text:
Amanda Nunes will no longer face Julianna Peña next weekend at UFC 265 after testing positive for COVID-19, UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell told ESPN.
Nunes was looking to defend her bantamweight championship while facing Peña on Aug. 7 in Houston. It was the co-main event of the card.
Widely recognized as the pound-for-pound best female fighter in UFC, Nunes (21-4) was moving back down after back-to-back defenses of her featherweight title. She last fought in March at UFC 259, submitting Megan Anderson via arm bar in a fight that went 2:03. She has won 12 straight fights, including wins against former UFC champions.
The fight will be rescheduled once Nunes, 33, is fully healthy and ready to compete again, Campbell told ESPN. The tentative plan is reportedly to get it in before the end of the year, likely in December.
Peña (11-4) called for a fight against Nunes following her win at UFC 257 in January when she submitted Olympian Sara McMann in the third round.
"I’m 9-2 in the UFC, and Amanda has one more victory than I do,” Pena told MMA Junkie in March. “I’ve been fighting in this UFC division just as long as she has. … I feel like stylistically, I’m the worst possible matchup for her. I’m her kryptonite. I do believe that she knows that because every time I fight, she always says, ‘One more, and you’ve got to fight one more, and you’ve got to fight one more.’
"It’s like, you didn’t make Felicia Spencer fight one more. You didn’t make Megan Anderson fight one more. You didn’t make Holly fight one more, but for some reason, I’ve got to fight one more."
Peña, 31, is ranked No. 5 in the UFC's bantamweight division.
More from Yahoo Sports:


text:
Creator Kelly Dunn’s new guide, Child Daddy from Hell, is an open information to navigating the difficult world of single dad and mom and coping with custody disputes
VACAVILLE, California., September 24, 2021 / PRNewswire-PRWeb / – Kelly Dunn, a resident of the north California and a single mom of two who loves helping people stay busy and organized, has her new book, Baby Daddy from Hell: Win In and Out of Court, Rise Above the Challenge and Kick A ** in Your Next Custody Battle “finished”: an illuminating work that draws on her own life experiences.
The author shares, “The norm for me was just the latest juicy update for them – family, friends, co-workers, whoever was listening. My life felt like a reality show and I felt like an open book. The ongoing turbulence was so bizarre that people were disturbed a person was capable of such an extent. From alcohol to drugs to domestic violence (all in excess), police intervention was nothing short of expected. Lies upon lies, his narcissism made me skyrocket.
Being an ethical, godly person myself, I struggled to understand the predicament I was in. This has certainly not been my best life. Along with his abuse, I racked my brain and asked, ‘What should I learn from all of this?’ Maybe if I knew I could get through this phase. But certain lessons can only be fully understood the hard way.
If I could go back in time and change the past, I wouldn’t change anything. As agonizing as it was, I lost battles but won the war. I’m in a much better place than I ever imagined. I’ve grown by leaps and bounds in many facets of life. Everything really happens for a reason.
One day it hit me: turn a negative (-) into a positive (+), so ‘Baby Daddy from Hell’ was born. In this true story based book, I take you on a journey of laughter, tears, and righteous anger as I share how you can:
- Set limits
- Prepare for the judgment
- Dealing with Harassment
- Put children first
- Redirect arguments
- Make tough decisions
- Redirect emotions
- Stay on track
It’s liberating to know if I’ll survive and come out victorious, nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I am possible’. Don’t make the same mistake as me; don’t be naive. Take the initiative and educate yourself. Knowledge is power. Better to be sure than sorry. You never know what the future will bring. “
Published by Seitenverlag, Kelly Dunns A captivating book is an invaluable resource for parents facing the challenges of a custody battle with a former spouse or domestic partner.
Readers who want to experience this compelling work can buy Baby Daddy from Hell: Win In and Out of Court, Rise Above the Challenge, and Kick A ** in Your Next Custody Battle in bookstores anywhere or online at the Apple iTunes Store. Amazon, Google Play or Barnes and Noble.
For more information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.
About the page publication:
Page Publishing is a traditional full-service publisher that takes care of all the intricacies of publishing its authors’ books, including distribution in the world’s largest retail stores and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that writers should be free to create and shouldn’t be bogged down in logistics like eBook conversion, setting up wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, etc. Page’s accomplished writers and publishing experts enable writers to leave these complex and time-consuming topics behind and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com
Page Publishing Media Department, Page Publishing, 1-866-315-2708, firstname.lastname@example.org
SOURCE page publication

domain: literature


text:
By Audlem Webteam - 2nd May 2007 7:06am
Over recent days, Audlem Online has been re-publishing a series of local walks as, weather permitting, this is an ideal time of year for local exploration. Today, we look at one of the most popular circuits of just over 2 miles, involving the best of the run of canal locks to the south of the village, probably one of the best lowland walks in England. The walk can be used in conjunction with the Audlem Parish Paths map or OS Explorer 257.Shropshire Union Canal/Bagley Lane
A 40 minute to an hour's circuit
From the Square, head west along Shropshire Street, past the Methodist church to the canal where you turn left to descend to the towpath through a gate. Head up the canal past numerous locks, pass under one bridge to the second bridge where you turn sharp left immediately after the bridge to join Bagley Lane. Turn right and after some bends, turn left in to Wood Orchard Lane.
After 600m turn left through a farm gate next to a cottage. After 200m the track becomes a lane. Follow it to where a small lane goes to the left. Cross the stile on the left at the junction and head towards Audlem on the clear path which gives fine views of St James' Church and the village. At the bottom of the hill negotiate two stiles, cross the footbridge and small Green, turn left and follow the lane up to the Square.
popular recent storiesAlso in the news
Audlem Medical Practice Update — 9.7.2020As we take the first tentative steps out of lockdown we would like to take the opportunity to thank all our patients who have supported each other and their vulnerable or shielding neighbours during this difficult time. We would also like to thank all of our staff who have helped us to remain open and continue to provide care through this most difficult...
This interesting aerial photograph of Little Heath in the 1960's was sent in by Kevin Errington, who has recently moved.The photo was found in the house he has just moved into.Other old photos of Little Heath can be seen on the Audlem Archive site, by clicking here and entering "Little Heath" into the search...
Howard is member of ADAPT, and although he is the author of this article he would like to acknowledge the assistance of Andy Hannah, Chris Thornton, and Alan Draper.Veronica rang me the other morning. Brilliant photographer, heart of gold, bit of a rah-rah, used to keep horses when she lived up here, and followed the Hunt — you know the sort. Well, after we had visited her dentist together...
Tuesday 14th Jul

domain: geography


text:
Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Market is Expected to Reach $11.46 bn by 2026
The Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Market was valued at US $6.72 billion in the year 2018 and is estimated to reach US $11.46 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 6.90%.
Age-related Macular Degeneration is a condition results in blurred or no vision in the center of the visual field due to damage in the retinal macula. There are two types of macular degeneration namely dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration. The former is characterized with loss of central vision due to thinning of parts of the macula associated with age whereas the latter develops tiny clumps of protein in the macula along with leakage of blood or other fluid from new, abnormal blood vessels under the retina. Risk factors of age-related macular degeneration are smoking, overweight, hypertension, high cholesterol levels and heart disease.
According to pooled study analysis there is 8.69% global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and it accounts for 8·7% of all blindness worldwide. There is a higher prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in Europeans and North Americans than in Asians and Africans. There is an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration from 2% among ages 50-59 and to nearly 30% for those over the age of 75.
According to WHO, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) ranks third among the global causes of visual impairment with a blindness prevalence of 8.7% and primary cause for loss of vision in developed countries. Age-related macular degeneration affects approximately 142 million people and about 105 million people are affected by diabetic eye disease worldwide.
The key market drivers for age-related macular degeneration treatment market include growing aging population, increase in diabetes prevalence and related complications and long-term duration of treatment. High treatment cost, adverse effects, poor compliance and a smaller number of approved drugs are major market restraints for the age-related macular degeneration treatment market.
Treatment adherence and lack of awareness of age-related macular degeneration, development of promising new treatment strategies and early diagnosis are the major challenges. Investment in R&D and developing minimally invasive advanced treatment options might impact the market growth positively in the forecast period. According to Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, copper & β-carotene consumption in early stages can reduce 25% risk of late Age-related Macular Degeneration.
Major companies for Age-related macular degeneration treatment market include Novartis AG, Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer Inc. Bayer AG and Asclepix Therapeutics. According to clinicaltrials.gov, there are around 243 active interventional trials for the treatment of Age-related macular degeneration at present.
Request for Sample Pages @ https://www.optimainsights.org/sample-request/205-age-related-macular-degeneration-treatment-market
- Asclepix Therapeutics, Inc. is developing AXT107 focusing for the treatment of Macular Edema and Age-related Macular Degeneration
- REGENXBIO reported positive interim update from RGX-314 Phase I/IIa trial for wet AMD and Macular Edema
- Novartis announced positive opinion from Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Beovu (RTH258) an investigational product for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Alkahest, Inc. initiated phase II clinical trial of AKST4290 on choroidal blood flow (ChBF) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
- Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc is initiating first-in-human clinical trial of AR-13503 sustained release intravitreal implant in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema
Age Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Market Based on Treatment Class (Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, (US$ Mn):
- Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Injections
- Laser photocoagulation, Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Age Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Market Based on Geographic Region (Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, (US$ Mn)
- North America
- Provides a detailed Analysis of the Market Structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments.
- Provides a Comparative Analysis of Key Marketed and Pipeline Products.
- Provides Key Information on Players involved.
- Provides a Complete Overview of Market Segments and the Regional Outlook.
- Provides In-depth Coverage of Key News, including Major Mergers, Acquisitions and Product Development updates such as clinical trial progression updates and regulatory updates.
The Report Provides Key Insights on
- History of the Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Market, 2015 to 2017
- Forecast of the Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Market Growth till the year 2026
- The key market drivers, restraints, challenges, future opportunities and the market dynamics driving the Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Market
- Analysis of potential growth segments which will drive the market
- Landscape analysis of the major companies, and new market entrants and companies which possess disruptive technologies which can change the trend of the entire market
- Key market approaches adopted by the organizations and in-depth intelligence of potential strategies which could alter the market dynamics
Download Complete TOC of the Report @ https://www.optimainsights.org/request-toc/205-age-related-macular-degeneration-treatment-market
Optima Insights is an innovative research and insights-driven enterprise committed to offering actionable intelligence to the global life science and healthcare market. We believe that meaningful insights and improved strategic content hold the key to improved ROI for our clients. We strike an innovative engagement model with our clients to Co-Create Intelligence that would address very specific issues facing them within their functional areas. We continuously support clients through the entire journey map to enable them to make better business decisions towards attaining market leadership.
Mr Chucks G
+91 966 6620 365 (Asia) | +1 424 2554 365 (US)

domain: medical


text:
Mahindra Lifespaces designs homes such that they are always spacious and elegant, Mahindra Eden is one such property in Kanakapura Road, Bangalore.
People’s health, jobs, and daily activities have all been impacted by the closure and the present situation. What is less well understood and addressed is how it affects people’s psychology.
People have had a variety of reactions to being at home 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some people felt liberated to pursue long-forgotten interests, while others felt claustrophobic. Some people would make the most of their time, while others remained concerned. What is certain, though, is that space made a significant impact on everyone. While many people found lengthy amounts of time at home challenging, those who lived in big houses in developments with needed facilities had a different narrative to tell.
As a result, being unable to do normal chores is mostly due to a lack of space in your home. On the one hand, those who live in smaller dwellings are limited to conducting just the most essential tasks. People who live in large houses, on the other hand, have been able to adapt a wide range of activities from their everyday routine to their lockdown lives. We’re talking about the following advantages of having a large house:
Yes, the shutdown has shifted the meaning of this phrase. For the first time, individuals felt the need to reconcile their lives with some jobs. Working from home is a source of fear for many people since they find it difficult to get into the work ‘zone.’ If you look closely, you’ll notice that this zone is connected to the workspace you use. You may be in the ‘zone’ at home if you have a private office with all of the required infrastructure, furnishings, and seclusion. People who live in large homes have the luxury of establishing a distinct workplace where they may focus on their job without being distracted.
Gym-goers have been irritated by the lockdown and are counting down the days until their gyms reopen. People who live in large homes, on the other hand, may dedicate a separate room for exercise and even put up they’re including well gym at home. They can keep on track with their fitness objectives this way.
The pursuit of your dreams
Indulging in things you enjoy is one of the finest ways to make the most of your leisure time. Dancing, drawing, playing an instrument, and singing are just a few examples. It’s difficult to perform such a form of art in a small home without being disrupted or causing an issue for others. The comfort of privacy is only available in large residences.
These are just a few examples of how individuals have made use of the additional room in their large homes. To learn more, you must live in one of these homes and feel it for yourself! And if you’re seeking a house right now, particularly huge flats in Mumbai, Mahindra Vicino is a great option.

domain: sociology


I have an 80GB Intel X25-M G2, with latest firmware, attached to 1st SATA port on Intel ICH10R cont. of Gigabyte EP45 UD3P mobo in AHCI mode, I am using the latest drivers released by Intel (188.8.131.524) with Win 7.
The problem I am experiencing is that after having made a backup (image) using Win 7 Backup and Restore utility, at a later date, after having run it from the created boot CD to do a restore, with the restore having completed when I thing come to boot into Win 7, the Intel SSD is not recognised by mobo, the booting process stops on the AHCI screen with the Intel SSD just not being recognised. However, if I power off and remove SATA cable from SSD and power on again, the other 3 HDD are recognised in AHCI mode, which lets me get into BIOS and if I set ICH10R to IDE and save and exit, if I then power off and reconnect SATA cable to SSD and power on again, the SSD (now running in IDE mode) is recognised.
The only way I have found to remedy this is to actually run HDDerase v4, and then run the Win 7 Restore utility again from the boot CD, which having completed, the mobo then recognises the SSD and boots straight into Win 7.
Can anybody shed any light on the possible cause of this problem, is it a problem with the Intel SSD, or the Gigabyte motherboard or something else?
Hello, I would like to let you know that the only program that Intel have to migrate your regular hard drive to an SSD is with the
Intel® Data Migration Software that copies your drive's contents from your old storage device to your new Intel® Solid-State Drive. The software can help make this transition smooth and painless. Bear in mind that the regular tools are meant to be used in regular hard drives, if you try to use these tools with an SSD it might fail.
You can find the Intel Data Migration Software at the following link:


Stripy children's shorts from our Bright Dino collection.
Your little one will love these dino-tastic shorts, featuring a colourful and playful Bright Dino print.
Made from high-quality materials, these shorts are perfect for all the outdoor activities your child loves. Whether they're playing in the sand, running around the park, or just enjoying the sunshine, these shorts will keep them comfortable and cool.
The vibrant and stripy design of the shorts is sure to turn heads, while the Bright Dino print adds a fun and playful touch!
- Made from lightweight, soft cotton
- Include a wide, ribbed waistband for comfort
- Shorts are stretchy and seamless to enable total freedom when playing
- Bottom is designed to stretch around nappies, including cloth ones
- Composition: 75% cotton / 20% polyester / 5% elastane
- Colour: Purple/Red/Pink
We ensure our cotton supply and factories are sustainable.


text:
St Matthews Studio | Sunday, 29 April 2018 | 4:00-5:15PM
Join the Yoga East Kirtan community to engage in the heart-opening practice of Kirtan! No musical experience is required to participate. Offer your voice and/or instrument, or come just to listen! Songs range from soft and meditative to upbeat and blissful. These beautiful, repetitive mantras help to clear and calm the mind, open the heart, and awaken the spirit.
This Kirtan is open to the community and will be facilitated by Emily Smith, Barry Smith, Charles Bingham & Niki Walls-Parsons. Be uplifted with beautiful music, sacred mantras, and wonderful people. Join us afterwards for light refreshments and time to visit with one another. Cash or check donations to Emily Smith.

domain: hobby


Headphones and Headsets
Explore Headphones and Headsets
These are the best gaming headsets — wired, wireless, budget, and more — to buy in 2023.
Device compatibility issues aside, Sony’s InZone Buds set a new high mark for audio quality in the gaming earbud arena. Class-leading ANC and battery life sweeten the deal.
Corsair’s first open-back gaming headset, the Virtuoso Pro, has 50mm graphene dynamic drivers and a plasticky build.
One of our favorite gaming headsets and winner of a coveted Editor's Choice award, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro wireless gaming headset is reduced by $50.
The HyperX Cloud III Wireless is a sleek, well-built, great-sounding wireless headset. But it only connects via 2.4GHz wireless — and that’s surprisingly limiting.
Corsair’s HS80MAX Wireless is a versatile, comfortable gaming headset that pairs strong surround sound with a top-notch headset microphone.
Razer’s earbuds deliver low-latency for gaming, but ANC and feature set don’t impress.
The HyperX Cirro Bud Pros deliver ANC and comfortable design at a budget price, but audio quality in games, movies, and music could leave you wanting more.
Stay on the Cutting Edge
Join the experts who read Tom's Hardware for the inside track on enthusiast PC tech news — and have for over 25 years. We'll send breaking news and in-depth reviews of CPUs, GPUs, AI, maker hardware and more straight to your inbox.


text:
This page provides answers to the following questions:
1. The company I work for tells me I am considered an "independent contractor." What does that mean?
Most people who perform work for someone else are considered employees of that person or company. However, an alternative arrangement is possible and becoming more common in the workplace, which is to consider those who perform work independent contractors.
If you are an "independent contractor," your working terms are decided by an agreement, known as a contract. The terms of the agreement may be a formal written contract or may just be created by talking. In fact, a contract might be created just by doing things the way they have always been done, without writing down the terms and without even talking about them.
If you are considered a contractor, you may not have the same legal rights as an employee. For example, most federal laws that prohibit discrimination only apply to employees. Another example: an employer is required to pay its hourly employees minimum wages and overtime wages, but contractors don't have to be paid any specific amount. Employers that provide benefits to employees do not have to pay those benefits to contractors. An employer is required to deduct payroll taxes from the pay of an employee. No payroll taxes are deducted from money paid to a contractor.
Both the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) care about whether you are properly classified. Both agencies have guidelines to help you decide whether you should be paid as an employee or as an independent contractor.
3. Can employers just decide that I'm an independent contractor so that they don't have to pay my taxes, wages and benefits?
No. In order for you to be considered an independent contractor, the relationship you have with the person or company you work for must have the characteristics of a contractor-like relationship. Otherwise, employers might be tempted to exploit their employees by calling them independent contractors to evade the laws that specifically protect employees.
There is no single rule or test which determines whether you are an independent contractor vs. an employee. It is the total activity or situation that controls. However, both the IRS and the DOL have developed guidelines to help both businesses and workers choose the correct status.
The IRS wants to be sure that proper federal taxes are being paid. The IRS collects taxes from employers and employees. Taxes are deducted from employee paychecks. The employer is required to forward to the IRS the money collected from the employee deductions. If an employer is not properly taking deductions or forwarding the money, the IRS may act to correct the tax violations.
If an independent contractor is involved, the IRS has no authority to act against the employer, but the IRS does have authority to audit the tax payments of the independent contractor. Contractors who earn over a certain amount also have to pay what is known as a "self-employment tax," which covers their share of Social Security taxes.
Under IRS rules, workers are presumed to be employees. The burden is on the employer to prove that a worker is an independent contractor and not an employee. The IRS has a list of 20 factors to see if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor.
The importance of each factor depends on your particular situation. Those factors are considered as follows:
Control. If the employer can exercise complete control over your job or the product you make, you are an employee. If you are an independent contractor, you can control the way the job is performed.
Supervision. An employee works under extensive supervision. An independent contractor usually works without supervision.
How the work is done. Employees must follow the instructions of the employer as to how to perform the work. Independent contractors can set their own hours and decide how to perform the job or complete the project. The company will review the finished project.
Training. The employer may hold classes, meetings or closely supervise on-the-job to train employees. Independent contractors can perform the work as they choose.
Integration. Employees work with other company employees as part of the daily operation. Independent contractors are not an integral part of the company business, and work independent of company employees.
Who does the work? Employees must do the work as assigned and cannot hire someone else to do it. Independent contractors can hire others to perform the work.
Continuing relationship. Employees have an ongoing relationship with the employer. Independent contractors are hired for a specific job. When that job is finished, the work relationship ends.
Hours of work. The company sets work hours for its employees. Independent contractors can set their own hours.
Where the work is completed. Employees usually work at the company facility or another office designated by the employer. Independent contractors may be able to choose the location where they work, and use their own supplies, office and equipment.
Order of tasks. Employees perform tasks in the order assigned by the employer. Independent contractors decide the order of work to complete the job.
Pay. Employees are paid on specific dates in regular amounts, and may be reimbursed for travel and business expenses. The contract between the company and the independent contractor determines how payment is to be made. Independent contractors may include expenses as part of the contract, or may pay expenses independently.
Work supplies. Employers provide tools and materials to employees. Independent contractors use their own tools and supplies.
Investment in facilities or equipment. Employees do not invest in the facility and do not buy equipment. Independent contractors must invest in their own workplace and equipment.
Profit or loss. The profit or loss of the company does not change the pay that employees earn. Independent contractors can profit or lose money based on good or bad results and time spent working on the project.
Working for more than one company. Employees work for the company that issues their pay. Independent contractors may work for several companies at the same time.
Availability of services to the public. Employees generally serve one employer. Independent contractors can provide services to the general public, advertise services, and recruit new customers--all while working for one or more other companies.
Termination. An employer may usually terminate its employees, and employees may usually quit, at any time, without good cause and without notice. Independent contractors are bound by the agreement to complete certain work, unless there is a legal reason not to.
Distinct business. Employees work as part of the company business and do not offer services separately. Independent contractors have a separately established business, and can promote those services to others.
Skill required. Employees are generally trained for a specific job using specific skills. Independent contractors often perform work requiring high levels of skill or broad experience, because the company is not supervising.
Beliefs of the worker and company. If workers believe they are employees, that belief will be considered in light of the particular situation. If workers believe they are independent contractors, that belief will also be considered. The beliefs of company management are also considered.
The DOL monitors and regulates the wage and hour laws passed by Congress. If, for example, an employee is not paid minimum wages or overtime, the DOL may act to correct the unfair or unlawful wage practices. If an independent contractor is involved, the DOL has no authority to act.
A variety of factors are considered by courts and employers trying to determine whether your status as a worker is properly classified. Although there are other factors, some of the most important are:
Are the services you provide an important part of the business? If your duties are an integral part of the business, that fact leans toward finding you to be an employee. If your duties are not central to the primary business, that fact leans toward finding you to be a contractor.
How permanent is the relationship? More permanent relationships create an employee-employer relationship. Temporary services are more likely to create a contract relationship.
How much do you invest in facilities and equipment? If you are using the facilities and equipment belonging to the business, you are more likely to be an employee. If you have your own facilities and equipment, you are more likely to be a contractor.
How much does the business control what you do? The more control the business has over the work you do, the more likely you are to be an employee. If you are free to perform your services without detailed direction or supervision, you are more likely to be a contractor.
What is your opportunity for profit and loss? An employee usually has a set wage and only shares in the profits or losses of the business under a shareholder agreement or benefit program. A contractor can be more profitable by performing their services more efficiently. The profits and losses of a contractor are not linked to the profits and losses of the business that is using your services.
How much initiative, judgment, or open market competition with others is required? As a contractor, you are free to exercise your own initiative and judgment. You can take advantage of open market competition to set your prices and pick your work. The employee is required to follow directions from the employer and under normal circumstances cannot compete with the employer.
How independent are you from the business that is using your services? The more independent you are, the more likely you are to be a contractor. If you have little independence about when and how you do your job, you are more likely to be an employee.
No. What you are called is not important. Employers in some cases have called their workers "freelancers" or contractors, but after a lawsuit, those workers were actually found to be employees.
Not necessarily: the time or method of payment is not considered when deciding if you are an employee or a contractor. Otherwise, employers could just offer each employee a flat fee for the completion of work, or choose any particular method that might circumvent the laws.
10. When our company has to lay off people, the independent contractors go first. Is an independent contractor eligible for unemployment if that happens?
An employer is not responsible for your unemployment benefits if you are an independent contractor. While employees are always eligible for unemployment benefits if they are laid off, an independent contractor will only be eligible if they pay separately into the state unemployment fund.
11. What happens if I am hurt at the site where I am working? Am I covered by workers compensation if I am an independent contractor?
Like unemployment benefits, an employer is not responsible for workers comp benefits if you are an independent contractor. Most states permit an independent contractor to be eligible for workers comp benefits by paying separately into the state workers compensation fund.
12. What happens if I am harassed at the site where I am working? Am I covered by discrimination laws?
Only employees are covered under federal discrimination laws, not independent contractors. However, some states have discrimination laws that define "employee" more broadly than the IRS and DOL. You should check your state and local discrimination laws to see if you would be covered.
13. I really need to have health benefits. If I am an employee, does the company have to give me health coverage?
Employers are generally not legally required to provide health coverage to their employees. However, if an employer subscribes to an IRS-approved medical plan that covers all employees, that plan must provide coverage without discrimination. If you are an independent contractor, you must provide your own health coverage.
The IRS regulates the amount all people must pay for income taxes and contributions to Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, etc. These taxes are automatically deducted from an employee's paycheck. As an independent contractor, you must pay your own taxes. However, as an independent contractor, you may also take deductions for all of your business expenses, so you may actually end up paying lower taxes than an employee.
15. I actually prefer to be an independent contractor because the pay is better, and I do not want to have taxes withheld. Can I just agree with my employer that I prefer to be a contractor?
No. If you fit the definition of an employee, your employer is required to treat you as an employee and take payroll deductions. Both you and your employer could be charged a penalty if you try to avoid the wage and hour or tax laws that control the employee-employer relationship.
16. If I want to work as an independent contractor, what should I do so the company who pays me doesn't get in legal trouble?
First, you should have a written agreement that explains why you are an independent contractor and not an employee. The company must be willing to give you broad discretion in how, when and where you perform your duties. You must review all of the IRS and DOL factors and be sure that your agreement considers all of those factors. If the company has numerous people performing the same job that you perform in a company building, using company supplies and equipment, with supervisors controlling your assignments, even an independent contractor agreement may not keep you from being called an employee by the IRS or DOL.
Talking to company management is a good start.
18. I am currently treated as an employee, but I think I should be considered an independent contractor. What should I do?
If you are presently an employee and want to become an independent contractor, your job assignments must be consistent with the IRS and DOL factors. You should discuss your request with management to see if the company is willing to give you the freedom to be an independent contractor.
19. I am currently treated as an independent contractor, but I think I should be considered an employee. What should I do?
If there are job openings you could apply for an employee position. But, if the company does not want you to be an employee, and you feel that the job you are doing fits the IRS and DOL factors defining an employee, the solution may be difficult.
First, you should talk to a legal advisor who can help you analyze your situation. Then, you can decide whether going to management or going to a government agency is the best way to address your concern. Where a company is avoiding employment laws by calling large numbers of workers independent contractors, the DOL may act to enforce federal law.
First, you should talk to a legal advisor who can help you analyze the IRS factors. Even though reporting IRS violations is a protected activity, you might expose yourself to unlawful retaliation. If you want the IRS to determine whether you are an employee, you can file an IRS Form SS-8 (PDF).
The IRS also has a hotline (800-829-0433) where you can make a report. For more information, and/or other ways to report IRS violations, see the IRS page, Where Do You Report Suspected Tax Fraud Activity?
The IRS, the DOL, and similar state agencies enforce wage, hour, and tax laws. Independent contractors must rely on the terms of their independent contractor agreement, or the implied understanding, and would have to go to court to enforce that agreement or understanding. Two possible claims would be breach of contract and breach of promise, sometimes called promissory estoppel. For more information, see our site's agreements page.
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is enforced by the Wage-Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Wage-Hour Division's enforcement of the FLSA is carried out by investigators stationed across the U.S. who conduct investigations and gather data on wages, hours, and other employment conditions or practices in order to determine whether an employer has complied with the law. Where violations are found, they also may recommend changes in employment practices to bring an employer into compliance.
It is a violation to fire or in any other manner discriminate against an employee for filing a complaint or for participating in a legal proceeding under the FLSA.
Willful violations may be prosecuted criminally and the violator fined up to $10,000. A second conviction may result in imprisonment. Employers who willfully or repeatedly violate the minimum wage requirements are subject to a civil money penalty of up to $1,000 for each such violation.
The FLSA makes it illegal to ship goods in interstate commerce which were produced in violation of the minimum wage, overtime pay, child labor, or special minimum wage provisions.
To contact the Wage-Hour Division for further information and/or to report a potential FLSA independent contractor violation, call:
Toll Free: 866-4-USWAGE (866-487-9243)
TTY: (877) 889-5627
(available Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Eastern Time)
You may also contact your local Wage-Hour Division office.
If you need further information about your state's law relating to independent contractors and/or wish to report a potential state law violation, then you may wish to contact the agency in your state which handles wage and hour/labor standards violations, listed on our site's state government agencies page.
If an agency or a court finds that you should have been treated as an employee, the company could be forced to classify you as an employee. If you lost income or benefits because you were not classified as an employee, you could be compensated for those losses.
There are several different methods under the FLSA for an employee to recover unpaid wages; each method has different remedies.
Wage-Hour may supervise payment of back wages.
The Secretary of Labor may bring suit for back wages and an additional penalty, called "liquidated damages," which can be equal to the back pay award (essentially doubling the damages) if an employer willfully violated the statute.
An employee may file a private lawsuit for back pay and an equal amount as liquidated damages, plus attorney's fees and court costs. An employee may not bring a lawsuit if he or she has been paid back wages under the supervision of the Wage-Hour Division or if the Secretary of Labor has already filed suit to recover the wages.
The Secretary of Labor may obtain an injunction to restrain any person from violating the FLSA, including the unlawful withholding of proper minimum wage and overtime pay.
Your state law may have different methods for recovery of unpaid wages, and different remedies to be awarded to those who succeed in proving a violation. For further information, please contact the agency in your state which handles wage and hour/labor standards violations, listed on our site's state government agencies page.
To file a complaint for unpaid wages under the FLSA, you may either go to the Wage-Hour Division, which may pursue a complaint on your behalf, or file your own lawsuit in court (which may require you to hire an attorney).
Do not delay in contacting the Wage-Hour Division or your state agency to file a claim. There are strict time limits in which charges of unpaid wages must be filed. To preserve your claim under federal law, you must file a lawsuit in court within 2 years of the violation for which you are claiming back wages, except in the case of an employer's willful violation, in which case a 3-year statute applies. However, as you might have other legal claims with shorter deadlines, do not wait to file your claim. You may wish to consult an attorney before filing your claim, but you are not required to have an attorney to file a claim with the state and federal administrative agencies.
Your state wage law may have different deadlines for recovery of unpaid wages. For further information, please contact the agency in your state which handles wage and hour/labor standards violations, listed on our site's state government agencies page.
This page was updated on December 16, 2008

domain: finance


text:
Stylish Romantic Theme: Neon Night Street Launcher Apk Download For Android & iOS
Stylish Romantic Theme is a art and design apk for Android & iOS users. ✨🌟 ✨🌟 Are you looking for stylish romantic theme for your phone? How about spend a Romantic night in neon night street launcher on your phone?
Table of Contents
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This is a suitable free romantic theme for your Samsung, Huawei, xiaomi or other Android phone. Try romantic neon night themes with night romance stylish Launcher now! You’ll love this night romance C Launcher/C Launcher 3D Theme 💞.
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domain: artistic


text:
Real Madrid’s Brazilian striker Rodrygo will miss the first match of the royal team of the new season of the Spanish League, which Merengue is defending its title, scheduled for Sunday against Almeria.
This is due to an excessive muscle load, which he was subjected to in the Real Madrid training yesterday, Friday.
The muscle problem, which Rodrygo suffered in the right thigh, prevented him from completing the training, according to the statements of sources in Real Madrid.
Rodrygo became the first injury to the Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team, at the beginning of the season, which the royal started by winning the European Super Cup, at the expense of Eintracht Frankfurt last week.
In the previous season, Real Madrid won the Spanish League and the Champions League.

domain: news


text:
Corruption and identity politics in divided societies
Corruption is a major problem for populations in various parts of the world. This article argues that to understand the problems and dynamics of corruption, we need to understand how discourses and practices of corruption (and anti-corruption efforts) are intertwined with the construction and contestations of identity. Identity politics is a salient feature in peaceful political struggles, as well as in contemporary armed conflicts, which are often characterised by the politicisation of collective identity (ethnic, national, religious) for the violent pursuit of power. The article outlines and discusses four ways in which identity politics and corruption intersect. First, it points to the often blurred lines between private and collective benefit from corruption, revealing the implications of group identity for how corruption is conceptualised. Second, it shows how corruption may exacerbate grievances along identity lines. Third, it highlights how corruption can be used strategically in identity-based conflicts. Finally, it explores how corruption may encourage cross-ethnic solidarity and mobilisation that defy conflict divides.
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Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
Publication date: May 28, 2014


text:
Audrey from Urbanic Paper Boutique
To Give: Kate Spade 'ticker tape' mugs - Mugs are great gifts. I have 2 favorite mugs that I've been given that I adore and am extremely protective of. Something about them being just for me and no-one else in the house makes it a personal experience using them. Many of my friends are working ladies as well and start the morning off with a cup of something hot. Using this cheerful mug is the surely a perfect way to kick start a day.
To Receive: Max Wanger 'fly away' print - We just moved into a new place and the living room walls are painted with a zen kind of grey. This print would go PERFECTLY with the color and pretty much everything we own. It's the type of print you can just get lost in for a while.


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Events: Plan your fun time
June 16 - September 7: "Wari Lords of the Ancient Andes
(FORT WORTH )
In the wake of a sixth century drought that ravaged the central Andes, the Wari developed a complex civilization during the next four centuries that many regard as South America's first empire, untouched by European exploration. This exhibit some 140 artworks in all major media in which the Wari worked--polychrome ceramics, ornaments made of precious metals or colorful mosaics, sculptured wood and stone objects, and textiles of striking complexity. Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd.

domain: history


This month Hobao is releasing the Hyper VS2 1/8 Buggy. You can choose between the busheless and the nitro version and as a RTR (Ready to Race) or ARR (Almost Ready to Race). With the RTR you will be ready to race in no time. The trolley is already completely pre-assembled and is equipped with the appropriate electronics. In addition, the streamlined body in a neon-yellow-gray mix rounds off the driving experience.
The electric version features a built-in 2.000kV brushless motor, together with the waterproof 100A ESC, offers unlimited fun.
The chassis geometry is designed for racetracks enables aggressive and precise steering behavior without any problems. An optimal weight distribution also guarantees perfect jumping balance and the built-in electronics are of excellent quality.
With the ARR version, You are ready to race in just a few simple steps. The car is already completely pre-assembled, but the choice of electronics is up to the driver when it comes to the installation components.
The Hyper VSE 80% ARR is definitely the right choice for anyone who wants to have excitement while racing or simply having fun while driving. In addition, the streamlined, clear body rounds off the driving experience and gains true uniqueness through its own color design.
The chassis geometry is designed for racetracks allows for aggressive and precise steering behavior without any problems. And an optimal weight distribution also guarantees perfect jumping balance.


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// Pathways to Peace and Security. 2019. No 2(57). P. 88-103
The article looks at the current international legal regime for assessing foreign interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states. The main focus is on those features of this regime that stem from development of modern information technologies and the expanding range of information countermeasures. Direct or indirect, armed or other external interference or intervention that threaten sovereign legal status and political independence of states have been primarily assessed in the framework of interstate relations. As a rule, legal regime for the use of force in international relations has been reduced to a search for political balance of applicable norms, depending on the means and methods of the use of force. However, the emergence of new forms and methods of interference that rely on the use of information technologies proves existing regulatory mechanisms insufficient. This may lead to adjudication of international responsibility for infringements on sovereignty of states subjected to such interference.
International Law, United Nations, intervention, non-military means of enforcement, information technologies, information interference, Customary International Law, International Humanitarian Law
Registered in system SCIENCE INDEX

domain: law


text:
Paramount Pictures has announced who the screenwriters will be for the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. According to HeatVision, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway (Iron Man, Punisher: War Zone) have signed on to pen the new feature which is in development with Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes. Paramount and Nickelodeon picked up the rights to the comic book characters for around $60 million last year. The companies plan to push out the characters not only in movie form but via a TV show and other mediums.
The fictional team of four anthropomorphic turtles initially appeared in comic books before being licensed for toys, cartoons, video games, films, and other merchandise. During the peak of its popularity in the late 1980s through early 1990s, the franchise gained considerable worldwide success and fame. Aside from the comic book, it has had three animated television series (and counting), four feature films, one live action television series, an exclusive two-episode anime OVA series, several toy lines, video games, concert tours and even various food tie-ins. All I have to say is, Go Ninja, Go Ninja, Go!


text:
AGA Fencing in Cairns invites you to examine and confirm that your provider for glass balustrading and pool fencing - and their products - meet, or even exceed, the requirements of all Government legislation and those of the Insurance Council of Australia.
AGA Fencing are fully licenced and will produce a quality product designed and manufactured to conform to, or exceed, all Australian Governmental and insurance standards.
For your convenience, AGA Fencing have provided this information regarding the Building Code of Australia (2016) and relevant Australian Standards to avoid any serious consequences associated with non-compliant operators.
AGA Fencing conform to all requirements. The following information may assist with understanding the requirements of the NCC 2016 Building Code of Australia (BCA) Volume Two (housing provisions), when using glass in a barrier.
This information should be used as a guide and AGA Fencing encourages you to read and understand these requirements when selecting glass as your preferred form of Balustrading or Pool Fencing.
AGA Fencing also encourages you to ensure that any contractor you select has the capability to provide these products and that they are fully compliant with all Government legislation and insurance requirements.
AGA Fencing confirms that the Building Code of Australia (BCA) considers a balustrade as a form of barrier. A continuous barrier must be provided along the side of any roof to which general access is provided, any stairway, ramp, floor, corridor, hallway, balcony, deck, veranda, mezzanine, access bridge or the like, and any delineated path of access to a building, if the trafficable surface is 1m or more above the surface beneath.
• Part 3.9.2 of the BCA contains the requirements for barriers and handrails (including glass) in Class 1 dwellings.
• A glass barrier must also comply with Australian Standard 1288 (AS1288).
Glass balustrade panels are identified as:
a) Structural balustrade panels, where the glass forms a structural component of the balustrade, or
b) Infill balustrade panels, where the glass acts as an infill panel only and the structural support is provided by another material (e.g. metal frame).
If glass is to be used as part of a swimming pool barrier (fence), it must meet AS 1926.1 pool fencing requirements and be designed and certified to comply with AS1288.
If the glass pool fence also constitutes a barrier as required by Part 3.9.2 of the BCA, it must comply with either Section 3 or Section 7 of AS1288 as described earlier.
For further pool fencing safely compliance, please review the QBCC website here
If you have any questions about fencing legislation in Queensland please call or drop into our showroom today.
45 Mount Milman Drive, Smithfield, QLD, 4878
Business Hours: 8:00am to 4:00pm - Monday to Friday
(Closed Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays)
a) An infill panel of glass, with thickness selected in accordance with table 7.3 of AS1288 and incorporating a load supporting handrail, or
b) A structural panel of glass, with thickness selected in accordance with table 7.1 /7.2 of AS1288 and incorporating an interlinking handrail or load supporting handrail.
Any other balustrade incorporating glass unless specifically detailed in Section 7 of AS1288, would require site specific design in accordance with Section 3 of AS1288, and project specific structural certification. This certification must include the design, manufacture, and installation of all glass, framing, spigots, supports, and associated fixings used in the specific balustrade project.
Note: a simple channel over the top of the glass would not be capable of resisting loads as required by AS1288 or AS1170 and cannot therefore be used as a load supporting handrail or an interlinking handrail.
a) Load-supporting handrails. The handrail is mechanically fixed to the structure, independent of the glass, but the glass can be connected to it. The handrail supports the load. This type of handrail is normally used with infill balustrade panels.
b) Non-load-supporting handrails. Either the top edge of the glass acts as the handrail or the glass supports a handrail that is fixed to the glass and relies on the glass for structural support. The glass supports the load. This type of handrail is normally used with structural balustrade panels.
c) Interlinking handrail. The handrail is non-load-supporting and must be connected to the adjacent panels of glass, or the building. The adjacent panels must be at least 100mm wide and three or more panels of glass form the balustrade. If one of the panels fails, then the remaining two panels and the handrail must be capable of resisting the load. The handrail must be selected and designed with this support capability in mind. This type of handrail is normally used with structural balustrade panels.
Section 7 of AS1288 provides the only ‘deemed to comply’ solutions for balustrades using glass. Any glass balustrade not specifically detailed in Section 7 would require design in accordance with Section 3, and project specific structural certification. This certification must include the design, manufacture, and installation of all glass, framing, spigots, supports, and associated fixings used in the specific balustrade project.
Updated 4/1/17: Point fixings and spigot fixings are a common method of attaching structural balustrade panels (e.g. stairs). They are not included in Section 7 of the standard and require certification to AS1288 in every instance.
To get the latest options for pool fencing, general fencing and balustrading from the business that has set the standards for Cairns and North Queensland, contact AGA Fencing today. Book now for your free quote or site inspection.

domain: design


text:
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
New little nuthatch sculpture looks great in the pine tree
so I think it's ready to add to the wood base.
Post a Comment
Post Comments (Atom)


text:
After Dalot’s impassioned reaction to a challenge involving Mohamed Salah, referee Michael Oliver issued him a yellow card. Dalot’s appeal of a throw-in decision occurred in the last stages of the match, which ended in a scoreless tie. Not even a few seconds later, he was shown a second yellow card for his continued disobedience, which ultimately resulted in his ejection and reduced United to 10 men.
Nevertheless, United supporters were perplexed by Nunez’s ability to avoid such repercussions despite the fact that he had previously expressed his disagreement. Nunez was fortunate enough to avoid receiving a second yellow card after kicking the ball away and sarcastically applauding match officials. However, he was given an early ticket for an incident that involved Jonny Evans. An early booking was issued.
United supporters became irritated as a result of the referee’s judgments, which were inconsistent with one another. They brought attention to the disparity between Nunez’s avoidance of additional punishment despite his acts and Dalot’s removal for dissent, which caused Nunez to be fired.
Although PGMOL chief Howard Webb had earlier underlined the importance of more stringent regulations against dissent, it appeared that these standards were not being adhered to throughout the season, which prompted a call for maintaining continuous enforcement.
Even though Manchester United’s point did not propel them to the top of the Premier League, Arsenal had already surpassed the Reds earlier that day. This was despite the fact that the match at Anfield ended in a draw, which prevented Liverpool from achieving a victory at home for the first time this season. After a turbulent week for United, which included a 3-0 loss at home to Bournemouth and their elimination from the European competition, Erik ten Hag found some relief in the fact that the match ended in a draw.
Despite this, United’s lack of attacking prowess in recent matches continues to be a cause for concern, especially considering that they have only scored in one of their three most recent encounters.


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Awe inspiring and majestic, Churches and Cathedrals have been the place of gathering and worship for centuries, but many of them hold secret mysteries and meanings
(far beyond the allure of 'The Da Vinci Code') that are waiting to be rediscovered. From the majestic stained glass windows that convey the message of faith via beauty
and light; to the intricate statues and carvings that adorn the exteriors and interiors and deliver subtle messages of good versus evil, there is a vast amount of symbolism
to be explored. Having been built centuries ago many of these holy buildings contain complex mysteries that have been lost over the years. Come with us on a journey
around the world as we visit stunning Cathedrals and Churches in order to unveil the secrets they hold.
Label: World Wide Multi Media
Run Time: 67 mins
Release Date: 03/14/17

domain: library


text:
I become so happy when I watch The Maitreya project, the largest symbol of love and kindness in the world. When I watch the people behind the Maitreya project of building a statue of me, it is so touching that I get tears in my eyes of happiness. Not because of the size of the statue planned but because the pure love and the kind intention and dedication I feel from many persons behind this project. It flows straight into my heart and happy tears flow on my cheeks. It gives me hope.
Most people do not know how to bring peace and kindness long-term to this world, maybe not even the monks behind the project, but they have the right intention, they have right spirit and that is very touching. A pure heart is very important to save us all from the destruction and hostility that otherwise will come.
However, we have two paths to choose from. One is only short-term love and kindness from the heart that will lead to war and destruction long-term. That is the wrong path. That is only building a statue, only feeding the poor, only having people flying from everywhere to watch a big statue of me, take photos and then fly home agan. This is leading to disaster.
The second path, the correct path, is both short-term and long-term love and kindness from the heart but also the long-term logical mind in order to create long-term love and kindness in action, because if it is not long-term and not in action, then it is in fact not leading to love and kindness as intended. If people fly home with this understanding from watching the the statue then we will save humanity, nature and it will lead to long-term happiness.
For most people the truth of long-term love and kindness will create a big shock in them, because it is not according to what we like to hear. You will maybe not want to see it, because the truth might be experienced like a sharp bright light, but if you do meditation and then ask for it, it will be able to fill you up. Then most people will be able to handle it.
You may not be alone in failing to see the truth. Even the Dalai Lama himself might not be successful, but then again, even a young boy born with a good heart and a good mind might succeed to see it clearly. You need both power in the heart and power in the mind to see it clearly. Not everyone is lucky enough to have both of these abilities, so if you do not succeed at first or get afraid of the truth, then do not take it too hard on yourself!
Maybe if you keep trying you will eventually succeed to see the truth if you really want to see it and if you succeed you will be able to actively support the change we have to do. When you ask questions here or read futher in my answers to other people who wanted to ask me then it is important that you are prepared, relaxed and at peace.
It is therefore important that you do meditation and that you do want to see the truth before you read it, or it can be very disturbing. See disturbance as an awakening signal! Nobody likes the truth at first.
I hope the Maitreya project will be successful long-term. How successful it will be is up to every one of us.
Pure love to you all!
The World Teacher


Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press | Posted Aug 29th - 3:02pm
With the hourglass running out for his administration, President Barack Obama's health care law is struggling in many parts of the country. Double-digit premium increases and exits by big-name insurers have caused some to wonder whether "Obamacare" will go down as a failed experiment.
Tom Krisher, Associated Press | Posted Aug 29th - 2:51pm
Air bag maker Takata Corp.'s troubles worsened Monday as the company confirmed that a truck carrying its inflators and a volatile chemical exploded last week in a Texas border town, killing a woman and injuring four others.
Seth Sutel, Associated Press | Posted Aug 29th - 2:31pm
Banks led the stock market higher Monday as investors anticipate that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates this year from their historically low levels. That could help banks recover from a long slump by making lending more profitable.
Bruce Schreiner, Associated Press | Posted Aug 29th - 2:31pm
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell predicted Monday that the federal health care overhaul championed by President Barack Obama is likely to undergo changes next year, regardless of who wins the White House and which party has the upper hand in Congress.
Mauricio Savarese and Peter Prengaman, Associated Press | Posted Aug 29th - 2:10pm
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff proclaimed her innocence on Monday, branding her vice president a "usurper" and warning senators that history would judge them harshly if they ousted a democratically elected leader on false charges.
Ken Thomas, Associated Press | Posted Aug 29th - 1:20pm
Hillary Clinton rolled out a comprehensive plan to address millions of Americans coping with mental illness, pointing to the need to fully integrate mental health services into the nation's health care system.


According to our database1, Wen Hou authored at least 11 papers between 2007 and 2020.
Legend:Book In proceedings Article PhD thesis Other
Pattern Recognit., 2020
Join and Deep Ensemble Regression of Clinical Scores for Alzheimer's Disease Using Longitudinal and Incomplete Data<sup>*</sup>.
Proceedings of the 40th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 2018
Ensemble prediction of longitudinal scores of Alzheimer's disease based on ℓ2, 1-norm regularized correntropy with spatial-temporal constraint.
Proceedings of the 14th IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging, 2017
Proceedings of the International Symposium on Intelligent Signal Processing and Communication Systems, 2014
Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Communication Systems, 2014
The Research on Virtual Assembly Technology and Its Application Based on Force Feedback.
Proceedings of the Pervasive Computing and the Networked World, 2013
Proceedings of the Pervasive Computing and the Networked World, 2012
Further results of recursive evaluation for compound distribution with the severity distribution of mixed type.
Comput. Math. Appl., 2011
Proceedings of the International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS 2010), May 30, 2010
Design of Supervision Software for Programmable Power Supply Based on Virtual Instrument Development Environment.
Proceedings of the CSIE 2009, 2009 WRI World Congress on Computer Science and Information Engineering, March 31, 2009
Research System and Flow of Dynamic Alliance Based on Grid.
Proceedings of the International MultiConference of Engineers and Computer Scientists 2007, 2007


text:
This book haunts me. It has taken me nearly two years to write the review (can it be?!?). It is one of the rare occasions when I am reviewing a book I do not own, so every time I see it in the book store I have this dilemma over buying a book I won’t read right away. It comes up in conversation because it is one of only two books I have ever “read” in the audio form. And it haunts me just because the story is, at heart, a haunting one.
This is how it went down: I was about to head home from upstate New York to North Carolina. For once, I was leaving my husband behind and driving with just two kids in tow: ages eight and eleven. My plan for fighting boredom and fatigue was stopping by a Cracker Barrel to rent some audio books, which can be returned to any Cracker Barrel, anywhere, and so could be returned in North Carolina. The choices were largely lousy; easy-to-digest crimes, mysteries, horror, and romance. Some self-help. But there were a few, shining titles which held potential. Then I had to narrow it down to books which would not scar the children should they start listening. I ended up with Holes and The Giver.
I now congratulate myself on those choices.
I don’t know what I expected with Lois Lowry’s The Giver, but my expectation had something to do with a rabbi. It was the cover, I think, that I had seen most. Maybe like Chaim Potok’s The Chosen? It’s dystopian science fiction! You probably already knew that, but I found it to be a head-jerking shocker.
And it really is one of the best science fiction novels ever written.
For kids? Sure, whatever. YA especially. But there is so much here for readers of all advanced ages to love. It’s just so clean, the writing masterful. The story is riveting. The weaving of the story keeps you on tenterhooks. The lessons are applicable and serve as dire warnings for future civilization. You just have to let this story unfold on its own. Be patient. It will reward.
I don’t know what more to say. There is a sense that the book has two distinct parts, and that the second is more of an addendum than the continued story. There is also the possibility that the ending is a bit goofy and could have been omitted. I’m torn on the ending, myself. If anything, the tone of the first part, second part, and ending all seem so different.
The characters are memorable, but I really think it is the story and the writing that steal the show. If you enjoy science fiction, you’ve probably already read it. I mean, it’s on the “summer reading” tables in bookstores every year. It has won various awards, including a Newbery Medal, and is consistently on best book lists. This is a book for everyone, and a book for the ages.
Regrettably, since I “heard” this as an audiobook, I did not get to do any underlining. Drats.
There is a movie adaptation of The Giver that came out in 2014. I loved the book so much, we watched the movie shortly after. Alas, I do not remember the movie so very well. I think I enjoyed it to a point. There were parts of the story that I found too simplified, and some things were just not as I imagined them. As a movie, in and of itself, I would have found it lackluster. A fine movie to play for an English class which has just read the book, I suppose. But you could skip it.


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Just one word, Lmao.
I have not lol'd that hard in forever, but I CAN'T GET THESE ****** LIPS RIGHT!
One word. Amazing.
Usually I turn down the sight of stick figure animations but this one grabbed my attention because of the previous few. This right here is amazing, the music as well as the entire animation with the level of detail put into place, I cannot wait for more !
This was hirlarious! ^_^
You my friend, have some talent! I found this very enjoyable and even checked it out on youtube from the link. ;) Worth keeping up here.
For a start this was actually pretty good. Needs work on the sound abit, I had to turn my sound down cause of it. It was funny with the black man and the grape juice lol, this will become a better flash if you work on it abit more. Iam not saying this isnt good and all, as this is only my opinion. I will enjoy to watch this again. Keep up the good work!
Now that was the best representation of the game so far! I loved all those moments, WTF is that. I would like to see more from you in the future.
Wow lol hahahah!
hahahaha I never laughed so hard!
Usually this game is awsome but not how he made it to be. He showed us the real game we are playing and it was funny!!!
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domain: entertainment


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We know the royal baby drill by now; there's the announcement of labour, then the birth itself with details of the baby's gender and weight, swiftly followed by an appearance from the new royal outside the hospital in the arms of its proud (if not tired) mother.
But it's unlikely to work that way with the birth of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's baby, according to a royal photographer. Tim Rooke, Shutterstock Royal Photographer, has photographed all three of Kate Middleton's babies outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's hospital in Paddington, London.
He's pretty au fait with the royal baby process, and he's convinced Harry and Meghan won't pose outside the hospital with their newborn when it arrives in a few weeks' time.
"I don’t think we’re going to get the same thing with the Duchess of Sussex’s baby," Tim told Cosmopolitan.com/uk. "I don’t think we’re going to see it at all. I think it’s going to be private."
The reason Tim is so confident is because of the lack of information he's had so far from the Palace. "At this point with Kate’s babies, we’d been briefed by the Palace, but we’ve had no briefings whatsoever," he noted.
The photographer, who has been taking pictures of the royal family professionally since the early 1990s, explained he believes Meghan's whole labour scenario will be different to her sister-in-law's three births.
"At this time, at St Mary’s for all the other three births, there was parking restrictions and all sorts of other things, and there’s none of those," he told Cosmopolitan. "They’ve already moved into Frogmore Cottage so why would they come up to West London to have the baby?" the photographer pointed out.
With reports circling earlier this week that Meghan has chosen her own team of female-led gynaecologists to oversee her labour, as opposed to the Queen's hand-picked team of medical experts, it does seem likely that the Duchess of Sussex will go in her own direction with various other aspects of the birth, too.
But considering the high profile Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have, plus the fact it's their first child together, it's not as if they'll just be able to have the baby and then disappear off into a privacy-shrouded sunset. They will need to satisfy the waiting media somehow once their newborn arrives, and the royal photographer has a suspicion about how they'll do it.
"Obviously they just launched their Instagram. If they want to keep it private... they’ll just issue a picture and put it on Instagram," suggested Tim.
It's a likely eventuality. Having recently established their own individual Instagram account, separate from William and Kate's, what better way to help it flourish than to use it as a platform for the first photographs of their baby?
That way, Meghan could avoid the arguably anti-feminist tradition of appearing in public with perfect make-up and coiffured hair just hours after giving birth, and they could invite the world to celebrate the birth of their first child on their own terms.
According to Tim, Meghan and Harry would have the leverage to make such a bold step away from the royal norm because of their status in the royal family.
"There’s a big difference between the Cambridges and the Sussexes, in that the Duchess of Cambridge will be Queen, whereas Harry is sixth in line to the throne. Any child that he has with the Duchess of Sussex is going to be seventh in line to the throne, so I think there’s different expectations," he told Cosmopolitan.
"The longer we don’t hear anything, the more it looks like it could well be private," added the photographer.
And while, selfishly, I'd love to see Meghan, Harry and baby Sussex just hours after it's born, if it's right for the family to do things their own way, then that's absolutely what they should do.
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domain: celebrity


Blue Stripe Jumpsuit
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With a magazine capacity that dwarfs everything else out there in its class in addition to a flat-faced trigger, integrated compensator, and unmatched modularity, Sig Sauer’s new P365 XMacro may not be a total “game changer” but is sure to reset how the game is played.
In This Article:
- Where’d the XMac come from?
- “More means more”
- Takedown & Maintenance
- Every rose…
- If not the XMac, what?
- Final Verdict
Where’d the XMac come from?
Swiss-oriented SIG was in the large-frame pistol game going back to its first semi-auto handguns, the Neuhausen 44/16 and later P210 designs of the 1940s. When the company got into exporting guns through West Germany during the 1970s, teaming up with J.P. Sauer to form Sig-Sauer, they kept with large-frame “service” sized handguns such as the P220 and later P226. The gun was only marginally downsized into the more compact (but still hefty) P226, P228, and P229.
It wasn’t until the P239 was introduced in 1996– the company’s first American-made pistol– that Sig started moving into the sub-compact market. The little P239 was only 6.6-inches long, weighed 27 ounces, and offered either a 7+1 shot (.40 S&W) or 8+1 shot (9mm) capacity.
While the P239 was a metal-framed gun, Sig moved into an even smaller polymer-framed offering, the P290, in 2011. With the same magazine capacity and general size as the P239, it was almost a half-pound lighter, at just 20 ounces. However, in 2018, the company moved to replace both the P239 and P290 with something that would fit in roughly the same-sized box but bring a double-(ish)-stack 10-round, 12-round, or 15-round magazine capacity along for the ride– the P365.
Named as a sort of salute to being an “every day, 365” carry pistol, the striker-fired P365 had a better trigger than the P290, albeit one that was not capable of a restrike capacity.
It also borrowed from other Sig designs, using the same style barrel lockup method utilized by the P210 (if it isn’t broken…) and a modular fire control unit, or FCU, that the company had introduced with the P250 back in 2007 and carried forward with the more successful P320.
The P365’s FCU, which is machined from S7 tool steel, is the serialized “heart” of the pistol and can be swapped around different grip modules in the family. Speaking of which, the P365 has evolved from the standard model to the larger and 0.79-inch longer P365XL, then slightly the taller P365X, the latter of which accepts a flush-fit 12-round magazine.
When compared to the rest of the P365 family, the Sig P365 XMacro is the same length as the P365XL and P365 Spectre Comp (6.6 inches, the same length as the old school P239 of 1996) but stands 5.2 inches tall from the top of the slide to the bottom of magazine baseplate, or about 0.55 inches higher than the P365XL/SC.
That extra size packs in extra capacity, getting the user a 17+1 flush fitting magazine, a full-sized M1913 Picatinny accessory rail, and a compensated slide without going any longer (it uses the abbreviated P365X barrel inside the P365XL-length ported slide).
The grip modules for P365 XMacros also can use interchangeable palmswell backstraps, another first for the family.
Those with a P365XL or P365 Spectre Comp can get a P365 XMacro grip module for $79 from Sig– no FFL required– and use the standard 17+1 round mags that flush fit with that latter pistol. Those with any P365 can use the 17+1 round XMacro mags without modifications, they just have to use them with grip extenders.
“More means more”
The P365 XMacro, as Sig says, “means more” as in it brings the largest flush-fitting magazine in terms of capacity to the series, allowing this “micro 9” an amazing 17+1 rounds on tap, or the same as a full-sized Glock 17 while being more concealable.
Plus, it is more capable than other members of its family tree because it has a full-sized M1913 accessory rail. This means you can run just about any weapon-mounted lights you desire. This makes the XMacro a more functional pistol than its smaller brothers, and you could easily use one for home defense– outfitted with a WML and 18 rounds ready.
Further, it is unique when it comes to the P365 series, as the frame uses interchangeable backstraps. This means it can fit more hands and be carried by more folks. Additionally, the modularity makes it a better choice for law enforcement agencies seeking to outfit a diverse group of plainclothes personnel, such as detectives and inspectors who don’t require a “service” pistol.
|Capacity:||17+1 rounds (2 Magazines Included)|
|Trigger Pull Weight:||5-6 lbs|
|Barrel Length:||3.1 in|
|Weight:||21.5 oz. (with empty magazine)|
|Sights:||X-RAY3 Day/Night sights, RMSc optics cut|
|Rifling:||6-groove, 1-in-10 inch twist|
|Finish:||Black Nitron-finished stainless steel|
During my time with the pistol, I found the P365 XMacro well-made and durable. While lots of polymer-framed handguns on the market have a ton of “flex” when fired because they are made from cheapy materials and have a sloppy fitment, the XMacro genuinely felt good in the hand while firing.
The internal FCU is high quality and, for a MIM part, is hard to knock as it is milled out from S7 tool steel.
The surface controls on the P365 XMacro are located on the left side of the grip module, ideally for use by right-handed users. These include a rotating takedown lever, a slide catch lever, and a magazine catch.
I found them to work as advertised, although the takedown lever is tough to get started when you go to field strip the pistol, and those who love to close a slide via the slide catch (rather than slingshot it with the off hand) are going to find that lever a bit smallish. It would be nice to have ambi controls, but Sig points out that the current setup keeps the overall width in the 1-inch range, which I can’t argue against.
The most-used control, the mag catch, is very tactile and easy to use without being in the way of a two-handed grip.
There is also an optional P365 FCU made with a manual safety lever for folks who just want such a thing or in restricted states, such as Massachusetts, who require it. However, I don’t see where Sig is currently making a P365 XMacro variant with a manual safety, so if that is a thing you hunger for, you may have to contact them directly or buy an XMac, buy a manual safety P365 FCU, and get to swapping and tweaking.
Impressive $59 Magazines
The great thing about the P365 XMacro when it comes to magazines is that it uses an impressive steel-bodied mag with a 17-shot capacity while keeping an overall length of just 4.5 inches. It is the same length as the P365XL’s 15-shot mag but uses a stronger and more compact spring and a redesigned follower to pack in two extra rounds of 9mm ammo.
Throughout 1,000 rounds, I had no problems with the magazines other than the fact that the springs are very tough indeed when it comes to loading the 16th and 17th rounds. Luckily, Sig sends a simple-to-use magazine loading tool along with the pistol.
The only other complaint I have regarding the P365 XMacro’s mags is that they are pricey, running $59 for extra mags from Sig. This is compounded by the fact that, due to the newness of the design, Sig is the sole source for these as no one is making an aftermarket alternative. Sure, the pistol ships with two mags, but in my opinion, you want to have at least four for any handgun you own to have enough to rotate through training, downtime, and carry.
That means a couple of extra OEM factory mags, as needed by that rule of thumb, is going to set a new owner back $120 bucks plus shipping.
Slide & Sights
While the P365 XMacro is 6.6-inches long in overall length, it only sports a 3.1-inch barrel because the first half-inch of the slide is taken up by the integral compensated slide slots. The integrated compensator reduces muzzle flip to help control recoil, leading to faster follow-up shots — and in my testing, it works a treat.
This cuts the sight radius down a little bit too roughly the same– still very functional– length as that seen on the standard P365 and P365X. The slide uses rear-angled cocking serrations at both rear and forward positions on the slide that are a bit shallow but still work.
When it comes to sights, the P365 XMacro comes standard with Sig’s excellent steel X-RAY3 day/night sights, a standard 3-dot Tritium system with a white outline that offers glowing illumination in low-light while not being washed out in bright daylight. They are rated for over 20,000 rounds, and the vials have a 12-year half-life, meaning they will still be glowing even after you celebrate another 10 trips around the sun.
Sig normally runs them on top-shelf models such as Custom Shop and Legion series guns, so having them standard on the XMac is about as good as it gets for Sig.
Going past the sights, the slide on the XMacro is fitted with a factory CNC optics cut in a common footprint that accommodates Sig’s 1x24mm Romeo Zero series optics, a Holosun 407k/507k. or anything that fits a Shield RMSc pattern MRD.
I installed a Romeo Zero Elite, which has a co-witnessing rear sight insert that matches the X-RAY 3’s pattern and had no issue with the mounting or the optic itself.
Grip & Ergonomics
The P365 XMacro uses a different, longer grip module than the rest of the P365 family. While similar, the macro compact grip module uses an updated 360-degree texture which is undercut on the grip to allow a high purchase under the trigger guard.
Close to what Sig uses on the new P322 rimfire pistol– it could be argued that the .22LR is a perfect training companion for XMacro owners– it is slim and lends to great control.
In short, you can run the XMac faster than you can other P365s due to the integrated compensator, which helps the pistol recover faster, and the orientation of the grip module. The layout is logical, and you get the feeling Sig did a lot of touchpoint research regarding the pistol’s development.
Moreover, the Sig P365 XMacro ships with three interchangeable back straps (Small, Medium, and Large backstraps, naturally), which the palmswell uses to adjust the grip smaller or larger for the user’s preference.
While the pistol ships with the medium insert installed, I tested out the inserts and found them easy to swap around, although, in the end, I just stuck with the standard medium panel as that’s what I had used the gun the most with, even though, admittedly, the larger swell felt a little better.
I advise you to give each one a shot early on so you can go with what feels better right off the bat.
Trigger & Reset
The flat-faced trigger on the P365 XMacro is similar to that found on the P365XL and breaks roughly vertically to the frame after a short take-up. The reset is brief and is both audible and tactile. Fresh from the box, I found it to break at just under 6 pounds with a digital trigger gauge set to about the middle of the pad.
After running 1,000 rounds, trigger pull broke closer to 5 pounds, feeling slightly crisper after the evaluation and testing period ended.
In stacking Sig’s flat trigger against other striker-operated factory triggers in polymer-framed pistols, it falls toward the top of the list.
One note of warning I have noticed on all P365 models over the past couple of years is that, due to the nature of the fire control unit design, the trigger pack starts to feel hot to the touch in extended range sessions once you run a couple of hundred rounds in a brief period.
While you probably could use a P365 in exhibition shooting or a high-round training course, be aware that you also would likely want to do it with a set of shooting gloves. However, for normal range trips where a user might run 100-150 rounds in an hour, it shouldn’t be a problem.
With a good trigger, great sights, and excellent ergonomics, the P365XL is downright fun on the range. With the Romeo Zero red dot attached, I was pinging a torso plate at 50 yards more often than not– which is some seriously decent performance out of a pistol with a 3.1-inch barrel.
Cue the Dicken Drill with this one.
Sans the red dot, out to 25 yards it was exceptionally accurate for its class. In firing from the bench at 15 yards, I was able to consistently keep three round groups inside the same one-inch block (see picture) on a sighting target, making for an incredibly capable carry gun.
While some of the original runs of P365s back around the 2018 period suffered from well-publicized issues like primer drag and slide catching, Sig seems to have worked the bugs out, and I can report that reliability is a real thing on the XMacro of 2022. Running just over 1,000 rounds of factory 9mm ammo through the pistol, stopping halfway between to clean and lube following Sig’s published recommendations, it gave not a single gripe.
The ammo draw ran from some old 95-grain Magtech to 147-grain Federals with JSPs, FMJs, JHPs, and the like, including steel-cased imported rounds from Eastern Europe and an MC Hammer-era box of aluminum-cased CCI Blazer. It. All. Ran. The worst problem I ran into when it came to reliability is the failure to easily seat a fully loaded 17-round mag on a closed slide.
You want to make sure you push-pull in that situation to ensure it is properly seated.
Takedown & Maintenance
The P365 series takes down for basic cleaning and inspection super easily. With a clear and unloaded pistol, with no magazine inserted or brass in the chamber, lock the slide to the rear by pulling it back and pushing up the slide catch lever.
Then, rotate the takedown lever on the left side of the frame down until it stops at roughly a 270-degree angle to the bore.
Next, pull the slide rearward to disengage the slide catch lever, then pull the slide gently forward and up to clear the frame. Then, you can remove the barrel and spring guide assembly from the slide. That’s about as far as you want to go unless you are moving the FCU to a different grip module.
When it comes to a maintenance schedule, Sig recommends users of their P365 platform clean and lubricate before or after every day the pistol is fired or at a minimum of every 500 rounds, whichever comes first.
While the original P365 has a recoil spring guide assembly that should be changed after every 2,500 rounds out of an abundance of caution (it can probably go more like 5K rounds), Sig says the XL and XMacro use a stronger assembly that is good for 10K rounds.
Otherwise, no user-serviceable wear parts need replacing any sooner than 10,000 rounds, at which point most of the other springs should probably be checked out, especially if there are jams or a drop in performance. Sig sells a $99 corrosion-resistant slide completion kit that includes most of the high-wear parts that you would want to refresh a high-mileage P365 with, although they caution that they should be installed by somebody who knows what they are doing.
Remember, Sig has a limited lifetime warranty (for the original purchaser’s lifetime) if you get into anything weird.
Of course, every rose has its thorns, as they say, and the P365 XMacro is good, even great when compared to older carry guns, but it is not quite perfect. The mags are expensive at $59 apiece and are unique to the model. While they are backward compatible with all other P365s, the P365 XMacro can only use its mags, kind of like a universal blood type donor.
Another thorn is the fact that the P365 was meant from the outset to be as small as possible while still bringing 10 or more rounds to the party. In the half-decade since it was introduced, Sig seems to be determined to make the platform consistently bigger, first with the P365X, then the P365XL, and now with the XMacro.
It has gotten to where it is almost the size of a Glock 19— a pistol that was long considered the “gold standard” for carry purposes in balancing length, weight, and capacity. Sure, the XMac is still a bit more svelte than the G19, has an integrated compensator that doesn’t add to the overall length, and carries a few extra rounds, but it is still sort of the “biggest little gun” out there.
If not the XMac, what?
Sig contends the P365 XMacro “is more concealable and more comfortable to carry than any other 17-round gun on the market,” and it is hard to fight them on that statement. In the ever-growing micro compact 9 category, if one is looking for a more affordable option and is willing to trade dollars for a gun with fewer features (no compensator, worse trigger, slightly smaller magazine capacity) you can get a Ruger Max-9, Kimber R7 Mako, Taurus GX4, Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro, or Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus for a couple hundo less.
Likewise, the cost of the original P365 and its P365X and XL follow-ons is $200-$300 or so less expensive than the XMacro, especially if the buyer comes across a gently used model. On the other hand, the only better micro 9 pistols on the market in terms of features and performance is another Sig– the P365XL Spectre Comp– which can cost a good deal more.
The Sig Sauer P365 XMacro kind of came out of the blue when talking about carry guns and does many things better than the competition. Likewise, in terms of magazine capacity versus size, it stands apart from everything else that is out there.
More capacity, coupled with the innovative new compensated slide format that helps mitigate recoil without adding to the pistol’s overall length or adding a muzzle device that can become a failure point, further ups the ante.
I’ll bet you dollars to donuts local gun stores and pawn shops will soon be crowded with secondhand Glock 19s and 43Xs, while the waiting list for XMacros holds steady.