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So I went to Big Mama's Rib Shack, which was mentioned here the other day. It's at 1453 North Lake Ave, Pasadena (not Altadena, though it's close), 626 797 1792, 485 bus from downtown or the 180 from Hollywood. Here's my conclusion: in order to enjoy a meal at Big Mama's, you need no fewer than five concepts:
Concept #1: It's not a shack.
Although the name "Big Mama's Rib Shack" might cause you to expect a down-home place with license plates nailed to the wall, you will notice right away that the black-and-copper decor is unshacklike. Is it left over from the "short-lived dinner/jazz place" that a hound tells us was previously there? (See the attached message.) It's like someone tried earnestly to design a modernist restaurant without having been inside one. I don't mean this in a bad way; it's just a little odd. It's also a clue about:
Concept #2: It's cuisine.
The basic concept of Big Mama's is to try to turn southern cooking into cuisine. This is not a completely unreasonable idea, but it's a challenge. It's easy enough to bring every item on a different plate (which they do), but it's harder to make the food of the less fortunate into something that's worth cuisine prices.
Concept #3: It's the meat, stupid.
Big Mama's strategy is very clear indeed. They are going to get one thing right, and that's the meat. I had the pork ribs, and the meat (just as they advertised) was quite amazingly tender. In this regard it beats even the great kingdoms of barbeque in south-central. Unfortunately, the meat is the only thing that works. The sauce was kind of interesting, but try as I might, I couldn't find a way to get enough sauce onto the meat to really find a distinctive flavor in it. The sides were not well prepared -- badly overcooked corn-on-the-cob and cajun fries that were very limp though well-spiced.
Concept #4: It's a business lunch.
To have pork ribs for lunch at Big Mama's is to confront a deep question: how can anyone serve you three ribs -- three! -- and keep a straight face? That's why you need concepts. If you're thinking that this is a down-home rib shack with license plates nailed to the wall, please refer back to Concept #1. No. You have to put Big Mama's in the same bin as a hundred other places that cater to business people. You're ordering from the lunch specials, and business lunches are dietetically correct. Or to change the metaphor for a moment, it's like those Chinese restaurants that serve a four-course lunch that includes three thimble-fulls of kung pao chicken. Once you make this conceptual switch, you will be able to relate to the three really quite tender ribs on the plate in front of you.
Concept #5: They've just opened.
The waitstaff are painfully new on the job. The kitchen staff haven't yet figured out how to microwave a peach cobbler. Any number of small problems are surely going to get ironed out at Big Mama's, and I do think it'll be worth coming back here for dinner in a few months once they do.


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Prior to the rise of K-pop and Hallyu, the fashion industry rarely selects Korean celebrities much more a K-pop idol to represent the top luxury brands. However, with the skyrocketing influence and power of K-pop groups and idols throughout the world, the following fashion houses and companies noticed these following personalities and made them their Korean and global ambassadors! Especially, EXO is the group whose members top 7 luxury fashion brands.
With their dominance, image, and isuals suiting the brands, they can immediately unleash their “Midas touch” effect that could sell out anything they endorse!
Gucci, a famous luxury brand based in Italy has indeed an eye for beauty, elegance, and power as they chose EXO Kai as their very first Korean model and Global Ambassador. He is now the brand ambassador for two consecutive years.
Meanwhile, the Korean singer, IU, is the Korean ambassador wherein she was seen along with Kai at the recent Gucci-sponsored art exhibit at Seoul’s Daelim Museum in May.
The “YG Princess” Jennie is Chanel’s princess and newest global ambassador! Along with her is the “King of K-pop” BIGBANG’s G-Dragon, who has been a loyal Chanel house ambassador in 2016.
In February 2020, Prada revealed that BLACKPINK Lisa will be their newest global ambassador! In September as well, the Italian brand announced Red Velvet Irene and EXO’s Chanyeol as their Prada Korea Ambassadors Team.
In September, Baekhyun stunned the fashion world with his outstanding photos for Harper Bazaar in which he was featured as the top brand’s newest ambassador. He will be endorsing the brand alongside global ambassador Yoo Ah In and Burberry Korea and China Ambassador, NCT’s Lucas.
BLACKPINK’s “Miss Korea” Jisoo brings joy to her fans and supporters when she was announced as the beauty ambassador of the brand who will be endorsing clothing, cosmetic, and perfume lines.
She joined the “Nation’s First Love” Suzy, who is the brand ambassador for Dior.
In July 2020, Lisa was officially announced to be BVLGARI’s global ambassador. The female fashion icon will be joining EXO’s Suho, who is also a Korean ambassador of the fashion house.
The perfect image of Got7Jackson indeed captured the luxury brand Armani as they chose the idol as their Beauty Brand Ambassador.
Yves Saint Laurent
Though it took a while before BLACKPINK Rosé landed on her first global ambassador position, it is really one of the best, as Yves Saint Laurent had her as their first global ambassador in 59 years!
Jackson is truly a fashion icon as he is also the ambassador of Pasha De Cartier! He is also set to work with BLACKPINK Jisoo and EXO Sehun for an MZ Generation x Cartier digital project.
Jackson is truly the epitome of beauty, appeal that seems to attract top luxury brands as he is also a representative of the Italian fashion house.
For Lancome Korea, Suzy is already tied with the luxury brand since 2017, as their global ambassador and muse.
In September, after appearing in the front row of Celine’s event as a muse, the brand officially announced Lisa as their newest global ambassador.
Sehun who is the face of Cartier is also the ambassador of Zegna, a high-end brand of fashion house established in 1910.
In 2019, the top visual NU’EST Minhyun was selected as the Korea Ambassador of Italian luxury outdoor brand.
Acqua Di Parma
Last year, Chanyeol became the first idol to become the muse and ambassador of Acqua Di Parma, a luxury lifestyle and fashion company.
Did we miss anything and anyone? We bet, a lot! But share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

domain: artistic


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Master Cho likes to compare plants and plant growth to humans. For one thing it makes it easy to understand. He is known for saying “Don’t make your plants fat.” What does he mean?
Nitrogen is given to plants to encourage growth. It gives them a dark green color and great growth. Then we wonder how to get rid of the bugs. We like to give plants nitrogen because we like to nice green color and the fast growth, but it turns out too much nitrogen makes plants, in Master Chos words, ‘fat’. And just like humans, plants that are fat are not healthy.
A ‘fat’ plant will bring in bugs, aphids, scale, white fly, beetles, sucking and chewing insects that come calling because they detect a sick plant. The chemical companies have convinced us that the darker the green the better. We can see results and think the chemicals are working. Then the pests come in and the chemical companies can then sell us all kinds of more chemicals to kill the pests. They tell us that nutrient deficiencies make plants unhealthy so we buy more fertilizers. But these plants are already over-fed! They make a lot of money and we think we don’t have a green thumb.
In this picture are two roselle plants. The one on the right is healthy and properly fed. The one on the left was given some nitrogen (organic fish fertilizer) and is sick, weak, and full of chewing and sucking insects. Notice there are no chew marks on the healthy plant. These two plants were spaced about an arms-length apart so it wasn’t because the pests did not find the healthy plant. Soon after this picture was taken the sick plant was dead. The one on the right received no fertilizer and continued to grow and produce.
Keep in mind that nature is perfectly capable of fixing nitrogen and getting it to plants. Look at a lush green forest or other natural landscape. It grows perfectly even though no one is going through the forest with fertilizer. How? The air all around us is 78% nitrogen. There is no shortage of nitrogen. You don’t really need to even be concerned with nitrogen fixing plants, usually legumes. If you have proper microbial ecology in your soil the nitrogen will get fixed and your plants will uptake what they need. Microbial ecology is the key.
This is a major difference between Master Cho Korean Natural Farming SYSTEM (KNF) and other methods of growing plants, even organically. KNF is a system approach that relies on two components.
- Soil Foundation: Make sure your soil has high levels of ecologically balanced microbes, a healthy and alive soil.
- Nutritive Cycle: Give plants inputs that encourage the plants life cycle stage. The focus is not on NPK, trace minerals etc. That comes from having vibrant healthy soil. KNF inputs are not used for nutrition. They provide chemical signals, hormones, enzymes, co-factors etc. that will tell the plant what to do, eg. grow or make fruit. The nutrition comes from the soil.
So stop overfeeding your plants, reduce your pests, and save money.
To leave comments or questions go to our Facebook page Fermented Farm

domain: agronomy


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‘Stretching’ Oil on Canvas – Zhiwei Tu
Beautiful oil on canvas, ‘Stretching’ signed Zhiwei Tu and inscribed OPA (Oil Painters of America). Measures: 30″ x 39 3/4
Zhiwei Tu, also known as Tu Zhiwei or Tu Wei, is a contemporary Chinese painter known for his figurative and portrait paintings. He was born in 1964 in Jiangsu province, China, and studied art at the Nanjing Normal University before becoming a professor there. His works have been exhibited in China and internationally, including at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing and the Shanghai Art Museum. Tu’s style is characterized by a blend of traditional Chinese ink painting techniques and Western oil painting methods, with a focus on capturing the emotional and psychological states of his subjects.


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amplificador tda Visit. March amplificador tda amplificador tda Tv Panel, Electronic Engineering, Circuit Diagram, Audio Amplifier. Hacer amplificador de audio con TDA, TDA y TDA estereo o bridge. The UTCTDA is a class B dual audio power amplifier and is designed for car radio applications. Amplifier stereo of 10 + 10 watts with ic.
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Electronic projects that easy to build with PCB layout. Good speakers, by law of physics, need to be large.
Because it is the only source of supply voltage 12 volts from the battery supply can run with. Projects by fanatics, for fanatics! The FET cascode video amplifier features very low input loading and reduction of feedback to almost zero.
Audio electronic projects and circuit diagrams.
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Audio kit amplifier circuit diagrams Collections of many electronic circuits with IC, tubes and transistors. Output ac short circuit to ground, Very inductive loads, Overrating chip temperature, Load dump voltage surgeFortuitous open ground. Active hi-fi Loudspeakers Loudspeaker construction is probably one of the most beloved activities of electronic and woodworking hobbyists.
Loudspeaker construction is probably one of the most beloved activities of electronic and woodworking hobbyists. Profession has nothing to do with electronics, but ingrained curiosity amp circuits because there is no experience of making PCBs is very difficult for him. The problem that this amplifficador is designed to solve appeared when the author was installing a new radio in his Audi A3.
A community dedicated rda2004 helping everyone learn the art of audio. This amplifier is powered by 12 volts DC, can be used to amplify videorockolas of computer notebook laptopwhich are being used for picnics, connecting to the car battery.
TDA2004 TDA2004R IC integrated circuit
Xtronic Circuits electronics schematics amplifier rf transmitter power supply datasheet diagram wireless fm software download Xtronic. Various electronics circuits for Audio applications ampluficador audio filtering, Digital audio filter, High pass audio filter, Low pass audio filter, Noise filter, Stereo sound circuits, Subwoofer circuits, Graphic equalizer circuitsm Tone generator etc.
Amplifiers, preamplifiers, vu-meters, equalizers, tone control, sound filters.
The reason is simple: The new radio had four outputs for. Over Electronics Schematics.

domain: hobby


The Maryland Department of Transportation’s commitment to the health and safety of employees and customers is on display in a large meeting room at its Hanover headquarters.
Tens of thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment, secured through collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), are packed in boxes and stacked high on palettes. The materials are being distributed to our agencies – MDOT Maryland Port Administration, MDOT Maryland Aviation Administration, MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration, MDOT Maryland Transit Administration, MDOT State Highway Administration and the Maryland Transportation Authority – to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
“We’re very excited (MDH was) able to help us be forward-thinking and provide safety and protection for all of our team members and customers, hopefully through the end of the year and possibly into the spring,” said MDOT Deputy Secretary of Operations Sean Powell.
The PPE includes:
– Well over 100,000 disinfectant wipes
– Almost 25,000 boxes of disposable gloves,
– Almost 10,000 disposable masks,
– More than 5,000 face shields,
– More than 2,000 N95 masks,
– 600 gowns and
– 200 gallons of sanitizer.
Distribution to the agencies began Friday, July 31 with MDOT MAA and MDOT MPA.
“It makes me feel great helping out; being part of the solution,” said Eric Daxon, deputy director of MDOT’s Office of Fleet, Facilities and Administrative Services, who spent part of the week helping to arrange the supplies by agency, and in some cases, office location.
Philip Nichols, MDOT deputy chief of staff, has been keeping track of the PPE and said it was nice to know the department was working proactively to keep people safe – something it’s done since the start of the pandemic.
For example, Secretary Greg Slater and other employees personally picked up hand sanitizer from a St. Michaels distillery this spring when supplies were hard to come by.
Meanwhile, MDOT employees have been serving on MDH’s Hospital Surge Task Force for several months, helping secure, supply and staff tents at medical facilities across the state. Personnel from several MDOT agencies have helped gather and deliver the materials..
In addition, several VEIP stations have been serving as COVID-19 testing sites.
“It’s been a great effort on our part,” Deputy Secretary Powell said, “and as always, we like to say MDOT delivers.”
To learn more about MDOT, go to: mdot.maryland.gov.
Follow MDOT on social media at twitter.com/MDOTNews.


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Twitter has launched Community Notes for images in posts.
According to experts, this decision indicates the company’s desire to assign more responsibility to crowdsourcing moderation. The virtual platform intends to use scenarios with images in which certain changes have been made, or with images created by artificial intelligence, on the platform where the photos are published.
The company wants to mark content like the Balenciaga Pope, which has been at the top of popularity for several weeks. The launch of the Community Notes function took place a few days after the active dissemination of a photo of an explosion in the Pentagon area in the Internet space, which turned out to be an image generated by artificial intelligence.
Twitter reports that the notes will appear in the category of recent and future publications containing a commented image. Currently, the new feature is applied in test mode and is used for posts with unique illustrative material.
The company said that only Community Notes participants who scored 10 points on the impact scale (the usefulness of participant notes) will be able to send brief notes about the image and not publications in general. This means that if e users post the same picture on Twitter, but with different captions, the community notes will remain the same.
Publications containing images with notes will have a special label. The company said that it is currently exploring the possibility of scaling the new feature in order to apply it to videos and posts with multiple media. Since this is an early version of Community Notes for media content, the matching algorithm may skip several publications containing an image with notes.
The fake image of the alleged attack on the Pentagon was a combination of paid verified accounts and images generated by artificial intelligence. The original post was deleted, but the photo continued distributed on Twitter after that. This problem also concerns advertising materials created by AI. Such advertising can be misleading.
After the acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk, the company began to rely more on crowdsourcing moderation through community notes. This was due to the fact that as part of the cost reduction, employees specializing in trust and security issues were laid off.
Last year, Twitter published community notes around the world. In February 2023, the company launched a feature to inform people about the context of publications.
As we have reported earlier, Musk’s Lawyer Sends Letter to Microsoft on Twitter Data Misuse.

domain: news


TEL AVIV – Mike Huckabee is in a “seething rage” over the Obama administration’s decision not to veto a United Nations anti-Israel resolution, and slammed U.S. policy regarding the two-state solution as “boneheaded.”
“This is about right and wrong. This is about evil [and] good. This is such a clear-cut issue. And I am just beyond, in a seething rage, over what this administration has done in its last days,” the former Republican presidential candidate told Fox News on Saturday.
Watch the video here:
“If you are going to do this, do it up front. But to do it in such a cowardly way, just as you are leaving office – basically to say to the world ‘here is one more for you, good luck with it,'” he added.
The former Arkansas governor said that the Obama administration’s decision to abstain from voting was tantamount to supporting the “dangerous” resolution.
“The U.S. had an abstained vote. That is silence, and that is agreeing with the idiotic, dangerous and disturbing position that the UN took based on a resolution from four nations,” he said.
Huckabee also attacked the U.S. for pushing the two-state solution as an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“First of all the policy we’ve had is boneheaded. It’s a ridiculous policy that we don’t apply to any other nation on earth to tell them that if someone attacks you, and you attack back, and defend your country and you end up getting more land – but you are supposed to give that up and let your enemies get even closer to you, you know that’s absurd,” he said.
“The two-state solution is no solution, it’s never gonna work and I know it’s been our policy … and the fact is the Palestinians have no intention of ever coming to a peace accord,” he added.
Departing from decades of U.S. policy regarding Israel at the UN – including, until now, the policy of the Obama administration itself – the U.S. decided to forego its automatic veto and abstained from voting on the UN Security Council resolution. The resolution declares all settlements illegal under international law and demands that Israel immediately cease construction in eastern Jerusalem, the West Bank, and other territories captured in the 1967 defensive war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he had already cut nearly $8 million in funding for five UN institutions he deemed “particularly hostile” towards Israel.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Saturday vowed to advance legislation to cut U.S. funding to the United Nations unless it repeals the resolution.
Following Friday’s vote, President-elect Donald Trump tweeted that “things will be different” in the next administration.


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About the show
Playing tracks by
VooDoo Chilli, Eric Prydz, Trevor Loveys & Sinden, X Press 2 Feat. David Byrne, K and more.
Mix I did in sept '08 and was used for entry into the Rockness DJ comp 2009, was pretty happy with this mix and probably one of the better ones, it chops and changes styles but that's what I do. Enjoy!


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CAF PRESIDENT AHMAD AHMAD BAN FOR FIVE YEARS BY FIFA
President of Confederation of African Football, CAF, Ahmad Ahmad has been handed a five-year ban by Football governing body, FIFA for abuse of office and financial misconduct.
The FIFA Independent Ethics Committee handed the five year ban from football related activities in addition Ahmad Ahmad has been fine of 200,000 Swiss Franc. He was found of abuse of office, misappropriation of funds and offering of gifts and other benefits,
Fifa’s Independent Ethics Committee has handed the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Ahmad Ahmad, a five-year ban from all football-related activities.
CAF President who is also a FIFA Vice President, had disclosed his intention to run a second term in office as CAF President with election due next year.
“The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Ahmad Ahmad, the President of Confederation of African Football (CAF) and ion) FIFA Vice- President, guilty of having breached art.15 (Duty of loyalty), art. 20 (Offering and accepting gifts or other benefits) and art. 25 (Abuse of position) of the 2020 edition of FIFA Code of Ethics, as well as art. 28 (Misappropriation of funds) of the 2018 edition, the statement read.
According to Goal,com, Ahmad Ahmad conduct has been in investigation from 2017 to 2019 concerning various CAF related governance issues,
“The investigation into Mr Ahmad’s conduct in position as CAF President during the period from 2017 to 2019 concerned various CAF-related governance issues, including the organisation and financing of an Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca, his involvement in CAF’s dealings with sports equipment company Tactical Steel and other activities.
“In its decision, following an extensive hearing the adjudicatory chamber ruled that, based on information gathered by the investigatory chamber, Mr Ahmad had breached his duty of loyalty, offered gifts and other benefits, mismanaged funds and abused his position as the CAF President, pursuant to the FIFA Code of Ethics.
The Madagascan, CAF President was also fund to have breached arts 15, 20 and 25 of current edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics and he is now illegible to contest re-election as CAF President. He was reported to have been arrested in France in June but was released without being charged. He was elected as Vice in March, 2017.
The Confederation of African Football, election is scheduled to hold in March 2021.

domain: law


CSK vs GT final match is fixed? Viral Image Showing CSK As Runners-Up
IPL Final Viral Photo: Before the final match of IPL 2023, a photo is going viral on social media. Some such interesting thing is written in this photo, after reading which cricket fans are telling IPL as fixed.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT) were to face each other in the final of IPL 2023 on Sunday which could not happen due to rain. Now this match will start at 7:00 pm on 29th May, this match will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The Dhoni brigade would be eyeing a fifth trophy while the Pandya Paltan would be looking to defend their title. Before the start of the title match, a picture of the stadium is becoming quite viral on social media, which has created a stir among the IPL fans.
Actually, the viral photo is of the big screen at the stadium with 'Runnerup Chennai Super Kings' written on it. People are giving different reactions after this photo surfaced. While many people are raising questions on the finale, some have reacted in a funny manner. One user wrote, "The final is fixed because CSK will be the runner-up." Another user commented, "It's like when you accidentally upload the climax of the film instead of the trailer." Let us tell you that Viral The picture is taken during screen testing. In testing, this is done with both the teams so that there is no mistake later. However, the image with only CSK went viral on social media.
From the supporters of Chennai Super Kings to the fans of Gujarat Titans, after this photo went viral, interesting reactions were given.
It's fixed that csk will be runner up???? pic.twitter.com/QN7wR4sLmD— Masudreza shaikh (@ShaikhMasud1811) May 28, 2023
When you accidentally upload the climax of the movie instead of the trailer pic.twitter.com/raqMEXDoPR— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 28, 2023


It’s Dealer’s Choice for Day 15 of the #mayvinylchallenge, so I clicked “Random” on my Discogs collection and lo and behold: the second solo album from Ozzy Osbourne. It’s easy to understand how Diary of a Madman gets lost in the shuffle of early Ozzy when just a few months earlier Blizzard of Ozz hit us with massive classics like “Crazy Train,” “I Don’t Know,” “Goodbye to Romance” and the stellar “Suicide Solution.” What I find fascinating about Dairy though is how in a few short months to tone already began to change: the songs are darker, heavier, and less commerce minded. Overall it makes for a sinister and great listen.
It all kicks off with “Over the Mountain” which, after the pop-infused punch of “I Don’t Know” and “Crazy Train” (despite the killer opening riff that basically drove em to metal as a kid, the rest of the song – especially the verse – is really friendly major-chord fun) this was a massive heavy trip. The production is beefier, and the band is arguably even tighter. Randy Rhodes will forever be the perfect complement to Ozzy, crafting incredible riffs solos that people will forever try to emulate in their own playing, only to fall short. Even when they move to the more overt popular strains of “Flying High Again” you have to marvel at the tones and licks he scatters throughout the track.
I never get tired of “You Can’t Kill Rock and Roll” – it’s a little long, but I love every minute of it. Moving from the balladry of the verses to the more rocking anthemic chorus it’s a blast. Ozzy’s doubled vocals are also fantastic: when he was in his prime his voice was amazing, and despite the fact that almost everything was written by other people, you can’t deny that without his singular voice it probably would never have worked. “Believer” and the KISS stomp of “Little Dolls” continue to bring the dark and the heavy, and sure…maybe there’s a small misstep with “Tonight” but who’s complaining with you end with the crushing “S.A.T.O” and the title track.
Oh man, that title track. For those who put Blizzard of Ozz over Diary of a Madman, let me remind you that Blizzard ends with “Steal Away (The Night)” which I guess is a fine song…but is that how you really close your debut album? Now let’s listen one more (or a thousand more) time to that opening to “Diary of a Madman.” How the acoustic intro bursts into flames as the drums kick in and the gain goes up to 11…there is nothing about the closer that doesn’t scream epic.
THAT is how you close out an album, folks. A terrific album, one that for my money outpaces its predecessor for balls and heaviness and – yeah – songwriting.


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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.
Top cryptocurrencies XRP and ADA may gain from a new market trend: traders are growing positively, and whale interest appears to be reviving.
This tendency was recently seen in the Avalanche scenario, with AVAX prices increasing by more than 8% due to increased network activity caused by Friend Tech lookalike Stars Arena.
Santiment says to keep an eye on this bullish trend, which reflects traders' and whales' interest and how it might benefit XRP and ADA as well.
XRP basks in victory in SEC lawsuit
Judge Torres denied the SEC's Motion to File an Interlocutory Appeal on Oct. 3, noting that the regulator had failed to fulfill its burden of demonstrating that the interlocutory appeal would "materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation."
The court said that any "interlocutory appeal would instead likely prolong the action as it would be subject to multiple bites at the apple for appellate review" and, thus, denied the motion.
The price of XRP increased by up to 8% to $0.548 subsequently before falling back to where it now trades. At the time of writing, XRP had fallen 0.39% in the last 24 hours to $0.522.
Cardano launches Midnight devnet
Discussions around Cardano also soared following progress on innovations this week. Midnight, Input Output Global's new data protection blockchain, was launched in a sandbox devnet for an initial group of pioneer developers.
Midnight is a data-protection blockchain that makes it easier to build secure, compliant smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) on the blockchain. Midnight is still in development, and several features are being investigated.
ADA was up 2.19% in the last 24 hours to $0.264 at the time of writing. According to Santiment, Cardano saw heavy profit-taking following an impressive price rise on the first day of October, with "opportunists moving coins during the short profit window."
According to Santiment, this scenario might trigger a potential decoupling of the eighth-largest crypto asset from the rest of the market. This seems to be the case, as Cardano is outperforming the top 10 in terms of daily gains.

domain: economics


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There are many breeds of cats that are available in the market. Due to their cute looks and adorable nature, people are opting for keeping cats as pets. They have been domesticated for a really long time. Cats are easy to maintain and you will not need to spend a lot of time on keeping them in the best shape.
One of the most important aspects of cats that make more and more people fall for these furry creatures are their looks. The round eyes have the power of looking straight in the soul of the person. The cute faces can make you go weak in the knees. If you compare the looks of the kittens and the adult cats, the younger ones are more lovable than the adult ones.
Keeping the looks intact
If you are interested in petting a cat that will remain looking like a kitten, even in the adult years, then it is advised to go for a sand cat. This is particular breed that has been given the title of the Peter Pan in the world of cats. When you look at the cats, you will feel like you are looking at a young cat, even if it is an adult cat in reality.
The sand cats are really cute and adorable. They have an even amiable nature to go with their looks. These cats are found in the desert zones of Arabia, North Africa, Central Asia and the country of Pakistan.
These cats are really very intelligent and as they are mainly wild cats, it can be a bit tricky to keep them alive in imprisonment. The kittens that are born may die due to the lack of care that they suffer from.
Looks of the sand cat
As it has been already mentioned, the sand cats do not grow very big in size and this is the main aspect that helps them to retain their kitten like looks. Their chubby bodies and cute snouts will make you go gaga, each time you lay your eyes on them.
As these cats live on the dry and arid lands, they are really tough players. They need very little amount of water to survive. They can also survive in the extremes of temperatures with ease.
If you are a cat lover then you must not have any discrimination, based on their looks. But even then, if you are interested in keeping a cat that looks like kitten all its life then there is no other alternative than keeping a sand cat at your home. So, search your nearest pet store and enquire if they have a sand cat, which you can adopt. If you are looking for a good deal of information on this topic, this is the right article that will help you in every way possible. Keeping a pet cat is like getting a companion for lifetime.

domain: pet


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WASHINGTON, April 8 - The Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Sen. Kent Conrad, D-ND, said that, after the Easter recess, he plans to march ahead with long-promised plans to mark up a fiscal 2013 budget. But in an appearance on Fox News Sunday, he also said that Democrats and Republicans will not likely be able to agree on a budget resolution until after the November elections.
Asked by Fox Anchor Brit Hume whether or not Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., would schedule floor time to consider a new budget, Conrad downplayed the possibility.
"I think Senator Reid has made the judgment, probably quite correctly, that there is very little chance that we're going to get the two sides together before the election," Conrad said.
House Republicans, led by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-WI, have pressed ahead with passage of a 2013 budget, as required by law. But Conrad downplayed any urgency, emphasizing that, instead of a new budget, the U.S. Senate can defer to last year’s Budget Control Act, which set spending caps for 2013 and the next ten years.
Conrad’s pledge to produce an actual budget comes after the Senate Parliamentarian reportedly issued an opinion, saying that the last summer’s debt deal does not stop the Senate from taking action.
Politico reported last week that “Elizabeth MacDonough, whom Reid recommended for the job, has decided that last summer’s deal on the debt ceiling and spending caps does not preclude the Senate from taking up other budget resolutions this year.”
Based on Senate precedent, if the Budget Committee has not produced a budget resolution by April 1, then any budget plan offered in the Senate is automatically put on the Senate calendar. If Conrad makes good on his pledge and marks up a budget, any senator could introduce the Democratic plan and put it on the calendar.
Speaking on the same show, Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson rejected the notion that the Budget Control Act is sufficient as a budget blueprint.
"The Budget Control Act is ... about 24 numbers and it's simply not adequate at all," Johnson said.
"It’s not a matter of timing,” Johnson emphasized. “It's a matter of will. And the fact of the matter is, there are no plans," Johnson said.
For more news, go to: http://www.agri-pulse.com/

domain: politics


Cyber threats are prevalent in the digital world, and businesses are responsible for ensuring secure online transactions for their customers. There are several best practices that businesses can use to prevent security breaches and improve online payment security.
Be compliant with PCI-DSS.
The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council has established a collection of compliance regulations for businesses that conduct financial transactions. You must be PCI-DSS compliant if you accept, process, store, or transmit credit card data to ensure the safety of payment information. These compliance regulations can be complex without the help of an IT specialist.
Use verification systems.
One of the best ways to keep your account secure is to use two-factor authentication. When a fraudster gains access to one of your accounts, they have access to financial account information. Two-factor authentication will alert you if your account is being accessed on an unfamiliar device and ensure every login is secure. Consider using a personal verification system for big-ticket purchases. Users can verify their identity using a driver’s license or passport, so they can proceed with a purchase without waiting for confirmation.
Businesses and customers are both susceptible to identity theft and bank fraud. You should only work with reputable suppliers and vendors who offer quality products and secure payment transactions. Investing in business inventory, such as restaurant equipment, is expensive, especially when purchasing brand new. The Restaurant Warehouse provides used restaurant supplies in Seattle at low prices. The restaurant supply store provides a range of quality commercial freezers, refrigerators, small wares, dinnerware, pots, pans, glassware, and more. Customers in the city of Seattle can enjoy next day delivery and take advantage of financing options.
Never store customer payment information.
The easiest way to ensure secure online payments is to immediately delete payment card data once the transaction is complete. Businesses must comply with strict standards regarding customer account information, such as never storing CVV data. Should you need to store card data, utilize a private network, encrypt data, and keep it in cloud-based storage. Never include a customer’s full credit card number or expiration date on an emailed receipt.
Educate yourself and your employees.
Most data breaches are the result of human error. It’s not enough to comply with regulations and use the latest security systems to protect financial transactions. You must educate yourself and your employees about the latest security threats and risks. Everyone should know how to spot suspicious activity, how to handle phishing emails, the importance of confidential information, and how to keep workspaces and devices secure.
Financial institutions are treasure troves of bank account, credit card, and debit card information for thieves. ATM machines are particularly susceptible to fraudsters who manage to steal ATM card numbers despite security cameras. E-Com Profits explains the different types of ATM fraud that banks are fighting against. ATMs should be inspected daily to check for skimming devices hidden on the card reader. Skimmers allow thieves to catch both card numbers and personal identification numbers entered on the keypad.
Every ATM terminal should be equipped with a security camera to protect against ATM skimmers. Rather than using a traditional magnetic strip, new debit and credit cards are embedding chips that better protect account information.
Always verify the transaction.
There are several ways that you can verify transactions without card details present. Always ensure there’s an address verification (AVS) match, and require customers to input their card’s CVV number. Unusually large orders placed by returning customers should raise suspicion, and you should get in direct contact with the customer. Pay attention to small details like orders being shipped to areas notorious for fraud or customers ignoring special offers.
Being compliant with regulatory practices, using verification systems, being smart with card data, educating yourself and your employees about types of fraud, and verifying transactions are some of the best practices for secure payments.


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Last week, Microsoft revealed it pledged $500 million to fund the construction of affordable housing in the Seattle area.
And while the tech company’s generous donation is causing a lot of noise, Microsoft’s venture into housing finance is what’s really noteworthy, according to an article written by Henry Grabar for Slate.
"Over three years, the company says it will commit $25 million in grants and subsidies to address regional homelessness. It will also lend $250 million to low-income housing developers and another $225 million at below-market rates to workforce housing developers. Then, as that money is repaid, Microsoft will make more loans."
The article states that in order to support a new local homeless agency and fund legal aid for tenants, Microsoft plans to issue grants.
“Microsoft is basically starting a housing trust fund—an idea that’s become the go-to city- and state-level affordable housing tool as Washington has steadily retreated from housing policy.”
“The approaches of the country’s hundreds of housing trust funds vary, but they mostly include some combination of grants and loans. Counties, cities, and states generate nearly $1.3 billion in revenues for housing trust funds every year."
According to Grabar, portions of this money are either given to affordable housing developers or distributed as grants for low-income families or those who were formerly homeless.
"So, if you’re a developer trying to build low-income units, you might look to your local housing trust fund for financing. You’ll probably get it on better terms than you would from a bank, which would permit you to select a slightly more expensive site for the project or open up apartments to lower-income tenants."
Interestingly, Grabar points out that housing trust funds leverage contributions heavily, meaning that for every $1 in fund investment can be matched by $7 from other sources.
"That appears to be Microsoft’s vision: that knocking the debt service off a bunch of loans can open up a whole new range of housing possibilities."


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In 2011, the Memphis government cut workers' pay by 4.6 percent. Municipal labor unions quickly filed a lawsuit, and today the case continues to grind its way through the federal court system, with a trial set to begin May 19.
The two sides had met for mediation on Sept. 30, but it was unsuccessful, according to court records.
The city pulled out of the talks after one day, said Thomas Malone, president of the Memphis Fire Fighters Association, a labor union.
"I thought we were doing some pretty good work there, and then it just stopped," he said.
Since then, the two sides have traded legal filings.
Efforts to reach City Council attorney Allan Wade were unsuccessful early Christmas week.
The situation illustrates ongoing tensions between city government and employee labor unions. That conflict is coming to the fore again as the city debates a proposed plan to overhaul its pension system. Mayor A C Wharton's administration is calling for moving new employees and those with less than 10 years' experience from the current defined-benefit pension plan to a 401(k)-style retirement plan. Unions have signaled they'll push to keep the current system.
Meanwhile, the lawsuit over the 4.6 percent pay cut continues in the background. The suit originated in June 2011, when the City Council approved the pay cut during a difficult budget cycle.
Thirteen labor organizations filed suit the following month, arguing that the pay cut and related moves violated the agreements that the city had negotiated with labor unions. The city has defended its actions.
The City Council voted in this year's budget cycle to reverse the pay cut.
Need Help? Call us at 1-888-789-0831.
Monday-Friday: 6am-5pm / Saturday: 6:30am-11:30am / Sunday: 6am-1pm


Some people respond to service requests before they become an issue, while others do not. Air conditioning systems, particularly in Las Vegas, where summer use is a must, require routine maintenance to be functional, efficient, and sanitary. Regular tune-ups can help keep your system functioning smoothly, avoid damage, and extend its life. Rely on our Las Vegas AC maintenance and repair professionals to keep your system in great shape. We have the skills and equipment to execute successful tune-ups and repairs on any type of cooling system.


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Wellbeing, a vital yet often overlooked element of life, impacts how we feel, perceive, and engage with the world around us. It’s a multi-dimensional concept that encompasses physical, mental, and social health. The challenges of today’s fast-paced world can sometimes push our wellbeing to the sidelines. However, maintaining and improving our wellbeing is not as complex as one might think. This article provides practical steps you can take to enhance your wellbeing and ensure a more balanced, vibrant life.
1. Prioritising Physical Health
The first step towards improved wellbeing is taking care of our physical health. Regular exercise is a crucial aspect of this. It helps maintain a healthy weight, wards off chronic diseases, improves mood, and enhances overall life expectancy. Aim to integrate a variety of activities into your weekly routine, such as strength training, cardiovascular exercise, and flexibility workouts. Remember, it’s not about engaging in extreme regimes, but regular, moderate activity.
Nutrition plays a paramount role in maintaining and enhancing our wellbeing. It provides the foundation upon which our physical health is built, influencing everything from our immune function and disease susceptibility to our mood and cognitive abilities. A balanced, nutrient-dense diet supports all bodily functions – from the energy needed for daily activities to the essential building blocks for cellular repair, growth, and development. What we eat can significantly affect our cardiovascular health, the robustness of our immune system, and the health of our bones and muscles.
Moreover, nutrition has a profound impact on our mental wellbeing. Emerging research is revealing the powerful connection between diet and mental health, with certain foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, B-vitamins, and antioxidants showing promising effects on mood and cognitive function. Consuming a diet low in processed foods and high in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates can enhance our mental clarity, mood, and overall mental health.
Nevertheless, our relationship with food is also crucial to our wellbeing. A healthy diet is not about strict limitations or depriving oneself of the foods you love. Instead, it’s about feeling good, having more energy, and stabilising your mood. It’s about striking a balance that feels nourishing and sustainable, reinforcing a positive connection between food, body, and mind. Therefore, nourishing our bodies with a balanced, varied diet is a powerful way to care for our health, promoting both physical vitality and mental wellbeing. Through mindful nutrition, we lay a strong foundation for a life of optimal wellbeing.
3. Mental Wellbeing: Nurture Your Mind
Mental wellbeing is as important as physical health. Our emotional state greatly affects our thoughts, behaviours, and interactions with others. Cultivate a positive mindset by practicing mindfulness and meditation, which help reduce stress and anxiety levels. Reading, painting, gardening, or any hobbies that interest you can also serve as an effective mental break.
Ensure to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Overworking can lead to burnout, negatively impacting your mental health. Remember, it’s okay to take a break and step away from your responsibilities occasionally. Lastly, don’t hesitate to seek professional help if you’re struggling with your mental health. It’s okay to ask for support.
4. Social Connectivity: Building Meaningful Relationships
Our social interactions contribute significantly to our wellbeing. Foster strong, meaningful relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. Regularly check-in with loved ones, engage in social activities, and, if possible, participate in community events.
Remember, it’s not about the quantity but the quality of relationships that matter. Authentic, supportive relationships bring us joy, provide comfort during tough times, and can even contribute to a longer lifespan.
5. Learning and Personal Growth
Life is a journey of continuous learning and growth. Engaging in new experiences, learning new skills, or picking up a new hobby can contribute to our sense of purpose and satisfaction. This also helps us keep our minds sharp, improves our adaptability, and enhances our self-esteem. Whether it’s learning a new language, picking up a musical instrument, or understanding more about a subject that intrigues you, every new learning experience adds to your wellbeing.
6. The Power of Gratitude and Positivity
Research has shown that practicing gratitude can improve your wellbeing, enhance sleep quality, and even strengthen the immune system. Start with a simple routine, such as listing three things you’re grateful for each day. This practice shifts your focus from life’s stresses and disappointments to the positives, fostering a happier outlook on life.
Wellbeing is more than just a lack of illness; it’s about leading a balanced, fulfilling, and contented life. By prioritising our physical and mental health, eating well, nurturing relationships, embracing continuous learning, and cultivating a positive mindset, we can significantly improve our wellbeing.
Remember, it’s not about massive leaps but small, consistent steps towards a healthier, happier you. The journey towards wellbeing is unique for everyone, so take time to discover what works best for you and incorporate these habits into your daily life. With time and patience, you’ll notice an uplifting shift in your wellbeing, setting the stage for a more enriched life experience.
In recognition of World Wellbeing Week we are offering 25% off our Flavoured CBD oils. Just use Wellness25 at checkout.

domain: psychology


Beamish is pleased to announce a new addition to it’s traditional experiences programme, as visitors will now be able to enjoy the ultimate hands on experience as they take a stroll with a Georgian Falconer and her hawk.
The Georgian Hawk Walk will last from between an hour to an hour and a half, giving visitors the chance to handle and fly a stunning hawk and learn about the life of a falconer in the 1800s. The walk will start from Pockerley Waggonway, through the Georgian landscape, passing by newly rebuilt Eston Church and venturing up the hill past Pockerley Old Hall before a short walk to an area of picturesque fields on the edge of the museum site, showing the hawks’ incredible skill in a variety of different territories.
Helen Barker, Assistant Director at Beamish said “This is a really exciting addition to the museum, allowing us to tell another important story of life in the 1800s, it’s an amazing experience to be able to handle and fly the hawks and I’m really hoping it “takes off” if you’ll excuse the pun, I’ve already booked my place!”
After the walk there will be a chance to meet some other birds of prey including Bramley, the barn owl which makes for a great photo opportunity for those with a modern camera!
Beamish’ very own falconer Becca Worgan is very excited to be flying the birds at the museum, after the success of falconry at the Georgian Fair, Agricultural Show and even Halloween when the owls took over the Waggonway. She said “I’m so excited for the Georgian Hawk Walks, falconry has been a sport for over 4000 years with an incredible history, what better way to learn about it than try on a gauntlet for size as a stunning hawk flies to your gloved hand during a walk through the countryside.”


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Primary Care Development Corporation
Special Projects Fund
November 2018- October 2019
Behavioral health disorders are among the most prevalent health conditions in New York State, with more than 20% of New Yorkers presenting at least one symptom of a mental disorder in a given year, and 10% experiencing mental health challenges significant enough to impede daily functioning.
Depression and anxiety disorders are recognized as independent risk factors for the development of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and poor health outcomes, including mortality. These co-morbidities lead to devastating and costly consequences when the behavioral health conditions of individuals with chronic illnesses go unaddressed, and vice versa. One innovative approach to improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs is to integrate and co-locate behavioral health and primary care services for patients. As New York State pivots from a fee-based to a value-based payment system, integrated and/or co-located services are instrumental to improving quality and health outcomes.
In 2018, NYHealth awarded Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) a grant to conduct a case study to develop a blueprint for the effective implementation of a co-located behavioral health and primary care integration model.

domain: medical


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Your guide to Brentwood, New Hampshire assisted living facilities. With so many senior housing options available, how do you know which one is right for your family?
Our Senior Living Advisors live in the Brentwood area and can provide you with an insider's view of local communities including pricing information and distinctive features.
Request information online by filling out the form to the right or call us at 855-363-2002 for a no-cost, in-depth assessment of your senior care needs. Our compassionate advisors can help you find the best Brentwood assisted living facilities for your unique needs and budget.
The official website for the city of Brentwood is http://www.brentwoodnh.gov.
Assisted Living Costs in Nearby Cities
* The costs above represent the AVERAGE monthly cost of assisted living for a one person bedroom in that city.
Facts about Brentwood
Brentwood is also known as: Brentwood.
And some of the notable people born here have been: (moses fellows), (j. w. h. pollard), and (wheelock g. veazey).
Brentwood is represented by Board of Selectmen Robert Mantegari.
Brentwood is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 4,486. Brentwood has been the county seat of Rockingham County since 1997. It is drained by the Piscassic, Little and Exeter rivers.
Population shifts in Brentwood
Average temperatures in Brentwood
Line in orange is average highs...line in blue is average lows.
Average rainfall in Brentwood
. You also consent that we can reach out to you using an auto-dialing-capable phone system. Your consent is not required to use our service.
Brentwood New Hampshire Assisted Living Facilities
117 North Road
Brentwood, NH 03833
Nutritious meals are provided to residents, 55 is the minimum age allowed for residents, and staff is available help with your diabetes management.
Nearby communities in other cities
17 Hampton Road
Exeter, NH 03833
Vegetarian food is provided, nurses are on staff, physical therapy is handled by the physical therapist that makes regular visits to this community, full-service medication administration is available, this community provides complimentary transportation, wheelchair accessible showers are available at this location, and French is spoken at this location.
9 Grant Road
Newmarket, NH 03857
Physical therapy is handled by the physical therapist that makes regular visits to this facility, speech therapy is available on-site by a visiting speech therapist, this property administers patient medications, full tubs are available, respite care is offered, aging in place allows residents to remain in one location as their care needs change, and this community was built in 1999.
206 N River Rd
Lee, NH 03861
Nurses are on staff, regular occupational therapy by a visiting therapist helps you stay active and engaged, the facility has staff that can help you with your insulin to manage diabetic needs, Kirkwood Corners can handle behavioral issues that residents might be inclined to, complimentary transportation is at the disposal of residents, transportation is available for additional cost, and the community is licensed for 32 residents.
25 Worthen Road
Durham, NH 03824
Physical therapy can be done without leaving the community by a visiting physical therapist, regular occupational therapy by a visiting therapist helps you stay active and engaged, the community is secured for the safety of patients that might be prone to wander, trained staff monitors medication and reminds residents when it’s time to take them, this community administers patient medications, the community has a nurse that is able to administer injectable medicine, and complimentary transportation is on hand for residents.
295 Lafayette Road
Rye, NH 03870
The Sanctuary Care is especially designed to handle memory care and behavioral issues, this property has been built specifically for the purpose of memory and dementia care, this property is its own free standing building, staff is trained to deal with any wandering behaviors that might present themselves handled, complimentary transportation is on hand for residents, hospice is an option available at this location, and residents can arrange for a room at this property that will allow them to live in this location whatever their healthcare needs are and become.
85 Storey Avenue
Newburyport, MA 01950
Appetizing and wholesome meals are provided to all residents even those with dietary restrictions, 62 is the minimum age allowed for residents, a podiatrist visits the community to address any issues related to your feet, a visiting dentist helps residents maintain their dental health, residents who drive will find parking available to them, hospice is an option available at this location, and the community is licensed for 80 residents.
254 Amesbury Rd
Haverhill, MA 01830
Kosher menu options are available for all meals, the minimum allowable age of residents is 45, physical therapy is handled by the physical therapist that makes regular visits to this facility, complimentary transportation is at the disposal of residents, hospice is an option available at this location, this community was built in 1998, and this location was renovated in 2008.
60 Middle Road
Dover, NH 03820
Healthy meals are provided to residents, Langdon Place of Dover can handle behavioral issues that residents might have, caregiver employees can deal with any wandering issues memory care residents may have, Langdon Place of Dover has the capacity to resolve any aggressive behavior that residents may have, the community has a nurse that is able to administer injectable medicine, Arabic is spoken at this location, and the staff speaks Croatian in the property.


Alabama-Clemson IV is here, like it or not.
The College Football Playoff championship between No. 1 Alabama (14-0) and No. 2 Clemson (14-0) at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., will set a new standard for other national championship teams to follow. After all, a team hasn't finished 15-0 since George Woodruff led Penn to that record in 1897.
William McKinley was the 25th President of the United State when that happened. That means this isn't just the Game of the Century. In that sense, it's the biggest game since the 20th century.
Yes, these are by far the two best teams in the FBS. We knew that in June.
It's been that way since the first Clemson-Alabama meeting in 2015. In the last four seasons, Alabama is 55-3 and Clemson is 54-4. Both teams are 34-2 in conference play and 27-1 at home. They are almost identical in their dominance through the Playoff era, and the chance for both teams to go 15-0 — not to mention it's the best quarterback matchup with Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Lawrence — makes this the biggest head-to-head matchup yet.
It's certainly the biggest matchup of the College Football Playoff era. The champion has finished with a loss in each of the last four seasons. Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney took turns ruining each other's perfect seasons in 2015 and 2016, and the Crimson Tide added another 13-1 championship last year after upending No. 1 Clemson in the Sugar Bowl semifinal.
It wasn't easy to go 14-0. It's even more difficult to go 15-0. Saban was one of five coaches in the AP Poll era to lead 14-0 seasons, which he accomplished in 2009. Since 2006 — when teams started playing 12 regular-season games — only Alabama (2009), Auburn (2010) and Florida State (2013) went unbeaten and won a national championship.
With all due respect to UCF, which finished 13-0 last season and has won 25 consecutive games, the Playoff decides the national championship.
Which leads to the next point: Expanding the Playoff to eight teams won't fix the immediate problem the other 128 FBS teams are facing, at least for the next two seasons. Alabama and Clemson have created a gap from everyone else — even the elite upper crust in the sport that includes Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio State and now Notre Dame.
Alabama and Clemson are simply better than everybody else now. That will be the case next year, and more than likely the year after that. The most dramatic hypothetical in college football right now is whether Swinney will take Saban's place when he decides to retire.
You can expand to eight, 16 or 32 teams. That does not change the reality that you eventually have to beat these teams — something only they themselves have been capable of doing. The problem is not more teams. It is that the same two teams rule this sport with no discernible end in sight.
You can chalk it up to geography, recruiting or scheduling. All of those are a factor in the success. But it's more about the depth, scheme and big-game preparation both teams showed once more against Notre Dame and Oklahoma. Saban and Swinney are the two best coaches in college football, and third place is a wide-ranging debate now that Urban Meyer is retiring. The gap is stunning, no matter how times you see it live.
Does this hurt the sport? Maybe. Those regional ties don't help the general fatigue that comes with seeing the matchup over and over. But Saban and Swinney aren't going to apologize for that, and if there's a selling point it's that two best teams are shooting for that 15-0.
The NFL has been waiting since 1972 for a perfect season. It only took five years in the College Football Playoff era. We would say it won't happen again.
Then again, we would expect nothing less when it is time for Clemson-Alabama V.


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A miniature-garden, a living piece of art. Build on a roof terrace in Karlsruhe, Germany. Concept, design and realization, including lighting in cooperation with lumoto.
the scene at night with artificial lighting:
the scene at daytime:
concept art & planing:
Two of eight bonsai`s (Juniperus chinensis & Carpinus turczaninovii, age – about 50 years) especially selected for the project, imported from Japan.

domain: design


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Garden Club to present flower show
The Monadnock Garden Club will present “Harvest Time,” a Garden Club of America flower show, at the Jaffrey Civic Center, 40 Main St., on Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. There is no charge for admission and the public is invited to attend.
The show features vibrant floral design, horticulture, photographs celebrating the fall theme of the show, and a conservation exhibit highlighting the Spalding Trail on Mount Monadnock. Participants in the show include members of the Monadnock Garden Club and the Garden Club of Dublin as well as entrants from among the 200-member garden clubs of The Garden Club of America.
Classic car show
The next Peterborough Rotary Club Cruz-In event will be Sunday, Sept. 15, in Depot Square in downtown Peterborough. The free public display of classic vehicles will be held between 9 a.m. and noon.
The event is open to all makes and models of vintage or special interest cars, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles. There is no fee to display a vehicle.
Anyone who drives in an antique or special interest vehicle will get a chance at a $25 door prize gift certificate from Kimball’s Restaurant in Jaffrey, with the drawing to be held at 11 a.m.
There will also be a 50/50 raffle with proceeds going to the Peterborough Rotary Club for distribution to local charities. The winning ticket will be drawn at 10:30 a.m. and the winner must be present.
Information: John Kaufhold, 801-8364.
‘Books in Bloom’
to support library
The trustees of the Mount Caesar Union Library have announced the second annual “Books in Bloom” garden party soiree on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the home of Kathy and Samir J. Habiby.
The party celebrates the Mount Caesar Union Library, especially the Friends of the Library, and the Next Chapter Campaign, the drive to make capital improvements to the building and program of Mount Caesar. Held under a large lawn tent, the party will feature hors d’oeuvres, music, a silent auction, and information about the campaign.
The event is open to all who have an interest in the project and other community libraries. The Habiby home is at 24 Sawyers Crossing Road in Swanzey Center, close to the Library.
For more information and RSVPs, contact email@example.com by Sunday, Sept. 15.
Cheshire Craftsmen to hold 46th fair
The Cheshire Craftsmen’s 46th annual fair will be held Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at the Keene Recreation Center, 312 Washington St., Keene.
The fair will feature 40 exhibitors with a wide variety of handmade items.
Refreshments and lunch will be available.
Ghosts and legends in Peterborough
The Peterborough Town Library will host storyteller Jeff Belanger on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. for a presentation of ghost stories and legends.
One of New England’s premiere storytellers, Belanger seeks out history, folklore, ghosts, monsters and legends from all over the world and close to home.
Belanger will be available for a book signing following the event. The event is free and open to the public but space is limited.
Peterborough Town Library is at 2 Concord St. Information: PeterboroughTownLibrary.org or 924-8040.
Brattleboro library to host conversation
How has Vermont handled questions of development and progress in the past, and how we might use those lessons to discuss a path forward to the future?
A community conversation will address these questions Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. in the main reading room of Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St., Brattleboro.
Northern Vermont University professor Paul Searls will open the discussion by reviewing themes and events featured in his newly-published book, “Repeopling Vermont: The Paradox of Development in the Twentieth Century,” which highlights the stories of different communities and their responses to difficult questions as part of his inquiry into how Vermont has balanced competing visions for the state.
Following Searls’ presentation, attendees will be invited to share their own perspectives on their communities.
The event is free and open to the public. Information: 802-254-5290 or www.brookslibraryvt.org.

domain: library


1940 – Eden Kane
English pop singer and former teen idol Eden Kane who had the 1961 UK No.1 ‘Well I Ask You’. He is the brother musicians Peter Sarstedt and Clive Sarstedt.
1940 – Ray Davis
American musician Ray Davis the original bass singer and one of the founding members of The Parliaments, and subsequently the bands Parliament, and Funkadelic. Davis died in New Brunswick, New Jersey on July 5, 2005, at the age of 65, of respiratory problems.
1940 – Astrud Gilberto
Brazilian samba and bossa nova singer Astrud Gilberto Her version of ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ won a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1965.
1943 – Chad Allan
Chad Allan who was the founding member and original lead singer of the Canadian rock band Guess Who who had the 1970 US No.1 & UK No.19 single ‘American Woman’.
1943 – Vangelis
Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, and orchestral music Evangelos Papathanassiou, (Vangelis). He is best known for his 1981 Academy Award–winning score for the film Chariots Of Fire.
1945 – Speedy Keen
Songwriter, vocalist, drummer and keyboard player Speedy Keen, from Thunderclap Newman who had the 1969 UK No.1 & US No.37 single ‘Something In The Air’ which was produced by Pete Townshend. Keen died of heart failure on 21 March 2002 aged 56.
1946 – Terry Jacks
Canadian singer, songwriter Terry Jacks who had the 1974 UK & US No.1 single ‘Seasons In The Sun’.
1947 – Bobby Kimball
Bobby Kimball singer with American rock band Toto who had the 1980s Top 5 hits ‘Hold the Line’, ‘Rosanna’, and ‘Africa’. The band has released 17 studio albums, and has sold over 40 million records worldwide.
1949 – Dave Greenfield
Dave Greenfield, keyboards with the English rock band the Stranglers who had the 1986 UK No.2 single ‘Golden Brown’ and over 20 over other UK Top 40 singles.
1949 – Michael Brecker
Michael Brecker, Brecker Brothers. Notable jazz and rock collaborations included work with Steely Dan, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Lou Reed, Donald Fagen, Dire Straits, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, John Lennon, Aerosmith, Dan Fogelberg, Frank Sinatra, Frank Zappa, Bruce Springsteen, Roger Daltrey, and Parliament-Funkadelic. He died on January 13, 2007.
1956 – Patty Donahue
Patty Donahue, singer from experimental post-punk band from Akron, Ohio, The Waitresses best known for the 1982 hit ‘Christmas Wrapping’. Donahue Died of lung cancer 6 December 1996.
1959 – Perry Farrell
American singer-songwriter and musician Perry Farrell from Jane’s Addiction. Farrell created the touring festival Lollapalooza as a farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction in 1991; it has since evolved into an annual destination festival. Farrell has also led the alternative rock groups Porno for Pyros and Satellite Party.
1981 – PJ Morton
PJ Morton, American R&B singer, musician, producer and one of the keyboardists in Maroon 5.


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“What is Life?” is a creative stop motion animation created by a group of students at the MAPS Film School in South Australia, featuring the responses of people around the world who were asked that three-word question. Every single frame in the video is an individual light-painting photograph drawn with lights and torches and captured through a long-exposure shot.
I can only imagine the amount of time and work that were put into making this video. Assuming each shot took about 15-30 seconds in exposure, then add a another minute or two in between each shot, plus correction etc… the movie could have very well taken weeks, if not months, to finish. THIS, is how you make a video go viral, and a name for yourself. Enjoy!


SHORELINE CUSTOMERS SAVE UP TO £300 ON FREE CALIBRATION
3rd March 2020
As a leading manufacturer of medical refrigeration Shoreline believe in offering a total support package for its product range.
Prior to despatch, each product undergoes a final test programme to ensure it meets the temperature performance required and is supplied with its own Certificate of Calibration using equipment calibrated and traceable to UKAS standards. Shoreline customers can be confident their fridge is calibrated from the get go!
Upon registration of their new refrigerator, customers will receive information about how to claim their FREE annual calibration for the next 4 years, providing them with 5 years’ FREE annual calibration.
Costs for calibration can typically amount to £300 over a 5 year period – Shoreline offer this 5 year annual calibration service Free of Charge.


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Graphic design is the process of visual communication, and problem-solving through the use of type, space, image and color.
Graphic design is essentially art with a purpose. We are visual communicators, creating concepts by hand or using computer software, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. Jsut as everything else, it’s good to have a process. Boxcar focuses on these 4 steps when beginning a new design project.
Information gathering phase. Research client offering(s) market and competative landscape. Analysis of goals and objectives of client offering(s) to deliver design and content in an effective campaign.
Critical thinking phase. Develop conceptual strategy and approach using analysis and conclusions of data gathered. Conceptualize visual presentation methods based upon strengths of client offering(s).
Articulation phase. Create the visual architecture of the conceptual approach. Explore and develop color, type treatment, look and feel of the design. Show inspiration. Present comps and sketches for client review and discussion.
Production phase. Designs created in final format for print production and / or media outputs, online integration or media presentation as needed. Production and delivery of deliverables.
Clear communication is the key to strong results for each project. Our approach begins with an initial discussion about the design project. We get an in-depth look at the current situation; your story, your approach, who you are trying to reach and the key goals involved. Then we take a look at the larger picture or context. This forms the foundation upon which we vizualize, explore new directions, and contextualize approaches for achieving the goals of the project. The strongest concepts are brought into focus and sketches are presented. Designs are discussed and developed and honed into the final version through an iterative process. The project is completed with the creation of the final deliverable.
Contact us to get the ball rolling on your next big idea.


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'Thousands of magical things meet in Pomurje, the sunny land of golden fields, on both banks of the Mura river...'
- Feri Lainšček, Slovenian Poet
Thermal Pannonian Slovenia is an area of healing waters and the most beautiful paths to well-being. Numerous Slovenian natural health resorts are strung among sunny hills with vineyards. Authentic and hearty local cuisine is provided by welcoming farms. Imagination is stirred by experiences in castles and stories of one of the most powerful noble families in Europe.
The picturesque landscape in Prlekija, which lies among the gentle wine-growing hills of the Ljutomersko-ormoške Gorice Hills and Slovenske Gorice Hills, is a world of world-class wines and warm and open people.
A land of springs of healing water. You will discover a floating mill and an island of love. You will be fond of this region, which is the most dynamic region in Slovenia when it comes to dialects, culture, and language.

domain: geography


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Workers’ Compensation FAQs
The workers’ compensation system can be confusing, especially if you’ve never had to make a claim before. To help you get a better idea of what to expect, we have put together this list of frequently asked questions about workers’ compensation in Georgia. If you have further questions and would like an evaluation of your case, please fill out an online contact form or call our office at (770) 629-9321.
What is workers’ compensation?
Most employers will not actually educate their employees about the nuances of workers’ compensation. To put it into basic terms, workers’ compensation is a form of accident insurance purchased by employers – when mandated by the State – that helps injured employees pay for medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and some of their lost wages. The goal of workers’ compensation is assisting the recovery of an injured worker so he or she can come back to work sooner than later.
Are employers required to carry worker’s compensation insurance in Georgia?
In Georgia, any company that regularly employs three or more full-time or part-time employees is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance.
What benefits am I entitled to receive?
Pursuant to the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act, anyone who has been injured in a workplace accident and is unable to work is eligible for certain benefits, which includes payment of two-thirds of your weekly income (up to a maximum of $575/week – this amount is subject to change due to inflation) for up to 400 weeks. In cases involving certain catastrophic injuries, the injured employee may be entitled to receive benefits for the rest of his or her life. Employers are also required to pay any and all reasonable medical expenses resulting from the injury.
If I have to travel far for my authorized treatments, will I be reimbursed?
Necessary travel to reach authorized physicians and treatment centers could become quite costly. As part of an approved workers’ compensation claim, you are entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses. You will need to provide evidence of your travel costs – such as receipts for gas, your home address, and the shortest distance from your home to your treatment center – to be reimbursed. Your employer’s insurance carrier may set a cap on how much coverage you can obtain for travel expenses alone.
How long do I have to file a claim?
In Georgia, injured workers have one year from the date of their accident to file a claim. This deadline can be extended in some cases, but it is important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to discuss the deadline that applies to your case. If you wait too long to make a claim, you risk losing your right to seek benefits.
What if I have a preexisting injury? Can I still file a claim?
Many people believe that if they have a preexisting injury, they won’t be able to file a successful workers’ compensation claim because their employer may simply blame their medical problems on a prior injury. This isn’t the case! In Georgia, a worker is still entitled to compensation for an injury which exacerbates a preexisting condition. For example, if you suffered a back injury in the past and you hurt it again during the course of your work duties, you still have a valid claim.
What does “no-fault” mean?
The Georgia workers’ compensation system operates on a no-fault basis, which means that an employee does not have to prove that their employer or a coworker was at fault for their injury in order to have a successful claim. Not only does this make it easier for the injured employee to recover, but it also means that even if the employee was partially at fault for their injury, they can still file a claim.
Can workers’ compensation cover sensory damage?
Georgia allows workers’ compensation benefits to be rewarded to employees who suffer sensory damage, such as deafness and blindness, while performing work-related duties. In fact, hearing loss is the most common form of employee injury in the country, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. Determining the amount of compensation deserved for hearing or sight loss may be complicated, and it is often advised that workers seek the counsel of a professional Georgia workers’ compensation attorney to ensure a fair sum is given.
Can I choose my own doctor for my workers’ comp claim in Georgia?
Georgia allows employers and their insurance providers some control over the doctors and physicians that can be consulted for your workers’ compensation claim and related injuries. Your employer may choose to post a list of six physicians who are approved by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation and tell you to choose one you would like to be your primary care physician during your claim. Your employer can also choose a Workers’ Compensation Managed Care Organization (WCMCO) that has been Board certified. WCMCOs tend to allow you to choose from multiple care providers and physicians, and permit you to change to another physician in the organization without notifying your employer.
Do I pay for my own doctor in my workers’ comp claim?
You should not be expected to pay for any authorized medical treatment related to your workers’ compensation claim and work-related injury. The cost for these treatments should be covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier. If you seek unauthorized treatment, however, you will be expected to cover those costs through your own insurance or finances.
I am getting Social Security Disability payments – can I also get workers’ compensation?
Yes. You are not automatically disqualified from Social Security Disability insurance (SSDI) benefits just because you also have been approved for workers’ compensation benefits, and vice versa. Federal regulations may reduce but not eliminate your SSDI benefits once you are approved for workers’ compensation, though.
Can my employer get into legal trouble for not covering me with workers’ compensation insurance?
Yes. The State Board of Workers’ Compensation in Georgia can impose harsh penalties against any employer that fails to provide workers’ comp coverage when legally necessary. Penalties may include a fine up to $5,000 per violation and a misdemeanor charge filed against a company executive or business owner, who will need to defend himself or herself in criminal court.
Can I sue my employer for compensation for my injury?
The workers’ compensation system is an exclusive remedy for employees against their employers and co-workers, which means that injured employees are barred from suing for personal injury if their employers have WC insurance. However, injured workers are allowed to make personal injury claims against third parties (i.e. someone other than an employer or coworker). For example, if an unsafe piece of equipment caused your injury, you may be able to sue the manufacturer for damages.
Do I need to hire an attorney?
If you have sustained a serious injury in the workplace, it is absolutely a good idea to consult with an attorney for two reasons. The first reason is that there are several deadlines that you must meet in order to avoid losing your ability to collect money for your injury. Even missing one deadline can cost you your case. The second reason is that an attorney can help ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injury and that you aren’t denied benefits that you are entitled to.


Soil nutrients are important for several applications, including agriculture, mining and construction. A new automated procedure for soil analysis by flame atomic absorption (AA) is described. Two grams of soil are weighed and placed in a 250 mL plastic bottle for Mehlich extraction. The sample preparation procedure involves, 1) addition of 20 mLs of Mehlich 3 extractant , 2) 5 minutes of mixing, and 3) filtration of extractant (Whatman grade 2 filter paper). One mL of sample filtrate is aliquoted into a vial for offline (10x) autodilution. The undiluted sample is measured for low concentration metals (Na, Cu, Mn and Zn) by FAA while the 1 mL fraction is autodiluted for the determination of higher concentration metals (K, Ca, Mg and Fe). After the first group of metals are analyzed, the second set of autodiluted samples are and ready. Samples are introduced using a high throughput introduction system that utilizes an injection valve to rapidly load (vacuum) and inject (peripump) the samples into the flame. Using this fast sample introduction system throughput is approximately 8 seconds per sample for each analyte. Combining offline autodilution and inline fast analysis provides accurate and precise data for 8 analytes in less than 1min per sample. This procedure offers a low-cost FAA alternative to soil analysis on the ICP for multiple elements in soil samples. The FAA methods are set up to accommodate for a wide range of concentrations in the soils.


The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: Vlaams Parlement (help·info), formerly called Flemish Council or Vlaamse Raad) constitutes the legislative power in Flanders for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and as a cultural community of Belgium (unlike the French Community and Wallonia, which each have separate legislatures: the Parliament of the French Community and the Parliament of Wallonia).
Vlaams Parlement (Dutch)
118 from the Flemish Region
6 from the Brussels-Capital Region
Length of term
|Open list proportional representation (using D'Hondt method) within six constituencies, with 5% constituency electoral threshold|
|26 May 2019|
|Koepelzaal, Flemish Parliament building, Brussels|
The Flemish Parliament approves decrees, which are Flemish laws, applicable to all persons in the Flemish Region, and to Flemish institutions in Brussels; it appoints and supervises the Flemish Government; and it approves the Flemish budget. The Flemish Parliament meets in the Flemish Parliament building in central Brussels, and its members and staff are housed in the House of the Flemish Representatives.
From 1830 until 1970 Belgium was a unitary state with a single government and a bicameral national parliament. The laws issued by Parliament applied to all Belgians, and government ministers exercised their authority across the length and breadth of the country. Between 1970 and 2001 the Belgian Parliament approved five successive constitutional reforms. Slowly they changed Belgium from a unitary into a federal state. Part of this was to give the communities and later the regions, their own parliaments.
On 7 December 1971 the Cultural Council for the Dutch-speaking Cultural Community held its first meeting; later followed a parliament for the Flemish Region. Flanders decided as early as 1980 to merge the Flemish Community with the Flemish Region. As a result, Flanders now has a single parliament and a single government with competence over community as well as over regional matters. This Parliament was called the Vlaamse Raad until it was officially renamed Vlaams Parlement (Flemish Parliament) on 13 June 1995. Over the last thirty years, Flanders has thus developed into a separate state within the federalised Belgium.
Members are called "Vlaamse Volksvertegenwoordigers". In English, they are referred to as "Members of the Flemish Parliament" (MFPs), like the MSPs in Scotland and the MEPs in the European Union. The title "Flemish Representative" is also used in English. Since 1995 members of the Flemish Parliament have been directly elected.
Currently, many voices in the Flemish Movement would like the Flemish Parliament to acquire certain sovereign powers in addition to those concerning language, culture and education. Furthermore, among the broader Flemish population a consensus has emerged that the Flemish Parliament should also acquire much larger financial and fiscal autonomy.
The Flemish Parliament enacts decrees, which are Flemish laws, either as a decree of the Flemish Community or as a decree of the Flemish Region (or often as a decree combining provisions for both entities). Regional legislation is only applicable to all persons in the Flemish Region whereas community legislation also applies to Flemish institutions or services in Brussels (and thus to persons in Brussels who choose to make use of these institutions or services, such as schools).
No hierarchy exists between (federal) laws and Flemish decrees, as each level is supposed to have clearly defined subject-matter jurisdiction. The basis for the community subject-matter jurisdiction is defined in the Belgian Constitution, but the Special Law on Institutional Reform defines all matters in high detail. They can be summarised as follows:
Competencies for the entire Flemish CommunityEdit
- Culture: The Flemish parliament is competent for all cultural matters. This includes protection of the cultural heritage (e.g. literature, fine arts), tourism and the media. The public Flemish radio and television broadcasting company is the VRT.
- Language use: including language use in schools and universities, in the Flemish and local administrations, and in relations between employers and employees in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, with exception of the 'language facilities' enjoyed in some municipalities.
- All ‘matters relating to the person’: youth protection, family policy and childcare, together with policy regarding the handicapped, old age pensioners, equal opportunities and the integration of migrants.
- Education: from kindergarten to university including scholarships, though the establishment of the period of compulsory education, requirements for awarding degrees, and pension schemes for teachers remain at the federal level.
- Health care: including preventive health care, home care, institutions for mental health care, but excluding health insurance, financing of hospitals and most other competencies that remained federal.
Competencies for the Flemish Region onlyEdit
- Economy, employment and energy policy: includes government support for business, employment policy, agriculture and fisheries, the distribution of electricity and natural gas, the exploitation of new energy sources and the promotion of responsible use of energy
- Town and country planning, housing, land development & nature conservation: including regional planning, building permits, housing policy, social housing, urban renewal, preservation of monuments and natural sites, land consolidation and nature conservation
- Environment and water policy: including the reduction of air, land and water pollution, noise control, the purification of waste water, the production and distribution of drinking water and waste disposal policy
- Scientific research: this field is the full responsibility of the regional authorities, except for aerospace and military research (that remained federal).
- Public works and transport: includes roads, ports (the Port of Antwerp, Port of Bruges-Zeebrugge, Port of Ghent and the Port of Ostend), the regional airports (including Antwerp International Airport and Ostend-Bruges International Airport), and urban and regional transport.
- Agriculture: includes the Agricultural Investment Fund, the agricultural education, the development of rural regions, the sale of agricultural and horticultural products and the fisheries policy. By the stipulations of the Lambermont Agreement (2001), the regions are competent for almost the complete agricultural policy but a few security aspects like food security and animal welfare which remained under the competence of the federal government.
- Local government: includes the allocating of financial resources to the 300 Flemish municipalities and to the five Flemish provinces, and administrative supervision of these communes and provinces and their laws.
For all areas within its sphere of competence (both vis-à-vis community or regional competences), the Flemish region can conclude international treaties with other states, whether they are national states or member states of a federation. This competence includes development cooperation and foreign trade.
A regular legislative session starts in September, when the Government presents its "September Declaration" (Septemberverklaring), a kind of State of the Union. Plenary sessions are usually held on Wednesdays.
The Flemish Parliament largely functions like its federal, community and regional counterparts, mutatis mutandis. Bills are usually introduced by the Government (ontwerp van decreet), but members of parliament can also propose bills (voorstel van decreet or private member's bill). Bills are first considered in committee, after which they are put to a vote in the plenary. Votes are usually recorded electronically. For example during the 2009–14 legislature, 407 government bills were adopted, while only 102 private member's bills were made law.
Elections and membershipEdit
118 members are directly elected in the Flemish Region. They have voting rights for both regional and community competencies. 6 members are directly elected in the Brussels-Capital Region by those voters who voted for a Dutch-speaking party in the Brussels regional elections. They have no voting rights for the regional competencies.
The elections take place every five years, simultaneously with the elections for the other regional and community parliaments and for the European Parliament. Thus, de facto the European decision-makers determine when the Flemish Parliament elections occur.
This table shows the distribution of seats following the 2019 regional election:
|New Flemish Alliance (N-VA)||12||6||6||4||5||2||35|
|Flemish Interest (Vlaams Belang)||6||6||3||3||5||0||23|
|Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V)||4||4||3||3||5||0||19|
|Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open Vld)||3||4||3||2||3||1||16|
|Socialist Party Different (sp.a)||2||3||2||2||3||1||13|
|Workers' Party of Belgium (PVDA)||2||1||0||1||0||0||4|
Previous legislative termsEdit
The following table lists each legislative term since 1995, when the Flemish Parliament was first directly elected following the fourth state reform.
The parties are ordered by size in the respective term. Green coloured parties indicate the government majority, whereas red parties form the opposition.
|Legislative term||Inaugural composition||Government|
(elected in 2019)
35 / 124
23 / 124
19 / 124
16 / 124
14 / 124
13 / 124
4 / 124
(N-VA, CD&V, Open Vld)
(elected in 2014)
43 / 124
27 / 124
19 / 124
18 / 124
10 / 124
6 / 124
1 / 124
(N-VA, CD&V, Open Vld)
(elected in 2009)
31 / 124
21 / 124
21 / 124
19 / 124
16 / 124
8 / 124
7 / 124
1 / 124
(CD&V, sp.a, N-VA)
(elected in 2004)
35 / 124
32 / 124
25 / 124
25 / 124
6 / 124
1 / 124
|—||—||Peeters I (2007–2009)|
(CD&V/N-VA, sp.a-Spirit, VLD-Vivant)
(elected in 1999)
30 / 124
27 / 124
22 / 124
20 / 124
12 / 124
12 / 124
1 / 124
(VLD, SP, Agalev, VU-ID)
(elected in 1995)
37 / 124
27 / 124
26 / 124
17 / 124
9 / 124
7 / 124
1 / 124
|—||Van den Brande IV|
|Groen||SP.A + Spirit||CD&V + N-VA||Open VLD + Vivant||VB||UF|
At the beginning of each parliamentary year, on the fourth Monday in September, the Flemish Parliament elects its Speaker. The Speaker chairs the plenary sessions of the Flemish Parliament and acts as its official representative. He or she determines whether a certain initiative is admissible and thus can be put to parliament at all. The Flemish Ministers take the oath before the Speaker of the Flemish Parliament. Only the head of the Flemish government, the Flemish Minister-President, takes the oath before the King.
The Speaker of the Flemish Parliament is assisted by the Bureau, which consists of the Speaker, four Deputy Speakers and three Secretaries. The Bureau is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the Flemish Parliament and meets at least once every two weeks. The Extended Bureau, which consists of the Bureau and the floor leaders of the recognised political fractions in the Flemish Parliament coordinates the political activities of the Flemish Parliament and sets the agenda for the plenary session. It usually meets every week on Monday.
- Cultural Council for the Dutch Cultural Community (Cultuurraad voor de Nederlandse Cultuurgemeenschap)
- 1971-1974: Robert Vandekerckhove (CVP)
- 1974-1977: Jan Bascour (PVV)
- 1977-1979: Maurits Coppieters (VU)
- 1979-1980: Rik Boel (BSP)
- Flemish Council (Vlaamse Raad)
- 1980-1981: Rik Boel (BSP)
- 1981-1985: Jean Pede (PVV)
- 1985-1988: Frans Grootjans (PVV)
- 1988: Jean Pede (PVV)
- 1988-1994: Louis Vanvelthoven (SP)
- 1994-1995: Eddy Baldewijns (SP)
- Flemish Parliament (Vlaams Parlement)
- 1995–2006: Norbert De Batselier (sp.a)
- 2006–2009: Marleen Vanderpoorten (Open Vld)
- 2009–2019: Jan Peumans (N-VA)
- 2019: Kris Van Dijck (N-VA)
- 2019: Wilfried Vandaele (N-VA)
- 2019–present: Liesbeth Homans (N-VA)
Much of the work of the Flemish Parliament is done in committee. The Flemish Parliament currently has eleven standing committees. Each committee is specialised in a particular subject area and consists of 15 Members of the Flemish Parliament. The primary task of the committees is to examine the texts of decree proposals and organise hearings and discussions on decree proposals. There are usually also ad hoc committees, such as the Digital Flanders Committee and the Flemish Constitution Committee.
List of standing committeesEdit
- Committee for General Affairs and Financial and Budgetary Matters
- Subcommittee on Finance and Budget
- Committee for Brussels and its Flemish Periphery
- Committee for Administrative Affairs, Institutional and Administrative Reform and Decree Evaluation
- Committee for Housing, Urban Policy, Integration and Equal Opportunities
- Committee for Foreign Policy, European Affairs, International Co-operation and Tourism
- Committee for Education, Training, Science and Innovation
- Committee for Culture, Youth, Sports and Media
- Committee for Public Well-Being, Public Health and Family Affairs
- Committee for Economic Affairs, Employment and Social Economics
- Subcommittee on Arms Trade
- Committee for Environmental and Nature Conservation Issues, Agriculture, Fishery and Rural Development Policy and Town and Country Planning and Real Estate
- Subcommittee on Agriculture, Fishery and Rural Policy
- Committee for Public Works, Mobility and Energy
- Regional Institutions and Governance in the European Union, José María Magone, Greenwood Publishing Group, page 173
- 'Reflections on the Belgian federal state', Patrick Peeters, Multinational Federations, eds. Michael Burgess, John Pinder, Routledge, April 2007, pages 39-40
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flemish Parliament.|


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Our newest range of hand-painted terracotta pots are painted locally by the Nostalgic Pot!
Here you’ll find pots inspired by different eras; the bright colours of the 90s, a bit of animal print from the 70s or maybe something sweet from a 50’s diner!
- All pots are hand painted on quality terracotta made in Italy
- The pots are sealed to provide a moister barrier from soil/water, and primed to help the paint adhere to the pot.
- Pots are UV protected so they can be indoor or outdoor
- Quality terracotta pots made in Italy
We take the utmost care of your purchase to have it delivered to you safely and quickly!
Pair with an Indoor Plant so your pot is ready for the home!