Remedy for medical photonics innovation
For anyone working in the medical technology space, bringing your revolutionary device from concept to market is an arduous process. Typically, a new product takes an average of three to seven years, which is not bad compared with the average 12 years for drugs, but woefully pedestrian when consumer products can appear on shelves in less than a year.
But the wait can be worth it. Photonics components are seen as key enablers of both current and next-generation medical devices, well-suited to non-invasive diagnosis, therapy and treatment, and solving a host of healthcare challenges society faces today. This is reflected in market statistics. According to Allied Market Research, the global biophotonics industry generated $52.17 billion in 2020, and is expected to balloon to $133.9 billion by 2030.
The EU is a leader in the global photonics market, second only to China, and regarded as a hub for innovation in medical photonics technologies. For instance, at the onset of the pandemic, European researchers in the CoNVat project rapidly developed an ultrasensitive photonic sensor to detect coronavirus and future pandemic viruses from a nasal swab or saliva. The sensor gave a reading in less than 15 minutes.
Sectioning of tissue samples from patients with head and neck cancer for validation of coherent Raman scattering microscopy at Jena University Hospital. Part of the Crimson project. Credit: Jena University Hospital
However, even in Europe, when a concept incorporates multiple high-precision complex photonics elements, patience is the watchword when it comes to bringing it to market. An example of this is the White Dwarf, a compact laser system for three-photon microscopy designed by Class 5 Photonics in Hamburg, Germany, and runner-up in this year’s Laser World of Photonics biophotonics and medical engineering Innovation Award. The device provides the highest peak power available for three-photon microscopy on the market, allowing neuroscientists to image deeper, faster and at better resolution.
From the first demonstration of the company’s optical parametric chirped pulse amplification technology in 2010 to the launch of the first White Dwarf system, it took six years. During a webcast subsequent to the awards ceremony, sales engineer Kolja Kolata explained the main challenges to bringing a product to market that meets industry expectations.
‘We are laser enthusiasts, all with a background in fundamental sciences, and we are driven by the clear vision to pioneer technology and push boundaries. But, as a self-funded company, it's important for us to look for trending markets and scalable products,’ he explained. ‘Proof-of-concept in the lab is easy – making a product out of this is always the biggest hurdle.’
Kolata said that the key for Class 5 Photonics was finding the right partners who could tell them what neuroscientists really required. ‘To have the reliability, to be in specs, to have a really robust process and in the end the most stable system, this is basically what was needed to push the boundaries of deep neural brain imaging and make it accessible to a broad community.’
At an earlier stage of development is Crimson, an ongoing three-and-a-half-year EU Horizon 2020 project, the objective of which is to drive technology developed in a previous five-year project called Vibra towards the market. ‘The technology measures the vibrations of molecules to perform remote, non-destructive chemical analysis that identifies different molecules with ultra-short light pulses,’ explained project coordinator Dario Polli of the Politecnico di Milano in Italy. ‘The aim is to see if we can understand the origin of diseases starting from the cellular level.’
Two-photon image of a mouse brain slice with GFP labelled neurons. Captured by scientists at the research institute IF-CNRS as part of the Crimson project. Credit: IF-CNRS
To get there, the team will need to further develop new compact ultrafast lasers, label-free broadband coherent Raman scattering (CRS) detection schemes and advanced spectral analysis routines, and then bring them together into functional prototypes.
This work calls on the close collaboration of various different types of organisations dotted across Europe: ‘We have three universities who are really dealing with the core CRS technology itself, one company developing the laser specifically for this application, one company developing an innovative microscope, another company developing an endoscope, and a fourth company doing the data analysis,’ explained Polli. ‘And then we have three biomedical partners who will send us samples for testing the final prototype.’
By the end of the project in 2024, the technology should be capable of imaging samples ex vivo for mainstream biomedical research purposes. But the ultimate application is to probe inside the body, using an endoscope to touch and understand crucial properties of cells and tissues, including tumours, in near real-time. ‘You need to account for at least two and a half years more for a medical product,’ said Matteo Negro, CEO and CTO of project partner Cambridge Raman Imaging. ‘And that time frame is short because we have been investing in the medical design and development process from day one, ensuring it will be approved by the regulatory bodies and accepted by the clinical community – but it’s not a straightforward process.’
Wearable patch to monitor body signals, developed through the Medphab pilot line. Credit: Medphab and VTT
Jussi Hiltunen of the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland recognises that bringing together disparate, often cutting-edge technologies into new medical photonics devices takes time, planning and the involvement of end-users, and that regulatory approval and community acceptance are central roadblocks in any devices intended for clinical application. But he also sees another problem. ‘Photonics is a fairly fragmented field of technologies, so it's quite complicated to establish the right production chains to make a functional system.’
In his role as coordinator of the Medphab project, Hiltunen aims to address these pressing issues. Also funded by Horizon 2020, Medphab is Europe’s first pilot line for photonics-based medical devices. Consisting of a consortium of 18 partners – including household names such as VTT and Philips, as well as research institutes and companies that have experience in ISO 13485 standardised manufacturing or strong expertise in photonics – the idea of the pilot line is to accelerate the commercialisation of photonics-based medical devices and reduce R&D cost. Often, this provides any company that has a good idea with the means and connections to bridge the ‘valley of death’ to low-volume production, but Medphab can help companies at any stage of the product development process. Hiltunen said that, in optimal cases, Medphab can reduce development time by up to 50 per cent.
‘The principle is that Medphab is an open access pilot line providing services to companies across the whole world,’ said Hiltunen. ‘What is exclusive to companies from EU countries – and other countries eligible under the Horizon 2020 programme, like Switzerland and the UK – is our Open Call programme that lasts until the end of next year, where we can provide up to 75 per cent financial support.
Lightcore’s role in the Crimson project is to develop a portable scanning coherent Raman scattering endoscopic imaging probe. Credit: Lightcore
Though he cannot talk about any of the projects Medphab is working on with external companies, the pilot line has been used by a selection of consortium members from the very start, to test and refine the Medphab operations and service model, and to provide use cases.
One such use case is Radisens Diagnostics’ Gemini technology. Gemini is a point-of-care in vitro diagnostics platform to quantify ferritin levels as a screen for iron deficiency. Iron deficiency is prevalent in blood donors, expectant and new mothers, and in children, adolescents and athletes. Quantitative diagnosis at the point of care – a feat currently not possible – would allow immediate clinical intervention.
The technology consists of an optical-based reader which automatically tests a latex-enhanced homogeneous ferritin immuno-assay on a single-use microfluidic cartridge. Medphab has been involved in the development of both the reader unit and the disposable microfluidic part. Radisens now has medical compatible demonstrators, equivalent to technology readiness level (TRL) 7 – TRL9 is when a product is market-ready.
Medphab is just one of many photonics pilot lines helping companies develop medical and other devices in the EU and beyond. Medphab and Crimson are also examples of successful public–private partnerships (PPPs) under the auspices of Photonics21, a European technology platform consisting of 3,000 members that coordinates photonics research and innovation priorities and brings together the whole economic value chain throughout Europe.
The Photonics21 PPP format has been a boon to European medical photonics innovators, from nanophotonic-based handheld point-of-care analysis devices for early diagnosis of cancer to compact photoacoustic imaging systems for screening, diagnosis and monitoring of cardiovascular disease. Currently, Photonics21 has 17 PPPs on its roster developing photonics technologies for health applications. And this number can only rise – according to Photonics21, the photonics SME industry is committed to investing €100 billion in research and innovation in Europe between 2021 and 2027. During this time, the European Commission will invest at least €480 million as part of Horizon 2020’s successor, Horizon Europe. All of this investment in a healthy, well-organised photonics ecosystem means we can expect a lot more new and innovative medical photonics devices being wielded by researchers and clinicians soon.
Sponsored: Spectral technologies benefit medical device developers
As the world moves from standardised medicine to greater personalisation, and from outmoded methods for responding to public health crises to faster, more cohesive protocols, the need for non-invasive technologies to diagnose, monitor and treat medical conditions continues to grow. Spectral technologies are helping medical researchers and device developers to meet those demands with solutions that are simpler, smarter and more robust than ever.
When the miniaturisation of spectral technologies began in the late 1990s, those early instruments benefited from a perfect storm of technological circumstances: the development of imaging detectors for mass-volume markets, which lowered system costs and allowed designers to shrink the instrument footprint; and the evolution of personal computers, which enabled spectrometers to process high-speed spectral data and the growth of fibre optics, which made it easier to bring the spectrometer to the sample.
These developments have benefited scientific, research and industrial sectors and spurred additional advances in spectrometer development. Successive generations of miniature spectrometers have become faster, more accurate and more compatible with data transmission communication protocols, including ethernet and wi-fi. This has virtually eliminated performance trade-offs inherent to earlier miniature spectrometers and makes them more scalable for OEMs and other high-volume users.
In biomedical and life science applications, spectrometers are routinely integrated into other devices, combined with fibre optic components for use as subassemblies, or designed into fully realised instruments for applications ranging from biofluidics control to molecular diagnostics. Below are two more examples.
Quality control of catheters
A leading medical device manufacturer recently assessed the use of spectroscopy as part of its quality control for antimicrobial-impregnated catheters. To help prevent biofilm formation and subsequent infection, the company coats its implantable catheter tubes with a polymer solution containing a suspended antimicrobial agent. This coating is then cured.
To ensure that minimum antimicrobial concentrations are present and the coating is applied uniformly, a liquefied sample of the cured antimicrobial layer is sent to an outside lab for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) quantification. This process can be time-consuming, expensive and destructive to the product and does not guarantee a uniform layer. The manufacturer needed an on-site system that could measure the concentration and coating uniformity quickly, accurately and with no sample destruction.
To measure antimicrobial concentrations, a high-sensitivity miniature spectrometer was combined with a high-power tungsten halogen lamp and reflection probe mounted in a ring stand for repeatability. The average of each concentration spectra was taken and then divided by a clear reference sample spectrum. This resulted in the average relative reflectance of each concentration (Figure 1). These values plotted against the HPLC concentration data revealed an R2 correlation value of 0.9924. The striking correlation between relative reflectance of a miniature UV-visible spectrometer and the HPLC-determined concentrations empowered the manufacturer to implement this set-up into its quality control process.
Figure 1: An Ocean Insight miniature spectrometer (350-925nm) measures the reflection of coatings used on antimicrobial-impregnated catheters. Repeatable coating concentration and uniformity results ensure catheter integrity
Quantifying protein concentration
Biological tests and processes have seen a recent burst in attention from new technologies hitting the mainstream, such as rapid virus detection, custom-engineered medical treatments and at-home genetic tests. In many of these tests, UV absorbance is used to determine the concentration of a constituent.
Depending on the sample and application, UV protein detection may be necessary at very low limits, or at extremely thick concentrations. The power to perform accurate measurements at both extremes is available via high-sensitivity miniature spectrometers, which provide excellent resolution at normal light levels, as well as stable, meaningful readings at the lowest intensities.
As testing demonstrates, a miniature spectrometer can successfully generate a standard curve for bovine serum albumin (BSA). BSA is a protein derived from cows that is frequently used for biochemical applications.
Why is this important? The generation of a standard curve (also known as a calibration curve), is a typical procedure in many biomedical, diagnostic and life science research laboratories. An accurate determination of protein concentration is the first step in assays involving proteins. With high-performance, newer-model miniature spectrometers, researchers and developers have a flexible set of tools for UV absorbance measurements, including those required for determining the concentration of an unknown protein.
Pushing the frontiers of what’s possible in understanding disease, developing diagnostics and using biotechnology to advance therapies demands a versatile toolkit of analytical instruments and the guidance of knowledgeable partners.
Today’s miniature modular spectrometers, both customisable and flexible, are ideal for supporting the application of spectroscopy techniques to biomedical research and diagnostic device testing and development.
Further information www.oceaninsight.com


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I do know the best areas to view White-tail Deer. It takes a lot of patience and knowledge of the land.
This puddle is frozen, leaving the leaves as they floated in a clear block of ice.
An immature Bald Eagle
Iowa's state capitol building in the distance.
That is a real large fish jumping into my picture just above the point. I took two shots and it is not in the other.

domain: geography


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Sihaiwang: Tang paofan, as a southerner, is not a stranger. Even northerners are increasingly doing so. They think that the nutrition is in the soup, and there are both soup and soup, which is convenient for children to eat. The food will be more delicious. But in fact, there are many misunderstandings in this idea. Soup and rice not only have no nutrition, but also bring a lot of harm. So what's the harm of rice soup? Let's take a look at it with Xiaobian~
The harm of rice in soup
1. Cause stomachache
For people with strong stomach function, it is not a big problem to eat soup and pickled rice several times occasionally; but for people with poor stomach function, eating soup and pickled rice often will cause a great burden on gastrointestinal function, which will stimulate gastrointestinal mucosa, and prone to gastric ulcer or distention, epigastralgia and other symptoms.
2. Prone to fullness
With soup soaked rice, its capacity will increase, so that children will easily feel full after eating, and the corresponding intake of each meal will be reduced.
In the long run, children have been in a state of semi hunger, which will affect their growth and development.
3. Inadequate chewing
Although pickled rice is easy to swallow, it will reduce the secretion of saliva due to the insufficient comminution of food. Salivary secretion process can remove and wash the food residues attached to teeth and oral cavity. There are some lysozymes in saliva, which have certain bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects, which are important for the prevention of caries and periodontal diseases. In addition, chewing exercise can promote the normal development of teeth, mandible and face, promote local blood circulation and lymph circulation, and enhance metabolism. If chewing is not enough, these functions will be weakened, which will affect the symmetry and beauty of facial muscles.
Swallowing paofan can reduce chewing action, reduce the reflex effect of chewing, and reduce the amount of digestive fluid secreted by stomach, pancreas, liver and gallbladder. The large food particles that have not been finely ground enter the digestive tract directly, which requires the digestive organs to secrete more digestive fluid and obtain more energy for digestion. In the long run, appetite will gradually decrease.
5. Affect digestion
The meal without chewing will increase the burden on the stomach, and the excess soup will dilute the gastric juice, which will affect the digestion and absorption of food, and it is easy to cause stomach disease after a long time.
For the children in the growing period, eating pickled rice is more harmful. Because long-term consumption of paofan will not only hinder the gastrointestinal digestion and absorption function, but also reduce the masticatory function and shrink the masticatory muscles. At the same time, it is easy for children to develop bad eating habits.
Why is tangpaofan harmful?
The food we eat is first processed in our mouth. The hard teeth are like a clever grinder, which cuts and grinds the big food into small particles. At the same time, salivary glands constantly secrete saliva, and the tongue constantly stirs food to make food and saliva fully mix. After mixing, the amylase in saliva can have chemical effect with the starch in food, turning the starch into maltose, which is convenient for further digestion and absorption of gastrointestinal tract. When the tongue is stirring food, the taste of food can stimulate the taste nerve on the tongue. The taste nerve immediately reports to the brain. When the brain receives the report, it immediately orders the stomach and pancreas to produce digestive fluid and prepare for receiving food.
Soup and rice broke the working procedure. When rice and water are mixed, they often slip into their stomachs before they are chewed up. The food is not fully chewed, the saliva is secreted less, the mixing and mixing with the food are uneven, the amylase is also diluted by water, plus the taste nerve is not fully stimulated, the stomach does not receive the signal, and the gastric juice secreted is also less, even the little gastric juice secreted is diluted by water. In this way, the various processes of the digestive system are disordered, which will cause stomach disease for a long time.

domain: food


Writing has therapeutic values. There is no doubting that. But writing can be more meaningful for those who are struggling in life. In Vancouver there are programs that are bringing the art of writing to a variety of people from the homeless, to low-income people, to sex trade workers.
One such initiative is the Wish literacy program, which has workshops set up for sex trade workers in the Downtown Eastside. The program teaches confidence and communication that is essential for development.
Another such initiative is the Megaphone Community Writing program. The classes are run by Megaphone workers, and they go into community shelters, spaces, and rehabilitation centres to teach classes and workshops on creative writing. The work of the students and writers of other programs, such as Wish’s, are being published in Megaphone Magazine.
These programs have been a powerful tool for teaching communication and introspection. One such advocate of these programs is local writer and poet Amber Dawn. Amber has firsthand experience with the healing qualities of writing:
“I frequently credit poetry for saving my life,” says Amber Dawn, queer author, activist and program director for the Vancouver Queer Film Festival.
“This may seem like an exaggerated claim, but my life really did take a turn for the better when I found a voice through creative writing,” she says.
“When I enrolled in my first poetry class at UBC, I was living in an SRO [single-room-occupancy hotel] at Carrall and Hastings and working in the sex trade. In many ways, writing was central to building self-respect and making safer choices. Writing my own story allowed me to see how vulnerable my story and I were.
“And being skilled in written communication allowed me to better advocate for myself as I was exiting the sex trade,” she adds.
–Text via Xtra West, (read here for the full article).
In order to raise awareness and funding for the Wish program, Amber Dawn created a reading series entitled thrilLITERATE. thrilLITERATE is an evening of poetry, storytelling and of recognizing literacy as a basic human right. Queer authors read to raise funds for the women's literacy program in the Downtown Eastside. Now in its second year, the event has raised over $1,500 for the Literacy and Learning Program at WISH: a centre for female survival sex workers.
Friday, January 22, 7:30pm featuring: Catharine Chen, Elizabeth Bachinsky, David Findlay, Trish Kelly, Daniel Zomparelli, Amber Dawn and Michael V Smith.
Saturday, January 23, 7:30pm featuring: Afuwa Granger, Shana Myara, Mette Bach, Tony Correia, C. E. Gatchalian, Cathleen With, and a musical finale by BlueLight (Lin Gardiner, Andrea Hector) Sliding scale: $5-$15 per night


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Ten years after it closed down, Prince Rama Theatre has been revived as a hotel called Prince Theatre Heritage Stay. Rebuilt with much respects to its original structure, the hotel has 26 rooms and suites, each decorated with elements that reacquaint guests with the hotel’s origins.
It is home to Shangri-la Hotel, local wine shack/bar Jack's Bar and Lek Silom pier. The alley is connected to Soi Charoenkrung 44 where Sarnies, Homu, and more eateries are located on.
When it first opened 110 years ago, this neo-classic building was one of the city’s most luxurious mall named Falck & Beidek Store. Renovations had been done with much respects so it received the Best Conservation from The Association of Siamese Architects in 1982. Today, it has become one of the city’s best go-tos for antiques and collections, and rental space for weddings and events.
This wall-in red building wrapping around a swimming pool is a long-running hotel that’s been open for more than 50 years. Swing the door open and you’ll find yourself transported back in time to a 1950 movie set.
This complex of historic wooden structures was once the residence of Marine Police. It’s now open to the public as a learning center, and is about to be registered as a National Conserved Architecture.
This is one of the oldest Muslim community in Bangkok. Nestled at the heart of the community is Haroon Mosque, a historic religious establishment that’s named after Haroon Bafaden who settled down in Bangkok during the reign of King Rama 1.
The brutalist architecture that used to serve as the central post office of Bangkok in the old days is now home to Thailand Creative and Design Center, a hub where creative minds ignite their creativities through books, seminars, and exhibitions. Rise up to its free-access rooftop space for views of Charoenkrung.
This small, tiny alley might not be on many tourist guides, but it should surely be on every artistic mind’s bucket list. The walls along this off-the-beaten-track Soi Charoenkrung 32 are all colored up with street arts in various kinds, created by both Thai and international painters. Ideal for photos!
Architect Duangrit Bunnag has refurbished a set of mid-1940 warehouses, turning them into chic lifestyle space that’s now home to clothing store, souvenir shop, cafe and restaurant.
Set in what used to be Arthorn Suksa Chinese School, the multidisciplinary art space displays items that have been carefully handpicked by the new generation of a family with deep roots in the antique scene.
Located near Warehouse 30, Si Phraya Pier is a stop for the Chao Phraya Express Boat, offering ferry services, including a cross-river ferry service to Klong San Market in Thonburi.
Located on Soi Wanit 2, Realrare is one of the Chinese-styled houses built over 200 years ago in the historic neighbourhood of Talat Noi.
The 200 year-old riverside warehouse tucked away in Talad Noi is home to Baan Rim Naam, a venue with sheds and a garden where you can enjoy culinary experience in a beautiful setting of the Chao Phraya River.
This Hakka-Chinese shrine, situated at the end of the alley, was established during the reign of King Rama V and houses the statue of Han Gao Zu, the first emperor of China’s Han dynasty.
Owned and developed by the Wanglee family, one of the country’s oldest Thai-Chinese tycoon families, Lhong 1919 sits on the old pier where, according to old journals, the ancestors of most Thai-Chinese families first set their feet in Thailand after migrating from China.

domain: history


Abandonment of Street, Right-of-way or Easement
Administrative Abandonment of Public Utility Easements
Churchill County Code Title 16.08.050.4(G) states that a "public utility easement" is an easement obtained by Churchill County or a public utility that is owned or controlled by Churchill County and that runs in favor of the county. Pursuant to NRS 278.480(10) and through the use of the procedure contained in this section, a public utility easement may be abandoned without a hearing of the Board of County Commissioners or the Planning Commission. The owner of property who seeks abandonment of a public utility easement involving his or her property shall file an application in writing with the Planning Department on the forms required by that department. The application shall also include a legal description and exhibit prepared and signed by a surveyor licensed in the State of Nevada. The Director of the Planning Department, or his or her designee, may issue a written order abandoning a public utility easement after:
- Receiving a complete application;
- Obtaining the written approval of the County Engineer or Surveyor, his or her designee, and
- Determining the subject public utility easement is no longer necessary or useful to Churchill County. The abandonment of a public utility easement pursuant to this section does not affect an easement held by a private utility company even if such private utility easement was created by the same instrument or it has the same legal description, and also does not affect an easement held by the public as distinguished from an easement held by Churchill County or a public utility owned or controlled by Churchill County. A decision of the Director made under this section may be appealed to the Board of County Commissioners.
Abandonment of Other Easements and Streets
According to Title 16.08.050.4(H), any abutting property owner, or Churchill County, desiring the vacation or abandonment of any street or easement owned by Churchill County, shall file a petition (PDF), in writing, with the Planning Commission. Said petition shall be filed no less than forty-five (45) days prior to the day of the Planning Commission meeting and shall be accompanied by a legal description of the easement, a map depicting the easement, reason(s) why the easement is no longer required and a filing fee, the amount to be set by the Board of County Commissioners and amended from time to time. When completing the Petition form, applicant must include justification for abandonment.
An applicant must also submit a legal description of the subject easement and a map depicting the easement. The application should include a letter explaining why the easement should be abandoned.
The petition is reviewed at public hearings by both the Planning Commission and the County Commission; final decision made by the County Commission.


TWIN FALLS — Joshua Rowe of Burley has accepted a service technician position with Krone America. He will now be handling Krone’s BiG X self-propelled forage harvester service work at the Krone America Equipment dealership in Twin Falls.
Rowe, who is originally from Texas, spent 10 years in the automotive industry. He then made the switch to agriculture, working the past seven years as a self-propelled harvester specialist.
“I love the challenge of working on choppers; it pushes me to test and grow my abilities,” Rowe said in a statement.


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It’s actions, not words, that matter.” “traveling has less to do with seeing things than experiencing them.”.
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Although sparks acquired a degree in business finance from the university of notre dame, he always aspired to be a writer and after some years of struggle in different professions, he wrote ‘the notebook’ and that was what got him noticed. Travis is the main character in the story. 20 of the best book quotes from the choice.
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domain: literature


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Your one-stop guide to Hong Kong’s most innovative outdoor arts festival. Download the free official festival mobile app for Freespace Fest 2014 and get up to date info in advance and during the festival, explore the line-up and artists details, plan your visit and set up alerts to make sure you don’t miss anything!
Freespace Fest official mobile app is now available on App Store and Google Play. The app is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones.
'Freespace Challenge!' Game
Race your friends to Freesapce Fest 2014 at the West Kowloon Cultural District! Test your reflexes as you run down to the waterfront promenade. Run with your friends, compare scores and challenge them to see who is fastest!
Prizes include an iPhone 6 Gold 128GB (highest score), an iPad Mini (second highest score) and a tote bag plus festival ticket for the top 50 gamers.

domain: entertainment


Prioritizing infrastructure maintenance is bedrock principal of a good City Council. As Mayor, I commit to ensure that we have plans and execute on them to maintain the assets that we are responsible for as a City.
Since I was elected in 2013, the City Council established a street maintenance program where we set standards to maintain all of our city streets to a good standard. We measure the pavement every few years to determine exactly what the condition is and prioritize resurfacing to ensure that all streets have an average score that will enable two things 1) good quality streets and 2) replacement in the most cost effective way. If streets are allow to deteriorate too far, they actually are more expensive to repair than if you keep up on resurfacing them every few years before the sub-pavement fails. We also set a minimum acceptable score for any street, so that no one has to live on or bike down a crumbling pothole filled block. This new program has been up and running for a few years now, and we are on track to start meeting our goals in the next 5 years.
We also have established programs to manage our capital infrastructure repair and replacement over time. For example, when we evaluate our water system infrastructure we look at the life-cycle of the assets (such as the water lines) and plan for the replacement when we evaluate our fiscal health. Using modeling and field verified data collected and run by our City Staff, we verify if the water infrastructure is meeting our goals to have reasonable and equitable rates while maintaining optimal water quality.


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Way of the Samurai is a uniquely great game in its own composed, disciplined manner - the video game equivalent of a critically acclaimed art house indie film in a sea full of summer blockbusters. Don't be surprised if a small, dedicated flock of disciples come to learn its Way.
Way of the Samurai is a tough game to classify. It's clearly an action title, but it has the open-ended plot potential of an RPG, and requires the combo memorizing and button mashing of a fighting game. Unlike most attempts at combining gaming styles, this hybrid of genres really works. Despite some clunky inventory management and some frustrating camera angles, this'll be a game that you'll go back to whenever you're up for a couple of hours of mayhem and swordplay.
While Acquire's Way of the Samurai is perhaps not as good a game as Tenchu was, it is as good a ronin simulator as that was a ninja simulator. You can maybe chalk up some of its comparative shortcomings to the choice of subject matter, then -- wandering samurai are fun, but most would agree that ninja are much more so. Nevertheless, it's quite a good game in its own right, if you're willing to look past some faults in its graphics and camera control.
You are a samurai. A lost soul, who’s come across Rokkotsu Pass. The area is torn with disaster. Samurai clans have turned against each other, and the government is pressing for all their land, even if it means the extermination of the ancient samurai culture. Samurai have lost their use and need in this evolving country, only you can decide your future. Will you become a legendary master of the blade, or just be known as a wandering psychotic? Can you go down in history?
Schade, schade: Way of the Samurai hat mich mit seiner nicht-linearen Story, in der jede Entscheidung Auswirkungen hat und das machtpolitische Gefüge erschüttern kann, so richtig begeistert. Auch die vielen Schwerter und taktischen Kämpfe werden jeden Samurai-Liebhaber zufrieden stellen. Aber was haben sich die Entwickler nur bei dieser mageren Kulisse und den Stilbrüchen wie Comicsprechblasen und schneller, moderner Musik gedacht? Wenn man damit das Thema des Spiels, altes Japan trifft neues, unterstreichen wollte, war das für mich ein atmosphärischer Fehlgriff. Und schließlich ist die Spielzeit viel zu kurz: Eines von sechs möglichen Enden bekommt man schon nach zwei Stunden präsentiert. Auch der freispielbare Kampfmodus kann die Langzeitmotivation nicht großartig steigern. Unterm Strich bleibt ein höchst unterhaltsamer, aber viel zu kurzer Samurai-Quickie, der in Sachen Kampfsystem fast an die Klasse Kengos herankommt, aber optisch weit hinter Onimusha liegt.
Fans of the Tenchu series have been waiting for Acquire's first PlayStation 2 game with no small degree of interest, while a new developer works on creating Tenchu III. Acquire has tackled a different, although similar, theme with Way of the Samurai: Instead of playing as a ninja in feudal Japan, you act as a masterless samurai, or ronin. It would be easy to assume that Way of the Samurai might play much like Tenchu without the stealth aspect, but in fact they're distinctly different games. This one's most notable features are its branching storyline and, to a lesser extent, its complex combat system. Way of the Samurai is short and doesn't look like much, but it's an unusual game that can be a lot of fun.
Way of the Samurai is a short game, but it boasts a lot of replay value. If your goal is simply to clear it, then you might as well pick something else up off the shelf, but if you can stomach a few loose ends and some sub-cartoon dialogue, you'll find a decent amount of value and entertainment in the latest Fresh Games title from Eidos. And unlike the last pair, this one really is fresh, and really is worth owning in most respects.
Way of the Samurai caters to the same crowd that loved Bushido Blade, Kengo: Master of Bushido and their ilk. Fairly technical from a combat point of view, this is as far from a button-slapping arcade title as you’re likely to get without sounding like an idiot for making the comparison. Featuring a multi-path branching storyline, a Battle mode for multiplayer and options to form a sword collection that must have rivaled certain Shoguns, there’s lots of replayability here. While the combat mechanics aren’t as involved as Bushido Blade, the combat system is solid, and there are RPG-lite elements to add to the mix. Again, Way of the Samurai isn’t for everyone, as the graphics aren’t exactly stellar and the sound could have used a lot of tweaking, but if you’re looking for an excellent sword fighter steeped in Japanese culture, look no further.
Un titre très ambitieux mais qui n'a pas bénéficié d'assez de moyens pour atteindre complètement son but. Les amateurs devront pallier les quelques lacunes techniques et la faible durée de vie du jeu pour profiter pleinement des qualités ludiques de ce titre et de la liberté totale d'actions qu'il offre, mais l'expérience vaut le détour.
While Way of the Samurai has enough to leave the average gamer satisfied, it lacks that one mystery ingredient that makes for a "can't miss" game. Its interesting storyline and cool battle system are enough to overshadow most of its shortcomings, but overall the game leaves a lot to be desired. Those who are looking for a samurai/ninja title to add to their library will enjoy Way of the Samurai, while others may want to rent first.
The game wasn't very strong on the story, so don’t expect to be involved in a gripping story or anything(in fact, don’t plan on being involved in anything related to this game). As you traverse the Rokkotsu Pass, you’ll encounter various Samurais from different Clans that depending on if you win or lose in a battle with them, will accept defeat and ask you to join their clan or will do something to you like tie you up on the train tracks or something. In fact, a majority of the game moves along by talking to different people and depending on what you say, will affect the outcome of something that’ll happen next.
Playing through Way of the Samurai unlocks a battle mode for you and a friend, but it’s still missing something, and just remains average, which is the main fault of the game. It could have been such an amazing and innovative game, but instead lots of small problems launch a fatal blow to the game from which it can not recover. The game is worthy of a shot if you can get it for really cheap or you rent it, but I can safely say it's not going to be your favorite.
Non, croyez-moi, ce jeu est indigne de toute PlayStation 2 qui se respecte, comme il l'est presque de ce magazine et de cette rubrique.

domain: hobby


I am a little confused about all the differant models ( CDP,KPD,TLE ) I am looking for a CC gun no more than a 3 or 4 inch barrel I like the pro carry 2 in 9mm or the ultra carry.Can someone explain the diferances??
The major difference is that the Pro Carry is a 4" barrel, while the Ultra carry is a 3" barrel. Some of the Pro Carry series give you the option of 9mm or 45. While the Ultra Carry (I believe) only gives you the option of 45. Either is an excellent choice. If it were me I'd stay with the 45, I've never been able to comprehend a 1911 style handgun that was any other caliber.
CDP's (Custom Defense Pistol) are alloy frame and have a carry bevel among other features. TLE is for a tactical law enforcement I believe, nothing really special above custom models, steel frame and all. KDP is Kimbers mostly unknown striker fire series isn't it?
I would get a CDP ultra, 3" and a short grip if you are going to carry a lot. Or a CDP Pro if you want a little more to hang on to with a 4" barrel. Plus they alloy frame saves 5-8 ounces of steel frame. Check out the Tactical series also, marketed towards law enforcement, has a lot of great features including the alloy frame.
I suggest that you go to the Kimber web page and examine each family and model. That's what I did and I finally made a decision of what to purchase. I have not been sorry. They give excellent details about each model.
All info here is good. Go to the Kimber site and look. Also, Kimber sent a big box of 2008 model catalogs to all of its authorized dealers. My local shops have these out for the taking so you should be able to get one. To add a bit to the model questions:
KPD - Their striker fired entry into poly guns. This is a remake of another manufacturer's design. This has not gotten any play and I've never seen one in a store. I'd steer clear of this.
CDP - Great little alloy gun. I carry mine every day and love it. I'm adding custom grips tonight and will post pictures. This gun is light and thin but recoil is very manageable and the gun is accurate at 15 yards. If you plan to carry, I highly recommend this gun. The Ultr and Pro Carry models are basically steel versions of the CDP and weigh a bit more with few bells and whistles. The CDP has ambi safety, checkered front strap (highly recommend as it really helps your grip on a 1911) and night sights.
TLE - A step up from the Custom in features and price. The TLE has a checkered front strap and night sights. It is well worth the up charge to buy the TLE instead of the Custom if these options appeal to you, which they did for me. The added cost of $150 is less than adding checkering and new sights to an existing Custom. Also, the TLE comes with the option of a tactical rail.
Good luck with your choice. I love have the CDP and TLE and love them both.
I normally carry my Ultra CDP II in .45. Go to your local gun shop and see what fits you best and is the most comfortable. Some of the Ultra models have had FTF or FTE issues with certain ammo, or the mags have been an issue. Alot of these guns seem to have thier own likes and dislikes for some reason. What one gun likes another does not, so sometimes you have to experiment a little. I also have a Pro CDP but it is a little to big for CCW, but thats just me. Alot of guys carry full size 45's.Good Luck !!!!!!!!


Qantas still the world’s safest airline
Qantas still ranks as the top airline for safety, with no fatalities since it entered the jet age in 1951.
Over its 93-year history Qantas has amassed an extraordinary record of firsts in safety and operations. In 2008, in its successful defense to the British Advertising Standards Association of its claim that it is the world’s most experienced airline, Qantas was able to list almost 30 notable industry leading achievements
Delta to spend $770 million to upgrade aircraft interiors
Delta will spend $770 million to refurbish the interiors of its narrowbody jets.
The upgraded interiors will feature power outlets at every seat, slimmer seats with adjustable headrests, overhauled lavatories, and other features that will enhance passenger comfort.
Fifty-six of Delta’s Boeing 757-200 aircraft will be receiving in-seat video, personal power access, upgraded galleys, new LED cabin lighting, revamped lavatories, and redesigned overhead bins with a larger capacity.
How cold was the Polar Vortex? Niagara Falls froze
Just how cold was the cold weather than gripped the east coast? A look at this photo essay by the New York Post showed that it was so cold that parts of Niagara Falls froze. The last time the Horseshoe Falls froze was in 1848 and the last time the American Falls froze was in 1947 due to ice jams upstream.


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Serena Williams confessed she used to watch her losses on TV in order to kind of punish herself. 'It was so painful', said Serena. 'It was like stabbing myself. (Laughter.) I don't like to do that. I have tried either not to lose or not to watch matches that I lost.'
Serena also spoke about probably her biggest weapon, the serve: 'My dad always had us hit a lot of serves. Before I played Wimbledon I hit a lot of serves, tons and tons and tons of serves. It definitely depends. I think it depends on how I'm feeling or how I feel about certain shots.
It's a little bit of both.' Serena also spoke about how she keeps being interested in tennis: 'I like trying new things. I like playing new things. I like walking out there on the court every day and playing my match.
I think that keeps me going.' Does she like the way she looks in tennis photographs? 'Sometimes I look nice; sometimes I'm intense. It depends. Sometimes you have that intense look, and then sometimes you're just smiling.
It all depends.' Serena Williams's life changed a lot in the last years, having become a mother and got married to Alexis Ohanian. Still, her personality with other people continues to be the same. 'I'm an extremely shy individual, so whenever I meet people I kind of freeze up or I don't really talk', said Serena.
'I don't know how that comes across, but I actually kind of -- I always try to stay in the background. Somehow people are always putting me in the front, but I'm always the one that's like walking in the back or behind people. So, no, it's not my thing, actually.'

domain: celebrity


Here at VDOO, it is our long-term mission to continuously assess and improve the security of the connected-devices that are rapidly surrounding us. The only real way to succeed in these missions is by utilizing a critical and methodical approach and technologies to inspect all the different layers of a modern embedded and connected device – its application layer, protocols, operating system, hardware, controllers, gateways and backend connectivity.
Since founding VDOO, we have been working to analyze a great many IoT devices, in the broadest way possible. The more we look into these devices and find their vulnerabilities, the further we validate a basic hypothesis: security for the IoT must start with the most basic security building blocks.
It may be just a few short months since we founded VDOO, but it has been over a decade since we started innovating in cyber security, back in the days when it was simply ‘information security’. We started with compliance automation and network-node security certification, through computer forensics and incident response, and in the last few years we have been dealing with endpoint security against targeted attacks and integration of gateway solutions. Our goal has always been to stay one step ahead of the attackers, and ahead of the market. Sometimes we managed, sometimes we didn’t.


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Georgi Grozdev's novel Prey premiered in Brussells
The Q and A session with Georgi Grozdev was under the heading Be Bulgarian, Be Balkan, Be European!
On Sep 27, the Librebook Bookstore hosted the premiere of the French edition of Georgi Grozdev's novel Prey. The event was organized by the bookstore owner, Antonio Parodi, and the Publisher, Emmanuelle Moysan. Librebook opened its doors in June with the ambition of being a true Balkan bookstore at the heart of Brussels. Its business card reads: European bookshop cultural café. Books & food for thought & taste across Europe.
The Q and A session with Georgi Grozdev was under the heading Be Bulgarian, Be Balkan, Be European!. After the reading, in Bulgarian and French, after the interesting comments by the publisher Emmanuelle Moysan and the translator Krassimir Kavaldzhiev, the author answered the audience's many questions. They wanted to know not only about Prey but also about the other two novels in the trilogy – Unneeded and Entropy. The novels' translated versions in German and other languages were available in the bookstore. The audience was also interested in Publishing House Balkani's Balkan Library, the first of its kind in Bulgaria's cultural history. Georgi Grozdev founded Publishing House Balkani in 1991. The session continued almost four hours. Antonio Parodi said he had discovered a brilliant writer and that wasn't just a compliment of expected courtesy. Due to the late hour the conversations continued at Vivre Longtemps over a glass of beer.
Three Belgian writers also participated in the Q and A session, Rose-Marie Francois, Christian Libens and Alain van Crugten. All three have been translated into Bulgarian. The audience included Bulgarians working in Brussels, as well as young Belgian readers who had already familiarized themselves with the content of Prey and were asking interesting questions.
Choosing a book, an author and also beer in Brussels is hard. There are seven hundred and seventy types of beer. Each beer comes with its own label and glass.
Author: The Organizers
Published on liternet.bg on October 2, 2016.


Introducing the Wordtune AI Content Detector
We’re excited to announce the latest tool in the Wordtune toolkit - The AI Content Detector.
The AI revolution has made it easier and faster than ever to produce written content with just a few clicks. In the months since the introduction of ChatGPT and similar Generative AI writing tools, the lines between human-written content and computer-generated text have been continuously blurring.
While this technological breakthrough is nothing short of amazing, the need for content that feels more “human” is more apparent than ever.
Did you know? Google penalizes content generated by AI, and generally ranks machine-written text lower on search result pages than content that was written by humans. That is why more and more content creators have been taking extra steps to make sure the content they produce feels as human as possible.
Human-written content is not just crucial for ranking high on Google - Relying solely on AI-generated text can actually lead to legal as well as ethical problems, which is something both businesses and people should generally avoid.
For these reasons, we have created the Wordtune AI Content Detector.
With this new tool, you can assess whether or not a piece of writing has been written by a human being or generated by AI, and adjust it accordingly.
How does it work?
Step 1 - Paste your text
To get started with the Wordtune AI Content Detector, simply paste a piece of written text into the box. This can be anything from school papers, to blog posts, to presentations, reports, or even press releases - Really any piece of writing up to 250,000 characters.
Step 2 - Analyze
After clicking “Analyze”, the AI Detector will analyze the origin of your text accurately using machine learning algorithms and natural language processing techniques.
Step 3 - Results: Human or AI?
Once your text has been analyzed, you’ll have a clear indication of whether or not it was written by a human.
Step 4 - Rewrite
No AI? No problem.
However, if your text does contain elements that were generated by AI, the tool will recognize it as such.
To fix this, simply copy the flagged text into Wordtune, which will help you rewrite the problematic parts in your own style, and make your content more human, and therefore, more likely to have an impact.
For more tips on how to humanize AI writing, check out this article.
This article was co-written with Wordtune. Wordtune didn’t write the whole piece. Instead, it contributed ideas, suggested rephrasing alternatives, maintained consistency in tone, and of course - made the process much more fun for the writer.


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Hotel Roemer is the perfect place to stay during your trip to Amsterdam: A wonderful, small & luxury hotel. One of the nicest places in Amsterdam and a true home away from home!
A 18th century mansion has been converted into the trendy Hotel Roemer, where a traditional décor is combined with the best modern amenities. Perfectly located in the city centre of Amsterdam, close to the Leidseplein, the best museums and the city’s vibrant & famous nightlife. The beatutiful Vondelpark is just a few minutes walk away and also the major shopping streets are also nearby Hotel Roemer.
Unwind at Hotel Roemer after a hectic and busy day in the centre of Amsterdam. Whether you stay here for business or pleasure, this is the perfect place for an unforgettable stay in Amsterdam.
Enjoy a good glass of wine or a cool beer from the ‘honesty bar’ in the picturesque courtyard garden, the stylish lounge, or, of course, in your own hotel room filled with contemporary art.
Hotel Roemer is the best-kept secret in Amsterdam and the place to stay if you’re looking for a small, stylish boutique hotel.
Hotel Roemer has the friendly atmosphere of a large family home: It’s intimate (only 37 rooms), housed in an old city villa in a ‘normal’ street. The Art from the owner’s private collection adorns the walls. A lovely garden-courtyard makes Roemer a serene retreat, away from the hurly-burly of the Museum Quarter, and nearby Leidseplein.
All rooms are have a comfortable king-size or twin bed and a view to the peaceful Roemer Visscherstraat or the beautiful private garden. Some rooms have their own balcony. All rooms have unique artwork and design!
There is a small restaurant at Hotel Romer offering guests a lovely buffet breakfast to start the day full of energy. A small lunch or dinner is also available and can be served in the comfortable lounge or in the private garden (during summer).
Roemer Visscherstraat 10
1054 EX Amsterdam
Tel: +31 (0)20 5 890 800

domain: travel


text:
City Girls have come a long way.
The Miami rap duo, consisting of Yung Miami (Caresha Brownlee) and JT (Jatavia Johnson), reflected on their “journey from the projects of Miami to Nobu Beverly Hills” while speaking with Megan Thee Stallion for Interview magazine.
During their conversation, the “Savage” rapper recalled the moment she became a City Girls fan. “I remember the first time I ever heard y’all. I was like, ‘Oh my god, these bitches is it,’” she said. “I feel like I’m ratchet, but I was definitely like, ‘Okay, this is a whole different accent. This is a whole different style. This is a whole different experience.’ I’ve been a fan ever since.”
Megan also asked them to share the first thing they bought after signing their record deal with Quality Control.
Caresha said she spent her check on a Range Rover (“I got that Range”), while JT used the money to help her then-boyfriend, who was facing jail time.
“At the time, girl, I was so hood. I think I gave my ex-boyfriend some money for his lawyer and he still went to jail for a long-ass time,” recalled JT. “Whew, girl, I hate him. Other than that, I don’t remember. I was just spending money fast. I ain’t going to lie.”
They also revealed their favorite topics to rap about. “My pussy, of course. Money, ni**as, and every now and then I’ve got to throw my kids in there,” said Yung Miami, who has two children.
As for JT? “I like to rap about money, stealing, ni**as, scamming, and my struggle with prison,” she said.
The group, whose second studio album City on Lock was released last summer, also spoke about revisiting their early music and how they were less afraid to speak their mind when they first started out.
“I was just sending Caresha some songs we did in 2018, and I was like, ‘We got to redo these songs because we ain’t give a f**k what we said,’” said JT. “When you get in an industry and you start hearing other people’s music and start looking at the charts and start reading the comments, you try to be more like what you think is going to sell more than what is truly yourself. When I was sending her these songs, I was like, ‘Caresha, we got to redo these songs because this is us right here. This was us when we had nothing to lose, when we had no money. This was us.’ It’s hard to stick to that sound, though, as you grow.”


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Advancing the Rule of Law and Democratic Worker Representation
Solidarity Center (SC)
To promote freedom of association and the rule of law. The center will support workers and local labor movement partners in leveraging the new opportunities afforded by the recent labor law reform in Mexico, which is intended to overhaul the adjudication of labor justice, thus facilitating the formation of independent labor unions, and making it more difficult to form non-democratic worker organizations without workers’ express consent.
Advocating for Institutional Reform in México
Mexico Evalua Centro de Analisis de Politicas Publicas A C
To monitor and advocate for the establishment of an independent national prosecutor’s office and its respective sub-national counter parts. As one of the most influential think tanks in Mexico, the organization will assess the state of the existing attorney general’s office, publish three policy briefs and a final report making specific recommendations on how to transition to an independent prosecutors office. The think tank will also coordinate a strategic communications campaign that raises awareness about the findings of the study.
Investigative Journalists Combating Corruption and Impunity
Mexicanos vs Corrupción e Impunidad
To combat systemic corruption and support investigative journalism throughout Mexico. The organization will host a national investigative journalism conference to develop its national network of connections with journalists, editors, and media outlets. The group will then train, mentor, and provide seed funding for local journalists as they publish stories investigating corruption cases around the country.
Open Parliament and Party Reform
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI)
To contribute to internal reform processes that generate more open and inclusive legislatures and political parties in Mexico. The institute will strengthen the capacities of legislators at the national and state level as well as civil society to implement open parliament initiatives. They will also strengthen the capacities of political parties to implement internal reforms addressing internal democracy, transparency, and inclusion.
Promoting Access to Justice for Indigenous Populations in Campeche
Dialogo y Movimiento AC
To promote access to justice and active participation of indigenous groups in the reform of the criminal justice system in Campeche state. The organization will work with indigenous populations being denied due process under Mexico’s new penal justice system. The groups will provide legal services and strategic litigation for emblematic cases affecting indigenous populations. The organization will also engage public officials, both state and federal, to provide recommendations on ways to improve access to justice for indigenous women and men in Mexico.
Promoting Access to Justice for Victims of Human Rights Violations
Justicia para Nuestras Hijas A.C
To strengthen the capacity of human rights victims and their families to demand their right to access to justice, a proper investigation, and due process of law. The organization will offer judicial literacy trainings for families in Chihuahua, Mexico. The group will also train organizations outside of the state on its methodologies.
Promoting Citizen Oversight of the Legislative Branch
To leverage new technology and increase the transparency, accountability, and citizen oversight of Mexico’s national legislature. The organization will further develop a digital platform that supports civil society coalitions advocating on issues that are critical to the public. As part of these efforts, the group will host training workshops for civil society coalitions seeking to improve their respective advocacy strategies in Congress. The organization will also conduct eight complementary trainings focused on engaging new legislators with civil society experts and constituents during the policy making process.
Promoting the Rights of Vulnerable Communities
Festival Internacional de Cine Documental de la Ciudad de Mexico
To create engaging public narratives that advocate for the rights of vulnerable communities throughout Mexico. The organization will work with civil society organization and young filmmakers to produce a series of documentaries that tell the stories of vulnerable groups, building targeted issue-advocacy campaigns across Mexico. The group will conduct a series of workshops on storytelling, planning effective advocacy campaigns and using alternative civil society networks to distribute the documentary films. At the end of the project, the group will screen the films and host a series of roundtables where the protagonists, documentary makers, civil society leaders, journalists, and policy makers will discuss solutions to the problems presented in the films.
Providing Gender-Balanced News Programs
Comunicacion e Informacion de la Mujer, Asociacion Civil
To provide gender balanced news coverage combatting stereotypes about women and promoting a human rights perspective. The organization will leverage its network of 140 correspondents in 32 states to produce a daily news program empowering women’s voices throughout Mexico. The program will cover politics, culture, economics, sports, and other relevant topics affecting women’s lives across Mexico. At the end of the project, the organization will conduct a thorough evaluation of the content and audience of its news program, making adjustments to ensure long-term sustainability.
Providing Oversight of the Implementation of Citizen Security Policies
Causa en Comun
To monitor, document, and report on the establishment of the National Guard and the implementation of citizen security policies across the country. The organization will regularly fact check and report on government public statements related to security. The group will also establish a civil society observatory that will provide oversight of the National Guard. The organization will publish two reports on transparency and the governments positioning on security policies, as well as the roll out of the National Guard, focusing on respecting human rights.
Strengthening the Role Of Civil Society In The Management Of Energy SOEs
Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
To strengthen the oversight role of civil society in the management of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the energy sector. The center will work with the local partner to map how energy SOEs are managed and produce a report highlighting key findings and recommendations. The center will then work with the partner, an expert civil society organization, to disseminate the report and develop the watchdog capabilities of civil society organizations to oversee SOEs.
Strengthening the Rule of Law in Mexico
Laboratorio de Litigio Estructural
To strengthen the rule of law by applying new litigation techniques that address systemic public policy problems across Mexico. The organization will work with its Latin American counter parts to gather information on legal suits that addressed structural and system problems in Argentina and Colombia. The group will then publish case studies, a final report addressing how these techniques apply to Mexico’s recently reformed judicial system and partner with prominent Mexican law schools to disseminate information on these new litigation techniques.
1025 F Street NW. Suite 800, Washington DC 20004

domain: sociology


text:
If you’re like most people, you love spending time in nature. Whether it’s camping, hiking, or just enjoying a day out in the wilderness, there’s something magical about getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and reconnecting with the natural world. However, anyone who’s ever set up a tent knows that it can be a frustrating and time-consuming process, especially if you have kids and pets to keep track of. That’s where instant tents come in. These revolutionary shelters are designed to set up in just a few minutes, so you can spend more time enjoying your outdoor adventure and less time fussing with equipment. here we’ll take a look at the best instant tent on the market and what you need to know to choose the perfect one for your needs.
When it comes to instant tents, there are a few key features to keep in mind. First, you want to look for a tent that sets up quickly and easily. Many instant tents come with pre-attached poles or other features that make setup a breeze. Second, you want to look for a tent that’s made of high-quality materials. After all, you’re counting on this shelter to protect you from the elements, and you don’t want to find yourself in a soggy, leaky tent in the middle of a rainstorm. Finally, you want to look for a tent that’s spacious enough to accommodate your needs. Whether you’re camping alone, with a friend, or with a large group, you want to make sure you have plenty of space to move around comfortably.
With these features in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best instant tents on the market. One great option is the Coleman Instant Tent. This tent sets up in just one minute thanks to its pre-attached poles, and it also boasts Coleman’s patented WeatherTec system, which keeps you dry even in the heaviest rain. The tent is available in a range of sizes, from two-person to ten-person, so you can choose the perfect size for your group.
Another great option to consider is the CORE Instant Cabin Tent. This spacious tent can comfortably fit up to 12 people, making it a great choice for larger families or groups. The tent also features CORE’s patented H2O block technology, which repels water and keeps you dry in wet conditions. Additionally, the tent is designed with multiple vents to promote airflow and keep you cool in warm weather.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly instant tent, the Ozark Trail Instant Cabin Tent is a great choice. This tent is made of high-quality materials and sets up in just two minutes thanks to its pre-attached poles. It’s available in sizes ranging from four-person to ten-person, and it features a large front awning that provides extra shade and protection from the elements.
Finally, the Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent is a great option for those who want an instant tent with a little more style. This tent features a screen room that’s perfect for bug-free lounging, as well as a full mesh roof and windows for optimal ventilation. The tent is easy to set up thanks to its shock-corded fiberglass roof frame and steel uprights, and it even comes with a gear loft and two hanging pockets for extra storage.
Whether you’re an experienced camper or a beginner, an instant tent can make your outdoor adventure more enjoyable and less stressful. By choosing a high-quality tent with the features that suit your needs, you can spend more time exploring the great outdoors and less time wrestling with tent poles and stakes. We hope this guide has helped you find the best instant tent for your next camping trip!


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Seniors in these states are among the healthiest in the United States.
United Health Foundation's 2014 "America's Health Rankings Senior Report" provides a state-by-state snapshot of how healthy seniors are and what types of health care resources they have available.
The following five celebrity urban legends will likely live on long into the future, despite the fact that none of them is remotely true.
Warner Bros. Television
From Mrs. Krabappel on "The Simpsons" to Mr. Kotter from "Welcome Back Kotter," check out some of the most memorable TV teachers.

domain: health


By Ben Geman - 03/28/11 11:15 AM EDT
It presses the FTC to use 2009 rules – which stem from a 2007 energy law – that give the regulators enhanced power to crack down on anti-competitive practices in wholesale petroleum markets.
The lawmakers’ letter asks the FTC for information about its efforts to enforce the 2009 rule; steps the commission is taking or plans to take in response to recent market volatility in petroleum markets; and an update on the FTC’s work with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and other agencies to “prevent fraud or deceit in the petroleum market.”
“Unlike when gas prices spiked suspiciously in the summer of 2008, the Federal Trade Commission now has the necessary tools to be the cop on the beat protecting consumers from artificial gas price hikes,” said Cantwell, a key author of the 2007 FTC law, in a statement.
Gasoline prices are averaging over $3.58 per gallon, compared to $2.80 at this time last year, according to AAA.


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One of the major challenges with clinical trials is that they don’t necessarily reflect what happens in the real world and instead rely on a subset of the population with inherent biases and limitations. As technology improves, the life sciences industry can begin to lift the veil that keeps those restrictions in place, giving companies the tools to quickly identify a more diverse group of potential participants.
A lack of diversity in trials can also have implications down the road for the regulatory and commercial success of a drug, with millions of dollars at stake, a phenomenon seen clearly in the case of Biogen and Eisai’s Alzheimer’s disease drug Aduhelm.
A few years ago, the idea that clinical trial recruitment could check this box sounded like an insurmountable obstacle. But over the last couple of years, pharma companies have started hiring talent to specifically oversee diversity and inclusion in clinical trials, and investing money and energy into the effort. The FDA has also applied some pressure in this area, most recently with a draft guidance designed to encourage participation among historically underrepresented groups.
The needle is beginning to move in the right direction, says Ariel Katz, co-founder and CEO of the healthcare data and analytics company H1.
“How achievable is (diversity) today? A lot more achievable,” he says. “And in five years, I think it'll be so core to how they think about enrollment of patients and enrollment of (principal investigators) and physicians that it's going to be possible.”
But while progress is being made, finding participants remains a central challenge. That’s where technology comes into play, Katz says.
Lack of diversity, substandard results
Historically, trial participants have been pulled from the same buckets linked to the academic medical centers where trials take place, leaving out members of the broader community.
When drugs or treatments aren’t tested in a group that represents the true patient population, that can skew the results and lead to unexpected or undesirable surprises when the drug hits the market, Katz says.
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to drug safety and efficacy. Genetics plays a role in how different populations respond to a specific drug — a lack of diversity in the development process might mean the drug doesn’t perform as well as expected or has unforeseen side effects when it rolls out to the broader population, Katz says.
Take Biogen’s ill-fated Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm. While many issues plagued the controversial drug, which had significant coverage sidelined by Medicare’s decision not to pay for the treatment outside of approved clinical trials — a lack of diversity in its clinical trials was likely also a factor, Katz says.
According to the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, Black Americans have nearly double the risk of developing Alzheimer’s when compared with white Americans. Hispanics have about one and a half times the risk. But these groups were sorely underrepresented in Aduhelm’s trials. Less than 1% of participants were Black, and only 3% were Hispanic.
The FDA is now requiring Biogen to complete a more diverse new post-market confirmatory study to provide additional safety and efficacy data, which Katz says will likely add millions to drug development costs. The average post-market central nervous system trial costs $14 million, according to H1.
Aduhelm isn’t an outlier.
“This example is very representative of what you see across the entire industry,” Katz says.
Building a better trial
Every trial population should reflect the patients with that condition, Katz says. Technologies like H1’s global platform can help recruiters find them.
“Today we have about 10 million healthcare professionals on our platform, and we’re used across the whole healthcare ecosystem — from patients finding the right doctor, to a life sciences company finding the right doctor to run a clinical trial, to a payer finding the right doctor to insure and put in their health plan and network,” Katz says.
Locating the data is crucial to zeroing in on the right participants.
“Today, H1 is able to give a pharma company the race and ethnicity of every single patient that a doctor sees,” Katz says. The information is compiled using demographic data, self-reported patient data and information from partnerships with other sources. Recruiters can search by location to identify doctors that may treat the target group of patients.
For example, a search of Boston providers could identify a doctor who treats bladder cancer and has a higher percentage of Black or Hispanic patients. It also allows recruiters to see information about social determinants of health, such as patient income, education, or other factors.
“It lets me look at patient population before I actually reach out,” Katz says.
Having this information can have a tangible effect on recruitment. In some instances, users have seen as much as a 60% increase in the selection of diverse patients and physicians by using the platform, he says.
Keeping participants requires work
But Katz says it’s not enough for researchers to simply identify the right mix of people — organizations also need to ensure that the proper supports are in place to encourage participation and retention. One of the biggest challenges trials today face is building trust with historically underserved groups.
“If you have people that look like you and talk like you and that you can relate to … or you have a doctor that looks like you, or talks like you, it helps. You trust them more,” he says.
Language is another important consideration. H1 also helps to match people with providers that speak their language. Trials haven’t always done a good job accommodating non-English speakers.
Organizations should also look to meet participants where they live by adopting a decentralized trial model, Katz says.
“Walgreens and CVS just started running clinical trials. There’s a Walgreens and CVS in almost all communities,” Katz says. H1 is helping them find investigators to oversee these trials. Bringing trials into a familiar setting rather than making people travel can make research more convenient and appealing to a broader group.
Ultimately, building diversity into a trial requires commitment and investment.
“I would invest more into patient advocacy groups that have diverse patient populations. I would invest more into internal processes and communication and making sure that you’re actually reaching diverse communities, making sure you are finding physicians that see low- and middle-income patients,” Katz says.
Eventually, H1 would like to broaden its tools to include even more detailed information, such as an expertise in LGBTQ-related care, or whether buildings are wheelchair accessible.
“We don’t have that today, but we're working to get that, which we believe is the next generation of what patients need and what sponsors need and what life science companies need when they're thinking about enrolling patients,” Katz says.

domain: medical


Frank Lampard's Derby County "deserved" their shock win at Manchester United, says Rio Ferdinand.
The Rams silenced Old Trafford on Tuesday night, knocking the Red Devils out of the Carabao Cup on penalties.
A thrilling third round tie finished 2-2 after 90 minutes, with Harry Wilson and Jack Marriott both on target for Derby.
The Rams looked set to claim a dramatic victory in 90 minutes when Marriott put them 2-1 in front with his first goal for the club on 85 minutes, but a late equaliser from Marouane Fellaini for 10-man United sent the tie to spot kicks.
Derby won the shootout 8-7, Scott Carson the hero as he saved Phil Jones' penalty.
And former United defender Ferdinand, who played with Lampard at West Ham United and for England, congratulated the Rams after the final whistle.
"Deserved Win!" he wrote on Twitter, congratulating Lampard, his No.2 Jody Morris and the Derby players.


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Although a Chapter 13 case lasts so much longer than a Chapter 7 one, it often has huge advantages. But you have to complete it successfully. Once your Chapter 13 payment plan gets approved at the “confirmation hearing,” your case is on its way. Now you have to comply with that plan to get the advantages that Chapter … Read More
Most likely your Chapter 7 case will be completed successfully. But be aware of these essential steps to make sure it does happen. You’ve filed a Chapter 7 “straight bankruptcy” case, which stopped all creditor collections actions against you. About a month later you’ve gone through the Meeting of Creditors with the Chapter 7 trustee. Now within two more … Read More
These two requirements are quite straightforward to accomplish, but can trip you up if you don’t take care of them when you need to.

domain: law


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Trout, who grew up about 45 miles from Philadelphia in Millville, New Jersey, took a diplomatic approach in response to Chris Christie's assertion this week that the Phillies have an "angry, bitter fan base" filled with "awful people."
But he couldn't resist taking a playful jab at Christie and his NFL allegiances.
"As an Eagles fan, we're passionate about the team and we want them to win and to do good," Trout said. "In sports in general, [Phillies fans] love their teams.
"I think he's a Cowboys fan, right?" Trout said of Christie. "I'm sorry to hear that."
Trout, a five-time All-Star, cemented his reputation as Major League Baseball's best player by winning his second career MVP award in 2016. He beat out Boston's Mookie Betts to join Ernie Banks, Andre Dawson, Cal Ripken Jr. and Alex Rodriguez as only the fifth player in history to win the award while playing for a losing team.
Trout arrives in camp this spring with a new supporting cast that the Angels hope will be an improvement on the club that went 74-88 and finished fourth in the American League West. General manager Billy Eppler acquired Cameron Maybin, Danny Espinosa, Luis Valbuena, Ben Revere andMartin Maldonadoduring the offseason in an effort to upgrade an offense that ranked 10th in the league with 717 runs.
When asked about specific goals for 2017, Trout expressed a desire to steal 40 bases -- a threshold he hasn't reached since he stole 49 bases to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2012. Last year, Trout hit 29 home runs and recorded his 30th steal on the final day of the regular season against Houston.
"I wouldn't put anything past him," said Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun. "Would you put anything past him?"
Trout received an invitation to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic this spring, but declined to take part for what he called "personal" reasons. He said he plans to follow the event this spring and might participate "later down the road."
Trout got engaged to his high school girlfriend, Jessica Cox, last summer, and spent the offseason helping out with planning for the wedding, which is scheduled for November. He also shed his trademark flat-top haircut during the 2016 season and grew it out longer on the top. He plans to stick with the new look this season.
"Some of my teammates were complaining that I had the same buzz cut since third grade," Trout said. "When [Jered] Weaver was here, he has long hair, obviously, and a couple other guys were growing it out. I was like, 'Hey, maybe I should try it.' Jess liked it, so I decided to keep it."
Amid the lifestyle changes, trappings of stardom and a $144.5 million contract extension that he signed in March 2014, Trout has stayed remarkably similar to the humble kid who took Major League Baseball by storm five years ago. Upon arrival at Angels' camp Saturday, he took it upon himself to go from one locker stall to another and introduce himself to several of his new teammates.
"Mike hasn't changed a bit from the first day he stepped up here on a major league field," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "He probably hasn't changed since he was in high school. We have a lot of guys here who have to come together, and that's part of it. That's him being Mike."

domain: news


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The game has three classes of players; the F2P player who hasn’t spent one particular dime, the Preferred player that has spent some dough in the past or had been subscribed, and also the Subscribed player. F2P and Preferred players use a myriad of limitations, with F2P having some particularly egregious ones. Preferred players contain it a bit better, and Subscribers still need some limitations and not a whole lot.
“Legacy in the Sith continue to build upon Star Wars: The Old Republic’s dynamic Star Wars storyline, sending players with a military campaign to secure a crucial planet with regards to faction since they uncover the ultimate plan with the renegade Sith, Darth Malgus. The expansion also features enhancements to SWTOR’s player knowledge about the new feature, Combat Styles, that expand player options plus an array of standard of living upgrades. Star Wars fans could have an opportunity to rediscover the award-winning story of Star Wars: The Old Republic in Legacy from the Sith this Holiday season on PC and Steam, beginning the 10th anniversary celebration that can run throughout 2022 and introduce new content, events, updates plus much more.”
The Jedi Shadow will not fear wasting her Force Points at the start of a fight; she's few long cooldowns, along with a steadily refilling resource bar. Unlike Smugglers and Troopers, this resource bar will not regenerate at variable rates. The challenge in playing a Jedi Shadow correctly is careful treating several short-term cooldowns and interspersing low or no-cost abilities with medium and high cost abilities, to prevent missing an essential window of opportunity.


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November 7th, 2022, Auction starting at 5:30
A personal gift from Sol LeWitt to the current owner will be featured in Winter Associates’ November 7th live auction, along with a further mix of 19th C. to Modern art, Contemporary and Antique furniture, coins, jewelry, sterling, vintage clothing and textiles, Asian, Native American baskets and pottery, Oriental rugs, etc. from a variety of fine Connecticut homes in West Hartford, New Haven, Wilton and others.
The Sol LeWitt embossed paper assemblage is unique, the embossed hand-made paper triptych was created, mounted and framed by the artist and given as a gift to his friend and a fellow board member of the Wadsworth Atheneum. The artist, born in Hartford, Connecticut, is considered the founder of both Minimal and Conceptual Art as well as being the prolific creator of 2-D and 3-D works. Also in the sale are two carved stone sculptures by Richard Erdman. The taller of the works is of green onyx and rises to 27” h., while the other wider sculpture reaches 21” h. and is carved rose marble from Carrara, Italy, both with the seductive curves his sculptures are known for. A Joan Miro lithograph “Homage à Masson (Mourlot, # 1111)”, 1977, will also be offered in November’s sale.
Contemporary furniture by Knoll, John Stuart and Paul Kjaerhilm all from a Wilton, CT home manifest clean, linear designs. Four leather and chrome sling lounge chairs by Charles Pollack for Knoll, still with original seat cushions with Knoll labels underneath; a pair of John Stuart lounge chairs and glass top coffee table by Paul Kjaerhilm are good examples of mid-century design. Also from the same home are seven D. R. Dimes Windsor chairs and a collection of Native American and New England baskets.
For those with more traditional tastes are two handsome oils on canvas, one a winter landscape by Aldro Hibbard, featuring a winding brook cutting through ice, and the second by Wakeman Holberton, depicts a caught trout pulled ashore and is an excellent example of his work. Also in the same vein are a variety of etchings, lithographs and engravings by well-known artists including: J. F. Raffaelli, Mucha, Will Barnet, Whistler, Felixmueller, Helleu, Youngerman, Schwartz, Appel, Robbe, Soyer, Stobart, etc. Twentieth century lighting will include a signed Handel lamp and three lamps with painted shades with landscape scenes including two reverse.
Those thinking ahead for Holiday gifts may be inspired by the jewelry and silver offered with pieces from Tiffany & Company and others. A 14K bangle bracelet, gilt sterling taper candlesticks, flatware and a 19th C. covered butterdish are all from the famed retailer. Also being offered is a 14k engagement ring and matching wedding band with 1.82 cts. tw. of diamonds and a finely crafted 14K Elgin pendant watch. The sale also has high-quality vintage costume jewelry including Dior, Lisner, Hobe, etc., as well as few Schreiner type pieces.
The final phase of a New Haven textile collection will be offered. These early textiles vary, quilts including one quilt cover with signatures that appears to be for a church congregation, finely embroidered and beaded bags, late 19th C. dresses and jacket, a range of schoolgirl samplers, woolworks and other framed embroideries will be auctioned. Americana and other collectibles such as decoys, blanket chests, sailor art, a Victorian feather tree and over 100 early glass Christmas ornaments, an Edison Phonograph with cylinders (36), oil lamps including miniature; early candlesticks including 18th C. English and Continental, also 18th C. cooking pots and trivets, fireplace tools, etc. will be part of the November 7th sale.
This sale will be live at the Plainville CT gallery starting at 5:30pm on November 7th. Winter Associates’ auction catalog is available online at www.AuctionsAppraisers.com as of Friday, October 28th. Winter Associates, Inc. is located in central Connecticut at 21 Cooke Street in Plainville, CT. Previews are Friday, November 4th from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.; Sunday, November 6th from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.; and on Monday, November 7th from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Previewers are welcome at other times, please call to schedule an appointment. (860) 793-0288.
Absentee bids can be submitted prior to the sale and bidders are welcome to actively bid during the sale online or by phone bid. Pickup will be by appointment only, please call the office and we will do our best to accommodate you.
 Michael Kimmelman (April 9, 2007), Sol LeWitt, Master of Conceptualism, Dies at 78 New York Times.

domain: artistic


Before cell phones and digital cameras in general, people somehow used to sneak bulky VHS or S-VHS camcorders into intimate venues. With that said, Metallica have gone back even further in time to share the 1989 clip of their live performance of “Harvester of Sorrow” as a continuation to celebrate 30 years of 1988’s …And Justice For All. The video was filmed by Otto Weyer on August 7th, 1989 at the intimate Stone Balloon in Newark, DE.
On November 2nd, the remastered edition of …And Justice For All will arrive. Check out the performance clip below and pre-order the set here.


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Standard Jund deck
Jund is a midrange deck named after the shard Jund from Alara block. Jund established itself early in the Shards of Alara/Zendikar standard season as "the deck to beat" and remained a strong deck throughout the season.
Jund obtained several important cards from M10. It gained two dual lands (Dragonskull Summit and Rootbound Crag); this improved the mana base. Lightning Bolt replaced more expensive removal. It also gained a few creatures: Great Sable Stag, Master of the Wild Hunt, and Siege-Gang Commander.
With the printing of Verdant Catacombs, Jund's mana continued to improve; however, its mana base remained fragile. Two other cards from Zendikar allowed decks to exploit that weakness: Spreading Seas and Goblin Ruinblaster. Some Jund decks started to splash blue hoping to negate the Spreading Seas (often relying on Birds of Paradise and Terramorphic Expanse in case spreading seas wasn't cast), but this strategy never became common.
The Standard Jund deck rotated out with the release of Scars of Mirrodin in Fall 2010. Jund is notable because it marks one of the few years where the "Top Deck" in Type 2 does not usually contain any Blue.

domain: game


ROK to seek high-level talks with DPRK in late wide rubber braceletsMarchPersonalized And Unique Gift Ideas For Babies
SEOUL - The Republic of Korea (ROK) will seek to hold high-level talks with the Democratic People"s Republic of Korea (DPRK) later this month to prepare for the agreed inter-Korean summit, the Blue House said Friday.
Im Jong-seok, chief of staff for ROK President Moon Jae-in, told a press briefing that the Moon government will push for a senior-level dialogue with the DPRK in late March for the inter-Korean summit agreed to be held in late April.
The ROK planned to officially propose to the DPRK holding the talks, Im said after convening the first meeting of the presidential committee to prepare for the summit between President Moon and the DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un.
The first meeting, Im said, confirmed the upcoming inter-Korean summit should become a turning point to resolve the Korean Peninsula issues.
For the fundamental resolution, he said the committee will make preparations for the summit focusing on issues to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, dramatically defuse military tensions, build a permanent peace and advance new inter-Korean relations.
Aside from the preparation committee of the Blue House, a separate advisory group, composed of 30 to 40 members, will be formed to collection a wide range of public opinion and share the experiences of former government officials who had prepared for the past inter-Korean summits in 2000 and 2007, Im said.
Meanwhile, the ROK will seek to send its art troupe and demonstration team of Taekwondo, a traditional Korean martial art, to Pyongyang in early April as agreed upon.
Special envoys of President Moon visited Pyongyang earlier this month and met the DPRK leader, delivering Moon"s message to him.
Moon and Kim have agreed to hold their first meeting in late April at Peace House, a ROK building in the truce village of Panmunjom that straddles the two Koreas.
In addition to the summit, the ROK agreed to dispatch its artists and Taekwondo demonstrators to Pyongyang in return for the DPRK"s dispatch of its art troupe and demonstration team to the 23rd Winter Olympics hosted by the ROK"s Pyeongchang county in February.
The ROK delegation of artists and Taekwondo demonstrators will be headed by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong-hwan.
The two Koreas will hold working-level talks in Panmunjom next week to discuss ROK"s dispatch of its artists and demonstrators to Pyongyang next month, Im added.bride tribe wristbands bulk custom bracelets custom wristbands wellies and wristbands 2017 wrist band com coupon code


Democrat Bill White just put out a news release touting $9 million in the bank account for his challenge to Republican Gov. Rick Perry. We don’t have the data yet, so we aren’t able to tell who the top donors are at present. The White news release:
HOUSTON — At the end of the last filing period on June 30, more than 16,000 supporters had contributed to Bill White’s campaign for governor, propelling White towards November with over $9 million cash on hand.
Grassroots support for White is strong. More than 75 percent of individual contributors gave $100 or less and over 11,700 new contributors joined the team this period.
“Texans from all backgrounds and political viewpoints see Bill White as someone who’s in it for Texas. People in over 200 Texas counties have generously contributed to the campaign, and over 11,700 contributors this period were first-time donors,” said Scott Atlas, Campaign Finance Chair. “There’s a growing sense that Texans are ready for a new governor.”
In the first two fundraising periods after entering the governor’s race, White raised more dollars than Perry. Between late February and the end of June, contributors poured more than $7.4 million into White’s campaign, with more than $16.6 million raised for his campaign for governor since December 4.