text:
The human mind is an amazing thing. It can store practically unlimited amounts of information. It can critically analyze the most complex of problems. It can distill millions of bits of information into a single thought or feeling. Yet, just like a sophisticated computer or a powerful machine, you must learn how it works to take full advantage of its potential. I am about to tell you a profound but little known fact about your mind. If you will learn to take advantage of this idea, you can harness the incredible power of your mind. Ignore this information and you may unwittingly inhibit the marvelous power of your mind.
Here it is: your mind can only focus on one thing at a time. That’s it. It seems rather simple, but then, so are most of the profound truths in life. The human mind, with all its amazing capacity, simply cannot concentrate on more than one thing at once. Don’t believe it? Try this: think about climbing a mountain in Switzerland. Imagine the beautiful snow capped peaks, the fresh air, and the exhilarating vistas. Got it? Ok, now, holding that image in your mind, think about the inside of your refrigerator at home. Try to hold both thoughts in your mind at the same time. You can’t! You can alternate back and forth, but you cannot think about two things at once. This is either good news or bad news depending on what you do.
The human mind is like a stage. Only one performance can play at a time. If a competing cast enters the stage, they displace the existing performance. The good news is that YOU get to decide what is playing on the stage of your mind at any given time. Stray thoughts can attempt to invade the performance from back stage. Yet, they cannot take over unless you allow it. The trick is to decide what will get your attention and then keep focused on what is important.
Think about it this way. Imagine an assembly line in a factory. Perhaps one week the line will turn out computers, the next week it might be re-fitted to produce radios, or maybe motorcycles. What if the line manager suddenly decided to manufacture baskets and radios at the same time by alternating between baskets and radios, every other one, down the assembly line? What would be the result? It would be total chaos with few finished products, inferior quality, and a lot of wasted energy and time. The human mind is the same. If a multi-million dollar manufacturing facility can’t do two things at once, why do you think you can?
Yet, many of us try to do just that. No sooner do we get our mind working on one thing, when we remember something else to concentrate on. When we are at work, we think about home. At home, we worry about work. The phone rings, the boss calls a meeting, you remember a task that you forgot to do, and on it goes. Rare indeed is the man or woman who can truly focus his or her mind on a single task long enough to let the power of the mind work on it without interruption.
Rays of sunshine gently warm the earth. But concentrated through a magnifying glass, these same rays can start a fire or cut through steel. Rain, spread over an entire city has little effect, but concentrate the rain in one place, and you have a powerful torrent, able to generate electrical power or move anything in its path. Likewise, a person who becomes distracted by sidelines, errands, and trivial pursuits is of little effect compared to the one who learns to focus his efforts and actions. This is the key to unleashing the power of the mind. It can become a mighty tool when it is allowed to concentrate and focus.
Imagine the increased levels of personal power and effectiveness you would achieve by simply learning to do this one thing: focus your mind on the important tasks and problems of the day. Here are three effective tips to help you practice focusing your mind . . .
- Set a definite time to concentrate on a given task, project, or problem. Do not allow interruptions or stray thoughts to displace your thinking during that time.
- Keep a note pad handy to jot down stray thoughts that enter your mind when you are focusing on something else. Once these thoughts are written, you can forget about them until the appropriate time.
- If you get caught up in destructive thoughts such as guilt, worry, or fear, practice replacing them with positive, constructive thoughts.
Remember the oft-quoted success maxim, “do the most important thing now?” Why not take it a step further and THINK the most important thing at any given moment. Do this, follow these suggestions, and you will be astonished at the exciting new ideas, innovative solutions, and dynamic successes that will naturally flow to you.

domain: psychology


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text:
I spent this weekend reading Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy.
It really opened my eyes. As fans we are so ready to jump on any coach or player’s back about any decision. We constantly feel that since we are fans, we are owed something. We feel that the coach should belong to us and is there to please us.
I should know, I am a Cowboy fan – I have personally wanted to strangle Tony Romo with piano wire more than three times in the past couple of years. But this book will really help fans realize that football is just a job and not a life for these guys.
To be honest, hearing Tony Dungy talk about his faith, and how he has found God through football was really an amazing story.
I know this is hard for any fanatic out there to hear, but the sports we love, that we stay in line for season tickets for, is nothing more than a job to the athletes we love and care about.
I try to read a new sport biography every month or so. I am a huge sports fan, and I am shocked my girlfriend puts up with it. But the more I read the more I simply look back and laugh at the odd things I do.
For example: I have to wear a Notre Dame football jersey on the Friday before games. It’s not so much a compulsive need as it is superstition. Last time I forgot to wear a jersey before the season started, Notre Dame went 3-9.
I will never refer to my favorite team as “they.” I will always say “we” because as a fan, I feel that I have contributed to the team’s success.
If there is an MMA fight going on, and Michael Bisping is fighting, I have to wear his walk-out shirt. I feel like if I don’t wear it, it will impair his chances of winning, and what if he gets knocked out – that could all be my fault.
What I have learned most, through this book and through my life of sports, is that this love of sports and the game of sports are pure, and that sometimes a game is just a game.
People shouldn’t yell at coaches to find a new job because he loses a game. That coach has a wife and kids and people, myself included, sometimes need to grow up and get a life.

domain: literature


text:
The principle of single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) is the differential gel separation of ssDNA that folds into a specific secondary structure based on its sequence.43-45 For SSCP, the region of interest is amplified and the resulting amplicons are denatured using heat or a denaturation buffer, or both, prior to gel or capillary electrophoresis. Amplicons with different sequences will assume different folding conformations upon dena-turation. Conformational differences reflecting sequence changes are detected as differences in electrophoretic mobility of the ssDNA in a nondenaturing polyacrylamide matrix. In general, a wild-type sample generates two bands, one for each of the two strands of the dsDNA product. Bands of mutant ssDNA migrate to positions different from those of the wild-type ssDNA. A homozygous mutant sample generates two bands, but with different migration patterns from the two wild-type bands. If a heterozygous mutant is present, four bands are generated: two with wildtype mobility and two with mutant mobility. Three also can be observed bands in heterozygous specimens if the mutation changes the conformation of only one strand but not the other. The bands with altered mobility can be isolated from wild-type bands in the gel, allowing even rare somatic mutations in tumors to be sequenced.
Temperature, ionic environment, and pH affect the conformation and therefore must be held constant throughout the SSCP run. Accurate temperature control during SSCP increases reliability and is an easily modifiable parameter in repeatable, nonisotopic experiments that may increase sensitivity. SSCP is adversely affected if unincorporated primers are allowed to bind to the ssDNA during denaturing and cooling prior to electrophoresis, or if nonspecific bands are produced by low-fidelity PCR. In SSCP, elec-trophoretic mobility patterns of variant alleles can be difficult to distinguish from wild type. Another disadvantage is that multiple experimental conditions are required for 100% sensitivity for detection of all sequence variants.
SSCP is most sensitive when the DNA amplicon is less than 200 bp in length. Sensitivity decreases as fragment length increases. This can be overcome by multiplexing differently sized fragments onto a single gel lane and by restriction enzyme digestion prior to electrophoresis. When restriction endonucleases are used, the procedure is referred to as restriction endonuclease fingerprinting-single-strand conformation polymorphism (REF-SSCP). Additionally, SSCP is relatively less sensitive for detecting G to C mutations. The addition of glycerol enhances mutation detection in this circumstance.
Variations of SSCP include RNA-SSCP (rSSCP), dideoxy fingerprinting (ddF), bidirectional ddF (bi-ddF), and SSCP detection of virtually all mutations (DOVAM-SSCP). RNA is more stable and adopts more conformational structures than does ssDNA, allowing enhanced detection using rSSCP. RNA-SSCP is not widely used because of the relative difficulty in producing RNA for analysis. Dideoxy fingerprinting involves a dideoxy Sanger single-primer termination reaction (cycle-sequencing reaction; for additional information on the Sanger reaction, see the section on sequencing, above) followed by nondenaturing elec-trophoresis. A fingerprint bandshift is indicative of sequence changes. Bidirectional ddF is an advancement of ddF whereby the dideoxy Sanger termination reaction is performed with two opposing primers in the same tube. SSCP detection of virtually all mutations is a recently described modification in which SSCP is performed under different conditions with different buffers and gel matrices that result in overall increased sensitivity for mutation identification.
The detection of an altered SSCP pattern does not identify the exact sequence variation present in the analyzed DNA. Therefore, positive SSCP results require DNA sequence analysis to confirm and identify sequence variation.
Examples of Applications of SSCP
1. Screening for mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene
2. Mutation analysis of the ATP7B gene in Wilson disease
3. Mutation analysis in BRCA1 (in familial breast cancer)
4. Pathogen identification46
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domain: chemistry


text:
The Catawba County Board of Commissioners meets Monday night (May 20) in regular session.
There will be a presentation commemorating Peace Officers' Memorial Day along with the National Police Week Proclamation. In addition, a K-64 Update will be presented by CEO Mark Story. In addition, Department of Social Services Director Karen Harrington will present the Community Child Protection & Fatality Prevention Team annual report.
Monday's Catawba County Board of Commissioners meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Board of Commissioners Meeting Room on the 2nd floor of the Catawba County Justice Center at 100 Government Drive in Newton.

domain: sociology


text:
ePub Shockwave download
by Robert Cawley
Robert Wiley has 75 books on Goodreads, and is. .They will not be notified.
Listen to Robert Cawley SoundCloud is an audio platform that lets you .
Book Condition: Minor water wrinkling and/or staining to some pages that .
Robert M. Cawley has been listed as a noteworthy film and television executive by Marquis.
Robert John Wiley (born 24 March 1955) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Perth in the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL), West Australian Football League (WAFL) an.
- Made by Humans: Astonishing Achievements (Shockwave: Social Studies) ebook
- Real World FreeHand 8 (5th Edition) ebook
- The Web Wizard's Guide to Shockwave ebook
- Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima ebook
- Shockwave Studio: Designing Multimedia for the Web (Web Review Studio Series) ebook
- Shockwave (Firebrats) ebook
- Shockwave 2000!: The Harold Camping 1994 Debacle ebook
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- A Language Unconscious: The Light of the Sun: (A Private Press Vision of the Hallucidream Machine, the Ultralight Generator Mind Defibrillator Soul-Sound Creator Supergod Shockwave) ebook

domain: library


text:
440 million UAH will be spent for the reconstruction of the Pobeda Avenue in Kyiv, director general of the Kyivavtodor Kyiv Road Agency Heorhiy Hlynsky said during the retreat, ForUm correspondent reports.
"To date, the project costs 440 million UAH. This includes paving works, reconstruction of crossovers, 17 pedestrian subways and surface pedestrian crossings, lighting, barrier fencing. That is, the whole complex of works, provided for by the design documentation," he said.
He said that the technical condition of roads will be improved. The head of the Kyivavtodor stressed that the special "pockets" for public transport will be set up to ensure its smooth running and help eliminate traffic jams.
The chairman of the KCSA Oleksandr Popov added that the authorities are now ready to allocate 100 million UAH from the city budget for the reconstruction of the Pobeda Avenue. It is panned to receive additional 200-250 million USD from the state budget.
According to him, the works will be carried out in stages.
The director general of the Kyivavtodor Kyiv Road Agency specified that organizational works will begin as early as next week, and the reconstruction itself directly with closures of the Avenue sections will begin in April. "Reconstruction will start from the Zhytomyrska highway and will gradually go to the center. The works will be performed around the clock," Heorhiy Hlynsky summed up.
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domain: finance


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text:
Welcome! I'm Laura Marie, a 29-year-old writer who loves language, sun, wit, the '90s, and all things British. As the Trends and Features Editor at PopSugar, I cover the latest in news, books, entertainment, pop culture, and more. Here, I share my everyday musings, writing about my travels, my Chicago hometown, what I believe that day, and the wisdom I've learned from the people I love.
Now and then you'll find nostalgic glimpses into my San Diego college years, or posts about all the reasons I adore California. Mostly, though, I share stories about the life I've created in San Francisco alongside Radley — the boy I met in college, the one I eventually married.
In any case, I just try to write what's true.
And every once in a while, I hope my words can be true for you, too.
— More at lauramariemeyers.com —
Photo by Sam Shorey

domain: artistic


Mobile is now the most popular method many job seekers use when looking for a new position. That’s why mobile-friendliness of any recruitment processes is a priority for any business. Candidates expect a streamlined process for mobile applications, and employers failing to provide this risk losing out on the best talent. The right mobile recruitment strategy will attract and help you find ideal candidates, and improve the speed and success rate of recruiting them.
Recruitment and Onboarding Tools – Usage Trends 2018-19
Reading this report will help you make a more informed purchase decision when it comes to choosing the right R&O platform, based on the experiences and feedback of your peers.
Mobile is now the first or only method many job seekers use when looking for new roles. This makes mobile-friendly recruitment processes a priority for any business. Mobile recruitment helps you find ideal candidates, and improve your successful recruitment rate.
1. Use AI Recruitment
One of the most significant benefits of AI in recruitment is during the screening process.
The average online job posting attracts more than 250 applications, 65% of which never get read.
Using AI to automatically process applications and screen candidates drastically reduces the cost and time spent at this stage of recruitment.
Automated screening software can grade all candidates based on your skill and experience requirements, creating shortlists of the best talent with minimal cost to your recruitment team’s time.
In addition to screening applicants, AI can also be used to conduct preliminary interviews via live chat, email or even voice and video.
While these systems are not yet advanced enough to conduct a full interview, they are able to contact many applicants simultaneously.
Used to screen candidates before a more in-depth interview, this can greatly speed up the preliminary interview stage of hiring.
Would you be comfortable talking to a robot at your next job interview?
Not everyone will be, so think about whether AI interviewing is right for the candidates you want.
2. Optimize your careers site for mobile
Make sure your site is responsive and loads quickly even on slow connections. Mobile users on the move may not have access to a high-speed network at all times.
Your mobile careers site should offer the full functionality of its desktop counterpart, but with a simplified format and navigation for small mobile screens.
Aim to reduce the amount of pages and clicks a candidate must go through to learn about the job and apply.
If the candidate is already running into inconveniences before even applying, this gives a poor impression of your business.
3. Streamline applications with automated SMS
Job applications can take weeks to process, and it is easy for applicants to lose some of their enthusiasm in that time. As time passes they might take a position elsewhere.
Automated text messages are a great way to stay in touch with applicants.
Keep candidates updated on their application status, as well as engaged and excited about the position.
Alerting candidates to their interview times or information requests via SMS also tells applicants you respect their time and are excited to have them on the team.
4. Allow ‘one-click’ applications
Mobile devices are not designed for writing essays, so why ask candidates to write a lengthy CV or cover letter?
Instead, integrate LinkedIn and job boards like Monster and Indeed with your careers site, so candidates can simply apply using their existing profiles.
This is more convenient and ensures you are taking advantage of mobile technology by making it easy to apply while on the move.
One-click applications benefit you as well as your job applicants.
Job board profiles often contain more information about a candidate’s experience and skills than individually written CVs.
Allowing one-click applications can increase the volume of low-quality applications you receive, so it is important to back up this system with a rigorous screening process.
5. Post jobs on social media
The perfect candidate for your position may not be actively searching for a new role, but they can still be reached on social media.
Advertising jobs on your existing social media accounts enable you to recruit from your engaged customers at no cost.
If you are willing to pay, targeted ads on social media allow you to target very specific demographics in order to find the perfect candidate, as well as check out their personal interests and values to see if they are a match for your company culture.
Mistakes to avoid:
1. Not testing your mobile application process thoroughly
When building a site or process to run smoothly on mobile, there is a huge range of operating systems, screen sizes and processing power you need to accommodate.
So how do you test devices you don’t have access to?
Crowdsourced testing services are cheap, and as a last resort, emulators are available for most common systems.
Emulators are an excellent tool for quickly checking formatting and functionality, but they won’t replicate every issue.
2. Failing to track your results
The most effective channels to recruit ideal candidates may not be the ones you assume.
This can result in investing time and money into inefficient recruiting methods, while the best methods are neglected.
Tracking recruitment results is crucial to improving your success rate. Record how many candidates you attract through each channel, how many from each are suitable and how many you hire.
Identify where your highest successful application rates are, and focus your time and effort here.
3. Vague job descriptions
It is a good idea to be concise when writing job descriptions for mobile, but avoid being too vague about the role and responsibilities.
Would you reply to a job posting that doesn’t say what your duties will be?
A vague job description gives the impression you are not taking much interest in who you hire, and does not specifically target the ideal people for the role.
Take the opportunity to tell candidates a little about your company and culture here as well, as this helps job seekers know whether they will fit in at your organization.
4. Not having a mobile referrals scheme
Employee referrals are consistently one of the best ways to hire.
Recruiting through referrals is faster and less expensive, and referral hires tend to stay with a company longer than other employees.
Enabling employees to easily share referral links via mobile can increase the uptake of your referral scheme.
Potential candidates can start the application straight away, with your employee talking them through the process, instead of needing to wait and remember to apply the next time they sit down with a computer.
5. Making candidates wait
Leaving candidates uncertain about the status of their application is a surefire way to dampen their enthusiasm.
Regular progress updates let job seekers know you are still interested while you complete your hiring process.
The average job application for some roles, such as sales, takes more than 90 days to actually hire the candidate. This is plenty of time for them to find or be approached by another employer.
Updates help prevent this, but you should always be looking for ways to speed up your recruitment process to be able to offer jobs faster than the competition, without sacrificing the quality of your screening process.
Even if a candidate is unsuccessful, they will appreciate a prompt response and will think positively of your company for it.
Successful mobile recruitment is all about making the process as streamlined and appealing as possible.
By simplifying applications for job seekers and increasing the efficiency of your hiring process, mobile recruitment allows you to find ideal candidates fast.
Mobile recruitment tools allow you to track every stat imaginable, so make good use of that data to optimize the way you find and contact potential employees.


text:
Feel like you never get your periods? Or when you do get them, it seems like there’s no end to it? Well, you may be suffering from a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that affects your hormone levels.
What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)?
PCOS is a common hormonal disorder that affects approximately 10% of women who are of reproductive age. The infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods caused by excess male hormones or androgen levels are one of the most obvious signs of PCOS.
Those suffering from PCOS have an imbalance of female hormones that prevents their ovaries from releasing an egg monthly. As a result, the ovaries end up developing countless small collections of fluid sacs (follicles) and fail to regularly release eggs. Each sac contains an immature egg that is unable to mature enough to trigger ovulation.
You may be wondering where the term “polycystic” comes from. As the unreleased eggs remain in the ovaries, these multiple small cysts contribute to the polycystic appearance of the ovaries.
Essentially, by also producing higher-than-normal amounts of male hormones leading to hormonal balance, this causes your body to skip menstrual periods and makes it harder for you to get pregnant.
Signs and Symptoms of PCOS
Signs and symptoms of PCOS often develop during puberty, around the time you go through your first menstrual cycle. However, PCOS can also develop at a later stage due to substantial weight gain.
You’ll definitely want to pay attention to:
- Irregular periods: could be infrequent, prolonged or even absent
- Heavy bleeding
- Hair growth
- Weight gain
- Male-pattern baldness
- Darkening of the skin
If you think you have PCOS, you should observe and track your periods as they are usually the most common signs.
Other symptoms that may be more obvious are associated with physical changes. These refer to excess facial and body hair, severe acne and male-pattern baldness as they signify the presence of excess androgen in your body.
Severe symptoms usually arise if you’re obese.
Causes of PCOS
So far, the exact cause for PCOS is unknown although it may be hereditary as research suggests genes also contribute to PCOS.
But the most commonly cited reason is probably excess male hormones called androgen. Women normally produce androgen in small quantities but for those with PCOS, they produce an excessive amount which explains the male-pattern hair growth (i.e. on the chin, chest, inner thighs, etc) and the formation of acne. When your ovaries produce abnormally high levels of androgen, you can also gain weight both easily and quickly.
Some studies have also shown that excess insulin increases androgen production which contributes to PCOS. Insulin is the hormone produced in your pancreas allowing cells to use sugar and also acts as your body’s primary sugar supply. If your cells become insulin-resistant, your blood sugar levels can rise thus causing your body to produce more insulin.
How is PCOS Diagnosed?
A diagnosis of PCOS is made when you experience at least two of these signs:
|Irregular periods||– Infrequent, irregular or prolonged menstrual cycles are the most common signs of PCOS.|
– A good gauge would be: if you have fewer than nine periods a year, more than 35 days between periods and abnormally heavy periods.
|Excess androgen||Elevated levels of male hormones (androgen) may cause physical changes like excess facial and body hair (hirsutism), occasionally severe acne and male-pattern baldness.|
|Polycystic ovaries||Enlarged ovaries that contain follicles surrounding the eggs. Thus, the ovaries may not be able to function regularly.|
Other ways to diagnose PCOS:
- Hormonal blood tests
- By analysing your blood to measure your hormone levels, you can then safely exclude other plausible causes like menstrual abnormalities or merely androgen excess mimicking PCOS.
- Pelvic ultrasound scan
- Examine the appearance of your reproductive organs and the thickness of your uterine lining.
Targeted Treatments To Cope With PCOS
PCOS is not completely reversible but several treatments can help reduce or minimise uncomfortable symptoms, allowing you to better cope with the condition.
Birth control for irregular periods and its related symptoms
Already on birth control? Well, you may be killing two birds with one stone if you’re currently struggling with PCOS too.
Combined hormonal contraceptives are usually prescribed to control various PCOS symptoms. Some examples are the combined birth control pill, patch and even the vaginal ring. The estrogen and progestin hormones present in the hormonal birth control help decrease androgen and regulate estrogen levels instead.
To treat irregular periods (a common PCOS symptom), combined hormonal contraceptives are also recommended to aid in fixing hormonal imbalance and regulating the menstrual cycle.
Clomiphene or surgery for infertility
The irregular and infrequent ovulation caused by PCOS can make it difficult for you to conceive. So if you’re planning for a baby or if you intend to get pregnant in the near future, it’ll definitely be useful to know that ovulation can be artificially induced using medications.
A common drug used to induce ovulation is clomiphene (Clomid) which has to be taken orally for five days. If the tablet fails, you may need to consider hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries. But of course, this depends on the recommended treatment plan based on professional advice and guidance from your doctor or specialist.
If you find that your body is unresponsive to medical treatment, there’s also the option for surgery. Laparoscopic ovarian drilling is typically used to trigger ovulation by using electrocautery or a laser to destroy parts of the ovaries. This corrects hormonal imbalance and restores normal ovulation.
Hair removal medications for excessive hair growth
Excess hair may be something you’re not used to and find frustrating when you experience PCOS symptoms. Several fuss-free and convenient techniques include depilatory creams, shaving, waxing, bleaching, plucking and electrolysis. However, these methods have to be sustained or repeated in order to manage hair growth.
Suppression of male hormone production with tablets like the oral contraceptive pill or anti-male hormone drug may also reduce excessive hair growth if used for at least nine months.
Lastly, you can also consider laser hair removal as it’s the most effective long-term method to help tackle the problem of excess hair. However, it’s probably one of the most expensive options as well.
As substantial weight gain has also been attributed to PCOS, paying attention to your diet and regularly exercising to reduce excess weight may help to improve symptoms by restoring normal hormonal balance.
To do so, you can also limit your intake of carbohydrates to increase insulin levels, or opt for food high in complex carbohydrates (e.g. whole grains and vegetables) to gradually raise your blood sugar levels.
The Bottom Line
If you suspect you have PCOS, it’s really important to seek timely and appropriate treatment to prevent further complications. That said, always seek help from your doctor first to figure out the best approach or course of treatment for your body and lifestyle.
Considering birth control? Here at Siena, we also want to help you find a solution to help you manage your PCOS symptoms. If you’re considering birth control, don’t hesitate to reach out and book a consult with one of our female doctors to explore your options!
- Diamanti-Kandarakis, E., Kandarakis, H., & Legro, R. S. (2006). The Role of Genes and Environment in the Etiology of PCOS. Endocrine, 30(1), 19–26. https://doi.org/10.1385/endo:30:1:19.
- Galan, N. (2020, November 25). The Link Between PCOS and Insulin Resistance. Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/pcos-and-insulin-resistance-2616319.
- Mayo Clinic. (2020, October 3). Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/symptoms-causes/syc-20353439.
- National University Hospital. (n.d.). Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. https://www.nuh.com.sg/Health-Information/Diseases-Conditions/Pages/Polycystic-Ovary-Syndrome.aspx.
- Watson, S. (2021, April 19). Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Symptoms, Causes and Treatment. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/polycystic-ovary-disease.

domain: biology


text:
Cast: Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols, Samuel L. Jackson. Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman.
When the Saw franchise first appeared, it was a low budget extension of a student short film by two Australian nobodies, populated by B-movie actors. Although James Wan produced the following films in a hands-off manner, and Leigh Whannell stayed to co-write Saw II and pen Saw III, the series became hallmarked by excessive torture and the occasional appearance of another b-movie star. After experiencing a sort of reboot with 2017’s Jigsaw, this new instalment is much more of an adjunct addition to the series than an out-and-out sequel.
Spiral: from the book of Saw follows lone good cop Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks, son of lauded police captain Marcus Banks, who has been outcast since ratting out a dirty cop. Paired with a rookie, Shenk, they begin to uncover a long line of new killings that may or may not be inspired by John Kramer’s original M.O.
Chris Rock spoke of meeting the producers at a wedding, and pitching them the idea for this new movie in the series, in addition to him having the starring role. Rock also executive produces and has polished the script itself, and it’s hard to not see his fingerprints. His introduction after a gnarly opening death is a long conversation about the implications of Forest Gump and the un-correct usage of the word “retard”. It’s funny, and a vein of black humour does run through the rest of the film.
Director Darren Lynn Bousman, who co-wrote Saw II and directed II, III and IV returns here but his direction is much slicker. Taking a cue from previous directors The Spierig Brothers, this is a much slicker looking film. Gone are the grotty interiors, cheapo sets and lightning provided by green and muddy brown. This has the feel of a slick throwback film, and the film is lovingly throwback to cop thrillers.
By no fault of the film, it appears to be out of step with popular feeling. Due to be released last year pre-George Floyd and the big BLM movement, a film about a lone “good cop” feels like something that doesn’t need to be done. Similarly, the underlining theme of police corruption and the new killer going after detectives who are dirty is interesting, but again feels like it might not be the time for it.
The chronology of the film is so confused that Zeke at one point says “Jigsaw never targeted cops”; this is made all the stranger by the fact that not only did Jigsaw target cops, two of the three films Bousman himself director were about cops being targeted by Jigsaw.
The traps this time are much less exploitative and attention has been paid to a more philosophical reason for them, they’re torture and some are very wince inducing but the reasoning makes sense in the heightened world. It also helps that with less emphasis on the gore, the scenes where it occurs hits deeper. Similarly the change of the pig-mask voice is very sinister, it lacks the haunting quality of Bell’s raspy Billy the Puppet but it works well enough in small doses.
Similarly, the cast members are all great. Rock acquits himself well to the heavy scenes as well as some of the comedic scenes, while Samuel L. Jackson offers effortless cool in a few scenes. Similarly, Max Minghella and Marisol Nichols who round out the principal cast are good and it’s clear that everyone in the film is having fun. It still feels weird seeing A-list actors like Rock and Jackson headlining a film whose biggest name to date was Danny Glover.
The “twist” is a little obvious from the minute things start to happen and yet when the iconic “Hello Zepp” music kicks in it’s hard not to feel the nostalgia that comes from the series. It’s less slavish to the series than Jigsaw and doesn’t muddy the continuity as that film did, but it also feels like it’s lacking without Tobin Bell’s near-Shakespearean take on Jigsaw.
If this is to start a new series (and the ending is definitely open enough for Spiral 2) then it puts it in good stead to learn from mistakes and make a stronger part two, if not and the series wants to go back to basics and away from this then it’ll remain an interesting diversion. Like its title, the film is so much Saw 9 as a film that takes its lead from Saw but does its own thing. It’s a different game, but certainly one worth checking out for horror fans and Saw fans alike.


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Brussels, 8 March 2006 Fédération européenne de la Restauration Collective Concédée European Federation of Contract Catering Organisations To the attention of Robert Madelin Director General of DG SANCO Dear Sir, FERCO, the European Federation of Contract Catering Organisations (http:www.fercocatering.org) trusts that Contract Catering Companies could add significant value to the ongoing work at European level to encourage healthier lifestyles. Indeed, Contract Catering Companies all share the important responsibility to provide a model of nutritional balance, especially with regard to more vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, and patients in hospitals. As distances, tough schedules and time pressures often make eating healthily a challenge, Contract Catering Companies are frequently providing the only balanced meal of the day to many workers, students... The Contract Catering sector has always been looking forward to contributing to the promotion of healthy eating. Be it in a business, educational or medical environment, the FERCO members are committed to meeting the needs of consumers and of the client organisations to which they contract in offering the safest and healthiest food to Europeans. Therefore, FERCO participates actively to the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health and welcomes the Commission initiative to launch an extensive consultation of stakeholders on the promotion of healthy diets and physical activity. The Green Paper on "Promoting healthy diets and physical activity: a European dimension for the prevention of overweight, obesity and chronic diseases" tackles a broad range of issues related to obesity of which some are very important for the Contract Catering sector. FERCO has prepared a contribution that will hopefully help the EU Commission to adopt specific tailored made politics complementing, supporting or coordinating existing national measures to reducing obesity levels. Respectfully yours, Marie-Christine LEFEBVRE Secretary General of FERCO CONTRIBUTION OF FERCO, THE EU FEDERATION OF CONTRACT CATERING ORGANISATIONS, TO THE GREEN PAPER ON "PROMOTING HEALTHY DIETS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: A EUROPEAN DIMENSION FOR THE PREVENTION OF OVERWEIGHT, OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASES" We felt it was appropriate to divide the FERCO contribution in three parts: First of all, we believe that it is of the utmost importance to understand perfectly what Contract Catering is and how the nature and constraints of its activities influence the role that Contract Catering Companies may play in the fight against obesity in the EU (A. What is Contract Catering?). Under point B, FERCO will describe what kind of politics could be developed by Europeans and/or national authorities in order to reduce obesity in promoting healthy eating patterns and physical activities. We will end our contribution by answering to the questions phrased in the Green Paper and to which we felt the Contract Catering sector contribution could bring an added value. A. What is Contract Catering? The Contract Catering sector is a profession affecting the 67 million EU consumers to whom the CC companies and their 600.000 employees consistently serve every day healthy and balanced meals. Contract Catering is about much more than processing food. It covers all the services related to food management and involves preparing and serving meals to people working and/or residing in collective organisations, such as companies, administrations, schools/higher education establishments, nurseries, hospitals/clinics, retirement/nursing homes, prisons and military barracks. ¾ What sets the Contract Catering sector apart from traditional and modern restaurants, the food industry and the retail sector? • The existence of a written contract between the client organisation and the Contract Catering Company providing the service. This contract determines the content and the price of the food service provided. • A well-defined group of users comprised of employees, officials, pupils, students, patients, inmates the elderly and others residing or working at the client organisation. • A service provided on the premises of the client organisation, which determines how the food service will be delivered. Contract Caterers operate in units and use equipment over which they have no managerial control because they are owned by the client organisation. • A social price. By providing consumers with a food service at a social price that is usually substantially lower than that charged by commercial caterers, Contract Catering meets an important social need by feeding people at work, at school, in healthcare centres, in retirement/nursing homes and day care establishments, for example. For many consumers, contract catering provides the only hot, healthy, balanced meal of the day. 2 ¾ The nature of the sector’s activities determines the role that Contract Catering Companies could play over time in changing consumers’ dietary habits and lifestyles. • • Client requirements The content of the catering service may change considerably depending on the constraints and requirements of each client that determines: - The nature of the food service to be provided, including choice/diversity of daily supply and frequency of each type of food. - The general qualitative requirements. The type of supplies is important, particularly the difference between fresh products or ready-made products. Indeed a food service based on raw supplies (fresh produce) is more costly than a service based on ready-made products. - The nutritional requirements, for example, the exclusion or inclusion of certain products. Awarding of contracts Most catering contracts are awarded to the company that submits the lowest bid. This predominance of the price criteria can be partly explained by budgetary restrictions in the public sector and cost-cutting policies of private companies. There is also a lack of instruments that could help clients select the Contract Catering company offering the best quality/price ratio. FERCO considers that choosing service providers on the basis of price alone is damaging as it induces Contract Catering companies to streamline their costs as much as possible, sometimes to the detriment of the quality of the meals and services provided. Awarding contracts at the lowest price cannot help promote a healthy diet. This is particularly true in the case of schools, hospitals and retirement homes, where low quality service has a significant impact on people’s nutrition, health and education. As a result, FERCO and its social partner EFFAT (European Federation of Trade Unions in the Food, Agriculture and Tourism Sectors) have decided in the context of their European Social Dialogue to propose a method for awarding catering contracts that accounts for both quality and price. To facilitate the practical implementation of this procedure, EFFAT and FERCO have created a Guide to the Economically Most Advantageous Offer. (The economically most advantageous offer represents the best quality for the best price.) The Guide is intended to promote the use of quality criteria for the awarding of catering contracts by the clients, whether they are public organisations or private companies. FERCO and EFFAT believe that the choice by both public and private entities of the “economically most advantageous offer” can contribute to a higher level of nutritional balance and improved food hygiene and safety standards. • Subsidy of the cost of a meal The subsidy policy of the client organisation, whether private or public, has an impact on the quality of the food service provided. It is the client organisation’s prime responsibility to decide whether the offer of affordable, varied, well-balanced and tasty meals is a priority. • “Captive” consumers End consumers have little or no opportunity to choose another form of catering. Contract Caterers must meet the challenge of promoting nutritional balance while serving the same consumers every day. • Cooking methods Contract Caterers promote homemade cooking by using a wide variety of seasonal ingredients supplied by local companies. At the same time, they are upholding regional and national culinary traditions. Today, it is well known that varied menus using a diversity of ingredients are fundamental to a well balanced diet. Too strict standards would be 3 detrimental to such cooking methods and would encourage the use of standardised processes. B. GENERAL STATEMENT FERCO and its Members recognise the need for a global strategy on diet and healthy lifestyles, where all stakeholders meet their responsibilities and work in partnership. This includes: • Consumers who are responsible to make choices for a healthy diet and lifestyle. • National public authorities that should develop strategies to influence consumers’ behaviour and take nutritional principles into consideration when awarding catering contracts. • EU institutions that primary role should be to encourage, inform and coordinate existing national nutrition strategy. Implementation is the task of the national branch associations and Contract Catering companies, in line with national nutritional recommendations, local culinary traditions and eating habits. • Suppliers that should work with the Contract Catering companies to review the composition of food products and to make understandable and relevant information available to the client organisation and eventually to the end consumer. • Client organisations that should stipulate healthy food options in the terms of reference when outsourcing to food service providers. • Contract Catering companies that should in agreement with their clients promote diversified meals respecting culinary traditions, based on fresh and seasonal products that when possible are sustainable produced, come from local suppliers and contribute to the end consumers’ education about nutrition. • Social Partners who should work in common with the employers to put the issue of the fight against obesity as a priority issue in their social dialogue. Based on the expertise of its members in healthy, safe and well balanced diet, FERCO would like to present its views on policies that could be conducted by public authorities, be it European or national, in order to fight the spreading obesity problem in Europe. B1. Development of EU and/or national Nutritional Guidelines FERCO believes that the development of EU and/or national Nutrition strategy could be supported by the definition of healthy food patterns. This could be achieved thru a partnership between branch organisations and EU/national public authorities dealing with food safety and nutrition, health departments. This process could be helped by the creation of National Nutrition Councils, which would involve representatives of agriculture, food industry, consumers, healthcare, education and research organisations. These Councils would give recommendation on appropriate nutrient intakes for population groups which could be based on European level Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) for calories and key nutrients 4 The recommendations would form the basis for a food and nutrition policy and be used in the drafting of the Terms of reference in public tenders of mass catering. FERCO members are convinced that the promotion of national heating habit and culinary diversity should form part of these recommendations. As a matter of fact, Contract Catering Companies have already developed nutritional strategies intending to help consumers primarily in staff and schools restaurants, to make healthy eating choices whilst respecting the gastronomy and culinary diversity of various communities. These strategies, even if specific to each company and each country are developed alongside common tracks that are summarised here below. (Specific examples can be found in the FERCO 2004/2005 Baseline document on the EU CIRCA database) and could serve as a basis to develop European and /or national strategies. Contract Catering healthy nutrition guidelines Most of the time, these guidelines have been developed by Contract Catering specialists in collaboration with parents, educators and teachers, employers, public authorities, as well as doctors and specialists. They are most of the time based on recommendations of a national association or public body for nutrition. These recommendations are being applied by Contract Catering Companies, with the agreement of their client, to menu planning, from breakfast and snack catering through to lunch, shift catering, vending, conference service, outlets, mobile trolleys and special action weeks. Products and dishes are prepared according to approved recipes and menu planning that guarantees a healthy and balanced menu cycle. These programs are flexible and could be adapted to the client’s specificities. Nevertheless it should be recall that Contract Catering operators are not in a position to implement such policies unless their clients are willing to. Of course insure healthier food service has its price. Clients should be ready to afford it to the benefice of the consumers’ health. ¾ 9 Common Guidelines principles Serving varied food: Offering varied food to the end consumers is part of a wellbalanced diet. This could be achieved by rotating menus and diversifying the food offered as often as possible. Encouraging healthier snacks: Sit-down snacking, offer of low-fat hot snacks and cold snacks. Introducing healthier options: The development of deli bars, coffee shops and sandwich bars are responding to the increasing demand for lighter menus and healthier options including salads, fresh vegetable dips and fruit salads in all sectors. CC Companies are developing a basic range and an additional range that is in most cases a light product. Promoting the use of less fat, sugar, salt and encouraging smaller servings: Shifting fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats and eliminating eventually trans-fatty acids by promoting alternative culinary techniques (use of boiling, baking or grill cooking methods), the use whenever possible, of vegetable fat/oil, a daily offer of low-fat and fat reduced food, and to limit the offer of fried food. Promote the reduction of sugar and salt used in preparing food and proposing to their clients an offer of smaller helpings on a daily basis. Introducing more healthy option dishes and promoting low fat or low carbohydrate dishes. Some are working with their suppliers to support healthy eating promotional campaigns. Promoting the consumption of vegetables and fruits: to serve more fresh and diversified vegetables and fruits to the end consumer. Encouraging the consumption of high fibre products: to develop a daily offer of high fibre products. Offering a well balanced, varied choice of protein and calcium source products: such as a daily offer of a varied assortment of milk and dairy products, meat and a reasonable offer of products such as sausages and eggs. They are also committed to increasing the offer of fish, if possible from sustainable sources. Plenty of liquid: Ensure a fair availability of plain water and propose to their clients to serve more diversified sources of liquids to the end consumer. 5 Limiting the promotion and communication about sugar added products and beverages, and promote products and beverages with no or less sugar added. Develop an offer in glass fronted vending machine of range of nutritional products low in carbohydrates, sugar free, low fat, or caffeine free. Training of staffs to Guidelines to healthy nutrition guidelines and support of dieticians advices Employees of Contract Catering companies learn the rules of good nutrition and how they can apply them in practice. They received the support of dieticians that could always help them with nutrition facts, best culinary solution… Information and education Diversifying the food offer would be meaningless without giving the customers access to the right information in order to help them make informed decisions when selecting food. Improving the understanding of the employees so that they can better advice customers is also a key element. Communication is necessary to make the public aware of the consequences of overweight. We believe that a more uniform and targeted common message should be adopted by all stakeholders. It is the prime responsibility of Public Authorities to educate the consumers and to spread the information by bulk mail, TV, newspaper, flyers in the grocery stores, the internet….. The Contract Catering Industry can only support public initiatives. This is achieved in various ways such as for instance: ¾ Education - Promotional activities on health topics supported by posters, leaflets and further information campaigns. Contract Catering Companies have developed awareness activities on the issue of nutrition and the practise of sport specifically designated for the educational sector and work places. Communication campaigns are being adapted to the nature and age of the consumers. - Post signing of healthy and nutritious food: health stickers, visuals, coloured icons, signage, imagery and support material, to assist customers in choosing appropriate menu items and healthier food. - Presence on site of dieticians to inform and push consumers towards accepting basic principles of balanced nutrition. Highlights on the major role of breakfast, advantages of the Mediterranean diet, or how to keep in good shape are among the subjects of these different awareness campaigns. - Gives customers a step by step approach to the simple principles behind a balanced meal, such as the importance of choosing complementary foods, the vital nature of fruits and vegetables, and how to choose seasonings and cooking methods. This will bring consumers to recognise that nutritional balance doesn’t mean a lack of flavour. - Report on healthy snacks giving information on a balanced range of snack products and establishing a better knowledge on food values and food ingredients as a whole. - Education programs promoting nutritious options and encouraging a greater understanding of food production and practical cooking skills. - Food routes in restaurant: For example a healthy food route, a food route for sportsmen of strength, sportsmen of duration and sportsmen of teambuilding, etc. ¾ Information: - Distribution of Information booklets providing simple and clear information about healthy diet to teachers - Development of specific nutrition information for parents and partners - Drafting of brochure to help parents to understand the menu delivered at school, with suggestions in order to balance the other meals during the day. 6 - Food Manual: Intranet Food Manual containing information on topics such as healthy food and diet ethics or daily menu with possible direct link to a nutritional website providing a way to follow up an individual’s nutritional balance. - Call centre welcoming questions, which are answered by nutritionists and dieticians. - Program such as “diet at work place”: Workers are followed up by dieticians, doctors in order to lost weight by using the modified offer with a special focus on vegetables, fish and salads. Experts in the field of physical activity and nutrition supported them in realising these goals by giving practical advice. Monitoring Contract Catering companies have developed quality system (ISO 9001 certified) including requirements for healthy eating, logo for the theoretical and practical implementation of reference values with respect to the supply of nutrients of high quality and light food, in staff catering facilities. B2. Encourage Partnership with social partners The fight against obesity should be recognised as a common priority for both employees and employers representatives. EU and national authorities should encourage social partners to jointly promote the use of collective labour agreements as instrument for the fight against obesity. Social Dialogue should be encouraged to develop sustainable training programmes in this area. As a matter of fact FERCO and its counterpart EFFAT have decided at the latest plenary session of their Social Dialogue to sign a common statement stressing the significant contribution that the Contract Catering sector could bring to the fight against obesity. FERCO and EFFAT representatives stressed the importance of establishing a link between the fight against obesity and the award criteria of public tenders. Well balanced nutrition asks for the use of products of high quality and the presence of well trained employees, which is not compatible with a policy of awarding contracts to the lowest bid. FERCO and EFFAT emphasise the need for employees’ training to the principles of well balanced nutrition and increasing awareness of the link between well balanced diet and physical exercise. B3. Public Tender Policy FERCO thinks that major achievements could arise through Public tender policies. ¾ Public authorities should encourage or made compulsory to use the criteria of the most economically advantageous offer As already stated, awarding contracts at the lowest price cannot help promote a healthy diet. The EU Authorities should encourage and promote the development of initiative such as the FERCO and its social partner EFFAT (European Federation of Trade Unions in the Food, Agriculture and Tourism Sectors) Guide to the promotion of the criterion of the Economically Most Advantageous Offer described here above (See part A). The implementation of this guide describing a method for awarding catering contracts that accounts for both quality and price could even become mandatory for public tender of contract catering services contract. FERCO and EFFAT believe that the choice by both public and private entities of the “economically most advantageous offer” can contribute to a higher level of nutritional balance. 7 ¾ Public authorities should request the inclusion of nutritional recommendations in the Terms of reference of Public tenders Public, European and/or national, Authorities could request the inclusion in the Terms of reference of Public tenders of nutritional recommendations and recommend that some nutritional information should be given to consumers. B4. EU Surveys FERCO trusts that surveys to better understand the links between diet and health and expectations of main stakeholders (Parents, Educators and teachers, Public authorities, Consumers, Doctors and specialists) could be decisive for adapting public health policy to control obesity. The results of these studies could also constitute the basis for the development of curricula on nutrition to be part of the national education. 8 C. Specific Questions 1. European Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health Questions: – What are the concrete contributions which Community policies, if any, should make towards the promotion of healthy diets and physical activity, and towards creating environments which make healthy choices easy choices? Collaborative action will be required. The EU authorities and national governments need to invest in public information and education campaigns that stress the positive benefits of diet, physical activity and health. These campaigns need to focus on compelling and action oriented messages targeted at particular groups e.g. school children: Eat Well, Do Well, Live Well or Eat Better, Do Better. Employers, retailers and caterers need to work together to create environments where the healthy choice is the easy choice. Employers need to consider whether to reintroduce subsidies that encourage employees to choose the healthier option. Public bodies particularly in healthcare and education need to see good nutrition as a strategic priority and make the resources available to invest in food, training and equipment. More research is required into the link between nutrition and academic attainment, nutrition, productivity and economic output, and the link between improved nutrition and reduced health and welfare costs. – Which kind of Community or national measures could contribute towards improving the attractiveness, availability, accessibility and affordability of fruits and vegetables? Various ways of action could contribute to improving the attractiveness, availability, accessibility and affordability of fruits and vegetables. For instance: VAT-free rate or at least a tax-friendly policy Price control policies by national authorities Promote the use of frozen vegetables which have thesame nutritional values but a lower price and a higher availability all the year long In the Contract catering sector, clients could be encouraged to subsidy more fruit and vegetables based preparations Obligation to offer fruit and vegetables in theTerms of reference for public tenders (see our general comment) Governemental Campaign (commercial-spots on TV, Press,..) on the importance of fruit and vegetables. – On which areas related to nutrition, physical activity, the development of tools for the analysis of related disorders, and consumer behaviour is more research needed? In general it turns out that obesity is caused by a disturbance in the balance between intake of energy (through eating and drinking) and usage of energy (physical health). In our opinion it would be interesting to emphasize the physical health component in relation to the obesity problem and the awareness of the consumer concerning the balance of energy. 9 2. Consumer information, advertising and marketing It is vital to develop Communication Campaigns, and Education / training schemes in order to increase the public awareness of the consequences of overweight. Questions: – When providing nutrition information to the consumer, what are the major nutrients, and categories of products, to be considered and why? FERCO trusts that it is most important to inform customers correctly on the adequate consumption of different nutrients (how much, when, how – referring to the food pyramid), rather than to give more or less information to categories and nutrients. This being said, the major nutrients and categories to be considered could be energy, total fat, saturated fatty acids, protein, carbohydrates, fibre, salt. C- and D-vitamins are also important. Usually it is not necessary to count other nutrients, because these above mentioned nutrients indicate quite well the nutritional quality of diet. One could also point out products that should be eaten in small quantities due to their law content in nutrient, for instance: all kind of sweets, soft drinks, refined products… – Which kind of education is required in order to enable consumers to fully understand the information given on food labels, and who should provide it? FERCO is of the opinion that Nutrition information should be directed at the final consumer, reflects consumer needs, and be sufficiently clear and simple to be useable in daily life. A consistent approach to clear and simple labelling of products in the retail environment is required. Consumers should not be obliged to follow any kind of education to be able to read food labels. Current nutritional information is too difficult to understand. Front of pack labelling based on Guideline Daily Amounts with colour coding as proposed by some manufacturers and retailers seems a very sensible approach. Public information campaigns are vital. Simple strap lines and eye-catching logos that can then be used by retailers, manufacturers and caterers in their own advertising and on packaging and signage are the way forward. The Contract Catering sector is committed to inform the consumers on nutritional values, balanced diets and nutrition and health claims. Nevertheless, in the contract catering environment precise nutritional labelling is impracticable because of the way in which individual dishes are prepared on the premises to recipes developed by the chef. If agreement can be reached on definitions and with appropriate in-built tolerances, it may be possible to enable customers to make informed choices through other communication channels which are most appropriate to Contract Catering sector. As a matter of fact, Contract Catering Companies are already experimenting with such an approach and are informing their clients and consumers of the existence and usefulness of nutrition guidelines through alternative means of communication such as for example, easyto-understand icon, tray liners, leaflets and brochures, websites, consumer care lines, etc. It should also be quoted that improving the level of information and traceability that Contract Catering Companies could provide to their customers, requests the collaboration of food manufacturers and the authorisation of their clients. – Are voluntary codes (“self-regulation”) an adequate tool for limiting the advertising and marketing of energy-dense and micronutrient-poor foods? What would be the alternatives to be considered if self-regulation fails? 10 FERCO thinks that Public Authorithies should develop a minimum content of selfregulation codes that can then after be completed by branche organisations or companies. These codes should provide for sanctions and Public Authorities should be in charge of verifying the Companies behaviors and to apply sanctions. This could be achieved by the setting up of a Commission of Control. FERCO also believes that promotional selling should be limited during protected time bands. 3. Consumer education FERCO and its members believe that Nutrition education and information are essential for enhancing consumer’s awareness of the role of nutrition in diet and health. FERCO trusts that the primarily responsibility for action plans to educate consumer at healthier eating habits and lifestyles lies with national governments. Nutrition education is a matter of public health as it helps consumers to make well grounded choices as regards the food they eat and to understand nutritional information. FERCO believes that Education cannot be performed through food label. Nutrition education should be part of all national education schemes. Nutrition education is essential as it provides consumers with the tools to understand nutritional labelling, enabling them to make informed choices. Public health programmes are important to raise awareness among consumers of the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. More education about food, nutrition, vitamins and minerals is necessary and should be imbedded in curriculum. The curriculum should emphasise healthy food and eating: how to control the balance between energy intake and ouput, how to calculate Body Mass Index and wais measurement, wealth benefits deriving from physical activity, risks and consequences coming from incorrect habits.. FERCO members and Contract Catering companies are fully aware of the importance of education to motivate consumers to make more healthy choices. Recognising that food service represents an educational opportunity, especially for pupils, parents and educators, they are committed to developing, where possible and appropriate, educational programmes adapted to pupils’ age and eating habits. Such programmes should be implemented in coordination with parents’ associations and responsible local authorities. (See point B General Statement) Questions: – How can consumer best be enabled to make informed choices and take effective action? See point B General Statement – What contributions can public-private partnerships make toward consumer education? See point B General Statement It is obvious that Public initiatives will need to be supported by the Private sector in order to be successful. Contract Catering companies have to build a nutrition policy and to put there customers in a position to choose a healthy meal. But it is not their role to provide the consumer with basic nutrition education; this is clearly the function of the government and the school. – In the field of nutrition and physical activity, which should be the key messages to give to consumers, how and by whom should they be delivered? The key messages should be: 1. Vary your diet 2. Make sure there is a balanced choice 3. Beware of fat 4. Eat fibre rich products 11 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables Use very small amounts of salt Vary drink sources Read the ingredients on the package Reduce the portion size Move your body At the end what really matters is that the messages conveyed to the consumers emphasises that a well balanced diet is for every individual to find the equilibrium between energy intake through eating and calories burning through moving that fits its own metabolism. At the end there are no really good or bad products as long as consumers vary their diet. We are convinced that education to well balanced nutrition should start at the very beginning of the scholarship. 4. A focus on children and young people There is already considerable activity taking place across the EU in this regard. For example in the UK tough new nutritional standards are being introduced for school lunches and complementary standards are being proposed for other food served in school e.g. breakfast, morning break, after school and through tuck shops and vending. But in isolation this will not be enough. Even if a child eats a school lunch every day of the school year it still only represents less than one-fifth of the meals they eat in a year. In the UK less than one in two children eat a school lunch, so information needs to be provided to parents on how to pack a healthy lunch box. Action needs to be taken to ensure that teaching in the classroom extols the benefits of healthy eating. Practical cooking should be a core part of the curriculum. Schools should put in place whole school food and nutrition policies in consultation with parents and pupils, including guidance on what can and cannot be brought into school. Action is already being taken to restrict the availability of energy-dense and sugar-sweetened soft drinks. For example France has banned vending machines and in England the Government is contemplating tough new standards to restrict the availability of such products in schools. The challenge though remains how to reach out to parents. Parents in areas of multiple deprivations may not have the understanding or knowledge to make healthy choices for their families, the financial resources to make those changes or the skills to cook nutritious meals at home. Schools, working with the private sector, need to explore ways to engage the local community. There are many examples of schools running community cookery classes at evenings, weekends and during holidays. (See General Statement) Questions: – What are good examples for improving the nutritional value of school meals, and how can parents be informed on how to improve the nutritional value of home meals? Contract Catering companies are already cooperating with parents associations and public administrations to promoting healthy lifestyles. For instance(See also General Statement): o They help parents to adopt healthy lifestyles in the family environment by providing the schools with monthly menus including nutritional information and recommendations for the dinner, to be passed on to the parents. o Contract Catering specialists propose short courses on diet, nutrition and healthy food to the parents. o Menus are being created by clients and contract catering companies, taking both nutritional values and taste into account (by questionnaires and waste analysis). o On-line menus and/or information folders are made available for families. 12 – What is good practice for fostering healthy dietary choices at schools, especially as regards the excessive intake of energy-dense snacks and sugar-sweetened soft drinks? In schools there should not be unhealthy snacks available. It must be difficult for children to get unhealthy snacks during the school day. Instead there should be healthy and also affordable snacks available. If the school meals are tasty and nutritive, children will not eat so much unhealthy snacks. Vending machines should be offering healthy food. ( see General Statement) According to their budget, school administrations should choose to improve the nutritional value of school meals by: offering more fresh food products, especially salad, fish, fruits and vegetables; by avoiding meals consisting only of fast food products and by offering less sweets and sugar-sweetened soft drinks. Nutrition education also as “taste education”should be included in school programs, starting from primary schools. – How can the media, health services, civil society and relevant sectors of industry support health education efforts made by schools? What role can public-private partnerships play in this regard? See General Statement 5. Food availability, physical activity and health education at the work place Questions: – How can employers succeed in offering healthy choices at workplace canteens, and in improving the nutritional value of canteen meals? Most workplaces offer a range of healthy choices. Caterers are working alongside their clients to ensure that the healthy choice is the easy choice. Workers in canteens get education about nutrition and the importance of healthy meals. Employers though need to consider what incentives they are prepared to offer to encourage uptake. Food workers in workplace canteens should be educated so that they can make healthy meals which are also attractive and taste good. ( See General Statement). 6. Recommendations for nutrient intakes and for the development of food-based dietary guidelines Questions: – In which way could social and cultural variations and different regional and national dietary habits be taken into account in food-based dietary guidelines at a European level? Guidelines need to be simple but not simplistic. Single traffic lights are too simplistic. Multiple traffic lights will only work if the consumer is able to understand the relative balance of each category of nutrient in their overall diet. Some kind of scheme based on GDA’s supported by a sustained information campaign is likely to be the most effective in the medium term. (See General Statement) – How can dietary guidelines be communicated to consumers? See General Statement 13 This paper represents the views of its author on the subject. These views have not been adopted or in any way approved by the Commission and should not be relied upon as a statement of the Commission's or Health & Consumer Protection DG's views. The European Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper, nor does it accept responsibility for any use made thereof.
© Copyright 2020

domain: food


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According to the Singapore edition of The Business Times, a shipment of Soybeans has been completed between a Chinese and a US company, with all trade related formalities being executed through block chain technology. The parties involved in the transaction are Louis Drefus, Shandong Bohi Industry Co, ING, Societe Generale, and ABN Amro.
The sales contract, letter of credit, and other related certificates were digitized using Easy Trading Connect (ETC) platform, which is based on block chain technology. Notably, oil markets have already started using block chain technology for transportation.
As it can be understood, Louis Dreyfus Co and Bohi acted as seller and buyer, respectively, in the transaction. Banks, on their part, issued and confirmed the letter of credit. All shipping related documents were issued by Russell Marine Group and Blue Water shipping. The USDA (Department of Agriculture) offered the necessary advice to incorporate the Phyto-sanitary certificates in the documentation. The use of block chain technology has resulted in saving cost and time.
Robert Serpollet, the global head of operations at Louis Dreyfus stated
“We noticed very significant efficiency gains… far beyond what we expected.”
Van Vilet, a representative for ING, said,
“This [cost saving] is key as we operate in a business that has high volumes and very low margins. If not months, then in a year or two max, I think the world in this space will look quite different.”

domain: news


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A sage rock preacher once proclaimed, “You can’t always get what you want.”
Sorry, Mick Jagger. The West Valley housing market is proving the Rolling Stones wrong on that note.
According to RealtyHop, a national real estate listing company, “Glendale ranked in the top 10 hottest housing markets in December, with a -1.92% change in asking price.”
“Peoria saw a price drop of only 1.7% —even better than Glendale,” said Shane Lee, a data analyst for RealtyHop. This means Peoria home sellers got almost everything they wanted. On average, Peoria sellers were dropping prices less than 2%, giving them more than 98% of their asking prices.
Glendale “increased three spots to become the fifth hottest market this December,” according to the RealtyHop report. “Similar to nearby cities in Arizona, Glendale properties required very small discounts from initial offering to sell.”
RealtyHop’s analysis of more than 300,000 listings showed the West Valley is one of the “healthiest” real estate markets in the country, said Lee.
A few other cities around the West Valley showed similar or even smaller price drops, compared to Glendale.
“They’re all very healthy,” Lee noted of the West Valley.
Indeed, real estate people say West Valley home sellers often get very close to — or even over – the asking price.
“Most of Glendale and Peoria (sellers) are getting multiple offers in, which could lead to a sales price over the asking price. Or at least minimizing the price drop,” said Elise Fay, of eXp Realty.
Mason Oxendale, of the Realty One Group, said homes in Glendale and Peoria are selling “at or above asking price, because people want to live in a specific location.” He added the sports stadiums and arenas are a big part of the attraction.
Peoria didn’t make RealtyHop’s hot list only because it isn’t in the top 100 cities by population.
The data shows West Valley real estate professionals are skillful at “The Art of the Deal,” to quote a book by President Donald Trump.
“To talk about price drops, we have to talk about how people are negotiating,” Lee said. “A lot of times sellers will set a higher price. The makes listings stay on the market longer, so you’ll start seeing price drops. Generally speaking, a larger percentage of price drop means sellers are not able to attract buyers.
“(Glendale and Peoria) being under 2% (price drop) is very healthy.”
While Peoria and Glendale home prices have been increasing, for places like New York and California, the prices here are shockingly low.
The headline of a recent RealtyHop blog tells the story: “Must See Apartments in Chelsea for $900,000 and Down.”
In Los Angeles, Miami, New York City and San Francisco, residents spend more than 80% of incomes on homes.
“In Glendale, you only need 30% of annual income to go to housing,” Lee said.
That put Peoria and Glendale just outside the top 10 most affordable cities list, according to a RealtyHop November study.
For more, see realtyhop.com/blog.


How to check the quality of industrial monitors?
The viewing angle of industrial display is subdivided into horizontal viewing angle and vertical viewing angle. The horizontal viewing angle is based on the vertical normal of the display (that is, the vertical imaginary line in the middle of the display), and the image of the display can still be seen normally at the left or right position that forms a certain angle with the vertical normal. This angle range is the horizontal viewing angle of industrial display, which is also based on the horizontal normal. Usually, the reference standard of the viewing angle is the change of contrast.
When the viewing angle increases gradually, the color contrast of the image displayed at this angle will decrease. When the angle increases to a certain extent and the contrast is lower than 10:1, this angle is the maximum viewing angle of industrial display.
At present, the viewing angles of industrial displays in the market are mostly symmetrical from left to right, but not necessarily symmetrical from top to bottom, usually the up-and-down angle is less than the left-and-right angle. An industrial display with a viewing angle of 80 degrees from left to right can clearly see the screen image when standing at a position that forms 80 degrees with the central vertical line on the front of the screen. The larger the viewing angle, the wider the viewing angle, and the better the applicability of the industrial display.


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The lovely Natalie arrived in Perth for a few days, so we had organised a quick trip to Penguin Island! Julia came with us as she's not been either...
Sadly, it was far too rough on the sea for the little ferry, so the island was closed to the public *sadface* so we decided to have a little jaunt on the beach... However! Natalie fails to tell me until we're on the beach that she DOESN'T LIKE SAND... Thanks Nassles... Now I feel bad!
This is how bad I felt...
Apparently it was cold!
Ok, yeah it was a bit nippy as the sun went in. And rather windy, hence the face as my legs were getting whipped by sand!
We decided to have a little posing sesh on the pier, you can see the ferry anchored a safe distance away!
Us lovely, slightly chilly girlies!
Another day, another trip - Nassles (Natalie) and I booked to go to Rottnest Island!
Our journey on the ferry was pleasant and uneventful, so not much to say. However, Nassles did let me know that she hadn't ridden a bike for about 14 years (I think) so things were about to get interesting...
There are very few cars on Rottnest (Rotto) and people are invited to hire a bike, or use the tour buses or even walk if you have the time!
Nassles did NOT enjoy her bicycle experience.
Not even gone that far before we both needed to pause and actually read the map and decide where to go! Cue us going backwards and both complaining that our bums hurt from the ridiculously hard bike seats!
However... the pictures below are why we came to Rotto!!
I just want to put him in my rucksack and take him home!
The next few photos are of the lovely Parakeet Bay on Rotto where Nassles and I parked up and watched the solar eclipse. This is the only beach I remember the name of...
After our little rest (bum ache is NOT the one!) we trooped back to the ferry port, and spotted these little (well, not that little) fellas on the roadside! Gorgeous!
Another totally adorable quokka for you!
And lastly, a lesser spotted CJ wanting to take this anchor home as I love everything sailory!
A thoroughly good day out, even if we were a bit sore after! And our skipper was Bruce Wayne... Whoops, sorry *ahem* BATMAN

domain: travel


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A revolutionary production of Ibsen’s classic A DOLL’S HOUSE featuring really tall women and really small men–40-53 inches high to be exact!–recently had its Boston premiere at ARTS EMERSON’s Cutler Majestic. MABOU MINES DOLLHOUSE took the absurdity and inequity of women who are treated as dolls in a society of “small” men–and made it the stuff of comic farce about patriarchy. Though its run has ended, people have been asking me what I thought!
The concept was arresting, potentially revelatory, and even hilarious– I couldn’t wait to see it. But the actual working out of the drama onstage was exhausting, unfunny, and finally— hard to hear. The actors spoke in an odd shrieky/scandinavian accent, rendered even more inaudible by insufficient amplification. The action and much of the acting– seemed forced. The oral sex scenes felt gratuitous, yet brought the audience’s heartiest laughter. What promised to be intellectually provocative had trouble transcending the obvious gimmick of scale.
There was one sublime and redeeming scene in the almost 3 hours long event: the final moments featuring a stripped-down Nora out of her dollhouse and in the balcony– no hair, no clothes, save one long-sleeved glove, a remnant of a costumed identity shed; it was breathtaking. (Her miniature husband should have had equal exposure; why not put his parts on display since that is the apparatus by which he and all men dominate? I wondered at the choice.)
If this were a work in progress, I’d recommend going all the way with the farce; not only cut the actors down to size, but also cut the action in half– and double the speed. Have it all culminate in a wild farcical denouement with the players running about, slamming doors, hiding under tables. Then stop it dead in its tracks for that final sublime scene.


Nigerian popular comic creator, Mr Funny A.K.A Sabinus has added another whip to his garage after splashing millions of undisclosed currency notes.
The award-winning comedian in no doubt is living his best life having worked so hard to attain such a peak.
You may also like: Popular Nigerian comic creator, Mr Funny tackles Bob Risky again, he replies
He is currently one of the top 5 Nigerian best and richest comic creators bossing their game currently. This has quite earned him the massive wealth he is currently enjoying.
In recent hours, he acquired a brand new Mercedes worth over 60 million which has thrilled massive counts of his fans who have stormed his social media handle to congratulate him.
Watch the pictures below;
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The most popular type of debt relief for consumers and businesses is also referred to as a straight bankruptcy. For individuals, Chapter 7 allows you to eliminate (“discharge”) most common debts such as:
Old utility bills
Old cell phone bills
The most common myth about Chapter 7 is that you have to surrender your home or cars to qualify. You DO NOT have to surrender your home or cars to successfully complete a Chapter 7. The bankruptcy code provides for “exemptions” that let you keep a certain amount of equity in your home, vehicles, and other household items. In almost all cases, you can keep money in your 401(k) or other retirement accounts.
You need to meet with an attorney about all of your options in a Chapter 7, to decide whether you can keep and reaffirm on these debts, or whether you should surrender them. Your attorney will also need to gather information about how valuable your property is, to see if you have too much equity to exempt in a Chapter 7.
Available exclusively to municipalities, allowing them to restructure their debts. Our firm has conducted a Chapter 9 analysis for a small municipality, and determined that it was not feasible. Though these cases are very rare, the unique set of circumstances facing many municipalities in Kentucky means that there may be more of these cases filed in the near future.
Starting up your own business often pits you against more seasoned companies with years of experience and name recognition. Changes in the market, or general economic downturns often cause successful business to suffer sudden financial difficulties.
The Options You Never Knew You Had To Save Your Business
Noah R. Friend Law Firm, PLLC, has represented multiple businesses in the United States Bankruptcy Court. We can help you to determine whether you can make the adjustments needed to keep your business open, or whether it is time to shutter business operations.
We help our clients take a step back and explore all options. We let them know that closing their doors or even filing bankruptcy may not be an option as of yet. Rushing to a Chapter 11 business bankruptcy filing can be cost-prohibitive and create more financial problems that will have to be revisited. There may be other strategies prior to taking drastic steps. Regardless of whether debts need to be negotiated, or a bankruptcy needs to be filed, we can assist you in coming up with the best options for you and your business.
Much more rarely filed than Chapters 7, 11, or 13, Chapter 12s are designed specifically to help family farmers with the unique set of circumstances that comes with the farming industry. Payment can be established based on harvest and payment schedules, and there are opportunities to adjust payments for equipment and in some cases, land itself.
Chapter 13 is a personal “reorganization” bankruptcy, that allows the Debtor to adjust their debts and payments, in order to keep the things that they want to keep, while eliminating burdensome debts. People usually have to choose Chapter 13 for one of the following reasons:
They make too much money to qualify for Chapter 7;
They are behind on mortgage payments and want to save their home;
They have had a car repossessed, and can’t afford to immediately catch up the payments;
They are “underwater” on a car, or have a second mortgage, and need to adjust the balance to pay less;
They owe non-dischargeable taxes to the State or Federal Government, and need to set up a payment plan they can afford;
They have tried Chapter 7, and due to a problem with a lien on a house or car, want to set up payments to save their property
Chapter 13s establish what is normally a three-to-five year payment plan. Each case is different, and your plan payment will depend on a wide range of circumstances; you need to discuss your entire financial situation with your attorney to determine what is best for you.
Our firm has experience in the Kentucky Court of Appeals, the Kentucky Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. If you need assistance in reviewing your case and deciding whether appeal is appropriate, timing is extremely critical, as missed deadlines in appeals cases are often impossible to fix. Contact us today if you need assistance on an appeals case.


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Kitchen design is a formidable beast. Each project has a wide variety of challenges. Each is an ever-morphing creation, and the rules are completely different for new construction versus renovation. First, let’s discuss new construction.
If you’re plan is to build a new home – good for you! There are a couple of keys to your success and you should consider them carefully. Most importantly, start the design process early. As soon as you have some form of plans from the architect, get with your kitchen designer and be sure the space is efficient. Architects love to make space with few walls, and that presents a special set of challenges.
Be certain that you have the right designer with plenty of experience in new construction. You will need someone to hold your hand before it’s over because it is a long haul. The mechanical considerations and visualization of the space, before it even exists, is absolutely critical to the success of the project.
Be sure you have a handle on the kitchen budget before you close on the construction loan. Should the kitchen total exceed the allowance, this can be rolled easily into your mortgage upfront because it is part of the real estate. Otherwise, you are suddenly left with a large out-of-pocket expense that you had not anticipated.
Be aware that there are several line items that tend to come up short on the construction allowances. Look for the window allowance to be on the light side. (Pay attention to the overall size of the windows relative to the structure.This tells the tale of where the allowances will fall, in general.) The lighting budget is also critical. The worst thing is to have the house completed and realize that there just is not enough light available throughout. Even if you have to pay for extra fixtures – do it. You won’t be sorry.
Decisions about the kitchen are among the first and largest that have to be made. Typically, you might find a builder’s allowance of 3- 5% of the cost of the structure. More accurately, 10% is a better number to work with. Remember that the kitchen is really the center of your new home – so don’t skimp there! An “open vein” for the kitchen budget, however; is the appliance line item. Be careful that you don’t get carried away with the gorgeous appliances and leave nothing for the real bones of the project.
Keep in mind that the construction process is a long one. A rough rule of thumb is that construction takes about one month for each 1,000 square feet of construction. At the beginning – even before the ground is broken – you should be starting the design process. Depending on how quickly you can make decisions, this could take a few months. The cabinetry construction can also take between 5-12 weeks, depending on the manufacturer’s lead times.
Throughout the construction process, your designer should be at your fingertips answering any questions that arise and seeing it all the way through to the end.
If you’ve not built before and decide to go it alone, you are truly brave. It is a very difficult process even if you have done it before, or know how to do it. Even though new starts are off, Pittsburgh’s real estate market is stable and the great upside is that you will ultimately have a fantastic home – exactly the way you want it! •

domain: design


Personalise your Sweatshirt with no minimums, no set up charges, nationwide service. Print a photo, logo or design your own sweatshirt.
We use 80% cotton /20% polyester unisex sweatshirts which come in a selection of sizes and colours.
- FREE FILE CHECK (for image quality).
- FREE PRINTING to 1 side, 1 position.
- HIGH STREET QUALITY
- Soft style print.
- 100% non-hazardous printing and fully recyclable (DTG)
- Our DTG inks contain no animal by-products.
- Maximum print area 280mm x 400mm for front and back.
- Unisex sweatshirt.
- Premium quality
- 11 colour options.
- Would like a different style, please contact us for pricing
- VIEW FULL COLLECTION HERE. JH030
For best results upload a PNG on a transparent background at 300dpi the size you want it printed.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Iron and machine wash inside out at 30 degrees. Do not tumble dry.
We have a print positioning tolerance of 30mm and are unable to guarantee print on “customer supplied garments”.
|Chest (to fit):||34/36||38/40||42/44||46/48||50/52||54/56|


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The Black Star Line Summit, powered by Revolt, hosted a Pan-African Conference was successfully held at the Accra International Conference Center yesterday, [3rd January 2022].
Panelists included Vic Mensa, Chance The Rapper, spoken word poet J. Ivy, filmmakers Coodie & Chike, architect David Adjaye, Ghanaian politician Samia Nkrumah, and more.
According to organizers of the conference, the Black Star line festival is “intended to be a beacon for the total liberation of all African peoples from the continent, to the America’s to the islands back to Europe and beyond.”
The first discussion held at the conference was on the topic; Pan Africanism with daughter of Ghana’s first President, Madam Samia Nkrumah and Chaka.
Other topics discussed included, film and it’s impacts on our narrative, conversations on breaking barriers and paving the way in the music industry.
Speaking at the Conference yesterday, founder of the Black Stars Line festival Chance the Rapper recounted his visit to the continent and subsequently Ghana and how himself together with his co-founder, Vic Mensa were inspired by works of Marcus Garvey towards creating a network for black people globally.
Addressing participants on the topic; “diasporic connections through music-ideologies behind the Black Star line”, Chance the rapper explained how he and his team have “grown more curious and committed to fostering connections between Black people globally using art and expression”
“The Black Star Line was a shipping company started in 1919 by Marcus Garvey with the goal of creating a network for black people globally, starting with the US and the Islands and eventually going down to South America with the idea in mind of creating trade and relations with West Africa for black folks of the diaspora. I was really inspired by his work and some of the ideas and opinions that he had on us all being all one people. So when I came to Ghana for the first time in January I was already inspired by Marcus Garvey and Garveyism. I learned a little bit of family history regarding Garveyism and how it connected to their faith.” Chance the rapper said.
According to the founders, the Black Stars Line festival also aims to foster a conversation between black artists of the globe and the African continent.