One of my favorite shots from a 2015 photo session with my super talented friend Jade of Tripshooter.com
Most places in Paris were closed today – shops, markets, museums.
Out on the street by 9 am (early for me on a normal day, unheard of the morning after New Year’s Eve), I walked several quiet blocks before another person even crossed my path. After a winter so far blessed by soft temperatures and sun, clouds and cold have returned to the city. But the still, chilled air warmed me. Everything was calm. All was peace.
Though still dreaming of *this* kind of peace in Greece.
By a couple hours later, my neighborhood had yawned awake. Regulars traded stories over coffee at my corner café, rows of fruit beckoned from the fronts of a few epiceries, the rogue bakery near the metro displayed sandwiches and sweet treats. Their goods are not the best, but their weird hours comfort me – one can sometimes forgive a greasy pain au chocolat when it’s possible to procure the pastry at midnight. Or on New Year’s Day.
I also went to Zurich, though that wasn’t nearly as exciting (random lamps in the park, notwithstanding).
The majority of stores were shuttered, mind you, but these signs of life made me smile. I love the laid-back nature of my neighborhood. More of these open pockets exist when so much else is closed.
To my surprise, I stumbled across a Franprix that was also open. Score. Who ever expected to get groceries on January 1? Unprepared to do a big shop, I corralled a modest number of items up to checkout. “16.56€” the cashier said, “though you have 15.26€ on your carte de fidelité.”
“As in, I can use the 15.26 to pay?”
(A loyalty card shouldn’t warrant much confusion – a straightforward concept, yes – but at the Franprix I normally frequent, they don’t seem to understand how their system works. I’ve stymied more than one employee when trying to employ my accrued points. Once when I handed over a 5€ off coupon that the store had given me on my previous trip, the cashier looked bewildered, then annoyed, then asked “qu’est-ce que c’est ce truc?” What is this thing. A manager had to be called).
So yeah, I was delighted when this cashier-angel announced I could immediately apply the credit to my purchase.
“That leaves 1.30€ due,” she said.
“It’s like a gift!” I said.
“It is,” she agreed. “Bonne année!”
I saw magical trees in the small village of Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre this summer.
Waltzing out with my happy new year’s bounty – (almost) free food is enough to make me giddy – I continued on my journey. Rounding the corner on Boulevard de Charonne, I suddenly saw a Christmas tree falling from the sky. I couldn’t say whether its descent was fast or slow – it seemed both, really. An elegant dive.
A pleasing spectacle, an unexpected pine tree cutting through the air, but I did think quite clearly: “wow, that’s dangerous sport throwing a tree out a window.” Slow day notwithstanding, it’s usually a busy street.
For some reason, I hardly slowed though I was heading straight toward the event. The tree landed with a simple whoosh and I realized I’d been holding my breath waiting to discover what kind of sound a dropped tree from that height would make. Then a redheaded man picked up the sapin and pulled it to the curb. Ah, the lookout! I was relieved.
I caught his eye and he shrugged amiably and offered a sheepish smile.
“It’s faster that way,” he said.
Indeed. The tree looked to have been launched from the 6th or 7th floor at least.
Feel free here.
Just steps later, now near Pere Lachaise, an older man walked by briskly. He seemed to be looking at me, though whether he was a bit unstable or another nice surprise awaited I couldn’t quite tell. All I could make out was the word “cadeau” repeated over and over again. Gift. Gift. Gift.
Or present, present, present, if you prefer.
I’m not a huge fan of New Year’s resolutions; I often just feel my way toward a theme or a vague longing at the most. This year, several people have suggested picking one word, which sounded intriguing, though I found myself resisting that slightly, as well.
But something about these small encounters crystallized into my New Year’s wish. On my walk I had been pondering how “intention” seemed to be the one word growing brighter. Sometimes it’s unclear just what my intentions are so the prospect can get hazy, but that was just it: I want more of my energy to be directed. I want to work with purpose and intent.
These tiny surprises that shook me today, though – they were enchanting. They were joyful. Serendipity is necessary, too.
The memorial at one of the sites of violence, La Belle Equipe.
2015 was a year bookended by horrors in Paris – in my very arrondissement, the 11th, where I live. Just one week into the new year and the killings at Charlie Hebdo and the kosher supermarket shocked the country. Then this November the coordinated terror attacks on Friday the 13th slayed so many more.
In between, I watched news in my other home, the States, and saw more violence, by police with unchecked power, hateful political speech, and in a year with more than one mass shooting per day, by too many people armed to the teeth.
Back in Europe a massive refugee crisis saw wave after wave of suffering people wash up onto these shores. And all around, everywhere – from university students gunned down in Garisa to bombs in Beirut – so much sorrow and death.
I lost my words for awhile. What to do in the face of so much pain? These huge issues left me feeling lost and bereft.
But on the personal side, I experienced wonderful things. Two of my dreams even came true.
- My first novel found a publisher. Yes, four years after I first announced it as finished on this here blog (ahem, watch those optimistic claims, and whoa, how the years careen!), my book finally found a fine home with Queen’s Ferry Press. I am (a wee bit terrified, but mostly, overwhelmingly) thrilled. There’s now more of a wait (pub date is April 2017!), but I’ve grown pretty patient, I must say. I will share more with you when we’re closer and there’s more news to tell!
I gave this as my current photo when the press asked for one, but I think I’m going to smile bigger in my next one.
- I became a dual national. Friends, I never thought I’d get to say this, but it’s true: I am French. After a long process (see patience evoked above), I acquired French nationality in 2015. My naturalization ceremony was held in November – just one week after the attacks. A poignant fact: there were 64 of us newly naturalized citizens at the ceremony. We came from 30 different countries.Vive la France.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
On Christmas Eve, I defrosted my fridge and deep cleaned my bathroom – part of my preparation for starting the new year fresh. Then my beau came over with Thai takeout and we watched the film “Tomorrowland.” So simple. So easy. The no-stress holiday. “It’s one of the most beautiful Christmases I’ve ever spent,” he said.
This is it. Tiny pleasures. Love. What gifts.
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives,” wrote Annie Dillard.
What if we focused on these gifts, on love, on what we are doing every day?
What if we stayed awake, stayed alive to all the small beauties surrounding us?
Flying trees, yummy takeout food, butterfly kisses, and so many things I cannot yet conceive.
Intention: big gratitude.
Present, present, present, said the man on the street today.
I’ll stay present in the moment, in this world.
With these hopes I welcome 2016.
Peace, love, and light to you.
Gift, gift, gift.


Joint media release with The Hon Richard Marles MP and The Hon Mark Dreyfus MP
The Albanese Government stands with all Australians who have been affected by recent cybercrime, and is doing everything within its power to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Today the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Signals Directorate will initiate an ongoing, joint standing operation to investigate, target and disrupt cyber criminal syndicates with a priority on ransomware threat groups.
This operation will prioritise targets based on the harm they can cause and the threat to our national interests. It will complement the work we do with our international partners and allies.
This operation will collect intelligence and identify ring-leaders, networks and infrastructure in order to disrupt and stop their operations – regardless of where they are.
The recent Optus and Medibank data breaches have shown the extent of the damage that can be done by malicious actors. This new joint campaign will ensure the full powers of the AFP and ASD are brought to bear to stop such incidents before they start.
Where incidents do take place, it means that cybercriminals will be hunted down and their networks disrupted. It sends an important message to criminals and hackers intending to do harm – Australia will fight back.
This builds on the work already being done to prevent and combat cybersecurity threats.
Ransomware is a global scourge and a transnational crime which requires coordinated international action to combat. From early next year Australia will also host a virtual international counter-ransomware task force as part of the global Counter-Ransomware Initiative.
This new international counter-ransomware task force will be hosted by the Department of Home Affairs Cyber and Critical Technology Coordination Centre, uniting key international stakeholders across government on effective solutions to counter the ransomware threat.
The international counter-ransomware task force will drive international cooperation and joint efforts to tackle ransomware including through information and intelligence exchanges, sharing best practice policy and legal authority frameworks, and collaboration between law enforcement and cyber authorities to conduct counter-ransomware activities.
In the next parliamentary sitting fortnight, the Government will aim to pass tough new privacy laws that will boost penalties for data breaches to at least $50 million. This will provide a strong incentive for companies and large organisations to do better to protect the data of their customers and prevent future breaches.


Tony Snow’s funeral will be held this morning at 10am at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. President Bush will attend. The service is open to the public. Info on the Tony Snow Family Trust is here.
There are tons of stories out there of Tony’s everyday kindness, collegiality, and professionalism–from his fellow journalists, politicians, bloggers and Internet activists (whom he read voraciously, by the way, long before the MSM had caught on), and complete strangers. Like this:
In 2004 my wife Susan and I, along with our friends, Eric and Sherry, vacationed in Washington, DC. We all had different sites we wanted to see and took turns choosing between the various museums comprising the Smithsonian, Arlington and the memorials. But my wife had what I considered at the time to be a rather unusual tourist destination: the Fox News DC bureau. With such awe-inspiring sites as the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol Dome available to us she wanted to see Fox News and, she hoped, catch a glimpse of Brit Hume. I knew it would be interesting but with so much history around us and so many other points of interest I secretly believed we should be doing other things with our time.
I had no complaint, of course, as both she and Sherry were excited about it and, after all, we all four watch Fox News faithfully. We arrived at the bureau on time for our appointment (Susan had called ahead) but they seemed unsure of what to do with us…
…As we waited in the lobby we talked about our trip so far, what we should do next, and how it looked like we were not going to get a chance to meet any of the Fox News anchors or correspondents. Then Susan or Sherry, or perhaps both, exclaimed in an excited whisper “here comes Tony Snow!”
Hearing this he came over and greeted us. The first thing I noticed about him was how tall he was. Eric and I are both about six feet, three inches, so we do not meet many people that we have to look up to, and yet we had to look up to Snow. But what I remember most was his big smile; his big, genuine smile. Here was a man who served as speechwriter to the first President Bush and would soon serve as White House Press Secretary to the second. But at this particular point in his life he was a busy newsman. Successful, talented, and among the top names in his chosen profession he nevertheless took about five minutes out of his day just to chat with us. He asked where we were from, what we did for a living, if we were enjoying our trip, and where we were headed next…
….I still don’t meet too many people that I have to look up to. But of Tony Snow, I can say that, even had he not been tall, he was still someone you would look up to.
TV green rooms are filled with self-important blowhards and rude bigmouths. Tony was always a bright, warm burst of infectious energy in that stuffy environment. That sunshine smile will be missed by so many more than will be able to fill the pews today for the funeral service.
Godspeed.blog comments powered by Disqus
July 15, 2008 01:13 PM by Michelle Malkin
July 14, 2008 04:48 PM by Michelle Malkin
July 12, 2008 08:30 AM by Michelle Malkin


Powers and Duties Pursuant to This Chapter. Without limiting any authority granted to the Henderson
County Planning Board by law or by regulations, the Planning Board shall have the following powers and
duties with respect to this Chapter, to be carried out in accordance with the terms of this Chapter:
Studies and Surveys. To perform studies and surveys of the present conditions and probable future
development of the County and its environs.
Administrative Amendments. To initiate administrative amendments to the Comprehensive Plan
by adopted motion and submittal to the Planning Director.
Substantive Amendments. To initiate and review substantive amendments to the Comprehensive
Plan and make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners for final action thereon.
Text Amendments. To initiate text amendments to this Chapter by adopted motion and submittal to
the Planning Director; and to review any proposed text amendment and make recommendations to
the Board of Commissioners for final action thereon.
Map Amendments. To initiate map amendments to the Official Zoning Map by adopted motion;
and to review any proposed map amendment and make recommendations to the Board of
Commissioners for final action thereon.
Plan Review. To approve, approve conditionally or deny any plan for a subdivision for which it is
the reviewing agency and any plan referred to it by another reviewing agency.
Special Fill Permits. To review special fill permit applications and make recommendations to the
Flood Damage Prevention Board for final action thereon.
Additional Powers and Duties. Such additional powers and duties as may be set forth for the
Planning Board elsewhere in this Chapter and in other laws and regulations.
Membership. Nine (9) members appointed by the Board of Commissioners.
Terms. Overlapping terms of three (3) years.
Vacancies. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the initial
Officers. The Planning Board shall elect a Chair and Vice-Chair from its members, who shall serve for one
(1) year or until reelected or until their successors are elected. The Planning Board shall appoint a secretary
who may be a County officer, an employee of the County or a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Rules. The Planning Board shall adopt rules and bylaws in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter,
Meetings. Meetings of the Planning Board shall be held at the call of the Chair (or in his/her absence, the
Vice-Chair), or the Planning Director and at such other times as the Planning Board may determine. The
Chair (or in his/her absence, the Vice-Chair) may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses
by subpoena. All meetings or hearings of the Planning Board shall be open to the public.
Records. The Planning Board shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon
each question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicating that fact.


text:
SINGER (SRI LANKA)
OPENS SINGER LOGISTICS HUB IN DAMBULLA
Singer (Sri Lanka) created a new milestone in logistics capability when President Maithripala Sirisena ceremonially opened the company’s massive 75,000-square-foot Logistics Hub in Dambulla. The opening of the state-of-the-art logistics hub would result in doubling Singer’s speed of distribution while maintaining a streamlined inventory control to keep up with rapidly increasing growth in sales. The new Singer Logistics Hub located on a 5.5-acre extent of land in Dambulla will cater to the needs of 180 company shops and 200 consumer durable dealers in the North Central, Northern, Eastern, North Western and Central Provinces.

domain: news


text:
European Council | 10 March 2015
Trade in services agreement: negotiating mandate made public
The Council decided on 10 March 2015 to declassify the mandate given to the Commission to negotiate an international agreement on trade in services.
The negotiating directives were made public the same day.
The decision reflects a growing public interest for this plurilateral agreement, which is currently being negotiated by 24 members of the WTO accounting for 70% of world trade in services. The agreement will be based on the WTO’s general agreement on trade in services, and is open for other WTO members to join. It is aimed at opening markets and improving rules in areas such as licensing, financial services, telecommunications, e-commerce, maritime transport and professionals moving abroad temporarily to provide services.
The Council agreed the EU’s negotiating mandate in March 2013, and the talks started the same month. The Commission is leading the negotiation on behalf of the EU and the member states. Eleven negotiating rounds have now taken place, and there is no set deadline for concluding the talks.
The decision to declassify the mandate was taken by common accord.

domain: law


If you are interested in attending this program, there will be a group from WISH going! To join us, please RSVP to Lauren Korolevich at email@example.com by Monday, February 10th
In your RSVP email, you must include the following information:
– First Name
– Last Name
– Date of Birth
– Student or Faculty ID Number (If you do not have one just put N/A)
– Driver License or Passport Number
– State or Country of Issue
We will be meeting on Thursday, February 13th at 9:30am at the WISH Classroom. If you are a WISH Woodley Park resident, please meet us at the State Department. We will take Metro, so be sure to have your smart trip cards with you or fare cards with enough funds for the trip. Do not forget to bring photo identification to pass through security.
The U.S. Department of State Foreign Policy Classroom
Speaker: Gregory May, Bilateral Political Unit Chief, Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
Topic: “Foreign Policy Challenges and Opportunities in U.S.-China Relations.”
Date: Thursday, February 13, 2014
Where: U.S Department of State, 2201 C St. NW. East Auditorium.
(Enter through the 21st street entrance, between C and D Streets. Bring photo ID.)
Gregory May is the Bilateral Political Unit Chief in the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs at the Department of State. From August 2011 until August 2013 he served as the Senior Desk Officer for Vietnam. From July 2007 until June 2011, Mr. May was assigned to the Political Section of the United States Embassy in Beijing. His previous overseas assignments include Guangzhou, China and Rome, Italy.
Prior to entering the Foreign Service in 2000, Mr. May served as Assistant Director and Research Associate in Chinese Studies at The Nixon Center, a foreign policy think tank in Washington, D.C. From 1993 to 1996, he worked as a journalist for International Community Radio Taipei, an English-language radio station in Taiwan. While in Taiwan, he also worked as a correspondent for Newsweek.
Mr. May earned an M.A. in China Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (1998) and a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin (1992).


SC Hwy. 6 (Pinopolis Road to CSX Railroad),
SC Hwy. 45 & Old Hwy 52
Type of Project
(Or Estimated Start)
April 30, 2018
Estimated Project Budget
Penny Sales Tax
This project consists of resurfacing SC Hwy. 6 in Moncks Corner from the CSX railroad tracks in town to Pinopolis Road, SC 45 resurfacing and Old Hwy 52 for total of 18.15.
SCDOT is managing the project for Berkeley County. This project is combined with resurfacing of SC Hwy. 45 and Old Hwy. 52 and the three projects were let together in a single contract. Bids were received on June 14, 2016 low bid of $12.56 million. Installation of concrete pedestrian ramps is complete. Once concrete patching work is complete, milling and resurfacing will be done. Contract completion date for SC 6 is April 30, 2018.


A6091 Galafoot Bridge
COMMENCES 5th AUGUST (For 10 weeks)
Essential maintenance to the A6091 Galafoot Bridge will commence under phased lane closures, from 9pm on Sunday 5th August for 10 weeks.
We are receiving reports that vehicles are ignoring the no entry signs on the B6360 at Abbotsford House, which puts other road users at risk and increases the chance of an incident happening at this location. Police Scotland have been informed and additional signage has been added at this location to ensure that traffic is observing this one-way diversion.
This work will include the replacement of the road and footpath surfacing, the bridge deck waterproofing, and concrete repairs. The expansion joint works will be undertaken at a later date, and this will be subject to investigations to be carried out at the beginning of this phase of works. This work will prevent the deterioration of the bridge structure, by tackling potential issues early and reducing the need for more extensive, and disruptive works, in the future.
This scheme requires a full closure of the eastbound carriageway of the A6091 Galafoot Bridge – travelling from Galashiels to Tweedbank – with a signed diversion route in operation. Westbound traffic will continue to use the bridge as normal.
Eastbound traffic will be diverted via the A7 to B6360 Abbotsford Road towards Tweedbank Roundabout. At Kingsknowe Roundabout traffic will join the eastbound A7 to Abbotsford Road (at Abbotsford House) and travel south to re-join the eastbound A6091 at Tweedbank Roundabout.
Emergency vehicles will use this same diversion route.
The B6360 will operate as a one-way road from A7 Junction 7 to Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott. The Abbotsford Road is only open to buses and coaches from Tweedbank Roundabout to the Abbotsford visitor centre car park.
PLEASE NOTE: A separate diversion will operate for HGVs and other high-sided vehicles via the A7, A699 and A68.
Night time closures will be required at the start, middle and end of the scheme to allow for the installation and removal of the traffic management system. During these night closures a signed diversion route will be in operation. Eastbound traffic will be diverted via the A7, A699 and A68.
This work has been planned in consultation with Transport Scotland, Traffic Scotland, the emergency services, bus operating companies, community councils, road hauliers, Borders General Hospital and Scottish Borders Council.
Real-time journey information can be obtained by visiting www.trafficscotland.org or via Twitter: @TrafficScotland
To report a problem on the network please visit: http://scottishtrunkroadsse.amey.co.uk/report-a-problem/


text:
Evaluating complex interventions in End of Life Care: the MORECare Statement on good practice generated by a synthesis of transparent expert consultations and systematic reviews
Journal article, Peer reviewed
MetadataShow full item record
Original versionBMC Medicine. 2013, 11:111 . 10.1186/1741-7015-11-111
Background Despite being a core business of medicine, end of life care (EoLC) is neglected. It is hampered by research that is difficult to conduct with no common standards. We aimed to develop evidence-based guidance on the best methods for the design and conduct of research on EoLC to further knowledge in the field. Methods The Methods Of Researching End of life Care (MORECare) project built on the Medical Research Council guidance on the development and evaluation of complex circumstances. We conducted systematic literature reviews, transparent expert consultations (TEC) involving consensus methods of nominal group and online voting, and stakeholder workshops to identify challenges and best practice in EoLC research, including: participation recruitment, ethics, attrition, integration of mixed methods, complex outcomes and economic evaluation. We synthesised all findings to develop a guidance statement on the best methods to research EoLC. Results We integrated data from three systematic reviews and five TECs with 133 online responses. We recommend research designs extending beyond randomised trials and encompassing mixed methods. Patients and families value participation in research, and consumer or patient collaboration in developing studies can resolve some ethical concerns. It is ethically desirable to offer patients and families the opportunity to participate in research. Outcome measures should be short, responsive to change and ideally used for both clinical practice and research. Attrition should be anticipated in studies and may affirm inclusion of the relevant population, but careful reporting is necessitated using a new classification. Eventual implementation requires consideration at all stages of the project. Conclusions The MORECare statement provides 36 best practice solutions for research evaluating services and treatments in EoLC to improve study quality and set the standard for future research. The statement may be used alongside existing statements and provides a first step in setting common, much needed standards for evaluative research in EoLC. These are relevant to those undertaking research, trainee researchers, research funders, ethical committees and editors.

domain: medical


text:
The effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate (DOPP), 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate-20-acetate (DOPP A), sapintoxin D (SAP D) and sapintoxin A (SAP A) on the decrease in [125I]epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding (indicating protein kinase C activation), suppression of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and induction of morphological cell transformation (MCT) in Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells were investigated. All five phorbol esters were found to reduce [125I]EGF binding in early passage SHE cells at comparable concentrations. DOPP A was approximately 10-fold less potent in decreasing GJIC compared to the other phorbol esters in early passage SHE cells, while the compounds showed less difference in suppressing GJIC in the phorbol ester sensitive SHE cell line BPNi. The decreases in [125I]EGF binding and GJIC were found to be transient in the continuous presence of phorbol esters. All phorbol esters induced MCT in early passage SHE cells, but DOPP and DOPP A were approximately 10-fold less potent than TPA, SAP D and SAP A. Thus, there seems to be some degree of correlation, but not to a full extent, between the ability of the phorbol esters to activate PKC, decrease GJIC and to induce MCT. The results do not suggest a simple relationship between PKC activation, inhibition of GJIC and the reported tumor-promoting activities of the compounds.
- protein kinase c
- cell lines

domain: biology


text:
The Senate on Tuesday begun an investigation into the diversion of $1.05bn from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, dividend to augment the shortfalls between the landing cost and pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol.
Senate president Bukola Saraki had vowed to investigate the alleged diversion, after Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru, said the funds were used to avert a crisis in the petroleum sector.
A related investigation into a $3.5 billion “subsidy recovery fund” said to be managed by the NNPC GMD and the corporation’s finance director is currently ongoing.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Gas), Senator Bassey Akpan, representing Akwa Ibom North-east, raised a point of order at the plenary on Tuesday to urge the lawmakers to probe the withdrawal and payments.
Akpan came under Orders 43 & 95 to draw the attention of the Senate to various emails and complaints from the general public on the unauthorized withdrawal of $3.5 billion by NNPC from the NLNG Account.
“I ask that the Senate Committee on Gas immediately investigate this matter,” he demanded
President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, ruled that the committee should go ahead with the probe.
The Senate had set up an ad hoc committee chaired by the Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, to investigate an alleged $3.5bn account kept by NNPC for petrol subsidy payment.
Baru had, while appearing before the committee last week, said NNPC had only spent $1.05bn from the NLNG dividend account to defray the cost of “under-recovery” in the importation of fuel.
Dividends from the NLNG should be shared by all tiers of government and paid into federal government’s consolidated revenue account.

domain: economics


Step into the world of modern farming where technology meets tradition. In this landscape, livestock health sensors shine as essential gadgets.
These devices, part of the Internet of Things (IoT), are game-changers in caring for farm animals.
In this blog, we’ll explore how these sensors work, their vital role in keeping animals healthy, and how they’re shaping the future of farming for the better.
Livestock health sensors are innovative devices designed to monitor and assess the well-being of animals raised in agricultural settings.
These sensors employ various technologies to gather real-time data on different aspects of an animal’s health, behavior, and environment.
They serve as proactive tools for farmers and veterinarians to detect early signs of illness, track animal movements, and optimize management practices.
What does livestock mean?
Livestock encompasses a wide range of domesticated animals that humans raise and nurture for various purposes, primarily driven by agricultural and economic interests.
This diverse category includes animals like cattle (both cows and bulls), sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and various poultry species such as chickens, turkeys, and ducks.
These animals are purposefully bred and reared for the production of meat, milk, eggs, wool, and hides, or even for their roles as working animals in agriculture.
The management and care of livestock are important aspects of animal husbandry, which involves feeding, sheltering, and overall well-being of these animals.
Unique aspects of livestock health sensors
Biometric Monitoring sensors can track vital signs such as body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate. They utilize non-invasive methods like wearable patches or collars equipped with sensors that continuously collect and transmit data.
This real-time monitoring helps identify deviations from normal patterns, indicating potential health issues.
Activity and Behavior Analysis
Sensors can detect changes in an animal’s behavior or movement patterns. For instance, irregularities in walking gait or reduced activity levels might signal pain or discomfort.
By analyzing these patterns, farmers can promptly intervene or adjust management practices to prevent further complications.
Livestock health sensors also measure environmental factors that impact animal health, such as humidity, temperature, and air quality within barns or grazing areas.
Feed and Water Consumption Tracking
Some sensors are capable of monitoring feed intake and water consumption, offering insights into an animal’s nutritional status.
Deviations from typical consumption patterns could indicate health issues or feeding problems that require attention.
Data Analytics and Predictive Modeling
These sensors generate large amounts of data that can be analyzed using machine learning and AI algorithms.
By correlating various parameters, predictive models can be developed to anticipate health issues or optimize farming practices, leading to more efficient management and improved animal welfare.
Remote Monitoring and Alerts
Livestock health sensors often come with connectivity features, enabling remote monitoring through mobile apps or online platforms. Farmers receive alerts or notifications in real-time when anomalies are detected, allowing for swift intervention and reducing the risk of disease spread among the herd.
Types of livestock health sensors
Here are some common types of livestock health sensors:
These sensors monitor an animal’s body temperature and ambient temperature, helping detect fever or heat stress.
Heart Rate Monitors
Heart rate sensors measure an animal’s heart rate, which can be an indicator of stress or health issues.
These sensors track the number of breaths an animal takes per minute, which can signal respiratory problems.
These sensors measure the chewing and rumination patterns of cattle, providing insights into their digestive health.
Activity and Behavior Sensors
These sensors monitor an animal’s movements and behavior, detecting changes that might indicate illness, estrus, or distress.
Milk Yield Monitors
Designed for dairy cows, these sensors measure the amount of milk produced, which can help detect health issues and optimize milking routines.
GPS and Location Sensors
These sensors are often used with livestock like cattle or sheep to monitor their location, detect if they are straying, or assess grazing patterns.
Ear tags with embedded sensors can monitor various parameters, including temperature and location. They are often used for remote monitoring and identification.
Some livestock health sensors can be implanted in the animal’s body to monitor internal parameters like temperature or rumen pH. These are typically used for long-term health monitoring.
Automated Livestock Feeders
Automated systems deliver precise portions of feed to livestock based on their individual needs, optimizing feed efficiency.
Livestock health sensor devices are revolutionizing animal care, empowering farmers with real-time insights.
In their silent vigilance, they herald a future where technology and empathy converge, promising healthier livestock and a more sustainable agricultural landscape.


text:
The Penalties for Canceling an Insurance Policy
Many people decide to wait until the insurance renewal date before canceling their policy because they want to avoid paying a penalty. In some circumstances, however, staying with your insurance company just to avoid a penalty may not make the most sense.
Here are some factors and issues to consider when trying to determine whether you should cancel your insurance policy before its renewal date.
- Before you cancel an insurance policy early, you should check the fine print to be aware of any penalties or fees you might incur.
- There are also hidden penalties to consider, such as losing a multiline discount or other rewards you currently have.
- Compare the total costs of leaving your current policy with the long-term savings you'll gain on a new policy before you make the switch.
What Might Happen If You Cancel Your Policy
First, it's important to be aware that, in some cases, you may end up owing money if you cancel your policy early.
Insurance companies finance policies for a certain time period. If the terms of a policy are respected, then the monthly payments will cover the total cost of the policy by the end of its term.
The cost of insurance changes if the term is reduced to less than the original contract term. When the term is cut short, your monthly payments no longer meet the schedule. You may end up owing money—even after your policy is canceled—because of the penalty that has to be paid as well as any additional fees.
Many insurance companies do not charge cancelation fees. Your policy should specify whether any penalties apply for ending coverage before the renewal date.
What Should You Consider Before Canceling Your Policy?
It still may be worth canceling your policy even if you'll incur a penalty. Before you drop your coverage, keep in mind the following:
- Ask for the specific cost of the "penalty." You may be surprised by how many insurance representatives cite a penalty without even knowing the penalty rate. The penalty could be $20, $500, or any other estimate. The exact amount should make a difference in the decision you make.
- Compare the annual cost of the new policy to the annual cost of the policy you want to cancel. If the price difference is under 10% per year, you could try getting your current insurer to match the new price. Ten percent should not be a big deal to an insurance company if your account is in good standing and you have several policies with the company. If it does not match the price, calculate whether you end up ahead once you pay the penalty. If you end up even (or close to even), you have to decide if the new policy is worth the effort.
Always be cautious if you get an insurance rate quote that is significantly lower than your current rate. Make sure you go over all policy details to fully understand the costs.
- Compare the differences in policy advantages and coverage between the new policy and your current one. Representatives of your current and potential insurers should be able to help you focus on the top features of the policy you have or are considering. If a new insurance company is able to offer you services that better meet your needs or policy features that are valuable to you, it may be worth paying more to switch.
- Understand payment terms. Insurance companies have varying payment policies. You should make sure to study the terms of these policies and find the one that works best for you.
- Determine if there will be consequences on other policies as a result of canceling the policy in question. Often, people find cheaper car insurance with a new insurance company and decide to switch while leaving their home insured by their original insurer. They then get an awful surprise when their rate increases because they lost a multipolicy discount or access to special policy enhancements. Evaluate your entire personal insurance portfolio and make sure you know all the facts before making a decision. You should ask yourself: Will changing one policy affect the cost of or coverage on another?
The Bottom Line
Although many insurance companies will let you off the hook without a fee, that's not always the case. It's always a good idea to shop around and make sure you're getting the best deal for your insurance needs, but be sure you understand the costs of making a switch before you get a sudden surprise with your final bill.


June 28, 2023
WATERTOWN, S.D.–Governor Kristi Noem has largely been silent on the topic of carbon capture pipelines proposed to be built in South Dakota, but that changed this week, when she laid out her position on the topic in an interview with our newsroom….
Ed Fischbach is a pipeline opponent. He says the governor could quickly prove her support for landowners by calling a special session of the legislature….
The CO-2 pipelines proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions and Navigator have not been permitted.
Hearings on permit applications will be held before the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission later this summer and fall.


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This is a new tutorial that demonstrates most of the common tools utilized when performing UV mapping in Maya. It shows some of the new tools found in Maya 2016 as well as some that have been around for some time.
Category Archive: Maya
This is a tutorial that demonstrates some advance UV mapping techniques and tools found in the new Maya 2016. This demonstrates how to cut, splice, unfold and map using many of the newer tools.
It’s that time of the year. I’ve taken a short hiatus over the summer and it’s back to school time. Starting off the school year with a short tutorial on the new features of Maya 2016. This is quite a significant upgrade from the previous version. I cover most of the new features but there …
This is part 2 of a two part series on cameras in Autodesk Maya. This tutorial demonstrates how you use the 3 basic types of Maya cameras: Camera, Camera & Aim and Camera Aim & Up. It provides quick animations using all three types and in particular shows how you crate a basic camera rig …
This is the first of a two part tutorial on cameras in Maya. Part 1 deals mainly with creating and setting up Maya cameras. It covers the most commonly used attributes, what they do and how they should be set.

domain: hobby


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Something's gone wrong
Something's gone wrong.
14 July 2019
Why Haas are confident they'll right the wrongs of 2019 in 2020
Ferrari set for theatrical 2020 car unveiling
5 rivalries set to dominate F1 in 2020
WATCH: All Access with Red Bull's Alex Albon
How the drivers have spent their winter breaks so far


Hope From The Global Church As American Christianity Declines
An important factor to remember is that although America has been the leader of the Christian world for much of the last century, Christianity does not stand or fall with America. When we look at the wider global picture, Christianity is more than alive and well. In fact, it is growing at an unprecedented rate. Consider the continent of Africa, which is poised to become the leader of world Christianity. According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, the number of Christians in Africa is increasing at a rate of 2.81 percent per year. That may not sound like much, but the compounding effect is huge. In 1900, there were about 9.5 million Christians in Africa; by 1970, that had risen to over 140 million. Today, the number is nearly 685 million, over twice the population of the United States.
Teachers participate in training that compares suspension to slavery
Educators from across the state are gathering for a training this week with Dr. Muhammad Khalifa, a controversial equity consultant with a history of promoting theories like “Christian privilege.” He also appears to work for a group founded by a prominent anti-Semite. He’s also listed as a senior fellow at the Yaqeen Institute, an Islamic think tank founded by Dr. Omar Suleiman, who once described Zionists as “the enemies of God,” compared Israel to Nazis, and denounced “apartheid Israel” as terrorists. Educators from Robbinsdale, Columbia Heights, Edina, Richfield, Roseville, St. Louis Park, and West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools are currently participating in a training program with Khalifa,
Race-based aborted baby-parts operations reminiscent of Kermit Gosnell scandal
the University of Pittsburgh have been getting … slammed in recent days, with accusations it assembled a tissue bank holding hearts, legs and brains from unborn babies who were cut up and stored. But one of the more horrific accusations has now come from the Centers for Medical Progress, which charged that the organs are removed from the unborn babies’ bodies before they are dead. Pitt is now admitting to news media that the aborted babies are still alive at the time their kidneys are cut out for NIH grant money. Planned Parenthood abortion providers responsible for its ‘research’ abortions are allowing babies, some of the age of viability, to be delivered alive, and then killing them by cutting their kidneys out.”
Biden ATF nominee appeared on Communist Chinese state TV to promote gun control
Video resurfaced this week of David Chipman — President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) — appearing on Chinese state-run television in 2012 to promote gun control efforts, which China may have used to aid its anti-U.S. propaganda efforts.
China is secretly getting people in the US to spy for them and they don’t even know it, says fmr. top US spy-catcher
China employs “nontraditional collectors” of information either living or working in the U.S. who will end up “unwittingly working for the Communist Party” and passing along sensitive information to the Chinese government. “Nontraditional collectors,” are “either wittingly or unwittingly working for the Communist Party of China” and “don’t know they’re lobbyists and don’t know they’re here registering as a foreign agent. Most likely they’re not and oftentimes they conduct high-level research at a ceramics lab or an institute and then get a phone call one day by someone back home. They don’t know that they are an agent of a foreign power and they don’t know that they are a lobbyist.” of the approximately 328,000 Chinese students studying in the U.S., all of them are “forced to have Chinese phones with WeChat so the Chinese can monitor them here.
China threatens US after Biden approves his 1st US arms sale to Taiwan
On Wednesday, the U.S. announced its approval for the first arms sale to Taiwan … which would include 40 new mobile artillery vehicles for the island. China responded with threats of “counter-measures” against the U.S.
Air Force A-10s land on, take off from highway in Michigan
An A-10 Warthog belonging to the Michigan Air National Guard landed and then took off from a highway in west Alpena, Michigan on Thursday, marking what is believed to be the first time in history that modern U.S. Air Force aircraft intentionally landed on a civilian roadway on U.S. soil. it’s also a first in the nation, as this is the first time that modern combat aircraft have landed on U.S. soil, on a highway.”
Historic Delegation of Iranians Bring Vision of Peace to Israel
One of the goals of this delegation is to let people know about the so-called Cyrus Accords. “Cyrus Accords, a peace deal between Israel and a future free democratic Iran is possible as well,” said Len Khodorkovsky, a former senior advisor to the US special representative for Iran. These accords are named after the Persian king, who allowed the Jews to rebuild the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
Israel says ‘ready to attack Iran; take action now’ after Israeli ship attacked
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Thursday that Israel is ready to attack Iran” and called on other nations to take action with Israel. Gantz told Israel’s Ynet, “We are at a point where we need to take military action against Iran. The world needs to take action against Iran now.”
PA leaders continue to deny existence of Jewish Temples
Tisha B’Av is a Jewish day of mourning commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem (586 BCE and 70 CE) and the forced exile of most of the Jewish people from the land of Israel. On and around Tisha B’Av this year, (July 18), PA leaders and officials were busy yet again denying that those temples ever existed, despite countless of written sources, archaeological finds, and historical evidence documenting their existence.
Rockefeller Brothers backed organization linked to anti-Israel ‘intifada rally’ in Brooklyn
The anti-Israel group Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) supported a pro-Palestinian rally in Brooklyn, N.Y., over the weekend where hundreds of protestors glorified uprisings against Israel. JVP is backed in part by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund according to data from NGO Monitor.
Right after attacking Israel, Biden vows to give $100 Million to Hezbollah
Right after Lebanon’s ruling party Hezbollah attacked Israel with missiles on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said that Washington will pledge close to $100 million in additional “humanitarian aid” to Lebanon reports Reuters. It should be noted that Lebanon is currently controlled by the Hezbollah terror organization.
FDA Reportedly Planning For COVID Vaccine Booster Shot Approval By September
So we have gone from double-masking to triple-jabbing…
In drought-plagued northern Mexico, tens of thousands of cows are starving to death
Two years of extreme drought have turned large stretches of northern Mexico into a boneyard. Between starvation and ranchers forced to prematurely sell or slaughter their livestock, officials say the number of cattle in Sonora has dropped from 1.1 million to about 635,000.
Gantz: Iran 10 weeks away from amassing enough weapons-grade material for nuke
Iran is ten weeks away from acquiring enough enriched uranium to build a nuclear bomb, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said on Wednesday.
SICK: University of Pittsburgh Admits Harvesting Kidneys From Living Babies Murdered in Abortion Procedures
The University of Pittsburgh has admitted, perhaps unwittingly, that they are harvesting organs from children born alive during abortion procedures who are then murdered after the fact.
If the Covid vaccines begin killing millions of adults, they will unleash an ORPHAN HOLOCAUST of homeless kids everywhere
..The scariest part is that most babies, children and preteens have not been injected yet. What happens to all those kids should the Covid vaccine blot clot tsunami all of a sudden take effect for the couple hundred million Americans that had their genes altered to produce trillions of virus-mimicking sticky spike proteins that clog their blood vessels?
Turning flu cases into COVID through manipulation—easy as pie
Since 1988, I’ve been pointing out that relabeling and repackaging disease is standard operating procedure in the field of “pandemic medicine.”And now we have this, from FOX News (7/25/21): “But while cases of COVID-19 soared nationwide, hospitalizations and deaths caused by influenza dropped.”
Hillsong Church Founder Charged With Concealing Homosexual Pedophile Sex Crimes Committed Against 7-Year Old Boy By His Father Frank
For years we’ve been telling you about the uber-sketchy Laodicean Church known as Hillsong Church of Australia, on every level these people are revulsive to anyone who reads and believes their King James Bibles. Worldly, money-hungry, chasing Hollywood and flashing the Illuminati triangles like they invented them, there seemed to be no bottom too low for these people. Until today that is. Welcome to Hellsong, the church of the Devil.
Mexico City sinking at “unstoppable rate” of up to 20 inches a year, study finds
A recent study found that Mexico City is sinking at a rate of up to 20 inches per year. Researchers explained that this unstoppable plunge occurs because the ground on which the city rests is rapidly compacting after being drained of water by decades of groundwater extraction.
U.S., European databases for adverse reactions to COVID jabs are spiking with tens of thousands of cases
Vaccines are inherently dangerous, as long-time readers of our sites have come to understand, but they are even more so when they’re not fully vetted and tested, as the COVID-19 vaccines weren’t.
Former president of Planned Parenthood shifts from killing babies to mass murdering everyone; calls for government-forced injections of experimental spike protein shots that are killing people right now (opinion)
Leana Wen, a baby murderer who used to receive a paycheck from Planned Parenthood as one of its top executives, is back in the news for calling on the government to issue new mandates for Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) “vaccines.”
Vaccine propaganda BOT FARM catapults Big Pharma lies across social media while those who tell the truth are silenced
Social media algorithms are being used to not only identify and eliminate certain facts and truths, but these AI systems are also being used to promote certain types of propaganda, to brainwash the public into accepting falsehoods as if they are popular messages of truth.
Did a 2015 Movie Predict the Purpose of the JAB? The Vaccine Is Much More Than It Appears To Be!
In February of 2015, Deborah Tavares told me that I really should go see the move, The Kingsman, because there are so many elements present in this movie which show us where so much of our technology is headed. Now I realize that the following technology is related to the Jab. This gets into the arena of predictive programming in which, for some cosmic reason, the satanic globalists must tell humanity, in some form, what is coming. Frequently, it is done through Hollywood.
‘Privacy Company’ Apple Plans To Monitor All US iPhones For Evidence Of Child Porn
While law enforcement is likely to celebrate the new surveillance tool, privacy experts warn that the decision could have unintended consequences…
Supreme Court shown 4D ultrasound images, urged to uphold Mississippi 15-week abortion ban
A nonprofit organization has submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court featuring ultrasound imagery over time to demonstrate how scientific advancements justify overturning the long-standing precedent in American abortion jurisprudence.


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Bramble Energy – a hydrogen fuel cell technology startup – has secured just under £1million (£994,050) in government funding as part of the BEIS (Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy) Energy Entrepreneurs Fund. The money will be used to further develop their hydrogen fuel cell technology, to replace diesel engines in boats, potentially saving 50,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. The unique fuel cell will be the basis for a fully compliant demonstrator vessel, crucial for the rapid adoption of hydrogen within inland waterways.
The funding will be used by Bramble Energy and partners to bring together a strong, UK based commercial consortium to develop an affordable fuel cell system for mass maritime decarbonisation. The consortium will be led by Bramble Energy who has partnered with one of the UK’s leading marine engine suppliers, Barrus, in the ‘HyTime’ project. Barrus will deliver the vital technical, commercial and legislative requirements of the marine market and provide the direct route to market exploitation.
The “HyTime” project will be a first in the marine sector and supports wider ambition for Bramble Energy to develop Printed Circuit Board Fuel Cell (PCBFC) systems for other maritime appli
Chief Operating Officer, Vidal Bharath at Bramble Energy, comments: “Achieving net zero is contingent not only for decarbonising the UK’s roads, rails and air space, but also the inland and coastal waterways too. Fuel cells are one of the most promising technologies for decarbonising the maritime sector as they provide not only a range extender to pure battery systems, but also to remove the reliance on a charging base.
“This project provides the perfect opportunity to demonstrate our decarbonising technology in a real world, challenging environment across an industry where we are gaining momentum. To add to the excitement, we are honoured to be partnering with a worldwide leading custom-engine builder, Barrus.”
Managing Director, Robert Muir at Barrus, adds: “For over 100 years, Barrus has been championing innovations within the marine industry, including developing electric and diesel-electric hybrid power plants for the inland waterways market. We are incredibly proud to be the first to create a medium-sized range zero-emissions, commercially viable solution for inland waterways vessels and to advance the knowledge of safe integration and hydrogen fuel cells’ operation in marine environments. We are delighted to partner with Bramble Energy to decarbonise our inland waterways in this game-changing project.”
The UK is globally recognised as a maritime nation, with a shipbuilding industry that exports around the world. The maritime sector contributes to 940 million tonnes of CO2 per year, equating to approximately 2.5% of global greenhouse gases (GHG). The Clean Maritime Plan requires new vessels to be zero-emission capable from 2025.
The goals for the “HyTime” project are:
Assess the market and business case for affordable hydrogen and the infrastructure required at marines to supply hydrogen to the vessels.
Demonstrate a marinised fuel cell stack and system: With acceptable durability and robust full system operation ( i.e. autonomous thermal control, fault tolerance module switching).
Successfully test an integrated hybrid system on water: Datalogging equipment will measure power output, energy consumption under normal operating conditions.
“Hydrogen fuel cells offer a practical zero-emissions power solution to the maritime sector. Our ambition with this project is that we are able to demonstrate how the industry can overcome two of the limitations stopping hydrogen becoming a mainstream solution – capital cost and the supply and storage of it,” concludes Bharath.
About Bramble Energy
Bramble Energy is powering a Net Zero world – today – and is proving to be a real game changer in solving key challenges in the production of hydrogen fuel cells including: lead times, up-front investment, manufacturing cost and scalability.
Founded in 2016 by Dr. Tom Mason, in the research labs at Imperial College of London and University College of London, Bramble Energy through revolutionary fuel cell design and manufacturing techniques, has developed the unique printed circuit board (PCB) fuel cell – the PCBFC™. A patent protected fuel cell that can be manufactured in almost all printed circuit board (PCB) factories worldwide.
After raising significant capital in 2020 and again in February 2022, Bramble Energy has rapidly grown from a team of just three to 40 and is fast becoming the leading hydrogen fuel cell provider for a cleaner and more sustainable world.
Home for Bramble Energy is a state-of-the-art facility in Gatwick, UK, where they have launched their portable power product range and are developing their high-power density, liquid-cooled fuel cell systems under the same scalable low-cost technology platform.
For more information about Bramble Energy visit: https://www.brambleenergy.com
Barrus is proud to have achieved over 100 years in business. Barrus has partnerships with major international companies representing leading brands in the marine, garden, industrial engine and vehicle markets.
Each of these market sectors is serviced and supported by specialist teams. They deliver professional sales and technical after-sales back-up to a Barrus network of over 3,000 authorised dealers to provide the highest quality products to the end-user.
Barrus is also recognised worldwide as a leading custom-engine builder. A dedicated research and development team work as consultants with the MoD, the RNLI and other military and emergency services organisations supplying specialist power plants and equipment. The demanding operating environments that these organisations encounter set the standards that Barrus apply across all products and services. For further information please visit www.barrus.co.uk


text: George and Harold are two imaginative pranksters who make the depressing Jerome Horwitz School a better place. They hypnotize their nemesis, the mean-spirited principal Mr. Krupp. He transforms into the incredibly clueless yet kind-hearted and enthusiastic superhero named Captain Underpants. Even without the mean principal, they discover that having Captain Underpants comes at a steep price. Meanwhile, Professor Poopypants tries to eliminate laughter with the school snitch Melvin, and George and Harold discover that there may be more to Mr. Krupp than they had originally thought.

domain: entertainment


How Chargemaster Data May Affect Hospital Revenue
The now transparent federal database of hospital prices could motivate hospital financial assistance offices to write more flexible policies for collecting from uninsured, underinsured, and Medicare Advantage patients.
Some hospital industry executives dismiss the release of the federal chargemaster list of prices for 100 types of hospital care, saying it bears little relation to the charges that are actually negotiated and paid.
But that may not be the whole story. This now transparent database could make a big difference right away for the uninsured, the underinsured, and for some Medicare Advantage patients, perhaps impacting hospital financial assistance offices that will need to write more flexible policies if they want to get paid.
"The issue will be for those folks that end up having to deal with chargemaster charges, which is the uninsured consumers," says Greg Knoll, executive director and chief counsel of the Legal Aid Society of San Diego.
"For them and their advocates, it becomes something to use in negotiation around how the cost of their care should be discounted." Knoll says he sees the chargemaster as "another arrow in the quiver" for those like him who represent the poor to negotiate lower payments.
- Transforming Decision Support and Reporting
- In Lakeport, CA, a Population Health Laboratory is Born
- Nurse Ethics Comes to a Head at Guantanamo Bay
- Providers Prep for New Payment Models as Population Health Grows
- CMS Mulls Income-Adjusting MA Stars
- Providers' Push to Consolidate Roils Payers
- Slideshow: Healthcare Executives Eye Efficiency
- As Retail Clinics Surge, Quality Metrics MIA
- Upfront costs of going digital overwhelm some doctors
- 3 Ways to Rev Employee Development Programs


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Your dream starts with a plan. Let us make it happen.
Professional Horticulture Services designs and builds beautiful landscapes for your family to enjoy for years to come. Our unique, custom two- and three-dimensional landscape designs will help your dreams come to life. We offer a two year hardscape warranty and a one year plant warranty.
One of the most important steps that is often overlooked is developing a plan. You have heard the old saying “People don’t plan to fail, they just fail to plan.” Well, this applies to your landscaping as well! Our desire is to help you create a landscape that will bring you enjoyment for years to come. We will discuss your thoughts and develop an understanding of how you will use your outdoor space. A dream becomes a goal when you write it down. Let us help you bring your dream to reality! It starts with a plan, let’s get started.

domain: design


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EXCLUSIVE: Ray Liotta will play the husband to star Olivia Wilde’s character Elizabeth in Occupant Films,’ Better Living Through Chemistry, written and directed by Geoff Moore and David Posamentier. The feature, produced by Felipe Marino and Joe Neurauter, centers on a straight-laced pharmacist’s uneventful life that spirals out of control when he begins an affair with a trophy wife. Wilde replaced Jennifer Garner who was originally slated for the role but had to back out due to pregnancy. Michelle Monaghan, Sam Rockwell and Judi Dench also star in the film, whose script was on the 2010 Blacklist. It begins shooting in May. Liotta has three projects in the pipeline this year including crime thriller Killing Me Softly with Brad Pitt and directed by Andrew Dominik; The Place Beyond the Pines directed by Derek Cianfrance, starring Ryan Gosling and writer/director Jacob Aaron Estes’ comedy The Details. He is repped by UTA and Untitled Entertainment.
Ray Liotta Finalizing Talks For 'Better Living Through Chemistry'
What's Hot on Deadline
Latest Film News
- ‘Ultron’ Outpacing ‘Avengers’ & ‘IM3′ With $439M; ‘F7′ Fuels Up – Intl…
- ‘Suicide Squad’ Photo Reveals Villians In Costume Minus The Joker
- Disney Crosses $1B At International Box Office; Propelled By ‘Ultron’, ‘Cinderella’
- ‘Far From The Madding Crowd,’ ‘Welcome To Me’ Vigorous At Specialty Box Office
- ‘Avengers: Age Of Ultron’ Flies To 2nd Highest Bow Of All-Time With $187.7M- Final Sunday Update
- Oscar-Winning ‘Dances With Wolves’ Author/Screenwriter Michael Blake Has Died

domain: artistic


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VII Social Inclusion
While clean energy can serve as a robust enabler of economic growth, ensuring socially inclusive development remains a signature political economy challenge for clean energy transitions. With that in mind, this part features chapters that explore the linkages between social development programmes and clean energy aspirations, climate and development implications of energy poverty reduction programmes, and the impacts of energy development actors and interests on local communities and their agendas. Achieving inclusive economic growth in concert with clean energy and climate goals is a complex task; the subsequent case studies intend to illustrate some of the relevant, governing political economy elements to be considered by policy makers in this realm.
Ezeanya and Kennedy explore the various strategies employed by the Government of Rwanda in achieving increased biogas use among the rural poor, particularly through an agricultural direct assistance and poverty reduction programme known as Girinika. This case study, more generally, attempts to shed light on the conditions necessary for successful implementation of clean energy pro-poor reforms in rural communities. McCormick explores hydroelectricity and biomass development in the Brazilian Amazon, and the linkages between the needs and agendas of local communities, the economic interests, and politics at the national level, and international social actors and financial interests. Kruger, Tait, and de Groot characterize the political economy of residential energy choices and energy poverty reduction programmes in developing countries through comparative analysis of South Africa and Indonesia.

domain: literature


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LHD boundaries as described are approximate and subject to change. Consult the LHD Study Report on file with the relevant local district commission or municipal authority to verify district boundaries and whether a specific property, particularly one in proximity of a boundary line, is within the district. Also note that LHD boundaries may differ from those of State or National Register Districts.
Colonial, Greek Revival, Carnegie Style, Renowned architect Alexander Jackson Davis 'Country Cottage' Style.
Old Lyme was settled in 1647 or 1648 and until 1857 was known as Lyme. The Old Lyme Historic District runs the length of the town's main street, known as Lyme Street, and a very short distance along the Old Boston Post Road, a total of approximately a mile and a half. At the southerly end, facing the street, is a distinguished Greek Revival residence, the Marvin-Griffin House. Diagonally across is the McCurdy House, a fascinating composite structure built in 1754, where both Washington and Lafayette were guests. At the northerly end where Lyme Street divides into Sill Lane and the Old Boston Post Road is a modern house in the Colonial style. On the westerly or Sill Lane side is a handsome modified Greek Revival house of 1858. From the 1700's through the mid-19th century, sea captains, shipbuilders, and merchants built houses along Lyme Street, many of which are among the finest in Connecticut as well as in Old Lyme. Fire and time have taken their toll but many houses still remain, and as civic needs grew, new buildings were accommodated in a homogeneous manner. The World War I Memorial Town Hall (1920) is next to the historic Justin Smith House of the early 1700's. The Phoebe Noyes Griffin Library, built in the Carnegie style of the 1890's on the corner of Library Lane and Lyme Street, is opposite the 1790 Maxon House. The Elementary School, diagonally across from the Town Hall, built in 1934 of fieldstone, brick, and wood trim, blends harmoniously with old structures. [NR]
Architecture, Art:Old Lyme is situated at the mouth of the Connecticut River on Long Island Sound, giving it a unique setting with a long and varied shoreline, many tidal marshes, and extensive pen land. These very attractions threaten the town with incongruous development. Within the established historic district of Old Lyme, the main street has retained many agreeable characteristics now difficult to find even in historic New England. Nevertheless, the pressures for change in an age when decisions are made without careful evaluation are increasing.
The Old Lyme Historic District shows a remarkable continuity from village life of the earliest pre-Revolutionary years to the present day. It is a compact area of 71 structures within which architectural growth is reflected in a wide range of historical needs.
Adjacent to the man-made setting of the district is the still unspoiled Lieutenant River. For two centuries a center of shipbuilding, it figures prominently in the history of the town. Today the river's tidal marshes remain a haven for birds, fish, and wildlife. The Old Lyme Conservation Trust, Inc., founded in 1966, is acquiring wetlands of its marshes for their protection. Many of the properties in the Old Lyme Historic District extend from Lyme Street to the river. Preservation of the center of Old Lyme complements the existing conservation program. [NR]
 District information retrieved from the town website http://www.oldlyme-ct.gov/Pages/OldLymeCT_WebDocs/government. Old Lyme Historic District, Handbook of the Historic District Commission, 1992, SHPO Library, Hartford.  Link to the historic district ordinance- http://www.ecode360.com/8840510.  Assessors information and Parcel IDs retrieved from the website http://data.visionappraisal.com/OldlymeCT/search.asp. [NR] Brown Mrs. John Crosby, Old Lyme Historic District, National Register Nomination Number- 71000916 NRIS, National Park Service, 1971 - http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/71000916.pdf; http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Photos/71000916.pdf.
The Old Lyme local historic district and the Old Lyme National Register historic district are coterminous.

domain: history


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Does a Person’s Feelings About an Experience Matter More Than the Experience Itself? It Might.
PHILADELPHIA – Certain negative or traumatic experiences in a child’s life, known as adverse childhood experiences or ACEs, can have long-lasting impact on a person’s mental and physical well-being as an adult. ACEs are violence, sexual abuse, neglect, growing up in a family with mental health or substance use problems, and can also include experiences of divorce and poverty. Studies have shown that early childhood trauma can increase the likelihood of diseases as an adult, including heart disease, chronic pain, obesity, substance abuse, and depression, among others. However, it’s unclear whether a person’s perception of their experiences has any impact on risk of disease later in life.
New research from Jefferson’s College of Population Health explores whether this adulthood perception of traumatic events may predict health outcomes. The study, published in Community Mental Health Journal in February, 2020.
“To our knowledge, the studies of our collective research team are the first direct investigations into individuals’ perceptions of the magnitude or severity of adulthood impact of an ACE event,” says Marianna LaNoue, PhD, associate professor of population health and director of research, and first author of the study. “We hope our findings encourage the field to measure perceived impact in future studies, to better capture the complex relationship between ACEs and health outcomes.”
The researchers retroactively merged studies done between 2010 and 2016 which examined the relationship between ACEs and adult physical and mental health. From the 679 respondents, they looked at the ACE scores (the highest being 5, meaning a respondent experienced all five of the most common ACE events), the standard benchmark in these types of studies. However, in order to explore the perceived impact, the surveys in these studies also quantified the ACE impact magnitude, where respondents rated the impact on a scale of ‘none’ to ‘a lot’. They also had respondents rate their ACE event on a scale of ‘very negative’ to ‘very positive’. Previous research has shown that people are able to find some positives from their adversity, such as ‘becoming a stronger person’ or ‘being a better parent’.
“We found that how people felt about their experience was a significant predictor of health outcomes,” says Dr. LaNoue. “Specifically, we observed that respondents who report a more positive impact reported better health, with fewer mental health challenges and chronic conditions.”
In fact, the researchers found that 15% of people, regardless of how many events, or which specific events they experienced, reported that the impact was ‘mostly positive to very positive’. This finding points to the striking quality of resilience and is consistent with other research that indicates that positivity and positive emotions are protective of health in adulthood. While previous studies have examined resilience to stressful life events in adulthood, few of them examine adult’s perceived resilience to childhood events.
“I think these findings encourage us to remember that trauma and adversity don’t guarantee poor health outcomes in adulthood,” says Dr. LaNoue. “Instead, if people can be encouraged to find some positive impacts from their experiences, it may buffer negative health effects.”
By Karuna Meda
Article Reference: Marianna D. LaNoue, Amy T. Cunningham, Laura C. Kenny, Diane Abatemarco, Deborah Helitzer, “What Do Adults Think About Their Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and Does It Matter?”, DOI: 10.1007/s10597-020-00580-0, Community Mental Health Journal, 2020


It was a significant moment for Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack. So far, the company has been taking several steps to improve its books and they have just taken a step in that direction.
According to news reports gotten from European Gaming, Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack just put pen to paper on a huge marketing deal with none other than one of the best football teams in America, Philadelphia Eagles. This deal is sure to herald a new dawn for the casino in all ramifications.
There’s hope that this deal will lead yield positive outcomes for all parties involved. The marketing deal will go a long way to improve Caesars Entertainment’s exclusive marketing deal which is still running with the National Football League. As at press time, details of the deal were not disclosed.
As disclosed by Chris Albrecht, the General Manager and SVP of Harrah’s Philadelphia
“Harrah’s Philadelphia prides itself on partnering with organizations that share our same core values and the Philadelphia Eagles are the gold standard in terms of customer service, community engagement, and on-the-field product.
We each have passionate and loyal fan bases and we look forward to connecting with them in new and innovative ways and providing them with exciting experiences through this partnership,”
As it is, Harrah’s Philadelphia will continue to function as the sponsor who presents the “Drive Summary” for the Eagles video board feature. This also includes the Scratch and Win game of the team that runs on its mobile app.
Another advantage of this deal is that the casino will be advertised in one way or the other in several email campaigns that will be targeted at the fan base of the Eagles. This also includes merchandize from the Eagles Pro Shop situated at the Lincoln Financial Field.
In addition to the amazing branding opportunities that abound, the legends who played for the Eagles will be hosted by Harrah’s Philadelphia at its entertainment complex.
The esteemed guests at the Casino will also take advantage of the celebratory reward cards of Eagles Caesars, branded clothing items, several gifts and branded table games from Philadelphia Eagles.
In an interview granted to the local press, Catherine Carlson, who happens to be the Senior Vice President, Revenue and Strategy of Philadelphia Eagles had a lot of things to say, she stated that;
“World-class entertainment and a strong commitment to the customer experience are synonymous when you think of Harrah’s Philadelphia. This new partnership will enable us to work creatively with Harrah’s through innovative ways to further engage with Eagles fans. We look forward to offering special Eagles experiences and co-branded touch points with Harrah’s Philadelphia year-round,”


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The Atlantic magazine has an excellent article about the heated issues raised by children who want to be the opposite sex. It’s an excellent piece that captures both the dilemmas of parents and mental health professionals sparked by potentially transgendered children.
I sometimes jokingly suggest that clinical child psychology would be better described as clinical parent psychology, owing to the fact that it almost always involves working as much with the parents’ anxieties as the child’s.
This is particularly important when it comes to behaviours which are not considered, in themselves, to be physically or mentally damaging, but which are socially unacceptable or stigmatised, because the pressure often takes the form of others wishing the child would conform to social norms.
The Atlantic article gives some vivid examples of some of the pressures, as the child, mother, father, professionals, peers and campaigning groups each have different opinions on how to manage a young child that dresses and acts like a child of the opposite sex.
As we discussed in a post about an NPR programme that covered the same territory, one of the big controversies is whether to try and treat the child to identify with their birth sex, or whether to help them cope with the stresses of adjusting to life as a transgendered child.
This is complicated by the fact that follow-up studies have shown that not all children who have cross-gender desires when young maintain them through puberty. However, hormone treatment exists which can delay puberty so it makes it easier for a child to pass as the opposite sex if this is thought the best course of action.
The Atlantic piece is a remarkably well-researched piece that covers a great deal of the mental health debate about the practice and ethics of treating what are known as ‘gender dysphoric’ children, but also gives us a revealing insight into some of the family and social dynamics that affect the individuals.
A compelling and thought-provoking insight into this contested area.
Link to Atlantic article ‘A Boy’s Life’.
Link to previous Mind Hacks piece on ‘gender identity disorder’.
One thought on “Trans children – trapped in a body, mind or society?”
The Atlantic article is terrible!
While it states that gender identity is fixed and immutable — “we are all pre-wired for many things previously thought to be in the realm of upbringing, choice, or subjective experience: happiness, religious awakening, cheating, a love of chocolate,” (uh huh, neuroscience has got all of that figured out) — it simultaneously treats gender identity as the equivalent to your kid demanding an iPhone, “rais[ing] troubling questions about whether the limits of child indulgence (!!) have stretched too far.”
Don’t indulge your child by letting them wear those pink shoes. Then the neurons will have won.
Also, everyone knows that Louann Brizendine is a hack. http://126.96.36.199/%7Emyl/languagelog/archives/003419.html
This article fails to engage any of the issues seriously at all. Or maybe it just doesn’t get them.

domain: psychology


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Great for layering. Play around with it. You can wear it with the lock to the front or to the back. Add a little charm* for a little extra fun.
Details: - Gold vermeil adjustable lock
- Semi precious stones
Please note: All pieces are handcrafted. No two items are exactly the same. There are slight variations due to the individuality of each piece.
Turquoise: is one of the oldest protection amulets, and was also known as a symbol of wealth in many ancient cultures. The turquoise is the symbol of friendship.
Pearls symbolise wisdom acquired through experience. They are believed to attract wealth and luck as well as offer protection. The pearl is also said to symbolise the purity, generosity and integrity.
*Charms are not included.


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Bitcoin and other crypto-assets have long divided traditional economists and bankers with some warning over their instability and others praising their ingenuity.
The bitcoin price rebound so far this year has caused some to change sides, though many continue to warn bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will be a mere flash in the pan.
Earlier this year, Christine Lagarde, who has just been nominated to replace Mario Draghi as president of the European Central Bank (ECB), warned that cryptocurrencies are "shaking the system"—something that could signal a change in the ECB's approach to bitcoin and crypto and potentially spur adoption.
"I think the role of the disruptors and anything that is using distributed ledger technology, whether you call it crypto, assets, currencies, or whatever ... that is clearly shaking the system," the 63-year-old Lagarde told CNBC in April.
"We don’t want to shake the system so much that we would lose the stability that is needed," she added.
Those comments earlier this year follow an interview with Lagarde in 2017 where she warned the power of cryptocurrencies and the underlying blockchain technology should not be dismissed.
Meanwhile, the bitcoin and cryptocurrency community has largely welcomed Lagarde's nomination to the top job at the ECB, with some expecting her openness to crypto to be "good for the industry."
"Several people have pointed out to me already is that the next ECB boss is incredibly crypto friendly," Mati Greenspan, senior market analyst at brokerage eToro wrote in a note to clients this week. "Indeed, Christine Lagarde who is set to replace Mario Draghi on 1 November is extremely pro digital assets." Read more


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Life is walking on water.
"Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’" (Matthew 14:22-31)
Like the disciples in this Gospel passage, we find ourselves on a journey. We're in the human "boat," and the wind and the waves of our lives are preventing us from getting anywhere.
It's dark. We're frustrated. There's weird stuff going on all over the place. We're barely afloat.
But then suddenly, we are surprised by a man. Not only is he moving freely. He's doing the impossible. He's "walking on the water" -- all the human problems that frustrate our plans and our designs are raging and he is right there in the midst of them. Yet they do not trouble or hinder him at all. He has complete freedom and mastery over everything that's threatening to sink us, but when we see him we are scared.
This is to be expected.
Jesus's disciples were scared when they first saw him walking on the water. They were first century Palestinians, children of Israel, not terribly well educated, and maybe a bit superstitious. In any case, they were "spiritual" men, so they were understandably scared that a ghost was approaching them.
"What the heck is this?"...they wondered. "It's not human; that's for sure!"
We are twenty-first century cosmopolitans -- global villagers -- and most of us know that there must be something more than just this physical world that we see, hear, and touch. Something is "out there" that we might "see" in strange moments, like after we die. Or this "something" has to do with certain deep experiences we have from time to time. We know this, because -- after all -- we identify ourselves as "spiritual" people.
But right now, we're in this capsizing boat -- the "boat" that is the place where we are actively engaged and concerned with life, where we place our hopes and expectations for here and now, where we look for concrete solutions. This is not the place for "being spiritual," we think. This is the place where we need to get down to business.
And business is not going well.
We are also superstitious, in old fashioned ways perhaps, but surely in subtler ways that we wouldn't readily acknowledge. We are afraid of something new happening in our lives, something good and beautiful that really challenges us and changes us but that is also beyond our calculations and our control.
So what are we going to do with this "someone" we now see, who is accompanying us in our lives, who seems to know us better than we know ourselves? What are we to make of this? How can we bear it?
And then he speaks: "Take heart. It is I. Do not be afraid."
He is a man walking with us, a real "someone," a friend. We see that there are some among us who recognize him.
And we recognize him too. In his face we see the promise of life, the hope that moves us, the fulfillment that we have been trying to reach as we flounder in the waves of frustration and failure.
We recognize all of this in his human face.
This man is walking with us, and he is walking on the water that we fear is going to drown us. This man is with us and he is our friend. He is also offering us a possibility beyond our calculations and beyond our own power.
He says to us, "Come."
He says, "Trust me. Walk with me. Stay with me and you will walk on this water, you will do the impossible, you will walk and you will go onward and persevere even amidst the highest waves and the wildest winds. Come with me!"
He says even more to us through this Gospel story. He says, "Even if you get scared and start to sink -- you who are so small in your heart, with so little faith and so little trust -- I will catch you! I will not leave you alone. Trust me!"
This is the decision we must make every day. We hear him say, "Come!" And we must decide, we must choose to trust him, and to take that first step onto the water...
...and then the next, and the next. Step by step, moving, halting, struggling, sinking, letting him catch us and pull us up again, and then taking the next step....
Life is walking on water with him.


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Let's talk about the dynamic capsule in the VR theme amusement park project, how it is to achieve a virtual reality journey. Our vision can be extended indefinitely in the VR environment, but our body is not moving at all, and a dynamic capsule that is perfectly synchronized with the film seems to be essential.
The dynamic space capsules are spread all over the major commercial plazas, and the competition for VR experience is growing. Let people stand and experience virtual reality and play in a first-person perspective. This device allows our VR-themed amusement park project to allow people to explore, escape, and network VR games.
The VR theme amusement park project, the game experience should be varied. HTC Vive can be said to be the first of its kind, allowing people to walk in a virtual environment. When people put on their heads and pick up the game controller, we can still see the virtual game controller. When we use a virtual game controller to touch a firearm in a virtual environment, we also turn into a pistol with the virtual controller. The VR discovery device that HTC Vive creates can be said to integrate VR with multiple fields. What we have in our hands is not necessarily a gun, but it can also be a sword, a bow, a brush, or a racket. We can perform a variety of VR games in the VR Discovery device.
In the VR theme amusement park project, you should have a very interesting game. The driving experience has always been a very interesting game, but we have already learned it in the video game city. But combining innovative cutting-edge technology VR with driving experience will make a difference.
The VR Theme Amusement Park is one of the engines that drive the wave of virtual reality, and we are full of expectations for this project. Don't be an observer in the VR industry, but a participant in the VR industry. Come quickly to the VR theme park project, VR's offline experience rides can bring you a lot of extra profits!


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My Girlfriend and i shared a double room, it was very clean and comfortable. The kitchen was well equipped and well presented, the living area had lots of tables and some comfy couches, also there was a fire which really gave the place a warm homely feel. The staff were very nice and friendly, we were provided with free breakfast and a free chocolate cake with ice cream at night. We would defintly come back again!
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- The fire is roaring, the atmosphere's relaxed, the hostel's warm, spacious yet homely. Just like your favourite café - great music, friendly, genuine people. Free Hot Chocolate pudding & ice cream served every night of the year. Inner sprung mattresses throughout the hostel. Free All you can eat Winter Breakfast (May to November). Free Wireless internet (April to November). Free use of bikes for exploring. Off-street parking. Central but quiet location. ... more less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Hotels.com, Booking.com, Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Agoda, Hotwire, Priceline, HostelWorld, Cancelon, TripOnline SA and Cheap Tickets so you can book your Tasman Bay Backpackers reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.
- Also Known As:
- Tasman Bay Backpackers Hotel Nelson

domain: travel


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Florida’s unemployment compensation law was substantially changed this summer. This is good news for Florida employers. So what are the changes employers should cheer?
(1) Misconduct has been redefined.
It is harder for terminated employees to get unemployment compensation. Under the new law, misconduct is now defined as any action that demonstrates “conscious disregard of an employer’s interests and is found to be a deliberate disregard or violation of reasonable standards of behavior,” and may include activities that did not occur at the workplace or during working hours. For example, benefits may be denied if an employer can show chronic absenteeism or tardiness, or a violation of an employer’s rule. That’s unless the employee “can demonstrate that he or she did not know and could not reasonably know of the rule’s requirements” or “the rule is not fairly or consistently enforced.”
(2) Unemployment insurance has been reduced.
The amount employers are charged will be reduced on January 1, 2012. The Agency for Workforce Innovation (Florida’s agency that handles unemployment compensation) estimates that employers will save approximately $33 per employee.
(3) Severance pay can now be off-set.
If an employer’s severance pay per week is equal to or greater than the weekly benefit amount, the eligible employee is not entitled to benefits for that week. However, severance pay will not impact the total amount of benefits that can be paid on the claim.
(4) Unemployment benefits have been reduced.
Eligible employees will receive fewer benefits. Currently Florida pays up to 26 weeks. Come January 1, 2012, Florida will only pay between 12-23 weeks based on the state’s unemployment rate. The higher the rate, the more weeks will be paid.


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House of Jazz @Tenclub Amsterdam
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TenClub’s Monster Room turns into Amsterdam’s one and only actual jazz club every Sunday afternoon, starting from October 1st. Our headquarters at Nes 116 bring the atmosphere Amsterdam’s jazz scene has been waiting for without knowing it. Small to medium in size, the room provides the intimate backdrop for the hot and steamy performances by your host and master pianist Bas van Lier, who invites national and international guest artists to perform alongside himself during these very special matinee sessions. With just one season behind us, we are grateful to see so many of Amsterdam’s jazz aficionados time and time again on Sunday afternoon and we are very excited about the start of yet another season in ‘23/’24. Past performers include Sister Sledge, Benjamin Herman, Anton Goudsmit, Hans Dulfer, Michael Varekamp, Rolf Delfos and many more. Plentiful champagne and oysters will be available upon request during every single edition of House of Jazz. Tickets: €15


The majority of private and public stakeholders rank transportation as the infrastructure most in need of a major investment, with more than one billion vehicles on the road worldwide creating billions of hours of traffic congestion, including more than five billion hours of travel delay each year in the USA alone. Global IT developer, Cisco, has now announced a suite of validated solutions that securely connect disparate transportation systems, in order to increase safety and reduce roadside incidents, improve traffic flow, and provide a centralized view of highway systems. Using the Internet of Everything, the company’s new Connected Roadways system creates an end-to-end infrastructure that will help enable the deployment of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) applications. The company hopes that this approach will offer: new business models and growth opportunities for transportation authorities, cities, automakers and freight operators; a safer driving experience for motorists; and the underlying infrastructure to help support the future widespread introduction of self-driving or autonomous vehicles.
It is widely accepted that connected vehicle technologies will allow drivers and highway system operators to make informed decisions that can ultimately reduce traffic and transit delays and avoid potential collisions. Cisco’s Connected Roadways system addresses the interoperability requirements based on the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Connected Vehicle Reference Implementation Architecture (CVRIA), including: V2I communication to improve safety, where on board DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications) radio from transit vehicles can interact with Traffic Safety System (TSS) for Transit Signal Priority (TSP); Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) that dispatches information to field service technicians, mass transit vehicles or emergency services assisted by computer, via two-way radio, text messages or other forms of communication; Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) that automatically detects vehicle location and securely dispatches the information via the GPS; and Wireless Bulk Data Transfer that gives fleet mass transit vehicles access to download multiple data types, such as schedules and route information, from a central repository over the DSRC interface to the onboard unit (OBU).
The suite of Connected Roadways systems is composed of Cisco’s IP Next Generation Network, Enterprise, Collaboration, and technology products, including: Industrial Ethernet ruggedized switches that provide transport connectivity to roadside equipment components and can withstand wide ambient temperature ranges and harsh environments; the 819 Integrated Services Router that offers onboard and roadside connectivity on vehicles to provide cellular and wireless connectivity, by linking DSRC radio to city-wide Unified MPLS transport networks; and ASR 900/1000 Series Routers that deliver scalable and resilient Unified MPLS transport infrastructure by interconnecting between roadside, data center, and operations center networks. Wim Elfrink, Cisco’s chief globalization officer, said, “Transportation agencies, cities, mass transit passengers and motorists all benefit from technology advancements for roadways and transportation. Our latest transportation solutions provide a straightforward approach to improving the basic infrastructure that individuals rely on. This can transform the everyday driving and transit experience, with fewer accidents and delays occurring.”


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The complexity and size of drug candidates has grown in recent years as scientists pursue novel targets once considered undruggable. As a result, discovery teams are increasingly faced with the challenge of compounds demonstrating poor aqueous solubility. The solubility of a drug molecule is vital for its bioavailability. If a drug is not sufficiently soluble,
Over the past century, small molecule drugs have represented the dominant modality in drug research, enabling medical breakthroughs that have saved countless lives. A small molecule achieves therapeutic effects by binding to a target protein and blocking or inhibiting the protein’s functions, or changing the protein’s shape in a way that impacts downstream cellular interactions.

domain: chemistry