Wikinews’ overview of the year 2007

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Wikinews’ overview of the year 2007

Monday, December 31, 2007

What would you tell your grandchildren about 2007 if they asked you about it in, let’s say, 20 year’s time? If the answer to a quiz question was 2007, what would the question be? The year that you first signed on to Facebook? The year Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse fell apart? The year author Kurt Vonnegut or mime Marcel Marceau died, both at 84?

Let’s take a look at some of the international stories of 2007. Links to the original Wikinews articles are in bold.

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How To Choose Your Enterprise Mobility Partner

Submitted by: Jennifer Lewis

Unless you are an organization with internal capabilities to service your enterprise mobility projects, you would probably need to partner with someone who does. In your enterprise mobility journey, the choice of the right partner is paramount. You need an organization that will understand and appreciate your needs, and turn your mobilization dream into reality. If you make a wrong choice, you would end up sinking a lot of money and effort without any results, much less an ROI.

Forrester research has categorized the enterprise mobility services providers into 4 buckets.

1. UI focused, design oriented companies these are the organizations you choose if you are looking for low complexity, customer facing applications. The strength of these organizations is creating beautiful UIs, which are engaging as they are good looking. Their USP is creative design, and you can see it in their products.

2. Technology centric, flexible boutiques These are smaller establishments with great developer teams. They are willing to bend over backwards to accommodate your needs. The customers like them because they pay them attention, and make them feel special.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaGScx5G9yU[/youtube]

3. Large, global organizations, with a big portfolio These organizations are large, with ample funding, and can handle complex, long term projects. They have resources for multiple technology types, and can bring significant technology expertise to bear when required.

4. Telecom providers offering managed services historically used to providing and managing networks, the telcos have diversified into providing end-to-end network services. They have something that any other category of providers does not the control over the transport layer.

Now how do you pick the right vendor for your requirements? There are some key factors that need to be considered when making the choice. These can be classified into 3 broad buckets

1. Relevance – you need to understand the partner s existing offerings, and how do they map to your requirements. You need to look at any existing products, and see how mature they are. Look at UI design, functional specs, and performance. The vendor s service portfolio along with the consulting capabilities also needs to be taken into consideration. See what consulting services they provide for end-to-end mobility solutions. Their service levels should match up to your business commitment, and user requirements. Another factor to consider is the partner s capabilities and past experiences in creating, deploying and managing the scope the size of yours, preferably in the same vertical.

2. Vision and future roadmap mobility is a strategic direction, and is going to be in your environment for a long time. Therefore, it is important that you choose a partner that is not only relevant to your environment today, but also has the right direction for the future. See where they are spending their research and development dollars, and what platforms they are investing in. Understand how their story and offerings are different from the competition. You want to find services oriented partner, and not a product company that provides services on the side. Other factors to consider would be their business model sustainability in the long run, their partnerships, and market positioning.

3. Reputation and image Budgets are too tight to make all the mistakes on your own. You need to understand how the market perceives the organization, along with their existing customers. See their growth numbers employee strength. Check if they are having higher than normal attrition, and how cash rich the company is.

These parameters will help you find the right partner after proper evaluation.

About the Author: The author is a part with one of leading mobile app companies

coppermobile.com

.. The iPhone application development Dallas has created over 300 applications for enterprises from various industry verticals. It is also counted amongst reliable iPad apps development firm.

Source:

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Highway billboard gives Moscow drivers an unexpected show

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Highway billboard gives Moscow drivers an unexpected show

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Drivers in the Russian capital, Moscow, were given an unexpected show courtesy of a 30-by-20 foot electronic highway billboard when an explicit pornographic video was played for nearly twenty minutes in place of the paid advertisement clips that are usually shown. The incident happened near the entrance into Serpukovskiy tunnel on Sadovoe Ring Road, about 2 kilometers south of the Kremlin.

“Within three minutes we found it out, and within fifteen minutes the screen was shut off,” the deputy head of the Moscow city advertising committee, Alexander Menchuk, said in a statement to Interfax. A passerby told the Associated Press that she was “so shocked that I couldn’t even shoot video or take a picture of it.”

The display screen’s owner, the Three Stars Advertising Agency of Panno.ru, said that computer hackers attempting to execute a practical joke were likely to blame. Viktor Laptev, commercial director for the firm said, “They were either acting out of hooliganism or were from a rival company.”

Although a city official has been quoted as telling local media that Moscow would increase security of data transmission in light of what happened, local police say they have yet to receive a single complaint about the incident, and thereby have not opened an investigation. Nudity on television is officially banned in Russia.

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NSW Parliament passes alcohol-fuelled violence bill hours after drafting

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NSW Parliament passes alcohol-fuelled violence bill hours after drafting

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Thursday morning, members of the Parliament of New South Wales, Australia, discussed drafts of two bills relating to liquor intoxication assault crimes starting at 10 o’clock in the morning (AEDT; 2100 UTC), and approved them later during the day: the Lower House approved at midday and the Upper House at 7pm. The new legislation imposes harsher penalties on behaviour under alcohol influence, and a set of other restrictions in the Sydney central business district (CBD).

The full formal names of the bills are Liquor Amendment Bill 2014 and Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Assault and Intoxication) Bill 2014. The latter was assented, while the former was still pending assent from the Governor-General. The bills were cognate. The latter formally commenced on Thursday except for Schedule 5, maximum fines changes, subject to commence on a day appointed by proclamation.

The opposition said they would support the legislation before they saw it, citing support of any progress on such laws. The opposition leader, John Robertson, said “We will support the Government’s one-punch laws. The Government had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do something about alcohol-fuelled violence.”

The parties, while actively discussing the draft, did not support amendments raised during the discussion and the bill passed more quickly than usual, on the same day. However, Greens Member of Parliament (MP) John Kaye didn’t support the bills, naming some issues he didn’t expect the bill to address but found more important, such as “the dangerous promotions of deep discounting of alcohol, the failure to enforce responsible service of alcohol in venues and excessive liquor outlet density”.

One provision defined a new offense, assault causing death while intoxicated — by alcohol or other drugs — with an eight-year non-parole period. The penalty notice fines for misconduct and swearing in public were raised from AU$200 and $150 to $500, while the maximum fine for “continuation of intoxicated and disorderly behaviour following move on direction” — direction “to leave a public place and not return for a specified period” — was increased from 6 penalty units ($660) to 15 penalty units ($1,650).

The legislation also restricted sales of alcohol from bottle shops in the CBD until 10pm instead of midnight.

The bill was drafted in response to death of 18-year-old teenager named Daniel Christie on January 11, following eleven days in hospital after allegedly being punched by drunk Shaun McNeil, 25, at Kings Cross. He allegedly also attacked Daniel’s brother, Peter; McNeil’s court case has been adjourned until March.

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Commercial Insurance, Understanding The Need &Amp; The Coverage

Submitted by: A.Noton

Commercial insurance is one of the most imperative investments that a business owner will ever make. This is the coverage that will protect assets, investments, and the very heart of the company. Below is some information on commercial insurance which you may find useful.

What is commercial insurance?

Business insurance is designed to protect the assets of businesses, and commercial establishments. There are commercial policies which are appropriate for all size companies. As well, policies may be tailored to meet the needs of the individual company itself.

What types of events does the business insurance protect against?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wI-a2D3pP4[/youtube]

There are different policy options depending on need. However, most policies offer coverage against such things as, theft, fire, property damage, and general liability.

Does a small business need commercial insurance?

Though all businesses need such coverage, it may be especially important to the small business owner. If a company is not incorporated, owners may be at even greater risk in the event of unforeseen circumstances. Small business owners could lose not only business related capital, but more importantly, they could suffer a loss of personal assets should potential loss or law suits occur. This means assets such as the family home, vehicles, etc. could be in jeopardy. Business insurance will prevent this type of stress and hardship.

Does business insurance include workers compensation coverage?

Some enterprises may opt to purchase workers compensation policies through a different company than the one which provides them with fire, theft, and general liability coverage. However, often the same insurance company will provide for all commercial insurance needs. Many times it is less expensive to purchase all coverage from the same company. There often will be a package rate available. Which even you choose, be certain to purchase adequate workers compensation coverage. Workers compensation is the coverage that will pay for medical expenses of employees, should they become injured on the job. It is of the utmost importance to have this protection.

How to choose the best insurance company for your business

When searching for a commercial insurance company, the key is to find one that is reputable. They should be able to meet all coverage needs of the business, provide comparable rates, and have a reputation of providing excellent customer service, ease of claims, and prompt settlements. If you are considering purchasing insurance from a company check with the better business bureau. See what type of rating they have, and how many complaints have been filed against them. This will give you an idea of how reliable the firm is.

Before purchasing a commercial insurance policy compare rates, and offered coverage from multiple companies. Find agents who will take the time to address all your questions and concerns. This is imperative. A good agent will be willing to invest the time it takes to make certain that all aspects of coverage have been thoroughly explained. Once you have notes on several of the best insurance providers, narrow your choices down to the one that best meets the needs of you company.

About the Author: Whethere you’re looking for the best

commercial insurance London Ontario

or

insurance brokers London Ontario

, at Haas Insurance Group- 106-101 Cherryhill Blvd, London, ON N6H 4S4 (519) 471-7740 – you are ensured that you will get the service you deserve.

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UK’s ITV cancels police drama “The Bill” after 27 years

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UK’s ITV cancels police drama “The Bill” after 27 years
August 3rd, 2020 in Uncategorized | No Comments

Friday, March 26, 2010

British television network ITV announced today that it will cancel long running police drama The Bill. The Bill is one of the United Kingdom’s longest running drama series, having premiered the pilot episode, entitled “Woodentop”, in 1983.

The series has suffered from declining ratings despite an overhaul in 2009 which included a move to a post-watershed time slot. In a statement, ITV announced that the cancellation was part of a “creative rethink” and that the money saved from the cancellation would be put towards shorter-term dramas. ITV’s Peter Fincham said that “The Bill has been a fixture on our screens for more than 25 years and has been the home of some of the UK’s best serial drama storylines, and a great showcase for terrific scriptwriting and fine acting talent. But times change, and so do the tastes of our audience.” Fincham went on to explain that the decision to cancel the series was a “creative decision” rather than one intended to cut costs.

Ninety people are currently employed on the production team for The Bill and production company Talkback Thames announced that there was a possibility of a “significant number of redundancies”, but the company is entering into consultation with employees. The current series will end later in 2010 and ITV will not be recommissioning it. Investing in shorter-run dramas, ITV announced that, inter alia, a new short series written by Anthony Horowitz is forthcoming.

Toronto transit workers ordered back to work

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Toronto transit workers ordered back to work
August 3rd, 2020 in Uncategorized | No Comments

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Canada’s largest public transit system is expected to resume service Sunday evening after the Ontario provincial government ordered striking Toronto transit workers back to work today. Service was shut down when transit workers suddenly walked off the job on Friday, having just voted to reject a labour contract deal made the previous weekend.

The provincial legislature met in an extraordinary Sunday afternoon session to pass Bill 66, the Toronto Public Transit Service Resumption Act, 2008 which not only orders the transit work to resume, but includes follow-up arbitration to resolve outstanding disagreements between transit management and its unions. The largest union affected is Local 113 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, but the legislation also affects workers unionised under International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge 235, and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2.

Union members who defy this law could be fined C$2000 per day, while the union itself would risk a daily fine of C$25,000. However, ATU Local 113 president Bob Kinnear indicated that his union would respect the law and return to work while supporting the choice of Kevin Burkett as arbitrator. Wages were not an issue for union members, who voted against the earlier draft contract out of fears regarding compensation for on-the-job injuries, and for maintenance workers’ job security.

Toronto’s subways, streetcars and buses will operate on a limited service for Sunday evening, with full service expected as the work week begins Monday morning.

News briefs:May 08, 2010

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News briefs:May 08, 2010
August 3rd, 2020 in Uncategorized | No Comments
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The Ruby Mining Process}

August 3rd, 2020 in Construction Equipment | No Comments

Submitted by: Rayaz Siddiqi

In todays article, we will give you a short introduction on how rubies are mined and the process involved.

The main methods of mining rubies are placer, underground mining and hydraulic mining; the method depends on how deep into the earth the rubies are situated. There are other methods which we will also briefly touch upon.

Placer Method of Mining

The placer method is also known as river panning and involves collecting the gemstones whilst washing away gravel from a river. creek or stream; an obvious pre-requisite of this is identifying the gravel which could possibly contain the rubies.

A large pan is filled with water and then it is shaken back and forth to ensure the heavy materials fall to the bottom of the pan; this is repeated until there is a small amount of concentrate left in the pan. Then this concentrate is moved to a smaller pan to see if there are any gems.

Hydraulic Mining

In hydraulic mining, very powerful jets of water are used to loosen the gems from the rocks. The water splits the rocks and washes large pieces downhill; this causes the gems to be separated. Due to its harmful effects on the natural environment, this type of mining is not used now.

Mountaintop Removal Mining

This method entails cleaning the mountaintop at the ground level by cutting down trees and shrubs. Dynamite is then used to blast the top of the mountain; the resulting large rocks are then scoured for the gemstones.

Underground Mining

This method of mining is used as an alternative to surface mining, which is often not possible. This is the most common way of finding gemstones, and involves miners digging underground until they find gemstones.

The main forms of underground mining are:

Borehole Mining

Holes are drilled very deep inside the land using very large bore drills. Then a plastic tube is passed through the hole, water is then pushed through this tube at very high speeds. This water breaks the rocks and forms muddy slurry, which is stored in tankers. The water is then separated from the slurry to leave gemstones.

Drift Mining

Drift mining is performed on the mountains and entails first identifying rocks which are below the side of the mountain. The opening s created are called tunnels, and the gemstones are derived from the materials that come through the tunnels down from the hills.

Shaft Mining

Vertical tunnels called shafts are created below the mountain when shaft mining is used. Miners move up and down one of the shafts and another shaft is used for bringing the material from below the ground. More tunnels are made for blasting the rocks and the gems are found from amongst the rocks.

Summary

In most of the mining methods we have discussed, rocks are broken down into small or medium chunks using explosives such as dynamite. These rocks are then processed to extract the gemstones. Once you have the raw gemstone, it can be cleaned, cut and polished to produce the finished article.

About the Author: Rayaz Siddiqi

Rubies and Gems at 80% below retail

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Saskatchewan places moratorium on boar farming, says escaped boars should be killed

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Saskatchewan places moratorium on boar farming, says escaped boars should be killed
August 3rd, 2020 in Uncategorized | No Comments

Saturday, March 14, 2009

At the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) conference, a resolution was passed that encourages the Government of Saskatchewan, Canada to place a moratorium on specialty livestock farms raising wild boar. All wild boars that have escaped to roam wild should be killed, according to the resolution.

Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud endorses a ban on wild boar farming. The wild boar population is expanding exponentially. There are over 2,000 feral Sus scrofa swine roaming the prairies. Two litters of approximately 12 piglets are sired by each wild boar sow every year. The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF) likewise passed a similar resolution at their 79th annual convention to urge the Saskatchewan Government to declare the wild boar as a nuisance species which can be killed on sight.

3% of farmed “wild” boars escape. Cells of wild boars are ravenous creatures killing and eating everything in their path. Horses, cows, and other livestock run from wild boars, breaking through fences in the process.

Ostriches, emus, llamas, alpacas, reindeer, wild boar, and fallow deer were amongst the animals introduced to farms in Saskatchewan during the agricultural diversification program in the late 1970s. Production of wild boars was promoted throughout the 1980s.

According to the Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food 2001 statistics, there were 150 wild boar producers raising approximately 15,000 and 20,000 head. Of these there were about 2,700 sows. On the 2006 Census of Agriculture, 401 farms reported 4,926 boars.

The boar’s red meat is an export commodity to Europe and Asia. The live breeding stock are also sold to trophy hunt ranches. Full blooded wild boar and hybrid crosses are raised.