text:
USAA only sells policies to current and former members of the military and their families and is consistently rated at the top of its class by A.M. Best with an A++ financial strength rating. It doesn’t have an official customer service rating with J.D. Power, but USAA is noted by J.D. as providing “claims satisfaction and shopping satisfaction”. A perk of USAA is if your uniform is damaged or stolen in an event your policy covers and you are on active duty or deployed, USAA will reimburse you without you having to pay a deductible.
I don't believe it is fair that insurance companies are allowed, by law, to check your credit report. I have worked my fingers to the bone to attain good credit. My credit score was excellent. After having a new HVAC system put in it went down to "good." My car insurance went up $139. It it very unfair to pay more for insurance because my debt increased. My finances should not be any business of the insurance companies. I always pay my bills on time and have never been late with a premium payment. So So UNFAIR!!
When it comes to rate-saving opportunities, Allstate is in a league all by itself. Featuring an industry-leading stable of discounts, Allstate makes it easy to get a good deal on your coverage. For example, if you bundle your home and auto policies with Allstate, you can save up to 25%. If you haven’t filed a recent claim, you can save up to 20% with Allstate.
Progressive is another solid option for Texans, but lags slightly behind our top picks in both financial strength and claims satisfaction ratings. The differences are pretty minor, but they make it hard to justify Progressive over State Farm or Allstate on the basis of anything except price, which was about average. We did like how easy it was to get a quote through the website, though, and Progressive was the only other company we looked at to provide a Live Chat option.
Looking at a 20-year term life insurance policy (the most popular option) worth $500,000, we've determined what the average annual rates are for individuals between the ages of 25 and 65. One of the clear takeaways from the table: it's expensive to smoke. Smokers on average will pay an average of 260% higher premiums for their life insurance policies than non-smokers. This disparity is greatest for those between the ages of 40 and 55, with 40-year-old smokers paying over three times as much for their life insurance as non-smokers, while 25-year-old smokers pay only twice as much.
The cheapest car insurance, period, will likely carry the minimum coverage required in your state. In most states, this is liability insurance only, which covers property damage and medical bills for others due to accidents you cause. Some states also require uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which pay for your injuries or damage if an at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance.
Location: Insurance companies have to pay out if your car is stolen so they will take into consideration where your vehicle sits every night. “Insurance companies are constantly looking at data to justify rates. Where you live can definitely have an impact on rates if there is a higher incidence of theft or vandalism near your home compared with other areas of town. Urban areas usually have a higher rate of accidents and theft than rural areas, so rates are higher,” says Biggert. “Each geographic area has its own set of risks, and the insurance carriers know what they are and how often they occur.”
Amica consistently ranks among the top homeowners insurance companies for J.D. Power, and for good reason. It’d be easy to chalk it up to “good customer service”, but what exactly do customers value most when judging how good or bad a company’s customer service is? Insurance claims and how communicable they are through the underwriting process. When filing a claim with Amica, you can be sure it’ll be pain-free, mark it down.
If your car is worth more than $3,000 and/or is less than 10 years old, we'd also suggest both collision and comprehensive coverage, too. Our estimates suggest drivers can buy comprehensive and collision insurance for an average of $600 to $700 per year (however, the cost may be higher for some cars), so you would spend $3,000 to $3,500 in premiums over five years. If your car is currently worth less than $3,000, you will have spent more on insurance than your car is worth. You can obtain the estimated value of your car from sites like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds. Once you have both the value and a quote for coverage, you can determine whether collision insurance will be worth it.


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Michael Frayn; dir: Eric Tucker.
Copenhagen focuses on the 1941 meeting between Nils Bohr and Werner Heisenberg in occupied Denmark. This play explores both Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and the uncertainty of the human condition, the ethical responsibility of the scientist, the dawn of the nuclear age, and the trauma that was World War II. But it also looks at what we can know, or what can be known. What are the bonds that bring us together as people, and what can science ultimately know.
Copenhagen won the Tony Award for Best Play in 2000.

domain: library


Montpellier won their final Ligue 1 match of the season against Auxerre to claim their first-ever French league crown on Sunday.
Nigeria’s John Utaka scored a brace of goals to hand René Girard’s men a narrow 2-1 win and this result sees them finish 3 points above Paris Saint Germain after they downed Lorient at the Stade du Moustoir.
Elsewhere third placed Lille thumped Nancy 4-1 while Nice stunned Lyon 4-3 at the Stade Gerland.
Get a different perspective
Every story can be told in many ways: see the perspectives from Euronews journalists in our other language teams.


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NEWCASTLE’S shopping heartland is to undergo its biggest transformation for a generation.
Details of the multi-million pound plans, which could create up to 3,000 jobs, were unveiled today.
They include a major new department store, leisure outlets, offices, hotels, housing, student accommodation and new public spaces in the city centre’s biggest development since Eldon Square was built in the 1970s.
Covering 33 acres, the project, in a neglected corner of the city, could bring investment of around £800m and would place Newcastle’s shopping centre on a par with the likes of Leeds.
The city council is producing options aimed at reinforcing the city’s position as the region’s shopping capital after carrying out a study with the help of experts including English Heritage.
The planned development would see the re-use of historic buildings while there is some proposed demolition of 1960s and 70s buildings.
Consultations will get under way next month with residents, businesses and councillors before plans are finalised. Work could start in 2010 with a scheduled finish by the end of 2015.
The focus is on the east side of Pilgrim Street and the surrounding area which contains many dilapidated, empty buildings.
Many including the former fire station are owned by property developer Multiplex which is expected to unveil its plans soon.
Council leaders said retailers want to come to Newcastle but if they aren’t made welcome they will go elsewhere. Newcastle has fallen from 11th to 15th place in the national shopping league since 1995 and is in danger of slipping even further.
The aim is to provide an extra 75,000 sq metres of shopping floorspace by 2016 including expansion by existing retailers.
Redevelopment will be focused south of New Bridge Street West and there could be some demolition but the area contains many historic buildings which will be preserved and restored.
The study also included streets north of New Bridge Street West because of the impact the development will have, including pedestrian links. The aim is to create a "golden triangle’’ of shopping, building on the successes of Northumberland Street and Eldon Square, currently being expanded and modernised at a cost of £180m.
The new shopping area will be around half the size of the expanded Eldon Square and there could be around 200,000sq ft of office space with new restaurants and cafe bars.
Other ideas include a new cinema following the closure of the Odeon on Pilgrim Street and better links with the Quayside which could involve a new footbridge.
At the heart of the scheme is a new flagship department store to complement the likes of Fenwick, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis, and the new Debenham’s store planned in Eldon Square. Proposals also include high street shops.
At present around 78,000 people a day use Northumberland Street but only around 7,000 venture into Pilgrim Street.
Council leader Coun John Shipley said: "Our city is going through some very exciting changes, a real sign that Newcastle is on the up, and the regeneration of east Pilgrim Street will allow us to continue those changes into the next decade.
"This project will bring major economic benefits, employment opportunities and even new housing to Newcastle as well as reinforcing our position as the regional capital.
"The area has massive potential but is chronically under-used so it’s a crucial regeneration priority for us. Its historical architecture and proximity to the city centre mean there is a real opportunity for us to develop the area into a vibrant and distinctive new quarter.’’
In a report to councillors, head of planning and transportation Harvey Emms and head of property services Nick Rowley said: "The east Pilgrim Street area is a crucial regeneration priority located at the heart of the city centre adjacent to the main shopping area.
"Many of the buildings and sites are vacant or underused.
"The area is poorly connected, contains areas of poor environmental quality, yet is highly accessible.
"Through re-use of historic buildings and development of new buildings and public space it has great potential to become a distinctive new retail led, mixed use quarter of the city centre. Buildings include fine 18th century listed buildings and grand art deco 20th century buildings which give the area a distinctive, interesting character.
"However, there are also 1960s and 1970s buildings of no architectural or historic merit which could be demolished to make way for major new buildings creating a new gateway into the city centre."
A planning application for the scheme is expected in December 2008.


text:
Facebook is working with mobile operators to make phone-based payments easier and has launched an effort to standardize HTML5 to help developers write applications for more mobile handsets, its chief technology officer announced on Monday.
Luxury Brands Strive to Improve Messaging for Chinese Market
American Airlines Revamps Its Corporate Recognition Benefits
Storefront Travel Agencies Get Reimagined as Social Hubs
EasyJet Seizes on Thomas Cook’s Demise With New Packaged Vacation Offerings
Global Regulators Aren’t Aligned in Boeing 737 Max Recertification

domain: news


Big changes are happening in the lighting world. In December last year, Theo van Deurson, CEO of Philips, the world’s biggest lighting manufacturer, said: ‘We believe it is time to encourage the switch to energy-saving light bulbs.’
This year, on 9 March, EU leaders announced their intention to ban incandescent light bulbs by 2010. Then on 12 March, Gordon Brown said that the UK would be the first country in Europe to phase out high-energy light bulbs from ‘almost all’ domestic use by 2011.
At present, the electricity used to light the UK’s homes produces carbon dioxide emissions of around 7.8 million tonnes a year. ‘Banning incandescent light bulbs could save the UK two to three millions of tonnes of CO2 per year,’ says Dr Matt Prescott, who started the Ban the Bulb campaign two years ago (http://www.banthebulb.org/). ‘It’s a symbolic and significant start. At present, energy-saving CFLs [compact fluorescent lamps] account for only seven per cent of the UK market. This is now set to change.’
With the Draft Climate Change Bill outlining targets for a 60 per cent reduction in CO2 by 2050, change is clearly necessary. Yet we’re lighting our homes more than ever before. The average UK household has around 23 light bulbs, accounting for approximately 16 per cent of total domestic electricity. Electricity consumption by domestic lights and appliances has nearly doubled since 1970 and is set to increase by 12 per cent by 2010, according to Defra.
So who or what is to blame for this increase? It’s not just the ordinary tungsten lightbulb with its warm but wasteful glow. It’s also our habit of lighting whole rooms instead of just the areas we need, largely driven by a craze for halogen downlighters. ‘Interior designers have been enthralled by them for 25 years,’ says lighting designer John Bullock. ‘They’re meant to be spotlights, for accent lighting. But now they’re everywhere, giving off all this visual white noise. Before the Seventies we never had enough light – everything was under-lit. Now we have too much light and we’re very careless with the way we use it.’
Unnecessary and excessive use of artificial lighting is not only a waste of energy and money. It can also be obtrusive, irritating and a health hazard. Studies have shown how ‘overillumination’ can lead to headaches, fatigue, stress, and hypertension. Artificial light is even considered a ‘pollutant’. So what can we do?
Enjoy natural light
The sun is our most abundant and ecofriendly light source. As well as being a mood enhancer, it compares with the best fluorescents – and it’s free. The more you can allow in, the less you need to rely on artificial lighting. The best natural light comes from the north, according to Ian Armstrong, architect and founder of sustainable architectural practice Arco2, in Cornwall. ‘With north light there’s constant brightness, even if it’s a grey day,’ he says. ‘West-facing windows are good for evening sun. South light is brighter but you get more glare.’
To create a light, airy indoors
• Use pale colours for walls, ceilings and floors wherever possible
• Hang mirrors opposite windows
• Clean your windows, de-clutter right back during the day.
Think before you light
Decide how much and what type of lighting you need:
• General or ambient: provides overall space brightness
• Task: lighting for reading, writing, etc
• Accent: for table tops and counters or to highlight features
• Mood: coloured lights, candles, etc.
Choosing a bulb
• For general or task lighting, go for energy-saving CFLs. These now come in hundreds of shapes, sizes, colours and tones. Gone are the days of ugly fluorescent tubes that protruded beyond their lampshades.
• For a warm, yellowish light, choose a lamp with a low colour temperature (measured in degrees Kelvin) – less than 3500K. For a cooler, whiter light, go for a high colour temperature (3500K+ for cool and 5000K+ for cold).
• For accent or task lighting, try a good quality warm white LED. LEDs give off light in one direction so are natural spotlights. Colour-changing LEDs make good mood lights.
Eithne Farry has these bright ideas for transforming an old lampshade:
• Get painting. If it’s a plain shade, add stripes or spots or squiggles or use a potato print for a repeat pattern.
• If it’s a thick cardboard shade, make a pattern of constellations by piercing holes in the card with an upholstery needle or a compass.
• Draw tree branches, leaves and cherries onto the shade then cut out some of the shapes so that it’s like a stencil but with light as the paint.
Need a new lamp?
There are plenty to choose from – including a new wave of eco designs.
Find a vintage lamp on Ebay or buy from a secondhand shop (check that it will work with an energy-efficient bulb).
Eco lamps and shades
• Oliver Heath’s ‘Natural Wonders’ range combines colour-changing LEDs with low-energy bulbs so you can switch from task to mood lighting; Jasper Startup’s ‘Miss Light’ shades are made from sustainable plywood; designer Nahoko Koyama makes ‘Coron’ shades from old felt hats. All available at http://www.ecocentric.co.uk/
• Luminair LED lighting is made in the UK from sustainable materials. http://www.luminair.co.uk/
• 100 per cent recycled cardboard lampshades, handmade by Use UK, are available at http://www.nigelsecostore.com/
• Design collective Neues Licht fibreoptic lights work with low-energy lamps. http://www.cameronpeters.co.uk/
Glow in the dark
• Solar-powered garden lights require no wiring or power source. Just stake them in the ground to mark steps and paths or to use as security lights. British Eco, http://www.britisheco.com/
• Glow bricks and wind-up torches are available at http://www.nigelsecostore.com/
• Try Natural Magic candles, made using vegetable wax and essential oils – visit http://www.naturalmagicuk.com/
Most ‘standard’ light bulbs are incandescent lamps that use a very inefficient method of producing light. Only five per cent of the energy used is converted into light, the rest being turned into heat.
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)
Commonly called energy-saving bulbs, CFLs consume one-fifth of the power and last up to 12 times longer than incandescents – up to 12,000 hours. Replacing just one incandescent with a CFL can cut your lighting costs by up to £100 over the bulb’s lifetime. Most CFLs can’t be used with a dimmer switch, but there are a few dimmable models (http://www.megamanuk.com/). CFLs contain mercury, so need to be disposed of at a CFL recycling facility. Some retailers, such as IKEA, will recycle them for you. For more information: www.reuk.co.uk/Toxic-Mercury-in-CFL-Bulbs.htm
Tungsten halogen bulbs
Similar to incandescents but much smaller. One of the least efficient of all light sources (most function at 50W), their bright white light makes them popular as ceiling spotlights. Philips and Osram have energysaving 35W versions.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
‘Low-energy LED lights are the future of lighting,’ says designer Oliver Heath. ‘They have four times the lifespan of energy-saving bulbs, use as little as one to four watts – and they can change colour.’ First developed for use in digital clocks and dashboards, their technology has advanced in recent years but as yet, their light output is not bright enough for general lighting so they are best used as accent or mood lights.
This article first appeared in the Ecologist May 2007
For ethical and sustainable suppliers of Home and Business goods and services check out the Ecologist Green Directory here


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News & Updates
Due to the significant change expected in both the design and pricing of Small Group products, many carriers have announced that they are providing your clients an opportunity to renew during the fourth quarter of 2013, even if they renewed earlier in the year.
This Early Renewal option will not only help your clients achieve cost savings in 2014, but most importantly, it will provide them with more time to navigate the required changes wisely and find the best solution for them and their employees.
For your convenience, we have consolidated details for b&p's Small Group carriers offering an Early Renewal option into a one-page resource (use the link below). We expect a decision and/or details from our other Small Group carriers soon.
Offering an Early Renewal Option
Pending Details of an Early Renewal Option

domain: economics


text:
October 9 - January 3, 2021
From the gallery:
“A duo exhibition of work by Victoria Burge and Anna Hepler. The show will open on October 9, 2020 and be on view through January 3, 2021, at our Marfa location, 204 E San Antonio St, Marfa TX, 79843. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm, no appointment necessary. With public and staff safety in mind, all visitors must wear masks and observe social distancing guidelines throughout their time in the gallery. Permutations brings together two artists who use structure, sequencing, and re-interpretation as the basis of their artistic practice, each artist exploring how any one action can generate further possibilities in the next.
Anna Hepler’s works depict this by translating forms across many media, where each new creation is informed by the one preceding it. Her woodcut prints and sculpture suggest the appearance of cardboard, robust and familiar in design, she turns the notion inside out, bringing the organic beauty of its bending and folding to life. Other ceramic pieces become three-dimensional drawings, where the layers of clay become the ink, and the shapes become metaphors for family and home. Additional works, both two and three-dimensional sculptures, repurpose other materials, the heavily used lauan construction wood, becomes a study of board games as they reiterate and break down patterns. Victoria Burge finds inspiration in weavers’ draft notations and mathematical constructs, making marks and embossments on paper in a way that emulates the structures and interactions of such systems. Using the grid as her starting point, she investigates patterned sequences and geometric combinations using intuitive drawing to guide each work’s metamorphosis. Using a network of nodes, she redirects the eye through the implications of space, providing endless variations of connection. In other drawings, Burge deciphers draft notations found in textile books from the 1920s-1940s, interpreting these codes through white ink that play with the paper’s surface, hinting at the flow of light on water and the movement of waves.
Victoria Burge (b. 1976) Burge’s work has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Arts, Prints and Photographs at the New York Public Library, The Print Center, Philadelphia, PA, Blum & Poe in Los Angeles, CA and The Hunterian Gallery at the University of Glasgow. She has been awarded multiple residencies and grants, including the Ballinglen Arts Foundation in Ballycastle, Ireland; The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, Bethany, CT; the MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, NH, the Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia, PA; and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, New York, NY among others. Burge’s works are in the permanent collections of the the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the British Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Beinecke Library at Yale University, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Anna Hepler, (1969, Boston, MA) Anna Hepler was born in Boston, MA, and earned a BA from Oberlin College in 1992 and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1994. Hepler was a Henry Luce Foundation fellow in South Korea for one year, has received support from the Artist Resource Trust, the Roswell Artist in Residence Program, and an Individual Artist Fellowship from the
Maine Arts Commission in 2012. In 2017, Hepler was named the USA BARR Fellow and awarded $50,000 through the United States Artists Foundation. Anna Hepler’s work has been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, Japan; the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe, NM; the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, WI, the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA, the Portland Museum of Art, The Roswell Museum of Art, the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Nancy Margolis Gallery, NYC, University of Maine Museum of Art, Open Satellite in Bellevue, WA, Suyama Space in Seattle, WA, The Tamarind Institute, Albuquerque, NM, and Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque, NM. Her work is included in major public collections, including the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Tate Gallery, London, England, and the Portland Museum of Art, ME.
RULE Gallery, founded in 1991, has locations in Denver, CO, and Marfa, TX. RULE represents emerging and mid-career contemporary artists and artist estates, with a focus on fostering investigative art practices while developing artists’ long-term careers. Outside their robust in-house exhibition schedule, RULE coordinates programming in prominent institutions and non-traditional settings, expanding community engagement with the work. In addition, the gallery actively endeavors to bring greater recognition of the region’s historical art movements to a broader audience.”
204 E. San Antonio St
Marfa, 79843 TexasGet directions

domain: artistic


In a stunning turn of events within St. Petersburg’s City Hall, Mayor Bill Foster is expected to announce Todd Yost as the next city lobbyist, a move that is already raising questions about Foster’s ability to manage a cacophony of divergent voices troubled by the omnipresence of Deputy Mayor Goliath Davis.
Going into the final stages of the interview process, Yost was not said to be a finalist for the position. But Yost emerged as the final choice for several reasons, according to two sources familiar with the deliberations. First of all, consensus could not be reached on leading candidate. Finalists Rene Flowers and Joe Triolo were viewed as too partisan, while questions emerged about Tallahassee lobbyist John McBride’s work history.
But none of that had much to do with the decision to appoint Yost to one of the most visible positions in city government. No, the final factor was the ongoing crisis at City Hall involving Goliath Davis. Apparently, Yost, who works under Davis, could no longer effectively interact with his superior, who is said to be a “wrecking ball” in his new, revised position. One source says that Yost threatened to resign (the third such threat in recent weeks) if a resolution did not come about.
Foster said even though Yost doesn’t have experience in Tallahassee or lobbying other governments, he does have the intangibles for the job.
“He’s smart,” Foster said. “He’s innovative and a good communicator — those are the raw qualities I was looking for.”
Yost, who couldn’t be reached, started as director of codes compliance in October 2007. A University of South Florida political science graduate in 1993, he’s held several jobs with the city since starting in 1994. They include administrative assistant in community services/sanitation; recreation supervisor; facilities operations supervisor at Bayfront Center; capital and special projects coordinator of downtown facilities; contracts coordinator for internal audit; and systems analyst for the Oracle computer support team.


President Obama is making a stop in the mitten state this week.
The White House says President Obama is using the trip as a chance to check on efforts to improve Detroit.
During Wednesday’s trip, President Obama will visit the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to celebrate the comeback of the U.S. auto industry.
The industry was nearing collapse when he took office in 2009, but reported record sales in 2015.
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text:
KT, the largest communications service provider in Korea, has selected an integrated suite of Oracle Communications applications and technology for its next-generation Billing, Service Delivery Platform (SDP) and Operational Support Systems (OSS).
“Our organization seeks recognition as a global communications leader with IT offerings based on cloud computing and convergent communications services," Jae Lee, Senior Vice President of Business and Information System Transformation(BIT) Center, KT, said. "We selected Oracle Communications’ portfolio because the organization has a sound track record in the global market and productized solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of telecommunications companies seeking to offer superior service. KT, in partnership with Oracle, will be able to flexibly address customers’ needs and meet scalability requirements for future business expansion.”
In 2009 KT merged with KTF, its former subsidiary specializing in mobile communications services. As a result, KT sought an IT solution that would enable the company to develop and deliver complex, convergent services and more flexible offerings with an improved time to market and greater operational efficiency.
With its next-generation Oracle-based systems, KT will be able to transform its business platform to offer IP-based converged services more quickly while addressing rapidly changing market demands, according to a press release. KT expects the new platform will help the company improve customer satisfaction while lowering operational and network costs.
In order to ensure maximum flexibility in offer creation, payment options and partner management, KT will implement Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management.
KT plans to accelerate the introduction of triple play services via Oracle Communications Service Delivery products. The company expects that provisioning of value added services will increase average revenue per user and improve customer loyalty.
KT will also deploy Oracle’s Rapid Offer Design and Order Delivery (RODOD) solution to shorten order cycles with complete visibility across the order lifecycle and reduce operational costs through advanced order management capabilities and integrations.
KT selected Oracle’s Operational Support Systems applications including Oracle Communications Unified Inventory Management and Oracle Communications Network Integrity, as well as the following Oracle Communications Activation Applications: Oracle Communications Internet Protocol Service Activator (IPSA) and Oracle Communications Automatic Service Activation Program (ASAP), to enable the organization to maximize operational efficiency and return on investment.
“KT is undertaking a business transformation that will set the framework for improved customer service today and continued growth for the future," Bhaskar Gorti, senior vice president and general manager, Oracle Communications, said. "We are pleased the organization has selected Oracle solutions, which have already been adopted by the top 20 carriers globally. Oracle will support KT to establish innovative platforms and offer IP-based convergent services for the 4G era while reducing operational costs."


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Anonymous, the infamous hacktivist collective, has a new target: Donald Trump.
Apparently, the group isn't very happy with many of Trump's stances, particularly his call to ban all Muslim immigration to the United States.
Anonymous contends this proposed policy and the sentiments that drive it embolden ISIS and help it recruit.
In a video, Anonymous stated,
Donald Trump, it has come to our attention that you want to ban all Muslims [from entering] the United States. This policy is going to have a huge impact... The more the United States appears to be targeting Muslims, not just radical Muslims, you can be sure that ISIS will put that on their social media campaign. Donald Trump, think twice before you speak anything. You have been warned, Mr. Donald Trump.
This warning comes not long after Anonymous targeted ISIS following the Paris terror attacks in November.
Make no mistake: #Anonymous is at war with #Daesh. We won't stop opposing #IslamicState. We're also better hackers. #OpISIS — Anonymous (@GroupAnon) November 15, 2015
Anonymous recently claimed it eliminated thousands of social media accounts linked to ISIS.
Some celebrate and applaud the hacking group's tactics and political stances, but the group and its methods still remain controversial.
During the tumultuous events that followed the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, for example, Anonymous tweeted an image and purported it to be the officer involved. This turned out to be false.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is not backing down on his anti-Muslim rhetoric in spite of widespread condemnation, and even though a recent poll also revealed a majority of Americans do not agree with his call to ban Muslim immigration to the US.
Therefore, it appears unlikely threats from Anonymous will alter Trump's positions.
Watch the video Anonymous released about Trump below.
Citations: Anonymous claims it has eliminated 5,500 ISIS Twitter accounts (The Hill), What Anonymous Got Wrong in Ferguson (The New Yorker), Donald Trump Not Backing Down on Comments About Shutting Down Muslim Immigration (ABC News), Donald Trump's Plan on Muslims Is Opposed by Most Americans; GOP Is Split, WSJ/NBC Poll Finds (The Wall Street Journal)


text:
As a Coast Guard crew patrolled the water in a routine mission Wednesday, they spoke among themselves about the recent whale sightings in Boston Harbor.
“One breached like 5 feet off the port bow,” said Petty Officer Taylor Reaser, who saw two whales by the Harbor Islands on Tuesday around noon. “I could have reached out and touched it. It was really, really cool.”
Alongside his colleagues, Reaser set up a perimeter around the whales Tuesday, protecting the large mammals while they swam in the heavily-populated harbor. Reaser, who loves his work protecting humans on the water, said he felt a special pride watching over the wildlife and keeping them safe from boaters.
“I’d never seen whales before, but these were breaching all over the place” said Reaser, who grew up in Ohio. “Maybe in a video or an inflatable one in a pool, but never in person.”
Humpback whales, which often grow to around 50 feet as adults, have been spotted several times in the harbor since Sunday, including as recently as Wednesday morning. On Tuesday, the Boston Harbor Cruises tweeted out a video of the whale, saying “Have you heard the news?” State Department of Conservation and Recreation officials also shared a video of a humpback whale that was seen leaping from the water near the Deer Island wastewater treatment plant.
These unusual sightings come from the humpbacks looking for a snack in warmer waters closer to shore, experts said.
“The whales are following their food,” said Allison Ferreira, a spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Humpback whales feed on menhaden, also known as bunker or pogies, and experts say that kind of fish is what likely drew the young whale into the inner harbor.
Although humpback whale sightings in Boston Harbor are uncommon, they do happen. The juvenile whale in the DCR video has been spotted several times in the inner harbor since Sunday. Prior to that, a group of five to six humpback whales were spotted in the outer harbor on Aug. 24 and 25, according to Laura Howes, director of research and education for Boston Harbor Cruises.
“Sometimes younger animals try different things,” she said.
Howes said the whales that venture into Boston Harbor are typically juveniles who are looking to feed.
“We’ve been seeing this on and off as recently as this morning,” she said Wednesday. “I’m guessing it may continue. It appears pretty healthy. As far as we can tell, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
The video of the whale breaching the water has been viewed thousands of times on social media.
“It’s exciting,” said Susan Kane, the islands district manager for the state Department Conservation and Recreation. “I know it’s not unheard of, but what’s different this time, they seem to be enjoying being here.”
Kane said it was fitting that the Deer Island waste water treatment plant was clearly visible in the video. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that Boston was known for having the dirtiest harbor in America. The presence of whales and other marine life shows just how far the harbor has come.
“It’s not a safe place to be. It’s an extremely busy harbor,” Howes said, worried about the whale’s safety. “It could easily be hit. We’re hoping it will go away, for its own safety.”
Vessel strikes are one of the biggest threats to humpback whales, according to NOAA, and they are also susceptible to getting tangled up in fishing gear.
Several boaters boarded by Reaser and his crew Wednesday were surprised to hear of the whale sightings.
“This makes me feel safer,” said Tonya Brooks, as Coast Guard officers made sure the boaters had fire extinguishes, life jackets, and a working horn.
Ferreira said it’s important that mariners keep an eye out for whales and leave them alone. (For a complete list of NOAA’s whale watching guidelines, click here.)
“Don’t chase down the animals,” Ferreira said. “Just let them be.”
On the Coast Guard ship, Reaser passed a phone around the cabin to show the other crew members a video of the breach. Just a few feet off the boat, the whale’s head broke the surface, sending a spray of sea water high into the air.
“It’s amazing — it’s something different,” said Petty Officer Charles Damp, who has been with the Coast Guard for more than four years.
He’s seen whales and other large marine life out in the open seas near fisheries, but never in the harbor, he said.
“I’ve never even heard of that happening,” said Damp, scanning the surface hopefully as he wondered aloud if the great beasts were anywhere nearby.


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Everyday Bodysuit (Black)
This Everyday Bodysuit is a must-have for all your everyday needs! With a ribbed design and stretchy material, it's perfect for simple, classic looks. No need to worry about sacrificing style for comfort--this bodysuit gives you both! So pull it on and enjoy the coziness and versatility that come with it!

domain: design


text:
It’s a cruel summer: a global heat wave is sparking news, conversation, and wildfires. Thus far, the season has brought with it a line-up of record-breaking temperatures, resulting in advisories and warnings, blazes across Europe and North Africa, and, this week, potential for the hottest days ever in the central U.S.
Aside from the obvious discomfort of a heat wave (simply inconvenient for some, devastating and fatal for others), the dramatic weather delivers the concept of climate change from cerebral to literal—all you have to do is step outside.
More than 1,000 people have reportedly died from heat-related causes in Spain and Portugal; 35,000 acres have burned in France’s Gironde regional fire; Shanghai issued its highest heat alert for the third time this summer; and Britain is readying for its hottest day on record.
Stateside, this week is slated to bring highs of up to 110 degrees to areas of Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma, with warnings in effect in Southern California and parts of the Southwest. In Texas, residents are being urged to conserve water and power (heat plus drought equals a threat to these vital resources), all while experiencing an influx of insects and critters looking for relief from the sweltering sun. Oklahoma is expecting temperatures of 100 degrees and up for the next week. While heat is a summer reality, the New York Times notes that certain cities have already exceeded the number of 100-degree days typical for an entire season.
From land to sea, fire seasons to hurricanes, extreme weather is fast becoming our new normal. And though the U.S. legislation needed to address climate change is moving far slower than the world’s wildfires, there are still things that we can do to reduce our individual footprints—for the sake of hope, if nothing else.
For now, stay as safe as possible (use these tips on how to stay cool in the summer heat), help your neighbors (human and animal alike), and do your best to transmute your climate anxiety into positive action.
Hey there! Want to help us change the world every day through easy, achievable, eco-friendly tips and tricks? Sign up for the Brightly Spot and join our movement of over a million changemakers.


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I’ve talked about my love of the Mogollon Rim before and these adventurous, sun-soaked forest engagement photos just underscored and highlighted why I love this spot so much. The rim is near Payson in the middle of Tonto National Forest and it’s SUCH a great spot for an adventure session or an elopement. There’s a cool cliff, there’s pretty trees, there’s lakes (which we didn’t get to during this session), the Rim Road is SUPER fun for off-roading, there’s lots of cool hikes, etc etc etc.
And though in a lot of places the coolest spots are the hardest to get to, these awesome views right on the rim are off a parking lot. A decent portion of the Rim Road is pretty manageable for any car, it’s not till you’re driving a ways when it gets dicey and having a higher clearance vehicle is a huge bonus. This spot, in particular, was about 20 yards away from a parking lot.
I love hiking engagement sessions (and hiking elopements, haha) and I love the payoff of working hard and getting to The View, but it’s also nice to be able to get to a place like this with relative ease and still have a lot of privacy (I think only one couple passed us during the whole shoot on the rim).
And boy was this shoot a blast. I mean, any session that starts off with dogs is a great experience in my book, but it was so fun hanging with these two. They were so fun loving and easy going, and really just down to have fun. I *loved* how playful they were with the giant dandelions and making wishes and then the fluff getting stuck in David’s hair.
And (this is one of my favorite things ever) these two *hardly* ever looked at the camera. They were too busy looking at each other. And that, gentle reader, is the whole freaking point. Looking through every frame I grabbed, David and Leah focused on, connected with, and were playful with each other. It was a privilege to witness and document, and I’m honestly so stoked on these images 🙂
Like these Forest Engagement Photos? Then check out this Mogollon Rim Elopement.
Also big thanks to @gebrielandrynephoto + @nickpatton.photos for hosting and styling!
— Ryan + Styhiln
These are so beautiful! That light is just dreamy. And that pupper! Such a cutie:)
These are gorgeous and this lighting is magical
Absolutely adore your tones in this and the emotion that is exuded.
I am in love with these engagement photos! And you picked such a stunning location!
THE PUPPY! So fluffy and cute. These are really beautiful!
These photos would have been pretty darn near perfect without the dogs. With them the whole session is just TOO AMAZING!
OKAY that one photo is FIRE with the flower pieces falling. These two are adorable, great captures. The rim is so funny, one of the least adventurous places in Arizona I think, but one of the most serene places to be in Arizona.
Holy, dang, WOW!! This looks like an epic adventure and cannot believe it’s not a like 8 mile hike! Your images are so freaking amazing!! You keep blowing me away!!
Check out that light! And Doggies! This elopement has it all. Thanks for sharing!
I just love your bright and colorful style of photography! And their dog is so CUTE!
That light and his hair!!!! Incredible!
[…] hiking, and soaking in the amazing views. For more Mogollon Rim inspiration, check out this adventure engagement session or this cliffside elopement […]

domain: geography


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53 stylish blue walls ideas for blue painted accent walls rh elledecor com living room with dark blue walls living room with dark blue wallsFrom minimal accents to extravagant mono color spaces a bit of blue can bring a whole lot of perspective to a room dive into these inspiring dering hall
Posted on May, 13 2019 by Michael Burnstagged with :
Room with blue walls - the blue room is the center of the state floor of the white house over the years the blue room s oval shape and breath taking view of the south lawn of the white house has captivated many visitors don t miss out on a single show signup and the blue room newsletter will keep you informed on all of our shows and events the blue room with the yellow oval room above and the diplomatic reception room below it form the most elegant space of james hoban s plans for the white house a darkened historic blue oval room blue is the most blackened of our blues giving it a subtly aged feel named after the attractively shaped rooms of the late 18th century it sits perfectly with our popular greys to create depth and balance in either a hall or a darker cosier family room there s a reason people love to paint their walls blue this hue can e off as evocative and moody or serene and calming and it almost always.
goes with other colors the yellow oval room is an oval room located on the south side of the second floor in the white house the official residence of the president of the united states features great light balcony crazy bed mechanic description shall we sleep together or in separate beds you can decide at the last moment and crank the illuminated barrier between the bed halves up blue is a go to shade for top designers whether it s used as a statement color or simply an accent in a room here designers reveal their favorite shades of blue paints a daybed in the guest room of this h ton s home is draped with a vintage throw and the sofa is by mitchell gold bob williams the cocktail tables from tonic home have custom made tops by plexi craft the side tables are by jonathan adler and the walls are painted in benjamin moore regal in patriot blue create a brooding sense of intrigue by painting.
your walls and surfaces in a dramatic dark shade on trend darker shades of paint may feel like a risky move but


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Well, there has not been a lot of jewellery made for the last few days.
My daughter is graduating from her college on Thursday – having gained distinctions in practically everything she has done over the past 2 years – and she is now a fully trained and very competent Holistic Therapist. Anyway, she wanted a dress to wear for the college “Leavers’ Ball”, and as she couldn’t afford to buy one she asked me if I would make something for her. Now I have done a dressmaking course and have a qualification in Fashion Design but I tend towards the more ‘theatrical’ designs and I am not necessarily that happy following a conventional pattern design – however, I am fairly happy with what I have made for her. It is really hard to photograph without a body in it but you might get the idea from this photo! It is a one shoulder design with a ‘fishtail’ over skirt which falls to one side and is made from a lightweight black crepe fabric.
I couldn’t resist adding a bit of a extra decoration to break up the shoulder-to-hem blackness of the fabric…so I made a bunch of organza roses and sewed a broach pin onto it so she can pin it where she likes. They are really quite easy and satisfying to make because they don’t take very long put together and the effect is quite stunning! Again, they are really hard to photograph because the fabric has quite a sparkle to it and reflects the flash back in all sorts of odd ways!
But I am quite pleased with the fruits of my labour….and I am sure I can put together some silver jewellery to go with it!!
I hope she has a wonderful day. She is a very clever girl…as a mother of 2 little ones it has not been easy for her to fit in a full time college course – but she has done it and excelled!!
We are so very proud of her!!.


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The attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning in Finote Selam, a town in Amhara’s West Gojjam zone, a local doctor told the Guardian.
It is not clear how many of the victims are civilians. Residents said the attack targeted members of the Fano ethnic militia who had gathered in the town centre, but added that several bystanders were also hit.
Hospital officials told the Guardian that 26 people had died and at least 50 others were wounded, making the attack one of the deadliest single episodes since violence erupted across Amhara in early August.
Fano militia have seized control of several towns across Amhara, raising fears of another war in northern Ethiopia, just nine months after a ceasefire ended a brutal two-year conflict in the neighbouring Tigray region.
The militia sprung inmates from prison, trashed government offices and looted weapons from police stations. The government responded by declaring a state of emergency and turning off the internet.
Tanks rolled through major towns, including the regional capital, Bahir Dar, and artillery was used in civilian neighbourhoods. In several places, the security forces fired on people who were blocking roads. The authorities have not commented on how many civilians were killed.
After a week of fighting, the government said on Wednesday that it had reclaimed control of Amhara’s towns and promised that services would restart, although observers fear Fano now plans to wage a guerrilla campaign.
Clashes continue to be reported in some rural areas.
Amhara forces fought alongside federal troops in the Tigray conflict, seizing several disputed territories, but the relationship broke down in April, when the government announced a plan to integrate regional forces into the military.
The Amhara, who are Ethiopia’s second biggest ethnic group, say their voices were not heard in the peace deal that ended the conflict. They fear their new, hard-won territories may be returned to Tigray.
In late April, unidentified gunmen, who are believed to have been Fano militia members, shot dead the head of the local branch of the ruling Prosperity party. In June, the government said it had killed 200 “extremists” during a shootout at a remote monastery. Activists say clergy were among the dead.
This month’s unrest prompted the state carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, to suspend flights, and foreign governments warned their residents to shelter in place as regional government officials and members of parliament fled.
On Friday, the UK and US, among other countries, said they were concerned by the violence and urged a peaceful solution. The World Health Organization and Save the Children have warned the violence is disrupting humanitarian operations in Amhara.
Ethiopia’s parliament was due to vote on the state of emergency on Monday. The measures ban public gatherings and allow the police to detain suspects without a court order.
The state-appointed human rights commission said on Monday that it has received credible reports of civilian deaths this month. It also said there had been “widespread arrests of civilians who are of ethnic Amhara origin” under the emergency rules in Addis Ababa, the capital.
The authorities reject allegations that they are conducting mass arrests. On Saturday, a government statement said only 23 people had been arrested in Addis Ababa under the state of emergency, including a prominent opposition politician.

domain: sociology


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Well-located in Cambridge city centre, Cambridge City Hotel is set amid historic colleges and excellent shopping. It has a restaurant, Irish pub, a gym and a sauna.
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Situated on the banks of the River Cam in historic Cambridge, this Hilton hotel offers air-conditioned rooms, the Riverside Brasserie and a health club with indoor pool and spa.
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Overlooking Cambridge’s Parker’s Piece, this striking Victorian building offers rooms with satellite TV and a fine-dining restaurant. The University Arms is 10 minutes’ from Kings College.
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domain: travel


text:
If I had to pick just one scone recipe to use forever, these fluffy, flavorful cream scones would be the winner.
What are scones anyway? Are you really asking me this? Ok, some of you are, and I forgive you for not knowing. Scones are quick breads with just the right amount of sweetness. They are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, and are made from just a few simple ingredients: flour, butter, a liquid such as heavy cream or buttermilk, sugar (usually a small amount), and sometimes eggs. Eggs make scones richer in flavor but heavier in texture. Today’s recipe uses heavy cream as the liquid, which gives the scones a wonderfully subtle and sweet taste with a rich texture.
I know that some people don’t get the fascination with scones, and for a long time I was among them. I think it’s just because some of the scones out there don’t do justice to a real, traditional scone as they’re too dense and flavorless, but trust me that this recipe is the one. They are perfect either plain or with your favorite add-ins such as chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, or fresh berries.
There are 2 common methods for cutting scones. The first is traditional rounds, which are made by patting the dough into a 3/4-inch thick circle, then cutting out pieces using a biscuit cutter. This method will leave you with some extra dough that you’ll then need to press back into another piece and repeat the process.
The second method leaves you with no leftover dough. Simply tap the dough into a circle, then cut it into 8 wedges, like a pizza. This yields 8 large scones. For 12 smaller scones, you can cut the dough into two, then pat each half into a circle and cut into 6 wedges. The only rule is that each circle should always be 3/4-inch thick.
If the dough doesn’t come together easily or if it’s too dry and crumbly, add a bit of water. If the dough is too wet and sticky, making it hard to handle, add a bit of flour. It’s super important to avoid overworking the dough as much as possible, though, because the less mixing you do, the softer the scones will be.
Use cold ingredients when making scones, otherwise the butter will melt fast and the dough will be messy and hard to work with. I place both the flour and sliced butter in the freezer for 15 minutes, and use cold heavy cream.
- 2 cups (280 g/10 oz) all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup (50 g/1.7 oz) granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup (75 g/2.6 oz) cold butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
- 1 cup heavy cream , plus 1 tablespoon (for brushing the tops)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup add-ins of your choice (see post for ideas), optional
- Coarse/turbinado/demerara sugar , for sprinkling
- Preheat the oven to 400F/200C. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Cut in the butter using a pastry blender or your fingers. Alternatively, you can pulse the ingredients in a food processor. Mix until mixture resembles coarse meal and there are uneven pieces of butter throughout.
- Add most of the cup of heavy cream, leaving a bit for adding if needed. Add vanilla extract and stir with a spatula or fork until dough begins to form. If dough is too crumbly, add more heavy cream as needed—up to 1 cup in total. Don’t overmix. Gently fold in your add-ins, if using.
- Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead gently, about 5-6 times, until a ball forms.
- For round scones: Pat dough into a 9×6-inch rectangle about ¾-inch thick. Using a 2.5-inch (6.5 cm) biscuit cutter, cut out 6 rounds. Press the leftover dough into another ¾-inch thick piece and repeat the process to get 2-3 more biscuits.
- For triangular scones (easier method): Pat dough into a 9-inch (23 cm) circle about ¾-inch thick. Cut circle into 8 even wedges.
- Place scones on prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops with heavy cream and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer baking sheet to a wire rack and allow to cool for 10 minutes. While scones are still hot, sprinkle again with coarse sugar for extra crunchiness.
- These scones are delicious either warm or at room temperature.
- Scones are best eaten the same day they are made, but can be frozen for up to 1 month. If you want to serve them warm, reheat in the oven before serving.

domain: food


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Here’s Hilary Duff filming some scenes for her new TV show Younger in Central Park yesterday afternoon, and whispering into a horses ear. Yup, she’s literally a “horse whisperer”. And she looks thrilled to have to do so. But who gives a flying #### about that? Get a load of that huge booty in those tight jeans! Dayuuuuuumn girl! That booty just keeps getting more and more bootylicious, eh? And hey, she’s also showing off her sexy little legs, and curves, and her gummybear thighs in said tight jeans, and busting out quite a bit in a few of the shots as well, but seriously, it’s all about that booty if you ask me. Or the horse. Alright, enjoy the photos and check out the rest after the jump!
Click here to see the rest of the Pictures (21 Photos)
Read the rest of this entry ?

domain: celebrity


Dell has added a new desktop computer to its Vostro business line called the Vostro 430. The machine is optimized for Windows 7 due to launch this month and has a starting price of $699. Dell offers a wealth of options that will push that starting price up significantly.
Buy Now: Sony PlaysStation VR In Stock Here
The Vostro 430 can be fitted with Intel Core i5 or Core i7 CPUs and has graphics options from both NVIDIA and ATI. The machine also has lots of expandability options with support for up to 16GB of RAM and two 1TB HDDs.
Don't Miss: Incredible Pokemon Gifts
The machine supports touch screens and multi-touch technology with an optional touch screen LCD. Other options include multiple monitors, Blu-ray, memory card readers, and IEEE 1394a connectivity. The 430 is available now globally.


Music can be magic and powerful, managing to touch our emotions. Music can connect with others such as our culture and our language. We realize something we can share and talk about.
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Top 40 Acoustic Guitar Covers Of Popular Songs – Best Instrumental Music 2019
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Our body comprises 65% to 70% of water (the figure depends on the age or the body mass…) Our cosmetics almost match this figure, or may even be higher in water! Water is very often the main ingredient of all the care and beauty products we daily use. That is saying a lot aout its importance. Let us dive into water of our cosmetics.
The first term in the list of the ingredients of a cosmetic product is generally "Aqua", the official name of water in the International Nomenclature of Cosmetics Ingredients.
This list displays ingredients in order from the most important in weight: therefore, this means water is the main ingredient in regard to all the others in the product.
In fact, a care cream may contain 60 to 85% of water, a percentage that could top 90%! Lotions, shower-gels and shampoos may even go up to 95%!
Only oils combinations (for massage or as serums), fatty cosmetics such as lipsticks or "dry" products (powders and blushes…) can do without.
Needless to say that its percentage makes its quality a factor of the utmost importance. An "ordinary" water, such as tap water, is not suitable for cosmetics.
Atop of being bacteriologically faultless, without any germs or bacteria, odourless, it shall not contain (or at least, in very low quantities) calcium or heavy metals (such as lead, copper, iron…) or unwanted minerals.
Previous to being in our jars of cosmetics, it goes through different treatments to prevent it from being a source of contamination of the product; underneath, some of them:
• Softening water by removing calcium.
• Demineralization gives chemically pure water, without any minerals.
• Filtration removes all micro-organisms.
• Distillation (water boils, then its vapor is condensed) gives sterile water.
• Reverse osmosis (a filtration on membranes with nanometric holes, coming sometimes after an electrodeionization) gives demineralized and sterile water at the same time.
All these processes may be used alone or in series, to get completely pure, cosmetics-grade water, on which advanced sanitary quality controls are performed.
From "dead water" to active water
Water is used mainly as a solvent. It has very specific properties to dissolve solid or gaseous active ingredients, if they are hydrosoluble. A daily experience, easy to see when a piece of sugar is dropped in our cup of tea!
It comes also with moisturizing properties, if only it comprises some ingredients reducing its evaporation rate from skin.
However, purified and sterile, water does not give any specific property to the product; that is why it is ofen referred to as a "dead ingredient". Still waters run deep, the motto says. Cosmetics manufacturers then tried to find out specific waters, both without any unwanted quality and that could be an active ingredient…
As an example, have a look to Institut Esthederm , which formulate all its products with an "Eau Cellulaire", "energized water, a carbon-copy of water contained in our cells"…
When water becomes an active ingredient
Generally, thermal waters give a clue to the claims of the cosmetics in many lines.
Avène water, for instance, is said to be soothing and anti-irritation, and is used in lines for sensitive skins. Same application for La Roche-Posay , with its high selenium content, and renowned for reducing skin sensitivity, or for the Uriage spring…
Water from Cauterets is used for its purifying properties on oily skins in Galénic line, while water from Fumades-les-Bains is used for its healing and disinfectant properties in Dermatherm formula for intolerant skins…
Water from Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, rich in oligo-elements, soothing and decongestant, water from Vichy and Balaruc-Les-Bains or, from abroad, water from the Thermes de Cilaos in the Reunion Island …
Sea water, especially Black Sea’s, has also its believers.
Sales points are self-evident. All these waters are renowned for their minerals and oligo-elements contents, and their beneficial properties, sometimes very close to medical applications, are highlighted to give proof of their usefulness on skin.
And "organic" water?
Even if very pure, even if 100% from natural origin, even if no chemical treatment has been applied, water can never be called organic. This, only because it is not "grown" as per organic agriculture requirements.
Due to its high percentage in products, this is a true disadvantage for organic cosmetics, especially when time comes to display the percentages of organic ingredients on the label!
How to claim for at least 10% of organic ingredients (the mandatory minimum content needed for the logo to be applied on the label) in a 95% water-based shampoo? Even 10% seems a very low figure to the average consumer’s eyes, even if all the vegetable ingredients are organic…
The answer came from floral waters. As they are the same solvent as pure water, and as they contain a vegetable ingredient (which may also be an active ingredient), they may be qualified as organic. Convenient and easy to use as a selling point, this is more and more used… along an increase of the figures of organic ingredients on labels! Magic bullet waters!

domain: chemistry


text:
Labor Board v. Automotive Maintenance Mach. Co., 315 U.S. 282 (1942)
U.S. Supreme CourtLabor Board v. Automotive Maintenance Mach. Co., 315 U.S. 282 (1942)
Labor Board v. Automotive Maintenance Machinery Co.
Argued February 3, 1942
Decided February 16, 1942
315 U.S. 282
CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT
Findings of the Labor Board sustained as supported by substantial evidence. P. 315 U. S. 282.
116 F.2d 350 reversed.
Certiorari, 314 U.S. 596, to review a judgment setting aside an order of the National Labor Relations Board, 13 N.L.R.B. 338, ordering the company to cease and desist from unfair labor practices; to cease giving effect to a contract with an "inside" union; to withdraw recognition from, and to disestablish, that union; to reinstate with backpay three discharged employees, and to post notices, etc. A provision of the order for reimbursement of certain Government relief agencies was abandoned by the Board.

domain: law


text:
For as long as most of us can remember, air travel hasn’t been a whole lot of fun. As airlines crawl out of virus-lockdown mode, passengers can expect it to be even more of a bummer, with new temperature check points, lines of distancing people stretching into the parking lot, and plexiglass barriers isolating baggage clerks, baristas, and other staffers.
Face masks and gloves will be de rigueur, disinfectants will be everywhere, and even though many processes will be automated to minimize human interaction, industry officials predict travel times will have to increase to accommodate the hygiene-inspired precautions.
“Going through an airport, the whole travel experience, will be as enjoyable as open-heart surgery,” says Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer of Dubai Airports, whose workers wear disposable gowns and safety visors that wouldn't look out of place in a Covid-19 ward.
As governments draw up plans to get the world flying again, proposals aimed at keeping passengers safe are often confusing and contradictory—for instance keeping people from sitting next to each other at the departure gate but cramming them six or eight abreast for hours during a flight. And if implemented long-term, executives say they could do almost as much damage to airline and airport profits as remaining closed altogether.
Keeping 400 people—the capacity of many jumbo-jets—two meters from one another “means a queue of close to a kilometer, which fills up the departure hall and out into the car park,” says John Holland-Kaye, CEO of London’s Heathrow airport. Enforcing a two-meter rule could reduce the airport’s capacity to 20% of its usual level, he says. “That’s not something we can keep doing until a vaccine comes along.”
Instead, Holland-Kaye says airports would do better to screen passengers for Covid-19 at the terminal entrance. Heathrow, Europe’s busiest hub, is testing a thermal detection system intended to identify people with the virus, technology that’s been used in Asia for years. The U.K. government, though, has yet to endorse it.
At Frankfurt airport, Europe’s fourth-busiest, check-in counters, baggage-claim areas, and boarding-pass and security checkpoints have been redesigned to ensure people stay at least 1.5 meters apart, with markings on the floor indicating the required distance. Hundreds of posters and digital displays promote distancing, the PA system lights up every five minutes in multiple languages with announcements on distancing rules, and trained agents walk the halls to enforce them. Disinfectant dispensers are ubiquitous, and plastic shields have been installed anywhere staff interact with customers.
“We’ve put in place a good package of measures to reduce the risk of getting infected,” Matthias Zieschang, chief financial officer of Fraport AG, the operator of the Frankfurt airport, said on a call with analysts.
At Amsterdam Schiphol, Europe’s No. 3 hub, every second check-in desk and departure gate is closed to minimize mixing, and at baggage claim each flight gets its own belt. Munich has installed a vending machine dispensing masks, sanitary wipes, and disposable gloves. Helsinki airport, a major crossroads for travel between Europe and Asia, provides masks for anyone who doesn’t have one and requires people meeting arriving passengers to stay in their cars or wait in a deserted terminal building that has been idled.
At Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, alternating seats are blocked off. Cleaning staff spray the terminals with disinfectants every night, and the elevator floors are marked to ensure distancing—allowing just three people in a spacious cabin. At a pharmacy, there’s a mannequin wearing a mask and visor in addition to an inflatable neck pillow. And the airport is testing new Chinese-made machines that can check the temperatures of 16 people per second as they leave baggage claim. Passengers with a fever will be pulled aside and given the option of seeing the airport's medical personnel and a rapid Covid-19 diagnostic test.
“If they refuse, that’s their choice,” says Edward Arkwright, deputy CEO of Aeroports de Paris. “We're counting on individual freedom and a sense of responsibility. The aim is to put in place measures that will instill confidence so everyone feels they can travel safely.”
What’s not feasible, airlines say, is blocking off rows of seats aboard aircraft to maintain distancing at 38,000 feet. Such a move would do little to contain the virus while hammering profits at airlines, the International Air Transport Association says. With middle rows removed, single-aisle jets would fly no more than two-thirds full, whereas 70% is needed just to break even, according to the trade group.
De facto distancing will happen anyway, says Jozsef Varadi, CEO of low-cost carrier Wizz Air, because few people are likely to book seats once airlines start to expand their schedules again. He says he has no plans to limit the number of passengers. Some travelers, though, are already complaining that carriers are letting planes get too full.
“Airlines are in the business of delivering passenger health and safety, but also economic efficiency,” Varadi says. “We are not structurally looking to get rid of physical seats.”
Instead, carriers expect protective equipment, disinfectants, and restrictions on movement to keep the virus from spreading. Varadi says his customers will need to cover their faces throughout the journey. Crew will don masks and gloves, meal service will be minimal, and contactless cards will be needed for any purchases. There will be no in-flight magazines or catalogs, and planes will be disinfected with an antiviral fog between trips. And low-cost giant Ryanair Holdings Plc says it will require passengers to make a special request to use the toilet to prevent queuing in the aisles.
Some airports are placing their hopes on a system that combines screening with certificates showing that the holder is either free of the disease or has had it and is immune, as well as contract-tracing that will allow cases to be tracked should a flare-up occur.
Vienna airport lets arriving passengers avoid a 14-day government quarantine by undergoing a molecular-biological test in a facility near the airport. Departing passengers who are tested can get a document proving they’re virus-free to present to officials upon landing. But the test must be booked days in advance, takes about three hours for results, and at 190 euros costs more than many flights.
For Dubai Airports chief Griffiths, it all adds up to a pressing need for a vaccine. While the emergency measures being introduced may help boost passenger confidence, he says they’re not sustainable either for companies or the traveling public.
“This crisis is unlike anything we've ever seen in the aviation business,” he says. “We're dealing with a monster.”
© Copyright 2024 Bloomberg News. All rights reserved.


Fruit from the state of Pará, in the North of Brazil, are pleasing the taste of foreign consumers. From January to March, exports of fruit juice from the Brazilian state totaled to US$ 9.4 million, representing growth of 203% over the same period of last year.
The figures were supplied by the Pará State Secretariat for Development, Science and Technology (Sedect).
The main destination countries were the United States, Chile, Japan, Argentina and the United Kingdom. According to a release issued by the Brazilian Fruit Institute (Ibraf), the exotic flavors of fruit from Pará are among the factors that contributed to the expansion of juice exports.
According to the superintendent director of the Ibraf in northern Brazil, Sergio Menezes, assai was the main fruit responsible for the rise in sales.
"The reason for that is the huge success that assai has enjoyed in the American market. It is by far the main reason for the upward curve in exports of processed fruit from Pará," asserted Menezes.
Of the US$ 9.4 million in fruit juice exports, approximately 95% derived from assai, also known as açaí and acai according to figures supplied by the Sedect.
One of the Pará-based companies whose flagship is assai pulp is Bela Iaçá, which started exporting approximately three years ago, and in a short while conquered customers in the United States, Canada and Japan. Of the average output of 70 tons per day, around 60% is exported.


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5 Ways A Blood Sugar Imbalance Can Affect Your Health
If you're like most people, you probably don't think about your blood sugar all that often. But if you have a blood sugar imbalance, it's something that you should definitely be aware of. Blood sugar imbalances can cause problems with everything from your energy levels to your weight to your overall health. Here are five ways that a blood sugar imbalance can affect your health.
1. You're Thirsty All The Time
A blood sugar imbalance can affect your health in many ways. One way is by making you thirsty all the time. When your blood sugar is high, your body tries to get rid of the excess sugar by flushing it out in your urine. This makes you thirsty, and you drink more fluids to try to compensate. But drinking more fluids only leads to even more urination, and so the cycle continues.
If you have diabetes, or if you are prediabetic, it’s important to monitor your blood sugar levels carefully. If you notice that you are thirsty all the time, it could be a sign that your blood sugar is out of balance. Talk to your doctor about ways to keep your blood sugar levels under control.
2. You Tend To Urinate Often
If you have to urinate often, it could be a sign that you have a blood sugar imbalance. When blood sugar levels are high, the kidneys work overtime to get rid of the sugar by flushing it out in the urine. This can lead to an increase in urination frequency and volume. If you're noticing that you have to go more often than usual, it might be a sign that you need to get your blood sugar under control. This can lead to dehydration and other health problems. If you think you might have a blood sugar imbalance, it's important to see a doctor so they can diagnose and treat the problem. Left untreated, blood sugar imbalances can cause serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
3. You'll Have Vision Problems
Having vision problems is just one way that blood sugar imbalances can affect your health. When blood sugar levels are out of balance, it can start to impact many different parts of the body, including the eyes. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults in the United States.
There are several ways that blood sugar imbalances can cause vision problems. For example, high blood sugar levels can damage the retina, which is the part of the eye that captures images. Additionally, when blood sugar levels are high over a long period of time, it can result in a condition called diabetic retinopathy, which is a leading cause of blindness in people with diabetes.
So if you are experiencing vision problems, it's important to get your blood sugar levels checked out by your doctor. Addressing any blood sugar imbalances early on can help prevent further damage to your eyes and improve your overall health.
4. It Causes You To Feel Tired All The Time
If you're feeling tired all the time, it could be a sign that your blood sugar levels are imbalanced. When your blood sugar is out of balance, it can affect your overall health and make you feel tired and sluggish. There are several things you can do to help get your blood sugar back in balance, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and reducing stress. If you're having trouble managing your blood sugar on your own, talk to your doctor about ways to improve your situation.
5. You Oftentimes Get Confused
Many people with blood sugar imbalances can often show how it can affect their health by being easily confused. When someone has fluctuating blood sugar levels, it can cause the brain to not function as well as it should. This can lead to a person feeling confused and not thinking clearly. Oftentimes, people with blood sugar imbalances will experience this because their blood sugar levels are constantly changing. It is important to monitor your blood sugar levels so that you can manage them and stay healthy.
How Does A Naturopathic Doctor Help Treat Blood Sugar Imbalance?
A naturopathic doctor can help treat blood sugar imbalances in various ways. For example, they may recommend changes to your diet or exercise routine, or they may prescribe herbal supplements or homeopathic remedies. Additionally, a naturopathic doctor can help you to manage stress and improve your overall health. If you are experiencing problems with blood sugar control, it is important to see a naturopathic doctor for help. They can develop a treatment plan specifically for you that will help to get your blood sugar levels under control.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms we’ve talked about in this article, it is important to get checked out by a doctor. Early diagnosis and treatment can make all the difference when it comes to blood sugar imbalances. Have you been dealing with some of these symptoms? If so, please call us today – we would be more than happy to help get your health back on track!
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The materials available on this website are for informational and entertainment purposes only and not for the purpose of providing medical advice. You should contact your doctor to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking medical or other professional advice. The information presented on this website may not reflect the most current medical developments. No action should be taken in reliance on the information contained on this website and we disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this site to the fullest extent permitted by law.

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Do license plate readers enhance the initial and residual deterrent effects of police patrol? A quasi-randomized test
Controlled Research Utilizing a Basic All-Metal Detector in the Search for Buried Firearms and Miscellaneous Weapons
Through the Looking Glass Part II: Abuse of the Evolving Electronic Cigarette and the Impact of Vaping Ethanol in the Evaluation of Impairment
A New Approach to Utilizing Evidence from Sexual Assault Kits in Texas: Benefits and Costs of a Universal Testing Statute
Selection and Application Guide to Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor For Law Enforcement, Corrections and Public Safety: NIJ Selection and Application Guide-0101.06
NIJ seeks proposals to establish a Criminal Justice Technology Research, Test, and Evaluation (RT&E) Center within the NIJ-funded NLECTC System. This Center will conduct focused RT&E activities to inform NIJ's non-forensic technology research and development (R&D) efforts. It will also conduct RT&E activities to support NIJ's efforts to inform practitioners, policymakers, and researchers ('the field') regarding technologies or technology-related issues for purposes of improving criminal...


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While we wait for the October 4 Apple Media Event, the news of the next generation of the iPhone continue to surface. While the design more or less remains a secret, we have seen everything from the hardware specifications of the iPhone 4S to the cases of the iPhone 5. However, Sprint was once again up with revealing the availability of the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5, today it was Radio Shack revealing the same.
Radio Shack’s inventory list had some information on the iPhone 5 and being mentioned as 1003271 16GB SPRINT APPLE IPHONE 5 and 1003371 32GB SPRINT IPHONE 5. This isn’t surprising as already mentioned we have been seeing a lot of leaks in terms of release of iPhone 5. It seems these wont be ending until Tim Cook finally takes the stage to announce the iPhone 4S or give us the dates for the release of iPhone 5.
We are waiting for the event, wondering if Apple will actually be live-cast the event or not. Any clues?


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Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Coconut Drink – Happy Birthday
5.5” by 4.25” card base in natural layered with green, yellow and brown striped designer paper and a strip of burlap. Coconut with straw and drink umbrella stamp on natural paper.
Text stamped in gold reads “Happy Birthday ”
Materials: adhesive, ink, cardstock, burlap


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Cincinnati Art Museum presents Conversations around American Gothic (Cincinnati Art Museum Press Release, August 11, 2014)
Cincinnati Art Museum Announces New Director (Cincinnati Art Museum Press Release, July 29, 2014)
Charles James gowns part of “High Style” fashion exhibit at Fine Arts Museums in 2015 (SFGate, July 10, 2014)
2014-15 Exhibition Schedule Announced (Cincinnati Art Museum Press Release, June 23, 2014)
Cries in the Night: German Expressionist Prints around World War I (Cincinnati Art Museum Press Release, June 2, 2014)
In their own words: The story behind 'Cincinnati Silver' (Cincinnati Enquirer, June 8, 2014)
For those young professionals looking to become involved with the Art Museum through lectures, visits to collectors homes and parties.
Single $150 | Couple $250
The Future is generously sponsored by:
For more information, contact Director of Development, Kirby Neumann at (513) 639.2873.


Former Sinn Féin official settles discrimination case against party
Sinn Féin rounds on DUP finance Minister over welfare reform
Sinn Féin has confirmed that a former senior Stormont special advisor who was taking an alleged discrimination action against the party has now settled the case on “amicable” and “confidential” terms. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill / The Irish Times
Sinn Féin has confirmed that a former senior Stormont special advisor who was taking an alleged discrimination action against the party has now settled the case on “amicable” and “confidential” terms.
Leo Green, a former IRA hunger striker and Sinn Féin political director at Stormont, had initiated a case against Sinn Féin on the grounds of discrimination, unfair dismissal and breach of contract.
Mr Green, who spent 53 days on hunger strike in 1980, had been taking his case through the North’s Fair Employment Tribunal and the Industrial Tribunal.
Sinn Féin in a statement said: “We can confirm that the issues between Leo Green and Sinn Féin have been resolved amicably on terms which are confidential to both parties. This matter is now concluded.”
Viewed as one of Sinn Féin’s most senior strategists, Mr Green was arrested in 1977 and jailed for the murder of an RUC officer, spending more than 17 years in prison. His “on-the-run” brother John Francis, a senior IRA member, was shot dead by the UVF near Castleblayney, Co Monaghan in 1975.
It is very unusual for such internal Sinn Féin party discord to come to the surface which is reflected by the fact that, according to Sinn Féin, Mr Green was the first member to take such a case against the party.
The first rumours of Mr Green’s unhappiness with Sinn Féin came to notice at the party ardfheis in Wexford in February where his absence was noted. It is speculated that one of the reasons for Mr Green’s disaffection from the party was over welfare reform.
It has been reported that Mr Green favoured adopting elements of British government welfare reform after some concessions were wrested from the British government. It is believed, however, that senior party members in the South including Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams over-ruled the compromise on welfare reform, insisting that it must be rejected.
First Minister Peter Robinson and, separately, the DUP Minister of Finance Simon Hamilton in an interview with The Irish Times yesterday, accused Mr Adams of personally blocking Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness from accepting the amended welfare reform package.
A Sinn Féin spokesman said the party’s policy was to reject the welfare proposals. And responding to Mr Hamilton yesterday North Antrim Sinn Féin Assembly member Daithí McKay said the British government was trying to impose “stringent cuts on the most vulnerable in our society through their welfare cuts programme”.
“Rather than running away from the issue Sinn Féin wants to put it at top of the political agenda. Protecting the rights and entitlements of the most vulnerable people in our society is the correct thing to do. It should be a priority for everyone in government, not just Sinn Féin,” said Mr McKay.
He added, “If these cuts go ahead hundreds of families will be plunged into financial hardship. Welfare cuts were not part of the programme for government agreed by the Executive. We did not vote for these cuts. But we do have a choice and our choice is to stand with the disabled, the poor and the unemployed against the austerity policies of the British Tory-led government”.


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AnaptysBio (ANAB) launched to a record high Tuesday after its eczema drug appeared to outperform Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' (REGN) and Sanofi's (SNY) potential blockbuster, Dupixent, in a Phase 2 trial.
XIn early trading on the stock market today, AnaptysBio more than doubled, skyrocketing by 101.2% to close at 70.41. Regeneron lost 1.8% to end the regular trading session at 461.13 while Sanofi dipped 0.6% to finish at 50.10.
The drug, dubbed ANB020, was tested in 12 adult patients with moderate-to-severe eczema. First, patients received a placebo within 14 days of enrollment. One week later, patients received a single 300-milligram dose of ANB020.
Onset was rapid. At day 15, nine of 12 patients saw their eczema severity and extent lessen by half. Ten out of 12 patients, or 83%, saw the same improvement at day 29. By day 57, nine of 12 patients still had a 50% improvement in eczema symptoms.
To compare, in Phase 1 and Phase 2 tests, 59% of patients who received four weekly doses of Regeneron and Sanofi's Dupixent as a monotherapy achieved a 50% improvement in eczema symptoms, RBC analyst Kennen MacKay wrote in a note to clients.
IBD'S TAKE: Biotech stocks recently hit a collective 21-month high on news from strong players like Zogenix, Bluebird Bio and Celgene. Head to IBD Industry Themes for a closer look at how the group spiked and whether it can maintain its speed.
Importantly, the dosing schedule of ANB020 could be "highly competitive" with Dupixent's every-other-week injection schedule and the daily oral doses of other drugs known as JAK inhibitors, MacKay said.
MacKay assumes AnaptysBio has a 30% chance of success with its eczema drug, up from his earlier view for 15%. He models an upside of 66 per share assuming AnaptysBio is successful, though kept his 40 price target and outperform rating on the stock.


Which European Countries Are Taking The Most Ukrainian Refugees?
The UK has been heavily criticised for taking a much lower proportion of refugees from Ukraine than its European counterparts — here is how many refugees are being offered a home in countries across Europe.
Latest UN estimates suggest as many as 2.3 million people had fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on 24 February.
Most of those leaving have headed to countries neighbouring Ukraine, but some have begun to make their way to other nations in Europe.
Poland has taken the most refugees so far with 1.4 million in the country, equivalent to 3.7% of the country’s population.
Other countries taking a high proportion of refugees in relation to their population include Slovakia, Moldova and the Czech Republic.
Hungary has taken in over 214,000 Ukrainians fleeing the conflict — equal to around 2.2% of its popoulation — despite the country's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's previously hardline stance on immigration.
Ireland, Greece, Croatia and Luxembourg are among countries that have taken significant numbers, despite being thousands of miles from Ukraine.
The Irish government announced on 8 March that 2,200 Ukrainians had arrived in Ireland to date, around 0.046% of the country’s population.
Luxembourg, meanwhile, has taken 250 refugees despite having a population of only 604,000.
By comparison, the UK has issued visas to 957 Ukrainians so far, equal to around 0.001% of the population.
Priti Patel pledged earlier this week to publish the numbers of refugees coming to the UK following claims that only a small number had been approved.
It was reported on Sunday that only 50 visas had been issued under the Ukraine family scheme, but this figure has since risen to almost 1,000. Around 22,000 Ukrainians are thought to have applied to the British scheme so far.
The government has faced heavy criticism for its slow reaction to the Ukrainian refugee crisis.
Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said earlier this week that Boris Johnson’s government is
“not doing anywhere near enough” to help those fleeing “horror” of the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
She claimed it was “unconscionable” that those who have made difficult journeys to escape the fighting and shelling had to “jump through bureaucratic hoops” before they can enter the UK.
On Wednesday, the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK criticised the bureaucracy of the British visa process, saying it had been a problem long before the current conflict.
He told MPs that the UK had previously “stuck out of the crowd” by having much stricter visa policies for Ukrainian citizens than the EU and US.
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe


According to ScienceDirect, “Photopolymerization is a technique that uses light (visible or ultraviolet) to initiate and propagate a reaction to form a linear or cross-linked polymer structure.”
It’s a significant area of focus for researchers and developers, as it allow for production of materials with customized properties.
In microelectronics, for example, scientists are able to manipulate the physical properties of polymer networks to improve adhesion and solvent resistance by exposing the material to light sources.
If you think that’s impressive, continue reading for three other interesting photopolymerization applications.
1. Photopolymers in Adhesive and Coatings
The development of photopolymerizable materials for non-imaging applications represents significant progress for protective adhesives, coatings and inks.
Inkjet, for example, is a digital printing process in which photopolymers can be applied directly onto paper, plastic and other substrates to render images and features. The material is cured and solidified by ultraviolet light to build layers on top of each other.
Materials can also be applied via needle dispense. And since there are many types of inkjettable photopolymers with different properties, it’s possible to customize to the particular application of interest.
2. Photopolymers in Manufacturing
It’s the process in which computer-aided exposure technologies convert liquid monomers into solid objects through light-initiated reactions. The photopolymers are resins that can create a wide variety of parts.
Scott Turner, Senior Researcher at 3D Systems, is quoted in an Engineering.com article saying, “Modern manufacturing companies are looking for ways to transition their tooling assets from physical to digital, so they can be deployed when and where needed.”
Thanks to 3D printing, developers are able design and create parts much faster than conventional manufacturing methods.
3. Photopolymers in Microelectronics
Photopolymers play a critical role in the advancement of the microelectronics industry. There are two major applications for photopolymers: photoresists and permanent photopolymers.
Photoresists are used to create the very fine circuitry found in microelectronics. However, they’re not part of the final device. Permanent photopolymers, on the other hand, are part of the final device, and can serve as dielectric materials in displays and chips. In both cases, the materials are designed to change their properties upon irradiation (exposure to light).
This irradiation can cause the materials to change properties, including solubility.
Looking in the future, the ability to manipulate photopolymers opens up exciting possibilities for potential applications.
Promerus is a technology-driven organization providing advanced material solutions for the next generation of application in semiconductor and optoelectronic markets. To see what Promerus can do for you, download The Complete Guide to Semiconductor Materials.


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PUSL.- Josie Butler from Western Sahara Solidarity Aoteroa (New Zealand) was one of the organisers of the recent protests against the importation of Blood phosphates in New Zealand, in an interview to PUSL Mrs. Butler explained how the activists in New Zealand act in solidarity with the Saharawi People.
Josie Butler, indigenous social justice advocate from New Zealand. Gained notoriety after throwing a dildo at a politician to protest the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement. Currently an organiser for the Western Sahara Solidarity Aoteroa (New Zealand) group, and has strong ties to numerous other activist groups within New Zealand and abroad.
– How did you get involved in the Western Sahara issue?
A friend told me about the issue in the middle of 2019, and asked if I could help out with some local campaigning. I had never heard of Western Sahara before, so I did some reading. When I found out what was happening I was horrified. I was even more horrified to find out that a New Zealand company was funding such an atrocity. I came across a picture of a sign that Saharawi activists had made, that said ‘New Zealand help us stop the plunder”. I decided to do everything I could to help.
H.E. Ahmed Ahmed
President of the Confederation of African Football
The Futsal Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2020 that will be held from January 28th to Februrary 7th in El Aaiun, capital of occupied Western Sahara is in direct violation of International Law.
Western Sahara is not part of Morocco and therefore the Futsal tournement cannot be hosted in this disputed territory who is in the list of the 4th Committee of the United Nations for descolonization.
We doubt that the CAF is not aware of this situation, but in case that its board ignores the status of the territory we kindly ask to consult the decision of the International Court of 1975, the over 50 resolutions of the United Nations over the last 6 decades, the statements of the African Union and the three recent rulings of the Court of Justice of the European Union which reaffirms that “Morocco has no sovereignty over the territory”.
PUSL.- The Futsal Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2020 that will be held from January 28th to Februrary 7th in El Aaiun, capital of occupied Western Sahara has been targeted with boycott and protests from South Africa and Algeria.
AFCON decided to ignore article 6 of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, International Law, International Humanitarian Law and the constitutive act of the African Union in order to allow Moroccot o host the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations in the non autonomious territory of Western Sahara which it illegally occupies since 1975 and which is in the list for descolonizaion of the United Nations 4th Committee.
The South African squad announced that it will not take part in the 2020 African Futsal Cup of Nations (CAN) in El AAiun in Western Sahara from January 28 to February 7.