NeYo Takes Part In Nick Cannons TeenNick HALO Awards
Kylie Lan Tumiatti, 16, West Melbourne, Fla. (paired with Justin Bieber) – Kylie Lan Tumiatti developed a passion for giving back to the community early on, after watching her younger sister struggle with learning English. Tumiatti decided to help others who faced similar obstacles and partnered with Operation Hope Florida, a non-profit facility that provides prekindergarten classes to children of migrant workers. Together they implemented a literacy program that enhances the language skills of young children while simultaneously instilling a love of stories and books. Tumiatti’s HALO match, Justin Bieber, is big supporter of Pencils of Promise, which works to build schools and increase educational opportunities in the developing world. Allyson Ahlstrom, 17, Santa Rosa, Calif. (paired with Tyra Banks) – A bubbly and fashion forward self-starter, Allyson Ahlstrom was inspired to combine her love of fashion and community service to create Threads for Teens, an organization that collects and distributes clothing to disadvantaged (low income, foster care, etc.) teen girls. She provides one-on-one support to every one of the girls as they shop, bonding over fashion, talking about their lives and sharing motivational advice. In just two years Ahlstrom moved her organization into a fashionable pink boutique, raised over $130,000 in product donations and outfitted over 200 girls. Ahlstrom’s HALO match, Tyra Banks, started TZONE at the Lower Eastside Girls Club, providing a rich mix of career development workshops, mentoring, experiential learning opportunities, financial literacy initiatives and community-wide events so hundreds of girls will build self-esteem and develop the tools they need to prepare for lives as entrepreneurs and change-makers in the world. Matt Ferguson, 18, Hillsboro, Ore. (paired with Emma Stone) – Matt Ferguson was inspired to start Matt’s Chemo Bags after finding out his mom had been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. He began building bags of essential items (lotion, tissues, warm socks, a handmade blanket, a lap pillow, notebook) to distribute to women suffering from breast cancer in hopes that it would bring them the same comfort that a similar bag brought his own mother as she went through chemotherapy. His organization now services all of Oregon, Southwest Washington, and Northern California and has distributed over 7,500 bags. Ferguson’s HALO match, Emma Stone, is an advocate for Stand Up To Cancer, an initiative created to accelerate innovative cancer research that will get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now. Taylor Waters, 19, Sanford, N.C. (paired with Josh Duhamel) — A compassionate leader and aspiring teacher, Taylor Waters belief in giving back to her community stems from her personal experiences with disaster. She continues to encourage youth involvement through her hometown American Red Cross and she is establishing her own Red Cross Club at East Carolina University. Waters’ HALO match is Josh Duhamel, who supports the disaster relief efforts of the American Red Cross, as well as his hometown’s Minot Area Community Foundation in North Dakota which establishes permanently endowed funds to support both local and national charities and charitable causes.
Ne-Yo, Neon Trees, Nicole Richie, Lucy Hale, Jesse Williams, Heather Morris, Anthony Anderson, James Maslow, Carlos Pena Jr, Victoria Justice and the cast of See Dad Run were among the celebs who took to the Hollywood Palladium stage to join host Nick Cannon in honoring five extraordinary teens for the 2012 TeenNick HALO Awards live event.2012 HALO Award Honorees with Nick CannonThe fourth annual TeenNick HALO Awards was held today and will air as a 90-minute special premiering Monday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), on Nick at Nite, with an encore Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 10 p.m. (ET) on TeenNick. Conceived, hosted and executive-produced by Cannon, the awards show recognizes and celebrates real teens who are “Helping and Leading Others” (HALO).During the star-studded evening, Neon Trees rocked the stage with their hit single “Everybody Talks” and Ne-Yo had the crowd singing along to “Let Me Love You.” In a surprise moment onstage, Richie awarded 18-year-old Raymone George with a HALO Award in recognition of his work as a mentor and coach to a youth dance troupe. Ne-Yo, who is performing at MTV’s New Year’s Eve special, also invited George to be his VIP guest for the day. George and the four existing teen honorees each received a baton-shaped HALO Award and scholarship fund from superstar presenters including Richie (The Richie Madden Children’s Foundation), Hale (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Operation Smile), Morris (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), Anderson (FACE Diabetes) and former school teacher Williams (supports education) along with other surprises.Previously announced HALO Award honorees – Allyson Ahlstrom, Matt Ferguson, Kylie Lan Tumiatti and Taylor Waters – were surprised by a visit from Cannon, awarded a grant for their cause and given an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and connect with a mega-celebrity who shares a similar passion for their cause. Their celebrity matches are Tyra Banks, Emma Stone, Justin Bieber and Josh Duhamel, respectively, and their taped segments will be featured in the show.Presenting sponsors of the fourth annual TeenNick HALO Awards are Chevrolet, COVERGIRL, Reese’s Puffs cereal and Target. During the live taping, each sponsor surprised their respective teen HALO Award honorees with the following: Chevrolet provided funding for gas and lodging for Ahlstrom as she takes her Threads for Teens boutique on the road this summer, traveling to 48 states with the goal of outfitting a total of 1,000 girls. In support of Ferguson, COVERGIRL donated product for Matt’s Chemo Bags, which provide comfort packages to women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Reese’s Puffs cereal provided Waters with resources for disaster relief kits for her Hurricane Sandy outreach. Target made over one of Operation Hope Florida’s listening rooms and outfitted it with new computers and listening stations to help Tumiatti teach the children of migrant workers how to read.Nickelodeon’s charitable live-action stars joined in the celebration of the extraordinary teens and their service contributions. Ahlstrom received racks of clothing from various Nickelodeon series from Justice. Ferguson was given hand-packed care bags by the cast of See Dad Run that he can pass along to chemo patients. The presenters, performers and celebrity talent in attendance at the HALO Awards presented Waters with autographed custom shirts that she can auction off to raise funds for her Red Cross Club. Pena Jr. and Maslow recorded a digital reading of a book for Tumiatti’s Operation Hope Florida. George was gifted brand-new audio and computer equipment for his dance troupe from TeenNick.This year’s HALO honorees are: Raymone George, 18, Brooklyn, N.Y. (paired with Ne-Yo) – Raymone George discovered a passion for dancing at The Beacon Center, an afterschool program that provides a safe haven in neighborhoods where poverty and crime is prevalent. Dancing allowed George to work out his frustrations in a creative and healthy manner and he credits it for keeping him out of trouble. He currently spends time choreographing and coaching the center’s 10-14 year old dance troupe and works one-on-one with kids who are struggling. George’s HALO match, Ne-Yo, supports Boys & Girls Clubs of America and founded the Compound Foundation which is committed to increasing awareness about the status of children in the child welfare system. The organization also supports and partners with residential care facilities and independent group homes through programs aimed at teaching entrepreneurship and life skills that will empower them to become productive, successful, independent adults. Source:PR Newswire
LONDON — Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service director is set to give a rare public speech detailing the need for “fourth generation espionage” to combat hybrid threats.Alex Younger, known in his role as head of MI6 as “C,” will talk to students at his alma mater the University of St. Andrews in Scotland on Monday.Excerpts released before the speech indicate that he will emphasize the need for human intelligence in a time of artificial experience and increased technological innovation.Younger will discuss the ways in which Britain’s adversaries are using cyber techniques and taking advantage of the “blurred line” between the cyber and physical worlds.MI6 deals with international security threats. The official threat level in Britain is set at “severe,” indicating that analysts believe an attack is highly likely.The Associated Press
At last, Intel’s wish may come true. There are reports that the Thunderbolt technology might cut off the USB 3.0, before the USB update even takes off. Or at least that is what some people are guessing. Despite that Intel has been mocked for the Thunderbolt, Intel has stood beside it. Unlike Apple who used FireWire in the past, which later flopped, it appears to have a strong fan base. More companies appear to be looking into adopting it, as we reported last week. No word on why some experts are claiming that the Thunderbolt will beat out the widely used USB’s next generation. AdChoices广告No study has been released, nor has the USB 3.0 officially been rolled out. However, one of Thunderbolts strong points is that it supports both USB, FireWire, and, many of the other common ports used today. Via TG Daily
The Attica Police have uncovered a major contraband cigarettes smuggling operation, after investigations spanning two years, it was announced last week.A Greek transport company was smuggling large quantities of cigarettes into the country via the port of Piraeus and Astakos port in Aetoloakarnania prefecture, declaring them as sundry merchandise imports destined for bogus companies, and would then ship them to Malta with forged documents.The headquarters and telephone numbers of the bogus companies appearing on the invoices were the same as those of the real company that was smuggling the cigarettes, according to police.Following the completion of the investigation by police and the Financial Crimes Squad, the case file and evidence have been forwarded to the public prosecutor and Customs authorities.The fine for the contraband cigarettes is estimated to be some 4 million euros, of which 2.5 million euros are the calculated import duties not paid while the remaining 1.5 million euros are in evaded taxes. Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram
Less then a year after taking the position, Stephen Koukoulas, has resigned in his post as Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s economic adviser. The Gillard Government has not yet officially appointed or announced who will be replacing Koukoulas; they are expected to wait until he has officially left to do so. Four weeks ago, Gillard mentioned that after returning from extended leave, former Treasury secretary, Ken Henry, will take the part-time post of a special advisor in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, but it is unknown when this will occur. Stephen Koukoulas, the former head of income at Toronto Domain Bank in London, is said to be relocating to either Melbourne or Sydney to continue to work in his desired field of the financial markets. Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram Aussies continue to be careful with their credit cards and personal debt. According to the Reserve Bank, personal loan balances fell 0.3 per cent in April, and fell 0.2 per cent over the 12 months to April. Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority data shows a 0.4 per cent fall in credit card balances in April, and a 1.8 per cent fall over the 12 months to April.Almost A$450 million has been wiped off bank credit card balances over the past two years – about 1.25 per cent of total balances.Source: Banking Day
Stay on target After centuries of economic failure and environmental destruction, humans are working to rebuild our planet (or planning their escape to foreign ones).But are we so blinded by hope for the future that we’ve neglected to ask whether sustainability is even possible?Astrophysicist Adam Frank, a professor at the University of Rochester, is part of a group of researchers working to answer that question—from an “astrobiological” perspective.“Astrobiology is the study of life and its possibilities in a planetary context,” Frank, author of the new book Light of the Stars: Alien Worlds and the Fate of the Earth, said in a statement. “That includes ‘exo-civilizations,’ or what we usually call aliens.”The group—including Frank, computational scientist Jonathan Carroll-Nellenback, University of Washington professor Marina Alberti, and Axel Kleidon of the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry—prescribe to the idea that Earth is not the first of its kind.It’s conceivable that another planet and its biosphere, at some point in cosmic history, evolved into something like what we know as home.“If we’re not the universe’s first civilization, that means there are likely to be rules for how the fate of a young civilization like our own [only about 6,000 years old] progresses,” Frank said.Just as a parent learns from their child, and vice versa, so too do civilization and planets co-evolve: A growing population uses more natural resources, changing the globe’s conditions.Using a mathematical model, researchers identified four potential scenarios for the fate of our world.(Spoiler alert: Most don’t end well for humans.)Die-off: The population and average temperature rise quickly; the population peaks and declines rapidly while torridness makes conditions hard to survive. A steady population level is achieved, but at only a fraction of peak population.“Imagine if seven out of 10 people you knew died quickly,” Frank explained. “It’s not clear a complex technological civilization could survive that kind of change.”Sustainability: The population and temperature rise, but eventually both reach steady levels. This occurs when people recognize their negative effect on the planet and work to reverse it.Collapse without resource change: The population and temperature rise rapidly until the population reaches a peak and drops abruptly.Collapse with resource change: An unfortunate twist on sustainability, in which humans’ efforts are rewarded with population collapse. Womp womp.Four scenarios for the fate of civilizations and their planets, based on mathematical models (via the University of Rochester/Michael Osadciw)“The last scenario is the most frightening,” according to Frank. “Even if you did the right thing, if you waited too long, you could still have your population collapse.”A general life lesson, really.Much of this research is based on IRL extinct civilizations—like Easter Island.People began colonizing the land between 400 and 700 AD and reached a peak population of 10,000 between 1200 and 1500. But only a few hundred years later, the inhabitants had depleted their resources and the population diminished to about 2,000 locals.There’s no telling (yet) which fate will befall Earth; more detailed models are needed to better understand interdependent evolution.In the meantime, you may want to start saving for that one-way ticket to Mars, because it could already be too late.“If you change the Earth’s climate enough, you might not be able to change it back,” Frank warned. “Even if you backed off and started to use solar or other less impactful resources, it could be too late, because the planet has already been changing.” Let us know what you like about Geek by taking our survey.
Scientists Discover Possible Interstellar VisitorWater Vapor Detected on Potentially ‘Habitable’ Planet 
Neymar boasted his dazzling skills to new heights on Saturday’s Ligue 1 match against AngersThe Brazilian forward has now returned to club duty and is looking to move on from a poor World Cup campaign.Instead of leading Brazil to a sixth World Cup, Neymar’s time at Russia was mostly spent lying on the ground.Fans even invented amusing games called the “Neymar Challenge” and “Neymar Alphabet” after his antics.The 26-year-old also came under scrutiny last year for joining Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in a deal worth €222m.But he’s ready to put everything behind and start afresh this season.
PSG ultras sent a warning letter to Neymar Manuel R. Medina – September 14, 2019 Brazilian superstar Neymar might play today his first game of the season for Paris Saint-Germain and the team’s ultras have warned him.One way in doing that was scoring the third and final goal in PSG’s 3-1 win over Angers.Another was this neat piece of skill.Neymar has now managed three goals and an assist in his first three Ligue 1 games on the new season.PSG will next face Nimes away on Saturday.
Residents are now asking the assembly to “step up” and help lessen the impact to local schools by funding to the max at the borough level. Pastor Roy Lovegrove from Anchor Point: “We do what we can with that little town, there are many problems. Our church tries to address it through our food bank and our drug addiction programs. But my theory is if you close that school down, you will kill the city.” Another to testify was Heidi Stokes, a teacher at Chapman school: “As you know, these budget proposals are devastating and create uncertain times for all Alaskans. This budget will negatively impact our schools ability to even stay open, let alone meet the needs of our students. Two thirds of my colleagues are at risk of losing their jobs today, not to their due to their non tenure status. Our ability to meet the needs of our students has been compromised should the governor’s budget be passed, education will suffer a blow that I feel will take decades to overcome.” The current plan calls for cutting roughly $310 million from the state Department of Education and Early Childhood Development from the department’s current $1.3 billion budget. The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District faces an unprecedented deficit of over $20 million dollars or more if the Governor’s proposed FY20 state budget is passed. Chapman School is located at Mile 157 on the Sterling Highway and serves approximately 130 students from pre-k through 8th grade. Chapman has 10.5 certified staff members, 4 itinerant certified staff, and 5.5 classified staff. Facebook0TwitterEmailPrintFriendly分享A number of Anchor Point parents, teachers, and residents testified at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday about the proposed cuts to education funding. One major area of concern is the fate of the Chapman School. Danielle from Anchor Point was the first to testify against the possible closure: “We have two children that go to Chapman school. For the first time ever my husband and I have talked about leaving not just leaving anchor point. But leaving the state. If education is not funded to the cap, I feel like Alaska will not only lose top rated schools, including Chapman, but will effectively be crippling or killing the small towns and communities across Alaska as families and educators move away.”
In Anchorage this week, a panel of federal scientists is getting a look at progress on environmental studies for the Susitna-Watana Dam. It’s all part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s [FERC] pre-licensing process, although, an earlier hold on the hydro project has caused a two year delay in work on the application, and now some are questioning whether the environmental studies are accurate.Download AudioThe Susitna Watana Dam has been touted as part of an ambitious state energy plan aimed at providing 50% alternative power by 2025. Backers of the project say the dam is the answer to Railbelt energy needs for the next one hundred years.The dam is a project of the Alaska Energy Authority. AEA’s Initial Study Report on its environmental study plan for the dam was delayed when the Walker administration put six major state projects on hold at the end of 2014. At that time, FERC allowed AEA time out on it’s work on the federal licensing process, but late last year, federal energy authorities agreed to resume work on AEA’s licensing application, although the federal agency asked for a review of AEA’s study data through 2014 to determine whether there is enough information to meet federal regulations. That is the point of the Initial Study Review meetings in Anchorage this week and next week.Betsy McGregor, AEA’s environmental manager for the Susitna Watana project, says the review is a check- in to see all the environmental work done thus far.“We report out on how we have implemented the plans, how we did not implement the plans, called variances, and we also have proposed modifications moving forward that we are asking FERC to rule on. The agencies at this point in time have the opportunity to provide their study modifications and FERC will rule on those as well.”FERC approved AEA’s intial study plan in 2013, before the hold went into effect. The data in the studies dates from 2013 and 2014. McGregor says AEA consulted with federal agencies in developing the study agenda, and provided ample opportunity for review of its work through quarterly reports up until the hold took place.But Sue Walker, a scientist with NMFS in Juneau, says the data is not timely.“Because of the delays, we are actually looking at three years of study, and this is our first chance to have any outside expert review of how those studies were conducted and analyzed,” Walker said Wednesday.AEA’s study plan is supposed to assess baseline conditions, but NMFS’s Walker says it is hard to say that the studies are representative of current conditions. She says anomalous weather in Alaska the past two years warrants new data.“And we will also recommend a modification to a study that is being used to address climate change. Because we feel climate change in a water dependent project in Alaska that is dependent on snowfall, glacial melt and rainwater is going to continue changing under the next hundred years, and that the precision exists to look at how those changes in climate will affect this project.”NMFS has the responsibility of mitigating the effects of dams on marine species and anadramous fish.. such as salmon. And the dam’s affect on salmon is a major concern, according to Mike Wood, a resident of Chase and president of the anti – dam group, Susitna River Coalition. He says during the time of studies, there have been floods and late breakups in Southcentral.“Two one hundred year floods, actually, and the latest breakup every recorded in the history of the Susitna, during this period of studies.”Wood says the amount of data AEA is presenting does not justify the amount of money the state has spent on the dam project.“We are now a $196 million into this process, and we are finally having a chance to get an understanding of what the science looks like.”AEA’s McGregor says the initial study review is only the earliest phase of the licensing process. If FERC approves, some studies will be modified, and new studies will be conducted before a second review occurs. After that, on approval, an impact assessment will be conducted as part of the dam license application. The current meetings continue through March 30 .
Randy Howard (left) and Brian Shumaker of Beaded Stream, a company that sells technology to monitor permafrost temperatures. (Photo by Elizabeth Harball/Alaska’s Energy Desk)A few steps outside his warehouse in Anchorage on a chilly, late March day, Brian Shumaker gave a product demonstration that required a little pretending.Listen now“Imagine for a moment you’ve just landed in a helicopter out on the tundra and you’re about a hundred miles from anywhere. And it’s costing you a dollar a second to be here,” Shumaker said.We pictured ourselves on the remote North Slope, near Alaska’s biggest oil fields. There, every winter, companies build hundreds of miles of ice roads — roads literally made of ice and snow — essential for moving the massive equipment used for oil exploration.But environmental regulations don’t allow oil companies to build ice roads until the fragile tundra is sufficiently frozen. And scientists say freeze-up is happening up to two months later than it did in the 1980s.That’s where Shumaker’s startup, called Beaded Stream, comes in. Shumaker has developed technology that monitors when the ground freezes, pinpointing exactly when ice road season can begin.To show how, Shumaker drilled into the frozen soil and inserted a blue and yellow temperature monitoring cable. He hooked it up to a small, solar-paneled box installed on a nearby pole — a data logger that sends temperature readings to the internet via satellite. Using this device, companies can squeeze the longest possible oil exploration season into steadily shrinking winters. According to state regulators, Shumaker’s technology has actually helped lengthen ice road seasons in recent years.“Usually with our technology we can get folks out there days to weeks early, so it translates into huge cost savings,” Shumaker said. “But most importantly, sometimes it makes projects that weren’t even doable, doable.”Arctic Foundations President Ed Yarmak in his Anchorage warehouse, next to the thermosyphons his company manufactures. (Photo by Elizabeth Harball/Alaska’s Energy Desk)Beaded Stream isn’t alone. Alaska’s oil industry has specially designed its operations for freezing conditions. But as temperatures rise, companies are starting to pay a price for climate change — and some Alaska businesses are making money off of it. Oil companies now help support a cottage industry of consultants and product manufacturers, all providing workarounds for the fact that the frozen ground they rely on to produce oil isn’t as frozen as it once was.Although Shumaker said when he talks to customers, he doesn’t bother discussing why temperatures are rising.“I’m not debating what’s happening,” Shumaker said. “What are we going to do about it.”For an industry that’s often blamed for climate change, talking about coping with it is an awkward topic. Multiple oil companies contacted for this story turned down interview requests. But climate change is so present in Alaska today that the industry’s top lobbying group acknowledges it’s creating problems. Josh Kindred with the Alaska Oil and Gas Association said there’s a lot of concern about shrinking ice road season. He also noted the industry is having more frequent run-ins with polar bears due to declining sea ice.“It is ironic, and it’s challenging for a state that is so dependent on resource extraction but is also really feeling the impacts of climate change,” Kindred said.But for Kindred and many other Alaskans, the idea of stopping the state’s oil production to address climate change is unthinkable.“It’ll be interesting to see how we navigate this…I don’t want to call it a conundrum, because I do think there’s an opportunity for success here, but what is our role and how do we do it? Those are very difficult questions,” Kindred said.Meanwhile, oil companies keep finding ways to adapt.Ed Yarmak runs a company called Arctic Foundations, which makes devices that literally refrigerate the ground. They’re used across Alaska — for roads, water tanks and schools. But Yarmak says now, about half his business comes from oil companies on the North Slope.Arctic Foundations was founded in the 1970s — the oil industry has always had to incorporate special engineering to work around permafrost, because infrastructure alone can cause it to warp and thaw. But Yarmak said rising temperatures mean his product is really starting to come in handy.“To be honest, climate change is pretty good business for our company,” Yarmak said. “Because we’re in the business of making things colder, and climate change is warming things up in Alaska.”On the North Slope, oil companies have built a vast network of roads, pipelines and buildings on top of permafrost. But permafrost temperatures in the Arctic have been rising for decades. Yarmak said for buildings on the North Slope, thawing ground can start to cause problems.“The doors start to stick. The sheet rock cracks…the floor isn’t level any more. Things aren’t the way that they planned them,” Yarmak said.Arctic Foundations’ products help protect against these issues. In the company’s Anchorage warehouse, employees in protective glasses manufacture thermosyphons, long metal tubes filled with a refrigerant. When finished, thermosyphons are partially buried in permafrost to keep it frozen.Yarmak pointed out the top part of a thermosyphon, which is covered with a dense array of tiny fins:“This part is the condenser…it’s where the heat comes out and goes to the air,” Yarmak explained.Yarmak said each is custom made, and the ones for use on the North Slope and can cost roughly $10,000. He said oil companies have installed thousands of them across Alaska’s Arctic.And if the state continues to warm as projected, Yarmak expects to be in business a long time to come.
Jeedimetla: A road in Sai Baba Nagar, Jeedimetla is in a pitiable condition. The lanes are narrow and it is becoming difficult for the locals to commute, complained locals.Especially the pedestrians are facing immense hardships while traveling from this road. Also, another reason for the damaged road is lack of stormwater drains that has worsened and the locals are having a harrowing experience, says Rohan. Many complaints have been lodged but no step has been initiated.
Share The Texas Senate Select Committee on Violence in Schools & School Security is set to meet at 9 a.m. Monday to discuss school safety in the wake of the May shooting at a high school in Santa Fe that left 10 dead and 13 injured.The meeting comes after Gov. Greg Abbott hosted a series of roundtable discussions the week after the shooting. Then, on May 30, he unveiled a 40-page plan that covered school safety, mental health screening and a few narrow proposals regulating gun usage.On the committee’s list of items to discuss are ways to design schools to reduce threats, proposals to increase security at schools — including arming school personnel — and possible “red-flag” laws that would allow judges to temporarily seize a person’s firearms if they’re considered an imminent threat.Meanwhile, in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner has told his commission to end gun violence he wants safety measures in place before students return from summer vacation.Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez is on the Mayor’s commission.“At the time of Santa Fe not the kind of America we want to live in,” said Gonzalez.
Source = Barry Mayo – TravelManagers Australia Barry MayoTravelManagers welcome Travel Counsellors support for Consumer Protection AwarenessLast week Travel Counsellors entered into the debate around consumer protection, highlighting the need for the industry to ensure consumers are fully informed about how their funds are protected, as the negative consumer awareness surrounding the ongoing travel agency collapses continues to grow.A move that has been highly welcomed by TravelManagers’ Chairman Barry Mayo.“TravelManagers has long been a lone voice speaking for many similar minded travel agents around the concerns of inadequate consumer protection provided for consumers, following the disbandment of the Travel Compensation Fund (TCF) almost two years ago. We congratulate Travel Counsellors speaking out by identifying the need for the industry to ensure consumers are ‘fully’ informed about consumer protection and for challenging other travel agents to match the ‘full’ protection under its “Your Money’s Safe” claim.”Mayo has long been an advocate of encouraging robust discussion and debate as a way for state governments to recognise the shortcomings of their decision to deregulate travel agencies.“TravelManagers congratulate Travel Counsellors’ contribution and see this as a further opportunity for the travel industry to constructively debate the many resulting issues of the government’s deregulation of travel agents and other travel intermediaries. We see this as a positive result for consumers.”In Travel Counsellors article, David Hughes Managing Director of Travel Counsellors Australia has stated he “believes that all travel companies and agents should offer full financial protection to their customers and not expect the government to cover the slack.“Mayo has a slightly different view.“TravelManagers has never advocated the government provide funds to cover consumer protection. Travel Counsellors takes the stance that the industry should not expect government to cover consumers against industry failures. However, this has never been the case, the government provided legislation in 1986 for an industry funded organization to operate a consumer protection scheme on behalf of all travel intermediaries and not only protect consumers against losses but the integrity of the all travel agents and other Australian-based travel intermediaries as a whole.”Mayo has and continues to be critical of state governments abandoning licensing and the TCF without ensuring an appropriate and affordable replacement for consumer protection was in place.“Where the approximately $23 million of residual funds in the TCF are concerned, TravelManagers has questioned the state governments’ position that these funds contributed by travel agents and other travel intermediaries will be distributed in line with the TCF Trust Deed amongst themselves when there is no satisfactory consumer protection in place.”Mayo is also quick to point out that the TCF was not perfect.“Its cost impact on the industry may not have always been fairly distributed but what the TCF did offer consumers was protection against travel intermediary insolvency that was consistent and universal. The TCF delivered consumer protection where consumers had not received prepaid products and services booked through a travel agent and other Australian-based travel intermediaries.”Mayo strongly believes that where consumer protection is concerned, there needs to be total transparency.“TravelManagers is of the distinct view that all travel agency guarantees that consumers are protected against insolvency are fully communicated and explained in detail. Information as to exactly what cover is provided, the circumstances in which it applies, how it’s funded and how it would be administered in the event of the demise of that agent or, particularly where coverage extends to suppliers, how in the event of the collapse of an extraordinary large supplier this will be funded. This is absolutely vital in retaining client credibility. There should be a benchmark for the industry as a whole, which I believe, would greatly assist with the transparency consumers are looking for.”Mayo reiterates the fact that in protecting consumers from travel agent failure to provide prepaid and contracted services the TCF also protected the travel agent community’s integrity ensuring consumer confidence in dealing with the many professional and well-administered travel agents was maintained.“The continued negative consumer media reports are damaging to us all as a collective industry. Urgent change is needed and will only occur with continued discussion around the issues and collective lobbying of government. We welcome Travel Counsellors in taking up this debate and encourage more travel companies to also voice their concerns. Together with a consistent voice, we can make the change consumers are looking for – to have peace of mind around their funds when booking their holiday through a travel agency.”About TravelManagersTravelManagers operates in all Australian States and is a wholly owned subsidiary of House of Travel, Australasia’s largest independent travel company which has a forecast turnover of $1.5 billion for 2015. TravelManagers is a sister company to Hoot Holidays, also owned by House of Travel, and has more than 490 personal travel managers throughout Australia with a dedicated support team at the company’s national partnership office in Sydney. TravelManagers places all customer money in a dedicated and audited Client Trust Account which is separate from the general business accounts, ensuring client funds are only used for client purchases.
August 30, 2014Earlier this month, we posted in Now, Danilo (3D visualizer) produced a fly-through animation of the theater using the data collected from the 3D lasor scans performed by Steve Smith and Scott Halliday’s teams. It is a low resolution video without texture maps which, we hope, will come later when more resources are allocated for this 3D project.The theater was commissioned by the Institute of American Indian Arts and built on the Indian School compound in Santa Fe in 1966. This outdoor amphitheater features Soleri’s siltcast technique, enabling fluid forms with vernacular textures.[text by Tee]