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A ‘Queer’ Argument Against Marriage
MICHEL MARTIN, host:
And now to a very different story about the way we live now. It is June, and among other milestones and events observed and celebrated this month, it is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. We've got a series of conversations planned about what LGBT pride means some 40 years after the modern gay rights movement was born.
But we're going to begin with an issue that, in recent years, has become a central focus of that movement: marriage - or rather, marriage equality. Five states in the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriage. And a judge in California is expected to decide the fate of Proposition 8, also known as the California Marriage Protection Act, which outlawed same-sex marriage in that state. Regardless of the ruling, which is expected day now, the case is widely expected to head to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Now, for many gay people - in fact, for many people who are not gay, the fight for marriage equality is a fight for human dignity. Some call it the civil rights issue of our time.
But today we're going to hear a very different perspective. Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore is editor of the book "That's Revolting: Queer Strategies for Resisting Assimilation." She - and she prefers she - has written widely about and spoken about what she calls the queer culture, which is a term she also prefers.
Sycamore says that gay marriage is not only the wrong fight right now, but could also have negative consequences for same gender-loving people. And she's with us now from San Francisco. Welcome. Thank you for joining us.
Ms. MATTILDA BERNSTEIN SYCAMORE (Editor, "That's Revolting: Queer Strategies for Resisting Assimilation"): Thanks so much for having me.
MARTIN: Now, Mattilda, if I could just establish one thing here. You have a masculine voice. Is that are you a biological male who prefers the female identity, or do you just like to resist rigid gender straightjackets? If I could just ask you to clarify for that - why you prefer to be she.
Ms. SYCAMORE: Yes. I was someone assigned by the medical establishment as male at birth. But I actually identify as gender queer, which means that I reject traditional notions of male and female and prefer something that's a little more - what's the word? Subversive.
MARTIN: Okay. Fair enough. And you prefer queer to gay.
Ms. SYCAMORE: Yeah. Gay has become a narrow identity based in accessing straight privilege, whereas queer, to me, includes a wider diversity of people. And it also includes a politicized standpoint that means, you know, challenging the status quo and creating new ways of loving and living with and transforming our lives and one another, and also challenging the violence of traditional institutions.
MARTIN: Now, your book really challenges what many people have come to see as the central focus of the gay rights movement at this time in this history, which is marriage. And you say that if gay marriage is about protecting citizenship, whose citizenship is being protected?
You say most people in this country, especially those who are not born rich, white, straight and male are not full citizens. Gay assimilationists want to make sure they're on the winning side in the citizenship wars, and thus they see no need to confront the legacies of systemic and U.S. oppression. Okay, well, you go on from there. But your point is that assimilation is to be resisted. Why?
Ms. SYCAMORE: I mean, if we look at the mainstream gay movement at this point, it's centered around this assimilationist access. So, you know, the dominant issues have become accessing straight privilege. So marriage, military service, adoption, ordination into the priesthood - those are all straight issues last time I checked, right?
And what's so sad is that instead of the radical roots of gay liberation you mentioned in the introduction, we look at the contemporary gay movement and it's all about, you know, we're just like you. We don't want to threaten U.S. militarism. I mean, look at this. You know, we have, you know, two wars that are going on forever in Iraq and Afghanistan.
And meanwhile, you know, the gay marriage movement is busy, like, draping themselves in the U.S. flag at every pro-marriage demonstration. And the subtext is that we want to be part of this violence and not have to be held accountable for it.
MARTIN: You say that a gay elite has hijacked queer struggle and positioned their desires as everyone's needs. The dominant signs of straight conformity have become the ultimate measures of gay success. The question I have for you is how do you that this is a gay elite and not in fact the broad desire of a broad swath of same gender loving individuals?
Ms. SYCAMORE: If we take a look at the focus, you know, this narrow focus on marriage, right, what we're told is that this is going to give us housing and health care and the right to stay in this country and tax breaks and the right to visit our, you know, the people we love in the hospital.
But, really, it's only giving that right to people who are willing to conform to this narrow notion of a long-term monogamous partnership sanctioned by the state, which really doesn't relate to the majority of people's lives -straight, gay, queer or otherwise. And so...
MARTIN: Well, how do you know that? How do you know that it doesn't relate to the majority of people who have - you know, many people feel the family is the foundation of community. The community is the foundation of all. So, why isn't family formation or forming a family a critical and crucial aspect of life?
Ms. SYCAMORE: I think forming a family is in fact a critical aspect of life. But a family should be a chosen family. So that's something we really have to learn from, you know, queer life. You know, choosing friends, you know, choosing lovers, choosing people they may or may not be in a sexual relationship with and creating long-term commitments in order to support one another. That's what's so beautiful.
And there are plenty of straight people who also live very similar lives. Very few people actually conform to this notion of what marriage is supposed to be. I mean, last time I checked, you know, marriage was a failing institution. And why are gay people now propping up this failed institution instead of creating more opportunities for everyone?
MARTIN: There's a clip that I want to play you that's apparently making the rounds of a lot of gay Web sites and, you know, social media. And it's an anti-Proposition 8 video, which is to say it's in support of same-sex marriage and it portrays two gay men who after getting married adopt a - well, how can we put this - more I think they would use the word mundane suburban lifestyle. I just want to play a short clip, and this is just the message at the end of the video. Here it is.
(Soundbite of video)
Unidentified Man: If you disagree with the homosexual lifestyle, support overturning Prop 8 and make them get married like the rest of us.
MARTIN: The implication is that this will kind of tame gay people. Is that part of your fear, that there is something distinctive about being gay - or queer, as you prefer - and that that will be lost?
Ms. SYCAMORE: Well, that's interesting. I mean, it seems that perhaps with that ad the gay marriage movement is finally admitting what it's all about, which is cultural erasure. Yeah, I mean, I agree with what you're saying - you know, we don't want to become part of any of these, you know, dominant institutions that are making the lives of so many people miserable. You know, we want to create new opportunities to love and live with one another and to challenge things that unfortunately the mainstream gay movement is completely in favor of.
MARTIN: If you're just joining us, I'm Michel Martin and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. I'm speaking with author and activist Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore. She believes that gay marriage is not in the best interest of same gender loving people.
Well, talk to me about again why you're so convinced this is a group of elites who are sort of hijacking the movement as opposed to the fact that this might be the center of gravity of same gender loving individuals.
Ms. SYCAMORE: Well, what's so sad to me is that in the early '90s, universal health care, for example, was on the verge of becoming a mainstream gay issue. So many people had come out of the AIDS crisis and seen so many of their loved ones die. And they thought, oh, well, let's see, if everyone had access to health care, maybe some of the people I loved might still be alive.
And, you know, around that time, that's when gays in the military sort of subsumed, you know, the energy of the mainstream gay movement. And then within a few years it became marriage. So, just to see how far, you know, we've gone, from talking about universal access to basic needs. So things like housing and health care and citizenship and love and, you know, someone to, you know, go to sleep with at night if you want to, these are things that everyone should have. Not just people who are willing or able to get married.
MARTIN: Part of the reason that many people have embraced marriage is not just to sort of consolidate power and, you know, property, but also because this is the way that the most vulnerable members of our society - children, seniors, people who are sick - are taken care of. They are taken care of within the context of marriage. And if relationships are all about do I want to be with you today, how are children raised? How are seniors cared for? How are people cared for when they're no longer attractive or, you know, at their best and so forth? Have you thought about that? And what do you say about that?
Ms. SYCAMORE: I think if someone wants to have a long-term, monogamous coupled partnership that's loving and caring, that's wonderful. The problem for me with the gay marriage movement is it actually limits people's options rather than increasing them. And, I mean, the thing for me is, yes, obviously there is something that people can access, you know, through marriage. If people want to say I'm doing this horrible compromise, I don't believe it in any way whatsoever, but it's the only way I can keep my health care or get my partner's health care, then I say, okay, go for that. But to say that this should be the central preoccupation of an entire movement is just horrifying to me.
MARTIN: You're saying that most people you know agree with you. That is not the message that we have been getting as this issue has been discussed in recent months. I mean, we've heard a number of religious conservatives opposing marriage equality. We've heard a number of people who are conservative in general opposing marriage equality. We've not heard a number of gay people saying - opposing gay marriage. And I'm just wondering why you think that is.
Ms. SYCAMORE: What has happened is that the, you know, gay establishment marriage movement is shutting out radical queer voices, you know, queers who are opposed to marriage. Because it's very easy for them to win an argument with a foaming-at-the-mouth Christian fundamentalist conservative who thinks that all queers are going to burn in hell, right? It's much easier to win that argument than to actually provide space for queers to have a conversation among ourselves about what we think the priorities of our movement should be.
MARTIN: Where do you think this is headed? As we mentioned, Prop 8 is scheduled to be ruled on any day, and it's probably headed for the Supreme Court, and as we've discussed at the beginning of our conversation, five states in the District of Columbia have already legalized same-sex marriage. So it does seem as though the momentum is in the direction of marriage equality. What do you think is next?
Ms. SYCAMORE: Well, I actually see that, you know, over time it does seem that there are, you know, emerging, you know, even in mainstream discourse, more opposition to something like marriage and the stranglehold it has on, you know, the sort of gay establishment agenda.
To me what is so sad, if you look at, like, Proposition 8 is actually a great example. Each side spent over $20 million. And imagine if all that money went to creating a queer youth shelter, you know, or to health care for trans people or to senior housing, like, it's just sad to me to see all the resources, 'cause it's really taking away from the resources for everything else.
MARTIN: Author and activist Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore is the editor of "That's Revolting: Queer Strategies for Resisting Assimilation." Her latest book is the novel "So Many Ways to Sleep Badly" - is also out now.
Mattilda, I thank you so much for speaking with us.
Ms. SYCAMORE: Thank you so much. I really enjoyed it.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.


Aug 2, 2013 10:12 AM by Ian Auzenne
This is the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office arrest report for August 2, 2013.
Chad Wimberley, age 48, 851 Vatican Rd., Carencro, La, driving while intoxicated - 1st offense, ran stop sign, no seat belt, 3 counts of negligent injuring - vehicular, arrested by Louisiana State Police.
John Nathaniel Reeves, age 33, 10963 Hwy. 105, Melville, LA, battery of a police officer, resisting a police officer with force or violence.
St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office responded to over 67 complaints over the past 24 hours. On behalf of Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz, this is Captain Megan Vizena and this concludes our report.
4 months ago


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Type(s) of Cancer Breast, Multiple Myeloma, Prostate
A Randomized, Phase III Study of Standard Dosing Versus Longer Dosing Interval of Zoledronic Acid in Metastatic Cancer
Provider Data DescriptionDataset NCT00869206-D1-Dataset.csv (consort) is one of 10 datasets associated with PubMed ID 28030702. This dataset contains information in the Consort Diagram.
SponsorAlliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
Data ProviderNational Cancer Institute
Clinical Trials.gov Information
Brief SummaryThis randomized phase III trial studies two different schedules of zoledronic acid to compare how well they work in reducing bone-related complications in patients with breast cancer, prostate cancer, or multiple myeloma that has spread to other places in the body and have bone involvement. Bone-related complications are a major cause of morbidity in patients with metastatic prostate cancer, breast cancer, and multiple myeloma. Zoledronic acid may stop the growth of cancer cells in the bone and may help relieve some of the symptoms caused by bone metastases. It is not yet known whether giving zoledronic acid more or less frequently is more effective in treating patients with metastatic cancer that has spread to the bone.
ConditionsBreast Adenocarcinoma DS Stage I Plasma Cell Myeloma DS Stage II Plasma Cell Myeloma Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm to the Bone Pain Musculoskeletal Complication Urinary Complications
Intervention TypeDrug: zoledronic acid
Drug(s)Drug: zoledronic acid
Blinding MethodNone (Open Label)
Arms InterventionArm I (zoledronic acid every 4 weeks) - Experimental Arm II (zoledronic acid every 12 weeks) - Experimental
Collaborator(s)National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Region(s)United States Puerto Rico
Age Range18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

domain: medical


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Winners Announced for BAFTA Young Game Designers Competition
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- Jesse Waymont for ‘I Seek Death’ – Game Concept Award (10-14 years)
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domain: artistic


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Last week, at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Mr Trump falsely implied that the Minnesota congresswoman was not American.
“She's telling us how to run our country. How did you do where you came from? How is your country doing?” the president said about Ms Omar.
The 37-year-old congresswoman, who is Somalian born, fled her country of birth to come to the US as an asylum seeker at the age of eight, and became a US citizen in 2000 when she was 17 years old.
During an appearance on MSNBC on Thursday, Mr Cortes was asked about the president’s comments by host Ayman Mohyeldin, who said: “Do you honestly think they (migrants) should be treated as less American for it and not be considered part of this country?”
Mr Cortes replied without basis: “I don’t think Ilhan Omar is any less American, assuming that her naturalisation was legitimate, and there’s a lot of questions about that.”
He added: “She has to answer a lot of questions”.
Mr Mohyeldin interrupted and asked: “You are saying her naturalisation is not legitimate?”
After a pause, Mr Cortes said: “No, I’m saying I don’t know. But there a lot of question which she has yet to answer about marriages, about documents and she certainly needs to answer questions about these recent revelations in the Project Veritas tapes about vote stealing effectively.”
The senior adviser was referring to an investigation launched by Minneapolis police, after a video emerged of Ms Omar’s supporters allegedly collecting absentee ballots. One of the men accused, Liban Mohamed, claimed that the story is “fake news”.
Mr Cortes, who is the son of an immigrant, added: “We believe in legal immigration and legal immigration is a treasure to this country. But illegal migration is a scourge to this country and that is what we have been very clear about.”
Mr Mohyeldin then asked Mr Cortes: “You know there is no evidence that she illegally immigrated here when she came into this country? You are just throwing that out there without evidence.” He replied: “I didn’t say evidence, I said questions.”
President Trump has repeatedly attacked Ms Omar, who is one of the first two Muslim women to serve in Congress, and falsely implied that she is not an American citizen.
At a rally last year, Mr Trump called for Ms Omar and three of her progressive colleagues in Congress, known as the “Squad”, to “go back” to “the totally broken and crime-infested places from which they came.”
The three other women, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib, were all born in the US and Ms Omar is a naturalised citizen, which is a requirement to serve in Congress.
On Wednesday night, at a rally in Ms Omar’s state of Minnesota, supporters of the president chanted “lock her up,” as Mr Trump claimed that the Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden plans to turn the state - which has a large Somali population - into a “refugee camp” if he wins the race for the White House.
Following the president’s comments last week, Ms Omar tweeted: “Firstly, this is my country & I am a member of the House that impeached you.
“Secondly, I fled civil war when I was 8. An 8-year-old doesn’t run a country even though you run our country like one.”
The congresswoman later told CNN: “The president clearly loves to prey on people's fears.
“He spreads the disease of hate everywhere he goes, and these cult rallies that he's holding across the country are now being fuelled by fear, and it is no surprise that he is so fearful of winning Minnesota that he has to resort to this hate.”
Ms Omar added: “Not only is he a racist, but he's a racist xenophobic. Because he's not against immigration, he's just against immigrants who look like me.”
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The Trotters will be looking to push on into mid-table after finishing 18th last term, while Derby are expected to be among the promotion chasers after bringing in a new manager and a host of new players.
Bolton supporters have had to endure a largely frustrating three years since they dropped out of the Premier League. In that time they have become a bottom-half side rather than promotion hopefuls like many expected. They have also been forced to cut costs due to their parachute payments coming to an end.
It all means that it is hard to tell how they will get on this season. They have s group of solid Championship pros with some added quality thrown in and these players, if fit and in form, could fire the club into the top half and beyond.
However, they have failed to live up to their potential recently, hence why many observers are tipping them for a season of struggle.
Neil Lennon was appointed manager last October and was tasked with guiding them away from the bottom of the division. The former Celtic boss did just that, leading them 10 points clear of the bottom three by the end of the campaign.
The Trotters also went on an eight-match unbeaten run in the closing stages of the season, which will offer some hope to their supporters.
Pre-season form: LLLWWW
Derby have been installed as many people's favourites to win the Championship, and they have certainly signalled their intentions by bringing in a new manager and spending big in the transfer market this summer.
The Rams looked on course for Premier League football with 13 games to go last season as they sat at the top of the table, but just two victories from those remaining fixtures saw them plummet down the standings and finish eighth.
Clement arrived in the East Midlands with a fine reputation as a coach, but it will be interesting to see how the 41-year-old adapts to the rigours of managing in a very competitive division.
He inherited a squad full of experience and has since added the likes of Tom Ince, Jason Shackell and Andreas Weimann, which leaves them with a group of players that would be the envy of most sides in the league.
The pressure will be on them right from the off and if Clement gets off to a poor start, the fans will begin to question his credentials.
Pre-season form: LWWWDW
Lennon could hand debuts to summer signings Ben Amos, Derik Osede and Gary Madine. The Trotters also recently signed ex-Blackpool and Swansea City man Stephen Dobbie and former Charlton Athletic defender Lawrie Wilson on free transfers, although it remains to be seen if they will be fit enough to feature yet.
Derby boss Clement has several selection dilemmas ahead of his first competitive game in charge. He has named his captain, though, with Chris Baird replacing Richard Keogh, who had been skipper for the past three seasons.
Darren Bent is fighting it out with Chris Martin to start as the lone striker, while Johnny Russell might have to settle for a place on the bench. Behind the striker, Ince, Weimann and Will Hughes are likely to offer support as attacking midfielders.
New signing Alex Pearce is likely to make his debut at centre-back alongside Keogh.
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Amos; Vela, Dervite, Osede, Moxey; Danns, Pratley, Davies, Feeney; Clough, Madine
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Grant; Christie, Keogh, Pearce, Forsyth; Baird, Thorne; Ince, Hughes, Weimann; Bent
Head To Head
Bolton have historically enjoyed the better of it in this fixture, winning 61 times to Derby's 45, with 21 draws.
The Rams have been more successful in recent meetings, though, going unbeaten in their last five against the Trotters.
Last season they did the double over the Lancashire outfit, winning 2-0 at the Macron Stadium in September before thrashing them 4-1 at the iPro in February as Ince and Jeff Hendrick bagged braces each.
We say: Bolton 1-2 Derby
Neither side will want to open up the new campaign with a defeat, so expect a cagey affair in this one. Derby will be looking to lay down a marker for the season early on and they should just about have too much for Lennon's men.

domain: news


As the school season begins, we’ll be counting down a variety of back-to-school movies and TV shows.
Going back to school isn’t just for kids. Every 10 years or so, adults are invited to revisit their high school days at a reunion. Lukewarm buffet food is served, cheap beer is sloshed, and everyone strives to make their life sound just a little more interesting than it actually is.
Enter Grosse Pointe Blank, the rare romantic comedy to earn an R rating for “strong violence.” John Cusack stars as Martin Blank, a sad-sack hit man with a severe case of ennui. With no meaningful relationships apart from his assistant, and the blood of countless targets on his hands, his life needs a shakeup — and an invitation to his 10-year high school reunion offers the perfect chance to do a little soul-searching.
On the advice of his therapist, Martin heads back to Grosse Pointe, Michigan, reconnecting with friends, family, and the justifiably bitter ex-girlfriend he abandoned on prom night. In one of the film’s sharpest gags, Martin repeatedly admits that he’s spent the past decade killing people, which people invariably take as a sarcastic joke.
Of course, leaving the hit man life behind is easier said than done. Martin’s attempts to atone for his sins and figure out a new path in life are interrupted by everything from a jealous professional rival to a final hit he’s required to carry out.
The offbeat blend of quippy dialogue and surprisingly visceral violence could easily have failed to cohere, but Grosse Pointe Blank succeeds on the strength of a clever, biting script and an expertly chosen cast that includes appearances by everyone from Dan Aykroyd to Hank Azaria to Jeremy Piven. In the lead roles, Cusack and Minnie Driver each turn in career-best performances, parrying back and forth in a perfect emulation of the whip-smart banter that defined screwball comedies.
Grose Pointe Blank is also interwoven with one of the strongest soundtrack albums released in the 1990s — so popular and well-received that Polygram actually released a second volume later that year to capitalize on the success.
All in all, Grosse Pointe Blank is a delight — a weird, funny, bloody little gem of a movie that straddles the lines of a half-dozen genres and makes it look easy.
“Americans have lost their taste for collective sacrifice… so when a frightening enemy like al Qaeda or ISIS threatens our sense of security, it suits nearly everyone for the president to blow up the bad guys without asking 99 percent of us to interrupt our pursuit of happiness.”—
“In an MMO… new money comes in the form of monsters… that provide adventuring objectives for players. The new money, in this case… goes straight into the hands of people who will spend it. … All of this points to the great weakness of the Federal Reserve’s attempts at monetary stimulus: hardly any of the money actually leaks out into the real economy.”—
“Exotic means there, not here. Them, not us. You, but definitely not me. Exotic is a word defined by the speaker’s perspective, which assumes dominance and normalcy over the person being called exotic.”—
“Kaczynski’s methods were crazy, but his loss of faith in the technological frontier is all around us. Consider the trivial but revealing hallmarks of urban hipsterdom: faux vintage photography, the handlebar mustache, and vinyl record players all harken back to an earlier time when people were still optimistic about the future.”—PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel in his new book on entrepreneurship, Zero to One
“However, a win for gays, on the whole, shouldn’t twist the fact that even within our own diverse enclave, some gays are still losing. For someone who’s bisexual or older or overweight or transgender, exclusion isn’t unusual. The takeaway point: It hasn’t gotten better for a lot of GLBT folks.”—
“Most people in the Western world have sought spiritual fulfillment through Judeo-Christian monotheism, which Harris considers to be pernicious, unscientific claptrap. That leaves the option of Eastern spirituality, though Harris can’t restrain himself from taking plenty of swipes at Buddhist and Hindu gurus for saying their own scientifically ludicrous things.”—


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domain: chemistry


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- Excellent position for a physician looking for quality of life.
- Offering a competitve base salary plus productivity bonus.
- Benefits include: Medical, Dental, Malpractice, 1 week CME, 3 weeks vacation, etc.
Enjoy the Valley of the Sun, where you can hike, bike, play tennis or golf 365 days a year.
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The Huawei Mate 10, Mate 10 Pro, P20 and P20 Pro are receiving new updates
Some of Huawei's older flagship smartphones are receiving new software updates. The devices in question are the Mate 10, Mate 10 Pro, P20 and P20 Pro. The four devices will not be receiving any future OS upgrades like EMUI 11, but they are good for new security patch updates, at least for the time being.
According to Huawei Central, Huawei is upgrading all four devices to the July 2020 set of security patches. The newer set of August patches have been available for a few weeks, but Huawei generally does not update its devices to the latest patches.
Nonetheless, the July updates fix five critical and nine high-level CVEs. The updates for the four devices should carry the build numbers EMUI 10.0.0.175 or EMUI 10.0.0.176 depending on your device. Huawei Central notes that Huawei has started by upgrading handsets in China, but equivalent updates for other regions should follow shortly.


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The following items were selected from reports made to the Oak Harbor Police Department:
Tuesday, April 11
At 7:26 a.m., a Southwest Barrington Drive resident reported that a masked man in a black hoodie and red shoes was standing outside holding a trash bag.
At 2:40 p.m., a caller reported that a bearded man was lying on the ground next to the highway.
At 5:02 p.m., a caller at a Southeast Pioneer Way store reported that a man in plaid pants tried to buy a machete.
At 5:03 p.m., a resident reported that a man was sleeping in the grass next to a car wash.
At 5:07 p.m., a parent reported an ongoing issue with a child being harassed at school.
At 6:51 p.m., a resident reported that a homeless person was slumped over next to no trespassing signs on Midway Boulevard.
Wednesday, April 12
At 2:51 p.m., a caller reported a probate fraud on which a dead uncle was “taken” for $5 million.
At 7:14 p.m., a caller reported that two people keep going together into the bathroom at Whidbey Coffee to have sex.
At 7:42 p.m., a resident reported that tents appeared at a location on Southeast Barrington Drive.
At 8:38 p.m., a woman reported that someone was throwing things at her car on Northeast First Avenue.
At 10:37 p.m., a parent reported that someone made a threat to shoot up a school on a daughter’s group SnapChat.
Thursday, April 13
At 6:35 a.m., a Southwest Sixth Avenue resident reported that a man who seems “strung out” keeps knocking on her door.
At 7:25 a.m., a caller reported that someone broke into a generator area at a South Oak Harbor Street business and left a bag of power tools.
At 7:55 a.m., a caller reported that a homeless person was smoking on Barlow Street.
At 9:19 a.m., a caller reported that a man in a sleeveless shirt was acting erratic and digging through a dumpster behind the movie theater.
At 8:17 p.m., a North Oak Harbor Street resident reported that a woman who wasn’t supposed to be there was moving stuff around on the porch.
At 9:45 p.m., a caller reported having video footage of two teenagers jumping off the Department of Licensing building.

domain: law


Want to know more?
The landscapes of custom software development outsourcing have witnessed rapid changes and technology trends due to the emergence of many technology disruptions. The new normal belongs to robotics, the industrial internet of things (IIoT), quantum computing, Blockchain, next-level process automation and virtualisation. To unlock the business potential in the digital age triggered by the global COVID-19 crisis, many forward-thinking organisations are happily embracing these emerging technology trends because they know the right technology unlocks the capability to disrupt and gain a competitive advantage.
The quick adoption of the relevant cutting-edge technology plays a vital role in pushing an organisation's digital transformation journey ahead. It also helps yield results faster, gain new heights of rapid innovation and accelerate operational performance while preparing the businesses for the next normal. Furthermore, the emerging technologies enable enterprises to reduce barriers to digital disruptions, unleash business agility and unlocks a roadmap to excellence.
Let's delve deeper into the top digital technology trends dominating the bespoke software development landscapes:
As per the reports published by McKinsey, by the year 2025, more than 50 billion devices will be connected to the industrial internet of things (IIoT) and expected to generate approximately 79 Zbytes of data annually. The technology helps the development team to automate repetitive tasks, optimise digital transformation objectives, generate real-time machine data, increase connectivity, enhance the customer experience and enable greater operational efficiency across the development process.
Do you know Quantum Computing will break through as mainstream technology as per McKinsey by the year 2035, and $1tn+ will be the expected value generated by quantum computing applications. It will dramatically transform the future of bespoke software development services because it brings disruption by using qubits and gates.
By 2027, McKinsey also predicted that Blockchain would be the key business driver and expected to share 10% of global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027. The cross-industry Blockchain-based solutions are gaining momentum in a B2B ecosystem, mainly marine insurance agencies, automobile companies, banks and insurance companies that are fast to pick up the Blockchain technology for fraud detection.
Artificial Intelligence + Machine Learning:
Both Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are already ruling the software technology industry. Predictably, they will continue to revolutionise the technology strategy for many sectors because of their innovative capabilities of natural language processing, machine vision and speech technology that play a vital role in rapid development cycles.
The demand for Cloud Computing is rising as the lingering effects of the COVID-19 crisis. With a critical focus on increased scalability, business continuity and cost efficiency, the majority of organisations are counting on Cloud technology for now and in the long term. The business-critical solutions like software as a service (SaaS) at a 16 per cent growth rate ($117.8 billion), infrastructure services (IaaS) at a 26.9 per cent growth rate ($65.3 billion) and application infrastructure services (PaaS) are expected to notice a boom at a higher 26.6 per cent growth rate ($55.5 billion) as per the Gartner predictions.
Some Important Key Lessons To Accelerate Bespoke Software Development Performance:
Everything has changed since the global COVID-19 pandemic hit the globe. The time ahead needs specific strategies to recover and thrive the next normal. Given below are some key lessons from industry experts to spark a wave of innovation.
- Balancing corporate strategy and technology strategy is essential to thrive in the next normal. Businesses must strike a good balance between their current technology capabilities and corporate strategy in order to reap benefits from the future possibilities while winning over uncertainties. That's where strategic technology platforms come into the limelight. Such platforms are infused with the awesomeness of advanced analytics, automation, and Artificial Intelligence that enable an organisation to make strategic decisions and improve operational efficiency while automating time-consuming processes.
- Modernizing technology is critical for business success. In today's age of digital disruption, the future belongs to organisations that rely on the right mix of advanced technologies, continuous development (CI/CD) practices, and code management tools for bespoke software development. This approach helps to improve front-end experiences, create high organizational agility, and unlocks the next level of performance.
- Data privacy and security capabilities are on top priority. Many companies fail to understand that security is the utmost requirement in the bespoke software development process instead of relying on manual compliance processes. As we all know, the next normal is entirely different. To deal with any unexpected catastrophes, companies heading towards bespoke software development services must be vigilant. They must strengthen the security quotient, especially regarding the data architecture and platforms, consolidated data pipelines, low-to-no duplication of databases, common data models and data governance processes to handle GDPR requests.
The above discussed digital technology trends undeniably add to the new equation of digital business success, ensure excellent delivery and accelerate technology innovation for many forward-thinking businesses seeking sustained outcomes.


Materials & Processes Technician
Palo Alto, CA /
Heaviside – Aerostructures /
Here at Kittyhawk in Palo Alto, we are developing ground breaking all-electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft. Project Heaviside is Kittyhawk’s latest high-performance electric VTOL vehicle. It is designed to be fast, small, and exceedingly quiet, taking advantage of new possibilities to free people from traffic.
We are seeking an experienced Materials and Processes (M&P) technician to join our growing Aerostructures team. This position is a unique opportunity to be involved early in driving program decisions on key materials and processes selections. You will be responsible for composite parts fabrication, adhesive bonding, part machining, and testing. Positive attitude, passion, and self-learner mentality are a must have.
- Responsible for monolithic and sandwich composite part manufacturing which involves ply kitting, hand and wet lay-up, core machining, vacuum bagging, and part curing
- Responsible for adhesive bonding via co-curing, co-bonding, and secondary bonding methods
- Responsible for composite part trimming and machining which involves CNC, table saw, and surface grinder use
- Responsible for test assembly and test fixture design and machining
- Responsible for composites testing per ASTM/SACMA standards or internal Kitty Hawk test methods
- Responsible for material flammability testing per FAA test methods
- Responsible for Non-Destructive Inspections (NDI) of composites and metals
- Previous experience in composite structures fabrication, metalworking, woodworking, boat building, or a comparable field involving good judgement, planning, fine motor control, and attention to details
- A good attitude and interest in working in a lab setting along with a team of individuals with diverse skill sets
- 5-10 years of experience with aerostructures composites fabrication, machining, and testing
- Ability to work independently with little or no supervision
We welcome you to apply even if you don’t match every requirement posted for this role. No one candidate will be a 100% perfect match to our description, so if you are passionate about working on the next evolution in aviation and have similar experience to what we are looking for, we encourage you to apply. Diverse backgrounds and experiences promote innovation and our goal is to build a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.
All of our team whose roles allow them to work remotely are doing so, and will continue to do so until we’re able to be back in the office. For teams that are not able to work remotely we’re making every accommodation possible to provide a safe working environment, and ensuring we meet all state and county guidelines.
Our headquarters is in Palo Alto and we offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, unlimited PTO days, 10 company holidays, a 401(k) plan with 40% company matching (no vesting period), flight lesson subsidy, education assistance, and company-sponsored social events. For those working onsite, Kittyhawk also offers commuter assistance, and free drinks and snacks.
Kittyhawk provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Kittyhawk abides by applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Kittyhawk is an E-Verify employer.


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In a perhaps surprising turn of events, the biggest losers of T-Mobile and Sprint’s unsuccessful merger attempt could be their two stronger competitors Verizon and AT&T, Deutsche Bank analysts said on Monday, with some other industry watchers delivering similar predictions. Besides being the largest wireless carrier in the United States and one that’s most likely to lose customers to aggressive promotions from smaller competitors despite its currently high loyalty rates, Verizon’s bottom line is also more reliant on the wireless industry than that of AT&T which also generates significant value from DIRECTV and is hoping to add to its content portfolio with the acquisition of Time Warner. With T-Mobile and Sprint deciding against consolidation, the overall competitiveness of the market is unlikely to radically change in the near term, possibly punishing Verizon’s non-diversified business, whereas both AT&T and Verizon can expect even fiercer competition from market-hungry T-Mobile and Sprint than a company combining the two.
The latest prediction from Deutsche Bank falls in line with recent signals that both Sprint and T-Mobile will significantly ramp up their network investments in the aftermath of their failed tie-up attempt. As the two wireless carriers will remain independent for the time being, they also have to commit significant resources to infrastructural expansion and improvement in order to maintain their momentum and continue growing their businesses in the medium term. While neither is expected to outspend AT&T and Verizon in terms of network investments, both appear to be adamant to continue lowering the gap between their operations and those of the two largest mobile service providers in the country.
U.S. tower companies are understood to be the biggest winners of the recent development, with the very nature of their industry essentially guaranteeing them better performance with more nationwide wireless carriers on the market. While more competition may be good news for cable companies looking to enter the mobile segment, some analysts believe that the failed merger will actually have the opposite effect as a combined entity of Sprint and T-Mobile was predicted to offer more attractive MVNO deals than either company individually, possibly spelling some good news for Verizon and AT&T. Sprint already announced one such partnership just yesterday, with other telecom giants being expected to follow suit in the near future.


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Symbols may disappear in one place, buried for an untold time, only to reappear in another.
In resurrected form I can find these symbols, common property of humanity, wearing a new and more brilliant garment.
As I re-imagine, re-name, and re-awaken deeply mystical symbols and insights I see that the original direction of the meaning of these symbols has never changed.
Ever connected through many branches, back to the One Life…or Source of the All.
To penetrate the purity of a symbols undifferentiated form is to gain another key to the secret of the All’s creative power. In allowing the consciousness to explore the material world as phenomena, I also investigate the secrets of my soul.
Song is a clock, and the sun setting sings the calling of twilight, a formless form and nameless name. Breathing revelations in the symbolic art form of poetry and mystical currents of insight… awaken in me the infinite possible principles of the divine feminine. It is in this land of the second horizon that my words bear a double meaning. In India, this symbolical language of the mystic is known in Sanskrit as Sandhyabhasa, or ‘twilight language’. It guards against profanity, the intellect of reason and doubt, and the misuse of psychic forces by the ignorant or uninitiated.
Language is incapable of expressing my highest spiritual experiences. The indescribable can only be understood by the initiate in their mystical sense.
As I play the game of life (which I often find so dearly challenging), my words and art forms hint at my experiences, and offer those that see more meaning, above and beyond one-sidedness, through subtle parables and descriptive situations. The psychic energies discovered through the unification and activation of living between worlds, and harnessing the elixirs of life.
Told is a message,
As it struck I,
Future looming and past forgotten.
Forged path to down laid symmetry
of time unfolding.
A secret lays, to cut the edge of beyond
All to magic give, and joy give to glimmer.
Intent the ride sings,
charms look as valued materials.
A secret placed in the stillness of motion,
the second wind,
in which a cloud is formed.
Trust this day, this release of resistance.
A notion clings to his past,
sleepy and restless.

domain: literature


text:
Problems technology should have solved already
Vaccination was first used more than two centuries ago.
Penicillin was discovered nearly a century ago.
We have made breakthroughs in cancer and HIV treatment.
Lost productivity due to common cold costs the world over USD 100 billion every year.
Yet, there is no cure for common cold. You can’t just take a pill and report to work the next day.
(Picture source: Daily Mail)


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On our Peru Adventure Tours, you can introduce your family to the mysteries of the Incas and the vibrant traditions of the Andes on this fascinating journey to Peru. Peru Adventure Tours will take you into Inca fortresses and to towns built of giant boulders. You will become immersed in the swirl of colors and crafts at an ancient village market. Go hiking among hidden treasures in Machu Picchu on your Adventure Peru Vacation. During our Adventure Peru Trip, you’ll go to the most important tourist and scenic attractions in all of South America.
Start your Adventure Holidays in the cobbled streets of the Historic Center of Lima. Lima is a great South American city. Peru’s capital can hold its own against any neighboring capital city with its oceanfront setting, colonial-era splendor, sophisticated dining, and nonstop nightlife. Then continue with your Peru Adventure Tour through the natural wonders of Tambopata National Reserve. Next you will enjoy the beauty of Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the breathtaking Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, the sapphire blue of Lake Titicaca and the deepest canyon in the world, Colca Canyon near Arequipa. As you journey around our country on your Adventure Holiday Peru, you will experience the diverse ecosystems of the Andes, from ice-clad, high-alpine slopes to lush cloud forests with tropical orchids.
Within the mountains of Peru on our Adventure Travel Peru you will uncover a wealth of ancient Incan temples, Spanish colonial towns, and amazing Andean vistas. Discover the magnificent capital of Cusco, hike to ruins in the Urubamba Valley, meet the friendly local people. South Adventure Peru Tours is the perfect way to travel to Peru which is the perfect destination. Live your dreams. Let your adventurous spirit fly free. The Seventh Wonder of the World is waiting for you.
Style of this Peru Adventure Tours: Geographical, historical, archeological and cultural.
Level of service: some tours are small group service tours and other tours are personalized private tours.
Accommodations: Stay at top-of-the-line 4-star hotels at every destination that you will visit. That way we can guarantee that you will experience the very highest levels of safety and comfort like you deserve. The recommended type of accommodation at your hotels will be the Junior Suite. Below you will find the list of exclusive hotels according to the destinations that you will explore:
Lima: Casa Andina Premium Miraflores Hotel.
Tambopata National Reserve: Exclusive Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica.
Cusco: Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel or Hotel Aranwa Cusco Boutique.
Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu: Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel by Inkaterra.
Puno: GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca.
Colca Canyon: Belmond las Casitas Colca Canyon
Arequipa: Wyndham Costa del Sol Arequipa.
Machu Picchu Train: Your round trip train to Machu Picchu will be to and from the Ollantaytambo Train Station on board the Vistadome Train or The 360° Machu Picchu Train by Inca Rail.
Your tours at the following destinations will be private guided tours:
Small Group Guided tours at the following destinations:
Bring with you:
*Price in USD per Person.
Our team will meet you when you arrive at the Jorge Chávez International Airport. Then we will drive you in our private Mercedes Van to your hotel in the attractive Miraflores neighborhood. After you check in, you will have the whole day free to rest, relax, and get familiar with the vibrant Peruvian capital city of Lima.
Usually in the evening at 6 pm. you will be briefed about the details of your Adventure Travel Peru Tours that you will enjoy over the next 15 days in South America. After you hear all about the details of your Peru Adventure Tours, feel free to visit the most spectacular restaurants and sample the world-famous Peruvian Cuisine.
A spectacular day in the City of Kings. Peru is a country of incredible contrasts and surprising treasures. Today you will begin in the morning by touring central Lima. With its 2000 years of history, it will amaze you. The center of colonial Lima has been declared to be part of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Historic edifices surround the Plaza Mayor (Great Plaza.) During the tour you will appreciate the beauty of the imposing Archbishop´s Palace, the opulent Palace of the Government, and the Cathedral of Lima. The keystone of the Cathedral was laid by Francisco Pizarro during the 16th century.
You will continue by visiting the San Francisco Monastery which was built during the 17th century and features some wonderful tile work. In the interior you will see the exceptional paintings, the ornate carvings, and the world-famous library.
On your way back to your hotel you will stop at the panoramic ¨Huaca Pucllana” Pyramid. This pyramid, which was constructed in the 4th century B.C., was a magnificent ceremonial center. It is an amazing archeological feat, and it was considered to be a sacred place by the Incas. After a brief presentation, you´ll return to your hotel and have the afternoon free to explore the iconic sites that are close to you hotel.
If you would like to continue a deeper exploration into Peruvian culture, you could participate in an optional tour to the Larco Herrera Museum. This museum is located in a restored 17th century mansion and is considered to be the finest museum in Lima. Here you will be able to see the largest collection in the world of pre-Columbian masterpieces, and a very impressive exposition of gold and silver jewelry, the value of which cannot be estimated.
Today you will start a new adventure! In the morning after a delicious breakfast, you will leave Lima and fly to Madre de Dios – Puerto Maldonado. Madre de Dios is considered the world’s capital of the biosphere and of the Peruvian Amazon. Upon your arrival at the Padre Aldamiz airport, our team will welcome you and help you with your luggage.
Begin experiencing the enchantment of the rainforest as you take a 45-minute boat ride along the Madre de Dios River. Soon you will arrive at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge. After a short briefing, settle into your beautiful bungalow and later enjoy your lunch in the dining room. After lunch take a short siesta and get ready for your unforgettable afternoon excursion.
When you meet your Inkaterra Explorer Guide, you will be able to choose from the many different excursions available at the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica. On your first day we recommend a guided walk along the Trail system and into the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Natural Area. This trail offers an excellent introduction to the forest environment as winds past impressive trees such as the Shihuahuaco and the strangely beautiful strangler fig. Here you’ll have excellent opportunities for bird watching and observing exotic insects.
We also recommend that on your first night at the Lodge, you experience the Twilight River Excursion on which you will go on a guided boat ride along the Madre de Dios River. Witness the transformation from a diurnal to a nocturnal world. Animals and birds of the daytime give way to species especially adapted to the night. As you enjoy this jungle environment, you will learn about the habits of its creatures. Nightjars, owls, capybaras and caimans will be seen.
Enjoy dinner served in the main dining room from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Wake up late or rise early, the choice is yours. Breakfast begins very early for those who want to avoid the heat and enjoy nature at its fullest. A complete buffet breakfast is served from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. In the morning you could take the Lake Sandoval Excursion into the Tambopata National Reserve. Glide in a wooden canoe across a beautiful, mirror-like oxbow lake that is home to the endangered giant river otter, as well as red howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas, side-neck turtles and black caimans. Return to the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica for lunch.
After lunch, consider the remarkable Inkaterra Canopy Walkway. Ascending the first tower, 29 meters above the forest, you begin your encounter with the treetop realm. For more than a quarter of a mile you will literally walk through the rainforest canopy on a suspension bridge network linking eight observation platforms. During this hour-and-a-half expedition be on the lookout for colorful toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys, and sloths. If you wish, you may extend your excursion and watch the sunset from one of the towers. Once you return to the Lodge, enjoy the daily nature presentation in the Eco-Center and Happy Hour.
Optional Tours. During your free hours you can also take advantage of adventure sports in the jungle such as: zip line, river rafting and hiking. At the same time, you can also visit our primate friends in the area. These monkeys are usually happy to have human visitors as long as they bring them something to eat. Dinner starts at 7:30 p.m.
If you are in the Tambopata National Reserve, it is usual to wake up to the sound of howler monkeys at dawn. Enjoy a trip to Gamitana Creek, located 25 minutes by boat from the Lodge. For one and a half hours explore the rainforest along the banks of the winding, dark-water creek that is home to many piranha, caiman, turtles and birds. Navigate your way back downstream, observing the abundant flora and fauna along the way. You will visit Gamitana Farm to do a short-guided tour and see how the local farmers grow fruits and vegetables. Return to the Lodge for lunch.
After lunch, enjoy the Hacienda Concepcion Excursion and observe over 200 different plant species while you learn about the uses and benefits of the local flora. This Excursion would be followed by a 30-minute canoe trip up the river to look for turtles, sun grebes, nightjars and exotic herons. Return to the Lodge for dinner.
Then consider the Rainforest by Night Excursion through the Inkaterra Ecological Reserve. It’s a 2-hour Excursion. Venture into the forest and experience the mystery of the animal activity that awakens in the rainforest after dark. Listen to the sounds of the forest at night and spot species that emerge only after dark. Finally you will return to the Lodge.
After eating a wonderful breakfast, you will have free time around the Lodge until the farewell ceremony. Then you will leave in a boat heading downstream towards the city of Puerto Maldonado. On the way you will have the opportunity to take some last-minute pictures of the exuberant jungle of the Tambopata National Reserve.
The 45-minute ride by boat on the Madre de Dios River takes you to Puerto Maldonado. There you will visit the Butterfly House. Peru boasts the greatest variety of butterflies in the world with 3700 known species. Many of these can be seen at the Butterfly House which is a showcase spotlighting the variety, beauty and adaptability of these fascinating insects. After visiting the Butterfly House, you will go directly to the airport where your suitcases will be waiting for you with a Travel 1 team member. Next you will board your flight to the City of Cusco.
From Puerto Maldonado you will fly to the heart of the Andes where your welcome in the Land of the Incas will be as warm as the tropical climate of our jungles. Upon arrival you will be driven by our team to your hotel located in the Historical Center of Cusco. Finally, when your check-in is completed, you can have a well-deserved rest after a long trip.
You will leave Cusco early in the morning and travel to the traditional town of Chinchero. There you will visit a local family who will demonstrate for you the details of their authentic Incan weaving techniques. Then you will have time to visit the amazing Chinchero Archeological Center. After visiting Chinchero, you will take a trip to the most important agricultural testing station in the Inca Empire, Moray. There you can observe the great skill with which the Incas adapted plants to different climatic zones. At this spectacular site you will see great circular terraces where the temperature changes depending on the elevation. The Incas had extraordinary knowledge of climates and microclimates.
In Maras you will make a short stop to see the pretty houses which feature the coats-of-arms of Incan nobles who lived here during Incan and colonial times. The town of Maras used to be inhabited by Incan nobility who originally lived in Cusco. Today the lintel of each house shows the coat-of-arms of an Incan noble family. This town was important after the time of the Spanish Conquest.
You will continue to the Salt Mines of Salineras. This is an impressive site that consists of over 5000 small wells where salt is collected. Some of these wells are very old. The Incas mined salt at this site, and this practice continued throughout the reign of the Spanish viceroys. Now the local people let the salt water flow into the depressions which they have dug out. Then the sun evaporates the water and leaves behind a crust of salt which is collected and sold on the local market. We will finish up our tour by stopping in Urubamba for a good buffet lunch. After lunch you will explore Ollantaytambo. Finally, you will board the Vistadome Train to Machupicchu.
Today will be a very special day on your Peru Adventure Tour. On this day you’ll visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the enigmatic Machu Picchu. Therefore, you will wake up very early, get ready, and eat breakfast at your hotel. When you finish breakfast, you’ll board the bus in Aguas Calientes and ride up to the legendary Citadel of Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu was chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World in 2007. Until Machu Picchu was re-discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, it was practically unknown to the western world. Actually, the first discoverer was a farmer, Agustín Lizárraga, who lived in Aguas Calientes. He discovered Machu Picchu in 1902.
Once you arrive at the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu you will be given a 3-hour private guided tour with our best local guide. You will visit the most important places in the Citadel. First, you will visit the House of the Guardian. From there you can see Machu Picchu in all its splendor. You might as well take advantage of the opportunity to snap some amazing photos. After a brief explanation from your guide, you’ll continue on to the imposing Temple of the Sun. the Temple of the High Priest, the Sacred Plaza, and the Ushno.
You will have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own after the Guided Tour. After marveling at this 15th century feat of engineering, you will return to Aguas Calientes and have lunch at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Later in the afternoon you will board the train back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy. In Ollantaytambo or Poroy you will board our van and be driven back to your hotel in Cusco. There you can enjoy your well-deserved rest after a wonderful day.
Free day in Cusco. You probably have asked why Cusco is considered to be such a special city. It is because here it is possible to do all the activities and take part in every adventure sport that you have always wanted to try, from taking a walking tour of the city to going river rafting on the Vilcanota River.
The Imperial City was the ancient capital of the Incan Empire. Today it has been declared part of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Cusco is a friendly city that is full of fascinating history and wonderful architecture. There are Incan ruins around every corner, and there are also excellent examples of Spanish colonial architecture. It is well worth your while to spend time in Cusco exploring the most unforgettable places and visiting the local galleries.
Optional: City Tour of Cusco.
City Tour of Cusco begins at the iconic Cusco Cathedral. This church contains over 400 paintings from the Cusco School of Fine Arts. There is also an impressive collection of colonial art.
During the Tour you will visit the Incan Temple of the Sun, the Coricancha. Before the arrival of the Spanish the walls of the Temple were covered with gold. The stonework here is of the very finest quality. During Incan times this was the most important religious site in all their empire.
Next, you will explore the immense Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Sacsayhuaman fortress was built of gigantic blocks of cut stone. Some of the blocks weigh more than 100 tons. The fortress took more than 70 years to complete.
Finally, you will go to the mysterious Incan site of Qenco. This carved limestone formation is full of subterranean passages and decorated with mythical figures. In addition, you will visit the Bath of the Inca, Tambomachay.
Starting after you eat a delicious breakfast, you will leave Cusco and ride through picturesque Andean valleys in the direction of the Antiplano. Your first stop on the adventurous Route of the Sun will be the Church of Saint Peter the Apostle in Andahuaylillas which is called the Sistine Chapel of the Americas. Here you will have a fascinating guided tour of the details of the church. All of the ceilings and the walls are covered with murals and the oil paintings and their frames use real golden foil.
The next stop during your Peru Family Vacation journey will be at the Temple of Wiracocha at Raqchi. This is a magical rectangular structure which is 92 m. long, 25.5 m. wide, and about 9.8 m high and was dedicated to Wiracocha, the Incan Supreme Deity. At this destination, located near an extinct volcanic mountain, you can enjoy the panoramic scenery and the Andean landscape. At the entrance of this sanctuary Spanish priests built a Catholic Church in the center of the Qhapaq Ñan which was the main Incan highway between Cusco and Lake Titicaca.
When you arrive at Sicuani you will eat a delicious novo Andino lunch. Soon you will continue your journey along the Route of the Sun and stop at La Raya. La Raya, at 4335 masl., is the highest point on the trip from Cusco to Puno, and from here you will take the time to photograph the breathtaking scenery. Finally, you will visit the museum at Pukara. This was an important ceremonial site on the Altiplano. Here you can explore the origin of local pre-Incan cultures through the museum’s collection of sculptures and ceramics. Arrival time in Puno is scheduled after 5 pm. In Puno you can get comfortable and relax at your 4-star hotel.
Just after breakfast we will come by and pick you up at your hotel around 7 am. Then you will go to the port and board our comfortable motor launch to ride out to the Island of Taquile. Taquile has been called one of the most beautiful islands in the whole world. It is here that you will meet the isolated weavers of this ancient Andean community. According to pre-Columbian legend, the Incas actually learned how to weave from the artisans of this island. The men are the weavers, and the women spin. Their weavings are awesome. Taquile has been declared part of the Cultural Heritage of the World by UNESCO.
After a really nice experience with the local folks, you will leave Taquile at around noon and go in the direction of the Chucuito Peninsula. This is in the Aymara region of Lake Titicaca and it represents the communal identity of the Peruvian – Bolivian Altiplano. Here you will enjoy a wonderful buffet lunch at The Fisherman´s House right in the community of Luquina Chico. Later in the afternoon you will visit the Floating Islands of the Uros on your way back to Puno. Totora reeds are woven together by natives to construct their islands, their houses and their boats. Here the Uros people have maintained their ancient customs and their way of life for thousands of years. When you visit the Uros Islands, the local people will share with you their knowledge and teach you how to live in a more environmentally sustainable manner.
This exclusive program allows our customers to sample new tourist attractions on their Lake Titicaca Tour. Very few visitors know about some of these idyllic destinations. Since this is a non-traditional excursion, our clients are usually absolutely enchanted with the experience.
On this, the 12th day of your Peru Adventure, you will continue your tour of southern Peru. You will start out in the lovely town of Puno on the shores of beautiful Lake Titicaca. Your next destination will be Chivay in the Colca Valley.
On your journey you will pass by incredibly picturesque lagoons. There you can photograph the pink flamingos and other birds that live on the Altiplano. One of the places of interest along the way is the Lookout Point Over the Andes. (4850 masl.) From this scenic overlook you can see the snow-capped volcanoes of Arequipa far off in the distance. It is great place to take pictures.
Your adventure will continue in the charming town of Chivay. When you arrive at Chivay, our team will drive you tour your exclusive hotel on the outskirts of Chivay in the town of Coporaque. After check-in you will have enough time to take a nap an relax at Aranwa Pueblito Encantado del Colca Hotel.
Optional Tours. In your free afternoon hours, you could go visit the famous hot springs at La Calera. This is like a spot in paradise, surrounded by beautiful mountains. Hot water flows out of the mountain spring at a temperature of 80º. This water is mixed with cooler water before reaching the pools. The resulting temperature of 35° is just about perfect for a relaxing bath. When you return to your hotel you can hobnob with the other members of your group and get a good night’s sleep.
You will get an early start. After breakfast at your hotel you’ll get ready for the day’s activities. The Cross of the Condor Look-out Point will be your first destination. From there you will be able see down into the Canyon and appreciate its depth and its beauty. You will also be able to observe the wild condors in flight.
Colca Canyon is located in an enormous valley that is full of very pretty scenery. There are lots of terraces that date back to pre-Columbian times. The river is at an elevation of 3140 meters at the bottom of the Canyon. On your morning adventure you will visit thousand-year-old villages and you will see hanging tombs in the cliffs right by the side of the road. Your guide will tell you all about the tribes of people that used to live here. Many of these tribes live here still.
When the tour finishes up, you will have enough time to eat lunch at the restaurant of your choice in the town of Chivay. After lunch your guide can show you around Chivay and you can go shopping. In Chivay you will see some very well-made weavings for sale, and you can share some precious moments with the local children if you would like. Finally, after an exciting day, you will travel overland to the beautiful city of Arequipa in the shadow of the Misti Volcano. When you arrive in the White City you can take a break at your hotel. At night you can explore Arequipa at your leisure.
Arequipa is called “The White City.” That is because it is constructed of blocks of white volcanic stone. Arequipa is a very picturesque place, due to its beautiful green countryside and the nearby imposing snow-capped volcanoes.
After breakfast you will have some time to explore the City of Arequipa, and then our team will take you to the Rodriguez Ballon International Airport where you will board your flight to Lima. On the flight to Lima you will fly high over the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. When you arrive in Lima our team will meet you and drive you to your hotel in the exclusive Miraflores neighborhood. This will be your last full day in Peru. To celebrate, we encourage you to enjoy the best food that Lima has to offer, accompanied by a Pisco Sour, the national beverage of Peru.
Our team will drive you to Lima’s Jorge Chaves International Airport in time for you check in and catch your next flight. We will bid you farewell as you begin your next adventure, hoping that you carry with you fond memories of fulfilled dreams and, above all, positive energy so that you will be able to continue to explore the best that our world has to offer.
Some flights depart shortly after midnight in the very early morning of Day 15 of your tour. This will require transportation to the airport late on Day 14. We will pick you up at your hotel approximately 4 and a half hours prior to your take-off time. If your flight leaves on day 15th our team will take you on time to the Lima airport.
If you are not yet ready to return home, our team can help you extend your stay in this magical land. There are lots more tourist attractions that you could visit in Peru, such as the Nazca Lines, the Amazon River and the Ballestas Island.
This was quite the tour! An epic journey,really, from the busiest street corners of Lima to the deserted icy heights that we saw between Cusco and Puno. It is hard to believe that people actually live up there in tiny mud houses with roofs made out of straw, in the year 2019. My eyes were opened. I learned so much, and not just about history and geography, but about how I should really appreciate everything that has come my way in life.
Travel 1 Tours is a great company. Thank you!
Of course Machu Picchu was magnificent. But besides that I think my favorite part of the whole journey was watching the condors fly over the Colca Canyon. I would like to thank the Travel 1 people for taking such good care of us. I always felt safe. It was a long trip, so I am sure that the logistics were sometimes complicated, but everything went very smoothly. I would go back and do it again in a flash. A great adventure!
A wonderful introduction in to the sights, the sounds, the flavors and the people of Peru. I loved the Cusco area (especially Machu Picchu), and the Amazon jungle was fascinating. My favorite stop was actually the place where you can see the condors flying. all around. That was incredible. Travel 1 was very considerate. I really like Travel 1.

domain: geography


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Elbow Beach HotelExplore > Bermuda > Hamilton > Elbow Beach Hotel
Video #1 of 1
Video copyright Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
Elbow Beach, Bermuda is now an intimate luxury resort featuring 98 guestrooms and suites spread amongst 50 acres of tropical gardens that gently slope down to a private 1/2 mile stretch of pink sand beach. Find out all about the incredible array of activities and amenities we have for you to enjoy at our resort.
Elbow Beach, Bermuda offers both quiet seclusion and the exclusive pleasures of a tropical resort.
At Elbow Beach, the cuisine comes with a real sense of heritage. As befits the first hotel to open on the island's South Shore almost a century ago, we have been leading the way in fine dining ever since. Our restaurants, such as Lido are award winners many times over. And our bars attract the most stylish crowd in Bermuda.
Within our gardens we have a pool and tennis courts; from our private beach we arrange diving and watersports. Our concierge will also be pleased to book your preferred diversion, from tours of the colonial past to horseback riding on the beach.
Elbow Beach is the ultimate retreat with a wealth of facilities created for luxurious leisure. We offer the holistic pleasures of our spa, a fitness room, five tennis courts, a putting green and free form swimming pool. By the beach we have a comprehensive water sports service, from where we can organize any deep sea or shallow water entertainment, from wreck dives to kayaking.
The ocean is a constant feature of each day's activity, even if you are simply gazing over the Atlantic azure or dining on that morning's fresh catch. On the reefs around Bermuda's 62 mile (100 kilometer) coastline lie over 400 shipwrecks, creating a fascinating underwater history of the island. The snorkelling and scuba diving are world class.
The 1609 wreck of the Sea Venture was of particular significance, reputedly the inspiration for Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' but certainly the establishment of Bermuda as a British colony.
The colonial history is evident in sharp Bermuda shorts and impressive naval forts but for most visitors the British influence is probably best enjoyed on the superb golf greens with blue views.
Being a duty free port, shopping is hard to resist; although the delight is not so much the price but the pleasant experience. During the day swan through the Louis Vuitton boutique in Hamilton and in the evening enjoy a mini carnival with local artists exhibiting their work. And when you have bought your elegant attire there is nowhere more appreciative of your efforts than the fine restaurants in Bermuda, where everyone still likes to dress in style.
There are museums, aquatic parks and many ways of enjoying the pretty sights of the island; from cycling to high speed boat trips.
For consummate elegance and the finest aspects of Bermuda from Atlantic shores to pink sands, we welcome you to our luxurious retreat, Elbow Beach.


Published: 26th September 2018
How Archana Stalin's myHarvest is getting school children to learn farming will surprise you
myHarvest is a start-up that helps people grow their own food and reconnect with nature, especially school children who need the right approach to organic food
With the rising number of diseases owing to food and lifestyle, organic food has suddenly become a fad across the world. But one of the major concerns that still remain is how reliable these organic food brands are -- are they completely free of pesticides and hormones? Imagine if you could just go back to the time when you could walk out of your house and pluck the vegetables or fruits you need. Healthy and affordable. Well, that's the culture Archana Stalin and her husband are hoping to bring back through their start-up myHarvest.
Started in 2017, myHarvest helps people set up their own terrace gardens or real farms and also educates students on the basics of farming. Archana and her husband, both engineering graduates, decided to quit their corporate jobs and establish this enterprise. However, they had little knowledge about entrepreneurship. Their only tryst with running a company was during college when a couple of them started visiting villages, identifying what issues the villagers face and helped them resolve them. "We helped them with medical health, education and other problems. That was our first tryst at the grassroots level," says Archana.
The dream team: myHarvest has set up about 180 kitchen gardens across Tamil Nadu
The duo eventually moved to Virudhunagar to set up their company. Virudhunagar happens to be the second driest place in Tamil Nadu and so, farming was the biggest problem for the villagers. "We focused on environment-friendly projects. We started with water reservation. There are large abandoned water bodies called Ooruni, which if properly used can cater to around 5000 people. We called the local people and cleared all the bushes, desilted it and restored the pond. It was a big success. After that, we started crowdfunding and kept growing more," says Archana, who has her own kitchen garden, where 80 per cent of her family's food is grown.
A lot of people in metro cities want to do terrace farming, but don't really know how. Archana's team helps such people set up their gardens. "My team will bring all the required materials, set it up and plant whatever you want and even provide the support you need to sustain it," says Archana. She adds, "One of the things we realised was that people were lacking knowledge of farming. So we decided to take it to schools. We prepared a year-long curriculum called 'Reconnect to Nature', where we have a school garden and teach children to plant seeds, water them and sustain them." Currently, the programme is running in three schools in Tamil Nadu.
Harvesting for good: On the scheduled date, myHarvest's garden experts bring all the gardening materials including the soil and set up the kitchen garden
myHarvest also delivers a gift box which contains saplings with customisd packaging according to the occasion. However, the duo's biggest and most important mission at the moment is helping people grow food in a real farm, not just in their homes. Recently, they launched myHarvest Farms which lets people rent out a nearby organic farm and grow their own veggies by joining hands with farmers."One acre of farmland is enough to feed 40 families. We have our own farmland, and we allocate plots for each family. Some of the vegetables they grow are tomatoes, brinjal, ladies finger, bitter guard, bottle gourd, all the spinach varieties, etc.
When asked how they managed to accumulate the knowledge, Archana says, "We had to do a lot of research and reading. But we learnt most from spending time with the farmers and observing them."


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Academic – Farmer and consumer attitudes at farmers markets in Norway
Kjartan Åsebø, Anne Moxnes Jervell, Geir Lieblein, ...
Urbanization and an increasingly globalized food system cause growing physical and psychological distances between producers and customers. Alternative distribution initiatives with direct sale to local customers are emerging. This paper reports results of two surveys, one from producers and one from customers, in the newly introduced Norwegian farmers market system. The main aim of the research was to examine attitudes toward local foods and evaluate the potential of this new marketing channel to reduce the distances between farmers and consumers. Results show that producers were more concerned than customers regarding knowledge on how food was produced, and locally marketed, although customers were also interested in these issues. Both groups regarded as to how food was produced to be more important than where it was produced. Producers were more interested in giving customers information on agriculture than customers were in receiving this information. The attitudes toward food differed between respondents of larger urban cities and smaller cities in Norway. Producers traveled a longer distance (average 79 km) than customers (average 14 km) to come to the markets, but traveling distance differed substantially among the sites owing to market location, number of local farmers and small-scale local processors, and product diversity. Results suggest that the farmers markets have potential to reduce both physical and social distances between producers and consumers, and thereby contribute to the sustainability of local food production. Understanding farmer and consumer attitudes can contribute to organization and promotion of farmers markets in Norway and elsewhere. doi:10.1300/J064v30n04_06.

domain: agronomy


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Je me souviens...
A Short History of Québec v Canada
fortresses of solitudes
Frenchmen began settling the Québec area ( originally Canada ) in the later half of the 16th century and early 17th century. While other european colonies expanded quickly, the French-Canaïens mostly just explored the continent, and New France colonies remained pretty small despite explorers having mapped out most of the continent - the French outposts sustained themselves primarily through the trading of animal furs, which had great value in Europe at the time. In the 17th century, tensions gradually rose between colonial powers and their various native allies/enemies, and several wars occured between the French and the Iroquois tribe(s) which were allied with the British.
By this time, Britain's colonies had grown very large and had multiplied healthily thanks to sustained immigration. In the 18th century, the european kingdoms engaged in the Seven Years War which rippled into the american colonies, and ultimately led to the British invasion of Québec City, in 1759. They met very little opposition at the infamous bataille des plaines d'Abraham, and occupied the town. In 1763, the entire territory of Québec (Canada) was ceded by France to England, in the aftermath of the war. At that moment, the people of Québec (Canada) ceased to be French, and had the choice of being British, pledging allegiance to the King, or die. Churches were burned. examples were made. It was not a happy time to be Canadien.
Québec ( now "Lower" Canada ) remained in almost absolute isolation for a century, give or take a decade, forbidden by their new British masters to navigate the Saint-Laurent river and deal with France and the Old World. During this time, the tensions rose between francophones and neighbouring anglophones ( who gradually set up a base in Montréal from which they could control Lower Canada ) as french-speaking people started to demand actual power over their lands -- let's remember here that the USA had become independent (1777) only a few years after the conquest of Québec, and that was soon followed by the French Revolution (1789) - so democracy had become a real ideal to follow. Faced with a reluctant British authority, a rebellion erupted in 1838-39 ( which also inspired a smaller one in Upper Canada / current-day Ontario ), but was crushed. Those we call the Patriots were hanged, more examples being made, and so then things quieted down again for a while.
In devising a way to prevent further rebellions, it was decided that Upper and Lower Canadas would be joined into a single political entity, relatively independent of British monarchy - this was in 1867, and that's the birth of Canada as we know it; other provinces would be gradually annexed to the British Dominion in following decades, until Newfoundland in 1949. Recommendations to the King at the time included instituting a policy for the assimilation of French-speaking people, and the plan of joining the two Canadas worked towards this in that it effectively transformed the French-Canadien majority into a minority. They could then pretend to institute a democracy, confident that french voices would never speak louder than english.
Then came the 20th century, and the industrial revolution. Québec progressively acquired some political control over its territory, piece by piece. Both world wars caused a lot of strife in Canada as French-Canadians protested the draft - it was way worse in WW2 because the government of the time had been elected along with the solemn vow not to institute a draft - a decision reversed during the course of the war when a national referendum was held to liberate the government from its promise. A vast majority of Québec citizens voted against it, but that didn't matter much, since the rest of Canada voted for. Thanks to their minority status, the French-Canadians were sent to the front lines, and used as cannon fodder.
After the war, a lot of things changed. With television, Québec culture was better allowed to bloom - stories of itself finally spreading - and soon a deep movement of resentement against the Catholic Church set in, leading to something of a revolution ( known as Révolution Tranquille, or Quiet Revolution ), of people freeing themselves from the authority of religion which had long controlled every aspect of their lives. It's around this time that the Québécois really started to call themselves Québécois, as the Brits around them had long since adopted the name Canadian for their own. Up until this period in time, most jobs of importance ( i.e. most of the money and power ) was held exclusively by the anglophone minority in the "Belle Province". But then as francophones grew out of the authority of the church and the subservience to anglophone bosses ( it was also the time of emerging syndicalism ), the idea of Québec forming a sovereign nation implanted itself, and the first true independence movements started appearing in the 1960s, around much turmoil.
Starting in 1963, there was a period of terrorism ( localised in Montréal ) from the most radical of independentist elements, called the FLQ ( Front de Libération du Québec ). It reached a peak in october of 1970, at which point Canada declared martial law in Montréal, when the FLQ kidnapped a provincial minister, who later died while attempting to escape his captors. The death of Laporte led to the terrorist group quickly losing all popular support within Québec, and then everyone put down the weapons. The struggle for independence ( or secession, or sovereignty, but which federalists would ever persist in innaccurately calling "separation", in order to make liberty sound evil ) moved to the political arena with the creation of a sovereigntist coalition called Parti Québécois, which eventually led to a first referendum on sovereignty in 1980 ( oui: 40.5% ).
In winning this referendum, the government of Canada promised to settle once and for all the situation of Québec, but that only led to bringing the Canadian constitution home ( from London, England ) in 1982, a constitution that Québec refused to sign because it would not recognise a special status for the distinct society that the Québécois represent in Canada. With the creation of several new provinces of Canada over the years, the Québécois were reduced from one of two founding nations, to one of ten artificial divisions, and that situation severely interfered with Québec's power of auto-determination. The 80s and early 90s brought two more failed attempts at reaching a compromise ( as far-away provinces of Canada applied a continued objection to Québec demands ) and following these failures a new referendum on sovereignty was held in 1995 ( oui: 49.5% ).
And here we are, sort of examining the truth behind the infamous events of autumn 1995, as it becomes gradually more apparent that Canada deployed a whole arsenal of illegal, fraudulent, and immoral means to acquire victory ( with lots and lots and lots of money ). Québec awaits, as, unbeknowst to most people, the powers that be plot to merge the sovereign nations of the North American continent.
Facts gathered from learned history in school, and much wandering online


Situation Analysis of Child Health and its Related Policy in Nepal
The main aim of this paper is to assess the current situation of child health based on childhood mortality, nutritional status, and vaccination coverage and also reviews the existing government policies in relation to improve the child health. The study shows Nepal has achieved significant improvement in the child health situation as measured by the impressive progression of childhood mortality level, improved nutritional status and vaccine coverage and micronutrient intake. For this achievement Government of Nepal, has progressively introduced policies programme and strategies to make improvement in the health status of women and children and all Nepali Citizens.
© Tribhuvan University Teachers' Association (TUTA), Patan Multiple Campus Unit


Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.
Hyperion offers both CDs, and downloads in a number of formats. The site is also available in several languages.
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|Tchaikovsky: Eighteen Piano Pieces Op 72|
|Hommage à Chopin|
2010 sees the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth, and among the many celebratory recordings, this disc will stand out as an historic record of the composer’s extraordinary influence and legacy. A fascinating selection of hommages are represented ...» More
|Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No 1|
Winning the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 2011, Daniil Trifonov, presents Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No 1 along with a unique selection of recital repertoire.» More


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November 24, 2009
Officials Investigate Health Affects Of Chinese Drywall
A new study showed a significant link between indoor pollution in homes with drywall imported from China, leading U.S. officials to take a deeper look at the affect that the product has on health.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), it will be heading up an investigation into finding the origin and distribution of the drywall as well as the connection between the drywall and the reported health symptoms, and electrical and fire safety issues that some home owners reported.Some of the drywall, or sheets of plaster used for home interiors, is associated with the health issues was used in reconstruction in the south after the destruction of hurricanes, reported AFP.
The agency is finally jumping into action after receiving months of complaints from consumers and local officials who claimed that defective drywall from China was leaking chemicals that caused illness and safety problems.
"Results from a major indoor air study of 51 homes are being released today along with initial reports from two studies of corrosion in homes with Chinese drywall," the CPSC said in a statement.
"We now can show a strong association between homes with the problem drywall and the levels of hydrogen sulfide in those homes and corrosion of metals in those homes," it added.
The CPSC contracted with a private health and engineering firm for the initial study of 35 homes using Chinese drywall and additional "control" homes.
The agency said that it is "leading the federal investigation and is working with other federal and state agencies to determine exactly what substances are in the drywall, what substances are emitting odors into the air and whether identified substances found in the air pose a safety or health hazard to families."
"This is a complicated investigation and the data must be evaluated before conclusions are made; nonetheless, the agencies and states involved share a sense of urgency in informing the public of their findings and developing safe and effective solutions," the statement said.
Around 2,000 complaints were made to federal and state officials about the drywall for health impacts as well as corrosion of electrical components.
"We now have the science that enables the Task Force to move ahead to the next phase -- to develop both a screening process and effective remediation methods," said Consumer Product Safety Commission chairman Inez Tenenbaum.
While the exact methods are still not clear, the study concluded that hydrogen sulfide gas "is being created in homes built with Chinese drywall."
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