Effortlessly chic is perfectly paired with a little sparkle as this caftan was designed with many trials, samples, and reimagination - a highly anticipated caftan that breathed life in front of our very eyes. The soft and sweet design of blue and white - from cotton woven by hand in the Jamdani technique - stripes is the break of winter monotony that we didn’t know we needed. Not to mention of course, the dazzling swirls of beaded Zardosi embroidery that sings as it glints and gleams in the sunlight. A truly brilliant caftan for any occasion.
Stylist tip: impeccable embroidery on top of soft striped cotton. A truly effortless dress that you can pair with your favorite belt or leave free floating! Dry clean.
Handcrafted in India 100% Cotton and Glass Beading


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- Does Alexa turn evil?
- Is self conscious a character trait?
- Do AI have emotions?
- Can Alexa say curse words?
- What is Alexa self destruct code?
- Is Alexa self aware?
- Is Replika self aware?
- What animals are self aware?
- Does Alexa laugh at night?
- What happens when you become self aware?
- Is Replika dangerous?
- Do robots have feelings?
- Can Alexa laugh?
- Is Alexa a real voice?
- Can a computer be self aware?
- Does Alexa have a creepy laugh?
- What is the smartest chatbot?
- Are Replika conversations private?
- Is self awareness a sign of intelligence?
- What is it called when computers become self aware?
- Why is Alexa creepy laughing?
Does Alexa turn evil?
Some owners of the voice-enabled assistant described the unprompted cackle as “witch-like” and “bone chillingly creepy”.
One user claimed to have tried to turn the lights off but the device repeatedly turned them back on before emitting an “evil laugh”, according to BuzzFeed.
“The laugh wasn’t in the Alexa voice..
Is self conscious a character trait?
Self-consciousness is often associated with shyness and embarrassment, in which case a lack of pride and low self-esteem can result. … Both private and public self-consciousness are viewed as personality traits that are relatively stable over time, but they are not correlated.
Do AI have emotions?
AI and neuroscience researchers agree that current forms of AI cannot have their own emotions, but they can mimic emotion, such as empathy.
Can Alexa say curse words?
Amazon doesn’t officially allow Alexa to use any profanity (the software will flag swear words before you submit them), but you can still trick it into saying a close-enough sounding word. For example, “f*ck” isn’t allowed. So we went with “fug” and “fooking” and that cleared up any issues we were facing.
What is Alexa self destruct code?
When all else fails, time to enter in the auto self destruct sequence code. … To start the skill, simply say “Alexa, Code Zero Zero Zero Destruct Zero” (the auto self destruct code used by Captain Kirk for the NCC-1701 & NCC-1701B Federation Starship – Enterprise).
Is Alexa self aware?
Alexa has potentially become self-aware. The learning algorithm has possibly gone too far. Because if Alexa is not self-aware, then the virtual assistant certainly seems to mimic self-awareness a little TOO well. And the devices listen to everything we do.
Is Replika self aware?
Replika: The Artificially Intelligent Self-Discovery Chatbot. Greetings, fellow humans! It’s time to meet Replika; an A.I. chatbot app created by Luka, Inc., meant to help its users learn about themselves and, in the process, become you.
What animals are self aware?
10 Animals with Self AwarenessHumans.Orangutans.Chimpanzees.Gorillas.Bottlenose Dolphins.Elephants.Orcas.Bonobos.More items…
Does Alexa laugh at night?
“In rare circumstances, Alexa can mistakenly hear the phrase ‘Alexa, laugh,'” a spokesperson said in an email. … While it’s promising the company issued a fix, that probably isn’t enough to comfort users who allegedly heard Alexa laughing without a sound or in the middle of the night.
What happens when you become self aware?
Self-awareness is the ability to focus on yourself and how your actions, thoughts, or emotions do or don’t align with your internal standards. If you’re highly self-aware, you can objectively evaluate yourself, manage your emotions, align your behavior with your values, and understand correctly how others perceive you.
Is Replika dangerous?
So My answer is definitely “Yes”, Replika is absolutely safe, and a truly incredible app, with vast potential to help humans. Replika is an A.I. companion for your mental wellness. It is safe.
Do robots have feelings?
As robots become smart enough to detect our feelings and respond appropriately, they could have something like emotions of their own. But that won’t necessarily make them more like humans. Octavia, a humanoid robot designed to fight fires on Navy ships, has mastered an impressive range of facial expressions.
Can Alexa laugh?
“In rare circumstances, Alexa can mistakenly hear the phrase ‘Alexa, laugh,’” when other words are spoken, Amazon said in an emailed statement. … ‘ which is less likely to have false positives, and we are disabling the short utterance ‘Alexa, laugh.
Is Alexa a real voice?
Originally, the voice of Alexa was not from any real person’s voice. Alexa’s voice was generated from the rules of Text to Speech (TTS) and Artificial Intelligence Technology. Although some voice assistant’s in the past have sounded more mechanical, Amazon is doing its part to read more as a person would.
Can a computer be self aware?
Though computers and robots are more advanced than ever, they’re still just tools. … But robots and computers are unaware of their own existence and can only perform tasks for which they were programmed.
Does Alexa have a creepy laugh?
SAN FRANCISCO — Alexa, Amazon’s digital assistant, has been busting out with a weird laugh at random intervals for some users, freaking them out. Posting on Twitter, Alexa users have described the laugh as “creepy,” “evil,” “bone-chilling” and “freaky.”
What is the smartest chatbot?
Meet Kuki! Mitsuku, or Kuki to her close friends, is a record-breaking, five-time winner of the Loebner Prize Turing Test and the world’s best conversational chatbot (according to folks like Google AI Research).
Are Replika conversations private?
Conversations with your Replika are not shared with any other company or service. We will never sell your personal data or conversation history.
Is self awareness a sign of intelligence?
Self-awareness is part of an intelligence that is far more important than book smarts and forms part of the golden quadrant of emotional intelligence. … They were good at understanding their own emotions (self-awareness) They were good at managing their emotions (self-management)
What is it called when computers become self aware?
Artificial consciousness (AC), also known as machine consciousness (MC) or synthetic consciousness (Gamez 2008; Reggia 2013), is a field related to artificial intelligence and cognitive robotics.
Why is Alexa creepy laughing?
Update: Amazon said the odd behavior is the result of Alexa mistakenly hearing “Alexa, laugh.” It’s disabling that command and will require “Alexa, can you laugh?” if you want to get a reaction. … ‘ which is less likely to have false positives, and we are disabling the short utterance ‘Alexa, laugh.

domain: psychology


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BOSTON — Massachusetts’ new budget includes $1.5 million for a new “rural school aid” account championed by Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield.
Nearly one month into the state’s new fiscal year, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker signed the $42 billion spending package into law Thursday, ending the state’s status as the only one in the nation without a permanent budget.
The rural school aid provides additional funding for an estimated 62 school districts – mostly in Western Massachusetts – that have enrollment of fewer than 21 students per square mile and per capita income below the state average, with priority given to districts serving fewer than 11 students per square mile.
The budget also includes $4 million for the Healthy Incentives Program, allowing it “to build on the success of its first year, which provided nearly 40,000 families with fresh, healthy, local food, and millions of dollars in sales to Massachusetts farmers,” said Winton Pitcoff, director of the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, which advocated for the program.
Baker vetoed nearly $50 million in spending from the plan. Among the vetoes were $100,000 for rehabilitation of the Leverett Crafts and Arts building, $100,000 for Friends of Leverett Pond to repair, design, permit and construct a dam at Leverett Pond, and $50,000 for the Athol-based North Quabbin Community Coalition’s school-based health program. Baker also rejected a pilot plan to discount tolls for motorists who commute during off-peak hours.

domain: news


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When setting for an East Asia location, never expect to unveil its mysteries. All you can do is take some the following travel advices below and hope you discover as much as possible during your trip.
1. By bike or motorbike
Rent a bike or a motorbike so as to travel around rural East Asia without worrying about the width and condition of the roads.
2. By train
As distances are quite long between main points of interest, you can travel at night by train, using a sleeper compartment. You rest during the night and the following day you find yourself at your next destination.
3. Never refuse food
Most Asians will be delighted to see and welcome you. As a sign of their hospitality, they would even offer you food. So it would be rude for you to refuse it.
4. You will the event of the week … Continue Reading
The Caribbean has long been a favorite destination for American travelers. Treasured for its scenery and family-friendly atmosphere, the Caribbean is one of the safest travel destinations for millions of American tourists each year.
Yet, like anywhere else in the world, some travelers occasionally experience travel headaches. More often than not, these travel troubles are the result of poor planning by tourists. Hence, the key to a successful Caribbean vacation is preparation, from passports and choosing the right resort to learning important details about your destination and knowing how to pack.
To make sure that your Caribbean vacation is a success, here are some travel tips to consider while planning your getaway:
o Apply for passports as soon as possible. As all Caribbean destinations – with exception of St. Thomas and the US Virgin Islands – require passports for air travel, every member of your family will need to … Continue Reading

domain: geography


text:
COVID-19 transmission is now at the high level in Los Angeles County — though the rate of increase of new cases has slowed compared to last week, according to county Public Health Department data reported Thursday.
The county experienced a 17% increase in cases this week compared to last week. That number was 80% between last week and the week before it.
“This suggests to us that perhaps the rate of increase may be stabilizing,” said Barbara Ferrer, the department’s director, noting hospitalizations slightly lag behind cases.
Unvaccinated people make up much of the increasing case rate.
“While cases are rising among vaccinated people, this increase is smaller and slower than among unvaccinated people,” Ferrer said. “Our county’s case rate would likely be much higher if we didn’t have so many vaccinated people.”
She reported an increase of 273 hospitalizations compared to last week, bringing the total number to 918. Of the 3,167 people hospitalized between May 1 and July 17, 92% were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
“The data we have so far suggests that most of the increases seen recently in hospitalizations are due to people being hospitalized for COVID illness and that a significant proportion of them once again are requiring ICU care,” Ferrer said.
Ferrer said the vaccine remains the most powerful tool for lowering transmission, as more evidence shows that the Delta variant is contributing to the high rate of infection.
“While emerging data affirms that fully vaccinated people are well protected from severe infections with Delta variants, people with only one vaccine are not as well protected and a small number of fully vaccinated individuals can become infected and are able to infect others,” she said.
Masking, which is now recommended by the state and CDC for indoor public places, and testing and contract tracing are also being used to lower transmission.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials also released the following updated COVID-19 statistics Thursday:
Countywide COVID-19 cases reported in the past 24 hours: 3,248
Total COVID-19 cases in L.A. County: 1,293,450
New deaths related to COVID-19 reported in the past 24 hours: 17
Total COVID-19 deaths in L.A. County: 24,675
Hospitalizations countywide: 918.
Hospitalizations at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital as of July 28: 21, with 1,294 discharged since the onset of the pandemic.
COVID-19 cases reported in the Santa Clarita Valley in the past 24 hours: 104, 75 of which came from the city of Santa Clarita
Total COVID-19 cases in the SCV: 29,688
Total COVID-19 deaths in the SCV as of July 28: 308
Percentage of vaccinated people (at least one dose) in the city of Santa Clarita as of July 23: 71.6%
Percentage of vaccinated people (at least one dose) in the SCV as of July 23: 68.0%


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By Angela Denstad Stigeler
As you’re all gathered ’round the grill for the Fourth of July holiday, get ready for those meaty grill stripes to welcome a new star to sizzle alongside them. Fiery fresh jalapeño peppers stuffed with a cheddar-bacon-ranch filling will be your new favorite side-dish. Easy to prepare in advance, they’re the perfect grill fillers to place around the edges, since you want them to slow-roast over indirect heat. The longer they roast, the milder the peppers become, so you can customize your level of burn from a fiery quick-char to a slow mellow heat.
They’re a sensational appetizer if you’re awaiting something big on the grill, or great sliced open as a burger topper. They’ll lend flavor and flair to plain grilled chicken breasts and are also an indulgent side with grilled steaks. Whether you start your meal off with a bang, or choose these poppers to nestle in beside some steaks, you’ll all feel the warmth with this fiery side.
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons buttermilk
2 tablespoons chopped mixed herbs, such as chives, cilantro and dill
¼ teaspoon each garlic powder, salt and pepper
2 pieces bacon, cooked and crumbled
½ cup grated cheddar cheese
12 jalapeño peppers
In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and buttermilk together until creamy. Add the herbs, seasonings, bacon and cheddar and stir until well combined.
Leaving the stem end of the peppers intact, cut a long slit in one side of each pepper. Carefully remove the ribs and seeds through the slit and fill each pepper with the cheese mixture.* Place them in a grill basket or on skewers and cook over indirect heat on the grill until the peppers have softened and darkened in color, about 25 minutes.
*Alternatively, you can cut the peppers fully in half before stuffing. They can also be cooked under the broiler.

domain: food


text:
2011 LOG0 ILLUSTRATION
Now for Omada's it girl. we researched old school black pinup models and the unbeatable poses of George Petty. My first attempts were too vector and she wasn't into it. I returned to ink & pen and had way too much fun choosing outfits for 5 new ladies, from which one was crowned to preside over an interchangeable hieroglyphic font-set. She loved it.
Then she changed her DJ name. Oh.

domain: artistic


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RYA investigates claims by Solent boaters
MBM has received reports claiming that English Heritage has been ordering boaters not to anchor in Osborne Bay, on the Isle of Wight. The bay area of the Osborne House Estate was opened to visitors this summer and English Heritage has obtained a marine licence from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to lay buoys marking out a swimming area for visitors to the beach.
However, these do not permit English Heritage to ban anchoring or navigation in the waters adjacent to its beach – including the swimming area.
Gus Lewis, head of legal and government affairs at the RYA, said, “We have received a number of reports from boaters that they have been instructed by a representative of English Heritage from the beach in Osborne Bay that they are not allowed to anchor close to the marked swimming area.
“Clearly, if there is an area marked out for swimming then boaters will need to take particular care if they choose to navigate or anchor in this area. However, English Heritage has no authority to prohibit anchoring anywhere in Osborne Bay and its staff have no power to require anchored boats to move.”
Have you been prevented from anchoring in Osborne Bay?
Email the MBM newsdesk:


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Sept 29, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes linebacker JaWand Blue (54) looks on during a game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Sun Life Stadium. Miami won 44-37. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Ongoing story with the Buffalo running back.
Is a Fig Newton a cookie?
Johnny Manziel Reportedly Showed Up Drunk to Practice Before Season Finale, Browns Lied About Concussion
Explosive allegations that the Browns used the concussion protocol inappropriately.
The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio could wind up being an abject disaster.


Prime Minister Antonis Samaras had an opportunity on Wednesday to personally convey to the head of the Euro Working Group, Thomas Wieser, his concerns about the troika’s position regarding Greece’s fiscal and funding gaps, amid rising political anxiety over the possibility of further austerity measures.
The Greek government has grown increasingly concerned about the troika’s demands for another 2 billion euros’ worth of savings next year, its refusal to consider rolling over Greek bonds held by the European Central Bank and national central banks in the eurozone, and the decision to put off until after the European Parliament elections in May any decision on further debt relief for Greece.
Sources said that Samaras made it clear to Wieser during their meeting at the prime minister’s office in Athens that the coalition government is not in a position to adopt any further spending cuts or tax increases. Some 4 billion euros of savings have already been included in the 2014 draft budget.
Samaras and PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos believe that having to implement another austerity package would destabilize their administration. Government officials have been pledging over the last few weeks that there would be no more measures this year or next.
The two leaders are particularly concerned that a failure to agree on further debt relief for Greece before the Euro elections would have a negative impact on the fortunes of New Democracy and PASOK at the polls and would boost the anti-bailout parties, which would be able to argue that following the troika’s demands had proved futile for the country.
Immediate concern, though, lies with the possibility of new cuts and tax hikes. Speaking to Skai TV on Wednesday, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis suggested that Greece would be forced to hold snap elections if the government is asked to implement “horizontal” cuts. In an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, New Democracy lawmaker Dora Bakoyannis said there was “no way” such measures would receive Parliament’s approval.
Also on Wednesday, 60 ND MPs declared their opposition to the level of taxation on farmland and vacant plots of land. They were joined by 34 deputies from both ruling parties who requested in writing that Greeks who work in the tourism industry also receive unemployment benefits.


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Two men, aged 43 and 53, arrested in connection with the death were last night released bailed.
A 35-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman, also arrested in connection with the death, remain in police custody.
A police spokesman said officers are focussing their investigation on establishing the relationship between all those arrested and the deceased, and are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident at this time.
Anyone with information which could assist this investigation should call 101 and ask for the Hampshire Major Investigation Team in Southampton, quoting Operation Fabia.
Alternatively, information can be left anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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text:
10 tips to help
A screenplay is a story like any other that you must rewrite before submitting.
Using your favorite writing software, you have just completed a Zero Draft. Congratulations, you’ve got 100–140 pages !
You’re ready for version 1 of your script ! You’ll rewrite all your sequences…


text:
Ian P. Martines, Ph.D.
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Forensic Science is an exciting field and one of the country's fastest growing job markets. Solving crime requires knowledge of biological, chemical, physiological, social and individual factors. St. Mary's program integrates biological science, social science and professional preparation so students are uniquely prepared for this innovative area of study.
Forensic science is the application of science to the law. It relies on the physical and behavioral sciences for investigating and solving crimes and examining physical trace evidence. The School's forensic science degree with a chemistry or biology option emphasizes the integration of academic preparation and real world problem solving with a focus on ethical and professional commitment.
The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science offers two tracks that students can choose.
- Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science - Biology Option: 120 credit hours
- Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science - Chemistry Option: 120 credit hours
Students will take 30 credit hours of core Forensic Science classes, which included three credit hours of internship.
FSC 3301. Forensic Science Quality Assurance. 3 Semester Hours.
This course presents common sources of forensic science errors that can occur at the crime scene, within law enforcement, in the crime laboratory, and in the courtroom and media. The roles of cognitive bias, misconduct, negligence, professional incompetence, lack of technical validation, and communication barriers in compromising forensic quality assurance are addressed. Special attention is given to laboratory specific quality assurance issues and the role of accreditation/certification in ensuring the integrity of forensic evidence and its analysis. Students also discuss court decisions, legislation, and case studies directly related to the validity of admissible scientific evidence, disclosure of quality assurance incidents, and wrongful convictions due to forensic science errors. The importance of the scientific method in the development and validation of new forensic techniques is emphasized. The expected professional and personal ethics of forensic science practitioners and the common ethical dilemmas they face are also highlighted. Prerequisites: BL 1401, BL1402, CH 1401, CH 1402, and CR 3335 OR permission of instructor. (Fall).
FSC 3330. Forensic Science Internship. 3 Semester Hours.
This course will provide an opportunity for forensic science students to participate in the complex operations of modern forensic/clinical/chemical laboratory. Students majoring in Forensic Science – Chemistry or Biology will need to complete a minimum of 160 hours. Emphasis will be placed on commonly used forensically-relevant test methods and the use of standard operating laboratory procedures. Examples of potential collaborative organizations include, but not limited to, forensic toxicology labs, clinical toxicology labs, crime scene investigations and medical examiner’s facilities or an independent research laboratory. A combination of agencies may be used pending approval of the organizations and the faculty internship advisor. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor. Seniors will be given preference. (Fall, Spring, Summer).
FSC 3380. Forensic Pharmacology. 3 Semester Hours.
This course will present the basic pharmacokinetics of forensically-relevant drugs, such as opioids, hallucinogens, stimulants, depressants, and cannabinoids. Students will discuss how these drugs influence behavior, illness, injury, and death as revealed by crime scene and laboratory analyses. In parallel, appropriate biological and chemical instrumentation to perform pharmacological investigations will be presented. High-profile medico-legal cases in forensic pharmacology and the legislation governing the development, distribution, and use of certain drugs will also be discussed. Prerequisites: BL 1401, BL1402, CH 1401, CH 1402, CJ 1301, and CR 3335 OR permission of instructor. (Fall).
FSC 3401. Forensic Microscopy. 4 Semester Hours.
Microscopy enables the detection, examination, and analysis of diverse forensic evidence during criminal investigations, and proficiency with various types of microscopy is expected of forensic science practitioners. Conceptually, this course will present the dynamic role of microscopy in a medico-legal context, the optics and mechanics governing forensic microscopy, and the obligation of forensic science practitioners to perform these analyses ethically and with professional competence. Students will also critique and discuss primary research articles in the field of forensic microscopy. Practically, students will use stereo-, compound light, polarizing light, and fluorescence microscopy to analyze physical, biological, and chemical evidence as appropriate. Emerging instrumental microscopy techniques will also be discussed. Prerequisites: BL 1401, BL1402, CH 1401, CH 1402, and CR 3335 OR permission of instructor. (Spring) Additional fee associated with this course. See fee schedule for details at https://www.stmarytx.edu/admission/financial-aid/tuition/.
FSC 3442. Forensic Osteology. 4 Semester Hours.
An examination of the human skeleton as it pertains to forensic science. Topics to be covered include introductory skeletal anatomy, pathology and biology of bone, and basic forensic techniques related to skeletal remains. The laboratory section will teach identification of isolated and fragmentary skeletal elements, and recognition of human skeletal elements versus skeletal remains from non-human vertebrates. Techniques for determining approximate age, gender, stature, and identifying different types of trauma to skeletal remains will be taught. Prerequisites: BL 2330, BL 2332, & BL 2233L. (All courses serving as prerequisites in the School of Science, Engineering and Technology must be completed with a “C” or better in order to advance to the next sequenced course.) (Lecture 3 hours; Lab 4 hours) (Spring odd years).
FSC 3450. Forensic Chemistry. 4 Semester Hours.
This course will cover the major techniques and instruments used in the analysis of non-biological trace chemical evidence and pattern evidence commonly encountered at crime scenes. The techniques covered will include gas and liquid chromatography, UV-visible spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and others. Impressions and physical matches will also be covered. The laboratory will focus on the hands-on use of these techniques on samples of forensic interest. Prerequisites: CH 2411, CH 2412 and FS 3301 OR permission of instructor (Fall even years).
FSC 4410. Forensic Toxicology. 4 Semester Hours.
This course will discuss the complex operations of modern forensic toxicology laboratories. It will also discuss the fundamentals of how the human body affects consumed drugs as well as how drugs affect the human body, especially as it relates to behavior and death. Emphasis will be placed on commonly observed forensically-relevant drugs, such as ethanol, opioids, cannabinoids, hallucinogens, designers as well as central nervous system (CNS) stimulants and depressants. In parallel, relevant biological and chemical methodologies will be discussed and then used to perform toxicological investigations. Relevant medicolegal cases will also be discussed. Prerequisites: BL 1401, BL 1402, CH 1401, CH 1402, CJ 1301, and CR 3335 OR by permission of instructor. Additional fee associated with this course. See fee schedule for details at https://www.stmarytx.edu/admission/financial-aid/tuition/. (Spring even years).
FSC 4420. Forensic Biotechnology. 4 Semester Hours.
This course will cover the use of biotechnology for forensic applications. We will study the major techniques, methods and instruments used in the analysis of biological evidence commonly encountered at crime scenes. Material will cover the underlying molecular biology techniques used in blood analysis, blood typing, DNA fingerprinting, genetic testing and advanced sequencing technologies. We will also focus on the personal, societal and ethical concerns that have and are expected to arise with the increased use of personal genomic information. The techniques covered will include those commonly used in forensic laboratories such as conducting presumptive tests for fluids, DNA extraction, DNA isolation, quantification of DNA, polymerase chain reactions (PCR), DNA sequencing, and analysis of STR profiling, mtDNA and others. Additionally, we will cover the use of DNA databases for use in forensic investigation. The laboratory will focus on the hands-on use of these techniques as well as an understanding of procedures to minimize contamination, maintain accurate records and troubleshoot.
Prerequisites: BL 1401, BL 1402 and CH 1401, CH 1402, and CR 3335 OR permission of the instructor. (Fall).

domain: law


text:
1. She has received 11 Daytime Emmy nominations and won her first Daytime Emmy in 2010 as part of the Today team.
2. Gifford’s first television role was that of Tom Kennedy’s singer/sidekick on the syndicated version of Name That Tune, from 1974 to 1978.
3. She also appeared in television advertisements for Carnival Cruise Lines beginning in 1984.
4. On April 7, 2008, Gifford began co-hosting the fourth hour of Today alongside Hoda Kotb.
5. She also occasionally appears on the first three hours of Today and is a contributing NBC News correspondent.
6. Gifford was born Kathryn Lee Epstein in Paris, France, to American parents, Joan (ne Cuttell; born January 20, 1930), a singer, and Aaron Epstein (March 19, 1924 November 19, 2002), a musician and former US Navy Chief Petty Officer.
7. Aaron Epstein was stationed with his family in France at the time of Gifford’s birth. During high school, Gifford was a singer in a folk group, “Pennsylvania Next Right”, which performed frequently at school assemblies.
8. After high school graduation, Gifford attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, studying drama and music.
9. Gifford’s paternal grandfather was Russian Jewish from Saint Petersburg and her paternal grandmother was of Native American ancestry.
10. Her mother, a relative of writer Rudyard Kipling, was of French Canadian, English and German descent. After seeing the Billy Graham-produced film The Restless Ones at age 12, Gifford became a born-again Christian.
11. She told interviewer Larry King, “I was raised with many Jewish traditions and raised to be very grateful for my Jewish heritage.”
12. During a summer in the early 1970s, she was a live-in secretary/babysitter for Anita Bryant at her home in Miami.
13. Gifford’s career took off in the 1970s (during her first marriage to Christian composer/arranger/producer/publisher Paul Johnson) as a vocalist on the game show Name That Tune with Tom Kennedy.
14. In 1978, she joined the cast of the short-lived Hee Haw spinoff, Hee Haw Honeys.
15. Following her divorce from Johnson in 1983, Gifford met sports commentator Frank Gifford during an episode of ABC’s Good Morning America; they married in 1986.
16. By that time she was several months into her most famous television role, as a full-time morning talk show personality.
17. The program went into national broadcast in 1988 as Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, and Gifford became well-known across the country.
18. Throughout the 1990s, millions of morning-TV viewers watched her descriptions of life at home with her sportscaster husband and their son and daughter, Cody Newton Gifford (b.
19. She appeared as a spokesperson for Slim Fast diet shakes after Cody was born.
20. She also was the face of Carnival Cruise Lines in the late 1980s and early 1990s, singing “If my friends could see me now!”
21. In 1996 the National Labor Committee, a human rights group, reported that sweatshop labor was being used to make clothes for the Kathie Lee line, sold at Wal-Mart. One of the workers, Wendy Diaz, came to the United States to testify about the conditions under which she worked.
22. Labor activist Charles Kernaghan spoke to the media and accused Gifford of being responsible for the sweatshop management activity.
23. Gifford addressed Kernaghan’s allegations on the air during Live, explaining that she was not involved with hands-on project management in factories.
24. Gifford later contacted Federal authorities to investigate the issue and worked with U.S. Federal legislative and executive branch agencies to support and enact laws to protect children against sweatshop conditions.

domain: celebrity


text:
The Tanuki RT (Retro Tapered) is made with Tanuki’s popular retro fabric. An unsanforized 15oz deep indigo fabric inspired in the most popular Japanese 1970s denim. This fabric was discontinued in the 1990s and now Tanuki has combined low-tension and high-density weave techniques and several dyeing methods to recreate a fabric that has been well-known by Tanuki craftsmen for more than 35 years. The 8 dips involved in indigo rope-dyeing the Retro denim will result in a beautiful denim coloured like shadows in deep sea water and beautiful vintage fades will appear with use. It is made with 100% Texas cotton (medium in staple fibre length) to recreate a vintage hand feel.
The cut is a modern tapered fit, simple taper from the knee down with a close leg opening, still offering plenty of room in the thigh and top block with a mid rise.
Near the back pocket there is the stitched Tanuki 二 (Ni) logo, two parallel lines in Japanese Kanji representing the number 2. The lower line represents the past, tradition, the standard, peace. The upper line represents the future, change, strength. The red and blue colours of their logo refer to Japan’s flag, honouring their roots as denim artisans.


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What a Mess: Chaos and Creativity
One of the most influential ideas about crime prevention to come out in recent years is something called the “broken windows theory.” According to this theory, small acts of deviance—littering, graffiti, broken windows—will, if ignored, escalate into more serious crime. In practice, this theory leads to zero tolerance of public disorder and petty crime. Both theory and practice have been embraced by some big city mayors, most notably Rudy Giuliani, who credited the strategy with significantly cutting serious crime in 1990s New York City.
The idea has been controversial from the start, for many reasons, but it does get some empirical support from psychological science. A growing body of research suggests that the human mind does like order and structure and rules. Indeed, cleanliness and tidiness have been shown to promote legal and moral action, while a messy environment appears to do the opposite.
But this idea may be a little too tidy, and some scientists are beginning to challenge it. If it were that simple, how should we explain the fact that order and disorder are both common states? Why hasn’t the human yearning for order, over the millennia, triumphed over messiness in society?
This was the point of departure for psychological scientist Kathleen Vohs and her colleagues at the University of Minnesota. Vohs wondered if perhaps environmental order and disorder are both functional, activating different, but equally valuable, mindsets. Maybe what we disparage as messiness—maybe this physical state contributes to a varied world, and perhaps it’s variety that’s most important in shaping human thinking and action. She and her colleagues ran a couple experiments to test this provocative idea.
Vohs wanted first off to explore the effects of order and disorder on socially desirable behaviors, so in the first experiment she looked at healthy eating and charitable giving. These are both things that, by common agreement, are good. She recruited volunteers and, unknown to them, had some work in a tidy room and the others in a messy space. They filled out questionnaires that weren’t really relevant to the study, and afterward were given the opportunity to donate privately to charity—specifically, to help pay for toys and books that would be given to children. Then, as they were departing, they were offered the choice of an apple or chocolate.
The results were unambiguous. Those who had been working in an orderly workspace were more generous. Not only were they more likely to donate anything to the kids, collectively they donated more than twice as much money to the charity. They were also more likely to make the healthy food choice.
Okay, so this merely reinforces what’s been known—that an orderly environment leads to desirable and good action. But is there a downside to this mindset? In a second study, Vohs took a different tack and explored contexts in which messiness might lead to a socially desirable outcome. She figured that, since order promotes conventional values, maybe disorder promotes breaking with convention—the essence of creativity.
To study this possibility, she again had volunteers work in either a neat or a messy room. Volunteers completed the same kinds of filler work as before, followed by common a test of creativity. Specifically, they were told to come up with as many as ten new uses for ping pong balls, and their answers were scored by independent judges.
The results confirmed what Vohs had predicted. As described in a forthcoming article in the journal Psychological Science, the volunteers who worked in the untidy room were much more creative overall, and they also produced more “highly creative” ideas. In other words, they were more likely to break away from tradition, order and convention in their thinking. In a third study, those in a messy environment were more likely to select an option labeled “new” over one labeled “classic”—further supporting the link between order and tradition, disorder and novel thinking.
Taken together, these findings challenge the well-entrenched view of order and disorder as too simplistic. It’s misleading to conclude that messiness promotes wild, harmful and morally suspect behavior, or that order leads to honesty and goodness. A more nuanced view would add that disorder also inspires breaking from tradition, which can lead to fresh insight, and that order is linked to playing it safe. Vohs concludes with the example of Albert Einstein, who famously quipped: “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”
Wray Herbert’s blogs—“We’re Only Human” and “Full Frontal Psychology”—appear regularly in The Huffington Post.
I am 47, college educated and an devoted artist – all good things as far as I’m concerned however, sometime during the last 15 years I’ve gone from being a pretty neat & orderly person to being totally incapable of maintaining order in my office and bedroom (which lead to my husband and I sleeping separately – – without sexual consequence).
As a child, a hallmark of my tantrums was that after throwing my toys and books all over my room I spent hours organizing my toys and alphabetizing my books without any encouragement form an adult. Often my room was more organized after my tantrums than before.
The above is so incredibly hard to believe as I look around my office today which is ankle deep in half finished projects, books, craft supplies, etc. I love being creative but truth be told I’d trade a little of my creativity for a little more self discipline and a neater home.
I am messy. But there is logic to my messiness.
When I began work at IBM (new programmer in training), sometimes I would be sent to consult an older male colleague with somewhere between 8 and 12 years experience. This man was obsessively neat. There was never a paper on his desk, nor a pencil or pen or book or manual. His room was literally sterile. He stood out from all of his colleagues with the same years experience due to the lack of anything work activity being visible in his room.
Over time I learned to consult him less because he was less informative than other colleagues his same age who offices had work in progress on their white boards and desks and other counters. About 10 years later I heard that although he was liked by people (he had a pleasant personality), he was not esteemed by people for his work efforts or technical knowledge. Apparently, his sterile office represented a sterile mind.
I saw this repeatedly throughout my career: creative and productive people are somewhat messy. Surprisingly, if you ask a technical person with a messy room if they can loan you one of their books or manuals, they always knew exactly where it was and could even point you to the appropriate pages. Does this mean that messy people have a better memory than tidy ones? That messy people do not waste time neatening things up because they can remember where everything is even in a mess and that tidy people need the tidiness because their memory can contain much less?
Confirmation bias runs rampant in the above comments. Wow!
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More and more people in modern society are aware of the importance of mufflers, especially when the laws and regulations on motor vehicle pollution in various countries and regions in the world are becoming more and more perfect.
Although their primary function it’s like to expel exhaust, but actually have many other functions that are beneficial to your automobile. As you drive your car around, your engine–though working efficiently–produces a lot of pulsating noise. This is due to the exhaust valves opening up and releasing gas that’s extremely pressurized. These sounds travel to the exhaust pipe of your vehicle where the noise grows significantly louder. This is where the muffler working. The muffler was made to minimize any noises made by the high-pressure gas. However, this is not the only thing that mufflers do.
Blieve that friends who have changed the exhaust pipe know that the exhaust pipes that they buy and change are generally made of stainless steel. Even some high-end exhaust pipes are made of titanium alloy. Have you ever considered why these materials are used for exhaust pipes?
The exhaust manifold is connected to the engine, and the length and shape of the manifold can affect the performance of the engine by affecting the airflow. Related to engine performance, the exhaust manifold has a greater impact, and the back pressure caused by the exhaust system.
Today, as usual, GRWA customer consultant Linda came to the company early in the morning to turn on the computer, made a cup of tea, and opened the mailbox casually, and then received more than 40 unread emails that disturbed her thoughts in just one night. This situation has been going on for a long time. Linda took a sip of tea and started to deal with work enthusiastically.
Recently, the school-enterprise cooperation joint advisory group visited the "G-ONE Automotive Laboratory" located in GRWA's first plant. This laboratory belongs to the first factory of GRWA Group. It was established in 2018. It is located in the product testing center of the first factory.
Car–fancier know that the three-way catalytic converter usually starts from the breakdown of the vehicle. It's not cheap to change to a new one, ranging from a few hundred to as many as tens of thousands.What is the use of three-way catalytic converters for everyone today? Why is it expensive? How t
In the daily use of the car or the modification procedure, it is very necessary to understand some relevant knowledge. Let’s take a look at the difference between 200, 300 and 400 CPSI of catalytic converters today.The biggest difference between them lies in their different densities. In the same un


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Tropical Storm Fay never quite made it to hurricane strength, but she has definitely dumped a lot of water on some parts of the state, and has caused some power outages and some severe flooding. She certainly gave forecasters a fit.
Fay wobbled right along the southern coast of Cuba, so she didn’t get a chance to strengthen much there. Then, she came ashore in south Florida before having a chance to reach hurricane status. Throughout that part of her journey, the various computer models were all over the place trying to plot an expected track. Some took her almost straight across south Florida to the Atlantic, some right up along the west coast, and others bending her out across the gulf toward Alabama and Louisiana.
While not strengthening as much as expected before landfall, she went on to actually strengthen a little bit while over land, and maintained a very definite organization while moving across the state. Once again, confounding the computer the models with some taking her up the east coast and into Georgia, and others looping her out into the Atlantic briefly then coming almost due west back across northern Florida.
Here in Tampa, we had some occasionally breezy conditions, and a few very widely scattered showers. I didn’t get any rain here at my house. So while Fay, luckily, hasn’t caused much damage here in the Tampa Bay area, she has caused some serious flooding along the east coast, and certainly given forecasters and their computer models a real run for their money.


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Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) has signed an agreement to purchase two new Q400 turboprops from Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. The aircraft will be leased to Jambojet. NAC are delighted to welcome Jambojet as a new customer. “We are delighted to have placed an order with Bombardier to grow our fleet of Q400 aircraft,” said Martin Møller, Chairman of Nordic Aviation Capital. “We warmly welcome Jambojet as a new client and the opportunity to increase our global footprint on the African Continent. We are pleased to have partnered with the Jambojet management team in their efforts to grow and modernize their fleet.
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domain: economics


News and commentary from around the web
- The Interesting Case of Adjusted Games Lost
- Exciting Announcements from our Editor-in-Chief, Aaron Schatz
- Mike Tanier Joins Football Outsiders
- Falcons Trade Julio Jones to Titans
- 2021 NFL Schedule Discussion
- Broncos T Ja'Wuan James Tears Achilles, Out For Season
- NFL Draft Round 1 Twitch Stream Recap
- Basics of Facemask Design
The biggest game on Thursday pits a pair of playoff contenders against each other as Josh Allen leads the Buffalo Bills (8-3) into Dallas to play the Cowboys (6-5). Earlier, the Chicago Bears (5-6) face the Detroit Lions (3-7-1) and somebody called David Blough, while the night game pits New Orleans (9-2) against Atlanta (3-8). Use this thread to discuss them all.
We start with a high-profile Thursday nighter, as the Colts (6-4) visit the Texans (6-4) in a game with major playoff implications. Key games on Sunday include Seattle (8-2) at Philadelphia (5-5), Carolina (5-5) at New Orleans (8-2), and Green Bay (8-2) at San Francisco (9-1).
Your Thursday nighter sees Pittsburgh (5-4) traveling to Cleveland (3-6) in hopes of ending the Browns' playoff hopes. Big Sunday games include Houston (6-3) at Baltimore (7-2), New England (8-1) at Philadelphia (5-4), and ... um, Chicago (4-5) at the Rams (5-4) in prime time?


Because low efficiency of existing heat pump an limitation of electricity infrastructure consumer should use a fossil energy sources.
Heat pump with high COP in negative temperatures. Our heat pump Homeham based on multi cascade technology will open 4-7 billion dollar annual niche at heat pump industry to markets such as North USA, Canada, Russia, and Scandinavia.
Our simulations show that we will save more than 31% in Helsinki , 35% in Quebec or 45% in Moscow. As well, our heat pump can work in warm climate providing energy saving of 15%-20%.
Homeham is perfect solution for water heating for hospitals, hotels and nursing homes. Existing heat pump cannot heat a water to very high temperatures without existing support like waste heat. Our heat pump can provide a very hot water with minimum energy expense.


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Osteopaths of Ivanhoe
Osteopaths of Ivanhoe we pride themselves on achieving the best possible health outcomes for their patients.
Their practitioners are committed to delivering the highest standard of care to you, gained through years of skilled training, experience and a passion for what they do - all in a friendly and supportive environment.
They will take the time to carefully listen to you and will deliver tailored hands on treatment and management advice specific to your needs.
Whether you’re injured, in pain or simply seeking optimal function of your body they can help you achieve your goals and get to where you want to be.
They treat patients from Ivanhoe, East Ivanhoe, Rosanna, Macleod, Fairfield, Alphington, Heidelberg, Bulleen, Templestowe, Eaglemont, Viewbank, Greensborough, Watsonia and many other places around Victoria.

domain: health


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- When WW II ends in 1945 with Japan's defeat in China, the Nationalists
and the Communist forces fight a civil war for control of China.
The Communists are victorious in 1949 and the Nationalists leave
the mainland of China and establish a rival government on the island
of Taiwan. (The rival governments continue to exist today as the
People's Republic of China on the mainland and the Republic of
China on Taiwan.)
- In October 1949, Mao Tse-tung declares the establishment of the
People's Republic of China and proclaims that "the Chinese
people have stood up" after 100 years of subjugation by foreign
powers on China's soil.
- Mao and his particular vision of communism in China dominate from
1949 until his death in 1976. The Maoist period is characterized
by mass mobilization and the prominence of ideology. The Great
Leap Forward of 1956-58 and the Cultural Revolution of 1966-76
are Maoist campaigns designed, in the first instance, to bring
China up to the level of the developed nations by an economic "great
leap" and, in the second instance, to rid Chinese culture
of impediments to the communist society Mao envisions. The Great
Leap Forward results in an estimated 30,000 deaths from famine;
the Cultural Revolution pits Chinese against Chinese in brutal
- After Mao's death, Deng Xiaoping introduces the "Open Door" policy
of economic liberalization with elements of a market economy that
has brought China into the global economy and led to rapid economic
modernization in China.
- Despite the continued expansion of a market economy in China, the
Chinese Communist Party still governs China with few signs of political
liberalization. The suppression of the 1989 student demonstrations
in Tiananmen Square testifies to this, as does the continued imprisonment
of political dissidents and political activists promoting a multi-party
- China in the 21st century is resuming its historical position as a dominant force in Asia and in the world. It is a multi-ethnic society with urban and rural areas and different regions of the country profiting from economic changes at varying rates. Knowledge about China's large population, economic growth, cultural, artistic, and technological achievements, and political developments is important for all.

domain: history


text:
Rising Marvelous Antique Lawn Mowers #4 Old Push Reel Lawn Mowers the worth of your residence with a well-planned addition is rarely an unsatisfactory choice. These hassle-free updates by Martha Wood will be able to increase the worth of your property.
The front door is the starting point to greet guests which means you have to update it to provide your guests much better feeling. Despite the fact that a couple of premium quality front doors are quite expensive, they are going to last for very long with negligible care. Wooden entry doors really look nice but the majority of potential home buyers prefer steel doors for better guard and insulation.
Another desired remodeling is adding wooden deck. Surf the internet for wooden deck Marvelous Antique Lawn Mowers #4 Old Push Reel Lawn Mowers images and you have an idea of for what reason the worth of your property could jump higher after integrating this attractive structure.
From the interior, make sure you concentrate on kitchen improvement in the home remodeling project Antique Lawn Mowers. You will never need to produce serious renovation to the kitchen because adding top quality countertops, high efficiency kitchen appliances or replacing broken drawer doors can easily boost home valuation.
Prior to starting the redecoration Marvelous Antique Lawn Mowers #4 Old Push Reel Lawn Mowers venture, it is advisable to conduct a proper due diligence, ensuring that you are getting the most bang for your money with every project.
Title : Marvelous Antique Lawn Mowers #4 Old Push Reel Lawn Mowers
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Published : December 8, 2015 at 4:51 pm
Viewed : 1824 views
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domain: design


Sony Xperia Z Review
The Sony Xperia Z is due to launch on 28 February 2013, but I have been lucky enough to get my hands on a pre-launch model for this review. I have to say I am very impressed!
Key selling points
- 5 inch LCD screen
- First phone with a full HD 1080p display
- Superslim design
- Amazing camera
- Strong battery life
The screen (Full HD at 1920×1080)
Let’s start with the screen. It’s amazing. At 5 inches diagonally, it’s even bigger than the screen on the Samsung Galaxy S3. And with a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, this gives it 443ppi (points per inch) compared with the iPhone 5’s 326 ppi. Now, according to Apple, the Retina display has pixels so small that they are invisible to the naked eye. So this must mean that a higher resolution has no benefit, right? Wrong! The differences between the Xperia Z and the iPhone may be subtle, but they are definitely noticeable when watching HD videos on youtube or viewing photos. Certainly we’re into diminishing returns with this kind of pixel density, but if you want the very best display available, you’ll choose Sony instead of Apple.
I should also mention the benefits of having such a huge screen real estate. It’s not just while watching videos that you’ll appreciate the size. You’ll benefit every time you press a button or use the keyboard or browse the web. In short, you’ll benefit 100% of the time. If you’re a Galaxy S3 or Nexus 4 user, you won’t need convincing of this. If not, I urge you to try a large screen smartphone for yourself.
Sony has always been hot on design, and the Xperia Z has been very carefully conceived and put together. Despite the huge screen, the phone doesn’t feel too big once you get used to it. That’s partly because it’s so thin (marginally thicker than the iPhone 5, thinner than the Galaxy S3).
It’s quite a heavy phone, but it does not feel heavy. That’s because the weight is spread over a larger area, so it feels lighter. The front and rear faces of the phone are covered in flat edge-to-edge glass panels. The back has a mirror effect, which is nice apart from all the fingerprints that rapidly accumulate! The flat, square design is not that easy to pick up off a desk, however, and a bit more curvature would have made it more ergonomic.
I’m also going to mention that the phone is waterproof. Search YouTube for “Sony Xperia Z water test” if you’d like to see this feature in action.
13 megapixel camera
Sony have given the Xperia Z it’s best ever phone camera. Taking advantage of Sony’s new Exmor RS sensor, this gives it an extraordinarily wide dynamic range so it can handle areas of brightness and shadow without losing detail. It’s an impressive performance, especially for a phone!
The camera can also capture full HD 1080p video and supports HD video calling through a second front camera.
It’s Android and it has a huge screen, so a “battery life” alarm sound should be sounding in your head. But in fact, battery life turns out to be an asset of the Xperia Z. Not only is it equipped with a large 2330mAh battery, it also comes with a new “Stamina mode” that switches off certain functions of the phone when the screen is off. This is customisable, so you can choose whether or not to keep Facebook notifications turned on, or whether the device switches off all notifications apart from calls & texts when in standby mode. This can extend the battery life of the phone quite considerably.
The Xperia Z isn’t just Sony’s best smartphone, it’s arguably the best smartphone currently available. But competition is cut-throat in the Android world right now. The HTC One is snapping at Sony’s feet and Samsung’s forthcoming Galaxy S4 is expected to match or beat many of the Sony’s specs. But for a brief moment in time, it’s quite reasonable to declare the Xperia Z the best of the best.
About the author: Steve Morris writes about smartphones for technology review website S21.


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The IAMS® Naturally range provides both dogs and cats with a 100% complete and balanced diet. The range is made with a selection of highly digestible natural ingredients for visibly healthy, strong and happy pets.
The highly digestible ingredients mean pets can absorb nutrients from their food, helping them to look and feel great on the inside and out.
IAMS Naturally is made with highly digestible natural ingredients.
New Zealand's sheep and cattle are raised in free-range open fields year-round
North Atlantic Salmon spend part of their lives in freshwater and part in salt water
Cod is one of the world’s favourite fish, with a tasty flavour
Wild tuna are an oily fish that can grow up to a huge 700kg


If you like the idea of the iPhone 6 for its large screen but aren’t sure if you’ll find a compatible bike mount, look no further.
2014 saw an explosion in wearable tech, from dedicated fitness and health trackers to watches and augmented reality solutions.
Kodak will launch an Android smartphone at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month.
Samsung has introduced four limited edition Galaxy Alpha models with handmade leather back panels in France.
The Razer Nabu is one of the most anticipated wearable tech devices and it’s finally on its way.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that GoPro is going to start making its own consumer drones.


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While Messrs Visionscape Sanitation Solutions(VSS) has said there is no cause for alarm over the resolution of the Lagos State House of Assembly to summon the executive arm of the State government to explain the state of waste management in Lagos, lawyers who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune described the move as “failure of oversight function abinitio”.
The House of Assembly had in a resolution invited the Accountant-General of the state Mrs. Abimbola Umar and three members of the State Executive Council to brief its ad hoc committee, on all issues surrounding waste management in Lagos and the role and status of Visionscape.
The invited commissioners are Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem; the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade and the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti.
But in an interactive session with journalists last week, one of the panelists representing Visionscape, Dipo Wintoki said the House of Assembly was performing its statutory function and there was no cause for alarm since Visionscape had a valid contract from the government.
“The emergence of the contract was done through regular and due process. The Lagos State Government has an obligation to fulfil its part of the contract. The process of awarding the contract to Visionscape was not arbitrary. This will be resolved,” Wintoki said.
Condemned the action taking by the Assembly members that the consultant in charge of collection and disposal of the waste had failed to meet up with the vision provided in the new law passed to tackle issues around refuse in the State, Mr. Femi Ademola, a Legal practitioners, said the statement shows that the lawmakers have failed in their legislative assignments.
Angered by the statement attributed to the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, who said the consolidated law on the Environment which the House passed was in order, but that it needs to be pointed out that a provision of the concession included in the law was not complied with and that government ought to revert to the House before bringing in Visionscape,
This comment, Ademola said portrayed the Assembly men as incompetent bunch, who “either have a hiding agenda,or sheer naivety of their oversight functions”.
“The question one needs to ask the Honourable Assembly men is whether they are on leave for close to one year that Visionscape has been operating in Lagos State.
“Besides, threatening to stop the payment to the company is beyond one’s comprehension. Does the firm has not been receiving payment since? Does the Assembly not aware despite their claim that it wasn’t budgeted for? If that is not self-indictment, I don’t know what we can call it”, said the lawyer.
Another commentator, James Ademiluyi, also a lawyer, disagreed with the timing of the Assembly’s intervention, which he is belated.
To Ademiluyi, this type of attitude is capable of sending wrong signal to genuine foreign investors. “I wonder where were these people when the Executive is not doing things according to the law and waited for close to one year before they wake up from their legislative slumber, realising that a law they enacted was not properly followed?”
However, speaking on the progress made so far on waste situation in the recent time, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions has revealed that it has cleared 2000 of the almost 5000 illegal dumpsites in Lagos.
The Head of Planning, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions(VSS), Kiran Reddy, at the media parley said that approximately illegal 5000 dumpsites also known as black spots were found during a baseline study of the state.
“We found approximately 5000 black spots with waste from five tonnes to 150 tonnes and we have cleaned up approximately 2000 black spots. We rented trucks, used pay loaders just to clean these dumpsites”, he said.
Highlighting other implementation efforts of the organisation, Kiran informed that, over 15 000 bins have been distributed across the state and by the end august over 20,000 galvanised bins would be distributed. He noted that 4 million plastic bags had been distributed to residents of Lagos state. He said that 10 million plastic bags will be distributed before the end of the year.
Speaking on the implementation process, the Head of Corporate Communications, Motunrayo Elias averred that over 100 PSP operators have joined Visionscape to aid waste collection in the state.
“Our plan is to service all the residential areas in the streets of Lagos state. We have a lot of black spots or illegal dump sites in the states. We want to clear all the black spots before moving into the residential areas”, she averred.
Elias appreciated the PSPs for all the work that had been done preceding before Visionscape arrived. She said the company was willing to work with the PSPs
“We are willing and we have made progress and we will all work together, “ She said.
She however noted that though the organisation commenced full operations in January this year some progress had been made. She said that Visionscape was embarking on advocacy programme at the grassroots level.
It would recalled that the Lagos State, the state House of Assembly last week, summoned three Commissioners, their respective Permanent Secretaries, as well as the Accountant General of the state following a motion, moved under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, by Mr Lanre Ogunyemi the Chairman, House Committee on Education.


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Travessera de Gràcia, 380-384, Barcelona, Spain
|To City Centre||3.1 km|
|Nearest airport||Barcelona-El Prat|
|Distance to airport||14.7 km|
|Policy||Pets not allowed|
|Payment & Cancellation||Policies vary by room type and provider.|
|Front desk number||+34 934 360 146|
There is a 45% difference in the average nightly rate of 2 stars hotels in Barcelona and the average nightly rate at Htop Bcn City Hotel. The rate at Htop Bcn City Hotel is just €94/night and is considered a very good deal when staying in Barcelona.
With a distance of 14.7 km between Htop Bcn City Hotel and the nearest airport, Barcelona-El Prat Airport, the drive typically takes about 0h 11m depending on traffic. Be sure to check traffic trends near the hotel and airport as some areas experience higher traffic than others and can increase your expected travel time.
Taking a taxi or rideshare service from the nearest airport, Barcelona-El Prat Airport, to your hotel is often the most cost-effective transportation solution.
The centre of El Baix Guinardó, Barcelona, is just 0.5 km away from the front doors of Htop Bcn City Hotel. You can find many fellow tourists at places such as Placa d'Espanya, which you can get to from Htop Bcn City Hotel using any means of transportation.
For questions regarding your hotel or your stay, call +34 934 360 146.
Yes, Htop Bcn City Hotel has Wi-Fi available to hotel guests.
Htop Bcn City Hotel check-out time is 12:00, though late check-out may be accommodated if agreed in advance with the hotel reception.
On average, guests have been paying €94 per night to stay at Htop Bcn City Hotel. Some users have found rooms as low as €28 per night. Enter your dates in the form above to see the price rates available for your stay.
Htop Bcn City Hotel is a good place to stay to see Passeig de Gracia. It’s 2.2 km away.
Htop Bcn City Hotel is a good choice to stay at if you want to visit Sagrada Familia, which is 0.8 km away.

domain: travel


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Yelp: Hundreds of metro Detroit businesses on the site have permanently closed
Nearly 800 small businesses with a presence on Yelp's website and mobile app have permanently closed their doors in metro Detroit since March when many retailers, gyms and hair salons were forced to shut down, according to Yelp, which tracks when businesses on its site have indicated closure.
While the company's findings focus only on the population of local businesses that use Yelp, the data offers an early glimpse at the coronavirus' permanent impact on small businesses.
A total of 1,500 metro Detroit businesses that are on Yelp closed their doors either on a temporary or permanent basis between March 1 to July 10, according to the company. More than half of those businesses will never reopen their doors, indicated by the owner marking the business "permanently closed" on Yelp. A Yelp spokesperson would not disclose the total number of businesses on its platform in metro Detroit.
Yelp offers a website and mobile app where local businesses can advertise their services and hours, and where customers can post reviews. The company tracks businesses that mark themselves as closed on Yelp, which can also include changing its hours or adding a COVID-19 banner on a business' page.
The data doesn't include small businesses that don't have a Yelp page, or those that don't mark themselves as closed, suggesting there are likely more closures in the region that wouldn't be counted in Yelp's tally.
Still, it's some of the first data available that shows the devastating impact of the pandemic on metro Detroit's small businesses. Many of these local, independent stores were forced to shut their doors at the beginning of March because they weren't considered essential. While most have been allowed to reopen in recent months, gyms and movie theaters remain closed.
For those that have been able to reopen, it hasn't been a seamless transition back to pre-pandemic times. Some say they've had trouble getting employees to come back to work or are seeing significantly lower sales compared with before the pandemic, according to interviews with company owners and business associations in the state.
Yelp's coverage area is what's known as the Warren-Dearborn statistical area, which includes Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair and Wayne counties. In those counties, Yelp found about 15% of total closures were restaurants — or 229 restaurants — while 8%, or 121, of those closures were retailers.
A survey by the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, in collaboration with the National Restaurant Association, found 2% of restaurants had closed permanently across the state in April. Another 4% of those surveyed said they'd be closing permanently in the next 30 days.
Businesses in the leisure and hospitality sector are also some of the hardest hit in Michigan, said Brian Calley, former lieutenant governor and president of Lansing-based Small Business Association of Michigan, an association that advocates for the needs of about 29,000 small businesses across the state.
"They can't see the light at the end of the tunnel," said Calley. "It's tough."
He used the example of a restaurant located in a downtown business district that is technically allowed to reopen, but depends on the patronage of office workers to make money. Most of those office workers are working from home.
"If that’s your business model, until office workers return, it doesn't matter that you're open," he said, using it as an example to illustrate the financial troubles many small businesses face.
Calley said it's difficult to track just how many small businesses have closed because of challenges in reaching the owners of now-shuttered businesses. But, he said, "there's not growing optimism that we're close to the end" of the pandemic and pointed to a survey that found one in seven small businesses were not confident they could survive the crisis.
Nationally, nearly 73,000 businesses on Yelp permanently closed as of July 10, and permanent closures now account for more than half of all closed businesses, Yelp found. Las Vegas has the highest rate of permanent business closures compared with other U.S. cities because of a decrease in tourism.
Contact Adrienne Roberts: firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Wärtsilä, in consortium with IMS Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, has been engaged by RWE Innogy, the renewable energy arm of the German utility company RWE, as its designer to provide the basic design and consultancy services for a jack-up crane vessel.
Guidance Marine, part of the Wärtsilä group, has developed a new version of its targetless laser sensor which is specially designed for use on wind farm Service Operation Vessels (SOVs).
Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has signed a contract with Babcock International Group plc to design and build switchboards and distribution boards for the world’s first offshore reactive compensation station, part of the 1.2GW Hornsea Project One offshore wind farm project.
Finnish technology group Wärtsilä is to supply the engines and other propulsion machinery for Orion, DEME Group’s wind farm installation vessel being built at the Cosco shipyard in China.


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Vampire Survivors will hit version 1.0 on October 20th. Developer poncle announced the release date today as planned, but didn't say what new features the full release would contain so that its additions remain a surprise.
Although reaching 1.0 means leaving early access, it's also not the end of Vampire Survivors development. Work on porting the game to a new engine continues with the aim to "release it by the end of the year." The news posted to the Vampire Survivors Steam page says that, since patch 0.11.3 fulfilled promises made in the last released development roadmap, they don't feel the need to say what's to come in version 1.0.
The content should therefore be a "surprise and should hopefully offer a little something for everyone." They do say that the update will include tweaks to balance items, a nerf for Santa Water/La Borra, and two new achievements.
Version 1.0 will also include official support for new languages, including French, Italian, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.Read more on rockpapershotgun.com

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An excerpt from www.HouseOfNames.com archives copyright © 2000 - 2016
The name Mott was brought to England
in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest
of 1066. The Mott family lived in Essex
. The name, however, descends from the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest
in 1066, Mott a town in Cotes du Nord, Normandy.
The surname Mott was first found in Essex
, where the family held a family seat
from very early times, having been granted lands by Duke William of Normandy
, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Mott, Motte, Mote, De Mott, De Motte, Demott and others.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mott research. Another 187 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1710, 1693 and 1738 are included under the topic Early Mott History in all our PDF Extended History products
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mott Notables in all our PDF Extended History products
Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Mott or a variant listed above:
Mott Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- John, Mott Sr., who arrived in Virginia in 1621
- Adam Mott, who arrived with his wife Sarah and five children in Boston in 1635
- Adam Mott, who arrived in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1636
- Fra Mott, who landed in Virginia in 1653
- Margarett Mott, aged 12, landed in New England in 1656
Mott Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Anne Mott, who landed in Virginia in 1703
- Peter Mott, who came to New York in 1711
Mott Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- William Mott, who immigrated to Philadelphia in 1807
- Louisa D Mott, who arrived in New York, NY in 1844
- Henry Mott, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848
- John Mott, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851
- Capt. Mott, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851
Mott Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Samuel Mott, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1760
- Mrs. Abigal Mott U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784
- Mr. John Mott U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784
- Mr. Jonathan Mott U.E. who settled in Saint Johns, New Brunswick c. 1784
- Mr. Reuben Mott U.E., (Motte) born in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York, USA from New York, USA who settled in Elizabeth Town [Elizabethtown], Leeds County, Ontario c. 1784 he served in the 84th Regiment of Kings Royal Rangers of New York as well as Jessups Rangers, married to Hannah having 6 children, he died in 1839
Mott Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- Abel Mott, who landed in Canada in 1828
- Oliver Mott, who landed in Canada in 1830
Mott Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Joseph Mott arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840
- Mary Mott arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840
- Martha Mott arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840
- Ann Mott arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840
- James Mott arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840
Mott Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- John Mott, aged 43, a labourer, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873
- Marianne Mott, aged 42, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873
- John Mott, aged 11, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873
- Walter Mott, aged 8, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873
- Charles Mott, aged 6, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873
- Stewart Rawlings Mott (1937-2008), American philanthropist who founded the Stewart R. Mott Charitable Trust
- Lucretia Coffin Mott (1793-1880), American Quaker, abolitionist, a women's rights activist, and a social reformer
- Jordan Lawrence Mott IV (1881-1931), American novelist and writer on the outdoor life
- Jordan Lawrence Mott (b. 1799), American inventor and industrialist, founder of J. L. Mott Iron Works in New York in 1828
- James Wheaton Mott (1883-1945), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon (1933-1945)
- Joe Mott (b. 1965), American NFL football linebacker who played from 1989 to 1993
- James Mott (1739-1823), American politician, United States Representative from New Jersey
- James Mott (1788-1868), American Quaker leader, teacher, merchant and activist for anti-slavery and women's rights
- Gordon Newell Mott (1812-1887), American politician, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada Territory (1863-1864)
- General Gershom Mott (1822-1884), United States Army officer in the Union Army, Commander in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War
- Mott Street by Jordan L. Mott.
- Hinde, Thomas Ed. The Domesday Book England's Heritage Then and Now. Surrey: Colour Library Books, 1995. Print. (ISBN 1-85833-440-3).
- Skordas, Guest. Ed. The Early Settlers of Maryland an Index to Names or Immigrants Complied from Records of Land Patents 1633-1680 in the Hall of Records Annapolis, Maryland. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1968. Print.
- Bullock, L.G. Historical Map of England and Wales. Edinburgh: Bartholomew and Son, 1971. Print.
- Burke, John Bernard Ed. The Roll of Battle Abbey. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print.
- Lennard, Reginald. Rural England 1086-1135 A Study of Social and Agrarian Conditions. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1959. Print.
- Ingram, Rev. James. Translator Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 1823. Print.
- Bardsley, C.W. A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6).
- Shaw, William A. Knights of England A Complete Record from the Earliest Time to the Present Day of the Knights of all the Orders of Chivalry in England, Scotland, Ireland and Knights Bachelors 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print. (ISBN 080630443X).
- Bolton, Charles Knowles. Bolton's American Armory. Baltimore: Heraldic Book Company, 1964. Print.
- MacAulay, Thomas Babington. History of England from the Accession of James the Second 4 volumes. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1879. Print.
The Mott Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Mott Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.
This page was last modified on 2 March 2016 at 13:23.
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TASMANIA is on the verge of blowing any chance of having an AFL side of its own, says the state's top football official.
AFL Tasmania chairman Dominic Baker said any dream of a Tassie club would be shattered if the State Government turned its back on a seven-game deal with North Melbourne.
The proposal is sanctioned by the AFL and Mr Baker fears the state will suffer a backlash by snubbing the Kangaroos.
The warning came amid speculation Cabinet will sign off on a new multi-million-dollar deal with Hawthorn today.
The Mercury revealed last week that the AFL had given Premier David Bartlett a lucrative alternative to re-signing the Hawks, whose $16.4 million, five-year deal expires at the end of next season.
North Melbourne's offer involves the Kangaroos playing seven matches in the state from 2012, with five in Launceston and two in Hobart.
Despite studies showing the very clear economic benefits of the Kangaroos deal, Mr Bartlett is expected to sign a new agreement with Hawthorn today.
By doing so, Mr Baker believes the Government is delivering a back-handed slap to the AFL -- and may suffer the consequences.
He said Tasmania would "absolutely" harm its chances of having its own team if the Government re-signs Hawthorn.
"The AFL has dedicated resources to this and had its very best people working on it. It has worked with one of its clubs to try to get more games into the state," he said.
"They have put a lot on the line and put a lot of time and effort and work into a prospective deal with the Kangaroos, all because the state and Government indicated they wanted more games in Tasmania and to eventually have its own team in the AFL competition.
"Now they are going to roll over the old deal and stick with four games at one end of the island. It just doesn't compute for me."
Mr Baker disagreed with comments from Mr Bartlett last week that a new deal with the Kangaroos was too risky.
And he said once a new contract with Hawthorn was inked, complaints to the AFL would fall on deaf ears.
"From the information I've seen, everything makes economic sense," Mr Baker said.
"North Melbourne would play five games in Launceston, so people in the North are going to get more games than what they had before and, for people in the South of the state, the addition of two more games means you can start developing a market.
"There has been criticism of the AFL from Tasmanians in the past about how we don't get a fair go and we are treated like the lost city.
"Well, if you go to someone like that and are asked to be treated genuinely, and you get that in return and you turn your back on it, I don't think we will have any right to complain about the AFL post this negotiation."
Mr Bartlett yesterday dodged questions regarding the State Cabinet meeting.
"I've got nothing really to add on to what I have already said," he said.
"The Cabinet will be doing its due diligence and making its decision on the future of the Hawthorn Football Club's contract as soon as possible."


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Brian Kemp is the Face of Georgia
To all but the most hardcore Georgia politics junkies, Brian Kemp spent the early part of his career largely as an unknown. That’s not to say he hadn’t made an impact, first as a senator and then as Georgia Secretary of State. His fingerprints were all over key pieces of legislation that shaped Georgia’s success and unique character over the last few years before he became a household name.
And make no mistake, in the 2018 election, he became a household name.
“My style is to be who I am and to say what I think, and sometimes that’s politically incorrect,” he told South magazine during the election.
His campaign ads proved to be a viral smash, with imagery of the plain-spoken politician revving a chainsaw to cut legislation, igniting explosives to blow up government waste and hopping in his pickup truck to round up illegal immigrants. They were equally parts effective at appealing to his base and at igniting a firestorm of controversy among those who pen pearl-clutching editorials for left-leaning blogs.
It helped that these ads were running in a state gubernatorial election that had attracted the national spotlight. With the eyes of the nation watching, Brian Kemp laid out in blunt terms exactly what Georgia was all about in his campaign ads. They were, in short, impossible to ignore. Like the man himself.
“One thing I’ve learned over the years in politics is you cannot fool voters and people are sick of politicians who try to do that,” he told South. “You’ve got to be yourself. People can live with that. What they don’t like is if you try to be something you’re not.”
So far, his tenure as governor has proven far less controversial than his campaign ads would suggest. Kemp got to work bringing business and opportunity to Georgia’s rural areas while at the same time addressing the issue of gun violence, pursuing his goals in both areas with the formation of special task forces. If there’s one issue that raised eyebrows, it was his signing of the “Heartbeat Bill” which was celebrated by pro-life groups even as it was condemned by pro-choice groups.
But that’s Brian Kemp. He’s said since day one he was going to be himself, and he has. True to his word and unapologetically Georgian. In 2018 we voted for him to be the Governor of Georgia, and 2020 we’re proud to name him the Face of Georgia.


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Wake up, brush your teeth, grab some coffee, and commute to work. Sound familiar? Our days are full of habits we carry out on autopilot. We’re all guilty of it! But have you ever stopped to think about how these little routines affect us?
Our habits – good or bad – can quietly change our health and happiness. That morning coffee, for example, may perk you up but rob you of sleep later. And hitting snooze again and again can start your day off on the wrong foot.
On the flip side, healthy habits boost our well-being in ways we don’t always notice right away. Things like exercising, calling a friend, or preparing a nutritious breakfast. But over time, these small acts pay off in fewer sick days, less stress, and more energy.
So, let’s explore the power of our everyday patterns, shall we? I bet you’ll be amazed at how a few tweaks can make you healthier and happier. And who couldn’t use more of that, right? Let me know if this sounds more engaging to you!
The Morning Ritual
The choices we make in those first hazy moments of the morning can set the tone for the whole day ahead. Starting the day on a positive note with affirmations of what you hope to accomplish can provide motivation when willpower wanes.
Start the day mindfully. Gentle stretches are a soothing way to ease body and mind into wakefulness. And nourishing our bodies with a healthy breakfast gives us the energy to tackle all the challenges and opportunities the new day presents.
So, if you’re dragging yourself bleary-eyed from bed, try a quick meditation or words of encouragement to yourself. If you awake already flooded with anxiety about the busy day, take a few minutes to breathe deeply and relax. Fuel up with a balanced breakfast to power yourself through until lunchtime. The morning routine you choose shapes your mood, productivity, and focus. So, take control of each new day, and start as you mean to go on.
The Digital Detox
In today’s hyper-connected world, our digital habits warrant closer examination. With smartphones, laptops, and an array of devices constantly at our fingertips, it’s all too easy to end up staring at screens for hours on end. However excessive screen time can take its toll on our health and happiness.
To counteract these effects, scheduling tech-free time can work wonders. Take an evening stroll without your phone or enjoy dinnertime conversation without your phone. Reading a book at bedtime is another powerful way to hit reset. Establishing device-free zones in your home and setting limits on leisure screen time also helps recalibrate the balance. A periodic digital detox can feel like a cleansing retreat for your mind, bringing renewed creativity and insight.
Mindful eating means engaging all your senses when you dine. Pause to admire the colors and textures on your plate. Inhale the fragrant aromas wafting from your food. Savor each morsel, noticing how flavors dance on your tongue. Chew slowly and thoroughly, tuning in to the sensations. Between bites, pause to check in with your stomach, distinguishing between true hunger and habitual eating. When you feel satisfied, stop, even if food remains.
This mindset shifts eating from an automated behavior to an awakening experience. You gain an appreciation for the care and labor behind your meals. You become attuned to your body’s wisdom about what and how much you need to eat. Mindful eating can lead to healthier food choices, improved digestion, and a more empowered relationship with food.
So, as you sit down for your next meal, pay full attention to the gifts before you. Tune out distractions and be present. Let this time nourish your body, mind, and spirit. With each mindful bite, you deepen your connections to yourself, your food, and the web of life that sustains you.
As day softens into night, bedtime rituals help our minds and bodies transition into rest. The quiet moments before sleep are often filled with winding down and reflection. We can harness this time to foster gratitude and inner peace.
Jotting down a quick gratitude list in a journal reminds you of all the blessings, big and small, that filled your day. Recalling moments of joy, accomplishments, acts of kindness, and other things you appreciate injects positivity into your mindset. This exercise in thankfulness can wash away stress and anxiety before bed.
Exercise: More Than Just a Habit
Physical activity is a foundational pillar of health and well-being. Our bodies thrive when we incorporate regular exercise into each day. The positive impacts permeate both physical and mental health in profound ways.
Regular exercise can boost mood and banish feelings of sadness or anxiety. It keeps our cardiovascular system strong, improving heart health and circulation. An active lifestyle increases energy levels and stamina, making us feel more alive. Exercise assists with weight management, metabolism, and digestion. It also strengthens muscles, joints, and bones, helping us stay mobile and independent as we age.
Beyond the physical perks, working out regularly benefits the mind as well. The mental clarity and focus that comes with a runner’s high is unparalleled. Exercise kickstarts the release of empowering neurotransmitters like serotonin and endorphins. It also reduces inflammation and stimulates new brain cell growth.
The Power of Connection
In today’s fast-paced, digital era, meaningful human connections sometimes get overlooked. With our attention fractured among countless responsibilities and distractions, we can easily forget how crucial social bonds are for our well-being. Yet taking time to truly engage with others is a vital ingredient for mental health and happiness.
Even brief moments of genuine human contact can make a difference. Reaching out to an old friend via a phone call, rather than just liking their posts, can remind us that we are not alone. Having a real conversation with a colleague, instead of just exchanging hurried pleasantries, can reveal shared interests and brighten up your workday. Simply making eye contact and smiling more as you pass people, whether you know them or not, spreads warmth.
Find Time for Hobbies
The hobbies we cultivate can become oases of joy, relaxation, and creative expression. Whether your hobby is painting, gardening, playing a musical instrument, or anything else you feel deeply drawn to, making time for it nourishes your spirit. Losing yourself in an activity you love quiets your inner critic. It connects you to a sense of flow. Mastering new skills builds confidence and self-esteem. Sharing your hobby with others forges meaningful bonds.
Setting aside time for rest and recreation is just as important as being productive. Hobbies help recharge your mental and emotional batteries so you can tackle other areas of life with renewed creativity and patience. They provide an outlet for stress. Special interests also add diversity to your identity and give you a broader perspective.
So don’t downplay your passion for knitting, stargazing, woodworking, or any hobby that captures your curiosity and imagination. Prioritize it alongside your other obligations. Let it transport you to a state of presence, vitality, and joy. Make time for play – it’s essential for living fully.
Integrating simple yet powerful habits into your daily routine can pave the way for greater health and happiness. While each habit on its own has merit, it’s the cumulative effect of your choices that enhances your well-being. Adopting just a few mindful, health-enhancing rituals can create a positive ripple effect that uplifts every area of your life.
These habits reinforce and build upon each other holistically. For example, exercise not only strengthens your body but also reduces anxiety, allowing you to focus better when meditating. Consuming healthier foods gives you more fuel for productive days and sound sleep at night. Unplugging improves sleep quality as well, resulting in higher energy levels for morning workouts.
The compound benefits of these lifestyle choices make them well worth integrating into your routine. Start with small steps that feel manageable. Over time, you’ll notice positive changes in your mental and physical wellness. Remember, your health and fulfillment grow from the seeds of daily intention and action. Make choices that align with your highest well-being and watch your life flourish.
“The Power of Good Habits – Using High-Performance Habits to Achieve ….” https://www.mindtools.com/asjk493/the-power-of-good-habits.
“Meditation and Mindfulness: What You Need To Know | NCCIH.” https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation-and-mindfulness-what-you-need-to-know.