Interactive whiteboards, also known as smart boards, have been widely used in education for about 15 years now, but they are becoming increasingly irrelevant with each passing year due to new edtech solutions – the current shift towards remote and hybrid learning is playing a part in this as well. While many educators are looking for IWB file converters, editors, or even special apps that will allow them to still use previously created materials, there might be a better remedy. Using an interactive whiteboard, you can not only keep using all of your old content, but also take advantage of all of this smarter equivalent’s functionalities to edit, tailor and update it, too. This is definitely the age of the digital whiteboard app! 😎
How does Explain Everything support IWB files?
Did you know that the IWB file format is supported in the Explain Everything iOS version? And it’s coming to other platforms, too! If you want to use your IWB files on Explain Everything Android, Chromebook or web version, just leave us your email address and we will contact you whenever there is news on the topic! 👇🏽
⭐ Be the first to know about Android, Chromebook and web versions supporting IWB files!
Why might a whiteboard app be better than an interactive whiteboard?
We have already written a quite thorough analysis on smart boards and why they aren’t the future. The most important conclusions drawn in this text can be summarized with this short excerpt:
To allow all kinds of workflows and curriculums, an interactive whiteboard needs to be universal. This means providing support for all file types teachers and students may use during a lesson and a wide set of easy-to-use creative tools. The ability to share creations as videos is also crucial, for both the teacher and the students, in media-rich classroom projects and teacher-made explainer videos.
Yet no smart boards – the large, touchable devices one can hang on a wall – have evolved this way…and that’s why they’ve been all but replaced by whiteboard apps that one can use on any device and without the teacher having to turn their back to the classs. Not to mention whiteboard apps offer far more advantages than just converting smartboard files to PDFs!
With a virtual whiteboard app you are:
- not limited to IWB files,
- not limited by space (and online whiteboard is now more needed than ever),
- not limited to one device or special hardware,
- not limited to real-time interactions (as you can prepare lessons for asynchronous teaching models),
- able to connect it to an LMS or other integrations,
- able to share your work with others even if they don’t have special hardware (all they need is a regular PC),
- able to collaborate with others.
Combine a large interactive whiteboard or another static screen with a whiteboard app!
A large touch-screen and a whiteboard app can be a powerful duo when in classroom or in a hybrid school model setting. Imagine that you can edit and manipulate objects both on a large screen and on a device in your hands. If you teach in a hybrid classroom model, you can also simultaneously share your screen with students at home, and even collaborate on the same project at the same time! If you are able to combine a large interactive whiteboard and use it together with an online whiteboard like Explain Everything, this may prove the perfect comprehensive solution for the specificities of the post-pandemic, 21st century classroom.
While many smart boards are currently being used as projectors only, a digital whiteboard is a versatile powerhouse of a tool that can be accessed and manipulated from any corner of the classroom as well as from anywhere outside it. At the same time, its contents can also be broadcasted to a large static screen located in the classroom to accommodate hybrid learning models. All in all, what makes a whiteboard app infinitely more powerful than a smart board is that it offers all that a traditional chalkboard or whiteboard does and much more, while not actually being a PHYSICAL object, thus allowing it to be used and shared everywhere and by everyone.
A smart board file editor instead of just an IWB file viewer or converter!
Need to convert smart board files to a PDF? If you have loads of IWB files that you produced over the course of several months or even years of your work as a teacher, and are now facing the new reality of remote or hybrid teaching, you may find it tricky to share lessons with students who were absent, and you’re probably frustrated. But don’t worry – there is a solution that allows you to reuse your IBW format files.
Being able to open IBW files in Explain Everything is not only a quick and easy way to convert smart board files to PDFs, but most importantly, it gives you the ability to edit them. Our app lets you annotate, add content, create videos and share your projects without any limitations!
If you have IWB files, you can simply import them to Explain Everything by:
- Selecting Add Media.
- Selecting File.
- Choosing an IWB file.
You can also start off a new project with IWB file.
No iOS device? These possibilities are coming to other platforms, too! If you want to use your IWB files on Explain Everything, leave us your email address and we will contact you whenever there is news on the topic! 👇🏽
⭐ Notify me about IWB files on other platforms!
Real-life examples of whiteboard app uses 👇
Are you still not convinced that using Explain Everything in the classroom offers far more benefits than just converting smart board files to PDFs, especially now, in remote learning and hybrid school environments? Take a look at these few examples of teaching with an online whiteboard:
Such a great explanation! This pupil has used @explainevrythng with his support worker working as his scribe. Brilliant way for me to assess and check his understanding via @Showbie— Miss C (@Miss_Collins89) February 12, 2021
Some of our fabulous teachers were in school today to do training for Explain Everything. This will be great for teachers to use for online learning and for the children to use in class when we come back to school. 📱☺🌟 pic.twitter.com/twwo2axeKx— Wallacewell Primary School (@WallacewellPS) February 4, 2021
During the pandemic I run online a grad physics course, a grad philosophy course, and an undergrad math course. Each had difference audience, different sizes, different needs, so I used different online delivery modalities. Last new tool: @explainevrythng to record my lectures 👩🏼🏫 pic.twitter.com/eln9Js4ItF— Francesca Vidotto (@FrancesVidotto) January 13, 2021
📖 Read our other blog posts:
- Explain Everything Certification Course: Level 3. Enroll for free!
- Arranging and Editing Your Interactive Whiteboard Made Easy in the New Explain Everything
- Explain Everything is fully integrated with Panopto!
- Explain Everything on just one iPad – engaging creatively with limited tech
- Introducing the Explain Everything Mac app. Get it now!


text:
Table of contents
Electron Transport and Metalloproteins
Trace Elements and Endocrine/Exocrine Function: Mn, Zn, Se
About this book
This book is the published proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium on Trace Element Metabolism in Man and Animals. The Symposium was held at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, California, U.S.A. from May 31 through June 5, 1987. The decision to hold TEMA-6 at Asilomar was made at TEMA-5 in 1985. The International Guidance Committee decided to hold the meeting in California in part to recognize the significant cont~i butions made to the field of trace element metabolism by Professor Lucille S. Hurley. As such, she was the obvious choice as chair of the local organ izing committee. One of the principal goals of Professor Hurley was that TEMA-6 serve as a forum for discussing the use and application of newer methodologies, such as molecular biology, computer modelling and stable isotopes, in studies of trace element metabolism. Based on the comments which the local organizing committee has received, this goal was achieved. The Symposium was attended by 275 scientists from 32 countries covering 6 continents. Twenty-five speakers were chosen for our plenary sessions.
Absorption Calciferol Calcium anemia cancer clinical trial diabetes food growth factor inflammation metabolism molecular biology nutrition proteins toxicity

domain: biology


text:
I love me some MeShell — her voice, her “shit, it’s worth a try” attitude with music….and just her overall bad-assness.
A couple of years ago I saw her live when she did the tour of just Prince covers — ranging from his punk music days to Purple Rain and even the classic LoveSexy album. it was mind-blowing to hear her twist on his classic songs — shit, I read that he even attended two of the LA shows and Questlove was trying to get her to record the concert for an album. It was THAT good.
So, when she announced ‘Ventriloquism’ a couple months ago — an album made up of covers from some of her favorite 80/90s R&B songs — I kinda lost my shit.
Well, it’s not out yet, but NPR has dibs on it and it’s available to streat on their site. Check it out — her covers of Prince’s It Never Rains in April or even Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam’s I Wonder if I Take You Home are, for lack of a better word, stunning.

domain: entertainment


Everyone surfing for last-minute Halloween costumes and pictures of black Lolcats today – what you might call the 40th anniversary of the Internet – can give thanks to the simple network message that started it all: “lo.”
On October 29, 1969, that message became the first ever to travel between two computers connected via the ARPANET, the computer network that would become the Internet.
The truncated transmission traveled about 400 miles (643 kilometers) between the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Stanford Research Institute. (Watch video about the birth of the Internet.)
The electronic dispatch was supposed to be the word “login,” but only the first two letters were successfully sent before the system crashed.
Still, that humble greeting marked the start of a phenomenon that has become such an important part of modern life that many experts argue access to it should be a right rather than a privilege.
In fact, earlier this month Finland became the first country in the world to declare broadband Internet access a legal right for all of its 5.2 million citizens.
“I don’t think it’s quite on the level of food and water yet, but it’s pretty close,” said Jeffrey Cole, director of the Annenberg School for the Digital Future at the University of Southern California.
Created by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Projects Agency, the original ARPANET was a network of just four computer terminals installed at universities and research institutions in California and Utah.
With its truncated missive 40 years ago today, ARPANET became the world’s first operational packet-switching network.


text:
Shy Luv – “Shock Horror ft. JONES (Official Video)”
U.K based duo Shy Luv dropped a stellar EP back in February and we just checked out the crazy cool video for the title track. “Shock Horror” will definitely be a staple in our playlists this summer. It has that undeniably addictive tempo that gets your hips in motion with a daytime disco glow that is perfect for all those forthcoming pool parties. And it’s not only this track thats complete fire, the entire EP is a standout from start to finish including a great rendition of the title track by Detroit Swindle. Catch the video up above and grab your copy over on iTunes!

domain: artistic


I am writing to draw attention to a road project in Snohomish County and that some are being threatened by the Snohomish County public works to guide us through the important domain process.
The project would remove the cul-de-sac at 43rd Avenue SE and 188th St SE, widen the street and open it up into an urban thoroughfare that will serve as a thoroughfare for commuters from 156th to Maltby Road. Most people will probably love this idea as it creates a much-needed alternative route to the freeway. It’s a nightmare for the people who live on the audibly demarcated portion of 43rd Street.
For decades we have lived in our quiet rural cul-de-sac. Since 2005, when the county last changed the SW Urban Growth Area (SWUGA) boundary, our neighborhood has been surrounded by urban growth in the form of over 300 new homes and North Creek High School with all the blinding field lights and school noise Activities and games until late in the evening.
Public Works claims the new street will transform from an urban thoroughfare into a rural thoroughfare once it crosses the border at 188th. That means the county plans to build part of the new road to urban transit standards and part to rural transit standards, and somehow connect them at the SUGA boundary. Nobody can explain exactly how this is supposed to work.
About a year ago, some of the residents of 43rd Ave SE began receiving bids for the land the county needs for the project. These offerings represent less than a third of our land’s value, and the county refuses to show us how they arrived at these estimates. The county also requires that we pay our own attorneys and appraisals and show them how we arrive at our counteroffers. This month they are threatening me and some of my neighbors with significant domains, while others have yet to receive their first offer.
This project is a disaster and Snohomish County’s public works guidelines are taking a toll on me and my neighbors. We are demanding fair evaluation and compensation for our attorneys and opinions awarded for the Sound Transit acquisitions in Snohomish County.
Snohomish County’s taxpayers will most likely foot the bill for several significant domain cases, and the project will be delayed by another year or more. Is this really how taxpaying Snohomish County citizens should be treated?


text:
Bilingual Education Is A Human and Civil Right
Rethinking Schools Volume 17 No. 2
View this article in Spanish-La
educación bilingüe es un derecho civil y humano
In 1864, Congress prohibited Native-American children from being taught in their
own languages. It took the U.S. government 70 years to overturn that law. Now
they're at it again. The federal government and the states have taken
steps toward banning bilingual education in several states and weakening it in
virtually every state. We hope it won't take another 70 years to restore
students' right to learn their own languages in school.
Silicon Valley millionaire Ron Unz has spearheaded four statewide ballot
initiatives to ban bilingual education. Three of these have won and resulted in
anti-child policies in California (1998), Arizona (2000), and now Massachusetts
(2002). In this latest election in Massachusetts, 70 percent of the voters
approved the "English for the Children" initiative, which will take bilingual
education away from children who need it. (Ironically, Massachusetts was the
first state in the nation to legislatively support bilingual education some 31
In Colorado, voters defeated a similar measure (56 percent to 44 percent) this
past November, thanks to the hard work of bilingual education activists such as
members of English Plus and the financial support of Pat Stryker, a wealthy
parent whose child attends a two-way bilingual program in Fort Collins. But such
state referenda are just the tip of the iceberg. The federal Elementary and
Secondary Education Act (ESEA) includes significant anti-bilingual components
that threaten bilingual students in all states.
The ESEA requires English Language Learners to take standardized tests in
English within three years of entering the U.S. school system - not enough time
to gain academic English proficiency. This time crunch forces many bilingual
schools to restructure their programs and emphasize English over native-language
instruction. The mean-spirited way many states have decided to implement these
assessment regimes makes them partners in the federal government's
attack on bilingual education. (See www.rethinkingschools.org for background
James Crawford, one of the nation's best-known writers on bilingual education,
wrote in the Summer 2002 issue of Rethinking Schools that the ESEA was an
"Obituary for the Bilingual Education Act of 1968." He explained that a
provision of the ESEA eliminated the Bilingual Education Act and replaced it
with the English Language Acquisition Act. Where the former stressed language
development in both English and students' native languages and promoted equal
access to the curriculum, the latter expects schools to focus on English only.
And if these attacks weren't enough, "English Only" groups continue to organize
to have cities, counties, and states proclaim English as their "official
language." Such proposals build on public anti-immigrant sentiment and lead to
divisive and unnecessary conflicts.
It's no coincidence that all of this is occurring during the largest wave of
non-English speaking immigrants in the history of the United States. The current
xenophobic policies in our schools and communities are the newest chapter in a
long, predictable book. (Previous chapters included, among other embarrassments,
the outlawing of Native-American languages in schools in 1864 and a rash of
shutting down German bilingual education programs in the Midwest during a surge
of "nativism" around the time of World War I.)
Many mark the beginning of this new anti-immigrant organizing with the 1994
passage of California's Proposition 187, which made it illegal for children of
undocumented immigrants to attend public schools. (Fortunately the Federal
Courts ruled this law unconstitutional.) And Unz has since successfully
dismantled bilingual ed in California, Arizona, and Massachusetts. Bush took the
same side, using federal legislation to weaken bilingual education in those
states that Unz has not yet conquered.
A HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHT
The current attack on bilingual education denies children a basic human and
civil right - the right to learn in their native language. Article 29 of the
Convention on the Rights of a Child adopted by the General Assembly of the
United Nations in 1989 (and ratified by all nations except the United States and
Somalia) states that "the education of the child should be directed to ... the
development of respect for the child's parents, his or her own cultural
identity, language and values." Article 30 states that "a child belonging to an
[ethnic, religious, or linguistic minority] should not be denied the right ...
to use his or her own language."
In 1998 the Linguistic Society of America also affirmed this basic human right.
It passed a resolution supporting the right of all residents of the United
States "to have their children educated in a manner that affirmatively
acknowledges their native language abilities as well as ensures their
acquisition of English."
Not only is the right to learn in one's native language a human right, it is a
civil right as well. In 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Lau vs. Nichols
that California schools without special provisions to educate language minority
students were violating the students' civil rights. This decision gave impetus
to the bilingual education movement.
In our minds, the civil right to an equal opportunity in education is clearly
violated when children are denied an education that is comprehensible. If
students are placed in "English immersion" classes, large chunks of the
curriculum will be incomprehensible. This violates a basic civil right to equal
treatment under the law.
We are disturbed by the way voters are manipulated by money and disinformation
to vote for policies that harm children, but it's difficult to hold individual
voters accountable for their actions. However, elected officials who voted for
the ESEA can and should be held accountable for their actions.
Any hope of overturning the current anti-bilingual policies begins with
students, families, and educators. We need to show state and federal legislators
how their discriminatory policies affect children and force them to change their
positions before the ESEA comes up for reauthorization six years from now.
As educators who believe in social justice we think it is important to fight for
everyone's human and civil rights. Ultimately, we believe that all children
should have the right to learn at least two languages, including their mother
tongue. Throughout the world children become bilingual or multilingual and it is
valued. We call upon everyone who believes in bilingual education to testify,
organize, and demand that our childrens' rights be restored and protected.

domain: news


MRI magnetic motor sculpture
Inspired by the images of MRI scanners we decided to do some fun experiments with magnets.
IMPORTANT: These ideas are not suitable for small children and battery motor sculpture should not be left unattended because it could pose a fire risk!
You will need
- neodymium magnets
- AA battery
- wire cutters
- copper wire
- Carefully cut a length of wire (about 34cm) and bend into the heart shape as in the drawing. Use the battery size as a template and make the bottom coils large enough to loosely circle the magnets
- Attach 2 magnets to the – end of your battery
- With some tricky adjustment lower your heart shape over the battery. The centre of the heart balancing on the + end of the upright battery and the coil circling the magnets (not touching the table surface). This bit can require some patience to get the right shape. Once balanced your wire heart should spin on the battery. (See film clip below)
Other tips and ideas
- If your motor doesn’t spin try flipping the magnets on the bottom of your battery
- Try out different shapes of wire
- Try our MRI cardboard modelling activity or magnet experiments activity


text:
Remember to measure for the perfect fit Keep everything under control with the Stübben Reflective Horse Stable Halter Controller. This controller is designed to clip onto the reflective stable halter (sold separately) to create a rope halter effect when you need a little more control. It features reflective stitching to help keep your pal safe during low-light hours and it’s designed to be easy to take on and off with a simple snap. And, as a bonus, it’s also small enough for easy-breezy storage!
This removable controller is designed to clip onto your stable halter to create the effect of a rope halter.
Designed to work with the reflective stable halter (sold separately).
Created with reflective stitching to help keep your equine pal safe during low-light hours.
Features a small size for convenient storage.
Designed to be easy to put on and remove—just clip to the halter with a simple snap!
I was so thrilled to find this. I love how Monty Roberts’ Dually halter words except that it doesn’t detach when I’m not using it. This was the perfect way to go, especially as I adore the Stubben halter that goes with it.

domain: design


text:
By Sanjana Sethi
In the wake of the last millennium, the United Nations Millennium Project spearheaded a global concerted pursuit to eradicate poverty. Nations and leading global institutions congregated to commit to a series of quantified and time-bound targets that came to be known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Setting forth an ambitious framework of eight goals with the deadline of 2015, the MDGs sought to target poverty in all its dimensions—income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion—while promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability.
Marking a landmark galvanization of efforts, the MDGs, owing to the programs and policies they inspired, helped to lift more than one billion people out of extreme poverty. The results are praiseworthy: in the period between 1990 and 2015 the literacy rate among youths has increased globally from 83% to 91%, the global under-five mortality rate has declined by more than half, and the maternal mortality ratio has declined by 45%. Many more girls are now in school compared to 15 years ago, and ozone-depleting substances have been virtually eliminated.
Yet for all the aforementioned remarkable gains, we are drawing to a close of 2015 and poverty remains an unassailable parasite.
The persisting gaps and uneven progress highlight an essential shortcoming of the one-size-fits-all policy adopted by the outreaching global goals. Countries all over the world stand at varying levels of development, battle disparate historical and internal problems, and confront dissimilar obstacles to development. Yet, the Millennium Project envisioned the same path and timeline for the achievement of the eight goals by all countries. The shortcomings latent in this assumption are accentuated for instance, in Latin America and the Caribbean, where the ratio of women to men in poor households increased from 108 women for every 100 men in 1997 to 117 women for every 100 men in 2012, despite declining poverty rates overall for the region. Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions show similar lags in development. Large gaps still exist between the poorest and richest households, urban and rural areas, men and women. Such regional and internal disparities prevent an all-inclusive advance towards development.
Drawing from the experiences of the MDGs, the United Nations launched a bold new action plan for the forthcoming decade in September 2015, envisaged in the Sustainable Development Goals. Borrowing the MDG blueprint, the Sustainable Development Goals transform the prior goals by supplementing them with a novel perspective of environmental protection and conservation. As such, in addition to the foremost objective of eradicating poverty, the comprehensive goals include climate change, conservation of environmental resources, as well as developing a strong and inclusive global economy. Aspiring to ride on the momentum of success initiated by the previous goals, the Sustainable Development Agenda intends to make sustainable development a reality for every person on the planet. However, significant lessons must be learned from prior experience. Global goals must be accompanied by country-specific, time-bound targets, certain lagging regions ought to be given special assistance and expertise to reverse historical obstacles to development, and finally vulnerable groups should be especially integrated in the growth process.
The path towards a more prosperous, sustainable, and equitable world evokes the shared responsibility and unyielding commitment of all its shareholders. Each of us has a stake in creating a world of dignity for all. Let us blur the lines between global and personal goals, embody the change, and become global citizens.

domain: sociology


text:
WASHINGTON — Human rights activists in 24 cities around the world protested outside Chinese embassies on Friday and delivered petitions calling on the Chinese government to stop killing North Korean defectors by repatriating them back to their home country.
While it is an offense punishable by death or imprisonment for North Korean citizens to defect from the country and the oppressive Kim regime, the Chinese government helps facilitate North Korea's crimes against humanity by refusing to grant North Korean defectors refugee status and by sending thousands of them back to North Korea knowing full well that they will be tortured, forced to do hard labor and even killed in political prison camps.
In 2014, a 400-page United Nations report extensively detailed the widespread torture and abuse that North Korea is responsible for and found that China is violating its responsibility under international human rights and refugee laws.
Organized the the North Korea Freedom Coalition, demonstrations and candlelight vigils to honor those defectors who have been killed or imprisoned were held outside Chinese embassies in two dozen cities around the world including Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Berlin, Paris, Seoul, London, Helsinki and others as a part of the annual Save North Koreans Day.
Activists urged China to "stop killing North Koreans, and accused China's president, Xi Jinping, of standing "side by side" with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un in "genocide."
Along with the demonstrations, activists delivered petitions calling on the Chinese government to stand with the persecuted North Korean families.
While petitioners in other cities delivered their petitions with little problems, the petitioners outside the embassy in Chicago were actually blocked from delivering their petition to the embassy. According to NKFC chairwoman and chair of Save North Koreans Day, Suzanne Scholte, it is not rare for the embassies to prevent demonstrators from delivering their petitions.
"One time at the Chinese embassy, we pushed the petition through the door and they took it and they shot it out," Scholte told The Christian Post.
"That's very common," she continued. "I actually emailed all the coordinators yesterday and said, 'Don't be discouraged if you are not able to get it delivered because that often happens and they won't accept it. They won't answer the door even though the office is clearly open. Don't be discouraged. Just leave it.'"
Scholte explained that even if the petitions can't be delivered, the embassies still must report what happens back to Beijing.
"They knew what this was about and they will have to say, 'Yeah, people showed up in Chicago, people showed up in D.C.,'" Scholte explained. "So, people will hear your voice even though sometimes it's very frustrating."
"We have been protesting for a long time and it really hasn't changed the view of the Chinese government and of course, not yet," she continued. "But another reason why we do this is because the people of North Korea are going to know about this and the refugees in China are going to know about this and people that you would not even expect to hear about this will hear about this."
As it started getting dark, demonstrators lit up candles and took turns reading off pages of names and stories of North Korean defectors and activists who were arrested, killed, tortured and imprisoned.
Scholte told of how six North Korean refugees were arrested by Chinese police on Aug. 23 and repatriated. She also told of how two North Korean refugees who were crossing the border on Aug. 3 were stormed by Chinese authorities, arrested and repatriated.
On May 9, four refugees who had actually already settled in South Korea were arrested and repatriated to North Korea. Scholte also explained that on March 28, a South Korean pastor who had been working with the underground church and was rescuing North Korean refugees disappeared.
"The Chinese police allowed the North Korean agents to operate in the area and we believe strongly that he was abducted. He disappeared," Scholte stated.
Jai Poong Ryu, a professor at Loyola University of Maryland and CEO of One Korea Foundation, told the gathering that China is actually violating its own national interests.
"It is not becoming of a big country that China claims itself to be," Ryu said.
"It's odd that China is going against the United Nations resolution that it led others to sign. It's violating its own principles instead," Ryu added. "No matter what Korea's relationship with China might have been, for thousands of years, we have always thought of China as a big country who think big pictures, who think in long terms, bigger than us. But we are mistaken. It is behaving like a small country. China should rise up to the status that it claims itself to be. It's a shame that China doesn't recognize its own standing and keeps on digging holes."


text:
October 11, 2010 - 8:32pm
I feel like I am saying this a lot. It's been a long time since I have posted anything on here.
Life has been crazy.
My husband and I are expecting our first baby in February and we have spent our free time getting other projects done around the house before then. It didn't help that I spent the first trimester of my pregnancy sleeping a lot. That took up a lot of time, too! :)
So, I am going to try to write a few posts that I have had saved up and do my best to post less sporadically. And I have a really special one coming tomorrow...one that I have been asked to post a number of times! You'll love it!
But we'll see how good I am at that once the baby arrives!
October 12, 2010 - 7:30am
This is a bag that you will use all the time and won't break the bank making it...so make it in all the colors you can think of! It's very durable, washable and it makes a great gift! When you carry them around, you'll get lots of compliments!
October 21, 2010 - 8:33pm
I sometimes don't have the time I would like to make a card from scratch for someone. So I usually have some store bought cards saved up in my stash. One of the simplest things to do to these cards to add a little special touch to them, is to add glitter.
These two cards I just added some glitter to. The first one I added dots of glitter and the second one I added glitter to the stems.
These pictures don't do these cards justice at all. I couldn't get the colors to look right. But take my word for it, glitter added that special touch I was hoping for.
So keep this little trick in your bag of goodies for those times when you are crunched for time, but want something a little more special.
I have also added glitter to a whole set of cards and gave them as gifts. People love how they turn out and you'll be glad you added a personal touch to them.
November 29, 2010 - 7:13am
It's been FOREVER since I made a card! I am almost embarrassed with how long it's been.
Just after Thanksgiving, it was my dad and step-mom's anniversary. I had some extra time, so I thought I would make a card. This is how it turned out.
I was pretty happy with how it turned out and happy that I was able to find a little bit of card-making-mojo! I don't know when I'll have some extra time again to make more cards, but this definitely made me want to make some time for it!
December 3, 2010 - 7:28am
Last year for Christmas, I had a request from my step-mom for a silver and gold necklace and earring set. Now, I don't wear yellow gold. I think it looks great on other people, it's just never been for me. So it was a bit of a challenge for me to make these.
I ended up getting a really long gold chain and added some silver beads to the necklace in various places. Since the chain was so long, I doubled it up before adding the beads to it. I think it gave it a really nice touch.
For the earrings, I used gold earring hooks and then used the silver beads.
She has told me that she has gotten lots of compliments on them and I am so happy that she likes them so much!
(And on a side note, this took so long to post because I gave them to her and forgot to take a picture. I just got a picture from her the other day and wanted to make sure I posted this right away!)
December 6, 2010 - 7:23am
I have been working on this necklace for a while and finally got around to finishing it! I can't wait to wear it! I know this necklace and earrings are going to be a nice addition to my collection!
I have a few more necklaces and earrings to show you, so I hope you don't get too bored seeing them!
December 9, 2010 - 7:42am
My coworker is seriously the best coworker anyone could ask for. I sit next to her and she truly is my best friend at work! I couldn't be luckier. For her birthday this year, I wanted to make her some jewelry. I made this necklace and pair of matching earrings for her.
This is the necklace a little closer up. She wanted something she could wear with anything. And I think I succeeded.
These are the earrings. She doesn't wear big earrings, so I made a small pair that she could wear with or without the necklace.
She was so surprised and wears them all the time. That's a pretty sure sign that she liked them!


CAWG Raising Money to Brand the California Wine “Experience”
As the wine industry becomes increasingly globalized and competitive, regional branding is more essential than ever. This is especially true for areas other than the handful of famous ones (Napa, Sonoma, etc.) that do not immediately bring to mind a luxurious experience.
Because the majority of its wines are sold at low price points, the Central Valley is very prone to foreign competitors like Australia’s Yellow Tail. Many countries and states have formal institutions that promote their wines and in some cases lobby for protectionist measures. California lacks this resource, but the state does have CAWG (California Association of Winegrape Growers) on its side.
CAWG recently announced that it is raising money to bolster the state’s wine industry. Rodney Schlatz, the Chairman of CAWG and a grape grower in Lodi, explains the initiative: “This is a voluntary effort to come up with $500,000 in the next few months. If we had a dollar for every acre of wine grapes in the state, we’d meet our goal.”
Most of the money will be spent on events and press releases that raise awareness of sustainable farming practices in California’s vineyards. Karen Ross, the President of CAWG, says it is all about branding the state’s many grape growers. “Consumers want to know more about the growers, the people behind the bottle. Let the wineries promote their brand, and let the growers promote their brand.”
This initiative is more than just about selling wine; rather it is about emotionally connecting with the consumer on such issues as fair employment practices and organic farming. It is about developing and articulating the entire experience of consuming California wine and setting the region apart by illuminating the people who are behind it all.


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Lockdowns and fear of catching COVID-19 have caused a plunge in the number of stroke patients attending hospitals, particularly in Victoria.
Medical professionals are worried that many more undiagnosed stroke victims will die prematurely or be permanently disabled.
Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne director of the brain centre, Professor Stephen Davis, said serious stroke patients were still presenting but there was a significant reduction in admissions for minor strokes and "warning attacks".
"We are very concerned that people are in this lockdown situation and are afraid to go to hospital.
"If you ignore minor symptoms like limb weakness or speech disturbance you are in a high risk category for a major stroke over the next few weeks."
Similarly, there has been a significant fall in screenings for cancer and heart disease during COVID-19 shutdowns, in Australia and overseas.
Monash Health neuroradiologist Dr Shalini Amukotuwa said she was really worried stroke patients were becoming "collateral damage" to COVID-19 and would suffer long-term disabilities or have their lives cut short.
Across Monash's three emergency departments which treat about half of Victoria's stroke patients in Melbourne's outer-east, CT scans for strokes totalled 108 in August, up from the April low of 73, but well below the 160 average pre-COVID, Dr Amukotuwa said.
Clot retrieval operations, where a tube is inserted into arteries, had almost halved to 11 in August, from an average of 20 pre-COVID.
People 'afraid' to go to hospital
Professor Vincent Thijs, head of stroke at Melbourne's Austin Hospital, said admissions remained lower than pre-COVID-19, but presentations had recovered somewhat from the very lows of April.
"People are afraid to come to the hospital and there are fewer people around at homes when people are alone during lockdowns to notice less serious strokes," he said.
During the first national shutdown brain scans for strokes fell from a peak of 172 a week to as low as 105 per week between March and May, according to data collated from 45 hospitals by neuroimaging stroke software platform, RapidAI.
Roland Bammer, co-founder of RapidAI and a University of Melbourne professor of radiology, said a joint study he performed revealed that lockdowns had contributed to a severe fall in stroke patients showing up.
"People have been scared to go in and the messaging about the virus frightened people," he said.
"So patients are at home having strokes that are more severe because they didn't come in time to the hospital with their earlier symptoms."
"We need to make people aware they can safely come to hospitals and they shouldn't stay at home, otherwise they will pay the price later."
After a steep fall between March and May, stroke scans recovered across the country when the economy reopened in June, but doctors said there had been a fall in Victorian hospital presentations over the past month during the second Melbourne lockdown.
Strokes killed 8400 Australians in 2018, 5.3 per cent of all deaths. Stroke also often causes paralysis of parts of the body, speech problems and other symptoms, such as difficulties with swallowing, vision and thinking.
It occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain either suddenly becomes blocked (ischaemic stroke) or ruptures and begins to bleed (haemorrhagic stroke), according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
There are usually about 38,000 stroke events annually – more than 100 every day.
As of 2018 an estimated 387,000 people – 214,000 males and 173,000 females – had had a stroke at some time in their lives.
Stroke Foundation Clinical Council chair and and Royal Melbourne Hospital head of stroke, Professor Bruce Campbell, urged people with symptoms to phone 000 to limit longer-term health problems. He said changes to FAST (Face, Arms, Speech and Time) were the easiest way to recognise the most common signs of stroke.
Professor Dominique Cadilhac from the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, said: "Every minute you lose delays treatment that can help unclog the clot in the brain, so that leads to more healthy years of life being lost."
The Australian Stroke Clinical Registry's preliminary analysis of 54 hospitals nationally, found people were presenting less often to hospital for suspected episodes of stroke, particularly if they had experienced minor stroke or transient symptoms, during the first national shutdown.
Nationally, about half of the hospitals reported reduced presentations, in particular for mild stroke.
About one in three reported longer time from stroke onset to patient presentation.
Professor Cadilhac said some hospitals around the country had reallocated resources away from strokes, to deal with COVID-19.
Professor Davis said a very small number of stroke patients also had COVID-19, which increased the stickiness of the blood and occasionally caused strokes.
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MANTOVANI: All-Time Love Themes
Presents Mantovani and his highly acclaimed orchestra in this two CD, 40 track collection of some of the greatest love songs ever written. Includes Autumn Leaves; Stranger in Paradise; Laura; Arrivederci Roma; Three Coins In a Fountain; The Way You Look Tonight; Love Is a Many Splendid Thing; Some Enchanted Evening; and many more.
Format: Compact Disc
Item #: 3808440
This item is a CD.

domain: library


Without a fair and ambitious global climate treaty forged in Paris at the end of the year, the world may lose the historic opportunity to take a “U-turn” from fossil fuel dependence to a low-carbon and climate-resilient path, and Southeast Asia may have to face more frequent extreme weather events, an NGO coalition warned.
The ASEAN for a Fair, Ambitious and Binding Global Climate Deal (A-FAB) Coalition said that super typhoons, floods and droughts are becoming the region’s new norm, and underscored the need for substantial action to address the causes and impacts of climate change.
The group added that Southeast Asian governments are also in a position to contribute to the global climate effort, especially with the upcoming ASEAN economic integration deadline and international climate negotiations, both in December.
In the past decade, Southeast Asia has been battered by extreme weather events that caused heavy tolls on lives, infrastructure and livelihood. These events—such as 2013’s Typhoon Haiyan, which killed 6,300 and displaced hundreds of thousands in the Philippines, and the 2011 Thailand floods that caused USD 1.3 billion in agricultural damages—are known to be exacerbated by rising global temperatures caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
“The burning of fossil fuels for energy production has been found to be primarily responsible for emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases. A harmonized ASEAN policy reform to de-subsidize coal, oil and gas, and to support renewable and other low carbon technologies is therefore necessary, especially in the context of the ASEAN economic integration,” said Zelda Soriano, Legal and Political Advisor of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, a member of A-FAB.
She added that programs and projects to implement the low carbon energy policy can be included in ASEAN countries’ intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs), or climate action plans that they will take under the new climate treaty.
“We urge ASEAN member-states to ensure fair and ambitious actions in their INDCs to safeguard the future of the region’s population,” said Soriano.
In a policy brief recently published by A-FAB, Dr. Gary Theseira of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Malaysia outlined some possibilities for Southeast Asian governments to develop more impactful INDCs.
These include ramping up renewable energy deployment, promoting energy efficiency, setting targets for reducing deforestation and advocating clean transportation alternatives.
“A meaningful INDC reflects a country’s full capacity to combat climate change. It will also be better if it includes ample information on how a country’s greenhouse gas emissions can be further reduced,” said Dr. Theseira.
He adds that it would be best for ASEAN to urge their member-states, through its declarations, to include ambitious actions in their INDCs with clear indications on how to successfully implement them.
“Enhanced ambition on finance, technology transfer and capacity building by developed countries will enhance mitigation actions in ASEAN,” Dr. Theseira emphasized.
“It is also important to include adaptation in the INDCs. One of the biggest challenges confronting many ASEAN Member States is helping poor communities across the region adapt to climate change,” said Riza Bernabe, Policy and Research Coordinator for the East Asia GROW campaign of Oxfam, another member of A-FAB.
“Developed countries should make it part of their climate action plans to provide climate finance to support climate adaptation in developing countries. We believe that, in the spirit of climate justice, countries primarily responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, should also be responsible for addressing the adaptation needs of climate change victims,” she added.
The ASEAN for a Fair, Ambitious and Binding Global Climate Deal (A-FAB) is a coalition composed of Oxfam, Greenpeace, and the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration that calls for a more active and transparent participation of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).


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Teen faces 14 drug charges connected to prior bust
A Monroe teen is facing 12 drug-related charges after several controlled drug buys arranged by Louisiana State Police and Metro Narcotics.
Truly Kendall Ezell, age 19, Martha Drive, is also connected to the arrest of three suspects on Breard Street in Monroe on Feb. 5. Pounds of pills and drugs were seized at the location.
Pounds of pills: Drugs found as LSP arrests Madison Parish murder suspect
Ezell is accused of selling Xanax and other substances to informants posing as customers over several arranged transactions monitored by agents.
For one transaction, the buyer was directed to Breard Street to complete a transaction with another seller. Other times, Ezell accompanied buyers to Breard Street where Xanax and cocaine were allegedly purchased from Jory Williams Jr. and provided to the buyer.
Per the arrest warrant, the address on Breard Street was within a Monroe school’s drug-free zone.
Ezell was booked into Ouachita Correctional Center on Monday on three counts violation of a drug-free zone, two counts possession with intent to distribute a schedule II controlled dangerous substance, three counts of intent to distribute a schedule IV narcotic and six counts attempt and conspiracy.
Total bail was set at $220,000.
Feb. 5 bust on Breard Street
On Feb. 5, Metro Narcotics Agent and LSP troopers took Johnson Lamar Combs, age 20, Lake Providence, into custody on Breard Street.
Combs is accused of murder and 6 counts of attempted murder connected to a November shooting in Madison Parish in addition to drug-related charges
Two additional suspects, Isaanekkia L. Minniefield, age 25, and Williams, age 28, were also taken into custody at the residence and booked on drug-related charges.
Five thousand dosage units of Xanax, 2,900 units of Ecstasy, 2.93 pounds of marijuana, 102.1 grams of cocaine, 247.6 grams of methamphetamine and 28.2 grams of synthetic marijuana were seized during a search of the residence along with two guns and $9,729.


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Lollipops for dogs have become increasingly popular among pet owners. They are marketed as healthy treats that provide entertainment and help in cleaning teeth. However, there are concerns about the safety of lollipops for dogs. This article aims to explore the pros and cons of lollipops for dogs and whether they are a healthy treat or a health hazard.
A lollipop for dogs is a treat that is shaped like a lollipop and is designed for dogs to chew on. They come in different flavors and are made with various ingredients.
Lollipops for dogs have their pros and cons. On the one hand, they can provide entertainment, help in cleaning teeth, and can be used as a reward. On the other hand, they can cause obesity, dental problems, and digestive issues.
There are health hazards associated with lollipops for dogs. Some of the ingredients used in lollipops for dogs can be harmful to dogs. Xylitol, an artificial sweetener, can cause a rapid insulin release in dogs, leading to hypoglycemia, seizures, and liver failure. Artificial sweeteners and preservatives can also cause health problems in dogs. Additionally, the size and texture of the lollipop can cause choking hazards.
To choose safe lollipops for dogs, it is important to read the label and choose lollipops made with natural ingredients. It is also important to choose the right size of lollipop and choose lollipops that are easy to digest.
In conclusion, lollipops for dogs can be a healthy treat or a health hazard, depending on the ingredients used and the size and texture of the lollipop. It is important to choose safe lollipops for dogs and to be aware of the potential health hazards associated with lollipops for dogs.
1. Can lollipops for dogs cause diarrhea?
Yes, lollipops for dogs can cause diarrhea if they contain ingredients that are difficult for dogs to digest.
2. Are there any lollipops for dogs that are safe for diabetic dogs?
Yes, there are lollipops for dogs that are safe for diabetic dogs. These lollipops are made with natural ingredients and do not contain artificial sweeteners.
3. Can lollipops for dogs cause tooth decay?
Yes, lollipops for dogs can cause tooth decay if they contain sugar or other ingredients that can stick to the teeth.
4. How often should I give my dog a lollipop?
You should give your dog a lollipop as a treat and not as a substitute for dog food. It is recommended to give your dog a lollipop once a week or less.
5. Can lollipops for dogs be used as a substitute for dog food?
No, lollipops for dogs should not be used as a substitute for dog food. They should be given as a treat in moderation.

domain: pet


The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover launched on July 30, 2020, toward Mars. The launch window was timed for Mars’ closest approach to Earth, an alignment called “Mars opposition” that happens once every 26 months. The October 2020 Mars opposition was the closest Mars approach until the possible human Mars mission launch windows in 2033 and 2035.
The Perseverance landing is planned for Feb. 18, 2021 at Jezero Crater, 18.4 degrees north, 77.7 degrees east, in the Nili Fossae region of Mars. According to rover science team members Sanjeev Gupta and Briony Horgan, the mission science goal will be “to explore the history of water and chemistry in an ancient crater lake basin and associated river-delta environments to probe early Martian climates and search for life.”
The Mars 2020 spacecraft is currently halfway to Mars, traveling at about 100,000 kilometers per hour, relative to the Sun. It will take about six months (203 days) to traverse the 480 million kilometers from Earth to Mars on a sweeping Hohmann Transfer Orbit shown in the accompanying graphic.
The Mars 2020 Perseverance team is made up of hundreds of multidisciplinary scientists and engineers, with international participation from countries and organizations around the world. Perseverance predecessor Curiosity, still operating after eight years, is a fully packed Mars science laboratory. Instrumentation on the Perseverance Rover has evolved to search for evidence of past life on Mars and to cache drill samples for eventual return to Earth labs. Each system is represented by a principal investigator: planetary geologists, astrobiologists, and engineers.
Mastcam-Z has powerful cameras that can zoom in, focus, and take color 3-D images and video at high speed to allow detailed examination of distant objects.
MEDA, the Mars environmental dynamics analyzer, is a weather station that measures wind speed and direction, temperature and humidity, and the size and amount of dust particles in the Martian atmosphere.
MOXIE, the Mars oxygen in-situ resource utilization experiment, will demonstrate technology to produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere for propellant and for breathing air for future human explorers.
PIXL, the planetary instrument for X-ray lithochemistry, is an X-ray spectrometer used to identify chemical composition at a tiny scale. This will allow scientists to look for organic chemicals of possible past microbial life on Mars.
RIMFAX, the radar imager for Mars’ subsurface experiment, is a ground-penetrating radar system that will probe the geology below the rover to a depth of ten meters. RIMFAX will be used to detect ice, water and salty brines.
SHERLOC, the instrument for scanning habitable environments with Raman spectroscopy and luminescence for organics and chemicals, uses spectrometers, a laser and a camera to search for organic chemicals and minerals that may be signs of past microbial life from a wet environment.
SuperCam will examine rocks and soils with a camera, laser and spectrometers to find organic chemicals from possible past life on Mars. It can focus on targets as small as a sand grain from a distance up to seven meters.
Ingenuity UAV helicopter: In addition to this sophisticated instrument suite, Perseverance carries the small UAV helicopter, named Ingenuity, attached to the rover’s belly. It will be deployed for several flights up to 10 meters high and ranging up to 300 meters away from the rover to scout for science targets and driving routes.
Getting the Mars 2020 spacecraft launched in the narrow launch window on its trajectory to the Red Planet was just the first mission hurdle. The Perseverance Rover will land with an entry-descent-landing system similar to Curiosity: with a heat shield, a parachute and a sky crane performing a complex set of maneuvers. EDL is the “seven minutes of hell” to slow in Mars’ thin atmosphere to a safe, precise landing.
The spacecraft will slam into Mars’ atmosphere at 20,000 kilometers per hour, slowing on its aerodynamic heat shield. Four minutes later, traveling at 1,500 kilometers per hour, the spacecraft parachute will deploy and the heat shield will separate. At six minutes into the descent, now slowed to 300 kilometers per hour, the rover’s parachute and back shell will separate. The sky crane platform will take over with descent thrusters and will be guided to the rover landing zone by radar. The rover will then be finally lowered softly to the surface on sky crane cables. Explosive bolts will cut the cables to release the rover at touchdown as the sky crane platform flies safely away.
This will be a nail-biting show that will be broadcast live from the Space Flight Operations Center at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. on Feb. 18, 2021.
Meanwhile, stay tuned here. A future EXPLORER article will review the geology of Jezero Crater.


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A French parliamentarian walked a circular route (perhaps I should have just said circumambulated, but then nobody would read this blog) for 8 months and over 6,000 kilometers (over 3,700 miles) – according to France24. While the route itself would be fun to map (adding context to the discussion), Z Geography’s main interest are the comments peppered throughout the article. What they suggest to Z is that there is quite a bit of similarities between “the French public” (as France24 portrays in the chose quotes) and some sections of “the American public.” The article left me with the impression that the “declining America” argument/observation/theory could be expanded to encompass the West. Or perhaps make it a Franco-American phenomenon.
What follows is a listing of quote from the article and a short editorialized comment from Z Geography.
- “Everywhere I went I witnessed a crisis in the standard of living, a loss of identity and the loss of a sense of a common destiny.” How often have we heard in the U.S. about the “war on the Middle Class” (from both Republicans and Democrats)
- “People would tell me: ‘look at the state you have left our country in’,” he added. “There is no more industry, farming is in crisis, just one in ten children of farmers grudgingly says they want to carry on in agriculture.” Aside from the statistic, there’s nothing I can add. Rust Belt cities. Failing small and medium-sized farming families.
- “And what he found was a France confused about its position in a shrinking world, an uncertainty as to the long-term effects of globalisation and a distrust for politicians who, people told him, “do not listen to us at all”. This is the key quote. Note the mention of globalization (blamed for everything from illegal immigration to loss of jobs) and the distrust of political leaders.
Worryingly, he also encountered “latent racism” almost everywhere, “even in the smallest villages…This is racism that seems totally unashamed,” he told Le Monde on Friday. “It is a wholescale [sic] rejection of ‘the other’ and often expressed with excessive aggression.” Another key quote with applicability to the United States. Pick your (or your party’s) favorite scape-goat. Gays. Illegal immigrants. Government Bureaucrats.
One quote that I found unsettling and woefully underexplained concerned rising “anti-Semitic rhetoric” that was “linked to wealth.” Linked how? As people gain (or lose) money there is a greater likelihood of uttering anti-Semitic comments? More information please!
That information gap aside, the quotes from France apply just as effectively to the United States. Industry has (long) been in decline, agriculture (at least the profits of) is the domain of agribusinesses, those “left behind” by globalization (more specifically: economic globalization) are angry – at the political class, their governments, and the “others.”
The only difference is that a French politician bothered to walk around the country to “take its pulse,” in the first place. The only time this happens in the U.S. is during a Presidential election.
Z Geography thinks these comments point to a more geographically diffuse sentiment. The “forces” that promoted the rapid growth of the Tea Party certainly would have similar effects in France – it’s also an advanced economy with multiple links to the global marketplace. The anger permeating economically-destroyed (let’s face it) communities in “America’s Heartland” is also on display in rural, suburban, and urban France. In other words, this isn’t a strictly American problem (or phenomenon) – it’s regional, probably even global.
Z Geography also thinks that economics plays a central role in this anger, but that is the subject for a much longer post.

domain: geography


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A Tribute to U2 with L.A.vation at Pasadena Civic Plaza
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All offers for L.A.vation: The World's Greatest Tribute to U2 have expired.
The last date listed for L.A.vation: The World's Greatest Tribute to U2 was Friday July 26, 2013 / 7:45pm (Doors at 7:00pm).
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An all-star lineup -- including David Byrne, Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem), Kele Okereke (Bloc Party), Money Mark, Joshua Redman, Sinkane and the legendary Lijadu Sisters of Nigeria in their first live performance in 30 years -- takes the stage at the Greek to perform the futuristic, synth-heavy electronic music of elusive Nigerian artist William Onyeabor. The evening begins with a DJ set by special guest Wooden Wisdom (Elijah Wood & Zach Cowie). Onyeabor self-released eight nearly impossible-to-find albums between 1978 and 1985 in Nigeria, but after becoming a born-again Christian turned his back on his work and refused to speak about it for nearly three decades. Last year, after a five-year odyssey to track down Onyeabor and secure his permission to release his music, the Luaka Bop label issued World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who Is William Onyeabor? The album was named one of Time magazine's top ten albums of the year and Pitchfork's Best Reissue of the Year 2013. Even now, after the album's enormous success, the artist's life story remains a mystery -- and he seems content to keep it that way. Learn More
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Nearly four years post Rose Bowl, the U2 vibe returns to Pasadena. These days the U2 tribute band L.A.vation looks and sounds better than ever. At dusk Friday, Jason Thiesen Bono Impersonator, Bart Davis, John Classick, and Jorgen Ingmar Alofs stopped the traffic. The show began with its usual 360 intro and the mixed crowd of uber fans and Pasadenians out for a night of summer music. The stage was set similar to a performance by U2 at the Lincoln Memorial, set high up the steps with excellent sound and scenery. The show began with some ambitious attention from the mixed audience , but then something magical always happens during “Elevation” doesn’t it? U2 fans know what I’m talking about. Maybe it was the united sounds of the “Wooooo-hoooo’s” belting out in unison, or the way the lights reflected the beautiful building that set the stage. Whatever it was, it touched the crowd, which was now full of life and spirit. It’s this type of song, similar to “Where the Streets Have No Name,” that deposits the sacred sensation that all U2 fans seek, and music lovers in general. Pasadena began to sparkle. The audience moving, jumping, and singing as one. For many, including me, “Beautiful Day” always is a brilliant piece of enlightenment, smiles all around. “With or Without You,” U2’s first #1 hit in America, sung as the masterpiece that it is and authentic as can be, adding the lyrics at the end… Yeah, we'll shine like stars in the summer night, We'll shine like stars in the winter night, One heart, One hope, One love." At the end of the night, singer Jason Thiesen saluted a number of fans in the crowd, including me. Thanks guys, once again, as you can certainly connect with so many people at once, its almost an art form. Like U2, you do this very well. You create big moments filled with meaning, with a sprinkling of hope. Thanks to you, we are still dreaming out loud.


text: Own your own beach campo just south of Ensenada, Baja Ca, Mexico. Pristine land. Owners have full title which can easily be transfer to a new owner through the Mexican government. All paperwork is on file, ready to transfer. Are you ready to make an investment in your future and enjoy it today? Please request to view paperwork. All offers considered.


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HE AIN'T HEAVY...
It's time to get into The Brothers' War cards coming soon! Let's see what goodies we got in red this time around!
So the review begins with a surprise cycle entry! Remember? has the same last line of text returning the Aura to your hand when the enchanted creature dies. I would say spiritually is part of this cycle for now. It's pretty exciting to see the design team reach deep into their back pockets to find something like this kicking around.
Turning the enchanted creature into a Dragon, buffing it by one, making it a hasty flyer, but also giving it fire-breathing for one generic mana on top of the recursion built into the card means that I can definitely say that Voltron strategies in red will appreciate this printing. Decks helmed bywill like this for its ability to come back to you even when your commander is no longer castable or is . was reprinted in the latest Double Masters 2022 set, and with folks rediscovering the big beast, cards like will make Uril a threat at the table yet again.
The first Prototype card in red is doozy... in Limited. I'm not seeing immense potential for this in Commander unfortunately. That said, there are a few decks that I can see this being good for.
can reduce the cost to zero when the battlefield is set up for it, and in my experience, it isn't difficult to do. Getting three artifacts out of the deal also means that the next spell gets reduced by more.
decks where you can cast it for nine with your mana reductions, like and , are surely into it. Maybe.
Even that just gets you three 4/4s with trample and haste. Sure, that can end a game in the Brudiclad deck, but the Battalion tokens are created on cast, and for the Prototype cost you get six power versus 12. Blinking and reanimating the Battalion won't net you an advantage.
You might be thinking "At least in Izzet you can play the Battalion for five and thenfor nine cards. That's something!" or " can yeet this for nine for nine mana, that's cool!" and you would be mistaken! Prototype keeps the mana value it was cast for!
I don't thinkwill make a massive impact on our format, but where it appears, it will at the very least look extremely cool.
Ah, our first card from the Commander preconstructed decks.
I am not high on, though I cannot deny its power. It does cost one more mana than , which I would argue is its closest counterpart. It also only gives creatures attacking your opponents double strike instead of including those coming at you. I'd say that's worth the extra one mana if we're hard casting this.
Artifact Offering is what makes this really juicy. With Artifact Offering, you can tap yourfor three red mana, sacrifice it for another five mana, and then pay one mana of any type, and boom, you get a . Not only do you have the 5/5 double-striker in the air, but Offering allows you to cast it as though it had flash! Let's say an opponent offers a deal to another where they can hit them for some advantage but it's still a nice chunk of damage - you flash in the Hellkite, now it's double the damage.
Dragon decks can have another finisher, but this time it can also go intodecks, too!
The common refrain in the last year or so is that there is too much Treasure production.is an excellent sweeper that allows you the flexibility of hitting all artifacts with mana value three or less or sending a to each creature and planeswalker. Is a player getting a little too much value copying their or ? Did everybody let get out of hand? Is the five-color player banking too much on their ? Do you have a and while the rest of the table has been spending their turns mining their Signets? Blow them up.
I love the damage wipe because you can play this in yourdecks and not worry about your creatures while also being able to wipe artifacts when you've got land ramp.
I'll be testing this in my"tribal" list where I run a ton of damage-based board wipes. With the added flexibility here, it's difficult to imagine it not making the cut.
A new legend from the Commander precon deck!
My first impression of Farid is that any deck where we can expect Farid to lead or join in the 99 will require two things: lots of artifact cards and lots of mana.
Getting an artifact Scrap token that literally does nothing else but exist as an artifact permanent puts the onus on other cards to benefit from their presence.and the relatively new will ping your opponents for each new artifact entering. To get any of Farid's abilities, you must pay 1R and sacrifice an artifact, but at least it's not sorcery speed! This means you can goad creatures, even hasty surprise creatures, at instant speed. You can hold up resources and then rummage as much as you need before you start your next turn. Or you can beef up Farid and go for attacks. Either way, I see Farid as more of an accessory to an artifact deck that loves and
I am a big fan of, and I know I'm not alone based on all the reprints. I was thrilled to hear that he would be returning with a new card.
Clearly, the designers don't want you to keep Feldon up to be a rattlesnake because he can't block. Giving him haste means they likely want him swinging. Attacking with Feldon dares your opponents to block with their 6/6 creatures knowing that while yes, they will kill your creature, they're also giving you the best card from the top six of your library.
Run? Activating it once means you'll get a card out of Feldon each time. If you go around the table, each turn doing one damage to Feldon, you'll be able to play three to four extra cards a turn. That's without giving him indestructible.
I'm interested in trying out Feldon, but having to choose a card out of the ones you exile can be a difficult decision, especially if Feldon gets blown up with a. Let's see how he works in my s list! He's not what I expected, but he's definitely giving me a lot to like.
Punisher decks love to see it. Curveinto means that while your lands still hurt you for one, you'll turn your opponents' lands into permanent lands. decks get a lot out of this card if your attackers are red or artifacts. Swing with three Goblins, that's three triggers that deal two each now, then if they get through, assuming with power one, that's also buffed for a total of 12 damage because you attacked with three little troublemakers!
Play this into upgrade his s to s. That's only assuming if the sources dealing one damage aren't red or artifacts because their damage is upped by one which no longer triggers Starn. Something to consider...although maybe not too strongly.
I don't see it. The art is gorgeous, but that's all this card has going for it. For XR, you're likely going to discard X cards and draw that many - not that many plus one, which a lot of cards have been doing lately - and getting rid of a creature. The final mode is not one I anticipate much unless someone is within striking distance, but really this does not excite me.
The one deck that this feels at home in would be. She can double the spell choosing the same modes, but the discard/draw mode is worded "up to", meaning you don't have to discard the same number of cards.
I have several decks where I would like to try this and they each showcase different reasons.
Mydeck is a token swarm that has a bunch of enchantments and creatures that create tokens for me to smash with. The secret ultimate goal is to or . This card is another version of this that allows me to keep my 30 tokens while also slamming down likely every card I reveal into play. I can say the same of my deck and all the Treasures then dumping all my artifacts and win conditions out.
Mydeck makes a lot of his 4/4 Elemental creature tokens. By playing this card,with a board of mana rocks and creatures, I'm sure to flip around 20 cards. Will there be a lot of permanents among them? Lands, maybe, sure. But it'll also certainly dump a ton of instants and sorceries in the graveyard for my big or play. The same is true of my deck that hopes to a ton.
Yes, this happens for your opponents, too, but you get to decide when to play this. You pick your moment, and sometimes your opponents getting stuff doesn't mean anything when you're about to end the game.
The most exciting part of this card to me is that it Melds withto become .
There are cool ways to get that enters-the-battlefield ability beyond its Unearth cost. Creature reanimation effects, like, can do the trick. There are also artifact reanimation effects, like or , that will get the Dragon Engine into play from the graveyard, allowing you to replace your hand with three new cards.
Warning!decks, beware. You will not benefit from 's ability if you use Chainer's ability because casting a card from your graveyard moves it to the stack and not directly to the battlefield, which is what is required for the Engine's ability to trigger. It's the same as in being a non-bo with Chainer.
As mentioned earlier, Treasures have run wild.punishes your opponents for having artifacts hit the graveyard (like Treasures) and pings them for one damage. The Avenger also gets in for lots of damage when attacking a player and can't be chump blocked so easily given first strike and trample. That +X/+0 is all the artifacts all of your opponents control, meaning that there's some room for political dealings. "If you don't spend your Treasures this turn, on my turn, I can attack Jason for an extra six damage!"
The flavor on this card is absolutely incredible. I love the art and the story it tells. An absolute slam dunk. Vorthos players will be stoked.
Goad players will also be excited., , and will all find room for this card based on that second part alone. The first part is nice ramp in the right deck. The third will get rid of some stuff or just knock some life off of your opponents. Either way, a pillow fort will make some great use of this to play the table like puppets.
This Dragon just strikes me as unremarkable. Do you have ways to blink it? That's fine. Four damage adds up. Can youthe Tyrant? Yeah, 20 damage sounds great, but I can't help but think "don't you have anything better to copy?" It has firebreathing, so maybe a desperate to pump the flyer can kill a player, but there's so much to do with mana. I don't feel like this is great for our format. Sue me!
Breathtaking art on this card. Dominik Mayer has been knocking it out of the park.
Here's your obligatory "this seems good for" comment. But it only seems good. "At the beginning of your end step, if you didn't play a card from exile this turn, create a Powerstone token." When the whole point of the deck is to play cards from exile, you're not likely to trigger the second part of this card. That said, another effect is solid if that's what you're after. However, if you manage to trade off some cards for ramp tokens, this could be the kind of acceleration that takes it over the top. Get your s, folks.
Uncommons & Commons
I want to love this card, but what makesso busted is that it costs a single red mana to put a creature into play from your hand. Four mana to play artifacts from your hand does make them uncounterable (but -able) and allows you to get them into play at instant speed.
, , , , and are all solid. A surprise in response to a board wipe could be devastating. On the opposite end, cheating in in response to a could make you the table's enemy, but hey, you didn't bring the !
Mishra, the Rummager! He's got haste, so you can draw a card if you've got four mana. Discarding an artifact for mana is pretty great even if it's only once a turn. This is reminiscent ofwhen you discard a land. Pair Mishra with the Miser and you get a card and RR for a noncreature artifact going to the graveyard. Now that's spicy!
is the first commander to come to mind for Lil' Mishra to join. can't discard and on the same turn, but with Mishra actually discarding an artifact to reanimate with Daretti's -2, Mishra's effectively tapping for a mana! Not a bad excavation if you ask me!
Another one for thedeck. Discard an enchantment to reanimate, draw two cards, activate Ghen sacrificing . That's what I love to see!
I'm excited to see how these cards play out in the coming months. It seems like cards they meant to be super splashy (aside from) are pretty tame and the seemingly smaller impact cards like and new will be all the rage.
What red card has your mind engine revving?

domain: game


text:
St. Francis Xavier Wedding St. Louis
A St. Francis Xavier Wedding in St. Louis is a wedding that many couples dream of. College church is very iconic and holds so much nostalgia for many of our cities families.
Kevin and Kristin knew from the start they wanted a St. Francis Xavier Wedding.
I first met Kristin she was a bridesmaid in another wedding I photographed. Little did I know before shooting her wedding she would be a bridesmaid I worked with multiple times. She became a friend almost by accident, but every time we met she would tell me she was getting married in this beautiful and iconic church. I was just ecstatic when she and Kevin contacted me to photograph their St. Francis Xavier Wedding at College Church.
Here is what Kristin had to share about working with the Dana Tate Weddings crew:
“Dana is one of the most genuine and wonderful people we have ever met. She is an amazing photographer, but more than that, she is a wonderful partner in the wedding planning process. We met Dana in 2013, and I have been a bridesmaid in three weddings that Dana was the photographer. As the bride, I knew what to expect from Dana and she takes care of everything. Our engagement session provided us an opportunity to get to know her even better and she made us feel so comfortable. Our wedding day had a 100% chance of rain and Dana never let that rattle her. She had at least two different backup plans for us and had the day of the wedding under control. We were able to go to both of our locations and Dana captured everything we wanted. Our second shooter (Mary Kim) was wonderful as well. Our final wedding images turned out so beautiful and we highly recommend Dana!!”
COLLEGE CHURCH WEDDING ST. LOUIS |ST. LOUIS WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | ST. LOUIS WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY | SAINT FRANCIS Xavier WEDDING ST. LOUIS
Hair and Makeup | Ravishing Bridal
Thank you for viewing the work of St. Louis wedding photographer Dana Tate, the premier St. Louis wedding photographer for the classic polished bride. Dana captures the details, beauty, and emotions of your day through timeless images. Your wedding photography is carefully personalized for your day and your unique personality to offer the best Saint Louis wedding photography experience available.
Dana Tate award winning wedding photographer provides St Louis wedding photography coverage to the Saint Louis metro area, including Chesterfield, MO, Eureka MO, and Wildwood MO.
Contact Dana today for more information about booking your wedding photography. 636.399.1032


We have been hearing quite a lot of the midrange Google Pixel device. And the speculations churned in the rumor mill for a considerate amount of time. Early rumors suggested the name of the upcoming Google’s midrange device to be Google Pixel Lite. However, the device is shaping to release in the form of Google Pixel 3a and Google Pixel 3a XL. And Google’s official website has confirmed the names of these upcoming devices.
A recent listing in Google’s store refueled the speculations. Although the listing is no more available in the store, some of the tech bloggers managed to get the screenshot of the website. Some of the tech bloggers also decoded the possible launch date of the device. Although the month and day of the official launch of the device are yet under the unveil, the handset can possibly make a debut on mid-year. so if the clues are correct, the handset may come all in glory on the month of June or July.
According to the recent leaks, the smaller of the two or the Pixel 3a will come with a 5.6-inch display. And talking about the bigger one, the Pixel 3a XL will sport a 6.0-inch screen. Both of the handsets are said to feature Full-HD+ OLED display in 18:9 and 18.5:9 aspect ratio respectively.
3.5mm headphone jack is seemingly lost in the oblivion in the Pixel books. But this antique piece of tech is supposed to make a comeback on the Pixel 3a and 3a XL. So good news for the audiophiles!
Apart from that, the processor used on the device is also coming to the limelight. Rumors suggest that the smaller handset will get the Snapdragon 670 chipset. As far as the bigger or the better one is concerned, the phone will supposedly get the Snapdragon 710. Both of the devices will be getting 4GB of RAM. Since the flagship Pixel devices haven’t crossed the 4GB RAM benchmark, so we cannot even expect more than 4GB RAM on this one.


I’ve had some connection problems in the past, I’d like to say, just connect this to that and all will be well again. For me, it has never been that way <sigh>
These are not questions, more a list of checks:
Are you using the ANT+ dongle on a USB extension - if yes try inserting the dongle directly into the computer, bring the computer real close to the trainer. (What version of Windows is your PC running?)
The Bluetooth symbol will not highlight unless you’re using BLE to connect your devices. (You cannot use the native PC Bluetooth if it has that tech)
As a work-around your iOS iPhone device can be used as a bridge to take the Bluetooth signal from the trainer and send it to Zwift via your WiFi router. The phone and the PC must be on the same wireless router.
Have a browse of this post from Zwift:
Personally, I find ANT+ to be the most stable configuration and would probably try a few different set ups to try and get it working.


Source: All-Star Championship Wrestling
All-Star Championship Wrestling posted two rumors about this week’s Courage:
– Is seems that all is not well in the ACW upper tier as SilverHAWK is seething at the actions of the Scorpion Champion, Alias. After JOINING the Minutemen last week, Alias has a lot to answer for. Will he do it this Thursday?
– Ted Caldweller, the famous EWTorch reviewer, will be a guest of Max Danger on Thursday! And it is rumoured that he will actually see Danger wrestle.
Ted Caldweller note: It’s true. I’m on my way to Montreal, where I’ll provide live coverage of the event. I’ve got my stars ready. I’m also finishing up my report on ACW’s Montreal Fest show from last week as I recover from my Seattle adventures. Keep an eye out for it.


text:
Can you freeze fresh cherry tomatoes?
Tomatoes are one of the few items from your backyard vegetable patch that you can freeze without blanching. Cherry tomatoes are even easier. Wash and dry, place on a cookie sheet, and slide it in the freezer. When the tiny globes are frozen solid, toss them into a container or zipper bag.
How long do frozen cherry tomatoes last?
Once frozen, tomatoes can be stored for up to six months as long as they are in airtight containment. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before peeling. Frozen tomatoes can be grated for instant pasta sauce or thawed completely, chopped, and added to soups, stews, or sauces.
How do you thaw frozen cherry tomatoes?
When you’re ready to use your frozen tomatoes, simply remove as many as needed. Defrost at room temperature for about half an hour, or to speed things along, place in a bowl of warm water for about 5 minutes. You’ll notice the skins are very easy to peel at this point, so there’s no need to blanch them first!
What can I do with a lot of cherry tomatoes?
Here are seven fun ways to use these little tomatoes.
- Tart. Mound cherry tomatoes in a pastry shell and bake until the crust is browned.
- Salsa. Make a sweet-and-juicy pico de gallo or avocado salsa for flatbreads or fish tacos.
- Burst them.
- Related: 27 Tomato Recipes.
What is the best way to preserve cherry tomatoes?
Freeze Them Whole
Freezing those cherry tomatoes that are overflowing in your garden is a great way to preserve them. Just wash, pull off the stem, and flash freeze them on a baking sheet. Once they are frozen, place them in a freezer safe bag, making sure the squeeze as much air out of the bags as possible.
How do you store cherry tomatoes long term?
Keep the tomatoes in oil or freeze for up to a year.
To store the tomatoes in the refrigerator or freezer, place them in a zip-top bag and squeeze any extra air out. Put them in the refrigerator for up to a month or stick them in the freezer.
Can cherry tomatoes be canned with skins on?
Tomato skins can be tough and bitter, so it’s nice — but not necessary — to remove them from tomatoes to be canned. A ridiculously easy and satisfying method, presuming you have the freezer space, is to seal tomatoes inside food-safe plastic bags in the freezer.
Should you wash cherry tomatoes?
To prevent spoilage and mold growth during storage, it is best to wash tomatoes just before you eat or prepare them. Then wash all whole tomatoes thoroughly in a clean sink under clean, running water, even if you do not plan to eat the skins. Gently rub each tomato with your hands to help remove dirt and bacteria.
Are you supposed to refrigerate cherry tomatoes?
The answer is yes—as long as it’s already ripened. Whole, ripe tomatoes should be stored in the fridge, but you should let them warm up to room temp before eating them. This is because cold tomatoes can be a bit dull in the taste department.
Do tomatoes last longer in the fridge or on the counter?
Ripe tomatoes should still be kept at on your counter, uncovered, if you are going to enjoy the tomato in the next day or two. But any longer than that – the recommendation is to refrigerate. A so-so tomato is much better than a rotten, moldy tomato. Refrigeration will slow down the decay.
Why should you not refrigerate tomatoes?
More About Refrigerating Tomatoes
suffer damage to their membranes that results in minimal flavor development, blotchy coloration, and a soft, mealy texture when they’re brought back to room temperature. Fully ripe tomatoes are less sensitive, but lose flavor due to the loss of flavor-producing enzyme activity.”
How long do cherry tomatoes last on the counter?
Some of this activity can come back, so refrigerated tomatoes should be allowed to recover at room temperature for a day or two before eating.” So, if you want to keep your ripe tomatoes in peak condition for more than a few days, you can actually store them in the fridge until a couple of days before you want to eat
What vegetables should not be refrigerated?
Garlic, Onions, and Shallots
With the exception of spring onions and scallions, alliums shouldn’t be stored in the fridge. These bulbs benefit from being kept in a cool, dry, dark place. And make sure to avoid wrapping them in plastic bags. Your shallots, onions, and garlic want to breathe!
Are wrinkled cherry tomatoes safe to eat?
Tomatoes, specifically cherry or grape varieties, can start to wrinkle and get soft when they’re on the verge on going bad. They’re perfectly edible but have lost some flavor and firmness, so they taste subpar.
How do you store cherry tomatoes in the refrigerator?
If you don’t have a wine fridge or cool cellar, store all ripe tomatoes that you can’t eat within the first day in the refrigerator. If you’re storing tomatoes in the refrigerator, it may be better to locate them on a top shelf near the door, which is often warmer than the bottom and back of the fridge.
What is the best way to keep tomatoes fresh?
Levy recommends storing ripe tomatoes upside down (stem-side down) on paper towels in an open container such as Tupperware, a shoe box, or a cardboard flat. Ripe tomatoes should last for a few days, but we recommend eating them as soon as possible.
Can I freeze tomatoes whole?
How to Freeze Tomatoes. Tomatoes may be frozen raw or cooked, whole, sliced, chopped, or puréed. Tomatoes do not need to be blanched before freezing. Frozen tomatoes are best used in cooked foods such as soups, sauces and stews as they become mushy when they’re thawed.
Should you refrigerate onions?
Once opened, they are best kept in the refrigerator, which will help them last longer. Whole onions are best stored in a cool, dark, dry and well-ventilated room, while peeled, sliced, cut, cooked and pickled onions can be refrigerated.

domain: food


text:
Sledding even in the summer - promises fun for the entire family and for things to do in Berlin.
Adjacent to the ropeway station and the Wolkenhain at the peak of the Kienberg, another exciting highlight and attraction for kids has emerged for visitors big and small: the nature bobsleigh run. The first summer sledding track in Berlin is a special highlight at the complex.
On an almost 500-meter-long ride through the valley, the bobsleds can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h. Your journey doesn’t end once you've reached the bottom, where you’ll find a path to the panorama spinner about 8 meters up. From the spinner, visitors can enjoy two 360° views overlooking the Gardens of the World. Then it’s time to take a relaxing ride on the ropeway back up to the top of the mountain where the stop is located. Enjoy fun things to do in Berlin and savour this great attraction for kids.
You can find opening hours here

domain: travel


Tuesday, April 20 2010 11:21 PM EDT2010-04-21 03:21:00 GMT
31 people are in trouble with the law after a three day prostitution sting in Richmond. Police told NBC12 they targeted specific areas where residents and business owners complained about the illegal activity.More >>
Thursday, May 23 2013 6:04 PM EDT2013-05-23 22:04:19 GMT
You'd never get her to admit it, but Nurse Nancy has done something big; something huge. It started as a simple idea after two major national tragedies hit back to back, the Boston Marathon bombing andMore >>
You'd never get her to admit it, but Nurse Nancy has done something big; something huge.More >>
The temporary transit center opened for service Monday morning to serve as a bus hub for the Charlotte Area Transit System.
The center will serve as the CATS bus hub through Thursday due to increased security at Time Warner Cable Arena, across the street from the Charlotte Transportation Center.
CATS reported seeing heavy ridership throughout the day due to CarolinaFest in uptown Charlotte.
Several park and ride lots along the Lynx Blue Line were full at midday to the heavy volume.
CATS has installed live parking space availability signs at all park and ride stations.
While there was some confusion about where to go to catch the right bus at the temporary transit center, located at 3rd and Mint Streets, transit ambassadors were quick to direct riders where to go.
"While the routes are the same, there are some detours due to increased security this week," said CATS Transit Ambassador Wanda Braswell. "People mainly want to know that there bus route is unchanged."
Carolyn Flowers is the CEO of CATS.
She said, "It's been a challenge for us today with the weather and also with the street closures."
Bus rider Deion Rogers who was using the temporary center for the first time said it seemed organized and wasn't an inconvenience.
"It's pretty normal but you can't really see the times when your next bus is due to arrive," said Rogers.
The transit center has a large air-conditioned waiting tent with food trucks surrounding to give riders a wide variety of food options.
Flowers believes its best to add at least 30 minutes on to your trip to uptown.
"My experience this morning without the traffic and streets were beginning to close…it did take extra time."
CATS will resume service from the CTC on Friday, following the President's acceptance at Bank of America Stadium Thursday evening.


text:
Food scientists debunk a wasteful myth about expiration dates
“There’s no industry standard for best by, sell by, or use by dates.”
Hidden on the edge of lids or on the underbelly of containers, the ‘best by’ or ‘sell by’ dates of grocery store food can be a mysterious — and menacing — source of tension in a home kitchen.
Like a ticking time bomb, these labels promise us that destruction (or at least spoiled food) awaits us just around the corner. However, a peek under the hood of these labels reveals that they have much more to do with how food looks and tastes than whether or not it's actually spoiled.
Londa Nwadike, an associate professor of food safety for both Kansas State University and the University of Missouri, and Elisabeth Anderson, director of science communications for Michigan State University’s Center for Research on Ingredient Safety, help Inverse explore the unregulated wild west of food labels and explain how to know if your food has actually gone bad.
What do ‘best by’ dates really mean?
When sauntering through the grocery aisles you’ve probably noticed a wide variety of food labels stamped onto your food including an item’s “best by,” “sell by,” or even “freeze by” date.
These labels might seem opaque to many consumers but Anderson tells Inverse they actually have very specific meanings to the manufacturers creating them — and almost none of those meanings are actually related to spoiled food.
“Currently, there’s no industry standard for best by, sell by, or use by dates,” Anderson explains.
“Generally speaking, these dates refer to when the manufacturer believes the products will be at peak flavor, freshness, and quality.”
Anderson says that labels including “best if used by/before,” “use by,” “sell by,” “freeze by,” and “guaranteed fresh” are all quality deadlines (as in, when food might taste or look its best) and not true expiration dates that would denote spoilage or dangerous food.
The only exceptions to this rule are labels like “expiration” or “EXP” which are found on infant formula and do refer specifically to product expiration. “Use by” can have a similar meaning when found in infant formula as well.
“It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Nwadike tells Inverse baby formula is one of the only food groups to receive this kind of scrutiny and regulation when it comes to expiration dates because the nutritional content of the formula may change over time, making it less useful to feed to a baby.
“If it's consumed after that date, then your infant's probably not getting the nutrition that they need,” Nwadike says.
She also adds that labels like “sell by” may also be used internally at grocery stores to make sure there’s a constant flow of stock in and out of the store.
Who creates ‘best by’ dates?
A huge part of why these labels can be so confusing to consumers is because there’s no standardization put in place by the FDA or USDA to regulate these labels, Anderson explains. In fact, it’s up to the manufacturers themselves to decide what gets labeled as “use by” or “best if before” and what that actually means.
This doesn’t necessarily mean the companies are behaving nefariously (though, it can’t be ruled out across the board either) but instead often comes down to an issue of failed science communication between food scientists and the public, Anderson says.
“To a trained food scientist, they may choose the ‘use by’ date for very specific reasons, based on a whole bunch of research that they very specifically know — but nobody else knows that,” says Anderson. Scientists are not “intending to cause confusion, it’s more so just the way that they were trained.”
But just because these labels aren’t created necessarily with food spoilage in mind doesn’t mean that there’s no rigorous testing and food science happening behind the scenes to create them, explains Nwadike. For example, manufacturers will do pathogen testing, taste testing through a product's lifetime, and even calculation-based simulations to determine when these foods will be at their prime.
How long can you eat food past its expiration date?
Because these food labels really have nothing to do with food’s true expiration date, both Anderson and Nwadike say that it can be safe to eat food even after this date — with a small dose of caution.
Anderson says there are some clues you can use to determine if your food has gone bad. These revolve around looking for changes in:
While it may seem worth it to risk consuming an extra-funky piece of cheese or chugging through a sour glass of milk, Nwadike says it can be impossible to know when a foods’ off-taste is simply from bad odor excreting “spoilage” microorganisms or a more dangerous pathogen like salmonella or E. coli. Consuming these pathogens could cause you some GI distress (e.g. vomiting, diarrhea) and even land you in the hospital if you’re not lucky.
“We always say ‘when in doubt, throw it out,’” says Nwadike. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Anderson also recommends using the food safety app FoodKeeper to help guide you when making the final decision to eat, toss, or even freeze your food. Another hack: Nwadike says that adding just off milk to a warm dish, like pudding, can be a way to safely consume it up until its final days because heat will often kill off any pathogens that may have sprung up.
How ‘best by’ dates influence food waste
More than being just a headache for consumers, the confusion around food expiration dates is also a major source of food waste in the U.S. The FDA estimates like about 20 percent of food waste can be attributed to confusion over food labels and consumers tossing “expired” food that is actually still good to consume.
This creates a harmful food production cycle where resources are used and emissions are created to make food that is never consumed. Not only is this bad for the planet but it’s also a harmful cycle that impacts those experiencing food insecurity as well.
“The waste problem has spurred action from industry, government, and non-governmental organizations to work together to try and tackle the confusing labels,” Anderson says. “They are working to streamline language and eventually marketing efforts to raise consumer awareness on how to understand and use date label information. However, it’s a voluntary and ongoing process.”
It’s also a process that has been put on the backburner during Covid-19, she adds.
In lieu of sweeping standardization of these food labels, Anderson and Nwadike say it’s important to get the message out to consumers — through media like cooking shows or through community education efforts. In addition to helping consumers parse the label language itself, these programs could also help consumers understand how conditions in their own home (like fridge temperature or counter cleanliness) can impact the shelf life of their products too.
Shifting the public consciousness on this topic is easier said than done, but it could help reduce a huge source of waste in the country.
CHECK, PLEASE is an Inverse series that uses biology, chemistry, and physics to debunk the biggest food myths and assumptions.
Now read this: Biologists debunk an 80-year-old myth about carrots