NAT GEO WILD DIVES BENEATH THE BREATHTAKING BLUE WATERS OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA TO UNCOVER POTENTIAL DISASTROUS THREATS
World Premiere Special, Caribbean's Deadly Underworld with Bob Ballard, Plunges into
the Deceptively Peaceful Caribbean to Examine Threatening Underwater Faults
Caribbean's Deadly Underworld Premieres Sunday, May 18, 2014, at 10 PM ET/PT
on Nat Geo WILD
(Washington D.C. - May 5, 2014) The Caribbean is the land of tropical drinks, a heavy dose of relaxation, sandy beaches and clear blue water. But life is anything but tranquil underneath the blue waters. Massive sharks and alien life-creatures thrive along a line of hidden faults and volcanoes that could give way at any moment, engulfing coastlines from Puerto Rico to New York.
Now, for the first time, Nat Geo WILD goes deeper below the surface than ever before as National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Bob Ballard, the explorer who found the R.M.S. Titanic, and National Geographic Emerging Explorer Katy Croff Bell lead a team of scientists on a daring three-month deep-sea expedition to examine the potential of these threatening underwater faults like never before. The world premiere special, Caribbean's Deadly Underworld with Bob Ballard, premieres Sunday, May 18, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD. (For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/NGC_PR.)
After the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 swept nearly 230,000 people to their deaths, scientists no longer underestimate the potential threat of deep-sea earthquakes. This mega thrust fault that spurred one of the world's worst natural disasters was thought to be virtually dormant and, unfortunately, the fault in the Puerto Rico Trench bears a striking resemblance. The mission: to use state-of-the-art technology to find out if the tranquil Caribbean may be poised to unleash a widespread catastrophe. In a region jam-packed with nearly every geologic hazard known to man, the team must be ready for whatever surprises come their way.
Caribbean's Deadly Underworld follows Bob, Katy and their team as they drop two remotely operated vehicles near one of the most seismically active parts of the Puerto Rico Trench - the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean. If everything goes according to plan, they'll sink more than a mile below to capture a view of the incredible seafloor for the very first time.
But the surveyors of the Nautilus won't just be looking for geological threats. These dangerous hotspots also support some of the richest and most bizarre biological communities on our planet. From alien-looking creatures that can survive in total darkness miles beneath the sea, to venomous lionfish and foot-long mussels, the sights in this one-hour special never cease to astonish.
Employing vivid HD footage and unparalleled expertise, Nat Geo WILD gathers striking scenes of the beauties underneath the Caribbean Sea. But going where no one has gone before has its downsides. Are we prepared to accept the harsh reality of these scientific discoveries? Are territories around the fault safe from disaster, or is the threat just a ticking time bomb?
To further the research and learn more about this area, Bob's team has continued to embark on expeditions to the Caribbean to discover underwater volcanoes, new wildlife and hazardous zones. After the premiere special, follow the EV Nautilus' new adventures this summer in real time as the team returns to the Caribbean starting June 11, and watch the action in high-definition streaming video via nautiluslive.org. Participate in live interactions with the scientists standing watch as they explore underwater volcanoes, shipwrecks and fault zones.
Caribbean's Deadly Underworld is produced by National Geographic Television (NGT) for Nat Geo WILD. For NGT, producers are Rob Burk and Bryn Michelle Hess. For Nat Geo WILD, executive producer is Susie Ryan; senior vice president of production and development is Janet Han Vissering; and executive producer, executive vice president and general manager is Geoff Daniels.
# # #
About Nat Geo WILD
For more than 30 years, National Geographic has been the leader in wildlife programming. The networks Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo WILD HD, launched in 2010, offer intimate encounters with nature's ferocious fighters and gentle creatures of land, sea and air that draw upon the cutting-edge work of the many explorers, filmmakers and scientists of the National Geographic Society. Part of the National Geographic Channels US, based in Washington, D.C., the networks are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks. In 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) debuted, and 10 years later, Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation's major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with Nat Geo WILD currently available in 56 million U.S. homes. Globally, Nat Geo WILD is available in more than 100 million homes in 90 countries and 28 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com.


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Recently Walt Meier posted about artic sea ice 2010 on WUWT. Good for Anthony for giving Dr. Meier the podium. Meier emphasized that the state of arctic sea ice has changed dramatically. Referring to predictions of this year’s summer minimum in arctic sea ice extent:
The first thing to point out is that none of the estimates approached the 1979-2000 monthly September average of 7.0 million square kilometers. Even the highest estimates were nearly 20% lower. This is a recognition that conditions have clearly changed since the 1980s and 1990s. It is no longer plausible to prognosticate anything near average levels.
So: things have changed.
Nobody in his right mind disputes that since satellite observations began, the extent of sea ice in the arctic has declined dramatically; this year the summer minimum extent was the 3rd-lowest on record. There is also considerable observational evidence that arctic sea ice extent over the last few decades is much lower than it has been for at least a century prior to modern times.
A team of researchers, led by Leonid Polyak of Ohio State University’s Byrd Polar Research Center, has culled the available evidence from hundreds of studies of proxy data for sea ice extent. As reported at Science Daily, in a new paper in Quaternary Science Reviews they report their findings: that the present extent of sea ice in the arctic is at its lowest for at least several thousand years.
In my last post I made two predictions. The second one was this:
Second: Either Anthony Watts won’t answer my question about why he’s so fond of less than 6 years’ data when we have over 30 (and that’s just from satellites) — or he’ll attack me personally, calling me a coward for blogging under a pseudonym. After all, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.
The question was this:
We have over 30 years of satellite data for arctic sea ice. Why do you consistently display the only data source I know of that covers less than 6 years?
Anthony has replied. But just as I predicted, he didn’t answer my question. Instead he told a lie.
When it comes to up-to-date measures of arctic sea ice, the most popular choice with Anthony Watts and Steve Goddard is the estimated extent from DMI. Others seem to prefer NSIDC data for monthly averages of both sea ice area and sea ice extent, or JAXA for daily data on sea ice extent, or daily sea ice area data from Cryosphere Today. So there are several satellite-based data sets to choose from, but Watts seems to prefer, and Goddard seems to love, the DMI data.
It’s all a conspiracy of lies, deceit, greed for money and power, and hatred of all the USA stands for. It’s nothing but an attempt to destroy our freedom!
Because if fossil-fuel industry profits aren’t safe, then we aren’t safe.
And one of the most important conspirators is NASA. Specifically, the evildoers at GISS: the Goddard Institute for Space Studies. The folks at GISS have been fudging the numbers, and I’ve uncovered their dirty little secret. They apply “adjustments” to the raw data (which they get from a number of sources, but mainly the Global Historical Climate Network) which they’ve cleverly manipulated to make the global temperature trend — if there even is such a thing! — seem different than what the plain old data say.

domain: news


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DEA change means some ODs will lose power to prescribe hydrocodone combo products
A more restrictive policy for hydrocodone combination products goes into effect Oct. 6. This gives ODs a new reason to advocate for their ability to prescribe these drugs in their respective states.
The DEA does allow states to decide what health care professionals can prescribe within a schedule.
A final rule issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reschedules all hydrocodone combination products as Schedule II controlled substances on this effective date. This class is more restrictive than the current Schedule III.
Although this "upscheduling" is intended to prevent opioid abuse, the AOA fears an unintended consequence of the measure would be limiting prescribing authority for some ODs.
Not all states allow ODs to prescribe Schedule II medications. Successful AOA lobbying efforts in 2012 delayed the rescheduling of this class of drugs—thus buying ODs more time to enact a "fix" to state law that would maintain their prescribing authority for hydrocodone combination products.
A number of states have enacted such a fix over the past few years. They include Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Utah.
In states where no such provision exists, ODs may be limited in what they can prescribe after Oct. 6. With a broad Schedule II mandate in effect, the AOA estimates ODs in up to 16 states will lose their prescribing authority.
How to advocate for a fix in your state
The DEA does allow states to decide what health care professionals can prescribe within a schedule. This means ODs can still advocate for a fix in state law to maintain prescribing authority for these types of drugs.
There are two ways to accomplish this:
- Adding "hydrocodone-containing medications regardless of schedule," or
- Adding Schedule II narcotics.
ODs use hydrocodone combination drugs to manage post-operative pain, aid the process of treating eye injuries or infections, or help remove foreign bodies from the eye.
Schedule II drugs differ from Schedule III in that there's a higher potential for abuse—yet no official or organization has ever cited optometry's prescribing authority as a contributor to opioid abuse. In fact, ODs prescribe such medications in small doses and usually with no refills.
For more information, contact Daniel Carey, the AOA's associate director of State Government Relations, at email@example.com.

domain: medical


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Assistant Professor, Aeronautics & Astronautics
Control theory, robot motion planning, optimization, formal methods and verification, and machine learning
Ph.D., M.S. Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University, 2021
B.Eng. Aeronautical Engineering, B.S. Mathematics, University of Sydney, 2014
Karen Leung joins Aeronautics & Astronautics this fall from NVIDIA Research where she worked as a research scientist in the Autonomous Vehicle Research Group. As a Ph.D. student at Stanford University, Leung was a member of the Stanford Autonomous Systems Lab where she developed methodologies for the analysis, design and control of autonomous systems such as self-driving cars and autonomous aerospace vehicles.
Leung’s research blends formal methods, machine learning, and robot motion planning to develop safe and trustworthy autonomous systems that can seamlessly interact with humans. Leung received one of six inaugural Science Hub faculty research awards from the UW + Amazon Science Hub for her work to develop proactive safety frameworks for human-robot interaction and navigation in warehouse settings.

domain: design


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A person with knowledge of the negotiations says Haralson has restructured his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in a move that saves the team space under the salary cap.|||||||
Haralson was already signed through the 2013 season, meaning he reworked his current deal with the two-time defending NFC West champion Niners. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press on Monday because the team doesn't formally announce restructured contracts. The 29-year-old Haralson missed the entire 2012 season for the 49ers with a torn left triceps muscle.
The San Francisco 49ers have lost a key member of their talented defense after placing linebacker Parys Haralson on injured reserve. Haralson had been among the 11 returning starters for 2012 on Vic Fangio's defense that ranked No. 1 at stopping the run during a resurgent 13-3 season.|||||||
The Niners announced the roster moves Monday without providing details on Haralson's injury, though he is believed to have hurt his left arm during the first half of a preseason win at Denver on Aug. 26. He didn't play in Thursday night's exhibition finale, a 35-3 win over the Chargers.
The 49ers have extended the contract of linebacker Parys Haralson after a strong 2008 season.|||||||
Haralson received a four-year extension through 2013. He emerged as the 49ers' top pass-rusher last season, getting eight sacks despite playing only sparingly in the season's early games. The former fifth-round pick finished fifth among NFL linebackers in sacks.
Haralson was placed in injured reserve by the 49ers due to a strained pectoral muscle. The linebacker underwent surgery for the injury, ending his season. Roderick Green was signed to take his roster spot. A fifth-round selection in April's NFL draft, Haralson has four tackles in seven games this seaso|||||||
Haralson suffered a strained pectoral muscle during the 49ers' 9-3 win over Minnesota on Sunday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The linebacker is expected to be listed as doubtful for the team's game at Detroit this week. A fifth-round selection in April's NFL draft, Haralson has four tackles in seven games this season.|||||||

domain: sports


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Pvt. Adam Accuntius (1841-1926)
Adam Accuntius, 4th Great Uncle of brother Eric Jeanneret, was born and reared in Shelby County, Ohio when the Civil War broke out.
Adam Accuntius enlisted his services in behalf of the cause of the Union, and served 3 years and 3 months as a member of Battery M, 1st Ohio Light Artillery. From 15 Sept 1861 through 13 Dec 1864, Adam and the unit were present at the battles of; Shiloh, Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Kennesaw Mountain, Siege of Atlanta, and the Battle of Jonesboro. The battery was armed with one 12-pound field howitzer and two rifled 6 pounders.
Upon the completion of his military service, Mr. Accuntius returned home and married in his home county Caroline Gross, who also was born in Shelby County. Not long after his marriage, he came up into Auglaize County and bought a "forty" in the northeast quarter of section 19 of Clay Township, where he established his home. Mr. Accuntius was a good farmer and continued to increase his land holdings as the years passed and as his affairs prospered, he became the owner of more than 600 acres of land in Auglaize County and continued actively engaged in farming until his retirement and then moved to the village of Geyer. Adam. Accuntius was active in fraternal organizations and was the one whom started the Kyle Post of the G.A.R. of Wapakoneta, Ohio. For 49 years, he was a member of Auglaize Lodge No 168, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF).

domain: library


text:
Explore 2-1-4 Opening Night
Join us for the Explore 2-1-4 Opening Night, our first social gathering. Meet other participants, enjoy refreshments, socialize with others who enjoy books and reading, and find out all about Explore 2-1-4! Participation in this event is optional.
Explore 2-1-4 is an online discussion group found in Goodreads, designed specifically for the patrons of McPherson Public Library. By joining the group, you will have access to book-themed conversations, unique and entertaining challenges, exclusive social events, and engaging discussions about all aspects of books.
Your level of participation is up to you, but the more you engage, the more rewarding Explore 2-1-4 is for everyone. All you need to join is a current adult McPherson Public Library card and a Goodreads profile. Because this is an adult group, Goodreads requires that your profile page include your birthdate (this can be set to private.)
There are two ways to join:
1) email us (firstname.lastname@example.org) for a group invitation link.
OR 2) follow these steps . . .
Log-in to Goodreads
Click on Community
Go to Groups in the drop down menu
Search for Explore 2-1-4 in the Search bar
Request to join and follow the prompts
- Monday, September 23, 2019
- 6:30pm - 7:30pm
- Meeting Room


THE WELSH Government's Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt, visited Caldicot’s TogetherWORKS last week.
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the ambition of Monmouthshire County Council’s Community and Corporate Plan and how its partnership working is feeding into Welsh Government policy and reducing the effects of inequality and poverty.
Monmouthshire County Council Leader, Cllr. Mary Ann Brocklesby, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Engagement, Cllr Angela Sandles, TogetherWORKS’ Centre Manager Isla Arendell, Edward Watts, Chair of Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO) and Rachael King of Cyfannol were amongst those who welcomed the visiting Minister.
TogetherWORKS, which opened in 2021, provides the community with a meeting place, support and much more. It brings together partner organisations and it is an important touchstone for many services, as well as a wide range of activities.
These include a 60+ Companions coffee club, a Ukranian Language Café, Games & Grub regular sessions for local residents, arts and crafts workshops, and yoga. The GAVO Monmouthshire team are based there as well and can help with all aspects of community development, as well as health and social care support.
TogetherWORKS is a key hub for Cyfannol, offering a much-needed point of access for Violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence support (VAWDASV).
A crisis intervention support worker has been running a weekly drop-in at the centre for the past two years.
The centre has hosted a wide range of events, including a Money Matters cost of living support workshop last year.
Forty people attended the workshop, each of whom had a 1-2-1 session with a housing support advisor on making sure they were receiving all the benefits they were eligible for.
More recently, there has been an Art Exhibition and Cream Tea organised by the Coffee and Craft Memory Loss and Disabilities group.
There’s always something happening at TogetherWORKS - it is currently engaging with local schools, young carers and local Scout group to develop a community garden behind the centre.
Council Leader, Cllr. Mary Ann Brocklesby said: “It was wonderful to welcome the Minister at TogetherWORKS.
"It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the work of everyone at TogetherWORKS, the wider community that contribute so much and the organisations that are its invaluable partners.
"TogetherWORKS provides an important meeting place where people of any age and any background can come for support, friendship and a wide range of activities and advice.”
Cabinet Member for Equalities and Engagement, Cllr. Angela Sandles said: “TogetherWORKS demonstrates how amazing things can happen when a community is central to a project.
"At every key step since the first ideas for TogetherWORKS were being discussed three, four years ago, right through to the naming of the centre and what happens there, the community has been involved.
"I am pleased that TogetherWORKS has had the opportunity to showcase to the Minister for Social Justice and I hope that the Minister found the visit rewarding.”
Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt said: “It was a pleasure to visit Monmouthshire and see some of the excellent work being done to address the cost of living crisis with funding received from the Welsh Government.
"TogetherWORKS is a safe and friendly space for local people and a broad range of community groups. I’m thankful for the opportunity to speak to the dedicated staff and volunteers as well as some of those that use its facilities.
"The centre showcases the very essence of community with advice and support on offer as well as a range of initiatives to help households cut costs.”
For more information about TogetherWORKS visit its Facebook page or pop along to Woodstock Way, Caldicot NP26 5DB.
It’s open five days a week, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.


Steam now supports Russian roubles
PC and Mac gaming platform aims to make games more accessible
Valve has added support for the Russian rouble to its PC and Mac gaming platform Steam.
Previously Russian users had to use payment methods like WebMoney, Visa, Mastercard and ClickandBuy.
"PC gaming has always been strong in Russia, and we're excited to help improve the experience for Steam customers," said Jason Holtman, director of business development
"We're hoping to make gamers happy over the coming months by improving their access to great games."
The Steam store already offers pricing in USD, GBP and EUR, along with most major credit or debit cards and major online currency exchanges.
Last week Valve announced that its Steam Trading feature, which allows players to swap in game items and gifted games, was leaving beta.


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Stuart Weir has an opinion on many things. His thoughts on the Exemptions Rule, where, in the sprints, 12 athletes qualify per their season rankings and 12 qualify by making it through the rounds. This Rule is being used in Berlin, Germany and it does not make Stuart Weir a happy camper. Read on, dear readers.
The European Athletics Championships are operating with a rule that anyone ranked in the top 12 in Europe is exempt from qualifying, going straight into the semi-final. Where there are typically 24 athletes in the semi-final, 12 gain their place by qualification and the other 12 get wild cards on the basis of their ranking. The system applies to all track events up to and including 400m.
It seems to me a bad idea for a host of reasons:
1 It is inherently unfair that one athlete reaches the final by running one race when others have to run two rounds. This is particularly the case with the 400m where athletes in the final with one less qualifying race in their legs must have an advantage.
2 It is understandable why the system is not applied to longer races but that simply increases the inequality of the competition. It does not apply at all to field events.
3 The counter-argument that those who have the extra race benefit from the experience may have some merit, but either way it confirms that it is not a fair system.
4 It short changes spectators who buy tickets for Women’s 100m heats only to discover that Dafne Schippers, Gina LÃ¼ckenkemper, Dina Asher-Smith etc are not in the race. It may be that the German fans are smarter than I think and that explains why there have been few spectators for many of the prelims.
5 One of the joys of sport is its unpredictability. Favorites don’t always win. By exempting the top 12 from the first round we deny the public the possibility of viewing an upset.
6 When I was on the Al Jazeera program this week, one of the questions I was asked was: does the sport lack superstars, post Bolt. I could have answered, “Oh yes we have superstars but we give them a bye so they don’t have to run!
7 At the time of writing there is speculation as to whether Dina Asher-Smith can complete the 100m/200m double. But is it a slightly devalued double if it only involves four races instead of the normal six?
I am all for innovation in our sport. But if it is a bad innovation, then scrap it.


Arrowstreet Director of Sustainability and Building Performance, Kate Bubriski, AIA, will be presenting at the BSA COTE: Getting to Net Zero Now – 11-21 Bromfield event along side Mark Rollins, Vice President of Midwood Investment & Development, and Juan Betancur, Director at Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture on November 17th from 6:00-7:30pm.
11-21 Bromfield will be the first zero net carbon office high-rise in Boston. This project will set the precedent for addressing climate mitigation along with broader issues that communities face like health, equity, and overall user experience. The all-electric, LEED Platinum building will demonstrate the ability and path to create projects of this nature in Boston, and elsewhere, today.
Join us for a conversation of how the project achieves ZNC as well as the developer’s perspective on setting this project goal.
You may register for this event here.


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Originally airing Friday, Aug. 3, 2018
WRFA’s Jason Sample talks with Miki Girts, organizer of the first ever Whirlybird Music and Arts Festival, happening in downtown Jamestown, NY on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. Plus music from Feverhawk, Cold Lazarus, and Smackdab.
More info at WhirlybirdMusicFestival.com/.
More Posts for Show: Arts on Fire


- Verify that the flow meter is within original calibration and the sensors are clean
- Confirm that the flow meter is measuring flow based on the initial factory calibration and that the linear output signal is correct
- Print a validation report
Check or change the configuration of the instrument, such as changing full scale, pipe size, engineering units, or decimal points.
Change Gas Mix in the Field
Enter an entirely new set of gas mix constituents versus the original calibrated mix, and the meter will automatically correct its readings to the updated mix.
Log Real-Time Data
Export real-time data easily to Excel.


text:
Date - May 21, 2017
Hannah Ishizaki: City of Bridges Overture
George Gershwin (arr. R. R. Bennett): Selections from Porgy and Bess
Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major
featuring Enoch Hsiao, winner of PYSO’s 2017 Concerto Competition
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5
Click here to order FREE tickets.

domain: artistic


text:
Peace River Pullover
- 100% quilted polyester
- High stand-up collar for warmth
- Horn rimmed buttons
- Split tail for comfort and fit
Peace River, originally named Peace River Crossing, and known as the Rivière-la-Paix in French. Peace River is a 1,923-kilometer-long river that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern BC and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. A sight to see, your outdoor paradise. It’s late November and as morning dawns you push back the curtains of your rustic cabin to reveal light snow falling on your 30 acre Alpaca farm nestled along the river banks - how dramatic! As you rub the salt from your eyes, and glance at your Titanium timepiece, reading 0600 hrs, it’s time for the herd to be moved to find more grass to feed on for the day. A quick cup of coffee and you grab your Lined Kodiak pants (pg TBD) and your new Peace River Pullover to keep you toasty warm as you hop aboard your 4 stroke Kawasaki snowmobile and head for the hills. This is the life! This stunning top has a high collar and full quilting, offering incredibly high warmth, not to mention a very alpha silhouette. Not everyone can have this lifestyle, but y’all can all have this pullover, it’s that nice.Jump to Product Reviews
Peace River Pullover Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars (6 reviews)
Write a Review
I was pleasantly surprised with the Peace River pullover. The first time I wore it was for a base layer for skiing on a cold MN day. It worked great for that. The next time I wore it was when my wife and I were going to a cocktail party and she wanted me to put on something more "appropriate." I put on my PR pullover and she was tickled pink. It's light weight and very comfortable to wear. I'm 165 5'll'' and the M size fit prefectly.
James A., Minneapolis, Minnesota
I bought this pullover and liked it. I lost a bunch of weight and bought the same one - only smaller.
Taylor C., Henrico, Virginia
This is a nice pullover that has enough class to dress you uprather than down as a normal sweatshirt does. It is well made and does not overheat you as you would think with the waffle knit.
Stephen L., Twin Falls, Idaho

domain: geography


Modeling the relationship between development and storm water and nutrient runoff
- Cite this article as:
- Hopkinson, C.S. & Day, J.W. Environmental Management (1980) 4: 315. doi:10.1007/BF01869424
- 149 Downloads
The EPA Storm Water Management Model was used to model the effects of urban and agricultural development on storm water runoff from uplands bordering a Louisiana swamp forest. Using this model, we examined the effects of changing land use patterns. By 1995 it is projected that urban land on the uplands bordering the swamp will increase by 321 percent, primarily at the expense of land currently in agriculture. Simulation results indicate that urbanization will cause storm water runoff rates to be up to 4.2 times greater in 1995 than in 1975. Nutrient runoff will increase 28 percent for nitrogen (N) and 16 percent for phosphorus (P) during the same period. The environmental effects of these changes in the receiving swamp forest are examined.


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Matt Hancock denies conflict of interest in Sir Patrick Vallance holding vaccine company shares
- Credit: PA Wire
Health secretary Matt Hancock has denied there is a conflict of interest in Sir Patrick Vallance holding £600,000 worth of shares in vaccine manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
Hancock said he found out from a newspaper about the UK chief scientific adviser’s shares in a drug company contracted to develop a coronavirus vaccine for the Government.
The health secretary said “any suggestion” the scientific adviser was “doing anything other than his level best to try and tackle this virus” was “wrong”.
When asked on LBC radio how he discovered the news of Vallance’s personal shareholding, Hancock said: “Well, I didn’t know about it until I read it in the newspapers.”
Pushed on whether he thought he should have been informed as health secretary, he replied: “No, not particularly. I think there are rules around this and it is important he abided by the rules.”
You may also want to watch:
He added: “The thing about the vaccine is actually the Oxford vaccine is being developed by AstraZeneca, which is one of GlaxoSmithKline’s biggest competitors, so I think if you know Sir Patrick Vallance as I do, any suggestion that he is doing anything other than his level best to try and tackle this virus is wrong.”
The UK now has access to six different Covid-19 vaccine candidates in development, with orders placed in July for 60 million doses from GSK and Sanofi Pasteur, subject to final contract.
- 1 Piers Morgan must expose the government's Brexit betrayal
- 2 Boris Johnson warned majority will be 'wiped out' over treatment towards north of England
- 3 Boris Johnson 'frantically repositioning' himself for Donald Trump to lose election
- 4 Brexiteer Prue Leith quits Tory Party after government votes down motion to protect UK food standards
- 5 UKIP set to select 'Dr Gammons' as candidate for London mayoral election
- 6 James Cleverly mocked after telling people to 'look at how they're doing in Wales'
- 7 Public slams Brexit Party tweet which shames Tory MPs who voted against free school meals
- 8 Peers set to remove law-breaking sections of Boris Johnson's Brexit bill
- 9 Minister says Dido Harding is working '19-hours a day' on Test and Trace
- 10 Second shop owner bans Tory MPs who voted against free school meals motion
The government has also reserved up to 100 million doses of a separate vaccine being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca.
Sir Patrick this week said it was possible that small doses of the vaccine could be made available before the end of the year.
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As if show business in general and television in particular wasn’t hard enough on women. there is an obituary today in the NY Times about the first woman ever to direct a TV show. She looks like a lovely woman. She had a nice long life. But wasn’t it punishment enough for Frances that it had to come to an end? Did she really need to be further punished by having the word FEMCEE disinterred, even momentarily, in her obituary? SHEESH!
FRANCES BUSS. PIONEER OF EARLY TELEVISION, DIES AT 92.
Frances Buss, who at the dawn of commercial television parlayed a job as a temporary receptionist into a pioneering career as a director whose work helped establish the talk show, the game show and the cooking show as television staples, died on Jan. 19 in Hendersonville, N.C. She was 92.On July 1, 1941, by declaration of the Federal Communications Commission, the era of commercial television broadcasting began, and it was that same month that Ms. Buss, an aspiring actress in New York, took the temporary job at CBS. By dint of her skills at drawing and mapmaking, and because of the poise she had developed as an actress, she was asked to stay on, assisting in the production of what was then rudimentary news and features programming.“I was put on the air almost right away,” she said, in a 2005 interview for the Archive of American Television, a video library compiled by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation. “I was capable on my feet, my voice was audible — and I had good legs.”
Ms. Buss was the prototype for Vanna White; she held props and kept score for television’s first regularly broadcast game show, “CBS Television Quiz.” She was the M.C. — or “femcee,” in the showbiz lingo of the time — for a series of instructional shows demonstrating first aid; she was a dancer on “The Country Dance,” a sort of antediluvian “American Bandstand.”


text: Went for dinner to celebrate our anniversary. Started with martinis which were great. Appetizer was jalapenos roasted with cheese, just the right heat and quite tasty. My wife had the stuffed shrimp with the twice baked potato and I had the crab cakes, both were great. Crabcake dinner was large enough to take an entire cake home. Dinner comas with a salad, and there is a large choice of interesting dressings. Service was professional. Did not have dessert as we were to full. This is a great restaurant but it is quite pricey ($40 entres are the norm). Great place for a special occasion .

domain: food


VRA consists of a FRA measuring unit and a DJP type damper put together to form a complete unit. VRA is used for volume flow regulation in rectangular ducts, either for constant volume flow with step control, e.g. controlled by a switch or clock, or for variable volume flow, where the volume flow varies between a defined minimum and maximum limit. The actual volume flow is determined by a control signal from, for example, Regula Combi, BMS or another FRA/VRA. VRA-UNI consists of a regulator (Belimo VRD3) with a manual setting and motor. VRA-MP is equipped with a regulator and motor in one unit (Belimo NMV-D3-MP), which is programmable and has MP bus. VRA-SPR consists of a regulator (Belimo VRD3) with a manual setting and motor with a spring return. Further documentation on the diffusers can be requested from Lindab.
- Requires minimal initial pressure (Less than 20 Pa at Vnom)
- Has large regulation range
- Simple adjustment
- Damper tightness class 3
- Establismént of over/underpressure or pressure balance in the ventilated zones


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The Lillian Smith Library on College has the coolest entranceway of all the libraries in the city in my opinion.
A pot of tea with my mug and a spooky book from the library.
Some "jokers" decided the above titles belonged in the Sci-Fi and Fantasy shelves of the local used book shop.
Some of my UFO books. Some better than others and some that would be more suited to a Sci-Fi shelf
U of T bookshop at the St George campus.
Lots of books here.
This one caught my eye.

domain: literature


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Unleash the Flavors with the Mighty Mortar and Pestle: Discover the Art of Grinding and Mixing at Home
The mortar and pestle is a simple yet powerful tool that has been used for centuries in kitchens around the world. It consists of a bowl-shaped mortar and a club-shaped pestle, both made from various materials such as stone, wood, or metal. This ancient tool is designed for grinding and mixing ingredients, allowing home cooks to unleash the flavors of their dishes like never before. Whether you're crushing herbs and spices or making pastes and sauces, the mortar and pestle offers a hands-on approach to cooking that can elevate your culinary creations to new heights. So let's dive into the art of grinding and mixing with this mighty tool!
History and origins of the mortar and pestle
The mortar and pestle is a timeless tool that has been used for centuries in kitchens around the world. Its origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome. In fact, the earliest evidence of its use dates back over 35,000 years ago.
The concept of grinding and mixing ingredients together using a mortar and pestle was born out of necessity. In the early days, humans relied on this simple tool to crush grains, herbs, and spices into a fine powder or paste. This allowed them to extract maximum flavor from their ingredients and create delicious dishes.
Over time, the mortar and pestle evolved into different shapes and sizes depending on the region and culture. For example, in Asia, you will find larger mortars made from stone or granite that are used for pounding rice or making curry pastes. In contrast, European mortars tend to be smaller and made from materials like marble or porcelain.
Regardless of its form, the mortar and pestle have always played a vital role in culinary traditions worldwide. It has been an essential tool for creating traditional dishes such as guacamole in Mexico or pesto in Italy. The process of grinding ingredients by hand not only enhances the flavors but also allows for greater control over texture and consistency.
In addition to its historical significance, the mortar and pestle continue to be cherished by chefs today for its many benefits. Firstly, it provides a hands-on experience that allows cooks to connect with their food on a deeper level. Secondly, it releases essential oils from herbs and spices more effectively than using electric appliances, resulting in richer flavors.
The mortar and pestle also offer versatility in the kitchen. Apart from grinding spices or making pastes, they can be used to crush garlic cloves, mash avocados for guacamole, or even make homemade salad dressings. Their uses are limited only by one's imagination.
As we embrace modern cooking techniques and gadgets, it is important not to forget the roots of culinary traditions. The mortar and pestle serve as a reminder of our ancestors' resourcefulness and ingenuity in the kitchen. So, why not unleash the flavors with this mighty tool and discover the art of grinding and mixing at home?
Various types and materials of mortar and pestle
When it comes to mortar and pestle, there are various types and materials available to choose from. The most common type is the traditional stone mortar and pestle, which is made from granite or marble. These materials are known for their durability and ability to withstand heavy grinding.
Another popular option is the ceramic mortar and pestle, which is lighter in weight compared to stone. Ceramic mortars are often glazed, making them easy to clean and maintain. They also come in a variety of colors and designs, adding a touch of style to your kitchen.
For those who prefer a more modern look, there are stainless steel mortars available. These are great for grinding spices and herbs as they do not absorb flavors or odors. Stainless steel mortars are also dishwasher safe, making them convenient to use.
Wooden mortars and pestles are another option, although they may not be as commonly used as the others. They can add a rustic charm to your kitchen but require more care in terms of cleaning and maintenance.
Ultimately, the choice of material depends on personal preference and the specific needs of your cooking style. Whether you opt for the traditional stone mortar or a more contemporary stainless steel one, each material has its own unique qualities that can enhance your culinary experience.
Benefits of using a mortar and pestle in cooking
Using a mortar and pestle in cooking offers numerous benefits. Firstly, it allows you to unleash the full flavors of your ingredients. By grinding them manually, you release essential oils and aromas that would otherwise be lost with electric appliances. This results in more intense and vibrant flavors in your dishes.
Secondly, the mortar and pestle give you control over the texture of your ingredients. You can easily adjust the coarseness or fineness of your grind, allowing for greater versatility in recipes. Whether you want a smooth paste or a chunky salsa, the mortar and pestle can deliver.
Furthermore, using a mortar and pestle is a great way to connect with your food on a deeper level. The hands-on approach allows you to engage all your senses – feeling the texture, smelling the aromas, and hearing the sounds of grinding. It creates a more intimate cooking experience that enhances your connection with the ingredients.
In addition to these sensory benefits, using a mortar and pestle also promotes healthier cooking. Unlike processed ingredients or pre-ground spices, grinding fresh herbs and spices ensures that they retain their nutritional value. It also eliminates the need for preservatives or additives commonly found in store-bought ground products.
Lastly, using a mortar and pestle adds an element of tradition and authenticity to your cooking. It harkens back to ancient culinary practices where this tool was used extensively. Incorporating this timeless technique into modern kitchens not only honors our culinary heritage but also adds an artisanal touch to our meals.
In conclusion, using a mortar and pestle in cooking provides numerous benefits such as enhancing flavors, controlling textures, fostering a deeper connection with food, promoting healthier cooking, and adding tradition to modern kitchens. Embracing this age-old tool can truly elevate your culinary creations to new heights.
Traditional and innovative uses of the mortar and pestle
The mortar and pestle is not only a tool for grinding and mixing ingredients, but it also opens up a world of traditional and innovative culinary possibilities. In traditional cooking, the mortar and pestle are used to create spice blends, such as curry pastes or garam masala. The process of pounding the spices releases their essential oils, resulting in a more intense flavor profile. Additionally, herbs like basil or cilantro can be crushed into a paste to make vibrant sauces or dressings.
Innovative chefs have taken the use of the mortar and pestle to new heights by experimenting with unconventional ingredients. For example, roasted nuts can be ground into a smooth nut butter or used as a crust for meats or fish. Fresh fruits like berries or citrus can be mashed to create flavorful spreads for toast or toppings for desserts. Even coffee beans can be ground in a mortar and pestle to create a unique coffee experience.
The mortar and pestle also play a crucial role in making homemade condiments like mayonnaise or aioli. By grinding garlic with salt into a paste before incorporating it into these sauces, you ensure that every bite is bursting with flavor.
Furthermore, the mortar and pestle are invaluable when it comes to making cocktails. Muddling fresh herbs, fruits, or even spices like cinnamon can release their flavors directly into your drink, taking it to another level.
Whether you're exploring traditional recipes or pushing culinary boundaries with innovative creations, the mortar and pestle offer endless possibilities for enhancing flavors in your cooking.
Tips for choosing and caring for a mortar and pestle
When choosing a mortar and pestle, there are a few factors to consider. Firstly, think about the material. Granite is a popular choice as it is durable and has a rough surface that aids in grinding. Marble is another option, known for its elegance and smoothness. Ceramic mortars are lightweight and suitable for grinding small quantities.
Size matters too. Consider the amount of ingredients you usually work with and choose a size accordingly. A larger mortar allows for more efficient grinding but may be cumbersome to handle.
Caring for your mortar and pestle is essential to ensure its longevity. After use, wash it with warm water and mild soap, avoiding harsh chemicals that can damage the material. Avoid using abrasive scrubbers or brushes as they can scratch the surface.
To remove stubborn stains or odors, create a paste using baking soda and water, gently scrubbing the mortar with a soft cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly before drying.
It's also important to season your new mortar and pestle before use. Grind some rice or salt in it until the residue appears clean. This process helps remove any impurities from the manufacturing process.
Lastly, store your mortar and pestle in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture buildup that could lead to mold or damage over time.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your mortar and pestle remains in excellent condition, ready to unleash flavors in your culinary creations for years to come.
In conclusion, the mortar and pestle is a timeless tool that has been used for centuries to grind and mix ingredients in the kitchen. Its simplicity and versatility make it a must-have for any aspiring chef or home cook. Whether you are crushing spices, making pastes, or creating unique flavor combinations, the mortar and pestle allows you to unleash the true essence of your ingredients. So why not embrace this ancient tool and bring a touch of tradition and authenticity into your modern kitchen? With its ability to enhance flavors and elevate your culinary creations, the mortar and pestle is truly an indispensable companion for any food enthusiast.
Published: 21. 12. 2023


WHO panel approves emergency use of China's Sinopharm vaccine
Move paves way for shot to be included in COVAX global vaccine-sharing program
The World Health Organization gave emergency use authorization Friday to a COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by China's Sinopharm, potentially paving the way for millions of the doses to reach needy countries through a UN-backed program rolling out coronavirus vaccines.
The decision by a WHO technical advisory group, a first for a Chinese vaccine, opens the possibility that Sinopharm's offering could be included in the UN-backed COVAX program in coming weeks or months and distributed through UN children's agency UNICEF and WHO's Americas regional office.
Aside from efficacy numbers, the Chinese manufacturer has released very little public data about its two vaccines — one developed by its Beijing Institute of Biological Products and the other by the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products.
The Beijing shot, which has already been exported to some countries, is one the WHO advisory group considered for the emergency use listing.
"This afternoon, WHO gave emergency use listing to sign off on Beijing's COVID-19 vaccine, making it the sixth vaccine to receive WHO validation for safety, efficacy and quality," WHO director general Tedros Adhahom Ghebreysus said.
The Sinopharm vaccine will join ones made by Pfizer-BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, AstraZeneca and a version of the AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India, in receiving the coveted authorization from the UN health agency.
"This expands the list of vaccines that COVAX can buy and gives countries confidence to expedite their own regulatory approval and to import and administer a vaccine," Tedros said at a Geneva news conference.
Up to 79% effectiveness
Previously, a separate group advising WHO on vaccines said it was "very confident" the Sinopharm vaccine protects people ages 18 to 59. The group said it had a "low level of confidence" in the vaccine's efficacy for people 60 and over. Its members said they had "very low confidence" in the available data about serious side-effects in that age group.
Sinopharm hasn't published its late-stage test results in scientific journals, so the WHO requested a breakdown of its data, which come mostly from the United Arab Emirates.
"[We] came to the conclusion that there is enough evidence of safety and the capacity of the vaccine to prevent severe disease or symptomatic and hospitalized cases up to 79 per cent," said Dr. Alejandro Cravioto, who heads the WHO advisory group on immunizations. "The information we have for people over 60 is still very scarce."
"There is no reason to think that the vaccine would behave differently in this older age group," he added.
Arnaud Didierlaurent, a professor at the University of Geneva's medical school who chairs the advisory group, said it had requested additional studies from Sinopharm, and that there would be "continuous evaluation" of the vaccine.
"In fact, the work does not stop after the listing," he said.
'Another safe and effective tool'
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which co-runs COVAX, welcomed WHO's emergency approval.
"This means the world has yet another safe and effective tool in the fight against this pandemic," the alliance said. The public-private partnership said it was in discussions with several manufacturers, including Sinopharm, "to expand and diversify the portfolio further and secure access to additional doses" for countries in the COVAX program.
COVAX aims to send vaccines for free to 92 lower-income countries and to help another 99 countries and territories procure them. It was not immediately clear when the Sinopharm vaccine might be made available to the COVAX portfolio.
The program, which has already distributed over 54 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines but faces limited supplies from Western countries and India, has been working hard to strike deals as part of its goal to procure two billion doses by the end of the year.
WATCH | WHO urges global COVID-19 vaccine equity:
Limited public data
Suerie Moon, co-director of the Global Health Program at Geneva's Graduate Institute, said WHO's decision on the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine and other Chinese vaccines will "carry a lot of weight" because of limited information publicly available about them.
"The decision is also sure to be scrutinized all around for any whiff of political bias, and no doubt the committee members were very well aware of this," she said, noting that the decision could also be a boon for developing countries.
"If there is a greenlight, these vaccines could boost the thin stream of supplies that has been channelled through COVAX to date," she said, as the program has been hit hard by export bans limiting vaccine supply from India. India has kept those doses amid a surge of cases at home.
Moon also said if Chinese suppliers start channeling large volumes, "this would signal a step-change in their participation in global vaccine markets." Before the pandemic, India was a well-integrated player in the global health vaccine supply system, but China was not, she said.
WHO's decision on Sinopharm, months in the making, was particularly complex because the vaccine has not faced the high-level scrutiny of a rigorous medicines regulator like those in Europe and the U.S.
The WHO panel relied frequently on those Western agencies' findings when it came to vaccines that it has already approved emergency use.
Many officials in countries without such regulatory structures rely on WHO's emergency use listings to authorize vaccine rollouts for their populations.
Hundreds of millions of Chinese vaccines have already been delivered to dozens of countries around the world through bilateral deals as many scrambled to secure supplies after rich countries had reserved the vast majority of supplies from Western pharmaceutical makers.
While China has five shots in use, the majority of its exports abroad come from two companies: Sinopharm and Sinovac. A decision on Sinovac is expected next week, WHO said.
The Chinese vaccines are "inactivated" vaccines, made with killed coronavirus. Most other COVID-19 vaccines being used around the world, particularly in the West, are made with newer technologies that instead target the "spike" protein that coats the surface of the coronavirus.
The WHO, in what it called a first, said the vaccine would come a small sticker on the vaccine vials that changes colour as it is exposed to heat, which will inform health workers about whether the vaccine can be safely used.
Sinopharm said last month that over 100 million doses of its two vaccines have been used across the world.
Sinovac, by comparison, has shared more data. Last month, a study published by a team of scientists in Brazil confirmed a previously reported efficacy rate of over 50 per cent. A real-world study in Chile last month found an efficacy rate of 67 per cent.


We've seen it spotted around the Nürburgring almost naked, both in a video and a set of spy photos, and we pretty much know what it looks like before its long-awaited debut. But then again, leaked images of the Golf R surfaced online to increase that anticipation, courtesy of cochespias on Instagram, which we embedded below.
The post contains three leaked naked photos. The first one shows us the Golf R's massive quad tailpipes and rear diffuser. You'll also see VW's new R logo at the center of the tailgate, along with the company's revamped emblem for the digital age. And a wrist watch on the floor, which kind of a mystery to us, but we digress.
Swipe right on the embedded widget above (or visit the actual Instagram post) and you'll see the Golf R's redesigned Y-spoke rims. The wheel itself seems to be 20 inches in diameter based on its quite low tire profile. It's also hard to miss the huge brakes with a blue, R-branded caliper.
See It In Action In Still Images And Motion Picture:
Swipe one more to the right and you'll be greeted by the supposed Golf R's steering wheel and instrument display. It's pretty much what you'll expect from top-dog Golf – lots of tech toys, including adaptive cruise control and what seems to be soft-touch buttons. The driver's display is also fully digital, which, again, isn't a surprise at all.
For those waiting for the Golf R, you have to be more patient as VW isn't revealing the hot hatch soon, especially those residing in the U.S. The German marque has confirmed that the Golf R and Golf GTI will arrive in American dealers by Q3 2021 for the 2022 model year.


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Rams Recap: Winkler named GNAC men’s tennis player of the year
Senior Marc Winkler was named the GNAC men’s tennis player of the year this week. Winkler finished the season 9-0 and closed his career with a record of 23-8 in singles play and 25-7 in doubles. The native of Caracas, Venezuela was also named the 2012 GNAC rookie of the year.
Winkler and his partner, junior Calixto Romero, also went 9-0 in doubles this season and were named to the All-Conference second team. Romero was named to the first team for his singles play, in which he finished 8-1, and to the All-Sportmanship team.
Freshman Alonso Vela (5-3) grabbed third-team honors for singles play.
Suffolk finished the season at 6-3 and was eliminated by Norwich University, 5-4, in the GNAC semifinals.
The Suffolk University softball team had four of its players named to GNAC all-conference honors this week.
Freshman catcher Delaney Sylvester (.431 batting average, 37 RBIs), sophomore infielder Kristen Young (.434, league-high 36 stolen bases in 36 attempts), and freshman outfielder Devlin Frost (.355, three home runs) were named to the first team. Senior infielder Nicole Rosa (.358, 21 RBIs) was a third-team selection.
Senior pitcher Sarah Chasse (9-5, nine complete games) made the GNAC Sportsmanship Team.
The Rams are 24-14 and declared for the ECAC Division III New England Championship.