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For many of us, cloud formation was one of the first scientific phenomena we understood. We were taught the sun heats up the water on the Earth's surface until the water evaporates, gently ascends into the sky, and comes together to create clouds. It was a simple concept involving just water, the sun, and the sky. As we grew, we accepted this idea as a basic, easily understood truth. Wed no sooner doubt it than doubt whether the Earth goes around the sun or whether static electricity allows a balloon to stick to a wall.
But as it turns out, we've all been misled. Scientists have known for years that cloud formation is an extremely dirty business that depends on microscopic particles (aerosols) from the surface of the Earth. These particles allow water vapor to condense, and without them cloud droplets, mist, or fog could not form at all.
The presence of the aerosols makes matters much more
complicated in that many researchers do not know exactly where all these
particles come from. While the consensus is that cloud-forming aerosols mostly originate from
natural sources, an increasing number of scientists believe that humans may
produce a large quantity through the burning of fossil fuels. By doing so, we are
making the clouds above us brighter, altering their lifetime and possibly
creating huge changes in our environment.
Testing theories of man-made cloud formation has been a difficult task. In most urban areas, scientists are unable to discern exactly how pollutants contribute to forming clouds because the atmosphere over the land is too tumultuous. As an alternative, researchers from NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center and a number of universities around the country have turned to studying "ship tracks" clouds formed from the aerosols coming from large ships. Not significant sources of pollution themselves, ships release their exhaust into the relatively clean and still marine air, where the scientists have an easier time of measuring the effects of fossil fuel emissions on cloud formation.
What they have found is that the sulfur dioxide released from ships smokestacks could be forming sulfate aerosol particles in the atmosphere, which cause the clouds to be more reflective, carry more water and possibly stop precipitating. This is proof that humans have been creating and modifying clouds for generations through the burning of fossil fuels. The study may go a long way towards explaining some of the climactic mysteries in the world, such as why global warming is affecting the Southern Hemisphere much more quickly than the Northern Hemisphere (King et al. 1993).
"For the Earths atmosphere to form clouds at all, you need
particles for the water vapor to condense on," said Michael King. He is an
atmospheric scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center who has studied
cloud formation for more than ten years. He explained that when water evaporates
into the atmosphere, it does not move together on its own to form water
droplets, but spreads evenly throughout the atmosphere. Airborne particles
(aerosols) that dissolve easily in water, such as ammonium sulfate and sea salt,
break up this otherwise even distribution and give the water molecules something
to cling to. The particles provide nuclei for cloud droplets to condense around,
and together these droplets form clouds. Were it not for particles in our
atmosphere, the sky would always be clear and the air around us, thick and humid
(King et al. 1995).
King said, "A greater number of aerosol particles in a cloud will lead to the production of more cloud droplets, albeit smaller in size, than would otherwise be the case. This in turn increases the brightness of the cloud." Additional particles give the water vapor more nuclei to cling to, so more smaller drops form in the cloud. These smaller drops in turn make the cloud more reflective to sunlight. The same phenomenon can be seen when ice cubes are crushed. As the ice is broken up, the once smooth surface is shattered into many tiny surfaces at varying angles to one another. These additional surfaces reflect incoming light in all directions and cause the crushed ice to appear white and opaque. Water droplets do not contain all these ridged surfaces, but their fragmentation has a similar effect on sunlight.
A majority of cloud-creating aerosols arise from natural sources, ranging from volcanoes to microscopic ocean plants. Yet, scientists speculate that an ever growing number originate from our need for electricity and transportation. Each time we burn fossil fuels, sulfur dioxide, a gas that leads to the formation of sulfate aerosols, is released. The particles often rise into the atmosphere and create more and brighter clouds. Though no one is certain what effect this extra cloud cover may have on the environment, many scientists believe it may be cooling the atmosphere. "By modifying clouds we make them brighter," King said. "This has a cooling effect on the climate, because the clouds are reflecting more solar radiation than they normally do back into space." Any light that is reflected cannot heat the ground or the atmosphere.
Proving this hypothesis is much more difficult than measuring the brightness of the clouds over a smokestack. Above land, where most industry is located, the wind currents and convection are too tumultuous to measure cloud formation from individual pollution sources. The clouds break up and change so often that scientists have trouble monitoring the aerosols, let alone determining the precise amount of fossil fuel needed to create clouds. What the researchers needed was a pollution source that spilled contaminants continuously into a calm and relatively pristine air mass (King et al. 1995).
Searching for Ship Tracks
"Our interest in ship tracks came about quite by accident," said James Coakley, an atmospheric scientist at Oregon State University. He came up with the idea to study ship tracks back in 1985 while visiting Scripps Institution of Oceanography to learn about the newly-burgeoning satellite imaging technology. He said the first image shown to him was of the eastern Pacific off the coast of California. "I saw these bright streaks running through the images," he said. "Immediately I knew they were ship tracks." Coakley also saw that the ship tracks and the atmospheric conditions off of California would be ideal for studying the effects of man-made aerosols.
In general, the air above the oceans suffers from less turbulence and convection than the air above land. The lower atmosphere is especially calm over the eastern Pacific in the summertime due to a layer of hot air that settles in 500 to 700 meters above that region of the ocean, Coakley explained. This effect creates a temperature inversion, placing a cap on the cooler air below, trapping pollutants and water vapor. While the inversion is responsible for the smog that reduces air quality in Los Angeles, it also allows for the formation of long lasting ship tracks. The particles bellowing from ships smokestacks enter the air above the eastern Pacific and create long, thin clouds that remain there for days.
Coakley and his colleagues began a general survey of the ship tracks with satellite imagery. They took a number of images of the eastern Pacific using the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). Built and managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), multiple copies of this satellite instrument circle the Earth in near-polar orbits. Together, they scan the entire surface of the planet. The instruments do not simply take a picture of an area of the Earth, but use light sensors to detect specific colors (wavelengths) of light and thermal radiation coming off the Earth. These readings are beamed back to Earth in the form of data, which the scientists can manipulate to form images.
When searching for ship tracks, Coakleys team looked at the near-infrared light (light which has a wavelength longer than that of red light in the visible color spectrum) coming off the clouds. At this wavelength many ship tracks appear as bright lines that can be distinguished from the surrounding, uncontaminated clouds. Once the scientists located polluted clouds, they made additional measurements of reflected light in the visible range. "On average, we found the polluted clouds reflect more sunlight than their unaffected counterparts," said Coakley.
Seeing the Clouds Close-Up
While satellite instruments can show scientists that clouds are getting
brighter from ships smokestacks, the images cannot tell them anything
about the details of the processes behind the phenomenon. For that, the
scientists have to take measurements inside the ship tracks themselves.
King and Coakley collaborated with researchers from the University of Washington to analyze data on solar radiation and cloud properties inside clouds that were modified by ships. "We flew an airplane through the clouds and monitored the pollution from the ships at the same time the satellite went over them," said King. The research plane was equipped with an array of gadgets that measure the light bouncing around inside the clouds, the water content there, the size of the water droplets, and many other variables. To take these measurements, the aircraft traveled 100 kilometers through the middle of the low-lying clouds (Radke et al. 1989).
As the aircraft sped out to sea, it encountered two 10-kilometer strips within the clouds that had very different properties. Across these strips, the number of water droplets per cubic centimeter more than doubled, the radius of the drops decreased by roughly six percent and the amount of water per cubic meter increased twofold (King et al 1993). "The first two results were what we expected to happen with ship tracks, but the third one was not expected," said King.
No one had predicted that this excessive cloud seeding from the ship would cause the clouds to retain more water. King explained that rain forms when cloud drops coagulate and reach a size where gravity can pull them to the ground. Yet, in the ship tracks the scientists observed, the cloud seeding made the drops so small that they could no longer easily merge together to reach the size needed to escape. Since no drizzle came out of the seeded clouds, the liquid water just kept building in the cloud. "This effect worked in exactly the same direction as the other two effects all three made the cloud brighter and more reflective to incoming sunlight, especially in the near-infrared part of the spectrum," said King. The satellite data they received showed that the clouds that had been enhanced by the ship tracks were 13 percent brighter (King et al. 1993).
A Cloudy Future
Though these results suggested that sulfur dioxide from fossil fuels made the clouds brighter, the scientific community was not the first group to take a strong interest in the study. "The Pentagon saw the very first paper my colleagues wrote and they ran a database search on their vessels in the Pacific. They found that some of these ship tracks rose from their military ships, which were trying to hide under clouds," said King. Coakley was asked to brief the Chief of Naval Operations at the time.
Not long afterwards the scientific community began to focus on the results. Many researchers believe this study could go a long way towards explaining the temperature discrepancy between the Earths hemispheres. Since researchers have been monitoring global warming, they have noticed a disturbing trend the Southern Hemisphere seems to be warming up faster than the Northern Hemisphere. "The dominant hypothesis in the scientific community today is that aerosol forming pollution is greater in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere and this contributes a mitigating influence on global warming expected from the greenhouse effect," said King.
He stated that the effects of the sulfur dioxide from industry might be countering the greenhouse effect created by carbon dioxide, but only in the Northern Hemisphere. When fossil fuels are burned, both carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide are released. As demonstrated in the ship tracks study, sulfate particles produced from sulfur dioxide creates brighter clouds, which may cool the atmosphere. Any light that is reflected cannot reach the ground and heat the surface of the Earth. This means there is less heat for carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to trap in the atmosphere.
The long-term effect of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide is not simply dependent on the concentration of the gases released. Rather, the amount of time the molecules spend in the atmosphere and their movement across the Earth plays a bigger role. King explained that carbon dioxide stays in the air for years and spreads out across the entire globe. Sulfur dioxide gets into the atmosphere and is converted to sulfate particles that form both a layer of polluting haze and brighter clouds. These particles dissolve and either settle back to the Earth from the forces of gravity alone or through precipitation. Rarely do the particles or the clouds they inhabit stay in the skies long enough to cross the equator, King said
So the problems created by carbon dioxide are felt globally while the "benefits" of the sulfur dioxide are felt locally. In the Northern Hemisphere, where most pollution of the world has been created, aerosol-laden clouds as well as layers of pollution could have stifled the effects of global warming. Over the Southern Hemisphere, which hasnt had a long history of industrialization, carbon dioxide has built up unchecked. Consequently the Southern Hemisphere has been warming up more quickly (King et al. 1995).
"Our understanding of aerosols and cloud formation is primitive," said Coakley. "There may be a lot more to this story." Until scientists hone their knowledge of cloud formation and get an estimate of the percentage of aerosols released by humans, no one will know for certain what causes the different rates of warming between the hemispheres. Researchers have conducted many field experiments since these initial findings. They continue to answer much about man made aerosols and cloud formation, but many more questions go unanswered. No one knows, for example, just how many aerosols a given cloud can hold or the number of aerosols needed to keep a cloud from losing its contents.
Coakley warned that even if this aerosol theory of global warming is correct, we should not increase our consumption of fossil fuels. In time their full effects will catch up to the people in the Northern Hemisphere as well. Carbon dioxide will continue to remain in the atmosphere. Sulfur dioxide, once converted to sulfate particles, will keep falling to Earth. Sooner or later the effects of the carbon dioxide will far outweigh those of the sulfur dioxide.
1. King, M.D., L.F. Radke, and P. V. Hobbs, 1993: Optical Properties of Marine Stratocumulus Clouds Modified by Ships, Journal of Geophysical Research, 98(D2), pp. 2729-2739.
2. King, M.D., S. Tsay, and S. Platnick, 1995: In Situ Observations of the Indirect Effects of Aerosols on Clouds. Aerosol Forcing of Climate, ed. by R. J. Charlson and J. Heintzenberg, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 228-246.
3. Radke, L. F., J. A. Coakley, Jr., and M.D. King, 1989: Direct and Remote Sensing Observations of the Effects of Ships on Clouds, Science, 246, pp. 1146-1149.


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Emmy award winning Warner Brothers Animation artist and designer, Phil Bourassa, recently shared new images for the upcoming ‘Reign Of The Supermen’ animated feature film.
The Reign of the Supermen is the 2nd film of the two part animated films by DC Comics and Warner Bros. The first movie Death of Superman was released on Digital HD March 27th followed by the Blu-ray release on April 10th, 2018. The Reign of the Supermen will be released digitally January 15, 2019, and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and streaming on DC Universe on January 29, 2019.
The Reign of the Superman was written by Jerry Siegel and illustrated by Joe Shuster. A followup to The Death of Superman and World Without a Superman. The story center around the events that took place during the “Death of Superman” storyline, as well as the follow-up story-arc “Funeral for a Friend”. After Superman died in a battle with Doomsday, four other supermen appears claiming to be the resurrected Man of Steel. The Supermen were: Last Son of Krypton (Action Comics), a cold, emotionless Kryptonian persona; Superboy (Adventures of Superman), a teenage clone of Superman; Steel (Superman: The Man of Steel), an engineer who built a high-powered suit of armor to carry on Superman’s legacy; and finally Cyborg Superman (Superman), who most resembled the real Man of Steel but who was a cybernetic organism.

domain: artistic


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Google Doodle celebrates the 74th birthday of Nigerian guitarist Oliver De Coque, one of Africa’s most prolific recording artists (Highlife King of Africa), on April 14, 2021.
Who was Oliver De Coque?
King (Dr.) Chief Oliver De Coque is otherwise called Oliver Sunday Akanite delegated the “Highlife King of Africa,” he is broadly respected as one of the continent’s most prolific recording artists.
Born on April 14, 1947, in the small town of Ezinifite in southeastern Nigeria, Oliver Sunday Akanite initially took up the guitar at a youthful age, and as a teenager, contemplated the traditional Igbo music of the region and Congolese soukous.
Playing music since the age of 11, Oliver De Coque was taught to play the guitar by Piccolo, a Congolese guitarist living in Nigeria. Serving an apprenticeship with juju stars Sunny Agaga and Jacob Oluwale, he was a star by his late youngsters.
In 1970, at a performance by the well-known Sunny Agaga and his Lucky Star Band, Akanite persuaded Sunny to allow him to remain in as their guitarist; he was recruited on the spot, giving an enormous lift to his young career. Likewise, a gifted player of the Nigerian board game okwe, Akanite got known as “Oliver de ka Okwe,” which he later adapted into his stage name, Oliver de Coque.
Oliver De Coque broadly implanted the modern West African highlife genre with a Congolese-impacted guitar style and the vigorous dance elements of Igbo music he grew up with, creating an extraordinary musical style.
Since releasing Oliver De Coque’s debut album Messiah in 1977, Coque had recorded no less than 93 albums in his country.
His dance-inspiring “Ogene” style of Nigerian high life, which mixes modern high life and traditional Igbo music, has produced such hits as “People’s Club of Nigeria”, “nempi social club”, “Biri Ka Mbiri,” “Ana Enwe,” “Nnukwu Mmanwu,” and “Identity,” which stayed on Radio Nigeria 2’s Top Ten all through most of 1981.
Starting with Oliver De Coque’s first solo release in 1976, de Coque’s music just filled in prominence at home and abroad, as he put out a great many albums including his awesome guitar work and new interpretation of African pop more than 70 all through his lifetime.
In 1994, in acknowledgment of his massive music achievement, Oliver De Coque was awarded an honorary doctorate in music by the University of New Orleans.
Oliver de Coque died at the age of 61 on June 20, 2008.
Oliver De Coque is likewise considered the most flamboyant Igbo musician. Attracting international consideration with a London performance in 1973, he played on Prince Nico Mbarga’s album Sweet Mother four years later.
On April 14, 2021, Google observes Oliver De Coque’s 74th Birthday with Google Doodle. Lagos-based guest artist Ohab TBJ represents the Google doodle.


text: Vibrant colors and natural flavors are the hallmark of Alipro dessert sauces. Produced in Switzerland, Alipro dessert sauces are always made direct from the fruit or ingredient, never from extracts or juices. These ease-of-use products can be used to top fruit dishes, ice cream sundaes and even for plate decorations. The bottles are microwaveable or can be warmed in a bain marie. Also available in Raspberry, Mango, Kiwi, Caramel and Chocolate, these sauces are the perfect complement to your next recipe. Try them in a savory application too!

domain: food


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Sex, death, money... Cronenberg takes R-Patz for a spin
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Wednesday 20 May 2009
Saturday 16 May 2009
Monday 11 May 2009
Monday 09 March 2009
Thursday 30 October 2008
The highly anticipated directorial debut of Charlie Kaufman, Synecdoche, New York is unquestionably the most ambitious American film of the year. Depending on taste, you might also think that it's the most pretentious, but then Kaufman isn't a one-off for no reason.
Tuesday 28 October 2008
Hunger, the debut film by artist Steve McQueen about IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, has been nominated for seven British Independent Film Awards.
Tuesday 07 October 2008
The actress Miriam Margolyes caused ripples in the gay community last week when she told Radio 4's Desert Island Discs that she regretted telling her mother she was gay.
Wednesday 11 June 2008
Following Brian Haw's unkempt occupation of Parliament Square, news of an upcoming protest that sounds like it might be a little easier on the eye.
Friday 16 May 2008
The Government has pledged to build three million extra homes by 2020, but how can this be done without concreting over the countryside? This question has been worrying me, as it must worry anyone who likes grass, and thinks some of it should still be visible in the South-east. So I went along to a lecture on this topic at the Royal Geographical Society this week, where the message was sent out loud and clear: Worry not. We can do it.
Sunday 11 May 2008
Saturday 29 March 2008
A 42-year-old man has been handed a restraining order to keep him away from the actress Samantha Morton, despite being cleared ofharassing her.
Friday 14 March 2008
Off-the-graph oddity. The least that can be said for Harmony Korine is that his films aren't like many others.
Sunday 17 February 2008
Sunday 10 February 2008
Momentum Anton Corbijn rewrites the rules of the rock'*'roll biopic by filming the tragic life story of Joy Division's Ian Curtis in black and white, and with a largely unknown cast. Newcomer Sam Riley is uncanny as Curtis, who is left too debilitated by his epilepsy and medication to function both as a moody rock icon and as a faithful husband and father. Samantha Morton plays his wife, Deborah. But as sad as their brief relationship is, 'Control' finds time for twinkling humour and deep tenderness. You don't need any prior interest in Joy Division to be captivated.
Thursday 23 November 2006
The most influential newspaper in Russia is to come under Kremlin control as the government tightens its grip on the media in the run-up to elections next year.
Climate change: 2015 will be the hottest year on record 'by a mile', experts say
Senior British politicians tell David Cameron: When dead children are being washed up on beaches – it's time to act
Jeremy Corbyn calls Osama bin Laden's killing a 'tragedy' - but was it taken out of context?
If these extraordinarily powerful images of a dead Syrian child washed up on a beach don't change Europe's attitude to refugees, what will?
If you're not already angry about the refugee crisis, here's a history lesson to remind you why you really should be
Theresa May says migrants should be banned from entering the UK unless they have jobs lined up
- 1 Huawei Mate S and Huawei Watch: new products take on iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch
- 2 More than 11,000 Icelanders offer to house Syrian refugees to help European crisis
- 5 Make your voice heard: Sign The Independent's petition to welcome refugees

domain: news


Aggrieved Members Believe APC Will Lose In The 2019 Election
In respect to the crisis in the All Progressives Congress, Imo State chapter, a group of aggrieved members of the party, under the aegis Good Governance Forum (GGF), have been alleged to have met with the leadership of the Social Democratic Party in a plan to defect to the party formally.
Recall that Naija News had earlier reported that Rochas Okorocha, the Governor of the state while speaking on the declaration of public holiday in the state so as to enable eligible voters in the state register for PVCs, stated that a committee had been put together so has to meet with aggrieved members.
The statement of the decamping was revealed in a statement by Godsent Chilos, the publicity secretary of SDP in Imo State.
In the statement it was revealed that with the crisis in the Imo State APC there is high possibility that the party will lose in the State come 2019.
The leaders of the aggrieved APC group in the statement also revealed that their membership are all across the 27 LGAs and the 305 wards in the state.
Chilos quoted them as saying, “Our attraction to SDP is as a result of the grass root strength of SDP. SDP’s commitment to restructuring of Nigeria and operation of Open Government when elected to power, adherence to the principles of internal democracy, harmonious co-existence and respect to the democratic rights of members.
“We think that SDP is the only Party in Imo State that has brighter chances of winning the Governorship of Imo State including majority in the State House of Assembly in 2019, because APC and PDP has failed imolites.
“We shall formerly announce their defection to SDP before the end of August 2018 in Owerri”.
Copyright Naija News 2018. All rights reserved. You may only share Naija News content using our sharing buttons. Send all news and press releases to [email protected].


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Is there something that you’ve made over and over again, only to one day realise that there was a far superior version hanging out there, waiting on the sidelines to be discovered? Allow me to introduce you to brisket chili, friends – the chili recipe to end all chili recipes.
I think it’s safe to say that most of us north of the Mexican border think of chili con carne as a simmered concoction of minced beef, red kidney beans, tomatoes, some veg (usually onion, carrot, celery, bell pepper), Mexican chili powder (which isn’t really Mexican at all), topped with sour cream and grated cheddar. Now, I want you to rid all of that from your mind. Throw it away. You don’t need it anymore. You don’t need chili with little nubs of overcooked minced meat bobbing around in a non-descript bath of tomatoey vegetables. Because now you have brisket chili – lovely, smoky, spicy, silky brisket chili – and by Jove, there is no turning back.
Brisket Chili (serves 6) – adapted from Jamie Oliver
Note: the chili needs to simmer for a good 4-4.5 hours, so make sure to plan accordingly.
- 1.5 kg best-quality beef brisket
- 250g grams cooked Romano beans (or 1 x 19oz can)
- 1 large cinnamon stick
- 1 Tbsp ground cumin
- 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 heaped Tbsp dried oregano
- 2 fresh bay leaves
- 2 red peppers
- 2 yellow peppers
- 1 x 28oz can chopped tomatoes
- about 1/2 L beef stock
- 2-3 red chipotle chiles in adobo, chopped
- 1-2 chile peppers (jalapeño or habañero), de-seeded and chopped
- 2 red onions, finely sliced
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- coarse salt and black pepper
- olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- ½ bunch coriander, chopped
- Soft tortillas, Greek-style yoghurt, avocado* and/or green salad, to serve
*you can also make a quick guacamole to serve on top, by mashing up a couple of ripe avocados, and adding some finely grated red onion, the juice of a lime and some chopped coriander, along with a pinch of salt. **the chili freezes really well, so don’t bother cutting down the recipe if you’re less than 6 people. Make a whole batch and freeze the rest.
Place the beef on a board and score one side. Combine the cumin, paprika and oregano and rub into the cuts in the beef. Season well with coarse salt and black pepper, drizzle over a little olive oil and brown the brisket well in a large pot or Dutch oven over a high heat.
Once the outside is browned, remove the brisket from the pot and set aside. There should still be some residual oils at the bottom of the pot, which you’ll use to sautée the onion, etc, so keep it. But discard any bits of seasoning that looks like it’ll burn if cooked further (I use a slotted spoon to fish them out).
Reduce the heat to medium high and add the onion and garlic, sautéeing them in the leftover pan fats until translucent. Place the bay leaves, cinnamon stick, red and yellow peppers, tomatoes, beef stock, beans and tomato paste into the pot and bring to the boil. Then add the chiles and the brisket to the pot; cover and leave to simmer for 4–4½ hours.
Gently pull the beef apart using 2 forks. Remove the bay leaves and cinnamon stick; add a little vinegar to brighten up the flavour, add the coriander and adjust the seasoning. Serve with avocado (or guacamole), tortillas, yoghurt and/or a green salad.
Pingback: End-of-days Bolognese | julia chews the fat
Mmmm…looks very good. Must try this. However, will have to omit spiced peppers etc. Will that ruin the end result or just mellow it?
julia chews the fat said:
Ooh, tough call Rob. My feeling is that without the peppers – especially the chipotle in adobo – you wouldn’t get that deep, smoky heat. It won’t ruin it, but it won’t be the same. Just so you know, the final result isn’t so much a “my-mouth-is-on-fire” heat as a subtle hum of spicyness. You could also cut down the peppers by half or completely omit the jalapeño (medium-spicy)/habañero (very spicy). I’d be curious to know how you adapt this one! Tell me how you like it 🙂


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Global Law Firm – Case Study
How Tellennium captured $300,000 in incorrect and overcharged billings for the firm
For law firms, efficient communication is absolutely critical. For one of the largest firms in the world, with nearly 1,000 lawyers spread across 50 integrated practice areas and six different countries, simply managing the various telecom platforms that enable these communications is a daunting task.
The firm’s goal, just as it is with the work they do for their clients, is accuracy and efficiency – in this case, regarding the management of all of the telecom bills from all of the various providers providing services to all of the firm’s offices and staff members.
Why is accuracy important? According to Gartner Group, 12 to 20% of telecom charges are incorrect, with 85% of the errors in the service provider’s favor. For a top 10 firm, this means telecom billing errors could cost them $300,000 per year or more.
As for efficiency, keeping all of the telecom-related invoices (coming in from all of the different service providers to all of the firms’ offices) organized and paid is a time consuming task. There are wireline data, voice, and video providers, wireless providers, and telecom and networking equipment installation and maintenance providers – just to name a few. And, there is also the never-ending task of negotiating and renegotiating telecom contracts as they come up for renewal, to make sure the firm is getting the best rates possible. Doing all of this work costs the firm (and all other companies of a similar size and scope) precious time and money, too.
And yet, even the best run companies don’t know that such a high potential for telecom billing accuracy and efficiency improvements exist. “We thought our telecom billing and contract situations were fine,” said the firm’s Manager of Telecommunications. “Invoices were paid out of each office, not centrally out of Corporate.”
For a large law firm (or any other large company) with a national or international reach, decentralized telecommunications management can be very costly, in terms of both missed errors and distributed management of expenses. There needs to be the right process, backed by the right systems, to pull in all of these invoices and centralize the management of such a large and critical budget category as telecom.
For that, these law professionals at turned to the Integrated Telecom Management® professionals at Tellennium.
We have had a great experience with Tellennium, I would encourage anyone to have them at least take a look at their invoices.
– Jeff, Manager of Telecommunications, Global Law Firm
The project included:
Using its “Tellennium’s Integrated Management System” (MoT®), Tellennium now manages the firm’s telecommunications billing, usage, inventory, services, and contract negotiations on the firm’s behalf. According to the Manager of Telecommunications, this has already resulted in time and money savings.
“Sending all of our invoices to Tellennium, and allowing them to review and pay them, saves time and, possibly, personnel,” he stated. “I feel much safer having them review our invoices so that we know they’re correct.”
And Tellennium’s knowledge of telecommunications pricing, tariffs, and contract negotiations saved the firm money in other ways.
“We obtained significant credits from our local telecom vendors for incorrect and overcharged billing,” he said. “Also, Tellennium discovered that one vendor had changed its pricing in the middle of a contract. They then worked with that vendor to obtain a credit for us.”
A big part of the Telecom Manager’s job is now much easier thanks to TEMS, most notably the ability to review all invoices. “They’re all in one place,” he said. “They also send me a CD with images of all the invoices for each month. That is very handy.”
Easy-to-review and continuously managed and audited invoices, plus vigilant usage and contract monitoring and negotiating, equals cost and time savings. That’s the value Tellennium provides to its clients: helping them manage their telecommunications providers, so they can get back to the business of serving their own clients and customers.
“We have had a great experience with Tellennium,” he claimed. In the past two years, Tellennium has captured over $300,000 in credits alone for the firm. “I would encourage anyone to have them at least take a look at their invoices.”

domain: finance


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Trade the NFL Preseason For the 18 Game Regular Season
What’s the delay in trading meaningless games for meaningful ones?
National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell has got one thing right.
The NFL should get rid of most if not all of the preseason games it plays and have an 18-game regular season schedule.
Critics speak of the fear of injury but they miss the point. Wouldn’t four games exchanged for two actually prevent injuries?

domain: game


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Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) EVP Robb L. Voyles sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.85, for a total transaction of $244,250.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink.
Shares of Halliburton Company (HAL) opened at $51.63 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a current ratio of 2.20. The firm has a market cap of $44,063.32, a P/E ratio of 215.13, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.03. Halliburton Company has a 12 month low of $38.18 and a 12 month high of $58.78.
Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 23rd. The oilfield services company reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.35 billion. Halliburton had a net margin of 1.13% and a return on equity of 6.93%. Halliburton’s revenue for the quarter was up 42.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.01 earnings per share. analysts predict that Halliburton Company will post 1.16 EPS for the current year.
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 7th were paid a dividend of $0.18 per share. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 6th. Halliburton’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 300.01%.
Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Estabrook Capital Management increased its stake in Halliburton by 82.8% in the second quarter. Estabrook Capital Management now owns 2,760 shares of the oilfield services company’s stock valued at $118,000 after purchasing an additional 1,250 shares in the last quarter. YorkBridge Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in Halliburton by 243.3% in the third quarter. YorkBridge Wealth Partners LLC now owns 3,165 shares of the oilfield services company’s stock valued at $146,000 after purchasing an additional 2,243 shares in the last quarter. Bronfman E.L. Rothschild L.P. increased its stake in Halliburton by 4.1% in the second quarter. Bronfman E.L. Rothschild L.P. now owns 4,251 shares of the oilfield services company’s stock valued at $182,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in Halliburton in the third quarter valued at approximately $184,000. Finally, Krilogy Financial LLC increased its stake in Halliburton by 35.9% in the second quarter. Krilogy Financial LLC now owns 4,588 shares of the oilfield services company’s stock valued at $196,000 after purchasing an additional 1,212 shares in the last quarter. 79.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
A number of equities analysts have commented on HAL shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Halliburton from $60.00 to $55.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. ValuEngine raised shares of Halliburton from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Halliburton from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Halliburton from $52.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of Halliburton from a “d+” rating to a “c-” rating in a research note on Friday, September 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, twenty-five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. The company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $57.36.
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Halliburton Company Profile
Halliburton Company provides services and products to the upstream oil and natural gas industry throughout the lifecycle of the reservoir, from locating hydrocarbons and managing geological data, to drilling and formation evaluation, well construction and completion, and optimizing production throughout the life of the field.
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Woman charged for passing counterfeit money, possessing meth
Published 8:09 pm Friday, April 5, 2019
An Albert Lea woman was charged in Freeborn County District Court on Friday for passing counterfeit bills at multiple local businesses.
Satera Marie Kontz, 32, faces charges of gross misdemeanor uttering or possessing counterfeit currency and fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance.
According to court records, police were alerted to Kontz after she reportedly attempted to pass the counterfeit money at Bomgaars in Albert Lea. The report states she went to the register at the store to pay, and the bills she attempted to pay with tested as counterfeit with a counterfeit marker. The employee also noticed the bills had the same serial number.
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After the employee told Kontz the bills tested as counterfeit, she then left the store.
Court documents state footage at the store matched the description of someone who passed counterfeit money at the Salvation Army earlier in the day.
Surveillance video in the Bomgaars parking lot of the store also showed Kontz riding as the passenger in a white Nissan Altima.
When officers found the car, they conducted a search and reportedly found counterfeit money and baggies of white crystals and powder, which later tested positive for methamphetamine, behind the center panel of the car.
The found bills consisted of one $5 bill, six $20 bills and one $50 bill. The weight of methamphetamine totaled 10.4 grams.
The driver of the car told police he did not know about the bills or the drugs in the panel.
Freeborn County District Court Judge Ross Leuning ordered Kontz sign a waiver of extradition and set bail at $20,000 without conditions.
Kontz is next expected to appear in court April 18.
Fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Uttering or possessing counterfeit currency carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $3,000 fine.
A mugshot for Kontz was unavailable as of press time.
See what happened last night in the PM report here.


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I was given some insight into this question the other day when I overheard part of a conversation between two young men. The one said that he thought older people were a burden. The other one replied by saying that even though he respected elderly people they get in the way sometimes.
The Real Crisis in Mental Health Today Introduction How concerned should we be about reports that mental illness has become an epidemic striking one out of every four people in the world today?
According to the source of these alarming reports—the psychiatric industry—mental illness threatens to engulf us all and can only be checked by immediate and massive increases in funding.
They warn of the disastrous effects of withheld appropriations. What the psychiatrists never warn of is that the very diagnostic system used to derive the alarming statistic—their own Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV DSM-IV and its equivalent, the mental disorders section of the International Classification of Diseases ICD —are under attack for their lack of scientific authority and veracity and their almost singular emphasis on psychotropic drug treatment.
The results of the widespread reliance by psychiatrists on the DSM, with its ever-expanding list of illnesses for each of which a psychiatric drug can be legally prescribed, include these staggering statistics: Twenty million schoolchildren worldwide have now been diagnosed with mental disorders and prescribed cocaine-like stimulants and powerful antidepressants as treatment.
Psychiatric drug use and abuse is surging worldwide: One in seven prescriptions in France includes a psychotropic drug and more than 50 percent of the unemployed—1.
Meanwhile, driven by DSM-derived mental illness statistics, the international mental health budget has skyrocketed in the last ten years. In spite of record spending, countries now face escalating levels of child abuse, suicide, drug abuse, violence and crime—very real problems for which the psychiatric industry can identify neither causes nor solutions.
It is safe to conclude, therefore, that a reduction in the funding of psychiatric programs will not cause a worsening of mental health. Less funding for harmful psychiatric practices will, in fact, improve the state of mental health.
The evidence presented herein has been drawn from physicians, attorneys, judges, psychiatrists, parents and others active in the mental health or related fields.
The consensus of these experts is that DSM-based, psychiatric initiatives such as the broadening of involuntary commitment laws and the expansion of so-called community mental health plans are detrimental to society in human and economic terms. The same applies to programs such as the screening for mental disorders of young children in schools.
The claim that only increased funding will cure the problems of psychiatry has lost its ring of truth. Fields of expertise that are built on scientific claims are routinely called upon to deliver empirical proof to support their theories.
When the Centers for Disease Control receives funds to combat a dangerous disease, the funding results in the discovery of a biological cause and development of a cure. Biological tests exist to determine the presence or absence of most bodily diseases.
While people can have serious mental difficulties, psychiatry has no objective, physical test to confirm the presence of any mental illness. Diagnosis is purely subjective.
The many critical challenges facing societies today reflect the vital need to strengthen individuals through workable, viable and humanitarian alternatives to harmful psychiatric options. We invite you to review for yourself the alternatives we have included.The Alps march across this image of Autumnal (early October) southern Europe.
On either side of and above the Alps are the countries of (from left to right) France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia, while below the Alps is Italy. Instrumentum Laboris - XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, The vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world, 23 June 1 • INTRODUCTION The Kalenjin live primarily in Kenya.
They are an ethnic grouping of eight culturally and linguistically related groups or "tribes": the Kipsigis, Nandi, Tugen, Keiyo, Marakwet, Pokot (sometimes called the Suk), Sabaot (who live in the Mount Elgon region, overlapping the Kenya/Uganda border), and the Terik.
Although the world's population is old now, the aging of the world's population will end soon. d. The share of the world's population that . Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products.
1. We, the synod fathers, gathered in synod around Pope Francis, wish to thank him for calling us to reflect with him, under his guidance, on the vocation and mission of the family today.

domain: psychology


Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn made the bizarre claim that President Joe Biden wanted to “shut down churches” as soon as Democrats passed their infrastructure bill.
The bill, one of two main pieces of legislation (the other being a $ 3.5 trillion spending plan) seen as key to codifying the Democrats’ economic and social policy agenda, has been the target numerous Republican attacks since the summer.
Blackburn made the claim during an appearance on Fox News, which you can watch below.
Blackburn’s claims raised the specter of socialism, a fear tactic favored by the far right:
“We know that the ‘Build Back Better’ agenda has become the Biden ‘Build Back Broke’ agenda and the American people have understood that what [Democrats] are trying to do is institutionalize socialism. “
“They are trying to take control of the country with one vote. They want the government to control your children. They want to check your bank account for every transaction over $ 600.”
“Whatever you do on Venmo or PayPal, they want a part of that transaction. They want government control over health care.”
“They want to demoralize the military, shut down churches, destroy your faith in the American system, and then here they are going to come up with a socialist program to run your life, from cradle to grave, from day to darkness.”
Where to start?
There is no evidence that Democrats want to, as Blackburn puts it, “institutionalize socialism,” “control” anyone’s children, or “demoralize” the military.
Blackburn’s claim that Democrats are overriding Americans’ financial privacy is also misleading, as it originated in a widely shared September 10 article on the far-right Conspiracy Theory website. InfoWars.
The title of the article reads: “Biden’s Treasury Department Says IRS Will Monitor Transactions for ALL US Accounts Over $ 600,” but this claim is not correct.
In May, the Treasury Department presented a revenue proposal to introduce more comprehensive financial reporting in an attempt to “improve tax compliance.”
The proposal is just that: a proposal.
If passed, banks would not provide access to individual transactions, but only to annual cash flow information for an account, and only if those accounts have a value of at least $ 600, or the total is of at least $ 600 per year.
Blackburn’s claim that churches would be closed as soon as the bill is approved appears to have materialized out of nowhere.
In fact, where the infrastructure bill mentions churches, it is rather positive.
The bill would provide $ 50 million in grants to nonprofits, including religious congregations, so they can upgrade their buildings with new energy efficient heating and cooling systems.
Blackburn’s remarks have been widely criticized for their absurdity.
The future of the infrastructure bill continues to look difficult. However, Democrats aim to pass it (and their spending plan) by the end of October, when major transportation funding programs expire.
The two plans would be the biggest expansion of the social safety net in decades and allow the country, perhaps the most important, to accelerate its climate policy amid warnings from scientists that Earth has passed tipping points due to the impacts of anthropogenic climate change.
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Welcome to your dream home! This custom-built one-story gem boasts 4 spacious bedrooms, 2 luxurious bathrooms, and a generous 1901 sqft of comfortable living space. As you step inside, you'll immediately notice the beautiful LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) flooring that spans throughout the living areas, dining room, kitchen, and hallways. It not only adds a touch of modern elegance but is also easy to maintain, making it perfect for busy families. Each of the 4 bedrooms is adorned with wall-to-wall carpeting, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere for relaxation and rest. You'll find tranquility and comfort in every corner. The heart of this home is the inviting living room, flooded with natural sunlight streaming through large windows. It's the perfect place to gather with family and friends or simply bask in the warmth of the sun. The kitchen is a chef's dream, featuring stainless steel appliances that combine style and functionality. The stunning granite countertops not only provide ample workspace but also add a touch of sophistication to the space. Both bathrooms are designed with your comfort in mind, featuring quartz countertops and a walk-in tile shower in the master bathroom. Step outside to the covered patio, where you can enjoy the outdoors year-round. With a gas stub hook-up, it's ideal for grilling and entertaining, making it an extension of your living space. Don't miss the opportunity to make it yours and enjoy the ultimate in modern living. Welcome home!
Listing courtesy of Christianson Realty Group.

domain: design


Alex Maier was in a slump.
He’d grown a few inches since the previous season. His body was changing. After a decorated sophomore season at Lewisville Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas, he regressed in his junior year.
Dave Smith, OSU’s track and field coach, had been recruiting Maier for some time. He noticed the struggles. Amid the frustrations, Smith sat Maier down and looked him in the eyes.
“Your talent doesn’t go away,” Smith said. “I know it is there and you’ll run well again someday. We might have to do things differently but we’ll get you back there.”
The reaffirmation relaxed Maier. He eased up and went on to finish a two-time state champion and three-time high school All-American. Smith’s pitch also brought Maier to OSU, where he has become a national contender in the 5k and 10k races.
Maier focuses on the 5k during the indoor portion of the spring season, where he set a school record in the event this past weekend with a time of 13:25.79. The Cowboys will compete in the Big 12 Championships next weekend in Ames, Iowa, ahead of the national championship the weekend after.
“I feel like coming into it, I knew I was fitter than I’ve ever been before, but I think in some ways I’ve exceeded kind of what I thought I could do,” Maier said. “So, it has just been really exciting.”
Maier said he hopes to achieve All-American honors in indoors this season and reach the same status in the 10k event during the outdoor portion of the season when is starts in a month.
His personal record in the 10k is roughly 29 minutes, a number he said he hopes to shave down to around 27 this outdoor season.
He emphasized training to help improve his times. Maier isn’t invested in diet plans, he likes to eat what he wants, when he wants, but said most of the calories get burned off in running. His main focus has been base-building, which improves on aerobics, durability and stamina.
He has also increased his volume of running, clocking in 120 miles a week.
“That can vary, like in this past week in Seattle, I did the 5k and the mile, so I decreased my mileage for that week,” Maier said. “But usually in peak training it is between 110-120 for me.”
The heavy workload results in Maier tearing up his shoes quickly. He uses two pairs of running shoes, a pair of Nike Pegasus and Nike Odyssey, which get destroyed within a month of him using them. In a normal year, he could run through more than a dozen pairs of training shoes.
“His attitude, his work ethic, he is running 120 miles a week, he is doing all the little things right. He is just determined to be a great athlete,” Smith said.


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NOW OPEN @ 6th of October
Copenhagen the city is well known to be one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the world. The bicycle represents the freshness of the early mornings as we bake a wide variety made fresh in our ovens every day; beautiful to smell and even better to eat.
Address: Soaad Kafafi St. Palm Strip Mall, 6th of October city
Tel: 02 3824 7074

domain: geography


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Last week, Deal publicly vocalized his appreciation for the silence of school superintendents that disagree with him about Opportunity School District. He stood in front of a group of district leaders and expressed his gratitude that they haven’t spoke up about his attempt to take over failing schools.
“They’ve all been pretty good,” he said. “They’ve kept their mouths shut even though they may not agree with it.”
If there was still any question that state takeover of failing schools was a bad idea, Deal’s Orwellian expression of gratitude should reveal this attempt as the silencing, regressive idea that it is.
One of the largest things parents, teachers and communities would learn if the state took over a school is openness. Ann Zaniewski, a Detroit Free Press reporter, noticed that since Michigan took over Detroit’s failing schools, “There may be meetings, but a lot of decisions get made behind closed doors.”
Gov. Nathan Deal’s deception and education failures since taking office confirm that Georgia’s education policy can’t afford to become less transparent. What’s also concerning is the fact that Deal is in many ways surrounded by people who are willing to, in his words, “keep their mouths shut.” And when they don’t, he is ready to accuse and attack school board members who speak out against his takeover scheme.
However, as Deal continues to harass school board members, a dozen (and counting) schools boards around Georgia have come out in public opposition to his OSD plan. They know his plan would silence parents and gut local control. Although not all of the school districts that oppose Deal have schools on Deal’s so-called “failing” list currently, some opposing districts fear that their schools might show up on the failing list out of retaliation if the change is approved.
Any action that encourages silencing parents and educators and takes public education decisions away from the community it serves should be vehemently opposed — and Georgians from around the state are doing just that.


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Risk management is important in ensuring the success and safety of clinical trials. Identifying key risk indicators becomes imperative for effective risk mitigation strategies involving numerous variables and uncertainties.
Key risk indicators refer to specific metrics or parameters that can indicate potential risks or deviations from expected outcomes in clinical trials. By monitoring these indicators, researchers and stakeholders can proactively identify areas of concern and take appropriate measures to mitigate risks.
This article explores the importance of key risk indicators in clinical trials and their role in ensuring the success of such endeavors. It will delve into identifying relevant indicators, discussing proactive measures that can be implemented to mitigate risks, and techniques for monitoring and reporting these indicators throughout the trial’s duration.
Through a comprehensive understanding and implementation of key risk indicators, researchers can enhance participant safety, improve data quality, and ultimately contribute to advancing medical knowledge through the successful completion of clinical trials.
Understanding the Importance of Risk Management in Clinical Trials
The significance of risk management in clinical trials lies in its ability to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks that may arise during the trial, ensuring participants’ safety and the data’s integrity.
The role of stakeholders in risk management cannot be overstated. Stakeholders, including researchers, sponsors, regulatory authorities, and ethics committees, are crucial in identifying and managing risks throughout a clinical trial.
Actively engaging stakeholders in risk management activities, there is increased accountability and collaboration among all involved parties. This collaborative approach enables a comprehensive understanding of potential risks and allows timely interventions to minimize their impact on trial outcomes.
Effective risk management has significant implications for trial outcomes. By proactively addressing potential risks, it is possible to reduce adverse events and ensure participant safety. Additionally, robust risk management strategies contribute to maintaining the integrity of data collected during the trial by minimizing bias or other factors that could compromise data quality.
Risk management is vital in clinical trials by involving stakeholders throughout the process. This collaborative approach ensures participant safety while also safeguarding data integrity. Implementing effective risk management strategies is essential for successful trial outcomes.
Identifying Key Risk Indicators in Clinical Trials
One important aspect to consider when evaluating the success and safety of medical research studies is the identification of specific metrics that can help assess potential hazards and red flags throughout the trial process. This is where key risk indicators (KRIs) come into play. KRIs are essential tools in risk assessment as they provide a quantitative measurement of potential risks associated with clinical trials.
In identifying KRIs, data analysis plays a crucial role. By analyzing data collected during the trial, researchers can pinpoint patterns or trends indicating an increased likelihood of adverse events or other risks. For example, by examining patient demographics, such as age or pre-existing health conditions, researchers can assess if certain subgroups are more susceptible to experiencing complications during the trial.
Additionally, analyzing adverse events reported throughout the trial can help identify emerging patterns or unexpected side effects.
Systematically monitoring these key risk indicators through robust data analysis techniques, researchers and sponsors can proactively manage and mitigate potential risks in clinical trials. This ensures participant safety and increases the chances of successful completion and regulatory approval for new medical interventions.
Identifying key risk indicators through rigorous data analysis promotes improved decision-making and risk management throughout the clinical trial process.
Proactive Measures to Mitigate Risks in Clinical Trials
Proactive measures can be implemented to mitigate potential hazards and enhance risk management throughout the trial process to ensure the safety and success of medical research studies. Proactive risk mitigation is crucial in clinical trials as it allows researchers to identify and address potential risks before they escalate into serious issues.
One key aspect of proactive risk management is the implementation of effective risk assessment strategies. Risk assessment involves identifying, analyzing, and evaluating potential risks that may arise during a clinical trial. This process enables researchers to understand the likelihood and impact of each identified risk, allowing them to prioritize their efforts towards mitigating those with higher severity levels.
Various strategies can be employed for risk assessment, such as conducting thorough protocol reviews, consulting with experts in relevant fields, and utilizing historical data from similar studies. Once risks are identified through a robust risk assessment process, proactive measures can be taken to minimize their occurrence or impact.
These measures may include developing contingency plans for potential adverse events, implementing enhanced monitoring procedures, ensuring adequate training for study personnel on safety protocols, and establishing clear communication channels between all stakeholders involved in the trial.
Adopting these proactive measures and employing effective risk assessment strategies, clinical trials can significantly reduce the likelihood of unexpected events or adverse outcomes. Ultimately, this approach enhances patient safety and contributes to the overall success of medical research studies.
Monitoring and Reporting Key Risk Indicators
Monitoring and reporting the relevant metrics and measurements that indicate potential hazards and factors contributing to them can provide valuable insights for assessing the ongoing risks in medical research studies. Risk assessment strategies are crucial in identifying, evaluating, and mitigating risks associated with clinical trials.
Using proactive measures, such as real-time risk monitoring, researchers can effectively track key risk indicators (KRIs) throughout the trial process.
Real-time risk monitoring involves continuous data collection and analysis to identify emerging risks or trends that may impact the study’s outcome. This approach allows researchers to respond to potential issues promptly, make necessary adjustments to the study protocol, and ensure participant safety.
Closely monitoring KRIs, such as adverse event rates, participant compliance levels, data quality indicators, and protocol deviations, researchers can gain a comprehensive understanding of any potential risks that could compromise the integrity of the trial.
Moreover, reporting these KRIs provides stakeholders with critical information needed for decision-making. Regular updates on risk assessment findings allow sponsors, ethics committees, regulatory authorities, and other involved parties to assess trial progress effectively. This transparency fosters effective communication among all stakeholders involved in clinical trials.
Monitoring and reporting key risk indicators are essential to proactive risk management in clinical trials. Real-time risk monitoring enables the timely identification of potential hazards while providing valuable insights for minimizing risks throughout the trial.
Ensuring Safety and Success in Clinical Trials through Key Risk Indicators
Ensuring the safety and success of medical research studies relies on effectively utilising metrics and measurements that provide valuable insights into potential hazards and contributing factors. Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) play a crucial role in this process by enabling researchers to assess risks, identify trends, and take necessary actions to mitigate potential issues.
Conducting thorough risk assessments and utilizing data analysis techniques, researchers can identify key areas that require attention and implement strategies to ensure the safety of participants and the success of clinical trials.
One approach to monitoring risks is using KRIs, predefined values or metrics used to indicate potential problems. These indicators can be monitored throughout the study to detect deviations from expected values or trends that may indicate risk.
Researchers can proactively identify potential risks by incorporating KRIs into clinical trial management systems before they escalate into significant issues.
To illustrate the importance of KRIs in clinical trials, we present a table below that outlines three common risk areas along with corresponding key risk indicators:
|Key Risk Indicator
|Number of adverse events reported during the study
|Number of discrepancies identified during data cleaning
|Number of protocol deviations observed
Researchers can promptly address emerging risks and implement corrective measures by systematically monitoring these indicators.
This proactive approach ensures participant safety and enhances the quality and reliability of clinical trial outcomes. Through diligent risk assessment and data analysis, medical research studies can navigate potential challenges more effectively while maximizing their chances for success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the common challenges in implementing risk management strategies in clinical trials?
Common challenges in implementing risk management strategies in clinical trials include a lack of standardized approaches, limited resources and expertise, complex regulatory requirements, ethical considerations, and difficulties in identifying and assessing risks effectively.
How do key risk indicators help in identifying potential risks in clinical trials?
Identifying risks and evaluating them are crucial steps in clinical trials. Key risk indicators play a significant role in this process by providing objective measures and data that help identify potential risks and assess their impact on the trial’s success.
What examples of proactive measures can be taken to mitigate risks in clinical trials?
Risk mitigation strategies in clinical trials involve proactive measures to minimize potential risks. Examples include rigorous participant screening, close monitoring of adverse events, regular data analysis, and effective communication among stakeholders to address emerging issues promptly.
How frequently should key risk indicators be monitored and reported in clinical trials?
The frequency of monitoring and reporting intervals in clinical trials depends on several factors, including the complexity and duration of the trial. Establishing a well-defined schedule for assessing and reporting key risk indicators is essential to ensure the timely identification and mitigation of risks.
Apart from risk management, what other factors contribute to clinical trials’ overall safety and success?
Patient recruitment and management of adverse events are critical factors that contribute to clinical trials’ overall safety and success. These aspects ensure a diverse participant pool and effective monitoring of potential harm or side effects during the trial process.
Risk management in clinical trials is crucial for ensuring safety and success.
By identifying key risk indicators, proactive measures can be taken to mitigate risks and enhance the overall trial process.
Monitoring and reporting these indicators allow for timely intervention and corrective actions.
This systematic approach contributes to the advancement of medical research and the development of safe and effective treatments.
Chris Ekai is a Risk Management expert with over 10 years of experience in the field. He has a Master’s(MSc) degree in Risk Management from University of Portsmouth and is a CPA and Finance professional. He currently works as a Content Manager at Risk Publishing, writing about Enterprise Risk Management, Business Continuity Management and Project Management.

domain: medical


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'Such a raw, honest and important book' Giovanna Fletcher
Like any new mum, Laura Dockrill felt rather overwhelmed after the birth of her son. But a slow recovery, sleep deprivation and anxiety quickly escalated into postpartum psychosis, and she had to spend a fortnight in a psych ward, separated from her family. It was only when Laura began to put her ordeal into words that she began to find herself again, and recovery seemed within reach.
This is Laura's raw, honest and life-affirming story of how she made it through one of the most frightening experiences a mother can face. Now, she wants to break down the silence around postnatal mental health, shatter the idealised expectations of perfect motherhood, and show all new struggling parents that they are not alone.
'A book to save a whole generation of women' Adele
A pleasure to read...I didn't want to put it down. If anyone is going through a similar experience it will make them feel less alone' Philippa Perry
'A humbingly honest and human war report from the front lines of mothering psychosis and recovery; there is no other book like it' Caitlin Moran
'An incredibly powerful book' Jessie Ware
'This book will give women and their families confidence that the brain and body will heal' Dr Jessica Heron, CEO of Action on Postpartum Psychosis
'An amazing read' Fiona Telford, postpartum psychosis survivor
Thank you for this book, for shining a light on the darkness of psychosis, an illness that absolutely does happen to people like us. I found this book a balm for my soul, and am grateful to Laura for bravely penning such a beautiful account of an illness that is rarely talked about
A book for those of us who didn’t have the fairytale. It’s important to know that even though things don’t always go to plan it doesn’t mean you aren’t a superhero or a power mum in your own right. Thank you Laura for making us all feel worthy. A must-read for all of those muddling through.
I saw the end of the world in her eyes. I knew she was in there somewhere but she was being held prisoner by her mind and we were all helpless to it. Sometimes things happen to us which means we can save other people, my own experience with mental health helped save her and now here she is about to save a whole generation of women!
A humblingly honest and human war-report from the front lines of mothering, psychosis and recovery: there is no other book like it, and it is so desperately needed.

domain: library


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We LOVE Chili in our house!! I’ve made it with both name brands and store brands and it tastes pretty much the same. I have a few different ways I make chili (different ingredients) but this time I used:
3-5 lbs ground chuck, depends on if you like lots of meat or not…we do
(forgot to add it for the picture)
2 Seasoned Tomato Sauce For Chili
2 dark red kidney beans
2 light red kidney beans
2 chili beans
2 tomato paste
2 chopped chilies
1 mushroom pieces and stems
3 stewed tomatoes
3 envelopes chili seasoning
Brown ground chuck in large pot . Drain.
Add back into the pot
Add remaining ingredients except cheese and stir
Simmer for 60 min. or until ready to eat.
(I also make this in the crock pot on low for 6-8 hours)
When it’s almost time to eat, add pieces of cheese, stir until melted
(forgot to take a photo)
We add more cheese to our bowls too, but of course I forgot to take a photo.
FYI: Since I was a kid, I’ve always eaten a peanut butter sandwich with my chili.


On DrinksReform, we have talked about how companies are innovating to change the drinks industry. The wine industry is going to be a part of this change, Leslie Gevirts of Wine Mag explains:
“Changes in technology, business models and market structure are disrupting the global wine market and creating new sets of winners and losers among wholesalers, retailers and suppliers,” said Stephen Rannekleiv, global beverage strategist for the Netherlands bank.
Rabobank made note not just of direct-to consumer (DtC) wineries reaching out to customers, but also of Liberation Distribution or LibDib. The company is a three-tier online licensed distributor that connects wineries or importers with retailers and on-premise accounts. Right now, it’s only available in California and New York, but LibDib founder and CEO, Cheryl Durzy, said she has applications pending in several states in the West and the Midwest...
Read details about the changing industry here.


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Open-File Report 2008–1012
This Open-File Report consists of a presentation given in Crested Butte, Colorado on December 13, 2007 to the Standard Mine Advisory Group. The presentation was paired with another presentation given by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety on the physical features and geology of the Standard Mine. The presentation in this Open-File Report summarizes the results and conclusions of a hydrogeochemical investigation of the Standard Mine performed by the U.S. Geological Survey (Manning and others, in press). The purpose of the investigation was to aid the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in evaluating remediation options for the Standard Mine site. Additional details and supporting data related to the information in this presentation can be found in Manning and others (in press).
Posted January 2008
Manning, A.H., Verplanck, P.L., Mast, M.A., and Wanty, R.B., 2008, Presentation showing results of a hydrogeochemical investigation of the Standard Mine vicinity, Upper Elk Creek Basin, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008–1012, 19 p.


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Pikes plan return to form
The Pikes crumbled to a 4-1 defeat at Albion Sports in the NCEL Premier division.
Hackworth’s tenure had started with two powerful wins and a penalty shoot-out defeat against Scarborough Athletic in North Riding FA Senior Cup.
The Pikes started superbly with Billy Logan opening the scoring after just five minutes.
Albion eventually ran out winners though, much to the frustration of the new boss.
He said: “We started well and we could have scored a second, if that goes in then it is a different game.
“You can see why Albion do well, they are a big, physical side who get in your face.
“We conceded a sloppy second and then they went on to score four, which flattered them somewhat.
“In the end we ran out of steam a little, but that was always going to happen because we have been playing back-toback games over the past week or so.”
Hackworth now has a few days to prepare his side for a home game against Cleethorpes on Saturday after Tuesday’s fixture at Nostell was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
He added: “The fact that the Nostell game has been called off is something of a blessing for us because it will give us an extra few days.
“Cleethorpes will be another good test for us, but we picked up a good 4-2 victory at their place earlier this season so we will be looking to do exactly the same this time.
“We need to keep going now, it is vital that we get back on track with a win.”

domain: sports


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Travis Scott has released the official music video for “Stop Trying To Be God.”
The single featured on his new release, ASTROWORLD, features Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind, & Fire), James Blake, Kid Cudi and Stevie Wonder on the harmonica.
I have lots of questions about the Dave Meyers-directed visual that uniquely creative, but also feels blasphemous at the same time.
Oh, Kylie Jenner also has a couple of cameos.
Watch below and let me know what you think.

domain: celebrity


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|A Stunning Little Book|
|Sunday, 07 November 2010 17:00|
By Carol Lombardi
I followed my routine with a new book - I opened it to a random page and read a few paragraphs, then to another random page, etc. Then I carried it around and kept it next to me wherever I sat like a little bible or remembrance of something. After a couple of days, I started at the beginning and read it. I was stunned. It only covered your early childhood, not what I expected. And it was so complete and contained within that span. It was wonderful, and almost sad, and almost scary, but your little girl kept it from falling off the cliff. I was stunned because it was a stunning little book.
Besides being a remarkable account, so evocative of a child's perception of her world, it just touched me over and over with slices of life that belonged to me too, as a young girl in northern Los Angeles. I caught pollywogs in the Arroyo Seco, I was so taken up with the Yang Na indian displays at the Southwest Museum, that my brother and I built a wickiup behind our house. And while I have no relatives of any great violinist, I did see Nathan Milstein at the L.A. Philharmonic Auditorium.
Well, I'll be back to your book again, as the third part of my book reading routine is to read it again, slowly, noticing each word, and gaining a fuller understanding of the experience the story presents.

domain: literature


According to the Best Cities for Remote Workers 2021 survey, Provo is the number one city for remote workers. The infrastructure, amenities, and affordability make Provo a destination worth looking at. And as more companies offer full-time remote work, people are going to be looking for cities that are cheaper while providing the amenities they need to make their lives comfortable.
Best Cities for Remote Workers in 2021
The data for this index comes from a survey of 5,000 employed adults across the U.S. by apartmentlist.com from April 9-10, 2021. Overall, the survey has 230 cities on its list. The top cities scored high on satisfaction and prevalence of remote-friendly jobs, house affordability, and access to urban and natural amenities.
image: apartmentlistHere are the top 10 cities for remote workers.
- Provo, UT
- Fort Collins, CO
- Boise, ID
- Raleigh, NC
- Tempe, AZ
- Austin, TX
- Beaverton, OR
- Denver, CO
- Asheville, NC
- Ann Arbor, MI
The top city, Provo, ranked number one, however, it came in at number 9 on remote friendliness, 54 on affordability, 3rd on natural amenities, and 110 on urban amenities with an overall score of 0.603. Fort Collins is next with a score of 0.599 and Boise is third with 0.595.
College towns make up the top two locations in the list and four in the top ten. And the study attributes this to the rich urban amenities, nightlife, entertainment, and quality food scene. And these amenities also attract tech companies that create hubs.
Although the tech hubs offer many opportunities, they eventually become less affordable as more people move in. This includes the rise in rent and property prices. While early movers might have capitalized on the low price, that will no longer be the case if the location becomes popular. The study points out 7 of the top 10 cities on its list all currently have Year on Year (YoY) rent growth that exceeds the national average.
Remote Workers and Mobility
According to this survey, one in four Americans are expecting partial or complete remote work after the pandemic. And for those who have complete remote work options, moving to a new city or even country is a viable alternative. Working remotely full-time makes this workforce more mobile.
The survey says remote workers are more likely to be planning a move over the next several years. As to the factors influencing their potential move, affordable housing and homeownership lead the way for the respondents. Other factors include moving closer to family members and affordable urban locations.Image: Depositphotos
This article, “These are the Best Cities for Remote Workers in 2021” was first published on Small Business Trends
Source: Small Business Trends


Critically evaluate the current political and technological drivers associated with mitigating CO2 emissions in the UK. The essay is to be 12 pages with three to five sources, with in-text citations and a reference page.78).
The carbon dioxide emissions in UK take various forms. These include emissions relating to the production of goods and services produced by the various businesses, emissions from household generation through private motoring and heating, and the emission related to imported goods and services. The carbon dioxide emission reached the peak in 2004, after which it has fallen considerably. Emissions from agriculture and food services have decreased.
Some key products groups that have shown an increase in carbon dioxide emissions include the warehousing and imputed rent services, fabricated metal products and the publishing services. The increased emissions from goods and services is related to the increased rate of spending offset by carbon efficiency during production and the shift to low carbon intensive products (Dixon & Bahleda 2008, p. 56).
Over the period, the household emissions associated with imports, either for individual consumptions or businesses contribute considerably to the increased carbon dioxide emission in UK. However, the direct absolute emission from the household consumption is relatively constant, with emissions from heating fluctuating depending on the severity of winter. The private motoring increases the level of carbon dioxide emissions due to increased travel by motor cars, which has been offset by the introduction of highly fuel efficient vehicles (Edmunds & Wise 2011, p.90).
The emission of carbon dioxide in UK has shown tremendous decrease due to the displacement of coal, which is the main source of carbon emission, with other fuels like electricity and nuclear power. However, there has been annual variation in the level of carbon dioxide emission since 1990s, with no defined upward or downward trend. In 2006, the emission from energy supply was the highest followed by emissions from road transport. Emission from business and household emissions formed the lowest percentage.
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TOKYO, May 25, 2019 – MGI, a subsidiary of global genomics leader BGI Group, attended the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Workshop on Single Cell Biology in Tokyo, and hosted a luncheon session on May 21st, 2019. Dr. Sarah Teichmann from the Wellcome Sanger Institute presented her work on single cell sequencing, and Dr. Kedar Natarajan shared his experience on MGI sequencing platforms.
Dr. Teichmann shared her systematic evaluation workflow for different protocols, platforms and technologies for single-cell RNA sequencing. She emphasized the importance of coverage, sensitivity and specificity. She also introduced the Human Cell Atlas (HCA) project and encouraged many kinds of related collaborations. Her postdoc, Dr. Kedar Natarajan, now working as an assistant professor in University of Southern Denmark, showed comparative analyses of SMART-Seq, STRT-Seq, and MARS-Seq data sequenced on Illumina and MGI sequencing platforms. He showed that data generated from BGISEQ-500 are highly consistent with that from Hiseq2500 and HiSeq4000, which means both platforms could be confidently used in HCA projects for all researchers. Considering the comparable performance but the lower cost, MGI platforms would greatly facilitate HCA projects, helping the world-leading collaborative community to create a comprehensive reference map of all human cells.
In the session on computational biology during this workshop, Dr. Longqi Liu, the executive director of the Institute of Supercells in BGI-Research, systematically introduced the applications of the MGISEQ platform in single cell researches, including studies on tumor and developmental biology. He pointed out that the MGISEQ utilizes the rolling circle amplification (RCA) -based DNA nanoball approach, which can greatly improve the mapping rate, leading to a higher SNP calling accuracy from single-cell RNA-seq data compared to other sequencing platforms. In addition, DNA RCA technology also avoids the problem of index switching, which is currently inevitable on other sequencing platforms. This feature has great advantages in the single-cell sequencing because the index or barcode is used to distinguish different single cells, and MGISEQ can significantly improve the accuracy of single-cell data. Moreover, Dr. Liu also showed that the combination of DNA nanoball and long fragment read (LFR) technologies can achieve high-throughput full-length transcriptome, which has never been achieved on other NGS platforms.
Alongside the technology development of single cell biology, such as library preparation, barcoding strategy, algorithms and database, MGI will continue to drive innovations to provide packages with higher accuracy and sensitivity, and lower cost, and to embrace collaboration with more HCA partners.
MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (MGI), a subsidiary of BGI Group, is committed to enabling effective and affordable healthcare packages for all. Based on its proprietary technology, MGI produces sequencing devices, equipment, consumables and reagents to support life science research, medicine and healthcare. MGI’s multi-omics platforms include genetic sequencing, mass spectrometry and medical imaging. Providing real-time, comprehensive, life-long packages, its mission is to develop and promote advanced life science tools for future healthcare.
About HUMAN CELL ATLAS
The Human Cell Atlas Project brings together an international community of biologists, clinicians, technologists, physicists, computational scientists, software engineers, and mathematicians. This community of scientists with diverse expertise share the common goal of creating a comprehensive reference map of all human cells —the fundamental units of life—as a basis for understanding human health and diagnosing, monitoring, and treating disease. Learn more at https://www.humancellatlas.org

domain: biology


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Believe in Blue shortlisted for the CIPR PRide Awards!
Today we’re sending our biggest congratulations to Police Federation after they’ve been shortlisted in the Not-for-Profit Campaign category for this year’s Charted Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide Awards!
The ‘Believe in Blue’ campaign saw us working together with Police Federation to highlight the reality of everyday police work and share positive stories helping to reinvigorate public support for police officers through its online community. We are proud to have worked on the development of the ‘Believe in Blue’ brand and launch campaign across cinema, social media, website and print.
Police Federation’s POLICE Magazine, Police Bravery Awards and Protect the Protectors campaign have all also been nominated in other categories at the awards, making for an exciting and successful year for the team.
As well as working on the ‘Believe in Blue’ campaign, we also designed the logo for the Police Bravery Awards, combining the eight points from the iconic police badge with basic symbols from police heraldry – representing bravery, protection and honor.
Steve White, Police Federation Chair, said: “This is fantastic recognition of the hard work that goes into these areas of work by the Communications team as well as other members of staff and board members at headquarters. We exist to inform and support members as well as influence stakeholders and these four nominations go some way to show our successes in doing so.”
Best of luck all! We’re sure it will be a great evening.


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Starbucks Halloween 2020 Collection
Recently, Starbucks Taiwan unveiled its Halloween 2020 collection, which is filled with adorable black cat motifs. You don’t have to feel envious anymore because Starbucks Singapore just released its own Halloween 2020 Collection. It features cats and ghosts in the form of mugs, tumblers, water bottles and a canister to get you in the Halloween spirit.
First up, a black cat water bottle. The fuzzy black cat in the front perfectly blends into the background, save for its bright yellow irises, adding to the spooky vibe. All sorts of jack o’ lanterns lie across the ground, including one with a cat face and another with a shocked expression. The cat theme continues with the cap design, which resembles the pointed ears of the feline.
This 15oz black cat water bottle is retailing for $23.90.
These two white and black cat mugs have the word ‘partner’ printed on them, making it a perfect set for you and bae or your partner in crime.
Courtesy of a Zula reader
The white cat mug has a purple interior to match its purple iris. Its pointed black ears pop out from the top, while its paws are also in 3D for a twist on the standard mugs.
Black cats might be regarded as bad luck for some but this black cat mug is too cute to resist. Similar to the white cat mug, it has a green interior to match its green iris.
The 80z mugs are retailing for $21.90 each.
In addition to drinkware, the collection has a Bearista disguised as a black cat. Once Halloween is over, you can also choose to remove the outfit. The Starbucks Halloween Black Cat Barista is retailing for $34.90.
Aside from the lovable cats, the Starbucks Halloween 2020 collection has ghost-themed drinkware as well.
The all-white canister on the left has the Starbucks Siren logo printed on the bottom portion and a kawaii ghost in the shape of a fluffy cloud floating on the top. It also reminds us of whipped cream sitting atop a Frappuccino. Use it to store your accessories, trinkets and other random knick-knacks.
The water bottle on the right is literally the ghost emoji brought to life. The little ghost figures on the bottle replace the steam that emits from your morning cuppa to prep you for the upcoming spooky season. With a wry-faced ghost serving as the cap, this bottle will serve as a reminder to stay hydrated.
The 12oz canister and 17oz water bottle are retailing for $26.90 each.
If you can’t decide between the cat or ghost drinkware, get the best of both worlds with this tumbler. Spot the precious black cat with a Starbucks cup balancing on the top of its head, peeking at you from within a glitter globe on the bottom of the cup. Floating ghosts make up the rest of the cup design, with both wry and shocked expressions.
This 12oz black tumbler is priced at $29.90.
Spice Up Your Halloween With The Starbucks Halloween 2020 Collection
At this point, we’re not sure if Halloween is a spooky season or a kawaii season. But it is pretty evident that Starbucks is slaying with its Halloween 2020 collection.
The collection is now available in Starbucks stores and on the Starbucks Flagship Store in LazMall. Purchases are limited to 4 pieces per item per customer, so head down to your nearest Starbucks store now. But before you do, visit the Starbucks website to make sure the store you’re visiting has the particular items you’re after.
Cover: Source, courtesy of a Zula reader


FSA annual report01 Jul 2004
FSA to cut fees after Â£12m peak in fines
The Financial Services Authority levied a record Â£12.4m (â‚¬18.5m) in fines during the year ending March 31, an increase of more than a third.
The FSA said the fines, which included a Â£2m penalty on Lloyd's TSB for mis-selling stock market-linked precipice bonds, would go to reducing next year's fees charged to regulated firms.
The annual report also showed that it spent Â£4m on external advisers such as lawyers and accountants to help it with enforcement actions. That included Â£2.4m on the split capital investment trust inquiry.
John Tiner, chief executive of the FSA, was paid more than Â£470,000 last year, according to the FSA annual report.
Tiner was paid a base salary of Â£310,971 plus a performance-related bonus of Â£52,000. Other emoluments and benefits totalling Â£108,685 took his overall remuneration to Â£471,656. That includes a supplement of Â£47,741 paid towards his personal pension.
The second highest earner at the FSA was Michael Foot, adviser to the chairman and chief executive. He received Â£346,175 last year, including a Â£39,000 bonus.


Even if one wants to ignore, for any reason, the recommendations of the United States House of Representatives Committee investigating the events of January 6th, one cannot.
And the reason is that these are historic decisions. For the first time in the history of the U.S., the House refers a former president to the Department of Justice recommending that he be tried for four serious offenses that he committed, on the level of a crime, against the United States of America, with the aim of overturning the election result in 2020.
The smooth transition of parties in power is a basic condition for the functioning of a Democracy. A practice that was done almost without a thought until now in America, but was almost stopped by President Trump.
It is important to emphasize that the Committee conducted one of the most thorough investigations in the history of the country.
It examined over 1000 witnesses, including almost all of the former president’s top advisers. It viewed over a million documents, emails, etc. and video. The summary alone reaches 150 pages.
It is also important to emphasize that the Committee does not have the power to prosecute the former president. Only the Department of Justice can do that. So the pressure on them is now enormous.
Indicative of the seriousness of the allegations is that the Republican Party, which in previous cases hastened to open an umbrella of protection for Trump, this time – at least so far- did not do so.
One possible reason might be that Trump is no longer… Trump. He no longer has a stranglehold on his party to the extent that if he supported a candidate that candidate’s victory was assured and vice versa.
As the November 8 elections showed, his political power has weakened.
And, moreover, the Committee’s new charges against him will further weaken him.
Undoubtedly, the Department of Justice is facing a very difficult decision with national as well as political implications.
One can argue that “a president does not go to prison but to his home” and also that “the president is not above the law.”


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Chilean Air Force Maj. Javier Del Rio, listens during a Night Vison Goggle refresher class as part of an H-60 Subject Matter Exchange at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Aug. 7, 2019. During this SMEE, the Chilean Airman shared information with U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk pilots, maintenance and support technicians on a variety of subjects to include: Night Vison Goggles, training, air-to-air refueling and safety standards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
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If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit.
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trademark, including the use of official emblems, insignia, names and slogans), warnings
regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters.


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