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Four Cadillac Escalade models combined share the dubious honor with numerous pick-ups trucks as the vehicles in the United States with the most and most expensive theft claims during the past three years, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).
The group’s latest study shows Escalades combine to have the most theft claims and the highest average amount ($114) per theft. That’s 10 times more than the average amount lost per car.
According to HLDI, the theft data in compiled from insurance companies representing about 80 percent of all privately owned vehicles.
Pickup trucks, including the Escalade EXT, had higher dollar amounts of theft loss ($24), compared with SUVs ($12) and cars ($9). The HLDI suggests it’s because fewer pickup trucks have ignition immobilizers, and owners may keep property in the bed of their trucks, making it easy to steal.
Outside of trucks and luxury cars, the Chrysler 300 has the highest theft rates of any passenger car, HLDI says. The Audi A6 with all-wheel drive saw the fewest claims, while the Mini Cooper Clubman saw average theft losses of just $1.
Here’s the Top 10 by frequency of claims:
Ford F-250 crew cab four-wheel-drive
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Ford F-450 crew four-wheel-drive
Ford F-350 crew cab four-wheel-drive
Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
Chrysler 300 Hemi

domain: news


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Signal workers in the RMT union in South Wales remain in fighting mood after their second six-day strike – despite picketing in the snow.
On the first day of the strike over 30 people attended a picket at the new signalling panel in Cardiff, including a delegation from the West Midlands.
The workers are angry at the imposition of new rosters, which are due to come into force when the new South Wales Control Centre opens later this year.
They are now carrying out an overtime ban while signaling staff in other areas are balloting to join the action.
Speaking at an RMT union meeting that night, general secretary Bob Crow said, “If Network Rail bring in managers from Scotland and the north of England to try and break our members’ resolve then maybe we’ll have to ballot our members in those parts of the country and challenge Network Rail nationally.”
The signal workers have taken Bob at his word. At an emergency branch meeting last week, Cardiff RMT passed a motion asking the union’s national executive to urgently consider making the regional dispute national by balloting all Network Rail signallers.
Bristol RMT passed a similar motion, and they will be considered by the general grades committee of the union at their meeting this week.
One signal worker said, “Signal workers around the country know that if they change rosters here they’ll do it elsewhere.”
A mass picket was called in Newport last Friday with around 50 attending – including RMT members from North Wales and members of local PCS and Unison union branches.
Steve Richards, Newport RMT branch secretary, told Socialist Worker, “I would like to pay tribute to signal workers across South Wales for standing firm in our fight against Network Rail’s intransigence.”
Israel faces new crisis

domain: geography


Apple files many patents, most of which never make it into consumer products, at least officially. It seems that there is a company in China Inspired by an idea introduced by Apple in 2021For AirPods case, with built-in touch screen.
Photos and videos posted to X by the @lipilipsi account show replicas of AirPods cases with an OLED touchscreen built into the front.
The display is activated when the case lid is opened, allowing the user to adjust noise filtering, enable headphone detection, select preset equalizer settings, and lock the display. Meanwhile, each phone's battery level, local time and Bluetooth connection are displayed on the screen.
It is clear where the idea was copied from. Related patent Apple's 2021 filing states:
“The usability of the headphone box can be enhanced, and user control over the wireless headphones can be improved, through a box equipped with an interactive interface system that allows the user to control functions related to the wireless headphones.
In fact, Apple imagines in the patent text a future in which the Apple Music service is controlled through the case thanks to a touch screen with a graphical user interface that provides a series of capabilities, such as controlling music playback, adjusting the volume, selecting favorite tracks and other genres. Of the features, similar to the version shown here.
By integrating this touchscreen into the case, the patent text claims that “vulnerabilities associated with user control of wireless headphones are reduced or eliminated.”
The popularity of AirPods has led to a record number of copies being seized by US customs authorities in recent years. According to a 2021 report, the US government confiscated about 360,000 copies of wireless headphones with a retail value of $62.2 million in the first nine months of that fiscal year, according to US Customs and Border Protection data.
According to authorities, 80% of all copies that ended up in the United States came from mainland China and Hong Kong. While it's unclear what percentage of the seizures involve AirPods, US Customs authorities report that seizures have increased by 50% over the past five years as products like Apple's headphones have become more popular.
These replicas use original Apple serial numbers and are usually visually identical to the originals. Many have corresponding noise control functions, but the advent of touchscreens shows that we are moving into an era in which ideas that were never officially released are copied.
“Avid problem solver. Extreme social media junkie. Beer buff. Coffee guru. Internet geek. Travel ninja.”


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This slideshow offers a glimpse into the architectural wonders of the future.
The world’s tallest twin towers are set to be built in Wuhan, China. The 3,280ft (1 kilometre)-tall Phoenix Towers will feature the world’s tallest kaleidoscope and floating restaurants that hover in vast globes (via Future world wonders)
Via overstate, one of the most fascinating places there ever was, and one of the chief inspirations for THE LEVELS:
Kowloon Walled City | A population density nightmare
Kowloon Walled City was a largely ungoverned Chinese settlement in Kowloon, Hong Kong, comprising of 350 interconnected high-rise buildings where 33,000 residents lived within a plot measuring just 210 meter by 120 meter. Originally a Chinese military fort, the Walled City became an enclave after the New Territories were leased to Britain in 1898. Its population increased dramatically following the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II and reached a peak of 33,000 residents in 1987. When it was demolished in 1993-94, it was thought to be the most densely populated place on earth.
Chinese company wants to build this spectacular floating city - With so many of China’s 1.4 billion people clustered around its coastline, things can get pretty crowded. So instead of using more precious land space to build the cities of the future, a Chinese company has proposed using some of the 71 percent of the Earth’s surface that’s covered by water for expansion. Floating City will be a four square mile structure that floats like an iceberg, with some of the surface structure visible above the surface, but most of the action happening down below the waterline. Built on land in large hexagonal sections, the pieces will be slotted together like a giant jigsaw puzzle in the ocean. Designed to be totally self-sufficient, Floating City will have its own farms and waste disposal systems, and will offer everything from housing to entertainment, sports complexes and shopping. Transportation will be provided using a series of underwater tunnels and submarines. (via Chinese company wants to build this spectacular floating city | DVICE)
China’s lunar rover functioning day after being declared dead
The Guardian: A day after it was declared dead, China’s Jade Rabbit lunar rover communicated with the nation’s space program, state media reported Thursday.
After a night of extreme cold on the moon, China’s space program reported its first moon rover had lost function. Citing a combination of mechanical issues in addition to the low temperatures, the program reported the rover dead. However, on Thursday, the program said that “it came back to life.”
It is unclear how much function returned to the rover, but the program said it now believes it is possible to save it.
Photo: China’s Jade Rabbit moon rover after it landed on the lunar surface. (AP/Xinhua)


The Fusion/Astrophysics TRA will provide hands-on experience with classroom-tested labs and activities in physics and astronomy. All classroom tools meet Physical Sciences and Earth/Space Sciences NGSS Standards. Visit cutting-edge LLNL research labs and talk to scientists and engineers! These workshops prepare you to do a research internship at LLNL.
Workshop 1: This 3-day workshop focuses on how spectroscopy and the properties of light are used in fusion and solar science. Participants tour the National Ignition Facility and learn about the latest developments in fusion energy
Workshop 2: This 5-day workshop provides a crash course in stellar astrophysics, special relativity, and gravitation, with classroom-tested labs and activities. Each day includes a lab tour or a talk by a Livermore scientist or both. Tours include the Gamma-ray Spectrometer Lab, Center for Advanced Mass Spectroscopy, Electron Beam Ion Trap, and Jupiter Laser Facility.
Workshop 1: June 19–June 21, 2019 | Time: 8:30am–3:30pm
Workshop 2: June 24–June 28, 2019 | Time: 8:30am–3:30pm


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- Additional Plants: trees
- Animals: sheep
- Animal Production: grazing management, grazing - rotational
Paulie Drexler, will attempt to use a small flock of sheep, in a rotational grazing system, to control weeds in her 600-tree Christmas tree plantation. Her goal is to reduce fuel and herbicide inputs in the tree operation.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.

domain: literature


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It's been a while since our last dessert cookbook review so we couldn't be more thrilled to be sharing with you our Wild Sweetness Cookbook Review.
From the creator of the award-winning food blog, Butter and Brioche, comes a unique and beautifully designed full-color cookbook that brings wild flavors to desserts as told through the seasons.
In Wild Sweetness, Thalia Ho captures the essence of the wild and re-imagines it on the plate. She guides us through a tale of six distinct seasons and the flavors inspired by them: of bright, herbaceous new life in spring, to the aromatic florals that follow, of bursting summer berries, over-ripe fruit, warmth, and spice in fall, then ending with winter and its smolder.
In more than 95 recipes, Thalia opens our eyes and taste buds to a celebration of what the wild has to offer - a world of sweet escapism, using flavor to heighten our experience of food. Enthralling, unique, and inspired recipes you’ll want to cook over and over again.
In an increasingly gray and modernized world, it is important not to forget how precious contact with nature is. In Wild Sweetness Thalia shows her endless love for the wild and the impact it has on her life. For Thalia, the greatest moments of her life have come from nature. Of thorned, stolen brambles from the side of the road, and nights around the fire, smoldered and never the same.
Wild plays an important role in this book not only because it serves as inspiration for each recipe, but because everything in this book is built around it. The chapters in Wild Sweetness are built accordingly to the natural flow of nature, where each chapter Evergreen, Flora, Bramble, Orchard, Woodland and Smoke, represents the different seasons of the year.
The book begins with Evergreen, a herald of new life against the dark. The first of the flowers soon follow in Flora, a chapter that seems soft, but like a rose comes thorned. The heat hits in Bramble, a chapter bursting with berries and things to ease the swelter. And then, Orchard - it's a time of fleshed, fallen fruit, somewhere between late summer and autumn. A need for comfort arrives in woodland, with warmth and spice, then finally, Smoke. It's intense and rich, wintered.
As we already said, nature plays a very important role in this cookbook. In addition to the chapters being built accordingly to the natural flow of nature, all the recipes, and photos in each chapter were carefully selected accordingly to each season. Is this attention to detail that really makes this book shines, and are these details that will transport you to the middle of the wild as you go through this book.
As a nature-centric book, most of the recipes use seasonal products that are easily accessible to most of us. The combination of flavors in this book is quite unique - Fennel Pollen Pistachio Cake, an expression of the verdant spring; Boysenberry Frozen Yogurt, a cool relief against the heat; earthy, warm, and autumnal Bey Leaf Blondies; the wintry smoke of a Scorched Cheesecake.
Wild Sweetness is a book written by a home baker for the home baker, each means you can easily make its recipes at home, assuming that you know your way around the kitchen. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and some of the easiest recipes don't require more than 6 ingredients.
Wild Sweetness is a unique pastry cookbook that reconnects us with nature, by showing us how beautiful it can be, and how we can get the best out of it. Besides the fantastic recipes in this book, what we liked the most was the way the whole book was built around the wild. This is difficult to put in words, but as you go through the book, you will feel like you are lost (in a good way) in the middle of nature.
If you are looking for a new pastry cookbook we really encourage you to take a look at the Wild Sweetness because you won't find another book like this one on the market.
Wild Sweetness is a book about nature. A book that tells a tale of the natural world, and its influence, which bleeds into everything, even food.

domain: hobby


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WEB EXTRA: Tommy Tune and Patti LuPone
Hours before the opening gala for the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts at the Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Broadway stars Patti LuPone and Tommy Tune discussed some of their signature roles and what it's like to open a new hall.
By Laura Spencer
Kansas City, Mo. – Patti LuPone on Muriel Kauffman Theatre: "It's probably one of the best new houses I've ever sung in...the acoustics are key. And this is a fantastic space."
Tommy Tune on performing in a new hall: "It's thrilling. It's such a thrill to be the first one on a stage, the first performer in a hall that you know is going to go on for years and years. It's imposing and exciting and an honor, really."
Download recent arts stories or subscribe to the KCUR Arts Podcast

domain: entertainment


Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Dr. Clement Onyeaso is the director-general, Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA). In this interview, he speaks on the number of states that would be flooded, level of water and measures to reduce the impact.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected preparations for flood?
It has truly affected us in terms of timely sensitization of Nigerians, particularly those in flood-prone areas. People who are supposed to aid us in certain areas, like printers, were affected by the prolonged lockdown. We were almost ready before the lockdown was declared. It was difficult for us to package the documents properly for public consumption. Instead of going on air by April, it was done in May. And again when it came to the aspect of public enlightenment and sensitisation, during which we normally move from zone to zone to drive the message of impending flooding to the public, we couldn’t do it, and that was why we decided to use the various platforms in the social media and surface mail to communicate.
Were you able to get the desired results using the social media platforms?
The level of results we got was quite encouraging and impressive because we heard it several times on different social media platforms, though, not as it would had been if we were opportuned to do our normal sensitisation programmes to different places. Notwithstanding, we have been able to do the best we could do using different social media outlets during lockdown.
Nigeria had an issue with Cameroon last year for releasing water from its dam without proper notification; has it been resolved and what is the agreement?
Last year, precisely October 10, Cameroon opened their dam and it was open till October 31. That incident affected us here in Nigeria, and, sequel to that, Nigeria and Cameroon signed a memoradum of understanding (MoU) at the highest order after the 2012 incidents, Nigeria began the process of the agreement between the both countries, that before they could release water from your dam in Cameroon, Nigeria in the downstream had to be adequately notified. That agreement was signed in 2016 by President Paul Biya when he visited President Muhammadu Buhari, with regard to Benue sub-basin and dam legmius in Cameroon that had a very connecting effect in Nigeria in 1986.
What is your level of collaboration with state governments in mitigating flood disaster this year?
Flood disaster occurs in the states. It also occurred here in Abuja, some weeks ago. The state governors are the ones to oversee their territories. When the prediction was made public by the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, in May, he dispatched thoroughly crafted letters to each state governor, with relevant documents concerning the 2020 flood incident and also indicating the local governments that would be affected in each state. It was expressly dispatched through a competent courier service to concerned government houses in Nigeria. All the governors and FCT minister received their own documents informing them of the LGAs in their states that would likely to be heavily affected by flood this year and the measures they should take. It’s left for them to reciprocate or take measures, being in charge of their territories. You don’t expect the Minister of Water Resources to go to different states and begin to look for the places that will be affected. It’s the state governments that are supposed to put the measures in place and make sure that the predicted disaster does not occur. So, we try as much as we could to collaborate with them. I am on call most of the time with commissioners of environment in different states to inform them of what might happen, alongside what they should do to avert it.
Could you give us the list of states that are likely to experience major flooding this year?
Virtually all the states would be flooded. In terms of the weight, going by our prediction, the states that have LGAs where flooding would be much higher depending on their location are Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara. These are 28 states and a total sum of 102 LGAs that would suffer severe flood incident in Nigeria this 2020. Then the rest of them will not be of the same magnitude. That is, the 275 LGAs in the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT, fall within the moderately probable flood risk areas. The remaining 397 LGAs fall within the low probable flood risk areas. And the states have been notified accurately as early as possible to avert these risk.
Is it too late to start taking measures now?
The answer to the question could be, yes or no. Because we are already getting into the peak of the rainy season and also the peak of flooding. This is not the time to begin to build drainages or construct heavy drainage system that would have been able to convey the huge amount of flood to somewhere else. These are things that are supposed to have been done during the dry season. You can’t do some of those things, but small drainages that are already blocked and rivers that are overflowing. Howbeit, something can still be done by dredging and clearing those things that filled the rivers and other waterways. It should be an annual event, after each rainy season. Clearing of waterways that have been blocked can be done now but, in terms of serious work, it is not quite possible under the rain. The maintenance of gutters and flood paths ought to be an annual event instead of waiting until the rains begin to drop.
Is there anything the Federal Government can do to tackle the disaster ahead, looking at the rate of predicted flood?
The question should have been, Is there anything the state governments can still do now to avert the disaster ahead? The govenors are in charge of their states and the life and property of their people should be paramount to them. Federal Government has taken measures in the way of releasing early information to the states, telling them what is likely to happen and what should be done to avert it. It is the responsibility of the states to mobilise and do the needful. They all have a ministry of environment, urban planning and this is the right time for them to go to work to ensure that any place that is likely to experience more disaster, it is aborted, and also evacuate the people. They have the mandate and legal backing to do that. Just like what I watched on the television where the FCT Department of Development Control was demolishing some building around Gwagwalada. This is what should have been done much earlier after the prediction was done. So, something can still be done by the states, which is, finding a way of relocating people because, according to what we have seen, technically, we are yet to enter the peak of flooding or rainy season in Nigeria. The rain, according to the 2020 Seasonal Rainfall prediction made earlier in the year by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the earliest cessation date for rainfall in the southern part of the country is December 28, while September 26 is the earliest cessation date for rainfall in the northern part of the country. If at this time we are experiencing this type of flooding, I wonder what will happen in September.
What could be the cause of this early flooding?
This is normal rainfall. NiMet had predicted that there was going to be above-normal rainfall this year. In other wise, some areas would experience normal rainfall while some would be above, by what they mean. For now, we are experiencing more above-normal rain, looking at the level of flood we are already experiencing, like heavy rainfall in Lagos, where lives and property were lost in June and July. In Abuja, Nasarawa, Adamawa and Niger states, the same was the case. It is likely to be above normal this year if as early as June much really happened. The flooding we are experiencing is just as a result of the local rainfall, no contribution yet from outside countries. There’s no spilling of water either outside or within Nigeria. The dams and rivers are still compounding water, none have started releasing. Nigerians should take the predictions very seriously from both agencies. We have discovered that the agencies that are doing the predictions are doing their work but the problem is with those that are supposed to do the preventive maintenance of the impact, it seems they are not to be doing their work. The individuals also have their own roles to play, stop dropping refuse indiscriminately because it doesn’t disappear. It must end up somewhere either blocking drainages or rivers, which is the major cause of the flooding we are experiencing now. If you are living in a flood path, better save your life by relocating, and government should stop allocating land to estate developers in places that are flood-prone and individuals should be careful of what they are buying.


1. It’s in production – Tom Hanks stated in 2015 that he had already started recording the voiceover.
2. We’ll be able to see it in more than 2 years from now with the USA release date being June 21, 2019.
3. John Lasseter will be directing. He directed the first two Toy Story films so Toy Story 4 is in safe hands.
4. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen will return as Woody and Buzz. It’s impossible to imagine anyone else voicing the iconic characters.
5. With Tom Hanks and Tim Allen returning, we can assume Woody and Buzz will be back. Disney’s announcement stated that it will “open a new chapter in the lives of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the ‘Toy Story’ gang.”
6. There’s a good chance Bonnie, from Toy Story 3, will be back.
7. Pixar’s John Lasseter is really excited about bringing this idea to the big screen. Here are John Lasseter’s exact words:
We love these characters so much; they are like family to us. We don’t want to do anything with them unless it lives up to or surpasses what’s gone before. ‘Toy Story 3’ ended Woody and Buzz’s story with Andy so perfectly that for a long time, we never even talked about doing another ‘Toy Story’ movie. But when Andrew, Pete, Lee and I came up with this new idea, I just could not stop thinking about it. It was so exciting to me, I knew we had to make this movie—and I wanted to direct it myself.
I understand why people are a bit wary of a sequel, especially after how perfectly Toy Story 3 wrapped up, but I think it could turn out to be even better.


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Victorian 14K Gold Carved Coral Ring - Vintage 1800s Gold Filigree
Hand carved in a deep reddish orange coral, this beautiful antique Victorian filigree ring will capture your heart no matter what part you are gazing on. The 13mm x 13mm square coral is carved with a beautiful flower, and is set in an exquisite 14K yellow gold filigree ring. Even the back of the band is beautifully embossed. Coral is the traditional 35th anniversary gift, and this Victorian coral ring wont disappoint! The ring is a size 4.75. Please contact me before purchasing if sizing is needed. Very good condition. Circa 1800s.
Free Shipping to the US.
Is this a gift? Let me know at checkout and you will receive this item beautifully gift wrapped!

domain: design


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Radiation Therapy for Bladder Cancer
Contact UW Carbone Cancer Center for appointment scheduling, patient referrals and more information:
Radiation oncologists at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center work together with doctors who specialize in different medical areas to provide treatment that is individualized and well-coordinated.
Learn more about comprehensive prostate services provided by UW Health.
Radiation therapy can play an important role in the management of some stages of bladder cancer. Radiation does not play a role in the treatment of superficial bladder cancer, but may be an option for muscle-invasive cancer.
While the standard treatment is a radical cystectomy (removal of the entire bladder) with or without chemotherapy, certain patients may be eligible for an approach that initially uses radiation and chemotherapy. Patients may resort to a cystectomy only if the radiation and chemotherapy has not made the tumor entirely disappear.
Radiation with chemotherapy may also be chosen for others with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are not eligible for surgery because of other health concerns. UW Health radiation oncologists will discuss your condition and make recommendations for your care.
The best candidates for radiation therapy:
- Have locally resected tumors
- Have only one tumor site
- Can tolerate chemotherapy and 35 radiation treatments
- Must undergo rigorous follow-up after treatment
Learn about radiation oncology at the UW Carbone Cancer.
Radiation Treatment Options
External beam radiation therapy for bladder cancer is generally given using 3D conformal radiotherapy radiation therapy (3DCRT) as well as image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) to deliver treatments that t conform to the shape of the bladder while minimizing the radiation received by other nearby organs.

domain: medical


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March 18, 2012 by staff
Retirement Planning, Question: I am in my mid-50s. I am doing some retirement planning and I need to get an estimate of my Social Security benefits. How can I do that without having to visit one of the Social Security offices?
Answer: A great place to start figuring out how much you will need for retirement is to learn how much you could expect from Social Security. You can do that in minutes with Social Security’s online Retirement Estimator. The Retirement Estimator offers an instant and personalized estimate of your future Social Security retirement benefits based on your earnings record. Try it out at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.
According to a 2011 survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, more than half of workers report they have put away less than $25,000 in total savings and investments; a whopping 29 percent have less than $1,000 saved for the future.
If you have not started already, now is the time to begin saving for your retirement – no matter what your age. If retirement is near, you will want to jump into the fast lane right away. If you are younger and retirement seems a lifetime away, it still is in your best interest to begin saving now, as compound interest will work to your advantage. Experts agree that saving when you are young will make a world of difference when the time comes to draw on your retirement savings. Do not take our word for it. You can check out the numbers yourself.
We encourage saving for retirement, but there are reasons to save for every stage of life. A great place to go for help is www.mymoney.gov. MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government’s website dedicated to teaching Americans the basics about financial education. Whether you are planning to buy a home, balancing your checkbook or investing in your 401(k) plan, the resources on www.mymoney.gov can help you.
Please feel free to send if you have any questions regarding this post , you can contact on
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this site are that of the authors and not necessarily that of U.S.S.POST.

domain: finance


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Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker provide a description, historical perspective, and analysis of Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II.
Lamassu (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian, c. 720–705 BCE, gypseous alabaster, 4.20 × 4.36 × 0.97 m, excavated by P.-E. Botta 1843–44 (Musée du Louvre)
In the News
Irreplaceable Lamassu sculpture, Assyrian architecture and whole archaeological sites have recently been destroyed by militants that control large areas of Iraq and Syria. This tragedy cannot be undone and is an attack on our shared history and cultural heritage. To learn more read this February 27, 2015, New York Times article.

domain: history


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Hockey fans will hear the same cliché over and over when players are facing their former teams. “It’s just another game” is the statement uttered most often—when what they really mean is, “It’s just another game that I want to win more than any other this season.” Jaroslav Halak has had a rocky season thus far, but his 4-1 win for the Blues over his former team from Montreal had to be the sweetest of his 21wins this year.
Halak did what he needed to win the game, but his defense did a good job in front of him and the Canadiens looked flat for most of the game. The former Habs netminder made 27 out of 28 saves; but Montreal looked like they were feeling the emotional letdown after their emotional victory over the rival Bruins on Tuesday night. No one would blame them if their minds were elsewhere—and unfortunately for Carey Price, it looked like the team in front of him wasn’t all there.
Going into the game, the major storyline was the Price vs. Halak match-up. But the game was only a one out of 82. If we’re looking to compare the two goaltenders, that debate has been settled over the course of the season. Halak got off to a great start to the season but has battled injuries and inconsistency this year. Not surprisingly, he’s been measuring his productivity against his former partner in crime.
“I think it’s easy to say right now when you look at the season, I haven’t been playing my best all the time. Carey has been playing good. It’s easy to say (Montreal) made the right decision, but you know, I’ve still got three years on my contract. I just need to focus on this season, finish this season strong and then who knows what’s going to happen next year.”
On the flip side, Price has been an all-star and is well on his way to being a Vezina Trophy finalist for the league’s best netminder. This season, there is no debate as to which player has been the better backstop for his team. Price has been proving Pierre Gauthier made the right decision in the offseason when he chose to move playoff-hero Halak. At the time, Pierre Gauthier was comfortable with the trade:
“The decision is based on our projections and we are very comfortable with Carey Price. He’s a young man that has almost 150 games in the league even though he’s only 22-years-old. He’s got a few rounds in the playoffs, [and] he won a Calder Cup in the American League at a very young age. He brings a lot to the table. He’s young man that we think will be a good goalie in this League.”
Now that we’re 65 games into the season, it’s safe to say that he’s just as confident with his decision today as he was back in July. But for a day – even if it’s just one day – Halak has bragging rights. After the game, Halak was announced as the #1 star of the game. Of course, Carey Price was the #2 star.
The only thing that could have made it better is if Lars Eller was the 3rd star of the game.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Vancouver Canucks right wing Ilya Mikheyev is set to have season-ending surgery on his left knee.
Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said Friday night the 28-year-old Russian forward tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the team’s first preseason game Sept. 25. Mikheyev will undergo surgery next week and is expected to be ready for training camp in the fall.
Mikheyev was originally listed as week-to-week with the injury and played 45 regular-season games, finishing with 13 goals and 15 assists. He scored in his final appearance Friday night, a 5-2 home victory over Columbus.
Mikheyev signed a four-year, $19 million contract as a free agent last summer.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews will miss at least three weeks with a sprained knee.
The team announced the reigning MVP’s anticipated absence Friday, two days after Matthews was injured in Toronto’s victory against the New York Rangers.
Matthews is expected to miss at least six games and could be out for a few more. The timing of the injury coinciding with the NHL All-Star break and the Maple Leafs bye week prevents this from costing Matthews more time out of the lineup.
After being voted an All-Star by fans, Matthews is now out of the event scheduled for Feb. 3-4 in Sunrise, Florida. The league announced Aleskander Barkov from the host Florida Panthers will take Matthews’ place on the Atlantic Division All-Star roster.
Matthews, who won the Hart Trophy last season after leading the NHL with 60 goals, has 53 points in 47 games this season.
MONTREAL — Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield said Friday he wouldn’t be having season-ending surgery on his right shoulder if the team were in playoff contention.
But with the Canadiens near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, the 22-year-old Caufield said he decided to have the surgery to protect his long-term health. The procedure is scheduled to be performed by Dr. Peter Millett on Wednesday.
“I didn’t want to stop playing,” Caufield said. “I had a couple tests done to look at it more clearly but, in the end, like it could’ve been one more fall and it could have been even worse.”
Caufield, who leads the Canadiens with 26 goals in 46 games, had three different medical opinions on his shoulder before concluding that his season was over.
“I think they’ve seen a lot more than I have and they know the differences and what they like or don’t like about it,” he said about the medical opinions. “Long term, I think this is what’s best but for sure it was tough to sit out that game against Toronto on Saturday night.”
Caufield initially felt the injury in an awkward fall during Montreal’s 4-2 loss at Dallas on Dec. 23. He said his right shoulder popped, and he replaced it himself.
Caufield felt it again in the Habs’ 4-3 loss at Nashville on Jan. 12. The club announced on Jan. 21 that Caufield would miss the rest of the season.
Caufield is nearing the end of his three-year, entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent this summer.
SEATTLE — Seattle Kraken rookie All-Star Matty Beniers will miss the team’s final two games before the All-Star break after taking a big hit from Vancouver’s Tyler Myers earlier this week.
Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said after morning skate Friday that Beniers would not play Friday night against Calgary or Saturday against Columbus. Hakstol did not speculate on Beniers’ availability for next weekend’s All-Star Game in Florida.
The team has not specified what kind of injury Beniers sustained from the hit. He was barreled over by Myers away from the play early in the second period in Wednesday’s 6-1 victory over Vancouver. Myers was penalized for interference on the play. Beniers returned briefly for one shift later in the period but did not play in the third period.
Beniers is Seattle’s lone All-Star selection this season. He leads all rookies in goals (17) and points (36), and is fifth in total ice time for rookies.
Seattle also placed defenseman Justin Schultz on injured reserve and recalled forward Max McCormick from Coachella Valley of the AHL. Hakstol said Schultz is improving but there’s no timeline on his return.


Trivia: Which recording artist has been battling with her producer over future projects? (Answer below)
The back-and-forth between Hollywood and others has taken a new turn. First it was #OscarsSoWhite where black actors were left out of the running. Now it’s real talk from folks in the clubs, blocks & streets of #NotBlackEnough. With Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone some are pondering women’s history in reverse.
The original Writer/Director Cynthia Mort told Entertainment Weekly “There are very different visions of what the movie could have been and should have been…” Considering we’re in Women’s History Month, some have come out strongly against the casting of Saldana while others want to give the film a chance.
It’s possible the mixed feelings say something about how people interpret Simone’s life and legacy. It might even help explain the reactions people have about Saldana’s casting and how they interpret America’s history. It’s a question of whose version do they understand, want to believe in or rely on.
Whether in the current political climate or in matters of social justice they’re those who tend to see the history of America only in the eyes of prejudice. But learning from game changers of our past, in forging American history it’s important to see purpose too. Saldana might have taken the role based on this view.
Simone’s music and impact were like the flipside to James Brown. She is described on her website’s official bio as a lyrical interpreter. A few of her favorite hits were remakes of prior written/recorded tracks of other well-known artists. They included Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday and Tina Turner.
It’s usually done with creative add-ons as artists do covers and actors do physical makeovers for a role. Recently, the artist Joe did his own take on Adele’s Hello. We’ve seen Robin Williams play Mrs. Doubtfire and Tyler Perry play Madea. Maybe Saldana saw this as a way to go deeper in her body of work.
A Simone bio quote says “…to make people feel on a deep level, it’s difficult to describe because it’s not something you can analyze; to get near what it’s about, you have to play it. And when you’ve caught it, when you’ve got the audience hooked, you always know because it’s like electricity hanging in the air.”
Is it that sort of vision that drew Saldana to the movie? It’s true for social change projects that make us feel a new sense of electricity in America. The current view is that things have gotten better over time. But there’s still a level of cultural uneasiness and displeasure that’s hard to explain/analyze as ‘strange fruit.’
Groove-tracks: Jill Scott – Strange Fruit – https://youtu.be/OkXAxpzE6Gk?t=85s
Prince – Baltimore – https://youtu.be/Gx2PCJaisqc?t=50s


Behrad Khamesee is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He is also an integral member of the Waterloo Center for Automotive Research (WATCAR).
Professor Khamesee’s research interests are in microrobotics, micromanipulation using magnetic levitation, magnetically driven medical microrobots for drug delivery and microsurgery, smart structures and actuators, and the development of a cost-effective prosthetic leg.
He is also the Director of Maglev Microrobotics Laboratory, which studies the design and development of magnetically levitated (Maglev) robots. A magnetic Levitation setup enabling high precision 3D remote positioning was built. The lab is also working on the development and industrialization of various applications of magnetism such as electromagnetic energy harvesters for human locomotion and regenerative electromagnetic suspension system for vehicles, and non-destructive testing for detecting cracks and defects in live pipelines.
- Magnetic levitation
- Automation and robotics
- Biomechanics and Biotechnology
- Connectivity and Internet of Things
- Electromagnetic Actuators
- Additive Manufacturing
- Energy harvesting
- Advanced manufacturing
- 1999, Doctorate, Ph.D. Degree in Systems Engineering (Mechatronics), Mechatronics Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Dept., Mie University
- 1996, Master's, M.Sc. Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Dept., Mie University
- ME 555 - Computer-Aided Design
- Taught in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.
- Babak Ebrahimi, Mir Behrad Khamesee, Farid Golnaraghi, Development of an Eddy-Current Damper for Automobile Suspension - Modeling, Simulation and Testing
, Vehicle System Dynamics
- C Elbuken, L Gui, C L Ren, M Yavuz and M B Khamesee, Design and analysis of a polymeric photo-thermal
microactuator, Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering
- Ehsan Shameli , Mir Behrad Khamesee, Jan Paul Huissoon, Dynamic Modeling and Adaptive Feedback Linearization Control of a Magnetic Levitation System
, Smart Materials and Structures
- Babak Ebrahimi, Mir Behrad Khamesee, M. Farid Golnaraghi, Design and Modeling of a Magnetic Shock Absorber Based on Eddy Current Damping Effect, Journal of Sound and Vibration
- Craig D.G., Khamesee M.B., Black-box model identification of a magnetically levitated microrobotic system, Journal of Smart Mater. Struct. 16 (April 2007) 739-747, 2007
- Currently considering applications from graduate students. A completed online application is required for admission; start the application process now.
- Has Approved Doctoral Dissertation Supervisor (ADDS) status


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bpa fee/dishwasher safe baby food/breast milk trays. brand: "So Easy". Feeding your baby is easier with this storage system of trays for baby food or breast milk. Conveniently store and freeze milk and food into cubes and simplify feeding time knowing that one cube is equal to one serving for your little one. These trays are stackable, dishwasher safe and spill-proof.
From the Manufacturer The Squirt baby food dispensing spoon allows for convenient feeding, one bite at a time. The easy-to-fill bulb holds up to 3 ounces of baby food and attaches firmly to the spo…
Little Green Pouch (sold in packs of 4) is a reusable food pouch that’s BPA and phthalate free; easy to fill and seal securely by means of a handy zipper; dishwasher and freezer safe; would be great for lunches! this way you can buy things like applesauce or yogurt in bulk sizes without having to throw away the single use packaging every time-- AWESOME and REUSABLE! $14.99
Wean Green Glass Baby Food Containers (Set of 4) (Multi Color)
Amazon.com : Wean Green Glass Baby Food Containers (Set of 4) (Multi Color) : Baby Food Storage Containers : Baby
Sassy / Teething Feeder / $7 / Available at Toys R Us, Target, Walmart Product Description Perfect for home or travel, the Teething Feeder from Sassy® is a great way to give your baby whole, fresh, age appropriate foods while reducing the risk of choking. The unique chill feature in the Teething Feeder handle and the convenient storage cap help keep food fresh while traveling with your baby. It is also top rack dishwasher safe. Colors and styles may vary.

domain: food


HarmonyOS by Huawei is Going to Replace Android on Future Huawei Phones in 2021
Huawei went ahead and announced their HarmonyOS earlier today, and while that was certainly a great way to tell the world that they are not out of the smartphone business. We now have some interesting news about the future of the company and how they are going to be going. We already know that the beta version of the HarmonyOS 2.0 is already available to the developers, but it isn't ready for smartphones completely.
However, the CEO has said that the smartphone developers won't have to wait long, and by the end of this year, the developers will get their hands on the mobile version of the beta, as well. But that is not what we are here to talk about.
HarmonyOS is Finally Going to Replace Android on All Huawei Phones in 2021
Part of the whole development is also going to see that the HarmonyOS 2.0 will be ready to ship to the users in 2021, however, we are not given the final date just yet. There is no denying that final development of HarmonyOS is going to mean a big deal for Huawei as their relationship with Google is getting more and more strange at this point, and at the time of writing, Huawei phones are not able to run Google Mobile Services and have to rely on Huawei Mobile Services and their App Gallery, which, let's be honest, is not up there with the competition.
However, while this certainly sounds good on the software side of things. Huawei has a lot of other issues that could come in the way, as well. For starters, just yesterday, we found out that both Samsung and SK Hynix are going to stop selling chips and displays to Huawei later this month, which is only going to pose more threats for the company as they are going to run out of silicon sooner or later, and they have talked about it, as well.
For now, we just have to wait and see what the future holds for HarmonyOS and Huawei. We are surely excited to see how it is going to last.


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United States District Court, D. Kansas
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
SAM A. CROW, Senior District Judge.
The court previously screened the materials filed in this action and entered an Order requiring plaintiff to provide financial information in support of his motion to proceed without prepayment of fees as well as cure the deficiencies in his complaint discussed in the screening order. The matter is before the court upon plaintiff's Response and Motion for Ruling (Doc. 5). Having considered these filings together with the file, the court finds that plaintiff has submitted financial information in support of his motion but has not cured the deficiencies in his complaint. Accordingly, this action is dismissed for failure to state facts to support a federal constitutional claim and as time-barred.
In the screening order the court found that plaintiff failed to state a claim under § 1983 for several reasons. First, defendants Community America Credit Union (CACU) and its employee Jerry Affolter were not shown to have acted under color of state law. Plaintiff's renewed allegations, that defendants accused him of and reported a crime, taken as true, fail to state a claim. As noted, neither reporting a crime to law enforcement authorities nor acting as a witness to criminal activity by other than a "state actor" amounts to a cognizable claim under § 1983. The court further found that plaintiff failed to describe acts by either named defendant that amounted to a plausible violation of his federal constitutional rights. Plaintiff has not responded by describing any additional act on the part of either defendant that was unconstitutional. Plaintiff's main statement in response to this deficiency, that the CACU is FDIC-insured and operates under federal banking laws, does not establish that defendants acted under color of state law.
The court also found in its screening order that plaintiff had not alleged personal participation by either named defendant in his 2008 arrest by Missouri law enforcement officers. Plaintiff responds with vague allegations of a conspiracy among defendants and "the other enties (sic) that were involved." He names banks in Tennessee as the "other enties" and states that "these defendants" operated in Kansas and Missouri, misled the CACU with regard to plaintiff, and "knowingly gave false statements to the Kansas City Police Department" in Missouri. Plaintiff's allegations of a conspiracy are not specific enough to state a conspiracy claim. Moreover, none of these allegations shows that either named defendant participated in the alleged false arrest.
The court further found that the facts alleged by plaintiff failed to state a false arrest claim because his own allegations indicated probable cause had been established for his arrest, and the subsequent dismissal of charges without more did not establish that his arrest was without probable cause. Rather than refute these findings, plaintiff reiterates in his response that he was charged with three counts of forgery, warrants issued for his arrest, he "was indicted by a Grand Jury of Clay County, " he was arraigned in April, 2010, and the charges were dismissed in 2011. Thus, plaintiff's response again illustrates that probable cause was found to exist. Probable cause for plaintiff's arrest precludes a civil action for false arrest. See Gouskos v. Griffith, 122 Fed.Appx. 965, 971-72 (10th Cir. 2005).
Finally, the court noted that plaintiff's complaint appeared to be time-barred because it was not filed within one year of the dismissal of charges. Plaintiff's response to this finding that he gave timely notice to the defendants does not establish that this action was filed within the applicable statute of limitations period.
The court has also considered plaintiff's additional allegations, which he suggests were inadvertently left out of his complaint: he was asked by an employee of the CACU to open an account there, defendant Affolter was a "fraud investigator" for the credit union and reported that a crime had been committed, plaintiff is the owner of and was doing business as Jacob's Best Trucking, " and "defendants reported the "incident" to the Clay County District Attorney Office, knowing this was a civil matter and no crime had been committed. These allegations do nothing to cure the deficiencies in plaintiff's complaint.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that plaintiff is granted leave to proceed without prepayment of fees (Docs. 2 & 4 - Attach. 2), and is hereby assessed the full filing fee for this action of $350.00 to be paid through payments automatically deducted from his inmate account pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The finance office of the facility where plaintiff is currently confined, by copy of this order, is authorized to collect twenty percent (20%) of the prior month's income each time the amount in plaintiff's account exceeds ten dollars ($10.00) and submit that amount to this court until the filing fee has been paid in full.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this action is dismissed and all relief is denied for failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a) and (b); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and as time-barred.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff's motion for ruling (Doc. 5) is denied as moot.
The clerk is directed to send a copy of this order to the finance office at the institution where plaintiff is currently ...

domain: law


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House Season 7 Episode 3: Watch Unwritten Online S07E03 – House season 7 episode 3 called “Unwritten” which was directed by Greg Yaitanes and written by John C. Kelley aired last night on FOX.
In the third episode of the seventh season of “House,” we get to see House solve another medical mystery (who would have guessed.) Alice played by Amy Irving is the author of a popular children’s book series, but starts to experience seizures moments before she was planning on attempting to take her own life. Of course, through a series of events, she ends up being the patient of Dr. House.
Now, she must deal with the underlying medical conditions that she has not been aware of, as well as the fact that she has been depressed. She is still in an unstable psychological state, and House is having a hard time diagnosing her problems.
House becomes convinced that he can find the answer to the riddle in her most recent novel, because he is a fan of her books. Meanwhile, House takes Cuddy on a date along with Wilson and his girlfriend, Sam. While on the date he makes a discovery that could change the way that he treats his author patient back at the hospital.
It should have made an interesting episode with a familiar plotline- but it turned out to be very silly and crazy.
As it turned out Alice’s real name is Helen, and discovered that she had a son named Jack who died in the car accident which is the real reason behind all her medical problems.
This is definitely not the best episode we have seen from this series -you have the impression the installment was just a cheap excuses to ride Twilight and Harry Potter cravy train that has been kicking butts in the box office.
What are your thoughts on the episode?
That’s all we have for now on House season 7 episode 3.*Sponsored Links*


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A look back at a year of inspirational films, passionate filmmakers and honorable awards.
For WORLD Channel, 2022 was full of firsts – anniversaries, discoveries and award recognition. From documentaries that captured humanity’s struggles and successes to conversations that connected us to the people living the stories being shared, our films, features and storytelling over the past 12 months have created change within communities and opened eyes and hearts around the globe. We’ve never been more proud to call our channel a home for diversity, acceptance and empathy and hope to continue work like this for years to come.
Take a glance at our most unforgettable moments of 2022 as we prepare for more captivating films and storytelling in 2023!
WORLD Channel and Its Year-Round Work Recognized by Notable Nominations and Awards
We are thankful to accept these many honors presented by distinguished organizations throughout the year.
Five Years North won a Telly Award, one of 17 wins for the America ReFramed series as a whole; the film was also nominated for Best Documentary by IMAGEN and in the TV/Video category by Media for a Just Society.
Sisters Rising took home an award by Media for a Just Society in the TV/Video category and placed third at the National Native Media Awards for Best Coverage of Native America (TV).
And our General Manager Liz Cheng was recently named a National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Boston/New England Chapter’s Silver Circle honoree.
America ReFramed Celebrates a Decade of
Diverse Documentaries and Filmmakers
In February, America ReFramed launched its 10th season of feature-length documentaries with the premiere of Fannie Lou Hamer’s America, a film that tells the story of one of the civil rights movement’s most influential but misremembered leaders through her own voice in songs and speeches.
Through the documentary, interviews and conversations, viewers like yourselves sought to learn about the life and work of Mrs. Hamer, finding common ground over the strength, self-assurance and compassion of a woman who contributed to the rights of not just Black Americans, but all Americans.
We hosted a “Meet the Makers” panel commemorating the legacy of the leader, wife and mother, joined by executive producer and Mrs. Hamer’s great-niece Monica Land, director Joy Davenport, author Dr. Keisha Blain and Academy Award-nominated actress and activist Aunjanue Ellis. If you missed it, you can watch the inspiring conversation, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Fannie Lou Hamer’s America and the film, streaming on PBS Passport.
The rest of the tenth season of America ReFramed was complete with stand-out films like Any Given Day, in which filmmaker Margaret Byrne provides a human lens into mental health and dignity while on her own journey of mental illness; La Manplesa: An Uprising Remembered, a retelling of the 1991 Washington D.C. rebellion through the voices of the immigrant neighborhood’s spirited “memory-keepers;” and Kid Candidate, a look at how 24-year-old Hayden Pedigo battled politicking and doubt to make a bid for city council in Amarillo, Texas.
Stories from the Stage Reaches a
Landmark 100 Episodes
Five seasons in and 100 episodes later, Stories from the Stage continues to go strong! When the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted our production in early 2020, the show turned to at-home storytelling and eventually to the studio, but only with empty seats. In mid-2022, we returned to the stage at GBH for in-person storytelling complete with incredible storytellers, enlightening stories and lively audiences ready to laugh, cry and clap for a full minute (buy your 2023 tickets for this in-studio experience).
We celebrated the 100th episode with one of our most charismatic and compelling storytellers to date: Brandon Kazen Maddox (they/them). Brandon, an artist and performer, told their story using American Sign Language (ASL), a first for our show that we hope to see more of in the coming years.
WORLD Is on TikTok!
In March, during Women’s History Month, we launched our newest platform with a clip honoring Fannie Lou Hamer’s famous Democratic National Convention speech. Since then, we’ve featured many Stories from the Stage storytellers, like Luciana Naldi, James Griffin and Michele Carlo, whose true, personal stories resonated with audiences and even went viral(!), meeting new viewers where they are with and engaging, short-form content. Be sure to follow us @worldchannel!
Local, USA Zeroes in on the Matters
Most Pressing for Voters
In 2022, voters across the country prepared for the midterm elections; our Your Vote collection featured films that touched on concerns like healthcare, education, immigration and more. This year, a lineup of new Local, USA films premiered ahead of and leading up to the midterms, each offering personal but critical insight into the issues that voters would consider at the ballot box. The films contained stories told by Americans whose lives and communities have been affected by gun violence, climate change and more.
In Heaven: Can You Hear Me?, Black mothers in Philadelphia unite to heal from the trauma of gun violence and break an all-too-common cycle; in Decolonizing Mental Health, BIPOC practitioners advocate for more equity in the mental health industry; A Tale of Three Chinatowns explores gentrification and the housing crisis within our country’s Chinatowns; Caretakers profiles Filipino Americans who have shown up for their communities by caring for them during the pandemic; Extremism in America investigates the rise of extremism and how it has been able to grow into the threat it is today; and In Their Element sheds light on the effects of climate change on Indigenous Americans and the land, water and air they’ve thrived on for centuries.
Doc World Introduces 60 Years of
Afghanistan History Beyond the War Headlines
Prior to the one year anniversary of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2022, Doc World presented a four-part limited series examining the progressive and conservative, faith-bound global history of Afghanistan. From the end of King Mohammed Zahir Shah’s reign to the aftermath of September 11, Afghanistan: The Wounded Land explores the politics, war and discord Afghans have endured over six decades, and how the country and its people continue to fight for a democratic future.
To dive deeper into the histories and personal stories seen in the films, we hosted a panel with the directors of Afghanistan: The Wounded Land, Mayte Carrasco and Marcel Mettelsiefen, along with Afghan women’s rights activists Zohra Yusuf Daoud and Nasrin Nawa, moderated by Afghanistan correspondent and author Atia Abawi. The conversation offered a candid yet compassionate window into life during Afghanistan's past, present and future – watch it on our YouTube.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Filmmakers Tell Their Own Stories of Resilience
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, we premiered a digital-first shorts series in partnership with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) and the Asian American Documentary Network (A-Doc): Asian American Stories of Resilience and Beyond, directed by emerging AAPI filmmakers, became the home of heartfelt stories of how the AAPI community has remained resilient amid hatred, the pandemic and long-standing policies.
We met seven filmmakers like Joua Lee Grande, who showed us how biracial families navigated their identities during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests; Frances “Frankie” Rubio shared her most vulnerable self to tell the story about her ailing father and the culture of caretaking; and Kimberlee Bassford hopes to revive Hawai’i’s Chinatown with her love letter of a film.
WORLD and CAAM continued our partnership on a new series of shorts by young AAPI filmmakers: The Sauce explores the Asian American experience in the American South through short films, from the closeness of the Hmong community in Nash Consing’s The Fourth World to how Japanese-Mexican sisters relate to each other and the world in Sushi Nachos by Kei Matsumoto.
That’s a wrap on 2022, but we’re starting 2023 at the very top: On New Year’s Day, WORLD will air an America ReFramed marathon as the clock strikes midnight! Rewatch some of your favorites or discover films you’ve never seen as you ring in the new year.
And that’s not all:. In January, storytelling kicks into high gear with three brand new episodes of Stories from the Stage, exploring themes like transformation, defining moments and family relationships. And in February, America ReFramed returns with poignant Black stories for its 11th season.


CCTV or ANPR Camera?
ANPR software works by examining video frames at high speed looking for shapes and patterns that resemble rectangular areas containing text – i.e. number plates. The actual letters and numbers that make up the plate are then extracted from that part of the image.ANPR software may work with standard CCTV cameras for stationary vehicles – and if the shutter speed is set to 1/1000th sec. it can capture plates on fast moving vehicles in bright or controlled lighting conditions. However in darker conditions, approaching vehicles headlights will dazzle the camera and the camera will compensate by closing the iris down preventing a plate read. Fixed aperture cameras will fail by over or under exposing the plate.
A specialised ANPR number plate capture camera such as the RoadWolf™ uses longer wavelength Infrared light (below the visible part of the spectrum) to overcome these problems for retro-reflective plates.
Most number plates around the world are now retro-reflective which means that provided a suitable light source is positioned adjacent to the camera lens, then a plate at virtually any angle will reflect back nearly all of the light. RoadWolf™ ANPR cameras use a combination of filtered infra-red light, filtered CCD sensors to precise wavelengths, electronic shuttering techniques and anti-smear and anti-bloom circuitry to remove flare from headlights and reflected sunlight.
The resulting images provide crisp, clear number plates for the Recognition Engine to interpret the plate whatever the ambient lighting conditions and whatever the speed of the vehicle.


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Please be aware that jakefans is a fan website, and is not in contact with the series stars or production staff. If you have fan mail for the Jake cast and crew, you can send a letter care of UPN:
c/o United Paramount Network
11800 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90025
If you are having a problem with this site, contact the webmaster. To submit content to this website or join the fan club contact the Jake 2.0 Fan Club.


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Sunday, April 15, 2018
Shadowsong - S. Jae-Jones
Author: S. Jae-Jones
Publisher: Wednesday Books (St. Martin's Press), 2018 (Hardcover)
Length: 387 pages
Genre: Young Adult/Adult; Fantasy
Started: April 6, 2018
Finished: April 13, 2018
From the inside cover:
Six months after the end of Wintersong, Liesl is working toward furthering both her brother's musical careered her own. Although she is determined to look forward and not behind, life in the world above is not as easy as Liesl has hoped. Her younger brother, Josef, is cold, distant, and withdrawn, while Liesl can't forget the austere young man she left beneath the earth, and the music he inspired in her.
When troubling signs arise that the barrier between worlds is crumbling, Liesl must return to the Underground to unravel the mysteries of life, death, and the Goblin King - who he was, who he is, and who he will be. What will it take to break the old laws once and for all? What is the true meaning of sacrifice when the fate of the world - or of the ones Liesl loves - is in her hands?
I read Wintersong last year and loved it to pieces, so of course when I found out there was going to be a sequel I knew I'd have to read it. Unfortunately, Shadowsong is a bit of a mixed bag; it didn't focus on what I loved in the first book (Liesl's relationship with the Goblin King), but instead was an amazingly intricate look into Liesl's growth as a character, including her (and by extension, Josef's) struggle with mental illness.
Shadowsong begins in winter, six months after the events of Wintersong, with Liesl, and her family struggling to keep the inn afloat after her father dies and Josef is away in Vienna. After a mysterious benefactor and patron of the arts offers to send Liesl and Kathe to Vienna to reunite with Josef, the siblings and Francois struggle to adapt to society there. When the Wild Hunt comes to make Liesl pay for defying the Old Laws and escaping the Underworld, she tries to come out of it alive while also trying to save both Josef and the Goblin King.
In the forward to the book, the author explains that like herself, Liesl struggles with bi-polar disorder. Although Josef's depression and self-harm are explained as an aspect of his changling status rather than mental illness, they are present as well. The book is a testament to madness: both for the people who experience it and those that love them. Although that aspect is truly touching and unique, I think the book suffered as a result of its inclusion: the book has pacing issues, it moves along so slowly since it is mostly introspection and the same character interactions over and over rather than anything really happening. In terms of atmosphere, it's dark, deranged and creepy; a big contrast from the fire and passion from the first book. I applaud the author for including mental illness as a focus in this context, but unfortunately I don't think every reader will be willing to trudge through the novel to really appreciate the underlying message.
I did enjoy the inclusion of the Goblin King's backstory, it all leads up to the ending where Liesl needs to divine his true name. This I feel ties up the plot from the end of Wintersong nicely, I just wish there had been more of a focus on this to balance out the heavy introspection from the first three quarters of the novel.
Well-written and a powerful insight into mental illness, but does suffer from pacing and dark intensity that not all readers might be willing to stick it out for.
Thoughts on the cover:
I like the continuity from Wintersong's cover, this time substituting poppies rather than a rose, and having the glass orb breaking rather than intact.

domain: library


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FREE – Readable and downloadable copy of the Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan published in 1892.
When hearing of Konawa, many people immediately associate the town with the Sacred Heart Mission and Church, the cornerstone of Konawa history. Sacred Heart is located in the southeast corner of Pottawatomie County in Oklahoma approximately 9 miles east of Asher and 4 miles northwest of Konawa and approximately 1 mile north of Oklahoma Highway 39 on Sacred Heart Road.
Luedders’ historical and pictorial city directory of Angola, Indiana for the year 1923, containing an historical compilation of items of local interest, a complete canvass of names in the city, which includes every member of the family, college students, families on rural lines, directory of officers of county, city, lodges, churches, societies, a directory of streets, and a classified business directory.
Resident and business directory of Middleboro’ and Lakeville, Massachusetts, for 1899. Containing a complete resident, street and business directory, town officers, schools, societies, churches, post offices, notable events in American history, etc. Compiled and published by A. E. Foss & Co., Needham, Massachusetts. The following is an example of what you will find within the images of the directory: Sheedy John, laborer, bds. J. G. Norris’, 35 West Sheehan John B., grocery and variety store, 38 West, h. do. Sheehan Lizzie O., bds. T. B. Sheehan’s, 16 East Main Sheehan Lucy G. B., bds. T. B. Sheehan’s, 16 East Main
La Grande, Union County, Oregon Leo Hurly, 70, resident of 1306 O. Ave., and a retired merchant, died Tuesday at a local hospital. Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of The Valley Catholic church, with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. M. M. Crotty the Mass celebrant. Burial will follow in Summerville cemetery. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday at Daniels Funeral Home. Born at Forman, N. D.., Feb. 13, 1891, Mr. Hurley had resided here for five years. He was a member of the Catholic church. Survivors are the widow Mrs. Mary Hurly,
La Grande, Union County, Oregon Mary Hurley, 85, of 1306 O. Ave., died Tuesday at La Grande Nursing Center. Mrs. Hurley was born Sept. 22, 1894 at Summerville, the daughter of Charles and Mary Duggan. In 1939 she was married to Leo Hurley at La Grande. He preceded her in death on Feb. 21, 1961. Mrs. Hurley was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church. Survivors include her sisters, Margaret Golden, La Grande; Ardra Behrens, and Ruth Rollins, both of Summerville; and several nieces and nephews. Christian wake services are scheduled Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Daniels
Corpl., F. A. R. D., Btry. D, 7th Regt.; of Moore County; the son of W. S. and L. F. Hurley. Entered service May 28, 1918, at Aberdeen, N.C. Sent to Camp Jackson, S. C. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, Dec. 11, 1919.


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Group counseling is an extremely effective component of most good addiction treatment programs. There are distinct benefits to people sharing their experiences of addiction illness and providing motivation and support to their fellows both in rehab and for years afterwards. CASA Recovery provides group counseling in all its programs for drug and alcohol addiction treatment in San Juan Capistrano. Here we take a closer looks at three key benefits of group counseling:
People often become isolated and withdrawn from others when they are struggling with substance abuse. In many cases, entering rehab provides the first opportunity for them to open up and talk about their issues without fear of judgment. This is enhanced further in group sessions where others with similar issues can share experiences and provide support and motivation with the common goal of achieving recovery.
Everyone has their own experience of addiction and they each have a unique story to tell. This can be very beneficial in a group therapy session as it allows others to see a different perspective on their own problem. This comes about through talking with others about their own substance abuse and hearing how others see their situation. It is extremely beneficial for people to understand their addiction issues well and group therapy is very effective in this respect.
Group therapy has been shown to be a crucial aspect in achieving long-term sobriety. This is because research shows people are more likely to maintain sobriety and prevent relapse when they have easy access to a support network. It always helps for a recovering addicts support group to be likeminded people as that will ensure they are always understood and appreciated.
CASA Recovery offers addiction treatment counseling programs that are designed to support clients through rehab and for many years after. Addiction is a chronic illness that often takes a lifetime to overcome, which is why it is essential to have supportive people around you throughout the journey. Find out more about our personalized treatment programs by contacting CASA Recovery in Southern California today.
Drug & Alcohol Program
Individualized Treatment Program includes counseling, therapy, group sessions and holistic services. Click to learn more.
Trauma-focused therapy addresses the root causes of addiction and is often the first line of treatment when people enter rehab- contact us to learn more!
Mental Health Program
Small, Individualized Program available for trauma, depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder and dual diagnosis clients.
On-site massage, yoga, guided meditation, art therapy, plus many unique, body/mind healing techniques.
Psychiatrist, PAs and RNs manage medications, including mood disorder medications and anti-craving/blocker medications like Naltraxone and Vivitrol.
Supportive Living Options
We only work with accredited supportive living and vetted sober living homes.
Additional Programs Offered

domain: sociology


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Why EU leaders should not stare into Medvedev’s eyes
In 2000, George Bush looked into Putin’s eyes and claimed he had found a soulmate for the West. Today, Western leaders may be about to repeat the same mistake with Dmitry Medvedev.
In 2000, George Bush looked into Putin’s eyes and claimed he had found a soulmate for the West – what followed was the restoration of authoritarian rule in Russia. Today, Western leaders may well be about to repeat the same mistake with Dmitry Medvedev.
Sunday’s election will be a coronation rather than a competition. Medvedev’s only opponents will be has-beens from the 1990s like Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who long ago converted into Kremlin loyalists; and Andrey Bogdanov, a fake ‘democrat’ run by the Kremlin to convince the West that a real contest is taking place.
It is therefore surprising that Medvedev should be hailed by so many in the West as a ‘liberal’. Is this just because we have been manoeuvred into fearing someone worse, a sabre-rattling ‘silovik’ (past or present member of the security services), like former Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov? Or does Medvedev represent a genuine opportunity to unfreeze the recent mini Cold War between Russia and the West?
Medvedev is indeed personable. Putin’s background was in the KGB, Medvedev is a lawyer, who has attacked Russia’s “legal nihilism” and denounced the fashionable concept of ‘sovereign democracy’. Medvedev is familiar to the business world after seven years as Chairman of the Board at Gazprom. He can talk the talk at Davos. He wears nice suits. He does not look like an archetypal post-Soviet bureaucrat or KGB agent. He is a big fan of 1970s rockers Deep Purple.
But we need to understand the system that made Medvedev, before rushing to embrace a ‘new face’ which may turn out to be only a cosmetic improvement. Russia’s problem is not that it is an imperfect democracy, but that its politics is corrupted by so-called ‘political technology’. This involves much more than just stuffing the ballot box.
‘Political technology’ means secretly sponsoring fake politicians like Mr Bogdanov, setting up fake NGOs and youth movements like Nashi (‘Ours’) to prevent any Russian version of Ukraine’s Orange Revolution, and mobilising the voters against a carefully-scripted ‘enemy’. It 1996 this was the Communists; in 1999-2000 the Chechens; in 2003-04 it was the ‘oligarchs’. Now it is us – the supposedly hostile West and the threat of ‘coloured revolutions’ to Russia’s hard-won stability.
Medvedev may find all or some of this personally distasteful, but Russia now has an entire industry of political manipulation that is hardly likely to disappear overnight.
We also need to understand the mechanics of Russian succession politics. In the Russian context ‘liberal’ does not actually mean much more than opposing the ‘siloviki’. It means being in a different clan, at a different part of the feeding trough. The uncertainties of the succession have created a covert war for property and influence between a handful of different clans, but the system cannot afford an outright winner. In recent months the most powerful clan led by the Deputy Head of Kremlin Administration Igor Sechin, whose Rosneft company received the biggest chunk of Yukos in 2004, has threatened to engulf the others.
Rebalancing the system, in other words, was the key reason for choosing Medvedev – not any sudden desire to reverse the increasingly illiberal course Russia has taken since 2003. Putin’s ambition to stay in office as prime minister is also rooted in this rebalancing act. He needs to stay on as Medvedev’s ‘minder’ to keep any one clan from assuming control over the others. Medvedev and the siloviki heartily dislike each other. Sechin and Ivanov will be watching the new president closely for any signs of ‘weakness’. Medvedev will not become his own man until he can cut free.
Putin himself observed his succession deal with Yeltsin for about three years. It is often forgotten that Yeltsin men like Voloshin and former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, before the latter became an enemy of the Kremlin and had to be forced out of this year’s campaign, survived in office until the ‘Yukos affair’ in 2003-04. Medvedev may have his own ‘Yukos moment’ in time, but we should not assume he is an independent player until he does.
European governments can therefore welcome Medvedev’s election, but their response should be carefully calibrated to the extent of real change he is able to make. Europe should avoid repeating the over-reaction of many European leaders when Putin took over from the ailing Yeltsin in 2000. There should be no race to be Medvedev’s new best friend, no staring into his eyes and no speculating about his soul. We should also concentrate on what he does, not on what he says. Russia’s real transition is likely to come sometime after the election, when and if the new president begins to define the system, more than the other way around.
Download our full report entitled Meeting Medvedev: The Politics of the Putin Succession, published on 28 February, 2008.
The European Council on Foreign Relations does not take collective positions. ECFR publications only represent the views of their individual authors.


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Poem and pictures unite in a delirious celebration of a first ride on a Ferris wheel.
Two children answer their own repeated chorus of “Are we big enough this year, Mama? / Are we brave enough, Brother? / Sister, are you ready to fly?” with a resounding “YES.” They race through fairgrounds to soar, “swiggle sway / creak squeak / rickety ratcheting / up! / up! / up!” Literally rolling across the pages, Fitch’s lines fizz with motion, emotion and metaphor. Yayo’s cotton-candy–colored pictures pick it all up with vigorously brushed fancies in which the children’s arms become wings or reach out to dandelion-fluff stars. The wheel itself undergoes a series of transformations from giant squealing pig to spinning clothes dryer to bars of music to rows of cocoons and exotic birds. Earthbound again, the excitement abates not a whit: “We are fizzy with the dizzy reeling / fuzzy with the Ferris wheel feeling // Now and forever a part of the sky.”
A giddy, intense, hugely fun ride that will propel listening audiences large or small into spinning tizzies of their own. (Picture book. 5-9)


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Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has revealed his 16-man squad that is set to take on Manchester United in a pre-season game on Wednesday 17th July in Australia.
The Championship side narrowly missed out on promotion last season with a defeat in the playoffs. They haven't faced United in a league match since 2004 with their last two meetings coming in cup competitions: United winning 3-0 in a 2011 League Cup encounter and Jermaine Beckford's strike sealing a shock 1-0 FA Cup win for Leeds in 2010.
Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Kiko Casilla has made the squad with former Chelsea forward Patrick Bamford also being named in the traveling party.
Kiko Casilla, Kamil Miazek, Barry Douglas, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, Gaetano Berardi, Bryce Hosannah, Clarke Oduor, Adam Forshaw, Pablo Hernandez, Jack Harrison, Kalvin Phillips, Jordan Stevens, Mateusz Bogusz, Kemar Roofe, Patrick Bamford
⬇ Predict 6 EPL football scores with Futaa6 and you could win the $10,000 Jackpot, best of all it’s completely free to play every week in the Futaa Android App Download it now to play!

domain: sports


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Nurture at Willingdon
At Willingdon Community School we are working towards being accredited as a national nurturing school. This means making sure the 6 principles of nurture guide us in everything we do.
A nurturing approach recognises the importance of both the environment and social opportunities in shaping children’s development. Providing nurturing experiences through the school setting and curriculum, helps develop social and emotional skills, resilience and the capacity to deal with life for life.
A Nurture Group runs part time at Willingdon and provides additional support and opportunities for children and young people. Each group runs for 12 weeks. There is one forest school session, a cookery session and a session in school where the focus is on explicitly teaching children how to build emotional resilience and develop problem solving skills. Many children who are not in the Nurture Group are also given specific nurturing experiences via a range of alternative provisions that are offered as part of our commitment to inclusion.
The nurture approach is most successful when the ethos underpins everything a school does. This is why we are working hard to share and develop school wide best practice guided by the principles of nurture.
Restorative Practice forms a key part of Nurture. We believe that restorative conversations enable staff as well as children and young people to develop a better understanding of social interactions and to learn from experiences. We ask all staff to follow the following basic format to structure all restorative conversations:
What were you thinking at the time?
How were you feeling?
How are you feeling now?
How do you think the other person felt?
Who else has been affected by this?
What do you need to do now so that the situation can be repaired?
Restorative practice is not about apportioning blame or requesting apologies. It is about developing a shared understanding and repairing situations in a meaningful way.

domain: psychology


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Corpus Christi police investigate fatal shooting on North Beach
Corpus Christi police are investigating a shooting that left a 28-year-old man dead Saturday night on North Beach.
Senior Officer Gena Pena said officers were dispatched to the 200 block of South Hotel Place in response to a call about a shooting just after 10 p.m.. When officers arrived, they found a man with a gunshot wound, she said.
He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died, Pena said.
Three males were detained as part of the investigation, but it's unknown if any arrests had been made, she said. Investigators are still trying to determine what exactly occurred to lead to the shooting, she said.
Tim Acosta covers the Port of Corpus Christi, county and city government stories for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Consider supporting local journalism with a digital subscription to the Caller-Times.


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A stylish addition to your living room, the Boho set of 2 round nesting tables will provide added surface space for displaying accent pieces to make your home your own. Each table top is made from mango wood, which features a beautiful, warm natural grain finish, ensuring long lasting style and use. A slight concave design not only adds to the style, but will stop any accidental spillages of food or drink from going on your floor. The minimalistic black metal frame complements the table tops while being stable and sturdy. The smaller table fits effortlessly under the larger one for compact design and storage. Complementing most decors, the Boho nesting tables will make a wonderful feature in your living space. *This item is handcrafted so please expect slight variations to the finish*
Material: Mango Wood/ Jute
Dimensions: H45 X W53 X D53 CM
Please remember to add postal time (2-3 working days) to obtain a complete estimate of delivery to your door.
You will receive an email to confirm when your item has been sent.
You can also check the status of your order and individual items by accessing My Account details and following the prompts.
Please allow 10 working days from dispatch of your order before notifying us of any late deliveries.
It may be advisable to check with your neighbours to see if a parcel has been left with them, check any outhouses you might have where it may be left if it cannot fit through your letterbox and contact your local sorting office to see if the item has been returned to the depot as undelivered and awaiting collection.
Please see our returns policy.
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Chocolate Roll eLiquid Extract
$ 2.61 $ 9.99
Flavor Description: Not quite chocolate, not quite anything else. A chocolate flavor you have to judge for yourself.
Non-Flavoring Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Ethyl Alcohol and Vegetable Glycerin
Suggested Mix Percentage: 9%
Specific Gravity: 1.00 g/ml
Flavor Cartridge includes 60ml of chosen flavor concentrate, a 30ml Unicorn Bottle (Chubby Gorilla), and a Tastemaker Card. Click here for more information on flavoring your own eLiquid.
Please sign up to our wholesale program for bulk options and wholesale pricing.


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If grain prices had been unexpectedly buoyant in the run-up
to the Wasde report, they were more muted afterwards than many investors
OK, that was not so true of wheat, which had good reason to tumble by 1.8% to $6.69 a bushel in
Chicago for May delivery.
Although there was some support from delayed official US
crop condition data overnight - which showed just 35% of winter wheat seedlings in "good" or "excellent" health, even worse than last year – the Wasde offered
little to support prices of the grain.
The report, the US Department of Agriculture's flagship
monthly briefing on world crop supply and demand, raised the estimate for world
supplies at the end of 2013-14 by 2.9m tonnes to 186.7m tonnes, rather than
making the small downgrade that traders had forecast.
The USDA forecast for
domestic stocks was raised in line with expectations, by 25m bushels to 583m
bushels (15.9m tonnes).
"There was nothing in
today's report for wheat bulls," said Richard Feltes at RJ O'Brien.
'Model runs have
Furthermore, there is some hope of rain for the drought-hit
southern Plains at the heart of the poor winter crop condition.
"The morning and midday GFS model runs have turned wetter
for the Plains and Midwest and, yes, wetter in the hard red winter wheat areas,"
said Darrell Holaday at Country Futures.
"This will be interesting to watch as the weekend
approaches," with forecasts having a habit of u-turns.
WxRisk.com noted that the European weather model is "drier
over east Texas, east Oklahoma, and east Kansas" in the short-term outlook, and
shows no rain over the southern Plains in the six-to-10 day outlook.
It was notable that Kansas City-traded hard red winter wheat
- as grown in the southern Plains, and less of a fund favourite too than its
Chicago soft red winter wheat peer – fell by a more modest 1.2% to $7.32 ¼ a
But corn fell despite
some bullish numbers in the Wasde, with the USDA cutting its estimate for
domestic stocks at the close of 2013-14 by 125m bushels, more than the market had
Although this initially sent May futures to $5.19 a bushel,
the highest for a spot lot in seven months, the contract ended down 0.9% at $5.02
¼ a bushel, a retreat for which various explanations were offered.
One was disappointment that the USDA stuck by expectations
for feed use, despite the surprisingly large usage implied by domestic stocks data
last week, and for consumption by ethanol plants too, despite their strong
"Both could be revised higher on upcoming crop reports," RJ
O'Brien's Mr Feltes said.
'Already priced in'
In fact, weekly ethanol data were soft, with weekly US production
falling 26,000 barrels a day last week to 38,000 barrels a day.
And US inventories rose nonetheless, by 532,000 barrels to
16.41m barrels, helped by strong imports, which soared to 38,000 barrels a day
last week from 11,000 barrels a day the week before, and from zero for the
previous five months.
Profit-taking was widely seen as a setback too, with some
idea that futures are already fairly valued.
"Today's ending stock number implies $5.10 a bushel for nearby
futures," said Rich Nelson, chief strategist at Allendale.
"In other words, the market may have already priced in [the
New crop December corn underperformed, falling 1.4% to $5.05
½ a bushel, although the extent of the decline was in part down to a closing
price to the last session deemed artificially high, and a result of the
temporary glitch to CME Group's Globex electronic trading system.
It was left to soybeans
to keep Chicago bulls' happy, rising 0.9% for May to $14.95 ¼ a bushel, although
even this was well below the intraday high of $15.12 a bushel, again with
profit-taking seen at work.
The spurt followed a cut of 10m bushels to 135m bushels in
the USDA forecast for domestic soybean stocks – a small change on paper but one
which exceeded expectations and implies very squeezed supplies.
Indeed, as a proportion of use, they match the tightest on
records going back 50 years.
Soymeal for May
fell back too, closing up 0.8% at $478.10 a short ton, but below the four-month
high of $490.90 a short ton set earlier, after the USDA raised its estimate for
US exports by 100,000 short tons, but cut ideas of domestic use.
Mr Feltes said: "Domestic soymeal users will be forced to
lean on more use of distillers' grains," the rival protein feed source
manufactured as a byproduct by corn ethanol plants.
Lowest stocks since 1951
Among soft commodities, cotton
futures followed something of the same path as grains, suffering a late
sell-down to end 1.5% lower at 90.44 cents a pound in New York for May
The USDA also lowered its forecast for domestic stocks at
the close of 2013-14 by 300,000 bales to 2.5m bales – a 62-year low.
However, this downgrade had been largely expected, after
surprise ginnings data released two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, the USDA also nudged its estimate for world
stocks higher, by 170,000 bales to 96.9m bales, thanks to increases to
forecasts for Brazil and China.
Cocoa was mixed,
falling by 0.6% to $3,011 a tonne in New York for May delivery, but rising by 0.3%
to £1,887 a tonne in London for July, as traders await demand European data due
An increase of some 3% in the European grind for the
January-to-March quarter is expected.
But arabica coffee
rebounded from early losses to close up 1.7% at 199.85 cents a pound for May, after
Parana's rural economy department, Deral, forecasting a sharp drop in the
Brazilian state's coffee crop this year, thanks to the impact of frost last
year and the 2014 drought.
However, further gains may take some buying pressure to
achieve, with traders reporting significant selling pressure when prices have
strayed above 200 cents a pound.