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Hey there, fellow traders and aspiring wordsmiths! Are you ready to unlock the secrets of crafting compelling trading copy that captures attention and drives conversions? Well, you’ve come to the right place! In this ultimate guide, we’ll delve into the art and science of creating winning trading copy that will make your audience go, “Wow!” So, fasten your seatbelts and let’s dive right in!
The Power of Trading Copy
Before we jump into the nitty-gritty, let’s take a moment to appreciate the true power of trading copy. In the world of trading, where every second counts and decisions are made in the blink of an eye, effective copy can be the game-changer that sets you apart from the competition. Trading copy has the ability to captivate, persuade, and ultimately influence the actions of your target audience.
Know Your Audience, Ace Your Copy
To create winning trading copy, you need to have a deep understanding of your target audience. Who are they? What are their pain points, desires, and motivations? The more you know about your audience, the better you can tailor your copy to resonate with them. So, put on your detective hat and conduct thorough research. Dive into forums, social media groups, and industry publications to gather insights that will inform your copywriting strategy.
Crafting Compelling Headlines
In the fast-paced world of trading, your headline is your first impression. It’s what grabs your reader’s attention and entices them to read further. So, how can you create headlines that pack a punch? Well, here are a few tips:
- Be concise and specific: Use clear and concise language that conveys the value proposition of your trading offer.
- Create a sense of urgency: Incorporate words and phrases that create a sense of urgency, prompting your readers to take immediate action.
- Leverage emotional triggers: Appeal to the emotions of your audience by highlighting the benefits and outcomes they can achieve through your trading strategy.
Remember, a great headline is like a catchy tune that lingers in your mind, making it impossible to resist clicking through!
The Anatomy of Winning Trading Copy
Now that we’ve hooked our readers with compelling headlines, let’s explore the key elements that make up winning trading copy. Remember, these are the building blocks that will guide your readers towards taking the desired action:
1. Captivating Introduction
Your introduction sets the stage for the rest of your copy. It should captivate your readers and make them hungry for more. Start with a relatable story, an intriguing fact, or a thought-provoking question that draws them in. Make them feel like you understand their struggles and have the solutions they’ve been searching for.
2. Show the Benefits
When it comes to trading copy, it’s all about showcasing the benefits. Highlight how your trading strategy can transform your audience’s lives or improve their trading results. Paint a vivid picture of the positive outcomes they can achieve by following your advice. Remember, people are motivated by what’s in it for them, so make sure to emphasize the value they’ll receive.
3. Back It Up with Social Proof
In the world of trading, trust is everything. That’s why incorporating social proof is a must in your copy. Share testimonials from satisfied clients, showcase impressive trading results, or mention reputable sources that endorse your strategy. By doing so, you’re building credibility and instilling confidence in your readers.
4. Call to Action
Your copy should always culminate in a compelling call to action (CTA). Whether it’s signing up for a newsletter, joining a trading community, or purchasing your trading course, your CTA should be clear, concise, and action-oriented. Use action verbs and create a sense of urgency to prompt your readers to take that crucial next step.
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Supercharge Your Trading Copy with Keywords
We can’t talk about copy without addressing the importance of keywords. Keywords are the secret sauce that makes your copy discoverable in search engine results. When it comes to trading copy, incorporating relevant keywords can significantly boost your visibility and attract the right audience. So, how can you make the most of keywords?
- Keyword research: Start by conducting thorough keyword research to identify the terms and phrases your target audience is searching for. Tools like Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush can be invaluable in this process.
- Strategic placement: Once you have your list of keywords, strategically place them throughout your copy. Incorporate them in your headlines, subheadings, and naturally within the body of your text. However, be careful not to overstuff your copy with keywords, as it can negatively impact readability and user experience.
- Variety is key: Don’t limit yourself to a single keyword. Explore variations and long-tail keywords that are relevant to your trading niche. This will help you cast a wider net and capture the attention of a broader audience.
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Congratulations, dear reader!You have now embarked on a journey to master the art of trading copy. By understanding your audience, crafting compelling headlines, and incorporating the key elements of winning copy, you’re well on your way to creating persuasive and impactful trading content.
Remember, the power of trading copy lies in its ability to captivate, persuade, and influence. So, take the time to know your audience inside out, and let that knowledge guide your writing. Craft headlines that pack a punch, drawing readers in with a sense of urgency and emotional appeal.
Discover the Best Trading Apps for Beginners
As you construct your copy, remember to showcase the benefits of your trading strategy and back it up with social proof. This builds trust and credibility, two essential elements when it comes to trading. And don’t forget the all-important call to action! Encourage your readers to take the next step with a clear and persuasive call to action that leaves them with no choice but to act.
Lastly, supercharge your trading copy with strategic keyword placement. Conduct thorough keyword research, strategically incorporate keywords throughout your content, and explore a variety of relevant terms and phrases. This will help you rank higher in search engine results and attract the right audience to your trading offerings.
Now, my fellow trader and wordsmith, armed with this ultimate guide, go forth and conquer the world of trading copy! May your words be powerful, your conversions be plentiful, and your success be limitless. Happy writing!


text:
LSU Shreveport hospital manager trying to get suit dismissed
BATON ROUGE - The operator of the LSU hospitals in Shreveport and Monroe is trying to maintain its hold on the facilities, asking a judge to throw out a university lawsuit seeking to have it removed.
A two-day court hearing in Baton Rouge began Wednesday over a request from the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana to have LSU's lawsuit dismissed.
LSU sued the research foundation, known as BRF, in September. The lawsuit claims BRF is in breach of its hospital management contract and failed to promote the hospitals' academic mission.
The foundation is arguing that LSU's lawsuit was improperly filed and doesn't establish the basic facts needed to show breach of contract.
It wasn't clear if Judge Todd Hernandez would rule at the end of the two-day hearing or wait until later.
Desktop NewsClick to open Continuous News in a sidebar that updates in real-time.
Some Baton Rouge bars giving out free drinks with vaccine appointments
Year-old sinkhole doesn't have quick fix in Baton Rouge neighborhood
Bills to improve Title IX policies move forward with no opposition
Wednesday's health report
Hit and run driver crashes into gas station pump, setting it ablaze...

domain: news


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Nine Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have raised the alarm that the forthcoming 2023 general election is under threat over the appointment of partisan and indicted persons as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The CSOs also rubbished the screening exercise conducted by the Senate on the appointed RECs, saying that the lawmakers ought to have known that some of the nominees were either partisan or indicted for corruption.
Recall that on July 26, 2022, the Senate read President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter conveying the nominations of 19 persons as RECs following the expiration of the tenure of the outgone RECs in 19 States. Of the 19 nominees, 14 were new appointments, while five were reappointed.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the CSOs said they will ensure the monitoring of the INEC officials ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The CSOs are Yiaga Africa; International Press Center; Center for Media and Society; The Albino Foundation; Elect Her, and Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF).
Others are Partners for Electoral Reform; Inclusive Friends Association, and The Kukah Centre.
Speaking at the press conference on behalf of the CSOs, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Mr Samson Itodo, said the outgone RECs deserve commendation for their hard work and meritorious service to the nation, adding that their stewardship as heads of INEC in the States they served contributed to the marked improvement in electoral governance in Nigeria.
“The new nominees include Pauline Onyeka Ugochi (Imo); Muhammad Lawal Bashir (Sokoto); Prof. Ayobami Salami (Oyo); Zango Abdu (Katsina); Queen Elizabeth Agwu (Ebonyi); Agundu Tersoo (Benue), Yomere Oritsemlebi (Delta); Prof. Yahaya Ibrahim, (Kaduna); Dr. Nura Ali (Kano); Agu Uchenna Sylvia (Enugu); Ahmed Garki (FCT); Hudu Yunusa (Bauchi); Prof. Uzochukwu Chijioke, (Anambra); and Mohammed Nura (Yobe). The reappointed nominees include Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa); Obo Effanga (Cross River); Umar Ibrahim (Taraba); Agboke Olaleke (Ogun); and Prof. Samuel Egwu (Kogi).
“Appointments into the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have grave implications for the credibility, independence and capacity of the Commission to deliver credible, transparent, inclusive and conclusive elections. It is for this reason that the Constitution prescribes the criteria and procedure for appointments into INEC to protect the Commission’s neutrality, objectivity and non-partisanship.
“Section 156(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly prohibits the appointment of any person who is a member of a political party as a member of INEC. To further ensure the neutrality of the members of INEC, the Constitution clearly mandates in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Item F, paragraph 14 (1) that Commissioners shall be non-partisan and persons of unquestionable integrity.
“In his letter to the Senate, President Buhari asserts the request for the confirmation of the nominees was in accordance with the provisions of Section 154 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution. Our investigation and analysis prove the contrary. Some of the nominees of the President fail the constitutional test of non-partisanship and unquestionable integrity. Evidence abounds that some of the nominees are either partisan, politically aligned, or previously indicted for corruption,” they said.
He cited the case of Prof. Muhammad Lawal Bashir from Sokoto State, who was a governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 elections cycle.
“Mrs. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, the nominee for Enugu state, is believed to be the younger sister of the APC Deputy National Chairman, South-East. The nominee for Imo State, Mrs Pauline Onyeka Ugochi, a former Head of ICT at INEC in Imo State, gained notoriety for alleged corruption and connivance with politicians to undermine elections. Mrs. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, a former Accountant-General of the Ebonyi, was suspended allegedly on the grounds of incompetence and corruption in 2016.
“We contend that the appointment of these individuals as RECs will significantly undermine the neutrality and impartiality of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and it will increase mistrust in INEC and Nigeria’s electoral process. By the combined effect of Section 156 (1)(a) and Third Schedule, Part 1, Item F, paragraph 14 (1), these individuals are constitutionally prohibited from any appointment as members of INEC. It will be against the sacred spirit of the Constitution to accept their nomination. Given their antecedent and close affinity with political parties, it is improbable that they will remain neutral and objective if successfully screened as INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC),” the CSOs said.
The CSOs noted that they were constrained to observe that the appointments did not reflect the principles of non-discrimination and inclusivity that the Civil Society Community has and continues to advocate, particularly, in the instant case, with regard to Persons with Disability (PWDs) who represent about 15% of Nigeria’s population and have been completely left out of the process.
“We submit that it is critical that as we strive to make the electoral process more inclusive, representative, and qualitative, the appointment of PWDS would provide the pulse required to give effect to the provisions of the Discrimination Against Persons Living with Disabilities Act, 2018, and other legislations and guiding principles in that regard.
“To this end, we, the undersigned, reject their appointment as RECs entirely and urge President Buhari to withdraw their nomination in the public interest and in furtherance of his commitment to leave a legacy of a truly independent electoral institution that enjoys the trust and confidence of citizens and electoral stakeholders.
“Also, we call for a thorough examination and background checks of the credentials of the nominees. The Senate is urged to reject these nominees that fall short of the threshold of non-partisanship and impeccable character. Electoral commissioners must be individuals with impeccable character, unquestionable neutral inclinations, dispositions, and competence. The nominations and process of confirmation must be inclusive and representative of all segments of the society.
“It is critical for the legitimacy and success of the 2023 general election that the appointment of the RECs is concluded expeditiously in a transparent, non-partisan, and professional manner, especially now that the 2023 election is in 183 days. To this end, we, the undersigned, make the following call;
“President Buhari should withdraw the nomination of these individuals in the public interest and in furtherance of his commitment to leave a legacy of a truly independent electoral institution that enjoys the trust and confidence of citizens and electoral stakeholders.
“In making nominations into INEC, President Buhari should be guided by the judgment of the Federal High Court on affirmative action wherein the court directed that all appointments must comply with the 35% affirmative action for women. In the same vein, the President should ensure the representation of Persons with disability (PWDs) and young people in the appointments.
“The Senate should completely reject the nominees as INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners.
“The Senate should accelerate the process of screening nominees without compromising due diligence and comprehensive scrutiny of nominations forwarded by the President,” the groups added.


text: The biggest problem lies in retiree health care, the analysis concludes, with many cities having set aside no money to pay these costs. Cincinnati has done the best job, funding 85% of retiree health costs, with a 2009 plan that raised deductibles, co-pays, and beneficiaries' out-of-pocket costs. Detroit's situation is going to be muddled in questions of race and class, as has always been the case there, but the bigger question is how much of the pain will be borne by workers, how much will be borne by bondholders, and whether the city that emerges from the process becomes a worthwhile investment again. While the Brookings Institute claimed a few years ago that cities are now growing faster than suburbs a more recent Trulia analysis, based on census tract density, indicates that, while the most densely populated urban centers are growing faster than other areas, low-density suburbs are still growing faster than cities. So Detroit may have a long way to go. But for now it's an awesome bargain, with tons of family-sized homes being offered, even at the city's edge, for under $60,000. I took that kind of deal in Atlanta 30 years ago next week, and came out fine. Maybe you will, too. At the time of publication, the author had no investments in Detroit. Follow @danafblankenhor This article is commentary by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.

domain: sociology


text:
Chapter 154 – Astrocytoma of Retina
JAMES J. AUGSBURGER
ALAN F. CRUESS
• Benign neuroglial tumor that arises from retinal astrocytes.
• Translucent to opaque white inner retinal tumor.
• Tuberous sclerosis in many affected individuals, especially those who have bilateral, multifocal retinal lesions.
The retinal astrocytoma is a benign acquired neoplasm that arises from astrocytes of the sensory retina. Lesions of this type occur in a multifocal bilateral pattern that is frequently associated with tuberous sclerosis and in a unilateral, unifocal pattern that usually represents a sporadic nonsyndromic disorder.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS
Astrocytoma of the retina appears to be rare, but its precise frequency in the general population has not been determined. The tumor tends to arise early in life and is frequently detected during childhood or adolescence. However, some lesions are not noted until adulthood. Astrocytoma of the retina affects all ethnic groups and both sexes equally. Recognized risk factors for development of an astrocytoma of the retina include tuberous sclerosis and possibly neurofibromatosis (see Systemic Associations ).
Patients who have one or more retinal astrocytomas usually have no visual symptoms unless the tumor involves the macula. Occasionally, a retinal astrocytoma remote from the fovea causes a nonrhegmatogenous retinal detachment that involves the macular retina and abruptly blurs the vision in that eye.
The retinal astrocytoma usually appears as a white, superficial retinal mass.  The clinical spectrum of retinal astrocytomas
Figure 154-1 Small translucent retinal astrocytoma. The patient was an 11-year-old boy who had tuberous sclerosis.
characteristically ranges from faint translucent intraretinal patches ( Fig. 154-1 ) through more distinctly nodular, opaque white, inner-retinal lesions to dense partially calcified mulberry-like tumors ( Fig. 154-2 ). Lesions of these three types may be present simultaneously in the same eye. The lesion is vascularized from the retina, but its afferent and efferent blood vessels are usually not particularly dilated or tortuous. Retinal astrocytomas can arise from any location in the retina, from the optic disc and macula to the oral zone. Patients who have tuberous sclerosis or neurofibromatosis and develop retinal astrocytomas are more likely to have multiple and more peripheral lesions than patients with the nonsyndromic disease.
An atypical type of retinal astrocytoma is the isolated nonsyndromic lesion that occurs unilaterally in otherwise unaffected individuals ( Fig. 154-3 ). Lesions of this type can attain a relatively large size and cause profound visual loss, usually on the basis of their macular location or accumulation of exudative subretinal fluid. Unless the possibility of an astrocytoma is considered clinically, eyes that have this sort of tumor usually come to enucleation because amelanotic choroidal melanoma or another malignant neoplasm is suspected.
DIAGNOSIS AND ANCILLARY TESTING
In most cases, conventional diagnostic testing does not help in diagnosis or treatment planning. Fluorescein angiography of a classical retinal astrocytoma typically shows relatively slow filling of the intralesional vasculature, absence of dilated afferent
Figure 154-2 Calcified mulberry-like retinal astrocytoma partially overlying optic disc. The patient had tuberous sclerosis.
Figure 154-3 Isolated nonsyndromic retinal astrocytoma with secondary retinal detachment. The patient was a 35-year-old woman.
Figure 154-4 Fluorescein angiography of retinal astrocytoma. A, Retinal venous phase frame showing multitude of fluorescent small blood vessels within generally hypofluorescent mass. B, Late phase frame showing diffuse staining of astrocytoma and associated serous subretinal fluid.
Differential Diagnosis of Retinal Astrocytoma
• Toxocara granuloma
• Exaggerated macular exudative lesion in idiopathic retinal telangiectasis or retinal capillary hemangiomatosis
• Isolated patch of myelinated retinal nerve fibers
• Amelanotic choroidal melanoma
• Massive gliosis of retina
and efferent retinal vascular channels, and limited late staining of the tumor ( Fig. 154-4 ). Isolated retinal astrocytomas characteristically exhibit prominent surface vascularity, which helps differentiate these lesions from amelanotic choroidal melanomas that have retinal invasion. B-scan ultrasonography shows small noncalcified retinal astrocytomas to be ill-defined lesions having reflectivity similar to that of normal retina. In contrast, B scan shows larger calcified retinal astrocytomas to have focal strong intralesional reflections and orbital shadowing by the mass. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can reveal characteristic central nervous system lesions of tuberous sclerosis but are not otherwise particularly helpful in the differential diagnosis. Occasionally, fine-needle aspiration biopsy can help to establish the diagnosis of an atypical retinal astrocytoma.
The lesions and disorders that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of retinal astrocytoma are listed in Box 154-1 .
Treatment Options for Retinal Astrocytomas
• Observation (most cases)
• Enucleation (blind painful eyes due to intraocular progression of tumor)
As indicated previously, multifocal bilateral retinal astrocytomas usually occur in the context of tuberous sclerosis.  In contrast, most unilateral unifocal retinal astrocytomas occur as isolated lesions in patients who have no underlying systemic disorder.
Baseline Systemic Evaluation
Because of the benign nature of the retinal astrocytoma, a baseline systemic evaluation for malignancy is not warranted. However, an assessment aimed at the detection of other features of tuberous sclerosis or neurofibromatosis is appropriate.
The typical retinal astrocytoma consists of a mass of interlacing spindle-shaped fibrous astrocytes that contain small bland elongated oval nuclei and have indistinct wavy cytoplasmic borders. Larger lesions frequently contain foci of calcification. Many retinal astrocytomas, especially those that occur in tuberous sclerosis or neurofibromatosis, also contain plump, polygonal cells having eosinophilic cytoplasm that have been termed giant astrocytes. The retinal astrocytoma is regarded by many ophthalmic pathologists as a hamartoma (a benign congenital tumor composed of tissue elements that are normal for the location in which they occur) rather than as an acquired neoplasm.
For most retinal astrocytomas, no treatment is required ( Box 154-2 ). For patients whose intraocular tumor enlarges progressively and eventuates in a blind, painful eye, enucleation seems to be the only effective treatment. Radiotherapy by plaque or charged particle beam has not been shown to be effective.
COURSE AND OUTCOMES
Astrocytomas of the retina tend to develop early in childhood and show some tendency for limited progression during the childhood years. However, these tumors have extremely limited malignant potential and do not metastasize. If they occur in or adjacent to the foveola, they can cause visual loss on the basis of progressive retinal degeneration. In most cases, however, they are associated with normal visual acuity.
1. Nyboer JH, Robertson DM, Gomez MR. Retinal lesions in tuberous sclerosis. Arch Ophthalmol. 1976;94:1277–80.
2. Rowley SA, O’Callaghan FJ, Osborne JP. Ophthalmic manifestations of tuberous sclerosis: a population based study. Br J Ophthalmol. 2001;85:420–3.
3. Lee JA, Harvey P, Finlay RD, Berry PJ. Solitary astrocytoma of the retina in a child. Br J Ophthalmol. 1996;80:673–4.
4. Shields JA, Shields CL, Ehya H, et al. Atypical retinal astrocytic hamartoma diagnosed by fine-needle biopsy. Ophthalmology. 1996;103:949–52.
5. Ulbright TM, Fulling KH, Helveston EM. Astrocytic tumors of the retina. Differentiation of sporadic tumors from phakomatosis-associated tumors. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1984;108:160–3.

domain: medical


Funnyman Sir Bill Connolly has apologised to anyone who may have been upset at the news of what was thought to be his imminent death.
The 76-year-old has quashed any morbid rumours in a video capturing him happily playing a banjo while basking in the sun.
The video was posted by his wife Pamela Stephenson captioned with one word: "Today.''
As he plays a few chords on the instrument, Sir Billy says: "Not dying, not dead, not slipping away.
"Sorry if I depressed ya - maybe I should've phrased it better,'' he says, as his wife chuckles behind the camera.
Sir Billy looks the picture of health in the video; looking fresh in a simple white T-shirt while sitting on a wicker chair on what appears to be a wharf overlooking the water.
A small vessel can be seen just behind him.
The video comes after speculation last week that the legendary Scottish comedian was near death; after he shared about his life on a new documentary.
The BBC series, made in Scotland, is due to be released in the UK.
In it, Sir Billy says his life is "slipping away'' and that he is now "near the end''.
Sir Billy was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2013 after minor surgery for prostate cancer.


text:
partial lunar eclipse will be visible right across parts of the Americas, Asia and the Pacific tonight.
From about 10.15pm, the full moon will start to move into the earth’s shadow. Around 11.40pm, it will be at its furtherest point inside the shadow. The whole process will end at around 1am Sunday.
Stardome Observatory astronomer Grant Christie says any cloud tonight may not be a problem, as long as it is not too thick, as the full moon is quite bright. He says the entire Western Pacific will have a good view, as the moon will be high in the sky during mid-eclipse.
– NEWSTALK ZB
on 26/06/2010 10:20pm
High in the sky, the moon’s partial lunar eclipse looked beautiful. Clear skies above us as huge towering cumulus reared their heads in the West..
on 26/06/2010 12:29pm
Could see it through the cloud on the intitial phase but from after then cloud layers moving across fron the SW here too thick to observe.
on 26/06/2010 11:37am
Very cool to watch – First time that I can remember seeing a Lunar Eclipse 🙂
Nice clear sky in Auckland
on 26/06/2010 10:42am
Fortunately unlike the cloudy days of recent in Auckland its high and a clear ingress can be seen at the “bottom” of the moon,quite dark.


text:
About 180,000 civil servants in Hong Kong are being told they need to sign a document pledging their loyalty to the government, or get out. They have four weeks to do it.
More than 4,000 of them in the colony have already pledged their loyalty since Beijing imposed a national security law in June.
The law reshaped freedom of speech in Hong Kong completely.
It punishes anything the Chinese government considers to be terrorism, subversion, collusion with other forces, and secession from the country.
According to Reuters, civil servants are taking an oath promising to uphold Hong Kong's basic law and pledge allegiance to the city and its government.
The kicker is those who refuse to sign the pledge can lose their jobs.
The Hong Kong Civil Service Bureau stated that all civil servants should "acknowledge and accept these basic duties."
“Negligence or refusal to take the oath or to duly sign and return the declaration by a civil servant casts serious doubts on his or her willingness to take up these basic duties and his or her suitability to remain in the civil service,” said the statement.
The statement also outlines that any support for "Hong Kong independence", carrying out activities that risk national security, refusing to acknowledge China's sovereignty, and soliciting foreign intervention are all strictly not allowed.
On top of that, any act that aims to "undermine the government in the governance and administration of Hong Kong” would also be a direct violation of the declaration.
Due to the new ruling, a civil servant union formed during the 2019 Hong Kong anti-government protests has disbanded.
The union, Ngan, is known for organizing a rally for public sector workers against the extradition bill in 2019. Later that year, the government retracted the bill.
The Civil Service Bureau asked all government employees hired before 1st July 2020 to make the pledge by mid-February, 2021. Those who don't make the pledge will lose their posts.
Read more about Hong Kong:
Hong Kong just showed the world that it's entirely possible to be protest peacefully. Here's proof.
Singapore's travel bubble with Hong Kong has been postponed
Twitter and Facebook tell Hong Kong authorities to get bent (for now)
Follow Mashable SEA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Cover image sourced from Al Jazeera and BBC


|Publication number||US5096346 A|
|Application number||US 07/311,851|
|Publication date||Mar 17, 1992|
|Filing date||Feb 17, 1989|
|Priority date||Dec 7, 1988|
|Also published as||EP0373098A2, EP0373098A3|
|Publication number||07311851, 311851, US 5096346 A, US 5096346A, US-A-5096346, US5096346 A, US5096346A|
|Original Assignee||Ueda Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (8), Referenced by (14), Classifications (12), Legal Events (6)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
The present invention relates to apparatus for machining mainly opposite side faces of plates, for example, for jigs, platelike members, dies or the like.
For example, duplex horizontal head milling machines of the fixed-bed type are conventionally used for cutting opposite side faces of plates or the like.
With reference to FIG. 5 showing such a conventional machine, opposite side faces of workpiece 9a are cut simultaneously with milling cutters 16a, 16a mounted on milling heads 15a, 15a, respectively, by moving a saddle 29 upward or downward to an adjusted level, clamping the work 9a as placed on the saddle 29, further moving the milling heads 15a, 15a to adjust the distance therebetween in accordance with the size to which the work 9a is to be cut, and thereafter reciprocatingly moving the saddle 29.
However, to cut the workpiece 9a to the desired size, the workpiece 9a must be accurately placed on the saddle 29.
Accordingly, the workpiece 9a is positioned in place usually by securing the workpiece to a platelike table 31 formed with specified pin bores 30 on the saddle 29, inserting several pins 32 into some of the bores 30 in the table 31 as seen in FIG. 5, then clamping the work 9a with a jig 33 with two intersecting side faces of the work 9a in contact with the pins 32 and thereafter removing the pins 32 from the table 31.
Nevertheless, the conventional side face cutting machine has the major problem of being large-sized and therefore limited in the place where it is installable since the saddle 29 itself is adapted to reciprocate.
Additionally, a very cumbersome procedure is needed for positioning the saddle 29 and the milling heads 15a, 15a and also for positioning the workpiece 9a, consequently entailing the drawback that the cutting operation requires much time and is very inefficient.
It is further necessary to prepare many tables 31 of different sizes for use with workpieces 9a of varying sizes, while it is also very cumbersome to change one table for another.
The main object of the present invention, which has been accomplished to overcome the problems heretofore encountered, is to provide a side face machining apparatus which has a reduced size and in which the workpiece to be machined can be positioned very easily and rapidly to achieve a high operation efficiency.
To fulfill the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a pair of slide blocks opposed to each other and provided with work supports at their respective opposed ends, at least one of the slide blocks is reciprocatingly movable toward and away from the other slide block, and a pair of mount tables are mounted on the respective slide blocks movably in a direction intersecting the direction of reciprocating movement of the slide blocks, each of the mount tables is provided with a machining tool.
With the side face machining apparatus having the above feature, the opposed slide blocks are moved toward or away from each other to adjust the distance therebetween in accordance with the size to which the contemplated workpiece is to be machined, whereby the work supports and the machining tools are moved at the same time with the slide blocks. This eliminates the need to move the work supports individually by additional means for adjustment, resulting in the outstanding advantage that the parts and the work are positionable in place very easily and rapidly without necessitating the cumbersome procedure conventionally needed.
Opposite side faces of the workpiece placed on the work supports thereacross can be machined by the tools at the same time by moving the mount tables in the direction intersecting the direction of reciprocation of the slide blocks.
Consequently, there is no need to provide reciprocatingly movable work support saddle which are conventionally used between the slide blocks. This leads to the advantage of rendering the apparatus itself small-sized and thereby minimizing the limitation imposed on the place of its installation, further resulting in diminished power consumption.
When each work support includes a contact portion having a reference face for positioning the work by contact with a side face thereof, the workpiece can be positioned in place with extreme ease without necessitating the conventional cumbersome procedure, merely by contacting one side face of the workpiece with the reference face of the contact portion.
At least one of the work supports may be provided with a positioning guide at one side thereof. This entails the advantage that the workpiece can be positioned in place more accuretely and rapidly merely by placing the workpiece on the supports thereacross with another side face of the workpiece in contact with the guide.
When the work supports are provided with means for fixing the workpiece, the fixing means can also be brought to the specified position with the movement of the work supports. This results in an expedited operation to achieve a remarkably improved work efficiency.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a side face machining apparatus embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged front view showing another side face machining apparatus embodying the invention; and
FIG. 5 is a front view schematically showing a conventional milling machine.
Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings concerned.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 showing a side face machining apparatus, a pair of slide blocks 1, 1 are opposed to each other which are movable toward or away from each other along a rail 3 installed on the frame 2 of the apparatus. An elongated screw rod 4 is screwed through a female screw member 5 attached to the bottom of each slide block 1 and is coupled to an electric motor 7 at one end through a reduction gear 6. The slide blocks 1, 1 are movable toward or away from each other by driving the motors 7.
A pair of work supports 8, 8 provided at the respective opposed ends of the slide blocks 1, 1 each include at its one end a contact portion 10 formed at a right angle with the upper surface of the support to provide a reference face for the workpiece 9 to be machined when the front side face thereof is positioned in contact therewith. Mount tables 11, 11 are mounted on the slide blocks 1, 1, respectively, and each formed with a groove 13 having slidably fitted therein a guide rail 12 extending on the slide block 1 longitudinally thereof. The mount tables 11, 11 thus opposed to each other are movable on the slide blocks 1, 1 in the direction of arrows B in FIG. 3 by hydraulic cylinders 14, 14 which are operatively connected to each other.
Milling heads 15, 15 are provided on the respective mount tables 11, 11 and each having two spindles. Milling heads 16, 16 opposed to each other are each mounted on one of the two spindles. A chamfering cutter 17 disposed under each milling cutter 16 at one side thereof is mounted on the other spindle. The milling cutters 16, 16 and chamfering cutters 17, 17 are drivingly rotated by electric motors 18, 18, respectively. A hydraulic cylinder 20 is attached to a mount portion 21 provided on the other end of each work support 8 and is adapted to press the workpiece 9 against the support 8 from above to fix the workpiece thereto with a generally rectangular pressure plate 22 attached to the rod of the cylinder.
One of the work supports 8, 8 is provided at its one side with a positioning guide 23 which is pivotally movable in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2. A fixing plate 24 is provided for pressing on the rear side face of the workpiece 9 placed on the work supports 8, 8 to fix the workpiece in position. The fixing plate 24 is slidable on the work supports 8, 8 by a hydraulic cylinder 25. A receptacle 26 for receiving chips or fragments produced by machining the workpiece 9 is provided alongside each work support 8.
The side face machining apparatus embodying the invention and having the foregoing construction is used in the following manner.
First, the electric motors 7, 7 are started to move the slide blocks 1, 1 in the direction of arrows A shown in FIG. 1 and thereby adjust the distance between the blocks 1, 1 in accordance with the amount of cut to be made in the work 9. The workpiece supports 8, 8 also move with the blocks at the same time.
The workpiece 9 is then placed on the work supports 8, 8 thereacross, with two intersecting side faces thereof in contact with the contact portions 10 of the supports 8, 8 and the positioning guide 23. The hydraulic cylinders 20, 20 and the hydraulic cylinder 25 serving as work fixing means are operated to fix the workpiece 9 to the supports 8, 8 by pressing the upper surface of the workpiece with the pressure plates 22, 22 and the rear side face thereof with the fixing plate 24. In the above arrangement, the hydraulic cylinders 20, 20 serving as the fixing means are attached to the mount portions 21, 21 on the work supports 8, 8 and are therefore moved with these supports 8, 8, with the result that the workpiece 9 can be fixed in place rapidly. Moreover, the workpiece 9 can be positioned accurately with extreme ease in the above-mentioned manner.
Next, the positioning guide 23 is pivotally moved in the direction C out of contact with the workpiece 9. The electric motors 18, 18 are then started to drive the milling cutters 16, 16 and the chamfering cutters 17, 17, and the mount tables 11, 11 are moved on the slide blocks 1, 1 in the direction B shown in FIG. 3 by the hydraulic cylinders 14, 14, whereby opposite side faces of the workpiece 9 fixed to the work supports 8, 8 are simultaneously cut and chamfered by the milling cutters 16, 16 and the chamfering cutters 17, 17. Thus, the mount tables 11, 11 are moved for machining instead of moving the workpiece supporting saddle conventionally used, so that the machining apparatus itself can be of a reduced size and can therefore be installed in a smaller space, hence effective utilization of space.
The workpiece 9 is thereafter released from the fixed state and removed from the work supports 8, 8. In this way, opposite side faces of the workpiece 9 can be completely cut by a greatly facilitated procedure.
Both slide blocks 1, 1 need not always be made movable toward or away from each other unlike the above embodiment; at least one of the slide blocks 1, 1 may be made movable toward or away from the other.
The means for moving the slide blocks 1, 1 and the work supports 8, 8 are not limited to those of the foregoing embodiment but can be any of other suitable means.
The positioning guide 23 need not always be provided but may be used when required.
In place of the means of the foregoing embodiment for fixing the workpiece 9, for example magnets 27, 27 mounted on the respective work supports 8, 8 as shown in FIG. 4 may serve as the fixing means. It is then possible to rotate the workpiece through 90 degrees in the direction of arrow D by a shaft 28 which is made movable upward and downward and rotatable, for example, by an electric motor and hydraulic cylinder, so as to automatically machine the four side faces of the workpiece 9.
The above embodiment, which includes the chamfering cutters 17, 17, has the desirable advantage that the workpiece 9 can also be chamfered simultaneously with the cutting operation by the movement of the mount tables 11, 11, whereas the chamfering cutters 17, 17 can be eliminated.
The side face machining apparatus of the present invention is usable not only for cutting operation as described above but also, for example, for cutting off workpieces with use of different tools. Since the present apparatus requires no saddle for placing the workpiece thereon, a space is formed between the slide blocks 1, 1 which can be utilized to provide, for example, a belt conveyor for feeding workpieces to the apparatus and delivering the workpieces therefrom automatically.
Furthermore, the slide block 1, the work support 8 and the mount table 11 can be altered in shape or otherwise modified as desired within the contemplated scope of the present invention.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US1685572 *||Feb 4, 1928||Sep 25, 1928||Onsrud Machine Works Inc||Woodworking machine|
|US2325541 *||Dec 4, 1939||Jul 27, 1943||Gen Motors Corp||Milling machine|
|US2421716 *||Feb 8, 1944||Jun 3, 1947||Lockheed Aircraft Corp||Machine worktable having magnetic clamp means|
|US2631500 *||Aug 30, 1947||Mar 17, 1953||Giddings & Lewis||Machine tool|
|US4180359 *||Dec 19, 1977||Dec 25, 1979||Gebrueder Heller Maschinenfabrik Gmbh||Machine tool for machining of shafts, especially crankshafts|
|US4215958 *||Sep 19, 1978||Aug 5, 1980||Trennjager Maschinenfabrik, Inh. Leopold Jagers||Drilling machine|
|US4712953 *||Feb 19, 1987||Dec 15, 1987||Cincinnati Milacron Inc.||Method and apparatus for aligning cutting tools|
|JPS55150907A *||Title not available|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US6116829 *||Sep 26, 1997||Sep 12, 2000||Maschinenfabrik, Karl H. Arnold Gmbh & Co. Kg||apparatus for machining at least one edge of at least one sheet metal plate|
|US7114894 *||Mar 26, 2002||Oct 3, 2006||The Hillman Group, Inc.||Key cutting machine and method|
|US7179030 *||Jan 27, 2006||Feb 20, 2007||Alfing Kessler Sondermaschinen Gmbh||Machine tool|
|US8123445 *||Jan 10, 2007||Feb 28, 2012||Nitto Denko Corporation||Cutting method and manufacturing method of sheet member, sheet member, optical element, and image display device|
|US8980403||Jan 23, 2012||Mar 17, 2015||Nitto Denko Corporation||Cutting method and manufacturing method of sheet member, sheet member, optical element, and image display device|
|US9514385||Jan 23, 2014||Dec 6, 2016||Hy-Ko Products Company||Key blank identification system with groove scanning|
|US9582734||Jan 3, 2014||Feb 28, 2017||Hy-Ko Products Company||Key blank identification system with bitting analysis|
|US20020141843 *||Mar 26, 2002||Oct 3, 2002||Mueller Michael A.||Key cutting machine and method|
|US20040136804 *||Jan 13, 2003||Jul 15, 2004||Clinch James Patrick||Collapsible nut|
|US20050158136 *||Jan 13, 2005||Jul 21, 2005||Nitto Denko Corporation||Cutting method and cutting apparatus for layered sheet, layered sheet, optical element and image display|
|US20060188352 *||Jan 27, 2006||Aug 24, 2006||Carsten Krosta||Machine tool|
|US20080289464 *||Jan 10, 2007||Nov 27, 2008||Nitto Denko Corporation||Cutting method and manufacturing method of sheet member, sheet member, optical element, and image display device|
|CN100423874C||Jan 14, 2005||Oct 8, 2008||日东电工株式会社||Cutting method and cutting apparatus for layered sheet, layered sheet, optical element and image display|
|CN102172783A *||Mar 3, 2011||Sep 7, 2011||中山建德工业有限公司||Numerical control form milling machine|
|U.S. Classification||409/203, 409/218, 409/225, 409/197|
|International Classification||B23C3/12, B23C3/00|
|Cooperative Classification||Y10T409/309016, Y10T409/307448, Y10T409/307784, Y10T409/308624, B23C3/12|
|Feb 17, 1989||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: UEDA ENGINEERING KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:UEDA, HIROSHI;REEL/FRAME:005045/0681
Effective date: 19881220
|Aug 23, 1995||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|Sep 7, 1999||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 8
|Oct 2, 2003||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|Mar 17, 2004||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|May 11, 2004||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 20040317


text:
Saido Berahino has been banned from the roads for 30 months and fined £75,000 for drink-driving after he was robbed on a night out.
The 25-year-old was almost three times the legal limit when his black Range Rover was stopped in London's West End in the early hours of February 18.
The Burundi-born striker, who started his career with West Bromwich Albion, told Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court he had driven his car for less than 30 seconds after drinking two mojito cocktails.
He claimed he only did so because he feared an armed gang, who had stolen his watch, two diamond chains and a bracelet minutes earlier, would return to attack him and his group, including his girlfriend and niece.
"I just felt like I was targeted because I was a professional footballer and the guys knew who I was," he said.
"I was scared. I had just been attacked and obviously my niece was there, and I had to take action. I had to drive off from the scene," he continued. "They had a knife and a gun as well."
Berahino, of Old Penkridge Road, Staffordshire, denied one count of drink-driving on the basis he was acting "under duress of circumstances" but magistrates found him guilty of the offence on Wednesday.
Chair of the bench Mark Oxenham said the prosecution had not proved their case beyond reasonable doubt "that the defendant was not in fear of death or fear of serious injury to himself or his companions".
But he added that Berahino's sober girlfriend had driven the car immediately before and "could have continued the journey away from the scene".
Magistrates banned him from driving for 30 months, fined him £75,000 and ordered him to pay £870 in other costs.
The court heard Berahino - who has previous convictions for drink-driving in 2015 and being drunk in charge of a vehicle in 2012 - has no current income, having been suspended from Stoke without pay, although his outgoings are some £20,000 a month.
His barrister Garry Green said Berahino, who plays international football for Burundi, is due to appear in the African Cup of Nations this summer.
He said he is due to leave the country for a training camp on May 20 and could be away until July 13.
Berahino, who joined Stoke for an initial £12 million in January 2017 from West Brom, said he has not played since the incident.
"It's had a massive impact on my career," he said.
"The club has taken a stance on it. I was suspended from first team action to play for the team. That was the last thing I wanted."
The court heard police were called at around 3am to reports of a possible stabbing involving seven people outside VQ Cafe, in Great Russell Street and followed Berahino's 4x4 the short distance to Bedford Square.
Pc Stephen Luu said Berahino's "eyes appeared red and he appeared really nervous," adding: "As I got closer to him, I could actually smell alcohol on his breath.
"I did ask him if he had been drinking, and he replied, 'yes, just one'."
His colleague, Pc Oliver Clixby, said the footballer's "eyes were bloodshot" and his speech "was rather slurred".
The court heard he was asked to breathe into a breathalyser, which showed he had 112mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath and Pc Clixby said that when he was arrested,Berahino replied: "This is bullshit."
He added: "You're treating me like criminal. I'm the victim."
At the police station Berahino was found to be almost three times the drink-drive limit, with 103mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the court heard. The legal limit is 35mg.
Berahino told magistrates he did not initially tell police he was attacked because he didn't want "anything to get out in the media".
"It would jeopardise my career and I was scared of that," he said. He said he drove from Birmingham to London with his girlfriend, niece and her boyfriend to eat at the Sumosan Twiga restaurant in Knightsbridge despite having a game the next day.
Berahino admitted it was a breach of the rules of his club, which forbids players from going on nights out for 48 hours before playing.
Berahino, wearing a black suit, white T-shirt and black shoes with no socks, claimed he drank two mojitos at the restaurant before his girlfriend drove to the VQ Cafe.
He said her ex-boyfriend was "very aggressive" when he arrived claiming she owed him £10,000, then returned later having removed his jewellery and changed his clothes.
Berahino told the court he was approached by four men, who he didn't know, two of whom flashed weapons.
"I can see a knife on one male and the other had a gun - I could see the handle," he said.
"I was scared, shocked. I just wanted to get away from there. I tried to get back in the car but one of them grabbed the door so me and him are fighting back-and-forth, back-and-forth.
"I was afraid for my life and my girlfriend and niece was there. I took a decision to run off because I was scared."
Berahino said he tripped to the floor and CCTV footage played in court showed him being attacked by two men.
The court heard he was left with minor injuries and a torn t-shirt.
Berahino said he got back to the car where the rest of his companions were "panicked" and drove for less than 30 seconds, adding: "At the time I was scared. I didn't know what to do."
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text:
Check out my new article @ http://www.ciol.com/Developer/Enterprise-Tools/Feature/Convenience-Banking-a-journey-into-unseen/211209129172/0/.This time around (in a Banking Scenario), I have tried to highlight the need for uniformity in User Experience across various form factors like Internet Banking, ATM, TV & Mobile.
Follow the news @: http://infotech.indiatimes.com/News-Software__Services-Microsofts_free_anti-virus_launched_in_India/articleshow/5343853.cms Download @: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/default.aspx?mkt=en-us#dlbutton
Watch Live @ http://live.indiatimes.com. This is absolutely cool. Times Now streamed live onto our desktops. Times of India TAN, the digital video arm of the Times Group, announced the launch of the live stream for Times Now, India TV and Zoom. Starting December 1st, web users can watch the television feed of India’s…
I spoke at the conference(http://businesstechnology.in/soaindia/09/index.html) on the topic titled “A Business-Techno perspective of Good, Bad & Neutral Practices of SOA” Check out the deck from the below location: http://cid-6a36405e894ed626.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Public?authkey=*k41vyibxzE%24
Check this out. An innovative way to help users filter on the exact element of search. (Make sure to choose United States as your locale) http://www.bing.com/visualsearch
————————————————— Windows 7 Training Kit for Developers http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1C333F06-FADB-4D93-9C80-402621C600E7&displaylang=en Windows Touch: Developer Resources http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/WindowsTouch Mike Taulty’s Blog –> Good Reference http://mtaulty.com/CommunityServer/blogs/mike_taultys_blog/archive/2009/06/18/windows-7-experimenting-with-multi-touch-on-windows-7-part-1.aspx http://mtaulty.com/CommunityServer/blogs/mike_taultys_blog/archive/2009/06/18/windows-7-experimenting-with-multi-touch-on-windows-7-part-2.aspx http://mtaulty.com/CommunityServer/blogs/mike_taultys_blog/archive/2009/06/18/windows-7-experimenting-with-multi-touch-on-windows-7-part-3.aspx http://mtaulty.com/CommunityServer/blogs/mike_taultys_blog/archive/2009/06/18/windows-7-experimenting-with-multi-touch-on-windows-7-part-4.aspx http://mtaulty.com/CommunityServer/blogs/mike_taultys_blog/archive/2009/07/06/windows-7-experimenting-with-multi-touch-on-windows-7-part-5.aspx Channel 9 Videos on Multi-touch on Windows 7 https://channel9.msdn.com/shows/Continuum/MultitouchLibraryWin7/ https://channel9.msdn.com/shows/Continuum/MultitouchWPF4Beta1/
Check out the below video to witness the next generation control free gaming on XBOX, code named Project Natal. See it to believe it.
We often get into issues installing earlier versions of .Net Framework (1.x) on Windows Server 2008. Common exception that we get is from ‘Regsvcs.exe – CLR Debugging Services’. Below is a great article that provides step by step guidance in overcoming the issue http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/12/27/install-microsoft-net-framework-11-on-windows-vista-fix-regsvcsexe-fails-error/all-comments/
‘Web’ once perceived as a universal source of information sharing has come a long way as a platform of computing for next generation. It has taken crest precedence in our day to day life in not only serving content, but also connects people socially across the globe. While all of us are overjoyed with this…


Big Red here with a question from "Taco Ockerse"...
So, TAKE FIVE!
"Big Red, At what point in the process did helmets get their finishing touches"
Super-duper question Taco…….
With the conclusion of the spanking operation, the shaping of the M-1 helmet was complete and the helmet body could enter the finishing process but, before the finishing process could start, the newly shaped helmet bodies had to be prepped and transferred to the finishing department. McCord easily tackled these two steps with a conveyor and an automated washer.
When the visor spanking operation was complete, the operator at the spanking press placed the helmet body into a cradle hanging on an overhead chain conveyor.
The conveyor carried helmet bodies through an automated spray washer that used a solution of kerosene-emulsion to remove any oily residue remaining from the lubricant applied to the discs by the steel supplier.
Big Red Says!
FIVE'S OVER - MOVE OUT!


text:
- Pennies a serving, toasted ramen noodles add a nutty crunch to salads and slaws.
- When fresh field peas are unavailable, frozen peas are our first choice for salads. Their texture is firmer and less starchy than canned, which are usually reconstituted from dried peas.
- After testing several similar recipes for broccoli salad, we noticed a big difference in flavor when the florets were cut into smaller pieces, which allows the dressing to evenly coat the ingredients rather than pool at the bottom of the bowl.
- Naturally crisp and sweet, broccoli stems add a delicious counterpoint to the florets. When making salads, cut the florets from the stem, and separate florets into small pieces using the tip of a paring knife. Peel away the tough outer layer of the stems, and finely chop, or cut into 1-inch pieces and pulse several times in food processor.

domain: food


text:
China is ssssmokin’: tobacco that is. The country has more smokers than any other country in the world. If you don’t smoke in China, then you’re inevitably sucking in harmful second-hand smoke. With 350 million smokers and 540 million occasional smokers, China has a huge tobacco trade. Here are a few staggering statistics from the Tobacco Free Center:
- Between the 1980s and 2002 the average age in which Chinese started smoking dropped from 22.4 to 19.
- 11% of boys and 3% of girls aged 14 smoke.
- If Chinese smoking habits continue along their current trajectory, the number of tobacco related deaths will reach 2.2 million per year by 2020.
- Additionally, one-third of deaths among males aged 35-69 will be from tobacco by 2030.
- Over the past 30 years, deaths due to lung cancer have jumped an incredible 465%
- Poor, rural households spend an average of 11.3% of their income on tobacco products which is more than they spend on education (9.5%), clothing (5.7%), and housing (2.3%).
- Each year the country spends 1.9% its GDP, 186 billion RMB (22.7 billion USD), from smoking.
While cigarettes may have come from the West, nearly all of China’s tobacco products are made in country. The Chinese government has a monopoly on the country’s cigarette production, and only in the past few years have they allowed foreign brands to sell their products in the country. Tobacco import taxes decreased from 65% to 25% in 2004. According to Ebusiness Forum Philip Morris International (PMI) made an agreement with China’s National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC) to allow the company’s Marlboro brand to be manufactured in CNTC factories and distributed through their channels. With its own monopoly on cigarette smoking and the potential for significant revenue from foreign brands, many wonder if health will outweigh revenue.
Do the Chinese want to quit? From outward appearances, many Chinese do not seem to register the negative health effects caused by smoking. They freely smoke at home, in public, around children, and in hospitals. Smoking is a status symbol for both the poor and wealthy and increasingly for women. It’s the migrant worker’s release. The businessman’s hobby. The compliment to the young woman’s urban chic lifestyle. Cigarettes are wrapped in fancy boxes and given as gifts. They are sold outside restaurants and available at every corner store. Despite warnings on each pack that explain the probability of disease and death, the country has not had decades of anti-smoking publicity like those found on America’s TV, radio, and print.
It’s not hard to believe that everyday citizens are unaware of the health risks when doctors too seem to be ignorant of them. China Daily reports that one-third of doctors do not know that smoking cigarettes has a direct corollary to coronary heart disease and even more are unaware that second-hand smoke can cause sudden infant death syndrome.
China began dealing with this problem in 1992 with its first anti-tobacco laws which reduced tar in tobacco products, put bans on smoking in certain public places, put an age requirement on smoking, and mandated that cigarette boxes have health warnings on them. These initial laws did little to reduce the status symbol of smoking and today at least 60% of men smoke and 5-10% of women. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 3,000 Chinese die each day from smoking. China has a major dilemma when it comes to reducing its tobacco consumption and that dilemma is itself. While the government has closed at least 100 cigarette factories and organized campaigns to curb smoking, ultimately the leafy tobacco plant brings in considerable revenue for them. Many citizens, especially rural farmers and workers rely on tobacco for their livelihood. If smoking stops, so does the money which the government and many of its people have grown accustomed to. Anti-smoking advocates are concerned that this conflict of interest will keep smoking bans at bay. A new law passed this June showed some signs of progress. The law raised the tobacco tax from 6% to 11% in an effort to reduce consumption and boost revenue; however, as China Daily reports, cigarette companies have decided to absorb the cost instead of raising the price for a pack. Revenue is up, but smoking remains the same. Plus, smoking is costing the country 1.9% of it’s GDP each year, a staggering 188 billion RMB.
While progress is slow, there are definitely changes afoot. This year, the Ministry of Health declared that all hospitals must be smoke-free by 2011. Also by 2011, all tobacco-related advertising will be banned per a campaign by the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). In July, organizers of the Shanghai Expo 2010, which has committed to having a “healthy and smoke free Expo,” declined a donation of 200 million RMB (29 million USD) because it came from a tobacco company. Also in Shanghai, where one in four residents lightsup, a law has been proposed to ban indoor smoking. The Chinese Association on Tobacco Control (CATC) which was influential in the Shanghai Expo’s decision and is dedicated to deterring the glamorous view of smoking on the silver screen., has proposed an end to smoking on films and television, 76% of which contain scenes with actors taking a puff.
Ultimately, two things will change the habits of China’s smokers: education and support from families, friends, companies, and the government.


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Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Back To The Start (Audio CD)
I'm more of a prog-head to be honest but I liked the sound of a couple of tracks on this album and purchased it for a good price. I listen to it now and again, but it lacks the depth that I really like from my music. From an AOR standpoint though, it's pretty good!

domain: artistic


Labeling Deloris Plays NYC
February 9, 2005Several Catawba College students and their band, Labeling Deloris, played a gig at Arlene’s Grocery in New York City in early January. And, while they relished that experience, it simply left them wanting more performance opportunities and a wider audience for their original music.
Band members include Seniors Jennifer Reiff of Wilmington, vocalist who plays the rhythm guitar, and Jason Rigney of Danville, Va., who plays guitar and keyboard, along with Sophomore Andrew Boudouris of Waynesboro Va., the band’s drummer. Jason’s older brother, Brad, who lives and works in Danville, plays bass for the group.
“Someone in the audience at Arlene’s told us we were lucky to be an out-of-town band playing anywhere in New York City,” Jennifer recalled, lamenting that their gig there was only 45 minutes long.
The band, formerly Polyphony, has been together for only a year, but during that short time they’ve managed to not only play in the Big Apple, but to win the 2004 Battle of the Bands contest, held annually in Jennifer’s hometown of Wilmington. The band recently learned that it “made it to the (2005) semi-final round of the Battle of the Bands in Wilmington, N.C.” and will play March 3 at The Soapbox in Wilmington.
The group changed its name in an effort to better define their music. “We thought about “For the Sake of Deloris,” but we liked the Deloris part best,” Andrew explained. “Then, we said, ‘We don’t even know how to label ourselves,’ and ended up with Labeling Deloris.”
The band’s music incorporates rock, pop, jazz and blues, and Jason noted that they’ve even added some rhythm and blues elements. “None of us have the same musical tastes,” he said, noting that the variety of their music can sometimes work against the band.
“We’re not really in a genre where you get noticed and get a record contract,” Jason said. “We don’t have producers behind us. We are our own creation and we’re what we are.”
“We’re fighting against the knowns,” Jennifer added, explaining that it is difficult to get club owners and managers to call back.
“It’s really connections,” Andrew asserted. “You get one booking and then you get another – it feeds on itself.”
Getting additional bookings and greater exposure for the band is an immediate goal, but their current lives as students limit their ability to travel and perform. “Short-term,” Jason joked, ”we’re trying to conquer the Charlotte area. We don’t expect our faces on the cover of “Rolling Stone” next week.”
Merging their disparate tastes into original music will keep them busy through the spring semester. As music majors, they record their songs in Catawba’s recording studio on campus and create demo CDs. “We do all of the business end – the bookings, the creation of the CDs and the labeling of them. And, we do have a lot of pride in the fact that we do it all ourselves,” Jason continued.
“We all believe we have a chance and that we’re all fairly talented,” Jennifer explained, adding that they don’t create their original songs “without the collaboration of all of us.”
For more info on Labeling Deloris, visit the band’s website at www.labelingdeloris.com or hear an excerpt of the band’s music that will soon be available at www.catawba.edu/streaming/band.


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From cookies and gingerbread, to shortbread and snowballs, bake up a storm to make your house smell like Christmas! What is your favorite cookie this holiday season?
BBC Food - Recipes - Christmas pudding cake by Frances Quinn, a contestant on the Great British Bake Off
Stars and Sparkle Christmas Tree Cake - ideas for decorating your Christmas cake
GBBO 2013 winner Frances Quinn shows how to make an elegant bauble cake. it's so much easier than it looks.
Ginger breed man cut out icing Christmas cake


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Phone Line: 289-271-1024
The Animal Assistance Society of Niagara, founded 39 years ago, is a 100% volunteer based registered charity that provides:
• Veterinary care, spay/neuter procedures and shelter to stray companion animals
• Emergency veterinary assistance and spay/neuter assistance to companion animal guardians who are financially limited
• Foster, PetSmart & Pet Valu adoption programs to secure suitable permanent homes for unwanted or abandoned companion animals
• Where domestication is not possible, spay/neuter release programs for feral cat colonies combined with continued long-term veterinary care, shelter and food
• Public awareness/education of best practices in companion animal care; including a focus on the importance of spay/neutering and on the many outdoor dangers cats are needlessly subjected to whenever they are let outside to roam
• Advocacy of much needed improvements to existing Canadian animal cruelty legislation
Our Society receives no government funding, thus we rely upon the generous donations received from individuals and businesses, as well as upon the proceeds of frequent fundraising events to finance our continued animal welfare efforts.
Salary and wage expenses can be a substantial diversion of funds away from the stated mandate of many registered charities. Consisting entirely of volunteers, The Animal Assistance Society has only minimal administrative costs and is thus able to direct virtually every dollar raised toward helping animals. The Society is also unique in that, even a small donation can make a significant difference to the welfare of an animal - as little as $100 can save an animal’s life.
About ANIMAL ASSISTANCE SOCIETY OF THE NIAGARA REGION
Each year hundreds of healthy companion animals are “euthanized” at local Humane Societies, primarily due to a lack of funding and cages. The Animal Assistance Society believes that euthanizing healthy animals is neither a humane nor an effective form of controlling unwanted/abandoned animal populations. Alternatively, we hold that spay/neuter programs and encouragement of pet guardians to employ an indoor lifestyle for their cat, is the answer. The Animal Assistance Society has a “no kill” policy and helps to effectively reduce the burden on local Humane Societies through our Foster, PetSmart Adoption and Spay/Neuter iniatives.

domain: pet


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With the holidays just around the corner, many people are beginning to bring out the old boxes of Christmas decorations to adorn their homes for the holiday season. This year, instead of putting out the same old decorations that youve used many times over, think of cool new ways to update your Christmas decorations.
Adjust it when the holder and candle are in place on the tree to make sure the candle is perfectly vertical. For Pendulum Holders, loop the stem over a branch that is heavy enough to hold the weight and be sure there is enough room below for the counterweight at the end of the stem to freely dangle.
Make sure it is in a positioned where nothing is above the flame could catch. Start by lighting the highest candles first and then work your way downward. When youre ready for the special moment, take your time and dont rush. Dont try to light as many candles as possible with one match. If your match is getting near the end, blow it out and light the next few candles with a new match. Step back and take stock again when all the candles are lit.
Even with these precautions, some people keep a bucket of water nearby just in case. You can consider doing this for peace of mind. Avoid drafts. Keep an eye on the tree if someone opens a door or window or if you make a fire in the fireplace. A sudden gust could pull the flame on the candles in one direction or another, or it could cause them to flame up or burn faster. Enjoy your candle-powered Christmas tree -- And treat it with respect.
Decoration of Christmas tree with Birds and beads, Christmas decorating requires lots of creativity from your side. You can make your decoration special by following this idea that improvises the beauty of your tree at great extent. Moreover, it can attract the attentions of your guests as well.

domain: hobby


The Landfill Business Model Working Group is composed of four individuals, appointed on an annual basis, if required. Membership of the Working Group shall consist of one member each from the Board of Selectmen, Board of Health and Finance Working Group. There shall be one member of the working group who is a resident of the Town of Bourne appointed at large. The General Manager of ISWM, ISWM staff, and other municipal staff shall provide reasonable information as required to the Working Group. The working group shall serve as an advisory group and shall have no budgetary, expenditure or contractual authority.
The Working Group's work shall include, but no limited to the following:
- Assist town officials with the investigation, research, evaluation and recommend the potential of changing the current method of operations to a different business model;
- Conduct inital reviews of the intent for public/private partnenerships for multiple sources.
- Meet with local, regional or state officials as deemed necessary and appropriate to complete the review and other tasks required to provide thorough study.
- Assist with determining what regulatory changes, if any, may be required. Provide periodic reports to the Town Administrator and a quarterly basis report to the Board of Selectmen on Working Group activitities and projects.


The Oak Ridge Boys Make Their Way to Tulsa for a One-of-a-Kind Event
The Oak Ridge Boys, one of the biggest groups in country music history, will perform Thursday, July 26th at Paradise Cove inside the River Spirit Casino Resort. The four-part harmonies and upbeat songs of the country and gospel quartet have spawned dozens of hits and earned the Oak Ridge Boys Grammy, Dove, CMA awards, ACM awards and a host of other accolades.
The Oak Ridge Boys bring four decades of charted singles, and 50 years of tradition, to their live shows. The group has scored 12 gold, three platinum and one double platinum album, plus more than dozen No. 1 singles and over 30 top 10 hits. In one of the greatest runs in the history of popular music, the band continues to delight audiences to this very day. For being one of the very few legendary acts that live up to their status time and time again, The Oak Ridge Boys come highly recommended.
Don’t miss your chance to see them live right here in Tulsa!
Clairemont Park Apartments, an extraordinary blend of comfortable and convenient apartments in Tulsa, Oklahoma would like to remind our friends and neighbors of this event!
Thursday, July 26, 2018— 8:00 PM
Event Venue Location:
Paradise Cove Margaritaville
8330 Riverside Parkway
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137


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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2020
"It is all the girls, all their voices, calling out as loud as they can. They burn through darkness. They brand the night.”
The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed
An anthem for women everywhere!
Possible triggers..Rape is the topic. Graphic rape scene.
This book should be required reading...everywhere.
It isn't for everyone. As you may have seen, it is about a group of girls who, rise up to get justice for a fellow schoolmate who was gang raped.They form the Nowhere Girls.
The Nowhere Girls are seeking, not just justice, but to open the minds and eyes of the community where they live about rape and the treatment of women in general.
The Nowhere girls are angry. They are angry at the lack of justice the former student at this school received, they are determined to change things.The Nowhere girls are your neighbors....your friends..and yourselves.
So the group is formed..and they are anonymous....however...they have no idea..nor does anyone else...what they are about to unleash....
I loved this book so so much and was so deeply moved by it, I sort of demanded (or begged) my book group to have this as one of out selections.
It isn't for everyone. It is heavy duty reading and the subject matter could be triggering to some people.
Some of my fellow book members did not care for this. It is written in an unusual style which I loved but not every book is for every person as we all well know.
This style is that the story is told from many different POV'S..all from females. Some of these females are major characters but not all of them.
I adored the style but not everybody will.But if the themes of the book interest you..this is one to read. I loved it, everything about it and am so glad that I found this book. Five awesome stars.

domain: library


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To quickly visualize an architecture or a structure Visio might be the tool of choice. But to make such a diagram really appealing you have to have the right shapes.
To create diagrams for SharePoint there are a couple of free shapes available. I collected some of these shapes:
- MOSS (2007) Site Strukturen
- Visio Stencils for IT Pro Posters (SharePoint 2007)
- SharePoint Visio Stencils (SharePoint 2010)

domain: design


There are few reality television shows that represent males that perform in drag. RuPaul’s Drag Race (RPDR) is probably the only one. RPDR is an American reality competition show that premiered in February of 2009. When it first started many could have viewed it as a “cheap knockoff of America’s Next Top Model,” a show which had started six years ago (Lambe). Only 3.6% of people on television are gay, so imagine how little of that percentage are drag queens (Kidd). The show is now the highest-rated show on Logo TV. I want to argue that RuPaul’s Drag Race trains its audience by educating them on the acceptance of drag culture exhibited in the show and exposes them to the diversity in drag culture that can impact their views of how they…show more content… In the clip “Season 8 Official Promo” the viewers see that the girls know about glamor and are not trying to hide how much money they are spending.
Citizenship is theorized as a constant pull between the “selfish demands of the consumer economy and the selfless requirements of the political order” (Ouellette, p.69). This is applied to RPDR because the show educates and trains the viewers to be accepting of drag culture. I can be hard to relate to people unless you have a direct connection to them. It can be hard to understand drag culture until you are taken behind the scenes and get to know the actual contests outside of their runway shows. In the “Adore as a Musician clip,” we see that even though they are competing against each other, all of them are still friends and support each other. They call each other talented and even talk about respecting each other in drag. In the “Game On!” clip we see them just after they got critiqued by the judges, but they all ban together ad call each other talented. Drag queens have a reputation of being petty and fake, but RPDR proves that this is just a stereotype. This clip shows how genuine they really are on the show and how they come to each other sides. With the cameras going backstage and showing the viewers conversations they would not hear otherwise, they get to build relationships with the


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U.P nominated for People’s Design Award. Vote Today.
Alongside 89 other nominees, the U.P has the chance to win the People’s Design Award at this year’s 10th National Design Awards gala in New York City on October 22. Founded by the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in 2000, the gala promotes design as a world shaping tool and seek to increase national awareness of great design being conceived today.
The winners of the gala awards will also receive the opportunity to join in on workshops, lectures, roundtables and public programs across the nation through the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum’s Education Department. The award would also help us move toward our goal of starting a non-profit foundation to continue socially responsible creative projects such as this one. We would love to collaborate with the best national designers on bringing awareness to extraordinary design.
Please visit the People’s Design Award site and vote for us! Deadline is October 20th at 6pm EST. It’s so simple — just create a login, go to the U.P’s page and click vote for this design.
To learn more, see other nominees and vote for the U.P >


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When it came time for his trial for heroin trafficking, Luis Ramos says he just wanted to get on the stand and “swear on the Bible and tell the truth and nothing but the truth.”
But whether or not the jury that ultimately convicted him could understand his testimony is now in doubt.
Though he can speak English, the 63-year-old Toronto man is more comfortable in his native Spanish, and so he testified for three straight days with the help of several interpreters. He maintained his innocence, that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time when a drug deal went down between some acquaintances and a police agent.
He ended up with an eight-year prison sentence in 2014.
In early November, the Ontario Court of Appeal granted the now-paroled Ramos’s appeal and ordered a new trial with the consent of the prosecution. In a brief, one-paragraph ruling, the top court said the Crown had reviewed an external assessment of the recordings of Ramos’s trial and now acknowledged that “there were numerous and significant errors in the interpretation of the appellant’s evidence in this case.”
A week later, Ramos appeared in Superior Court, where the Crown decided to forego a new trial and stayed the trafficking charge.
It had been hanging over his head since his arrest in 2010.
“I knew I was winning because, from the very beginning, I was telling them I was innocent,” Ramos told the Star in a recent interview about his successful appeal, which he filed while still an inmate.
“I never did this stupid thing.”
His case shines a spotlight on the court interpretation system in Ontario — one that has faced heavy criticism in the past from judges and the legal profession.
“For years, the Ministry of the Attorney General has failed to provide an adequate supply of properly qualified interpreters. Some interpreters have failed to meet the high competency threshold necessary to guarantee fairness in the court process,” said Daniel Brown, vice-president of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association.
“The ministry should conduct regular competency checks and provide ongoing training to ensure these high standards are being met across the province.”
A ministry spokesman told the Star that Ontario has a “world-class interpreting model” to accredit interpreters, and that tests are based on actual transcripts from Ontario court proceedings.
“This approach ensures the tests match a realistic court interpretation experience,” said ministry spokesman Brian Gray.
Courts take problems with interpretation very seriously, as the Ramos case demonstrates. After all, the right to the assistance of an interpreter is enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for those who do not “understand or speak the language in which the proceedings are conducted or who (are) deaf.”
In a landmark 1994 case dealing with this right, known as R v. Tran, the Supreme Court of Canada made clear that bad interpretation can taint the appearance of fairness of the whole trial.
“It is impossible to know for sure what would have happened if an accused had been provided with full and contemporaneous interpretation of the proceeding in question,” then-Chief Justice Antonio Lamer wrote for a unanimous court.
“For example, one can never really know what might have been triggered in an accused’s mind had he or she received the interpretation to which he or she is entitled under s. 14 of the charter.”
A breach of that right is so serious that, as a general rule, the remedy would have to be a new trial, the Supreme Court concluded.
In the Ramos case, there were issues with one interpreter in particular, according to a letter sent to the Crown this year by criminal defence lawyer Jill Presser, who assisted Ramos, who represented himself in his appeal.
For one thing, the interpreter did not always provide simultaneous interpretation. On many occasions, she instead had conversations with Ramos and with the lawyers asking the questions.
“This broke up the simultaneity of the translation — instead providing the jury a disjointed and confusing picture that made it difficult for the trier of fact to assess Mr. Ramos’s credibility,” Presser wrote.
Further, an external audit by an accredited interpreter found there were inaccuracies with words and sentence structure when the interpreter was interpreting from Spanish to English, and vice versa, and in other instances, she did not translate any of the relevant content, Presser noted.
The external interpreter had also heard from the recording that the judge had concerns with the quality of the interpretation during the trial, including asking both the Crown and Ramos to speak with frequent breaks to give the interpreter more time to interpret.
“If what happened in this case is exemplary of the state of interpretation in the system, we still have a distance to travel until interpretation is where it needs to be,” Presser told the Star.
“The right to effective, competent translation is a charter right for a reason, in a heterogeneous society like ours, where people come from all over the world and speak all kinds of languages.”
Presser said she encountered difficulties when trying to verify the interpreter’s accreditation with the ministry, being told that information about interpreters is confidential. She said there should be more transparency to, at the very least, allow those working in the justice system to access more information about interpreters.
“If someone wants to know if I’m a lawyer, they can find out everything online on the law society website. My membership status, whether I’ve been disciplined. All of that is available, because it’s to protect the public,” she said.
Gray, the spokesperson for the Ministry of the Attorney General, which maintains a registry of court interpreters, said personal information about interpreters is considered confidential unless the ministry has received written permission from the interpreter.
He said the accreditation status is shared with the judge and the parties in the proceeding where interpretation services are provided, but not once the proceedings are concluded. In the Ramos case, the request for the interpreter’s accreditation was made several years after the trial was over.
To become an accredited interpreter on the ministry’s registry, a person must have achieved a score of at least 70 per cent in each section of the ministry’s court interpretation test, Gray said. A person can also be “conditionally accredited” if they achieved less than 70 but more than 50 per cent. Those interpreters must retake the test within two years in order to become accredited.
Court staff are supposed to first try to schedule accredited interpreters for court proceedings, Gray said.
Interpreters know that there are problems in the system that need to be addressed, said Shahla Husain, president of the Court Interpreters’ Association of Ontario, and want to work with the ministry to fix them.
There should be a standardized training program across the province for court interpreters, as well as formal mentorship where a new interpreter can shadow a senior colleague in court, said Husain, who was speaking on her own behalf and not the association’s.
Husain said it can be daunting for a new interpreter to arrive in a courtroom with no hands-on training. “They don’t even know where to stand in court, and I don’t blame them, it’s not their fault,” she said.
If a complaint is filed about the quality of the interpretation, an independent evaluator will be hired to examine audio files and transcripts of the court proceeding as part of determining whether there is merit to the complaint, Gray at the ministry said. Results of the complaint are sent to the interpreter “as well as appropriate court management and staff.”
He told the Star the ministry would require more time to compile the number of interpreters who have been stripped of their accreditation.
Going to prison took its toll on Ramos and his family, and even after he was paroled, he had to live under conditions that included staying within Toronto’s boundaries. That meant having to ask permission if he wanted to visit his parents’ graves in a cemetery north of the city.
He’s now hoping to get his passport back, so that he can visit family in his native Ecuador, a country he said he hasn’t visited in more than 40 years. And of course, he’s hoping that what happened to him doesn’t happen to anyone else.
“There should be good qualified people for everyone,” he said of interpreters. “Toronto is multicultural. I don’t want it to happen again.”
Correction - Dec. 2, 2019: A photo caption was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Luis Ramos spent four years in prison.