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If you have been living under a rock, you might not know that the biggest movie EVER – Avengers: Endgame – is coming home on blu-ray this week! We finally get to cry like babies in the comfort of our own homes. But the best part about it is the Avengers: Endgame bonus features. All of them are worth watching — more than once.
Avengers: Endgame is filled with emotional moments. Almost the entire movie has my heart pounding. Even though I have seen it seven times already. It is almost as if I am more nervous knowing what is coming next. If you are a comic book reader, then you know there are many amazing comic book references and Easter Eggs in Avengers: Endgame.
If you have not seen Avengers: Endgame yet, you are truly missing out. It is one of my all time favorite movies. But at least now you can watch some amazing bonus features along with it.
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I am so beyond excited that my copy of Avengers: Endgame has arrived (thanks Marvel!!). Over on my YouTube channel, at 1pm ET today, I will be hosting an #AvengersEndgame watch party! So come laugh, cry, and chat with me — and if you can't join live, no worries, it will be available to watch after on my channel (MamasGeeky). . . . . . #MCU #Marvel #Endgame #Avengers #Avengers4 #watchparty #youtuber #AvengersWatchParty #EndgameWatchParty #MamasGeeky
Bonus Features Worth Watching
My absolute favorite part about a home release is the bonus features. Not only do you get to see what is put in to the movie, you get to see what was taken out. The behind the scenes and blooper reels are always good — but the deleted scenes are where it is at for me.
Avengers: Endgame has a lot of bonus features. All of which are worth watching. Here is the complete list:
- Remembering Stan Lee – Filmmakers and cast honor the great Stan Lee in a fond look back at his MCU movie cameos.
- Setting The Tone: Casting Robert Downey Jr. – Hear the tale of how Robert Downey Jr. was cast as Tony Stark in the original "Iron Man" — and launched the MCU.
- A Man Out of Time: Creating Captain America – Trace the evolution of Captain America with those who helped shape the look, feel and character of this compelling hero.
- Black Widow: Whatever It Takes – Follow Black Widow's journey both within and outside the Avengers, including the challenges she faced and overcame along the way.
- The Russo Brothers: Journey to Endgame – See how Anthony and Joe Russo met the challenge of helming two of the biggest films in cinematic history … back-to-back!
- The Women of the MCU – MCU women share what it was like to join forces for the first time in an epic battle scene — and be part of such a historic ensemble.
- Bro Thor – His appearance has changed but his heroism remains! Go behind the scenes to see how Bro Thor was created.
- Six Deleted Scenes – "Goji Berries," "Bombs on Board," "Suckiest Army in the Galaxy," "You Used to Frickin' Live Here," "Tony and Howard" and "Avengers Take a Knee."
- Gag Reel – Laugh along with the cast in this epic collection of flubs, goofs and gaffes from set.
- Visionary Intro – Intro by directors Joe and Anthony Russo.
- Audio Commentary – Audio commentary by directors Anthony and Joe Russo, and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.
All of these are fantastic. Bro Thor had me cracking up, as did the Gag Reel. But several of them hit me right in the feels and had me crying. Black Widow, Remembering Stan Lee, and a certain deleted scene.
Avengers Take a Knee
I loved each and every deleted scene, but man Avengers Take a Knee really REALLY got to me. I did a reaction video, which you can check out, and see that I cried. Like a lot. It broke me. If you don't already know, I am Team Iron Man all the way. Always have been. I love that man.
Luckily some of these Avengers: Endgame memes had me laughing, and put me in a better mood after watching it.
Remembering Stan Lee
Because apparently Avengers: Endgame isn't depressing enough, the Russo Brothers and Marvel Studios decided to add a tribute to Stan Lee to the bonus features. This featurette is pretty amazing. We see a lot of the cast talking about when they first met Stan, and what he meant to them. That he was always a bright light on set and in a great mood. I miss that man. So much.
R.I.P. Stan Lee. Thank you so much for everything you have done for us geeks. You created an incredible world that we were lucky enough to step in to. THANK YOU.
We love you, 3000.
About Avengers: Endgame
The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios' grand conclusion to twenty-two films, "Avengers: Endgame."


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Greenlee's cable tester the SIDEKICK PLUS evolved from a basic copper tester; now Greenlee Communications has just released the BONDED MODEM SIDEKICK PLUS, which was introduced last month at the Broadband World Forum in Amsterdam. Check out Greenlee's announcement in this video.
More about the SIDEKICK PLUS:
Broadcom bonded and single ADSL/VDSL vectoring modem enables rapid installation without reboots.
Easy to learn and use mode selection dial saves time and increases productivity on the job.
Robust copper test suite qualifies and troubleshoots xDSL up to 35MHz plus TDR/RFL.
Download the PDF to learn more.
Greenlee was founded 150 years ago as a handtool company. Through the years and several acquisitions, Greenlee is now established in the communications space. Click here to learn more about Greenlee.
For product specifications and pricing, contact your local Accu-Tech representative.

subset: commoncrawl


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Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has expanded his early lead in Iowa, while former Florida Governor Jeb Bush continues to face headwinds and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida shows upside potential in the state that hosts the first 2016 presidential nomination balloting.
A new Bloomberg Politics/Des Moines Register Iowa Poll shows more than a third of likely Republican caucus participants say they would never vote for Bush—one factor in a new index to assess candidate strength in such a crowded field. Forty-three percent view him favorably, compared to 45 percent who view him unfavorably.
Walker is backed by 17 percent as the state enters a busy summer of candidate visits, a planned straw poll, and campaigning at the Iowa State Fair. Tied for second are Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 10 percent, with Bush and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee next at 9 percent each.
Am impressed with Carly; her forthrightness is so refreshing!!
I like Paul, and Walker, I hope those two emerge as the leaders….we need new blood and i like what both have done to try to make us a little more free…
Jeb Bush's biggest challenge is himself. He's a RINO!
I'm not ready for another Bush just yet …… maybe George P. sometime in the distant future. There are so many to choose from. My picks will be for those with a conservative, small government and bureaucratic ideals. Maybe another Tea Party Patriotic person. Much better than a RINO type. Since the fed or any other type of organization is like a business, an ex governor or an ex CEO, like Carly, would be better for America. No more DC belt way types. No more demowits.
Don't let the MSM censor your news as America becomes Great Again. Over 500,000 Americans receive our daily dose of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness along with Breaking News direct to their inbox—and you can too. Sign up to receive news and views from The 1776Coalition!
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All performance photos in this blog by Robert Barry Francos/FFanzeen
A while back, I was at the diminutive yet intimate Rockwood Music Hall on Allen Street (on the "Side of the Lower East") to hear a singer I'm fond of (but is not the focus here). My pal Gittar and I decided to stay and see what the next singer would be like, and then head out; a couple of songs, we figured. When Tamara Hey came on, we silently stayed the whole set. Obtaining her CD, it became one of my favorites over the past year or so.
Sunday, November 18, 2007, found me back at the Rockwood, waiting for Tamara to play again, where she plays semi-regularly. She was third on the bill, so with camera in hand, I ordered my drink (which, as usual, I nursed through the night), and waited.
First up was JOCELYN MEDINA, who was backed by piano, stand-up bass, and drum. The stage at Rockwood is so small that the majority of it is taken up by the grand piano, so the drum is set up off the stage, against the wall between the stage and door. Jocelyn is solid jazz, with some Brazilian influence thrown in. Some songs she wrote herself, and others she wrote the lyrics which are put to other instrumentals by jazz greats. The band was obviously new to the material, and Jocelyn helped them along with directions between songs, and they quite competently kept up. Jocelyn herself took a couple of songs to get into the groove, but once she did, her voice layered over the backing group in a fine soup of sounds. When she sang a couple of numbers in Portuguese that she seemed especially to let herself go with the music. I was glad for the opportunity to see her.
Next up was LEAHA BOSCHEN, in this occasion a solo artist playing either guitar or piano. Originating from the West Coast, she still filled the place with fans, many of whom she apparently knew personally. This made for a very personal, and informal performance that was relaxed and totally enjoyable. She dedicated songs to people who were sitting there, making it feel as much a living room as a performance space. Leaha has a strong voice that carries it through her songs. It cradles, it beckons, and it storms the castle with sheer force, as she touches on relationships and the human condition. What's more, she looked like she was having such fun with all this. When she found out she could be on for nearly an hour, she was quite happy. The audience didn't want to let her go when she was done.
TAMARA HEY was third up. Again the place filled with her fans. She plays acoustic guitar, and she was backed by electric guitar and piano. Tamara is another performer who looks like she is having a blast up there. One of the aspects I admire about her is that her topics are not typical. For example this night, songs included missing someone ("Right This Minute", one of my favorites of her work), realizing a relationship is ending during a boring flight ("Up in the Air"), or working a really crappy temp job ("Part Time Help Me", which she announced was a true story). There were many other songs off her CD I was hoping she would do, like the incredibly sad "More Like Melanie" or the toe-tapping "Pebble in My Shoe", but I certainly would not say I was disappointed by the selection. I enjoyed hearing material that's new to me. Tamara's voice is on a higher register, but has a bite to it. Her music has just the slight hint of Nashville, but not so much one would want to shout "yee-haw", if you get my drift. I recommend getting her CD and seeing her perform. She plays around often, and I may even see you there.
Official Tamara Hey Song List For the Night:
1. You Wear Me Out
2. Up in the Air
3. Round Peg
4. Right This Minute
5. October Sun
6. Somebody's Girl
7. Drive
8. Part Time Help Me
9; Long Dog Day
There were more bands to play, as is the custom at the Rockwood, but I knew it was time for me to go. And have a sandwich at Katz's.
Here is a link to more photos from the show: http://community.webshots.com/user/ffranzos2006v1
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Rockwood Music Hall: November 18, 2007
Posted by Robert Barry Francos at 9:13 PM
Labels: folk, jazz, Jocelyn Medina, Leaha Boschen, Lower East Side, Rockwood Music Hall, singer-songwriter, Tamara Hey
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I sort of get how I'd do the latter (which I'd think would be harder), something like this:
rewrite ^/linux/(.*)$ /linux.php?distro=$1 last;
But thats not exactly what I'd need to do to just remove the .php from login.php, I tried this and NGINX wouldnt restart because of bad syntax:
location /login { try_files $document_root/login.php; }
Could someone explain how I'd achieve this and point me to an easy to understand guide to how regex works? Thanks
This post has been edited by trickstar34: 28 February 2019 - 12:08 AM


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How many Presbyterians does it take to change a door? The answer is six (6) plus one friend. The Habitat team worked today (3/3/15) to change out the rear sliding glass door at the Habitat home we are renovating. It took six + one of us to remove the old door and install a new double door. After a few hours of scratching our heads, we got it done! A big thanks is due the following:
Dick Porter, Lawrence Hope, Andrew Isola, Dave Roseveare, David Crook and and Brad Brown.
Here is a photo of the "finished" job.
Submitted by Jay Davis.


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Published on : Tuesday, January 19, 2016
The term "megatrends" stand for the obvious but also the unnoticed strong undercurrents in societies, which occur to varying extents. Megatrends can prevail for several decades, because they are long-term and enduring phenomena. These megatrends can determine demands in a home and also impacts furniture as a product.
In the run-up to imm cologne 2016, the German furniture trade association (VDM) conducted a research into megatrends and exhibitor survey to better understand important trends and tendencies in the furniture and interior design industry for the new 2016 season.
Our living areas are going to become smaller. Increasing house rents are forcing people into smaller apartments. Furniture will get more multi-functional and smaller. With ecological materials gaining more preference, homes will continue to get "healthier". Heating and lighting appliances are becoming more energy efficient and furniture is being pushed in the direction of healthy comfort, optimised in terms of ergonomics. In addition, a lot of new furniture is made of lightweight material and easier to move.
Furniture is taking on a nostalgic look. Current furniture designs are understated and very much reduced to the functional. Such furniture and accessories hearken back, visually, to bygone times. Be it garden furniture, beds, cabinets or armchairs: in all kinds of furniture, long-known design qualities are being rediscovered. Mid-century-design, as it is called, that is to say designs from approximately 1940 to 1960, is the most sought-after in the coming season. This mid-century-character also has an impact on the general proportions of furniture. In the current season, furniture is tending to be smaller than in previous years. Despite the functions remaining the same, materials are being economised, just as in the more frugal times of the previous century.
Investment in outdoor space will continue to increase. The living area of garden, balcony and terrace is becoming more important. The comforting sense of relaxation and vacation is being brought to the home balcony. Alongside the furniture there are innumerable outdoor accessories, such as rugs and lighting, which can quickly create a holiday atmosphere on the balcony at home.
In textiles, delight in combinations and stylistic inconsistencies score highly. Stripes, floral patterns, and abstract graphics – the world of colours and patterns for upholstery fabrics is very diverse. Ornaments as an opulent design feature also remain popular.
imm cologne 2016 will see an enormous variety of freely combinable shelving modules, some of which can be assembled even without any tools, and which are suitable for any need and living arrangement. Modular shelving is flexible, light and expandable. And moving home is convenient and uncomplicated with small modules.
Design is becoming more international. With hindsight, you can always tell from which era a piece of furniture is from, but not from which country. In the era of globalisation, furniture worldwide is also taking on a global design vocabulary, which emerges, especially in urban areas, from the ever-adapting living conditions.
Tags: comfort, design, fabrics, furniture, German furniture trade association, imm cologne, living area, megatrends, mid-century, outdoor, outdoor furniture, textile


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Brand Biography: Steve Madden
Who is this man you ask? And why is he around several amazing pairs of shoes? If you guessed Steve Madden himself then pat yourself on the back! You are a true fashionista!
Steve Madden is easily America's most successful shoe designer. Considered the fashion footwear mogul of the 21st century, Madden has been responsible for the designing and marketing of the company's trendsetting shows for the past two decades. His vision to give young, fashion forward men and women a unique way to express their individuality through style resulted in millions of customers worldwide and propelled his designs to the forefront of the fashion industry.
Fun Fact: In 1990, with a mere $1100 in his bank account, Madden started crafting shoe designs from his Queens based factory and the Steve Madden brand was born. With sheer guts, years of experience in the footwear industry and unique creative designs, Steve Madden formed his own successful enterprise.
Madden's footwear vision is continuously evolving. Steve once said, "What inspires me is what I see people wearing on the streets of the world from New York to London and beyond. Today, fashion is dictated by individual style. To me, the fashion of the future is anything that a young guy or girl feels good wearing as long as it's put together in the right way. Today, the Steve Madden brand represents a lifestyle. It is about embracing fashion while maintaining that funky independence that first defined the brand 20 years ago. Steve Madden is always looking toward the future!
Here at Grand Central and Divaz Boutique, we are huge fans of Steve Madden! The following boots are just a few boots you will find while shopping with us! Stop in at any of our 4 locations to try a pair of these new styles on. Let us help you step into Fall!
The "Lynet" $189
Personally, my favorite boot so far this season. I love the intricate detailing of the back and the gold hardware all over. These is sure to be a best seller!
The "Albany" $189
Another great boot. All genuine leather makes this boot a must have this season. Steve paid close attention to detail on this one as the back heel even has gold detailing. The tiny side buckle puts a nice spin on previous years styles.
The "Marco" $149
Steve has done it again with this above the ankle boot. It's stud detailing and side buckles will be sure to turn some heads. Pair with skinny denim or tights and you've got a look that will literally rock some socks off.
The "Troopa" $99
This nicely price pointed boot makes it a steal this fall season. This boot looks great with shorts, skirts and skinny denim. You don't have to be in the military to wear either, but if you do, we salute you!
The "Creation" $99
At $99 this over the knee boot was created just for you! Its simple yet sleek design really does let these boots walk all over you. Probably the most versatile boot this fall, Creation comes in brown or black. They are sure to last you all season and won't cost you a fortune.
Hurry in! These boots won't last long!
Shop with us at:
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Completing this goal has been a long time coming. It's been less than a year since I last went to a Weight Watchers meeting, but it feels like an eternity. I have been able to feel myself slipping and I know I haven't been making good choices. I follow another blogger who posts weekly about her Weight Watchers updates and it's been a huge inspiration for me to get back into the game. This afternoon, she posted that she had a great week and she hit a goal she was working towards. After reading that post, I went immediately to the Weight Watchers website and signed up for the online program.
I'm not sure how the online program is going to work since I won't be going to the meetings (which I feel are a huge help), but I'm going to give it a try. I'm going to give my kitchen a makeover and revamp my exercise plan (which is hard to do when there is no Gold's Gym or American Family Fitness in the area!) But between Jillian Michaels' workout DVDs and Just Dance, I think working out at home will prove to be pretty fun!
So, as of Friday, December 21st, I'm officially a member of Weight Watchers again. Here's to a new me - and a new year! And tomorrow is my first weigh-in. Eeek!
I'm going to hold you blog readers accountable for helping me stick to my goal! My weekly highs and lows posts, which I started the same day that I signed up for WW, will be a good place to post my weekly losses (or gains). Don't you think?


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Dubai Chamber Workshop Familiarises Companies With VAT Refund Scheme for Tourists
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently hosted a workshop which aimed to familiarise retailers and members of the business community with the UAE's new value-added tax (VAT) refund scheme for tourists.
The workshop, hosted at Dubai Chamber's premises, was organised by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) in cooperation with Planet, the exclusive Tourist Refund operator for the tourist refund scheme which will be rolled out in the last quarter of 2018.
More than 250 members of the business community attended the workshop where participants were briefed on the steps, processes and procedures associated with registering under the UAE's new VAT refund scheme for tourists.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Director General of the Federal Tax Authority, said the Cabinet Decision No. (41) of 2018 On Introducing the Tax Refunds for Tourist Scheme is set to come into effect in the last quarter of 2018, and supports the vision of the UAE's wise leadership and diversification efforts, and added that the system is expected to contribute to the UAE's economy and boost the country's appeal as an attractive tourism destination.
H.E. Al Bustani noted that the VAT refund scheme for tourists is based on the best international practices, and uses advanced technology and an integrated electronic system that connects retailers with exit points, which is designed for seamless and efficient transactions.
For his part, Atiq Juma Nasib, Senior Vice President of Commercial Services at Dubai Chamber, said the introduction of VAT refunds in the UAE is expected to have a very positive impact on the tourism sector, as it will strengthen country's position as one of the world's most sough-after destinations for tourism and shopping.
"The strong attendance at the workshop clearly reflected the growing interest among retailers in Dubai that are keen to improve their understanding of VAT refunds, the benefits of using the new system, as well as its implications for the sector," said Nasib.
Earlier, the FTA announced conditions and procedures for tourists who claim VAT refunds when leaving the UAE. Upon exiting the country, tourists will be able to reclaim taxes paid on their purchases through an electronic system which will be connected to the FTA, airports, land and sea ports of entry. Retails must meet the requirements outlined by FTA in order to register and participate in the VAT Refunds scheme for Tourists.
Dubai Chamber regularly organises training seminars and workshops to raise awareness about important matters and issues impacting the business community in Dubai. These events fall in line with its strategic objectives of creating a favourable business environment and supporting business growth in the Emirate.
Background Information
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
We are a non-profit public organization whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai. It does so by creating a favourable environment; promoting Dubai as an international business hub and by supporting the development of business.


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Home » world and Bride trafficking » The Truth About Human Trafficking
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The Truth About Human Trafficking
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The words "human trafficking" is heard frequently, and yet, when some are asked to explain the horrors of human trafficking and its victims, there is still an obvious sense of ignorance in the matter. These victims are bought and sold for labor and sexual purposes every day. Labor tends to consist of basic servitude and smaller labor demands. These labor demands are also on a much larger scale for purposes such as working on farms, in sweatshops, and different multinational corporations.
Trafficking for sexual exploitation is a whole different story. This has sadly and very oddly become one of the most private sects of human trafficking. Trafficking for sexual purposes can be for anything from prostitution, forced pornography, bride trafficking (sold into marriage), to sexual abuse. Knowing now what exactly it is that takes place during the process of trafficking, the question is: who are these people? It's commonly said that people only from impoverished and international countries are victimized. This myth is incorrect, and also includes virtually any kind of person as long as there is a profit to be made from potential victims.
Over the last 30 years, the frequency of human trafficking has led to certain trends in different locations throughout the world. During these 30 years, the United States has involved themselves accordingly, and helped establish the cause for anti-human trafficking along the way.
The prime locations of human trafficking in the world have shifted between largely depressed areas. In the 1970's, it was the most prominent in Southeast Asia and the Philippines. In the 1980's the wave shifted to countries like Uganda, Nigeria, and Ghana in Africa. By the 1990's, the hotspots of human trafficking had moved up and over to Europe and South America, into El Salvador and Guatemala. From there, it eventually resided in Brazil, Mexico, and The Dominican Republic.
After the 90's it then spread to countries such Russia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria. In 2000, it finally shifted to Central Asia to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia. Present day human trafficking resides most commonly in countries such as China, Russia, Japan, Cambodia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, South Korea, and the United States.
In late 2000, the U.S. Congress passed the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. This act became a landmark in anti-human trafficking because it employed the U.S. to use political and economic leverage to contain human trafficking globally. It requires the U.S. state department to give an annual evaluation of different government's performances in stopping human trafficking in their given countries.
Each country was evaluated on their laws, policies, and practices used to hunt and prosecute traffickers. The country was then ranked on a scale of 1-3. Number one indicated the nation had been meeting act standards. Receiving a number two meant controlling issues, but solutions were in progress. Finally, a number three resulted and issue with no solution pursued.
If the country was classified as a three, there was a public report released to the entire world, resulting in embarrassment ridicule. This prompted rethinking and planning on their part. A "number three" country will also be sanctioned by cuts to foreign aid, as well as opposition from the U.S. against any attempts for loans to their country.
Although the Unites States has obviously showed great promise and leadership in the fight against human trafficking, they still struggle with the issue on their own soil. It was estimated that 17,500 foreign victims are trafficked annually in the U.S. However, it's even more unsettling that the number of U.S. citizens being sexually trafficked within the United States is even higher at 200,000 people per year. As a result, many organizations were created to expose and battle this modern day slavery.
Robert - About the Author:
Jesus is a photographer. He has his own photography company where he takes pictures for social events. You can check out his recent web site where he writes about the Minolta X 700 and the Minolta x 700 manual.
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/culture-articles/the-truth-about-human-trafficking-3006720.html#ixzz0wK54SxJe
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution


text: Ask Amanda – what's with your blog?June 13, 2012|In About Me, Ask Amanda|By Amanda ThorsonQuestion: What's with your blog? Why do you have other stuff besides your photography? – signed everybody (lots of people ask me this) Answer: In my business I'm not only selling my photographs, I'm selling myself. On their wedding day a couple spends a huge amount of time with their photographer, so they should (hopefully) like their photographer. If a couple has been able to get to know me even just a little bit through my blog…I've succeeded. It can help them decide whether or not they want to book me, because unbelievably some people don't like nerds. But my personal blog posts are primarily for the people who have already booked me, they get to know me so much better than they would without my blog. At their wedding I get to meet their friends, hear how they met and sometimes even see family moments they wished had never happened. This blog at least puts us on a more even playing field, they know embarrassing facts about me and hopefully this puts them at ease when letting me into to their lives on this important day. Below is an artistic photo of myself that I took whilst plucking my eyebrows. Amanda ThorsonMy name is Amanda Thorson and I am a full-time photographer in Canberra, Australia. I shoot weddings, families, babies and butts. Please get in touch if you'd like me to photograph you. Related Posts Emma & ArranEmma & Arran are the kind of people who make you feel like an…by Amanda Thorson What I've Learned – Killing Other People's CreativityHave you ever been super excited about an idea, shared it with a close friend…by Amanda Thorson Alissar & NabilPeople sometimes ask me do you really like every couple you photograph? Do you…by Amanda Thorson


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It's HAIKU time!
Now, you wonder, why on earth would I say that? Because, as a writer, there is no better way to hone your craft, especially if you want your narrative strong, tight, and not superfluous.
A Haiku, for those of you who don't know, is a Japanese form of poetry. It has seventeen syllables and three verses, and it is supposed to convey the essence of the thought, as well as the image.
Many people say it is simple, even simplistic… but it isn't. Try to imagine a place and write about it in shorthand form. It makes you think. It discards easy words for tighter verbs and nouns. Writing a Haiku is hard work, but the form can also be a bonus for your narrative. Usually, writers can be…well…wordy. 🙂 We love words, one of the reasons we are authors. But writers new to the craft go overboard — they believe that telling everything is the way to go on the narrative. What they don't realize is that there are selections of words out there that can actually replace phrases. Even sentences.
So, a Haiku will help sharpen, not only the focus of your writing, but also the word selection process.
Here is an exercise you can do:
First: imagine a place
Second: write 15 words that describe that place. Find strong words that create an image.
Third: write a Haiku poem using the words (obviously you won't use all of them)
Brick and steel canyons
Steam, asphalt, bumping masses
Noise and heat around glass
My words were: brick, steam, asphalt, glass, canyons, bumping, claustrophobic, masses, heat, rushing, noise, deafening, cacophony, steel
Now, what can you come up with?


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Hybrid Utterances
- Hypercompression: my meditation method
- The Secret Significance of Spiders
- Ontology 101: Who is it that knows/feels/senses? or What am I?
- Ontology for Beginners: How to Reality Check Your Existence
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- The Feng-style 24X Yilu
- The Hong Method, demonstrated
- Taoist Canon: Don't Do Anything You Don't Have To
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Tag Archives: psychiatry
Asylum: Inside the Closed World of State Mental Hospitals
Asylum: Inside the Closed World of State Mental Hospitals by Christopher Payne, is not a book of words as much as it is a book of images. A photo-essay, others have called it. And the pictures definitely tell a story. … Continue reading
Posted in psychiatry Tagged depression, institutionalization, mental illness, psychiatry, schizophrenia 3 Comments
Cure is worse than the disease?
Girl Normal has a very entertaining and spot-on criticism post this week about Big Pharma, complete with witty satirical images. Here is a snippet: "I know I'm not the first to discuss this particular quirk of our modern society…but I … Continue reading
Posted in mental health, mind and body Tagged advair, advocacy, depression, meds, psychiatric drugs, psychiatry, psychology, psychopharmacology, viagra, zoloft
Meditation as a cure for mental illness
In 1989, when I went inpatient for the first time, I thought there was going to be a line-up of hippy psychologists with beards and geeky glasses and long hair who talked about Jung as easily as Freud. I believed in the notion of counseling and as yet, did not know what psychiatry was or that their idea of 'treatment' was not at all the same as humanistic psychology. I soon discovered that being inpatient and receiving psychiatric treatment wasn't anything like I had fantasized. Continue reading
Posted in cure, meditation, mental health, mental illness, mind and body, psychiatry, psychology, spirituality Tagged advocacy, alternative health, alternative medicine, bipolar disorder, crimethink, depression, Emile Kraeplin, evidence based medicine, Manic Depression, medicine, meditation, psychiatry, ptsd, TAC 13 Comments


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The Dharmapuri District Central Cooperative Bank (DDCCB) has invited online applications from eligible and interested candidates for filling 112 vacancies to the post of Assistants through direct recruitment. The registration-cum-application process towards has same started on August 9, 2019 and closes on September 5, 2019.
|Name Of The Posts
|Dharmapuri District Central Cooperative Bank (DDCCB)
|Educational Qualification
|Bachelor's Degree
|Freshers can apply
|Job Location
|Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu
|Salary Scale
|Rs. 14,000 to Rs. 47,500 per month
|District Cooperative Bank
|Application Start Date
|August 9, 2019
|Application End Date
|September 5, 2019
Age Criteria And Fees
Candidates interested in applying for Assistants post through Dharmapuri Cooperative Bank Recruitment must have attained 18 years of age as on January 01, 2019 and not be more than 30 years (Gen/UR), 32 (BC/BCM/MBC/DNC) and 35 years (SC/SCA/ST/PWD) respectively as detailed in the advertisement.
Candidates must pay a prescribed amount of Rs. 250 (UR/BC/BCM/MBC/DNC) as application processing fee either through online (net-banking/credit/debit, etc, payment gateways) SBI Collect mode or through Challan mode.
Kanchipuram Cooperative Bank Recruitment For 130 Assistant Posts. Earn Up To Rs. 47,500 Per Month
Educational Criteria And Eligibility
Desirous candidates applying for Assistants post through Dharmapuri Cooperative Bank Recruitment must possess a Bachelor's Degree (any discipline) in 10+2+3 pattern from a recognised University/Institute. For more details, refer to the official advertisement here http://drbdharmapuri.net/recruitment/admin/images/Dharmapuri%20Dccb%20Advertisement604287_1565268317.pdf
Selection And Pay Scale
The selection of candidates for Assistants post through Dharmapuri Cooperative Bank Recruitment will be done through a Written Examination scheduled on October 12, 2019 and Viva Voce (Interview).
Candidates selected for Assistants post will be paid emolument in the scale of Rs. 14,000 to Rs. 47,500 per month.
PSPCL Recruitment For 3,500 Assistant Lineman Post, Apply Online Before August 31, 2019
How To Apply
Candidates applying for Assistants post through Dharmapuri Cooperative Bank Recruitment must submit their applications through online mode only on the official DDCCB website at http://drbdharmapuri.net/notification.php# on or before September 5, 2019.
Read the detailed notification about Dharmapuri Cooperative Bank Recruitment for Assistants post here http://drbdharmapuri.net/recruitment/admin/images/Dharmapuri%20Dccb%20Advertisement604287_1565268317.pdf


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Event Date:22nd September 2016 Event Time: 17.30-20.00 Venue: Tingewick Hall, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU The Hill is a new digital healthcare hub supporting Oxford's medical, academic, digital and… read more →
Event Date: 22nd September 2016 Venue: Paris European Diagnostic Matchmaking Event European Diagnostic Clusters Alliance conference focused on new IVD regulation. Also matchmaking opportunities. More details here.
Event Date: 22nd September 2016 Time: 14.00-16.00 Oxford AHSN, Magdalen Centre, Oxford Science Park OX4 4GA Meeting of the Oxford AHSN Partnership Board. Details to follow. Further information: [email protected]
Event Date: 21st September 2016 – 22nd September 2016 Venue: Cambridge, UK The third annual Innovation Forum conference brings together hundreds of top leaders from industry, academia and government along… read more →
Event Date: 21st September 2016 Event Time: 10.00-15.00 Venue: Harwell Campus, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory OX11 0QS UK astronaut Tim Peake is among the speakers examining how rapid advancement of… read more →
Event Date: 20th September 2016 Event Time: 12.00-17.30 Venue: Magdalen Centre, Oxford Science Park, Oxford OX4 4GA This course covers the structure and commercial environment of the biopharmaceutical industry including… read more →
Event Date: 15th September 2016 Event Time: 17.30-20.00 Venue: University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL An open network event which will discuss the important role of statistics/data in digital health.… read more →
The Oxford Academic Health Science Network has a strong presence at the Health and Care Innovation Expo in Manchester this week. The Oxford AHSN is taking part in workshops and… read more →
Partners of the Oxford Academic Health Science Network are being encouraged to have their say in an independent national survey. The feedback will help paint a picture of how well… read more →
Three initiatives have been shortlisted for the third annual Oxford Academic Health Science Network Public-Private Collaboration Award. The prize aims to acknowledge innovative partnerships between universities, industry and the NHS… read more →


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Digital marketing trumps traditional alternatives for the hottest leads every time…but which is the best Digital Marketing platform and which should you invest in first?
A good question but not an easy one to answer. The truth is that it really depends on what you're trying to achieve.
However, it is possible to put the different types of Digital Marketing on a scale of which will produce the hottest leads for your business.
What makes a HOT lead?
A hot lead is one that is most likely to convert into a sale. If a lead is HOT then the potential customer has proven that they are looking for what you've got so you better be putting yourself in front of them!
And the results for the best Digital Marketing platform are……
6th Place: Emails
Email is a great platform because it's essentially free! Email comes at the bottom of this scale because it's very dependent on the circumstances. Have the people on your list bought from you before? Are they likely to buy again? Is the offer right? There's also the fact the email open rates are falling fast so you have to send a lot to get noticed.
5th Place: Display Advertising
Display Advertising places your ads on the type of websites that your audience are likely to visit. You can convince viewers to click through to your site through strong images and key messages. While you can identify where you audience might, you can't be sure exactly who is looking and if they are in need of what you're selling.
4th Place: Social Media Advertising
You can talk directly to your perfect customer through targeting options on social media. Facebook in particular has incredible targeting tools that can find you exactly who you need to talk to. They may not have heard of you or know they need you but this targeting gives you the best chance of getting a conversion from a cold audience.
3rd Place: Remarketing
Remarketing shows ads to people who have already shown interest in you by visiting your website but didn't cross the finish line. You can follow them across the web to remind them to come back and buy that product/service from you. People are busy and they get distracted, sometimes it just takes a reminder.
2nd Place: Paid Search
People are searching for what you've got! Paid Search ads appear at the very top of Google search results and you can bid against your competitors to be at the top of the list. This is how you make sure your customers know that you're the best at what you do, exactly when they're looking for it.
1st Place (aka THE BEST DIGITAL MARKETING PLATFORM): Google Shopping
Not only are people searching for what you're selling but they're in a buying environment. This makes them hot, hot, hot leads! It won't be applicable to everyone as you have to have a product to advertise in Google Shopping but if you do, this should be top of your Digital Marketing checklist.


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Type IV secretion systems mediate conjugative plasmid transfer as well as the translocation of virulence factors from various gram-negative pathogens to eukaryotic host cells. The translocation apparatus consists of 9 to 12 components, and the components from different organisms are believed to have similar functions. However, orthologs to proteins of the prototypical type IV system, VirB of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, typically share only 15 to 30% identical amino acids, and functional complementation between components of different type IV secretion systems has not been achieved. We here report a heterologous complementation in the case of A. tumefaciens virB1 defects with its orthologs from Brucella suis (VirB1s) and the IncN plasmid pKM101 (TraL). In contrast, expression of the genes encoding the VirB1 orthologs from the IncF plasmid (open reading frame 169) and from the Helicobacter pylori cag pathogenicity island (HP0523) did not complement VirB1 functions. The complementation of VirB1 activity was assessed by T-pilus formation, by tumor formation on wounded plants, by IncQ plasmid transfer, and by IncQ plasmid recipient assay. Replacement of the key active-site Glu residue by Ala abolished the complementation by VirB1 from B. suis and by TraL, demonstrating that heterologous complementation requires an intact lytic transglycosylase active site. In contrast, the VirB1 active-site mutant from A. tumefaciens retained considerable residual activity in various activity assays, implying that this protein exerts additional effects during the type IV secretion process.
Type IV secretion systems (T4SS) mediate the translocation of macromolecules across the envelope of gram-negative bacteria. These systems were initially discovered to be essential for the conjugative transfer of plasmids of different incompatibility groups (F, H, N, P, and W) (22, 56). In addition to the plasmid DNA, proteins are translocated, suggesting that those may carry the recognition signals for T4SS translocation (34, 36). This notion was further supported by the discovery that the VirB/D4 system from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which shares significant sequence similarities with plasmid-encoded T4SS, translocates several proteins in addition to its T-DNA substrate (52). Subsequently, T4SS were found to mediate the translocation of proteinaceous effector molecules from several bacterial pathogens (3, 11, 12, 20, 36).
Compared to other T4SS, the T-DNA translocation system from A. tumefaciens has been studied in the greatest detail (3, 11). Its 12 components (VirB1 to VirB11 and VirD4) localize to the inner and the outer membrane, and different lines of evidence suggest that this complex spans the periplasm. Biochemical experiments suggested that VirB7, VirB8, VirB9, and VirB10, which are mostly exposed to the periplasm but anchored to the membranes, constitute the core complex required for the stabilization of many other membrane-bound VirB proteins (1, 4, 7, 14, 18, 19, 29). Protein-protein interactions between VirB7 to VirB10 were also detected with the yeast two-hybrid system (13, 14). VirB8 and VirB10 contain N-terminal hydrophobic domains and are likely anchored to the inner membrane. In contrast, the lipoprotein VirB7 predominantly localizes to the outer membrane together with covalently linked VirB9. The T4SS core likely links the surface-exposed T-pilus components VirB2 and VirB5 to the cell, and VirB6 and VirB7 play a key role during that process (17, 25, 27, 29, 32, 45). The mechanism of T4SS assembly is unknown, and energy provided by one or more of the nucleotide triphosphatases VirB4, VirB11, and VirD4 is believed to energize this process (30, 43).
The murein layer imposes a barrier to the assembly of trans-envelope structures, and VirB1 likely exerts its effect here (5, 15, 16, 28). VirB1 is required for efficient T4SS function, but virB1 deletion strains of A. tumefaciens were reported to retain between 1 and 10% residual virulence (8, 39). Similarly, in the absence of VirB1 ortholog P19, plasmid R1 conjugation and R17 phage infection were reduced to 10% of the wild-type level and traL mutants of pKM101 had 5% residual activity (5, 54). The finding that VirB1 is not essential was attributed to its putative function as a lytic transglycosylase, which may facilitate T4SS assembly by localized lysis of the peptidoglycan (39). The relatively thin murein layer of gram-negative bacteria may permit a reduced level of T4SS assembly even in the absence of VirB1 orthologs (28). Alternatively, cellular enzymes may partly substitute for its function (26). Direct evidence for the transglycosylase activity has not been presented, but VirB1 derivatives with alterations in the putative active sites had strongly reduced virulence (39). Overproduction of the VirB1 ortholog P19 from plasmid R1 led to cell lysis, implying a role in murein metabolism (6). In addition to its suggested function as a transglycosylase, there may be an additional contribution of VirB1 to T4SS functionality. VirB1 undergoes C-terminal processing after export into the periplasm, resulting in an N-terminal transglycosylase domain and the 14-kDa C-terminal processing product VirB1*, which is partly secreted across the outer membrane (2). Both domains partly complemented a virB1 deletion mutant, implying that they independently contribute to virulence (37). Cross-linking experiments showed that VirB1* localizes in close proximity to VirB9, and this interaction may be required for T4SS function (2). A role of VirB1 in T4SS assembly via interactions with other proteins was further supported by the results of two-hybrid experiments and by its impact on the localization of VirB10 in the cell (35, 53).
We present here a detailed analysis of the consequences of a mutational alteration of the active site of VirB1, showing that it contributes to efficient gene transfer from A. tumefaciens but it is not required for processing of VirB1 and secretion of the C-terminal VirB1* product. In addition, our data strongly suggest that the protein contributes a transglycosylase-independent function to the type IV secretion process. Functional complementation with VirB1 orthologs from some other T4SS was achieved, suggesting that the requirement for transglycosylase activity is conserved among T4SS.
Bacteria, plasmid constructions, and mutagenesis.Strains and plasmids used in this study are given in Table 1. Cultures of Escherichia coli for cloning experiments were grown at 37°C in Luria-Bertani medium (1% peptone, 0.5% yeast extract, 0.5% NaCl), and DNA manipulations followed standard procedures (38). Antibiotics were added for plasmid propagation as appropriate (spectinomycin [SPC], 50 μg/ml; streptomycin, 50 μg/ml; carbenicillin [CAR], 100 μg/ml).
For complementation analysis, vector pTrc200 was cleaved with NcoI and SmaI treated with alkaline phosphatase followed by ligation with PCR fragments of genes encoding VirB1 orthologs as follows. Similar PCR conditions were used in all cases (1 ng of plasmid template; cycle conditions: 2 min at 95°C for denaturation (one time); 44°C for 1 min, 72°C for 2 min, and 95°C for 30 s for cycling (30 times); 44°C for 1 min and 72°C for 5 min for strand completion (one time); and termination at 4°C).
Brucella suis virB1 was amplified from pUCvirB (oligonucleotides BsB1-5′, 5′-GGACCATGGTGCCATTCCTTGTCCTCGCGC-3′, and BsB1-3′, 5′-GCTAGTACTTAGAAAACAACTACGCCGTCCGTATTATCCTTC-3′). TraL was amplified from pKM101 (oligonucleotides TraL5, 5′-GGGGCCATGGGTAAACATCCAAAACTCC-3′, and TraL3′, 5′-GAAAGTACTCATTCCCCCTTCG-3′) (41). Open reading frame (ORF) 169 was amplified from the F plasmid (oligonucleotides 169-N1, 5′-GGGGCCATGGCAAAATGGATGTTAGCCATCTGCCT-3′, and 169-C, 5′-CCCAGTACTTAATTGTTCTGCACGCTGTTAATTTC-3′) (22). The reading frame of HP0523 was amplified from Helicobacter pylori 26695 chromosomal DNA (oligonucleotides Cag4-5, 5′-GGGGCCATGGTCGAGAAATGGATTGGTCT-3′, and Cag4-3, 5′-CCCAGTACTACTCGTTATATCGCACTTG-3′) (49). The fragments were cleaved with NcoI and ScaI (underlined in oligonucleotide sequences above) followed by ligation to similarly cut pTrc200 and sequencing with an ABI 310 sequencer, resulting in pTrcB1s, pTrcTraL, pTrc169, and pTrc523.
The codons determining active-site Glu residues were changed to Ala in pTrcB1 (Glu60), pTrcB1s (Glu27), and pTrcTraL (Glu53) by site-directed mutagenesis by using the Gene editor in vitro site-directed mutagenesis system (Promega) according to the supplier's description. The genes encoding VirB1 and its orthologs were subcloned and subjected to mutagenesis as follows. The virB1 gene from pTrcB1 was excised with Eco32I/HindIII and ligated into similarly cut pBAD18 followed by mutagenesis with oligonucleotide B1M5 (GCAGCGATCGCTCAGGTCGCTAGCCGCTTTGATCCGCTTGCT). The virB1 gene from pTrcB1s was excised with NcoI/HindIII and ligated into similarly cut pT7-7 followed by mutagenesis with oligonucleotide B1suisM5 (GCAGCAATCGTGCAGGTCGCTAGCGGCTTCAATCCTTATGCA). The traL gene from pTrcTraL was excised with NcoI/HindIII and ligated into similarly cut pT7-7 followed by mutagenesis with oligonucleotide TraLM5 (GCGTACATCGTCGGCCATGCTAGCTCAAATGGACCGTACAGG). Mutations were identified by restriction analysis with NheI (underlined above) and confirmed by sequencing.
Cultivation of A. tumefaciens and analysis of exocellular fractions.Overnight cultures of A. tumefaciens were grown in YEB medium (0.5% beef extract, 0.5% peptone, 0.1% yeast extract, 0.5% sucrose, 2 mM MgSO4) in the absence of antibiotics (wild-type strains) or with SPC (300 μg/ml) and streptomycin (100 μg/ml) for the propagation of pTrc200 derivatives. For propagation of pLS1, CAR was added at 150 μg/ml, and for the selection of UIA143(pTiA6) pLS1 transconjugants, erythromycin (ERY) was added at 150 μg/ml in addition to CAR. Further, the cells were inoculated to an optical density at 600 nm of 0.1 in liquid AB medium (10 g of glucose/liter, 4 g of MES [morpholineethanesulfonic acid]/liter, 0.3 g of MgSO4 · 7 H2O/liter, 0.15 g of KCl/liter, 0.01 g of CaCl2/liter, 0.0025 g of FeSO4 · 7H2O/liter, and 1 mM potassium phosphate [pH 5.5]) and grown for 5 h at 20°C followed by specific procedures depending on the assay used. First, for the analysis of VirB1* secretion in liquid cultures, cells were grown at 20°C for 18 h with 0.5 mM isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) for the induction of the trc promoter with or without 200 μM acetosyringone (AS) for virulence gene induction. VirB1* was precipitated from cell-free culture supernatants with acetone as described followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot analysis (2). Second, for the isolation of surface-exposed T-pili, 1 ml of cells was plated per large (15 cm2) AB medium plate (20 g of agar/liter) with or without 200 μM AS and the plates were further incubated at 20°C for 4 days. T-pili were isolated from the cells grown on 4 plates each with and without AS by shearing and ultracentrifugation as described previously (45). Third, for plant infection experiments, leaf squares (4 by 4 mm) of Nicotiana tabacum cv. Havana 425 were cocultivated with the bacteria in the presence of 0.5 mM IPTG and 300 μM AS on hormone-free Murashige-Skoog medium for 2 days at 25°C, rinsed with Luria-Bertani plus 200 μg of vancomycin/ml and 200 μg of timentin/ml, and then cultivated on hormone-free Murashige-Skoog medium plus 200 μg of vancomycin/ml and 200 μg of timentin/ml at 25°C in the dark (35). Tumor formation was scored 12 days after the start of the cocultivation. Fourth, for the analysis of pLS1 donor activity, A348 and PC1001 carrying pTrc200 with and without VirB1 ortholog-encoding genes were cocultivated with UIA143(pTiA6) recipient cells in a 1:5 ratio for 3 days on AB minimal medium agar containing 500 μM AS and 500 μM IPTG followed by plating on selective agar media (CAR, 150 μg/ml; ERY, 150 μg/ml) and quantitation of recipient and donor cells as described previously (9). Fifth, for the analysis of pLS1 recipient activity, donor A348 pLS1 cells were cocultivated with PC1001 recipient cells carrying pTrc200 with and without VirB1 ortholog-encoding genes in a 5:1 ratio for 2 days on AB induction medium plus 500 μM AS and 500 μg of IPTG/ml followed by plating on Luria-Bertani agar plus antibiotics (150 μg of CAR/ml and/or 100 μg of SPC/ml) as necessary for quantitation of donors, recipients, and transconjugants as described previously (35).
SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.Cells and exocellular fractions were incubated in Laemmli sample buffer for 5 min at 100°C followed by SDS-PAGE according to the method of Laemmli (VirB1 and VirB8) (31) or Schägger and von Jagow (VirB2) (44), and Western blotting was performed in a tank blot apparatus. Detection was performed with a chemiluminescence-based system (NEN) with A. tumefaciens strain C58 VirB protein-specific antisera.
Choice and cloning of VirB1 orthologs.We assessed the hypothesis that VirB1 orthologs may be exchangeable between different T4SS. Complementation of the virB1 deletion mutant A. tumefaciens strain A348 (PC1001) was performed with VirB1 from A. tumefaciens strain C58 and its orthologs from B. suis (VirB1s) and pKM101 (TraL). Similar to other T4SS components, these proteins share relatively limited sequence similarities. They were identified based on their location in virB-like operons and their putative active-site signatures (Fig. 1). The sequence similarity to the ORF169 from the F plasmid protein is even smaller, but different lines of evidence suggest that this protein may be a lytic transglycosylase (5, 6). In addition, we analyzed the HP0523 (cag4) gene product from H. pylori strain 26692. This protein had not been identified as a VirB1 ortholog initially (49), but a recent publication shows suggestive evidence for a role in T4SS complex assembly (42). The transglycosylase active-site signature sequence was identified by visual inspection of gene products from the cag pathogenicity island. Similar to ORF169, the similarity to VirB1 is limited, but the putative active-site residues are well conserved (Fig. 1B) and the gene is necessary for virulence (21). The genes encoding the different VirB1 orthologs were PCR amplified, cloned into broad-host-range vector pTrc200, and transformed into strain PC1001 (ΔvirB1) for analysis of their biological activities. In addition, the genes encoding VirB1, VirB1s, and TraL were modified by site-directed mutagenesis to change the essential active-site Glu residues of their respective products.
The VirB1 content of cell lysates and of culture supernatants was monitored by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting to assess the impact of the active-site mutation. Equal levels of the full-length protein and of VirB1* were detected in samples from PC1001 carrying pTrcB1 and pTrcB1E→A (Fig. 2), demonstrating that the putative active site is not required for stability, processing, and secretion. Different assays were conducted to assess the complementation of the A. tumefaciens virB1 defect.
Complementation of T-pilus formation.VirB1 was previously shown to be required for T-pilus formation in A. tumefaciens strain A348, demonstrating that it is required for T4SS assembly (33, 45). To test the complementation, the A348 wild type and strain PC1001 (ΔvirB1) carrying pTrc200 with or without virB1 ortholog-carrying genes were grown on AB agar plates under virulence gene-inducing conditions followed by subcellular fractionation and analysis of VirB protein content. Analysis of cell lysates with VirB2- and VirB8-specific antisera showed that the accumulation of the major T-pilus component as well as of the T4SS core component VirB8 were not affected by the absence of VirB1 (Fig. 3A). Surface-exposed high-molecular-mass structures were removed from the cells by shearing and ultracentrifugation, and as previously described, significant amounts of VirB2 were not detected in exocellular fractions from strain PC1001 (Fig. 3B). The introduction of pTrcB1 and of pTrcB1s restored T-pilus formation almost to wild-type levels. In two of three experiments, pTrcTraL showed weak complementing activity, but pTrc169 and pTrc523 never restored T-pilus formation. Similarly, plasmids directing the production of active site variants of VirB1, VirB1s, and TraL did not reproducibly complement T-pilus formation, demonstrating that the putative active site is required. Since T-pilus formation it is not readily amenable to quantitation, low degrees of complementation are difficult to monitor and it does not permit conclusions on substrate translocation.
Complementation of tumor formation.To test the efficiency of substrate translocation, we next assessed the efficiency of tumor formation by strain A348 and by PC1001 carrying pTrc200 with and without virB1 orthologous genes. Freshly cut N. tabacum leaf squares were dipped into bacterial cultures, cocultivated for 2 days, and then incubated on plant medium plus antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria. These assays (Fig. 4) demonstrated that strain PC1001 initiated 5 to 10% of tumors compared to A348, similar to previous observations (39). The introduction of pTrcB1 into PC1001 restored tumor formation to 40% of the level of the wild type, and similar results were obtained by the introduction of pTrcB1s (Fig. 4). The introduction of pTrcTraL led to a more modest increase of tumor formation to 20% of the level of the wild type, whereas pTrc169 did not significantly increase the ability of PC1001 to incite tumors. Surprisingly, the introduction of pTrcB1E→A, which directs the production of an active-site variant of VirB1, significantly increased bacterial virulence to 30% of the level of the wild type, whereas the introduction of pTrcB1sE→A and pTrcTraLE→A did not cause significant effects. The results of the tumor formation assays are similar to those of the pilus formation assay, but the strong effect of pTrcTraL and the partial restoration of tumor formation by an active-site variant of VirB1 constitute a marked difference. However, the relatively low complementation by pTrcB1, which could be caused by inefficient promoter induction by IPTG in the wound, complicates the interpretation. We therefore next chose IncQ plasmid transfer as a more quantitative assay of substrate translocation.
Complementation of IncQ plasmid transfer.VirB/D4-mediated translocation of IncQ plasmids relies on the recognition of relaxosome complexes by the A. tumefaciens T4SS (47). The transfer of IncQ plasmids between agrobacteria can be readily quantitated, and since the mating is being performed on agar media, the induction of pTrc200-borne genes with IPTG can be easily controlled. The IncQ plasmid pLS1 (Carr) was introduced into strains A348 and PC1001 carrying pTrc200 with and without virB1 orthologous genes. The strains were mated with the recipient UIA143(pTiA6) (Eryr), followed by the quantitation of plasmid transfer on selective media (ERY and CAR). Similar to previous observations (9), the plasmid transfer ability of PC1001 was reduced to about 10% of the wild-type level. The introduction of pTrcB1 conferred almost full complementation, and pTrcB1s increased pLS1 transfer to 50% of the wild-type level (Fig. 5). The presence of pTrcTraL led to a smaller increase of pLS1 transfer efficiency (20% of the wild-type level), whereas the presence of pTrc169 and pTrc523 did not significantly increase transfer. Among the plasmids encoding active-site derivatives, only pTrcB1E→A increased pLS1 transfer, and the stimulation was modest but significant (20% of the wild-type level, comparable to TraL). Those results are qualitatively similar to those obtained in tumor formation assays.
The production of VirB proteins on the recipient side also stimulated conjugative transfer of IncQ plasmids (9, 35). The mechanism is unknown, but VirB1 is a key factor because its deletion has stronger negative impacts than on the donor side (9). Compared to the wild type, the recipient activity of PC1001 was reduced to 3% and the introduction of pTrcB1 restored plasmid transfer to 67% of that of strain A348 (Fig. 6). The introduction of pTrcB1s led to an even stronger increase than that of pTrcB1 (80% of the wild-type level), whereas the introduction of pTrcTraL only modestly increased plasmid recipient activity to 10% and pTrc169 showed no effect. Surprisingly, PC1001 producing the active-site mutant of VirB1 showed 45% of the IncQ plasmid recipient activity compared to that of the wild type, whereas the active-site mutants of VirB1s and TraL had no stimulating effect (Fig. 6). These results are in accord with those of the tumor formation and pLS1 donor assays, suggesting that in addition to its likely function as transglycosylase, VirB1 contributes a second function to T4SS secretion.
Lytic transglycosylases play a role in murein metabolism, and the active-site residues were defined based on the crystal structure of the soluble lytic transglycosylase Slt70 from E. coli (16). Analysis of the crystal structures of the soluble lytic transglycosylases Slt35 and Slt70 in complexes with their substrates further substantiated the picture of the active-site requirements (50, 51). The existence of a clearly defined active-site signature with three characteristic regions led to the identification of putative transglycosylases in a variety of macromolecular secretion systems (5, 28). Direct evidence for transglycosylase activity is still missing, but different types of evidence indicate a function of these proteins as murein-metabolizing enzymes. The most direct observation was that overproduction of P19, the putative lytic transglycosylase from the IncP plasmid R1, led to perforation of the bacterial cell envelope (6). In addition, mutational alterations of the active-site Glu residues of P19 and VirB1 essentially abolished their abilities to complement the defects in their respective T4SS (6, 39). Finally, in contrast to all other T4SS components, VirB1 orthologs are generally not essential, and the reason may be that other murein-metabolizing enzymes partly substitute for their function.
This led to the hypothesis that in contrast to other T4SS components (10, 25, 46), exchange between different VirB1 orthologs may be possible (28). We directly tested this hypothesis here and found that VirB1s from B. suis and TraL from pKM101 partly complemented the virB1 defect of A. tumefaciens strain PC1001. A variety of different assay systems were employed to substantiate this finding, such as T-pilus formation, tumor formation, and IncQ plasmid donor and IncQ plasmid recipient activity, and the results of all assays were qualitatively similar. In spite of the limited degree of sequence similarity, VirB1s complemented the virB1 defect to a similar level as VirB1 from A. tumefaciens. In contrast, the complementation by TraL, which has approximately the same sequence similarity to VirB1 as VirB1s, was reduced but still significant. In addition to the previously assigned VirB1 orthologs, we identified the H. pylori HP0523 gene product as a putative transglycosylase. HP0523 and the F plasmid-encoded ORF169 gene product are significantly smaller than VirB1, VirB1s, and TraL, and the overall sequence identities to VirB1 are below 20%. These proteins essentially comprise the N-terminal domain of VirB1, which partly complements virB1 defects (37). The putative active-site residues are well conserved, suggesting a function of these proteins as lytic transglycosylases. The facts that the HP0523 gene product is essential for the virulence of H. pylori (21, 42) and that P19 of plasmid R1, which is almost identical to ORF169, is required for efficient conjugative transfer (5), support a role for these proteins in T4SS assembly. While we did not observe complementation of the A. tumefaciens virB1 defect, which may be due to low protein levels in the cell, the results of an independent study support a role for HP0523 in T4SS assembly in the cell envelope (42).
An obvious difference between the virB1 complementing and noncomplementing orthologs is the length of the proteins. VirB1, VirB1s, and TraL share a C-terminal extension, which is processed and secreted in the case of VirB1. Production of the C-terminal processing product VirB1* alone partly complemented virB1 defects of A. tumefaciens, implying that this part of the protein may exert an effect during the type IV secretion process independent of the N-terminal domain (37). VirB1* was cross-linked to VirB9 in vivo (2), and mutational alterations of different residues N- and C-terminal to the processing site negatively affected processing and complementation (C. Höppner and C. Baron, unpublished data). Thus, the interactions of the C-terminal processing product with other components of the T4SS machinery may determine the outcome of complementation experiments, and this may explain our inability to achieve complementation with the ORF169 and HP0523 gene products. One possibility to test this hypothesis would be to study the complementation by fusion proteins of ORF169 and HP0523 with the VirB1* domain.
Based on results obtained with the yeast two-hybrid system, it was recently suggested that VirB1 may interact with several VirB proteins, such as VirB4, VirB8, VirB9, VirB10, and VirB11 (53). Supporting this hypothesis are recent data demonstrating that VirB1, VirB2, and VirB3 impact the subcellular localization of VirB10 (35). To distinguish between the contribution of the transglycosylase and other activities of the proteins, we investigated the complementation by active-site mutants of VirB1, VirB1s, and TraL. Exchange of the active-site Glu residue by Ala did not affect the processing of VirB1 and the secretion of VirB1*, showing that these processes do not require the transglycosylase active site. In a previous study, a similar alteration of the active site of VirB1 abolished its ability to complement tumor formation on Kalanchoë diagremontiana leaves (39). In contrast to that, we found that the alteration of the active-site Glu residue by Ala reduced the activity of the modified gene product but did not lead to a loss of complementation. The difference to previous results may be explained by the higher expression from the trc promoter used in this work and by the choice of assay system. Mushegian et al. did not monitor the level of VirB1 and used the K. diagremontiana leaf puncture assay (39), which is inherently difficult to quantify, whereas we chose a variety of different assay systems. In contrast to the results obtained with VirB1E→A, VirB1sE→A and TraLE→A did not complement the virB1 defect in PC1001. Thus, the orthologs can exclusively substitute for the activity of VirB1 from the putative transglycosylase active site. The complementation by the wild-type genes may be efficient due to the strong expression from the trc promoter, but since specific antisera were not available, we could not directly monitor protein levels. In contrast, VirB1 may interact with other VirB proteins (35, 53), and due to the limited sequence similarity, VirB1s and TraL may not be able to fulfill these transglycosylase-independent function(s). The substantial residual activity of VirB1E→A is in accord with the hypothesis that VirB1 may have additional functions, and previous work from other groups lends further support to this notion (37, 53). Further studies are required to dissect the different contributions of VirB1 transglycosylase activity and VirB protein interactions to T4SS function(s).
We are indebted to David O'Callaghan (Nîmes, France) and August Böck (Munich, Germany) for continued support and discussions. We thank Günter Koraimann (Graz, Austria) for discussions and for the communication of results prior to publication.
This work was supported by grants from the DAAD/Procope, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG (Ba 1416-2/2), and the European Union Frame Programme 5 (contract QLK2-CT-2001-01200) to C.B. and by an NSF grant (MCB9817149) to A.N.B.
- Received 24 July 2003.
- Accepted 13 November 2003.
- Copyright © 2004 American Society for Microbiology


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Election Section
Parents must be notified of day care providers' criminal histories
SAN FRANCISCO — Child care providers must tell parents their workers' criminal histories, but they aren't allowed to reveal the nature of their crimes, troubling parents and providers alike.
About 2 percent of the 275,000 licensed child care workers in the state, including cooks, gardeners and administrators, have criminal convictions. Most of them are for misdemeanors, such as shoplifting and check fraud.
But CBS News won the right in state appellate court in August to examine the names of those who had been convicted of crimes and where they worked, and the Orange County Register ran a series about convicts who were working as day care providers, but who should have been ineligible to work with children.
Getting a license involves fingerprinting and a check against the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice databases. The state can grant a license to someone with a conviction if it determines the person is not a threat to children.
Following the news reports and the lawsuit, Gov. Gray Davis suspended exemptions for six months and ordered a review of the background check process. The state Department of Social Services, acting on directions from Davis, then ordered providers to notify parents immediately about staff members with criminal records.
The Social Services Department said 6,156 people in day care in California have exemptions.
Davis is committed to the moratorium while the department conducts a review.
"He has always believed that parents should have more information rather than less information in trying to make a decision about what's best for their families," said Davis spokeswoman Hilary McLean. "He's not going to change his mind."
Some parents say they are conflicted about a person's right to privacy and the safety of their children.
Claudia Menjivar, who has a 4-year-old in day care, told the San Jose Mercury News that she would be disturbed to find out if someone at her daughter's day care center had been convicted of a crime.
"And if you don't know why, you're left with a doubt. So why give out the information if you can't fully inform people?"
Not all day care centers have started informing parents. On the advice of attorneys, Rosie Kennedy, president of the San Francisco Family Child Care Association, which represents home-based day care centers, said she is advising members not to notify parents, saying it would "generate unfounded fears."
To address the problem of inadequate information, state Sen. Joseph Dunn, D-Garden Grove, is drafting legislation that would let parents get information on the specific crimes committed upon request.
Centers that do not comply can be cited and fined $100, and it is also grounds for revocation of the license, said Andrew Roth, spokesman for the Department of Social Services.
The state will know who has complied by looking in children's files, where there should be a form signed by parents acknowledging that they have been given the information, Roth said.


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Student success stories: our top tips and advice
Studying abroad in a new country will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
International students at Colorado State University learn this firsthand during their journey from classroom to boardroom. Meet three successful INTO alumni who have utilized what they learned and have now secured jobs that they love.
Just like these Colorado State University graduates, you can be successful here, too! Here are our top tips and advice to help you succeed during and after your Colorado State University degree.
1. Get involved
"My favorite part was Global Village and Parmelee Hall. I was first a Global Village student for one year and won the Student Leader of the Year award. The second year I joined Global Village as a mentor.
My third year I was a resident within the Global village community to bring together people from different cultures. My fourth year (master's year) I was leading the mentors to help integrate new freshmen into the Ram community. I've probably spent the most time in the library. It's quiet, free of distractions and you are able to accomplish your objectives.
I now work within the gaming industry. It's a dream come true for me to be working in an industry I have been so involved in since I could hold a controller/mouse at the age of five." – Jasir, Pakistan.
"Colorado State University is located in the real nature, very near by the Rocky Mountains. I felt so close by the nature when going to the class, which making going to the class so relaxing. Furthermore, the university always arranges activities with a positive atmosphere and friendly people to provide opportunities for everyone to be connected. Student will never feel lonely when at Colorado State University.
Working for my current job requires the ability to speak and write in English proficiently. Due to my company's target market, I need to coordinate with foreign partners and clients, which means English is a prerequisite." – Poonyawee, Thailand
2. Surround yourself with English speakers
"The most surprising part about studying at Colorado State University was how generous, curious, and welcoming people are. Although Colorado is homogeneously white, that does not stop people from learning more about your culture, faith and country.
My best part has to be the connections I've made not only with people from Colorado, but all across the United states and heck, even the world." – Jasir, Pakistan
"My freshman year of college I joined the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon where I had to opportunity to make a lot of friends and surround myself with native students. My sophomore year I got the first a job on campus working as a liaison for a business group called the Global Business Network.
During my last year, I worked as a finance coordinator for RamEvents where I had the opportunity to learn and share amazing experiences with people that had very different backgrounds than me.
I am living my American dream." – Diego, Colombia
3. Talk to your professors, advisors and mentors
"Colorado State University's campus and faculty are the two things that have always amazed me the most. The faculty is extraordinary due to their expertise, achievements, and willingness to help students succeed.
On the other hand, the campus offers all the resources to maintain a balance between academics and social life. In my opinion, Colorado State University is the type of school that will always offer you unlimited opportunities, you just come in with the right mindset to take advantage of them.
As Bob White, Assistant Director of Advising at INTO Colorado State University said to us the first week of school, "get ready hit the ground running." The worst part is that you will have to overcome many obstacles and learn to transform all those challenges into opportunities if you want to grow." – Diego, Colombia
"INTO Colorado State University taught me to plan my career path. Not only English classes have I learnt from the program, but also the future career. Professors are very caring and attentive, helping to draw and advise my plan at Colorado State University after INTO graduation to achieve my career goal." – Poonyawee, Thailand
4. Seek out help when you need it
"Your limitation is your comfort zone. You will always have your home and your culture to fall back on, so why not take the opportunity to get to know others around the world and broaden your scope but at the same time remaining true to yourself and where you're from." – Jasir, Pakistan
"While English is not my native language, I have had countless chances to practice and learn English during the INTO program at Colorado State University which greatly improved my English skills in all the aspects.
Those English and fundamental classes at INTO Colorado State University took me to a higher level of English skill and helped me prepare myself for my current job. Therefore, I can perform very well in my position." – Poonyawee, Thailand
5. Be open and challenge yourself
"Being around so many diverse individuals allowed me to grow and mature exponentially which really broadened my horizons. I truly believe the greatest asset we can have as human beings is our ability to relate to each other, and you are given the opportunity a thousand and one times being in INTO Colorado State University and Global village to relate to those all around the world." – Jasir, Pakistan.
"Please understand that your parents are making a huge effort to send you here. Take advantage of all those opportunities that will only be given to you once in your life. You are the creator of your journey and it is up to you to choose who you want to be. Remember that what you put in is what you are going to get out, and if you are willing to challenge yourself in next four years you are going to thank yourself for the rest of your life, trust me." – Diego, Colombia.
If you liked this blog post then you may also like to read about on campus vs off campus choices at INTO Colorado State University.
Click here to discover more about your study options at Colorado State University
Feeling social? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.


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Kerr's Tyres, with centres in Antrim, Belfast and Coleraine, is supporting Tyre Safety Week 2014 as part of their commitment to the Northern Ireland Tyre Safety Association (NITSA) and the National Tyre Distributors' Association (NTDA).
Tyre Safety Week 2014 takes place from 6th - 12th October with an emphasis on educating the general public of the potential dangers of tyre old tyres and urging people to check their tyres.
Tyres are the only contact vehicles have with the road so it is essential that they have the minimum tread depth of 1.6mm and are free from damage. Tyre manufacturers recommend you regularly check the age of your tyres as well as the condition, tread depth and pressure to ensure your tyres are performing to your vehicle's specification. You can check your tyre age by looking at the side of your tyre for a four digit code with the first two digits indicating the week of manufacture while the third and fourth digits represent the year, e.g. a tyre label reading 1711 was made in the 17th week of 2011.
Norman Kerr of Kerr's Tyres is encouraging people to check their tyres during Tyre Safety Week 2014, saying:
"It is really important that people understand the risks involved with aged tyres - tyres can deteriorate over time, leading to reduced performance which can in turn affect safety, increase the risk of reduced grip and possible tyre failure.
During Tyre Safety Week, we are offering free no obligation tyre safety checks at our three centres in Antrim, Belfast and Coleraine, feel free to call in and we will ensure your tyres are going to keep you safely on the road."
The correct safety checks can help you to avoid getting three penalty points per tyre on your driving licence as well as fines for having tyres worn beyond the legal minimum limit on your vehicle - it could also save your life!
Pictured Safety Week 2014, 6th - 12th October. www.kerrstyres.co.uk
We provide full coverage throughout Northern Ireland and Europe. The service is available through our emergency assistance numbers:07766 417999
Monday to Friday:
8:30am to 5:30pm
9:00am to 12:30pm


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On Facebook -JOIN I Antique Online.com: Collectors of Antiques and Collectibles.
Here is the link for the group https://www.facebook.com/groups/327133184409134/
Please join our FB group where YOU can post directly.
A Community For People Who Buy, Sell or Collect Antiques, Collectibles and Art
Sure, now that my browser deciced to work this time. The bottom one was stolen right out from under my considerable nose. 1890s made in NY(not France amazingly). Wieghs about 65#-1 guy carried it off. Belgian black marble with bronze mounts.
The deco unit is 1930s electric(not working) but a unique looking thing that I had to have it. Whtaya think? Qaurtz movement to get it moving again? A bit of sacrilidge but better than the end of time I think. I have maybe 40 more to post in the shop. I can post some sold pieces also for posterity. Like you, we seem to end up with clocks all over even though we're not mainly in the clock biz. Wish I had your reapir-abilities, our clockmen love us, odd ducks they all seem to be notwithstanding.
True, I can fiddle a bit with one that's not too far out of beat but setting the beat and delving deeper gives me daymares. Morbier movements don't frighten me though...Morbier cheese either, for that matter.
Electric Italian carved clock;
French homemade clock;
Paris skeleton clock;
Vienna Regulator:
French gilt metal figural clock;
French gilt bronze:
French 18c tall case oak:
" marble w/quartz;
" Baker's clock;
American bracket clock;
St Nicholas 1820s oak;
Junghans mahog mantle:
American metal:
French Empire wall;
French Morbier comptoise tall case only.
There are dozen or so more but many of these are sold so that makes your choice easier!
We have low resistance when buying them as you can see. At least real clock collectors have more than we do, typically. One guy I knew in NY had 300+ clocks at home.
Cripes, all in the same time zone I hope...
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Winner of Artes Mundi 6 splits £40,000 prize fund
Chicago-based, contemporary-artist Theaster Gates has been chosen from a shortlist of 10 of the world's most important artists to win the UK's leading prize for international contemporary art, Artes Mundi 6.
Upon accepting the coveted award, Gates announced that he intends to split the full £40,000 prize between all of the shortlisted artists; Carlos Bunga, Omer Fast, Sanja Ivekovic, Ragnar Kjartansson, Sharon Lockhart, Renata Lucas, Renzo Martens, Karen Mirza and Brad Butler.
This unexpected and generous move by one of the world's leading contemporary artists is the first time a major British art prize has been split between the shortlist.
The Rt. Hon. Carwyn Jones, First Minister for Wales announced Gates as the winner of the biannual award at a ceremony held at National Museum Cardiff.
Gates's multi-faceted practice encompasses social activism, urban regeneration and community development in economically-deprived areas of South Side Chicago, St Louis and Omaha. Known widely as The Poster Boy for Socially Engaged Art, Gates work has revolutionised contemporary art with what The New York Times has called his 'circular economy', in which Gates funds urban renewal through the sale of his artwork.
Gates's winning installation, entitled A Complicated Relationship between Heaven and Earth, or When We Believe (2014), seeks to challenge a Western-centric ideology of Christianity that marginalises other religious traditions. The work takes form as a series of symbolic objects that have been used as vehicles for religious transcendence in diverse cultures across the globe. These include a Malines Boli, or bull sculpture, used to deter bad spirits and protect crops in Africa; a revolving, early 20th-Century goat riding tricycle used in American Masonic initiation ceremonies; slates from the roof of Chicago's demolished St. Laurence church, a local landmark of white catholic and black protestant tensions; and a video of Billy Sings Amazing Grace, featuring the soul singer, Billy Forston, and Gates's gospel ensemble, The Black Monks of Mississippi. Each object is linked by a shared focus on the relationship between spirituality and labour.
Theaster Gates told the BBC "Winning this award is my validation that this new body of work has a place in the world."
Karen Mackinnon, Artes Mundi Director has said, "We are delighted to announce Theaster Gates as the winner of Artes Mundi 6. In these difficult social-political times, art that engages with social concerns offers meaning to our lives; it challenges, comforts, teaches and resists. All the shortlisted artists have produced outstanding exhibitions, but for this year's judging panel Gate's practice stood out for his ability to be not just an artist but an urbanist, a facilitator and a curator. Congratulations Theaster!"
JJ Charlesworth, Artes Mundi 6 Judging Chair has said, "For the judges, this year's shortlisted artists all demonstrate art's ability to reflect on and engage with most pressing questions of human life today. They all succeed in that task, but among them, Theaster's work stood out for its inspiring combination of historical research, visual art, performance and activism. We are pleased to announce him as the winner of Artes Mundi 6"
Theaster Gate's winning piece alongside the other shortlisted works are on display at National Museum Cardiff, Chapter and Ffotogallery, Penarth, until 22nd February.


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In Taiwan, Foxconn Sparks Debate Over College Grad Salaries
What began as an offhand comment has turned into a firestorm over the future of Taiwan's workforce.
Last Thursday, the chairman of the Taiwan-based contract manufacturer Foxconn said that he'd be interested in buying any tech company that was paying their college grads only 22,000 New Taiwan dollars ($729) a month for engineering or management roles. His reasoning? It must be an attractive company to be able to retain workers at such low pay.
"College grads shouldn't be making only 22K," said Terry Gou, referencing a commonly cited ballpark figure for monthly entry-level pay in Taiwan.
Mr. Gou probably didn't anticipate the backlash that would follow his remarks. Shortly thereafter, a technician at a Foxconn subsidiary that makes LCD panels, Innolux, posted online that she was, in fact, only making 22,000 New Taiwan dollars a month.
The employee, posting anonymously under the name Liang Xiaohua, later backtracked on her claim, saying her salary was higher with bonuses and that she had only graduated from a vocational school, not a university. But by then, her accusation had already tapped into a deep vein of discontent across Taiwan over stagnant wages and available opportunities for young workers.
Work in the information technology sector, Taiwan's largest industry, requires high levels of training. Yet in the days after Mr. Gou's remarks, a number of industry employees also began posting their pay slips online to show they, too, only made close to 22K.
The public outcry following what local media have dubbed the "Liang Xiaohua incident" has already forced Foxconn and other companies to defend their levels of compensation being offered – and in some cases, change them. On Saturday Mr. Gou, for example, announced plans to raise the pay for workers at three of Foxconn's subsidiaries to the same level as the parent company, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. At Hon Hai, engineers with bachelor's degrees have a monthly salary that starts at NT$36,000, while production operators without a college degree earn at least NT$26,000 a month, he said.
More In Jobs
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In response to criticisms over compensation levels at Innolex, Foxconn said its units operate independently and determine their own pay levels.
Adding fire to the debate, this week, the chairman of another major Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, Quanta Computer Inc., said Tuesday that the low average salaries were a reflection of Taiwan's economic sluggishness. Since much of its manufacturing sector moved to China years ago in search of lower prices, Taiwan has struggled to resuscitate its economy.
"The low salaries are an indication of the nation's competitiveness," said Quanta's Barry Lam.
Complaints have long circulated that as housing prices rise in Taipei, college graduates are failing to make a living wage and can only survive by living at home rent-free with their parents.
Last year, new college graduates in Taiwan were offered an average starting salary of NT$25,671, up 2.64 percent from 2012, according to a survey by online employment service provider 1111 Job Bank.
But as Mr. Lam said, getting bigger salary increases for Taiwan's tech sector will be an uphill battle, unless the outlook for its businesses improves. With many of them skating by on thin profits or struggling to return from losses, that might not happen anytime soon. "The industry keeps getting more competitive," he said.
-- Eva Dou and Lorraine Luk. Follow Eva on Twitter @EvaDou
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