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Feb

2020

Campaigners angry at new British police tracking system

Author: Posted under: Uncategorized

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Civil liberties campaigners have reacted angrily to the announcement that the largest police force in Britain has purchased a revolutionary computer system which will allow them to track everything a person does online in a three-dimensional graphic. The Metropolitan Police service, responsible for policing London, announced the purchase of Geotime, a computer program which can correlate information from satellites, mobile phones, social networking websites, IP logs and financial transactions. The software is already used by the U.S. military.

	This latest tool could also be used in a wholly invasive way and could fly in the face of the role of the police to facilitate rather than impede the activities of democratic protesters.

Lawyers and campaigners have questioned whether innocent individuals may be tracked by the software, likened to a computer program in the science fiction film Minority Report. Sarah McSherry, a lawyer representing a number of protesters, raised fears officers could breach data protection laws by tracking innocent protesters, endangering the democratic rights of demonstrators. “We have already seen the utilisation of a number of tactics which infringe the right to peaceful protest, privacy and freedom of expression, assembly and movement. All of these have a chilling effect on participation in peaceful protest,” she said. “This latest tool could also be used in a wholly invasive way and could fly in the face of the role of the police to facilitate rather than impede the activities of democratic protesters.”

Geotime correlates information from numerous sources allowing intelligence officers to view effectively every online move made by individuals, and its website says it can link one suspect to others. The computer software can reportedly create links between people and reveal relationships and private communications, disclosing “temporal patterns and behaviours.” A product director at the parent company, Oculus, said the program is available to purchase commercially.

A number of academics and intelligence experts have said the program could lead to more convictions in terrorism and organised crime investigations, with one professor describing its use as “absolutely right.” In contrast, an official at Privacy International called on police to explain how the software would be used. “Once millions and millions of pieces of microdata are aggregated, you end up with this very high-resolution picture of somebody, and this is effectively what they are doing here,” he said. “We shouldn’t be tracked and traced and have pictures built by our own government and police for the benefit of commercial gain.”

Data protection in Britain has become a major issue among public debate in recent years. The most recent controversy to emerge came last week after an elderly man with no criminal record was given permission to take senior officers who systematically recorded details of his attendance at peaceful protests to the High Court. The Metropolitan Police have not yet confirmed how the computer system will be used, but they are researching numerous possibilities; a spokesperson said they were still assessing whether they would permanently use the technology but declined to confirm how much it cost.

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Feb

2020

Boyzone member Stephen Gately dies at age 33

Author: Posted under: Uncategorized

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Boyzone member Stephen Gately has died suddenly at the age of 33 while on holiday on the Spanish island of Majorca.

Gately was on holiday with his partner Andrew Cowles when his body was found on Saturday. The information was confirmed on Boyzone’s official website on Sunday. The other members of Boyzone were said to be travelling to the same island on Sunday before his death was discovered. Dan Wootton, showbusiness editor for British tabloid News of the World, told BBC News that the singer had left the means of accommodation to go out for some drinks, returned, fell asleep and never woke up again. Spanish police report his body was found on a sofa in the lounge.

Louis Walsh, manager of the group and also a judge on UK television singing competition The X Factor, commented, “We’re all absolutely devastated. I’m in complete shock. I was only with him on Monday at an awards ceremony. We don’t know much about what’s happened yet. I only heard after The X Factor and we will rally around each other this week. He was a great man.”

A spokesperson for Spanish police said today in Majorca, “[a]t the moment it is not known how he died. There are no signs of suspicious circumstances. “Gately’s time of death was given as approximately 13.45 UTC. The police spokesperson added, “[d]etails remain pretty unclear. We managed to take a look at some documents, they tell us that police received the body around half past four. We think we know he was drinking in a bar, perhaps they went to a restaurant, but none of this is confirmed.”

Gately’s family hope to hold his funeral in Dublin, Gately’s home town. A representative of the family stated they are “shattered”.

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Feb

2020

Russian submarine rescued by Royal Navy

Author: Posted under: Uncategorized

Sunday, August 7, 2005

A Russian submarine trapped during a training exercise in Berezov Bay, 75 km south of Petropavlovsk in Kamchatka, has been rescued after it was cut free by a Royal Navy Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). The crew of seven officers and midshipmen, who spent three days in temperatures around 6^oC and were running out of oxygen supplies, were unharmed.

The submarine appeared on the surface at 4:15 p.m. local time. “The crew opened the hatch and climbed the rescue ship’s deck on their own,” said Admiral Victor Fyedorov. The first aid to the crew was given on ship Alagez, and they were transferred to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka hospital.

The British Scorpio ROV cut fishing nets and debris, freeing the trapped submarine. “The rescue operation was completed successfully. We thank everyone, and especially the British rescue crew,” said Fyedorov.

The submarine will be repaired and modernized. “After salvaging it, AS-28 will be carried on one of the rescue ship’s decks to the coast, where specialists will examine it,” said a spokesperson of VMS (“Company for secondary metal and boats”). Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged an inquiry into the incident.

The United States and Japan also sent equipment to help in the rescue. However, it was not used.

Vyacheslav Milashevskiy (???????? ???????????), captain-lieutenant
Antoliy Popov (???????? ?????), navigator
Sergey Belezerov (?????? ?????????)
Alexandr Uybin (????????? ?????)
Alexandr Ivanov (????????? ??????)
Valeriy Lepotyuha (??????? ????????)
Henadiy Polonin (???????? ???????)

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Feb

2020

Ambassador From Foreign Countries}

Author: Posted under: Tax

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Ambassador from Foreign Countries

Kinhomchan

When ambassadors come from foreign countries, nobody is aware of their movements until they actually arrive at the city gates; nobody gives any information that they are coming and nobody makes any preparation for them; and they will surely attribute this to our negligence and indifference. So officers at the frontiers must be told that whenever anyone approaches their stations, they should at once dispatch a rider and find out who is coming, how many men there are with him, mounted and uncounted, how much baggage and equipment he has, and what is his business.

A trustworthy person must be appointed to accompany them and conduct them to the nearest big city; there he will hand them over to another agent who will likewise go with them to the next city (and district), and so on until they reach the court. Whenever they arrive at a place where there is cultivation, it must be a standing order that officers, tax-collectors and assignees should give them hospitality and entertain them well so that they depart satisfied.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_cRaKT2yU8[/youtube]

When they return, the same procedure is to be followed. Whatever treatment is given to an ambassador, whether good or bad, it is as if it were done to the very king who sent him; and kings have always shown the greatest respect to one another and treated envoys well, for by this their own dignity has been enhanced. And if at any time there has been disagreement or enmity between kings, and if ambassadors have still come and gone as occasion requires, and discharged their missions according to their instructions, never have they been molested or treated with less than usual courtesy. Such a thing would be disgraceful, as God says, “The messenger has only to convey the message plainly.

It should also be realized that when kings send ambassadors to one another their purpose is not merely the message or the letter which they communicate openly, but secretly they have a hundred other points and objects in view. In fact they want to know about the state of roads, mountain passes, rivers and grazing grounds, to see whether an army can pass or not; where fodder is available and where not; who are the officers in every place; what is the size of that king’s army and how well it is armed and equipped; what is (he standard of his table and company; what is the organization and etiquette of his court and audience hall; whether he plays polo and hunts; where his qualities and manners, his designs and intentions, his appearance and bearing arc; whether he is cruel or just, old or young; whether his country is flourishing or decaying; whether the peasants are rich or poor; whether he is greedy or generous; whether he is alert or negligent in affairs.

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Ambassador from Foreign Countries}

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Feb

2020

Australian actor Heath Ledger found dead in New York City

Author: Posted under: Uncategorized

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

According to police in New York City, New York, Australian actor Heath Ledger, 28, has died from a suspected overdose of prescription drugs. He was found by his housekeeper in his Manhattan apartment.

At about 3:26 p.m. EST (UTC-5), the housekeeper was on her way to inform Ledger that his masseuse had arrived when she discovered his naked body on the bed.

“We are investigating the possibility of an overdose,” said a police spokesman. The CourierMail quotes NBC as saying that Ledger’s body was found “surrounded by pills.”

Ledger starred in the 2005 movie Brokeback Mountain where he was nominated for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. He also starred in the 2000 movie The Patriot with Mel Gibson.

Ledger is survived by his two-year-old daughter Matilda Rose, by ex-girlfriend Michelle Williams.

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Feb

2020

Wikinews interviews Joe Schriner, Independent U.S. presidential candidate

Author: Posted under: Uncategorized

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Journalist, counselor, painter, and US 2012 Presidential candidate Joe Schriner of Cleveland, Ohio took some time to discuss his campaign with Wikinews in an interview.

Schriner previously ran for president in 2000, 2004, and 2008, but failed to gain much traction in the races. He announced his candidacy for the 2012 race immediately following the 2008 election. Schriner refers to himself as the “Average Joe” candidate, and advocates a pro-life and pro-environmentalist platform. He has been the subject of numerous newspaper articles, and has published public policy papers exploring solutions to American issues.

Wikinews reporter William Saturn? talks with Schriner and discusses his campaign.

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Feb

2020

Junior Canadian cabinet minister leaves amid scandal

Author: Posted under: Uncategorized

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Embattled Canadian junior cabinet minister Helena Guergis has resigned her cabinet post and has been ejected from caucus today in Ottawa amid recent scandals involving herself and her husband, disgraced former Member of Parliament (MP) Rahim Jaffer.

Guergis, Conservative MP for Simcoe-Grey, held the position as Minister of State for the Status of Women since her re-election in the 2008 federal election, but has come under fire due to an outburst at the Charlottetown airport in February and a call from the opposition Liberal Party for a probe by the federal ethics commissioner into her purchase of an Ottawa home. She has also come under scrutiny due to recent scandals involving her husband, who faced charges of impaired driving and cocaine possession as well as comments made to business contacts about connections to the office of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, those comments later being called “absurd” by the Prime Minister’s Office.

In an email, Guergis is quoted as saying, “The past nine months have been a very difficult time for me. I have made mistakes for which I have apologized.” The email made specific reference to her outburst in Charlottetown, insisting she would never insult her father’s birthplace and also voiced her intent to continue in her role as a Member of Parliament.

Given the circumstances, Prime Minister Harper stated today at a press conference that “a resignation is necessary,” also announcing that the RCMP have been called to investigate recent allegations against Guergis. Harper is also reported to have ejected Guergis from the Conservative caucus pending the investigation by the RCMP. Her role as Minister of State for the status of women has been given to current Public Works minister Rona Ambrose.

The governing Conservatives previously came under fire in 2008 after former Minister for Foreign Affairs Maxime Bernier had left confidential documents at the home of his girlfriend, Julie Couillard, a relationship that in itself caused some unrest in Parliament due to Couillard’s past connections to Quebec biker gangs.

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Jan

2020

How To Market A Seminar

Author: Posted under: Public Relations

See More About:

By Matt Bacak

Have you ever left a seminar thinking: I could have done a better job than that! Before you start signing up attendees, take a few minutes to think about what you are getting into. Putting on a seminar involves planning, time, and money. Understanding the ins and outs of the industry will go a long way in helping you hold a successful seminar. Thats where I come in. Over the past 4 years, I have put on over 4,000 seminars, and a handful of national conventions. I will help you plan the event, and make sure that someone shows up!

The first thing that you need to consider is your purpose for holding the seminar. Are you trying to make money on ticket sales? Or money after the class? Are you just trying to get people in the door? Your goal of the seminar will play a huge role in the marketing method that you choose. Dont be afraid to think outside of the box here. Many companies will try to make the most money possible on all fronts. This greedy train of thought will leave your seminar lacking some very important elements. Choose one and stick with it. Many seminar gurus know that the real money in the seminar business is in the after class sales. This could be follow-up work from your instructor, a subsequent training seminar, an add-on product, etc. You want everyone to leave with something in their hand.

Now that you have your goal set, its time to put butts in chairs! Dont let anyone fool you into thinking that a successful seminar has to cost a lot of money. If your overall goal is to get after the class sales, or fill up a room consider some of these options:

Give it away! Its a radical idea, but one that I have grown to know and love. By offering the class for free, you eliminate many of the barriers to the sale. Price is not an issue, and they will expect less from you. That doesnt mean that you should skimp on content, but their expectations will be considerably lower. If you have the resources and time, consider making a pre-seminar call to touch base with everyone that is signed up. This will encourage the students to show up on time, and help built a relationship for future sales.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSpbhP05UmM[/youtube]

Submit a press release. Create a simple press release (1 page or less) highlighting your company and your seminar. Dont forget to include your registration phone number. Submit that release to your local paper, and wait for the phone to ring. If the paper decides to pick it up- you get free publicity!

Cross-marketing opportunities. Depending on the seminar, you may be able to find cross marketing opportunities. For instance, if you were doing a financial based seminar teaching students how to file their taxes, you could pair up with a local tax preparation office or accountant. They could pick up half of the marketing tab, or advertise to their existing client base. The possibilities are endless. I have had some great results by pairing with the local chamber of commerce or bank chains. They will offer their seminar space for free, and help with free advertising.

Local paper. Get a price quote from your local paper. Small town publications will usually cost less than $500 dollars, while metropolitan areas can run as much as $2000.

Mailers. Direct mail is always a popular choice, but tends to cost a bit more to execute. Consider forgoing the expensive four color brochure in place of a targeted letter, hand signed. They cost a lot less to reproduce and tend to draw more attention than a mass mailer. Postcards are also an inexpensive way to reach a large group of people. Consider sending your mailers to pre-existing customers or you can buy a targeted mailing list from companies like www.infousa.com.

No matter what method you choose, try to get your campaign rolling 2-3 weeks prior to the seminar. The marketing pieces should be in their hands within that time, anything before or after will likely go unnoticed.

Now that you have attendees, you need to focus on the seminar itself. There are many barriers to adult learning, but they are easy to overcome. The main one that I have come across has to do with the format of the class. You want to create an environment that will encourage teamwork and participation. The instructor plays a huge role in the overall feel of the seminar. They need to guide the students to the right answers, allowing them to try to find the answers in their workbooks or among each other. When creating a workbook, keep the sentences short and to the point. Avoid grammatical errors and long drawn out paragraphs. When possible, use bullet points to break up large amounts of data. If the subject warrants it, add plenty of graphics or screenshots. Over 65% of the general population is visual learners, so make sure to give them plenty to see.

Last but not least, focus on the seminar itself. Dont get caught up in catered lunches or complex setups. Offer tea and coffee and plenty of breaks throughout the day. They are there to learn and hopefully give you their money, the rest is just details!

About the Author: Matt Bacak, The Powerful Promoter and Entrepreneur Magazine e-Biz

radio show host, became a “#1 Best Selling Author” in just a few short hours. He has helped a number of clients target his specialty, opt-in email direct marketing systems. The Powerful Promoter is not only a sought-after internet marketer but has also marketed for some of the world’s top experts whose reputations would shrivel if their followers ever found out someone else coached them on their online marketing strategies. For more information, visit Bacak’s site at powerfulpromoter.com

or sign up for his Powerful Promoting

Tips at promotingtips.com

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=4237&ca=Marketing

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Jan

2020

News briefs:January 03, 2008

Author: Posted under: Uncategorized

Please note: there may be minor variations between this script and the associated recording.

1 Introduction
2 Kenya election struggles continue
3 Three truck drivers killed in Australian woodland fire
4 USAID diplomat dies in Sudanese shooting
5 South Australian premier demands apology from former Guantanamo detainee
6 Croatia abolishes military service
7 Cyprus and Malta adopt the Euro
8 Markku Peltola dies at 51
9 Scientology unlikely to be banned in Germany
10 Peace award posthumously given to Benazir Bhutto
11 Pakistan’s election saga continues
12 Police station in Algeria bombed
13 Penguins beat Sabres by 2 to 1
14 Footer

[edit]

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Jan

2020

World’s most expensive hotel-casino opens in Las Vegas

Author: Posted under: Uncategorized

Friday, April 29, 2005

The world’s most expensive hotel-casino ever has opened in Las Vegas, Nevada. The casino, which was designed and built over a period of five years, cost US$2.7 billion to construct. The hotel stands nearly fifty stories above the Las Vegas valley, with a 180-foot tall mountain in front of the main entrance.

Numerous lavish touches contributed to the high expense of the development. The sign in front of the Wynn property has an unusual mechanical design, with a large piece containing the Wynn logo, which can move vertically up or down as different announcements are presented.

“I think it’s going to start a shift of power. It’s been the south for a long time. Things will start moving to the north because of Wynn Las Vegas, Sheldon Adelson with the expansion of the Venetian, the New Frontier — that whole area will become the new hot area of Las Vegas for the next decade or so,” gaming expert Anthony Curtis told Las Vegas KLAS TV.

As the property opened to the public, developer Steve Wynn greeted visitors at the front entrance.

“It’s always fascinating to watch people enter the thing and get their first moment after we open the doors,” Wynn told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

File:WynnSign.JPG

Analysts are not too concerned about the cost of the Wynn development. Wynn paid off the cost of The Mirage hotel-casino in 18 months, much earlier than the planned seven years for which the debt had been scheduled for repayment.

“If you remember the opening of The Mirage in 1989, Wynn needed to make a nut of $1 million a day. Everyone thought he was nuts; ‘couldn’t be done,’ they all said,” Las Vegas history department Chairman Hal Rothman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Wynn sold his interest in Mirage Resorts to MGM Grand (which became MGM Mirage and is now run by Kirk Kerkorian) for US$6.4 billion back in 2000, then turned around and purchased the property for the Wynn hotel-casino for US$275 million. The property was previously the home of the Desert Inn.

The hotel has 2,359 rooms, and a few hundred deluxe suites and “parlors” for high rollers. The casino has 1,960 slot machines and 137 table games on a 111,000 square foot casino floor. A Ferrari–Maserati dealership and the Le Reve stage show, featuring a million gallon water tank, round out the expensive offerings.

A round of golf will go for US$500 on the elaborate golf course located behind the main building.

All of these specifications add up to a record construction cost of over one million US dollars per room. Other expensive Las Vegas properties cost a fraction of the price, such as the Bellagio, which cost half the price at US$533,000 per room. The most expensive hotel property in the world was previously the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, Hawaii, which cost US$775,000 per room.

“Yes, (Wynn) may be in over his head, but then he has found ways to survive before,” Las Vegas professor Bill Thompson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Several of Wynn’s largest competitors spoke with admiration of the property and looked forward to its impact on Las Vegas.

“I’ve never understood the hand-wringing about something new, especially in Las Vegas and Atlantic City,” Harrah’s Chairman and CEO Gary Loveman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Other casino bosses from the Mandalay and the MGM Mirage had positive comments as well, hoping to pick up some new business from the development.

“It’s a positive in terms of bringing more visitors,” Mandalay Resort Group President and CEO Glenn Schaeffer told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

“Steve will build a great property and bring new people to town. If we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing, then we’ll pick up some of that business also,” MGM Mirage Chairman and CEO Terry Lanni told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Thousands of visitors gathered for hours in front of the property before it opened. Security guards had to monitor the number of visitors entering the building.

“I think it’s spectacular,” David Schwartz, coordinator of the Gaming Studies Research Center at the University of Nevada Las Vegas told Reuters.

“People were pushing and shoving,” Las Vegan Kathie Anderson told Associated Press.

“There is nobody in the world who creates such entertaining and beautiful casinos,” British billionaire Richard Branson told Associated Press from the casino floor. “I would say every other casino must be nervous. He’s lifted the bar dramatically,” Branson said.

“This would be hard to top,” Las Vegan Marlene DeMarco told Reuters.

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