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NCHICAGO (HedgeWorld.com)–Making a business of matching up hedge fund managers and seed capital is never easy, but almost a year after its own launch, Hedge Fund Launch LLC is close to making its first deals.
The firm announced that its has registered more than 570 prospective startup hedge fund managers and 106 interested seed investors on its online network. The web site, www.hedgefundlaunch.com, has a proprietary matching engine offering seed capital through a network established by the firm’s founders.
Tom Augenthaler and Steve Dyanko created the web site after forming Hedge Fund Center, another industry web site. A third founding member is Jeff Kuchta, who is the chairman and founder of Hedge Advisors Inc., a boutique investment consulting firm.
The web has increased the new company’s exposure and has broadened the universe of managers included on the platform, Mr. Kuchta said. It also has helped attract seed investors, which include: high-net-worth individuals; small- to medium-sized hedge funds of funds; and larger funds of funds.
“We believed from the beginning that our business model was logical and would garner attention, yet the overwhelming amount of interest that we received since the launch of our business has surpassed our wildest expectations,” said Mr. Kuchta.
The firm currently has contracts pending with four different managers and expects to close its first deal on Feb. 1. In the future officials say they will be happy to close three to four deals per year.


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SPAIN’S GREAT UNTRANSLATED. An anthology of twelve contemporary Spanish masters available for the first time to the English-language world.
WHERE & WHEN Salón Ortega, National Hispanic Cultural Center,[masked]th Street SW October 4th BOOK PRESENTATION OF SPAIN’S GREAT UNTRANSLATED & Panel Discussion at 6 pm, reception to follow.
Writer Ignacio Martinez de Pisón (Spain)
Translator Anne McLean (US)
Writer Margaret Randall (US)
Ph.D Susana Rivera (US)

domain: library


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By: Mike Hollingshaus
We are excited to publish annual population estimates by age and sex for Utah and each of its counties. These numbers cover each year since the 2010 decennial Census through 2018, and are consistent with the total population estimates produced by the Utah Population Committee (UPC). While the total UPC numbers have long been available, the new age and sex detail permits planners and researchers to address additional needs.
Total population numbers are obviously important for informed planning, but so are demographic characteristics such as age. Utah has the youngest population in the nation, yet is still aging very rapidly. Our numbers show the population aged 65 and older is growing quicker than younger groups as Baby Boomers age into retirement and birth rates continue to decline. Older Utahns require different services than younger Utahns, with implications for issues such as education, retirement planning, health care, housing demand, and business location.
Demographic patterns also differ by geography. Utah County is, on average, younger than Washington County; and Cache County has a high population of college-age students. Our new data products provide policymakers with the additional specificity of detail required for the critical decisions that will affect Utahns all around the state.
We used our UDEM projection model to produce these estimates. It is custom-built to c

domain: sociology


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Test yourself by identifying the different parts of the brain
Use this model of the complete brain to test whether you can identify the different parts of the brain without the coloration used in the other models. In reality the cns is not a very colourful place.
Open the model above by clicking on Start.
Can you locate the different areas of the brain as you peel away the layers?

domain: biology


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Roland Opoku graduates from SUNY Oswego
Roland Opoku of Bronx completed his baccalaureate studies in biology in spring 2017 at SUNY Oswego and was recognized at the college's Commencement in May. A student who graduates with honors is i...
July, 12 2017 -
Roland Opoku named to SUNY Oswego Deans' List
Roland Opoku of Bronx, a senior biology major, earned Deans' List recognition at SUNY Oswego for fall 2015. He was among students who received a grade point average of 3.3 to 3.79. Students on the...
December, 29 2015 -
Roland Opoku to Attend SUNY Oswego
Roland Opoku of Bronx has reserved a place as a freshman at SUNY Oswego.
Fall classes will begin Aug.
He is a graduate of high school name not in database.
Admission to SUNY Oswego is compet...
July, 25 2012 -

domain: news


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Since two nights ago I've been having severe pressure in my lower regions, including my vagina and lower back. I woke up yesterday morning and I was leaking really watery discharge. It's clear and almost had no smell except kind of a hint of sweetness. I've been having diarrhea too. I don't know what contractions feel like because this is my first pregnancy but I've been having slight tightness and light cramps.
What would you guys do? Go to the er? Or no?

domain: health


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Welcome to ICONA Cape May
Discover Our Boutique Oceanfront Hotel In Cape May, NJ
Joining some of America’s most charming and historic seaside motels and Victorian B&Bs, ICONA Cape May Hotel offers one of Cape May’s newest oceanfront hotels in Cape May, NJ. Designed for couples, families and groups who seek timeless bed and breakfast coziness without having to give up modern, upscale comfort, our boutique hotel is the perfect bridge between the past and present directly on Cape May’s famous Beach Avenue. Our classic architecture and design, highlighted by a crisp, white façade and nautical blue shudders and awnings, calls to mind the shore getaways of yesteryear.
Additionally, our boutique hotel size, with just 56 bright, chic rooms beautifully decorated with custom furniture and luxe furnishings, brings a breath of fresh air to the South Jersey Shore.
Explore Cape May
Weddings at the Shore
After your beautiful beach wedding and reception, guests will love relaxing in our fresh, boutique suites, studios or classic hotel rooms. Our gorgeous beachfront suites are perfect for the new couple! We are happy to help with room blocks based on availability.

domain: travel


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Practice Partner 30 Table Tennis Robot
Practice Partner 30 table tennis robot- Great for home, school and club use. This is a quality table tennis robot for all levels of player.
- Great for home, school and club use.
- Quality table tennis robot for all levels of player.
- Simple to use.
- Produces topspin, backspin and sidespin with up to 8 different spin variations.
- Ball feeding unit made from alloy with resistant rubber which stabilizes the ball direction.
- 30-90 balls per minute.
- Can play the ball to one point and to alternate parts of the full table.
- Digital display on control box.
- Stand with 4 wheels makes this robot easy to move around.
- 10cm adjustable height.
- Includes collector net.
- 1-Year Warranty.

domain: sports


text:
Download this Track
Buy on Vinyl/CD
Tags: Reggae Cover Version
Main genre: Reggae
Producer: Leslie Kong
Tags: Early Reggae (1960 - 70)
Contributed by 8-ball deluxe (8132 submissions)
Be the first to comment on this cover!
Musical Youth's Pass the Dutchie cover of The Mighty Diamonds's Pass the Kutchie
Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra's Clint Eastwood cover of Gorillaz feat. Del the Funky Homosapien's Clint Eastwood
Madness's One Step Beyond cover of Prince Buster's One Step Beyond
UB40's Every Breath You Take cover of The Police's Every Breath You Take
The Wailers's Sugar, Sugar cover of The Archies's Sugar, Sugar
Copyright © 2015 WhoSampled.com Limited. All rights reserved.

domain: entertainment


“The POCO X2 will come with 27W fast charging just like the Redmi K30 4G”
POCO X2, which is slated to launch in India on February 4th, is widely expected to be a rebranded version of the 4G Redmi K30 smartphone. The poster of the handset has allegedly been leaked by HT Tech revealing its design, core specifications, and price in India. The POCO X2, as per the report, will tout the same 6.67-inch 120Hz ‘RealityFlow Display’ with an elongated punch-hole for dual selfie cameras and quad-rear camera setup with 64-megapixel Sony IMX686 sensor as the Redmi K30. As for the price, the POCO X2 is said to retail in India at Rs 18,999 for the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage onboard, but this should be taken with a pinch of salt. Additionally, the Flipkart page has confirmed that the POCO X2 will come with 27W fast charging.
Poco X2 specifications
Talking about the design, the POCO X2 seems to have a blue paintjob with gradient finish. The handset will have an all-display fascia with a chin and a camera module aligned vertically at the back panel. The right spine of the phone appears to house power button, which will double as a fingerprint scanner, and a volume rocker. The POCO X2’s bottom edge, meanwhile, could pack USB Type-C, speaker grille, and 3.5mm headphone jack.
The POCO X2 will most likely be powered by Snapdragon 730G chipset as it powers the Redmi K30 4G as well. The front camera phone could sport a 20MP primary sensor paired with a 2MP secondary shooter. A recent POCO X2 Geekbench listing suggests that the phone will come in 6GB and 8GB RAM variants. The phone is expected to be driven by a 4,500mAh battery, while MIUI 11 atop Android 10 takes care of its software side of things.
Notably, there is also a 5G version of Redmi K30 smartphone with a slightly better Snapdragon 765G chipset ticking at its core. That version doesn’t seem to be heading to India anytime soon.


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Principe Borghese Heirloom Tomatoes
Inventory, lb : 0
The Principe Borghese tomato is an Italian heirloom famous for sun drying. The red plum-shaped fruits are about two inches long and one or two ounces in size. They have a thin skin and a thick, very meaty flesh that houses few seeds and little juice, with a rich classic tomato flavor. The crack-resistant fruit grows in clusters on hardy, fast-growing determinate plants, which spread laterally and ripen all at once. Although they are determinate in growth habit, Principe Borghese tomato plants will benefit from extra support, such as trellising or caging, as they can grow up to six feet and produce many weighty clusters of fruit.
Principe Borghese tomatoes are available mid-season.
Principe Borghese is a variety of tomato, scientifically named Solanum lycopersicum, formerly Lycopersicon esculentum, and is a member of the nightshade family. It is an heirloom variety as the seeds have been passed down through generations of farmers and gardeners and families. Unlike hybrids, heirloom varieties are not selectively bred for certain qualities, but are instead open-pollinated, meaning that their seed will grow true to type plants exactly like their predecessors.
Principe Borghese tomatoes are a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, all of which may have a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. They contain good amounts of vitamin A and C, as well as fiber, carbohydrate, potassium and iron. Potassium plays a vital role in maintaining nerve health, while iron is essential for maintaining blood health. Tomatoes are also known for having a large amount of lycopene, a naturally occurring antioxidant that is being studied for its ability to fight cancer-causing free radicals in the body.
Principe Borghese tomatoes are a favorite for sun drying because they retain their color and flavor more than most other varieties. Rehydrate sun-dried Principe Borghese tomatoes for ten minutes in water or broth to use them in soups, stews, or atop a pizza. The dried tomatoes can also be used to make excellent tomato sauce or chopped into salads. In addition to drying, Principe Borghese tomatoes are used for fresh eating, roasting or canning, and they pair well with classic Italian herbs and spices as well as soft cheeses, such as mozzarella. Store your tomatoes at room temperature as their flavor and texture can suffer when the fruit is chilled. Refrigerate only extra-ripe tomatoes to slow the process of decay.
Principe Borghese is the traditional Italian variety for sun-dried tomatoes, known in Italy as “pomodori secchi”, and it can be found filling backyards and soaking up sun throughout Italy. Italians are known for hanging the whole plant up to dry, though the fruit can also be sliced in half and sun-dried on screens.
Principe Borghese tomatoes date back to the 1910s in southern Italy. The Spanish originally brought the tomato back to Europe after Cortez conquered Mexico City in the 16th century, and the climate in Italy allowed for many new varieties of tomato to develop with intense flavor. Principe Borghese is known to be heat tolerant and very hardy, and can grow well in most regions of the United States.

domain: agronomy


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"Like the president he now serves, Anton doesn't understand how the global trading order actually works. Trade agreements are long and complicated today because they are no longer primarily concerned with reducing tariffs (which are already quite low). Instead, contemporary trade agreements are mostly about harmonizing labor, regulatory, environmental, and copyright standards across many different societies, precisely for the purpose of creating fairer competition between states. Agreements of this kind are very much in America's interest, because otherwise U.S. workers would have to compete with foreign industries where labor and environmental standards are much lower than they are in the United States."
A seminar with Hedi Larbi, Kuwait Foundation Visiting Scholar, Fall 2015, MEI and Paul Salem, Vice President for Research and Policy, Middle East Institute, Washington, D.C. Introductory session for the fall 2015 study group led by MEI Visiting Scholar Hedi Larbi, Rewriting the Arab Social Contract: Toward Inclusive Development and Politics in the Arab World.
Almost five years since millions of Arab protestors demanded a new socio-economic and political contract for their societies, the harvest of change has been dramatically uneven. While Tunisia has moved forward toward inclusive democratic reform, other countries like Libya, Syria and Yemen have descended into outright state collapse and civil war, while Egypt has experienced a resurgence of nationalist authoritarianism. Meanwhile, radical groups like ISIS have risen to announce a new state and Caliphate astride the Syrian-Iraqi border. Why did demands for a new social contract fail, in most cases, to move forward? What could have been done differently? What can still be done today to de-escalate conflict and return to the task of building stable, inclusive and productive societies in the Arab world.
Please note: registration is not required, but an RSVP is requested for this session. Click here [RSVP now closed] to RSVP. Please note that an RSVP does not guarantee a seat at the session.
For more about Paul Salem, click here.
For more about Hedi Larbi, click here.

domain: economics


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Bayer and the French biotech company Meiogenix will work together to advance the development of Meiogenix’s plant breeding and genome editing technologies with the hope of improving food crops for farmers.
For many years, the only way to improve characteristics such as yield and nutritional value of crops was through selective breeding, which can be an extremely slow process. Meiogenix is one of a number of biotech companies that aim to speed up the process.
Giacomo Bastianelli, CEO at Meiogenix, told me: “Meiogenix’s technologies accelerate the plant breeding process through modulating and targeting meiotic recombination.” Meiotic recombination is the key natural process that generates genetic diversity when plant varieties are crossed.
Meiogenix aims to supercharge the genetic diversity generated from meiotic recombination in crops. To do this, the company is designing a synthetic fusion protein that triggers meiotic recombination. Meiogenix then delivers a transgene encoding this protein into plant cells using a technique called agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Once the transgene is in the cells, the fusion protein makes a target region of the plant’s genome undergo meiotic recombination more often than normal.
The collaboration with Bayer will allow Meiogenix to “further develop its technology that targets meiotic recombination and expand it to allow a wider control of this important biological process,” Bastianelli remarked.
The improvements will allow breeders to develop crop varieties with positive traits that can be grown more efficiently and sustainably while still taking advantage of the natural genetic diversity of wild varieties.
Bastianelli believes that farmers, final consumers, and the environment will all benefit from the advance in innovation that the collaboration between Bayer and Meiogenix will bring.
Jeremy Williams, Head of Plant Biotechnology, Crop Science Research & Development (R&D) at Bayer said: “Farmers need innovative solutions as they face limited natural resources and a changing climate. Access to Meiogenix’s proprietary technologies could improve the precision and speed with which our breeders enhance crops, which could ultimately accelerate those solutions for the diverse needs of people and our planet.”
However, this technology will also fall under Europe’s restrictive regulations on genetically modified organisms, which also currently include those made using CRISPR. It remains to be seen how these regulations will affect the roll-out of this technology.
Laura Cowen is a freelance medical journalist. Her background is in medical microbiology, with a particular interest in public health and infectious diseases. Outside of work she enjoys roller skating, trips to the theatre, and exploring the UK and Europe with her family in their new motorhome Bella.
Images from Shutterstock


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Young Harpenden chefs compete in mincemeat cook-off event
TWO Harpenden pupils have no beef with making mincemeat of a challenging national cook-off competition.
Talented Elisheba Anderson and Cherise Adams-Burnett, pupils at St George’s School, are finalists in the Red Tractor beef and lamb Mmmake it with Mince Challenge 2010.
Celebrity chef James Martin recently announced that Elisheba, of Year 9 and Cherise, of Year 11, got through to the final heats after they pitted their culinary skills against hundreds of other teenagers from across the country. The budding chefs will travel to Cambridge to compete in one of six regional final heats from December 1-3.
A spokeswoman for the competition said Elisheba, “wowed James and the judges with her delicious savoury dish of Bobotie Parcels and Golden Rice,” while Cherise also impressed with spicy meatballs. Close to 1,000 teens took part in the contest, with 49 selected for the finals.
She said it was “very unusual” to have finalists from the same area let alone just one secondary school, “so there must be a talented bunch from that school.”
Head of food technology at St George’s, Heidi Brodie, said she was “absolutely thrilled” at the girls’ success. She added: “It just shows how enthusiastic and keen the pupils are to get involved. Elisheba and Cherise are both very excited about competing in next month’s final.”
James Martin said: “I’ve been blown away by the standard of entries we’ve received. From new twists on old favourites to mind-blowing flavour combinations, the recipes have shown real imagination and flair, making my job as a judge really hard. The shortlisted entries are really strong and I’m convinced we’ve found more than a few culinary stars.”
- 1 Body of man in his 40s found in Hemel Hempstead
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The television chef will join a panel of experts judging the finals, with the national winner to receive the grand prize of going behind the scenes to be a chef on the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen.
The mince challenge is a cook-off aimed at 11-16 year olds who are passionate about cooking or pursuing a career in the food industry. Now in its fifth year, the contest was launched on behalf of beef and lamb farmers in England. It requires students to design and submit their own original recipes using beef or lamb mince.


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Eleven o’clock on a Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America, say Reverends George Cummings and Bill McNabb. This pointed observation is one they witness every week at their respective churches.
Dr. Cummings resides over a predominantly African-American congregation at Imani Community Church in Oakland, and Dr. McNabb’s Piedmont Community Church is in the affluent, predominantly white and Asian-American town of Piedmont. Both California churches are merely six miles from each other, yet in some ways they are worlds apart.
Dr. Cummings and Dr. McNabb met at a community clergy meeting in 2006 and decided to take an unusual leap. They planned a one-time event to bring members of both congregations together and develop what they hoped to be an on-going, deep-reaching partnership between the two churches.
Now, six years into the partnership the sister churches recorded interviews with StoryCorps San Francisco to further their efforts to foster dialogue and sharing. The idea was to encourage members to sit down with one another, share stories about their lives, and reflect on their churches’ partnership. Hosted by the Imani Community Church, several members of the two congregations shared their stories with each other. (more…)
StoryCorps Atlanta had the pleasure of hosting students from Girls Inc., a national youth leadership organization dedicated to providing girls a safe space and after-school activities. Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta serves over 3,000 girls, aged six to eighteen, with outreach programs, after-school and summer camp programs, and community partnerships throughout the metro area. Their mission: to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
Three middle school students embodying these qualities visited our recording booth for the first time. In addition to helping our visitors record stories, StoryCorps volunteer Amelia Bower and I led the girls in listening and storytelling games and gave them a tour of the WABE/PBA studios to meet the staff and learn how public radio and television work. Although uncertain about what to expect, the girls jumped into recording with enthusiasm and curiosity.
Facilitator Katherine Brook and I traveled to Wisconsin to learn about the Madison Children’s Museum through its exhibits and the people who make them possible: staff, visitors, donors, and volunteers. The Madison Children’s Museum is one of ten winners of the 2011 Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal, an award given to institutions for their outstanding public programming. One prize received by winners is three days of StoryCorps interviews by way of our Door-to-Door service.
Interview participants painted a picture of a museum that celebrates and learns from its community in myriad ways, from going on cultural tours to dangling cows from the ceiling. The diverse types of learning embraced at the museum are made possible not only by its exhibits but also by the museum’s loyalty to its museum family, be they fiberglass cows, local experts, volunteers, or fourth graders. (more…)
Since November 2010, Lambda Legal has partnered with StoryCorps Atlanta to collect the stories of trans and gender non-conforming individuals, people who do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth. To date, 20 people have shared their stories through Lambda Legal’s Trans Tell Your Story Project.
Holiday Simmons, Lambda Legal’s national community educator, travels the country to inform people of LGBTQ issues. In his trainings for law enforcement officers, healthcare providers, and teachers, he uses audio from the Trans Tell Your Story Project to bring voices of trans and gender non-conforming individuals into each session.
Lambda Legal recently hosted an event to share some of the stories they’ve collected and to encourage others to share their own. After listening to excerpts from the conversations, A.J. Jones, the project’s coordinator, invited several participants to share their experiences of recording their stories.
When we first walked through the doors of EdVenture last week, co-facilitator Daniel Littlewood and I faced two of the largest feet we had ever seen. We looked at one another and uttered an incredulous, “Whoa!?” We had to investigate. Passing under the archway, we walked into an atrium, and there he was all 40 feet, 17.5 tons of him: Eddie, the worlds largest child (see the slideshow below).
If the museum’s signature exhibit could make us feel like kids again, we could only imagine the wonders it might work on a five year old. I was excited to find out what else this National Medal Award-winning museum had in store. If the world’s biggest boy says one thing about EdVenture, it’s that this is a place that puts kids first. “We were creating a museum that was for children. This is the world on their terms,” said Catherine Monetti, one of the museum’s original designers. Hands-on learning and creating “ah-ha” experiences are keys to this museum’s brand of education.
Eddie is a prime example of this, and he’s more than a giant statue: Eddie is an interactive exhibit. Kids learn how their bodies work while playing in Eddie, crawling through his brain, listening to his heartbeat, and sliding down his esophagus.
This year, Friendship Baptist Church celebrates its 150th anniversary, and the anniversary committee has been hard at work on sesquicentennial plans, including helping church members pronounce the word that means “150th anniversary.”
The church has come far since its humble beginnings in 1862, when congregants met in a boxcar because they did not have funds to buy land. Both Morehouse and Spelman Colleges held their first classes at Friendship. And Atlanta’s first African-American mayor, Maynard H. Jackson, Jr., was not only raised in the church; his father was one of only six pastors who have served the community in its history.
Many of the church elders remember all of the pastors except the very first, Reverend Frank Quareles, who served until 1881. One important event for the anniversary committee will be the dedication of new tombstones for Reverend Quarles and his wife, whose unmarked graves were discovered at Atlanta’s historic Oakland Cemetery.
The anniversary committee is also collecting oral histories of the church, and Vanessa Brown, a member of the Anniversary Committee, invited church elders to record their memories of Friendship Baptist Church and its leaders with StoryCorps Atlanta. (more…)
Close to one quarter of American high school students drop out before graduation. In Oakland, California, the dropout rate is higher at 35 percent. Last month, Northern California’s KQED hosted it’s first American Teacher Town Hall at Laney College in Oakland. Educators came from across the Bay Area to discuss these high dropout rates and the state of education in their communities – in California and across the nation.
StoryCorps San Francisco was also there to highlight the work we’ve done, locally and nationally with the National Teachers Initiative. For the past year, the National Teachers Initiative has supported the work of teachers nationwide by recording and preserving their stories and broadcasting them on NPR’s Weekend Edition. StoryCorps also supports the American Graduate Initiative by recording stories with public media hubs in communities where the dropout crisis is most acute.
At our table, current and former teachers and students listened to stories we recorded with teachers, including Antero Garcia and Roger Alvarez, Sarah Benko and Meliza Arellano, and Ayodeji Ogunniyi. Town Hall participants also wrote messages of thanks to teachers who have inspired them. (Below are just a handful of those notes.)
Do you have a favorite teacher? Thank them in the comments below!
The phrase “last will and testament” evoke a lot of different feelings. Beyond the finality of death, there’s the desire to carry out those last wishes. When Mrs. Betsy Saunders and Mrs. Mary Mitchell learned about philanthropist Grace Arents’ will and that her intention to have gardens planted in memory of her uncle, entrepreneur Lewis Ginter, had yet to be carried out, the women were spurred to action. We met Betsy and Mary onsite of an Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal awardee, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia, when they participated in StoryCorps.
LGBG sits on an historic property of over 50 acres of beautiful gardens, but the organization brings more than beautiful nature to it’s community: LGBG is a place to volunteer, somewhere to listen to music with the family, and even a good afternoon picnic spot. Its public programming educates the community on gardening and horticulture, allowing youth to realize that, yes, they eat plants.
That’s LGBG today, but back in 1981, 13 years after the city of Richmond took possession of the property, the land looked quite different.


Reducing fuel consumption and emissions is a goal even in the world of espionage. AeroVironment Inc. is designing an unmanned aircraft that runs on liquid hydrogen-power. Its Global Observer will fly at an altitude of 65,000 ft for up to seven days. The high altitude, long endurance aircraft is being built for the U.S. Special Operations Command, which teamed up with other military to provide $57 million for three aircraft. AeroVironment recently picked Rockwell Collins to design the drone's navigation system. Rockwell's Athena 411 incorporates solid-state gyros and accelerometers, magnetometer, a GPS receiver and air data sensors into a single small unit.
Some humanoid walking robots are also good at running, balancing, and coordinated movements in group settings. Several of our sports robots have won regional or worldwide acclaim in the RoboCup soccer World Cup, or FIRST Robotics competitions. Others include the world's first hockey-playing robot and a trash-talking Scrabble player.
The DDV-IP is a two-wheeled self-balancing robot that can deliver cold beverages to thirsty folks on hot summer days. A wireless RF remote enables manual control of the device beyond the act of self-balancing. All of the features of the DDV-IP result in an effective delivery vehicle while providing entertainment to the user.
Eric Doster of iFixit talks about the most surprising aspect of the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 teardown. In a presentation at Medical Design & Manufacturing Midwest, iFixit gave the Surface Pro 3 a score of one (out of a possible 10) for repairability.
Focus on Fundamentals consists of 45-minute on-line classes that cover a host of technologies. You learn without leaving the comfort of your desk. All classes are taught by subject-matter experts and all are archived. So if you can't attend live, attend at your convenience.


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David and Victoria Beckham keep getting cuter. The couple have appeared in a joint fashion shoot for Vogue Paris as Posh took the helm and guest-edited the December issue. And they didn't just shoot one cover, but TWO. Cool, huh?
Thank you to Emmanuelle Alt & @inezandvinoodh ! X vb pic.twitter.com/i8lebqfTNT
- Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) November 29, 2013
The couple can be seen posing up a storm in amazing shots by famed photographers Inez & Vinoodh. Emmanuelle Alt, editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, thanked Victoria for featuring on the "two special covers".
@victoriabeckham guest-edited our #VictorialovesVogue


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Indian Railways, keen on reducing the travel time between Delhi and Chandigarh, would soon launch a semi-high speed project on the 245km Delhi-Chandigarh corridor, which is one of the busiest routes.
France's state-owned railway company, SNCF, has submitted its report for upgrading the Delhi-Chandigarh railway route.
Trains would run at a maximum speed of 200kmph, cutting travel time to only 2 hours.
Delhi-Chandigarh semi-high speed project to cost over Rs. 11,000cr
The Delhi-Chandigarh project would be Indian Railways' first venture in collaboration with the French railway company.
Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena stated, "SNCF, France's state-owned rail company, started the study in January 2016 and submitted the final report."
He added SNCF's study was under the Railway Board's consideration.
According to SNCF's over 1500-page report, upgrading the Delhi-Chandigarh railway route would cost over Rs. 11,218cr.
Cost estimated by SNCF
The estimated cost includes the cost of upgrading signals on Delhi-Chandigarh route, major civil works, rolling stock, etc. A senior railway ministry official said that officials from SNCF and Indian Railways would examine and discuss the report after which the final cost would be decided.
Project to be launched in January next year
Currently, the Shatabdi Express covers the 245km distance between Delhi and Chandigarh in three hours and 30 minutes, traveling at a maximum speed of 110kmph.
However, the upgraded semi-high speed trains, with halts in Panipat and Ambala, would take only two hours and two minutes.
The project is likely to be launched in Jan'18 when France's President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit India.
Realignment of major curves
Around 20 major curves extending over 32.7km on the existing Delhi-Chandigarh rail corridor would be re-aligned under the project. However, no new land for the realignment would be acquired; it would be done within the Indian Railways' "right of way".
More rail routes to be upgraded
Apart from the Delhi-Chandigarh route, in collaboration with the French state-run rail company, the Indian Railways plans to upgrade seven more rail corridors in the country, spanning over 4000km.
They include the Mumbai-Goa, Chennai-Hyderabad, Mysuru-Chennai, Delhi-Kanpur, and Nagpur-Secunderabad railway routes.
The upgrading of the rail corridor between Delhi and Chandigarh is likely to be a demonstrative project by France.


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Xiaomi's Vice President of International Operations, Hugo Barra took to Google+ to clarify the nature of the partnership. He said, "We received many questions from Mi fans about an announcement made by Microsoft yesterday regarding Windows 10 Technical Preview for Xiaomi Mi 4 users in China." Barra also confirmed that the program is limited to the Chinese market.
He clarified that Microsoft's experimental program works directly with the Mi fan community in China, and that Xiaomi has nothing to do with the program.
Further detailing, Barra added, "Microsoft is working on a build of Windows 10 specifically for Mi 4 devices. This Windows 10 build will not be running on top of Android nor be available as a dual-boot option. A small number of Mi 4 power users from the Xiaomi Forum in China who choose to take part in this experimental program will have to manually re-flash their Mi 4 devices with this Windows 10 ROM, in the same way they would re-flash other Android ROMs."
Barra went on to add that Xiaomi devices ship with unlocked bootloader, which is also the reason why Microsoft added the Mi 4 for the Windows 10 Technical Preview. "At Xiaomi, we are very supportive of users trying new things and we encourage them to do so all the time! That's why all of our devices ship with unlocked bootloader, for example. That's also why Xiaomi welcomes Microsoft team members to interact directly with members of the Xiaomi Forum in China," he added.
Barra also revealed that another announcement from Microsoft regarding the Windows 10 ROM for Mi 4 will come in the coming months.
He lastly showed Xiaomi's commitment towards Android ecosystem and said, "Xiaomi continues to fully embrace the Android ecosystem through our MIUI software platform and we're moving ahead full steam building many exciting new Android-based features and services."


Clues hidden in data from NASA’s Galileo spacecraft—which explored the Jupiter system between 1995 and 2003—suggest very strongly that the icy moon Europa is venting water into space, scientists report today in Nature Astronomy.
Long considered to be one of the most promising places to search for alien life in the solar system, Europa is known to have a global ocean containing vastly more water than all of Earth’s combined. Finding plumes raises the possibility that the ocean tucked beneath its icy shell might erupt into outer space, which means that tasting that alien sea and searching it for signs of life could be as simple as sending a spacecraft zooming through a plume of ejected water vapor.
That’s still not exactly easy, but it is less complicated than asking a probe to fly all the way to Europa, safely land, burrow through a miles-thick crust of rock-hard ice, and then get to work being an extraterrestrial ocean explorer.
It’s also possible—and perhaps more likely—that any plumes come from a lake or some other reservoir trapped in the ice. But that still means an orbiting spacecraft, like the Europa Clipper mission that’s tentatively scheduled to launch in the early 2020s, could sample a plume and get a glimpse of what lies beneath the moon’s ruddy, crisscrossed rind.
“It’s unlikely that one of these plumes is going to throw a fish into space that’s going to whack into Europa Clipper,” says Cynthia Phillips of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “It’s more likely to come from pockets of liquid that are closer to the surface – so, not free ocean samples, but free subsurface samples.”
For years, planetary scientists have argued over whether Europa might be spitting water into space, as Saturn’s moon Enceladus does.
In late 2013, tantalizing images from the Hubble Space Telescope revealed possible 125-mile-high plumes of water vapor erupting from a region in the moon’s southern hemisphere. At the time, though, scientists were skeptical, as the plumes were at the very limit of Hubble’s ability to see. Follow-up observations revealed nothing.
But in 2016, and again in 2017, scientists reported that more Hubble images pointed to the presence of a plume, though something less dramatically exuberant than the geysers of Enceladus, which fly so high that they create a ring around Saturn. Even so, Europa’s eruptions could be equally as dense as its cousin’s, and easily visible by an orbiting spacecraft.
In May 2017, the SETI Institute’s Melissa McGrath gave a presentation at one of the Europa Clipper science team meetings. In it, she reviewed all the evidence for potential plumes coming from the moon, including the intriguing possibility that the Galileo spacecraft had spotted a plume two decades earlier.
That’s when the University of Michigan’s Xianzhe Jia and colleagues decided to revisit those archival data and see what kinds of nuggets they could find.
“I was asking myself, Why didn’t we start looking at this earlier? Why wait so long? The data is there, publicly available for almost 20 years,” Jia says.
Something in the Way
Europa’s gravity is strong enough that any erupted water vapor would hug the moon quite closely, and Galileo only swung low enough to detect such an eruption twice, most notably in December 1997. During that pass, the spacecraft took about five minutes to traverse Europa’s face.
Jia and his colleagues pulled observations from the spacecraft’s magnetometer, which measures magnetic fields, and from a second instrument that measures the density of charged particles. In the sequence of numbers produced by those two instruments, they immediately spotted something unusual: Anomalous blips, lasting about three minutes, centered around Galileo’s closest approach to the moon.
If a plume were erupting, Jia says, the erupted water vapor and dust particles would be affected by magnetic fields, which is what the spacecraft detected. And the density of charged particles surrounding the spacecraft would change as the spacecraft entered, flew through, and then exited the plume.
“We saw very peculiar changes in the magnetic signal, something I don’t think has been explained in the past,” Jia says. “We also pulled out the plasma wave data from Galileo, and surprisingly, around the same time, the plasma wave showed anomalous emissions. So when you put those two together, that indicated that something very special had happened during that interval.”
In other words, the spacecraft had flown through a localized plume maybe 620 miles wide somewhere near the moon’s equator. But Jia and his team wanted to make sure. So they simulated the observations such a spacecraft would make if it flew through a plume of the size and density spotted by Hubble. The Galileo observations matched the simulation almost perfectly.
Now, with two spacecraft and several independent instruments reporting similar findings, it’s harder to deny that Europa is venting water vapor into space.
“If you look at any one piece of evidence by itself, it’s not very convincing,” McGrath says. “But when you start bringing in completely independent sets of observations and they all seem to be telling us the same thing, it’s sort of like, yeah. That’s what is starting to convince people.“
Come As You Are
As exciting as the Galileo data are, they don’t necessarily prove the existence of continual plumes. Instead, Phillips says, the observation is another clue that can be added to a body of evidence suggesting that Europa does—at least occasionally—vent water into space.
“I think it tells you there’s probably more plumes than we can see right now, because the odds that we’d happen to fly through the only one that exists are pretty low,” McGrath says.
What does this mean for the Clipper spacecraft? Turns out, the team designing the probe has already planned to include a suite of instruments capable of tasting a plume, should the spacecraft fly through. What it finds will be anyone’s guess.
“Even with our wildest imagination, we always see stuff that we totally did not expect,” McGrath says. “We’ll surely see something we totally don’t expect at Europa.”


Cowboys To DeMarco: Shop + Drop - Back To Us
There has never been an "anti-DeMarco'' philosophy in the Valley Ranch front office. It's "anti-pay-runners'' and it's "anti-break-the-bank'' but it's not "anti-DeMarco.''
"We'd love to keep him in Dallas,'' COO Stephen Jones tells us in an exclusive interview. "(We'll) just see how things play out.''
How might they play out? The Colts or the Titans or the Jets or the Raiders might offer the NFL's leading rusher "market-value'' for a star runner -- the $9-million-a-year sort of deal Murray's agent Pat Dye Jr. has suggested to Dallas, using KC runner Charles as an example.
The Cowboys won't do that. But maybe they will budge from the "4X4'' (four years and $16 mil) CowboysHQ.com reported was offered at midseason. Owner Jerry Jones recently talked of "brackets'' for a deal more than hard numbers.
Which takes us to the Cowboys' policy here, as we know they've explained to Dye and Murray: Shop yourself. Get your best offer elsewhere. More than brackets -- solid numbers.
Said Stephen: "He's probably going to get some peace (of mind) and see what's out in the market and then we'll talk and see. I do believe deep down he'd love to stay in Dallas. We've had some really good football players go into free agency; Novacek and Woodson and, you know, they still signed with the Cowboys.''
That "peace of mind'' mirrors something himself said at season's end.
“I’m not worried about my future,” Murray said. “Just not worried about it right now. Just relax with my family and get away from it for a little bit.”
Murray just turned 27 is and is coming off one of the finest seasons in NFL history, one that made him an MVP finalist. Everyone from Jerry to Stephen to coach Garrett to QB Romo has expressed a desire for him to return. But this is not, contrary what some have written, about the Cowboys "maybe not having the salary cap space to re-sign him.''
This is about Dallas dumping the antiquated idea that running backs lose tread on their tires at age 30; it actually might be more like age 27. The Cowboys are in possession of a study that shows when "standout'' runners turn 28, their yards-per-game production goes down 18 percent ... at 29, down 30 percent ... at 30, down 45 percent ... at 31, down 46 percent ... at 32, down 55 percent.
Maybe other bidders for DeMarco will take stock in those numbers. Maybe they will not. Certainly Dallas will wait and see.
This about Dallas taking it slow ... to let others set the market. Which is why Stephen can honestly answer regarding negotiations to this moment ...
"I would say 'slow,' Jones said of progress, adding that "there is only one franchise tag'' (meaning it's not going to be used on DeMarco). "(But) just because you're a free agent doesn't mean you're not necessarily going to end up back in Dallas.''
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Sustainability in Promotional Products
At Desk Plants, we believe in the power of promotional products to make a positive impact, not only for businesses but also for the planet. Sustainability is not just a buzzword; it's a critical aspect that the promotional products industry cannot afford to ignore any longer.
According to ASI Media's article, "It’s Time for Promo to Fully Embrace Sustainability," sustainability has become an increasingly important issue for consumers worldwide. Google searches related to sustainable goods have surged by 71% between 2016 and 2021, highlighting the growing interest in eco-friendly products.
Recognizing the complexity of sustainability, ASI Media is launching "Promo for the Planet," a comprehensive resource hub aimed at guiding promotional products suppliers and distributors towards sustainable practices. ASI's President and CEO, Tim Andrews, emphasizes the importance of responsible sourcing, recycling, and considering environmental and social impacts throughout the supply chain. He notes that sustainability is not only beneficial for the environment but also for businesses, particularly in attracting younger buyers.
Even for those less inclined towards environmental concerns, the trend towards sustainability holds significant implications for business success. Research shows that nearly seven in 10 consumers consider a brand's sustainability practices when making purchasing decisions, indicating a growing demand for eco-conscious products.
In the promotional products industry, where perceptions often lean towards "trinkets and trash," embracing sustainability can enhance brand reputation and longevity. Creative swag campaigns not only foster goodwill but also contribute to long-lasting impressions, with many promotional items being kept and used for over a decade by consumers.
At Desk Plants, we are committed to sustainability in the promotional products we offer. Our customizable potted plants provide a green alternative to traditional promotional items, allowing businesses to make a positive impact while promoting their brand. Join us in embracing sustainability for a better future, one plant at a time.
[Source: "It’s Time for Promo to Fully Embrace Sustainability" by ASI Media]


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Great American Desert (formerly South of Lincoln) Lincoln, Nebraska
Great American Desert is the stage name for Maxwell Beardsley H. and his one man folk show. The calm, boring life of a small Midwestern town drove him to pick up a guitar at the age of 15. Four years later, South of Lincoln started in 2006 as Max Holmquist’s solo project and changed to Great American Desert, an honest collection of heartfelt, honest folk tales.
Streaming and Download help

domain: geography


Cops Unamused by Man's 'Police Maserati' Driver charged with impersonating police officer By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff Posted Aug 13, 2014 1:48 AM CDT 52 comments Comments A Maserati resembling a police cruiser sits parked along the shore in Quincy, Mass. (AP Photo/Eric Clark) (Newser) – A Massachusetts driver with a Maserati painted like a police car was stopped by a police officer who realized that even the cops in Monaco don't drive Maseratis. The Braintree driver, who was charged with impersonating a police officer, had made the $100,000 luxury Italian car look like a police cruiser with a black-and-white paint job and police decals, a police spokesman tells the Patriot Ledger. But instead of "Protect and Serve" on the door shield, the driver had the slogan "Decepticons Punish and Enslave," the AP notes. Police say the driver—who didn't try to outrun the officer who pulled him over—claimed he was actually helping police, "because other drivers noticed him and slowed down, thinking it was a police vehicle."


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Outspoken and frequently foul-mouthed actor Samuel L. Jackson recently took to Twitter to lament the fact that Tropical Storm Isaac will likely hit the coast of New Orleans instead of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.
“Unfair Sh*t: GOP spared by Issac [sic]! NOLA prolly F**ked Again! Not understanding God’s plan!” Jackson wrote Monday afternoon.
Several of Jackson’s followers slammed his unabashedly partisan remarks as distasteful.
Still, according to Entertainment Weekly, Jackson’s “unfair” tweet has been “retweeted 983 times and marked as a favorite 236 times as of this morning.”
In response to the backlash, Jackson wrote: “Daayum! Poked a Hornets nest, hunh?”
“Apologies to God, Tampa, da GOP& Isaac(sp)! Who played the Race card?!” he added. “Whoooo! A lotta sh*t stirred into a Bullsh*t tweet! Politics & Religion get MUFREPUBLICANS heated!”


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|Name||Horizontal Optical Cable Connector Box||Port||Two In ; Two Out|
|Applicatin||Overhead, Pipeline, Direct Buried||Material||Plastic OR Metal|
|Tensile Strength||≥800N||Compressive Strength||2000N/100mm (1 Mint)|
|Impact Strength||16N·m Impact 3 Times||Torsion Strength||50N·m|
|Bending Strength||150N||Withstand Voltage Strength||15KV|
|Insulation Resistance||≥2×104MΩ||Color||Black Or OEM|
|Sealing||Screw Or Full Sealing|
15KV Optical Cable Connector Box,
800N Optical Cable Connector Box,
15KV Fiber Optic Splice Closure
Horizontal Optical Cable Connector Box With Strong Sealing
Horizontal Optical Cable Connector Box With Strong Sealing Performance, Pressure 100KPa±5KPa, Tensile Strength: ≥800N
The horizontal optical cable joint box, also called the optical cable splicing box and barrel, is the place where the end of the optical cable is connected, and then it is connected to the optical switch through the optical fiber jumper.
1. Support frame: It is the main body of internal components.
2. Optical cable fixing device: used for fixing the optical cable to the base and fixing the optical cable strengthening element. One is the internal fixation of the fiber optic cable reinforcing core; the second is the clamping and fixing of the fiber optic cable and the support frame; the third is the sealing and fixing of the fiber optic cable and the cable in and out of the connector box with a heat-shrinkable sheath.
3. Optical fiber placement device: It can store optical fiber connectors and remaining optical fibers in an orderly manner. The length of the remaining optical fibers should not be less than 1 meter, and the radius of the remaining optical fibers should not be less than 35mm. Among them, the storage tray can have four layers, the capacity is large, and the storage tray can be adjusted according to the number of cores connected by the optical cable.
4. Optical fiber connector protection: Put the heat-shrinked protective sleeve on the fiber core fixing clip in the receiving tray, or use the silica gel fixing method.
5. Sealing the optical cable and the connector box: sand the junction of the connector box and the optical cable with emery cloth on the cable and base cable entry point, wipe the polished area clean with a detergent, paste aluminum foil, and then put the heat shrinkable tube in the connector box At the cable entry point, use a blowtorch to slowly heat the middle and then to both ends to completely shrink the entire heat shrinkable tube.
It is suitable for straight-through and branch connection of overhead, pipeline, and direct-buried laying methods of various structural optical cables.
The connection in the terminal room of the structured optical cable.
The optical cable splice box is usually suitable for indoor or outdoor use in non-open air, but not suitable for outdoor use. If it is to be used, protective measures should be taken. Working temperature: indoor type: -5℃~+40℃; outdoor type: -20℃-+60℃.
1. The optical cable splicing box can be used for fusion splicing of part of the main optical cable and branch optical cable, part of the main optical cable and pigtail or pigtail cable at the same time, and connected to the optical switching equipment through the jumper fiber. The welding unit, wiring unit, part of the material of the network box shell, the optical cable from the optical cable connection box to the network box and the entire operation process can be omitted.
2. The optical fiber fusion splicing unit, the increase or decrease of the optical fiber receiving tray is quick and time-saving, and the turning angle of the optical fiber receiving fusion tray reaches above 90℃, which provides convenience for future expansion and maintenance.
3. The optical fiber distribution unit can be installed with fixed modules of FC, SC, ST, and LC adapters. The installation is very convenient and can be configured according to user needs. The size and installation holes of each module are the same.
4. Innovative structural design, convenient and reliable installation, the whole set of plastic parts adopts scientifically formulated high-strength PC engineering plastics, injection molding can be used for a long time in the natural environment of -40℃～+65℃.
5. Patented product-the elastomer sealing member can be repeatedly opened and used repeatedly to maintain good sealing performance.
6. Multifunctional optical cable connection box, which can be wall-mounted or pole-mounted. Realize FTTH access to reduce the cost for the construction of optical fiber network, and improve the communication quality.
Ambient temperature: -40℃～+65℃
Sealing performance: pressure 100KPa±5KPa, keep the air pressure unchanged for 24 hours
Tensile strength: ≥800N
Compressive strength: can withstand a pressure of 2000N/100mm for 1min
Impact resistance: 16N·m, punched 3 times
Torsional strength: 50N·m, 10 cycles with a torsion angle of ±90°
Flexural strength: the joint between the optical cable connection box and the optical cable can withstand bending tension load of 150N, bending angle of ±450 10 cycles of bending
Withstand voltage strength: After the optical cable connection box is packaged according to the specified operating procedures, it is immersed in 1.5m deep water for 24 hours, and the metal components between the two ends of the optical cable connection box, between the metal components and the ground are under the action of 15KV DC, No breakdown within 1min, no flashover phenomenon
Insulation resistance: After the optical cable connection box is packaged according to the specified operating procedures, it is immersed in 1.5m deep water for 24 hours, and the insulation resistance between the metal components at both ends of the optical cable connection box and between the metal member and the ground is ≥2×104MΩ


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Equality at work
30 March 2022
Discrimination in the workplace is governed by the Equality Act 2010.This brings together into one place all of the equality laws that had developed over a number of years, including those based on EU law. It also covers discrimination in other areas such as the provision of goods, facilities and services. This lnbrief gives an overview of the law in an employment context.
Please click 'download files' to read the full inbrief.
Equality legislation has been around now for 50 years. The Equality Act 2010 brings all of these laws together into one piece of legislation. Much of our discrimination law has been influenced by EU directives and cases, and EU law will continue to influence how the law is interpreted even after Brexit.
“Protected characteristic” is the general term used for the various strands of discrimination. The protected characteristics are:
- Age - which covers any age
- Disability – defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial effect on day to day activities (see our Inbrief on disability discrimination for more information)
- Gender reassignment – which includes anyone who intends to change their gender or is in the process of doing so
- Pregnancy and maternity – which includes taking maternity leave
- Race – which covers colour, nationality, national origins and ethnic origins
- Religion or belief – which covers any religion, religious beliefs, philosophical beliefs, and the lack of a religion or belief
- Sex – which covers being a man or a woman
- Sexual orientation – which covers a sexual orientation towards the same sex, the opposite sex, or both sexes
Types of discrimination
There are different types of discrimination, all of which apply in the workplace:
- Direct discrimination - less favourable treatment because of a protected characteristic. For example, refusing to employ a woman because she is pregnant. Apart from direct age discrimination, direct discrimination cannot be justified.
- Indirect discrimination - applying a provision, criterion or practice which disadvantages an employee/job applicant, would put others with the same protected characteristic at a particular disadvantage, and which is not a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim (i.e. not justified by the employer). For example, an employer with a rule that all staff must work weekend shifts may disadvantage Christian employees who hold a genuine belief that they should not work on Sundays.
- Victimisation - subjecting someone to a detriment for making a complaint or bringing or assisting with a claim. For example, not promoting an employee because she had previously brought a grievance about race discrimination.
- Harassment - unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic which violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. For example, making fun of a colleague’s mental health condition. The definition covers both single acts directed at a particular person and more general behaviour that creates an inappropriate environment.
Direct discrimination and harassment also apply where this is based on a perceived characteristic, whether this perception is correct or not. For example, if an employee is harassed because he is mistakenly perceived to be gay, this will be unlawful sexual orientation discrimination.
This also means that in some cases a person doesn’t need to reveal their actual characteristics in order to make a claim. For example, if someone is harassed based on sexual orientation or gender reassignment, they can bring a claim for harassment without revealing these private details about themselves.
Similarly, direct discrimination or harassment can be based on the characteristics of a person with whom the employee associates, rather than their own characteristics. For example, it would be unlawful religious discrimination to treat a female employee badly because her husband is a Muslim, even if she is not a Muslim herself.
Who is protected?
In the employment context, it is unlawful to discriminate against:
- Job applicants - in relation to recruitment arrangements and decisions, harassment and victimisation.
- Employees - in relation to terms, promotions, transfers, training, benefits, dismissal, harassment and victimisation.
- Ex-employees - where the discrimination is closely connected to the employment.
“Employment” is defined quite widely for the purpose of discrimination law. It covers any contract personally to do work, meaning that most self-employed workers will also be protected. There are also separate provisions which prevent discrimination against agency workers and partners.
As well as the types of discrimination set out above, employees with a disability have two additional areas of protection.
Discrimination “arising from disability” occurs where an employer treats a disabled employee unfavourably “because of something arising in consequence of his or her disability” and the employer cannot show that the treatment is justified (i.e. a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim). For example, if an employee has clinical depression amounting to a disability and as a consequence does not turn up for work on most days, an employer who treats him unfavourably (e.g. by giving him a final written warning) would discriminate unless able to show that the giving of a final warning was a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
There is also a duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees. Where a disabled person is placed at a substantial disadvantage by a provision, criterion or practice imposed by the employer or by a physical feature of the employer’s premises, the employer has a duty to take reasonable steps to avoid that disadvantage. There is also a duty to provide an auxiliary aid if this will avoid a disadvantage to a disabled employee. Reasonable adjustments can cover all kinds of steps, from physical alterations to premises to changes to working patterns or duties.
For more information on disability discrimination, please see our lnbrief on this topic.
There are separate provisions in the Equality Act about equal pay, which covers inequality in pay or other contractual terms between men and women.
An employee can make a claim for equal pay if there is an actual comparator of the opposite sex who is paid more for carrying out work of equal value. If there is no actual comparator, hypothetical comparators are also permitted - meaning that a woman can say “I would have been paid more if I were a man” without the need to identify a specific man who is paid more, and bring a sex discrimination claim.
There is also special protection for women on maternity leave.
An employer can defend an equal pay claim by showing that any difference in pay (or other contractual terms) is due to a “material factor” other than sex. This reason needs to be genuine.
However, if the reason itself has a discriminatory effect, the employer must go further and show that it is objectively justified. For example, if bonuses are paid for working anti-social hours, this may disadvantage women who tend to have childcare responsibilities and so are unable to work those hours. In this case, the employer would need to show both that there is a legitimate aim of paying bonuses in this way, and that this is a proportionate way of meeting that aim.
The law on equal pay can be complex, and our lnbrief on this topic provides further information.
The law also applies to discrimination in the provision of employment benefits. This means that benefits that are provided to opposite-sex couples must also be provided to same-sex couples.
This could apply to a wide range of benefits - for example, pension benefits for partners, medical insurance coverage, beneficiaries of death in service benefits, and travel or other concessions. There is an exception for benefits that are only provided to both married couples and civil partners, which means is not unlawful discrimination to limit benefits to married couples and civil partners only
Occupational requirements and positive action
As explained above, some types of discrimination can be justified. However, it is generally not possible to justify direct discrimination (except for direct age discrimination).
There is a limited exception to this, which applies where having a particular protected characteristic is a “genuine occupational requirement”. The employer must take into account the nature of the employment and the context in which it is carried out. The employer will only have a defence to a direct discrimination claim if it can show that this requirement is genuine, and that applying this requirement is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
It is likely to be difficult for an employer to show a valid occupational requirement, and alternatives such as allocating specific duties to others should always be considered. Possible examples might be requiring a black actor for the lead role in Othello, or hiring only female employees for the role of attendant in a women-only changing room.
There are some additional exceptions relating to religion and belief:
- An employer with an ethos based on religion or belief may, in certain circumstances, show that being of a particular religion or belief is an occupational requirement.
- Certain requirements relating to sex, marriage or civil partnership, gender reassignment and sexual orientation can be used if it is a proportionate means of complying with religious doctrine or avoiding conflict with religious convictions. This exemption applies only to those who work for an organised religion. It does not apply where the employer simply has a religious ethos, such as a faith school.
There is also a limited power to take positive action, which involves favouring an under represented group. Where an employer reasonably thinks that persons who share a protected characteristic (e.g. women or older people):
- have needs which are different from others who do not share the characteristic;
- suffer a disadvantage connected to the characteristic; or
- have a disproportionately low participation rate in an activity;
it can take action to meet those needs or to enable or encourage those persons to overcome the disadvantage or to participate in the activity. However, the action taken by the employer must be a proportionate means to achieve whatever its aim is. Possible examples include training, targeted assistance with job applications, work experience or free English language lessons.
The Equality Act also contains positive action provisions applying to recruitment and promotion. These allow a ‘tie break’ in a favour of disadvantaged groups in circumstances where employers are faced with candidates of equal merit. However, the preferred candidate must be “as qualified” as the other candidates, and the employer cannot have a general policy of treating such candidates more favourably.
Public sector equality duty
Public sector bodies have a single equality duty extending to all characteristics other than marriage and civil partnership. When exercising functions, the authority is required to have regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and harassment, to advance equality of opportunity and to foster good relations between those who share protected characteristics and those who do not.
These duties apply to persons who are not public authorities but who exercise public functions. For example, academies and social landlords will be subject to the duty.
Employers need to ensure that they have one or more diversity or equal opportunities policies in place. They must also ensure that staff are aware of these policies and receive appropriate training. Acas guidance recommends that these policies should be reinforced by:
- making it clear to staff what behaviour is unacceptable, including the fact that discrimination is unlawful
- ensuring that staff are trained in equality issues, including issues relating to race
An employer will normally be liable for acts of discrimination carried out by its employees. The employer will only have a defence if it can show that it has taken all reasonable steps to prevent employees from discriminating against or harassing other employees.
A diversity or equal opportunities policy, backed up by appropriate training (which is not simply a “tick box” exercise), is essential if the employer wants to avoid being liable for discriminatory conduct by its employees.
Equal opportunities monitoring
There is no obligation in the Equality Act (or elsewhere) for employers to collect information from employees about their protected characteristics, and similarly no obligation not to do so.
Employers who decide to collect such information should do so on a voluntary basis, explaining why the question is being asked and what the information will be used for.
For most purposes, it will be possible for the information to be gathered confidentially and anonymously and this may persuade employees to co operate. Remember that information about race, health and sexual orientation will be “special category” information for data protection purposes and should be treated accordingly.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
The Equality and Human Rights Commission have published statutory codes of practice on employment and on equal pay, which are taken into account by the Employment Tribunals when deciding discrimination cases. There is also associated guidance for employers on a variety of equality topics. These documents provide useful guidance and examples on different types of discrimination, and can be accessed on the EHRC website www.equalityhumanrights.com.


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Double Tap by Steve Martini. I really enjoy this book.
What I love about Martini’s works are Paul Madriani’s thought. I mean, I could imagine when someone is reading it with a straight face, then stumble on these quotes, his or her face would suddenly changed and crack a giggle. So did I. Even if they could not make you laugh, for me they are still out of courtroom kind of situation quotes. These are some of them.
1. Templeton would go back to the videotape and ask Rufus what he saw on it, but he knows the judge would come off the bench and beat him to death with his gavel.
2. If it were possible, Perryman would crawl out of the box at this moment on his belly, slither like a serpent out into the hall, and disappear.
3. I take the pistol from his hand before he can run to a gun shop to buy a bullet.
I normally do not really fond of any first-person narrator books, but books by Steve Martini will definitely an exceptional.
Done with Double Tap, now in the process of finishing Shadow of Power.

domain: artistic


Why Almost Everything You’ve Learned About Mattress Reviews Is Wrong and What You Should Know
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You need to expect a terrific deal of reviews Dulwich SA 5065. No matter price, mattress reviews concur that the absolute most important standard is the thing that feels appropriate. A number of these mattress reviews additionally have been rated by the genuine bed customers.
Lies You’ve Been Told About Mattress ReviewsDulwich SA 5065
The mattress is made for couch, as opposed to standard bedframe. Naturally, the mattress is very hefty, but this is to be expected. Make sure that you’re receiving a mattress you’ll be comfy with (both in regard to slumber and budget).
Who Else Wants to Learn About Mattress Reviews?
Figure out which mattress is most suitable for you. Our mattress buying guide offers you helpful ideas about the best way to choose and purchase a mattress and approaches to get the very best deals and deals. A mattress could be exceedingly cost-effective, but have an incredibly low value since it’s not durable, healthy, or has other enormous difficulties. An excellent mattress is going to have thick enough comfort layer to stay cozy for sleepers of the majority of sizes. It’s always convenient to truly have a new and supremely comfy mattress and be effective at using the sheets you’ve grown accustomed to. Therefore, in the event you need my hint on purchasing a new mattress, I would indicate you should concentrate on 4 primary standards, comfort, size, budget, and reviews. The adjustable, long-lasting -use air mattress is among the most recent mattress types.
Don’t automatically think that you are going to be pleased with a top-rated mattress. It’s rather a soft mattress. Now, soft mattresses aren’t meant for those who’ve back difficulties so one should not anticipate this mattress to remedy that form of issues.
Commonly, you may continue to maintain your mattress about ten decades. It is where you’re likely to place your mattress on. Innerspring mattresses are very common. Compared with other kinds, they have a tendency to retain less body heat and come in a broader range of firmness levels. It’s a fairly thick mattress, particularly for an innerspring one.
You’ll see this mattress is frequently mentioned in fairly several top lists. Additionally, mattresses produced from pure latex are ecofriendly, since pure latex is a renewable resource. A queen-size mattress in Dulwich SA 5065is just going to set you back $600 it’s among the cheapest mattresses in the marketplace The Tempur Cloud assortment includes the softest mattresses. While not among the least expensive mattresses, it’s also not unreasonably costly
An important value mattress is one which reaches the ideal junction of reasonable selling price for amazing quality and help. Before going into a furniture store to buy your next bed, take a look at our best mattress reviews to receive an idea about what’s out there. Anyway, it’s the most effective indoor air mattress Dulwich SA 5065.
Given your online purchase is probably inspired by attempting to capture extra discounts, remember to completely compare your options to make certain that you just are optimizing the sale. The higher cost is additionally not an automated guarantee of quality or satisfaction, either. Not merely the ideal baby mattress on the list, in addition, it’s available at a great cost.
Video: Mattress Foam in Dulwich
Dulwich SA 5065
There are lots of kinds of mattresses, each with a specific set of pros and cons A mattress with top-notch, excellent support also has to have a particular degree of comfort and pain relief. As you analyze these mattresses, bear in mind these aspects. Various mattresses supply different characteristics, and based on your own wants and physique, the top kind of mattress for you mightn’t be the quite same as for somebody else. The most appropriate mattress is among the most critical things at a good night’s slumber. It is not just the best, it’s also quite unique mattress in its own right.
The mattress is extremely cheap and it has an integrated pump. Selecting a mattress is a significant choice. Organic mattresses are produced with organic, non- toxic materials. If you enjoy a little buoyancy… Latex mattresses are like memory foam models with respect to firmness, but have a little more spring-back. Organic latex mattresses Dulwich SA 5065might be extremely expensive, and all-natural latex toppers are inexpensive techniques to relish the comfort of latex mattresses. You’d struggle to locate a horrendous latex mattress, if you don’t stumble upon a low cost knock off.
A mattress may be exceedingly soft and still offer great support. Typically, folks place mattresses in addition to bed frames, but variations are possible. After spending the night on one large pillow, you are not ever going to wish to return to spring top mattresses. It’s a spring mattress, made from pocketed coils.


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Royal Botanic Garden, Jordan
Client: Royal Botanic Gardens
"We collaborate with lots of landscape design practices all over the world and it is rare to find one that brings together expertise and creativity in such an engaging way".
Bill Hart, Director, Cultural Innovations, Royal Botanic Gardens
Harris Bugg Studio has created a strategic design framework and masterplan for the development of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Jordan.
The topography of the site is impressive and memorable, setting itself apart from botanic gardens not only in the Middle East but globally. It is situated on the steep, undulating slopes of the highland ridge, soaring above the man-made reservoir below – the largest open body of water of its kind in Jordan.
The client is committed to making a botanic garden with a world-class reputation that attracts repeat visits and carves out a global name for itself. The functional requirements we have had to address in our work are complex, including very different domestic and international visitor requirements, transport, way-finding, botany, ecology, education, research and income generation. In addition, the garden will help support local communities through training and development, the promotion of Jordanian craft and culture and the protection of age-old ethnobotanic traditions for the future. It is a catalyst for powerful positive change in a region that is under huge pressure of youth unemployment, poverty and migration.
Our response has been to develop a richly layered design narrative which embraces the symbolism, science and culture of Islam and the richness of the Islamic Golden Age, and weaves this into a powerful story of botanic rescue and rehabilitation of the native flora of Jordan. Immersive architectural and landscape interventions will make this botanic garden one of a kind, with compelling reasons to return.
Our masterplan has been approved; and a phased construction approach is underway with the first phase currently in technical design stages undertaken by a Jordanian team with Harris Bugg as executive designers.


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Burton’s Biscuit Co. has bought shortbread maker Paterson Arran for an undisclosed sum.
Alongside the Paterson’s shortbread brand, the acquisition sees the Brontë, Café Brontë and Arran Fine Foods brands join Burton’s portfolio.
Paterson Arran employs around 200 people and runs two production facilities: the Royal Burgh Bakery in Livingston, West Lothian, which makes shortbread, oatcakes, biscuits and cookies; and the Old Mill in Lamlash, Arran, which primarily produces chutneys, mustards and preserves.
The purchase is the second major acquisition by Burton’s this year. In February it bought premium sweet and savoury biscuit manufacturer, Thomas Fudge’s.
Burton’s boss Nick Field said: “Paterson Arran is a superb business with a first-rate product portfolio and baking expertise which combines time honoured methods with the very latest technology, to make outstanding products.
“The acquisition is a further indication of our intent to increase our production capability, to extend our product offering and to continue growing our presence in the biscuit market.”
Retiring Paterson Arran Chairman Alan Hardie added: “I am honoured to have been at the helm of this great company for the last 25 years and am equally as excited about what the future holds. Paterson Arran and Burton’s have shared values of a commitment to baking excellence and to producing top quality, great-tasting products. Everyone associated with them can be extremely proud.”

domain: food


Sewage pumping station is used in waste water systems and serves to raise water level in the drainage and systems for process water.
Electrical equipment consists of a control cabinet with the power section of the equipment, and computational unit with logic control and remote communication unit (optional). The pumps can be controlled locally or remotely, and automatically or manually. Automatic controlling depends on input parameters which can be liquid level, flow power in the pipeline, pressure in the pipeline or pressure vessel or any other parameters for automatic control.
Energetic part can have power supply from two or more supply lines with automatic system for power source selection.
The pumps are switched on directly, with systems ʏ/∆ and via soft-start device (depending on the customer’s requirements and the size of the pumps).
The control panel includes process signalization for basic system functionality parameters and measurement instruments for voltage, current or by the customer’s requirements.
Each pump has a switch to select the mode of operation. Operation can be MANUAL – 0 – AUTOMATIC. In automatic operation mode, pumps are being switched on selectively, depending on their number of working hours.
The computational unit also holds a communication unit via GSM/GPRS communication interface (optional). The user is required to provide a SIM card for data transfer and storage place on the server.
All the relevant information about the work of pumping stations is transmitted in real time to a server and can be presented on any computer or smart phone that has been granted access via an access password. Manual management of the pumps is possible via access approved computer which limitations depend on the actual level in the pumping station. The control limit determines the computing unit in the pump station, depending on all system parameters.
The capacity and number of pumps is varying, as required by the user.


Slayer Announces New Album Release Date
Band Photo: Slayer (?)
Columbia Records has revealed that thrash metal legends Slayer will be releasing their brand new studio album on July 7th. The album title is still unknown but it will contain the song, "Psycopathy Red" which was posted online last October. The band will be promoting the new album at this years Rockstar Energy Mayhem tour before heading out on the road with fellow thrash metal veterans Megadeth.
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Physiotherapist or Sports Therapist?
How to know if you need Physiotherapy or Sports Therapy
We often have clients enquiring whether they need Physiotherapy or Sports Therapy, and which practitioner can offer the most appropriate treatment for their injury. The short answer is that both professions are trained and insured to treat musculoskeletal disorders back but there are some key differences in their training and approach. In this article, we give an overview of the two professions, outlining their similarities and differences to help you identify the most appropriate practitioner to aid you back to optimal fitness.
Both Physiotherapists and Sports Therapists are highly educated in dealing with musculoskeletal disorders, treating pain and injury through hands-on treatment modalities, rehabilitation and patient education. Both focus on restoring, maintaining and maximising movement, relieving pain and increasing quality of life.
Both therapists possess the skills and knowledge to:
- Assess and diagnose injuries
- Deliver a personalised treatment plan to maximise movement and physical independence
- Teach patients how to reduce pain and manage chronic injuries
- Implement rehabilitation programmes
- Teach patients how to stay fit and well
Some of the shared treatment approaches used to aid recovery include:
- Massage, bodywork and mobilisations
- Electrotherapy modalities
- Varied stretching techniques
- Biomechanics analysis
- Patient education
- Exercise prescription
Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). In order to use the title Physiotherapist or Physical Therapist, practitioners must graduate from an approved course of study, typically a three-year degree program, and meet a strict set of criteria set out by the HCPC. For a Physiotherapist to be classified as a Chartered Physiotherapist they must also be a full member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).
The role of the Physiotherapists is to help people affected by injury, illness or disability through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice. They maintain health for people of all ages, helping patients to manage pain and prevent disease. See some of the common conditions that physiotherapists treat here.
At undergraduate level, Physiotherapists gain the knowledge and skills to improve a range of conditions associated with different systems of the body, such as:
- Neurological (e.g. stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s)
- Neuromusculoskeletal (e.g. back pain, whiplash associated disorder, sports injuries, arthritis)
- Cardiovascular (e.g. chronic heart disease, rehabilitation after heart attack)
- Respiratory (e.g. asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis)
After graduation, Physiotherapists continue their professional development and work in a variety of specialisms in health and social care. Additionally, some physiotherapists are involved in education, research and service management.
Sports therapists are experts in musculoskeletal disorders. They treat pain and injury through hands-on treatment and rehabilitation. Sports Therapists undergo an intensive three-year degree course which focusses primarily on the musculoskeletal system and on restoring, maintaining and maximising movement to relieve pain and increase quality of life.
The regulating body of Sports Therapy is The Society of Sports Therapists (SST), who describes the profession as:
“An aspect of healthcare that is specifically concerned with the prevention of injury and the rehabilitation of the patient back to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sports specific fitness, regardless of age and ability. It utilises the principles of sport and exercise sciences incorporating physiological and pathological processes to prepare the participant for training, competition and where applicable, work.”
The Key Differences
As we have examined, the two professions share many similarities and overlap in their treatment programmes which leads to patients being unsure whether they would be best suited to physiotherapy or sports therapy. However, there are some key differences:
- Physiotherapists have a broader knowledge base and medical background, which allows them to treat illnesses, diseases, neurological and respiratory issues. This makes them ideal for treating a wide range of patients, including complex patients with multiple conditions.
- Sports therapists generally have more exposure to sporting environments at an undergraduate level making them ideal for preventing sports injuries through specific strengthening programmes.
- Physiotherapy attempts to rehabilitate patients to allow them to feel comfortable and cope in their day-to-day life, whereas Sports therapy, on the other hand, focuses more on whether that the patient has returned to or can maintain the required physical level for whatever sporting activity they would like to carry out.
- As Sports therapists focus solely on musculoskeletal rehabilitation and have a sports-focused background, it makes them attractive to patients who are aiming to return to exercise.
It is important to remember that these are generalisations about the two professions and that it often isn’t a straight choice between physiotherapy or sports therapy. Many Physiotherapists specialise in sports rehabilitation and many Sports Therapists have experience in other areas of rehabilitation.

domain: medical


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Water Absorption, Dough Development Time, Stability, Degree of softening, Harinograph Quality Number (HQN)
Erkaya Instruments; manufactures and sells quality control devices for the flour and feed industry on a world scale.
Feed Quality Control Equipment
Erkaya Instruments; produces machines that you can reliably measure and control every stage of production.
Erkaya Instruments; produces additives and all flour additives needed by flour, bread, biscuit and pasta factories.
Our additives are prepared to offer special solutions for your production; It is produced with ISO 9001:2000 Quality Assurance and a Production Permit has been obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Turkey. The suitability of our company for production is controlled by regular inspections.
We offer our customers comprehensive and functional solutions, including project design, production, assembly and commissioning, with our completed projects and the events we participate in.


Plan in the works for downtown homecoming bash
It just seems like a good time to have a party.
The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce is seeking to team with the Kansas University Alumni Association, the city and downtown businesses to close a portion of Eighth Street on the Friday before KU’s homecoming football game to have a bash to celebrate one of Lawrence’s busier weekends.
“We’re going to send people away with a good experience,” said Lavern Squier, president and CEO of the chamber. “We want people to remember Lawrence as a place where there was a lot going on.”
The event, dubbed Get Downtown, is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Oct. 6 in the one-block area of Eighth Street between New Hampshire and Massachusetts streets. The following day KU will play Texas A&M and have its official homecoming festivities.
The Friday event, which will be free to enter, will feature two bands and food and alcohol vendors. Downtown businesses in the area already have voiced their support for the party.
“It is a great opportunity to show people what a wonderful downtown we have,” said Rick Marquez, executive director of Downtown Lawrence Inc.
The chamber is asking the City Commission, at its Tuesday evening meeting, for a $5,000 donation for the event in addition to the necessary permits to close the one-block section of Eighth Street.
Mayor Mike Amyx said he supports the request. He said downtown used to frequently play host to pep rallies before KU football games.
“Anytime you are drawing a crowd down here, it is a good deal,” Amyx said. “And this allows us to do it in a way that doesn’t block Massachusetts Street.”
The city won’t be expected to pay for the entire event, Squier said. He said the event likely would cost more than $20,000 to produce, with the majority of the money coming from the chamber and private sponsors.
The Alumni Association became a partner in the event by agreeing to move a scheduled performance of the Michael Beers Band from a campus site to downtown. The chamber plans to hire one more band that will begin playing at 8 p.m. The event is expected to end at 11 p.m.


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Life sounds different by the sea. If you’re working on a film, game, or anything else that takes place near the ocean, you need authentic sounds captured by the water – and Sonomar Collection: By the Sea has you covered. While most ocean-based libraries focus on the sounds of waves and beaches, this unique library highlights the subtleties of everyday life by the sea.
Recorded in and around Monterey, California (including Route 1, Point Reyes, Vallejo, Carmel, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and San Francisco), Sonomar Collection: By the Sea captures the full breadth of the region’s natural and human ecosystem. From the chatter of gulls and sea lions to the bustle of Fisherman’s Wharf, the crunch of walking on seashells, and even room tones from a house by the sea, this is a snapshot of coastal life you won’t get anywhere else. And yes – you’ll still get the mighty roar of the Pacific, waves breaking on the beach and crashing into boulders, and dramatic winds only the untamed sea can stir up.
This library contains 500+ stereo and surround audio files (120 GB) created by sound artist Martin Pinsonnault (CODA, Dallas Buyers Club) and the Sonomar team. 148 of these files are cinema-ready 5.0 ambiences created from dual mid-side field recordings, plus stereo versions for additional flexibility. 74 more stereo-only recordings complete the set, giving you an authentic toolkit of sounds to create the perfect seaside atmosphere.
Each sound file is embedded with rich metadata to help you find the exact sound effect you need with fast, pinpoint search. Advanced metadata fields ensure compatibility across any database search platform such as SoundQ, Soundminer, BaseHead, Netmix, Workspace (Pro Tools), Find Tool (Media Composer), Media Bay (Nuendo), Reaper, Adobe Premiere, and beyond.
Included Sounds - Tags:
Ocean, Sea, Seaside, Coastal, Pacific, Monterey, California, San Francisco, Sea Lions, Seagulls, Insects, Waves, Beach, Dock, Traffic, City, Ambience, 5.0, Surround Sound


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It’s hard to say how you’ll feel about sex after childbirth. Regardless of whether you have a vaginal or cesarean birth, things can be really different—both in your body and in your life—after baby arrives. In this blog post, we’ll talk about what to expect in your postpartum sex life.
Your body after baby
There is a lot going on with your postpartum body. After birth, you may bleed for up to six weeks, regardless of how your baby was born. This discharge, called lochia, is made up of blood, your uterine lining, and mucus. If you delivered vaginally, you could have tearing, healing stiches, and soreness. If your baby was born via cesarean section, you had major abdominal surgery, plus your body likely prepared for vaginal birth so things could still feel different in your vagina and vulva. Plus, hormones from having a baby and breastfeeding can do all kinds of things to your libido and to the lubrication you’re used to during sex. Couple these changes with the possibility of birth injuries and ongoing incontinence, and you may not be feeling much like having sex, even if your care provider gives you the go ahead at your six week postpartum check up.
The important thing to remember is that the first few months to years after a baby can be really tough on your body, but this time won’t last forever. If you have problems with incontinence or pain, ask your care provider for a referral to pelvic floor physical therapy. Physical therapists who specialize in the pelvic floor can help you strengthen your body and treat symptoms like incontinence and pelvic, hip, and back pain. Pain and incontinence are common, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t evidence-based treatments that can help.
In terms of your hormones, it might take a while for things to get back to normal, especially if you’re breastfeeding. Cut yourself some slack and don’t expect that everything will come back right away. You have a new reality now, but it can still be a great one—even where your sex life is concerned.
Your relationship after baby
If you’re in a committed partnership and are co-parenting with your partner or spouse, expect that you’re going to have an adjustment period after baby in most relationship areas, especially sex. While you likely won’t be cleared for any penetrative sexual activity by your care provider until six weeks (or more!) after your baby is born, you may not feel like engaging in sexual intimacy for much longer and that’s absolutely okay. The emotion of becoming parents, the logistics of trying to help your new baby thrive, and the challenges of navigating the changes in your partnership can be a lot to manage.
The key is to try and communicate about everything—including sex—with as much understanding and kindness as you can. Perhaps you’re more interested in sex than your partner or vice versa. Try to approach your partner’s and your own needs with honesty, while also acknowledging that things might be tough. Whatever rough patches you hit aren’t going to last forever.
If there are imbalances in your and your partner’s sexual desires, talk openly about possible compromises. Some great options if one partner isn’t up for intercourse include mutual masturbation or one person receiving oral sex or a hand job. If one partner wants no part of sex for a while, that’s also okay; maybe the partner who is interested can please themself. It’s important—especially in the delicate time after baby is born—that consent is at the core of your sexual relationship.
When you’re ready
If you do feel ready to try sex, particularly of the penis-in-vagina or toy-in-vagina variety, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Have your birth control strategy in place. Even if your period hasn’t come back, you can still get pregnant. There are plenty of great birth control options that are safe if you’re breastfeeding. Keep in mind that if you’re still healing, condoms might not feel amazing.
- Communicate openly in advance of and throughout the intimate encounter. If something doesn’t feel right to either person, be prepared to stop. The sex will probably be less spontaneous, but you can be sure it’ll be more pleasurable for both people.
- Manage your expectations. If you can go into the experience with good humor and knowing that things will probably be different than before baby, you’re less likely to be disappointed. Strange noises and a bit of awkwardness can be a shared laugh instead of a terrible tragedy.
- Be prepared with lubrication. As discussed above, birth, hormones, and breastfeeding can really change your body’s natural lubrication. Dry sex can be painful, so it’s a great idea to have a water-based lubricant on hand. Use it liberally and don’t be afraid to reapply.
- If at first you don’t succeed, take a break and try again later, if you want. Maybe something’s really painful and you have to stop. Maybe your baby starts screaming partway through. Maybe you’re just not as into it as you thought you’d be. A different time, position, or mood can all mean more success later. Just because something’s tough now, doesn’t mean it always will be.