Though I rooted for all the popularity of “enjoy, Simon” and “Call Me by the Name,” I happened to ben’t particularly driven observe either movies because, most of the time, there is merely so many occasions I’m able to pay to see two white guys permitted to has a romantic facts and a pleasurable closing before i must see some dark gay males’ human hormones rage on display. (The same thing goes for Latinx guys, Asian people, Indian men as well as some blend of the X-chromosome types.)
I don’t usually have to see myself in a story chat room no registration norwegian to relate solely to they, it’d become good for a change.
In an interview using the protector, Russell T. Davies, the screenwriter and music producer behind the boundary-pushing, queer-centered series “Queer as people,” shared a concept why it offers used such a long time regarding LGBTQ characters to get the lead-in a conventional teenage romcom.
“It’s the older pal, that lumbering creature, the white, directly people,” the candid innovative opined. But while “adore, Simon” and “Give me a call by the label” include victories insofar as they center figures in who white, straight movie executives probably cannot quite read on their own, it eventually reminded me that white gay men typically neglect to see that their blind place about race when you look at the LGBT society is close to as large as their unique right counterparts’ incapacity to see homosexual guys in Hollywood.
This is simply not a knock-on Davies: White everyone is still largely accustomed witnessing on their own while the default and so I wouldn’t expect them to thought waiting, possibly the people which don’t seem like me personally have more problems?
Movie director Joe Stephenson mentioned in the same bit the popularity of “adore, Simon” doesn’t always guarantee most films enjoy it, mentioning “Brokeback Mountain” as one example of the success of one LGBT-themed film doesn’t fundamentally beget a lot more like they.
He could be appropriate, but with the invocation of “Brokeback Mountain,” we immediately think, Oh, another LGBT film featuring white someone.
To the people ready to shout think about “Moonlight?” : definitely Chiron performed have some sort of adore interest, but that wasn’t the point of the movie, which in fact had additional to handle the brutalities that come with the stigmatization of one’s sexuality rather than the attractiveness of the complete phrase. It had been a sad Mary J. Blige song, not merely one of Janet Jackson’s thot bops.
And, yes, I’ve viewed Jamal Lyons have sex moments on “Empire,” but they are perhaps not the focus of this program; Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard is. “Noah’s Ark” had been an essential series, but that demonstrate quit airing a few months after Beyonce launched “B’Day.” (when finding LGBT individuals of tone revealing their unique sexuality honestly and happily in pop music heritage necessitates the citation of a television tv series focus a straight on-again, off-again partners and a 13-year-television show, start thinking about my personal aim established.)
We appreciate “Queer as people,” “Brokeback Mountain,” “Will & elegance,” “Love, Simon,” “Know me as By Your Name” and “Looking,” but why is it that very nearly specifically white the male is found in romantic scenarios throughout the big and small screen? Those stories issue, as well, but i do want to read two same-gender-loving dark guys bring unique enchanting comedy.
After all, in both 2012 and 2017, Pew discovered that Blacks and Latinos — bad ones at this — are very likely to self-identify as LGBTQ than whites. But, if I expected any pop music culture enthusiast or TV/film buff to-name every one of the performs wherein non-white LGBTQ figures got to has their own budding courtship chronicled in a film or television show, they’d need to mobile a buddy and therefore pal would probably let them know, Stop playing to my cell!
I have that Hollywood is actually sluggish to acknowledge that white, directly boys can enjoy flicks that do not feature all of them and alter could be difficult, nevertheless fact remains that, in the collective struggles as LGBT folks, some people have it better as opposed to others. By and large, Ebony queer guys are portrayed in pop lifestyle regarding their pathologies, maybe not their own normalcies. Yet we also fall in appreciate, we intercourse, there is courtships, therefore we pursue interactions.
We’re exactly like you but, since it stands now, we don’t read an adequate amount of ourselves by doing so. I’m pleased a figure like Simon managed to make it to the big display, but, if we’re gonna push to get more queer representation, it is about time that drive include everyone.
Michael Arceneaux may be the composer of the book “i cannot Date Jesus” (July 2018, Atria products).


text:
“On Tuesday, Miami Children’s Hospital … reduced by 30 percent the theoretical prices on chargemasters, the pricing documents that detail all the related charges a patient runs up for services but not the amounts most people actually pay.
“The revised prices, said Tim Birkenstock, chief financial officer, will more accurately reflect what Miami Children’s collects from insurers.
“That, in turn, should give consumers a reliable reference to estimate their out-of-pocket costs, which will vary depending on their health plan type, benefits and other factors. However, the amounts insurers pay to Miami Children’s will not change.
“Miami Children’s also is in the process of developing fixed prices for about a half-dozen of the hospital’s most common services, such minor dermatological procedures and wound closures, removal of tonsils and circumcisions.”
Daniel Chang, The Miami Herald, Miami Children’s Hospital Part Of A Trend: Revealing Prices – Kaiser Health News.

domain: news


text:
Remember the first video game you played as a kid? Chances are that the game may no longer be commercially available for purchase. In fact, classic video games (pre-2010 games) are now less available and accessible than American silent-era films, according to a recent study by the Video Game History Foundation.
- More MP1st Reading: Halo MCC July 2023 Update Releases This July 12, Adds Halo 4 Theater Mode, Firefight Improvements, and More
Here are the key findings from the document detailing the study:
Historical video game availability is dire. Only 13 percent of classic video games published in the United States are currently in release. This figure is comparable to the commercial availability of pre-World War II audio recordings (10 percent or less) or the survival rate of American silent-era films (14 percent), two other mediums at risk.
Historically significant games with low commercial value are especially unlikely to be reissued. The reissue rate falls below 3 percent for all games released prior 1985, a period with high historical importance to the early game industry but minimal commercial activity. The Commodore 64—an important platform for the 1980s computer game industry—showed both the lowest availability rate and the lowest diversity of reissue sources out of any ecosystem we examined. This is evidence that the interests of the marketplace do not align with the needs of video game researchers.
Digital marketplace volatility threatens the availability of game reissues. While games do get reissued, the long-term instability of digital game distribution platforms means they often lapse out of release, especially in ecosystems where there is a low diversity of reissue sources. 6.5 percent of the Game Boy library was previously available only through Nintendo’s Virtual Console storefronts for the Wii U and 3DS platforms, but since those services shuttered in March 2023, those games are no longer available in any form. Other legacy digital stores that are still running, such as the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita stores, have experienced such a degradation in service quality that users are effectively unable to purchase titles that are technically still in commerce.
The study concluded that the scarcity of older video games is a systemic problem, and that the video game industry must “acknowledge this problem,” citing the benefits that could be provided by libraries and archives for games. The study did also admit that the industry’s reissue market is active, but said activity isn’t enough to compensate for the growing inaccessibility of older video game titles.
With more and more games being pumped out than ever before, it’s expected that many will be lost to the sands of time, but given current trends, we may eventually have to say goodbye to even the most popular titles of older console generations.
Source: Video Game History Foundation

domain: hobby


text:
Buying a car is a grand investment for most people, and it’s something that needs to be well thought out. Deciding on whether to invest in a brand new car or a used one can be quite challenging. There are tons of options and features with each choice that makes it confusing to settle on one side.
If you have a type of car in mind that you are looking to get then it should be time to weigh out the advantages vs the disadvantages of buying a new car or a used one. Here are some of the things that can help you decide what the best option for you may be. https://www.0-60specs.com/maserati/
Buying a new car does come with its perks. Many people prefer to buy new cars rather than used ones as they get the advantage of a warranty deal with the car that they would not otherwise get with a used car. Some used cars, however, might be relatively new such that they come with some coverage of their warranty. New cars, on the other hand, will mostly have long term warranties that cover the cost of any maintenance and repairs the car will need for quite a while after the purchase date.
The first thing everyone thinks of when it comes to buying a car is the price tag. One of the main advantages of buying a used car rather than a new one is that it can be massively cheaper for the exact same make. Even if the car is not that old or heavily used, the difference in price can be incredibly attractive and it drives many people to invest in used cars instead of new ones. For instance, a lot of Houston business owners, and even individuals, who may be looking to invest in more than one car prefer to go for used cars as it makes a lot of financial sense. It all comes down to the budget one has for the car, but if it is the same model and is in good shape, then buying a used car, in that case, may come with a great financial advantage.
In the battle of used vs. new cars, new cars often take a hit as a result of the depreciation values. It does not matter how good the new car is, or how well-maintained it is; the second it leaves the parking lot of the shop where you bought it, it loses a large chunk of its value in what is known as the depreciation hit. Many of those looking to buy a car choose to invest in relatively used cars, that is not that old, rather than buying brand new cars so that they do not fall into the depreciation trap. Finding a car that is relatively new and has not been heavily used is not actually that difficult, and many people choose that route as a profitable business decision.
Carmakers develop the features of their new cars with every newly released model, and that draws a lot of attraction from prospective buyers. If what you are looking for in a car are new advancements and state-of-the-art technological features, then buying a new car may be of more appeal to you. However, some used cars can have similar advanced features at a better price and you can customize the features whichever way you see fit, in a way that makes you get the best of both worlds.
When it comes to buying a car, the shopping experience itself plays a huge part in whether a person will choose to go for a used or a new car. If you are not set on a brand or make when shopping for a used car, then it can be pretty swift, as long as the car serves the purpose you need and has all the essential features you are looking for.
On the other hand, if you have a specific car in mind, with specific features in mind, then shopping for a new one that is that make might offer you an easier shopping experience. Shopping for a car is not always an easy task. There are numerous factors that can sway your decision between buying new or used cars. However, it is important to do extensive research and read lots of reviews before buying a car so that you can be certain you are getting the best deal. Remember to weigh all your options when it comes to old vs new and try not to make any quick decisions without careful thinking.

domain: economics


text:
Legal Guide to Investment in Indonesia
3 Legal Guide to Investment in Indonesia 1.4 Indonesia's challenges Although Indonesia's economic potential is strong, it continues to face a number of challenges. Corruption is a significant impediment to Indonesia's development. In 2013, Transparency International scored IndonesiaGet Price
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6 PwC Oil and Gas in Indonesia: Investment and Taxation Guide 7 Term Definition IPPKH Izin Pinjam Pakai Kawasan Hutan ("Borrow-Use" Permit For Forest Area) ITO Indonesian Tax Office JCC/JO Joint Cooperation Contract/Joint Operation JOA/JOB Joint Operation Agreement/Joint Operating BodyGet Price
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"Indonesia has the world's fourth largest population whose economy and per capita income continue to grow," the minister said. Indonesia posted a four-year high 5.07 percent growth last year. It has targeted to see a 5.4 percent growth this year and between 5.6 to 6 percent next year, he added.Get Price
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Foreign direct investment (FDI) is an integral part of an open and effective international economic system and a major catalyst to development. Yet, the ben-efits of FDI do not accrue automatically and evenly across countries, sectors and local communities. National policies and the international investment architectureGet Price
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Indonesia, ASEAN and Investment – A Q&A. With increased interest in Indonesia and the impending completion of the ASEAN Economic Community, foreign investors are looking for a means to do business in Indonesia. SSEK discusses the revised Negative Investment List, the impact of the ASEAN Free Trade Area on Indonesia and Bilateral Investment ...Get Price
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investment in Indonesia and strengthening the investment climate by, among others, improving the regulatory framework, simplifying the licensing process and improving the business infrastructures. The main legislation governing foreign direct investment in Indonesia is Capital Investment Law No. 25/2007 which was issued in 2007.Get Price
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Marble Industry In Ethiopia Crusher, quarry, mining and. marble mining ethiopia -Manufacturer. Marble industry in Ethiopia: New technology would make marble the Apr 1, 2014 It has been two years and around 645 km from here in Assosa we have a marble quarry. Fujian Stone Gravel Mining Investment Crusher ManufactorGet Price
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With its vast archipelago Indonesia has an enormous potential for durable economic growth. Indonesia-Investments follows this development closely and intends to participate, cooperating in projects with local entrepreneurs or the Indonesian government. One of our values is that the process of economic development should lead to increasing welfare and prosperity for the population as a whole.Get Price
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Vietnam promotes trade, tourism, investment cooperation ...
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Conservative conference: £10bn in welfare cuts 'disastrous' for families
Monday, October 8, 2012
Government plans to make an additional £10bn in cuts to the welfare budget risk having a disastrous impact on children and families, a charity has warned.
Chancellor George Osborne outlined the proposals at the Conservative party conference today, reiterating his desire to cut the deficit.
He suggested money could be saved by limiting housing benefit for under-25s, limiting the number of children in a family that would be supported on benefits, and making benefit increases lower than the rate of inflation.
The additional £10bn in cuts by 2016/17, which come on top of £18bn announced in 2010, have come in for criticism from the charity Family Action.
Rhian Beynon, head of policy and campaigns at the organisation, said many families are already struggling to make ends meet, heat their homes and put food on the table.
“Plans to curb child tax credit and below-inflation rises in welfare support will put further pressure on family finances which are already in meltdown,” she added.
“George Osborne is scraping the barrel for cuts that do not make good economic sense. Removing housing benefit from under-25s will make it even more difficult for hard-pressed young people to find employment and move on.
"It is not the answer. Neither is punishing children because a parent is out of work.
“There is already a welfare cap coming in that places limitations on benefits for large families. These further cuts to the welfare budget could spell disaster for the children and families we support.”
Public and Commercial Services Union general secretary Mark Serwotka said money was being taken from the sick, disabled and vulnerable.
"If we as a society refuse to support our most vulnerable we have lost the right to be called civilised,” he said.
He added that a focus on investment to create jobs and get people into work would bring down the welfare bill.


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We have made it super easy to cancel 22.214.171.124: Faster Internet subscription at the root to avoid any and all mediums "Cloudflare" (the developer) uses to bill you. Now let us get into the crux of this guide.
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You might have created an account on 188.8.131.52 during the course of using the app. Many apps make it so easy to signup but a nightmare to delete your account. We try to make it easier but since we don't have information for every app, we can only do our best.
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Leave a comment:
There are 3 types of companies that are secretly watching what you do on the web. (No, I’m not talking about social media companies, because you can choose what you share on social media.) - I’m talking about 3 types of companies who secretly track everything you do on every computer or mobile phone that you use. (1) Your DNS provider (usually the same company that provides your internet service); (2) your search engine (usually your home page), and (3) your web browser - all of these companies have one thing in common: they watch what you do on the web, and they build a profile of who you are, and then they sell that data without your knowledge, to thousands of advertisers. If you value your privacy, my strong recommendation is to use 188.8.131.52 for your DNS provider (even without WARP, it is solid); use DuckDuckGo as your search engine, and use FireFox as your web browser. I am a professional in the security and privacy world, and I’m telling you the truth. Protect yourself. Install these 3 free apps, and stop those other types of companies from spying on you and selling your data.
I don’t usually write reviews like this but, usually there is always at least one or more items that are quirky or annoying in someway. This is one of those rare occasions. I had never heard of this product before and was checking out one of the techie sites, and usually suggested products that will frequently sponsor such shows, tend to get over hyped. After watching the shows the host seemed to be a straight shooter on the topics covered. I took a chance and downloaded it and have been noticeably pleased from day one. Especially on my Apple products, that were OK before, but there was a change in the speed and smoothness when browsing, on all my devices. But today is day one of of now being WARPED, have been warped for the last couple hours and it’s been impressive, to say the least, can’t wait to see the long-term difference...
Many apps that are offered for free aren’t really free you won’t have to pay out of pocket but you instead pay with your data they’re collecting and then selling. I don’t think I’m alone in saying I will gladly opt to pay out of pocket for an app that I can trust and makes my privacy a priority. Without naming any names (we all know who they are) as consumers we have been sold out by majority of the big tech companies. You guys are helping to restore something we shouldn’t have ever lost. Keep up the GREAT WORK!!!!! FOR THE PEOPLE LEAVING NEGATIVE REVIEWS how bout you do a lil bit of reading they never claim to be a vpn or try to float by vague statements or lying by omission. Clearly states that it’s not a vpn app!
As several reviewers before me mentioned, the app is great, but it burns through iPad Pro battery like a wild fire through a dry forest! The difference in very noticeable—from 100% to 10% charge in less than 2 hours with 184.108.40.206 running vs. several days with normal use (e.g. several hours of web browsing, reading, and movie watching a day) and 220.127.116.11 app turned OFF. Also as has been noted by other reviewers, the app appears to avoid detection as a battery drainer and doesn’t show up as such among top battery users list. I hope that this review will provide the needed “last straw” notice for the developers of this otherwise great app to fix it. Thank you!
I’ve been using 1111 and 1001 on my computers and MacBooks the past year as my dns resolvers. I noticed this app finally came out and I am thrilled! Thank you guys for providing the best dns security! No logs and great encryption. One tip to the devs : I think you could really give DISCONNECT a run for their $ if you allow the user interface to see what the dns resolvers are blocking / encrypting. I would love this app even more if this was possible. Developers for this app take note! You’ll be my go to for iOS if this can happen, otherwise I’ll probably alternate between 1111 and disconnect for dns on iOS.


Mini USB 18-inch Data/Charging Cable
Things happen. Cables have been known to grow legs and wander off, leaving devices powerless. This 18-inch "replacement" mini USB cable is the same one that ships in teh Pipsqueak package. Whether you need a second one for an alternate charging location, or you need to replace your original cable, this is a cost effective way to go.
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text:
2013 New Jersey Revised Statutes
Title 2C - THE NEW JERSEY CODE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Section 2C:44-3 - Criteria for sentence of extended term of imprisonment.
2C:44-3 Criteria for sentence of extended term of imprisonment.
2C:44-3. The court may, upon application of the prosecuting attorney, sentence a person who has been convicted of a crime of the first, second or third degree to an extended term of imprisonment if it finds one or more of the grounds specified in subsection a., b., c., or f. of this section. If the grounds specified in subsection d. are found, and the person is being sentenced for commission of any of the offenses enumerated in N.J.S.2C:43-6c. or N.J.S.2C:43-6g., the court shall sentence the defendant to an extended term as required by N.J.S.2C:43-6c. or N.J.S.2C:43-6g., and application by the prosecutor shall not be required. The court shall, upon application of the prosecuting attorney, sentence a person who has been convicted of a crime under N.J.S.2C:14-2 or N.J.S.2C:14-3 to an extended term of imprisonment if the grounds specified in subsection g. of this section are found. The court shall, upon application of the prosecuting attorney, sentence a person to an extended term if the imposition of such term is required pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1994, c.130 (C.2C:43-6.4). The finding of the court shall be incorporated in the record.
a.The defendant has been convicted of a crime of the first, second or third degree and is a persistent offender. A persistent offender is a person who at the time of the commission of the crime is 21 years of age or over, who has been previously convicted on at least two separate occasions of two crimes, committed at different times, when he was at least 18 years of age, if the latest in time of these crimes or the date of the defendant's last release from confinement, whichever is later, is within 10 years of the date of the crime for which the defendant is being sentenced.
b.The defendant has been convicted of a crime of the first, second or third degree and is a professional criminal. A professional criminal is a person who committed a crime as part of a continuing criminal activity in concert with two or more persons, and the circumstances of the crime show he has knowingly devoted himself to criminal activity as a major source of livelihood.
c.The defendant has been convicted of a crime of the first, second or third degree and committed the crime as consideration for the receipt, or in expectation of the receipt, of anything of pecuniary value the amount of which was unrelated to the proceeds of the crime or he procured the commission of the offense by payment or promise of payment of anything of pecuniary value.
d.Second offender with a firearm. The defendant is at least 18 years of age and has been previously convicted of any of the following crimes: 2C:11-3, 2C:11-4, 2C:12-1b., 2C:13-1, 2C:14-2a., 2C:14-3a., 2C:15-1, 2C:18-2, 2C:29-5, 2C:39-4a., or has been previously convicted of an offense under Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes or under any statute of the United States or any other state which is substantially equivalent to the offenses enumerated in this subsection and he used or possessed a firearm, as defined in 2C:39-1f., in the course of committing or attempting to commit any of these crimes, including the immediate flight therefrom.
e.(Deleted by amendment, P.L.2001, c.443).
f.The defendant has been convicted of a crime under any of the following sections: N.J.S.2C:11-4, N.J.S.2C:12-1b., N.J.S.2C:13-1, N.J.S.2C:14-2a., N.J.S.2C:14-3a., N.J.S.2C:15-1, N.J.S.2C:18-2, N.J.S.2C:29-2b., N.J.S.2C:29-5, N.J.S.2C:35-5, and in the course of committing or attempting to commit the crime, including the immediate flight therefrom, the defendant used or was in possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
g.The defendant has been convicted of a crime under N.J.S.2C:14-2 or N.J.S.2C:14-3 involving violence or the threat of violence and the victim of the crime was 16 years of age or less.
For purposes of this subsection, a crime involves violence or the threat of violence if the victim sustains serious bodily injury as defined in subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:11-1, or the actor is armed with and uses a deadly weapon or threatens by word or gesture to use a deadly weapon as defined in subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:11-1, or threatens to inflict serious bodily injury.
h.(Deleted by amendment, P.L.2007, c.341).
Amended 1979, c.178, s.95; 1981, c.31, s.3; 1990, c.32, s.8; 1990, c.87, s.4; 1993, c.132, s.2; 1994, c.127, s.2; 1994, c.130, s.4; 1995, c.211, s.3; 1997, c.120; 1999, c.160, s.4; 2001, c.443, s.8; 2007, c.341, s.8.
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. New Jersey may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

domain: law


text:
A respite care centre for children with severe special needs and their families is being opened today.
Built at a cost of £900,000, Acorn House in Dumfries will be officially opened by the Scottish Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson MSP at lunchtime.
More top news
The latest round of polls from Lord Ashcroft show the Scottish National Party has experienced a surge in 'no' as well as 'yes' voting areas.
The latest polling from Lord Ashcroft suggests the SNP is pushing the Unionist parties hard in our region.
A look ahead at the forecast for the Border region.


text:
There have been reports of TV stand instability and tip-over.
Thursday's CPI showed inflation is slowly cooling in the U.S., which could mean good news for Wall Street.
Cryptocurrency trading platform Coinbase announced it would cut nearly 20% of its workforce to shore up cash.
One of the companies re-announcing its recall is Fisher Price, which is recalling more than 4 million sleepers.
Elon Musk is obligated to provide former employees a severance package "no less favorable" than the one offered by previous leadership.
Companies that have recently announced layoffs include Twitter, McDonald's and Amazon.
Tech at CES shows how farmers can save time, money and the environment
Most of the job gains were in the private sector, in industries benefiting from the re-opening of the economy, like leisure and hospitality, followed by healthcare and construction.
As Gen Z ages and joins the workforce in larger numbers, this group will quickly grow into one of the country's largest consumer demographics.
Both the Powerball and the Mega Millions have a whopping jackpot.
Restaurant workers could be poised for their biggest pay increase yet, but the news comes as employers eye layoffs.
U.S. stocks closed higher Friday after employment data showed wage growth decelerated last month.
Southwest Airlines said in a Friday filing that cancelling 16,700 flights between Dec. 21 and 29 will cost the company nearly $825 million in net losses in their fourth quarter.
Walgreens saw a decrease in shrinkage loss during its first quarter, but suffered an overall loss of $3.7 billion due to opioid litigation.
If you're looking for female-driven entrepreneurial inspiration, this list comprises the top founders, entrepreneurs, and business and lifestyle coaches you should keep an eye on for 2023.
The settlement comes after Peloton recalled its line of treadmills due to the death of a six-year-old child.
Some 3,600 ATV units are being recalled.
Roku TVs are coming to 2023 with advanced streaming services built-in.
Amazon announced its Alexa will soon have a new advanced feature to efficiently assist electric vehicle owners to find chargers.
Bed, Bath & Beyond is considering declaring bankruptcy, as sales continue to plummet and it struggles to pay its debts.
U.S. stocks declined Thursday after a second jobs report in as many days showed a still-strong labor market, indicating inflation remaining stubbornly high.
Mercedes to recall over 320K vehicles over reports of engine stalling.
Elon Musk tweeted on Thursday that Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) "should be Speaker" as the House enters its third day of voting.
Private payroll has risen to 235,000 this month, nearly 100,000 more than the Dow Jones originally predicted in November.
Cox Communications announces its new mobile service, Cox Mobile, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, competing with Charter and Comcast.
The new hiring trend that prefers part-time employees to fill gaps in specialized skills is set to dominate in 2023.
Amazon employees affected by the layoffs will be informed as early as January 18.
The products were distributed from Avery's Savory Popcorn's online store to multiple states, including Texas and Florida.
Wall Street's enthusiasm for Salesforce's shares could be short-lived, as the company's big problem isn't the employee count but its growth strategy.
Southwest Airlines is being sued by a passenger who had their flight canceled over the holidays.


text:
Five pregnant women identified in Zika buffer zone
THERE are five pregnant women living in the 200 metre zone around The Globe Hotel, with one concerningly in her first trimester.
However, Queensland Health has assured them the risk of Zika virus spreading is "extraordinarily low".
Rockhampton MP Bill Byrne returned from parliament this morning and met with health officials and some residents in the area.
"There are five ladies that are pregnant that we're aware of at this point that are inside the buffer zone," he said.
"There is an intention to test all the pregnant ladies at this point."
Kerryn Coleman, from Queensland Health, said anyone who begins feeling unwell should visit their GP to discuss symptoms and possibly have a blood test.
"The test depends on when they may have become infected with the mosquito," she said.
"As with most disease, it can take a little while until we can detect the change in the body that's associated with infection.
"It may take up to a couple of weeks before we're able to detect any change in the blood. (Test results) generally take two or three days."
However, she said the risk of anyone becoming infected with Zika is very low.
"I can understand that everyone is concerned about it, and that's appropriate, but I think the risk is extraordinarily low and we're doing a very effective response to remove those mosquitoes," she said.
"The mosquito would have had to have bitten this gentleman while he was staying there, then that particular mosquito would have had to have flown and bitten them (the pregnant women) at a time that mosquito was infectious."
Mr Byrne also said experts have advised there is no need to extend the existing 200 metre buffer zone.
"I've been advised by experts … the zone (being sprayed) now is twice the size it needs to be. There is a 100m buffer included in the zone now," he said.
"The response of council and the health department are in line with best practice processes that are in place for dengue, it's the same process for this mosquito-borne virus as it is for dengue."

domain: biology


text:
Erte is considered one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. His art is not only appreciated for its impressive technical qualities, but he is also considered the father of the art deco movement that defined the 1920s and 30s art scene around the world.
Raised as a child of the social elite, “Erte” (given name, Romain de Tirtoff) moved to France at the age of 18 to work in the world’s center of art and fashion. Beginning his career under Paul Poiret, the most respected couturier in Paris at the time, Erte went on to work for Harper’s Bazaar for twenty-two years where he created more than 240 magazine covers.
His reputation earned him the patronage of Mata Hari, Pavlova and Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, as he became a major contributor to the fashions of the twentieth century. He began his work with the fine print media in the 1970’s, publishing more than 180 of his designs through the Circle Fine Art Corporation and then numerous lithographs and serigraphs commissioned by various publishers. In 1979, the Smithsonian Institution organized a retrospective of his work, which traveled to major museums across the U.S. and Canada.
Erte has often been called the “Father of Art Deco,” the style that came into vogue internationally in the 1920’s. Erte defined it as the fusion of the curvilinear designs of Art Nouveau of the 19th Century with the Cubist, Constructivist, and geometrical designs of modernity. He was also influenced by Persian miniatures and would often use a brush with a single hair to complete his gouache paintings. His imagination was limitless, and Erte designed costumes, stage sets, jewelry, objet d’art, sculpture and ceramics.
Unlike many artists who work freely before a canvas or sketchpad, Erte developed his own unique process: he would visualize the entire work of art in his mind until it was completed to every detail, and then create the work from his “mind’s eye.” At the time of his death at the age of 98, he was considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

domain: artistic


Vaccines, Autism and The Black Community: We Need to Talk…
I have just finished watching Vaxxed The Movie online and it is the most frightening documentary, non-fiction, or fiction film I have seen in 50 years. It is about Autism. We have to show this movie for a discussion in our community. There is a monster hiding in America and it is not under our beds or in our dreams and the Centers For Disease Control and all the pharmaceuticals know it. This issue has been a back burner in our minds for a very long time.
In the last four years that I have been working in the public school system of Buffalo I have been questioning the hard evidence and asking myself why are we suddenly having an upsurge of Autism in the African American community and why does it seem to be impacting so many of our children that are male? This movie is hard evidence that we have been deceived by the CDC. I watched the congressional hearings that sought to resolve this issue of, "Do vaccines cause Autism and is the MMR one of the primaries in causing that illness?"
After the hearings, like so many other issues, nothing else has happened. This film made me remember that President Obama sanctioned the fact that there was link between Autism and vaccinations in a public video announcement during his presidential term. I remembered feeling outraged about how nonchalantly he spoke. Yet I failed to follow through on what I thought and because I said nothing and did nothing, even within my own family, I may have an autistic grandson.
This movie gives an answer to Autism based on scientific documentation done by the CDC that was not allowed to be part of public discourse. It showcases parents who have known that they were being lied to, because prior to their young child having this vaccine they were normal children who never returned to normalcy after that vaccine. In fact, the CDC has known for a long time that the age the vaccine is given is wrong, because a child under three years old body is not able to handle the dosage of a three in one vaccine. Remember our children use to get these shots at different times. There was no research into what the outcomes of combing these shots would be other than the fact that the pharmaceuticals would profit greatly. There is linked evidence that giving these shots to children at 3 years old would be better.
Since the combined shot has been given world wide there has been an international explosion in Autism. The number here in America is staggering. In the congressional hearings a congressman remarked that Autism is not like some childhood illness that a child dies from in 20 or 30 years. Autistic children live well into old age, so we will be responsible for their care a long time.
I work with Autistic teens at City Honors that are blessed to be high performers, but for the majority that is not the case. Some of these cases I got to see up close this summer and in schools that I worked in before City Honors. We need to show this film and have a panel discussion following that showing that includes parents and experts.
I hope you all will agree. We serve on powerful ministries within our churches and our communities. We owe this film and its discussion to our children and families in Buffalo. We have many young women who have infants in our church and are of age for having children in the future. We must be at the front of providing life quality information to our people.
Peace, Love, and Blessings,


Syllable Desktop is a complete operating system that is easy to use, powerful, lightweight and extraordinarily fast and responsive. It has its own kernel, filesystem, GUI and applications. Syllable Server is a matching small and efficient Linux server.
This project can be used to start the world apocalypse
This project includes: - C++ library Apocalypse with files: apocalypse.h apocalypse.cpp apocalypse.about - C++ examples with files: demo.cpp (you shouldn't run this code, else there may be apocalypse) enableweb.cpp (this code requires the internet connection, and server-side program, see down) nasa.cpp (this code also requires the internet connection, only by ipv4 protocol, and uses the NASA servers) codeforuse.cpp (it checks compiler, use it!) - Server Apocalypse code.
Charts Library and Visual Environment. Free software for scientific and business charts generation. Converts data flows into well-designed images. Suitable for web, reports, presentations and applications development. Based on its own CHD format.
UPMS is based on BSD ports system, it can be used on any FSH 2.x Linux compatible distribution. UPMS have two level of dependencies checking, required and suggested. This two levels makes UPMS to tune all of the packages to optimal or minimal, depend on
Extraplugins for Harmattan
Additional AccountSetup plugins for MeeGo Harmattan. Support ICQ, AIM, MSN, Yahoo and Jabber. Include telepathy-haze based on libpurple0 by Debian Maintainers.


text:
In The Kitchen / Slideshows
The 11 Toughest Restaurant Reservations in the USA
Whether it's the chef's reputation, routine celebrity sightings, limited space or just the mystique of exclusivity, some of the country's restaurants are so popular that getting a reservation there takes a miracle. Here's a look at the most coveted tables in the country, from the extremely difficult to secure to practically impossible.
By day, Talula's Table is a boutique gourmet market of breads, charcuterie and artisan cheeses. But when the market closes it doors, it transforms into a single-table restaurant serving a hyper-seasonal, locally sourced tasting menu.
According to the reservationist: "We have one table that accommodates 8-12 guests, and you can reserve it a year out. So our next available reservation is a year from tomorrow. The phone line will open at 7:00 a.m., though the phone often starts ringing at 6:00 a.m."

domain: food


text:
NA CHALDA LYRICS is the latest Punjabi song sung by Gurtaj. The lyrics of this song are penned by Hapee
Gallan Goriyan Lyrics – Dhvani Bhanushali, Taz & John Abraham is a Latest Latest song. Dhvani Bhanushali & Taz sings the song “Gallan Goriyan”. Gallan Goriyan video song featuring John Abraham & Mrunal Thakur.
Bheegi Bheegi Lyrics by Neha Kakkar, Tony Kakkar Latest Hindi Bheegi Bheegi song written by Price Dubey, Tony Kakkar
Maahiya Lyrics by Pulkit Rajvanshi is latest Hindi song released on 8th Jun 2020. Maahiya song lyrics are written & composed by Pulkit Rajvanshi.
Golden Girl by Asif Jutt The song is sung/Lyrics by Asif Jutt & music given byÂ Jugraj Rainkh Chade che Baare Tere Pyaar Ne MaareMunde Kawaare Tu Sondiye Naare.
Here is the latest Punjabi song Vail Lyrics Mankirt Aulakh sung by Mankirt Aulakh and lyrics penned by Shree Brar.
Yalgaar Lyrics By Carry Minati, music of this Diss song by Wily Frenzy and Yalgaar lyrics written by Ajey Nagar (Carryminati)
Tauba Tauba Lyrics by Deep Kalsi is latest Punjabi song released on 8th Jun 2020. Tauba Tauba song lyrics are written by Deep Kalsi & Sikander Kahlon.
Yalgaar Carryminati Lyrics is latest song sung by Carryminati and new diss song carry
Vail LyricsniMainu lod nahio lammiyan caran diLokan layi sharabi hona pagal vi hoyega
Jassi LyricsJassi Lyrics – Payal Dev and Ikka Jassi to miss kardi apne yaar nuHaaye re miss kardi apne pyar nuJassi to miss kardi apne yaar nuHaaye re miss
Toot Jaayein LyricsToot Jaayein Lyrics – Nishawn Bhullar | Hindi lyrics Khwabon se keh do nazar mein na aayeinVaadon ki tarah tere yeh bhi toot jaayein
Revolver lyricRevolver lyrics – Haazi Sidhu | Punjabi Song Oo kardi a massege me tenu sohneyaaKare ignore kato menu sohneyaaOo kardi a massege me tenu sohneyaaKare
Kanchan Si Kaya lyricsKanchan Si Kaya lyrics – Rakesh Barot | Punjabi Song Ae joje jaanudi roop rodai na jaayAe joje jaanudi roop rodai na jaayRodai na jaayKanchan


text:
**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**
[OAHU] UPDATED 3/22/23: Kaʻena Point State Park – Mokuleʻia Section – Vehicle Access Gate has CLOSED due to saturated road conditions.
*PARK PROJECT CLOSURES*
[MAUI] UPDATED 3/17/23: Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area – camping will REOPEN soon. See Polipoli site for updates.
[HAWAIʻI] UPDATED 3/14/23: Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area – WATER OFFLINE in the park, facilities impacted. See Hapuna site for updates.
[MAUI] UPDATED 1/26/23: ʻIao Valley State Monument – CLOSED August 2022 through April 15, 2023. See ʻĪao site for updates.
[O’AHU] UPDATED 4/12/22: Sand Island State Recreation Area – WATER OFF, camping and comfort stations CLOSED. See Sand Island site for updates.
ʻIolani Palace State Monument
UPDATED: 3/12/23 – Kamaʻāina Sundays, a once-a-month event where Hawaii residents can tour the palace for free, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The special day includes live entertainment, family-friendly activities and food vendors, and a free tour for Hawaii residents. Any adult with a Hawaii ID, driver’s license or proof of residency may get four free tickets. Visitors may purchase tickets at the regular price.
|Entrance Fee||None, fee charged for interior tours|
‘Iolani Palace, the official residence of Hawaii’s monarchy, is a marvel of opulence, innovation and political intrigue that tells of a time when their Majesties, King Kalakaua and his sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani, walked its celebrated halls.
Today, you can enjoy one of the most spectacular living restorations in all of Polynesia and immerse yourself in Hawaii’s royal heritage. Officially dedicated in 1882, ‘Iolani Palace served as the setting for the monarchs and their courts on formal occasions.
The palace hosts events, offers facility rentals, and has a gift shop. Landscaped grounds are popular for informal lawn picnics and Friday noon band concerts. ‘Iolani Palace is a National Historic Landmark.
The Palace is Administered by the Division of State Parks, but is managed by the Friends of ‘Iolani Palace under a long term lease. For more information, please contact the Friends of ‘Iolani Palace:
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Website: www.iolanipalace.org
Guided tours of the palace interior are available by advance reservations (fee charged) – call the Friends of ʻIolani Palace at (808) 522-0832; tour hours are 9 am to 2:15 pm from Wednesday through Saturday.
Wheelchair Lift Available
People with mobility disabilities are able to join tours at the ʻIolani Palace State Monument. A custom inclined platform lift was installed in 2016 to allow access to the basement floor. Interior floors may be accessed via elevator.

domain: geography


text:
Halloween and Trick-or-Treat is fun for people of all ages. Even dogs have been known to dress up and go trick-or-treating with their families!
Despite all the fun, we can’t let down our guard when it comes to our pets’ health. Halloween candy can pose a serious health risk to cats and dogs alike. Dr. David Lee, of Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center says, “If your pet gets into your Halloween candy, contact your veterinarian immediately.”
In most cases, accidental ingestion of candy causes an upset stomach and perhaps bouts of diarrhea. But there are a number of other things to keep in mind.
- Chocolate can be toxic if eaten by your pet. Depending on the amount consumed, your veterinarian may need to induce vomiting with activated charcoal, hospitalize and observe your pet while offering supportive care. Dark chocolate is MORE toxic than equal amounts of milk chocolate.
- Some types of candy, especially suckers and lollipops can be quite dangerous. Your dog may eat the stick (or handle) of the sucker, causing a foreign body obstruction. In these cases, x-rays are in order, with a possibility for surgery to remove the stick.
Chocolate contains caffeine, so your dog may be displaying the same symptoms you might expect of a person who has consumed too much caffeine. They may act jittery, have tremors, or even begin to have seizure activity. If you see any of these warning signs in your pet, contact your veterinarian immediately.
The Doctors and Staff at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center wish you and your pets a safe and Happy Halloween!

domain: pet


- Evgeny Belikov/Strelka Institute/Flickr
- Frequent social media use and screen time have been portrayed as universally bad for our health.
- However, a lot of research on this phenomenon has been characterized by poorly done studies and bad science.
- The vast majority of evidence suggests that our smartphones are not uniformly harmful, and in some cases, they may be a force for good.
True story: I once walked headfirst into a pole on my way home from work.
I can’t blame the darkness (the sun had only just begun to set), and I can’t blame my vision (I’d recently gotten new glasses). But I can blame my iPhone, whose vibration had lured me into staring at its crisp bright screen. The text I was responding to was not worth the heart-shaped bruise that I shamefully covered in makeup the next day.
Until my ridiculous injury, I had laughed at stories about the dangers of “walking while texting.” I’d eye-rolled at reports of painful “iPhone neck” from leaning over tiny screens. And I’d never taken the idea of social media addiction seriously.
But that evening, I started to wonder if maybe our generation was screwed – and maybe our smartphones were to blame.
So I did some digging: I pored over scientific studies and talked to researchers who specialize in psychology, sociology, addiction, and statistics. A few experts were emphatic that social media addiction is real and should be added to the DSM IV, long considered the diagnostic bible for psychologists. Others hedged their bets and said more studies were needed.
But the conclusion I gathered was the opposite of what I’ve been hearing in the news. Social media and smartphones are not ruining our brains, nor will either become the downfall of a generation.
The vast majority of the large and well-designed statistical studies on smartphones and the brain actually suggest these technologies are having little to no effect on our health and well-being. And in some cases, the availability of social media and phones may be a power for good.
‘The lowest quality of evidence you could give that people wouldn’t laugh you out of the room’
- Marcos Mesa Sam Wordley/Shutterstock.com
Most of the headlines about social media – the ones that warn us about smartphones destroying a generation, ruining our posture and mood, and eroding our brains – are simply “a projection of our own fears,” Andrew Przybylski, a senior research fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, told Business Insider.
That’s because most existing studies on social media’s effects suffer from the same problems that have plagued the social science field for decades.
For one thing, many of the studies are too small to carry a lot of statistical power, Przybylski said. Researchers also often go into a study with an agenda or hypothesis that they hope their study will support.
Take, for example, the claim that because teen depression and iPhone ownership have been rising at the same time, they must be connected. This is a classic example of correlation, not causation: our phones are not necessarily to blame for cases of depression.
Przybylski has attempted to replicate some of the studies that suggested there’s a strong tie between social media use and depression. When he used larger sets of people in a more well-controlled environment, he failed to find the same results. Instead, he’s found either no link or a very, very small one.
“People are making expansive claims about the link between well-being and tech use, but if this was displayed on a Venn diagram, the circles would overlap one quarter of one percent,” Przybylski said. “It is literally the lowest quality of evidence that you could give that people wouldn’t laugh you out of the room.”
Last year, Przybylski co-authored a study published in the journal Psychological Science in which he examined the effect of screen-time on a sample of more than 120,000 British adolescents. The researchers asked teens how much time they spent streaming, gaming, and using their smartphones and computers. After running the data through a series of statistical analyses, it became clear to Przybylski that screen-time isn’t harmful for the vast majority of teens. In fact, it’s sometimes helpful – especially when teens are using it for two to four hours per day.
“Overall, the evidence indicated that moderate use of digital technology is not intrinsically harmful and may be advantageous in a connected world,” Przybylski wrote in the paper.
Even when it came to those positive results, however, Przybylski said the significance of the effects they observed was tiny.
“If you’re a parent and you have limited resources, the question becomes: which hill are you going to die on? Where do you want to put your limited resources? Do you want to put it into making sure your kid has breakfast or gets a full night’s sleep? Because for those activities the effects are three times larger than they would be for screen-time,” Przybylski said.
Seeing problems everywhere
- Flickr / Robert Couse-Baker
Many parents fear that using social media is universally bad for teens. They get distracted by text messages during class; they miss out on family time because they’re texting at the dinner table; they scroll through Instagram instead of going to sleep.
Once you see a few examples of phone-obsessed behavior – a whole family staring silently at their phones while eating a restaurant, say – you tend to notice it more wherever you go.
This may be partially a result of the phenomenon known as confirmation bias. Essentially, you see one event that supports an idea you already have, then because you are hyper-aware of these types of activities, you find more examples that appear to confirm that idea.
It’s a bit like when you begin shopping for a certain kind of car – a Honda Civic, let’s say – then suddenly notice that everyone appears to be driving a Honda Civic. In reality, that model hasn’t gotten more popular overnight; you’re simply primed to notice them.
“A lot of the research is bound up in these problems,” Przybylski said. “Our concerns or panic about a new thing” – in this case, social media – “guide how we do the research and interpret the results.”
Distorted, negative viewpoints have likely influenced the research on a host of new inventions and activities throughout history.
Unfortunately, paying attention exclusively to social harms makes us blind to the ways a new technology may be help us. In the case of social media, such biases can take attention away from other more serious problems.
“It’s important to think about all the things we’re not talking about here. We don’t talk about things like privacy, advertisements, who owns your data, and all this stuff that’s actually important. So actually it serves the interest of larger companies to be debating things like screen time and usage. When you bring it all together you have a big dog and pony show,” Przybylski said.
When social media may help, not harm
- REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
Candice L. Odgers
, a professor of psychology and social behavior at the University of California Irvine, specializes in studying new technologies and adolescent development. She told Business Insider that social media may be having some positive effects on teens and young adults, but many people are not paying attention to that research.
“The digital world hasn’t created a new species of children. Many of the things that attract them to things about social media are the same things that attract them to other activities,” Odgers said. “There are a lot of good things that are happening with social media use today and there’s been a really negative narrative about it.”
A large review of 36 studies published in the journal Adolescent Research Review concluded that instead of feeling hampered by their screens, teens are chiefly using digital communication to deepen and strengthen existing in-person relationships. The authors concluded that young adults find it easier to display affection, share intimacy, and even organize events and meet-ups online.
Similarly, the authors of a 2017 review of literature on social media and screen time published by UNICEF concluded that “digital technology seems to be beneficial for children’s social relationships” and that most young people are using it to “enhance their existing relationships and stay in touch with friends.”
Kids who struggle to make friends in person may even use digital tools to “compensate for this and build positive relationships,” they said. A small 2018 study of British teens in foster care supports that idea – it suggested that social media helped young people maintain healthy relationships with their birth parents, make new friends, and ease the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Other research, including a small 2017 study of Instagram users aged 18-55, suggests that teens also turn to platforms like Instagram as a means of exploring the world and dreaming up potential adventures – a category of people the researchers classified as “feature lovers.”
“Feature lovers want to see something that’s exotic or unique; they’re looking at Instagram and they’re thinking, ‘take me to China or Alaska or some place I can’t afford to go,’” T.J. Thomson, the lead author of the study, told Business Insider.
You’re probably not ‘addicted’ to Facebook or Instagram
- Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty
The researchers behind these studies emphasized that social media and smartphones are not so much an “addiction” as a novel, attention-grabbing platform for enhancing existing activities and relationships.
In other words, social media has similar impacts on the brain as lots of other types of activity – too much or too little can be linked with negative impacts, while moderate use can have positive results.
“Claims that the brain might be hijacked or re-wired by digital technology are not supported by neuroscience evidence and should be treated with skepticism,” the authors of the UNICEF review wrote.
Addiction is a complicated but serious problem that neuroscientists have yet to fully understand. It typically stems from a cache of interconnected factors that include our environment and our genes. As a result, classifying our nearly-universal reliance on digital tools as an “addiction” simply isn’t fair to the people whose lives have been torn apart by things like alcoholism or drug use.
A chief characterizing factor of addictive behavior is that use of a given substance interferes with daily activity so much that people can’t function normally. Studies suggest that social media, by contrast, is often used to enhance existing relationships, and does not decrease real-world interactions or cause uniform harm.
Research does indicate, however, that people who may already be predisposed to depression and anxiety could suffer more as a result of using these types of “compare-and-despair” platforms.
A series of studies published this month in the journal Information, Communication, and Society found that while people’s Facebook use had no impact on their social interactions later that day, scrolling through the platform did appear to be linked with lower feelings of well-being if the person had been alone earlier in the day.
“People who use social media alone likely aren’t getting their face-to-face social needs met,” Michael Kearney, a co-author of the study, said in a statement. “So if they’re not having their social needs met in their life outside of social media, it makes sense that looking at social media might make them feel even lonelier.”
There are plenty of simple, healthy ways to address these risks without resorting to harsh measures like breaking up with your smartphone. I, for one, no longer text when I walk.
It’s a small change, but my forehead is grateful.
Vaping appears to be wildly popular among teens who use e-cigs illegally. And in an ironic twist, teens who try vaping are at a far higher risk of becoming smokers compared with teens who don’t.
A new study puts the figure into stark numerical terms: while as many as 2,070 adults used e-cigs to quit in 2015, another 168,000 young people who used the devices went on to become smokers of conventional cigarettes. The analysis, led by researchers at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, was published this month in the journal PLOS One.
It comes alongside a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which found that roughly four out of five adolescents are exposed to e-cig advertisements.
“Based on the existing scientific evidence … e-cigarette use currently represents more population-level harm than benefit,” the Dartmouth researchers wrote in their study.
As many as 168,000 new smokers
For the new study, Dartmouth researchers used 2014 census data and surveys to build a mathematical model of the link between vaping and smoking. Their evidence suggests that during 2015, roughly 2,070 smokers successfully quit with the aid of e-cigs.
But within the same time frame, their model suggested that as many as 168,000 young people who’d never previously smoked cigarettes started smoking regularly after vaping for the first time.
That said, the study is a model – it’s not a controlled study that looks at actual habits, so the findings are somewhat limited. There’s also no way to know, for example, if the e-cig users in the study who went on to smoke conventional cigarettes might have become smokers anyway, although the researchers attempted to control for that in their model.
But the new analysis is far from the first study to show evidence that teens who vape are more likely to go on to smoke.
A spate of research dating back as far as 2015 has suggested that teens who vape are anywhere between two and seven times more likely to eventually smoke conventional cigarettes as teens who never try e-cigs.
Still, scientists aren’t clear why this is happening.
While some have argued that vaping could be linked with a so-called “gateway effect” whereby young people who vape become addicted to nicotine and are thus more likely to transition to traditional cigarettes, others have said this doesn’t make sense.
“I honestly can’t think of why this would be,” Ana Rule, a professor of environmental health and engineering at Johns Hopkins University and an author of another study on e-cigs and teens told Business Insider about the phenomenon. “It is my understanding that vaping is a much more pleasurable experience, is socially acceptable (as opposed to smoking) and delivers a good dose of nicotine.”
Either way, public health experts are worried about vaping’s growing popularity among young people.
Why vaping is so popular among teens
- Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
At high schools across the country, vaping has become a fad with its own verb.
This is not entirely surprising. Kids and teens are exposed to a plethora of advertising for e-cigs that mimics much of the cigarette advertising of the 1960s. A CDC report published Friday found that roughly four in five middle and high school students saw e-cig ads in 2016.
Although ostensibly healthier than deadly cigarettes, e-cigs still contain highly addictive nicotine. The devices also possess a handful of qualities that make them especially appealing to young people.
Unlike conventional cigarettes, which have a natural stop mechanism – they burn to the end – e-cigs can be re-filled and reused. Additionally, e-cigs are discrete and sometimes odorless (or have a non-offensive smell). Vaping isn’t universally banned in indoor and outdoor places. Many vape pens are sleek, small, colorful, and fairly affordable.
But the evidence is mounting that teens who vape are more likely to go on to smoke conventional cigarettes.
A 2015 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested that teens who vaped had three times the risk of eventually smoking conventional cigarettes as teens who never tried e-cigs. A larger follow-up study done the following year appeared to confirm those findings, as did a 2018 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health which looked at roughly 1,150 British adolescents aged 11 to 18.
For the 2018 paper, teens whose nicotine exposure began with e-cigs appeared to have as much as a 12 times greater chance of smoking cigarettes 4 months later than kids who didn’t vape, even after the researchers controlled for several big risk factors for smoking.
The first large and comprehensive review of all the published research on e-cigs added some additional weight to that conclusion, finding “substantial evidence” that young people who vape are more likely to smoke conventional cigarettes than those who don’t.
“Vaping among teens is my (and most public health professionals) biggest worry,” Rule told Business Insider last month.
- Sam Rega / Business Insider
- Kratom is an opioid derived from a plant native to Southeast Asia. It can be consumed in pills, powder, or tea.
- On Thursday, the CDC issued its third warning in a month that the drug, often called an “herbal supplement,” had been linked to salmonella, bringing the total number of sick people to 87.
- It’s still unclear what is at the root of the outbreak, but data from CDC labs and field investigations points to kratom as the most likely source.
The Food and Drug Administration calls it a dangerous opioid, but kratom advocates call their pill of choice a life-saving supplement. Either way, it’s been linked with a growing salmonella outbreak.
Kratom is a psychoactive drug derived from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a plant in the coffee family that is native to Southeast Asia. Research suggests the drug taps into some of the same brain receptors as opioids do, spurring the FDA to classify it as one this February.
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control reported 47 additional cases of salmonella linked to kratom, bringing the total number of cases to 87. Salmonella is a bacterial infection from contaminated food or water that typically causes diarrhea and abdominal pain lasting up to a week.
As with any unregulated supplement, kratom may be dangerous and even deadly because there’s no way to verify what pills labeled “kratom” actually contain. Nevertheless, some marketers tout kratom as capable of delivering super-human strength and feelings of euphoria along with powerful pain relief and better focus. Untainted kratom is also sometimes hailed as a way to treat opioid addiction, which some addiction experts have said is not entirely unreasonable given its opioid-like qualities.
But unlike most opioids, which are either illegal or must be prescribed by a doctor, kratom is widely available online. It was even sold for a time out of an Arizona vending machine.
“At this time, CDC recommends that people not consume any brand of kratom in any form because it could be contaminated with Salmonella,” the agency wrote in a statement on Thursday, adding, “evidence indicates that kratom is the likely source of this … outbreak,” but “no common brands or suppliers of kratom products have been identified” yet.
As with most of its bacterial outbreak warnings, the agency interviewed people reporting symptoms of the infection to try to nail down the cause by asking sick people what foods and beverages they ate in the previous months and if they’d been traveling. Out of 55 people interviewed, 40 of them (73%) reported consuming kratom in pills, powder, or tea.
That means it’s still unclear precisely what caused the outbreak, though kratom seems to be the most likely culprit.
At this point in their investigation, health officials are collecting kratom products to test them for Salmonella bacteria. So far, officials in Oregon, North Dakota, and Utah have turned up samples of kratom powder used by sick people which tested positive for the bacteria. Both individuals said they bought the powder online.
Salmonella warnings like this from the CDC are not unusual.
The agency recently issued one for shredded raw coconut, for example. In that case, 10 (63%) of 16 people interviewed said they had eaten or “maybe eaten” coconut, with eight of those 10 saying they’d eaten a dessert drink made with frozen shredded coconut. And earlier this year, the CDC sent out a warning about raw sprouts. In interviews the CDC conducted when it was investigating that case, seven people reported eating at the sandwich chain Jimmy John’s, and all of them said they’d eaten sandwiches with raw sprouts.
Kratom is increasingly raising eyebrows
- Kratom pills
- Psychonaught/Wikimedia Commons
Beyond this recent salmonella outbreak, kratom is becoming a topic of concern across multiple agencies, including the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration, for other reasons.
Kratom has never gained FDA approval and is largely unregulated – meaning that, as with most supplements, it’s almost impossible to verify what’s actually in “kratom” pills, powders, or teas.
Last month, the FDA released a new warning officially classifying kratom as an opioid based on a series of case reports and computer models.
Those reports loosely connected kratom to 44 deaths, but in all but one case, the people who died were found to have been taking multiple drugs, including other opioids in many cases. That makes definitively labeling kratom as the cause of death impossible.
Still, concern about kratom is mounting, especially because some people appear to be using the supplement as a way to step down from opioid painkillers like heroin and morphine.
“Patients addicted to opioids are using kratom without dependable instructions for use and more importantly, without consultation with a licensed health care provider about the product’s dangers, potential side effects or interactions with other drugs,” FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a previous statement in November.
While this concern is legitimate, there is no way to know precisely how kratom does – or doesn’t – work without rigorous scientific testing, which has not yet been done.
Kratom is banned in Australia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and several US states (Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Tennessee, and Wisconsin). Across the US, several reports of deaths and addiction led the Drug Enforcement Administration to place kratom on its list of “drugs and chemicals of concern.” In 2016, the DEA proposed a ban on kratom but backtracked under pressure from some members of Congress and outcry from kratom advocates who said it could help treat opioid addiction.
“I want to be clear on one fact: there are currently no FDA-approved therapeutic uses of kratom,” Gottlieb said.
Which is worse for you: weed or whiskey?
It’s a tough call, but based on the science, there appears to be a clear answer.
Keep in mind that there are dozens of factors to account for, including how the substances affect your heart, brain, and behavior, and how likely you are to get hooked.
Time is important, too – while some effects are noticeable immediately, others only begin to crop up after months or years of use.
The comparison is slightly unfair for another reason: While scientists have been researching the effects of alcohol for decades, the science of cannabis is a lot murkier because of its mostly illegal status.
More than 30,700 Americans died from alcohol-induced causes in 2014. There have been zero documented deaths from marijuana use alone.
- Gerardo Garcia/Reuters
In 2014, 30,722 people died from alcohol-induced causes in the US – and that does not count drinking-related accidents or homicides. If those deaths were included, the number would be closer to 90,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Meanwhile, no deaths from marijuana overdoses have been reported, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. A 16-year study of more than 65,000 Americans, published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that healthy marijuana users were not more likely to die earlier than healthy people who did not use cannabis.
Marijuana appears to be significantly less addictive than alcohol.
Close to half of all adults have tried marijuana at least once, making it one of the most widely used illegal drugs – yet research suggests that a relatively small percentage of people become addicted.
For a 1994 survey, epidemiologists at the National Institute on Drug Abuse asked more than 8,000 people from ages 15 to 64 about their drug use. Of those who had tried marijuana at least once, roughly 9% eventually fit a diagnosis of addiction. For alcohol, the figure was about 15%. To put that in perspective, the addiction rate for cocaine was 17%, while heroin was 23% and nicotine was 32%.
Marijuana may be harder on your heart, while moderate drinking could be beneficial.
Unlike alcohol, which slows your heart rate, marijuana speeds it up, which could negatively affect the heart in the short term. Still, the largest-ever report on cannabis from the National Academies of Sciences, released in January, found insufficient evidence to support or refute the idea that cannabis may increase the overall risk of a heart attack.
On the other hand, low to moderate drinking – about one drink a day – has been linked with a lower risk of heart attack and stroke compared with abstention. James Nicholls, a director at Alcohol Research UK, told The Guardian that those findings should be taken with a grain of salt since “any protective effects tend to be canceled out by even occasional bouts of heavier drinking.”
Alcohol is strongly linked with several types of cancer; marijuana is not.
In November, a group of the nation’s top cancer doctors issued a statement asking people to drink less. They cited strong evidence that drinking alcohol – as little as a glass of wine or beer a day – increases the risk of developing both pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer.
The US Department of Health lists alcohol as a known human carcinogen. Research highlighted by the National Cancer Institute suggests that the more alcohol you drink – particularly the more you drink regularly – the higher your risk of developing cancer.
For marijuana, some research initially suggested a link between smoking and lung cancer, but that has been debunked. The January report found that cannabis was not connected to any increased risk of the lung cancers or head and neck cancers tied to smoking cigarettes.
Both drugs may be linked with risks while driving, but alcohol is worse.
- Unsplash / Michael Discenza
A research note published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (PDF) found that, when adjusting for other factors, having a detectable amount of THC (the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) in your blood did not increase the risk of being involved in a car crash. Having a blood-alcohol level of at least 0.05%, on the other hand, increased that risk by 575%.
Still, combining the two appears to have the worst results.
“The risk from driving under the influence of both alcohol and cannabis is greater than the risk of driving under the influence of either alone,” the authors of a 2009 review wrote in the American Journal of Addiction.
Several studies link alcohol with violence, particularly at home. That has not been found for cannabis.
It’s impossible to say whether drinking alcohol or using marijuana causes violence, but several studies – including a recent analysis published in the journal Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience – suggest a link between alcohol and violent behavior.
For a study published in January, researchers used fMRI scans to see how two alcoholic drinks impacts brain function in 50 healthy adult males. Compared with sober participants, the intoxicated volunteers were found to have reduced functioning in the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain linked with moderating social behavior. That reduced functioning was also linked with aggressive behavior.
The finding aligns with some previous research on alcohol’s connections with violence. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, alcohol is a factor in 40% of all violent crimes, and a study of college students found that the rates of mental and physical abuse were higher on days when couples drank.
On the other hand, no such relationship appears to exist for cannabis. A recent study looking at cannabis use and intimate partner violence in the first decade of marriage found that marijuana users were significantly less likely to commit violence against a partner than those who did not use the drug.
Both drugs negatively affect your memory — but in different ways. These effects are the most common in heavy, frequent, or binge users.
- Kristoffer Trolle/flickr
Both weed and alcohol temporarily impair memory, and alcohol can cause blackouts by rendering the brain incapable of forming memories. The most severe long-term effects are seen in heavy, chronic, or binge users who begin using in their teens.
Studies have found that these effects can persist for several weeks after stopping marijuana use. There may also be a link between daily weed use and poorer verbal memory in adults who start smoking at a young age.
Chronic drinkers display reductions in memory, attention, and planning, as well as impaired emotional processes and social cognition – and these can persist even after years of abstinence.
Both drugs are linked with an increased risk of psychiatric disease. For weed users, psychosis and schizophrenia are the main concern; with booze, it’s depression and anxiety.
The largest review of marijuana studies found substantial evidence of an increased risk among frequent marijuana users of developing schizophrenia – something that studies have shown is a particular concern for people already at risk.
Weed can also trigger temporary feelings of paranoia and hostility, but it’s not yet clear whether those symptoms are linked with an increased risk of long-term psychosis.
On the other hand, self-harm and suicide are much more common among people who binge drink or drink frequently. But scientists have had a hard time deciphering whether excessive alcohol use causes depression and anxiety or whether people with depression and anxiety drink in an attempt to relieve those symptoms.
Alcohol appears to be linked more closely with weight gain, despite weed’s tendency to trigger the munchies.
- Melia Robinson/Business Insider
Weed gives you the munchies. It makes you hungry, reduces the natural signals of fullness, and may even temporarily make food taste better.
But despite eating over 600 extra calories when smoking, marijuana users generally don’t have higher body-mass indexes. In fact, studies suggest that regular smokers have a slightly reduced risk of obesity.
Alcohol, on the other hand, appears to be linked with weight gain. A study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that people who drank heavily had a higher risk of becoming overweight or obese. Plus, alcohol itself is caloric: A can of beer has roughly 150 calories, and a glass of wine has about 120.
All things considered, alcohol’s effects seem markedly more extreme — and riskier — than marijuana’s.
When it comes to addiction profiles and risk of death or overdose combined with ties to cancer, car crashes, violence, and obesity, the research suggests that marijuana may be less of a health risk than alcohol.
Still, because of marijuana’s largely illegal status, long-term studies on all its health effects have been limited – meaning more research is needed.
- Shayanne Gal/Business Insider
As anyone who has drunk a cup of coffee knows, not all drugs are equally harmful. Caffeine, the most widely consumed psychoactive drug on earth, is not a danger to human health.
To give people an idea of the most dangerous substances, a team of psychiatrists, chemists, and pharmacologists at the UK’s Royal College of Psychiatrists systematically ranked them based on three factors: how much physical harm they cause, how addictive they are, and how much damage they do to society as a whole, judging by things like costs spent on healthcare. They published their findings in the medical journal The Lancet.
Here are the drugs that rank highest for dependency:
To assess the danger of each drug, the scientists looked at three types of effects.
- Shayanne Gal/Business Insider
The following ranking focuses on dependency. The researchers further broke this category down into three factors that determine how addictive something is.
1. Pleasure, the euphoria a user feels on the drug; psychological dependence
2. The cravings a user experiences when the drug is withdrawn
3. Physical dependence, the headaches or other physical symptoms a user experiences when the drug is withdrawn
1. Heroin ranked the highest on the list in terms of dependency.
- Shayanne Gal/Business Insider
The drug received a full three out of three in terms of pleasure, cravings, and physical dependence.
2. Cocaine received a three out of three in terms of pleasure.
- Shayanne Gal/Business Insider
However, it was deemed to be slightly less psychologically addictive than heroin and about half as physically addictive.
3. In terms of psychological addictiveness, nicotine was ranked as almost as addictive as cocaine.
- Shayanne Gal/Business Insider
Nicotine received a 2.6 out of 3 compared to cocaine’s 2.8. But it was also deemed less pleasurable and far less physically addictive.
4. Barbiturates are sedative drugs that were once widely prescribed for anxiety.
- Shayanne Gal/Business Insider
This category includes brand-name drugs like Amobarbital and Thiopental. Barbiturates got a two out of three for overall dependency – they were ranked as less pleasurable and less physiologically and physically addictive than nicotine, heroin, and cocaine.
5. Alcohol was deemed less psychologically addictive than tobacco.
- Shayanne Gal/Business Insider
Alcohol and tobacco were ranked equally in terms of the “pleasure” aspect of their addictiveness, however, receiving a 2.3 out of 3. Alcohol and tobacco also had a similar physical dependence ranking overall.


Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi has an interesting way of explaining her wild antics on Jersey Shore to her kids. It turns out, she hasn’t been entirely honest with them about the popular MTV reality show and her role on it.
Snooki’s three children believe that her job is that of an actress and that Jersey Shore is not real in a new report published by Us Weekly.
The reality television star, who achieved fame on the MTV show with her outrageous antics over the course of 11 years, has not yet corrected her older offspring: son Lorenzo and daughter Giovanna, when they respond in such a way. Angelo, age 2, has not yet realized what takes his mom out of town for several days at a time for filming and promotion of the series.
Nicole shared the news about her kids while speaking with the news outlet and promoting a new commercial where she is the spokesperson for Kracken Rum.
The businesswoman, who also owns and operates The Snooki Shop in Madison, New Jersey, revealed the sneaky way that she is able to continue being “Snooki” to the masses and still be a super mom in the eyes of her kids.
Nicole and husband Jionni LaValle have decided to tell them how their mom earns a living when the time is right and they are old enough to understand.
Until then, the couple are keeping mum.
Nicole said of her kids, ‘they think I’m acting’
Nicole shared that her children believe that Nicole goes away to work on acting gigs during the days she films Jersey Shore or other projects that have been afforded her due to her celebrity.
“Both [of my eldest two] kids, [Lorenzo, 8, and Giovanna, 6], think I’m an actress,” she said.
Of her on-camera work, Nicole admitted, “I tell them that it’s not real. I’m just acting, like, I’m playing a role, that’s what they think. … I don’t think they’re ready for that yet. So as of right now, I am an actress.”
The MTV personality plans to tell her children and their younger brother, Angelo, 2, the truth when they’re 16 or 17.
Nicole’s reason for not admitting her party-girl past
Nicole has a good reason for not admitting her party-girl past to her young children.
First, they are too young to grasp the way the reality star expressed herself when in her early 20s, much of it documented for posterity on MTV.
Second, she would rather, for the time being, keep that information close to her chest as to not give her kids any ideas about behaving in a similar manner as they get older.
“They’ll kind of get it [then],” Nicole said of sharing her past when her children grow older.
“Like, ‘Listen, Mommy had some crazy years before she was a mommy. She let loose. So whatever you see on TV back then, just do the opposite of what I did,’” she said of the advice she will give her older children.
For now, Nicole and her husband Jionni LaValle, whom she met on Jersey Shore, would like to allow their three children to be raised as normally as possible.
However, she can’t keep her kids’ friends from speaking up.
Nicole said that when her children’s classmates bring up her fame, they “brush it off” and say that’s her “job.”
Jersey Shore: Family Vacation airs Thursdays at 8/7c on MTV.


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Modern Farmer is launching the Million Gardens Movement to build a community of people who believe our everyday decisions about what we eat and how we live directly shape our land and our society. We want to bring together people who understand the simple act of planting a tomato is an act of hope and resilience.
Covid-19 and the recession have revealed our food systems and our communities can be vulnerable. It is our hope that members of the Million Gardens Movement can come together to help address these issues, and to help their community.
- Join the movement
- Share your garden
- Learn how to grow
- Support local food banks
- Support World Central Kitchen
Ideas for OWU
Perennial Gardens Proposal (PDF)

domain: agronomy


A few days before we have covered all leaks and rumors surrounding the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A(2018) series, week by week new leaks are there on the device and in latest, the design of the A7(2018) was leaked, you can check it in our previous article.
However, in this article, we have some valuable information for you, as we all know new A-series devices will be better than ever this time Samsung will add premium features to it which will also increase the price of the devices.
In the new A-series(2018) devices you will not find any physical home button except the Galaxy A3(2018) as it will be most affordable of the three. For other devices, according to us A5(2018) and A7(2018) will have an Infinity Super AMOLED Screen with 18.5:9 ratio and will make these devices look similar to that of the Flagship Galaxy S8 and Note 8 devices. Some sources are also claiming that these new devices will no longer belong to budget series.
As per a Russian source, features like IP67 rating which protects the device from dust and water, Infinity display, a Dual-Camera all these hardware changes increase the cost of devices later whose MRP also becomes more. Which means that this time we may see features like Dust and Water resistant body on the Galaxy A-series(2018) devices. All three device will run on the new Samsung TouchWiz UI based on Android 8.0 Oreo.
Somewhere we also think that one of the three handsets will sport a Dual-Camera in the rear, maybe the Galaxy A7(2018). As lack of information is there so we cannot comment on the complete details, for more Tech updates stay tuned to us.


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Music in the Meadow
Music in the Meadow Summer Concert Series
Planning for the 2014 Summer Concert series is in high gear. Please keep the following dates set aside for concerts. We’ll post the name of the bands and a description of their style of music as they become available. 2014 Summer Concerts
June 18th – “Mr. Fuzzy and the Barbarian” 6:30 PM -8:30 PM
The Band refers to their music as “Yawlternative” music. For more information about this fun loving trio, please check them out on their website at http://www.mrfuzzyandthebarbarian.com/about.html.
July 16th- “Raven Hill” -6:30 PM – 8:30 PM This band describes their music as from the heart, traditional Blue Grass music featuring banjo and mandolin.
July 30th – “Rock and Roll After School” -6:30 PM -8:30 PM – This school based in Collegeville is an innovative music school where kids ages 7-18 can learn to play guitar, bass, piano, drums, and vocals. Unlike traditional music schools or in home lessons, this school is a place where kids interact as they explore their musical pursuits and where they learn to write and play their own music. A great evening out to hear the talents of these local kids.August 20th – “Dog Bite Money”
August 20th – Dog Bite Money – 6 PM- 8PM Confirmed for a return performance is Schwenksville’s own DOG BITE MONEY on August 20, 2014. 6:00pm – 8:00pm. Dog Bite Money is always a local favorite and has quite a large following in the Schwenksville area. Their reputation as a crown pleasing band stretches well beyond the local area. Dog Bite Money is a classic rock cover band with a song list that goes from Aerosmith to ZZ Top, and everything in between. 2009 was the 10 year anniversary of DOG BITE MONEY. This was also the year DOG BITE MONEY was named WMGK102.9fm “Band of the Year”. They finished that year playing to a crowd of over 50,000 fans in New Jersey with Paul Rodgers of Bad Company. What to expect at a DOG BITE MONEY show? Great songs, high energy show, & always encourage crowd participation. Come see what you’ve been missing!!! For more info on the band “like” them on Facebook.
All concerts are held at Meadow Park. No alcoholic beverages are permitted. Guests are encouraged to bring their own blankets and chairs, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.

domain: entertainment