text:
#Harvest15 Iowa: Behind Average Pace, Stalk Rot Issues
Corn harvest is off to slow start in Iowa. According to the USDA NASS Crop Progress report for the week ending October 4, only 13% of corn harvest is complete, trailing the five-year average of 24%.
More combines were put to work cutting beans last week, pushing soybean harvest to 32% complete, which is pretty close to the 35% five-year average.
Average to above-average yields
Overall yields for corn and soybeans are looking better than last year, according to growers.
Bill Talsma from I-80 Farms in Colfax, Iowa, says soybeans are averaging close to 65 bushels per acre, and corn is coming in at 237 bushels per acre, slightly above his average. Talsma has 20% of corn harvest completed and 50% of soybeans.
Corn yields are also above 200 bushels per acre on Roger Wacha’s farm in Toledo, although soybeans aren’t as strong as past years at 50 to 64 bushels per acre. A quarter of Wacha’s soybean and corn acres are harvested.
Soybeans are yielding higher on Charlie Scott’s farm in Marengo, ranging from the mid-50s up to the high 60s. Scott has 64% of soybeans harvested and will start on corn harvest later this week. “Corn is looking good right now,” he says. “However, we’ve had more diseases in the corn this year, so stalk rot and down corn will be an issue.”
Disease and weed challenges
Talsma and Wacha are also having issues with stalk rot.
“The stalk quality is horrible,” says Talsma. “A week ago we had a wind that went through and knocked down some corn. We already put a reel on one corn head.”
Wacha’s harvested a few cornfields with stalks that were bent over below the ears. “We are going after corn hard, because one good wind and it won’t be standing anymore,” he says. "If there’s a 50 to 60 mph wind, you might as well not get out of bed the next day."
- Tips for dealing with down corn.
The extra moisture this growing season has also led to a spike in weeds. On Wacha’s farm he’s had issues with lambsquarter. Scott has seen a huge spike in waterhemp. “Waterhemp is 10 times worse this year than it normally is because we’ve had so much rain,” he says.
Selling and storing the new crop
All three Iowa growers take a different approach to marketing their grain. Scott has half of his corn and soybeans sold. The other half will be split between on-farm storage and a local elevator.
Talsma has 30% of beans sold, 40% of corn sold, and put options on the rest of his grain. He’s hauling some grain to the Cargill processor in Eddyville, Iowa, where lines have been long. The rest goes into his grain bins.
Wacha hasn’t sold any of his 2015 crop – he’s waiting for prices to go higher. All of his corn and soybeans will go into storage on his farm.
A recent poll on Agriculture.com shows Wacha is not alone in not selling his new-crop corn. According to the poll, 53% of farmers will sell 25% or less of their new-crop corn this fall, 16% will sell between 25% to 50%, 10% will sell 50% to 100%, and 21% of farmers will sell all of their corn this fall.
Editor's note: Charlie Scott is the father of Jessie Scott, author of this article.

domain: food


text:
Slow Cooker Brown Sugâr Gârlic Chicken mâde with just five ingredients, you cân set it in the morning in just minutes ând hâve the perfect weeknight meâl!
- 5 chicken thighs
- 2 tâblespoons gârlic minced
- 1/2 teâspoon Kosher sâlt
- 1/4 teâspoon blâck pepper
- 1/3 cup brown sugâr pâcked
Note: click on times in the instructions to stârt â kitchen timer while cooking.
- âdd the chicken, sâlt, pepper ând gârlic to the slow cooker.
- Mix it up then flip the chicken skin side up.
- Sprinkle on the brown sugâr.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
Full Recipes >>> dinnerthendessert.com


Above Ground Forest Biomass Estimation using Fully Polarimetric / Interferometric Radar Data
DLR German Aerospace Center,
PO Box 1116,
(2) Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, P.O.Box, D-07701 Jena, Germany
The assessment of above ground forest biomass is one of the most demanded parameters for global carbon stock modelling. Its estimation on a global scale is a big challenge for radar remote sensing. Unfortunately, conventional radar remote sensing techniques based on backscattering amplitude evaluation cannot estimate accurately forest biomass above a level of 120 tons/hectare. In this poster presentation we address an alternative methodology for estimating forest biomass from remote sensing data based on primary forest parameter estimates from single frequency polarimetric-interferometric radar data. As already demonstrated in the last years, single baseline polarimetric interferometry allows accurate quantitative estimation of key forest parameters as forest height mean forest extinction and underlying terrain topography. Based on these primary forest parameters an above ground biomass estimation methodology - that potentially allows the estimation of biomass levels up to 400 tons/hectare - is addressed and discussed. The proposed methodology is applied on fully polarimetric repeat pass interferometric data acquired with DLR's experimental airborne system at L- and P-band over the Fichtelgebirge test area in Germany. The estimation performance is tested against accurate and detailed ground measurements. Finally, advantages and limitations with respect to local and global scale biomass estimation are critically discussed.


text:
I am tired.
Growing up we only know there to be two ways to become exhausted. Through playing or crying ourselves to sleep.
This list grows and develops as we age.
- Happy/Sad/Joyful these all take from the same ravine. The same fountain. As if they all go to the same place to drink.
- Strenuous activity on the body taxes the mind like no other. It can not be wished away, hid or forgotten. It is all encompassing.
- Subterfuge and demons of our own making over the time cause damage to us that healing from takes a lot out of you.
To heal from these requires retrospection and a keen emotional connection with self.
Take a f***’n lazy day and chill out.

domain: psychology


text:
Finger Lakes Wine Festival
|Date:||Fri, Jul 7, 2023 - Sun, Jul 9, 2023|
|Venue:||Watkins Glen, NY|
Toasting the summer, the Finger Lakes Wine Festival (July 7-9, 2023) is an experience for all, wine aficionado or casual festival goer. The event voted “Best Wine Festival” by readers of USA Today continues to be a fan favorite featuring 90+ New York State wineries, live music and entertainment and more. Along with a weekend filled with tastings and seminars, The Glen welcomes back Historic Formula 1 and the cars that placed the 3.45-mile circuit in international lore.
Click here for more information!

domain: entertainment


text:
You’ve probably heard the term “bear market” a lot lately — but what does it mean?
How does it differ from a bull market?
And why are we involving animals in all this?
- Bear market: Prices are dropping.
- Bull market: Prices are rising.
How much? Usually, an increase or decrease of 20% or more from a recent high or low. So, right now, we’re in a bear market because the S&P 500 index closed at 3,749.91, down ~22% from its previous high of 4,818.62 in January, per CNBC.
While these terms are commonly used to refer to markets — the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average — they can also refer to individual stocks or other assets.
Why the animals?
There are multiple theories for the terms’ origins. One is that it’s how they kill: bulls gore enemies by thrusting upward with their horns, while bears swipe down with their claws.
But a popular theory dates back to a proverb about not selling a bear’s skin before you’ve caught the bear.
In the 18th century, when someone sold something they didn’t yet own, hoping they could buy it later at a lower price, people would say they were a “bearskin jobber” who’d “sold the bearskin.”
- That term was further popularized after the South Sea Bubble, a financial crash in 1720 involving the South Sea Company, a trading company that turned out to be pretty worthless despite its once-soaring stocks.
And if that’s where the “bear” came from, another theory is that “bull” came about because people used to — ugh — make bulls and bears fight one another for entertainment.
Get the 5-minute roundup you’ll actually read in your inbox
Business and tech news in 5 minutes or less

domain: economics


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EASTERN ONTARIO – The number of people without a job in Eastern Ontario crept up for a third straight month bucking the national trend.
Statistics Canada says the regional unemployment rate for the area from Brockville to Ottawa and east to the Quebec border was 5.3 per cent in March, up 0.6 per cent from February.
It was the third straight month regional unemployment has risen since hitting a recent low of 4.1 per cent in December 2021.
In Cornwall, the city’s jobless figure was 8.7 per cent – a full percentage point higher than February.
The StatsCan figures suggest the city’s labour force grew by 1,100 people between February and March while employment only rose by 700, leading to an overall increase in the jobless pool.
Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped to 5.3 per cent, down 0.2 per cent from February’s 5.5 per cent. The jobless rate is the lowest it’s been since the 1970s.
The national economy added more than 70,000 jobs in March.

domain: news


text:
GMPD PARK BOARD
In accordance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act, “5 ILCS 120/11,” public notice is hereby given that unless otherwise noted, the Regular Meetings of the Board of Commissioners of the Golf Maine Park District shall be held on the third Thursday of the month. Changes are noted with an asterisk (*). These meetings will be held at Feldman Park Recreation Center, 8800 W. Kathy Lane, Niles Illinois, and shall begin at 7 p.m. The public is encouraged to join the board and administration at these meetings.
Any suggestions, concerns, or if you would like to observe how the Park District operates, we encourage your attendance. Planned Agendas are available within 48 hours of meeting. Minutes are available within 10 days after a meeting.
If you're interested in running for the park board, please ask for more information at any time. We always welcome community members who wish to be actively involved.

domain: law


text:
Hear an expert panel discuss the striking design and cultural context of the Library's collection of mid-century Japanese matchbox labels.
History & politics53Collection insights44Exhibitions36Australian history32Artists & writers30art26Family History Feast24Popular culture18art & design18Culture18world of the book17printmaking15Family history14WWI14literature14architecture14illustration13military13Big ideas under the dome13war13world of the book12performance12State Library Victoria12books11Australian history11Rome: Piranesi's vision11children's books11Giovanni Battista Piranesi11family history feast10rare books9History of the book8creative fellows8Writing the war7music7human rights7creative fellows7family history7literature6Library collections6cultural history6education6library6fellowships6library fellowships6digital technology6artists' books6Foxcroft Lecture6Stephen Murray-Smith Memorial Lecture5social justice5poetry5Poetry Slam5Victorian history5Melbourne5WWII5Exhibition talks & tours4performance4artists and writers4library fellowships4foxcroft lecture4Library collections4culture4indigenous people4author in conversation4history4author in conversation4Redmond Barry lecture4journalism4Multicultural history4storytelling3youth literature3poetry slam3Don Grant Lecture3history of the book3literacy3collections3gender issues3one object many stories3Gusto!3culinary history3persian manuscripts3genealogy3exhibitions3Artists' books3food3Making Public Histories3Environment3Collection insights3Redmond Barry Lecture3rare books2pop culture2music2food2Law2design2book printing2fellowship2Indigenous people2Exhibitions & tours2books2White Night2State Library of Victoria2social justice2library fellows2graphic design2family history records2interior design2health2diaries and manuscripts2web2australian literature2popular culture2foreign policy2India2national security2Indigenous Australians2Ned Kelly2world war one2Fromelles2Gallipoli2Journalism2art2spoken word2
Browse our audio and video
Watch a fascinating panel discussion about the social history of advertising in Melbourne, with rare examples from the Library's collection.
Hear the colourful history of a rare lambswool-covered book created to launch Melbourne's bid for the 1956 Olympics.
View a panel discussion on how the 1986 Russell Street bombing changed Melbourne forever, in this Making Public Histories seminar.
Hear about the Australian artists who used art to capture their experiences on the front line and behind the scenes during WWI.
Hear Dr Stefan Schutt, a previous Library fellow, uncover the story behind many of Melbourne's fascinating ghost signs.

domain: history


text:
Software and Technology
Legal Professional Guide: Software and Technology
Legal Professional only
Estate Planning Software
Legal Case Management Software
Time and Billing and Accounting
WWW SITE LISTINGS
Specialists in financial systems for Scottish legal and commercial sectors.
Provides legal tools and products, including CD-ROMs and software.
Barrister Information Systems Corporation
Practice management software and equipment maintenance solutions.
Baycom Software Laboratories Ltd.
Designers of LAWbase, legal trust accounting and management software.
CALI - Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction
Organization that develops computer-based exercises for use in law schools, accessible through school networks or the web. Also sells a CD-ROM of all lessons for members.
WEEK'S TOP WEB SITES
MyIMMs eServices Immigration Department of Malaysia
Passport and Visa
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Ministry of Human Resource, Malaysia
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Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development, Malaysia
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text:
View Photos »
Get Alerts »
America's most/least 'honest' cities
Each year, Forbes ranks the most powerful women in the world based on both the traditional classifications of power (political and economic might) and those who have risen to the top of the social and cultural landscape.
Here's a look at the world's most powerful women of 2014, as complied by Forbes.
A neighbor grabs a pipe and shoves it in a dog's mouth to get it to let go of a 6-year-old girl in Brookline.

domain: sociology


text:
, plus postage and packaging
Guaranteed Christmas delivery!
I say: same old here - thank god. Regarding songwriting, devotion and variety, everything has stayed the same in the house of Axel Rudi Pell and his gang. The proven and tested crew, consisting of singer Johnny Gioeli, guitar master Axel Rudi, bass man Volker Krawczak and drum monster Mike Terrana gave it their hearts and souls again when recording the new studio output. Once more, they have created an epitome of aesthetic Melodic Heavy Rock featuring captivating compositorial gems which will leave the fans begging for more. The new compositions of the blonde wizard are fascinating, majestic, their structure epic, and hypnotic melody patterns top it all off - the rhythm section operates focussed and versatile as usual, and the speedier parts mirror the craftsmanship and artistic ability of this popular band, this wonderful album leaves nothing to be desired.

domain: artistic


ATEX Level Sensor
IMP+ I.S. is a combined transducer and controller in one self-contained unit and is I.S. certified to ATEX EEx ia IIC T4 and IECEx.
IMP+ I.S. benefits from a specially designed digital echo processing technique and is available in three versions, 3m, 6m or 10m range. The full IMP range is available with the wetted parts in PVDF build alternative for corrosive or aggressive applications.
IMP+ I.S. is easy to install, just simply screw into a 1.5″ or 2″ universal fitting (a 1.5″ or 2″ adapter is available). Programming is also straightforward by simply using the LCD display and integral keypad featured on the IMP+ I.S.
IMP+ I.S. Options
IMP+ I.S. is also available with the wetted parts in PVDF build alternative for corrosive or aggressive applications.


text:
The chief instructor is Bobby O’Neill. Bobby who started training in the first class in 1977 was awarded the position of Chief Instructor of the association by Master Yau in 1989. He competed internationally as part of the Irish Kickboxing squad for over 10 years capturing two World Titles, WAKO and IAKSA as well as numerous international medals and 10 Irish national titles, making him the most successful Irish international competitor of that decade.
Bobby was made a Guardian of Lau Gar Kung Fu several years ago. The title of Guardian is awarded to Lau Gar practitioners who have proven excellence and dedication over many years and who swear to promote, nurture and develop the Lau Gar style.
The clubs members achievements over the years have been numerous and diverse, not only have we produced world champions and skilled practitioners of Martial Arts but we hope we have instilled self confidence, self discipline and self belief in many and contributed to the community in a positive manner.

domain: hobby


One of the salient features of the run-up to a major American election is the proliferation of political signage. Pretty much everywhere you go, somebody is relentlessly advertising for their favorite candidate.
Which is why I found it refreshing today to see a political advertisement of a different sort. It was clearly a reference to our upcoming presidential race, but one could infer that fact only from context.
Here is what the sign said:


text:
Favorite Punch is especially good made with with cherry gelatin.
Yield: 30 servings
- 2 small boxes gelatin*
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups hot water
- 1 (1 ounce) bottle almond extract
- 2 (46 ounce) cans pineapple juice
- 1 (8 ounce) bottle lemon juice
- 3 quarts ginger ale
- Dissolve gelatin and sugar in hot water.
- Mix all ingredients except ginger ale. Chill.
- Just before serving add chilled ginger ale.
* The color of the gelatin is the color of the punch.
Photo credit: (c) Can Stock Photo / MommaMoon


text:
|Patron||Rhalgr, the Destroyer|
Neither especially tall nor especially short for an elezen, Dhatura falls comfortably in the middle. His silhouette is composed all of angles and keen edges, particularly about the shoulders and face. There is, in fact, very little about him that might give an impression of softness, either physically or emotionally. His uncomfortable thinness and the dour severity of his expression certainly lend an edge to his overall appearance. Severe though he is, he is well kept. His hair is rarely seen out of place. The strands rest slick against his skull, fixed in place with some manner of wax.
Limned in whorls of pale blue cosmetics, the man’s eyes are chill and watery, his irises the hue of a whisk of a wave. The careful eye may note that the skin beneath the paint is knotted and uneven, a spidery network of razor-thin scars rising from his eyelids like fading welts. There is a pattern there, an illegible pattern of twisted symbols marring the man’s flesh. His right eye is ever-so subtly lighter than the left, clouded by some old wound or another.
If one catches him without gloves, it is easy to read his nervous habits in his hands. His nails are jagged and bitten to the quick. The skin around his nails is no better off. Superficial scabs mark the places where he has torn away threads of skin, presumably with his teeth.
Compared to the rest of his gear, his garments seem too rich, too well kept and too well made for a man of his position. Despite that, they have clearly been tailored to his figure. Where he has obtained them is anyone’s guess. He is most often seen in a cloth and leather surcoat of vibrant reds, black, and white, a thin layer of chainmail worn beneath. He is rarely seen without a pair of simple brass spectacles. The frames are thin and a bit worse for wear, one of the arms bent enough that they sit unevenly on his face. The lenses have seen their share of wear and tear as well, a few scuffs and scratches visible when the glass catches the light.
He must apply some manner of perfume oil, for he smells of peppermint and cloves. Beneath that lies a scent somewhat less savory. Sometimes he reeks of ashes. Mostly, he smells like iron.
As a rule, Dhatura smiles seldomly, and the expression is rarely genuine. Carefully groomed, they are the sort of smiles that one practices in mirrors. His teeth are white, white, white, immaculately straight and brilliant in whatever light touches them. Tiny creases form at the corners of his mouth with each smile and purse of his lips.
More often than smiles, his expression is kept a blank slate. His eyes are glassy, empty like marbles. He watches with great care from behind brass spectacles. He watches, and he judges.
Dhatura's voice is a gentle sort of thing, a relaxed and airy tenor. His words are typically measured with care, though that quality quickly crumbles under stress. If honeyed words don't get him his way, he often falls back on bile, vitriol, and a sense of 'might makes right' that puts him at odds with many others.
Partner in crime turned comrade in arms turned inseparable equal, the pair has a history that runs awfully deep. They run through periods of hot, cold, and controlled disconnect. As often as Dhatura has her back, he’s at her throat. Motes is his most dependable – and most frustrating – ally. She is the first to unriddle him, the first to protect him whether or not he is in the right, and she is the last to give up on him. Despite all this, the implied value of his life to her unnerves him.
In a way, Motes is akin to Dhatura’s personal death. She is ever looming over his shoulder, keeping him from any other end that may find him. Whether she is the death that will take him remains to be seen.
Motes often says that her job has been teaching Dhatura manners.
Most people accept Dhatura’s mistruths, lies, and omissions of fact like hard candies – they hear exactly as much as they want to and avoid what must dwell between the lines. Rook is far more insistent, far more thorough, and has a habit of reading Dhatura like a shipping manifest. Rook has a certain propensity for bringing candor to light. In a way, Dhatura admires this. He finds it very unsettling, indeed, but not so unsettling as to burn this bridge. The prospect of a comfortable lifestyle is much too enticing to do anything so hasty.
So far, at least, Rook has done a far better job of teaching Dhatura to be patient than Motes ever did.
A highlander full of needling jabs and snarky pet names. ‘Spade,’ she calls him. For now, at least, he has embraced the nickname. He can’t tell if he likes it or not, though that could also be said for Sigyn. After his initial victory against her at the Grindstone, he seems to have won some modicum of respect. In this case, ‘respect’ is a rather nebulous term. Dhatura’s not actually sure if what he’s won has any worth at all.
Most troubling are Sigyn’s quips about how his genitals must be kept in a jar somewhere rather than on his person. They are still there. He has checked.
Almost definitely a flesh golem brought to life by necromantic magics, stitched together from the flesh and bone of the fallen. It's as good a theory as any, anyway.
- “I see him working for Rose now and again. Rose’s far too kind – beggars belief what sort he’ll allow to take commissions.”
- “Inoxia? Y’mean Spade? Yeah! I see him at the Grindstone now and again, seems to know his way around a lance pretty well. Puts on a decent enough show, I reckon.”
- “I used to see him with that big armored lady of his. Dunno if she’s his conscience or his girlfriend. Either way, can’t figure why a lady like her would put up with a man like that.”
- “Poor bastard’s got no luck when it comes to picking winning gladiators, but he keeps at it. Heard he’s got a tab damn near as long as he is. If he’s not careful, he might end up in the ring to pay ‘em off.”
- “See him sleeping on Pearl occasionally. Makes my guts churn to see folks like him lazing about. Word is he conned some poor kid into offering a free place to stay, smashed up the place and skipped town. Don’t care what colour his skin is, you mark my words: he’s duskwight through and through.”

domain: literature


text:
Bitter Candied Bacon
Prep time: About 30 minutes
Preheat oven to 350
- 1 pack or 8 strips thick cut bacon - we love applewood smoked
- 1 cup light brown sugar, soft packed
- 1 Tbl Hella Bitter Aromatic
- Sea Salt
- In a mixing bowl combine sugar and bitters and pinch of sea salt.
- Mix with your fingers until the sugar is moist. To prepare the bacon you can use whole strips or cut and shape into smaller pieces. Either way, add the bacon to the sugar mixture making sure the pieces are not stuck together.
- Rub the sugar into each side of each piece until fully absorbed.
- Lay pieces of bacon across a baking sheet - if you can, use a grated rack in the baking sheet to raise bacon and allow for fat to drip off.
- Put in oven and bake for about 15 minutes until caramel brown.
- Remove from oven, sprinkle a little sea salt over all the pieces and then remove with tongs on cool dry surface. A Silpat works great if you have one. As it cools it will harden. If strips are whole after they’ve cooled cut into bite size pieces.


A commuter train slammed into an apartment building in Sweden after police say a woman drove it out of a terminal.
Police say there were no passengers on board the four-car train when the woman, who normally cleans the rail cars, drove the train out of a terminal near Stockholm.
The train derailed after about a mile and slammed into the building.
Police say the three families who were inside are okay.
The cleaning woman was taken into custody. Investigators say her motive is not yet clear.
Winter Storm Warnings are now in effect for where the heaviest snow has set up. They include Philadelphia, Delaware, New Castle, Camden, Gloucester, Burlington, Cumberland and E. Chester Counties. Warnings in effect till midnight.
The heaviest snow will drop 4-6" from Wilmington through Philly to Trenton. The highest amounts will be New Castle Co through interior south Jersey, 6-8+" possible.
Snow tapers off after 6pm this evening. An icy rain later tonight.


Product or Service
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1. The Material of wearing plate: T10, 47Mn
2. Application: K2 Boige. K4 Bioige. K6 Boige.
3. Excellent Quality Control, Good Price. Fast Delivery!
4. Could supply casting parts per customer drawing & specification!
Contact the company


The articles and commentaries in this special issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® add to a growing body of literature on the opioid epidemic that has plagued the United States since extended-release oxycodone hydrochloride (OxyContin) was approved by the FDA in 1995.1 Although other published studies have focused on various aspects of the epidemic, including the clinical efficacy and addictive properties of opioids or strategies to prevent addiction and treat opioid use disorder,2-14 the articles in this issue focus on the costs to state governments. Although the policy that ushered in the opioid epidemic was established at the national level, state governments and associated municipal governments, along with families and individuals, have borne the brunt of the costs. States, counties, cities, towns, and villages are ground zero for the epidemic, representing the political boundaries within which overdose occurs and where services are delivered to those who are harmed by opioids. As illustrated in the articles presented in this supplemental publication, the services provided by state and local governments are significant and costly, spanning well beyond healthcare for treatment15 and prevention.16 Other costs are associated with policing, judicial services, and corrections17; administering programs for children and families impacted by the epidemic18; the education system, including the provision of special education services for children born with neonatal abstinence syndrome19; reductions in revenues that are received from states in the form of income and sales taxes due to work force exits; and additional expenses for administering other means-tested programs, such as food or income support programs.20
Aggregate data speak volumes, with alarming trends in mortality, morbidity, healthcare, and social program costs well documented in the collection of articles published in this supplemental issue and elsewhere.21-26 In this commentary, we raise several important, broader questions that we believe have not received sufficient attention but are critically important for learning from the current opioid epidemic and preventing the potential burdens that could be associated with the next epidemic.
What Are the Real Opportunity Costs of the Opioid Epidemic?
Economists use the term “opportunity cost” to acknowledge that using resources for one purpose reduces or eliminates the ability to use those resources for a different purpose. This concept, which has enormous societal implications, is perhaps best understood in the context of an individual family’s budget. If the refrigerator breaks and needs to be replaced, then the funds used for the replacement are no longer available for other purposes, such as paying for meals or gas for the car. The same is true in society, where governments operate within fixed budgets but face unexpected circumstances that require the immediate expenditure of resources, such as responding to a natural disaster.
The opioid epidemic is one of those circumstances in which the crisis has required an immediate response by state and local governments to “pick up the pieces” through the provision of social services at a magnitude and cost that were unthinkable prior to 1995. The amount of money spent on first responders and medical treatments and the number of children left parentless because of the epidemic is enormous.27-30 Few individuals question whether state governments should be responding to the social needs of their constituents; however, less has been written about what has been relinquished—that is, the true opportunity costs—because of this response, along with the broader impact that this has on states and their citizenry. This is an important omission and one that needs to be discussed, not only to compensate states, but also to engage more constituents in understanding how those who are not directly affected by the epidemic lose out as a result.
Every taxpayer should realize that the opportunity cost of having to expend resources on providing services related to the opioid epidemic has resulted in fewer or inferior services that add value and enhance the well-being of society. For example, with state budget money being diverted to the epidemic, less has been spent on repairing aging transportation infrastructure. Additionally, less money has been spent on public education, including the amount spent on teachers and students, likely exacerbating the large gap in education and performance that exists compared with other industrialized countries in areas like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Moreover, fewer resources have undoubtedly been available for economic development and investments in job creation for the future.
In short, much of the press coverage and public discourse about the opioid epidemic has been focused disproportionately on assigning blame and highlighting the direct costs, such as the most recent death count or the latest attempt to make naloxone treatment available to the public without a prescription. Much less attention has been placed on the fact that because of the opportunity costs, every American has borne the brunt and will continue to withstand the harmful effects of resources being diverted to the epidemic—funds that could have been made available for a more productive societal use if the opioid epidemic had been avoided. These damages are currently being considered in the pending multidistrict legislation in the Cleveland District,31 as well as in the myriad other lawsuits and settlements, such as in Oklahoma, where the state government is trying to recover expenditures from those alleged to have created the epidemic—primarily drug manufacturers and distributors—in efforts that are reminiscent of the tobacco settlement of 1998.32-37 Regardless of the outcome of these lawsuits, it seems certain that any damages that are awarded will not come close to covering the opportunity costs of the epidemic. In this sense, it is critical that constituents, community leaders, and politicians learn from this disaster and do everything in their power to ensure that the next similar preventable epidemic does not occur and further divert public resources that should otherwise be used to advance society.
Has the Federal Government Failed States by Inadequately Performing Its Fiduciary Responsibility?
Federalism in the United States means that the power and authority to govern are intentionally divided between the federal and state governments, with specific responsibilities delegated to each governmental unit. This concept is critical when we think about responsibilities in the opioid epidemic and whether various governmental entities charged with oversight have adequately performed their fiduciary responsibilities. Although state governments are responsible for certain areas, such as medical professional licensure and the regulation of health insurance within the state’s borders, other responsibilities related to the opioid epidemic fall to the federal government to organize and regulate on behalf of all states.
For example, rather than having 50 states independently regulate the safety and efficacy of pharmaceuticals, which would be quite costly, individual commonwealths, instead, defer to the FDA. In the case of the opioid epidemic, criticism has been directed at the FDA for the initial decision to approve prescription opioids; there was additional criticism for delaying to act after the addictive properties of these compounds became clear. The FDA has also been disparaged for failing to take action against drug manufacturers for the allegedly unethical and deceptive advertising that was used to market drugs.38 In response to this, a 2017 Consensus Report released by the National Academies to address prescription opioid misuse recommended that the FDA adopt stricter policies regarding how opioids are advertised to the public and to prescribers.39
Has the FDA failed in its fiduciary responsibility to the states by not providing the appropriate oversight required? Equally important is the question of whether the FDA is capable of making the right decisions to prevent the next looming epidemic, which has the potential to wreak similar havoc on the states. These are complex questions that cannot be answered in this commentary; however, they are critical questions, and answering them will require the balanced consideration of several important points, 3 of which will be highlighted below.
First, as part of the scientific process for drug approval, historically, the FDA has focused on efficacy and safety.39 Addictive properties should certainly be considered part of a drug’s safety profile before it reaches market, but it is unclear whether the FDA’s approval process includes appropriate and durable mechanisms to account for the likelihood of patient addiction, particularly with such controlled substances as narcotics.40 The FDA did not identify these significant addictive risks and associated sequelae prior to the release of each opioid drug to market.41
Second, as the alarming mortality rate rose, the devastation brought about by these drugs became clear, and the deceptive nature of opioid drug advertising by industry became more obvious.42 If the FDA becomes aware of drug advertising that is inconsistent with FDA-approved product labeling, it issues the drug manufacturer a written notice requesting that the material be withdrawn.39 However, beyond that, drug advertisements are not required to receive preapproval from the FDA prior to the release of the promotional material to the public. To prevent the next epidemic, a serious conversation about the FDA approval process, as well as about postapproval drug monitoring and management, is critically needed. In fact, it has been suggested and outlined in the 2017 consensus statement of the National Academies.39
Third, the FDA has been criticized for being “captured” by the very industry it is supposed to regulate—the pharmaceutical industry—based on how the FDA receives its financial resources from industry and the perceived favors associated with relationships between FDA regulators and industry.43 For example, news stories have documented how FDA employees who worked on opioid regulation accepted high-paying jobs with Purdue—the company at the epicenter of current lawsuits.44 This raises the question of whether appropriate procedures and firewalls are in place to prevent the ethical compromises that can occur when the regulator is “captured” by industry. Since states rely on the federal government to perform these critical roles, it is important to assess whether that will prevent the next epidemic.
Because all prescription opioid pain medications are subject to Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System reporting by distributors, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has rich data on the flow of opioids to pharmacies across the country. As reports have shown, these medications were flowing to pharmacies that were facilitating their illegal use or flooding certain communities with significantly higher volumes of pain medications than could be justified based on the health needs of the patient populations in these communities.45 Former senior administrators within the DEA argue that the agency had gathered thorough evidence documenting that certain opioid distributors were not in compliance with the Federal Controlled Substances Act,46 allegedly turning a blind eye to knowledge that the drugs they were distributing were being used for illegal purposes, thus catalyzing opioid addiction across the United States.47-49
Can Professionals Be Trusted to Do the Right Thing?
Much of the criticism and blame for the opioid epidemic have been aimed at individuals and organizations that society generally holds in high regard as trusted professionals, tasked with protecting the health and welfare of patients and populations. For example, a New York State survey conducted by Siena College Research Institute in February 2018 demonstrated that most New Yorkers blame physicians for exacerbating the opioid epidemic by overprescribing opioid medications.50 News stories and reports from ongoing legal disputes report that some high-profile physicians took money from the pharmaceutical industry in exchange for promoting the long-term safety of opioids; that safety claim has subsequently been proved false.51
Many physicians face a difficult decision when weighing the necessity of treating a patient’s pain symptoms with the possibility of addiction if the patient is prescribed an opioid. Many still believe, however, that physician organizations at both the community and the national levels have not done enough to slow down or stop the epidemic.49,52,53 Some argue that these organizations had the expertise to recognize the addiction, mortality, and morbidity that were occurring in their communities, yet they failed to recognize the issue and act in an organized, timely fashion.54 This raises the important question of whether we can trust professionals to identify and detect problems of this magnitude early on and act in the best interests of the health of the patients and the population at large.
Other trusted professional organizations that are afforded autonomy by the government and the healthcare industry have been denounced. Most notable is the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). JCAHO accredits hospitals to ensure that they practice safe and high-quality medicine. JCAHO accreditation is required for hospitals and other healthcare facilities to receive reimbursement through the federal government’s Medicare and Medicaid health insurance programs. Thus, hospitals tend to respond quickly and completely when JCAHO implements standards or requirements. With respect to the opioid epidemic, JCAHO has been criticized for pushing pain as a “fifth vital sign,” allegedly based on research and reports about pain that were funded by the manufacturers of opioids.55 Many, including state attorneys general, have argued that it was JCAHO’s focus on the need to measure, treat, and monitor pain, similar to measuring, treating, and monitoring hypertension, that created an excess demand for opioid medications that otherwise would not have been prescribed.56,57
Why Haven’t States Invested in Better Data and Surveillance to Facilitate a More Rapid Response to Emerging Epidemics?
One federal entity that has been commended for its work on the opioid epidemic is the CDC. The CDC is credited with tracking and monitoring data regarding mortality due to opioid overdose, thus allowing the magnitude of the problem to be acknowledged and reported. The CDC also issued its first guidelines on prescribing opioids in 2016, making it clear that opioids are not typically indicated for long-term use associated with chronic pain that is not related to cancer or palliative, end-of-life care. The guidelines also stated that there were alternatives, such as non-narcotic pain medications or other non—drug-based therapies, that have been shown to be effective and associated with less risk.58
The CDC monitors infectious disease outbreaks, working with state and local public health departments to monitor the same issues regionally. In this capacity, the CDC reports on and cautions about problems as they arise in communities, which could spread across the country. For example, the CDC’s Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database has been used to track cause of death in communities and associate it with drug overdose and opioid overdose.59 This data set is not perfect, as there are many challenges associated with obtaining accurate and comparable cause of death information from coroners’ offices across the United States. Nonetheless, the CDC’s efforts have shed light on the impact of the opioid epidemic.
Unfortunately, state-level data and surveillance systems vary significantly and are often not as accurate or useful for recognizing the magnitude of a brewing epidemic or producing reliable, real-time estimates of the impact of an ongoing epidemic. As the articles in this supplemental issue illustrate, there are many reasons state data systems often do not connect the dots and provide actionable intelligence by linking, for example, data from a variety of sources, such as coroners’ reports; criminal justice records; children, youth, and family services records; and health insurance claims data. Improved systems are possible by incorporating the concept of Integrated Data Systems, as described by the group Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy at the University of Pennsylvania.60 As this group and others have documented, many important data points are often stored in silos, thus preventing linkage across different sectors of state and local governments and precluding a more holistic picture of the relationship between one social issue (eg, illegal drug prescription and use) and another (eg, an increased demand for foster care due to a higher prevalence of children with drug-addicted parents). Although the need for the privacy of confidential data and personal records is paramount, the societal benefits of states investing in integrated data systems are likely to be huge, and, in the case of the opioid epidemic, it may have resulted in an earlier, more effective response to the epidemic.
Is It Possible to Effectively Regulate the Conflicts of Interest in American Healthcare, Including the Drug Industry?
Relevant to the discussion of many of the issues above is the fact that healthcare in the United States is “big business,” with many professionals, organizations, health systems, insurers, and product and service suppliers making significant profits. This includes the often-criticized pharmaceutical industry, including specific manufacturers and distributors directly involved in the opioid prescription business. Because in the United States we have accepted a multiparty health system with a significant profit motive, and the associated responsibility of regulating appropriate business and ethical behavior to ensure that patients and society are not exploited, it is important to determine whether the multilayered system we have created is meeting the needs of society in this regard. Given the ongoing legal cases alleging that the owners of privately held and publicly traded companies have made billions of dollars by peddling addictive prescription pain medications, the question is now more important to answer than ever before. Specifically, society should examine whether appropriate regulatory mechanisms are in place and whether the model of federalism in the United States is working to protect the health, safety, and well-being of its citizens.
Why Is Substance Misuse So Common? What Are the Underlying Factors?
Finally, the question that must be addressed is: What drives substance misuse and addiction? Although using government or regulatory mechanisms to prevent or significantly curb the supply of addictive narcotics is certainly valuable, there is also value in preventing or reducing addiction at its core. This is a complex topic that involves expertise across many disciplines, including neurology, substance misuse and addiction, and social distress and economic inequalities. As highlighted in the recent work by Case and Deaton,61 which discusses the rise in the rate of “deaths of despair” in the United States, particularly among middle-aged white men—a group previously thought to be relatively privileged—the explanations are likely multifaceted, including social justice concerns, economic equality, and the current social stigmas associated with mental illness. Substance misuse and addiction existed long before the current opioid epidemic, but the destruction they wreak has never been as damaging and as costly as now. This, in turn, spurs the need to further commit to research to better understand the key drivers of addiction and what can be done to prevent future epidemics.
Much of the discussion about opioids has focused on very specific topics, including industry liability in a number of high-profile lawsuits. It is important to take a step back and think about this epidemic more broadly. At the forefront, we should not lose sight of the damage the epidemic has wrought on entire communities and on families who have lost loved ones or have struggled to help those addicted to prescription opioids.
Admittedly, although our commentary is heavy on questions and light on answers, we believe that the citizens of the United States deserve to have these questions asked. They are critical to learning from the existing epidemic and helping prevent the next one. We offer the questions in this commentary as a starting point, and we encourage Congress, the National Governors Association, and the National Academy of Medicine to prioritize and provide leadership and resources to appoint a qualified, unbiased panel of experts and citizens to pursue the answers. Dennis P. Scanlon, PhD, is a distinguished professor in the Department of Health Policy and Administration at the Pennsylvania State University.
Christopher S. Hollenbeak, PhD, is a professor and department head of the Department of Health Policy and Administration at the Pennsylvania State University.
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25. Haight SC, Ko JY, Tong VT, Bohm MK, Callaghan WM. Opioid use disorder documented at delivery hospitalization — United States, 1999—2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(31):845-849. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6731a1.
26. The Council of Economic Advisors. The underestimated cost of the opioid crisis. Whitehouse.gov website. whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/images/The%20Underestimated%20Cost%20of%20the%20Opioid%20Crisis.pdf. Published November 2017. Accessed July 1, 2019.
27. Quast T, Bright MA, Delcher C. The relationship between foster care entries and high-dose opioid prescribing in California. Addict Behav. 2019;93:52-58. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.01.015.
28. Milliren CE, Gupta M, Graham DA, Melvin P, Jorina M, Ozonoff A. Hospital variation in neonatal abstinence syndrome incidence, treatment modalities, resource use, and costs across pediatric hospitals in the United States, 2013 to 2016. Hosp Pediatr. 2018;8(1):15-20. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2017-0077.
29. Hsu DJ, McCarthy EP, Stevens JP, Mukamal KJ. Hospitalizations, costs and outcomes associated with heroin and prescription opioid overdoses in the United States 2001—2012. Addiction. 2017;112(9):1558-1564. doi: 10.1111/add.13795.
30. Wiltz T. Drug-addiction epidemic creates crisis in foster care. PEW website. pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2016/10/07/drug-addiction-epidemic-creates-crisis-in-foster-care. Published October 7, 2016. Accessed July 1, 2019.
31. Gaughan PA, Opacich S. MDL 2804: National Prescription Opiate Litigation. United States District Court Northern District of Ohio website. ohnd.uscourts.gov/mdl-2804. Accessed July 1, 2019.
32. Bernstein L, Zezima K. Purdue Pharma, state of Oklahoma reach settlement in landmark opioid lawsuit. The Washington Post website. washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/purdue-pharma-state-of-oklahoma-reach-settlement-in-landmark-opioid-lawsuit/2019/03/26/69aa5cda-4f11-11e9-a3f7-78b7525a8d5f_story.html?utm_term=.a06432df927f. Published March 26, 2019. Accessed July 1, 2019.
33. State of Oklahoma vs Purdue Pharma (Consent Judgment); Case No. CJ-2017-816; Judge Thad Balkman [cited June 24, 2019]; Oklahoma Attorney General website. oag.ok.gov/Websites/oag/images/Consent%20Judgement.pdf. Published March 26, 2019. Accessed July 8, 2019.
34. Gerszewski A. Attorney General Hunter announces historic $270 million settlement with Purdue Pharma, $200 million to establish endowment for OSU center for wellness. Mike Hunter Oklahoma Attorney General website. oag.ok.gov/attorney-general-hunter-announces-historic-270-million-settlement-with-purdue-pharma-200-million-to-establish-endowment-for-osu-center-for-wellness. Published March 26, 2019. Accessed July 1, 2019.
35. Gerszewski A. Attorney General Hunter announces settlement with Teva Pharmaceuticals. Mike Hunter Oklahoma Attorney General website. oag.ok.gov/attorney-general-hunter-announces-settlement-with-teva-pharmaceuticals. Published May 26, 2019. Accessed July 1, 2019.
36. Fortier J. ‘This case will set a precedent’: first major opioid trial opens in Oklahoma. National Public Radio website. npr.org/2019/05/27/724093091/this-case-will-set-a-precedent-first-major-opioid-trial-to-begin-in-oklahoma. Published May 27, 2019. Accessed July 1, 2019.
37. Oklahoma and Johnson & Johnson face off in the first opioid crisis trial. CNBC website.
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39. Bonnie RJ, Ford MA, Phillips JK, eds. Opioid approval and monitoring by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In: Pain Management and the Opioid Epidemic: Balancing Societal and Individual Benefits and Risks of Prescription Opioid Use. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2017.
40. Meier B. Origins of an epidemic: Purdue Pharma knew its opioids were widely abused. New York Times website. nytimes.com/2018/05/29/health/purdue-opioids-oxycontin.html. Published May 29, 2018. Accessed July 1, 2019.
41. Lopez G. I used to support legalizing all drugs. Then the opioid epidemic happened. America’s worst drug crisis shows what can happen when a dangerous, addictive substance is made easily accessible. Vox website. vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/4/20/15328384/opioid-epidemic-drug-legalization. Updated September 12, 2017. Accessed July 1, 2019.
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text:
After two rounds of legislative elections, most former Khmer Rouge loyalists have decided they favor democracy and are looking forward to voting in July’s poll, Mei Makk, Pailin Cabinet chief and Municipal Election Committee director, said Thursday.
“Most of the former Khmer Rouge like the democratic process. They like peace—they don’t want war anymore,” said Mei Makk, himself the former Khmer Rouge military commander in charge of Pochentong Airport.
Of an estimated 20,000 eligible voters in Pailin, the Khmer Rouge’s last stronghold, 94 percent have registered to vote, including former Khmer Rouge prime minister Khieu Samphan and Brother No 2 Nuon Chea, Mei Makk said. The National Election Committee’s nationwide estimate is 93 percent.
Ieng Sary, the Khmer Rouge’s foreign minister, has registered in Phnom Penh, Mei Makk added.
“These former Khmer Rouge are very loyal [to the current government] and eager to learn new things,” Mei Makk said. “After receiving training from NGOs and the government about the democratic process, they grew fond of democratic systems like the American and French.”
But those who suffered at the hands of the brutal Pol Pot regime will have trouble believing Mei Makk’s claims, said Vann Nath, the painter and survivor of the Tuol Sleng prison and torture chamber. “I don’t think the current environment can change [former Khmer Rouge],” Vann Nath said Thursday. “I personally suffered bitterly from the Khmer Rouge regime and I can never accept them.”
Former Khmer Rouge ought to respect the rights they now enjoy—rights they never granted, or abused flagrantly, when they were in power, said Youk Chhang, executive director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia.
In particular, he said, they should obey their civic duty to testify before the potential tribunal for former top Khmer Rouge leaders. “They are now doing their jobs as Cambodian citizens by voting, so they must also do their jobs when the court invites them for questioning,” he said.

domain: politics


text:
Object #1027100 from MS-Papers-0032-0540
From: Inward letters - John Rogan, Reference Number MS-Papers-0032-0540 (40 digitised items). 40 letters written from Awakino, Mokau, New Plymouth, Takatuhi, Whangaroa, Waingohu, Tokatoka (Kaipara), Whakaturai, Auckland, Coromandel, & Sydney (Sep 1858)
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2nd. January 1854.
My dear Sir,
I paid the £500 yesterday for land at Awakino, and am going to-morrow up the river to survey another Block, which I hope will be less mountainous than the one just purchased. Indeed, I have nearly broken my neck upon these terrible mountains lately. I sent you a number of native letters, all of which are opposed to the large package you sent me some time since; and it is a matter of regret that I cannot bring the matter to a successful issue. I have done everything in the matter that is advisable for the present. You will
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please excuse my not finishing the translations, as it would be totally out of my power to accomplish them by this mail. It is now one of the morning, and I'm writing by the light of a wretched dip in Henry's school-room, quite fatigued from the effects of natives' importunities.
I expect to be in New Plymouth in a fort- night's time, and shall wait your directions if I cannot obtain labour there to finish the Hua survey.
In haste, I remain, my dear Sir, faithfully yours
(Signed) J. Rogan
To:- Donald McLean.
Inward letters - John Rogan, Reference Number MS-Papers-0032-0540 (40 digitised items)
Series 1 Inward letters (English), Reference Number Series 1 Inward letters (English) (14501 digitised items)
McLean Papers, Reference Number MS-Group-1551 (30238 digitised items)
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Sherpa#ad - Fits yeti roadie 24 Coolers Only. Cooler not included & only fits yeti roadie 24. Stainless steel construction for durability and low maintenance & MADE IN USA. 10-inch diameter, pneumatic tires with sealed wheel bearings. Quick and easy installation and removal.
Blingbin#ad - Non-pneumatic - the tires are injection molded from environmentally friendly rubber materials. Therefore, the electric scooter tires are safer and more reliable to use. The actual size will be slightly less than 10 inches due to the need for a crowbar installation operation to be tightly engaged on the hub to ensure your riding safety.
Compared with pneumatic tires, there is no danger of puncture. It is durable and has a long service life.
The model is a solid honeycomb tire that does not need to be inflated. Safety - electric scooter tires are sturdy in design. High-quality materials - this electric scooter tire is made of high-quality rubber material with high quality and wear resistance.
No maintenance, no maintenance. Shock absorption and anti-skid - the electric scooter is designed with honeycomb holes, which has good shock absorption and anti-skid effects. This tire will provide a good help for your electric scooter and has better shock absorption performance. Application - the electric scooter tires have a wide range of applications and can be used under different road conditions.
VGEBY1#ad - Practical design:special designed to replace the front and rear wheels the scooter. Satisfication guarantee:if you are not satisfied with our product received, you can apply for unconditional return and refund within 180 days.
Solid tire no need for air chambers, No need for patches, no need to inflate, no need inner rubber tire convenient to use no need worry about puncture broken. Applicable occasion:Compatible with Electric Scooter, it use numerous mutually connect and independent micropore.
Anti skid:the anti-skidding pattern makes it able to be used in snowy and rainy days, safe to play the scooter for a comfortable and enjoyable ride. Premium quality:made of good quality rubber materials, with its micropore foaming technology producing polymeric texture, sturdy and durability.
Gotrax#ad - Effortless assembly, tighten 4 bolts and you're ready to go! One-year or 180-day warranty for different parts, and a US-based customer service department. Reliable warranty & us-based service - the new g pro is a superior quality and comfortable electric scooter for commuters.
Extra bright front light and responsive rear braking light keep you safe while riding in the dark. G pro folds down to 49"*18. 9"*17. 9" and easy to be stored in a car, at the office, or under the desk.
Safe & comfortable riding - g pro equipped with eabs and 3 mechanical disc braking system. Smart battery management system, Cruise Control, battery life, gear, Push Assist Mode making daily commuting easier. Digital lock and Mechanism combination lock with cable provide great convenience for short-time stop.
With a powerful 350W motor, G Pro can reach 15. 5 mph with ease, travel up to 24 miles and max load of 220 lbs. 10" front pneumatic tire and dual 8. 5" rear pneumatic tires, 2 suspension system provide fantastic comfort and stability, even on rough surfaces or speed bumps. Portable folding scooter: one-step folding system is easy to carry and easy to storage. 50
Dilwe#ad - And befor you buy, please check the size information. Tire and inner tube is made of high-grade rubber material material, which makes it durable, and with exquisite workmanship, sturdy and has a long service life. Electric scooter tire ensures that the pressure on the wheel hub is almost equal everywhere, so that the wheel hub is not easily deformed.
Meanwhile, easy and comfortable when riding, it can help improve the performance. Tire and inner tube has strong grip, very stable, and heat dissipation is fast.
And it comes with high performance. And it has strong performance, the shock absorption effect of pneumatic tires is irreplaceable, portable and practical, fine workmanship, safe riding.
Inflation tires replacement, and it is ideal for home, professional and commercial / industrial use. Our electric scooter tire has an inside diameter of 5. 9 '' and an outside diameter of 9. 5 '', and width - 3. 1 inches. Tire and inner tube is made of high-grade rubber material material, and with exquisite workmanship, which makes it durable, sturdy and has a long service life.
Vbest life#ad - Anti-slip patternthe pattern design on the tire surface makes the tire have stronger grip, provide stable driving experience. Rubber materialrubber material, antiskid, good sealing, wearresistant, high quality and durablelonger service life.
Pneumatic tireinflatable wheel, can ensure that the pressure on the hub is almost the same everywhere so that the hub is not easy to deform. Shock-proofthe shock absorption effect of inflatable tire is irreplaceable, and has fast heat dissipation. Easy for installationLight in weight, easy to install, save your time, and improve the efficiency.
RIDE SWFT#ad - Ultimate performance on all terrains - 8 miles on a single charge: designed to be the single coolest hoverboard for long rides, this electric, front and rear facing LED wheel lights and extra strong 10” off road pneumatic tires, with super sturdy and 100% safe, water resistant construction, self-balancing hover board can go up to 8 miles on a full 5 hour charge before needing a recharge.
It has a 27-point safety inspection, as well as outside the house. The front / back facing led lights and light up wheels allow for safe riding in the dark, the Sonic hoverboard scooter allows you to enjoy your favorite music on the go.
Advanced active-balancing technology: featuring an active-balancing technology with internal sensors that keep you level and stable, distance and style. At a max. If you are in need of an air pump adapter please reach out to our customer service team and we'll send one over, free of charge! Bluetooth speakers - never miss a beat: thanks to the built-in bluetooth speaker, the speakers sync with the front and back white lights for a dazzling effect.
And built to easily hold up to 265lbs, while its shock absorbing pedals and non-slip foot pads ensure stability at all times. Ready to hit the road in style? What is more, while the non-slip foot pads make it easy to maintain balance indoors or outdoors! Caution: always take proper safety precautions for a safe ride*.
Gotrax#ad - 24 hours customer service: gotrax has 24 hour online customer service, refund and exchange, return. Multifunctional display & front light and red tail light: its multifunction led control panel displays mileage, battery capacity, speed and headlight, easy for you to control and ride; The front LED light provides better visibility when riding at night; The red taillights will flash when you brake.
All these make it easy to ride and safer. Electric code lock & cable lock: this commuting electric scooter comes with an electric code lock and cable lock.
We have double protection as follows, electric code lock: lock the digital display and no one can power it on if he does not know the password; Cable lock: No one can take it away without the password. Double anti-theft can protect the safety of your scooter.
Foldable adults electric scooter: the adult's electric scooter comes with a very clever folding of the front stem backward, easy to carry, stow away, or put into the trunk of your car. The folder uses a forging process, where it connects and snaps onto the rear mudguard, you can carry it like a bag. Very portable, which is durable and safe. So there is no need to worry about the products after-sales problems, 30 days unconditional return, 180days limited exchange, worthy you to buy.


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May 14, 2020
ArchCity Defenders dismissed the lawsuit filed on behalf of Renata Frank to prevent the City of St. Louis from criminalizing unhoused individuals for seeking shelter in encampments near Market Street during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Frank has chosen to dismiss her claims against the City, given the removal of the encampments at issue, and her current status in temporary housing. ArchCity is working with her to ensure that she finds permanent housing.
Although Ms. Frank has temporary shelter today, many people who were living with her at the Market Street encampments do not. As a result of the City of St. Louis’ actions to clear those encampments, many unhoused individuals dispersed throughout the city. Others were only able to access congregate shelter space, locations that do not provide individuals the same opportunity to socially distance and care for their personal health as individual housing units. Even those who were temporarily placed in a motel still face challenges as they are not being provided adequate food and services and have no idea what will happen to them when their temporary stay in a hotel terminates.
ArchCity remains concerned about a number of issues that surfaced during the course of this litigation, including numerous misrepresentations made by the City of St. Louis. Chiefly, through its lawyers, the City claimed that individual hotel rooms would be made immediately available to every displaced person who wanted one. Within two days the City broke its word, clearing the Market Street encampments before individual rooms could be provided to all people who lived there. Instead of allowing people to remain until individual rooms could be acquired, the City rushed to take down people’s tents, their only form of shelter, and only allowed individuals to remain in the park on the condition that they did not put up a new tent.
The City also claimed that it would conduct COVID-19 testing to every person displaced from the encampments, yet only a small fraction of the people living at Market Street received a test before the encampment was disbanded. The City’s Health Director, Dr. Echols, who issued the order to clear the encampments, also testified under oath that he is a licensed physician, when he is not. Although ArchCity does not intend to question Dr. Echols’ professional qualification in this matter, Dr. Echols’ misrepresentation, in conjunction with other false promises by City employees, raises serious concerns about the willingness of City officials to make false statements for political expediency.
“The rush to close the Market Street encampments before adequate shelter, services, and medical outreach could be arranged demonstrates how the encampment closures were never about public health or safety,” said John Bonacorsi, Skadden Fellow and Staff Attorney with ArchCity Defenders. “Rather, the City’s conduct shows that it will invest significant resources to remove unhoused individuals from the public eye, but refuse to make the same investment to provide shelter and services to meet the needs of St. Louis’ unhoused community.”
ArchCity Defenders will continue to work with and for St. Louis’ unhoused community to ensure that their rights are protected, and that the City of St. Louis invests adequate resources and protections to prevent homelesness.
Z Gorley, Communications Director, ArchCity Defenders


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The best parks in Wyoming
Interested in getting out and having some adventure? Check out one of Wyoming’s amazing parks. We have some of the most incredible parks in the nation. Here are our top three picks for the best parks in Wyoming.
This legendary park has over 2.2 million acres of unspoiled wilderness to discover. Go beyond the heavily touristed areas and strike out into one of the last great wilderness areas left in America. Yellowstone offers hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, with wildlife viewing beyond compare.
Forever enshrined in cinematic history thanks to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Devils Tower is a striking monument to Wyoming’s unusual geology. The park features eight miles of nature trails, a 1.3 mile paved circuit around the tower, and rock climbing routes up the tower itself.
Rising over a mile above Jackson Hole, the Grand Tetons are one of America’s most spectacular mountain ranges. Grand Teton National Park has hiking, picnicking, and camping, and its many rivers and lakes offer unparalleled opportunities for canoeing and kayaking.
Image courtesy Flickr/David Grimes

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Tug owners investing in remote monitoring technology will reap economic and operational benefits
Remotely monitoring tugboat performance will pay off for owners in a short period of time. Reduced fuel consumption alone should result in economic benefits to more than offset the retrofit costs.
With this in mind, owners can use technology to deploy smart sensors on board tugs and transfer the information back to shore, then invest in data analytics to convert raw data into valuable operational information, which can be utilised to make more informative decisions.
The benefits that come from this strategy, as witnessed in other shipping sectors, include lower emissions and fuel expenditure from monitoring consumption. Owners can reduce maintenance requirements and costs by deploying condition monitoring of engineroom and deck machinery.
Further economic and safety benefits can be delivered by monitoring navigation and towage operations by transferring information from wheelhouse electronics to shore.
It does not have to be expensive on the communications side as not all information needs to be sent to shore in real-time, but can be transferred in packets directed over satellite communications or, if the tug operates in coastal waters, over a mobile phone 4G network.
The hardware would not be expensive as sensors can be connected wirelessly and have batteries for power, minimising the need for additional cabling. Onboard wifi would be required which crew could also use for communications.
Owners may decide not to refit existing vessels, although this would be possible at low capital cost and high returns.
However, they should consider remote monitoring for newbuldings because tug builders are certainly doing so. This was demonstrated this month when Damen Shipyard and US-based Flicq announced a partnership to deploy onboard sensors and internet of things (IoT) technology for tugboats.
Damen is using Flicq’s remote sensing platform incorporating algorithms, analytics and a sensor package for remotely monitoring vessel operations, performance and providing condition-based maintenance.
Since Q3 2018, Flicq systems have been installed on 45 vessels built by Damen, including tugs. There will be an expansion on deployments this year as sensors will be installed on a further 165 Damen-built vessels.
Damen said the smart sensors and data analytics facilitates performance monitoring of onboard machinery. Flicq explained that not all sensor data needs to be sent as its devices are smart enough to remain silent until there is a change in condition, such as a temperature rise.
With the technology now mature enough for immediate deployment in retrofit or on newbuildings, there are fewer excuses for not adopting IoT technology on tugs.
Benefits such as improved operations, lower maintenance and fuel consumption should be attractive to owners. As should the ability to monitor tug performance versus its design parameters, client expectations and sea trial achievements.
Owners will be able to detect when tugs are not performing as expected and take action to improve this or reduce costs by delaying maintenance until condition monitoring indicates it is necessary. Information from the engineroom will indicate if machinery is performing at optimal levels.
IoT technology is available now for tugs with more newbuildings are being fitted with smart sensors and connectivity to analytics platforms. Owners that do not take the plunge now into IoT technology deployment could be left behind by the early adopters. They do not even have to make a conscious decision, as they can purchase a new tug from shipyards already deploying IoT on their newbuildings.
Technologies for reducing emissions and fuel costs will be discussed at Riviera Maritime Media’s Americas Sulphur Cap 2020 Conference, to be held in Houston on 5-6 March


Quote of the Week: Brian Manley
The police chief on reports that Signature Science found mold on the boxes of hundreds of APD rape kits
"We have sent well over 1,000 kits from this refrigerator out for processing. They have been processed, and we have no reports of mold from those kits."
– APD Chief Brian Manley on Tuesday, after a Statesman report that the lab analyzing APD’s backlog of forensic evidence found mold on evidence in a rape kit. An inspection run on the refrigerator’s untested 1,629 cases found 780 kits with no visible mold and 849 that showed some signs of mold on the outside of kit boxes.


Energy-Saving Power Strips
Investing in modern energy-saving power strips can reduce the drain caused by devices that still use electricity even when they are turned off. Televisions, computers and stereo systems are among the most common offenders that continue to drain power while turned off. Advanced power strips can eliminate this waste of energy so you lower your electric bill and reduce your carbon footprint every day.
Support for Heating and Cooling Systems
Installing ceiling fans throughout your Texas home can reduce the load on your heating and cooling systems. Ceiling fans help with air circulation and can keep temperatures at more favorable levels inside your home. Regular maintenance can also increase the energy efficiency of your HVAC system to provide you with the lowest possible heating and cooling bills and the highest performance to keep your Dallas home comfortable even in extreme weather.
The Benefits of Programmable Thermostats
Investing in a programmable home thermostat can have a real impact on your heating and cooling bills. By regulating the temperatures according to your activities, you can cut down on wasted energy and can ensure the most effective use of your heating and cooling systems. Even though Desoto generally experiences relatively mild winters, installing a programmable thermostat can make a noticeable difference in your heating bills during winter.
The HVAC experts at Freedom Heating & Air can deliver the most cost-effective and practical solutions for your air conditioner , furnace or heat pump. To learn how our proven services can help you to reduce your energy expenditure and save you money this year, give us a call at (214) 306-8456. We look forward to the chance to serve all your heating and cooling needs.