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No confidence and too busy: Why Germans don’t want to get vaccinated
German health experts and the federal government have long been trying to convince the populace to get vaccinated. However, despite their efforts, vaccination rates have plateaued, and many people still refuse to get the vaccine. A new survey has revealed why.
Coronavirus vaccinations in Germany on the decline
Coronavirus continues to plague Germany; infections are rising and there are fears that a fourth wave could seriously impact public life once again. Despite Germany’s vaccination drive, and the continued efforts of doctors, health experts and the government, vaccination rates in the federal republic have stagnated. Just over 60 percent of the German population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which is far below the target set by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and not enough to offset the fourth wave that has already begun.
To try and discern why vaccination rates have slowed, researchers at the University of Erfurt, alongside the RKI and the Federal Centre for Health Education, have investigated the reasons why people are against being vaccinated. The ongoing study, known as the COSMO study (COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring) asked unvaccinated people aged between 18 and 74 to answer certain statements or disagree on a scale from one (very low) to seven (very high).
The statements were based on five values intrinsically linked to taking the vaccine. These were:
- Confidence: How confident are you in the effectiveness and safety of the vaccination?
- Compliance: How high is the risk of illness from coronavirus and how important is the vaccination?
- Constraints: Does a vaccination require too much organisation and time?
- Calculation: How do you estimate the benefit and risk of the vaccination based on the information available?
- Sense of responsibility for the community: How high is the social motivation to be vaccinated to protect others (for example, children and sick people)?
Why the unvaccinated want to stay unvaccinated
Researchers have been able to determine the reasons why unvaccinated people do not want to get jabbed through their answers to the questions above. According to the study, 75 percent of respondents believe that getting vaccinated is unnecessary, as so many others are vaccinated already. The proportion of people who believe this has grown significantly in the last month; on August 24, only 44 percent of people thought the vaccine was unnecessary due to others being vaccinated.
People also seemed concerned with the risk of getting inoculated outweighing the benefits, with 72 percent of respondents indicating this in the COSMO survey. Again, this number has increased significantly from last month. The survey also revealed that unvaccinated people are concerned with the safety of the vaccine. According to the evaluation, 40 percent of people were worried about safety, with insufficient research, media uncertainty and unknown side effects being the main cause for such concerns.
Finally, 35 percent of respondents suggested that everyday stress, as well as the time and organisation it takes to get the vaccine, was reason enough to not get vaccinated.
Making vaccinations appealing
The results from the COSMO survey show that safety, accessibility and the benefit of getting vaccinated are among the most important factors for people when decided whether to get vaccinated. The fact that some people are deciding not to get vaccinated due to the time and effort it takes to get jabbed gives rise to the hope that some people will be swayed and decide to get inoculated during campaigns like Germany’s “vaccine action week”. The Impfaktionswoche kicked off last week and aims to make vaccines as accessible as possible.
The RKI has announced that it is aiming for an 85 percent vaccination rate among people aged between 18 and 59, and a vaccination rate of 90 percent for those aged over 60.


posted by Devin Plote, Clinical Policy Analyst, AHIP
on May 5, 2021
The beginning of the COVID-19 crisis delayed many older Americans from seeking or receiving important preventive and routine health care services in order to avoid unnecessary exposure to the virus, and to preserve the health care system for patients who became seriously ill and required hospitalization. Data shows that during the first months of the crisis:
By missing regular care to avoid potential COVID-19 exposure, older Americans with chronic conditions including cancer, heart disease, depression, and mental health issues may face greater risk for complications from those conditions—unrelated to COVID-19.
Among Medicare beneficiaries who have foregone medical care during the pandemic, 43% reported missing dental care; 36% missed their regular checkups; 36% delayed treatment for ongoing conditions; 32% delayed diagnostic or medical screening tests; 24% waited longer to seek vision care; and 17% delayed surgeries. Delays in routine cancer screenings, particularly mammograms, have resulted in delayed and later-stage diagnoses that may result in higher mortality rates, The Wall Street Journal reported. And 57% of those who delayed care said they experienced negative health consequences, according to a study conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the National Public Radio.
Fear of COVID-19 exposure kept many people away from their health care providers for weeks or months. Notably, the primary barriers to care included being unable to get an appointment, finding a physician who would see them, or difficulty in safely accessing the care site.
Health insurance providers are encouraging their members, particularly older people, to get their preventive screenings, routine care, and chronic condition management despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health insurance providers know that many Americans are homebound, or rely on caregivers and family members to manage their health, even under normal conditions. Plans are playing a leadership role in helping provide emotional support to members, their families and caregivers, and making sure individuals and caregivers have access to peer coaches and support specialists with information on social services. For example, upstate New York health plan CDPHP uses video visits to keep family members informed about a loved one’s care and to provide emotional support, in the absence of in-person visits.
In addition to supporting their members in getting routine care, health insurance providers are helping to vaccinate homebound Americans against COVID-19:
As the COVID-19 crisis disrupted lives and livelihoods, it also worsened health disparities and access to care for vulnerable populations. Seniors are particularly vulnerable in the socially distant world, and we all have to continue to adapt to ensure that no one is left behind.


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YouTube sensation Logan Paul faced off against fellow internet star KSI on Saturday, Aug. 25, from within Manchester Arena’s Squared circle in Manchester, England. The bout ultimately ended in a majority draw after going all six rounds.
Logan Paul vs. KSI managed to garner a massive 784,00 pay-per-view purchases over YouTube as $10 per live stream. Ever since the fight, fans have been hoping for a UFC fight between Logan Paul and former WWE superstar turned UFC fighter CM Punk.
Taking to Twitter, however, undefeated UFC welterweight Darren Till has now come forward with a heated statement concerning the matter. Check it out below.
“Every day is hard as f*ck, every day is a little more harder on your physical & mental state. Then ye get a c*nt coming along like this youtuber fella thinking he can mix it in the @ufc f*ck off will ye mate and don’t embarrass our sport.”

domain: news


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Portrait in Research: Philip L. Cohen, MD
Philip Cohen, MD, is well known in the rheumatology research community for his extensive work in the study of lupus. He is also well known as a teacher and mentor, and in 2002, the Arthritis Foundation honored him as one of its Research Heroes.
Today he is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a staff physician at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He also co-directs the Rheumatology Training Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
In addition to an already busy schedule, Dr. Cohen has taken on the role of chair of the Arthritis Foundation’s Medical & Scientific (M&S) Council. We talked to Dr. Cohen about his experience as an Arthritis Foundation researcher, what it has meant to him and what his thoughts for the future are.
What role did Arthritis Foundation funding play in your research career?
I owe a tremendous debt to the Arthritis Foundation. At the very onset of my training in rheumatology, I was fortunate enough to be awarded an AF Postdoctoral Fellowship to work with the late Morris Ziff , PhD, MD, at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Dr. Ziff was a pioneer in American rheumatology and mentor to many rheumatology investigators around the world. He was himself the very first Postdoctoral Fellow of the Arthritis Foundation in 1951, so I was a kind of legacy. The AF provided support and the freedom to pursue projects I thought were worthwhile and important. I am deeply grateful for the confidence they placed in me.
How has Arthritis Foundation funding impacted the success of your lab?
In 1981, I received a Senior Investigator Award. This five-year grant (now superseded by Arthritis Investigator awards) protected my time as a young Assistant Professor and allowed me to explore different areas of science, some of them risky at the time. The Foundation was also kind enough to let me use part of the last year's funding to pay for a sabbatical that served to acquaint me with molecular biological approaches at the National Institutes of Health. And, most importantly, the Foundation has supported a number of talented and productive trainees to work in my laboratory. These people have themselves gone on to make important contributors to arthritis research.
What has been the main focus of your research (in lay terms)?
We have characterized the immune cells that make autoantibodies: where they are located and how they interact with each other. We also found that abnormalities in cell death and in the disposal of dead cells were important in triggering and perpetuating autoantibodies in lupus.
What key discoveries have come out of your research?
Our laboratory defined the cellular immunology of autoantibody production in animal models of lupus. We showed that T cells are required for autoantibodies to be produced, and that the interactions between T and B cells depend on the major histocompatibility complex and on cytokines, and that this process requires autoantigens. These findings, together with data from other laboratories, established that the ground rules for self-reacitve immune responses are similar to those that govern responses to conventional antigens, such as microbial pathogens, helping to clear the way for therapies targeted to these mechanisms.
How has your research impacted/will impact the lives of people with arthritis now and five years from now?
Our work on the importance of T cells and their interactions with B cells in autoantibody formation has contributed to the development of therapies directed against T cell-B cell activation, such as the recently approved abatecept (Orencia. In the near future, other biological agents that modulate T cells or their cytokine products will reach patients, such as antibodies to certain lymphokines.
Why did you choose rheumatology as a specialty?
Clinical rheumatology appealed to me because it demands broad knowledge and clinical insight. Moreover, caring for rheumatic disease patients is immensely rewarding -- the physician develops warm and enduring relationships with many remarkable people and their families . To help them and mitigate their suffering is a privilege. Finally, as an investigator, rheumatology attracted me because of my research interest in immunology. Many of the rheumatic diseases seemed to be problems in disordered immunity, which could be approached by an immunologist.
What is your life like outside the lab? What do you also do?
I have a regular outpatient clinic at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center and precept fellows and residents both at the VA and at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP). I serve as Attending Physician on the Rheumatology Consulting Service at both hospitals, and on the General Medicine Service at the VA Hospital. This year, I taught a seminar course to 16 University of Pennsylvania freshmen on the biology of allergy and autoimmune diseases. I also participate in teaching of medical and graduate students at Penn.
What do you like to do in your free time?
My wife Anne and I are music lovers and enthusiastic amateurs. (Anne plays the violin, I play the piano.) We enjoy the rich musical scene in Philadelphia Anne is a much admired English Professor at Penn whose students enjoy lofty intellectual evenings (and food!) at our house in Center City.
We have four children. Two are in medicine: Lisa is a medical intern at HUP, and her twin brother Andrew is a first year medical student at Penn. Caedmon (amateur singer) is a Stanford classics PhD student, and Heron (talented artist) is a freshman at Columbia.
As the Chair of the M&S Council, what is your view of the direction the AF is taking in research? What are your goals for the M&S Council?

domain: biology


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Dust is usually composed of components such as fabric fibres, dead skin cells, pet dander, dirt, small soil particles, dust mite excrement among others. Dusting is a necessary office chore for many reasons. Dust not only causes damage to your office furniture surfaces, but equally poses a variety of problems to your employees.
Therefore, regular dusting can help mitigate damages to the surfaces as well as the health of office workers. It is an excellent way to protect your printer, shelves, tables and other furniture, ensuring that they are looking nice, glossy and cared for!
Above anything else, dusting regularly is important for your health. Have you ever considered dust a pollutant? Not every type of dirt is visible to your naked eye, and this implies that you are potentially inhaling a lot more of dust particles than you think! If you were not aware, small dust particles can remain in the air for relatively long periods, have the ability to penetrate down deep into your respiratory system and can equally travel longer distances. These three factors make dust an extremely dangerous pollutant.
The tiny particles of insect parts, skin debris, fibre, pollen, and dirt can affect your indoor quality. When you inhale any of these dust particles, you’ll likely develop sneezing and coughing problems.
Typically, asthma is a lung disease which results in the airways in your lung to become increasingly prone to swelling and inflammation. Along with wheezing, chest congestion, shortness of breath, coughing is a major characteristic of asthma. When your symptoms of asthma aggravate suddenly, you are said to have suffered from an asthma attack. Though there are other asthma triggers such as cigarette smoke, colds, exercise and perhaps certain foods, dust particles such as pollen, pet dander as well as other airborne irritants can potentially trigger an asthma attack.
Almost each one of us has experienced itchy eyes at one point in their life. There are many possible causes of eye irritation. The problem is usually characterised by swollen eyelids, red eyes, and itchy eyes. On most occasions, eye irritation is caused by some form of allergy. Common allergens such as dirt, animal dander, and pollen trigger the release of compounds referred to as histamines in the tissues around your eye, which in turn, causes swelling and eye redness.
Even though your lungs are always protected by various defence mechanisms, they are constantly exposed to danger from the dust particles we inhale. When you breathe in, the dust particles suspended in the atmosphere will enter the nose. Though the nose is an efficient filter and usually stop large particles from accessing through lungs, relatively smaller components may succeed in passing through your nose to reach the windpipe and the other airways. The attack of your lungs by dust particles will always result in breathing problems.
According to data from the Mayo Clinic, nearly twenty million Americans are allergic to dust mites. For creatures you can’t see with your naked eye, dust mites can potentially stir up endless trouble to your health. When you are one of these individuals, you are likely to suffer from endless allergy issues.
It sounds nasty but it’s actually true. A small piece of dust can contain pieces of dead cockroaches, dust mites, pet dander, and dead skin. The most common allergy symptoms include chills, body aches, runny nose, itchy eyes and flu, cough, nasal congestion, and sneezing.
Allergic rhinitis, also referred to as hay fever, is a group of symptoms that affect the nose. Hay fever usually develops when your immune system becomes sensitised and subsequently overreacts to something in the air, particularly dust particles including dust mite, mould and pet hair or dander. Common hay fever symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, fatigue and stuffy nose caused by a blockage.
As we previously mentioned, dust particles have the potential to cause lung complications. Lungs that have been exposed to dust particles for a long time may need to work harder to execute their job. This, in turn, affects your heart in one way or another. Fine particles of dust which settle in the lungs can cause inflammation of the heart, and this puts you at risk for a heart attack. What’s more, if you are currently suffering from heart disease, prolonged exposure to fine dust particles may either worsen or prolong your condition.
Don’t put the workers at risk any longer! Our reliable office cleaning is always performed to the highest standard to ensure that your office is completely dust-free and clean. As previously mentioned, dust has a major impact on our health and should be taken seriously. Routine dusting not only helps to protect the surfaces of structures and office appliances in your workspace against damages but equally reduces your chances of developing a health problem.
Evolve Cleaning can provide your office space with reliable cleaning routine to minimise the impact of dust mites and pathogens! We have over 20 years of professional experience in the cleaning industry and cover the whole Sydney region. Call us today for a free quote on 1300 959 441!

domain: medical


text:
On Sale: February 28, 2012
Paperback / e-Book
Add to Wish List
Women's Fiction Contemporary
Lucy Lang's life is spiraling out of control. For years she
sacrificed her own needs to care for her half sister and
alcoholic mother, only to be abandoned by both. Now, at age
30, Lucy finds herself held back by memories and regret as
she struggles to find her own purpose in life. But when her
sister needs a kidney transplant, Lucy is the only one who
can save her life.
With the help of new friends and a man who won't give up on
her, Lucy sets out on a journey to reunite with her sister
and find the answers she so desperately needs. Can she get
past her emotions and have a chance at happiness? With its
colorful and endearing cast of characters, In Search of
Lucy takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions from
sadness and heartache to happiness and hope.
40 comments posted.
Re: In Search of Lucy
this looks like a really good book thanks i hope i win it
(Denise Smith 1:25am March 31, 2012)
Sounds like a really emotional read, just the kind I like
(Susan Ashcraft 3:22am March 31, 2012)
I'M IN IT TO WIN IT!
(Silvana Moscato 5:07am March 31, 2012)
Road trips are a brilliant way to get to know characters.
(Mary Preston 5:50am March 31, 2012)
Your characters certainly sound most interesting!
(Marjorie Carmony 6:41am March 31, 2012)
I would love to read it, it sounds like a very good book.
(Debbie Penny 6:41am March 31, 2012)
Looking forward to reading this book...thanks for the chance to win it
(Bonnie Capuano 7:51am March 31, 2012)
(Mal Kaplan 9:31am March 31, 2012)
I love road trips! I've taken a few and they never disappoint in having a great adventure along the way. On one of our trips the TRIP there was more exciting than the week of our vacation. This brought back some fantastic memories. Thanks
(Margie Gagarin 9:54am March 31, 2012)
I love road trips. My husband and I try to take at least 2 a year just to get away..It is a great way to destress and clear your mind!
(Dawn Staniszeski 10:00am March 31, 2012)
I'm off on my first road trip of the year in a few days. I
need a book to take along.
(Mary Hay 10:04am March 31, 2012)
Road trips rock. You really get to bon with the people if you don't drive each other crazy!
(Pam Howell 10:51am March 31, 2012)
This sounds like the type of book that will take you on 2 road trips. One will be physical, where you can sit back and enjoy the scenery, and the other one will be emotional, where you will go through Lucy's story. I am totally hooked on the story line, and can't wait to read the book!! It sounds like it has a little bit of everything in it. I have to commend whomever did the artwork for the cover, too. It's totally breathtaking!!
(Peggy Roberson 11:02am March 31, 2012)
HI LIA! YOUR BOOK SOUNDS SO AWESOME AND HOPE BEING # 14 IS
LUCKY FOR ME!!
(Linda Bass 12:25pm March 31, 2012)
When I think of road trips I always think of the one I took from Alaska to Minnesota with only my cat---he was one unhappy cat the entire way!
(Sue Farrell 12:41pm March 31, 2012)
I am longing to take a road trip. Twenty years ago (before kids) I took a 7 day road trip up the coast of Califonia. I would like to do it again but spent more time along the way to enjoy and relax. Your book sounds great but I would read it before going because I wouldn't want to miss anything along the way.
(Kathleen Yohanna 1:14pm March 31, 2012)
I take a lot of road trips via books. I cannot afford the gas to travel and wish I could. I need a road trip to Ohio.
Enter me to win.
(Jane Squires 1:37pm March 31, 2012)
love the cover and would love to read it.
(Marla Alleman 1:47pm March 31, 2012)
I haven't been on a road trip in years. Right now at the price of gas no one can aford one. Love the cover of your book and its sounds really good.
(Gail Hurt 2:17pm March 31, 2012)
I'm a terrible person to go on a road trip with. Car rides put me to sleep. I sleep like a baby the whole trip. The poor driver (my husband) is always lonesome.
(Kathleen Bianchi 2:50pm March 31, 2012)
Sounds like a very good book, thanks for the chance to win!
(Natasha Donohoo 3:02pm March 31, 2012)
Great plot and story line, looking forward to reading it
(Shirley Younger 3:51pm March 31, 2012)
Love roadtrips- 2 days in a car with girlfriends is so much fun.
(Roseann Moss 3:51pm March 31, 2012)
Car rides means you have a captive audience. Being in close proximity may yield conversations you wouldn't otherwise have to "fill the air" and the open expanse of time.
(Alyson Widen 4:05pm March 31, 2012)
Love the roadtrip plot for your book and the adventures they ensue along the way. I love when I take a road trip along the Mississippi River, along Hwy. 61 through Minnesota. The scenery is so breathtakingly beautiful, not to mention the wildlife, bald eagles and beautiful bluffs. This book sounds really good and I can't wait to read it!
(Linda Luinstra 4:16pm March 31, 2012)
To me, now, a road trip is if I have to drive to a meeting 2 or 3 hours away. I haven't driven across multiple states on a "real" road trip for more than 10 years.
The book sounds like a fun journey.
(Catherine Lee 5:34pm March 31, 2012)
Hi Everyone: Wow! Thanks for all your wonderful comments. I
wish I could give each of you a book. Good luck and I hope you
enjoy In Search of Lucy.
(Lia Fairchild 5:48pm March 31, 2012)
Road trips are always enjoyable and an adventure. Always enjoyed hiking and camping on ones I've taken and taking in the great sites. I know I'd enjoy this book.
(Rich Cook 5:52pm March 31, 2012)
It sounds like this is a fun road trip and just what Lucy needs.
(Anna Speed 6:39pm March 31, 2012)
Interesting timing, lately I have been fighting the urge to take a road trip and drive until I find where I belong...
Good luck and happy writing!
(Tracie Travis 7:03pm March 31, 2012)
A great idea. Something we can all identify with. Thank you for sharing Lia! I loved reading In Search of Lucy. Well done!
(Barbara Silkstone 7:04pm March 31, 2012)
You said it wonderfully. Books take me places that I would never get to see. It's a great way to travel.
(Jeanne Sheats 7:23pm March 31, 2012)
This is not the type of book I would normally go for but the description just appealled to me.
(Jennifer Beyer 7:56pm March 31, 2012)
When I saw the title of the book, my first thought was of another "Lucy." Which one? The one whom the paleontologists, the Leakeys suppose to be the ancestor of us all. I'd just seen a newsflash about finding Lucy's mate. But your book does sound interesting nonetheless. Most of the long car trips I've taken have been to see different places in Europe or North America. I'm ready to go at any time as long as someone else is driving; my license has lapsed.
(Sigrun Schulz 8:14pm March 31, 2012)
More of an armchair traveler these days - less stressful!
(Mary C 10:02pm March 31, 2012)
I have the best of both. My husband bought a motorhome and I can travel and read. By day we see and do and at night in the campground we read.
(Sharon Mitchell 10:30pm March 31, 2012)
I love road trips. I like to read about them too, but taking them is best. I am
the one in our family that plans our trips. You never know what you will see
or who you will meet along the way. We never get lost. Those little detours
when we are trying to find where we were headed are bonus tours. We have
found some awesome things this way. One time driving through Iowa, we
got tired of the flat (we have taken that route several times), so I told my
husband to take the next exit and turn right. We ended up in Canada, then
back to the US at St. Paul, and on down to Omaha which was our original
destination. We had planned to go to S. Dakota. Flexibility is always a good
(Patricia Barraclough 11:20pm March 31, 2012)
Wow! Thts wht i thought after read this post. U spent 6 years travelled to interview men about love n relationship?? Awesome! Really, im interested whole of the process u wrote this book. As a person who doesnt have much time to get travelling, u make me feel jealous :D
(Rina Darmayanti 11:44pm March 31, 2012)
I have a road trip coming up this week. Your book sounds like the perfect book to read when I get home. Thanks for the chance to win.
(Becky Darmogray 11:44pm March 31, 2012)
Rina, I did travel for six years interviewing men. It was a crazy idea but very informative. Please note the link to my book is incorrect. The book's title is The Adventures of a Love Investigator. It can only be found on Kindle.
(Barbara Silkstone 7:33am April 1, 2012)
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domain: literature


text:
Architecture is a beautiful thing to love | and an even better thing to share
January 17, 2012
Interiors : Spiegel Cafeteria
photos by Zooey Braun
Identity Architects Ippolito Fleitz Group have created a canteen for German magazine “Der Spiegel.” Located on the ground floor of the company’s headquarters in south Hamburg utilizes circular mirrors, glowing acrylic rods and large yellows discs on the ceiling.

domain: artistic


text:
22 Jan 2015
The court sentenced a former lèse majesté convict to two months and 20 days in prison for failing to report to the junta in June. The ex-lèse majesté convict is the first to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for failing to report to the junta. Unlike others who pleaded guilty to defying coup orders, the court did not suspend the jail term because he was once convicted under lèse majesté law in 2009.
17 Dec 2014
An ex-lèse majesté suspect charged with disobeying a junta order pleaded guilty to failing to report to the junta in June, despite the fact that he had earlier been arrested by the junta. Nut S., an anti-coup activist accused of defying the coup order which summoned him to report to the coup-makers in June, pleaded guilty during the trial at the military court in Bangkok on Wednesday morning.

domain: sociology


text:
WHAT WE WANT TO BE (W³2B)
It's finally done.
It's been almost 2 years but the "What We Want to Be" video is finally complete! Thanks for the amazing videography work of test Pit Crew Productions, the beautiful photographic works of Mark Seawell and the lovely composition by Zoë Wren, the poem "What We Want to Be" is finally complete. Please share this video if you enjoy it or if you feel it can offer inspiration for any artists within your community.
Please check out the below links as well for more works by the W³2B team:


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We spent the day touring the Champagne region with Frederic. He was an excellent guide and took the time to make sure we thoroughly enjoyed the day. We spent the morning at Veuve-Clicquot and the afternoon at Mason Penet-Chardonnet. We had lunch in Reims and toured the Reims Cathedral. The day was fantastic and we would recommend it to anyone!
This tour was recommended by a close friend with very high standards and it met all my expectations.too. We were led by Frederic who was prompt to pick us up, choose three small growers for us as my friend said they were a lot more "interesting" and personable. We were not let down by the quality of the locations, the tastings, the knowledge of Frederic and the experience. Best Of France Tours made the experience worth every moment and every dollar as an experience of a lifetime.
This was our third experience with Philippe's tour company. We had visited Normandy with Philippe about 10 years ago and found him so very knowledgeable and interesting. We then went with one of his guides to Giverny and we could not have been more pleased. So naturally, when I went with my daughter and 12 year old granddaughter, I again sought out Best of France tours. We decided to go to Versailles. Frederic was amazing. He made the tour an experience we will never forget.
An absolutely incredible experience! Our guide, Philip, was kind, pleasant, and knowledgeable. He was very thoughtful about choosing which champagne houses we toured, and it was so fun to learn about the region and French history from him. Hotel pick up and drop off made the trip convenient and easy, and the car was spacious & comfortable. Overall the tour was fun, enjoyable, interesting, and well organized. I would recommend this tour to anyone!
Our favorite part of the tour was our guide Frederic. He was personable, knowledgeable, and fun. I could point to anything in Versailles, and he knew what it was, and often, make a historical reference. This tour also included Chartres Cathedral. Frederic gave us extensive information, but it was never too much. He made it a most enjoyable day.
Sumamente Agradecido con Philippe es un guía extraordinario, informativo, agradable y alegre. Hizo que nuestros días lluviosos en paris fueran inolvidables. Mis dos hijas les encantó como les enseñaba y aprendimos en general mucha información que no conocíamos. En Fin volveríamos sin duda alguna con Philippe tan pronto volvamos a Paris. El transporte fue súper cómodo en la Van Mercedes y el almuerzo recomendado fue riquísimo. Mil Gracias y un abrazo enorme Philippe desde Puerto Rico.
We recently went to Chartres cathedral and Versailles- done in a day with Frederic. We extremely pleased with our choice, and our experience with him. We learned and saw so much more than we would have on our own- this is worth every penny. Frederic picked us up promptly- the Mercedes was very comfortable, but best of all was how he engaged all of us. We covered a lot of ground in one day, but the time really flew by. Don’t hesitate to trust this service!
I went into this tour thinking I was just going to see where Van Gogh painted and died. Frederick, our guide, with his easy manner and deep knowledge led us through the village of Auvers and gave us such insight into the artist. I highly recommend this tour as it is a perfect opportunity to learn art away from the city. Frederick is just awesome
What a wonderful and memorable experience! If you’re on the fence about whether or not to book with this company go ahead and book it - you will not be disappointed. I went on a one-day private tour with Frederic to Giverny and Versailles. He is amazingly knowledgeable, great company and speaks exceptional English. I highly recommend this company and Fredric. I will definitely be booking other tours with them and you should too! Can’t wait for my next tour!
My family and toured with Best of France in the past and loved it so much that we had to come back. This time we did a day trip to Fontainebleau and Vaux le Vicomte with Frederic, which was absolutely wonderful. Fontainebleau was amazing and full of so much history. We also loved Vaux le Vicomte and the gardens (which were an inspiration for Versailles) were a highlight. Frederic really enhanced the trip because we learned so much from him--it was a wonderful day.
I had a great experience with Best of France tours. We did a Louvre tour with Delphine who was really fantastic and knew exactly which areas to focus on within the enormous museum.. I will definitely use Best of France tour company when I return to France again
We had a great experience with Best of France tours. We did a day trip to Chantilly with Frederic who is a fantastic guide- he is so knowledgeable of history and art, a genuine person, and just a pleasure to be with for a long period of time. I will definitely use Best of France tour company when I return to France again.
We then went with one of his guides to Giverny and we could not have been more pleased.
So naturally, when I went with my daughter and 12 year old granddaughter, I again sought out Best of France tours. We decided to go to Versailles. Frederic was amazing. He made the tour an experience we will never forget.
I highly recommend this company and Fredric. I will definitely be booking other tours with them and you should too! Can’t wait for my next tour!

domain: travel


China’s one-child policy boosts child confiscation for overseas adoption
Submitted by Kerry on Thu, 2011-05-12 11:42.
- Ambassador post blocked as US adoptive families fight for release of Vietnamese orphans
- Guatemala: a baby factory no longer?
- CHILDREN ON SALE
- Adoption Search Discoveries
- Stop the films, stop the press, hold the phone calls... is this one correct?
- Chinese family planning official caught trafficking in children
- China probes child trafficking, adoption link
- International Adoptions: A New Route For Gays
- Barbie, as advertised in Adoptionland
- High-flying diplomat's China girl


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“We’re in this together.” One year ago, on 11th March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
Back then, little over 100,000 cases had been reported globally. Today that number is 1,000 times greater and growing ceaselessly.
With a barely known virus rippling across the world, so too did fear and uncertainty spread as the WHO Director-General addressed all people and nations to make the declaration. Shifting the focus from COVID-19 to people and unity, Dr Tedros also sparked glimmers of optimism by emphasising that innovation and learning would be integral to saving lives and minimising the impact of the pandemic.
My move from paediatric intensive care nursing to research nursing was a natural and exciting one. Both roles require excellent communication skills, whether that’s talking to patients and their families, or members of the multidisciplinary team.
Growing up in a Caribbean family that had experienced various traumas and challenges, I had some awareness of how mental illness impacted myself and my relatives. However, it wasn’t until I attended a masterclass last year on Black mental health hosted by BAME in Psychiatry & Psychology and the Centre of Pan African Thought that I realised the nuanced challenges faced by members of the Black community.
IGHI is home to a team of staff who are skilled and passionate about their roles. Our talented people are the reason we’re able to tackle some of the most pressing global health challenges through cutting-edge innovation.
Health and care organisations have historically lagged behind those in other industries in making the most of digital technologies and data solutions. Yet the rapid onset and escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic has essentially forced organisations to embrace these tools to quickly adapt to new ways of working and delivering their services.
This overhaul of industry norms has led to a number of key questions: how widespread has this adoption been? Which tools and technologies have been implemented, and how have these solutions affected staff productivity and service delivery? What will ‘stick’ after the pandemic ends and we return to some semblance of pre-COVID normality?
People with dementia are some of the most vulnerable, most isolated, and least able to adapt. COVID-19 has therefore made our work with Imperial College’s UK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre all the more urgent.
The Centre develops technologies for a smart ‘Healthy Home environment‘, supported by remote clinical monitoring, to improve the lives of people affected by dementia and further our understanding of this common disease.
The technology aims to make an impact in a number of ways, including early identification of infection, preventing falls, understanding the relationship between sleep and dementia symptoms, and predicting and managing agitation and difficult behaviours.
The majority of people who die every year would prefer to die at home, yet only about half achieve this.
This is often due to not being able to manage symptoms at the end of life. People often have to wait longer than what feels acceptable to them for district nurses to come and administer injections. When this happens, symptoms can escalate, carers and patients can become distressed and families lose control of the situation.


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By A.G. Sykes
Advances in Inorganic Chemistry provides well timed and informative summaries of the present growth in quite a few topic parts inside inorganic chemistry, starting from bioinorganic to sturdy kingdom.
Read or Download Advances in Inorganic Chemistry, Vol. 53 PDF
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(from preface)Volume 26 includes 3 chapters. C. A. Ramsden experiences heterocy-clic betaines derived from 6-membered heteroaromatic earrings. those compounds were intensively studied during the last 10 years and feature now not formerly been comprehensively reviewed. O. Meth-Cohn and B. Tarnowski summarize the chemistry of the thiocoumarins, a a bit of missed staff of heterocycles.
Advances in Inorganic Chemistry offers well timed and informative summaries of the present growth in various topic parts inside of inorganic chemistry, starting from bioinorganic to sturdy nation.
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86. Hedman, B. Acta Cry& 1980, B36,2241. ; Zheng, P. Inorg. Chem. 1988,27,3868. ; Yie-Tong, K. ChineseJ. Struct. Chem. 1990,9,211. ; Shaikh, S. ; Zubieta, J. Znarg. Chem. 1987, 26,4072. Matsumoto, K. Y. Bull. Chem. Sot. Jpn 1979, 52,3284--3291. ; Pope, M. T. Znorg. Chem. 1995,34,2160. Kortz, II. Inorg. Chem. 2000,39,625. ; Wang, X. Polyhedron 1990,9,2023. Matsumoto, K. Y. Bull. Chem. Sot. Jpn. 1978,51,492. ; Zubieta, J. Znorg. Chim. Acta 1996,245,177. (a) Haushalter, R. ; Lai, F. W. Angew. Chem.
5 kJmoll’. With the magnitude of UoxR only one-third that of Uon, these results suggest that the positive charge in the molecule is primarily localized around the “Ox” sites. 5 kJmoll’ value reported previously that was estimated by a method using a substituent effect, as noted above (64). 2 0. 3. 8 kJ mol-’ (77). An attempt to determine the electronic structure of the favorable electronic isomers in the mixed-valence states of oligoferrocenylene, as noted above, has been made using IR spectroscopy of the ferrocene, biferrocene, and terferrocene derivatives 1g1-1g3 involving an iron tricarbonyl moiety (78).
Sessoli, R. Chem. Commun. 2001,89-90. Blake, A. ; Grant, C. ; Rawson, J. ; Winpenny, R. E. P. J. Chem. Sot. Chem. Commun. 1994,2363-2364. ; Weatherburn, D. C. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1991,30,688. Watton, S. ; Pence, L. ; Abbati, G. ; Lippard, S. ; Angew. Chem. Znt. Ed. Engl. 1997,36,2774-2777. Dearden, A. ; Winpenny, R. E. P. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 2001,40. 151-154. ; Wery, A. S. ; Guttierez-Zorrilla, J. ; Roman, P. Inorg. Chim. Acta 1997,255,35. ; Petterson. L. Acta Chem. Stand. 1991, 45, 681.
Advances in Inorganic Chemistry, Vol. 53 by A.G. Sykes

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No fairy godmothers: Radiologists must raise visibility March 4, 2017 -- VIENNA - Radiologists have long been behind-the-scenes physicians, reading exams in darkened basements. But this paradigm isn't viable anymore in an age of increasingly competitive healthcare delivery, and radiologists must be proactive about boosting their visibility, according to a presentation on Friday at ECR 2017.
ECR 2017 stands tall as showcase for product launches March 4, 2017 -- VIENNA - The European Congress of Radiology in recent years has come into its own as a showcase for new launches of medical imaging products. ECR 2017 was no exception, with a variety of new scanner debuts in MRI, CT, and other modalities.
Video from ECR 2017: Dr. Christiane Nyhsen on ultrasound cross-infection March 4, 2017 -- VIENNA - Ultrasound scans are a major potential source of nosocomial infections and cross-infection. The European Society of Radiology's Working Group on Ultrasound has studied this topic closely. Dr. Christiane Nyhsen, from the Sunderland Royal Hospital in the U.K., provides an update and urges everybody to pay more attention to good practices in ultrasound.
Video from ECR 2017: Shane Foley on radiography & radiology March 4, 2017 -- VIENNA - ECR is well-known for its popular radiographers' sessions, but can it ever become the essential congress for Europe's many thousands of radiographers? Shane Foley, PhD, from the University College Dublin School of Medicine and Medical Science, gives his opinion and also outlines how to boost collaboration and teamwork among radiographers and radiologists.
Chest CT with iterative recon achieves x-ray doses March 4, 2017 -- VIENNA - Chest CT scans acquired at radiation doses as low as an x-ray showed lesions of all kinds conspicuously, using the latest dual-source CT scanner and iterative reconstruction. Individualized approaches tailored to specific lesion types cut the dose even further, researchers said on Friday at ECR 2017.
Under stress: Radiologists embrace novel ways to tackle burnout March 4, 2017 -- Increasing workloads are among the factors leading to a rise in burnout among radiologists. They are tackling more cases, interpreting more images, and under increased pressure not to make mistakes, notes Dr. Myriam Hunink, PhD, from the Erasmus University Medical Centre in the Netherlands. But there are many practical things radiologists can do to avoid burnout, according to experts.
How radiology can find new roles in post-PACS, networked world March 4, 2017 -- An unexpected consequence of PACS is that radiologists are increasingly sidelined by referring physicians, who can look at images to make a diagnosis and not even read the radiology report. This problem is confounded as physicians grow more specialized. Radiologists are in real danger if they don't change the way they work, according to Dr. Johan Van Goethem from Antwerp University Hospital in Belgium.
Neural networks read mammograms as well as radiologists March 3, 2017 -- VIENNA - Deep artificial neural networks can read mammograms as well as radiologists, according to research from Switzerland presented at ECR 2017 on Thursday. Neural networks can also be trained with a relatively small amount of data, the group found.
Video from ECR 2017: Dr. Martine Rémy-Jardin on pulmonary embolism March 3, 2017 -- VIENNA - When you mention pulmonary embolism (PE), the chances are you will think of Dr. Martine Rémy-Jardin, PhD, head of the cardiothoracic imaging department at the University Centre of Lille in France. In this video interview, she speaks about persistent controversies in PE and how to optimize patient management.
Video from ECR 2017: Dr. Mauricio Castillo on burnout March 3, 2017 -- VIENNA - Burnout, dissatisfaction, and inequality are three major challenges facing radiology today, but simple measures can help overcome them, according to Dr. Mauricio Castillo from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the U.S. An honorary lecturer at ECR 2017, he gives some practical advice on how to avoid problems.


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The Peace Journalism Foundation (PJF) Uganda East Africa was founded in August 2011 by a group of Ugandan Peace Journalists led by former war reporter Aciro Gloria Laker. A year later, in July 2012, PJF extended its activities to Kenya with a project on peace, development and electoral journalism reporting. The seminars were held in Eldoret and Nairobi with support from the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. Ouma Wanzala of Nation Media Group Eldoret coordinates the Kenya activities.
PJF has been operating informally since 2009 and has worked closely with local peace groups from Northern Uganda.
This is the first peace media organisation in East Africa with a mission to promote peace journalism practices among journalists in the region through training, establishing networks with their audiences and finding local solutions to various social problems using non-violent means.
PJF main areas of work:
- In-house mentoring for selected Television and Radio stations in Uganda and Kenya.
- Peaceful, balanced and accurate coverage of development and elections in East Africa without compromising the principles of good journalism.
- Collaboration and networking with citizens and security on the prevention of terrorism and extreme violence acts from East Africa.
- Increasing the use of Public Service Announcements (PSA) as an outreach tool in addressing different social issues aimed at reconciling communities and bringing peace. To date, the foundation has produced PSAs on the following topics: PSA ‘prevention of terrorism acts’, PSA on ‘peaceful election’, PSA on 'preventing domestic violence’, and others. These PSAs are produced by PJF and aired for free by community radio stations.
- Radio Contest, PJF conducts a peace reporting radio contest to encourage and promote peace stories.
- PJF works closely with 15 community peace clubs in Uganda formed under ‘Community Engagement’ (CE) in different parts of Uganda. These clubs work closely with the media to build peace.
The establishment of 15 community peace clubs in Uganda is one PJF success story. The peace club is helping communities to resolve different conflicts using non violence means by talking to both parties.
The peace club is composed of representatives of community leaders including elders, youths, women, business people, schools, institutions, religious and local leaders, Rotary clubs, farmers’ representatives, security and the media.
The groups meet regularly to review what is happening around them and brainstorm ways to resolve a particular conflict. To date, the peace clubs have mediated and resolved several cases of tribal conflicts, child abuse, domestic violence, land disputes, and property struggles.


- This event has passed.
Carry Me Home: A Story of the Underground Railroad Told with Song and Narrative
September 17, 2023 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm CDT
A concert of Negro spirituals performed by soprano Randye Jones and pianist Marlys Grimm. The spirituals, set by composer Harry T. Burleigh, along with Norm Grimm’s reading of excerpts from a slave narrative, tell a story of the historic Underground Railroad and an escapee who took the perilous journey to freedom. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, please email firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Brexit – a good deal for SCI people?
Brexit is one of our generations’ most important political issues. Divisive? Certainly. Complicated? Without a doubt. It’s a topic that affects every single one of us – however we voted – and will continue to do so for many years after we leave the EU in just under a year. But what is the impact of this momentous decision on the lives of spinal cord injured people? Will we be amongst the Brexit winners, or the Brexit losers?
It’s certainly clear that the UK’s decision to withdraw from the EU will have a wide ranging impact on the lives of spinal cord injured people, and in particular on those who are severely disabled and need regular or round the clock care. Such staff are essential in providing life sustaining care and in many cases vital in supporting people to lead a fulfilled life. With the right care and support, severely disabled people can work, and contribute meaningfully to family and community life – and that’s undoubtedly a good thing for disabled people, family and friends and wider society.
Whilst care staff come from all over the World, a significant number are EU nationals. Up to two thirds of PAs recruited by a major specialist care agency to do 24/7 live-in care come from EU countries, for example. It’s therefore good news that that EU citizens currently living in the UK will be able to remain. I hope that it will persuade as many as possible to stay and continue their valuable contribution to the health and care of spinal cord injured people. However, as members have been telling us for a long time, shortages of key staff and the challenges of recruiting new staff from the EU and the U.K. are increasing, so much more needs to be done.
A motivated, diverse and stable workforce who see a long term career in the care sector as a viable option for them is essential not just for spinal cord injured people themselves but for wider society. If basic care needs are not met then severely disabled people will inevitably require the attention of other, much more expensive, parts of the health and social care system, such as A and E. Of course, good quality care is, for many people, an essential part of leading a fulfilled life and contributing to wider society as they choose.
In the immediate future, the government should provide further reassurance to EU citizens currently living in the UK to stay and continue to make a worthwhile contribution to the health and social care workforce. In the longer term, I want to see further efforts made to develop the domestic health and social care workforce, so that care providers and disabled people have the ability to recruit non UK staff when there are not enough resident workers to fill vacancies.
It’s also important to remember that while Brexit is likely to compound workforce pressures – especially around the regrettably low paid care sector – the recruitment and retention problems within health and social care predate the UK’s decision to leave the EU. Addressing these and future challenges requires a comprehensive approach to workforce planning across the sector.
Ultimately, the impact of Brexit on spinal cord injured people will largely depend on Brexit’s impact on the economy and society. And that, as we know, remains a bone of great contention.
Dr Rupert Earl


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PDC Home Tour Darts Betting Odds, Preview and Picks for Day 14 (Thursday, April 30)
Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images
If you’ve been following along with our PDC Home Tour Darts coverage, you know what our basic strategy is for the early part of this first-of-its-kind event. Given the unfamiliar environment and format for this tournament– the players are at home, play is sometimes interrupted by phone calls and the matches are short — it seems unwise to back big favorites.
Thursday marks the first fortnight of the PDC Home Tour and thus far I’d say this one-of-a-kind tournament has been a rousing success, relative to expectations. It’s been a clinic in making lemons out of lemonade, and as long as you accept The Home Tour for what it is and don’t go into it hoping it will feel like a normal sporting event, you should come out of each match entertained. And that’s all we can ask of Skype Darts.
The entertainment should continue on Thursday as Group 14 seems like it could be a real rodeo.
PDC Home Tour Night 14 Betting Odds and Picks
Thursday, April 30 at 2:30 p.m. ET
- No. 20 Chris Dobey (-118)
- No. 99 Kai Fan Leung (+335)
- No. 49 Ron Meulenkamp (+375)
- No. 111 Ciaran Teehan (+700)
- Chris Dobey (-360) v Ciaran Teehan (+260)
- Ron Meulenkamp (-110) v Kai Fan Leung (-118)
- Ciaran Teehan (+180) v Kai Fan Leung (-240)
- Chris Dobey (-250) v Ron Meulenkamp (+190)
- Ron Meulenkamp (-190) v Ciaran Teehan (+150)
- Kai Fan Leung (+150) v Chris Dobey (-200)
Buckle up, Group 14 is going to be quite the ride.
Let’s start at the top with Chris “Hollywood” Dobey, the World No. 20 and a mainstay in the “next player to breakthrough” conversation. It’s no surprise to see Dobey at the top of the odds the fact that he’s the odds-on favorite does jolt me a bit. Don’t get me wrong, Dobey is clearly the best player in this set but, on paper, this could be the most competitive group we’ve seen in the PDC Home Tour so far.
Dobey will be joined by Kai “FatBeautiful” Fan Leung, Ron “Bomb” Meulenkamp and Ciaran “The High Tower” Teehan. The odds tell you the story, Fan Leung and Meulenkamp are both worthy contenders and both can score in bunches, while Teehan, a 21-year-old at the beginning of his career, is being priced like cannon fodder.
Dobey has the highest scoring average over the past year at 94.28 but “FatBeautiful” is right there at 93.72 and Meulenkamp is just half-a-point behind him at 93.22. These three players can beat anybody on their day, which is why I was a bit shocked when I saw the prices for Thursday’s fixtures.
Underdogs have had plenty of success through the first 13 days of The Home Tour so you’d expect that the bookmakers would start to reel in the prices on some of these favorites.
Not only do I think Dobey’s odds are too short in each of his matches, but I think Teehan is worth a punt in each of his matchups. Everything in betting comes down to price and it’s pretty clear, in a tournament that has produced upset after upset, that the value is on “The High Tower” at these odds.
PDC Home Tour Night 14 Betting Picks
- Ciaran Teehan (+260) over Chris Dobey
- Ciaran Teehan (+180) over Kai Fan Leung
- Ron Meulenkamp (+190) over Chris Dobey
- Ciaran Teehan (+150) over Ron Meulenkamp
- Kai Fan Leung (+150) over Chris Dobey
PDC Home Tour Betting Record: 17-27, +4.75 units
PDC Home Tour Odds and Schedule
PDC Home Tour Group Winners
- Group 1: Jamie Lewis (+600)
- Group 2: Luke Woodhouse (+600)
- Group 3: Dave Chisnall (-134)
- Group 4: Geert Nentjes (+250)
- Group 5: Nick Kenny (+450)
- Group 6: Ryan Searle (+180)
- Group 7: Jelle Klaasen (+200)
- Group 8: Jonny Clayton (+130)
- Group 9: Martijn Kleermaker (+350)
- Group 10: Nathan Aspinall (-177)
- Group 11: Mike van Duivenbode (+300)
- Group 12: Max Hopp (+175)
- Group 13: Carl Wilkinson (+450)
PDC Home Tour Darts Tournament Rules and Format
- If you’re unfamiliar with the rules of darts, click here.
- The tournament will feature 32 groups of four players who will play a round robin to determine a group winner.
- One group plays per day, for 32 days in a row. Yes, 32 days in a row.
- All group-stage matches are best-of-9 legs and two points will be awarded for a win. If there is a tie at the top of standings, the first tiebreaker will be leg difference.
- After the 32-day group stage, the winners will advance to the second phase of the competition. I’m assuming that means a single-elimination, bracket-style tournament. But, the PDC website didn’t go any further than that.
- The action will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local time) each night and stream on PDC.tv, free of charge.
- The first eight groups have been announced, along with the order of play, though the PDC has yet to confirm the remaining competitors.

domain: sports


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BEIJING - China hoped the referendums planned for January 2011 in Sudan would be conducted in a transparent and fair manner and reflect the Sudanese people's will, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman here Tuesday.
"Whatever the result of the referendums, it is of paramount importance to safeguard the peace and stability of Sudan," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular press conference.
China appreciated the Sudanese government's efforts in maintaining peace and promoting national reconciliation, said Ma, adding China supports the north and south of Sudan to steadily push forward the peace process through dialogue and friendly consultation.
Ma reiterated that China hoped Sudan would maintain lasting peace and stability and the Darfur issue could be properly resolved at an early date.
The referendums, scheduled for Jan 9, will determine whether or not south Sudan will remain part of the country and if the oil-rich Abyei region will join the north or south of the country.
The Jan 9 referendums were mandated by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended a 20-year civil war between the central government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA).


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Avenged Sevenfold Seize The Day Men's T-Shirt
This official Avenged Sevenfold Seize The Day Forever t-shirt for men is a cool addition to any fans wardrobe, officially licensed merchandise this awesome t-shirt is a must-have addition to your band t-shirt collection. The t-shirt features a large print inspired by the bands well-recognised single Seize The Day, featuring lyrics from the song ‘Seize The Day Or Die Regretting The Time You Lost. Alongside this the design showcases the classic Avenged Sevenfold Death Bat mascot as well as a subtle paint spatter effect; the gold colour of the print adds to the quality feel and look of the t-shirt. Offering a regular fit this mens t-shirt comes in a classic black, made with 100% cotton this official Avenged Sevenfold Seize The Day Forever t-shirt is finished with a cool distress effect.
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Rafael Nadal beat Gael Monfils 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 on Sunday to claim his ninth ATP Monte Carlo crown and return to winning ways after a frustrating period in his career.
Since his last ATP Masters triumph at Madrid in 2014, Nadal has struggled for form and health. Consequently, his ranking plummeted to 10th last year, the lowest it has been since 2005.
With this victory, Nadal, who won eight consecutive Monte Carlo crowns between 2005 and 2012, equals Novak Djokovic’s record of 28 Masters titles. Nadal’s performance this week will serve as a warning that he should not be under-estimated at this year’s French Open which begins on the 16th of May.
The first set lasted 75 minutes. It contained fives breaks of serve. Monfils came back from 3-5 down to level matters at 5-5 only to then lose the next two games and the opener 5-7.
Monfils bounced back well to win the second set 7-5. This was the first time he had taken a set off Nadal on clay in his career.
The Frenchman’s decision to chase down everything eventually came back to hurt him as his legs deserted him in the final stanza and Nadal stormed to a 6-0 triumph.
Despite being a great entertainer and a superb athlete to watch, Monfils is now still without an ATP Masters title in his entire career. At 29 years of age, that statistic will surely be of serious concern to him.
— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) April 17, 2016


A message spray-painted in electric blue on a boarded-up door to the abandoned Wiley H. Bates High School reads simply: "Save Bates."
It is a plea Anne Arundel County residents are likely to repeat this week as they seek consensus on a plan to renovate and redevelop what once was the only high school for blacks in Annapolis.
"It's painful to go by and see it as it is now," said Philip L. Brown, 86, who was a teacher and vice principal at the school for 25 years. "If something isn't done soon, there will be nothing left to renovate."
A plan to turn the 66-year-old school into a community center and senior citizen housing complex is the subject of public meetings this month, including one tonight in Odenton and another tomorrow in Annapolis.
The sooner the community agrees on a new use for Bates, the better the chances will be next year for securing $2 million in county seed money for renovations, plus $2 million in state matching funds, county officials say. That money was supposed to come this year, but the state legislature balked in early spring, saying it could not deliver the money until the county presented a detailed development plan with more private investment.
"It's taken a while to get the state, the county and the city to support a unified position on Bates, but we have it now," said Essom V. Ricks Jr., who heads the Bates Advisory Committee, an 18-member panel charged with finding a new use for the school. "We want to strike while the iron is hot."
The estimated $11 million to $14 million cost of renovating Bates might include 100 privately built and operated apartments for senior citizens.
A county-run senior center and a community center financed by the nonprofit Bates Foundation also would be situated in the building, as would a memorial to Wiley H. Bates, who provided the first small building for the school.
In its busiest years, the 130,000-square-foot school on Smithville Street enrolled up to 2,100 students. The building tripled in size in 1950 and was the mainstay for local black education until 1966, when integration was completed in county schools.
"It was a gathering place for the entire community," Mr. Brown said.
The school closed in 1981. The playgrounds on the 16 acres are empty. Yesterday, rain poured through smashed windows. Crushed beer cans lay in the grass. Vines inched up the brick exterior. A sign reading "All Visitors Must Report to Front Office" still hung by the front entrance, but the door handles were gone.
To be successful in its new incarnation, the school again must become a magnet -- this time for private dollars.
"The state wanted to make sure there was significant private commitment before it ponied up any money," said Jerome W. Klasmeier, the county's central services officer.
Already, Savannah Development Corp. and Associated Catholic Charities, both based in Baltimore, and Community Action Agencies in Annapolis have expressed interest in financing new development at the school, he said.
"The money is the key," said Yevola Peters, an advisory committee member. "But I do believe that if we keep pushing and insisting, we'll generate the dollars."
State, county and city officials say they support the latest Bates plan, as do many residents. In the past, however, consensus has been elusive.
Last year, some community activists rejected a plan to put a conference center at the site. In 1989, the city council blocked a proposal to build townhouses behind the school. Efforts to reopen Bates as a school have been rebuffed because other local schools aren't filled to capacity.
Because the site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places last summer, there are limits on how much the property can be changed.
That is welcome news to people such as Joyce McManus, who began her career at Bates in 1956 as the first black music teacher in the county's schools.
"The most important thing we can do is to keep it as it is," she said. "It helps us remember the valuable students who walked through those halls."


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Sailing the British Empire : The Voyages of The Clarence, 1858-73Main MenuSailing the British Empire: The Voyages of the Clarence, 1858-73IntroductionThe Crew / AcknowledgmentsThe Provenance of Watson's LogAdditional Sources: Logs, Crew Lists, DiariesInside Lloyd's Register"Green's Celebrated Service"Details on owner of the ship at the time of our voyage, Richard Green.The Master Builder: William PileThe Master: Joseph Watson's BiographyA Mate's ProgressThe Career of Henry Berridge, First Mate of the ClarenceThe Crew of the Clarence in 1864An annotated crew listThe 18th HussarsThe Clarence and the Cyclone of 1864Origins of Indian Emigrants Aboard The ClarenceThe Surgeon-SuperintendantWages of indentured labourers in Demerara (1870-1900)The Clarence Sails to AustraliaMutiny! Violence and Resistance Aboard "Coolie Ships"Cholera: The Killer from CalcuttaSTSC 077, Fall 2015 First Year Seminar, University of Pennsylvaniab33a025deaa7595ed0079bfc9b77ea3cb14b8d08STSC 077, The University of Pennsylvania, fall 2015
Tracing the Vessel's Progress
12015-12-12T11:06:29-08:00Nate Robinson69bdb6d13a5fa4c55deea2889a6732d371124eed62654Mason, Walter G., and John Skinner Prout. "Night- Tracing the Vessel's Progress." Illustrated London News 20 Jan. 1849: 39. Print. University of Pennsylvania Library.plain2015-12-15T06:35:23-08:00STSC 077, Fall 2015 First Year Seminar, University of Pennsylvaniab33a025deaa7595ed0079bfc9b77ea3cb14b8d08
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12015-12-10T16:42:45-08:00Passengers17plain2015-12-15T06:38:11-08:00The majority of the population that travelled to Australia was considered the "worthy poor." This class of people consisted of farmers and agricultural laborers. Because of their economic status, the trip to Australia would have been too expensive for them to consider.However, the English and Australian governments provided assistance for the four month voyage.Between the years 1848-1859, assisted immigration to the state of Victoria (its captial being Melbourne), saw a peak of 86%. The governments had to offer an incentive for workers to find a new home in Australia. A cheaper fare, shorter voyage, and increasing connections to family and friends in America enticed a large number of emigrants. The total cost of the trip depended on the size of the family traveling and their ages. Children were cheaper than adults. Agricultural workers received the best assistance. However, this caused problems because it was not always clear as to who was an agricultural laborer. Many people in the working class had various skills and often worked wherever they could find a job. Here, we see the passenger list for the Clarence on its voyage from London to Melbourne in 1871-1872 was kept by Ralph Gallilee Huggup, midshipman. The laboring poor were somewhat literate because they were taught to read the bible, newspapers, and periodicals. However, many could not write because that required an extra year at school. Children usually did not take this extra year to study because their families needed them to work. Passenger Classes The passenger classes in which one sailed were often consistent with the social classes on land. First class passengers, also referred to as "saloon" passengers, had the best accommodations aboard ship. These passengers were considered wealthy, respectable, and of a good social order. Traveling by first class was expensive; it was not unsual for a ticket to cost three times as much as the steerage passengers' fares. Purchasing a saloon ticket would have been a worthy investment for those that could afford it. Accommodations included better food served by stewards, better ventilation, more availability to entertainment, and private cabins. These factors contributed to the overall health of passengers. Sources estimate that of all emigrants to Australia, less than ten percent afforded a cabin. Conversely, the conditions in steerage were quite deplorable. Passengers were loaded together underneath the deck. The layout of the steerage generally included bunks that lined the sides of the ship and tables in the center of the floor. The bunks had little to no privacy from one another and were separated from the general area by a curtain. Passengers were placed very deliberately within the steerage. Passengers were very deliberately placed within the steerage to preserve integrity and prevent trouble. They were organized by their background and by gender. Single men and single women were stayed at opposite ends of the ship, separated by the families in the middle. Steerage passengers were kept busy in an attempt to prevent boredom, and consequently, mischief.
Citations Duncan, Sinclair Thomson. Journal of a Voyage to Australia by the Cape of Good Hope, Six Months In Melbourne, And Return to England by Cape Horn: Including Scenes And Sayings On Sea And Land. New and enl. ed. Edinburgh: Gemmell, 1884.
Hassam, Andrew. "Introduction." No Privacy for Writing: Shipboard Diaries, 1852-1879. Carlton South, Vic.: Melbourne UP, 1995. Xiii-xv. Print.
Pearson, Michael N. "Studying the Indian Ocean World." In Himanshu Prabha Ray and Edward A. Alpers, eds., Cross Currents and Community Networks: The History of the Indian Ocean World. New Delhi: Oxford UP, 2007. 19-22. Print.

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Gzb-dli Special : 04941 Live Train Running Status
Get the live running status of Gzb-dli Special 04941 at RailMitra. Spot Indian Railway trains live online to know the current location of the train and check if it is running late or at the right time.
Gzb-dli Special : 04941 runs from Ghaziabad to Delhi and covers
The scheduled departure time for Gzb-dli Special from Ghaziabad is 06:20PM and the arrival time to Delhi is 07:05PM
Gzb-dli Special : 04941 has classes
Gzb-dli Special 04941 FAQs
- What is the Train Route of Gzb-dli Special 04941?
- What classes are available in Gzb-dli Special (04941)?
- Gzb-dli Special 04941 passes through how many stations?
- 04941 Gzb-dli Special runs on which days?
Gzb-dli Special (04941) runs between Ghaziabad (Ghaziabad) to Delhi (Delhi). This IRCTC train starts at 06:20PM from Ghaziabad (Ghaziabad) and reaches Delhi (Delhi) at 07:05PM and takes <14hr 10 mins> to cover this trip.
Gzb-dli Special (04941) has classes- <2A, 3A, SL, 2S>.
Gzb-dli Special 04941 passes through 5 railway stations.
Gzb-dli Special, 04941 runs on

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October 09, 2013 12:00 AM | by Dalia Hosny
Sexy Mamas: Jennifer Lopez
The famous 'Jenny from the Block' singer is one hot stylish mama! The diva is a mother to the fashion savvy five year old Max and Emma. Jennifer Lopez's kids aren't just like anyone! The fact that her little adorable twins were the face of Gucci kids in a campaign, makes them upcoming celebrities already.
In addition to being known for her caramel skin tone and sexy hair waves, J-LO is famous for spending quality time with her twins. The forty four year old business woman, singer and designer always manages to rock some sexy outfits suitable for women a decade younger. She's certainly one of our favorite celebrity mamas!

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Ben Jaquith will face additional criminal charges
The legal travails of Benjamin Jaquith continue after additional criminal charges have been levied against the former Newberg insurance agent.
In a development that became public Jan. 14, Jaquith was the brunt of first- and third-degree attempted sexual abuse charges delivered via an indictment handed down by a Lincoln County grand jury in December.
The charges stem from an incident in January 2015 when Jaquith and some of his employees at American Family Insurance were on a retreat at a rental home in Lincoln City. One of the business' employees, Stephanie Rose Johnson, alleged that Jaquith attempted to grope her while some in the group were in a hot tub.
Johnson, who has filed a civil lawsuit against Jaquith and is one of six women to file criminal complaints against her former boss for alleged acts in Newberg, made a similar claim in Lincoln County last month. She alleged sexual harassment against Jaquith, resulting in his arrest in November by Lincoln City police.
A Lincoln County grand jury returned an indictment in the case, but it was dismissed by a judge as the statute of limitations had lapsed in the case.
Jaquith is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on the latest charges on Feb. 25 in Lincoln County Circuit Court in Newport. He has retained McMinnville attorney Abraham Hanson to represent him. He was taken into custody in late December on a $50,000 security, but posted bail soon after and was released.
The allegations mirror claims in the Yamhill County civil case against Jaquith, filed by Johnson and Social Goods owner Robin Sikkins. She filed a lawsuit in February 2018 claiming battery, assault, negligent infliction of emotional distress and defamation.
The lawsuit seeks upwards of $750,000 in economic and non-economic damages.
Johnson filed her lawsuit against her former employer in November 2017 in Multnomah County. The venue was changed soon after to Yamhill County and the lawsuit seeks economic damages not to exceed $300,000 for back pay, front pay, loss of benefits and future earning capacity, as well as non-economic damages not to exceed $300,000 for mental suffering and emotional distress.
Contained within that lawsuit are allegations stemming from the January 2015 incident in Lincoln City, where she said she resisted numerous unwanted sexual advances by Jaquith. That portion of the lawsuit seeks non-economic damages not to exceed $200,000.
Jaquith appeared before Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Easterday in May for a hearing on the six misdemeanor counts of third-degree sexual assault charges filed against him. He appeared in Yamhill County Circuit Court on Jan. 31 for a trial readiness hearing and his jury trial on the Yamhill County criminal charges is slated for Feb. 11-14.
Other legal battles
Jaquith is also the brunt of a lawsuit filed by Premier Community Bank in Newberg.
The complaint, filed April 23 in Yamhill County Circuit Court, alleges that Jaquith and his wife have defaulted on an $85,000 loan they secured in November 2016 for the operation of a second agency, Jaquith Family Insurance (JFI).
"JFI defaulted under the terms of the loan agreement and subsequent changes in terms agreements by failing to pay the monthly payments as agreed," the breach of contract complaint states. "The last payment on the loan was $500 on January 29, 2018."
The bank is seeking repayment of the balance of the loan, $84,709, late charges of $34, interest accrued as of the filing date, $1,467, plus interest of $15.88 per diem until the loan is paid. A second claim for relief by the bank seeks the same amount in punitive damages as well as attorney fees and other reimbursements.
Defendant files for bankruptcy
Jaquith filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in November, seeking protection from his creditors. As part of that filing a stay was placed on the two lawsuits against him until bankruptcy proceedings are concluded in federal court. However, Sikkins' attorney filed a motion saying his client should not be subject to that stay because she is only seeking insurance proceeds in the lawsuit. The judge has yet to rule on Sikkins' motion.
The 38-year-old was discharged from his job as an agent for American Family Insurance soon after the allegations arose in 2018, according to a spokesman for the business.
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