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For the Harvard Chan community: Find the latest updates, guidance, useful information, and resources about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) here.
In the wake of an outbreak of coronavirus that began in China in 2019, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health experts have been speaking to a variety of media outlets and writing articles about the pandemic. We’ll be updating this article on a regular basis. Here’s a selection of stories in which they offer comments and context:
February 28: Our America: Health Equity & COVID (6abc Action News, Philadelphia)
Dean Michelle Williams was among panelists discussing inequalities in health care and how to support the mental health and wellness of health care workers.
February 28: Taking Vitamins and Supplements Won’t Help Reduce Your Risk of Dying From COVID-19 (Health Magazine)
Although a recent study suggests that vitamins don’t improve COVID-19 health outcomes, it’s still important to ensure that you’re not deficient in any nutrients, according to Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition. “In some ways the body and its immune system is like a car,” he said. “You need all the parts running and in good repair, and if you take out one critical part, it doesn’t work very well.”
February 28: NYC’s COVID battle: A new mayor and a—slightly—new approach (MarketWatch)
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, public health preparedness fellow, was among experts commenting on the differences between former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio and the new mayor, Eric Adams, in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “New York City under both administrations has been proactive in their public health mitigation efforts,” she said.
February 28: New Covid vaccinations drop in US as cases and hospitalizations decline (The Guardian)
Experts caution that the coronavirus remains a threat to people are unvaccinated. William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, noted that people who have not gotten a booster or people whose immunity from an infection has waned could “become more susceptible to severe disease. I do think it’s of the utmost importance that we keep an eye on the virus over the summer and don’t assume that everything that’s going to happen is in the rearview mirror.”
February 27: At long last, employers are rolling out return-to-office plans (again) (Boston Globe)
Joseph Allen, associate professor of exposure assessment science and director of the Healthy Buildings program, said that businesses should keep safety measures in mind as more employees begin to return to in-person work, noting that they may be wary of sitting too close to coworkers or commuting, and that immunocompromised workers and those with young, unvaccinated children may be particularly worried.
February 25: Indoor masking no longer necessary across most of the U.S, CDC says (Today.com)
The CDC has said that most Americans are now safe going without a mask in indoor settings, amid a significant drop in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. But William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, cautioned that the pandemic is not over. “The virus is still going to be here,” he said. “It is still going to pose a risk to people, and it’s probably going to get worse again in the fall and winter.”
February 25: Why the US may not be able to drop COVID restrictions like the UK (ABC News)
Some experts say that a major lifting of COVID restrictions, as the U.K. has done, may not be right for the U.S. because of its lower vaccination rate and less robust surveillance system. “There are lots of places in the U.S. that are not able to do that [lift restrictions] without risking much more severe consequences,” said William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology.
February 25: Boost to the Future (Politico)
Barry Bloom, the Joan L. and Julius H. Jacobson Research Professor of Public Health, discussed a possible future treatment for COVID-19—“nanobodies,” which are tiny antibodies that “have the ability to get into all kinds of places,” such as the coronavirus spike. He also noted that even if the coronavirus mutates further so that it evades vaccines, updated vaccines can be developed quickly.
February 25: The global COVID-19 treatment divide (The Lancet)
Experts are warning of huge global inequities in access to new treatments for COVID-19, such as Pfizer’s anti-viral drug Paxlovid. Don Goldmann, professor in the Department of Epidemiology, noted that “rich countries have little incentive to help poor countries get access to this drug,” he said.
February 24: ‘Fauci lied:’ How misunderstanding about science and public health has helped fuel false claims (PolitiFact)
Social media claims that scientists and health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci are lying represent a misunderstanding about how science works, according to experts. They noted that scientific findings change over time and that public health guidance changes in response. David Jones, professor in the Department of Epidemiology, was quoted.
February 24: The Hard Lessons We Learned — and Didn’t — From Two Years in Pandemic School (Washington Post)
William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, commented on some of the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, he noted that COVID-19 may have been declared a pandemic earlier had it not been for swine flu, which fizzled out after dire warnings about its danger. He also commented on one argument, early on in the pandemic, that we should allow the coronavirus to sweep through the population while attempting to protect vulnerable people. “Tantamount to homicide,” Hanage said of that strategy.
February 23: Experts: New COVID-19 subvariant more contagious, perhaps harder to treat (UPI)
With studies showing that a subvariant of Omicron (BA.2) is more contagious than the original strain (BA.1), “we expect BA.2 to become the majority” of variants in the U.S., said William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology. But experts think that vaccination and prior infection could protect many people from severe disease consequences. What is known about BA.2 is worrying, Hanage said, “but not enough for a big shift in public concern in my view.”
February 21: Our public health system needs an overhaul — Congress can start here (The Hill)
Better cooperation and coordination among federal agencies, particularly the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, are needed to remedy the “mixed messages and unforced errors” that have characterized the U.S. response to COVID-19 over the past two years, wrote Dean Michelle Williams and Richard Tofel, former president of ProPublica and a distinguished visiting fellow at Harvard Chan School, in this opinion piece.
February 21: Disease trackers wary of fast-moving offshoot of omicron (Washington Times)
Scientists are keeping an eye on a variant of Omicron called BA.2 that seems to spread about 30% faster than the initial Omicron variant. William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, said he thinks the new variant unlikely to cause another spike in the U.S., but “it does mean we can expect more infections over the next few months than would have been the case.”
February 19: Should You Still Wear a Mask? (New York Times)
Asaf Bitton, associate professor of health care policy in the Department of Health Policy and Management and executive director of Ariadne Labs, was among experts discussing where and when it’s safe to take a mask off. Bitton noted that it’s generally safe to unmask outside, unless you’re in a very crowded space. “If you’re really shoulder-to-shoulder with people, that might be a case of outdoor mask wearing, at least for now,” he said.
February 18: Coronavirus FAQ: Is it a good idea to get COVID before I’m over 60 and at higher risk? (NPR)
“It’s lunacy,” said Sarah Fortune, John LaPorte Given Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases and chair of the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, when asked if it makes sense for someone in their 50s to try to get COVID before they turn 60 and are in a higher-risk category. “Every time you get sick with COVID there is a small but not zero risk of bad things happening,” she said.
February 18: Do Covid treatments work against omicron subvariant? Scientists keep close watch (NBC News)
William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, quoted.
February 18: Is it safe to travel if you’re vaccinated, boosted and recovered? Medical experts are divided (CNBC)
Experts disagree about how safe it is to travel at this point in the pandemic, even if you’ve been vaccinated, boosted, and recovered from COVID. Stefanos Kales, a professor in Harvard Chan School’s Department of Environmental Health, said he thinks people in the so-called “super immunity” category should feel secure to travel. “Unless you really have some serious condition or some serious concern, and you want to travel, absolutely you should travel,” he said.
February 18: Why Mass. is rolling back its mask and vaccine mandates (WBUR)
Communities across Massachusetts are rolling back COVID-19 restrictions such as masking. Leonard Marcus, founder and director of the Program for Health Care Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, said he’s worried that some places are lifting protections too soon. “I’m just concerned that there are places that are getting a little bit ahead of the curve, and could inadvertently create a situation where those cases go back up,” he said.
February 18: As Omicron Surged, Covid-19 Spread Through Patients in Hospitals (Wall Street Journal)
The proportion of patients with hospital-acquired COVID-19 as a share of non-coronavirus patients has risen and fallen closely in line with COVID-19 cases in their surrounding communities, said Thomas Tsai, assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management. “The hospital itself is not an island,” he said, noting that, when there’s a surge in the community, it’s hard to keep the infection from spreading in hospitals when people come in with undetected infections.
February 18: Race is a risk factor for COVID, but Florida’s plan for a scarce therapy is color blind (Miami Herald )
Michael Barnett, assistant professor of health policy and management, discussed a study he led that found that monoclonal antibodies, an effective treatment for COVID-19, are mostly going to those who need them less—patients with the fewest chronic conditions—and that there also racial and ethnic disparities in their use.
February 17: Wastewater data indicates Boston area is in ‘back end of the omicron surge’ (WGBH)
In a Q&A, Joseph Allen, associate professor of exposure assessment science, spoke about rapidly declining coronavirus levels in Boston-area wastewater data. “All signs are looking good,” he said.
February 17: Here’s how to decide if you’re safe to go out when you’re recovering from omicron (NPR)
Yonatan Grad, Melvin J. and Geraldine L. Glimcher Associate Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, noted that a PCR test is not the right choice to figure out if you’re no longer infectious after having COVID-19, because the test is highly sensitive. “There are some people who have little blips of being PCR positive for weeks, or in some cases even months, after an infection”—even though they’re no longer contagious, he said.
February 16: New page in pandemic playbook (Harvard Gazette)
Joseph Allen, associate professor of exposure assessment science, and James Hammitt, professor of economics and decision sciences, discussed how to assess risk during a changing pandemic.
February 16: ‘Incredibly encouraging’: Coronavirus level in Eastern Mass. waste water is down 98 percent from peak (Boston Globe)
Joseph Allen, associate professor of exposure assessment science, called plummeting levels of coronavirus in sewage in Eastern Massachusetts “incredibly encouraging,” and William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, said it was “truly heartening.”
February 16: Unions celebrate court ruling blocking COVID-19 vaccine mandate, but Mayor Michelle Wu likely to appeal (Boston Globe)
An appeals court judge ruled against Mayor Michelle Wu’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate for the Boston city workforce, arguing, in part, that even vaccinated individuals are able to transmit the virus. But Barry Bloom, the Joan L. and Julius H. Jacobson Research Professor of Public Health, said that “the amount of virus in vaccinated individuals is remarkably less than that of unvaccinated individuals. We’re talking somewhere about two-thirds less likely to transmit infection.” He noted that vaccine mandates help not only vaccinated people, but vulnerable people such as young children, immunocompromised people, and others who have not been able to get the shots.
February 16: CDC Says 10% Of COVID Swabs Sent to Genome Lab, Raising Privacy Questions (Newsweek)
After the CDC shared in a tweet that it sends 5% to 10% of swabs used in COVID-19 PCR tests for “genomic sequencing,” some critics raised questions about human DNA privacy. But Alberto Ascherio, professor of epidemiology and nutrition, said that scientists aren’t sequencing human DNA—instead, they’re using selected segments or genes to distinguish common COVID variants.
February 15: How this ‘little ole girl’ from North Carolina became a lead Covid-19 vaccine developer (MSNBC)
Kizzmekia Corbett, assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases, who was instrumental in groundbreaking research that led to the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, discussed her efforts to address people’s “vaccine inquisitiveness,” especially in the Black community.
February 14: Protecting the Vulnerable (New York Times)
William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, and Joseph Allen, associate professor of exposure assessment science, were quoted.
February 14: Do masks protect you from COVID if others aren’t wearing one? What experts are saying (McClatchy News)
Experts advised people who are vulnerable to COVID-19 to continue wearing masks even if others don’t. “Wearing a mask when others are not does provide some level of personal protection,” said Leonard Marcus, founding director of the Program for Health Care Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. However, “that protection is less than when everyone is wearing a mask.”
February 14: Want to Clear the Air in the Office? There’s New Filtration Tech to Help You (Inc.)
Joseph Allen, associate professor of exposure assessment science and director of the Healthy Buildings program, quoted.
February 11: Endemic vs. pandemic: What it means to ‘learn to live with’ COVID-19 (National Post)
William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, said he has problems with the “new normal” and “we need to learn to live with it” narrative regarding COVID-19. He noted, “At the basis of this is the notion that a certain amount of illness and death is acceptable, and that action is only merited to prevent those limits being exceeded,” he said.
February 11: ‘The harder they push, the harder I’ve dug in’: The threat of getting fired still hasn’t persuaded some to get COVID-19 vaccine. How are resisters affecting the pandemic? (Chicago Tribune)
Roughly 15% of U.S. adults have told pollsters that they will “definitely not” get a COVID-19 vaccine. Yonatan Grad, Melvin J. and Geraldine L. Glimcher Associate Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, commented on how that resistance will impact the pandemic. “Until we see the spread of COVID-19 through that population so they get some degree of immunity from infection—though it’s better with vaccination—we’re going to see relatively higher numbers of (unvaccinated) people requiring hospitalization and all the impact that comes from that,” he said.
February 10: There’s Good Reason to Be Optimistic About Omicron (TIME)
The recent Omicron surge—which has not resulted in as high a rate of hospitalizations and deaths as the Delta variant—underscores how well COVID-19 vaccines are working, according to this Ideas article by William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology.
February 10: How is America Still This Bad at Talking About the Pandemic (The Atlantic)
In this article, Richard Tofel, former president of ProPublica and a distinguished visiting fellow at Harvard Chan School, offered four lessons for transmitting clear, practical information during the changing circumstances of the pandemic: Public officials should be more candid about uncertainty; political leaders and scientists must do a better job considering each other’s perspectives; scientists should use language that the average listener can understand; and leaders should make sure to focus on heroes, such as those who invented and produced COVID-19 vaccines.
February 10: Mask mandates are lifting. Experts say here’s when to consider keeping yours on. (USA Today)
Experts say that deciding whether or not to wear a face mask in a particular situation depends on how much someone wants to avoid infection with COVID-19, the rate of COVID-19 where they live, and who else is around them. William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, noted that while one-way masking “isn’t perfect,” it’s pretty good, and that he personally will keep wearing a mask to places like the grocery store until COVID-19 infection rates come down to their lows of last spring. “I see little downside to mask use in many contexts,” he said.
February 9: Pandemic endgame: As Illinois aims to ease masking restrictions, experts weigh in on the right time to return to normalcy (Chicago Tribune)
Experts are divided on the best timeline to end COVID-19 restrictions such as masking. Stefanos Kales, a professor at Harvard Medical School and a professor in Harvard Chan School’s Department of Environmental Health, believes the time is now. “The vast majority of the population has immunity either because of the mass vaccination campaign or natural immunity, particularly after omicron,” he said. Given that it would be impossible to stop all transmission of the virus or eliminate all cases, he said the strategy should be to protect the most vulnerable populations, with testing and early treatment.
February 9: New York’s indoor mask mandate for businesses will be lifted Thursday (CBS Evening News)
As New York and several other states announced the lifting of indoor mask mandates, Joseph Allen, associate professor of exposure assessment science, weighed in. “It’s not ‘the pandemic is over’ by any means,” he said. “It’s just that we’re on the back end of a wave. We should take advantage of this time, pull back controls.” But, he added, “We should absolutely continue to monitor the trends.”
February 9: Harvard epidemiologist William Hanage: ‘Pandemics don’t have an official endpoint, with cheers and fireworks’ (El País)
William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, talked to El País about the dangers of treating COVID-19 as endemic, the importance of booster shots, and why the health crisis isn’t over.
February 8: With Mask Restrictions Set to Lift, a Haze of Uncertainty Lingers (New York Times)
Joseph Allen, associate professor of exposure assessment science and director of the Healthy Buildings program, was among experts commenting on the wisdom of lifting mask mandates as the Omicron surge begins to recede. “I think it’s entirely appropriate that we start lifting school mask mandates now,” he said. “We’re in a much better place than we were before, and it’s time to update our strategies to reflect the moment.”
February 8: Will a mask protect me even if no one else is wearing one? (NBC News)
Experts, including William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, say that wearing a mask can protect people from COVID-19 even if other people around them aren’t masking.
February 7: The challenge of personal choice and compliance in a pandemic (WBUR)
Leonard Marcus, founder and director of the Program for Health Care Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, was interviewed on the show “Radio Boston” about how Massachusetts communities are grappling with questions about whether or not to end mask mandates, as COVID-19 infections decline.
February 7: How Should We Think About a Return to “Normal”? (Slate)
Joseph Allen, associate professor of exposure assessment science and director of the Healthy Buildings program, was interviewed about what it might mean to get back to “normal” as COVID-19 cases decline, how “normal” would be measured, and whether it’s the right time to be talking about it. “We’ve stayed on red alert too long,” he said. “Too many people are saying, ‘I’m done with this.’ Their frustration is understandable. But we can use data actually to inform decision-making.”
February 7: What to know about the study on lockdowns and COVID-19 deaths by economists (PolitiFact)
A non-peer-reviewed paper by three economists found that COVID-19 lockdowns barely reduced deaths, but experts have criticized its findings. William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, said that the question of whether lockdowns decrease death isn’t sensible. “The whole premise of it is wrong, because given enough time and no vaccines, if the virus infects enough people, they will die,” he said. “These interventions are designed to try and mitigate that so that they don’t all get sick at the same time, so it’s completely mistaken.”
February 6: Vastly unequal US has world’s highest Covid death toll – it’s no coincidence (The Guardian)
Vast income inequality and lagging vaccinations have led to the U.S. having the highest COVID-19 death rate of any wealthy country. “For a country which has a vaccines-only strategy, we’re not very good at vaccination,” said William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology. He noted that poorer unvaccinated people face a “double whammy” because they struggle to access vaccines and are also more likely to contract COVID because of their living and working circumstances.
February 4: It’s time to ‘move on’ from the pandemic, says Harvard medical professor (CNBC)
Arguing that, for most people, COVID-19 is not a serious threat, Stefanos Kales, a professor at Harvard Medical School and a professor in Harvard Chan School’s Department of Environmental Health, called for a return to normal life, particularly among the young. He said he favors focusing COVID-19 efforts on people who are vulnerable—older people, those with health problems, and the unvaccinated.
February 4: Study ties environmental conservation to pandemic prevention (E&E News)
Reduced deforestation, better management of wildlife trade and hunting, and better surveillance of zoonotic pathogens before they spill into human populations are all key strategies that could help prevent future pandemics, according to a new report. Aaron Bernstein, interim director of Harvard Chan School’s Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment (Harvard Chan C-CHANGE), was lead author and Marcia Castro, Andelot Professor of Demography and chair of the Department of Global Health and Population, was a co-author.
February 2: The Big Question: What Kind of Immunity Will Omicron Provide? (In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt)
William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, discussed what we know about the kind of immunity Omicron may provide against future variants, what role layered immunity will play moving forward, and why we shouldn’t count Delta out just yet.
February 2: Is Omicron really ‘milder’? Not exactly. (Harvard Gazette)
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant’s “milder” outcomes are likely due to more population immunity rather than the virus’ properties, according to a paper by William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard Chan School, and Roby Bhattacharyya, assistant professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and associate member at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
February 2: Opinion: When should the government lift pandemic restrictions? These four metrics can provide the answer. (Washington Post)
Joseph Allen, associate professor of exposure assessment science and director of the Healthy Buildings program, outlined four underutilized data metrics that officials can use to figure out when to impose or lift pandemic restrictions: watch levels of the coronavirus in wastewater; keep an eye on health-care capacity; track how many hospitalizations are actually due to COVID; and incorporate risk into decision-making.
February 2: Ask the Docs: Marking two years since the first COVID case in Boston (WBUR)
William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, answered listeners’ questions on a call-in radio show.
February 1: Willing but unable to get COVID shot (Harvard Gazette)
Andrew Chan, director of epidemiology at Mass General Cancer Center and a professor in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard Chan School, was senior author of a study that found that, in the U.S., Black people were less likely than white people to receive a COVID-19 shot, partly because of mistrust of the medical system but also because of lack of access.
February 1: Endemicity Is Meaningless (The Atlantic)
A future in which COVID-19 is endemic—circulating at lower levels, but still with us—remains highly uncertain because an endemic disease can be innocuous or severe, according to experts. “This distinction between pandemic and endemic has been put forward as a checkered flag,” when we are “done” with the crisis, but that isn’t the case, according to Yonatan Grad, Melvin J. and Geraldine L. Glimcher Associate Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases. And William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, said that if COVID-19 continues to surge in winters to come, on top of the many other types of infections that typically spread during winter, it “would not be a trivial outcome.”
See stories from:
January and February 2020


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Virbhadra Singh owns no car but jewellery worth more than his wife
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, who filed his nomination papers from Arki Vidhan Sabha constituency in Solan on Friday, owns jewellery worth ₹50 lakh while his wife Pratibha Singh has jewellery worth ₹47 lakh.Updated: Oct 21, 2017 12:09 IST
Even as he is facing a disproportionate assets case, chief minister Virbhadra Singh’s assets have gone down as compared to that in 2012.
As per an affidavit on properties and assets filed on Friday, along with his nomination papers, the octogenarian leader has assets worth ₹13.69 crore and liabilities of ₹39 lakh. In 2012, Virbhadra’s asset worth was ₹34 crore while his liabilities were ₹24 lakh.
Interestingly, though the chief minister’s wife Pratibha Singh owns more assets than him, the former’s jewellery assets are more than his wife. Virbhadra Singh owns jewellery worth ₹50 lakh while his wife Pratibha Singh has jewellery worth ₹47 lakh.
Neither Virbhadra nor Pratibha own a car.
As per the details furnished by the octogenarian leader, who is leading the Congress campaign this election, his movable assets are worth ₹7.16 crore while his immovable assets are worth ₹6.54 crore. Virbhadra Singh has ₹5.50 lakh cash in hand while his wife has ₹50,000 cash. Pratibha Singh has immovable assets worth ₹14.31 crore and movable assets worth ₹2.51 crore.
Virbhadra Singh owns agriculture land in Damrali and Rampur worth ₹6.34 crore while Pratibha Singh is the owner of land in Sarahan worth ₹12.08 crore. Singh also owns non-agricultural land worth ₹19 lakh while wife has property worth ₹2.23 crore. Virbhadra Singh has liability of ₹39 lakh as house building loan availed in September 2017.
Virbhadra Singh is facing a corruption case currently in the Patiala House court. In connection with the Enforcement Directorate probe, assets of Virbhadra Singh and his family members’ properties worth ₹ 40 crore were attached over the last one year.
First Published: Oct 20, 2017 20:46 IST

domain: law


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Excerpt & Giveaway: Do You Believe In Santa? by Sierra Donovan
Do You Believe in Santa?
Evergreen Lane #1
By: Sierra Donovan
Released September 29, 2015
Miracles don’t just happen on 34th Street. They can happen right in your living room—if you’re willing to believe…
What grown woman claims to have seen Santa Claus? Mandy Reese, for one—on a very special Christmas Eve when she was eight years old. These days, Mandy works at a year-round Christmas store in Tall Pine, California, where customers love to hear about her childhood encounter with Saint Nick. But when Jake Wyndham arrives in town—charming, gorgeous, extremely practical—Mandy faces a dilemma. Deny what she saw, or let Jake think she’s sugarplum crazy?
Jake scouts hotel locations all over the country, but he’s never met anyone quite like Mandy before. Her warmth and sparkle are irresistible, but…meeting Santa? Really? Jake’s no Scrooge but he’s definitely skeptical. Then again, there are all kinds of things Jake never experienced until he came to Tall Pine. Like autumn snow. Mind blowing kisses. And the magic of falling head-over-heels, madly in love…
When Mandy Reese was eight years old, she saw SantaClaus.She slipped out of her room on Christmas Eve after her mother went to bed. As Mandy tiptoed down the hall, trying to be silent, she thought of the poem: Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. . . .The Christmas tree was still lit up in the living room, as if it, too, were waiting. The nighttime cold of the house bit through her flannel nightgown, and Mandy wished she’d grabbed her robe and slippers. But she didn’t want to risk going back down the hall and waking her mother. So she pulled a heavy blanket down from the back of the sofa and curled up under it. She laid her head on the arm of the couch to get a good view of the tree at the end of the room near her head, and the fireplace at the other end, down by her feet.Barely daring to breathe, she waited.The lights from the tree were bright enough to show the time on the clock over the mantel: almost eleven-thirty. Mandy’s vigilant eyes drifted from the fireplace to the tree and back. She knew there was no way she’d fall asleep.But it felt as if some time had passed when something made her sit up.The only light in the room still came from the tree, yet somehow it seemed brighter in here. Her eyes darted to the fireplace. And he was there.He did wear a red suit, although it was a darker red than she’d seen on the Santas at the store—the ones she’d always been told were just helpers for the real Santa. His beard was full and white, his eyebrows were bushy, and his eyes were blue. Not quite twinkly, a little more serious than that, but warm and friendly as they met hers. She’d heard that watching for Santa could make him pass you by, but that hint of a glimmer in his eye told her she wasn’t in trouble.Mandy opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn’t think of a single word to say. The whole room felt hushed, as if time were standing still.She couldn’t be dreaming because her heart was beating so fast. But she remembered to pinch her forearm, hard, just to be sure. It hurt, all right.He took a step backward, toward the chimney, and raised a black-gloved finger. At first Mandy thought he was going to put it to his lips, signaling her to be quiet. But he rested it alongside his nose, just like the poem, and nodded.The room brightened, and Mandy had to shut her eyes against the glare.When she opened them, the light in the room had returned to the normal Christmas-tree glow, and he was gone. She heard the clock on the mantel ticking; she didn’t remember hearing the sound while Santa was in the room. The hands showed it was just after midnight, although she knew for certain she hadn’t heard it chime.She pinched her arm again. Once again, it hurt. When she looked down, she saw a small red mark forming right next to the spot she was pinching now.Under the tree, she couldn’t see any difference in the number of presents. But she remembered what her mother always told her: Santa Claus was about more than presents.“I saw him,” she whispered.When Mandy told her mother about it the next morning, her mom checked the doors and windows and counted the presents under the tree.“I thought you believed in Santa Claus,” Mandy said.“I do.” But the worried look didn’t quite go away.The memory of her mother’s reaction kept Mandy from mentioning Santa when school started again in January. If her mom didn’t believe her, the other kids surely wouldn’t, and Mandy didn’t want to fight about it. So she kept it to herself, like her own special secret. Until the next school year.It was mid-December, and she was leaving school Friday afternoon to catch the bus. There hadn’t been any snow for a couple of weeks, but there was a snap to the air as she walked. Mandy was so busy looking up at the sky for signs of snow, she didn’t see the crowd outside the gate until she was nearly there.Students clustered around an auburn-haired woman who held a microphone. A man stood nearby, aiming a video camera at the woman. Then it clicked. Mandy had seen her on the television news.As the kids crowded around the reporter, she held a microphone in front of some of them, one at a time. Most were younger than Mandy. Older kids jockeyed behind the TV reporter, trying to poke their heads into the picture.“I believe he’s real,” a little blond boy, probably a second-grader, said.“He always eats the cookies we leave for him,” a fair-haired girl, who looked like his sister, said.Mandy joined the group as if drawn by a magnet. Since many of the children were shorter, she could see over their heads.“What about you?” The reporter aimed her microphone at a brown-eyed girl with short black hair.“I don’t know.” Her voice was very soft. “I think so.”“I used to believe in Santa, but I know better now.” That was Julie Ashman, from Mandy’s own class. Mandy felt her blood start to simmer. Being wrong was one thing, but saying things like that in front of these little kids . . .“Santa Claus is a fake!” one of the taller boys behind the reporter shouted toward the microphone.“No, he’s not!” The little blond boy looked faintly horrified, and Mandy could see uncertainty creeping into his face.The reporter tried to regain control, turning her microphone toward the smaller boy again.“Oh, yeah?” the big boy jeered. “Have you ever seen him? Not in a store. That doesn’t count.”She couldn’t stand it. Mandy shouldered her way in. “I saw him.”Everyone turned in her direction. Mandy’s face felt hot, but she was determined to set them straight. “He was at my house.”“Not your dad, all dressed up,” the older boy scoffed.“My dad doesn’t live with us anymore,” Mandy said, “and I saw Santa Claus in my living room last year.”Suddenly the microphone and the camera were pointed at her, and Mandy felt the words rush out, spilling the details she’d played over and over in her mind. The story she’d kept bottled up for nearly a year.
Sierra Donovan is a wife, a mother of two and a writer, though not always in that order. Her greatest joy is helping people find true love on the printed page. She is a firm believer in Christmas, classic movies, happy endings and the healing power of chocolate. Sierra’s first novel, Love On The Air, was a Holt Medallion finalist. Her 2014 Kensington debut, No Christmas Like The Present, won the Golden Quill Award for Sweet Traditional Romance. Her 2015 novel, Do You Believe In Santa? marks the beginning of Sierra's new Evergreen Lane series. You can email Sierra at email@example.com, or visit her website at www.sierradonovan.com.

domain: literature


Pull-On Plaid Pants (7 Colors)
Lightweight checkered plaid pants with side pockets and a stretchy back. High waisted with straight legs. Pull-up construction.
Recommended for size 23-27
We always recommend hand washing with mild detergent and cold water to best preserve the integrity of your clothing.
If you need to machine wash, please use gentle cycle on cold.
Wash inside out with like colors.
Low iron on reverse or steam.
Do not bleach unless necessary.


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The London premiere of the movie “Devil in Freetown”, written and directed by Pastor Aiah Momoh, produced by Collins Archie-Pierce. The film tells the story of the people of sierra-leone caught in the bloody civil war in 1999. Pastor Momoh wrote the story based on his actual experiences and also features actress E’sah Bangura who […]
#BRINGBACKOURGIRLS Support the movement. Let the voices be heard and raise the awareness on the 250 children kidnapped by Boko Haram in Nigeria. Don’t stop until the whole world does something about this. This is a summary of the demonstration at Nigeria High Commission, London to raise awareness on the case of the abducted girl. […]
Gbenga Adeyinka I was thrilling his army on UK fans at The Nigerian corner of the london nottinghil carnival.
2HBTV on friday night saw the premiere of IBU in Sierra Leone produced by Collins Archie-Pierce and as usual was on hand to bring you the red carpet event. You would not believe the crowd waiting outside to see their favourite actor/comedian, Mr IBU himself. Red Carpet presented by Dani J and Kasaskie
D3Dancers performing alongside afrobeats artist Flavour at Cokobar Music Festival
Backstage interview at the Cokobar Music Festival with Flavour, Sean Tizzle, Olamide and support acts like iRise, Tipsy. Interview presented by BENTV’s Femi. For added measure some Live performances too.
Visit https://www.2hbtv.com for More Great Videos Dizzy Vocal Chameleon had a chat with Dani after a performance in london and then straight on to his powerful performance at the Nigerian Corner of the Notting hill Carnival. Dizzy, who is from Lagos, Nigeria jokingly reveals he was looking forward to talking to Dani J.
Flavour falls in love(lust) onstage with girl. “I Love it” he says. “Can you see what she is doing”. I love it, he repeated. During his Live session on stage at Cokobar Music Festival at Indigo2, Afrobeats Artist Flavour identified the girl from the crowd and called her up stage to perform the dance shaking […]

domain: celebrity


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Importance of Fe and Mn Pipe Deposits to Lead and Copper Rule Compliance - abstract
Schock, M., A. Cantor, S. Triantafyllidou, AND Mike DeSantis. Importance of Fe and Mn Pipe Deposits to Lead and Copper Rule Compliance - abstract. Presented at AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition, Boston, MA, June 11, 2014.
To inform the public.
When Madison, WI exceeded the lead Action Level in 1992, residential and off-line tests suggested that lead release into the water was more complex than a lead solubility mechanism. The water utility chose to address the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) exceedance by implementing full replacement of their ~10,000 lead service lines (LSLs) during 2001–2010. Monitoring of 60 home taps after full LSL replacement, revealed that lead levels were still high at sites where the LSLs had been replaced within the previous four years. Surprisingly, elevated lead (Pb) persisted long after full LSL removal. The erratic Pb concentrations were eventually attributed to particulate lead in water, suggesting that particulate matter had accumulated in the plumbing and was dislodging into the water even after LSLs were removed. Five LSL samples were excavated from five separate street locations, as part of the utility’s full LSL replacement program. Each street location received potable water from a combination of wells, some of which had high manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) content. Detailed scale analyses (color/texture, mineralogical and elemental composition) of the pipe samples were undertaken, to explain historical observations of Pb concentration in Madison tap water. Results revealed that accumulation of Mn and Fe from the source well water onto pipe walls had implications for lead corrosion, by providing a high capacity sink for lead. Specifically, Mn (and sometimes Fe) was the most abundant element identified in LSL scales, after Pb itself. Manganese that accumulated from the source well water onto the pipe scales (up to 10% by weight) served to capture and eventually transport Pb to consumer taps. Manganese also obstructed the predominance of an insoluble and thus potentially protective plattnerite [Pb(IV) solid] scale layer in 3 out of the 5 LSLs examined. The amorphous black scale layer in those 3 LSLs was visually consistent with identification of Mn (and sometimes Fe) in the scale, and contributed to water lead contamination at those street locations. A protective insoluble brown plattnerite scale layer formed in the remaining 2 LSLs, and those street locations are believed to have been fairly protected from water Pb contamination. Full LSL replacement in Madison eventually achieved LCR compliance and major reduction in lead contamination and exposure, when supplemented by uni-directional flushing of water mains and manganese control in the source well water. This work suggests that: 1) all sources of Mn and Fe scale in a water system should be considered as potential sinks for accumulating and controlling Pb release into water 2) treatment or water quality changes that affect Mn or Fe pipe deposit stability could adversely affect Pb release levels, regardless of lead solubility 3) determining the mineralogy and the chemical content of harvested pipe scales can help elucidate mechanisms of Pb accumulation and eventual release into the water
Record Details:Record Type: DOCUMENT (PRESENTATION/ABSTRACT)
Organization:U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
NATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT RESEARCH LABORATORY
WATER SUPPLY AND WATER RESOURCES DIVISION

domain: chemistry


Guide: Gas-fired boilers need to be operated and operated by professional firemen, with an intelligent control system to monitor the boiler's pressure, water level, temperature and other parameters, and control them within the normal range to ensure the safe and stable operation of the boiler. What are the daily work of gas boiler firemen and how to call water for industrial boilers.
Gas-fired boilers need to be operated and operated by professional firemen, with an intelligent control system to monitor the boiler's pressure, water level, temperature and other parameters, and control them within the normal range to ensure the safe and stable operation of the boiler. What are the daily work of gas boiler firemen and how to call water for industrial boilers.
1. The daily work content of the furnace worker
1. Routine maintenance
Check the function of the water level regulator: whether it can automatically fill the water and stop the pump;
Flame monitoring inspection;
Rotate, slide, lubricate the cam parts and wipe them;
Rinse the water level gauge 1-2 times (per shift), and operate according to the correct method until the water level gauge is rinsed;
discharge 1-2 times (per shift);
2, regular work
Items to be checked every week
Ultra-low water-level shutdown, it is necessary to perform shutdown test (press the button on the B3 board, it should be able to simulate water shortage and shutdown the oven), or blow the sewage to check the ultra-low water-level shutdown function.
The safety valve is manually opened once, and the reset must be rapid.
The burner control system and the electric eye should be inspected. The photoelectric cell of the electric eye should be taken out by hand, and the furnace should be shut down within 1 second; and the electric eye should be wiped.
Valve packing is filled or replaced; it eliminates dripping.
Tighten the bolts everywhere, especially the gas pipeline system, and check for leaks when necessary.
Clean the filter on the gas pipeline once a month.
3, the following parts should be maintained every six months
Check the pressure gauge and clean the gauge tube, add distilled water when resetting.
Maintain the water level electrode, after pulling it out, sand it with fine sandpaper.
Cleaning the flue generally depends on the exhaust temperature to determine whether it needs to be cleaned. Under normal circumstances, the exhaust gas temperature does not exceed 350°C (measured at the exit of the boiler and the entrance of the flue). Too high means that the fouling has increased and the efficiency of the boiler has decreased, and it must be cleaned. The purpose of cleaning the flue is on the one hand for economic considerations, on the other hand it is also for safety considerations (the smoke fouling is poor in heat conduction and is prone to local burnout). When cleaning and replacing asbestos gaskets, the method of lap joints should be adopted (to prevent the fumes from running out), and graphite should not be added.
After boiler repair or annual inspection, check that the manhole, head hole, hand hole nut can not be loosened, and check the motor rotation direction (from the fan end, it rotates counterclockwise).
The safety valve is checked once a year. Perform a comprehensive overhaul and maintenance of the boiler.
2. How to call water for industrial boilers
Calling water is a basic operation that boiler workers must know. After stopping the boiler, use the drum water level gauge to find out the water level according to the following procedures:
1. Slowly open the drain valve and observe the water level. There is a drop in the water level in the water level gauge, which means that the water is slightly full.
2. If the water level is not visible, close the steam valve to flush the water part.
3. Slowly close the drain valve and observe the water level. There is a rise in the water level in the water gauge, indicating a slight lack of water.
4. If the water level is still not visible. Then close the water valve, open the steam valve, and then open the drain valve. If the water level line drops in the water level gauge, it means that the water level is severely full. If there is no water level line, it means that the water level is severely lacking.
There are many precautions for the daily fire-fighting of gas-fired boilers. The fire-fighter must carefully study, understand all aspects of boiler operation, and control the operating parameters of the boiler within a safe range to ensure the safe and stable operation of the boiler. The above introduces the daily work of the gas boiler fireman, how to call water for industrial boilers and other issues. I hope it will be helpful to you.


An improved load beam/flexure assembly for mini Winchester disk drives is disclosed. The load beam is substantially straight where it is attached to the arm as opposed to the prior art 2.degree. 20' bend. Furthermore, the side flange edges of the load beam are tapered towards the slider end of the load beam and the side flanges have wire tube guiding tabs, allowing for the elimination of the split finger so that the slider arm end is substantially flat. The flexure is also designed to have the surface that is attached to the slider to be substantially parallel to the elongated load beam, instead of the prior art 2.degree. 20' angle of the prior art. Also, the load beam arm end is secured to the arm by ball staking with the arm end of the load beam positioned between the insert and the arm with the insert having a boss passing through the load beam. The result of these combinations is a reduction of the disk to disk spacing of approximately 50%, from 300 mils to about 160 mils.
1. Area of the Invention
This invention relates to load beam/flexure assemblies for Winchester disk drives which are used for supporting magnetic read/write heads adjacent to the rotating disks. More particularly, this invention relates to such load beam/flexure assemblies for mini-composite and mini-monolithic Winchester disk drives (hereinafter referred to as "mini Winchester disk drives").
2. Description of the Prior Art
Mini Winchester disk drives have a plurality of flat, circular spaced apart disks 12 (FIG. 1) rotating about a common spindle (not shown). In typical mini Winchester disk drives, the disk-to-disk spacing (S.sub.DD) is 300 thousandths of an inch, (hereinafter 300 mils).
The data is stored in the magnetic media formed on the surface of the disks Typically, the data is divided into groupings called tracks that are concentric rings similar to the annular growth rings on a tree. In most Winchester disk drives, the concentric rings are on both sides of the disk. A magnetic read/write head is positioned above each side of the disk. As the disk is spun beneath the head, the read/write head can magnetize the magnetic media in the track, thereby writing onto the track. After data is stored on the track, the read/write head can be positioned above a track and, as the disk spins, the read/write head can read the magnetic pattern stored on the disk in the track. To write onto or read from different tracks, the read/write head merely needs to be moved towards or away from the spindle
A read/write element (not shown) for each disk is positioned immediately adjacent to each flat surface of the disk 12a and 12b as the disk spins beneath it. The read/write element is mounted on a slider 16 which has an air bearing surface positioned immediately adjacent to the flat surface of the disk. As the disk spins, the air following the disk applies pressure to the slider's air bearing surface and lifts the slider and the read/write element off of the surface of the disk.
Positioning the slider body over the disk is accomplished by attaching the slider body to a component called a flexure 14. The flexure 14 allows the slider body to gimbal for pitch, roll and transverse motion, but restricts the slider's motion in the radial and circumferential directions of the disk. To support the flexure 14 in the proper position, each flexure is attached to an elongated load beam 20, which is in turn attached to an arm 30 coupled to the carriage 38 of the Winchester disk drive. The portion of the flexure 14 that is attached to the slider 16 is called the tongue portion and the portion that is fastened to the load beam is called the body portion The load beam is generally made of steel and acts as a leaf spring to bias the slider 16 towards the disks.
Typically, each load beam 20 comprises an elongated, flat load beam base 24 with two side flanges 22 integral with and at the sides of the load beam base 24. One end of the load beam (the slider end 26) is coupled to the flexure while the other opposed end (the arm end 28) is adapted for attaching the beam 20 to the arm 30. The slider end 26 has a fork-like structure called a split finger 29 that projects above the side flanges 22. This split finger 29 is used for holding a wire tube (not shown) in place against the top surface of the load beam base 24. The wire tube contains the wires that connect the read/write head (not shown) to the read/write circuitry of the Winchester disk drive.
Usually the load beam 20 is attached to the arm 30 via a flat insert 32. The flat arm end 28 of the load beam is welded to the insert 32. The insert is then bolted to the arm by a bolt 36 with the insert 32 positioned between the arm end 28 of the load beam and the arm 30. Typically, the arm 30 is then attached to the carriage 38 of the Winchester disk drive via a bolt 40. The arms with the load beams attached form an interdigitated structure as seen in FIG. 1.
It is important that the air bearing surface of the slider 16 be substantially parallel to the disk surface. In prior art devices, the tongue portion of the flexure 14 is at approximately a 2.degree. 20' the base 24 of the load beam. To compensate for this 2.degree. 20' angle, when the load beam/flexure assembly is mounted in the disk drive, the angle between the surface of the arm 30 and the base 24 of the load beam 20 is also 2.degree. 20'. The two 2.degree. 20' angles may be thought of as interior, corresponding angles formed by the "parallel lines" of the surface of the arm 30 and the disk surface (12a or 12b) and with the load beam 20 being the transversal. Thus, the slider's 16 air bearing is substantially parallel to the surface of the disk.
Furthermore, in such prior art mini Winchester disk drives, when the load beam/flexure assemblies are inserted into the drive, there must be sufficient clearance between the adjacently positioned sliders 16 and the disk 12 and the adjacently positioned load beams such as 20a and 20b. If there is any interference between sliders and disks during assembly, damage will be likely to occur. Typically in the prior art, adequate clearance has been accomplished by keeping a spacing between adjacent disks (S.sub.DD) at about 300 mils. However, this relatively large disk to disk spacing (S.sub.DD) frustrates efforts to reduce the total size of the mini Winchester disk drive.
A further consideration in the prior art is that it is sometimes necessary to remove a particular load beam/flexure assembly for repairing or replacing the Winchester disk drive. Usually, bolts 40 and 36 are used to allow for assembly and disassembly. A disadvantage of using these bolts 36 is that the bolts 36 are so small that it is easy to strip a thread on the bolt in the mating hole or not adequately clamp the load beam 20 to the arm 30. Furthermore, these bolts 36 and the tapped mating holes are quite expensive.
Not only are the bolts 36 costly, but machining the carriage 38 and the arms 30 so the arms will be precisely positioned is expensive. The machining operation may contribute as much as about one third of the overall cost of the carriage. Also, the number of parts required in this structure increases the overall cost.
Furthermore, if it is necessary to remove one of the read/write heads for repairs, the load beam to which the head is attached cannot be removed without first removing the arm. The arm must be removed because the bolts 36 are not accessible in the assembled drive. Thus, the entire arm 30 must be unbolted from the carriage 38. Furthermore, each of the wires of all of the heads must be disconnected from the read/write circuitry of the Winchester disk drive. Since as many as four heads may be attached to an arm, being required to disconnect all of the wires for each head when only one head needs to be repaired is highly undesirable.
Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide for a compact mini Winchester disk drive structure. It is a further object of this invention to have such mini Winchester disk drive have load beams that are easily removable and reattachable while eliminating the attachment bolts.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are accomplished by using a straight load beam/flexure assembly (i.e., the 2.degree. 20' angle when load beam is assembled is eliminated) where the flexure has a tongue portion that is parallel to the body of the load beam. Furthermore, the insert is no longer positioned between the arm end and the arm; rather the arm end of the load beam is now positioned between the insert and the arm, and ball staking is used to replace the bolts. By using ball staking instead of bolts to attach the beam to the arm, the carriage and the arms may be unitary, reducing the number of parts and the expense of machining of the carriage and arms. Furthermore, the side flanges of the load beam are tapered towards the slider end. Each side flange may have a plurality of wire tube guiding tabs spaced apart from each other that hold the wire tube in position along the side flange, thereby eliminating the split fork. The combination of all these design changes provides for a disk-to-disk separation of only about 160 mils.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial plan side view of a mini Winchester disk drive made according to the prior art.
FIG. 2 is a partial plan side view of a Winchester Disk Drive made according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partial side plan view of a load beam attached to an insert according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view and side view of a load beam/flexure assembly made according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a flexure made according to the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 2 illustrates an overall structure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present of the invention. Although the overall interdigitated structure is similar in some respects to the prior art, substantial changes yield a much more compact structure. By following the principles of the instant invention, a greatly diminished disk to disk spacing (S.sub.DD) of 160 mils can be obtained as opposed to the S.sub.DD of 300 mils typically achieved by the prior art. The results of this new construction are clearly shown in FIG. 2.
When the load beam 120 is assembled into a Winchester disk drive, there is substantially no angle between the load beam 120 and the arm 130, as opposed to the prior art 2.degree. 20' bend between the surface of the arm and the load beam body. Furthermore, as will be described in more detail below, the flexure 114 is designed such that the flexure's tongue portion 114b (FIG. 5), which is attached to the slider, is parallel to the load beam base 124. Each side flange 122 of the load beam has crimped wire tube tabs 123 which are used for positioning the wire tube. Thus, the split finger of the prior art is eliminated. Further, the side flanges 122 taper towards the slider end of the load beam. All of these features combine to allow a reduction of the disk to disk spacing.
Furthermore, the means for attaching the load beam 120 to the arm 130 has been changed to allow for even further decreases in the disk to disk spacing S.sub.DD. The insert 132, which has a height of about 20 mils, is no longer positioned between the arm end 128 of the load beam and the arm 130. Instead, the arm end 128 of the load beam 120 is positioned between the insert 132 and the arm 130. The prior art screws or bolts for attaching the insert and load beam to the arm have been eliminated. Instead of using bolts, ball staking, which will be described below, is used. The result is a gain of approximately 140 mils in disk-to-disk spacing. Unlike prior art spacing of approximately 300 mils, disk-to-disk spacing SDD has been reduced to approximately 160 mils--a reduction of almost 50%.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the flexure 114 may be more clearly seen. The flexure 114 is of a unitary construction and has a tongue portion 114b that is offset in a parallel manner by a specific distance from a flat body 114a surface of the flexure. The body portion 114a encloses a cutout region 114c over which the tongue portion 114b is suspended. The coupling of the tongue portion 114b to the body portion 114a is accomplished by forming two strips 114d. The height of the strips 114d is substantially identical throughout the length of the legs so that the tongue portion 114b is parallel to the body portion 114a. In the middle of the tongue region is a hemispherical dimple 114e protruding from the tongue portion 114b towards the flat body portion. The height of the hemispherically shaped 114e dimple is precisely the same as the offset distance so that when the flexure 114 is attached to the load beam 120, the crown of the dimple 114 e rests against the bottom surface of the load beam. The entire flexure is of a unitary construction; i.e., the flexure is formed from a piece of metal.
Several dimensions of the preferred embodiment of the flexure are given in table 1 below.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Dimension Symbol Name (mils) ______________________________________ L.sub.FOA Overall Flexure Length 314.7 W.sub.F Flexure Width 75 T.sub.L Tongue Length 166 T.sub.W Tongue Width 39 T.sub.O Tongue Offset 6 D.sub.D Dimple Diameter 30 D.sub.H Dimple Height 6 T.sub.F Flexure Thickness 2 ______________________________________
Referring now to FIG. 4, the overall structure of the load beam 120 may be seen. The load beam 120 is made from an elongated piece of stainless steel. Both the slider end 126 and the arm end 128 are substantially flat. Formed between the slider 126 end and the arm end 128 are side flanges 122 that are formed by bending the outer edge portions of the load beam at approximately a 90.degree. angle with respect to the base 124 of the load beam.
The side flanges 122 on the load beam 120 have been tapered to permit closer placement of adjacent load beams during assembly. The highest part of each side flange is at the end of the side flange closest to the arm end 128, and each side flange 122 tapers towards the slider end 126. Total elimination of the side flange has been found to cause too much resonance in the load beam 122. However, the applicant has found that the load beam can be tapered at the slider end to a height of about 20 mils while the height at the end of the side flange nearest the arm end is about 30 mils.
Integral with each side flange 122 are a plurality of spaced apart wire tube guiding tabs 123 that define a channel for holding a wire tube (not shown). The tabs are comprised of two portions: an upper portion 123a that is bent at a 90.degree. angle to the side flange and a lower portion 123b that is offset from the side flange and is substantially perpendicular to the upper portion 123a. During assembly of the load beam/flexure, the wire tube (not shown) may be positioned adjacent to either side flange. The wire tube guiding tabs 123 may then be crimped towards the side flange 12 and hold the wire tube firmly in place. By using the tabs, the split fork which was used to position the wiring tube on the load beam 122 is eliminated. Alternatively, the wiring tube may be positioned between the flanges 122 and the wire tube guiding tabs may be eliminated. A tab similar in construction to the tabs 123 projects from the flange near the slider-end over the tube and is crimped against the tube. A small split fork projects along the center line of the load beam between the arm end of the flanges and holds the tube firmly in place. The height of the split fork is less than the height of the flanges. By eliminating the split fork of the prior art near the slider-end, the slider end 126 of the load beam is flat. This allows for a decrease of the disk to disk spacing.
Before the load beam is assembled into the minicomposite Winchester disk drive, the attachment end of the arm forms about a 30.degree. angle with the remainder of the load beam. However, when the beam is assembled into the interdigitated structure shown in FIG. 2, the load beam 120 is straight, with the 2.degree. 20' angle of the prior art substantially eliminated. This is accomplished by having the disk to arm displacement (D.sub.DA) be substantially equal to the thickness of the load beam plus the height of the dimple plus the height of the slider plus clearance. Thus, the load beam acts as a leaf spring biasing the slider against the disk surface but the substantial angle of 2.degree. 20' in the prior art has been eliminated.
Overall dimensions of the load beam 120 are given in Table 2 below.
TABLE 2 ______________________________________ Dimension Symbol Name (mils) ______________________________________ L.sub.L Load Beam Length 1209 L.sub.F Flange Length 623 F.sub.HA Flange Height Arm End 30 F.sub.HS Flange Height Slider End 20 W.sub.A Width at Arm End 245 T.sub.L Thickness of Load Beam Base 3 ______________________________________
Referring now to FIG. 3, the ball staking or pin staking technique is shown by which the load beam 120 is attached to the arm 130. The load beam is welded to the insert 132 which has a boss 136 projecting from the bottom surface of the insert. The boss 136 passes through a hole 129 (FIG. 4) in the arm end of the load beam. The insert 132 defines an interior passage 138 that narrows at region 139. When the load beam is attached to the arm, the boss 136 is inserted into its mating hole in the arm. The hole 129 in the arm may be a variety of shapes, such as circular or has a hexagonal. A ball or pin with a diameter slightly larger than the narrow region 139 is inserted into the passage 138 of the insert. When the ball or pin reaches the narrowest portion of the passage, the ball or pin will push out or swage the material 142 adjacent to the passage causing the outer edges of the boss to expand. This allows for the load beam to be held fixedly in place.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the arms 130 are now part of the carriage 150, forming a unitary carriage/arm construction; i.e., they now form a unitary "comb-like" structure. Each arm 130 is spaced apart from and parallel to the adjacent arms, much like the adjoining teeth of a comb. The arms are joined by the remainder of the carriage 150, which acts as the spine of the comb-like unitary structure.
By using the unitary comb-like carriage/arm structure, the number of components has been reduced over the typical prior art mini Winchester disk drive. In particular, the separate arms 30 and bolts 40 (FIG. 1) have been eliminated. Also, machining the unitary structure is much less expensive than machining both the prior art carriage 38 and the arms 30.
Thus, by the use of the new flexure with the tongue portion 114b being substantially parallel to the load beam, and by eliminating the 2.degree. 20' angle of the load beam in the assembled unit, a substantial reduction of the disk to disk spacing may be achieved. Furthermore, by having the arm end of the load beam positioned between the insert and the arm and by using tabs along the side flange or other means instead of a split fork near the slider end, substantial reduction of the disk to disk spacing can also be attained. In addition, because ball staking is used instead of bolts 36 and accompanying tapped holes, the component cost is substantially reduced. With the preferred embodiment disclosed, the disk to disk spacing can be reduced from about 300 mils to 160 mils.
1. A head assembly for a mini-Winchester disk drive which is provided with a plurality of magnetic disks, comprising: a one-piece carriage having a plurality of integral, parallel, arms which are spaced apart from one another to form a comblike structure such that each arm can be located between a respective pair of magnetic disks in the drive, each arm having an opening: a plurality of read/write heads each arranged to cooperate with a surface of a respective disk; and means supporting each said head from a respective arm, said means comprising, for each said head: an elongated load beam having an arm end provided with an opening, and an opposed end carrying a respective head; and a connecting member having a flat portion and a hollow boss projecting from said flat portion and through said opening in a respective arm, with said beam being sandwiched, and mechanically held, between said flat portion and said respective arm, and said boss being deformed to form a swaged connection with said respective arm.
2. n assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means supporting each head further comprise a flexure connecting said head to its associated load beam.
3. An assembly as described in claim 2, wherein the flexure is a unitary piece.
4. An assembly as described in claim 2, wherein the flexure has two flat portions with the first portion being coupled to the load beam and the second portion being coupled to the head, wherein the two portions are substantially parallel to each other.
5. An assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said flexure and said flat portion of said connecting member associated with a given beam are adjacent the same surface of the associated beam.
6. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the openings in said arms are vertically aligned.
7. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein each said connecting member defines a hole which passes through, and narrows in, said hollow boss.
8. A head assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said beams extend parallel to one another and to the disks when said assembly is associated with the disks.
9. A head assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein each said beam has two opposed sides and is provided with a pair of flanges, each flange being formed integral to one side of said beam and tapering from a first height adjacent to said respective arm to a second height, less than said first height, adjacent said respective head.
10. A head assembly for a mini-Winchester disk drive which includes a plurality of magnetic disks, comprising: a plurality of parallel elongated arms which are spaced apart from one another so that each arm can be located between a respective pair of magnetic disks in the drive; a plurality of read/write heads each arranged to cooperate with a surface of a respective disk; and a plurality of flexible load beams each connected to a respective arm and supporting a respective head, each said beam being mounted to extend parallel to the surfaces of the disks when said head support means are installed in the drive, and each said beam having two opposed sides and being provided with a pair of flanges, each flange being formed integral to one side of said beam and tapering from a first height adjacent to said respective arm to a second height, less than said first height, adjacent said respective head.
11. A head assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein one flange of each said beam has a plurality of spaced apart tabs adapted for holding a tube in place adjacent to said beam.
12. A head assembly as described in claim 11, wherein each load beam further includes a second tab attached adjacent to the arm end, wherein the second tab is adapted for securing a wire coupled to the read/write head in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the load beam.
13. A head assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein one flange of each said beam has a tab projecting toward the other flange for securing a tube.
|3931641||January 6, 1976||Watrous|
|3984872||October 5, 1976||Beecroft|
|4019205||April 19, 1977||Salmond et al.|
|4107748||August 15, 1978||Ho|
|4167765||September 11, 1979||Watrous|
|4286297||August 25, 1981||Root et al.|
|4347535||August 31, 1982||Dalziel|
|4379315||April 5, 1983||Schuler|
|4391035||July 5, 1983||Van de Bult|
|4399476||August 16, 1983||King|
|4408238||October 4, 1983||Hearn|
|4713706||December 15, 1987||Oosaka et al.|
|4731920||March 22, 1988||Nishijima et al.|
- Burns et al, "Retention . . . Assembly", IBM Tech Disc Bull, vol. 23, Dec. 1980, p. 2952.
International Classification: G11B 549; G11B 2116;


text: Leica DSX GPR. The kit includes Tablet Pole Support 2 Year Basic CCP Leica DXplore Build Perpetual Leica DXplore Survey Perpetual This used Leica Geosystems DSX kit, manufactured in 2021, is a comprehensive solution for surveying and construction tasks. The kit includes a tablet, pole support, and comes with a 2-year basic CCP. It features the Leica DXplore Build Perpetual and Leica DXplore Survey Perpetual software, enhancing its functionality for various applications. Although the antenna size, frequency range, depth, data acquisition, processing specifications, and item number are not specified, the kit is noted for its portability, with the explicit mention of "No" suggesting it may not be the easiest to transport. The DSX model has been used for a certain number of hours and comes with a warranty lasting a few months, although the exact duration is not provided. The last calibration date is not mentioned, which is an important consideration for precision equipment. Despite being pre-owned, this kit represents a valuable asset for professionals in the field, offering the reliability and precision associated with the Leica Geosystems brand. This used Leica Geosystems DSX kit from 2021 is a robust package tailored for surveying and construction professionals. It comprises a tablet and pole support, complemented by a 2-year basic CCP. The inclusion of Leica DXplore Build Perpetual and Leica DXplore Survey Perpetual software significantly expands its capabilities for a variety of tasks. While details such as antenna size, frequency range, depth, data acquisition, processing specifications, and item number are not detailed, the kit's portability is hinted to be less convenient. The DSX model has accumulated hours of use and is backed by a warranty for an unspecified number of months. The absence of the last calibration date is noteworthy for those requiring meticulous accuracy. Despite its second-hand status, the kit stands out as a valuable tool, offering the trusted precision of the Leica Geosystems brand.

domain: geography


text:
MERRIAM The Kansas University women's tennis team's season ended Thursday with a 5-2 loss to Colorado at the Big 12 Conference Championships at Kansas City Racquet Club.
The Buffaloes won two of three matches to win the doubles point, then took four of the six singles matches.
"We had talked about coming out fired up from the beginning," KU coach Kilmeny Waterman said. "We wanted to be in a position where we had a chance to win at the end, and we did."
Paige Brown, at No. 2, and Luiza Loureiro, at No. 6, were the singles victors for the Jayhawks, who finished 7-12 overall, 3-8 Big 12.
"Ending on this note, where we had a chance to win, will hopefully motivate us for next season," Waterman said.
Brown beat CU's Kate Lutgert, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, and Loureiro downed Morgan Sall, 6-4, 6-4.
Brown and Courtney Steinbock teamed for KU's doubles victory, an 8-1 rout of Sall-Kendra Strandemo.
Kansas was seeded ninth in the tournament; Colorado (13-7) was seeded fourth.
Rain moved the tournament indoors -- and in some cases, across the Kansas state line. The matches were supposed to be played at the Plaza in Kansas City, Mo.
No. 7 seed Missouri (15-6) beat 10th-seeded Nebraska (12-11), 4-0, and will play second-seeded Texas A&M; today.
Sixth-seeded Kansas State advanced with a 4-1 victory over 11th-seeded Texas Tech (3-15) at the Woodside Tennis Club in Westwood.
The Wildcats (13-6) will play No. 3 seed Texas today.
Fifth-seeded Oklahoma beat 12th-seeded Iowa State, 4-2, at the Kansas City Racquet Club.
Oklahoma (19-5) will play intrastate rival and No. 4 seed Oklahoma State today.

domain: news


text:
JOHNSON'S® believes in promoting healthier and happier lives, and that means your patients deserve the best. Here are our latest shareable resources to help your patients give their newborns and little ones our gentlest care.
From bath time to skin care queries, Newborn Support has tips and tricks for baby care basics.
Baby & Toddler Support
A growing baby requires new nighttime routines and eventually potty training. Baby & Toddler Support helps parents transition with ease.
Between products, checklists, and childbirth classes, parent support can help anyone prepare.
If you experience any of these symptoms, please contact your medical professional immediately.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.
The information contained on this website are for general informational purposes only. The purpose of this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

domain: medical


text: Animals Endangered Species This Is What Life Without Bees Would Look Like By Melissa Breyer Editorial Director Hunter College F.I.T., State University of New York Cornell University Melissa Breyer is Treehugger’s editorial director. She is a sustainability expert and author whose work has been published by the New York Times and National Geographic, among others. our editorial process Melissa Breyer Updated October 11, 2018 ©. Fairmont Share Twitter Pinterest Email Animals Wildlife Pets Animal Rights Endangered Species One in three bites of food eaten around the world depends on pollinators; these images show how bleak our plates would be without our partners in pollination. Bees have had a rough go of it in the last decade or so. Thanks to a number of debilitating factors, bee populations have plummeted steadily over the past years. Last year a U.N.-sponsored report concluded that some 40 percent of invertebrate pollinator species (like bees and butterflies) are facing extinction. Also last year, for the first time ever, a number of bee species were added to U.S. endangered species list. And earlier this month a species of bumblebee was added to the same list, another first. Of course first and foremost this is bad news for bees; but it's bad for us as well. Beyond losing honey, without the pollination efforts of bees we'd lose alfalfa and clover and other things that cattle feed on, meaning the loss of much of our meat and dairy. Most alarming perhaps is the significant amount of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables that we would lose – removing these important sources of plant-based nutrition from our diets could easily lead to a drastic decline in human health. With all of this in mind, Fairmont Hotels created these images to show just what meals without bees might look like. If you're wondering why a chain of luxury hotels would put something like this together, it's because they have been fighting for the bees for almost a decade. Their Bee Sustainable program has resulted in more than 40 honeybee apiaries and wild bee hotels on properties around the world. The number of bees they provide homes for is remarkable! I visited the bees at the Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver a few years ago and was impressed not only with the 500,000 bees, but the large and productive terrace herb garden where they forage. The Fairmont Vancouver Airport hosts a wonderful one million honeybees living in 34 beehives – which produce about 2,400 pounds of honey. Anyway, sometimes the best way to get a point across is visually; I think these photos do a pretty good job. Breakfast with bees © Fairmont Breakfast without bees © Fairmont What's missing? Almonds, blueberries, coffee, orange juice, pumpkin seeds (granola), rapeseed (oil) spread, raspberries, strawberries, sunflower spread (oil) and seeds. Lunch & Dinner with bees © Fairmont Lunch & Dinner without bees © Fairmont What's missing? Cucumbers, mustard, onions, peppers, potatoes, sesame seeds, tomatoes. Dessert with bees © Fairmont Dessert without bees ©. Fairmont © Fairmont What's missing? Apples, blackberries, kiwi, pumpkins. If you want to do your part to help the bees, this guide from the New York Bee Sanctuary has some great tips.

domain: biology


text:
By Ryan Egan
Masked cleaners gathered at Halvorsen Park on a crusade to rid the waste that litters Waterfront Drive in Eureka. Volunteers came dressed in costumes and masks in seasonal spirit with bags on hand to gather waste and refuse for a good cause. The Monster Walk was the first event organized by the Jah Love project started by freelance photographer Kody Remala.
“We want to give back to the community,” said Remala. “Jah Love is about artists coming together and doing something to help out our community. Our donations for this event will benefit Six Rivers Planned Parenthood, and we hope to do a lot more events like this next year.”
Each community event planned by Jah Love will have photo shoots, portraits and art shows which will raise money for a different community outlet every month.
“From the funds we raise 60
percent goes towards the artist, 20 percent to Jah Love and 20 percent back to the community,” said Remala.
The costumed volunteers picked up a large amount of trash near the Humboldt Aquatic Center where they found a transient camp. Items found included a broken parasol, a traffic cone, a full set of keys and drug
paraphernalia. A sign made by the transients warned that any theft of items there would not go unpunished.
“It’s so sad to see our beautiful landscape in this state,” said Jennica Remala. “The people we cleaned up after could stay at the mission or a homeless shelter but they chose to litter our waterfront with their garbage and their leftover syringes. I hope these people can reconnect with our community and hopefully our cleaning efforts might persuade them to strive for a better lifestyle.”

domain: sociology


text:
Posted by Janet Harriett on Aug.08, 2009
If you grow zucchini, or know someone who does, you’ve probably faced the midsummer squash glut, when you have enough zucchini to eat it at every meal. On August 8, people humorously celebrate “Sneak Zucchini on Your Neighbor’s Porch Night,” but with these zucchini recipes for every culinary occasion and a full day’s worth of meals, you’ll be ready for the neighborly giveaway of summer squash, and won’t need to foist any of your harvest on anyone else, unless you want to.
The recipes calling for shredded zucchini can be made with frozen zucchini shreds. Simply shred the zucchini now, pack measured amounts in bags, label and freeze. In breads, muffins and soups, add the liquid from the thawed zucchini along with the vegetables. In other recipes, drain the thawed zucchini to avoid a watery dish.
Breakfast: Zucchini Blueberry Muffins
1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt
3/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup shredded zucchini
1 cup blueberries
Preheat oven to 325 and grease a muffin tin or line with baking cups.
Mix together flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon. In a separate bowl, beat egg and add applesauce, yogurt, honey and vanilla. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients in. Stir just until combined. Fold in the grated zucchini and blueberries. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 15-20 minutes.
Lunch: Zucchini-Chicken Salad
For all the ways cooks have found to use zucchini, it is rarely seen raw. Fresh, young zucchini, about 1 inch diameter, are most tender and best for this salad.
1 small zucchini
1/2 cup chopped cooked chicken breast
Seasoned herb vinegar
1/4 cup raspberries
Cut the zucchini into small matchsticks. Toss with the chicken and vinegar. Garnish with raspberries.
Snack: “Fried” Zucchini Sticks
This healthier version of fried zucchini is a great use for the bigger squashes that have been left on the vine a day or two past their tender prime.
1 egg, well beaten, or 1/4 cup liquid egg substitute
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
1 Tbsp grated parmesan
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp italian herb seasoning
Cut the zucchinis into 3 x 1/2 inch sticks. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Blot out excess moisture on the cut zucchini with a clean towel. In a shallow bowl, combine breadcrumbs, parmesan, garlic powder and herbs. Dip each stick in beaten egg, then coat with breadcrumb mixture. Place on cookie sheet. For a crisper coating, spray the coated sticks lightly with cooking spray. Bake at 425 for 20 minutes or until browned. Serve with marinara dipping sauce.
Appetizer: Summer-Fresh Crudites
Another recipe that takes advantage of the unexpected, delicate taste of raw zucchini. Makes 24 appetizers
1 medium zucchini
24 Cherry tomatoes
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 Tablespoons snipped chives
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Combine the cream cheese, chives and garlic powder. Slice the zucchini into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Spread each round with cream cheese and stick a cherry tomato on top. Secure with a toothpick if desired.
Soup: No Ham Split Pea Soup
Zucchini makes an excellent addition to almost any vegetable soup. When making soup in a slow cooker, shredded zucchini added at the beginning of the cooking time thickens the broth. Here, zucchini lightens up split pea soup. You can use green split peas, but the yellow peas give the soup a golden color that picky eaters may find more appetizing than green peas. Make vegan split pea soup by omitting the cheese and using vegetable broth.
1 cup yellow split peas
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups celery, chopped
2 cups shredded zucchini
2 cups shredded carrot
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
Salt to taste
Cheddar cheese (optional)
Place split peas, vegetables and herbs in a slow cooker. Pour broth over. Cook on low 6-8 hours until peas are tender. If you want a smooth split pea soup, puree with an immersion blender. Salt to taste. Serve sprinkled with shredded cheddar cheese.
Side Dishes: Zucchini Coins and Zucchini “Pasta”
Easy Sauteed Zucchini Coins
Because zucchini is often used as a filler or “secret ingredient” in recipes, the delicate, slightly sweet flavor of garden-fresh zucchini is not always appreciated. Light sauteing lets the taste shine. Fresher is better in this simple recipe. While olive oil is a heart-healthy fat that can aid absorption of some vitamins in vegetables, if you are worried about total fat intake, substitute chicken or vegetable broth. You only need enough to keep the zucchini from sticking initially. Once heated, the zucchini releases its own liquid.
2 teaspoons olive oil
Slice the zucchinis into 1/8 inch thick rounds. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the zucchini and saute 3-5 minutes until tender. Makes 4 side-dish servings.
Steamed Zucchini Noodles
The only ingredient is zucchini! Use these as a low-carb, gluten-free substitute for spaghetti or fettuccine with your favorite sauce. Cut wider strips, still 1/8 inch thick, for fettuccine.
With a mandolin slicer, slice zucchini lengthwise into a 1/8 inch julienne. Pour water 1 inch deep in a large saucepan and place a steamer basket in the pan. Place the zucchini noodles in the steamer basket. Heat the saucepan on High until you see steam coming up through the zucchini, then cover with a tight-fitting lid. Steam 3 minutes, or until the noodles are slightly limp. Remove from heat, uncover, and let sit for 2-3 minutes to let the moisture seep out of the zucchini. Drain and serve with herb butter or your favorite sauce.
Dinner Entree: Zucchini-Enhanced Turkey Meatloaf
Vegetables, lean ground turkey and fiber-rich oats makes this comfort food lighter and healthier. This is a great recipe for Once A Month Cooking, and the leftovers make great cold sandwiches. The mix can also be used for meatballs.
1 pound lean ground turkey, ground chicken breast
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup shredded zucchini
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1/4 cup finely chopped red pepper
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2 teaspoons italian herb blend
Dash hot pepper sauce
Combine all ingredients. Press into loaf pan. For a more tender meatloaf, refrigerate at least 1 hour to allow the oats to absorb moisture from the other ingredients. Bake at 350 F 45 minutes or until a meat thermometer registers 180 in the center of the loaf.
No-Meat Main Dish: Zucchini Lasagna
2 cups ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup finely chopped mushrooms
1 cup finely chopped onions
1 cup finely chopped bell pepper (red or green)
3 cups tomato sauce
1/2 cup grated parmesan
Mix the mushrooms, onion and bell pepper, set aside. Cut the ends off each zucchini and slice each zucchini lengthwise into 1/8 inch wide strips (a mandolin slicer makes this easier). Lay the zucchini strips out on a clean kitchen towel, top with another clean towel and press firmly to squeeze excess moisture from the strips.
Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Arrange 1/3 of the zucchini strips on the sauce. Top with 2/3 cup ricotta and 2/3 cup mozzarella. Spread 1/2 cup sauce over and sprinkle with 1 cup of the chopped vegetable mix. Continue layering zucchini strips, ricotta, mozzarella, 1 cup sauce and 1 cup vegetable mix. On top of the last layer, sprinkle the parmesan and cheddar. Bake at 350F one hour, or until bubbly and the cheese is melted all the way through. Cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Vegan Main Dish: Quick and Easy Zucchini Enchiladas
1 roasted red pepper
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp. minced garlic
4 flour tortillas, burrito-size
1 cup enchilada sauce
Vegan cheese (optional)
Cut the ends off the zucchinis and cut into matchsticks. Cut the roasted peppers in to pieces approximately the size of the zucchini matchsticks. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok. Add the zucchini, chili powder and roasted pepper. Saute until the vegetables are warmed through.
Spray a 9×9 baking dish with cooking spray or lightly oil with olive oil. Wrap the filling in the tortillas and place in the baking dish, seam-side down. Pour enchilada sauce over the tortillas and top with vegan cheese if desired. Bake at 350F 5-10 minutes until the sauce is heated through.
Pizza Night: Vegetable Pizza
1 prepared pizza crust
1 cup tomato sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 medium zucchini, sliced into 1/8 inch rounds
1 cup fresh spinach leaves, washed and dried
3 plum tomatoes, sliced
1/2 red onion, slivered
1 Green pepper, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup chopped green onions
Spread tomato sauce over prepared crust. Top with 1 1/2 cups mozzarella. Arrange vegetables on top of the cheese and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella. Bake at 400 F until cheese is melted.
Cookout Special: Grilled Zucchini and Vegetable Kebabs
Lemon-pepper seasoning blend
Halve zucchinis lengthwise. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning. Grill until tender.
Green Pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
Red or yellow peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
Vidalia onion, cut into wedges
Zucchini, cut into 1-inch chunks
Soak bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes. Thread the vegetables on the skewers and grill 3-4 minutes until tender
Sunday Brunch: Zucchini Frittata
This veggie-packed frittata uses only enough egg to hold the shredded vegetables together. Use a cast iron skillet or other heatproof pan to transfer between stovetop and broiler.
2 cups shredded zucchini
2 eggs, beaten
2 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons minced garlic
6 cherry tomatoes or yellow pear tomatoes, halved
Oil a 6-inch cast iron skillet well and preheat the skillet over medium heat. While the skillet is warming up, squeeze excess liquid from the shredded zucchini and combine the zucchini and carrots. Stir in eggs and garlic and toss to coat.
Pour the egg and vegetable mixture into the prepared skillet. Spread into an even layer, but do not stir once the egg begins to set. Arrange the tomato halves skin-side down on top of the fritata, pressing the halves into the egg mixture. Cook over medium 10 minutes or until the egg is mostly set.
Preheat the broiler. When the egg mixture is about 3/4 set, sprinkle with parmesan and transfer from the stovetop to the broiler to finish cooking. The frittata is done when the eggs are set and the top is slightly browned. Cut into wedges and serve warm or cold.
Article By: Janet Harriett
Profile: Janet Harriett, Green Diva Mom's fomer editor, has been a writer and editor for print and online media, specializing in education and environmental issues since 1999. She lives on 2 acres in central Ohio with her husband, a 275-square-foot backyard garden and a home orchard growing 25 varieties of fruit. Janet holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing.
Latest posts by Janet Harriett
- Pumpkin Flour - November 1st, 2010
- Get Your Whole Grains In - October 12th, 2010
- Recipe: Apple Pie Oatmeal - October 8th, 2010
- Nature Encounter: Wolf - October 6th, 2010
- Seven Food Ingredients with Industrial Uses - October 4th, 2010
- Five Food Additives that Sound Scarier than They Are - September 28th, 2010
- Autumn: Preparing for Winter - September 25th, 2010
- Happy Autumn! - September 24th, 2010
- Rebranding Corn Syrup as Corn Sugar - September 16th, 2010
- What to Do With Too Much Produce - September 13th, 2010

domain: food


Kuwait's Islamist-led opposition has called for mass demonstrations this weekend, in response to the government's decision to amend an electoral law before the December parliamentary elections.
The Kuwaiti opposition on Saturday vowed to boycott the December elections, accusing the government of trying to tilt the polls in favor of its own candidates.
The December polls are set to be the second time in a year that the oil-rich, Gulf Arab state has elected a new 50-seat legislature, amid a growing political crisis between the US-backed constitutional monarchy and an opposition led by Islamists.
"I call on every Kuwaiti to tear the December 1 paper from the calendar and throw it in the dustbin," said Mussallam al-Barrak, an opposition leader and former parliamentarian. "It is a black day for Kuwaiti political history."
The Islamist-led opposition took control of parliament last February, after the pro-government legislature elected in December 2009 had been dissolved amid popular protests stemming from corruption allegations. But the constitutional court subsequently scrapped the Islamist-controlled parliament and reinstated the pro-government one.
Call for demonstrations
Responding to calls from the Islamist-led opposition, Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah dissolved - once again - the pro-government parliament on October 7. But the opposition has now called for mass demonstrations to be held on Sunday, to protest against an amendment made by the emir to an electoral law.
Currently, Kuwaitis are allowed to cast ballots for four candidates in one of five districts. Under the amended law, they would only be able to vote for one candidate. The opposition has expressed concern that the changes are designed to facilitate the victory of pro-government candidates, thereby giving a rubber-stamp pro-government parliament a veil of political legitimacy.
The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry has warned that it would strictly enforce rules against "sit-ins, gatherings, processions, rallies…in any place other than the square facing parliament."
"Any act of violence, riots, instigation of violence…and undermining national security will be deal with forcefully and firmly," the ministry said.
slk/pfd (AP, AFP, Reuters)


text:
Burger’s Ozark Country Cured, a California, Mo. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,905 pounds of fully cooked turkey products due to misbranding, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.
The fully cooked turkey items were produced on Nov. 22, 2016 and packaged on Nov. 23, 2016. The following products are subject to recall:
- Vacuum-sealed packages containing “Harry & David Ready to Heat Fully Cooked Turkey without Giblets” with a case code of V20HD2MV and lot numbers 3276 and 3286.
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. P-1161” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These products were sent to a distribution center in Ohio for further distribution.
The problem was discovered on Jan. 16, 2017 when a customer observed the wrong label was applied to the product. The mislabeled turkey product contains sodium nitrite, which is not declared on the label. On Jan. 17, 2017, the establishment notified FSIS that the firm wanted to recall the mislabeled product.
There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.


The Washington Post reports that
NASA said Sunday that it will not launch space shuttle Endeavour on Monday.
The original launch, scheduled for Friday, had to be scrubbed when part of a power system for the shuttle’s hydraulics malfunctioned.
No new date has been set for Endeavour’s final mission. It is the second-to-last for the shuttle program and will be led by Mark Kelly, husband of wounded Ariz. Rep. Gabriel Giffords.
The WaPo sent a breaking news email. Links to follow later.


text:
Lemurian Seed Crystal
Regular price $30.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.
This beautiful Lemurian Seed Crystal is a form of Clear Quartz. For connection with the Divine Feminine, unification with the soul and access to knowledge and wisdom of ancient Lemuria. Approximately 1.75"W x 2.75"H.

domain: artistic


text:
Senator Kay Hagan sees economic growth in Bladen County, but farmers still worry about Farm Bill
During a two-stop trip to Columbus and Bladen Counties yesterday, Senator Kay Hagan learned a few things about the efforts of her constituents to support small business, grow the local economy, and promote local food.
WHQR’s Rachel Lewis Hilburn reports that the Senator visited what was once an old grocery store – until federal funds helped convert it into a booming local Farmers Market.
The Cape Fear Farmers Market operates six days a week in Elizabethtown, a small town in Bladen County. And the resident bakery, which is making a killing on its fried croissants, is one example of a local business helped by the effort.
But while the signs of economic growth are evident, Senator Hagan says constituents’ concerns are loud and clear.
“It’s all about jobs, jobs, jobs, and the economy. Some of the farmers in the area are concerned that the House hasn’t taken up the Farm Bill.”
Hagan says she hopes the lame-duck session on Capitol Hill between now and the end of the year will be a productive one.
But in the meantime, the Senator says people can take comfort in knowing that North Carolina is one of the 10th largest states – and growing.
“Businesses like the work ethic that they see in North Carolina in particular, and businesses outside of our state not only like the work ethic, they also like the climate. And I see good things happening in North Carolina.”
The Senator says she’s hoping to visit all 100 counties before the end of this year. As of this week, she’s been to 77.

domain: agronomy