In China, noodle making has a long history. The Tang and Song dynasties were the period when noodles truly became "noodles". During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, the production of noodles took another big step forward, with the advent of stick noodles.stick noodle production began in the Yuan Dynasty, mainly relying on sun drying . Until the establishment of the People's Republic of China, a large number of handmade vermicelli were used in the production of the stick noodles, with only a few using mechanical production.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the stick noodle industry developed rapidly, and the mechanization of stick noodle production lines increased day by day. It was only then that indoor drying technology began to be widely promoted. the stick noodles has developed to this day, with a wide variety and different production techniques. It can be divided into two categories: one type is Oriental noodles represented by China and Japan, which are made by pressing and rolling multiple layers to form dough strips. After cutting the strips, they are dried using low or medium temperature to moisturize for a long time. The total drying time is generally 4-6 hours; Another type is Western macaroni, represented by Italy, which is extruded into strips under high pressure and then dried at medium or high temperatures. Both types of products originated in China.
After having stick noodles, people divided them into five basic varieties based on their thickness. The widest one, 6mm, is called extra wide noodles or jade belt hanging noodles; A width of 3mm is called a broad surface; A width of 2mm is called a small wide surface; A width of 1.5mm is called a fine surface; 1mm thick and thin noodles are called bearded noodles or silver thread noodles.
We, Dongfang Naomu Food Machinery Co., Ltd., have a complete research and development process for stick noodle production lines and supply equipment to multiple large food enterprises at home and abroad. We can create good products and equipment that meet customers' requirements for noodle production and weight reduction, and wholeheartedly provide professional technical support and customized services for new and old customers.


Boston Symphony Hall will host a special charity concert on November 27 in support of United Sound. Dave Matthews Band saxophonist Jeff Coffin, Chicago Cubs executive/guitarist Theo Epstein and other music and baseball icons will join members of the Boston Pops Orchestra as part of the Double Header: Baseball Legends And Jazz Icons benefit.
In addition to Coffin and Epstein, additional participants include former Major League Baseball pitcher/current guitarist Bronson Arroyo, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, drummer Billy Kilson, bassist Ben Williams and Blessed Union Of Souls keyboardist Eliot Sloan. Additional performers and other surprise guests are also expected. “Game 1” of the double header will feature Coffin and Gordon leading a special ensemble. “Game 2” will see members of the Boston Pops with Arroyo, Epstein, Sloan and others playing, “alt-rock favorites by Pearl Jam, Goo Goo Dolls” and more.
Tickets can be purchased via this link. Proceeds will benefit United Sound, “a musical peer mentoring program for students with special needs.”
Last night’s The Avett Brothers concert began with the band covering The Cranberries in tribute to Dolores O’Riordan, who passed away this week at the age of 46.
Organizers of the Levitate Music & Arts Festival have revealed the lineup for this July’s event.
Chris Robinson, Barry Sless, Pete Sears, John Molo and Greg Loiacono played the first show of the inaugural Green Leaf Rustlers tour last night in California.
Organizers of the annual Mountain Jam music festival have announced the lineup for the 2018 installment.
Dead & Company, featuring members of the Grateful Dead, has confirmed an extensive 2018 Summer Tour.
Neil Young, Members Of The Heartbreakers & More To Play Stephen Stills Light Up The Blues Charity Concert
Stephen Stills will present the 5th Annual Light Up The Blues Concert — An Evening of Music to Benefit Autism Speaks featuring an all-star roster of performers.


A leading British academic has called for accelerated research into futuristic geo-engineering and a worldwide nuclear power station "binge" to avoid runaway global warming.
Peter Wadhams, professor of ocean physics at Cambridge University, said both potential solutions had inherent dangers but were now vital as time was running out.
"It is very, very depressing that politicians and the public are attuned to the threat of climate change even less than they were 20 years ago when Margaret Thatcher sounded the alarm. CO2 levels are rising at a faster than exponential rate, and yet politicians only want to take utterly trivial steps such as banning plastic bags and building a few windfarms," he said.
Wadhams proposes the use of thorium-fuelled reactors, being tested in India, which are said to be safer because they do not result in a proliferation of weapons-grade plutonium, experts say. Also, under certain circumstances, the waste from thorium reactors is less dangerous and remains radioactive for hundreds rather than thousands of years. .View Full Article


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Super Rugby round 13 Reds v Sharks
Holmes joins Reds' 100-cap club
May 8, 2013
Greg Holmes is humbled by the calibre of player he will join when he reaches the 100-game mark © Getty Images
Stalwart prop Greg Holmes will play his 100th match for Queensland Reds in Friday night's Super Rugby match against the injury-hit Sharks at Suncorp Stadium.
Holmes will become the 26th Reds' player to join the prestigious 100-caps club when he lines up at loose-head prop in a tough scrummaging battle against Springboks' tight-head Jannie du Plessis.
Reds coaching boss Ewen McKenzie named a 22-man squad on Wednesday rather than a starting 15 and bench, but confirmed the 29-year-old former Wallabies player would start. Holmes becomes just the third Reds prop to reach the century mark after Dan Crowley (124) and Sam Pilecki (122), and the first since former captain John Roe in 2008.
"It's quite humbling when you think about the calibre of players who have played 100 games for Queensland and the service they have given to the Reds," he said.
Wallabies' winger Dom Shipperley has succumbed to a lingering back injury to be the only change to the Queensland squad, with Rod Davies returning from a hamstring twinge.
McKenzie will announce his team on Thursday but hinted there would be more changes on top of the likely return of Davies and tight-head prop James Slipper after the 11-11 draw with Western Force.
Queensland Reds squad
Backs: Jono Lance, Rod Davies, Anthony Faingaa, Ben Tapuai, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Ben Lucas, Chris Feauai-Sautia
Forwards: Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Ed Quirk, Beau Robinson, Jarrad Butler, Ed O'Donoghue, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Saia Faingaa, James Hanson, Greg Holmes, Albert Anae

domain: news


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The Government of Australia provides several visa options to enable other Family members of Australians to join them in Australia. These include:
Family Visas:As with all visas applicants must meet eligibility criteria:
- Parent Visa Permanent residence visa options for parents.
- Temporary Parent visa Temporary residence visa options for parents.
- Aged Dependent Relative visa Permanent residence visa options for an Aged relative that is Dependent upon their sponsor to meet their basic needs. Note that the relative in Australia must be a child, parent, brother or sister, grandchild, uncle or aunt, niece or nephew (or step-relative equivalent) of the visa applicant. NB: significant processing times.
- Child visa Permanent residence visa option for Dependent Children of Australians (NB: where not otherwise eligible for Citizenship).
- Spouse or Partner visas Temporary and Permanent residence visa options for Spouses or De Facto partners, including same sex couples.
- Remaining Relative visa Permanent residence visa options. A remaining relative is a person who, together with their partner, has no near relatives living outside Australia and is the brother, sister, child or step equivalent of an Australian. NB: significant processing times.
- Carer visa Permanent residence visa option for Individual who is willing and able to provide substantial and continuing assistance to an Australian relative (or member of their family unit). An Australian relative may be the partner of the person, their child, parent, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or step equivalent.
All the above options have specific selection criteria that must be met. In some cases an 'Assurance of Support' may be required from the sponsoring Australian. Some of the above options are subject to quotas and capping and may have significant processing times and therefore depending upon an individual's circumstances it may be appropriate to consider the approach to application.

domain: law


Why should you Database Optimization is essential for organizing and easily accessing database data. Database tuning or performance tuning involves optimizing and standardizing the design of the database files and database environment. This can make data access easier than you imagined.Many companies have databases, but not all companies have IT staff who know how to optimize or get the most out of them.
Performance tuning should be performed by professionals who have experience tuning SQL databases and have an inside knowledge of how databases work. If your company does not perform performance tuning but has a database, you could get imperfect answers to queries and unnecessary difficulties in accessing data. Don't let that happen to you and lower your efficiency!
Performance tuning can include database tuning, indexing to optimize your SQL database, and other efforts to facilitate data recovery and the most timely and comprehensive query responses.Here are three reasons why data fitting should be done consistently.
Coding loops can have the effect of hammering your database. If there is an SQL query inside a loop, the query will be executed multiple times. On the other hand, if you move the query out of the loop, a performance gain can occur because the query is executed only once instead of many iterations.
The more data you have, the slower data recovery can be if your database is not optimized.Performance tuning allows you to create indexes and eliminate issues that could slow down data retrieval than it should. Nothing frustrates your staff team more than waiting for the database to do their searches. This will lead to more frustration when reaching out to your customers or clients.
You can improve the performance of your queries by avoiding correlated subqueries, avoiding excessive use of select (and instead declaring each column individually), and simplifying queries by avoiding temporary tables.
These are just a few of the many different ways query performance can be improved.With all these improvements to improve your database efficiency, your database can handle more information. This scalability overcomes declining returns and keeps all users happy with their experience.


— HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A doctor whose son pleaded guilty to killing a middle school classmate is set for trial on charges of trying to help the boy escape justice.
Iqbal Memon is set to go on trial today in Huntsville. He is charged with hindering prosecution for allegedly helping son Hammad Memon in a bid to flee the country.
Hammad Memon was 14 when he shot and killed a classmate at Discovery Middle School in Madison in 2010.
After the killing authorities arrested Memon and his mother during what police described as an attempt to flee the country for Pakistan.
The woman also is charged with hindering prosecution and awaits trial.
Hammad Memon pleaded guilty and is serving 30 years. His father was also recently charged with Medicaid theft.


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Two recent studies show that a new generation of antibodies that specifically target human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 can drastically reduce virus levels, providing long-term control of HIV. These results suggest that antibody therapy may be useful to treat patients with chronic HIV-1 infections. The studies were published online in the journal Nature on October 30, 2013.
In Connecticut, 10,585 people are living with HIV (2011 data; ~1.2 million in the U.S.) and approximately 400 new cases of HIV infection are diagnosed each year (~50,000 in the U.S.). According to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, 1.7 million people worldwide died from AIDS-related causes in the year 2011 alone.
Antibodies are generated in response to infection and help eliminate pathogens. Some HIV-infected individuals do not develop AIDS (the most advanced stage of HIV infection) or have a delayed disease course. Antibodies from these individuals can have powerful HIV neutralization activity. It is these broadly neutralizing antibodies that two separate groups of researchers used to treat chronically infected rhesus and macaque monkeys. Their results show a rapid clearance of virus from the monkeys’ bloodstream. This suppression of HIV was sustained for several weeks or months.
These results are a step towards a cure for HIV. But, keep in mind that these studies were performed in animal models of HIV. Clinical trials in humans need to be performed to see if the effects of these broadly neutralizing antibodies can be translated into humans. Additionally, it is not currently known if these antibodies can cross the blood–brain barrier and suppress viral replication in the central nervous system (CNS), so whether this new therapy would be able to suppress HIV replication in the brain and spinal cord is an open question. Another issue is the fact that HIV has a high rate of mutation. This means that slightly different HIV proteins can be expressed within each individual, as well as across populations. This makes it likely that some people will have viruses that are resistant to some of the new therapeutic antibodies.
Currently, there are a slew of anti-viral drugs that can interfere with critical processes of the HIV virus. The problem with these drugs is that they do not work on the cells that are actually infected at the time you start treating the patient with these anti-virals. Rather they work on next round of cells – they prevent the virus that is being produced from infecting the new round of cells, but leave the old cells that are already infected alone. If the anti-viral therapy is stopped, these old or latent HIV-infected cells can still produce virus and re-ignite the infection.
There are essentially three hurdles to jump to develop a cure for HIV. The first step is to shutdown the spread of the virus. These new antibodies can very effectively suppress the replication of HIV. Check. The second step is to kill the cells that are actively producing virus. These new antibodies seem to be able to kill infected cells. Check. However, these new antibodies may not be able to affect the third step, which is the killing of the latent population of infected cells. Despite these limitations, this potential new therapy could still greatly enhance HIV treatment and would be a huge step toward a cure for HIV.
To receive email alerts when a new article is posted by the Hartford Health Examiner, click the “Subscribe” link above.

domain: medical


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by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 11:59 p.m. PST | Filed under
Today several trailers for various games were released. Instead of giving them all their own post, we grouped them and so far there are trailers for :
- Heaven & Hell (CDV)
- The Hulk Trailer 1 (GBA/Vivendi)
- The Hulk Trailer 2 (GBA/Vivendi)
- Praetorians (Eidos)
Read more for download links ...
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 11:48 p.m. PST | Filed under
Operation Flashpoint for personal computers has won universal acclaim for its realistic simulation of military conflict situations on the PC, even to the extent where the game's technology has been adapted for the United States Marine Corps to use as a special combat training application called VBS1 (Virtual BattleField System) and it's now heading to consoles. Read more for details and some Xbox screens ...
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 8:58 p.m. PST | Filed under
Purge, delivers a compelling combination of first-person shooter gameplay and RPG character development, immersing players in a strife-torn world that blends science fiction and fantasy. It incorporates new features requested by players and fixes many bugs. Also, for players who still think Purge is played like typical deathmatch FPS, a new "helper" message system added assist new players to Purge's unique game style. Read more for a detailed fix list and download links (full download and patch).
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 8:48 p.m. PST | Filed under
Hit the jackpot with Casino Inc., the complete sim that drops you right in the glitzy, and sometimes gritty, world of casino management. Casino Inc features all the detail expected from a simulation. But combined with the appeal of Casino life, and the added spice of the "adult" side of the business, Casino Inc. has more to offer than any other casino management game.
UPDATE : Seems Konami released a corrupted file so it has been removed until a proper/working one is made available
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 5:28 p.m. PST | Filed under
GarageGames today announced its Game Developer's Conference (GDC) showcase of games. The company plans to premiere ThinkTanks a cartoon styled tank game from BraveTree Productions, preview a new release of Orbz with a single player mode from 21-6 Productions and display the highly acclaimed Marble Blast from GarageGames and Monster Studios.
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 5:07 p.m. PST | Filed under
Uplink brings players into the depths of one of the world’s most intriguing settings: cyberspace. Players take on the role of an Uplink agent, working for large corporations and hacking into rival computer systems, stealing research data, sabotaging other companies, laundering money, erasing evidence, and framing innocent people. Stock markets can be influenced, personal records can be altered, and money can be transferred... sometimes into the wrong hands.
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 4:10 p.m. PST | Filed under
Strategy First/Timegate Studios have released new patches for both Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns and Kohan: Ahriman's Gift, updating both TimeGate Studios' RTS game and its prequel to v1.3.7. The patches apply to the US/UK/French/German Retail versions of each respective game, offering a couple of tweaks and fixes (thanks Bluesnews
). Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 2:48 p.m. PST | Filed under
Stepping up to the plate with the power of 2002's #1 selling baseball video game franchise, Acclaim Sports a division of Acclaim today announced that its eagerly anticipated All-Star Baseball 2004 Featuring Derek Jeter will be available in stores nationwide this weekend. Developed by Acclaim's award-winning Austin studio, All-Star Baseball 2004 combines the best of simulation and arcade-style game play to deliver the deepest and most realistic interactive baseball experience. All-Star Baseball 2004 offers more than 80 new features, including for the-first-time-ever, online downloadable rosters, the official Negro Leagues license and selectable Spanish play-by-play in-game announcing.
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 2:42 p.m. PST | Filed under
It's not just driving – it's blisteringly fast, nerve-shatteringly intense, pure professional racing and unlike any motorsport video game before. This is IndyCar Series, the official video game of the gruelling US open-wheel championship, due spring 2003 for PS2, Xbox and PC from Codemasters.. Behold the first screenshots of all-American racing Codies-style. 14 of the very first PS2 screens ...
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 12:10 p.m. PST | Filed under
The Adventure Company today announced it has shipped Post Mortem in the United States. Set in 1920s Paris, the game challenges gamers to solve a chilling mystery. Read more for game details, and if you havent yet, check our Post Mortem preview
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 10:47 a.m. PST | Filed under
Featuring an original storyline written exclusively for Activision by comics' industry legend Larry Hama, and featuring the voices of Mark Hamill and Patrick Stewart, X-Men2 : Wolverine's Revenge allows players to assume the role of Wolverine, everyone's favorite X-Men tough guy. In the game, Wolverine faces a race against time to find an antidote to the viral time bomb that's just been discovered in his system. Check out the new batch of screens ...
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 10:32 a.m. PST | Filed under
The sequel to the critically acclaimed RPG for the GameCube, Lost Kingdoms II takes the immersive Real Time Action/RPG gaming experience to the next level with an expanded game world, new cards and exciting perils to face. Set 200 years after the events of the original Lost Kingdoms, the Kingdom of Argwyll is on the brink of destruction. All hope lies in the hands of a new heroine Tara. Abandoned as a child and raised by a gang of thieves, Tara must use the force of her magical Runestone and summon Guardian Creatures to battle the invading evil force, uncover its terrible origins and save the kingdom. Read more for the first few screens ...
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 10:19 a.m. PST | Filed under
Following in the tradition of previous Blizzard expansion sets, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne provides gamers with a vast new chapter in the epic Warcraft saga. In the single-player campaign, players revisit the war-torn world of Azeroth. Several months have passed since Archimonde and the Burning Legion were defeated at the battle of Mount Hyjal, yet a new threat has arisen throughout the land... Blizzard has updated their website so we mirror'd the new screens for you to enjoy
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 9:59 a.m. PST | Filed under
While Poland's winter freeze hit world headlines with a low of minus 29C, things have certainly been hotting up on the country's gaming front. The cream of Poland's development community have joined forces to form a new Warsaw-based publishing and development house that promises a strong line-up of quality titles for 2003 and is on the lookout for distribution partners.
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 9:43 a.m. PST | Filed under
"The Hobbit" is a third-person action/adventure game set in the world of Middle-earth. In the game, you take the persona of Bilbo Baggins, an unassuming Hobbit who has been unwittingly thrust into an epic adventure. Explore the mystical world of Middle-earth where you'll need to jump gaping chasms, climb treacherous mountains, solve mind bending puzzles and battle hordes of enemies just to survive. Meet enchanting Elves, battle-ready Dwarves, a powerful Wizard, massive Trolls, bloodthirsty goblins, and more as you traverse from the peaceful lands of the Shire to the harrowing forests of Mirkwood. And that's just the beginning.
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 9:32 a.m. PST | Filed under
Homeworld 2 is the massive sequel to 1999's Game of the Year and the best 3D space game in the universe. Years after the Higarans reclaimed their Homeworld, there is still no peace. Now a new war, a prophecy, and a deadly new enemy threaten to make the recent journey home all for nothing. In Homeworld, you helped them reclaim their home. Now, help them reclaim their destiny. Read more for details and 9 new screens ...
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 9:29 a.m. PST | Filed under
Vegas - it's like nowhere else on Earth. It looks bizarre in pictures and on TV and even madder to the naked eye. Fairy tale castles, pirate ships, roman palaces and even a pyramid; top quality restaurants, high class entertainers, world champions sports events and shows with albino tigers, it's got the lot all thrown together... and in the middle of a desert. But it works. Millions of people flock there every year and millions of dollars are lost at the gambling tables, but the people are still happy and they still keep coming.
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 9:18 a.m. PST | Filed under
Last week there was a Splinter Cell patch for the US version and now UbiSoft has released a similar patch for the European version of their stealth action game Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell. This upgrade brings your retail version to v1.1 and enhances graphics quality and performance, fixes map and AI issues, and more. Read more for details and download links ...
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 2:22 a.m. PST | Filed under
Die Hard: Vendetta features an original plot set a few years after the latest film, Die Hard: With A Vengeance. Assuming the role of John McClane, players embark on an explosive new mission featuring as much intrigue, suspense, stealth and surprises as any of the Die Hard movies. Players battle through several distinct locations - including a return to the original Nakatomi Plaza, as well as a host of unique and inventive set pieces designed to bring the Die Hard world vividly to life. Todya we serve up 18 brand new screens, njoy!
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 2:14 a.m. PST | Filed under
Matrix Games is pleased to announce that it has signed a multi-game contract with Freedom Games. The first benefits of this new partnership will be the Squad Assault series, starting with Eric Young's "Squad Assault: West Front". Read more for details and screens ..
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 2:07 a.m. PST | Filed under
Judge Dredd vs. Judge Death will feature a unique new storyline, but one that fits in perfectly with the continuity of the comic with a full cast of characters from the Judge Dredd stories, including Judge Anderson and the Dark Judges, and many of the famous Mega-City One locations. The history and character of the Judge Dredd stories will be absolutely central to gameplay. For instance, because Dredd must obey the law he upholds and react according to the severity of all crimes, gamers won't be able to just blast their way through the game, shooting petty criminals at will (not unless they fancy spending the rest of their life breaking rocks on Titan). A nice batch of PC as well as PS2 screens, read more and enjoy!
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 1:51 a.m. PST | Filed under
NDA Productions/vivendi today released some new screens for their just announce "Ground Control 2 : Operation Exodus". The game is the next episode in the award-winning and highly acclaimed Ground Control RTS game series. Read more for details, 16 new screens and some character art ...
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 1:35 a.m. PST | Filed under
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 1:23 a.m. PST | Filed under
F1 Career Challenge is officially licenced by Formula One Administration Limited and positions you as a rookie who must prove your worth within the games career mode by passing a range of super licence tests, where upon you can take your rightful place amongst the elite drivers competing in the world's fastest and most glamorous motor sport. EA has released a boatload of PS2 and Xbox screens, read more to check them out!
On the forsaken remains that were once the proud planet called Astara, the villagers of Rockhaven lead difficult but peaceful lives, until the day the Shadowraith, “Dark Yabu,” and his minions sweep down from the sky. With terrible ferocity and ruthless efficiency they descend upon the townsfolk, enslaving them to work deep in the caves that surround their village. Vexx embarks upon a heroic quest through volcanic islands, desert temples, frozen citadels, and giant’s castles, to confront Dark Yabu high atop the Landspire, save his people, and avenge the death of his grandfather.
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 12:38 a.m. PST | Filed under
Prepare yourself for the most emotionally involving and realistic football management game in history: Championship Manager 4 has arrived. Can you cope with the challenges of the league and the expectations of the board and fans? Can you deal with the demands of players and agents? Or will you collapse under the pressure, another mid-season casualty? Accept the challenge: take the reins at the club of your choice and lead your squad onwards. And remember, you're only as good as your last game. Sports Interactive has just released a playable demo which allows you to take control of your favourite English team for 6 months of action. Read more for details and links where to get it ...
by Rainier on Feb. 28, 2003 @ 12:37 a.m. PST | Filed under
Harbinger is a single-player action / RPG set in a fantastic science fiction universe. As one of three distinct character types, players explore the world of Harbinger - journey to the far reaches of space, battle unique foes never before seen in any medium, discover powerful new weapons and alien technologies, and uncover the dark secrets buried within the massive starship's steel walls. Now that the game should be in stores any day we had a chat with Harbinger's level designer Shane Terpstra.

domain: entertainment


4MP WDR Wi-Fi Fixed, Vandal-Proof Mini Dome, 1/3 progressive scan CMOS, 0 lux with IR, ICR, 3D DNR, 2.8mm Lens, True WDR, IP66/IK08, IR Range: Up to 30ft, Built-in Micro SD card slot, up to 128 GB, DC12V/ PoE.
Thumbnail Filmstrip of HNC324-WDC Images
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I took Phineas to the vets today. Ugh.
Just over a week ago he hurt his leg during a squirrel chase and he was still limping occasionally a week later. He didn’t even get the squirrel. 😦
In the reception area he got to bark at the resident kitty. That cat had enough and went to the back. Smart kitty haha!
In the exam room he was scared, but didn’t make a sound or do anything bad. The vet laid him on his side and first checked his knee. It turns out he pulled the tendon at the knee and his kneecap can slide out of place. Luxating patella they call it. The rest of his leg is ok, thank goodness! After he was done he finally ate some treats and then begged for more. He was back to himself.
The docs orders are pain meds and 2 weeks of strict rest. Luckily for the both of us, I think his pain meds are making him more mellow than normal. Not crazy loopy, just chill. This helps tremendously!
So, during the evening and overnight he is on a 4′ leash and when I’m gone he’s crated. If he gets a little stir crazy he’s crated for a little. He also has a new stash of rawhide, bully sticks and whimzee chews. Kongs and bones will be filled and frozen this weekend for his snacking pleasure.
If all goes well his little knee will improve and we won’t have to think about surgery. We are crossing our fingers and toes!

domain: pet


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It was in Greenbushes in the south-west of Western Australia during the second world war that Graham Farmer got his nickname. According to many sources, it was because of his incessant talking. It was the parrot-like way that Farmer would talk that endeared him to so many.
Born in Fremantle on 10 March 1935 at the height of the Depression, Farmer’s mixed descent would mark him for different reasons. It is believed his mother could not support him and as a consequence he was given up to the institution known as Sister Kate’s Children’s Home. Farmer would come to see the place as his home, growing up with his boyhood friend Square Kilmurray. They would go on to play together at Kenwick Football Club and then East Perth.
Farmer was inventive as a young footballer. His light frame dictated the need to master two things: his fear of being hurt and timing his leap at the ball when going for mark and the ruck. The latter would enable him to get the advantage that every player playing the Indigenous game wants – possession.
This is not to say Farmer got it easy. He had to battle state authorities who wanted to send him to the West Australian hinterland to work the land. This was the key policy of the day. Only due to his ability to play so well and a petition by the Sunday Times to stop Farmer from going bush did the Native Welfare Department provide him with permission to stay in Perth. As Steve Hawke writes in his great biography of Farmer: “The only thing I did not want to be doing was farming.”
Without Polly Farmer’s name being synonymous with quality football, we would never had of heard of him. Farmer knew his football was his ticket out and he engaged his agency, got supremely fit with total dedication and withstood the ugly slurs directed his way to carve a WAFL career of great renown.
All Australian and State selections plus Sandover, Simpson and Tassie medals meant it was not long before the eastern states clubs got wind of him. Richmond, St Kilda and Geelong all began their pitches to the Noongar man. He chose the Cats because as he reflected: “I wanted to get with a club that had struggled and were looking to achieve some sort of success.” And at the age of 27 in 1962, Farmer’s VFL career with the Cats began.
With big hype around the new recruit, the media frenzy about Farmer and what he could do knew no bounds. However, in his first game for Geelong, he badly injured his ACL in his left knee against Carlton. He was in agony but played another four games until he could no longer walk. Reinjuring it and being unable to play, he set about a punishing regime of dead lifts and kilometres of bike riding. He also modified his style to, in his words, “balance better”. In the following 1963 season, the commitment paid off and Geelong won the premiership against Hawthorn.
He returned to West Perth in the WAFL in 1968 and became the playing coach. Team mate and co-ruck Bill Dempsey remembers a man who drove the Cardinals hard but did so because there was no other way to achieve premiership glory. It paid off, and in 1969 and 1971, West Perth beat their arch-rivals and Farmer’s old club, East Perth. Given his unwavering determination, Farmer’s legacy was etched in history becoming the first footballer to receive an MBE in 1971. Then in 1996, the Graham Farmer Freeway was named in his honour.
Despite this Farmer, never forgot what it meant to be an Aboriginal person living in Australia in the time that he did. Nor did he forget his family and the game that gave him so much. “Apart from my commitment to my family, footy was the only thing I was interested in. So in my desire to succeed I did all the things I had to, to do that.”
The legacy that Farmer has left is immense. The AFL’s manager of inclusion and social policy says “Farmer is a giant of our game and his legacy at the AFL, Geelong and in Perth is immense. We cannot forget his journey and the challenges he rose to and overcame. It’s a very sad day.”
Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer is survived by his children, Brett, Dean and Kim. He was 84.
Australian Football Hall of Fame, Inaugural Legend of the Game (one of 12).
Played 176 games for East Perth 1953-61, kicking 157 goals.
Played 101 games for Geelong 1962-67, kicking 65 goals.
Played 79 games for West Perth 1968-71, kicking 55 goals.
Played 31 games for Western Australia, kicking 19 goals.
Played six games for Victoria, kicking six goals.
East Perth Best and Fairest 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961.
Geelong Best and Fairest 1963, 1964.
West Perth Best and Fairest 1969.
Sandover Medal 1956, 1957, 1960.
Simpson Medal 1959.
East Perth premiership 1956, 1958, 1959.
Geelong premiership 1963.
West Perth premiership 1969, 1971 (both as playing coach).
All Australian 1956, 1958, 1961.
AFL Team of the Century (First Ruck).
Indigenous Team of the Century (First Ruck, captain).
Geelong Team of the Century (First Ruck).
West Perth Team of the Century (First Ruck).
East Perth Post War Team of the Century (First Ruck).
West Perth coach 1968-71 for premierships in 1969 and 1971.
Geelong coach 1973-75.
East Perth coach 1976-77.

domain: sports


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Flint & Genesee Education & Talent programs TeenQuest and Summer Youth Initiative (SYI) work with several community partners to help create a robust program. One of those partners is the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.
“Our TeenQuest students often volunteer at the Food Bank during TeenQuest, and the organization is typically one of our SYI employers during the summer,” says James Avery, director of Talent Development for Flint & Genesee Education & Talent. “The work the organization does is so impactful on the community and our students can see that first hand working with the Food Bank.”
The Food Bank is the hub of food collection and distribution for more than 700 partner agencies in the area. The organization serves more than 380,000 people each year in 22 counties.
According to Keri Brack, volunteer coordinator for the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, the organization has been working with SYI for 18 years and most years employs up to 60 students during the summer.
“SYI is our favorite program we run through the Food Bank,” says Brack. “We started out with a very small number of students each year and were lucky to be able to grow.”
Hiring students during the summer is very important for the Food Bank since its volunteer pool typically slows down at that time.
“During the summer, we work with farmers and have an influx of donations from their harvest that we need to get out into the community,” says Brack. “Hiring SYI students helps supplement the volunteer base dropping off at that time.”
One thing that sticks out to Brack is how prepared students are when they are hired in the summer.
“I give a lot of credit to the TeenQuest facilitators,” says Brack. “They’re doing a great job preparing students for actual adult work.”
Brack believes that the work that TeenQuest and SYI do is important to the community because the teens who are taught through these programs are our future.
“If we don’t put time and effort into youth now, where are we going to be in 5 or 10 years?” says Brack. “It is our responsibility to teach students a strong work ethic, the power of volunteerism and how to be a good neighbor.”
For more information on the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, visit FBEM.org.
TeenQuest and Summer Youth Initiative are made possible through the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

domain: sociology


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If sources are to be believed, former Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan and Bollywood actress Sagarika Ghatge are all set to get married on 27th November, 2017. According to an interview, Zaheer and Sagarika have chosen to get married in court.
The couple got engaged in May of this year. People got a whiff of them being together at cricketer Yuvraaj Singh's wedding, their first formal appearance together!
We wish the couple a great life ahead, they look great together:

domain: celebrity


Hollywood has seen many amazing films that will stay at the top of the charts forever. Movies made in English are usually good, but there is also a downside. There are some movies to remember forever. Classics include “Titanic”, a love story that ends tragically. You can get a list of top 10 movies via https://bechuzi.com/entertainment/features-entertainment/top-10-bollywood-movies-that-everyone-loves/.
Image Source: Google
One of the greatest plots of all time is a film called The Shawshank Redemption, which gives viewers a lot of hope. Among the comedies, the best so far is “Dr Strangelove”, published in 1964.
The horror film was very popular and the movie “Psycho” from the 1960s stood out. The new fantasy thriller “Inception” released in 2010 is considered the most revolutionary film because it involves a very innovative mindset.
Star Wars, Pulp Fiction, and God the Father are the creators of stories because of the brilliant public response. These films are known worldwide, including in countries where English is not officially spoken. The Lord of the Rings brings extraordinary talent to the silver screen and is a leading film.
Other top films include films such as “Memento”, “Forest Gump”, “The Matrix”, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “Vertigo”, “Fight Club”, “Citizen Kane” and many more. has been nominated for the world’s best Oscar and Grammy.
What an honour for a film to be nominated for an Oscar. It’s a completely different honour to win it. Films by famous directors are not always the best, they are cheap and lesser-known people also make good films.
The secret is to double-check the ratings before watching the film because this is how we can ensure that it will be a pleasant experience. As such, the above films are some of the best films of all time made in the history of British cinema.


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Being in a relationship is a responsibility, but it shouldn’t be difficult if there are two people making an effort to make it work.
Dane and I have been together for 4 years.
We get along really well. We’re our own individuals and aren’t co-dependent, but we still look forward to speaking with each other every single night. It’s not to say that we don’t fight, but we rarely do, and it’s usually about things that can be easily solved.
Dane and I speak on the phone every single day unless one of us is too tired or needs “me time.” During the start of our relationship, Dane would often fall asleep while in a call with me. For him, it was because he wants to spend as much of his time with me but unfortunately he really just falls asleep. But for me, if I won’t be able to talk to you because you’re too sleepy, you might as well just snooze. This was a recurring concern for me early on as Dane almost always refused to just go to sleep even when he’s only half awake mid-convo. His favorite lines were “I’m not yet sleepy,” or “I can still stay up,” but only to fall asleep in the next 2 minutes. It took a while for him to adjust by simply telling me that he can’t stay up anymore.
Since then, we’ve grown so much as people and as a couple, and we’ve learned a thing or two about keeping our relationship as healthy as possible.
Choosing words carefully
They say communication is one of the strongholds in a good relationship.
But aside from keeping honest communications consistent, it’s also a lot about choosing the right words when doing so.
I realized early on in our relationship that both Dane and I are used to using I-statements to convey our feelings. I-statements or I-message focus on expressing one’s thoughts while reducing hostility regardless of intention. For example, saying “I feel stressed and need help,” instead of “You’re so unhelpful!”, or saying “I feel frustrated when my feelings aren’t heard,” instead of “You don’t care about my feelings.”
Starting with “I” helps us talk about our feelings and how it’s affecting us without blaming the other party which may lead to miscommunication. Doing so lets us vent and share our concerns, without making it seem like the other person is the problem. It keeps us more aware of the situation and reminds both of us that it’s us against the issue and not him versus me.
Stop keeping scores
Communicating is a deliberate choice to keep the relationship happy and healthy. Aside from taking it as a responsibility as the other half of a relationship, not keeping tabs on who does what more is important.
Even before Dane and I became a couple, he knew about my financial responsibilities in my family as the breadwinner. That means that a part of my income automatically goes to bills, and that will keep happening even after we’re married and have our own living expenses.
On the other hand, he’s an only child living with parents who both work. Because of that, Dane never hesitated to pay for our dates because he understands. But what’s more important is that he never uses it against me.
That’s just one of the many examples of the give-and-take in our relationship. It’s two people exerting a tiny bit more effort in specific situations to make the relationship work for both. All without keeping tabs on who does it more.
Honesty and trusting each other
I remember getting mad at him in the early months of our relationship because he didn’t tell me he didn’t go to work because he was sick and only admitted it later on. To him, it was so I didn’t worry about him. But to me, it was plain lying.
As someone who comes from a broken family because of a parent cheating on the other, trusting in relationships has never been my strong suit. Fear of abandonment is a huge struggle for me and one thing that Dane learned very early on. In fact, during the first year of our relationship, Dane had to constantly reaffirm his love for me several times a day.
Aside from trusting that he’ll be faithful. It’s also about smaller things like knowing where he is or who he’s with or trusting that he’s okay when he says he’s okay.
Being honest with each other is one of the key things in maintaining a healthy relationship as a couple. It keeps us secure in the relationship and free from unnecessary worry and stress. Today, I still need occasional reassurance, but I no longer feel like he’ll cheat on me when I’m looking away. I trust him 100% and both of us know never to lie even if it means hurting the other.
A healthy relationship is easy. It may be too early for us to say this since we’re not yet married as of writing. But I stand by this statement.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard or read that being in a relationship is hard. I’m not saying it doesn’t have its ups and downs, but it’s definitely more manageable when you’re in the right relationship. There are couples who love each other but aren’t good for one another. But when you find the right one, conflicts turn into learnings, arguments become healthy discussions, and fights pave the way to the growth of two people. A healthy relationship isn’t a chore, it’s two people making a deliberate choice to stay in love, be together, and choose each other.
2 thoughts on “3 Mindful Ways to Maintain a Healthy Relationship”


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Amazon India on Tuesday announced a partnership with Startup India to launch an accelerator programme for early-stage startups in the consumer products, helping them sell their products in the international markets.
The initiative comes under Amazon’s Global Selling Propel (AGSP) and is aimed at helping startups create global brands, according to a statement.
The accelerator programme will provide startups an opportunity to showcase their business proposition to partner VC firms – Sequoia Capital India and Fireside Ventures-- and a chance to win a total equity free grant of $50,000 from Amazon.
“Amazon Global Selling, our flagship program to grow Exports from India is witnessing tremendous momentum with increasing interest from exporters across India. Our partnership with Startup India to launch this accelerator program will provide emerging brands an opportunity to bring their business propositions to life and help create globally popular brands from India,” Amit Agarwal, global senior vice president and country head, Amazon India said in a statement.
As a part of the accelerator, Amazon has constituted a mentorship board consisting of Amazon leaders from India and across the world, VCs and senior leaders from Startup India, Invest India who will engage with emerging brands and provide them tailored resources, one-on-one mentorship on the global demand patterns, and insights on building successful exports business through e-commerce.
“With Amazon Global Selling we will continue to make exports simple and accessible to businesses of all sizes and fulfill our commitment of enabling $10 billion in e-commerce exports from India by 2025,” Agarwal added.
Launched in January 2016, Startup India is the country’s flagship initiative to promote entrepreneurship. Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced a $1000 crore seed fund to boost the sector.

domain: geography


Long before there was American Horror Story,Pose, or any of the many other TV series Ryan Murphy’s produced over the last decade, there was one TV show that was the shining jewel of his empire: Glee. It was one very loud shining jewel, filled with hundreds of musical numbers over the course of its six seasons. From Broadway standards, to classic rock oldies, to some iconic pop star moments (anybody remember the Britney episode?), Glee truly covered it all. With so many performances over the years, there were bound to be a few that went a little — or in most cases, a lot — off the rails.
Let’s be clear: Going off the rails isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially when it comes to Gleeks and their love of the show. Sometimes, the most unhinged performances on Glee are some of the most memorable ones. Part of the show’s charm came from the fact that no matter the song, the New Directions fully committed to the bit and gave it their all. That resulted in some of the weirdest musicalperformances of all time. So grab a slushie, find your seat in the bleachers, and settle in for a little musical journey down memory lane.
All episodes of Glee are streaming on Hulu and Disney+ as of June 2022.


Schaumburg hotel to house health care workers, first responders
A Schaumburg hotel will provide the first 460 rooms for a new Cook County respite program providing housing for symptom-free health care workers, first responders and correctional employees who have had contact with COVID-19 carriers and need to live apart from their families.
Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly said the hotel providing the rooms for renewable weeklong increments has asked not to be publicly identified.
But to the best of his knowledge, Dailly added, it is not the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg on Martingale Road that previously was asked about its availability for such a purpose.
Another Schaumburg hotel, which officials have not identified for security reasons, is providing 275 rooms of alternative housing for at-risk members of the homeless population. Residents of the Hesed House homeless shelter in Aurora are staying at that hotel, but Dailly said their precautionary quarantine period may be ending next week.
The announcement of the new respite housing program was made at a news conference led by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on Wednesday.
Joining her was Bill Barnes, executive director of the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security. Barnes mentioned that in addition to the 460 hotel rooms in Schaumburg, another 60 to 100 would soon be available in Oak Lawn.
Including the hotel providing alternative housing for the homeless, the county currently has a total of three hotels under contract, he added.
But the county has identified a potential of 8,000 hotel rooms that could be put under contract if the need arose, Barnes said. One hotel in the north and another in the south could be available on relatively short notice, he said.
Though this is a Cook County program, the cost is being borne by the state under its emergency powers and could potentially be reimbursed by the federal government later.
Preckwinkle said eligibility for the housing will be based on job categories of potentially at-risk workers and not their financial means to self-isolate.


Text Alert in 5.1 are too long with the new format for email. How can I get the old alerts format via text to my cell.
If a device is down via a text I cannot see which one it down. HELP!
· · ·
Not currently, but spice this up:


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Retail giant Target acknowledged the worst possible news at the absolute worst time this week. The company said Thursday a data security breach potentially exposed as many as 40 million credit and debit cards, all during the busy holiday season.
According to a Target statement, the breach took place on the payment systems associated with Target's nearly 1,800 brick-and-mortar stores in the U.S. The thieves had access to the credit card systems between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15. The company said it has resolved the security lapse.
"We take this matter very seriously and are working with law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice," said Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president and CEO of Target, in a statement Thursday.
Security experts say this data breach could be one of the biggest retail credit card breaches of all-time and demonstrates the need for companies to focus on risk-based security measures.


Do you enjoy solving tough problems? Does supporting critical national security missions have special meaning to you? Are you the type that thrives working in a team environment? If so, this is a terrific opportunity to conceptualize and drive development of game-changing solutions that are re-shaping the battlespace environment and saving lives.
Apply your knowledge towards reverse engineering. Contribute to solving national security cyber challenges by supporting hardware and software reverse engineering projects. Responsibilities include investigating embedded software/hardware devices and their inherent communication implementations, analysis of embedded binaries and firmware to identify functional behavior. Successful candidates are self-motivated and work effectively in both team or individual situations. They have excellent communication skills and can handle multiple projects and activities simultaneously. Ability to excel in a fast-paced and highly technical R&D environment.
What you will Get to Do:
Investigate embedded software/hardware devices and their inherent communication implementations
Analyze embedded binaries and firmware to identify functional behavior
Perform dynamic analysis of software and firmware using tools like JTAG, SWD, openocd, and gdb.
Identify and isolate common operating system code from application code
Implement custom designs in C/C++ and assembly (x86, ARM, Thumb)
Develop testing procedures and document results for customer presentation.
Conduct and/or participate in technical reviews of requirements, specifications, designs, codes, and other artifacts
An active TS/SCI clearance is required to begin employment.
BS degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering (ABET/EAC Accredited).
A minimum of 4+ years of experience doing embedded software development or reverse engineering
Required Skills and Experience:
Experience programming in Python, C, and/or C++ for Linux/RTOS
Experience working with board support packages (BSP), U-Boot, and device drivers
Experience with embedded interfaces such as UART, SPI, I2C, GPIO
Experience using in-circuit debuggers and programmers, JTAG/Serial-wire (SWD)
Thorough understanding of memory management concepts (Heap, Stack, Volatile/Nonvolatile).
Working knowledge of RF communications technologies, network communications technologies, and hardware design
Desired Skills and Experience:
Thorough understanding of ARM Cortex-M firmware development
Experience with IDA Pro and/or Ghidra
Experience programming directly in ARM/Thumb assembly
Experience developing applications within an RTOS framework (FreeRTOS, ThreadX, CMSIS)
What We Can Offer You:
- We’ve been named a Best Place to Work by the Washington Post.
- Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives.
- We offer competitive benefits and learning and development opportunities.
- We are mission-oriented and ever vigilant in aligning our solutions with the nation’s highest priorities.
- For over 55 years, the principles of CACI’s unique, character-based culture have been the driving force behind our success.


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Amanda Spielman debunks inspection myths and advocates for professional judgements in the interest of students during her main stage presentation at the SSAT National Conference 2018.
A major theme of SSAT’s 2018 National Conference was capital: after social and cultural capital, covered previously, David Priestley, executive headteacher, Greenfield Community College reflected on creative capital
A major theme of SSAT’s 2018 National Conference was capital, discussed here by two school leaders: Andrew Morrish of Victoria Academies on social capital; and Caroline Derbyshire of Saffron Academy Trust on cultural capital
A number of year 10 students attended SSAT’s National Conference at ICC, Birmingham in December. Here are some of the evaluations from students at Sir Christopher Hatton Academy, collated by their teacher Laura Murphy
Rt Hon David Lammy, former barrister and now MP for Tottenham, highlights the issues in education for young people from working-class BME backgrounds and their families
At last month’s SSAT national conference, BBC arts editor Will Gompertz argued for a broader approach to education to balance the current focus on technology
Twelve months ago, when we confirmed the title ‘Pure Imagination’, we were thinking about imagined scenarios and possibilities. What became clear over the two days of the conference is that the topics we were covering are not pure imagination, but are already a reality.
In the years following austerity, we have seen the role of SBM become more demanding and challenging than ever, but also a trend in which SBMs play an increasingly strategic role in school leadership.
Unfortunately, educational inequality remains a persistent problem in our system. Despite almost a decade of the pupil premium, the national attainment gap between disadvantaged students and their wealthier peers has failed to close.
Robots will never run our schools. We don’t believe that robots will ever replace the role of the expert teacher. However, ‘robots’ may well change how we teach and how we deliver the curriculum.


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Ed Sikov is a film scholar, author, and lecturer.
Ed is the author of seven books, and numerous essays in anthologies and publications. His most recent book, Film Studies, was published by Columbia University Press.
Now in Paperback
Dark Victory "A refreshingly unsentimental and unapologetic biography...Sikov's book is a valuable guide to an essential career." The Washington Post "[Sikov] is both a respected scholar and a delicious gossip, which makes him perfect to chronicle Davis's bravura life....Essential reading for anyone interested in Bette Davis." The New York Times "Perceptive and superbly written." Publishers Weekly
Mr. Strangelove: A Biography of Peter Sellers Mr. Strangelove is the story of a screamingly funny, desperately unhappy soul. Sellers himself identified most personally with the character he played in Being There -- an utterly empty man on whom others projected what they wanted, or needed, to see.
On Sunset Boulevard Built on extensive new research and interviews, On Sunset Boulevard combines detailed biography with in-depth criticism of Wilder's work, from his journalism in Vienna and Berlin to his German film scripts and Hollywood feature films.

domain: library


John Massengale, AIA, is an international thought leader on the connections between urban design, architecture, placemaking, and walkability. Co-author with Victor Dover, FAICP, of Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns, he has won awards for architecture, urbanism, historic preservation and architectural history. Massengale is a Board member of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), the founding chair of CNU New York, and a former director of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. Massengale has taught architecture and urban design studios at the University of Miami School of Architecture and the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture. With Robert A. M. Stern, he was coauthor of New York 1900: Metropolitan Architecture and Urbanism 1890–1915 and The Anglo-American Suburb.


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High BPA exposure may increase all-cause mortality
Exposure to the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A was significantly and positively associated with all-cause mortality in U.S. adults, according to an analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.
“Bisphenol A exposure is ubiquitous in the general population,” Wei Bao, MD, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, told Healio. “In line with our findings, previous studies have shown a wide range of potentially toxic effects of BPA in humans. Therefore, it is imperative and important to minimize human exposure to BPA, through ‘2R’ strategies, reducing the use of BPA-containing products and replacing BPA-containing products with other safer products.”
Bao and colleagues analyzed data from 3,883 adults who participated in the NHANES 2003-2008 waves and provided urine samples for BPA level measurements (mean age, 44 years; 51.4% women). Urinary BPA levels were quantified using online solid-phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography with isotope-dilution tandem mass spectrometry. Participants were stratified by BPA tertile levels, with median levels of 0.7 ng/mL (reference), 2.1 ng/mL and 5.7 ng/mL. Researchers linked participant data all-cause mortality data from survey date through Dec. 31, 2015.
During 36,514 person-years of follow-up (median, 9.6 years), 344 deaths occurred, including 71 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 75 deaths from cancer.
Researchers found that participants with higher urinary BPA levels were at higher risk for death.
HRs comparing the highest vs. lowest tertile of urinary BPA levels were 1.49 (95% CI, 1.01-2.19) for all-cause mortality and 1.46 (95% CI, 0.67-3.15) for CV mortality. There was no association between BPA exposure and cancer mortality. All results persisted after adjustment for age, sex, race, socioeconomic status, dietary and lifestyle factors, BMI, and urinary creatinine levels.
Researchers noted that the observed but statistically nonsignificant association between BPA exposure and CV mortality warrants further investigation.
“Replication of the findings in other populations is needed,” Bao said. “Second, mechanistic studies are warranted to understand the biological pathways.”
For more information:
Wei Bao, MD, PhD, can be reached at the Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N Riverside Dr, Room S431 CPHB, Iowa City, IA 52242; email: firstname.lastname@example.org.


text:
Date of this Version
To determine consumer ordering behaviors in high-end restaurants and to see if consumers are interested in the origin of their beef, both an online survey and in-restaurant taste testing were conducted. About two-thirds of the participants in the in-restaurant taste testing ordered the steak with either the state or farm-of-origin description. Compared to a non-source verified steak, taste participants were willing to pay $4.74 more for the steak with the state-of-origin description, and $8.75 more for the steak with the farm-of-origin description. Almost all of the participants acknowledged the best beef comes from the Midwest, specifically naming Nebraska as a state that raises high-quality beef. These data suggest there is consumer interest in a source-verified beef product in high-end restaurants.

domain: food


We’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and comparing Bluetooth Samsung Headset of all specifications to find the best one for any need (or budget). Here are the results.
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Last update on 2021-05-06 / Affiliate links / Product Titles, Images and Descriptions from Amazon Product Advertising API
Top Rated Bluetooth Samsung Headset to Buy Now
Why You Should Buy Best Bluetooth Samsung Headset from Amazon
Amazon is not the only store that sell Bluetooth Samsung Headset. However, there are several compelling reasons why you should buy Bluetooth Samsung Headset from them, with the suitable Price and Reviews. Here are five:
(1) Amazon Makes Shopping Bluetooth Samsung Headset Personal
Amazon is very good at making recommendations of Bluetooth Samsung Headset based on your search history. From time to time, they will even show you discounted prices on Bluetooth Samsung Headset that you previously expressed an interest in. They also make your shopping experience a little easier by showing you items that you recently viewed.
(2) Amazon Checkout is Easy
Amazon checkout is easy, especially if you already have an account. You can add Bluetooth Samsung Headset to your cart and go through a multi-step checkout process, or you can buy Bluetooth Samsung Headset with only one click by using your stored credit card information.
(3) Amazon Has Lots of Social Proof
Before you make a purchase for Bluetooth Samsung Headset, you want to know that the company you are dealing with is legitimate and that others trust the company enough to make a purchase. You may also like to read what others are saying about the product in the review section. Amazon does all of this quite well.
(4) Amazon Has Great Bluetooth Samsung Headset Images and Descriptions
In addition to still images, many of Amazon’s Bluetooth Samsung Headset have videos. This makes it easier for you to see exactly what you are purchasing. Amazon’s Bluetooth Samsung Headset descriptions are also quite good. In many cases, Amazon repeats the descriptions furnished by the manufacturer. In other cases, they write their own.
(5) The Amazon Site is Easy to Navigate
Navigating the Amazon site is easy. Even though the site is huge, you will not feel overwhelmed when searching for Bluetooth Samsung Headset. This is partly due to Amazon’s filtering process. You can search for items by brand, price or user rating. You can also search for specific features.
How to Choose the Best Bluetooth Samsung Headset (with Price and Reviews)
Although most Bluetooth Samsung Headset are similar, there are several differences worth noting. Here are nine criteria to consider when choosing an Bluetooth Samsung Headset:
(1) Bluetooth Samsung Headset Price and Reviews
Although price is not the only factor to consider, it is nevertheless extremely important. The price of an Bluetooth Samsung Headset should be in line with its value. You can compare Bluetooth Samsung Headset reviews to make sure you are getting a fair price. This is easy to do on Amazon.
The demand for a particular Bluetooth Samsung Headset is a good indication of its ability to perform the functions for which it was designed. If a product has been around for a while and still has a high demand, it is likely a good product.
Bluetooth Samsung Headset materials differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Consider where and how you will be using your Bluetooth Samsung Headset to determine if one material would be better than another.
Like most products, Bluetooth Samsung Headsets come in various sizes. Do you need a large Bluetooth Samsung Headsetor a small one? Think about where you will use your Bluetooth Samsung Headset in order to determine the best size. You can also read the customer reviews on Amazon to see what others are saying about the size of the unit they purchased.
Bluetooth Samsung Headsets also come in a variety of colors. Do you need a particular color? You should also consider whether the color of your Bluetooth Samsung Headset would have any effect on the efficiency of its operation.
The durability of an Bluetooth Samsung Headset will be contingent on the materials used as well as the quality of the manufacturing process. Additionally, the type of Bluetooth Samsung Headset you purchase may affect its durability.
Will you need to store your Bluetooth Samsung Headset? If so, you should consider the size and weight of the Bluetooth Samsung Headsetto make sure that it can be stored properly. Also, give some consideration to the type of climate in which your Bluetooth Samsung Headset will be stored.
(8) Customer Ratings
Customer rating is one of the best criteria for choosing an Bluetooth Samsung Headset. It is hard to know exactly how an Bluetooth Samsung Headset will perform until you get it home and try it out.
Make sure the Bluetooth Samsung Headset you are considering is backed by a good manufacturer’s warranty. If it isn’t, you might be better off with another ones.


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Asthma has many different triggers. No two asthmatics are exactly alike when it comes to what can cause the onset of an attack. For some it’s allergies, for others it’s exercise. This variety in the causes, means that there are a lot of things you can learn below about dealing with your asthma.
A great tip that can help you cope with asthma is to branch out and get in touch with other people who also suffer from asthma. Not only will you be able to get helpful advice from them, you won’t feel so alone and ashamed that you have asthma.
A good tip that can help you if your child has asthma is to do everything you can to educate your child about asthma. Young children have no idea what asthma is or how it affects them, so it’s your job to inform them and to help them work through it.
If you have asthma, and you have no choice but to live in a cold environment, try not to spend too much outside when it is cold. The cold will worsen your asthma symptoms or cause attacks. Spend as much time as you can in a hot environment and when you have to go outside, wear a scarf.
If you or your children are struggling with asthma, it is important to have your home inspected yearly for asthma triggers. Triggers for asthma in the home are dust, mold, and any other spores that may be present in your home. These triggers will often affect children more than adults.
Limit contact with animals, especially long-haired indoor/outdoor pets. Many people with asthma also suffer from diagnosed or undiagnosed animal hair allergies. Even if you aren’t allergic to animal fur or dander, long-haired animals that spend time outdoors will track in dirt and dust that can trigger an asthma attack or otherwise exacerbate asthma symptoms.
If you find yourself using your emergency inhalers more than two times a week, you might want to consider changing asthma medication. Certain medications work better or worse for different people, so you shouldn’t just stick with the first one you try. If you feel that your symptoms aren’t getting better, ask your doctor about trying another medication.
Contrary to popular belief, steroid tablets such as prednisolone are safe for short-term use. They are the most effective treatment for asthma attacks and do not cause side effects if they are not used for every long. Be sure you talk to your doctor before treating yourself with these medications.
Make sure that you do not have any food allergies if you have asthma. Many people find out the hard way that they are allergic to certain foods. Having an allergic reaction can also effect your asthma because your breathing can be decreased. Be sure to go to the emergency room if you think you are having an allergic reaction to food.
Some of the tips we covered may not apply to your particular triggers. Trying to cover a little something for everyone who is dealing with asthma, can be a daunting task. Learn what causes your asthma and what triggers you into an attack so that you can take steps to prevent and control them.


There are officially nearly 1.2 million Realtors in the U.S., with more people opting into the real estate profession this year, the National Association of Realtors reported in its 2016 NAR Member Profile.
Members of NAR account for about half of all active real estate licensees in the U.S. The member profile is based on a survey of 150,024 members, which generated 10,194 usable responses.
Some of the demographic trends typical of Realtors over the years are still present, but there are a few new trends starting to take off, including more younger Realtors and Realtors using more digital avenues.
“The median age of Realtors is younger than in the past because more people entered the real estate profession this year than in past years, with 20% of members reporting one year or less of experience,” said NAR president Tom Salomone, broker-owner of Real Estate II Inc. in Coral Springs, Florida. “NAR is excited to have young, fresh perspectives enter the industry, and we are proud to offer resources for our younger members to advance and grow, such as the Young Professionals Network and ‘30 Under 30’ recognition.”
This is welcome news given that, like the lending industry, the average age of the real estate industry is teetering very close to retirement.
According to NAR, last year, 41% of members were more than 60 years old, while only 2% were under age 30. This year, the percent of Realtors over 60 years old dropped to 30%, and the number of those younger than 30 years more than doubled to 5%. Thirteen percent of members who have two years or less experience are under 30 years of age.
As far technology goes, 93% said that their firm has a web presence.
When communicating with clients, members say that email, telephone and text messaging are used most frequently.
Also, 70% of members reported using social media, an increase from 65% last year. Other technology that members report regularly using includes electronic contact and forms software, contact management software and e-document preparation programs.
Check out this infographic for other key facts from the survey.
Click to enlarge
(Source: National Association of Realtors)


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It feels like only a few days ago that we heard that a new, fourth Mafia game was in development at Hangar 13’s Brighton-based studio. Because it was. Now, we’ve heard a little more about the game, being developed in Unreal Engine 5 rather than its makers’ bespoke in-house engine. Specifically, we’ve heard about where it’s going to be set.
As reported at DualShockers, XboxEra host Shpeshal Nick is claiming that the probably-won’t-be-called-this-but-let’s-go-with-it Mafia 4 is to be set in Italy, not the US. Which is a fair enough suggestion given we’re fairly sure this new game will be a prequel, set before the events of the original Mafia of 2002, which based its action in the fictional city of Lost Heaven, Illinois in the 1930s. The game featured the Salieris as one of two warring crime families, and Nick thinks that Mafia 4 will tell the story of how Don Salieri rose to power in Sicily before moving his operation to the States.
TheGameSpoof rounds up further information offered by Nick on a recent episode of the XboxEra podcast, including that the next Mafia game won’t be as sprawling and as non-linear as 2016’s Mafia III, making it more like Mafia II where the open world wasn’t that open at all. Nick adds that this is all “rumours and mumblings”, “never 100%”, and says he’s never played a Mafia game so doesn’t know the relevance of the crime family to the story; but he claims a contact of his, “this person”, has given him the information on the Don Salieri plotline and the Sicily setting. Time wise, think the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th rather than the 1930s. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how on the money this all is.
Mafia: Definitive Edition, which collected the three games together in one set, released in September 2020 and represents a very convenient way to catch up with these titles ahead of the fourth’s arrival (well, its official reveal). We reviewed the remake of the first game over here, if you want to read our take on Hanger 13’s excellent work there. Alternatively, watch the video review above.
Featured Image Credit: 2K
Topics: 2K Games
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As some of you may have heard there is an outbreak of a respiratory infection affecting dogs. This outbreak was first reported in New Hampshire last year and has now been documented in about 14 states across the US. As we reported before, the cause is unknown but what we do know is that affected dogs quickly become sick and tend to develop pneumonia. Most dogs will recover although some have died. The treatment is supportive in nature and may involve the need to hospitalize your pet. It may take weeks for your dog to recover.
If your dog develops a cough, runny nose, lethargy, decreased activity, decreased appetite or difficulty breathing you should call us immediately. If we are not open, please contact an emergency or urgent care center for guidance or treatment if needed.
Pets most at risk are those having contact with other dogs routinely, such as in a daycare or boarding situation, dog park and pet store exposure. We are recommending that anyone whose dogs routinely have contact with other dogs be more vigilant for early signs of illness. All dog owners should limit their dogs contacts to other dogs, particularly transient contact with dogs of unknown health status. Keep your dog away from sick dogs. Isolate your dog if they become sick. Make sure your dog’s vaccinations are current.
A cat enclosure offers the perfect way for your favorite feline to enjoy a little outdoor time without being subjected to the dangers of the real world. Before you make the decision about adding an enclosure to your property, consider these facts.
Free Access to the Outdoors Can Decrease a Cat's Lifespan
Diabetes in cats, also known as feline diabetes mellitus, is an increasingly common disease affecting 1 out of every 400 cats. Obesity is the leading risk factor for diabetes.
"Overweight or obese cats are two to four times more likely to develop diabetes than cats with a healthy body weight," says board-certified
Cat declawing is possibly one of the most controversial of all animal surgeries. Cats scratch to mark territory and to keep their claws in top condition, but the scratching behavior can challenge the bond between a cat and his owner. Felines, especially young cats, often play rough and scratch their
Cats, unlike dogs, are true carnivores which means they thrive on meat only diets and require no vegetable, grain, or dairy supplementation. Cows milk is not recommended for cats because it can be too rich for their digestive systems. This is because most cats can't digest milk properly because it contains


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Situated in the northwest of Namibia with its wide open spaces, little bush to hide animals and the highest number of leopard in any national park in Africa, Etosha National Park is any nature or wildlife photographer’s heaven. Named after the Oshindonga word meaning great white place in reference to the massive salt pan in the north of the park, Etosha is home to hundreds of species of mammals including some endangered ones, like the heavily poached black rhino. It is the most visited tourist attraction in Namibia, with more than 250 000 tourists and travelers from around the world flocking to Etosha every year.
Most visitors enter through the Anderson Gate, the closest entry point to the biggest and most popular camp, Okaukuejo. Rest camps in Etosha are quiet, clean and comfortable. The extremely hot conditions in the area with summer temperatures exceeding 45 °C and long dry seasons concentrate wildlife around watering holes, many of them man-made and close to rest camps. Tourists can relax under shaded seating while watching the amazing creatures of Africa come for a refreshing drink, including the African bush elephant found in north-western Namibia. They are the tallest off all elephants but because of the limited vegetation available for them to feed on, they suffer from mineral deficiencies and thus have very short tusks.
Driving with African air conditioning (read: wide open windows) is a must in Etosha as nothing prepares you for the heat. Dusty planes dotted with elephants, black-backed jackal, zebra, springbok, steenbok, oryx, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest, lions, leopards, the occasional ostrich and scarcely any vegetation allow for fantastic game viewing and photo opportunities.
Halali is another beautiful campsite in the center of the park and is surrounded by a few hills. The thicker vegetation makes the area popular for elephants, rhino and the ever elusive leopard. A waterhole a few meters from the campsite built in such a way to view wildlife from a close without disturbing them is the perfect location for a few sundowners and as it is floodlit, it gives those willing to sacrifice sleep and blood to hungry mosquitoes the opportunity to observe and photograph nocturnal wildlife into the early hours of the morning. However, be prepared to be very quiet with almost no talking as serious game viewers are not scared to send dirty looks or complain about noisy campers to park management. Etosha is also a malaria area, so be sure to take prophylaxes medication and use quality insect repellent.
The great white pan which Etosha is named after stretches as far as the eye can see. For 4 760 square kilometers to be exact. The salty clay pan covers about 23% of the national park and looks like a scene straight from the moon. Everything is white, powdery and much of a nothingness. It is one of the highlights when visiting the park and visitors are able to leave game viewing vehicles to walk on the crunchy surface when the pan is dry and free of animals.
Having traveled almost 2 300 km, covering the distance from Sydney to Cairns or London to Athens, the drive from Cape Town to Etosha took 11 days on tarmac roads, dirt roads or no roads at all. Namibia got its name from the Khoekhoe ‘click’ language, meaning the land of open spaces or the vast place, and it turned out to be exactly those things. It is one of the most beautiful but trying routes and I believe Namibia is one of the last true wildernesses of the world. Where else can one drive for an entire day and only see one other car? Or go camping with not a single other person around for maybe hundreds of kilometers, with no electricity and only a (very stinky!) long drop toilet? A place where you can see untouched wildernesses and abundant wildlife existing in exactly the same way they did many centuries ago? Places like Namibia are getting fewer by the day.
Driving across two countries on countless dirt roads in an overland truck is an experience every traveller should undergo. It’s noisy, bumpy and hot. Camping was a big part of my travels through Namibia and even though hotels and bungalows are popping up at an alarming rate, staying close to nature is what made it for me. It was cold showers, sunscreen, headbands and buffs, lip ice, dirty hair and putting up camp. I learned the value of free wifi at stops on the way, what it stole from me and how much of the world we miss with our noses stuck to our cell phones. I finally understood the true power of baby wipes and how to value shade during the heat of the day. When I returned home and after my first (hour long) bath my glorious African tan turned out to be a layer of dust, I knew I’d done something right.


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The new murder-comedy Poker Face (on Peacock now) plays a very dangerous game indeed. It walks right up to the line of smugness, of tweeness—maybe it even puts a toe over the edge here and there—before it pulls back. The show is built, in some ways, as a testament to its own cleverness. Which should be irksome, and yet mostly isn’t. That’s a credit to the show’s creator, Rian Johnson, this year best known for writing a directing Glass Onion, and to its salty star, Natasha Lyonne, who wears the show’s quirky, hang-out energy like a comfy vintage suit.
Lyonne plays Charlie, a Nevada casino dweller with a special gift: she can always tell when someone is lying. She once used that to her advantage in gambling, but now she’s trying to stay on the straight and narrow—minus all the booze and cigarettes. But, of course, malfeasance finds her, and Charlie has to go on the lam, keeping one or two steps ahead of her pursuer, played by Benjamin Bratt. As Charlie drives across America, working odd jobs, she keeps stumbling into murder mysteries, which she solves using her unique powers of deduction.
I say mysteries, but they’re not really that. At least not to us in the audience. Like its obvious inspiration, Columbo, Poker Face shows us who did the murder right from the jump. Each episode introduces us to a new crime and a new cast of guest stars—bored twentysomethings working a rest stop in the middle of nowhere, scheming older ladies at a retirement community, a barbecue master who’s had a change of heart about cooking meat and wants to go vegan. The show can be a bit flippant about all the death that Charlie encounters, but it does take its characters seriously. Or, at least, it addresses them thoroughly.
Poker Face has an inviting, humane demeanor. Charlie can be prickly at times, a little rude, a bit blunt. But for the most part, she’s a kind person, cool and decent in the way that recognizes coolness and decency in others and thrives off that common energy. Her unassuming air makes her a surprising detective, which ultimately proves vexing to the many murderers with whom she crosses paths.
The cast of killers and killed is an interesting olio of familiar faces. Chloë Sevigny plays the laid-low lead singer of a one-hit-wonder band, desperate to return to the glow of fame and success. Judith Light and S. Epatha Merkerson play former 1960s radicals now stuck in the mundanity of their twilight years. Newly minted Oscar nominee Hong Chau plays a friendly trucker, Ellen Barkin and Tim Meadows are faded TV stars still nursing old grudges. Everyone seems to relish the opportunity to play around in Johnson’s oddball little world. Should Poker Face get a second season, it will probably have no trouble getting guest stars.
My hope, though, would be that the show maintains its modest scale. The first season, or at least the six episodes I’ve seen, has a pleasing shagginess. It’s slickly made, but not haughty about it. That’s a delicate vibe, one that could easily be disrupted by too much self-impressed showboating. A bit of that is already present—“Look how ingenious this writing is,” the show sometimes seems to say as Charlie goes about unraveling the intricacies of a case. Any more preening flash would throw the whole thing out of whack.
As is, though, Poker Face is groovy entertainment. It’s pretty faithful to its case-of-the-week format, removing any pressure to remember mythology or, really, even character names. It’s easy to watch, to dive in and out of, which is rarer in today’s TV landscape than it should be. That’s all part of Johnson’s throwback intent, and yet he keeps the show free of too much cloying nostalgia. (The retro opening titles in the pilot feel a bit stale, though, so many years after Jackie Brown.) Compared to Glass Onion, Johnson’s over-adorned 2022 film, Poker Face is restrained in its references. It is less reactive to cultural discourse, though there are plenty of amusing, timely allusions.
Lyonne is an actor perhaps uniquely suited to the job of Poker Face, to keeping one foot in the cozy past and the other in the contemporary zeitgeist. As Charlie, she feels both fresh and familiar at once, an old pal who you’ve never seen before. That quality serves this peripatetic show quite well. Lyonne is an invaluable constant as the bodies fall, and that’s the truth.