text:
VARICOSE VEINS JUST A COSMETIC ISSUE?
It seems like everything I have heard in my life to do with varicose veins was always about appearance and how it was a huge cosmetic issue! But the results and the facts are it’s not just a cosmetic issue. Having varicose veins is actually a very good indication that you could have venous disease and you really should not wait to get your legs checked.
VARICOSE VEINS- NOT JUST A COSMETIC ISSUE:
Varicose veins are often thought to be an older persons problem. But most people tend to get their first varicose vein in their teenage years varicose veins are also thought to be only a cosmetic issue, but left unchecked they can cause considerable health issues that can compromise your enjoyment of life. Once we take care of the underlined problem the varicose veins will disappear after awhile. But if you just treat your varicose veins cosmetically with injections of sclerotherapy, they may go away for a short time but they’ll come back again so you need to fix the underlined problem that is causing the vein to pop.
VARICOSE VEIN SYMPTOMS:
Issues such as aching leg especially at the end of the day, throbbing, burning sensation, itching,leg cramps or restless legs can impact your life. These symptoms should not be dismissed as normal aches and pains. More advanced varicose vein problems show skin discoloration, usually around the ankles and leg ulcers.
CAUSES OF VARICOSE VEINS:
Varicose veins are caused by faulty valves in the superficial veins of the legs that no longer function correctly. The blood in those veins cannot move up the body , so it just sits in the veins stretching them over time and causing discomfort. There are two superficial systems that transform approximately 2% of the blood in the leg. These two vein systems are the great saphenous vein and the small saphenous vein most of the blood is transported to the heart by the deep systems in the muscles. The main cause of varicose veins are hereditary, obesity, injury to a leg and pregnancy. You are a much higher risk if your parents or grandparents have had varicose veins. Many people inherit vein disorders. About 30% of woman and 25% of men have varicose veins.
There is new treatment available and we can help recent advances in vein health have left vein stripping surgery behind as history, invasive and often ineffective procedure for varicose vein removal. Now a days, varicose vein treatments are no d- invasive, more than 90% effective and require little to no recovery time. Popular new varicose vein treatments like venaseal, radiofrequency ablation and clarivein can be performed at our vein clinic, the Alpha Vein Clinic Las Vegas. One of our newest vein treatments, VenaSeal, was approved by the FDA in 2015. In clinical trials, the FDA found VenaSeal to be a safe effective treatment for veins. The VenaSeal procedure is the most simple and very effective way of treating underlined vein disease. Vein disease is not just a cosmetic issue and can lead to worse health problems. If you have been having any question as to if you have a vein problem please don’t hesitate to call us today at 702-430-7661. We can’t wait to get you started! Lets get your veins treated pain free..
Alpha Vein Clinic
3150 N. Tenaya Way Ste. 400
Las Vegas, NV,89128
Dr. Sassan Kaveh
You can call us 24/7

domain: health


You'd think Oracle would have seen this coming.
HP Supports Customers Despite Oracle's Anti-customer Actions
Amid plummeting SPARC server market share, Oracle seeks to force customers to buy their servers
PALO ALTO, Calif., March 23, 2011
HP today reiterated that it will continue the development and innovation of Itanium®-based Integrity server platforms with its HP-UX operating system using a roadmap that extends more than 10 years.
In addition, HP will continue to support customers running existing versions of Oracle software on Itanium-based Integrity servers, both existing and future platforms, during the same timeframe. Last year, HP launched the industry's most modern mission-critical architecture in more than a decade. This constitutes the longest published roadmap of any UNIX vendor in the industry.
"Oracle continues to show a pattern of anti-customer behavior as they move to shore up their failing Sun server business," said Dave Donatelli, executive vice president and general manager, Enterprise Servers, Storage and Networking, HP. "HP believes in fair and honest competition. Competition is good for customers, innovation and the marketplace. We are shocked that Oracle would put enterprises and governments at risk while costing them hundreds of millions of dollars in lost productivity in a shameless gambit to limit fair competition."
You probably saw it on our Download of the Day, but just in case you were suspicious of what 9 million users and counting have confidently downloaded, here are some initial observations from using Firefox 4 all day today to write the last few posts.
Upon downloading, I was greeted with a wonderfully and aesthetically pleasing tutorial set-up (not that I really needed it, I just watched it because I was curious). If you're just now getting on the Firefox Train (like, if you were born in the late 1990's), it's a helpful introduction. You can also totally join the party by being part of Mozilla's Twitter Party feature, in which your Twitter Avatar is somehow algorithm'd into a pixellated version of their well-known browser logo. There's even a nifty search function once you've tweeted the #fx4 hashtag to see your tweet amongst the 67,000 others.
What I've Noticed So Far
Overall, very pleased. I used to use Firefox (and I still do for some sites)
Earlier this month, Blizzard Execs Mike Morhaime, Frank Pearce and Allen Adham celebrated the anniversary of the iconic gaming powerhouse they had founded 20 years ago by ringing the closing bell at NASDAQ in New York on March 7. There's a lot to celebrate for the company that originally brought us "The Death & Return of Superman" and is now the proud father of their 7 year old baby, the 5 million large MMORPG, World of Warcraft. How exactly, you might ask, does such a team rejoice in their financial success and fame? By playing StarCraft II on those giant NASDAQ displays, of course.
If you were lucky enough to be in Times Square that morning, you would have been treated to 7-story cinematics projected on the NASDAQ tower from popular Activision Blizzard titles like World of Warcraft: Cataclysm and StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. It was like The Today Show, but instead of Al Roker "predicting" the weather (you're outside already Al. How hard can it be?), it was a 7-story-high to-scale Deathwing forecasting Awesome. With a chance of Awesome. I know there's a Blizzard / "wintry mix" joke in here somewhere.
The Nintendo 3DS launches in a few short days, and with it comes the wonderful augmented reality experiences, already demoed at GDC 2011 and the Nintendo Pods available in a major city near you. One of the downsides to the AR games and experiences in the Nintendo 3DS is relying on those AR cards that the player has to carry around with them if he or she wishes to shoot a dragon with arrows or hold an adorably "uncanny valley" cat or dog in hand.
An enterprising individual named Andrew Wilson has developed an Android App (am I allowed to call it an "app" anymore?) that has screenshots of all six AR Cards that come with the 3DS. Players will be able to launch their 3DS AR experiences using only their Android phone, making the augmented reality fun far more portable and accessible. Even better, you can download the app for your Android Tablet as well, making the AR models even bigger!
Here's hoping Nintendo lets this one go- it's not as though people will be able to access the games without a 3DS anyway.
CITA had its mobile focus event yesterday and like CES unveiled it is a small part of a much larger event. The event was held at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, FL and was a Luau Themed affair.
After you got around all of the finery (if you could call it that) there were several vendors there that had some impressive products for the mobile world. One of these was NVIDIA. After the launch of the first Tegra 2 device at CES they have been hard at work getting a couple of additional devices ready. One of these is an Android based tablet that will be pushed out by T-mobile.
This will have 32GB of storage with room for an additional SD card (the cheap way to go as we were told). We also heard that NVIDIA plans to have the first quad core (ARM based) tablets and phones coming out very soon.
The latest happenings from around the web - March 23rd, 2011
- HIS HD6870 ICEQX Turbo Graphics Card @ Kitguru
- Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 Flex Edition 2GB DDR5 DX11 Video Card @ HiTechLegion
- XFX Radeon 6950 XXX 1GB @ Pureoverclock
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti @ Techgage
- Voltmodding an old GPU to increase performance @ Funkykit
- Roccat Kave Headset @ eTeknix
- ACRyan Playon!HD2 @ XSReviews
- Razer Ferox Module Gaming Speakers @ RBMods
Our Download of the Day today is Firefox 4.0.
The Web is all about innovation, and Firefox sets the pace with dozens of new features to deliver a faster, more secure and customizable Web browsing experience for all.
User Experience. The enhancements to Firefox provide the best possible browsing experience on the Web. The new Firefox smart location bar, affectionately known as the "Awesome Bar," learns as people use it, adapting to user preferences and offering better fitting matches over time.
Performance. Firefox is built on top of the powerful new Gecko platform, resulting in a safer, easier to use and more personal product.
Security. Firefox raises the bar for security. The new malware and phishing protection helps protect from viruses, worms, trojans and spyware to keep people safe on the Web.
Customization. Everyone uses the Web differently, and Firefox lets users customize their browser with more than 5,000 add-ons.
Google decided to not let Mozilla have the limelight today with their release of Firefox 4, so they've updated Chrome to Chrome 11. The Chrome 11 beta includes the new icon as shown below but that is not all. There is added support for the HTML5 speech input API.
This means you'll be able to talk to your computer (obviously via a microphone) and Chrome can interpret it. This is something very similar to what is on Google Android-based devices and it's great to use. It's also HTML5 spec, meaning any developer will be able to take advantage of it, not just Google.
AMD have announced they've hired Mike Wolfe as AMD's chief information officer. Wolfe brings more than 30 years of engineering and information technology experience as well as being vice president of IT for product development and engineering at HP for the past five years.
Wolfe will be responsible for managing AMD's global technology infrastructure and will report to Thomas Seifert whom is senior vice president and chief financial officer and interim CEO.


This holster is perfect for anyone looking to keep their Desert Eagle safe and secure on their hip! It will work great for competition shooting, firearms training, open carry, and LEO/military uses, or even just as something to keep your gun nearby on a casual day at the range.
Built to fit: Desert Eagle XIX
(will not fit earlier models such as the VII, if you're unsure about your pistol fitting, send me an e-mail!)
- Extremely rugged .080 Carbon Fiber patterned kydex material
- Adjustable retention (loosen or tighten the 2 screws below the trigger guard to adjust the retention)
- Adjustable cant (just loosen the 4 screws in the clip, rotate the clip to your desired position, and tighten the screws)
- Adjustable for any belt size (rearrange the narrow pieces inside the "Tek-Lok" to fit any size belt from .5" to 2.25")
- Molded design latches onto gun with a desirable and reassuring 'click'
- Low cut for shorter draw length
- Full sweat shield to assist re-holstering and keep clothes from snagging
- Only the best hardware can be found on my holsters, the Blade-Tech Tek-Lok clip I selected is a work of art!
24 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews
I purchased the pistol fully expecting to have a Safe show peice. But after receiving this holster and testing it with a QLS mid-drop leg system. It is easily carried on a daily. Really want to say thanks to these guys I love carrying this thing. If you truly want to be able to carry a desert eagle 50 I highly recommend this holster. I carry several pistols and switch between them so I have tested many holsters to find the right one. This is the right one for this job.
Lefty holsters for Desert Eagles are hard to come by. I've been 'making do' with an ill-fitting "universal" holster for years, but it always makes the range officer nervous to see it wobbling around in that thing and I don't blame him. This new rig fits great. It covers the safety lever on the thumb side, preventing it from snagging on clothing and switching off. It also got to me surprisingly fast, considering I'm pretty sure it was made on-demand. One thing to watch out for: even though the picture shows the holster wraps around the whole way down, it is still open at the bottom so mind where you sit. A normal configuration for kydex holsters so I'm not taking off points, but it's something to be aware of.
One of the best
The Desert Eagle is a heavy handgun, weighing about 5lbs loaded. I was concerned that the holster would not be stout enough, and that the mounting hardware would leave it flailing about like a literal "loose cannon." However, the Holster does not disappoint. It mounts securely to my belt and stays put. The molding is perfect. It looks beautiful. The holster is very secure. I can't recommend it enough! Thank you GMI!!!
The personal attention given to each order and holster went beyond my expectations. Each email contact I made with the company was quickly and precisely responded to. Even a minor change to my original order was changed without question. The holster is not only a thing of beauty, it is one of the best form fitted holsters I have ever purchased, especially important for the large and heavy Desert Eagle 50AE. The fit and finish is worth every penny. Thanks GMI.
Quality and fit were perfect, awesome holster, I absolutely love it!
Absolutely dynamite holster. Adjustments galore. Great fit and clip (once you get the secret steps from GMI...which they did immediately after I asked the question). This thing holds and balances my Deagle SO nicely....it's a heavy firearm and besides me shoulder holster, which is a bear to strap on, this holster distributes the weight back onto my belt and makes it really easy to function. I love it. Looks sporty af too. Great purchase.
I was looking for a light weight holster for my DE and found this kydex holster from GMI. It was custom made so it took a little longer for delivery than what I expected but well worth the wait. Great product and Will buy from GMI again!
GMI makes awesome holsters. The Demon Holster fit my Real Desert Eagle like a glove, great retention, extra sturdy and easy adjustable belt clip. 5 Stars all the way.


FAQs are Frequently Asked Questions. We'll use this page to answer questions we've heard from patrons regarding our renovation project.
Q: When is the library renovation scheduled for completion?
A: While we do not know the exact date, the library renovation project is currently running on schedule and is due to be completed in May of 2014.
Q: That light fixture in the new stair tower is...not appropriate.
A: We know. It is merely a temporary fixture, there to provide some light until the permanent fixture is installed. Speaking of temporary - the carpeting in the new elevator is also temporary, as the correct carpeting is on backorder.
Q: The new first floor restrooms are very hard to find.
A: Right now, that is indeed true! In coming weeks, all of the book shelves that block your way to those restrooms will be removed. Eventually, those restrooms will be conveniently located in the new Youth Services department.
Q: When will the elevator be back in service?
A: The new elevator should be in service on Monday, October 14. We'll keep you posted.
Q: What's going on in the parking lot these days?
A: The digging work you see in the parking lot is preparation for a long-requested library service: a drive-up return for books and other library materials. Rather than needing to stop in front of the library building and get out of your vehicle, you'll turn into the parking lot and be able to drive right up to the drop box. Safer and more convenient for everyone! Watch for the new return in late summer/early fall.
The new book/material return being delivered to the library.
Q: Will all of the library's services and materials be available during construction?
A: We're working hard to keep as many services and materials available. Our public meeting rooms are not available, because we needed the space as a temporary home for DVDs, new books and more. The Media Lab is temporarily closed, but the equipment is still available in the Adult Services computing area.
It will be necessary to store a few things off-site during the construction, such as: a number of items for children, like theme kits, music CDs, a small selection of board books and out-of-season holiday picture books, as well as the library's piano. All of these items will return when their permanent location in the renovated library is ready for them.
Q: When will the project be completed? Will the library close down during the construction process?
A: If the work goes according to schedule, we hope to invite you to the newly renovated library in the late Spring/early Summer of 2014. We are working carefully with our construction management team to keep the library open during all regular service hours. Some work is being done in the morning, before we open, or after hours, in order to provide the highest level of service possible to you, our patrons.
Q: Will there be public meeting rooms in the renovated library? Will there be display cases?
A: Yes, there will be public meeting rooms in the renovated building. In fact, one part of the revitalization project is improving those rooms, since they are some of our most used services. New furniture and improved acoustic separation will be some of the highlights of the new meeting rooms.
No, we will no longer have display cases in the library. Since the library is being renovated but not enlarged, tough decisions had to be made about space. In order to create a more open, inviting floor plan, wall space for items like display cases had to be eliminated. We will continue to offer other services, like the online community calendar and the electronic community information screen, so that local organizations can promote their events to our community.
Q: Why is Adult Services moving upstairs? Why is Youth Services moving downstairs?
A: Many services for adults, like movies, music, and computers, will remain on the first floor. In fact, popular materials for children and adults will be displayed in one area, so families can enjoy browsing for entertainment together. Our very popular public meeting rooms will remain on the first floor. Our new business and technology work centers are intended primarily for adults/young adults and those will be on the first floor.
The Adult Services print collection (books) will move upstairs so that Youth Services can move downstairs to better accommodate the needs of parents/caregivers with young children. Safety and convenience for families and children is the primary reason Youth Services is moving to the first floor. More good news: the elevator is being replaced to meet current codes, so adults who cannot use the stairs will have a safe ride to the second floor.
Our department heads brought many ideas and suggestions to our architectural team, who then found the best possible place for each department within the building.
Q: Is the library getting rid of its book collections?
A: We understand that the sight of many empty book shelves in a library can be confusing. Here's what we have been doing.
* A thorough weeding of our current book and media collections. "Weeding" is an ongoing process that takes place at every library. Librarians examine materials and "weed out" items that are obsolete, damaged or simply no longer as popular as they once were. If libraries did not weed, they would quickly run out of space on their shelves, because new items are always being added. We felt it was in our best interest to undertake a thorough weeding before construction began, to prevent the work of moving items around that are no longer needed.
* Shifting of our collections. "Shifting" is another library term that means moving items around on the shelves. In our case, we are making great efforts to consolidate items more closely together on our shelves. This effort, combined with weeding, has resulted in many empty shelves on the library's first floor. Those shelves can then be removed, to free up space so construction work can begin.
We assure you we will have plenty of books available during the renovation, we will continue to purchase new books well into the future, and we look forward to sharing them with you in our newly-remodeled building.


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You may have noticed that I’ve written quite a few blog posts about the 2016 U.S. Election and the presidency of Donald Trump. I even wrote about the fact that I write about Trump so much, after a friend commented on the fact that all of my posts seemed to be centering around American politics. In that post, I concluded that I would keep writing about Trump because his actions, words and policies have serious impact on the world. I’ve continued doing this; but it’s not just the current political climate that I find myself writing about. I keep coming back to the election.
The 2016 Presidential election was the first time when I truly felt engaged in politics. Some of the campaigning period overlapped with that of the Canadian election, so the combination of both really sparked my interest. Although I wasn’t old enough to vote at the time, I began to consider which candidate I agreed with most and which policy issues I felt most strongly about.
After a few years of continually asking my dad to explain the Electoral College to me, I finally understood it enough to be the one to answer my friends’ questions. I devoured articles about the primaries and brought up politics every chance I could. I was fascinated, and so excited to finally feel like I had a good grasp on what was happening in the political sphere around me.
I think though, more than this, I felt a connection with Hillary Clinton. I don’t ever remember a specific moment where I realized I identified with her, other than watching her speeches and realizing how intelligent and qualified she was. I admired her for being a strong woman in an area dominated by men; in some leadership positions I’d held in high school, I was among the few females represented. Mind you, I didn’t experience what Clinton did—rampant sexism and blatant misogyny—but regardless, I developed an appreciation for her leadership.
The day after Trump won, I wrote about the bewildering, blistering reality of watching Clinton’s concession speech. It was sometime in those days afterwards, when the smoke was clearing but the headlines were still confounding and conflicting, that I turned on Twitter notifications so that I got updates every time Clinton tweeted. I still have them turned on; it’s not often that a tweet pops up, but when it does, I smile because I remember her campaign and what she fought for.
You can probably assume, based on all of this, that I was thrilled when Clinton announced she’d be releasing a book. I had already read Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton’s Doomed Campaign, which contextualized many of the articles I’d read about Clinton’s loss and helped better shape my understanding of the election. Now, as I type this, What Happened, Clinton’s account of the 2016 election, sits on my bedside table. I’m not very far into it (and you can surely expect a post about my thoughts when I’m done), but so far I’m really enjoying it. I’ve written and read a lot about the election, as I’ve established; but I still jump at opportunities to learn more and think more about it.
It seems that I’m not alone in this curiousity. Quoting a tweet that says that Clinton’s book has sold the most copies of any nonfiction release in the past five years, Nate Silver wrote, “The notion that ‘nobody wants to re-litigate 2016’ is sort of a myth…”. I’m sure that not everyone who purchased or read What Happened supported Clinton; many probably read it out of hatred or so that they could argue about or dispute its contents. But still, a lot of people remain stuck on the campaign trail. This could be because the results of the election came as such a shock to many people that there were some psychological reasons for their inability to move on.
I have to wonder as well if it is partly because of the new inhabitant of the Oval Office that many people still think so much about the election cycle. After all, Trump is still holding campaign rallies (yes, even though he already campaigned and won). In many ways, he is still talking and acting like he’s on the campaign trail, leading some to believe he is already campaigning for the 2020 election.
The 2016 U.S. election was historic. We saw the first female leader of a major party and we saw a stunning defeat that many of us didn’t predict. There has been no shortage of things to reflect on in the wake of Nov. 8. What role did voter suppression play? What role did the media play? What role did Russian interference play? Should the Electoral College be abolished? Politicians, journalists, researchers and citizens are still searching for the answers to these, and many other, questions.
Reflection is good; action, I think, is better. I am excited to continue reading What Happened, not only to gain a better understanding of what really did happen but, more importantly, to learn how Clinton is moving forward and how she suggests the rest of us move forward, too.

domain: sociology


The technology revolution is here and should be welcomed; leaders are starting to find ways to adopt new technology including 3D printing, data analytics, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to increase productivity
In terms of jobs, growth and improving people’s lives, new and emerging technologies are key drivers for the development of innovative products, processes and services and offer opportunities for both small and large enterprises.
The speed at which technology has evolved means that not only are business people able to take their work around the city as they step from meeting to meeting, or home in the evening, but they are also able to carry out these tasks and remain cost-effectively connected with their team or their management.
I absolutely believe that we are on the edge of a productivity revolution which will bring benefits for people everywhere, make our planet more sustainable, and provide new opportunities for businesses of all kinds.
Innovation-related technologies also have a great impact on the digital revolution, has the potential to unlock productivity gains that have been missing for many years. While the digitalized revolution has brought immediate private benefits, easier communication and information, greater convenience, free digital products, and new forms of leisure. It has also created a profound sense of social connectedness and global community.
Increased prosperity and our incessant desire to stay connected have contributed to the rapid spread of digital technologies. More households in developing countries own a mobile phone than have access to electricity or clean water. Nearly 70 percent of the bottom fifth of the population in developing countries own a mobile phone.
In the telecommunications sector, future deployment of 5G technology will see ultra-fast data speeds and network reliability improvements to support the huge increases in connectivity.
Leading engineering and construction firms are starting to explore the use of drones, remote monitoring, robotics and smart sensors to increase efficiencies and safety while cutting costs
Governments are uniquely placed to facilitate change and ensure benefits are distributed across the whole economy, the sector faces many engrained practices and policies that must be overcome if the revolution is to have a lasting impact.
Organizations are increasingly looking towards innovation and technology as two of its most perspective levers to drive productivity, a generation that is completely aware of how impossible it is to switch off technology and make oneself unavailable for even a few hours, is clamoring to at least be able to enjoy the reverse of this phenomenon and to carry out their work tasks freely from any location they choose.
It’s clear that having countless devices sending a constant stream of data will require the tech industry to not only handle the massive amount of information or find new efficient ways to program those networks and devices, but also accommodate those new sources into their practice. But with the arrival of powerful new technologies, we stand on the verge of a productivity boom.
Employment growth in the digital sector has modestly outpaced employment growth in the physical sector, despite the big edge in productivity growth for digitalization and expanding the information revolution will require an entrepreneurial mindset in industry and government to deploy information technology in new ways and reorganize firms and sectors to exploit the power of IT
The revolution has already begun. Let’s take great advantage of a productive digitalized productivity.
Article by: Blessing Bassey


Mike Brewer's Choral World Tour: Korobushka: Three songs from Europe (Paperback)Mike Brewer (author)
- We can order this
Mike Brewer's Choral World Tour: Korobushki three songs from Europe
This volume brings together traditional songs from Europe. Feel the rush of Russian dance; experiment with the sounds of Scandinavia and step back in time to Renaissance France. Exciting a cappella arrangements for SATB divisi that will both challenge and stimulate your choir. Each piece is accompanied by a translation and pronunciation guide.
Publisher: Faber Music Ltd
Number of pages: 40
Weight: 81 g
Dimensions: 254 x 176 x 5 mm


Former Athletic Jason Giambi has joined the 2,000 hit club.
Bartolo Colon will be among the pitchers eligible for a qualifying offer this offseason.
Matt Klaassen breaks down Barry Zito's body of work over the span of his years in San Francisco.
Carson Cistulli's daily notes include the top 10 pitchers over the past month in xFIP-. Check out who's fifth!
Susan Slusser has quite a few valuable nuggets of knowledge in her notes today. AJ Griffin has lost weight, for one. She also previews a bit of the 2014 schedule, which will apparently include a visit from Gio Gonzalez! The A's will also make their first trip to Marlins Park. We shall soon find out if we will finally open the season with the Mariners again!
Dan Otero will be away from the team on Tuesday, as his wife is expected to give birth to their first child! Congratulations!
On this day a year ago, Tommy Milone defeated Jason Vargas to finish off a three-game sweep at Safeco. The A's won the other two games of the series by identical 6-1 scores, including a win over Felix Hernandez and by defeating Hisashi Iwakuma.


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Introduction: Ghetto Camera Smoother/Handle
Here's the $10 camera handle I use for skateboarding. What you need:
-2 L-Shaped Brackets/Corner braces
-1 Bolt with a 1/4'' thread (depends on you camera's tripod mount)
-1 Random sized bolt & 2 nuts
-Duck tape (optional, but recommended)
Step 1: Putting It Together
Line the 2 brackets up in a sideways U shape
Put the random bolt through the hole in the middle, tighten nut
(optional) tape the top part of your handle, where you will be holding it
Now on the bottom part put your 1/4'' bolt trough, and into the camera tripod mount. Done!
We have a be nice policy.
Please be positive and constructive.

domain: hobby


11 Images of New Orleans You'll Never See if You Stay on Bourbon Street
New Orleans' famous Bourbon Street paints a colorful picture of the city — one steeped in tradition and filled with contagious energy:
Such is the mental image that subconsciously pops up for so many tourists and New Orleans outsiders. It lives on despite Hurricane Katrina's devastating effects on Louisiana's largest city in 2005, which was immortalized in other iconic photos:
The storm was responsible for killing nearly 2,000 people and displacing hundreds of thousands more. It caused more than $100 billion in damage. Grass grows high over the lawns of abandoned homes, along desolate street blocks covered in graffiti. And many properties have been left to rot, completely untouched.
If you visit the city and stay on Bourbon Street, it can be easy to forget this. But if you veer off the beaten path and trek through some of New Orlean's lesser tourist-traveled areas, the memories and effects of the storm remain inescapable. Here are 11 images of New Orleans that confirm this:
An abandoned home destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in the lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, taken near the storm's 10-year anniversary Aug. 15, 2015.
Boxing instructor Harry Sims, 62, walks his students past a blighted building Aug. 14, 2015. Sims started the boxing club following Hurricane Katrina to keep children in his neighborhood off the streets.
Some family homes with fully paid mortgages didn't have flood insurance when the storm hit. Here, steps lead to the empty foundation of a home 10 years later as a brand-new charter school is being built behind the abandoned property.
Although New Orleans has regained some of its infrastructure, the city is still smaller in size and population than it was pre-Katrina, as seen in this side-by-side comparison of downtown New Orleans immediately after the storm and 10 years later:
A home still waiting to be demolished by FEMA 10 years after the hurricane hit New Orleans. Many complained that emergency responses to the natural disaster weren't swift enough, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents displaced.
It's not just homes. An entire strip mall in New Orleans is still left abandoned 10 years after the storm hit.
Garbage from the polluted waters that covered 80% of New Orleans in 2005 still piles along city streets, waiting to be removed.
A homeless outreach activist seen searching for people living in abandoned sections of the city, areas now commonly associated with violent crimes and homelessness.
The rebuilding city can be seen in the backdrop of blighted housing projects still abandoned years later. The two high-rise buildings seen behind the abandoned homes are public-assisted housing projects created after Hurricane Katrina.
A homeless man sleeping in an abandoned home nearly six years after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Ten years later, the city is still figuring out how exactly to deal with many problems, including housing, homelessness and crime.


Thai director Panna Rittikrai has died, aged 53.The action moviemaker passed away at a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday (20Jul14) after a battle with liver disease. Rittikrai was a martial arts expert who...
Ed Sheeran has admitted the personal nature of his songs has caused him to lose a few friends.
All I Want For Christmas is widely regarded as one of the best festive tunes every year
Pearl Jam announced 14 dates in the UK and Europe in June and July 2018.


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EU’s top court throws out Banco Popular bondholders appeal
The European Court of Justice has dismissed appeals from two former Banco Popular bondholders, who queried the EU resolution authority’s decision not to order a final independent valuation of the Spanish lender before its resolution in 2017.
To read more
Register for free access to GBRR
Global Banking Regulation Review is an essential platform for in-house and private practitioners covering the latest reforms in compliance, conduct and prudential regulation affecting the world’s largest banks.

domain: news


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Interest in food cooperatives is growing, due both to increased interest in local, natural, and organic foods and to increased awareness of economic vulnerability in many of our communities.
More and more communities want the products, stability, and accountability that a cooperative can offer. The concept has been put in place in Haiti providing those same benefits. “The Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP), the country’s largest peasant organization with over 60,000 members, unifies small farmers and rural peasants into farm or craft cooperatives, trains community leaders and conducts agroecological studies. According to a post by their international ally, Grassroots International, the MPP has recaptured 10,000 acres (40.5 sq kilometers) of arable land, planted over 20 million trees and created innovative barriers to mudslides such as stonewall terracing.” (Available at https://foodtank.com/news/2013/06/farming-cooperatives-in-haiti-a-chance-to-advance/).
Cooperatives are businesses owned by their members.
Joel Dahlgren of Black Dog Co-op Law encourages prospective members to incorporate themselves for a “shield” and to learn the relevant laws applicable in their state.
Dahlgren showcases four basic structures available to retail food cooperatives, the choice of which is generally driven by tax, financing, governance and corporate name considerations.
Dahlgren’s table below illustrates these considerations and compares four business structures.
Joel Dahlgren, Legal Primer For Formation of Consumer-Owned Food Cooperatives, available at http://www.foodcoopinitiative.coop/sites/default/files/LegalPrimer.pdf.
(With contributions from Thane Joyal, Bill Gessner, Marilyn Scholl and Stuart Reid)
Publication was made possible through the financial support of Cooperative Development Services, CDS Consulting Co-op and Food Co-op Initiative; with additional funding provided by the USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant program, through a grant provided to Cooperative Development Services.
See Also Black Dog Co-op Law, http://joeldahlgren.blogspot.com/.


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13-year-old girl’s body found in pit in Bulandshahr. Image Source: IANS News
Lucknow, Aug 17 : A teacher of a prestigious all-girls’ institution in Lucknow died soon after the Independence Day celebrations on the school premises, as he suffered a haemorrhage.
Andrea McGrath, a middle-school teacher of St Agnes’ Loreto Day School was unwell and had remained on leave for a few days. She resumed duty on Monday and attended the Independence Day flag-hoisting function, the following day.
The school spokesperson said that after the march past, when the function concluded, McGrath with several other teachers went to the staff room where she started bleeding from the nose and vomited blood following a haemorrhage that she suffered.
“The school called an ambulance and rushed her to the trauma centre where she was declared dead by the doctors. She had been suffering from uncontrollable diabetes and hypertension and suffered a haemorrhage,” said principal of the school, Debra Bunny.
“The principal, management and staff of St Agnes’ Loreto Day School is deeply saddened over the demise of Andrea McGrath who rendered impeccable service as a teacher to the institution for over three decades,” a statement issued by the school on Thursday read.
Both St Agnes’ Loreto Day and Loreto Convent Intermediate College remained closed on Wednesday as a mark of respect for the teacher. Her funeral was held on Wednesday and was attended by Loreto Convent principal Sister Anima Kujur, St Agnes principal Debra Bunny, teachers from both the schools and family members on Wednesday.


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Project name: Lockdown Legends Online
Participants: Care home residents in Wales
Lead artist: Fiona Collins
Digital platform: Online
Just before the lockdown started, I was asked to give support in a local care home. The residents are sharing their memories and family stories with me, for a forthcoming book of ‘Lockdown Legends’. Residents are making the most positive possible use of this ‘lockdown’, by taking time to reflect on and share their life experiences. The benefits of this simple intervention to their health and wellbeing seem profound. Now I want to extend the benefits of taking part by taking Lockdown Legends online, to reach out to elders around Wales.
Fiona Collins is a spoken word storyteller telling traditional tales from around the world, with a special interest in tales of Wales. She is passionate about supporting others to tell, value and share stories from their own lives, and sees this as an important role for elders, in teaching and guiding younger generations. She supports and mentors young storytellers, having created Venue Cymru’s Cylch Stori, and also being a Panel member of Chwedl, the Welsh network for women storytellers. She speaks both languages of Wales, and at 2019’s National Eisteddfod she became Welsh Learner of the Year.
“Taking care of our elders and listening to their stories gives us an insight into unconditional love and helps us love them in the same manner. This is an opportunity for older people to use the ‘lockdown’ to recall and recount stories that mean a lot to them from different times in their lives, using the wonders of technology to talk to each other around Wales and create a shared collection of memories.” – Fiona Collin


News Analysis |
The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar addressed a seminar on the National Judicial Policymaking Committee (NJPC) in Islamabad on Saturday. Judges from all courts of Pakistan were present in the seminar. While addressing the seminar, the CJP informed all the judges of their fundamental duties and requested them to keep aside their personal achievements for the service of the nation.
On democracy and PML-N complaints
In an apparent response to the allegations of Nawaz Sharif that the Supreme Court (SC) is transgressing its authority, the CJP emphasized that the trichotomy of power is the spirit of democracy and the judiciary is not part of any planning against the democracy. He vowed to protect democracy and announced that he won’t stay in his post if democracy was ever derailed.
According to media analysts, the Chief Justice has given a clear message that the SC will not be threatened or coerced into action or inaction but the fact that the CJP had to justify himself is a cause for worry.
Nisar urged judges to not come under any pressure after accusations of the judiciary being part of an anti-democracy campaign. He accepted that the judiciary has made some mistakes in the past, but went on to say that the judiciary will hold itself accountable to move beyond those mistakes.
Hinting at the threatening remarks made by some PML-N politicians, the CJP said, “there will be people who threaten the system and might claim that they will make your children’s lives difficult, but you have to bring these people to accountability,” to encourage the judiciary and make sure that they don’t act under any pressure. He urged them to rule in favour of justice, no matter what the consequences.
Working for the people of Pakistan
He stated that the job of the judiciary is to uphold the sanctity of the law and protect the basic human rights of citizens. The CJP assured the audience that he has not gone beyond his authority and the suo moto notices taken by him were to protect the rights of citizens.
The SC allows the option of every verdict to be challenged in case there is some error. Threatening the SC is equal to threatening the state itself according to legal experts.
The CJP said that the judiciary withdraws the highest salary from the government’s treasury – Rs 9 lakh for high court judges plus Rs 40,000 daily and Supreme Court judges are paid even higher – so the judges should work the hard to earn their salaries. He also urged them to work with passion and not treat their work like a job.
Media analysts believe that the CJP’s speech was a response to the allegations made against the judiciary by the former premier Nawaz Sharif in his speech on Friday about the future of democracy. Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N have started a tirade against the judiciary after the 28th July 2017 Panama Papers decision which disqualified Nawaz Sharif for not being ‘sadiq and ameen.’
The judiciary has been repeatedly accused by PML-N of being part of a big conspiracy to undermine democracy. Nawaz Sharif accused the judges of SC of taking oath under Musharraf’s Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) and legitimizing his military dictatorship. Threatening remarks have been made against the judiciary by senior PML-N leaders Nehal Hashmi, Talal Chaudhry, Daniyal Aziz and Maryam Nawaz. Suo moto contempt of court notices has been taken against them by the SC, LHC and the IHC.
Political experts across the spectrum have criticized PML-N’s anti-judiciary rhetoric. The PML-N demands that the parliament and all the elected officials should be above accountability and scrutiny. Yet the spirit of democracy lies in dissent and accountability.
Many legal and constitutional experts are of the opinion that the judiciary has not overstepped its boundaries and the verbal onslaught of the PML-N is becoming a hurdle in the ‘real’ delivery of justice in Pakistani courts. The CJP is being forced on the defensive for himself and his institution against the allegations of the ruling party of Pakistan; this they argue is exactly what the ex-PM Nawaz Sharif has planned. Further, it is argued that politicizing the courts will create an imbalance of power which is the biggest threat to the judiciary.
Political experts across the spectrum have criticized PML-N’s anti-judiciary rhetoric. The PML-N demands that the parliament and all the elected officials should be above accountability and scrutiny. Yet the spirit of democracy lies in dissent and accountability. On the other hand, while the decisions of the Supreme Court are not above error, it holds a different position than the democratically elected leaders. The SC allows the option of every verdict to be challenged in case there is some error. Threatening the SC is equal to threatening the state itself according to legal experts.
According to media analysts, the Chief Justice has given a clear message that the SC will not be threatened or coerced into action or inaction but the fact that the CJP had to justify himself is a cause for worry. They believe the attacks against judiciary to be unethical, undemocratic and a threat to the stability of the whole system.


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When an idiosyncratic talent seeks a wider audience for her work, there’s a danger in trading the offbeat for something more on-the-nose. This is what has happened in Friends With Kids, a smooth but frustrating third feature with an extremely good ensemble cast. In writer-director-star Jennifer Westfeldt’s previous directorial screen works, Kissing Jessica Stein (2002, adapted from a play) and Ira & Abby (2007), Westfeldt found some very funny details in her tales of New Yorkers slouching toward love. The filmmaker favors the comic long shot. Here the collective long shot is played by Westfeldt and Adam Scott. Friends since college, foundation staffer Julie and advertising executive Jason live on different floors of the same rent-stabi lized wonder of an apartment complex. They’ve come to know each other’s every quirk and eccentricity.
Since their married friends have morphed into shrill shadows of their former selves, they wonder: Is it possible to bring children into your life without destroying the possibility of romance? Only one way to find out: Tackle the former without even a whiff of romantic expectation. Julie and Jason decide to have a child and to raise the boy, named Joe, 50-50, with no hope of a real relationship between them. This arrangement, they figure, allows them to find their true loves. It’s like a starter marriage without the marriage.
Their friends’ responses to the setup range from skeptical to cynical. Jason’s eventual girlfriend, a Broadway chorus dancer played by Megan Fox, has no interest in parenting. Julie finds a winner in a divorced father played by Edward Burns, yet something — someone — is preventing her from committing. The married-and-exhausted couples are portrayed by Jon Hamm (Westfeldt’s longtime partner off screen) and Kristen Wiig, and by Maya Rudolph and Chris O’Dowd. That’s a lot of talent, most of which helped make Bridesmaids worth seeing.
Flashes of wit brighten the proceed ings here, as when Julie bemoans being set up for a date by Rudolph’s character. “He’s a criminal!” she objects. Rudolph’s reply: “White collar! You can make that work!” Often, though, the banter among these generic folk gets stuck in neutral. Jason is near-fatally smug. The script features exactly one brief conversation about money (everybody has plenty here). Julie and Jason prove to be such fabulous co-parents and so inevitably a couple, the film should have been called A Matter of Time.
Whatever their underlying seriousness or fundamental frivolity, all romantic comedies are plainly that — matters of time, delay mechanisms obstructing, and then joining, the key characters. But compared with Westfeldt’s more interesting previous films, this one really is simply a matter of time.
—MCT, Tribune Media Service Respond: email@example.com

domain: entertainment


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Schweizer’s comments echoed the fundamental thesis of his book: that lawmakers in Washington extort more money and favors from companies and industries than those companies influence legislators.
The Breitbart News Senior Editor-at-Large and Government Accountability Institute President addressed the Young America’s Foundation at the Reagan Ranch in California. He said Washington is now “less Jimmy Stewart and more like the Sopranos” as the country is ”moving from a free market economy and approaching an extortion economy of which Washington, D.C. is our nation’s capital.”Read More
The never-before-published lists are reprinted inside the new book Extortion: How Politicians Extract Your Money, Buy Votes, and Line Their Own Pockets, written by Government Accountability Institute President and Breitbart News Senior Editor-at-Large Peter Schweizer.
Senior congressional staffers say the committee price lists have long been rumored to exist but that few people on Capitol Hill have seen them, giving them an almost “mythical” quality.Read More


Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is on the launch ramp, hitting the market to reinforce the manufacturer’s high-end smartphones and ahead of the launch of the next generation Galaxy S22.
WinFuture claims to have all the specifications of the new ‘FE’, a series released (with great sales success) with the S20 that Samsung describes as ‘Fan Edition’. The idea is the same as previous versions: to offer a high-end variant at a reduced price.
From the images that have been leaked and its passage for certification by regulators such as TENAA, we already know almost everything about this terminal. In terms of design, we would find a copy of the S21, with a screen with reduced frames only interrupted by a small perforated front camera in the upper central part of it, and a smooth rear part on which the camera module stands out. in the upper left corner in portrait format.
A rear camera that would only slightly reduce the performance of the S21, with a triple sensor was the main 32-megapixel sensor with a 79-degree field of view, dual-phase detection autofocus, as well as a hardware image stabilizer and a size maximum aperture of f / 1.8. The other two are a 12 MP wide-angle and an 8 MP telephoto lens. The front camera will be 32 megapixels, located in the center of the screen as we said, with a field of view of 81 degrees and 0.8 micrometers in pixel size.
Samsung would maintain the high quality of the screen with a 6.4-inch “Flat Dynamic AMOLED 2x”, resolution of 2,340 x 1,080 pixels and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The panel is completely flat and should have even more edges. narrow. The fingerprint reader is located directly below the surface of the screen and is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus layer.
Regarding its SoC engine, it seems that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 is imposed for all regions, reserving the new Exynos 2100 with AMD’s graphics chip for the next generation S22. It is a high-performance SoC with eight cores and an integrated 5G modem. To accompany it, 6 or 8 Gbytes of RAM are mentioned and 128 or 256 Gbytes for internal storage.
It will have a 4,500 mAh battery, with fast charging via USB Type-C cable. In addition, it will have wireless charging with the PowerShare function, so Qi-compatible third-party devices can be placed on the back of the Galaxy S21 FE and receive feeding. Thanks to IP68 certification, the aluminum-framed housing and polycarbonate back will be protected against water.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, specifications
|Screen||Flat Dynamic AMOLED 2x de 6,4″|
|Resolution||2,340 x 1,080 pixels|
|Chipset||Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 – 8 cores and Kryo GPU|
|RAM Memory||6 GB – 8 GB|
|Storage||128 – 256 GB|
|Frontal camera||32 MP (f / 2.2, fixed focus)|
|Rear camera||Triple configuration:
· 12 MP wide-angle (f / 1.8, OIS, dual PDAF)
· 12 MP ultra-wide-angle (f / 2.2, fixed focus)
· Depth 8 MP, F2.4, autofocus, OIS, flash
|Connectivity||5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, NFC, USB-C|
|Battery||4,500 mAh with fast charge and PowerShare|
|Various||Waterproof IP68, DeX, Knox, dual SIM + eSim, face recognition|
|Dimensions||155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm – 170 grams of weight|
|Operating system||Android 12|
It is not known if Samsung will arrive in time to pre-install Android 12 and the new One UI 4 interface that has already served as an update for the Galaxy S21. In any case, it would be offered via OTA later. They would be available in graphite, olive, lavender, and white finishes, and in terms of configurations and prices, the following are discussed:
• 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB for storage: 749 euros.
• 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB for storage: 819 euros.
The prices are estimates because Samsung usually decides them at the last minute based on the state of the market.


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FILM | ANDREA CHASE
The last generation or two thinks of Hal Holbrook when it comes to one-man shows about Mark Twain. Not to take anything away from Holbrook’s dry wit and perfect timing when performing Twain’s words, but Val Kilmer with Citizen Twain makes a compelling argument to join him as another master interpreter of those words. He will be presenting the piece one night only in San Francisco, December 22, at the Clay Theatre on Fillmore Street.
In Kilmer’s telling, the voice is deeper than Holbrook’s, the performance more physical, but the delivery is just as spot on. Kilmer is also more sardonic, yet finds an almost self-deprecating way with Twain’s take on humanity, making it clear that he doesn’t spare himself when passing judgment. He brings a contemporary vibe to Twain’s reminiscence about a particularly sadistic schoolteacher he enjoyed taunting, despite the teacher’s liberal use of corporal punishment, his still prescient take on politics and his unabashed love of adulation.
Distilling a lifetime of Twain’s splendid writings into a 90-minute piece cannot be easy, but Kilmer — who wrote and directed the play now filmed from a live performance for cinematic presentation — has made choices that are equally splendid, leaving viewers tickled and wanting more.
“Citizen Twain” is a thoroughly engaging reminder of why Twain is still a pleasure to revisit for both his biting satire and his uncanny insight about what makes people tick.
Instead of a general release, Kilmer is presenting his film one city at a time, hosting the screenings he calls Cinema Twain, and making himself available for a Q&A with the audience. More information about the December 22 screening at the Clay here.

domain: artistic


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The new legislation means that food traceability through the supply chain is going to become a legal responsibility. Under the new laws, food producers must be able to identify products by batch, lot or consignment numbers and traceability of the product must be possible at all stages of production, processing and distribution.
This means food businesses will have to be able to identify every supplier of food, feed, a food producing animal or any substance incorporated into their food/feed products.
RSS technology has been developed as a means of encoding more information into a smaller space. The technology expands on the current EAN.UCC numbering system by adding a packaging designator to create a GTIN (Global Trade Identification Number). And because RSS barcodes are based on the UCC/EAN system they are easily implemented and are likely to become widespread very quickly.
"As legislation becomes ever complex we are constantly working to enhance the products we offer to assist our customers with compliance," said Prisym Group chief executive Mick Daw. "We know that compliance in many different industries requires an increasing amount of information on labels and traceability information needs to be accessible."
Daw believes that older labelling systems may not provide the infrastructure needed to manage the level of detailed information on labels required by the impending EU legislation. In addition, labelling software capable of providing secure files for recording traceability records is becoming increasingly used.
The new labelling systems currently being developed by companies such as Map80 Systems will be able to link up to track and trace software, and will be capable of recording vital traceability information. This will provide manufacturers with a real time view of asset location through the production, processing, distribution process.
With a year to go before the legislation comes into force, more and more food producers and processors are using packaging and labelling systems that utilise RSS technology.


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EASTVILLE, Va. — A judge has dismissed a $6 million lawsuit against the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel for the death of a trucker whose rig went over the side on a blustery day four years ago.
The lawsuit, believed to be the first of its kind against the CBBT, claimed Joseph Chen should not have been allowed to cross the span at the time he did because winds were too strong.
Chen, 47, was an experienced trucker from North Carolina, on the home-bound leg of his regular delivery run for a seafood company. He died shortly after his 18-wheeler plunged through the railing into frigid waters near mile marker 15 on Feb. 9, 2017.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of his widow, said the CBBT violated its wind restrictions policy by letting Chen cross with a nearly empty trailer while gusts as high as 50 mph were being clocked on the 17.6-mile span.
The trial took place in December in the circuit court of Northampton County, on the northern end of the span.
In a ruling issued Friday, Judge Leslie Lilley said the CBBT, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth, is protected by sovereign immunity — a doctrine that largely shields public entities from liability.
Daily Top Stories
It can be pierced, however, if an entity ignores its own policies.
The CBBT’s wind restrictions policy consists of a six-level system that clamps down on certain types of traffic as winds escalate. Tractor-trailers such as Chen’s — empty or lightly loaded and easier to blow over — are forbidden when winds exceed Level 1, which officially tops out at 46 mph.
But according to CBBT logs, a wind gauge near the scene of Chen’s accident detected a 50-mph gust at 12:21 pm, just as he lost control of his rig.
The trial revealed that average wind speed — not gusts — are the CBBT’s basis for implementing restrictions, particularly at the lower levels, which led attorneys representing widow Billie Jo Chen to accuse the bridge-tunnel of having a “secret wind policy.”
The judge ruled that the CBBT “correctly” applied its policy as “formulated” but noted that the trial raised “obvious concern” that the policy was “developed without the benefit of scientific or engineering input or consideration.”
He also concluded that wind, not Chen’s driving, was the main — or proximate — cause of the accident. Attorneys for the CBBT had alleged he was going too fast or recklessly for conditions.
Douglas Desjardins, an attorney for Chen’s widow, said an appeal is likely.

domain: law


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Canada's Olympic champion women's team making sure its voice is heard in battle with Canada Soccer
Players raised concerns about Canada Soccer leadership in the fall
This past Sunday, more than 20,000 fans were preparing to gather at B.C. Place in Vancouver to watch the Canadian men's soccer team (CANMNT) play Panama in an international friendly.
But the players did not take to the pitch and the match was cancelled a few hours before the whistle. Why? Because of a contract dispute. The players, as first reported by TSN's Rick Westhead, released a letter explaining their position.
They had questions and concerns with respect to their own pay and the payout by FIFA for qualifying for the World Cup — approximately $10 million. According to the letter, the players are asking for 40 per cent of the monies as well as compensation for their families to attend the tournament in Qatar later this year.
Thanks to the continued success of the women's side, Canada has always been a soccer nation and the men's performance has only reaffirmed this. But while excitement among players and fans is palpable, there have been a series of missteps at the hands of Canada Soccer executives.
Last week, a planned match between CANMNT and Iran was cancelled after public outcry, including a rebuke from the Prime Minister. Although the opportunity to play against a higher-ranked FIFA team made sense from a pure competition perspective, the social implications of playing Iran are unfavourable. Two years ago, a passenger plane was shot down by Iranian forces killing all 176 people on board, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents. That Canada Soccer was not able to identify the opponent as a potential problem raises questions about the leadership. Our athletes deserve better.
That the men's contract is not already settled mere months before the World Cup is also not a good look.
In their letter, the players said they had been "disrespected" and said their relationship with their employer "has been strained for years." The language used is intentional and important to note.
They also asked questions regarding the transparency of Canada Soccer's financials, including a deal it made with the Canadian Soccer Business (CSB) the players claim "handcuffs" the organization.
LISTEN: What equal pay for U.S. women's soccer means for Canadian players:
Truth be told, this is not the first time that one of Canada's national teams has had questions about contracts or payment. The Canadian Women's National Team (CANWNT) has been in negotiations on their contract since January. They have their own World Cup qualifying matches beginning in July and as the defending Olympic gold medallists, will be expected to perform well.
But the CANWNT has told us before and warned us that the Canada Soccer is not living up to their standards and needs. Diana Matheson, a former team captain now retired, has been very public about how the organization needs to step up and create better earning opportunities and financial support for the women's side.
After winning gold in Tokyo, team stars Christine Sinclair and Steph Labbé went on CBC to talk about the need for domestic leagues and support for women's soccer in Canada.
While the CANMNT did call for "an equitable structure" with the women's team, the CANWNT players responded with their own letter to clarify some of their issues. It is unclear whether the CANMNT consulted the women's team before issuing their statement, but the inclusion and recognition of the women's side are important. Arguably, it is not something that Canadian soccer has seen before: the men's team supporting the women so publicly.
A statement from the Canadian Women’s National Team players: pic.twitter.com/JHqkm3iiXr—@PlayersCanadian
The CANWNT want not just FIFA percentages to be equal with the men, but also the actual salaries, benefits and social supports. They have also been public advocates for survivors of abuse at the hands of the federation. I broke that story in October 2021.
The U.S. Women's National Team recently won a lawsuit that resulted in a landmark contract negotiation. Key to that victory was Cindy Parlow Cone, a former USWNT player and current president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, and perhaps that is just the type of leader required for Canada Soccer. Someone who understands the needs of the players, and the culture around the teams. A leader who can communicate and is intentional with their actions. Perhaps the old boys in the boardroom are not what's needed for elite teams that have brought Canadian soccer to the world's stage in an unprecedented manner.
There are a few issues at play with the Canadian federation, among them a souring relationship with sports media, whose job it is to ask questions and create some public accountability. I spoke with colleagues who attended a press conference after Sunday's game was cancelled. Canada Soccer president Nick Bontis was flanked by Earl Cochrane, the deputy secretary-general. Bontis defended CSB agreement, but also stopped the press conference abruptly and did not take questions. It left the impression with many that Canada Soccer is in over its head.
If the leaders can't rise to the occasion and advocate for and have good relationships with the players they represent — some of whom are top players in the world — then what good are they to soccer in Canada? If they can't properly leverage the marketability of their teams to fund soccer in Canada, what good are they? The responsibility to amplify and support women's soccer is the national federation's. To ensure that matches aren't cancelled or protests don't ensue is its responsibility.
Late Sunday night, Canada Soccer and the men's players agreed on a temporary solution and the men's team resumed its training and will play their next scheduled game Thursday against Curacao in B.C. But the fact that we are less than six months away from a World Cup appearance and witnessing squabbles over preventable issues is not building faith in the leadership.
Canada Soccer Update pic.twitter.com/1eknQpmvDR—@CanadaSoccerEN
Between the distrust fostering from the men's side, and the lack of actions from the executive board, it leaves one to wonder how effective they and their leadership is in not only keeping things running smoothly, but in implementing a vision for soccer in Canada.
If Soccer Canada comes to an agreement with the players, that is a step forward after taking five steps back. It cannot function like this and maintain a respectful status and worthy reputation in the global game.