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All your pricey electronics are juicy targets for hackers and sticky-fingered thieves. Here's how to reduce your risks while traveling.
When you travel, a whole fleet of electronics come with you. Smartphone and laptop are a given, but there's a good chance you're also toting a tablet, and maybe a cellular hotspot or dedicated GPS.
All of them are juicy targets for bad guys. Here's how to make sure your devices' travels are just as safe as your own.
Public Wi-Fi hotspots are essential. They're like an oasis in the disconnected desert when you run into their blessed signal in coffee shops, airports, or even public parks. But wide-open Wi-Fi hotspots can also be dangerous.
Using a VPN on public Wi-Fi hotspots will prevent snooping. If you're connected to a malicious WI-Fi hotspot that attempts to funnel you to fake phishing sites, the VPN will bypass all that junk and allow you to browse normally.
Businesses often require their employees to use a VPN while traveling, but everyday consumers can pay a few bucks a month for a service and get the same security benefits. Be sure to choose and set up a VPN ahead of time.
Many people like setting their laptops and PCs to log them in automatically, bypassing the need to input a password. That's something you'll want to change when you hit the road.
Set a decent password--not "password" or "letmein"--on your laptop and have it prompt you at boot. (Here's how to change your password in Windows 7 and Windows 8.) Ensure your laptop is set to ask for the password when it wakes from sleep or hibernate mode, too--this will thwart opportunistic snoopers and also make more trouble for thieves.
Be sure to set up device-tracking, remote-locking, and remote-wiping features ahead of time, too. This is easy on most smartphones and tablets. Android phones and tablets offer integrated tracking via Google's Android Device Manager, and Apple's iPhones, iPads, and Macs offer integrated tracking via Find My iPhone in iCloud. Windows Phones offer integrated tracking, too.
Enable this feature on your mobile devices ahead of time. Also take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the web-based interface for tracking your devices. Features like remote wiping may not be enabled by default, so you'll want to check those as well.
Tracking is tougher with computers. Windows laptops, Chromebooks, and Linux PCs don't come with anything built-in. You may want to install PC-tracking software like Prey Anti-theft, which has a free version and is available for Windows, Linux, and Macs.
Windows tablets also lack built-in tracking like Android tablets and iPads have, so you'll need to install a third-party utility on these devices as well.
Don't be the next person who misplaces a laptop with customer credit card numbers or personal employee information on it. Encryption ensures someone can't go straight to your storage to snoop through your stuff if your device is stolen. Android, iOS, Chrome OS, Linux, and Mac OS X all offer integrated full-disk encryption features that are easy to enable or enabled by default.
Windows is still the laggard here. If you have a modern laptop or tablet that came with Windows 8.1, its data may be encrypted with "device encryption." But this works only if you've logged in with a Microsoft account--not a local user account.
If you have an older device, you'll need to upgrade to the Professional edition of Windows 7 or 8 and enable BitLocker encryption. You could also use a third-party full-disk encryption solution, such as TrueCrypt. Even in its defunct state, some security experts consider TrueCrypt 7.1a safe to use, and other encryption tools are available as well.
Proper backups are crucial, although this tip may be overlooked and underappreciated. Backups can help you recover your precious data if your device is stolen, broken, or otherwise lost while you're travelling.
You could go to the cloud with an online backup service like CrashPlan or BackBlaze. You could also back up to an external hard drive. For maximum security, store backups in both places and have backups in multiple locations. PCWorld's guide to backing up your PC for free can help if you need it.
But, whatever you do, don't just back up to an external hard drive that you bring with you and keep in your laptop bag. If you lose that laptop bag, you'll lose all your backups. Take it from someone who once lost all his stuff because he didn't do proper backups: You really need to get serious about backups before disaster strikes!
Let's rewind a bit. Staying secure on the road isn't just about software features--you also need to stay alert and keep an eye on your stuff in the physical world.
Keep your smartphone in your front pocket, not your back one. Don't just leave your smartphone sitting on a table in a coffee shop or restaurant when you go to the restroom, either. Yes, I've seen people do this, and I'm always amazed their phones are still there when they return.
The same goes for laptops. Please don't leave them sitting on a table in a coffee shop--logged in--while you step away. I've seen this, too. It boggles the mind! Keep either your eyes or a hand on your devices at all times.
Keep that laptop in a bag when you're not actively using it to make it less of a target. If you're staying in a hotel, whatever devices you aren't carrying with you should be locked in your room's safe, assuming your hotel offers one. If nothing else, tuck expensive devices into a bag or suitcase.
Mobile devices are incredibly easy to steal. Don't add to the statistics: Use common sense and be careful. I've traveled all over North America and Europe and haven't lost any devices or had trouble with compromised public Wi-Fi networks. But I've never left my smartphone and laptop sitting on a coffee shop table when I go to the restroom, either.


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In 2019 2018, the population of the city of Romny, Ukraine is - 42 527 people. All-populations.com used data from the number of the population from official sources. Find out what statistics the population of the country, city, district on All-populations.com.
Accessible information on the population of any region, fast work of the site and constant updating of information are the basis of our resource. Soon it will be possible to see the city of Romny on the map.

industry_corpus2: Others


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On this episode of the vIQtory podcast we are joined by 2x All-American, Senior Tackle from Kansas State, Dalton Risner.
Dalton just finished a strong showing at the Senior Bowl which capped off an incredible collegiate career where he raked in the accolades. As a 3x team captain and 4 year starter his resume is second to none leading up to the NFL Draft. Dalton was kind enough to join us while he prepared for the Senior Bowl. He talked about his preparation, his journey and his foundation, RISnEr UP, which is just getting off the ground.
CH: Nice. What was that number?

industry_corpus2: Sports


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2 Scoops of ice cream with up to 6 toppings. Toppings cannot come on the side.
3 Scoops of Ice Cream with up to 6 Toppings. Toppings cannot come on the side.
1 Scoop of Ice Cream with up to 6 Toppings. Toppings cannot come on the side.
A coffee ice cream float with sea salt caramel, white chocolate and Heath bar pieces with choice of ice cream and whipped cream.

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


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1. Elliott P., Andersson B., Arbustini E. et al. Classification of the cardiomyopathies: a position statement from the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Myocardial and Pericardial Diseases // Eur. Heart J. – 2008. – Vol. 29. – P. 270– 276.
2. Shuiyun Wanga, Mingyao Luo, Hongtao Sun. A retrospective clinical study of transaortic extended septal myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in China // Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surgery. – 2013. – Vol. 43. – P. 534–540.
3. 2011 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines / Bernard J. Gersh, Barry J. Maron, Robert O. Bonow, Joseph A. Dearani, Michael A. Fifer, Mark S. Link, Srihari S. Naidu, Rick A. Nishimura, Steve R. Ommen, Harry Rakowski, Christine E. Seidman, Jeffrey A. Towbin, James E. Udelson and Clyde W. Yancy. – 2011. – P. 55–61.
4. Ibrahim M., Rao Ch., Ashrafian H. et al. Modern management of systolic anterior motionof the mitral valve // Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surgery. – 2012. – Vol. 4. – P. 1260–1270.
5. Morrow A.G., Fogarty T.J., Hannah H.III, Braunwald E. Operative treatment in idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis. Techniques and results of postoperative clinical and hemodynamic assessments // Circulation. – 1968. – Vol. 37. – P. 589–596.
6. Carpentier A. The SAM issue // Le Club Mitrale Newsletter. – 1989. – No. 1. – P. 72–75.
7. Maisano F., Torracca L., Oppizzi M. et al. The “Edge(to(Edge” technique: a simplified method to correct mitral insufficiency // Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg. – 1998. – Vol. 13(3). – P. 240–246.
8. Theare R.D. Asymmetric hypertrophy of the heart in young adults // Brit. Heart. J. – 1958. – Vol. 20. – P. 1–8.
9. Kitaoka H., Kubo T., Okawa M. et al. Utility of tissue Doppler imaging to predict exercise capacity in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Comparison with B(type natriuretic peptide // J. Cardiol. – 2009. – Vol. 53. – P. 361–367.
10. Germans T., Nijveldt R., Brouwer W.P. et al. The role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in differentiating the underlying causes of left ventricular hypertrophy // Neth. Heart J. – 2010. – Vol. 18. – P. 135–143.
11. Olivotto I., Girolami F., Nistri S. et al. The many faces of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: from developmental biology to clinical practice // J. Cardiovasc. Transl. Res. – 2009. – Vol. 2(4). – P. 349–367.
12. Joudinaud T., Flecher E., Hvass U. Evolution of the surgical strategy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: case studies of eight patients // Ann. Cardiol. Angeiol. (Paris). – 2008. – Vol. 57. – P. 16–21.
13. Maron B.J. Contemporary insights and strategies for risk stratification and prevention of sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy // Circulation. – 2010. – Vol. 121. – P. 445– 456.
14. Losi M.A., Betochi S., Menganelli F. et al. Pattern of left ventricular filling in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Assessment by Doppler echocardiography and radionuclide angiography // Eur. Heart J. – 1998. – Vol. 19. – P. 1261–1267.
15. Kunkala M.R., Schaff H.V., Nishimura R.A. et al. Transapical approach to myectomy for midventricular obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy // Ann. Thorac. Surg. – 2013. – Vol. 96. – P. 564–570.
16. Kron I.L., Green G.R., Cope J.T. Surgical relocation of the posterior papillary muscle in chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation // Ann. Thorac. Surg. – 2002. – Vol. 74. – P. 600–601.
17. Hetzer R., Delmo Walter E.M., Hubler M. et al. Modified surgical techniques and long(term outcome of mitral valve reconstruction in 111 children // Ann. Thorac. Surg. – 2008. – Vol. 86(2). – P. 604–613.
18. Basaranet M., Selimoglu O., Yildirim T., Ogus N.T. Use of Alfieri stitch technique in a patient with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy // Interact. Cardiovasc. Thorac. Surg. – 2006. – No. 5. – P. 738–739.
19. Maisano F., Caldarola A., Blasio A. et al. Midterm results of edge( to(edge mitral valve repair without annuloplasty // J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. – 2003. – Vol. 126. – P. 1987–1997.
20. Carpentier A. et al. Carpentier’s Reconstructive Valve Surgery: From Valve Analysis to Valve Reconstruction – Saunders: New York, 2010. – 350 p.
21. Alfieri O. Alfieri technique at 15 years. 7th International Live Case Meeting “Latest techniques in cardiac surgery” (proceedings). – Leipzig, 2011.
22. Recommendations for Cardiac Chamber Quantification by Echocardiography in Adults: An Update from the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging // J. Am. Soc. Echocardiogr. – 2015. – Vol. 28. – P. 1–39.

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


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Take in the lush landscapes of Bentong rainforest, from the top of the world, literally.
The Hill Villa- which can accommodate up to 6 guests - offers a magnificent view from its bedroom windows, so you can wake up surrounded by the the quiet stillness of nature.
Your stay comes with afternoon tea, dinner, and breakfast. Enjoy jungle trekking, river tubing, or hours of fun at the water slide pool. Check out the activities page for more fun.

industry_corpus2: Travel & Geography


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Welcome to Thanjavur.net, the website for the Chola Capital city and the Granary of South India. Thanjavur was the royal city of the Cholas, Nayaks and the Mahrattas. Thanjavur derives its name from Tanjan-an asura (giant), who according to local legend devastated the neighborhood and was killed by Sri Anandavalli Amman and Vishnu, Sri Neelamegapperumal. Tanjan's last request that the city might be named after him was granted.
Thanjavur was at height of its glory during Rajaraja cholan. Let us take Thanjavur back to its past glory in the information age. Thanjavur is still the center of all the classical arts and music. It has produced many classical musicians and bharathanatyam dancers and is also well known for its unique painting style called Tanjore Painting and Thavil, a percussion instrument.
Here we have the ultimate site for all the information about Thanjavur and its neighborhood. It is the capital of the Thanjavur district and its been the center for learning Tamil during Chola and now with the establishment of Tamil University by our late Chief Minister Dr. M.G. Ramachandran. There are a lot of beautiful temples in Thanjavur region. Big Temple stands tall with its beaming tower. It's one of the architectural wonders of the world.


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The Website is designed to provide information about the Institute, and to describe a variety of services we offer to clients.
Visitors can learn about Dr. Williams' practice and other available services, as well as recent medical research.
Clients, once provided with a username and password, can also use the website to schedule or change appointments.
Harmony in the family and workplace is our goal.


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Ducklings and Dolphins is a new swim school I set up as part of the Swim England programme to help children become great swimmers but most importantly have fun whilst learning. To learn more about me and my passion for swimming please see information below and view profile.
I have been privileged within swimming, sharing the same county team as Rebecca Adlington, along with the same coach Glen Smith who worked at Nottingham County squad and is now a national coach and taken athletes to win Paralympics medals. The head coach of Nottingham Nova was Bill Furnis who is now Head Coach of England Swimming and I attended many of his swim skills camps.
BTEC level 3 in Fitness and Development ,BA honours Sport and Leisure Studies 2:2 (Leeds Metropolitan University), STA Level 2, Level 3 In First Aid, Understanding ADHD, Coaching Disabled football, FA Level 1 and 2, Lego Therapy, CAHMS training, Child Protection, safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and Health and Safety at Work.
Working in Schools both secondary and primary as a Teaching Assistant, EAL teaching assistant, Behaviour Support Worker, Cover Supervisor. Working at Debbie Pope Swim School for many years ( which I would highly recommend if my Swim School is not your location). Also I have been Head Swimming Coach at Grammar School at Leeds and currently Head Swimming Coach at Woodhouse Grove School.
A Mansfield Swimming club record? Or a silver in the National Biathalon Championship at 14. Tough choice, but it would have to be either swimming 10.5miles at the age of 13 and raising over a £1000 for charity. But for me would be coaching GSAL boys to their first English Schools medal. There were four committed lads who were not in a swimming club and only trained at School. So although I say boys have achieved the medals, it was nice to be a part of it.

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


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The Knife Set storage case was made from soft EVA with nylon covering; it is specially designed for X-Acto Basic Knife Set, with a small mesh pocket inside, die cutting EVA foam interior to keep knives and blades in place. Transport and carry them safely.
Knife Set Compression Case is designed for X-Acto, with 600D nylon coated, heat compression molded logo on top. It’s not same as the knife carrying case chef, this is designed for crafters, artists, designers, not for housewives.
We are the professional molded EVA factory from China, and we also produced the molded knife cases for other brands, such as CHEF, mercer, etc.
We also could do other custom EVA cases with your company logo, and design EVA case with your product shape and dimensions. You just need to send us your product image with sizes; we could design an EVA case draft quickly online.

industry_corpus2: Manufacturing


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There is something I love about random management phrases. I mean obviously I don’t like to actually use them, because they sound totally mad and often they really confuse the issue. However there are two words to do with the areas of your control and expertise that I really like.
The first is wheelhouse. It’s the name of the room where the captain of a ship stands. Literally, I guess, the room that houses the wheel of the ship. And this one is something you want more things in really. People say, “hey that’s right in Alex’s wheelhouse”. Well they don’t because they don’t use any of the cool phrases at my work, they just ask me to “action the pre-meeting”. But that’s what they would say to mean, “that’s right up Alex’s street”. It’s sort of about it being in your comfort zone, but comfort zone sounds a bit too wimpy. It’s actually used in baseball a lot to suggest that the ball was thrown to the place that the batsman really likes to hit from. So I guess you want more people to think that such-and-such will be in your wheelhouse.
Now bailiwick is the other word I like. Technically, this comes from the world of bailiffs and still exists in that world today. It means essentially ‘area of jurisdiction’. And of course, you might think, you as a young thrusting person would like to have more things under your control, the phrase is seldom used that way. It’s really used to explain what you aren’t in control of. Somebody says to you, “hey Alex, can you take this broom and sweep up the kitchen?”, you have to turn to this person and say, “I’m sorry Sir, but that’s not my bailiwick”. Basically, it’s a fancy way of telling somebody to shove off while also explaining that it’s “not my problem”. Of course I have never really used it [not at work, anyway – Ed] because it would make you sound like a mad person.
So while I fear those who freely use phrases such as, “We need to pro-actively seek to add value going forward”, I secretly also want the freedom to pepper my dialogue with these really cool words. Sadly, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Perhaps saying such words isn’t in my wheelhouse?
That wasn't a euphemism, until today.


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This lower fat pie crust is adapted from a cooking light recipe. I made it for a quiche and placed it up against a full fat recipe and this one was actually preferred!! I made it with coconut oil instead of butter and shortening.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a bowl; cut in coconut oil as best as you can with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.
Make a well in center of flour mixture. Pour hot water into center of well. Gently draw flour mixture into the water until moist clumps form. Press dough into a 4-inch circle. Cover, and chill 30 minutes.
Slightly overlap 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Unwrap dough; place on plastic. Cover dough with 2 additional sheets of overlapping plastic wrap. Roll dough into a 13-inch circle. Fit dough into a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray. Fold edges under; flute.


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Stop by our dealership and discover our great offers at Automobile En Direct St-Constant. Check out this amazing used Hyundai Elantra 2017 near Saint-Constant. Inspected and certified by our experienced technicians, the Grey model has logged 24296 km. You can buy this pre-owned Hyundai Elantra 2017 at a great price of $15999. It's a Sedan with 4 doors, Automatic transmission and Front wheel drive. This Hyundai Elantra 2017 is powered by a engine that runs on Unleaded fuel. If you'd like to learn more about this used Hyundai Elantra 2017 for sale in Saint-Constant, don't hesitate to contact us by phone at 450 638-6664 or on our web site at http://www.automobileendirect.com.
Hello, I found this ad on Auto123.com. Could you please provide me with more information on the Hyundai Elantra 2017. Thank you!

industry_corpus2: Automobiles


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You are here: Home / Blogging 101 / Why Start a Blog in 2019?
I hear this a lot. Why even attempt to start a blog in 2019? Everyone is blogging so you can’t make it big anymore. There is no point.
I’m here to tell you, you can start a successful blog in 2019! Blogging is still so new and it’s growing all the time! Brands and marketing teams are getting even more familiar with working with influencers, and there is a ton of room to grow as your own blogging business! 2019 is the perfect time to start a blog, and to grow it as slow or as fast as you want it to grow!
Here are my reasons why it’s a great time to start a blog in 2019.
The industry is still so new, and nothing is set and concrete as far as industry standard. There are so many bloggers out there that break new glass ceilings everyday, so why can’t you do something like that!
Creativity on social media will always be popular. Being creative and sharing what you love will always attract people on the internet. People love to read, learn, and connect with others, so a blog is a great way to do that.
Social media lacks authenticity, so being authentic on your own space in the internet will show growth. A blog is a great way to share your thoughts, hobbies, passions, and what you stand for. It’s also a place where people are fake. In 2019, people are seeing past the influencer BS and sticking with the authentic and real people. By starting a blog that’s real and authentic, you will find that people LOVE what you share!
Brands are seeing the value of working with influencers, which means that you can start a legitimate business building a blog and working with brands! One of my favorite things about blogging is getting to work with brands I love! And also getting paid to do it! Brands more than ever are using this as one of their market strategies, and are also working with micro-influencers even more than ever! But remember to work with brands you stand by!
There are many ways to share what you love online, but the most authentic and easy way to do it is through a website! You own this space and you can make it whatever you want! Other social platforms don’t offer that level of complete control.
I hope you have seen some great reasons to start a blog in 2019! Blogging is an exciting industry to be in, and it’s fun to grow with the industry! I challenge you to avoid listening to the negative people out there saying you couldn’t ever make it in the industry. The fact of the matter is, there is only one you, so you will always be unique! So share that and make a business you are proud of!
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out my other posts about the business of blogging in my Blogging 101 section!
Don’t forget to say hi to me on Instagram!


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At BMICH, we are truly committed towards the safety and well-being of our staff, service providers and guests whilst also bearing the responsibility of safeguarding the assets and interests of our stakeholders.
The Management at BMICH have placed special emphasis on managing the risks of fire.
➢ Conducting frequent trainings for the staff involved in Fire safety.
Whilst combining all the internal strengths, knowledge and expertise, BMICH also join hands with competent external professionals for guidance and added security enforcements. Fire safety is considered as one of our primary safety measures which makes BMICH one of the most secure global venues in the country.

industry_corpus2: Safety Management


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Megan Emerick is a FUNimation veteran of almost 9 years, with some of the best shows the company's anime catalog has to offer under her belt!
(Yuri Gamagori), and she's appeared in countless other classics, like Soul Eater and Fairy Tail!
To learn more about Megan, follow her on Twitter (@MeganEmerick)!

industry_corpus2: Film & Entertainment


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Engage in our forum through Commos tokens called CommoCoins and gain access to services.
Get up to 50 CommoCoins per each action!
In addition, the first 100 subscribers will receive 200 additional tokens each for spreading the word.
Follow us on our social networks Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Get CommoCoins per qualifying Tweets and LinkedIn posts.
Participation is rewarded. Use CommoCoins to send questions or business proposals to all members. Join our community for 30 CommoCoins per trimester.
How to contact a member?
Go to “Search” page and click on “Message” below Company/Expert.
How can I check my messages?
Login to your account. Then go to “My Profile” and check “Message” box.
How to contact the administrator of the site?
Click on “Contact” and fill the form to address your requests or suggestions.
How to see if my contact is online?
A red dot indicates the online presence of your contact.


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Sling Kong Hack use the game data and generate a Cheat Code, which you can use to get all purchases in the game for free. It's very cool because you don't need to spend money to get a different things in the game. Many top gamers use our Sling Kong Hack. But the best thing of this Sling Kong Hack is no download required. This is Cheat Code thats why you don't need to download any Sling Kong Hack Tool.
How to use this Sling Kong Hack?
Copy Sling Kong Cheat which is above.
In order to use Cheat Codes, we have created a small instruction, which consists of 5 steps. With this guide and cheat codes, you can hack Sling Kong, and get the opportunity to make free purchases in the game. As you know, you can use Sling Kong mod apk, but this mod needs to be downloaded, and there is a possibility that there are viruses inside. Unlike mods, cheat codes do not need to be downloaded, they just need to be copied and pasted in the game in a special field.
How Sling Kong Hack work?
After you enter the Sling Kong cheat codes, you will be able to make purchases in the game for free, and your money will not be withdrawn. And also all fields in which there are numbers, it will be possible to edit. These codes are updated every week, and we have the latest versions of these codes.
And I forgot to tell you that Sling Kong Hack works on all popular mobile system like Android, iOS and Windows Phone. Well, now there’s a Sling Kong hack you can use to get more resources without spending money.
Also this Sling Kong Cheats work without jailbreak and without root.

industry_corpus2: Gaming


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The annual Ballston Spa Community Band Halloween Concert will be held on Wednesday, October 25, 2016 at 7pm in the Wood Road Elementary School Cafetorium.
The Ballston Spa Community Band provides a fun opportunity for adults to play their instrument with others who also love to play! Students have been invited to play along with the adult band members during this special concert. This year, over 40 costumed band members, including current students, will play annual Halloween favorites.
Trick-or-treating will take place after the concert.
Everyone is invited to enjoy this festive evening with our Ballston Spa Community Band. Please plan to join us – costumes are optional.


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Furthermore, the story-telling mechanism of these shows are easily distinguishable. While most American cartoons are intended for children, the themes of anime are multifaceted and complex. In fact, there are five basic types of anime. Each one is focused on a specific target demographic, with content that ranges from imaginative children’s stories intended to teach morals and principles to tales of a violent, psychological, or even pornographic nature about revenge, addiction, and love.
While all of this is known and generally accepted as being some of anime’s identifying traits, the word itself is just the abbreviated pronunciation of “animation” in Japanese. It is a term that references all animation. In this sense, even claymation like Wallace and Gromit is considered anime. Yet, outside of Japan, it is a word used to specifically refer to the Japanese style of animation produced inside the country. Still, a cultural interpretation of the word may suggest that anime can be produced in countries other than Japan, but a critical approach known as Orientalism argues that it is specifically and quintessentially Japanese.
So, then, what is a show that is heavily influenced by anime tropes and uses a style similar to Japanese animation, but is not of Japanese origin? Should there be a third category for shows like The Legend of Korra? What about the American 3D web series RWBY, created by Rooster Teeth studios, which has become so popular that it even has a Japanese dubbed version? What about the adaptation of the Chinese manhua Rakshasa Street which was produced in Japan but originated outside of it? If these were all to be considered anime then would that beg the question of whether some anime is more “anime” than others.
Despite my own internal conflict with defining the word and quite a few arguments amongst fans over the years, there really doesn’t seem to be a correct answer. It all depends on your perspective and which interpretation you like best. Even if it’s not so easily defined, we still get to watch it and enjoy.


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The teachers and staff are wonderful and very understanding. They love family!
Because of the sensitive nature of the childcare relationship, Loving Arms Childcare and Preschool requires all families to tour the facility before enrollment. Tours are offered Monday-Friday from 9AM - 2PM without an appointment.
We schedule tours Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (0900 hours - 1400 hours).
If this time is not convenient and you would like to schedule another time, please select the date you are available and "I need to schedule another time".


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Beckman & Espar P C is one of lawyers - adoption divorce & family law (lawyers - adoption divorce & family law) we can find in Michigan City, Indiana. Located at 501 Pine Street, 46360. You can contact them by phone at (219)874-2900.
10 website users and contributor has written a review about Beckman & Espar P C. Scroll down the page to see them. Remember, don't always believe info on internet, to see the real condition of Beckman & Espar P C, please visit the real place.

industry_corpus2: Law & Justice


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Watch enough HGTV and flipping houses starts to look easy.
Just talk to Joshua Levitt, who spent the better part of 2014 sitting on his couch in South Orange, N.J., watching shows like “Flip or Flop” and taking notes as the charismatic stars frenetically bought distressed properties and, with the right mix of anxious looks and Carrara marble, successfully flipped one by the end of every episode.
At the time, Mr. Levitt, now 41, had recently sold his tech company and was taking care of his wife, who was on bed rest with a difficult pregnancy, and their toddler. He had no background in real estate, design or construction, yet watching all that television convinced him that he could make big money buying, restoring and reselling dilapidated properties.
Then a neighbor introduced Mr. Levitt to his brother and sister-in-law, Graham and Krista Blundell, who were flipping houses in the area. By April 2015, Mr. Levitt was at an auction with Mr. Blundell, 44, who previously worked in investment banking, bidding on a vacant house in South Orange.
A few weeks earlier, Mr. Levitt had tried to gather information about the property, driving past it after a snowstorm to see if the mail had been collected and the snow had been shoveled, or any other evidence that someone might still live there. He peered in the window and saw standing water in the basement and piles of trash and belongings scattered inside.
He and Mr. Blundell won the house, paying $318,000 in cash and hiring a locksmith to let them in. And so, with a cashier’s check and a leap of faith, Mr. Levitt joined the growing ranks of small-time real estate investors who model themselves on spunky TV personalities.
Enthusiasm for flipping, the practice of buying property to renovate and sell at a profit, is surging. In 2017, Americans flipped 207,000 single-family homes or condos, hitting an 11-year high, according to ATTOM Data Solutions, a real estate data company. And real estate brokers, designers and contractors credit the popularity of reality TV, specifically scrappy, do-it-yourself flipper shows, with encouraging this new generation of investors.
“There are definitely more people interested in flipping because they watch these shows on HGTV,” said Elizabeth Kee, an associate broker for CORE real estate, who frequently works with buyers of investment properties and now regularly fields calls from people with no real estate experience who are interested in investing.
Home improvement shows have for some time played a role in America’s relationship with real estate. After the housing market collapsed in 2008, HGTV was criticized for fanning the flames of an overheated market, encouraging a culture of rampant investment that contributed to the eventual bust. Today, the cable network is among the most popular on television, reaching 1.11 million viewers in May.
In the New York metro area, home flipping is on the upswing, with flips accounting for 5.6 percent of all 2017 sales, an increase of 29 percent from 2016, according to ATTOM. Most of these investments happen in boroughs other than Manhattan or in the suburbs, primarily because Manhattan prices leave little room for profit. Of the 2,894 properties that were flipped in New York City in 2017, only 187 were in Manhattan, while 1,367 were in Queens, according to data from StreetEasy.
But as impressive as those numbers are — and as alluring as house flipping may be — reality rarely measures up to reality TV.
Mr. Levitt and Mr. Blundell sold the South Orange house in February 2016 for $650,000, making an $80,000 profit. Their next purchase, of a $196,000 four-bedroom in Bloomfield, N.J., did not go nearly as smoothly. They underestimated transaction fees and financing costs, walking away with only $20,000.
The shows “make it look very easy,” Mr. Levitt said, pointing to deceptively short timelines and unrealistic cost estimates. Where a show might describe a six-week renovation schedule from start to finish, the real world moves at a slower pace.
During that time, an investor is paying property taxes, insurance and interest on a mortgage or construction loan.
Chip Wade, a carpenter on HGTV’s “Designed to Sell” and “Curb Appeal: The Block” and a Liberty Mutual consultant, describes the information gleaned from these aspirational shows as no more useful than what you might find on a Pinterest board.
Three years into his new career, Mr. Levitt said he has gotten better at minimizing his expenses. On a recent breezy spring morning, he sat on a bench in Grove Park in South Orange, opposite a house he and Mr. Blundell bought in January for $300,000. Ms. Blundell, 40, who owns a design and home renovation consultancy, is designing and staging it, as she does for all the properties that her husband and Mr. Levitt buy.
From the bench where he sat, Mr. Levitt watched workers building the framing for an addition that will expand the house from three bedrooms to five. “I pulled up to this house and said, ‘We’re going to buy it because of the location,’” he recalled. He hopes to list the property in about three or four months for around $900,000.
If anyone should understand how far television often is from reality, it would be the producers of home improvement shows — the ones who spend months following celebrity flippers around with a camera, setting up the drama and delivering the Big Reveal, the moment when the homeowner gets to see the ugly duckling re-emerge as a beautiful swan.
But having that insider knowledge didn’t dissuade Max Weissman, whose production company, Departure Films, produces shows like “Flip This House” for A&E and “Vacation House for Free” for HGTV, from getting into the flipping business.
In 2015, Mr. Weissman enlisted two Departure employees, Timothy Robbins, 52, an executive producer, and Jennifer Di Lullo, 40, a senior producer, to help him start a new venture off screen. Ms. Di Lullo left her television job to become the project manager for the houses that Mr. Weissman would buy. The first, a five-bedroom in Maplewood, N.J., lost money. The next three netted between $10,000 and $20,000 apiece.
“I certainly thought it was going to be easier,” said Mr. Weissman, 51, sitting in the living room of his latest investment, a seven-bedroom colonial in Maplewood on the market for $1.7 million after a gut renovation.
Mr. Weissman bought the dilapidated house in November 2016 for $710,000, invested more than $700,000 in it and hopes to net a six-figure return.
Renovating the 6,500-square-foot house has been an enormous effort. Ms. Di Lullo has 12 spreadsheets for the 1912 center hall colonial that now has five full bathrooms, two half baths and a chef’s kitchen with Calacatta quartz countertops.
“It’s hard to remember we aren’t doing this for TV,” she said, surrounded by upended furniture that arrived earlier in the day for staging.
For television, producers need to finish only what viewers will see within the frame. For one episode that Departure Films produced, the crew painted just two sides of the exterior of a house to get the perfect shot. (T he owners didn’t like the color and planned to repaint it once the filming was done.) But when you are listing a property for sale, everything down to the outlet covers needs to be done before the open house.
On the shows, the producers, not the homeowners, call the shots, dictating the finishes and materials that will be featured on screen. For the 25 houses filmed for “Vacation House for Free,” no two kitchens looked alike: The audience has to be entertained, after all.
In real life, Ms. Di Lullo often puts the same finishes in multiple houses, because she knows they will look good, and she turns to the same general contractor, Savage Home Improvements in Morristown, N.J., for every project.
Television thrives on drama: The roof is leaking! The foundation is cracked! In real life, nightmare scenarios are just nightmares.
At a South Orange six-bedroom that the team flipped in 2017, a toilet started backing up after the house was in contract. An investigation revealed that the waste pipe had been mistakenly removed earlier in the renovation. The error cost $10,000 and meant ripping up a newly laid driveway.
“I was not making a TV show, so it was only horrifying,” Ms. Di Lullo said.
She and the other team members have brought the HGTV look to their projects, with sconces and chandeliers selected for a universal appeal, rather than a regional one.
“There’s a Jersey style, and we decided not to go that way,” Mr. Robbins said, referring to a Tuscany farmhouse look with dark wood kitchens, stone features and ornate fixtures.
“HGTV has set the style and the tastes for a large part of America,” Mr. Weissman said. And it has set the style for the Weissman projects, too.
Not everyone, of course, wants to mimic the HGTV look. When Sydney Blumstein, an associate broker at Corcoran, decided to invest in real estate in 2014, she was determined to avoid the monotony. She watched the shows religiously, particularly the ones about flipping property, mainly for a lesson in what not to do.
Reality TV producers may agonize over the details of things like cabinets, to make sure no kitchen looks like a rerun, but the overall effect tends to be a made-for-TV look, leaving viewers with a nagging sense of déjà vu, one that is often repeated in real life renovations and new construction.
So when she found a dated one-bedroom in the East Village, she saw an opportunity to reimagine it with an anti-HGTV look. She would expose the brick walls and reveal the beams and joists in the ceiling. Her parents, both real estate brokers, agreed that the property was a great investment. In 2014, she bought the 650-square-foot space on East 12th Street for $749,000, and planned to continue living with her parents on East 11th Street during the renovation.
Four contractors estimated the work would cost around $120,000 and tried to steer her toward a more traditional look, raising concerns that creativity could cost her buyers. The fifth contractor, however, shared her creative vision and offered to do the work for half the price.
The alteration agreement she submitted to the co-op board omitted her plans to expose the ceiling beams and joists. “I was planning on asking for forgiveness instead of permission,” she said.
That plan did not go over well. An upstairs neighbor complained that the soundproofing between the two apartments had disappeared with the ceiling.
“I didn’t realize that the joists that I loved was actually the floor above,” Ms. Blumstein said.
The board halted the work and insisted that Ms. Blumstein consult the building’s architect, who charged $350 an hour. To correct her error, she had to reinstall the ceiling, which cost $8,000. The project dragged on for two years, with spiraling costs that soured her relationship with the contractor.
She hired a second contractor to fix the mistakes made by the first. The renovation ultimately cost $120,000, exactly what the other contractors had estimated. But she got to express her creativity, using reclaimed materials like floor joists as open shelving and painting the cabinetry a sea-foam green.
Going it alone has its downside. By rejecting the more generic style used on television shows, she found herself without a road map, susceptible to rookie mistakes.
By the time the work was done in 2016, Ms. Blumstein’s life was no longer the same as it was when she bought the apartment. She now had a fiancé, Brett Lichtman, so instead of selling the renovated apartment, they moved into it. But the space where Ms. Blumstein had once seen only potential felt cramped.
So in January 2018, Ms. Blumstein sold the apartment for around $1 million, making a $90,000 profit, “but not enough money to pay for the mental torture of the experience,” she said.
She and Mr. Lichtman, 33, an event producer, now live in a converted warehouse loft in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, that Ms. Blumstein bought with her brother, Cole Blumstein, for $2.4 million.
And her dream of being a real estate investor is on hold, at least for the time being. “I think I’ll focus on just one place for the moment,” she said.
Who Doesn’t Love to Hate-Watch HGTV?

industry_corpus2: Real Estate & Construction


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The energy infrastructure that exists today – generation, transmission and distribution systems delivering reliable service – is evolving and adapting to meet the demands for greater renewable energy options, lower emissions, and growing commercial and consumer interest in alternative energy sources.
At Berkshire Hathaway Energy, we diversify our generation mix both by using renewable generation in our rate-regulated businesses, and by forming new businesses and ventures to create even greater flexibility in generation capacity and grid reliability.
Completed in late 2013, NV Energy's 231-mile high-voltage line unites the Nevada grid for the first time ever and facilitates renewable energy development in remote parts of the state. It is already serving 11 renewable energy projects.
PacifiCorp plans to invest $6 billion in the Energy Gateway project, a proposal to add approximately 2,000 miles of new high-voltage transmission lines in the western U.S. Several segments have already been placed in service. We expect to complete others over the next several years.
BHE U.S. Transmission's joint ventures have $3.2 billion of transmission assets in operation or under construction in Texas and Kansas. BHE U.S. Transmission and our strategic partners also have been chosen to build and own a new transmission line in California.

industry_corpus2: Power & Energy


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IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE U.N. WILL BE ONE OF THE INSTRUMENTS USED BY SATAN TO BRING ABOUT THE STRONG DELUSION, WHICH WE ARE TOLD IN THE WORD OF GOD WILL TAKE PLACE UPON THE EARTH?
They await the arrival of ANTICHRIST AKA – Lord Maitreya.
Maitreya’s Deceptive Predictions: A period of violence and destruction for the earth.


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Some time ago I sat in a school committee meeting. As usual they were wasting time talking too much. For about half an hour they were discussing what to do about the graffiti on the wall. I calculated that in that time we could have actually painted it over at least twice. By doing we would have solved the problem we were thinking about. It wasn’t about consensus, it was just that everybody was playing with “what if” scenarios instead of “just do it” solutions.
I have done the same in big business meetings though too. All too often you come out of a meeting with an idea. The problem is that the idea that seems better has no data to back it up. There is no way to differentiate between ideas when they are just blah blah over coffee and stale biscuits at a Monday morning meeting. That to me seems like a big waste. If I have spent an hour getting excited about an idea, why leave it to die?
Business is essentially a series of experiments. Every day you look for “solutions”. Which means that essentially you are testing a hypothesis. “Here is a situation we need to change. Will this work?” www.willthiswork.org is something I just started to help you with that. How to test ideas quickly, cheaply and with little or no risk. (Depends how you do it and what “it” is.) I come out of that meeting and start the project. That simple.
Anyone who has commissioned a panel knows how frustrating it is. 8 or 10 people carefully selected and coordinated by specialists end up giving you pretty bad data. You have no idea how accurate or useful it is really. And it is way too expensive. Instead of talking about “social media”, I think of them as cheap experiments. There are ready made tools and keen audiences wanting to partake in your tests. At worse you get a lot of feedback, maybe some new ideas. At best you have launched the idea in a spectacular way and proved it works.
It is pretty addictive. Having done it thousands of times I have remnants of old ideas all over the place. That product launch page which is still counting down to a launch that never happened. That other site which just republished content but got us more than twenty thousand unique hits and saved the day with the search data it provided. The other software idea which seemed fantastic but a month down the line seemed less fantastic as it would cost way too much. Some of these ideas didn’t even wait until the meeting ended. I have automated the procedure so much now, I can launch an idea website within five minutes of thinking of the idea.
It’s not always that simple. So www.willthiswork.org has just started from phase one, all rough and ugly right now as it is going slowly so I can explain some of the challenges at every step. Try it out. Just do it.

industry_corpus2: Technology & Research


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Are you in the organizing step of a Kismet, KS Garage Door Replacement Panels project? What options do you have to consider? Have you considered what you can fund and what you would like to invest? Do you have experience in this, or could you use the help of someone experienced and knowledgeable in Garage Door Replacement Panels jobs? You can get expert assistance with your work from Cheer Garage Panels when you contact 844-329-5987. You are able to trust us to make the project a success by addressing the special challenges and needs you experience.
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When it comes to reaching the goal you’re wanting to fulfill, experience and knowledge plays a major role, but it’s also imperative to have the proper technology. Since this is the case, we utilize top-notch technology and equipment to provide the greatest value. If you’re enthusiastic about having the help of a Kismet, Kansas Garage Door Replacement Panels business that doesn’t take shortcuts, call our experts at 844-329-5987 at this time!
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Since we feel you’re paying for our experience as opposed to just our business' products, we only utilize the most experienced specialists at Cheer Garage Panels. We’ve always been astonished at the number of people who start a Kismet, KS Garage Door Replacement Panels business without having the capacity to explain the different benefits connected with various products. If you’d love to receive more than simply a product, don’t be reluctant to call our company's specialists at 844-329-5987!
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The DeviantArt website = pretty addictive; I think my favourite contribution is a little comic strip called Expect the Unexpected: 101 approaches a cube, enquiring "Come here often?" The cube hurries away with a *woosh* , leaving 101 sobbing his heart out, feeling unloved. Zero strolls along, and tries to comfort him: "Tell your old boss all about it," whereupon 101 turns to him, with eyes shaped like love-hearts! I feel well & truly humbled by such talent!
I think the highlight of 2016, for me, was hearing Volume II, especially Return to Sender, and Sale of the Galaxy.
Gosh, thank you! Very kind and much appreciated.
I spotted a picture of 35 of there that made me very happy.
We started recording last Monday.
This sounds really cool - I'm looking forward to the 3rd and, I assume final, bluray that's coming out around now.
Once I've got that, I think I'll investigate the audio series more closely; maybe feed it to my car for long journeys.


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Access the ticket page (StubHub) from the link below and choose the match from the list. Fill in your information at the check out page.
Credit card and other payment options are available depending on the country.
You can pick up tickets at the ''Ticket Pick-Up Booth" by the Main 3rd gate. Please show the ticket purchase confirmation email from StubHub and your ID or Passport to the staff. The booth is available 2 hours before the game starts until the first half of the game ends.
languages letting you buy your tickets in the desired currency.
"Back SB seats ," " Home SG seats " will be sold only annual ticket .
Some seats may not be for sale due to the ticket sales situation.


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MARGO: @Fluffula tweeted that if she had a blog she’d write the truth about TAFE policy, so TurnLeft and AFHP offered her a spot.I feel that citizen journalists should, like other journalists, put their name to their words, and she has had the courage to do so.
So here is the debut citizen journalist piece by Geraldine Toner. She worked in the Victorian Public Service from 1992 to 2011 as an IT Project manager, mainly in labour market & training programs to help the disadvantaged into employment. From 2004 she worked in Government Funded Training Programs that managed the TAFEs and Private Registered Training Organisations and then managed the development and implementation of the original application used to introduce the contestability model, then called ‘Skills Reform’. In 2010 she worked at Swinburne University in a contract position and officially left the Victorian Public Sector in December 2011. The TAFE issue is fraught around Australia, so feel free to comment here.
I am writing this piece in frustration at the public narrative of the Victorian Government’s Vocational Education & Training (VET) contestability policy that has TAFE lose more than $300m in funding I am primarily motivated by a comment made by a current Victorian Public Sector employee working in the area who said to me contestability is great but the TAFE’s were too slow to react to market changes and only have themselves to blame. I don’t see it that way and here’s why.
I worked in the State Government area that funds and manages VET delivery for 5 years, and I also worked briefly in a TAFE/University. In my 18 year public sector career I worked in labour market/training programs and have seen a gamut of policies and programs come and go.
First, a brief background on the contestability model which drives decisions. The Howard Government had a policy that all states introduce contestability in the VET market. This meant that State VET funds (in Victoria more than $1b when ALP were in power) are put into a general pool, to which public and private providers get equal access. Traditionally TAFE received 90% with private receiving the rest.
For many years the States refused to comply, because TAFE enables affordable training to the disadvantaged and disenfranchised and is the major skills training provider across the country. Governments can therefore provide alternative VCE education with a skills focus and target funding dollars for training to areas of skills shortages, something difficult to do in a contestable market. In addition, some skills training like engineering, construction and cooking require large outlays in infrastructure which private service providers cannot do.
Victoria was a little different to the other States, as the Government does not own the TAFEs and they have some autonomy, although the Government managed their Boards and provided infrastructure funds. In return Victorian TAFEs were obliged to seek and provide fee for service training. Fee for Service is where the student pays 100% of the training without government subsidy. TAFEs also had to prove they were innovative and met market needs. They had to negotiate for funds, and if they failed to deliver under their funding agreement money would be returned to government.
In 2004, the Howard Government increased pressure for contestability though sticks and carrots. RTOS (Registered Training Organisations) also pushed for contestability as they saw TAFE as a barrier to their success.
The data used to model future funding needs was just plain wrong and of low quality Yep, the State Government might have a go at me, but I stand by this opinion and will answer to any claims to the contrary.
The system used to collect the data used to model budget needs was old and had few data quality checks to predict budget expenditure to the level required of such a policy. It worked for an overall understanding of training delivered by student numbers, industry and qualifications but was nowhere good enough for budget. I won’t bore you with the full details of why unless you really really want to know.
Private providers were also paid on different, more accurate data sets, and some of us believed that the data used for budget analysis had a discrepancy rate of around 40% to real delivery. When we told senior management we were not only dismissed but identified as trouble makers who were against contestability. I assure everyone there was no hidden agenda by those raising issues – we just knew the data as we had worked with it for years.
Another significant issue was how private providers were funded and given access to funding. Traditionally private providers came through a tender process but for many years it was limited to ensure living within a budget, and this helped keep out the shonks who became RTOs just to access Government funding. Under this policy private providers had to have a minimum number of students to be funded. Small RTOS aren’t really viable and normally don’t have the income to enable adequate infrastructure or Quality & Assurance mechanisms.
Under ‘Skills Reform’ you only needed students who were eligible regardless of how many, because ‘an open market doesn’t discriminate’. That is true in a private market, but Governments are using public money and we thought that the risk was too big.
For ‘Skills Reform’ we built a new system and worked hard on it, using our experience of what was wrong with data collection, payments, quality control, audit and contract management in the other systems to fix them. There was a lot of Q&A in the data submission process that checked data before we let it into the system and paid on it.
We also found just how shonky some were. They tried to claim they had delivered qualifications taking 360 hours for competency in a week and sometimes less. Before the market was fully opened this was a minority – the vast majority of the private RTOs funded in 2008 worked hard to get their data correct and were delivering quality training and were committed providers.
In 2009, management found this all too hard and were scared to try it with TAFE and turned the Quality & Assurance off. Many of us were aghast, wondering why we had spent so much time, effort and money on Q&A only to turn it off. Again they were warned that once the shonks worked out they wouldn’t be found out, they would go back to what is essentially fraud and deliver inadequately skilled graduates and fail to deliver graduates in areas of skills shortage.
TAFE was never the issue. TAFE need good reputations with employers and industry as much as students, and they compete to be the best TAFE. This was how they got their fee for service, vitally important to their financial security. Sure you get non delivery but its rarely because a TAFE is being fraudulent. It is more likely to be issues in their internal student reporting processes.
There were a number of bad assumptions underpinning the policy. One was that TAFEs were rich, that they had property and assets which would cushion a revenue downturn. Some of us argued that their money was in buildings and infrastructure, so that if they had a significant reduction in funding they would have to sell assets and so lose training facilities.
We were also concerned about the casualisation of the TAFE workforce. If TAFEs don’t know what they can expect in training dollars from Government, how do they put on teachers long term? Will it force them to put teachers on yearly contracts and therefore increase risks gaps in their workforce? Will it make TAFE teaching less attractive? These questions never got an answer.
The current Victorian LNP Government has used the issues created by ‘Skills Reform’ to diminish a TAFE sector they don’t have much respect for, and have taken over $300m from the VET sector while giving money to private schools. This has primarily effected TAFE, not private providers.
For those of you who say, who cares, it’s how the market rolled, I say this to you.
Closing the gap training – TAFE does much work with Aboriginal groups, refugees and the long term unemployed.
Skills Training in Apprenticeships where expensive infrastructure is needed – setting up training rooms to train people to work in the real world is expensive and often out of the reach of private providers and when private providers do deliver it, they often rooms in TAFES.
So I say, let’s learn from this and don’t believe the put downs of TAFE unless there is evidence. It’s not perfect but its pretty bloody good, and there is absolutely no way we are going to address skills shortages in our workforce without it.
I have been told that the current Government has put resources in Audit and it is vastly improved, so we can be thankful that at least there is some addressing of the issues.
Disclosure: I left this area of Government because I had been bullied, and left the Victorian Public Sector in 2010. I have no interest in revenge or exposing any particular person. I just wanted to reply to all the lies I keep hearing about TAFE, which I much admire and believe is vital to our education and prosperity.
I have worked in the tafe system for about 12 years and when i started we went out into the work place and trained people with skills that could save thier lives and give them the chance to advance in industry. The areas we delivered in were forestry, civil construction, warehousing and transport.
I have seen thousands of dollars claimed for training that was never done ( assessment only).Most of the people i work with are as frustrated as i am and the system is failing the people it is supposed to help.
We now have clustering of units to keep the fat cats in the tafe system rich but are slowly delivering less and less critical training. It is all about the dollars not the welfare of the people.
Now my employer wants to sell off assets.
Well said Darren. Politicians and the Productivity Commission have completely wrecked theTAFE system with their misguided objectives of efficiency gains and their silly ideas that competition will produce good training outcomes. At the core the problem is a lack of appreciation of what is involved in skill acquisition. The country will suffer down the track because of this stupidity.
There are so many other courses offered at TAFE QLD. All you have to do is to enroll, submit the necessary requirements, and you will soon find yourself doing the job that you have always wanted.
Thank you Geraldine for having the courage to speak out – I think there are many others within the system with similar experiences and knowledge of what has happened who are too fearful of their own welfare to do the same. I am convinced there is an ideological undertone to all this – and it is an element of all privatisation efforts – it is the means to drastically reduce the power, influence and reach of unions. Teachers in the Victorian TAFE sector have collectively over the years achieved pay and conditions that are the envy of their counterparts in the private sector – a state of affairs often bemoaned by senior management in TAFE as they attempt to compete with their lower wage cost private opposition. As the TAFE teachers EBA is currently under negotiation (having effectively expired in 2011), many TAFE executives see the contestable environment (and the current collapse of TAFE’s share of the funding)as the opportunity to negotiate terms and conditions far closer to those that apply in the private sector. Watch this space.
Small RTOS aren’t really viable and normally don’t have the income to enable adequate infrastructure or Quality & Assurance mechanisms. – Wow this shows a complete lack of understanding of the operation of small providers. This is a view that clearly comes from someone who has never actually been part of or has had any exposure to the operations of small niche market providers, or those who operate as NFP’s or Enterprise RTO’s. This is clearly a one side and misinformed view.


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USA Payday Loans Monteagle TN - Get Cash Quick No Fax Needed!
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Please fill out the form Apply Now on our site, enter Monteagle and TN as your city/state. In few minutes we will check our wide network of respectable lenders for the loan you need.

industry_corpus2: Finance & Economics


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True Manufacturing, an industry leader in commercial refrigeration, has announced it will once again support ATMOsphere America as a Silver Sponsor. With 300-350 participants expected, the ATMOsphere conference is set to be the biggest yet in North America.
With over 70 years of expertise, True Manufacturing’s long history of evolution and innovation has seen it become a leading manufacturer of commercial refrigerators and freezers for the food service and soft drink industries. In addition to its headquarters in Missouri, U.S., the company also has offices in the UK, Australia, Mexico and Germany.
Since the launch of its first freezer for beer and beverages - the Wrapped Rail Roll-Top Bottle Coolers, in 1948 - True has significantly extended its product portfolio, providing a wide range of American-made refrigeration units, including beverage distributors, coolers and freezers, display cases and more.
Highlights include its glass-door merchandising units the GDM-49-HC-LD. Employing R290 as a refrigerant, the model allows for a 28% reduction in energy consumption, resulting in $65 (€57) cost savings per year, compared with R134A. The units are also UL-certified and meet the most recent Energy Star standard.
In March 2015, the National Restaurant Association announced the recipients of the 2015 Kitchen Innovations (KI) awards, which reflect the trends and topics most important to foodservice operators today. True’s food service equipment was among the awards thanks to its hydrocarbon (R290) reach-in refrigerators/freezers. Combining state-of-the-art compressors and components with energy efficient and environmentally friendly hydrocarbon natural refrigerant R290, the reach-in refrigerators and freezers reduce operators’ energy consumption substantially, while maintaining food safety and quality, resulting in a lesser environmental impact and improved profit margins.
Across two days (25 - 26 June 2015), ATMOsphere America is moving south to Atlanta, Georgia for it’s fourth edition! With 300-350 HVAC&R industry experts expected to attend the conference at The Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, it promises to be the biggest ATMOsphere conference ever organised. Panel discussions will focus on the latest natural refrigerant technology developments, market trends and regulatory issues in North & South America.
Time running out fast to submit a case study abstract!


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Things were looking up for William Obio when he decided to invest more in his logging business. For the first time in years, his nine children and three brothers were eating well, and he could support his over half-a-dozen team of machine operators, saw men, scouts, and wood carriers.
Such success, rare in Owai, a heavily forested and impoverished community less than 20 kilometres from Nigeria’s southern border with Cameroon, emboldened Mr. Obio. He took a chance and purchased a small cassava crushing machine and got more saws.
“God answered our prayers; things really changed,” said the part-time pastor.
Everything indeed changed in 2008, Mr. Obio said, when the Cross River government imposed a sweeping ban on forest use in the state’s 18 local government areas, including Mr. Obio’s Akamkpa – where Owai is located.
Governor Liyel Imoke had said wealthy merchants, mostly from outside the state, were taking advantage of lax laws to deplete the state’s forest cover.
The site of more than half of Nigeria’s remaining rainforest, the governor warned, Cross River needed to save its green stock to boost investment and tourism. Under this plan, the state would become Nigeria’s pilot site for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), a United Nations climate change mitigation programme that offers payment to states and communities for conserving their forest.
For a state that had lost monthly federal payments to oil producing states, following the ceding of oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon in 2008, the proposal drew wide support. Besides, Cross River’s forest cover had declined from 7,920 to 6,102 square kilometres between 1991 and 2008, according to figures from Nigeria’s Ministry of Environment.
In the years that followed, the government fiercely enforced the embargo and chased out local traders like Obio, seized wood, and raided timber markets. Officials also stopped locals from hunting game and fetching bush mango and afang – popular delicacies in the region.
As the new policy disrupted traditional livelihoods many forest communities relied on, the government failed to provide alternative means of support, despite making clear that promised benefits from REDD+ payments would take years to come.
Michael Eraye, Cross River State’s Commissioner of Environment told PREMIUM TIMES that the government did make efforts to equip those affected with new skills, but poor funding affected the plans. He said the government built roads in affected areas, as part of its compensation plans.
Salisu Dahiru, Nigeria’s UN-REDD Coordinator, said efforts to find affected communities and determine how their livelihoods are linked to the forest, were ongoing. But he acknowledged that training programmes had yet to commence nearly eight years after the first ban, and four years after the start of the REDD+ programme.
Meanwhile, only a few years after the REDD+ initiative got underway in Cross River State, Governor Imoke, who had once championed the programme, quietly began to back away even as the ban continued. In May 2015, days before leaving office after eight years as governor, Mr. Imoke told shocked officials that REDD+ did not return on investment.
“I got to the point when I felt that it was not worth my effort,” Mr. Imoke said, according to the UN-REDD National Programme Semi-Annual Report January to June 2015 edition. Two senior officials who attended the meeting confirmed the former governor made those remarks. They said the governor directed his comments at Odigha Odigha, head of the state forestry commission at the time.
The report said months before the meeting, state officials demonstrated diminishing interest in REDD+, and the ambitious programme began to stall.
The first phase, known as the Readiness Phase, is now set to end in December 2016, nearly two years later than originally intended. Local communities will have to wait much longer for REDD+ resource-based payments, if they ever come. While they wait, little to no help has come from the state.
A PREMIUM TIMES’ examination of Cross River State’s anti-deforestation and climate change mitigation programme, which began in 2008, shows how the implementation of an otherwise well-intentioned policy deprived forest-dependent communities of their primary source of livelihood. It also provides a glimpse into the abuse and policy missteps that characterised the government’s execution of the programme.
Forests play an integral role in regulating the amount of carbon emissions in the atmosphere. When present, they absorb carbon emitted by human activity—an estimated 25 per cent of these emissions over the past four decades—and help moderate the effects of climate change. When lost through deforestation, they release carbon back into the atmosphere and are responsible for up to 20 per cent of global manmade carbon dioxide emissions.
REDD+ is a global mechanism designed to reward governments in developing nations for preserving forests and constraining the impacts of climate change. To date, REDD+ has pledged nearly US$ 10 billion to developing countries, with $4 million allocated for Nigeria’s National Programme, of which Cross River State is a pilot model.
The first formal steps taken by the Governor Imoke administration toward monetizing Cross River State’s vast forest resources began in October 2009, a year after the forest embargo went into effect. Mr. Imoke worked with the then Minister of the Environment, John Odey, a Cross River native, to apply to be part of REDD+.
In addition to joining the Governors’ Climate and Forest Task Force, based in the United States, Mr. Imoke attended COP 15 in Copenhagen later that year, where he announced efforts to protect Cross River’s tropical forests.
In April 2010, Nigeria became a UN-REDD partner country, and from then, followed through with a series of REDD+ programmes.
Despite such efforts, the government failed to provide economic relief for the local population and did not fully engage with them before and after the ban, those interviewed told PREMIUM TIMES.
Tony Attah, in charge of the Cross River forestry commission’s outreach programmes, acknowledged that the ban and initial phase of REDD+ were not well communicated. Despite initial missteps, he said that extensive community engagements were carried out by the state between January and August 2014.
Many environmentalists who support forest conservation, however, have taken issue with the REDD+ programme, blaming it for loss of indigenous land rights and branding it as property colonisation by developed nations. They also argue that the programme lacks mechanisms to ensure pledged payments reach affected people and are not pocketed by greedy politicians or other representatives.
They argue that forest-dependent communities like Mr. Obio’s Owai, who have yet to receive any payments years after the forest ban went into place, are made to pay more than their fair share for environmental clean-up, and for the pollution caused by developed countries.
The Cross River timber union has said thousands of its members and affiliate workers, lost their livelihood—some, allegedly, even their lives—after the ban. They include timber dealers, machine operators, saw men, scouts, and carriers.
“Our members lost out when the ban started, some died of shock. Many lost everything they had,” said David Essien, the head of Akim Timber Market union, the biggest timber market in the state.
Reliable statistics depicting such damage are hard to come by in the state, but studies conducted in the area paint a gloomy picture.
The Social Development Integrated Centre, a Port Harcourt-based policy analysis group, in a 2014 report on the impact of REDD in Cross River, concluded that “the move towards REDD has been made without any clear community development programme that addresses livelihoods and income generation alternatives for forest dependent communities”.
Before 2008, to harvest timber in Cross River, the state required loggers to pay between N20, 000 (US$102) and N50, 000 (US$254)—of which 70 per cent went to communities as royalty. Dealers were also required to plant five seedlings as replacement, and be cleared or “stamped” by forestry commission officials that harvested timber was mature.
The ban stopped the royalty and kept communities from harvesting wood even to build their homes, said Oyi Akama, the village head of Owai. Importantly, it kept many youth out of work.
Stephen Mbeh, head of nearby Oban town, told PREMIUM TIMES how a government task force twice seized timber he harvested to construct a home. He succeeded the third time after young people in the town helped ward off the enforcers.
“This is our own oil. This is all we have, and even to cut mango at your backyard, we could not,” he said.
Mr. Obio began his lumber business in Owai, a small community with no access road, electricity or potable water, in 1998. His mother, the family’s breadwinner, had died five years earlier.
After getting clearance from the government to harvest from areas with mature timber, Obio logged at least once a week and sold to buyers from distant towns. “We were beginning to do well a little. I even paid fees for my brothers,” he said.
By the time the ban came into force, Mr. Obio’s business was booming. He purchased six sawing machines and had broken ground on a block family home—a rarity in Owai where the majority of people live in mud houses.
He initially brushed off the news as rumour when he heard about the ban on the radio—as many others did—in August 2008. Two days later, he says, he saw members of the state anti-deforestation task force rounding up a man who frequently bought timber from him. The operatives confiscated the logs and forced the man to drive to Calabar, the state capital.
“That was when I knew it was serious,” Mr. Obio said.
In the days that followed, a brutal crackdown unfolded. The taskforce barred Obio and others from removing harvested wood from the forests. This claim was echoed by other timber dealers PREMIUM TIMES interviewed in the region.
Anietie Bassey, vice president of a timber market in Calabar, said the task force not only seized his timber, but also seven of his sawing machines during a raid in 2010. Mr. Bassey suffered a stroke shortly after the incident, an ailment he says was brought on by the loss of his business. He is yet to fully recover.
Mr. Obio said he lost four of his six sawing machines in a similar raid.
Seized machines and timber were never recovered. Those arrested were freed after the payment of fines ranging between N150, 000 to N1 million, dealers said.
Those interviewed, including government officials, community leaders, timber traders and activists, accused the armed taskforce of violating people’s rights—even attacking dealers with supplies from outside the state—and arbitrarily detaining people and seizing their equipment for years after the ban went into effect.
The head of the taskforce at the time, Peter Jenkins, told PREMIUM TIMES he could not immediately respond to the claims without knowledge of where they originated from. The communities, he said, initially told the government they needed roads and some were indeed provided. Though he defended the government’s policy, he acknowledged that more could have been done to ease the impact of the ban.
Asked about allegations of highhandedness, Odigha Odigha, the former chairman of Cross River’s forestry commission, told PREMIUM TIMES that the taskforce refused to submit to his supervision.
Two senior forestry commission officials in Calabar, who asked not to be named, told PREMIUM TIMES that they believed both the ban and its implementation were flawed.
“The ban on logging was wrong, but its implementation was worse. The anti-deforestation task force was supposed to be under the forestry commission, but it was lawless, reporting directly to the governor,” the first official said.
“REDD did not say don’t cut down trees, it is a wrong perception. You can’t say don’t cut down the forest without alternatives,” said the second. She also spoke of a “lawless taskforce”.
Edem Edem, the programme coordinator of Green Concern for Development, an environmental advocacy group in Abuja, said he initially supported the ban until “they started violating people’s rights”.
“That was when I backed off,” Mr. Edem said.
Initial funding for the $4 million project was meant to finance preliminary REDD+ processes like preparing an action plan, training officials, providing environmental and social safeguards, and others. The money was not meant for the communities. Mr. Edem said the state spent much of its budget organising endless “workshops and seminars”.
Bridget Nkor, the state coordinator of REDD+, told PREMIUM TIMES that the state was worried about not providing alternatives for the affected communities. “That is one area that raised a lot of concerns,” she said.
Due to the structure of the REDD+ programme, it’s likely that any economic benefit for affected people could take years to materialise.
But Mr. Dahiru, the national coordinator for the programme, used the example of a charcoal vendor to illustrate the impacts that REDD+ programs can have on local communities.
Instead of continuing to use wood—which destroys the forest—REDD will support the person with needed skills to grow bamboo, he said.
The only problem is that the REDD+ programme would not directly support the funding needs of such initiatives. Though it could help those trained receive support from donors at the later Investment Phase, this third stage could take five or more years to attain.
Such trainings in Cross River State are currently targeted at only 30 pilot communities. Even so, they remain mere proposals seven years after the first ban started. An October 2015 UN-REDD progress report said proposals had been submitted and approved, but implementation would not start until late 2016, four years after the REDD+ project started.
Activists say a rapid response should come from the state government, which so far has done little in support of the communities.
Despite the ban on community use of the forest, the state government under Mr. Imoke granted bigger business interests access to the same land, and allowed it to harvest and sell timber to local dealers.
One firm given such a concession is Dansa Allied Agro, a subsidiary of the Dangote Group that is owned by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man. The company secured over 75,000 hectares of land at Oban community for its pineapple farm, used as the fruit base for the popular Dansa beverage.
Tons of timber sourced from the land during clearing process were sold to local dealers, for months under the protection of the government taskforce, PREMIUM TIMES confirmed from several government officials and traders.
Dansa Company did not deny it sold timber, when contacted.
Pressed on the propriety of such deal when locals had been barred with no alternatives, a senior Dangote group official told PREMIUM TIMES that the company has helped the community in many other ways, like providing jobs and palm seedlings to farmers. The company promised a formal response to our questions, but never followed up.
The forestry commission explained the concession, saying that despite the ban, the Ministries of Land and Agriculture retained the right to licence promising investors.
The Dangote group got the sprawling property with a promise to provide 10,000 jobs to locals, build a five-star hotel, roads, schools, and a mini market. The company has yet to make good on many of its promises.
At an elaborate event March 2014, Governor Imoke praised Dansa Allied Agro for donating 8,000 palm oil seedlings to host communities and constructing a bridge to link Oban, Okarara, Ekong Anaku, Neghe, and Ekpene Eki communities.
Mr. Dangote’s brother, Sani Dangote, who runs the Dansa affiliate, promised that the company would provide more oil palm seedlings and said Dansa was planting five trees for every one harvested during the clearing.
Overall, steps that could have quickened the delivery of REDD+ benefits to the communities and the state faced delays and haphazard implementation due to “dwindling political will”, according to the UN’s 2015 progress report.
An earlier progress report in 2014 noted that the programme “has suffered an important delay in delivery of outputs and finance, due to a mix of factors, some internal and some external”.
One senior official said part of the problem was because the forestry commission had “serious leadership problems”.
“For example, a politician was named as head of the REDD board, and when the board was dissolved, there was no replacement,” the official told PREMIUM TIMES. Nearly two years would pass before the state finally reconstituted the REDD+ board in October 2015.
As Governor Imoke prepared to leave office in May 2015, he issued a scathing criticism of the state’s REDD+ programme.
The time it would take to receive results-based payments was “ridiculously long for anybody to earn anything,” said Mr. Imoke during his handover remarks before top level civil servants and his successor, Ben Ayade.
Mr. Odigha, the former forestry commission chairman, whom officials said was the focus of the governor’s criticisms during the meeting, told PREMIUM TIMES that everyone involved in the programme had been well advised that the REDD+ programme takes years to yield benefits.
The UN report for October 2015 supported the notion that senior forestry commission staff also became detached from the programme—ostensibly following the governor’s example.
“Despite participation in various one-off training and workshop events, only a handful of FC staff understand the fundamentals of REDD+ and fewer have shown interest in the programme,” the report noted.
Mr. Imoke did not respond to multiple calls for comments. He requested questions to be sent via text message, but he ultimately did not respond to our enquiry.
Mr. Imoke’s successor, Ben Ayade, only agreed to continue with REDD+ after the national coordinator, Salisu Dahiru, intervened.
The new governor initially relaxed the ban and replaced the anti-deforestation task force with the “green police,” which was made up of members from all local government areas of the state. He left coordination of the partial ban to the forestry commission.
Since taking over, Mr. Ayade also named a ministry in charge of climate change – the only state in Nigeria to do so. The commissioner in charge of that ministry, Alice Eku, did not also respond to request for comment.
Despite the relaxed embargo, Obio William told PREMIUM TIMES that he would never return to timber trading, as the government could always reinstate a full ban. “I don’t want to die,” he said.
He foresaw tomorrow. About two weeks after we interviewed him, the Ayade administration reinstated a full ban on forest use in late October 2015 after a five-month hiatus.
Mr. Ayade courted additional controversy with a plan to build a 260 kilometre “superhighway” through the protected forests. Initial plans to construct the highway straight through Cross River National Park, however, were changed after President Muhammadu Buhari learned that a required environmental impact assessment had not been filed. The new route will come within seven kilometres from the border of the park, which some environmentalists say still poses risk.
The governor has also revoked the occupancy rights of thousands of more forest dependent villagers on ancestral lands on either side of the six lane 260 kilometre super highway.
Mr. Odigha, who now runs a nongovernmental environment advocacy, warned that the government’s superhighway could deny the state carbon credit under the REDD+ programme.
In Owai, Mr. Obio—who said he could barely feed himself and family after the ban in 2008—now sells pepper, salt and other food ingredients. He depends on Ekum Obio, his brother he helped train, to send his children to school.
Outside where he lives sits a rundown cassava grating machine he bought before the ban. The machine became useless after he could no longer replace parts. Nearby, the block house he had proudly started constructing at the height of his timber business sits unfinished and overgrown with weeds.
Ubong Edet contributed reporting to this investigation, which was done with support from Internews.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


text:
It’s the start of a letter I wrote to fellow working moms I’ve seen going back to work after having a baby. It was inspired by my own experience and also the Good Mother Project’s theme for November, “It takes a village.” Indeed, there is nothing like going back to work after having a baby that makes you crave, create, and cling to your village!
The entire letter is running on The Good Mother Project. What’s The Good Mother Project? It’s a cozy online community of mothers sharing the realities of motherhood with honesty, bravery, and heart. It’s as awesome as it sounds.
I’d be honored if you visited, commented and shared.
AH!!!!! FOUND IT!!!!! YAY!!!!! Can’t WAIT to read it!!!

industry_corpus2: Others


text:
in philosophy, problem of distinguishing sameness from change, or unity from diversity; primarily examined in connection with personal identity, universals, and the law of identity in logic. In personal identity the concern has been to determine whether anything in the body or mind remains constant; philosophers have reached no general agreement on this point. The term identity has also become increasingly important in modern psychology, largely through the work of Erik Erikson. He has used the term to designate a sense of self that develops in the course of a man's life and that both relates him to and sets him apart from his social milieu. The terms "identity crisis" and "identity confusion," introduced by Erikson, have gained a wide usage, which often varies from their intended technical sense.
the sense, and continuity, of SELF that develops first as the child differentiates from parents and family and takes a place in society.
The NEO-FREUDIAN theorist. Erik Erikson, has proposed that there is a crisis of identity in adolescence. It is at this stage of development that a young person searches for an identity, trying out different friendship groups, different lifestyles, different career plans. Ideally, by the end of adolescence the identity has stabilized and the young person accepts him/herself, feeling at ease with this identity.
In Erikson's view, therefore, identity forms as a result of social interaction, and problems with identity occur if the adolescent feels alienated from society through, for example, ethnic differences or unemployment. See also IDENTIFICATION.
There are broad similarities but some differences in the emphasis on identity and the process of identity formation in sociology compared with psychology (see MEAD, COOLEY). see also SOCIAL IDENTITY.
In some versions of psychoanalytic theory, especially the poststructuralism of LACAN, identity is altogether more problematic. Lacan challenges the central presupposition involved in the question ‘Who am I?’, the assumption that there exists a Cartesian self. Instead ‘identity’ involves a dependence on a dialectic of self and others. While such a dialectic is, of course relatively commonplace in sociology, Lacan's formulation is distinguished by the far greater radicalism of its implications for identity There is no PRESENCE, only language, and the lack of an identifiable core ‘self, according to Lacan, can only be repaired by an ‘imagined self, a ‘phantasy’ in which identity is only preserved by DEFENCE MECHANISMS such as ‘denial’.
The abstract counterpart of unity is the co-called identity (or identity element). Specifically, let the symbol * denote a (binary) operation on some set S. An element e in S is called an identity relative to the operation * if a*e = e*a =a. If * is a noncommutative operation, that is, if there are elements a and b such that a*b ≠ b*a, then we define a right identity to be an element er such that a*er for all a in S and a left identity to be an element er such that el*a = a for all a in S. If more than one operation is defined on the set S, then we speak of identities relative to the individual operations (for example, In the case of multiplication we speak of a multiplicative identity and in the case of addition of an additive identity).
a fundamental concept in logic, philosophy, and mathematics; it is used in the language of scientific theories to formulate definitions, laws, and theorems.
In mathematics, an identity is an equation that is satisfied identically—that is, an equation that holds true—for all admissible values of its variables. In logic, identity is a predicate that is represented by the formula x = y (to be read as “x is identical to y, ” or “x is the same as y”); the predicate’s corresponding logical function is true when the variables x and y denote different occurrences of “one and the same” object, and false in the opposite case. In philosophy, or epistemology, identity is a relationship based on ideas or judgments about the meaning of what it is to be “one and the same” object of reality, perception, or thought.
The logical and philosophical aspects of identity are complementary: the former provides a formal model of the concept of identity, while the latter provides grounds for the model’s application. The first aspect includes the concept of “one and the same” object, but the formal model does not depend for its meaning on the content of this concept; the method of identification is ignored, as is the dependence of the results of identification on the conditions or methods of identification and on the abstractions that are explicitly or implicitly assumed in the given case. In the second, or philosophical, aspect, applications of logical models of identity are considered in relation to the methods and tests by which objects are identified; such considerations, in effect, depend on the point of view, conditions, and means of identification.
The distinction between the logical and philosophical aspects of identity goes back to the well-known statement that identity as a concept is not one and the same as a judgment about the identity of objects (see Plato, Soch., vol. 2, Moscow, 1970, p. 36). It is essential, however, to emphasize the independence of and lack of contradiction between these two aspects. The meaning of the concept of identity is settled by its corresponding logical function; the concept is not deduced or extracted from the actual identity of objects, but rather it is an abstraction achieved under “suitable” experiential conditions or, in theory, by means of assumptions, or hypotheses, about actually allowable identifications. At the same time, in the case of a substitution carried out, as in axiom (4) below, in an appropriate domain of abstraction of identification, “within” this domain the actual identity of objects precisely coincides with identity in the logical sense.
Here A(x) is an arbitrary predicate containing x free and free for v, while A(x) and A(y) differ only in their occurrences (even if only one) of x and y.
Axiom (1) postulates reflexivity as a property of identity. In traditional logic, reflexivity was considered the only logical law of identity—a law to which axioms (2) and (3) were customarily added as “nonlogical postulates” (in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry). Axiom (1) may be regarded as epistemologically justified, inasmuch as it is sui generis a logical expression of individuation. It is such individuation, in turn, that forms the basis for the experiential “givenness” of objects, or makes it possible for objects to be recognized: in order to speak of an object as of a given, it is necessary to isolate it in some fashion, to distinguish it from other objects, and to maintain this distinction at all times. In this sense identity, based on axiom (1), is the particular relation of “self-identity” in which each object is bound only to itself, and not to any other object.
Axiom (2) postulates symmetry as a property of identity. According to this axiom, the result of any identification is independent of the order in pairs of objects being identified. This axiom is also justified to some extent by experience. For example, when a weight and a piece of goods are placed on weighing scales, their respective position—on the left or on the right—is different for the customer and the salesperson facing each other, but the result—in this case, equal weight—is the same for both.
Axioms (1) and (2) jointly are an abstract expression of the principle of the identity of indiscernibles—a theory in which the notion of “one and the same” object is based on the factual non-observability of differences. Essentially, this theory depends on the criteria of differentiation—the means, or instruments, that distinguish one object from another; it depends, in the final analysis, on the abstraction of indiscernibility. Inasmuch as there is an inherent dependence in practice on the “threshold of differentiation, ” the notion of identity that is satisfied by axioms (1) and (2) is the only natural result that can be obtained in any test.
Axiom (3) postulates the transitiveness of identity. It states that the composition of the identity relation with itself is again the identity relation, and it is the first nontrivial assertion concerning the identity of objects. The transitiveness of identity is either an “idealization of experience” under conditions of “decreasing accuracy” or an abstraction that expands upon experience and “creates” a new meaning of identity, other than indiscernibility. Indiscernibility is guaranteed by identity only in the domain of abstraction of indiscernibility, whereas the latter is not linked to fulfillment of axiom (3). Axioms (1), (2), and (3) jointly are an abstract expression of the theory of identity as an equivalence.
Assuming that the universe contains only sets, these axioms determine the domain of abstraction in the identification of sets by “the sets that belong to them” and by “the sets to which they belong, ” with the mandatory addition of axioms 1–3, determining identity as equivalence.
Axioms 1–4 belong to the category of the laws of identity. By means of the rules of logic, one can deduce from them many other laws, unknown in premathematical logic. The difference between the logical and epistemological, or philosophical, aspects of identity is not important in the context of general or abstract formulations of the laws of identity. The difference, however, is substantive when these laws are used to describe real states. In defining the concept of “one and the same” object, the axiomatics of identity necessarily influence the formation of the universe “within” the corresponding axiomatic theory.
Novoselov, M. “Tozhdestvo.” In Filosofskaia entsiklopediia, vol. 5. Moscow, 1970.
Novoselov, M. “O nekotorykh poniatiiakh teorii otnoshenii.” In Kibernetika i sovremennoe nauchnoepoznanie. Moscow, 1976.
Shreider, Iu. A. Ravenstvo, skhodstvo, poriadok. Moscow, 1971.
Frege, G. Schriften zur Logik. Berlin, 1973.
An equation satisfied for all possible choices of values for the variables involved.
17) This commitment to the logical relation of numerical identity distinguishes weak from strong reductionists, who are committed only to the logical relation of qualitative similarity.
He therefore turns to the numerical identity of the self through time, in which a self must be capable of undergoing a succession of "states" and of self-ascribing those states.
Given the exponential growth of transactions carried out via remote banks, payments for e-trade and, in the near future, m-trade, the need for guaranteeing one's numerical identity is obvious.
3) Although it seems to be possible to understand numerical identity without connecting the numerically identical objects to predicates, such a connection is frequently discussed in two further proposals: (3) some commentators speak of "relative identity," whereby--according to one interpretation--numerical identity and identity of qualities cannot be combined in such a way that one would follow from the other; (4) (4) there is an even stronger, epistemological and ontological meaning which affirms just this inference from the identity of qualities to numerical identity and/or vice versa--the identity of indiscernibles and the indiscernibility of identicals (both principles known as Leibniz's Law (5)).