I’m exploring the possibility of dispensing with the 96-head while it’s in a ‘tip touch’ location, to hopefully assist with small volumes. I can move the head to the location I want using the 96-head move command, but then when it enters the dispense command the head re-moves itself to the sequence position at the center of the well. Is there a firmware command to exclude this movement from the step or somehow work around this? Any pointers are appreciated.
I would use a virtual labware shift. Hopefully someone from Hamilton can chime in because I do not have my Hamilton PC handy.
@mgildemeister - There are likely lots of options available to explore here. Would you mind sharing some specifics as to the nature of the transfer (volume, labware etc)? This will make it easier to tailor a recommendation as to how to best proceed. If there is something unique about this transfer that require custom movements, there are likely libraries that already exist for straightforward implementation.
@NickHealy_Hamilton thanks for the reply. The method is built to allow the user to define their labware and auto select tips based on volume, but for this specific use case we are looking to stamp 3uL into PCR plates with 10uL tips. The volumes looked accurate enough with a blowout and tip touch off, it’s just difficult to reliably make all of the 96 tips touch each well. So I was thinking of pushing a mm or so into the side of the well to correct for any differences in tip geometry.
Seems like a virtual labware shift could be a good idea, is there any way to do that via a library?
Something else I’ve thought could work would be to tip touch in +/- x and y to get as many tips as possible to touch, is there an easy way to accomplish that?
You should just set a side touch at the height you require in the plate. That is what I would do personally. You need to set the exact height and side distance in the labware so it is not very flexible, but we use it with great success.


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For anyone who has a loved one, like a close friend, spouse, parent, or grandparent, who has started to have trouble hearing and following conversations in quiet or noise, it can be hard to know the right way to bring up the subject of hearing loss.
However, with new studies increasingly linking untreated hearing loss to serious comorbidities, it’s now more important than ever to ensure our family members are receiving the hearing care they need early in their hearing journey.
As their loved one, you can play a critical role in getting them to take the first step to a better hearing before they begin missing out on big life moments. In order to do so, you need to know how to best broach the topic and what to focus on to ensure it’s a productive conversation.
Ultimately, your goal should be to empower them with the confidence to begin managing their hearing so they can live a healthier, more fulfilling life on their own terms.
Effective Conversation Starters
Close relationships require consistent and effective communication. No one wants to miss out on life’s special moments, from graduation to retirement, particularly when they’re with friends and family. Unfortunately, hearing loss can be a major barrier to feeling connected to those around you.
Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to begin the conversation by talking about real-life examples and experiences where hearing loss may have affected your loved one directly. Do they miss enjoying listening to their favorite songs or watching their favorite TV shows at a volume lower than max? Are they fully present and participating during family events and dinners? Encourage them to speak from their own experience about these situations and how they feel because of them.
Hearing loss can also be very draining as it drives an increase in listening effort. While someone may be able to hear part or even all of the conversation for a time, listening and following along requires a lot more energy and focus than usual. This results in your loved ones with hearing loss feeling more tired more quickly and likely wanting to withdraw sooner. Bring up listening effort as part of the conversation and see if this is something they experience. If so, discuss whether treatment can reduce listening effort and help them enjoy conversations and experiences for longer.
Finally, while you don’t want to scare your loved one into pursuing treatment, it’s important to mention the potential links between untreated hearing loss and the risk of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, fatigue, falls, depression, cognitive impairment, and dementia. Most current theories relate many of these issues back to social isolation — which is an extremely common problem among people with hearing loss.
It’s very hard to be in a situation where you struggle to hear others or feel confused and frustrated by not understanding what’s going on around you. Individuals with untreated hearing loss who experience these situations often pull back from their environments due to the frustration of being unable to communicate.
This discussion of real-life examples may encourage your loved ones to consider how hearing loss affects their everyday life. Discussing them might help motivate your loved one to take the first risk-free step of the process: getting their hearing checked.
When discussing hearing tests, try to emphasize the simple and practical process. It is important for anyone to have a baseline exam of their hearing and many ENTs and hearing centers, including HearUSA, provide free hearing tests, so it costs nothing to get a test and consider options for intervention from a licensed professional.
Tips for Help and Support
In addition to obtaining hearing aids, there are some pretty simple and straightforward aspects of everyday life that we can change in order to better communicate with hearing-impaired family members.
- When speaking to someone with hearing loss, try to make sure you have their attention. Try to speak slowly and clearly while facing them directly. Don’t speak to them from another room or have your mouth covered, since many hearing-impaired individuals rely on lip reading in their day-to-day interactions. Especially during large gatherings, it’s important to be close to them and project your voice towards them.
- Very loud situations are the most challenging environment for people with hearing loss, so try to reduce any extra noise when possible by turning down the volume on TVs and other devices, as well as avoiding cross-talk at social gatherings like dinners or parties.
- If your hearing-impaired loved one doesn’t catch what you said initially, instead of repeating yourself, try rephrasing what you initially said. Additionally, avoid raising your voice or shouting at someone who can’t hear you. No matter how frustrating the situation may be, it’s always good to remain calm and make sure everyone feels respected.
- Consider being or assigning someone to be a “communication buddy.” That means sitting next to your loved one and helping them follow and catch conversations they missed. This keeps them from feeling isolated and confused. If they hear better through one ear, have them sit at their preferred side of the table.
Being a Parent or Grandparent with Hearing Loss
It goes without saying that effective communication is crucial to parenting and caregiving. Hearing loss which starts later in life can make it especially challenging for parents and grandparents who rely on spoken language to understand what their children/grandchildren are saying, particularly when they are young and may not articulate clearly. Misunderstandings or misinterpretations of a child’s needs, questions, or emotions can lead to frustration or confusion.
Early identification and treatment, including properly fit hearing aids, is the best way to mitigate hearing loss and be a more active parent or grandparent. Additionally, there are some simple things that can improve communication channels between child and adult.
- Try to set clear and achievable expectations with the kids so they know how to best communicate with you. For example, let them know that talking face-to-face is always preferable for people with hearing loss. Similarly, limiting background noise is also a plus, meaning you should lower the volume on games and TV shows.
- In this day and age many grandparents, in particular, live far away from their grandchildren and rely on technology to communicate. Although phone calls are probably more common, video chat is a better option for reading lips and facial expressions to aid the communication process. Additionally, a larger screen is better, so consider using a video conferencing app on your tablet, laptop, or desktop instead of a mobile phone.
We know that being a parent or grandparent is hard enough, but adding in hearing loss and communication challenges makes the day-to-day especially difficult. Treating your hearing loss might be one way to help simplify the chaos of raising the next generation.
With all of this in mind, remember that while you might be the one starting this conversation, your loved one facing hearing loss is in the lead. Your support can make a world of difference in empowering them to improve their own quality of life. Having motivation, and a support system, is paramount in ensuring that they continue to make the choice of better hearing for the rest of their lives.

domain: medical


TrustFire 18500 1800mAh 3.7V Li-ion Rechargeable Battery with Proteced PCB (2pcs)
- Brand : TrustFire
- Product Code : S020203
- Availability : In Stock
2. Capacity: 1800mAh
4. With Protected PCB
5. High rate discharge, no “ memory effect".
Short circuit, over charge and Discharge protection:PCB life is around 10 years: It is GREEN.
Do Not throw into fire or incinerate.
DOES NOT pouncture, damage, disassemble it.
Do Not knock the battery.


text:
Dogs enjoy fewer walks in the winter – because their owners don’t like going out in the cold, a study has revealed.
Research revealed 56 per cent of owners admit their dogs get less exercise when the temperature drops due to owener’s reluctance to venture outside.
Sean McCormack, head vet at dog nutrition company, Tails.com, which commissioned the study, said: “Any dog which is living by a nutritious and healthy diet is going to remain as enthusiastic as ever about their daily walks, even as the temperature plummets and the heavens open.
“When this happens it’s easy to slip into hibernation mode and curl up on the sofa, but we want to encourage dog owners to don their thermals and pick up the lead – your dog will thank you for it.”
The study also found 36 per cent of owners have put off taking their dog out for a walk because they felt “too tired”. In response to the findings, personal trainer and nutritionist Dan Osman started Doggy Bootcamp, an exercise regime to put dogs and dog owners through their paces.
Mr Osman said: “It’s cold and dark and wet outside, but your dog still wants to go out and burn off some energy.
“Dog owners have a responsibility to their four-legged friend to give them the happiest life possible, and sometimes that means going for walkies in less-than-ideal weather conditions.
“And while the benefits may not be clear at first, it is important to keep exercising with your dog through winter. It may even strengthen the bond between you.”

domain: pet


Cathay Pacific has expanded its European network considerably in recent times and the region is set to become better connected than ever before with frequency increases to France, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Madrid will see an increase from four to five flights per week from late October, while a sixth weekly flight will operate to Manchester from early December. At the same time, Paris will see the resumption of an 11th weekly service.
Paul Loo, Cathay Pacific Director Corporate Development & IT, said the airline’s frequency increases are a direct result of responding to the needs of its customers.
“Our network enhancements are designed to improve our customers’ experience through greater choice and added convenience. Increasing frequencies to these popular Cathay Pacific destinations strengthens our ability to connect our passengers with all corners of the world in addition to growing our home hub of Hong Kong,” said Mr Loo.
Cathay Pacific currently operates 108 weekly flights to North America, 93 weekly flights to Europe and 75 weekly flights to Australia. The airline will launch a new four times weekly service to Tel Aviv on 26 March and introduce new seasonal services to both Barcelona (summer) and Christchurch (winter) later this year.


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Tacos….. oh how I love thee. When I’m at a restaurant I rarely, and I mean rarely, skip out on meat selections. I could probably count on one hand where I’ve actually chosen vegetarian options over something with meat. What can I say I like my meat.
There is one restaurant that will always have me ordering at least one of these vegetarian meals and its Austin’s famous Torchy’s Taco restaurant. Low and behold Lubbock, TX put one in near Tech’s campus and it stays packed. I was going to go test it out but the line is always out the door and around the block. Momma doesn’t have time for a line like that, so I decided to make my own torchy’s tacos at home. Needless to say I was bit apprehensive about battering and frying avocados but darn they were good. I try not to fry a lot in our home but these avocados would not have received the proper love if they were baked.
Just don’t do it…. these babies need to be fried.
My husband (also a meat eater) loved these fried avocado tacos. They were quite simple to prepare and we will definitely be munching on these bad boys again.
I’m a contributor over at SheKNOWS and I didn’t want you to miss out on this awesome recipe that is posted for their site.

domain: food


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We often partner with local agencies and groups to provide hearing, vision and developmental screenings to the public. Common locations for families to participate include the public library, recreation center, Community Connections, local child care providers and the Ketchikan Gymnastics Club.
If you have a suggestion for a screening location please contact Early Learning at (907) 225-7825.
Otoacoustic emissions (OAE’s) are sounds given off by the inner ear when the cochlea is stimulated by a sound. When sound stimulates the cochlea, the outer hair cells vibrate. The vibration produces a nearly inaudible sound that echoes back into the middle ear. The sound can be measured with a small probe inserted into the ear canal.
People with normal hearing produce emissions. Those with hearing loss greater than 25–30 decibels (dB) do not produce these very soft sounds. The OAE test is often part of a newborn hearing screening program. This test can detect blockage in the outer ear canal, as well as the presence of middle ear fluid and damage to the outer hair cells in the cochlea.
This photo-screening is used to detect the presence of risk factors for amblyopia, a decrease in the child’s vision that can happen even when there is no problem with the structure of the eye. The decrease in vision results when one or both eyes send a blurry image to the brain.
The brain then “learns” to only see blurry with that eye, even when glasses are used. Amblyopia is commonly known as “lazy eye”. This screening is important because, if caught early, amblyopia can be treated. If it is not treated, it can cause permanent loss of vision.
As part of the Watch Me Grow program, parents or other caregivers can use the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) to track their child’s development and find out if they are meeting their developmental milestones on time or if there is a delay. The questionnaires are quick and easy to fill out and can provide valuable information about your child’s developmental progress.
Fill out the social-emotional questionnaire to help you keep track of your child’s social-emotional development, with the support of developmental specialists.
Fill out this language-motor-social questionnaire to help you keep track of your child’s development in language, motor, independence, and social skills with the support of developmental specialists.


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Legal notice:The Land of Mystical Fairies website, along with the owner/artist, makes no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, reliability or fitness for a particular use of the information on this website. The website visitor assumes all liability and waives any and all claims or causes of action against this website, its host, designer, webmaster, and/or owner/artist for all uses of and any reliance on this information. The Land of Mystical Fairies website, along with the website owner/artist, specifically disclaims any and all liability for any claims or damages that may result from providing the website or the information it contains, including any websites maintained by third parties and linked to and/or from the Land of Mystical Fairies website. Links provided to third party websites from the Land of Mystical Fairies website is not an endorsement of the third party website or its content. This paragraph shall accompany all distributions of this information and is incorporated into this information for all purposes.
Disclaimer:Some of the images on this website are original creations or have been found from public domain online. If you are the artist or copyright owner of any of the images used on this website, pleasecontact usand we will remove the image or give appropriate credit. NO images were taken from websites displaying a copyright and the majority of images on this website can be readily found on the internet.

domain: law


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There are plenty of great search for the right Latin brides for your marriage ceremony. For one thing, these kinds of brides frequently understand the cultural significance belonging to the customs that she will end up being practising in the ceremony. Which means you will be able to incorporate social elements that are meaningful to the Hispanic persons. You might also need to choose Latina brides because they are usually even more desirable than some other women, which has social significance too. Whatever the case, there are several points that you must consider just before you find the right Latino girl to your big day.
The first thing you have to take into account is the fact that that most Latina women want to be tied in marital relationship by their parents. In order to get around this, there are a lot of Latino women who are willing to take foreign men when husbands, nevertheless they do not like the idea of tying or braiding the marriage straight down with a officially married person. That is why mail buy brides turn into so popular: they allow the Latino bride to live abroad just for as long as this lady likes. And some countries tend not to recognise the right of second marriages, in order to keep customs going, many Latin females still wed foreign males.
The second thing that you should know is the fact Latin birdes-to-be prefer to get married to men from their have country, specifically if the man is local Spanish. If you would like to https://kalley.blogactiv.eu/2019/09/11/picking-speedy-plans-for-find-foreign-bride/ use an agency to find new Latin brides, you will have to make sure that you get the individual’s nationality correct. For instance , if you get a Puerto Rican woman, manage to survive call her Puerto Rican. The same goes for Dominican women of all ages – they have to get the nationality correct if you would like to use an agency to locate these people.
As far as the expense go, that varies widely depending on the firm you choose. Several agencies give discounted prices if you use these to find the perfect Latino wife. You should also try to remember that you will certainly not find your perfect match which has a Latina -mail order bride-to-be. Most people who would like to use these kinds of services are looking for a husband or wife, plus the last thing that they need to do can be waste time looking through plenty of dating profiles.
It is also imperative that you remember that the sort of women that you will find through a all mail order woman service are all mature ladies who are looking for real love. This is not the kind of women which you may meet for a fridge or for a club. These are girls that want to get committed to somebody who they can trust, someone who they can grow old with. This is what makes locating a Latin snail mail order brides services so helpful – you can start out appointment women who are truly ready to get married and build a life with each other. These are ladies who already have the backgrounds to support an evergrowing family.
For anyone who is serious about starting a family, then it is normally time to get a Latin mail buy brides service plan. You can save considerable time by doing this on the net. You can find many reputable organizations that will help you locate your best partner. Discover a website which offers quality results and critical reviews and take your time and efforts getting to know the america latin cupid right people.

domain: sociology


Applications News & Reviews - Page 3
More Applications News
Join us Nov. 13 for an #eWEEKchat about the popular rising trend in do-it-yourself application development designed for non-technical line of business users.
eWEEK DATA POINTS RESOURCE PAGE: FutureOps is a data-driven, intelligently-automated, business-centric practice of IT operations that will help reduce technical debt in companies while leveraging new technologies for business gain.
eWEEK NEW-PRODUCT ANALYSIS: This is a beast of an edge server because it is powered by NVIDIA’s CUDA Tensor Core GPU, has cryptographic acceleration for encryption, networking for Mellanox, NVMe over TCP and RDMA for storage, an industrial-strength cloud native stack and hardened AI software.
eWEEK STORAGE ANALYSIS: At Insight 2019, NetApp takes a leap forward in addressing the needs of an increasingly data-driven world.
eWEEK NEWS AND PRODUCT ANALYSIS: All in a day's work: Data memory and chipmaker unveils first 3D XPoint commercial product, new SSDs, a new AI platform and a cloud-based security service.
eWEEK NEW-PRODUCT ANALYSIS: New access unit brings together a radio, antenna and digital unit into one compact box, making it the industry’s first integrated radio for mmWave spectrum.
eWEEK NEW-PRODUCT NEWS: Aruba's new lineup enables centralized visualization of network health using distributed analytics across every switch in the network to reduce troubleshooting cycles from days to minutes.
eWEEK DATA POINTS RESOURCE PAGE: The development of ML technologies has given rise to the ability to extract more information and intelligence from the wide range of content in the enterprise, whether structured or unstructured.
eWEEK DATA POINTS RESOURCE PAGE: IPA involves more than RPA with a dash of artificial intelligence thrown in. It involves several key requirements as spelled out in this latest Data Points article.


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190 Cheltenham Rd, Bristol BS6 5RB, United Kingdom
Health and well-being have always been at the center of my interests and for this reason I graduated with a master degree in Clinical and Community Psychology, and I also became a Shiatsu Massage Practitioner as well as a Natural Health Practitioner (a Naturopath).
In the past, I’ve worked with addicts and people with mental health problems, and over recent years in Emergency Psychology Teams, providing support for bereaved families, in order to prevent PTSD. These experiences have given me a new view of life and strengthened my aim of helping.
WHAT IS SHIATSU :
Based on the meridian system, Shiatsu is a complementary therapy that works well alongside conventional medicine. It doesn’t require use of oils and it is carried out on the clothes (better if comfortable).
Regular Shiatsu treatments help to boost the immune system and enhance general health and well-being.
SOME EFFECTS OF SHIATSU:
-RELEASES TENSION AND MAKES THE TISSUES MORE ELASTIC AND FLEXIBLE;
-STRETCHES AND OXYGENATES THE MUSCLES;
-IMPROVES CIRCULATION AND REMOVES TOXINS;
-REDUCES PHYSICAL PAIN;
-RESTORES THE BODY’S NATURAL SELF-HEALING PROCESSES;
-INCREASES ENERGY AND ENHANCES PERFORMANCE IN SPORT;
-REALIGNS THE BODY STRUCTURE;
-ENCOURAGES BODY AWARENESS, INCREASING SELF--KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIDENCE;
-INDUCES CALMNESS AND MENTAL CLARITY, AND IMPROVES SLEEP
or contact Shiatsu with Edoardo - Enso Martial Arts


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Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 15
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has confirmed that “small deposits” of uranium were found at Kasha Kaladi in Shimla and Tileli in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.
SC okays diversion of forest land for 138 big projects in Himachal
State 10th on list of mines
200 tonnes of triuranium octoxide at Kasha Kaladi (Shimla)
220 tonnes at Tileli (Mandi)
1,95,751 tonnes in top producer Andhra
3,45,362 tonnes spread over 11 states
While Kasha Kaladi has an estimated 200 tonnes of triuranium octoxide, which is enough to produce 170 tonnes of uranium, Tileli has 220 tonnes of triuranium octoxide (186 tonnes of uranium). The largest deposit in the state (364 tonnes of triuranium octoxide) is at Rajpura in Una district.
The size of the find has put Himachal Pradesh at the 10th position among 11 states in the country where uranium has been traced. Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Meghalaya occupy the top three positions, respectively.
Earlier, uranium extracts were found during digging operations at Lambehra village in Hamirpur district.
Uranium Corporation of India Limited has come up with a plan to meet the target of attaining self-sufficiency in uranium production by 2031-32. It includes maintaining supply from existing facilities, increasing capacity of existing mines and exploring new locations.
The Himachal Industry Department claims that uranium deposits had been found at 11 locations, including Hamirpur. There is, however, no mention of the village among the sites listed by Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (Hyderabad), the exploration arm of the DAE.
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domain: news


Does Mercury still make outboards?
Mercury Marine. We offer the most-complete line of outboard power, for fishing boats and speed boats, for pontoons and tenders, for work and for play. Mercury Outboards – Durable.
Does Mercury make good outboards?
Both Yamaha and Mercury make excellent outboards. Westshore did state, “When it comes to buying a new outboard motor for your boat, why not choose the motor that US Customs trust? Today US Customs agents in south Florida use four supercharged Mercury Verado outboard motors. That’s 1,400 horsepower!”
Who Make Mercury outboards?
Boating engine company Mercury Marine, based in Fond du Lac, has been granted exclusions from 25 percent tariffs for its outboard engines assembled in China. The requests, made by Mercury’s parent, Brunswick Corp., were approved by the U.S. Trade Representative office, Brunswick said this week.
How long do Mercury outboards last?
Mercury motors claim to last thousands of miles, but like all other motors, this depends on the care, maintenance, and use. With the proper care and cleaning, Mercury outboard motors could offer you over 2,000 or even 3,000 hours of use.
What is the parent company of Mercury Marine?
Mercury Marine/Parent organizations
– Mercury Marine’s parent company, Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Power Products – Global Marine & Mobile, which includes the global marine, specialty vehicle, mobile, industrial power, and transportation aftermarket products businesses of Power Products.
What is the largest Mercury outboard?
On Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at 11:00 am, Mercury Marine announced the largest outboard engine ever made – it is the 7.6 L 600-hp V12 4-stroke outboard that weighs 1,260 lbs. (571.52 kg) and retails for about $77,000.
Who makes small Mercury Outboards?
In 1987, Mercury Marine and Tohatsu Corporation created a joint venture called Tohatsu Marine Corporation (TMC) to manufacture smaller outboards. Right now all Mercury models 30 horsepower and less are manufactured by TMC in Japan.
Where is the VIN on a Mercury outboard?
The VIN’s location on a Mercury is, as with most vehicles, along the inside base of the windshield in front and to the left of the driver. Vehicle identification numbers are engraved or stamped on a plastic or aluminum tag attached to the top of the dashboard.
Who manufactures Mercury Outboard Motors?
Mercury Marine’s primary business is outboard motors. Mercury Outboards, 30 Hp and less, are made by Tohatsu in Japan. Mercury Marine builds 40, 50 and 60 horsepower outboard motors in Suzhou , China. Mercury also manufactures engines over 75 horsepower at its facility in Fond du Lac in Wisconsin.


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By Daniel C. Vock
In Las Vegas, dozens of people found themselves suddenly forced to sleep in a parking lot when the homeless shelter they were using was closed for decontamination. In Boulder, Colorado, unhoused residents who likely had COVID-19 found shelter in government-run recovery centers that offered food, showers, and, critically, a place to stay while they recovered without infecting others. And in San Diego, the city set up 66 public handwashing stations to help prevent the spread of the virus.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has strained cities and planning in countless ways, but efforts to protect the health of people experiencing homelessness have been especially challenging. The two most important directives issued — stay at home and wash your hands — are generally impossible for them to follow without aid. Temporary housing, like street encampments or shelters, puts its inhabitants in close contact when they're supposed to be isolated.
While states and cities have closed restaurants, shops, and other public places to slow the disease's spread, shutting down temporary housing would leave many without life-saving resources. Likewise, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged cities not to sweep camps of unhoused people during the outbreak.
"Clearing encampments can cause people to disperse throughout the community and break connections with service providers. This increases the potential for infectious disease spread," it warned cities in March.
Some assistance is on the way. Congress allocated $4 billion of March's $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARE) Act specifically to supporting unhoused populations. Cities and other local governments may also be able to tap additional funding from the bill, including its increase in Community Development Block Grant funds and financial relief for states and large municipalities. But because local governments still bear the primary responsibility for keeping unhoused residents healthy, they are required to act before receiving any of the promised support.
The public health crisis has led to a number of systemic problems that make homelessness harder to address: the need to isolate and house health care workers, who might also require temporary housing; the shortage of test kits and protective gear that would be needed to properly screen people entering shelters; and decimated city and state budgets to pay for it all.
But the unique nature of the pandemic also means that cities and local governments can consider some unusual solutions, says Jim Brooks, the director of housing and community development for the National League of Cities. Usually, hotel rooms would be filled with visitors, but given travel restrictions, the now empty rooms can be repurposed. The same goes for convention centers, sports stadiums, and even public parks, where cities like Burlington, Vermont, have allowed people to camp out during the crisis.
In the initial weeks of the pandemic, planners spent a lot of time trying new approaches and comparing notes with their colleagues in other cities to find the best approach to addressing homelessness and other issues, says Jason Jordan, policy director for the American Planning Association. In many cases, they were expanding on initiatives they already started, like "housing first" models, in which localities find permanent housing first and then provide medical care and other support.
"This pandemic accelerates that and will make it more of a standard practice," Jordan says. "We are essentially going to test that approach en masse."
Cities called for making homelessness aid a high priority during the CARE Act's inception because it was one of the areas they were seeing the most immediate needs, Jordan says. The resulting legislation has "plugged some immediate holes that had to be addressed to keep the system moving," he says, "but it's not a long-term solution, and there still needs to be more done."
Congress should make sure that social services are well funded after the initial round of funding runs out and address longer-term concerns like housing affordability and infrastructure, he adds.
A major challenge ahead will be winding down emergency measures once the crisis abates, says Brooks from the National League of Cities. Many state and local governments have placed a moratorium on evictions for tenants who can't keep up with the rent or homeowners who can't make their mortgage payments, but it's unclear right now what happens when those protections end. Can back money be demanded immediately? Will tenants or landlords get a slice of the federal rescue money Congress is sending to cities or states? Or will judges in housing courts work out individual arrangements between landlords and tenants like they did after the Great Recession?
Local governments will take a greater interest in public health going forward, Brook expects. Traditionally, only big cities have dedicated public health departments, while smaller municipalities rely on state or county governments. But those systems have failed in many places, from providing housing options for recovering patients to medical supplies. The situation leaves local governments in a bind similar to the opioid crisis, which prompted them to give Naloxone to first responders.
"Cities are the first touchpoint of these crises, whether they are natural disasters or public health emergencies," Brooks says. "They will approach those tasks much more judiciously and expeditiously, particularly because they know they will be on their own."
Daniel C. Vock is a reporter based in Washington, D.C.


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Daniel Cormier had a hot take on the report his arch rival, Jon Jones, passed a lie detector test in relation to his second USADA failure.
Jon Jones tested positive for the steroid Turinabol at UFC 214, and what the lie detector doesn’t tell is is where it came from.
MMAjunkie looks back at the best UFC photos from July and August 2017 through the lenses of USA TODAY Sports photographers.
A full recap of 2017’s most significant footnotes and milestones from the events, fights and individual performances.
Information on Jon Jones’ failed drug test “wouldn’t indicate intentional use,” according to the UFC’s VP of athlete health and performance.
It’s a tough job designing fight posters that tell the story in one image. MMAjunkie turned to a professional artist for some analysis.
It’ll be a while longer before the California State Athletic Commission decides Jon Jones’ fate.


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By Ho Young Won, Freelance Writer for Polaris Office
San Francisco, CA — On Wednesday, Ford CEO Mark Fields stated that there is a high possibility of self-driving, fully autonomous cars on U.S. roads in the span of four years.
Fields claimed that Ford would have fully autonomous cars on any road recognized by high-definition maps. The only things keeping this technology from becoming available, he says, are the government regulations.
However, seeing how inefficiently the government is handling the regulations for any new technology including drones, Fields’ prediction seems highly ambitious. Competitors such as Google and other large automakers have much longer time frames for self-driving cars on public roads.
The ambition is evident in his other comments as he wants Ford to change transportation as much as Henry Ford changed the industry a century ago. He says that the company’s strategy is “having one foot in today and one foot in tomorrow”.
Huge tech companies such as Apple and Google have also been working on fully autonomous cars which may disrupt the automobile market. Fields is aware of this and desires to work with smaller tech companies in order to compete with Apple and Google who have the resources to develop highly advanced cars. However, he plans Ford to have some cars to run Apple and Google’s operating systems for automobiles.
It is a strange time for automakers as companies from other industries are starting to seep into the market. Fields’ ambition may be pie-in-the-sky, but it will push the competing automakers and tech companies to advance the transportation of tomorrow.


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Soft palette pastel Cardstock!
This 12”x12” pack of acid and lignin-free pastel cardstock contains 40 sheets, four of each color: lime, sky blue, pale yellow, lavender, tan, soft teal, brown, gray, dusk, and rose. These papers are perfect for card making and scrapbooking as the soft tints blend well with most patterned papers and embellishments. For companion pieces and ideas, check out the Lacy Frames scrapbooking Dazzles™ (link
), Penelope paper pack (link
), or cutting dies including the Bodacious Blooms cutting die (link
Good news! The card stock has a white core which means if you use it with an embossing folder, you can sand the surface and get a white image as shown in the example.

domain: hobby


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1,4-Butanediol is a colorless, thick liquid that is converted into gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) after ingestion. GHB is a strong sedative that is often used as a date-rape drug because it is easily concealed in water due to a lack of smell and taste.
GHB is a metabolite of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter, and has been linked to cases of dependence, coma, and death. GBL (gamma-butyrolactone), a solvent commonly used as a paint stripper, is another precursor for GHB. 1,4-Butanediol itself is used as an industrial chemical to make some plastics and fibers.
GHB, GBL, and 1,4-butanediol are prevalent drugs of abuse in the United States. While available as a prescription drug for sleep disorders in some other countries, GHB was banned in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1990 because of the dangers associated with its use. It has since been approved only for the treatment of a rare form of narcolepsy (a sleep disorder that result in excessive daytime sleepiness). In Europe, GHB has been used as an anesthetic and experimentally to treat alcohol withdrawal.
BD, BDO, blue nitro, blue nitro vitality, busulfan, Busulfex®, but-2-yne-1,4-diol, butane, butane-1,4-diol, butanediol fermentation, butylene glycol, butylene glycol fermentation, caps, cherry fX bombs, cherry meth, circles, easy lay, enliven, euphorigenic, Everclear®, fantasy, firewater, forget-me pill, G, GABA-active agent, gamma-butyrolactone, gamma-G, gamma-hydrate, γ-hydroxybutyrate, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, gamma-hydroxybutyrate sodium, gamma-OH, GBL, Georgia home boy, GHB, GH revitalizer, G.H. revitalizer, GHRE, gib, goop, goops, great hormones at bedtime, grievous bodily harm, g-riffick, growth hormone booster, insom-X, invigorate, la rocha, lemon fX drops, liquid E, liquid ecstasy, liquid X, longevity, Mexican valium, Myleran®, natural sleep-500, nature's Quaalude, nitro, NRG3, one-comma-four, one-four-B-D-O, one-four-bee, orange fX rush, organic Quaalude, oxy-sleep, pine needle oil, poor man's heroin, precursor product, R2, remforce, renewtrient, revitalize plus, revivarant, revivarant G, roche, roofies, rope, rophies, salty water, scoop, serenity, soap, sodium oxybate, sodium oxybutyrate, somatomax, somatomax PM, somatoPro, somsanit, tetramethylene-1,4-diol, tetramethylene glycol, thunder nectar, vita-G, water, weight belt cleaner, wolfies, zonked.
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

domain: chemistry


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On the first picture after decomposing a 3D object the teacher could work on each side of the object by selecting it with the white arrow and change it
But me i can't my layer is a wole and even after decompose it i cannot work on each side
Thanks in advance for answers
Did you use Effect > 3D & Materials > 3D (Classic)?
Hi thanks for answering,
No i used extrusion directly. I forgot to precise the teacher's version is 2019 and i use the last one
I'll do it with 3D classic its easier thanks


Sri Lanka aims to release at least 8,000 inmates from prisons
December 8, 2020 12:24 am
State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Lohan Ratwatte emphasizing on the present congestion in prisons given the rising numbers of inmates, stated that the government is looking to reduce the number at least by 8,000.
He stated this addressing the inaugural meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice chaired by the Minister of Justice Ali Sabry in Parliament.
The State Minister pointed out that there are 28,951 inmates in the 28 prisons across the country at present causing a considerable congestion.
Accordingly, the Minister stated that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued a directive to release inmates who can be granted a pardon especially given the COVID-19 situation.
Accordingly, he stated that as soon as approval is given to the cabinet paper presented by the Ministry of Justice, the four-year pardon which has not been granted for nearly 20 years could be given.
Thus, all prisoners under death sentence will have their sentence reduced to 20 years and those who have served a sentence for more than 20 years will be released.
The State Minister also said that the ministry intends to settle minor amounts of bail on behalf of prisoners who are in prison due to their inability to pay it.


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Population pharmacokinetics of levamisole in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome
2015 (English)In: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, ISSN 0306-5251, E-ISSN 1365-2125, Vol. 80, no 2, 242-252 p.Article in journal (Refereed) Published
AimThe aim was to investigate the population pharmacokinetics of levamisole in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome. MethodsNon-linear mixed effects modelling was performed on samples collected during a randomized controlled trial. Samples were collected from children who were receiving 2.5mg kg(-1) levamisole (or placebo) orally once every other day. One hundred and thirty-six plasma samples were collected from 38 children from India and Europe and included in the analysis. A one compartment model described the data well. ResultsThe apparent clearance rate (CL/F) and distribution volume (V/F) were 44l h(-1) 70kg(-1) and 236l 70kg(-1), respectively; estimated interindividual variability was 32-42%. In addition to allometric scaling of CL/F and V/F to body weight, we identified a significant proportional effect of age on CL/F (-10.1% per year). The pharmacokinetics parameters were not affected by gender, tablet strength or study centre. The median (interquartile range) maximum plasma concentration of levamisole was 438.3 (316.5-621.8) ng ml(-1), and the median area under the concentration-time curve was 2847 (2267-3761) ng ml(-1) h. Median t(max) and t(1/2) values were 1.65 (1.32-2.0) h and 2.60 (2.06-3.65) h, respectively. ConclusionsHere, we present the first pharmacokinetic data regarding levamisole in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome. The pharmacokinetic profile of levamisole in children was similar to findings reported in adults, although the elimination rate was slightly higher in children.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2015. Vol. 80, no 2, 242-252 p.
levamisole, nephrotic syndrome, population pharmacokinetics
Pharmaceutical Sciences Pharmacology and Toxicology
IdentifiersURN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-260814DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12607ISI: 000358445700010PubMedID: 25677380OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-260814DiVA: diva2:849436


This final design report will detail the entire engineering design process from conceptualization through manufacturing and testing. After introducing the topic and scope of the project this document presents all of the benchmarking and research performed in order to obtain as much information about similar current products and possible solutions. Next the objectives of the project are presented where the needs are transformed into engineering specifications that will guide the design of the product.
Design developed is then presented with ideation, idea evaluation and selection, analysis, manufacturing considerations, and final design selection. The final design is then presented with each of its three subsystems, including supporting analysis, manufacturing and testing plans, bill of materials and cost as well as material selection, safety considerations, and maintenance plans. Following that is the management plan where team roles are outlines and project deadlines are presented.
Product realization is next, which includes the manufacturing process that was taken for all components as well as description of changes between the planned and built design and recommendations for future manufacturing changes. Design verification follows with testing procedures and results and a final budget for the manufactured design. Next are conclusions that summarize what was done during the project and recommendations which outline what could have been done differently from a design or project standpoint to provide insight for future designs. References for all researched information are included in order cited throughout the document. Finally all appendices are included at the end of the document that were referenced throughout the report as well as other important information.
The cart, in Figure 3, also had dual child seats with a play surface, allowing parents to feel more comfortable taking their small children shopping. The most notable change from a traditional cart was the removal of the large central basket, replaced by many smaller plastic baskets. While this allows for more shopper flexibility, it reduces the carrying capacity of the cart overall, discouraging use from contractors, construction workers, or any other type of laborer.
Ferno publishes a public list of their patents on their main web page, which is where we found a patent for a previous model of the Salesmaker cart. It is similar to the removable top design presented previously, but in this case the base is designed as a multi-link scissor mechanism that supports the weight and allows for height adjustability. Shown in Figure 7, the scissor mechanism is actuated with a worm gear and handle that allows it to be raised and lowered even with weight on the top.
The scissor lift mechanism works under the same principle as an ironing board, which is one of the first things we looked at as a simple collapsible/raising/lowering mechanism. As Figure 9 shows, it is a simple mechanism with a fixed pivot at one end, a sliding pivot at the other end, and a fixed pivot connecting the two legs together.
Another mechanism similar to the scissor is the accordion mechanism, shown in Figure 17, that uses some sort diaphragm or folded material with or without an inner skeleton to achieve the same purpose of a large expanded area with a minimum collapsed one. An interesting aspect of accordion designs is that they do not have to be completely linear, they can expand on a radius as well as linearly which gives them more freedom than other mechanisms.
Another option for locking and adjustment is a ratcheting system that would allow the device to move in one direction freely, but automatically lock if it were to move in the other direction. A ratcheting system is safe and automatic, it does not require user input to engage, only to disengage. The resolution of the system can also be very small allowing for fine adjustment when the notches are placed close together. Figure 28 shows a simple linear and radial ratcheting system which can lock linear and angular motion respectively.
In order to find the engineering specifications that we would use to guide the design of our product, we first had to determine what the customer needs and requirements were. In order to do this, we interviewed our sponsor who is our main customer, as well as retail shoppers, and used our own experience.
From this we were able to generate a list of non-technical needs and requirements from the users of this product. The requirements and needs we determined are as follows: safe, reliable, large volume capacity, simple design, low cost, light-weight, durable, large load capacity, customizable personal aesthetic, maneuverable, ergonomic, easy to operate, versatile, adjustable, easily manufactured, and low maintenance.
The stowing mechanism allows the cart to collapse into a low-volume module that safely stores goods in the storage area of a vehicle. After a complete brainstorming session, our team identified six ideal stowing mechanisms for our cart shown in Figure 29.
A worm gear allows for a large gear ratio, reducing the amount of torque from a gear. This could allow a rather weak shopper to lift a rather heavy load, ideally directly into the shopper’s car. A wheel could be present on the outside of the utility cart for a simple user interface with only one degree of freedom. A simple drawing of a spur and worm gear mesh is shown in Figure 32.
We will then complete all the necessary machining and assembly before the midway point of spring quarter, April 25, 2017. This will leave us enough time for component level testing and iterations as well as final system level functional and safety testing to be completed before May 23, 2017. Upon sign off of the safety and functional testing the device will be completed and handed over to the sponsor for personal use. Figure 38 shows a timeline with the most relevant dates. A more in depth Gantt chart is included in Appendix C.
The galvanized steel wire mesh basket, constrained by galvanized steel corner brackets near the top of each wall and 80-20 wire panel holders at the base of each wall, acts as a rigid body to safely contain the items belonging to a customer. The handlebar is connected to the frame with 4 fasteners attaching a thin steel welded plate directly to the 80-20. For the sleek steel frame, the handlebar is simply welded directly to the back of the frame.
Figure 40 shows the pivot point as well as the extended and folded positions of the legs. There will be four legs total, two in the front and two in the rear, each of the two front and rear legs will be connected together with a horizontal support which will increase the rigidity of the structure as well as function as a mounting position for the slider bar.
The sliding and locking mechanism shown in Figure 45 with a close-up in Figure 46 facilitates the action of allowing the legs to fold up and down in a controlled manner. It also locks the legs in the upright position and controls the release of the legs when the cart is being stowed into a vehicle. The sliding mechanism consists of a track, a follower, and bar which sits in the track.
Our management plan involves assigning specific team roles to each member regarding the types of work that they will be completing for the quarter. Each new quarter, we will be redistributing the team roles to give every member a fresh experience as well as making sure the workload is balanced for everyone.
- Team Roles
- Project Deadlines
The hinges that would mount the legs were then manufactured by cutting pieces of angle iron and welding them in the center to create a U shape. The hinge then was drilled in the center to provide clearance for a mounting bolt. Supporting brackets had to be made for both the front and rear hinges to ensure structural rigidity and place the hinges inboard of the rectangular tubing.
The locking mechanism was custom made from raw materials starting off with thick and thin steel plate. The components were cut out using the water jet to achieve a precise profile and accurate dimensions with minimal post processing. The parts were then drilled using the drill press and mill. The bracket was also welded together using TIG welding to reduce heat input and warpage. Springs, dowel pins, nuts and bolts were purchased and the entire mechanism was assembled and mounted to the sliders in the appropriate location.
Our final product has five functional tests to ensure the safety and reliability of the
personal utility cart, as desired by our specifications. The tests include: load capacity
test, subassembly test, folding test, locking test, and maneuverability test.
- Load Capacity Test
- Subassembly Test
- Folding Test
- Locking Test
- Maneuverability Test
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The results of this project include research into the personal shopping cart market as well as a prototype of a folding cart. The cart has a steel frame and can easily support 200lbs of anything that can fit into the basket. We made removable wooden basket for the top of the cart, which allows for items to be transported easily. The cart should be able to handle day-to-day activities such as groceries as well as carrying around tools or building supplies.
One problem with the cart is that we ran into an interference problem that we were not able to fix before the deadline. The problem was in the locking mechanism clearance inside the rails. This problem should be an easy fix as the locking mechanism can be mounted on the outside of the rails instead of the inside. One of the challenges with this project was the amount of time required to fabricate all of the components. Our team manufactured almost all of the components which was very time intensive. Given more time this problem would have been sorted out better.
Once the mechanism is moved to a location where it will not interfere, the cart will be able to lock upright. This cart can be made fully functional, however it is still not a consumer grade product. This project started as a way for us to look into this and come up with a design that could be made into a product used by consumers. The outcome of having a prototype cart is still a useful step in designing a finished product. In addition to the prototype, the research and analysis and the design criteria found in making this prototype are useful in designing a final product.
Through the sponsorship of Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering graduate Michael Allwein and Professor Sarah Harding, we were able to design and build a utility cart with folding legs. We hope this project will aid in designing a product that can end up being sold to consumers and help people make getting their groceries around simpler.
Source: California Polytechnic State University
Authors: Eric Johnson | Jason Munter | Sean Portune


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Makeup artist who became popular as _roc.ma on Instagram. She has accrued more than 50,000 Instagram followers and growing for her elaborate beauty looks and tutorials.
She posted a first picture to her Instagram account in December of 2014.
She launched a portrait enhancement app called RO's Makeup Beauty Editor via iTunes in 2017.
She is the sister of fellow Instagram sensation Norvina.
She often uses the cosmetics of Anastasia Beverly Hills which was founded by Anastasia Soare.

domain: celebrity


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Sunday, August 24, 2008
these i'm still working on...part of a series. i'll post more in a few days.
oh also i rock out to the killers when i paint lately.
and ruckhaberle. he's really amazing.
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Thanks to new revenue records in two of its five operating segments, Apple
just posted the biggest quarterly revenue in the company’s record-rich history. Mainly driven by the successful launch of the higher priced iPhone X
, the world’s most valuable company grew its revenue to $88.3 billion in the three months ended December 30. With net income of $20.1 billion, Apple also broke the record for the biggest quarterly profit, not only in its own but in corporate history.
As our chart illustrates, the past holiday quarter, traditionally Apple’s strongest time of the year, brought new records in the ‘iPhone
’ and ‘Other products’ segments of Apple’s business while the ‘Mac’ and ‘Services’ segments narrowly missed the benchmarks set a year earlier. The only segment that was further off its best was the ‘iPad
’, which came in nearly 50 percent short of its record.

domain: finance


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My painting "Better Days" has been selected to be displayed at The Thompson Nicola Shuswap Chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artist's 3rd Annual Open Federation Show at the historic Kamloops Courthouse Center for the Arts.
The show will run from April 15 to 25, 2010. Opening reception and awards ceremony will be held Thursday April 15, 2010, 7 – 9 pm
There will also be a TNS Chapter Fundraiser the following night, Friday April 16th, with appies and dance. Music by the FCA’s own David Langevin and the Blues Jumpers. Tickets(limited)$20($25/dr)

domain: artistic


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In the ancient Buddhist literature there are many references to the demon, Mara. In some respects Mara resembles the Satan of Christian tradition. For example just as Satan tempted Christ, Mara tempted Siddhartha Gautama. It was only after resisting Mara’s temptation that Siddhartha Gautama was able to attain enlightenment and become the Buddha.
Just as I have demonstrated in previous blogs that Christian mythology was derived from precursor pagan traditions, the Buddhist mythology was also informed by precursor Vedic, Brahmin and Jain belief systems. It would seem that most of the ancient Indian religions had a Mara-like character.
One commentator on the Buddhist traditions maintains that Mara threatens “by withholding or obscuring the truth.” But often Mara is portrayed as the tempter. This obviously provides the counterbalance to the Buddhist precept that suffering is created by attachment and attachment is powered by desire.
Most of the Buddhist commentaries I have read don’t point to a belief in a real character but emphasise Mara is a symbol for our all too human tendency to give in to our desires driven by the ego and our human tendency to be seduced by physical temptation.
Another commentator on Buddhism declared, “Mara stands for those patterns of behaviour that long for the security of clinging to something real and permanent rather than facing the question posed by being a transient and contingent creature.”
The Buddha is purported to have said, “It makes no difference what you grasp, when someone grasps, Mara stands behind him.”
Mara appears in many Buddhist parables. Let me relate one to you.
Mara was travelling in the country with a few of his attendants. They came upon a monk walking along a path through the forest. Unseen by the monk they observed his passing. The man engaged in walking meditation as he went. His face was serene and radiant. All of a sudden he stopped and his face lit up with a huge smile.
An attendant looked at Mara and whispered, “What is he doing?”
“It seems he has discovered a piece of the truth.”
His attendant looked at the demon and frowned. “What are you going to do about it? You are the god of deception – surely you can’t allow him to access the truth.”
Mara laughed. “I am not going to do anything!”
“But doesn’t it bother you that this monk now has access to some of the truth.”
“Not at all! He will act like most humans do. When they find a little truth it is not long before they have made a belief out of it. That will cause all sorts of mischief which will entertain me no end!”
Perhaps it was Mara who inspired Alexander Pope to write, “A little learning is a dangerous thing!”

domain: literature


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Microsoft just declared the Zune end of life. This makes it a good time to look back to some notable episodes in the evolution of digital media distribution. First, an episode from 1997:
During two days on the stand, Tevanian accused Microsoft of seeking to divide the multimedia market and then “sabotaging” QuickTime’s ability to work with Windows computers when Apple declined to go along with Microsoft’s plan. Justice also is accusing Microsoft of attempting to illegally allocate the Internet browser market.
In particularly colorful testimony on Nov. 5, Tevanian described an April, 1997, meeting between two Apple and two Microsoft officials. Tevanian, who was not at the meeting, said Microsoft officials suggested that Apple abandon its business of providing “playback” software that enables users to view multimedia content on the computers. Instead, they offered Apple the much smaller portion of the market for the tools that developers use to create the content. In Apple’s mind, though, the playback software was its baby.


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Islands of the Americas
The Dominican Republic was made for coffee production, with its abundant rainfall and mountainous terrain. Interestingly, the heat from ocean currents and trade winds extends the coffee’s growing season, meaning both that coffee can be harvested nearly year-round and that it matures slower. That makes for a higher-quality, more desirable coffee.
A Legacy Continues
The Ramirez family established their coffee estate over 60 years ago in Cibao, Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. Its current owner, Eddie Ramirez, is making waves for both his community and for the planet. The Ramirez Estate is extraordinarily self-sufficient, as well as socially and environmentally conscious. Their entire operation is powered by natural gas created by fermented coffee cherries. The Ramirez family donates books and computers to local schools and even funded and built a school in rural Jarabacoa so kids wouldn’t have to walk a little over nine miles to attend class.
They also help Haitians looking to receive fair wages obtain legal residence in the Dominican Republic. Because of Eddie Ramirez and the estate’s organic certification and direct trade status, not to mention their tireless environmental and humanitarian work, they can fetch better prices for their consistently high-scoring washed coffee.
Washing and Drying
Washed coffee is all about the seed, not the cherry. Most specialty coffees are washed because this process gives the most true-to-origin experience, as the mucilage can impart syrupy flavors if left intact during processing. Our Dominican Republic is dried using mechanical rotary dryers that slowly turn the coffee. Rotary dryers allow producers to replicate successful harvests, control temperature, and perhaps most importantly, avoid unfavorable weather completely.
Direct Trade producers can receive better prices for their coffee because they are in direct contact with purchasers, thus avoiding the expenses associated with exporters and importers. Direct Trade is more of a promise of quality than a certification, but there are still requirements for enrollment.
The benefits of organic certification for the producers and the roasters are huge. Certification gives access to markets not otherwise available, premium pricing, and eligibility for grants and financial assistance, among many other things.
Fresh Roasted Coffee’s Got the Goods
Like Jamaica and Haiti, the Dominican Republic’s mountainous landscape is prime for coffee growing. Our Organic Dominican Republic is grown at 1,400 meters above sea level and features notes of baked apples, vanilla, and grape. The high altitude at which this coffee is grown influences the flavors and is responsible for its lighter, more fruity notes, while the roast brings balance to the brew by adding a little bready toastiness.

domain: geography


Very early last month, Florida offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison was ejected from the Gators’ game with Arkansas for making contact with an official. More than five weeks later, Harrison has given his version of what led up to the uncharacteristic in-game boot.
Speaking to the media for the first time since his ejection, Harrison claimed that an unidentified Razorback was strafing him with f-bombs throughout the game. That language, Harrison said, led directly to what he called an accidental encounter with the official.
From the Palm Beach Post‘s Jason Lieser:
“One play I got face-masked, then the next play I got called every version of the N-word known to man,” he said this afternoon. “I went up to the ref and I’m like, ‘Ref, please, you have to control this player. He’s been calling me every racial slur.’ And I talk with my hands, as you guys probably have seen this whole time, and I touched the ref in his chest. I didn’t poke him.
“There was no malicious intent. I wasn’t trying to be an A-hole or anything like that. I was honestly was just trying to tell the ref to get this player because I was getting attacked. I felt like I was getting harassed, and it was beyond football. Calling me the N-word and everything is not football anymore. It is just going out of your way.”
Harrison declined to specifically name the player who he alleges directed the string of racial epithets at him. Following Harrison’s ejection, he was seen on camera first poking an assistant coach in the chest and then head coach Will Muschamp, although that turned out to merely be the player demonstrating the what got him ejected from the game.
Auburn could be the beneficiary of an offensive transfer in the not-too-distant future, but the football program has apparently sustained a loss on the other side of the ball.
In a tweet posted to his personal Twitter account Sunday, Justin Thomas-Thornton revealed that he will be “pursuing my collegiate football and academic endeavors elsewhere.” The defensive lineman gave no reason for his decision to leave The Plains.
Thomas-Thornton, a four-star 2014 signee, played in the 2015 opener against Louisville, but didn’t see any other action the remainder of the year.
If Thomas-Thornton opts for another FBS program, he will be forced to sit out the 2016 season. He’d then be left with two seasons of eligibility that he’d be able to use beginning in 2017.
Finally, a personnel attrition post on this late-June Sunday that doesn’t involve Baylor.
In mid-May, wide receiver Ryan Sousa announced via Twitter that he had decided to transfer out of the Florida football program, and ultimately landed at FCS Southern Illinois. A little over six weeks later, a fellow Gator receiver has apparently made a similar decision, with Scout.com reporting that Alvin Bailey will leave Jim McElwain‘s squad.
No reason was given for the receiver’s decision, although the recruiting website has an idea as to why.
The Gators added five receivers in the 2016 recruiting class, three of which were on campus in the spring. Junior college transfer Dre Massey seemed to pull ahead of Bailey in the month long practices held between March and April.
The school has declined to address Bailey’s status with the football program.
Bailey was a four-star member of UF’s 2013 recruiting class, rated as the No. 22 receiver in the country. The production never quite matched the recruiting pedigree, though, with Bailey catching three passes for 49 years in his career in Gainesville. All of those stats came during the 2015 season.
Yep, another post revolving around a now-former Baylor football player.
One of five 2016 BU signees to receive a release from their National Letter of Intent, Kameron Martin took his first visit to a potential destination with a trip to Auburn Friday. In short order, he will take a visit to TCU as well.
“Probably Tuesday,” the running back told al.com, he will make a decision between the Tigers and Horned Frogs.
“(TCU) said I can be an impact player right away,” Martin told the website. “Auburn showed me a lot of love and treated me like family. That’s kind of what I like. I want to go somewhere where they treat me like family. … Auburn was about business, so we’ll see if TCU can show me a good time.”
A four-star 2016 signee according to 247Sports.com, the 5-10, 178-pound Johnson was rated as the No. 7 all-purpose back in the country; the No. 39 player at any position in the state of Texas; and the No. 268 player overall on that recruiting website’s composite board.
As is the case with other 2016 Bears signees who have fled Waco, Johnson will be eligible to play immediately in 2016 whether he lands at Auburn or TCU.
“Baylor Attrition Day” here at CFT continues, although this one has nothing to do with a 2016 signee.
According to a report from Rivals.com affiliate SicEmSports, Chris Johnson has decided to leave Baylor and transfer into the Houston football program. The same website is reporting that the Bears gave the erstwhile quarterback a release from his scholarship.
Johnson will be graduating from BU this summer, thus making himself immediately eligible to play for the Cougars in 2016. Not only that, but he will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Thanks to a rash of injuries at the position, Johnson started two games for the Bears at quarterback in 2015 before he too sustained an injury. He returned to start BU’s bowl win over North Carolina, but changed positions this spring and was listed as a wide receiver/tight end on his official BU profile. At least in the beginning, he’s expected to continue in a receiving role with the Cougars.


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Visitors to Chesterton are sure to enjoy the shopping, beaches, and restaurants. Tourists can also enjoy so much more including its coffeehouses.
Places to visit in the larger region include Chellberg Farm, Bailly Homestead - American Indians and Fur Traders, and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Additionally, you'll find Indiana Dunes State Park and Valparaiso University in the area.
As you plan your vacation, you'll find 6 hotels and other lodging options to choose from in Chesterton. Below are top ones based on our user reviews:


As the topside space to undertake hydrocarbon processing continues to be at a premium, production from mature wells increasingly suffers from higher water cut and suboptimal reliability from in-well artificial lift systems. Subsea processing and, in particular, subsea pumping are never far from the agenda for most operators. The development of subsea multi-phase boosting solutions and centrifugal seawater injection systems at depths of up to 3,000 meters operating at pressures of 690 bar is creating the requirement for subsea motors that can match the robustness of the pumps they drive. Unlike conventional motors where airflow is used to cool the motor, these high-tech subsea motors require a water/glycol mix or oil fill to withstand the operational pressure and provide cooling. The challenge is to design high-powered motors up to and including 3.2 megawatts (MW) that achieve a five-year scheduled maintenance requirement with an ultimate goal of a 25-year service life. This article will explore the challenges of designing and manufacturing wet-wound water/glycol motors for these applications.
Motor Fluid Selection
An important consideration in subsea motor design is the selection of the barrier fluid for the motor fill. Traditionally, either oil fill or water/glycol mix is used. While both systems have been used for submersible and subsea applications, there are some fundamental differences that can have a big impact on system setup and operational performance.
The primary advantage of an oil-filled system is that the fluid provides insulation for the motor windings, negating the need for a separate insulation system on the winding cable and enabling a more compact design. From a topside submersible perspective, the infrastructure required to support the operation of the motor has a larger footprint than a comparable water/glycol system. In the subsea environment, with high viscosity leading to greater frictional losses in oil-filled motors, higher operating temperatures can cause an increase in corrosion levels, reducing operational lifetimes. With system integrity based on a double seal system, there is also the constant threat of seawater ingress, which would lead to immediate and catastrophic failure.
Adopting a water/glycol design overcomes these problems and delivers other advantages to operators of offshore and subsea installations. The water/glycol provides the lubrication for the hydrodynamic bearings, and it cools the motor and provides anti-freeze and anti-corrosion safeguarding. Combined with the use of fully qualified insulated cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables and joints to meet the high-pressure demands of subsea applications, water/glycol is now a commonly used control fluid that allows subsea motors to run at operating speeds up to 6,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) with the lower frictional losses generated by the motor simplifying the cooling challenge. Lower-temperature operation also facilitates longer operational life and extended service intervals. With extensive qualification testing to validate the long-life characteristics of the motor at both a component and system level, the robustness of the water/glycol-XLPE insulated systems is now well-established, having been demonstrated theoretically through physical testing and in long-term operation.
With low environmental impact, the water-based coolant poses little threat to the subsea habitat in the unlikely event of any seal failure. Unlike an oil-filled unit in the case of seawater ingress, there is no immediate failure of the motor. Any failure would be gradual, providing several months of operational continuity to facilitate scheduled outage planning.
Motor Case Construction
All seawater-wetted applications require either a Norsok M650 approved super duplex or a 625 alloy clad carbon steel casing construction, which is dependent on the user preference and final application. At 1,035 bar test pressures (690 bar x 1.5), significant analysis of pressure requirements is required, using Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) guidelines. Internal components also have to be suitable for a wet environment and will generally be carbon steel, aluminium bronze or stainless steel, with polyether ether ketone (PEEK) based bearing materials.
A 3.2-MW motor case presents a manufacturing challenge since these can be up to 3 meters long and 1 meter in diameter. This limits the manufacturing options available. Ideally, the preference is to manufacture a one-piece motor case, which will typically be forged.
Motor Cooling & Heat Exchanger Design
A wet-wound motor requires a high level of cable insulation (Class Y)—generally XLPE insulation. To achieve a minimum 35-year mean time between failure (MTBF) at these ratings of 3.2 MW, the internal temperature of the motor needs to be limited to about 140 F (60 C). One of the key areas that has to be considered is the end turns of the windings, because this is a typical motor hot spot and needs to be limited to a maximum copper temperature of 190 F (90 C). Failure to achieve adequate cooling in this area will have a detrimental impact on the 25-year service life.
Detailed thermal and electrical modeling of motor cooling characteristics generally employs motor design limited (MDL) electrical modeling and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) or similar tools. The model determines optimal internal motor temperature, and this is supported throughout the development phase by physical testing.
At 3,000-meter depths, it is difficult to predict the cooling currents available, so the normal assumption is that the only cooling method available will be convection cooling. Generally, the heat exchanger designs consist of parallel coils arranged external to the motor pressure case. The external surface of the coils is exposed to the seawater and cooled by natural convection. Evaluating the cooling coil at these elevated depths requires a detailed balance of analysis of structural strength, manufacturing processes and internal power losses to cooling coil surfaces.
Motor coolant heats as it is pumped through the stator/rotor gap (interestingly still called the air gap) and bearings, then cools as it passes through the cooling coils. Controlled leakage through wear rings cools the thrust disc and thrust bearing pads. The motor coolant is heated through a combination of approximately 86 percent frictional heating and internal pumping loss, with the remainder from electrical losses. Cooling coils account for 100 percent of the heat rejected because only a very small amount is lost through the motor case. The circulation pump flow rate is required to limit coolant temperature rise in the motor/stator gap to a maximum of 65 C for XLPE systems. Coolant emerging from the gap is in immediate contact with the electrical winding end turn insulation.
Cable Life & Splicing
For these applications, motor cable industry standard Subsea Electrical Power Standardisation (SEPS) is now applicable for evaluating insulation system life. The industry requirement stipulates more testing than would traditionally have been acceptable for these motor applications. Typical tests now include 80 C temperature cycling of penetrator and cable joints, 600 bar pressure cycling of penetrator and cable joints and advanced cable life aging tests
For a typical 2.5-MW machine, the winding cable consists of stranded copper wires of 1.2 millimeters (mm) each. The copper size accommodates the rated current with a current density below 12.5 ampere per square millimeter. A 0.25-mm-thick layer of semiconducting material surrounds the copper, which smooths the electrical field in the cable to reduce electrical stresses. The next layer is XLPE insulation that is 3 mm thick. This thickness insulates against 11 kilovolts (kV) and ensures that the electric field does not exceed 3.3 kV/mm at 11 kV (design limit).
The electric field is much lower at the normal operating condition of 6.6 kV, and constraining the electrical stress extends the lifetime of the cable.
For wet-wound applications, significant analysis and testing are required to develop 6,000-rpm bearing technology.
At startup, the tilting pad thrust bearing operates with only boundary lubrication and does not achieve a fully hydrodynamic operation until it exceeds 200 rpm. During startup from 0 to 200 rpm, the friction in the bearing is relatively high and then drops once a hydrodynamic film has been established. A centrifugal pump impeller circulates the glycol/water mix around the motor to cool it. This impeller and thrust bearing absorbs about 7.5 percent of rated power at the max operating speed of 6,000 rpm.
For these applications, PEEK tilt pad bearings have been developed, qualified and further enhanced by significant development of mechanical keying to the steel substrate backing with the introduction of injection molding of the bearing materials. Enhanced endurance testing also includes the analysis of bearing temperatures.
Rotordynamic analysis is conducted on all motors to determine shaft critical speed, journal bearing stiffness, damping coefficients and shaft characteristics normally calculated using tools such as XL rotor. Analysis is a reliable tool to predict the base model but there is still no alternative to physical testing, and this requires a physical build of a prototype or scaled model to validate analysis.
In addition to wide-ranging qualification at a component level, motor system testing is a final prove-out of both the design and build quality of the finished system. Nominally governed by International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60034 and American Petroleum Institute (API) 546, the requirement for full-load factor acceptance testing (FAT) in a subsea context tends to extend beyond the first article of a new design. Ensuring a rigorous shakedown of the motor system before deployment gives the best possible opportunity for identification of any potential causes of costly unplanned service interventions. With existing systems already topping 3-MW, 6,000-rpm specifications, the drive toward higher-power/higher-speed motors requires advanced specialized test infrastructure to provide testing capability comparable to in-service verticalized operation.
As the subsea processing challenge increases in terms of depth, power and operational efficiency, the motor technology to support these applications is keeping pace. Current XLPE-based systems can efficiently meet most demand for applications up to 3 MW, and alternative systems based on permanent magnet or higher- class insulation systems allow the extension of the technology to higher-power applications.
The capability of these systems to deliver long-term operational reliability in an environment where the operational requirements can change significantly requires careful planning. The industry’s ability to model, qualify and test performance-critical motors ensures that high-quality subsea motor solutions will be available to meet the ever-increasing subsea challenge.


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The NGO has contended in its plea that this practice adversely affects the well-being of the children participating in the dance.
An local NGO has moved a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Kerala High Court seeking to prevent the participation of children in the Theechamundi Theyyam — a ritualistic dance in the north Malabar region of the state — alleging that they are thrown onto embers 101 times as part of the performance tradition.
A bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and Kauser Edappagath on Tuesday, 16 May, asked the petitioner NGO to implead the Malabar Devaswom Board and the trustees of the temple under which this dance performance is conducted.
According to the plea by NGO Dhisha, the Theechamundi Theyyam, also known as Ottakolam Theyyam, is held by the Chirakkal Kovilakam and Chirakkal Temple Trust in connection with their annual function.
The NGO has contended in its plea that this practice adversely affects the well-being of the children participating in the dance and also compromises their basic right to life.
It also alleged that children selected to dance belonged to the backward community and the performance was a “relic of the feudal past”.
The plea, filed through advocate AK Preetha, seeks a ban on the dance performance with children as participants.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on 22 May.
Theechamundi, also known as Vishnumurthy and Ottakolam, is an offering to Narasimha, the half-man, half-lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
It depicts the number of times Hiranyakashyapu flung Prahlada into the fire, as mentioned in the Hindu epic, Bhagavata Purana.
The artist flings himself into embers multiple times. Tender leaves of plantain and coconut palms are his only protective gear.
Theechamundi theyyam is frequently staged and it has seldom sparked an outcry. But this time, the temple allowed a 14-year-old boy to perform the dangerous act.
On 7 April, visuals of the Class 8 student performing the Theechamundi theyyam and suffering burns in the process went viral on social media.
The teen was visibly exhausted and singed after jumping into the fire 101 times at the Chamundi Kottam Festival Ground opposite the Chirakkal Temple, videos revealed.
Taking suo motu cognisance on 8 April, the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) registered a case against the child’s father Murali Panicker, the organising committee convener, Suresh Verma, and those who assisted the boy to perform the stunt.
Videos showed a few adults dragging a spent child through the fire.
The child protection body refused to consider the performance as an act of tradition and found it a clear violation of the rights of a child.
The adolescent belonged to the Malayan community. Traditionally, seniors from the community perform Theechamundi. They claimed that a minor last performed the Ottakolam 250 years ago.
When the temple committee announced its decision to allow the child to perform the dangerous ritual, it became a sensation in the local media.
They celebrated the announcement as history was being revisited.
The district administration, the police, and child rights activists felt nothing wrong. Even after his performance, news reports were eloquent about the bright colours and the elaborate makeup that made the performance distinct.
They also spoke about the energic steps of the boy, which they claimed were in sync with the rhythm of traditional drums.
However, things took a dramatic turn when videos of the performance turned viral on social media, and they explicitly showed the boy sustaining burns and collapsing after the performance.
Soon after the KSCPCR registered the case, the local media, police, and district administration took a volte-face.
The media, which till a few days ago was ga-ga over the planned performance, listed the violations.
With child and human rights activists getting involved, the issue became the subject of a heated debate in Kerala, where orthodoxy often wins over reasoning.
As per local legends, a Vishnumurthi Theyyam is centuries old and is performed by Malayan community members.
Some 250 years ago, the then Kolathiri — or ruler — felt the theyyam lacked intensity. The unimpressed ruler wanted a performance with mighty raging fire and risk.
A tall bonfire was arranged in the paddy field opposite the temple, and the ruler challenged all the senior performers from the Malayan community.
No one was ready to accept the challenge but a Malayan child from North Varadur. He fearlessly jumped into the fire, and the ruler conferred on him the title, Balaperumalayan.
No other child has performed the ritual since then, and now the teen has almost successfully re-enacted it.
The boy has been performing less risky theyyams such as Vedan, Gulikan, Kuttichathan, Pottan, and Uchitta.
The child trained in the risky act under the tutelage of his grandfather, Krishnan Panicker.
The child’s father, Murali Panicker, said the boy did not sustain any serious burns and the fatigue was temporary.
Murali added that no harm was caused because the boy had turned to God during the performance.
(With PTI inputs)


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It was a day Manchester will never forget. On June 15, 1996, the IRA singled out our city to be victim of the biggest bomb it had ever exploded.
In 1996 The Provesional IRA bombed Manchester city centre. The bomb was placed in a van and caused.
Never before seen footage shows the terrifying moment an IRA lorry bomb destroyed Manchester city centre in 1996. Never-before seen video.
1996 Manchester bombing - basketball clipart
Take our big survey We would like to know how you feel about your lifestyle, your views on schools, hospitals, rent levels, job opportunities, transport services and our local leaders Trafford Trafford council warns Bollin Primary School as teachers plan strike action As teachers prepare for six days of walkouts, parents say there is a "growing groundswell of outrage" at the way the school is being run. Yet one fact from that day remains breathtaking — and a testament to that heroic policing operation. The dramatic moment that a London-bound flight is... Real Irish Republican Army. Negative self-talk, trouble sleeping and too much alcohol: Expert reveals the signs you're suffering from... Share this with Pinterest. In the hours after the explosion, shocked officers embarked on the grim task of searching for casualties, at first mistaking shop-window mannequins for bodies. Manchester Bomb aftermath - new video