Have things changed in the past 5 years? Take a look at this article from 2014 and let us know via the comments section below.
In the summer of 2007, Mike Lazardis, co-founder of BlackBerry, got an iPhone to check what’s inside. He pried it open and was shocked on what he saw: BlackBerry wasn’t competing with a phone, he thought, it was competing against a Mac. Lazardis was recalling that moment in an interview with The Globe and Mail, hinting about the months leading to the fall of RIM.
Such is the iPhone’s disruptive story: it put the computer in our phones and made them smart. Suddenly, we could buy and play music in our phones, surf the net via wifi, run desktop-like OS, and, the best defining factor of a smartphone, download apps. We do all that without a keypad (to BlackBerry’s shock). No, Apple didn’t invent these technologies, it innovated them. Over a decade earlier, IBM had Simon, the world’s first smartphone.
In the infographic prepared by our creative team we highlighted the key features in each iPhone launch since the first generation phone came out in 2007. Some features are truly innovative (A series chip, Siri, App Store) and some are unabashed embellishments.
So what’s in store for future iPhones? We can get some clues from Apple patents registered with the U.S. Trademark and Office. Apple is developing an audio jack to double as a headphone jack, plus an audio transducer that doesn’t need a grille to emit sound. That means future iPhones can be totally enclosed or water-proofed. Another patent talks about combining motion analyzer, scenery analyzer, and lockout mechanism to detect if you’re driving and disable Messages Apps. With the increasing text-induced car accidents, expect this feature sooner than later.
Yet another patent indicates that Apple is cooking an intelligent Home Page that brings up the app you need for specific scenarios like when you need to show an electronic ticket in an airport or an e-coupon at a counter. The patent uses location-based signals and tracks user data patterns like calendars, emails, notes, etc. to predict when to bring up the app.
But let’s not talk about the future; rather, let’s see what iPhone users want today. For the Silo, Alex Hillsberg.
Luxurious living, money and fame are things that spring to mind when thinking about hotels London. Many of them have stood the test of time and built a sterling reputation all over the world attracting many of the rich and famous.
Here we’ve compiled a list of the most renowned hotels in London.
Claridge’s, London
Claridge’s London- 5 Star Hotel. Address: 49 Brook St, London, Greater London W1K 4HR, United Kingdom
Opened in 1854 Claridges London is one of the oldest hotels in the city. Located in London’s infamous Mayfair, Its clientele are among the rich and famous with celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Mick Jagger no stranger to its doors. TV favorite Gordon Ramsay also had his own restaurant there for a time.
Its décor and facilities boast the best in fine dining and luxury living unrivalled in London and has over its long lifespan attracted royalty from all over the world. The hotel was also the feature of a 3 part documentary series for the BBC entitled ‘Inside Claridges’.
The Connaught, London
The Connaught London. Five star Hotel. Carlos Pl, London W1K 2AL, United Kingdom
Residing in Mayfair, the Connaught first opened its doors in 1815. The hotel allows both traditional British and contemporary design to co-exist by maintaining its Victorian exterior and completing a 70 million pound internal refurbishment by lead designer Guy Oliver.
This hotel and its staff have won many prestigious awards over its lifespan including its spa winning first prize in the spa category in the Hotel & Lodge Awards 2012 and it’s very own bartender Agostino Perrone winning International Bartender of the Year 2010.
Brown’s, London
Brown’s Hotel London. Five star Hotel. 33 Albemarle St, London W1S 4BP, United Kingdom
One of London’s most established hotels is Browns. Opening its doors in 1837, it celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2012 and has consistently attracted guests of wealth and fame, most notably President Theodore Roosevelt and Oscar Wilde.
Not only does this Mayfair hotel boast a stunning Victorian 5 star setting it is also within walking distance to some of London’s busiest attractions such as Hyde Park, Bond Street, Regent Street and some of its most famous landmarks.
The Great Northern Hotel
First opened in 1854, London’s Great Northern Hotel is “an exquisitely designed luxury boutique hotel with an extraordinary location, literally within King’s Cross Station and just 25 metres from the Eurostar terminus at St Pancras International.”
Dubbed as ‘The World’s First Great Railway Hotel’ , The Great Northern is a stunning boutique hotel with rail connections to Europe and beyond via the Eurostar. It stands tall above the areas surrounding buildings and it’s a significant point of interest for all arriving into Kings Cross St Pancras station.
Designed by infamous architect Lewis Cubitt stood as the centrepiece for the steam revolution.
The Berkeley
The Berkeley Hotel London is a five star Hotel. Wilton Pl, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RL, United Kingdom
The Berkeley is a five star deluxe hotel, located in Knightsbridge, London. Its history spans well over a 100 years and has even moved buildings. The infamous hotel began its life at Berkeley Street and served as accommodation for mail coach drivers travelling to the West Country.
In 1972 it moved to its current location, incorporating an entirely new refurbishment to include London’s only rooftop swimming pool. Aside from its unique facilities and décor the Berkleley has attracted numerous Michelin star chefs including Pierre Koffmann and more recently Gordon Ramsay and his Boxwood Café. For the Silo, Susan Varano.
“For me It was an incredible feeling to use this 120 ton radio dish, capable of peering into the far reaches of the universe, to create an artwork focusing on one of the greatest achievements in human history” Richard Clar image: space.com
Los Angeles, CA, – Richard Clar using an earth-moon-earth (EME), or moon bounce as it is also called, radioed two very special signals off the surface of the moon where their return was received at Dwingeloo Radio Observatory in the Netherlands.
Clar’s extraordinary two-part project, Giant Step and Lune sur la Lune, paid tribute respectively to Apollo Astronaut pioneer Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon on July 20, 1969 and to the far side of the moon itself, something witnessed only by a rare group of individuals, the Apollo Astronauts. The two radio transmissions to the moon and back emanated from a radio dish in Italy.
Giant Step is a personal response to an event Clar personally witnessed back in 1969, and he wanted to use his creativity to pay tribute to those who took part in the Apollo program, and especially Neil Armstrong for what he did on that momentous day.
He wanted this work to say something about the moon itself, using the moon.
His interest was piqued after hearing about an earth-moon-earth bounce (EME) from Italian artist and colleague, Daniela de Paulis, who together with radio specialist Jan van Muijlwijk developed the process of using EME to send images to the moon and back in 2009. As he researched the Apollo Archives, he came across an Electrocardiogram (EKG) of Neil Armstrong as he took the first step on the moon on July 20, 1969 – and Richard found his inspiration!
While data scientist Dr. Ryan Compton created the sonification tone from Armstrong’s actual EKG graph, prominent Los Angeles-based double-bass jazz performer and composer Roberto Miranda used the tone to create compelling sounds that have been called “edgy and hauntingly beautiful.”
“I wanted the art to say something about the first humans to set foot on the moon. Think how many living beings have observed the moon for eons…and now we have made a number of trips to the moon and back. I want people to have new experiences through my artwork,” says Clar.
Lune sur la Lune, an image of the far side of the moon, was transmitted in a poetic gesture onto the earth facing side of the moon. Since only the Apollo astronauts have seen the far side of the moon, using the radio-reflective surface of the moon to produce a site-specific artwork makes the moon a unique part of the process rather than just a subject matter ─ and also gives people on earth an opportunity to witness this phenomenal event and experience the moon in a new and different way. Shortly after the sound and image from Giant Step and Lune sur la Lune were received and processed at Dwingeloo, and will soon be accessible to the world at www.rockthemoon.com.
There was considerable excitement at the Dwingeloo Radio Dish on September 26th by those who witnessed the sound signal and image signals being received from the surface of the moon after the moon bounce. All in all, the art mission was a great success.
“For me It was an incredible feeling to use this 120 ton radio dish, capable of peering into the far reaches of the universe, to create an artwork focusing on one of the greatest achievements in human history,” stated Clar.
Richard Clar’s timeless work has been exhibited in museums, galleries and universities throughout the United States and Europe. His visionary ‘art in space’ began in 1982 with a NASA-approved concept for an art-payload for the U.S. Space Shuttle. Philosophical in nature, many of Clar’s themes originate in space environment issues, such as orbital debris, war and peace, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), and water management on earth.
Clar studied at the Chouinard Art Institute (now Cal-Arts). In 2001 and 2002, he coordinated the Leonardo/OLATS/IAA Space Art Workshops in Paris. Clar is the Director of Art Technologies; a Member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA); a Member of the IAA SETI Permanent Study Group; a Member of Women in Aerospace, and a Member of the Leonardo Space Art Working Group. He was the Secretary of the former Art and Literature Subcommittee of the International Academy of Astronautics, and a past Member of the Executive Board, Graphic Arts Council, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
An early example of Richard Clar’s Space Art
Clar founded Art Technologies in 1987 as a liaison between the worlds of art and technology. By collaborating with such partners as the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Boeing Aerospace Corporation, and contemporary composers, Clar generates high-visibility art works that transform state-of-the-art technology and highly-engineered materials into evocative contemporary art. His work is found in many corporate collections, including JBL Sound, Home Savings of America, and the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
After spending the last fourteen years in Paris, Richard Clar now resides in Northern California. For more information on his extraordinary artwork, please visit:
Every year, the public is swarmed with
a range of statistics, estimates and consequences of their energy
consumption. On average, most households go through their energy
supply for similar things, and despite some inconsistencies, could
resolve most of their consumption issues with the same line of
measures.
The use of renewable energy sources has been key to making private residential buildings all the more sustainable. It not only regulates their consumption, but also provides a clearer overview of how much energy is necessary to keep the household going, and ultimately allows homeowners to reduce their carbon footprint.
With so much research and preparation
made against exploitation of limited resources, it is important to
keep informed on the main reasons leading to this practice that
concern each individual homeowner, as well as the key ways to get
started with renewable energy generation.
What is Renewable Energy?
In order to get started with your
housing energy improvements, it is important to know what kind of
process you are dealing with. Renewable energy, specifically, is the
process of generating energy from renewable sources like the sun,
wind, soil, which are largely available in nature.
If done properly, this practice can be rather sustainable, meaning it will help homeowners regulate consumption, reduce expenses and contribute to a healthier environment.
Main Reasons for Renewable Energy
Housing
As noted so far, this practice resolves
some of the major concerns homeowners have, both on the micro and
macro level. Ana from safeatlast.co
has done the work for us, distinguishing a few top priorities that
cause people to turn to renewable energy:
· Cost
– Energy price soars, as well as additional expenses appearing
over the years have had detrimental effects on homeowners’ budgets;
· Climate
change – Greater awareness of the greenhouse effect has made
people more concerned about their home’s carbon footprint;
· Control
– People are alarmed by the realization that they have no idea
how much energy they need to meet their everyday needs;
· The
current state of the home – Construction characteristics,
underground waters, insulation and other features could cause major
problems, calling for a more permanent solution.
Top Ways to Achieve Renewable Energy
Housing
Nowadays, there is a range of
equipment, construction material and entire systems that can be
installed into your existing homes in order to achieve greater energy
conservation. Most of these make use of the natural, renewable
sources of energy to improve the overall quality of life.
While they may be somewhat expensive as
an investment, subsidiary programs and initiatives, as well as the
long-term payout have gotten many homeowners interested in the
following options:
1. Solar
power systems – Solar panels placed on rooftops allow
homeowners to use the sun’s heat to generate heating power for
water, space heating, or electric power generation, alternatively;
2.
Biomass boilers – Burning natural residues, these boilers help
homeowners get rid of waste and keep their homes warm at the same
time, all the while controlling their carbon emissions;
3.
Insulation – Proper insulation is just as crucial as the
systems listed above, with cavity wall, external and internal wall
insulation, as well as high performance doors being the top picks
among homeowners.
Baku, Azerbaijan, July—The city of Fuzhou (China) will host the next session of the World Heritage Committee in 2020. This decision concluded the work of the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee, meeting in Baku since 30 June.
During this year’s session, the World Heritage Committee inscribed a total of 29 new sites on the World Heritage List (one in Africa, two in the Arab States, ten in the Asia Pacific region, 15 in Europe and North America including Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada and one in Latin America).
The World Heritage List now features 1,121 sites in 167 countries.
The
Committee approved the removal from the List of World Heritage in
Danger of the sites of Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works
(Chile) and Birthplace of Jesus: the Church of the Nativity and
Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Palestine). One property has been added to
the List of World Heritage in Danger: the Islands and Protected Areas of
the Gulf of California (Mexico).
This
session reaffirmed the potential of heritage in strengthening
cooperation between States, with the inscription of the transboundary
site of the Erzgebirge Mining Region/Krušnohoří (shared by Germany and
Czechia) and the extension into Albania of the natural and cultural
heritage site of the Ohrid Region (Northern Macedonia).
Cooperation and mediation work on heritage also allowed for consensus on decisions regarding the Middle East thanks to constructive discussion with the delegations concerned, notably Israel, Jordan and Palestine.
Several
major archaeological sites were added to the List, including the Dilmun
Burial Mounds (Bahrain), the Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of
Burkina Faso and the iconic site of Babylon (Iraq), once the centre of
the Neo-Babylonian Empire and site of the Hanging Gardens, one of the
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which have inspired artistic,
popular and religious culture worldwide.
The
inscription of Babylon, combined with significant investment by Iraq,
contributes to UNESCO’s efforts to rebuild the country and its flagship
Reviving the Spirit of Mosul initiative.
Sites
essential for the preservation of global biodiversity have also been
inscribed. They include the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast
of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I) (China) and the site of the
French Austral Lands and Seas (France) with a record surface area of
over 67 million hectares that is home to one of the highest
concentrations of birds and marine mammals in the world.
Finally, the inscription of the sites of Budj Bim Cultural Landscape within Australia’s Gundijmara Aboriginal region, and of Canada’s Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi, a sacred landscape of the Blackfoot (Siksikáítsitapi) people, recognizes the knowledge of indigenous peoples, essential for the preservation of cultural and natural heritage.
Significant
efforts are still needed to enhance and preserve African heritage,
which remains largely under-represented on the List. UNESCO also renewed
its call for unflagging rigour, integrity and responsibility in the
examination of nominations so as to ensure the credibility of the World
Heritage Convention and its future standing.
The new natural sites are:
Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I) (China)
French Austral Lands and Seas (France)
Vatnajökull National Park – dynamic nature of fire and ice (Iceland)
Hyrcanian Forests (Islamic Republic of Iran)
Mixed site:
Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity (Brazil)
Cultural sites:
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape (Australia)
Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan’s Palace (Azerbaijan)
Dilmun Burial Mounds (Bahrain)
Ancient ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso (Burkina Faso)
Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi (Canada)
Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City (China)
Landscape for Breeding and Training of Ceremonial Carriage Horses at Kladruby nad Labem (Czechia)
Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region (Czechia, Germany)
Water Management System of Augsburg (Germany)
Jaipur City, Rajasthan (India)
Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto (Indonesia)
Babylon (Iraq)
Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene (Italy)
Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan (Japan)
Bagan (Myanmar)
Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang – Plain of Jars (Lao People’s Democratic Republic)
Krzemionki Prehistoric Striped Flint Mining Region (Poland)
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga (Portugal)
Royal Building of Mafra – Palace, Basilica, Convent, Cerco Garden and Hunting Park (Tapada) (Portugal)
Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies (Republic of Korea)
Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture (Russian Federation)
Risco Caido and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria Cultural Landscape (Spain)
Jodrell Bank Observatory (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
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Another year has ticked by and Lyme disease remains a problem across much of North America.
Over
the years I have met with so many people – farmers, outdoor activists,
friends, neighbours – who have come down with Lyme – so many, often
young people, afflicted in
the prime of their life.
Time
and time again I am told our health care system seems unaware and
unprepared to deal with what remains essentially a new and emerging
infectious disease – a disease that
mimics other ailments and all too often has flummoxed those not expert
in tropical diseases or public health.
Compounding the problem is the confusing and somewhat dubious advice prevalent on social media.
We
have government for a reason and to that end in 2015, I introduced
legislation – a Private Member’s Bill – to mandate the Ontario Minister
of Health to develop ‘A Provincial
Framework and Action Plan Concerning Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases,’
to quote the title of the bill.
The bill passed second reading with all-party support and became the law of the land.
Given
my previous background in both research and health, I felt bound to
take a purely objective evidence and science-based approach to creating
this legislation. I called
for a provincial framework and an action plan through our Ministry of
Health – a plan that, primarily, encompasses surveillance, education
materials and guidelines – guidelines for prevention, identification,
diagnosis, treatment and management, including
emergency preparedness – and calls for the sharing of best practices
provincially and across our country. It instructs the Minister of Health
to bolster research collaboration among all concerned, particularly
those in the public.
One
of my goals is to facilitate an efficient, more effective allocation;
essentially, of what I consider scarce health resources. Going back to
prevention, it is much more
cost-effective to prevent than to treat. We know that the worldwide
cost of SARS, for example, was $40 billion, and the bill in Canada came
in at $2 billion, so prevention is key. Prevention is certainly key when
there is no vaccine or little in the way of
effective treatment. When you are dealing with a particular affliction
like Lyme, prevention is the only option.
A committee was struck because of my legislation, and three years after my bill passed, released recommendations in April 2018.
Their
advice included a call for reviews of current tick surveillance
activities; of current testing methodologies for diagnosing Lyme disease
and other tick-borne illnesses;
and a review of current clinical practice guidelines focussing on
assessment, prevention and treatment.
The
committee also, as in my legislation, calls for research, education and
public awareness. It calls for improved communications to regulated
health professionals regarding
standards of practice for diagnosis and treatment, as well as, the
provision of professional education, and a coordinated care model for
patients at all stages of these diseases.
The spread of Lyme disease in Ontario is an important issue for the Ministry of Health.
Health
Quality Ontario (HQO), in partnership with Public Health Ontario (PHO)
and in collaboration with clinical experts, patients and caregivers
across the province has developed
a clinical guidance document for early-localized Lyme disease. HQO
continues to review the evidence and has committed to making any
necessary changes to the guidance document as the evidence warrants.
In my view, the Ministry of Health is making progress.
For the Silo, Toby Barrett -MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk.
In response to the January 23, 1968 North Korea seizure of the USS Pueblo and crew, the Johnson Administration sent an armada of ships and up to nine subs, both nuclear-powered and diesel/electric, into the Sea of Japan. The operation was known as “Formation Star,” the largest build-up of U.S. naval forces around the Korean peninsula since the Korean War. This U.S. naval show-of-force was led by the USS Enterprise, the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the largest warship in the world at the time.
Less known are the stories of the two submarines sent in response to the Pueblo Incident—the USS Segundo and USS Swordfish—both of which failed to execute their missions as planned. In the case of the Segundo, her detection by the North Koreans off the coast of Wonsan, North Korea nearly led to the deaths of the entire crew. And while not life-threatening, the failed Swordfish mission led to a cascade of Cold War events including, according to one author, the sinking of a U.S. sub in retaliation for the sinking of a Soviet sub, which the Russians had falsely attributed to ramming by the USS Swordfish.
In August 2000, decades after the resolution of the Pueblo crisis, a
small California newspaper interviewed Russ Noragon, a member of the
USS Segundo crew. In what a staff writer at the Ventura County Star
described as a “top-secret mission that might be the stuff of a Tom
Clancy spy novel,” Noragon described how his sub had to submerge to
the bottom of the sea off the coast of Wonsan, North Korea to avoid
capture by the North Koreans. At the time, Noragon was a Machinists
Mate (MM); a Chief before retirement.
In an
article titled “Local Submariner Recalls Time on Bottom,” Noragon
told how he and the other 79 men on board had barely escaped with
their lives when the Segundo and crew nearly ran out of air. The
incident occurred on the day the Pueblo was hijacked in international
waters off the coast of North Korea. Noragon said his sub was
“ordered to attempt a rescue of the 83 sailors aboard the
intelligence vessel USS Pueblo…,” the planning of which began
immediately, he said. According to the Segundo’s Chief of the Boat
(COB), there were five special ops on board, but their role was
unknown to the crew.
But
instead of completing their mission undetected, Noragon said North
Korean sonar-equipped patrol boats discovered his sub at periscope
depth shortly after it arrived in the area. They then began
bombarding the Segundo with depth charges, forcing it to the sea
bottom with its engines and most of its equipment shut down. After a
couple of days on the ocean floor, “It was miserable,” Noragon
said. “We all got terrible headaches from the lack of oxygen.”
Noragon, who was assigned to the engine room, said he didn’t even know the depth of the water, only the tenseness of the situation. Meanwhile, the crew covered everything on board with a “special powder” (presumably lithium hydroxide) that absorbed the carbon dioxide in the air that built up in the close quarters. Some fresh air was pumped in from the submarine’s reserve tanks, but only enough to keep the air breathable.
To avoid detection,
Noragon said the crew, who “spoke in whispers,” were ordered to
stay in their bunks when not on watch, in what submariners call
“silent running.” The seriousness of the situation became all too
apparent when classified materials and equipment were readied for
destruction. Noragon said he really got nervous when the radiomen
brought out all of the Segundo’s cryptography gear and the weighted
bags and hammers. At which point, Noragon said to himself, “Oh,
this is not good.” When the commanding officer of the Segundo, Cdr.
David A. Fudge, realized that rescuing the Pueblo crew was no longer
possible, Noragon said his crewmates devised an escape plan.
With
North Korean vessels at the surface lying in wait, Fudge had the crew
eject hollow can targets, alternating between the sub’s bow and
stern. As each target pinged the North Korean sonar, the Segundo
moved a little. “We had all these bubbles down there,” Noragon
recalls. “Pretty soon, there were so many targets, they [the North
Koreans] didn’t know which was real and which were a decoy.” This
allowed the Segundo and crew to finally escape. Now fifty years
later, the ill-effects of this failed mission remain with the
surviving members of the crew.
About
ten days after the Pueblo seizure, the USS Swordfish raced to the Sea
of Japan from her homeport at Pearl Harbor. The sub’s belated
departure might have been to compensate for the withdrawal of Segundo
from the area, or perhaps it was sent to help confront the Soviets
who by then had sent an armada of their own ships and subs to
confront Operation “Formation Star.”
Unfortunately,
in early March, Swordfish struck a block of ice that had drifted
south, bending her mast back at a 45-degree angle; so she departed
the area for the U.S. Naval Base at Yokosuka for repairs, which
required ten days. However, when the Japanese press noticed the
arrival of a damaged submarine on the surface—a rare event—they
requested an explanation from the U.S. Navy. To avoid disclosing the
Swordfish’s secret mission—all submarines on special operations
were classified—the Navy said the Swordfish had come to Yokosuka
for some much-needed R&R. But what about the damage? As the Navy
explained, the “damage was likely caused by hyoryubutsu,”
meaning flotsam or wreckage, not ice.
When a photo of the Swordfish with a bent mast appeared in an article in a Japanese newspaper, the Russians smelled a rat. About a week earlier, K-129, their nuclear-armed Project 629A (NATO reporting name Golf II) diesel-electric powered submarine, sank without explanation. Had the Swordfish intentionally rammed a Soviet submarine, resulting in the death of all 98 men on board? When the Russians confronted the Americans, the Pentagon would only say that the Swordfish was about 2,000 miles from where their Soviet submarine sank—no mention was made of Swordfish’s secret Pueblo mission. According to Ed Offley, the author of “Scorpion Down: Sunk by the Soviets, Buried by the Pentagon,” the Soviets intentionally sank a U.S. submarine, the USS Scorpion, in retaliation for the Swordfish’s sinking of their submarine about two months earlier. For the Silo, Bill Streifer.
In May 2019, the Trump administration filed criminal charges against Huawei for stealing technology calling the firm an espionage threat. The U.S. is asking other countries to follow suit.
Lawrence Ward is a partner at the international law firm Dorsey &
Whitney in international business focusing on U.S. national security
law, CFIUS, and international trade compliance law and licensing. Of the
news he says:
“In sanctioning Huawei , the Trump Administration took an escalated step in its trade war with China and in the race to take the technological lead with respect to 5G. That action means U.S. tech companies can no longer supply Huawei or any of its 70 affiliated entities worldwide once they are officially added to the Entity List.
Additionally, foreign companies can no longer supply U.S.-origin parts and components to those entities and certain foreign-made parts and components that incorporate U.S.-origin parts and components may not be able to be supplied either.
Although in recent years Huawei has only sourced between 10 and 20% of its parts and components from U.S. companies, there is speculation that these parts and components – chips, processors, and OS software – are critical to Huawei’s product offerings and business.
China has threatened retaliatory sanctions that could impact U.S. telecom and tech companies. Not only will these new sanctions present a compliance challenge to U.S. companies but the sanctions will also create unique business challenges as U.S. companies will need to more carefully screen overseas R&D partners to snuff out connections to Huawei,” Ward says. For the Silo, Laura Kelley.
Norm Lewis was just twelve years old in 1958, a student at the old South Public School, when he saw the film A Night To Remember, a straight forward rendering of the Titanic disaster based on the book by Walter Lord. The film was a pivotal experience for Norm, and the beginning of a life-long fascination with this most infamous nautical event.
The Beginnings of a Canadian Society
In 1993 Norm attended a Boston conference of The Titanic Historical Society, meeting enthusiasts from all over the world. He began polling Canadian delegates on the idea of starting their own group and got an overwhelming response. In 1998, this former locksmith and transport driver became the President, Founder and CEO of the Canadian group. Radio stations from Calgary, Kitchener and Toronto all called for an interview, and within a week The Canadian Titanic Society was receiving more letters than Norm could carry.
Norm has collected a great deal of Titanic memorabilia over the years, including 110 underwater photographs taken by Ralph White, the Society’s official “Explorer in Residence” and 2nd Vice-President, who at the time of his death in 2008 had made more dives to the wreck than anyone else in the world. A pioneer in deep sea photography and cinematography, Ralph was the expedition leader for James Cameron’s 1997 epic movie. And you know the name of that one.
Norfolk County Ontario Connections
With the help of some volunteers, Norm also researched Norfolk County connections to the disaster, finding Titanic crew members, survivors and passengers from the rescue ship Carpathia living like Norm, in Simcoe Ontario though all have now passed away.
But perhaps most impressive, Norm Lewis is the sole architect of a twenty-foot scale model of R.M.S Titanic that has appeared in parades and exhibitions all over the province. Detailed, historically accurate, and made almost entirely out of wood, the model is the only one of its kind. It has working propellers, smoking funnels and a truly impressive digital recording of the actual titanic whistles. It took him eight years. You might call that obsession, but if you think of a twelve year old boy, rapt in fascination at one of the most spectacular and terrible stories in nautical history, you might just call it a labor of love. For the Silo, Alan Gibson.
More Canadian beaches and
marinas awarded Blue Flags
2018 is another record year for Canada’s waterfronts, 27 beaches and nine marinas have been awarded a coveted Blue Flag, including our very first coastal flag at beautiful Aboiteau Beach, NB. The Blue Flag is the internationally recognized symbol of environmental excellence for beaches and marinas. Read on to find the best waterside spots to spend your Victoria Day weekend.
Time for
the Government
to step up on
plastic waste
Only 11 per cent of Canada’s plastic waste is recycled. Let that sink in for a minute. This problem goes way beyond individual changes, we need the Federal Government to step up and take meaningful action before it’s too late. Sign the petition now to ask for a plastic free environment.
Banned chemicals found in products that babies chew, play and nap on
A new study reveals that 86 per cent of tested products sold in Canada contain toxic chemicals, some of which are banned. Baby bibs, blankets and more were found to contain water and stain resistant chemicals linked to hormone disruption, and even cancer. Find out how you can take action.
Tell Canada that all high-carbon projects need an impact assessment
What the frack?! The Canadian government is proposing to exempt fracking and in situ tar sands from the new federal environmental review process. We have until June 1st to fix this – send a letter now to tell the government that ALL high-carbon projects should get an impact assessment.
One of the many ways the Internet is driving the global economy is through digital payments, making it easy for consumers to buy just about anything from anywhere. VisaNet is the largest payment processing network in the world, connecting 2.4 billion credit cards at 36 million locations across 200 countries.
Those are just a few of the numbers that Visa hired our friends at Visually to shape into the infographic below. The result is a visualization that tells in their words- “the story of the innovation, security and accessibility of this payment processing network.”
OTTAWA, CANADA (June, 2019) – In Defense of Animals applauds Canada’s passing of Bill S-203, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, which passed through the House of Commons in Ottawa, Canada on Monday, June 10, 2019.
First introduced by Senator Wilfrid Moore in 2015, the legislation will officially make it illegal to hold any cetacean in captivity, for reasons other than rehabilitation and scientific research. Breeding or trading reproductive materials of whales and dolphins will also be prohibited. Any breach of this ban carries fines of up to $200,000.
“We applaud Canada for passing this progressive legislation, since whales and dolphins suffer greatly in captivity, no matter the size of the tank,” said Marilyn Kroplick M.D., President of In Defense of Animals. “The overwhelming support for this ban demonstrates how many Canadians are opposed to the inherent cruelty of keeping and breeding cetaceans.”
Two facilities currently hold cetaceans captive within Canada.
Vancouver Aquarium holds one dolphin captive. The ‘beluga breeding mill’ was shamed in #9th place on In Defense of Animals’Ten Worst Tanks list, and faced significant public pressure regarding its cruel activities from many concerned citizens including world-famous Dr. Jane Goodall and thousands of In Defense of Animals supporters. The Vancouver Parks Board passed a captive cetacean ban in 2017, prompting the Aquarium to announce its plans to phase out its cetacean exhibit.
Marineland in Ontario is placed as #2 Worst Tank and continues to hold captive more than 50 belugas, five bottlenose dolphins, and Canada’s last captive orca. All of these animals will be grandfathered in, so the passing of the Ending the Captivity of Whale and Dolphin Act will not directly impact them. However, Marineland will be required to halt all captive breeding at its facility, ultimately putting an end to the cetacean captivity industry throughout Canada.
Over 10,000 members of In Defense of Animalscontacted Canadian decision-makers to support this historic bill, demonstrating significant public support for this important animal protection legislation.
Keeping dolphins and whales in captivity, forcing them to perform degrading tricks and being placed on perpetual display, is archaic and not in line with scientific discoveries about their significant cognitive and emotional sophistication.
The time has come for the unethical captive animal industry to dissolve–and Canada has taken steps to ensure this will happen. We urge Marineland to abide by the spirit of the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, and the wishes of the Canadian people who stand by this landmark legislation, and release the dolphins and whales it holds captive to seaside sanctuaries. For the Silo, Laura Bridgeman/IDA In Defense of Animals.
German budget carrier Eurowings will now charge economy passengers for snacks and drinks on board its flights, the travel platform fromAtoB conducted research into the costs of food and drinks on different airlines.
• Ryanair charges more than other airlines for soft drinks and chocolate
• Ryanair and EasyJet menus relatively expensive
• German airlines offer the cheapest beer and best overall value for money
• Eurowings joins the majority of low-cost airlines, which now charge for snacks and beverages
Berlin, June 2019. None of us are keen to fork out for snacks and drinks on budget airlines, but since we are forced to dispose of liquids before going through security, we are often left with no choice. Travel platform fromAtoB compared the current prices for drinks and snacks in ten European low-cost airlines to see which are the worst offenders.
Water is often the first thing passengers need, and the price of this basic necessity can vary widely. EasyJet, TUIfly, and Wizzair all charge €2.50 for a 500ml bottle of water, while Ryanair and Pegasus charge €3. [One euro at time of publishing = $1.50 Canadian dollar]
Soft
drinks also cost anywhere between €2.50 and €3 for varying sizes. The
price per litre varies significantly between airlines. While TUIfly
charges €6, Ryanair and Eurowings ask for €10.
German airlines offer the cheapest beer
As
is fitting for a country known for its beer, flights to and from
Germany offer the best value, with a 330ml can costing just €3 with
Eurowings and TUIfly. EasyJet makes passengers dig a little deeper into
their pockets, charging twice as much, while a beer on a Ryanair flight
will set passengers back €5.50.
Food for thought
The
cost of a sandwich also varies significantly. The East European carrier
Wizzair offers the cheapest options for just €4, while Eurowings
passengers can expect to pay €5 for a chicken roll. Both Norwegian and
Spanish airline Vueling charge €6.50 for a club sandwich.
TUIfly: best value overall
Almost
all airlines offer a combined menu that often includes a sandwich,
drink, and snack. A Wizzair meal deal costs between €6 and €8.50, while a
meal alone with Norwegian costs €8.
TUIfly
offers the best overall value for money, with all items on the menu
totalling €35.84, compared the Norwegian menu which totals €52.09, and
Easyjet at €50.
Mendon,
Utah – Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI) has received Phase I funding
from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground
Vehicles Systems Center (formerly TARDEC) to improve the way heavy
vehicles stop while operating autonomously.
“Bringing large autonomous vehicles to a safe stop in varying environments can be challenging,” said Jeff Ferrin, CTO of ASI. “Having additional funding from the Army to further develop this technology will help us make autonomous vehicles safer, which is always our number-one priority.”
The
objective of the Army in awarding this grant is to develop and
demonstrate a system that can be operated remotely and considers both
the dynamics of the vehicle, as well as the environment, to optimally
and safely bring a large ground vehicle to a complete stop despite the
terrain.
“ASI has been working on terrain characterization with the Army since 2014,” said Ferrin. “This project will use similar technology to make sure the vehicle is aware of the terrain around it. This model of the terrain will then be used by the vehicle to ensure a safer stop is completed.”
A
significant focus of this intelligent urgent stop initiative is machine
learning. This improved technology will continuously monitor the
interaction between a vehicle and its surroundings and update the
internal model that is used to properly halt the vehicle. This process
will allow the vehicle to learn and adapt as the terrain and environment
change.
As the advanced solution is developed, tested and proven, it can be used by ASI’s autonomous vehicles across all the company’s multiple industries, including agriculture, automotive, construction haulage, mining, facility robotics and more.
According to Ferrin, “The system can be used with any drive-by-wire vehicle. It will interface with the brakes and steering to bring the vehicle to a safe, controlled stop.”
Details of the Phase I stage awarded to ASI include development of a concept design using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) sensors to perform safe deceleration of a large ground vehicle. A concept design report and performance analysis report are required deliverables before Phase II can be awarded. For the Silo, Brandon Taylor.
About ASI
Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI) is a world leader in industrial vehicle automation. ASI serves clients across the world in the mining, agriculture, automotive, government, and manufacturing industries with remote control, teleoperation, and fully automated solutions from its headquarters and 100-acre proving ground in northern Utah.
Nobilified and Villa de Campo have partnered up to offer their customers a unique art and hospitality experience. A selection of luxurious villas offered by Villa de Campo for rent come with hand-painted portraits of each guest, which are hung throughout the Villa during their stay.
Located in La Romana, Dominican Republic; Casa de Campo is no stranger to luxury. This prestigious Resort spreads over 7,000 acres, featuring three award-winning golf courses, a clay pigeon shooting center, an equestrian center, tennis courts, pools, and restaurants, as well as 1,700 private villas populating the resort, some of which are available for rent. Villa de Campo specializes in giving customers prompt and personalized service for vacation rentals in the resort. Whether it’s understanding your needs and recommending homes to stay in or helping you book a personal chef or schedule your activities, Villa de Campo is stepping up the meaning of the saying “the customer is king”.
With
this partnership with Nobilified, Villa de Campo adds an extra touch of
personalization to one’s holiday—and we aren’t talking about personal
chefs or yacht rentals. Nobilified, which creates hand-painted oil
portraits of its customers as royalty will be using its inspiration to
paint memories of holidays for guests to keep. The paintings will be
inspired by the nature of the trip, whether a romantic couple retreat, a
golf trip with boys, or a family holiday; Nobilified’s classically
trained artists will paint the guests prior to their arrival, according a
certain theme, and have the pieces hung throughout the villa during
their stay. Guest then get to take the pieces home after their stay.
The
Nobilified special aims capture memories in the world of art. Chris
Jensen, the founder of Nobilified, says, “Our aim is to capture one’s
memories in art. We want guests of the villas to remember all the small
things that made their holiday one to remember. When they get home, they
will hang the piece, and each time they look at the piece, they will
remember their holiday. We think that is special.”
Villa de Campo
Villa de Campo offers a selection of luxury villas in which to spend your next activity-filled holiday in the Dominican Republic. Spread over 7000 acres, the Casa de Campo resort is home to over 1700 private villas of which around 100 are available for rent on villadecampo.com.
Punta Aguila #57 is true Casa de Campo villa. The beautiful five bedroom villa was built right in the middle of a beautiful bamboo forest, palms and Embauba trees in a five thousand square meter homesite.
Booking a Villa has become the perfect way to spend a holiday whether with family, friends or as a couple. Our selection of luxury villas are located throughout the entire resort and cater to various tastes and needs. Villa de Campo also includes additional amenities such as complimentary golf carts, private chefs and a holiday concierge to help you book and plan your dream stay. Casa de Campo possesses a variety of restaurants, private beach clubs, a Marina, 3 golf courses, a tennis center, an equestrian center, a spa, and much more.
Nobilified
Nobilified
is dedicated to revolutionizing the art world. Nobilified believes that
while not everyone may have the artistic skills required to paint a
masterpiece, everyone possesses an intuitively creative mind. At
Nobilified, customer dreams and fantasies are transformed into actual
works of art, which can proudly displayed in any home, dorm, office,
cabin, yacht, or even a swanky Chateau. Everyone has an artistic side,
and everyone sees the world in their own unique way. Nobilified wants
this diversity to make an imprint on the course of art history by
immortalizing customers’ wildest dreams.
In addition to providing high quality oil paintings, Nobilified wants to change the way people perceive art, by making it fun and accessible, thus giving customers the opportunity to share or gift a unique custom made oil painting with friends and family. No longer will having an oil painting of oneself hanging above the chimney be out-of-reach. This privilege used to be reserved for the upper tiers of society, but, now, it is shared with everyone, even if they are not knighted. A unique, hand-painted, oil-on-canvas work of art can add a touch of grandeur to any living quarters.
Featured image: Cupid and Psyche by Jacques Louis David
RAPID CITY, SD- Professor Travis Kowalski starts most days with a squiggle.
For the past eight years, the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology math professor has carried on a family tradition started by his father, who would ask the young Travis to make a squiggle on a piece of paper. From that squiggle, his father would create a drawing. Often, Kowalski’s father would give him a squiggle and the two would sit together drawing.
Nowadays,
Kowalski uses a napkin and markers in his “squiggle game,” and the
recipients are his two daughters – Liliana, 13, and Maia, 9. Kowalski
says he started the tradition when Liliana was entering kindergarten,
hoping the lunch napkin art would make her transition to school easier.
Each evening or early in the morning, Kowalski encouraged his oldest to draw a squiggle on a napkin. The next morning, he turned the squiggle into colorful drawings and slipped it into her lunch box. Once Maia arrived, Kowalski began doing the same for her. “She expected it,” he says.
It’s
not exactly what most people expect from a math professor at an
engineering and science university. But Kowalski, a Ph.D. who currently
serves as the interim head of the Department of Mathematics at SD Mines,
says math and art co-mingle perfectly.
His drawings range from a buffalo against a bright pink sky (drawn May 6, 2019) to an astronaut in space (Jan. 24, 2019), to Kermit the Frog (Dec. 7, 2018), to the composer Bach at his harpsichord (May 14, 2018). Kowalski posts both the starting squiggle and the finished product on his Facebook and Instagram pages.
The
two social media platforms are filled with vibrant, colorful drawings
often accompanied by clever taglines – a bear holding up a paw and
asking, “I would like some salmon, please” and a praying mantis playing a
video game under the title, “Playing Mantis.”
Known on campus for his colorful Hawaiian shirts and clever math-related ties, Kowalski is the professor whose office walls are covered with unique visual art. He’s the kind of professor who sneaks his labradoodle Cauchy, named after French mathematician Augustin-Louis Cauchy, into class the last day of the semester to play out an obscure (to the general audience at least) mathematics joke. He’s the math teacher who so passionately talks about the subject that even the least math-minded people can’t help but get excited.
And he’s good at what he does in the classroom. So good that Kowalski was recently awarded the 2019 Burton W. Jones Award by the Mathematical Association of America. The award recognizes post-secondary level math instructors nationally who “foster student excitement about mathematics.”
“It’s cool and humbling to be part of that group,” he admits.
Donald
Teets, a Ph.D. professor in the SD Mines math department, is a previous
winner of the award and the person who nominated Kowalski. In his
nomination, Teets writes, “He is, (in this writer’s opinion) the best
teacher in a department devoted to teaching excellence.”
This
is hardly the first recognition for Kowalski, Teets says. In 2014,
Kowalski was awarded the Benard Ennenga Award, which honors one SD Mines
faculty member each year for teaching excellence; and in 2017, he won
the George Polya Award from the Math Association of America for his College Mathematics Journal article, “The Sine of a Single Degree.”
“His
lecture based on ‘The Sine of a Single Degree’ is as good a mathematics
lecture as you will ever see!” Teets wrote in his nomination.
Teets
says the thing that makes Kowalski so good at this job is his
enthusiasm, noting that students consistently rate him on classroom
surveys as “the best math teacher I’ve ever had.” He’s “innovative,”
constantly striving to engage his students and utilize technology into
his teaching, Teets says. “Like Superman wears the big ‘S’ on his chest,
Dr. Kowalski deserves a big ‘I’ for Innovator.”
As
for Kowalski’s artistic talents, Teets is equally as effusive. “As a
person who can barely draw recognizable stick figures, I am in awe of
Travis’s artistic abilities. It’s a great complement to his
extraordinary skills in mathematics!” he says.
Kowalski
grew up in California, raised by a draftsman father and a “crafty”
stepmother. “My dad drew all of the time,” Kowalski says. “That was the
home I grew up in. You drew.”
In college at University of California, Riverside, Kowalski majored in art. To finish off an academic requirement, he enrolled in Calculus 2. A good student in high school, he had already taken an advanced placement Calculus 1 class. He was class valedictorian, but “I worked hard at it. I was not a prodigy,” he says with a laugh.
He
still remembers the Riverside professor’s name who taught his first
college math course – Albert Stralka. He “taught in a way I hadn’t seen
before,” Kowalski says. “There were ideas behind the math.”
When he got an A in that class, the professor convinced him to take Calculus 3.
Next,
the professor suggested he take topology, which is the study of
geometric properties and spatial relations which are unaffected by the
change of shape or size of figures. “It’s the geometry of shapes under
change,” Kolwaski says. “That class blew my mind.”
The
rest is history – after topology Kolwaski changed his major and
embraced a love of mathematics. But he never left his art behind, and
it’s important to understand that the two subjects go hand-in-hand, he
says. “Half of mathematicians do what they do because they think it’s
pretty,” he says of the geometry of math.
As
a math professor at SD Mines, Kolwaski admits that “I still like to sit
and draw things, but I don’t have as much time anymore,” he says.
That’s where his morning squiggle drawings come in.
Each
one of Kowalski’s squiggles for his daughters takes about 15 to 30
minutes from start to finish. “The first part is to see something,” he
says. He spins the napkin around, looking at the squiggle until he
“sees” the picture that will emerge.
Mia
tends to draw extremely elaborate squiggles, sometimes lobbying for a
specific outcome – for instance a unicorn. Other times, his daughters
will bring home requests from friends for specific drawings.
Liliana
has saved all her napkins over the years, storing them in a plastic
container in her room. That made it a little easier for Kowalski when
she came to him recently to say, “What with my school schedule being so
busy and my lunch break so short and closet so full of the ones you’ve
already made me – which I love, thank you – I just don’t think you need
to make me lunch napkins anymore.” Kowalski playfully posted her words
on social media with an image from Boromir’s death from “Fellowship of
the Rings” with arrows sticking from his heart.
Kowalski
says his older daughter relented, most likely after an intervention
from his wife, and is continuing to play the squiggle game. He’s glad,
hoping that both of his daughters will always remember the squiggle game
and maybe even carry it on with their own families one day.
“It’s definitely a great memory about my dad,” he says. “Hopefully it will be the same for them.” For the Silo, Lynn Taylor Rick.
TEMPLE, Texas – Rice producers wanting to enhance current conservation efforts are encouraged to apply for a special Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) sign-up. Led by the USA Rice-Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership, the Gulf Coast Water and Wetlands Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), the RCPP provide an opportunity to enhance conservation on rice lands in 12 Texas counties. Applications for RCPP-CSP are accepted on a continuous basis, but to be considered for this funding period applications must be received by June 28, 2019.
The special sign-ups assists landowners and rice producers who voluntarily implement conservation and management practices that aim to provide waterfowl habitat on rice production lands. Nutrient management and integrated pest management (IPM) to address water quality concerns are also a priority. Although enhancements are limited, irrigation efficiencies are also a focus.
“NRCS is pleased to partner with USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited and others in these RCPP efforts. said State Conservationist Salvador Salinas. “RCPP-CSP provides an opportunity for rice producers to build their businesses while implementing conservation practices that help ensure the sustainability of their operations and improve the environment for Texas’ citizens.”
These special RCPP CSP sign-ups are targeted for rice production acreage in Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Jackson, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liberty, Matagorda, Waller and Wharton counties. These projects will provide a special CSP allotment of approximately 110,000 acres in 2019 to Texas rice growers, 80,000 acres under Gulf Coast Water and Wildlife RCPP and 30,000 acres under the LCRA RCPP respectively.
“NRCS has updated the program to help producers better evaluate their conservation options and the benefits to their operations and natural resources,” said Rice Stewardship Coordinator Kyle Soileau. “Partnership staff can help producers see up front why they are or are not meeting stewardship thresholds and allow them to pick practices and enhancements that work for their conservation objectives. These tools also enable producers to see potential payment scenarios for conservation early in the process.”
For additional information producers interested in CSP or other conservation planning, technical and financial assistance can contact their local USDA service center or visit www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov.
Vancouver-based maker of play tents for children, Domestic Objects, has made it easier for parents and children to ‘unplug’ from the digital world with their Play Tent Canopy. Designed and manufactured to fit securely over a mattress on the floor, the Play Tent Canopy offer parents a clearly delineated space for family time and imagination-based play, shutting out the digital distractions that can be harmful to early child development and lead to developmental problems such as anxiety.
Launched by Sarah Jagger in 2014, Domestic Objects has built a solid reputation in Canada, the U.S.A. and abroad for handmade, customizable play tents designed to stimulate a child’s natural curiosity and sense of play.
The Play Tent Canopy was initially created at the request of a mother with a very active toddler who was consistently climbing out of their crib. Now Domestic Objects’ best-selling product, it’s now available in four standard mattress sizes in a variety of fabrics, and as a custom order for non-standard mattresses.
“Part of the attraction of the Play Tent Canopy, I think, is practical. You can have a play area that doesn’t take up extra space in a child’s bedroom,” says Jagger. “Plus, being both a restful sleeping space and an imagination-fuelled play space, a canopy helps with the transition from a crib to a “real” bed.”
But, most important to Jagger, is how Domestic Objects play tents can bring parents and children together in play and spark a child’s innate imagination and creativity. A play tent can help a family unplug from the digital world and facilitate more natural and self-driven playtime.
A recent study by the Canadian Paediatric Society states that “[high] exposure to background TV has been found to negatively affect language use and acquisition, attention, cognitive development and executive function in children under 5 years old. It also reduces the amount and quality of parent-child interaction and distracts from play.”
Dr. Shimi Kang agrees. The award-winning, Harvard-trained doctor, researcher, bestselling author and speaker says research shows that children are less creative now than they were before the advent of the parental “helpers” like iPads and online educational games.
“We are living in an era of paradox,” says Dr. Kang. “Our society is technologically advanced, yet our children are becoming increasingly unhealthy with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and addiction. The Play Tent Canopy provides a space where children will receive the brain-boosting benefits of imaginary play, family bonding and precious downtime.”
Domestic Objects Play Tent Canopy (starting at $238 CAD) and its other products are available and ship worldwide through the Domestic Objects website and the company’s Etsy store.
ABOUT DOMESTIC OBJECTS Domestic Objects offers eight different imaginative play products, including customizable teepees and canopy beds in an array of stylish fabrics, matching floor pillows, whimsical accessories and even and a children’s book, The Play Tent of Imagination, which Jagger wrote in collaboration with illustrator Lenny Wen.
Paris, 30 May – Experts, stakeholders and government representatives will examine ways to improve exports of cultural products from the Global South, reinforce cultural entrepreneurship and improve the status of artists during the biennial meeting of the signatories to UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, at the Organization’s Headquarters from 5 to 7 June.
Government
officials and cultural professionals will address these and other
issues at three Create|2030 debates during the session:
Rebalancing trade flows: making the case for preferential treatment in culture, will examine ways to open markets to cultural goods and services from the Global South, in line with the Convention’s binding provision to grant them preferential treatment in international trade. Cultural goods and services from developing countries currently only account for 26.5% of the global trade in this rapidly growing sector. Panelists will also examine how the concentration of creative content on large online platforms is impacting the distribution of cultural products and expressions. (7 June, 10 am—1 pm, Room II)
Strengthening cultural entrepreneurship: The International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) will discuss investments in vocational training andbring together beneficiaries of UNESCO’s IFCD from
Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia and Senegal. The Fund, which aims to address
the gap between developed and developing countries in the creative
economy, has provided more than 10,000 artists and cultural
professionals with new skills in project management, business and career
development to date. (6 June, 10 am—1 pm, Room II)
Rethinking the status of the artist will explore ways to enhance
the professional, social and economic conditions of artists through
policies concerning training, social security, employment, income,
taxation, mobility and freedom of expression. (6 June, 2—5 pm, Room II)
During
the meeting, participants will also examine an Open Roadmap designed to
strengthen the Parties’ capacities to promote the diversity of cultural
expressions in the digital age, as well as other innovative policy
practices. Priorities in line with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development will be set for the next two years, with particular
attention to gender equality, fundamental freedoms, quality education,
economic growth, decent jobs, and equality between countries.
The 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
provides a framework for the design of policies and measures that
support the emergence of dynamic cultural and creative industries around
the world. The 146 Parties (145 States and the European Union) that
have ratified the Convention meet at UNESCO every two years to examine
its impact and determine future action. Twelve new Members will be
elected to the Convention’s Intergovernmental Committee during the
session.
So many of my clients bring interesting cases to me, everyone is different and so therefore interesting in their own way. But one case that stands out was a client who had “misophonia” – which meant that she experienced a heightened feeling of anxiety or “fight or flight response” in response to certain sounds – mainly that of other people eating. It was becoming difficult even eating around her family. This was a case for hypnotherapy.
With just two sessions we completely solved the problem, We went back in time to her childhood where the problem began – with just a very innocent situation (she didn’t really remember this consciously) but her subconscious mind had held onto it and certain sounds still triggered anxiety. And rather than getting better over time, it was getting worse. Going back to that event, in a safe and controlled way, meant that the problem was resolved almost immediately.
What I described above is known as regression hypnotherapy. It’s all about going back in time to where the problem was first triggered. When people have problematic emotions which are being repeatedly triggered, such as panic, anxiety, depression, etc. , it is usually because something happened which wasn’t fully processed at the time and then the subconscious mind holds onto that feeling, thinking that it’s protecting you.
Once you go back to it, and process the “memory” properly (I say memory in inverted commas because often we don’t remember the event consciously, but it’s stored away in our subconscious which is like a giant library). So once we go back to the original event the subconscious is able to understand that it’s over now and releases the emotion. It is extremely powerful and cathartic. There is more information about regression hypnotherapy in my blog post here: http://www.synergy-wellbeing.com/category/regression/
Are there any preparations required before embarking on hypnotherapy?
“You’re getting sleepy.”
Not really. I often recommend that people don’t drink a lot of caffeine before a session because this triggers the fight / flight response – which is the opposite to the relaxation response – so it can interfere with the session a little and make it harder to relax. But other than that, no. Someone who meditates or is good at visualization will generally find they go into hypnosis a lot more quickly, but everyone can be hypnotized. We’re in a state of hypnosis when we watch the television!
I would love to help someone who feels that they are “over–sensitive” – and I would prefer to call it “highly sensitive” myself – because their sensitivities could relate back to childhood and things they are subconsciously holding onto which distressed them. Regression hypnotherapy can help to release the memories trapped in the subconscious so that those emotions are not triggered so readily or inappropriately in the future. EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is also an excellent technique which I teach my clients a lot – and this can used as a self help tool whenever needed too, on a daily basis even!
How can we enable our subconscious to let go of bad feelings?
There is a technique which I use myself a lot, and also teach people about. It’s called mindfulness. The sad thing is that we are often told “don’t get upset / don’t cry, etc.” so we learn to push our feelings down – we suppress them. Another word for suppression is depression. So we can easily become depressed when we suppress our true feelings. One of the beautiful things that mindfulness teaches us is to be present as much as possible to our experience. So if you’re feeling angry, or hurt, for example, it’s much better to allow yourself to “feel” that feeling.
Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t make it feel worse, it actually really helps! So, next time you’re feeling bad – ask yourself “how am I feeling? What does that feel like? Where do I feel that in my body?” – really acknowledge it. And – hey presto! The feeling seriously diminishes or disappears altogether! Our feelings just want to be listened to, to be heard. So once we do this, they are satisfied and they settle back down.
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is something else I practice, and this is wonderful for allowing us to let go of negative emotions. It is also known as the “tapping technique” and more information can be found on my website. For the Silo, Liz Davies Clinical Hypnotherapist and EFT Practitioner.
A recent OECD report finds that low and middle income earners have seen their wages stagnate and that the income share of middle-skilled jobs has fallen. Rising inequality has led to concerns that top earners are getting a disproportionate share of the gains from global “openness and interconnection”. During a Summer 2017 meeting of OECD, employment outlook revealed that job polarization has been “driven by pervasive and skill-biased technological changes.
Founded in 1945, the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) builds awareness among business executives, educators and policy makers around issues related to employment, workforce training and skills enhancement. CMRubinWorld spoke with USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson, who serves as a co-chair of the B20 Employment and Education Task Force, through which he helped develop recommendations to the G20 leaders on training for the jobs of the future. Robinson also serves on the board of the International Organization of Employers, which represents the views of the business community in the International Labor Organization.
“I think the guiding principle for government should be to protect and enable/retrain the worker, not protect the job. Policy makers and educators should focus on making sure that workers are as equipped as possible to transition to new opportunities” Peter Robinson.
Peter, welcome. How severe do you believe jobsolescence will be over the next 20 years? How big will the challenge be to offset it and maintain a growing workforce?
I really don’t think the overall effect will be as dramatic as some people fear, at least for the medium-term as far as we can tell. There is an over-hype factor at play, but the consequences still deserve serious attention. For one thing, so many of the jobs in the United States, Canada and other advanced economies are in the service sector, and involve interacting with other people. Despite all the advances in AI, we are still a long way off from robotic nurses or home health aides. Overall, history tells us that at least as many new jobs are created as are displaced by technological innovation, even though transitions can be difficult in some sectors and localities, and as long as upskilling takes place.
“The biggest threat is that our educational institutions won’t be able to keep pace with new skills demands.” — Peter Robinson
What do you think are the biggest obstacles facing college grads today trying to enter the workforce?
I actually think the greatest obstacles are faced by those who don’t make it to university or some form of higher education beyond high school (a four-year degree is not the right path for everyone). A 2014 Pew survey found that among workers age 25 to 32, median annual earnings of those with a college degree were $17,500 greater than for those with high school diplomas only. Obviously, everyone at whatever educational level needs to keep their skills sharp, and governments should join with employers and educators to instill better life-long learning. But there are far fewer established paths toward long-term employment at a middle-class level of income for those who don’t graduate from college. A greater emphasis on vocational education and apprenticeships would help. We strongly support the work being done by United States Secretary of Labor Acosta to promote apprenticeships.
Given that machines are in the process of stripping white collar workers from their jobs, what kind of skills are key manufacturing and service industries going to need from new employees?
I think the premise of your question is overstated. We’re all being told that our jobs are doomed by robots and automation. But the OECD estimates that only nine percent of jobs across the 35 OECD nations are at high risk of being automated, although of course even 9% can be generative of social difficulties. But there is an established track record across history of new technologies creating at least as many new jobs as they displace. Usually these new jobs demand higher skills and provide higher pay. The biggest threat is that our educational institutions won’t be able to keep pace with new skills demands.
“It is becoming clear that Versatility matters, in a constantly changing world, so Jim Spohrer’s IBM model of a “T-shaped” person holds true: broad and deep individuals capable of adapting and going where the demand lies.” — Peter Robinson
In an economy with a significant on-demand labor force, what competencies will these workers need to compete?
There are two types of competencies that will be needed: “technical” – or in other words, related to deep knowledge of a specific domain, whether welding or optogenetics; and “transversal,” which applies to all occupations. Those are described by the Center for Curriculum Redesign as skills (creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration), character (mindfulness, curiosity, courage, resilience, ethics, leadership) and meta-learning (growth mindset, metacognition).
How will managerial skill requirements change as a result of major structural changes that are likely, including human replacement by machines and growth of the on-demand economy?
OECD’s BIAC surveys of 50 employer organizations worldwide has shown that employers value not just Skills as described above, but also Character qualities as well. Further, it is becoming clear that Versatility matters, in a constantly changing world, so Jim Spohrer’s IBM model of a “T-shaped” person holds true: broad and deep individuals capable of adapting and going where the demand lies.
“We often hear about the need for more STEM education. But I think there is an equal need for a greater emphasis on the humanities and the arts, for their intrinsic value as well as for developing skills and character qualities.” — Peter Robinson
What central changes in school curricula do you envision, both at the secondary school and college levels?
We often hear about the need for more STEM education. But I think there is an equal need for a greater emphasis on the humanities and the arts for their intrinsic value as well as for developing skills and character qualities as described above. As David Barnes of IBM wrote recently, these skills are more durable and are also a very good indicator of long-term success in employment.
How can the evolving changes in competencies required for employment be effectively translated into school curricula? Where are the main opportunities to enable this? e.g. Assessment systems? Business/Education collaboration? Curriculum change?
I’d go back to something else David Barnes said: We need much stronger connections between education and the job market, in the form of more partnerships among employers, governments and education institutions. Everyone needs to step up and create true partnerships. No one sector of society can address this alone. OECD’s BIAC has also documented employers’ wishes for deep curricular reforms to modernize content and embed competencies in order to meet today’s market needs.
What role should government play in ensuring citizens receive a quality and relevant education given the challenges that lie ahead?
I think the guiding principle for government should be to protect and enable/retrain the worker, not protect the job. Policy makers and educators should focus on making sure that workers are as equipped as possible to transition to new opportunities as these develop, and on ensuring that businesses have the freedom to pivot and adopt new technologies and business processes.
For the Silo, C.M. Rubin. C. M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?” She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland, is the publisher of CMRubinWorld and is a Disruptor Foundation Fellow.
Adam Jacob sent in this tell-all graphic that is pretty shocking. If these statistics are true then ‘it’s clear the small food producer is an endangered species. Unless of course, they start supplying the big chain corporate grocery store chains. And that will likely spell the end of family farm gate-retail…and that will spell the end of the family farm. It is so important to support local farm to table initiatives and preserve food that is not only grown for profit, but grown for quality and healthy consumption.
To learn more about the consolidation of (North) American food and the implications for Ontarians, visit Silo Direct Link to Frugaldad.com
Here’s a cooking journal with a unique platform that helps you create signature recipes and becomes your personal cookbook. It’s a perfect booklet for all people who enjoy cooking and experimenting in the kitchen. The project first launched a couple of years ago on Kickstarter under the name Project Cookbook.
If you want to get more creative with your cooking, but still make sure your ideas don’t melt away as fast as the food from your plates, Cookbook is the perfect fit for your kitchen. Old Skool – This cooking journal with a unique interface helps you develop signature recipes and create a culinary heritage. And what’s the best part? It’s not connected to your smartphone. It is a physical booklet that will become your trusted cooking companion and is destined to become your personal cookbook.
If other similar booklets are meant to simply copy and gather recipes of others, Cookbook’s idea and purpose is much different: after you equip the Cookbook with recipes of your choice, they simply serve as a starting point of your future cooking experiments. It features a development platform for every recipe where you can keep track of all the changes to the original recipe – whether it’s tinkering with your cooking process or changing the ingredients.
After each try you can use the scoreboard to evaluate your dish, write down important notes for next time and keep a tab on who loves it the most.
The aim is to remind people that cooking is more than just following recipes. As the team puts it: ‘’We are hoping Cookbook will motivate people to develop their own recipes and create a culinary heritage, which they will be able to share with their friends, family and future generations.
Something like the notebooks our grandmothers used to have, but with a modern twist.
Cookbook also holds an encyclopedia which helps you with everyday pickles like finding the appropriate wine pairing or quickly converting cups into grams. A minimalist design of the book gives you a sense of coziness and at the same time allows you to personalize the final outlook of your Cookbook. For the Silo, Hana Gaber.
Well
before the construction of Ontario’s present Queen’s Park Legislative
Building, Ontario was governed as the British colony of Upper Canada.
After its formation in 1791, Upper Canada’s elected Legislature first met on September 17th, 1792. As no permanent structure was built to house the Legislature in Newark, now Niagara-on-the Lake, meetings took place in a variety of locations including Navy Hall—which also served as a residence for our first Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe. The first legislators were also reputed to have met in Butler’s Barracks, and also under a large oak tree.
In 1793, a site at York, now Toronto, was chosen as the new location for Upper Canada’s capital. Lieutenant Governor Simcoe initiated plans for the construction of the colony’s first purpose-built Legislative Building. Completed in 1797, the “Palace of Government,” as it was known, was located near the present-day intersection of Front and Parliament Streets. Consisting of two small structures connected by a covered walkway, they were the first in York to be made of brick.
The Legislature met there until 1813, when the building was burned to the ground in the aftermath of the Battle of York during the War of 1812-14. During this American raid, the first Mace of Ontario—made for the Legislature of Upper Canada in 1792—was seized by the American soldiers. It was later returned in 1934 by President Roosevelt as a gesture of friendship. While waiting for construction of a new building, Upper Canada’s Legislature met in several temporary locations.
The
next structure, completed in 1820 on the same site, was destroyed by an
accidental fire in 1824. As before, sessions of parliament were held
in temporary
locations, including the court house and the general hospital.
In 1832, another structure at Front and Simcoe Streets served the province well, but by the 1870s, it was in poor condition. This prompted the Department of Public Works to formulate plans for a modern facility. The legislature continued to meet in the rapidly declining structure until the opening of the present Legislative Building at Queen’s Park in 1893.
The Legislature, which has become one of my places of business and almost a second home, was proudly opened on April 4th,
1893 by Ontario Premier
Sir Oliver Mowat. It took six years to complete (1886-1892). People
were thrilled by its beauty, expanse and grandeur—not to mention its
electric lights and a new and exciting invention, electric elevators.
The
beautiful building was designed by Architect Richard A. Waite in the
Richardson Romanesque style, featuring heavy stonework, majestic rounded
arches,
and fanciful carvings. The exterior walls are pink sandstone and the
roof was covered in slate. Oak floors and cast iron pillars lined the
halls. Intricate details were added to every inch of the building’s
interior and exterior.
The structure is divided into the East Wing, West Wing, and the North Wing, which was constructed later and opened in 1913.
All in all, the building is a large home-like meeting place where I work for my constituents and the people of Ontario.
When
in Toronto, I would urge any lover of great architecture, history, and
good government to come for a visit and learn more about our provincial
parliament.
Russell Avenue in Ottawa’s Sandy Hill neighbourhood is the winner of the Canada’s Best Garden Street contest.
Toronto, ON Garden Days – The month of June hosts Canada’s three-day celebration of gardens and gardening. There are loads of Garden Days official activities scheduled across the country, and almost every province has a Flagship Event for you to enjoy. It’s the perfect time to get dirty in one’s own garden, visit a nearby public garden or spend some time in a local garden center.
You’ll be in great company
If you’re planning travelling around the province or across Canada this Summer, be sure to visit a few of the many public gardens that we’re becoming world renowned for. Dr. Richard Benfield, author of ‘Garden Tourism’ estimates that annually there are 6 million garden tourists in Canada.
And the winner is . . .
On the occasion of our upcoming National Garden Day, Friday, June 13, the Canadian Garden Council is pleased to announce the winner of the Garden Days’ ‘Best Garden Street’ Contest which celebrates the contribution that public and/or private gardens have made to the quality of life on individual streets and neighbourhoods. The winner of $1000 worth of Marks’ Choice Lawn and Garden products from Home Hardware, and the bragging rights to be named ‘Canada’s Best Garden Street’ is: Mary Moreland, Russell Avenue, Ottawa.
Garden Days spokesperson, Mark Cullen, recently said, “The partnership between the hand of man and Mother Nature has produced some of the highest quality green spaces and gardens in Canada and on earth. Garden Days, a new idea that’s all about this successful collaboration, has been sown on fertile soil. I have no doubt that the ideas and principles behind the concept will sprout and grow into national significance. And the sooner the better.”
This coming weekend join in the national celebration of everything that the Garden contributes the quality of all our lives.
Garden Days are a family affair. Photo: Pierre Boucher
Organized by the Canadian Garden Council, and kicked off with National Garden Day, always the Friday before Father’s Day, Garden Days is a three-day celebration of gardens and gardening. The program’s objective is to draw attention to Canada’s garden culture, history and innovations and to underscore the importance of public and private gardens, the values of home gardening and the promotion of environmental stewardship. For the Silo, Courtney Charette.
Injectables are quickly becoming the most popular treatment on the menu for Millennials at doctor offices and medspas. The latest survey by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) shows that 56% of facial plastic surgeons saw an increase in cosmetic surgery or injectables with patients under age 30 last year.With more patients now relying on injectables for early maintenance, AAFPRS President Fred G. Fedok, MD educates us on some of the most common injection misconceptions:
Myth: BOTOX Is Synonymous With “Injectables”
Truth: The term “Injectables” encompasses neuromodulators and fillers, which have very different functions. BOTOX is a specific brand name for a drug that is part of a group of drugs known as neuromodulators, which include also Dysport and Xeomim. Neuromodulators temporarily weaken or paralyze the muscles that are injected. They are used to diminish muscle action and thus improve small folds or wrinkles in the skin.
Fillers are used to “fill out” deficiencies or voids in the soft tissues. These can be fairly superficial or deeper voids in the underlying fat complement. Restylane, Juvederm, Boletero, and Sculptra are among the most popular fillers used in the US and North America.
Myth: Fillers Are Only For The Lower Face
Truth:Different types of fillers have different ranges of longevity, and stiffness that determine were they are best applied in the face. For instance, under the lower eyelids a facial plastic surgeon looks for filler that is good at filling volume however is not too stiff so as not to produce lumps underneath the thin skin there. In deeper areas such as the cheek, deeper deficiencies are targeted and a stiffer substance can be used.
Myth: Injectables Will Render You Expressionless
Truth: When used correctly, injectables can have a very natural result. You want to choose an experienced injector and a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who specializes in the face, head and neck to ensure the most successful, natural-looking outcomes. The result is not permanent and aging continues over time, as it does with any rejuvenation procedure.
For the Silo, Patty Mathews.
ABOUT THE AAFPRS:
The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is the world’s largest specialty association for facial plastic surgery. It represents more than 2,500 facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons throughout the world. www.aafprs.org
With Budget 2019, Ontario is committed to balancing the books in a responsible manner – restoring accountability, sustainability and trust. The previous government left behind a $15 billion structural deficit.
The
government’s plan will prioritize investments that generate the
greatest returns for people in Ontario and protect what matters
most. Programs will be continually reviewed to ensure they are
efficient, effective and modern, while relying on best practices from
around the world.
Over the course of this five-year path to balance, total revenue is projected to grow at an average annual rate of three per
cent. Comparatively, program expense over the same period is budgeted to grow at an average annual rate of one per cent.
In order to achieve a balanced budget while protecting what matters most, it is important to transform programs, not only to
find efficiencies and savings, but also to make services more modern and accessible.
Several programs have been streamlined to centralize administrative functions.
Ontario
is combining six existing provincial health agencies and the Local
Health Integration Networks into one new agency –
Ontario Health. The goal is to streamline oversight, reduce bureaucracy
and reduce the silos – leading to annualized savings of more than $350
million.
An integrated supply chain is being created to consolidate procurement practices across sectors, resulting in reduced government
expenditures and reduced red tape for vendors. This initiative is expected to result in annualized savings of $1 billion.
Ontario’s
social assistance system will be reformed, simplifying the rate
structure, reducing administration, cutting unnecessary
rules, and providing greater opportunities to achieve better employment
outcomes, resulting in estimated annual savings of over $1 billion at
maturity.
Drug benefits under OHIP+ will be focused on those who need them the most – children and young people under the age of 25 who
are not covered by private insurance plans – generating annualized savings of $250 million.
The
government is restoring the Ontario Student Assistance Program to a
needs-based program. OSAP will be reformed so future
generations of Ontario students can access financial support for
postsecondary education while providing a 10 per cent reduction in
tuition for domestic students.
There
are important strides toward building a modern and more efficient
workforce while ensuring front-line services and workers
are protected. As an example, the size of the Ontario Public Service
has already been reduced by 3.5 per cent through attrition alone.
Additional measures, such as voluntary exit initiatives, will bring
further reductions and efficiencies.
All ministries have identified four per cent in administrative efficiencies resulting in cumulative savings of $1.7 billion by
2023-24.
By
containing costs and prioritizing spending, the Ontario government is
providing a projected $26 billion in much needed relief
to Ontario individuals, families and businesses over six years, while
continuing to eliminate the deficit. For example, the government is
proposing a new refundable tax credit for child care costs.
Restraining spending and finding savings has to be responsible and pragmatic.
While
balancing the budget requires difficult decisions and trade-offs, it is
also an opportunity to rethink how government works
and how the entire broader public sector delivers programs and
services. This is why the government will continue to review programs on
an ongoing basis.
We all need to feel confident that our government is a careful steward of our tax dollars.
Launched by Sarah Jagger in 2014, Domestic Objects has built a solid reputation in Canada, the U.S.A. and abroad for handmade, customizable play tents designed to stimulate a child’s natural curiosity and sense of play.
A 
So many of my clients bring interesting cases to me, everyone is different and so therefore interesting in their own way. But one case that stands out was a client who had 
For the Silo, 
If you want to get more creative with your cooking, but still make sure your ideas don’t melt away as fast as the food from your plates, Cookbook is the perfect fit for your kitchen. 
