text:
Pirelli Produces World’s First FSC-Certified Tyre For BMW’s Hybrid Model
Published On 20-May-2021
According to the tyre maker, the Pirelli P Zero tyre will be the world’s first FSC-certified tyre and will be supplied in the 275/35 R22 size for the front and 315/30 R22 size for the back on the BMW X5 xDrive45e Plug-in-Hybrid.
Italian tyre maker Pirelli has announced that it has become the first company in the world to produce a range of FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) tyres designed for the BMW X5 xDrive45e Plug-in-Hybrid.
These tyres contain FSC-certified natural rubber and rayon and represent a new horizon for increasingly sustainable tyre production, said Pirelli in a statement.
FSC forest management certification confirms that plantations are managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers, while ensuring it sustains economic viability, it further added.
According to the tyre maker, the Pirelli P Zero tyre will be the world’s first FSC-certified tyre using FSC-certified natural rubber and rayon sourced from FSC-certified plantations will be supplied in the 275/35 R22 size for the front and 315/30 R22 size for the back on the BMW X5 xDrive45e Plug-in-Hybrid.
The second generation of the BMW X5 with electrified drive combines a model-specific 3.0-litre in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology with the fourth generation of BMW eDrive technology.
The plug-in hybrid drive has produced a system output of 290 kW/394 hp along with a maximum system torque of 600 Nm, an electrically powered range of 77-88 km (WLTP).
This P ZERO has been developed by Pirelli to meet the performance needs of the German manufacturer for this popular model while contributing to the ‘green’ philosophy of this hybrid vehicle.
The new tyre will be produced exclusively at Pirelli’s Rome, Georgia factory in the United States and is designed to specifically target environmental sustainability along with low rolling resistance (scoring ‘A’ on the European tyre label), which improves fuel consumption and reduces consequent harmful emissions. On top of this, noise levels are lower, which further benefits the environment, said Pirelli.
Giovanni Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Future Mobility, said: “Before even reaching the road, sustainable mobility begins with raw materials. With the world’s first FSC-certified tyre, Pirelli once again demonstrates its commitment to pursuing increasingly challenging goals in terms of sustainability, a testament to the constant work on innovative materials and increasingly cutting-edge production processes. We continue to invest in sustainable growth for our planet, aware that this is also essential for the future of our businesses.”
“As a premium manufacturer, we aspire to lead the way in sustainability and take responsibility,” said Andreas Wendt, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network. “We have been committed to improving cultivation of natural rubber and increasing transparency in the supplier network since 2015. The use of tyres made of certified natural rubber is a pioneering achievement for our industry. In this way, we are helping preserve biodiversity and forests to counteract climate change.”
“The new FSC-Certified Pirelli tyre is a significant milestone in the drive to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits across the natural rubber value chain; this is particularly important in the context of natural rubber’s sustainability challenges. We congratulate Pirelli for their commitment to responsible sourcing and for demonstrating that a transparent value chain is possible for natural rubber from smallholders to the market,” said Jeremy Harrison, Chief Markets Officer, FSC International.
Looking for new tyres? Find dealers near you


Modern bollard light in the colours brown or anthracite
Mir R 30 poller is a small fine bollard light with 4 integrated LED light sources in the round head. It emits glare-free 360° illumination on the ground and can provide good lighting by the garden path or by the driveway and carport.
The lamp is made of aluminium, available in the colours brown and anthracite. It has an IP65 rating, which is perfect to use in the wet, cold north.
|Product info||Built in LED 2700 K, 12W, 209 lm. - H 30 cm. x Ø 14 cm.|


text:
KBC Quiz Book Free 33 is a collection of 33 questions and answers that are based on the popular Indian quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). The questions cover various topics such as current affairs, general knowledge, history, geography and more. The book is designed to help you test your knowledge and prepare for the KBC show.
But how can you get this book for free Here are some ways:
Visit EduGorilla, a website that offers free mock tests for various exams and quizzes. You can register for free and take the KBC Quiz test, which contains 33 questions similar to the ones in the book[^3^]. After completing the test, you can download the book as a PDF file.
Visit Quizwind, a website that provides latest KBC questions with answers[^1^]. You can browse through the questions and learn from the explanations. You can also download the book as a PDF file by clicking on the link at the end of the page.
Visit Librarywala, a website that allows you to rent books online[^2^]. You can search for Kaun Banega Crorepati - The Official Book, which is a useful guide to prepare for the KBC show. You can rent the book for free for 15 days and read it online or offline.
So, what are you waiting for Grab your copy of KBC Quiz Book Free 33 and get ready to become a crorepati!
If you want to learn more about the KBC show and its host, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, you can also check out some of these resources:
Visit SonyLIV, the official website of the KBC show. You can watch the latest episodes, play along with the contestants, and participate in various contests and games.
Visit Facebook, the official page of the KBC show. You can follow the updates, interact with other fans, and get a chance to win exciting prizes.
Visit Instagram, the official account of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. You can see his photos, videos, and stories from the KBC set and his personal life.
KBC Quiz Book Free 33 is a great way to improve your knowledge and have fun at the same time. We hope you enjoy reading it and wish you all the best for your KBC journey!
But what is KBC and how does it work KBC stands for Kaun Banega Crorepati, which means Who Will Become a Millionaire in Hindi. It is a quiz show that started in 2000 and is based on the British show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. The show is hosted by Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, one of the most famous and respected actors in India.
The show consists of 16 questions that range from easy to hard and cover various topics. The contestants have to answer them correctly to win money. The maximum prize is 7 crore rupees (about 1 million US dollars). The contestants also have four lifelines that they can use to help them: 50:50, Ask the Audience, Phone a Friend, and Flip the Question.
The show is very popular and attracts millions of viewers every week. It also inspires many people to learn new things and pursue their dreams. The show has produced many memorable moments and winners, such as Harshvardhan Nawathe, the first crorepati; Sushil Kumar, the first 5 crorepati; and Nazia Nasim, the first crorepati of season 12. 061ffe29dd
💄 • Unlocking Beauty for All: Where Professionals and the Public are Welcome to our Store! •

domain: library


text:
Just this week, three people died while walking in the city.
The cartography of crashes aims to honor those killed by cars while holding the city accountable.
While Sunset residents debate the fate of the iconic roadway, one supervisor wants to see it off-limits to cars for good.
Supervisor Mar is planning a move to solidify the current weekend closure. By 2023, the road could be closed for good.
SFMTA Director Jeffrey Tumlin has two years to figure out how to fix a hole in its budget, and says his focus is rebuilding trust in a transit network that suffered massive setbacks in the pandemic.
Bridges are bumping, freeways are creeping, and BART hits a post-pandemic peak as commuters return to San Francisco.
After a judge struck down the federal mask mandate last week, the regional transit agency created its own mandate.
After reviewing an equity study and Chan’s competing proposal, the supervisors voted to keep the road closed to cars permanently.
While total crimes decreased on Muni, assault incidents spiked to 186 last year amid nationwide concerns about safety on public transit.
Here’s what you need to know about the joint hearing to decide if the 1.5-mile road in Golden Gate Park should remain closed to vehicles.

domain: news


text:
Your shopping cart is empty!
High quality hair tie.
0 reviews / Write a review
The Shining Beach Heroines project is a special collaboration between
HOBBYJAPAN and the popular S..
155.96€ Ex Tax: 128.90€
From the popular anime series 'Myriad Colors Phantom World' comes this figure of Mai Kawakami.The PV..
197.76€ Ex Tax: 163.44€
From the popular browser game ´Valkyria Chronicles Duel´ comes this
great 1/7-scale PVC statue of ..
208.47€ Ex Tax: 172.29€
From the popular volleyball manga series with an equally popular anime,
'Haikyu!!', comes a Nendor..
53.54€ Ex Tax: 44.25€
From the Japanese light novel series ´Strike the Blood´ comes this
highly detailed statue of Yukin..
237.52€ Ex Tax: 196.30€
From the popular browser game "Kantai Collection -KanColle-" comes a
1/7th scale figure of the sec..
131.99€ Ex Tax: 109.08€

domain: artistic


Weekly Letter to President Obama
Copyright © 2010
ofthisandthat.org. All rights
INAUGURATION, January 20, 2009
Drunk in its stale air
For two hundred years.
Fettered in mind and body,
The soul, the safe escape
To let me breathe the cries
Of my heart singing
Tears of mel-an-choly.
The tears flow free today
Washing the stains of blood
And sweat in brotherhood.
Raise the curtain then an'
Let the world look in
On this promised land --
We breathe free today.... almost.
--- Arshad M. Khan
We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.
--- Native American proverb
October 5, 2012
Mr. President: The first debate is over. The overall impression was of Romney being
a nice, warm person very capable of holding his own, and certainly not of the guy who
"like[s] to fire people." You, Sir, appeared cold, aloof, emotionless, even when talking
about the deceased grandmother who brought you up. Maybe it was stress and lack
of sleep but the tone and expression was as if she were a cord of wood, or some
policy item. The impression was accentuated at the end when Romney was
surrounded by a large, clearly loving family embracing him. As for policy issues, I
seem to remember a candidate Obama promising to raise the minimum wage to
$9.25, close Guantanamo, stop torture, etc. By the way, the short answer to
Romney's tax cutting, deregulation theme is the colloquial response, 'been there,
done that.' Dodd-Frank is toothless as it continues unchecked derivatives trading
(Chase's recent huge losses should be a warning), and Bush tax cuts can now be
called Obama tax cuts.
The news from Afghanistan continues to be bad. In the three days preceding the
debate, two soldiers were killed in another "green on blue" insider attack; another
three plus a translator lost heir lives in a suicide bombing. American dead in
Afghanistan went past the 2000 mark this week. Other non-U.S. NATO deaths now
number 1066. How this became the "good" war is difficult to understand when
Afghans themselves have never participated in any terrorist attack on American or
European soil. And the plan to leave, in what appears as unseemly haste, does not
seem consistent with a satisfactory conclusion when the Taliban are not going
Mr. Gaddafi was in power for forty-two years. Despite his rhetoric, his government
respected diplomatic sovereignty, and there was never any question of an
ambassador being harmed. Yet now we have a slain U.S. ambassador in the city we
helped to defend against Gaddafi forces. Our policy of supporting fundamentalist
gangs, exploiting religious factionalism and ethnic rivalry is bearing its ugly fruit.
Americans are no longer safe in the countries where we have inserted ourselves.
Of course, in these days of instant communications, the anti-Muslim rhetoric prevalent
here is not lost on Muslims elsewhere and adds fuel to the fire. Odd that if the word
"Jews" was substituted for "Muslims", the articles and comments would be considered
hate speech; yet when the targets are Muslims, it is instantly defended as "freedom of
Drone strikes are again in the news. The famous (former) Pakistani cricketer, Imran
Khan, who was married to Jemina Goldsmith a liberal Jew, and is about as secular a
politician as one will find in Pakistan, is leading a march in Waziristan against drone
killings this weekend. There is something seriously amiss when the U.S. cannot find
common ground with a secular liberal politician, but supports religious fundamentalists
in Libya and Syria.
The moral and legal ambiguities of drone strikes also pose a problem. The U.S. is not
at war with Pakistan or Yemen. Yet it freely engages in attacking their populations.
Not only does this appear to breach international law and civilized norms of behavior,
it is setting a precedent allowing other entities when they have access to drones, to
attack us using the same convoluted logic.
Perhaps it is the continuous cold killing, the checking off of who shall live and who
shall die, that drains away the emotion.
A final note: Mahatma Gandhi's 142nd birth anniversary fell this week (October 2).
When he was asked what he thought of Western civilization, he famously quipped, it
was an excellent idea.


text:
Vitamin C Test
The requirements , price and other information are given below in the description. Click on Request Test for more information.
Vitamin C plays an important role in the growth and repair of body tissues, including repairing maintaining cartilage, bones, and teeth, healing wounds and forming scar tissue, and aids in making skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C comes from fruits and vegetables. Good sources include citrus, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, and greens. Some juices and cereals have added vitamin C.

domain: medical


text:
How Each Zodiac Handles Turning 30
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
They will throw a huge birthday party and invite everyone they know because they think this might be the last time they can get away with it while they can, because they want to build an empire while they’re young. They will dedicate their thirties to making that happen, but not before ending their twenties with a bang they can always remember.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
They will go to dinner with a few of their closest friends like any normal day because they don’t care about getting older. They know that they will always be successful, secure, and happy at any age because they have always made the right decisions and they are not worried about the future.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
They will panic a little bit because they love getting away with being reckless, goofy, and slightly immature. At first, they will cancel all their birthday plans, but then at the last minute they will plan something entirely different and celebrate being forever young because that’s how they plan on living their entire life.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
They will take a volunteer trip abroad because they want to start the new decade by giving back and helping others. They believe that the older you get, the more you have to give back to your community and the world. They’re on a mission to start ‘changing themselves and the world’ once they hit thirty.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
They actually love getting older because that means they will celebrate more of their achievements and accomplishments. They will invite everyone to their new townhouse or their new beach house or something fancy and flamboyant they just bought. Leos want to be rich and famous at any age, but they will definitely flaunt it more as they get older because they own more things and they love every bit of it.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
They will ask their best friend or their partner to plan something for them so it doesn’t seem like it’s their idea. It’s easier to blame someone else if something goes wrong since they like to play it cool all the time, but they might have too much to drink or do something irrational and they don’t want anyone to think that they’re anxious about turning thirty, so it’s easier for them to blame whoever threw the birthday party.
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
They will act like any other day. They will check to see where the hottest party is or which new restaurant just opened and they will go because they don’t want age or anything else to slow them down. They’re already social butterflies and they love going out and having a good time, so they will end up bumping into a lot of people they know anywhere they go and it will turn into a birthday party anyway.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
They will go on a romantic getaway because they don’t want a lot of noise or reminders about turning thirty. However, they want to feel loved on their special day and they don’t want anyone to ruin that moment for them. To them, turning thirty means more stability and more privacy, which is something they have always sought and now they have a valid reason to do it.
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
They will go to a yoga retreat and enter their thirties with renewed faith, hope, and optimism. Turning thirty means more resilience, drive, and maturity and that can only happen when they heal their past wounds and get rid of the painful experiences in their twenties. Turning thirty means it’s time to heal and feel alive again once and for all.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
They will spend it with their family at home. They feel like the best way to repay them for all their support is to spend the most important milestones with them and show them that they will always come first regardless of their age, their job, or their marital status.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
They don’t handle turning thirty very well because that means they have to be more grounded and start making life-changing decisions, which is something they hate but they will use that day as an excuse to get away with anything and everything. They might go on stage and sing their favorite song or crash a wedding or find where their favorite celebrity is shooting their movie and try to snap a photo with them. Turning thirty for an Aquarius has to be a memorable day and it has to be documented for everyone to see it.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
This might be your least favorite day because not only do you have to answer all these calls, you have to listen to all the jokes about getting older, which is why you usually find a good excuse to run away. You always choose to go hiking or diving or camping or somewhere with a bad signal or no service so you can always blame it on the location and not on the fact that you’re still processing turning thirty and reflecting on the past, the present, and the future.

domain: sociology


text:
Whilst I’m a true lover of street food, it is fair to say that the street food of the world knows many different forms. In fact interesting can often trump quality and indeed cleanliness, but not where Macau is concerned, in Macau street food and fine dining are one and the same.
Macau street foods are so good that for the first time ever in 2016 the Michelin Food and Dining Guide (yes that Michelin) included 12 street food vendors for the first time ever in 2016, all from Hong Kong and Macao.
Here’s our five top must try foods for the street food lover in Macau.
Number 5) The Macau Portuguese Egg Tart
An extremely famous dish from Macau, and thus everyone on every street corner now seems to be selling the egg tart. As Egg Tarts go, if that’s your thing The Macau Egg Tart takes some beating. Officially at least the best ones are at Lord Stow’ Bakery on Rua Do Tassara, although as mentioned you can buy it pretty much anywhere these days.
Number 4) Dai Gwan pork buns
I discovered this one accidentally whilst looking for the legendary boiled cheese fish balls (we will talk about them later), when walking past a street vendor I saw the legendary Michelin Star! Fresh black pepper buns filled with pork and spring onions. I have to say I was largely unimpressed by it, buy Chinese friends on my Instagram went nuts for the picture! It’s obviously still a bit of a thing. The vendor can be found on Ruo Do Monte.
Number 3) The Pork Chop Bun
Another must try and signature street dish of Macau. Sing Ying Kei on Rua da Alegria do Patane is the famous place, but again another dish that can find pretty much everywhere on the streets of Macao. Essentially it’s a fried pork chop in a bun that’s crisp on the outside, soft in the middle and served piping hot. AS drunk food foes, it’s pretty good.
Number 2) Street Lobster
In most of the world the lobster is the reserve of the rich, but in Macao it is a street food sensation! Head to one of the number of pedestrianized street food streets in Macao old town and grab yourself a big old piece of lobster for under $5. In fact whatever you could possibly want to eat is punted by hawkers here, but it is the great value of the seafood that is a must.
Number 1) Cheesy Fish Balls (and other balls)
On one of my first visits to Macau I let my friend know just how much I quite liked street food, so she suggested we visit here favourite place on Praca De Ponte E Horta street. In China this particular dish is called is called “mala tang”, which is pretty much boiled BBQ. In Hong Kong it is famous, but in Macao it is the best in the world, partly for the curry sauce it is served with, partly for the hot sauce, but mostly the cheesy fish balls. Picture the scene, a fish ball filled with mozzarella and served with curry sauce. The best street food in Macau. My personal favourite street food joint is just a tiny little shack on Praca De Ponte E Horta Street, a few doors up from the 7-11. The guy is very friendly, because he knows he’s good, do not miss it!
Did I miss anything? What is your favourite street food Macao tipple?

domain: food


text:
NOVARTIS PLANS NEW INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE RESEARCH CENTER FOR SHANGHAI
Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis announced Monday plans to build a $100M research and development center in Shanghai’s Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, the eighth in the company’s global research network. The R & D center, to be built in two phases in May and July 2007, will work to integrate traditional Chinese medicine with modern drug research, and will initially focus on infectious causes of cancer endemic to China and Asia.
“The Shanghai center will allow us to combine modern drug discovery approaches with those of traditional Chinese medicine that have been used to treat patients in China for thousands of years,” said Dr. Daniel Vasella, Chairman and CEO of Novartis. “This new research center will help Novartis contribute to the needs of patients in China and elsewhere and has the potential to become a global center for biomedical innovation.”
In recent years, all the major Western pharmaceutical drugmakers have established some type of manufacturing or marketing presence in China. With a population of more than 1.3 billion, China is also one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets for prescription drugs. Novartis estimates the country to be among its top 10 markets by 2010. The government’s efforts to correct intellectual property deficiencies have also strengthened China’s pharmaceutical industry and drawn foreign investors.
Novartis has a six-year research partnership with the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM) to identify and test traditional medicines for pharmacological properties. Additional partners include drug manufacturer WuXi PharmaTech, the Chinese University of Hong Kong National Institutes of Biological Sciences and Kunming Institute of Botany.
The center’s laboratories will accommodate 400 scientists recruited primarily from Shanghai’s academic, biotech and pharmaceuticals research institutions. “Shanghai is clearly emerging as a new epicenter of science globally, and is a magnet for the best and the brightest investigators. It is a perfect location for exploring novel scientific approaches for the discovery of new medicines,” said Dr. Mark Fishman, President of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research.
"Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne


text:
School Sues to Win Battle of Newspaper Names : One High Tide Washes Out the Other
Facing a $300,000 lawsuit and the prospect of a costly trial, publishers of High Tide, News for the Beach, announced Wednesday that the newspaper will change its name.
The South Bay Union High School District filed the lawsuit Monday in Torrance Superior Court, alleging that the 5-month-old Manhattan Beach publication stole its name from the Redondo Union High School student newspaper, which has been called High Tide for 67 years.
The suit seeks $100,000 in damages from each of the paper’s founders--publisher Brian McClure and executive editor Jill Gottesman--and $100,000 from Peer Productions Inc., a corporation set up by McClure and Gottesman to publish the biweekly newspaper, which is distributed free in Manhattan Beach.
The suit also seeks an injunction to stop Peer Productions from publishing under the High Tide name during litigation. Although Peer Productions registered the High Tide name as a trademark in March, the school district claims in the suit that it possesses common-law rights to the name. A hearing on the request is scheduled for July 15.
“It is a matter of cutting our losses,” McClure said Wednesday, shortly after telling South Bay Supt. Walter Hale that the newspaper would like to settle out of court. “If the intent of the complaint was to intimidate us, it worked.”
McClure said the newspaper’s attorney estimated that it would cost the fledgling publication between $20,000 and $30,000 to fight the school district in court.
“It was a matter of deciding where our energies should be spent,” McClure said. “When we received the complaint we basically realized we were up against a school district that is way above us in resources. . . . We were never looking for a fight.”
David Sussin, outgoing editor of the high school student newspaper who first asked McClure in February to change the name, called McClure’s decision a victory for the high school.
“I am relieved,” said Sussin, who will attend UCLA in the fall. “It feels good to have started something, to take it all the way and finish it. I just don’t know why they didn’t do it before.”
Sussin and other student journalists at Redondo High sought the name change as soon as they learned of the new paper in Manhattan Beach. Although Peer Productions distributes all 17,000 copies of its paper in Manhattan Beach, Sussin said advertisers and Redondo alumni in Manhattan Beach would confuse the paper with the high school publication, which prints about 2,500 copies.
The lawsuit accuses Peer Productions of choosing the High Tide name to “palm off to the general public, including advertisers and potential advertisers, its product” as the high school newspaper.
But until Wednesday, McClure and Gottesman had refused to change the name, arguing that the two newspapers had separate readerships and advertisers and that they would not be mistaken for one another.
In an effort to reach a compromise, Peer Productions had offered to add an “s” to Tide to make it plural, and to print a disclaimer inside the paper explaining its independence from the high school publication. Neither suggestion was acceptable to the school district.
Margaret Lee, adviser to the student newspaper, said she will ask the school board to seek compensation from Peer Productions for the cost of hiring an attorney to fight the publishers.
“We don’t mean ill will toward them,” Lee said. “I hope they flourish under their new name. But I think it is only fair that they pay the attorney fees. We gave them ample notice of our intention to sue. I can only assume they felt we would never really file a suit.”
Don B. Finkelstein, the attorney hired by the district to file the suit, said the court action will continue until the school board decides whether it wants to settle out of court. He would not say how much he will charge the school district for his services. The trustees are scheduled to meet July 9.
McClure said he will send a letter to Hale asking that the school district accept an out-of-court settlement that would require the paper to change its name. McClure said he will ask for six months to choose the new name and make the transition.
“We would like to come up with a name that will represent the life style and the quality of writing and art that we are known for,” McClure said. “What we are concerned about is that our readers and advertisers hang in there with us. And we think they will.”
Lee said the student newspaper will register the High Tide name as a trademark with the state as soon as Peer Productions withdraws its registration.
McClure said Peer Productions will make sure it newspaper’s new name has no local significance.
“It was an unfortunate coincidence, and we are paying for it,” he said. “With the new name, we will be very careful, and research it beyond the letter of the law.”

domain: law


text:
Featured Safari Destination by GURU
This luxury tented camp; DumaTau, meaning ‘roar of the lion,’ is located in the private Linyanti Wildlife Reserve on the western boundary of Chobe National Park. The area is famed for large herds of elephants and exceptional game viewing along the Savute Channel.
DumaTau, on the banks of the Linyanti River, is located close to the source of the Savute Channel, between two elephant corridors, offering an exclusive combination of land and river experiences. Wildlife is viewed during game drives, on nature walks, and while boating along the serene waters of the Linyanti River (levels permitting). Watch for frequent elephant crossing Osprey Lagoon as the move effortlessly between Namibia and Botswana; from the comfort of the camp.
DumaTau consists of ten guest tents (eight twins and two family tents) raised off the ground to take advantage of the dramatic views of Osprey Lagoon. Each canvas-roofed en-suite tent is spacious and offers unimpeded vistas through ceiling-height glass sliding doors. There is an airy, expansive dining and lounge area and a pool, all overlooking the wildlife-rich lagoon. The architecture and interiors evoke a bygone age of exploration, carried through the main areas and ending on a floating fire deck. DumaTau has a very light carbon footprint and runs on a 100% solar energy.
DumaTau is located close to the source of the Savute Channel, with access to the Linyanti Swamps, floodplains and mopane woodlands, thus offering an excellent combination of habitats. Well known for its elephant concentrations as they congregate along the waterways and lagoons during the dry winter months, the area is also renowned for general wildlife including red lechwe, Burchell's zebra, giraffe, buffalo and warthog. Predator sightings of lion, leopard, wild dog and spotted hyaena are good.
The Star Bed at Zibadianja Lagoon offers a thrilling perspective of the African bush at night.
The more detailed information you provide us, the better we can serve you. We are happy to answer your questions or offer any help.
Segera lies in the high grasslands of the Laikipia Plateau, its six timber and thatch villas raised above a profusion of botanical life to offer views towards Mount Kenya. Each large, en-suite bedroom has a private deck with sun loungers, swing bed and sunken Jacuzzi sunk into the deck outside the bedroom. Gracious Segera House and Villa Segera boast even greater privacy and luxury. The main area comprises the Paddock House, Wine Tower and renovated stables, complete with bar and dining room filled with contemporary African art from the Zeitz Collection.
Bisate Lodge, adjacent to Volcanoes National Park, combines the bucket-list gorilla trek with a pioneering vision of reforestation and community partnership. Bisate is located in the natural amphitheatre of an eroded volcanic cone, with dramatic views of the peaks of the Bisoke and Karisimbi volcanoes rearing up through Afro-alpine forests.
Encountering one of the gorilla groups in the nearby Volcanoes National Park is a unique experience.
North Island is a place of barefoot luxury for those seeking an unspoilt, spectacular tropical retreat, with a signature style that combines natural beauty with sheer luxury. The island is explored on bikes, golf carts and guided walks; snorkelling, fishing, boating, sea kayaking, and scuba diving through the world-class dive centre take in the surrounding waters.

domain: travel


text:
Tony Award winner Idina Menzel stopped by The Today Show December 10 in honor of her new holiday album, Christmas: Season of Love.
“Season of Love —the reason I went with that title is I got my start with the Off-Broadway show, Rent,” Menzel told host Savannah Guthrie. “I sort of rediscovered the song as a holiday song and wanted to pay tribute to where I got my start.” Since Rent, Menzel has, of course, starred in Aida, won a Tony Award for her role as Elphaba in Wicked, and played the dual role of Liz/Beth in If/Then. She voiced the character of Disney’s Queen Elsa in Frozen and now Frozen 2 and recently appeared on the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting.
The album features duets between Menzel and stars like fellow Broadway performers Billy Porter (Pose, Kinky Boots), Josh Gad (Frozen, The Book of Mormon), pop star Ariana Grande (13), and her husband: actor and singer Aaron Lohr.
Menzel then took to the stage of the morning show to perform an original composition, “At This Table.” “I really wrote it for my friends out there who don't feel comfortable coming home and being their true authentic selves,” said Menzel.
Watch her sing the full song below:


Metropolitan Police buys fleet of hydrogen-powered patrol cars
The Metropolitan Police force is working to reduce emissions across its fleet of vehicles, and has turned to hydrogen-powered Toyotas
The Metropolitan Police Service has bought 11 hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirais, which will give it the largest hydrogen-powered police fleet in the world.
The cars were bought with help from an EU-funded grants programme as the Met works to expand the number of zero and low-emission vehicles in its fleet as part of the Mayor of London’s clean air strategy.
Some of the Mirais are marked and some unmarked, meaning they can be used for both overt and covert operations, in addition to general purpose use.
These zero-emission vehicles only produce water as a by-product of the fuel cell process, which turns hydrogen into electricity in order to power the car.
Neil Jerome, commander of the Metropolitan Police, said: “We are delighted to have taken delivery of 11 of these cars to support policing in London. They are our first entirely zero-emission response vehicles and this is an exciting development for us.
“The Met is committed, alongside the Mayor, to making the service as environmentally friendly as possible and a big part of that work is ensuring our fleet is green.
“Since late 2015, we have been actively looking at ways to hybridise and electrify our fleet as well as exploring other new technologies such as hydrogen. This is enabling us to make great strides towards our ambition of procuring 550 vehicles as zero- or ultra-low-emission by 2020.”
“Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles have an important role to play in helping lower harmful emissions and improve air quality on our roads, and the Mayor’s Hydrogen London partnership is working to develop the use of this technology in the capital.
“The Mayor is determined to take the bold action needed to protect Londoners from our toxic air and this move highlights how the capital’s emergency services are leading by example and supporting his work towards becoming a zero-carbon city by 2050.”
“The distinctive livery of the Met’s marked cars means even more public visibility for hydrogen-powered cars in and around London.
“This is proof that organisations are seeing the future of hydrogen power for zero-emission fleets.”
Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.


text:
Engaging user interfaces with well thought behaviors to create positive user experience across all devices.
Creative Manner is redefining digital experiences. We understand that design is not just about aesthetics—it’s about creating a journey that feels right at every touchpoint. With our UI/UX Design services, we’re turning user interfaces into gateways of engagement, and crafting behaviors that foster positive experiences across all devices. Our data-driven strategy enhances credibility, boosts perceived value, and cultivates trust and satisfaction among your customers. Let us help you create a digital landscape that truly resonates with your audience.
A strong UI/UX design not only makes your website or app easy to use but also creates a positive impression of your brand. It can improve user engagement, increase conversion rates, and lead to higher customer retention. With our UI/UX design services, you can provide your users with a seamless and enjoyable experience that keeps them coming back.
Let's Create Engaging User Experiences Together!
Related Projects UI & UX Design
We've gathered the most common inquiries about our UI/UX Design services. Let's explore the answers together.
A few Q & A on UI & UX Design

domain: design


text:
Red Thomas takes a look at Population Zero. A rough start marred the project's initial release, but Red gives his take on the game and whether or not readers should consider adding the title to their own libraries.
A day after the team behind the survival MMO Population Zero addressed concerns over its Early Access launch, the team at Enplex has detailed the first few stages of its roadmap for May 2020.
Population Zero is an upcoming survival MMO set on a distant planet called Kepler. Garrick taks you hands on to give his initial impressions leading up to the May 5th Early Access launch of the title.
Red Thomas digs into crafting for those looking for a more quality experience in Last Oasis. Red talks about quality, the crafting system, and offers some advice on how to ramp up both production and quality in your own crafting efforts.
In a new video, the sci-fi exploration online RPG Population Zero invites players to journey across the remote world of Kepler.
Population Zero's development is trucking along, and the team behind the upcoming survival MMO released a new video showcasing its combat.
Red Thomas put Last Oasis on his list of games to watch in 2020. With the game in Early Access, Red gives it a go and reports on his thoughts. Have you been in the mood for an interesting survival game? This could be it, but as always there are also a few caveats.
The nomadic MMO survival game from Donkey Crew, Last Oasis, has an early access release date. Announced via a post on Steam this morning, the MMO will be coming to Early Access at the end of the month - March 26th to be exact.

domain: game


text:
Aug 04, 2008 Hard labor after penning “[Stalin-] Man with the mustache”
Image from Library of Congress’s website.
Indonesia had Pramoedya Ananta Toer courageously to write truth about the nation he so loved, despite the hounding, harassment, and lengthy total years of imprisonment from successive dictatorships.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn served a similar role in Russia, and I say Russia rather than the Soviet Union or Russian Empire, because Solzhenitsyn was very much the Russian nationalist.
Where Pramoedya was a soft-spoken, self-effacing man who got persecuted for his carefully-penned prose, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was blunt, opinionated and insistent, and a masterful writer. His eight-year prison sentence starting at the end of World War II followed his penning a letter to a friend referencing Stalin as the "man with a mustache." Stalin ruled, imprisoned, rang up Soviet-bloc dictators in the middle of the night, and shot people before the days of public relations advisors who urge leaders to gain some popularity by poking some fun at themselves.
Solzhenitsyn’s imprisonment in the Gulag that is masterfully fictionalized in One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich followed his vocal dismissiveness towards a prison superior at a Club Fed sort of prison where scientific intellectuals worked in rather freewheeling think-tank style to develop ideas and inventions for the emerging Soviet superpower.
Solzhenitsyn lived a long life, finally realized his dream to return to and die in his homeland from which he was forcibly exiled by the Brezhnev regime, and passed away on August 3.
He was not big on democracy, decried the state of American society when in Vermont during his exile and said too few Americans are willing to die for their beliefs (and he certainly was willing to do so, himself), and believed the United States withdrew too quickly from Vietnam. In other words, he spoke his mind, as everyone should have the protected right to do, no matter how vehemently we agree or disagree with their views.
He was for me a critical face of the struggle against government censorship by white-out, confiscation of printing presses and copiers and newsprint, coercion, co-optation, imprisonment, torture, and execution, no matter the government, whether Communist, right-wing, or our very own United States (which censors in more subtle ways than the messiness of torture and execution).
His struggle to be free to speak his mind is a struggle that must constantly be fought and re-fought, and won and re-won. Solzhenitsyn may be physically dead, but his unyielding spirit, fight and drive for the freedom to dissent openly, directly, and without varnish must live on. Otherwise, everyone will suffer dearly. Jon Katz.


text:
UK thrash legends Onslaught official are preparing themselves for a Pitfest 2019 rampage! This must be one of the most explosive and controversial metal bands ever to come out of the UK.
A new album is on the way, with a release date set before the end of 2018. Releasing 3 legendary albums in the 80’s (Power From Hell / The Force / In Search of Sanity), the band marked it’s path to become a major influence for generations to follow.
Since reforming in 2005, the band have performed numerous shows and tours all across the globe, earning themselves the reputation as one of the very best live acts in the scene today, with crushing performances at Wacken Open Air, Bang Your Head Festival, 70000 Tons of Metal, Hellfest, Brutal Assault, Bloodstock and many many more.
With four critically acclaimed album releases in the past 11 years, Onslaught stands as one of the most respected acts in the metal scene today. And with a new album underway the Onslaught continues! Get your mosh on and get your ass in the pit!

domain: entertainment


text: Today is one of those many many days I wish we were just done with each other. I wish we were living our own lives. I have absolutely no motivation to care. Everything is so mundane. There is no love between us anymore. Our time was short lived. Now we just exist. He does pretty much nothing to make me feel wanted. I think about my life 10, 20, 30 years from now and it’s sad that I know nothing will change. I’m stuck here in this bubble. The oxygen slowly leaking out. No where to go. Just living and breathing for my daughter so she can grow up living a happy wholesome life because I don’t want to force her into a life she never asked for. I don’t want to be the parent that turns her world upside down. I already made up my mind that I will suffer in silence so she can live comfortably and no I won’t resent her for that, I just realize what I have to do as a parent for my child. Parenting requires sacrifice no matter how you look at it. I had my chance at happiness. I had my chances for a better life but I continued to blow it so now I deal with what I chose. She is innocent and young and deserves a happy life. I will just strongly encourage her to live as much as she possibly can before deciding to get married and have kids. Fight through the loneliness and live for the experiences that you’ll never get the chance to do if you tie yourself with another person. I lost the battle of loneliness and I’m paying for it everyday. Now it’s too late for me to realize that want for love and companionship does not compare to living life to the fullest and experiencing the world as a single individual. As weird as this sounds, it makes complete sense to me. Choose LIFE over love. In my opinion, this world can only offer an illusion of love. Absolute, true love will happen when I die. Then I will finally be happy.


text:
A period of good economic conditions has led to complacency among low-cost carriers that is ripe for a "correction", in the view of former EasyJet chief executive Ray Webster.
Speaking at the Routes Europe conference in Bilbao today, Webster – who was chief executive of EasyJet between 1996 and 2006 – said that the outlook for low-cost airlines was "quite worrying" as they were unprepared for future economic shocks.
A period of "very good" economic conditions has been punctuated by the lack of a "serious downturn or runaway fuel prices", he states.
As a result, carriers have not been put under "pressure" and so have "incrementally added costs" and lost efficiencies over time, while not experiencing the typical "peaks and troughs" of the market.
"We have been through that in the past but I think some of those lessons have been forgotten," he warns.
Webster forecasts that oil producers in particular could raise prices, which would have a "dramatic" impact on airline bottom lines.
Commenting on a possible takeover bid for Norwegian by IAG, meanwhile, Webster suggests the two companies must ensure there is "direct compatibility" between their business models and cultures.
"If you don’t get the two of those right, I wouldn’t do it," he says, adding that integration can lead to "loss of control over the business".
Webster states that at its inception EasyJet benefited from being the "right idea at the right time" as the European airline industry was being deregulated. The UK carrier also had "first mover advantage", which allowed it to grow quickly.
He reveals that the first "issue" he had to deal with when he took the helm at EasyJet was owner Stelios Haji-Ioannou's tendency to "manually" price tickets.
"In the early days we were pricing manually – he would have a look at the flights several times in the morning [and] several times in the afternoon," Webster recalls, adding: "If he thought one flight wasn't selling quickly enough he would drop the price."
After convincing Haji-Ioannou to give him control of pricing, Webster says he wrote a programme to automatically set fares. "That was the start of our automation," he adds.
In the early years, EasyJet took a "trial and error approach" to route development as there was no "textbook" on how a low-cost carrier should grow its network at that time.
Source: Cirium Dashboard


text:
Build out your furry buddy’s habitat with the Kaytee Critter Trail Fun-Nel Tube Small Pet Toy. This straight tunnel tube for your pet habitat is designed to give your little guy room to roam around. It is built to easily connect and pull apart as needed and is universally compatible with your other CritterTrail Fun-nel Tubes and accessories. This tunnel tube features a comfort grip that’s easy on your pal’s paws and ventilation holes for safety. It’s 2.25-inches in diameter and paw-fect for your hamster, gerbil or mouse habitat.
- Straight tunnel tube for your pet habitat.
- Features a comfort grip and ventilation holes.
- Paw-fect for your hamster, gerbil or mouse habitat.
- Designed to easily connect and pull apart as needed.
- Built to be universally compatible with your CritterTrail Fun-nel Tubes.

domain: pet


text:
Wordfence cybersecurity researchers: The versions involved are up to, and including, 0.3.11. The issue has been completely fixed in 0.3.12.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) opens an office in Kiev. The HQ, the second largest after the one in The Hague, will facilitate investigations into war crimes in Ukraine. It is a courageous decision due to the risks of Russia’s retaliation
The International Criminal Court (ICC) opens an office in Ukraine. It will be located in Kiev and will be the second largest outside of The Hague. This was announced by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General, Andrii Kostin, and the news was confirmed by diplomatic sources. The stable and articulated presence “in the field” will allow it to speed up and refine investigations into war crimes in the conflict with Russia. By the way, the European country has promised that it will guarantee maximum transparency in the documentation provided and in supporting investigators’ access to crime scenes, as well as full cooperation with the international body. Moscow, however, has not yet commented on the news, but it is known that relations with the High Court are conflictual. It is no coincidence that it included a prosecutor and some judges on the wanted list, after an international arrest warrant had been issued against Vladimir Putin. The ICC decision, therefore, is courageous. In fact, it cannot be ruled out that Russia may not attempt to attack the new headquarters as a further gesture of retaliation.


text:
( Sat., Dec. 24, 2011 - Sun., Dec. 25, 2011 )
Statewide, , , NC
"The 45th anniversary production, taped in 2010, [is hosted by] UNCSA Chancellor John Mauceri.... Charles Barker, principal conductor for American Ballet Theatre (ABT), conducts the UNCSA Nutcracker Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s popular ballet music.... UNCSA has presented The Nutcracker annually since 1966, through joint efforts of the School of Dance, School of Design and Production, and School of Music. Students are involved in all aspects of the production, from the dancers on stage to the musicians in the orchestra pit, to the production crew behind the scenes.... [This] new production of The Nutcracker premiered in 2009, with staging by Ethan Stiefel, former dean of the UNCSA School of Dance, with additional choreography by faculty members Warren Conover and Susan McCullough and former faculty member Nigel Burley. UNCSA alumnus and ABT Resident Lighting Designer Brad Fields designed the lighting, and UNCSA Design and Production faculty member Howard Jones designed new set pieces. UNCSA staff member Katharine Laidlaw is executive producer." For a review of the 2011 version, click here.


Plantronics SHS-1890-15 corded push-to-talk 911/dispatch adapter with 15 ft. cord length. (Note that this adapter is available in three coil cord lengths, 10 ft., 15 ft. and 25 ft.). Plantronics SHS-1890-15 is a 6-wire, push-to-talk for use with radio consoles. Compatible with any Plantronics H-series headset
(sold separately). Headset connects to SHS1890 with QuickDisconnect
. SHS1890 connects to console via PJ-7 (equivalent to WE-425) two prong plugs.
Part numbers 60825-315 (formerly 60825-15)
Covered by 2-year factory warranty.


text:
Monday, February 23, 2015
Here is the whole design now!
Here is the whole design for Marshmallow Happiness! It still needs to go in for framing so I expect it will be ready to release at the start of April since it's almost March now. Hope you like it - I love the mini marshmallow colors of thread that I used for it!


text:
Multicultural Student Organization Panel
March 31, 2021
UW-Parkside is one of the most diverse campuses in the UW-system. One way we embrace multiculturalism is through our student organizations. Please join us and hear from our Multicultural Organizations about their Parkside experience and how you can get involved.


text:
Thousands of people were stuck on the Carnival Panorama cruise ship in Long Beach, California Saturday while waiting for a passenger's COVID-19 results.
The cruise took a trip to the Mexican Rivieria and arrived back to Long Beach on Friday. Passengers said that an announcement was made on the intercom that a woman was taken to the hospital to be tested for the coronavirus. After more than six hours, the results came back negative. The passengers were released early Saturday morning.
"When he heard we were going to be held an extra day, or who knows how long, that I think really scared them," said Sarah Skeem, a passenger from St. George. "Like, what if we're stuck on this cruise ship for two weeks?"
The Skeem family isn't the only family from Utah to be stuck on a ship due to the virus. The Jorgensens of St. George and the Haerings of Tooele were quarantined last month on a ship off of the coast of Japan. Three out of the four people tested positive for COVID-19.
On Friday, a Utahn tested positive for coronavirus in Davis County and was likely exposed to the virus while on the Grand Princess cruise ship in California.
Despite all of the worry, the Skeem family says they have no regrets.
“We're going to live our life to the fullest. I mean, if it's meant to be that we catch a virus and it takes our lives, then I guess that's what's meant to be. But I feel like we don’t hold back and just sit there and worry. We want to live our life and enjoy it,” Skeem said.

domain: geography


text:
Agrexco Carmel, established in Israel in 1956 under the name Agrexco and were the country's first agriculture export company.
Working side-by-side with farmers, Agrexco Carmel helped grow Israel's reputation for agricultural produce expertise. Originally a state-owned company, Agrexco Carmel planted the seeds and nurtured Israel's famous Carmel label - the international brand name known for quality and reliability. At the same time we cultivated numerous agricultural innovations ranging from crop varieties – such as Cherry on the Vine, Pomegranates and Strawberries varieties under our highly regarded Ecofresh standard that incorporates EurepGap requirements with the latest Information Technology (IT) developments.
Today Carmel Agrexco is a private enterprise and continue to be the standard bearer for quality and reliability. Agrexco Carmel highly skilled professionals are primarily Agrexco graduates with far ranging agricultural expertise and a deep understanding of 21st century concerns. Consequently, fresh food safety standards and environmental protection stand at the top of Agrexco Carmel requirement list.
Agrexco Carmel brand-name line-up includes Carmel, Carmel Bio-Top, Coral and Alesia.
Our network of Carmel Agrexco offices serves local markets in Europe, South Asia and South America.
For more information about Agrexco Carmel and collaboration activities in Korea please Contact us.

domain: agronomy


Skip to content, or skip to search.
Now that George Pataki has shown his true colors—ice blue—Mayor Bloomberg faces the reality of a $6 billion deficit and just what it will take to pull the city through this crisis. ... Read the story
Copyright © 2016, New York Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.


text:
(Phys.org)—The protein structure of the motor that propels archaea has been characterized for the first time by a team of scientists from the U.S.
See on phys.org
Yesterday, we looked at one of the first factors (or protein families specifically) that guide bacteria in their decisions. Which direction to travel is not the only decision needed to be made by bacteria (more coming soon). I wrote about methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) briefly (more visuals to come). These proteins interact directly or indirectly by sensing changes caused by chemical compounds from the bacterium’s environment. Today I will briefly write about the next step towards decision making in a bacterial cell in regards to direction of travel. MCPs by themselves would be useless if they did not interact with some other cellular machinery. Lucky for bacteria, the MCPs are only the first of many specialized proteins for regulating direction of travel. If a chemical binds to an MCP outside the cell, how does the inside of the cell get the message? When chemicals bind to an MCP or stop binding to it, it slightly changes the structure of the MCP. It is thought association or dissociation of chemicals to MCPs causes a rotation like a slight turn of a door knob. Depending on if the MCPs are rotated or not changes the activity of another enzyme that interacts with MCPs, a protein called CheA (pronounced, ‘key A’). When CheA is active, it converts two other proteins into an active form, CheB and CheY. Confused yet? When CheY is in its active form, it interacts with the base of the flagellum and causes the flagellum to switch direction of rotation and causes the bacterium to change the direction it is moving. The take home message for the mechanism is this: when the MCPs are not interacting with chemicals (nutrients), CheA and CheY are active, and the flagellum switches rotation to make the cell go in a different direction. Hopefully for the cell, the new direction it is traveling will have more nutrients that will interact with the MCPs and block more changes in direction by CheA/CheY activity.
You might ask, if chemical compounds are always bound to the MCPs, what if the cell begins going to passed the best environment and needs to turn around? Good question. That is where the other protein activated by CheA comes in, CheB. What makes this system unique is the ability to adapt to current conditions (nutrient chemical levels) so the cell can respond to new information. A set of protein enzymes act upon part of the MCPs that can cause a change in how rotated (think door knob again) the MCP is. If the MCP is always interacting with a nutrient, a protein called CheR changes the MCP structure and causes rotation back towards the non-interacting form of the MCP. When CheA is active, it can activate CheB which reverses the changes caused by CheR. Ultimately, the whole system remains sensitive to new information over a wide range of nutrient concentrations (a 1000-fold range).
This whole system and its parts and regulation took several years for me to understand. I’m sure I did not do it justice, but hopefully you can get a small glimpse into the truth about “simple” bacteria.
In Part 3, I will discuss other decisions that bacteria make besides which direction to go in search of the promised land of milk and honey, or in this case, carbon and nitrogen sources.
Yes. You read the title correctly. Decision making is not limited to animals like humans or birds. Bacteria also make decisions with intricate precision. Imagine being so tiny that you are literally moved by water molecules bumping into you. This is what bacteria encounter perpetually. Now, imagine having no eyes, no ears, no sense of touch, no taste or nose. How would you know what or who was around you? How would you find food now as compared to where you were a short time ago? This is where being able to sense important things like a food source is critical. Bacteria have this on their “mind” all the time. Depending on the size of a bacterium’s genome, these tiny organisms have the ability to sense hundreds to thousands of internal and external signals like carbon sources, nitrogen sources, and pH changes. If these bacteria are motile (able to move around), they can compare how conditions are for them now against how they were a few seconds ago. That’s right, bacteria have a memory albeit short. If conditions are better, they can continue to move in a forward direction. If conditions are worse compared to a few seconds earlier, they can change direction and continue searching for better conditions in their environment to generate energy. But, how do they decide?
I will focus on a lesser known bacterium as my example since I have the most knowledge about it. Azospirillum brasilense is found in the soil around the world and interacts with the roots of cereal plants like corn and wheat. A. brasilense is almost always (except when attached to plant roots) motile and searching for the best niche to provide energy for the cell. This bacterium can “make” its own usable form of nitrogen from nitrogen gas in the air through a process known as nitrogen fixation. This costs the cell a lot of energy so they are searching for nitrogen sources as well as the necessary carbon sources for life. The microscopic world can be cut throat. Having the ability to sense a greater variety of food compounds could mean the difference between being the predominant species in town or being on the fringe.
Back to the question about how these cells decide which direction to travel. One way is through a dedicated group of proteins that regulate how often the cell switches direction. This group of proteins control chemotaxis, the movement of a cell in response to chemicals within their environment. The number of chemotaxis genes varies depending on the complexity of metabolism for a bacterium. The champion at the moment is 129 from Pseudomonas syringae pv. oryzae str. 1_6. The proteins that actually sense the chemical signal are called methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) or chemoreceptors. Azosprillum brasilense has 48 MCPs within its genome. This does not mean, however, that A. brasilense cells can only sense 48 different chemicals. Most, but not all, of these MCPs don’t interact with the chemicals themselves but sense the changes in the amount of energy the cell has within the environment they reside. If things are good, the MCPs are inactive. However, if energy levels are lower than they were a few seconds before, the MCPs become active and begin the signal to change direction. And these MCPs are VERY sensitive to changes. For example, if the A. brasilense cells are swimming in a liquid medium with 1,000 molecules of sugar, they will detect changes of addition or removal of a few sugar molecules in the medium. Now, move these cells immediately into a medium with 1,000,000,000,0000 sugar molecules and they still will be able to detect removal or addition of a few sugar molecules. This is called adaptation and allows the cells to remain sensitive no matter the concentrations of compounds they encounter.
In Part 2, we will talk about what happens next in the decision making process of bacteria.
<span title=”ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1000137&rft.atitle=Self-Organization+of+the+Escherichia+coli+Chemotaxis+Network+Imaged+with+Super-Resolution+Light+Microscopy.&rft.jtitle=PLoS+Biology&rft.volume=7&rft.issue=6&rft.spage=e1000137&rft.date=2009&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fscienceseeker.org&rft.au=Greenfield+Derek&rft.aulast=Greenfield&rft.aufirst=Derek&rft.au=et+al+&rft.aulast=et+al&rft.aufirst=&rfs_dat=ss.included=1&rfe_dat=bpr3.included=1;bpr3.tags=Research+%2F+Scholarship”>Greenfield D. & et al (2009). Self-Organization of the Escherichia coli Chemotaxis Network Imaged with Super-Resolution Light Microscopy., PLoS Biology, 7 (6) e1000137. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000137
It’s time again for the weekly My Tiny Highlight (MyTH). This week we will explore one of my favorites, Caulobacter crescentus. C. crescentus is a unique bacterium that has made it the focus of a lot of research due to its lifestyle and easy observable changes in cell shape. Part of the C. crescentus life cycle is spent freely swimming in its aquatic habitat using a single flagellum. These are called swimmer cells. At some point in development, the swimmer cell ejects the flagellum from itself and begins growing a stalk on the opposite cell pole as the flagellum. As the stalk continues growing, the cell produces a VERY stickly glue called holdfast at the tip of the stalk which is used to attach to a surface and is called a stalked cell. The cell undergoes division assymetrically; meaning, the two daughter cells produced are not identical (as is the case for most bacteria). One daughter becomes a swimmer cell due to new flagellum synthesis on one pole while the other remains stalked.
Thinking about split personality, how can one cell contain both a flagellum and a stalk simultaneously; both being functional? This is the focus of years of research. One answer refers to my favorite molecule discussed in earlier MyTH posts, the bacterial second messenger cyclic-di-GMP. Cyclic-di-GMP is constantly being made and degraded in C. crescentus. However, the production and degradation are sequestered to opposite poles of the cell via precise protein localization. The enzyme needed to produce c-di-GMP is at the stalked pole while the enzyme to degrade c-di-GMP is at the swimmer pole. Although there are no physical compartments within this bacterial cell, the concentration of c-di-GMP is not uniform throughout. The proteins that interact with c-di-GMP are predominantly at the stalked pole and allow for the stalk to elongate and leave the flagellated pole alone. Brilliant!
C. crescentus is also of importance for its ability to clean up contaminated surface and subsurface groundwater because it is resistant to the effects of heavy metal exposure. Also, examination of the genome was used to determine the ancestry of C. crescentus. It contains gene clusters similar to Pseudomonas species and others that are predominantly found in the soil. This fact along with the presence of genes necessary to breakdown plant-derived carbon molecules suggests C. crescentus originated on land (or under it) before winding up in its present day niche.English: Graphical representation of Caulobacter crescentus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Bacteria do not have taste buds or eyes. However, they have very fine-tuned senses that relay information about the status inside as well as in their environment. To compete and survive in virtually all environments on the planet, bacteria have evolved to sense and utilize many chemical compounds (most of which are still unknown) for energy and existence no matter how we as humans feel about these compounds. Even toxic compounds are easily metabolized by some bacteria. Whether it is hydrocarbons like petroleum or groundwater contaminated with dry cleaning chemicals, bacteria have evolved pathways to utilize these compounds.
Imagine restoring highly contaminated land for public use without expensive machinery or excessive human exposure. Current research within DOE is working towards this goal through bioremediation, utilizing bacteria with ability to render radioactive or otherwise hazardous material harmless. Even though most microbes presently performing this task are unknown, meta-sequencing projects are turning up a common set of genes (and proteins) necessary for this process.
Let’s briefly take a look at some of these toxic compounds.
Here we have (from left to right) perchloroethene, trichloroethene, and dichloroethene. PCE is a common chemical used in dry cleaning and easily contaminates groundwater. It’s removal is expensive and time-consuming, not to mention dangerous given its toxicity. However, a small number (so far) of bacteria can actually use these chemicals during metabolism when oxygen is absent from the environment (deep underground, for example). DCE is still considered a contaminant, so, how do we get rid of it? A group of bacteria discovered not long ago actually have the complete set of genes to breakdown perchloroethene to ethylene, Dehalococcoides. These bacteria have small genomes relative to the average bacterium but contain a set of genes that will render these contaminants essentially harmless.
Vinyl chloride, the next step in PCE degradation can be further reduced to ethylene by an enzyme called vinyl chloride reductase (Vcr). To date, only Dehalococcoides are found to contain Vcr genes.
Next, I will talk about other common contaminants and the wonderful bacteria that can clean them up.
Good advice from a great communicator. From now on, the majority of posts will relate in some way to bacteria, especially microbial genomics. Most of the remainder of posts will be related to science communication and education.
Why bother spreading the love for the little creatures? I believe this quote from microbialgenomics.energy.gov sums it up:
By some estimates, microbes make up about 60% of the earth’s biomass, yet less than 1% of microbial species have been identified. Because most do not cause disease in humans, animals, or plants and are difficult to culture, they have received little attention. Identifying and harnessing their unique capabilities will offer us new solutions to longstanding challenges in environmental and waste cleanup, energy production and use, medicine, industrial processes, agriculture, and other areas. Scientists also are starting to appreciate the role played by microbes in global climate processes, and we can expect insights about both the biological underpinnings of climate change and the contributions of microbes to earth’s biosphere. Their capabilities soon will be added to the list of traditional commercial uses for microbes in the brewing, baking, dairy, and other industries.
There is so much we don’t know about microbes. However, we are beginning to understand their enormous adaptability. Whether it is 30,000 feet above the ground or two miles beneath it, bacteria can inevitably survive. I will now focus on getting the word out about the little guys who can’t speak for themselves.

domain: chemistry


text:
When Woke Companies Discriminate Against You
Here’s what we can do about anti-Second Amendment corporate behavior.
Wells Fargo Stands By Principles In Issuing Credit to Sturm, Ruger
The San-Francisco-based bank issued $40 million of credit to the gun manufacturer despite critics’ ire.
Senator Chastises Banks for Second Amendment Stance
Louisiana Republican reminds the public that taxpayers bailed out banks a decade ago, so it’s not their prerogative to disregard gun owners.
Bank of America Wants to Track Gun Owners
Can banks use credit-card tracking to create a database of gun owners? That's what it looks like they're trying to do.


text:
3.2.7. WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Stations
The SRF continued its contributions to the WMO Global Environment Facility
(GEF) GAW effort. Components were ordered and configured for a fifth solar radiation
monitoring system that will be installed at the GAW baseline station in Arembepe,
Brazil. Also a solar radiation monitoring system was configured for installation
at a new monitoring site located in South Africa. The CMDL equipment recommendations
were forwarded to the WMO for procurement and shipment to South Africa.
[BACK] [CONTENTS] [NEXT]


text:
Fotopassion ViennaPhotographer Male Vienna, Wien, Austria
My Website: new on FacebookMy MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/fotopassionvienna
Mayhem # 2838432
Photography has always been my passion. Therefore it is my philosophy and nickname.
Ten years ago started working with models. That time I discovered the beauty of the female body. Since than I try to show this aesthetic in my pictures.
My job is very time-consuming. However, it facilitates me to travel around the world. That is the reason to join Model Mayhem. I would like to work with different people worldwide.
For more photos please check:
See you soon!
Have you worked with Fotopassion Vienna? Add Credits for Fotopassion Vienna! >>


text: You riders in VA will have fight this proposed legislation immediately. Jan 10 is coming soon Start calling your representatives to vote no on these bills, a typed or hand written letter works well also. You must be a voter or your pissin in the wind. Contact your local ABATE chapter (Alliance of Bikers Aimed Towards Education) there is one in every state. These people fight for riders rights and law changes. It does not matter what you ride, you don't even have to own a bike to join. To find your local chapter, check out or call your area bike shops, they probably have a poster with meeting info with phone numbers on one of their bulliten boards. My chapter has a website- www.abatepa.org then click a link to find out more about ABATE or other rider rights groups. I think Ohio, Michigan have sites also. ABATE is in every state fighting for bikers rights, and they have legislative rep officers that monitor state and federal laws affecting how we ride. Whether it's a moped, scooter, ATV, motorcycle, or whatever we enjoy in life, politics and government will always screw it up LET THOSE WHO RIDE, DECIDE!!!


text:
In Flatland, which occupies the middle of the country, it's easy to build houses.
When the demand for houses rises, Flatland metropolitan areas, which don't really
have traditional downtowns, just sprawl some more. As a result, housing prices are
basically determined by the cost of construction. In Flatland, a housing bubble can't
even get started.
But in the Zoned Zone, which lies along the coasts, a combination of high population
density and land-use restrictions - hence "zoned" - makes it hard to build new houses.
So when people become willing to spend more on houses, say because of a fall in mortgage
rates, some houses get built, but the prices of existing houses also go up. And if
people think that prices will continue to rise, they become willing to spend even
more, driving prices still higher, and so on. In other words, the Zoned Zone is prone
to housing bubbles.


text:
|Publication number||USD498370 S1|
|Application number||US 29/175,990|
|Publication date||16 Nov 2004|
|Filing date||14 Feb 2003|
|Priority date||14 Feb 2003|
|Publication number||175990, 29175990, US D498370 S1, US D498370S1, US-S1-D498370, USD498370 S1, USD498370S1|
|Inventors||Michael J. Paus|
|Original Assignee||Pennsylvania House, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
FIG. 1 is a front view of the furniture article with quirked beading of the present invention, it being understood that the surface is flat and two-dimensional except for the quirked beading areas, which are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the quirked beading, shown separately for completeness of illustration, and to show the contours of the quirked beading; and,
FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 2.
The broken lines shown are for illustrative purposes only and form no part of the claimed design.


Cybersecurity in critical infrastructure
Critical infrastructure such as electricity distribution, water supply, transportation and telecommunications all depend on IT systems for management, surveillance and control. Industrial control systems (ICS), also called SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition), are in fact consequently essential to maintain the functionality of modern society. There are no shortcuts when it comes to cybersecurity. Encryption is merely part of the overall protection, segmentation another. You always have to have a holistic approach and also include physical security and human factors.
Regulations for actors in critical infrastructure
There are regulations for actors in critical infrastructure to follow. For example, the NIS Directive aims to promote security measures and boost EU member states’ level of protection of critical infrastructure. In other words, it improves information security of operators in sectors that provide essential services to our society and economy. This also means that action needs to be taken by actors in critical infrastructure to fulfill these security demands.
How to raise cybersecurity in critical infrastructure
To raise cybersecurity of critical infrastructure in general, strict segmentation of industrial control utility systems (ICS/SCADA) has to be applied, combining logical separation with physical separation. This means keeping separate domains in the architecture isolated and allowing only very specific information to flow in-between. An effective way is to achieve this is by using products that replace manual management of information (air gap) and connect OT with IT systems at the highest level of security.
The most important element in enhancing ICS/SCADA security is to keep the separate domains in the architecture isolated and only allow very specific information to flow in-between. Advenica’s Data Diode creates a high assurance isolation in the back direction, thereby blocking everything from the outside. If two-way information flow is necessary between the domains, a solution based on a high assurance filter, like SecuriCDS ZoneGuard is needed. Here the information is inspected in every detail and approved if, and only if, everything is in perfect order. The high assurance filter performs the virtually impossible task of interconnecting specific information flow between two domains that must not be connected.
Advenica helps operators within critical infrastructure identify vulnerabilities in current hardware and network components and to take strategic and effective measures towards higher information security.
We have the cybersecurity solutions you need
What are your security challenges?
- Do you need to integrate IT and OT systems?
- Are you dependent on remote access via RDP?
- Do you want to be able to transfer socially critical information from, for example, a SCADA system?
Read more about how our solutions can help you with these and similar challenges:


Canada’s national housing agency says progress is being made on building enough housing to fix the country’s affordability gap, but almost 3.5 million new units will still have to be built by the end of the decade, over and above what’s already in the works.
That was the main takeaway from a new report the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation published Wednesday, updating its initial assessment from June 2022.
At the time, the housing agency said the country was on track to build about 2.3 million new housing units by 2030. But it calculated that just over 5.8 million new units would be needed by that year to adequately address supply, leaving a gap of roughly 3.52 million new units.
In its update Wednesday, the agency says incremental progress has been made, narrowing the gap slightly, but Canada still needs another 3.45 million new units above and beyond what is currently planned.
“This latest report reinforces the need for urgent action to increase housing supply to make housing affordable for everyone in Canada and continues our work on improving the understanding of what drives housing demand and supply,” CMHC economist Aled ab Iorwerth said.
The supply picture has improved somewhat in Ontario, but has worsened in other provinces like Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia, the CMHC says.
Ontario still makes up the bulk of the shortfall with a 1.48 million gap, but that’s down from the 1.85 million projected last year.
WATCH | The making of a multiplex:
Quebec needs an estimated 860,000 units, 240,000 more than last year; B.C. needs 610,000, an increase of 50,000; and Alberta needs 130,000, compared with 20,000 projected last year.
The agency’s target is based on the affordability level in 2004, when housing costs were relatively low and the economy was stable.
In most provinces, CMHC considers housing to be affordable if it takes up about 30 per cent of income, but that target is 37 per cent in Ontario and 44 per cent in B.C.
Robert Hogue, an economist with the Royal Bank of Canada, says that while Canadian housing affordability remains at a crisis level, he agrees with the assessment that incremental progress is being made on the supply side of the picture
“We’ve seen some progress in terms of housing construction,” he told CBC News in an interview. “But that’s not enough to to accommodate all the newcomers into Canada.”


text:
Information About Joanna - Streatham teacher
This is how 2 referees rated Joanna:
Hi, I'm Joanna.
I’m a junior doctor who has just started working in South London. I have been playing the flute for over fifteen years, having taken part in school, university and summer camp flute choirs, windbands and orchestras. I have had several successful students, and I really enjoy teaching music. I am DBS checked.
I have several years' worth of flute teaching experience, having taught throughout university in preparation for ABRSM exams. All of my students have achieved Merit or Distinction grade in their exams.
ABRSM Diploma (Distinction)
ABRSM Grades 1-8.
ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory (Distinction)
GCSE Music (A*)
Lessons are geared towards ABRSM exams (scales, pieces, sight-reading, and aural tests), but I will happily teach other exam boards or just learning for fun! I regularly include popular music duets in my lessons.
Kindly written by one of my clients: ‘Joanna has been teaching my 12-year-old for three years. Under her guidance my daughter has successfully passed Grade 1 with Distinction. She has a flexible approach, creating a comfortable environment for confidence to grow. She teaches all elements of music theory and practice. Joanna is very friendly and personable and has an excellent manner with children. I could not recommend her highly enough.’
I usually recommend 30-45 minute lessons for beginners and intermediates, at a rate of £20 for 30 minutes.
Note: at the moment due to my busy work schedule I am looking to take on 1-2 new students who live locally to me (around Streatham/Streatham Hill/Balham/Brixton Hill area), and may need to be flexible with lesson dates due to occasional evening shift commitments.
Tutor Resources: (free to download)
Please login or register to download tutor resources.
Availability: Weekends / Weekdays (evenings)
References Available: Yes (✔ On File)
- ABRSM (2015) - DipABRSM (Distinction) (School) (✘ Not On File)


text:
British supermarket chain Asda plans to open its first two Asda Express stores in the UK over the next two months.
One of the stores will be located in Sutton Coldfield and open on 8 November, while the other will open on 6 December in Tottenham Hale, London.
Each store will house around 3,000 products, including fresh and chilled groceries.
They will also offer products from Asda’s premium Extra Special range and a broad selection of beers, wines and spirits.
Asda said that the two stores will create 37 jobs for local communities.
As part of its ‘test and learn’ approach, the retailer plans to expand its Asda Express portfolio to 30 sites, generating around 500 jobs by next year.
The Asda Express concept stores will be separate from the retailer’s Asda On the Move convenience sites and the 132 convenience stores it agreed to acquire from the Co-op Group.
Asda co-owner Mohsin Issa said: “The launch of our first two Asda Express convenience stores is a landmark moment for our great business and a key step on our journey to bring Asda to more customers in more communities right across the UK.
“The stores have been designed to cater for a broad range of customer needs – whether that’s popping in for a pint of milk, grabbing a spot of lunch on the go, or buying the fresh ingredients to cook dinner from scratch.
“We’re confident customers will find everything they need in these stores and enjoy the convenience of having a new type of Asda store on their doorstep.
“I’m delighted to welcome the new colleagues at Sutton Coldfield and Tottenham Hale to the Asda family – leading us on our first steps into this market and am grateful to all the colleagues who have worked with such pace and enthusiasm to bring this vision to life for Asda.”


Mayor Eric Garcetti
The next chapter in downtown Los Angeles’ renaissance is underway with the announcement of a $500 million makeover.
Local veterans in search of jobs had reason for hope Tuesday as Mayor Eric Garcetti announced major steps forward in his promise to get 10,000 veterans working.
Activists Monday are expected to protest outside of Mayor Eric Garcetti’s home in response to a recently approved ordinance that discriminates against those who are homeless.
Mayor Eric Garcetti joined the City Council Tuesday in saluting Tom LaBonge’s nearly 40 years of public service.
Protesters held signs saying things like “Ezell Would Have Wanted A Living Wage.”
Activists and police officers are growing increasingly worried about the outcome of the Ezell Ford investigation.
The Police Commission is scheduled Tuesday to review the controversial case of Ezell Ford, a mentally ill black man fatally shot by police last summer.
Angry protesters camped outside the Hancock Park home of Eric Garcetti confronted the Los Angeles mayor Monday morning as he left for Washington D.C.
Ezell Ford’s mother came to the protest and handed out water and chips to the demonstrators.
Officials have approved an $8.6 billion budget for the coming fiscal year that boosts funding for public safety and other services.
“I love LA,” said Aoki, “so much is happening here.”
The concert has been sold out. Anyone without a ticket will be turned away from the event.
Officials Monday announced that 746 firearms were taken off the street in a Gun Buyback program.
The mayor stopped by the West LA location to see how it was going.
The program, which has taken over 13,000 weapons off the streets in its six years of existence, is set to begin again on Saturday, when the LAPD and City Hall will team up once more as part of the city’s Gang-Reduction and Youth Development program.


text:
BG-12 (dimethyl fumarate)
- Oral medication taken daily.
- This drug may have a distinct dual mechanism of action. First, it is an immunomodulator with anti-inflammatory properties. This induces inflammatory cytokines and appears to suppress damaging macrophage activity (immune cells that stimulate lymphocytes) as part of its anti-inflammatory activity. Second, BG-12 may also have neuroprotective effects. This is due to its activation of a substance that is critical for resistance to cellular damage from what is termed "oxidative stress" as well as for normal immune function. BG-12 is being studied in RRMS.
- The ongoing Phase III DEFINE and CONFIRM studies are no longer enrolling participants and these studies will be completed in December 2010 and April 2011, respectively. The DEFINE study is comparing two doses of BG-12 against placebo in 1,011 patients. The primary outcome measure is the proportion of patients who experience relapses. The CONFIRM study is testing two levels of the drug against Copaxone and placebo in 1,232 patients, with the primary measure of the reduction in relapse rate.
- The Phase II EXPLORE trial will evaluate oral BG-12 as a combination therapy for patients who continue to experience disease progression despite ongoing treatment. It will evaluate the safety and tolerability of BG-12 when administered with interferons or Copaxone to 100 people who continue to have evidence of disease activity (despite receiving consistent monotherapy for at least a year). Efficacy endpoints will also be assessed in a subset of participants.
- Trials to date indicate that the drug is safe and that its overall tolerability improves with continued use. A long-term Phase III efficacy and safety study is enrolling approximately 1,700 individuals who participated in earlier trials.
- Side effects include skin flushing and gastrointestinal symptoms.

domain: biology


text:
Think your sign shop is the BEST?
Did you know that the vast majority of clients do NOT buy your signs because they think you are the best? That’s right folks, you heard it here first, people are not motivated to buy just because you are (or say you are) the best sign shop in town. I realize that this is a shocking (and to some, insulting) statement but that does not change the fact… sorry.
Honestly, I never really thought about this personally and always assumed that my clients came to me solely because of our great reputation and superior products. We regularly enjoy excellent referrals from happy clients and love it when someone tells us… “Joe from ABC told me you guys are great… “ I mean, if people are telling us this, and they order signs, and they tell their friends about us then it MUST be because we are good right?
Come on, it’s just common sense, who would ever willingly go to a bad supplier? Who would intentionally use the guy on the other side of town when you KNOW he just doesn’t make signs as well as you do? … of course, somehow, the guy on the other side of town IS getting work and people ARE walking into their shop instead of yours…
Something to think about isn’t it?
This particular phenomenon came to mind recently after reading a very interesting book entitled “You, Inc” that I found at my local Barnes & Nobles. The book discussed all aspects of personal branding but also devotes a section to how we, as humans, make buying decisions. What all of the research has proven is that we very rarely EVER make a decision based on logical criteria (such as Acme Signs is the best sign shop around). No, we make the vast majority of our purchases based on…. wait for it… almost there… Feelings & Emotion. What?! Yes, we constantly make decisions based on instinct, emotion, or feelings about the purchase and THEN justify spending the money by using the “facts”.
Think about the last time you headed into the store looking for a coffee maker. Did you research all of the available brands, check out the various features of each model and verify the consumer reports? No, you simply looked for one that matched your price range and then selected the one that matched your kitchen or looked cool. You “assumed” that all of the coffee makers in that price range were essentially the same. You “assumed” that there was little or no difference in features, quality etc and made your decision… whether or not your “assumption” was true or not. You made your decision based on an emotion.
Guess what? Potential clients all over the world are all doing the exact same thing when they start looking for a sign company. The first thing that an individual does is assume that if a sign shop is in business that they must be a professional. In their opinion, there are plenty of sign companies out there that are skilled and competent so that factor becomes, in their mind, a non-issue. Now I can already hear the screams of frustration coming from you… I know that there are all sorts of warning signs to let people know that Joe Blow’s sign business is just horrible. I mean, how could they fail to notice that Joe Blow can’t design worth anything? How could they not see that Joe’s vinyl signs start to peel after 6 months or Joe’s blanks are never cut square? The simple fact is, they DONT know, and have no problem having Joe makes their signs for them. They will probably even stay with Joe for years despite any number of problems as long as Joe is able to deliver just one thing to them…
A Feeling… whether that is emotional fulfillment, a feeling of importance or a personal connection. All of the research shows that people do business based on fundamental emotions. People always prefer to do business based on a personal relationship. They want to feel important. They want to feel needed and vital to you and your company. They want to feel… wanted. Remember the old saying “It’s not what you know but who you know”? That’s relationships folks.
So, what are you doing to make sure your clients feel wanted? What are you doing to fulfill their fundamental need to feel important and vital? What are you doing to make an immediate connection with new potential clients coming in? Do you ever offer a “Best Customer Ever” discount, send a personal note or simply say Thank You?
I guarantee, if you spend a little time delivering on this one thing then you will rarely, ever lose a client to a competitor. Remember, providing true value is not just limited to your hand crafted, premium signs.

domain: psychology


SANTA CLARA — Here are the highlights from Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians’ conference call Wednesday with Bay Area media to preview Sunday’s game against the 49ers at Raymond James Stadium.
Arians is back in the NFL after he stepped down as the Arizona Cardinals head coach in 2017, citing health issues. In five years in the desert, Arians had a 50-30-1 record and two playoff appearances.
“It’s been clearly enjoyable,” Arians said. “I think back to my last game in Arizona and where I was mentally and where I am today, it’s two totally different people.
1. QB IMPRESSIONS: Jimmy Garoppolo’s first career start in the NFL came against Arians’ Cardinals in Week 1 of the 2016 season. Filling in for the suspended Tom Brady, Garoppolo completed 24 of 33 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown in a 23-21 New England Patriots win.
Garoppolo orchestrated the Patriots’ go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter. moving the ball 61 yards and 13 plays before Stephen Gostkowski hit a 32-yard field goal with 3:44 to go.
“He played very well. Was very accurate, moved around the pocket well and we lost that game,” Arians said. “He was very solid in that ball game.”
This will be, of course, Garoppolo’s first regular season start since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee almost a year ago.
Arians has experience with a quarterback who has worked his way back from a similar injury.
In Nov. 2014, at age 34, Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer tore his ACL in a game against the St. Louis Rams, but recovered in time to start the 2015 season. He became a Pro Bowl selection that year, throwing for a career-high 4,671 yards and 35 touchdowns in 16 regular season games. Arizona went 13-3 and advanced to the NFC Championship game before losing 49-15 to the Carolina Panthers.
“Carson, he’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever coached,” Arians said. “Mentally tough and physically tough. When you’re ready, know you’re ready. Don’t try and do it too soon. When you’re ready and you know you’re good to go, don’t worry about it anymore. Just play.”
How easy is that for a player to do?
“I never went through it, but watching (Palmer), he knew he was ready,” Arians said. “He was champing at the bit. He said, ‘I can do team (drills), I can do this.’ How about taking another week? ‘Naw, I can do it. He was more than ready to go.”
2. ON THE 49ERS DEFENSIVE FRONT: Perhaps the strength of the 49ers defense this season will be its defensive line, which may be bolstered Sunday by the addition of Nick Bosa, who sat out the entire preseason with an ankle injury.
The Buccaneers’ offensive line gave up seven sacks and 12 quarterback hits to the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 24. Jameis Winston was sacked five times in the first half alone.
“None,” Arians said when asked about his level of concern about his team’s pass protection. “It’s just one of those days. Had it showed up every day like that, then I’d have some concerns. We had a couple guys get beat. Jameis sacked himself a couple times. But, you’re going to have some days like that in the preseason.”
The 49ers are trying to implement a ‘Wide 9’ defense on certain down and distance situations to get more pressure on the quarterback.
What challenges will that pose to the Bucs?
“I don’t think any, really,” Arians said. “I think it’s just a style of defense they play and we’re going to set the edge on the wide 9, guys inside have to hold up. It’s not like it’s anything new. It’s been around a long time. It’s just a matter of taking the ball and pounding it inside, and when you get outside, take your shots.”
3. PREPARING FOR BOSA: Will Nick Bosa play Sunday? He was back at practice Monday for the first time since sustaining a right-ankle sprain in early August.
Still, since Bosa didn’t play in the preseason, Arians and the Bucs have to go back to early in his junior season at Ohio State.
“We’ll go back and watch some film from before.” Arians said. “We try and get as much information to our guys as possible. There’s nothing on him in the league and only a little bit as a junior. So, just go out and play.”
Arians said the personnel may vary, but the 49ers identity under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will not.
“You know the style of defense they’re going to play. Rob does a hell of a job with that defense,” Arians said. “We’re just getting ready for the scheme. Dee Ford is a hell of a pass rusher. There’s plenty of things you can study on those guys. They’re going to roll people through.”
4. ARIANS ON SALEH: Saleh is in his third season as the 49ers. Last season, the Niners ranked 20th in total defense after finishing ninth the year before.
“That’s a heck of a front,” Arians said. “(General manager) John (Lynch) has given him some players to play with and they’re very sound. They know what they’re doing and they don’t make mistakes to beat themselves.”
5. HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE? Tampa Bay was 4-4 at home last season and 5-11 overall. The daytime high Sunday is forecasted to be 94 degrees, with 64 percent humidity.
Just another summer day along the Florida Gulf Coast, but a little more hot and humid than what the 49ers were dealing with for much of August.
When the 49ers played in Tampa on Nov. 25, 2018, a 27-9 Bucs win, the daytime high was in the upper 70s.
Will the humidity help with the home field advantage?
“Yes and no. It can wear you out, too,” Arians said. “We get worn out every day in practice. It can be to the extent of getting your body accustomed to it. We had a lot of lightning during training camp, so we went inside and opened all the doors to keep the humidity in there.
“It wasn’t much fun for the fans, but got what we needed.”