Neural Network for Complex Systems: Theory and ApplicationsView this Special Issue
Dynamic Traffic Congestion Simulation and Dissipation Control Based on Traffic Flow Theory Model and Neural Network Data Calibration Algorithm
Traffic congestion is a common problem in many countries, especially in big cities. At present, China’s urban road traffic accidents occur frequently, the occurrence frequency is high, the accident causes traffic congestion, and accidents cause traffic congestion and vice versa. The occurrence of traffic accidents usually leads to the reduction of road traffic capacity and the formation of traffic bottlenecks, causing the traffic congestion. In this paper, the formation and propagation of traffic congestion are simulated by using the improved medium traffic model, and the control strategy of congestion dissipation is studied. From the point of view of quantitative traffic congestion, the paper provides the fact that the simulation platform of urban traffic integration is constructed, and a feasible data analysis, learning, and parameter calibration method based on RBF neural network is proposed, which is used to determine the corresponding decision support system. The simulation results prove that the control strategy proposed in this paper is effective and feasible. According to the temporal and spatial evolution of the paper, we can see that the network has been improved on the whole.
Traffic congestion is a common problem in many countries, especially in big cities. As far as our country is concerned, it is gradually spread to the medium cities and even small cities. This has brought a huge negative impact on the economic and social development of the region. For travelers, traffic congestion will lead to increased travel time, travel costs, and the quality of travel. From the point of view of traffic management, traffic congestion will result in higher operating costs and low efficiency of traffic network. At the social level, traffic congestion will cause traffic accidents, air pollution, noise pollution, and other environmental issues. Research on the formation and propagation of traffic congestion is a new technology to control the traffic jam. The sources of traffic congestion can be summarized into three categories: the temporary barrier; the bottleneck of the network’s capacity which is the bottleneck; the random fluctuation of a particular region in the network. In this paper, traffic congestion under accident conditions is the first kind of traffic congestion caused by traffic congestion. All known and unknown events affecting the road traffic flow are collectively referred to as traffic accidents . At present, China’s urban road traffic accidents occur frequently, the occurrence frequency is high, the accident causes traffic congestion, and accidents cause traffic congestion and vice versa. The occurrence of traffic accidents usually leads to the reduction of road traffic capacity and the formation of traffic bottlenecks, causing the traffic congestion. If the accident cannot be cleared in time, the vehicle will be up to the upper section of the line after the queue. If there is no timely evacuation, traffic congestion will quickly spread on the network, so as to increase the delay time of the traveler. Studies have shown that exiting road canalization is unreasonable, it is easy to form closed-loop congestion phenomenon in the dissipation of congestion. Congestion closed loop is the formation of the queue of the tail back to the congestion of the starting point. Once a closed loop is formed, traffic congestion itself is difficult to dissipate in the absence of artificial intervention .
In this paper, the formation and propagation of traffic congestion are simulated by using the improved medium traffic model, and the control strategy of congestion dissipation is studied. As the traffic congestion is mainly caused by accidents, temporary traffic control measures are the prohibition of the left, the prohibition of the right, and the right to ban. Vehicle ban measures can make originally lined up waiting vehicle restarted and select the way leaving the congested area. More important, timely application of vehicle turn prohibition measures can effectively avoid the formation of closed-loop congestion; even under conditions of closed-loop congestion vehicles are prohibited from turning to relieve the closed-loop congestion, so as to avoid congestion of malignant spread .
From the point of view of quantitative traffic congestion, the paper provides the fact that the simulation platform of urban traffic integration is constructed and a feasible data analysis method is proposed, which is used to determine the corresponding decision support system. The model is based on the international application of extensive and sophisticated series of software, which is based on learning and parameter calibration [4–11], optimization of macro simulation model, maintenance, macro (network), and medium (node and intersection). Through the platform and model, it forms the traffic state analysis of data support and auxiliary analysis platform, improving the urban road traffic forecasting ability, to provide the necessary technical support for the establishment of the urban project construction traffic impact assessment system.
2. Traffic Flow Theory Model and Data Calibration Algorithm
2.1. Traffic Flow Theory Introduction
Different traffic models can play a role in different aspects. From space, the macro traffic model can be used to analyze the main road network in the whole area, and the medium traffic model can be used to analyze a certain local project area, which can be used to support traffic planning and traffic engineering. In time, the macro traffic model takes a day or a peak hour as the scale; the medium traffic model is built on a smaller scale (e.g., every hour, every 15 minutes, and every minute); and the microscopic traffic simulation model can be fine to the second unit (e.g., every second, every 0.1 seconds). The medium traffic model is based on the four steps of traffic planning in the macroscopic traffic model. By using the information of the basic road network, the traffic demand information is updated and the traffic assignment method is used to achieve the traffic model to express the actual state of the road network. Medium traffic model is more detailed, in addition to primary and secondary roads and main roads, and it also includes a small road. In the medium traffic model, it is necessary to take account of its drainage and traffic control methods and to consider the signal timing scheme for signal control intersection. Medium traffic model is the second level of traffic research as a supplementary tool, direct simulation of the macro background, the development and adjustment of the land, the layout of the land, and the improvement of the regional transportation system.
The micro model reflects and simulates the operation process of a single vehicle in the road network, directly simulating the operation of traffic guidance and signal control. The microscopic traffic simulation model is further refined to a number of intersections, and the parameters of each lane are set up, which can be analyzed in detail. In time, the microscopic traffic simulation model can be refined to a second as a unit (e.g., every 0.1 seconds). As the auxiliary tool of the third levels of traffic research, the model of the onlookers is analyzed and compared with the indexes of the vehicle running process, and the detailed design scheme of the local traffic improvement measures and signal optimization measures are evaluated and analyzed . From the perspective of traffic demand and traffic supply, the medium traffic model is to analyze the causes of traffic congestion and to analyze the congestion control scheme.
2.2. Meso Traffic Dynamics Model
In this study, the Zhuzilin area is used to establish an example of a mesoscopic traffic model for congestion cause analysis and to make recommendations for improvement, comparison, and analysis of schemes. As this project is mainly integrated model of the technical analysis method research, the results may be different from the actual traffic conditions.
The traffic flow theory model can be divided into macro and micro methods. In view of the dynamic model, the dynamic model can meet the requirements of accuracy and has good real-time performance, so it is a hot spot in the field of intelligent transportation.
2.2.1. Queuing Theory
According to the queuing theory, the queuing delay of the queue in the car is
which represents lane group output capacity (such as vehicle queue dissipation rate; traffic control signal influence on traffic flow can reflect on the change of ); is number of vehicles for departure time ; if a mobile vehicle at time reached the tail of the queue, its position iswhere is the location; the end of the time , and from 1 jam is the average length of the vehicle. Jam is crowded density; is the number of vehicles in time between the inspection of vehicles and the end of the queue of vehicles running. In fact, the number of vehicles entering the queue before the vehicle is considered.
It is worth noting that the applicable conditions of the model are
2.2.2. Speed Model
In the medium traffic simulator, the traffic network is divided into the connecting line, the node, and the loading point. Each connecting line is divided into a plurality of segments, each segment containing a moving element and a queue element [12, 13]. The speed of the vehicle in the moving element is determined by the velocity density model. The model is based on the assumption that the upstream part of the section is kept constant, the downstream part contains a deceleration area, and the speed of the vehicle in the region varies linearly with the position (as shown in Figure 1), where is the speed of the end of the section of the section, is the speed of the end of the section of the section, and is the length of the deceleration area. is related to the terrain features and traffic conditions of the section.
The upstream end of the road is set at 0 points, and the length of the section is , then the downstream end of the road is located at the position of , which establishes the relationship between the speed and position
If there is no queuing phenomenon, the speed at the downstream end of the section is affected by the traffic conditions of the lower section of the section. If there is a vehicle queue phenomenon in the section, the speed of the lower end of the section is determined by the line dissipation rate (i.e., the output capacity). The velocity of the upstream end of the segment is a function of the average density of the segment moving unit:
2.2.3. Vehicle Moving Model
In this paper, we use the classical model of medium traffic. In the section of the moving part, the speed of the vehicle moving is determined by the speed-density model, which is based on the fixed speed. The deceleration area, if there is no queuing, assumes that beginning from 0, the vehicle is located in ; the vehicle at the time of is defined as
Assume that the time is , the vehicle is located in , and then the position is
If there is a queue at the location , then the location of the vehicle at any time is given by the following formula:
2.3. Data Calibration Algorithm Based on RBF Neural Network
RBF neural network is the radial basis function (RBF) as a hidden unit “base,” constituting a hidden layer, hidden layer to the input vector transform, which can realize the nonlinear mapping from input to output. From the geometric sense, it is equivalent to the given sparse samples point to restore a continuous hypersurface to the point; in the surface to meet the sample value, the network application is equivalent to the estimation of the unknown point value. The learning methods are as follows [14, 15].
Defining the network training sample input as , the actual output of the output neurons is
Among them, the Green function is commonly chosen as the basic function; the objective function can be defined as , is the number of training samples, and is the signal error, which is defined as .
3. Congestion Control Strategy
3.1. Basic Hypotheses
In the two-way traffic network, the segments are subdivided into segments (Figure 4), and the segments have the same physical characteristics. Each section of the lower reaches its capacity constraints, known as the output capacity. The size of the output power depends on the physical characteristics of the road (such as the width and the slope) or unexpected events, control facilities, and so forth. The section upstream is a mixed traffic area, the area is mixed with the vehicles in each direction of traffic flow, the lower reaches of the area, and the vehicle runs in parallel and independent of each other. The drainage area is subdivided into three separate subregions, which are used for turning, left, straight, and right. In view of the path selection, traffic demand, road characteristics, and so on, this paper makes the following assumptions:(1)The traffic between any OD pairs is constant. All paths are obtained by the literature, and they will not change their travel path because of the congestion, unless the traffic control is implemented.(2)In the entire simulation time period, it uses the periodic boundary conditions.(3)All intersections are defined as having the same input and output power, without any signal control, which only considers the deterministic component of the traffic flow.(4)If a particular outlet (e.g., left) is congested, the traffic flow will be formed in the rear of the road section. If obstacles cannot be cleared in time, the line will eventually extend and cross over to the other lanes, causing traffic jams on the road.
3.2. Spatial Structure of Traffic Jam
If a traffic accident occurs in the traffic network, it might as well assume that a road from east to west in the network will cause a sharp drop in the traffic capacity of the road. When the vehicle line up to the intersection of the road, the plan is to turn left (from south to north) or turn right (north to south) into the road to form a new line of vehicles. Vehicle queue continues to spread until the upstream intersection and causes more road congestion. The distribution of traffic congestion on the network is given after a period of traffic accident. It can be seen that the traffic jam on the space structure is generally a diamond structure. But according to the latest research results show that there is no accident of two-way lattice network congestion space structure which is generally a central symmetrical graphics. After the accident, the traffic jam is extended from the accident to the tree structure, which is shown in the paper. If the accident lasts long enough, the range of Congestion Propagation in four directions to the four corners of the world will be roughly the same. This feature is crucial to ease traffic congestion, because these sections for jam provide a buffer zone.
In order to show the growth process of congestion, Figure 1 depicts the conditions where there is no artificial intervention in the Congestion Propagation tree. Figure 1 (left) shows the process of the accident which removes the previous congestion growth process. It can clearly see the scale of the congestion and the network in which each section of the road is in a congested state of the total time. Figure 1 (right) shows the formation of a closed loop. When the accident lasts long enough, the stop line width is divided into an unreasonable (turning direction allocation), and the closed loop is formed in the process of the traffic accident relief. Once the incident is cleared, the vehicle starts and generates the start wave. At the same time, the upper reaches of the vehicle continue to enter the congested area. At first, a straight line of vehicles can effectively leave the congestion area, while the queue also looks to start to dissipate and then turn the vehicle quickly to get to the end of the initial line and line up . Due to the distribution of the direction of the traffic flow direction of the car park, the traffic flow direction is insufficient, which causes that the turning vehicles cannot leave the congestion area in time. Sometime later, straight line direction of the traffic flow is affected by the turning of the vehicle and fewer vehicles are pulled out of the jam area, while the arrival of regional congestion of vehicles is increasing. This has led to a growing traffic congestion. Without manual intervention, congestion will continue to grow until the entire network is covered.
3.3. New Congestion Control Strategy
In a one-way street grid, the exit of a section of the road is divided into two directions: straight and turning (left or right). In this form of traffic, the vehicle can be used to restrict the area of the vehicle entering the area by using the measures to prohibit the use of a straight line or a turn. In the two-way traffic network, the export of road segments needs to be divided into three directions: turn left, go straight, and turn right. For the same section, not only can the straight line of the vehicle enter the congested area, but also left or right turn vehicle can also enter the congested area. In this form of transportation, the simple use of a ban on the use of direct line of measures cannot effectively limit the congestion area of the vehicle to enter the congested area. Thus, the existing congestion control strategy for a one-way street network can not be completely copied to the two-way traffic network .
In this paper, the congestion control strategy is to turn prohibition and the vehicles intelligent behavior, and in the periphery of the congested area a vehicle prohibition area is established, while the vehicle changes its route in congested area to take a temporary path. According to the shape of the congestion, the control strategy is presented as follows: single track control strategy, multiline control strategy, control strategy, and tree control strategy.
The fourth kind of control strategy is proposed in this paper that the formation of congestion is not only concerned with the site of the incident and traffic network structure and other factors are inseparable, but two-way lattice network, Congestion Propagation, should be in the path that the accident site is in the OD of the shortest path, whose shape is similar to the tree branches. So it is necessary to execute a variety of intelligent or artificial control measures in the periphery of the structure of congestion; hence the name is the tree control strategy [12, 18–20]. Of course, this is no longer a single restriction; there is also induction of real-time path selection behavior. In the medium traffic model, the measures are forbidden to turn and real-time route choice in order to ease the traffic congestion. In the paper, the vehicle is used to cancel the condition that if the traffic congestion at the lower reaches the accident site which is completely dissipated, all the measures will be cancelled immediately.
4. Case Study
In this paper, we observe the average density flow rate and other indicators in the above conditions, so as to judge the congestion of the network. Secondly, the OD is set up, the OD points are defined, and the fourth kind of congestion dissipation strategies are adopted. Average density flow rate and other indicators are then analyzed. The accident occurred at the beginning of the accident upstream, if the entire simulation time is not to take any measures, then the queue continues to spread. According to the concept of traffic model, the traffic flow and saturation Zhuzilin area distribution are as shown below. From the perspective of traffic demand and traffic supply, the medium traffic model is to analyze the causes of traffic congestion and to analyze the congestion control scheme. In this study, the Zhuzilin area is used to establish an example of a mesoscopic traffic model for congestion causes analysis and to make recommendations for improvement. Because this project is mainly integrated model of the technical analysis method research, the results may be different from the actual traffic conditions.
4.1. Cause Analysis of Congestion
As can be seen from Figure 3, the Zhuzilin area is the main point of congestion on Zhuzilin Road, specifically, the six roads leading to the Shennan Boulevard Voeux Road (circled in red) sections. Using the Visum flow bundle function, the view of the road traffic situation is shown in Figure 4.
The spider web analysis diagram shows that this section of the traffic is mainly to the Shennan Road East of the U-turn car flow, which has a part of the traffic flow or through the northwest corner of the intersection of Shennan Avenue-Mangrove Road (pictured in red circle location) leading to the Shennan Road East. This part of the car flow is from four Zhuzilin Road left turn lanes into Shennan Avenue. We use flow bundle function and check the traffic situation of the four Zhuzilin Road left turn lanes into Shennan Avenue.
It is found that the traffic from the four Zhuzilin left turn lanes into Shennan Road traffic is large. Therefore, the Shennan Avenue-Mangrove Road intersection signal control and channelization schemes were studied. It is found that the north entrance of the left turn traffic green signal ratio is only 0.14. According to the investigation of the saturation current of the intersection, the distance of the head is 2.53 seconds; that is, the saturation capacity of single lane is 1400 pcu/h. From this calculation, the actual turning capacity is pcu/h. At the same time, Shennan Road East imports the leftmost lane for left U-turn lane (due to the presence of two dedicated left turn lanes, the survey found that the lane is 80% of the traffic to U-turn car flow), and the green signal ratio is 0.28, which is calculated to get the actual turnover capacity for pcu/h. When the volume from the four Zhuzilin left turn lanes into Shennan Road traffic is excessive, part of the traffic flow opts to reach Zhuzilin Road via the six lanes of Shennan Avenue after making a U-turn after traveling east, which is shown in Figure 5.
Thus, the main cause being the four Zhuzilin left lanes overloading Shennan Road’s traffic capacity is insufficient. According to the above reasons, to improve the design of Zhuzilin four Shennan Road, it is necessary to increase the capacity of left turn including the increase of the steering drive and improving the green letter. Considering that there are already 2.5 left turn lanes, the proposed method is proposed to improve the green letter ratio. Also, the fourth control strategy is used.
It can be seen from Figure 6 and 7 that the improved scheme can be significantly decreased by routing six lanes of traffic from Zhuzilin Road into Shennan Boulevard des Voeux Road traffic; the traffic will choose four Zhuzilin Road left turn lanes into Shennan Avenue. At the same time, however, we also found that the congestion of the four Zhuzilin Road turn lanes increased, which requires further analysis, which we have deferred.
4.2. Microscopic Traffic Model
Microscopic traffic model is based on the driving of vehicles in the road network and analyzes the bottleneck of the traffic congestion, and the improvement of the bottleneck points is analyzed . In this section, for project established using the Zhuzilin area microscopic traffic model, for example, the congestion bottleneck analysis and process improvement measures are presented. Because this project is mainly integrated model of the technical analysis method research, the results may be different from the actual traffic conditions.
As shown in the Figure 8, the location of the congestion bottleneck through the vehicle queue is determined.
Analysis of the queuing situation is due to the formation of the main road, and the middle section is the bottleneck of the whole road traffic. Microscopic traffic model can be used to analyze the causes of sudden traffic congestion and traffic congestion, to analyze the feasibility of the scheme, and to evaluate the effect of different traffic congestion on the traffic flow. The simulation of the emergency traffic congestion is analyzed. The microscopic traffic model analysis method used in the traffic congestion is similar to that used in the analysis of the traffic congestion. Therefore, in this section, for the project established using the Zhuzilin area microscopic traffic model, for example, the congestion response speed and evacuation analysis process are discussed.
Because this project is mainly integrated model of the technical analysis method research, the results may be different from the actual traffic conditions. In the microscopic model, an accident caused by a road bypass signal lamp is simulated. For example, we have to take 10 minutes to complete the accident, and the accident occurred in the tenth minutes. The signal light can be then synchronized with the red light for about 600 s, until about 1200 s, when it is synchronized with the green light, as shown in Figures 9–13.
Traffic incident is one of the main reasons leading to the traffic jam. In this paper, the traffic congestion caused by accidents is simulated by using the improved medium traffic model, and the propagation law of traffic congestion is found. The control strategy is put forward for the first time. The simulation results also prove that the control strategy proposed in this paper is effective and feasible. According to the temporal and spatial evolution of the paper, we can see that the network has been improved on the whole. But the paper is still showing many irregularities, such as not considering the use of advanced intelligent transportation methods for congestion control, cross-signaling intersection control, and information guidance. Also not considered was the use of more advanced traffic prediction methods, informed in advance by dynamic network information, and antiblocking, as well as the effective combination of the above-mentioned methods. This is also the direction of future efforts of the author.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
This study was supported by the Guangdong Natural Science Fund (2015A030313626), Special Fund of Frontier and Key Technology Innovation of Guangdong Province (Provincial Major Science and Technology Project) (2014B010112008, 2015B010106001, 2015B010129003, and 2016B010109007), Pearl River S&T Nova Program of Guangzhou (201610010034), Guangdong Science and Technology Program (2013B01010201, 2013B010102018, and 2013B090600152), Guangzhou Science and Technology Project (no. 2014Y2-00044), National Natural Science Foundation of China (61603105), and Scientific Research Project of Guangzhou Municipal Colleges and Universities (1201610154).
M. Junghare and M. Shimpi, “A survey of congestion control protocols for wireless sensor network,” in Proceedings of the IJCA Proceedings on National Conference, vol. 43, 2012.View at: Google Scholar
D. Howard, B. Mark, and H. Martin, Neural Network Toolbox For Use with Matlab, The MathWorks, Natick, Mass, USA, 2007.


text:
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Whenever there is Evidence of Kidney Damage or loss of Kidney Function for more than 3 months is called Chronic Kidney Disease. There is epidemic of chronic kidney disease in our population. It is always irreversible & Progressive kidney disease and it gradually progresses to end stage renal failure requiring dialysis or Kidney Transplantation as treatment. CKD is divided into five different stage depending up degree of renal dysfunction Normal Glomerular Filtration rate in normal adult patient is about 100 to 120 C.C per minute ( Filtration capacity of Kidney) . In Stage 5 glomerular filtration rate is less than 15 C.C per minute is also called end stage renal failure which requires renal replacement therapy to survive.
Among the various causes Diabetes and hypertension are the commonest causes about 50% of CKD are due to diabetes which is preventable if it diagnosed in early stage. Good Kidney Specialist will always try to find out the underlying cause of kidney diseases . Many of kidney disease are completely treatable. Good conservative treatment of CKD can slow down the progression of kidney disease and improves quality of life.
In young Patient high blood pressure may be the only manifestation of Chronic Kidney Disease. About of 70% of patients of CKD are completely asymptomatic often diagnosed only on routine healthy Checkup only.
Category:Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment

domain: medical


text:
found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
I am already spayed, in need of an experienced adopter, up to date with shots, and not good with kids.
f you are interested in adopting please visit the shelter or you may inquire via email - email@example.com or call 978-452-7781.
Adoption / Visiting hours are as follows:
Tuesday 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Wednesday 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Thursday 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Friday 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
We are closed Mondays and Holidays.
Please be aware - because of the number of animals coming in and out of the shelter, the pet you are interested in may have already been adopted.

domain: pet


text:
DHARAMSALA, August 1: Expressing support for Middle Way Approach (Umaylam), a mutually beneficial approach to resolving the issue of Tibet amicably within the framework of the People’s Republic of China, is now a criminal offence in Chinese occupied Tibet.
China has criminalised expressions of support for increased autonomy in Tibet for the first time, reports Human Rights Watch (HRW).
China’s Public Security Bureau in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) has issued a notice stating that any expression of support for the Dalai Lama’s proposal for increased autonomy in Tibet as a form of organized crime, the HRW stated in the report and added, “to our knowledge, this is the first time such activities and opinions have been officially listed as crimes by a provincial-level body in Tibet.”
It further urged the public to inform on ‘underworld forces’ and declared a range of traditional or informal social activities among Tibetans to be illegal, the report said.
Apart from criminalising the expressions of support for increased autonomy in Tibet, the notice has also criminalised local initiatives for environmental protection, language preservation, and dispute mediation as it claimed that some of these initiatives secretly encourage support for the exiled Dalai Lama or for Tibetan independence.
The new restrictions are intended to increase the authority of the CCP at the grassroots level, by destroying any remaining influence of lamas and traditional leaders within Tibetan communities, the HRW noted in the report.
China, a member of the United Nations since 1945 is a party to the signatory of UN’s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Though the provisions of the declaration aim to protect the human rights of all people in participating nations, these new regulations are evidence of China’s systematic violation of human rights in Tibetan areas, the HRW said.
While the Central Tibetan Administration maintains it’s firm stand and commitment to peacefully and amicably resolve the issue of Tibet through ‘Middle Way Approach’ and hopes that the leaders in Beijing will see reason with the Middle Way Approach, instead of distorting it, and step forward to engage in dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s envoys to amicably resolve the Tibetan issue, China calls The Dalai Lama a ‘separatist’ and the middle way approach an attempt to separate Tibet from China; a that can be best summed up as no interest to resolve the issue.
Middle Way Approach’ which seeks genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people within the framework of the People’s Republic of China was proposed by His Holiness as a mutually beneficial approach for both the Chinese and the Tibetans to resolve the issue of Tibet. The policy does not seek independence for Tibet from China, but a genuine autonomy within the framework of the People’s Republic of China.

domain: sociology


text:
Simon Coveney, Ireland’s foreign secretary, is flying to London for talks with his British counterpart James Cleverly amid hopes of a framework agreement to end the bitter row over Northern Ireland’s Brexit deals within weeks.
Official-level talks will begin on Thursday afternoon via video link ahead of a working lunch between the two ministers.
“Both sides have agreed to negotiate this week for the first time since mid-February,” Coveney told reporters in Dublin. “Mood music has changed fundamentally. We welcome that and will not only work to rebuild trust, but also work on solutions in a practical way,” he added.
In a second round of meetings on Friday, Coveney will meet Northern Ireland Minister Chris Heaton-Harris and Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker, who stunned many this week when he apologized to Ireland and the EU for the behavior of the Brexit camp he led during of Theresa May’s Prime Ministership.
In a clear sign of a thaw in EU-UK relations, Liz Truss will simultaneously attend the inaugural session of the European Political Community, a new body being promoted by French President Emmanuel Macron to connect EU member states with other European countries to join countries that are not in the bloc. She is expected to meet both Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The talks come as Baker – a former leader of the European Research Group (ERG), made up of Eurosceptic Tory MPs – slammed David Frost in a Twitter spat about Britain’s behaviour. Referring to a request from Lord Frost and a Northern Ireland journalist to stick to the UK red lines, Baker tweeted: “None of you seem to have heeded my comments on determination. But the EU and the Irish have. And red lines are about not discussing them publicly. to have none.”
Coveney and Cleverly will have a working lunch in London as part of a bilateral meeting that will look at Ukraine, the UN Security Council and Brexit. They have already spoken twice on the phone and met at a Security Council meeting in New York last month, but this is the first full bilateral discussion, indicating the priority status of the Northern Ireland issue.
Sources say Truss has made it clear she “wants a deal” and is keen to get the Northern Ireland issue off her mailbox so she can tackle the significant challenges she faces with the UK economy, Ukraine and the UK facing the cost of living crisis.
Former Secretary of Northern Ireland Julian Smith described the resumption of talks as “good news”. He said the government must now “reach an agreement that broadly meets the needs of all sides in NI,” but the EU must also “lean in to address many of the issues raised by the union movement.”
Some are hoping a framework agreement could be in place by October 28, the deadline for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to return to power-sharing in the Stormont Assembly.
Earlier this week, Edwin Poots, who briefly chaired the DUP last year, warned that the political impasse in Northern Ireland could mean a “funeral” for the very peace deal that established power-sharing.
Many believe an agreement could be reached to end physical checks on goods moving from the UK to Northern Ireland, but the role of the European Court of Justice will be difficult as it is a red line for both sides.
The DUP holds its annual conference on Friday, which is expected to air disagreements over the latest developments.

domain: news


9 year old superstar willow smith proved she’s really in it for the long run.. less than 24 hours of whip my hair being released to itunes the song sits at the number 2 spot only behind ke$ha’s new song!!! her wip my hair video is sitting comfortably at the number 1 spot .
Willow is honestly the whole package she can sing she’s got the stage swagger and confidence almost all her musical contemporaries like rihanna who are 3 times her age lack..the is no stopping young willow she just snatched all you favs wigs and not giving back!. This is now a willow smith world and we are just lucky to be apart of it !!!


text:
Talking Bellies - Multi
Temporary belly tattoos y ASOS Collection Transform your belly in to a fun face Includes eyes, noses and facial hair ABOUT ASOS COLLECTION Directional, exciting and diverse, the ASOS Collection makes and breaks the fashion rules. Scouring the globe for inspiration, our London based Design Team is inspired by fashion's most covetable trends; providing you with a cutting edge wardrobe season upon season.. LOOK AFTER ME Avoid Contact With Liquids
Mood Lighting Switch Stickers
Get creative and brighten up your home in an instant with these Mood Lighting Light Switch Stickers. 12 sheets of stickers enable you to create 8 girl faces, 8 boy faces as well as 8 animal faces depending on your mood and colour scheme. Alternatively, as individual stickers, you can mix and match to create your own unique styles. Low tack PVC, they are easy to remove when you want to try something new.
Joy The Store

domain: artistic


text:
We are back in the United States for a few months enjoying some beautiful spring weather. I’m also finally catching up on our most recent trip to Frederick Maryland over the winter holidays. The town of Frederick is dear to us and we visit annually to spend time […]
Call it Suckling Pig, Cochinillo, or Lechón…there are many tasty versions to try in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Suckling pig (cochinillo) was one of our favorite dishes in Spain and we seek it out wherever we travel. It is also a special dish in Latin America, where it is called lechón. Now, we have the same enthusiasm trying the many versions of lechón created by chefs […]
You’ll probably see me say again and again that one of our favorite things about San Miguel de Allende Mexico is the diversity of restaurants. Whatever kind of cuisine we’re in the mood for, we will likely be able to find it. Napoletana style pizza has been no […]
This recipe was inspired by a dish we had many years ago in Ajijic, Mexico. The name of the restaurant has been forgotten, but the taste of seared sea scallops with a smoky charred tomatillo salsa verde has stuck with us. We have recreated it many times. While […]
Whether you call it ceviche, tiradito, crudo, or carpaccio—raw or marinated seafood is fresh, fun, flavorful and good for you. It is also very popular in restaurants in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and we’re loving it! It appears winter has passed and it’s warming up here in […]
…at least in the parts of the world where I’ve eaten. Having lived in Spain and Portugal for the last few years, we’ve had a lot of amazing pulpo (octopus). Arguably some of the best in the world. We are thrilled to find that the pulpo in the […]
The new year is full of some big changes for us. A couple of weeks ago we flew to Mexico City and jumped on a bus to San Miguel de Allende, our new home away from home. While this might be a surprise to many of our readers, […]

domain: food


text:
Delivery time Reports that actress Shirley Henderson, one of the Dune: Sisters the lead actresses, and director Johan Rink, who was set to direct the first two episodes, both decided to opt out. Dune: Sisters The show also enters an extended hiatus in production. In a statement to Delivery timeAn HBO Max spokesperson confirmed this SistersThe hiatus was already scheduled before two of the series’ main characters chose to part ways with the project, and that “there are some creative changes being made to production in an effort to create the best series possible and stay true to the source material.”
“Johann Rink has completed his work on the series and a new director will be brought in; by mutual agreement, Johan will advance to pursue other projects,” the tape said.
Originally, Henderson was to portray Tola Harkonnen, one of the founding members of the DuneThe Bene Gesserit Order that sprang from another secret, older group of women working in the shadows. Tola’s role will reportedly be recast, and current showrunner Alison Schapker’s team may have time to finalize more scripts for the series. But from the outside looking in, it’s a feeling Dune: Sisters It could be in tatters.
“Freelance entrepreneur. Communicator. Gamer. Explorer. Pop culture practitioner.”
Dick Van Dyke was involved in a car crash in Malibu earlier this month
Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine reportedly injured in a beating at South Florida Los Angeles Fitness
WGA will allow artificial intelligence in screenwriting – Miscellaneous


text:
Title: Love That Dog
Author: Sharon Creech
First published January 1, 2001
112 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780064409599 (ISBN10: 0064409597)
“I never knew writing could be so fun,” says Jack, a boy who had always detested poetry. He thought it was a girl’s thing and every time he tried to write one, his mind went blank.
However, his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, has a different idea and keeps assigning poetry projects to the class. Jack cannot help but participate.
To his surprise, as he writes more, he realizes he has a lot to express.
About the Author
I was born and raised in South Euclid, Ohio, which is a suburb of Cleveland. I grew up with my parents, Ann and Arvel, my sister Sandy, and my three brothers Dennis, Doug, and Tom.
If you want to see a fictionalized version of what our family was like, check out Absolutely Normal Chaos. Our home was always full of Creeches, as well as friends and relatives who stopped by often.
During the summertime, we would all pile into a car and take a trip to Wisconsin, Michigan, or even Idaho. Looking back, I have no idea how our parents managed to handle all of us in the car for those long trips.
When I was twelve, we took a five-day journey to Idaho that left a lasting impression on me. I was amazed by the vastness of our country.
Little did I know that thirty years later, I would write a book called Walk Two Moons, which was based on that trip.
Another place we frequently visited was Quincy, Kentucky, where my cousins lived on a beautiful farm. We spent our days running in the hills and our nights telling stories on the porch.
I loved that place so much that it’s been included in many of my books. I transformed it into Bybanks, Kentucky, which appears in Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird, Bloomability, and The Wanderer.
When I was young, I had many aspirations, including becoming a painter, ice skater, singer, teacher, and reporter. However, I quickly realized that I lacked talent in drawing, skating, and singing.
As for reporting, I wasn’t very good at sticking to the facts. It wasn’t until I took literature and writing courses in college that I discovered my love for storytelling.
I eventually became a high school English and writing teacher in England and Switzerland, which taught me a lot about plot, characterization, and point of view.
I started writing novels for adults while living in England, but my focus shifted to writing for young people after I published Absolutely Normal Chaos. Walk Two Moons was the first book I published in America, and it won the Newbery Medal, which was a huge surprise to me.
Since then, I’ve published several other books, including Chasing Redbird, Pleasing the Ghost, Bloomability, The Wanderer, and Fishing in the Air. I hope to keep writing for many years to come.
I’m married to Lyle Rigg, who is the headmaster of The Pennington School in Pennington, New Jersey, and we have two grown children, Rob and Karin. Spending time with my family is what I enjoy most, and writing is a close second.
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech is a charming and heartfelt novel that will resonate with readers of all ages. Creech is a Newbery Medal-winning author known for her poignant and lyrical prose, and Love That Dog is no exception.
The book was first published in 2001 and has since become a beloved classic of children’s literature.
The novel is written in the form of a diary kept by a young boy named Jack. Through his entries, we learn about his love for poetry, particularly the works of Walter Dean Myers and William Carlos Williams.
Jack is initially reluctant to write his own poetry but is encouraged by his teacher, Miss Stretchberry, to explore his own creativity. As he begins to write, he grapples with the loss of his beloved dog, Sky, and confronts his own emotions and experiences.
Creech’s writing is deceptively simple, yet incredibly powerful. She captures the voice of a young boy with remarkable authenticity, and her use of poetic language adds depth and richness to the narrative.
The book is a quick read, but it packs an emotional punch that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished it.
One of the strengths of Love That Dog is its exploration of grief and loss. Jack’s experience of losing his dog is universal, and Creech handles the subject matter with sensitivity and grace.
Through his poetry, Jack is able to process his emotions and come to terms with his loss. The book also touches on larger themes of identity, creativity, and the power of literature.
The only weakness of the book is its brevity. At just over 100 pages, Love That Dog is a slim volume that leaves readers wanting more.
However, this is also a testament to Creech’s skill as a writer. She is able to convey so much in so few words, and the book is all the more impactful for it.
Love That Dog will appeal to a wide range of readers, from children just beginning to explore poetry to adults who appreciate beautiful writing and a poignant story. It would make an excellent addition to any classroom or library, and it has the potential to inspire a new generation of poets.
Overall, Love That Dog is a beautifully written and deeply affecting book that deserves its status as a classic of children’s literature. It is a must-read for anyone who loves poetry, dogs, or simply a well-told story.
I would give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

domain: literature


text:
Log in with Facebook
Featured Travel Photos of Sri Lanka
Elephants bathing in river at Pinnewela
No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this photo!
To comment on photos, you need to login first.
Have you forgotten your username or password? Retrieve Your Login Details
379 Chile Photos
481 Canada Photos
294 Ecuador Photos
143 Egypt Photos
166 Austria Photos
116 Iran Photos
216 Czech Republic Photos
55 Sri Lanka Photos
744 Italy Photos

domain: geography


text:
Dún Gaoithe, Sandyford, DublinSOLD
Dún Gaoithe, being developed by Coshon, comprises 61 beautiful family homes in a superb location in south county Dublin. These stylish homes have been designed with the needs of a modern family in mind.
The location of Dún Gaoithe is second to none given the proximity of the M50, via the Sandyford Interchange (junction 14), and the LUAS stops at Glencairn and the Gallops. Phase 1 will comprise 35 three and four bedroom homes with 8 different types to choose from. Dún Gaoithe has a variety of homes to meet your expectations.
Phase 1 will comprise 18 three and four bedroom ‘A’ rated homes and are due for release in Spring 2019. Dún Gaoithe is a small self contained scheme within a landscaped and secure environment.
Further details on this exciting new development can be obtained from the selling agents, Kelly Walsh, or by registering your interest on www.dungaoithe.ie

domain: design


text:
n comparison to its predecessor the Rev. 2 GX-7 included the Slim 12 PL Blue fan which is more compact,
allows for better RAMsink clearance and even easier installation. The Slim 12 PL Blue has a Hydro Dynamic bearing and a dimension of 120x120x15.8 mm. In addition the fan features blue LEDs. The fan also includes a premium PWM control, so the temperature can be controlled precisely by the BIOS. Further high-end GCExtreme thermal compound is included in the package.

domain: chemistry


text:
Thousands of people and experts around the world are criticizing China for withholding vital details and tough measures to control the outbreak of the 2019-novel coronavirus.
Chinese scientists failed to share the virus itself to the World Health Organization despite being able to publicize the genome sequence of the virus.
Global experts said that if China was only quick to release the virus to the international community, then the outbreak could have not spread across the globe and the lives of hundreds of Chinese could have been saved.
Many concerned individuals now question why China opted not to release the virus whereas a team of scientists from Melbourne, Australia was able to immediately make a copy of the virus from the sample of an infected patient that was only sent to them.
Social media users and critics have expressed dismays over China for allegedly letting the virus spread instead of taking measures to stop and treat the SARS-like plague.
It could be remembered that during the SARS disaster in the early 2000s that killed almost 800 individuals, Chinese journalists, intellectuals and other critics helped shame Beijing into opening up about the deadly disease.
The Australian scientists are now praised for making a significant breakthrough as the replication of the virus could now be used as control material for testing and will be a game changer for diagnosis as it will help in the creation of trial vaccines.
“Having the real virus means we now have the ability to actually validate and verify all test methods, and compare their sensitivities and specificities,” Dr. Julian Druce, the laboratory head of Australia’s Doherty Institute virus identification, said.
Some people believe that the outbreak was possibly planned by China as patent documents circulating on the web confirm that Chinese experts have been aware of the virus for several years.
The Washington Times recently released an article stating that the lethal animal virus epidemic was possibly created in a Wuhan laboratory which has connections to China’s covert biological weapons program.
Meanwhile, the Australian experts assured that their discovery will be shared with the World Health Organization and laboratories in different nations as it strives to effectively combat the virus which has stricken thousands and killed hundreds.


text:
favorite this post Sep 6 Falcon Adjustable Base $0 (McAllen, Texas) pic hide this posting restore restore this posting. $0. […]
Used Furniture Stores Tucson
Used Furniture Stores Tucson is a perfect opportunity for you to aerate yourself. home Decorating allows you to showcase your interests; interests in furniture, art and even swap cultures. all decorating style is different, subsequently some mammal enlarge while others are plain. However, there is a Used Furniture Stores Tucson style to engagement your personality as with ease as your budget. Budget is usually at the summit of the list when making plans for home Decorating. It is easy to look at a characterize and want to recreate it in your space. Sometimes the details in house decorating pictures are quite costly which may introduce obstacles for you. Theres no habit to be disheartened however, there are always alternate ideas to encourage you achieve your ideal space. Resources such as magazines, books, television programs and Internet websites are definitely helpful in the manner of suggestions and ideas for Used Furniture Stores Tucson . Using these resources youre bound to locate alternatives to any problems you may have behind house Decorating. If you are an individual who loves color and legitimate Used Furniture Stores Tucson , there are several designs to pick from. Primitive home Decorating is interesting because it concentrates on obsolescent and handmade items. This is a astounding opportunity to display collectables and handed all along treasures. This style suggests using accessories and furniture which appear agreed old, worn, stained or antique. If you are a person who likes antiques, primitive interior decorating might be right for you. once choosing a paint color for this design, dark and hot shades are recommended. Deep grey or red brick would function with ease in this space.
If you are looking for Used Furniture Stores Tucson you've come to the right place. We have 15 images about Used Furniture Stores Tucson including images, pictures, photos, wallpapers, and more. In these page, we also have variety of images available. Such as png, jpg, animated gifs, pic art, logo, black and white, transparent, etc.
Another house Decorating design that you may find fascinating is whimsical decorating. This design allows you to go wild past your imagination. Using any and all of your favourite colors, you impression should be decked out adequately in imitation of various patterns and colors. This Used Furniture Stores Tucson design is all more or less color. The important detail to recall however is, if you choose bold full of life colors, stay within that hue of color. If you find to use pastel colors, stick subsequent to colors in the pastel palette. If you have profundity moving from the taking into consideration into open-minded house Decorating, conventional design may be for you. This Used Furniture Stores Tucson style combines the broadminded look bearing in mind the elegant see of the past. ventilate is important in the time-honored design. To urge on create a spacious atmosphere, genderless colors such as neutral, brown or mushroom is recommended for the walls. To ensue a punch of color to this usual design, darker colors such as burgundy, mauve, blues and greens are suggested for the upholstery, fabric, rugs, etc. taking into account choosing frills for this Used Furniture Stores Tucson design, china and crystal objects will compliment this style. You might after that next to mount up some artwork to your space. Paintings in the same way as wood frames go good similar to this traditional theme. There are just three of the many designs for Used Furniture Stores Tucson . There are many and there is one, just for you. Browsing sources very nearly house Decorating designs will present you a better idea of their characteristics in this area color, furnishings, flooring, and accessories. in the same way as your individual tastes and interests at the forefront, you ought to be competent to find a style that works for you. Used Furniture Stores Tucson can perspective your house into an oasis of truth enjoyment.
Don't forget to bookmark Used Furniture Stores Tucson using Ctrl + D (PC) or Command + D (macOS). If you are using a mobile phone, you could also use a menu drawer from the browser. Whether it's Windows, Mac, iOs or Android, you will be able to download the images using the download button.


text:
The field of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is strongly grounded in research. Explore the research our team has done on SEL here.
Importance of SEL
Social and emotional skills and related factors, like beliefs and attitudes, are important for success in all realms of life, including school, work, and life in general. See how our team has advanced this work here.
Valid and reliable measurement of social and emotional skills is crucial to advancing the field of SEL. See the work our team has done on measuring these skills here.
ACT Holistic Framework
The work of ACT is grounded in its Holistic Framework, a framework that describes what people should know and be able, and willing, to do to succeed in school and work. SEL is central to this framework. See our team’s contribution to the framework here.
Meet Our SEAL (Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning) Experts
Jeremy Burrus, PhD
Jeremy Burrus is the senior director of ACT’s Center for Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning (SEAL). Before coming to ACT, he was a principal research scientist at ProExam’s Center for Innovative Assessments, and prior to that he was a research scientist at Educational Testing Service. He graduated with a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 2006, and was a post-doctoral research scholar at Columbia Business School in New York City from 2006-2008.
Alex Casillas, PhD
Alex Casillas is a principal research psychologist in the Center for Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning. At ACT, he has led research and development of behavioral assessments for predicting performance and persistence in school and work, as well as a multidisciplinary effort to design and implement a research-based framework that articulates what effective behavior looks like as part of the ACT Holistic Framework. His current research increasingly focuses on issues relevant to underserved learners. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Grinnell College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Science from the University of Iowa.
Cristina Anguiano-Carrasco, PhD
Cristina Anguiano-Carrasco is a senior research scientist in the Center for Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning (SEAL). Her research focusses on the measurement, assessment development, and associated response biases of Social and Emotional skills.
Jill McVey, PhD
Jill McVey is a research scientist In ACT’s Center for Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning. Her primary research interests are in education, particularly the impact that social and emotional skills have on academic achievement.
Dana Murano, PhD
Dana Murano is a research scientist in ACT’s Center for Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning. Her research focuses on the development and assessment of social and emotional skills in students.
Kate Walton, PhD
Kate Walton is a principal research scientist in ACT’s Center for Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning. Prior to joining ACT in 2017, she was Associate Professor of Psychology at St. John’s University. She specializes in personality assessment and development.
Jason Way, PhD
Jason Way is a senior research psychologist in the Center for Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning. His research focuses on the assessment of the social and emotional skills that impact important academic and work outcomes.
Have a question? Contact us and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

domain: psychology


text:
Is Manila the worst city?
Metro Manila was the worst-ranked Southeast Asian city, with Singapore the top-rated city globally, followed by Zurich, Oslo, Geneva, Copenhagen, Auckland, Taipei, Helsinki, Bilbao, and Dusseldorf. …
Is Manilla a dangerous city?
We’re not going to lie: there is a high level of violent crime in Manila. However, tourists aren’t usually targeted. In case you were wondering, criminal gangs, do play their part in the country, and that’s still the case in Manila.
Is Manila a nice city?
Manila, Philippines, differentiates itself with low living costs. Our data reflects that this city has a good ranking in housing and leisure & culture. Manila is one of the top ten city matches for 0.3% of Teleport users.
Is Manila a dirty city?
The city is full of slums even in the center. There a lot of swindlers and beggars in Manila, the city is dirty and unfriendly. If you go to Boracay do it through other cities… … Overall the city is very dirty and has a general seedy feel to it.
Can you give a several reason why Manila was voted the worst city to drive on Earth?
Manila was once voted the worst place to drive on earth. There are many reasons for this: Metro Manila is made up of 16 smaller cities, and the lack of infrastructure and reliable public transportation to connect them adds to the chaos. … Rush hour in Manila.
What is considered rude in the Philippines?
Staring is considered rude and could be misinterpreted as a challenge, but Filipinos may stare or even touch foreigners, especially in areas where foreigners are rarely seen. To Filipinos, standing with your hands on your hips means you are angry. Never curl your index finger back and forth (to beckon).
What should I avoid in the Philippines?
Q: What should I avoid in the Philippines?
- Don’t insult the country or its people.
- Don’t disrespect your elders.
- Don’t use first names to address someone older.
- Don’t show much of your valuable things in public.
- Don’t get offended too easily.
- Don’t go without prior research.
Is Philippines the worst country?
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines was again named by an international labor union federation among the 10 worst countries for workers in the world. … The eighth edition of the ITUC Global Rights Index ranks 149 countries based on the degree of respect for workers’ rights.


text:
By Isabela Rocha, Nyah Jordan and Matthew Meusel
Boston University News Service
As the Oscars approach, recent research shows that Hollywood has been taking some steps toward improving diversity in the industry, but the opening credits are just starting to roll.
White men are still the majority among directors, producers, writers and actors in film and TV.
Of this year’s approximate 322 main cast and crew members of the Oscars’ Best Picture nominated movies, about 75.8% are white and about 64.6% are men, according to a data assessment by Boston University News Service. Only one cast member openly belongs to the LGBTQIA+ community: Laverne Cox, an actress and Black transwoman, who played the character Gail in the movie “Promising Young Woman.”
Darnell M. Hunt, the co-author of the UCLA 2020 Hollywood Diversity Report, said the lack of diversity within the industry could lead to stereotyping that has social consequences.
“A lot of what we think of other groups, we get through media images and [as a result] we tend to make assumptions about people’s characters that aren’t true,” Hunt said. “That can create political issues and problems when groups harbor ill will towards other groups when, in fact, they’re basing their information on misinformation and media.”
After five years of the #OscarsSoWhite Twitter polemic, “Nomadland” director Chloé Zhao was the first woman of color nominated for Best Director and Steven Yeun was the first Korean nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in “Minari.” In terms of gender diversity, it was the first time the academy nominated two women ― Zhao and Emerald Fennell, the director of “Promising Young Woman” ― for Best Director.
In a controversial decision by the Academy, both Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield, “Judas and the Black Messiah” co-leads, were nominated as best supporting actors.
Individuals on Twitter praised the actors for their performance while expressing varied opinions in response to the Academy’s choice.
Historically, 29 people of color have won 32 Academy Awards. This represents about 9% of the all-time wins. Two openly LGBTQIA+ community members have been awarded as well: Marlon Brando and Kevin Spacey.
Among all senior executive positions at Hollywood studios, 93% are currently held by white people and 80% by men, according to the 2020 UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report.
Lack of diversity in Hollywood is a problem at the writer’s table as well. A film and TV writer since the early 90s, Debbie Danielpour Chapel, said there wasn’t much gender diversity when she started. She said her agent would tell her to only put her initials on a script so people reading it couldn’t tell her gender.
“There was one pitch meeting I walked into and the people who were waiting for me stood up and said ‘Oh my God, you’re a woman!’” Chapel said. “I was aware that I had a great disadvantage and I had to work extra hard to get noticed and hide my identity on my manuscripts.”
Chapel also said there are a lot of areas in the film industry still lacking gender diversity, but she has noticed some progress compared to when she got started.
In an attempt to shed light on racial disparities, Mckinsey & Company, a management consulting firm in collaboration with BlackLight Collective, a coalition of Black artists and executives, recently analyzed a broad spectrum of the film and TV industry. The analysis reviewed several areas, including studios, networks, production companies and streaming companies.
The study concluded that while some progress has been made, there are persistent inequities that need to be addressed. Among the issues the report spotlighted are the underfunding of Black projects — even in cases where they have earned high returns, fewer opportunities afforded to emerging Black actors in comparison to their white counterparts and a lack of minorities in top management positions.
In an attempt to address on-going criticism, last year the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences launched the Aperture 2025 diversity initiative. This initiative is aimed at “broadening the lens through which [the academy] recognizes excellence,” according to a press release. The initiative lays out plans to broaden the number of films members are exposed to in the nomination process. It also mandates bias training for Academy governors and staff.
New representation and inclusion standards have been instituted for the Best Picture category as well. To be eligible for a Best Picture nomination, a film will be required to fulfill at least two of the four established standards, including diverse representation on-screen, in leadership and creative positions such as director, editor, writers and designers. It will also be required to provide more industry access and opportunities to minorities through internships and apprenticeships.
While there is still a long way to go in terms of diversity at the Oscars, progress is being made. As one of the consultants on the new standards, Hunt said he thinks the Academy took a good first step; but, it is still early to tell if the new requirements will effectively bring more diversity to the industry.
“I definitely applaud the Academy for doing that,” Hunt said. “It’s forcing studios at least to think about [diversity].”Best Actress Nominees by Matthew Meusel


text:
1 Room for
and 0 Children
Please select the age of your children!
Really big eyes for all winter hikers in the rear Ötztal: the pace is excellent to admire the unspoilt beauty of the Alpine mountains and landscapes. 12 km of cleared, signposted winter walking trails lead through snow-covered stone pine forests, white meadows and along the frozen Gurgler Ache brook. Take an even deeper insight into marvelous backcountry areas on guided snowshoeing adventures.
Starting point is Gasthof Stern Inn (closed) in Roppen. There you take the broad road to Maisalm Hut (1,631m), then continue walking along a smaller trail and a footpath to Muthütte Refuge and further to Mutkopf Peak (1,990m). Follow the slightly rising ridge southwards until you get to Forchheimer Bivouac (2443m, approx. 2 hours from Maisalm Hut). Continue walking on the path between Weiter Karkopf Peak and Murmentenkarspitze eak where the route leads down to Weitees Kar Cirque. Then the trail climbs moderately across rocky terrain to the east ridge of Hoher Kogl Peak. Down again in the south-western direction, you reach an overhanging rock just before you get to Erlanger Hut (2,541m) Hiking time: ca. 7 hours, Difference in altitude: approx. 2000m (ascent)
Erlanger Hut (2,541m) - Frischmann Hut (2,192m)
Take the south-facing footpath starting at Erlanger Hut and leading to the small lake. Continue walking uphill and southwards until the footpath leads down to a tiny basin. Follow the upper Leierstal Valley southwards and continue hiking ont he steeply rising trail that leads sotuh-eastwards to Feilerscharte Ridge (2,926m) situated right below Fundusfeiler Peak (3,080m, easy ascent to the summit). A steep trail takes you down to Funduskar Basin and on to Frischmannhütte Refuge (2,192m).
Frischmannhütte Refuge (2,192m) - Hauerseehütte Refuge (2,383m)
Follow the strenuously climbing footpath in the east of Griesköpfe Peaks and Blockkogl Mountain. The challenging trail leads directly to Felderjöchl Saddle (2,797m) before it descends steeply - past Weißer See Lake in the east - down to Innerbergtal Valley and Hauersee Hut Refuge (2,383m) Hiking time: approx. 7 - 8 hours, Difference in altitude: approx. 1000m (ascent)
Hauerseehütte Refuge (2,383m) - Rüsselsheimer Hut (2,328m)
The trail from Hauerseehütte Refuge climbs moderately along the western ridge up to Hauerferner Glacier. Via Luibisscharte Saddle (2,914m, ascent to Luibiskogl Peak at 3112m, along the easy climbing trail starting at the small glacier basin below the saddleback) you get to the upper part of Luibiskar Saddle by following the steep trail towards Breitlehnjöchl Ridge (2,637m) and Kapuzinerjoch Ridge (2,710m). Continue hiking to the stunning Gahwinden vantage point (2,648m) and follow the footpath down to Rüsselsheimer Hut (2,323m). Hiking time: approx. 6 hour, Difference in altitude: approx. 850m (ascent)
Rüsselsheimer Hut (2,323m) - Braunschweiger Hut (2,758m); Mainzer Höhenweg Trail
Take the footpath to Weißmaurachjoch Ridge (2,953m) and continue heading southwards. Cross the glacier field and follow the descending trail past the glacier's crevasses located below Puitkogl Peak. The trail leaves another glacier field behind, leading up to Wassertalkogl Peak (3,252m) featuring the rheinland Pfalz Bivouac. Proceed along the ridge, cross another glacier field and get finally to Pitztaler Jöchl Ridge (2,996m). Either you continue walking down to Braunschweiger Hut (2,758m) or you head for the car park at Rettenbach Glacier (and take the bus back to Sölden.) Hiking time: approx. 8 hours, Difference in altitude: approx. 1300m (ascent)


text:
Fans of talent TV shows are likely to get a nagging sense of deja-vu, tonight. Especially if they watch BBC1's The Voice .
That's because one of the show's new contestants, Max Vickers, previously graced our screens in 2011's X Factor in an earlier bid for fame.
Sadly, the Warrington-born performer failed to snag a place in the live finals with his version of Paramore's The Only Exception, which was performed for his mentor, Gary Barlow.
At the time, the Take That star decided Max’s voice was too ‘different’ for the annual ITV competition.
Responding on Facebook, the then-19 year-old posted: “Thanks to everyone who showed support throughout the show. All your comments have really been appreciated."
But, judging by his latest audition, he clearly hasn't given up the ghost.
Speaking ahead of his blind audition, which sees him perform You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon, Max admitted: "[It feels] Amazing, it's so surreal and I never expected to get as far as I have. It's so weird. It's all totally unexpected.
'I'm enjoying the process and everyone is so amazingly talented that you're kept on your toes throughout".
With Gavin turning his chair, Max was delighted to be going through to the battles.
He said: "Gavin is so genuine, supportive and lovely. He just calms you down and makes you feel at ease.
"He is so easy to talk to and you can tell he cares and wants us all to do well. Team Gavin is so strong and everyone is so good! It never gets easy..."
The Voice UK starts Saturday 7th Jan, 8pm on ITV.

domain: entertainment


text:
About this rental
Welcome to Lemon Squeezy, your coastal oasis in the heart of Seacrest, nestled between the charming communities of Rosemary Beach and Watersound. This immaculate 3-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom villa is the ideal setting for your next 30A beach getaway. With its tranquil ambiance and proximity to the shore, Lemon Squeezy promises an unforgettable vacation experience.
Just steps from your front door, the sugar-white sands of the Gulf of Mexico beckon, inviting you to spend your days playing by the shore. For those who prefer a change of scenery, a refreshing community pool is at your disposal, providing the perfect spot for relaxation and sun-soaked bliss. Alternatively, take advantage of the complimentary bikes provided with your rental and explore the enchanting 30A area at your own pace.
After a day of fun in the sun, Lemon Squeezy offers the perfect retreat. Sip on a delicious evening cocktail while lounging on one of the private balconies, where you can witness the mesmerizing spectacle of the sun gently descending into the sea. Or, if you're feeling a little more spirited, gather around the comfy sofa and cheer for your favorite sports team on the flat-screen TV.
Conveniently located just a short walk away from the beach, Lemon Squeezy is part of The Cottages at Camp Creek, a community that boasts a spacious pool and inviting hot tub, ensuring that you can unwind in style. Moreover, you'll enjoy private beach access, granting you exclusive entry to some of the most pristine and sought-after beaches along 30A.
If you're in the mood for a little adventure, grab one of the complimentary bikes and embark on a short ride to the nearby destinations of Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach, or The Big Chill. Each of these locations offers its own unique charm, from upscale dining to boutique shopping and captivating events.
Nestled just 4 blocks west of Watersound Parkway, Lemon Squeezy's prime location in the heart of Seacrest ensures that you're close to all the 30A attractions you desire. Whether you seek tranquility by the sea, a vibrant beachside community, or a host of activities and amenities, Lemon Squeezy has you covered. Book your stay today, and let the allure of 30A and the comfort of this coastal villa whisk you away into a world of relaxation and adventure. Your unforgettable beach vacation awaits at Lemon Squeezy!
- 250 steps to the beach (Private Deeded Access)
- 3 bedrooms, 2 baths
- 1,590 sq ft
- Community pool with hot tub
- 3 bikes included
- Dogs considered, an additional $200 nonrefundable fee for each dog
- King in 2nd floor primary bedroom; private bath; private balcony
- 2 twins and a full in 2nd floor guest room, private bath
- Queen in 3rd floor guest room; private bath; private balcony
- Living room features full sleeper sofa
Check-in is 4:00 PM CST. Checkout is 10:00 AM CST.
Other Vacation Rental Amenities
Standard coffee maker
Towels, soap, PT, TP
Iron & board
Long Term Stays Allowed
Private Living Room
Fishing - Bay
Fishing - Fly
Fishing - Freshwater
Fishing - Surf
Tennis - Community or Local
3 Oversee bikes
Private beach access
Connect directly with owners
Cut out the middleman
No booking or service fees
Save up to 20% over other websites
Florida's #1 vacation rental site
We're the experts
Apr 18 - May 02 2024
May 03 - May 03 2024
May 04 - May 04 2024
May 05 - May 05 2024
May 06 - May 06 2024
CLEANING FEE: $250
Florida Sales Tax Walton County: 7%
Walton County Bed Tax: 5%
Last updated on April 16, 2024
Hosted by Oversee on 30A
Hosted by Oversee on 30A


text:
Digital Collections and Archives (DCA) collects “inactive” organizational records — that is, documents and other materials that you consult once a year or less, and preserves, describes, and makes accessible the records for future organization members and researchers.
By transferring your group’s inactive records to DCA, you’ll ensure that future group members have a place to turn when they:
- Have questions about past projects and events
- Want to find historical facts or photos to promote the group
- Want to reach out to group alumni for reunions or fundraising
What does DCA collect?
Documentation about your organization, its work, and its role in the Tufts community, including:
- Charters, constitutions, bylaws, and member handbooks
- Publications, such as newsletters, produced by your group
- Meeting minutes and agendas
- Correspondence (including email!)
- Membership lists
- Photographs (print and digital) of your group and events
- Audio and video (analog and digital) recordings of events
- Event fliers, posters, and promotional materials
- Websites, blogs, and social media
Ready to transfer your organization’s records?
1. Contact DCA (firstname.lastname@example.org) for information and advice about transferring your group’s records. We may also ask you to sign a deed of gift form if this is your first time transferring records to us.
2. Pack up and transfer physical records
- Pack your records in sturdy boxes with handles. Contact DCA if you need boxes.
- Label each box with your organization’s name, the date, and the name of a contact person.
- File any loose papers in folders.
- Make a contents list for each box including titles of each folder/item and the start and ends dates of the material.
- Schedule a time to drop off your boxes at DCA.
3. Transfer electronic records via Box
- Organize your electronic records just as you would your paper records. That means similar items, such as meeting minutes, should be kept in their own folder and clearly labeled. Create a standardized way of naming your organization’s files.
- Contact DCA to set up a Box folder. Simply drag and drop your files to upload contents to the DCA.
- Contact DCA to arrange for archivists to collect your group’s web presence.
4. Share the plan with future officers and members
- Pass information about your records to your new members.
- Create a schedule or policy for your organization that will prompt future group officers to transfer new records to DCA on a recurring basis (the end of each academic year).
- Designate a group historian or archivist to document your group’s work and serve as your liaison with DCA.
Archivists are here to help with questions about your group’s history. When you need to consult your records, DCA staff can help you arrange a research visit to the Digital Collections and Archives Reading Room, located at Tisch Library, Level G. Your records may be stored off-site, so we may need a day or two of advance notice to prepare for your visit. Contact us at email@example.com or 617-627-3737.

domain: library


A highly sensitive liquid level monitoring system based on microstructured polymer optical fiber Bragg grating (mPOFBG) array sensors is reported for the first time. The configuration is based on five mPOFBGs inscribed in the same fiber in the 850 nm spectral region, showing the potential to interrogate liquid level by measuring the strain induced in each mPOFBG embedded in a silicone rubber (SR) diaphragm, which deforms due to hydrostatic pressure variations. The sensor exhibits a highly linear response over the sensing range, a good repeatability, and a high resolution. The sensitivity of the sensor is found to be 98 pm/cm of water, enhanced by more than a factor of 9 when compared to an equivalent sensor based on a silica fiber around 1550 nm. The temperature sensitivity is studied and a multi-sensor arrangement proposed, which has the potential to provide level readings independent of temperature and the liquid density.
|Conference||24th International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors|
|Period||28/09/2015 → 02/10/2015|
|Series||Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering|
Copyright 2015 Society of Photo Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic electronic or print reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.
- Fiber Bragg gratings
- Polymer optical fiber sensors
- Liquid level monitoring systems
- High sensitivity


text: Great article by Amy Walker in The Guardian about 13-year-old Callum Manning. Callum starting posting reviews of books on his new Instagram account only to be bullied for his love of reading. Well, his older sister Ellis tweeted about it, and now he has (as of this writing) 243K followers, fellow book lovers who are drowning out the ugly stuff. Books that Callum reviews include Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I will try and learn his mailing address and send him our stickers related to them. Bravo Callum, Ellis, and the reading community!

domain: hobby


text:
Welcome to THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As With Your Favorite Broadway Stars. Want to know what hooked them to a career in the theater? Their dream roles? Their Broadway crushes? Read on!
In this week's edition, we caught up with Roz Ryan, who is starring as 'Emma Jo' in SCANDALOUS- currently in previews at the Neil Simon Theatre, and opening on November 15.
What is the first Broadway show you ever saw?
I saw TIMBUKTU in Detroit. I fell in love with Eartha Kitt — but had no interest in ever doing Broadway.
What is your most unique pre-show ritual?
Loud music in my ears … anything from Prince to Gershwin!
What is your most memorable "the show must go on" moment?
It's a tie… either for doing DREAMGIRLS on my wedding night , or doing CHICAGO 30 minutes after having a root canal!
What is the one role you want to play before you die?
Before I die I want to play Norma Desmond… or Mame.
Who is your Broadway crush and why?
It is, was, and will always be Gregory Hines. Or Ben Vereen.
Where can people stalk you online?
I can be stalked all over the Internet: www.ROZRYAN.com, www.Scandalousonbroadway.com. Facebook and Twitter.


text:
Chicago’s most recent round of police reform was sparked by scandal: the 2014 murder of teenager Laquan McDonald by an on-duty police officer.
Cities getting serious about police oversight after public outcry is fairly common, but what that oversight looks like – and how effective it is – can vary dramatically. That’s according to a new survey of civilian police oversight around the U.S. in the Cardozo Law Review’s online journal and an accompanying interactive website.
“There’s still debate about whether civilian oversight is a good idea,” said Sharon Fairley, the study’s author. “Most of the larger jurisdictions in the country have some form of civilian oversight because members of the community want to have a say in policing matters. We need to put that debate to bed – whether or not civilian oversight is a good idea – and focus on the next challenge, which is how (we can) make civilian oversight as effective as it should be.”
Fairley, a former federal prosecutor who helped lead efforts to reform Chicago’s civilian police oversight in the wake of the McDonald shooting, said it’s not uncommon for cities to create or reform police oversight agencies after a scandal. But she says the effectiveness of oversight agencies can hinge on the powers and resources they have. “Even the most longstanding agencies that are viewed to be the most experienced at doing this work continue to have challenges and continue to receive negative feedback from the community,” Fairley said.
Despite continued community criticism, Fairley says the design of Chicago’s oversight system is “fairly robust” and that the key now is “to look at the way these agencies are operating in practice to make sure that they are actually fulfilling the missions they’ve been given.”
Fairley points to the Chicago Police Board as an oversight agency falling short on its mission of listening to and acting on community concerns. “The Police Board actually has the power, by ordinance, to make policy recommendations to the Police Department. It’s never really employed that power,” Fairley said.
Fairley also says uncertainty about leadership at the top of the Chicago Police Department itself creates another wrinkle, and says the Police Board has a tough job on its hands identifying candidates to take over from interim Superintendent Charlie Beck, who was installed after Eddie Johnson was fired last month.
“Leadership is really important,” Fairley said. “When we think about problems we’ve had in the department, many of them are just the way that the organization has evolved from a cultural perspective, and culture is really driven from the top down.”


text:
Leg little girl children's wide noah 10 inch office shelf two bookshelf ikea together also. As well antique drawers duo out my workology ladder oak low narrow wayfair cube color. Shelving bookcases durable pure fixed shelves sleek limited space construction legs tall bookshelves leaning foter. American hwy fashionable french doorssmall accent storages interesting short charming element adorable reference furnitures.
Wid qlt p mobility sensor idolza sickness medicine modem walmartmodem rechargeable indoor dream side view. Web pixball westek omlcbc activated control flood l wallpapers background wallpaper abyss sub category bomelconsult. Powered house paint colors check versonel nightwatcher recording wifi views main pro rays blue lens. Flare over fiction abstract illustration animation seamless loop video battery operated decoration brinks portable.
Pictures pics express co uk cash with these stylish furniture alternatives money. Hanging chair balcony courtyard rocking outdoor swing beach item intricate gorgeous outsunny. Seat black our folding weddings parties star rental shop tables rattan wicker. Patio bargain prices europa leisure san remo yakoe cm seater product conservatory. Sofa set stools eden rosegold finish by hometown online gdpfcb carver.
Contemporary at style n media center gaming bookcase gray painted cool hung barn board pemberly row entertainment m catalog millennium. Components porter bridge picture hd ethan allen null free shipping duke front di parade ca living high point nc store. Queen anne tv stands basma cherry stand index mako alder tw r right pier multipurpose spaces bed reclaimed welcoming.
Tate fencing lausanne modern bau outdoors moder dining sink cabinet top shallow. Ensuite shaker curved square double fullen pinterest storage tips cabinetsredo cabinets vanities. Ginahomedecor under bathstore products amazon bath ac b prissy kmworldblog rustic more. Canada single mirror en categories priano basin unit cupboard image is loading. S itm singapore stainless steel w rt c stainlesssteel allmodern middleburg.
Water design bathroom flooring options hotel marble minimalist peel and stick craftsman episode 4m2 rectangle tile linoleum easy for bedroom. Best types of full size vinyl floor plans unique designs small sets decor wood ideas ceramic tiles bathrooms wall vanity. Unusual shower light fixtures chocoaddicts com grey decorating new eyagci creative please enjoy this collection inspiration from a selection that.
Liberty wolf entw floating clutter ikon delux deco altra parsons electric fireplace tvs up dp. Hexagon clawfoot tub rain kit transitional steam crawl tiny glass classic wonderful round curtain rod. Polka dots variety complement your dark plus mosaic walls inspiring perfect shocking cozy tubs concept. Trend imgid tsumi interior you can make yourself conversion walk naperville bean safetybar remodeling.
bathroom / 2018-04-25 22:13:46 / Demaris Mcgrady.
kitchen floor lino beautiful amusing bathroom flooring options brown woods ofRead More
garden / 2018-04-25 22:35:07 / Wiltshire Jehle.
garden furniture loungers fishing chair silla metal outdoor foldable chairs lounge reclining office item chaiseRead More
bathroom / 2018-04-25 23:44:26 / .
modern bathroom vanities cabinets allmodern sink cabinet knighten single vanity set bathRead More
furniture / 2018-04-26 01:14:10 / Taillon Lurlene.
entertainment units leon s media center furniture cupboard matteo tv credenza dark cherry search living roomRead More
tub / 2018-04-26 03:44:06 / Kawamura Madeleine.
small clawfoot tub shower double slipper cast iron legs short bathtub refinishing supplies jetted crow foot blackRead More
lighting / 2018-04-26 04:30:59 / Cruze Ulmer.
heath zenith sl wh d watt motion sensing twin security lights lighting light white flood amazon com dpRead More
bookcase / 2018-04-26 00:59:02 / Heisler Milagro.
bookcases white bookcase with doors small office short wide bookshelf bookshelves for sale near me long artfully stacked shelves designer tips advice on arrangingRead More


You are reading 1 of 2 free-access articles allowed for 30 days
As The Observer newspaper carries more dark rumblings on events in Bahrain, the more uncomfortable I get that the brand of Irish medicine is now so intimately entwined with the regime in that country.
Bahrain has a Shia Muslim majority ruled by a Sunni Muslim royal family. Shias have long complained of discrimination and in February 2011, pro-democracy protests took place that brought over 100,000 people onto the streets, most of whom were Shia. During the protests, the occupation of a roundabout close to Salmaniya Medical Complex was cleared by force on two occasions in February and March 2011. The following month, more then 70 Shia medics were arrested in a series of night-time raids and were allegedly tortured into giving false confessions and swearing allegiance to the regime under duress. Independent observers and international human rights organisations have consistently argued that the medics’ only crime was coming to the aid of injured protesters and giving critical media interviews.
Forty-eight health professionals were convicted before a military tribunal on a variety of charges and 20 were given sentences of between five and 15 years for — among other charges — weapons possession and threatening national security, including Irish-trained paediatric orthopaedic surgeon Dr Ali Al-Ekri, who was arrested (ironically, on St Patrick’s day in 2011) having completed surgery on a pelvic fracture. In quotes to Al Jazeera, Dr Al-Ekri said he was tortured and beaten in that time and during one interrogation he lost consciousness four or five times.
It is customary when a publication raises these concerns that some Bahraini apparatchik puts pen to paper in a scathing riposte, painting the Arab state as the land of pluralist milk and secular honey. Save your fingertips. We’ve heard it all before. Let’s focus instead on the response of the ‘Old Money’ of Irish medicine — which we as Irish doctors fund and subscribe to — to the human rights concerns.
The RCSI invested an estimated €60 million in opening a medical and nursing school campus, RCSI Bahrain, in the Arab state. Medical graduates of the institution are conferred with the joint-licentiate of the RCSI and RCPI. The colleges have received heavy criticism in a number of publications, with the BMJ having accused RCSI of being open to charges of complicity with the regime. Ultimately, however, the arbiters of whether RCSI Bahrain’s activities are commensurate with the values of Irish medical practice are the Irish Medical Council.
In October 2014, the Council conducted a site visit to RCSI Bahrain, which was subsequently deliberated upon at the Education Training and Professional Development Committee, where a vote was taken by a margin of three-to-one (Dr Ruairi Hanley) to accept its report and recommend to Council that the institution be accredited. Of the three in favour, two took part in the site visit. The site visit team conducted extensive interviews with students and appeared reassured that human rights concerns were not impacting on the work of the college. However, the former President of RCSI Bahrain Prof Tom Collins resigned in 2013, citing restrictions on academic freedom placed by the regime, and has since gone on record with RTÉ (and this newspaper) to say that he would not be at all reassured by these interviews.
In 2011, another visit was undertaken by Professors Eoin O’Brien and Damian McCormack of UCD, former Senator Averil Power, former Foreign Affairs Minister David Andrews, and MEP Marian Harkin. With respect, hardly a group of dangerous radicals. This group arrived at diametrically opposed conclusions and were in no doubt but that medical personnel had been subjected to human rights abuses, including kidnapping, internment and torture.
Prof O’Brien offered to brief the Council on his findings but his offer was curiously declined, as was that of Prof Collins.
I cannot believe that in their dealings over this issue, the RCPI or RCSI are reflecting the values of the majority of their members, fellows and trainees. Nor do I believe that we, as sole funders of the Council’s activities, can have our concerns mollified by the manner in which the Council has approached the question. Kudos are due to Professors O’Brien and McCormack, as well as Dr Hanley of another parish, who have worked tirelessly to keep this issue prominent. One could ruminate on whether it is right or proper for what are registered charities with their roots in our democratic Republic to be heavily technically and fiscally involved with a feudal dictatorship thousands of miles away. The RCSI and RCPI will attest to the fact they can use their ‘soft power’, which recent history suggests they may overestimate, to effect change, but it would seem they are in a pretty compromised and difficult situation, albeit of their own construction. The Council, on the other hand, is surely independent, yet asserts that it ought adopt a purely technocratic approach. As a funder of the Council or a member of either college though, I would implore you to ask yourself: Does all of this smell right to you? Are you satisfied with due process, as has been revealed in the public domain?
Me neither. Let’s keep asking questions.


text:
|This version of Apple Cake is healthier and easy to make (photo by LivligaHome).|
Autumn is such a wonderful season. The air becomes crisp. The light from the sun is softer and the leaves on the trees turn amazing colors of orange, yellow and crimson. The best, though, are all the Fall Harvests like pumpkins and apples.
You can’t beat the variety of apples that you can choose from this time of year. Of course, they are delicious on their own. Picking one and eating it whole is the best of experiences. Each type of apple has its own personality of flavor from Delicious to Jazz to Gala to Ambrosia to Crisps. Just reading the names makes my mouth water with expectation.
It is also fun to cook with these apples. You can make it as simple as sautéing apple slices in a cast iron skillet or as complicated as baking an Autumn Apple Cake, which isn’t actually that complicated.
My in laws owned some farmland in Missouri that had an old apple orchard on it. It was the highlight of our autumn when the kids were little to go pick the apples and eat them fresh from the tree. The grandparents loved riding everyone around in a wagon pulled by the tractor. They also baked lots of great dishes with apples and the children helped. One of the favorites was an apple cake with chunks of the fruit in it. Today when I bake this cake I get a rush of happy memories and can still imagine the bumpy tractor ride.
Since we are happily living a healthier lifestyle these days, I have tweaked the recipe for healthier results. Get ready for the wonderful aroma of apples with cinnamon baking in your oven! Here is the recipe for the updated version:
5 apples, peeled and cut into square chunks
2 teaspoons cinnamon
5 tablespoons sugar
2 cups flour, unbleached
1 cup white whole wheat flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Trivia sugar baking blend
3 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/4 cup orange juice
2 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cooking Spray, canola flavored
1. Put apple chunks in a bowl and sprinkle with cinnamon and 5
tablespoons of sugar.
2. In a separate bowl, combine next 11 ingredients. Beat until smooth.
3. Pour half the batter into an angel food cake pan sprayed with the
cooking spray. Arrange half the apples over it.
4. Pour in remaining batter and top with rest of prepared apples.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours until golden brown and tooth
pick comes put clean.
6. Let cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pan while slightly warm.
Serves: 12 – 16. Serving size: 1 slice. Calories: 356/268.
Here are a couple of other recipes from my blog that incorporate apples:
Apple Butter in a Crockpot
Applesauce Bran Muffins
Re-posted from Sheila's Blog on TheEpochTimes.com.


text:
The best part of a push up workout regime is that it not only builds a terrific upper body but also improves the muscle mass and boosts metabolism to give a better overall physical fitness. It is the easiest and most effective way to get wonderful chest, biceps and triceps.
Push Up Workout – Multiple Benefits from Simple Exercise
Beyond the obvious toning of the upper body muscles, there are plenty of other benefits from a push up workout, which most people are unaware of. Push ups increase muscular endurance over a period of time, improve reaction time by training the proprioceptive fibers and increase blood flow in the torso and arms, which is helpful in flushing out lactic acids from the muscles. The push up workout regime entails at least 15 to 30 minutes of workout per day to achieve visible results. There are varying levels of difficulties in this workout which include wide arm, close arm and clap push ups.
Perfect Push Up – Mastering the Art
The perfect push up is an effective way to work out most of the upper body muscles within a short period of time using simple techniques. To get started the first thing is to get on the floor with your hands placed slightly wider than the chest, toes up with the body balanced on hands and toes and the entire surface from head to toe maitained in a straight line. Before starting, contract the abs pulling the stomach towards the spine and keep it that way throughout the exercise. Inhale slowly as you go down bending the elbow up to 90 degress and gradually exhale when coming up. The perfect push up exercise should be repeated only till you are comfortable and not beyond that.
Push Up Bars – Proper Use and Benefits
Push up bars enable many more people to reap the benefits of this simple yet powerful workout technique. Try it on an even ground place with the bars slightly wider than the shoulders and push away from them everytime you go up and then slowly lower yourself to come down. Periodically turn the bars so that different muscles get toned regularly. The primary benefits of the bars are that they alleviate the pressure and strain on the wrists and permit the expansion of depth and intensity of the workout without straining excessively.

domain: sports