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Prepare to be intrigued as we delve into the fascinating world of enigmatic faces that have captured the attention of people worldwide. These individuals, often dubbed “alien-faced,” possess unique features that defy conventional norms and spark curiosity about their origins and stories.
One such person is Nong Yousui from China, whose eyes have garnered widespread attention due to their striking blue-green color. While rare eye colors are not unheard of, Nong’s eyes are particularly captivating, leading some to speculate about extraterrestrial connections or supernatural abilities.
Another individual who has captured the imagination of many is Abigail and Brittany Hensel, conjoined twins who share a single body but have separate heads and personalities. Their extraordinary condition challenges our understanding of the human body and raises questions about the complexities of identity and individuality.
Moving across continents, we encounter the Mursi tribe of Ethiopia, known for their distinctive lip plates worn by women. These lip plates, made from clay or wood, are inserted into the lower lip and stretched over time, creating a visually striking appearance that has fascinated outsiders for generations.
Similarly, the Dinka people of South Sudan are renowned for their intricate scarification patterns, which adorn their bodies in elaborate designs. These scars, often created during rites of passage or as a form of cultural expression, symbolize beauty, strength, and identity within the Dinka community.
Closer to home, we have the case of Adam Pearson, a British actor and presenter with neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow on nerve tissue. Despite the challenges posed by his condition, Adam has embraced his unique appearance and used his platform to advocate for greater acceptance and understanding of differences.
These stories remind us that beauty comes in many forms and that diversity enriches our world in profound ways. Rather than viewing these individuals as “alien-faced,” we should celebrate their uniqueness and appreciate the rich tapestry of human experiences that they represent.
In a world where conformity often reigns supreme, these enigmatic faces challenge us to expand our perspectives and embrace the complexities of human diversity. They remind us that each person has a story to tell, a history to share, and a beauty that transcends conventional norms and expectations.
So, the next time you come across someone with unique features or a striking appearance, take a moment to appreciate the richness of their story. Behind every enigmatic face lies a world of experiences, challenges, and triumphs waiting to be discovered and celebrated.


Despite the current protests against the police across the country, Keith Mann and wife, Keely Mann, have made a warm gesture to the NYPD by sending lunch to the 54th Street precinct. The founder of Dynamic Search Partners believes that this move will help to boost the morale of the officers that have been adversely affected by the protests.
Keith Mann said that police officers are members of the society and should be treated with utmost respect. He gave an example of his wife’s uncle who is a detective in Staten Island. He also urged individuals participating in the peaceful protests to desist from attacking police officers, as it is inhumane and could escalate the already complicated situation.
The hedge fund staffing expert had previously sent lunch to the 54th Street precinct. He believes that repeating the kind gesture is necessary as the protests against the police force increases. Keith wants the public to look at the many occasions in which the police have helped to protect the society from dangerous individuals and to avoid judging the whole force from the actions of few officers. He said that most of the officers obey the law and react to situations as per their training. However, Keith calls for investigations into questionable actions by police officers to ensure that justice is served. He was speaking when he presented the lunch to the officers.
In January, Keith organized a rally in support of the NYPD. Over 150 people attended the rally. The executive manager hopes to spearhead similar rallies across the United States. Although people supporting the police face hostilities, he hopes that the determination of the group will help to pass their message across. He wants the silent people to come out and make their voice heard. This information was originally published on PRNewswire as explained in the following link http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/keith-mann-and-dynamics-search-partners-raise-over-22k-for-uncommon-schools-of-new-york-300044729.html
Keith Mann is the chief executive officer of Dynamic Search Partners (DSP). The executive has 15 years of experience in hedge fund staffing, hiring, and compensation. DSP is a premier executive search company. It provides its services to alternative investment firms in the United States, Asia, and Europe. Keith’s leadership has seen the company continue to serve the ever-growing executive staffing needs of alternative investment firms.


An unlocked iPhone 3G is a little closer to becoming reality, according to the iPhone Dev Team.
Gizmodo picked up on a video produced by the iPhone Dev Team demonstrating that it has gained access to the baseband processor used by Apple in the iPhone 3G. The baseband chip is what controls the connection between the phone and the mobile phone network, meaning that a software download that could let you use your iPhone 3G on a carrier network other than the ones officially designated by Apple could be released soon.
I'm sure you remember the fuss about the original iPhone and those who sought to unlock it from the four carriers that were Apple's launch partners for the first iPhone. The iPhone 3G has proven a tougher nut to crack, because Apple apparently changed the baseband to make it more difficult to exploit than the baseband used on the original iPhone. You can unlock your iPhone 3G to use it on another carrier by modifying the SIM card, but what the iPhone Dev Team is trying to accomplish is a software-based unlock that you would just download and install.
There hasn't been as much demand for unlocked iPhone 3Gs, given the much greater distribution of that phone around the world. However, there are still some countries, like China, that don't carry the iPhone, and there are still some users who want to use their iPhones on a different carrier than the one designated for the iPhone in their country.


text: She tells Glamour magazine, “Oh, the body paint stays. It’s my favorite thing to do. Sometimes I have parties at my house in Nashville and it’s clothing optional, and we just body paint each other and run around, and I have a giant bed. I’m very much in touch with that side of myself. My make-up is usually left over from the night before. I’m not really worried about the photographs because if I tell my fans not to give a f**k about the haters, then I have to practice what I preach. I embrace the imperfections and celebrate them.”Ke$ha is writing a song for Justin Bieber’s third CD.

domain: artistic


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"We (Aura Solution Company Limited) see in our own business how the trends of globalization and urbanization are shaping the economic landscape. If we can help our cities expand their trade and international networks, they can grow and prosper in the global economy."
It's also highlighting best policy and practice innovations from around the world and, through the Global Cities Exchange, developing and implementing regional strategies to boost global trade and investment.
Recognising that cities are increasingly at the center of society’s most pressing challenges, in 2016 we launched Securing Global Cities, a year-long project that will examine the intersection of globalization and security in today’s cities. Securing Global Cities aims to help cities think through the key elements of integrated security strategies, ultimately enabling metropolitan leaders to better protect their citizens, businesses, and infrastructure.

domain: geography


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The actress has always been nailing her style statement game with perfection, and is loved by all. Her debut movie ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’ opposite Parineeti Chopra and late actor Sushant Singh Rajput allowed her to make a significant presence in the industry. Her last movie ‘War’ alongside Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff was well received by the audience due to her impeccable performance. The fans are already showering a lot of love on the actress’s post.
She will next be seen in ‘Bell Bottom’ sharing screen space with Akshay Kumar, Huma Qureshi and Lara Dutta. The movie is said to be following a spy-thriller genre inspired from true events. Directed by Ranjit M Tewari, the movie is expected to release in 2021. She will also be seen sharing screen space with Ayushmann Khurrana for ‘Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui’

domain: entertainment


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I’m very excited to announce that I will be hosting a Halloween Costume Contest at my studio in downtown Santa Cruz!
Grab your friends, bring your kids or pet and stop by in costume on Halloween, Thursday October 31, 2013 between 3 and 9pm. We will photograph you in your costume and you will be entered in the contest. Voting will start at 3pm on my Facebook Business Page. Share the contest on your Facebook Page so that all your friends vote for you. Voting ends at midnight on Halloween and the photo with the most Likes will win $100! The contest is open to children, adults, and pets. Participants must be dressed in a costume and photographed at the RSP studio to be entered. Call with questions 831-325-4183. Rebecca Stark Photography studio is located on the corner of Walnut & Center at 627 Center Street in downtown Santa Cruz.


Inside Hockey Radio Show October 18 (Featuring Mike Komisarek)
Inside Hockey Radio Show, 2-4 PM on “NHL Home Ice” XM 204 and Sirius 208, The Team 990 in Montreal, and 1120 AM WBNW in Boston. You can also listen online at Team990.com or MoneyMattersradio.net. Join host James Murphy and his new co-host Todd Carroll as they take you inside the NHL, AHL, NCAA, CHL, and all things hockey!
We’ve got a jam-packed lineup this week as we’re joined by Scott Burnside (ESPN.com), Judd Sirott (Blackhawks in-studio radio host), Bob Snow (NHL.com), Mike Komisarek (Montreal Canadiens), hockey historian Mike Wyman with The Golden Years (this week featuring the Montreal Maroons), and Billy O’Flaherty (Florida Panthers pro scout).
Note to Montreal and online listeners, we won’t be heard on The Team 990 this Saturday, as the station is carrying the Montreal Juniors game and “Habs This Week.” But you can hear the show live online at www.moneymattersradio.net and and you can always access the MP3 archives at InsideHockey.com/radio.


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|Fearsome and Solidly Original 1971 Hemi Challenger a Feature at Russo and Steele's Scottsdale Auction Event|
|Scottsdale, Arizona (January 3rd, 2017) – The Chrysler E-bodies might have been the last to enter Detroit's pony car game. Though critics argue that the best were saved for last with these cars, making their introduction more than five years after the first Mustang was released. Using a formula similar to Ford and Chevrolet, the Challenger was based on a stretched, compact Dart platform, making the car an immediate sales success. The White Hat Boys at Dodge positioned the car as part of t...[Read more...]|
|One Owner, 1971 Porsche 911T 'Survivor' Crossing the Block at Russo and Steele Monterey!|
|Exceptionally Original, Single Owner, 1971 Porsche 911T 'Survivor' to be Offered at Russo and Steele's 16th Annual Monterey Collector Automobile Auction Event!
Scottsdale, Arizona (July 26th, 2016) By the mid-1950s, Porsche's groundbreaking 356 rapidly approached its development limits and in particular, its air-cooled four-cylinder engine limited Porsche's racing aspirations to class, but not overall, victories. The 356's eventual successor, internally code-named 'Technical Project 7' ...[Read more...]|
|45th Anniversary Barrett-Jackson Auction To Feature Docket of Collectible Porsche Sports Cars In Scottsdale|
|•With only 595 original miles, a 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach Edition (Lot #1392) supercar highlights the incredible selection of Porsches crossing the block
•Porsche 911 Speedster (Lot #1368) and a 930 Porsche Turbo (Lot #1367) will be among most coveted cars built in Stuttgart
•A 356SC Cabriolet (Lot #1385) and Porsche 356 Super 90 Cabriolet (Lot #1386) are two rare classics featured on the docket
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. Dec. 16, 2015 – Barrett-Jackson, The World's Greatest Collector...[Read more...]|
|Barrett-Jackson Flavors Its January Scottsdale Auction With NASCAR Treats|
|• RACING HERITAGE, HIGH PERFORMANCE ARE RECIPES FOR CAR-COLLECTING FEAST|
• SPEED™ SET FOR 39 HOURS of LIVE COVERAGE STARTING JAN. 15
The great Henry Ford once said, 'Auto racing began five minutes after the second car was built.'
And for more than 60 years, there are few entities that better represent auto racing in America than NASCAR. From the hallowed grounds of Daytona International Speedway, to Sonoma, California's intricate and picturesque road course, the sp...[Read more...]
|TOPLINE COLLECTORS PLACE SPOTLIGHT on SPEED'S BARRETT-JACKSON BROADCAST FROM SCOTTSDALE|
|• TOPLINE COLLECTORS PLACE SPOTLIGHT on SPEED'S BARRETT-JACKSON BROADCAST FROM SCOTTSDALE|
• 'LOST' SHELBY DUAL PROTOTYPE, HAGERTY GIVEAWAY & SALON COLLECTION HIGHLIGHT 39 HOURS OF LIVE COVERAGE
The 42nd annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale (Ariz.) Collector Car Event, the first of four set for live coverage in 2013, kicks off the auction season in grand style as some of the world's most sought-after machines cross the block starting Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

domain: hobby


Payment & Shipping Terms:
|Laser Wavelength:||355nm||Laser Source:||UV Diode Module|
|Working Range:||100x100mm||Marking Speed:||40 Meter/Minute|
|Warranty:||2 Years||Maintenance:||Daily Free|
optical fiber laser marking machine,
laser glass etching equipment
5W Flying Style Plastic Material Applied UV Laser Marking Machine
Porduction Fiber Laser Marking Machine Advantage:
Compared to the traditional inkjet printer, the laser printer is low material consumption, no pollution, no noise, energy saving and environmental protection, simple operation, stable performance, long lifetime, low maintenance cost.The machine is available in flying marking in the production line for big quantity the same products.
Flying Laser Marking Printing Machine 30W is laser marking printer especially matched for the automatic production line for flying printing & marking for the date codes or barcodes.
Compared to the traditional inkjet printer, Flying Laser marking printer has zero consumption of any materials, no need ink, no pollution, no noise, energy saving and environmental protective.
Flying Laser Marking Printer can be equipped with different kinds of laser sources (fiber, co2, or UV) and printer system. It can be widely used in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, tobacco, leather industry.
This is the 30W fiber source flying laser marking printer, it could be used for metal and nonmetal flying marking combined with various kinds of the production line. There is another co2 laser source online laser marking printer available especially for nonmetal materials' online marking.
|Machine model number:||LD-FEM-UV3005|
|Laser beam Quality:||M2:＜1.5|
|Laser Repeat Frequency:||≤100kHz|
|Standard Marking Range:||100x100mm ( Static status)|
|Marking Speed||0-40m/minute on line height 3mm 8-30 characters.|
|Cooling System:||Air cooler + Water cooler|
|Power Supply||AC220V/Single phase/50Hz/10A 1KW|
Q1: How can I get the best machine for me?
You can tell us your working material, detail work by picture or video so that we can judge whether our machine can meet your need or not. Then we can give you the best model depends on our experience.
Q2: How to operate the machine? is training necessary?
A: The machine is mainly controlled by software. It’s very easy, not complicated. Before shipment, we will make a simple operation manual with pictures and provide user manual of software. Generally speaking, an operator, who is not familiar with Fiber Laser Marking Machine before can still operate it very well.
Q3: If some problems happen to this machine during warranty period, what should I do?
A: We will supply free parts during machine warranty period if machine have some problems. While we also supply free life long after-sales service. So any doubts, just let us know, we will give you solutions.
Q4: Is there any technical support in case any machine problem?
A: Yes, for any machine issues, we'll solve the problem through email, skype, phone or video.
Q5: What’s delivery time?
A: Generally speaking, lead time is 3-5 working days after receive the payment.
Contact Person: Collins Zhang


The headquarters of the New York State Department of Transportation will be merged with the state Thruway Authority in Albany, a move that will put a state-owned office building up for sale on bustling Wolf Road in Colonie.
Nearly 1,400 employees inside DOT headquarters at 50 Wolf Road will join more than 600 Thruway Authority employees in a new building on the site of the current Thruway headquarters near Exit 23, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.
The current Thruway Authority headquarters, which was built in 1969 and described as "obsolete," will be demolished.
A request-for-qualifications was scheduled to be issued Thursday to build the new headquarters, called the Transportation Resource Center. Pre-qualified bidders will then submit proposals. A design-build firm will be selected by the end of this year. Construction will start in mid-2015 and finish in late 2017, officials said.
The estimated cost of the new building was not immediately available.
Cuomo said merging the staffs will save money and create a modern, brighter, more efficient work environment with open floor plans, shared spaces, and fewer enclosed offices.
The state had considered combining the staffs into the DOT headquarters, but decided against it.
The merger means 50 Wolf Road will be put up for sale. The 385,000-square-foot office building, which formerly housed the Department of Environmental Conservation, is in a central location surrounded by hotels, restaurants, retail stores and other office buildings.
The sale "will put a valuable piece of property on the tax rolls of the town of Colonie and Albany County and generate long-term savings for state taxpayers," Cuomo said.
The design-build approach, in which teams of designers and builders submit a single bid based on detailed specifications, is the same method being used for the new $3.9 billion Tappan Zee bridge in the Hudson Valley. The teams agree to finish the project within a set time frame for a fixed price.
The Thruway Authority will own the new headquarters, but toll revenue won't be used to offset DOT project costs or operations, officials said.
The new, merged headquarters is located next to where a $300 million resort casino is proposed in the city.
A spokesman for the casino development team said it's early in the process but the state's plans "may actually make it easier for improved access" to the site.


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It could never happen. We know that. PJ Harvey could have a meaningful romance with Truth or Beauty or Eternity or Death (or Nick Cave), but not with a mere mortal, a mere lovelorn indie boy. To us, she must remain a mystery.
But to every mystery, there are clues – and this DVD, released last month, is full of them. Look, there she is, drunk on tequila; or making a dirty joke about 'muffed-up plucking'; or getting the giggles for no apparent reason during a performance of 'Down By The Water'; or proving that the way she sings (part sex pather, part mournful wraith, part dictator addressing her troops) isn't the way she talks (more Dorset milkmaid). For once, the real Polly Jean! Sigh.
That's in the all-too-brief behind-the-scenes interludes, which capture, as PJ herself puts it, the 'ramshackleness, the brokenness, the changeability' of touring. Most of the rest of the DVD is cut together from several gigs on the 2004 Uh Huh Her tour. Unfortunately the footage, directed by long-time collaborator Marie Mochnacz, is often very murky, and the sixteen songs themselves never stray too far from the album versions, although you do get two decent new ones. If you want to pretend to yourself that you went to a PJ Harvey gig, this DVD is no good. But if you want to pretend to yourself that you met her backstage afterwards and made her your bride, this DVD is a start.


The mini-helicopter, which weighs around 1.8 kilograms, has already sent its first status report after the “Perseverance” rover landed on Mars.
The small helicopter “Ingenuity”, which landed on board the rover “Perseverance” on Mars about a month ago, could set out on a test flight for the first time at the beginning of April. “Ingenuity” could start on April 8th at the earliest, announced the US space agency NASA on Tuesday (local time) at a press conference. It would be the first flight of an aircraft over another planet.
“This first flight is about very special, it is by far the most important flight we will do,” said NASA engineer Håvard Grip. “The helicopter should take off and then climb to a height of about three meters, there it should fly on the spot for about thirty seconds, turn, and then come back down and land.”
The 1.8 kilogram mini helicopter had already sent an initial status report to the control center in Pasadena, California, after the “Perseverance” rover landed on Mars, indicating that it is in good condition.
Several flight attempts planned
“Perseverance” is currently taking the helicopter to its flat, ten by ten meter area, selected by NASA scientists, near the landing site, where it then has to be set up for take-off. The “Ingenuity” powered by lithium-ion batteries could then start several flight attempts for around a month. The helicopter has to defy extreme conditions: On Mars it is cold down to minus 90 degrees Celsius at night, the gravitational pull of the planet is also lower and the atmosphere is much thinner.
The “Perseverance” rover, weighing around 1,000 kilograms and the size of a small car, was set up in a risky maneuver in a dry lake called “Jezero Crater” at the end of February – after 203 days of flight and 472 million kilometers traveled. “Perseverance” is to investigate this lake with a diameter of around 45 kilometers over the next two years.
The development and construction of the roughly 2.5 billion dollar (about 2.2 billion euros) rover had taken eight years. He is supposed to search for traces of previous microbial life on Mars and to research the climate and geology of the planet.
(WHAT / dpa)


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A social media post claims that the radiation is 1000 times stronger when the phone’s battery is low under the ‘important health tips’ category while discussing ‘six causes of kidney disease’. We fact-checked and found the claim to be Mostly False.
A social media post discussed “6 CAUSES OF KIDNEY DISEASE” and gave “important health tips”. In point number seven, the post claimed, “When phone’s battery is low to last bar, don’t answer the phone, bcos the radiation is 1000 times stronger”.
The claim has an attached photo showing a longitudinal section of kidney with incomprehensible labelling and swollen foot.
The post has received 54k shares, 2.7k comments and 11k likes till we last checked.
The screenshot of the post is attached down-below:
Is radiation 1000 times stronger during a low phone battery?
It does not seem so. No evidence confirms if radiation becomes 1000 times stronger during low phone battery. Radiation includes electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields that have wave-like properties. Radiation is released from both natural and man-made sources.
The electromagnetic fields (EMF) are of two types: low-level non-ionizing radiation and high-level ionising radiation. The available evidence suggests that ionising radiation can damage kidneys to cause Radiation Nephropathy (RN). However, whether non-ionizing radiation damages the kidneys is not clearly known.
A website shows that ‘Cell phone send signals to (and receive them from) nearby cell towers (base stations) using’ radiation frequency (RF) waves. Also, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) website suggests that the emitted radiation frequency and energy are too low to damage DNA.
The World Health Organization (WHO) website claims, “To date, no adverse health effects from low level, long-term exposure to radiofrequency or power frequency fields have been confirmed, but scientists are actively continuing to research this area”.
While searching more about the radiation from a phone, we found a (2020) study that shows mobile phones have an adaptive power control system. The role of this system is to minimise the radiation and make it enough for a good connection. So, a good mobile phone reception will have lower emissions.
Only (2019) research found a slight increase in radiation when the phone was on the lowest battery and tried to attempt the call. Still, this research concludes that phones have no major change in the radiation while on low battery.
In conclusion, it seems that there exists limited research to confirm whether radiation becomes 1000 times stronger during low phone battery and harms kidneys.
The Healthy Indian Project (THIP Media) has already discussed that the radiation from Apple AirPods is not dangerous.
Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

domain: medical


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Crown settles arbitration in connection with retiree health benefits class action
Client(s) Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
Jones Day represented Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. in a class action dispute with the United Steelworkers of America (USW) involving Crown's unilateral modification of the level of retiree health benefits for approximately 10,000 retirees formerly represented by the USW. In the case, Crown filed a declaratory judgment action against the USW in a favorable jurisdiction and the USW filed its own suit in a competing jurisdiction. The parties each moved to dismiss the other's lawsuit in favor of their own, or to transfer the other's case to be consolidated with their own. While the forum issues were being litigated, which included an appeal to the Third Circuit, the parties agreed to refer the matter to arbitration. Ultimately, after extensive discovery and a lengthy arbitration hearing in which Crown was successful in obtaining a favorable judgment on an important part of the case, the case settled.
Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. v. United Steelworkers of America Int'l Union, Case No. 1:03-CV-3882 (N.D. Ill.); Lawhorn v. Crown, Case No. 1:03CV-461 (S.D. Ohio); Arbitration Matter: USW et al. and Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc; Crown Cork & Seal Co. v. United Steel Workers of Am. Int'l Union, AFL-CIO, No. 04-1139 (3d Cir.)

domain: library


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domain: food


All the residential and commercial buildings come across issues related to plumbing. Plumbers unclog the pipes, install new pipes, check the leaks in the pipes to name the few. The plumbing services to be deployed depends on the problem encountered, its severity, and the budget.
Plumbing is the installation of drains, pipes, valves, fixtures and fitting for proper disposal of waste and makes available usable water. The word plumbing is derived from the latin word plumbum i.e. lead as pipes made of lead were used during the Roman Empire.
Types of Plumbing Services
A. Residential Plumbing Repair Service
It includes replacing the pipes that have
burst due to aging
burst by natural disaster
defective sewer line
low pressure of water in the faucet
It also includes repairs of
interior water supply system
sewage and vent system
1. Interior Water Supply System
The interior water supply system refers to supply of water to the households- to the tubs, showers, sinks, and toilets. The interior water supply system receives its water supply from wells or municipal water supply or at times both. Residences with private wells use pumps to draw water while other without private wells depend on a utility company to pump and pressurize the water. The popularly used in interior water supply system are Copper pipes, Plastic pipes that adhere to the standard code and PEX (a cross-linked polythene).
2. Exterior Residential Plumbing
The drainage system and the landscape irrigation system belong to exterior residential plumbing. The drainage system consists pipes laid underground to prevent flood and damage to the residential structure due to waste water. Gutters that serve as a gateway for rain and storm water are also part of the external drainage system.
Landscape irrigation system makes use of pipes made of plastic are used to supply water to the sprinklers.
3. Gas Plumbing
The installation of pipes for gas fuel supplies and waterworks come under gas plumbing. The commonly used gas fuels are propane and natural gas. The residential complexes, hotels, and restaurants use black iron pipes for gas plumbing.
4. Drain and Vent System
In this system, the waste water is passed through the drain lines after removing the greywater coming from the household. This process ensures safe drainage system by preventing wastewater and sewage water from entering the septic and municipal sewer systems.
B. Commercial Plumbing Services
Removal of things like garbage, food waste, clumps of hair or any other thing that blocks the drainage are included in the commercial plumbing service. At times tree roots, developed mold, and fungi restrict the smooth drainage. In such cases, the plumbers remove the debris or cut trees to remove blockages. Highly pressurized hydro jetting devices are used to eliminate the blockage. Rooter machines and snakes are used to cut the tree roots.
The jetting machines and rooters have cameras attached at their tips. The cameras provide a better view of the blockage, allows the plumber to implement the best solution without damaging the pipes.
The plumbing services ensure safe surroundings and the environment by keeping the drainage and sewers free of blockage. It is safe to hire plumbing services to eliminate the blockage or fix a fixture.


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In-Home Display Market:
The In-Home Display is a home energy monitor that is capable of providing feedback on the daily usage of electrical energy. The device also has the ability to display the cost of the energy used and also helps in the estimation of the gas emissions. The various reports on the In-Home Display suggest that the use of the device is capable of reducing the home energy to an extended level of 4-15%. The use of electricity can be measured with the help of a clamp that is entirely inductive and is placed the electric mains through the electric meter that is either by the optical port or by the sensing of the actions of the meter.
Request Free Sample Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/4424027-global-in-home-display-market-professional-survey-report-2019
The communication by the smart meter or the direct connection to the electrical system is also done. The portion of the display may also be from the remote of the measurement or by communicating with the sensor by using a cable, network, or by the communication through a power line or by using a radio. Online displays are also made available, which in turn allows the user to use an internet-connected display for showing the nearby real-time consumption.
Market key player
LG Innotek, In Home Displays, Sailwider, Elster, Lexology, Geo, Aztech, Duquesne Light, Landis+Gyr, RiDC, Schneider Electric
Market Segmentation of Global In-Home Display Market
The Global In-Home Display Market has been segmented depending upon their different types. The different kinds of In-Home Display are
Environmental information – The term Environmental information collection includes the various information about the elements of the environment like water, energy, soil, air, land, noise, waste, emissions, and flora, and fauna.
Energy consumption – The term Energy consumption refers to the amount of energy used or lost in the environment. The energy can be in any form that includes tidal energy, thermal energy, and solar energy.
Major Geographical Regions of the Global In-Home Display Market
Based on the region, the Global Market of the In-Home Display includes the United States of America, from North America. France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, Spain, Poland, and Germany, from Europe. China, Japan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Australia from Asia-Pacific. Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia from Central & South America. And Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and GCC Countries from the Middle East & Africa.
The Global Market for In-Home Display is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 34.0% and generate revenue of 6,665 Million USD that is more than the expected value by the year 2025. The Global Market of the In-Home Display was recorded to be moving at a higher positive side of 861 Million USD in the year 2018. The forecasted period for the growth of the Global Market for In-Home Display is termed as 2019 – 2025. The global In-Home Display market is expected to witness a lucrative growth rate during the forecast period. The emergence of the In-Home Display market has emerged as one of the most significant segments in the market and is expected to grow at an alarming rate.
For further information on this report, visit – https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/4424027-global-in-home-display-market-professional-survey-report-2019
Company Name: Wiseguyreports.com
Contact Person: Norah Trent
Email: Send Email
Phone: +1 646 845 9349, +44 208 133 9349


The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach: State-of-the-Art Design, Sound, and Setting for Memorable Concert Experiences
The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach, Alabama, is a beautiful and iconic venue that attracts music lovers and performers from all over the world.
It is a magnificent outdoor amphitheater with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems and a seating capacity of over 10,000.
The venue is located at The Wharf at Orange Beach, which is a mixed-use development that includes a marina, shopping, dining, and entertainment options.
The Wharf Amphitheater is known for hosting some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Elton John, Jimmy Buffett, Dave Matthews Band, Jason Aldean, and many others.
The venue has a rich history of hosting legendary performances and has become a staple in the music scene of the Gulf Coast region.
One of the most remarkable features of the Wharf Amphitheater is its design. The amphitheater is nestled in a beautiful natural setting, surrounded by water and trees, which provides a unique and intimate concert experience for the audience.
The amphitheater has a circular stage with seating that spans out in a 360-degree radius. This design ensures that every seat has an unobstructed view of the stage, and the sound is evenly distributed throughout the venue.
In addition to the main stage, the Wharf Amphitheater also features a large video screen, which displays close-up shots of the performers, as well as other visual effects that enhance the concert experience.
The venue also has a VIP area, which provides exclusive seating and amenities for guests who want to enjoy the concert in style.
The Wharf Amphitheater is not only a great venue for music concerts but also hosts other events, including festivals, comedy shows, and cultural events.
One of the most popular events at the venue is the annual Hangout Music Festival, which attracts tens of thousands of music fans from all over the country.
The festival features a diverse lineup of music genres, including rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic music.
The Wharf Amphitheater is also a great place to enjoy the beautiful Gulf Coast weather. The venue has plenty of space for picnics, tailgating, and other outdoor activities before or after the concert.
There are also several restaurants and bars located within the Wharf complex, which offer a variety of food and beverage options for concertgoers.
The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach, Alabama, is an iconic music venue that has been entertaining music lovers for decades.
With its unique design, state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, and beautiful natural setting, it is no wonder that the Wharf Amphitheater has become a favorite destination for music fans and performers alike.
Whether you are a local or a tourist, the Wharf Amphitheater is definitely worth a visit if you are looking for a one-of-a-kind concert experience.


- Moving the box around is made simpler by the four wheels’ stability and uniform weight distribution. This is crucial if the package is heavy or the contents are delicate. It can be equipped with four wheels at the bottom for further mobility.
- A marine furniture metal tool storage box is something you want to think about purchasing if you want to keep your equipment organized and shielded from the weather.
- These boxes are not only stylish, but they are also hardy and weatherproof. Custom-made Metal Tool storage boxes are made based on customer drawings for marine furniture.
- The primary purpose of this toolbox, which is open from the top, is to store various tools for ship repairs. Your tools may be preserved and kept organized with their strength and extended lifespan.
- The ideal method to arrange your equipment is in a metal tool storage box since it is sturdy and will keep your tools safe from rust, corrosion, and damage.
- According to the cost, the material is often steel or steel with a powder coating.
- These boxes are a fantastic investment for marine furniture since they are composed of high-quality materials and are built to last. The box’s colour is up for debate.
- Because it is resilient and has a sleek and contemporary appearance, stainless steel or steel with powder coating is one of the most often used materials for storage containers.
- Please get in touch with us by email or WhatsApp at +86-13632787893 for additional contract marine furniture.
The metal tool storage box from SANYON is ideal for storing and organizing your equipment. This box has a cover and a tough powder-coated finish to keep your tools secure and safe. To prevent rust and corrosion, it is built of heavy-duty steel and is powder coated. Because our metal boxes are of the highest quality and craftsmanship, we are the best manufacturer. Our packages are long-lasting and constructed from the finest materials. Our boxes are always built to the highest standards since we are professionals in the field of box making. Put in order now to be arranged tomorrow.


The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has released statistics about the domestic mobile phone market between January and October 2018. The numbers look disappointing as the OEM’s in China are facing a 15% decline in the market on a yearly basis.
Well, the data is for the first ten months of the year, where the companies shipped about 343 million smartphones. Note that out of the total no of smartphones only 308 million were by local companies OEM’s. Well, this shrinks down the foreign OEM market to just 10.2%.
The numbers include the smartphones that range from 2G feature phones to the 4G smartphone. If we look at the percentage, 94.5% of all the handsets shipped had 4G support. Also, the market shipped 8 million shipped 2G devices from January to October 2018. Note that this is a 19% decrease in the shipments of feature phones this year.
According to MIIT, the Chinese OEM’s released 48 new models this October, down 25% on a yearly basis. Interestingly, only a third of these smartphones were feature phones. The total number of new models since the beginning of the calendar year is 683, with 520 of them being 4G-enabled.


Why The Democrats' Koch Brothers Fixation?
Another day, another wave of Democratic attacks on the Koch brothers and their Republican allies.
Sen. Harry Reid, the Democratic majority leader, took to the Senate floor Monday to bash the Koch brothers and the GOP, as has become his habit in recent weeks.
In his latest criticism, he accused Republicans of stalling aid to beleaguered Ukraine until Democrats agreed to delay new Internal Revenue Service rules that would affect the political activities of nonprofit groups.
"Republicans delayed this aid package for 10 days in order to protect the Koch brothers and billionaires just like them," Reid said. Reid didn't cite the nonprofit, Koch-brothers-funded group Americans for Prosperity, but that's what he meant.
Another Democratic attack on Charles and David Koch came from a different direction. American Bridge 21st Century, the opposition research group, weighed in with a new Web ad that accused AFP and the Kochs of misleading voters via untrue attacks on vulnerable Senate Democrats up for re-election.
That ad followed news that another independent Democratic group intends to spend $3 million on anti-Koch ads in the several states where Democrats are thought to be most at risk.
Why do Democrats seem to be so fixated on the Koch brothers? First, the Koch brothers are arguably good for fundraising. Dave Weigel of Salon reported that Democratic email pitches that mentioned the Koch brothers generated more donations than those that didn't.
But Democrats said it wasn't really about the Kochs being good for Democratic fundraising pitches (though there's nothing wrong with that). The additional amounts raised are trivial compared with the estimated $30 million AFP has already spent, they said.
Instead, it's about defining Republican opponents of Democratic Senate candidates as essentially being stalking horses for the billionaire brothers.
"While most voters may not know who the Koch brothers are, they all know who out-of-state, very wealthy special interests are," said Justin Barasky, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
"Everyone knows there are people who have it easier who are trying to game the system. ... It's about holding Republican Senate candidates accountable in a believable way."
The Republican take on what's happening is, of course, decidedly different.
"The signs are that Harry Reid is on the verge of losing his mind now that he's on the verge of losing his majority," said Brad Dayspring, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
"And American Bridge, it's quite something to see them attacking special interest money when George Soros funds their entire operation," Dayspring said. "Their attacks are laughable; they have to motivate their base in a year when they seem primed to sustain major electoral losses."
Actually, the explanations aren't necessarily mutually exclusive. All of them could actually explain why Democrats will try to keep the Koch theme going through Election Day.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Jessica Harston was crowned Miss Rodeo Georgia 2014 as a special part of the Miss Rodeo Texas Pageant on June 26 in San Antonio, Texas. The Winder native will spend the year promoting the rodeo throughout the state and across the country as Miss Rodeo Georgia.
Hall County 4-H Club members received recognition at the recent 4-H State Horse Show in Perry.
West Hall High School graduate Zach English received a $2,500 scholarship from the H.O.P.E. Foundation.
North Hall High School student April Barth of Clermont has been selected for membership into the National Society of High School Scholars.
U.S. Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Allan W. Elliott has been confirmed for promotion to the rank of major general and assignment as assistant deputy chief of staff, G-4, Mobilization and Training, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.
2003 Gainesville High School graduate Korvin L. Mitchell and 2011 West Hall High School graduate Timothy Ansel finished their U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.
Haley E. Woody, a 2013 Chestatee High School graduate, completed basic training June 20 with the U.S. Navy at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Ill.
More than 460 Hall County students received Microsoft Office Specialist and Adobe certifications this year.
Bell will be majoring in Elementary Education when classes begin Sept. 3.
Louisa Rhodes Jacobs was recently selected as the recipient of the 2014 George A. Carlisle Award at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. The Gainesville native was recognized May 6 during the college's Honors Day ceremonies.
Seventh-grade students from Gainesville Middle School were awarded state recognition in the Duke University Talent Identification Program.
Three dozen members of the University of North Georgia's Corps of Cadets were presented military awards and scholarships April 27 at the annual Boar's Head Brigade Military Awards Review in conjunction with the university's annual Alumni Weekend.
Achieving a GED takes hard work, dedication and hours of coaching from a team of instructors and volunteers who believe in the dreams of others.
Centennial Arts Academy is one of the 50 national winners of a $1,000 grant from the "Kids Bowl Free" organization.
Hall County 4-H'ers competed in the 2014 4-H District Project Achievement on March 14-16 at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. More than 70 seventh- through 12th-graders from 39 Northeast Georgia counties attended. The Hall County results were:
Hall County 4-H is proud to announce the Senior Horse Judging team placed third in the 4-H State Horse Judging Contest and recently competed at the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Show in Raleigh, N.C.
Christopher Ball, left, and Knox Martin received their Eagle Scout badges from Troop 26 at First Baptist Church in Gainesville. Ball, a senior at Lakeview Academy, is the son of David and Shannon Ball; Knox, a senior at Greater Atlanta Christian, is the son of Eddie and Becky Martin, all of Gainesville.
The Dawson County school system was honored by the state for its financial reporting.
Nineteen community and professional leaders graduated the Leadership Jackson program recently.
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $81,955 in grants during its June meeting, including $41,200 to organizations serving Hall County.
Employees with the Hall County Sheriff's Office competed in the Peachtree Road Race on July 4 in Atlanta.
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domain: news


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Date: Tue Aug 2, 2016
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Moderator: MITCH LONG
Agriculture is the largest consumer of water globally. As pressure on available water resources increases, the need to exploit technology in order to produce more food with less water becomes crucial. The technological hardware requisite for precise water delivery methods such as variable rate irrigation is commercially available. Despite that, techniques to formulate a timely, accurate prescription for those systems are inadequate. Spectral vegetation indices, especially Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), are often used to gauge crop vigor and related parameters (e.g. leaf nitrogen content and grain yield). However, research heretofore rarely addresses the influence of soil moisture on the index. The objective of this study was to determine if NDVI derived from satellite imagery could assist in quantifying soil moisture variability in an irrigated maize production system. A variable rate irrigation pivot was used to form six water treatment zones. Each zone was equipped with a set of tensiometers installed in the center of the plots at 20, 45, and 75cm depths to individually monitor conditions in the water treatment zones. Water was applied for each treatment as a percentage of the estimated evapotranspiration (ET) requirement: i.e., 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140 percent of the ET. Data collected from tensiometers was paired with the image pixels corresponding to the ground location of the tensiometers. Statistical analysis was performed separately to assess whether NDVI is representative of soil moisture at several crop growth stages. Findings from this study indicate that NDVI could quantify variability of soil moisture tension at maize crop growth stage R3 (milk) at 20cm (r2 = 0.70, p = 0.04) and 45 cm (r2 = 0.77, p = 0.02) depths. Results suggest that NDVI may be useful for evaluating seasonal soil moisture variability due to irrigation non-uniformity at large field-scales but is otherwise impractical for variable rate irrigation management. Further study is necessary to investigate additional crop growth stages, more crops, and other vegetation indices. Future studies are also needed to evaluate other sources of multispectral imagery.
Irrigation decisions based on traditional soil moisture sensing often leads to uncertainty regarding the true amount of water available to the plant. Plant based sensing of water stress decreases this uncertainty. In specialty crops grown in California’s Central Valley, precision deficit irrigation based on plant water stress could be used to decrease water use and increase water use efficiency by supplying the necessary quantity of water only when it is needed by the plant. However, there is a lack of a clear decision support system to implement stress-based precision irrigation on a management unit basis. Management zones were developed using an unsupervised fuzzy classification technique, where zone divisions were based on the soil characteristics of digital elevation, shallow electrical conductivity, sand, silt content and plant characteristics (leaf temperature and canopy cover). Management zones were most influenced by digital elevation. In both almonds and grapes, two zones were identified and two treatments were implemented. A leaf monitor was used to proximally sense the leaf temperature and microclimatic variables (relative humidity, air temperature, wind speed, and incident radiation) and compute a crop water stress index in almond and grape crops. Temperature differences between leaf surface and air were used to obtain stress indices. A wireless mesh network system was used to interface 14 leaf monitors in the almond plot while 10 leaf monitors interfaced to hubs equipped with cellular modems were used in the grape plot. In both cases data were transmitted to the web where they could be accessed in real-time to guide irrigation decisions. Plant water stress was estimated with respect to a well-watered and a simulated dry control tree. Variable rate irrigation was applied in almonds according to crop water stress levels in each management zone. Plant stress was evaluated in grapes in eight groups of five vines over a period of 10 days, where four groups were recovering through irrigation after experiencing severe stress and the other four groups were stressed by not applying water to the vines. In grapes, MCWSI and DSWP were found to be linearly related with a coefficient of determination value of 0.82. In almonds, a strong correlation resulted from comparison of CWSI and DSWP, obtained for each treatment of each zone; this yielded a second order polynomial relationship with a coefficient of multiple determination value of 0.79. In almonds, preliminary results indicated that Zone 1 required only 70% water compared to the grower treatment while Zone 2 required about 90% water compared to the grower treatment. These results suggest this method has the potential for increased water savings and increased water use efficiency.
Currently variable rate irrigation (VRI) prescription maps used to apply water differentially to irrigation management zones (IMZs) are static. They are developed once and used thereafter and thus do not respond to environmental variables which affect soil moisture conditions. Our approach for creating dynamic prescription maps is to use soil moisture sensors to estimate the amount of irrigation water needed to return each IMZ to an ideal soil moisture condition. The UGA Smart Sensor Array (UGA SSA) is an inexpensive wireless soil moisture sensing system which allows for a high density of sensor probes. Each probe includes three Watermark sensors. We use a modified van Genuchten model and soil matric potential data from each probe to estimate the volume of irrigation water needed to bring the soil profile of each IMZ back to 75% of field capacity. These estimates are converted into daily prescription maps which we downloaded remotely to a VRI controller thus creating a dynamic VRI control system. During 2015, we conducted an on-farm experiment to assess our system. We worked with a producer in a 230ac field in southwestern Georgia. The field was divided into alternating conventional irrigation and dynamic VRI strips with each strip 120 rows wide. The conventional strips were irrigated uniformly based on the producer’s recommendations. We divided the VRI strips into IMZs and after planting we installed UGA SSA probes in each of the IMZs. The data from the probes were used to develop daily irrigation scheduling recommendations for each IMZ. The recommendations were converted into a daily prescription map and downloaded remotely to the pivot VRI controller. When an irrigation event was initiated, the VRI-enabled pivot responded dynamically to soil moisture conditions. We will present the design of our dynamic VRI control system and the results from the 2015 study.
Accurate soil moisture content measurements are vital to precision irrigation management. Electromagnetic sensors such as capacitance and time domain reflectometry have been widely used for measuring soil moisture content for decades. However, to estimate average soil moisture content over a large area, a number of ground-based in-situ sensors would need to be installed, which would be expensive and labor intensive. Remote sensing using the microwave spectrum (such as GPS signals) has been used for measuring large area soil moisture contents. In our previous work we estimated surface soil moisture contents for bare soil using a GPS Delay Mapping Receiver (DMR) developed by NASA. However, the effect of vegetation was not considered in these studies. Hence the objectives of this study were to: 1) investigate the feasibility of using DMR to determine soil moisture content in cotton production fields; 2) evaluate the attenuation effect of vegetation (cotton) on GPS reflected signal. Field experiments were conducted during the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons in South Carolina. GPS antennas were mounted at three heights (1.6, 2.7, and 4.2 m) over cotton fields to measure GPS reflected signals (DMR readings). DMR readings, soil core samples, and plant measurements were collected about once a week and attenuation effect of plant canopy was calculated. Results showed that DMR was able to detect soil moisture changes within one week after precipitation events that were larger than 25 mm per day. However, the DMR readings were poorly correlated with soil volumetric water content during dry periods. Attenuation effect of plant canopy was not significant. For irrigation purpose, the results suggested that the sensitivity of GPS reflected signals to soil moisture changes needs to be further studied before this technology can be utilized for irrigation scheduling in cotton production.
A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2015 to asses the spatial variability and precision nutrient management through drip irrigation in aerobic rice at ZARS, GKVK, Bangalore. The experimental field has been delineated into 48 grids of 4.5 m x 4.5 m using geospatial technology. Soil samples from 0-15 cm depth were collected and analysed. There was spatial variability for available nitrogen (154 to 277 kg ha-1), phosphorous (45 to 152 kg ha-1) and potassium (200 to 346 kg ha-1). The variability was addressed through precision nutrient management approach with target yield. Application of 25 % N & K from sowing to 30 DAS + 25 % from 31 to 50 DAS + 25 % from 51 to 80 DAS + 25 % from 81 to 105 DAS through drip irrigation recorded significantly higher grain yield (11.0 Mg ha-1) over application of N & K as per package of practice (9.2 Mg ha-1) which was 20.2 per cent higher over application of N & K as per UAS (B) recommendations through drip irrigation and 70.1 per cent over soil application. Targeted yield of 12 Mg ha-1 recorded significantly higher grain yield (12.8 Mg ha-1) over rest of the targets. The actual yields were 22.0, 11.3, 8.2 and 7.3 per cent higher than the targeted yields of 6, 8, 10 and 12 Mg ha-1, respectively.


SABIC FRT's tapes can offer you a range of thermoplastic tapes reinforced with glass-fiber as a basis for textile manufacturing. I AM A LAMINATOR Woven or cross-plied UDMAX TM tapes can be very easily and cost effectively processed into organosheets, using thermoplastic lamination lines or continuous double belt press technology.
Although the properties of unreinforced PEEK (polyether ether ketone) are very good at room temperature, they fall off dramatically above the material's glass transition temperature (148°C). By adding glass reinforcement to its thin gauge TECAPEEK™ GF30 sheet, Ensinger/Penn Fibre has improved the material's properties at higher temperatures.
Fibre Reinforced Polyester Composites 137 about the same as the lower grades of the carbon fiber. Other high-strength high-modulus fibers such as boron are at the present time considered to be economically prohibitive. 2.2. Glass fibers The glass fibers are divided into three main classes E-glass, S-glass and C-glass. The E-glass
boston whaler Boston Whaler is a brand of motorboat manufactured in the United States. Classically, a Whaler is characterized by a foam-cored fiberglass hull (often of modified vee cathedral hull form), with an outboard motor and center steering console.
A key field of application for glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene is automotive engineering. Figure 2 shows a typical example of the induction manifold of a combustion engine which was previously manufactured out of metal. Later on, technical thermoplastics (polyamide/GF) were used and finally the product is now produced using
Alibaba.com offers 3,552 reinforced window glass products. About 48% of these are windows, 2% are building glass, and 1% are car windows. A wide variety of reinforced window glass options are available to you, such as float glass, sheet glass.
polar and glass is highly polar.Effective reinforceme nt of PP by glass fiber requires the use of coupling agents which promote polymer/glass adhesion. ® P-425 OPTIM (MA-g-PP) is an effective polymeric compatibilizer for composites of PP and inorganic fillers, including glass fiber. MA-g-PP is compatible with PP and has polar functionality.
Fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) (also called fiber-reinforced polymer, or fiber-reinforced plastic) is a composite material made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres. The fibres are usually glass (in fibreglass), carbon (in carbon fiber reinforced polymer), aramid, or basalt. Rarely, other fibres such as paper, wood, or asbestos have been ...
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Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) is a proven engineered composite building material consisting of Portland cement, aggregate, color pigments, and glass fiber reinforcement. The glass fibers reinforce the concrete, much as steel reinforcing bars do in conventional construction. The glass fiber reinforcement results in a product with much ...
Fiberglass frames are essentially composed of glass fibers and resin, materials that expand and contract very little with temperature changes in the weather. Until recently, the complex profiles required for window designs have been impossible to attain with fiberglass.
Some interesting new applications are emerging for polyvinyldene fluoride (PVDF), according to Arkema, King of Prussia, Pa. The trigger is its development of glass-reinforced grades for applications that can use a stiffer, stronger, and higher temperature-resistant fluoropolymer, along with other ...
E-glass and S-glass are the types of fibers more commonly used in the fiber-reinforced plastic industry. E-glass fibers have the lowest cost of all commercially available reinforcing GFs, which is the reason for their widespread use in the fiber-reinforced plastic industry. S-glass, originally developed for
Alibaba.com offers 1,004 glass fiber reinforced pe products. About 11% of these are plastic extruders, 4% are plastic tubes, and 1% are plastic film. A wide variety of glass fiber reinforced pe options are available to you, such as pe, pet, and bopp.
glass reinforcing fibers and thermosetting polymer resin, whose combined physical strength exceeds the properties of either of them individually. The fabric provides the strength and the resin acts as a binder distributing the load and provides dimensional stiffness. FRP is the acronym for fiber reinforced polymer.
Minority owned custom manufacturer of fiberglass & ABS composites including fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) windows, specializing in complex shapes & designs for a variety of industries including agricultural, transportation, industrial, boat & marine, amusement, medical, military, machinery/equipment & waste water treatment.
FRPpro Beam is a spreadsheet based software program to aid in the design of strengthening reinforced concrete beams using fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) ... Free to try Prince Systems Windows XP ...
They are also called glass fiber reinforced polyester (GFRP), carbon fiber reinforced polyester (CFRP) and natural fiber reinforced polyester (NFRP). The objective is usually to enhance strength, stiffness, fatigue, resistance, or strength to weight ratio by incorporating strong and stiff fibers in a softer, more ductile matrix.
Fiber glass and other composite materials are used as reinforcement because they are not thermally conductive like aluminum and steel. High quality vinyl window brands are Okna, Gorell, Polaris Ultra series, Soft lite, and sunrise. All of these windows are reinforced.
The fiberglass replacement windows damped sound better than the aluminum originals in all cases, and in the Bruce Curtis Building, where humidity must be kept relatively high (above 40 percent) to preserve the museum artifacts, the improved thermal performance of the fiberglass windows eliminated condensation that had formed on the aluminum frames.
Transparent composites have also been made using hollow nanofibers electrospun from nylon and polyacrylonitrile (PAN), the common precursor for carbon fiber). The nylon is embedded into an epoxy matrix and the PAN into poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA). Applications claimed include protective armor and aircraft windows.
Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) – Is one of the most innovative construction materials available today. GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) facilitates unprecedented opportunities for building design. GFRC is a portland cement based composite with alkaliresistant glass fiber, randomly dispersed throughout the product.
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St. Mary's Basilica
St. Mary‘s Basilica is the world's largest brick church with a capacity of 25000 people !
Museum of the Second World War
Design: Studio Architektoniczne Kwadrat, 2017
The project has three distinct parts with the underground museum spaces dedicated to the past, the vast plaza representing the present, and the over 40m high, sculptural, leaning tower symbolising the future.
Gdańsk Archaeological Museum
The tenement house in which the Gdańsk Archaeological Museum is now housed, was originally constructed between 1597 and 1599. From 1846 it was the seat of the Gdańsk Naturalist Society. In 1866, an astronomical observatory, including a rotating dome, was installed in its 36m high tower. Badly destroyed during WWII, it was rebuilt between 1956 and 1961.
European Solidarity Center
Design: FORT Architects
Opened in 2014 on the 25th anniversary of the signing of the August Accords
Among the most beautiful Gothic-Renaissance buildings in the Gdansk.

domain: history


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We are Brainwave, an alt-rock band usually created of 5 twenty(ish) boys from the lovely city of Lincoln.
The band formed in the summer of 2016, when school friends Tom Booth, Luke Booth and Sean Chambers found a singer, Ryan Frost, over the waves of Facebook. The missing piece of the jigsaw was a bassist, but Sean’s old bandmate, Connor Hodson, was drafted in to complete the line-up.
Originally, Brainwave was a covers band – we played loads of songs as gigs – in order to be able to save up the money to pay for the recording of our album and music videos!
But since starting, we have been lucky enough to play some gigs with some really good bands in some really cool places, including Lincoln, Leeds and Nottingham.
Saturday Night Souvenir is the name of our debut album – Which was released on 17.11.17 – It did quite well, reaching a high of number 30 in the iTunes rock album charts.
Some of these songs have been played on radio stations all across Lincolnshire, including: Lincoln City Radio, Siren Radio, Gravity FM and Lincs FM Unplugged. We have been played on BBC Introducing in Lincolnshire.
Honestly, you should give it a listen… it messes with your brainwaves.
Brainwave – Saturday Night Souvenir
Brainwave – Shoot To Miss
Band location – Lincoln England
Find more info about Brainwave on their Website
Learn more about Brainwave on their Facebook page
Watch the latest Brainwave videos on their You Tube channel
Listen to Brainwave music on their Soundcloud page
Listen to and buy Brainwave music on Bandcamp
Follow Brainwave on their Twitter page
Follow Brainwave on their Instagram page
Buy Brainwave music on their Itunes page
Listen to Brainwave music on their Spotify page
Buy Brainwave music on Amazon
See more about Brainwave on Google Plus


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Cardigan: thrifted Old Navy; feather top: Forever 21; jeans: Loft; shoes: Target
I’m behind on my outfit posting; I actually wore this last Thursday. I was featured that day on Kimberly of Fab Finds Under $50’s June Outfit Inspiration Calendar, so I wanted to mix black and white prints, as the calendar said. Although it’s a departure from my usual tendency to wear color, I like how dramatic wearing all black (and denim) can be.
My mom and I :)
La nourriture: I spent almost no time cooking while my mom was here—there were too many restaurants we needed to visit. However, I did make cheese quiche, a recipe that came from my grandma (my mom’s mom). My mom would make it for breakfast every Christmas morning, and I looked forward to it every year. I thought it would be a nice thing to have while she was here.
The original recipe includes ham, but I’m not a big ham fan (although bacon is a whole other story!). It’s definitely an Americanized version of quiche; this version is much more cheesy and less custardy than its French counterpart. But it is delicious, I’ll tell you that for sure. For a printable recipe, go here.


This isn't a phone that particularly sells itself on its camera credentials, and as such, it just kind of gets on with the job.
Some of our sample shots were taken in a slightly overcast London. While light was in reasonable supply, the default settings (auto everything) left some of the images washed out, almost feeling like there is a thin, misty veil over the lens. When the sun did come out to play, though, this cleared up a treat, giving crisp and bright images. There are a selection of manual options for you to poke about with, which do give a modicum of control, and some novelty panorama / 3D modes for the occasional creative flirtation. Our guess, however, is that if you are eyeing this phone as something to potentially live with, the 5-megapixel shooter, set to default, will do just fine for those candid moments and occasional memories you need to preserve.
It might come as no surprise, then, that video mode fares just as sufficiently. You're not going to be filming any masterpieces, but it's adequate for YouTube fodder. Our sample video below caught lots of vibrant inner-city wildlife, but some pixelation can be seen when movement is sudden. All in all, it's a very average affair.
Before you groan about the out-of-the-box Android 2.3.7 install, give us a moment. Yes, it's not ICS, but that's not necessarily a crisis. Sony's skinning is pretty light, and at the top level, doesn't look all that different from the UI of Android 4.0, even if you have to squint a little bit (and choose the blue theme). In a weird interpretation of "out with the old, in with the new," Sony says that ICS will come to the Xperia U in Q2 – so very soon – but will still be hidden under its Timescape UI. That means it'll largely look and feel the same anyway, but with the more recent features.
As is the law, the first thing you must do with a new telephone is flick the app screens left and right. No? So many snap judgements are made during those first vital seconds as you mindlessly flick left and right. Performing that less-than-scientific test here is reasonably gratifying. We already noted in our hands-on, that navigation was neither zippy nor sluggish, and that about sums it up. The 1GHz dual-core ST-Ericsson U8500 processor does its best to leave your experience unhindered. That said, once you've had the phone for a while, and more and more applications compete for resources, this might start to change. For now, however, we're quite pleased with the speed and ease at which we got around the user interface.
Beyond that UI, Sony has filled the Android room with a few bits of its own furniture, notably its audio and video services. That's hardly surprising given its recent departure from long-term beau Ericsson. Now that it's got the place all to itself, it's evidently keen to leave its mark, and that means Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited take pride of place. You don't have to use these, of course, as there are other media playing options. But, if you're already a signed-up member of the Sony-Unlimited club, then you'll jive to the Xperia U's beat right from the off. One corner of the Sony universe that doesn't get explored, however, is its PlayStation franchise. There's nary a mention of the PS Store or PlayStation certification, which might not be surprising given that the bigger Xperia P also seems to have been left off the invite list.
If you're still in any doubt about it, the short version is that the software is more of the same that we've come to expect from the Xperia brand. There's the good (some Android 4-esque features like app folders), the bad (McAffee's persistent antivirus) and the ugly (connecting to a Mac to transfer files needs a cable and more software). The good news is that most of the stuff that you don't like can either be uninstalled or easily ignored, leaving you to mold the phone to your liking.
Performance and battery-life
When you have less display to light-up, you stand a good chance of being able to do it for longer. The 1,320mAh battery is a sliver over that of the Xperia P's 1,305mAh, and this, factored with the lessened screen demand, do help keep the juice flowing a little longer. On our standard battery-draining test (WiFi on, brightness at 50 percent, and a continuous video playing) the Xperia U's engine room kept it huffing and puffing for a smidgen over five hours, which is better than the P could manage, and about on a par with the larger (and more power-endowed) Xperia S. That five hours isn't all that far off of the "up to" six hours in the press materials, which obviously tend to err more on the optimistic side.
The Xperia U managed to give us nearly two days of service, before it'd start pulling at our trouser leg, asking us to feed it.
What about when you're not settling in for marathon movie sessions, which, let's face it, is likely most of the time? In our time with it, the Xperia U managed to give us nearly two days of service, before it'd start pulling at our trouser leg, asking us to feed it. This is with WiFi and data always on, regularly checking emails, browsing the web and, well, the typical tasks of a fairly demanding user. This means that if you're away from the security of a wall port for more than 36 hours, then you'll be fine, but you'll likely want to be charging it most nights just in case, as is unfortunately the norm.
Of course, it's not just lighting up that screen, and juggling all the radio signals that drain the battery, those dual-cores will be taking a slice of the power-pie too. Yes, this brings us onto the more measured performance, and those all-important benchmarks. As you can see, the little Xperia U equaled, or saw off its Xperia P label-mate across the board showing that there's plenty of fight in the fella. In fact, it also pushes HTC's nearest current phone into the sand on most tests.
| || |
Sony Xperia U
Sony Xperia P
HTC One V
Galaxy S Blaze 4G
|Quadrant ||2,125 ||2,161 ||1,636 ||3,600 |
|Vellamo ||870 ||845 ||1,155 ||1,009 |
|AnTuTu ||5,348 ||4,965 ||n/a ||n/a |
|SunSpider 0.9.1 (ms) ||2,696 ||3,010 ||3,214 ||3,068 |
|GLBenchmark Egypt Offscreen (fps) ||19 ||19 ||n/a ||n/a |
|CF-Bench ||5,346 ||4,855 ||n/a ||n/a |


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A rockfall has destroyed the silhouette at Cima Carega: the tip of the L'Omo needle fell into the valley. It was only by chance that there were no hikers on site.
Recoaro Terme – The small Dolomites on the border between Trentino and Veneto (Italy) are an insider tip among mountain tourists. The many rock towers around the Cima Carega massif (2259 meters) are a popular destination, especially for budding climbers. But the alpinists now have to cross one rock tower off their bucket list: The rock needle L'Omo (the man) has collapsed, his wife La Dona, the second rock, is now alone.
Dolomite mountain collapses – hikers sounded the alarm at Wirt
Hikers sounded the alarm on Monday at the landlord of a restaurant in Recoaro Terme: The restaurateur Gianluca Santagiuliana then posted a picture of the collapsed rock peak on Instagram, spreading the bad news. It is unclear when the peak, which is located at an altitude of 1830 meters, collapsed. On Facebook, hikers report that it had already happened on Saturday. In any case, the tower collapsed at a moment when there was no hiker nearby, so no one was harmed. Just last year, a glacier collapsed in the Dolomites.
Of the rock needle L'Omo (left) there is only a stump left, on the right the rock needle la Dona. © Facebook - Dario Favrin
Armando Cunegato, mayor of Recoaro Terme, is horrified: "I understand that for some it is just a piece of stone, but for us it is as if someone from the family has disappeared", said the head of the city to Corriere della Sera. Paolo Aznicar, councilor, head of the Battisti mountain hut on site and mountain rescuer, estimates the weight of the 10 to 15 meter high crashed tower at at least 500 tons. "We are already organizing ourselves with a drone and will carry out an inspection," he says.
The L'Omo rock needle (left) in front of the rockfall, on the right the La Dona rock needle. © Facebook - Dario Favrin
Turbulent weather in the small Dolomites in May to blame?
Aznicar believes that the tower broke off to the rear, causing a large landslide. "Unfortunately, we know the nature of this country well and know that such cases will happen again." Aznicar suspects that the turbulent weather of the past few weeks caused the rockfall: "A rainy May, the likes of which we haven't experienced in a long time, certainly contributed to making the situation even more fragile than it already is."
The Corno Tower in the Fumante Group collapsed in 2021 © Facebook - Dario Favrin/Nevio Soldà
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In the small Dolomites, it is already the third time in three years that a rock storm has crashed: In April 2021, one of the four peaks of the Corno Tower in the Fumante Group near Recoaro Terme collapsed, causing around 100 cubic meters of rock to fall into the valley. In June 2021, another rock tower collapsed at Punta delle Losche, a road was buried.
Here you can still see the Corno Tower (2nd tip from the left). © Facebook - Dario Favrin/Nevio Soldà
Not the first rockfall in Italy this year
"Sudden changes in temperature and climate change have lowered the surface that rests on the still stable walls, the cracks have widened and the rock has moved," says mountain guide Asnicar, explaining the reason for the increased rockfalls. Water, which froze in winter, had caused cracks, into which rainwater penetrated and rocks detached.
In recent weeks, there have been repeated spectacular rockfalls in northern Italy: At the end of May, several rocks fell onto a state road in Vinschgau and almost hit a car. At the beginning of May, another stone colossus struck a kindergarten in the Puster Valley. At the end of April, a huge stone thundered past a pizzeria in the Ahrntal Valley and also landed on a road.


text:
The story of a magical, 18th century Scottish village which awakens once every 100 years and the two modern-day vacationers who stumble upon it. Main highlight is the Lerner and Loewe score.
Time-Life Video and Television, 1450 Palmyra Ave., Richmond, VA 23227-4420, Phone: (804)266-6330, Toll-free: 800-950-7887, Fax: (757)427-7905
Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 108 minutes.
Copyright © 2023 Net Industries - All Rights Reserved


text:
The third day in the Amazon Basin and another early start, this time I was heading to the famous 'clay licks' on the Napo River. These are muddy cliff faces along the river bank, where large numbers of Parrots come to feed on the soil. First though, we had to head across the black lake and a short walk through the forest to get to the motorised canoes. When we arrived at the river side of the lake, we were greeted by a tell tale crashing sound in the canopy. There, above us, were a huge group of Squirrel Monkeys, undoubtedly the same group as we saw upon our arrival to the forest, and joining them were a group of White-faced Capuchins.
They 'monkeyed' around for a while but we couldn't stay long, we were on a mission that had a time limit. After our morning monkey fix we quickly made our way to the motorised canoes on the banks of the Rio Napo. After around a 30-minute ride down the river, we arrived at the large clay cliff where we would not have to wait long for our feathered friends. The noise was what you notice first, a constant noise which can only sound like a group of parrots together. They chatter among themselves, until one builds up the courage to leave the safety of the trees and expose themself on the bare cliff face. The parrots have to come back every few days, a wide variety of species are reliant on these clay licks to ensure that the minerals in the soil counteract the naturally occuring toxins in their diet. If they couldn't get these vital nutrients then they would not survive. Occasionally the odd Boa Constrictor ambushes the birds as they fly to the cliff face and this is why they are particularly nervous and flighty.
We we were quickly in luck with a variety of different species feeding on two different parts of the bank. Mealy Amazons making up most of the numbers but Dusky-headed Parakeets providing plenty of vocal support.
We next visited the inland 'cave' parrot lick of Napo Wildlife Centre, this was around a half an hour walk into Yasuni National Park and a sit and wait affair. The noise again was staggering, particularly as the birds surround you in the trees above, you know they are there but you just can't see them. Gradually they come lower and lower until one brave individual decides to break cover and starts to carve off small slices of clay which it eats as if it were food. Have a look at the video and you can hear the noise for yourself!
After a long day out and about around the forest and spending time around the clay lick on and off up until lunch, it was time to head back to the lodge and try my hand at a bit of afternoon macro photography. However a very unexpected visitor ended up altering my plans somewhat.
I practised my macro photography as I was meant to be running a workshop there later on in the evening, and having found some good subjects in the shape of spiders and other creepy crawlies I was happy to get some rest. However, on my way back to my room I saw some movement ...
As you can see the surprise animal, and now definitely one of my favourite species worldwide, was the Pygmy Marmoset. This is the world's smallest monkey, in fact it is actually hard to describe just how small this monkey is. Let's just put it this way, it would easily fit into the palm of and adult person. At first I only saw some movement on the edge of one of the walkways, I actually thought it was a small bird. It was only as I approached the tree it jumped into, that I realised I had found this amazing little creature. I tried to find others around the lodge so they could also see this tiny primate but they had all gone out on their afternoon activities.
I was very lucky to be completely alone with the little fellow and at one point was no more than 3 metres away, it was actually quite an intimate moment. Two primates of vastly different sizes, checking on another out and seeing what they are about. It seemed just as intrigued by me as I was by it. That was why after the first shot above, the others are in the open, it was quite content to come out in the open and not hide away.
What a day it was then ... amazing parrot sightings, a trip down the Rio Napo (a tributary to the mighty Amazon) and the world's smallest monkey hanging about and happy to let me take its portrait. I guess that is the beauty of wildlife, sometimes it ends up coming to you and that makes it that much better!

domain: travel


I have to admit, I am a big 80's music fan. It's not my fault! That's the decade, I first started getting into music. I remember around the time I was in 8th grade, was when I really discovered music. In the 80's was when I bought my first album, and started to like certain bands.
Well times have changed, and I am finding myself with diversified tastes in music. I have started to listen to different music on the radio. One station I like has started to play a lot of hip hop music. And I am starting to like some of the new music.
I found out that there are some new hip hop artists on the scene. The name of the latest, hottest group is IceBloc. IceBloc is made up of two guys, whose names are John Keys and Vernon Norfleet. They also go by the names J DOT and Vito, respectively.
I was just listening to some of their music on their myspace page. It actually is pretty good. Their newest album is called, KRANKMUZIK.
Although, I'll always be an 80's music fan in my heart, I am willing to give new music a try too. And I found that hip hop music is something I kind of like. I'd be willing to listen to IceBloc some more. Check them out if you like hip hop music too!


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21st April 2022 – Innovative slots supplier AvatarUX has introduced the 10th title in its PopWins™ series with beautifully crafted new addition MonkeyPop™. The game is released exclusively to AvatarUX’s partners with direct integrations and will be rolled out globally on the 12th May.
Boasting a distinct, Japanese art style inspired by the Ukiyo-e woodblock prints and sumi-e ink art, MonkeyPop™ features gameplay immediately recognisable as AvatarUX’s through the innovative PopWins™ mechanic, which sees winning symbols pop, before being replaced by two more, increasing the reel height. This ‘popping’ can continue until no more wins are present.
If all six reels are unlocked in base play, low symbols may be removed from play and two free spins, with a random multiplier, are awarded.
If three or more bonus symbols land on a single spin, free spins are awarded, where reels can grow up to seven reels tall.
Before entering the mode, a Reward Reel awaits players, giving random starting spins, ways, multipliers, and multiplier growth as players prepare for the bonus.
MonkeyPop™ also offers players three separate Buy Bonuses, including regular, plus and max modes, which offer increasing win potential for higher sums, in certain jurisdictions.
It becomes the newest release from one of iGaming’s most innovative slot studios, following Lollipop™ in Q1 2022, joining a portfolio of 10 popular titles that have gained a large fan-following around the globe.
Nicola Longmuir, CEO at AvatarUX, said: “MonkeyPop™ combines our vaunted PopWins™ mechanic with an incredibly detailed artistic style.
“We rebuilt our win presentation animations and created a completely new set of effects, all to ensure a very distinctive style that evokes the best of Japanese art.
“AvatarUX is always on the lookout to bring innovative concepts to market, from mechanics to art style, and we think MonkeyPop™ combines a multitude of factors to be a unique gaming experience. We are extremely pleased with MonkeyPop™ and the beautiful art and design our team has created makes this a truly outstanding game.”


Ryan and Lou end of August with a ZAMP that FINALLY features another mall conversation. In the news we chat about a new Plants vs Zombies game leaking, Netflix is launching an animated zombie show for kids, and D23 brings us a tease for Marvel’s What If series featuring a zombified Cap. We close out the show with a discussion for episodes 9 and 10 in the latest season of Fear The Walking Dead.
Zombies Ate My Podcast is a weekly podcast focused on all things zombies! Each week Bob, Ryan, and Lou break down the zombie news, discuss zombie movies both old and new, and spoil the living dead out of The Walking Dead.


Augmented Soul X AB Crazy - Special Kind of Love Ft. Mpho Serero
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Augmented Soul X AB Crazy Song special kind of love ft. mpho serero
Augmented Soul X AB Crazy special kind of love ft. mpho serero: New House release from Augmented Soul as he teams up with AB Crazy on this track titled Special Kind of Love featuring Mpho Serero.
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JAKARTA: Indonesia’s Islamic finance rank has improved exponentially this year, but challenges remain to further develop the sharia economy.
Based on the 2019 Islamic Finance Development Indicator (IFDI) launched on Tuesday by the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and financial market data provider Refinitiv, Indonesia’s ranking jumped six steps to fourth from 10th place in 2018 after Malaysia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
Refinitiv’s proposition manager, Shaima Hassan, said that the leapfrog in the ranking was caused by the fact that the country’s score improved by 37 percent this year driven by several factors, one of which was the establishment of the 2019-2024 sharia economy master plan.
The master plan, launched in May by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, was intended to empower Indonesia’s halal value chain and turn the country into a net producer instead of a market for halal goods and services.
Hassan explained during a media briefing following the launch of the report that several other factors also supported the jump in the country’s ranking, namely “raising awareness on Islamic finance, increased Islamic finance assets that reached US$86 billion in 2018, as well as well-established regulations for Islamic finance that promoted Indonesia as a leader in the industry”.
Despite the achievement, the country still struggles in tackling the challenges to develop sharia finance and the sharia economy. Some of the challenges came from the lack of participation from sharia banks in financing infrastructure projects, low optimization of waqf – a form of endowment specifically intended for charitable causes, usually given in the form of assets such as land or buildings – and zakat (alms) assets for economic development, as well as the higher rate of spending on halal products compared to production.
According to the Financial Services Authority, as of July 2019 Islamic financial assets (not including Islamic shares) amounted to Rp 1,359 trillion (US$97.07 billion), a 5 percent increase from the beginning of this year. Its market share is 8.7 percent of the total national financial assets.
National Committee for Sharia Finance (KNKS) executive director Ventje Rahardjo said the country’s sharia banks had actually been involved in a number of the country’s infrastructure projects, one of which was the Jakarta-Cikampek elevated toll road linking Jakarta with West Java.
“However, sharia banks can only participate in syndicated loans with other sharia and conventional banks as they have limited capital,” he said, referring to the Indonesian banking regulation that only allowed banks to disburse a maximum of 30 percent of its capital for big project loans like infrastructure.
He further explained that currently only state-owned lender Bank Mandiri’s subsidiary, Bank Syariah Mandiri (BSM), fell under the BUKU III category (core capital of Rp 5 trillion (US$357.14 million), while other sharia banks fell under the lower categories of BUKU I and BUKU II.
To tackle this issue, he continued, the committee was working to cooperate with other financial institutions to encourage more sharia banks to disburse larger loans in government-backed infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships.
One of the upcoming projects that will use this scheme will be a hospital construction project in Aceh, which is obliged by the province’s local sharia law to be financed through an Islamic financing scheme. The project is expected to begin in 2020.
At the same time, he said, the KNKS was encouraging sharia banks to increase their capital so they could have a bigger role in infrastructure projects, while also promoting the establishment of Islamic investment banking so that more sharia banks and financial institutions could participate in financing the government’s infrastructure projects.
Another challenge the country faced in developing its sharia economy came from the low usage in the social sector of alms and waqf in supporting development, Bank Indonesia (BI) deputy governor Dody Budi Waluyo said.
He said Indonesia’s large Muslim population meant that the country had huge potential in social finance. “Around 85 percent of our total population of 268 million are Muslims, which means that we have huge potential in social finance that comes from alms and waqf,” he explained.
Ventje, however, said the lack of data collection on the two instruments hindered the country in reaching its full potential as the KNKS recorded national alms collection at only Rp 8 trillion, much lower than the Islamic Development Bank estimate of Rp 200 trillion.
Lastly, one of the biggest challenges the country faced in developing the sharia economy was the lack of halal goods and services production, Dody said.
Despite the large Muslim population, Indonesia was more of a consumer of halal goods and services instead of a producer, he said, creating a problem not only for the sharia economy but also for the current account deficit, which worsened every time consumers imported their needs.
“If we can boost our production in halal goods and services, we can fulfill our household spending needs, as well as stabilize our inflation, prices, and currency and reduce our deficit,” he said.
© Jakarta Post


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Scotland's largest teaching union has issued an urgent call to the Scottish Executive to provide more off-site facilities for pupils with "particularly challenging behaviour". The demand comes in a new report, published today (Friday) by a special committee of the Educational Institute of Scotland, set up to tackle the problem of indiscipline.
While not as forthright as last week's report by the National Union of Teachers in England, which came close to a U-turn by that union on the sensitive issue of inclusion, the EIS report emphasises that it is a "growing concern of teachers that there are a number of pupils for whom a 'mainstream' placing is proving inappropriate or indeed impossible".
While the NUT report, based on work by former Strathclyde University education professor John MacBeath (now at Cambridge University), called for a "root and branch independent review of inclusion policies and practice", the EIS stance is more of an affirmation of its existing position. The union says that teachers and pupils have a right to work in a safe and disciplined environment and demands that funding be found to implement existing executive plans.
Ronnie Smith, EIS general secretary, said: "The EIS report is seeking three Cs -clarity of procedures and arrangements; consistency of application; and co-ownership of discipline policies."
The union has for some time been expressing concern that the unprecedented level of official activity in responding to concerns about behaviour is not having any real impact on classroom teachers. It therefore calls on every EIS local association to fulfil its role in pushing the discipline agenda in local negotiations and in supporting teachers in school.
Sandy Fowler, convener of the EIS indiscipline committee, said: "The Scottish Executive's policies of inclusion and the presumption of 'mainstreaming' have presented new and difficult challenges for teachers.
These challenges certainly require teachers to be more reflective about their teaching and about pupils' learning. But they also call into question the level of support that they receive from school management, from local authorities and indeed from the Scottish Executive."
Mr Fowler added: "This report confirms the EIS belief in the fundamental principle that teachers have the right to teach and that young people have the right to learn in a safe and disciplined environment. It is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and local authorities to meet these requirements.
"We acknowledge the place of alternatives to exclusion and the work of the Scottish Executive in promoting and funding innovative solutions. However, the impact of such innovations may take many years to become real or apparent - of little comfort to the teacher who is facing daily disruption or physical assault."
A spokeswoman for the executive said: "We are already taking action on many of the points raised in this report. We have already provided additional funding, including pound;35 million for additional support staff in schools, and are working with local authorities on a range of activities to improve behaviour -like putting in place behaviour co-ordinators and trying out restorative practices in schools.
"We are also looking at the support facilities that are available to Scottish schools for dealing with more challenging pupils."
Mr Fowler reaffirmed the EIS position that heads should continue to have the right to exclude difficult pupils, "where appropriate".
The union acknowledges that many children have increasingly complex lives "in which they often communicate their personal difficulties through challenging behaviour".
It adds, however: "Those schools which have had some success in tackling pupil indiscipline have been characterised by strong effective leadership but most importantly their policies on discipline and better behaviour have emerged after full consultation, have been clear and concise, featured good communication and have been consistently applied."
classroom havoc 6; Leader 22

domain: sociology