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A Cheesemaking Challenge
Mar 01, 2012, Updated Sep 29, 2017
My friend Annette Cottrell, author of The Urban Farm Handbook, is organizing a year-long “urban homesteading” challenge on her blog, Sustainable Eats. (You may remember Annette from her October Unprocessed guest post a few months back.)
For each month this year, Annette has picked a different topic and asked some friends to issue a related challenge. This month’s topic is home dairy.
You probably don’t know this, but I’m somewhat of an accomplished home cheesemaker (okay, so I’m not that accomplished, but I have made a mean manchego). Before I started Eating Rules, I kept track of my dairy adventures at I Make Cheese (I’ve been so busy that I haven’t posted there in a while, sadly). I’ve made a fair number of cheeses, but I haven’t yet tackled the (intentionally) moldy ones, like camembert, brie, or roquefort.
Making cheese at home is probably far easier than you’d expect. Depending on the specific type, it can be anywhere from just a few short steps (chevre is ridiculously easy) to a lengthy process that involves pressing, waxing, and aging for months (patience is paramount when it comes to cheesemaking).
When I first started I was surprised to learn that most cheeses begin with the same ingredients and a similar process — it’s how, exactly, they are prepared. To oversimplify things a bit, it’s mostly a function of the timing and temperature for each step that changes the flavor, and then the aging brings out the flavor. Some cheeses do have different ingredients, of course, and may have different bacterial starters, or other specific cultures or molds added that will change the final result. When it first comes out of the press, a cheddar may taste the same as a jack or even a gouda. But once they’ve been aged for a few months? Then it’s a totally different story.
There are three main types of cheeses when it comes to home cheesemaking. First, the soft, devour-them-while-they’re-still-warm cheeses, like chevre, ricotta, or a “30-minute” mozzarella. Then there are the gooey, “bloomy-rind” cheeses, like camembert, which take only a few days to a few weeks until they’re ready. Finally, there are the hard cheeses like cheddar, which need to be pressed and then aged for at least two months to bring out the flavors.
The Basic Steps
Most cheesemaking follows a few simple steps, though of course it varies from cheese to cheese:
- Heating the milk
- Curdling the milk
- Separating the curds from the whey
- Cooking the curds
- Draining and/or Pressing
- Aging (depending on the cheese)
To make the basic cheeses — those instant gratification ones! — you only need a few tools, most of which are probably already in your kitchen. First is a good pot. For soft cheeses, a gallon of milk will generally yield about a pound-and-a-half of cheese (hard cheeses yield roughly a pound of cheese per gallon, since there’s less moisture in the final product). The recipe below calls for two quarts of milk. A 5- or 6-quart pot will do just fine.
Next is a dairy thermometer. Most cheesemaking doesn’t heat the milk above about 105 degrees, though some do bring the milk to near-boiling temperatures (don’t boil the milk or it’ll taste burned). A thermometer that reads in the range of 40 to 212 will be a good choice. Candy and meat thermometers have a range that’s too high. I use a relatively inexpensive digital thermometer (about $20), but when you’re just getting started, an analog one will do just fine and save you a few bucks.
After that, you’ll want to have cheesecloth or butter muslin. Butter muslin is very similar to cheesecloth, with a tighter mesh so less will slip through. (In a pinch, layering a few sheets of cheesecloth together often works just fine instead of butter muslin.) Note that you can easily rinse and reuse these cloths, they hold up surprisingly well.
Other items you’ll want to have handy include a slotted spoon (though any large spoon will do), measuring cups, and measuring spoons.
A Note on Ingredients
The most important ingredient in cheese is, of course, the milk. Above all else, be sure you do not use “ultra-pasteurized” milk — it’s been heated too high during the pasteurization process and won’t curdle properly. I have had success with Trader Joe’s Organic milk (it’s pasteurized, but not ultra-pasteurized).
Then you’ll need some kind of coagulant. This may be an acid, like vinegar, citric acid, or lemon juice. Or it may be an enzyme like rennet, which can come in liquid, tablet, or powder form. Traditionally, rennet is produced from the lining of a calf’s fourth stomach. I prefer to use a liquid vegetarian rennet (it’s produced from a fungus, which is far more palatable to me than calf stomach).
Some recipes call for a bacterial starter culture, which prepares the milk for the coagulant. This is a bit beyond the scope of this post, but be aware that you can buy freeze-dried, powdered starters that are remarkably simple to use. Or you can culture your own, and keep the culture going — just as you can with sourdough, kefir, yogurt, or kombucha.
Cheese isn’t cheese without salt. The salt functions in a variety of ways. For aged cheeses, it helps expel additional whey, drawing out more moisture from the cheese. It also acts as a preservative. Finally, it helps the flavor — unsalted cheese is remarkably bland.
The Challenge and a Giveaway!
If you’ve never made cheese before, this lemon cheese is a great place to start. If you have, then this may not be much of a challenge… but it’s still delicious!
It requires the bare-minimum of cheesemaking tools, most of which you probably already have, and doesn’t require any hard-to-find ingredients — it uses just milk, lemon juice, and salt. You could probably even get away with not using a thermometer — just be sure you don’t bring the milk to boiling.
Annette is also doing a giveaway in conjunction with this challenge. To enter, you’ll need to give the challenge a try, and then leave a comment or a link on her roundup post at the end of the month.
- 1/2 gallon Whole Milk, 2% will work, but produce a drier cheese
- 2 lemons, juiced, approximately 1/4 to 1/2 cup
- Approx. 1/2 tsp. Cheese Salt, any salt will do
- Finely chopped Herbs, such as chives, oregano, or lavender (optional)
- In a large pot over medium-low heat, gently bring the milk to 175 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to stir frequently to keep from scalding the milk.
- Turn off the heat. Add about 1/4 cup of lemon juice and stir well. Let sit for 15 minutes.
- After waiting, the milk should be curdled, and the whey (the liquid) should be clear. If it's still milky/cloudy, add more lemon juice, stir gently, and give it a few more minutes. Depending on the acidity of the lemon juice, it may take quite a bit more. It won't hurt to use more, but if you use more than necessary, the final result will have a stronger lemon flavor.
- Line a colander with butter muslin and gently pour the curds into it. Allow it to drain for a few minutes, and then tie the corners of the muslin together to form a bag.
- Hang the curds to drain. I use a twist-tie and rubber-band combination to hook the bag over the kitchen faucet.
- Allow to drain for 1-2 hours, until it stops dripping and has firmed up a bit. (If you're in a hurry you can speed the process somewhat by squeezing the bag gently from the top down).
- Remove the cheese and mix in the salt and herbs to taste.
- Ricki says to store the cheese in the fridge for 1-2 weeks, but I guarantee it'll be gone long before then.


Over this past weekend, developer NetherRealm teased gamers that a “huge announcement would be coming this week”, and without wasting anytime did just that today. An Ultimate Edition of DC Injustice: Gods Among Us will be not only coming to current consoles ,but to the PS4, PC, and PS Vita next month. It is priced at $59.99 for PS3, Xbox 360 and PS4, $49.99 for PC and $39.99 for Vita. The Ultimate Edition will include on one awesome disc, every single DLC character that has been released. No official word if all the skin packs will be included as well. The PS4 edition will feature a touch pad function, and the PS Vita is developed by newcomer Armature Studios.
My thoughts? Being a huge fan of this game who has already purchased the majority of the games DLC, this news seems more of a reward for the casual fans or gamers who have not bought the game yet. I would have hoped the gamers who have continued to hand over their wallets to buy all the DLC (which most likely contributed to the green light of the Ultimate Edition in the first place) would have gotten some new DLC character or a new arena. As for the PS4 release, even though I am sure it will be amazing, I don’t see many gamers buying this game twice, but for first time buyers, this is pure gold. (Source: GameInformer)


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Matthews International Corp.'s net income and revenue rose in the fourth quarter.
The Pittsburgh-based company's net income was $20.7 million, 71 cents a share, in the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to $12.2 million, 47 cents a share, in the fourth quarter of 2011. Revenues were $239.8 million in the quarter, up from $230.1 million a year ago.
For the full year, net income was up although revenue was slightly down. Matthews (Nasdaq: MATW) had full-year revenue of $72.4 million, $2.46 a share, on revenue of $898.8 million. That compared to net income of $55.8 million, $1.98 a share, on revenue of $900.3 million.
Fourth-quarter earnings were impacted by a decline in sales for bronze memorials and caskets along with a drop in sales in European markets, the company said.
Matthews said it expected earnings per share between $2.45 to $2.55 for the fiscal year 2013.
Paul J. Gough is digital producer at the Pittsburgh Business Times, handles social media, and writes about breaking news. Contact him at email@example.com or 412-208-3827. You can also follow him on Twitter.

domain: news


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VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) — COVID cases are on the rise as the nation battles the newest surge.
The omicron variant is spreading rapidly and that includes the 10 counties served by the Georgia Department of Public Health’s South Health District.
In three weeks the 7-day case increase for our 10 counties (Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Tift and Turner) has increased more than 20-fold. The 7-day case increase for December 16, 2021, was 116 for our 10 counties. The 7-day case increase as of January 6, 2022, is 2,381.
Vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission, and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging and South Health District wants to encourage all eligible individuals who have not been vaccinated to do so.
“We know that vaccines help decrease your chance of serious illness and hospitalization,” said District Health Director Dr. William Grow, MD, FACP. “We are more than one year out from the release of the first COVID vaccines. For those who were hesitant, now is the time. Vaccination is our best tool to overcome this virus.”
Only 53 percent of Georgians are fully vaccinated, and that number is significantly lower in some of the counties SHD serves. Rates of those who are fully vaccinated by county as of Jan. 6 are:
- Turner – 51%
- Brooks – 45%
- Tift – 41%
- Cook – 39%
- Ben Hill – 38%
- Irwin – 38%
- Lowndes – 37%
- Berrien – 32%
- Echols – 32%
- Lanier – 27%
The South Health District urges individuals who are not vaccinated to get vaccinated.

domain: medical


Test Gun: Sig P229.
Barrel length: 3.9 inches.
Ammunition: Cor Bon .357 Sig 125gr JHP
Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel. Distance: 10 feet. Chronograph: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2. Five shot velocity average: 1397fps
Gel Temperature 70 degrees.
*Note* This test was conducted with Clear Ballistics Gel. Clear Ballistics is a synthetic gel and does not correlate with Organic gelatin like Vyse Ballistics gelatin.
It’s been a long time since I used Cor Bon ammo. Back in the late ’80s, it was my load of choice in the 9mm. A lot has changed since then and ammo today is no exception. At the time their 115gr JHP +P was the cats meow so to speak. If my chronograph at the time was to be believed I was getting almost 1300fps out of my Glock 19.
This test was the first time I have shot any Cor Bon in forever but I decided to pick up some in my recent ammo buying spree. It’s also been a while since I tested any .357 Sig, so I got it in that caliber. As we will see, it was unfortunately wrought with problems.
I got a five-shot average velocity of 1397fps with a high of 1493 and a low of 1355fps. That’s a 138fps extreme spread.
When picking up the fired cases I noticed that one of the cases had blown a primer. At that point, I decided to check every case as it came out of the gun.
The first round across the chronograph had a velocity of 1335fps, and when I picked up the case it had a noticeable crack around it about midway up the case. It was also visible on the inside of the case as well.
At this point, a smarter man would have stopped, but I’m not a smarter man and decided to move forward. There were no other blown primers or cracked cases for the rest of the four rounds.
The first round into the bare gel had a velocity of 1410fps and penetrated to 16 inches. The recovered weight was 91 grains and it expanded to .48 inches. Round two. Wait, what happened to round two. The round would not chamber and I discovered the previous round had a case head separation and the front portion was still in the chamber. I tried to find the case from the first shot before loading the second but I couldn’t. I finally found the back portion the the case after looking some more.
At this point I became a smarter man and stopped. After getting the front half of the case out of the chamber I fired 20 rounds of some Sig FMJ and a few Sig V-Crown I had left over. There was no blown primes or cracked cases.
Looking for Ammo? Buy at Lucky Gunner and help support my Blog.


Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today laid the foundation stone of the Mawlyndep Hospitality Complex, at Mawlyndep village in Ri-Bhoi district.
The Rs 29 crore project is sanctioned under the New Development Bank, which is part of the BRIC Nations initiative. It spreads over an area of approximately 10 acres.
Speaking at the function, the Chief Minister reiterated said that the state was not under debt trap due to huge loans taken from various sources especially from foreign banks. “The government of Meghalaya has been taking funds from international institutions but is coming through the government of India which has been subsidised at a rate of 72 per cent,” he said.
He also stated that Meghalaya is the highest beneficiary of externally aided projects amounting to almost 7500 crore from the centre.
Further, the Chief Minister said that approximately 4000 crore will be invested in the tourism sector in the next four years creating an estimated 50,000 jobs.
“Further, announcement of an additional 120 crore was sanctioned yesterday by the Prime Minister for development in East Khasi Hills and other parts of the state,” he said.
He also spoke of the huge potential that the state would benefit from the release of the Northeast Industrial Policy.
On completing the project at Mawlyndep the Chief Minister said, “Work order has already been given to the contractors and expecting it to be finished in 24 months and is scheduled to be inaugurated in the year 2026.”
Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said that tourism is a viable and sustainable means of livelihood and a revenue generation opportunity which has stood the test of time. As an example he cited Sohra which has immensely benefitted from tourism as in contrast to MCCL which is on the brink of closure.
Rajya Sabha MP WR Kharlukhi in his speech said that the adoption of Mawlyndep on the concept village of model village is not just about development but inclusiveness of community cooperation, participation and also in terms of a broader mindset to be able to harness a healthy tourism ecosystem here at the village.


The handover ceremony of 15 Vietnam branded buses for export to the Philippines was organized in Chu Lai port, Quang Nam province, Central Vietnam on December 18 by Truong Hai Auto Corporation (THACO).
The localization rate of these buses is over 45%. They are equipped with EURO 5 engines, which meet the emission standards, being efficient in fuel and environmentally friendly.
Their exteriors (body, chassis, mechanical components, composite components) and the interior (lighting systems, seats, wires, glass, plastic components) are designed and manufactured in Chu Lai. THACO has also made a deal of 200-bus export in 2020 with the Philippines’ Autodelta company .
Since 2005, THACO has provided over 17,000 buses for Vietnamese market, accounting for 65 percent of the market share.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Vietnamese Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said this event was very significant for THACO in particular and Vietnamese automobile industry in general.
The export of Vietnam branded buses to the Philippines will pave the way for the export of automobiles made in Vietnam, and increase regional and global integration.
According to Chairman of THACO’s Board of Directors Tran Ba Duong, THACO committed to further investing in automobile manufacturing and support industries to improve the Vietnam’s competitiveness in the global value chain.
Also on December 28, THACO exported some automobile spare parts to the Republic of Korea and Japan.
In 2019, THACO exported 186 vehicles. It plans to export 1,026 vehicles of all kinds in 2020.
This is the first commercial bus shipment of THACO after more than 16 years of investment and development in the Vietnamese automotive industry.


Tinubu Media Office has denied the alleged meeting between the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Reports had claimed that Tinubu who departed the country for France on Thursday met with Wike, though the details of the alleged meeting, rumours had it that it was tied to the furtherance of his presidential ambitions.
A chieftain of the APC and Special Adviser for Drainage and Water Resources to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe was said to have confirmed that the meeting between Tinubu and Wike held in France.
Premium Politics had reported that Wike had been left aggrieved after he was snubbed by the Peoples Democratic Party flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, who chose Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate, ditching the recommendation of 14 out of 17 members of the committee set up by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, which favoured Wike.
However, in a statement titled, ‘Asiwaju Tinubu’s Supposed Meeting With Governor Wike In France Is Fake News’, Tinubu Media Office denied the report.
“We have seen a viral social media post made by one of the chieftains of All Progressives Congress in Lagos State and media reports emanating from same about a supposed meeting in France between APC Presidential Standard-bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
“It has become imperative to set the record straight. Although Asiwaju Tinubu is presently in France, he didn’t have any meeting with Governor Wike whether in that country or anywhere whatsoever.
“This, however, does not detract from the fact that the APC presidential candidate holds Governor Wike in high esteem.
“And given the national and across-party line’s appeal of Asiwaju Tinubu’s candidature, he will not hesitate to meet any important national leader when desirable.
“As made public earlier, Asiwaju Tinubu is in France for some important engagements. He will return to the country shortly.
“We would like, once again, to advise journalists to always cross-check their information with appropriate officers before rushing to press to avoid unintended errors,” Tinubu’s aide, Tunde Rahman wrote on Friday.


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You can check our page for the ideal oven temperatures for food, oven temperatures and oven temperature ratings.
Rated for oven temperature and oven temperature;
150 ° C Oven heat is considered warm temperature.
170 ° C – 190 ° C Oven heat is considered medium temperature
220 ° C Oven heat is considered hot.
230 ° C – 240 ° C Oven heat is considered to be hot and hot.
Ideal oven temperatures for oven temperatures;
The ideal oven temperatures for pastries are considered to be 180 – 200 ° C.
Ideal oven temperatures for fermented pastries are accepted as 160 – 180 ° C.
The ideal oven temperature for fish is 200 – 220 ° C.
The ideal oven temperatures for lamb meats are considered to be 200-260 ° C.
The ideal oven temperatures for beef are 200 – 280 ° C.
The ideal oven temperature for chicken meats is 175 – 200 ° C.
The ideal oven temperatures for casseroles are 175 -230 ° C.
Ideal oven temperatures for cakes are accepted as 160 – 200 ° C.
Ideal oven temperatures for small paper cakes are accepted as 150 – 170 ° C.
Ideal oven temperatures for sponge cakes or rolls are accepted as 170 – 180 ° C.
Ideal oven temperatures for cookies are accepted as 160 – 180 ° C.
Although the recommended temperature for baking cakes or puffs is 180 ° C, to be realistic, the baking times of each oven differ from those caused by the oven heat loss and the like. To catch the consistency of the food you cooked, you can also review the article on cooking times, which is another factor you need to be aware of as well as the oven temperatures.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

domain: food


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|Meghan Rienks Quick Info|
|Height||5 ft 9 in|
|Date of Birth||August 4, 1993|
Meghan Rienks is a famous American actress and YouTuber who is known for actively posting videos and pictures related to beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. She goes by the name of Meghan Rosette on her social media and has garnered a huge fanbase over the years. She has more than 1.5 million followers on Instagram, over 2.5 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, and over 650k followers on Twitter.
Meghan Rose Rienks
San Francisco, California, United States
Los Angeles, California, United States
She completed her elementary education from an alternative learning school. She then attended the University of California, Riverside.
According to her “Draw My Life” video, she was also a part of a sorority in college.
YouTuber, Actress, Writer, Producer, Entrepreneur
- Siblings – She is a single child.
Meghan Rienks is managed by –
- Avi Wasserman and Frank Jung, Talent Agents, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Kendall Rhodes, Manager, Paraluman Media, Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Eman Redwan, Talent Agent Commercial, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Rick Genow, Legal Representative, Stone, Genow, Smelkinson, Binder & Christopher, Beverly Hills, California, USA.
- Santini Reali, Talent Agent Television, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Los Angeles, California, USA.
5 ft 9 in or 175 cm
55 kg or 121 lbs
Boyfriend / Spouse
Meghan Rienks has dated –
- Keenan – In junior year of her high school, she fell in love with her guy friend Keenan. But things did not work out between them and in the spring of her senior year, they broke up. Meghan had a terrible break up which made her depressed. She not only lost her first love but also lost her best friend.
- Mats Engdahl (2015-Present) – Since 2015, Meghan has been dating Mats whom she met through work. They knew each other for about a year and a half before dating. For their first date, they went to the Dodgers playoff game. The duo shares an apartment together. They plan to get married and have children one day. They love watching MasterChef, West World and Game of Thrones together.
Race / Ethnicity
She has Dutch ancestry.
- Slim toned body
- Rounded chin
- Beautiful smile
Meghan Rienks has endorsed –
- Secret Deodorant
- Show Me Your Mumu
- KIND Snacks
- Converse Style
- Fresh Beauty
- Jergens US
- CND World
- Smashbox Cosmetics
- Adore Me
- Graziela Gems
- EF Collection
- Rebecca Minkoff
- Old Navy
Best Known For
- Her huge personality on the internet where she runs a YouTube channel under the name MeghanRosette and shares posts on beauty, fashion, baking, and lifestyle and has over 2.3 million subscribers
- Having more than 1.5 million followers on Instagram, over 650k on Twitter and 250k+ on Facebook
- Playing versatile roles in series and features like Freakish (2016-2017), Student Body President (2016-2018), Oscar’s Hotel for Fantastical Creatures (2015)
First TV Show
In 2013, she made her first TV show appearance in the ‘Pilot’ episode of the musical drama series Side Effects as Queen Bee.
Meghan Rienks works out on a regular basis. She confesses that it helps her to combat depression and anxiety. She loves spin classes and Pilates.
Meghan Rienks Favorite Things
- Color – White
- Healthy Snacks – Frozen mango, frozen peas, and frozen corn
- Food – Split Pea Soup
- Christmas Movie – The Polar Express (2004)
- TV Shows Of All Time – F.R.I.E.N.D.S (1994-2004) and Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
- Songs Of All Time – “Believe” by Josh Groban and “River Flows” by Yiruma
- Quote – “Fate loves the fearless”
- Flavor Of Sweet – Dark chocolate
- Piece Of Jewelry – The gold and diamond finger ring which she got for her 16th birthday
Source – YouTube
Meghan Rienks Facts
- As a child, she took classes in acting, dance, and voice.
- When she was growing up, she played the flute.
- In 3rd grade, Meghan did her first play called The Wiz.
- She recalls her middle school experience as being rough as she was chubby and wore transition glasses.
- Her best friend’s name is Sydney.
- On June 16, 2010, she started her YouTube channel.
- She has a tattoo “GTB” meaning “Good Turned Beautiful” on the inside of her lip.
- In 2017, she won The Streamy Awards for Best Ensemble Cast for Student Body President (2016).
- Her dream role is to play a superhero character.
- Visit her official merchandise website @ shopmartie.com.
- Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, iTunes, and YouTube.
Featured Image by Meghan Rienks / Instagram

domain: celebrity


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National Conference and AGM 2016
Our National Conference and Annual General Meetings (AGM) bring Amnesty members from around the UK in one place to inspire, motivate and make some of our most important decisions.
The 2016 National Conference and AGM was held at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, on April 9 and 10.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for a weekend of truly inspiring workshops, discussions and talks.
What you decided
You also had your say on the work of Amnesty International UK. Here's what you voted on:
- AGM 2016 resolutions
- AGM 2016 decisions
- Breakdown of voting results
- AGM decisions implementation report
- AGM Chair: Alex Rhys (formerly Alex Pool)
- SOC: Anne McFarlane, Melvin Coleman and Sheila Banks
- Membership and Directors Appeals Committee: Maggie Towse, Barrie Hay and Reg Pyne
A weekend of activism and inspiration
We were delighted to be joined by Justine Ijeomah, a Nigerian human rights activist and long-term supporter of Moses Akatugba. Both days saw interactive stalls and clinics, workshops and talks to inspire, debate and challenge.
On the Saturday evening we heard from our keynote panel on the refugee crisis:
- Dr Natalie Roberts, Policy Advisor on Refugees and Migration in Europe at MSF
- Forward Maisokwadzo, Development Worker at City of Sanctuary
- Trevor Truman, Malvern Hills Amnesty group and the Asylum Justice Project
- Steve Symonds, Refugee and Migrants Rights Programme Director at Amnesty UK
Read the speeches by:
Photos from the AGM 2016
Want to get involved next time?
Our National Conference and AGM is an annual two-day event where Amnesty members from all over the UK come together to shape how we're run.
The AGM is for all members of Amnesty International UK. If you're not a member but want to come to an AGM, join Amnesty as a member today.
- Amnesty AGM and Conference Booklet 2016

domain: sociology


text: History Avian influenza remains a serious threat to human health. growth factor (TGF)-β2. This was supported by the observation that GDC-0449 this inhibitory effect could be reversed by antagomiR-141. Conclusions Since TGF-β2 is an important cytokine that can act as both an GDC-0449 immunosuppressive agent and a potent proinflammatory molecule through its ability to attract and regulate inflammatory molecules and previous report showed that only seasonal influenza H1N1 (but not the other avian influenza subtypes) could induce a persistent expression of TGF-β2 we speculate that this modulation of TGF-β2 expression by different influenza subtypes via miR-141 might GDC-0449 be a critical step for determining the outcome of either normal or excessive inflammation progression. – 5′ while that of TGF-β2 3′UTR is usually: 5′-AGAGCCUUGGUUCAUmodel we could apply these to the real situation of an model or tissue comprised of different cell types. In real bronchial environments lung epithelial cells are the key target of influenza viruses [33 34 After these cells are infected they will activate an inflammatory cascade which launches a quick antimicrobial reaction and directs adaptive immunity to mount a defensive response. Bronchial epithelial cells as a result modulate PDGFRA the activation of monocytes macrophages dendritic cells (DC) and T lymphocytes through cytokines and chemokines. Cytokines and chemokines generally function within an autocrine (in the creating cell itself) or paracrine (on close by cells) way. These mediators will donate to the era of a particular bronchial homeostatic microenvironment that impacts how your body copes using the infections. This homeostatic “circuit” can inhibit extreme inflammatory response in lung tissue . For example TGF-β had been reported to mediate a cross-talk between alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells . Nevertheless our findings present that during extremely pathogenic H5N1 avian pathogen contamination miR-141 would be induced shortly after contamination. With high level of miR-141 the expression of TGF-β would be suppressed from your lung epithelial cells. Without sufficient TGF- β the pro-inflammatory response might not be tightly controlled in cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian computer virus contamination. This might explain the mechanism concerning bronchial infiltration of inflammatory cells particularly lymphocytes and eosinophils and the subsequent hyperresponsiveness of the bronchial wall induced by viral contamination. Our study has some limitations that will need to be resolved in future studies. Firstly we did not assess the functions of other miRNAs whose expression were also altered after contamination. The miRNA microarrays that we used did not contain probes for every known miRNA; thus it is possible that influenza A computer virus contamination affects the expression of some other miRNAs not yet covered by the kit used in the current study. Secondly the computer virus may interact with miRNA regulatory pathways differently in other cell or tissue types or in other physiological status. Conclusions In conclusion based GDC-0449 on the broad-catching miRNA microarray approach we found that dysregulation of miRNA expression is mainly observed in highly pathogenic avian influenza contamination. We recognized that miR-141 was induced at early time points upon influenza A computer virus contamination. The induction was higher in H5N1 contamination than that of seasonal H1N1 contamination. Moreover TGF-β2 which plays an important role in regulating inflammatory processes was identified as a target of miR-141 binding. As a result influenza A computer virus contamination in particular highly pathogenic H5N1 could impact the inflammatory processes via miR-141 induction. Methods Computer virus isolates The influenza A H5N1 computer virus (A/Thai/KAN1/2004) (H5N1/2004) was isolated from a patient with fatal contamination in Thailand in 2004. To serve as a comparison a human seasonal H1N1 strain isolated in 2002 – (A/HongKong/CUHK-13003/2002) (H1N1/2002) was included. The research use of these samples was approved by the Joint CUHK – NTEC Research Ethics Committee Hong Kong and the strains were isolated from your patients as part of standard care. Cell cultures The bronchial epithelial cells – NCI-H292 derived from human lung mucoepidermoid carcinoma cells (ATCC CRL-1848 Rockville.


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Stuart over at Ebony & Pearl photography (great photographer check out their website) gave me a couple of great studio shots to retouch, giving me free reign to play around with as I saw fit, cheers Stuart!. This particular shot I decided to give a grittier look to…..
Category Archives: Retouch
In this tutorial I will use the brush I created in the previous tutorial to tattoo someone. The image of the bloke who will be my victim can be found on sxc.hu – 493495_92373417 – if you wish to follow along.
1. Open the image and duplicate it, convert to black and white (by whatever means you wish) and increase its contrast a little, save this file in a .psd format on your desktop. This file is what you are going use as a displacement map. A displacement map uses the tones in a grayscale image to distort the pixels of a target to match the contours of the source image.
2. Go back to the original and create a new blank layer above the background.
3. Select the cross brush as created in the tutorial below and paint onto this layer. Position and scale into position.
4. Next select Filter> Distort> Displace, in the resulting dialog box I set both the horizontal and vertical scale to 5 leaving the other option to their defaults. The is no preview with this dialog so you will have to experiment with different settings depending on your image and its resolution, but generally I find a displacement scale of 5 to 10 works well.
5. When you hit ok navigate to the black & whit image you created in step 1 and chose it.
6. In order to blend the tattoo even further it is necessary to experiment with blending modes, which ones you will choose is not set in stone as it depends on what you are blending and to what. I duplicated the layer twice applied a colour blending mode at 55% opacity to the bottom layer, a 60% overlay blending mode to the middle layer, and a 30% mulitply blending mode to the top layer.The colour, overlay, multiply and hard light blending modes work best when trying to blend layers like this.
One of the services I provide at Farlco Digital Imaging is the restoration of old and not so old photographs. The level of restoration can vary quite a bit depending on your requirements and the state of the original. Each image presents different challenges, there could be tears or rips in the photo or strong discoloration. This example on the face of it looks quite simple but I spent a couple of hours on it. For more details check out my website www.farlco.com.
This week I was trawling through the images on sxc.hu again looking for images that I could possibly enhance (there are many), I found this one, which when viewed on it’s own looked fine, well exposed etc. Even so, I felt it was a little flat and might look better with a slightly edgier more contrasty look. Hope you agree!While I was at it I did a little skin smoothing and a general retouch…….

domain: artistic


A man talks about his decision to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada... at night and alone.
This piece was part of The Decisions Project. Learn more at: thedecisionsproject.com
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Dr. Shibli is an economist and works in information technology. He is currently Senior Research Fellow at International Sustainable Development Institute, Boston, USA. He writes a regular column, "An Open Dialog", for The Daily Star, the largest circulation English-language newspaper for Bangladesh. He has a PhD and Masters in Economics from Boston University. He is the author of six books and has published several article in refereed journals. He was a professor, IT professional and journalist.


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Several bridge clubs and county associations use the BridgeWebs web service. Click on the name below to see how they are using the software.
Several bridge clubs/associations use the BridgeWebs software. Use the Buttons and/or Search box to find a club.
Each club has used the features of the web site software in different ways. Clubs where a "Trial" site has been requested are marked with an *.
- Some have made extensive use of the feature allowing you to set up competitions so that, when the results are uploaded from the Bridge Scoring software, the competitions are automatically updated. Then, the web site is up to date immediately the results are calculated and uploaded.
- With the power of a real time system and features of BridgeWebs, the Bridge Scoring software results are reformatted to allow members to view and print their own scorecards, competitions or any other aspect that they may be interested in.
- Some BridgeWebs sites use pictures. You can upload pictures taken at your club and attach these to your "News" pages to give added attractiveness to your web site or use one of the standard supplied images.

domain: hobby


text:
Catalonia is set to become a pioneer after presenting its country-wide, strategic artificial intelligence (AI) plan. The plan, in line with European Commission recommendations in this field, will be people-centred and adopt a cross-disciplinary approach that views disruption as an opportunity and aims to take full advantage of the technology’s potential for the benefit of society. This was the explanation given by the minister for Digital Policy and Public Administration, Jordi Puigneró, who affirmed that “artificial intelligence has to make itself of service by enhancing people’s capabilities rather than taking their place, since it should contribute to improving the well-being of individuals and groups”.
Puigneró announced that the ‘Catalonia.AI’ artificial intelligence strategic plan will tackle the challenges posed by this technology. According to the minister, the document that experts from different areas, sectors and universities have been working on for the past six months, led by the Ministry for Digital Policy and Public Administration, will provide the framework for a cross-sector, cross-disciplinary strategic plan that will focus on and be managed by people, and will concentrate on five sectors (healthcare, society, mobility, sustainability and a productive economy). The plan will first be rolled out within the public administration. The minister specified that thanks to this strategy we will be able to “build an artificial intelligence ecosystem that will enable us to develop a first-class industry”. In addition, according to Puigneró, “it will show the European Union that Catalonia has a hub of players working together to develop a win-win strategy”.
Puigneró made these declarations during the presentation of the European AI4EU (Artificial Intelligence for the European Union) project, which he described as “a great project that positions Europe on the world map of talent and artificial intelligence alongside world leaders in AI”.
In this context, the minister expressed his gratitude for being able to “share the Catalan government’s firm commitment to artificial intelligence with the rest of the scientific and academic community and European authorities, as well as the pioneering work carried out in this field in Catalonia over the past 25 years”. “A Europe where we can say with pride that Catalonia is among the five leading countries in AI”, insisted Puigneró.
The minister explained that “this sector will boost the territory’s GDP in the coming years, as has happened with mobile technology and the apps industry, and will soon happen with 5G”. Specifically, it is estimated that by 2030, artificial intelligence will account for a 15.7 billion dollar additional increase in global GDP. At the Spanish state level, this could represent 0.8% growth in GDP.
As part of the presentation, minister Puigneró met with the director for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Industry within the Directorate-General CONNECT at the European Commission, Lucilla Sioli.
The presentation of the AI4EU project, which took place today at the Vèrtex building in Barcelona, brought together 79 EU entities, with 60 leading research centres, including the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.
Coordinated by the French electronics company Thales, the AI4EU project will receive 20 million Euros in funding from the EC and its goal is to mobilise leading European AI players to make AI resources to facilitate scientific research and innovation available to users. Establishment of an AI4EU Ethical Observatory is also planned to ensure a human-centred approach to artificial intelligence.


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Investing in Money Market Fund in Kenya require that you put your money in a best insurance or bank where you are assured of high interest rates .There are over 15 companies that offer Money Market Fund investment option, which is under Unit Trusts. For those planning to join, you are advised to pick the best company, where high interest is guaranteed. Some of the parameters to use to determine ideal company include:
- Interest Rates-they should be high
- Stability of the company-The Company must have solid foundations and heavily regulated.
Every week, companies publish results of their Money Market Fund performance, and from the results, CIC Insurance, Madison, Amana and Old Mutual always lead the rest in terms of interest rates.
If you are planning to join this type of investment, here is a list of best companies to contact:
CIC Insurance Company
CIC is regarded as the best company to invest your money. You can do this using the following steps:
CIC Money Market Fund
The CIC Money Market fund is a low risk fund which invests in diversified near cash, interest bearing instruments in the Kenyan market.
The fund invests in high quality interest bearing investments, fixed deposits, and near cash holdings in the Kenyan Market.
This fund is:
- For the investor looking for a safe parking place for their funds and with a low risk appetite- preservation of capital.
Returns on the Money Market Fund.
Returns consist of interest from the various interest bearing instruments and is credited monthly. It is recommended that the interest be reinvested in to the fund so as to maximize return on investment through compounded growth. It is recommended that the funds be invested for at least 1 year.
The interest is credited to investor’s account monthly for investors who roll over credited to investors’ bank account for investors who need a regular cash flow.
The interest rate will fluctuate with market dynamics. CIC endeavors to invest prudently and negotiate competitively to give its customers the best rates possible in the market taking investor’s security of their investment into consideration.
- Minimum investment amount is Kshs. 5,000. Minimum additional amount is Kshs. 1,000.
- NO initial fees are charged on the Money Market fund
- Access to your money is when required with a short notice of 2 – 4 working days.
- Monthly statement is sent.
At Britam,you can invest in Unit Trusts and specify a low risk investment like Money Market. Your funds will be spefically used for Money market trading, which is regarded as a riskless investment
BRITAM UNIT TRUST
A unit trust , also known as a collective investment scheme or a mutual fund is a professionally managed investment fund in which investors’ contributions are pooled together to purchase financial securities, such as equities (shares), bonds, cash, bank deposits etc In Kenya, Unit Trusts are regulated by Capital Markets Authority.
Unit Trust funds Benefits.
- Increased diversification: A fund normally holds many financial securities; diversification decreases risk.
- Daily liquidity: Unitholders can buy and sell their units on a daily basis
- Professional investment management: unit trust funds hire portfolio managers to supervise the fund’s investments.
- Ability to participate in investments that may be available only to larger investors. For example, individual investors often find it difficult to invest directly in foreign markets.
- Government oversight: Unit trust funds are regulated by CMA
- Ease of comparison: All mutual funds are required to report the same information to investors, which makes them easy to compare.
BRITAM BALANCED FUND
A money market fund invests mainly in fixed income securities with short investment duration and high credit quality. These fund aims to obtain a high level of current income than most bank deposits while protecting investor’s capital. It invests in money market securities with a maturity of less than 12 months allowing for a higher than average rate of return as well as immediate liquidity. The income that the fund earns is accrued daily and distributed to the unit holders net of fund costs.
The Britam money market fund is your ideal investment option for cash you intend to use to meet your short term goals.
These may include:
- School Fees
- Deposit – Car/Mortgage /Land
- Chama/Investment Funds
- Family and Staff welfare funds – for weddings and burials etc.
- Wedding planning
- Construction/Project funds
- Holiday Planning, etc.
Amana Capital performs exemplary when it comes to Unit Trusts. The company has highly qualified Fund Managers who invest customers’ funds in high return investments. You can see from the table below the performance of the company for the last 1 year.
|Amana Unit Trust Returns
|The % shows what you would have made if you had invested with Amana Capital 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or 1 year ago.
MADISON ASSET MONEY MARKET FUND
This is an excellent savings account. If you are looking to build up your savings or if you want to keep your funds for a short period of time, this is the ideal fund for you.
- You will earn interest which is credited and re-invested at the end of each month.
- Your capital will remain safe.
- You will get competitive rates based on the market.
- No entry or exit fee is charged, you can top up at any point or withdraw your funds at any point and the same is credited to your account within two days.
- For first time investors, this would be the best starting point.
- Yield on investment is published daily in the newspapers.
INITIAL INVESTMENT IS KSHS. 50,000

domain: finance


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Prosecutor: Simple possession of pot no longer prosecuted
Calhoun County has stopped prosecuting people for possessing small quantities of marijuana.
"These are simple cases and the voters spoke and they don't want us to pursue simple possession," Prosecutor David Gilbert said Monday. "If we have cases in place we will hold them until the law is certified and if its 2.5 ounces or less we won't follow through."
Voters approved a ballot issue making 2.5 ounces or less of marijuana legal to possess for anyone 21 and older and residents can have up to 12 plants and 10 ounces in their homes.
The law takes effect Dec. 6.
And while law enforcement officials still have questions about the implementation of the new law, Gilbert said, "I made my decision a few days ago as soon as they passed the law. We are not going to waste our time or county resources with prosecution."
Chief Jim Blocker of the Battle Creek Police Department said his officers are no longer seeking charges for minor possession of the drug.
"We won't charge as long as they are within the basic guidelines under Prop 1," Blocker said. "Simple possession, we are not going to deal with it."
Calhoun County Sheriff Matt Saxton said deputies also are not arresting for simple possession.
"It's grow your own, smoke your own," he said. "They can have in their possession up to 2.5 ounces. We are treating it like the law is in effect."
Saxton emphasized that the law prohibits anyone younger than 21 from using marijuana and from anyone smoking marijuana in public or driving under the influence of marijuana, although possession of a legal limit in the car won't be prosecuted
Officers will continue to stop drivers they believe are under the influence and conduct sobriety tests, although Gilbert said state authorities are still trying to determine how much marijuana in a person's system qualifies as being under the influence.
The sale of marijuana, other than medical marijuana, remains illegal and Blocker said the city's other governmental units will continue to work on regulations and any changes in ordinances for several months.
He said his officers have begun training on several aspects of the new law.
And Gilbert said because of the new law he has concerns about increased black market sale of marijuana, use by juveniles, drivers operating under the influence and more people seeking treatment in emergency rooms and for mental health issues.
Contact Trace Christenson at 269-966-0685 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter:@TSChristenson


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- Boris Johnson claims a no-deal Brexit will be “vanishingly inexpensive.”
- His rival for prime minister, Jeremy Hunt, accuses him of “peddling optimism.”
- The two men clashed during a fiery televised leadership debate.
- Johnson is the current favourite to replace Theresa May as prime minister later this month.
- Visit Business Insider’s home page for more stories.
A no-deal Brexit would be “vanishingly inexpensive” to the British economy, Boris Johnson has said.
The UK government’s own official estimates suggest a no-deal Brexit would cost the UK between 6.3% to 10.7% in lost growth over 15 years.
However, Johnson told a televised leadership debate on Tuesday evening, that leaving the EU without a deal would not do significant damage to Britain’s economic prospects as long as it was properly prepared for.
“The crucial thing is to prepare,” Johnson told his rival for prime minister Jeremy Hunt.
"It's vanishingly inexpensive if you prepare. So for instance we have to ensure that the agricultural is properly safeguarded and we have deals on aviation."
Johnson acknowledged that it could be "costly" if it was "badly-handled" but insisted that Britain should be optimistic about the prospects of leaving without a deal.
He also insisted that leaving without a deal would allow the UK to withhold the £39 billion it has pledged to pay the EU as part of its divorce arrangements.
Hunt responded by accusing Johnson of "peddling optimism," to which Johnson replied "I think his country needs a bit of optimism."
Johnson: A no-deal Brexit will be 'vanishingly inexpensive'
— ITV News (@itvnews) July 9, 2019


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At Long Last, Lawsuits
Kazuyoshi Yuoka is no firebrand and he doesn't make a habit of filing lawsuits. It was Sumitomo Corp.'s 1996 annual meeting that drove him to it. Yuoka, then a holder of 2,000 Sumitomo shares, attended the meeting to hear company executives explain how Sumitomo lost $2.6 billion trading copper in a scandal that got worldwide headlines. But Sumitomo packed the proceeding with company employees and allies who drowned out questions from shareholders like Yuoka with boos and hisses and cheered in support of directors' motions, allowing the meeting to conclude in just 38 minutes. "They acted like it never even happened," Yuoka recalls, incredulous. Disgusted, the third-generation owner of a small textile firm did the unthinkable: He sued. Yuoka charged Sumitomo with gross negligence under the commercial code, asking for 200 billion yen ($1.7 billion) in damages on behalf of all shareholders.
Five years later the case is still pending, a victim of Japan's glacial legal system. But Yuoka has already won, in a sense. Despite Japanese cultural taboos against taking grievances to court, shareholder lawsuits are multiplying rapidly, thanks partly to Yuoka's courage. The number of court cases pending has risen from 31 in 1992 to more than 280 in 1999, according to figures compiled by Japanese courts.
In Japan, shareholder lawsuits are very much a matter of principle--a protest against what investors see as rising corporate arrogance. They can only be brought against executives, and any payout is from those execs to the company. Plaintiffs get nothing. Yet the symbolism of a victory against management is huge. "Lawsuits are the only way to check bad behavior in the boardroom," says Koji Morioka, a Kansai University professor and spokesman for Japan's leading shareholder rights group.
COVERUP. Who's next in line to face investor ire? Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Shareholder activists plan to file suit next month against former Mitsubishi officials implicated in a scandal that has dented vehicle sales and the company's stock price. If the suit goes forward, the group will ask for $84.6 million to compensate shareholders for the writeoff that followed the company's admission that it had covered up reports of defects in its autos for 30 years.
In a sign that the suits are starting to inflict some real pain, Japan Inc. is fighting back. The Big Business lobby, Keidanren, is pushing its allies in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to introduce a bill designed to curtail "frivolous" suits. Legislation expected to come before Parliament later this year would allow companies to bankroll their executives' defense and cap damage awards against company directors at two years' salary. Currently, their potential liability is unlimited. Fortunately for shareholders, the proposed law would not limit damages in cases of gross negligence or criminal acts, which are the bases for the bulk of claims. But the intent to curb these suits is clear enough, and so is the fear behind the law. "The threat of suits has spooked a lot of executives who never had to worry about the risk before," says corporate-defense attorney Naoto Nakamura.
The list of companies whose executives have settled with miffed investors in the past two years alone includes such heavyweights as Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, broker Cosmo Securities, and general contractor Obayashi. Payouts in those cases totaled $2.4 million.
Seeking legal redress for alleged transgressions against shareholders was almost unheard-of before 1993. That's when the Japanese government made it easier for investors to sue by adopting a flat filing fee--of about $70--rather than forcing aggrieved shareholders to pay a percentage up front of the total amount claimed, often tens of thousands of dollars. Now that any Tom, Dick, or Hiroshi can afford them, lawsuits have become a tool for small shareholders to keep executives on their toes. "It has been extremely healthy for the evolution of corporate governance in Japan," says Nicholas Benes, president of JTP Corp., a Tokyo investment bank.
The cash awards are getting steadily bigger. On Sept. 20, the Osaka District Court found for a group of Daiwa Bank Ltd. shareholders, ordering 11 current and former company directors--including Bank President Takashi Kaiho--to cough up a record $775 million for negligence after a rogue bond trader in the bank's New York branch racked up $1.1 billion in losses. If Yuoka wins his case against Sumitomo's former management, legal analysts think the damage award could be even larger--even though the executives involved may not have enough assets to pay.
With luck, these shareholder cases will put the kleig lights on business judgment just as official Japan wrestles with other issues of reform. Even the corporate elite is getting the message. Like many executives, Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank CEO Katsuyuki Sugita supports measures to rein in shareholder lawsuits, but he also recognizes there's no turning back for Japan Inc. "We must take corporate governance seriously," he says. "Japanese-style management no longer suffices." That's legal advice his peers would be wise to heed.

domain: law


text:
For regulated species, the following are considered forest plants:
Plants grown from certified forest seed and produced with naked roots or in pots
Root-stocks grown from certified forest cuttings (poplar, cherry)
This applies to plants produced in France or imported, excluding those that are clearly not intended for forestry purposes, such as Christmas trees. For non-regulated species, plants taken into account in the survey are declared by the companies as not being intended for forestry plantations.
Data is collected by DRAF forest genetic resource controllers from all companies engaged in activities of production and trading of forest plants:
Forest nurseries listed as part of trade control of forest reproductive material
Companies from the reforestation sector engaged in plant trading activities
This survey is supplemented by an annual statistical survey of forest seed flows, derived from annual harvest reports established by the DRAAF based on harvest certificates issued in the region, and from the annual survey of harvesting and importing companies (seed dealers, nurserymen, National Forestry Office of France). This includes around thirty companies which are responsible for almost the entire activity of the forest seed sector.
The compilation of regional data on forest seed and plants is entrusted to Irstea by the DGPE.
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domain: biology


text:
Don't say a word - you'll have to do all your talking through actions when you wear the Mime Girl's Costume. This cute suspender dress features a mime face embellishment and comes complete with a red neck scarf, white gloves and a beret.
You'll render everyone speechless in the Mime Jumpsuit Adult Women's Costume. In this black suspender-style jumpsuit that features a red heart detail, striped tube top attachment,red scarf and classic beret, everyone will be attentively paying attention to your every move.
No one will stand a chance against you in this officially licensed Street Fighter Ryu costume. Own the streets of your own neighborhood wearing this cutoff Karate uniform, proving that you're no clean cut karate kid.
Let your locks be luxurious on Halloween when you use this officially licensed Sesame Street Elmo Glam Wig. Curly red hair will tickle your fancy and complete any kind of Elmo costume you create!
Fight off the bad guys in style wearing this officially licensed Street Fighter Ken adult costume. You'll be looking fly in Ken's shiny matching ninja pants and matching cutoff shirt. Black belt and brown gloves also included.
He's red, he's furry, he's Elmo! The orange nosed three-year old is everybody's favorite - now you can be too in this officially licensed Sesame Street adult Elmo Kit. It's a fun and easy to wear costume.
Dress your little one in this adorable and officially licensed Sesame Street Oscar Bib Set and you'll find that grouchy never looked so cute! Screen printed character bib comes complete with a green character hat with eyes!
Tickle me, Elmo! Elmo hails from Sesame Street and is afurry redMuppet who is 3 1/2years old. If Elmo has a question he refers to himself in the third person, saying "Elmo has a question" instead of "I have a question". Elmo has a question...who wouldn't love to wear hiscostume!
Elmo has a question...who's happy, fun and red all over? Elmo is! Dress in this officially licensed Sesame Street Elmo tween costume and have an extraordinary Halloween. The red, 100% polyester dress comes complete with leg warmers and character headpiece.
Collect all the treats and goodies you can, then keep them for yourself when you wear this officially licensed Sesame Street Cookie Monster Glam Wig. Curly blue locks will complete any Cookie Monster costume you can imagine!
Big Bird lives in a large nest behind the 123 Sesame Street brownstone and his personality is larger than life. Live large in this clever Sesame Street Big Bird adult kit and count the many friends you'll make in this fun and easy to wear costume.
C is for costume - but when you wear this officially licensed Sesame Street Cookie Monster adult womens costume, C is for cute! Everyone will eat you up in this blue plush dress, complete with white sash, knee high stockings with bows and character headband.
Keep an eye on all the children running around past bed time on Halloween when you sport this officially licensed Street Fighter Chun Li Adult Womens Costume. You'll be impossible to resist in this bright blue character dress with gold detail, Asian style collar, and ruffled sleeves. Still can't…
Me want cookie! Dress your little monster in this clever blue plush Sesame Street Cookie Monster baby costume and get all the cookies and candy you want! The cozy costume is fun for babies to wear and adorable in family photos. Treasure the memories!
There will be no question about it - you'll be extremely adorable when you wear this officially licensed Sesame Street Sassy Elmo adult womens costume. The red plush dress comes complete with knee-high stockings and matching character headpiece.
You'll be tickled when you see your little one dressed up in this officially licensed Sesame Street Elmo Light-Up Toddler Costume. The red plush jumpsuit comes complete with a matching headpiece with light-up eyes and nose. Batteries included.
…all the cookies on Halloween when you dress them up in this officially licensed Sesame Street Cookie Monster Light-Up Toddler Costume. The blue plush jumpsuit and headpiece makes this baby the star of Sesame Street and Halloween. Features super cool light-up eyes, which are great for spotting this…

domain: entertainment


New Mexico’s seventh wind farm will begin generating electricity in Cibola County in late December.
The Red Mesa wind farm, built by NextEra Energy LLC, is in Seboyeta, about 60 miles northeast of Grants. The $215 million project is expected to generate 102.4 megawatts of electricity for export to Western states, and for local consumption, said NextEra spokesman Steven Stengel.
“We are in discussions with a customer on a long-term power purchase agreement, but in the short term, we will be selling the power into the Western power market, including New Mexico,” Stengel said.
NextEra is a subsidiary of Florida-based FPL Group Inc. It’s the nation’s largest wind farm owner, with 7,500 megawatts of installed wind capacity.
Once operating, Red Mesa will bring New Mexico’s installed commercial-scale wind capacity to 698 megawatts (see media).
The Cibola County Commission negotiated a lucrative deal with NextEra, said Commission Chair Edward Michael. The commission approved $215 million in taxable industrial revenue bonds to finance the project, which is located on 5,000 acres of private ranch land.
“It was the first IRB ever done in Cibola County,” Michael said. “I had the pleasure to sign on it.”
The company agreed to make $425,000 in annual payments to the county in lieu of taxes for the first five years of the project. After that, payments jump to $625,000 per year for 25 years.
The county reaped about $1 million in gross receipts taxes during the project’s construction this year. In addition, NextEra invested $1 million in a bridge on County Road 1 leading to the project, and built a drainage culvert.
“We’ll receive more than $18 million in value over the life of this project, and the county hasn’t spent one penny,” Michael said.
About 300 people worked on its construction. About eight will remain permanently employed at Red Mesa.
firstname.lastname@example.org | 505.348.8302


Hot water from thin air
A heatpump takes the heat from the surrounding air and uses it to heat the water in your pool.
During heat pump operation, liquid freon from inside the unit is pumped through the system (A) and is turned into a heated gas. This happens when heat is taken from the surrounding air (B) as it is drawn through the evaporator by the fan. The compressor (C) receives this warmer gas and compresses it to a higher pressure, resulting in the freon reaching even higher temperatures. As the unit sends the heated gas through the heat exchanger, the gas gives up its heat to the surrounding water (D). The freon is then reverted to its liquid state which completes the cycle (A).
(F) The water, which is being forced through the heat exchanger (D) by your pool pump, is heated by three to five degrees as it passes through the heat exchanger. The water, now warmer, then flows back into your pool (G).
Heat Pump Technology IN ALL FORMS
Heat flows naturally from a higher to a lower temperature. Heat pumps, however, are able to force the heat flow in the other direction, using a relatively small amount of high quality drive energy (electricity, fuel, or high-temperature waste heat). Thus heat pumps can transfer heat from natural heat sources in the surroundings, such as the air, ground or water, or from man-made heat sources such as industrial or domestic waste, to a building or an industrial application. Heat pumps can also be used for cooling. Heat is then transferred in the opposite direction, from the application that is cooled, to surroundings at a higher temperature. Sometimes the excess heat from cooling is used to meet a simultaneous heat demand.
In order to transport heat from a heat source to a heat sink, external energy is needed to drive the heat pump. Theoretically, the total heat delivered by the heat pump is equal to the heat extracted from the heat source, plus the amount of drive energy supplied. Electrically-driven heat pumps for heating buildings typically supply 100 kWh of heat with just 20-40 kWh of electricity. Many industrial heat pumps can achieve even higher performance, and supply the same amount of heat with only 3-10 kWh of electricity.
Because heat pumps consume less primary energy than conventional heating systems, they are an important technology for reducing gas emissions that harm the environment, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). However, the overall environmental impact of electric heat pumps depends very much on how the electricity is produced. Heat pumps driven by electricity from, for instance, hydropower or renewable energy reduce emissions more significantly than if the electricity is generated by coal, oil or gas-fired power plants.
The two main heat pump types
Almost all heat pumps currently in operation are either based on:
- a vapour compression, or on
- an absorption cycle.
These two principles will be briefly discussed in the following two sections.
Theoretically, heat pumping can be achieved by many more thermodynamic cycles and processes. These include Stirling and Vuilleumier cycles, single-phase cycles (e.g. with air, CO2 or noble gases), solid-vapour sorption systems, hybrid systems (notably combining the vapour compression and absorption cycle) and electromagnetic and acoustic processes. Some of these are entering the market or have reached technical maturity, and could become significant in the future.
Absorption Heat Pumps
Absorption heat pumps are thermally driven, which means that heat rather than mechanical energy is supplied to drive the cycle. Absorption heat pumps for space conditioning are often gas-fired, while industrial installations are usually driven by high-pressure steam or waste heat.
Absorption systems utilise the ability of liquids or salts to absorb the vapour of the working fluid. The most common working pairs for absorption systems are:
- water (working fluid) and lithium bromide (absorbent); and
- ammonia (working fluid) and water (absorbent).
In absorption systems, compression of the working fluid is achieved thermally in a solution circuit which consists of an absorber, a solution pump, a generator and an expansion valve as shown in Figure 3. Low-pressure vapour from the evaporator is absorbed in the absorbent. This process generates heat. The solution is pumped to high pressure and then enters the generator, where the working fluid is boiled off with an external heat supply at a high temperature. The working fluid (vapour) is condensed in the condenser while the absorbent is returned to the absorber via the expansion valve.
Heat is extracted from the heat source in the evaporator. Useful heat is given off at medium temperature in the condenser and in the absorber. In the generator high-temperature heat is supplied to run the process. A small amount of electricity may be needed to operate the solution pump.
For heat transformers, which through the same absorption processes can upgrade waste heat without requiring an external heat source, refer to the section on Heat pumps in industry.
Heat Pump Systems in Industry
Relatively few heat pumps are currently installed in industry. However, as environmental regulations become stricter, industrial heat pumps can become an important technology to reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and limit the use of ground water for cooling.
To ensure the sound application of heat pumps in industry, processes should be optimised and integrated. Through process integration improved energy efficiency is achieved by thermodynamically optimising total industrial processes. An important instrument for process integration is pinch analysis, a technology to characterise process heat streams and identify possibilities for heat recovery. Such possibilities may include improved heat exchanger networks, cogeneration and heat pumps. Pinch analysis is especially powerful for large, complex processes with multiple operations, and is an excellent instrument to identify sound heat pump opportunities.
Industrial applications show a great variation in the type of drive energy, heat pump size, operating conditions, heat sources and the type of application. The heat pump units are generally designed for a specific application, and are therefore unique.
The major types of industrial heat pumps are:
- Mechanical vapour recompression systems (MVRs), classified as open or semi-open heat pumps. In open systems, vapour from an industrial process is compressed to a higher pressure and thus a higher temperature, and condensed in the same process giving off heat. In semi-open systems, heat from the recompressed vapour is transferred to the process via a heat exchanger. Because one or two heat exchangers are eliminated (evaporator and/or condenser) and the temperature lift is generally small, the performance of MVR systems is high, with typical coefficients of performance (COPs) of 10 to 30. Current MVR systems work with heat-source temperatures from 70-80ºC, and deliver heat between 110 and 150ºC, in some cases up to 200ºC. Water is the most common ‘working fluid’ (i.e. recompressed process vapour), although other process vapours are also used, notably in the (petro-) chemical industry.
- Closed-cycle compression heat pumps are described in the section Heat pump technology. Currently applied working fluids limit the maximum output temperature to 120ºC.
- Absorption heat pumps (Type I) are not widely used in industrial applications. Some have been realised to recover heat from refuse incineration plants, notably in Sweden and Denmark. Current systems with water/lithium bromide as working pair achieve an output temperature of 100ºC and a temperature lift of 65ºC. The COP typically ranges from 1.2 to 1.4. The new generation of advanced absorption heat pump systems will have higher output temperatures (up to 260ºC) and higher temperature lifts.
- Heat transformers (Type II) have the same main components and working principle as absorption heat pumps. With a heat transformer waste heat can be upgraded, virtually without the use of external drive energy. Waste heat of a medium temperature (i.e. between the demand level and the environmental level) is supplied to the evaporator and generator. Useful heat of a higher temperature is given off in the absorber. All current systems use water and lithium bromide as working pair. These heat transformers can achieve a delivery temperatures up to 150ºC, typically with a lift of 50ºC. COPs under these conditions range from 0.45 to 0.48.
- Reverse Brayton-cycle heat pumps recover solvents from gases in many processes. Solvent loaden air is compressed, and then expanded. The air cools through the expansion, and the solvents condense and are recovered. Further expansion (with the associated additional cooling, condensation and solvent recovery) takes place in a turbine, which drives the compressor.
Industrial heat pumps are mainly used for:
- space heating;
- heating and cooling of process streams;
- water heating for washing, sanitation and cleaning;
- steam production;
When heat pumps are used in drying, evaporation and distillation processes, heat is recycled within the process. For space heating, heating of process streams and steam production, heat pumps utilise (waste) heat sources between 20ºC and 100ºC.
The most common waste heat streams in industry are cooling water, effluent, condensate, moisture, and condenser heat from refrigeration plants. Because of the fluctuation in waste heat supply, it can be necessary to use large storage tanks for accumulation to ensure stable operation of the heat pump.
Heat pumps can utilise conventional heat sources for heating of greenhouses and industrial buildings, or they can recover industrial waste heat that could not be used directly, and provide a low- to medium temperature heat that can be utilised internally or externally for space heating. Mainly electric closed-cycle compression heat pumps are used.
Process water heating and cooling:
Many industries need warm process water in the temperature range from 40-90ºC, and often have a significant hot water demand in the same temperature range for washing, sanitation and cleaning purposes. This can be met by heat pumps. Heat pumps can also be a part of an integrated system that provides both cooling and heating. Mainly electric closed-cycle compression heat pumps are installed, but a few absorption heat pumps and heat transformers are also in use.
Industry consumes vast amounts of low-, medium- and high-pressure steam in the temperature range from 100-200ºC. Steam is used directly in industrial processes, and for heat distribution. Current high temperature heat pumps can produce steam up to 150ºC (a heat pump prototype has achieved 300ºC). Both open and semi-open MVR systems, closed-cycle compression heat pumps, cascade (combination) systems and a few heat transformers are in operation.
Heat pumps are used extensively in industrial dehumidification and drying processes at low and moderate temperatures (maximum 100ºC). The main applications are drying of pulp and paper, various food products wood and lumber. Drying of temperature-sensitive products is also interesting. Heat pump dryers generally have high performance (COP 5-7), and often improve the quality of the dried products as compared with traditional drying methods. Because the drying is executed in a closed system, odours from the drying of food products etc. are reduced. Both closed-cycle compression heat pumps and MVR systems are used.
Evaporation and distillation processes:
Evaporation and distillation are energy-intensive processes, and most heat pumps are installed in these processes in the chemical and food industries. In evaporation processes the residue is the main product, while the vapour (distillate) is the main product in distillation processes. Most systems are open or semi-open MVRs, but closed-cycle compression heat pumps are also applied. Small temperature lifts result in high performance with COPs ranging from 6 to 30.


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A board member of the Human Rights Campaign works for a law firm that has defended oil-and-gas giant Exxon Mobil against charges of anti-gay bias, the Washington Blade has learned.
Although his employer asserts he had nothing to do with the defense of Exxon Mobil, his involvement with both the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy group and his international law firm, Seyfarth Shaw, raises questions about why HRC hasn’t publicly rebuked the firm for defending alleged anti-gay bias at the company, such as by docking the company points on the Corporate Equality Index.
Chris Carolan, who lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., is one of 32 HRC board members. According to HRC’s website, board members make policy, manage finances and coordinate volunteer involvement in addition to having ultimate authority over the organization.
He’s also a partner at the Chicago-based international law firm Seyfarth Shaw. According to his bio on Seyfarth Shaw’s website, Carolan is a partner in the New York office.
His practice, his bio says, focuses on transactional work, including banking and lending, private equity investments, real estate finance, venture financings, mergers and acquisitions as well as bankruptcy and restructuring.
In August, the Washington Blade first reported that Carolan’s law firm, Seyfarth Shaw, was responsible for defending Exxon Mobil against charges of anti-gay bias. That was confirmed in June by the publication of a legal document in the case bearing the name of the law firm.
The LGBT group Freedom to Work filed the complaint before the Illinois Human Rights Department last year on the basis of paired-resume testing in response to a job opening at the company.
For the same job opening, the group submitted two applications: One was from a more qualified applicant who outed herself as LGBT by noting work at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund; the other was a less qualified applicant who gave no indication about her sexual orientation or gender identity. The less qualified non-LGBT applicant received multiple callbacks, the more qualified LGBT applicant received nothing.
Exxon Mobil offers no explicit protections barring anti-LGBT discrimination in the workplace. Just last month, shareholders for the 17th time rejected a proposal that would have added such pro-LGBT protections to the policy. Only 19.5 percent of shareholders supported the failed resolution, which was sponsored by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
In February 2014, the Illinois Department of Human Rights dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction, saying Freedom to Work has no employee-employer relationship with Exxon Mobil. However, Freedom to Work is asking the Illinois Human Rights Commission to review the case. The request is still pending, according to Freedom to Work, which considers the litigation ongoing.
HRC is already on the record in support of the lawsuit against Exxon Mobil. In a May 2013 email blast to supporters, HRC President Chad Griffin called the filing “a brave legal complaint from the equality advocates at Freedom to Work.”
Carolan’s employment at Seyfarth Shaw and membership on HRC’s board raises numerous questions, such as whether he ever voiced objections to his law firm’s participation in the lawsuit or was even aware of it happening. He didn’t respond to the Blade’s request for comment.
Brian Kiefer, a Seyfarth spokesperson, said Carolan had no involvement in the matter at hand when asked by the Blade about the litigation, but declined to comment further.
A secondary question is whether Carolan’s employment at Seyfarth Shaw discouraged HRC from taking against action the law firm after its defense of Exxon Mobil became known.
In August, Michael Cole-Schwartz, then a spokesperson for HRC, told the Washington Blade his organization would dock points from a law firm representing Exxon Mobil in an anti-gay bias lawsuit in HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.
“Yes, we would and have done so in the past,” Cole-Schwartz said at the time. “The firm Foley & Lardner was docked 15 points previously for their work representing organizations trying to stop marriage equality (engagements which have since ended and they are no longer docked), although it should be noted the firm has also had a long history of pro bono support for LGBT causes. For the 2012 CEI, we raised the possible point deduction from -15 to -25.”
But after it was revealed Seyfarth Shaw was the law firm defending Exxon Mobil, no deduction was assessed. A look online at HRC’s Corporate Equality Index as of Friday reveals the law firm still has a perfect score of “100.” Moreover, HRC has made no public statements in regard to Seyfarth Shaw working for Exxon Mobil.
Still, HRC has turned up the heat on Exxon Mobil for its policies. Following the announcement from the White House that President Obama is set to sign an executive order barring federal contractors from engaging in LGBT discrimination, HRC said it solicited a statement from the company asking if it would comply with the directive. The response purportedly from Exxon Mobil was that its policy included protections for LGBT people, even though it doesn’t explicitly mention sexual orientation and gender identity.
In a news statement at the time, Fred Sainz, HRC’s vice president of communications, said Exxon Mobil was lying about protections under the policy, saying the company’s response was “in fact a masterclass in doublespeak — crafted, no doubt, by a team of well-paid lawyers.”
HRC’s Sainz offered an extended response to the situation, saying HRC understands that law firms have duties to represent clients — even in unpopular situations.
“It is the court that is responsible for determining whether a lawyer’s client has violated the law based on the facts and law put before it,” Sainz said. “Unless a lawyer takes extreme steps that would harm the larger LGBT community, we, like all Americans, allow lawyers to participate in our adversarial judicial process without necessarily ascribing to them the behavior of their clients.”
Sainz added that at no time did anyone from Seyfarth Shaw consult with HRC about client engagement or engage in any kind of lobbying effort related to the Corporate Equality Index.
David Lat, a law blogger for “Above the Law,” has already raised questions about whether Seyfarth Shaw was compelled to defend Exxon Mobil against anti-gay discrimination.
“Large firms like Seyfarth are arguably too big to handle such controversial cases comfortably; they have too many current and prospective employees and clients who might be upset by their defense of alleged anti-gay bias,” Lat wrote in August. “In contrast, elite conservative boutiques like Bancroft or Cooper & Kirk, which defended California’s Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage, don’t have such worries. They are small firms, with fewer clients and employees, and many of those clients and workers are social conservatives, who would be unfazed by defending a large corporation accused of anti-gay prejudice.”
Tico Almeida, president of Freedom to Work, had no comment on the situation other than to call on Seyfarth Shaw to direct Exxon Mobil to adopt a more pro-LGBT policy.
“We do hope the lawyers at Seyfarth Shaw will urge their client Exxon to update its employment policies to specifically list sexual orientation and gender identity in its workplace protections,” Almeida said. “After years of Exxon management fighting against the shareholder resolution to add LGBT protections, it would also make sense for Seyfarth lawyers to give Exxon managers some training on creating equal opportunity for LGBT employees and applicants.”
The complete statement from HRC’s Fred Sainz in response to the situation follows:
Like the vast majority of Americans, HRC recognizes that our judicial system requires parties on different sides of a dispute to vigorously advocate for their position before a court based on both the facts and applicable law. Lawyers and their firms have ethical duties to represent clients, even unpopular ones, who are accused of violating the law or otherwise have a need for legal representation. It is the court that is responsible for determining whether a lawyer’s client has violated the law based on the facts and law put before it. Unless a lawyer takes extreme steps that would harm the larger LGBT community, we, like all Americans, allow lawyers to participate in our adversarial judicial process without necessarily ascribing to them the behavior of their clients.
In two extraordinary circumstances, HRC has criticized law firms that have taken affirmative steps beyond simple legal representation to advocate anti-LGBT positions and take on matters that would have a significant adverse impact on the larger LGBT community.
In the case of Foley & Lardner, HRC deducted points from the firm’s CEI score in 2011 because of the firm’s leadership and advocacy on behalf of the National Organization for Marriage, the nation’s leading anti-LGBT organization. In particular, we witnessed a firm partner advising community members who made anti-LGBT statements at a public hearing. This partner was also registered as a lobbyist for NOM, and the firm made false and hurtful arguments in legal correspondence to a state agency. In a letter to the firm chairman, we explained why we considered the firm’s actions at the time to be outside the scope of its professional responsibilities.
With regards to King & Spalding, HRC criticized the firm for voluntarily accepting taxpayer funds to take up the House Republicans’ defense of the Defense of Marriage Act, the law struck down last year as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. This highly unusual representation would have had a significant negative impact on LGBT Americans and would have required the firm to make inaccurate and harmful representations about LGBT people. Moreover, the firm had no obligation to take on this new high profile client and matter or to defend a government actor that was capable of providing its own representation.
We take seriously our role in calling out behavior, whether by an individual, corporation or a law firm, that is intended to harm the LGBT community. Over the years HRC has taken the lead in criticizing Exxon Mobil for its lack of commitment to equality, including recently revealing that it lied about its non-discrimination policies. At the same time, we recognize the ethical principles that law firms operate under every day, which include defending their clients against allegations that they may have broken the law.
We do not criticize lawyers and firms for the roles they are expected to play in ensuring the fair application of justice. But we also expect that that they will act within the scope of these ethical obligations and we will hold those that act outside of them in ways that are harmful to the LGBT community accountable for their actions.
At no time did anyone from Shaw consult with HRC about their client engagement nor did they engage in any kind of lobbying effort related to the CEI.

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