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Short Takes : Lennon Slayer Tells Remorse, Says He Is Not an Evil Person
Mark David Chapman says that he feels great remorse for killing John Lennon but that the slaying doesn’t make him an evil person.
“You can’t judge a man’s life by one act. Before I became ‘The man who murdered John Lennon,’ I was basically a decent person,” Chapman said from his isolation cell at Attica state prison, where he is serving 20 years to life.
In the interview in Sunday’s Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Chapman said he suffered mental dissolution for years before killing the former Beatle on Dec. 8, 1980, outside Lennon’s apartment building in New York City.
“I’m not an evil person,” Chapman said. “Like everybody, there’s a small part within me that’s evil, and that’s what took over in my case. My energies turned foul and went toward something destructive.”
Chapman said he looks upon Lennon as “a seeker of truth.”
“It was an end of innocence for that time,” Chapman said. “And I regret being the one that ended it.”


Volkswagen tests Atlas Cross SportJune 4, 2019
The mid-size crossover will be complemented by a version of Atlas Cross Sport. The model bears a close resemblance to the concept, which was shown at the 2018 New York Motor Show.
Recently, a new Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was checked on American roads. Judging by the prototype, there will not be much difference between it and the Chinese Teramont X.
Perhaps the basic version of the Atlas Cross Sport will receive a 2.0-liter TSI engine. More expensive configuration will be available with a 3.6-liter V6, whose power is 276 hp and 360 Nm of torque. Both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive will be offered. The standard will be eight-speed automatic transmission Tiptronic.
The main competitors are Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Edge, Nissan Murano, Honda Passport, etc.
The premiere of the production version of the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport will take place, as is expected, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, which will open in November of this year.
- Key BMW and Mini models lose diesel engines
- Toyota suspends work at India plant again due to strike
- BMW is preparing for restyling crossover BMW X5
- 2021 Honda City hatchback unveiled
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz Metris gets new design and more options


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Beyoncé leaving Bar Pitti yesterday after having lunch with Jay-Z ... Zoe Kravitz walking around ... James Franco studying at the library ... Minnie Driver shopping with her mom in Soho and later pushing son Henry in a stroller in the Village ... Russell Crowe walking around in sweats on the Upper West Side ... Jason Bateman carrying daughter Francesca around on his shoulders ... Kathleen Turner hailing a taxi in Midtown ... Agyness Deyn walking with a friend in the East Village ... Sean Penn filming scenes for his new movie, Fair Game ... Zac Efron leaving his hotel in Midtown ... Michelle Williams and Spike Jonze walking in the rain in Brooklyn with Matilda ... and Diane Kruger shopping in Soho.
A very futuristic-looking Matthew Broderick climbing on his scooter outside his West Village townhouse ... Larry King walking on the Upper West Side ... Minnie Driver carrying a cup of coffee in the Village ... Angelina Jolie filming scenes for her new movie on Staten Island ... Jennifer Aniston covering up her face on the way out of her hotel ... Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon leaving their apartment en route to the airport ... Miley Cyrus walking on Madison Avenue with her sister ... Early Show weatherman Dave Price arriving at JFK ... Juliette Lewis walking by herself ... Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria leaving their hotel ... David Duchovny taking his daughter to the dentist ... and Naomi Watts sitting on a bench on the set of her new movie in Brooklyn.
Publicist (and new mom) Lizzie Grubman turns 38 today. Dick Cheney turns 68. Christian Bale is 35. Gene Hackman is 79. Wilmer Valderrama turns 29. Vanessa Redgrave is 72. Phil Collins is turning 58. Theater impresarios Harold Prince and Bernard Gersten are 81 and 86, respectively. NHL star Chris Simon is 37. Singer/songwriter Josh Kelley is 29. Weekend birthdays—including that of Andre Balazs—after the jump.
♦ Now that she doesn't have Guy Ritchie to boss around, Madonna is finding more time to control everyone else: She's supposedly been "begging" Gwyneth Paltrow to leave her London home so they can spend more time together in New York. She's also busy orchestrating a reunion between Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears: All three will be performing together at Madge's concert in LA tonight. [The Sun, E!]
♦ Padma Lakshmi is apparently on a "man-search" for a filthy rich boyfriend now that her flings with Ted Forstmann and Russell Simmons are over. [P6]
♦ Now that the election is over, Tina Fey says she will be officially retiring her Sarah Palin impression. [Extra]
Actress Minnie Driver recently gave birth to her son Henry last month, and in lieu of some splashy magazine cover (I mean, not that she's that big of a star to warrant that, but you know), she decided to just post a humble, makeup free, mom and baby photo on MySpace. It's a refreshingly un-self-indulgent photo that is heartening to see in this time of the splashy money-making, high gloss, celebrity baby industry. Maybe it represents a new era? Celebrities like Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan have retreated to MySpace and blogs to issue PR statements, so maybe the baby business will become less of a controlled and manipulated cottage industry as well. The owners of OK! magazine, one of the biggest baby buyers, recently stopped the crazed spending the tabloid had enjoyed indiscriminately for some years. Maybe Driver's new, simpler way will help drive the baby market down and babies will just become babies again, rather than increasingly cynical magazine tentpoles.
♦ David Duchovny has left the rehab facility where he's spent the last few weeks receiving treatment for sex addiction. He's now in NYC with wife Tea Leoni. [Us]
♦ Brangelina has left town. The family was spotted walking around New Orleans yesterday. [E!]
♦ Madonna made fun of Sarah Palin at her concert at the Meadowlands on Saturday night. [P6]
♦ Clint Eastwood might think Sarah Palin would make a good VP, although he didn't actually say it in so many words. [P6]
♦ Break out the tissues: Holly Madison says she and Hugh Hefner are no longer together. [TMZ]
The world awoke this morning to the chirping of little birds resembling Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris, perched at a podium in the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, announcing nominations for the 60th Emmy Awards. While most rolled over and tried to get back to sleep, we sat bolt upright as usual and sprinted to the window, our furious note-taking chronicling a few snubs, surprises and plenty of the conventional wisdom we've come to expect from the annual ritual.
Thus far, Riches star Minnie Driver has given the public three wildly different answers to anyone inquiring who knocked up the card-carrying member of that annoyingly massive Celebrity-Slash-Singer subset. Among the potential baby daddies she's flung out into the media’s clutches? The Easter Bunny, musician Craig Zolezzi, and yes, God him or herself. And six months into her pregnancy, Driver has defiantly and coyly kept her lips sealed, until now. In a recent interview with the UK’s Independent, she finally released two very telling details: the guy is British, and "sort of in the same business." Our guesses lie after the jump, but we leave it to you, loyal Defamer readers, to solve the mystery:
The Riches star has tried just about every way possible to get us to notice her over the years. Playing plump, banging a screenwriter-turned-star, getting skinny, doing the music thing, etc.. After sputtering out with all of the above and finding herself running low on fame-enhancing options, she decided that having a baby is a lot easier than becoming a Scientologist or developing (and then kicking) a nasty drug habit. Good luck, Minnie, everyone is rooting for you!
- Amy Winehouse's dad is trying to steal credit for some of his daughter's problems, but not the drug thing. Just the other ones. He was cheating on Winehouse's mom basically since the singer was born, then moved in with his mistress when she was 10, then married the mistress. Now Amy Winehouse makes songs like "What It Is About Men." [Us]
In our last dispatch from the Day Three picket lines for today, a reader reports on some high-profile drop-ins and some possible scab-related intrigue at Culver Studios: "I'm a SAG actor (a nobody) walking the WGA picket lines at Culver Studios today. Minnie Driver shows up with her dog Bubba to hang out with her writing staff. Eddie Izzard shows up and starts handing out blue wristbands that say 'All for One and One for All' that loop into a Gordian knot. He ordered these up himself and said 'they're not official.' Minnie takes off after a couple of hours and then Eddie goes "Norma Rae" on everyone. Lost in the shuffle was Josh Duhamel who didn't showboat at all. The buzz on the line is that the Las Vegas writers had spotted a former writer who was no longer on staff coming onto the lot. As I left, they had not stormed the lot yet."

domain: celebrity


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A YOUNG Huntly swimmer has met her Olympic hero.
Tegan Davidson (10) took part in the Dwarf Sports Association national games in Birmingham.
The young swimmer returned home with a clutch of gold medals.
However, the highlight of the weekend was meeting British paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds OBE, who is patron of the association.
Read Tegan's story in the Huntly Express on Friday.

domain: news


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A Dallas church worker who claims she had a sexual affair with Barack Obama’s fiery mentor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, was fired for her lousy job performance, her former boss told The Post.
“Her [firing] had nothing to do with Jeremiah Wright,” the Rev. Frederick Haynes III, pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church, said yesterday of his ousted executive assistant, Elizabeth Payne. “Her performance wasn’t up to standards.”
As The Post reported yesterday, Payne, 37, claims she lost both her job and her husband in the wake of an extramarital dalliance with the controversial and racially divisive Wright, 67.
Meanwhile, Wright last night was a no-show at the second of three sermons he was to deliver in East Orange, NJ.
“It’s an unexpected problem for him – and all of us,” Elmwood Presbyterian Church pastor Robert Burkins Sr. told a stunned gathering. Wright’s Monday-night sermon theme was “unexpected problems.”


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Consortium for Health Policy and Systems Analysis in Africa (CHEPSAA)
In sub-Saharan Africa health improvement remains a major development challenge. A growing evidence base demonstrates that health systems must be strengthened to secure progress in addressing mortality and tackling disease burdens. Yet there is a dearth of African research to support such action. African Ministers of Health and international agencies have, therefore, called for accelerated development of relevant research. At present, relatively few African scientists work in the field of health policy and systems (HPS) research and few African universities offer relevant training programmes. And although such research derives its utility largely from its ability to inform decision-making, interactions between the research and policy communities are generally weak and policy makers are often unaware of, or uninterested, in relevant research. The development of sustained African HPS research capacity, thus, requires the consolidation and strengthening of relevant research and educational programmes, as well as the development of stronger engagement between the policy and research communities.
CHEPSAA will address both of these issues. Its goal is to extend sustainable African capacity to produce and use high quality HPS research. It builds on and expands the work of an existing HPS capacity development partnership among seven African universities, drawing in the support of four European universities with particular expertise in this field. During its lifetime it will: review capacity development needs amongst the African organizations and their national networks; strengthen African skills and organisational capacity to support HPS research and training; extend existing training programmes provided by the African participants; and support the development of excellent academic teaching and research networks both to sustain national and regional demand for HPS training and research, and to facilitate the use of research in policy making.
The South African arm of this study consists of the School of Public health and Family Medicine at the University of Cape Town, the School of Public Health at the University of the Western cape, and the Centre for Health Policy at the University of the Witwatersrand. African collaborators include the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; the School of Public Health at the University of Ghana, Ghana; the Tropical Institute of Community Health at the Great Lakes University of Kisumu, Kenya; and the College of Medicine at the University of Nigeria Enugu, Nigeria. European collaborators are the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK; the Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development at the University of Leeds, UK; the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute at the University of Basel, Switzerland.
This is central to the CHEPSAA project and includes development of staff and training capacity in each African organisation through staff and organisational development, and course development including modules on Masters courses, Masters courses and a scope of Doctoral-level programmes. Further supporting health policy and systems research capacity development is an emphasis on developing organisational and country networking strategies through attendance of policy-makers on short courses, networking with other organisations, policy seminars and policy/researcher staff exchanges. The project will also strengthen regional links, with cross-cutting themes of project management and knowledge management to achieve the goal of sustainable African capacity to produce and use high quality health policy and systems research.
Mirzoev T, Le G, Green A, Orgill M, Komba A, Esena RK, Nyapada L, Uzochukwu B, Amde WK, Nxumalo N, Gilson L. (2013) Assessment of capacity for Health Policy and Systems Research and Analysis in seven African universities: results from the CHEPSAA project. Health Policy Plan, doi:10.1093/heapol/czt065.
Lê, G., Mirzoev, T., Orgill, M., Erasmus, E., Lehmann, U., Okeyo, S., Goudge, J., Maluka, S., Uzochukwu, B., Aikins, M., De Savigny, D., Tomson, G. and Gilson, L. (2014). A new methodology for assessing health policy and systems research and analysis capacity in African universities. Health Research Policy and Systems, 12(59).
Lê, G., Mirzoev, T., Erasmus, E., Okeyo, S., Esena, R. & Uzochukwu, B. (2014). How to do Capacity Assessments for Health Policy and Systems Research in University Settings: A Handbook. Leeds, Consortium for Health Policy and Systems Analysis in Africa.
Orgill, M. Nxumalo, N. et al. (2013). Health policy and systems research: Needs, challenges and opportunities in South Africa - a university perspective. In Padarath, A. & English, R. (Eds.) South African Health Review 2012/13. Health Systems Trust.
Nxumalo, N. (2015). Emerging Leaders in Health Policy and Systems Research & Analysis in Africa: Developing the practices of HPSR+A leadership. An overview of the CHEPSAA Emerging Leaders Programme. Johannesburg: Consortium for Health Policy and Systems Analysis in Africa.
Erasmus, E. (2014). Emerging Leaders Programme: Early Successes. Newsletter outlining some of the successes of the Emerging Leaders Programme. Cape Town: Consortium for Health Policy and Systems Analysis in Africa.
Visit http://www.hpsa-africa.org/index.php/resources/chepsaa-outputs2 to access the CHEPSAA course materials and resources.

domain: medical


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Still Trippin (Object Blue's What Are You Doing remix) - (4:02) 128 BPM
Review: Clearly, thirteen is not an unlucky number in the Steel City world, as they deliver the debut release on the label from Jasper James. Known for his work on Left Room and Optimo Trax, Jasper doesn't disappoint here; "Still Trippin" is a playful house track, centred on a 2-step style rhythm and populated by infectious vocal samples. By contrast, "The Savoy" is a darker affair as James fuses insistent thunder claps with detuned synth riffs to create a jacking affair. Mall Grab's take on "Still Trippin" moves into peak-time, rave-fuelled abandon, while Object Blue's version of the same track is radically different, thanks to its dubbed out sound effects and rolling break beats.
Review: Steel City Dance Discs bills itself as a 'working class' dance label, and in Jordon Saxton aka Viers, it has identified a like-minded purveyor of gritty electronic music. "Megabyte of Rave Juice" is a raucous and effective update of the hardcore /rave axis, with Saxton laying down wild synth stabs over high-paced breaks. "Bless" is less frenetic but resounds to steely breaks, while Viers changes direction on "Four" to deliver a pounding, somewhat menacing techno track that's powered by dense kicks and cheese wire percussion. Changing tact again, "What Is it" is a glitchy, stop-start experimental piece.

domain: artistic


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Autopsy Complete! L.A. Coroner Reveals New Details Of Kardashian BFF Bobby Heyward's Death – Was It Drug Overdose?
The autopsy of Bobby Heyward, the close mutual friend Of Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian, has been completed just days after his death on June 20. Now, L.A. County Coroner, Ed Winter, tells RadarOnline.com about what he found -- and whether it was an overdose.
Law enforcement sources initially said that Heyward's sudden death appeared to be drug-related. But Winter told RadarOnline.com, “We have completed the autopsy on Bobby Heyward and it has turned out to be inconclusive.”
“Therefore, it is deferred,” he added.
“If it is a drug overdose, as the law enforcement suggested, that will not be revealed until we have the toxicology and neuropathology exam and those results could take up to 6 months.”
Heyward’s death came just one week after Odom’s best friend, Jamie Sangouthai, died as a result of IV drug usage.
Although Odom has not spoken out publicly since the passing, RadarOnline.com spoke to a member of his inner circle who revealed insight into the friendship between Odom and Heyward.
- Bam Margera Accepts Lamar Odom's Offer for Rehab After Bizarre Rant, Swears Off Drinking
- 'My Heart Goes Out To His Family': Lamar Odom Pays Tribute To Late Friend Aaron Carter, Addresses Struggles With Addiction
- Lamar Odom Speaks Out About ‘Brother’ Kanye West, Says He Wishes Embattled Rapper’s Late Mom Donda Could Put Him Back On Track
“Bobby was the most beloved, nicest, sweetest guy in the world,” celebrity manager David Weintraub, who co-created Sons of Hollywood with Heyward, previously said, adding, “Lamar and Bobby were very close.”
There is no word yet on funeral and burial arrangements for Heyward, who came from an influential Los Angeles family.
Do you think that Lamar Odom should enter rehab now? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.


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Hello friends! January is almost over morphing into the final chill of February. And so here we are with yet another amazing book for your 2023 reading journey. The Tidings of Misfits is a science fiction fantasy novel written by Jordan Dugdale. The story follows a group of unlikely friends on the journey to follow a siren song from a mysterious city.
Reader Rating: ?????
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy
A voice luring them to the land of Volendam.
A group of misfits bound together by fate.
A vampire marked by a shadow woman possessing his blood.
A thief with a price on her head attempts to assassinate the sultan of Shoma.
A man who lost his name.
And two lizardfolk. One seeks the knowledge of immortality. The other seeks a life that is their own.
Starting The Tidings of Misfits with a synopsis
The ground opens its gaping maw sending an unlikely group of friends plummeting to a world underground, landing inside a monstrous cavern overrun by rakken – grotesque, mutated rats worshiping a god whose return would bring about the end of days. They have no choice but to battle their way to freedom, to the surface, each branded with the dark magic that affixes them. There is a sudden yen attracting them to Volendam, a city cloaked by many secrets. They don’t know why it calls them having no choice but to follow its lead.
But when they arrive, will they find a cure for their branded curse? Or will it trigger the awakening of the dragons within the city?
Tidings to you.
The beginning of The Tidings of Misfits starts off with a bang. Slowing down tremendously, causing me to end up being bored through most of the book. Although it took me a bit to get into the story (I was in a reading slump when I started to read this), by the end of the book I was really fond of the characters. I haven’t often read a book that categorizes as a misfit/found family trope but the author wrote this well enough that I am going to look at other books with this theme. The humor woven through the tale was relatable, making me laugh, as I would say most of the things stated.
The tale is enjoyable, written from the five main characters’ points of view. Each portion of the story is quite fleshed out and has its own building on other perspectives. This addition was nice, enhancing the story. The main focus of the story was the world-building, and while the book itself was pretty short it packed a lot into the story. The detail was great, setting the scene and placing you squarely in the middle of the action. This nod to the detail was a show of how well the author can tell the story, adding to my adoration of the book.
After everything, the world-building was so much that I often felt like I was losing pieces of the story and had to go back and reread the passages. At times this created moments where I lost interest in the story. The details could have been woven into the story more intricately versus the periodic dumps that ended up happening.
The Tidings of Misfits is a solid debut from Dugdale
Did I like it? Yes, despite some it its initial flaws the story was strong and by the end, it felt like a “merry band of thieves”. There were questions that I would like answered and hope that the story continues.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. It’s a solid debut novel. Again despite the parts that were slow like molasses and having to reread portions to get a grasp because there was sooo much world-building at times you forget that this is the author’s first novel.
I did receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the author for allowing me to review her book.
The Tidings of Misfits is currently FREE on Kindle Unlimited.


The deadliest machine gun ever made holds astronomical firing power – capable of firing up to 1,300 bullets in 10 seconds.
Named XM556, the machine gun is billed as ‘the world’s first hand-held 5.56mm micro gun’ by the makers.
The gun’s distinguishing factor is its size, as its small and light frame makes its fire power even more remarkable.
The XM556 has earned a number of nicknames for itself, such as being dubbed ‘the widow maker’, as well as being likened to a miniature version of the Gatling gun.
It has been said that the hand-held machine gun is the weapon of choice for ambushes, as it can lay down an immense amount of fire power instantaneously.
With the ability to fire up to 8,000 rounds in a minute, it is no surprise that this weapon has one of the highest rates of fire of any machine gun ever made.
The XM556 is a six-barrel machine gun requiring a 24-volt DC power source.
Being on the smaller and lighter side of guns with similar fire power, it weighs around 13lbs and is just under two feet long.
The machine gun fires a 5.56mm bullet, it is highly portable and can easily fit into a suitcase, making it ideal for covert operations.
It has been designed for very close combat of ranges less than 100 feet.
The gun was designed from scratch, with a completely new platform system.
A brand-new style of bolt was designed for the XM556 in order to eliminate current issues with the M134 style.
The many improvements made to the new gun have in turn extended the life of the gun and also reduced wear and tear.
Earlier this year, a police officer was applauded for his bravery following a stand-off with an armed man.
In footage shared to social media, the Met police officer can be seen holding onto the assailant and pulling him up from the floor.
The officer then takes a few steps back, aiming his taser at the man.
In a terrifying turn of events, the suspect picks up a gun - which was believed to be a replica - from the floor and points it back at the officer.
Luckily, the officer is able to get close enough to the man to throw him to the ground, which is where the footage ends.
The Met police confirmed that the man was arrested and taken into police custody following the incident.
The officer was praised for his bravery during the incident.
Featured Image Credit: Empty Shell/MoD
- Teen guardsman who walked alongside Queen's coffin found dead in barracks
- Armed Forces Minister Slams 'Disgraceful' Sex Videos In Army Barracks
- Murderer who killed pop star's daughter on the run after failing to return to prison
- Archie Battersbee's mother says she's 'the proudest mum in the world' after son's life support is switched off


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Beads and stones hanging from the ends of the tassel of your dupatta or the bodice do wonders to adorn the bare gaps in the back of your choli or blouse. Think about choosing unique and quirky patterns like this.
Long-line bra in tulle embroidered with motifs inspired by a design from the early with neoprene inserts. The hooks and loops are made from golden metal engraved with the La Perla logo. All elements are rhodium-plated making them shiny and r


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Office and Amenities
Dr. Michael Posada and his dedicated staff are warm, welcoming and ready for your visit. Our Houston dental clinic is fully equipped for making your child’s experience pleasant and fun. Greenway Pediatric Dentistry offers many perks and amenities to help make for a comfortable, convenient and worry-free trip every time kids and parents come to see us. It is important for us to help keep your child’s smile healthy. Greenway Pediatric Dentistry is constantly finding new ways to entertain kids and deliver top-notch dental care and customer service.
Free and Convenient Parking
Conveniently located at 2990 Richmond Avenue Greenway Pediatric Dentistry has ample free parking is easily accessible in both the front (uncovered) and the back (covered and uncovered) of the building.
Our kid-friendly Houston dental office is located on the first floor on the southwest corner of the building. If you enter from the front entrance, our office will be at the end of the left-side corridor. If you come in the rear entrance, you will find us at the end of the right-side corridor.
Our office is well equipped with five private operatories, intraoral and panoramic x-ray units, nitrous oxide in every operatory, an in-house laboratory and entertainment for both adults and children. Restrooms are located outside the office next to the lobby.
The friendly, bilingual dental office in Houston, also offers convenient Saturday appointments and uses only the best dental technology. Dr, Posada and his Greenway Pediatric dentistry team, are happy to provide safe, comfortable, high-quality dental care in a worry-free environment.


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April 27, 2004
A UMNS Report By Pat Rogers*
(UMNS) — United Methodists were among the hundreds of thousands who
gathered April 25 at the National Mall in Washington to focus attention
on what they say are attacks on women’s reproductive rights.
the “March for Women’s Lives,” the event included women from across the
nation and 60 foreign countries. The daylong event featured speeches by
celebrities, politicians and religious activists.
from the United Methodist Board of Church and Society and the Women's
Division of the churchwide Board of Global Ministries participate in the
"March for Women's Lives" on the National Mall. |
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice brought together some 70
religious and religiously affiliated organizations for the march,
including contingents from the United Methodist Board of Church and
Society and the Women’s Division, United Methodist Board of Global
hope is that the march will raise the awareness of people and it will
remind people that women can be trusted with the decisions they need to
make regarding their reproductive health,” said Julie Taylor, a Women’s
Division staff executive.
Methodist Social Principles sanction abortion when an “unacceptable”
pregnancy may cause “devastating damage” to the mother. But the church
opposes partial-birth abortion, a late-term procedure now banned by
legislation President Bush signed into law last November.
law, and other measures aimed at limiting women’s access to
reproductive choice, cause concern, according to Taylor. “Where will we
go? Will there be a list of procedures you can’t do and a list of
procedures you can?” she asked.
|The “March For Women’s Lives” included women from across the nation and 60 foreign countries.|
fears that more and more doctors and pharmacists are either unwilling
or unable to provide information on reproductive health care. “Now, when
doctors are being trained, they can opt out of any kind of an abortion
procedure on women so that they don’t learn how to do the procedures at
all,” Taylor explained.
marchers gathered under an overcast sky on the National Mall near the
Washington Monument, walked down Pennsylvania Avenue and then headed
back to the mall near the Capitol.
been 10 years since pro-choice organizers last held such a march in
Washington, and organizers say this year’s turnout far exceeded the last
march. The Associated Press cited police sources who estimated the
crowd at between 500,000 and 800,000.
number included a much smaller group protesting the march. A member of
that group carried a sign that said “Baby Killers” and heckled marchers
with a bullhorn as they walked by.
Rev. Paul Stallsworth, a United Methodist pastor, attended the march as
an abortion opponent. “Abortion is something to be resisted, and the
unborn child is to be defended and protected as well as his or her
mother,” he said.
|Police estimated the crowd at the "March for Women's Lives" at between 500,000 and 800,000.|
who is also the editor and president of Lifewatch, an anti-abortion
publication, described the stance of many at the march as “rigid,
unqualified and unyielding” and claimed they were in favor of abortion
for any reason or at any stage of pregnancy.
marchers appreciated the chance to be in solidarity with women from all
walks of life. “I like the fact that there are women who have made it
to the top and could be doing a million different things right now, but
instead they’ve come here and they are with us in fighting for what they
believe in,” said Beth Preston, 27, who came to the march from
Snyder, 20, drove from Colorado with two friends to attend the march.
As many in the crowd, she wanted to send a message to politicians intent
on restricting abortion-rights laws. “We believe we women should have
the decisions over our own bodies, not the government,” she said.
at the march were unhappy with the policies of the Bush administration.
“Anybody but Bush,” said Tracy Oswald, 43. “Bush is catering to the
religious right on the abortion issue and just about everything else.”
the overwhelming focus was on reproductive rights, there was a host of
special-interest groups on the mall, including those supporting
separation of church and state, environmental groups and even a small
number of Communist Party supporters.
expected, there was only a smattering of men in the crowd. Dusting
Kowalski, 30, drove 10 hours from Lansing, Mich., to attend. “This is a
much larger issue than a man-versus-women thing. For me, it is an issue
of state control, how much the state controls what we as people can do
with our bodies,” Kowalski said.
*Rogers is a UMNS correspondent based in Washington.
News media contact: Linda Bloom (646)369-3759


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Brandt Group of Companies has confirmed that it has successfully acquired the assets of Wickham Flower & Co Pty Ltd, a John Deere Ag dealer group based in South Australia.
Vaughn Colwill, Wickham Flower; Matt Rowett, Murray Nankivell Accountants; Mark Verco, Wickham Flower; Ben Abbot, Murray Nankivell Accountants; Leigh Muster, Wickham Flower; Justin Conroy, Brandt; and Tim Ormrod, Brandt.
Initially announced in May, the agreement closed yesterday with the sale including Wickham Flowers assets across four locations: Mount Gambier, Naracoorte, Bordertown, and Keith.
With this acquisition, Brandt now owns and operates 23 John Deere dealerships across Australia and New Zealand.
Brandt chief executive officer Shaun Semple said in a statement that the company is currently working to integrate the operations.
“We’re working hard to deliver better-than-ever value for Australian farmers, and adding the award-winning team at Wickham Flower will help us to make that happen,” Mr. Semple said.
Read the complete article at: www.graincentral.com

domain: finance


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The nice chaps at Singletrack Magazine in the UK have just taken delivery of their latest test bike, a 2016 Kona Process 153. There is a little photo-set and a preview up on the site here, we can’t wait to hear what they have to say about it!
“The Hei Hei delivers what I DO want in a XC bike - awesome pedaling characteristics and fun, playful handling.” @bikemag’s Hei Hei first ride review is online now! Click on the link in our profile for Mike… https://www.instagram.com/p/B_BFMlPhPTj/?igshid=13xcv0mpanm9g
Self filmed and edited Kona Ambassador Ben Gerrish (@HDDNMedia) brings you D E T A C H E D, a simple take on solitary riding. #KonaBikes #KonaProcess #KonaAmbassadors https://www.instagram.com/p/B-xoY25j5F2/?igshid=ec5z9gkayuji
Parlty inspired by Logan Watts (@bikepackingcom) epic Sutra Ltd build, Paulo’s (crankngrind) new Sutra Ltd is thing of understated beauty. Content with many of the bikes stock parts he’s customized the cockpit and… https://www.instagram.com/p/B-xbVPsD11c/?igshid=qiwdfypr3035

domain: hobby


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On Wednesday 3rd May, we were delighted to welcome the legendary singer, songwriter and actress Beverley Knight to Mulberry School for Girls. Beverley visited our 240 Year 9 students to speak to them about her role in Sylvia as Emmeline Pankhurst for which she recently won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress.
This was particularly special as our whole Year 9 cohort have seen her perform as Emmeline at the Old Vic and the play forms a crucial part of the Year 9 integrated Arts Project at the end of Key Stage 3. Also in the audience were Music students from Mulberry Academy Shoreditch, Mulberry School for Girls Music GCSE students and our amazingYear 8 Music ambassadors.
A panel of Year 9 students impressed Beverley with their thought-provoking questions and confident delivery. Another group of Year 9 journalists interviewed Beverley and will go on to create an article about her visit.
Students Latisha, Liliana and Sumaiya from Mulberry School for Girls also enjoyed tea with Beverley. They were joined by our CEO, Dr Vanessa Ogden and Headteacher, Alice Ward. It was a fantastic opportunity for the students to have an intimate and face to face conversation with such a brilliant star. It will certainly be a memorable moment for the students involved.
The visit provided a wonderful space for students to learn so much from this inspirational artist and speaker. We hope Beverley enjoyed her time at Mulberry School for Girls and we thank her for giving up her precious time to come and visit us.


In a gym adorned with flags, handmade signs and balloons, dozens of area veterans received a resounding "thank you" from Geneva teens for Veterans Day.
It's a longstanding tradition at the Geneva middle schools to allow students to invite friends and family who served in the military to a Veterans Day ceremony where they are lauded with patriotic songs from the band and speeches from students. Later, the veterans visit with the students in small groups and field questions about their military service.
Schools in Batavia and St. Charles also hosted special events, including a concert at St. Charles North High School and several ceremonies at Batavia elementary and middle schools.
"You get to converse with the kids and let them know a little about what we had to go through," said Vernon Ray, of Geneva, who was at Geneva Middle School North with his grandson, Eric Daurte, an eighth-grader. "Patriotism isn't always taken very seriously now. There will be another generation to serve, and I hope they serve proudly."
More than 70 veterans, including a World War II veteran who spent 45 months in a prisoner-of-war camp and a 96-year-old veteran who glided on to the beaches of Normandy, were on hand for the ceremony.
When Raymond Nelson, 96, of Beloit, Wis., was asked what he thought as he came upon the beaches in a military glider, he chuckled and said, "survival." His great-granddaughter, Kendell Clark, 12, said he's only begun to tell his families about his experiences during the war.
Capt. Van Stone, a Vietnam veteran with a long military lineage, served as the event's keynote speaker. He reminded the students that the troops he commanded in Vietnam were not much older than the middle-schoolers listening that day. With 1,000 veterans dying each day, it's now the students' turn to defend the United States and its values, he said.
Veterans are not just strangers, old men and women living in the past, he said, or Rambo or the A-Team, but the family members and friends seated next to them.
Destiny Shaffer, 11, invited a family friend, Sgt. Laurel Baker, to attend. Baker met Shaffer's family at their church, and when she was deployed to Kuwait, they kept in contact and sent care packages. Destiny got to know Baker through Skype chats while Baker was overseas.
"I was just blown away" by the family's kindness, Baker said.
Nearby was Michael Donatelli, 12, whose grandfather, Michael Donatelli, 73, of Edison Park, was on hand for his sixth ceremony after attending in previous years with his granddaughters. The Navy veteran said he's always impressed by the event.
But best of all, he said, is "I get to see my grandkids."


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The patient is a 20 year old female with no significant past medical history who presented from another hospital . 2 weeks prior to transfer she developed a headache and sore throat with associated fevers, chills, and a temp of 101-102 degrees F. In initial work up she was negative for streptococcal infection. Two weeks prior to her symptoms, she traveled to Portage, Wisconsin , where swam in the local lake. Three months prior, she traveled to Ireland where she was in contact with donkeys. At the OSH worked up and found to have worsening bicytopenia, transaminitis, and hyperbilirubinemia. She was started on empiric antibiotic therapy. On the morning of transfer, she developed a papular bullous rash on her mid-thighs, mildly increased liver enzymes, increased LDH and total bilirubin of 9.4mg/dL. She was then transferred to our hospital for escalation of care and workup for HUS, hemolytic anemia, or other causes.
On initial admission she had mild fever, headaches, photophobia with reduced vision, phonophobia, fevers, chills, nausea and vomiting, jaundice, and dark urine. Initial labs showed a hemoglobin concentration of 8.4g/dL, with positive direct antiglobulin test, elevated LDH, and low haptoglobin consistent with autoimmune hemolysis. CSF studies were within normal limits, and bone marrow biopsy and aspiration was performed.
At the time of biopsy CBC showed:
WBC (th/mcL): ________ 3.35 (L)
RBC (M/mcL):_________ 2.54 (L)
Hemoglobin (g/dL):_____ 9.2 (L)
Hematocrit (%): _______ 24.5 (L)
MCV (fL):_____________ 96.5
MCH (pg): ____________ 36.2 (H)
MCHC (g/dL): _________ 37.6 (H)
RDW (%): ____________ 20.6 (H)
Platelets (th/mcL):______ 98 (L)
Neutrophils (th/mcL): ___ 1.37 (L)
Immat. grans. (th/mcL): _ 0.04
Lymphocytes (th/mcL):__ 1.71
Monocytes (th/mcL):____ 0.18
Eosinophils (th/mcL): ___ 0.02
Basophils (th/mcL):_____ 0.03
The blood smear showed an increased fraction of atypical lymphocytes (A).
Subsequent to marrow biopsy, EBV IgM titer results were positive, indicating a diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis, antibiotics were withheld, and all of her symptoms improved spontaneously.
The biopsy showed normal hematopoiesis with occasional granulomas, including lipogranulomas and fibrin ring granulomas. Occasional clusters of activated lymphocytes were evident near the granulomas, and scattered EBER+ cells were identified.


A series of devastating forest fires occurred in June last year torn through the Canadian province of Quebec, releasing huge plumes of acrid smoke floating throughout North America. Two hundred miles away in Boston, dermatologist Shadi Kourosh noticed something strange. “We had an unusual spike in dermatology visits,” said Kourosh, director of community health in the department of dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.
Patients whose flare-ups of eczema or itchy skin would normally only be a problem in winter came to her clinic in mid-summer. Like New York, Detroit and other cities in the northern United States, Boston was experiencing above-average air pollution due to the wildfires, and Kourosh suspected this could be impacting people’s skin.
To prove this, her team collected five years of data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on particulate matter and carbon monoxide levels in Boston, and linked it to anonymized patient records from Mass General Brigham Hospital, the largest hospital group in the world. Massachusetts.
She found it a link between air pollution levels and hospital visits for atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema. In June 2022, carbon monoxide levels in Boston were less than 0.2 parts per million, and the number of clinic visits for atopic dermatitis and eczema was less than 20. In June 2023, during the wildfires, carbon monoxide levels were three times higher. at 0.6 parts per million, and the number of dermatology visits had increased to 160.
It is not only acute events such as forest fires that can affect the skin; daily pollution from vehicles and industry also has an effect. In 2021, scientists in China found a clutch between higher baseline levels of air pollution and conditions such as eczema in children in Guangzhou.
“Many of these components of air pollution are irritating to the skin,” Kourosh explains. On contact, they can cause inflammation and cause the skin to age faster. “People with eczema have a weakened, more fragile skin barrier, which allows pollutants to penetrate deeper and activate the immune system,” she says. This leads to flare-ups and explains the spike in visits she noticed at her clinic.
Air pollution has been linked to a host of health problems, ranging from asthma and lung cancer to diabetes and obesity. In that context, focusing on the skin may seem trivial. But it is extremely important. More than 99 percent of the world’s population live in places where pollution levels exceed World Health Organization guidelines, and serious skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis can be intensely disabling. “Yes, it doesn’t kill anyone, but if you suffer seriously from it, you have a terrible quality of life,” says Carsten Flohr of the British Association of Dermatologists. “The sleep disorder, especially if you have eczema from a young age, is a form of torture. You can never establish the right body rhythm, and that has all kinds of other consequences: anxiety, depression, social withdrawal.”
What starts as a skin condition in childhood can quickly develop through what is known as the “atopic march”, to food allergies and asthma. It is thought that air pollution can make people more sensitive to other allergens by putting the immune system into a hyper-alert state. “It’s almost as if the air pollution ‘opens up’ the skin and makes contact between the skin’s immune system and the environment more likely,” says Flohr. “Air pollution is like a catalyst in a chemical reaction.”


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Yup, gang's all here! And in matching white outfits, no less!
But this time, there's a lot more to this than just the photo.
So, after this picture was posted, Twitter users became enraged.
[Image via Cosmopolitan.]
Now, THAT is how you bring the house down!
She's a two-time winner, close to nabbing her third tonight, and Sutton Foster just continues to prove what an astounding talent she really is!
At the Tony Awards tonight, she along with her fellow cast members of Violet shared the beauty and power of their musical with not one, but two performances!
Ch-ch-check out the video (above) to watch rainbow of talent shine bright with Violet!!!


KNOWN: Steady-state, one-dimensional heat conduction through an axisymmetric shape. FIND: Sketch temperature distribution and explain shape of curve. SCHEMATIC:
ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Steady-state, one-dimensional conduction, (2) Constant properties, (3) No internal heat generation.
ANALYSIS: Performing an energy balance on the object according to Eq. 1.11a, E in − E out = 0, itfollows that E in − E out = q x
and that q x ≠ q x x . That is, the heat rate within the object is everywhere constant. From Fourier’s law,
q x = − kA x
dT , dx
and since qx and k are both constants, it follows that
dT = Constant. dx
That is, the product of the cross-sectional area normal to the heat rate and temperature gradient remains a constant and independentof distance x. It follows that since Ax increases with x, then dT/dx must decrease with increasing x. Hence, the temperature distribution appears as shown above. COMMENTS: (1) Be sure to recognize that dT/dx is the slope of the temperature distribution. (2) What would the distribution be when T2 > T1? (3) How does the heat flux, q ′′ , vary with distance? x
KNOWN: Hot water pipecovered with thick layer of insulation. FIND: Sketch temperature distribution and give brief explanation to justify shape. SCHEMATIC:
ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Steady-state conditions, (2) One-dimensional (radial) conduction, (3) No internal heat generation, (4) Insulation has uniform properties independent of temperature and position. ANALYSIS: Fourier’s law, Eq. 2.1, for this one-dimensional(cylindrical) radial system has the form
q r = − kA r
dT dT = − k 2πr dr dr
where A r = 2πr and is the axial length of the pipe-insulation system. Recognize that for steadystate conditions with no internal heat generation, an energy balance on the system requires E in = E out since E g = E st = 0. Hence
qr = Constant.
That is, qr is independent of radius (r). Since the thermalconductivity is also constant, it follows that
dT "# = Constant. ! dr $
This relation requires that the product of the radial temperature gradient, dT/dr, and the radius, r, remains constant throughout the insulation. For our situation, the temperature distribution must appear as shown in the sketch. does q ′′ r vary with r? (2) Recognize that the radial temperature gradient, dT/dr,decreases with r increasing radius. COMMENTS: (1) Note that, while qr is a constant and independent of r, q ′′ is not a constant. How r
KNOWN: A spherical shell with prescribed geometry and surface temperatures. FIND: Sketch temperature distribution and explain shape of the curve. SCHEMATIC:
ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Steady-state conditions, (2) One-dimensional conduction inradial (spherical coordinates) direction, (3) No internal generation, (4) Constant properties. ANALYSIS: Fourier’s law, Eq. 2.1, for this one-dimensional, radial (spherical coordinate) system has the form
qr = −k Ar
dT dT = − k 4π r 2 dr dr
yields E in = E out , since E g = E st = 0. Hence, qin = q out = q r ≠ q r ( r ) .
where Ar is the surface area of a sphere. Forsteady-state conditions, an energy balance on the system
That is, qr is a constant, independent of the radial coordinate. Since the thermal conductivity is constant, it follows that
dT r 2 = Constant. dr
This relation requires that the product of the radial temperature gradient, dT/dr, and the radius 2 squared, r , remains constant throughout the shell. Hence, the temperaturedistribution appears as shown in the sketch. COMMENTS: Note that, for the above conditions, q r ≠ q r ( r ) ; that is, qr is everywhere constant. How does q ′′ vary as a function of radius? r
KNOWN: Symmetric shape with prescribed variation in cross-sectional area, temperature distribution and heat rate. FIND: Expression for the thermal conductivity, k. SCHEMATIC:
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text:
The opaque diamond trade may be ripe for disruption.
Lucara Diamond, which recently found the second-largest diamond in history in Botswana, is taking on industry giants such as De Beers and Alrosa PJSC with an online platform to replace the current physical auctions.
The service allows Lucara to match buyers’ requirements, not only saving jewelers the trouble of traveling to Botswana but also ending the practice of buying stones by the bucket. They typically can only use some, and then have to sell the rest on the secondary market.
“For the first time ever, manufacturers buy only what they want, they don’t have to carry all this extra inventory,” Eira Thomas, Lucara’s chief executive officer, said in an interview in Stockholm. “The large integrated jewelry companies don’t want to be in the business of secondary trading. They’re just trying to source diamonds for their own products.”
The service allows Lucara to match buyers’ requirements.
In a series of trials, Vancouver, Canada-based Lucara claims that prices were 8 percent over Lucara’s traditional market price. It’s now trying to bring other independent producers on board, with the aim of moving at least a portion of the $18 billion annual diamond trade onto its site called Clara.
Whether Lucara will be able to attract major producers to use its system remains to be seen. De Beers, the world’s biggest diamond producer, is famous for its tight control over the diamond market and has relied on its own system of selling gems for decades.
“If we can get to $1.5 billion transacted through the platform, the cash flow we generate from Clara will be as important as the cash flow we generate from the mine," Thomas said. “We’re taking baby steps right...

domain: economics


text:
Looking for your Mr. Darcy? Or are you perhaps intrigued by the wonderful lives of the Bennet sisters? Well, if you answered “yes” to both, Jane Austen is your gal! Pride and Prejudice, commonly known as Jane Austen’s most successful novel encircles the lives of the five lower-class Bennet sisters and their quest to find husbands while “high in society.” The plot mainly revolves around Elizabeth Bennet, the female protagonist of the story, and how her relationship develops with a mysterious, yet rude gentleman named Fitzwilliam Darcy. Will their varying social classes keep Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy at a distance, or will a relationship spark unexpectedly? Engross yourself in this classic novel in order to find out!
The classic novel, Pride and Prejudice takes place in several locations including Hertfordshire, Meryton, and Longbourn, all right outside of London, England. So, what are some exciting things to do in Hertfordshire? Let’s take a look:
1. Henry Moore’s Home: Henry Moore, a famous English sculptor was the owner of gardens, studios, and galleries in Hertfordshire. His home is now open, and beautifully showcases his large sculptures in Perry Green.
2. Butterfly World Project: Known as “London’s own Eden Project,” the Butterfly World Project is the world’s largest developing butterfly sanctuary, located on a plot of land that stretches 27 acres long. This large piece of land houses fields of meadows and an interactive butterfly experience, with 10,000 different species of butterflies.
1. Longbourn Home: Home to the Bennet family from the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice, the Longbourn Home has become one of the most famous homes in the world. The home includes a library, a large hall, three bedrooms, and beautiful gardens.
…How about Meryton?
1. Carriage Ride: Sweep through the lovely streets of Lacock, the Cotswolds, and Meryton on this three and a half hour carriage ride. All three locations are known for starring in Emma, Pride and Prejuduce, and Harry Potter.

domain: library


In mid-60s, the American SR-71 high performance reconnaissance plane covered China, flying at an altitude of 27-30 km, and a speed of lOOOm/s. In order to strengthen the attacking capability to this high altitude high speed target, the CSC decided in August 1965 to speed up the development of high altitude high speed Hongqi-3 missile. On the 29th October 1965, the COSTND held a concept disscussion meeting, at which the development concept and tactic-technical settings of Hongqi-3 missile were determined and the No.2 RA of the 7th Ministry of Machine Building was assigned to undertake this development work. Wu Zhan and Chen Huaijin were appointed Chief Designers consecutively and Wu Beisheng was appointed Deputy Chief Designer.
In order to meet the tactic-technical requirements of Hongqi-3 missile, the No.2 RA of the 7th Ministry of Machine Building adopted 79 items of new technologies during the development, among which 33 items were for the missile, aimed at enlarging the air zone, improving high altitude manoeuvrability, strengthening anti-jamming capability and increasing killing and damaging effectiveness; 39 items were for the guidance station, aimed at improving anti-jamming performance of the weapon system, increasing operational distance and measuring accuracy and, seven items were for the ground equipment, aimed at improving application and operation performance.
Hongqi-3 missile weapon system had incorporated a lot of newly developed items. 28 organizations which participated the work were from the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th Ministries of Machine Building and Air Force. Actually the country wide cooperation was organized for it.
No.2 RA had listed Hongqi-3 as its key development task and the 2nd Department concentrated most of its technical forces on the system design of Hongqi-3 missile. During the concept design of the missile, they mainly solved the problems of improving missile^ manoeuvrability at high altitude and the matching effectiveness of fuse and warhead against the high speed target. In the control system design, in order to solve the technical problem caused by the increased operational altitude, anti-saturation measures were adopted in the autopilot loop to strengthen the anti-jamming capability to side angle undulation; fairly large corrections were carried out on dynamic compensation, so that the compensation accuracy was increased and the missile reached a high accuracy of shooting. The emulation test with semi-actual object was completed, which was actually quite difficult, and it included coordinate cabinet of the guidance station, instruction calculation facility and the missile-borne autopilot.
Institute No.23 undertook the development of guidance station, which consisted of guidance radar and interception radar. The guidance radar was modified on the basis of Hongqi-2 guidance radar by adopting more than 20 items of technical measures, which included enlarging illuminating antenna, adding reference data magnifier and reconnaissance display. The interception radar was based on Song-9A radar and updated by such measures as increasing the diameter of antenna and transmission power, adopting automatic ranging, route data auto-calculation and the synchronized rotation with the guidance radar, by which the operation distance and measuring accuracy of the guidance station were raised, anti-jamming capability of target wave guide and missile wave guide were strengthened. During the development, the technical management was strengthened, the responsible persons at each level were appointed and the initiatives of the scientific personnel were brought to full play. Zhang Tong, Lu Guochun and Cui Ying had made effective achievements on general system test and antenna design. By the second quarter of 1966, sample joining test of guidance radar and calibration flight test of interception radar were completed, which showed that all technical parameters had met design requirement and functional distance was more than 100 km.
Five Institutes of Np.20, N0.21, No.22, No.24 and No.27 of No.2 RA undertook the development of missile and missile-borne equipment. Later these Institutes were moved to Shanghai, where the development work was continued.
In the development of Hongqi-3 missile, because the development procedures had not been followed, omitting the stage of independent loop remote measuring missile, the flight test of closed loop remote measuring was conducted directly in May 1966 and the test failed due to the fact that the missile broken up in the flight. The reason of this failure was that the missile was flying under the overload condition after its rudder surface had been increased. This lesson was beneficial for people to realize that developing the ground-to-air missile should follow the development procedures.
In July 1966, the 7th Ministry of Machine Building organized overall checking on development concept of Hongqi-3 missile system, control loop data was adjusted, flying speed at end phase was increased by using dual thrust liquid engine, killing probability was raised and anti-jamming performance was improved by adopting bigger power double-frequency responder. At the sametime, the sharing of development work was further adjusted. It was clarified that Facotry No.786 was responsible for the transmission and receiving vehicle of the guidance station with participation of No.2 RA; Shanghai Wiring Factory was responsible for the display and command launching vehicles; Shanghai Broadcasting Equipment Factory was responsible for the coordinate vehicle; Xinxin Machinery Factory and Institute No.21 were responsible for the solid rocket engine; Institute No.20 was responsible for solving the problem about elastic vibration of the missile .body and the No.2 Division and Institute No.20 were responsible for general system design of the target missile. It was also decided that a management team was formed by Zhang Yu, Wu Zhongying, Chen Huaijin and Liu Congjun for the development work of Hongqi-3 missile.
During the period of developing Hongqi-3 missile, altogether 9 flight tests had been conducted in Northwest Comprehensive Missile Testing Base from Jan. 1966 to the end of 1969. Totally 23 missiles were launched, including 1 dummy missile, 5 independent loop missiles and 17 closed loop missiles. Test results showed that successes were gained for the Hongqi-3 missile on the aspects of enlarged air zone, improving guidance accuracy and the matching between fuse and warhead. But some problems had also been discovered and needed to be solved.
The ground-to-air missile test division of the Northwest Comprehensive Missile Testing Base, preparing seriously and organizing carefully, had solved a lot of difficult problems concerning test technology and, guaranteed the completion of Hongqi-3 missile test. For example, in view of the progress of developing guidance station lagging behind the progress of the missile development, they had put forward the concept of modifying Hongqi-2 guidance station for Hongqi-3 missile test, adopted 21 items of technical measures and completed the modification.
The flight test showed that the guidance process was fine and the encountering data met the requirement, which not only reached the purpose of conducting test ahead of schedule, but also opened a road for the commonality of the guidance station. As for the problem about counter-control of missile rudder, which had been discovered in the test of independent loop missile, they conducted the emulation test on the site, successfully adjusted the rudder shaft position and solved the counter-control problem. Liu Yuanhui had discovered the rolling problem at high altitude during the test, and confirmed that the rolling was caused by uneven distribution of missile longitudinal load after analysis and certifying by test. This result provided reference for successive design. Wu Shunhe created the method for filling 15 powder charges. The solving of these problems had quickened the progress of the test of Hongqi-3 missile.
According to the decision made by the State Council and CMC, the complete development work for Hongqi-3 missile had been transferred to Shanghai No.2 Bureau of Machinery and Electronics starting from August 1968 and Liu Congjun was appointed Chief of this project. The 2nd Division of No.2 RA and Institute No.23 had selected 140 technical personnel to join the development work in Shanghai.
From July to September 1970, the flight test of design certification for Hongqi-3 missile had been conducted at the ground-to-air missile testing base, for which eight missiles were launched, three of them had bigger missing distance. After adjusting data of the missile and the guidance station, five more missiles were launched continuously, two of which failed because of reliability and the other three missiles7 missing distance had met the requirement of guidance accuracy. During the period of May and June 1974, the interception test of Hongqi-3 missile against Tuqiang-1 high altitude-high speed target missile had been conducted at the ground-to-air missile testing base, in order to check the performance; of Tuqiang-1 high altitude-high speed target missile and the possibility of Hongqi-3 missile intercepting against high altitude-high speed aircraft and air-to-ground missile.
The test was carried out under the leadership of the Base Deputy Director Wang Zhanlin and Deputy Chief of Staff Qi Quanxin, the intense and good order pre-test preparations were carried out at the same time in two temporary launching sites which were separated by 176 km. On the 12th June, the interception test was conducted according to the plan. One target missile was launched on time, after acqusition, the guidance station held a stable track of the target. Two Hongqi-3 missile were launched at the suitable time continuously, the target missile was shot down by the first missile.
The test indicated that Hongqi-3 missile weapon system had the capacity of intercepting high altitude-high speed flying vehicle and the performance of Tuqiang-1 guided target had met (he requirement of high altitude-high speed target. Until then, the development and test of Hongqi-3 missile had gone through complete procedures, which marked that the science and technology force of the Chinese ground-to-air missile had possessed the capability of self design, manufacture and test of the first generation ground-to-air missile weapon system.
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Chain-Vey announces its High Efficiency B2 Pucks for use in energy efficient tubular conveyor requirements. The improved operating dimensions of the high efficiency pucks are also more ideal for the conveying of abrasive product.
“We’re basically halving the amount of scraping that the pucks and tubular walls must endure during conveying,” according to John Eiting, Director of Chain-Vey. “The product moving inside the pipe isn’t what’s wearing down the pipe so much, it’s the pinch point between the pipe and pucks where abrasive particles wedge themselves,” said Eiting. “We’re the only manufacturer doing this right now,” he added.
The pairing of these designs are ideal for abrasive applications such as green coffee, seed hulls, calcium carbonate, and other chemicals and minerals with the main advantages of reduced noise, amperage, and total system wear. Real world tests demonstrate a 28% reduction in motor loading. MPE’s introduction of high efficiency pucks for its Chain-Vey systems demonstrate the continuous innovation provided to customers around the world. Reach out to a Chain-Vey representative today to see how it can improve your product’s conveyance.


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Over a weekend at a decrepit English manor, the lewd and bumbling host Gen. Futtock (U.K. comedy star Ronnie Barker, who also wrote the script) competes with his equally on-the-make butler (Michael Hordern) for the affections of a beautiful houseguest. This gleefully silly 1970 comedy re-creates the silent-movie style with music, sound effects and incoherent babble in the place of dialogue. It also stars Richard O'Sullivan and Kika Markham.


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There are a lot of misconceptions about Social Security. Here’s the truth about three of them.


OnePlus 2 advantages, disadvantages and specifications
OnePlus 2 supports LTPS IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, Its size is 5.5 inches (~73.3% screen-to-body ratio), It gives you a high resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi pixel density), It brings multiple touch, It offers Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for protection, and it has got Oxygen 2.2.0 UI.
OnePlus 2 advantages
OnePlus 2 is also known as OnePlus Two, It presents Android OS, v5.1 (Lollipop), It offers Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810, It includes Quad-core 1.56 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 1.82 GHz Cortex-A57, It supports Adreno 430, It is announced in 2015, July, and it is released in 2015, August.
OnePlus 2 supports a primary camera of 13 MP, f/2.0, OIS, laser autofocus, dual-LED flash, It includes features such as 1/2.6″ sensor size, 1.3 µm pixel size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, panorama, HDR, It presents a video of [email protected], [email protected], it offers secondary camera of 5 MP, f/2.4, [email protected]
OnePlus 2 presents an internal memory of 16 GB & It offers 3 GB RAM, It has got 64 GB, It includes 4 GB RAM, It has body dimensions of 151.8 x 74.9 x 9.9 mm (5.98 x 2.95 x 0.39 in), Its weight is 175 g (6.17 oz), It supports Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by), It offers a decent design, and it offers Swappable back panels.
OnePlus 2 offers 2G GSM, It presents 3G HSDPA, It contains 4G LTE, Its speed is HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps, It offers GPRS, It brings EDGE, It includes Sound Alert types Vibration such as MP3, WAV ringtones, It has Alert slider, It has less heating issues, and it has decent performance.
OnePlus 2 presents a loudspeaker, It has got 3.5 mm jack, It offers Comms WLAN such as Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA & hotspot, It gives you Bluetooth v4.1, A2DP, It presents GPS, with A-GPS, GLONASS, and it presents USB v2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector.
OnePlus 2 presents a rich number of sensors such as gyro, proximity, compass, fingerprint & accelerometer, It offers messaging such as MMS, Email, SMS, IM & Push Email, It presents Browser HTML5, and it includes additional features such as active noise cancellation with dedicated mic.
OnePlus 2 includes DivX/Xvid/MP4/H.265 player, It contains MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV/FLAC player, It has got a document viewer, It includes a photo/video editor, It supports a non-removable Li-Po 3300 mAh battery that never makes your drain earlier, and it offers very good battery life.
OnePlus 2 has a high-end processor and graphics processor, It comes with fast CPU, It presents very good built quality, Android lollipop out of the box, It has a very sharp screen with Full HD resolution, It has one colour which is Sandstone Black, and it is a Nano-SIM supportive phone.
OnePlus 2 presents a great camera with many features, Comparing with OnePlus One, There is an improvement in the camera segment, It includes a great price to performance ratio, and its display offers an extraordinary pixel density of 401 ppi that makes your display looks fully HD.
OnePlus 2 offers inbuilt memory storage of 16 GB / 64 GB, It includes super video recording of [email protected] which helps to record HD videos, It offers connectives like Bluetooth, Wi-fi, GPS, 3G, 4G and USB, and it comes with a good screen to body ratio which is 73.3%.
OnePlus 2 disadvantages
OnePlus 2 does not offer expandable memory via card slot, It has a non-removable battery, It offers USB Type-C that is still rather new and it may require extra adapters, It does not contain NFC feature, It has no Java, It is bit bulky, and it offers heavyweight.
OnePlus 2 has no wireless or quick charging support, Charging takes a long time, It offers only one color, It is not water or dust resistant mobile, It has Buggy Oxygen OS, It does not include FM Radio, and it is available only through an invite system.


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With hosts facing increased pressure from the rising cost of living, many local authorities are worried that Ukrainian families will be left homeless when the initial six-month arrangements end.
Refugees, hosts and councillors are also concerned about how Ukrainians will find independent accommodation in an increasingly competitive rental market.
In a snapshot survey of 64 councils, 61 per cent told The Independent that they were worried about an increasing number of Ukrainians presenting as homeless or being at risk of homelessness in the coming months. That was compared to 14 per cent who weren’t worried, and 25 per cent that didn’t respond.
Have you been involved in the Ukraine scheme? If so email [email protected]
The Homes for Ukraine scheme was launched on 14 March, meaning that the first refugees to arrive will reach the six-month mark this month.
Twenty-five per cent of sponsors said they only wanted to provide accommodation for six months or less, according to an ONS survey of 17,702 hosts. There are currently 86,100 Ukrainians in the UK under the scheme, 48,798 of whom arrived before the end of April.
“We’re going to see building pressures over the next few months, and the government actually has no plan. There is zero plan or guidance coming out from the government,” Nesil Caliskan, leader of Enfield Council, told The Independent.
“If we waited for the government to act, we would get to six months and we’d risk having loads of people homeless. So that’s why we’re planning our support now.” Ms Caliskan said a “big concern” was the affordability and availability of private sector rentals, making it very hard for Ukrainian families to find accommodation.
James Jamieson, chair of the Local Government Association, which represents councils, urged the government to provide clarity on what happens next. “Councils, sponsors and Ukrainian guests all need to know what the options are at the end of the six-month initial placement period so they can start planning now.
“There is a significant risk that – even if rematching is available – many Ukrainian families may need to present as homeless because of a lack of sponsors or other options,” he said.
As of 29 July, 1,335 households had presented as homeless to councils – 635 of whom were part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Analysis by Barnados, Labour and the Liberal Democrats has predicted that between 15,000 and 21,000 Ukrainians could be homeless by winter, rising to more than 50,000 by the middle of next year.
“Homes for Ukraine is a really strong scheme, but the crisis point now is if we can’t get the refugees into independent housing,” Simone Schehtman, the lead pairer of Ukrainian refugees and hosts in Birmingham, said. “You go to the estate agent to try and get on the property ladder, and the computer will just say no; you will fail the credit check and you won’t have a guarantor.”
She urged ministers to allow local authorities to become guarantors of refugees’ rent, and warned that if a plan was not put in place soon, “six months of hard graft and goodwill by the British public and the government will become meaningless, because we will have a haemorrhaging of homelessness”.
Alistair Carmichael MP, the Liberal Democrats’ home affairs spokesperson, said it would be “a tragedy” if any refugees were forced onto the streets, adding: “Ministers must act now.”
Responding to the concerns, a government spokesperson said they disagreed that there was no plan for the future of the scheme. “The vast majority of sponsors want to provide support for longer than six months, and we are working closely with councils to ensure all those who have fled Putin’s war have a safe place to live,” they said.
They emphasised that sponsors will continue to receive monthly £350 “thank you” payments for up to 12 months.
Inna Sukhoraba and her 16-year-old daughter Irynka are being sponsored by a host in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, and have had trouble finding a place to rent for when their placement ends.
Their host, Pilar, told The Independent: “Inna had found a place and was happy to pay six months’ rent in advance, but then suddenly two days later the landlord decided to take somebody else.
“It is very difficult for the Ukrainians who want to be independent and build their lives here. The government needs to give them support to move forward, because they cannot be permanent guests. As hosts, we feel that we have been sort of abandoned. They don’t have a plan for us or our guests, and we are totally stuck.”
Svitlana Stadnyk, who volunteers as a mediator between hosts and Ukrainians in partnership with National Family Mediation, said she expected to see more cases in the coming months.
“As the autumn comes, and as the six-month end approaches, there will be more and more people who need help resolving conflicts,” she said. “There are varying sources of tension, and one is the rising cost of living.
“Many hosts did not receive their thank you payments in time, and they are seeing their utility prices go up going into the winter.”
The government provides councils with a £10,500 support fund for each refugee on the Homes for Ukraine scheme. However, they have not yet committed to continuing the payments past 12 months – leaving local authorities unsure where the money will come from after the first year.
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council said it was worried about the six-month deadline, primarily because of the lack of affordable, available accommodation, while Hampshire County Council said it was seeing “increasing pressure” on its services because of the number of arrangements coming to an end.
East Suffolk Council said that it was concerned that the six-month mark would come at a time when families were facing challenges managing the increased cost of living, while Tandrige District Council said it was worried its homeless prevention service would not be able to cope with the increased demand.
A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up said: “In the minority of cases where family or sponsor relationships break down, councils have a duty to ensure families are not left without a roof over their head.
“All arrivals have access to benefits from day one, and we are giving councils an extra £10,500 per person to cover any extra costs.”
‘I simply could not survive the third night’
On the third night of the war, Inna decided that she and her daughter Irynka need to leave. They had been staying with Inna’s parents in Berdychiv, in the Zhytomyr region, and sat listening to the Russian planes flying over their home, petrified that bombs would fall on them.
“The first two nights, Russian planes were flying over us and we didn’t know if they were going to drop bombs on us or not. I realised I simply could not survive the third night, so my daughter and I got on the train to Poland,” she said.
While in Poland, she and her daughter found a placement under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, but they always knew it would only be for six months.
“I like British people and British culture, and I am afraid to go back to Ukraine,” she told The Independent. Now, four months into the arrangement, she is trying to find a place where she can live independently.
“I was a project manager for the Bank of Ukraine, but now it is difficult for me here. For example, I found accommodation for my daughter, and I and the first landlord agreed that we could rent the place, but then something changed and she changed her mind.”
“Where we live, rent is very expensive to start with,” her host Pilar said. “The flats they are looking for, one day it comes on the market, the next it is gone.
“The thank you payments that the government gives to the host, why can’t they give that to the Ukrainians who want to be independent?” she suggested.
Inna is keen to find work in the UK but has struggled because of the language barrier.
“I’m working on improving my English and I’m starting a business,” she said. “When I arrived in the UK, British people told me they liked my Ukrainian style and so I thought I could make Ukrainian dresses and sell them here.”
She is financially supporting her sister and her parents back home in Ukraine, and still has to pay for utilities at her Kyiv flat. She is hoping that she will be able to support herself by selling clothes, and went to her first market last week.
“The main goal for my business is to support the Ukrainian economy, as well as preserve and spread our culture while I am abroad.”


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On busy roads and run-down roadways across the county, you simply can’t skip them: big, vibrant signs promising easy money. From payday loans to automobile title pawns to anticipation financial loans on taxation refunds, Alabamians deal with a dizzying selection of credit providers made to capture people in financial quicksand.
Payday loans enable individuals with a banking account to utilize a check outdated someday (usually two weeks later) as security for a loan. To meet the requirements, all you demands is actually proof money (a pay stub or confirmation of federal government benefits). Studies have shown the payday financing business structure was created to keep borrowers in debt. Borrowers who receive five or more financial loans per year make up the big most of payday lenders’ business, per studies from the heart for Responsible credit (CRL).
Many states have actually laws and regulations against usury, or higher https://paydayloanservice.net/title-loans-nj/ interest, however in some claims like Alabama, lawmakers have created out special conditions for certain types of debts, such as payday advances. The catch, but could be the huge profits that large rates of interest pull from the purse of prone borrowers. Predatory credit encourages poverty by exploiting those caught inside gap between reasonable earnings while the genuine cost of acquiring by.
Each $100 borrowed through a payday loan in Alabama brings a a€?loan origination feea€? all the way to $17.50, and the ones charges occur with every renewal of this loan. With a 14-day loan years, this works out to a yearly portion rates (APR) of 456 percent. Loans that a client cannot pay-off completely throughout the deadline were rolled over, with no wait necessary for one rollover and simply a 24-hour wait necessary prior to the second. At triple-digit yearly interest rates, also a short-term compensation for a payday loan usually takes a large bite regarding a borrower’s banking account.
Details of the debt pitfall
Utilizing pay day loans doubles the danger that a debtor can become in personal bankruptcy within couple of years, based on the customers Federation of America. In addition, it doubles the risk of are honestly delinquent on charge cards and causes it to be not likely that customers will pay some other house costs. Pay day loan usage furthermore boosts the probability that a consumer’s bank-account will likely be sealed involuntarily, which may matter the debtor to violent prosecution under useless check legislation.
Alabama’s payday loan databases reveals the range and specifics of the debt pitfall. A meager 22 per cent of all of the payday loans visit borrowers that have over 12 financing a-year. But these borrowers become jammed into paying $56 million in costs, almost 1 / 2 of all fees obtained on pay day loans in Alabama annually.
Serial borrowers will be the bread and butter of payday lending, CRL studies have shown. Among payday borrowers whom perform multiple deals, one half sign up for newer financing during the earliest feasible opportunity, a process also known as a€?churning.a€? This period of deep debt try big businesses. After six loans, consumers routinely have paid most in costs versus number of the first mortgage.
Striving Alabamians are typical goals of payday loan providers. Payday loan providers can be found disproportionately in low income neighborhoods, particularly your with large black colored or Hispanic communities. Lenders typically target seniors, men and women without a top school education, and people that happen to be likely to be living from income to paycheck.
Recognizing resistance to payday change
Alabama’s payday loans market rakes much more than $100 million a year in fees. Lenders used part of the funds to engage a fleet of lobbyists to oppose change in Montgomery. In 2017, a proposed state constitutional amendment to limit all customers financial loans at 36 per cent APR were not successful in the House Constitution, advertisments and Elections panel. And in 2018, your house economic treatments panel killed a bill that could bring given Alabama consumers a month to repay payday loans (up from only 10 time under present laws), although the Senate voted for assess by a substantial margin.
Lenders’ inflexibility encourages a condition quo that benefits all of them financially. Lots of legislators assert that they will not give consideration to a reform statement without input from both customer supporters and loan providers. This permits lenders in preserving their own existing benefit by simply opposing actually tiny, affordable improvement.
No state has actually legalized payday financing since 2005. In reality, 18 says and the area of Columbia basically have actually prohibited payday loans. In 2006, Congress banned predatory financing to army personnel as well as their dependents, capping interest rates at 36 % APR and barring financing predicated on keeping inspections or debit agreement for potential payment. As well as the Consumer Financial Safety Bureau’s brand new tip needing loan providers to evaluate consumers’ ability to repay may help stop defaults (if the company does not deteriorate they).
Alabama could develop on this subject energy for modification by enacting a number of reforms to improve the lending landscaping for any condition’s consumers:
- Capping the attention costs on all consumer debts in Alabama at 36 percent would increase the protections that now apply to armed forces individuals.
- Reducing the cost for originating financing from the recent $17.50 per $100 would lessen the economic load on consumers.
- Limiting the borrowable amount to ten percent on the borrower’s earnings would reduce steadily the likelihood of borrowers getting trapped because they cannot repay the complete amount borrowed immediately.
- Letting consumers to pay financial loans off in installments would leave men and women function by themselves out-of obligations steadily as opposed to which makes them shell out that loan off at the same time.
- Giving consumers thirty days to repay pay day loans would cut the successful APR from 456 % to about 220 percentage. Additionally, it would decrease the administrative load on loan providers, individuals and the county.
Payday loan providers are on track to pull over $1 billion in costs regarding Alabama forums across the then ten years. Nearly all of the income will move to out-of-state companies. Advocates of payday lending reform must create substantial public assistance to battle the well-funded loan providers, which often desired legislative frontrunners and committee customers to greatly help secure the condition quo.
The challenges are fantastic, but genuine payday lending reform for Alabama consumers can and will happen. Proof was available in 2015, as soon as the county financial Department responded to numerous years of community stress by creating a uniform statewide payday loan database and demanding loan providers to test they for exceptional debts. That move kept a great deal of Alabamians from sinking even better into loans by eventually allowing their state to implement its $500 maximum in the number of payday loans that an individual may have actually at some point.
Now you must for Alabama to use the after that huge action for consumers by cutting the APR on payday advances to a more affordable level. This easy but important modification could be a terrific way to hold more funds within our county’s economy, promote household monetary balance, and strengthen communities across Alabama.

domain: law


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China’s Alibaba Group is to set up a trading and logistics hub in Malaysia as part of its efforts to establish an electronic world trade platform.
The e-commerce giant said the Malaysian “e-hub”, the first such initiative outside the company’s home base in Hangzhou, was being set up in collaboration with the Malaysia Digital Economy Cooperation (MDEC) agency.
It will cater to small and medium sized businesses that have ambitions of spreading their wings beyond local borders.
Alibaba’s executive chairman, Jack Ma, and the Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, attended the project’s launch ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday afternoon.
The project’s first phase, slated for completion by the end of 2019, involves the development of a regional logistics hub near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The facility in the KLIA Aeropolis zone would “function as a centralised customs clearance, warehousing, and fulfilment facility for Malaysia and the region”, said the technology giant, the owner of the South China Morning Post.
This article is for information purposes only.
Please remember that financial investments may rise or fall and past performance does not guarantee future performance in respect of income or capital growth; you may not get back the amount you invested.
There is no obligation to purchase anything but, if you decide to do so, you are strongly advised to consult a professional adviser before making any investment decisions.


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3 Great Regions to Travel by Bus or Train
If you usually think about either flying or driving when you go on vacation, think again. Taking the train or the bus can be a fun and economical way to travel, and it can be much less hassle than worrying about your car or dealing with airline regulations and delays. After you reconcile all the reasons you need a getaway, below are a few routes that can give you a chance to see the country in a new way.
Even if you’ve been to Florida before, you probably only saw the interstate in front of you or the inside of an airport and the immediate area where you were staying. With bus tickets from Gainesville, FL to Miami, you can get see much more of the state. Check out a website that partners with bus and train companies to compare, get the best deals on buses and trains, and buy your tickets for no additional fees. Then, start your trip off in Gainesville, home of the University of Florida. Even if you’re not a Gators fan, there are plenty of other things to do in Gainesville, including a fun nightlife and great restaurants.
There’s also a lot to do outdoors, including visiting Sweetwater Wetlands Park or the sinkhole at Devil’s Millhopper State Park. If cycling or bird watching is your thing, you’ll want to visit San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park. Soak up all the mellow vibes you can get in Gainesville because things are going to feel a lot crazier once you hit Miami. This is a city on the go, full of energy and great sounds, food, art and more. You’ll want to hit the beaches, but you won’t want to stop there. Get a taste of Cuban food in Little Havana, then head to stylish Miami Beach to people watch.
Cities in the northeastern United States are so close together, the cities are so densely populated, and the public transportation is so good that traveling by bus or train in this region is a terrific idea. You could travel from Providence, Rhode Island to Boston and then on to New York City. Providence is a terrific warm-up for the region before you hit the much bigger and busier Boston, where you can walk the Freedom Trail for three miles of U.S. history. From Boston, it’s on to one of the greatest cities in the world, New York City, where you can take in a Broadway show and sample cuisine from all over the world.
If Florida is known for its beaches and the Northeast for its cities and role in early U.S. history, the West is renowned for its landscapes, and this is an excellent reason to travel it by bus or train. From the Rocky Mountains to the deserts to such World Heritage sites as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone, there is much to see and do. If you’d prefer to see these sights only in passing and base yourself in cities, the Western part of the country has plenty to offer there as well. While there are charming resort towns dotted throughout the region, there’s no place quite like Las Vegas. Even if you have no interest in gambling, walking the Las Vegas Strip or taking in a glitzy show is a unique experience.

domain: travel


As Donald Trump served hamburgers and fries to the Clemson University football team, Abraham Lincoln sat and watched. Here is a taste of Amy Wang’s piece at The Washington Post:
There he was, the legendary statesman who had guided the United States through the bloody Civil War, now peering at stacks of either 300 hamburgers or “over 1000 hamberders,” depending on whom or when you asked.
It didn’t help that Trump gleefully presided over the spectacle while standing directly beneath Honest Abe.
“I like it all. It’s all good stuff,” Trump declared as a White House staffer finished lighting two majestic candelabras flanking the spread. “Great American food!”
Above him, a great American hunched deep into his chair, chin in hand, pondering life, liberty and the rights of man. If paintings on walls could talk, what might Lincoln even say?
Read the entire piece here.


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High Street planters to be removed as part of streetscape overhaul
The old caged and wooden planters in Andover High Street are set to be removed as part of an overhaul of the town centre streetscape.
Test Valley Borough Council will begin taking out around fifteen planters along Bridge Street and the High Street this weekend before the plant cages are removed in September - following an initial review of the town’s features and furniture.
The work marks the beginning of a new project with urban design experts, NEW masterplanning, to transform Andover’s public spaces and enhance the area’s character and appearance as part of the authority’s ambition to regenerate the town centre. They will look at all aspects of the town’s streetscape, from buildings, lighting and seating areas, to surfacing, planting and art.
It follows hot on the heels of the town’s masterplan adopted by the council in 2020, also developed by NEW masterplanning in conjunction with Hemingway Design, which sets out proposals to totally transform Andover.
Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, councillor Phil North, said: “I know that the plant cages have attracted criticism in the past, not least from me, and while it is clear that they were put in place to enhance the town centre, they are very much of their time.
“Their removal gives us a chance to consult more widely on how we can make our town centre more attractive for the future. Providing better street furniture and a wider variety of quality town centre greenery, as well as the opportunity to plant more trees. Crucially, this includes talking to disability groups to ensure any new street furniture doesn’t become too much of a hazard.
“NEW masterplanning and Hemingway Design did a fantastic job helping us create the masterplan, so we are delighted to be working with them again on this urban design and public realm project.”
The council will publish more information and details about how to get involved in the coming months.

domain: design


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Trelleborg's Buoyant Uraduct is a protection system for subsea cables which can be customized to fit various specifications for buoyancy, pipeline diameter, and multiple subsea configurations. It can be used as an alternative to subsea crossing bridges and can be installed on the cable of pipeline before it is laid on the seabed. The system protects cables from abrasion and impact. It reduces the crush risk at crossing locations by reducing the overall weight of a subsea cable. Made from highly buoyant materials, the protection system also minimizes drag and lift, avoiding possible stability issues.
For more information, visit www.trelleborg.com.
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