves through networking and collaboration. All ages, industries, and all forms of experience are welcome. The benefits of joining the group suggested by Synergy include;– Builds you which in turn, builds your business– Builds relationships, excellent networking activities before and after the event– Builds roots, leading to increased staff retention and staff engagement– Builds inclusiveness, everyone is welcomeFor more information, email; synergy@fsjchamber.com
Russian mining group, GeoProMining, has completed the technical upgrade of the Zod gold mine in Armenia. This upgrade will provide for expanded exploration of the Zod field, ahead of innovative Albion technology will be launched at the Ararat gold extraction plant. In 2011-2012 the company also purchased more than 30 units of mining equipment, and built a modernised fuel and lubricants storage facility and machine maintenance premises.The budget of the project exceeds $45 million.The new gold extraction line with Albion technology at the Ararat plant will help to significantly increase gold extraction from sulphide-bearing ores from the Zod mine. The Albion project consists of several parts: construction of the new processing line with the advanced technology, efficiency improvement of the mining operation at the Zod field; and upgrade of the mining fleet with new equipment. The newly bought equipment includes excavators, haul trucks, dozers, graders and maintenance trucks, the majority of which has been purchased from Caterpillar and Komatsu.“We are pleased to complete an important step in GPM’s key innovative project. This project is unique for the mining industry of Armenia in terms of scale as its total budget will exceed $100 million. The next stage is to complete the construction of the new processing facility in Ararat and launch the advanced Albion technology. This will multiply production volumes, reduce environmental burden and improve the overall efficiency of the plant. This project when implemented will also create new jobs, more income tax and encourage the development of small adjacent businesses,” said Vladimir Kozlov, General Director of GPM Gold.
Providing significantly improved performance compared to the previous ‘LC-3’ Stage IIIB models, Doosan has launched the new 36 t class DX340LC-5 and 40 t DX380LC-5 Stage IV compliant crawler excavators, which have applications in quarries and small mines. Featuring a distinctive new machine styling scheme, the ‘LC-5’ range improves the already high standards set by the previous LC-3 range, adding to enhanced comfort and controllability with new features to boost fuel efficiency, uptime and return on investment, with a focus on increased power, robustness and agility.The operating weights of the DX340LC-5 and DX380LC-5 have increased by 1,300 kg and 1,000 kg, respectively, and with the heavier tonnages, lifting capacities have increased by 1% and 5% over the front and side in the DX340LC-5 and 3% over both the front and side in the DX380LC-5. The new DX340LC-5 and DX380LC-5 are powered by the Scania DC9 5-cylinder diesel engine, with an output of 237 kW of power at 1,800 rpm, providing a 13% and 11% increase in engine power, respectively, and a 4% boost in torque over the LC-3 models. The engine meets Stage IV emission regulations without the need of a diesel particulate filter (DPF), through the use of cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and selective catalyst reduction (SCR) after-treatment technologies.To help meet Stage IV regulations, Doosan has added a mass airflow sensor and exhaust brake to the engines. The mass airflow sensor allows the electronic control unit to improve the management of airflow provided by the variable geometry turbocharger and to optimise fuel delivery to the combustion chamber based on air intake volume and rpm. Among the exclusive features of the Scania engines are the dual fuel filter and water separator systems. In the first, a full-flow paper fuel filter is used to remove large particles with a centrifugal cleaner filtering out small particles, providing operating economy and lower environmental impact. The water separator utilises a 10 micron sized primary filter connected directly to the fuel tank, and a 3 micron sized pressure-type secondary filter. The filters are equipped with a heating function as standard for better cold crank performance.As well as the Scania engines, new innovative and exclusive features have been introduced that lead to significant reductions in fuel consumption amounting to an average of 6% compared to the Stage IIIB machines. Among these features is the new ‘Trip Meter Setting’ screen which allows operators to check fuel consumption daily (or over a desired period) directly from the control panel; the new Auto Shut-Off provides an automatic shut down for the engine after a pre-set time when the machine has been idling for a specified time (3 to 60 minutes configurable by the operator); and to save even more fuel, there is a special Doosan-developed system, Smart Power Control (SPC), to optimise the balance between the pumps’ output and the diesel engine. Developed entirely by Doosan, SPC is standard on all LC-5 models. SPC monitors both engine and pump power and limits unnecessary outputs depending on whether the work is light or heavy. The SPC can be used with all 4 work modes (E, S, P, P+).Both the DX340LC-5 and DX380LC-5 feature the innovative Ecopower hydraulic system, which consists of a closed-centre main control valve (MCV) and a pressure-controlled pump. The system functions through the EPOS controller which receives joystick and pedal signals via pressure sensors and main pump flow rate through swivel angle sensors. According to the operator’s inputs, the EPOS controller outputs the requirements to the EPPRVs (Electro-Proportional Pressure Reducing Valve) for the pumps to generate the required flow. This new electric control of the pump power, combined with the closed-centre MCV, uses the engine’s power more effectively – maximising pump usage and reducing loss of flow and pressure – which results in more powerful performance in combined movements as well as more comfort, smoothness and accuracy.As a result, the DX340LC-5 and DX380LC-5 have two pumps as standard, allowing attachments to use both pumps for increased flow. The second pump always works at full flow. This system is necessary for certain applications to supply the power required to operate attachments such as crushers and shears. The DX340LC-5 and DX380LC-5 have an optimised cooling system, which separates the radiator and the oil cooler. There is one fan drive pump attached to the engine and one fan motor for the oil cooler. The fan for the radiator is driven by the engine shaft directly.The excavators have a pre-heater with glow plug installed on the engine, which is a cold-start aid device for the winter season. The pre-heater is activated automatically when the start key is in the ON position in the ignition and the coolant temperature is -10°C or lower. The system guarantees proper starting down to -20°C. The engine coolant heater is used in connection with the machine’s own heating system to pre-heat water-cooled engines. The engine coolant heater operates independently of the engine and is connected to the machine’s cooling, fuel and electrical systems. There is also a wake-up function to pre-heat the machine. The engine coolant heater helps the engine and equipment start and operate at temperatures below -20°C.The turbo charger is now better protected, and a step has been added on top of the engine to allow extra access for maintenance. The storage box is slightly larger for better storage from ground access, and the fuel pump has been relocated to the storage box for more convenience. There is also a larger bonnet opening angle and height for better visibility of the components – the bonnet opening angle has been increased from 68.1° to 74.5° and the height has been increased from 1,020 mm to 1,090 mm. The batteries have been relocated inside the left radiator compartments (previously in the tool box) for easier access to the battery disconnection switch. The excavators are equipped with a battery capacity of 2*100 AH (1,300 cca), which provides strong cranking performance in cold environments. In the battery box, a rubber cushion keeps the battery from moving, and a main circuit breaker will automatically cut off power in the case of shorting or overloading. The alternator has a higher capacity of 100 A as standard. This high capacity is ready for plug-in of various electrical devices and additional lamps.The DX340LC-5 and DX380LC-5 are factory-installed with the new CoreTMS state-of-the-art wireless fleet monitoring system, a feature not previously available as standard on Doosan excavators and now incorporated in all new LC-5 generation machines above 14 t. The new CoreTMS system is a tool designed specifically for the Doosan range, providing comprehensive information about machine performance in a dual mode (satellite, GSM). Because the software in the CoreTMS system has been upgraded to communicate directly with the EPOS system on a Doosan excavator, it is the only tool of its type capable of providing this level of information, delivering insightful and cost-saving data about equipment to help customers work more effectively. Also available for retro-fitting in a kit form, the CoreTMS system is supplied with a free 3-year subscription in new LC-5 excavators and customers are provided with their own account so that they can manage the machines in their fleet using the system.Already excelling in spaciousness and ergonomics, the new cab in the DX340LC-5 and DX380LC-5 has been further refined for outstanding operator comfort and ease of operation. The cab offers super controllability with a new system that enables attachments to be operated from either the joystick or a two-way pedal. Users also have the unique jog shuttle switch which remains a feature exclusive to Doosan excavators worldwide. Being able to switch control of the auxiliary lines between the joystick and the two-way pedal greatly lessens any discomfort that may be caused by extended or repetitive use of the joystick alone to control attachments (such as a shear or a breaker). It is also helpful when precision is required – as the operator can keep full control of the excavator via the joystick while using the two-way pedal for attachments. Control is available from either the pedal or the joystick and the selection is made via the control panel menu. For additional convenience, the controls for the auxiliary lines on joysticks have been repositioned, with the rotation and shear rollers positioned for left/right movement. The joysticks have also been shortened to reduce the effort required to operate them and an additional pedal for straight travel has now been installed on the left of the main travel pedals, a very useful feature when travelling straight over longer distances.New gauges, functions and menus have been added to the control panel, including a new AdBlue® gauge. A new quick menu bar has been installed which allows key functions to be accessed quickly, without having to go through all the menus and validations. A side-view camera is available as an option and the control panel allows the views from both the rear and side view cameras to be combined on the same screen, simply by pressing a button on the control panel. For more safety when using the cameras, a menu bar now stays open so that the operator can keep an eye out for warning symbols and the levels of key gauges.To further maximise durability and reduce noise, all models are equipped with EM (Enhanced Macro-surface) bushings, which are also much more effective than regular bushings when greased. Air pre-cleaners are fitted as standard, to blow much of the dust, dirt, insects, rain and snow out of the air intake, to ensure cleaner air is sent to the engine air filter. This extends air cleaner servicing intervals, enhancing uptime and productivity. Doosan has also added protection to the inner cab air filter and redesigned the cab air-conditioning filters for easier replacement. Recommended for dusty environments (such as quarry and mining applications), the oil bath (9.5 l) pre-cleaner is available as option to remove dust from the air intake, extending air cleaner servicing intervals dramatically.To avoid permanent engine damage, an acoustic alarm has been added to call the operator’s attention to ‘water in fuel’. If the operator ignores the signal after several alerts, the engine and pump are automatically derated. In addition, to make it easier for operators to understand the importance of warnings and to communicate the proper warning codes, pop-up menus appear with detailed information with easier to identify warnings. The Engine Emergency Stop Switch has been relocated on the side of the seat so that it is directly accessible from ground level, for faster access in case of emergency. A new comfortable grip has been fitted to make opening and closing the door easier. Star-shaped anti-slip plates ensure that the steps stay much cleaner and more effective and to meet new EU regulations, safety bars are standard on all models. All current options including narrow tracks, short and long arms, shoes and hydraulic lines are available on the DX340LC-5 and DX380LC-5. The DX340LC-5 also features the articulated boom.
Microsoft has officially launched this year’s Summer of Arcade promotion for a series of blockbuster downloadable games on the Xbox Live Arcade platform. This year’s lineup holds two RPGs, an ambitious God game, the requisite 2D shooter with an indie twist, a sequel to a previous XBLA hit, and a port of the popular iPhone title Fruit Ninja. All in all, the selection is a mix across a variety of genres and levels of complexity promising a great deal of originality and color.Diving into the games, this week’s release is Bastion, an action RPG that’s the first release from new studio Supergiant games. The game was nominated for two IGF awards for its anime-inspired art style (pictured above) and its audio achievements for having a narrative delivered on the fly from a dynamic narrator. The game promises upgradeable weapons, 40 “hand-painted environments” and replay value from the RPG feature de rigueur, a New Game Plus mode.Out of this World creator Eric Chahi is back for From Dust, a “modern God game” where players control a primitive tribe hoping to recover ancient ancestors’ special powers. The “enemy,” if it can be called that, is Mother Nature herself. The game is the product of Ubisoft’s Montepellier studio and will be released next week.The week following will see the release of Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, the first effort from Fuelcell Games. It’s a 2D shooter reminiscent of PixelJunk Shooter but with an even more colorful, indie-tastic art direction. The game is heavy on puzzles and ship upgrades and comes with online multiplayer modes as well.After that, in mid-August, comes Fruit Ninja Kinect, an XBLA port of the best-selling iPhone fruit slasher that has spawned a zillion clones. “Your arms are now blades,” reads the press blurb, as players will flail in front of their Kinect sensors to cut flying produce in half. The console version now includes Party Mode, a multiplayer tournament feature, as well as a Challenge mode.The promotion winds down with Toy Soldiers: Cold War, a follow-up to Signal Studios’ XBLA shooter from last year. Vehicles abound and toys explode in campaign, co-op, and competitive multiplayer modes.If players buy all five of the aforementioned games, they’ll receive a free download of Crimson Alliance, a four-player co-op dungeon crawler releasing outside the promotion in early September.Read more at Xbox.comBlake’s OpinionIt’s important to point out that a free download of Crimson Alliance, a game so highly anticipated that it can release outside Summer of Arcade, depends on the purchase of a Kinect game.There’s no reason to panic, as players can still purchase the dungeon crawling RPG on its own outside of the promotion. But if they want it for free, they’ve got five more games to purchase this summer.It is, in effect, a cute way of nudging hardcore gamers (the kind who purchase lots of XBLA games) to make sure they’ve got a Kinect. But for the continual skeptics, those who haven’t been swayed by children who want Kinectimals or by girlfriends who want Dance Central, a $10 game for free probably won’t push anyone over the edge.
The entrance to the exhibit.<><> My partner called me over, shouting across a dense crowd gathered around a monitor.On it was a montage, similar to the other ones that were scattered around the Guillermo del Toro exhibit, called “At Home With Monsters” at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Each one showed a bunch of scenes from his films, centered around a theme. Each room in the hall–or rather sectioned off areas–had a theme. From del Toro’s obsession with Frankenstein and monsters to the artwork of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Telltale Heart as compared to his fascination with the gothic. There was a statue of H.P. Lovecraft down the way from mannequins dawning the fashions from del Toro’s Crimson Peak. It was all there.The hall was modeled off of del Toro’s Bleak House, which is famously filled with collectibles and art that represent his own aesthetic and inspirations. The filmmaker has a unique style, unheard of in today’s mainstream cinema, and it’s been shaped for decades through horror comics, pulp sci-fi films, and the works of Lovecraft, Dickens, Poe, and Shelley.The monitor held something different, though something much smaller and more subtle.“I never thought of it this way before,” he told us.On it was a compilation of scenes from del Toro’s films, but focused around a single concept: a hole. His films are filled with them, which is a pun I didn’t intend to make. Whether it’s people peering into them, falling into them, or a camera pulling back through a keyhole (one of del Toro’s favorites), the man’s works are almost identical in this way. It’s not that del Toro doesn’t have a unique bone in his body. It’s that the hole represents something that can’t be put into words for the characters. It’s a glance into the unknown, a sign of the things to come. It’s a literal and metaphorical abyss.“Oh yeah,” I said. “There’s holes all over the place.” It seemed obvious to me at the time, although I can’t be sure if it’s something I noticed before.My partner’s face was enraptured; his eyes wide and his mouth agape. It was a look I recognized around the exhibit. Not everyone appeared as joyful, but some you could see lit up when faced with a painting from del Toro’s own collection, or some writings from his notebooks on the ideas for the kaiju depicted in Pacific Rim.There are some pieces that stand out, and attract the most visitors–the aforementioned Crimson Peak mannequins, and statues of the monsters from Pan’s Labyrinth, for instance–but it’s the small things that make me stop. There’s Hellboy’s costume tucked into a corner, a collection of Marvel comics, a sketch of a horse with no head and a shadow figure sitting atop it.I can only assume there’s a combination of reactions going on, as people have different relationships with del Toro. When I told my mother I was heading out there, she didn’t even know who he was. For my partner, it was the pieces of trivia that defined del Toro’s films.For me, it was the whole dark fantasy. Bleak House is a dream destination for weird kids. Walking around the exhibit, I saw my childhood laid out before me. I’m no del Toro. I’m not nearly as artistic or creative, but we had the same fascinations. A section on freak shows brought me back to high school when I watched Freaks for the first time. Frankenstein, one of my favorite novels, came to life as a full-sized statue in one of the corners of the hall. We both connected with monsters, and how literature can take the horrible and make it more complicated and human.Guillermo del Toro is a hero for the weird, quirky kid, the ones that read a lot and dragged their parents to the library after school. He’s somebody who has such a joy and fascination with the things he creates, and that’s something that permeates every piece of the LACMA exhibit. You see photos and videos of del Toro online, a big smile stretched across his bearded face, and you think that he must have the most wonderful time doing anything. It’s in this exhibit you see where that comes from and the obsession that goes along with every small bit of his work.Everything is part of the del Toro machine. Poe leads into Lovecraft, which leads into Marvel, ghost stories, and Mexican wrestlers.Everyone will probably have a different opinion on the exhibit, especially as it goes on national tour after it ends its stay in Los Angeles in November. The over 500 objects don’t even come close to capturing the full scale of what I assume lines the walls of his home, but it tells a full story. But the kind of person you are can determine which part of that story you experience. My partner, the film buff, saw the art as inspirations for certain shots and motifs that permeate his films. The freak in me saw the stories and the characters. Maybe somebody just saw the monsters and thought they were cool (one kid, possibly around ten years old, mistook the creature from Pan’s Labyrinth as something from Harry Potter).The exhibit is just as multi-faceted as del Toro is, and maybe even more so. It exposes the timeline of his work that del Toro himself might not even be aware of and allows people to examine their inspirations. It’s just super cool.
The 20th annual Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival, the biggest event of its type in the Pacific Northwest, launched Friday and continues today and Sunday in Esther Short Park. Enjoy diverse flavors of jazz and blues — from 24-year-old saxophone star Grace Kelly to blues legend John Mayall — as well as diverse local wines, foods and artisans. Gates open at 11 a.m. both days, and daylong admission is $35 at the gate for today and $30 for Sunday. Esther Short Park is at the corner of West Eighth and Esther Streets in downtown Vancouver. www.vancouverwinejazz.comIf that’s not enough wine and tunes for you, try the first-ever Vineyard Jam at Heathen Estate, a new 20-acre winery that’s casting an eye at hosting big events. On Sept. 2, the LowRider Band (most of which used to be members of War, the 1970s funk/Latin band that scored hits like “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” and “Low Rider”) headlines a day of music and fun. Comedian Tommy Chong, Heart tribute band Barracuda and local reggae group CoLoSo are also on the bill, among others. Heathen Estate is at 9400 N.E. 134th St., but parking is off-site at Prairie High School (with free shuttle) unless you purchase a VIP ticket. General admission (lawn seating) starts at $45; packages with parking start at $100. Meet-and-greets with the talent are available, too. www.vineyardjam.comOr, you can celebrate recovery and sobriety — along with a few thousand of your most supportive friends. Hands Across the Bridge and Oxfest, a pair of clean-and-sober gatherings, start at 10 a.m. Sept. 4 with inspiring speakers in Esther Short Park. At noon, people will link hands and form a human chain across the Interstate 5 Bridge. Afterward, back in the park from noon until sundown, it’s Oxfest, a sober music festival sponsored by Oxford Houses of Oregon and Washington. www.facebook.com/handsproject.The Vancouver Peace & Justice Fair heads into its 14th year of pulling together progressive activists, nonprofit agencies, people of faith and anyone who wants to work toward a better world. This year, 100-plus exhibitors and sponsors will ring Esther Short Park, while main stage entertainment runs the gamut from the 100-voice Vancouver USA Singers to folk singer and Pete Seeger fellow traveler Joe Hickerson of Portland. Admission is free. The fair runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 9 in Esther Short Park. www.vancouverpeaceandjusticefair.org.Rose City Comic Con is the place to find your favorite superheroes, villains, monsters, mad scientists, space adventurers, graphic novelists and game designers — all under one fantastic roof at the Oregon Convention Center. What used to be two days of wall-to-wall pop culture has grown to three. In addition to a busy schedule of gaming, cosplay and lots of fun activities, hundreds of special guests from movies, TV, comic books will be on hand. Perhaps the special-est special guest is Peter Capaldi, the twelfth Doctor on “Doctor Who.” Capaldi recently announced his retirement from the long-running BBC science fiction series. The convention runs from 1 p.m. Sept. 8 to 5 p.m. Sept. 10; single-day admission starts at $30 for Friday and goes up from there, with varied pricing for numerous packages and autograph sessions with stars available. www.rosecitycomiccon.com
Hyderabad: With the Telangana State getting a raw deal in the Union Budget 2019-2020, the state government has decided to go in for funds from the external agencies to meet the growing financial needs in the next three quarters of the financial year 2019-20. A top official said that State Advisor (Finance) GR Reddy and state Finance department were entrusted with the responsibility of scouting for new avenues to mobilise funds and judicious use of available funds for the coming months. The government is yet to complete the transfer of money to the accounts of farmers under the Rythu Bandhu scheme. Also Read – TSBB, NGC promotes eco-friendly Ganeshas Advertise With Us Out of 55 lakh beneficiaries, only 70 per cent of them could avail the benefit due to paucity of funds. After Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao announced Rs 5,000 per acre from Rs 4,000 per acre as cash incentive from this kharif season, the burden on state exchequer has been increased to Rs 15,000 crore as against Rs 12,000 crore last year. Disbursement of the enhanced pension amount which is supposed to be deposited in the beneficiaries’ accounts from July was still pending. The total requirement of funds for the pension scheme has been doubled from the present Rs 6,000 crore per year. Pending bills (Roads and Buildings, Panchayat Raj, Irrigation etc) to the tune of nearly Rs 10,000 crore already put heavy burden on the state exchequer. Also Read – CM KCR praises PRO for his books on Telangana Advertise With Us Expenditure on welfare has been increased to nearly Rs 60,000 crore from Rs 40,000 crore after the CM decided to implement the promises made during the Assembly elections held last year. The implementation of pending PRC (Pay Revision Commission) for government employees will put Rs 5,000 crore additional burden per year on the state. To complete the irrigation projects, excluding Kaleshwaram and Palamuru Rangareddy and Mission Kakatiya, the government requires about Rs 15,000 crore. Advertise With Us Sources said that the top officials of the Finance department are holding talks with reputed international financial institutions and other global agencies for funds. The government wanted to reduce capital investment burden on state exchequer through lending agencies and seek the financial support within the FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) and by floating separate corporations on the lines of Kaleshwaram and Mission Bhagiratha Corporations.
Gabriel Cristóver Pérez | The Texas TribuneThe Brazos River as it flows past Glen Rose on Aug. 2, 2013. Drought conditions have led to a significant decrease in water levels in the river. Use of the river by cattle farmers along its route is another factor leading to a decrease in water quality and shore erosion is.About half of Texas’ major industrial facilities released illegal levels of pollution into rivers, lakes and other waterways over a 21-month period ending September 2017, according to a new report by Environment Texas and California-based think tank Frontier Group.Analyzing self-reported industry data compiled by the federal government, the study found that about 40 percent of the nation’s 2,772 major industrial facilities released pollution that exceeded maximums set in their federal clean water permits from January 2016 to September 2017 and often faced no fines or penalties from state or federal environmental regulators.The number of excess releases totaled 8,100 during that period, according to the study, and Texas’ 269 major industrial facilities accounted for 938 of them — the most of any state by far. Pennsylvania came in second with 633.Forty-nine percent of Texas’ industrial facilities — 132 of them — exceeded their permit limits at least once during the study period.Offending industrial sites in the state range from oil refineries to facilities operated by universities, cities, counties and state agencies. Texas A&M University, for example, discharged illegal levels of e. Coli into the Brazos River from a wastewater treatment plant on its main College Station campus a dozen times during the study period, and three releases were more than five times the maximum allowable amount under the law, according to the study. Yet the university was fined only once for $12,600. Dozens of facilities owned by big-name energy companies including ExxonMobil, Shell and Chevron Phillips also have violated their clean water limits — some of them repeatedly.The study concludes that “weak and delayed enforcement of the Clean Water Act is common across the country,” with a majority of violations going unpunished. “Each year from 2011 to 2017, an average of 27,849 facilities were non-compliant across the U.S., while an average of 13,076 – less than half – faced any EPA or state enforcement action,” the report said.Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger said in a statement that “All Texas waterways should be clean for swimming, drinking water, and wildlife.”“But industrial polluters are still dumping chemicals that threaten our health and environment, and no one is holding them accountable,” he said.Texas A&M did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ExxonMobil, Shell and Chevron Phillips also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.The study acknowledges that Texas’ ranking is due largely to the high number of industrial facilities in the state, which is home to many of the nation’s largest cities, the nation’s largest refining and petrochemical complex and prolific energy production.But Texas also ranks first in the number of industrial facilities with the most repeated excessive releases: More than 35 percent of the state’s 269 major facilities had more than one clean water violation during the 21-month study period. The state with the next highest number of repeat violators was Louisiana, also home to major oil and chemical manufacturing and energy production, with more than 25 percent.About three-quarters of the nation’s industrial facilities were repeat offenders, the study found.Texas also ranks among the top 10 for industrial facilities with the most extreme violations — six of the state’s facilities exceeded their permit limits by more than 500 percent at least once. Texas industrial facilities also released the third-highest amount of pollution into waters that were already considered “impaired” by either state or federal standards, meaning they were already too polluted to meet their intended purpose — whether that’s drinking water, ecological or recreational.The study also warned that federal environmental enforcement is dwindling under President Donald Trump, whose U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has moved to unwind an Obama-era clean water regulation that was aimed at better defining the scope of bodies of water protected under the federal Clean Water Act.During the first 266 days of his administration, the federal government has brought 1,900 cases and secured $1.3 billion in repairs and penalties. That’s compared to 2,900 cases and $10.1 billion under the Obama administration and 2,600 cases and $2.6 billion under the George W. Bush administration in the same amount of time.Disclosure: Texas A&M University and Exxon Mobil Corp. have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Share
(Phys.org) — Fullerenes were first discovered back in 1985 by a team of physicists vaporizing graphite in helium gas, one class of which, the buckminsterfullerene (C60) named after Buckminster Fuller and his geodesic domes, forms into spherical, hollow cages that resemble soccer balls. Since that time, a lot of study has been done on and with so named buckyballs, yet no one has been able to figure out how exactly they form. Now, new research by one of the original discoverers of fullerenes, Harold Kroto and his team at Florida State University moves closer to that goal in finding that buckyballs grow larger when exposed to vaporized carbon. The team has written a paper describing their observations and have had it published in the journal Nature Communications. Buckyballs… throwing astronomers a curve Quantum chemical modelling of growth processes. Image (c) Nature Communications, doi:10.1038/ncomms1853 Explore further Because of their similarity to graphene, sheets of one atom thick carbon atoms that form hexagonal patterns, researchers have wondered if fullerenes might come into being after first existing as simple sheets that somehow warp to the degree that they form into balls. Unfortunately, no one has yet been able to create the right set of circumstances that have allowed them to witness the actual birth of a fullerene structure, though they have found that they also exist in nature as well, specifically in the soot that comes from burning candles, and near red giant stars or supernovae.Using a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer, Kroto and his team were able to analyze what happens when buckyballs come to exist in the same space as vaporized carbon, they grow larger. They found that small fullerenes grew to buckyball size, and buckyball sized fullerenes grew into larger balls by “eating” or absorbing carbon atoms into their structure. They also found that the original structure was maintained by atoms being shifted around during the absorption process.In learning more about how fullerenes are formed, and now how they grow, researchers are able to apply new evidence to help explain other natural phenomenon, such as how they come to exist in space in such large quantities such as is found with carbon stars and supernovae and why their distribution in the lab is so similar to what is found in the soot produced by a burning candle. More information: Closed network growth of fullerenes, Nature Communications 3, Article number: 855 doi:10.1038/ncomms1853AbstractTremendous advances in nanoscience have been made since the discovery of the fullerenes; however, the formation of these carbon-caged nanomaterials still remains a mystery. Here we reveal that fullerenes self-assemble through a closed network growth mechanism by incorporation of atomic carbon and C2. The growth processes have been elucidated through experiments that probe direct growth of fullerenes upon exposure to carbon vapour, analysed by state-of-the-art Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Our results shed new light on the fundamental processes that govern self-assembly of carbon networks, and the processes that we reveal in this study of fullerene growth are likely be involved in the formation of other carbon nanostructures from carbon vapour, such as nanotubes and graphene. Further, the results should be of importance for illuminating astrophysical processes near carbon stars or supernovae that result in C60 formation throughout the Universe.via RSC
Journal information: Nature Communications Citation: Team finds buckyballs grow larger by ‘eating’ vaporized carbon (2012, May 30) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2012-05-team-buckyballs-larger-vaporized-carbon.html © 2012 Phys.Org This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
How Success Happens 5 min read November 12, 2014 Hear from Polar Explorers, ultra marathoners, authors, artists and a range of other unique personalities to better understand the traits that make excellence possible. A couple weeks ago, TechCrunch’s Ingrid Lunden and Sarah Buhr broke some big Yahoo news. They reported that Yahoo has signed a term sheet to buy a company called BrightRoll for about $700 million. Today, Yahoo finally announced it has acquired BrightRoll for $640 million.BrightRoll is a video ad tech company. It hosts videos for publishers, and, with algorithms, helps them pick which ads to run against them. Advertisers can also work with BrightRoll to find the right videos to sponsor.There are a few reasons it makes sense for Yahoo to buy BrightRoll. For a while now, Yahoo has sought to acquire a company that would give it more video advertising inventory to sell in a “programmatic,” or automated fashion. First it tried to by Dailymotion. Later it tried to buy Twitch. BrightRoll’s algorithms might be able to help Yahoo match advertisers to videos more efficiently, thereby allowing it to sell the video ad inventory it already possesses for higher prices.Yahoo would like to turn Tumblr into a YouTube competitor. It needs video-hosting and ad-serving technology to be able to do that.BrightRoll generates $100 million in revenue each year, and it will immediately help Yahoo’s top line start growing again. Back when TechCrunch first published its report, we reached out to several ex-Yahoo ad tech people as well as a number of other sources in the industry to hear what they think of this potential deal.Here’s what we heard.BrightRoll is a good company, but Yahoo could buy its competition for cheaper.Says an industry source: “BrightRoll is a good company, been around a long time, has good revenues (maybe $100 net) and good gross margins. It’s interesting that there are three publicly-traded video ad nets for less $ and none of them are being considered for acquisition (YuMe, Tremor, TubeMogul). Both YuMe and Tremor are highly discounted because their tech sucks and they don’t do programmatic well. TubeMogul is almost entirely buy-side, so Yahoo is probably more interested in sell-side technology.”Yahoo is paying too much.Says shareholder Eric Jackson: “Typical Yahoo deal. Buy the also ran at double the price. Wish they bought Liverail. If it happens, it’s far less objectionable than Tumblr or the 6 dozen acqui-hires – at least there’s going to be some revenue.”BrightRoll is just a clearing-house without great tech.Says a former Yahoo exec: “Desperation play. Too much of an ad network (just a buy/sell operation, not a true platform). Valuation is absolutely ridiculous.”Yahoo is splitting the baby.Says an industry source: “I think Yahoo is schizophrenic about if they need/want a DSP [a product advertisers can use to find ad inventory] or an SSP [a product publishers can use to sell inventory], Brightroll gives them something that splits the middle.”BrightRoll doesn’t have great tech or software, and Yahoo just acquiring scale.Says a former Yahoo exec: “Terrible. While BrightRoll is a scale player in the hot video space… Their revenue is primarily driven by their media ad network business. It’s IO driven, not tech or SaaS [this means its not as automated as you think]. This is Blue Lithium & Interclick for video [two ad tech acquisitions Yahoo made in the past that some say haven’t gone well]. Yahoo needs ad tech and all they acquire are mobile startups that are going out of business and more unreliable, insertion order driven media networks.”It’s a smart deal, but Yahoo is paying a lot — and it doesn’t have the people to run a smart ad tech business.Says a former Yahoo exec: “I think it’s actually smart. It’s becoming widely acknowledged that the ad format of choice for mobile is video and this gives them a great solution from a recognized leader in the video space. It’s an expensive price though. The problem is after acquisition that you have inept product people like [Yahoo executives] Scott Burke and Mark Morrissey who will more than likely sabotage this from within and until those guys are gone, Yahoo will continue to have problems on the revenue product side.”Where’s the synergy?Says an ex-Yahoo executive: “Not sure I see the real synergy with Yahoo. More video inventory? [Feels like they are saying,] ‘We need to do something. This is something. Let’s do it.'”It doesn’t solve Yahoo’s real probem.Says a former Yahoo executive: “Buying ad tech doesn’t solve the company’s fundamental problem as not being relevant to users (declining engagement) and consequently not having mindshare with advertisers/agencies. While it could help squeeze out higher prices from it’s own inventory, it cannot be a game changer. Plus Yahoo’s poor track record of integrating ad network businesses raises questions on how well it can integrate the ad network piece of BrightRoll. Yahoo hasn’t made much of the Blue Lithium or Interclick acquisitions. As a shareholder I’d rather have the estimated $700M given back – as a dividend or stock buybacks.” This story originally appeared on Business Insider Listen Now
2 min read Say goodbye to power cords and even to wireless charging stations. The old-fashioned way of charging electronics simply isn’t good enough for the makers of a new smartwatch called PowerWatch. There’s apparently no need when this smartwatch uses your body heat to maintain its charge.The PowerWatch is the result of five years of research and development by Menlo Park, Calif.-based Matrix Industries — with a core team consisting of PhD graduates from Caltech, MIT, Harvard, and University of California, San Diego.Related: Here’s Navdy, a New Gadget That Can Make Your Old Car SmartThe watch uses thermoelectric technology to convert changes in heat to electric power. As the company’s Indiegogo page claims, it’s technology that NASA has used to power the Voyager spacecraft and Curiosity, the mars rover. So far, the technology hasn’t appeared much in consumer applications.My initial thought was, that’s neat, but what happens when you take the watch off and don’t wear it for several days? If it goes dead and there’s no power cord, do you have to wear it until it powers up again? The Indiegogo page says the PowerWatch “goes to sleep and runs off battery power where it draws a tiny amount of current. Put it back on and it turns on with the correct time.”Related: Soon, the Floor in Your House Could Be Your Next Energy SourceLike other smartwatches, the PowerWatch delivers notifications, tells the time, and is able to measure things like calories burned, activity level, and sleep.So far, the PowerWatch has raised about $45,000 of its $100,000 fundraising goal, with two months still remaining. Register Now » Attend this free webinar and learn how you can maximize efficiency while getting the most critical things done right.
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eTN Chatroom for Readers (join us) .@cher, my celestial queen, whatever else happens today, I seek solace in the answered prayer that YOU ARE COMING BACK TO AUSTRALIA IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.— Kenny Ang (@kenny_ang) 7 May 2018 Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:Like Loading… Cher announced the tour early on Tuesday morning (Australian time) and needless to say people are freaking out.The 71-year-old’s national tour comes off the back of her headlining performance at this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras party.The ‘Here We Go Again’ tour will head Down Under in September and October. Cher will perform in arenas in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Newcastle and Adelaide.Cher headlined the Mardi Gras party for its 40th anniversary, with her stunning performance and multiple costume changes leaving people wanting more.Her time in Australia was not without controversy.The singer with six decades of experience in entertainment was heavily criticized for posing in a selfie with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.Fans were not happy with the PM who put Australia’s LGBTI community through a gruelling national survey on marriage equality. The postal survey had a negative affect on the mental health of LGBTI Australians and violence against LGBTI people jumped by 50%.Cher originally stood by her decision to pose with the PM, but later apologized.‘Am so sorry. Guess that’s why I have FEW Friends Who Are Politicians.He Seemed Very Open & excited about MARDI GRAS,AND LGBT COMMUNITY,’ she wrote on Twitter.The big-budget tour will come only a few months after the release of Mama Mia 2 in July. In the all-Abba movie musical, Cher plays Meryl Streep’s mother.Such good newsAustralian waking up to the news of Cher touring for the first time in more than ten years were very excited and took to Twitter to express their delight. GAYSTARNEWS- Cher, still fierce at 71 | Photo: Wikimedia GOOD FUCKING MORNING TO CHER AND CHER ONLY WHO IS TOURING AUSTRALIA ON MY FUCKING BIRTHDAY pic.twitter.com/5F0tW0HjSk— jermaine (@ItsJerm) 7 May 2018
5 reasons to book your trip now to Sydney Mardi Gras 2019Cher shuts down Twitter haters after posing for selfie with Aussie PMWould you dress up as Cher on a Saturday morning to win a designer chair?Read the full article on Gaystarnews: :https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/cher-just-announced-an-australia-tour-and-people-arent-coping/ If anyone wants me I’ll DEFINITELY be in Australia for ALL of @cher ‘s shows for her Australian tour! Think I’ve just died & gone to heaven — Teagan Lowe (@TeagsPointe) 7 May 2018 Got a news tip? Want to share your story? Email us . For the first time in 13 years pop diva and gay icon, Cher, will tour Australia. Excuse me but @cher is touring Australia which is the world’s best news ever but also @cubsportmusic have to be the support. It’s basically the most dream line up to ever exist. Needs to happen — B A T T S (@BATTSMUSIC) 7 May 2018
Singapore Airlines and Lalique to enter strategic partnershipSingapore Airlines (SIA) and French crystalmaker Lalique have agreed to enter into a strategic partnership, in the course of which Singapore Airlines will exclusively carry selected inflight items co-branded with Lalique in its Suites and First Class cabins. The partnership is set to start with the launch of Singapore Airlines’ next batch of Airbus A380s, deliveries of which are due to begin in the second half of this year featuring all-new cabin products. SIA and Lalique have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to join forces on enhancing the travelling experience in SIA’s Suites and First Class cabins. The partnership between SIA and Lalique – which forms part of Switzerland-based Lalique Group (LLQ) and specialises in decorative crystal ware, interior decor, perfumes, jewellery, art and hospitality – combines both companies’ dedication to excellence. The two partners intend to offer co-branded items such as amenity kits, toiletries, glassware, loungewear and beddings.The MoU also covers other areas of co-operation:A diversity of Lalique items to be advertised in SIA’s KrisShop Magazine (inflight sales, mail order with home delivery, exclusive offers to frequent flyers);various other benefits and offers related to Lalique’s manufacturing site and its Michelin-rated restaurant in France;lifestyle and crystal gift items to be offered to customers as part of the amenity kits on selected flights.“We are very pleased to partner with Lalique to offer our premium customers exquisite luxury in the air,” said Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President Product & Services, Mr Marvin Tan. “Both Lalique and SIA have a long heritage. Leveraging the strengths of both companies, we look forward to bringing the finest travelling experience to our customers through this co-brand initiative. ” “We are very excited about this strategic alliance with Singapore Airlines – one of the world’s leading airline and travel brands – to contribute to delivering more value to SIA passengers and frequent flyers,” said Lalique’s Chairman and CEO Silvio Denz. SIA and Lalique are considering an exclusive and long-term co-operation, the start of which will coincide with the entry into service in the second half of this year of SIA’s next batch of Airbus A380s, featuring all-new cabin products. Specific details of the co-branded product offerings will be announced in due course. As the partnership progresses, the two companies will evaluate additional joint projects.Source = Singapore Airlines
Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact Wilson’s consecutive start streak was actually snapped earlier this season, when injuries to his groin and ankle kept him from playing in Arizona’s Week 3 win over Philadelphia. The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo Safety Adrian Wilson has become the heart and soul of the Cardinals defense over the last decade.But even the five-time Pro Bowler is not immune to a demotion now and again.Wilson, who has 34 tackles and an interception on the season, did not start in the Cardinals’ 23-19 loss to Atlanta Falcons.The 11-year veteran declined to comment after the game, saying little more than that the decision was not his to make. Top Stories Comments Share Head coach Ken Whisenhunt later said the decision was made to improve pass coverage — an area Wilson hasn’t been extremely effective in this season — and that overall he was pleased with the results (season-high five interceptions) against the Falcons.Friday, defensive coordinator Ray Horton said the move was done for more reasons than just schematic purposes.“Hopefully the message that’s being sent to everybody is that’s important to do your job and do your job well,” Horton said. “When you’re in there it’s not a right, it’s a privilege to be in there and play defense.”Despite the benching of his star safety to begin last Sunday’s contest, Horton doesn’t expect Wilson’s role to change at all.“We’re just trying to tweak some things and get some guys some opportunities,” said Horton. “So where does [Wilson] fit in? Right where he’s been. He’s one of the leaders of our team.”Rashad Johnson, who started in place of Wilson, made the most of his opportunities in Atlanta. The fourth-year safety intercepted Matt Ryan’s first pass of the game, which set up the Cardinals’ lone touchdown. Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, right, is tackled by Los Angeles Rams defensive back John Johnson, bottom, and defensive back Lamarcus Joyner during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires Top Stories Comments Share Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did not return to the game after suffering a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter Sunday, but he expressed minimal concern after the game.“I could’ve played,” he said after a second of thought. “I don’t know how effective I could’ve been, but I could’ve managed my way through.”But the Cardinals, who lost to the Los Angeles Rams 34-0, had no reason to put the star veteran back in the game. Head coach Steve Wilks called it a “minor” injury and pulled him with the game out of reach. The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo Fitzgerald said the hamstring had “been a little tight the last 10 days or so.”On Monday with Bickley and Marotta on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station, Wilks said that Fitzgerald was still day-to-day.“Again, making sure I monitor his reps this week. I know he’s going to get in there and get the proper treatment,” Wilks said.Related LinksRapid Reactions: Cardinals get shut out by Rams in Week 2Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks on loss: ‘Everybody will be evaluated’He finished the game with three receptions for a team-high 28 yards.After he felt the hamstring “grab” a second time in the game, he decided to not risk further harm.“It wasn’t like a bad (grab), I didn’t feel it pop or anything like that, but it grabbed good enough where I know if I were to maybe kept going at it, it could have got much worse,” Fitzgerald said. “I didn’t want to add insult to injury.”Besides Fitzgerald, two other players were mentioned by Wilks as potential injury concerns.“Dennis Gardek is also questionable with his ankle and so is Olsen Pierre,” Wilks said. – / 19 Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact
December 19, 2014This past October, Arcosanti was host to 11 women gathering in the spirit of “True You” for the Magical Mamas Retreat. Link to Special guest presenter, Iz Word, led yoga for the group and cleared the vibration for seven miles with her sound healing using crystal bowls and a gong. Here the group observes a storm that suddenly appeared during the sound healing. Link to her We closed the retreat with this magical double rainbow. It was truly unique and solidified the value of our time together. Our amazing group of Magical Mamas: healers, future mothers, experienced mothers, partners, lovers, and all that is undefined! Thank you, Arcosanti, for providing the container for our growth and development. We’ll see you again next year.Colleen ReckowArcosanti ResidentCertified Holistic Health CoachSeek Health, Nurture Happiness231-690-5902