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Unlike most superhero movies, “Eternals” is not a film that can be fully understood and appreciated after a single viewing. When I first watched “Eternals,” I mainly felt awed and overwhelmed: awed at the cinematography, the action sequences, the worldbuilding, the plot twists. Overwhelmed by all the characters and their dynamics, places, background information and deeper implications and messages of the story. “Eternals” is too jam-packed with material that’s unfamiliar to most casual Marvel fans; however, that is somehow its strength at the same time. By the end of the movie, fans have been successfully introduced to a brand-new realm of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that will likely have a deep impact on the stories told during Phase 4. They will have to trust that later installments will flesh out this realm and resolve any of their lingering confusion.
Many of the dozen or so characters which compose this new realm feel fascinatingly otherworldly — which is appropriate, since they’re not from Earth — and yet immediately relatable. Unfortunately, the two main characters, Sersi and Ikaris, are quite bland. Sersi is supposed to care deeply about humanity, and Ikaris is supposed to care deeply about Sersi. But the long, detailed flashback sequences of Sersi spending time with ancient peoples and Ikaris spending time with Sersi are unable to completely convince the audience that these characters actually care about anything. They just feel like what they are: synthetic beings. The much-publicized sex scene between Sersi and Ikaris was the most boring and unnecessary part of the movie. Ikaris eventually reveals a hidden side to his character and becomes more interesting, but Sersi never lives up to her potential.
Unexpectedly, a few of the side characters with the least amount of screen time steal the show: Makkari, played by deaf actress Lauren Ridloff, runs faster than the speed of sound and has a penchant for collecting artifacts throughout human history. Druig, played by Irish actor Barry Keoghan, is a leather-jacketed mind-controller who picks fights with just about everyone but unabashedly flirts with Makkari whenever he gets the chance. Gilgamesh, played by South Korean-American actor Don Lee, loyally protects his fellow Eternal Thena (played by Angelina Jolie) for centuries at the risk to his own life. If or when “Eternals” gets a sequel movie and/or Disney+ television show, these fascinating side characters with so much unexplored and unfulfilled potential should become the main characters.
The complex interactions of the Eternals with each other, humans and their god, Arishem, ultimately prevent “Eternals” from being mindless entertainment. The film examines love and religion as motivating forces for both good and evil and wrestles with the tension between free will and fate. The movie raises plenty of difficult questions for Christians: do we truly know what God is asking of us? Should we always blindly trust him or should we question him? What if our faith asks us to do something that conflicts with our own sense of rightness and wrongness? If God is omnipotent, why is evil still allowed to flourish?
After the Eternals manage to successfully rebel against Arishem, Sersi doesn’t seem triumphant at all. Instead, she admits that she sometimes wonders if they did the right thing. With the possible exceptions of “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: Civil War” and “WandaVision,” there’s never been a MCU installment featuring such morally gray protagonists. Although this may be disconcerting to viewers accustomed to conflicts between standard black-and-white villains and heroes, it’s refreshing as well. More than any other Marvel movie, “Eternals” has characters that reflect the diversity and complexity of their audience and their audience’s world. Ultimately, this is at the heart of what makes the story feel alarmingly, yet also tantalizingly and beautifully, real.


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Easter is here again. I’ve struggled with what to write; I wanted to do a post in honor of this time. I thought about a “back to roots” type of article, but it wouldn’t flow. I’ve learned this usually means God’s not in it, so I shouldn’t force it.
I’ve had the idea for a while now to write “my story” or at least part of it. To tell the truth, I dreaded it. How could I possibly put everything into words?
I also questioned why I would tell my story now. Easter is about Christ’s triumph over death. But it’s also about the hope he’s given us. Christ is risen. I’ll tell my story because it points straight to Him, and that’s what Christ accomplished on the cross.
There are many parts to my story. I could tell how God got my attention at eight or maybe I could tell how my family survived a tornado. But I feel led to tell you about my Fabry journey, which begins with my dad.
When I was five, my mom took me to the ophthalmologist. What was supposed to be a routine appointment changed our lives. The doctor found corneal whorling, meaning I probably had Fabry disease (pronounced fah-bray). Fabry is carried on the X chromosome, which meant my dad would have it, too. The doctor asked how many brothers my dad had; there were four. He said one or two of them would have it, and one did – Rick.
I don’t remember too much about that time, but I’ve heard about that appointment and what it was like after a lot. My family thought my dad was given a death sentence. There was no hope. No cure. No treatment. The average lifespan for a Fabry patient at the time was 38-40 years old.
I suppose it’s time to clue you in on what Fabry is. Here’s the short version: the body doesn’t make enough of a certain enzyme (α-gal A) to break down a certain protein (GL-3), leading to a build-up in the cells. This build-up leads to cell damage, which leads to many symptoms. The symptoms include: numbness, tingling, and/or burning in the hands and feet; pain attacks that usually include body aches, fever, and fatigue; intolerance to intense physical activity; chronic fatigue; hot and cold intolerance; reduced or no sweating; red skin lesions; gastrointestinal issues; ringing in the ears; weakness, lightheadedness, and/or vertigo; kidney failure; heart attacks; strokes; and more.
It was a wild ride after diagnosis. All the doctors could do was treat the symptoms for Dad. It was doctor appointment after another with some stays in the hospital, but even through the hard times, God’s hand was evident.
- Dad and Rick were given kidneys from their brothers.
- We found an amazing group of doctors who actually knew what Fabry was. They understood you can’t treat the kidneys without taking the heart into account. Everything fits together more so with a Fabry patient.
- Patients were few but willing to help in studies, and strides were made in understanding Fabry and treatment. When I was in high school, a treatment was made available. Originally, we thought we would have to travel to New York to receive it, then Atlanta; and we didn’t know if insurance would cover it. But God provided treatment we were able to receive in the town closest to us.
Unfortunately, both Dad and Rick have passed away. I’m happy to say Dad lived much longer than he expected (more than ten years), and he had several good months after heart surgery. He felt good.
I go to my awesome treatment center every two weeks and receive an IV infusion. I get tired, but my symptoms are exponentially better now than before starting treatment. Maybe I won’t have organ damage because I’ve been taking treatment since I was young. This was Dad’s hope: that his sacrifice would lead to a better life for me.
Hopefully, in the future, there will be other treatment options. Three other treatments are in the works right now and one or more may allow us to take oral medication.
What I know.
My family’s been through a lot, but I know God’s been there every step. He’s working not in spite of Fabry but through it.
I also know this isn’t the end. I’ve got as many days as God gives me to live, regardless of any disease I have. Fabry doesn’t define me, God does. Fabry is just one of the many parts of me – parts of my story – that points straight to God.
And I know now that I don’t need beautiful words to tell my story. I just need to tell it.
What’s your story? Where do you see God strongest through the hardness around you? Share in the comments.

domain: medical


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Ethereum then again had held out for some time but succumbed to the downtrend in time. Gone are the times when funding options like Gold, Equity, and Forex have been thought of to be the precise and perfect choice but aggressive growth over a brief span of time and further with the continued acceptance the credibility of altcoins have given a robust ground to change into the next huge factor to speculate. Don’t blindly trust one supply of knowledge – at all times use a number of sources like chats, boards, professional opinion, financial evaluation . In the altcoins in our record, the source of authority is truly diffused. This revolutionary change can encourage a lot of people of the vote. John Hastings, the one that sued the corporate has stated that its extremely seemingly that a lot of people have lost cash to Unikrn, the eSports startup. The explanation behind this is nothing else but the actual fact that people have began believing in the expertise and the products backing a crypto.
NFT platforms resembling OpenSea, video games corresponding to Axie Infinity, and artworks comparable to CryptoPunks now have their own workforce of traders, creators, and service suppliers. Axie Infinity, Splinterlands, Decentralands and The Sandbox are examples of play-to-earn games that are steadily introducing crypto into the public and increasing entry to DeFi and NFT. In keeping with the findings from a Coinlist’s poll, the interface between DeFi and gaming will continue to realize momentum in 2022, and game-oriented platforms like as Flow and Immutable X will turn into extra vital. With prices of prime property like bitcoin and ethereum trading under important help factors, sentiment has fluctuated widely in the market however has mostly stayed within the destructive. Investors remain incredibly cautious of entering into the market at such a time. Now the entire market is seeing its first week of outflows after 4 months of inflows, setting a record at the identical time. Maybe top-of-the-line-performing belongings in 2021, LUNA has been trending towards the market for the previous 2 weeks. Until January 2021, BNB was not even in the top 10 cryptocurrency coins.
In 2021, the number of distinctive NFT wallets elevated by over one thousand percent, a trend that is anticipated to continue into the brand new yr. Different particulars are chosen then, together with the number of tokens that can be circulated, the price of every token and how the tokens will likely be utilized as part of the enterprise’s ecosystem. It introduces a decentralized protocol with a network of one hundred billion Stellar tokens, and people tokens at the moment are known as Lumen (XLM) tokens. Prior this month China’s Internet Financial Awareness body known as for more noteworthy mindfulness with respect to the dangers of ICOs, (Initial Coin Offerings), and the current article developed this announcement. There’s BTC, the most well-liked and likewise known as BitCoin, Litecoin and Dogecoin. Although there are just a few risks related to investing in an ICO challenge, the prospects of investing in the proper undertaking appear very appealing. Because the chart also exhibits, LUNA has the correct substances to continue its rally: reaching value discovery on unfavourable funding charges for the derivatives sector, which suggests speculators anticipated extra downside in a short while. The digital asset had seen its value plummet back to below $50,000 since hitting its all-time high of $69K however had continued to take care of inflows within the weeks following that.
The protocol is but in an early section however has already seen over $1 billion in capital inflows. As of press time, LUNA trades at $87 coming in from a month-to-month low at $38 which represents nearly a 40% improve over that interval. As the market heads into the weekend which is usually characterized by low volatility, will the market be in a position to pull itself out of extreme greed? The crypto market as a complete has been having fun with months of continuous inflows following scorching on the heels of the current market rally. Throughout the final lap of the yr, the market as an entire is just not doing too well, though prices of cryptocurrencies are means greater than they were this time last yr. The arrival of the web has led to the inception of the blockchain know-how which has consequently popularized Bitcoin and different cryptocurrencies. Financial analysts predict that till 2020, cryptocurrencies will register a major upsurge. Tips on how to trade litecoin will probably be answered , as well as takeaways from bitcoin buying and selling. Bitcoin is now trading effectively under $50,000 after failing to carry above this value point this week. Yesterday, UST overtook DAI extra decisively because it had been buying and selling greater for at the very least the last 24 hours.

domain: news


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Print-Poem - "The Blackout" - Alabama Football vs. Georgia 2008
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On September 27, 2008, #8 Alabama took on #3 Georgia at Sanford Stadium in Athens. With both teams as SEC & National Championship hopefuls, the stakes were high. Bulldog players dressed out in their black uniforms for only the third time in school history, and fans came dressed in all black for a ‘blackout’ — in response, Crimson Tide fans filled their tiny visitor section in white. One of Bama’s biggest plays of the game was the 31-yard pass from John Parker Wilson (#14) to Julio Jones (#8) to set the Tide up for their second TD. Bama gave Georgia their own ‘blackout,’ with a beating of 41-30. The accompanying poem, written by former Alabama Defensive End, Todd Bates evokes the emotions of the game.
Each Collegiate Classic print is hand-signed by the artist and has an image area of 8"x10". This item is sold framed only. Please allow 7-10 business days for completion of this custom-framed item.

domain: sports


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Actor Ryan Reynolds has found putting his phone down at night a “weirdly and unexpectedly restorative” practice.
The star, who is gearing up for the release of his next ‘Red Notice‘ on Netflix, told US TV show ‘Extra’ about the things he’s learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, which include his decision to try and switch off more in the evening, reports aceshowbiz.com.
“One thing I’ve learned to do is put the phone down at night,” Ryan Reynolds explained. “It is a discipline, it is hard in this day and age. We are all sort of addicted to our phones and social media… so putting that stuff down at night has changed my life. That has allowed me to be more present with my family and I have found that to be weirdly and unexpectedly restorative.”
Ryan Reynolds recently announced he’s taking a planned sabbatical from Hollywood and further explained his reasons for the break during his interview with ‘Extra’.
“The pandemic was really hard on kids… I recognise and acknowledge the fact that I’m obscenely fortunate to not be paycheck to paycheck, so I was able to be home with my kids when we were in lockdown,” he said.
“It made me think how important that time is and then all of the films that I had… were suddenly back to back-to-back as we came out of the pandemic and that was really hard because my kids were in school and I couldn’t bring them with me.”
“My wife (Blake Lively) and I tend to not work at the same time so we can always be with the kids and that was a real struggle for me and I just felt like I needed to be home more.”
Ryan Reynolds added: “So it doesn’t mean that I’m stopping work or stopping development or stopping other things I’m doing, I’m just not shooting films in the next little while to at least work from home and be there at morning and at night.”


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“We’re just trying to get this out into the community so people can get used to the equipment and get comfortable with it,” Ottawa County Elections Coordinator Steve Daitch said.
To provide a hands-on trial of the new machines, county elections officials are heading to both Loutit District Library in Grand Haven and Herrick District Library in Holland next week.
“We wanted to hit the couple of places where August is going to be the first rollout of the equipment,” Daitch said. “We’re going to be at Loutit from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the 18th (and) we’ll be at Herrick in Holland from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the 20th.”
The county, with help from the state, purchased the new voting equipment earlier this year from Austin, Texas-based Hart InterCivic, a federally certified elections software vendor. This is the first time the county has updated its voting equipment in more than a decade.
County officials say the new system was selected based on its security, accuracy and ease of use. The system is certified for electronic transmission of election results, and ballot programming and vote tabulation are never connected through the internet. Devices are also rigorously tested for accuracy prior to each election, Daitch said.
Once voters have finished marking their paper ballot, they’ll insert it into a new touch-screen scanner. The process, Daitch said, is similar to the system that was previously used by the county.
Voters who need physical assistance can utilize the Verity Touch Writer, a new portable touch-screen ballot-marking device that includes an audio reader and accommodates adaptive devices such as a sip-and-puff. Sip-and-puff is assistive technology used to send signals to a device using air pressure by "sipping" (inhaling) or "puffing" (exhaling) on a straw, tube or "wand." It is primarily used by people who do not have the use of their hands.
“That’s significantly better than the piece of equipment that it is replacing,” Daitch said. “Anybody can come and take a look at that and get a sense of using that equipment, too.”
After the polls close on election nights, results will be securely and automatically transmitted to the County Clerk’s Office from each ballot-scanning device using a cellular modem, Daitch said. He said that should decrease the wait time for results.
“It will be a bigger change for our clerks and our election workers than it will be for our voters,” Daitch said. “It’s more intuitive than the other system.”
The county has worked with both the equipment vendor and the Michigan Secretary of State in the lead up to the Aug. 8 primary to learn how to use the new machines, Daitch noted.
“We only have 11 precincts open in August,” Daitch said. “... That will allow us a lot of flexibility to look at what is going on on election day. We get to be a lot more hands-on.”
The county plans to host more hands-on events following the August election, including events in Spring Lake and Zeeland in September.


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Winehouse died in 2011 from accidental alcohol poisoning. Though troubled, she was a critical darling and earned five Grammy Awards for her sophomore album, “Back to Black.” The foundation established in her name assists disadvantaged youth. It was launched in Europe in 2011, and last year in the United States. Winehouse and Bennett won a Grammy Award last year for the duet “Body & Soul.” Belafonte presented the award to Bennett, and even said Bennett introduced him to Winehouse’s music. He brought on the laughs before he invited Bennett to the stage. Seconds after a loud thump was heard — Belafonte’s cane fell to the floor — the 86-year-old said: “Excuse me, I just dropped my teeth.”
Jennifer Hudson performed three songs at the event, earning a standing ovation from the crowd of a few hundred. Bennett and Belafonte — who sat together — even curled up with their wives as the Oscar and Grammy winner belted songs like “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”
Hudson called the event “beautiful” and said Winehouse was “such a talent, such a gift.”
“Call me anytime for positivity,” she said. But she wasn’t the only one who set the crowd on fire: Bennett also wowed with memorable performances of “Maybe This Time” and “Watch What Happens.”
Rapper Nas, who was nominated for a Grammy with Winehouse this year for the jam “Cherry Wine,” also earned an award, accepting in a video.

domain: entertainment


Trance Recording Studios, Mix & Mastering Engineers
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Singer/songwriter with millions of streams. Some of the highlights of my career are the collaboration with Armin van Buuren(the song Cosmos) and my performance at Untold Festival, joining the superstar Dj’s show, singing in front of more than 70.000 people.
Mixing and mastering is my passion! Getting the music to sound the best possible way is my mission. Whether you look to polish off your record or you are DJ who is in need of a releasable track to improve your profile, you are at the right place! Over 10 years of experience in the music business!
Recording & Mix engineer (both remote and local custom) and musician, part of Arts Council England funded project "Nôrthling" and working for a decade in the dance music industry, assisting several successful touring dance DJs/Producers with ongoing projects. Also a member of & engineer for several rock/metal bands.
Hi, my name is Eyal, being a producer of Electronic music for more than 15 years Extensive experience in mixing and mastering the EDM world and an educator of mixing and production. I believe that in order to master a song you need to have excellent ears, good sounding studio, high technical abilities and deep understanding of the music genre.
From my perspective, development is more important than a 'one-time' quality upgrade. If you're like me, help on projects is great -- but I need to know WHERE and HOW I can improve on the next attempt.
- Ghost Production/ - Offering career guidance, consultations, development, marketing, record deals, and all things audio. - I can guarantee you getting signed AND distributed. - Promotional services deeply rooted in Psychology/hypnosis that result in your track charting 60% of the time - Songwriting - Vocal Tuning
I am originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina but currently living in Miami. I have been producing everyday for the last 10 years and I love what I do for a living! I made more than 10 number one's on the Beatport charts, from House to EDM, Techno & Trance
Torro Sound provides full professional digital audio mixing & mastering services focusing on the latest current sounding with experience of 15 years in the audio/sound industry. We work in full cooperation with the client's needs to accomplish their exact goals and get the perfect outcome.
Hi! Under the stage name of Ignattius & Gozzo, I have produced several tracks and managed to hit three times the Soundcloud Top 100 Charts vía Hypeddit, I´ve been featured on BeatSelector Magazine, I Want EDM, iHouseU, DJDigitalPool and many more. I can add my Gothic touch to your production if needed.
Music Producer/Ghost Producer/Co-producer. I have releases on Armada, Black Hole, etc., also have supports from TOP world DJ's and artists like Armin Van Buuren, Markus Schulz, MaRLo, Paul Van Dyk, Gareth Emery, Cosmic Gate, Paul Oakenfold etc.
I'm a creative, thorough, perfectionist with a top-notch ear that knows exactly what your track needs to make it sound modern, unique, and professional. Under my artist name, "Hausman", I've released a great deal of trance / house tunes on various labels, and been supported by acts such as Above & Beyond, Myon, Cosmic Gate, and many more.
Nearly 10 years of experience within the industry. Working with one of the biggest and iconic record labels out there and receiving support from the top scene A-listers. Officially qualified with a degree. Ready to help in your music production, mixing, remixing, sound design or post-production!
Hi, I'm Adrien Souquere, Mastering Engineer. Graduate of the prestigious Abbey Road School. Want to sound as good as your favourite artist? You've come to the right place. I don't claim to have a secret sauce to add to your productions. My workflow is simple. I use the best tools available in an acoustically treated studio to get your music soundin
Professional Singer/Songwriter with top 10 major label releases and international airplay. My lyrics and vocals have been used in major network tv shows.
Hi, My name is Greg and I am the head engineer/founder of Spherechucker Studios. I have over a decade of experience in all stages of music production. I specialize in sound design and audio mixing, however I do also do a lot of audio editing and restoration. I'm here to make your project sound great!
Uplifting, Psy, Tech Trance Music Producer & DJ from the USA. Currently resides in El Paso, Texas . First discovered Trance music in 2008 while living in Seoul, Korea. I have a Psy-Trance production published with SpeedSound Records on Spotify and Beatport.
I have a collaboration with Grammy nominated producer Paul van Dyk called 'Parallel Dimension' which was the debut single off his forthcoming 10th studio album "Guiding Light" set to release in 2020.
Hello! My name is Thea Riley, - I am a Vocalist/Arranger, Songwriter & Producer based in Newcastle Australia. I sing in most music Genres & I love all electronic music. I also write short film scores. A full list of current credits can be found at: www.theariley.com
Presently Danko has just launched his own mixing and mastering company Inversion Audio purely for the (rare) joy and satisfaction of helping others music and mixes to sound the very best possible. He is a master with DAW’s - Pro-Tools, Cubase, Ableton Live & Apple Logic X.
I am a 25 years electronic music producer, mixing and mastering engineer. I focus on Psychedelic trance and Techno. I've made 10 studio albums under several aliases and more that 300 releases. If you need your music mixed and master for maximum dance floor impact send me the stems.
I produce, mix and master trance, techno and house music. I can do some breaks but prefer to work in the 3 main genres. If you need help with mixing and mastering I can help clean up muddy mixes and give it a nice polish ready to release. I have a degree in sound engineering and released various records on vinyl, CD and mp3.
I'm a music producer and DJ from Argentina! I've been working on the industry since a young age. My music was released in major labels such as Armada Music and Sony Music Argentina. My production services goes from Pop/R'n'B to the wide world of electronic music. I also have knowledge in mixing and mastering (specially for dance music).
Tibor Tomecko, aka ReOrder, is without a doubt one of the most wanted acts in the trance scene today. Released several number 1 trance singles, remixed Armin van Buuren, Gareth Emery, MaRLo, Mark Sixma among others. Performed on biggest events around the globe such as Tomorrowland, Luminosity, Transmission, Electronic Family or Beyond Wonderland.
I am a Producer-Singer/Songwriter/Multi-instrumentalist. I have worked with world renowned vocalists Thea Riley (Do It Myself), & Remaya Kingston (Another Winter Came) I have many more tracks in pre-productions. I produce tracks as well as write & sing topline vocals for other productions.


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Wheat Field Day - Mt. Pleasant
May 23, 2023 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Hauck Seed Farm, 498 W. Weidman Rd., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Contact: Monica Jean, email@example.com, (616) 443-8782
**2 RUP Credits applied for
Join us for a morning in a local yield variety trial plot. MSU Extension Wheat Specialist Dennis Pennington and MSU Wheat Breeder Eric Olson will go over what we are seeing from the trials and answer any questions.
Bring any wheat samples you would like Dennis to look at. Light refreshments will be served courtesy of the Michigan Wheat Program.
AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE:
- Disease Management Strategies
- Managing Weeds & Insects
- Wheat Market Update
- Intensive Wheat Management
- Wheat Variety Plots
- New Wheat Varieties

domain: agronomy


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Dillan Barmache can’t speak, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have anything to say.
In fact, Dillan has complex and powerful thoughts, and thanks to easily accessible technology paired with innovative apps, you can hear his perspective.
Dillan, who is autistic and nonverbal, is the star of a new short film created by Apple to celebrate Autism Acceptance Day. Notably, the film tells Dillan’s story through his own words, typed out on an iPad then spoken out loud via an augmented and alternative communication (AAC) app.
The ad, which is called 'Taylor vs. Treadmill' and was posted on Apple's Beats 1 Radio YouTube channel, features the 'Distractingly Good' and 'All the music you want' taglines at the end as Swift falls off the treadmill while still continuing to rap along.
I think — perhaps surprisingly — that you bring UIKit to the Mac. Even though I’ve spent just about this entire post explaining why it’s not needed and wouldn’t be particularly helpful, I think you do it anyway, as marketing to developers.
There’s a risk, though — once developers realize that UIKit for Macs doesn’t get them out of dealing with all that extra stuff Mac apps need, they may complain that Mac apps are still too much work. Sure.
But I think you do it anyway. Note to Apple: go for it.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation worked with Israel’s Cellebrite Mobile Synchronization Ltd. to crack the iPhone used in the shooting last year in San Bernardino, California, according to people familiar with the matter.
As it turns out, Belkin appears to be putting its plans to introduce HomeKit compatibility on hold because there is no way to add HomeKit to products that are already on the market.
Maybe Microsoft can help out with a unifying framework for all the computer platforms? :-)
Thanks for reading.


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Levon Helm: Our friend and rock ní rock legend has passed on
Little Feat offers its deepest sympathies to Levon Helmís family and friends, especially his wife Sandy and daughter Amy. The world will miss him, but his music will live on and it will always warm our hearts.
Over the years, Levon, with and without The Band, certainly inspired and influenced us, and sharing a stage with him was always something special. We will miss his presence, and his smile, but we will always fondly remember and admire his love for and contributions to music. God bless you Levon. Rest in peace dear friend.

domain: artistic


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It’s had a long and difficult history but negotiations towards the Pacific or PACER PLUS free trade deal are continuing.
The Australian government says the proposed deal to link Australia and New Zealand and the Pacific Islands is still on its agenda, with hopes to conclude talks by next year.
Two issues continue to stand out – labour mobility among Pacific workers and development assistance for the region.
Dr. Edwini Kessie, the Chief Trade Advisor to the Pacific, is in New Zealand where he’s been meeting with Pacific Islands Forum representatives to discuss recent developments.
Presenter: Richard Ewart
Speaker: Dr. Edwini Kessie, Chief Trade Advisor to the Pacific

domain: economics


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How to build a cinder block raised garden bed sunshine, cinder block raised garden bed garden ftempo. Cinder block sugar sensitive mama. Cinder block projects on pinterest cinder blocks.
17 best images about cinder blocks on pinterest gardens, beppycat & co: cinder block raised bed herb garden. Raised garden bed made of block and covered with concrete. Diy cinder block raised vegetable garden bed separate.Published on February 11, 2019
Tag: Cinder Block Raised Garden Beds


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Influences on Narnia
A lot of people associate "The Chronicles of Narnia" with the Bible, especially the books of Genesis, Revelations and Gospels of the New Testament. The series has very clear themes of creation, faith, sacrifice, hope, salvation and the triumph of good over evil. While the books certainly draw from Christian faith and teachings, Lewis had many other influences, and he wanted to write books that children and adults would enjoy.
Narnia started to form in Lewis' imagination when he was very young. As a child, he made up a world called Animal-Land, which was full of talking animals. He also wrote stories about noble, talking mice and rabbits who wore armor and fought cats instead of dragons. When he was a teen-ager, images of a queen on a sledge and a faun carrying parcels and an umbrella came into his mind -- both appear in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."
During World War II, many children were evacuated from London because of air raids. Some of these children stayed with Lewis at his home in Oxford. One child was fascinated with an old wardrobe he found there, and he asked Lewis what was behind it and whether there was a way out through the back. This real event from Lewis' life, as well as the children themselves, gave him an idea that eventually grew into "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."
Several prominent characters resemble other people Lewis knew. His mother's death probably influenced "The Magician's Nephew," in which young Digory Kirke asks Aslan to save his own dying mother. Digory grows up to be Professor Kirke, the Pevensie children's host in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." Much like Lewis' private tutor, the Professor uses logic and compassion when he talks to the children about the magic wardrobe and their time in Narnia. Lewis also used his very pessimistic gardener as an inspiration for the low-spirited Puddleglum the Marsh-wiggle in "The Silver Chair." Image courtesy HowStuffWorks ShopperLewis drew inspiration for Narnia from a variety of children's books,including those by E. Nesbit, Hans Christian Anderson, Lewis Carroll and Beatrix Potter.Lewis was an avid reader as a child, and many of his favorite books eventually influenced the tone and characters of "The Chronicles of Narnia." These include: Beatrix Potter's talking animals Hans Christian Anderson's Snow Queen, reflected in the White Witch Frances Hodgson Burnett's "The Secret Garden" Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass" George MacDonald's "The Princess and the Goblin" Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines E. Nesbit's books for children, especially the Bastable books and the story "The Aunt and Amabel" and its magical train station called "Bigwardrobeinspareroom" Greek, Irish and Norse mythology Plato's "The Cave" The literary works of Edmund Spenser, John Milton and Dante Alighieri All these influences helped Lewis create a world that came alive in the minds of its viewers. Fans have also watched adaptations of several of the books on television. We'll look at these adaptations and the latest film adaptation next. Critics of Narnia and Are the Chronicles an Allegory?Some vocal critics, including Philip Pullman, author of the children's book series "His Dark Materials," accuse "The Chronicles of Narnia" of racism and sexism. They suggest that the Calormenes, generally enemies of Narnia who have dark skin, wear turbans, live in the desert and worship a different god, represent Muslims. Critics also raise questions about events in The Last Battle, which suggest that earlier books' refrain of "Once a King in Narnia, always a King in Narnia" does not apply to Narnia's queens and that boys are forgiven for worse offenses than girls. Some people argue whether to read "The Chronicles of Narnia" because of or in spite of its allegorical content. But Lewis didn't set out to write an allegory. At first, he intended to write a simple children's story -- the Biblical elements appeared as he wrote. He was halfway through "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" when he dreamed about a lion and created the character of Aslan, who eventually became a representation of Jesus [ref].

domain: literature


Apple's Thunderbolt Display, for myriad reasons, may not display an image from your Mac, recognize USB peripherals, connect to Ethernet, or power on whatsoever.
In many cases, the display is not broken. Before contacting Apple, follow these troubleshooting steps to see if you can reset your Thunderbolt Display.
Update OS X
As a preliminary measure, it is recommended that you update your Mac to the latest version of OS X.
- Click on the Apple logo in the top-left menu bar.
- Click on About This Mac in the dropdown menu.
- Click on the Software Update… button.
- Click on the Update button next to the latest OS X version in the Mac App Store.
Power Cycle for 30 Seconds
Shut down and disconnect both your Mac and Thunderbolt Display from AC power for at least 30 seconds.
- Disconnect the Thunderbolt Display's MagSafe cable from your Mac.
- Disconnect the Thunderbolt Display from AC power by unplugging the cord.
- Disconnect all USB peripherals and any cables plugged into the Thunderbolt Display.
- Wait at least 30 seconds before powering on your Mac and Thunderbolt Display.
Reset Your Mac's SMC
Intel-based Macs have a System Management Controller (SMC) that can be reset as a possible fix for Thunderbolt Display issues.
These instructions are for Mac notebooks with non-removable batteries.
- Shut down the Mac.
- Plug in a MagSafe or USB-C power adapter to a power source and to your computer.
- On the Mac's built-in keyboard, press the left side Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button simultaneously.
- Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
- Press the power button to turn on the Mac.
Apple provides steps for Macs with removable batteries, and the Mac Pro, iMac and Mac mini, on its support website.
On Macs with MagSafe power adapters, the cable's LED might change states or temporarily turn off when you reset the SMC.
Reset Your Mac's NVRAM or PRAM
NVRAM, short for "non-volatile random-access memory," stores certain settings even when your Intel-based Mac is turned off. On older Macs, it is known as PRAM.
- Shut down the Mac.
- Turn on the Mac.
- Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys immediately after you hear the startup sound.
- Hold these keys until the Mac restarts and you hear the startup sound for a second time.
- Release the keys.
After resetting NVRAM, you may need to reconfigure the Mac's settings for speaker volume, screen resolution, startup disk selection, and time zone information.
Use a Standalone Thunderbolt Cable
Try connecting a standalone Thunderbolt cable between your Mac and Thunderbolt Display. If this resolves the issue, then possibly your Thunderbolt Display's dual MagSafe-Thunderbolt cable is damaged.
If none of the troubleshooting methods worked above, it is recommended that you contact Apple Support by calling 1-800-MY-APPLE, scheduling a Genius Bar appointment or choosing another option. You may also consider visiting an Apple Authorized Service Provider if your Thunderbolt Display requires repair.


text:
Video games offer students obvious respite from the stresses of studies and, now, a study from a University of Ottawa medical student has found they could benefit surgical skills training.
Arnav Gupta carries a heavy course load as a third-year student in the Faculty of Medicine, so winding down with a game of Legend of Zelda always provides relief from the rigorous of study. But Zelda may be helping improve his surgical education, too, as Gupta and a team of researchers from the University of Toronto found in a paper they recently published in the medical journal Surgery.
“Given the limited availability of simulators and the high accessibility of video games, medical students interested in surgical specialties should know that video games may be a valuable adjunct training for enhancing their medical education, especially in surgical specialties where it can be critical,” says Gupta, whose findings were deciphered from a systematic review of 16 studies involving 575 participants.
“Particularly, in robotic surgery, being a video gamer was associated with improvements in time to completion, economy of motion, and overall performance. In laparoscopic surgery, video games-based training was associated with improvement in duration on certain tasks, economy of motion, accuracy, and overall performance,” explains Gupta, who has been a gamer since age 8.
This study builds on past reviews and is the first to focus on a specific medical student population where this style of training could be feasibly implemented. Their timely study found some of the most beneficial games for students of robotic surgery and laparoscopy were: Super Monkey Ball, Half Life, Rocket League and Underground. Underground is purposely designed to assist medical students with their robotic surgery training via a video game console.
“While video games can never replace the value of first-hand experience, they do have merit as an adjunctive tool, especially when attempting to replicate important movements to surgery. For example, first-person shooting games require you to translate three dimensional motions onto a two-dimensional screen, which is like the concept of laparoscopic surgery,” says Gupta, whose studies are focused on surgery in ophthalmology, which makes games like Resident Evil 4 or Trauma Center: New Blood fitted for his own ambitions.
“I’m not joking when I say that games such as Fortnite have the potential to enhance those necessary movements, providing stronger motivational components and in a low stakes environment.”
Reports suggest 55 percent of university students are gamers and enjoy proficiency with video consoles. Yet, many medical students don’t admit to owning and using a gaming console.
“I think there definitely is some ambivalence towards video games in medicine,” says Gupta, who is also a fan of Witcher 3. “Given how accessible games have become and how video game technology is advancing, video games definitely are an easy go-to for the students who do love them in some capacity. The hope is that maybe this study can inspire someone to take advantage of video games’ unique capabilities, reduce the general ambivalence towards it, and develop some fun ways to let students engage with surgical education.”
Sales of video games hit UK record in 2020
Arnav Gupta et al, Can video games enhance surgical skills acquisition for medical students? A systematic review, Surgery (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2020.11.034
How Fortnite and Zelda can up your surgical game (2021, April 1)
retrieved 1 April 2021
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
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text:
When you’re cheeky enough to reference one of the world’s most successful musicals in your own show, the reaction could go either way.
Luckily for the cast of Mam I’m ‘Ere, the team behind its Abba-tastic namesake not only took the homage in good part, but helped make it a reality.
“The quote was ‘if you want to take the mickey out of my baby, all I ask in return is a few comps to come and cheer you on’,” laughs Stephen Fletcher of the reaction from Mamma Mia! writer Catherine Johnson.
Meanwhile the original’s director, Phyllida Lloyd, even stepped in to offer concrete support to the Liverpool show when it had its first outing at The Dome in Renshaw Street three Christmases ago.
Stephen, who wrote and acted in the disco musical, recalls: “I worked with her in London, she’s really supportive.
“There was a shortfall in the budget for Mam I’m ‘Ere, and it was one of those stressful days - I’d done a full day of rehearsals, done re-writes, then I’d been painting polystyrene clouds in the rehearsal room until 10pm with a few of the cast.
“I came home, stressing about where this money was going to come from, and there was a letter from Phyllida Lloyd saying ‘Dear Stephen, I’m giving you this because I believe in you and I hope you succeed’.
“And it was a cheque.”
Three years on, Mam I’m ‘Ere is on its way back to the Liverpool stage, this time in a co-production between Stephen’s Life In Theatre Productions and the Royal Court.
So no more having to make the set themselves, run the box office and buy heaters for a leaky-roofed hall in the midst of winter.
“Everything that I wanted the first time round we’ve got, and more, with this one,” Stephen enthuses.
“We’ve got caravans, we’ve got mirrorballs, disco dancefloors, disco walls, disco steps, we've got glitter everywhere!”
Set on a holiday caravan park, Mam I’m ‘Ere tells the story of Sally, who is left on her dad’s doorstep one cold and windy Liverpool night.
Fast forward 25 years and she is due to get married, but one person is missing – her mum.
After teasing out stories from her father’s friends, she narrows down her search to three very different women, and invites them to a glamorous mini-break. On the family’s Welsh campsite.
While the set and setting might be more glossy than its first outing, what hasn’t changed is the core cast whose names are a roll call of Liverpool talent which will be immediately recognisable to city audiences.
Meanwhile there are dancers from Rare Studios, and a first appearance on stage together for sisters Jamie and Hayley Hampson.
And keeping it in the family, Stephen steps up to take directorial duties and his brother Michael (Scouse of the Antarctic, One Night in Istanbul) takes on his old role.
“We live together as well at the moment,” adds Stephen. “We’ve got a very close working relationship, let’s put it that way!
“But it’s great, and he’s brilliant, and he’s not just an actor as well, he’s very creative, he’s artistic, he’s musical, and does lots of different things. And of course I directed him in Sunshine Boys as well.”
Stephen set up his own production company after graduating from LIPA more than a decade ago and becoming frustrated with the opportunities for actors.
He says: “Mam I’m ‘Ere is a mixture between the accessibility of a panto with putting on a family movie at home, with the holiday aspect.
“If you’re not going away, come here for your holiday.
“Everyone was up dancing last time - probably to keep warm!”
Mam I’m ‘Ere is at the Royal Court Liverpool from June 26 to August 1. Book tickets HERE.


by Moya Brennan
Released: Nov 2003
If there was ever a time to meander along a windy cliff-top in flowing clothing, it's now. And if there's a soundtrack for it, it's Moya (nÃÂ©e Maire) Brennan. Sure, she can do Celtic folk, but her real specialty is out-Enyaing her sister. Two Horizons, with its stirring singing, pervasive harp and delicate electronic beats, may have finally succeeded.
Welcome to Rhapsody
You're just minutes away from millions of songs.


text:
Acid rain facts for kids
Acid rains can be harmful to plants, animals, and humans.
Although some natural gases, such as carbon dioxide, and gases from volcanoes can cause acid rain, it is now believed that mankind causes most acid rain. When people began building and using factories and power stations, they burned coal or oil. These compounds have sulfur in them that releases into the air, mixes with other elements, and produces acid rain.
Since the 1970s, governments have tried to clean smoke from factories and power stations to keep too much sulfur from rising into the atmosphere. This has had good results, but it is expensive.
In 2001, Great Britain still produced about five million tonnes (metric tons) of these gases every year, while China produced 18 million tonnes. The United States produced more than 20 million tonnes, but in 2010 that number fell to 8.1 million.
Effects on lake ecology
The pH level in lakes needs to be correct for fish to be able to survive, and acid rain can affect a lake's pH level. If there is too much acid in the water several things can happen:
- The enzymes that help fish larvae to hatch will not be produced.
- Aluminum travels more easily through water, causing fish to make more mucus around their gills. This makes it harder for fish to breathe.
- Phytoplankton will not grow well and the animals that feed on it would suffer.
Effects on soil biology
Acid rain can damage soil by killing microbes that are needed in the soil. The hydrogen ions of acid rain also allow toxins to move in the soil and take away nutrients that the soil needs. Forests usually are the home to fungi, but acid rain changes the soil, making it more filled with bacteria. Many trees in the forest depend on the fungi for water and minerals, while the fungi take carbohydrates from the trees. This symbiotic relationship, called mycorriza, can be destroyed by acids.
Other adverse effects
Acid rain affects both living and non-living things. The leaves and roots of trees are damaged, making them less able to make food (photosynthesis) and absorb nutrients. Toxic ions released due to acid rain are dangerous to humans. It is believed that copper (mobilized by acids) has caused outbreaks of diarrhea in young children. Statues and other ancient structures have also been harmed by acid rain.
In the U.S., the method for keeping sulfur from escaping into the air from the smokestacks of factories is called Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD). One popular example is a wet scrubber, which pulls the gases from the stack into a tower and cleans them using lime or limestone. This changes the form of the chemical into a calcium sulfate that can be taken out of the scrubber. Sometimes the sulfates are sold to chemical companies. Other times, they are put in a landfill.
Some people do not want power generation to be controlled because they feel that pollution is a natural consequence of factories and power stations. They believe that if the pollution is not handled properly, it could be dangerous. Others install pollution controls for the benefits that they will receive from them.
Interesting facts about acid rain
- Acid rain is a result of gases mixing with water high in the atmosphere.
- Sulfur dioxide is released into the air by machines, houses, and vehicles and is the main chemical that creates acid rain.
- Acid rain makes it more difficult for aquatic animals to survive.
- Acid rain can damage the soil and the plants that live in it.
- There are ways to prevent so much sulfur dioxide from escaping into the air. Many companies install pollution-controlling machinery in their factories.
Images for kids
In Spanish: Lluvia ácida para niños
Acid rain Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.

domain: geography


text:
The rise in the top rate of tax to 45% is a return to "old Labour at its worst", according to investment adviser Mark Dampier, who works for Hargreaves Lansdown in Bristol and expects to be one of the people hit by the increase.
"I walked into the office and said to my boss, 'shouldn't we all be wearing flares?' It's back to the 1970s and ghastly governments that think they should just tax people more and more. It's the politics of envy.
"I earn around that (£150,000) and the first thought I had when I heard the rate was going up was that I'll just retire earlier. I pay huge amounts in tax so what this will do is make me pack in earlier - and pay less tax." He is looking for ways to mitigate the impact of the tax rise. "What I might do is to put more of my gross earnings into my pension, if, as I assume, you are allowed to receive tax relief at your marginal rate."
In the 1970s, the tax avoidance industry mushroomed as accountants sought ways to skirt income tax rates that at one point hit 83%.
Dampier said: "This is great news for accountants. In fact the whole last decade under Labour has been great news for accountants. Why don't they just simplify the tax system instead? It would be better to raise personal allowances than cut VAT. Someone buying a luxury car or yacht might see a difference, but for the normal person spending on the high street the odd pound or two off VAT isn't going to make any difference. We are in a weird situation where even people on national minimum wage end up being taxed, then have to reclaim it through our bizarre tax credit system where you put £1 in and, after all the bureaucracy of government, you get 10p out."


Premiered at the Rieman Center, Harvard University, May 21 & 22, 2004
Choreographed and danced by Kimerer LaMothe
Composed and performed by Geoffrey Gee
Spoken by Courtney Bickel Lamberth
Sponsored by the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School and the Harvard Dance Department
We spend years of our lives sitting, and the time we spend sitting shapes us. It shapes how we think and feel about ourselves and our bodies; it shapes our beliefs and our values. It shapes how we think and feel about dance. On Fire explores what we could think and feel and know if we spent more of our time dancing. It wonders with Martha Graham who said, "Perhaps the dance is an ecstatic offering on all levels of experience to the act of life."
On Fire is a 55 minute solo dance divided into two sections by a musical inerlude. Excerpts 1 & 2 are from the first half of the piece, and excerpts 3 through 6 are from the second.
1. From Sitting (40 seconds)
Text by Rene Descartes
2. From Sitting (1:13)
3. From Spark of Awareness (50 seconds)
Text by Friedrich Nietzsche
4. From Spark (44 seconds)
5. From Learning to Laugh (1:10)
6. From Perhaps (1:57)
Text by Martha Graham
7. From Perhaps (1 minute)
*These excerpts are from a recording of a studio performance given at Swarthmore College, where Kimerer was invited to teach and perform by the departments of both Dance and Religion, sponsored by the Cooper Foundation, November 2004.


text:
- Open access
A minimally invasive surgical approach for the treatment of piriformis syndrome: a case series
Chinese Neurosurgical Journal volume 6, Article number: 8 (2020)
Piriformis syndrome accounts for approximately 6% of patients who present with sciatic pain. There are many treatment options ranging from physical therapy, to trigger point injections, to surgical intervention. We discuss a surgical method that represents a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of piriformis syndrome.
We describe a novel operative approach and technique for release of the piriformis muscle in the treatment of piriformis syndrome. Described are the preoperative planning, incision and approach, and technique for identifying and releasing the piriformis muscle.
Three patients were treated for piriformis syndrome using the described technique. Each patient displayed successful relief of their symptoms immediately following the surgical procedure and at delayed follow-up.
Early experience with our method of piriformis release suggests that it is well suited for the treatment of piriformis syndrome. The novel integration of pre-operative trigger point localization coupled with intraoperative neuromonitoring allows effective pain relief with minimal morbidity.
Piriformis syndrome (PS) is a controversial and uncommon condition that is characterized by symptoms caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve as it travels underneath the piriformis muscle just distal to the sciatic notch . It is speculated that about 6–8% of sciatic nerve pain is due to PS [2, 3]. However, it is believed that PS is often under diagnosed because it is clinical diagnosis and often confused for other more common conditions such as lumbar disc herniation or facet arthropothy . PS is characterized by buttock pain that radiates down the posterior aspect of the leg that is aggravated by sitting. Patients also report external tenderness near the greater sciatic notch .
The treatment of PS has traditionally been conservative in nature with noninvasive treatment including activity modifications, physical therapy, and use of anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, and/or neuropathic pain medications [1, 5]. When patients fail conservative management, the next step in treatment is typically localized injections of either corticosteroids or botulinum neurotoxin into the piriformis muscle . Surgical treatment of PS is reserved for patients that are refractory to conservative management. Current surgical methods to treat PS include open or endoscopic decompression of the sciatic nerve by release of the piriformis muscle . The purpose of this paper is to describe a new minimally invasive surgical technique and its operative nuances that were used to treat 3 patients with PS.
A series of 3 patients were chosen to undergo this surgical technique for treatment of PS. They were treated between 2012 and 2016 by the senior author. The 3 patients selected had all failed conservative management and met the criteria for surgical intervention. Institutional review board (IRB) approval was not obtained because it was not required for case reports or case series at our institution. Our hospital IRB states that cases with 4 or less patients do not need to be reviewed. Additionally, all patients mentioned in the series were of the investigators’ own patients involved in direct patient care. Therefore, consent from the patients used in this study was not obtained because this study is exempt under 45-CFR-46.
Prior to surgical selection, the 3 chosen patients underwent a thorough examination and workup. Furthermore, they all had to attempt conservative medical treatment including steroid injections and physical therapy for at a minimum of 6 weeks. Given their presenting symptoms, the number one differential to rule out was lumbar radiculopathy. Therefore, they all underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their lumbar spine, which were negative for any pathology that could explain their current symptomology. Additionally, the senior author of this paper, a board certified neurosurgeon who has been working in neurosurgery and with peripheral nerve disorders since 2003, examined and selected each patient for surgical intervention.
The first step for the surgical treatment of PS was to localize the trigger point in the pre-operative area and clearly mark it with a marking pen. This is the critical step in our new technique, because the trigger point was used as the entry point for a surgery. Applying firm point pressure in multiple areas around the anatomical location of the pisiforms muscle until the exact location is found that recreates the patient’s sciatic nerve pain and is how the trigger point is identified. Once in the operating room, the patients were placed under general anesthesia and positioned prone on the operating table. Then, a 3–4-cm incision was drawn with the trigger point as the midpoint of the incision along the direction of the piriformis muscle between the sacrum and the greater trochanter of the femur. The patients were then prepped and draped in a standard surgical fashion.
Following draping, 10 cc of 0.25% Marcaine with epinephrine was injected into the epidermis and dermis layer. Following incision with a 10 blade, a secondary knife and a monopolar were used to cut down through the subdermal fat layer until the fascia over the gluteus maximus was identified. An Adson-Beckman retractor was then placed. Subsequently, Metzenbaum scissors were used to cut the fascia over the gluteus maximus, and a tonsil dissector was used to bluntly dissect through the gluteal muscle until the inner fascia is identified (Fig. 1). The fat pad surrounding the sciatic nerve is then identified just distal to the overlying piriformis.
Once the fat pad is identified, the sciatic nerve is confirmed using electromyography (EMG) with stimulation at 0.5 mA producing muscle twitches in the distribution of the sciatic nerve. A hand-held retractor is used to elevate the piriformis muscle in this process (Fig. 2). After the nerve is identified with EMG, it is protected with a 1 × 1 paddie. At the base of the piriformis muscle, a vascular bundle is typically identified and coagulated. Monopolar electrocautery is then used to completely cut the piriformis muscle until the muscle is completely released (Fig. 3). A blunt dissector is then used to confirm that the sciatic nerve is completely decompressed.
The fascia overlying the gluteus maximus is then closed with interrupted 2-0 Vicryl sutures and the dermis with interrupted 3-0 Vicryl sutures. The skin is closed with a running 4-0 subcuticular Monocryl and steri-strips. The patient is discharged from the recovery room with standard post-op follow-up.
The described surgical technique was performed in three patients who failed conservative management. The first patient was a 70-year-old female with a 3-year history of left buttock and leg pain. She underwent multiple lumbar epidural injection and two lumbar foraminotomies without any relief. She was found to have a trigger point in the region overlying the left piriformis musculature and sciatic nerve. She did not undergo EMG studies of her lower extremities at our facility. She failed conservative management with physical therapy and 2 trigger point injections with only temporary resolution of her symptoms. Given the resolution of her symptoms with trigger point injections, the decision was made to proceed with surgery.
The second patient was a 51-year-old female with a 1-year progressive history of right buttock pain that radiated down the right leg. Her lumbar MRI was negative, and she was found to have classic symptoms of PS including a trigger point at the piriformis musculature overlying the sciatic nerve on the right. She failed conservative management of physical therapy, medications, and trigger point injections. Her EMG findings were inconclusive. Given her continued pain and failure of conservative management, the decision was made to proceed with surgery.
The third patient was a 39-year-old female with a multi-year history of pain that started in her right buttocks and radiated down her right leg. She was diagnosed with PS and had a classic trigger point at the piriformis musculature overlying the sciatic nerve on the right. She failed conservative management with physical therapy and trigger point injections with only temporary relief. Her EMG results were inconclusive. However, given her temporary relief with the trigger point injections, the decision was made to proceed with surgery.
All of our patients had immediate relief of their symptoms after surgery. Our median length of follow-up was 12 months with a range of 6–18 months postoperative. All 3 patients returned to clinic for their scheduled 2-week postoperative exam and incision check. Additionally, they were all seen in clinic at 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. One patient moved after her 6-month follow-up, and the last 2 were seen at 12 months and 18 months, respectively. At their last follow-up, 2 out of the 3 patients were still completely symptom free with the third patient reporting pain associated with lumbar radiculopathy at her 18-month follow-up She was symptom free for 12 months following her surgery but developed a new pain in her left leg that she stated was different from her initial sciatic pain. This new pain was successfully treated with conservative management. There were no surgical complications with any of the patients.
PS is a controversial condition in which the sciatic nerve is compressed by the piriformis muscle causing buttock and leg pain. Patients typically have a classic trigger point in the region of the piriformis muscle overlying the sciatic nerve [7, 8]. PS accounts for approximately 0.3–0.6% of all cases of sciatic nerve pain with a reported female to male ratio of 6:1 . The condition has initially treated by conservative management including physical therapy, medications, and localized injections [5, 10, 11]. Surgical management has been reserved for refractory cases of PS that do not respond to conservative treatment. The two most documented treatment methods are open vs endoscopic decompression of the sciatic nerve by the release of the piriformis muscle .
Traditional open surgical treatment of PS consists of a long curvilinear incision in the shape of a reverse question mark around the entire lateral aspect of the gluteus maximus with an inferior stem at the base of the gluteus into the midline of the hamstring muscle. The gluteal muscle is then divided and reflected medial to expose the sciatic nerve. The nerve can then be traced up to the sciatic notch, relieving any constrictions on the way. The open method is a beneficial approach because it allows full exposure of the sciatic nerve and important vasculature in the area [1, 2, 8, 12]. However, the pitfalls of the open surgical approach are very large incisions with increased morbidity. There is an increased risk of bleeding, scaring, and potential for recurrence as compared to a more minimally invasive approach. Additionally, there is an increased recovery time and prolonged hospitalizations in patients that undergo open surgical management as compared to minimally invasive techniques .
Endoscopic surgical treatment of PS consists of the placement of two ports in the thigh using the femur as the primary landmark. The first port is placed 1 cm superior to the tip of the greater trochanter, while the second port is placed approximately 6–7 cm distal from the first. The ports are placed through small stab incisions in the skin. The sciatic nerve is then identified, and any constrictions are released with the use of an endoscope [6, 13]. The benefits of this treatment method are that it allows for a minimally invasive surgical approach, which leads to a faster recovery and shorter hospital stay. Additionally, it has decreased morbidity as compared to the open procedure . The significant limitation of the endoscopic approach is the very steep learning curve in the use of endoscopic equipment and arthroscopy before attempting this procedure. Also, the approach provides significantly decreased visualization as compared to the open procedure and carries a higher risk of injury to local vasculature and nerves [1, 14].
As an alternative to the above procedures, the minimally invasive approach described in this manuscript provides the advantages seen in both the traditional open and endoscopic methods. Our surgical approach provides excellent visualization of critical structures with minimal morbidity and short hospitalization. With the small incision and direct corridor to the nerve constriction, this minimally invasive approach can be mastered without requiring the steep learning curve as seen in the endoscopic approach. Most importantly, bleeding and injury to surrounding structures are less likely and easier to control as compared to the endoscopic method. Additionally, all three of our surgical procedures using this technique were performed as outpatient procedures with long-term pain relief without prolonged hospital stay and increased morbidity as seen in the traditional open surgical technique.
The primary limitation of our study is the small sample size with only 3 patients treated, and they were all women. Given that piriformis syndrome does have a 6:1 female to male ratio, it is not surprising that with such a small sample size, all outpatients were women. The small sample size of our study is due to the low incidence of piriformis syndrome already mentioned and the even lower incidence of patient’s who require surgical intervention, which should be reserved for medically refractory cases . In addition, the follow-up is relatively short with a median follow-up of 1 year. Finally, the procedure was assessed at only one institution by a single attending surgeon.
The primary limitation of this surgical technique is that it requires neuromonitoring in order to carry it out correctly. Neuromonitoring can be an expensive addition to surgery and is not always readily available. Additionally, only clinicians that have a basic understanding of peripheral nerves and gluteal anatomy should perform this surgical technique.
This minimally invasive technique for treating piriformis syndrome is an effective treatment for this patient population. The positive results seen in our patients utilizing the novel integration of pre-operative trigger point localization coupled with intraoperative neuromonitoring make this surgical approach an attractive option.
Availability of data and materials
Data sharing not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.
Magnetic resonance imaging
Natsis K, Totlis T, Konstantinidis GA, Paraskevas G, Piagkou M, Koebke J. Anatomical variations between the sciatic nerve and the piriformis muscle: a contribution to surgical anatomy in piriformis syndrome. Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA 2014;36(3):273-280. PubMed PMID: 23900507.
Windisch G, Braun EM, Anderhuber F. Piriformis muscle: clinical anatomy and consideration of the piriformis syndrome. Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA 2007;29(1):37-45. PubMed PMID: 17216293.
Kirschner JS, Foye PM, Cole JL. Piriformis syndrome, diagnosis and treatment. Muscle Nerve 2009;40(1):10-18. PubMed PMID: 19466717.
Jankovic D, Peng P, van Zundert A. Brief review: piriformis syndrome: etiology, diagnosis, and management. Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie. 2013;60(10):1003-1012. PubMed PMID: 23893704.
Martin HD, Shears SA, Johnson JC, Smathers AM, Palmer IJ. The endoscopic treatment of sciatic nerve entrapment/deep gluteal syndrome. Arthroscopy: the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association 2011;27(2):172-181. PubMed PMID: 21071168.
Beatty RA. The piriformis muscle syndrome: a simple diagnostic maneuver. Neurosurgery. 1994;34(3):512–4 discussion 4. PubMed PMID: 8190228.
Benson ER, Schutzer SF. Posttraumatic piriformis syndrome: diagnosis and results of operative treatment. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1999;81(7):941-949. PubMed PMID: 10428125.
Hicks BL, Varacallo M. Piriformis syndrome. StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL) 2019.
Hallin RP. Sciatic pain and the piriformis muscle. Postgrad Med 1983;74(2):69-72. PubMed PMID: 6878094.
Hopayian K, Song F, Riera R, Sambandan S. The clinical features of the piriformis syndrome: a systematic review. European spine journal: official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society 2010;19(12):2095-2109. PubMed PMID: 20596735. Pubmed Central PMCID: 2997212.
Steinmetz MPM, Alexander M.; Lastra-Powers, Jorge J.; Benzel, Edward C. Surgical exposure of peripheral nerves of the lower extremity: part I-sciatic nerve and its branches (Peroneal and Posterior Tibial Nerves). In: Resnick CWaD, editor. Neurosurgical Operative Atlas: Spine and Peripheral Nerves. 2nd Edition. New York: Thieme; 2007. p. 372-8.
Knudsen JS, Mei-Dan O, Brick MJ. Piriformis syndrome and endoscopic sciatic neurolysis. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev 2016;24(1):e1-e7. PubMed PMID: 26752779.
Park MS, Yoon SJ, Jung SY, Kim SH. Clinical results of endoscopic sciatic nerve decompression for deep gluteal syndrome: mean 2-year follow-up. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2016;17:218. PubMed PMID: 27206482. Pubmed Central PMCID: 4875686.
No funding was obtained or used in the production of this manuscript.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
IRB approval was not obtained because it was not required for case reports or case series at our institution. Our hospital IRB states that cases with 4 or less patients do not need to be reviewed. Additionally, all patients mentioned in the series were of the investigators’ own patients involved in direct patient care. Therefore, consent from the patients used in this study was not obtained because this study is exempt under 45-CFR-46.
Consent for publication
Not applicable: our manuscript does not contain any personal patient identification material.
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
About this article
Cite this article
Hogan, E., Vora, D. & Sherman, J.H. A minimally invasive surgical approach for the treatment of piriformis syndrome: a case series. Chin Neurosurg Jl 6, 8 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41016-020-00189-y

domain: health


text:
is a humorous but poignant drama from Film Four starring Chris Beattie and Greg McLane as two Newcastle teenagers who embark on a series of money-raising schemes in a desperate attempt to raise the necessary funds to buy Newcastle United season tickets. The whole story positively crunches with Northern grit and the ghost of Ken Loach clomps away in the background throughout the film, but acclaimed writer/director Mark Herman (Brassed Off
, Little Voice
) sets a fine balance between character and situation which is strong enough to carry the story despite its reliance on stereotypes. The humour ranges from the superbly under-stated (the fire-eating scene is a classic) to the rather nasty (the occasion which sees the two main protagonists demanding money from a woman for "looking after" her car is about as funny as a rape scene), but it all ends in a more upbeat fashion than Jonathan Tulloch's novel The Season Ticket
on which the film is based. --Roger Thomas
Netherlands released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Commentary, Featurette, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Music Video, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Two boys from troubled homes find that their love for British football gives them a focus in life -- and gets them into deep trouble in this realistic comedy drama. Sewell (Greg McLane) and Gerry (Chris Beattie) are two close friends growing up in an economically-depressed neighborhood in Newcastle-on-Tyne. Sewell has been living with his grandfather (Roy Hudd) since his parents abandoned him years ago, while Gerry, his mother (Charlie Hardwick), and his sister Clare (Tracy Whitwell) drift from flat to flat trying to avoid Gerry's dad (Tim Healy), an abusive thief and alcoholic. Sewell and Gerry aren't much on school, but they do have a dream -- they're loyal supporters of the Newcastle United football team, and they would love more than anything to have season tickets to see them play. However, the passes would cost 1,000 pounds, which is hardly within the boy's means; while they pledge to give up cigarettes to help save the money, they know that alone won't pay the tab. Gerry and Sewell try a number of schemes to make some extra money, from selling old things from around the house to shoplifting, but when they move on to the big leagues -- car theft and bank robbery -- things take an unexpected turn. Purely Belter was screened as part of the 'Director's Fortnight' series at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.
SCREENED/AWARDED AT: British Independent Film Awards, Cannes Film Festival, Fantasporto Awards, ...Purely Belter


text:
Tristan Thompson took to Instagram to shout out ex Khloe Kardashian’s new docuseries ‘Twisted Love’!
Tristan Thompson, 28, just won’t quit when it comes to his ex Khloe Kardashian, 35! The Cleveland Cavalier posted a congratulatory message on his Instagram story on Thursday, Jan. 16 and the subtext was definitely flirty. “Extremely Proud!! @KhloeKardashian,” he wrote over an announcement about Khloe’s latest project Twisted Love, following up with “Congratulations.” Tristan — who shares 1-year-old daughter True with Khloe — also added a trio of congratulatory emojis, showing just how excited he is about her latest venture!
Khloe recently announced that she would be at the helm of the six-part documentary series with Investigation Discovery (ID). Each episode will dive into “a trusted love that can turn into a treacherous fate,” according to the press release, and explore how love stories can end in tragedy. “I love the idea of love, but these stories will stun even the most hopeless romantic,” Khloe revealed about the project. “I’ve been a long-time ID fan, and I’ve never encountered stories as shocking as these crimes of love and passion,” she continued.
As for Tristan and Khloe, the pair split officially last March after he was caught inappropriately kissing Kylie Jenner‘s BFF Jordyn Woods, 22, at a house party. Though the situation was painful for Khloe, she has maintained a positive attitude on social media and remained focused on co-parenting their 1-year-old daughter, who turns two in April. Tristan seemingly been trying to get Khloe back over the past few months, and hasn’t been shy about letting people know! The NBA player surprised his ex with a gorgeous diamond necklace with the help of her BFF Malika Haqq back in the fall, and has been repeatedly leaving flirty comments on her Instagram account.
Tristan has also been more than supportive of Khloe when it comes to her accomplishments! He pulled out all the stops when she launched her KKW Diamonds fragrance with sisters Kim and Kourtney, arranging for a massive balloon display to be delivered to her home. “I got these balloons sent to me from baby True and Tristan and I really appreciate the love and the thoughtfulness,” Khloe gushed at the time. Tristan also made sure to congratulate Khloe after she won the Reality Star 2019 award at the E! People’s Choice Awards. “Congrats Momma Koko on winning best reality star 2019, that’s two years in a row. Two time champ. I love the sound of that,” he wrote on Instagram, adding a sexy red carpet pic of his ex.

domain: celebrity


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text:
3 Written questions
3 Multiple choice questions
- Muscle whose contractions are not under conscious control.
- Muscle that contracts under conscious control,
- Unit of muscle fibers composed of thick myosin protein filaments and thin actin protein filaments.
3 True/False questions
Smooth muscle → Type of involuntary muscle found in the walls of internal organs and blood vessels.
Actin → Each section of a myofibril in muscle.
Voluntary muscle → muscle that contracts under conscious control.


text:
Clairton marks Month of Young Child with parade, assembly
Clairton City School District encourages teachers, parents and the community to celebrate early childhood education.
The elementary school hosted its annual Month of the Young Child parade and assembly on Wednesday, inviting parents and city officials into the school. Dressed in a rainbow of colors representing each classroom, students in kindergarten through second grade marched through the halls and performed in the gymnasium.
“The kids work so hard all year, and this is a nice, fun reward,” said Bethany Sporio, whose children are in kindergarten and second grade. “They are the center of attention today. They're getting a jump start on spring break with a celebration that's all about them.”
Elementary principal Magi Berger said early education — even before kindergarten — is important to a child's development and success, and having community support behind that knowledge pushes students even further.
“It's important for us to get as many parents and community members into our school as we can to spread the word that we are educating our children,” Berger said.
The Month of the Young Child is a Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children extension of the national Week of the Young Child, which began in 1971 to focus public attention on the needs of young children and families. It promotes early learning and literacy through pre-K and elementary programs.
Each year, Clairton City School District invites Allegheny Intermediate Unit Head Start classrooms and other preschool programs to take part in its parade and programming.
“This has been a yearly tradition that allows these preschool programs to see what Clairton has to offer,” school board president Richard Livingston said. “We have families here, and we are showing them that Clairton (City) School District is alive and well.”
Students performed “What I Am,” an inspirational song about their growth. Berger said the song will become a Clairton tradition.
“We're going to teach it every year,” she said. “It will become a school song that students can sing for every special occasion.”
Jennifer R. Vertullo is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext. 1956, or firstname.lastname@example.org.
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domain: chemistry


text:
Latinx residents hit hardest by pandemic
A study released today by UCSF underscored the importance of ramping up testing for Latinx residents in the Southeast sector of the city, after results showed that this demographic not only tests positive at a higher rate than the rest of San Francisco, but may pass covid-19 on to others, due to an inability to self-quarantine.
Out of 2,622 Bay Area residents tested at the 24th Street BART pop-up testing site launched a month ago, Latinx residents registered an 11 percent positive-test rate, compared to 9 percent among all participants. Both dwarf San Francisco’s overall rate, which is presently 2.6 percent, according to the Department of Public Health.
“It’s deeply personal, it’s deeply painful, and deeply frustrating, to see from April that we have not been able to get a grip on covid-19,” said Jon Jacobo, a lead organizer with the Latino Task Force, the organization that joined UCSF in leading this pilot study.
While the study has limits — for example, 92 percent of participants were symptomatic, which could well factor into the high positivity rate — the data still highlights the benefits to testing where it’s proven transmission is most likely. These results are still drastically higher than those at the Embarcadero testing site, which has only a 1 percent positive rate, said Dr. Diane Havlir, chief of the UCSF Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine.
It also demonstrates how the city’s efforts to eliminate testing barriers confronting low-income, Latinx residents have not yet succeeded. Nearly half of positive cases were during the virus’s most infectious stage, meaning people had been tested too late and potentially exposed others.
Interviews between testing volunteers and people at the pop-up revealed it took an average of five days for them to be symptomatic, get tested, and shelter in place — a damning lag in testing and turnaround. By then the damage is done: covid is at its most infectious when symptoms first appear, and up to five days after, medical experts said.
Of those who rode BART or Muni that day, seven percent of test subjects came up positive.
“This virus moves so fast. We have to keep up,” Havlir said. “Essentially, the train has left the station. We need to ask — where are the delays? It’s in testing.”
But experts said that quarantining plays as much of a role in curbing the spread as testing does. Unfortunately, some people may not be able to quarantine at all.
Studies show essential workers and low-income workers are more at risk for covid, since they continue to go to work. In the results reported today, 87 percent of positive testing participants earn less than $50,000 a year and 79 percent live in an overcrowded home (with a median of six people per household).
“If you’re not symptomatic and faced with going to work and collecting your daily salary, or staying home, which of the two would you select?” Jacobo said.
Although city leaders attempted to address this with programs like the Right to Recover, which funds covid-positive workers for up to four weeks, the money will not be available until mid-September. Meanwhile, 22 percent of positive respondents said their work still denies them paid sick leave, despite calls to do so from local leaders.
“To know we can’t get them the funds in an adequate amount of time means that they are forgoing bills or responsibilities that they have,” Jacobo said. “We have to ensure this has funding and works accurately.”
The survey questions also spotlighted the lack of education about covid in vulnerable communities, Latino Task Force organizer Susana Rojas said. For example, some covid-positive residents said that they didn’t realize they exhibited symptoms. Additionally, 98 percent of those who tested positive at the 24th Street site self-reported wearing masks; the 9 percent positivity rate suggests that people may not wear them correctly.
“There are mixed messages going on in the community that masks aren’t necessary and a hoax,” Rojas said, noting that data suggests they’re effective when appropriately. “Wear them correctly and consistently.”
Jacobo added that most people remove masks when relaxing at home. In overcrowded households, this might heighten risk and transmission.
In many ways, the 24th Street pilot was successful, said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins Domingo, vice dean for population health and health equity at the UCSF. It proved that there is a need for targeted, low-barrier and regional testing and that researchers should look into areas they know little about, such as transmission on transportation. (Current data suggests that transmission on public transportation is low if riders are masked, Bibbins Domingo noted.)
“BART is a perfect example of a testing and surveillance strategy that will also look regionally,” Domingo said. About 18 percent of the participants lived in places outside of the city, like San Mateo County.
Of the 2,622 test subjects in the roughly three-week period, 93 percent who tested positive were Latinx, and 85 percent preferred communicating in Spanish.
“It’s great we have other testing facilities, but the strategy must be to come into communities where we know that the transmission is higher,” Jacobo said, mentioning places in the Southeast sector like the Bayview, Excelsior and Sunnydale.
More work remains for the city and its community groups.
“We need the resources.”
This Labor Day Weekend, the Latino Task Force and Carnaval organizers aim to test about 2,000 people for free.
CORRECTION: Updated Sept. 4, 2:22 p.m.
The following figures have been corrected to say “of those who tested positive” instead of originally stating them as “test participants”: “92 percent of those who tested positive were symptomatic” and “93 percent of those who tested positive were Latinx.”
The following has been clarified: “Of those who rode BART or Muni that day, seven percent of test subjects came up positive.” It originally read, “Seven percent of test subjects who came up positive had used BART or Muni that day.”
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domain: sociology


Sandringham is one of Melbourne’s most desirable Bayside suburbs; popular among families and older couples looking for laid back beachside living in good proximity to Melbourne’s CBD. Located just 16 kilometres southeast of the city, the area is bordered by Hampton, Highett, Cheltenham and Black Rock.
Health and fitness enthusiasts are attracted to Sandringham as it offers a perfect environment for a healthy outdoor lifestyle. With almost a quarter of the area being made up of green space and parkland, residents can often be found running, walking and cycling along the foreshore. For those looking for more specific sporting activities the suburb doesn’t fail to disappoint, boasting one of Melbourne’s most prestigious yacht clubs, world-class golf courses and the Sandringham Football Club. Set on pristine coastline, Sandringham offers beach and city lovers alike impeccable seaside living.
Sandringham is also made popular by the village lifestyle it boasts. The main retail area is around Station Street and offers an array of cafes including the kitsch, Cuppa Cottage, a quirky café popular with the local parents for its babycinos and homemade cakes. The area also has a number of restaurants and takeaway shops as well as independent bookstores, toy shops and speciality food stores which are in keeping with the village lifestyle. In addition more mainstream amenities such as a supermarket, library and police station can be found here. The Sandringham train station is the end of the Sandringham line and regular trains run in to the CBD in just under half an hour. Sandringham also has a public hospital.
Sandringham has a variety of housing styles. Art Deco homes, Edwardian properties and Californian bungalows are all well sought after by families. In addition, the area has a number of more modern townhouses, semis and terraces as well as luxury apartment blocks and courtyard properties which are popular with the older residents. The area has a number of quiet streets which offer the perfect piece of suburban life.
For those looking to invest in a Bayside suburb, Sandringham is definitely one to consider. With large blocks of land and a median house price of $1,180,000 for a house the area has seen good year on year growth. However, there is a high demand for property in the area so it pays to know what you are looking for and possibly consider properties that need some renovation as a more affordable way of gaining a foothold in the area.
Renters make up almost a quarter of the property market in the area – a number which has increased in the past five years. This makes investing in the buy to let market in the area a good decision with average rents yielding $400 per week for a unit and $795 per week for a home. When buying to rent it is important to consider location, location, location to secure maximum return on investment. For example ensuring your property is within a few minutes walking distance to transport and shops and in the catchment area of good schools will make it more desirable than competing properties as these are often fundamental requirements for potential renters.
Sandringham is one of Melbourne’s most prestigious beachside suburbs and by doing the research on the location, as well as the property, can really make the difference on your investment potential.


text:
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domain: hobby


Ryanair imposes Afrikaans language test on South African passengers
LONDON — Budget airline Ryanair says it's forcing South African travelers to the U.K. to do a test in the Afrikaans language to prove their nationality in an apparent effort to weed out those with phony passports.
Dublin-based Ryanair, Europe's biggest airline, mainly operates routes around Europe and doesn't fly to or from South Africa. It confirmed Monday it's administering the quiz after reports about the test circulated over the weekend, sparking anger among travelers.
Afrikaans is one of South Africa's 11 official languages and is the first language of about 13% of the country's population. It's a Dutch-based language developed by many of the country's white settlers who came from the Netherlands and is associated with South Africa's apartheid regime of white minority rule that ended in 1994.
"Due to the high prevalence of fraudulent South African passports, we require passengers traveling to the U.K. to fill out a simple questionnaire issued in Afrikaans," Ryanair said in a brief press statement. "If they are unable to complete this questionnaire, they will be refused travel and issued with a full refund."
The British High Commission in Pretoria said on Twitter that the test "is not a U.K. government requirement," and linked to a website with official rules for South African visitors.
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