The number of household connections to natural gas distribution systems and electricity distribution networks has not increased, even though legislation has been amended to stimulate this process, the Competition Council has found in an analysis.
Increasing the number of connections would lead to the expansion of the markets for the supply of electricity and gas to households and thus to an increase in the portfolio of existing suppliers and the emergence of new suppliers on the market.
However, according to information held by the competition authority, although the number of applications for connection to the distribution networks by household customers has increased, there has not been an increase in connection work, and thus in household consumption.
Thus, in the case of electricity, while the number of connection requests received by distribution operators in the first half of 2021 from household customers increased by 31% compared to the first half of 2020, the number of consumption sites increased by only 1.4%.
In the case of natural gas, the number of connection requests submitted by household customers increased by around 170% in H1 2021 compared to H1 2020, while the number of consumption sites increased by only 3.6%.
In the second half of 2020, the primary legislative framework for the connection process to electricity and gas distribution networks/systems underwent significant changes, with the electricity or gas distribution operator having the obligation to connect all household end-customer applicants to the network within 90 days from the date of obtaining the construction permit, with the recovery of the connection costs over a period of 5 years. These changes were followed by ANRE’s adaptation of secondary legislation in the first quarter of 2021.
In this context, at the request of the Romanian Parliament, the competition authority started an analysis of the activity of connecting household customers to the natural gas distribution systems and electricity distribution networks.
As part of these proceedings, the Competition Council analyzed the changes to the regulatory framework and requested data and information on the connection process from the distribution operators, including discussions with some of these operators. The Competition Authority also provided its views on certain draft primary and secondary regulatory acts.
The analysis showed that if the legislation allowed local public authorities to fully finance the development of electricity and gas distribution networks/systems, this could boost connection activity. As a result, the Competition Council recommends adapting the legislation so as to allow local authorities to fully finance network development work, in which case financing could be provided from local resources or by accessing national and/or Community investment funds.
The competition authority also considers that the implementation of connection works should not be based solely on the principle of economic efficiency, but should be combined with other criteria, such as a clear timeframe for connection. This would provide certainty as to the maximum timeframe for the extension of distribution networks/systems, including for low-efficiency investments.
Fines imposed by the Competition Council
The Competition Council has fined over €10 million to companies operating in the gas or energy distribution services market for breaches of competition rules in recent years.
Delgaz Grid SA, a member of the E.ON group, was fined 30 million lei (approximately €6.1 million) for abuse of a dominant position on the market for services related to the distribution of natural gas, i.e. on the market for technical inspections and overhauls of Natural Gas Utilization Installations (IUGN) in Delgaz Grid SA’s distribution area.
Following the implementation of the commitments undertaken by E-Distribuție Muntenia SA (an Enel Group company) in the context of the investigation into a possible abuse of a dominant position, the average time taken to obtain technical connection approvals issued by the company fell by 20%, while the number of connection requests increased by 30%. The Competition Council’s intervention has also led to an increase in the transparency of the connection process and in the overall level of information to users about the connection process, with the number of customers using the online connection service increasing by over 90% in the last year.
Distrigaz Sud Rețele SRL (a member of the Engie group) was fined 17,650,326 lei (approx. 3.7 million euro) for abuse of dominant position by charging excessive, economically unjustified fees for the technical approval of projects for the execution, acceptance, and commissioning of natural gas utilization installations (IUGN).
The natural gas distributor Premier Energy SRL, as the legal successor of Gaz Sud SA, was fined 6.3 million lei (approx. 1.3 million euro) for abusing its dominant position by imposing discriminatory charges for services of technical approval of projects, acceptance of works, and commissioning of IUGN, differentiated according to the person carrying out the design and execution of the installations.
The natural gas distributor Wirom Gas SA and nine contractors were fined 920,069 lei for concluding an anti-competitive agreement by which they fixed a fixed price for the construction of IUGN.


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Not all of people consider their bedroom as a private room. For teenagers especially girl, showing what had been done by them to decorate their own bedroom is needed to impress those who will see their bedrooms. Aiming to impress other people toward their bedrooms, girls tend to design their bedroom by putting bedroom accessories.
Interiors. Published at Tuesday, June 13th 2017, 10:15:51 AM by amalasandms.
Your tip of delicious chocolate brownish does not need to remain in decoration, however in real layout. Timber accents in your room will certainly improve other shade your determine to make use of as well as include an extra textural feel. If you desire a natural, all-natural ambiance after that couple your delicious chocolate brownish motivation with any type of color of eco-friendly.
Furnitures. Published at Tuesday, June 13th 2017, 10:14:43 AM by amalasandms.
Another opportunity is to transform the terrace right into a little sanctuary as well as to load it with fresh plants and also strong shades. It could be a location that's totally various from the bed room. There are great deals of choices and also great deals of information that should have to be pointed out yet the most effective means to highlight all these suggestions is to utilize examples. The bedroom is a fantastic hideaway, a room where you could be on your own as well as where you must constantly really feel comfy.
Designs. Published at Tuesday, June 13th 2017, 10:13:31 AM by amalasandms.
Among the simplest ways to take a bed room from little girl to huge lady is the enhancement of metallic tones. Splash some gold occasionally. Include a little copper and also a dashboard of silver. Even versus a formerly nursery pastel it will look elegant and grown up. Speaking of pastels, if your teen is more girly girl after that you'll certainly intend to welcome the soft tones.
Decorations. Published at Tuesday, June 13th 2017, 10:12:01 AM by amalasandms.
Shade barring: Despite the fact that red is an extremely solid shade by itself, coupling it with an additional lively color could cause a really unified seek your room. If both shades are rather comparable, such as red as well as purple, after that the result with be really stunning. You could likewise integrate red with orange.
Colors. Published at Tuesday, June 13th 2017, 10:10:57 AM by amalasandms.
A gallery wall is the perfect way to generate a bout of your own character as well as individual style. Behind the dresser or behind the bed make a terrific place to create as well as create this kind of special area.If you desire something more tradition but one-of-a-kind also, add some mouldings to the wall. This is a fantastic suggestion for both pairs as well as singles.
Interiors. Published at Sunday, May 14th 2017, 02:16:00 AM by Irmuska Friedrich.
Equipping,Your last interior decoration can be based upon just how you provide your room. Placing couches, work desk, chair and formed area divider panel can both offer your space various other feature and make it extra stunning.
Decorations. Published at Sunday, May 14th 2017, 02:06:37 AM by Irmuska Friedrich.
You could intend to maximize the area in your room by simply positioning called for home furnishings in. Similarly, properly choosing the color as the concept of your area may also useful in joy up the space. As included indicate be considered, some additional tools of a bed area could supply some effect in broadening your location.
All graphics and other visual elements as well as any sign reproduced on the display products reproduced on the Website belong to their respective owners and users and is provided AS IS for your personal information only. Copyright © 2004–2017 Master Bedroom Design.

domain: design


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Formula One has applied for a trademark to the name ‘Philippine Grand Prix’ in a move which could see it host its first-ever race in the Southeast Asian country.
It is the first time that the Philippines has ever been publicly linked with an F1 race and it comes at a time when the country is making a major push into motorsport by building a track outside its capital city Manila.
F1 filed the trademark application with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines in seven categories including sports events, broadcasting, clothing and printed products. It was made on 7 January along with a trademark application for ‘Manila Grand Prix’ suggesting that the city could be home to the race if it gets the green light.
Applying for a trademark is a crucial step in the process of bringing a race to the calendar. F1’s rights to the names will be checked by the trademark authorities and if they decide in its favour it will have the power to stop anyone else from using them.
F1 owns trademarks to the names of most of the races which are currently on its calendar as well as ones it is planning. It usually makes the applications long before its negotiations break cover so that it is the first to stake its claim.
In August last year it filed an application for ‘Finnish Grand Prix’ and the reason for this became clear earlier this month when AKK-Motorsport, Finland’s national motorsport authority, announced that it had launched a study to assess whether the country could host a Grand Prix.
Likewise, F1’s application for the name ‘Formula 1 Grand Prix of Miami’ was made in November 2017, six months before it announced that it was in talks about hosting a race on the streets of the city. It was due to be held this year but opposition from locals put the brakes on the plan which shows that a trademark application is not a guarantee that a race will take place.
Money is usually the biggest roadblock as the cost of hosting a race on a permanent track comes to an estimated £16.7m annually. It accelerates to around £41.7m every year for a street race as the organiser needs to rent fencing, grandstands and other structures to turn public roads into a race track.
Then there’s the annual hosing fee which comes to an average of £23.3m. It is understood that F1’s owner Liberty Media waived this for the Miami Grand Prix in order to get the race off the ground.
Liberty took the wheel of F1 in 2017 and went on a drive to increase the number of street races as they showcase F1 in the heart of a city. It also publicly stated that it wants to boost the number of races in the United States which is currently only home to one in Texas. Liberty’s solution in Miami was to share the risk and reward with the race organiser. It may sound like this should smooth the way for a race but it could actually create another obstacle.
F1’s contracts state that it needs majority consent from three of the teams – Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull Racing – in order to increase the calendar beyond 20 races. There will be 21 this year and the contracts allow for a maximum of 25. However, the more races there are the greater the teams’ travel costs and the longer their staff have to spend away from home.
Several of the teams have expressed concern about increasing the calendar and at last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton said “I am not going to be here if it gets to 25 races, that’s for sure.
“It already feels like we are on race number 25 this year, so I don’t think more races is going to be a good thing. I am someone that really loves racing, but the season is long, it takes a big commitment from all of us, and it is a long time away from our families.”
It is likely that the teams would have agreed to race in Miami as the US is a major market for them. However, it is less certain they would approve of the Philippines, especially as it is only 900 miles away from Vietnam where F1 will race for the first time in 2020. F1 appears to be throwing its weight behind the region whilst the future of the British Grand Prix is unclear after this year as the organisers of the historic race have broken their contract early and not agreed to new terms.
The situation isn’t lost on some within F1. Its global research director Matt Roberts recently said: “We need to think strategically about where new races are (and whether they are street or circuit races) to not alienate fans in our traditional markets who expect there to be circuit races in Monza, Silverstone and Spa.”
The Philippines has little racing heritage and one of the most well-known events it has ever hosted is a round of the Formula Atlantic junior series which ended in 1976. Until now, its only connection to F1 has been a demonstration on the streets of Manila in 2013 hosted by the former Lotus team.
In 2021 a new 3.1 mile track on the outskirts of Manila is due to open its doors. Called the Pradera Verde Racing Circuit, it is part of a complex which also includes a golf course, wakeboard park, hotel, and dirt track where the Philippine Rallycross Series holds its events.
It is backed by Rallycross boss Rodolfo Pineda and has been designed by Hermann Tilke, the German architect behind many F1’s tracks. However, his new creation in the Philippines is due to be built to a lower specification which could host F1’s two-wheeled counterpart MotoGP. So if the plans for a Philippine Grand Prix get to the finish line, a street race in Manila seems all but a racing certainty.
Liberty Media refused to comment on such developments when approached by The Independent.
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domain: news


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Business Rates Relief
Business rates relief is a discount that is given to certain eligible properties in England. The discount will be decided by the local authority. NB. rates relief is handled differently in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Transitional relief and exempted buildings and empty buildings relief is automatically applied by the local authority. For a different type of relief you will need to contact your local authority to see if you are eligible.
Small business rate relief
Rural rate relief
Charitable rate relief
You may be eligible to receive up to £55.000.00 a year over a period of five years, if you are starting up or relocating to an enterprise zone. Visit: https://enterprisezones.communities.gov.uk/ to find your enterprise zone and to see whether it offers business rates relief, and information on how and when to apply.

domain: economics


VGR Antenna DF6SJ Design 70cm
Not in stock, back in 25 days.
This new antenna type looks like a vertical antenna but radiates with horizontal polarisation and high gain.
The antenna has a bidirectional radiation with an 8-shaped
radiation diagramm, just like a horizontal dipole. The gain ranges from
10 to 12 dBi, depending on installation height over ground, in free
space around 7 dBi. The radiation angle of radiation very low, about 13°
at installation 1m above ground, or 7° at 3m above ground.
The VGR Antenna does not require radials, the feed point is at the
bottom, the connector is a N-jack. Maximum power load is 250 W PEP SSB
or 100 W FM.
The loops are made of corrosion-resistant aluminium and all screws are made of stainless steel.
The 70m antenna is available completely assembled including mast clamp. Height ca. 80cm, N-jack.
The antenna was designed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerd Janzen, DF6SJ.
|Product Name||VGR 70cm|
|Gain 432 MHz [dBi]||10|
|Max. Power [W]||100 W|
|Frequency Range||430-440 MHz|
|Antenna Type||Omni-directional Antenna|
|Design of antenna||VHF/UHF Omni|
|Weight [kg]||0.40 kgs|


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News & Views
Lending Standards in Region Stay the Course
Thanks to a stable regional economy and a local customer base well-known to lenders, regional commercial lending standards have stayed the course since the 2008 financial crisis, reports the Rochester Business Journal.
Dave Halladay, senior vice president and GRB's chief lending officer, is quoted extensively in the article. "Customers who put expansions on hold are now looking to grow." He adds that GRB is making loans in sectors from manufacturing to sevices.
However, lending standards have not changed for GRB. Halladay notes that GRB has always been a conservative lender, mindful of a borrower's ability to repay its debt. We have an advantage here in Rochester over larger, national banks in that we know all our customers.
Read the full article here.


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This handbook provides a rich source of advice and reference on all aspects of geography teaching in secondary schools in the UK. It has been written for Heads of Department leading the subject in their school and for all teachers of geography from those beginning their career to those with more experience. It also speaks to a wider audience, particularly those active and interested in geography education. Whatever your role and reason for reading it, the handbook aims to:
- offer practical advice and professional development for classroom practitioners
- encourage scholarly engagement with the nature and purpose of geography
- signpost the rich legacy of subject-specific literature that geography teachers and the wider geography community can engage with.
Chapters 1-5 are intended as a stimulus for promoting informed discussion about the discipline and its potential, alternative and possible future directions.
Chapters 6-19 ask us to consider how current practice in schools has been arrived at and is being influenced at present, and encourage us to question how practice might change in the future.
Chapters 20-24 provide discussion of the opportunities and challenges that professional development, through being part of a geography department and wider geography community, can present.
The Handbook of Secondary Geography is also available in pdf eBook format with the option to purchase individual PDF chapters (individual chapter prices are £4.50 for GA members and £5.45 for non-members).

domain: library


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Engage Your Audience VILKA - Animation Studio in New York
Let's craft animated stories that breathe life into products, companies, and services. Our protagonists, be they in 2D or 3D, begin static only to awaken and immerse themselves in the viewer's world.
Get a free Quote
Animated video content
CGI & Post-Production
Trusted by the world’s biggest brands
Motion Design: A Path to Connection
Motion design serves as a bridge, conveying your company's essence to the audience. Whether standing alone as an advertisement, promo, or clip, or as part of a larger endeavor like channel identifications or TV shows, animation acts as a versatile medium. Our video studio offers the creative services to bring these visions to life.
The Essence of Animated Videos
Utilizing modern 2D and 3D animation, we create infographics that captivate and retain viewer attention, delivering a wealth of information swiftly. Animated videos represent a harmonious balance of text, audio, and visuals, transforming them into a singular, striking work.
He's got a 'grape' deal waiting just for you, so...
Opting for a professionally animated video for your startup or brand promotion is a strategic investment with guaranteed outcomes. Our New York-based animation studio is equipped to handle projects of any complexity, adhering to your specifications and timelines. From setting objectives and audience targeting to character design and environment creation, we cover every step, culminating in a finely tuned animated piece complete with sound design and voiceovers, packaged for various platforms.
Investing in Professional Animation
As a popular segment in video production, video design is ever-evolving. With advanced software, our studio unlocks endless possibilities, embedding creativity into short, memorable animations. Our focus on dynamism, memorability, or professionalism enhances the media product's quality, turning promotional videos into powerful sales tools and elevating brand recognition.
Video Design: A Market Leader
3D and 2D Animated Videos: A Strategy for Engagement
A vibrant 3D or 2D animated video is an effective way to capture consumer attention. VILKA Animation Studio excels in producing commercials of any complexity, tailored to fit various budgets.
Get a free Quote
Guess the prices? Storyboarding for free!
Having explored animation studios across New York and the USA, VILKA invites you to review our competitive pricing for 2D and 3D animation services. We're open to tenders and offer solutions across price ranges, ensuring your project's success without compromising on quality.
For the barbecue season, a fitting commercial is a must. And what's a BBQ without a guitar and delightful songs? That's what we did with SberMarket - first, we composed music for the commercial, and then sang like true bards.
In the world of advertising, there exists an eternal rivalry between two fast food giants – Burger King and McDonald's. Their quest for supremacy has sparked countless creative battles, captivating audiences with their clever campaigns and witty advertisements.

domain: artistic


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Bhive GROUP has developed a free app for Bendigo Bank’s business customers to help them better manage and grow their businesses.
Managing director of Bendigo Bank, Mike Hirst, said of the new app: “miBanker responds to the immediate and critical needs of business owners. Our business customers tell us that it’s not easy to be across all aspects of running a business, from cash flow and general business management challenges, to cost control, staffing and future planning. They want the flexibility to source information they want to receive. With miBanker, our customers choose the information they want to receive, at a time and place that suits them.”
Some of the features of miBanker include:
- Daily updates from the Australian and overseas stock markets
- Latest business news throughout the day
- Weekly economic updates from Bendigo Bank with information that matters to their business
- Regular video tips on business strategies and marketing tools to help their business become more efficient and profitable.
- Invitations to events and seminar that are relevant to their business
- Access to their relationship manager and real time feedback on issues they say are important
- Regular Customer Pulse questions so Bendigo Bank can understand what is important to its customers anytime throughout the year.
bhiveGROUP’s founding partner and co-creator of the miBanker app Michael Wall said : “Our objective was to use mobile technology to enable Bendigo Bank to help their business customers more easily access information that is relevant to their industry and their company position, whether the customer is a start-up in fashion or 30 years in manufacturing.
miBanker is now available in the App Store and Google Play and can be used on your smart phone or tablet.

domain: finance


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You might not believe it with my penchant for free-form and fail-proof recipes, but I actually started my love affair with food wanting to be a pastry chef. A few of the church ladies in my hometown could make these beautiful cakes literally in their back yards, and that’s what I wanted to do.
I realized over time though that baking and decorating at that level is a precise, complicated, and expensive procedure. That was not going to quite fit with my quirky, slapshod, crazy artist self. So I did what I do best and started finding shortcuts to these beautiful dishes.
The first truly Southern dessert I fell in love with was this red velvet Whoopie pie at a local chain bakery. Going in I wasn’t expecting much from a chain, but boy was I wrong. This dessert was more than I even could have expected. For those of you who don’t know, a Whoopie pie is two fluffy rounds somewhere between a cake and a cookie sandwiched around frosting. Combining cake and cookies seemed like a natural idea to me.
This is my home cooking take on a Whoopie pie. I call it a Heck Yeah pie since they aren’t really Whoopie pies, and “Heck yeah!” is the modern Southern “Whoopie!” It’s simple as you hopefully have come to expect from me, but it packs a sugary punch. It’s two sugar cookies topped with melted powdered sugar and sandwiching chocolate icing.
Here’s the recipe! Feel free to save it in your recipe Rolodex! Please comment or message me if you want a PDF version!
- Sugar cookie dough (I use store-bought, but you can make your own.)
- Powdered sugar
- Chocolate frosting
- Place the sugar cookies on a baking sheet.
- Sprinkle the cookies liberally with powdered sugar.
- Bake the cookies for the minimum time
according to package or recipe directions. (This makes the cookies richer, chewier, and all together more delicious.)
- Once baked, take the cookies out of the oven and let them sit until hardened enough to work with.
- Make sandwiches with the frosting. Take one cookie and spread frosting on the bottom. Then top with another cookie with the bottom touching the frosting.
- Enjoy immediately or save on a plate topped with plastic wrap at room temperature.
I hope you love these as much as I do!

domain: food


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Performing Arts at ND
The Notre Dame High School Theater Department is dedicated to creating a collaborative, supportive learning environment with a high-quality education in the performing arts.
Our aim is to elicit creative self-expression, critical thinking, and artistry through our theatre course offerings and productions. Students of all grade levels have opportunities to grow in the study of acting, singing, dancing, musical and technical theater in a rigorous, pre-professional program. Students will participate in an all-inclusive, supportive, family-like atmosphere where they collaborate with each other and build an artistic community.


Chicago Cubs' new spring training stadium has name
MESA, Ariz. (AP) - The new spring training stadium for the Chicago Cubs is being called Cubs Park for now.
Unlike their contract for Hohokam Stadium and two previous city sites, the Cubs control naming rights for the new ballpark.
Chicago's general manager for spring-training business operations, Justin Piper, says the park's name could change.
The inaugural game at the ballpark will be Feb. 27 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Mesa plans a Jan. 25 public grand opening for the stadium and park.
City voters in 2010 approved a $99 million outlay of public money for the stadium complex, a redo of next-door Riverview Park and infrastructure.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
- Anderson, Diamondbacks destroyed by Nationals for fourth loss in a row: By The Numbers
- Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson would be 'honored' to return next season
- Report: Arizona Diamondbacks plan to retain Kirk Gibson
- LaRoche's homer lifts Nationals to third straight walk-off in defeat of D-backs
- Nationals get third straight walk-off win, beat D-backs in extras: By The Numbers
- Kirk Gibson, D-backs manager - Tuesday August 19Kirk Gibson talks about his future with the Diamondbacks.
- Who impressed/who depressed - Monday August 18Dan and Vince look back at who impressed and depressed them over the weekend.
- Tim Kurkjian, ESPN MLB insider - Friday August 15Tim Kurkjian discusses what new commissioner Rob Manfred means for Major League Baseball.
- What's on your mind? - Friday August 15Vince Marotta shares what he is thinking about this week.
- Bob Nightengale- USA Today Sports MLB columnist - Friday August 15Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports thinks Kirk Gibson could keep his job next season.
- Bickley Blast - Friday August 15There is a new commissioner in the MLB, and Dan Bickley previews the transition that is coming.
- Bickley Blast - Wednesday August 13Dan worries that there may be a confrontation between Miguel Montero and Trevor Bauer coming.


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Dive into the mesmerizing yet treacherous world of deepfake technology through the lens of Millie Bobby Brown deepfake encounter. This exposé navigates the twists and turns of AI manipulation, laying bare the ethical, legal, and societal complexities that shroud this cutting-edge technology.
Unveiling the Digital Mirage:
Embark on a journey through the artistry of deepfake innovation, where artificial intelligence paints a surreal canvas of manipulated reality. Unravel the paradox of creativity gone rogue, with Millie Bobby Brown’s tale underscoring the fine line between awe-inspiring illusions and potential deception.
Millie Bobby Brown Deepfake Drama:
Peer into the heart of the controversy, where unauthorized videos cast the acclaimed actress in an unexpected role. Explore the ripple effect of manipulated narratives, prompting a closer examination of the consequences and collateral damage brought about by the misuse of deepfake wizardry.
Security and Privacy in the Crosshairs:
Witness the inherent risks that deepfake technology poses to personal security and privacy. Millie Bobby Brown’s ordeal serves as a stark reminder, igniting discussions on the urgent need for protective measures against malicious intent and the unwarranted invasion of one’s digital sanctum.
Ethics at the Crossroads:
Reflect on the ethical quandaries that surface in the wake of deepfake creation. The Millie Bobby Brown saga forces us to confront profound questions about the responsible use of technology and the imperative need for a moral compass in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Celebrity Stardom Under Siege:
Examine the profound impact deepfake videos can have on the esteemed reputation of public figures. Millie Bobby Brown’s narrative highlights the vulnerability of celebrities to malicious digital manipulation, igniting a call for heightened online protection to preserve the authenticity of their public personas.
Legal Quagmires in Deepfake Territory:
Navigate the legal intricacies precipitated by the ascendancy of deepfake technology. Millie Bobby Brown deepfake dilemma prompts a critical review of existing regulations, demanding an agile legal framework to tackle emerging challenges and hold perpetrators accountable.
Facing the Deepfake Onslaught:
Confront the growing threat of deepfake technology with a call for collective awareness, education, and technological countermeasures. The Millie Bobby Brown narrative serves as a clarion call for collaboration between tech pioneers and policymakers to fortify our defenses against this ever-evolving digital menace.
Empower individuals to fortify their digital identities against the looming threat of deepfake manipulation. Millie Bobby Brown’s story underscores the need for proactive measures, robust online privacy protocols, and stringent legal safeguards to shield against the surreptitious hands of technology.
As the curtain falls on Millie Bobby Brown deepfake saga, the narrative beckons us to confront the paradoxical allure and peril of deepfake technology. By championing awareness, ethical considerations, and technological resilience, we can collectively aspire to navigate this evolving digital frontier with wisdom and resilience.


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Police have urged drivers to avoid the area around a Leicestershire garden centre after massive traffic jams built up nearby as large numbers of people tried to buy Christmas trees.
Leicestershire Police tweeted this afternoon to say there was severe congestion near the Sapcote Garden Centre.
Garden centres have been allowed to stay open during the month-long national lockdown but villagers told LeicestershireLive the numbers of customers heading there was causing chaos on Hinckley Road.
One said: “This is ridiculous. There is no way that all those people are doing essential shopping.
“It’s just silly.”
The Sapcote Garden Centre put out a message on Facebook this afternoon saying: “We are very busy, and expect to be every weekend 10am to 4pm until Xmas.
"Please try to shop at other times if possible, but if you can’t, be aware you may need to queue in your car to get in.
“There is no pedestrian access when the cars are queueing, so please don’t park in the village or on the verge etc.”
It said the nearby Sharnford garden centre was also selling Christmas trees, in a bid to cut the traffic.
Were you stuck in the tailback? Leave your comments below.


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The purchase of bees in Mo reflects not just a growing industry but additionally the crucial position that bees play in the state’s agricultural landscape. With Missouri being truly a substantial agricultural center, the accessibility to bees available is vital for plant pollination and ensuring powerful harvests. Beekeepers, equally commercial and hobbyist, count on purchasing bees to ascertain or expand their colonies, adding to the entire wellness and production of Missouri’s facilities and gardens.
Various types of bees are available on the market in Missouri, including the favorite baby bees (Apis mellifera), along with native species like bumblebees and mason bees. Each species offers unique benefits with regards to pollination efficiency, adaptability to regional conditions, and weight to pests and diseases. Consequently, beekeepers have a selection of choices to pick from centered on their certain needs and preferences.
Responsible bee suppliers in Missouri prioritize medical and welfare of these bees, hiring best methods in reproduction, transport, and hive management. They ensure that the bees they offer are disease-free, well-acclimated to local situations, and provided with proper care instructions because of their new owners. Moreover, several providers present educational assets and support to help beekeepers flourish in their endeavors, fostering a residential area of educated and empowered apiarists throughout the state.
Local bee sales in Mo offer numerous advantages, including encouraging regional biodiversity, strengthening regional economies, and lowering the carbon impact related to long-distance transportation. By getting bees from regional providers, beekeepers can purchase bees that are presently used to Missouri’s weather and flora, increasing their chances of achievement and survival. Additionally, supporting regional beekeepers assists support rural livelihoods and stimulates sustainable agricultural practices within the state.
The method of purchasing bees in Mo usually requires contacting regional beekeepers or apiaries to ask about availability, pricing, and collection or delivery options. Some suppliers may present package discounts offering not merely bees but also hive gear, defensive gear, and educational products to greatly help beginners get going with beekeeping. Consumers can also take advantage of the expertise and advice of skilled beekeepers who are enthusiastic about discussing their knowledge and selling responsible beekeeping practices.
Once customers purchase their bees, proper care and management are essential to guarantee the achievement of their colonies. Beekeepers must provide suitable hive hotels, monitor for pests and conditions, and ensure adequate nourishment and forage methods for their bees through the entire seasons. By remaining informed and proactive inside their free shipping Missouri beekeeping supplies techniques, clients can help keep healthy bee populations and contribute to the conservation of pollinators in Missouri.
In summary, the purchase of bees in Missouri acts as a cornerstone of agricultural output, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. By supporting local bee companies and practicing responsible beekeeping, people can enjoy an important position in safeguarding the and energy of Missouri’s ecosystems and agricultural economy. Through cooperation, education, and a shared responsibility to bee conservation, Missourians may continue to enjoy the advantages of considerable harvests and flourishing ecosystems for ages to come.

domain: agronomy


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Thanksgiving itself has become just the starter's gun to a huge shopping spree. This year the stores can barely restrain themselves to the day after Thanksgiving with many chains planning to open Thursday at midnight, Some Target employees are making an effort (likely to be futile) to fight back against such an early opening time. Many of them will barely be able to finish their Thanksgiving dinner before they have to leave for work!
Every year at the holiday season many of us dish out, in addition to bountiful banquets of food, a full serving of platitudes about the true meaning of the season. This year we have the Occupy movement pointing out the vast disparities between the 99% and 1% emphasizing some of the most glaring inequities in our society. Many more in the country believe they have much less to be thankful for than they did a year or two or three ago and, no doubt, that's true -- especially if we're measuring wealth and income.
But I was reminded of how much we have to be thankful for (and the value of perspective) when listening to one of NPR's weekly Science Friday broadcast items last week. The topic was "Building a Better Toilet". Did you know that more than one-third of the earth's population does not have a toilet. That's more than 2.3 billion people. Think about that! Think about what your life would be like if you didn't have a toilet. And then think again about what we have to be thankful for.

domain: sociology


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It might be a shame that Pretty Lights hasn’t enjoyed the same self-congratulatory media coverage given to fellow Colorado acts (cough, 3Oh!3, ahem) with a vapid “Look, they’re from Colorado!” type of praise. It would only be a shame if producer Derek Smith ever needed a single bit of it.
To say the very least, the hard-working beat-smith, since 2006, has defined for many CU students what it means to make hip electronic music. College campuses were the first to catch on to Pretty Lights’ brand of upbeat, new-school electro-funk after he sprung on the scene. Electronic downloads of 2008’s Filling Up the City Skies then surpassed his debut by 10,000 copies in the first month. Two years later, Pretty Lights had no problem selling out five Colorado venues on consecutive nights. Today, those who catch him at festivals like Coachella, SXSW and Ultra are discovering how Smith drew his first hometown fans to backyard barbeques in Fort Collins: his clear, uncompromising vision of style and sound.
“In order to get the best music out of yourself, it’s a matter of not letting yourself get into [a self-doubting] frame of mind,” Smith tells Boulder Weekly, “always trusting that when you’re able to manifest your vision, it will be as dope as you want it to be.
“It’s a constant sort of race to catch and conquer what you can imagine. You sit back and wonder, ‘What’s music gonna sound like in five years? What’s my next record gonna sound like, or the one after that?’ I want to make that record now!” Smith says with a laugh. “You’re always striving to catch up with what you can imagine.”
With the increasing influence of light displays and new technology, Pretty Lights is a very suitable name. Smith’s imagination sends the music riding with sophistication over a funky electro shake that’s peppered with glitchedout rhymes and a slew of bass for your face. Strangely, it isn’t really dance music — but it certainly makes you move. When you see Smith on stage, manipulating sound into an electric cityscape that breathes, sighs, burns and hums, and when you witness the crowds that radiate catharsis almost as visible as heat off of asphalt, it’s hard to hear it as anything other than party music.
On tour, Smith is never without a live drummer, and at Red Rocks he will share
the stage with the highly accomplished Adam Deitch, who has drummed for
acts like The Game, Justin Timberlake, Fats Domino and The John Scofield
Band as well as listed producer credits with 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Talib
Kweli and KRS-One.
Smith’s constant companion is his collection of vinyl records. Even
though he’s not a “DJ” DJ, he explains, records are fuel keeping the
music is too dope to only exist in 1975,” he says in a startlingly
stern tone. He explains the stupefying feeling of learning that DJ
Shadow could create entire atmospheres by only using vinyl samples (and
close to a dozen turntables).
can hear that music, but I’m not capable of creating it,” Smith thought
when DJ Shadow first “blew him away,” leading the budding musician to
adopt a similar technique with MIDI controllers.
In the meantime, he became a serious vinyl enthusiast. He spent the summer before Taking Up Your Precious Time traveling
across Europe with a friend and a battery-powered record player,
digging through obscure record stores and his friend’s family’s
collection of Polish funk. In the same way that DJ Shadow innovated
hip-hop with instrumental “sample collages,” Smith creates a sonic
foundation with a mixer of small pieces and builds his glowing cityscape
jazz and ’70s soul are the most frequent genres found in Pretty Lights’
extensive catalog, but Smith says the trend has to do with his
preference for the timbre of those respective eras’ recording
“It’s because that’s the sound I
want in the music,” Smith says. “It’s not because there’s no other way
to do it, it’s not like I can’t pick up the guitar and play the melody
myself. What I have access to is not going to create the same sound, the
warmth and feeling that the samples are giving the music.”
isn’t exactly a musical shortcut, either. It’s not painless to sit
through an entire Aaron Neville album with the hope of finding the five
seconds that will become the haunting introduction to “Hot Like Sauce.”
It’s easy to get impatient and skip a few tracks on a record — it’s like
finding a needle in a haystack with another needle.
Smith’s greatest strength is his ability to make the sample vanish back
into his own music. Pretty Lights reanimates the disembodied sounds of
the past as if they were recorded solely for Smith to use 20, 50, 80
years later. No matter when they were first created, they sound like
they live in the present. Smith artistically owns each sample he uses,
adding them seamlessly to his trademark bounce and incendiary synth
lines. Pretty Lights is an embodiment of that old saying, that good
artists borrow while great artists steal.
is easy to criticize sample-based music. However, Smith tells us his
next step is a bold one. He wants to create a studio with the same
equipment used to record his favorite tracks.
2-inch analog tape multirecorder, pre-1980s vocal preamps, single press
record press,” Smith says as he mentally goes through his shopping
list. As soon as he can, Smith wants to move away from other artists’
work altogether, “to actually record and create that sound in the
studio.” He plans to invite guest musicians to lay down potential
samples, treating recording sessions “like a record producer, like a
Quincy Jones or a Rick Rubin type of thing … then record it to analog
tape, then take the freshest part, press those to vinyl and then sample
it from the records I’ve created.”
an ambitious direction, but Smith doesn’t hide from a challenge. Pretty
Lights has released every album for free online and accomplished
everything without any royalties from albums. Its an expression of
sharing music rather than peddling it, and it worked entirely in Smith’s
favor. Pretty Lights is also releasing a three-EP set across 2010,
giving each a release date before any material was ready. The second EP,
Spilling Over Every Side, was barely finished during an
allnighter before its release date last week, but fans are responding
and anxious to get new music more than once a year.
But would creating an all-analog studio be asking too much?
problem [with vinyl pressing] is you can’t do that with just a laptop
and a pair of headphones when you’re in an airport,” Smith says. “I’m
going to have to readapt, change how the touring and production works,
move away from producing and touring simultaneously.”
only one person who knows what’s best for Pretty Lights, and that man
is Derek Smith. As long as he focuses on that upper ideal, everyone will
benefit. In the approximate words of Bruce Lee, “It is like a finger
pointing away to the pretty lights. Don’t concentrate on the finger or
you will miss all the heavenly glory.”
On the Bill:
Pretty Lights play Red Rocks Amphitheater on Saturday, Aug. 7. Doors at 6 p.m.
MiMOSA, Emancipator and Zion-I open. Tickets are $35.
18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison, 720-865-2494.

domain: entertainment


Russian state-run corporation Rostec has announced that the fifth-generation Su-57 multirole fighter jet’s cockpit received maximum automation.
The development was disclosed by Rostec-controlled United Aircraft Corporation in its New Horizons corporate magazine.
The publication noted that the single-seat fighter jet achieved maximum automation of the ‘routine piloting and combat use processes’.
Sukhoi Design Bureau (within the UAC) Cockpit Department head Nikita Dorofeyev told the New Horizons magazine: “Automation, information integration and intellectual support are the defining requirements for the ergonomics of a modern fighter’s cockpit.
“Theoretically, the pilot, after taking off and before the landing approach, may not fly at all, but search and attack targets. Moreover, this process is also sufficiently automated.”
In a statement, Rostec said that large and complex information about both the tactical situation and the aircraft systems’ operation cannot be accommodated all at once on the display area of the single-seat fighter’s cockpit.
In addition, too much information could burden the pilot and affect mission effectiveness.
To address these constraints, Su-57 pilots will be provided with only the required data based on the mission phase and the assigned task.
According to the magazine, intellectual support technology supports the pilot in completing the mission.
Recently, Rostec announced plans to develop a multi-purpose anti-tank guided missile system (ATGM) that will be capable of neutralising unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).


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Arson suspect sentenced to 66 months in prison
NORWALK -- A 23-year-old city man was sentenced to more than five years in prison Tuesday at Norwalk Superior Court for setting fire to the stairwell of a Bouton Street residence while a small child inside the home.
Figidol Felix accepted a plea deal, agreeing to serve 66 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges of second-degree arson and risk of injury to a minor. He had faced charges of first-degree arson, risk of injury to a minor, criminal trespass, first-degree criminal mischief and refusal to be fingerprinted.
Felix initially rejected the plea deal, which was offered by Judge William Wenzel. He reconsidered his refusal after hearing the maximum sentence he would face if he lost at trial.
"I'm happy, sir, that you can start to put this behind you and move on with your life," Wenzel said after the sentence was imposed.
Police say Felix entered a Bouton Street residence at about 2 a.m. on April 11, 2013 by smashing a double-pained window and crawling through the window. He then lit pieces of mail on fire on a stairwell and used the burning mail to ignite a piece of carpet on the stairwell, according to police.
The residents called police after hearing the glass window breaking, and an officer arrived on scene as Felix was sliding down a bannister outside of the residence, police said.
He was detained. He told police that he was at the residence, because someone at the home owed him money.
Soon after police detained Felix, residents ran out of the home yelling "fire," according to police.
All of the residents safely exited the home before firefighters arrived. The fire was small and was easily controlled by firefighters.
Felix, who was intoxicated, was extremely uncooperative with officers, and no motive was given for his alleged actions. He had two lighters in his pockets, both of which were seized as evidence, police said.
Felix initially told police his name was "Felix Figodil" but while going through the court process, he revealed his real name is Figidol Felix. He has been imprisoned since his arrest.


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Watch us on YouTube Live at 8:30AM EST
Tesla Inc – Continuing its impressive recent run in the premarket, approaching $850 in early trading Monday ahead of Q3 results due aftermarket Wednesday. The company also recently posted better than expected Q3 delivery numbers with most analysts quick to suggest the results will likely reflect the favorable impact of the rising Model 3/Y deliveries, which form a major chunk of the automaker’s overall deliveries.
Apple Inc – On watch today ahead of the company’s “Unleashed” event set to kick off at 1pm est this afternoon, recent speculation suggests Apple could reveal a higher-res miniLED display expected for new MacBook Pros. These new, more powerful MacBook Pros also come in 14- and 16-inch screen sizes, and, may have SD readers and HDMI and MagSafe ports. And possibly new AirPods as well.
Virgin Galactic – Lower in early trading after Friday’s selloff, UBS is the first investment bank to downgrade the stock following Friday’s announcement to a “Sell” from “Neutral” and cut its PT to $15.
Gitlab Inc – Impressive two debut for the code sharing platform’s stock last week, looking to extend its rally trading near Friday’s highs premarket, the company debuted on the Nasdaq Thursdya valued at $14.9 bln.
Fuelcell Energy – Up sharply premarket after rallying into the close Friday on increased social media mentions. The small cap, renewable energy firm currently has a 15.5% short interest.
Netflix Inc – Set to report this week, Bloomberg quoting an internal document is reporting the company is now extimating it’s hit series “Squid Game” could bring in as much as $900m while costing just $21m to produce.
Adamis Pharmaceuticals – Higher after announcing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Adamis’ ZIMHI™ (naloxone HCL Injection, USP) 5 mg/0.5 mL product. ZIMHI is a high-dose naloxone injection product FDA-approved for use in the treatment of opioid overdose.
ION Geophysical – Micro cap oil services company trading higher after announcing preliminary third quarter 2021 revenues of $44 – 45 million, an increase of ~125% sequentially, driven by 3D strategy.
Oyster Point Pharma – Small cap biotech higher after recieving FDA approval for its nasal spray treatment for dry eye disease.


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Jobs 1 to 10 of 81
Plastic grocery bags: The ecological footprint - VIPIRG
and the manufacturing of plastic bags accounts for 4 per cent of the world's total oil . country such as Ireland, with approximately 1.23 million shoppers, switched .
Finbarr Buckley - Ireland profiles | LinkedIn
There are 2 professionals named Finbarr Buckley in the Ireland, who use LinkedIn to exchange . Current: MD at Prestige Promotions / Shopping Bag World .
Finbarr Buckley - Ireland | LinkedIn
View Finbarr Buckley's (Ireland) professional profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the world's . Owner, Prestige Promotions / Shopping Bag World. Location: Ireland .
Stew Leonard's Bags Around The World
Stew Leonard's shopping bags and happy customers at the White House,the Statue . Many more photos are featured in a "Bag's Around the World" display in our . Indonesia, Iran, IRAQ, Ireland, Israel, Isreal, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jerusalem .
Shirts of the World - Ireland ~ Women's
Shirts of the World. Shopping Bag Your Bag is empty. Home · Shop · About · Deals · Home » Ireland ~ Women's. Collections. Ireland · Ireland ~ Hats & Visors .
BBC NEWS | Europe | Irish bag tax hailed success
Aug 20, 2002 . A tax on plastic shopping bags in the Irish Republic has cut their use by 90% in three months, says the government. . BBC News World Edition .
Shirts of the World - Ireland ~ Hats & Visors
Shirts of the World. Shopping Bag Your Bag is empty. Home · Shop · About · Deals · Home » Ireland ~ Hats & Visors . The Ireland Hat - Forest Green $14.99 .
BBC News - What should be done about plastic bags?
Mar 18, 2012 . The Republic of Ireland introduced a charge of 15 euro cents (12p, 20 US cents) per . Within a year, 90% of shoppers were using long-life bags. . Attempting to tell the history of the whole world in one go is a leviathan of a .
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Are Plastic Grocery Bags Sacking the Environment?
Between 500 billion and a trillion plastic grocery bags are consumed worldwide each year, according . National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily .

domain: geography


The smoothness or softness of a b can be checked with accelerometers that measure bearing vibration at the external ring, with the internal ring pivoting at 1800 RPMs. By seeing how the vibration functions, you can understand how the bearing vibration is estimated.Bearing rings and balls are not entirely round. However, the balls and channels incur adeep fine pounding and cleaning when they are made, so the finished products are impeccably smooth. There are machining defects, such as harsh or lopsided surfaces, that will make one ring move or sway radially according to the next, causing bearing vibration and commotion.
The measure of swaying in a vibrating object is called displacement. When anexternal direction ring vibrates, the outer surface will move upwards to as far as possible, then down to as far as possible, and thenreturns to the beginning point. The movement between upper and lower limitsis called top-to-topdisplacement. Moreover, the process goes back to the beginning point, which isknown as a cycle.
This vibration cycle will repeat as long as the bearing is spinning. Luckily, we can gauge the quantity of these cycles in a given time so that we understand the recurrence. This repetition cycles every second (CPS) or Hertz (Hz).The measuring vibration tool that is commonly used to measure this effect is a ceramic piezoelectric instrument or an accelerometer. An accelerometer is an instrument or sensor that measures the vibrant acceleration of a physical device as electrical energy.
A vibration estimatesystem incorporates a gadget to detect the vibration (accelerometer), and an instrument to gauge the degree of vibration. This gear likewise has settings for estimating recurrence, a recurrence weighting system, and a presentation.For example, this device features a meter, printer, or recorder. The accelerometer delivers an electrical signal. The size of this sign is relative to the increasing speed applied to it.
STI Vibration Monitoring Inc.
1010 East Main Street
League City, Texas 77573


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Overdoses, Suicides Cause U.S. Life Expectancy to Drop
New statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that the U.S. life expectancy has dropped for the second year in a row. CDC Director, Dr. Robert Redfield said the disturbing trend is largely being driven by increases in deaths by drug overdose and suicide.
In 2017, the overall life expectancy for Americans was 78.6. It was a drop of 0.1 from 2016, which may seem small, but it’s the second year in a row that life expectancy has dropped rather than gone up. The decrease brings to light a disturbing face — Americans are dying at younger ages.
The CDC reports the largest contributing factor is the alarming 9.6 percent increase in drug overdose deaths. More than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2017. Synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and tramadol accounted for nearly 30,000 of them.
The suicide rate in the U.S. has continued to rise since 1999. The latest data from the CDC shows there were 14 per 100,000 Americans in 2017.
“These sobering statistics are a wake-up call that we are losing too many Americans, too early and too often, to conditions that are preventable,” said Dr. Redfield in a statement (https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/s1129-US-life-expectancy.html).
What Can We Do?
Dr. Redfield stresses the importance of all of us working together to reverse this trend so that Americans can live longer, healthier lives. Organizations like the Drug Policy Alliance are working to pass state and federal legislation that would remove barriers to evidence-based harm reduction and treatment interventions, and allocate funding toward research and life-saving prevention programs. They stress the importance of:
- Methadone and Buprenorphine. These medications block the effects of opioids and prevent or at least relieve withdrawal symptoms.
- Naloxone. Emergency rooms and ambulances have used naloxone for decades to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. They are increasingly being used by first responders across the country.
- Good Samaritan laws. Many states have laws that provide some immunity from prosecution for drug offenses for those who call for help at the scene of an overdose.
At Mountain Peak Recovery, we believe everyone can learn and grow, and lead joyful, fulfilling lives no matter what has happened in their past or what’s going on in their present.
Addiction can quickly wreak havoc on a person’s life and the lives of those around them. If you think someone you love may be struggling with addiction, it’s important to act quickly. You can’t afford to ignore it and hope they will recover on their own. This new data proves that too often, by then — it’s too late.
We have met many incredible people who came to us during the darkest time in their lives. Many of our clients came to us depressed and addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. Through individualized, holistic therapy, they are able to turn their lives around and avoid becoming a statistic.
Mountain Peak Recovery offers both inpatient and outpatient treatment, as well as a sober living program, and Addict II Athlete program. We promote balance, and strive to heal the body, mind, and spirit of each client.
If you’re ready to help turn this trend around and seek help for yourself or someone you love, call us today at (385) 233-0233.

domain: medical


Civic leadership that focuses on health, education
and other serious challenges...
Join us on September 11 at 8:30 a.m. for the release of a report prepared by Washington D.C.-based think tank the Center for the Study of Social Policy for the Boston Foundation and Strategic Grant Partners. The report compares the practices of Massachusetts's Department of Children and Families to similar state agencies across the nation and provides recommendations for reform.
View video of the forum. Download the report. Read the press release.
Fourth Annual Report Card
School Autonomy and Its Implications for the Future of the BPS
Celebrating 100 years of being "there at the beginning" for new ideas
Charter School Demand and Effectiveness:
A Boston Update
What follows the housing recovery in Greater Boston?
Don't just give.
Latino Legacy Fund RFP now available for Early Childhood Education
Supporting the equitable treatment of LGBTQ people and their families
Benefit the people and issues you care about most
Learn more about this incentive-driven competition
My Life My Choice at JRI recognized with surprise $50,000 grant
grant making in


How do you design a school for design students? For Singapore Polytechnic, the environment had to help shape students’ design thinking, and inspire and spark off new ideas generation and discourse.
September 9th, 2014
For its new design school, Singapore Polytechnic was naturally looking to build an environment that would inspire greater creativity, discourse and collaboration amongst its students and teachers.
“The approach was to create a form of ‘living lab’ or a ‘studio incubator’ that encouraged openness, innovation and experimentation,” says RSP Architects Planners & Engineers.
To that end, the architects have created an open and transparent learning environment through the generous use of glass and open views into the studios. Double volume spaces within studios allow natural light to penetrate the interior, while enabling activities from inside to be viewed from the central corridor above. A variety of gallery spaces, studios, outdoor refreshment areas, and rooftop and landscaped plazas also offer different learning environments that students and lecturers can utilise creatively.
Four matured Ficus trees on site had to be conserved. Taking them as inspiration, the building facade loosely reflects a tree-house form, with the studios situated atop the design laboratories.
One of the challenges facing this project was a sloping terrain. To mitigate the loss of green views, “a stepped landscaping approach was adopted” says the architecture firm.
A green roof deck wraps around and connects the four academic blocks, while stepped landscaped decks cascade down towards the inner courtyard, integrating with the four Ficus trees.
Aside from considerations for the surrounding landscape, the architects have also made a strong statement on sustainability with the extensive incorporation of green features. The most efficient energy performance values for managing indoor environmental air quality, cooling and day lighting were determined using design tools. Holistic environmental simulations were also carried out to define standards for glazing, building materials, finishing and ambient air temperature.
The school, which was awarded BCA’s Green Mark Platinum Award, is expected to be able to enjoy potential energy savings of more than 30% each year or 2,153, 835 kWh.
Photos courtesy of Singapore Polytechnic
RSP Architects Planners & Engineers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
Create a configuration to suit your needs with this curved collection.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
By adding Muuto to its roster as Singapore’s only retailer, XTRA not only celebrates the enduring appeal of Scandinavian design – it heralds a whole new perspective on its universally appealing legacy.
On the 22nd of February, the local design scene brimmed with excitement as Unison marked its 10th anniversary by becoming the first MillerKnoll dealer in the Australia and New Zealand region.
Paying homage to that wonderful tool of life, the book, SJK Architects’ design for the new headquarters of Penguin Random House is both a temple to the library and a captivating place to work.
An outstanding line-up of participants will contribute to a beautifully curated exhibition in Thailand that delves deep into the collective thinking of architecture in our region and helps set a progressive agenda for the future of design.


KENNEWICK -- The holiday break has come and gone, and after 10 well-deserved days off for Christmas, the Tri-City Americans are back on the ice.
Coach Jim Hiller put his team through a couple of workouts Monday in preparation for today's game at Portland. The Winterhawks will play at Toyota Center on Wednesday.
"Last year we had the delayed flights, but this year it came off without a hitch," Hiller said of his team returning to the Tri-Cities. "We had a couple of easy workouts and are ready to get back at it."
The Americans (19-11-1-1, 40 points) are 7-3-0-0 in their last 10 games, but they ended the first half with a 4-2 road loss to Everett.
Adam Hughesman leads Tri-City with 20 goals and 22 assists, while Jordan Messier also has 20 goals.
"We still have a ways to go," Hiller said. "We were all over the place the first couple of months, but our last few weeks we saw the chemistry developing within the lines. We will firm up the lines and find the strength of our team."
Portland (25-9-0-3, 53 points) is 4-4-0-2 in its last 10 games, though the Winterhawks have won three of their last four. Portland also dropped the last game of the first half, 4-2 to Seattle.
While the Americans are healthy and have a full lineup, the Winterhawks are without forwards Sven Bartschi and Nino Niederreiter (playing for Switzerland) and Ryan Johansen (Canada), who are playing in the World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y.
Bartschi, a rookie, leads the Winterhawks with 21 goals and 26 assists, while Johansen has 17 goals and 19 assists and Niederreiter 13 goals and 13 assists.
"They are a good team with or without those players," Hiller said. "It's about us. If we are at the top of our game, we can beat anybody."
Tri-City forward Carter Ashton also is playing for Team Canada, but the trade that brought him from Regina came the day before Ashton left for Team Canada's camp, so he's yet to put on an Americans jersey.
And when Ashton finally arrives, Hiller said he will be a welcome addition.
"We will find a place for him," he said.
* Annie Fowler: 509-582-1574; firstname.lastname@example.org


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Author: S Ananthanarayanan
ISBN/UPC (if available): 0143335596
Icons brings you the stories of the men and women who have changed the face of India as we know it. By their achievements in their chosen fields, they have provided us with inspiration and encouragement. Each of the ten stories is a revelation of how talent, determination and individual aspiration can make heroes.
Icons from the World of Science brings together the life stories of ten remarkable men whose discoveries and theories changed the course of science in their time.
J C BOSE, whose work on electromagnetic waves anticipated the discovery of wireless telegraphy
SRINIVASA RAMANUJAN, one of mathematics most brilliant minds
C V RAMAN, India’s first Nobel Laureate for science
S N BOSE, based on whose work Einstein developed some of his own theories
MEGHNAD SAHA, who developed a formula to understand how the atmosphere of the sun behaves
S CHANDRASEKHAR, the Noble laureate who anticipated the existence of black holes
HOMI BHABHA, who dreamt of nuclear capability for a newly independent nation
HARGOBIND KHORANA, who started the process of mapping he human genome
E C GEORGE SUDARSHAN, who did path-breaking wok in the field of nuclear physics
JAYANT NARLIKAR, astrophysicist and thinker who made science accessible to the layman
Filled with scientific facts and ideas explained in simple language with diagrams and picture, this book is a must for all those who want to know about some of the brightest stars in the world of science.
J C Bose
C V Raman
S N Bose
EC George Sudarshan


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Switzerland- Concluding Statement for the 2014 Article IV Consultation
March 24, 2014
Describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the conclusion of certain missions (official staff visits, in most cases to member countries). Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, and as part of other staff reviews of economic developments.
- The exchange rate floor should remain in place for now, as inflation is near zero and the risk of a resumption in safe haven inflows is still material.
- In the mortgage market, with past measures being insufficient, it is urgent to implement stronger demand-side measures.
- Largest banks should continue to reduce leverage and more is needed to achieve cross-border resolvability.
- More resources are required for extending FINMA’s intensive banking supervision across the sector; more guidance to auditors performing supervisory audits is desirable.
- Deposit insurance needs to be brought into line with international best practices.
Outlook and recent developments
1. The economy has picked up speed and growth should continue at the current pace in 2014. While domestic demand supported growth in 2013, foreign demand including from the euro area is expected to increasingly provide momentum. In the baseline scenario, we expect growth of about 2 percent this year and the next as the slack in the economy is being eliminated.
2. There are no inflationary pressures in sight. Wages and domestic prices are rising modestly, while lower inflation in the euro area and the strong franc are pulling down imported inflation. The real exchange rate is stable and remains moderately overvalued, but this is no longer having a significant negative effect on the overall external performance.
3. The banking sector is exhibiting divergent trends. The balance sheets of the two large banks continue to shrink as the banks strive to meet new regulatory requirements. Meanwhile, domestically-oriented banks have grown substantially, fuelled by increases in real estate lending, and becoming increasingly exposed to shocks from sharp price corrections and higher interest rates.
Monetary and exchange rate policy
4. Monetary and exchange rate conditions have improved since last year but have not normalized thus far. There has been no need for foreign exchange market intervention since the fall of 2012. Nevertheless, improved market confidence toward the euro area and tapering of unconventional monetary policies in the U.S. have yet to translate into sizable capital outflows. As a result, the franc continues to trade close to floor. This likely reflects Switzerland’s continued role as a safe haven against the background of volatile international capital markets.
5. The exchange rate floor continues to be a necessary element of the monetary policy framework. Inflation is still at the bottom of the SNB target range, and renewed exchange rate appreciation, as might arise from a new bout of safe haven inflows, would quickly bring back deflationary pressures. Thus, monetary conditions need to remain expansionary and the exchange rate floor needs to remain in place. Negative interest rates on banks’ excess reserves may need to be introduced in case of renewed strong pressures on the franc. The SNB balance sheet is likely to remain extended for a prolonged period with large fluctuations in mark-to-market profits, and provisions need to be strengthened to bring capital in line with risks.
The housing market
6. Imbalances in the housing market continue to build up, though perhaps at a somewhat slower pace. Prices for owner occupied apartments, which have grown at 6 percent per year on average since 2008, slowed to 4.3 percent year-on-year in the second half of 2013, still well above income growth. Signs of a cooling off in mortgage lending are tentative, with the acceleration in the buy-to-let segment a special concern. In addition, surveys of the quantitative lending standards used by banks to grant mortgages give only mixed signals despite the tightening of self-regulation measures.
7. Stronger policies to curb the demand for mortgages are needed to reduce the risk of a sharp adjustment down the road. Expectations of continued low interest rates are fueling housing demand and pushing prices up. The recent hike in the Countercyclical Capital Buffer is welcome, but its impact is not sufficient as capital is not a constraint across the domestically oriented banking sector. More aggressive policies to discourage vulnerable households from taking on too much mortgage debt need to be in place. To this end, existing self-regulation measures should be tightened, for example to speed up loan amortization. Parallel measures to curb mortgage growth in the buy-to-let segment should also be put in place. However, given the limited effect of self-regulation so far, stricter direct regulation may be necessary, including mandatory affordability caps and maximum loan-to value ratios. This would be an appropriate time to phase out tax incentives that encourage borrowing to finance home buying.
Medium-term prospects and policies
8. The recent popular vote to move away from the free movement of labor with the EU has increased uncertainty about medium-term economic prospects. Immigration has increased the labor force by about one percentage point per year since the free movement of labor accord with the EU came into force. Immigrants account for a large share of the work force in many important sectors. Uncertainty as to the ability to recruit the needed personnel in the future may discourage new investment in these sectors. Additional uncertainty may arise as some key cooperation agreements with the EU could be called into question. A rapid resolution of this uncertainty would be important to underpin the economic recovery.
9. Slower immigration will increase the challenges of an aging population, and the new legislative pension reform proposal is welcome. The proposal aims at placing first and second pillar pensions on a sustainable financial basis in light of population aging. Aligning the retirement age of women to that of men is sensible, and placing the social security funds under a fiscal rule, as are most cantonal budgets and the federal budget, should reduce fiscal risks going forward.
10. The authorities are exploring avenues to reform the corporate income tax. Specifically, they are seeking to eliminate the favorable tax treatment on income from foreign activities granted to multinational corporations by a number of cantons. We welcome this initiative and encourage the authorities to take into account ongoing international efforts to counter base erosion and profit shifting. The strategy to build buffers in the federal budget for possible burden sharing of the fiscal costs with the cantons should facilitate this reform.
Financial sector policies
11. The Swiss financial sector is strengthening and continued reform will foster further progress. The recent assessment undertaken under the IMF’s Financial Sector Assessment Program finds that the position of the Swiss banks has improved markedly since the Global Financial Crisis, and recommends additional measures to strengthen the soundness and resilience of the financial system, which is important for global financial stability given the prominent role of the Swiss banking and insurance sectors. Amongst these recommendations are:
- Press the largest banks to continue efforts to rapidly bring their leverage ratios into line with other large international banks and ensure an ambitious minimum leverage ratio requirement.
- Increase resources available to FINMA for banking supervision, in particular so that it can extend its intensive supervision in the sector beyond the largest banks.
- Refine FINMA’s use of external auditors for onsite supervision of the banks, including through periodic rotation of auditing firms, ensuring auditors are paid from a FINMA-managed bank-financed fund, and providing more guidance on their supervisory focus.
- Continue discussions with international counterparts to reach agreement on measures to make the largest banks resolvable without public sector support.
- Overhaul the deposit insurance scheme to bring it into line with emerging international best practices and the schemes being established in the region. A new scheme should involve greater transparency to depositors on coverage conditions, commitment to faster payouts, ex ante financing in a dedicated fund, and the fund to have powers to take action other than bank closure when there is a cheaper alternative.
- Continue to review closely the business plans of life insurance companies, in particular their adaptation to an expectation of protracted low interest rates.
- Put Switzerland at the cutting edge of financial sector transparency, including for instance as regards risk weights in banks’ internal models, so as to enhance understanding of, and credibility in, the banks’ soundness and strategies.
We would like to thank the authorities and private sector counterparts for their cooperation and hospitality.


text:
How Many Planets Circle the Sun?
And Other Questions About . . . Our Solar SystemBook - 2014
Answers questions about the universe, including why there is life on Earth, how Saturn got its rings, and which planet has a cloud named Scooter.
Publisher: New York, NY :, Sterling Children's Books,,
Branch Call Number: J 523.2 C239h 2014
Characteristics: 32 pages : color illustrations ; 21 x 27 cm


text:
Something is missing. I need a boost. I’ve tried listening to vintage bitingly bitter Dylan. I’ve put on Patti Smith and let her wail about Ethiopia into my old sony headphones. I’ve tried some Dimebag Daryll and his scuzzy crew of Pantera heavy metalists, but it just doesn’t hit the spot today. I tried listening to Warren Zevon, but he is just too full of heart and dark laughs to ease this feeling of missing something vast and empty. I need to fill a vacancy in my black hole soul.
I’ve tried Townes Van Zandt and his bleak cast of losers, fakers, drunks, addicts and dying but otherwise ordinary saints. Neil Young is too full of the joy of drop d tuning and foot stomping rawk that rolls and jives and does that cosmic country thing that makes the heart sing. Big Thief do the job for a while, but I have listened to Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You until I have worn the grooves off the metaphorical vinyl (I can’t afford a record player or the vinyl to put on it, so everything comes at me through my little blue tooth speaker or my monitor headphones….oh the indignity!).
The same goes for Joni Mitchell’s Blue album, Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and the dulcet tones of the Velvet Underground. I thought I might have been able to scratch that itch with a little New York Dolls, but it was all too dark and doom-ridden. I needed Talking Heads “psycho killer” without the killer, Green Day without the toxic masculinity, Lemonheads without the lame-ass hair tossing “aren’t I beautiful?” ego trip of Evan Dando. We all want to know that we are miserable together, but wallowing? That is for Smith’s albums, Joy Division mosh-fests and more desperate times than this. Sometimes you feel in the mood for a bad time, and then there is a plethora of darkness to dive into. A good time need not mean listening to wrist-slashingly perky shit like Abba. Not today, Satan. Today I feel in the mood for a good time, and so to the comforting lands of my 90s kid indie roots it is!
90s indie pop-punk beckoned me back to the days of my youth, when the world seemed beautiful and new after all. All that Suede, Carter, Avril Lavigne, Smashing Pumpkins indie kid bubblegum punk hits all the right tones of energetic and angry without the fury and the death-doom loop of the more seriously minded punk contenders. The CBGBs lineage of The Beths is clear, they feel like a Talking Heads for 2023, with a singer that is as charming as any of those pop-punk grrrls of the 70s, or the shoegazers of the 90s.
It was then that I realized what this aging 90s punk poppet needed was The Beths, and the deluxe reissue of their 2022 tour de force of indie punk pop, Expert in a Dying Field. There is plenty of indie happiness, just enough edge to make it satisfying, and that lushness of a well produced album written by a bunch of clearly thoroughly nice people who are just trying to make it through this life alive like the rest of us are.
Sometimes I feel like the eponymous ‘expert in a dying field’ of the opening track of their widely lauded 2022 opus, Expert in a Dying Field. My particular obsession, my own field of expertise is popular culture and music. If I was on some hokey knowledge based game show, I would be asking for anything related to the music that has shaped modern culture. “Give me “The Velvet Underground” for $500, Jim!”
I say my field is ‘dying’ because lets face it, it is pretty bleak out there, culturally speaking. When I get excited about Grateful Dead-spin off bands, and get increasingly jaded over anything new which is not rap or hip hop (the two genres which are still reliably producing geniuses), and can barely raise interest for new music, apart from a very few contemporary bands, then things must be bad. Fever Ray and Big Thief are still valiantly fighting the good fight, but a girl cannot live on those two bands alone. Enter The Beths.
As an ‘expert in the dying field’ of great music I know indie gold when I hear it, and The Beth’s keep on hitting all those right notes.
If the Beths had been up and running in 1994 I would have been listening to them alongside The Lemonheads. This is a band in the jammiest, most pure meaning of the world. They know how to do a nice bridge, a good change up in rhythm and key, and more than that, they are catchy without being hokey. The guitars have that crunchy jangle and a good amount of reverb, without overplaying their retro credentials.
The Beths make music not to be only carefully reproduced in a studio, barely able to bring to the stage, like the most extreme of Radiohead’s later excesses, but instead carefully crafted punk pop songs with bounce and verve, that bubble and hop alongside some interesting lyrics, that are infinitely sig-along-able. This is music that is built to be put on a stage and played live. This is real soundtrack to a good time stuff, but with hauntingly poignant lyrics inspired by the heartbreak of living and loving and existing feeling life fully.
Expert in a Dying Field might just be the most cynical, most depressing song with the most blazingly happy catchy tune, ever written. It bops along getting you to sing along with the fact that love dies, but the ‘room’ of the past history still remains. You can be an expert in love, in that other person, in your relationship, but what use is it when it dies anyway, and leaves you an ‘expert in a dying field’?
How does it feel (how does it feel)Expert in a Dying Field. The Beths.
To be an expert in a dying field?
And how do you know (how do you know)
It’s over when you can’t let go?
You can’t let go, you can’t stop, you can’t rewind
Love is learned over time
‘Till you’re an expert in a dying field
The Beths remain true to their punk-pop roots, that see them nod towards the energetic punk pop of The Clash, the bubblegum punk of Green Day, and the shoegazing bubble of the Lemonheads, but they have their own unique stamp on the genre. Knees Deep is an anthem for the Weekend Warriors who sensibly only ever go ‘knees deep’ and not bravely (or stupidly) go all the way in over their heads. It left me with a blissful grin on my face, happy in the knowledge that when I am in the mood for speed, punk and the energy boost, but not in the mood for twitching while I listen to people get in over their heads, that there is this perfectly crafted album, that balances the need for speed with a heart of gold and keeps a measure of that innocence of the 90s indie scene. This is a retro album in the very best of ways, it is desperate for a 1992 summer so it can take on Pablo Honey…and at least tie the battle of the albums of that glorious summer.
There are enough jagged edges to keep even a noise-head Velvet Underground connoisseur like me interested. Silence is Golden, is one of those huge songs that want to grab you by the shoulders and shake you into loving a band. Silence is golden but noise is that silver bullet to boredom and my jaded opinion of most things recorded after 2011 (the death of Amy Winehouse and my hopes for modern music culture)….The driving drum beat would make Mo Tucker blush (no hi hat, just bash those things!), and the chanting of ‘silence is golden’ by Elizabeth Stokes, the lead singer of The Beths, as their dip their toes into noise and a heavier sound, combine into being one of the best tracks on the album.
I consider my stable of regular listens to be an arsenal to combat the vagaries of living. Sadness, anger, happiness, joy, energy and lack of it, disaffection, love – they can all be either exorcized or amplified by music. Music is meant to make you feel something – as Stokes sings, “You can scream at the void but it never replies.” This music reaches beyond the void and speaks back at you. This is music that makes you feel as if something special could happen at any moment, something good. Something or someone important, and that is both incredibly rare and immensely important. There is nothing wrong in joy and innocence and love and hope. No hipster can live on black angel’s death songs alone, not even me.
I Want To Listen has the feel of one of those Velvet Underground tracks that holds onto that innocent, almost nursery-rhyme like edge, building a little oasis of gentle and sweet amidst the chaos and fear of the modern world. We all need to be able to find that oasis and this album builds walls of sound and placid pools of happiness, so the modern world gets shut out and we can pretend that there is no covid, there is no threat of world war 3, or climate change. It is an escape hatch into joy.
The Beths can write a pop indie punk anthem with considerable skill. Their songs often demand a fist pumped in the air, a feeling of being part of a group, a whole, a community. The song Best Left had me declaring:
Pulling it upBest Left, The Beths
From the wet ground
I couldn’t stop
Had to find out
Some things are best left to rot
If that isn’t something worth declaring, I don’t know what is? I would leave so much out there to rot, so we can start up anew. Who needs therapy when you have The Beths?
The bonus tracks on the extended release deluxe version of Expert in a Dying Field make this album something really special. I am the kind of listener who goes straight to the bonus material of any album, because that is often where the real gold is found, and the songs often find new depth and beauty in their raw state. There is nothing like hearing a song with a voice, an acoustic guitar and that squeak of fingers on steel strings. I Don’t Know What Im Getting Up For particularly loves this treatment. Listening to the song as an acoustic number had me smiling like a proud aunt of the indie underground. This is truly great stuff. The Beths are headed for even greater things, I swear. I can’t wait to hear where they are going next. I hope they get braver, even if Stokes sings, “I told you I was afraid”, and their next offering pushes the envelope a little more. I want to hear the dark side of these purveyors of new wave of indie pop perfection!
This is music to listen to on your car stereo, driving down some dismal section of the interstate, drumming your fingers on the steering-wheel and laughing with the people you love who travel with you. This is music that is worth going to see played live, so you can pretend for a moment that the world is new and wonderful and full of love and life after all. The Beth’s blend of pop, noise, with a bubblegum-punk-speed driven edge, and the way they hold onto love and innocence and joy leaves you feeling good, and feeling good is a rare commodity indeed in 2023.
The Beths US tour started July 28th, but there are still some dates remaining in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and New York. Sadly no date in San Francisco, otherwise I would be there to take part in all that joy and energy.
The Beths, Expert in a Dying Field (Deluxe) is out September 15th on Carpark Records.


text:
Barbara Kingsolver with Steven L. Hopp & Camille Kingsolver.
Publisher: Harper Perennial. Format: paperback.
ISBN: 9780060852566. Daedalus Item Code: 49204
(Winner of a 2008 James Beard Award for Best Food Writing and a Book Sense Book of the Year) In a memoir full of her renowned candor and pluck, Barbara Kingsolver tells how she and her family ... (Read More)
List Price: $15.99
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(2012 American Horticultural Society Book Award) An utterly charming little tome, with petite color and black and white illustrations tucked in amid the words of Gertrude Jekyll and Reginald ... (Read More)
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text:
Thinking about picking up a new pair of BMX bars for your bike, but you aren’t sure what all the things like butting, heat-treating, weight and everything really means? Well, Brant Moore has put together a video giving an in-depth explanation of BMX handlebar tubing. This video compares a few sets of bars that look similar, but are in fact very different. This covers the tubing aspect, but you are curious about geometry, then we suggest you check out our BMX Handlebar Geometry Guide that will help you figure out rise, width, backsweep, upsweep and more. You can also check out our BMX Tubing Terminology post that covers more of the tubing details for things like frames and forks as well!
“Everything you need to know about BMX handlebar tubing!
From butted tubing, to crossbar differences, to heat treating, and other aspects of handlebar tubing; there is a lot to learn or be aware of when purchasing a set of bars for your BMX bike!” – Brant Moore

domain: hobby


text:
Mineral water in Romania costs as much as in Luxembourg
Two litres of Pure Life still mineral water (a brand owned by Nestle) costs RON 3.29 in the Proxi Delhaize store in Luxembourg, while in Mega Image's online supermarket in Romania, the best-selling brands of mineral water locally, namely Borsec, Dorna and Aqua Carpatica, have prices ranging from RON 3.29 to RON 4.05 per 2 litres, Ziarul Financiar said.
Both Proxi Delhaize and Mega Image are owned by the same group, Ahold Delhaize.
Thus, a Romanian pays for a bottle of two litres of mineral water still branded (not private brand) the same or even more than a consumer in Luxembourg, a country where the average net salary is four times higher than locally.
Eurostat frequently indicates Romania as the country with the lowest consumer prices in Europe.
Local Ziarul Financiar has lately begun to compare prices in Romania with those in other European countries, given that the price increases of the last year have made some goods cost 30-50% more than in 2021. For mineral water, the price has almost doubled in some cases, while in others, the increase is 50-60%.


text:
Removal of gasoline subsidy in Nigeria sparks protests and cut in demand
20 January 2012
Demand for oil products in Nigeria is likely to fall in the first quarter of 2012 following the removal of a gasoline subsidy, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest Oil Market Report (OMR).
The decision by the government to instigate a subsidy removal programme was made after it revealed that the subsidy cost the economy an unsustainable $8 billion in 2011. The subsidy cost more than double the estimate for 2010. With two-thirds of the population living on $1.25 a day, it was difficult for the government to continue to support a subsidy that cost nearly $50 per person last year.
The OMR noted that this was a bold decision, adding that “fuel subsidies are not only enormously wasteful but they also greatly distort the efficient distribution of resources, whilst often fuelling corruption.”
However, when the subsidy was removed at the start of this year, gasoline prices more than doubled, reaching $0.90/litre, which sparked political unrest. Workers went on a national strike, disrupting the Nigerian economy.
The government quelled the unrest by agreeing to partially scale back on its subsidy removal programme. A gasoline price of $0.60/litre has now been set. Although this is still 50% higher than pre-removal price levels, it is one-third down on the initial price hike.
“In hindsight, a more gradual process might have been advisable,” the OMR stated. “Nor do the measures seem to have been accompanied by much in the way of public consultation or targeted assistance for the poorest members of society.”
“Nigeria is on the watch list for 2012, with oil product demand likely to fall, at least in [the first quarter of 2012],” the OMR concluded. “Persistent industrial disputes, of the kind seen in January, could further reduce forecasts, not just for oil demand but also for economic growth in general.”
The IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2011 estimates subsidies to fossil fuels amounted to $409 billion in 2010, with oil products representing almost half of the total. Nigeria has been among the world’s biggest subsidisers of oil products in recent years.
What is the Oil Market Report?
The Oil Market Report (OMR), a monthly IEA publication which provides a view of the state of the international oil market and projections for oil supply and demand 12-18 months ahead.
What is a subsidy?
Any government action directed primarily at the energy sector that lowers the cost of energy production, raises the price received by energy producers, or lowers the price paid by energy consumers.

domain: politics


text:
Soccer fever is officially sweeping the First Coast, as the United States soccer team prepares for its final test before the World Cup in Brazil.
Officials expect the largest crowd ever for a friendly match in the Southeast when the Americans conclude their Send-Off Series against African champion Nigeria at 6 p.m. Saturday at EverBank Field.
Coming just one week before the World Cup, the match will be the largest soccer event in the city’s history.
With an anticipated crowd of more than 50,000, according to the United States Soccer Federation, Jacksonville is poised to shatter its existing regional attendance record.
Jacksonville also set the previous mark, drawing 44,432 for a May 2012 exhibition against Scotland.
It’s the last chance for players to make a case for the starting eleven in the tournament opener.
“Do we have a lineup in mind? Absolutely, every coach has that at this point,” head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “But this is why you have the send-off games, to give some minutes to the players.”
On Friday, an estimated 2,500 fans flocked to EverBank Field to view a public training session for the American team, heading to its seventh straight World Cup.
For former U.S. international striker Brian McBride, a three-time participant at the World Cup, the final match before qualifying typically means one last dry run before the games that really count.
“They’re working on the shape this week,” he said. “Usually, what you see on the field for the third game is what the coach thinks is going to be on the field for the World Cup.”
The Send-Off Series has highlighted both strengths and weaknesses in the American squad. The good: Michael Bradley has emerged as the conductor of the midfield, and Fabian Johnson seems to have converted well to right back.
The bad: The Americans were lucky to escape against Turkey after allowing numerous scoring chances.
“If we give Turkey that amount of chances in that game, you know you have to fix a lot of stuff the day after,” Klinsmann said. “We have to minimize mistakes the closer we get to the Ghana game.”
Before training this week, Bradley said that laying the foundation for a strong run in Brazil is what this game is about.
“The most important thing is understanding that these games aren’t about the results,” he said. “Obviously, we want to win, and we want to play well, and we want to build some momentum and confidence. But it’s important to look at these games in the context of the big picture, which means we want to be ready for Ghana on June 16.”
The Americans open the World Cup against Ghana, before meeting Portugal and then Germany.
Saturday’s opponent, Nigeria, confronts the U.S. with a bold and fast-paced attack built around midfielder John Obi Mikel of Chelsea and winger Victor Moses of Liverpool.
“They’re going to be an athletic team, a fast team,” midfielder Brad Davis said. “They’re going to be pretty close to the Ghanaian side... I think this is going to be the best test for us.”
With a boisterous crowd roaring them on, American players like Florida-born Graham Zusi are eagerly awaiting kickoff.
“Jacksonville has proved to be a great site for the national team. ... It’s just a testament to the fans,” he said. “They want to send us off in the best way possible, and we want to give them the best show possible as well.”


text:
Ancestral emotional healing therapy
Cozy place, of peace and harmony, to relax and renew yourself. Away from the noise of big cities. Of unparalleled natural beauty.
per adult from
1 hour 30 minutes
What's included :
What's excluded :
You will feel profound well-being, emotional and mental harmony, and inner peace. You will feel a renewed person, with a new enthusiasm for life, knowing that you have the power to co-create the reality you want. You will have made peace with the people and situations of the past. You will be free of traumatic memories to live with joy.
Departure Point :Pirenópolis, State of Goiás, 72980-000, Brazil
Return Detail :Returns to original departure point
Hotel Pickup :
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

domain: psychology