Like Delaware in the first CAA quarterfinal, it took Northeastern a little while to get things started against Drexel, but the Huskies were able to come away with the 90-81 win over Drexel. Junior, Scott Eatherton was as good as advertised as he put up an impressive double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds; he had 11 and 11 at halftime.
Eatherton did it all during his 19th double-double of the season, hitting a three ball early and drawing several fouls throughout the game. Huskies coach Bill Coen also got big games out of David Walker and Zach Stahl who scored 18 and 19 respectively. Northeastern shot the ball well throughout the game finishing at 52 percent from the floor and 73 percent from the free throw line, they shot 44 free throws. After the game Coen said, “We had to be prepared for the physicality (of a Bruiser Flint team).”
For Drexel, Chris Fouch may have put on the best performance of the tournament so far as he finished with 30 points on 11-20 shooting, 26 of them in the second half. For Drexel, foul trouble was an issue down the stretch as they had 33 player fouls and four players foul out.
Northeastern will play Delaware in the first semi-final game tomorrow at 2:30. Coen says, “Delaware is the most talented team in the league and they can beat you in so many ways,” adding “this is the gateway to the NCAA and it should be an outstanding matchup.”


COATESVILLE â A Coatesville man faces a host of criminal charges after he steals and crushes a Coatesville cop car while trying to outrun authorities.
Alex Thompson, 19, was arrested and charged with police flight and evasion and multiple traffic violations after police responded to a domestic disturbance call on July 16, police said.
At 11:08 a.m. on July 16, Coatesville police responded to a domestic disturbance in the West Fifth Avenue unit block near Charles Street. Officers found Thompson to be uncooperative and fled the residence.
Thompson ran to the police car, the keys in the ignition, and took off. Coatesville Police, with assistance from nearby police departments and State Police, pursued and attempted to stop the vehicle.
Thompson eventually crashed into the vehicle in the back of another vehicle in the area of ââRoutes 340 and Business Route 30 in Thorndale.
Immediately after crashing into the police car, Thompson fled the scene of the crash but was apprehended by Pennsylvania State Police detectives.
Thompson is currently being assessed for physical and mental health issues. The operator of the unit who was struck by Thompson was taken to Brandywine Hospital for observation.
The Coatesville police car sustained heavy damage to the front.


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Hip-to-hip with the locals, Deirdre Mullins dances her way through Cuba.
The Guinness Storehouse has become Ireland's first tourist attraction to be shortlisted in the 'Europe's leading tourist attraction' category in the World Travel Awards.
Ed Leahy savours the wow factor in Waterford.
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domain: travel


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Successful rehabilitation from a broken leg, or tibia/fibula fracture, involves several key, but simple components:
1) Do everything your doctor asks you to do and don’t do anything without making sure it is okay. Particularly in the early stages of healing your bone is still fragile and the body is busy with the healing process. Jumping into intense exercise early may cause a misalignment of the bone, or affect surgical fixation. Therefore, follow the rehabilitation timeline that your physician spells out. If you aren’t sure, please ask.
2) Control your pain. If your pain is not well-controlled, your recovery process will be miserable and exercises may be too difficult for you to perform. Ice is the best method for pain control. Apply for 20 minutes mulitple times throughout the day to reduce pain and inflammation. Next, elevate your leg whenever possible. Finally, if necessary, resort to taking pain medications as your doctor recommends. Always keep in mind that pain medications can cause serious liver, stomach, heart or kidney damage. Others can be addicting, so just be careful. Do not take them if you do not need them.
3) Commit to your workouts. Do your workouts everyday. Period. I know they seem simple and may be boring or seem unnecessarily repetitive, but they are designed to help you increase your strength, mobility, flexibility and overall function. A leg that is not used for weeks, secondary to injury, loses muscle and can become tight, or inflexible. Further, exercises can help to stimulate bone formation to fuel the healing process. Ask your doctor or therapist for exercises to do to help your specific fracture and do them religiously. After exercise, ice your leg immediately.
4) Continue working out the other leg. Research is showing that exercising the healthy leg can contribute to strength gains in the injured leg. Interestingly, exercising the healthy leg sends nerve signals to the brain that relay signals to the muscles in both legs that encourage growth and strength increases.
5) Eat a healthy diet. You can’t build a house without wood and brick. Similarly, you can’t rebuild a broken leg without proper nutrition. The optimal diet, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, recommends one-half a plate of fruits and vegetables, one-fourth a plate of whole grains and one-fourth a plate of a lean meat (prefereably fish or poultry). Shy away from the fats, sugary foods and junk foods. If you doctor approves, a multivitamin may also be useful.
Be patient, a broken leg can take 4 to 6 months to heal. Take care of yourself over these next few weeks. Making rehabilitating your leg a priority and before you know it you will be back on your feet!

domain: medical


Leica SL2-S full-frame mirrorless camera has just been announced. It features a 24.6MP sensor with IBIS, ISO up to 100,000, and it sports an L-Mount, of course. The camera can shoot up to 25fps 14-bit DNG raw continuous stills (no audio) internally without limit. Furthermore, it also does regular stills of course, and video up to DCI 4K 30fps in 4:2:2 10-bit or DCI 4K 60fps in 4:2:0 8-bit. The Leica SL2-S can now be pre-ordered for $4,895.
Roughly a year ago, Leica introduced the SL2 full-frame mirrorless camera. It made headlines with its impressive video specs, like 5K30p, 4K60p, and 10-bit internal video. Shortly after the announcement in November 2019, Johnnie spent a short time with the camera – make sure to check his Leica SL2 First Impressions. Today, the German camera company announced a new full-frame mirrorless camera – Leica SL2-S. Let’s take a look at its features and specs.
Leica SL2-S – 24.6MP with IBIS
At the heart of the new SL2-S, we find a full-frame 24.6MP (6072 x 4056) 3:2 BSI CMOS image sensor paired with Leica’s Maestro III image processor. This is, of course, less resolution than the 47.3MP in the Leica SL2, but for us filmmakers, it is an advantage to have fewer, but larger pixels as they promise better low light performance. The light sensitivity is available from ISO 50 to 100,000. The sensor features a 5-axis Sensor-shift IBIS.
Logically, the Leica SL2-S utilizes the Leica L lens mount. Thanks to the L-Mount alliance, there are more native lenses to choose from. Naturally, thanks to the short flange distance of L-Mount, virtually any lens can be adapted.
When it comes to autofocus, a huge topic for video-oriented mirrorless cameras in 2020, Leica SL2-S features a contrast-based Object Detection AF system. It can refresh at up to 480 fps and works in both still and video recording modes, as well as subject tracking applications through the use of a Body Detection mode. It features 225 selectable AF areas.
Up to 25fps 14-Bit DNG Raw Photos
When it comes to stills functionality, the camera can shoot up to 25fps full-res 14-bit raw DNG photos with an electronic shutter (9fps with a mechanical shutter). A very interesting thing for me is, that the camera should be able to maintain these 25fps in raw DNG for unlimited frames (or nearly unlimited? – the marketing materials are not specifically clear on that) with the built-in 4GB buffer. That means in theory, that the camera is actually capable of shooting 6K 25fps 14-bit DNG raw video. That sounds incredible on paper. The real-world usability would need to be tested first, however. There won’t be any audio recording in this mode, of course.
When it comes to internal video recording modes, there is no 5K30p mode which we have seen in the SL2. The SL2-S tops at DCI 4K and all internal recording modes are available in H.264 only. There is no time limit on video recording. The camera can internally record in the following resolutions and framerates:
- DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) at 24.00p/25p/29.97p – 400 Mb/s MOV 4:2:2 10-bit
- DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) at 50p/59.94p – 150 Mb/s MOV 4:2:0 8-bit
- UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p – 400 Mb/s MOV 4:2:2 10-bit
- UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 50p/59.94p – 150 Mb/s MOV 4:2:0 8-bit
- Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p – 200 Mb/s MOV 4:2:2 10-bit
- Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 100p/119.88p/180p – 200 Mb/s MOV 4:2:0 8-bit
- UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p – 100 to 150 Mb/s MP4 4:2:0 8-bit
- Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p/180p – 20 to 150 Mb/s MP4 4:2:0 8-bit
The camera utilizes a dual memory card slot for UHS-II SD cards. There is a dedicated Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) mode and L-Log gamma profile. Externally, the camera can output up to DCI 4K 59.94fps in 4:2:2 10-bit over its full-size HDMI port.
Leica SL2-S Camera Body
The camera body features a durable and weather-sealed magnesium-alloy design. The weight of the camera body with battery and memory card is 2 lb (931 g). There are a 5.76m-dot EyeRes OLED EVF and a 3.2″ 2.1m-dot touchscreen LCD at the back. Unfortunately, the LCD cannot be moved in any way. Additionally, there is a top status LCD. The SL2-S has two 3.5mm jacks for an external microphone and headphones.
The built-in USB Type-C port can be used for fast file transferring, tethering, or high-speed in-camera battery charging. Leica SL2-S uses 1860mAh BP-SCL4 lithium-ion battery packs.
Price and Availability
The camera can be pre-ordered now. Pricing is an interesting chapter with the SL2-S. Sure, it is still Leica and their prices have always been in the premium segment. The camera body retails for $4,895 which is more than a $1,000 less than what the SL2 currently sells for. It is also not that far from the other full-frame mirrorless cameras on the market anymore. As an example, the Canon EOS R5 and LUMIX S1H both currently retail for slightly less than $4,000.
What do you think of the new Leica SL2-S? Do you have any experience shooting video with Leica cameras? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section underneath the article.


Whistleblower Edward Snowden left the United States more than two years ago, and since then a petition has been circulating on WhiteHouse.gov demanding that he be pardoned. After conspicuous silence—the petition has 167,954 signatures, and all entries on the site with 100,000 or more are guaranteed a response—the administration finally posted an answer on Tuesday. It isn’t positive.
Where the petition calls for Snowden to be “issued a a full, free, and absolute pardon,” the White House response from Lisa Monaco, the president’s advisor on homeland security and counterterrorism, says, “He should come home to the United States, and be judged by a jury of his peers.”
Instead of constructively addressing these issues, Mr. Snowden’s dangerous decision to steal and disclose classified information had severe consequences for the security of our country and the people who work day in and day out to protect it.
If he felt his actions were consistent with civil disobedience, then he should do what those who have taken issue with their own government do: Challenge it, speak out, engage in a constructive act of protest, and – importantly – accept the consequences of his actions.
The Intercept points out that the petition response does not cite any specific examples of “severe consequences” caused by the disclosures. Additionally, Snowden himself did not publicly disclose anything classified, since news outlets like the Guardian and the New York Times were the entities that actually released documents and information. (Update July 28: Just to clarify, this is a popular interpretation among Snowden supporters like the Intercept, though many others view it as a stretch.)
The White House also said on Tuesday in a seperate blog post that it had “caught up” with responding to “every petition in our We the People backlog — 20 in all.”
In the case of Snowden, Monaco writes, “The balance between our security and the civil liberties that our ideals and our Constitution require deserves robust debate and those who are willing to engage in it here at home.” So, yeah, that blanket pardon seems like a no right now.


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Braided sutures prepared from these fibers exhibit high strength, excellent handling properties, minimal tissue reactivity, and a similar but more reproducible absorption rate than catgut.
These sutures are used to hold together the tissues which are tore either due to surgery or wounds. it in a third party non-RSC publication you must
Terpolymers were synthesized with weight-average molecular weights over 65 kDa without catalyst. with the reproduced material. Among the desirable properties of collagen sutures of the stretched PGA fibers that are suitable for surgical operations are good knot strength, nontoxic behavior, and absorbability characteristics. Iizuka T(1), Kikuchi D(1), Yamada A(1), Hoteya S(1), Kajiyama Y(2), Kaise M(1). polyglycolic acid glycolide Prior art date 1981-07-20 Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. 'enzymatic degradation'). 2015; Ramot et al.
(c) Four days after the treatment, a colonoscopy confirmed no recurrence of bleeding, and the patient resumed eating that day. Polyglycolic acid (PGA) is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer with high crystallinity. (d) Complete healing was confirmed on colonoscopy 3 weeks after the polyglycolic acid sheet application. Polyesters, in particular poly(lactide), poly(glycolide) and copolyesters thereof have been proven to best fulfill the demands set forth by orthopedic implants and a multitude of commercial products is available. PGA has a special interest in this application since the ester bonds in PGA backbone can be cleaved under physiological conditions which are around pH 7.4. or in a thesis or dissertation provided that the correct acknowledgement is given
biodegradability and biocompatibility. These sutures are absorbable and are degraded by the body over time.
Our previous studies revealed that PGA was alternatively synthesized with one-step cationic polymerization of formaldehyde from trioxane and carbonmonoxide (CO), sustainable C1 feedstocks obtainable from biomethanol or biogas. This is caused by its intrinsic characteristics such as high hydrophilicity, rapid degradation, insolubility in most organic solvents and brittleness that have hindered its practical applications.
Morphological examination showed that for PGA/chondrocytes group, the repaired tissue appeared similar in color and texture to the surrounding articular surface. PLA was 1st used in combination with polyglycolic acid (PGA) as suture material and sold under the name Vicryl in the U.S.A. in 1974 (Mehta and others 2005). Polyglycolic acid (PGA), which is an important biodegradable polymer, can traditionally be synthesized through the ring opening polymerization of glycolide (with mostly using tin octanoate catalyst). Its unique properties have often been overlooked and are yet to be explored. All rights reserved.
It might therefore enhance neochondrogenesis because of the superior biodegradable and biocompatible of PGA scaffold sheet, while the more suitable biological environment might sustain cell growth and in situ cell function, suggesting a promising candidate for functional tissue engineering of clinical environment. packaging and industrial products applications Polyglycolic Acid (PGA) Resin The Pursuit of Excellence MPa PGA 100 80 60 40 20 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 Days Biodegradation (%) Tested by ISO14855 standards PGA Cellulose 1,000 100 10 1 O2TR (cm3/m2â¢dayâ¢atm, 30°C, 80%RH) WVTR The immobilization of biological ligands (such as biotin and peptides) onto biodegradable polymer surfaces, including poly (glycolic acid) (PGA) sutures, is complicated by the absence of functional groups on the polymer backbone. This may take some time to load. and 220 MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (n.m.r.). Blends containing the greatest amount of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) degraded most rapidly. The results have shown that the addition of minor quantities of epoxide comonomers vastly improves the appearance of the obtained PGA copolymers and allows for the control of the polymeric properties, such as solubility and melting temperature. 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.
At 7 weeks, there were no significant differences in immunostaining intensity scores between the two groups.Conclusions Clinical studies with these sutures are in progress. surfaces, laser processing has advantages in a dry processing which is able to process complex-shaped surfaces without using a toxic chemical component. Materials Research Society symposia proceedings. Nicole Jonassen December 22, 2020. Both natural e.g., collagen, and synthetic e.g., poly(alpha-hydroxy) acids, biodegradable polymers are used in biomedical applications. However, limited research based on PGA polymers has been studied in PEG (Mn = 8000 Da) was incorporated to reduce polymeric particle clearance rates by the immune system and improve particle resuspension and aerosolization efficiencies. If you are the author of this article you do not need to formally request permission
The respective reactivity ratios of glycolide and lactide are elucidated. Both nondegradable polymers are designed to degrade in vivo in a controlled manner over a predetermined time. to access the full features of the site or access our. Drug-delivery system is also incorporating PGA as a degradable polymer. For biomedical applications, production of PGA with high molecular weight is an essential factor to possess adequate mechanical stability.
If you are the author of this article you still need to obtain permission to reproduce
In this study; to improve on the physical properties of PGA, such as melting temperature and solubility, polymerizations of trioxane, CO and a minor amount of epoxides with long side chains were performed under the same reaction condition as PGA homopolymer synthesis (DCM solvent, at 800 psi, with triflic acid catalyst, reaction time of 72 h). Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.) International Institute for Nanocomposites Manufacturing (IINM), WMG, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, UK
Poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) has a similar chemical structure to PLA but without the methyl side group, which allows the polymer chains to pack together tightly and results in a high degree of crystallinity (45â55%), high thermal stability (T m = 220â230 °C), exceptionally high gas barrier (3 times higher than EVOH), as well as high mechanical strength (115 MPa) and stiffness (7 GPa). The formation of laser induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) on a biodegradable polymer is also discussed. Information about reproducing material from RSC articles with different licences
2018 Jun;125(6):541-546. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2017.12.013. PJIM Polymer Scientific Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China. Histological analysis revealed neochondrogenesis and clusters of cartilage matrix with specific safranin-O staining for the PGA/cell group. Background E-mail:
IEEJ Transactions on Electronics Information and Systems. ), thermogravimetric analysis (t.g.a.) Polyglycolic acid; CAS Number: 26009-03-0; Synonym: PGA, Poly(2-hydroxyacetic acid); find Sigma-Aldrich-46746 MSDS, related peer-reviewed papers, technical documents, similar products & â¦ Iizuka T, Kikuchi D, Yamada A, Hoteya S, Kajiyama Y, Kaise M. Polyglycolic acid sheet application to prevent esophageal stricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, the development of polymeric NPs is not exclusive to biopolymeric systems, since they can also be obtained with biocompatible synthetic materials, which are mainly homopolymers and copolymers of polylactide (PLA) [34,35], polycaprolactone (PCL) , polyglycolic acid (PGA) [37, An alternative way for the synthesis of polyglycolic acid copolymers, Plasma ischemia modified albumin levels and dynamic thiol/disulfide balance in patients with sickle cell disease. The future direction and perspectives for high-performance PGA are proposed. current work in the field of orthopaedics, using implants made of polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA) and their copolymers. Likewise, PECNs were physicochemically characterized through particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, pH and encapsulation efficiency, whereas the antimicrobial effect was evaluated by means of the broth microdilution method employing ampicillin sensitive and resistant S. aureus strains. Importance of Sustainable Polymers for Modern Society and Development, Synthesis of Polyglycolic Acid Copolymers from Cationic Copolymerization of C1 Feedstocks and Long Chain Epoxides, Development of Polyelectrolyte Complex Nanoparticles-PECNs Loaded with Ampicillin by Means of Polyelectrolyte Complexation and Ultra-High Pressure Homogenization (UHPH), Comparison of Volume Retention and Biocompatibility of Acellular Dermal Matrix/Hyaluronic Acid Filler to Autologous Fat Grafts in a Mouse Model, Polyglycolic acid copolymers from one‐step cationic polymerization of formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and epoxides derived from PEG, Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers Used in Controlled Drug Delivery System: An Overview, Synthetic biodegradable polymers as orthopedic devices, Polymers in controlled drug delivery systems, Biomedical applications of biodegradable polymers, Biodegradable polymers for use in surgery—Polyglycolic/poly(lactic acid) homo-and copolymers: 1, Synthesis and Characterization of PEG-Based Ether−Anhydride Terpolymers: Novel Polymers for Controlled Drug Delivery, The influence of polymer blend composition on the degradation of polymer/hydroxyapatite biomaterials, Plasma Ischemia Modified Albumin Levels and Dynamic Thiol / Disulfide Balance in Sickle Cell Disease, The Relationship Between Serum Magnesium Levels, Glychemic Regulation and Proteinuria in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes, The molecular structure of degradable polymers, Poly(glycerol sebacate) - A Novel Biodegradable Elastomer for Tissue Engineering. The chemical complexity of poly(urethanes) offers a plethora of physical properties and combined with a rather sufficient biocompatibility makes this class of polymers an interesting candidate for novel biomedical materials. Before, During the last decades, biodegradable polymers have been attracting increasing attention in tissue engineering and drug delivery due to its high biocompatibility and biodegradability. There were no significant microscopic differences in inflammatory changes and granulation via H&E staining. Harvested human fat and ADM/HA filler were injected randomly on the dorsal side of mice. The polymeric materials waste management and the sustainability of biodegradable polymers are specified. Biocompatibility is one of the most important requirements. In contrast, the UHPH technique (top-down method) proved high performance to produce uniform polymeric complexes on the nanometric scale (particle size < 200 nm and PDI < 0.3). 4.3) is an aliphatic polyester that has been widely used in biomedical applications since the early 1970s 50â54 and degrades via a â¦ The problem at that time was to increase the molecular weight of the products; and, finally, by ringâopening polymerization of the lactide, highâmolecular weight PLA was synthesized. It is expected to substitute petrochemical-based plastics in many applications, from food packaging, pharmaceuticals, electronics, agriculture to textiles. Epub 2017 Dec 29. The chemistry of esters in general is reviewed and provides an introduction to the understanding of the processes that lead to the formation of polyesters and their subsequent hydrolytic degradation. Driven by a low carbon circular economy, bioplastics production is estimated to reach a 40% share of the plastics market by 2030 (Bioplastics Market Data, 2018). Polyglycolic Acid Price - Select 2020 high quality Polyglycolic Acid Price products in best price from certified Chinese Chromic Catgut manufacturers, Polyglycolic Acid Suture suppliers, wholesalers and factory on Made-in-China.com, page 2 groups can be hydrolyzed, or eaten by microorganisms, and degradability happens. Many of the current polymers and processing techniques need to be improved in order to produce polymers with better performance in biological media. The first thermal transition in polymers containing ≤10 wt % PEG was 80 °C (well above typical storage conditions and body temperature), and there was no evidence of a glass transition (−100 to 200 °C). the report provides an examination of the industry players â at a global as well as regional level, in detail. At 1 and 2 weeks, EGF and VEGF immunostaining intensity scores were lower in the ADM/HA filler group. Fetching data from CrossRef. suture [soo´chur] 1. sutura. Here, we compared the bioacceptance and sustainability of ADM hyaluronic acid (HA) filler with human fat graft in a mouse model.Methods Polyglycolic acid sheet application to prevent esophageal stricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. polymers can be effectively used for several biomedical applications such as drug delivery, dental, Polyglycolic acid is usually deployed into several tissue engineering applications supports include bone, tooth, cartilage, tendon, and spinal regeneration. The product has a range of applications in medical sector including, absorbable sutures, biodegradable bone graft polymers, in regeneration of organs, dental surgeries, scaffolds in cell culture & transplantation and in drug delivery vehicles. The resulting samples were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (g.p.c. The animals were sacrificed at eight weeks after implantation and evaluated grossly and histological score. Both crosslinking and the hydrogen bonding interactions between the hydroxyl groups likely contributes to the unique properties of the elastomer. Effect of Woven Fabric Biodegradable Polyglycolic Acid on Joint Resurfacing with Fresh Chondrocytes... Laser Surface Modification of Biodegradable Polymers and Biomedical Applications. synthesized, and characterized a tough biodegradablc elastomer from biocompatible monomers.
This chapter describes the chemistry of degradable polymers with a special emphasis on polyesters. PLA has emerged as an important polymeric material for biomedical applications on account of its properties such as biocompatibility, â¦ PGA and its copolymers can be mainly used for the biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. do not need to formally request permission to reproduce material contained in this
Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, UK, c
The melting temperatures of all copolymers are lower, and the colors of the copolymers have become lighter than that of PGA homopolymer. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between serum magnesium level, glycemic regulation and proteinuria in diabetic patients. CPP and SA were selected to render the polymer insoluble in water and allow control over polymer degradation and drug release rates. In this article we will focus on properties of biodegradable polymers which make them ideally suited for orthopedic applications where a permanent implant is not desired. Polyglycolic acid (PGA) is one of the most known synthetic biodegradable polyester. While for the untreated control, no cartilage-like tissue was observed at all defects, but connective fibrous tissue. For this, the PECNs were produced initially by polyelectrolytic complexation (bottom-up method) and subsequently subjected to ultra-high pressure homogenization-UHPH (top-down method). There was a significant difference in molecular weight loss and gravimetric weight loss between the blends after 10 weeks in vitro. Other polyesters, such as poly(hydroxyalkanoates) and poly(caprolactone) are briefly described. In particular, CPP incorporation caused a significant decrease in polymer degradation rates and release kinetics of model drugs incorporated into poly(ether−anhydride) microparticles. By application, packing held a significant market share in 2019. In all cases the Ref. Researchers have extensively investigated the potential of PLGA nanoparticles for target specific and controlled delivery of various micro and macromolecules including drugs, peptides, proteins, monoclonal antibodies, growth factors and DNA in multifarious biomedical applications like neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory disorders, cancer and other dreadful health disorders. Each segment contains an in â¦
Synthesis, structureproperty relationships, biocompatibility and biodegradation behavior of poly(lactide), poly(glycolide) and their copolyesters are comprehensively discussed. Although fat grafting has become a widely used technique in aesthetic and reconstructive surgeries, resorption is still a challenge. The intrinsic nature of these biomaterials renders them suitable for applications where temporally slow releases of bioactive agents in situ may be required. In this study, the variation in polymer blend ratio was examined to observe a change in degradation rate. Poly(lactic acid-co-lysine) was synthesized and utilized for attaching a peptide containing the arginineâglycineâaspartic acid (RGD) sequence to enhance cell adhesion. 2015; 47:341â344. Biodegradable polymers have a great potential and widely used in biomedical applications due to their [Google Scholar] Scientists and researchers keep on improving this material via their studies and research, in order to come up with sustainable properties with the finest products. Reproduced material should be attributed as follows: If the material has been adapted instead of reproduced from the original RSC publication
(b) A polyglycolic acid sheet and fibrin glue were applied to control the rectal bleeding. Although satisfactory nonabsorbable sutures made from a variety of synthetic and natural materials have been available for a number of years, since ancient times only collagenous absorbable sutures have found general acceptance. The success of biomedical implants depends largely on four factors: their surface properties and. We designed, To evaluate the effectiveness of the cell-material in situ on joint resurfacing, a woven fabric polyglycolic acid (PGA) treated with fresh chondrocytes was used for repairing cartilage defects. Biodegradable polymers contain hydrolytically unstable functional The reactions were followed by time sampling techniques. The defect was filled with and without PGA under surgical condition. Finally, it was found there was a moderate increase in antimicrobial activity when ampicillin was loaded into the PECNs. It is difficult to obtain PGA porous scaffolds with controllable morphology as well as outstanding mechanical properties without toxic solvents. Poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) has a similar chemical structure to PLA but without the methyl side group, which allows the polymer chains to pack together tightly and results in a high degree of crystallinity (45–55%), high thermal stability (Tm = 220–230 °C), exceptionally high gas barrier (3 times higher than EVOH), as well as high mechanical strength (115 MPa) and stiffness (7 GPa). All biomaterials must meet certain criteria and regulatory requirements before they can be qualified for use in medical applications. Clinical complications in the application of polyglycolic acid sheets with fibrin glue after resection of mucosal lesions in oral cavity Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. If you are not the author of this article and you wish to reproduce material from
formally request permission using Copyright Clearance Center. Join ResearchGate to find the people and research you need to help your work. biomedical applications due to insolubility of PGA in most of the solvents and rapid degradation of PGA. These results suggest that the woven fabric PGA may facilitate the formation of cartilage tissues by providing a biodegradable and good-handle vehicle for the delivery to and retention of organized cell matrix constructs in vivo site. Keywords: Polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, toxicity Received 7 November 1994; accepted 12 January 1995 Current trends in orthopaedic practice and research suggest that polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA) (Figure 1) and their copolymers may enjoy widespread application in the future. implantation, chondrocytes were co-cultured with PGA for one day.

domain: chemistry


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Phnom Penh Express by Johan Smits now at Kinokuniya Books
First published in Cambodia, Johan Smits’ romantic thriller is now available in Bangkok. AsiaLIFE’s Mark Bibby Jackson reviews Phnom Penh Express.
Like John Burdett’s Bangkok series of novels, the star of Johan Smits’ debut novel, Phnom Penh Express, is the city in which it is set. Through Smits’ eyes, the reader is shown Phnom Penh warts and all. From the all-pervading smell of fermented fish prahok to the deathly noise of karaoke songs, we see, hear and smell the city.
What Smits offers is not so much an insider’s view of the Cambodian capital as an outsider’s view. By choosing to make his protagonist (Phirum) half-Belgian and half-Cambodian, he has created a central character who feels the full force of alienation within the country to which he has chosen to return. It is an interesting study of people who reside in the cracks between nationalities.
However, unlike Camus’ Outsider, Phnom Penh Express is no sociological study of the outsider within. Instead like Burdett, Smits has chosen to place his novel in a genre that is familiar to most readers, the thriller.
Smits demonstrates the ability to tell a story, a quality which many first-time novelists lack. The plot is straightforward enough, but told well and at pace.
A shipment of chocolates is mistakenly sent to a Chocolate Shop on Phnom Penh’s Street 240, and contained within are diamonds. The unwitting Phirum is drawn into a web of murder and deception involving diamond smugglers, arms traders and hired assassins. Along the way he finds love.
Diamonds, chocolates and sinister men with moustaches, Smits captures the flavour of life in Phnom Penh, but gives it a distinctly Belgian twist. In choosing to do so, he has wisely chosen to write about that which he knows best, having grown up in Antwerp and lived for many years in Cambodia. He also admits that it allows him to “poke fun” at where he comes from.
It is this sardonic sense of humour that lifts Phnom Penh Express above the mundane. Not since the days of Tintin has a Belgian novelist captured the essence of expat life in the Far East.
A thoroughly good read, especially on the beaches of Koh Samet during the rainy season, it might also make a good present for friends back home to explain what living in Phnom Penh is really like, apart from the moustaches that is, of course.
Phnom Penh Express is available from Kinokuniya Books for B424.

domain: library


text: So just two days ago my female swordtail gave birth and I put them in mesh breeder's net in the main tank. But yesterday.. to my horror.. I notice some small white spots on the male and female swordtail. I didn't know what to do because of the fry so I quickly took out the male and female swordtail and put them in another tank. I've been treating them with Quick Cure. They're really active and eating well but you can't deny there's white spots on them. Now I'm just worried that the Ick might still be in my main tank.. I have a pretty old Dalmatian Molly who seems to be lying around a lot but he eats everything and there hasn't been any rubbing against objects. Not sure if he has Ick.. I want to treat my Main tank but I don't know what to do since the fry are in there :-[ I've been reading that salt can be used to treat ick.. but can the fry tolerate salt? and if so, how much can be used on a 20 gallon tank to treat ick?

domain: pet


text:
The annual Record Store Day is coming up on April 18, and the full list of releases was announced on Thursday (March 5).
There are more than 400 RSD special releases, which include exclusives, limited runs and first-availabilities.
We at Billboard made sorting through extensive collection a bit easier, and compiled 11 must-haves for fans to look out for on Record Store Day. Check out our list below, and see the full slate of releases here.
1. Charli XCX – Vroom Vroom EP
The songstress’ beloved 2016 four-song EP will be available on vinyl for the first time. The record features the title track, “Trophy,” “Secret (Shh)” and “Paradise” featuring Hannah Diamond.
2. Mac DeMarco – Other Here Comes the Cowboy Demos
DeMarco is unveiling two sets of demos from his 2019 album Here Comes the Cowboy. Here Comes the Cowboy Demos will be out April 17 via Mac’s Record Label and Other Here Comes the Cowboy Demos will be available as a Record Store Day exclusive. The latter will feature rough tracks such as “Eyes on Me,” “Seeing Red,” “Velvet Johnny,” “New You” and more.
3. Destiny’s Child – “Say My Name”
2020 marks 20 years since it hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 in March 2000, and now the song is getting re-released as a 12″ picture disc.
4. Billie Eilish – Live at Third Man Records
Back in November, Eilish and her brother Finneas performed an intimate acoustic set in The Blue Room at Nashville’s Third Man Records. The set will be pressed on opaque blue vinyl with black paper sleeves, and includes an exclusive poster.
5. Fleetwood Mac – The Alternate Rumours
On vinyl for the first time, the alternate version of the band’s iconic album will include early and alternate versions for “Gold Dust Woman”, “The Chain”, “Don’t’ Stop”, “Dreams” and “Second Hand News.”
6. My Chemical Romance – The Murder Scene
The RSD release of MCR’s 2006 live album, Life of the Murder Scene, will be available on clear vinyl with fittingly spooky red splatter.
7. The Notorious B.I.G. – It Was All a Dream: The Notorious B.I.G. 1994 – 1999
An 1 9LP box set will be available, featuring Biggie’s Ready to Die (2LP), Born Again (3LP), Life After Death (2LP) and Junior Mafia’s Conspiracy (2LP) pressed on clear vinyl and housed in a boxed set .
8. The Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed (Limited Collectors Edition)
Each copy of the 1969 album’s RSD version is handcrafted on the press, using layers of color on top of one another. As a result of the manual process to create the colors, each piece will be unique in design.
9. Tyler, the Creator – Cherry Bomb (The Instrumentals)
Released digitally in 2018, the instrumental version of the 2015 album will be available for the first time on vinyl, with an opaque pink color exclusively for Record Store Day.
10. Post Malone 3″ Vinyls
Fans will have the opportunity to purchase “Goodbyes,” “Sunflower,” “Wow” and “Souvenir De Sant-Trupes” on 3″ vinyl.
11. Brandi Carlile – A Rooster Says
This special release will pay tribute to Carlile’s fellow Seattle native, the late Chris Cornell and Soundgarden with renditions of “Black Hole Sun” and “Searching With My Good Eye Closed.”

domain: artistic


Gleyber Torres Stats
- Height / Weight
- 6' 1" / 205 lbs.
- Date of Birth (Age)
- 12/13/1996 (25)
Gleyber Torres Season Stats
Last 10 Games
Gleyber Torres News
New York Yankees middle infielder Gleyber Torres' (ankle, wrist) ankle is doing well, but he underwent an MRI exam on his right wrist on Monday. His wrist is structurally sound, but he received a cortisone injection and is unlikely to swing a bat until Wednesday. Torres suffered a mild ankle sprain in Sunday's win over the Houston Astros, and he's not in the starting lineup on Monday against the Oakland Athletics. The 25-year-old is also dealing with a bum right wrist, so there's a good chance he'll be out through at least Wednesday. Hopefully for his fantasy managers, the combination of the ankle and wrist injury won't affect his swing at the dish moving forward. Torres has been making much more hard contact in 2022 and is already up to 13 home runs.
New York Yankees middle infielder Gleyber Torres (ankle) is not in the starting lineup on Monday against the Oakland Athletics. Torres will take a seat after suffering a mild ankle sprain in Sunday's win over the Houston Astros. There's a chance that he misses Tuesday's game as well, but the Yankees are confident that his injury isn't very serious. The 25-year-old Venezuelan is hitting just .250, but he's been more productive at the plate this year with 13 home runs, 32 RBI, 33 runs scored and four stolen bases in 228 at-bats so far for the Yanks. DJ LeMahieu is starting at the keystone and is hitting leadoff on Monday against A's right-hander Paul Blackburn. LeMahieu will be a fine DFS target on Monday in the leadoff spot.
New York Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres (ankle) turned his ankle while trying to return to third base on Sunday against the Houston Astros, and manager Aaron Boone said Torres' injury is a "mild ankle sprain." "He caught his spike and kind of rolled it over there at third," Boone said. "I'm hoping it scared him more than anything. We'll see what we have overnight and [Monday], but I don't expect it to be serious." Fantasy managers should consider the 25-year-old day-to-day for now, but don't be surprised if he's not in the starting lineup on Monday against the Oakland Athletics. While Torres is hitting a mediocre .250 on the season, he's made some adjustments in 2022 and has 13 home runs, 32 RBI and four stolen bases in 67 games played.
New York Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres was a big letdown in 2020. He managed to hit just three home runs over 42 games, slashing .243/.356/.368 along the way. It was an extremely surprising follow-up to his 38 home run campaign in 2019, when he appeared to be emerging as one of the league's top power hitters. Instead, we saw his barrel-rate drop from 10.1% in 2019 to just 3.7% in 2020 and his home run to fly ball rate fell from 21.5% in 2019 to 7.1% last year. Despite his massive power dropoff, he made positive strides in his plate discipline, lowering his strikeout rate from 21.4% in 2019 to 17.5% in 2020 and raising his walk rate from 7.9% in 2019 to 13.8% in 2020. The Yankees were plagued by injuries last year and the constant shuffling of the lineup may have had a negative effect on Torres' game, reducing his support system and allowing opposing pitchers to throw away from him. Torres turned 24 this offseason and he's a year removed from being targeted as a top-30 pick. Now, you can get him on the outskirts of the top-75, where he's a fantastic value. Last year he showed what his downside risk is, but his upside potential is an elite power hitter and he's certainly worth taking a chance on in the seventh round or even a bit earlier. Look for him to silence his doubters and top 30 home runs for the second time in three years in 2021.


Download Music Mp3:- Jeriq – 2022 (Freestyle)
Jeriq – 2022 (Freestyle) Mp3 Download Audio
KOD music records artiste Jeriq serves us another freestyle titled 2022.
The just released music 2022 is a follow up to his previous jam.
Download 2022 Freestyle by Jeriq
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Joseph Bologna, an actor, playwright and screenwriter who was so memorable as the egotistical King Kaiser in the 1982 comedy classic My Favorite Year, has died. He was 82.
Bologna died Sunday morning at City of Hope hospital in Duarte, Calif. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three years ago, said his wife of 52 years, actress and screenwriter Renee Taylor.
Bologna received an Oscar nomination for adapted screenplay, shared with his wife and David Zelag Goodman, for his work on Lovers and Other Strangers (1970). The couple had first written it for Broadway in a 1968 production directed by Charles Grodin.
They penned 22 plays in all, including It Had to Be You, Bermuda Avenue Triangle and If You Ever Leave Me I’m Going With You!
Bologna and Taylor penned and starred in the semi-autobiographical Made for Each Other (1971), which Newsweek called “the best love story & comedy of the year,” and co-wrote and co-directed Love Is All There Is (1996), which marked one of the first feature appearances for Angelina Jolie.
The duo also won an Emmy Award for writing the 1973 Marlo Thomas TV special Acts of Love and Other Comedies.
Bologna’s most notable onscreen appearance came as the slick King Kaiser, clearly modeled after comedy legend Sid Caesar, in the classic My Favorite Year. Producer Mel Brooks, one of Caesar’s writers on Your Show of Shows in the 1950s, insisted that first-time movie director Richard Benjamin use Bologna, and Caesar reportedly was delighted.
“I love Sid,” Bologna told People magazine in 1982. “He was a pro, and he did his thing. But he was, like, nuts.”
Bologna was able to attend a 35th anniversary celebration of the film on July 27.
A native of Brooklyn, Bologna also appeared in Neil Simon’s Chapter Two (1979); Blame It on Rio (1984), with Michael Caine and Demi Moore; The Woman in Red (1984), opposite Gene Wilder; and Big Daddy (1999), with Adam Sandler, a family friend.
On television in the 1990s, Bologna was a regular on the short-lived Married With Children … spinoff Top of the Heap — playing Charlie Verducci, the lowlife friend of Al Bundy (Ed O’Neill) — and Rags to Riches, with Tisha Campbell.
Bologna’s final work is a film he wrote and starred in, the soon to be released Tango Shalom. Taylor and their lifelong friend Lainie Kazan co-star; his daughter, Zizi, served as the music supervisor; and his son, Gabriel, directed it.
The son of a shoeshine man, Bologna attended Brown University and graduated with a degree in art history, served in the U.S. Marine Corps and directed TV commercials for products like Right Guard and Gillette.
Taylor, then a stand-up comic, was a regular guest on The Merv Griffin Show when her and Bologna’s mutual manager, Buddy Allen, introduced them. She looked into his eyes and thought to herself, “This is the man I’m going to marry,” she recalled. Meanwhile, Bologna was thinking, he later told her, “This woman is looking at me very funny.”
They planned to marry at Tavern on the Green in New York but were worried that it was going to be too expensive, so Griffin arranged for them to wed in 1965 on his soundstage. He filmed the Jewish-Italian ceremony and aired it on his show.
They celebrated their 52nd anniversary on Friday and over the years renewed their vows five times — in a different religion on each occasion.
A memorial that will include musical tributes to Bologna will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills.
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domain: entertainment


text:
I think President Park is spot on and if someone had asked me to write her talking points this is exactly what I would have recommended.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye attributed North Korea’s about-face to the strong military stance Seoul had taken in the face of Pyongyang’s daily threats in April and May. Speaking at a lunch with military leaders on Friday, President Park said: "Yesterday, North Korea proposed inter-Korean government-to-government talks that it has opposed so far. This was possible because of all the hard work of our troops and commanders who have maintained a firm security posture."
She also vowed to continue to push for her "Korean Peninsula trust process,” but said her “trustpolitik” policy was only possible with a strong military position to back it up.
"If national security is shaken, neither dialogue nor peace can stand, just like we cannot build buildings on a shaking foundation. Only when we have perfect military readiness and deterrence against North Korea can we make the North not dare think of provocations, and induce a genuine change."
This shows the inexperience of Kim Jong-un's decision making ability and his Uncle and Aunt probably had to let this play out before they could convince him to cut the losses. However, I would submit while this is a short term set back the north is still taking a longer view and believes it will ultimately achieve its objectives of political and economic concessions and its assessment will be that those concessions will be a result of its actions over the past 7 months.
Ultimately, Kim had little choice. He perpetuated a crisis without an apparent endgame in mind. Consequently, he gained nothing from it, nor would he have by holding out longer. Even Pyongyang knows when to cut its losses… eventually.
By Zachary Keck
June 8, 2013
North and South Korea will hold working level talks on Sunday with the aim of preparing the way for ministerial level talks at a later date.
The talks were prompted by a surprise proposal from Pyongyang on Thursday calling for working level talks on July 15th between the two governments to begin the process of trying to restart operations at Kaesong Industrial Complex and resume South Korean tours of the Mt. Kumgang resort, both of which are joint development projects initiated during South Korea’s sunshine policy era.
Previously, North Korea had proposed holding a dialogue with private civilians from the South, which Seoul rejected insisting that governmental working-level talks be held instead.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry responded within an hour to the North’s offer on Thursday, proposing instead that the two countries hold “ministerial-level South-North talks on June 12 in Seoul in order to resolve issues of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, the Mt. Kumgang resort and separated families.” The statement added that it “positively view[ed]” the North’s offer.
Pyongyang counter-offered the following day by saying that it believed mistrust was too ingrained to go immediately to ministerial-level talks, and instead suggested the two sides begin with working-level talks (as South Korea first proposed in April and May) in Kaesong on June 9th. The North Korean statement also said it would reopen the Kanmunjom Red Cross communication channel starting at 2 PM local time on Friday, and asked Seoul to respond to the proposal through there.
South Korea used the channel on Friday to agree to all of the North's terms expect location, which it proposed by switched to Panmunjom, a village on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where the ceasefire ending active fighting in the Korean War was signed and the venue for past meetings between North and South Korea. North Korea accepted the new venue on Saturday morning local time.
Seoul’s proposal to hold working-level talks last month suggested the same location as the venue. This proposal was rejected by North Korea at the time. The village is about 10 km away from Kaesong.
Thus, North Korea ultimately accepted nearly all of the conditions South Korea laid out in a proposal last month, although Pyongyang did successful resist the South’s brief attempt this week to restart talks at the ministerial-level and hold the negotiations in Seoul. The two sides last held working-level talks in 2011 and ministerial-level talks in 2007.
(Continued at the link below)

domain: news


text:
The Global South
October 22-24, 2010
The Southern Foodways Alliance, an institute of the center for the Study of Southern Culture, hosted the thirteenth annual Southern Foodways Symposium October 22-24, 2010, in Oxford, Mississippi, and on the campus of the University of Mississippi. The Delta Divertissement, in its eighth year, took place October 21-22 in nearby Greenwood and Clarksdale. This year’s theme was the Global South. From West Africato Cuba, from Vietnam to Mexico, we traced the influences of places and peoples on Southern culinary culture. 375 people from around the nation attended the sold-out event.
The SFA presented programming that challenged existing cultural concepts and complicated beliefs about the region. Among the speakers was Chingo Bling a Mexican-American rapper from Houston, Texas, whose album “They Can’t Deport Us All,” examined immigration policy and prejudice. Also on the roster was Francis Lam, a senior editor at Salon magazine, who profiled the Croatian and Vietnamese shrimping communities in Bilioxi, Mississippi.
Jim Peacock, professor of anthropology at the University of North Carolina, argued for grounded globalism, his theory for how the South has evolved to accommodate new arrivals. Jessica Harris, the Ray Charles Chair in Material Culture at Dillard University in New Orleans, along with Theaster Gates and the Black Monks of Mississippi, paid tribute to the African roots of Southern street vending.
Guests feasted on meals prepared by chefs from across the region. Eddie Hernandez of Taqueria de Sol in Atlanta served turnip green tamales with cracklins. Michelle Bernstein of Michy’s in Miami dished shrimp and sweet potato ceviche and braised oxtail stew with gnocchi. Also on the bill of fare were platters of pit-cooked barbacoa de cabeza from Kelly English and Jonathan Magallanes, both of Memphis, and whole hog barbecue tacos from Jim ‘N Nick’s of Birmingham.
Each year the SFA presents three awards. Peter Nguyen accepted the Ruth Fertel Keeper of the Flame Award on behalf of the Vietnamese fishing communities of the Gulf Coast. The Ruth Fertel Keeper of the Flame Award honors an unsung hero or heroine of the culinary world, a foodways tradition bearer of note. In honor of Nguyen’s work, SFA collaborator Joe York made a short film, “Phat Tai,” which focused on Vietnamese labor and life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
The John Egerton Prize – which comes with a $5,000 cash stipend — was awarded to Calvin Head on behalf of the of West Holmes Community Development Organization (WHCDO), based near the Mississippi town of Mileston. Twelve African American-owned vegetable farms participate in the WHCDO farm initiative. The John Egerton Prize recognizes artists, writers, scholars, activists and others whose work addresses issues of race, class, gender, and social and environmental justice through the lens of food.
The SFA’s Craig Claiborne Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Christiane Lauterbach, editor and publisher of Knife & Fork in Atlanta, recognizing her 30-plus years of determined documentation of the South’s emergent global food scene. The Craig Claiborne Award goes to an individual whom all thinking eaters should know, the sort of person who has made an indelible mark upon our cuisine and our culture, the sort of person who has set regional standards and catalyzed national dialogues.
The SFA’s mission is to document, study, and celebrate the diverse food cultures of the changing American South. That mission is grounded in the notion that food is a lens through which a region and culture as vast and varied as ours can be embraced and understood.

domain: sociology


text:
IIt has become easier for Americans to travel to Cuba. On Wednesday, at the request of Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, the US Department of Transportation lifted civil aviation restrictions on flights between the US and Cuba that had been imposed during the Trump administration. These restrictions have prevented US commercial and charter flights from traveling to Cuban cities other than Havana.
“Scheduled and chartered air services between U.S. and Cuban airports may resume effective immediately,” Blinken wrote in a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
But in practice, how easy it is to travel to Cuba on a leisure trip is a question mark. For Americans, the past decade has seen wide fluctuations in US foreign policy that have undermined travel rules.
President Obama began relaxing the rules for travel to Cuba in 2011. By mid-2010, leisure travelers could visit the island if their trip fell under specific categories, including “people to people” organized cultural group tours. Keep in mind that it was very difficult to find a place to stay, as American travelers were prevented from sponsoring businesses owned by the Cuban government, which owns most of the hotels in the country.
The easiest solution is to take a cruise. Cuba quickly became a hot stop for cruises offering shore excursions that ostensibly fell into the “people to people” category. While the largest cruise lines — Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises — have docked in Havana, a number of smaller upscale cruise operators have created more Cuba-centric itineraries to make calls to smaller cities such as Cienfuegos, a colonial center on the south coast, and Santiago de Cuba, the island’s second largest city. By 2018, more than a dozen cruise lines were bringing approximately 800,000 passengers to Cuba annually.
In 2019, the Trump administration dramatically rolled back recreational travel to Cuba by banning commercial and charter flights from the United States to Cuban cities other than Havana. US cruise ships were denied stopovers in Cuba and the “people-to-people” class of travel was abolished.
Killing “people to people” trips meant that while Americans could travel to Havana legally, they had to look for another category – family visits, professional trips, religious or humanitarian work, or what became the most popular option, a category called “support for the Cuban people.” . For the latter, travelers need to demonstrate that their plans include activities such as meeting with local business owners, visiting museums or galleries, and dining at locally owned restaurants and markets – it’s not always easy to arrange without a tour operator or guide, no matter what the issue. It is on the banned list.
Now the Biden administration is trying to turn back the clock. Two weeks ago, officials announced initial steps to reopen limited leisure travel to Cuba. “We will certainly ensure that travel is purposeful and compliant with US law,” a senior White House official said. “We are bringing mass educational travel between individuals under a general license.”
After a year of anti-government protests in Cuba, the Biden administration says facilitating travel is key to building bridges between cultures. “We will note something President Biden has said often, which is his belief that Americans are the best ambassadors of democratic values,” the White House official said. Facilitating mass travel between individuals will allow greater engagement among the American people and advance their democratic values. “
But going forward, once shy travel companies will need to be more aware of what counts as legitimate “people-to-people” travel rather than stationary tourism.
In March 2022, a federal judge dismissed allegations from the four largest cruise companies – Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and MSC – that they had engaged in legal travel in Cuba. In a 169-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom, Obama-appointed in South Florida, concluded that cruise lines offered excursions that “constituted tourism rather than appropriate activities among people, and paid millions of dollars to Cubans. The government should engage in Unauthorized travel” while docked in Havana, says weekly travel.
It remains to be seen how quickly and enthusiastically cruise lines and tour operators will bring back cruises to Cuba this time around, given the way the rug has been pulled on it before, and with the 2024 US presidential election on the horizon.

domain: politics


text: How often carry out girls hook up on dating websites? The answer varies greatly. Matching to one review, 33% of girls have sex very own first encounter. Sixty percent of female Tinder users state looking for a meet, and 9% report reaching potential freehookupaffair com reviews beaus in bars. Precisely what is the reason for this phenomenon? The study also reveals that ladies are more likely to take part in sexual activity with guys they will meet through a dating iphone app than men are.


More Development Will Add Traffic to Intersection
The left turn from Berkshire Valley Road onto Route 15 is easier than it once was because of road improvements, but it still frustrates motorists. Phil Doyle of Valley Trail asked the Jefferson Township Council what could be done. Mayor Russell Felter told him there are plans to change the intersection, but they have to wait for land acquisition.
Berkshire Valley is a county road, and Morris County did add a left-turn arrow and change the timing on the lights. But new development south on Route 15 will just add to the traffic issues, Felter said. He added that the state classifies the intersection as a “D” now, and it won’t go above a “C” with the planned work.
Felter reported to the council that the Lakeside turf field is clean and can be used, barring more snow. He did not have a schedule for other fields, although he said the recreation department has done a good job on them.
Another resident had complaints, illustrated with photos, about the lack of maintenance at houses on his street. Dr. Gary Glick, whose house is on the dead end of Cove Road, is trying to sell his property. He said the conditions of some houses on his street are driving the value of his property down. He presented a letter from a local real estate agent stating that although some clients liked his house, they were concerned about the neighborhood.
Township administrator James Leach noted that there are houses in foreclosure on Cove Road. At least one has been sold and should be improved soon, he added. Council president Debi Merz said the committee would consider an ordinance addressing abandoned, foreclosed houses.
The township has a new firefighter. Jake Sobieski joined Fire Department #2 and was sworn in by Felter at the beginning of the meeting.


text:
Using modern honing machines, surface finishes, crosshatch angles, ring materials, and coatings all combine to create a more efficient engine.
As Sunnen Products Co. celebrates 100 years in the industry in 2024, Tom Dustman, sales director for Sunnen, and other Sunnen team members were at the 2023 PRI Show to showcase the latest Sunnen equipment, including the SV-35 and SV-15 honing machines to engine builders and machinists.
Champion Professional-Grade Honing Oil is a robust high-performance honing and finishing fluid designed utilizing a select blend of base fluids and additives.
The key to honing is to get the rings to seal against the cylinder wall by making just enough valley depth.
Predictions were rampant two years ago that some popular honing oils containing chlorinated paraffins would be off the market by mid-2016 due to the EPA’s announced intent to ban the additives. However, there is no official date for such a ban and, according to one supplier of honing oils, there may never be.


text:
Syosset School District released the first draft of the 2013-14 budget during a workshop Monday.
The $209,000,000 budget as it stands would continue all programs and services while retaining all faculty and staff.
The draft so far includes the following numbers:
- Syosset's calculated 2013-14 budget: $209,224,343
- Syosset's 2013-14 calculated tax levy cap: 3.0796%
- Budget increase in dollars: $11,134,286
- Amount to be taken from reserves: approximately $8,000,000
- Estimated cost increase to taxpayers: approximately $3,000,000
Check out the line by line draft of the budget under PDFs.
"In this horrible economy, it's very hard to [keep the budget at the cap] without cutting jobs," said Council of PTAs President Roberta Dochter, commending the budget's numbers and the timeliness of getting a draft out to the community.
Frederick Gang also commended the board for reinstituting the budget workshops, adding he would like to see the board "go all the way" by republishing and updating documents as the process continues and to publish budget booklets with backup information.
"I see an opportunity here for savings" under energy expenses, said Jimmy Carchietta, who had offered his expertise in energy components at previous meetings. "There are a considerable amount of incentives and savings possible."
The current draft of the budget does not account for energy efficiency projects, which are still being considered.
Board Hears ESCO Presentation
People's Power & Gas presented to the board and added another point to consider regarding energy projects and savings.
PPG is a retail electricity and natural gas supplier that purchases and negotiates rates for different energy sources. Company representatives said they offer power 20 to 30 percent cheaper than LIPA. The company also offers fixed rate power and bill consolidation to lessen confusion. Contracts with the company generally function on an annual basis.
Working with PPG would solve a portion of the issues facing the district's energy costs. The company supplies fuel and electricity, while projects like Johnson Controls or Siemans would create a plan that would deal with repairs and upgrades of equipment.
PPG agreed to perform an analysis of exactly how much savings they could provide. The board did not yet vote to use PPG.
Security Policy Reevaluated
During the audience to the public, resident Robert Gershon asked that a policy surrounding a parent visitation day be revised.
According to Gershon, a parent visitation day at his child's school allowed only one parent to attend instead of two, a policy change that he said upset many families. Gershon said that families should not have to "negotiate" which parent attends such an event, adding children with divorced parents were put under even more undue stress.
The event took place after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, which reportedly added concern for school security.
Gershon asked that the previous policy be reinstated so that both parents can attend the functions.
Superintendent Carole Hankin said that although having a do-over of the visitation day this year would be a challenge, the district can revisit the policy to allow for both parents to attend while maintaining security measures.
Foreign Language Curriculum Discussed
Trustee Josh Lafazan introduced the idea of changing the elementary foreign language curriculum.
Stressing the benefits of learning languages at an early age, Lafazan suggested the curriculum be directed more toward language and pull back on the cultural aspect of the program.
Several trustees said it was not their place to officially dictate curriculum.
"That's a really slippery slope that you don't want to start down," said Trustee Marc Herman, adding it would be inappropriate in that case for the board to make a decision. "We don't want to be in a position where we're dictating whether or not to read Tom Sawyer."
Instead, Lafazan was encouraged to instead reach out to elementary PTAs curriculum committees and parents.
Legal Council Discussed
Citing the unavailability of information and resources, specifically surrounding a postponed finance committee meeting, Trustee Chris DiFilippo suggested an independent council be brought in for district labor contracts and board matters.
According to DiFilippo, the first meeting of the finance committee, which was scheduled for Monday before the budget session, was held up partially because of delays in getting legal information needed for the meeting.
The conversation turned toward the amount of emails being sent to council from the board and whether or not it was an acceptable amount of time to have questions answered. While some trustees had luck speaking with the New York State Board of Education council, the ability to get in touch with district council was still an issue.
DiFilippo said he would be willing to wait until the summer when the district would be capable of interviewing new firms and potentially switching to new representation.

domain: economics


text:
When pain is a standard part of growing up, it makes sense why so many of us adapted by being need less and want less. Our care givers may say they loved us, yet failed time and time again to consider our needs.
Under the system of racism, there’s no room for emotional nourishment. It’s commitment to dehumanisation strips us of the ability to relate and care for each other beyond survival.
If we’re hurt too many times as children without repair, it’s easy to settle for relationship crumbs as adults. The deprivation then becomes an armor which allows us to hide in being strong for others, while we privately suffer the pain of intimacy being unsafe.
Sometimes we’re so afraid of loss, that we can’t ask for what we need. In healing, we grieve the loss of nurturing and release our need to be invisible.
In this moment, I will remember that I deserve to be seen and heard. Today, I will give myself permission to ask for what I want.

domain: literature


text:
A-League Lounge: February 4
Grandstand's Ned Hall is joined by Steve Horvat to review all the latest action from the A-League.
Source: ABC News | Duration: 27min 36sec
By Joseph Thomsen and Annie Brown
World number one double trap shooter James Willett heads to Rio feeling confident.
They were the unlikely soccer stars of the European Championship, but now Icelanders are turning their attention to an even more unlikely sport — Aussie Rules football.
National coaches Ange Postecoglou, Lisa Alexander and Michael Cheika speak out on ABC's Offsiders in one of the more thoughtful musings on the Olympic doping scandal.


text:
Keri New English High School students vow to eradicate malaria !
“Jan Jan ka yahi hai nara, malaria mukt ho gaav hamara” is the message conveyed by the school students in Keri village today.
Awareness program on possible diseases from malaria and mosquitoes was held at New English High School in Keri Pedne.
The event was jointly organized by the Central Hospital of Tuye Pedne.
This time Awareness Program Head Yashwant Pednekar, Assistant Mahima Chari, Pundalik Desai, Health Inspector of the hospital, Ranjeel Morjkar, ICE Officer, Sumedha, Brother Gaurish Shetgaonkar, a round was organized in the village to raise awareness about malaria. Also, a ninth grader performed an awareness street play in the Keri market.
The awareness drive concluded in the school hall. On this occasion, Health Inspector Pundalik Desai, ICE Officer Ranjil Morjkar raised awareness about the spread of diseases including malaria, dengue, Chikungunya and mosquitoes. They also informed the students about the measures that can be taken to prevent this outbreak.
The headmaster of the school Bhavarth Mandrekar introduced the program. Program was Hosted by Yashwant Pednekar while Neelam Mahaldar proposed vote os thanks.
Students of Keri Pernem New English High School students participating in the Malaria Awareness along with Pundalik Desai, Yashwant Pednekar, Mahima Chari, Gaurish Shetgaonkar, Ranjil Morjkar and others.


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US bank mergers heading for seven-year high
HERE'S an irony: US regulators looking to avoid bailouts of too-big-to-fail banks have passed so many rules that regional and local lenders are combining to stomach the costs.
The result: banks are bulking up.
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by US banks surged
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Home to about eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Colombia displays a great variety of history, geography, flora and fauna which has contributed in the development of an excellent tourism industry. This is the only country within South America caressing the waters of the North Pacific Ocean down south and the Caribbean Sea as well on top. Colombia, with its most famous festivals and fairs, is in fact much more than a carnival. The various National Parks along with the Colombian coffee growing activities has presented a grand opportunity for ecotourism which has effectively been capitalized.
There are a whole lot of Latin American cities in Colombia which can charm any traveler to extend his vacation long as he can. Bogota, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Cucuta, Pereira, Popayan, Santa Marta, Medellin and Cali which is considered as the Salsa Capital of the world are some of the most popular Colombian urban destinations visited by tourists from all around the world.

domain: geography


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Pop-up Discussion with Ed Norris and Kevin Cowherd
This event occurred in the past.
- Critic's Pick
Ed Norris and Kevin Cowherd will discuss their new book, "Way Down in the Hole," and provide a 20-minute discussion and Q&A followed by a book signing and photo opportunities. Advance registration is suggested and may be made online at hcplonline.org.


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Re: Weird smell
Moisture is probably the culprit. I had a foul odor in my safe a few years ago but it was totally different. I had my safe open for a few hours while I was doing some work and just closed it up afterwards. A day and a half later, my wife was asking where one of her cats was, and if I had seen it. Turns out this cat had climbed into the bottom cubbyhole and I locked her in the safe. Luckily, she didn't relieve herself in there, but she did claw the carpet on the door up pretty good.


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Tags: Actor Heroes,Published by: Ballantine Books
Release Date: February 3 2004
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Countless readers have discovered the amazing talent that is Suzanne Brockmann, a writer whose novels of suspense continually land on bestseller lists across the country. Now here is one of her earlier beloved books, one that signaled the beginning of a dazzling career.
Once voted the “Sexiest Man Alive,” Jericho Beaumont had dominated the box office before his fall from grace. Now he is poised for a comeback with the role of a lifetime. He wants the part bad enough to sign an outrageous contract with top producer Kate O’Laughlin—one that gives her the authority to supervise JB’s every move, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
The last thing Kate wants to do is baby-sit her leading man, and Jericho may be more than she can handle. A player in every sense of the word, he is an actor of incredible talent—and a man with a darkly haunted past. Despite her better judgment, Kate finds herself irrevocably drawn to him. But is she being charmed by the real Jericho or by the superstar who dazzles the world?


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By Danny Moran
Jay Cutler's California redwood-like stiffness during his rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" last Saturday had many fans longing for the days of a dazed and confused Ozzy Osbourne and flustered, screaming Mike Ditka.
But everyone deserves a second chance and the man eagerly hoping to give Cutler that chance is the most famous move-buster of all-time: Young MC.
Young MC, whose 1989 song "Bust a Move" was a Billboard Top 10 hit, will be a headliner at Merchant Street MusicFest, a two day festival in downtown Kankakee that starts on July 28. That is three days after the Bears begin training camp in nearby Bourbonnais and the rapper is hoping that his proximity to the Bears will allow Cutler a do-over.
Young MC tweeted Wednesday:
Thinking Bears Jay Cutler and I could laydown a better "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" than at Wrigley jaygetsadoover @KankakeeMSMF Young MC (@officialyoungmc) July 18, 2012
There has been no response from Cutler but Kankakee Mayor Nina Epstein has apparently promised the Bears quarterback a police escort if he appears at the event.
So far, Young MC has only extended his do-over invitation to Cutler. If that offer went out to every sub-par seventh inning stretch performer, they would need a longer festival.
We'd been circling this news all week, and now it's getting closer to reality: late Saturday night, Adam Schefter reported that QB Mitch Trubisky will be under center for the Bears' matchup with the Saints this Sunday:
Trubisky was a full participant in practice from Wednesday to Friday of last week, but had still been listed as questionable up to this point. He returns after dislocating his left shoulder in Week 4 against the Vikings and missing the team's Week 5 loss to the Raiders.
The news comes at a crucial juncture of the season for the Bears, who are currently 3-2 and in third place in the NFC North.
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of the Bears.
The Bulls waived Milton Doyle, Justin Simon and Simisola Shittu Saturday, which is minor news since they were mostly camp bodies competing for possibly a two-way contract.
The bigger development is that the Bulls’ roster is basically set, pending the signing of one player to the second two-way contract still available. No Iman Shumpert. No Alfonzo McKinnie. And that’s just naming two hometown products recently linked to the Bulls via the rumor mill.
The Bulls still want to see what they have in Chandler Hutchison, who did some individual shooting Saturday but missed all training camp with a hamstring injury. Denzel Valentine, currently out of the rotation, is staying ready.
And Shaq Harrison, who missed all five preseason games with his own hamstring injury but now is fully practicing, remains a Jim Boylen favorite.
And that’s what the roster staying set for now is about as much as anything. The buy-in Boylen has received from players dating to voluntary September workouts and bonds that have formed could be disrupted by the waiving of someone like Harrison, whose contract isn’t fully guaranteed but his commitment is.
While the Bulls recognize proven wing depth is a question mark, they value Harrison’s toughness and defensive ability. If Hutchison or Harrison or Valentine---if he gets an opportunity---don’t produce, perhaps a move could be made at a later date.
But expect only the signing of a second player to a two-way contract to join Adam Mokoka for now.
“We’ve been talking about that,” Boylen said. “We’re working on that. We’ve got our list and have reached out to some people. We’re actively in process.”
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Bulls easily on your device.


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ARCappella is run by a small committee of volunteers that look after the day-to-day management of the choir.
Director / Conductor: Marina Thacker
Marina comes to ARCappella with a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion for music, teaching, singing and the performing arts. Her interest is particularly in the community sector, having been a choral director/ conductor of community choirs for over 20 years.
Marina has done it all! Her career has included classroom music teaching and work in Community Arts and Theatre including conducting two choirs in Brisbane. She was the founding director of the Brisbane Lesbian and Gay Pride Choir as well as choral director of the Brisbane Combined Unions Choir for 21 years. Within this role, Marina had the opportunity to collaborate with equivalent Union Choirs across Australia. In 2009, as a part of the Australian Union Singers, Marina was invited to travel to Santiago de Cuba where she conducted the Union Choir as a part of the International Choral Festival. To complement her choral conducting, Marina also has experience as a singer, having enjoyed being a member of the a cappella vocal ensemble Petit Four.
Marina moved to Melbourne from Brisbane to continue her classroom music career at two schools in the northern suburbs and has recently joined as ARCappella choral director. In the short time that she has been with ARCappella, her easy-going nature, fun style, and extensive experience in and passion for the community choir space is evident and we look forward to working with her for a long time to come.
When not busy teaching and conducting, Marina tries to see as much live music and theatre as possible!
Manager: Amelia van Lint
Amelia is a founding member of the choir and has had a passion for singing for a long time. Amelia also manages the ARC Children’s and Youth Choir
Secretary: Luisa Castaldo
Finance Officer: Vanta Jameson
Vanta joined ARCappella in 2006 and has sung a variety of voice parts but has settled on alto as her favourite. Vanta loves being a part of this dynamic group as it’s a fantastic weekly creative outlet and an opportunity to catch up with friends.
Past Choral Director: David Perry


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What are Fluoride Treatments?
Fluoride is often found in most dental products and even public water sources. It is helpful in protecting the teeth from decay by strengthening them. Fluoride treatments can be done in our office as a way to add an extra layer of protection where you need it the most. These treatments are most often applied to pediatric teeth, but they’re helpful for adults as well.
Why are Fluoride Treatments needed?
We might suggest fluoride treatments if you aren’t using fluoride during your daily brushing and flossing routine. If you are prone to decay, have many fillings already or have issues with sensitivity, these treatments can be equally beneficial. We may recommend fluoride treatments, or you can request them at virtually any time. We can apply the fluoride to your teeth in conjunction with other treatments and procedures.
Who is a candidate for Fluoride Treatments?
There is no age limit on the patient who can and should receive fluoride treatments. Most often, we will apply fluoride to children’s teeth to keep them strong and healthy. These treatments can be helpful for adults as well. Treatment can be done at each and every one of your upcoming checkup visits.
What happens during Fluoride Treatments?
The procedure begins by having liquid fluoride brushed onto the teeth. You will be instructed to avoid eating and drinking for about 30 minutes. This prevents the fluoride from being washed away so that it is able to do its job. The fluoride is meant to strengthen and protect your teeth fully. This can help to prevent tooth decay from forming, which could result in the need for fillings, root canals and extractions. The process to apply fluoride is incredibly easy and provides you with a stronger and more resilient smile that you will be proud to show off. As a parent, we will always ask if you’d like your child to receive fluoride treatments.
If you would like to learn more about fluoride treatments, call us today so that we can get you in for a quick and convenient appointment.


text: Hello! This is my first post on this forum so I'm looking forward to seeing what others are doing and sharing my own experiences with bespoke footwear! These are my first attempt at making a bespoke pair of shoes with no previous experience of shoe/leather work. Everything is made from scratch apart from the fake welt as I only had 15 days to make them. Unfortunately I only had a few choices of last shapes and this one was the closest (but by no means perfect) option. I think it has given them an unfortunate "bowling shoe" aesthetic. I'm currently looking for further training or apprenticeships so would appreciate any info or experiences any makers on here have had with the industry. Look forward to your thoughts and comments!


With the 2014 Masters Tournament getting underway next week, which kicks off the major season, it’s never too early to start talking about who are the best players in the game who have yet to win a major championship. The list changes every year because you have to eliminate some players who are getting long in the tooth, and really are no threat to win the big one.
The big name that was on the yearly list was Colin Montgomerie. But now that he has been put out to pasture on the Champions Tour, he may be a threat to win a senior major title, but for all practical purposes is done competing in the majors on the regular tour.
The two big names that come to mind for the 2014 season who ready to contend, and win their first major in 2014 are Henrik Stenson, and Matt Kuchar. Stenson is a no-brainer after what he did in 2013 to be the best player in the world today without a major title. I have Kuch firmly tucked into second place on the list.
Henrik Stenson looked out of sorts after returning from the off-season where his life had to be a whirl-wind of sponsor and talk show stops. He even said in an interview that he really didn’t have much time to practice, or rest after winning the FedExCup and the Race To Dubai.
I’m sure his bank account is happy, but you have to know that winning a major is a goal he needs to satisfy pretty soon. At age 37, we have seen what age can do to a body, and a golf swing. Just ask Tiger Woods, or Phil Mickelson.
I liked what I saw from the world’s number three player at Bay Hill. He had been struggling with his driver all spring, and seemed to be hitting the ball much better. He had a week off to bond with his putter, and we should see a much improved Henrik Stenson this week in Houston. He finished tied with Billy Horschel for second place here last year and a good finish would do a lot to boost his confidence as they head to Augusta next week.
Matt Kuchar is also on the verge, and needs to take the next step this year. He won the THE PLAYERS Championship a couple of years ago, and certainly has the game to win a major this year. I don’t think he, or Stenson will win in Augusta, but I wouldn’t count either one of them out for the three remaining tournaments.
I wouldn’t read too much into what Matt Kuchar did on Sunday at TPC San Antonio. He was paired with a human rain-delay, and the pressure from tournament officials to hurry took him out of his game. I really felt like he would make a Sunday run, and with his pedigree, maybe pull out a win, but it didn’t happen.
Although Matt Kuchar and his driving accuracy numbers won’t have an advantage at Augusta (there’s no rough there). it will come into play at Pinehurst. With that being said, I think Matt’s best chance this year will come later.
If I was forced to make this a list of five, I would have to include, Lee Westwood, Steve Stricker, and probably Dustin Johnson. I feel like Westwood and Stricker have missed the boat at this point, and Dustin has missed the opportunities.
Dustin Johnson has the game, and youth to still get some majors. His maturity and short game have improved, and all he needs to do now is get himself in contention. Lee Westwood on the other hand is probably done looking for that first major.
It was a valiant effort to move his family to Florida so he could practice more, but I think it’s too little too late at this point. Unfortunately, like a lot of other players from his time, he was derailed by the lack of a short game, and Tiger Woods!


Because there is a lag between when Venezuela sells its oil and when it actually stocks store shelves using the revenue, the country has likely only now begun to feel the full impact of the global drop in oil prices. Venezuela's gold reserves are believed to have fallen to $13.5 billion after a rumored sale of $1.5 billion in early March. The revenue shortage has hurt Maduro's ability to manage Venezuela's economic and political crises through the populist measures that he and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, relied on to maintain support.
Dollar scarcity is hurting Venezuela's ability to import food and consumer goods, leading to shortages and newly implemented systems for rationing. Maduro can devote some money to turn popular dissatisfaction with the government around. Still, he does not have enough to buy his way out of the situation as he did in 2013 when he seized consumer electronic stores and forced them to sell their products below the state-mandated price.
Because Venezuela does not have any sources of immediate economic relief to offset the loss in oil revenue, there is a serious risk the shortages will eventually spark protests and looting. Measures that would contain the economic crisis and raise revenue, such as lowering subsidies for gasoline, could inflame public sentiments. The economy will probably continue to deteriorate, and the PSUV will lose popularity, making a delay to the elections an unattractive option.
Maduro's New Enabling Law
As the number of economic options to manage the country's political disaffection shrink, the Maduro government is looking for new ways to ensure its survival. The National Assembly approved an enabling law March 15 that will allow Maduro to rule by decree until the end of the year to "defend the peace and security" of the country. Maduro said the measure was necessary in response to U.S. sanctions placed on seven current and former members of the government, but critics allege the law is an attempt by Maduro to consolidate power during a difficult time.
Still, the enabling law gives Maduro options to manage potential dissent and justify his actions as a broad defense of the country against the United States. It may also allow Maduro to reconfigure electoral institutions and redraw voting districts to improve the PSUV's outcome in the eventual contest.
The coming months will test Maduro's rule, and maintaining unity within the PSUV will be paramount. The party is a factional organization that has maintained its unity in the past, principally because it was popular enough to win elections. Having lost that popularity, stronger factional tensions may emerge, but for the moment, the leadership is holding together. Maduro has played up and capitalized on the external threat posed by the United States to maintain party cohesion. His PSUV partners in government, particularly National Assembly speaker Diosdado Cabello and Vice President Jorge Arreaza, were instrumental in submitting the enabling law to the legislature, demonstrating political coordination among the leadership in favor of helping Maduro rule, at least for now.
Canceling elections in an attempt to hold on to power, however, could threaten PSUV cohesion. The move could create dissent within the party if citizens protest, and PSUV members who expected to stand for election could become alienated.
A decision to cancel elections altogether could also provide the unifying rally point the opposition requires. The opposition is divided and has had difficulty staging widespread protests so far. As the economic situation deteriorates, more people will become upset with the effect it has on their daily lives. Removing the ability to enact change through democratic elections would leave citizens with only one option: protests against the government. Furthermore, suspending elections could attract more sanctions from the United States.
It appears Venezuela is aware of all the drawbacks canceling elections would bring. Logistically, the country is showing signs that it is on track to hold polls. The opposition Popular Will party of Leopoldo Lopez and the Democratic Unity Table of Henrique Capriles Radonski will hold primary elections April 19 and May 7, respectively, and the PSUV has scheduled its elections for June 4. The National Electoral Council has begun training poll workers to operate the advanced fingerprint-identifying touch-screen electronic voting machines the citizens use.
In the past, Venezuela has invited the Carter Center to monitor its elections and deem them credible. Another sign that the country is serious about going through with the polls would be contacting the organization to provide its services again. Maduro will continue to face economic constraints and political incentives to avoid unnecessary conflict within his party and from the opposition. Ultimately, holding the elections on time still looks like the most manageable of the difficult options available to Venezuela.


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I discussed those questions and more with my good friend Bill, or “Bill The Drone Reviewer” as you may know him on the Internet, on the latest episode of Rotor Talk Live.
We chatted over the weekend via a livestream on his YouTube channel, but you can watch the whole thing here:
The Drone Girl community is the best community on the Internet, but I think Bill’s community around Rotor Talk Live is easily number two. It’s always great chatting with not just Bill, but his fans on the live stream. Don’t just watch the video, but follow along with the comments too — his fans are great!
Thanks to everyone who tuned in, and thanks for having me, Bill! For more from Bill The Drone Reviewer, check out his YouTube channel.
You can find me next out there in the real world this Friday, June 21 at the Lincoln County Photo Workshop where I’ll be teaching a seminar on drones! It’s just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada, and it’s still not too late to sign up. See you there!

domain: hobby