By Don Butler, Postmedia News March 14, 2011.
The 514 youth were surveyed last March by Phoenix Strategic Perspectives as part of a $47,600 project for Veterans Affairs designed to assess Canadians' awareness, engagement, and satisfaction with Remembrance Day programming.
"It's discouraging that young people don't know a lot about the events of our past," said Jeremy Diamond, director of development and programs with the Historica-Dominion Institute. But he said there's a real opportunity to use technology to bring these events back to life.
"We can do a lot more now, sharing those stories, than we could a generation ago. I think we're going to see that tide turn a little bit with young people's knowledge of Canadian history."
In the past 18 months, the Historica-Dominion Institute has recorded the stories of more than 2,000 Second World War veterans, Diamond said. It's the largest oral history project of its kind ever in Canada.
Students and others can listen to podcasts of the interviews at thememoryproject.com, Diamond said.He added they can also invite veterans to speak at their schools, which provides a personal connection between veterans and young people.
As well, the approach of the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, in 2014, provides a "great opportunity" to help young people learn — perhaps for the first time — about that conflict's important events and individuals, Diamond said.
The Phoenix survey found about eight in 10 of the youth participants expressed at least some interest in learning more about Canada's veterans, though their interest was likelier to be moderate than strong.
About 80 per cent said websites were a good way for them to get information about Canada's military history. Significant numbers also mentioned books, libraries, talking to people, newspapers or magazines, television or radio and social-media sites.
While the survey therefore cannot be considered representative of the youth population, Phoenix tried to ensure that the sample mirrored the regional, linguistic and gender characteristics of Canadian youth.
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen


Director Poggi's Messages to the Community
April 23, 2020
Dear Institute community,
I hope that this finds you well, safe, and finding moments of comfort with your loved ones.
We are proud of the extraordinary work our colleagues throughout the University have brought to the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis. NYU Langone Health, NYU Rory Meyers School of Nursing, NYU Dentistry, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, NYU School of Global Public Health, and the Department of Biomaterials are tackling critical care for New Yorkers, running clinical trials to find a vaccine, 3D printing face masks, organizing PPE donations from alumni, and graduating the medical school’s 2020 class early so that they can join the fight. We are heartened by the selflessness and collective strength with which NYU has met this unprecedented call to action. Updates on the University’s efforts can be found online.
In this difficult time, our thoughts also turn to our community, which includes not only the faculty, students, and staff in New York, but also our vital network of board members, alumni, and friends. Of particular concern is the well-being and ongoing education of our students, whose school year has been significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As you know, the Institute and NYU at large have moved to distance learning for the remainder of the semester. Official in-person commencement ceremonies have been postponed, but we will hold virtual celebrations to honor the achievements of our graduates in May. And we have recently launched remote public programs that will continue through the summer.
Many of you have asked how you could be of help in this time of uncertainty as the Institute adjusts to the challenges brought on by this pandemic. First and foremost is the need to bolster support for our students, many of whom now face lost summer jobs and internships, cancelled or postponed research travel, closed archaeological sites, and restricted access to libraries, art collections, and archives. They are deeply concerned about completing their research projects, studying for exams, and making progress toward their degrees, while also paying their rent during the summer with almost no work or external research opportunities.
It is my current priority to find ways to take care of our students. If you are in a position to provide support, I ask you to consider making a gift to the Director’s Discretionary Fund. Your generosity will be particularly meaningful at this time and will allow us to provide Institute of Fine Arts students with crucial support that will help carry them through this period of upended plans and financial vulnerability.
In addition, the University has established the NYU Emergency Relief Fund to help provide essential support to students with the greatest need across the university. Gifts to this fund will help students with the technology they require to continue their courses, support those who have lost wages, cover travel costs for those returning to their homes, or assist in meeting other time-sensitive needs such as food and housing. The Institute is participating in this University-wide initiative, and I hope that you will consider donating to this fund.Support the NYU Emergency Relief Fund
I thank you for your commitment to our community, and to our students in particular.
May you and yours be well,
Judy and Michael Steinhardt Director


Read about the latest news and updates on SoftTech Engineers Ltd (Previously known as SoftTech Engineers Pvt Ltd).
The implementation of AutoDCR® at the Amravati Municipal Corporation seems to have gained immense popularity with the community of building professionals there. The efforts of the Amravati Municipal Corporation are being applauded in the highest echelons of the Government.
AutoDCR® project implemented at Amravati Municipal Corporation has received the Skoch Order of Merit certificate.
The certificate is conferred upon innovative solutions for smart city governance. AutoDCR® has been running successfully at Amravati Municipal Corporation. The certificate is reminder of the value delivered by AutoDCR® by automating the building plan approval process.
Recently Mr. Vijay Gupta was interviewed by the Construction Opportunities magazine.
The interview centered on project management software’s in the construction industry.
Read the interview by clicking on this link : https://www.constructionopportunities.in/IssueDetailPage?IssueMenuMasterId=1262&ParentMenuId=1262


- From June 27th to 29th the department was hosting the fifth annual workshop on the Semantics of African, Asian and Austronesian Languages (TripleA 5). It has been organized by Ryan Bochnak, Miriam Butt, Erlinde Meertens and Mark Zymla. Further information can be found on the conference website.
- The 34th South Asian Language Analysis Roundtable (SALA-34) was hosted by the Department of Linguistics from June 19-21, 2018. Invited Speakers included Gillian Ramchand (University of Tromsø, Norway) and Sameer-ud-Dowla Khan (Reed College, Portland). A one-day workshop on the prosody of South Asian languages has been organized before the conference on June 18. Furthermore, Anoop Mahajan, Rajesh Bhatt, and Veneeta Dayal have organized a special session in memory of Alice Davison and James W. Gair.
- The research unit "Questions at the interfaces" (FOR2111) hosted a Workshop on Meaning in non-canonical Questions (MiQ). The event took place from June 7th to 9th at Hedicke's Terracota (downtown Konstanz). A number of members from our department also presented their work. The program can be found on the conference website.


The National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) is pleased to announce that Reverend Terrance McKinley has joined the leadership team as Vice President of Movement Building and Strategy. He brings an extraordinary depth of experience with accolades from national and reputable organizations. Rev. McKinley has a proven commitment to faith and justice and has successfully mobilized communities around critical issues.
Rev. McKinley has demonstrated transformative national leadership in advocacy, public policy, campaigns, racial justice, and civil and human rights. Most recently, he led on the team of the LIFT Project, a justice effort aimed at combatting the centuries-long history of vilifying Black people and other communities through the spread of harmful narratives that deepen racial hierarchy. He has also co-led multiple federal and state-based advocacy efforts.
In recognition of his tireless dedication and lifelong commitment to service, Rev. McKinley received the 2023 President of the United States of America, Joseph R. Biden Juneteenth President’s Achievement Award. He holds degrees from Cornell University and Princeton Theological Seminary.
NBCDI is elated and confident that Rev. McKinley’s expertise will be instrumental in guiding our organization forward as we continue to mobilize communities and ignite movements on the strengths of Black people.
We are grateful to have Rev. McKinley join the team!


Medicaid, a government healthcare program for low-income individuals and families, has faced several recent attempts at cuts. In 2020, the Trump administration issued a rule reducing Medicaid funding for states that did not impose work requirements on beneficiaries, though this rule was later blocked by a federal court. More recently, Congress considered a budget plan that would have imposed strict limits on Medicaid spending, potentially leading to reduced benefits or eligibility for millions of people. While this plan was ultimately not passed, it highlights the ongoing debate over the future of Medicaid and the potential impact of cuts on vulnerable populations.
Medicaid Funding: A Deeper Dive
Medicaid, a significant healthcare program in the United States, caters to low-income individuals and families. Understanding the trends in Medicaid funding is crucial to ensure the program’s sustainability and effectiveness.
The federal government provides Medicaid funding jointly with state governments. The funding trends over the past decade have been characterized by the following key points:
- Steady Growth: Medicaid funding has generally shown a steady increase over the past decade.
- Federal Contribution: The federal government’s contribution has remained significant, covering a substantial portion of Medicaid expenditures.
- State Flexibility: States have some flexibility in determining how Medicaid funds are allocated and spent, leading to variations in coverage and services across different states.
While Medicaid funding has experienced growth, it is crucial to note that the program faces ongoing challenges, including:
- Rising Healthcare Costs: The ever-increasing cost of healthcare poses a challenge to Medicaid’s sustainability.
- Changing Demographics: Shifts in population demographics, such as an aging population and increasing chronic diseases, can impact Medicaid expenditures.
- Political Influences: Medicaid funding can be subject to political debates and changes in policy priorities, affecting its stability and predictability.
To gain further insights into Medicaid funding trends, the following table presents data for the years 2012 to 2022:
|Total Medicaid Spending (in billions)
|Federal Contribution (in billions)
|State Contribution (in billions)
In summary, Medicaid funding trends have been characterized by steady growth, significant federal contributions, and ongoing challenges. Understanding these trends is essential for policymakers and healthcare stakeholders in planning for the future of Medicaid and ensuring its continued effectiveness in providing healthcare to low-income individuals and families.
Medicaid Changes: Understanding the Impact
Medicaid, a health insurance program for low-income individuals and families, has undergone significant changes in recent years. These changes have sparked debates about the program’s future and its ability to provide essential healthcare services to those in need. In this article, we will explore the various modifications made to Medicaid and their potential implications.
Changes in Eligibility Criteria
One of the most notable changes to Medicaid has been the modification of eligibility criteria. This has had a direct impact on who is eligible for coverage under the program.
- Income Limits: Medicaid eligibility is typically based on income levels. In some states, income limits have been raised, expanding eligibility to a broader range of individuals.
- Asset Limits: Asset limits are the maximum value of assets an individual or family can possess while still qualifying for Medicaid. These limits have seen adjustments in certain states, impacting eligibility.
- Work Requirements: Some states have introduced work requirements for Medicaid recipients, making it necessary for able-bodied adults to engage in work or job training activities to maintain coverage.
Impact of the Changes
The modifications to Medicaid eligibility criteria have had varying consequences:
- Expanded Coverage: In states with expanded income limits, more individuals have gained access to Medicaid coverage, resulting in a broader reach of healthcare services.
- Reduced Coverage: In states with stricter asset limits or work requirements, some individuals may lose their Medicaid coverage due to ineligibility, leading to potential gaps in healthcare access.
- Increased Administrative Burden: The implementation of work requirements and asset limits has brought additional administrative complexities, potentially affecting the efficiency of the program.
Outlook and Future Implications
The future of Medicaid remains uncertain as ongoing policy debates shape the program’s evolution. Some key considerations include:
- Federal Funding: The level of federal funding allocated to Medicaid is a significant factor in determining the program’s scope and effectiveness.
- State Flexibility: States have varying degrees of flexibility in designing and administering their Medicaid programs, leading to potential inconsistencies in coverage and access.
- Healthcare Landscape: Changes in the broader healthcare landscape, such as the availability of affordable health insurance options, may influence the demand for Medicaid services.
|Income Limit Changes
|Asset Limit Changes
In conclusion, the changes to Medicaid eligibility criteria have had a mixed impact on the program and its beneficiaries. The future of Medicaid hinges on factors such as federal funding, state flexibility, and evolving healthcare dynamics. Ongoing discussions and policy decisions will shape the program’s trajectory and its ability to serve the healthcare needs of vulnerable populations.
Impact of Medicaid Services Changes
The proposed changes to Medicaid could potentially have a significant impact on the services provided to low-income individuals and families. A comprehensive understanding of these potential impacts is crucial to inform policy discussions and ensure the provision of adequate healthcare services to vulnerable populations.
The potential impact of Medicaid changes can be categorized into the following areas:
- Reduced access to healthcare services for low-income individuals and families.
- Increased difficulty in finding providers who accept Medicaid.
- Longer wait times for appointments and procedures.
- Potential delays in receiving necessary medical treatment.
- Lower quality of care due to reduced reimbursement rates for providers.
- Limited availability of specialists and specialized treatments.
- Increased reliance on emergency room visits for routine care.
- Higher risk of preventable complications and hospitalizations.
- Increased out-of-pocket costs for healthcare services.
- Potential loss of coverage for essential services like prescription drugs.
- Difficulty in paying for medical bills, leading to increased debt and financial hardship.
- Increased pressure on state budgets to cover the cost of uncompensated care.
To further illustrate the potential impact, consider the following hypothetical scenario:
|Current Medicaid Coverage
|Potential Impact of Changes
|Low-income mother of two
|Regular check-ups, preventive care, and access to affordable prescription drugs
|May face reduced coverage for preventive care, higher prescription drug costs, and difficulty finding providers who accept Medicaid
|Senior citizen with chronic conditions
|Access to specialized care, regular medication management, and in-home support
|May experience reduced access to specialists, higher out-of-pocket costs for medications, and limited availability of in-home support services
|Working family with uninsured children
|Access to pediatric care, dental services, and mental health services for their children
|May lose coverage for their children, leading to financial hardship and difficulty in accessing necessary healthcare services
By understanding the potential impacts of the proposed changes to Medicaid, policymakers, healthcare providers, and advocates can work together to mitigate the negative consequences and ensure that vulnerable populations continue to receive the healthcare services they need.
Medicaid Funding: A Political Battleground
Medicaid, a joint federal and state health insurance program for low-income individuals, has been a subject of intense political debate in recent years. The program’s funding has been repeatedly targeted for cuts by conservative lawmakers, who argue that it is too expensive and inefficient. Supporters of Medicaid, on the other hand, maintain that the program is essential for providing low-income families with access to affordable health care.
Medicaid Funding: A Closer Look
- Federal Funding: The federal government provides matching funds to states for their Medicaid programs. The federal share varies from state to state, but it is typically around 60%. This means that states must also contribute their own funds to the program.
- State Funding: States have flexibility in how they design and administer their Medicaid programs. They can set their own eligibility criteria, benefits, and reimbursement rates. As a result, there is significant variation in Medicaid programs from state to state.
- Medicaid Funding Trends: Medicaid spending has increased significantly in recent years, due to a number of factors, including the rising cost of health care, the aging population, and the expansion of Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act.
- Medicaid’s Role in the Health Care System: Medicaid plays a vital role in the health care system, providing coverage to millions of Americans who would otherwise be uninsured. The program is particularly important for low-income families, children, and people with disabilities.
Medicaid Funding: The Political Debate
The debate over Medicaid funding often centers on the following issues:
- Cost: Medicaid is a major source of federal spending. Critics of the program argue that it is too expensive and that it is unsustainable in the long run.
- Effectiveness: Supporters of Medicaid argue that the program is effective in providing low-income families with access to affordable health care. They point to studies that have shown that Medicaid coverage is associated with improved health outcomes.
- Equity: Medicaid is often seen as a safety net for the poor and vulnerable. Supporters of the program argue that it is a moral imperative to provide health care to those who cannot afford it.
- State Flexibility: States have significant flexibility in how they design and administer their Medicaid programs. This flexibility allows states to tailor their programs to meet the needs of their populations. However, it also means that there is significant variation in Medicaid programs from state to state.
Medicaid Funding: The Way Forward
The debate over Medicaid funding is likely to continue in the years to come. There is no easy solution to the challenges facing the program. However, it is clear that Medicaid plays a vital role in the health care system and that any changes to the program must be carefully considered.
Medicaid Funding: Key Statistics
|Total Medicaid Spending (in billions)
|Federal Share of Medicaid Spending
|State Share of Medicaid Spending
Hey all, I hope this article gave you some clarity on the situation with Medicaid cuts. I know it can be a confusing topic, but I tried to break it down in a way that makes sense. If you still have questions, feel free to drop a comment below and I’ll do my best to answer them. Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ll visit again soon for more insights on all things healthcare. Keep your eyes peeled for my next article, which will be all about the latest developments in telemedicine. Stay tuned, folks!


A significant number of global enterprises across industries are raising their stakes on emerging technologies, keeping in mind the two critical pillars of growth - increased productivity and a sustainable bottom-line. In the last year or so, we saw many enterprises swinging towards a technology-led mindset from a technology- driven mindset. India was no different compared to their global counterparts.
A recent industry research - jointly conducted by Everest Research and NASSCOM indicated how homegrown traditional IT services enterprises are transforming from their legacy model by increasing their spend as well as revenues on digital and other emerging technologies. This is not surprising considering the economic and business impact digital products and services is expected to create in the coming years. A study conducted by IDC in collaboration with Microsoft estimates Digital Transformation to contribute US$154 billion to India’s GDP by 2021 - which is an astonishing 60 percent of the entire GDP of the country.
With digital technologies showing true potential and shaping the future of business and work, the way forward for business leaders is to build a digital culture with the right skills and processes supporting it.
Get a copy of the entire article by filling the form below.


ISAAA Mourns the Loss and Pays Tribute to its Founding Patron, Nobel Peace Laureate Norman Borlaug, 1914 - 2009
2009.10.05.ISAAA Mourns the Loss and Pays Tribute to its Founding Patron, Nobel Peace Laureate Norman Borlaug, 1914 - 2009
ISAAA Mourns the Loss and Pays Tribute to its Founding Patron, Nobel Peace Laureate Norman Borlaug, 1914 - 2009ISAAA Mourns the Loss and Pays Tribute to its Founding Patron, Nobel Peace Laureate Norman Borlaug, 1914 - 2009
Father of the Green Revolution. Nobel Peace Laureate. Champion of Small and Resource-poor Farmers in the Developing World. Founder of the World Food Prize.
Dr. Norman Borlaug, an icon of agricultural development for the poor, died on September 12, 2009 at the age of 95 years young. Born on a farm in Cresco, Iowa, USA, he left his footprints in agriculture through his personal and professional commitment to fight hunger and poverty, pioneering work in the development of high- yielding, and disease-resistant semi-dwarf wheat varieties, and his strong advocacy for the use of genetically modified (GM) crop varieties.
In 1970, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Dr. Norman Borlaug, with the Nobel Prize Committee concluding that, "more than any other single person of this age, he has helped to provide bread for a hungry world. We have made this choice in the hope that providing bread will also give the world peace…. He has helped to create a new food situation in the world and who has turned pessimism into optimism in the dramatic race between population explosion and our production of food."
On being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for saving one billion people from hunger, Norman Borlaug wisely reminded the world that he had "just bought some time" and that continued investment in improved crop technology was a "must" for feeding the world of tomorrow. "Norm", as he liked to be known to his legion of friends around the world, was an ardent advocate of biotech/GM crops, which he viewed as one of the necessary technology tools for ensuring future food security. He opined that "Over the past decade, we have been witnessing the success of plant biotechnology. This technology is helping farmers throughout the world produce higher yield, while reducing pesticide use and soil erosion. The benefits and safety of biotechnology has been proven over the past decade in countries with more than half of the world's population. What we need is courage by the leaders of those countries where farmers still have no choice but to use older and less effective methods. The Green Revolution and now plant biotechnology are helping meet the growing demand for food production, while preserving our environment for future generations."
In 2000, Dr. Borlaug, accompanied by ISAAA's Founder and Chair, Dr. Clive James, and Randy Hautea, Global Coordinator, and Philippine Government officials, met with the Philippine's National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) to share his views and experiences on the critical challenge of food security and the vital role of science and technology in meeting the challenge. On this occasion he was conferred as an honorary member of the NAST. During this visit to the Philippines, Norman Borlaug helped support ISAAA's new knowledge sharing initiatives through the establishment of the Global Knowledge Center (KC) on Crop Biotechnology. One of the products of ISAAA's Knowledge Center is the email newsletter Crop Biotech Update (CBU) which is now distributed weekly to 650,000 subscribers in 200 countries, and growing at approximately 5,000 per month. Norman Borlaug will always be fondly remembered as a very special member of the ISAAA family, because of his personal warmth and integrity, and his unique contribution to the improvement in the lives of millions of poor people worldwide.
Below is a special tribute from ISAAA, in free verse, by Dr. Clive James, (Founder and Chair of ISAAA and former Deputy Director General CIMMYT, Mexico) to Norm Borlaug, who was his mentor and personal friend for 30 years. The verse is an adaptation of a verse composed by Huexotzin, Prince of Texcoco, Mexico, circa 1484 at the passing of his grandfather, the famous Aztec King Nezahualcoyotl, who like his grandson Huexotzin, was a botanist and a poet. Given Norman Borlaug's great love for Mexico he would probably be very proud to be honored as the latter-day Prince of Texcoco and the Yaqui Valley in Sonora, where he toiled for more than 50 years. He would often say of the Yaqui Valley "this is where I truly feel at home and where I am at peace".
Like the millions I helped nourish
Something remaining of my name
Something remembered of my fame
But the wheats I bred in Mexico, are still young
And the Yaqui genes, will still express their humanitarian song
- alleviation of hunger -
View other tributes at http://www.worldfoodprize.org/press_room/2009/sept/borlaug-tributes.htm; http://normanborlaug.blogspot.com/2008/02/legacy-of-norman-borlaug.html#comments; and http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-09-13-voa14.cfm. Dr. Borlaug's Nobel Prize lecture is at http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1970/borlaug-lecture.html
The Official Australian Reference Guide to Agricultural Biotechnology and GM Crops


10 February 2023
Astrimar to present and exhibit at Subsea Expo 2023
Astrimar to return to Europe's largest annual subsea exhibition and conference taking place at P&J Live, Aberdeen 21st-23rd February 2023
We are delighted to announce that Astrimar Director Caroline Roberts-Haritonov will also present at the conference on 'The Power of "Engineering Insight" to Unlock the Value of Data Analytics'.
The presentation will take place on Tuesday 21st February at 14:20 as part of the Data and Digital session in the Blue Conference Room.
You can view the full presentation here - 'The Power of "Engineering Insight" to Unlock the Value of Data Analytics'.
Astrimar will also be exhibiting at the event at Stand 127 during Subsea Expo. Come and meet our growing team and find out about all the things we are doing to support the subsea sector as we transition to Net Zero. We look forward to seeing you there!


During the last few months, several device manufacturers have released Intel Atom based mobile phones and tablets. Momentum has been developing in the market for x86-based Android tablets, and with Intel committing that there will be 40 million tablets shipping by the end of the 2014, we knew the time was right to deliver native AIR support.
We have been listening to our AIR developers and we are very excited to announce support for packaging of AIR applications for Intel x86 based Android devices. This support will allow AIR developers to directly target the x86 Android platform, providing the best performance possible from their AIR applications.
With this new support, developers will be able to package their applications in both shared and captive modes. The AIR Runtime application with x86 support will be published on the Google Play Store, and will receive regular updates in sync with our other supported platforms. This capability will soon be available in the AIR SDK on Adobe Labs, so check back soon! The final version will be made available in one of our upcoming major releases.
The Adobe AIR platform is stronger than ever. Today, Adobe AIR powers more than 50,000 unique mobile applications on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. These applications have been installed more than a billion times by users across the world. By adding support for x86 based devices, our developers will be able to reach out to even more users, thereby making their applications succeed in this highly fragmented space.


Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation Receives $2 Million Gift from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call
CONTACT: George J.S. Choe, email@example.com, (215) 224-2040
Philadelphia, PA – On March 19, 2024, MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving announced Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation as one of the Yield Giving Open Call’s awardees working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States. Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation received a $2 million unrestricted grant to further its mission to promote and fulfill Dr. Philip Jaisohn’s ideals of humanity through a broad range of medical healthcare, mental health counseling, and human/social services along with advocacy, leadership development, educational and cultural programs for the enrichment of the local community.
Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation, marking its 50th anniversary milestone in 2025, stands as an important service center serving Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Delaware counties. The Foundation directly supports the vulnerable Asian-Americans in Pennsylvania who, without necessary skills to navigate the system, struggle with inter-related challenges connected to poverty, healthcare disparities, language barriers, and cultural complexities. Co-founding the Asian American Coalition in this region, it has helped assess the various needs of the local community and led efforts to advocate for policies that amplify Asian-American voices from different backgrounds. With three locations and one museum, the organization has evolved into a premier health and human service hub, employing evidence-based holistic practices delivered with cultural and linguistic sensitivity to bridge gaps in healthcare access and address inequities. Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation also invests in youth development, aiming to engage young individuals in healthcare and civic spheres to cultivate the next generation of leaders.
In March 2023, Yield Giving launched an Open Call for community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to enable individuals and families to achieve substantive improvement in their well-being through foundational resources.
“In addition to increasing healthcare access, PJMF has led the Asian American community’s advocacy work through Census and voter registration, and we have hosted over 120 COVID-19 vaccine clinics for the Asian American, Latino and African American communities with language, cultural, technology, transportation and religious barriers. We are currently working on further strengthening our work to satisfy the needs of the Asian American and other communities by developing a “one stop shop” hub space and range of services. That is why MacKenzie Scott’s transformative investment is so timely and we appreciate their recognition of our work,” said George Choe, President & CEO of Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation.
The Open Call received 6,353 applications and initially planned for 250 awards of $1 million each. In the Fall of 2023, organizations top-rated by their peers advanced to a second round of review by an external Evaluation Panel recruited for experience relevant to this cause, and underwent a final round of due diligence. In light of the incredible work of these organizations, as judged by their peers and external panelists, the donor team decided to expand the awardee pool and the award amount. “We are excited
that our partnership with Yield Giving has resonated with so many organizations,” said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. “In a world teeming with potential and talent, the Open Call has given us an opportunity to identify, uplift, and empower transformative organizations that often remain unseen.”
More information on the Yield Giving Open Call and other initiatives can be found at www.leverforchange.org.
Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation
The Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation (PJMF) was established in 1975 by eight Korean American physicians to uphold the ideals of Dr. Philip Jaisohn who was the First Korean American and a pioneer in social justice, a medical doctor and an independence activist in Korea and America (1800s-1900s). What started as a response to the medical needs of the Korean American immigrants has now become an organization that provides holistic healthcare to over 10,000 people annually through health and human services, advocacy and leadership development. The Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation strives to support the larger Asian American community which is often misunderstood, underrepresented and underserved due to its immigrant status, diversity in language, culture and economic status. To learn more, visit www.jaisohn.org.
Established by MacKenzie Scott to share a financial fortune created through the effort of countless people, Yield Giving is named after a belief in adding value by giving up control. To date, Yield’s network of staff and advisors has yielded over $16,500,000,000 to 1,900+ non-profit teams to use as they see fit for the benefit of others. To learn more, visit www.yieldgiving.com.
Lever for Change
Lever for Change connects donors with bold solutions to the world’s biggest problems—including issues like racial inequity, gender inequality, lack of access to economic opportunity, and climate change. Using an inclusive, equitable model and due diligence process, Lever for Change creates customized challenges and other tailored funding opportunities. Top-ranked teams and challenge finalists become members of
the Bold Solutions Network—a growing global network that helps secure additional funding, amplify members’ impact, and accelerate social change. Founded in 2019 as a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Lever for Change has influenced over $1.7 billion in grants to date and provided support to more than 145 organizations. To learn more, visit www.leverforchange.org.
6705 Old York Rd.
Philadelphia, PA 19126
51 Medical Campus Drive
Lansdale, PA 19446
JAISOHN WELLNESS CENTER
1290 Allentown Road
Lansdale, PA 19446


COVID-19 has dramatically changed global operations. While most of these changes involve challenges for land, ocean, and air freight, it has led to some unique innovations and workarounds. Businesses like Boeing and Airbus have begun exploring planes with greater cargo capacity, and many leading U.S. companies are using airfreight versus land and ocean for their operations.
However, even with global markets trying to return to a state of normalcy or finding ways to adapt and modify their operations, the challenges posed by COVID-19 still threaten the optimal flow of airfreight. One of these challenges is the complete lockdown of Shanghai, China.
Starting on March 28th, Shanghai started a nine-covid lockdown of their city. This lockdown has hampered operations, and many airlines have canceled their flights or chosen alternative routes for their cargo, causing delays and higher rates.
Although Shanghai’s busiest airport–Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)–isn’t closed, some neighboring airports are being closed or with limited operations. Additionally, production at warehouses has become dramatically reduced or at a standstill due to the work from home order. Coupled with a decrease in transportation across the city, many flights going in and out of PVG are canceled.
While this isn’t the first time China has entered a strict lockdown, Shanghai’s most recent lockdown is perhaps the second most extensive lockdown in the past two years–only rivaled by the initial outbreak in Wuhan.
China’s stringent zero-Covid policy puts both small and large businesses at risk. Even though theoretically flights are allowed into PVG, the lack of manpower and increased rules and regulations has resulted in delays and cancelations.
For example, while airport workers are permitted to work in Shanghai amidst the lockdown, most trucks outside of Shanghai aren’t allowed to enter the airport or ports. This puts a huge constraint on freight across the board. Carriers to and from destinations like Los Angeles, Amsterdam, and Chicago have canceled flights, and major airlines like Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines are canceling flights until the lockdown is lifted.
For carriers that do decide to proceed with PVG as their destination, they face long delays at customs–exacerbated by both reduced staffing and increased regulations. With airfreight diverted from PVG, prices have begun increasing. Transit times are increasing too.
According to data collected from the TAC index, current China to U.S. rates sit at $8.54 per kg. While this is only a 0.2% increase in recent weeks, it’s also a 22% increase from March, which saw rates around $6.97 on March 7th. With the price of fuel increasing, shippers are forced to accept surcharges again.
Many experts point to China’s zero-covid policy as a key culprit. First adopted since the start of Covid, this policy has resulted in frequent lockdowns across the country—including major cities like Beijing and Shanghai.
Such economic consequences have led to China exploring ways to adjust its policy. Some adjustments include increasing the scope of testing, mandating local governments complete testing in 24 hours, and having factories use a “closed-loop” production method.
The closed-loop method allows production to still happen during the lockdown. This method does so by utilizing rapid antigen tests, letting minor or asymptomatic cases quarantine inside isolation facilities instead of hospitals, and increasing the viral threshold required for testing positive.
However, even with these adjustments in place, and even if the lockdown in Shanghai becomes lifted, the ripple effects are sure to impact the air freight industry for weeks or months to come.


July 8, 2022
We are very pleased to announce Chilliwack FC is partnering with 9-time Canada West champions Trinity Western University Women’s Soccer to provide an ‘All Girls Soccer Camp’ this summer for U11–U17 female players in Chilliwack. TWU coaches Graham Roxburgh and Rob Giesbrecht, along with other TWU coaches and varsity players will be leading this exciting learning experience. Registration is now available through Chilliwack FC here.
Dates: Monday, August 8–Friday, August 12, 2022
Location: Townsend Park Field A
Cost: $180 (includes camp shirt)
For more information, call the Chilliwack FC office at (604) 792-0090.


Gustav Malja took a brace of ninth-place finishes from the penultimate Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland round of the season.
The Swede, a debutant in Porsche racing this year, drove two steady races at Germany’s Sachsenring to cap off a run of eight consecutive weekends of action in PCCD and the sister Porsche Supercup.
“I’m relatively happy with a set of ninth places this weekend,” Gustav Malja says. “We know we’ve got a few things to work on at the moment, but this gives us the momentum to keep doing that. Sachsenring is a difficult track and to come here for the first time in the Porsche was a big challenge. I still need to improve qualifying, which is what’s holding me back at the moment, but given the circumstances I’m quite pleased with how the weekend went.”
The final round of the 2018 Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland season takes place at Hockenheim on September 21-23.


The next meeting
November Port Authority Board Meeting
The next meeting of the Medina County Port Authority Board will be held on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. NOTE: The meeting will be held at the Huntington Bank Building in the 3rd floor, 39 Public Square, Medina OH 44256.
The next meeting of the Fiber Advisory Board is October 19, 2017 at 3:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Medina County Administration Building in MCEDC Conference Room, Suite 202 located at 144 N. Broadway Street, Medina, OH.


The French Amicale Visited the Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial
The delegation was accompanied by Jean-Michel Clère, President of the Amicale de Neuengamme et de ses Kommandos, and Barbara Brix, one of the Friends of the Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial. Around 40 people took part in the pèlerinage, including many relatives of former concentration camp prisoners. Before arriving in Neuengamme, the group visited memorial sites at various former subcamps in Hanover, Fallersleben-Laagberg, Wöbbelin and Kaltenkirchen, as well as the Gardelegen memorial site and the Cap Arcona memorial sites at the Klütz Cemetery and Poel Island Cemetery.
In Hamburg-Neuengamme, the delegation held a memorial ceremony at the international memorial and laid flowers at individual memorial stones and in the House of Remembrance. This was followed by a welcome and address in the memorial's study center by the memorial's director Oliver von Wrochem. After guided tours of the site, the pèlerinage concluded with a ceremony and wreath-laying ceremony at the former site of the crematorium.


SIA ECODESIGN STOVES REDUCE EMISSIONS – IT’S OFFICIAL
The newly published 2019 Clean Air Strategy, which we talked about recently (more info) made it very clear that Ecodesign Ready stoves will play an instrumental role in the government’s plans to lower emissions from domestic burning.
It is estimated that the actions outlined in this Clean Air Strategy, which the government have quoted, could reduce the costs of air pollution to society by £1.7bn each year by 2020, increasing to a staggering £5.3bn every year from 2030.
In the Clean Air Strategy, the government commends the SIA (Stove Industry Alliance) for releasing these high efficiency stoves well ahead of the 2022 target date. After 2022 it will not be possible to sell a stove, which is not Ecodesign Ready.
The purpose of this is to reduce emissions from the home, essentially domestic heating.
Until only very recently, a lot of press tarred burning wood with the same brush. However, government statistics have shown that nationally 40% of wood is actually burnt on an open fire, and it doesn’t stop there – in London this rises to an astonishing 70%, despite the fact that burning wood on an open fire is not allowed.
The 2019 Clean Air Strategy recognises that all wood burning is simply not the same! AN Ecodesign stove, as we have so many times said, produces 90% fewer emissions than an open fire, and 80% fewer emissions than a stove made just a decade ago.
It’s important that consumers are educated about burning wood – to make sure that they maximise the benefits that comes with an Ecodesign Ready stove. That is why DEFRA are putting resources in place to educate and inform. Increasing awareness among homeowners about the importance of only burning wood with a moisture content below 20% and having their chimney swept on a regular basis.
Morley Sage, Chair of the SIA said, “Owners of an SIA Ecodesign Ready stove can be confident they are reducing their carbon footprint and helping to improve air quality, by using the best emissions and efficiency technology available.”
View our range of Ecodesign Stoves HERE →


This year’s conference will be held at the University of Reading’s ICMA Centre from Thursday 6th September to Saturday 8th September. We have a very exciting programme including sessions covering a wide range of late medieval themes, from political to art-historical; and plenary lectures from Chris Briggs, Anne Curry, Chris Given-Wilson and Elizabeth New. We will also be celebrating the fifteenth volume of The Fifteenth Century at a reception jointly hosted by Boydell & Brewer and the ICMA Centre.
Friday will include a tour of the newly re-opened Reading Abbey and its quarter, and the re-designed gallery at Reading Museum with some gems from the University of Reading’s Special Collections. A drinks reception will be held at Reading Museum before the conference dinner, will be held at the Victoria Hall in Reading’s Town Hall on the Friday evening – please remember to select this on the registration form. Registration options are available for the full three days, or for individual day registration. A special reduced fee is offered for students opting for the full three days registration.
For draft programme details please click here.
Online registration and booking is now closed; for booking details please contact Dr Jessica Lutkin firstname.lastname@example.org by Friday 10th August.


Not every kid loves to read... but EVERY kid loves to laugh.
That’s the big idea behind Funny Pages, Canada’s only festival devoted to books that crack kids up. We believe humour can introduce even the most reluctant reader to the joy of books - and even the most reluctant writer to the joy of putting a smile on someone’s face. Through Funny Pages, we want to see low literacy rates laughed right out of existence.
On Friday, April 22nd 2022, Funny Pages will be putting the “Ha!” into the Halifax Central Library. Hundreds of kids from Grades Four through Eight will enjoy a day of author presentations, comedy workshops, book-signings. Meanwhile, thousands of students throughout the country will share in the fun online.
On Saturday, April 23rd 2022, preschool and elementary kids can join in on the fun with an event featuring Sheree Fitch and Kate Beaton at the Halifax Central Library.
A registered non-profit society, Funny Pages is a year-round initiative promoting the love of reading with the help of some of Canada’s funniest authors.
Meet our Presenters...
C’mon! It’ll be good for a laugh. We’re looking for volunteers to help select books, contact schools, organize events, keep our social media rocking, and wrangle kids and presenters on the big day. To find out more, contact us at email@example.com


Beer Containing CBD – We have been asked by several distributors about the legality of selling beer which contains CBD. Certain CBD products are legal under state laws. For example, in Pennsylvania, CBD with a THC level under .03% and certain products with industrial hemp fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant are legal under the state’s Industrial Hemp Program. The law is a little murky, however, when CBD is added to foods and introduced into interstate commerce. We have seen the PA Department of Agriculture and the Federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) warn that certain CBD products may be illegal. In fact, the TTB has issued several cease and desist letters to manufacturers of CBD infused beer in recent years. However, last week Congress passed the U.S. Farm Bill, which, among other changes, legalized hemp in the United States. Hemp, which is a strain of cannabis that is often confused with marijuana, is a critical component of CBD products. With the passage of the Farm Bill, it seems that hemp-based CBD products may now be legal under federal law. Assuming this interpretation is correct, the path has been cleared for more TTB approvals of beer recipes which include CBD. We will continue to monitor this issue, but distributors should expect to see a boom in malt and brewed beverages containing CBD in the near future.


IMPORTANT UPDATE TO THE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS BETWEEN THE UK AND FRANCE
The travel restrictions between the UK and France, imposed by the French government to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant in France, as of 18 December 2021 have now been eased.
Effectively, as of Friday 14th January 2022 British nationals who are fully vaccinated against Covid 19, i.e., who have received at least two doses of vaccines or have received their booster dose if their last injection or infection to Covid-19 was over three months ago, no longer need a compelling reason to travel to France, nor will they need to self-isolate for 10 days after arrival.
They will have to provide proof of their vaccination’s status.
British travellers (vaccinated) still need to present a negative Covid-19 test, dated less than 24 hours prior to their departure.
As with before, the Covid-19 test cannot be an NHS test, the result must be registered by a private testing company. It can be a rapid antigen test or a more expensive PCR test.
This is fantastic news for all British nationals who have been planning to travel to France to visit friends and family; or go skiing, sightseeing; or travel to their second home in France; or want to visit properties they wish to purchase!
For unvaccinated travellers, the restrictions have not been relaxed, they can only travel for a compelling reason, as well as provide a negative Covid-19 test, dated less than 24 hours prior to their departure, and isolate for 10 days upon their arrival. Their isolation will be checked by the local French police.


Highest award given to federal lawmakers who led broad opposition to the EATS Act
WASHINGTON (March 7, 2024)—Last night, the Humane Society Legislative Fund hosted the Humane Awards, honoring the congressional lawmakers who made substantial contributions towards animal protection. Altogether, a bipartisan group of 255 federal legislators—55 Senators and 200 Representatives covering 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Northern Mariana Islands—were honored for their work in 2023.
The highest honors for Legislators of the Year went to Senators Alex Padilla, D-Calif. and Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Representatives Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., as well as posthumously to Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., for their work leading congressional letters voicing opposition to the “Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression” (EATS) Act (H.R. 4417 and S. 2019).
“Senators Feinstein (in memorium), Padilla, and Booker and Representatives Blumenauer and Fitzpatrick mobilized a powerful bipartisan outcry against efforts to wipe out crucial laws protecting animal welfare and public health. They deserve our top honors,” said Sara Amundson, president of Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Look, the writing is on the stall: Americans don’t want farm animals crammed into spaces so small they can’t even turn around or lie down for months on end. Congress must heed the appeals of these legislators, the will of voters, and the concerns of thousands of farmers who’ve invested in more humane systems to meet public demand. The EATS Act or any related attack on state and local agricultural laws will be a poison pill in the Farm Bill and must be rejected. It was such a pleasure last night to have the opportunity to celebrate all our Capitol Hill allies and demonstrate how animal protection continues to bring together legislators across the political spectrum.”
The 2023 Legislator of the Year awardees worked with HSLF to organize an effort involving more than 200 federal lawmakers spanning 35 states to publicly urge that neither the EATS Act nor any related legislation be included in the upcoming Farm Bill—a sweeping legislative package directing agricultural priorities for the next five years. The current Farm Bill expires at the end of September and Congress should pass a new bill to continue setting policies and direction for critical agriculture programs. Currently, more than 4,500 entities, including organizations, individuals, and more than 3,300 farms have voiced opposition to the EATS Act, which HSLF strongly opposes.
In addition to presenting the Legislator of the Year awards, HSLF presented the following awards last night:
- Humane Champion Award: Presented to 16 Senators and 106 Representatives who led on animal welfare legislation or regulatory efforts or signed the letter advocated by HSLF to oppose the EATS Act and related legislation, and also received a perfect score on the 2023 Humane Scorecard.
- Legislative Leader Award: This recognition was given to 26 Senators and 81 Representatives for their leadership sponsoring pro-animal legislation or an agency letter and/or signing the anti-EATS Act letter.
- Humane Advocate Award: Given to 10 Senators and 11 Representatives who received a perfect score on the 2023 Humane Scorecard.
The full list of awardees can be found here.
HSLF has been hosting the Humane Awards since 2005. The annual reception is a fun opportunity to express our appreciation to the many legislators who advance animal protection in Congress.
Read more on our blog.
Download photos here.
Kate Sarna: 202-836-1265; email@example.com


After four years you finally graduate. You’ve had your fill of mac n’ cheese and over-priced textbooks. Now you’re facing $27,000 in student loans. You aren’t alone, but there’s more bad news. Your share of the national debt is more than $17,000. Unfortunately, the federal government is paying more servicing the national debt than it is on the entire national defense budget. How can the government help students with their debts when it can’t keep up with its own debt? With increased deficit spending, the national debt level is spiralling out of control.
University is an investment. We may take 10 years to pay back our student loans, but at least we will move into higher paying jobs than those without degrees. One day we will escape our student debt, but no matter how hard we work, we will never escape the national debt. Ten cents of every tax dollar goes toward paying back the federal government’s debt. According to the Department of Finance, the federal budget in 2013-2014 spent over $28 billion on debt but only spent $12.3 billion on funding for post-secondary education. This number declined from its peak in 2010-2011 of $12.8 billion.
Government support for Canadians will likely be decreasing as national debt spirals out of control. Interest payments will soon be too much to handle. Under the current spending pattern of the federal government, the annual interest payment towards the national debt in 15 years will be over $50 Billion. Interim Opposition Leader, Rona Ambrose calculated that with this money the government could “Fund the entire annual provincial budget for Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut COMBINED.”
Although student debt levels are in crisis, the good news is that in 15 years we are expected to pay them off. In that time the government will have nearly doubled its annual debt payments. So what will be more expensive for students? Our short-term debt or our national debt? If the current debt levels are expending over 10% of our taxes, when the debt doubles, that will mean either our taxes will increase or we will see less money allotted to healthcare and education. This out of control debt caused by increased government spending is a crisis. It will consume the national budget and force us all to pay more in taxes or receive less in services. Student debt may hold us down, but the national debt will bury us.


To find a media article on the topic of childhood obesity, Google Scholar was used. The search included the terms “childhood obesity” and “article.” The search yielded several articles that are up to date and can be included in the media article category. In the Medical News Today article, Whiteman (2022) discusses whether the issue of childhood obesity is being taken with the seriousness it needs. The problem lies in childhood obesity not being a cosmetic issue or something that will go away with time. The main finding of the article is that over the past three decades, the childhood obesity rate has increased by more than two times among children and four times among adolescents (Whiteman, 2022). The adverse effects of obesity can persist into adulthood, with concerns of both US and international healthcare providers that if childhood obesity continues increasing, so will the prevalence of medical consequences that develop as a result of excessive weight. This will result in the deteriorating health of future generations and put the economy at significant risk.
The author lists the critical causes of obesity, which, in children, include the lack of physical activity and an unhealthy diet rich in processed and sugar-loaded foods. With the wide availability of empty calories and liquid calories, combined with the abundance of fast food advertisements, there has been a significant change in the way children eat. Besides the increased prevalence of sedentary games, children fail to meet the recommended sixty-minute daily threshold of physical activity because they spend a lot of time sitting. Therefore, the way in which the daily lives of children have been structured makes it easier to be unhealthy and inactive. Whiteman (2022) says that parents do not take childhood obesity seriously because they do not recognize when their children are becoming overweight. It is essential that schools play a role in encouraging healthy behaviors in children and reducing the risks of them becoming overweight.
To find a peer-reviewed research article, the Walden Library database was used by entering the keyword “childhood obesity.” The articles were filtered by date of publication to select an up-to-date one. The report by Sanyaolu et al. (2019) on the public health concern over childhood and adolescent obesity. The article was published in Global Pediatric Health, which, according to its website, is an openly accessible and peer-reviewed journal focusing on health issues of children. Thus, determining whether an article is peer-reviewed is possible by visiting the website of the journal, where this information will be explicitly stated, while in some articles, this is mentioned on the first page.
The research article discusses the issue of childhood obesity, which has reached epidemic levels in the US. In 2019, around 17% of children in the country were presenting with obesity (Sanyaolu et al., 2019). The authors mention that while the complete image of all risk factors of childhood obesity remains elusive, the combination of exercise, diet, and psychological and physiological factors contributes to the development of the disease. Considering the host of challenges that come with childhood obesity, Sanyaolu et al. (2019) points out that consistent preventive methods are necessary. Specifically, they should aim to educate children and their parents and encourage appropriate diet and exercise methods to implement from a young age through adulthood. Secondary preventive strategies may include preventing a child from continuing unhealthy habits and obesity into adulthood. Thus, it is necessary to combine the primary and secondary prevention tactics to achieve the best results in battling obesity among children. In addition, the article also provides information on health implications, including both psychological and physiological comorbidities.
Both peer-reviewed research articles and the media article agree that childhood obesity is a public health issue that should be taken with increased attention and seriousness both from the public health field and individually. The format of the information is laid out differently; for example, in the media article, the information is separated into topics and includes quotes from healthcare specialists, accompanied by images and photos. The information is laid out in a simple language, with the quantitative information being presented simply and without additional over-explanations.
Importantly, key points are highlighted in bold because it is expected that a reader may not be reading the entire article due to its length. For example, the information about the levels of physical activity reduction over the last three decades is highlighted in bold so that readers understand the gravity of the problem. The sources used are diverse and reputable, such as the CDC, Harvard School of Public Health, and Medical News Today. In contrast, the research article is more complex in its presentation of information and includes many more sources compared to the media article. Besides dividing information into separate topic sections, the article also includes mentions of the methodology, informed consent and ethical approval, and other research article components that must be present. In a media article, no such components are necessary to mention.
Sanyaolu, A., Okorie, C., Qi, X., Locke, J., & Rehman, S. (2019). Childhood and adolescent obesity in the United States: A public health concern. Global Pediatric Health, 6, 2333794X19891305. Web.
Whiteman, H. (2022). Childhood obesity: Is it being taken seriously? Web.


Horsts create an endowed faculty fund in metallurgical engineering
William E. "Bill" Horst (Met E '51 and '52) and his wife, Margaret Ann, have contributed $250,000 for a “gift that gives back” to create an endowed fund for metallurgical engineering faculty at Missouri S&T.
Their charitable remainder trust establishes the William and Margaret Ann Horst Endowed Faculty Development Fund in Metallurgical Engineering, which will primarily be used to help junior faculty establish their research programs and help all faculty stay current in their fields. With a charitable remainder trust, payments go to the donor (or anyone of the donor’s choosing) for life or for a designated period, after which the remainder is received by Missouri S&T.
Bill's interest in giving junior faculty a boost in their research and teaching efforts comes from personal experience, as he spent seven years as an instructor and associate professor in metallurgical engineering at the University of Arizona. “It is important that junior faculty have the opportunity to establish themselves and their work in research and teaching,” Bill says. “We hope our endowed fund will prove valuable in the continuation of excellence in the department.”
Bill received his Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering at the University of Arizona in 1967. He retired in 1984 as a vice president and research director of AMAX Extractive Research & Development, Inc. Bill was inducted into the Missouri S&T Mines and Metallurgy Academy in 1997 and for the past seven years has served as the chairman of the Splendido Residents Scholarship Committee providing scholarships for Splendido employees and their children. Bill and Ann have been members of the Order of the Golden Shillelagh giving society since 1991, and Bill has served on the executive committee.


Cyber Threat Report: North Korea
Businesses hoping for a reprieve from North Korean malware attacks following the historic peace summit between American President Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong-un will likely be disappointed. Despite what many consider to be diplomatic progress, North Korean state-sponsored cyber attacks continue and will likely remain a significant threat to American businesses, consumers, and military for the foreseeable future as North Korea looks to improve its global economic and political standing.
North Korean hackers operate as an integrated branch of the DPRK military. This ensures that their cyber attacks are closely aligned with the goals of the regime, which has a history of using cyber warfare against adversaries. In 2016, North Korean hackers targeted South Korean businesses and accessed military data shared between the US and South Korea. It is likely that similar tactics will be used against the US if relations deteriorate.
TYPEFRAME: Evidence of Ongoing Threats
USCERT released a Malware Analysis Report on remote-access trojan TYPEFRAME just days after the summit, attributing the malware attack to HIDDEN COBRA, a North-Korean offensive cyber-attack team. HIDDEN COBRA, previously known as Lazarus, has been credited with many highly disruptive malware attacks such as WannaCry, BANKSHOT, Joanap, Brambul, and several DDoS attacks.
TYPEFRAME requires victims to open a file and agree to initiate the malicious Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macros embedded within. After the malicious file is opened, TYPEFRAME installs malware, proxy and remote access trojans (RATs), and connects to command and control servers. It can also modify the victim’s firewall, leave backdoors for future access, and execute malicious files on command.
North Korean Malware Trends
According to the 2017 ENISA Threat Landscape Report, malware has been the greatest and most prevalent risk to US businesses and defense institutions for the past two years. Malware allows attackers to access sensitive data, infiltrate networks, and manipulate computers or other machines. North Korean hacking groups have developed many advanced malware programs that can easily evade standard cybersecurity measures.
Fewer, But More Serious Cyber Attacks
Although the frequency of malware attacks has experienced a slight decrease in recent years, the complexity and evasiveness of attacks has increased dramatically. In 2018 there has already been a rise in click-less attacks and network-spreading infections that are far more complicated than the method of infection used in TYPEFRAME and other click-based malware. Cyber attacks against US-based businesses will continue to become more advanced if diplomatic tensions with the DPRK rise. Most small and mid-sized US businesses do not have adequate cybersecurity measures in place to defend against this type of attack, and 60 percent of SMBs go out of business within six months of a data breach. Even though fewer attacks have been reported, the increased sophistication of North Korean malware poses a significant risk to the US Economy.
A backdoor attack negates authentication procedures, granting remote access to applications and giving threat actors the ability to remotely issue cyber commands and update or deploy malware. Once backdoor files are installed, they are very difficult to remove. Traditional detection methods use scanners to search for known malware signatures in a server file system, but backdoor files are typically masked behind alias names and code obfuscation. HIDDEN COBRA, APT37, and other North Korean hacker groups increasingly include backdoor files in malware, making infected endpoints and networks more vulnerable to future attacks, even after the original malicious files are removed.
Motivations for North Korean Hacking Campaigns
North Korea relies on offensive cyber campaigns for financial stability and uses them as a method of international disruption. Increasingly, retaliation against adversaries has also become a motivation. North Korea is almost completely insular, which limits their ability to wield power through economic, political, or military means. Instead, they use cyber warfare to generate income and exert power while maintaining plausible deniability and limiting military altercations.
The weak state of the North Korean economy can be attributed partly to sanctions enacted by the U.S. and UN to restrict nuclear development. North Korean exports are reported to have decreased by 30% in 2017 after being struck with economic sanctions. Despite the intensity of these sanctions, the North Korean nuclear program has continued, and many speculate that it is funded primarily by their cyber operations.
Cryptocurrency exchanges are largely unregulated, making them an ideal target for financially-motivated hackers. South Korean intelligence officials recently accused North Korea of being responsible for the January 2018 attack of the Japanese cryptocurrency exchange, Coincheck, and making off with over $500 million. This attack is one of many cryptocurrency thefts of which North Korea has been accused, alongside a February 2016 Bangladesh cyber bank heist, a South Korean bitcoin exchange attack in June 2017, and currency thefts targeting banks in the US, Costa Rica, and Poland. The money acquired through these types of attacks has likely helped to fund the severely sanctioned North Korean nuclear program.
North Korean-sponsored hackers have launched several malware attacks similar to TYPEFRAME that are designed to disrupt businesses, infrastructure, media, finance, and defense institutions globally. These attacks are less financially motivated than the crypto-heists, though North Korea may achieve some monetary gain. Instead, these types of attacks are used as assertions of power. The WannaCry attack of last year, which was attributed to North Korean hackers, affected many international institutions including hospitals, businesses, and sea ports. In addition to wreaking havoc, disruptive attacks give hacking teams like HIDDEN COBRA the experience they need to attempt more sophisticated attacks against larger businesses and governments.
North Korean global reconnaissance attacks, such as Operation GhostSecret and the hacking of South Korean computer networks during a U.S. and South Korean military exercise in 2016, are becoming more prevalent. Though these types of attacks are fairly new for North Korea, retaliation is emerging as a significant motivator for state-sponsored cyber attacks, suggesting that severe attacks will be more likely as North Korea experiences tensions with other countries.
North Korean Economy
Even if the United States reduces the economic sanctions placed on North Korea and attempts to help invigorate the North Korean economy, it will take time for North Korea to recover. International bank and cryptocurrency theft, in addition to attacks targeting international companies, will continue to be a source of income for North Korea, and it is unlikely that the cryptocurrency exchange hacks and other cryptocurrency thefts will cease completely unless the crypto market crashes or becomes intensely regulated.
Because many North Korean cyber attacks are conducted to influence international perceptions of North Korea, global political tensions are a significant risk factor for future attacks. The TYPEFRAME attack came immediately after the peace summit in Singapore, where US President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un had what were considered successful talks about peaceful denuclearization. The attacks were conducted despite the outcome of the talks, and the scope and intensity of the attacks indicate that they had been long-planned. Therefore, the TYPEFRAME malware attack can be interpreted as a statement of North Korean power: “We’re here, and we won’t go down easily.”
Going forward, North Korea will continue to leverage cyber warfare in reaction to international politics and negotiations with the US. Kim Jong-un does not want to appear weak, and an international malware attack is a safe assertion of power to make during negotiations with more powerful countries. It indicates that North Korea has the capabilities and the will to deploy attacks, but it does not warrant war—something the DPRK wants to avoid.
The biggest risk factor for escalation of North Korean cyber attacks would be failed negotiations and a souring of relations between the DPRK and the US. If the US builds a relationship with North Korea, only to have that relationship ultimately degenerate, a disruptive cyber attack aimed at United States infrastructure, healthcare, entertainment or economic institutions could be expected. Disrespectful dialogue or swift reinstitution of economic sanctions after some basis of trust has been established would put North Korea in a vulnerable position, and the combination of vulnerability, betrayal, and economic stress has the potential to motivate North Korea to take more extreme actions. US banks and businesses would be an ideal target in this scenario because they fulfill North Korea's desire for both financial gain and retaliation.
The most likely scenario between the United States and North Korea is a continued, long-term, diplomatic engagement. However, disruptive attacks like the TYPEFRAME malware attack are not likely to go away any time soon—and neither will the attacks on cryptocurrency markets. North Korea will still need funds, and denuclearization is likely to involve sanctions and increased international tension. Because stealing cryptocurrencies is a legally ambiguous practice with plausible deniability, North Korea will likely rely on cryptocurrency theft as a reliable source of income during negotiations.
Should North Korea move towards denuclearization, it is likely that they will seek to prove themselves as powerful and influential in other ways, making cyber-attacks from HIDDEN COBRA, APT37 and other North Korean hacking groups a continued threat.
Current events in the United States may also present as a potential target to the DPRK. Interference with the approaching midterm elections has been anticipated, not just from North Korea, but from other nations and malicious actors as well. By staging a cyber-attack against the U.S. during midterm elections, North Korea could make a statement about exposure, shame, and power.
Up to this point, there has been minimal retaliation against the North Korean hacking groups following their attacks. This may change, as President Trump's administration recently granted increased power to the U.S. Cyber Command. Cyber Command will now be able to place more emphasis on offensive attacks against international parties to dismantle cyber weapons before they can be used. This presents an opportunity for the U.S. to strike North Korean hackers either as retaliation against attacks like TYPEFRAME or WannaCry, or to dismantle any planned attacks before they can be enacted.
It is also worth noting that North Korea is now receiving its Internet connection from both China's Unicom and Russia's TransTeleCom. Changes to that connection, whether through political affairs or cyber attacks, could greatly impact North Korea's offensive and defensive capabilities.
North Korea is unpredictable, and it has invested considerably in developing advanced cyber warfare capabilities. The regime depends on revenue from cyber crime to prop up its otherwise weak economy, and until other viable industries develop, state-sponsored cyber attacks will be necessary to maintain a source of income. HIDDEN COBRA will likely continue to operate covertly, even as US/North Korean relations improve.
At Bluestone Analytics, it is our goal to protect the information and infrastructure that keeps your business functioning. If you would like to learn how we can help you defend your data from even the most advanced cyber threats, contact us.


This week is Walmart’s 50th birthday. While the champagne may be flowing at Walmart HQ, for the rest of us, Walmart’s anniversary is hardly cause for celebration. There’s a real cost to those “low prices” Walmart promises — and our communities are paying the price.
Walmart lives and dies by its public image. So, to commemorate its 50th birthday, SomOfUs.com created an infographic for you to share with your friends, to help spread the word that Walmart’s business model is bad news for our communities and our world.
After losing her job in advertising when her small-business employer folded during the recession, Marie Kanzer-Born, 54, found herself turning in desperation a year ago to a night shift job stocking shelves at a suburban Chicago Walmart. But she wasn’t happy with what she calls “the weird culture of fear” that its hovering, hectoring supervisors created, the inadequate staffing that forced everyone to work faster and at risk of injury, the erratic scheduling, the refusal to pay for overtime work, and the retaliation aganst anyone who was not subservient—often through cuts in hours of work.
Today, Kanzer-Born is far from home, joining an anticipated 10,000 protesters in the Chinatown section of Los Angeles, many of whom will be telling Walmart that they don’t want its stores in L.A. Kanzer-Born has her own message from “associates” like her to the corporat execs in Bentonville, Arkansas: “They need to listen to us. We know what’s going on at the stores. And second, we would like to be treated with more respect.”
You could call it wishing Walmart an unhappy birthday. Next week Walmart is officially celebrating its 50th anniversary. As a counterpoint, Saturday’s demonstrations in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and other cities are calling attention to the flawed record of the world’s largest retailer—labor rights abuses in stores, suppliers, warehouses and all along the company’s vast logistical network, devastation of small businesses and communities, environmental degradation (despite many “green” initiatives that cut Walmart costs), and the political and economic mis-use of its vast power.
Though many groups are involved, two projects supported by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union have taken the lead. One is Making Change At Walmart, a public education campaign. The other is Organization United for Respect, or OUR Walmart, an association of associates, which is not a union but a looser, member-run group that is strongly dependent on Internet communication but also sponsors meetings and protests in real time and places, including the workplace.


Around 1:05 p.m. on Monday, inside a suite of offices hugging the left-field pole at Dodger Stadium, general manager Farhan Zaidi reached for his iPhone. He had just finished an hour of feverish negotiating to complete a monumental trade minutes before the early-afternoon deadline. Now he thumbed a three-word text to his team’s manager.transforms the pack-shot. The market segment, summing up the above examples, is rigid. This is the way Albert Pujols’ Angels career goes. There will be slumps that spark all the talk about his demise.
And then he will remind you that there is some thunder left in is bat.
Pujols homered and drove in five runs for the Angels on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, a game the Angels led 5-1 in the eighth inning. The performance, which also included a single, followed a two-homer, three-hit game on Sunday.
The hot couple of games followed an 0-for-24 streak that ranked as one of the longest of his career. It was a stretch in which even Manager Mike Scioscia had to concede that Pujols looked “out of sync.”
He seems to be OK now.
In the fifth inning, he went the other way with a double into right field, driving in two to put the Angels up 2-1. They were still nursing the same lead in the seventh, when Pujols pulled a drive just inside the left-field pole.
The three-run homer was the 608th of his career, which pulls him within one of tying Sammy Sosa for the most homers hit by a player born outside the United States.
The late runs gave a little cushion to the Angels bullpen, which is now without David Hernandez.
They took over the game after Ricky Nolasco tossed six strong innings on the one-year anniversary of the deal that brought him to the Angels.
Despite much criticism of Nolasco this season, overall that deal has to be judged a success for the Angels.
Since the trade, Nolasco has pitched 198 innings with a 4.27 ERA over 33 starts. The Angels have paid him the same salary as Hector Santiago, thanks to the Twins covering the difference in their salaries. Santiago, who is currently on the disabled list, has posted a 5.61 ERA in 131 2/3 innings with the Twins.
Even if those two were a wash, the key for the Angels to the trade was that they hoped that Alex Meyer could develop into a quality major league starter.
Although Meyer is currently on the disabled list with shoulder problems, he has nonetheless posted a 3.94 ERA in 89 innings with the Angels. Alan Busenitz, the reliever the Angels sent to the Twins, has a 3.38 ERA in 10 big league innings.
While Nolasco’s performance over the year has been just what the Angels expected, this season he’s been much more inconsistent. After a bad start to the season, for the last five weeks he’s mixed good and bad outings.
He was good on Tuesday. After allowing a first-inning run, he didn’t give up anything else. In the sixth, he escaped a jam with runners on first and second and no outs.
It was his fifth quality start in his past seven games.
The only potential issue for the Angels on the night was Yunel Escobar, who came out of the game in the eighth. He motioned as if he felt something in his right oblique after a big swing on a third strike in the seventh. There was no immediate word on his condition.


Guchen Electronic is Embracing the Shift to Zero-Emission Mobility
Guchen Electronic Attended Auto Shanghai 2023The Auto Shanghai 2023 was held on April 18th to April 27th at the National Exhibition and Convention Center. Many new EV models were unveiled at the show, such as BYD YangWang U8 & U9, Zeekr X, NIO ES6 2023 etc. The most popular model was BYD's new model YangWang U8 which launched its first batch at the show. It is priced at around 1million yuan which is much cheaper than other models in this category.
Shanghai Auto Show has been a unique and well-known event for many years among auto fans in China. It attracts more than 1 million visitors from all over the country each year and is considered one of the most influential auto shows in China.
This year's show was held under the theme "Embracing New Era of Automobile Industry" to highlight new energy vehicles (NEVs), which are gaining popularity among Chinese consumers due to their low fuel consumption costs and environmental friendliness.
As a professional auto electronic manufacturer in China, Shenzhen Guchen Electronic is glad to see that our products are used in many brands' cars. And also we will be more active on this exhibition to strengthen our business cooperation with customers from all over the world.
China is the Global EV LeaderChina is the world’s largest electric vehicle market. China’s EV ecosystem has been developing rapidly over the past decade and is now one of the most mature in the world.
The Chinese government has been supporting the development of electric vehicles since 2009. In addition to having some of the most ambitious targets for green growth, China has also invested heavily in supporting its EV industry through subsidies and other government support schemes:
◆ The country has made great strides in expanding its charging infrastructure.
◆ Adopting measures to incentivize consumers to buy EVs through subsidies, tax incentives and other benefits.
◆Public awareness campaigns.
With over 5.6 million EVs and plug-ins sold in China in 2022, it has become a leading force in the global electric vehicle industry.
China Carmakers have Mastered the Latest EV TechnologiesDue to its rapid growth, China has become one of the leading countries when it comes to automotive technologies, such as BYD’s DiSus suspension lineup. Many carmakers have invested heavily in research and development (R&D) facilities, and have built a strong ecosystem around them. As a result, we’re seeing more innovation coming out of China than ever before.
Guchen Electronic is Embracing the Shift to Zero-Emission MobilityThe automotive industry has been undergoing a dramatic transformation in recent years. The traditional combustion engine has been replaced by electric vehicles (EVs), which are now a common sight on the streets of China's major cities. This trend is likely to continue as more people are aware of the environmental impact of cars and want to reduce their carbon footprint.
As a leading manufacturer of EV connectors in China, Guchen Electronic understands how important it is to support this transition by providing high-quality products and services for EVs.
We have been working hard to embrace this shift by expanding its product portfolio focusing on intelligent EV interconnection systems. Our products include high voltage connectors, cable and HV wiring harness that help address the need for fast and secure power transmission solutions.
At Guchen Electronic, our mission is to provide reliable and affordable EV interconnection solutions for global EV makers who need them most. And we're pleased to say that we're well on our way to achieving our goal!
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Recently, Jonathan Turner, Attorney, obtained a dismissal of a DUI charge due to the State not being able to locate a video of the alleged DUI incident. Mr. Turner fought for over 2 years to obtain a great result for his client.
In order for the State to prove a subsequent DUI offense and gain extra jail time, they must be able to prove the prior DUI offenses.
Recently Jonathan W. Turner, Attorney, investigated a prior conviction and found that the court records had been destroyed. This resulted in a substantially reduced jail sentence. Thus it is always wise for a criminal defense attorney to investigate allegations by the State.
Jonathan W. Turner was awarded for the 3rd year in a row by ASLA as a Top 100 Attorney.
Jonathan W. Turner won a DUI appeal from Maury County due to an illegal, unconstitutional stop of his client’s vehicle. Mr. Turner had successfully argued at the trial court level that the officer conducted an illegal stop of his ckient’s vehicle. The State appealed and subsequently lost.
This is one of the few DUI illegal stop cases in favor of the Defendant at the appellate level. Read opinion here: DUI Appeal Opinion
Have you been charged with a serious crime? Is your freedom in jeopardy? Has the State offered a terrible plea deal? Have you lost hope?
Jonathan W. Turner has tried thousands of cases as a prosecutor and will relentless fight for his clients as a defense attorney. Mr. Turner has over 140 5 Star online review of past clients who are a testament to his relentless, seeking of freedom for his clients.
Jonathan W. Turner has been awarded for the 3rd Consecutive Year the Client’s Choice Award for outstanding client reviews on AVVO.com.
Jonathan W. Turner was named one of Nashville’s Top DUI Attorneys again for 2018.
This is what Expertise had to say about Jonathan W. Turner:
It seems like a simple question, but it can be easily overlooked. Every crime has specific elements that the State must prove.
If the State cannot prove facts to support a crime, then a person cannot be found guilty of that crime.
Thus, it is important to your freedom to hire an attorney that will hold the State to their heavy burden. An agressive, knowledgeable attorney can fight the State and make them prove their case.
Jonathan W. Turner has been named a Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorney in Tennessee for the second consecutive year.
Jonathan. W. Turner was awarded a Top 100 DUI Attorney Award in Tennessee by the National Association For DUI Defense.


(1) Nintendo Switch Dominates Japan's Famitsu Weekly Top 30 List
Every week, Famitsu releases a list of top 30 games in sales, and for the first week of August, all 30 games were for the Nintendo Switch. Since Famitsu started collecting data for all platforms in November 1988, rather than the original list only being of data for the Famicom, more commonly known as the NES in the west, this is the first time a single platform has dominated the charts. The top of the chart is Minecraft for Nintendo Switch, 2nd place is the Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword remake.
(2) PUBG Mobile Overcomes Honor of the King to Becomes 1st in Monthly Revenue
According to app data collection company Sensor Tower, in July of 2021 PUBG Mobile raised about 300 million USD in revenue, reaching the top of the revenue charts for the month. Of the revenue raised, 68,4% came from China, 6.7% came from the US, and 6% came from Turkey. PUBG Mobile was banned from India last year, but last month PUBG Mobile India was released, amassing over 34 million downloads within the span of 10 days.
The runner up to PUBG mobile was Honor of the King, a game which had topped the charts for the last 4 months, at 231.2 million USD. This is about 40 million USD less than the previous month, the reason for this drop in revenue being the Chinese Government imposing playing time limits on games. Considering that 94.7% of revenue from Honor of the King comes from China, it was much more heavily impacted than PUBG Mobile, which despite a majority of its revenue coming from China has a more international user base, and is thus less reliant on revenue from the Chinese market.
The 3rd, 4th, and 5th names on the list were Genshin Impact, Poketmon Go, and Roblox, respectively.
(3) Roblox Acquires Online Communication Platform Guilded
On August 16th, Roblox announced that they had acquired the online communication platform Guilded. Guilded is a platform which allows for online chatting and voice chatting, similar to the larger Discord. Last year, Discord has moved away from a gamer-centered market into a more general market, leaving room for a platform to enter into the market and cater specifically to gamers, which Guilded did. While the acquisition has occurred, Roblox has announced that it plans to allow Guilded to operate independently. It will be interesting to keep an eye out on Roblox, a rising star in the Metaverse designer world, and see how they utilize Guilded to expand their business.
(4) Unity Acquires Audio Analytics Company OTO
On August 24th, Unity announced that they had acquired the audio analytics company OTO. Unity announced that they will be fully integrating OTO's technology into Unity, providing developers tools to log and detect cases of insults, discrimination, or toxicity over voice chat.
A survey showed that 68% of gamers have experienced insults, discrimination, or toxicity over voice chat while 67% of users have reported that when experiencing such toxicity that it had led to the to stop playing a game.
Felix Thé, the VP of product management at Unity stated that by providing developers with tools to detect toxicity within voice chats, it would help with creating a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable game community.
(5) EA Allows Developers Free Use of 5 Game Accessibility Patents
EA has decided to allow developers to freely use 5 of its patents with regards to game development and accessibility. The 5 patents are mostly focused on accessibility features for people who are hard of hearing or have eyesight disabilities. The 5 patents are as follows.
- [Patent Number] Patent Name
- [US11,097,189] Contextually Aware Communications System in Video Games
- [US 10,118,097] Systems and Methods for Automated Image Processing for Image with Similar Luminosities
- [CN 107694092] Systems and Methods for Automated Image Processing for Image with Similar Luminosities
- [US 10,878,540] Contrast Ratio Detection and Rendering System
- [US 10,790,919] Personalized Real-Time Audio Generation Based on User Physiological Response
(6) Electric Manta Signs Long Term Publishing Contract With Voodoo
Electric Manta is a studio founded by alumni of PopCap, a studio owned by EA, that was created last year. While they do not have an games that have been released yet, Electric Manta signed a long term publishing deal with French game publisher Voodoo on August 20th.
Electric Manta has announced that through its partnership with Voodoo it plans on developing what the company calls hybridcasual games, games which have the accessibility of hypercasual games, but the features and depth of midcore/casual games, thus increasing both accessibility, and LTV of their games.