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By Louise Bellamy
It's 7am on yet another icy Melbourne morning and Judith Hartley is in her car and heading for Kooyong Park where she takes her 10-year-old pug Mata every morning of every week. About 3pm they return there to repeat the hour-long regimen of walking and talking with fellow dog lovers.
Hartley, who is in her 80s, adopted Mata a year ago from a rescue shelter after her previous pug, Winston, died.
It was during her 10 years with Winston that she established her daily routine and forged close friendships with other dog owners. ''We used to have Christmas parties at each other's homes and picnics in the park when Winston was alive. Now there are fewer of us and Mata has become my constant companion.''
Widowed 18 years ago, Hartley says Mata sleeps on her bed, and goes wherever she goes. ''I cannot imagine what life would be without her.''
Kooyong Park is one of 100 dog parks within a 10-kilometre radius of Melbourne's CBD - including 20 off-leash parks, according to the website Doggo.com.au, which lists 1064 dog-friendly parks throughout Australia.
RSPCA president Hugh Wirth says the spread of dog parks reflects Australians' increasing love for - and dependence on - their pets. They are, says Wirth, an ''essential ingredient of community life''.
''Owners are sometimes older or living on their own and need the support of an environment where the two can mix. Both behave better in a social climate.''
According to the Australian Pet Ownership Survey, released on Sunday, Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, with approximately 25 million pets in about 63 per cent of the country's homes.
The survey, which was commissioned by the Animal Health Alliance, which represents several of the largest companies that manufacture animal healthcare products, reveals that Australians have 4.2 million pet dogs, 3.3 million cats, 10.7 million pet fish and 4.8 million birds.
Peek into suburban backyards and houses and you will also find 2.2 million small mammals such as guinea pigs, and assorted reptiles.
Nor are Australians reluctant to spend what it takes to keep their pets happy and healthy. At present they are outlaying about $8 billion a year on pets and their care.
Not surprisingly, pet ownership is highest among people with free-standing houses - 68 per cent - while 39 per cent of people living in units or apartments keep pets. But higher-density living has not dimmed people's enthusiasm for their pets, with many apartment and unit dwellers prepared to pay more rent or strata fees to have a pet.
According to a 2010 Petcare Information and Advisory Service report, Pets in the City, people living in smaller dwellings tend to choose smaller breeds of dogs such as Maltese terriers and Maltese crossbreeds, Chihuahuas and shih-tzus. They also keep birds and fish.
''High-rise living has not changed that urge humans have to incorporate pets in their lives,'' says Dr Tim Adams, a trustee at the Australian Anthrozoology Research Foundation. ''They bring health benefits and, very importantly, joy.''
Associate Professor Lisa Wood, a research fellow at the University of Western Australia's Centre for the Built Environment and Health, points to the Sydney suburb of Pyrmont, two kilometres from the CBD, where more than 2600 people and 200 dogs live on an 11.7-hectare estate ''in what has become one of Australia's largest pet-friendly waterfront developments''.
There, she says, residents have formed the Pyrmont Pooch Party which meets regularly to hold parties for pets and their owners. In Melbourne, high-density pet accommodation includes Freshwater Place at Southbank and 70 Lorimer Street, Docklands.
Not only is Australians' bond with their pets as strong as ever, pets are also being valued for other benefits they provide on top of companionship.
Wood says that with people becoming concerned about the breakdown of community, pets ''are emerging as valuable and positive features in community and neighbourhood life''.
Research also suggests they can be of significant social, psychological and health benefit.
Citing a Deakin University report, Wood notes dog ownership can help address some health problems such as obesity. Looking at 1100 children aged between five and 12 years, Associate Professor Jo Salmon from the school of exercise and nutrition sciences found the greatest benefit was seen in five to six year-olds who had dogs; they were 50 per cent less likely to be obese compared to those without.
Wood also refers to RSPCA research showing that cat and dog ownership saved approximately $3.86 billion in health expenditure over one year because owning a pet reduced blood pressure and cholesterol levels and lowered the incidence of depression in owners.
Teenagers with pets were more positive and less lonely; younger children who had a dog, cat, fish or bird were less likely to miss days of school.
Associate Professor Pauleen Bennett from the school of psychological science at La Trobe University believes pets are playing an increasingly important role in our lives, particularly dogs.
''Dogs are good at working out what humans are communicating. Better than other humans in some cases. This means that they can give us what we want. Cats who started killing rodents when we started storing grain were just inadvertently doing us a favour rather than working with us co-operatively.
''Over time we have become more needful to feel valued in this relationship of unconditional love and loyalty, and have the discretionary time and money to develop this relationship.''
Bennett says while relationships between people are complex, relationships between people and pets are not. ''Dogs love you no matter what and this is really important for our psychological health. Even really successful people still dote on their dogs because they receive something from their dogs that they don't receive from other people, no matter how successful they are.
''Cats tick different boxes. They sleep 18 hours a day, you don't have to exercise them and while dogs want attention a lot of the time, cats are less demanding.''
Cathy Tricarico, who has been breeding British shorthair cats for more than 20 years, agrees. The owner of Bertie, 13, and Blueprint, 12, and a handful of other cats she uses for breeding, Tricarico says while Australians are still great cat lovers, the type of owners is changing.
''Previously families bought cats. Now it's the twentysomethings who have moved out of home and want a low-key pet which isn't very demanding.''
Birds, on the other hand, says Bennett, are more like dogs. And Matt Baird, vice-president of the Avicultural Society of Australia, which has more than 2000 members, says his African grey parrot, Harold (who is female) interacts with his family as much as his dogs do.
Baird, who is also a breeder, says one in three people now have a pet bird and the numbers are growing. ''Harold mimics the ringtone of the home phone, tells the kids to behave, cuddles up and watches the telly, asks to be tickled and lifts up her wing. ''She mimics everything she hears, flutters her wings when she sees the car pull up and is just as affectionate as any dog.''
Anthrozoologist Hal Herzog, in his celebrated 2011 book on the relationship between animals and humans, Some we love, some we hate, some we eat, writes ''the human-pet relationship (and particularly with dogs and cats) is going into a new phase. In recent years they have come to be regarded as full-fledged family members.''
This is in sharp contrast to their early relationships with humans, ''when dogs were expected to herd, hunt, guard, pull carts and even churn butter'' and ''cats were tolerated more as biological mousetraps''.
Pauleen Bennett, who set up the Australian Anthrozoology Research Foundation in 2011 to raise money to conduct research into the health benefits of having pets, says pets are increasingly fulfilling the role previously filled by other people.
They introduce an element of simplicity into a complex world. ''In a world where royals, politicians and sportspeople have fallen off their pedestals, pets provide honest role models. They will be there no matter what. You don't have to wait for them to ring you or to apologise for anything.
''They improve people's physical and mental wellbeing, help blind and deaf people, and though they don't cure cancer, they're responsible for so many people's improved quality of life and we would be a much poorer community without them.''
ADELE Mapperson is a Uniting Church minister and the only chaplain believed to be working in an animal hospital in Australia.
Formerly a chaplain at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, she has been at Lort Smith Animal Hospital in North Melbourne for the past two years, supporting people who are grieving over the death of a pet or are agonising about euthanasing their pet.
''It's such a complicated issue - the human right to put an animal down which may seem selfish,'' she says.
''People ask me, 'will God be angry with me, where does my pet go?' I had to sit down and work out how to respond to these frequently raised questions. It's not a question of religion but one of pastoral care.
''You find love where you find it, it is no less real or valuable if that love is for a pet and people need to know their grief is honoured.''
The owner of three dogs and a couple of donkeys, Mapperson says some people who often find themselves let down in their relationships with others find it easier to have a pet. ''Pets don't ask much, yet add incredible dimensions to our lives.''
Lort Smith and Dogs Victoria run programs supported by dog owners who take their dogs, who are screened to ensure they are suitable, to visit facilities such as aged care homes and hospitals.
Janette Wilson's cavalier King Charles spaniel, Bingo, visits a home for people with dementia every fortnight. Wilson, who is also involved with dancing dogs, a burgeoning movement where owners and their dogs perform at competitive levels to three-minute songs, says these visits are incredibly rewarding.
''The people we visit love Bingo, put him on their knee, talk about a pet they had and sometimes we perform our tricks.''
EVERY Monday is dog night at Prahran's Flying Duck Hotel, when about 20 people and their dogs gather in the beer garden to hang out. Sometimes they raffle a meat platter, other nights there's a prize for the best behaved dog.
Maria Tremain drives 50 minutes from Berwick for the occasion with her two dogs, who she calls her ''boys''. Ralph and Chester are 10-year-old brothers who came from a rescue shelter and she thinks they are half-Chihuahua, half-Pomeranian.
Tremain says while she enjoys her ''human'' nights out at people-only social events, she feels guilty leaving ''the boys'' at home.
''The Flying Duck is their night out to enjoy. We make the trip, rain, hail or shine. They know which nights it's on too. When we turn into Malvern Road, Ralph starts whining. If he was a human I'm sure he would be saying, 'Are we there yet?'''
Tremain says that generally cafes don't allow dogs inside the premises and she feels ostracised sitting outside. ''At the pub they can roam about freely. Why should humans have all the fun?''
Louise Bellamy is a Melbourne journalist.


The pipe of the racism piper is playing and the lemmings hear the call. One after another politicians run to the front of the political correctness cliff and jump off blathering about how the Confederate flag has to come down and even how the next symbol of oppression must also find the dustbin of history:… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Liberal Hypocrisy
Boy, if it wasn’t for hypocrisy there would be no such thing as a liberal. Jonathan Stewart, master of finding the front of a parade, blasted Rand Paul last night about something Paul said about vaccinations: “But your choice puts other people in jeopardy — just ask a doctor,” Stewart said. He cut to Sen…. Read more »
I got to thinking the other day- what if we were all liberals? What would the world look like? Before you get riled up, read on. What if all men were Bill Clinton? We could talk up women’s rights but in real life take advantage of young women, be sexual predators and serial harassers. What… Read more »
Billionaire Oprah Winfrey is planning a tour to help you with your life. The Oprah Winfrey experience is coming to an arena near you. Starting in September, Winfrey will set out on an eight-city Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend tour. The plan: pack 18,000-seat arenas for a two-day experience featuring a keynote by Winfrey,… Read more »
It’s been reported that Barack Obama is going focus on income inequality in his SOTU speech: President Obama will try to pump some vitality into a lackluster second term on Tuesday when he delivers his State of the Union address. The address will include a “healthy dose” of the income inequality message the White House… Read more »
I know, I know. “Liberal hypocrite gasbag” is redundant, but still…. Ed Schultz is an even worse reprobate than you thought. Schultz is one of the liberal gasbags on PMSNBC who reside in the town of Hypocrisy Heights. Schultz is quick to pile onto the mythical conservative “war on women” despite his own reported history… Read more »
Someone gassed between 350 and 1,400 people in Syria, depending on which liar fits into your political agenda; however, North Korea can starve tens of thousands, many of them children, and the international community with its organizers are painfully silent. Kim Jung-un battles no one but his own people: Assad is in a desperate battle… Read more »
We had our debate last night, and as was expected, Crowley made her partisan views and bias a significant factor in the debate: if you deny this obvious fact, you suffer from willful ignorance or you are so lost in your bias your sanity might be in question.
Crowley let it be known, before the debate, she planned to inject her influence into the debate; after all, she has a superior intellect and is a member of the elite cadre of media engaged in the reelection of Obama. How could anyone expect or ask that she be a neutral moderator, with such superior talent, she needs to be an active participant and personality within the debate. Who knew the debate, between men vying for the most powerful position in the world, required the participation of an obvious shill for Obama to clap for Obama and allow him extra time to make crucial points because they are “important.”
I remember hearing my creative writing instructor say, we should write about things we are familiar with and understand. I repeat this advice to myself at least once a week; my old writing instructor’s words have served well as a guide, but they have never been humorous until today.
Robin Abcarian was probably excited about the prospect of covering the horsey story of Ann Romney, while trying to gain political traction for the failed presidency of Barack Obama; however, writing an article on a minnow in the shark tank and trying to expose the secrets of life in the shark world is laughable.


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Dead Men and Broken HeartsBook - 2012
November 1956. The world is in turmoil. While the Suez Crisis and the Hungarian Uprising boil away in the background, Lennox has more immediate concerns, like getting his personal life, and his business, back on track. So, when a woman comes into Lennox's office and hires him to follow her husband, whom she suspects of leading a double life, it seems the perfect case. Straightforward, typical - if a little sordid - and most of all, legal. But as he begins to dig deeper, Lennox realizes that this is no ordinary case of marital infidelity. He finds himself caught by the police in a room with a dead body; pursued by shadowy members of the intelligence community; and once more a target of the Three Kings, the crime bosses who between them run Glasgow's underworld. Lennox must again draw on the violent, war-damaged part of his personality that he has tried to keep buried, in order to survive.
Publisher: London : Quercus, 2012
Description: 409 p. ; 24 cm
Branch Call Number: Russ

domain: library


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Painting a sky with acrylics is a delightful artistic endeavor that allows you to capture the captivating beauty of nature on canvas. With the versatility of acrylic paints, you can easily create stunning skies with a variety of colors and textures. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, this guide will provide you with valuable tips and techniques to create a mesmerizing sky painting using acrylics.
First, start by selecting the colors for your sky. Consider the time of day and the mood you want to convey in your artwork. For a serene daytime sky, choose shades of blue and white. For a vibrant sunset or sunrise, experiment with warm hues like oranges, pinks, and purples.
Next, prepare your canvas by applying a thin layer of gesso to create a smooth surface. This will help the paint adhere better and allow you to blend colors seamlessly. Once the gesso is dry, sketch the outline of your sky using a pencil.
As you begin painting, remember to work from the top of the canvas downwards. Start by applying a light base color, gradually building up the layers to create depth and dimension. Use a large brush and broad strokes to cover larger areas of the sky.
For added realism, try incorporating different brush techniques such as dry brushing or stippling to create texture in the clouds. Blend the colors gently with a clean brush or a sponge to achieve a soft, ethereal effect
Creating Realistic Clouds in the Sky with Acrylics
Painting clouds can bring life and depth to any landscape painting. With acrylics, you can easily create realistic and vibrant clouds that add a touch of magic to your artwork. In this section, we will explore the step-by-step process of painting clouds using acrylic paints.
Gather Your Materials
Before you start painting, make sure you have all the necessary materials at hand. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:
- Acrylic paints in various shades of white, gray, and blue
- Paintbrushes in different sizes, including flat and round brushes
- A palette or a mixing surface
- A canvas or a painting surface
- A cup of water
- Paper towels
Prepare Your Workspace
Find a comfortable and well-lit area to set up your workspace. Lay down a protective covering to avoid any accidental spills or stains on your working surface.
Start with a Base Color
Begin by applying a thin layer of blue paint to your canvas. This will serve as the base color for the sky. Use a large flat brush and apply the paint in horizontal strokes to create a smooth and even background.
Add Depth with Layers
To achieve a realistic cloud effect, you’ll need to build up layers of paint. Start by mixing a light gray color using white and a touch of black or blue. Use a round brush to apply this mixture in soft circular motions, creating the shape of the clouds.
Continue adding layers of varying shades of gray and white, blending them together using gentle brush strokes. Remember to leave some areas of the base color peeking through to add depth and dimension to your clouds.
Create Highlights and Shadows
To make your clouds appear more three-dimensional, add highlights and shadows. Mix a lighter shade of white and apply it to the areas where the light hits the clouds. Use a smaller brush and apply the paint in short, feathery strokes.
For the shadows, mix a darker shade of gray and lightly brush it along the edges of the clouds. This will create a sense of depth and realism.
Refine and Blend
Take a step back and assess your painting. Use a clean brush to blend any harsh lines or edges. Soften the transitions between colors to create a seamless and natural-looking sky.
Once you are satisfied with the overall appearance of your clouds, you can add any additional details or elements to your painting. This could include birds, trees, or other elements that complement your desired landscape.
Allow your painting to dry completely before adding any final touches or varnishing.
Creating realistic clouds with acrylics is a rewarding process that allows you to bring life and movement to your artwork. By layering different shades of white, gray, and blue, you can achieve a sense of depth and realism. Remember to blend your colors and add highlights and shadows to create a three-dimensional effect. With practice and experimentation, you’ll be able to paint stunning clouds that add a touch of magic to your paintings.
Mastering Different Techniques for Painting a Sky
Painting a sky is an essential skill for any artist, as it sets the mood and atmosphere of a painting. Whether you are creating a landscape, a seascape, or a cityscape, mastering different techniques for painting a sky can greatly enhance the overall composition of your artwork. In this section, we will explore various techniques that you can use to paint a realistic and expressive sky.
1. Wet-on-Wet Technique
The wet-on-wet technique involves applying paint onto a wet surface, allowing the colors to blend and create soft transitions. This technique is ideal for painting vibrant and dynamic skies, such as those seen during sunrise or sunset. To paint a sky using the wet-on-wet technique, start by wetting your canvas or paper with a clean brush or water spray. Then, apply the desired colors onto the wet surface and use a brush or palette knife to blend them together. This technique allows for the seamless blending of colors and the creation of dramatic sky effects.
2. Dry Brush Technique
The dry brush technique involves using a dry brush with minimal paint to create texture and depth in the sky. This technique is perfect for painting cloudy or stormy skies, where you want to capture the rough and textured appearance of the clouds. To paint a sky using the dry brush technique, load a small amount of paint onto a dry brush and lightly drag it across the surface, allowing the bristles to create uneven strokes and texture. This technique adds a sense of realism and dimension to your sky.
3. Glazing Technique
The glazing technique involves applying thin layers of transparent or translucent paint over an already dried base layer. This technique is ideal for painting subtle and soft skies, such as those seen on a clear day or during dusk. To paint a sky using the glazing technique, start by applying a solid base layer of color. Once the base layer is completely dry, mix a small amount of transparent or translucent paint with a glazing medium and apply it gently over the base layer. This technique allows for the gradual build-up of color and creates a luminous and ethereal effect.
4. Impasto Technique
The impasto technique involves applying thick layers of paint onto the canvas or paper, creating texture and depth. This technique is ideal for painting stormy or turbulent skies, where you want to capture the energy and movement of the clouds. To paint a sky using the impasto technique, load a large amount of paint onto a palette knife or a stiff brush and apply it directly to the surface with bold and expressive strokes. This technique adds a sense of drama and intensity to your sky.
5. Stippling Technique
The stippling technique involves creating a sky using small dots or strokes of paint, creating a stippled or pointillist effect. This technique is perfect for painting starry nights or distant skies, where you want to capture the twinkling of stars or the softness of distant clouds. To paint a sky using the stippling technique, load a small brush with a small amount of paint and gently tap or stroke it onto the surface, creating a pattern of dots or strokes. This technique adds a sense of delicacy and detail to your sky.
By mastering these different techniques for painting a sky, you can expand your artistic repertoire and create stunning and realistic skies in your artworks. Experiment with these techniques and find the ones that resonate with your artistic style and the mood you wish to convey. With practice and experimentation, you can confidently paint skies that enhance the overall composition of your paintings.
Adding Depth and Dimension to Your Acrylic Sky
Acrylic painting is a versatile medium that allows artists to create vibrant and dynamic skies. By mastering techniques to add depth and dimension to your acrylic sky, you can bring your paintings to life and evoke a sense of realism. In this section, we will explore various methods and tips to enhance your skies.
1. Layering Colors
One effective way to create depth in your acrylic sky is by layering colors. Start by applying a base layer of the lightest color that represents the overall tone of the sky. Then, gradually build up the layers by introducing darker shades and contrasting colors. This technique mimics the natural transition of colors in the sky, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
When layering colors, it’s essential to consider the position of the light source. Add highlights and shadows accordingly to enhance the three-dimensional effect. By blending and overlapping the layers, you can achieve a more realistic and textured sky.
2. Using Atmospheric Perspective
Another technique to add depth to your acrylic sky is by employing atmospheric perspective. This principle suggests that objects in the distance appear lighter, less detailed, and have a bluish hue due to the presence of atmospheric particles. By incorporating these elements into your sky, you can create the illusion of depth and distance.
To achieve this effect, start by painting the foreground sky with more vibrant and saturated colors. As you move towards the background, gradually lighten the colors and add a touch of blue. This gradual shift in tones will make the sky appear deeper and create a sense of space.
3. Creating Clouds with Texture
Clouds play a significant role in adding dimension and interest to your acrylic sky. To create realistic-looking clouds, consider using various techniques to add texture.
You can use a dry brush technique to create wispy and feathery clouds. Load a dry brush with a small amount of paint and lightly drag it across the canvas, leaving behind thin streaks. This method mimics the appearance of soft, distant clouds.
For more defined and fluffy clouds, use a palette knife to apply thick and impasto strokes. This technique adds texture and depth to the clouds, making them appear more three-dimensional.
4. Incorporating Atmospheric Effects
To further enhance the depth and dimension of your acrylic sky, consider incorporating atmospheric effects such as sunsets, sunrises, and haze. These elements not only add visual interest but also create a sense of atmosphere in your painting.
When painting sunsets or sunrises, use warm, vibrant colors near the horizon and gradually transition to cooler tones as you move upwards. This color gradient creates depth and captures the ethereal beauty of these natural phenomena.
Haze can be achieved by adding a thin layer of translucent white or gray paint over your sky. This technique softens the edges and adds a sense of distance, creating a hazy and atmospheric effect.
5. Experimenting with Brushstrokes and Blending
Lastly, don’t be afraid to experiment with different brushstrokes and blending techniques to add depth and dimension to your acrylic sky.
Using various brush sizes and styles, such as flat brushes for wide strokes or fan brushes for softer edges, can create different effects and textures in the sky. You can also try wet-on-wet blending, where you apply wet paint onto wet paint, to achieve seamless transitions and gradients.
Remember to step back and observe your painting from a distance to ensure the overall effect is cohesive and captures the desired depth and dimension.
Adding depth and dimension to your acrylic sky involves layering colors, using atmospheric perspective, creating clouds with texture, incorporating atmospheric effects, and experimenting with brushstrokes and blending. By mastering these techniques and adding your artistic flair, you can create captivating and realistic skies that bring a sense of life and atmosphere to your acrylic paintings.
Enhancing Your Sky Painting with Unique Textures and Details
When it comes to creating a beautiful sky painting, adding unique textures and details can elevate your artwork to new heights. By incorporating these elements into your composition, you can bring depth, dimension, and visual interest to your sky. In this section, we will explore various techniques and ideas to enhance your sky painting with unique textures and details.
1. Cloud Formation and Textures
One of the most effective ways to add texture and detail to your sky painting is by focusing on the formation and depiction of clouds. Clouds are not only visually appealing but also provide an opportunity to introduce different textures and patterns into your artwork.
You can experiment with various cloud formations such as cumulus, stratus, or cirrus clouds. Each type of cloud has its own unique texture, shape, and appearance. By studying reference images or observing the sky in real life, you can gain inspiration and understanding of how to accurately capture and represent different cloud formations.
To create realistic cloud textures, you can use techniques like dry brushing, stippling, or glazing. These techniques allow you to build up layers of paint, creating a sense of depth and three-dimensionality. Additionally, you can use different brush sizes and shapes to vary the texture and create a more dynamic sky.
2. Atmospheric Effects
Another way to enhance your sky painting is by incorporating atmospheric effects. These effects add realism and create a sense of depth in your artwork. Atmospheric effects include elements such as haze, mist, or atmospheric perspective.
To create the illusion of distance and depth, you can use the technique of atmospheric perspective. This technique involves gradually reducing the saturation, contrast, and detail of objects as they recede into the background. By applying this technique to your sky, you can create a sense of depth and distance, making your painting more visually compelling.
Haze and mist can also add a mysterious and ethereal quality to your sky painting. You can achieve this effect by using soft brush strokes and blending techniques to create a soft, diffused look. Additionally, you can experiment with glazing techniques to create subtle shifts in color and tone, adding to the atmospheric effect.
3. Incorporating Unique Elements
To infuse your sky painting with a sense of uniqueness and creativity, consider incorporating unconventional elements and details. These elements can add personality and make your artwork stand out.
For example, you can add birds or other flying creatures to your sky painting. Birds in flight can create a sense of movement and life in your artwork. Additionally, you can experiment with adding other unique elements such as hot air balloons, kites, or even celestial objects like shooting stars or a vibrant rainbow.
By thoughtfully incorporating these elements into your composition, you can create a narrative or evoke specific emotions in your viewers. Remember to pay attention to scale, placement, and balance to ensure that these unique details complement and enhance the overall composition of your sky painting.
4. Adding Dynamic Lighting
Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood and atmosphere of your sky painting. By incorporating dynamic lighting effects, you can create a sense of drama and visual interest.
One technique to add dynamic lighting is by introducing a sunrise or sunset scene. These moments provide a golden opportunity to play with warm, vibrant colors and create striking contrasts between light and shadow. Additionally, you can experiment with the interplay of light and clouds, capturing the rays of sunlight filtering through the clouds.
Another way to add dynamic lighting is by depicting the sky during different weather conditions. You can explore the dramatic lighting effects of a stormy sky, with dark, brooding clouds and moments of intense light breaking through.
Overall, by considering the lighting conditions and experimenting with different techniques, you can bring a sense of energy and visual impact to your sky painting.
Enhancing your sky painting with unique textures and details is a wonderful way to take your artwork to the next level. By focusing on cloud formation and textures, incorporating atmospheric effects, adding unique elements, and playing with dynamic lighting, you can create a captivating sky painting that stands out. Remember to experiment, observe the sky, and let your creativity soar to achieve stunning results.
1. How can I paint a sky with acrylics?
To paint a sky with acrylics, start by choosing the colors you want to use. Use a large brush to paint the sky with a base color, blending it smoothly. Then, add lighter colors near the horizon and darker colors as you move upwards. Use a dry brush technique to create clouds, and blend them with the surrounding colors. Finally, add details like stars or a sunset if desired.
2. What techniques can I use to create a realistic sky with acrylics?
To create a realistic sky with acrylics, you can use techniques like wet-on-wet blending, dry brushing, and layering. Wet-on-wet blending involves applying wet paint onto a wet surface to achieve smooth transitions between colors. Dry brushing creates texture and depth by using a dry brush with a small amount of paint. Layering involves building up multiple transparent layers to create depth and luminosity in the sky.
3. Are there any tips for painting a sky with acrylics?
Here are some tips for painting a sky with acrylics: Use a reference photo for inspiration and guidance. Start with a light hand and gradually build up the colors and details. Use different brush sizes to create different effects. Experiment with different techniques to achieve the desired look. Practice blending and layering to create smooth transitions. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them.
In conclusion, painting a sky with acrylics can be a fun and fulfilling artistic endeavor. With a few simple techniques and a bit of practice, you can create stunning and realistic skies that will add depth and beauty to your paintings. Remember to start with a solid understanding of color theory and to use a variety of brush strokes to create texture and movement in your sky. Don’t be afraid to experiment and let your creativity soar as you blend and layer different shades and hues. With patience and perseverance, you’ll be able to master the art of painting a captivating sky with acrylics.

domain: artistic


text:
Privatizing alcohol sales dangerous
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Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government is again pushing for further privatization of alcohol sales in the province, after its last attempt was one of the five bills withdrawn in October 2021 following Brian Pallister’s resignation as premier.
Most notably, this new attempt in the form of Bill 38 and 42 — strongly supported by powerful industry lobby groups — proposes expansion of all types of alcohol to private retailers and opens the door to eventual sale of alcohol in grocery stores.
Just like last time, this is a terrible idea that prioritizes the profits of privately owned retailers over public health, decent unionized work and equitable access to alcohol. Rather than ceding more ground to privatization, the public service should instead by improved, strengthened and expanded.
Alcohol is no ordinary commodity. In 2017, the substance contributed to 18,000 deaths and more than 100,000 hospitalizations in Canada; globally, an estimated three million people die each year as a result of alcohol-related harms.
These impacts are incredibly diverse: traumatic injuries from drunk driving, accidents and interpersonal and often gender-based violence; cardiovascular and digestive diseases; multiple cancers, including of the throat, liver and breast; fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs); mental health issues; and development of alcohol use disorders (AUDs).
Contrary to persistent alcohol industry narratives such as the largely discredited “French paradox,” which alleges unique health-boosting properties in red wine, there is no amount of alcohol that is “good” for you. Risk of experiencing alcohol-related harms exists on a spectrum of regular use, in combination with variables such as age, socioeconomic status and medical history, but lower quantities of per-session and total consumption keep chances relatively marginal.
However, this threshold tends to be far lower than often imagined: the UK’s world-leading guidelines recommend a regular intake of no more than 14 “units” of alcohol per week to keep one’s lifetime risk of dying from an alcohol-related harm at less than one in 100.
With a “unit” defined as 10 mL of pure alcohol, this works out to about one 355 mL can of five per cent beer or one 150 mL glass of 12 per cent wine a day. Regularly exceeding that amount starts to increase one’s risk of alcohol-related harm, slowly, but surely.
Likely unsurprisingly, many Canadians — especially men — drink considerably more than this scientifically established threshold of about 7.3 litres of pure alcohol a year. In 2016, male drinkers in Canada drank an average of 18.9 litres, more than double the recommended limit.
The problem is that this kind of risky consumption is extremely profitable for the alcohol industry. A 2018 study of English drinking found that close to two-thirds of industry revenues came from above-guideline use, including 81 per cent of sales from “off-trade” retailers such as supermarkets and liquor stores, and that reducing national consumption to low-risk levels would cost industry an estimated £13 billion (C$21 billion) a year.
As concluded by the researchers, “significantly reducing harmful and hazardous drinking cannot be in the interests of the alcohol industry.”
This is the public-health threat embedded in the revamped legislation of Bill 38 and 42. State-owned alcohol monopolies are far from perfect — especially given recent securitization trends — but they can function to effectively moderate the profit motive, manage access and pricing (including in rural areas), and ensure decent work for employees.
Concealed in the guise of consumer choice, privatization of retail does the precise opposite, with the Toronto-based Centre for Addiction and Mental Health arguing it leads to “increase in density of alcohol outlets, longer hours of sales, increase in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm.”
Minister Scott Fielding has claimed further privatization won’t impact Manitoba Liquor sales. This “stretches believability,” according to MGEU president Kyle Ross, and ignores the PC government’s established disdain for public services and global evidence of how gradual privatization erodes state-owned monopolies.
For instance, volume and revenues at Finland’s Alko monopoly have been progressively undermined with bolstered licensing to private retailers.
The answer to this must be a radical improvement of Manitoba Liquor Marts, not undercutting their ability to serve Manitobans. Rather than further privatizing retail, Manitoba Liquor should receive considerable supports for a bolstered public health role, such as expanding the number of stores (including in rural areas), de-securitizing stores and promoting safety with non-violent crisis intervention, offering resources and funding for alcohol-specific harm reduction, and potentially integrating cannabis sales.
This new privatization push should be categorically refused, and should instead inspire a reimagining of the publicly owned retailer to promote lower-risk and equitable access to alcohol. Alcohol is a serious public-health issue, and must be retailed as such.
James Wilt is a Winnipeg-based writer who has published extensively on issues about alcohol. He is the author of an upcoming book about global alcohol politics.

domain: news


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Valentine’s day is a day of celebrating and sharing love with friends, families, lovers and even enemies. Today being February 14, one of the most anticipated and celebrated day of the year, many Nigerians have planned and prepared ways to celebrate their love ones in very different and interesting ways by exchanging gifts, dinner dates and even going as far as sharing sweet and romantic videos expressing their love and appreciation to their love ones on social media. Love truly makes us do crazy things.
Since we are celebrating love, these celebrity couples; Funke and husband JJC, Ik and wife Olohi and Timi and wife Busola Dakolo share what they love about being married. These couples response will make you want to be married if you’re single or be happy to be married. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Watch the video below:

domain: sociology


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New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics Signs on as Pre-K Our Way Advocate
The New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (NJAAP), which represents more than 1,700 pediatricians throughout New Jersey, announced today their advocacy-level support for Pre-K Our Way and the expansion of high-quality, preschool to more New Jersey three- and four-year olds.
“Quality pre-kindergarten education is one of the wisest investments in the future health and education of all children,” said Fran Gallagher, MEd, Executive Director of NJAAP. “The New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, representing over 1,700 pediatricians across the state, enthusiastically supports the Pre-K Our Way initiative to expand access to New Jersey’s existing high-quality preschool program to more, if not all, of New Jersey’s three- to four-year-olds. Pre-K Our Way links the data and scientific findings with an exceptional intervention plan for young children across NJ – an investment to help ensure todays’ youth are ready for tomorrow’s work force.”
According to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University, 90 percent of physical brain development occurs in the first three years of life. Early interactions between children and adults build a foundation for our kids’ ability to learn, interact with people and apply knowledge. Skills developed in early childhood drive a host of adult outcomes including higher education, higher wages, healthier lifestyles, better health, greater productivity and stronger families according to research by Nobel Laureate economist James Heckman.
“Pediatricians know that education begins at birth not at age five when many New Jersey kids enter kindergarten,” said Sam Crane of Pre-K Our Way. “The medical community understands the importance that early learning and socialization provided by high-quality preschool can have on the long-term developmental outcomes for our children. That is why it is so important to Pre-K Our Way that the New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics has announced their support for the expansion of high-quality, preschool to more New Jersey children.”
Pre-K Our Way is a community-driven, nonpartisan, nonprofit effort to bring New Jersey’s effective, high-quality preschool program to each of our communities. Existing state law calls for the expansion of New Jersey’s proven, high-quality preschool programs from fewer than its current 40 towns to 90 more communities across New Jersey. Pre-K Our Way wants to expand the quality preschool model for three- to four-year-olds that New Jersey already has by fully implementing the law.
The New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics is a statewide advocacy organization, representing more than 1,700 pediatricians, dedicated to improving the health, safety and well-being of children, from infants to young adults, throughout New Jersey. It works to promote pediatricians as the best-qualified health professionals to provide health care to children. With this announcement of support, NJAAP joins more than 50 community-based and statewide organizations supporting the expansion of New Jersey’s existing preschool program to more communities across the state.


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Ah, 1 More Castle! Finally! Most of you have probably seen me roaming about the site quite frequently, I assume my arrival doesn’t come as much of a surprise. As a gaming enthusiast and hobbyist blogger, I had been thinking of creating a series for this wonderful site, but, despite my creative endeavors, no idea came to mind, until now.
I’ve been analyzing a lot of successful websites, looking for what 1 More Castle might be missing. To be honest, the website is already full of content: The professional reviews of the Retro Critic, Genesis Moss, Alex Weiss, Chris Carboni and Tom Hall, the showcasing of little known games by Joe Walker and Alana Dunitz, the entertainment provided by the podcast, the rants of Joshua Caleb, the Countdowns of Eric Vole, the musings of Dustin Faber and Zack Smith and the incredibly hard-working hands-on journalism team of GMZ (I am probably forgetting someone), what could 1 More Castle possibly lack?

domain: entertainment


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The Wilson sisters tell a story of Heart with soul in rollicking memoir
Heart's story opens in October 1975 at Lucifer's, a Calgary club that couldn't exactly be called Carnegie Hall. The classic rock band's core, Ann Wilson, who sang and played flute, and her younger sister, guitarist Nancy, had relocated from the States to Canada because Ann was living with the band's manager Michael Fisher, a draft dodger. Nancy, meanwhile, entered into a relationship with Michael's brother Roger Fisher, Heart's guitarist.
"The club treated us to dinner before the show. We were thankful for it, because we often ate brown rice cooked on a camp stove in our hotel room," Ann writes in the pair's new memoir. "But the food the club served had a suspicious odor. Actually, it tasted like Pine-Sol. I began to wonder if Lucifer's was trying to poison us because we weren't a disco band."
Heart was not long for Lucifer's, maybe because of Ann's comment on stage about the aromatic fare before performing "Crazy on You," which was still many months away from becoming a hit, or because Roger splashed a bottle of Grand Marnier on the dressing room floor and lit it on fire in homage to Jimi Hendrix at Monterey.
Decades later in 2008, Jake Brown's "Heart in the Studio" offered valuable insight into Heart's recordings. Brown's book secured interviews with the Wilsons, along with former producers, so the paperback proved unusually informative.
But Heart's story beyond the music hasn't been sufficiently detailed until the thorough and entertaining "Kicking & Dreaming." The joint autobiography traces the history of a pioneering '70s rock group fronted by two sisters at a time when women didn't commonly lead rock bands. The Wilson family story also dovetails with the culture of America at the end of World War II, through the Korean War and the Vietnam conflict, which ultimately determined the setting of Heart's origin.
The briskly paced book arrives in a busy year for the sisters, who, in addition to writing this memoir, compiled a Heart box set, recorded "Fanatic," a solid new album of heavy rock due in October, and embarked on a tour that brings them to Hollywood's Hard Rock Live on Nov. 4.
The various projects combine to capture all facets of Heart. But the book, co-written with Seattle-based music biographer Charles R. Cross, is the most satisfying for its breadth and spirit.
Using first-person voice, the Wilsons write movingly and with a sense of humor about their uprooted upbringing as daughters of a Marine who would become a school teacher. Ann dealt with issues concerning her weight from childhood onward (the two days she dreaded the most in school were Health Assessment Day and Valentine's Day).
Finding fame didn't solve the problems. Sexism was rampant in the music industry. Heart came to be derisively known as "Led Zeppelin with tits." Worse, Mushroom, the group's defunct first label, placed an industry ad suggestively implying that the sisters were also lesbian lovers.
Ann and Nancy complicated matters when they fell in love with the Fisher brothers who, they say, cheated. Nancy would eventually dump Roger for an ill-fated affair with the group's drummer, Michael Derosier, which, not surprisingly, made Heart's 1978/79 "Dog & Butterfly" tour hell.
"Kicking & Dreaming," however, isn't about settling scores, though the gossipy aspects are certainly fun. One such story recalls a crazy night in the 1980s in which the Wilsons spent hours in Stevie Nicks' closet trying on her "millions of shawls and colored tights," only to realize they couldn't keep up with their fellow rocker's voracious appetite for various substances.
The ultimate take-home points from the Wilsons' memoir — familial love is plenty cool and believing in oneself is not particular to any one gender — is poignant.
"The bond between Nancy and me grows deeper each year," Ann writes. Dreamboat Annie has faced the barracudas of the music business and that mean kid in seventh grade we've all sat next to, and, with Nancy at her side, has lived to tell a compelling tale.

domain: literature


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The number of teams for the Cobar Bowling & Golf Club’s President’s Day annual bowls event on Sunday may have been down slightly this year however the club’s reputation for legendary hospitality has remained intact.
Club president Jim Goonrey welcomed the 14 teams which included four sides from Hay and one from Hillston who lined up along side the Cobar players for the three bowl triples tournament.
The Cobar trio of Tony Brown, David Knight and Bian Smith finished as the winners having won two games and finished with a score of +21.
The Hay team of Dave Townsend, Paul Kretschmer and Bill Moore were the runners-up.
The morning trophy was won by Cobar’s Doug Hudson, Jack Tulloh and Kevin Barrow.
Cobar’s Dave Portelli, Terry Clyde and David Thomas won the afternoon trophy.
In other bowls news, last Thursday’s Chicken Run game was won by Bian Smith and Joy Josephson with a 15-10 win in their match.
The runners-up were Glenda Peebles and Dick Roberts.
In recent women’s bowls news, the ladies played a triples competition last Tuesday at the club with Sandra Zazoniuk, Barb Barklimore and Margaret Good finishing as the winners.
In the runners-up team were Marlene Wynd, Shine McIver and Ev Hyde.
Players are invited to nominate for Maz’s Memorial Day, a Mixed Triples Fun Day on June 4.

domain: hobby


[This is a review of Supergirl season 2, episode 12. There will be SPOILERS.]
In the process of shifting from CBS to The CW for its second season, Supergirl underwent a number of changes, the most obvious of which being the departure of Calista Flockhart as Kara Danvers' boss/mentor Cat Grant. However, season 2 has also shown an increased focus on the alien population of Earth-38 with the first batch of episodes featuring the Girl of Steel battling the anti-alien organization Cadmus run by Lillian Luthor (Brenda Strong) - mother to, yes, that Lex Luthor, as well as Lena Luthor (Katie McGrath).
The familial connection between Lena and Lillian wasn't established until shortly before the midseason finale, but a great deal of Lena's arc in the first part of Supergirl season 2 focused on her attempting to distance herself from her family's hateful anti-alien beliefs. Although she eventually sided with Supergirl in the midseason finale, 'Medusa', Lena's loyalties and morality have been up for debate all season. Now, while Kara has complete faith in the goodness of Lena, the Luthor daughter's loyalties are tested once again in this week's episode.
In 'Luthors' -- written by Robert Rovner and Cindy Lichtman and directed by Tawnia McKiernan -- supervillain/Cadmus creation Metallo (Frederick Schmidt) breaks out of prison and frees Lillian. Thanks to her connection to her mother and overwhelming evidence, Lena is accused and arrested for helping Lillian escape. But, Kara believes her friend is innocent and sets out not only to re-capture Lillian but prove Lena's innocence as well.
The Only Two Luthors Left
As promised by its episode title, 'Luthors' pulls back the curtain on Lena and Lillian's relationship - as well as the mystery surrounding the tension between the two. Lena previously revealed to Kara that she was adopted, using it as a way to help distance herself from the negative connotations of the Luthor name. Plus, Lena also revealed that Lillian was often unkind to her while she was growing up, which understandably drove a wedge between the two. However, as we learn in this week's episode, Lena is more of a Luthor than Lillian.
Both Lena and Lillian have mentioned the more famous member of the family, but 'Luthors' introduces a young Lex Luthor on Supergirl in an opening flashback sequence to the night a young Lena was brought to live with them by the patriarch, Lionel. However, as Lillian reveals to her adoptive daughter later in the episode, Lena is actually a Luthor by blood since she's Lionel's daughter by way of an affair with another woman. The affair, Lena's later adoption when her birth mother died, and Lionel's guilt over the ordeal was what caused Lillian to distance herself from the girl. But, Lillian contends she still loves Lena - and they must stick together as "the only two Luthors left."
Of course, it's still not quite that simple. When Lillian escapes from police custody with the help of Metallo, she sends the Kryptonite-powered villain to retrieve Lena from jail since her daughter is framed for helping her escape. The breakout only makes Lena look guiltier, forcing her to depend on her mother - and Lillian uses that to her advantage when it's revealed she needs Lena's Luthor DNA to open a vault of anti-alien weapons created by Lex. All throughout the episode, Lena is portrayed as the victim - at least, to the viewer and to Kara, while the public believes she's in league with her mother. But, is Lena actually a victim, or is she a mastermind with an unclear endgame?
Since Lena's first appearance earlier in Supergirl season 2, she has been a compelling character with questionable intentions. 'Medusa' worked to subvert expectations as Lena was revealed to only be playing along with her mother's schemes in order to thwart them. Now, although viewers - and Kara - may fully believe Lena is unlike her family, that she is good, 'Luthors' manages to cast doubt yet again on her intentions. While much of the episode sees Lena fighting against her mother and enduring the prejudices of being a Luthor, her final scenes in the episode play on the expectations of the viewers, keeping them guessing about Lena's ultimate endgame - she's proven to be quite the chess player, after all.
That said, while the complexities of Lena's character certainly elevate this week's episode of Supergirl, her relationships both with Kara and Lillian are especially dynamic and compelling to watch. Whether or not Lena is a strategizer with an eye on the long game or a genuinely affected daughter, McGrath navigates both Lena's budding friendship with Kara and her tension-filled relationship with her mother with a dramatic weight that Supergirl has needed since Flockhart departed. While the sisterly dynamic between Kara and Alex has always been strong - and has been given more focus since the beginning of season 2 - it's also good to see Kara interact with another female character aside from her sister.
For now, Kara and Lena's friendship is sealed in donuts and flowers while Lena's relationship with Lillian seemingly ended with a Kryptonite-fueled explosion. Still, only time will tell whether Lena remains on the side of good - and it should provide for some compelling drama in the episodes of Supergirl season 2 to come.
Kara & Mon-El are Interrupted by... Mr. Mxyzptlk
Building off the threads established in previous episodes, 'Luthors' sees Kara admit she has feelings for Mon-El. After distancing herself from him in last week's episode, 'The Martian Chronicles' - while also focused on the White Martians' attack on M'gann M'orzz - Kara tries to return to some kind of normalcy with Mon-El, asking about his relationship with Eve Teschmacher (Andrea Brooks). But, though Mon-El plays off the burgeoning relationship as going fine, Kara learns from Eve that it was a non-starter after a bad first date - during which Mon-El could only talk about Kara.
The path that Kara and Mon-El have taken to this point has been contrived, incorporating romance cliches like Kara's realization of her feelings only after Mon-El had professed his own, and her jealousy of his supposed new relationship with Eve. The scene in 'Luthors' in which Kara confesses her feelings at least capitalizes on her struggle with relationships in the past - even if only in passing - and it's shot beautifully by McKiernan. Both Melissa Benoist and Chris Wood are charming in their own rights and they do their best to carry the scene, but it remains to be seen whether their individual charm will be able to translate to a real chemistry between their characters.
Of course, though it seemed the pair were headed for their first kiss, Mr. Mxyzptlk appears through a portal breach and professes his love for Kara. It's an unbelievable end to what could have been a boringly typical romance scene - and it sets up a fun, entertaining, and entirely out-there Valentine's Day episode in next week's 'Mr. & Mrs. Mxyzptlk'.
Supergirl continues Monday February 20 with 'Mr. & Mrs. Mxyzptlk' at 8pm on The CW.


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Coffee Table, Slim Coffee Table Habitat Coffee Table With Tea Set Book Table Lamp Photo Frame Pot Above In Brown Carpet Wooden Floor: elegant slim coffee table ideas
Published at March 24th, 2017 06:33:20 AM by admin
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domain: design


As architects, we must take on difficult conversations within our workplaces about the broader social implications of our work, and the practices we allow our work to perpetuate. For too long, architects have been complicit in upholding intrinsic racism within the American criminal justice system. While many architects have attempted to mitigate injustice by applying their professional skills to associated built structures, ultimately it is beyond the role of design professionals to alleviate an inherently unjust system. Until more comprehensive policy changes are made on a national scale, good design alone is not enough to remove or overcome the racism inherent within the criminal justice system. It is time we listen to Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities that have long suffered due to unjust societal norms and outcomes.
We must all take actionable steps to address the racism sustained by our criminal justice system.
Until there is measurable reform in the American criminal justice system to apply the law without racial bias, AIA New York is taking leadership on this issue. We are calling on architects no longer to design unjust, cruel or harmful spaces of incarceration within the current United States justice system, such as prisons, jails, detention centers, and police stations. We instead urge our members to shift their efforts towards supporting the creation of new systems, processes, and typologies based on prison reform, alternatives to imprisonment, and restorative justice.
As part of this policy, AIANY will embark on several initiatives:
Through programming starting in late Fall 2020 and exhibitions, we will examine architecture’s role in the criminal justice system, using open and interdisciplinary
discussions to increase awareness and knowledge within our professional community,
while highlighting the voices of those who have suffered within the system.
Through government advocacy, we will push to limit construction of new criminal justice facilities. AIA New York Political Action Fund, our chapter’s political action committee, will actively support candidates who believe in reducing criminal justice facility construction and implementing further criminal justice reforms.
Our Architecture for Justice Committee will be reconstituted to increase focus on largescale justice issues and reduce the current emphasis on the design of criminal justice facilities.
We will advocate that AIA National, AIA New York State, and our fellow chapters adopt similar positions to discourage design of criminal justice facilities that uphold the current system.
Projects in this typology may be submitted to the AIANY Design Awards program; however, Jury Instructions for judging will prioritize projects that demonstrate excellence in the support of systems, processes, and typologies based on prison reform, alternatives to imprisonment, restorative justice, and investment in communities of color.
While we recognize that the United States is not the only country with a flawed justice system and that architects have been complicit in bias and mistreatment abroad as well, we hope these changes in chapter policy will further advance racial justice within our city, state, and country. Over the coming months and years, AIANY and its members have a great deal of work ahead ofus. We embrace this challenge knowing that effective advocacy can change policies and attitudes within our society.
Board of Directors, AIA New York
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With reopening on the horizon in Washington, enterprise leaders in Clark County are developing with inventive methods to encourage staff to get their vaccines.
VANCOUVER, Wash. —
For 15 months, we have adopted the pandemic trials and tribulations of companies in southwest Washington.
Now as commerce will get going, the Safe by Summer marketing campaign is a strategy to encourage unvaccinated staff to their photographs.
The Higher Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and Identity Clark County are spearheading the marketing campaign, which has a web site the place companies can join, and a map there exhibiting dozens of locations that at the moment have vaccine.
“We wish the employers to supply the schooling to their staff and to supply the comfort to their staff to get vaccinated,” stated John McDonagh, President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce.
The purpose is to assist companies as they to attempt to get 80-percent of their staff vaccinated by August 15.
With the marketing campaign simply began, it already has greater than two dozen companies on board, from a big actual property improvement group, to an internet designer and advertising and marketing firm, to a toy store.
And naturally eating places. We have talked to the proprietor of Beaches Restaurant & Bar in Vancouver over the course of the COVID disaster.
Mark Matthias is a part of a gaggle of enterprise and enterprise affiliation leaders that helped develop the Protected by Summer season marketing campaign. Mathias thinks it’s the suitable factor to do for his crew, and others.
“We all know that taking the vaccination is private selection however in case you really need to get your life again that is the perfect resolution to get there shortly,” stated Matthias. So we simply received collectively and thought we have to run with this as a group.”
Whereas the pandemic is exhibiting indicators of fading, there is no such thing as a doubt the virus can nonetheless take maintain.
Working example: Constitution Communications Spectrum buyer name heart in Vancouver, closed by an outbreak final week. During the last month, 29 staff examined optimistic for COVID-19 and two extra are awaiting take a look at outcomes.
“We do not need a spike once more, we do not need our enterprise group to return, as a result of the injury that is already been executed is horrendous,” McDonagh stated.
The protected by summer time’s 80% purpose is lofty, however simple.
“The better we make it, the extra knowledgeable we are able to make our staff turn out to be, the extra of our inhabitants which are vaccinated, the faster we get to rebuild our companies and get again to some kind of normalcy.”
Protected by Summer season hopes that partaking staff can even encourage their households to get vaccinated. And in case you’re a enterprise exterior Clark County, they do not thoughts in case you join too.


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The Men Who Wear the Star: The Story of the Texas Rangers
Here is the first full telling of the most colorful and famous law enforcers of our time. For years, the Texas Rangers have been historical figures shrouded in myth. Charles M. Robinson III has sifted through the tall tales to reach the heart of this storied organization. The Men Who Wear the Star details the history of the Rangers, from their beginnings, spurred by Stephen Austin, and their formal organization in 1835, to the gangster era with Bonnie and Clyde, and on through to modern times. Filled with memorable characters, it is energetic and fast-paced, making this the definitive record of the exploits and accomplishments of the Texas Rangers.
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LibraryThing ReviewUser Review - tygermoonfoxx - LibraryThing
As a casual read or an introduction to the complicated history and politics surrounding the Texas Rangers, this book is a good place to begin. It provides an excellent overview of the political and ... Read full review
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Whatever you may think of Chuck Norris's current TV show, Walker: Texas Ranger, it demonstrates the popularity of the Western and the strong mystique still possessed by the Texas Rangers. A small ... Read full review


Ask any of the workers from the old Triumph factory at Meriden to name the best bike they ever made and nine times out of 10 they will go all misty-eyed about the 1968 Bonneville.
The lineage of the 1968 Bonnie could be traced back to the 1948 Triumph Thunderbird, which was built to satisfy the American market's desire for brute horsepower. The Thunderbird grew into the even faster Tiger 110 and then, in 1958, the factory fitted a hotter camshaft and a twin-port, splayed head. A legend was born: the first T120 Bonneville.
Under the direction of chief development engineer Frank Barker, Triumph pursued a policy of chasing power almost at the cost of everything else. Eric Turner, the dictatorial head of Triumph, was at his peak in terms of understanding his customer base and he rightly considered that as long as the Americans could buy a blisteringly fast bike, sales would continue to rise.
In 1962 a unit construction engine was introduced. The motor was neater but, in truth, very little was new - and the handling remained as questionable as ever.
The breakthrough came in 1963, when Doug Hele joined Triumph from Norton. Hele was a passionate advocate of the "whole motorcycle" concept, in which every part of the machine was integrated to make the bike function at its optimum level.
Hele completely redesigned the frame and made many improvements to the already well-developed motor, which offered a crisp and eager power delivery via a sweet gearbox and clutch. The result was a lithe, superb-handling bike with a genuine 100mph-plus instantly available - and the looks to go with it.
In production racing trim, the bike won the 1969 Isle of Man TT at an astonishing average speed of 99.99mph in the hands of Malcolm Uphill, and the bike became a legend in its own lifetime.
Finished in the most beautiful Triumph colour scheme of scarlet and silver sheen, the 1968 Bonnie is faultless in terms of reliability, handling and braking power - provided the owner remembers this is basically a pre-war design and doesn't try to use its 100mph performance on most occasions.
It is arguably the best British bike ever made and is certainly one of the few that is both reliable and competent in modern traffic. Later Bonnies were bigger and faster but, for sheer sporting delight, Hele's creation is the best there is.
Current price: £4,500.
Club: Triumph Owners' Motor Cycle Club (www.tomcc.demon.co.uk).
Information: Alastair Hillaby on 01772 558882.


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+ Work 1:1 with a Soundfly Mentor with the Headliner’s Club, our month-long personalized learning program, and develop a plan to achieve your goals with the help of a professional musician, engineer, educator, or music industry veteran! What would you like to improve?
A lot of the time, the student has no particular goal beyond “do this assignment.” So then the critique needs to get creative. I like to ask: If this track is a film or game score, what’s happening in the scene? Students have a lot of implicit knowledge in this area from their own media consumption, so I get wonderfully specific and unexpected answers to this, i.e., “It’s a bar fight in a domed underwater city.” Then we can figure out, how could the track more strongly convey the feeling of a bar fight in a domed underwater city?
In essence, “Mary Had a Little Lamb” is an example of this structure. It’s the same melody again and again, but with different lyrics. Another famous example might be “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan.
Contrary to the beliefs of most musicians who are inexperienced in recording, extra noise isn’t always easily fixed during the mixing process. Besides, wouldn’t you want your mixing engineer to be more focused on improving your song rather than trying to fix it?
We see this all the time in genres like heavy metal for instance, which is often characterized by lots of jagged edges, sharp corners, and bold, aggressive lettering to reflect that shock element, and the loud, distorted, screeching aspects of the music. In the punk tradition as well, there’s a long history of using found lettering such as newspaper headings, stencil style design, and typewriter font, to convey the DIY ethos of the music; rough, fast, borrowed, or stolen. This has been the case since The Sex Pistols and Rancid and continues through to this day.
Soundfly welcomes new voices each month to offer unique perspectives, shine a light on unexpected musical worlds, and help our readers find their sound.


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Nifty50 opened negative on Thursday and drifted towards the 11,820 mark in initial part of the session but recovered sharply from lower levels to end on a flattish note above 11,900. It formed a Bullish Candle similar to a Hammer on the daily scale, which indicated declines are being bought near at the lower end of the trading range.
The index has been consolidating between 11,761 level and the 12,041-12,100 zone for 13 sessions now and requires a decisive range breakout to commence the next leg of rally. Else, it will continue to move in this broader trading range.
To keep the hope of a rally alive, Nifty has to hold above 11,888 towards the upper band of the trading range at 12,041 and then 12100 levels, while on the downside supports exist at 11,820 and 11,761 levels.
On the options front, Maximum Put open interest was at 11,500 followed by 11,800 while maximum Call OI was at 12,000 followed by 12,500 levels. There was Put at strike price 11,800 while Call writing is seen at 12,000 followed by 12,100 levels. The option data suggested a wider trading range between 11,750 and 12,100 levels.
India VIX fell 3.26 per cent to 13.66 level. Volatility hovered below 15 mark, which supported buying interest on any declines, but at the same time ruled out any major swing in the market.
Bank Nifty managed to hold multiple supports around the 30,600 mark and witnessed a strong recovery of 400 points towards the 31,000 mark. It formed a Hammer candle near to the lower end of the trading range, which indicated support-based buying. Now it has to hold above 31,000 to witness an upward move towards 31,313 and then 31,500 levels, while on the downside, major supports exist at 30,750 and then 30,600 levels.
Nifty futures closed flattish at 11,919. There was long buildup at Indiabulls Housing Finance, Jindal steel, Motherson Sumi and Shriram Transport Finance while shorts were seen in CEAT, Canara Bank, Amar Raja Battery and YES Bank.
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- Bills Pending, 13 States Barred from Power Exchanges
The Centre on Thursday barred 13 states from buying or selling electricity on power exchanges until they clear their current bills from power plants, sending a clear signal that they will have to clear accumulated dues and pay regular bills on time.Indus Towers Stake Sale: Vodafone, CDPQ on Call
Canadian pension fund Caisse dedépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) is in talks with Vodafone Plc to buy the residual 21% stake the UK telecom major owns in Indus Towers, India’s largest mobile tower installation company,said multiple people aware of the negotiations.Mahindra Weighs Acquisition of GM’s Talegaon Factory
Mahindra & Mahindra is exploring the possibility of acquiring US carmaker General Motors’ factory at Talegaon in Maharashtra, soon after another Indian automaker, Tata Motors, agreed to take over Ford’s plant in Gujarat.
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domain: economics


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The novel, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, by John Boyne can be found in the Resource Centre in the fiction shelves at BOYN.
Visit John Boyne's official website for biographical details and background information on The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.
Visit the following web-sites for information on John Boyne, his life and achievements.
John Boyne talks about the inspiration behind the novel as well as his thoughts on the Holocaust and Germany's understanding of it.
In this interview John Boyne discusses the parallels between the two boys in the novel and on why he deliberately left many things ambiguous. He also elaborates on his main characters' naivete and the book's implications for society on a larger scale.
Access background information and information on the historical context of the novel to enhance your understanding,


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When it comes to the southern border, the Biden administration appears to be more concerned with being green than the country’s safety — as the administration just announced that it will be spending more than $1 billion on making the ports of entry more climate-friendly, taking money away from securing the border.
9 million illegal immigrants, fentanyl killing loved ones, unprecedented human trafficking, terrorists streaming across our border & what’s the Democrats’ priority?
Reducing the “carbon footprint” of the border.
These people are nuts.https://t.co/SpKEwcwWfV
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) March 15, 2024
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced on Thursday that it would be spending the money on keeping up with the green craze that the left always appears to be focused on.
Administrator Robin Carnahan said that investing in going green would assist in strengthening security and at the same time create decent-paying jobs, reduce harmful emissions and boost domestic manufacturing.
While the Biden administration seems to think that spending money on climate change is a good idea, Republicans disagree.
“As usual, the Biden administration is refusing to address a problem of their own making,” House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) said. “Instead, they’re touting a billion-dollar investment in green technology at the border while Biden’s border crisis continues to wreak havoc on local communities and federal lands. Talk about fiddling while Rome burns.”
“Time and time again, the House Committee on Natural Resources has spotlighted these issues and recently held a field hearing in one of the hardest-hit areas of southern Arizona, yet this administration refuses to address the crisis they’ve created,” he continued.
Republicans have slammed the Biden administration for years for its lack of effort to protect the U.S.-Mexico border from illegal immigrants wanting to cross in.
“Spending a billion dollars to build a so-called ‘environmentally friendly’ port of entry feels like a slap in the face to Americans watching our open border policies trash our beautiful public lands day in and day out,” said Westerman.
I'm sure there is nothing more important to border towns right now than climate change, but we really don't know what this money will be used for. That's what happens with a thoroughly corrupt administration. https://t.co/JLMmqQeAyp
— LincolnHillsFrau (@bayareahausfrau) March 16, 2024
The large sum of money will go to support 38 projects at land ports of entry around the U.S.
Meanwhile, southern states have had to take matters into their own hands to protect Americans. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) sent authorities to guard the border, even keeping Border Patrol away. Several states, including Florida, South Dakota and Indiana also sent their National Guards to help secure the border.


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Creative, intelligent, sustainable and integral. These are the Cities of the future. Cities that integrate technological components utilising the infinite potential of smartphones and that facilitate an interactive dialogue directly with people.
Cities that are Green, judicious in resource consumption, that recycle and that incentivise policies of awareness by individuals. Cities that offer services for all, an efficient system of public transportation, open spaces and infrastructure for children and the elderly, and for free time. Cities where culture and sport offer opportunities for communal activity.
The definitions of cities that look to the future are multiplying: smart city, city 2.0, creative city etc. The images that describe these visions are endless: from condominiums and urban gardens, to vertical farms, electric vehicles that are recharged by energy saved domestically, the conversion of derelict and disused areas, and the emergence of informal spaces to experiment with co-working initiatives.
Summer 2016 will be remembered as the summer of Pokémon Go – the app that has gripped children and adults alike creating a kind of parallel geography. The game became an eye opener for those who can take advantage of geolocation for opportunities to study, for business ideas, and for project developments related to planning and urban living.
There are plenty of initiatives that marry the ideas of ‘smart’ and ‘green’ as is evidenced in Amsterdam, Netherlands. There, a system rewarding those who respect the environment has been installed: when pollution decreases, a hanging device on trees called TreeWifi lights up green and, by means of a router that complements the device, provides free Wi-Fi to passers-by.
Thanks to Paola Pierotti, PPAN

domain: geography


Skanska USA Commercial Development has submitted an application to the L.A. Department of City Planning seeking entitlements for the redevelopment of a roughly 1.84-acre property located at 1727-1829 E. Sacramento Street in Downtown's Arts District. Proposed plans call for the construction of a new 15-story building featuring roughly 290,000 square feet of offices, according to a case filing.
Perkins&Will is designing the development, named 1811 Sacramento Street, according to a Skanska representative. Renderings depict a contemporary high-rise buildings with interior courtyards and terrace decks. Magenta-colored bands would wrap the exterior of the structure.
Other project elements will include roughly 13,200 square feet of retail and restaurant space, parking for 582 vehicles, and public space.


You want to set up a monitoring of the microbiological quality of your water circuits and/or your surfaces by ATP-metry. The measurement protocol requires the purchase of a device: the luminometer. This device must give a reliable answer, be easily adopted by users and inexpensive.
Since its creation, GL BIOCONTROL uses this luminometer during its field studies (Methodical Risk Analysis in cooling systems, technical and sanitary diagnostics in hot sanitary water circuits, ATP mapping, assessment of treatments effectiveness and procedures, Diagnostics of Microbial ecosystems and surveillance packs).
KIKKOMAN PD-30 Luminometer’s advantages:
- SENSITIVITY: measurement range perfectly adapted to monitor the
- quality of industrial and sanitary waters and surfaces.
- SIMPLICITY: no special skills required.
- PORTABLE: operating with batteries.
- COMPACT: size and weight minimized.
- DIGITAL: identifies and records the measurements.
- INDEPENDANT: auto calibration and no computer needed.
- AFFORDABLE: quick return on investment.
The KIKKOMAN PD-30 luminometer works with batteries, supplied when buying. The red button turns the device on. All calibration is automatically performed at the start. Language, date and time settings are required upon first use. The luminometer will be ready for use. By pressing the yellow button, a count of the photons emitted by the bioluminescence reaction is carried out. The result in RLU (Relative Light Units) is displayed after 10 seconds.
The luminometer comes with its protective cover. The package includes: tube holder, support, strap, cleaning tool, USB cable, 2 batteries, manual and installation CD. The CD contains the measuring protocol, sampling protocol, video tutorial, biomonitoring table (Excel), compliance ladders and safety data sheets.


By Staff Writer
Last Saturday was not a good one for rapper Gravity Omutujju after Katwe goons stole his brand new iPhone.
Gravity who had gone for a show in the area performed well and wowed fans only to be shocked when Katwe slum goons worked together to beat his security and steal his smartphone.
We are told that Gravity who was in his car had rested the phone on the dashboard in just before it clocked 5 pm on Saturday. One of the goons got big stone, broke the windscreen and immediately grabbed the phone.
On top of a damaged car, Gravity had to deal with a stolen phone after the incident.
His bouncers and security team did their best to pursue the goons only to get one who had already passed on the phone to his friends. He later confessed and the process to retrieve the phone was initiated.
We will keep you posted.
Start making money online today with Bitcoin. Sign up here!


Xiaomi, the renowned innovator in the world of smartphones and consumer electronics, has set the tech world abuzz with its official confirmation of the launch date for the Xiaomi 13T and Xiaomi 13T Pro. Positioned as cost-effective alternatives to their flagship Xiaomi 13 series, this highly-anticipated event has been aptly billed as a 'Masterpiece in Sight.'
The End of Speculation
In recent weeks, the tech community has been rife with speculation regarding Xiaomi's next T series smartphones. Xiaomi, renowned for its penchant for innovation and grand unveilings, has, in its characteristic manner, kept the details of the Xiaomi 13T series shrouded in secrecy. Instead, it has tantalizingly teased that this upcoming series is nothing short of a 'masterpiece in sight.'
Mark Your Calendar
If you've been eagerly awaiting the Xiaomi 13T series, it's time to mark your calendar. The much-anticipated event is scheduled to take place on September 26th, with the festivities commencing at 12:00 UTC. This announcement has validated the credibility of one of the tech world's most reliable sources, @yabhishekhd, whose predictions have consistently held true in the past. Brace yourselves for an event that promises not only the Xiaomi 13T and Xiaomi 13T Pro but also the potential unveiling of other exciting devices.
Focused on Photography
One aspect of the Xiaomi 13T series that has already captured the attention of enthusiasts is its emphasis on photography. Xiaomi has confirmed that these smartphones will feature Leica-tuned cameras, raising the bar for mobile photography. However, it's important to note that this sophisticated camera setup may not be available on the Xiaomi 13T in all regions, underlining Xiaomi's commitment to catering to the unique needs and preferences of global consumers.
What Surprises Await?
For those familiar with Xiaomi's history, the company has a track record of surprising its audience by unveiling additional products alongside its flagship smartphone launches. While Xiaomi has remained tight-lipped about other potential releases at this event, speculations are already circulating. Among the possibilities are the introduction of the highly-anticipated Smart Band 8 and Smart Band 8 Pro, wearable devices that could seamlessly complement the new Xiaomi 13T series.
Deep Dive into Specifications and Pricing
For the tech enthusiasts and potential buyers keen to get a comprehensive understanding of what the Xiaomi 13T and Xiaomi 13T Pro have to offer, various leaks have generously provided detailed insights. These leaks not only shed light on the technical specifications of these devices but have also given us a sneak peek at European pricing. This information is invaluable for those eager to make an informed decision when these devices finally hit the market.
Breaking Down Xiaomi 13T and Xiaomi 13T Pro
Let's delve deeper into what we know so far about these soon-to-be-released smartphones:
The Xiaomi 13T, positioned as an affordable alternative to the Xiaomi 13 flagship, is generating considerable interest. This device is expected to deliver a compelling combination of performance and value, appealing to a wide range of consumers.
European pricing for the Xiaomi 13T starts at [Insert Price], making it an attractive option for those seeking a feature-packed smartphone without breaking the bank.
Xiaomi 13T Pro
The Xiaomi 13T Pro takes things up a notch, delivering even more power and features for tech enthusiasts who demand the best. This smartphone promises to be a powerhouse in its own right.
The official confirmation of the Xiaomi 13T and Xiaomi 13T Pro launch date has ignited a wave of excitement in the tech community. As the event draws near, tech enthusiasts around the world are eagerly anticipating the official unveiling of these smartphones and the potential surprises Xiaomi might have in store.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Xiaomi 13T series and other breaking tech news. We'll be providing comprehensive coverage of the launch event, ensuring you're among the first to know about Xiaomi's latest innovations and offerings.
Keywords: Xiaomi 13T, Xiaomi 13T Pro, Xiaomi 13T launch date, Xiaomi 13T Pro launch date, Xiaomi 13 series, Xiaomi T series smartphones, Xiaomi 'Masterpiece in sight' launch event, Xiaomi Leica-tuned cameras, Xiaomi global launch event, Smart Band 8, Smart Band 8 Pro, Xiaomi 13T specifications, Xiaomi 13T Pro specifications, European pricing for Xiaomi 13T, Xiaomi product launches, Xiaomi news, Xiaomi leaks.


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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs that regulate post-transcriptional gene expression. In this study we characterized the circulating and urinary miRNA pattern associated with reduced glomerular filtration rate using Affymetrix GeneChip miR 4.0 in 28 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Top miRNA discoveries from the human studies were validated in an Alb/TGF-β mouse model of CKD, and in rat renal proximal tubular cells (NRK52E) exposed to TGF-β1. Plasma and urinary levels of procollagen III N-terminal propeptide and collagen IV were elevated in patients with decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Expression of 384 urinary and 266 circulatory miRNAs were significantly different between CKD patients with eGFR≥30 vs. <30 ml/min/1.73 m2. Pathway analysis mapped multiple miRNAs to TGF-β signaling-related mRNA targets. Specifically, Let-7a was significantly downregulated and miR-130a was significantly upregulated in urine of patients with eGFR<30; miR-1825 and miR-1281 were upregulated in both urine and plasma of patients with decreased eGFR; and miR-423 was significantly down regulated in plasma of patients with decreased eGFR. miRNA expression in urine and plasma of Alb/TGF-β mice generally resembled and confirmed most, although not all, of the observations from the human studies. In response to TGF-β1 exposure, rat renal proximal tubular cells overexpressed miR-1825 and down regulated miR-423. Thus, miRNA are associated with kidney fibrosis and specific urinary and plasma miRNA profile may have diagnostic and prognostic utility in CKD.
- Chronic Kidney disease
- Copyright © 2016, American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology

domain: biology


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After potatoes have been harvested they have to be spread out and sorted out in order to get the maximum market dollar. They are divided according to size – big , medium and small. It is only after potatoes have been sorted and bagged that they are loaded on to trucks. This is the method that all potatoes farmers use.
But one farmer never bothered to sort the potatoes at all. Yet he seemed to be making most money. a puzzled neighbour finally asked him, “What is your secret?” He said, “Its simple I just loaded up the wagon with potatoes and take the roughest road to town. During the eight mile trip, the little potatoes always fall to the bottom. The medium potatoes land in the middle, while the big potatoes rise to the top.”
That is not only true with potatoes. It is Law of life. Big potatoes rise to the top on the rough roads and tough people rise to the top in rough times.

domain: agronomy


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More than 30 dead animals found in Harford County home
Officials in Harford County said they are investigating a possible case of animal hoarding at a Forest Hill home after more than 30 dead animals were discovered.
The Harford County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits Division of Animal Control and Division of Housing Services said they were notified of a number of dead animals at a home after a fire Monday evening.
Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company firefighters were called to a home at 2447 Rocks Rd. shortly after 11 p.m. for a fire. Fire crews found dead cats and other animals in the home and called animal officials to help with removal.
Animal Control officers and Department of Natural Resources officials said more than 30 dead animals and reptiles were taken from the one-story modular home. Among the dead animals was a fox, which was found in a refrigerator.
Also, at least a dozen cats that died as a result of the fire were buried on the property early Tuesday before county officials arrived.
Officials said six cats, two dogs, nine raccoons and three turtles, which were found alive on the property, were also taken.
The animals were transported to the Harford County Humane Society for checkups and safekeeping. Officials said the raccoons will be euthanized.
The animals were found between the modular home and a nearby mobile home which had been converted into a storage building.


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The precise diets that may work differ based mostly on whether a affected person has regular blood sugar, has prediabetes or is living with diabetes. The info have been introduced at the American Diabetes Association 77th Scientific Periods.
“Remarkably, for a lot of patients, use of these biomarkers can lead to a six- to seven-fold larger weight reduction,” commented Arne Astrup, Professor, Head of the Division of Vitamin, Train and Sports activities at the College of Copenhagen, Denmark. “Going ahead, we will educate patients when a weight loss plan they planned to comply with would truly make them achieve weight, and redirect them to a technique that we know will work for them.”
The research exhibit that, for profitable weight loss, fasting blood sugar and fasting insulin must be used to pick an strategy that is confirmed to work based mostly on those biomarkers. For most people with prediabetes, a fiber-rich weight-reduction plan with out calorie restriction can be very effective and has been shown to enhance diabetes markers. In this inhabitants, carbohydrates or fat ought to be adjusted based mostly on fasting insulin ranges.
For individuals with sort 2 diabetes, a food plan wealthy in healthy, plant-based fat (resembling from olive oil, nuts and avocados) can be effective to realize weight loss. The researchers acknowledge that nobody answer will work for every patient, however for many within the US and EU these strategies are more likely to be simpler than a generic, ‘one measurement matches all’ strategy.
Other articles you might like;
- Colour-changing tattoo ink could help people with diabetes
- Scientists reveal THIS technique can make you lose 2.5st in four months – without dieting
- ‘Alexa, what’s my blood sugar level and how much insulin should I take?’
- The Truth Behind Common Apple Cider Vinegar Uses You've Likely Heard Before
- Eating red onions ‘can prevent cancer’ and could protect against diabetes and heart disease

domain: medical


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- A Homeland Security Investigations official whose Michigan home was raided by authorities for unknown reasons last week is on administrative leave, his lawyer said.
- The lawyer for HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Vance Callender, said, "We have entered into a dialogue with the investigators, and that Callender "wants to clarify and resolve the unconfirmed allegations."
- Callender has served as the top HSI agent in Michigan and Ohio since 2020.
A top Homeland Security Investigations official went on administrative leave after his Michigan home was raided last week by authorities, his lawyer said Wednesday.
The reason for the raid remains unknown.
The lawyer for HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Vance Callender in a text message to CNBC, also said, "We have entered into a dialogue with the investigators."
"Mr. Callender wants to clarify and resolve the unconfirmed allegations," said the attorney, Nick Oberheiden, who did not describe those allegations.
"To not impede the investigation, he is on administrative leave," Oberheiden said.
The lawyer's latest comments came a day after the news broke that more than a dozen law-enforcement officers had raided Callender's home in Royal Oak, Mich., last Friday, and removed several items from the residence.
The 49-year-old Callender, who has served as the top HSI agent in Michigan and Ohio since 2020, was not at home during the raid, and has not been seen around the house for more than a month or so, a neighbor said.
But Callender's wife Brooke was present when officers searched the residence, according to the neighbor.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman would not say Tuesday whether that agency, which is the parent to HSI, conducted the raid, or whether it was another agency. The FBI said it was not involved in the operation.
But the ICE spokeswoman did say, "Any allegations of misconduct are appropriately investigated, and any employee, regardless of rank or seniority, who has committed provable misconduct, will be held accountable.
The spokeswoman declined to comment Wednesday on Callender's status at ICE, which is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
HSI agents enforce immigration and customs laws, and investigate criminal organizations for drug smuggling, financial crimes, human trafficking, and other activities.
Callender has worked as a federal law enforcement agent for 26 years.
Before taking command of HSI's Detroit office, he was deputy special agent in charge for HSI San Antonio, Texas. He previously was the country attache at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, and held other high-ranking posts in Texas and positions overseas.


If you are in China or has a contact in the country, then this is probably the best time to get a Xiaomi phone. Two weeks ago, Xiaomi announced that its recent flagship, Xiaomi Mi 9 (6GB+128GB), will sell for 2799 yuan ($404). Now, the company has reactivated the 200 yuan ($29) discount between June 28th to 30th. For those who will like to access this sale, you may want to check Xiaomi Mall or Xiaomi Youpin.
Gizchina News of the week
Although 200 yuan ($29) seems small, it is just enough for a smartphone that was released in February this year. This is expected because the company now has newer flagships like the Redmi K20 Pro. The Xiaomi Mi 9 released on February 20th. This smartphone comes with a 6.39-inch Samsung AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2340 x 1080. Under the hood, it has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor coupled with 6GB/8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.
In the camera department, the Xiaomi Mi 9 comes with a triple camera setup which includes a 48MP+12MP+16MP configuration. On the front, it has a 20MP camera. This smartphone comes with a 3300 mAh battery which supports 27W cable and 20W wireless fast charge. The Xiaomi Mi 9 adopts the fifth-generation on-screen fingerprint recognition and face recognition scheme. It also comes with Mi Turbo, Game Turbo, and Dual-Frequency GPS. There are four versions of 6GB+128GB, 8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB and 12GB+256GB.
In addition, this smartphone comes with a 169 yuan ($25) Xiaomi wireless car charger as a free gift. The Mi 9 hit the market in 2019 with the internal code name is “Battle of the Angels”. According to Xiaomi founder, chairman, and CEO, Lei Jun, this is the best-looking Xiaomi mobile phone to date. It also doubles as one of the most powerful Xiaomi phones.


Eaton Vickers SystemStak is a revolutionary, compact system for sandwich-mounting modular valves between a directional control valve and a standard mounting surface. SystemStak gives you a full range of complementary pressure, flow and check valve functions, while saving space, reducing installation costs and increasing efficiency in hydraulic systems.
Each valve stack can be configured to provide the specific combination of functions required to meet the system’s needs. Available functions include: relief, reducing, sequencing, check, PO check, throttle and counterbalance.
Key features of Eaton Vickers SystemStak valves include:
- Rated pressure up to 315 bar (4500 psi);
- Rated flow up to 340 litres / minute;
- Sizes from NG 4 to NG 25 (D02 to D08);
- Compact size retains space and enhances system design flexibility;
- Cheaper installation costs and helps cost-effectiveness during operation;
- Removes external leakage and improves resistance to contamination for increased overall reliability;
- Easy access for service and maintenance.
Contact us for further technical details and configuration options.