BP Ford Abu Dhabi's Jari-Matti Latvala won Rally New Zealand after a day of high drama in the four special stages near Raglan.
Latvala snatched the win on the second run of the iconic Whaanga Coast test, the very last stage of the 2010 FIA World Rally Championship's fifth round. Latvala pushed hard to overtake overnight rally leader Sebastien Ogier of the Citroen Junior Team.
Latvala went into the final test 6.2 seconds behind the Frenchman who did his chances no good with a small spin early in the stage and another, three corners from the end. Ogier eventually recorded a time just under nine seconds slower than the Ford's, which gave victory to Latvala by 2.4 seconds. World champion and 2010 series leader Sébastien Loeb finished third in his works Citroen, 15.2 seconds behind Latvala.
When he reached the end of the final stage, Latvala wasn't sure he had won. “Three corners from the end (of Whaanga 2), I saw a piece of bumper on the road and knew something was happening. But I didn't know what was going on (the bumper belonged to Ogier's Citroen).
“Suddenly my co-driver Miikka [Anttila] said: 'we have won'. And we had won! There are no words to describe this. I can't believe I'm second in the championship. I wasn't the fastest here but I was the most consistent and that paid off when it mattered.”
The winning margin was the second smallest in a WRC event this century. The previous one was the 2007 Rally New Zealand where Ford's Marcus Gronholm beat Loeb on the final special stage by three-tenths of a second. Latvala's win is also significant for Ford as they overtook Lancia as the most successful manufacturer in WRC history, with 75 wins.
The Raglan stages, particularly the long and very demanding Whaanga Coast test, again determined the rally's outcome. Two years ago, mishaps on the final run through Whaanga cost the factory Fords victory, and Loeb won. This year, the tables were turned, and it was the works Citroens which were in strife, and Ford which capitalised on their misfortune.
Mikko Hirvonen finished fourth today, giving Ford a better manufacturers' championship points haul than Citroen in this event. Citroen's points from Rally New Zealand came from Loeb in third and Dani Sordo who finished fifth.
Loeb started the morning well, overtaking Ogier for the lead in the first special stage, Te Hutewai, near Raglan. Ogier, running first on the road, spun and set only the eighth-fastest time.


text:
The telemedicine industry must constantly analyze and reassess various components of their operating landscape in order to maintain efficient and profitable business operations. One such aspect of this analysis and reassessment revolves around the need to ensure that health care professionals are properly certified and that their certifications remain current. To this end, the utilization of certification tracking systems is essential.
Certification tracking systems refer to the digital infrastructure needed to ensure that the certifications carried by health care professionals remain valid. All certified personnel must periodically renew their certifications and stay abreast of new and emerging standards of practice. The certification tracking system enables companies to verify this, allowing them to keep abreast of tremendous changes, especially those that occur in the telemedicine segment.
In addition to veracity, this tracking system can aid in maintaining the financial health of a telemedicine business. Salaries and other overhead costs associated with certified personnel can quickly add up and become a significant drain on the bottom line, especially for small companies. Establishing a comprehensive and regularly updated tracking system of certification institutes, courses and fees can help balance budget allocations, freeing up limited resources for other important tasks.
It can also enable better workforce management. Certification needs vary from state to state and may even evolve during the course of the year. Establishing a tracking system can help ensure that personnel maintain proper certification without the need for costly and time consuming auditing procedures. Having everyone certified means that the same personnel can be dispatched to various states, reducing administrative and personnel costs while boosting service quality.
A further benefit of establishing certification tracking systems is improved employer branding. By ensuring that personnel are regularly certified and remain au courant with the latest standards, companies can reduce liability and demonstrate their commitment to quality. This then assures both buyers and sellers of telemedicine services that they are dealing with a reputable provider.
In conclusion, it is clear that the utilization of certification tracking systems is a critical component of economic viability within the telemedicine industry. By enabling companies to track personnel certifications, track budgets allocations, manage personnel more effectively and improve employer branding, certification tracking systems can help sustain financial stability.

domain: economics


text:
Periodically, there are such mistaken plays on Wall Street, such misvaluations, such steals, that you have to take advantage of them before the insiders do, Cramer says. Cypress Semiconductor could be that play.
Cypress owns $2.4 billion of Sunpower , a company that it created. It used to hold as much as $2.8 billion, but it sold about $400 million in an offering on May 1. The total market cap of Cypress is $3.2 billion, so if you subtract the $2.8 billion, you’re left with a powerhouse of a semi firm worth only $400 million. Cramer says that’s a heck of a deal for a company that’s estimating 2007 core semi sales of $803 million.
Cramer’s expecting accelerating growth in the second half of this year as a result of a wave of new products the firm is selling. Cypress has been lowering expenses, too, as well as divesting some unimportant businesses. He says this makes the company look like Freescale, just before Motorola spun it off and it got a private equity bid.
Cypress should pay the obligatory 20% premium to the currect price for Sumpower, Cramer says, and then split the company into two pieces. He thinks that with earnings jumping from Cypress’s new products and Sunpower as a standalone company, the value of both could be doubled.
Bottom Line: An anomaly that allows a profitable company that sells at 0.84 of core sales cannot last, Cramer says. Consider buying Cypress before Cypress buys itself. And CEO T.J. Rodgers: Cramer wants a cut of the banking fees if you do.
Questions? Comments? email@example.com

domain: finance


Épées and sabres are deceptive.
Not that they’re trying to trick you (duh). They’re deceptive in that diagnosing their technical problems can be tricky. Unlike in foil, épée and sabre don’t have the advantage of an off-target light to indicate that something’s gone wrong. You’re just as likely to think you missed that touch because of bad luck as you are to suspect some kind of technical problem.
These weapons’ problems are also trickier to identify because they’re wired differently from a foil, as you learned from our very first article on gear maintenance. That’s why épéeists and sabreists get their very own article dedicated to diagnosing and fixing these weapons’ most common issues.
Let’s talk about épée first.
Épée Problems & How to Fix Them
Unlike foil, épée is a normally open circuit. That means there’s no power going through the system until the tip is depressed and completes the circuit to fire the light. In many ways, it’s a simpler circuit than foil, but figuring out what’s wrong with your épée can be difficult.
For example, in foil, if your wire breaks at the socket, that will produce a white light, since foil is a normally closed circuit and the wire break opens it. But in épée, your light simply won’t go off. And with épée’s short lockout time — only 40ms long — you’re more likely to attribute that to hitting late or not depressing the tip enough instead of realizing that the wire is broken.
The contact spring is another épée problem. Bashing the weapon around makes the spring move on the mounting post. Sometimes it moves toward the contacts of the blade wire, making it fire early. Other times it moves away, meaning it can’t reach them at all.
Or you might have excess wire coming off the receiving posts on the socket and they’re touching the bracket or guard, either of which will make any hit ground out and not fire.
How do you deal with these issues? You can learn how with these two videos:
Attaching The Wires (Foil/Épée)
Assembling A Foil/Épée
Now that our épée problems are out of the way, let’s address the most common sabre problems.
Sabre Problems & How to Fix Them
Sabre won’t have any wire issues, but you can still have problems. For instance, you have to worry about improperly altered sockets.
Sabre uses the same sockets as foil, but they need to be altered to force a permanent connection between the B and C lines. If you put an unaltered foil socket on a saber, you will have a continuous off-target light because the circuit will never close. You can alter it by running a wire from the B receiver under the socket bracket or soldering the same wire to the bracket (but those are just two possibilities).
You also have to worry about inadvertently leaving a pathway for a hit to the blade to light up the box or for your circuit not to close. Here are a few of the things that can cause these inadvertent firings:
- An uninsulated pommel
- Chewed up insulation on the guard
- The guard touching the lamé on a hit
- A tang sticking out of the pommel
What all these scenarios have in common is that they create a pathway from your opponent’s blade to your weapon’s A line via your lamé. As a result, if the exposed metal touches your lamé while you make contact with your opponent’s weapon — usually while you’re parrying — that sets off the light.
How do you fix these issues? Watch this video to learn how.
Some Issues in Sabre
Now that we’ve covered the most common weapon problems, we’ll turn to the lamé in the final installment of this series. Stay tuned!
Does your gear have a problem and you can’t seem to diagnose or fix it? Get in touch with Sam Signorelli at H.O.M. Fencing Supply, headquartered in the Swordplay LA fencing club in Burbank, California.


text:
The former Ralston teacher convicted of sexual assault of a child learned his fate in court Wednesday. Nicholas Richter, 60, was sentenced to 14-15 years in prison and will receive 137 days credit for time served.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said prosecutors pushed for the maximum sentence for Richter.
”It’s very unsettling for parents, for people who mentor young people. It’s frightening,” Kleine said.
The accusations against Richter date to 2008. He had taught at Seymour, Mockingbird and Meadows elementary schools.
“That’s what the case is about, those young folks coming forward and having the courage to do what they did,” Kleine said.
Defense attorney Joe Howard pushed for probation based on Richter’s clean record and what he found to be a low risk of reoffending.
“All he’s done in his life is serve other people. He’s a teacher and that’s what he did,” Howard said.

domain: sociology


The increasing of globalization and flexibility required to the companies has generated, in the last decade, new issues, related to the managing of large scale projects within geographically distributed networks and to the cooperation of enterprises. ICT support systems are required to allow enterprises to share information, guarantee data-consistency and establish synchronized and collaborative processes. In this paper we present a collaborative project management system that integrates data coming from aerospace industries with two main goals: avoiding inconsistencies generated by updates at the sources' level and minimizing data replications. The proposed system is composed of a collaborative project management component supported by a web interface, a multi-agent data integration component, which supports information sharing and querying, and SOAP enabled web-services which ensure the whole interoperability of the software components. The system was developed by the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Gruppo Formula S.p.A. and Alenia Spazio S.p.A. within the EU WINK Project (Web-linked Integration of Network based Knowledge - IST-2000-28221).
WINK: A web-based system for collaborative project management in virtual enterprises / Bergamaschi, S.; Gelati, G.; Guerra, F.; Vincini, M.. - (2003), pp. 176-185. ((Intervento presentato al convegno 4th International Conference on Web Information Systems Engineering, WISE 2003 tenutosi a ita nel 2003 [10.1109/WISE.2003.1254481].


Smooth Jazz Christmas December 22, 2007
“Christmas” Dave Koz and Famous Friends Light up the Center
By Glen Creason
They just have to find another name for this concert. In its tenth season, the “Smooth Jazz Christmas” show, hosted at center stage by Dave Koz is increasingly high-energy, kinetically engaging and high voltage in its positive vibes. This is a Christmas party with musical Irish coffee served leaving the crowd a little tipsy and somewhat caffeinated. The cast changes a bit each year but some things stay the same, including the overall enthusiasm, the amazingly joyful performances and an audience as jacked up as kids on Christmas morning. This year the famous guests included Kimberley Locke of “American Idol,” towering Wayman Tisdale of the NBA and the greatly under sung Jonathan Butler, once of South Africa.
Of course, the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts is most certainly the big leagues and laurels won’t win an audience, even one as happy as Scrooge in the last act. Not to worry with this bunch though since Ms. Locke tore up, Tisdale showed his guitar is as good as his hoops (he was first-team All-American at Oklahoma U.), Koz was his usual terrific self and Jonathan Butler just plain stole the show. From the jump of Dave Koz’ wailing “Winter Wonderland” to the fantastic finale of Butler’s “Brand New Day” the joint was truly jumpin’ That connection with the audience helped the group pull off some unorthodox stuff including having individuals in the crowd provide the chorus for “Little Drummer Boy” and the diminutive Koz stand ax to ax with the 6’9” Tisdale on his tribute to his own chosen people with “Eight Candles.”
There seems to be a move toward even more Christmas tunes in this year’s edition and the standouts were Kimberley Locke’s Etta James-esque “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” an amazing call and response between Butler and Tisdale on “This Christmas” and a silky smooth “White Christmas by Dave Koz. This being the last show on a long tour seems to let the artists give a little extra as in a standing ovation inducing “O Holy Night” as done by Jonathon Butler with Kimberley Locke hitting notes as high as the cool flags atop the Center. Each artist also dug into their own bag of gems including Tisdale’s “Get Down on It,” Kimberley Locke’s bubbly “Band of Gold” and the heartfelt “I’ll Be There” by Dave Koz. Strangely enough, the finest moment of this very rewarding evening of good spirits and fine musicianship was not a Christmas song or even close to being drawn from the Yule literature. Jonathan Butler took the Bob Marley song “No Woman, No Cry,” one I have heard a hundred times and made it a masterpiece of inspiration and optimism. His vocal and guitar playing during this four minute tour de force will go down in hall history as one of the most engaging ever.
Mostly, the Smooth Jazz Christmas show was not terribly smooth; it was a lot more fun than that. It was warm and funny and in the end worth remembering until next year’s yuletide rolls around.


text: Objective RA is from the existence of anti-citrullinated proteins antibodies (ACPA). wells, cleaned with DMEM, and cultured over night in DMEM supplemented with 10 ng/ml murine macrophage colony-stimulating element (MCSF) (Peprotech). For co-stimulation tests, PEM had been pretreated for 12 hours CI-1040 with 100 U/ml murine interferon (IFN-) (Peprotech). The Natural 264.7 murine macrophage cell range was purchased from American Cells Culture Middle and found in experiments within 15 passages. RAW 264.7 macrophages were maintained in DMEM supplemented with 10% FCS, 100 U of penicillin, 100 g/ml streptomycin, and 100M glutamine. For the generation of monocyte-derived macrophages, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained by density gradient centrifugation over Ficoll (Invitrogen) CI-1040 of buffy coats purchased from the Stanford Blood Center. Human monocytes were purified from PBMCs by negative selection, as recommended by the manufacturer (Miltenyi Biotec) and differentiated into macrophages by culture in RPMI containing 10% FCS and 50 ng/ml human MCSF for 7 days. Alternatively, monocytes were purified by adhesion for 2 hours, washed, and then cultured as described above. MCSF containing media was replaced at 3 days. After 7 days in MCSF culture, macrophage purity was observed to be similar with monocyte negative selection as compared with selection by adhesion. The experiments using animal or human materials were approved by the Stanford University Institutional Review Board. Antibodies and reagents Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was from Sigma-Aldrich, and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CPG ODN) and the TLR4 inhibitor CLI-095 were from Invivogen. Murine FcRII/III blocking antibody (2.4G2) was from eBioscience. Anti-human CD32 (FcRIIa) antibody (Clone IV.3) was from Stem Cell Rabbit Polyclonal to Patched. Technologies. Purified human fibrinogen depleted of Von Willibrands CI-1040 factor and fibronectin (Enzymes Research Labs, Inc) were used in either unmodified (nFb) or citrullinated (cFb) forms. citrullination of fibrinogen was performed as previously described (4) and confirmed by mobility shift in SDS-PAGE evaluation and by dot blot evaluation using individual ACPA-positive RA sera, anti-fibrinogen antibodies (Dako Cytomation), and anti-modified citrulline antibodies (Millipore). nFb was put through sham citrullination, where nFb was prepared in an similar way to cFb but with no addition from the peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD) enzyme. PAD enzyme incubated with citrullination buffer and DTT but without Fb offered being a control to make sure no contribution or contaminants from the tiny quantity of enzyme staying in cFb. For a few tests, cFb and nFb had been dialyzed against PBS (Slidalyzer, Pierce); macrophage excitement with dialyzed or non-dialyzed Fb created similar results (data not really proven), confirming that this citrullination buffer was not a confounding factor. Macrophage stimulation Murine macrophages (1105) were incubated with nFb, cFb, nFb-IC, or cFb-IC for 16C18h, after which TNF levels in culture supernatants were determined by ELISA(PeproTech). The TLR4 ligand LPS (100 ng/ml) and the TLR9 ligand CpG ODN (1 g/ml) were used as controls for induction of TNF production and TLR4 specificity. IC were generated by incubation of nFb or cFb with a polyclonal rabbit antibody against human fibrinogen (Dako Cytomation) or, as a control, with normal polyclonal rabbit IgG (Dako Cytomation) at 37C for 45 minutes. Cross titration of antibody and antigen yielded an optimal ratio for formation of IC: a final concentration of 10 g/ml of Fb and 50 g/ml of antibody were used for IC stimulation of RAW 267.4 cells, while 50 g/ml of Fb and 100 g/ml of antibody were used for IC stimulation of PEM and human monocyte-derived macrophage. At final dilutions, all reagents used in the stimulation assays were tested for endotoxin contamination by the Limulus amebocyte assay (Associates of Cape Cod, Inc), according to the manufacturers instructions, and were shown to possess endotoxin CI-1040 levels below the detectable range.

domain: chemistry


text: In 2009, China launched an ambitious health system reform that combined extending social health insurance scheme with improving efficiency, access and quality of care in the country. To assess the impact of the policy on efficiency and productivity change, we investigated the country's health system performance at provincial levels during pre- and post-reform period. Outputs were measured using multiple health outcomes (namely, non-communicable diseases free healthy life years and infant and maternal survival rates), while health expenditure, number of medical personnel and hospital beds per 1000 residents were used as proxy measures for health inputs. Changes in productivity were quantified using a bootstrap Malmquist productivity index (MPI). The analysis focused on the period between 2004 and 2015. This was to capture pre- and post-policy implementation experience and to ensure that enough time was allowed for the policy to work through. Finally, a bootstrap Tobit regression model for panel data was applied to examine the potential effects of contextual factors on productivity change. The result showed that the reform has had negative effects on productivity. Only scale efficiency had improved steadily, but the decline in the scale of technological change observed during the same period meant that the progress in scale efficiency had been masked. Better economic performance (as measured by per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP)) and higher human resource to capital investment ratio (as measured by density of medical staff per hospital beds) tended to boost productivity growth, while population aging, low educational attainment and higher percentage of out-of-pocket (OOP) payments had adverse effects. Improving health system productivity in China requires improving financial risk protection and maintaining proper balance between human and capital investment in the country.

domain: literature


New GRDE-4200 electronic grounding system with increased safety
05 March 2021
The GRDE-4200 electronic earthing system helps to prevent fire and explosions in areas with hazardous levels of static electricity when trucks or trains load and unload liquids and dry materials.
Filling, dispensing, transporting and tipping materials into vehicles or containers generates static electricity simply through the movement of the material being processed or handled.
The charge level is greater for poorly conductive solvents flowing through plastic pipes. Furthermore, a fast flow or large amounts of air bubbles flowing through the pipe can amplify the static electricity. The flammable charge can ignite if the vehicle is not adequately earthed.
An earth connection between the tanker and the earth network of the plant is not enough to prevent sparks from being generated. A number of safety measures must be adopted which connect the two systems safely, guaranteeing the safety of people and the property. These systems are commonly referred to as “earthing systems” and function based on the principle of equipotential bonding of conductive and semi-conductive metal objects while loading or unloading potentially explosive products.
In potentially explosive atmospheres, these phenomena occur while loading and/or unloading vehicles carrying flammable and explosive products. Hazardous environments that require an earthing system are, for example:
- loading/unloading tanker bays,
- jetties used for loading/unloading oil, methane or gas tankers
- silos used to transfer liquid or solid products
During the entire loading and unloading phase, the device checks that the equipotentiality of the earthing system is maintained by using the connection of an earthing clamp.
In fact, the electronic system is equipped with a protection circuit that checks the resistance value and compares it to the set parameter and, if this value falls within the pre-set range, closes the electrical circuit between the two systems that are equipotential. Vice versa, it removes the operating consent from the loading pump and closes the loading valve.
The GRDE-4200 is composed by:
- ‘Ex eb/tb’ Cortem enclosure, which contain the ATEX/IECEx certified grounding control logic LCZ- 4200
- Cortem ‘Ex eb/ tb’ control and signal devices such as selectors and alert LED lights.
- one or two earthing clamps for the connection to tank trucks or other metallic parts.
Available in aluminium or in black polyester resin with antistatic properties, the GRDE-4200 has reduced dimensions and weight (3 kg) and a wide range of ambient temperatures ranging from -40° C to + 60° C. The grounding system is equipped with a yellow coiled cable that is 8 meters long when extended, practical and not bulky when not in use.
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text:
A proposal to ban red-light and speeding cameras in Colorado is back at the Capitol, and the bill sponsor says he has more support than when he pitched the idea two years ago.
The bill from Greeley Republican Sen. Scott Renfroe would forbid cities and towns from using the automated traffic enforcement devices. He introduced it Friday.
The measure is identical to what Renfroe sponsored in 2012. The Colorado Municipal League opposed that bill, saying it should be up to cities and towns to decide the matter on their own.
Renfroe argues the cameras are used to make money, not to improve public safety.
Two years ago, Renfroe's proposal was defeated quickly at its first committee. But he has more bipartisan support this year, including the backing of Democratic House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, who will sponsor the bill in that chamber if it passes the Senate.

domain: news


Unions representing staff in schools across the Hallam Diocese wrote to Secretary of State for Education, Nadhim Zahawi, last month warning him that letters sent to all voluntary aided schools in the area informing them that they would be forced to join Multi-Academy Trusts were ‘unlawful’.
They threatened to pursue legal action unless the orders were withdrawn, stating that schools can only be forced to become academies if they qualify for intervention, which typically occurs after they receive an inadequate rating from Ofsted inspectors.
None of the diocese's targeted schools fall into that category.
Otherwise, the DfE may only issue orders for an academy if the governing body of a school requests it.
Mr Zahawi has now formally withdrawn the academy orders for all 19 schools affected, which covers South Yorkshire and parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
The unions who took part in this action were school leaders’ union NAHT, the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), the National Education Union (NEU), and public service union UNISON.
‘Compulsion can never be the right way’
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT, said: “Becoming an academy can be a positive step for some schools. But it is only the governing body and leaders of a school that can truly understand if joining a Multi-Academy Trust will be in the best interests of their pupils.
“Compulsion can never be the right way to convince schools of this and the situation in Hallam has been badly mishandled. It has taken a serious toll on the leaders and governors of the schools affected and has been an unacceptable distraction during an especially difficult period of the pandemic.
“We will now press for a further independent investigation into went wrong.”
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the ASCL, said: “We are pleased Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has withdrawn these academy orders but disappointed that they were issued in the first place and that it has taken the threat of legal action to address this situation.
“It is integral to the process that, other than in very specific circumstances, governing bodies must decide whether they want to academise and we hope the lesson has been learned that this principle must be followed.”
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: “This is a victory for common sense, and an important line in the sand. Schools should not be forced or coerced into becoming an academy. There was no justification for these academy orders, and it is right that they have been withdrawn.”
UNISON head of education Mike Short said: “This was the right decision, but this process should never been started in the first place. Unions have worked hard over the past few weeks to stop this unsettling and pointless exercise.
"Dedicated school staff could have done without the extra headache after all the anxiety of the past two years. It’s important nothing like this ever happens again. It must always be individual schools that decide what’s best for their pupils.”


text:
Pasolini Roma cinema art photography literature poetry critic 15 April - 20 July 2014 curated by Gianni Borgna, Jordi Balló, Alain Bergala
Beautiful art gallery near the Termini station. There are exhibitions and projections of cult films.
Landmark building with a cinema, auditorium & multifunctional hall, plus cafe/restaurant & bookshop.
Palazzo delle Esposizioni is the largest interdisciplinary exhibition area in the centre of Rome: more than 10,000 square metres of space on three floors, Level 0, 1 and 2, host cultural events and offer services to visitors. The Palazzo will also have a 139-seats Cinema, an Auditorium (multimedia…
The Palazzo delle Esposizioni is an exhibition site. It’s the largest interdisciplinary exhibition space in the center of Rome, at over 10,000 square meters. The space is distributed over two floors and features a smart system for artificial light that mechanically adapts according to the artworks…

domain: artistic


text:
Arts and crafts industry advocates legal framework
Stakeholders in the arts and crafts industry are advocating the enactment of a law for public places to embody indigenous arts and crafts that express the cultural values and historical experiences in Ghana.
Led by the ATAG Craft Network Association of Ghana (ACNAG) in collaboration with Ghana Association of Visual Artists (GAVA), the advocacy programme is sponsored by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC).
ACNAG is a cluster of small and medium-scale craft producers, local retailers, exporters, export agents and designers seeking to network all stakeholders in the craft sector with the purpose of enhancing the businesses of its members.
The association identified at its regular monthly meetings that in the recent past years, their members as well as players in the art and craft industry have been confronted with several challenges regarding the patronage of their products, especially in the domestic market.
The greatest challenge remains the consistent lack of awareness of the importance and use of local art and craft by many Ghanaians, and their perception that some art and craft items such as masks and sculptured wooden items are demonic.
Brieifing the Daily Graphic on the advocacy, the President of ACNAG, Mr Mawuli Akpenyo, said the association indicated that their businesses were not growing and remained micro and small enterprises with very little revenue generated. Imports, especially those from Asia, are sold cheaply on the local market, making it difficult for the local crafts to compete.
He also stressed that the government was not using Ghanaian cultural products in public places and that such places did not reflect Ghanaian culture and aesthetics. Ghanaians and people of other cultures, therefore, were not aware of Ghanaian art and craft and their functions or historical significance; neither did they appreciate their value.
The members, he also explained, were of the opinion that the government’s actions undermined their businesses and did not create an environment for their businesses and the art and craft industry to develop.
The repercussions of these challenges, the association noted, had been a drastic reduction in the association’s members’ production capacity by about 60 per cent, which has also affected the employment ability of their companies.
A survey conducted prior to the initiation of the advocacy programme showed that if all relevant stakeholders would act positively to ensure the enactment of the law, the benefits that would accrue to the association and other players in the industry would be enormous.
These include an improvement in the use of local art and craft, preservation of culture and heritage, as well as helping to market the nation’s culture to the outside world.
The formation of the association became necessary when members of the ATAG Trade Network increased and they needed to be organised to become more proactive in utilising available opportunities to promote the growth of their enterprises.
The association’s main objective is to rely on the collective strength of members to seek assistance and generally ensure the growth of their businesses.
ACNAG also seeks to advocate a better business environment for the art and craft industry in Ghana, promote the welfare of its members and also create opportunities for networking with development partners in Ghana, Africa and the entire world.
The formation of the association was spearheaded by Aid to Artisans Ghana in 2008 and it has 243 registered members, out which about 95 are active.
Source: Daily Graphic


WAYNE'S WORLD Hats off to Mayville
The NCAA Tournament suddenly got a lot more interesting around these parts when Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson led his Panthers over No. 1 Kansas on Saturday. CBS said Jacobson w... Posted on 3/22/10 at 9:38 AM
Lute Olson. The guy from Hatton, N.D., who became one of the all-time great college basketball coaches in the country. And the one who abruptly resigned as coach at the University of Arizona last year, stunning that school’s sports fans.
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text:
Netflix didn’t exist during the Victorian era, of course, but people living during the 1800s and early 1900s had another way to binge-watch: the “magic lantern.” According to new research, these early projectors were much more common and accessible than previously thought.
Magic lanterns — basically an early form of the slide projector — could show 3D and even moving images (much like today’s GIFs) to entertain a captive audience. But given the lanterns’ high price tag, modern historians long suspected that few but the wealthy could afford these projectors.
But new research finds that middle-class families regularly rented these machines, often for birthday parties, holidays and other social events. The research, which has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, was presented Aug. 29 at the British Association for Victorian Studies 2018 Annual Conference at the University of Exeter, in England.


ATLANTA — President Barack Obama on Monday proposed $2.8 million towards deepening the shipping channel to the Port of Savannah — far less than the $105 million supporters wanted, but they say the amount is enough to keep the effort on the federal radar.
The Savannah port is one of the nation's busiest, and federal approval of the expansion is expected later this year. Monday's proposed funding is an improvement over last year's $600,000 allocation, and Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz called the latest proposal "an important step."
Gov. Nathan Deal agreed, saying that the proposed funding "will allow this project to stay on track."
"The funds are a step in the right direction and a tremendous improvement over last year," said Deal spokesman Brian Robinson. "But the appropriation amount is a small part of the story here. What really matters, in the governor's eyes, is this signals the federal government's commitment to deepening the Port of Savannah. This is Washington saying, 'This is going to happen.'"
Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed have traveled frequently to Washington in the last year to lobby for the project. Reed, a Democrat with contacts in Obama's administration, sees the port expansion as part of a statewide and regional economic strategy that includes the city of Atlanta.
Reed spokeswoman Sonji Jacobs said Monday's funding announcement is proof that their efforts are paying off.
"They have the attention of Washington," said Jacobs, who pointed out that this year's proposal is more than last year's $600,000 allocation. "The project continues to have Mayor Reed's full attention and we'll be continually working on it in the weeks and months ahead."
Georgia's U.S. senators also expressed their approval.
"The Savannah Harbor expansion is a vitally important endeavor that will bring more jobs and businesses not just to Georgia, but to the entire Southeast," said Sen. Saxby Chambliss in a statement. "''I am pleased that the Obama administration is still in support of this project."
In a statement, Sen. Johnny Isakson called the news "promising," and echoed comments that "the designation of additional funding for the Savannah Harbor signifies that the project continues to have support at the federal level."
The Army Corps of Engineers is expected to release the final study documents this spring and begin the construction phase of the harbor deepening in the next fiscal year.
The Port of Savannah is the fourth largest container port in the country, serving approximately 21,000 companies. The harbor project will prepare a new class of larger container ships that are nearly three times the capacity of those currently able to navigate the Panama Canal — which is undergoing its own expansion, expected to be complete in 2014.
The Savannah expansion is anticipated for completion by 2016.


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All kittens will be given their first set of vaccinations and a deworming at 8 wks of age.
Welcome to our listing, we are so happy you found our little feline-friendly community. We are NorCal Himalayan Maines, a Mainecoon and Himalayan Maine family. We are located in Roseville California, near the state capital of Sacramento and have proudly served the Norcal region for the last 6 years.
We are happy to announce that Queen Mist has 4 adorable Himalayan Maine kittens available (2 males and 2 females).
The Queen (Mist) is a Himalayan Maine (50% Mainecoon/50% Himalayan). The Tom (Prince Loki) is a purebred Mainecoon. A truly beautiful mix.
The kittens will not be papered but will be the best soul mates you have ever encountered.
The adoption fee is $599 with $200 deposits being accepted to reserve your choice.♥ This litter will be rehomed the weekend of September 7th and 8th, 2019.
Please visit our Instagram page @norcal_himalayan_maines for more beautiful pictures and videos of these little heart melters.
Created On: 08-07-2019
Updated On: 08-14-2019

domain: geography


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The selfless married father-of-one comedian, 43, has already raised over £148,000 with two events for desperately ill fan 37 year-old Polly Haydock.
Now the Phoenix Nights star will incredibly once again lend his support by doing a third fund-raising event at Blackpool Opera House, in Lancashire, this Sunday, June 4th.
The award-winning comedian will offer secret insights into his shows – including never seen before outtakes.
Peter Kay to hold fundraiser for superfan Polly Haydock in her fight against cancer
And it will show clips from the BAFTA award-winning Car Share, Phoenix Nights, Max And Paddy’s Road To Nowhere and Britain’s Got The Pop Factor featuring his female alter ego Geraldine.
Although it is very early days my tumour pain has eased considerably and I am taking that as a positive
Mrs Haydock's delighted husband Dan said: “Peter rang us about a week ago and asked how Polly was and said he was going to do another show for us.”
It is hoped the new event will prove to be just as successful as last year’s shows and give another huge boost to Polly’s fund-raising.
Mr Haydock, of Gadbury Fold, in Atherton, Lancs, said: “We are so grateful that Peter is still supporting Polly.
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Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK for over 60's. Here are the signs and symptoms to look out for.
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“It means we can get her back to Germany quicker and hopefully get her back on her feet.”
Mrs Haydock was diagnosed with bowel cancer in October 2015.
But last July she was given the bombshell news that she had six months to live, after the cancer spread into her lymph nodes, bones, liver and lungs.
Doctors said her life could possibly be prolonged by chemotherapy, but it would probably not be a cure.
Mrs Haydock refused to accept the devastating news and learned about immunotherapy after researching alternative treatments.
So instead she launched an appeal to go to Germany’s Hallwang Clinic for immunotherapy, which she believes gives a better chance of survival.
Peter Kay has already raised over £148,000 with two events for Polly
It boosts the body’s natural defences to fight off cancer, by using substances either made by the body or in a laboratory to improve or restore immune system function.
Last November Mrs Haydock had the first three-week course of immunotherapy at the Hallwang Clinic before returning to the UK to spend Christmas with her family.
Afterwards she said there are signs that the treatment was having the desired effect – but she still needs more courses.
She said at the time: “The treatment was very harsh and I really did struggle, but the good news is that it looks/feels like something is working.
“Although it is very early days my tumour pain has eased considerably and I am taking that as a positive.
“I am hoping and praying that the tumours have started to shrink.”
Polly Haydock was diagnosed with bowel cancer in October 2015
Her story touched the hearts of people around the country, who heard about her plight and gave donations.
A GoFundMe page with a £410,000 target for the revolutionary, potentially life-saving treatment has now passed the £222,000 mark.
She is currently a patient at The Christie hospital in Manchester and wants to return to Germany as soon as possible, as that treatment is not available in the UK.
To make a donation towards Polly’s treatment visit her GoFundMe page


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See more henna designs here
An Instagram photo by henna artist, Kelly Caroline.
The perfect gift for the mommy to be in your life. Gift certificates available for henna at the salon . Special :: ALL baby belly designs are $25 off until 12/31/14 – not ready to have it done now? this offer is for gift certificates, too! Getting to decorate wonderful baby belly is such joy! Experiencing a small bit the beginning of the miracle life is a blessing. I am so thankful I have the opportunity to share precious moments with my clients and that they welcome me to be a part. Lovely woman with an even lovelier spirit! One of my favorite henna clients. She has alopecia and wanted to do something special for herself. Henna crowns are a fabulous way to celebrate your beauty and your gift of life!


The European Union said Boris Johnson’s plan to override the Brexit deal has distracted from negotiations over future trading arrangements.
Commenting towards the end of a week where the UK government’s controversial Internal Market Bill has dominated headlines, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said the prime minister’s plan was an “unpleasant surprise” which had “distracted very strongly” from trade talks ahead of the looming deadline.
Meanwhile, MPs have warned the Home Office appears to form immigration policy on “anecdote, assumption and prejudice”, with evidence suggesting a calamity rivalling the Windrush scandal could be ”right around the corner”.
Hunt: Maternity mistakes cost NHS nearly £1bn per year
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has said mistakes on maternity wards are costing the NHS nearly £1bn in lawsuits per year.
Figures obtained by the Mr Hunt through a freedom of information request show that £952m was paid out in compensation and legal fees in the health sector in 2018/19.
Writing in the Daily Mail, the former health secretary — who now sits as chair of the House of Commons health committee — said “something has gone badly wrong” when the NHS is paying more in legal costs than the combined salaries of all obstetricians and gynaecologists working in the health service in England, which come to £586m.
Mr Hunt also criticised hospital trusts after only 14 out of 59 of those examined provided meaningful data on needless deaths under freedom of information requests.
As health secretary, Mr Hunt ordered trusts to publish data on the number of avoidable deaths in hospitals.
He said there are around 150 avoidable deaths in the NHS per week in England alone.
“If a commercial airline were falling out of the sky every week it would be a major scandal – but in healthcare we seem to just accept it as inevitable,” he wrote.
Liam James18 September 2020 08:57
MPs condemn ‘prejudiced’ Home Office
Priti Patel’s Home Office has “no idea” of the impact of its immigration policies, which appear to be shaped by “anecdote, assumption and prejudice”, a report by MPs has found.
The cross-party House of Commons Home Affairs Committee found policies affecting legal and illegal migrants — including the “hostile environment” — were carried out with little understanding or concern for the outcome.
Here’s our political editor Andrew Woodcock with the full story:
Liam James18 September 2020 08:26
Brexit Bill a “distraction”, says EU
As we near the end of a week in which Boris Johnson’s plan to override the Brexit treaty dominated the news, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has given her thoughts on the UK government’s bluster.
“The attempt to violate the Withdrawal Agreement distracted very strongly from the ongoing negotiations,” Ms von der Leyen told reporters.
“This was an unpleasant surprise.
“And therefore it is time now that our British friends restore the trust in the validity of a signature under treaty, and that we keep on going, focused to negotiate because time is running out.”
The commission chief did however say she was “still convinced” a deal with the UK “can be done”.
Liam James18 September 2020 08:09
Good morning and welcome to Friday’s blog. We’ll be bringing you all the latest developments in UK politics as the day progresses.
Liam James18 September 2020 08:01


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DVGK is a Swiss artist and producer based in Lausanne.
As a child, she became familiar with every kind of music, from electro to hard rock,
thanks to her family. But it is only when she discovered The Prodigy at the age of 12 that
she gradually expanded her knowledge in electronic music and developed a real passion for techno music.
At the age of 16, she started to attend a lot of concerts, from Vitalic to The Chemical Brothers,
but it is when she discovered Paula Temple that she really got into hardtechno and acid techno,
and tracked down all artists that would mix live in her region, such as Regal, Slam, Ansome and many more.
Real rave addict and a regular in underground techno clubs, she would always want to discover new techno artists.
It is only recently that she decided to produce her first tracks, influenced by her curiosity for dark techno
that also emerged from her travel in the underground world of Berlin and Amsterdam. Still a student at the university,
she found a balance between her studies and her love for techno, composing dark and industrial tracks for her biggest enjoyment.


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Little Jesse, our fictitious 5-year-old tot, was having a birthday party. The occasion called for a special cake. So we called six supermarkets and specialty markets and ordered a quarter-sheet cake composed of chocolate cake with white icing. We asked that the cake be decorated, if possible, with a dinosaur theme and inscribed: "Happy Birthday Jesse."
Was our "boy" (as well as his pals on the Food section tasting team) delighted? Here are the results. (Order cakes 48 hours in advance. A standard quarter-sheet cake serves 14 to 16 guests.)
COSTCO This warehouse monster makes only half-sheet cakes, which can be decorated with any one of 15 designs. They couldn't do a dinosaur theme (we chose "bear & balloons" instead). This wasn't great cake. But at $12.99 it was a tremendous bargain. Tasters thought the fluffy chocolate cake had a slight artificial flavor, and the pure white icing was a tad heavy and sugary. We chose a vanilla-cheesecake filling (chocolate mousse is also available) that may be too sour for kids. Orders may be confirmed only at the store. Our cake came from the Costco at 1200 S. Fern St., Arlington; call 703-413-2324.
FRESH FIELDS WHOLE FOODS Although the top was nicely decorated with five plastic dinosaurs "cavorting" on thick, buttery icing, there was a problem with the cake we ordered from the Georgetown Fresh Fields store. It was heavy, dense and tawny brown inside. "It tastes like rye bread," said one taster. And apparently, that's just what it was. Someone had used the wrong flour. We ordered a second cake, this time from the Arlington store. The icing was an excellent buttercream. We liked the three hand-rolled marzipan dino silhouettes that covered the top of the cake. These were cool-looking, toothy beasts that each kid could peacefully share. Inside was a very "adult" four-layer, dense chocolate cake that was a little dry with alternate layers of good chocolate buttercream. It would easily serve 30. But again, we had gripes. The cake layers were brushed with seedy raspberry jam that most kids dislike. And Jesse's name was misspelled. $24. The second cake came from the Fresh Fields Whole Foods at 2700 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; call 703-527-6596.
GIANT FOOD Kids will be dazzled by the "flaming volcano" made of cake and icing, the plastic dinosaurs and the tiny plastic palm trees atop Giant's dino cake, which is spray-painted in swaths of edible red, green and blue. "Happy Birthday Jesse" was written with a flowing, steady hand. The icing wasn't too sweet. Inside there was a good-tasting devil's-food cake that adults will enjoy as well. $18.99. The cake, which was decorated by head baker Mohamed Awad, came from the Giant at 3480 S. Jefferson St., Falls Church; call 703-845-0446.
SAFEWAY We liked the look of the Safeway cake. The icer created a naturalistic "diorama" effect with two plastic dinos facing off in battle on an "earthy terrain" that was trimmed in yellow frosting. But the chocolate cake was flat-tasting, and the icing brought marshmallow to mind. $19.99. The cake came from the Safeway at 5821 Crossroads Center, Falls Church; call 703-533-3800.
SHOPPERS FOOD WAREHOUSE A very bright and peppy "Barney" cake, iced in shocking purple and yellow, was as close as Shoppers could come to a dinosaur theme. A 3-year-old might love it. We thought the icing was pasty, and the chocolate cake had an unpleasant, synthetic flavor. $14.98. The cake came from Shoppers Club, Potomac Yard Center, 3801 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Alexandria; call 703-333-5393.
SUTTON PLACE GOURMET The tall, weighty "quarter-sheet cake" that we ordered and paid $57.49 for at Sutton was (we learned later) a stacked half-sheet cake. (A quarter-sheet cake should have cost $37.99.) It was, despite the mix-up, a very moist and chocolaty three-layer "Dolly Sin" cake, which was filled with a rich chocolate ganache. The creamy off-white icing was nice. On top were two handcrafted marzipan dinos. A little of this cake would go a long way. In fact, tasters thought it was too rich and gooey for kids. The cake came from the Sutton store at 600 Franklin St., Alexandria; call 703-549-6611. CAPTION: The birthday cake from Giant Food featured a flaming volcano and two dinosaurs on the prowl.

domain: food


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The challenge of running the communications function has gotten exponentially tougher. The role of a Chief Communications Officer is now like a hockey goalie attempting to deflect nonstop slapshots, while simultaneously directing their team down the ice. It reminds me of what’s happened to educators over the past 20 years.
Teachers used to focus primarily on educating students. But now they must navigate a daunting array of challenges including the distribution of pharmaceuticals, surrogate parenting, chronic hunger, homelessness, substance abuse, gender inequity, systemic racism, the politics of vaccinations, and saddest of all, gun violence.
A similar phenomenon is taking place in the corporate world. As our government splinters, our society polarizes, our religious institutions weaken and our communities fray, the workplace has emerged as a kind of emotional and intellectual refuge, where people actually treat each other with respect and civility, united in a common goal.
In 2018, a Civility in America Survey by Weber Shandwick found that while 84 percent of those surveyed had personally experienced incivility, 92 percent describe their workplace as civil. Who would have thought that corporations would emerge as the last bastion of civility and integrity?
But it’s getting increasingly difficult for companies to maintain this distinction. Employees, customers and stakeholders are now demanding that brands take a stand on difficult issues. The 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer found that 92 percent of employees believe their CEO should be speaking out on issues such as climate change, diversity, income equality, and immigration. This is where it gets particularly tough on management, and specifically on the communications department.
Consider the case of Goodyear Tire. The President of the United States called for a boycott of the company after learning that Goodyear disallowed the wearing of MAGA hats or “Blue Lives Matter” attire, while allowing Black Lives Matter or LGBTQ Pride shirts. The call for a boycott put Goodyear in a tough spot — however it chose to respond, the company could reasonably expect that half of the country would be upset. In these polarized and bizarre times, it’s the head of communications who often must navigate the company’s response to these periodic and unpredictable eruptions.
The implications are significant for both brands and career paths. The good news is that the function has never been more appreciated. The bad news is that the demand and stress have never been higher. The tenure of CCO’s will probably continue to decrease, as evidenced by the highly public ousting of the head of communications for the FDA after only 11 days on the job.
There is some comfort, though. As the job gets tougher and the stakes get higher, the value of the function should increase. This means enhanced funding of the department, expanded scope of responsibilities, the ability to attract a deeper and more diverse pipeline of talent, and finally, a rise in compensation for key communicators.
Assuming, of course, they can survive the role.
Don Spetner is a senior corporate advisor for Weber Shandwick Worldwide, offering counsel and expertise on role, structure and efficacy of the communications function. He is a member of the USC Annenberg Center for PR Board of Advisors.


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In sobriety we build new connections to ourselves, our families, and our communities. In our meetings we embrace all who have “a desire to stop drinking” to our tables. Healthy groups lower barriers to sobriety by creating inclusive spaces and meetings. Healthy groups broaden their understanding of what recovery means for people with different experiences.
What does it mean to abandon ourselves to God? On page 164 of the book Alcoholics Anonymous we find this explanation.
I found sobriety in the summer of 1978. I had been severely addicted to mood altering chemicals for six years. I hit bottom, went into a Substance Use Disorder treatment center, and started practicing a recovery program in August of 1978.
There are struggles we will face in sobriety. Getting sober is not a guarantee that life will be void of trouble. On the contrary, life will be life. Life will have its ups and downs, its triumphs and tribulations, its ebb and flow.
This time of year always finds me reflecting on the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces. Veterans Day, Pearl Harbor Day, the anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, the anniversary of the Tet Offensive all take place at this time of year. Additionally, from now through New Year’s Eve we will see TV commercials from service women and men who are overseas wishing loved ones back home a merry and happy holiday season.


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Back inside cover-embossed with Swiss dot.
DCWV - Stack 7 - print paper
Elegant Edges Cricut cart- Swirl1@5" (using the book feature), Doily@3"
Kate's ABC Cricut cart- 'R'@2" (Font 2)
CB folder - swiss dot
I used cereal boxes to cut the covers. Deep cut blade @ 6, speed @low, pressure @max, multi cut@3. White paper for the inside pages of the book cut @ 5x4 1/2"-rounded the bottom corners. White Marvy gel pen for doodles, pop dots, ribbons are Celebrate It (M's) or Ribbon Boutique. Cinch binding wire in white @1".
Thanks for stopping by today. Bring on summer :-)

domain: design


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Life is hard when you got red skin, scimitar-shaped horns, and twitter labels you as a Section 8 archangel. Life is even harder when your psychotherapist dismisses the choir of angels fluttering outside your gate as a form of psychotic depression.
When divine judgment wears a tailored suit and leads an army of winged humans, Narvix's mundane life of retro PC gaming and afternoon snoozes during fourth-period calculus erupts into a roller coaster of dodging lightning bolts, facing a flaming woman, and preventing genocide from reaching his street address.
AVAILABLE NOW ONLY ON
While I was not securely drawn in at first Maxwell created enough of a bite to not lose your attention completely. That’s most likely thanks to our lead character Narvix. You see Narvix is your average moody teenager who just happens to have red skin and horns living in New Jersey with his adoptive family. A curious setting indeed. As you read further that tasty nibble leads you to a nice big buffet of story-telling. Navix's world erupts into chaos, and Maxwell takes the reader along with him.
Maxwell's writing is strong, along with his character development. The dialogue is sharp and witty. Maxwell's description, skills though were a bit overworked which made me think this book is more suited to be a comic book than a book. This is due to his embellished descriptive scenes of actions, sights, and people. It's how I envisioned the whole book. This book would really kick-ass if it was a comic. Overall Maxwell is onto a nice start.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A graduate with a major in English Dayron Maxwell enjoys traveling, reading and working out. Those Who Swallowed God is the first book in the series, “The Adventures of Narvix” The second book World of the Chimera will be published soon.
Follow Dayron on and LinkedIn


January 7, 1996
Effective Monday, Jan. 8, the home-delivered price of The Times will change to $4.14 per week for daily and Sunday service. The new rate for daily-only home delivery will be $3.60 per week, and $2.00 for Sunday-only service. These rates will affect all subscribers. The increase is due to rising costs at The Times, particularly for newsprint which has risen by more than 75% in the last two years. Applicable California sales taxes are included in the above rates.
May 8, 2012
Re "Slashing choices to cut drug costs," Column, May 4 David Lazarus misleadingly describes the role of the pharmacy benefit manager, or PBM, in determining which dispensing channel - home delivery or retail - patients use. PBMs help create a robust, cost-effective pharmacy benefit. Plan sponsors lower costs by increasing generic drug utilization and patient adherence to prescribed drug therapy, and by offering a lower-cost dispensing option through home delivery.
February 26, 1989 |
Barbara Bush had a news flash aboard Air Force One en route to China from Japan: Millie, her Springer spaniel, is expecting puppies between March 15 and March 20. "I'm a nervous wreck," she told reporters Saturday. She said she plans to take Millie to the veterinarian next week to discuss "home delivery" in the White House. "You know where she sleeps," she added with some trepidation. (Millie sleeps in the same bed with the Bushes.
November 2, 1993 |
Big Mac is boning up for a home delivery attack. So are Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway and El Pollo Loco. As fast as you can phone or fax your request, these familiar fast-food names are starting to deliver--to the home or the office. Pizza parlors that long reigned as kings of home delivery are suddenly competing with the big names in burgers and chicken. For now, most of the big chains are watching closely while their franchisees experiment with delivery.
January 9, 1995
Effective today, the home-delivered price of The Times will change to $4.04 per week for daily and Sunday service. The new rate for daily-only home delivery will be $3.48 per week, and $1.80 per week for Sunday-only service. These rates will affect all subscribers. Applicable California sales taxes are included in the above rates. Also today, the single-copy price for Monday-Saturday issues of The Times will change to 50 cents.
September 6, 2005 |
Habitat for Humanity is laying the groundwork for its largest construction project yet, a blitz build of thousands of homes along the Gulf Coast for people left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. Operation Home Delivery is expected to start later this month in Jackson, Miss., where volunteers will assemble housing frames and put them on trucks bound for Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, the organization said.
October 22, 1999 |
Things to do this weekend with your money: Simplifying your life can save you time and cash, not to mention your sanity. Some streamlining tips, such as paying for home delivery, may seem to cost more initially; balance the extra fees against the value of your time to determine what makes sense for you. If you're unsure of the value of your time, check out some of the "real wage calculators" on the Internet, such as the one at http://www.inforeferral.net/calculator20.htm.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
January 25, 1987 |
Mark MacGowan and his Oceanside high school sweetheart found religion, got married and worked as house parents for orphaned Navajo children in New Mexico before their daughter's birth brought them back to California. He "couldn't come to grips" with a liquor delivery job offer, and now sees the irony of the job he took instead . MacGowan delivers milk to homes in San Marcos, Carlsbad and Vista.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
October 15, 2013 |
Imagine the book you need to ace the exam showing up at your door, care of your friendly neighborhood drone. A textbook rental company is trying to mimic the instantaneous speed of e-book delivery for printed books by utilizing civil drones in Sydney, Australia. Zookal, a service that rents textbooks to university students, has partnered with Flirtey, an outfit specializing in unmanned aerial vehicles, to aerially deliver print books to customers within minutes after an order is placed.


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Anxiety is a common mental health disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, causing symptoms such as feelings of worry or fear, restlessness, and irritability. While there are various treatments available for anxiety, many individuals are seeking alternative and natural remedies to manage their symptoms.
One such remedy that has gained popularity in recent years is lavender oil. Lavender oil is an essential oil derived from the flowers of the lavender plant. It has been used for centuries for its calming and soothing properties and is now being studied for its potential to reduce anxiety.
In this article, we will explore the connection between lavender oil and anxiety reduction, examining the scientific evidence behind its effectiveness and how it can be used as a complementary therapy for those looking to manage their anxiety symptoms naturally.
History Of Lavender Oil
The fragrant and soothing properties of lavender oil have been valued for centuries. With its calming scent, it is no wonder that this essential oil has been used in traditional medicine for anxiety reduction and relaxation.
Lavender cultivation dates back to ancient times, as the plant was prized for its aromatic properties and medicinal uses. Essential oil production began in the 16th century, with distillation techniques improving over time.
Today, lavender oil is widely available and used in aromatherapy for its calming effects on the mind and body. Its medicinal properties are also being researched for potential benefits in treating conditions such as insomnia and depression.
Having explored the history of lavender oil, it is now important to examine the scientific evidence behind its use as an anxiety-reducing agent.
Several studies have been conducted in recent years exploring the effects of lavender oil on anxiety levels in both animals and humans.
Analyzing results from numerous studies, a consensus has emerged that suggests lavender oil can be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety.
One study compared the effects of lavender oil with a placebo on patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorder and found that those who received lavender oil experienced significant reductions in anxiety symptoms.
Other studies have shown similar results, indicating that lavender oil may be a viable option for individuals seeking natural remedies for anxiety.
Discussing implications of these findings, it is important to note that while lavender oil appears to be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety, more research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms of action and potential side effects.
Additionally, it is important for individuals to consult with their healthcare provider before incorporating lavender oil into their treatment plan, as it may interact with certain medications or exacerbate certain medical conditions.
Nevertheless, examining the research thus far suggests that lavender oil may offer a promising alternative or complementary approach to traditional treatments for anxiety disorders.
One cannot deny the numerous therapeutic uses that lavender oil offers. Its versatility in aromatherapy is unparalleled as it can be used to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and enhance sleep quality. The scent of lavender oil can also help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. Furthermore, massage therapists often use lavender oil during sessions to reduce muscle tension and promote relaxation.
In addition to its uses in aromatherapy and massage therapy, lavender oil has found a place in yoga practice. Many yoga classes incorporate the use of essential oils to enhance the overall experience for practitioners. Lavender oil’s calming properties make it an excellent addition to any yoga class aimed at stress relief. By incorporating this essential oil into one’s yoga practice, individuals may find themselves feeling more relaxed and centered after each session.
The therapeutic uses of lavender oil are vast and varied. From its uses in aromatherapy and massage therapy to its integration into yoga classes, this essential oil has become a staple in many people’s self-care routines. Its ability to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and enhance sleep quality makes it a valuable tool for anyone looking to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Aromatherapy has been used for centuries to promote relaxation, and lavender oil is one of the most popular essential oils in this practice. Studies have shown that lavender oil can be an effective tool in reducing stress and anxiety. Its calming effects have been noted to aid individuals in achieving a sense of peace and relaxation.
Are you looking for a natural way to alleviate anxiety?
Aromatherapy may be the answer. This holistic approach involves using essential oils, like lavender oil, to promote relaxation and reduce stress levels.
By inhaling these fragrances during mindful meditation or incorporating them into your sleep hygiene routine, aromatherapy can help calm the mind and promote a sense of well-being.
In addition to lavender oil, other popular scents for anxiety relief include chamomile, bergamot, and ylang-ylang.
Incorporating aromatherapy into relaxation techniques can be a simple yet effective way to manage anxiety symptoms without relying on medication or therapy.
When it comes to managing stress, exercise therapy and aromatherapy scents are two possible benefits worth exploring. Engaging in regular physical activity has been shown to reduce stress levels by releasing endorphins and improving mood.
Aromatherapy, on the other hand, utilizes essential oils to promote relaxation and calmness. Incorporating these scents into relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation can help ease symptoms of anxiety and stress.
By combining these two approaches, individuals may find a more comprehensive way to manage their stress and improve their overall well-being.
When it comes to stress management, it’s important to explore all possible benefits.
In addition to exercise therapy and aromatherapy scents, another approach worth considering is the calming effects of mindful breathing.
Mindful breathing is a relaxation technique that involves taking slow, deep breaths while focusing on the present moment.
By incorporating this practice into aromatherapy techniques, individuals may be able to achieve even greater levels of relaxation and stress relief.
With regular use of these combined approaches, individuals may find themselves feeling more calm and centered in their daily lives.
How To Use
When considering the use of lavender oil for anxiety reduction, it is essential to understand how to use it correctly.
One way to use lavender oil is through inhalation. This can be done by adding a few drops of lavender oil to a diffuser or inhaling directly from the bottle. Taking deep breaths while inhaling the aroma can promote relaxation and reduce feelings of anxiety. It can also be used during mindful breathing exercises to enhance relaxation further.
In addition to using lavender oil, incorporating lifestyle changes and stress management techniques can also aid in reducing anxiety symptoms. Natural remedies such as herbal supplements like chamomile and valerian root may also help alleviate symptoms of anxiety. However, it’s important to speak with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen.
Incorporating these practices into daily life, along with using lavender oil, may provide a multi-faceted approach to managing anxiety symptoms. By making small changes and utilizing natural remedies, individuals may find relief from anxiety without resorting to prescription medications or other interventions.
Ingestion of lavender oil can be dangerous, so it’s important to consult with a qualified healthcare provider before consuming it. People with sensitive skin should be cautious when using lavender oil topically, as it can cause irritation. Those with allergies should exercise caution when using lavender oil, as it may cause allergic reactions.
Ingestion safety is a crucial aspect to consider when using lavender oil for anxiety reduction.
While lavender oil is commonly used in aroma therapy and holistic healing practices, it should be noted that ingestion of the essential oil can lead to adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Therefore, it is recommended to only use lavender oil topically or through inhalation methods.
Additionally, ensuring proper sleep hygiene can also aid in reducing anxiety levels and complement the use of lavender oil in managing symptoms.
Overall, while lavender oil can be an effective tool for anxiety reduction, caution should be exercised when considering its ingestion as a method of application.
When it comes to using lavender oil for anxiety reduction, skin sensitivity is another important safety consideration to keep in mind.
While the essential oil is often used in aromatherapy massage and topical application, it can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in some individuals.
Therefore, it is recommended to perform a patch test before applying the oil directly onto the skin and diluting it with a carrier oil.
Additionally, scent inhalation can be a safer alternative for those with sensitive skin or allergies.
By taking these precautions, individuals can safely incorporate lavender oil into their anxiety management routine without compromising their skin health.
As with any essential oil, safety considerations are crucial when using lavender oil.
In addition to skin sensitivity, allergic reactions are also a potential concern for individuals.
While the oil is often used in aromatherapy massage and topical application, non-aromatic uses may be a safer alternative for those prone to adverse reactions.
It is important to perform a patch test before applying the oil directly onto the skin and diluting it with a carrier oil.
If any adverse reactions occur, it is recommended to discontinue use immediately and seek medical attention if necessary.
By taking these precautions, individuals can safely incorporate lavender oil into their anxiety management routine while minimizing the risk of adverse effects.
Alternatives To Lavender Oil
Having discussed safety considerations when using lavender oil, it is important to note that not everyone may benefit from its use for anxiety reduction. As with any natural remedy, results may vary depending on the individual’s mental health and overall well-being.
While aromatherapy using essential oils has gained popularity as a natural approach to mental health management, there are other herbal remedies that one can explore if lavender oil does not work for them.
Some individuals may find relief from anxiety through the use of chamomile or bergamot essential oils. Others may prefer non-aromatherapy options such as valerian root or passionflower supplements. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional before trying any new natural remedies.
As more research is conducted on the benefits of aromatherapy and essential oils for mental health, it is likely that we will discover more alternatives to lavender oil for anxiety reduction. It is important to keep an open mind and continue exploring the potential of natural remedies in conjunction with traditional treatments for optimal mental wellness.
In conclusion, lavender oil has been used for centuries to promote relaxation and calmness. Scientific studies have also shown its effectiveness in reducing anxiety symptoms. Its therapeutic uses range from aromatherapy to massage therapy, making it a versatile option for those seeking natural alternatives.
Furthermore, possible benefits of lavender oil include improved sleep quality and reduced stress levels. It can be used in various forms such as diffusers, topical applications, or added to bathwater. However, it is important to note that safety considerations should be taken into account when using essential oils.
While lavender oil may not be suitable for everyone, there are alternative natural remedies available such as chamomile or bergamot essential oils. Consulting with a healthcare professional is recommended before starting any new treatment regimen.
As medical writers continue to explore the connection between lavender oil and anxiety reduction, it is clear that this ancient remedy holds promise in promoting mental well-being. As the saying goes, ‘sometimes the oldest remedies are the best.’

domain: health


Movavi Video Suite 20.4.1 Crack you can add two or three simple steps to your video files or turn them into something completely new. Create your own movie with multiple filters, transitions and special effects: display multiple videos on one screen with Picture-in – Picture effect or change background with Chroma Lock effect, mimic camera zoom or make your video look like an old style movie. Adjust video parameters like brightness , contrast and color. Stabilize shaky footage, improve video quality, and eliminate error.
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Movavi Video Suite 20.4.1 Keygen Although it is very easy to use, it sometimes lacks performance, so it outperforms other programs with higher editing and rendering capabilities. This puts it at a disadvantage compared with other software on the market, but aimed at amateurs, the change is not noticeable at first glance. If you prefer ease of use over editing, Movavi Video Suite 18 is the ideal program for you.
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text:
6″x4″ Print – Gumnuts by Genevieve Engelhardt
Limited edition 6″x4″ photo print on glossy metallic paper.
A photo of real Australian nature, Gumnuts, late 2013.
Please Note: This is a digital representation of the photo in a frame. A 5mm white border will be included in the print and photos will be printed without the watermark. They will also be signed, named and dated.
In stockCuber: Genevieve Engelhardt (Prahran)


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Legit nasi briyani at Cafe Mariam
I’m a big fan of nasi briyani, but I hardly get the chance to go out of my way and really savour it. I usually just go to the kopitiam opposite my house, get a packet of mutton briyani, and head back home to eat it. So, when I heard about how good the briyani at Cafe Mariam was, I figured it was time to step out of my neighbourhood and pay them a visit.
The humble little makan house was started up by Hassan Abdul Majeed. We came down as soon as they opened to beat the lunch crowd. We met him at 11am, while he was about to start dishing out orders for the day. He was eager to answer our questions, and was excited to talk about the restaurant.
As Hassan spoke about his work experiences and the philosophy behind some of his cooking, it was clear that he is very knowledgeable in this realm. The good-natured chef has been cooking for the last 23 years, and has a great deal to show for it. He told us about his time spent in all sorts of kitchens, cooking up meals in fine-dining restaurants, working on banquets in cruise ships, and even working with culinary superstars such as Gordon Ramsay. When the subject shifted to briyani, I could see the fire in his eyes as he passionately talked about his cooking.
Hassan’s father and grandfather were both briyani chefs back in the day, and the latter started up the legendary Islamic Restaurant at North Bridge Road. Cooking runs in their blood, and it’s reflected in Hassan’s work ethic. He’s put a lot of thought into the restaurant, from the food he serves to even little details—making his own yogurt from scratch, for example. One thing he told me was that he doesn’t eat during work hours, so that he can keep his palate fresh to taste test each batch of food properly.
Food at Cafe Mariam
Cafe Mariam only serves two dishes: Briyani and Mandi, with a choice of meat. We picked the Chicken Biryani ($6.50) and Mutton Mandi ($7). Both dishes were served together on a large platter.
The chicken came as a thigh and drumstick. The meat was tender, juicy, and slightly smoky, with a lightly torched area on the outside. Hassan’s unique cooking style makes sure that the chicken has no chance of drying out, and flavours the rice at the same time.
The chicken is placed in the bottom of a heated box, and buried beneath fragrant rice. Hassan uses a three-part cooking method for his briyani and mandi. The rice and meat are cooked and seasoned separately, before being placed together in the box. A water bath beneath it provides heat and steam. When it’s ready to cook, he places a tin into the whole box, along with a piece of smoking charcoal. The process imparts a distinct smokiness into the meat and rice, making it stand out from other briyani.
“No saffron, no briyani,” seems to be his mantra. When I was scrolling through the eatery’s Facebook page, I noticed the same declaration being made. Hassan explained that it was saffron that gave the briyani its brilliant colour. You can see the stems of saffron up close, scattered among spoonfuls of rice.
Measured by weight, saffron is more expensive than gold. The crimson strands are extracted from crocus flowers, and only three of them are found in each flower. Hassan wholeheartedly feels that saffron is the one part of briyani that can never be skimped on. Despite its cost and rarity, saffron is what gives a distinct flavour, iconic colour, and a deeper layer of taste to briyani. And indeed, the signature taste of saffron was obvious when I took my first spoonful. It was fragrant, earthy, and somewhat sweet. The rice was flavourful and rich on its own.
The briyani is accompanied by a bowl of thick and rich curry. It gave the rice and chicken a kick of spice, and fortunately wasn’t too hot to handle. It helped to add more moisture to the rice too.
Overall, I absolutely loved the briyani. The rice, curry and chicken went well together, forming smoky, savoury, and fragrant mouthfuls.
While the briyani is a family recipe, Hassan came up with the Mutton Mandi’s secret recipe by himself. He developed it over the years, slowly putting it together and coming up with a recipe. It comes with a generous heap of mutton, mandi rice, salad, and sauces.
The mandi rice was a little different from the briyani. It wasn’t as colourful, but had a stronger and buttery flavour from ghee. Mandi is an Arabian version of briyani, and Hassan is currently chasing that authentic flavour that the dish has in its home state of Yemen.
I’m a huge fan of mutton. I’ll always pick it over chicken in curry dishes. I just find it incredibly flavourful, and love how it helps to enhance the taste of fragrant rice. Obviously, I was delighted to see how much mutton there was in one order.
The mutton smelled wonderful, and had a dark, smoky crust from being directly seared with a blow torch. Despite its appearance, it didn’t taste burnt in the slightest. However, I found the mutton to be far too gamey. I love the meat precisely because it has that heavy and intensely meaty flavour. But it was still a bit too overwhelming for me to handle in this dish. Even after we were done with the meal, and after I rinsed my mouth, the aftertaste still remained for the rest of the day.
The mandi came with a pot of yogurt. Hassan makes his own in the kitchen, and portions it out to pair with the meat and rice. It’s thick, sweet, and slightly sour. The yogurt went well with the mutton, since the brief and strong taste managed to overpower the gamey meat.
Apart from the yogurt, there was also a cup of green salsa. It was sour and spicy, like jalapenos, but it went well with the mutton and buttery mandi. It got a bit too hot to handle at times, but the yogurt was able to wash out the heat.
Ambience at Cafe Mariam
Cafe Mariam is a ten-minute walk away from Eunos MRT Station. It’s quite hard to head there by car from the station, and the nearest bus drops you quite a distance away anyway, so your best bet is to make the trip on foot. The interior is quite small, so you’ll most likely be eating al fresco and enjoying the scenery while you chow down on a huge platter of flavourful rice.
When we asked him about it, Hassan modestly replied that his briyani would be a 7.5/10. He said he is still working on improving, and that maintaining these dishes’ quality is a constant learning experience. I’m inclined to disagree just a little bit with his rating, and give it a slightly higher score. It’s genuinely good food, comes in big portions, and has an affordable price. My group of three could hardly finish the two mountains of food.
Cafe Mariam is a great showcase of Indian-Muslim cuisine. Check out Asyraf’s Halal Corner for more halal food! Also, check out our guide to Orchard Central, to find out where you can all the good eats in town!
Address: 116 Changi Road, #01-02, Singapore 419718
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11am to 3pm, Fri 10:30am to 12pm, 2pm to 3pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 2pm
Tel: 9369 8564
Cafe Mariam is a halal-certified eatery.
Photos taken by Chng Jia Yian.
This is an independent review by Eatbook.sg.
Cafe Mariam Review: Cheap And Good Nasi Briyani By A Third-Generation Chef
– Affordable prices
– Authentic, flavourful food
– Large portions
– Mutton is overly gamey
– Inconvenient location
Recommended dishes: Chicken Biryani ($6.50), Mutton Mandi ($7)
Opening hours: Sun-Fri 11am to 2pm
Address: 116 Changi Road, #01-02, Singapore 419718


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Hiromi's modern fusion
Hiromi will perform at Club Helsinki on Saturday
by Seth Rogovoy
(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass., November 13, 2003) – It’s a long way from writing commercial jingles for Nissan to writing and playing the funky, energetic, 21st-century jazz fusion that Hiromi Uehara makes with her trio, which comes to Club Helsinki (528-3394) on Saturday at 9.
The Berklee College graduate, who last performed in the region when she warmed up the crowd for Wynton Marsalis and Natalie Cole at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, says she was equally influenced by rock, jazz, and classical music, which she grew up studying.
“I love energy so much,” said Hiromi, who uses just her first name as a stage name, in a phone interview. “My music has really strong energy, and I think that’s what makes it all coherent.”
At Berklee, Hiromi caught the attention of veteran jazz bassist Richard Evans, who introduced the young pianist to his friend and longtime collaborator Ahmad Jamal. When it came time to record “Another Mind” (Telarc Jazz), her debut album, Jamal and Evans agreed to act as co-producers, lending the unknown’s effort instant credibility.
The music on “Another Mind” ranges from bouncy, smooth jazz to Kansas City blues to strutting, popping funk to open-ended, exploratory improvisation – sometimes all in one song.
“I studied classical starting at age six,” said Hiromi. “My teacher was also into jazz music and started showing me Errol Garner when I was eight, so I grew up listening to jazz and classical. Then when I went to high school I started listening more to rock and roll.
“I didn’t think I wanted to be a jazz piano player, just a piano player. I always wanted to be a pianist, and I love improvisation so much. You never know what’s going to come. I didn’t really think about the category of the music. I just wanted to be a pianist.”
Perhaps it’s a measure of his influence that when the members of bluegrass outfit King Wilkie went looking for a name for their group, they adopted the moniker of bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe’s horse. As heard on the group’s debut album, “True Songs,” the Virginia-based sextet, which performs at Club Helsinki next Thursday at 8:30, plays a hard-driving, rootsy style of bluegrass, favoring traditional material, soulful group harmonies, and tasty instrumental breakdowns. It’s a style that apparently is hardcore enough to appeal to the bluegrass devotees who attend the nearby Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, where the group appeared last summer, and New York’s CBGB nightclub, where the group has also performed. Actually, CBGB stands for “country, bluegrass, blues,” so it shouldn’t be surprising that King Wilkie would go over well at that urban oasis of punk-rock.
Rounding out Helsinki’s fourth-anniversary week of music are a bevy of encore performances by some house favorites, including soul-rock group the Holmes Brothers, Friday at 9; country-blues singer and storyteller Guy Davis, who plays on Sunday at 8; and Jewish world-beat outfit Pharaoh’s Daughter, next Wednesday at 8.
A few big names have recently been added to the schedule at Helsinki. Soozie Tyrell, the newest member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, brings her own group and songs to the nightclub on November 22. One week later, vocalist Julee Cruise, a sometime member of The B-52s perhaps best known for her work in David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks” TV series and movie, performs with New York City group The Hotheads. And on December 6, concertgoers will have a rare chance to hear Richie Havens up close and personal when the folksinger, who typically plays large theaters and concert halls, makes a rare club appearance.
Martha’s Vineyard might not seem like a hotbed of world music, but it is an island, after all. Perhaps that accounts for some of the island feel heard on “All One,” the latest recording by world-beat folk-rockers Entrain, who perform at La Choza (413-448-6100) in Pittsfield on Friday at 9. The decade-old group plays an original blend of groove-heavy, upbeat folk-rock that will appeal to fans of the Dave Matthews Band and Acoustic Junction.
Speaking of La Choza and grooves, about a half-year ago at the subterranean venue Boston-based Moonraker caught our attention with its hypnotic, entrancing grooves and the charismatic vocals and presence of frontwoman Kelli Scarr. The group has just released a terrific new, eponymously-titled CD on the Immergent label, and it features nine soulful, funky original tunes that should appeal to fans of everyone from Bjork to Portishead to Talking Heads to Ani DiFranco. Catch Moonraker on Friday at the Iron Horse (413-584-0610) in Northampton at 9:30 on a double-bill with Particle.
Speaking of Ani DiFranco, the righteous babe performs solo on Friday at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center (845-454-9800) in Poughkeepsie, tomorrow night at the Mullins Center (413-545-0505) at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and again at the Lincoln Theatre (860-768-4228) at the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Conn., on Sunday, November 23. Her new solo configuration comes in advance of “Educated Guess,” her next album -- an intimate, dark, stripped-down affair on which she plays all the instruments and provides all lead and backing vocals – due out on her Righteous Babe label on January 20.
Irish group Solas long ago gave up any commitment to playing only “traditional” Irish music. And indeed, on the group’s newest CD, the first set of reels evolves into a full-fledged jam-rock exploration, and the second song, a version of Dan Fogelberg’s “Scarecrow’s Dream” sung by vocalist Deirdre Scanlan, opens with treated keyboards and percussion that would be at home on a Moby CD. The group, led by multi-instrumentalist Seamus Egan and featuring fiddler Winifred Horan and accordionist Mick McAuley –appearing at the Iron Horse on Saturday at 7 -- can still do a straightforward jig with the best of them and favors acoustic arrangements, but the musicians clearly prefer to acknowledge their non-Irish contemporary influences rather than hide them.
“Everything to Everyone” (Reprise)
Barenaked Ladies’ songs inhabit a territory somewhere in between “Weird” Al Yankovic’s intentional rock parodies and the wiseguy rock of They Might Be Giants. Unfortunately, the band isn’t as funny as the former and not as clever as the latter. Instead, they make a very synthetic pop-rock that can’t be taken seriously and just isn’t howlingly funny. It’s to real music what soap operas are to Shakespeare. That, and they can’t sing worth spit. [ 11/9/03 ]
Belle and Sebastian
“Dear Catastrophe Waitress” (Rough Trade)
Belle and Sebastian – the nom de band of pop singer-songwriter Stuart Murdoch – is equal parts fey and whimsical on its latest album, a return to form featuring plenty of bouncy, ‘60s-style chamber pop as well as salutes to r&b, new wave, disco and Bowie, as comfortable namechecking New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza as they are lifting the hook from “The Boys Are Back In Town” in a song that mentions Thin Lizzy. With his gifted melodicism and his command of an orchestral palette, Murdoch could well wind up as the 21st century’s answer to Brian Wilson. [ 11/9/03 ]
[This column originally appeared in the Berkshire Eagle on November 14, 2003. Copyright Seth Rogovoy 2003. All rights reserved.]
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domain: entertainment


text:
Many of you have probably seen the news that the Supreme Court ruled on the Biden Administration vaccine mandates and has halted implementation of the mandate for employers with more than 100 employees. However, the Court is allowing the HHS mandate for health care workers in certain settings to stand. While we celebrate the win for private citizens, we are disappointed with the Court’s decision to allow the enforcement of the Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. The State of Oklahoma is already suffering from healthcare staff shortages and the CMS vaccine mandate will only make matters worse, especially in rural Oklahoma.
As a reminder, the HHS mandate only applies to certain facilities as noted below.
Impacted facilities (if the facility accepts Medicare and Medicaid funds)
Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs)
Psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs)
Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
Hospitals (acute care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, hospital swing beds, long term care hospitals, children’s hospitals, transplant centers, cancer hospitals, and rehabilitation hospitals/inpatient rehabilitation facilities)
Long Term Care (LTC) Facilities, including Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and Nursing Facilities (NFs), generally referred to as nursing homes
Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs-IID)
Home Health Agencies (HHAs)
Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (CORFs)
Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) Clinics, rehabilitation agencies, and public health agencies as providers of outpatient physical therapy and speech-language pathology services
Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs)
Home Infusion Therapy (HIT) suppliers
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)/Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Facilities
Attorney Aaron Siri also provided a comprehensive legal update on the Highwire earlier this week. It can be watched here, starting at 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Please share this update with your State Senator and Representative.

domain: medical


(DAILYMAIL) — When it comes to choosing between tea or coffee, the best answer may be to opt for both.
Scientists have found that individuals who enjoy a daily cup of coffee were 20 per cent less likely to have a stroke compared to those who shunned the drink.
And those that drank at least four cups of green tea a day also benefitted from a similarly reduced stroke risk.
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But as the popular beverages are thought to protect against the often fatal condition in different ways, the study suggests regularly drinking both could provide the greatest benefit.