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Enforcement needed for gill net restrictions
The state has proposed regulations for lay gill net fishing.
INDISCRIMINATE catches taken in by lay gill nets make the method a prime target for fishing restrictions the state is proposing
. Though the nets are but one reason for the decline of Hawaii's near-shore fish populations, the rules reflect the need to reduce pressure on the ocean ecosystem and still would allow responsible recreational, commercial and subsistence fishers to harvest from the sea.
The stronger regulations are necessary, but they won't be fully effective unless enforced, and that can't happen with the woefully inadequate number of officers available.
The proposed regulations would significantly change lay gill net fishing. Unlike Florida, California, Georgia and other coastal states, Hawaii has few restraints.
The rules would limit the size and number of nets, the distance and depths they cover, the amount of time they can be set in the water and left unattended, and the areas where they can be used. Nets would have to be registered and carry identification so owners can be held accountable.
At present, irresponsible fishermen set nets and leave them sometimes overnight or even longer before retrieval, haphazardly snaring everything that swims into them. Unwanted fish, protected species such as turtles and spawning fish are caught and killed needlessly.
Because the nets are made mostly of cheap monofilament, there is little thought to abandoning them. They can end up entangling sea creatures such as seals and damaging coral and plants for extended periods.
The rules would ban the nets along areas in West Hawaii and around most of Oahu's eastern and southern coasts. All of Maui's near-shore waters would be off limits, as residents on that island have asked.
The proposed rules would not affect active net fishing with throw nets, akule or opelu nets and bag nets. The state also is considering an exemption for pa'ipa'i netting, where fish are chased into a net by slapping or churning the water.
The proposals have met some resistance, but most fishers appear to see the wisdom of the restrictions, as do the knowledgeable authors of the article on page F5 of this section, who make a case for banning the monofilament nets.
The new restrictions also are supported by The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Malama Hawaii and SeaWeb -- and their polling shows an overwhelming majority of state residents agree.
They point out, however, that the hole in the plan is enforcement. The state acknowledges that its 100 or so enforcement officers -- whose duties include protecting 3 million acres of ocean waters, millions of acres of forests, parks and conservation lands, boating facilities, cruise ship security and drug enforcement -- cannot possibly cover all the bases. Hawaii's natural resources are far too important to leave to such scant defense; more officers are needed.


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For years, street art has been one of the biggest phenomenons of the art world. Artists have taken to the streets, using public buildings, bridges, telephone booths and other structures as their canvases. They develop pieces, sculptures, campaigns and expressive installations in an effort to spread messages and initiate movements to people of the world through creativity and beauty.
In some cases, street artists are commissioned to do pieces for the improvement of the area surrounding. Places all over the world, from Berlin to Atlanta, and soon, even Jacksonville, are using street art to improve the aesthetics and public image of their respected areas.
There has always been a grey area about street art and the legality or purpose of it, but if you look past that, most artists have been given permission to do their pieces. This proves that people want to see more art in public places, sometimes even in their homes and businesses.
“After all, it’s just paint on a wall, it’s part of life, there will be paint on that wall regardless if it’s a grey wall or a mural, but if it’s a well-done, thought-out and meaningful piece, it becomes more than that, and actually could make a difference,” said prominent Jacksonville artist, Shaun Thurston.
“We aren’t just talking murals either, we are talking installations, sculptures, murals, musical performances and expressive projects that enrich the quality of life in and surrounding the 904. To put it in perspective, arts and culture have more of an economic impact on Jacksonville then tourism does,” Tony Allegretti, Executive Director of the Cultural Council of greater Jacksonville, said.
People like Allegretti and Thurston have been working to bring more art to the public eye. With help from committees like the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, soon, these commissioned pieces and projects could be an important part of life here, and the artists of the 904 will no longer be on a mission to scout the next wall to spray paint secretly. They might actually have the opportunity to be sanctioned as professional artists, not only expressing themselves but also doing art for the benefit of our city.
In the past, artists like Banksy, JR and Shepard Fairey sold installations upwards of a million dollars and have started campaigns that challenged the true meaning of street art.
If we look at what Allegretti does, the goal is to bring art to the public eye so that Jacksonville is more aesthetically pleasing and is plentiful in opportunities for artists to contribute to the city they know and love.
“The thing is, not many cities are supportive of installing art in public places, and I don’t think Jacksonville is really aware of that, which is a good thing, but there are also places around the world that are seeing the benefit of art in public places, and why shouldn’t Jacksonville be on the forefront of that?” Allegretti said.
To layout how the Cultural Council works and how it plans to bring more art to the city, Allegretti explained the “three legged stool” of how funds are dispersed and how artists, projects and pieces are chosen. He explained that the council is what the three legs of the stool supports. They bring all the funds, artists, organizations and ideas together to make art a bigger piece of Jacksonville.
The first leg of the stool is the cultural service grants that fund projects to benefit the city. Right now, the cultural council receives a minute amount of the city’s budget to redisperse to 22 different art organizations around the city to use in their budgets as a grant. That money allows Jacksonville to explore further into potential art projects, and the support of these organizations has become the cornerstone of what the cultural council is all about.
The second leg, is Art in Public Places, and this is where we start talking about art in the eye of the public and where street art plays a role. Art in Public Places is a small part in the budget for any Community Improvement Projects that the city invests in.
For instance, the city is starting to recognize that with these improvement projects, we don’t necessarily need to build something new. You can simply add to what we have already. Instead of putting paint on a wall and calling it a day, the city is hiring artists to design pieces that will help improve the given area through art. This means if a proposal is approved, places and objects, such as light poles, electrical boxes, telephone booths, bike racks, murals, sidewalks and bridges could all become pieces of art to better the quality of life in our area through aesthetics.
Chip Southworth, a prominent Jacksonville artist and advocate for laws allowing people to do art in public places, said, “I think public art has a huge value that way [being public]. Maybe someone thinks that they don’t care about art, but then some piece shows up on their route to work, and suddenly they’re transformed into art lovers.”
For example, with projects like art walk and sculpture walk, the government and community are seeing the positive feedback and popularity of such ideas and events and are starting to become more open minded about laws for art in the public eye.
“No one, unless a brutalist, would rather have a metal box over local art really, so in five years from now we will look back at this and probably go ‘duh’ it should be art,” Allegretti said.
The third leg of the stool is the private donor. With private money coming in to the Cultural Council, they can allocate that money back into the other two legs and re-disperse funding to private art organizations and Community Improvement Projects with the city’s approval.
For those wondering how certain projects are chosen, it is a delicate process. Whenever the council receives money, a panel of professionals decides which pieces are approved, where, and how much money goes to which ones and who gets to carry out the task of doing the piece. It is a well thought-out process in which all parties have a fair chance to apply for workspace or potential projects for the city, and the council takes pride in its transparency in choosing projects.
In the end, it seems as though more and more support for the public arts is surfacing here in Jacksonville. There are people fighting tooth and nail to make Jacksonville more aesthetically pleasing and artists are chomping at the bit to be a part of it. There have been submissions from hundreds of artists in and out of Jacksonville, and even out of the country, who have placed bids on projects that have been approved for public art. We are at the tip of the iceberg here in Jax, and if all goes as planned, we will be one of the foremost communities around the world that will be embracing the arts and making them part of our everyday lives.

domain: news


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Are Your Reusable Medical Devices Really Sterile?
Reusable medical devices are in use throughout many healthcare facilities, from the emergency room to the operating room. These devices are typically put through stringent sterilization procedures before they’re deemed patient-ready for reuse. Unfortunately, those sterilization processes aren’t always as effective as most medical professionals – not to mention their patients – would like to believe. How sterile are the reusable medical devices in use throughout your facility? If you’re opting to autoclave medical devices, even according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, rather than choosing single-use devices for your patients, the answer may be, “not as sterile as you think.”
Biodebris on Sterilized Devices: The Hazards
Sterilization processes, from autoclave to chemical sterilization, are intended to destroy microscopic bacteria, viruses, and other particles that could potentially cause harm to the patients who are next to use the materials. Unfortunately, those sterilization processes aren’t designed to fully filter out larger biodebris. In many cases, biodebris has gotten stuck in devices even after they’ve made it through the autoclave. If it’s spotted before it’s put into use for a patient, the crisis has been averted. Visual inspection, however, isn’t always practical for medical devices that are needed in the middle of an emergency situation. Not only that, but bacteria and other contaminants may not be visible to the naked eye, making it impossible to determine whether or not a device is truly “safe.”
In some cases, that can lead to significant issues. A few years ago, for example, contaminated bronchoscopes that caused significant problems and microbial infections in many patients led to increased regulations from the FDA, including the requirement for visual checks any time a device is reused. Hazards of biodebris on so-called “sterilized” devices could include introducing foreign matter to patients, leading to infection and other problems that could hinder the healing process and even make patients sicker. This is particularly dangerous in the operating room, where exposure to foreign biodebris could make patients very ill.
Many surgeons believe that once biodebris has been through an autoclave, it’s sterile–even if it’s visible on the equipment. Thus far, no study has definitively proven whether or not biodebris is hazardous after it’s been sterilized. It’s important to note, however, that infection clusters have been observed in cases where biodebris was noted in medical devices, such as this case, where three patients ended up with Staphylococcus epidermidis septic arthritis after having the same repair surgery over a four-day period at a specific hospital.
Patient contamination can cause serious problems: infections, increased healing time, illness, and even, in some cases, death. For this reason, it’s vital to ensure that tools are appropriately sterile before proceeding with medical procedures. Unfortunately, there are few studies that have been used to determine the actual sterility of medical devices that have been autoclaved and marked as safe for reuse. For this reason, these devices remain in use throughout medical facilities – and many of them may lead to significant problems for patients.
Testing Sterility of Reusable Medical Devices
A recent study aimed to test the sterility of medical devices that could potentially be used in surgical situations. The study examined drill bits used in a way that was designed to mimic the surgical process. Researchers allowed the bits to sit for the duration of the surgical process, then sterilized the equipment according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. At the end of the study, bacteria were found on some of the experimental bits. As a result, the team determined that it’s impossible to say for sure that biodebris has been fully sterilized after going through the autoclave process. This simple experiment has left a number of questions for medical professionals, particularly surgeons. While some have often used a “better safe than sorry” approach to visible biodebris found on reusable medical devices, others assumed that the autoclave process was enough to sterilize them. Worse, bacteria found on reusable medical devices after they’ve been used in surgical procedures may not be visible to the naked eye, leading to contamination even when surgeons are unaware of potential problems.
The Solution: Single-Use Medical Devices
Single-use medical devices are the ideal solution to a sterile medical solution. Consider these benefits:
Single-use medical devices are free of contaminants.
They’re packed in sterile environments, where they will not be exposed to potentially harmful bacteria that has the potential to cause illness and infection in patients. That means that they come into your facility clear of potential contamination and are used on your patients the same way. This is a much easier way to cut down on the spread of bacteria, even potentially reducing outbreaks throughout your medical facility. In this way, you can actually cut down on the costs associated with your medical devices since you won’t end up spending more money on patient care when it’s uncovered that your devices led to the spread of infection.
Single-use medical devices won’t spread harmful bacteria from one patient to another.
This will help ensure that all patients have better outcomes for their procedures. It’s impossible to know what bacteria are being transmitted between one patient and another, even after devices have been sterilized according to manufacturer recommendations. When you opt to use single-use tools for each patient, however, you decrease cross-contamination and make it easier to keep your patients healthy and safe.
Single-use medical devices reduce the instance of healthcare-associated infections.
According to the CDC, healthcare-associated infections can be reduced by as much as 70% by making the transition to single-use medical devices across the facility. This means 70% of your patients who will have smoother recovery periods and better outcomes for their surgical procedures.
The Bottom Line: Single-Use Medical Devices Create Safer Medical Facilities
Single-use medical devices are one of the most effective alternatives to reusable medical devices. They substantially increase patient safety and decrease the odds of secondary infections related to healthcare treatment. Our ONETRAC device, for example, is an incredible surgical tool that can easily be used to decrease cross-contamination during the surgical process.
If your medical facility is ready to make the switch to single-use medical devices, contact us! We’ll work with you to establish what single-use medical devices could help decrease instances of infection throughout your facility.

domain: medical


LabSolutions features an innovative operating environment and provides complete data management to ensure secure information in networked laboratories.
Data Integrity in the Analytical Laboratory
Hot topics in test and analytical data include the lack of data integrity due to tampering or replacement of data. This is often the result of intentional or accidental mishandling. Data integrity is becoming an urgent issue for analytical laboratories. Here are some specific examples of how to ensure accurate and efficient data integrity.
Practical Procedures for Compliance with Data Integrity Requirements in Analytical Laboratories
This report describes practical procedures for ensuring data integrity for analytical instruments.PDF Download
Data Integrity Compliance Using the LabSolutions Report Set Function
LabSolutions DB/CS includes a new Report Set function that makes software operations visible. It helps to ensure the reliability of analysis data required by laboratories, and in addition can decrease the amount of time needed to check analysis results by a half or even two-thirds.PDF Download
Data Integrity Compliance: An Innovative Solution for Molecular Spectroscopy
Regulatory authorities for analytical instruments are not only inspecting chromatography systems, such as liquid chromatographs and gas chromatographs, but are also paying more attention to spectroscopy systems, such as UV and IR systems. This report describes an innovative solution for ensuring data integrity for such spectroscopy systems.PDF Download
Data Integrity Solutions for Spectroscopy Systems
This document introduces Shimadzu's solutions for data integrity in spectroscopy systems, such as UV and IR systems.PDF Download


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Samsung teases the Galaxy S 6's camera technology
Samsung's head of camera R&D has taken to the company's official blog to promise that the next Galaxy S handset will usher in another innovation in smartphone camera technology.gadgets Updated: Feb 12, 2015 11:56 IST
Samsung's head of camera R&D has taken to the company's official blog to promise that the next Galaxy S handset will usher in another innovation in smartphone camera technology.
In the post, which charts the history of the smartphone camera in general and Samsung's role in its evolution from gimmick to absolute necessity, DongHoon Jang claims that with the upcoming Galaxy S6, due to be officially unveiled on March 1, smartphones may have finally caught up with dedicated digital cameras in terms of performance and capabilities.
However, unlike a dedicated camera, the unit on the next Galaxy will be all about simplicity, preventing anything from getting in the way of its user's creativity. "It will be intelligent and do all the thinking for users, allowing them to take amazing pictures under any conditions, without having to worry about anything more than just pressing the shutter button. It will demonstrate just how far Samsung has advanced smartphone cameras, and once again will open the creative side of our users for new ideas and new possibilities," he writes.
The post also confirms that the new phone's front-facing camera will also be bringing something new to the table in terms of features and performance.
Although the official unveiling ceremony isn't scheduled until March 1, on the eve of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, much has already leaked about the next-generation Samsung Galaxy S, including -- thanks to publicity images created by a smartphone case maker -- that there appears to be two versions, one with a three-sided display.
On Wednesday, the news of Samsung's plans to launch two types of handset appeared to be confirmed by Bloomberg, whose sources said one of the devices will have a display covering three sides and that both handsets will be finished from quality metals and glass rather than the usual plastic.
As well as Bloomberg's report, on Wednesday what appeared to be the Samsung Galaxy 6S's benchmark scores also appeared online. They suggest that the phone will be faster and more powerful than an Apple iPad Air 2, that the handset will have a 5.1-inch display, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and a huge 20-megapixel rear-facing camera.
First Published: Feb 12, 2015 11:07 IST


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Regular price$549$384Sale384.00$ instead of
Dancing to the divine groove of life’s beauty, the Star Gazer Short Dress with Tie Front unveils a dramatic hand-painted print of Japan’s lush foliage and midnight blooms. Handcrafted from sumptuous silk, this sensuous short-length dress features a bejewelled tie-front, dainty shoestring straps and a floaty full skirt made for moving with a gentle grace.
- Short Dress with Tie Front - Star Gazer print - Shoestring straps - Lined bodice - Invisible zip - Embellished neckline
FABRICATION: 100% Silk EMBELLISHMENT: Crystals
Moving moons and shaking stars. The Stargazer is a timeless muse in the art of girl to womanhood.

domain: design


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Mizu weilds her sword
Mizu (voiced by Maya Erskine)
A battle ensues
Blue Eye Samurai, now streaming on Netflix, might be the first official collaboration between married couple Michael Green (Starz's American Gods, Blade Runner 2049) and Amber Noizumi, but it's directly influenced by their greatest collaboration: their daughter, born in 2008. The show's title comes from the nickname they gave her at birth, and the story comes from contemplating how she might be received at different periods in history, especially in Japan.
"If she had been a samurai, the borders would have been closed and they would not have foreigners," Noizumi says. "Nobody would have blue eyes and that would be monstrous."
Set in 17th-century Japan, Blue Eye Samurai tells the story of Mizu, a mixed-race swordmaster who disguises herself as a man in order to exact revenge. While the idea took shape fifteen years ago, it wasn't until Green and Noizumi began to explore animation as an avenue that it began to cohere. "We were early adopters of the credo that animation is just a medium, it's a tool," Green explains.
At the time, there were few shows on television that embraced the label of "adult animation," though now Samurai joins a cadre of shows such as Amazon Prime's Invincible and AMC's Pantheon. When the pair decided that animation was the route they wanted to take, they began to seek out a company that would share their vision for the show, which was quite simple: they wanted it to be beautiful.
To that end, the duo designed moodboards filled with Japanese woodblock paintings to assert a bespoke, handcrafted look that animators could bring to life. To bring an extra level of thoughtfulness to the characters' wardrobes, they drafted costume designer Suttirat Larlarb, who worked with Green on the Starz series American Gods.
"We wanted our main characters to be given the movie star treatment," he says. Larlarb's work, he explains, was differentiating how people in different classes would dress, or what might separate fashion in Edo from clothes in Kyoto. To achieve that level of authenticity, Green and Noizumi concocted a syllabus on Edo-period Japan, with each book's bibliography leading them down new paths. "That was the better part of our quarantine," Green says, "giving ourselves a postgraduate degree."
Aside from scholarly research, Noizumi drew upon personal experience around the intricacies of race in Japan. Her father, who was born in Japan, told her that, though she is Japanese, she would look white to natives, a reality she realized upon traveling there. "We're Japanese in America," Noizumi says of visiting her father's home country. "But we're white here."
While Noizumi admits she was nervous to work with her spouse, she knows it was the best course for this story. "The fact that our child was a collaboration," she says, "it was so personal to both of us, it really stuck."
They wrote the show during the early days of Covid; it became a North Star for them. While some couples spent their time arguing over dishes, they quarreled over plot.
As they fleshed out their main character, they agreed that a quest for revenge would be her fuel, driving the action of the story. "We knew she was going to be singularly focused," Noizumi says. Her traits reflected that: she would be a fast eater, using food as fuel; she would downplay emotions to keep her eye on vengeance. "Everything else was going to be in service of that trait."
Part of the joy of watching Samurai is that it wears its influences on its sleeve, some in the form of Easter eggs. A dojo and its leader, Heiji Shindo, are a nod to Japanese director Kaneto Shindo, while genre classics such as Lady Snowblood are directly referenced. In the first episode, a needle drop of "Battle Without Honor or Humanity"echoes Kill Bill, with which Samurai shares a sound mixer, Myron Nittenga.
But not all of the series' influences come from one specific genre; Noizumi and Green say that one of the show's greatest influences is the Barbra Streisand film Yentl which, like Samurai, features a woman who must infiltrate a male-dominated society in disguise and who ends up in a love triangle.
The couple's love for process is reflected in one of the show's central metaphors — sword making. Crafting the perfect weapon involves beating out impurities, which teaches Mizu that mixed metal makes the strongest sword. Fittingly, the metaphor applied not only to the project's main character, but to the process of animation which, like baking, making cheese or crafting a sword, requires patience, passion and collaboration.
As Green puts it, "The artists on the show all treat every little decision as a piece of the process to steep in, with the diligence of a tea ceremony."
Blue Eye Samurai is now streaming on Netflix.

domain: artistic


Fairaudio's Favourite Award 2019
One of Germany's largest online audio magazines, fairaudio, votes Dynaudio's Music 7 their favourite in 2019.
Each year, the Fairaudio Favourite Award rewards the "best of test", highlighting "the products which impressed us the most from all reviews over the past year". We're proud to announce that this year, our wireless home speaker Music 7 brought the trophy home.
The jury's verdict: "We reviewed the top model from the new Music series and were seriously surprised how composed the sound is. High level of detail, a natural midrange and a cultivated bass all blend hand-in-hand in the Dynaudio Music 7."
Check out some of our favourite quotes from their review earlier this year.
"The high-frequencies had air and finesse I never ever heard from any other one-box-system."
"For me this is by far the most audiophile one-box-system, and a benchmark for all competitors."
"Apart from the convincing sound performance, other highlights are the beautiful appearance, the intuitive use, and the added intelligence from the Dynaudio Music App."
If you're fluent in German, check out their award news here.


text: Foreplay by director Anne van Campenhout came second at the Sex and Media Award 2020. Every year the award is granted to a notable publication on sexuality in Dutch media. Again Foreplay is recognized as an intimate short film that shows how young people have many questions about relationships, love, and sex even though there is plenty of sex in media. Sex education plays an essential role in helping young people to think, talk, and find answers. The mint film documentary 69 Love Sex Senior won the Sex and Media award in 2014.

domain: sociology


The administration of President Barack Obama has approved an Egyptian request for the advanced F-16 multi-role fighter.
Under the proposal, Egypt would receive 24 F-16 Block 50/52 aircraft in a $3.2 billion deal.
“The proposed sale will allow the Egyptian Air Force to modernize its aging air force by acquiring new fighter aircraft, thereby enabling Egypt to support both its own air defense needs and coalition operations,” the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Oct. 14.
This marked the first F-16 sale to Egypt since 1999. Egypt’s most advanced F-16 has been the Block 40, which was not equipped to deploy advanced missiles and related systems
Officials said this would be the first of several Egyptian requests for the F-16. They said Cairo, which would require five years of American training, would pay for the deal through the annual U.S. aid of $1.3 billion. Egypt has a fleet of more than 200 F-16s.
Congress has 30 days to block the Egyptian request. Officials said that neither the House nor Senate, despite concern over Egypt’s shoddy human rights record, would seek to stop the F-16 sale.
The Pentagon agency said the F-16s requested by Egypt would contain either the F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 engine as well as APG-68[V]9 radars.
The platforms would also contain advanced reconnaissance and electronic warfare systems as well as the Sniper or Lightening targeting pods.
The proposed sale was estimated to be much more expensive than a U.S. project to sell Morocco 24 F-16s for $2.4 billion. Officials said the Moroccan project, unlike that of Egypt, did not include a request to build air bases.
Egypt has also requested conformal fuel tanks for the F-16s. Officials said the fuel tanks would enable long-range air strikes.
“Delivery of this weapon system will greatly enhance Egypt’s interoperability with the U.S., making it a more valuable partner in an important area of the world, as well as supporting Egypt’s legitimate need for its own self-defense,” DSCA said. It could also cause concern for neighboring Israel as Egypt has attacked them in the past.
Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-16, has been deemed the prime contractor. Other contractors include BAE Systems, Boeing, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman.


The UPS fleet has driven sustainable innovation, and RNG is no exception. Could this be the commercial push that drives natural gas vehicles into mass market adoption?
Natural gas vehicles are certainly trending upward. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that in 2018 about 710 million gasoline gallon equivalents (GGE) of natural gas were consumed and that the natural gas fueling market will grow to 1.2 billion GGE by 2025.
Here are three big reasons why we think RNG is going to be on every fleet manager’s mind in the coming months and why that matters for the entire fuel industry.
1. Significant GHG reductions for companies and governments
The environment and sustainability activities are top of mind for companies and government entities, and a GHG emissions reduction goal is a central part of sustainability.
RNG fuel is derived from organic waste sources, including landfills, wastewater treatment plants and agricultural sources. While organizations and cities will continue to reduce and refine waste streams, these sources of domestic organic waste are not going away.RNG is the only fuel available for heavy- and medium-duty vehicles that can have carbon-negative emissions and a clean air profile.
“RNG is the only fuel available for heavy-duty vehicles that can have carbon-negative emissions.”
Creating a useful byproduct from their operations is a low-carbon solution that benefits facility owners, cities and the fleets powered by RNG.
Depending on the waste stream and per the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the RNG emissions profile can range from a 70 percent to a 300 percent reduction when compared to gasoline and diesel.
Those exponential figures allow companies and governments to make a big statement and significantly impact their GHG emissions profile.
In addition, when you combine RNG with an ultra-low-emissions engine platform, you have the cleanest engine commercially available today that not only reduces GHG emissions and has a positive impact on the environment, but also provides the same level of performance that fleet operators expect.Reducing GHG emissions and overall environmental impact, like any lasting change, starts at the local level, and RNG is a tool that fleets can use to achieve environmental goals now.
“Reducing GHG emissions and overall environmental impact, like any lasting change, starts at the local level”.
2. Vehicle applications that work for today’s fleet
Compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles have been widely adopted across municipal, transit, refuse and national delivery applications.
Their proven application and continued improvement mean that drivers, maintenance technicians and other operators are comfortable and familiar with this alternative fuel vehicle.
RNG is a drop-in fuel for CNG and LNG, which means that no added infrastructure or change in operations is required to switch to RNG if a fleet is already using fossil CNG or LNG.
RNG production also benefits from the existing natural gas infrastructure and can be injected into any pipeline if it meets the gas quality specifications (or tariff) of the pipeline.
Once RNG is injected in the natural gas pipeline system, it can be delivered to nearly any natural gas meter in the U.S. served by this existing infrastructure.
“Fleets can expect cleaner, quieter and more cost-effective vehicles.”
If your fleet has already made the investment in CNG and LNG adoption, then it can benefit from the use of RNG without any additional costs.
3. Support for RNG in federal and state regulations
The RNG industry has experienced significant growth in the last five years through regulatory support under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard and certain low-carbon state mandates.
In 2018, the RNG industry produced more than 200 million GGE and it is anticipated to grow by more than 30 percent year over year for the foreseeable future.
RNG vehicle fuel is supported by federal and state programs that incentivize renewable and low-carbon fuel production.
Although these programs were designed to incentivize the fuel producer, fleets are the ultimate end users of these products, so they often participate in the value chain of environmental credit revenues.
With continued long-term goals in place for these programs, fleets can benefit economically from the use of RNG and receive a discount to conventional natural gas fuel.
RNG has been a success story to date for the alternative fuel industry. It’s a low-carbon fuel that’s poised for greater adoption as natural gas vehicles are tested and proven in new applications.
As fleets like UPS continue to use drop-in renewable fuel like RNG, they can expect cleaner, quieter and more cost-effective vehicles, and the fuel industry at large will continue to push for more innovation.
The more we know about you and your business, the better we can accommodate your individual goals and needs. Please answer a few questions about your business and interests, and a Clean Energy sales representative will get back to you soon.


Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 148,337 pages of information and 233,846 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.
1906 Company founded to make malleable iron chain.
1961 Mechanical handling engineers and malleable ironfounders, manufacturing conveyors and elevators, steel and malleable iron chain, and malleable iron castings. 466 employees.
1962 Manufacturing a wide range of conveyors.


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Run with us in a running event!
Ever wanted to challenge yourself to run a marathon or half marathon? Now's your chance!
We have charity places available in the following running events, but hurry we have a limited number of places and once they're gone - they're gone!
Join our running team
If you have your own place in a running event, register your details to join our team and we'll send you a fantastic running fundraising pack!
Our running pack includes:
- A running guide tailored to your needs to help you train and get over the finish line.
- An RSPCA branded running vest (ultracool material) and a t-shirt to train in.
- Lots of ideas to maximise your sponsorship as well as fundraising materials such as stickers, posters, invitation cards, and collection boxes.
- Lots of goodies for your friends and family on the day to be seen!

domain: hobby


The Neutralizer AC (anti-static gun) incorporates the efficiency and power of an air amplifier with the proven technology of corona ionization to produce a highly effective static eliminating blow-off gun. In addition, it offers a lightweight well-balanced static gun powered by an internal, rechargeable (30 hour run time), lithium ion battery and a replaceable emitter pin to keep the Neutralizer AC performing like new.
Need more than one - volume discounts available. Please contact us for a quote.
Questions? Contact Us


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There can be few more stirring sights than a B-17 Flying Fortress coming home after a long and arduous daylight mission over occupied Europe, and Robert Taylor’s inspired painting Return of
the Belle has come to symbolise the huge role played by the bombers of the U.S. Eighth Air
Force in Europe during World War II.
The famous Memphis Belle, skippered by Captain Bob
Morgan, became the first B-17 in the 91st Bomb Group to complete 25 missions, and returned
home to the US with a crew that had been decorated more than 50 times.
Set in gentle
Cambridgeshire countryside, Robert Taylor gives us an engaging view of the Memphis Belle as
she returns from one of her early missions on a late autumn day in 1942. It was a typical scene
that would be re-enacted across countless airfields in England as the heroic airmen of the Mighty
Eighth Air Force fought with unstinting sacrifice for the liberation of Europe and the free world.
Image size: 24" x 36"
Very low inventory
Giclée on canvas
Signed by the artist - (ships rolled)
Note:Each canvas is produced as and when ordered, then personally inspected and signed by Robert Taylor.
Please allow five to eight weeks for delivery.
Robert Taylor had this to say about the Studio proofs: “These Giclée proofs are so impressive, they are as close to my original painting in colour and texture as it is possible to achieve in reproduced format.”
Each canvas is signed by the artist, stamped on the back, hand-numbered and issued with a Certificate of Authenticity.

domain: history


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A mobile strategy game for iOS, Android, and Amazon devices, Clash of Clans is a game about building a village, defending it, and attacking other players. The game is free, but players can purchase in-game items with real money. In this article, we will be discussing a game that has quickly become one of the most popular games in the world. Clash of Clans is a strategy game in which players build and protect their clans from other players around the world. Players can spend real money in the game in order to advance faster.
There are two types of gameplay, one being village building and upgrading and the other being attacking other players. Players can build a village with a variety of buildings, such as barracks, barracks, and gold mines. Players can also upgrade buildings, which is done by spending resources, such as gold and elixir.
There are two ways to attack other players: one is attacking villages, and the other is attacking players. Players can attack villages by finding them and then selecting the number of troops to send. Players can attack other players by selecting their name from their clan, and then selecting the number of troops to send. All troops will automatically scroll to the opponent’s village.
Clash of Clans is a strategy game in which players build and protect their clans from other players around the world. Players can spend real money in the game in order to advance faster. The game offers two main types of gameplay: the campaign, which is a story-driven, single-player mode that consists of thirty levels of gameplay, and multiplayer battles, in which players can battle against other players online. The gameplay is based on the player's knowledge of how to use the game's resources, such as gold, elixir, and dark elixir, as well as troops, buildings, and spells. In the campaign, players can choose to cut down trees in order to get wood, or they can explore their surroundings to find more gold or elixir. Players can also train troops and build defenses to protect themselves from invaders.
The graphics in Clash of Clans are not bad, but they are simple. The graphics are not too detailed, which is important for mobile devices that have low graphics capability. The graphics of Clash of Clans are very well done. The game's graphics are bright and have a cartoonish feel to them. All of the buildings, troops, and objects have a 3D design, which is not common in most strategy games in the App Store. The animations in the game are also very well done.
Players can replay the game continuously because there are so many things to do. There are many different ways to attack, build, and upgrade, and players can also create their own clans. The game also has a chat with lots of people in it, which makes it more social. Clash of Clans offers a lot of replayability to players. The game starts off with thirty levels of content, which should keep players busy for a while. The game is also constantly updated with new content and new features, which makes the game feel fresh and updated.
Clash of Clans is a game about building a village, defending it, and attacking other clans. There are two types of gameplay consisting of village building and upgrading and attacking other players. There are also two ways to attack other players: attacking villages and attacking people. The graphics are simple, but they are not bad. The game is continuously replayable, and it is free. The game can be addictive and frustrating when players lose.

domain: game


Newport Beach, Calif.—Predicting that Republicans will win control of the House next month and that he will then be chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rep. Darrell Issa (R.-Calif.) vowed that the Obama Administration will be held accountable “like they’ve never been held accountable.”
In discussing the use of investigatory and subpoena power that would come with his chairmanship of the committee, Issa reminded the Western Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday of past Democratic demands for tougher oversight when Republicans held the White House.
He quoted former Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D.-Calif.) as warning that the Bush Administration “can refuse to give us information, but that would be very unfortunate for them.” He also quoted Nancy Pelosi in ’07 as saying the Democratic Congress would be different in that it would be “shedding light and oversight of accountability on this administration.”
Issa asked the audience who vowed in ’07 that the Democratic Congress would be “ferreting out waste and fraud” in the Bush Administration.
“The answer,” Issa said, “is Rahm Emanuel.”
Following his address, the San Diego Republican told HUMAN EVENTS that he planned to investigate the policy of offering federal positions as political rewards. The issue was magnified this year following claims by Colorado’s Andrew Romanoff and Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Sestak that the Obama White House had offered them federal positions in return for not running against Democratic incumbents for the Senate.
Issa made it clear that he intended to investigate the practice in Republican Administrations and this would include claims that George W. Bush’s White House also tried to keep candidates from running for office with federal posts.
“Just because Andrew Jackson started the ‘spoils system’ way back when doesn’t mean it is legal or should not be investigated,” said Issa.


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Ashbery was born in July 28, 1927 in Rochester, New York and raised on a farm near Lake Ontario; his brother died when they were children. Ashbery was educated at Deerfield Academy. At Deerfield, Ashbery read such poets as W. H. Auden, Dylan Thomas, and Wallace Stevens, and began writing poetry; one of his poems was actually published in Poetry Magazine, though under the name of a classmate who had submitted it without Ashbery's knowledge or permission. His first ambition was to be a painter. From the age of eleven until fifteen he took weekly classes at the art museum in Rochester.
Ashbery graduated in 1949 with an A.B., cum laude, from Harvard College, where he was a member of the Harvard Advocate, the university's literary magazine, and the Signet Society. He wrote his senior thesis on the poetry of W.H. Auden. At Harvard he befriended fellow writers Kenneth Koch, Barbara Epstein, V.R. Lang, Frank O'Hara, and Edward Gorey, and was a classmate of Robert Creeley, Robert Bly, and Peter Davison. Ashbery went on to study briefly at New York University, and received an M.A. from Columbia in 1951.
From the mid-1950s, when he received a Fulbright Fellowship, through 1965, he lived in France. He served as the art editor for the European edition of the New York Herald Tribune, while also translating potboilers and contemporary French literature. During this period he lived with the French poet Pierre Martory. After returning to the United States, he continued his career as an art critic, for New York and Newsweek magazines, while also serving on the editorial board of ARTNews until 1972. Several years later, he began a stint as an editor at Partisan Review, serving from 1976 to 1980.
During the fall of 1963, Ashbery became acquainted with Andy Warhol at a scheduled poetry reading at the Literary Theatre in New York. He had also previously written favorable reviews of Warhol's art. That same year he reviewed Warhol's Flowers exhibition at Galerie Illeana Sonnabend in Paris, describing Warhol's visit to Paris as "the biggest transatlantic fuss since Oscar Wilde brought culture to Buffalo in the nineties." Ashbery returned to New York nearing the end of 1965 and was welcomed with a large party at the Factory, and also became close friends with poet Gerard Malanga, who was also Warhol's assistant, on whom he had an important influence as a poet.
In the early 1970s, Ashbery began teaching at Brooklyn College, where his students included poet John Yau, and in the 1980s, he moved to Bard College, where he is the Charles P. Stevenson, Jr., Professor of Languages and Literature. He was the poet laureate of New York state from 2001 to 2003, and also served for many years as a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. Ashbery lives in New York City and Hudson, New York, with his partner, David Kermani.
As We Know : Poems (New York : Viking Press, 1979; New York : Penguin Books, 1979)
And The Stars Were Shining (New York : Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1994)
April Galleons : Poems (New York, N.Y., U.S.A. : Viking, 1987)
Can You Hear, Bird (New York : Farrar, Straus, And Giroux, 1995)
Coventry (New York, N.Y. : Nadja, C1993)
The Double Dream Of Spring (New York : E. P. Dutton & Co., 1970; New York : The Ecco Press, 1976)
Europa (New York : Leandro Katz, 1971)
Flow Chart (New York : Knopf, 1991)
Fragment : Clepsydre, Poemes Francais (Paris : Seuil, 1975)
Fragment : Poem (Los Angeles : Black Sparrow Press, 1969)
Hotel Lautreamont (New York : A.A. Knopf, 1992)
Houseboat Days(New York : Penguin Books, 1977; New York : Viking Press, 1977)
The Ice Storm (Madras ; New York : Hanuman Books, 1987)
John Ashbery (New York, Ny : Academy Of American Poets, 1994)
John Ashbery and Kenneth Koch (A Conversation) (Tucson : Interview Press, 1965?)
A Nest Of Ninnies (New York : Dutton, 1969; Calais, Vermont : Z Press, 1975)
The New Spirit (New York : Adventures In Poetry, c1970)
Reported Sightings : Art Chronicles, 1957 (New York : Knopf, 1989)
Selected Poems (London : Cape, 1967; Manchester : Carcanet, 1985; New York, N.Y., U.S.A. : Viking, 1985)
Self-Portrait In A Convex Mirror : Poems (New York : Viking Press, 1975; Manchester (Eng.) : Carcanet New Press, 1977)
Shadow Train : Poems (New York : Viking Press, 1981)
Some Trees (New Haven : Yale University Press, 1956; New York : Corinth Books, 1970, C1956; New York : Ecco Press, 1978)
Sunrise In Suburbia (New York : Phoenix Book Shop, 1968)
The Tennis Court Oath; A Book Of Poems (Middletown, Conn. : Wesleyan University Press, C1962)
Three Books : Poems (New York, N.Y.: Penguin Books, 1993)
Three Madrigals (New York : Poet's Press, 1968)
Three Poems (New York : Viking Press, 1972; Harmondsworth ; New York : Penguin Books, 1977, C1972)
Turandot : And Other Poems, With Four Drawings By Jane Freilicher. (New York : Editions Of The Tibor De Nagy Gallery, 1953)
The Vermont Notebook (Los Angeles : Black Sparrow Press, 1975)
A Wave : Poems (New York : Viking Press, 1984; Manchester : Carcanet Press, 1984)
Academic Art / Edited By Thomas B. Hess And John Ashbery (London : Collier-Macmillan, 1971).
The Academy : Five Centuries Of Grandeur And Misery, From The Carracci To Mao Tse-Tung / Edited By Thomas B. Hess And John Ashbery (New York : Macmillan, C1967).
The Avant-Garde / Edited By Thomas B. Hess And John Ashbery (New York : Macmillan, 1968.).
The Dice Cup : Selected Prose Poems / Max Jacob ; Edited And With An Introd. By Michael Brownstein ; Translated From The French By John Ashbery, David Ball, Michael Brownstein, Ron Padgett, Zack Rogow, And Bill Zavatsky (New York : Sun, 1979).
Every Question But One / Pierre Martory ; Translated By John Ashbery (Hudson, N.Y: Groundwater Press, C1990)
Fairfield Porter : Realist Painter In An Age Of Abstraction / Essays By John Ashbery And Kenworth Moffett (Boston : Museum Of Fine Arts : Distributed By Little, Brown ; New York, 1982) The Grand Eccentrics. Edited By Thomas B. Hess And John Ashbery (New York : Collier Books, 1971).
A Joseph Cornell Album / Dore Ashton ; With Special Contributions By John Ashbery ... ; And Assorted Ephemera, Readings, Decorations, And Reproductions Of Works By Joseph Cornell (New York, N.Y. : Da Capo Press, <1989?>, C1974)
Kitaj Paintings, Drawings, Pastels / John Ashbery ... The Landscape Is Behind The Door / Pierre Martory ; Translated By John Ashbery. (Riverdale-On-Hudson, N.Y. : Sheep Meadow Press, C1994)
Light: From Aten To Laser. Edited By Thomas B. Hess And John Ashbery (New York : Macmillan, 1969).
Light In Art / Edited By Thomas B. Hess And John Ashbery (New York : Collier Books, 1971).
Narrative Art / Edited By Thomas B. Hess And John Ashbery. (New York Macmillan <1970>).
Painterly Painting. Edited By Thomas B. Hess And John Ashbery. (New York Macmillan <1971>).
Selected Poems / Pierre Reverdy ; Selected By Mary Ann Caws ; Translated By John Ashbery, Mary Ann Caws & Patricia Terry ; Edited By Timothy Bent. (Winston-Salen, N.C. : Wake Forest University Press, 1991)
Three Poems Of Robert Frost; A Mirror On Which To Dwell; Syringa; In Sleep, In Thunder. Sung In English; Third Work Sung Partly In Greek. Texts By Elizabeth Bishop <2nd Work>; John Ashbery, Archilocus, Aeschylus, Hesiod, Homer, Ibycus, Minnermus, Orpheus, Plato, And Sappho <3rd Work>; Robert Lowell; 4th Work (New York, NY; Bridge Records, 1989)
Last updated January 07, 2012


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It appears some nerve-racking surprises still lay-in-wait for some political actors as the jostle for the leadership of the ninth National Assembly heightens, Deji Elumoye and Shola Oyeyipo report
Ordinarily, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that produced more than two third members of the Ninth National Assembly should have no issues with the election of officers for both the Senate and House of Representatives upon inauguration in June. The reverse is however the case with various interest groups within the party now rooting for different candidates to lead the two chambers of the legislative arm of government.
No thanks to the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, who few weeks back, openly endorsed the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan as the next Senate President without consultation with other stakeholders especially, the Senators-elect. The said endorsement appears to be the undoing of the party now with different camps now coming up within the party and the legislators-elect over the choice of the presiding officer of the Senate.
Also, the recent vituperation of Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State, against the political influence being wielded by a former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is a pointer to things to come ahead of the election of presiding officers of the National Assembly.
Though some persons present at the May 4 event of the Bridge Club, a Pan-Nigeria association of professionals from diverse fields of endeavors, where Governor el-Rufai spoke against Tinubu’s “Godfather” status in Lagos and proffered how to defeat him, have maintained that his comments were fair, intellectual and not targeted at the Lagos politician, however, fact is that something is really wrong with the APC.
The indication is that efforts to arrive at a consensus candidate by the APC for the leadership of the Ninth Assembly are suffering a major setback. There are now Tinubu and el-Rufai factors ahead of the June inauguration of the ninth assembly.
Reliable sources told THISDAY that el-Rufai was not alone in the move to checkmate Tinubu’s influence on the next assembly. He is said to have on his side some governors and ministers. Their agenda, according to sources, is to reposition the APC ahead of 2023, particularly, ensuring that decisions are collectively reached and not imposed on the party by the duo of Tinubu and Oshiomhole.
Credible sources have hinted that anti-Tinubu/Oshiomhole forces in the APC are not leaving anything to chance in the 2023 journey, starting with the leadership of the ninth National Assembly. Not only are they working to whittle down his influence by disallowing his candidates for Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, they are equally vigorously canvassing to secure strategic positions for themselves in the coming government so as to effectively checkmate Tinubu.
Interestingly, President Muhammadu Buhari is believed not to be oblivious of the current moves by El-rufai and others. Members of the top hierarchy of the party have drawn his attention to the power game, which some consider inimical to the progress of the ruling party but that he has not said anything openly about the development.
However, the three ranking APC Senators eyeing the Ninth Senate Presidency have intensified their consultations and campaigns in the last few days.
While the duo of Senators Ahmad Lawan and Ali Ndume, last week took their campaigns to media houses in Lagos and Abuja, Senator Danjuma Goje, still remains at the background pressing necessary buttons and consulting with the high and mighty but yet to openly declare his interest.
Goje has though not made public his intention to vie for Senate Presidency, different groups and organisations have continued to clamour for his candidacy through rallies at the entrance of the National Assembly.
On his part, Ndume has reiterated his commitment towards service in the Ninth Senate adding that he was not the most qualified candidate for the Senate Presidency.
“Let me quickly add that is not to say that I think I am more qualified to be the Senate President. I am not better than them in any way. Most of them were born with silver spoons. I came from a very poor background. My father was not educated. I am the son of nobody that became somebody.
“I am a human being that has rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which I won’t compromise. Even before I threw my hat into the ring for the Senate Presidency seat, my people called on me to go for the position.”
Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, has also said he was encouraged by his colleagues to vie for the Senate President shortly after the parliamentary election in March. He stated that it was his colleagues, who approached him on the need for him to run for the coveted office based on his experience and ability to deliver.
In the House of Representatives, there are still conflicting signals from the various camps of candidates eyeing the speakership as regarding their chances. Top on the list is the Majority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. The Lagos lawmaker, who already has the backing of the APC leadership, is obviously unfazed by his challengers.
Even in the face of the unconfirmed news doing the rounds that a section of the APC leadership has dumped the Gbajabiamila speakership project, he and members of his camp have opted to keep sealed lips on the issue.
When asked to comment on the most recent position of the APC on the Gbajabiamila endorsement by the APC, the Director General (DG) of his campaign council, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, declined comment. He refused to comment on the possibility that the APC might be reconsidering its position on his candidate.
Though media-friendly and very outspoken, member of the House of Representatives representing Surulere/Ogo Oluwa federal constituency, Oyo state, Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi, who is another prominent South-west candidate in the race, said “I am off the media for now.” He has maintained that if the speakership was zoned to the South-west, other states in the region, including his state, should be allowed to join the race.
But Jibrin had earlier hinted on his twitter handle that Hon. Idris Wase (Plateau) is likely to emerge as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to Gbajabiamila.
Jibrin wrote on his twitter handle that: “Mr. Speaker and Mr. Deputy Speaker 9th Assembly. If you are an APC member and against the two, you are on collision course with the party; 2015 is not 2019 in so many ways. We are assuring our 360 colleagues, Femi and Wase will run an all-inclusive House.”
Apparently not bothered by the rumour that northern elements are considering him and Senator Ahmed Lawan as the choices of one man (Tinubu) imposed on them by the party and basically relying on the support he enjoys from the party, Gbajabiamila has continued to woo both the newly-elected and returning House members.
Gbajabiamila’s aspiration to become Speaker received a major boost recently when 178 newly-elected members openly declared support for him.
The new House members with a handful of older members, who are members of his campaign organization, converged on Abuja Thursday where they held a closed-door meeting and arrived at the decision to throw their weight behind Gbajabiamila.
The incumbent Speaker of the Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Onofiuk Luke, who addressed the media after the meeting, said the incoming members, irrespective of their party affiliations, resolved to back Gbajabiamila after identifying him as the best candidate in the race.
“I am the Speaker of Akwa-Ibom State, and here with me are newly elected members of the House of Representatives, and this is a conglomeration of people of different parties. I am of the PDP. We have members of the APC here, we have members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), we have people from Action Alliance (AA), we have people from Allied Congress Party (ACP) and we have people from African Democratic Congress (ADC). It’s a multi-party arrangement.
A prominent female APC lawmaker also eyeing the speakership, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has however said the endorsement of Gbajabiamila could not stop her desire to lead the 9th House. She said last week that since the endorsements were not cast in iron, they posed no threat whatsoever to her ambition to succeed Hon. Yakubu Dogara.
“Endorsement or no endorsement, anybody can be endorsed, and there is still time. Change is constant. Somebody, who endorses today may change his mind tomorrow, so, I am not overwhelmed, because I am not going to be part of that, because I know that life is about change and people change their minds every time. Somebody can change his mind, even on the day of election.
Reacting to the insinuation that she was never interested in speakership but only using the ambition to negotiate for juicy position in the 9th assembly, she said: “Why would I want to bargain for something less than Speaker? Do people go to bargain with running from speakership?
“This is my first time of hearing that. If you know me very well, I am a very serious-minded person, I don’t give-in to frivolities and would I be playing anybody’s game or would I be a stooge for anybody? The answer is capital no! I am very much in the race as much as you can think of.”
Another speakership contender whose ambition is capable of upturning the game-plan of Oshiohmole is Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago from Niger State. He is not favourably disposed to the earlier zoning arrangement that favoured the South-west and Gbajabiamila as the choice of the party for the position and as such, insisted that he would slug it out this time around to correct the “injustice” and inequality the North-central zone has continued to suffer in the country’s balance of power.
He is equally canvassing the APC leadership to adhere to the party’s constitution, saying “Imagine that it was the South-west that was short-changed. After the 1983 coup, Nigerians who were present at the Constitution amendment of 1999, made sure that the Constitution took care of agitation like this in a federal arrangement, where every part of this country is integral to the other, and that no people or section of this country should be marginalised either in the revenue allocation, political appointment, space or liberty. So, every Nigerian is at liberty to live anywhere they want to live and stay there without any form of intimidation.
“Every part of Nigeria must be seen in every office in Nigeria in manner that reflects federal character. It is a constitutional provision. And APC; even the drafters of the party’s constitution made it very clear that the constitutional provision of fair-hearing, justice, equity and federal character will be upheld.”
The inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly is about a month away and all interest groups both within the ruling APC and opposition PDP are hell bent on determining those to lead the legislative arm from June.
One thing is certain though. On the day of inauguration, only the 479 members of both the Senate and House of Representatives will be in the Chambers to elect the presiding and principal officers of their choice.

domain: politics


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Tiger Shroff on Tuesday posted a video on social media in which he can be seen taking a train from Vasai to Bandra in Mumbai. In order to avoid all the fanfare, he wore a mask that covered his whole face.
Story first published: Thursday, March 9, 2017, 18:45 [IST]
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domain: celebrity


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When ladies gather in a circle with guided support, we can be heard, supported, and tap into our innermost creativity and power. This workshop is for lady creators of all stripes -- from artists and writers, to folks starting new side hustles or working on research projects -- who want to be inspired and hold each other accountable to turn their latent creative aspirations into a reality.
We'll be using a way of gathering called "Circle of Magic" to help us us break through some of our fear by bringing us together with a group of other creators. Circle of Magic is kinda like a book club, but in reverse: instead of reading stuff together, we make things and put them out in the world.
If Circle of Magic were a recipe, it would be…
- 1 cup accountability
- 1 cup inspiration
- 2 cups deep connection with each other
- 1 cup spiritual flow
This 2 hour workshop will include guided reflection, free writing exercises to help us tune into that little voice inside, a chance for each person to brainstorm their creative idea with the group, and wine & snacks. Each person will leave with action steps for their creative project, and a guide for creating their own Circle of Magic after the class.
Check out a little visual story about Circle of Magic here.


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The hotel offers the Amphitheater and the Terraces for outdoor events, and the panoramic Contemple lounge for indoor events
In the heart of the Costa Blanca, in the province of Alicante, lies VIVOOD Landscape Hotel, a heaven of peace and connection with nature that addresses corporate events on its premises from the perspective of Slow MICE. This hotel, away from the hustle and bustle of cities, masterfully integrates natural landscape, architecture and sustainability as its value proposition. VIVOOD Landscape Hotel boasts is located 55 minutes away from Alicante International Airport and offers 35 suites and villas integrated into the landscape, with stunning views of the Guadalest valley.
Its spacious and exclusive facilities for events, both indoors and outdoors, allow for the hosting of a wide range of corporate, private, and business events. All this in a destination with over 310 days of sunshine a year and just 25 minutes from the beach.
Outdoor areas for events and indoor spaces, inspired by Vivood’s values of sustainability, exclusivity and ecology
The Amphitheater and the Terraces are outdoor event spaces surrounded by lush Mediterranean vegetation. These environments allow for outdoor events to be held throughout the year. The Amphitheater, overlooking the mountains, is ideal for special events and presentations of up to 100 people, in an area of 275 m². The Terraces, with areas of 450 m² and 650 m², offer a perfect setting for lunches, sunset cocktails, or dinners under the stars.
The panoramic Contemple lounge is the hotel’s indoor event space. Its architectural design features large windows that provide natural light throughout the day. This lounge can be divided into three rooms, suitable for conferences, presentations, and business meetings. Overall, the Contemple lounge results in a perfect space to accommodate 300 people, ensuring the hosting of exclusive and memorable events and with direct access to the terrace.
VIVOOD Landscape Hotel offers the necessary technology to facilitate streaming sessions and hybrid events, with audiovisual equipment included. Additionally, it has a wide gastronomic offer adapted to each occasion and leisure experiences to encourage personal recreation and teamwork. If you find this appealing don’t hesitate to contact us.

domain: travel


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Considering we all probably know someone with a kid called Joshua or Jessica, the most popular baby names from the 80s have been back in fashion for a while now.
And considering it's now in vogue again to call kids Archie or Alfie, it seems any name could become in demand again, however old fashioned it might seem right now.
And it's being forecast that names from the 70s will be the next craze to swing back round again.
So if you thought nobody would ever call a child Karen, Cliff or Simon again - think again.
Last year, the Babycentre has revealed, there was a rise in the number of parents calling their children names from the 80s like John and Michael.
It's predicting inspiration will soon start to be taken from the 70s, reports the Manchester Evening News.
So expect the likes of Susan, Christine and Paul to make a comeback this year, and even the likes of Barry and Patricia.
In 2018, there was a surge in the amount of babies called Brian being registered, so the signs are already there.
But what other names from the 70s can we expect to make a comeback this year?
Well, here's a list of the top 100 boys and girls names from 1974, according to British Baby Names.
The top 100 boys names in 1974
The top 100 girls names in 1974
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text: Margot Jean Jarvis, Suffield, Ohio, died on December 20, 2020 at the age of 79 after a brief battle with Leukemia. She was surrounded by her family and her beloved Yorkie, Heather. Margot was a lifelong resident of Suffield, Ohio. She enjoyed spending time outdoors gardening and raising chickens. She took great pleasure in her cockatiels, watching butterflies and hummingbirds. Margot was an avid bowler and bowled multiple times a week on her teams Margo's Boys and Margo's Crew. She could never pass up Pizza Hut pizza, ice tea, and glazed donuts. Margot will be loved and missed by her brother, Dennis (Sandra) Breckenridge of Hartville; niece, Jordye (Brian) Joyce of Hartville; and great nephew and niece, Carson and Morgan with whom she shared a very special bond. Margo is also survived by her Great Aunt Bertha Dean of Suffield, Cousins Linda (John) Boal, Harold (Wanda) Dean and their families. She will be missed greatly by many close friends; Rod Thacker, Vickie and John Benedetto, Sue Smith, Bob Hall, Rex Rexroat, Don Shockey, Rose Crislip, Carol Berger, Mary Jo Combs, Nicki Smith, Steve Jalboush, Bill White Sr, Bob Gilbert, Rick Lamtman, Valerlie Goslin and family At Margot's request, no services will be held. Memorials may be sent to Portage Animal Protective League, 8122 Infirmary Road, Ravenna, Ohio 44266 or your favorite charity.


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Washington – Fitness trainers are scratching their heads over the case of John Doe, who in six months of fitness training hasn’t managed to lose a single pound. In fact, he’s gained 100!
“It just doesn’t make any sense,” Doe said. “I’ve been at the gym for three hours per day. It’s not like I haven’t been doing the work.”
Doe’s trainer confirmed his participation: “He’s been working very hard. Lifting weights, hitting the treadmill, stretching, sauna – you name it. I just don’t understand how this has happened.”
To attempt to get to the bottom of the mystery, reporters followed Doe on a typical day, which he did, in fact, begin with a vigorous workout at the gym.
They did a double-take, though, when immediately after, he stopped by a restaurant and ordered 10 orders of French fries, explaining that they all were for him.
“They told me that the only way to lose weight and keep it off was eating right and extra fries,” he said. “I’ve been doing exactly that. I don’t think they know what they’re talking about.”
“What?” he continued. “Exercise? Not extra fries? Never mind. I think I’ve solved the problem.”


The collision course between NGC 4485 and NGC 4490 produces a bright and creative form of irregularity
Observing groups of galaxies collide in X-rays has revealed more about the drastic cosmic occasion
Astronomers propose that between eight and 10 billion years ago, a dwarf galaxy collided with the Milky Way and completely reshaped the galaxy
The previously hidden origins of quasars has been unveiled by the Hubble Space Telescope
If you thought one was enough, scientists believe that some black holes pair up. Find out 5 facts about double black holes here.


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Giallorossi could reportedly get a boost in their pursuit of the Red Devils centre-back Chris Smalling as it’s suggested that they may get additional funding to make their move. England international spent last campaign on loan with the Italian club and impressed with his consistent form in the heart of their defence.
However, with no deal found to extend his remain either temporarily or on a permanent basis, it looked as though Chris’ time in the Stadio Olimpico had come to an end and he would be heading for a come back to Man United.
It’s suggested that while Giallorossi are still short of the Red Devils demands as they want €20m to greenlight an exit while Roma are only offering €14m, they are set to gain a financial boost as Patrik Schick is expected to leave to join Bayer Leverkusen in the coming days and so that could help them bridge the gap.
Time will tell if it’s enough to reach a deal, but the Giallorossi will certainly hope so as Chris made a hugely positive impact on the last campaign and they’ll have a huge void to fill if Smalling doesn’t come back for the new season.
From a Red Devils perspective, the Norwegian manager looks ready with the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly, and so a boost for his transfer budget might also be a welcome sight with much time left in the summer transfer window to complete more deals and balance the books.


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The Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII) and the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) are pleased to invite participation … Continue reading Call for Participation: Innovation-Data | UserX | Design Hackathon
About two thirds of South Africa’s GDP now consists of contributions from the services sector, which ranges from banks and … Continue reading How South Africa’s services sector can help tackle poverty and inequality
On 25 May 2018, about 60 industry association leaders, government officials, researchers and entrepreneurs gathered at Gauteng’s Riversands Incubation Hub. … Continue reading Tweets and slides from #IAID2018
Contrary to the view that diversification and structural change only result from industrialisation, there is growing consensus that the services … Continue reading Innovation in services: The potential to contribute to structural economic transformation
“Studies on barriers to innovation typically focus on the impact of obstacles on the propensity to innovate as well as … Continue reading Barriers to innovation: Evidence from South African manufacturing companies 2010–2012
In two brand new briefing papers, researchers from the Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators at the Human Sciences Research Council investigate firm-level awareness of public funding for innovation in the manufacturing and services sectors. Continue reading Can government stimulate innovation through public funding and procurement in manufacturing and services?
Large-scale disruption and fast-changing competitive patterns are a norm in today’s economic landscape. Innovation is a bedrock of successful firms … Continue reading Coming up: Industry Associations Innovation Day 2018 – 25 May


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MMD founding members have demanded that Nevers Mumba should immediately call for an ordinary convention from which the party should elect its new crop of leaders and reconcile itself if it is to remain relevant to the country’s democratic dispensation.
The MMD founding members said the former ruling party, as a pioneer of democracy, should not be ‘‘condemned to extinction’’ on account of lack of dialogue between Dr Mumba and the members most of whom he has either expelled or suspended leading to the former ruling party getting fragmented.
Donald Chanda, Teta Vundamina, Dr Katele Kalumba, Matiya Ngalande, Fisho Mwale, Teddy Mulonga, Colonel C.Y. Chambula and Colonel C. Shula, the founding members of the MMD, yesterday gathered at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Lusaka and called for reconciliation among party members and declared that a convention should be held as a matter of principle and democratic practice. Speaking on behalf of the MMD founding members, Donald Chanda said the pioneers of multiparty democracy were deeply concerned with the continued in-fighting in the former ruling party.
Mr Chanda, who is University of Zambia (UNZA) development studies lecturer, said the founding members appreciated efforts by MMD president Nevers Mumba and former President Rupiah Banda to reconcile various groups within the former ruling party.
Mr Chanda, however, said the reconciliation of Dr Mumba and former President Banda should be extended to the general membership of the MMD because the party had remained divided despite the reconciliation between the two leaders. He said the MMD founding fathers recognised the fact that Dr Mumba, having been elected as MMD president in 2011, was still the leader of the party but that his mandate had expired and a convention was, therefore, not a matter of necessity but a call to respect the party’s constitution and democratic values.
Mr Chanda said it was necessary for Dr Mumba to continue presiding over the MMD to avoid creating a leadership vacuum in the former ruling party but that there was urgent need for the national executive committee to call for a convention as soon as possible.
“As MMD founding members, our point of departure is the democratic multi-party ideals and principles which the party adopted and has continued to use ever since the 1991 Garden Hotel conference.
‘‘Never again would the wishes of an individual or indeed a clique subdue the collective will of the people. The people would choose their leaders at an assembly convened for that purpose as agreed and at predetermined intervals.
‘‘Based on these principles and upholding them in the interest of the nation, we call an all the groups in the MMD to stop the political in-fighting and accept the principles of the party and follow the constitution of the party as the way forward,” Mr Chanda said.
Mr Chanda said the decision to hold a convention in an open and transparent manner as enshrined in the party constitution should be respected by the warring parties in the MMD. He said the MMD convention would see the election of leaders that would guide party members on the proposed alliance between the Patriotic Front (PF) and the former ruling party. Mr Chanda said first republican President Kenneth Kaunda was made to cut his term of office by heeding the people’s call for multi-party democracy and elections and it was, therefore, important for Dr Mumba to emulate the democratic spirit of the first republican President. “Our courts through history have guided us through precedence, rulings and legal opinions and some of the guiding past experiences includes the court ruling on the need for the MMD to go for a convention to elect its leaders.
‘‘There is precedence in the case of late President Levy Mwanawasa who assumed the leadership of the MMD after President Frederick Chiluba stepped down. President Banda took over the leadership of the MMD after the death of Dr Mwanawasa to serve his unexpired term up to 2011 when he was re-elected as MMD president,” Mr Chanda said.


Pliskova, the finalist in New York last year, lost in the second round of Wimbledon and it seemed early on that she could fall at the same stage this year, with Gibbs proving far too strong for the Czech in the opening set, though Pliskova recovered and eventually recorded a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win in an hour and 46 minutes on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
It was undoubtedly a competitive match throughout, with Gibbs in the end hitting four more winner and one less error than Pliskova, who hit 29 of each, though the world number one’s experience and level eventually pulled her through. She will face Risa Ozaki or 27th seed Shuai Zhang in the third round.
Pliskova pulls through tough challenge from Gibbs
Pliskova was the huge favorite for this encounter, having double bageled Gibbs the last time they played and with the American struggling with injury earlier this season, though she was made to work harder than expected to progress to the next round.
Gibbs, perhaps buoyed by playing in front of her home crowd, got off to a quick start, breaking the Czech in her second service game. With last year’s finalist struggling in the opening stages, the qualifier was able to bully Pliskova around the court, and she broke for a second time to race to a 5-1 lead. The top seed was able hold for just the second time, though Gibbs was nerveless as she served out the opening set.
It was clear that Pliskova would have to raise her level to pull through this match, and she began to do that in the second set. Gibbs continued to play well, though Pliskova was striking the ball much more cleanly than she had in the first set, and that began to show as the American found things a little more difficult. The world number one had the advantage of serving first and made the most of it, breaking the American just once as she won the final three games to send the match to a decider.
Despite having dropped the second set, Gibbs was still very much in this match, and had an opportunity early in the decider, missing a break point when leading 2-1. That would, unfortunately for the American, prove crucial, as she began making more errors and was eventually broken by Pliskova later in the set. Now playing near her best, the Czech consolidated her break to go just a game away from victory, and though Gibbs forced her to serve it out she showed no nerves, closing out a hard fought victory with a love hold.


Thailand authorities seek to curb the Zika epidemic by eliminating breeding grounds of mosquitoes that can transmit the virus.
The Thai Public Health Ministry announced on Friday it would revive a 1992 law allowing officials to order the elimination of decorative ponds or any areas with still water where mosquitoes can breed.
The ministry said changing still water every seven days was an effective way to prevent a surge of mosquito offspring.
Mosquitoes usually breed and hunt within a 100-meter (100-yard) radius of their birth place, according to the ministry.
Authorities warned homeowners who fail to remove mosquito breeding grounds on their property that they would face jail and fines.
Anyone failing to clean up or remove the mosquito breeding grounds can face a jail term of one month and a fine of 2,000-5,000 baht ($57-143), the ministry said.
Mosquitoes have always been a major concern in Thailand because they also transmit malaria, dengue fever and chikungunya.
Thailand has 279 confirmed cases of Zika since the start of the year. More than 30 pregnant women are among the victims.
Zika symptoms may include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis, and when pregnant women are infected, it can lead to microcephaly causing severe brain damage in babies.
Thai Ministry of Public Health spokesman Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai said recently that the public should not panic about the virus. He added that due measures had been taken to protect tourists.
Zika was first found in Thailand in 2012, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority has been regularly screening the residents of the tourist-friendly nation for any virus since then.
Despite the repeated assurance of safety by Thai authorities, Australia, which is a main provider of tourists to the country, advised travelers headed to the epidemic zone to exercise a “high degree of caution.”
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday cited a recommendation by the Australian Department of Health to pregnant women to defer non-essential travel to the country.
Zika, which was first identified in Uganda in 1947, is spreading across the world and has currently reached 72 countries and territories, according to the United Nations.
It is estimated that in Brazil alone, 1.5 million people have been infected by the virus and more than 3,500 cases of microcephaly were reported between October 2015 and January 2016.
There is no vaccine for Zika and efforts to eliminate the virus by using insecticides to kill carrier mosquitoes have resulted in the death of honey bees.


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Hayan Charara is a poet, children’s book author, essayist, and editor. His poetry books are Something Sinister, The Sadness of Others, and The Alchemist’s Diary. His children’s book, The Three Lucys, received the New Voices Award Honor, and he edited Inclined to Speak, an anthology of contemporary Arab American poetry. With Fady Joudah, he is also a series editor of the Etel Adnan Poetry Prize. His honors include a literature fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Lucille Joy Prize in Poetry, and the John Clare Prize. Born in Detroit to Lebanese immigrants (his father a tailor, his mother a schoolteacher), at 21 he moved to New York City where he eventually began teaching at colleges and universities, including Queens College and the City University of New York. In 2003, he moved to Texas, and has taught at the University of Texas at Austin, Trinity University, and Our Lady of the Lake University. He now teaches in the Honors College at the University of Houston.
Photo Credit: Rachel de Cordova

domain: library


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By Bike and Boat in Scotland
Highlands and Inner Hebrides on the Flying Dutchman
- McCaig's Tower, the Strait of Corryvreckan, Calgary Bay, moorscape and green hills
- Daily routes ●●○○○
- Altitude profile ●●●○○
- Bike & Boat: Flying Dutchman
km / day avg.
Oban, on the north-west coast of Scotland, is the gate to the Hebrides and to the Highlands. Thanks to its location, Oban is a perfect starting point for your holiday by bike & boat in Scotland. The countryside is incredibly varied: intense colour, wild, rugged nature and a diversity of species. Enjoy time spent in the rugged hills of the Highlands and in the moorland countryside. Cycle along the rocky coast, passing by white beaches, On your cycle tours of the Jura and Mull islands, you pedal along quiet roads and get to see deer and the shaggy Highland cattle. On the crossings on the Flying Dutchman, keep a look out for dolphins and seals. And also don't forget to try some of Scotland's well-known whisky. The unique taste together with some Scottish folk music in a local pub will leave an indelible impression.
Additional bookable services
All prices are per person
Surcharge for single use of double cabin
Transfer incl. bike, Oban – Edinburgh
Transfer incl. bike, Edinburgh – Oban
The GuteFahrt protection includes the following benefits (without deductibles): travel cancellation insurance, health assistance, travel assistance, premature termination insurance, rebooking fee protection and luggage insurance.
These insurance policies are available for different durations of travel and can be booked directly via our online booking form. The costs per person are shown accordingly.
Important information: Authoritative for insurance protection are the general terms and conditions of insurance of AGA International S.A. The complete product and consumer information and terms and conditions of insurance can be found at www.allianz-assistance.de/pib or call: +49 89 - 624 24 - 460 to order a copy. We reserve the right to make changes to the benefits and premiums.
Note: the insurance policies are only available in German!

domain: geography


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Houston Methodist Sugar Land offers advanced treatment for nonhealing wounds
For people living with diabetes, even the smallest scrape can lead to potentially dangerous circumstances. High blood sugar can damage nerves, which may cause numbness in the feet and legs, and lead to a narrowing and hardening of blood vessels, which can result in less oxygen being circulated throughout the body to aid in healing.
If you have a wound that doesn’t heal properly, early treatment can help you get back on your feet. The Houston Methodist Wound Care Program at Sugar Land uses a multidisciplinary approach for treating wounds that won’t heal.
DIABETIC FOOT WOUNDS
Timothy Oppermann, M.D., board-certified surgeon with Houston Methodist Surgical Associates, encourages patients to take a proactive approach. “Diabetes accounts for about 60 percent of lower limb amputations not related to injury in adults, clearly illustrating the importance for diabetic patients to closely monitor their health and take quick action to provide the proper care to even the smallest wound, particularly in the feet,” Oppermann said.
Warning signs of a chronic, nonhealing wound include:
- Persistent pain in the area around the wound
- Discoloration of the wound’s edges
- Increased drainage from the wound site
- Redness or swelling around or spreading away from the wound
HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY
The program’s doctors and nurses are certified in wound care medicine, and work with patients and their primary care team to monitor, manage and treat wounds with the most advanced treatments available, including compression wraps, antimicrobial dressings, bioengineered skin substitutes and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). The program’s RN case managers bring exceptional care and compassion to their roles.
Michael Yaakovian, M.D., board-certified surgeon with Houston Methodist Surgical Associates, treats patients with diabetic foot problems and other nonhealing wounds. “Hyperbaric therapy supplies oxygen under pressure that supersaturates the red blood cells and plasma with oxygen, so when blood is supplied to the area of the wound, these supercharged blood cells help repair the wound and kill the infection, leading to the generation of new blood vessels and tissue growth,” Yaakovian explained.
For people with diabetes, managing wounds to prevent complications requires care and diligence. Take good care of your feet with the following tips:
- Inspect and wash feet daily. With poor sensation, there may be the presence of wounds that could go unnoticed.
- Keep wounds clean and dry to reduce risk of infection.
- File your toe nails. Clipping may increase the risk for skin injury.
- Wear proper-fitting shoes and socks at all times.
- Control your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol to slow down the progression
of diabetic complications.
To schedule an appointment at Houston Methodist Wound Care Program at Sugar Land, call 281.275.0770 or visit houstonmethodist.org/wound-sl to learn more about the program.
Visit our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.


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Sony has been a major player in the consumer electronics market and they have changed the digital world all together in the last decade. With their new range of HD televisions they have given ultimate movie viewing experience to people around the globe. Their latest television Sony KDL50R450A HDTV 50″ Class LED HDTV is another jewel in their range of HD televisions. Here is the brief review about the TV
This HDTV has a 49.5 inch screen when measure diagonally which is suitable for medium sized room or den and will give you theater like environment and watching movies especially horror and thriller movies on this television will sure be a memorable experience. Sony KDL50R450A supports 1080p HD playback thus it is sure that the viewer will experience the complete high definition viewing experience.
Sony KDL50R450A comes with two full range 8 Watt speakers though not very powerful; but is standard for most of the HDTVs. The speakers in TVs offers either 8w or 10w, typically are downward facing, thus sound does not projected outward. You can connect your surround sound system to get home theater like experience. The Motionflow XR 120 technology provides the user with smooth viewing of quick motion or rapidly moving video frames. If you are gamer and play games with high frame rates, this technology will enhance your gaming experience. The 178 degree viewing angle provides wide hall viewing and more viewing space. There are two HDMI input ports and 1 composite / component input port at the rear end for taking both digital and analog inputs.
There is also an analog audio input port in the rear end along with the RF input port which can take direct satellite feed incase if the user is not using a settop box.
Sony KDL50R450A 50″ Class LED HDTV offers digital audio port at the rear end for the user to connect the audio output to a Dolby decoder or home theater to enhance the experience. There is also an USB port at the side which can support USB 2.0 mass storage devices, through which the user can connect any USB device such as flash drive, camera or external hard disk and view the pictures, listen to music or play the movies, present in the same. You can connect your smart phone with HDTV as it offers MHL port.
The screen refresh rate is 60 Hz which is basic refresh rate. If you want to buy HDTV for watching sports then you can consider 120 Hz. There is no Ethernet port available thus browsing internet or upgrading the firmware directly is not possible, this is a small disadvantage. The power consumption is the best advantage as it consumes only less power and the average power consumed by Sony KDL50R450A for one year is just 104 kWh. The cost is also very cheap compared to the features provided by the same.

domain: entertainment


BALTIMORE -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors approved a resolution on Monday calling for an accelerated end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
That resolution will now become official policy of the mayors' organization -- a small symbol of growing opposition to the war in Afghanistan. The mayors are asking that money spent on wars abroad be used in the United States to develop cities and towns. The last time the conference approved a resolution like this was during the Vietnam War.
On Sunday, Muhammad Younus Nawandish, the mayor of Kabul, expressed some reservations about the idea of an American withdrawal. Nawandish spoke to the conference on Saturday. He told HuffPost that his country was still "in need of security from the international community."
"We understand that the U.S. military will not stay in Afghanistan forever. But still we need your existence for the stability of Afghanistan. If they withdraw now there is a possibility of falling Afghanistan back into during the Taliban regime," Nawandish said through an interpreter.
Debate over the resolution primarily centered on whether it showed sufficient support for American troops abroad.
Pete Lewis, the mayor of Auburn, Washington, cited his own service in Vietnam, arguing that the mayors would repeat "the mistakes another generation did" if they signaled a lack of support for troops abroad. The resolution was amended to make sure no one could interpret it as a statement against service members.
Another amendment suggested by Mayor Mick Cornett (R-Oklahoma City) made sure the resolution also called on President Obama -- in addition to Congress -- to redirect funds to cities and towns.
Before that amendment was approved, Cornett said the resolution should have been referred to the "ideas we oughta stay the hell away from committee."
But Mayor Paul Soglin (D-Madison, Wis.) said that the resolution, which did not call for an immediate withdrawal from wars abroad, was "rather temperate."
"This one does not call for an immediate withdrawal, but it calls for speeding up the effort for ending this war," Soglin said. He and other Democratic mayors supporting the resolution cited the immense cost of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as motivation.
Mayor John Dickert (D-Racine, Wis.) said, "I believe that we should pass the resolution just to simply say that we think that we need to reevaluate where our funds are going and that they are rebuilding our country."