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Updated: May 31, 2020
It feels a little strange to call it a road trip since my whole life is kind of one long trip at this point but a road trip is what it was in the truest sense of the word. A group of friends piled into two cars with bags and even bigger bags of snacks, heading down the coast for a two-day trip into the mountains to find Li-song hot spring.
In true roadtrip style, we also had to make a few stops along the way. The first stop was an abandoned military base just outside of Hualien City. Abandoned buildings practically scream at me to enter them so while everyone else headed off the take in the ocean view at the top of the hill, I couldn’t help but climb down into one of the old bunkers to see what was left. The answer was not much, a few left over bits of furniture, remnants of previous squatters, some cool old signage and a curious little praying mantis. When I met up with the rest of the group, I found them all standing on the roof of another old building, taking in a full 360 view of the ocean, mountains and all of Hualien city below.
The second stop was Jiqi beach. Because Taiwan is on the edge of the Ring of Fire, the beaches on the east coast of the country are black with volcanic sand, which makes the already dramatic landscape of mountains meeting the sea, all that much more beautiful.
The final extra stop was the Dashibishan trail and lookout. It’s a short climb up to check out another great view of the coastline and city below.
Photo: Aga Syu
Our final destination for the day was the town of Chishang. The town is quiet but is known for it’s bento boxes, traditional lunch box meals passengers would pick up in train stations for long journeys. It even has a bento box museum. Most of the town shuts down by 8pm. We arrived after that but luckily weren’t there to sightsee. Chishang was our rest stop before our real destination.
The next morning, we were all in the car by 6am and driving into the mountains, heading to Li-song hot spring. A rainy and cloudy drive took us up winding mountain roads and finally to a small side road where we got out of the car and started walking. The mountain roads there are constantly under construction due to rock falls and typhoon damage so we had to walk down the small road to get to the trail head. From the trail head, we started the real descent. The trail was pretty well maintained but rocky, muddy and steep. Halfway down and my thighs were already feeling it.
The last bit of the trail was the most challenging. The descent steepens to around 45 - 50 degrees and the only way down is to turn around and go down backwards, using the ropes to rappel down to the bottom. This was the most fun and most challenging part of the trail. The reward was the beautiful, clear mountain river at the bottom and knowing that the hot spring is just upstream.
Almost at the bottom.
The first river crossing to get to the hot spring. Two more to go.
There isn’t a clear path along the shore to get to the hot spring so the trek wasn’t over just yet. We started by crossing the river, which was a shock to the system after sweating for the last hour and a half coming down the trail. The water flowing through this mountain river was freezing! This spot was only about knee deep so it was unpleasant but a short crossing. Once across the river, the next obstacles were some large boulders blocking any easy path around them. So it was back into the water, up a few pieces of submerged log and scaling around another rock face. Once on top of those rocks, the full hot spring came into view.
I’d seen pictures and heard that this hot spring is considered the most beautiful in Taiwan. It definitely lived up to its reputation. The only thing left between me and the hot spring was one more climb down the big boulder I was standing on and a drop into that cold, cold water. I could tell it was deeper here but was not sure if that meant waist deep or shoulder deep. At the bottom of the rope coming off the boulder, I just let myself drop in. I ended up up to my neck and that is probably the closest I’ll ever come to doing a polar bear plunge. The river wasn’t too wide so we all crossed quickly, removed boots and got right into the hot water. Compared to the river, it burned! Once our skin got used to the drastic temperature change, we all eased in for a very well deserved soak.
The springs comes up from the ground in a lot of different spots so there is water falling down a waterfall as well as bubbling up from the ground. The springs are so mineral rich that the rock face behind the waterfall is stained orange, white and bright green.
Burning my feet off in the mouth of the hot spring.
After lounging for awhile, taking some photos and exploring a bit of the immediate area, I spent another 15 minutes back in the spring, staring down the very beautiful but very cold river we had to cross again. Going back, I made a point of keeping as much of my upper body out of the water as possible and used the rope to pull myself out of the water as quickly as I could. It worked well until I ended up in the next spot where we had to get in the water again. At that point, I just decided to embrace it and swim the next length, using the current to get me back down much faster than the time it would take to climb around the rocks again.
After dumping the water out of our shoes and a quick snack, we started back up the trail. This time, the toughest part came first. My legs were already tired from the descent so I was really starting to feel it as I pulled and pushed myself up the steep, rocky trail.
The only way back is up. We made good time though and were back at the trail head in about an hour and a half.
Scaling the steepest part seemed to go quickly this time and we were back on the only slightly less steep trail soon enough. This trail pushed me more than any other hike that I’ve done this year, including hiking through the Jordanian desert. When we finally made it back to the top, it felt like a serious accomplishment. I grumbled about the sore muscles on the way up a bit but still managed to make a continuous ascent without too much struggle. I honestly don’t think I would have been able to say the same thing a year ago when I was still sitting behind desk regularly. It was a small, personal accomplishment to realize how much I’ve been able to change and grow stronger physically and mentally since then.
When we finally reached the car, we all scrambled to shed our wet clothes. I can’t remember a time in my life when I have been happier to put on dry clothes. Taiwan’s winter is not too cold compared to a Canadian one but it is winter in Taiwan just the same. After a good 6-7 hours of clothes soaked by rain, sweat, and river water, putting on dry, warm clothes was an amazing feeling.
So close to the top. We finished the trail and just had to make it up to the top of the road.
Our day wasn’t over just yet though. As mentioned, the mountain roads are damaged by the elements consistently and because of that, often closed for construction. After misreading some of the signage, we arrived at the mountain pass to go down thinking we’d made it for the afternoon opening. We hadn’t. So we had another 2.5 hours to kill before the only road out of the mountains opened again. After a few stares around the car at each other and a quick check on Google maps, we realized there was a small village not too far from where we had just come from.
Driving into the village, it seemed exceptionally quiet. No cars, no people and no open windows. The one restaurant listed on the map was called Shop and Eat. The name was accurate. It was essentially a convenience store with a few plastic tables set up in the corner. It was cozy though and it served hot food so all of us were happy to be there. We enjoyed a meal of fried rice, stewed cabbage and lily flower soup which was something new for me and really quite delicious. After we finished eating, we sat around the table and joined the shop owner in watching that Catherine Zeta-Jones movie, No Reservations.
Feeling sufficiently warmed and fed, we piled back into the car and back down to the roadblock. We still had another hour left before the road opened so most of us took it as a good opportunity for a nap. 5 o’clock finally rolled around, the road opened and we were on our way back home from a very successful roadtrip.


In Lieu of PIR Detectors, ST’s New IR Sensor Uses Thermal Transistors
Hoping to heighten motion sensitivity in building automation, ST has released a lens-free IR sensor with micromachined thermal MOSFETs.
STMicroelectronics recently announced a new IR sensor using thermal MOSFETs (TMOS) in the place of lenses and passive IR pixels. ST claims the space savings afforded by the TMOS technology may help designers improve performance and conserve board real estate for densely-integrated designs.
ST’s latest IR sensor uses a completely different sensing mechanism without an IR lens. Image (modified) used courtesy of STMicroelectronics
Modern IR detectors have existed since the 1960s, holding a popular place among hobbyists for their simple implementation as motion sensors. While traditional PIR technology requires motion to detect targets, TMOS-based sensors can reportedly accomplish presence detection even when targets are stationary.
This article dives into the technical details of ST's new TMOS IR sensor, the STHS34PF80, and how it can be used in new applications.
Ultra-sensitive Temperature Dependence
At the heart of the STHS34PF80 is multiple TMOS transistors for IR detection. Each transistor (built on an SOI process) operates in the subthreshold region, making the drain-source current extremely temperature dependent. As such, any change in the amount of IR radiation absorbed at the gate of the transistor (produced by any warm object) can determine a target's presence or motion quite reliably.
Subthreshold conduction creates a low but temperature-dependent current to isolate the temperature and IR radiation the sensor receives. Image used courtesy of UC Berkeley
The subthreshold operation of the TMOS transistors creates a low drain-source current (compared to other operation regions) that conserves overall power and improves sensitivity. Typical PIR sensors require a Fresnel lens to focus sufficient IR radiation and create a measurable response. The STHS34PF80, however, can operate without a lens, demonstrating its sensitivity.
ST built TMOS devices alongside digital and analog circuitry to realize a small yet high-performance IR detector with motion and presence detection. Image used courtesy of STMicroelectronics
In addition to the IR detection hardware, digital readout circuitry is built-in using ST’s SOI CMOS technology, making for an extremely small overall package size. This dense integration, combined with the lens-free operation, makes the sensor a valuable tool to shrink sensors further.
New Vision for Smarter Devices
ST has identified several applications that may benefit from the new sensor, such as security alarms, occupancy monitoring, and intelligent lighting and appliances.
The lens-free FOV of the sensor enables versatile applications in small package sizes. Image used courtesy of STMicroelectronics
Without a lens, the sensor's 80-degree field-of-view (FOV) achieves a 4 m range. An optical band-pass filter at the input ensures that ambient light conditions will not impact detection ability.
The input transmittance ratio highlights the sensor's ability to work independently of visible light, providing designers with more robust sensing. Image used courtesy of STMicroelectronics
If designers need an even greater range or FOV, they can integrate custom or commercial Fresnel lenses to boost performance. ST has launched production on the sensor alongside a compatible evaluation board designers can use to test the sensor’s performance in application-specific scenarios.


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Dental Arts of Wyomissing Blog
Posts for: December, 2014
Modern dentistry offers several great ways to permanently replace missing teeth, including high-tech dental implants and traditional fixed bridgework. But sometimes, for one reason or another, it isn’t possible to have these treatments done right away. If you need an aesthetic way to temporarily replace missing teeth, a flexible partial denture could be the answer you’re looking for.
Certain kinds of removable partial dentures (RPDs) can be used as permanent tooth replacement systems, especially for people who aren’t candidates for dental implants or fixed bridges. But in the past, if you needed a temporary tooth replacement, one of the few alternatives was the type of rigid RPD often called a “flipper.” This consists of a firm, relatively thick acrylic base that supports one or more lifelike replacement teeth. It attaches to the “necks” of existing natural teeth via metal clasps, which gives it stability and strength.
However, the same rigidity and thickness that gives these rigid RPDs their durability can make them uncomfortable to wear, while the acrylic material they are made of is capable of staining or breaking. Over time, the RPDs are prone to coming loose — and they are also easy to flip in and out with the tongue, which gives them their nickname.
Flexible partial dentures, by contrast, are made of pliable polyamides (nylon-like plastics) that are thin, light and resistant to breakage. Instead of using metal wires to attach to the teeth, flexible RPDs are held securely in place by thin projections of their gum-colored bases, which fit tightly into the natural contours of the gumline. Their elasticity and light weight can make them more comfortable to wear. Plus, besides offering aesthetic replacements for missing teeth, their natural-looking bases can cover areas where gums have receded — making existing teeth look better as well.
All RPDs must be removed regularly for thorough cleaning — but it’s especially important for flexible RPD wearers to practice excellent oral hygiene. That’s because the projections that hold them in place can also trap food particles and bacteria, which can cause decay. And, like most dentures, RPDs should never be worn overnight. Yet with proper care, flexible RPDs offer an inexpensive and aesthetic way to temporarily replace missing teeth.
Dentists have been saying for years that it helps to see children as early as possible — ideally, around the time they reach one year old. Just recently, an evidence-based study was released that backs this up: It shows that starting dental visits prior to age one actually reduces the cost of oral health care, and helps ensure that kids have pleasant dental experiences in the future.
Why do young children need to go to the dentist if they only have one or two teeth (and they’re baby teeth, to boot)? For one thing, those early dental visits get a child used to the new sights and sounds of the office: the big chair, the shiny equipment, and the friendly staff who will be taking care of them. And even at this tender age, it’s not too soon to check for signs of decay, make sure gums are healthy, and show everyone the best techniques for keeping up good oral hygiene in a growing mouth.
Still, it’s natural for a child to be a little nervous before an office visit. (Even grown-ups have been known to show some anxiety at the dental office from time to time.) To ease their way through, there are several techniques you can borrow from behavioral psychology to help make the experience as stress-free as possible.
First… just relax. Remember that kids quickly pick up on non-verbal cues that tell them something’s wrong — so try and stay positive, and keep smiling. You should prepare the little ones for what’s coming — but not too much information, please! We go to great efforts to make children feel safe and comfortable in our care, and we can tell them all they need to know in age-appropriate terms. In fact, most of your child’s first dental visit may consist of a show-and-tell about what we do and what tools we use.
Another thing to keep in mind is that parents are the major role models for their children, both in and out of the home. Kids naturally follow along — in both good and bad ways. If parents take good care of their own teeth, it helps kids develop good oral hygiene habits too. That includes brushing and flossing regularly, limiting sugary snacks between meals, and avoiding non-nutritious drinks — not only sodas, but also so-called “sports” and “energy” drinks, which can be extremely high in sugar and caffeine.
Of course, regular visits to the dentist should also be a part of every adult’s oral hygiene program. If your child sees you relaxing in the chair, it’s much easier for them to do it too. And that’s good for everybody’s health.
If you would like more information about children’s dental visits, please call our office to schedule a consultation. You can learn more in the Dear Doctor magazine article “Taking the Stress Out of Dentistry for Kids.”

domain: medical


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In a profoundly moving and honest account, Sarah Pullen describes the heart-breaking reality of life after her son Silas’s brain tumour diagnosis in her new book, A Mighty Boy.
Silas was ten years old when he was diagnosed in August 2012. Despite numerous treatments, he passed away just sixteen months later.
A Mighty Boy traces the family’s journey from the first day at the hospital, battling a tumour they named ‘Bob’, through to Silas’s death and adjusting to life without him.
In the book Sarah tells how her last conversation with Silas will be etched into her heart forever: “I really really love you Mummy.”
“Ditto,” I say rubbing his nose with mine. I hold my thumb and forefinger a small distance apart. “But just a smidgen more.” He smiles. Those are the last words he ever speaks to us. Simple and perfect.”
Sarah Lindsell, The Brain Tumour Charity’s Chief Executive, said, “The Pullen family are an inspiration to us all.
“Sarah’s account reflects the brutal journey that so many of our community have to go on. We are so grateful to Sarah for raising awareness and speaking so openly and with such honesty about her experiences.“
Since Silas’s death, his family have raised over £534,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity through their supporter group The Silas Pullen Fund.
A Mighty Boy: A Mother’s Journey Through Grief by Sarah Pullen, is published on August 17.
In this moving ‘silly walks’ video, Sarah describes the process of writing A Mighty Boy.

domain: literature


Last we heard from Omen, it was November 2011 and the rapper/producer had joined forces with rap heavyweight J. Cole to share some parental wisdom on promo single Mama Told Me. Just over a year later, on a standout off his newly-released J. Dilla tribute EP, mothers are once again on his and his collaborators’ minds. This time, however, the question on their lips is, “I wonder if my mama proud of what I grew to be?” On Brooklyn Lager, a stark, heavily syncopated beat by the late production legend bangs in the back as Omen and his fellow DreamVille affiliates, Voli and Elite, contemplate the consequences of the hustle-filled, often-hedonistic lifestyle they’ve chosen. For more thought-provoking rhymes over the production of the one and only J. Dilla, check out A Glorious Cool, released to the net sans promo on Thursday evening.
Written by richard on 11/9/12
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Discover the best new songs, videos, and albums added to the Booth.


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Toronto, ON – WoodGreen Community Services welcomes the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund agreement with the City of London that will eliminate regulatory and zoning barriers and have a potential impact on fast-tracking the creation of over 2,000 additional housing units over the next three years in that city. WoodGreen hopes to see similar agreements for other municipalities soon, including the City of Toronto.
WoodGreen also welcomes the prime minister’s pledge to eliminate the GST from the construction of new purpose-built rental apartments for both private and non-profit developers nationwide.
The Housing Accelerator Fund not only reduces delays in approving new affordable housing developments but gives municipalities additional funding to support private and non-profit planning submissions that meet the highest green and architectural design standards to the benefit of healthy, culturally diverse, and mixed-income communities. Additionally, the GST exemption will stimulate the development of more affordable rental units and make it easier for non-profit housing providers, such as WoodGreen, to address the needs of individuals living on low or moderate incomes. This added rental stock will mean more housing options for essential workers, students, seniors, families with moderate incomes, and others.
WoodGreen looks forward to future opportunities to work with governments of all levels on the adoption of innovative policies and funding initiatives to accelerate the building of affordable housing. We encourage provincial governments to also institute similar tax exemptions for purpose-built rentals. Ultimately to speed up and scale new affordable housing supply, more measures are required to incentivize investment of upfront private and social impact equity as well as prioritize funding for collaborative private and non-profit developer models. More action from all levels of government is also required to accelerate the use of speedy and sustainable construction methods — such as modular and mass timber materials — that also help support Canada’s climate change targets. Finally, the urgency of new housing development must be matched with equal attention to the preservation of existing affordable rental housing stock.
WoodGreen — with close to 1,500 deeply affordable housing units — is one of Toronto’s largest non-municipal affordable housing providers, offering safe and affordable homes to seniors, newcomers, youth, individuals with disabilities and people with a long history of homelessness. Our organization has an ambitious plan to own and/or manage 3,000 units within the next ten years.
ABOUT WOODGREEN COMMUNITY SERVICES (woodgreen.org): WoodGreen is one of the largest social service agencies in Toronto, serving 37,000 people each year. We offer over 75 programs and services tackling the social determinants that affect the health and well-being of individuals in our community.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Jen Mayville, Senior Communications Manager; [email protected]; (437) 226-8091 (cell) or Tureisha Hamlet, Corporate Communications and Public Relations Manager; [email protected]; (416) 277-2672

domain: economics


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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel in Bonn, Germany, Feb. 16, 2017. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan)
BONN, Germany, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday held talks with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel, vowing to boost world economic growth together.
The talks took place on the sidelines of the G20 ministerial meeting in Germany's western city of Bonn.
Wang said China and Germany, both as vital members of G20, should strengthen macro-policy coordination among the group on the basis of the G20 Hangzhou Summit in 2016.
He added that the two country should join hands in promoting global rebalancing and moving forward trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, thus to make a greater contribution to world economic growth.
Echoing Wang's remarks, Gabriel said China and Germany are both bearing the duty to safeguard open global trade, adding that Germany is willing to deepen the cooperation with China and work actively to carry forward China's Belt and Road Initiative.
He said the existing China-Europe freight train services is a concrete example of the close Chinese-German and Chinese-EU cooperation.
As 2017 marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese-German diplomatic relations, Wang also said the two countries, as all-around strategic partners, could use the successful experience during these years and draw future blueprints.

domain: politics


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The Investment Trends Margin Lending Investor report, based on a survey of 2,200 investors, revealed the direct channel grew $480 million to $4.74 billion during this nine-month period.
The report also found investor return expectations are increasing, with investors expecting an average return of seven per cent per annum at September 2013, compared to the expected return of three per cent a year before.
Investment Trends analyst S M Shahed said the rising confidence among Australian investors has “coincided with an increased momentum in the direct lending channel”.
"The rate of decline in the number of active margin lending users slowed considerably and these current users began drawing down a larger part of their loan in 2013."
According to the report, the number of margin lending users only decreased by five per cent from 95,000 to 90,000 compared with the 20 per cent decline the previous year.
In the last 12 months, 6,000 new margin lending investors entered the market, 4,000 investors returned to margin lending after being dormant and 15,000 investors chose to completely stop using margin lending.
The number of investors who intend to begin using margin lending in the next 12 months is also on the rise, with a 37 per cent increase from 57,000 in 2012 to 78,000 in 2013.
The report noted that historically, only a proportion of those stating they plan to begin borrowing actually do so.
Based on the three-year average, Investment Trends estimates there will be around 14,000 investors who will begin margin lending in the next 12 months.
Investment Trends believes existing margin lending users are another growth opportunity, with the proportion of current users planning to draw down on their margin loans increasing to 46 per cent in 2013, up from 39 per cent in 2012.
“Helping investors identify opportunities will be the key to realising this demand,” said Mr Shahed.
“Forty-four per cent of those planning to increase their margin lending usage over the next year say they are waiting for the right investment opportunities to arise.”
FSC loses two senior policy managers
AMP Capital appoints new CFO
BNY Mellon appoints head of distribution, APAC
What a blockchain-powered ASX should mean
Separating the signals from the noise
Could passive investing have structural issues?

domain: news


Behind Blue Eyes
That song isn't the reason I took this picture, though I have been listening to that song over and over. As much as I am an advocate of loving things in their original format, I've got to say I prefer Limp Bizkit's version of the song over The Who's. There's something that's inbred into every 90s baby, and that is to prefer grunge rock over class rock 'n' roll.
Part of the reason I even remembered that song existed is because of this video: CLICK ME NAO (This is the version by The Who, by the by.)
Often when I listen to music (Okay, not often, but enough times) I realize just how perfectly the lyrics to whatever song fit this character's story from this TV show/movie/book/etc. Occasionally, it'll be "This song fits what I felt in my own life at this certain time" but not so much lately. And since my entire brain has been invaded by Lost within the past three months, that's all I've been hearing in the songs I listen to - "Oh! This song is about Jack/Kate/Sawyer/Locke/Miles/etc." But I digress. I just wanted to say how perfectly Behind Blue Eyes fits Ben's character. So glad they did Dr. Linus. Ben is my second favorite character and as such, I was thrilled to find him redeemed in another life (brotha.)
Also, "All the Memories" by The Classic Crime = Daniel Faraday-Widmore/Charlotte Whatever-her-last-name-is music video.
- ▼ August (30)


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The disappearance of Amelia Earhart is one of the greatest mysteries of the twentieth century. Also known as Lady Lindy, Earhart set a number of aviation records for women.
Earhart became interested in planes while attending Columbia University as a pre-med student. She attended an airshow where she took her first plane ride with Frank Hawks. From that moment on, she knew she was meant to become a pilot and started working to make her dream into reality.
It was only about a month after the airshow in January of 1921 that Earhart began her flying lessons. She was an avid aviation student and read every book on flying she could get her hands on. She also spent the majority of her time at the airfield. While she wasn’t at the airfield, she was working one of the many jobs that helped pay for her flying lessons.
Earhart was so dedicated to flying that she managed to purchase a second-hand biplane the same summer she started lessons. Her plane was bright yellow and she nicknamed it “The Canary.” It was in The Canary that she set her first aviation record by becoming the first woman to fly solo above 14,000 feet.
Earhart went on to set many other records for women in the field of aviation including the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic ocean, first to fly solo and nonstop across the United States, and she was the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the United States mainland. All of these achievements were monumental for Earhart and women everywhere, but Earhart was determined to set even more records.
On June 1, 1937, shortly before her 40th birthday, Earhart began a flight around the world. She had completed the majority of her trip when she touched down in New Guinea on June 29. The last 7,000-mile leg of the trip lay before her and she was scheduled to make her next stop at Howland Island to refuel.
She departed for the island on July 2 to cloudy weather and disappeared en route.
The day she took off for the island, the skies were overcast with occasional rain showers which made navigation more difficult. Her radio transmissions were also problematic. The transmissions were faint and often interrupted by static, but even more alarming was the fact that Earhart didn’t seem to be receiving the guiding radio transmissions sent from her contact during the flight.
It’s unclear what happened to Earhart during this last bit of her trip. Many theories have been proposed about what happened to her, but none have ever been confirmed. One of the most common theories is that Earhart’s plane ran out of gas as she searched for Howland Island and she crashed into the ocean somewhere near her destination. Another hypothesis suggests she veered off-course and landed 350 miles Southwest on uninhabited Gardner Island where she eventually succumbed to the elements.
An extensive search and rescue mission commenced after she never reached Howland Island, but her body and plane were never recovered. Over the years, Earhart has been the inspiration for numerous books and movies. She may not have achieved her goal of flying around the world, but she still made great strides in the world of aviation and for women everywhere.

domain: library


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The British Medical Journal has published a report associating extensive links between the sugar industries and public health scientists who have enormous influence over public health organizations. The report has international relevance as many of the food and drink manufacturers have a global manufacturing and import and export basis.
“Several of the big companies who have been seeking influence over public health organizations and researchers in the UK are headquartered in the US,” said Jonathan Gornell, “where the impact can only be magnified in their favor.”
The influence is mainly funding based including evidence of a government committee working on nutritional advice receiving funding from companies whose products are considered by many to be responsible for the ongoing obesity crisis. The sugar industry has pledged to assist the UK government to reach a 5% national reduction in calorie consumption.
Members of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and the Medical Research Council’s Human Nutrition Research unit (HNR) have received funding from sugar giants including Coca-Cola, Mars, Nestlé, Sainsbury’s, the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and Weight Watchers International, among others.
The funding amounts are not minimal with one former HNR researcher (Susan Jebb, professor of diet and population health at the University of Oxford and chair of the British government’s Responsibility Deal Food Network_ receiving funding worth $2.10 million from companies such as Coca-Cola between 2004 and 2015. Coca-Colas also donated $ 297,000 to Prof. Webb’s research for one study.
The BMJ report determined that over a decade of funding from the sugar industry has been used to fund scientists involved with the research unit. Scientists working on Medical Research Council (MRC) projects have received research funding from organisations including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, Weight Watchers International, NutriLicious (a public relations firm specialising in conveying “nutrition and health messages” for the food industry), Sainsbury’s, W K Kellogg Institute, and GlaxoSmithKline.
Others have received funding disguised as consultancy fees from Boots, Coca-Cola, Cereal Partners UK, Mars, and Unilever Foods. They have also sat on advisory boards for Coca-Cola, the Food and Drink Federation, and the Institute of Grocery Distributors.
Figures obtained as a result of information requests suggest industry funding of the work of scientists in the Human Nutrition Research unit alone may have averaged close to £250 000 (€330 000; $380 000) a year for the past decade. Industry funding for the three years from 2010 to 2012 totalled £697 469, peaking at £380 874 in 2010—5% of the unit’s total income for that year.
The association with the sugar industry on the surface raises credibility concerns as the pulbic health researchers have considerable influence over public health policy and information dissemination.
Sugar: spinning a web of influence, Jonathan Gornall, The BMJ, doi: 10.1136/bmj.h231, published online 11 February 2015.


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Whitehall officials should help their political masters become more effective by encouraging them to delegate more work and develop more professional skills, rather than simply showing subject expertise, according to two separate reports.
A call by the Commons public administration select committee for a cut in the number of ministers and more delegation of their work was echoed in a separate report from the influential Constitution Unit at University College London, on the appointment of external ministers – so-called goats – which also says the civil service could do more to help ministers become more professional.
The Commons report, Smaller Government: What do Ministers do? says ministers are busy – but activity should be distinguished from achievement. "The accounts we have received give the impression that ministers are too involved in the day-to-day running of their departments," says the report, which calls for a cut in the number of ministers by the middle of the present parliament.
It says ministers are taking too many relatively minor decisions and must instead focus on "key strategic decisions".
The report says having 141 MPs – who are ministers or aides – is bad for the quality of government and the independence of the legislature. It wants the government to:
Keep the present legal cap on the number of paid ministers.
Cut the legal limit on the number of ministers in the Commons by eight.
Cut 26 existing private parliamentary secretaries – down to just one per department.
The UCL report finds that many of the ministers appointed from outside parliament by the previous government were given little or no induction and few clear objectives. The result, says the report, was "sheer overload", with one former minister describing the office as "the most exhausting job I'd ever done. It was relentless."
Professor Robert Hazell, co-author of the UCL report, says there is a link between the two reports on the importance of delegating tasks and encouraging civil servants to support ministers, particularly in areas such as negotiating major contracts.
"It is a complete charade to maintain that ministers have any effective responsibility for these big contracts," comments Hazell. Making a senior official responsible directly to parliament for such project might "tighten up" Whitehall's performance, he says. But Hazell adds that such a shift would change the accountability of civil servants.
Accountability was a point also brought up recently by Margaret Hodge, chair of the Commons public accounts committee, when considering the role of the new non-executive directors being appointed to Whitehall boards.
The PAC has drawn attention to the difficulty of maintaining departmental-based structures of financial accountability as they are broken up, and whether the new systems being put in place will actually be a more rigorous regime than exists at present.
The UCL report analyses the role of ministers in some detail. It highlights the concern of some political observers that many ministers do not have enough experience outside parliament. "Some MPs have no experience of devising a strategy with clear objectives and priorities, let alone setting budgets, negotiating major contracts or handling industrial relations," says the report.
"Simply because a minister has subject expertise does not necessarily make him or her competent: competence stems from a much wider range of different skills."
The report does not, however, dismiss entirely the "professionalisation" of government. While more "professional politicians" may become more distant from the public they are meant to service, professionalism may also help to prevent the "capture" of politics by interest groups and may help politicians develop skills in areas such as law-making.
Ministers should also get more support from Whitehall itself, says Hazell. The civil service undersells its own core skills, in particular in handling parliament," he comments.
"That is something a lot of these goats found difficult and it's a necessary part of the job description of any minister. It's rather old-fashioned, particularly with the emphasis over the past 20 years on delivery, but handling parliament is a core skill that has been lost sight of and it is something where officials can hold ministers' hands."
This article is published by Guardian Professional. Join the Guardian Public Leaders Network to receive regular emails on the issues at the top of the professional agenda.


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Myanmar has seen an increase in financial technology (fintech) and digital payment offerings since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, raising hopes for the expansion of financial inclusion in a country where banking penetration remains below the regional average.
After Covid-19 arrived in Myanmar, fintech solutions quickly proved to be effective in encouraging social distancing and limiting community transmission.
Where possible, one-off payments of MMK30,000 ($22.78) to vulnerable households under the government’s Covid-19 Economic Relief Plan were distributed through local digital platforms such as Wave Money and OnePay.
Digital transfer options were also extended to social security payments, loans for farmers, emergency funds for garment workers and financial relief for street vendors.
As well as partnering with the government and humanitarian organisations to ensure the transfer of funds to the general public, Wave Money also announced that it would forgo all transfer fees for at-risk and affected sectors for the duration of the crisis.
The adoption of digital payment methods resulted in a substantial increase in activity since the onset of the pandemic, with data analytics company Statistica projecting a 7.1% increase in digital transactions and a 19.7% rise in the number of users in Myanmar this year.
“The banking and financial services sectors were definitely the major beneficiaries of the pandemic,” Serge Pun, chairman of Yoma Strategic Holdings, told OBG. “The number of users switching to digital platforms, creating bank accounts and using mobile payment methods has grown exponentially.”
Spike in investment
The growth in digital payment usage over the past six months has also coincided with an increase in fintech investment.
In mid-September regional media reported that Myanmar fintech start-up NearMe had secured a seven-digit funding offer from Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo Corporation.
NearMe, which was formerly known as 1-Stop, provides digital retail services to small and medium-sized businesses, and has a network of 50,000 partners across the country.
Elsewhere, Wave Money received investment of $73.5m from Ant Group in May, making the financial arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba a significant minority shareholder.
The following month, it was announced that Yoma Strategic planned to take a controlling interest in Wave Money through a $76.5m investment in the shares of joint-venture partner Telenor, the Norwegian telecoms giant.
The development comes as Wave Money looks set to diversify its services by providing loans to businesses and individuals via its app.
According to regional media, Yoma Bank is working with Alibaba to develop credit analysis technology that would use artificial intelligence to calculate the creditworthiness of prospective customers, allowing individuals and businesses to bypass traditional banks when it comes to securing loans.
Access to credit is a longstanding problem in Myanmar, with formal lenders forced to abide by interest caps imposed by the central bank and the vast majority of consumers unable to meet collateral requirements for bank loans.
Meanwhile, other operators in the market are also extending their offerings.
In May OnePay launched a mobile interbank platform that allows users to transfer money between seven local banks without having to set foot inside a branch. In a sign of increased demand, within a month of its establishment the app had 150,000 registered users.
High ceiling for growth
With only around one-quarter of adults having access to a bank account, the development of fintech services and digital payment methods is seen as key to boosting financial inclusion in the country.
According to a report from London-based market research company Kantar TNS, mobile money uptake in the country has increased dramatically in recent years, rising from 0.8% in 2016 to 80% last year.
Despite this stratospheric growth, industry stakeholders believe there is significant room for further expansion, given that smartphone penetration stands at around 80% yet only 6% of adults use more than one fintech product – and an estimated 7.5m people do not use mobile financial services at all.
To help facilitate growth, the country is looking to improve its financial infrastructure and strengthen regulations in the sector.
To this end, after receiving funding from the World Bank’s International Development Association, in April the Central Bank of Myanmar launched a tender for the creation of a national real-time retail payments system, as well as a QR-code generation and repository system, while there are ongoing efforts to tighten legislation governing the sector.
“In order to boost the development of credit card and QR code technologies, Myanmar’s government and related agencies are looking to improve regulation of the cashless payment environment,” Christopher Loh, CEO of local bank UAB Myanmar, told OBG.


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Academic Editor: Vincenzo Lionett
Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is used to treat chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients, and it can effectively remove organized thrombotic materials and proliferative intima as well as improve hemodynamics. It has been reported that the levels of several inflammatory factors were altered in the peri-operative period of PEA. Even though their specific role remains unknown, this could have some relevance. In this study, we reviewed the recently published data addressing these factors in PEA, attempting to understand their potential implications.


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Rolf the Tripawd Dachshund loses a leg and finds his life’s calling as a therapy dog.
Laurie Kaplan’s So Easy to Love pet loss grief resource book provides helpful tools for coping with end of life care and emotional support ideas.
MP3 downloads are now available for Patrick Stump’s new Truant Wave EP including Spotlight (Oh Nostalgia), the music video for which features inspirational three legged German Shepherd rescue dog and Tripawds member Codie Rae.
Ease the grief of losing your dog with the Christine Davis book, For Every Dog an Angel
The Calming Cap is a useful behavior tool for nervous dogs undergoing amputation surgery.

domain: pet


CSI/Building Systems Design, Inc. (BSD)
The Construction Specifications Institute(CSI) andBuilding Systems Design, Inc. (BSD) announced the release of a new version of BSD SpecLink®, which now enables users to create performance-based, short form, and prescriptive construction specifications for any project delivery method. With just one mouse-click, the new version can at any time rearrange a project's specifications per the 2004 or 1995 editions of the MasterFormat® organizational standard. The new BSD SpecLink® incorporates PerSpective®, which was originally developed by CSI and the Design-Build Institute of America, and is the industry's first commercially available database of performance-based specifications. For more visitwww.bsdsoftlink.com.


Tottenham Hotspur fans in the Transfer Tavern loved seeing NBA legend, Steve Nash visit Hotspur Way over the weekend as the lifelong Spurs fan got to watch training in close quarters at the club’s training centre. Nash described his status in basketball allowing him to meet Mauricio Pochettino and the players as the greatest perk of his basketball career.
Tottenham fans have had a lot to celebrate over the last couple of years despite not winning any trophies. Under Argentine manager, Mauricio Pochettino, the club have developed into one of the most feared teams in England and in Europe. This season alone Spurs have claimed the scalps of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, despite playing all of their home games away from their usual White Hart Lane whilst the club’s new stadium is being constructed.
Tottenham beat Swansea 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday as they advanced through the last four in the FA Cup. The FA Cup is now Spurs biggest hope of winning their first piece of silverware under Pochettino, although they’ll have to get past Jose Mourinho’s rigid Manchester United in the semi-finals before they can start dreaming of a Wembley final against either Chelsea or Southampton.
You can see what the local Lilywhites made of Steve Nash’s visit to the club’s training ground here:
— C'mon You Spurs (@rajang20) March 19, 2018
Just got to love his passion for our team
— Stephen Price (@PVsupercars) March 20, 2018
— Jay (@jaymccutcheo89) 19 March 2018
Love this man, met him a few years ago when he was still playing and he has always been class. #COYS
Smartest man alive!
— OzSpurDan (@CappettaDaniel) March 20, 2018
Now there’s a man who talks sense #COYS
— Marc Bayliss (@marcthespur) March 19, 2018


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Buckle up for the ride of a lifetime with hardcore wrestling legend Mick Foley as the accomplished novelist takes the wheel on the brand new limited series "R.P.M." from 12-Gauge Comics.
A multiple New York Times #1 bestselling author, Foley teams with fellow writer Shane Riches and artist Jose Holder for the four-issue series launching this November. "R.P.M." marks the first foray into comics for the four-time World Heavyweight Champion Foley, who previously penned a number of autobiographical titles, three children's books and two novels-not to mention his countless appearances in television shows and voice acting work. The title follows car driver Revere Windsor, a descendant of the legendary Paul Revere, as he races from Boston to Miami to deliver an important package. Some international criminals and government agencies look to permanently detour the hero, but thankfully he holds a secret under his metaphorical hood: a hyper-kinetic depth perception that allows him to see and react to things faster than anyone else. Needless to say, expect a few-as Foley's wrestling persona Cactus Jack would say-bang-bangs of explosions in this high-octane adventure.
Pulling over a bit from their fictional cross-country adventure, both Foley and Riches spoke with CBR News in an exclusive first interview about the new series, providing a road map to the title's creation and sharing a story on how a young Foley had a nice day after visiting the studio of a legendary comic artist.
CBR News: To start things off, Mick, you're a very accomplished writer-penning a number of autobiographical books and a few children's stories as well. What made you decide to try your hand at comic book writing? What is appealing to you about this medium as opposed to regular novels?
Mick Foley:Â I noticed a few years ago when I did appearances at comic book conventions, that wrestling fans brought my autobiographies to sign, but very few would show up with the fiction novels.Â Talking and interacting with fans who were avid readers, but chose not to read my fiction work got me thinking about different mediums to reach my audience.Â A friend of mine, Jill Thompson, convinced me that many of my fans would be more open to reading my fiction work in a visual format where I could amp up the action-graphic novels or comic books.
Shane Riches:Â Mick's fiction work, "Tietam Brown" and "Scooter," are amazing dramatic novels.Â "Tietam Brown," in particular is one of the most emotional, character driven stories I've read. Doing a graphic novel, in contrast, allows Mick to go wild with his incredible action ideas in on the comic page.
How did the deal with 12-Gauge come about? Did they approach you about the series at a convention or give you a call?
Foley:Â Actually, the deal came about because of work Shane and I did on the film adaption of my novel "Tietam Brown."Â Shane was instrumental in steering the project into script form. Because of our collaboration on the "Tietam Brown" script had been a very painless process, I was extremely open to Shane's suggestion that we do a comic book.
Riches:Â As a huge fan of Mick's fiction work, I encouraged him to try his hand at comic books.Â My brother, Victor, had previously written the action thriller "The Safest Place" for 12-Gauge which was a terrific experience.Â So, last year in San Diego, we struck a deal with 12-Gauge to do "R.P.M."
We know the series follows Revere Windsor, a car-driving descendant of Paul Revere. How did you guys come up with the idea to R.P.M, which sounds like a really cool mix between racing film and Jason Bourne style espionage? Also, is there a double meaning to the title?
Foley:Â Being a big-time history buff, I thought it would be cool to do an update on a historical figure-giving him a 21st century edge while still being steeped in history.Â So, we took the attributes that made Paul Revere such a lasting legend and past them on to one of his descendants, who goes by "Revere." As far as a double meaning, sadly no, beyond the similar initials. We just thought it sounded cool.
Riches:Â You nailed it in your question comparing "R.P.M." to the Bourne franchise mixed with say, "The Fast and the Furious." What's awesome about Mick is that we have in-your-face action sequences with narratives including tidbits on the Revolutionary War. It's an amazing way to enrich the characters and story without losing a beat of action.
Windsor has a rather interesting special ability-he "sees and reacts to the world faster than anyone." How does this tie into his relation to the legend of Paul Revere? I believe reaction time played a very important role in that story as well.
Foley:Â When Shane and I first started tossing ideas around about Revere, we wanted to give him a super-power that would allow our readers to willingly suspend disbelief, which is always the ultimate goal of a good pro-wrestling match.Â So, we wanted to give him a power that might seem unlikely, but not theoretically impossible and still grounded in reality. As far as a relationship to Paul Revere, by giving him what we call hyper-kinetic depth perception, we were attempting to advance the legend of Paul Revere.Â Of course, our guy is facing a completely different enemy at more rapid speeds.
Riches:Â In a nice nod to the original, our Revere wears a belt buckle with the all-seeing Masonic eye designed by his ancestor.Â Paul Revere was silversmith who actually did that piece.Â It let us steep our fictional Revere in reality and was a natural tie-in with his ability to "see the speed." The biggest different between Paul Revere and "R.P.M." is that our Revere doesn't start out with the noblest of intentions.Â For him, delivering a package is just a job he does for the rush.Â As the story progresses, he needs reevaluate who he is and start living up to his namesake.
Besides Revere, who are some of the other characters we'll be seeing in this title and what can you say about them?
Foley:Â We have a female lead who is as tough as any TNA wrestler and a government agent whose motives are questionable to say the least.
Riches:Â I'll go ahead and let the cat out of the bag that there's also a character who bears a suspicious resemblance to Mick. Beyond that, I don't want to say anything else other than he becomes a real scene-stealer and you've never seen Mick like this before.
Mick, your experience in wrestling certainly gives you a very, very good insight into action and especially gives you an advantage when it comes to visualizing fight choreography for something like this. Yet from the sound of it, the action mostly takes place on the road. Are you also a high-speed package deliverer in your spare time? How much has your experience helped with this project?
Foley:Â One of the things I liked was that the high-speed nature of this story ensures that the action sequences take place in unique geographic locations. Chase scenes down Boston's Commonwealth Avenue, fist fight in the Florida Everglades, and who knows, we may have a steel cage setup on Mt. Rushmore.Â As far as delivering packages in high speed in my spare time, you'dÂ have to ask my wife.
Riches:Â Mick's visual eye for action makes this story extremely unique.Â We can guarantee you'll see things done in a car that have never been seen before in any medium.Â Our artist, Jose Holder, is going to blow people away with his action shots. His style is hyper-kinetic mix of Walter Simonson and Barry Windsor-Smith.Â We also made sure that the action goes far beyond car chases as Revere finds himself using his ability in all sorts of crazy situations.Â Imagine if your depth perception and reaction time were better than anyone's-from the mundane like always finding the quickest route through a crowd to the action packed thrill of escaping a helicopter while driving a Smart car. I can't wait for people to see that scene in #2.
Are you guys comic book fans yourself? Mick, there's that story of how you were inspired to get into wrestling after seeing Jimmy Snuka. Did you have a similar moment with comics-where you read a comic and fell in love with the idea of super heroes?
Foley:Â I was an absolutely huge comic book fan for about a solid ten year period from 1973 to 1983. I believe I have an uninterrupted run of about a 100 straight "Incredible Hulk" comics, even though I made the foolish decision to cut a Marvel trading stamp out of #181, the origin of Wolverine.Â One of my most inspirational comic book moments was when I was at the home of my brother's classmate, John Buscema, and he allowed me to go into big John's studio and watch his dad at work making Thor come to life.
Riches:Â That's funny, I just read an old issue of "Conan" that Buscema drew.Â Talk about an amazing artist. I've been a lifelong comic fan, including going to San Diego Comic-Con since I was ten years old.Â For me, I think it was the Wolfman/Perez run on "The New Teen Titans" and the great Joe Staton covers on "Green Lantern."Â Marvel-wise, I'm with Mick.Â The Hulk is the greatest.
What are some of your influences, comic book or not, for this story?
Foley:Â My interest in comic book superheroes, especially the anti-hero, led me try to explore being a wrestling character in greater depth.Â I was enamored with the bad guys who weren't really bad at all-heroes who were simply misunderstood by society.Â So whether it be Hulk, Spider-Man, or Prince Namor-or later on an appreciation for the darker toned Batman-these guys were a big influence on me.
Riches:Â For me, the grounded action stories by Steven Grant, Joe Lansdale and Tim Truman were definitely an influence on "R.P.M.," particularly how they combine a nice sense of humor in the middle of dire action events.Â Even Carl Barks as far as taking readers on a journey and using location as a character.Â Also, Geoff Johns is the master of the last page reveal to keep readers wanting more.Â Hopefully, we were half as successful as those guys.
If you look at comics versus wrestling entertainment, both are similar in a lot of ways-heroes, villains, the emotion, the stories. What do you think the appeal is of both mediums and how the two relate to each other?
Foley:Â There's a huge cross-over audience.Â In some ways, fans look at wrestlers like real life superheroes-even if Stan Lee never featured a hero with my particular physique on Marvel's covers.Â I see shades of wrestling in many of the comics, whether it's a literal reference like Spider-Man's origin or just some of the trash talking the heroes and villains engage in.
Riches:Â Pretty much every wrestling fan I know is also a comic book fan.Â A couple of years ago, Mick and I were walking around the Gaslamp District in San Diego during Comic Con and we couldn't take two steps without someone asking for his autograph or photo.Â And Mick's the nicest guy in the world, so a two block trip took about an hour.
To wrap up, is writing comics something you guys would like to continue doing? Maybe even a comic about the adventures of three crime fighting brothers-Dude Love, Mankind and Cactus Jack? I personally would absolutely love to see that.
Foley:Â This has been a really great experience for me. I couldn't have done it without Shane as a co-writer who was able to take my strengths and compliment them in such a way that we tell a kickass action story.Â We see a lot of potential for "R.P.M." in the future and definitely have ideas to continue his tale.Â There are also several other stories I was once thinking of putting in novel format that might come to life on the comic book page instead.Â As far as the three crime fighting brothers, once you get the Mankind copyright from Vince McMahon, I'm onboard.
Riches:Â We definitely want to continue the adventures of Revere in future series of "R.P.M.," as well as work on a few new ideas we've been tossing around.Â Fans of Mick's legendary hardcore style and sense of humor should really love his first foray into comic books. This definitely shouldn't be the last we see of "R.P.M."

domain: entertainment


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tan with black or grizzle saddle
A very pleasant breed, the Airedale Terrier is protective, brave, and affectionate. Demands love and attention. A rowdy breed, the Airedale Terrier should start obedience training at a young age to avoid dominance issues and to ensure the dog will be well mannered.
Spunky, protective, yet sweet, this breed is not recommended for the average family. Dominance issues can arise if proper training is not started at and early age. The Airedale Terrier can be somewhat stubborn so firm handling is best.
The Airedale Terrier is very loyal, and can be a joy to own, but can be difficult at times. Proper training is a must. An intelligent breed, the Airedale Terrier should have an experienced owner. This dog loves to chase small animals, but can do exceptionally well with cats and other dogs, given the dog has had proper socialization.
The hair of this breed is hard and crisp making it rather hard to groom. Dead hair should be plucked at least twice a year. The Airedale Terrier can shed heavily or not at all depending on the cut of the coat. Washing the beard regularly is a must to keep it free from caking.
The coat of the Airedale Terrier should be wiry, crisp, hard and straight lying close to the body of the dog. Slightly wavy hair is acceptable with a distinctive beard around muzzle.
This breed can be very willful and stubborn at times, but with variety can do very well in sporting events. This dog is very lively and requires an experienced handler. Firm but gentle training is required.
The Airedale Terrier should have at least an average sized yard available. A very active breed, this dog loves to swim, jog, run, and play so this breed does require extensive exercise. Not recommended for apartment life as they are very active indoors and can become a tyrant if not sufficiently exercised.
Help reduce the number of Airedale Terrier puppies in shelters by doing your due diligence. Many puppies are often purchased with little or no knowledge of what goes into parenting one. Uneducated decisions often leave the puppy in need of adoption and in the care of rescue groups. Bringing home a puppy into your family has many benefits but we first implore you to educate yourself. An informed decision will take into account the characteristics of the breed, your lifestyle, expected veterinary care, the demands and limitations of owning one, their activity requirements and levels of companionship required.
|Good With Dogs:|


'My ovary flipped over!' Busy Philipps is rushed to hospital while celebrating BFF Michelle Williams' 37th birthday after suffering 'excruciating pain'
On Saturday, Michelle Williams celebrated her 37th birthday in Boston with BFF Busy Philipps.
But the girls' night out was cut short when Phillips, 38, was sent to the hospital with excruciating pains in her lower-right side.
Later taking to Instagram, the social media favorite explained that 'after a long time at Mass Gen [Massachusetts General Hospital], it was determined my ovary had flipped over,' a condition which is called torsion.
Pain-stricken: Busy Philipps was with BFF Michelle Williams to celebrate her 37th birthday in Boston Saturday, but the girls' night was cut short when the Cougar Town star was sent to the hospital with excruciating pains in her lower-right side
Though the night started out great, Busy's Instagram updated fans with a lengthy caption that began 'Last night ended super weird.'
The accompanying image showed the worried looking Freaks And Geeks star hooked up to an IV while sporting a shirt that read 'Hysterical Female.'
Busy shared the ensuing drama with followers.
'I had a crazy excruciating pain in my lower right side and after a long time at Mass Gen, it was determined my ovary had flipped over- it's called torsion.
Made for each other! Before the Freaks And Geeks star was stuck with unexpected aches, she posted a tender tribute to her pal which showed them wearing matching 'Best Friends' jackets
Plot twist! Though the night started out great, Busy's Instagram updated fans with a lengthy caption that began 'Last night ended super weird' as she described her hospital ordeal with her BFF (above at February's Academy Awards together)
'Mine flipped back by itself and I'm ok but sometimes if it doesn't you have to get surgery or you can lose your ovary(which actually happened to a really good friend of mine)
Busy shared her experience in hopes of helping others listen to their bodies no matter what.
'My point of posting this was I felt like an idiot for going to the hospital but ultimately, going was the right move!' she told followers.
Follow your intution! Busy shared her experience in hopes of helping other's not avoid signs from their body, writing 'My point of posting this was I felt like an idiot for going to the hospital but ultimately, going was the right move!'
'It always is! Even if they say you're fine and send you on your way! And a huge thank you to the amazing doctors and nurses who took care of me!'
Before the Cougar Town star was stuck with unexpected aches, she posted a tender tribute to her pal on Instagram which showed the duo wearing a matching set of 'Best Friends' motorcycle jackets.
'Found her. Happy birthday to my better half,' the Instagram favorite captioned the pic.
'My better half': Before the health ordeal, the starlet wrote a loving birthday Instagram for her partner in crime, saying 'Found her. Happy birthday to my better half'
She continued, writing 'I love you, M. You make everything better.'
Michelle and Busy have been linked at the hip since meeting each other on the later seasons of Dawson's Creek.
Busy, full name Elizabeth Jean Philipps, stood by the starlet's side in the wake of Heath Ledger's unexpected death in early 2008.
During the trying time, Philipps was fiercely protective of her pal, repeated declining to discuss the 'personal' and 'tough situation' with the media.
Through thick and thin: Busy stood by Williams' side in the wake of Heath Ledger's unexpected death in early 2008. Above Heath and Michelle are pictured in 2006
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Cleveland leads Seminoles to win with 16 points, 10 reboundsDecember 14, 2022 GMT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Matthew Cleveland scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Florida State defeated South Carolina Upstate 80-63 on Tuesday night.
It was Cleveland's fourth double-double of his career.
Mills, Corhen lead Florida State past winless LouisvilleDecember 10, 2022 GMT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Caleb Mills scored 16 points, Cameron Corhen had 15 points off the bench, and Florida State defeated Louisville 75-53 on Saturday in a game between two Atlantic Coast Conference teams desperate for a win.
Angel’s career-high 22 boosts Stanford over Seminoles 70-60November 25, 2022 GMT
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Angel scored a career-high 22 points, including 18 in the second half when the Cardinal pulled away to defeat Florida State 70-60 on Friday in a consolation semifinal at the ESPN Events Invitational.
Pitt survives brick fight downing reduced Florida StateFebruary 10, 2022 GMT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Ithiel Horton scored 24 points, shooting 7 for 13 from 3-point range, and Pittsburgh beat a diminished Florida State squad 56-51 on Wednesday night to end its four-game skid.
Butler’s block in OT gives FSU 79-78 win over No. 6 DukeJanuary 19, 2022 GMT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — RayQuan Evans made a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left in overtime, John Butler blocked Wendell Moore Jr.‘s driving attempt in the lane with 2 seconds remaining, and Florida State stunned No.


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Here’s an easy recipe that’s low on cost and high on flavour and nutrition!
(Recipe credit: https://www.whatsfordinner.co.za/recipe/meat/235380-meat-bones-cabbage-sishebo/)
1.5 kg meaty bones, 1 medium onion chopped, 7.5 ml or 1 tsp crushed garlic, 7.5 ml or 1 tsp paprika, 7.5 ml or 1 tsp dried thyme, 30 ml or 2 tbsp Knorrox Beef Stock powder, 750 ml or 3 cups water, 400 g or 2 cups chopped cabbage, 2 medium carrots peeled and sliced, 1 ml or pinch Robertsons Black Pepper to taste
Put the meaty bones in a pot, start browning them for 10-15 minutes.
Remove the meaty bones from the pot and set aside. In the same pot add onion and garlic. Cook until soft. Add paprika and thyme and stir to mix well.
Put the meaty bones back into the pot. Dissolve 2 tbsp Knorrox Beef Stock powder in water and add into the pot. Cook on low heat until the gravy has thickened and reduced into half.
Add cabbage and carrots, cook for 10 minutes. Season with pepper.

domain: food


After more than seven years of technical breakthroughs and 1.8 million miles of driving on public roads, Alphabet’s self-driving car is still the one to beat. But with commercial deployment still a way off, it’s also starting to look less than unique.
The project’s chief technologist, Chris Urmson, departed last week, the latest in a parade of talent to abandon the effort, which began in 2009 inside the Google X lab—now called just X and a subsidiary of the Alphabet holding company created to separate Google’s core business from its other projects last year. Alphabet and others that invested early in autonomous driving, such as Tesla Motors, have seen senior staff leave as competitors ranging from large automakers to Apple to well-funded startups have built up serious autonomous-car projects of their own.
“Others have been catching up to Alphabet; I wouldn’t say they’re running away with it anymore,” says Quin Garcia, managing director of Autotech Ventures, a Palo Alto investment firm focused on transportation startups. “Investors and corporations are willing to put big money into developing that technology.”
Recent advances in machine learning have made it easier to cover ground that took Alphabet's project years, says Garcia. And experienced engineers such as Urmson can be sure of strong backing even if they decide to go it alone, he says. (Urmson said in a blog post last week that he doesn’t have a new project lined up.) The $581 million General Motors spent earlier this year to acquire Cruise, a startup working on automated driving, has stoked confidence among entrepreneurs and investors that competing with Alphabet can be viable.
One founding member of Google’s original autonomous-driving project, Anthony Levandowski, left the company in January. In May he launched Otto, a San Francisco startup working on autonomous driving for trucks. The company has already modified trucks to drive themselves in tests on California freeways. Otto has more than 60 employees, according to LinkedIn, including several veterans of Alphabet’s and Tesla’s autonomous-driving teams.
Alphabet’s other competition includes Zoox, a startup based in Menlo Park, California, that is working on an autonomous vehicle intended to be used for a driverless taxi service. A June filing shows that Zoox has received $100 million in funding, and Business Insider reports it is set to double that figure.
One reason investors are backing self-driving startups is a belief that despite Alphabet’s early lead, the company is not well positioned to commercialize the technology.
The project’s leaders have said they are only interested in cars that can handle every type of driving without human supervision. To that end, they are developing cars that lack steering wheels and brake pedals for a human to ever use. And Alphabet wants to license its technology to a car manufacturer rather than make cars itself. Last year the former head of Hyundai’s American division, John Krafcik, was appointed as the project’s CEO.
That strategy faces two big challenges, says Robert Seidl, managing director at Motus Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on transportation. For one, “car companies don’t trust Google,” he says. “They don’t want to be left just bending metal and getting the low-margin part of the business.” And second, says Seidl, neither Alphabet nor the automakers are in a good position to launch a fleet of robotic taxis, which he and other investors argue would be the most plausible way to make money with fully autonomous vehicles.
An on-demand ride service could quickly recoup the cost of developing and manufacturing the cars by putting them to work for many hours a day, says Seidl. A robot car service could also be viable even if its vehicles were limited to operating in a certain area, he says. Autonomous vehicles rely heavily on detailed 3-D maps that must be kept up to date, so releasing a consumer car capable of driving anywhere would be a big challenge. Urmson said at MIT Technology Review’s EmTech Digital conference in May that he expected Alphabet's vehicles to come to certain urban pockets first.
Shahin Farshchi, a partner at the venture firm Lux Capital in Menlo Park, which invested in Zoox, says that neither a company built around answering Web searches nor one that specializes in selling cars for private use is likely to build out a good transportation service. “The notion of Toyota and Honda going into the autonomous-transport business is like saying Boeing and Airbus are going to be effective as airlines,” says Farshchi. (GM’s decision to invest $500 million into Uber competitor Lyft and work on a trial of self-driving ride service could be recognition of that challenge; Alphabet has a stake in Uber, but the ride-sharing company is aggressively pursuing its own self-driving technology.)
By insisting on waiting until fully autonomous passenger vehicles are ready, Alphabet could also miss a chance to capitalize on the early years of the technology’s emergence. Meanwhile, other companies could make money from selling self-driving technology for, say, highway driving, which is simple compared with getting a vehicle to cope with complex urban situations (see “Driverless Cars Are Further Away Than You Think”). Other companies, including Otto and Tesla, believe it’s possible to offer automated features for private or commercial driving—features that work only some of the time.
Urmson has been a vocal critic of the idea that partial automation is safe, saying that Google employees loaned self-driving prototypes in 2012 quickly became dangerously trusting of them (see “Lazy Humans Shaped Google’s New Autonomous Car”). He has also said Alphabet’s project is closer to being road-ready than some may think. At EmTech Digital in May he repeated his frequent claim that he was aiming to make it unnecessary for his son to get a driver’s license. That would mean Alphabet’s cars will hit the road in 2020. Whether he still believes that, or whether those cars will have to share the road with other self-driving vehicles created with Urmson’s help, is unclear.
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Get excited, Canada! Sam Smith is going on a North American tour this year and will be hitting the stage in three Canadian cities.
Smith, who goes by the pronouns they/them, will be touring across the continent with Canada’s very own Jessie Reyez.
GLORIA the tour will kick off in Miami, Florida on July 25th and wrap in Mexico City on September 14th.
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As for the Canadian leg of their tour, Smith will be performing at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on August 11th, Bell Centre in Montreal on August 12th, and Rogers Arena in Vancouver on August 22nd.
The artist will also be hitting up cities near the Canadian border like Seattle on August 23rd.
Sadly, Sam Smith won’t be gracing the stage in Calgary and Edmonton. But, the two cities will get to see Blink 182 during their reunion tour this summer.
If you can’t pass up the opportunity to sing along with Sam Smith, tickets go on sale on January 13th at 9 AM local time.
Or, you can get a head start by checking Sam Smith’s Instagram for the pre-sale password and get access to limited pre-sale tickets starting on Wednesday the 11th at 9 AM local time.
Mark your calendars!


Polychain Capital CEO Olaf Carlson-Wee thinks Facebook would be smart to build its stablecoin on a public, open blockchain infrastructure. Carlson-Wee delivered his remarks at the Consensus 2019 panel “To the Moon and Back” on May 15.
Carlson-Wee explained that the blockchain platform he is referring to is one like bitcoin’s, in which the creator relinquishes control over the platform they built. He argues that such an arrangement would be beneficial to the social media giant, saying:
“I think given all the problems that Facebook has had with policing their platform and things like that, I think that the strategic move for Facebook would actually be to build public infrastructure. And that public infrastructure could be incorporated onto all the Facebook platforms, which of course are proprietary. But that public infrastructure, if they don’t try to own it, I think that’s where they will have the most success.”
Carlson-Wee notes that an additional benefit would be that by relinquishing control over the platform, they also avoid liability for controversy that takes place on the platform; he compares the situation to the creation of the internet:
“The people that made the internet aren’t responsible for everything that’s said on the internet.”
The CEO continued to share a broader vision for cryptocurrencies, in which they are used as a common and accessible store of wealth. He stated:
“If big technology companies want to put their resources toward building public peer-to-peer crypto infrastructure, I would be ecstatic.”
As previously reported by Cointelegraph, an anonymous source told Bloomberg that Facebook will roll out its cryptocurrency, purportedly a stablecoin, some time in the third quarter of 2019. Sources at the Wall Street Journal say that Facebook is seeking investments up to $1 billion to fund the upcoming “FB Coin.”


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Lil Wayne debuts his new mixtape Dedication 6: Reloaded with 20 more bangers.
Weezy released Dedication 6 in December and a month later he released the part two of the album hosted by DJ Drama making it the latest addition to his Gangsta Grillz mixtape series. Drama and Lil Wayne teamed up in 2005 for the launch of the series and since then we’ve seen six installments and now sign that they will ever end the production. D6: Reloaded is the latest addition to the saga.
D6R comes with 20 songs including a track with Drake “Family Feud,” Rich The Kid is featured on “Don’t Shoot Em” and Juelz Santana came through for “Bloody Mary.” Elsewhere on the project you will also find remixed for $AP Ferg’s “Plain Jane,” Lil Pump’s “Gucci Gang” called “Groupie Gang,” and Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna’s “Loyalty” called “Weezy N Madonna.”
Lil Wayne and DJ Drama brings forward a variety of guest artists for each installment in the Dedication mixtape series. Over the years we’ve seen the likes of The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj, T.I., J. Cole and more jumping on the project. For the first half of D6, Weezy tapped some of his Young Money comrades, Gudda Gudda, Euro, Cory Gunz, and HoodyBaby, for some guest verses.
While he has been dropping mixtapes, we’ve yet to get a full album from Lil Wayne for years after Cash Money shelves his long-awaited Tha Carter V project. Last year he filed legal documents asking a judge to dissolve Young Money or appoint a receiver to oversee the operations but Birdman objected to the move and file a counter as he moves to block Weezy from disbanding the iconic label they founded 15 years ago. Wayne has a pending lawsuit against Birdman and Cash Money for $51 million. That case has been ongoing for the past three years.
Lil Wayne has revealed the artwork for “Dedication 6: Reloaded” dubbed as D6 Part 2.
The first part of the album arrived on Christmas Day and Weezy hinted last weekend that the project would be in two parts. Now we have the confirmation for the second half of the project and we also know that his new song with Drake, “Family Feud (Remix)” is the first song off the second part of the album. The new song dropped on the same day that JAY-Z and Beyonce released their star-studded music video for the original single.
Lil Wayne announced the new version of the album on Instagram yesterday writing, “Ok I’m Reloaded!! #D6Reloaded #FamilyFeud Me and Champagne #YoungMoney Happy New Year!” He didn’t reveal the release date for “Dedication 6: Reloaded” but he did dropped some hints that it may arrive on New Year’s Day. Aside from Drake, Trippie Redd may be featured on the project, as well as, Juelz Santana and Future. The first version of D6 features guest appearances from Nicki Minaj, Gudda Gudda, Euro, HoodyBaby, and Corey Gunz.
Check out the artwork for D6 Reloaded below and a short message from Lil Wayne. You can also stream Dedication 6 here.
Lil Wayne drop Dedication 6 mixtape and you can stream it below.
On Christmas Day, Lil Wayne gift wrapped D6 and delivered it to his fan for free streaming. The 15-track mixtape comes with a bunch of remixes for some of the biggest rap songs of 2017 including a remix for 21 Savage’s “Bank Account,” Lil Uzi Vert‘s “XO TOUR Llif3,” YFN Lucci’s “Everyday We Lit,” and Kendrick Lamar’s “DNA.” The Young Money rapper link up with his protege Nicki Minaj for the single “5 Star” which is a remix of the sort of Post Malone’s chart topping single “Rockstar.”
The album also saw guest appearances from some of Lil Wayne’s Young Money comrades like Gudda Gudda, Euro, Cory Gunz, and HoodyBaby. Drake was rumored to be on the project but didn’t make the final cut. D6 is the latest installment in the Dedication mixtape series for Lil Wayne and the followup to Dedication 5 which was released in 2013. Since 2014, the New Orleans rapper’s music has been significantly slowed due to his ongoing legal battle with Cash Money Records. This is perhaps a sign that things are returning to regular order for Weezy, but don’t old your breath for Tha Carter V since that was promised this year and has been delayed since 2012.
Weezy tapped his female protege on the single “5 Star” which is the 5th single on the project due on Christmas Day. Aside from Nicki Minaj, you will find guest verses from Gudda Gudda, Baby E, Euro, Corey Gunz, and Zoey Dollaz for the 15-track mixtape. The project will be released to his fans for free and will be available on Dapiff among other services that host mixtapes.
This is only the latest in a number of collaborations between Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj who has collaborated on several singles in the past. This year alone, the Young Money rappers collaborated on three singles including a track with David Guetta, “Light My Body Up.”
Lil Wayne has been working on the mixtape since last year and now its finally here. The New Orleans rapper’s new music has been significantly slowed since his fallout with his former friend and mentor Birdman three years ago. Weezy is suing Cash Money for $51 million and also want a judge to relieve him from his contract with the label. The ongoing legal battle between the two has resulted in the shelving of Wayne’s album Tha Carter V.
Both Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj posted the tracklist for “Dedication 6” on Instagram on Sunday, just hours before the release of the mixtape. There are also talks that the mixtape will come in a two-part project because the rap legend recorded too many songs to fit on one album. The tracklist released so far on shows 15 songs, which means a second disc could come tomorrow with another dozen or more new singles. Before he dropped D6, Lil Wayne released two new singles which are remixes for JAY-Z’s “The Story Of OJ” and 21 Savage’s “Bank Account.” Check out the tracklist below.


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Nearly a year after the first volley in a major shakeup in the Imperial Irrigation District Energy Department, the ousted former department manager is retiring, thus continuing the departure parade of long-time staffers.
Carl Stills, who most recently has been the district portfolio management officer, will end his 42-year IID career effective Sept. 1, according to an Aug. 24 internal memorandum to district employees from General Manager Kevin Kelley.
Kelleyâ€™s memo stated: â€œWith his departure and effective with this memorandum, the Portfolio Management Office will become a direct report of Assistant General Manager Sergio Quiroz, who will be consulting with Carl in the next few days to ensure a smooth transition. My thanks to Carl on his many years of service to the district and I wish him well in the future.â€
Kelley released the memo to The Desert Review in an Aug. 25 e-mail sent by a member of his staff. The response came a short time after a Desert Review reporter sent an e-mail to Kelley asking if Stills had retired. The reporter acted based on a tip from a member of the public.
Stills did not immediately return a voicemail seeking comment.
Stills was Energy manager until October 2015 when the IID Board of Directors voted, at Kelleyâ€™s urging, to hire electric-power industry veteran Vicken Kasarjian as co-manager. But that arrangement ended just two and a half months later when Kelley in another internal memorandum notified district employees that as part of a re-organization Stills had been reassigned to the Portfolio Management Office that advises Kelley and the board on major projects.
The move left Kasarjian as sole Energy manager.
Stillsâ€™ ouster from Energy was part of a controversial reorganization of that department that also saw Kelley leading the way to have five senior engineers placed on paid administrative leave. Kelley stated the personnel actions were taken because he was displeased with their performance.
The five were replaced with employees of ZGlobal, Inc., a Folsom-based energy consulting firm that IID has frequently hired, under a three-year, $9.1 million contract. Kelley stated the expertise of Kasarjian and ZGlobal better position IID to keep electric rates low and expand its electric-power transmission capabilities during a time when it must increase its use of renewable energy to generate electric power under state law.
IID seeks to expand its access to electricity from Imperial Countyâ€™s burgeoning renewable energy industry and develop power lines to move that electricity to other California utilities seeking to purchase it.
Of the five staffers placed on leave one retired and at least one other has been terminated. The retired staffer, Paul Peschel, in June filed a claim against the district alleging he was forced to retire due to age discrimination and being a whistleblower for complaining the Energy Department was understaffed. The IID board voted to deny the claim.
The turmoil comes as IID sues the stateâ€™s largest transmitter of electric power in a federal anti-trust action. A federal judge recently ruled the case against the California Independent System Operator can proceed to trial. A date was not immediately set. The suit alleges CAISO is improperly impeding IID ability to transmit renewable-energy electricity to other areas.