text:
A desire for more health, sustainability and traceability of the food we eat is leading us to return to an age-old tradition: gardening.
Micropod is a New Zealand-based start-up that’s helping fuel this re-emergence of growing your own food by offering simple, dirt-free plant systems that offer nutritious food even in a small space.
Co-founder and engineer Jeff Xu set out to design the best way to grow microgreens after discovering their health benefits but finding growing them the traditional way hard, messy and low yield.
The result is the Micropod. It allows you to grow microgreens on specially designed seed mats on a kitchen bench or windowsill within a week – perfect for small or urban environments.
“We designed this to be as simple as your Nespresso machine. Our seed mats are like coffee pods, and you can now have a continuous supply of microgreens on your kitchen bench,” he says.
Microgreens are the smaller versions of vegetables like broccoli, kale, rocket and pak choi.
“Because the plants are small and focused on their own health and growth, they have up to 40 times the levels of vitamins and contain higher levels of antioxidants, beneficial enzymes and key minerals than regular veggies,” Xu says.
The initial response to the start-up, which launched in 2016, has been positive. It sold out of its pre-launch in the first couple of days and is seeing record sales each week. While the company is still in a growth phase, the goal is to take Micropod global.
“In big urban centres, where apartment living is the norm and there is no space to have your own garden, people still want safe and sustainable food. Micropod could have a big impact.”
It is a growing trend
Xu says the product fits into a global trend of growing your own fresh, spray-free and sustainable food. In 2018, the New York Times reported that, of the 6 million people in the United States who took up gardening as a hobby in 2016, 5 million of those were Millennials.
“In the age of Uber Eats and prepacked processed meals, more and more people are returning to the idea of growing food at home and trying to give up all the waste, sprays and plastic of the produce aisle.
“Globally, we are seeing a move towards gardening and healthy nutrition. Micropod can really help unlock this. Even in smaller houses or apartments or when the climate outside makes outdoor growing challenging,” he says.
OnMAS is our membership magazine covering everything from professional life, health, wellbeing and sustainability to reviews and travel. If you enjoyed this post you can read the current edition here.


To encourage developers to build affordable homes within their own land, the Federal Territories Ministry mulls creating a package that will help developers be time efficient while reducing cost when constructing affordable housing, reported Reuters.
This comes as developers spends a lot of time and money when dealing with engineers, construction consultants and utilities for an affordable housing project.
“We are having discussion with consultants, architects, engineers, on how to come out with a package that will benefit developers to build affordable houses,” said Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
“Because the problem we have now is land, land to build affordable houses in the city,” he said following the launch of the Seri Wahyu Residency Federal Territories Affordable Houses (RUMAWIP) project.
Rumawip is a government initiative aimed at building 80,000 affordable homes throughout Putrajaya, Labuan and Kuala Lumpur by 2020.
Seri Wahyu Residency features 660 housing units that are priced at RM300,000 per unit. With a built up area of 805 sq ft, each unit includes two bathrooms and three rooms.
Facilities at the development include a children’s playground, swimming pool, multi-purpose hall and gym.
When asked if the ministry would also reduce the 10-year resale freeze for RUMAWIP projects, Tengku Adnan replied “no for the time being”.
He noted that the moratorium period prevents buyers from speculating on house prices, reported Free Malaysia Today.
“We do not want the people to sell the houses which they bought at a lower price, compared with the market’s price,” he explained.
And unlike 1Malaysia People’s Housing programme (PR1MA) houses, which can be found everywhere, Rumawip houses are situated at prime areas, he said.
Prime Minister Najib Razak in January reduced the moratorium period for PR1MA houses from 10 to five years in a bid to make the housing project more attractive.
Among affordable homes around Klang Valley are:
Image sourced from Malay Mail
Radin Ghazali, Content Writer at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email firstname.lastname@example.org


text:
Delicate milk-hazelnut cream in an airy crispy waffle, covered in the milk chocolate - that's children's bueno.
Storage: Protect from heat and humidity.
Responsible food companies: Ferroro, 60624 Frankfurt/Main
Whole milk chocolate 33.5% (sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa mass, emulsifier lecithin (soy), vanillin), sugar, skimmed milk powder (17.5%), palm oil, puffed cereal 7.5% (barley, rice, wheat, spelled, Buckwheat), butter, emulsifier lecithin (soy), vanillin.Total milk constituents in the product 30.5%.
Note: The information on ingredients and the rounded average values ??for nutritional values ??refer to the current recipes. In the case of changes, products in existing and new compositions may be commercially available, so that we recommend a supplementary comparison with the information on the packaging. Deviations may also arise in transitional periods from new legal requirements or other changed conditions.
Nutritional information per 100g
Energy: 2342kJ / 561kcal
of which saturates : 21.9g
of which sugars : 49.1g
Salt : 0.275g
Reference amount for an average adult ( 8400kJ / 2000kcal )

domain: food


text:
LG management has admitted that they are considering withdrawing from the smartphone market, although they initially declined. The company may sell its mobile device division to the Vietnamese Vingroup holding, which offers a very attractive offer
There were reports recently that LG was planning to withdraw from the smartphone market by selling its mobile device division. However, company officials described these allegations as “unfounded”.
For the company, which is going through tough times, divesting its mobile device division seems to be the “inevitable end”. LG Electronics CEO Kwon Bong-Seok recently announced that the company could withdraw from the mobile market.
Potential buyers began to become clear with the LG management changing their mouths and accepting the situation. According to Business Korea’s report, LG may sell its mobile device segment to the Vietnamese Vingroup holding.
The offer is very attractive
Vingroup is said to have made an attractive offer to LG. Most likely the company will accept this. For those who don’t know, let’s say that Vingroup is Vietnam’s third largest smartphone manufacturer after Samsung Electronics and OPPO.
LG’s mobile device division has been at a loss for 23 quarters. The company tried to change that by launching smartphones with new designs and unusual form factors, but failed. The company’s latest project was the LG Rollable model with a rolling screen, which was exhibited at CES 2021.

domain: news


text:
back in the shape of duty-free articles and because the duty on sugar is higher (computed ad valorem) than the average of our total imports. A part of the California bullion and wheat and wine sent to England pays for Hawaiian sugar, which is duty free. About one sixth of the Hawaiian crop is thus paid for, and to that proportion there is a total loss of revenue. While it is impossible to compute what the real loss is, I think it safe to say that it probably does not exceed one-third, and certainly does not amount to one-half of the $18,000,000 computed as lost on sugar. In any event the duty never leaves the country. It is paid over by the refinery to the consignee of the Hawaiian, and is paid out again, with much more besides, to American shipping, banks, merchants, and stockholders. The gross profit of $36,000,000 throws into insignificance the possible loss of $6,000,000 or $8,000,000 of revenue.
It has been said repeatedly that all the profits of this magnificent trade and industry go to the benefit of Claus Spreckels and a small clique of speculators. What nonsense! If it did, he would richly deserve it, and a vote of thanks by Congress besides.
It will be going to the root of the matter at once to say that the opposition to the treaty has arisen from the systematic and. in some measure successful attempts to saturate the public press and Congress with utterly false ideas about Claus Spreckels and his relation to the islands, to create a bitter personal prejudice against him, and by implication to illogically and unjustly extend that prejudice to the commerce and industries of the Hawaiian Islands. Claus Spreckels certainly has for many years monopolized the manufacture and sale of refined sugars on the Pacific coast, and ruled that market to the extent of his powers with a rod of iron. But the first grand mistake consists in supposing that the Hawaiian treaty has or could have given any assistance to the establishment of his monopoly or to its maintenance or confer upon it any benefit whatever. The second mistake consists in wholly false impressions about the wholly distinct personal relations of Mr. Spreckels to the industry and commerce of raw sugar. In these he is only one of many men, and though individually his relations are large, yet relatively to the whole they are small, and he can no more control the whole than the Cunard Company can control our commerce with England. As a monopolist of refined sugar he can not escape the odium which always attaches to a monopoly. As a planter and stockholder, as a director of an American steamship company, and a banker, his whole career and course of conduct will compare favorably with that of any great and successful merchant in America.
The monopoly of refined sugar in San Francisco is, like all other monopolies, a perfectly legitimate object of attack; and if it can be broken up in any way such an end is devoutly to be wished.
But Claus Spreckels's relations to the island trade and industry are a totally different matter, and when rightly understood will present themselves to the unprejudiced mind in a totally different aspect. In this field his operations are perfectly legitimate. It is my purpose to point out that any attempt to terminate the treaty is simply an attempt to strengthen and fortify his monopoly and to break down commendable enterprises which should be built up and sustained, and in which Claus Spreckels is merely one of many participants. Whatever damage might be inflicted upon him in respect to his island interest would be more than compensated to him out of enlarged profits of his monopoly as a refiner, while the blow would fall with full and disastrous effect upon thousands of innocent third parties, both in Hawaii and California, whose interests should be dear to Congress and to the American people.
The Hawaiian treaty has become an object of attack by the sugar-refining interest of the Eastern States and of the sugar-planting interests of Louisiana. The motives which have led to this attack are as follows:
During the last few years the sales of sugar imported from Hawaii, Manila, and Central America, and refined in San Francisco, have been extending gradually into the markets of the Mississippi Valley, advancing further eastward every year, thereby displacing the sales of eastern sugars in the States and Territories west of the Mississippi River. The Eastern refiners and the Louisiana planters believe that the possibility of this arises from the free entry of Hawaiian sugars, thus enabling (as they suppose) the San Francisco refiners to purchase raw sugar much more cheaply than they otherwise could. Thus they believe that the treaty discriminates severely against their interests, and is unjust to them.
This position is denied by the San Francisco refiners and importers of sugar and by the owners of Hawaiian sugar properties in California. They contend that the San Francisco refineries get their raw sugar no cheaper by reason of the treaty, but are obliged to pay the same price for it as for equivalent dutiable sugar from Asia; that the ability of the Pacific refiners to compete successfully with the Atlantic refiners is founded upon conditions wholly independent of the treaty, viz: First, because unlimited amounts of Asiatic sugar can be laid down in San Francisco cheaper than raw sugars can be laid down in New York; second, because through eastward freights over the Pacific railways are scantier than westward through freights, and the railroads naturally prefer to carry sugar at low rates to hauling empty cars. They contend that this competition is a natural one; that it is not helped by the treaty and will not be hindered by its abrogation; that it is destined to grow, and would grow if the Hawaiian Islands did not exist.
Since it is also claimed by the opponents of the treaty that it fosters and sustains a monopoly of refined sugars, and that the benefits of the treaty accrue only to that monopoly, and since the whole complaint is founded in a gross misunderstanding of the nature and conditions of the sugar business on the Pacific coast, it seems proper to discuss the facts at some length. From these it will appear that these charges, as well as others, are utterly without foundation.
It is a self-evident proposition that a cargo of Manila sugar delivered in New York must sell at a price just equal to that of so much Cuban sugar of equal grade. It is evident, also, that the price of that cargo at Manila "free on board" must be less than the New York price by an amount equal to the cost of transportation. It is further evident that the price of a similar cargo of Manila sugar delivered in San Francisco must exceed the Manila price by an amount equal to the total cost of transportation. It is, therefore, an easy matter to compute whether Manila sugar in San Francisco ought to be cheaper than Cuban or Manila sugar in New York. The rate of freight from Manila or Hongkong to San Francisco on sugar is very low. A vessel can be chartered to go from San Francisco to Manila in ballast and bring back sugar at $5 or $6 per ton, but during the last eight years Asiatic sugar has largely come as mere ballast. Freights from Manila to New York range from $9 to $12 per ton. Interest, insurance, and shrinkage being proportional to the time of the voyage are evidently in favor of San Francisco as compared with New York. In brief, the San Francisco price of raw sugar is lower than the New York price by three-eighths to five-eighths of a cent per pound.

domain: finance


text:
Designed for guitarists on the go.
Traveler Guitar headphone amps let you jam anywhere and everywhere. The TGA-1E is fully equipped with gain, tone, and volume controls and also features an aux-in to add backing tracks to your headphone mix.
- Gain, tone, volume controls
- Audio output: ⅛” headphone jack
- Instrument input: ¼” and ⅛” aux-in
- 3 ⅛ x 3 x ½ in.
- 1 oz.
- Rechargeable internal battery (included)
- USB charging cable (included)
- Batteries: RECHARGEABLE (UP TO 4 HOURS)
- Dimensions: 3.125 X 3 X 0.5 IN.
- Input: 1/4" AND 1/8" AUX-IN
- Model #: TGA-1E (FORMERLY TGA-3)
- What's in the box?: HEADPHONE AMP, USB CHARGING CABLE
- Audio Output: 1/8" HEADPHONE JACK
- Electronics: GAIN, TONE, VOLUME
- Weight: 1 OZ.

domain: design


text:
Template:TOCnestleft Richard Kim
Kim is listed among the editorial collective of Social Text, a journal published by Duke University Press that covers social and cultural phenomena, focusing attention on gender, sexuality, race, and environmental theories.
JournoList members reportedly coordinated their messages in favor of Barack Obama and the Democrats, and against Sarah Palin and the Republican Party. JournoList was founded in 2007 and was closed down in early 2010.
Progressive Democrats of America
On August 25, 2008, Richard Kim spoke alongside Rep. Barbara Lee and Rep. John Conyers, Jr. on a panel about tackling the big issues of universal health care and AIDS. John Nichols of The Nation moderated. The panel was part of the week-long series of events sponsored by the Progressive Democrats of America.
Campaign for Peace and Democracy
- Free Republic: JournoList: 151 Names Confirmed (with News Organizations), July 30, 2010 (accessed August 2, 2010)
- John Conyers, Jr. on Flickr: Progressive Central, Sept. 3, 2008 (accessed on Jan. 27, 2011)


text:
I've pounded out a lot of ghost and supernatural stories during the past year or so. I've finally finished writing The Hanging Man after a December stall during the holidays. This story will be included in a new collection I've titled The Hanging Man and other stories. I hope to self publish the book in February. There will be sixteen additional stories in this volume. Eleven of the stories, plus The Hanging Man have not appeared in print before. Several of the stories have been read aloud at Ghost Stories LIVE! events here in Westfield for which they were written.
So what's the something new that goes with this new book? This book will be the first one I've self published with my own artwork on the cover. I sketched the hanging man during my lunch break at work on Tuesday, January 30th. I took a Bristol board sketchpad and a black Flair marker to work with me and drew him there. It took me about half an hour. I've deliberately left his face blank...the read can fill in what they like- personalize him, s to say. The style is sort of a nod to one of my favorite artists/illustrators- Edward Gorey.
So, new book, new stories, and brand new for me, my own artwork as the cover image!
The Hanging Man will be available on Amazon & as a Kindle book. Limited copies will be available at Blue Umbrella Books, or can be ordered directly from me.

domain: hobby


text:
Penny Verbe, the chief executive of Soho visual effects company Smoke and Mirrors, is to leave the company next month in order to take a year-long sabbatical.
Verbe has worked for the company for 15 years and was one of its original founders.
In an email to staff she said: “To be here from the start, and help it grow from a five man boutique to the global company it is today has been a real privilege.”
Tag Worldwide, the company that owns Smoke and Mirrors, is currently working on a new management line up including the appointment of a new chief executive. A decision is expected to be announced ‘soon’.
Steve Parish, the chief executive of Tag Worldwide, said: “Penny is a star and always will be, we fully support her decision to take time out to expand her horizons knowing that it will bring fresh opportunities and new perspectives our way.”
Pictured: Optical trails for Big Brother created by Smoke and Mirrors.


LARGE CUSTOM SQUARE & RECTANGULAR KILNS
Large Square & Rectangular Kilns
L&L designs and builds custom square and rectangular DaVinci kilns. Sizes are very flexible. The top is typically made of 4" thick ceramic fiber modules. The top is typically lifted off with an overhead crane or forklift but we have designs for pneumatically assisted lift-off and swing-away lids. Temperatures are limited to 2350°F.
Below is a rendering of how we make these now:
Alexander Brooke from the UK has this kiln and makes huge ceramic pieces in the kiln
Below are photographs of a large kiln we built for Brooke Pottery in England.
Model X4385 at Brooke Pottery - from top
Model X4385 from the front.
Another photo from the front
Photo from the inside
Here are the specifications for this kiln:
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FOR MODEL X4385
- 42" (1066mm) square by 85" (2150mm) high
- The kiln includes 9 heated sections that are each 9" high
- The kiln includes include one unheated section that is 4" high
- Kiln has 3" of brick
- Kiln has L&L ceramic element holders
- All sections and lid have two handles on either side (a total of 8 per section) plus galvannealed lifting rings on each section.
- The kiln includes a welded angle iron stand with leveling bolts
- The kiln includes a ceramic fiber module lift-off lid with a metal frame
- The kiln includes a separate control panel that mounts on the floor
- The kiln includes a DynaTrol zone control
- The kiln includes three type K thermocouples in ceramic protection tubes
- The Control panel consists of two of our control panels mounted together side by side with floor stands.
- 55,062 watts


text:
Small restaurent but has an upper level,
The food is great, they are not stinger and the local tea (Ataya) we were offered was free. Their salad was also excellent.
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

domain: travel


text:
The arsenals were opened to Commander Farragut
, who hastened the arming of his frigate; but, as it always happens, the moment it was decided to pursue the monster, the monster did not appear.
Now, I put it to you, boys, is it natural for lads from fifteen to eighteen to command ships, defeat pirates, outwit smugglers, and so cover themselves with glory, that Admiral Farragut
invites them to dinner, saying, 'Noble boy, you are an honour to your country
Stood my first watch - harbor-watch - feelin' finer'n Farragut
Great crowds assembled, more especially in the dinner hour, in Madison Square about the Farragut
monument, to listen to and cheer patriotic speeches, and a veritable epidemic of little flags and buttons swept through these great torrents of swiftly moving young people, who poured into New York of a morning by car and mono-rail and subway and train, to toil, and ebb home again between the hours of five and seven.
Avepuget Sound Naval Shipyardbremerton, Washington 98207-5005 United States
Police determined that the body they discovered in the Bay near 2600 Farragut
Road was that of Sullivan and that she had been the victim of a murder.
I am sure his perseverance was influenced by the Civil War Admiral Farragut
, who said, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead
Its success, he argues, lies in the determination of the officers and sailors assigned to the dreary duty, but also in large part to its commander, Admiral David Glasgow Farragut
, the man best known for his victory at the Battle of Mobile Bay.
Stay at The Hotel Almirante Farragut
which offers a great cliff-top location with huge pool and loads of facilities plus the added advantage of being just a 3 minute walk from the beach.
Headquartered in Farragut
, Tennessee, SouthEast Bank operates branches throughout East and Middle Tennessee, blending modern amenities with hometown service.
Metro Red Line access from Dupont Circle or Farragut
North is recommended.
Across the street are the Farragut
Houses, a public housing project with about 3,400 residents living in 10 apartment buildings.

domain: geography


text:
Optometrist jobs in Isle of Man
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Clinically Orientated and looking to progress into Management? Seeking Experienced Optometrist – Chester, North West England We have an opportunity...
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text:
Student file of Harry Cries for Ribs, a member of the Ponca Nation, who entered the school on October 27, 1905 and departed on June 22, 1910. The file contains a student information card, an outing record, a progress/conduct card, correspondence with the school about financial matters, medical/physical records, and a report after leaving. According to the information provided, Harry Cries for Ribs was a farmer in White Eagle, Oklahoma as of 1910.
Document Types in this File
Year of Entry
National Archives and Records Administration
RG 75, Series 1327, box 29, folder 1358

domain: library


Rep. Golden to support impeachment for abuse of power
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine said Tuesday he’ll vote in favor of one of the two articles of impeachment against Republican President Donald Trump, concluding the president abused his power by soliciting a foreign government to investigate a political rival.
Trump, his personal attorney and members of the administration showed “corrupt intent” to leverage the power of the presidency to strengthen his reelection bid by enlisting aid from a foreign government, Golden said.
“The president’s actions are a realization of the framers’ greatest fears: foreign corruption of our electoral process, and a president willing to leverage the powers of his office to benefit his own reelection,” he said in a statement.
But Golden said he won’t support an article of impeachment alleging obstruction of Congress, noting that the House did not attempt to enforce subpoenas for key witnesses close to the president. He said the House should’ve gone to the courts, if necessary, to compel testimony.
“The president’s resistance toward our investigative efforts has been frustrating. It has not yet, in my view, reached the threshold of ‘high crime or misdemeanor,’ that the Constitution demands,” he said.
Maine’s other House member, Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree, already said she’d support both articles of impeachment.
Golden made his announcement Tuesday on the eve of an anticipated vote on articles of impeachment by the full House.
The freshman congressman has been under pressure from both sides. Trump won the 2nd Congressional District by a 10-point margin in the 2016 election, and three Republicans vying for the opportunity to run against Golden in 2020 all have urged him to support the president.
He said he struggled for days on his decision. He said that in the end he ignored the political implications. “I can’t think about the politics of it,” he told reporters after the statement was released.
The Republican National Committee attacked Golden’s decision, saying he was trying to have it both ways.
“Jared Golden is trying to have his cake and eat it too, but voters in Maine know that he is choosing (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats’ unhinged caucus over his constituents,” said RNC spokeswoman Nina McLaughlin.
Trump on Tuesday accused Democrats of “perversion of justice and abuse of power” in their effort to remove him from office. He attacked the House process in a letter to Pelosi, writing that “more due process was afforded to those accused in the Salem Witch Trials.”


text:
WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT
Experience exhilaration on this 8 day Fly-Stay Gold Coast getaway staying in the heart of Surfers Paradise in resort apartments you’ll be spoilt by the delicious buffet breakfast, bistro lunches and theme dining options. Be intrigued at Ripley’s Believe it or Not’s Odditorium. Be thrilled by the Theme Parks – Movie World, Sea World and Paradise Country and catch all the live shows, rides, amusements. Enjoy a gourmet breakfast with the Koalas at Currumbin and be amazed by a live horse show and delicious three course dinner at Australian Outback Spectacular. With all the excitement there’s still plenty of time to relax, unwind and enjoy the resort facilities.
7 nights Queen en-suite accommodation -Mantra Apartments
Delicious Bistro Dining BLD
Return Qantas Flights Perth - Brisbane
Shared Daily Vehicle Fees
3 Theme Park Pass - Movie World - Sea World - Paradise Country
Outback Spectacular Dinner Show Tickets
Ripley's Believe it Or Not
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary & Koala Breakfast
Travel Insurance and Photo Memories
Fully accessible itinerary (alternative flight times may apply) . Suitable for both manual and electric wheelchair travellers. EWC users should note the A330 Aircraft (departure only available on night flight) accommodates all chair types however aircraft routes and aircraft types are subject to change by Qantas without notice. Itinerary variations may apply in some circumstances.


By Debbie Gregory.
Lt. Gen. Charles Luckey, chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general, U.S. Army Reserve Command said that he plans to stand up a package of forces capable of mobilizing and deploying into a major contingency operation much faster than traditional Reserve units.
“We are calling it Ready Force X; we are still trying to figure out what Ready Force X is going to look like, what’s in it and what war plans inform that requirement,” Luckey said.
Over the past 15 or so years, the Reserve has built readiness over time, in a progressive and rotational manner, he said. If a unit was alerted for a possible mobilization in 2019, he said, those soldiers had several years to work their way through the training required to prepare for the mission.
“I have asked the G-3/5/7 of U.S. Army Reserve Command down at Fort Bragg to do an assessment of capabilities that we think we — the United States Army Reserve — ought to provide to the warfighter and the Army on fairly short notice.”
The Reserve is made up of commands designed provide support, such as aviation, medical, military intelligence, civil affairs and theater sustainment, to active-duty and National Guard combat forces.
Now, what Reserve forces “need to be able to do is anticipate a contingency demand different than a known demand,” Luckey said.
“Instead of planning for a unit deploying sometime in 2019 and have several years to prepare, we are now in a situation where we have some capabilities that we may need to deploy in less than 90 days and, in some cases, significantly less than 90 days,” Luckey said.
This will be a challenge since the Army Reserve is made up of part-time soldiers, Luckey said.
Luckey, who assumed command in June, said units need to be on a relatively high degree of readiness — not just in terms of training, but also manning, individual soldier readiness and modernization.
Another challenge will likely come from budget constraints, he said, acknowledging that there is a “high likelihood” that it is going to cost more to generate and sustain this new type of readiness.
But “I want to make sure, before I start talking about money or needing more resources, I am very clear on what effect I think I can achieve if I had more resources,” he said.
The details of Ready Force X are still being worked out, but the idea is to have the first tranche of formations — about 25,000 to 33,000 soldiers — ready to go on short notice
“A lot of this is, frankly, a journey of discovery into what is in the art of the possible in terms of generating these capabilities.”


text:
Students and staff at a Melbourne high school were forced to evacuate as police conducted a safety check this afternoon.
Officers were called to Mount Waverley Secondary College on Lechte Road about 12.15pm.
Students told 9News they were told to sit on the school’s oval for more than an hour and were not given any further information.
Police confirmed they were conducting a safety check.
It’s understood staff and students have been allowed to return to the campus.
An investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding the incident is ongoing.

domain: sociology


THE PRE-COATING EXPERTS
A Linksy Group company
Soprima Industrie specialises in the pre-coating of locking and sealing products
Our expertise is based on many years of experience in the field of assembly.
We have developed partnerships with the leading manufacturers of products : 3M, Precote, Threebond… to meet all types of application.
We develop relevant and innovative assembly solutions in collaboration with your Design Offices, from the creation of specifications to the delivery of complete fastening solutions.
Application of locking and sealing products for safe and efficient assemblies
Pre-coating consists of applying a special product to the threaded or smooth part of a cylindrical part, which will be activated when the part is assembled by screwing or press-fitting.
The advantages of pre-coating :
- Flawless quality of the solution
- Replaces standard screws and bolts without redesigning the assembly
- Technical control
- Significant reduction in assembly costs
On all types of parts
Pre-coating can be applied to several types of parts:
- Thread locking on screws
- Pre-coating on special parts
- Sealing of sensors, plugs, etc.
- Braking on micro-screws
- Pre-coating of nuts
- Sealed rivets
- Sealed pins and studs…
More than 40% of our turnover comes from the automotive sector, with applications in all vehicle compartments.
We work with design offices and R&D departments to develop solutions for the aerospace, defence and security industries.
We find solutions for the mechanical strength of small screws, the sealing of casings, electrical conductivity, etc.
Luxury goods industry
We work with leading luxury brands to secure the assembly of their products: watches, glasses, handbags, etc.
Ensuring optimum quality
Our quality system has been ISO 9001 certified since 2001 and meets the specific requirements of the automotive and aerospace industries. Our in-house machinery enables us to process all types of parts, from small to very large series.


text:
The moment that I knew graphic novel American Born Chinese was something special, and real, was in its second chapter.
One of the main characters, Jin Wang, is a young, Chinese American boy who moved from an Asian neighborhood in San Francisco to a white one in the suburbs. Jin has a horrible time adjusting.
One of the kids expresses disgust at Jin’s dumpling lunch, and assumes that he eats dogs. The teacher butchers his name, and tells everyone he’s from China. He has no friends. And then another kid comes along — one who is even more outwardly Chinese in mannerisms and appearances than Jin. And Jin says something that really resonated with me:
“Something made me want to beat him up.”
This debasing, of minority to minority, has appeared in the works of many minority artists. Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison, opens with a scene of black college students fighting over coins in front of white benefactors. In The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, a Latina girl who can pass for white looks down upon her fellow, darker Latina girls who cannot. Even on ABC sitcom Fresh Off The Boat, the Asian boy and black boy brawl in the lunchroom — two minorities fighting on the bottom rung of the social ladder.
American Born Chinese combines three stories of self-hate, moving towards self-discovery. The first is about Jin Wang. The second is about the Monkey King (based off the classical character from Journey To The West) who wants to be a God, and does everything in his power to make it a reality.
The third is the most uncomfortable — it’s about Chin-Kee (get it?) a walking, talking, hyperbolized Chinese stereotype. He’s unhygienic, mockingly accented, bucktoothed, and perverted towards girls. It’s a nightmare — it’s every playground insult come to life, and every latent fear that Asian men hope they don’t fulfill. “Asian American men who are older than me,” Yang says, “Will tell me that the Cousin Chin-Kee character was so painful that it was hard for them to finish the book.”
There are many moments in American Born Chinese where characters are made to feel embarrassed for what they are. The Monkey King, after being told by the Gods that he will never be more than a monkey, notices the smell of monkey fur when he goes back home — it was a smell he had never noticed before.
There’s another moment in the novel when Jin and his friends are having a good time, when the two class bullies come along using racial epithets. Rather than getting angry, they turn red with embarrassment, and sit in silence. Their good time has been ruined, and they’ve been made crushingly aware of their social status.
Countee Cullen’s poem “Incident” may have captured this humiliation best — of the way that aggressive, nasty comments can cut to the heart of a person’s insecurities:
The graphic novel also explores interracial relationships, both platonic and romantic. Jin falls in love with a white girl in his class named Amelia, and to impress her, he starts curling his hair, to match the hairstyle of the other boys in their class. It’s a subtle but notable subsuming of his Asian identity, and he is mocked for it — more so than if he simply kept his hair the way it was before.
The bullies affect Jin and wound his pride, but it’s one of his good friends, Greg, who cuts the deepest, and challenges his Asian manhood. In a racially coded, awkward conversation, Greg tells Jin that he doesn’t want him to date Amelia — that since they are all getting older, Amelia needs to be aware of the type of people she hangs out with.
It hurts horribly, especially because it was Greg who defended Jin from his racist bullies. But even Greg’s tolerance has a limit — racism comes in multitudes, and isn’t limited to epithets and slanting eyes. It’s the moment that sparks Jin’s total denial of self and Asian-ness. He no longer wants to act white; he wants to be white. And it’s a desperate wish that he pays for dearly.
It’s one of the most guilty thoughts that an ethnic minority can have — a wish to fit in and look different — to not bear the baggage that comes with one’s physical identity. And it’s not something that’s talked about much. But it ought to be something that’s talked about more, if only because talking about it helps us come to term with it. And all communication, from writing, to drawing, to film, to speech, is the first step.
Self-hatred is a complicated emotion that I’ve experienced firsthand. For a couple of years, my sister and I were two of the only Chinese kids in our public school, amongst a sea of white faces. But there was another kid in my school who was more ‘Asian’ than I was. His mom made his clothes for him. He didn’t speak English at home. And our families were friends — our moms told us that we needed to stick together. So we did so — but only to an extent.
One day, he brought in some of his mom’s homemade sushi. The kids around him all turned up their noses, making a big show of how disgusting it was. I really liked sushi, but to my shame, I joined in making fun of him. It was a misguided need to belong, but it was also a self-hatred of my Asian identity — it felt good to kick someone who was more Asian than I was, and to reject a label that I was always conscious of.
There was also a feeling of theater to the whole thing — that I was performing at being Chinese in front of a white audience. I partook in Asian things that might amuse them, like teaching them how to swear in Chinese, or pretending that I knew kung fu (it didn’t take much more than a few kicks to convince them of this). And, I would disavow the ‘other’ Asian things, like sushi, that would gross them out or alienate them from me.
When I spoke to Gene Luen Yang, the author and artist of American Born Chinese, over email last week, he reflected about this self-hatred. Much of the novel was inspired by his own childhood experiences, and he identified with the performance aspect of wanting to amuse a white audience:
“I’ve been on both sides of bullying,” Yang says. “As a kid, sometimes I was bullied, and other times, I was the bully. When I did the bullying, I was often driven by that mentality that you speak of. I don’t even know if I was completely conscious of it. I felt different, so it felt good to pick on someone who seemed even more different than me.”
“Writing and drawing that book was a huge part of my process [of reconciling my identity],” Yang says. “I can’t say I’m completely reconciled in terms of my identity, but working on American Born Chinese certainly helped.”
We’re told from an early age, by everyone in our support system, that we’re supposed to feel “AZNPRIDE!” in our identity — proud of the culture we came from. Usually, we are. But sometimes, we resent it, and we’d rather fit in than be different. It’s a struggle, from childhood through adulthood, to overcome that — to stand up a bit straighter, and raise our voices a bit louder. We should. And we do. But it takes time, and it’s just so tiring.
Kevin is an AP English Language teacher and freelance writer from Queens, NY. His focus is on video games, American pop culture, and Asian American issues. Kevin has also been published in VIBE, Complex, Joystiq, Salon, PopMatters, WhatCulture, and Racialicious. You can email him at email@example.com, and follow him on Twitter @kevinjameswong.

domain: literature


Yesterday on Facebook I invited my friends to send me pictures that to them represented a moment of living “fully alive.”a I was amazed at what they sent. If you go here, you can see some of their pictures.
In my radio interviews for the release of “Fully Alive” I was stunned by the stories of courageous radio hosts who were willing to share about their journey back to life. I love people like this who are transparent and honest. The encouragement from their lives is so much more powerful than those who pretend their lives are perfect. So today I have a question for you.
I’m looking for honest answers!!!! It doesn’t have to sound spiritual to be meaningful. It might be as simple as a dive into a pile of leaves. This is not a trick question so fire away.
What moment in your life stands out as a time when you felt the most fully alive? Leave your comment and If you have a picture post it here on my facebook page and let me know in your comment you have done so. To see the other wonderful photos click on the word photos under the pic of little girl in bathtub. Scroll down to the second album, “Pictures of Ken Davis” and enjoy! These stories and photos are a major inspiration to me and those who read this blog.
My next post will be one such story from a 70 year old princess with a 17 year old heart.


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Chronicles the brilliant military career of Mikhail Nikolaevich Tukhachevsky in pre-revolutionary and Stalinist Russia. The book describes how Tukhachevsky led the Bolsheviks to victory over the White armies, how troops under his command defeated the Poles during the Russo-Polish War of 1920, and how he put down the Kronstadt Rebellion of 1921.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
tson /f Thomas /i G.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Book Description Praeger Publishers Inc, 1984. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. 1St Edition. Bookseller Inventory # DADAX0030706831


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The economic sanctions with respect to Burundi administered by OFAC are no longer in effect. These steps were taken in light of changed circumstances and positive political developments in…
- OECD publishes 2020 data on enforcement of the Anti-Bribery Convention
- FinCEN analysis reveals upward trend of SARs related to wildlife trafficking.
- Home Office provides year three update on the anti-corruption strategy
- EBA published today its revised Guidelines on risk-based supervision of credit
- OECD launches new online portal for Public Integrity Indicators

domain: law


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San Antonio Public Library 2019 Medal
Fiesta San Antonio medals have existed since the 1970's. Collectors buy, sell and trade the medals like trading cards. Collecting Fiesta medals began with a tradition that traces it roots back to 1946 when King Antonio handed out commemorative coins at Fiesta events. Children began to wear the coins as badges.
This years Fiesta San Antonio 2019 commemorative medals celebrate the spirit of a city rich in tradition.
Whether you are starting a new medal collection or growing your medal collection, the 2019 medals will a welcome addition for the first time medal buyer or medal maniac.

domain: history


Richard Young/Rex/REX USA
Leave the extravagant wedding ceremony and sticky prenuptial agreement for another day: Some of Hollywood's most beloved partnerships are taking their sweet time to the altar (and it's actually a good thing).
Take Adele and longtime beau Simon Konecki for example, who despite being together for five years and welcoming son Angelo James in 2012, have yet to ring their very own wedding bells. And that's not to say Adele and Simon's love is any less valid than those who do, because as the Brit's latest romantic gesture proves, they're perfectly content in the shooting thousands of handwritten love notes into a concert arena kind-of-way.
In the spirit of these famous lovebirds' leisurely pace, sit back, relax and enjoy seven more couples who will still most likely be engaged by the time you're done reading this:


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In January Lemuria will set out on a tour in honor of the tenth anniversary of their first album, Get Better.
The band will play the records start-to-finish on the tour and Asian Man Records will be reissuing the album in deluxe gatefold with a bonus 7" of outtakes from the recording session.
01/20 Austin, TX @ Mohawk
01/21 Dallas, TX @ Three Links
01/22 Albuquerque, NM @ TBD
01/24 El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace
01/25 Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge
01/26 San Diego, CA @ Hideout
01/27 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
01/29 San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Shop
01/31 Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
02/01 Seattle, WA @ Sunset
02/02 Boise, ID @ The Olympic
02/03 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
02/04 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
02/05 Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
02/06 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
02/07 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
02/08 Detroit, MI @ El Club
02/09 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
02/10 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
02/11 Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground
02/12 Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt
02/14 Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
02/15 New Haven, CT @ BAR Nightclub
02/17 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Night Bazaar
02/18 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
02/19 Washington, DC @ Black Cat
02/21 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
02/22 Durham, NC @ Motorco
02/23 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
02/24 Gainesville, FL @ Loosey’s
02/27 Tampa, FL @ Crowbar
03/01 Tallahasee, FL @ Club Downunder
03/02 Birmingham, AL @ Syndicate Lounge
03/02 New Orleans, LA @ TBD
Smoking Popes released a new track, entitled, "When You Want Something," from the upcoming album, Into the Agony available Octoberber ...
The Smoking Popes will be releasing their first new album with the original line-up since 1998. The album's entitled ...
Buffalo, NY's Unwelcome Guests kick off a UK tour tonight at Craft Taproom in Liverpool. It's the band ...
Birds In Row, fresh off the release of We Already Lost the World, is currently on tour with KEN Mode ...
Looking for the SPB logo? You can download it in a range of styles and colours here:
Click anywhere outside this dialog to close it, or press escape.

domain: entertainment


Apexical Inc has vast experience with various coatings and adhesives with most products tailored to specific customer requirements for performance, processing efficiency and cost.
Apexical also has the capability to design coatings specific to your needs and processing limitations. With small scale lab capabilities to initially screen a coating to large scale manufacturing, Apexical coatings are well positioned to deliver value and consistent performance.
Apexical offers outstanding coatings and adhesives for flex duct, roofing, wall coverings
UL® product for construction –a high strength, non Decabromo flame retardant adhesive for the lamination of clear and metallized polyester for flexible duct barrier jacket constructions. Formulated to allow more efficient clean-up of equipment.
UL® – non-Decabromo flame retardant adhesive for the construction of flexible duct core. Offers superior strength and flexibility. Both products are ready to use – applied by reverse roll, gravure, or wire wound rod to give a uniform appearance.
Stiff, self-crosslinking emulsion for use as hand builder and stabilizer of various substrates including roofing underlayment. Best applied with Apexorez MEL for optimal stiffness.
From coatings to improve dimensional stability, hand, abrasion resistance or flame resistance, Apexical has the expertise to develop and produce coatings to fit requirements.
Non-halogenated fire-retardant coating for cellulosic and blends as well as pile fabric. The coating yields a soft hand and passes flammability standards NFPA 260 Class 1, UFCA Class 1, California Technical Bulletin 117 Section 3, British Standard 5852 Source 0 and MVSS-302.
Aqueous latex coating that is designed to be used on a large array of upholstery fabrics. It yields a soft hand and offers good physical strength properties. Designed to be applied by roll or knife coat.
Apexical has decades of experience in developing and producing coatings for automotive upholstery and carpet that meet performance criteria and are easy to use.
Halogen and antimony free fire-retardant coating for Automotive Fabrics. Readily passes MVSS-302 flammability specifications. It can be applied uniformly by foam on decorative fabrics, including jacquards.
Novel halogen free flame-retardant coating.
Coating for Natural and Synthetic blends that can be foam applied uniformly. Readily passes MVSS-302 flammability specifications while passing water spot or wet towel test without the application of a Durable Water Repellent.
Apexical produces a vast array of flame retardant coatings – such as intumescent and fire barrier coatings for wide spectrum of industries. Custom formulations to meet specifications and handling requirements can be developed.
BACKOTE PA 247
Halogen and antimony free coating that is designed to pass NFPA 701 Small Scale 1989 on polyethylene substrate when applied at 1.25 – 1.50 ounces per square yard.
Aqueous fire-retardant coating designed for cellulose fabrics in the mattress market. It yields a soft hand and has good physical strength properties. Designed to be mechanically foamed and applied by knife over roll, table or foam.
SPECIALTY & THERMOREGULATION
Apexical also has the capability to design coatings for a variety of end-uses from base coats for art canvas to moldable to thermoregulation systems.
Phase change material (PCM) based product that allows for temperature regulation by storing heat when conditions are warm and releasing heat when the temperature drops. Customization is possible to tailor PCM to desired range and to formulate for use on desired operating equipment.
ART CANVAS -BACKOTE P1E-195
Copolymer gesso coating with no phthalate plasticizers, medium stiff hand that does not crack and a very high white point with good UV resistance. Can be used as a base gesso or as a top coat for solvent or UV inkjet receptive coating that gives a satin finish when printed.
ART CANVAS – BACKOTE P1E-183
Clear latex coating that is designed to be used as a clear top coat for optically enhanced print media.
Unique coating offering high electrical conductivity to a variety of substrates, while imparting a soft flexible handle. Also have coatings which provide static dissipation to synthetic and cellulosic textiles for use in contract seating textile applications.
MOLDABLE – BACKOTE 7635
Synthetic latex coating that yields a stiff hand, passes MVSS 302 and is moldable. Non FR formulations possible.


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A childs musings-'Stay Woke' 25x20cm Spray paint on canvas street art.
A child musings... - 'Stay Woke'25x20cm Spray Paint on canvas board.Limited to a run of just 20. Each individual. Each unique. Pieces may vary slightly from piece to piece.All pieces are bespoke and made from hand made, hand cut stencils.I then build up the layers with high quality acrylic Kobra Spray Paints on canvas.Other wording can be used, please email us for more details.Please be aware, we ship worldwide. Please email or use the chat for a shipping quote.909 Art.


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Approaches and Challenges in SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Development.Cell Host Microbe. 2020 Sep 09; 28(3):364-370.CH
The explosive spread of SARS-CoV-2 suggests that a vaccine will be required to end this global pandemic. Progress in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development to date has been faster than for any other pathogen in history. Multiple SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates have been evaluated in preclinical models and are currently in clinical trials. In this Perspective, we discuss three topics that are critical for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development: antigen selection and engineering, preclinical challenge studies in non-human primate models, and immune correlates of protection.


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In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, companies are increasingly turning to digital solutions to revolutionize patient care, enhance operational efficiency, and drive innovation. However, amidst the promise of digital transformation, healthcare businesses often encounter unique challenges on their path to adopting these solutions effectively. In this blog post, we will explore the key challenges faced by healthcare companies in embracing digital solutions and provide insights on how to overcome them.
Limited Resources and Budget Constraints
One of the primary challenges healthcare businesses face is limited resources and budgetary constraints. Allocating funds for technology investments, infrastructure, and skilled personnel can be daunting. However, strategic planning and prioritization can help address this challenge. By identifying core areas that would benefit most from digital solutions and exploring cost-effective options such as cloud-based platforms and outsourcing development, businesses can optimize their resources and improve their finance allocation strategies.
Compliance and Regulatory Considerations
Healthcare is a highly regulated industry with strict compliance and privacy requirements, such as HIPAA in the United States, and GDPR in the EU. Businesses need to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, ensuring their digital solutions comply with data security and privacy standards. Engaging legal counsel and partnering with technology providers experienced in healthcare compliance can help streamline this process and ensure adherence to regulations from the outset. This case study provides an example of how these regulations are implemented in a real-world production setting.
Interoperability and Data Integration
Healthcare systems often consist of multiple disparate systems and data sources. Achieving seamless interoperability and data integration among various platforms, electronic health records (EHRs), and devices is a significant challenge. Businesses need to consider compatibility and interoperability standards such as HL7 and FHIR. Collaborating with industry stakeholders and investing in robust integration frameworks can enable companies to connect various systems, enhancing data sharing and improving patient care coordination.
User Acceptance and Change Management
Introducing digital solutions requires healthcare companies to manage user acceptance and facilitate smooth change management. Healthcare professionals may be resistant to change or hesitant to adopt new technologies. Effective communication, training programs, and involving key stakeholders in the design and implementation process can help address this challenge. Highlighting the benefits and demonstrating how digital solutions streamline workflows, improve patient outcomes, and reduce administrative burdens can garner greater acceptance and engagement from healthcare professionals.
Data Security and Cybersecurity
Protecting patient data from breaches and ensuring robust cybersecurity measures are critical in healthcare. Companies must prioritize data security, encryption, and access controls. Implementing best practices such as data encryption, regular security audits, and staff training on cybersecurity awareness can mitigate risks. Collaborating with trusted technology partners and adopting industry-standard security frameworks can help businesses build a secure foundation for their digital solutions.
While healthcare companies face unique challenges in adopting digital solutions, proactive planning, strategic partnerships, and a focus on user acceptance can help overcome these hurdles. By addressing resource limitations, complying with regulations, ensuring interoperability, managing change, and prioritizing data security, businesses can embrace digital solutions to revolutionize healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and drive innovation in the industry.
Looking to enhance healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes in your organization? Reach out to us today for customized digital solutions that address unique challenges and improve patient outcomes.


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Op-Ed: The allure of the Republican Party is baffling. Voters will regret falling for it, but Donald Trump has yet to prove that he has any ability to sway a vote. It’s a party that has embraced economic populism and the notion that we’re all racists because we don’t like President Obama.
A recent Post-Dispatch article looked at how Americans are faring with Donald Trump, and why, just like in the primaries, he still has an uphill climb.
Here are five takeaways from the piece:
1. Republicans’ most pressing need: Winning
“Democrats are clearly the more formidable electoral group in this year’s congressional elections, but Republicans believe their top priority is to pick up seats in the Senate.”
“Republicans believe they’ve got four critical congressional seats–open seats with Democratic challengers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina–to win in 2016, while Democrats have an edge in Arizona, Indiana, Utah and Nevada.”
“Republicans also have to worry about keeping their House majority. For now, they’re not talking about their Senate races, but there’s a sense that some House members will run for reelection to state legislatures where they are unpopular. In those states, the GOP needs to be competitive with the incumbent Democrats they are replacing.”
That sentiment is true regardless of which party ends up with control of Congress in 2014. The party that loses seats in the Senate takes the House, and that should be the GOP’s goal.
The GOP would be wise to focus on the midterms and concentrate more on winning the Senate. This is the only way voters will elect leadership in the future.
2. Trump may actually be helping the GOP, even if he’s not delivering on his promises
“His decision to drop out of the presidential race a few weeks ago probably helped Republicans in many of the states that have been trending Blue


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Robyn Lively fyller år tisdag den 7 februari (45 år) och tillhör stjärntecknet Vattumannen.
Ett urval av de filmer som Robyn Lively medverkat i.
Nyheter om Robyn Lively
- Robyn Lively – Wikipedia
- Robyn Elaine Lively (born February 7, 1972) is an American actress. Lively is best known for her role in the film Teen Witch, as well as for her roles in the TV shows …
- Robyn Lively – IMDb
- Robyn Lively, Actress: The Karate Kid Part III. Robyn Lively was born on February 7, 1972 in Powder Springs, Georgia, USA as Robyn Elaine Lively. She is an actress …

domain: artistic


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PUD Mulls 5% Rate Hikeby Neita Cecil
The Dalles Chronicle, November 18, 2016
"We've got the cheapest power in the United states in the Northwest, and it's not kind of lower, it's a lot lower,"
Saying it has to catch up on years of necessary but uncompleted work, the PUD is proposing 5 percent rate hikes each of the next two years, each of which would add about $5 per month to the average residential bill.
The first proposed PUD rate hike would take effect next April, officials say.
The Northern Wasco County People's Utility District board will hear a broad overview of the proposed 2017 budget on Tuesday, Nov. 29, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Then, a detailed look at the budget is set for Monday, Dec. 5, from 2-6 p.m. Both public meetings are in the PUD board room at 2345 River Rd. in The Dalles.
The last rate hike was 4.2 percent in 2013, which was preceded by over a decade of no rate increases, said PUD General Manager Roger Kline.
Kline said needed investment in all areas of the PUD, from personnel to equipment, had been deferred for years. Equipment upgrades range from meter replacement to replacing the Threemile substation transformer.
On meters, for instance, the PUD was previously replacing about 20 a year. So far this year, it has replaced 400 of the PUD's 10,000 meters, Kline said.
Meters over time suffer "calibration drift," which causes them to slow down. In effect, people with newer, more accurate meters are subsidizing those with older meters that don't reflect actual usage, said Harvey Hall, the PUD's chief financial officer.
Kline said the PUDs rates are among the lowest in the region. The average customer uses about 1,000 kilowatt hours of power per month, for a typical bill of $68.
Others in the region are $71.69 in Umatilla, $73.50 in Hood River, $88.17 in Skamania, and at the top end, Portland General Electric is at $113.60.
"We've got the cheapest power in the United states in the Northwest, and it's not kind of lower, it's a lot lower," said Hall.
By far the biggest share of the budget, at roughly 68 percent, is the purchase of power from the Bonneville Power Administration every year.
The PUD also recently sold $13 million in bonds. The PUD cannot cover the BPA costs or the bond repayments with existing retail revenue, Hall said. BPA, which raises rates every other year, is expected to increase rates around four percent in fall 2017.
The bulk of the bond, $8 million, will be used to build the new River Trail substation in the port industrial area. Another $2 million is for improvements at the PUD's McNary hydro plant. The rest is for smaller projects, including the new transformer and other upgrades ranging from technology to facility work.
Hall said the $8 million substation is not just a cost, but one that will bring returns to the community in the form of jobs, safety and reliability of service.
"The need is great and the need stems from" a lack of investment and maintenance, Kline said.
Hall said, "The utility had a seven-year history of underinvesting in the system for capital investment, so the system was actually losing functionality."
Over time, the PUD's investment in the distribution system, the network of poles and power lines that takes power to homes, was actually decreasing, Kline said.
Kline said the BPA was increasing its rates to the PUD during the 2000s, but the PUD was eating those costs and making cuts in other areas. "Unfortunately, it was reflected in critical areas," including personnel, IT, infrastructure, and succession planning, or preparing for retirements.
Kline created five new positions, hiring four externally. The hires created controversy -- linemen asked for his ouster in July but the board declined -- but Kline said the culture of the PUD is incrementally improving.
"There just weren't enough people to do all the work necessary," Kline said. He said the PUD had 15 percent less staff per customer than other PUDs. Kline said the PUD "recognizes that we're an economic engine."
Kline noted that under the proposed budget, administration is decreasing as a percent of the total budget, from 8.66 percent down to 8.45 percent.
Hall recently hired another person to help in financial planning.
He said the cost should be offset by a reduction in overtime and by bringing in-house work previously contracted out.
learn more on topics covered in the film
see the video
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Move over Cronut, there’s a new donut in town. Dunkin’ Donuts Thailand has released 27 special doughnuts that will be the new black (pun intended). The world has seen and tasted the black hamburger, the black ice cream, and the black curry, but feast your eyes on Dunkin’ Donuts’ black dooughnuts. Made from an edible […]
What a caffeinated gem of an idea: in honour of National Coffee Day, Dunkin‘ Donuts did a nationwide survey of US workers to see which professions need their coffee juice the most. Amazingly, food preparation and service workers rated first (must be the close proximity that makes temptation hard to resist). Also, scientists ranked second, so I think we can all agree that we are indebted to coffee for many breakthroughs in scientific research.
I’m obsessed! Forget Crispy Cremes and Dunkin’ Donuts, Beard Papa’s is Japan’s almighty answer. Taste these and you’ll be hooked. The ordering process is pretty simple: pick a pastry type and then choose a filling — vanilla, chocolate, or the flavor of the day. And the best thing is that the flavors change week to […]


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NEW YORK, NY (CelebrityAccess) — The Agency Group has named veteran talent agent Jeremy Norkin to the newly-created post of Director of Latin Operations, effective immediately.
In his new role at TAG, Norkin will oversee the opening of The Agency Group's Miami office, which will be focused on serving US Hispanic and Latin American markets.
Norkin, who previously held positions at NTA, RLM, and WMA, has worked with some of the most significant acts in Latin music including Miguel Bosé, José Carreras, Fonseca, Juanes, Los Tigres del Norte, Orishas, Raphael, Paulina Rubio, Arturo Sandoval, and Alejandro Sanz. He has also provided consulting services to businesses expanding into the Latin market such as General Motors and MySpace.
Most recently, he founded Norkin Talent Agency, and brings to The Agency Group his diverse roster which boasts Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winning artist Natalia Jiménez, two time Latin Grammy and MTV Music Award winning rapper Mala Rodríguez, Italian superstar Jovanotti, top DJ Juan Magán, Latin Grammy and MTV Music Award winning group Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas, indie rising star Diego Garcia, and international sales-record holding humorist Andrés López. Billboard Magazine recognized Norkin early in his career as a “30 Under 30 Power Player.”
“I’m thrilled to join The Agency Group, a firm that has its sights set on the world and is committed to Latin America and the US-Hispanic market,” says Norkin. “It was important for me and for my clients to join a company that continually demonstrates a keen understanding of global markets and stays ahead of the curve. The Agency Group’s international presence sets them apart as a dominant force in worldwide music booking, and the opportunities for its vast roster of artists within Spanish language markets are countless.” – Staff Writers


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(AllHipHop News) Miami rapper SpaceGhostPurrp has been on a mission to disrespect the memory of the late A$AP Yams. After posting tweets that included him saying "f*ck yams," SGP has now released a track titled "Cookin Yams" by Chxpo.
Purrp was once closely associated with A$AP Rocky, but SGP's Raider Klan and Rocky's A$AP Mob became involved in a feud. It appeared the beef was over in 2014 when Purrp and A$AP Yams reportedly spoke and settled the issues between the two camps.
Fast forward back to 2016, and it is clear the two sides are not on friendly terms. A$AP Mob member A$AP Twelvyy responded to Chxpo's diss on Twitter. They exchanged messages on the social media platform with Twelvyy telling Chxpo to meet him in New York City.
Listen to Chxpo's "Cookin Yams" below.

domain: celebrity


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Our nature is the mind. And the mind is our nature.
Quote by Bodhidharma
Your nature is the Buddha.
People of this world are deluded. They're always longing for something - always, in a...
Not suffering another existence is reaching the Way.
The mind is the Buddha, and the Buddha is the mind.
To give up yourself without regret is the greatest charity.
A Buddha is someone who finds freedom in good fortune and bad.
All the suffering and joy we experience depend on conditions.
The Way is basically perfect. It doesn't require perfecting.
Mortals liberate Buddhas and Buddhas liberate mortals.
To go from mortal to Buddha, you have to put an end to karma, nurture...
As mortals, we're ruled by conditions, not by ourselves.
According to the Sutras, evil deeds result in hardships and good deeds result in blessings.
And as long as you're subject to birth and death, you'll never attain enlightenment.
The Buddha is your real body, your original mind.
As long as you look for a Buddha somewhere else, you'll never see that your...
Neither gods nor men can foresee when an evil deed will bear its fruit.
If you use your mind to study reality, you won't understand either your mind or...
Not engaging in ignorance is wisdom.
Buddhas move freely through birth and death, appearing and disappearing at will.
The mind is the root from which all things grow if you can understand the...


To make the most of new technology, the NHS needs a cultural shift
The health service needs to make sure its people are geared up for the data-rich future, according to Afshin Attari of Exponential-e
For the Health and Social Care Network to be a success, the NHS requires cultural change among its 1.4 million employees, according to Afshin Attari Credit: Adobe Stock
Today the NHS finds itself at a crossroads. On the one hand, never in its 69-year history has it faced so much scrutiny – from claims of staff shortages to a lack of beds. On the other, thanks to technological advancements, one could argue that, thanks to new technologies, there hasn’t been a more exciting period to truly modernise the world’s oldest universal healthcare programme.
For me, the future of the NHS lies in what one hand can do for the other. Technology has the ability to revolutionise the health service, making it more efficient, enable the delivery of cutting-edge medical procedures and improving the patient experience.
The ongoing move to the new Health and Social Care Network (HSCN) from the decade-old N3 is one of the greatest developments in the NHS’s history, because it can become the technological enabler the organisation has been crying out for.
- Redcentric awarded three-year Health and Social Care Network contract
- Trio of top universities recruited to deliver NHS Digital Academy
- NHS Digital's progress hamstrung by ageing tech and culture clashes - report
HSCN has the ability to effectively and quickly process and deliver data, relieving pressure on hundreds of trusts that have been reliant on ageing network infrastructure. It is also the chief enabling platform for new technologies and services which will not only make each patient’s experience better, but will ultimately save lives.
But for a technology revolution to really take hold, a cultural shift among the NHS’s 1.4 million employees is required. Staff are used to a certain way of working and, like in any organisation, attempts to push through change can be met with resistance.
The leading authorities that are overseeing the rollout of HSCN, have the opportunity to ensure that new technologies are utilised in a way that benefit NHS staffers’ daily work lives. This is of particular importance when one considers that the majority of people are employed to carry out critically important medical procedures – and could do without spending crucial time carrying out what could be described as admin tasks.
With patient numbers at a record high and set to rise further over the coming years, staff will be faced with an unprecedented amount of data to sift through as the move to the HSCN takes hold, leading to increased workloads. They cannot be expected to continue operating as they have been.
But the NHS cannot enforce this culture shift alone. To ensure technology can be truly transformational, it must ensure that external businesses, that have had tremendous success providing cutting-edge technology to the private sectors, are entwined in the process.
We revisit the big news and major events from the second half of 2018
We take a look back at the major developments that shaped the first half of the year
PublicTechnology editor Sam Trendall picks out the topics and trends that will dominate the year ahead, and revisits the predictions of a year ago to see any of them came to pass
Health secretary reveals email will be opened up to allow use of ‘any secure email provider’
Whether you need mobile devices or fibre optics, cloud services or switchboard systems, with UniCORN you'll have more purchasing power and unlock benefits you wouldn't get alone
BT understand the public sector in the capital. Frameworks offer a single, simplified way to get the ICT products and services you need
Download Gartner's expert analysis to help you plan your SD-WAN implementation
BT always talks about helping its customers be there in the moments that matter. And that’s the idea at the core of their new Customer Experience Centres. Experience BT solutions first-hand and...


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Spain Mission Trip 2023
On this Mission Trip, you will support Missionaries Greg and Amy Royal, who are serving in Spain. Activities will include helping with a Vacation Bible School program and assisting with various community outreach activities. The Missions Team will serve in the beautiful suburbs of Madrid in the towns of Alcalá de Henares and Torrejón de Ardoz.
Dates: August 25-September 1st
Cost and Registration Details
The total cost for the trip is $1700 and must be paid in full before leaving on the Mission Trip. A deposit of $1000 is required to book your airfare. The deadline to register and pay the deposit for the trip is Sunday, May 28th.


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Latest update from London Jazz Festival
The renowned oud master Marcel Khalifé returns to the Barbican in a show created by his son whoreinvents his much-loved music to celebrate his musical legacy.
Bachar Mar-Khalifé is a French Lebanese singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist. Born in war-torn Lebanon, he is the son of the revered oud virtuoso and composer Marcel Khalifé, an Arab cultural icon. Bachar has collaborated on many projects that fuse jazz, Arab musics, electronica and hip-hop with artists as diverse as Bojan Z, Carl Craig, Francesco Tristano and Murcof.
In this show he pays homage to his father, and to the… More
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Ваканционни жилища под наем в района на Nantlle
Намерете и резервирайте уникални места за престой чрез Airbnb
Най-високо оценени ваканционни жилища в района на Nantlle
Гостите са съгласни: тези престои са високо оценени заради тяхното местоположение, чистота и др.
Кондо – Talysarn
Village Flat with easy access to Snowdon
A small one bedroom flat in the village of Talysarn, situated 7 miles South of Caernarfon. Ideally located to explore North West Wales or Anglesey. The nearest Beach is 4 miles, with easy access to the mountains of Snowdonia . The flat has private access with public car park opposite, WIFI, full cooking facilities but plenty of local take always Bedroom is set as a double unless 2 singles are requested, additionally there is a double Sofa Bed upstairs There is a family dog in the Property
$56 на нощувка
Жилище под наем – Nantlle
Your perfect getaway to explore Snowdonia
Our flat is a beautiful, tranquil & minimal space which has been thoughtfully created to host guests. You'll find everything you need for a relaxing retreat including cooking utensils, bathroom toiletries and a brand new Eve mattress for your ultimate comfort. The bedroom has low ceilings and wouldn't be suitable for anyone with mobility issues. You'll find beauty within this space but you’ll also be blown away by Nantlle itself, with its spectacular views. We can't wait to host you!
$127 на нощувка
Ваканционна къща – Nantlle
Dorothea Cottage Snowdonia with mountain views.
Our cosy Victorian cottage offers original features, modern styling, a log-burning stove, and mountain views. Nantlle village is located inside the National Park with Snowdon Basecamp at Rhyd Ddu being just 5 miles away. Awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for its dramatic slate landscapes, Nantlle is a winning destination for walkers, cyclists, divers, sight seers, and anyone with a love of the great outdoors. We are dog friendly and welcome one small to medium sized dog.
$130 на нощувка
Ваканционни жилища под наем за всеки стил
Вземете пространството, което е толкова голямо, колкото ви е нужно.


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HOW WE CAN HELP YOU WITH LIME
Royal Lawns has the equipment, knowledge and products to take care of your liming and soil pH maintenance needs. Maintaining the correct soil pH is crucial to obtain a beautiful and healthy lawn. We use a dust free high magnesium pelletized lime product. The product has a brown color which allows it to visually blend into the lawn without a noticeable white powder residue. Let us handle your lime and pH needs.
Lime "sweetens" your soil. In areas where soil is naturallly "sour" (or acidic), this is extremely important to growing healthly turf. Lime helps improve lawn color and density, helps control thatch, and increases root development.
Our lime application helps keep the chemistry of your soil in balance so that you can have and enjoy, a thicker, greener, healthier lawn.
LIME AFFECTS COLOR, THATCH, AND ROOT DEVELOPMENT
When your soil pH is too low (acidic) it needs lime to bring it back into balance. Soil that is too acidic causes "fertilizer lock-up". This means that fertilizer and important micro-nutrients become locked up in the soil and unavailable to the grass plants.
The results of this lock-up are that the grass becomes thin and yellow, thatch may build up faster, and root growth slows down.
A lawn in this condition is called "unthrifty" because even when properly fertilized, it can't make use of the plant food applied to become thick and stay green.
We suggest annual liming for acidic soils. It helps everything else we do work even better. That's what makes lime such a great lawn value for you.

domain: chemistry


Ariana Grande surprised fans by announcing she is dropping new music. The 27-year-old singer revealed that she’s releasing a new album within the next couple of weeks.
“i can’t wait to give u my album this month,” Grande simply wrote on Twitter. A week ago, Ariana shared a photo from the studio and captioned it, “turning in these mixes and reminding u again to register to vote if u haven’t already / to vote early”
Grande’s last album, thank u, next, was nearly 2 years ago. Also earlier this year, Ariana teamed up to collaborate with both Justin Bieber (Stuck With U) and Lady Gaga (Rain On Me).
Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com


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Fishing for guns - Old Harbour Bay boatmen rake in profits with drugs-for-arms trafficking to Haiti
Smugglers continue to use Old Harbour Bay as a key trans-shipment node in the drugs-for-guns trade with Haiti, reaping huge profits for weapons of war and defying attempts by the security forces to plug one of scores of illegal ports.
Three knowledgeable sources who have been involved in the trade of contraband revealed during a Gleaner investigation that gun smugglers travel in boats equipped with powerful engines and laden with up to 3,000 pounds of ganja – and sometimes kilos of cocaine –bartering the drugs for auto-matic rifles and handguns with their Haitian counterparts.
Fisherfolk doubling as middlemen have built a seedy network of clients ranging from deep-pocketed businessmen to gang members from Kingston, St Catherine, and St James, who are the sponsors of the expeditions.
“A lot of big people and gang leaders are involved in the trade. They come to us because we have the Haitian connect and we know how to manage the waters,” stated one source, who asked not to be identified for fear of prosecution by the police and execution by cronies.
“Most of us do deep-sea fishing for a living, so we know the channel to take to avoid the Jamaican and American Coast Guards,” he continued.
DOZEN TRIPS TO HAITI
Having conducted 12 successful expeditions, by his own admission, which have brought in more than 100 guns, the source gave details as to how the operation is undertaken from beginning to end.
“Them contact us (reference to the businessman or gang members) and tell us what they want to do, and we make the arrangements for them to bring the drugs to us for us to store till we are ready to take off,” he said.
“Normally, we charge 50 per cent, which we take in drugs, so we can get we own guns when we reach Haiti and take them back and sell to make our money,” he said, revealing that assault rifles like AK-47s can fetch upwards of $400,000, with 9mm Glock pistols or .45-calibre handguns commanding $250,000-$300,00.
According to the source, the sponsors are responsible for purchasing the fuel and sometimes supply a faster engine for the boat, which must be ready to get away to give them time to dump the cargo if they encounter the Coast Guard.
Boats carry at least 100 gallons of fuel in a secure container for a round trip that takes up to a day and a half, subject to variables such as weather or change of route to avoid interception by the Coast Guard.
“So we collect all the merchandise (drugs), and we watch the weather and the police them to make sure it’s clear to load the boat. When everything is done, we take off in the middle of the night and sometimes before daybreak.”
“When we reach Haiti, we anchor and stay pon the boat till the connection come to us. Thirty pounds of weed usually swaps for one rifle and 10 pounds for a handgun. A kilo of coke normally swap for three rifles,” he said.
The return trip, the source told The Gleaner, is fraught with the greatest danger – from the possibility of Haitians double-crossing them before leaving their territorial waters, to piracy on the high seas, to the fear of encountering US and Jamaican Coast Guard vessels.
“Whole heap of money involved, but mi done with this kind of life, so mi can talk about it. Mi si too much of my brethren dem a dead from the same guns. Also, the police dem a get high-tech now,” he said, referring to the ramping up of national security investment in maritime surveillance.
A number of residents with whom The Gleaner spoke also revealed that they were aware of an active trafficking network involving youth from Old Harbour Bay and Haiti, a problem with which the police are grappling. The residents said that the community was gripped by fear because the guns were being used to carry out robberies and murders in the greater Old Harbour area.
The Old Harbour police came under fire last Tuesday when St Catherine South West Member of Parliament Everald Warmington lambasted them for using the cover of a state of emergency to shut down wakes and entertainment events instead of collaring hardened ‘badmen’.
Citing police data, Warmington said that murders in Old Harbour and its environs had risen from 25 in 2018 to 35 last year while shootings also climbed from 26 to 33. Robberies also increased marginally.
When contacted by The Gleaner, Senior Superintendent Clive Blair, commander of the St Catherine South Police Division, acknowledged that law enforcers were aware of arms trafficking in Old Harbour Bay but offered no details on mitigation strategies.
“We are aware of the drugs-for-guns trade, and we are actively dealing with it. That’s all I can say at this time. We cannot divulge to the public our strategies,” Blair said.
However, National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang, in a recent interview with The Gleaner, said that the drugs-for-guns trade did not only affect Old Harbour Bay, but different spots along the entire south coast of Jamaica.
“These transnational crimes fall within the purview of the Coast Guard, who patrol the high seas, and the maritime fleet on the shoreline, and they have been reaping considerable success in interdicting drug boats,” said Chang, without providing data on gunrunning interceptions.
“We have spent millions modernising our maritime fleet, giving them vehicles, maritime patrol aircraft, and a better communication network. Part of their success was the seizure of some 4,000lb of cocaine in the Old Harbour Bay area last year,” the minister said.
According to the national security minister, the Coast Guard has been successful in stemming the flow of guns to the island from Haiti and other Central American countries by interdicting the drug boats.
“When the Coast Guard interdicts a drug boat, they are also interdicting guns, but you never get the guns because the smugglers dump them overboard,” Chang added.
Chang divulged last year that about 2,400 guns enter Jamaica’s shores illegally via 145 uncontrolled ports of entry every year. But of concern to the security forces is that annual gun seizures represent about a third of that number, which translates to a net deficit of around 1,600 arms.
Despite the imposition of states of emergency in almost half of Jamaica’s police divisions, gun seizures have fallen. The catch of illegal guns over the period January 1 to February 6 is at a four-year low. In 2020, there have been 61 such seizures, compared to 76 in 2019, 103 in 2018, and 107 in 2017.
The narrative is similar for the annual seizure of illegal guns over the past three years for the period January 1 to December 28. Gun finds have declined from 857 in 2017, to 718 in 2018, and a three-year low of 660 last year.
Ammunition seizures, however, climbed from 11,216 in 2018 to 14,264 in 2019. The latter figure, however, represents a more than 30 per cent decline from 21,756 rounds of ammo in 2017.


Festival Photos 2017 - Variety Night
This is normally the closing night of the festival where the Roy Mugridge Award is presented. Roy was a photographer for us in previous years and the award is given for Arts work with a different category in each festival. This year the category was "Ensembles". Photos courtesy of Chris Ludwick on behalf of the Festival.
Keith Baldwin acted as Master of Ceremonies for the evening.
The Stevenage Ukelele Band was formed from local Ukelele players and also some of the people who attended the Ukelele Family Jam events (Fringe events) in the Festival.
Stevenage Male Voice Choir conducted by Paul Rooke presented a range of songs including "The First New Town" written by Bishop/Rooke.
Daniel Garvin (a Talented Young Person award winner earlier that evening) played Meditation from Thais by Massenent and Libertango by Astor Piazolla (piece originally written for Bandoneon and orchestra) as a new form of Tango "Tango Nuevo".
The Grant School of Irish Dancing provided a lovely set of dances from both young and very young dancers.
Evan Hawkins (another TYP award winner) sang "The Bare Necessities".
Somewhere 2 Sing, a local group based at the Gordon Craig, rounded off the first half with a number of pop/rock songs.
The Roy Mugridge award was presented to the Marriotts school group that had created (and performed as finale for us on Monday evening) a dystopian modern view of Faustus. This team had won the "Rock Challenge" competition with this work.
Carlo Bregonzi (another TYP award winner) played Villa Lobos piece Mazurka Choro.
Romilly presented a dance she choreographed herself called "Dead Silence".
Yellow - Rock Band based at the Music Centre in Stevenage presented Radiohead's song "Fake Plastic Trees".
Just Sing Community Choir rounded off the evening with a mixed program of foreign song, traditional folk song, Jazz and ending with the show tune (from The Pyjama Game) "Hernando's Hideaway".
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Today’s blog is just of interest about Seagate’s farming region. We are always asked about the temperatures we have to endure to produce our crops, which include such diverse things as Olive trees, carrots, pomegranate, tomatoes, lemons and artichoke. Altogether we produce and process products from 10 different crops. Most people think of the area of farming in Baja California as a very dry hot desert. However, we also have our cold season, which can last for months. The photo below is from one of the sites where we grow, above the town of Ensenada.
At the moment, we have acres of artichoke and broccoli growing nearby. The photo below was taken in February, before the cold weather hit along with the snow.
Both the broccoli and the artichokes are very hardy plants. The cold periods will slow the growth and production of the vegetables but will not kill the plants. Sometimes you just need to relax allow Nature have its way. The snowy fields in the high desert region can be a thing of beauty. We also are very conscious that the 110+ degree summer weather will be approaching in a few months. This will stimulate much faster growth. However, in that sort of heat is very hard work.
Welcome to Seagate’s world in Baja California.

domain: agronomy


The lamps employ a solid-state, surface-mount device (SMD) design that protects their electronics against moisture, shock and vibration.
IPA’s portable trailer ABS tester is designed for offsite diagnostic capabilities without a truck.
It’s not the dark that you should be scared of. Instead, you should be scared of the dark with improper lighting specs.
Designers and engineers of multiple vehicle types are always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to develop new innovations that improve the driving experience. All-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes are a few examples that may have come to mind from past innovations. But what about vehicle lighting? For more than 130 years, vehicle lighting has
Truck-Lite has introduced new warning light derivatives of its Super 44 and 60 Series LED lights for municipal, construction and refuse fleets. Additionally, heated options of both lights are also available, completing an already strong lineup of heated LED lights that now provide customers with the most comprehensive cold-weather LED lighting solution in the industry.
When it comes to keeping your trucks on a roll, lighting isn’t typically the first thing you might think of, but don’t be mistaken. If you want to maximize safety and profitability and minimize downtime in your fleet, it takes a lot more than just changing a burnt out bulb when you notice it. It’s
Fleet managers have a truck ton of data coming at them, and with the evolving smart trailer landscape, there’s even more on the horizon. Trailer components like embedded tire sensors, ABS sensors and cargo sensors (to name a few) can provide fleets with actionable analytics to make smarter decisions. Of course, this means investing both
As Grote Industries enters its 121st year of operation, the family continues in its leadership and embraces change in preparation for the future. Recently, fourth-generation family members, Dominic, John and Mike Grote acquired 100% control of Grote Industries, Inc. Along with this expansion in their ownership, the vision for Grote has also progressed. Dominic Grote
Brake Light Buddy has released two models of its Brake Light Checking Tools for floor-mounted and hanging brake pedals. The tool allows users to check lighting equipment. By checking brake lights manually, users are able to verify that the brake light switch is working properly (factory circuit checkers do not check the switch), along with
Optronics International recently announced the introduction of its STLW and STL FusionX family of combination stop, tail, turn, backup and warning lights. Featuring a signature “X” LED lighting array in their centers, and available in eight SKUs, the FusionX lamps are the newest members of Optronics’ Fusion Series combination lamps. Optronics’ FusionX LED combination
In 2020, IIHS reported that a total of 2,974 of 53,890 fatal crashes involving passenger vehicles were caused by distractions ranging from daydreaming and text-messaging to eating and rubbernecking. In 2019, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported that least one driver-related factor was recorded for 33 percent of the large truck drivers in fatal
Optronics International, a manufacturer of vehicle harnesses, electronic control systems and LED lighting for the global transportation industry, announced the introduction of its new UCL45 Series LED utility, scene, work light. The lamps come with an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance and change the lumen-per-dollar equation in their lighting space. Their ratio of high lumens to low