What Are Panel Indicators?
Distributor Alan Butcher Components helps to explain.
Panel indicators are optoelectronic devices which emit light to show the operating condition of a machine or appliance. Manufacturers and distributors use various terminologies for this type of product which can be confusing when trying to source an item, particularly on-line:
- Signal lamps
- Signal lights
- Indicator lights
- Panel indicators
- Pilot lights
Essentially, the above terms all describe a light used on electrical equipment to indicate that the device is working.
The light sources for indicators are now primarily LEDs (light-emitting diodes) or Neon lamps. Both are robust and durable so what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each?
- LEDs are bright, have a longer operational life and very low power consumption. However, they are initially more expensive than a neon alternative.
- Neon lamps are particularly suited to higher voltage applications of 110 volt AC, 220 volt AC, and DC applications in excess of 90 volts. This makes neons a much easier option for indicating mains operation. However, they have a limited brightness and less colour variables than LEDs. In addition, they don’t last as long as LEDs.
LED and Neon indicator applications are varied and include:
- Fridges and freezers
- Cookers, ovens and ranges
- Machine tools
- Medical equipment
- Garden tools
- Cleaning products such as vacuum cleaners/pressure washers/steam cleaners
- Coffee machines
- Vending machines
- Control panels
Panel signal lamps come in various sizes, shapes and colours. Switch-size indicators are often used alongside rocker switches and push buttons on a control panel. This ensures uniformity in the visual appearance of an application.
Alan Butcher Components stock a wide range of neon and LED indicator lights, some of which are shown below:
SX33 – Everel 10mm
Flashing 12V LEDs
Switch Size Panel Indicators
16mm – round, square & rectangluar
Alan Butcher Components supply high quality, competitive products supported by excellent customer service and technical expertise. Call us to discuss your application or click on our website for more product information –
Most importantly, we have a wide range on offer and are certain we can help identify a suitable panel mount indicator for your application.


Web content is cached in the network of edge servers on the CDN, distributed across different geographic locations.
Currently there are two types of edge servers in OnApp: HTTP and Streaming.
Starting with OnApp 5.4 version, edge servers functionality is applicable for users with vCloud Director integration. Ensure that Create a new virtual server and Compute zones permissions are on before creating edge server for vCloud.
HTTP edge servers support both Push and Pull population methods in 80/20 ratio (80% HTTP Pull and 20% HTTP Push). When the edge server is created, its storage limit for HTTP Pull and HTTP Push is automatically assigned by system.
Streaming edge server type allow to send a stream to one of the publishing points, or pick up the stream externally and deliver it to the end users.
Take note that Operator has to deploy CDN streaming Edge Server to utilize CDN streaming service.
Streaming edge server support only streaming services. The following protocols are supported:


Tuesday, 17 April 2018
Champions DEFGH (Sawgrass Marriott)
During the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, several hurricanes underwent rapid intensification (RI) in the central-eastern Atlantic. This motivates an analysis of trends in the strength of hurricane RI during the 30-year post-satellite period of 1986-2015. Our results show that in the eastern tropical Atlantic, to the east of 60W, the mean RI magnitude averaged during 2001-2015 was 3.8 kt per 24 hr higher than during 1986-2000. However, in the western tropical Atlantic, to the west of 60W, changes in RI magnitude over the same period were not statistically significant. We examined the large-scale environment to understand the causes behind these changes in RI magnitude and found that various oceanic and atmospheric parameters that play an important role in RI changed favorably in the eastern tropical Atlantic. More specifically, changes in sea surface temperature (SST), Potential Intensity, upper-ocean heat content, wind shear, relative humidity and upper-level divergence enhanced the ability for hurricanes to undergo RI in the eastern tropical Atlantic. In contrast, changes in the same factors are inconsistent in the western tropical Atlantic. While changes in SST and Potential Intensity were positive, changes in upper-ocean heat content, wind shear and upper-level divergence were either insignificant or unfavorable for RI. Finally, we examined the potential role of various climate phenomena, which are well-known to impact Atlantic hurricane activity, in causing the changes in the large-scale environment. Our analysis reveals that changes in the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation over the 30-year period are predominantly responsible. These results provide important aspects of the large-scale context to understand the Atlantic hurricane season of 2017.
- Indicates paper has been withdrawn from meeting
- Indicates an Award Winner


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L.A. to pay $13 million to settle May Day melee suits
The City Council on Wednesday agreed to pay nearly $13 million to people injured or mistreated in a May Day melee in MacArthur Park, bringing to more than $30 million the money spent over the last two weeks to settle lawsuits alleging LAPD misconduct.
The action served as a reminder of the Los Angeles Police Department’s troubled past and its continuing path toward regaining the trust of some city residents and elected officials.
For the LAPD, Wednesday’s $12.85-million payout -- covering most of the claims by immigration demonstrators and bystanders injured May 1, 2007, in MacArthur Park -- has a few strings attached.
Under the settlement, the department must submit to court oversight of its crowd control procedures -- another layer of federal involvement that comes as LAPD leaders are impatient to be free of a long-standing and more onerous monitoring program imposed after the Rampart Division corruption scandal.
The May Day settlement, approved unanimously by the council, comes a week after members agreed to pay $20.5 million to settle civil rights lawsuits filed by four current and former LAPD officers, three of whom were awarded $15 million by a federal jury after claiming to have been falsely arrested and maliciously prosecuted during the Rampart probe. That sum was on top of more than $75 million the city has paid to civilians affected by the 1999 scandal.
“Over $32 million in these last two weeks on Police Department litigation cases -- that’s a tremendous amount of money,” Councilman Dennis Zine said after the 11-0 public vote. “My concern is that the Police Department needs to be held accountable and responsible. . . . There are still other cases pending. This isn’t the end.”
He added, “While crime’s down, we respect that, the conduct of the officers is important, and the management of the department is ultimately responsible for that.”
Council President Eric Garcetti noted that the cost of the May Day agreement was enough to hire almost 130 police officers. “It underscores why police reform is as important as police hiring,” Garcetti said. “A handful of officers can cost the city millions of dollars. We saw that in Rampart; we’re seeing that here -- more than a handful here.”
The settlement approved Wednesday will resolve a class action lawsuit and more than half a dozen individual lawsuits in federal court. It accounts for a large portion of the more than 300 May Day claims against the city.
The allegations of police mistreatment and excessive force resulted from clashes in MacArthur Park as an immigration march wound down. Officers from the LAPD’s elite Metro Division used batons and fired rubber bullets to disperse what was a predominantly peaceful gathering. Officials said the confrontations were prompted by a group of agitators who threw bottles and other objects at police. Dozens of people, including a number of journalists and police officers, were injured.
“Our clients are really very happy with this,” said Carol Sobel, a lawyer for some of the plaintiffs, after the agreement was announced. “What it stands for is recognition that the police were wrong.”
Councilman Ed Reyes, who represents the MacArthur Park area west of downtown, said the settlement was part of a community healing process.
“This was very, very critical,” he said. “Now we can say we acknowledge our mistakes; we are making every effort to address the weaknesses in our process, in our implementation as a Police Department, and more importantly recognizing that the community does matter. We’re giving them the value they deserve in terms of reaching a settlement and helping those who are hurt.”
Two other May Day cases are pending in federal court, and there are 15 in state court, said a spokesman for the city attorney. Only one related case, involving a broken camera, was settled before this week.
Nick Velasquez, a spokesman for City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo, declined to estimate the expected cost of the remaining litigation. But he said the settlement covered more than 90% of the cases filed in federal court by demonstrators. The agreement covers costs and legal fees, and preempts any of the 5,000 people who had gathered in the park from filing a class-action case in the future, Velasquez said.
With graphic images of the violent chaos recorded by photographers and television crews in the park, the melee gained immediate worldwide attention. It dealt a serious public relations blow to a Police Department that under Chief William J. Bratton has made a deliberate effort to shake a reputation for brutality that stemmed from the 1991 Rodney G. King beating, the Rampart scandal and other incidents.
In the immediate aftermath, Bratton removed two command-level officers from their posts and created the Critical Incident Management Bureau, which oversees the department’s handling of major events and protests. In September, after a long internal investigation that detailed the breakdown in command that led to the melee, Bratton announced plans to suspend 11 lower-ranking officers and called for the termination of four others for excessive use of force, failing to rein in other officers or lying to investigators during the inquiry.
Under the terms of the agreement approved Wednesday, the way the LAPD responds to large crowds is cemented in writing. It leaves the department considerable discretion, but nonetheless places limits on when police can break up a gathering and when they can use force on crowds.
Batons, for example, can be used to push -- but not strike -- protesters who refuse a police order to disperse. Less-lethal projectiles, such as rubber bullets and bean bags, can’t be used on a peaceful crowd that’s retreating, and police helicopters must not disrupt speeches and marches by flying too low.
For at least the next four years the judge who has overseen the May Day settlement negotiations will also watch the department’s handling of future protests to ensure that it abides by the agreement. A more sweeping oversight stemming from Rampart has also followed the department for the last several years.
Sobel acknowledged the LAPD has made improvements since 2007, but said the agreement was a needed safeguard. The department, she stressed, made similar promises when the city settled claims after the 2000 Democratic National Convention, where police clashed with protesters.
“The key question with the LAPD has always been, ‘How do you move from an agreement on paper to real institutional change? How do you change the culture?’ ” she said. “There have been really good signs, but every once and a while they slip back.”
Although several council members praised Bratton’s response to the melee and the LAPD’s retraining efforts, they added that the department’s internal report on the incident made it difficult for the city to defend the lawsuits in court.
“They brought officers up on charges; they admitted errors. So when you admit errors, then what are you going to do for a defense?” Zine said, adding that city lawyers advised council members that going to trial would be “extremely expensive.”
Garcetti said he was satisfied with the department’s reforms, which he said “brought back what should have been common sense training.”
“To say that we are 100% of the way there -- I don’t believe that we are,” he said, “but the way in which the department responded was a sea change from the past in taking immediate responsibility, not just along the rank-and-file level, but up the chain of command.”
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domain: law


text:
Fun & Games was an odd episode of Agents of Shield. It definitely progressed the Agents in Space arc, but it made SHIELD look like crappy heroes.
By the end of the episode, Deke was right not to want to go all-in with Coulson’s crew. Not that the writers did all that much to make us invested in the space allies, but it didn’t pay off for anyone who tried to help them as they all got killed off.
That’s probably why I’m somewhat hesitant to get too excited about the arrival of newer comic Inhuman Flint’s origin episode. There’s no real guarantee he’s going to survive two more episodes.
Fun & Games was broken up neatly with Fitz trying to figure out a way to rescue Daisy, Gemma and May. Meanwhile, Flint (Coy Stewart) went through terragenesis and made some new pals.
Of the two, Fitz’s subplot was the strongest. Fitz came off like a fully capable, assured agent here, which speaks to the character’s evolution since Season 1. He’s no longer the bumbling incompetent and can actually believably carry out a rescue mission. His dismissive attitude toward Kasius’ dinner guests and swagger as he talked with the big bad had a James Bond vibe. Fitz was sidelined for most of the first half of the season, but he’s done wonders in making this arc more enjoyable.
May’s gladiator duel with Ben probably dragged on a little too long, but it had a memorable payoff with Ben’s death. Sure, he tried to make Daisy feel good, but it was actually directly her fault he got killed. Daisy’s battle with Sinara was a big improvement since there was an actual rooting interest in that fight. I loved the Return of the Jedi style breakout as Gemma killed Kasius and Fitz got them away from the clear new head honcho — Kasius’ big bro.
Flint’s subplot wasn’t as much fun as the whole Inhuman learning to use their powers has been overdone. Still, this gave Yo-Yo a nice moment to shine as she shared her uncertainty when her powers developed. Yo-Yo has been such a great addition to the team and every episode she’s starting to have at least one scene to provide that take of someone who wasn’t brought up through the Shield line of thinking. Previously, that was Daisy, but Yo-Yo makes it feel fresh.
While it was somewhat slow, Flint’s spotlight significantly advanced the main arc. With Grill about to rat Coulson and company out, Flint’s powers triggered and he smashed Grill with a boulder. Grill has always felt like an obligatory mid-boss character who was just going to be an irritant as opposed to a real problem. At least he had a great death.
The excitement over a nuisance character’s death was tempered by the Kree killing Tess too. So if you’re keeping score at home, every person Shield has dragged in to helping them for the greater good is dead. Except for Deke because he apparently has an untapped Inhumans power of seeing the future and knowing they’re bad news.
- Ranking the Marvel Studios movies from Iron Man to Thor: Ragnarok
- The Punisher: Cold Steel review S1 E8
- TV Recaps
- Marvel Legends figure reviews
I know we’re only supposed to worry with Shield, but both Ben and Tess died for no other reason than being good enough to try and help them. It’s not like these deaths really mean anything to Shield in the long run, though it was nice for Daisy to have remorse.
Now it’s just time for Shield to find May and figure out a way to get back in time. There were some hiccups along the way, but Fun & Games suggests this space arc is on its home stretch.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Photo Credit: ABC

domain: entertainment


text:
Published: 11 March 2010
by SEBASTIAN TAYLOR
THERE'S some great jazz in north London just over the coming week.
Chromatic harmonica player Graham Pike and his quartet are performing on Friday and Saturday at Map Café in Grafton Road, Kentish Town.
On Sunday afternoon, there’s a choice between two Karens. At the Forge, Delancey Street, accordionist Karen Street and her quartet will be playing music from their latest disc. At the Princess of Wales, Primrose Hill, tenor saxophonist Karen Sharp will be sitting in with the regular Pete Chapman Trio.
There’s yet more great choice on Monday. The Con Bar at the Constitution in St Pancras Way has a super double-bill: American trumpeter Andre Canniere and his quartet complemented by Danish pianist Esben Tjalve and his quartet.
Also on Monday, virtuoso vibes maestro Nat Steele will playing with his quartet at Positively 4th Street in Hampstead Road.
Definitely not to be missed on Tuesday evening will be the debut of the Tom Farmer Big Band at the Oxford, Kentish Town Road. Big things are expected of the big band.
Also on Tuesday evening, Francesca Lewis and her quintet will be playing at the Cross Kings, York Way.
Don’t flag, jazzers, possibly the best is yet to come.
A four-day festival Jazz Scene Europe opens on Wednesday at Kings Place, York Way, starting with groundbreaking John Surman music written for string quartet and double bass.
Next up on Thursday evening is a very rare London appearance of beguiling Italian duo Gianluigi Trovesi on clarinets and Gianni Coscia on accordion.


U.S. president Barack Obama on Friday officially revealed the next phase of his administration's push to increase fuel economy standards and reduce greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks.
These new standards, which will cover cars and light trucks for model years 2017 through 2025, require a performance equivalent to 54.5 miles per gallon in 2025 -- reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 163 grams per mile.
Obama reiterated that stricter fuel standards will reduce the nation's dependence on oil (by 12 billion barrels, or 2.2 million per day), protect the environment and save consumers money at the pump -- to the tune of $1.7 trillion dollars over a vehicle's lifetime, the administration estimates.
To add context to the oil savings figure, that's more than the U.S. imports from any other country except Canada. And as vehicles themselves become more efficient, then replace older models on the road, that figure is expected to climb to 4 million barrels per day, "nearly as much as we import from all OPEC countries combined."
As for the environmental impact, the standards are estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 6 billion metric tons -- as much greenhouse gases as the U.S. emitted last year.
CNET colleague Martin LaMonica details the technologies automakers will use to get there:
Rather than a dramatic shift to electric vehicles, the standards will prod automakers to consider technologies not yet been used en masse, such as alternative engine designs or microhybrids. Least visible to consumers will be improvements to internal combustion engines and lighter vehicles. Hybrids and microhybrids, also called start-stop technology where the engine turns off when the vehicle is idle, are poised for broader use as well.
So what's it all mean for automakers?
CBS MoneyWatch colleague Jerry Edgerton explains:
One reason Ford, GM and Chrysler may have gone along with the new regulation is that they got a lower standard for their profitable pickup trucks. The cumulative 2025 standard for cars is 60 MPG. But the lower truck requirement brings the overall average down to 54.5. (The White House had originally been pushing for a 62 MPG overall average, but Ford, General Motors and foreign automakers managed successfully lobbied for the lower figure.)
The hope, of course, is that the increased competition to offer fuel efficient vehicles reduces the premium on them, especially for those with electric powertrains. Win-win?
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com


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Will you be in slay-tanic bliss, or is this game a total miss?
This game ooozes style! Can't wait - just wish the post man would hurry up and deliver already! =)
....The only reason this game isn't AAA is because you f*ken xbots get to play it.....f*ck all of your dead mothers.
why are you so angry...roflmao
gonna \m/ HARD!
When does this game official come out?
5th or 6th.. i think it ships on the 5th... correct me if i'm wrong
WHERE IS THE MULTIPLAYER???!!!
what are you crazy???
i hope its not as hard as DMC3 cause that game pissed me off more times than i could count- i had to redo the same mission hundreds of times to ge enough orbs to upgrade dante and finally beat the stupid dog thing, same goes for some of the other bosses- never had a problem with most of the enemies though- uppercutted the b!tches to their demise every time
i think its worth a rental. if the mechanics are pretty much the same as DMC3, i can wait to play it. (considering i can't even play it until probably the summer) but at least the unforgiving difficulty is still there. playing on the harder modes in DMC3 is one of the greater gaming experiences i've had.
I wonder if you can unlock characters like in DMC1
They gave Turock 8.3, just .3 lower than dmc4. I used to trust GT a lot, but recently their reviews are a little off imo. Not sayingdmc didn't get the right score; I just don't agree with their Turock review.
They don't like the cheesy one-liners, that's half the fun.
where is ninja gaiden 2? It's covered with dust.
im a proud gamer and i dont usually succumb to the easy setting (im considered as the mgs3 master by my friends - the one who completed it on european extreme)....however...the only two games that made me cry with frustration and difficulty were ng sigma and dmc3....i like games which call you pus$y in the face and make you slam the dualshock like neros slamdunk...so ....dmc4....bring it on ;)
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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Over these difficult economic instances, it's not surprising that area based casinos are losing money. You might have thought that people would be flocking to sportsbooks and casinos worldwide in order to gamble and hopefully gain major as an help to surviving the recession that the financial crisis has spawned.However, it seems that the contrary is true. Having less income for activity suggests that folks are foregoing those week-end trips to Las Vegas and other gambling meccas. They have actually become unwilling to pay the cash necessary for energy or community transportation to be able to reach area centered casinos that are within driving distance of their homes. You could question any activities book or casino operator how a recession has handled their company, and most of them can tell you that they're dropping money.
Professionals in the gaming market have observed a ripple impact taking place throughout the world. Deciding the patterns of international gambling is the topic of a examine that has launched some astonishing details about the gaming industry. On line gambling is climbing in popularity in spite of the economic crisis. In reality, in 2008, the full total total taken in world wide by on the web gambling was more than 20 billion pounds, placing a brand new high record.Why are persons shying away from land-based casinos and using online casinos alternatively? Simply put, they could make their income get much more in an on the web casino. As previously mentioned above, persons only do not desire to portion making use of their money for airfare or for every other kind of transport to be able to arrive at the casinos. They are using that income to visit on the web casinos, and having their gambling fun in the comfort of the homes. 토토사이트
The gaming business is predicting that on the web gambling will continue to be rather common for as long as the economic situation goes on, and even beyond. Persons are not planning to give up gambling. They might perhaps not wager as large an total while they once did, nevertheless the lure of earning is too solid for them to stop completely. They will turn to on the web casinos as an easy way to keep their gaming routine for less money. All that is needed for on line gaming is really a pc and a relatively inexpensive broadband link with the Internet. Anywhere you can use a laptop computer or a cellular phone is also a location where you could gamble. Unlike land-based casinos, on line gambling allows you to training lots of typically the most popular activities at number charge. You can get a feel for a casino game before trading any money in it, that may save yourself profit the long run.
These punters who're smokers and have seen their favourite casino or activities guide turn into a smoke-free establishment are also taking their gaming pounds to the online casinos. Gambling via the Net suggests no limitations on smoking, food or drink. There is no dress code to check out, and several consider on line casinos much safer than land centered casinos. Many of the large on line casinos are answering to this influx of clients by making online gambling also more enjoyable and appealing. They are adding delightful bonuses and other offers, holding tournaments, and offering participant personalized slot machines. Almost everything you will find at a land-based casino is available at on the web casinos, plus a whole lot more.

domain: finance


text:
Stem cell-based strategies for treating HIV-infected individuals represent a novel approach toward reconstituting the ravaged immune system with the ultimate aim of clearing the virus from the body. Genetic modification of human hematopoietic stem cells to produce cells that are either resistant to infection, cells that produce lower amounts of infectious virus, or cells that specifically target the immune response against the virus are currently the dominant strategies under development. This review focuses on the understanding of stem cell-based approaches that are under investigation and the rationale behind such approaches.
Significant progress has recently been made utilizing stem cell-based approaches to treat HIV infection. Ideally, a successful strategy would result in immune clearance of the virus from the body as well long-term restoration of overall immune responses to successfully combat everyday environmental antigens. Two recent clinical trails illustrate how new advances in stem cell-based approaches may propel this field forward to clinical reality: one that demonstrates that large-scale gene therapy trials can be performed in a conventional, reproducible manner; and one that demonstrates the utilization of a multipronged approach using lentiviral-based gene therapy vectors. These clinical trails serve as the foundation for the development of other technologies, discussed here, that are currently in preclinical development.
Recent advances using stem cell-based approaches to treat HIV infection have provided the impetus for a renewed and expanded interest in the development of new cell-based strategies to treat HIV infection as well as a variety of other diseases.
aDivision of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The UCLA AIDS Institute, USA
bDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
Correspondence to Jerome A. Zack, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 173 Biomedical Sciences Research Building, 615 Charles E. Young Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA E-mail: email@example.com

domain: literature


text:
Not sure how fair this is going to be to the ship, as it was my first cruise, so I have little basis for comparison. But this was my take, for what it's worth.
Room - Was very nice, we had a balcony room on the 10th Deck. Beds were comfortable. Bathroom however is painfully small. I had to walk in sideways to the WC and shower. And I was constantly bumping into things. WIFI was not great.
Food - Going in, I think the general view amongst my family was something like Las Vegas on the water. This was not the case in terms of the food quality. I found all the restaurants to be very meh. The only exceptions, were the 2 nights we had at the not complimentary eateries. Those were excellent.

domain: travel


text:
Your cart is currently empty
Brown Leather Duffle Bag Mens
Brown Leather Duffle Bag Mens That Is Best Suit For Weekend Travel
This large sized of our popular handmade men's leather duffle bag is perfect for traveling in style and elegance and actually it is unisex style. Handmade with full grain cowhide leather, saddle-stitched from inside and accompanied with solid brass zippers, the brown leather duffle will surely endure any adventure you chose to take it on.
- 100% handcrafted at LeatherNeo studio.
- A removable, adjustable, buckled shoulder strap contained.
- Multi-pockets inside for other accessories like small books, wallets, phones, etc...
Length x Height x Thickness
55 x 29x 26 cm
Weight: About 2.19 KG
This leather duffle can hold DSLR, shoes, clothes, books, folding umbrella, wallet, etc at the same time.
Useful Travel Leather Gifts
For storage of small items, the duffle interior has a zipper pocket for wallet, passport.....We personally select the best quality full grain and naturally tanned it. This guarantees that our designs are perfectly executed, lasting our customers a lifetime.
LeatherNeo is a great leather goods store with unique designs. We supply leather goods that are beautifully crafted and personalized to your needs. We do provide customized products that are designed according to your requirement and taste. We always try to serve them with the best quality service. If any product is not stock, we will refund the complete amount.
1 Default emboss in Gabriola or Times New Roman font.
2 Default fonts size: we will choose the best looking size according to the item size.
We always try to ship orders within two to four business working days. And if we have much orders to deliver then the order might get delayed by few days. We hope that our customers understand our terms and continue to purchase.
1 We usually ship your orders about 2-5 days later on average
2 According to our experience, the shipper will take 8-18 days to worldwide for normal shipping

domain: design


text:
whenever I'm walking down the halls people just laugh at me. I can think of multiple times when I've opened a door or a walked into the school and a group of kids will just start laughing at me. you can't fight or anything because you get kicked out immediately and telling a teacher is just pointless and would only make it worse, not to mention I don't have any friends so confronting them when they do it is pointless.
Most Helpful Girl
Confuse them by starting to laugh to.
Kill them with kindness by being super cheerful and saying hello and being friendly to the bullies who are laughing at you.0

domain: sociology


text:
Vaudreuil-Dorion city council has adopted a resolution concerning a land reserve on Lot 4559873 located on Elmer-Lach St., near the Vaudreuil train station and the Multisports Centre.
A new civic complex may be in the works for Vaudreuil-Dorion that could incorporate an aquatic centre or other recreational amenities on the same site as a new city hall.
The city announced late last week that council has decided to reserve a plot of land for public use on Elmer-Lach St., behind the municipal multisports centre near the Vaudreuil train station.
Few details of the project have been released, but Mayor Guy Pilon confirmed that city council is considering the possibility of building a municipal centre that would include an aquatic complex.
Although there is already a public indoor pool in Vaudreuil-Dorion, use of the facility is split with the Cité-des-Jeunes secondary school.
Public swim times and lessons can only be held outside of school hours, Pilon noted, yet Vaudreuil-Dorion and surrounding areas have many elderly people and young families who would prefer to swim on weekdays.
“With 40,000 citizens (in our city) and more than that around us, I think it’s time to do something,” said Pilon.
The city of Vaudreuil-Dorion is also under pressure to move forward with construction of a new city hall. The lease on the rented office space currently used by the town expires in 2019.
Council purchased a $1.1-million waterfront site at 405 St.-Charles Ave. last April, intended for the new city hall, but pulled back on plans to build on the site after water levels climbed alarmingly high last spring.
Pilon said the project on Elmer-Lach St. would be much more than just a “Plan B” for a city hall. He said council is assessing the pros and cons of incorporating other amenities in addition to an aquatic centre into a future town hall project, though he said he was not ready to share details of what those other features might be.
The reserve is not a commitment to purchase the land, but it does prevent the private owner of the land from developing or selling it for up to two years while the city evaluates whether to expropriate. At the end of two years, the municipality has the option to extend the reserve for a second two-year term.
“We plan to make a decision soon,” Pilon said. “Before summer we plan to decide whether to proceed on that site.”
Pilon said the location is an attractive one for this kind of project because of the proximity to public transportation, higher-density housing and the existing sports centre.

domain: news


Recently, foreign media exposed another Nokia flagship product. The name of this product will be Nokia 10. At present, the appearance and configuration of the phone have been basically confirmed. Then let ’s take a look at what will the new Nokia 10 look like this time! The Nokia 10 will adopt a new appearance design solution. In the front design of the new phone, the Nokia 10 will use asymmetrical full screen. The front screen of the new phone will occupy a very high proportion, and the frame of the new phone will be further reduced. The effect of the front of the phone is very shocking.
In the design of the back of the new phone, the Nokia 10 will use a rear six-camera combination. The six-camera adopts Nokia’s classic layout. The back of the new phone is made of glass material. In terms of the overall design of the new phone, the new Nokia 10 will continue Nokia’s classic design style, and the appearance of the new phone is more in line with the needs of the current flagship phone market.
The Nokia 10 will be equipped with Snapdragon 865 processor, this processor will be positioned in the high-end flagship market, and this processor will be equipped with X55 baseband, which also means that the phone will support 5G network functions. In terms of the memory combination of the new phone, Nokia 10 will start with a 6GB + 128GB memory combination. The new phone will have a maximum of 8GB + 512GB memory combination. This memory combination is also the flagship.
In the new camera portfolio, Nokia 10 will be equipped with a single 48-megapixel camera plus a single 20-megapixel camera plus a single 12-megapixel camera plus a single 8-megapixel camera plus a single 5x zoom camera plus a single A six-shot combination of ToF lenses, and in the new camera’s front camera, Nokia 10 will be equipped with a single 20-megapixel camera. In terms of other configurations of the new phone, this time Nokia 10 will be equipped with flagship features such as under-screen fingerprint recognition, wireless charging, fast charging, and facial recognition.
In terms of the release time of the new phone, Nokia 10 will be officially released early next year, but we have not yet confirmed the specific release time of Nokia 10, but I believe it should not be too late, after all, the phone has been exposed for a long time. In terms of the price of the new phone, this time the Nokia 10 will be positioned in the high-end flagship market. The price of the new phone is also very expensive. According to the information obtained by Quansong Technology, the starting price of the new Nokia 10 will be It will be 6999 yuan. This price is also very expensive, but the final price of the new phone will not be known until the new phone is released.


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The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday bolstered its Gaza Division with additional troops to better secure roads along the border with the Strip that were closed amid fears of an attack on civilians or soldiers by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group.
Road restrictions near the Gaza Strip remained in place for a second day, as Israel warned terror groups based in the enclave that it would respond forcefully to any revenge attack following the recent arrest of Bassem Saadi, who leads Islamic Jihad in the West Bank.
The IDF said it was deploying 100 reservist troops and three conscript companies to assist in keeping civilians out of restricted areas under imminent threat of anti-tank guided missile fire or sniper attacks.
The IDF’s Southern Command and the air defense array were also on high alert for the possibility of rocket fire.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid meanwhile convened the high-level security cabinet to discuss the tensions, his office said.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Lapid received a briefing from top defense officials regarding the situation, and the members of the cabinet discussed Israel’s current assessments and actions it had been taking to defend against the imminent threat of a potential Islamic Jihad attack on the border.
“The Prime Minister continues to receive regular updates on the situation in the [area surrounding] Gaza and holds briefings several times a day,” the PMO said.
Tensions around the Strip spiked throughout Tuesday following the arrest of Saadi in Jenin on Monday night.
The arrest, and videos that showed him being dragged away by soldiers, stoked Palestinian anger and rumors that he had been slain.
Saadi was taken in by forces in Jenin along with his son-in-law and aide, Ashraf al-Jada, and another member of the terror group was killed in a gun battle with troops.
In response to Saadi’s arrest, the Gaza-based group announced in a statement that it was declaring a state of “alertness” and raising its fighters’ “readiness.”
The IDF later leaked images to reporters seeming to show Saadi in good condition, with the aim of calming tensions.
With fears of an imminent attack rampant, Channel 12 reported that Israeli officials passed a message via Egypt to leaders of Islamic Jihad and to Hamas, which rules the Palestinian enclave, indicating that Jerusalem was not interested in a fresh round of fighting, but would respond harshly to any attack or breach of its sovereignty.
The reports were not attributed to sources. Military officials often pass messages through Israeli media while insisting on total anonymity.
On Tuesday morning, the IDF said it had ordered the closure of several main highways, train lines and lookout points along the Gaza border, following an uptick in activity by fighters tied to Islamic Jihad that posed an imminent and “a direct threat of a possible attack on Israeli civilians.”
Later in the day, the IDF issued an update to the road closures, saying Route 232 between Mefalsim and Sa’ad and access roads for farmers nearby were closed, but the road between Sa’ad and Kerem Shalom had been reopened for traffic.
Route 242 and 2410 were also closed, as were Route 4 from Zikim Junction toward the Erez Crossing, and Route 34 between Yad Mordechai Junction and Nir Am Junction.
All towns along the border have alternative routes to exit, apart from Kerem Shalom and Kibbutz Nahal Oz, which were entirely blockaded due to the restrictions.
Danny Rahamim, a resident of Nahal Oz, told the Kan public broadcaster the army was allowing people in and out at specific time intervals.
“The situation is not easy, especially in the education systems, but despite the great difficulty, we understand that the security forces are protecting our lives,” Rahamim said.
The Eshkol Regional Council on Wednesday morning told residents living in towns in the Hevel Shalom area, near the borders of Israel, Gaza, and Egypt, that they should exit via the surrounding fields, not through the main road.
Due to the restrictions, Sapir College in Sderot was holding its classes online.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz vowed to let residents of towns near the Gaza Strip resume their daily routines.
“We will act with determination to restore normalcy to the [area surrounding] Gaza, and if it is not possible [for them] to return to normalcy, there will be no normalcy inside Gaza either,” Gantz said during a faction meeting of his Blue and White-New Hope party. “If normalcy returns, all residents of the area will benefit.”
Gantz added that he wished to give strength to residents of the south, “who empower us and give us the ability to conduct a correct and responsible security policy.”
The IDF also closed the Erez Crossing for pedestrians going in and out of Gaza. The border checkpoint is used by thousands of Palestinian workers every day.
According to the Shin Bet, Saadi, 61, has been jailed and released by Israel seven times over the years.
The Shin Bet said that in recent months, Saadi had “worked even harder to restore PIJ activities, and was behind the creation of a significant military force for the organization in [the northern West Bank] in general and in Jenin in particular.”
“His presence was a significant factor in the radicalization of the organization’s operatives in the field,” the Shin Bet added.
Jenin is widely seen as a hotbed of terror activity. Gunmen and other attackers behind several deadly terrorist attacks earlier this year came from the city and its refugee camp.
Despite the high tensions, the Goldin family and dozens of supporters began a march from their home in the town of Kfar Saba in central Israel to the Gaza border, marking eight years since the body of their son was seized by Hamas.
Hadar Goldin, the son of Leah and Simcha Goldin, was killed while fighting in the 2014 Gaza war, along with Oron Shaul. The soldiers’ bodies have been held by Hamas ever since.
Israel has worked to secure the return of the soldiers’ remains and two living men also being held captive — Avera Mangistu and Hisham al-Sayed — via a prisoner exchange deal with the terror group. Egyptian intelligence, which maintains close ties to both Israel and Hamas, often serves as the key intermediary, but talks have seemingly hit a dead-end.
Last month, in another apparent bid to jumpstart negotiations, Hamas released a video of al-Sayed connected to oxygen, claiming he was ill.
Al-Sayed, a Bedouin Israeli, crossed into the Gaza Strip voluntarily in 2015. His family says he suffers from mental illness.


Our intern muses on the holiday season that just passed and offers tips on how to celebrate future holidays less wastefully: "Now that Christmas is over and we have entered the new year I have been thinking about ways to celebrate “better” next time. I mean better for the environment, and better for everyone..."
Being a conscious consumer is an adjustment, but you'll find that the alternatives are out there if you look hard enough. We wanted to put one more brand on your radar - our friends OSOM Brand. They make super soft socks that are 95% recycled denim and textiles. We've blogged about the textile waste problem...
Currently on our radar: garment and textile waste. We wanted to share with you some of the problems that have been on our minds lately and the discoveries we have made, from innovative technology to alternative materials to inspiring brands. We hope this encourages you to read up on the problems and solutions...


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NITN | @notintownlive | 18 Jan 2022, 10:56 am
Image credit: Unsplash
Abu Dhabi: Under the new travel guideline, Abu Dhabi has made it essential for travellers to get their covid19 booster shot before entering the UAE.
The latest decision comes at a time when Emirates reels due to the fast paced transmission of omicron cases, as per media reports.
People entering Abu Dhabi need a 'green pass' that confirms their inoculation status.
The Government has also updated its green pass status to include the booster shot.
Individuals who have tested covid negative in the past two weeks can maintain their 'green status' in the UAE.
(Image credit: Unsplash)
- Foreign tourist inflow rises by 789 % in world famous Kaziranga national park in Assam
- Narendra Modi to launch world's longest cruise journey that will connect Varanasi-Dhaka-Dibrugarh
- Singapore continues to welcome vaccinated Indian visitors without testing or quarantine
- Jammu and Kashmir: Seven lakh tourists visit Pahalgam
- Annual Illuminate San Francisco Festival begins on Nov 9 to celebrate the city's vibrant art scene
- KFC India rolling out all-digital smart restaurants to speed up customer service
- Jumeirah Group announces stunning new retreat in Bahrain
- Italian film festival gets underway in Kolkata with screening of six contemporary films
- Take deep dive into Virginia's EdVenture Experiences in USA
- Why Backpacking Is the Best Way for Millennials to Travel
Indian carrier IndiGo has announced exclusive flights between Bengaluru to Kolhapur, and connecting flights via Bengaluru from Coimbatore to Kolhapur, effective Jan 13, 2023.
Qantas, the national airline of Australia, created history on Sep 14 when QF 67 took off from Sydney’s Kingsford International Airport to touch Bengaluru, the southern Indian city famously known as ‘The Silicon Valley of The East’, completing the non-stop flight in less than twelve hours.
Bengaluru: Hong Kong’s home airline will start twice-a-week direct flights from Bengaluru to Hong Kong and beyond from Oct. 11.

domain: geography


Leckford death crash lorry driver jailed
A lorry driver who killed a motorcyclist when distracted by a phone call has been jailed for five years.
Roy Woods, 57, had been making and receiving calls "throughout the day" before the crash in Leckford on 13 April last year, a court heard.
He had been on the phone for eight minutes when he hit 62-year-old Alan Couper, who died at the scene.
Woods, from Tidworth, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court.
He was also disqualified from driving for seven-and-a-half years.
Woods had been legally using his phone hands-free at the time of the crash on Stockbridge Road, Hampshire Police said.
However, the content of the call prevented him from taking the necessary actions to avoid the crash, the force said.
After the sentencing, senior investigating officer Richard Thorpe said: "This is a tragic loss of life that could have so easily been avoided and our thoughts are with the family of Mr Couper today."
In a statement read out in court, Mr Couper's widow Helen said: "I'm lost beyond belief. My lovely husband is gone from my sight forever and never coming back to me or his children.
"I struggle with the depth of loss, I'm numb throughout my body and my face. I have lost the man who loved me totally as I was, I miss that deepness of affection and connection."
Mr Couper's eldest daughter Claire told the court he was her "legend, hero and best friend".
The court heard that on 13 April last year Mr Couper, from Southampton, was riding his motorbike with friend Robert Powell.
Woods had been working all day driving a 32-tonne HGV and had been on his phone for more than an hour in total.
The court heard the road had a 50mph limit and Woods had been driving at the speed limit, but this was too fast when approaching a stopped vehicle like Mr Couper's motorcycle.


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Collaborating across multiple health care institutions in an urban colorectal cancer screening program
The articles in this supplement were commissioned based on participation in evaluating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–funded Colorectal Cancer Screening Demonstration Program.
The opinions or views expressed in this supplement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of the journal editors, the American Cancer Society, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This program would not have been possible without the cooperation and participation of the following individuals from the DHMH CCSC: Barbara Andrews, Marsha Bienia, Carmela Groves, Annette Hopkins, Kitty Musk, Eileen Steinberger, Vicki Varsalone; the following individuals from the participating hospitals: Mary Austin, Jennie Boyer, Kira Eyring, Michael Farrier, Nancy Goldstein, Christine Hendrix, Alva Hutchison, Myra James, Jin Lee, Marylu Manning, Eileen Marks, Candace Shaffer, Eden Stotsky, Toby Tighe, Linda Wieczynski; and the participating colonoscopists: Richard Baum, Sudhir Dutta, Anthony Kalloo, Gopal Kowdley, Robert Mathieson, Patrick Okolo, Justin Somerville, and Rakesh Vinayek.
This article is dedicated to the memory of Eileen Marks. Her wisdom, compassion, and commitment were instrumental to the success of the program.
Maryland, excluding Baltimore City, began public health screening for colorectal cancer in 2000. Initiating colorectal cancer screening in Baltimore City was an objective in the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) funding announcement for the “Colorectal Cancer Screening Demonstration Program” (CRCSDP) was seen as a potential opportunity for Maryland to begin screening in Baltimore City.
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), the American Cancer Society, and five Baltimore City Hospitals collaborated to develop the funding application and model for the Baltimore City CRCSDP. After receipt of funding, between 2005 and September 2009, screening sites collaborated with the DHMH to implement the multi-site colorectal cancer screening program in Baltimore City.
Close collaboration across organizational boundaries enabled the funding, formation, and implementation of the CRCSDP in Baltimore City. The Baltimore City CRCSDP illustrates the complexity of establishing a functional public health screening program. The program overcame expected and unexpected fiscal, programmatic, and clinical challenges to successfully perform 709 colonoscopies screening cycles among 696 people and detect three cancers during the 38 months of screening.
Partnerships among the state and local health department, the American Cancer Society, and hospitals in Baltimore City enabled the implementation of this successful program. Lessons learned from the collaborative planning process and the program implementation may facilitate similar collaborations in other geographic areas. Cancer 2013;119(15 suppl):2905–13. © 2013 American Cancer Society.

domain: medical


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by John Tonkin
It's not flashy, but a careful study of system curves is going to help you realise savings that are out of all proportion to the input costs.
During a recent energy audit of a river pump station, the vital importance of system curves was clearly demonstrated.
This station had three 600kW units. Designed and installed in the early part of the nineteen fifties, the pumps and one of the motors were on the wrong end of sixty years old!
Curves? None. Original Manufacturer? Untraceable. Controls? Variable speed using banks of resistors. Pure 1950's technology.
What were the positives?
- There was a flow meter that had recently been calibrated.
- A calibrated pressure gauge was fitted to the discharge manifold (after the first one was taken off the pipe and continued to read 4,5bar!).
- The height between the river and the discharge gauge could be measured (12m).
- As the plant was operating at reduced capacity and there was a large capacity reservoir at the end of the discharge pipeline (1,2kms), the pumps could be switched off for a period of time in order to ascertain the static head between the discharge gauge and the outlet.
- There was a brass plate on the side of each pump that gave three duty points on the (original) performance curve - not much for 64-year-old pumps, but it was something.
- A power meter had been fitted to one of the pumps.
A thought here. How much does a panel-mount power meter cost? I purchased one for R1500, as well as data logging software, for R1800. This is a fraction of the system capital and energy costs associated with all but the smallest pump systems. What is the value of the information given by these meters? Priceless!
So we set to work
We ran one pump at four different speeds, and took flow, head and power readings. Ran two pumps at two different speeds, ran all three pumps at four different speeds and took the same readings.
The data were plotted and the picture that emerged was a source of excitement. Even after many years and many installations, there is a great feeling of accomplishment as the points appear on the grid.
The System Head Curve
Have a look at the curve below. This is how the raw data presented itself. The resulting System Head Curve (curve of best fit) clearly shows the relationship between pumps and pipeline.
From the diagram, it becomes immediately apparent that this station was designed for a two-operating-one-standby configuration. For various reasons, they were operated virtually continuously in an all-three-operating manner.
Even in a new condition, the duty point would move far to the left of each of the three pump's curve i.e. 59m. At 59m, pump curve one shows that each pump will "see" 2300m3/hr. This is quite well left on the curve(s).
What would happen if the (estimated) dashed sections of the curves were flatter? The duty point would move even further left with all the attendant problems that a “choked” duty point creates. If the pumps were to wear and by default, have their curves move downwards (as would happen, as their performance deteriorated over the years) then the duty points would move even further left. The situation can only deteriorate. Efficiency would decline and a host of other LHS problems could arrive to make life even more difficult.
It's worth mentioning that the 900mm steel cement mortar lined pipeline is the original, except for one length that was damaged and replaced.
The system head curve for an equivalent pipeline in new condition was drawn using as-new data. The variations between the two curves were no more than 2% at any point. Not at all bad for a 64-year-old pipeline.
If the system curve and supporting data are matched with the power absorbed readings, then a potentially exciting business opportunity comes to light.
Running two pumps at speed 6 versus running three pumps at lower speeds brought about pump efficiency improvements of between 15 and 18 percentage points. In CO2 terms, this meant a reduction of 6800 tonnes per annum. In money terms, the potential savings were nothing short of remarkable.
Reduce operating costs and improve plant reliability
The best part of this entire process was being able to graphically show how some significant savings could be gained by applying a few basic changes to the way the existing pumps are operated.
- Some basic training and a works procedure would bring significant reductions in operating costs to the table.
- If there was a willingness to spend some money and replace only the pump ends, the savings would nearly triple.
- Changing everything, including the motors and controls would bring about a lot more clarity with regard to the actual performance of all the equipment in the station and an even greater level of saving. This was a much bigger project and would require a far more detailed study.
Once again, the power of an accurate System Curve showing the performance of an operating system was highlighted in the clearest way possible.
This article was originally published on the John Tonkin and Associates website.

domain: economics


Church cheers first tribal Tripura priest
Tripura, November 7, 2011: The first priest from the tribal Tripura group was ordained in southeastern Chittagong on November 4.
Holy Cross Bishop Moses M. Costa of Chittagong ordained Gabriel Lawrence Tripura to the priesthood at Holy Rosary Cathedral in the port city earlier Monday.
About 800 Catholics including three bishops and 25 priests attended the event.
According to local Church sources the program was shifted to Chittagong from the priest’s home parish at Thanchi in Bandarban district of the Chittagong Hill Tracts for security, political and financial concerns. However, the home parish was set to offer a reception to the newly ordained priest yesterday.
The local Church sees the ordination as a milestone in more than 50 years of evangelization among the tribal people in Chittagong Hill Tracts.


"B.A.T. has helped many members of the baseball family over the years, and that makes this honor really special for me," said Berra to MLB.com. "I'm hoping to see a lot of old friends at the dinner, and if I can help encourage people to donate to this great cause, that's a great thing,too."Berra has been helping the organization from it's inception, whether through donations or to raise money to help those who dedicated themselves to the National Pastime and have hit some rough patches after leaving the game.
Yogi is not just a legendary Yankee, but a baseball treasure who has given so much to the game he loves. His career playing resume is one of the most impressive in baseball with 10 World Series Championships, a three-time MVP and 18 All-Star appearances. Berra was had a lifetime .285 average, 358 home runs and 1,430 RBIs despite an unorthodox swing. In 1972 Yogi had his number retired by the New York Yankees and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1998 Yogi opened the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center on the campus of Montclair State University in New Jersey.
Besides holding many artifacts from Yogi's career and baseball, it is also a learning center for children with the intention to teach children important values such as sportsmanship and dedication, both on and off the baseball diamond.
"The Baseball Assistance Team is proud to honor the legendary Yogi Berra, whose legacy is one of baseball's greatest treasures," B.A.T. president Gary Thorne said. "Yogi has believed in B.A.T.'s mission from the very beginning. We are pleased to offer fans the opportunity to thank him for all he has given to the great game of baseball, while also having the opportunity to raise money to help others who need help and have nowhere else to turn."Yogi won't be the only Yankee honored that night Joba Chamberlain will receive the Bart Giamatti Award, which goes to the person best exemplifies the compassion demonstrated by the late Commissioner. Also being honored will be New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana who will receive the Big/B.A.T. Frank Slocum Award, which goes to an individual who provides financial support and generosity to the B.A.T organization.
The New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks will be honored with the Bobby Murcer Award given to the organizations that raised the most money for B.A.T during the past year.
•Be sure to "like" Yankees 101 on Facebook and to follow Yankees 101 on Twitter
•Text "oneteam" to 20222 to donate $10 to the One Team for the Lights charity initiative.
Be sure to check out other great articles at Sports Media 101.


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The weed-killer commonly known as Roundup has been in extensive use around the world since the early 1970s.
The manufacturer (Monsanto) claims the product is safe when used correctly. The fact is the science is as old as their product.
With many tons of product sprayed on the planet every year, the toxins it contains are now in the air, water and soil. These chemicals find their way into the food we eat every day.
In this article, we will explore the dangers posed by both the active and inert ingredients found in Roundup. We will also share some advice on keeping these toxins out of your life. Read on to learn more. [source]
What’s So Bad About Roundup?
Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide (plant killer) and the active ingredient in Roundup.
Studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health indicate that the chemical is an endocrine disruptor. Glyphosate could have negative and long-lasting ill effects on the reproductive health and general health of humans and other mammals. [source]
The institute warns that “proper application” makes no difference to the inherent danger of the chemical. Even very low doses can have massive deleterious effects.
It is also important to note that Roundup is not the only product that contains glyphosate. In fact, there are more than 750 different products available in the United States containing this chemical.
Ongoing research conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency indicates that in addition to endocrine disruption, extended exposure to glyphosate may also induce inflammation and promote breast cancer. [source]
Swedish studies conducted with rats show some indication that massive exposure to the chemical could contribute to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and may contribute to fetal defects and delayed fetal development.
Since glyphosate is so ubiquitous, it is difficult to avoid exposure even if you do not actively use products which contain the chemical. Nonetheless, if you choose to spray herbicides such as Roundup in your yard, you are bound to increase your chances of potentially dangerous exposure.
The active ingredient can be absorbed through the eyes, nasal passages and (to a lesser extent) the skin. If you neglect washing your hands after applying the chemical, you could easily ingest it when you eat or smoke.
If you are overexposed to this chemical, you may experience:
- Irritated Throat & Nasal Passages
- Mouth Sores (burns)
- Eye Irritation
- Skin Rash
These symptoms are the result of relatively small, accidental exposure. People who have purposely ingested pesticides containing these chemicals as a means of suicide have succeeded.
NOTE: Take special care to keep pets and children away from areas treated with herbicides containing glyphosate. This article shares pet-friendly weed killer ideas. If they come in contact with plants that are still wet with pesticide, they could suffer severe symptoms or even death.
The Effects Are Cumulative
According to the EPA, approximately one-hundred-million pounds of Roundup are used in the US every year, and that is just one of the 750 glyphosate containing chemicals currently in use in one nation.
In Argentina, environmental groups and activists have petitioned the government to ban the use of glyphosate in areas where the chemical is regularly sprayed on crops due to:
- Frequent human birth-defects
- High incidence of cancer in humans
- Genetic disfigurement in wildlife (e.g., amphibians)
Inert Ingredients Are Not Harmless
Proprietary (unidentified) ingredients listed as “inert” are also potentially dangerous according to Caroline Cox, the research director at Oakland, California’s Center for Environmental Health. An ingredient that does not harm the intended target of a product can be listed as “inert”, but that does not necessarily mean that it is harmless.
In addition to the potential danger inherent in glyphosate, the surfactants or wetting agents added to it to boost its effectiveness amplify its adverse effects. One of the most dangerous is polyethoxylated tallow amine (POEA). [source]
The purpose of POEA in a formulation is to help the chemicals in the formula penetrate the surface of plants and interact with the plant’s cells to ultimately kill them.
This “inert” ingredient is included in many different types of herbicides. It also carries the potential to “help” these chemicals penetrate human cells deeply and cause more damage. For this reason, this ingredient is suspected as being linked to a vast array of chronic health conditions.
A study conducted by Gilles-Eric Seralini at the University of Caen in France found that this ingredient could cause severe damage to umbilical cord, placental and embryonic cells in humans. [source]
The research team found that the residual levels of this ingredient commonly found on crops such as corn and soybeans or in lawn and garden settings were ample to cause reproductive problems.
They speculate that this “inert” ingredient may interfere with pregnancy and fetal development by interfering with the production of hormones. This may also lead to low birth weight and even miscarriage.
Are There Any Safe Alternatives For Natural Weed Control?
There are many ways to prevent and combat weed growth using safe, inexpensive homemade alternatives. Here are some sensible, simple, easy alternatives for natural prevention and eradication of weeds.
Learn about the native and naturalized plants in your area and identify the ones that you might like to have in your yard. When you see them, cultivate them and treat them as invited guests.
5 Natural Ways To Kill Weeds
#1 – Pull them up! Early in the spring when the weeds are small, tour your yard and pull them up. Keep a close eye on your garden throughout the growing season and pull weeds as soon as they rear their heads. They are much easier to pull when they are young and soft and haven’t had a chance to put down deep roots.
#2 – Boil them! If you have a noxious weed infestation in a small area, try pouring salted, boiling water over it. This is a very good solution for weeds growing in sidewalk cracks. Just be careful not to scald yourself or accidentally burn plants you want to keep! [source]
#3 – Use salt sparingly. Salt alone can be a good way to kill off weeds, but you should use it very sparingly. It can damage paving, and it also damages the soil.
Avoid using it in areas where you hope to grow anything. Use it as a last resort on very stubborn weeds, and once they are dead, dilute the salt with water and amend the soil to help it heal. Remember also to mulch to prevent re-growth of weeds.
#4 – Make homemade weedkiller herbicides. You can use pure vinegar to kill weeds, or you can make up one of a variety of specialized vinegar weed-killing concoctions.
Here are a couple of very easy and affordable homemade weed killer recipes.
- Spray bottle or garden sprayer
- Plain white vinegar with an acidity level of at least 5%
- Plain, cheap table salt (iodized or not)
- Dish detergent (any brand)
You can make a couple of different types of weed killer with these simple ingredients.
For weed killer for use in garden areas, just use vinegar and liquid dish detergent. To a gallon of white vinegar, add about a teaspoonful of dish soap.
The dishwashing liquid acts as a surfactant to spread the vinegar more evenly and boost its effectiveness, but (unlike chemical surfactants) it doesn’t make the vinegar dangerous to you!
Wait a couple of days and then clear the ground and prepare it for planting. This concoction will not damage the soil. [source]
To kill weeds in walkways and areas where you don’t want to plant again, add two cups of salt to this mixture. You may want to mix this up well in advance of using it because it takes some time for the salt to dissolve.
Remember that your mixing and storage container will need to be 1.5 or 2 gallons so you’ll have enough room for the salt and perhaps for vigorous stirring or shaking.
If you use this salt-laced mixture regularly around pathways and other areas where you do not want to grow anything, its effects will eventually be permanent because the salt will leach all nutrients from the soil and destroy it for growth purposes.
#5 – Enlist the power of essential oils!
Here’s another vinegar variation using orange oil.
- Half a gallon of water
- Half a gallon of vinegar
- 1 ounce of orange oil
- 1 squirt of dish soap
Be careful when using vinegar because it will kill desirable plants as well as your weeds. If you spray it, be sure to do so carefully on a still day to avoid overspray.
Better yet, apply it with a paintbrush directly to the plants you hope to kill. It’s best to apply your potion in the morning on a very sunny day. The sun will enhance the power of the vinegar.
How Does Vinegar Weed Killer Work?
This all-natural product is an acetic acid that kills plants by drawing the moisture from the leaves.
When you apply straight vinegar to a plant on a sunny day, you will see that it withers, turns brown and dies within a matter of hours.
This is why you must be very careful not to get it on the plants you want to keep. It is a non-selective weed killer.
Note that 5% acidity level is the common level for table vinegar, and this should be sufficient for your purposes if you want to create a non-toxic weed killer. [source]
Products with higher levels of acidity may be available at specialty stores, garden stores, and health food stores. Be careful dealing with these the acid can burn you.
Vinegar that is up to 30% acid is potentially dangerous. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and goggles and handle with great care. Don’t breathe the vapors!
Your results with vinegar-based weed killers may vary depending on the type of weed you are trying to kill.
Tender, broad-leafed weeds such as dandelions will die off more quickly and completely than narrow-leafed, tough weeds such as crabgrass. You may need to make several applications for this type of growth.
Plants with hairy leaves may have more protection from the effects of vinegar, and you may need to add a little more dish soap to your mix to help it soak in and make good contact with the leaf surface.
Plants with a deep, sturdy tap root may appear to die off, but they will probably grow back eventually.
You might feel tempted to pour vinegar into the soil in this case, but this is not a good idea as in high concentrations, it could negatively impact the pH levels of the soil and might harm microorganisms in the soil. In this case, you’ll need to resort to weed-pulling!
Is It Really Possible To Avoid Exposure To Chemical Herbicides?
Even though use of chemical herbicides may seem like an overwhelming and insurmountable problem, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family and avoid contributing to the problem.
Naturally, if you use glyphosate containing chemicals in your yard on a regular, ongoing basis the chemicals will build up, soak into the soil and make their way into the water table.
This will have a negative effect on wildlife in your yard and potentially, anywhere water may fall or run all around the world.
On the other hand, if you make the positive, pro-active choice of simply saying “No!” to these dangerous chemicals you can reduce their impact on yourself, your family, your neighborhood and ultimately – the earth.
When you choose to make a positive difference, you will surely influence others around you.

domain: chemistry


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Among COVID-19 patients, a lack of exercise is linked to more severe symptoms and a higher risk of death, according to a study covering nearly 50,000 people who were infected with the virus.People physically inactive for at least two years before the pandemic were more likely to be hospitalised, to require intensive care, and to die, researchers reported on Tuesday (13 April) in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.As a risk factor for serious COVID-19 disease, physical inactivity was surpa
Authorities in Cambodia have criticised an artist after he altered photos of victims of the Khmer Rouge genocide.Irish artist Matt Loughrey colourised images of photos taken in the notorious Tuol Sleng prison.
Other than preying on humans, the deadly COVID-19 virus has severely affected livelihoods, local businesses and the economy in general. Major industries such as tourism and hospitality have been hit hard by the pandemic.
Beijing is now home to more billionaires than any other city in the world, according to the latest Forbes' annual rich list.The Chinese capital added 33 billionaires last year and now hosts 100, said the business magazine.This narrowly beats New York City, which hosts 99 and has held the top ranking for the last seven years.China's quick containment of COVID-19, the rise of its technology firms and stock markets helped it gain top spot.Although Beijing now has more billionaires than
Tropical cyclone Seroja pounded Indonesia and East Timor Monday after torrential rains triggered floods and landslides that have killed at least 113 people and left dozens more missing.Packing heavy winds and rain, the storm heaped more misery on the Southeast Asian nations after Sunday's disaster turned small communities into wastelands of mud, uprooted trees and forced thousands of people into shelters.Downpours are expected over the next day as the storm triggers offshore waves as hig
More than 50 people were killed after flash floods and landslides swept through eastern Indonesia and neighbouring Timor Leste on Sunday, authorities said, warning the toll could rise further. Floods sparked by torrential rain wreaked havoc and destruction on islands stretching from Flores Island in Indonesia to Timor Leste, a small nation east of the Indonesian archipelago. The deluge and subsequent landslides caused dams to overflow, submerging thousands of houses and leav
Since COVID-19 emerged in late 2019, people from various backgrounds have succumbed to the disease. From front liners, politicians, and celebrities to ordinary people – the coronavirus doesn’t discriminate. But the virus doesn’t just pose a threat to people’s health and wellbeing, but other aspects of their lives as well.Everyone across the globe is currently feeling some form of pinch from the pandemic.
Fasting practices in the United Kingdom (UK) during Ramadan last year did not lead to higher COVID-19 mortality rates among Muslims, according to a new report.The study, published on Thursday in the peer-reviewed Journal of Global Health, said there was no evidence to suggest that British Muslims who observed the holy month were more likely to die from a coronavirus infection.During Ramadan, which lasts about four weeks, Muslims across the world abstain from eating food and do not drink anyth
Once upon a time, if you told me I would find hilarity in a ship that had run itself aground, I would have scoffed instead, wondering where is the humour in this scenario. But last week the improbable happened.Like many other people around the world, I spent an inordinate amount of time being hugely entertained by the saga of Ever Given, the mega cargo ship that constipated the Suez Canal and the various efforts that were deployed in an effort to dislodge the hopelessly stuc
Over the past year, attacks on Asian-Americans have increased more than 150 percent over the previous year, including the 16 March murders of eight people, six being Asian-American women, in Atlanta.Some of these attacks may be classified as hate crimes.
A homeless man who was out on parole for killing his mother was arrested and charged with a hate crime early Wednesday morning in connection with a violent attack on a Filipino immigrant near Times Square, the police said.The man, Brandon Elliot, 38, was living at a hotel in Midtown Manhattan that has been serving as a homeless shelter, the police said.


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Property descriptionMOSTA – Situated in a good residential area is this brand new maisonette enjoying a front patio and back yard. The maisonette consists of a spacious open plan kitchen/living/dining area leading to a front terrace , three double bedrooms, main bedroom en-suite, main bathroom, washroom and back yard. This property is being sold finished excluding internal doors and bathrooms. Freehold.
Interested in this property? Request further information now
Mosta is a town located is the Northern region of Malta bordering Attard, Lija, Mgarr, Naxxar, Rabat and St Pauls Bay with a population of 20,241 people in an area of 6.8km² making this one of the most populated towns on the Island. Located in the heart of Mosta is the parish church which is… read more »


Under the agreement, Singapore Airlines and SilkAir customers can access Fiji Airways’ non-stop flights between Singapore and Nadi. The island’s airline launched a third weekly seasonal service last month. Passengers can also travel on codeshare flights between Nadi and three domestic destinations, including the Fijian capital Suva, Labasa and Savusavu.
In turn, Fiji Airways customers will be able to access Singapore Airlines and SilkAir-operated flights to destinations in Thailand, Malaysia, China, Germany, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
Tan Kai Ping, senior vice president, Marketing Planning Singapore Airlines said: “We are delighted with the new agreement with Fiji Airways, which will add this beautiful island destination to the Singapore Airlines and SilkAir codeshare network. This is another example of how we are continuously looking to expand our reach to provide our customers with more travel options.”
Andre Viljoen, Fiji Airways’ managing director and chief executive echoed the sentiment, adding: “We’re pleased to sign this codeshare agreement with Singapore Airlines and SilkAir, which enhances the airline group’s impressive global distribution network and significantly grows our footprint across Asia and Europe, with some of these cities appearing on the Fiji Airways network for the very first time.
“We are confident that this codeshare agreement will allow more travellers from Thailand and around the world to experience the beauty of Fiji and the wider South Pacific region.”
The codeshare flights are subject to regulatory approvals. Tickets will be progressively made available for sale through the various booking channels following the approvals.
Published : May 17, 2018
By : The Nation


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After the Bell
Before the Bell
Jim Cramer's Daily Booyah
Winners & Losers
George Soros has no qualms about dipping his toes into the technology arena, though he has admitted to having some rather non-technical approaches to the markets in the past.
These stocks have both short-term gain catalysts and longer-term growth potential.
The online auction house continues to shine beyond the spin-off of its e-payments segment.
In honor of Friday's World Elephant Day, major tech companies including eBay and Etsy, are taking measures to combat illegal online wildlife trafficking.
©1996-2016 TheStreet, Inc. All rights reserved.
Action Alerts PLUS is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.


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Book Agra Mathura Vrindavan one-day tour by car.
We offer Agra Mathura Vrindavan one day tour daily from Delhi, Except Friday, the Taj Mahal remains closed every Friday. With our One Day Mathura Vrindavan Agra trip, you got a complimentary English-speaking tour guide.
Taxi fare for Agra Mathura Vrindavan one day tour
- Agra Mathura Vrindavan trip by Sedan Cabs ₹ 6,000 – 7,000/-
- Delhi Agra Mathura Vrindavan trip by Toyota Innova Crysta/Similar SUV cabs ₹ 9,500 – 11,500/-
- Delhi Agra Mathura Vrindavan tour by Tempo Traveller Van ₹ 13,000 – 15,000/-
Above mentioned rates inclusive (Fuel, Toll-Tax, Parking, State tax, Driver Allowance, Guide*)
We would like to request you view the details shared below in our Agra Mathura Vrindavan one-day tour taxi service, Itinerary, Places to Visit in Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan, Distance, Time, Fare, Etc.
Our Delhi Agra Mathura Vrindavan 1 day tour Details
Schedule Departure time 06:30 am morning to 10:00 pm night.
Tour Destination Agra – Mathura – Vrindavan Pickup from Delhi.
Delhi: Departure from Delhi at 6:30 am. Take Breakfast at Yamuna Expressway at 9:00 am 9:30 am
Agra Fort: Arrive in Agra & visit Agra Fort, after visiting Agra fort goto Shopping. Lunch Break 1-00 pm to 2:00 pm.
Taj Mahal – Sikandra After Lunch goes to Visit The Taj Mahal. After visiting Agra Taj Mahal, proceed to visit Sikandra, Akbar tomb from Taj Mahal.
Mathura – Vrindavan
Mathura: Drive to Mathura from Sikandra, After reaching Mathura proceed to Visit Mathura Lord Krishna Janma Bhumi.
Vrindavan: After Visiting Mathura, proceed to visit Vrindavan Sri Banke Bihari Ji Temple and Prem Mandir.
Vrindavan to Delhi by Car: After Visiting Vrindavan Proceed to Drive to Delhi by Car. After Reached Delhi we drop you at your hotel home or Airport. Tours end with sweet memories.
Time, Distance & Fare
Time: Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan Tour approx 14 hrs from Delhi.
Distance: Total Km coverage for this tour is 500 km .
Fare: Our Starting fare for Mathura, Vrindavan, Agra taxi is Rs. 9 per km in Sedan Cabs and Toyota Innova / Similar Rs. 12 per km.
A one day tour of Agra Mathura Vrindavan taxi fare will become to:
- Minimum 1 Days fare for Sedan Car 500 km x Rs. 9-10 per km = Rs. 4,500 – 5,000/-.
- And total km runs in four days around 550 km.
- Then, total cab fare will be around 550 kms Rs. 9 – 10 per km = Rs. 4,950/- – Rs. 5,500/- *.
- Contact our expert for more details about our Agra Mathura Vrindavan Car Rental or fill below form.
Places to Visit in Agra
If you are planing to visit Agra (UP), must visit below sites in Agra.
Best Sightseeing Places in Agra
- Taj Mahal
- Agra Fort
- Fatehpur Sikri
- Akbar’s Tomb, Sikandra
- Mehtab Bagh
- Keetham Lake
- Mughal Heritage Walk
In Agra there are no doubt has many Heritage sites, that makes Agra more intresting if you are planing to explore this seven wonders of world please contact us.
Places to Visit in Mathura & Vrindavan
- Govardhan Hill
- Vishram Ghat
- Sri Radhavallabh Vrindavan Temple
- Rangji Temple
- Krishna Janma Bhoomi Mandir
- Kusum Sarovar
- Krishna Balaram Mandir
- Dwarkadhish Temple
- Radha Kund
- Sri Banke Bihari.
- Shree Radha Krishna Temple.
- Iscon Temple
- Prem Mandir.
- Radha Vallabh.
Please this form and send your requirement or call us at +91-9999-32-2925
Sate Tax, Toll – Tax, Parking between Delhi Agra Mathura Vrindavan roundtrip will be around Rs. 1000 – 1200 /-. We are also offer to book 100% all inclusive fare for Mathura Vrindavan Agra trip.
Call us at 24/7 – +91-9999322925.
Our Car Rental fleet
Our clients they trust in our Services (India Taxi Online)
About, Agra – Mathura – Vrindavan
The Taj Mahal (Agra)
The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in the Indian city of Agra.
If you wan to go Agra via train you can also book our one day Agra Local Sightseeing taxi tour offered by us.
The Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is about 2.5 km northwest of its more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal.
Some Agra Mathura Vrindavan one day travelers are also like to visit Fatehpur-sikri.
Mathura is the birthplace of Krishna at the centre of Braj or Brij-bhoomi, called Shri Krishna Janma-Bhoomi, literally: ‘Lord Krishna’s birthplace’. about 11 kilometres from the town of Vrindavan, and 22 kilometres from Govardhan.
You may also check our Delhi to Mathura Taxi, Always offered lowest rate compare then others.
Vrindavan has an ancient past, associated with Hindu history, and is an important Hindu pilgrimage site. according to the Mahabharata, Krishna spent his childhood days.
Vrindavan is in Uttar Pradesh, and we offer a lowest taxi package from Delhi to Vrindavan
Visit us at Office in Delhi
Head Office: Laxmi Nagar, Near Akshardham Mandir, New Delhi 110092.
For Sales: +91-9999322925
Phone: 011-45700804. (10:00am to 7:00 pm) Sunday off.


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FDA Recall Of E. Coli Linked To Celery Spreads To A Dozen States
The Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that recalling e coli after there was a warning about rotisserie chicken salad contaminated with E. coli has spread to a dozen states, including products sold at grocery chains and retail outlets.
The main culprit seems to be celery in Costco's chicken salad. It had been produced by California-based Taylor Farms Pacific, according to Fox News.
The number of food products recalled were expanded on Tuesday. They now include 155,000 items including salad kits, vegetable trays and others sold at stores and retail outlets such as Walmart, Sams Club, Albertsons, 7-Eleven, Target and Safeway.
Starbucks too is affected by the recall. It has purged over 45,000 holiday turkey sandwiches in California, Oregon and Nevada, it explains. Stores in Georgia, Arkansas, Nebraska and Hawaii are also affected after the initial spread in the western areas.
So far, 19 people became ill after they ate Costco's chicken salad, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


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Port Huron fire dept. hopes to alleviate OT needs, costs
Although Port Huron City Council has taken steps to shrink the costs of the city’s fire department budget since 2015, the department’s actual expenses have continued to remain steady.
City council approved a budget cut of about $575,000 from the fire department’s operational costs for the 2015-2016 budget. The budget was set to $4.7 million.
To meet the budget cuts, five firefighters took early retirement incentives in 2015, dropping the department from 40 members to 35. That same year the department implemented a policy that required firefighters to respond only to critical emergency medical calls, or when requested to respond by paramedics. Firefighters had been responding to every medical call along with Tri-Hospital EMS, including calls for non-emergencies such as sprained ankles.
While the two moves were made with the intention of cutting the fire department’s budget, actual expenses did not decrease. The department closed the year with $5.2 million in spending – half a million dollars over budget. Port Huron City Manager James Freed said while the city's growing unfunded liability costs account for most of that, ballooning overtime was part of it as well.
The Port Huron Fire Department’s overtime expenses increased 248 percent from 2013 to 2016. In 2013 overtime cost the department nearly $67,000. In 2016, that cost jumped to over $233,000. The information was obtained after the Times Herald submitted a Freedom of Information Act request on March 8.
Overtime continued to increase while the number of calls the department responded to fell 29 percent. The decrease followed the department's decision to stop responding to non-critical medical calls. In that period, the number of large structure fires went down as well.
While there are various ways to control overtime expenses, Port Huron City Manager James Freed announced Friday that the department will decrease its daily minimum staffing by one firefighter. Freed said he expects that reduction will save $372,000 per year.
The Port Huron Fire Department currently schedules 11 firefighters per shift to man its three stations, but the minimum staffing level is 10. If one person calls in sick, the department will operate that day with 10 firefighters and there is no need to call in an off-duty firefighter to work overtime. If two firefighters are off because of illness or vacation, the department calls in one person to meet the 10-person minimum.
Effective immediately, the department’s minimum staffing level is nine firefighters. The department will continue to schedule 11 firefighters. But if two firefighters take time off, the chief will not call in anyone to cover for them and the department will operate with nine. Freed said the minimum staffing is set by the fire chiefs, not by the fire unions.
Port Huron Public Safety Director Michael Reaves said the minimum staffing change will not impact fire services. He said Port Huron will still be a fire-safe community. Reaves said the firefighters are professionals who are excellent at their jobs and will work together through the changes.
Matthew Oleaga, Port Huron Professional Firefighters Union Local 354 president, said, "Any reduction in manpower will, of course, affect how we perform critical tasks and functions for fire ground operations."
Oleaga said the union is well aware of the economic stress place upon the community. He said while the union has a long-standing history of cooperation with city administration, he is concerned that any reduction in man power will effect the department's ability to deliver the service citizens are used to.
In the past year, each firefighter, on average, has taken about 111 hours of sick time. Since they work 24-hour shifts, that equates to almost five days each. Freed said by reducing the minimum staffing and working with the unions to better schedule vacation time, he believes the department can reduce its overtime costs.
Freed said fire staff is not being cut, but the department is working to better handle sick time.
“When someone calls in sick, you are paying them and also paying someone who is in at time-and-a-half,” Freed said. “So one (person) doesn’t seem like a lot, but that reduces the amount we pay, (saving) a tremendous amount of money.”
The department is expected to save $200,000 in wages and $172,000 in fringe benefit costs. Reaves said the overtime numbers are too high and the city doesn’t have the resources to continue spending that kind of money. He said much of the sick time stemmed from having a significant amount of firefighters with on-duty injuries, and long-term injuries.
While overtime costs are often necessary, Jarrett Skorup, Mackinac Center for Public Policy analyst, said cities should make sure overtime is not being abused. Overtime can lead to higher weekly pay and higher pensions in the long run.
“Higher overtime pay is calculated into an employee’s final average compensation which increases their annual pension,” Skorup said. “While overtime costs are often necessary, to make sure it is not being abused, local governments should make sure there is no incentive to ‘spike’ their hours.”
Freed said he does not believe the city’s firefighters were abusing sick time or overtime. He did say, though, that the city's minimum staffing level is unusually high.
The cities of Jackson and Holland, with populations and sizes comparable to Port Huron, both have a minimum staffing of five.
The city of Muskegon has 35 people on its fire department staff and three fire stations just as Port Huron does. Muskegon has a similar population, but while Port Huron has drawbridges to take into account, Muskegon has a larger area to cover.
Muskegon’s minimum number of fire employees per shift is eight, still lower than Port Huron’s new rate of nine.
“We have determined from our calls for service what our staff minimum should be,” said Muskegon Director of Public Safety Jeffrey Lewis. “We have eight people for our minimum, but we staff 11 per shift. That means three people can be off before we consider calling in someone for overtime.”
Lewis said overtime is not a remedy for minimal staffing.
“We use overtime for different matters, like unforeseen situations,” Lewis said. “We concentrate really hard in spreading time off so we always have proper staffing on board. You can always get additional staffing through mutual aid, too. There is no fire department that can staff for the worst case scenario; it’s not affordable for any community.”
While come cities have a lower minimum staffing rate to mitigate overtime costs, others have a paid on-call staff that complements their full-time staff to reduce overtime costs.
Paid on-call firefighters
Port Huron’s fire department overtime can't be compared to surrounding communities because most other departments in St. Clair County rely on paid on-call firefighters.
Fort Gratiot Fire Chief Patrick Smith said since his staff is paid on-call, their department essentially has no overtime. The department has three full-time firefighters to man the station during the busiest hours, but any needs outside of that are met by the on-call staff.
Port Huron Township Fire Chief Craig Miller said his department is set up similarly. Miller said staffing with just paid on-call firefighters can be difficult, though, because the majority of those on-call firefighters typically work full-time jobs elsewhere.
In Marysville, the fire department’s minimum staffing is two, with the rest of the department consisting of on-call firefighters.
“Paid on-call creates some challenges,” said Marysville Fire Chief Tom Konik. “But it mitigates overtime. When you have real people in the station working you know you will have the staff needed, but with on-call you never know who will show up. Using a hybrid of full-time and on-call is cheaper than paying overtime, but there’s always that unknown of how many people will respond when needed.”
If Port Huron added on-call firefighters, it could similarly reduce overtime costs. If a firefighter called in sick, an on-call staff would allow the department to fill that spot with an on-call firefighter at regular pay as opposed to a full-time firefighter who would be receiving overtime pay. However, Freed said it is not something that the city is currently considering.
The city of Kentwood, in Kent County, has a comparable size and population of Port Huron. It has a fire staff of 43, three fire stations, and a minimum staffing of 11. Their department also has 15 paid on-call firefighters.
However, their union contract does not allow paid on-call firefighters to fill in for full-time firefighters. The city’s full-time firefighters also are trained EMTs who do medical runs while their on-call staffers are not trained EMTs, which stops the on-call firefighters from filling in for the full-time firefighters. Port Huron’s fire department does not handle medical calls, but leaves that up to Tri-Hospital EMS.
“We don’t have enough paid-on call anyway,” said Nancy Shane, Kentwood Fire Department executive administrator. “It’s very hard to attract and retain paid on-call people.”
However, Shane said that Kentwood did reduce its minimum staffing from 12 to 11 about seven years ago to mitigate overtime costs.
“It doesn’t sound like a lot,” Shane said. “But that ends up being one person per shift, so it ends up being three people since we have three shifts, so it adds up to a lot.”
Contact Nicole Hayden at (810) 989-6279 or email@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @nicoleandpig.
Port Huron Fire Department overtime costs
- Cost of overtime per year
- 2013: $67,049
- 2014: $118,537
- 2015: $190,157
- 2016: $233,419
- Total number of calls responded to per year
- 2013: 4,043
- 2014: 4,023
- 2015: 2,835
- 2016: 2,869
- Hours of overtime clocked per year
- 2013: 1,841
- 2014: 3,626
- 2015: 5,927
- 2016: 7,214
- Total number of sick hours taken per year
- 2013: 3,897
- 2014: 6,713
- 2015: 5,888
- 2016: 3,877
*Short-term and long-term disability is not clocked as sick hours. In 2016, there were staff members on long-term medical leave, hence fewer sick hours clocked, but more overtime needed.


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Every year, top Silicon Valley technology blogs host the Crunchies awards, an industry award for up and coming companies who are leaders and innovators in their space.
On Monday, February 10th, the winner and runner-up were announced. One Medical Group took the top spot, with Oscar getting the honorable mention. For this post, we’ll take a quick look at each of the finalists and what they bring to the health and fitness scene from a tech perspective.
This year, the finalists in the “Best Health Startups” category were these five organizations.
One Medical Group (winner)
The New York Times calls OMG “a new model for primary care that aims to set a nationwide example.” With offices in six cities (San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, this startup was formed by a group of doctors who listened to their patients and built a totally new medial group designed specifically to meet your needs.
The first step in creating healthier habits is to know your baseline, where you are starting and what areas need the most improvement. “I need to eat healthier” is very vague and does not tell you what to do. When you do know which direction to go, it is important to know the first step and not bite off more than you can chew. Another important step to making a change in your behavior is to track your progress and recognize incremental improvements. If we do not allow ourselves to feel good about the small steps toward improvement that we make, the process can seem overwhelming, and we can be tempted to give up on our goals.
While there are many smartphone apps that can aid in tracking and even some that can make suggestions for improvements, perfect for busy days where taking the time to write down what you are doing and eating is likely to fall to the bottom of your to-do list. While you can start again the next day, many people stop using an app once they have missed a day or two. I am hopeful the new UP bracelet from Jawbone may make the entire process of creating healthier habits easier.
The Jawbone UP is a waterproof wristband, similar in size to a Livestrong band, with embedded sensors that connect to your smartphone to track behaviors such as eating, sleep, and physical activity. It is expected to be released by the end of this year. The free app will track your data and make suggestions for improvement. It sounds like suggestions will be made using the kaizen theory. It sounds really cool that you can input your daily diet by snapping photos of your food, but I wonder how much people will follow through with this. I am also interested to see just how the app works and if it includes push notifications.

domain: health


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Though Nvidia (NVDA) originally planned to release its FQ1 results on Wednesday, the company was forced to release its core numbers early after a preliminary draft was accidentally e-mailed to ~100 people.
FQ1 gross margin was 55.1%, +130 bps Q/Q and +50 bps Y/Y, and above guidance of 54.5%. That provided a boost to EPS, as did the fact opex only rose 4% Y/Y, less than FQ4's 13% and below revenue growth of 16% (up soundly from FQ4's 3% growth).
Nvidia's guidance and full FQ1 results will be delivered on Wednesday, as originally planned.
FQ1 results, PR